DECOMPOSITION AND BINDING ACTION OF A POLYSACCHARIDE FROM CHROMOBACTERIUM VIOLACEUM IN SOIL

Abstract

The decomposition rate and binding effect in soil of a polysaccharide from Chromobacterium violaceum was compared with that of a variety of bacterial and plant polysaccharides and more complex organic residues. MIost of the polysaccharides tested decomposed more readily than mature plant residues and fungus mycelium. The ease of decomposition varied, however, and polysaccharide from C. violaceum over a period of 1 month was more resistant than corn stalks, Rhodes grass, bean straw, and orange leaves. During the first week, it was as resistant to decay as pine needles. The C. violaceum polysaccharide was more effective in binding or aggregating the soil than all others tested. It also reduced the bulk density of Greenfield sandy loam and increased hydraulic conductivity in neutral soil. indicating that some may be relatively resistant to decomposition or may become less resistant to attack by combining with other soil con

THE ORIGIN OF SOIL POLYSACCHARIDE: TRANSFORMATION OF SUGARS DURING THE DECOMPOSITION IN SOIL OF PLANT MATERIAL LABELLED WITH 14C

“…After 6 days, 35 per cent (soil A) and 40 per cent (soil C) had decomposed. This is to be compared with 36-80 per cent for various microbial polysaccharides (Martin, 1971), although one polysaccharide averaged only 19 er cent in various forming s ecies had lost only 36 per cent of their carbon over a period…”

Sorption and Biodegradability of Sludge Bacterial Extracellular Polymers in Soil and Their Influence on Soil Copper Behavior

“…Eight water exchanges were made to remove low molecular weight impurities from the interior solution kg Ϫ1 soil. This application rate was chosen because Martens and Frankenberger (1992) found in an incubation study that of dialysis tubing. After dialysis, the polymer solution was lyophilized and stored at 4ЊC in a sealed glass tube before the application rate of 1 mg extracellular polymer (EP) C g Ϫ1 soil (equivalent to 1000 mg EP C kg Ϫ1 soil) was similar to use.…”

“…als (Zsolnay and Gorlitz, 1994), especially during the Target) grown in the soil was increased by 31% due to interval waterfirst few weeks following their application (Lamy et al, ing of 100 mg DOC L Ϫ1 of sludge BEP solution in a 35-d period. The 1993; Baham and Sposito, 1983), and dissolved macroinfluence of sludge BEP on mobilizing soil Cu could be maintained molecules such as BEP of sludge or soil microorganism as long as 60 d or more, depending on BEP biodegradation status.origins (Allison, 1968;Martens and Frankenberger, 1992).…”

“…Concentrations as high as 200 to 1000 mg Cu kg Ϫ1 Low biodegradability can make BEP persist sufficiently in poultry litter and pig manure are often observed due long to permit transport and removal of BEP-bound to the historically common practice of adding Cu to animetals. Martens and Frankenberger (1992) found that mal feed (Van der Watt et al, 1994;Giusquiani et al, soil bacterial polymers (mainly monosaccharides) pres -1998). In many older orchard soils, the Cu level exceeds ent in the added polymers were rapidly decomposed more than 300 mg kg Ϫ1 in soil due to application of and the saccharide content of the polymer-treated soil Bordeaux mixture as a pesticide for decades (Aoyama, returned to the level of the control after 2 wk of incuba -1998).…”

“…All factors complexes (Lamy et al, 1993;McCarthy et al, 1993), affecting soil microbial activity will affect polymer degespecially for Cu (Temminghoff et al, 1997;Guibaud radation. For example, under aerobic upland conditions, et al, 2003;Zhou and Wong, 2003). Dissolved macrosludge BEP or other dissolved organic matter applied to soil might exhibit drastically different biodegradation and metal dissolution from that under waterlogged con-at 10:1 (v/w) for 16 h followed by centrifuging at 12 500 ϫ g area.…”