Resistance of aerobic microorganisms and soil enzyme response to soil contamination with Ekodiesel Ultra fuel

Agata Borowik,Jadwiga Wyszkowska,Mirosław Wyszkowski

doi:10.1007/s11356-017-0076-1

Agata Borowik, Jadwiga Wyszkowska + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0076-1

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Abstract

This study determined the susceptibility of cultured soil microorganisms to the effects of Ekodiesel Ultra fuel (DO), to the enzymatic activity of soil and to soil contamination with PAHs. Studies into the effects of any type of oil products on reactions taking place in soil are necessary as particular fuels not only differ in the chemical composition of oil products but also in the composition of various fuel improvers and antimicrobial fuel additives. The subjects of the study included loamy sand and sandy loam which, in their natural state, have been classified into the soil subtype 3.1.1 Endocalcaric Cambisols. The soil was contaminated with the DO in amounts of 0, 5 and 10 cm3 kg−1. Differences were noted in the resistance of particular groups or genera of microorganisms to DO contamination in loamy sand (LS) and sandy loam (SL). In loamy sand and sandy loam, the most resistant microorganisms were oligotrophic spore-forming bacteria. The resistance of microorganisms to DO contamination was greater in LS than in SL. It decreased with the duration of exposure of microorganisms to the effects of DO. The factor of impact (IFDO) on the activity of particular enzymes varied. For dehydrogenases, urease, arylsulphatase and β-glucosidase, it had negative values, while for catalase, it had positive values and was close to 0 for acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase. However, in both soils, the noted index of biochemical activity of soil (BA) decreased with the increase in DO contamination. In addition, a positive correlation occurred between the degree of soil contamination and its PAH content.

Highlights

Progressive industrialisation and urbanisation contribute to the degradation of ever increasing areas, which leads to a reduction in biological diversity (Global Environment Outlook 2012)
The contamination of soil with Ekodiesel Ultra fuel had the greatest effect on the number of the following: ammonifying bacteria (81%), actinobacteria (53%), oligotrophic bacteria (41%), nitrogen-immobilising bacteria (36%), copiotrophic bacteria (28%) and fungi (48%)
The number of other groups of microorganisms was to a much lesser degree determined by the contamination with Ekodiesel Ultra fuel, and the percentage of this contaminant in the structure of the number ranged from 2% to 11% (Pseudomonas sp.)

Summary

Introduction

Progressive industrialisation and urbanisation contribute to the degradation of ever increasing areas, which leads to a reduction in biological diversity (Global Environment Outlook 2012). A significant role in the degradation of natural environments is performed by persistent organic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Angello et al 2016). The European Commission, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions (COM 2006) pay close attention to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as compounds resulting in soil degradation. The hazards to the soil environment and to human health are posed by exhaust emissions from diesel engines, including inter alia PAHs, and by point contamination of soils with oil products due to failures, accidents, spills during reloading, etc. The response of microorganisms and soil enzymes to the effects of particular oil products should be determined individually for particular types and brands of these products (Adam et al 2017; Niepceron et al 2013).

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