Soil initial bacterial diversity and nutrient availability determine the rate of xenobiotic biodegradation

Understanding the relative importance of soil microbial diversity, plants and nutrient management is crucial to implement an effective bioremediation approach to xenobiotics-contaminated soils. To date, knowledge on the interactive effects of soil microbiome, plant and nutrient supply on influencing biodegradation potential of soils remains limited. In this study, we evaluated the individual and interactive effects of soil initial bacterial diversity, nutrient amendments (organic and inorganic) and plant presence on the biodegradation rate of pyrene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. Initial bacterial diversity had a strong positive impact on soil biodegradation potential, with soil harbouring higher bacterial diversity showing ~ 2 times higher degradation rates than soils with lower bacterial diversity. Both organic and inorganic nutrient amendments consistently improved the degradation rate in lower diversity soils and had negative (inorganic) to neutral (organic) effect in higher diversity soils. Interestingly, plant presence/type did not show any significant effect on the degradation rate in most of the treatments. Structural equation modelling demonstrated that initial bacterial diversity had a prominent role in driving pyrene biodegradation rates. We provide novel evidence that suggests that soil initial microbial diversity, and nutrient amendments should be explicitly considered in the design and employment of bioremediation management strategies for restoring natural habitats disturbed by organic pollutants.     

Effects of community-accessible biochar and compost on diesel-contaminated soil

Petroleum pollution is a global problem that requires effective and accessible remediation strategies that takes ecosystem functioning into serious consideration. Bioremediation can be an effective tool to address the challenge. In this study, we used a mesocosm experiment to evaluate the effects of locally sourced and community produced biochar and compost amendments on diesel-contaminated soil. At the end of the 90-day experiment, we quantified the effects of the amendments on total petroleum hydrocarbons (C9-C40) (TPH) and soil pH, organic matter, aggregate stability, soil respiration, extractable phosphorus, extractable potassium, and micronutrients (Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn). We observed significantly higher TPH degradation in compost-amended soils than in controls and soils amended with biochar. We propose that the addition of compost improved TPH biodegradation by augmenting soil nutrient content and microbial activity. Our results suggest that community-accessible compost can improve TPH biodegradation, and that implementation is possible at the community level.     

Heavy metals fractionation and organic matter mineralisation in contaminated calcareous soil amended with organic materials

Degradation of organic matter (OM) from organic amendments used in the remediation of metal contaminated soils leads to changes in soil chemical properties shortly after their addition, which may affect the soil metal distribution. The effects of two differing organic amendments on OM mineralisation and fractionation of heavy metals in a contaminated soil were investigated in an incubation experiment. The treatments were: control unamended soil, soil amended with fresh cow manure, and soil amended with a compost having a high maturity degree. The soil used was characteristic of the mining area at La Unión (Murcia, Spain) with 28% CaCO(3) and sandy-loam texture (pH 7.7; 2602 mg kg(-1)Zn; 1572 mg kg(-1)Pb). Manure and compost C-mineralisation after 56 days (24% and 3.8%, respectively) were below values reported previously for uncontaminated soils. Both amendments favoured Zn and Pb fixation, particularly the manure. Mn solubility increased at the beginning of the experiment due to a pH effect, and only Cu solubility increased through organic matter chelation in both amended soils.     

Effect of reactive substrates used for the removal of phosphorus from wastewater on the fertility of acid soils

Reactive substrates used in filter systems can reduce phosphorus (P) pollution and, once saturated with P, may be recycled in agriculture. These substrates are usually calcium carbonate derivates with high pH values, which may be particularly beneficial for acid soils. Three reactive substrates (Filtra P, Polonite and wollastonite) saturated with P were used as amendments to an acid soil in a pot experiment. Substrate amendments tended to improve ryegrass yield and P uptake compared with control and potassium phosphate treatments. Polonite produced the highest yield/amendment ratio, while Polonite and Filtra P significantly increased the concentrations of P and Ca in the ryegrass. Addition of all three substrates increased the pH, AL-extractable P and cation exchange capacity of soils during the experiment. These substrates can therefore be applied to acid soils in order to recycle P and improve soil properties.     

模拟氮沉降降低亚热带米槠天然林土壤氧化亚氮排放潜势

我国亚热带地区大气氮沉降量逐年上升,对森林土壤生物地球化学循环造成严重影响。本研究设置了对照(不添加氮)、低氮(40 kg·hm^-2·a^-1)和高氮(80 kg·hm^-2·a^-1)处理,分析了亚热带米槠天然林土壤反硝化功能基因丰度和N₂O排放潜势对氮沉降的响应。结果表明: 高氮处理显著降低土壤N₂O排放潜势。长期(8年)氮沉降对nirS、nirK、nosZ Ⅰ和nosZ Ⅱ基因丰度均无显著影响,但nosZ Ⅰ丰度均显著高于nosZ Ⅱ丰度,表明nosZ Ⅰ在酸性森林土壤中占主导。与对照相比,高氮处理显著降低(nirK+nirS)/(nosZ Ⅰ+nosZ Ⅱ)值。(nirK+nirS)/(nosZ Ⅰ+nosZ Ⅱ)值与土壤pH值呈显著正相关。长期高氮沉降可能通过降低土壤pH值使得土壤(nirK+nirS)/(nosZ Ⅰ+nosZ Ⅱ)值下降,从而降低森林土壤N₂O排放潜势。     

An Investigation of the Ability of a 14C-Labeled Hydrocarbon Mineralization Test to Predict Bioremediation of Soils Contaminated with Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Bioremediation is a widely accepted technology for the remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Treatability studies are usually carried out to assess the biodegradation potential of the contaminants and to design optimal treatments. Laboratory studies measuring soil respiration are often used. One method consists of monitoring the mineralization of a ¹⁴C-labeled hydrocarbon surrogate added to the contaminated soil. This study investigates the ability of this method to properly predict the removal of the hydrocarbon contaminants initially found in soils. Mineralization of ¹⁴C-labeled hexadecane was monitored in seven soils contaminated with various hydrocarbon mixtures, both fresh and weathered, in microcosm experiments. Reduction of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations was measured simultaneously in separate microcosms. Both types of microcosms were subjected to the same amendment regimes. For all soils, poor correlation was observed between the mineralization and TPH reduction data sets. Mineralization data supported contaminants removal data in only one soil. Findings indicate that the radioactive surrogate method does not reliably predict the extent of, and the effect of amendments on, the removal of the hydrocarbons initially present in soil, and may therefore predict suboptimal treatment regimes. Recommendations for soil treatability protocols are provided.     

Biodegradation of pentachlorophenol in soil: the response to physical, chemical, and biological treatments

The effects of physical, chemical, and biological treatments on biodegradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) were studied in a silt-loam soil contaminated with 175 mg PCP/kg and uniformly 14C-labelled PCP. Biodegradation of 14C-labelled PCP and technical-grade PCP were monitored over 210 days incubation. Mineralization of labelled PCP was significantly (p=0.05) influenced by soil treatments. Negligible biodegradation occurred in either the sterile control soil or the uninoculated control soil, with less than 1% of added 14C recovered as 14 CO2. Inoculation of unamended soil with a strain of Flavobacterium (ATCC 39723) known to degrade PCP increased biodegradation of PCP; approximately 60% of the [14C]PCP was recovered as 14CO2. Increased soil water content (60% versus 30% w/w) enhanced biodegradation (67% recovery of 14C as CO2), while increased chloride ion concentration and anoxic conditions were inhibitory (20 and 1% recoveries, respectively). Residual soil PCP concentrations were also influenced by various treatments. In the sterile control soil and noninoculated control, after 210 days incubation, concentrations of PCP were 143 and 1223 mg/kg, respectively, while the PCP concentration in the inoculated soil was 21 mg/kg. When soil organic matter was increased by adding finely ground red clover leaf and stem material, the residual PCP concentration was reduced to 6 mg/kg after 210 days. Increased soil water content resulted in a residual PCP concentration of 5 mg/kg. High-pressure liquid chromatography of soil extracts revealed no accumulation of partial PCP degradation products. The results indicated that biodegradation of PCP in soil was significantly influenced by various soil amendments.     

Effects of Zeolite-Containing Material and Ammonium Nitrate on Biodegradation of n-Tridecane in Heavy Clay-Loam Leached Chernozem with High Organic Matter Content

Biostimulation based on usage of soil amendments is growing due to their efficiency in removing different petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC) from contaminated sand or loam-sand soils. However, the research on clay-rich soils with higher organic carbon content, in which PHC biodegradation may proceed differently and which are more difficult to clean up, has been less extensive. In a pot experiment, we studied and compared the effects of two soil amendments, natural zeolite-containing material (ZCM, 50 g kg^?1) as a bulking agent and ammonium nitrate (0.3 g N kg^?1) as a nitrogen fertilizer, on biodegradation of n-tridecane (1 wt.%) in a weakly acidic heavy clay loam leached chernozem with fairly high organic carbon content (3.71%). After 48 days, the nitrogen-amended contaminated soil showed enhancement of both respiratory activity (basal and substrate-induced respiration rates) and the number of n-tridecane- degraders. As a consequence, the extent of n-tridecane biodegradation (86.5%) was essentially higher in the presence of added nitrogen than that in the non-amended soil (73.7%). In contrast, due to the partial retention of n-tridecane molecules in its pores, ZCM retarded biodegradation to 56.0%, showed no significant effect on the number of n-tridecane-degraders and, moreover, enhanced the decomposition of the soil intrinsic organic matter. The obtained data indicate that more precautions should be considered when using porous sorbents such as ZCM for remedial arrangements in PHC-contaminated soils.     

Effect of various amendments on heavy mineral oil bioremediation and soil microbial activity

To examine the effects of amendments on the degradation of heavy mineral oil, we conducted a pilot-scale experiment in the field for 105 days. During the experiment, soil samples were collected and analyzed periodically to determine the amount of residual hydrocarbons and evaluate the effects of the amendments on microbial activity. After 105 days, the initial level of contamination (7490+/-480 mg hydrocarbon kg(-1) soil) was reduced by 18-40% in amended soils, whereas it was only reduced by 9% in nonamended soil. Heavy mineral oil degradation was much faster and more complete in compost-amended soil than in hay-, sawdust-, and mineral nutrient-amended soils. The enhanced degradation of heavy mineral oil in compost-amended soil may be a result of the significantly higher microbial activity in this soil. Among the studied microbial parameters, soil dehydrogenase, lipase, and urease activities were strongly and negatively correlated with heavy mineral oil biodegradation (P<0.01) in compost-amended soil.     

The role of organic amendments in wetland restorations

At the present rate of loss (since 1990), half of the remaining wetlands worldwide will be developed within ~140 years, underscoring the importance of improving the creation and restoration of wetlands. Organic amendments are sometimes used during wetland creation. To evaluate the effectiveness of adding organic amendments we used a combined numerical method to assign “scores” on five categories of evaluation metrics: plant growth, soil properties, carbon accrual, denitrification, and anaerobic processes (e.g. redox potential). We found that amendments identified as “topsoil” scored measurably higher and had consistently more positive values with fewer negative results compared to amendments identified as “allochthonous organic matter” (alOM). Organic amendments had about the same effect on soils with low soil organic carbon (<2.5%) compared to soils richer in organic carbon. Organic amendments are not uniformly effective, and in some cases may have negative side effects. For example, alOM often resulted in a loss of plant diversity. These outcomes along with site conditions should be evaluated before using organic amendments.     

蚂蚁筑巢对不同恢复阶段热带森林土壤易氧化有机碳时空动态的影响

为探明热带森林恢复过程中蚂蚁筑巢对土壤易氧化有机碳(readily oxidizable carbon, ROC)时空动态的影响及机制, 本研究以西双版纳白背桐(Mallotus paniculatus)群落、野芭蕉(Musa acuminata)群落和崖豆藤(Mellettia leptobotrya)群落3种恢复阶段热带森林为研究对象, 设置“蚂蚁筑巢地”与“非巢地”2种处理进行野外控制实验, 对比分析蚁巢和非蚁巢土壤ROC含量的时空变化特征, 并揭示这些变化与土壤微生物生物量碳及理化性质之间的相互关系。结果表明: (1)蚂蚁筑巢显著影响热带森林土壤ROC含量(P < 0.05), 蚁巢土壤ROC含量较非蚁巢提高了14.2%。不同恢复阶段蚁巢与非蚁巢土壤ROC含量大小顺序为: 野芭蕉群落 > 崖豆藤群落 > 白背桐群落。(2)不同恢复阶段热带森林蚁巢与非蚁巢土壤ROC含量均呈单峰型的时间变化趋势(P < 0.05), 最大值出现在6月, 且各月份蚁巢土壤ROC含量均高于非蚁巢。(3)不同恢复阶段热带森林蚁巢和非蚁巢土壤ROC含量均随土层深度增加呈显著递减的垂直变化趋势(P < 0.05), 且蚁巢土壤ROC含量均大于非蚁巢(P < 0.05)。(4)蚂蚁筑巢引起的土壤理化性质变化对土壤ROC含量产生了一定的影响。土壤ROC含量与土壤pH和容重呈显著负相关(P < 0.05), 与土壤有机碳、微生物生物量碳、全氮、铵态氮及硝态氮呈显著正相关(P < 0.05)。土壤微生物生物量碳与总有机碳是蚁巢土壤ROC时空变化的主要贡献者, 而铵态氮、全氮和总有机碳是非蚁巢ROC时空变化的主控因子。因此, 蚂蚁筑巢改变热带森林土壤微生物量(如微生物生物量碳)及土壤理化性质(如总有机碳、铵态氮与全氮等), 进而显著影响土壤ROC的时空动态。     

An Integrated Surfactant Solubilization and PCB Bioremediation Process for Soils

Two decades after the manufacture and use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were banned, PCB contamination remains widespread in the environment. Technologies available for PCB remediation are limited and often impractical for soils with dispersed PCB contamination. In this study, two remediation processes have been integrated for use on PCB-contaminated soils. This remediation strategy links in situ surfactant washing of PCBs from soil with aerobic biodegradation of the resulting surfactant-PCB solution by two field application vectors (F A Vs), Pseudomonas putida IFL5::TnPCB and Ralstonia eutropha B30F4::TnPCB, which utilize surfac-tants as growth substrates and cometabolize PCBs. A bench-scale demonstration of this process was performed using PCB-contaminated soils from an electric power substation site. In a 2-day recycling wash using a 1% (wt/vol) surfactant solution, greater than 70% of the PCBs were removed from the soil. In the biodegradation phase, greater than 90% of the surfactant and 35% of the PCBs were biodegraded in 12 days. The residual PCBs were partitioned onto a solid carrier resulting in greater than 90% removal of PCBs from the bioreactor effluent and a 50-fold reduction in the amount of PCB-contaminated material.     

Enhanced crude oil biodegradation in soil via biostimulation

Research on feasible methods for the enhancement of bioremediation in soil contaminated by crude oil is vital in oil-exporting countries such as Kuwait, where crude oil is a major pollutant and the environment is hostile to biodegradation. This study investigated the possibility of enhancing crude oil bioremediation by supplementing soil with cost-effective organic materials derived from two widespread locally grown trees, Conocarpus and Tamarix. Amendments in soils increased the counts of soil microbiota by up to 98% and enhanced their activity by up to 95.5%. The increase in the biodegradation of crude oil (75%) and high levels of alkB expression substantiated the efficiency of the proposed amendment technology for the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated sites. The identification of crude-oil-degrading bacteria revealed the dominance of the genus Microbacterium (39.6%), Sphingopyxis soli (19.3%), and Bordetella petrii (19.6%) in unamended, Conocarpus-amended, and Tamarix-amended contaminated soils, respectively. Although soil amendments favored the growth of Gram-negative bacteria and reduced bacterial diversity, the structures of bacterial communities were not significantly altered.     

Basic studies and applications on bioremediation of DDT: A review

The persistent insecticide DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (4-chlorophenyl) ethane) has been widely used for pest control in the management of mosquito-borne malaria and is still used for that purpose in some tropical countries. Considering the potential for negative effects due to DDT contamination, it is necessary to determine effective methods of remediation. Several methods have been used to degrade or transform DDT into less toxic compounds. Bacteria and white-rot fungi (WRF) have been shown to enhance the degradation process in soil using both pure and mixed cultures. Recently, a biological approach has been used as an environmentally-friendly treatment, using new biological sources to degrade DDT, e.g. brown-rot fungi (BRF), cattle manure compost (CMC) and spent mushroom waste (SMW). In this review, the abilities of BRF, CMC and SMW to degrade DDT are discussed, including the mechanisms and degradation pathways. Furthermore, application of these sources to contaminated soil is also described. The review discusses which is the best source for bioremediation of DDT.     

Microbial Population Analysis as a Measure of Ecosystem Restoration

During a controlled oil spill study in a freshwater wetland, four methods were used to track changes in microbial populations in response to in situ remediation treatments, including nutrient amendments and the removal of surface vegetation. Most probable number (MPN) estimates of alkane and aromatic hydrocarbon degraders showed divergence of the alkane and aromatic degrading populations during the first summer of the experiment. Alkane degraders increased in all plots by 1.5 orders of magnitude and aromatic degraders increased in oiled plots by 3.5 orders of magnitude. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis of biomass and community composition showed no essential differences among treatments. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of the sediment microbial community showed some differences in specific populations of organisms with respect to oiled and unoiled plots. Some organisms were only found in the oiled plots. Sediment toxicity measured against single celled algae showed that the oiled sediments were toxic into the second year of the study, but that nutrient addition relieved the toxicity more rapidly than natural attenuation of the oil.     

Woodchip and biochar amendments differentially influence microbial responses,but do not enhance plant recovery in disturbed semiarid soils

Restoration presents a global challenge in drylands (arid and semiarid ecosystems) where uses can range from exclusive conservation to open‐pit mining and restoration practices are constrained by scarce, unpredictable precipitation, and high ambient temperatures. Adding woodchip amendments to soils is a common strategy for mitigating soil degradation as amendments may enhance soil carbon and increase plant cover. We assessed the effect of surface or incorporated woodchip addition and incorporated wood‐derived biochar on soil carbon dynamics and microbial activities as well as plant cover in semiarid soils that had been removed and replaced. We found that woodchips at the soil surface increased soil organic carbon (SOC), and both surface and incorporated woodchips increased the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content. The incorporation of woodchips inhibited plant cover yet increased soil CO₂ efflux and dissolved organic matter stoichiometry. Surface woodchips also significantly enhanced microbial activities but not plant cover. A significant amount of the soil efflux in response to incorporating woodchips was explained by plant cover and exoenzyme activities, but this was not the case for other amendment treatments. Biochar, thought to be more resistant to decomposition, neither stimulated nor reduced microbial activities or plant cover and did not influence SOC or DOC. Our findings demonstrate that the influence of woodchip amendments on microbial processes and soil carbon dynamics depends on the location of application and that coarse fast‐pyrolysis biochar has limited influence on soil processes over a 22‐month study in a water‐limited ecosystem.     

生物质炭配施有机物料对贫瘠红壤酶活性和微生物碳源代谢功能的影响

为进一步促进红壤固碳培肥,于2017和2018年通过田间试验研究了两种有机物料(玉米秸秆和羊粪)单施以及与生物质炭配施对贫瘠红壤养分含量、碳转化相关酶活性和微生物底物利用速率的影响。试验设置6个处理,即不施有机物料(对照)、玉米秸秆、羊粪、单施生物质炭、玉米秸秆与生物质炭配施、羊粪与生物质炭配施。结果表明:与对照相比,有机物料施用显著增加了土壤pH值、有机碳、全氮、有效磷和速效钾含量;与单施秸秆和羊粪相比,生物质炭与秸秆或羊粪配施显著增加了土壤有机碳、速效钾和碱解氮含量,但两者无交互效应。与对照相比,有机物料施用显著提高了β-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)、纤维二糖水解酶(CB)、β-木聚糖苷酶(XYL)和过氧化物酶(PERO)活性;与单施秸秆相比,生物质炭与秸秆配施处理酚氧化酶、过氧化物酶活性分别显著降低了28.6%、22.2%;与单施羊粪相比,生物质炭与羊粪配施处理α-葡萄糖苷酶(AG)、BG、XYL和PERO活性分别显著降低了46.1%、50.9%、41.6%和31.3%。与对照相比,有机物料施用显著提高了土壤基础呼吸和微生物对碳水化合物的利用速率,而生物质炭配施处理对碳水化合物、羧酸类底物的利用速率存在显著抑制作用。微生物碳源利用速率与BG和PERO活性呈显著正相关。因此,有机物料与生物质炭配施更有利于提高土壤养分含量,降低有机碳分解酶和微生物碳源代谢活性,从而促进红壤固碳培肥,有利于贫瘠红壤的地力提升。     

Distribution of DDT residues (DDT,DDD, and DDE) in California soils

DDT residues (DDT, DDD, and DDE, or DDT_R) occur in detectable concentrations in soils from southern California over 20 years after a ban (1973) on the widespread use of the pesticide in the U.S. A comparison of DDT residues found in soils from western Riverside/San Bernardino Counties to a much larger statewide database of Mischke et al. (1985) suggests that a systematic regional variation in relative abundances of DDT_R exists in California soils. It is suggested that factors such as physical/chemical properties of DDT residues, local/regional soil‐forming processes, soil management practices, and climatological regimes may help to explain the observed relative abundances of DDT‐related species in California soils. Knowledge of regional trends in the concentrations and composition of soil DDT_R may be useful in formulating more rational risk‐based soil management strategies where soil DDT_R concentrations are at or above regulatory levels.     

Accelerated volatilization rates of selenium from different soils

Selenium (Se), an element found naturally in a variety of soils, can accumulate in drainage water of lands under intensive irrigation, even reaching levels that are toxic to mammals and birds. Volatilization of Se by soil microorganisms into dimethylselenide (DMSe) can be enhanced by certain soil amendments and, thus, be used as a soil remediation process. In an 8-wk laboratory study, five soils from California and one from Germany were spiked with⁷⁵SeO₃ ^2- (22.3 mg/kg Se). Two amino acids (DL-homocysteine and L-methionine), a carbohydrate (pectin), and a protein (zein) were tested as soil amendments. Gaseous⁷⁵Se emissions were trapped with activated carbon and measured in a gamma counter. Depending on soil type, the cumulative volatilization from the control flasks varied between 1.2% and 9.0% of applied⁷⁵Se. Both zein and L-methionine strongly increased volatilization (max. 43% of⁷⁵Se applied), whereas DL-homocysteine had a much smaller stimulating effect. Pectin showed a moderate effect, but enhanced Se volatilization rates were sustained much longer when compared to the zein amendment. Volatilization rates of Se followed a simple first-order reaction. Gaseous Se emission in the soils treated with L-methionine yielded an S-shaped curve, which fit a growth-modified first-order rate model. Although zein and L-methionine were the most favorable treatments enhancing Se volatilization, all six soils responded differently to the soil amendments.     

Biochar co-compost improves nitrogen retention and reduces carbon emissions in a winter wheat cropping system

Organic amendments, such as compost and biochar, mitigate the environmental burdens associated with wasting organic resources and close nutrient loops by capturing, transforming, and resupplying nutrients to soils. While compost or biochar application to soil can enhance an agroecosystem's capacity to store carbon and produce food, there have been few field studies investigating the agroecological impacts of amending soil with biochar co-compost, produced through the composting of nitrogen-rich organic material, such as manure, with carbon-rich biochar. Here, we examine the impact of biochar co-compost on soil properties and processes by conducting a field study in which we compare the environmental and agronomic impacts associated with the amendment of either dairy manure co-composted with biochar, dairy manure compost, or biochar to soils in a winter wheat cropping system. Organic amendments were applied at equivalent C rates (8 Mg C ha⁻¹). We found that all three treatments significantly increased soil water holding capacity and total plant biomass relative to the no-amendment control. Soils amended with biochar or biochar co-compost resulted in significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than the compost or control soils. Biochar co-compost also resulted in a significant reduction in nutrient leaching relative to the application of biochar alone or compost alone. Our results suggest that biochar co-composting could optimize organic resource recycling for climate change mitigation and agricultural productivity while minimizing nutrient losses from agroecosystems.