Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The use of microbial parameters in monitoring soil pollution by heavy metals

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Biology and Fertility of Soils Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Microbial parameters appear very useful in monitoring soil pollution by heavy metals, but no single microbial parameter can be used universally. Microbial activities such as respiration, C and N mineralization, biological N2 fixation, and some soil enzymes can be measured, as can the total soil microbial biomass. Combining microbial activity and population measurements (e.g., biomass specific respiration) appears to provide more sensitive indications of soil pollution by heavy metals than either activity or population measurements alone. Parameters that have some form of “internal control”, e.g., biomass as a percentage of soil organic matter, are also advantageous. By using such approaches it might be possible to determine whether the natural ecosystem is being altered by pollutants without recource to expensive and long-running field experiments. However, more data are needed before this will be possible. Finally, new applications of molecular biology to soil pollution studies (e.g., genetic fingerprinting) which may also have value in the future are considered.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams TMcM, Laughlin RJ (1981) The effects of agronomy on the carbon and nitrogen contained in the soil biomass. J Agric Sci (Cambridge) 97:319–327

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson PJE, Domsch KH (1978) A physiological method for the quantitative measurement of microbial biomass in soil. Soil Biol Biochem 10:215–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson DE (1977) Cellular energy metabolism and its regulation. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Bååth E (1989) Effects of heavy metals in soil on microbial processes and population (a review). Water Air Soil Poll 47:335–379

    Google Scholar 

  • Brookes P, McGrath SP (1984) Effects of metal toxicity on the size of the soil microbial biomass. J Soil Sci 35:341–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Brookes PC, McGrath SP (1987) Adenylate energy charge in metal-contaminated soil. Soil Biol Biochem 19:219–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Brookes PC, Verstraete W (1989) The functioning of soil as an ecosystem. In: Soil quality assessment. State of the art report on soil quality. Report to Commission of the European Communities Directorate-General XII, Contract EV4A/0008 NL, Brussels

  • Brookes PC, McGrath SP, Klein DA, Elliott ET (1984) Effects of heavy metals on microbial activity and biomass in field soils treated with sewage sludge. In: Environmental contamination. CEP Consultants Ltd, Edinburgh, pp 574–583

    Google Scholar 

  • Brookes PC, McGrath SP, Heijnen C (1986) Metal residues in soils previously treated with sewage-sludge and their effects on growth and nitrogen fixation by blue-green algae. Soil Biol Biochem 18:345–353

    Google Scholar 

  • Chander K (1991) The effects of heavy metals from past applications of sewage sludge on soil microbial biomass and microbial activity. PhD thesis, University of Reading

  • Chander K, Brookes PC (1991a) is the dehydrogenase assay invalid as a method to estimate microbial activity in Cu-contaminated soils. Soil Biol Biochem 23:901–915

    Google Scholar 

  • Chander K, Brookes PC (1991b) Microbial biomass dynamics during the decomposition of glucose and maize in metal-contaminated and non-contaminated soils. Soil Biol Biochem 23: 917–925

    Google Scholar 

  • Chander K, Brookes PC (1991c) Effects of heavy metals from past applications of sewage sludge on microbial biomass and organic matter accumulation in a sandy loam and a silty loam UK soil. Soil Biol Biochem 23:927–932

    Google Scholar 

  • Chander K, Brookes PC (1991d) Plant inputs of carbon to metal-contaminated soil and effects on the soil microbial biomass. Soil Biol Biochem 23:1169–1177

    Google Scholar 

  • Chander K, Brookes PC (1993) Effects of Zn, Cu, and Ni in sewage sludge on microbial biomass in a sandy loam soil. Soil Biol Biochem 25:1231–1239

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook KA, Greaves MP (1987) Natural variability in microbial activities. In: Somerville L, Greaves MP (eds) Pesticide effects on soil microflora. Taylor and Francis, London New York Philadelphia, pp 15–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Doelman P (1986) Resistance of soil microbial communities to heavy metals. In: Jensen V, Kjoller A, Sorensen LH (eds) Microbial communities in soil. FEMS Symp no 33, Elsevier, Copenhagen London New York, pp 415–471

    Google Scholar 

  • Domsch KH (1980) Interpretation and evaluation of data. In: Recommended tests for assessing the side-effects of pesticides on the soil microflora. Weed Research Organization Tech Rep no 59, Oxford, pp 6–8

  • Domsch KH, Jagnow G, Anderson TH (1983) An ecological concept for the assessment of side-effects of agrochemicals on soil micro-organisms. Res Rev 86:65–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Duxbury T (1985) Ecological aspects of heavy metal responses in micro-organisms. Adv Microb Ecol 8:185–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Giller KE, Day JM (1985) Nitrogen fixation in the rhizosphere. Significance in natural and agricultural systems. In: Fitter AH, Atkinson D, Read DJ, Busher MB (eds) Ecological interactions in soil, Spec Publ no 4, Br Ecol Soc. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, pp 127–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Giller KE, McGrath SP, Hirsch PR (1989) Absence of nitrogen fixation in clover grown in soil subject to long-term contamination with heavy metals is due to survival of only ineffective Rhizobium. Soil Biol Biochem 21:841–848

    Google Scholar 

  • Greaves MP, Poole NJ, Domsch KH, Jagnow G, Verstraete W (1980) Recommended tests for assessing the side-effects of pesticides on the soil microflora. Tech Rep no 59, Weed Research Organization, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths RP, McNamara TM, Steven SS, Morita RY (1981) Relative microbial activity and mineralization associated with water masses in the Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska. J Oceanog Soc Jpn 37:227–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Henriksson E (1971) Algal nitrogen fixation in temperate regions. In: Biological nitrogen fixation in natural and agricultural habitats. Plant and Soil, Spec Vol, pp 415–419

  • Hirsch PR, Spokes JR (1988) Rhizobium leguminosarum as a model for investigating gene transfer in soil. In: Klingmüller W (ed) Risk assessment for deliberate releases. Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, pp 10–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkinson DS (1988) Determination of microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in soil. In: Wilson JT (ed) Advances in nitrogen cycling in agricultural ecosystems, CAB International, Wallingford, pp 368–386

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkinson DS, Ladd JN (1981) Microbial biomass in soil: measurement and turnover. In: Paul EA, Ladd JN (eds) Soil Biochemistry, Vol 5. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 415–471

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkinson DS, Powlson DS (1976) The effects of biocidal treatments on metabolism in soil. V. A method for measuring soil biomass. Soil Biol Biochem 8:209–213

    Google Scholar 

  • Killham K (1985) A physiological determination of the impact of environmental stress on the activity of microbial biomass. Environ Pollut (Ser A) 38:204–283

    Google Scholar 

  • Killham K, Firestone M (1984) Salt stress control of intracellular solutes in streptomycetes indigenous to saline soils. Appl Environ Microbiol 47:301–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz SE, McGrath SP, Giller KE (1992) Assessment of free-living nitrogen fixation activity as a biological indicator of heavy metal toxicity in soil. Soil Biol Biochem 24:601–606

    Google Scholar 

  • McGrath SP (1994) Effects of heavy metals from sewage sludge on soil microbes in agricultural ecosystems. In: Ross SM (ed) Toxic metals in the soil-plant system. Wiley and Sons, pp 247–274

  • McGrath SP, Brookes PC, Giller KE (1988) Effects of potentially toxic metals in soil derived from past applications of sewage sludge on nitrogen fixation by Trifolium repens L. Soil Biol Biochem 20:415–424

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food and Department of Environment (1993a) Review of the rules for sewage-sludge application to agricutural land. Soil fertility aspects of potentially toxic elements. Report of the Independent Scientific Committee, MAFF Publications, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food and Department of Environment (1993b) Review of the rules for sewage-sludge application to agricultural land. Food safety and relevant animal health aspects of potentially toxic elements. Report of the Independent Scientific Committee, MAFF Publications, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Ocio JA, Brookes PC (1990) An evaluation of methods for measuring the microbial biomass in soils following recent additions of wheat straw and the characterization of the biomass that develops. Soil Biol Biochem 22:685–694

    Google Scholar 

  • Powlson DS, Jenkinson DS (1976) The effects of biocidal treatments on metabolism in soil. II. Gamma irradiation, autoclaving, air-drying and fumigation. Soil Biol Biochem 8:179–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Powlson DS, Brookes PC, Christensen BT (1987) Measurement of soil microbial biomass provides an early indication of changes in total soil organic matter due to straw incorporation. Soil Biol Biochem 19:159–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Rother JA, Milbank JW, Thornton I (1982) Seasonal fluctuations in nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) by free-living bacteria in soils contaminated with cadmium, lead and zinc. J Soil Sci 33:101–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Saffigna PG, Powlson DS, Brookes PC, Thomas GA (1989) Influence of sorghum residues and tillage on soil organic matter and soil microbial biomass in an Australian vertisol. Soil Biol Biochem 21:759–765

    Google Scholar 

  • Somerville L, Greaves MP, Domsch KH, Verstraete W, Poole NJ, Van Dijk H, Anderson JPE (1987) Recommended laboratory tests for assessing the side-effects of pesticides on the soil microflora. In: Somerville L, Greaves MP (eds) Pesticide effects on soil microflora. Taylor and Francis, London New York Philadelphia, pp 205–219

    Google Scholar 

  • Tyler G (1981) Heavy metals in soil biology and biochemistry. In: Paul EA, Ladd JN (eds) Soil Biochemistry, Vol 5. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 371–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Vance ED, Brookes PC, Jenkinson DS (1987) An extraction method for measuring microbial biomass C. Soil Biol Biochem 19:703–707

    Google Scholar 

  • Witty JF, Keay PJ, Fogatt PJ, Dart PJ (1979) Algal nitrogen fixation on temperate arable fields — the Broadbalk Experiment. Plant and Soil 52:151–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Joergensen RG, Pommerening B, Chaussod R, Brookes PC (1990) Measurement of soil microbial biomass C by fumigation-extraction. An automated procedure. Soil Biol Biochem 22: 1167–1169

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soil Science Department, Rothamsted Experimental Station, AL5 2JQ, Harpenden, Herts., UK

    P. C. Brookes

Authors
  1. P. C. Brookes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Brookes, P.C. The use of microbial parameters in monitoring soil pollution by heavy metals. Biol Fertil Soils 19, 269–279 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336094

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00336094

Key words

Search

Navigation