Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Different influences of cadmium on soil microbial activity and structure with Chinese cabbage cultivated and non-cultivated

  • ISMESS 2009 • RESEARCH ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal, accumulated in soil by anthropogenic activities and has serious effects on soil microbial activities in contaminated soils. Moreover, there is a lack of reliable data on the effects of Cd in the soil-plant system, since most of the information on Cd-microorganism interactions in soils are based on sewage sludge without plants. The main objective of this study was to assess the effects of Cd on soil microbial activities and community structure during growth of plant.

Materials and methods

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of different concentrations of Cd on soil microbial activities during the growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis) in two different soils. The field soils were used in this short-term (60 days) greenhouse pot experiment. The soils were spiked with different Cd concentrations, namely, 0, 1, 3, 8, 15, 30 mg Cd kg−1 oven dry soil, respectively. The experimental design was a 2 (soil) × 2 (vegetation/non-vegetation) × 5 (treatments (Cd)) × 3 (replicate factorial experiment). After 60 days, the study was terminated and soils were analyzed for selected microbial parameters, such as, microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), basal respiration and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs).

Results and discussion

Application of Cd at lower concentrations (1 and 3 mg kg−1) resulted in a slight increase in Cmic, whereas Cd concentrations >8 mg kg−1 caused an immediate significant decline in Cmic, the ratio of Cmic to total organic C (Cmic/Corg) decreased and the metabolic quotient (qCO2, namely, the basal respiration CO2/Cmic) increased with elevated Cd concentration. However, the impact on soil Cmic and basal respiration caused by Cd was dependent from plant cover or soil properties. The results of PLFAs showed relative increase in fatty acid indicators for fungi and actinomycetes and gradual increase in the ratio of Gram-positive to Gram-negative bacteria which were responsible for these differences with increasing Cd concentration in the planted and unplanted soils.

Conclusions

Soil microbial parameters, including, soil Cmic, the ratio of Cmic/Corg, qCO2, and community structure, may be sensitive indicators reflecting environmental stress in soil-Cd-plant system. However, further research work is needed for better understanding the changes in microbial community structure and actually impact on soil microbial community function.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agrochemistry Commission, Soil Science Society of China (ACSSSC) (ed) (1983) Routine methods for soil and agrochemical analysis. Science Press, Beijing, p 457

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson JPE, Domsch KH (1989) Ratios of microbial biomass carbon to total organic carbon in arable soils. Soil Biol Biochem 21:471–479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson TH, Domsch KH (1990) Application of ecophysiological quotients (qCO2 and qD) on microbial biomass from soils of different cropping histories. Soil Biol Biochem 22:251–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baath E, Diaz-Ravina M, Frostegard A, Campbell CD (1998) Effect of metal-rich sludge amendments on the soil microbial community. Appl Environ Microbiol 64:238–245

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bligh EG, Dyer WJ (1959) A rapid method of total lipid extraction and purification. Can J Biochem Physiol 37:911–917

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brookes PC (1995) The use of microbial parameters in monitoring soil pollution by heavy metals. Biol Fertil Soils 19:269–279

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cervantes C (1994) Copper resistance mechanisms in bacteria and fungi. FEMS Microbiol Rev 14:121–138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chander K, Brookes PC (1991) Effects of heavy metals from past application of sewage sludge on microbial biomass and organic matter accumulation in a sandy loam and silty clay loam U.K. soil. Soil Biol Biochem 10:927–932

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chander K, Brookes PC (1995) Microbial biomass dynamics following addition of metal-enriched sewage sludge to a sandy loam. Soil Biol Biochem 27:1409–1421

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dar GH (1996) Effects of cadmium and sewage sludge on soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities. Bioresour Technol 56:141–145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Federle TW (1986) Microbial distribution in soil-new techniques. In: Megusar F, Gantar M (eds) Perspective in microbial ecology. Slovene Society for Microbiology, Ljubljana, pp 493–498

    Google Scholar 

  • Frey B, Stemmer M, Widmer F, Luster J, Sperisen C (2006) Microbial activity and community structure of a soil after heavy metal contamination in a model forest ecosystem. Soil Biol Biochem 38:1745–1756

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frostegård A, Tunlid A, Bååth E (1993) Phospholipid fatty acid composition, biomass, and activity of microbial communities from two soil types experimentally exposed to different heavy metals. Appl Environ Microbiol 59:3605–3617

    Google Scholar 

  • Frostegård A, Tunlid A, Bååth E (1996) Changes in soil microbial community structure during long-term incubation in two soils experimentally contaminated with metals. Soil Biol Biochem 28:55–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giller K, Witter E, McGrath SP (1998) Toxicity of heavy metals to microorganisms and microbial processes in agricultural soils: a review. Soil Biol Biochem 30:1389–1414

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He Y, Xu JM, Ma ZH, Wang HZ, Wu YP (2007) Profiling of PLFA: implications for nonlinear spatial gradient of PCP degradation in the vicinity of Lolium perenne L. roots. Soil Biol Biochem 39:1121–1129

    Article  CAS  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, NY, pp 415–417

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan S, Cao Q, Hesham AEL, Xia Y, He JZ (2007) Soil enzymatic activities and microbial community structure with different application rates of Cd and Pb. J Environ Sci 19:834–840

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan S, Hesham AEL, HeJZ ZhuYG (2009a) Biodegradation of pyrene and catabolic genes in contaminated soils cultivated with Lolium multiflorum L. J Soils Sediments 9:482–491

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan S, Hesham AEL, Qiao M, He JZ (2009b) Effects of Cd and Pb on soil microbial community structure and activities. Environ Sci Pollut Res 17:288–296

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khas KS, Xie ZM, Huang CY (1998) Relative toxicity of lead chloride and lead acetate to microbial biomass in red soil. Chin J Appl Environ Biol 4:179–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Killham K (1985) A physiological determination of the impact of environmental stress on the activity of microbial biomass. Environ Pollut (Series A) 38:283–294

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liao M, Chen CL, Zeng LS, Huang CY (2007) Influence of lead acetate on soil microbial biomass and community structure in two different soils with the growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis). Chemosphere 66:1197–1205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu ZH, Yi XY, Wang HY, Sheng RF (2008) Cd accumulation in different Chinese cabbage seedlings under cd stress. Acta Pedologica Sinica 45:987–993

    Google Scholar 

  • Megharaj M, Singleton I, McClure NC, Naidu R (2000) Influence of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination on microalgae and microbial activities in a long-term contaminated soil. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 38:439–445

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno JL, Hernandez T, Garcia C (1999) Effects of cadmium contaminated sewage sludge compost on dynamics of organic matter and microbial activity in an arid soil. Biol Fertil Soils 28:230–237

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O’Leary WM, Wilkinson SG (1988) Gram-positive bacteria. In: Ratledge C, Wilkinson SG (eds) Microbial Lipids, vol 1. Academic Press, London, pp 117–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Pennanen T, Frostegard A, Fritze H, Baath E (1996) Phospholipid fatty acid composition and heavy metal tolerance of soil microbial communities along two heavy metal-polluted gradients in coniferous forests. Appl Environ Microbiol 62:420–428

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perez-de-Mora A, Burgos P, Madejon E, Cabrera F, Jaeckel P, Schloter M (2006) Microbial community structure and function in a soil contaminated by heavy metals: effects of plant growth and different amendments. Soil Biol Biochem 38:327–341

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Renella G, Mench M, van der Lelie D, Pietramellara G, Ascher J, Ceccherini MT, Landi L, Nannipieri P (2004) Hydrolase activity, microbial biomass and community structure in long-term Cd-contaminated soils. Soil Biol Biochem 36:443–451

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Renella G, Mench M, Landi L, Nannipieri P (2005) Microbial activity and hydrolase synthesis in long-term Cd-contaminated soils. Soil Biol Biochem 37:133–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JL, Paul EA (1990) The significance of soil microbial biomass estimations. In: Bollag JM, Strotzky G (eds) Soil biochemistry, vol 6. Marcel Dekker, NY, USA, pp 357–396

    Google Scholar 

  • Soon YK, Abboud S (1993) Lead, chromium, lead and nickel. In: Carter MR (ed) Soil sampling and methods of analysis. Lewis, Boca Raton, FL, pp 101–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparling GP (1992) Ratio of microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon as a sensitive indicator of changes in soil organic matter. Austr J Soil Res 30:195–207

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tiemann KJ, Gardea Torresdey J, Gamez G, Dokken K, Sias S (1999) Use of X-ray absorption spectroscopy and esterification to investigate Cr(III) and Ni(II) ligands in alfalfa biomass. Environ Sci Tech 33:150–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turpeinen R, Kairesalo T, Haggblom MM (2004) Microbial community structure and activity in arsenic-, chromium-, and copper-contaminated soils. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 47:39–50

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vig K, Megharaj M, Sethunathan N, Naidu R (2003) Bioavailability and toxicity of cadmium to microorganisms and their activities in soil: a review. Adv Environ Res 8:121–135

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang YP, Shi JY, Wang H, Lin Q, Chen XC, Chen YX (2007) The influence of soil heavy metals pollution on soil microbial biomass, enzyme activity, and community composition near a copper smelter. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 67:75–81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wardle DA, Ghani A (1995) A critique of the microbial metabolic quotient (qCO2) as a bioindicator of disturbance and ecosystem development. Soil Biol Biochem 27:1601–1610

    Article  CAS  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

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zogg GP, Zak DR, Ringleberg DB, MacDonald NW, Pregitzer KS, White DC (1997) Compositional and functional shifts in microbial communities due to soil warming. Soil Sci Soc Am J 61:475–481

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No.40201026) and the State Key Basic Research and Development Plan of China (No. 2002CB410804).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Resources Science, College of Environmental and Resources Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, People’s Republic of China

    Min Liao, Aili Ma & Ying Peng

  2. Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Subtropical Soil and Plant Nutrition, Hangzhou, 310029, People’s Republic of China

    Min Liao, Aili Ma & Ying Peng

  3. Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaomei Xie

Authors
  1. Min Liao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaomei Xie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Aili Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ying Peng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Min Liao.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Ji-Zheng He

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Liao, M., Xie, X., Ma, A. et al. Different influences of cadmium on soil microbial activity and structure with Chinese cabbage cultivated and non-cultivated. J Soils Sediments 10, 818–826 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-010-0251-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-010-0251-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation