Evaluation of soil respiration characteristics to assess heavy-metal effects on soil-microorganisms using glutamic-acid as a substrate

Summary, in English

Computerized continuous monitoring of soil respiration rates before and during glutamic acid decomposition in heavy metal polluted soils was used to determine four microbial parameters: basal respiration rate, substrate induced respiration rate, lag time before the exponential increase of the soil respiration rate and the specific respiration increment during the exponential phase. Both smelter- and laboratory-contaminated soils were studied.



Basal respiration rate was the parameter most inhibited (54–77%) by heavy metal contamination. Increased soil moisture resulted in increased basal respiration rate, irrespective of pollution level. The substrate-induced respiration rate after the addition of glutamic acid was strongly correlated with the basal respiration rate (r = 0.85−0.95). The change in specific respiration increment was not related to metal contamination but increased with increasing soil moisture, with an optimum at about 250% H2O based on soil organic matter (oven-dried). Lag time was the parameter best correlated with smelter-induced metal contamination (r = 0.64 and 0.75). Unlike the three other parameters, the lag time was unaffected by soil moisture, irrespective of contamination level.

• Author: Anders Nordgren; Erland Bååth; Bengt Söderström
• Department/s: MEMEG; Microbial Ecology
• Publishing year: 1988
• Language: English
• Pages: 949-954
• Publication/Series: Soil Biology & Biochemistry
• Volume: 20
• Issue: 6
• Links: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0038071788901095
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Status: Published
• Research group: Microbial Ecology
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0038-0717