Effects of elevated zinc concentrations in soil on the potential nitrification rate: identification of biological availability and mechanisms of tolerance
Original title: Effecten van verhoogde zinkconcentraties in de bodem op de potentiële nitrificatie: identificatie van de biologische beschikbaarheid en mechanismen van tolerantie Period: October 2002 till September 2004 Status: Completed
Vlaamse overheid; Beleidsdomein Economie, Wetenschap en Innovatie; Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en Technologie (IWT), more, sponsor
Addition of soluble metal salts to soil in laboratory tests often results in negative effects of elevated metal concentrations on soil microbial processes while these negative effects are sometimes not seen in field contaminated soils with similar total metal concentrations. This discrepancy is due to different available metal concentrations in soil. But also changes in soil microbial populations can change the measured response in field contaminated soils. The combination of both different available metal concentrations and changes in microbial population (adaptation or acclimatization) can explain the absence of toxic effects in the field. The aim of this investigation is to identify the role of both processes. Nitrification is chosen as microbial process and Zn as contaminant. Finally, this should result in a better extrapolation of short-term laboratory tests to long-term field contaminations.
