Biological and organic remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil and its effects on soil biological activity and L-glutaminase enzyme activity

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Department of soil and water resources, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah, Iraq

Abstract

Objective
Soil pollution is one of the most serious problems facing the scientists and agriculturists, which in addition to cause health problem for human and livestock, it reduces the yield quality and quantity of plants. One of the important reasons for reducing plant yield is the harmful effect of pollutants (e.g. heavy metals) on biological activities of soil microorganisms, responsible for C and nutrients cycle in soil. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the combination of biological (fungal inoculation) and organic amendments. Because with this evaluation, their effectiveness in reducing heavy metal toxicity and restoring soil biological functions can be compared.
Materials and methods
An incubation experiment was conducted to examine the role of bioremediation (Aspergillus niger) or organic amendments (Humic acid and cow manure) to reduce the negative effect of some heavy metals (Cd, pb, and Zn) on biological indices (total number of A. niger, CO2 evolution and L-glutaminase activity) of silty loam soil collected from Basrah province, south of IRAQ. Aspergillus niger inoculant added to soil at population density of 50 × 103cfu; humic acid and cow manure added at rates of 20L ha-1 and 4% respectively.
Results
Results showed that Cd, Pb and Zn inhibited all the biological parameters and the highest effect were recorded for Cd with a decreasing percentage of 30.67, 13.93 and 45.34% for total number of A. niger, CO2 evolution and L- glutaminase activity, respectively. However, the addition of A. niger, humic acid, or cow manure significantly reduced the available heavy metal concentrations from soil and then reduced their negative effect on biological indices. Using of the A. niger inoculant was the more effective overcoming among other strategies with 89.02% reduction in DTPA-extractable heavy metals (%) compared with 63.48 and 48.71% for HA and cow manure, respectively. Consequently, the A. niger inoculant increased the number of total A. niger, CO2 evolution and L- glutaminase activity in polluted soil by 164.71, 35.31 and 89.32%, respectively.
Conclusion
A. niger inoculation was the most effective strategy for reducing heavy metal bioavailability and restoring soil biological activity under controlled incubation conditions. However, Further research is needed to understand how heavy metals and soil amendments affect plant growth under real field conditions.

Keywords

References

Abd El Hameed, A. H., Eweda, W. E., Abou-Taleb, K. A., & Mira, H. I. (2015). Biosorption of uranium and heavy metals using some local fungi isolated from phosphatic fertilizers. Annals of Agricultural Sciences, 60(2), 345-351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aoas.2015.10.003
Ahemad, M. (2012). Implications of bacterial resistance against heavy metals in bioremediation: A review. Journal of Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology, 3(3). https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:13232689
Al-Hadrawi, W. B., & Al-Jaberi, M. M. (2023). Effect of the substrate and inoculation of phosphate-dissolving bacterial and fungal with humic acids in the activity of the alkaline phosphatase enzyme in cadmium contaminated soil. International Journal of Agriculture and Animal Production, 4(1), 10-23. https://doi.org/10.55529/ijaap.41.10.23
Al-Jaberi, M. M. (2023). Effect of paper mill sludge (furfural) on soil respiration, urease activity and ammonia volatilization of calcareous soils. Journal of Wildlife and Biodiversity, 7(Special Issue), 217-229. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10212150
Al-Jaberi, M. M. (2024). Effect of bioremediation or organic treatments of soil contaminated with some heavy metals on the biological and L-glutaminase activity. Journal of Global Innovations in Agricultural and Social Sciences, 12(1), 243-250. https://doi.org/10.22194/JGIAS/12.1143
Alloway, B. J. (2013). Sources of heavy metals and metalloids in soils. In B. J. Alloway (Ed.), Heavy metals in soils (pp. 11-50). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4470-7_2
Al-Malaky, I. A. Y., Abdulkareem, M. A., & Al-Jaberi, M. M. (2024). Effect of humic acids extracted from different organic sources and inoculation with Bacillus subtilis or Aspergillus niger on urease activity in calcareous soil. Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology, 8(3), 326-335. https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v8i3.1658
Ano, A. O., Ubochi, C. I., & Nwokocha, C. C. (2012). Effect of heavy metals (Cd, Ni and Pb) on soil productivity: Organic carbon mineralization. International Journal of Physical Sciences, 7(4), 573-577. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJPS11.044
Bottomley, P. J., Angle, J. S., & Weaver, R. W. (Eds.). (2020). Methods of soil analysis, Part 2: Microbiological and biochemical properties (Vol. 12). John Wiley & Sons. https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Methods+of+Soil+Analysis%2C+Part+2%3A+Microbiological+and+Biochemical+Properties-p-9780891188650
Bruins, M. R., Kapil, S., & Oehme, F. W. (2000). Microbial resistance to metals in the environment. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 45(3), 198-207. https://doi.org/10.1006/eesa.1999.1860
Ciardi, C., & Nannipieri, P. (1990). A comparison of methods for measuring ATP in soil. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 22(5), 725-727. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(90)90022-R
El-Said, A. H., Shebany, Y. M., Hussein, M. A., & El-Dawy, E. G. (2016). Antimicrobial and L-asparaginase activities of endophytic fungi isolated from Datura innoxia and Hyoscyamus muticus medicinal plants. European Journal of Biological Research, 6(3), 135-144. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.56056
Frankenberger, W. T., Jr., & Tabatabai, M. A. (1991). L-glutaminase activity of soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 23(9), 869-874. https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-0717(91)90099-6
Gopinath, A., Krishna, K., & Karthik, C. (2020). Adsorptive removal and recovery of heavy metal ions from aqueous solution/effluents using conventional and non-conventional materials. In M. Oves, M. Ansari, M. Zain Khan, & M. Shahadat (Eds.), Modern age waste water problems (pp. 265-293). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-08283-3_15
Gui, H., Yang, Q., Lu, X., Wang, H., Gu, Q., & Martín, J. D. (2023). Spatial distribution, contamination characteristics and ecological-health risk assessment of toxic heavy metals in soils near a smelting area. Environmental Research, 222, Article 115328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2023.115328
Klich, M. A. (2002). Identification of common Aspergillus species. Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures.
Kloke, A. (1980). Guideline data for tolerable total levels of some elements in cultivated soil. Mitteilungen der VDLUFA, 1, 9-11.
Koller, M., & Saleh, H. M. (2018). Introductory chapter: Introducing heavy metals. In Heavy metals (pp. 3-11). IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.74783
Kozlowski, H., Janicka-Klos, A., Brasun, J., Gaggelli, E., Valensin, D., & Valensin, G. (2009). Copper, iron, and zinc ions homeostasis and their role in neurodegenerative disorders (metal uptake, transport, distribution and regulation). Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 253(21-22), 2665-2685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2009.05.011
Krajewska, B. (2009). Ureases I. Functional, catalytic and kinetic properties: A review. Journal of Molecular Catalysis B: Enzymatic, 59(1-3), 9-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcatb.2009.01.003
Kumar, R., Singh, P., Dhir, B., Sharma, A. K., & Mehta, D. (2014). Potential of some fungal and bacterial species in bioremediation of heavy metals. Journal of Nuclear Physics, Material Sciences, Radiation and Applications, 1(2), 213-223. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-593454
Lindsay, W. L., & Norvell, W. (1978). Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese, and copper. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 42(3), 421-428. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1978.03615995004200030009x
Lwin, C. S., Seo, B. H., Kim, H. U., Owens, G., & Kim, K. R. (2018). Application of soil amendments to contaminated soils for heavy metal immobilization and improved soil quality—A critical review. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 64(2), 156-167. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2018.1440938
Meng, X., Ai, Y., Li, R., & Zhang, W. (2018). Effects of heavy metal pollution on enzyme activities in railway cut slope soils. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 190(12), Article 712. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6567-9
Nardi, S., Schiavon, M., & Francioso, O. (2021). Chemical structure and biological activity of humic substances define their role as plant growth promoters. Molecules, 26(8), Article 2256. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26082256
Odeniyi, O. A., & Turaki, L. (2022). Soil-borne alkaline phosphatase-producing Bacillus and Penicillium species as growth promoters of the Corchorus olitorius and Amaranthus hybridus plants. Novel Research in Microbiology Journal, 6(3), 1557-1582. https://researcherslinks.com/current-issues/Soil-borne-alkaline-phosphatase-producing/44/5/10708
Odika, P., Anike, O., Onwuemesi, A., Odika, N. F., & Ejeckam, R. B. (2020). Assessment of environmental geochemistry of lead-zinc mining at Ishiagu area, Lower Benue Trough, Southeastern Nigeria. Earth Science Research, 9(1), 31-43. https://doi.org/10.5539/esr.v9n1p31
Page, A. L. (Ed.). (1982). Methods of soil analysis: Part 2. Chemical and microbiological properties (2nd ed., Agronomy Monograph No. 9). American Society of Agronomy; Soil Science Society of America. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronmonogr9.2.2ed
Rajendran, S., Priya, T. A. K., Khoo, K. S., Hoang, T. K. A., Ng, H.-S., Munawaroh, H. S. H., Karaman, C., Orooji, Y., & Show, P. L. (2022). A critical review on various remediation approaches for heavy metal contaminants removal from contaminated soils. Chemosphere, 287(Part 4), Article 132369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132369
Sanyaolu, A. A. A. (2018). Verification of Aspergillus niger as a myco-remediation agent of lambda-cyhalothrin and associated heavy metals in Lactuca sativa (L.) leaf. Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, 22(5), 621-624. https://doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v22i5.2
Sharma, N., Sodhi, K. K., Kumar, M., & Singh, D. K. (2021). Heavy metal pollution: Insights into chromium eco-toxicity and recent advancement in its remediation. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management, 15, Article 100388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enmm.2020.100388
Sibagariang, N. A., Bertham, Y. H., Widiyono, H., Anandyawati, & Utami, K. (2022). The effect of humic acid and micro compound fertilizer on soil microorganism population and upland rice yield in coastal land. TERRA: Journal of Land Restoration, 5(2), 58-64. https://ejournal.unib.ac.id/terrajournal/article/view/23405
Singh, P. C., Srivastava, S., Shukla, D., Bist, V., Tripathi, P., Anand, V., & Srivastava, S. (2018). Mycoremediation mechanisms for heavy metal resistance/tolerance in plants. In R. Prasad (Ed.), Mycoremediation and environmental sustainability (pp. 233-255). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77386-5_14
Sparks, D. L. (2005). Toxic metals in the environment: The role of surfaces. Elements, 1(4), 193-197. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.1.4.193
Tabatabai, M. A. (1994). Soil enzymes. In R. L. Weaver, S. Angle, P. Bottomley, D. Bezdicek, S. Smith, A. Tabatabai, & A. Wollum (Eds.), Methods of soil analysis: Part 2. Microbiological and biochemical properties (pp. 775-833). Soil Science Society of America. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssabookser5.2.c37
Tahir, A., Lateef, Z., Abdel-Megeed, A., Sholkamy, E. N., & Mostafa, A. A. (2017). In vitro compatibility of fungi for the biosorption of zinc (II) and copper (II) from electroplating effluent. Current Science, 839-844. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:53476883
Tang, T., Zeng, P., Wang, J.-Y., Gu, J.-F., Liu, C.-F., Mu, Y.-S., Liu, Y.-F., Zhou, H., & Han, Z.-Y. (2025). Remediation of multi-metal contaminated soil using cow dung and its biochar: Effects on heavy metal uptake and soil microbiome in Triticum aestivum L. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 39, Article 104243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2025.104243
Utobo, E. B., & Tewari, L. (2015). Soil enzymes as bioindicators of soil ecosystem status. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 13(1), 147-169. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:52885121
Vodyanitskii, Y. N. (2016). Standards for the contents of heavy metals in soils of some states. Annals of Agrarian Science, 14(3), 257-263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aasci.2016.08.011
Wasay, S. A., Barrington, S. F., & Tokunaga, S. (1998). Using Aspergillus niger to bioremediate soils contaminated by heavy metals. Bioremediation Journal, 2(3-4), 183-190. https://doi.org/10.1088/10889869809380376
Yami, K. D., & Shakya, S. (2005). Effect of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli inoculation alone and in combination with organic fertilizers on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Nepal Journal of Science and Technology, 6(1), 1-8. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:55756637
Zhang, X., Yu, Q., Gao, B., Hu, M., Chen, H., Liang, Y., & Yi, H. (2025). Organic amendments enhance the remediation potential of economically important crops in weakly alkaline heavy metal-contaminated bauxite residues. Agriculture, 15(1), Article 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15010015
Zhao, P., Wang, A., Wang, P., Huang, Z., Fu, Z., & Huang, Z. (2023). Two recyclable and complementary adsorbents of coal-based and bio-based humic acids: High efficient adsorption and immobilization remediation for Pb(II) contaminated water and soil. Chemosphere, 318, Article 137963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137963
Zheng, L., Li, Y., Wenqin, D., Xianglin, D., Quan, T., & Hua, C. (2019). The inhibitory effect of cadmium and/or mercury on soil enzyme activity, basal respiration, and microbial community structure in coal mine-affected agricultural soil. Annals of Microbiology, 69(8), 849-859. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-019-01478-3    
 
Agricultural Biotechnology Journal
Volume 18, Issue 2
February 2026
Pages 489-508

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics