Spatial variability of isoproturon mineralizing activity within an agricultural field: geostatistical analysis of simple physicochemical and microbiological soil parameters

Environ Pollut. 2007 Feb;145(3):680-90. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.05.034. Epub 2006 Sep 18.

Abstract

We assessed the spatial variability of isoproturon mineralization in relation to that of physicochemical and biological parameters in fifty soil samples regularly collected along a sampling grid delimited across a 0.36 ha field plot (40 x 90 m). Only faint relationships were observed between isoproturon mineralization and the soil pH, microbial C biomass, and organic nitrogen. Considerable spatial variability was observed for six of the nine parameters tested (isoproturon mineralization rates, organic nitrogen, genetic structure of the microbial communities, soil pH, microbial biomass and equivalent humidity). The map of isoproturon mineralization rates distribution was similar to that of soil pH, microbial biomass, and organic nitrogen but different from those of structure of the microbial communities and equivalent humidity. Geostatistics revealed that the spatial heterogeneity in the rate of degradation of isoproturon corresponded to that of soil pH and microbial biomass.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Biomass
  • Carbon / analysis
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
  • Herbicides / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Minerals / analysis*
  • Nitrogen / analysis
  • Phenylurea Compounds / chemistry*
  • Soil / analysis
  • Soil Microbiology
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis*
  • Statistics as Topic / methods

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer
  • Herbicides
  • Minerals
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants
  • isoproturon
  • Carbon
  • Nitrogen