Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of fomesafen on soil enzyme activity, microbial population, and bacterial community composition

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Fomesafen is a diphenyl ether herbicide that has an important role in the removal of broadleaf weeds in bean and fruit tree fields. However, very little information is known about the effects of this herbicide on soil microbial community structure and activities. In the present study, laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the effects of different concentrations of fomesafen (0, 10, 100, and 500 μg/kg) on microbial community structure and activities during an exposure period of 60 days, using soil enzyme assays, plate counting, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The results of enzymatic activity experiments showed that fomesafen had different stimulating effects on the activities of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and dehydrogenase, with dehydrogenase being most sensitive to fomesafen. On the tenth day, urease activity was inhibited significantly after treatment of different concentrations of fomesafen; this inhibiting effect then gradually disappeared and returned to the control level after 30 days. Plate counting experiments indicated that the number of bacteria and actinomycetes increased in fomesafen-spiked soil relative to the control after 30 days of incubation, while fungal number decreased significantly after only 10 days. The DGGE results revealed that the bacterial community varied in response to the addition of fomesafen, and the intensity of these six bands was greater on day 10. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the six excised DGGE bands were closely related to Emticicia, Bacillus, and uncultured bacteria. After 10 days, the bacterial community exhibited no obvious change compared with the control. Throughout the experiment, we concluded that 0–500 μg/kg of fomesafen could not produce significant toxic effects on soil microbial community structure and activities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aislabie, J. M., Chhour, K. L., Saul, D. J., Miyauchi, S., Ayton, J., Paetzold, R. F., et al. (2006). Dominant bacteria in soils of Marble Point and Wright Valley, Victoria Land, Antarctica. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 38, 3041–3056.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andreoni, V., Cavalca, L., Rao, M. A., Nocerino, G., Bernasconi, S., Dell’Amico, E., et al. (2004). Bacterial communities and enzyme activities of PAHs polluted soils. Chemosphere, 57, 401–412.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baćmaga, M., Boros, E., Kucharski, J., & Wyszkowska, J. (2012). Enzymatic activity in soil contaminated with the Aurora 40 WG herbicide. Environment Protection Engineering, 38, 91–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baruah, M., & Mishra, R. R. (1986). Effect of herbicides butachlor, 2, 4-D and oxyfluorfen on enzyme activities and CO2 evolution in submerged paddy field soil. Plant and Soil, 96, 287–291.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brzezińska, M., Stepniewska, Z., & Stepniewski, W. (1998). Soil oxygen status and dehydrogenase activity. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 30, 1783–1790.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cobucci, T., Prates, H. T., Falcao, D. L. M., & Rezende, M. M. V. (1998). Effect of imazamox, fomesafen and acifluorfen soil residue on rotational crops. Weed Science, 46, 258–263.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Epelde, L., Becerril, J. M., Kowalchuk, G. A., Deng, Y., Zhou, J. Z., & Garbisu, C. (2010). Impact of metal pollution and Thlaspi caerulescens growth on soil microbial communities. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 76, 7843–7853.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, F. F., Seldin, L., Sebastian, G. V., Kjelleberg, S., Holmström, C., & Rosado, A. S. (2004). Influence of petroleum contamination and biostimulation treatment on the diversity of Pseudomonas spp. in soil microcosms as evaluated by 16S rRNA based-PCR and DGGE. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 38, 93–98.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • el Fantroussi, S., Verschuere, L., Verstraete, W., & Top, E. M. (1999). Effect of phenylurea herbicides on soil microbial communities estimated by analysis of 16S rRNA gene fingerprints and community-level physiological profiles. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 65, 982–988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng, Z. Z., Li, Q. F., Zhang, J., Zhang, J., Huang, X., Lu, P., et al. (2012). Microbial degradation of fomesafen by a newly isolated strain Pseudomonas zeshuii BY-1 and the biochemical degradation pathway. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 60, 7104–7110.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira, E. P. B., Dusi, A. N., Costa, J. R., Xavier, G. R., & Rumjanek, N. G. (2009). Assessing insecticide and fungicide effects on the culturable soil bacterial community by analyses of variance of their DGGE fingerprinting data. European Journal of Soil Biology, 45, 466–472.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ge, G. F., Li, Z. J., Zhang, J., Wang, L. G., Xu, M. G., Zhang, J. B., et al. (2009). Geographical and climatic differences in long-term effect of organic and inorganic amendments on soil enzymatic activities and respiration in field experimental stations of China. Ecological Complexicity, 6, 421–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gianfreda, L., & Rao, M. A. (2008). Interactions between xenobiotics and microbial and enzymatic soil activity. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 38, 269–310.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, J. F., Lu, Y. T., & Sun, J. H. (2000). Residue dynamics of fomesafen in peanut and soybean fields. Chinese Journal of Agricultural Environmental Protection, 19, 82–84.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hazel, A. D., & Greaves, M. P. (1981). Effects of some herbicides on soil enzyme activities. Weed Research, 21, 205–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karlen, D. L., Mausbach, M. J., Doran, J. W., Cline, R. G., Harris, R. F., & Schuman, G. E. (1997). Soil quality: a concept, definition, and framework for evaluation (a guest editorial). Soil Science Society of America Journal, 61, 4–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan, S., Hesham, A. E. L., Qiao, M., Rehman, S., & He, J. Z. (2010). Effects of Cd and Pb on soil microbial community structure and activities. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 17, 288–296.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kızılkaya, R., Aşkın, T., Bayraklı, B., & Sağlam, M. (2004). Microbiological characteristics of soils contaminated with heavy metals. European Journal of Soil Biology, 40, 95–102.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kucharski, J., & Wyszkawska, J. (2008). Biological properties of soil contaminated with the herbicide Apyros 75 WG. Journal of Elementology, 13, 357–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, X. Y., Zhang, H. W., Wu, M. N., Zhang, Y., & Zhang, C. G. (2008). Effect of methamidophos on soil fungi community in microcosms by plate count, DGGE and clone library analysis. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 20, 619–625.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang, B., Lu, P., Li, H. H., Li, R., Li, S. P., & Huang, X. (2009). Biodegradation of fomesafen by strain Lysinibacillus sp. ZB-1 isolated from soil. Chemosphere, 77, 1614–1619.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, G. (2010). New registration case of fomesafen active compound. Chinese Journal Pesticide Market News, 4, 27.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • López, L., Pozo, C., Rodelas, B., Calvo, C., & González-Lápez, J. (2006). Influence of pesticides and herbicides presence on phosphatase activity and selected bacterial microbiota of a natural lake system. Ecotoxicology, 15, 487–493.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • May, P., & Douglas, L. (1976). Assay for soil urease activity. Plant and Soil, 45, 301–305.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mills, M. S., & Simmons, N. D. (1998). Assessing the ground-water contamination potential of agricultural chemicals: a flexible approach to mobility and degradation studies. Pesticide Science, 54, 418–434.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muyzer, G., de Waal, E. C., & Uitterlinden, A. G. (1993). Profiling of complex microbial-populations by denaturing gradient gel-electrophoresis analysis of polymerase chain reaction amplified genes-coding for 16S ribosomal-RNA. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 59, 695–700.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen M. N., & Winding, A. (2002). Microorganisms as indicators of soil health (pp. 8). National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark. Technical Report No. 388.

  • Niemi, R. M., Heiskanen, I., Ahtiainen, J. H., Rahkonen, A., Mantykoski, K., Welling, L., et al. (2009). Microbial toxicity and impacts on soil enzyme activities of pesticides used in potato cultivation. Applied Soil Ecology, 41, 293–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramesh, A., Joshi, O. P., & Billore, S. D. (2000). Effect of herbicides on soil dehydrogenase and urease activity in soybean (Glycine max). Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 70, 218–219.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ratcliff, A. W., Busse, M. D., & Shestak, C. J. (2006). Changes in microbial community structure following herbicide (glyphosate) addition to forest soils. Applied Soil Ecology, 34, 114–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rauch, B. J., Bellinder, R. R., Brainard, D. C., Lane, M., & Thies, J. E. (2007). Dissipation of fomesafen in New York state soils and potential to cause carryover injury to sweet corn. Weed Technology, 21, 206–212.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santos, J. B., Jakelaitis, A., Silva, A. A., Costa, M. D., Manabe, A., & Silva, M. C. S. (2006). Action of two herbicides on the microbial activity of soil cultivated with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in conventional–till and no–till systems. Weed Research, 46, 284–289.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sigler, W. V., & Turco, R. F. (2002). The impact of chlorothalonil application on soil bacterial and fungal populations as assessed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Applied Soil Ecology, 21, 107–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sikkema, P. H., Shropshire, C., & Nader, S. (2009). Response of dry bean to pre-plant incorporated and pre–emergence applications of smetolachlor and fomesafen. Crop Protection, 28, 744–748.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sofo, A., Scopa, A., Dumontet, S., Mazzatura, A., & Pasquale, V. (2012). Toxic effects of four sulphonylureas herbicides on soil microbial biomass. Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part. B, 47, 653–659.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soil Survey Staff. (1999). Soil Taxonomy (pp. 754). A Basic System of Soil Classification for Making and Interpreting Soil Surveys, second ed, Agriculture Handbook Number 436, US Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Gov. Print. Office, Washington, DC.

  • Sukul, P. (2006). Enzymatic activities and microbial biomass in soil as influenced by metalaxyl residues. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 38, 320–326.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tabatabai, M. A. (1994). Soil enzymes [A] (In: Weewer R M, Angle S, Bottomley P, et al. Methods of Soil Analysis, Part2. Microbiological and Biochemical Properties (pp. 775–833)). Wisconsin WI: Soil Science Society of American.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian, Y., Liu, H. J., Zheng, T. L., Kwon, K. K., Kim, S. J., & Yan, C. L. (2008). PAHs contamination and bacterial communities in mangrove surface sediments of the Jiulong River Estuary, China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 57, 707–715.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tu, M., Hurd, C., & Randall, J. M. (2001). Weed Control Methods Handbook: Tools and Techniques for Use in Natural Areas. The Nature Conservancy: Arlington, VA. http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/handbook.html

  • Veverka, K., Štolcová, J., & Růžek, P. (2007). Sensitivity of fungi to urea, ammonium nitrate and their equimolar solution UAN. Plant Protection Science, 43, 157–164.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. F., Guan, C. H., & Xin, M. Y. (2003). Long residual herbicides in China–Current status, problems and solutions. Chinese Journal of Pesticide, 11, 5–10.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, G. H., & Zheng, H. Y. (1986). Analytical handbook of soil microbes (pp (91–109)). Beijing: China Agriculture Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, W., Liu, L., Zou, P., Xiao, L., & Yang, L. Y. (2010). Effect of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE 209) on soil microbial activity and bacterial community composition. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 26, 1891–1899.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Nos. 21277083, 41071164, 21377075 and 41001152] and the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education [20113702110007].

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China

    Qingming Zhang

  2. Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment in the University of Shandong, National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China

    Qingming Zhang, Lusheng Zhu, Jun Wang, Hui Xie, Jinhua Wang, Fenghua Wang & Fengxia Sun

  3. College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Road, Taian, 271018, People’s Republic of China

    Lusheng Zhu

Authors
  1. Qingming Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lusheng Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jun Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hui Xie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jinhua Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fenghua Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Fengxia Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lusheng Zhu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, Q., Zhu, L., Wang, J. et al. Effects of fomesafen on soil enzyme activity, microbial population, and bacterial community composition. Environ Monit Assess 186, 2801–2812 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3581-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3581-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation