Abstract
We investigated changes in biochemical activity of a soil cultivated with Ocimum basilicum L. plants and in the oxidative stress of plants caused by the addition of biosolids and inorganic fertilizer. A greenhouse experiment was set up; it consisted of pots containing basil plants to which different treatments with biosolids and fertilizers were added. After 10 and 210 days of the incorporation of the treatments, both the biochemical properties and oxidative stress of the plants were evaluated. Mineralization of nitrogen (N) and respiratory activity increased with a higher dose of biosolid after 10 days of application. After 210 days, there were no changes in the mineralization of N and respiratory activity, catalase showed an increase, while microbial biomass carbon decreased. In relation to the oxidative stress, there was a decrease in the anthocyanin antioxidant capacity, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), total flavonoids, and phenolic compounds were observed in soils treated with biosolids. The results indicated that the biochemical properties of the soil were favored in the presence of biosolids because they increased, especially after 10 days of application. The antioxidant capacity decreased in the presence of biosolids, which suggests that the amendment does not affect such capacity, and therefore oxidative stress could be reduced.
Highlights
It is generally recognized that the use of biosolids for agricultural purposes provides nutrients to soil, increases the content of organic matter (OM) and soil enzyme activities related to biogeochemical cycles such as C, N, and P, and promotes the proliferation of vegetation and favors soil aggregation [1,2,3,4,5,6]
Nitrogen availability is entirely dependent on the rate of organic matter decomposition, the soil microorganisms present in the biosolid are of great importance when transforming organic matter into inorganic compounds available to plants, with their decomposition activity and nitrogen mineralization [34,35,36]
This study demonstrated that biosolids could be used in basil cultivation because positive effects were observed both in the soil and in the physiology of the plant
Summary
It is generally recognized that the use of biosolids for agricultural purposes provides nutrients to soil, increases the content of organic matter (OM) and soil enzyme activities related to biogeochemical cycles such as C, N, and P, and promotes the proliferation of vegetation and favors soil aggregation [1,2,3,4,5,6].its addition affects the quality of the soil, altering the physical, chemical, and biochemical characteristics of the soil [7]. It is generally recognized that the use of biosolids for agricultural purposes provides nutrients to soil, increases the content of organic matter (OM) and soil enzyme activities related to biogeochemical cycles such as C, N, and P, and promotes the proliferation of vegetation and favors soil aggregation [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Among the biochemical soil properties, the most outstanding are those involved with the microbial activity (microbial biomass C and N, respiration etc.), and the activities of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes related to C, N, S, and P cycles in soil [9,10,11]. The effects of biosolids on soil quality can be evaluated through the use of indicators such as microbial biomass content, metabolic quotient (qCO2 ), microbial C-to-organic C ratio, and soil enzymatic activities. The application of biosolids can either induce soil microbial
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