Abstract
The evaluation of pesticide-mineralising microorganisms to clean-up contaminated soils was studied with the widely applied and easily detectable compound atrazine, which is rapidly mineralised by several microorganisms including the Pseudomonas sp. strain Yaya 6. The rate of atrazine removal was proportional to the water content of the soil and the amount of bacteria added to the soil. In soil slurry, 6 mg atrazine kg soil−1 was eliminated within 1 day after application of 0.3 g dry weight inoculant biomass kg soil−1 and within 5 days when 0.003 g kg soil−1 was used. In partially saturated soil (60% of the maximal water-holding capacity) 15 mg atrazine kg soil−1 was eliminated within 2 days by 1 g biomass kg soil−1 and within 25 days when 0.01 g biomass kg soil−1 was used. In unsaturated soil, about 60% [U-ring-14C]atrazine was converted to 14CO2 within 14 days. Atrazine was very efficiently removed by the inoculant biomass, not only in soil that was freshly contaminated but also in soil aged with atrazine for up to 260 days. The bacteria exposed to atrazine in unsaturated sterile soil were still active after a starvation period of 240 days: 15 mg newly added atrazine kg soil−1 was eliminated within 5 days.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 31 October 1997 / Received revision: 16 January 1998 / Accepted: 18 January 1998
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wenk, M., Baumgartner, T., Dobovšek, J. et al. Rapid atrazine mineralisation in soil slurry and moist soil by inoculation of an atrazine-degrading Pseudomonas sp. strain. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 49, 624–630 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530051224
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530051224