Joanna Lemanowicz

Effects of farmyard manure and nitrogen fertilizers on mobility of phosphorus and sulphur in wheat and activity of selected hydrolases in soil

Abstract The paper demonstrates the results of research on the mobility of phosphorus and sulphur in winter wheat fertilized with several rates (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 t ha-1) of farmyard manure and nitrogen (0, 40, 80, 120 kg N ha-1). The content of these nutrients was related to the activity of acid phosphatase and arylsulphatase in a Haplic Luvisol. The highest content of available phosphorus (91.58 mg P kg-1) was reported in the soil amended with farmyard manure at the rate of 60 t ha-1. The content of sulphates (VI) in the Haplic Luvisol was high and, on average, equal to 25.22 mg kg-1. The activity of acid phosphatase in the soil increased with increasing mineral nitrogen rates. The highest content of sulphates (VI) and the lowest activity of arylsulphatase were identified at the nitrogen rate of 40 kg N ha-1. The mobility of phosphorus in winter wheat was the highest when farmyard manure at the rate of 60 t ha-1 and mineral nitrogen at the rate of 120 kg N ha-1 were incorporated into the soil. The greatest translocation of sulphur was reported at the high farmyard manure rates (40, 60 and 80 t ha-1) and the nitrogen rate of 80 kg N ha-1.

Enzymatic variation of soils exposed to the impact of the soda plant in terms of biochemical parameters

Salinity is the key global problem of the soil environment degradation. The paper demonstrates the results of research of the activity of selected soil enzymes (catalase, dehydrogenase, alkaline and acid phosphatase, rhodanase and arylsulphatase) as well as the content of macroelements (available phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and sulphates sulphur) in terms of the principal physicochemical properties. The soil was located in the vicinity of old sedimentation tanks within the impact of the plant of CIECH Soda Polska S.A (the soda plant) in Inowrocław (Central Poland). Pearson’s correlation coefficients were applied to assess the interactions between some physicochemical properties, some macroelements and soil enzyme activities. The results have shown that the soil ECe, P, K, Mg and S contents were changing depending on the soil sampling locations. The soil enzymes did not change significantly with an increase in ECe. The activity of rhodanase differed from the other soil enzymes analysed; that one can be used as an indicator of environmental pollutants produced during chemical industry processes. The result of this study found inconsistent salt-affected soil effects on soil enzyme activity. It remains a challenge to thoroughly delineate effects of salt-affected soil on soil process in general and on biochemical processes in particular, and as a result, the selection of the adequate method of revegetating such soil.

Assessment of the content of heavy metals and potential pathogenic microorganisms in soil under illegal dumping sites

The aim of the study was the assessment of the environmental contamination of soil by heavy metals and microorganisms within the uncontrolled landfill dumps and the impact of anthropogenic sources on the activity of selected soil surface horizons. Some physicochemical properties were determined according to commonly used procedures in soil science laboratories. The total of heavy metals concentration was assessed according to Crock and Severson and forms available according to Lindsay and Norvell. The total contents and mobile forms were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. As part of the microbiological tests, potentially pathogenic evidence of bacteria was found indicating fecal contamination of the soil (E. coli and other coliform bacilli, Salmonella spp., and Enterococcus spp.). Quantitative analyses were carried out based on the calculation of the most probable number of microorganisms (MPN method). The activity of selected redox and hydrolases enzymes: the activity of dehydrogenases with the Thalmann method, catalase with the Johnson and Temple method, alkaline and acid phosphatase with the method of Tabatabai and Bremner. It was concluded that depending on the composition of the dump, the physicochemical properties of the soil were changed, too. Uncontrolled landfills significantly affected the increase or decrease in the pH of the tested soil and the organic content of the tested soil. The waste stored at the site affected the contamination of the soil by heavy metals to varying degrees. The results show that the most dangerous bacteria exist in the soil under the C landfill and this is where the greatest risk of soil contamination exists. The highest amount of selected enzymes activity was observed in soils under illegal C dumping sites. In the soil sourced from A and B landfills, the enzyme inhibition occurred which was linked to the lowering of the organic carbon. The results of the principal component analysis demonstrated that the content of heavy metals and the activity of enzymes are the indicators of anthropogenic pollution, whereas granulometric composition (sand and silt) is mainly associated with the natural environment.

Biological parameters in technogenic soils of a former sulphur mine

Abstract This study was conducted on the soils originating from a reclamation area of the former sulphur mine in Tarnobrzeg, Poland. Soil was sampled 16 years after the completion of mining works with the open-pit method at Machów, as well as 7 years after sulphur mining via the ‘smelting’ method in the Jeziórko mine was abandoned. Several biological parameters were examined: soil respiration, soil microbial biomass and the activity of rhodanese and arylsulphatase enzymes taking part in sulphur transformation within the site’s soils. The soils showed a high total sulphur and sulphates content. The SO42- constituted a large fraction of total sulphur, in some cases, exceeding 80% or even 95% of total sulphur. The soil pH decreased due to the degrading effects of sulphur mining. In the soils studied from the locations with the lowest soil pH value, no activity of arylsulphatase was reported and the activity of rhodanese was lowest. The highest soil respiration values were recorded from the 0-5 cm layer in the areas covered with forest vegetation. A high soil respiration value at the waste heap at Machów wherein a very high concentration of Stot and SO42- was observed can be due to the ability of fungi to produce hyphal strands and to survive unfavourable conditions.

Effect of forest fire on changes in the content of total and available forms of selected heavy metals and catalase activity in soil

Abstract The aim of the paper was to assess the effect of forest fire on the content of total and available forms of zinc, copper, lead, nickel and cadmium, as well as the activity of catalase in soil. The study was performed directly (2012) and a year after the fire (2013). The fire had a significant effect on the content of those heavy metals in surface horizons, however, it did not result in their rapid growth. The concentrations of total forms of metals did not exceed the norms provided for in Regulation of the Polish Minister of the Environment. The soil samples analysed can be considered unpolluted with those metals. The availability coefficients calculated showed an unfavourable higher availability of lead and cadmium over zinc and copper. The statistical analysis showed a significant effect of fire on the activity of catalase. Resistance of soil (RS) for catalase demonstrated lower values in the year 2012 as compared with 2013 (except for B soil). The calculated values of time index (TI) pointed to the activation of the enzyme a year after the fire. The Ward clustering method facilitated determining similarities between the sites in two research years (2012 and 2013) with the selected soil parameters. With the PCA method a negative effect of fire was identified.

Arylsulphatase activity and sulphate content in relation to crop rotation and fertilization of soil

Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of varying rates of FYM (0, 20, 40, 60 Mg ha−1) and nitrogen N0, N1, N2, and N3 on the content of sulphate sulphur (VI) and the activity of arylsulphatase, which participates in the transformations of this element in Haplic Luvisol. The study report is based on a long-term field experiment with two different crop rotations: A – recognized as exhausting the humus from soil and B – recognized as enriching the soil with humus. During the cultivation of the plants, the soil was sampled four times from corn and a red clover cultivar and grass. The FYM fertilization rate for which the highest arylsulphatase activity and the content of sulphates were identified was 60 Mg ha−1. An inhibitory effect of high rates (90 and 135 kg N ha−1) of ammonium nitrate on the arylsulphatase activity was also observed. A significant correlation between the content of carbon, nitrogen, and sulphates and the arylsulphatase activity was recorded. The investigation on the effect of combined application of farmyard manure and mineral nitrogen fertilization on the activity of arylsulphatase participating in the sulphur cycling was launched to examine the problem in detail.

The content of macro- and microelements and the phosphatase activity of soils under a varied plant cultivation technology

The paper presents the results of the analyses of selected physicochemical properties and the activity of alkaline and acid phosphatase in the soils which differed in terms of plant cultivation technology. Profile sI represented arable land in the crop rotation with cereals dominating (medium intensive technology), without irrigation, while profile sII—represented arable land with vegetable crops cultivation (intensive technology), intensively fertilized and irrigated. The content of available phosphorus in the two soil profiles investigated ranged from 6.6 to 69.1 mg/kg. The highest contents of phosphorus available to plants were reported in the plough horizon of both soils, while the abundance of potassium and magnesium was highest in the illuvial horizon of both soils. The soil profiles investigated showed a significant variation in terms of the cultivation technologies applied. The contents of plant-available Cu and Zn in soil were low and they resulted in the inhibition of neither alkaline nor acid phosphatase. The intensive vegetable crops cultivation technology decreased the content of organic matter and increased the content of the nutrients in soil. Using the Ward method, it was found that relatively similar physicochemical and chemical properties were reported for the genetic horizons of both soil profiles, especially Ap horizon of the soil representing arable land with intensive cultivation of vegetable crops.