Atrazine Degradation in Subsurface Soil by Indigenous and Introduced Microorganisms

Significant atrazine degradation (50%) but only 1% mineralization was detected in samples taken from the upper soil layer (0−25 cm), but not in samples taken from deeper horizons. Thin layer chromatography analysis of noninoculated soil indicated dealkylation to be a major degradation pathway with d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 1997-11, Vol.45 (11), p.4481-4486
Main Authors: Shapir, Nir, Mandelbaum, Raphi T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ATRAZINA
ATRAZINE
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADACION
BIODEGRADATION
Biodegradation of pollutants
Biological and medical sciences
Biotechnology
Environment and pollution
FLORA DEL SUELO
FLORE DU SOL
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects
MATERIA ORGANICA DEL SUELO
MATIERE ORGANIQUE DU SOL
MICROBIAL ACTIVITIES
MICROORGANISME
MICROORGANISMOS
MICROORGANISMS
MINERALISATION
MINERALIZACION
MINERALIZATION
SOIL FLORA
SOIL ORGANIC MATTER
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Summary:Significant atrazine degradation (50%) but only 1% mineralization was detected in samples taken from the upper soil layer (0−25 cm), but not in samples taken from deeper horizons. Thin layer chromatography analysis of noninoculated soil indicated dealkylation to be a major degradation pathway with deethylatrazine favoring deisopropylatrazine. Inoculation with Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP (P.ADP) resulted in 90−100% mineralization of [14C]atrazine in all samples after 15 days. Atrazine was degraded in the soil via dechlorination as the first mineralization step. C-source competition was not responsible for differences in initial mineralization rates. Higher organic matter content in the upper soil level did not result in a sorption-related decrease in degradation rates. It is concluded that the limiting factor for atrazine mineralization in the tested soil profiles was the absence of atrazine-mineralizing microorganisms. Therefore, bioaugmentation may be preferable to enhancement of intrinsic atrazine-degrading activity when complete atrazine mineralization is the goal of bioremediation activity. Keywords: Atrazine; subsurface; biodegradation; microbial activity; soil organic matter
ISSN:0021-8561
1520-5118
DOI:10.1021/jf970423t