title: Application of microbial hot spots enhances pesticide degradation in soils.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Soil Ecology, Ingolstaedter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grundmann
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fuss
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laschinger
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ruth
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulin
authors.forename: Jean Charles
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Munch
authors.forename: Reiner
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schroll
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D010575:Pesticides; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D000077215:Clay