Application of microbial hot spots enhances pesticide degradation in soils.
Through transfer of an active, isoproturon degrading microbial community, pesticide mineralization could be successfully enhanced in various soils under laboratory and outdoor conditions. The microbes, extracted from a soil having high native ability to mineralize this chemical, were established on expanded clay particles and distributed to various soils in the form of microbial "hot spots". Both, diffusion controlled isoproturon mass flow towards these "hot spots" (6microg d(-1)) as well as microbial ability to mineralize the herbicide (approximately 5microg d(-1)) were identified as the main processes enabling a multiple augmentation of the native isoproturon mineralization even in soils with heavy metal contamination. Soil pH-value appears to exert an important effect on the sustainability of this process.
Grundmann
Sabine
S
GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Soil Ecology, Ingolstaedter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
Fuss
Roland
R
Schmid
Michael
M
Laschinger
Manuela
M
Ruth
Bernhard
B
Schulin
Rainer
R
Munch
Jean Charles
JC
Schroll
Reiner
R
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D000077215:Clay; D005858:Germany; D010575:Pesticides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry; D013557:Switzerland
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D010575:Pesticides; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D000077215:Clay