Abstract
The thresholds for heavy metal loading of soils that do not impair microbially mediated processes need to be determined. This study assessed the limits for Zn in relation to the inhibition of nitrification. Different Zn concentrations in soil were achieved by spiking with ZnCl2 or from the long-term application of biosolids. Potentially available Zn was evaluated by fractionation using sequential extractions with water, 0.05 M CaCl2, and 0.11 M CH3COOH solutions at a soil:liquid ratio 1:40. pH (0.01 M CaCl2) and electrical conductivity were measured in all treatments. It was not possible to obtain very clear cutoffs of Zn concentrations based on nitrification inhibition, which could apply to different soils. However, water-extractable Zn fraction was best related to nitrification inhibition limits when soils were considered together. Three approximate ranges of nitrification inhibition were identified: 0 to 0.125 mg Zn L-1 (no inhibition); 0.125to 0.5 mg Zn L-1 (partial inhibition); and over 0.5 mg Zn L-1 (complete inhibition). For the same Zn loading, the water-soluble fraction was much lower in biosolid-amended soils than in the spiked ones. Consequently, biosolid-amended soils were more resilient toward Zn contamination. Weakly bounded Zn was a more reliable index than stronger bound fractions to determine common thresholds with respect to nitrification inhibition in the soils studied. Therefore, we suggest maximum Zn loadings based on the amounts in the soil solution rather than on total inputs or total content.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alloway, B. J.: 1995a, ‘Introduction’, in B. Alloway (ed.), Heavy Metals in Soils, Blackie, NewYork, pp. 6–7.
Alloway, B. J.: 1995b, ‘Soil Processes and the Behavior of Metals’, in B. Alloway (ed.), Heavy Metals in Soils, Blackie, New York, pp. 34–35.
Alloway, B. J. 1995c, ‘Appendices’, in B. Alloway (ed.), Heavy Metals in Soils, Blackie, NewYork, p. 354.
Angle, J. S., Cheney, R. L. and Rhee, D.: 1993, ‘Bacterial resistance to heavy metals related to extractable and total metal concentrations in soil and media’, Soil Biol. Biochem. 25, 1443–1446.
Baath, E.: 1989, ‘Effects of heavy metals in soil on microbial processes and populations: A review’, Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 47, 335–379.
Becket, P. H. T.: 1989, ‘The use of extractants in studies on trace metals in soils, sewage sludges, and sludge-treated soils’, Adv. Soil. Sci. 9, 143–176.
Bourg, A. C. M.: 1995, ‘Speciation of Heavy Metals in Soils and Groundwater and Implications for their Natural and Provoked Mobility’, in W. Salomons, U. Foerstner, and P. Mader (eds), Heavy Metals Problems and Solutions, Springer Verlag, New York, pp. 19–33.
Brookes, P. C.: 1995, ‘The use of microbiological parameters in monitoring soil pollution by heavy metals’, Biol. Fertil. Soils 19, 269–279.
Chaudri, A. M., McGrath, S. P. and Giller, K. E.: 1992a, ‘Survival of the indigenous population of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii in soil spiked with Cd, Zn, Cu, and Ni salts’, Soil Biol. Biochem. 24, 625–632.
Chaudri, A. M., McGrath, S. P. and Giller, K. E.: 1992b, ‘Metal tolerance of isolates of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii from soil contaminated by past applications of sewage sludge’, Soil Biol. Biochem. 24, 83–88.
Dahlin, S., Witter, E., Martensson, A., and Baath, E.: 1997, ‘Where's the limit? Changes in microbiological properties of agricultural soils at low levels of metal contamination’, Soil Biol. Biochem. 29, 1405–1415.
Fotovat, A., Naidu, R. and Sumner, M. E.: 1997, ‘Water:soil ratio influences aqueous phase chemistry of indigenous copper and zinc in soils’, Aust. J. Agric. Res. 35, 687–709.
Giller, K., Witter, E. and McGrath, S. P.: 1998, ‘Toxicity of heavy metals to microorganisms and microbial processes in agricultural soils: A review’, Soil Biol. Biochem. 30, 1389–1414.
Harrison, E. Z., McBride, M. B. and Bouldin, D. R.: 1998, ‘The Case for Caution. Recommendations for Land Application of Sewage Sludges and an Appraisal of the US EPA's Part 503 Sludge Rules’, Working Paper, Cornell Waste Management Institute, Ithaca, NY, U.S.A.
Harmsen, K.: 1992, ‘Long-term Behavior of Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soils: A Simple Analytical Model’, in D. Adriano (ed.), Biogeochemoistry of Trace Metals, Lewis Publisher, Boca Raton, FL, U.S.A., pp. 217–249.
Hart, S. C., Stark, J. M., Davidson, E. A. and Firestone, M. K.: 1994, ‘Nitrogen Mineralization, Immobilization, and Nitrification’, in R. W. Weaver et al.(eds), Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 2. Microbiological and Biochemical Properties, SSSA Book Ser. 5. SSSA, Madison, WI.
Hassink, J.: 1996, ‘Preservation of plant residues in soils differing in unsaturated protective capacity’, Soil Sci. 60, 487–491.
Hassink, J. and Whitmore, A. P.: 1997, ‘A model of the physical protection of organic matter in soils’, Soil Sci. 61, 131–139.
Ibrahim, A. M.: 1988, ‘Heavy Metal Inhibition of Resting Nitrifying Bacteria’, Proceedings of the Industrial Waste Conference, Purdue University, Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, MI, U.S.A.
Kandeler, E., Kampichler, C. and Horak, O.: 1996, ‘Influence of heavy metals on the functional diversity of soil microbial communities’, Biol. Fertil. Soils 23, 299–306.
Kiekens, L.: 1995, ‘Zinc’ in B. J. Alloway (ed.), Heavy Metals in Soils, Blackie, New York, p. 302.
Knight, B. P., Chaudri, A. M., McGrath, S. P. and Giller, K. E.: 1998, ‘Determination of chemical availability of cadmium and zinc in soils using inert soil moisture samples’, Environ. Pollut. 99, 293–298.
Ladd, J. N., Amato, M., Grace, P. R. and Van Veen, J. A.: 1995, ‘Simulation of 14C turnover through the microbial biomass in soils incubated with 14C labeled plant residues’, Soil Biol. Biochem. 17, 747–756.
Little, B. J., Wagner, P. A. and Lewandowski, Z.: 1997, ‘Spatial Relationships between Bacteria and Mineral Surfaces’, in J. F. Banfield and K. H. Nelson (eds), Reviews in Mineralogy. Vol. 35. Geomicrobiology: Interactions between Microbes and Minerals, Mineralogical Society of America, Washington, DC, U.S.A., pp. 123–137.
Logan, T. J., Lindsay, B. J., Goins, L. E. and Ryan, J. A.: 1997, ‘Field assessment of sludge metal availability to crops: Sludge rate response’, J. Environ. Qual. 26, 534–550.
Marshall, K. C.: 1980, ‘Adsorption of Microorganisms to Soils and Sediments’, in B. Bitton and K. C. Marshall (eds), Adsorption of Microorganisms to Surfaces, John Wiley &; Sons, New York, pp. 317–329.
McBride, M. B.: 1994, Environmental Chemistry of Soils, Oxford University Press, New York.
Msaky, J. J. and Calvet, R.: 1990, ‘Adsorption behavior of copper and zinc in soils: Influence of pH on adsorption characteristics’, Soil Sci. 150, 513–522.
Petruzzelli, G. G. and Lubrano, L.: 1985, ‘Ionic strength effect on heavy metal adsorption by soil’, Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 16, 971–986.
Rhoades, J. D.: 1996, ‘Salinity: Electrical Conductivity and Total Dissolved Solids’, in D. L. Sparks et al.(eds), Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 3. Chemical Analysis, SSSA Book Series: 5, SSSA, ASA, Madison WI.
Shuman, L. M.: 1985, ‘Fractionation method for soil microelements’, Soil Sci. 140, 11–22.
Sparks, D. L.: 1995, Environmental Soil Chemistry, cademic Press, San Diego, CA, U.S.A., pp. 104–107.
Theng, B. K. G. and Orchard, V. A.: 1995, ‘Interactions of Clays with Microorganisms and Bacterial Survival in Soil: A Physicochemical Perspective’, in P. M. Huang, J. Berthelin, J.-M. Bollag, W. B. McGill and A. L. Page (eds), Environmental Impact of Soil Component Interactions, pp. 123–145.
Thomas, G. W.: 1996, ‘Soil pH and Soil Acidity’, in D. L. Sparks et al.(eds), Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 3. Chemical Analysis. SSSA Book Ser. 5, SSSA, ASA, Madison WI, p. 488.
Ure, A. M.: 1995, ‘Methods of Analysis for Heavy Metals in Soils’, in B. J. Alloway (ed.), Heavy Metals in Soils, Blackie, New York, pp. 89–93.
Van Veen, J. A., Ladd, J. N. and Amato, M.: 1985, ‘Turnover of carbon and nitrogen through the microbial biomass carbon’, Soil Biol. Biochem. 17, 744–756.
Vegter, J. J.: 1995, ‘Soil Protection in The Netherlands’, in W. Salomons, U. Forstner and P. Mader (eds), Heavy Metals, Springer, New York, pp. 79–100.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cela, S., Sumner, M.E. Soil Zinc Fractions Determine Inhibition of Nitrification. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 141, 91–104 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021379421878
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021379421878