Application of microbial hot spots enhances pesticide degradation in soils

Through transfer of an active, isoproturon degrading microbial community, pesticide mineralization could be successfully enhanced in various soils under laboratory and outdoor conditions. The microbes, extracted from a soil having high native ability to mineralize this chemical, were established on expanded clay particles and distributed to various soils in the form of microbial hot spots. Both, diffusion controlled isoproturon mass flow towards these hot spots (6 mu g d(-1)) as well as microbial ability to mineralize the herbicide (approximately 5 mu g d(-1)) were identified as the main processes enabling a multiple augmentation of the native isoproturon mineralization even in soils with heavy metal contamination. Soil pH-value appears to exert an important effect on the sustainability of this process. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.