EJPAU 2006. Wyszkowska J. , Zaborowska M. , Kucharski J. ACTIVITY OF ENZYMES IN ZINC CONTAMINATED SOIL

Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.

2006
Volume 9
Issue 1

Topic:

Environmental Development

ELECTRONIC
JOURNAL OF
POLISH
AGRICULTURAL
UNIVERSITIES

Wyszkowska J. , Zaborowska M. , Kucharski J. 2006. ACTIVITY OF ENZYMES IN ZINC CONTAMINATED SOIL, EJPAU 9(1), #06.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume9/issue1/abs-06.html

ACTIVITY OF ENZYMES IN ZINC CONTAMINATED SOIL

Jadwiga Wyszkowska, Magdalena Zaborowska, Jan Kucharski
Department of Microbiology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study has been to determine the effect of soil contamination with zinc on the activity of soil enzymes. The study consisted of two laboratory experiments. Same, light loamy soil of pH 7.1, was used in both experiments. The variables in the first experiment were: a degree of soil contamination with zinc in mg Zn kg^-1 d.m. of soil: 0, 5, 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000; dose of cellulose in g kg^-1 d.m. of soil: 0, 15, and time of soil incubation (15 – 120 days). In the second experiment the following variables were tested: the degree of soil contamination with zinc in mg Zn kg^-1 d.m. of soil: 0, 1000 and 2000; soil pH: 7.1, 6.4 and 5.5, and the time of soil incubation (15 – 120 days).

The results of the experiments demonstrated that contamination of soil with zinc led to depressed activity of dehydrogenases, urease, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase. Dehydrogenases and urease appeared to be more vulnerable to zinc contamination than phosphatases. The soil enzymes were adversely affected not only by zinc contamination but also by increasing soil acidity. According to their vulnerability to soil acidity the soil enzymes can be ordered as follows: dehydrogenases > urease > alkaline phosphatase > acid phosphatase. Cellulose added to soil (15 g kg^-1) proved to be a good factor in the improvement of soil biochemical properties, although it did not limit the effects produced by zinc.

Key words: zinc; contamination; dehydrogenases; urease; acid phosphatase; alkaline phosphatase; enzymes.

Jadwiga Wyszkowska
Department of Microbiology,
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
Pl. Łodzki 3, 10 -718 Olsztyn, Poland
email: jadwiga.wyszkowska@uwm.edu.pl

Magdalena Zaborowska
Department of Microbiology,
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
Pl. Łodzki 3, 10 -727 Olsztyn, Poland
email: m.zaborowska@uwm.edu.pl

Jan Kucharski
Department of Microbiology,
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland
Pl. Łodzki 3, 10 -727 Olsztyn, Poland
email: jan.kucharski@uwm.edu.pl

Responses to this article, comments are invited and should be submitted within three months of the publication of the article. If accepted for publication, they will be published in the chapter headed 'Discussions' and hyperlinked to the article.