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Rhizosphere pH dynamics in trace-metal-contaminated soils, monitored with planar pH optodes

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Abstract

The present study presents new insights into pH dynamics in the rhizosphere of alpine pennycress (Noccaea caerulescens (J. Presl & C. Presl) F.K. Mey), maize (Zea mays L.) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), when growing on three soils contaminated by trace metals with initial pH values varying from 5.6 to 7.4. The pH dynamics were recorded, using a recently developed 2D imaging technique based on planar pH optodes. This showed that alpine pennycress and ryegrass alkalinized their rhizosphere by up to 1.7 and 1.5 pH units, respectively, whereas maize acidified its rhizosphere by up to −0.7 pH units. The alkalinization by the roots of alpine pennycress and ryegrass was permanent and not restricted to specific root zones, whereas the acidification along the maize roots was restricted to the elongation zone and thus only temporary. Calculations showed that such pH changes should have noticeable effects on the solubility of the trace metal in the rhizosphere, and therefore on their uptake by the plants. As a result, it is suggested that models for trace metal uptake should include precise knowledge of rhizospheric pH conditions.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the “Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst” (DAAD) and the “Ministère de l’Education Nationale, de l’Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche” within the framework of the PROCOPE programme in 2008.

The authors would like to express their thanks to Bernard Colin (INPL(ENSAIA)/INRA), W. Seidel, A. Lanzinger, M. Laug and W. Müller (University Düsseldorf) for their technical support and PreSens GmbH for the supply of planar optodes.

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  1. Stephan Blossfeld

    Present address: Forschungszentrum Juelich, ICG-3, Phytosphere, Juelich, Germany

  2. Jérôme Perriguey

    Present address: INRA, Centre de Nancy, SDAR, 54280, Champenoux, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nancy Université, INRA, Laboratoire Sols et Environnement, 2, avenue de la Forêt de Haye, BP 172, 54505, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy cedex, France

    Stephan Blossfeld, Jérôme Perriguey, Thibault Sterckeman & Jean-Louis Morel

  2. Nebensteingasse 1, 63739, Aschaffenburg, Germany

    Rainer Lösch

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  1. Stephan Blossfeld
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  2. Jérôme Perriguey
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Correspondence to Thibault Sterckeman.

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Responsible Editor: Philippe Hinsinger.

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Blossfeld, S., Perriguey, J., Sterckeman, T. et al. Rhizosphere pH dynamics in trace-metal-contaminated soils, monitored with planar pH optodes. Plant Soil 330, 173–184 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-0190-z

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