Biochemical and microbiological activity of soil contaminated with o-cresol and biostimulated with Perna canaliculus mussel meal

Abstract

The choice of the study subject was a consequence of the growing interest in volatile organic compounds which are strongly dispersed in the environment. The knowledge of o-cresol’s capability for being broken down by bacteria should be supplemented by studies aimed at determining the biochemical and microbiological activity of soils. o-Cresol was applied at the following rates: 0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 50 mg of o-cresol kg−1 d.m. of soil to determine its effect on the biological properties of soil. The activity of dehydrogenases, catalase, urease, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and β-glucosidase, the eight groups of microorganism counts, was determined in soil samples after 45 days and the barley yield was determined. Preventive biostimulation with Perna canaliculus mussel meal, illustrated by means of the index of fertility (IF), was conducted in order to eliminate the adverse effect of o-cresol. The soil and crop resistance index (RS) was used to illustrate the response of barley, and R:S—the rhizosphere effect index was used to determine the effect of the crop on the enzymatic activity of soil. o-Cresol had a beneficial effect on the biological activity of soil at an acceptable rate of 0.1 and 1 mg kg−1 d.m. of soil, and it became its inhibitor after being applied at 10 and 50 mg kg−1 d.m. of soil, which also brought about a decrease in the resistance of spring barley. Dehydrogenases are the most sensitive, and catalase is the least sensitive, to the pressure of o-cresol in soil. Mussel meal can be recommended as a biostimulator of soil fertility. It also eliminated the negative effect of o-cresol on its biological activity.

Perna canaliculus as an Ecological Material in the Removal of o-Cresol Pollutants from Soil

“…Changes in the structure of soil microorganisms are indicative of changes in the soil quality defined as the soil's ability to serve numerous functions, although this indicator is less frequently used in soil assessment systems as a microbiological parameter than as chemical or physical indicators [68,69]. However, there have been reports documenting the inhibitory effect of phenolic compounds on microorganisms [58,70,71]. Our study shows an adverse effect of o-cresol on the count of nitrogen-immobilising bacteria and ammonifiying bacteria.…”

“…The nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen contents were 5 mg kg −1 DM NO 3 − -N and 1902 mg kg −1 DM NH 4 + -N. Perna canaliculus shells were used as a substance eliminating the negative effects of o-cresol. The dose of mussel shells was determined based on preliminary studies and literature data [39,40,58,59]. Our previous research [58] showed that Perna canaliculus shells used in the dose of 5 mg kg −1 DM are a very good biostimulator of both biochemical and microbiological activity.…”

“…The dose of mussel shells was determined based on preliminary studies and literature data [39,40,58,59]. Our previous research [58] showed that Perna canaliculus shells used in the dose of 5 mg kg −1 DM are a very good biostimulator of both biochemical and microbiological activity.…”

Bisphenol A—A Dangerous Pollutant Distorting the Biological Properties of Soil

“…Taking into account the sensitivity of soil enzymes to the pressure of o -cresol in doses of 10 and 50 mg kg −1 d.m. of soil, they were ranked as follows: CAT > PAC = ARYL > URE > DEH > PAL > GLU [ 60 ]. In the research of Zhu et al [ 61 ], exposure to the cresol frothing agent inhibited urease activity as well.…”

“…BPA, easily adsorbed on hydrophobic components of the cell surface, binds to the cell membrane by intercalation, thereby changing the membrane permeability, which also affects the expression of amino acids and proteins [ 66 ]. In the research by Zaborowska et al [ 60 ], 50 mg of o -cresol kg −1 d.m. of soil stimulated the multiplication of both organotrophic bacteria and actinomycetes.…”