Enzyme activity indicates soil functionality affectation with low levels of trace elements

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 243; no. Pt B; pp. 1861 - 1866
• Main Authors: Martín-Sanz, Juan Pedro, Valverde-Asenjo, Inmaculada, de Santiago-Martín, Ana, Quintana-Nieto, José Ramón, González-Huecas, Concepción, López-Lafuente, Antonio L., Diéguez-Antón, Ana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2018
• Subjects: (bio)availability; Agriculture; Enzyme Activation - drug effects; Enzymes - metabolism; Fertilizers; Microbiota - physiology; Mixture of trace elements; Pesticides - chemistry; Pesticides - pharmacology; Soil - chemistry; Soil enzyme activity; Soil functionality; Soil Microbiology; Soil Pollutants - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - pharmacology; Trace Elements - chemistry; Trace Elements - pharmacology; Soil functionality; (bio)availability; Soil enzyme activity; Mixture of trace elements
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.10.029

The use of the soil can alter its functionality and influence the (bio)availability of any contaminants present. Our study considers two types of agricultural soils, rainfed and olive soils, managed according to conventional practices that apply contaminants directly to the soil (fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, etc.) and receive contaminants from the atmosphere (traffic, industry, etc.); and a forest soil that is not subject to these agricultural practices. In this scenario, we consider a mixture of 16 trace elements (As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sb, Sn, V and Zn), since their interactions with the soil can produce synergistic and/or antagonistic effects that are not considered in most studies. We studied whether the content and (bio)availability of low concentrations of a mixture of trace elements affect the soil functionality in terms of the activity of some key enzymes We analysed the total, potentially and immediately available fractions, the soil parameters and soil enzyme activity. The results show that the functionality of the soils studied was affected despite the low concentrations of trace elements. The highest concentrations of total trace elements and available fractions were found in forest soils compared to the other two uses. Soil enzyme activity is best explained by the potentially available fraction of a mixture of trace elements and physico-chemical soil variables. In our study, pH, total nitrogen, organic carbon and fine mineral particles (silt and clay) had an influence on soil enzyme activity and the (bio)available fractions of trace elements. [Display omitted] •Soil functionality is affected by low concentrations of trace elements.•Soil functionality is influenced by the presence of contaminants and soil use.•The potentially available fraction best explains soil affectation.•OC plays a key role in trace element (bio)availability and soil enzyme activity. Soil enzyme activity as indicator of functionality of soils of different uses and low concentrations of a mixture of trace elements.