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Biochemical and chemical indices of soil transformations on goose farms in years 1996–2011 / Biochemiczne i chemiczne wskaźniki przeobrażeń gleb na terenie ferm gęsi w latach 1998–2011

Biochemical and chemical indices of soil transformations on goose farms in years 1996–2011 /... The paper presents characterisation of the eco-chemical condition and potential threats to soils of goose farms on the basis of recent monitoring of a 15-year measuring cycle. It was demonstrated that the observed soil enzymatic inactivation progressing with years of investigations on the examined farms was significantly associated with a very high content of mineral nitrogen and available forms of phosphorus. A distinct tendency towards increased content of heavy metals in soils derived from these farms as well as in their direct neighbourhood observed with the passage of time poses a serious hazard to the environment. Introduction Soils on goose farm runs are covered with a layer of organic overlay which develops from a mixture of feed as well as birds' excreta and feather. This layer contains high concentrations of easily-soluble macroelements, including nitrogen and phosphorus (Perez 1998, Mcfarland et al. 2001) as well as significant quantities of heavy metals (Ligza et al. 2000). In the areas of goose farms, the pool of components brought into the soil, as a rule, exceeds soil sorption capacity resulting in both progressing degradation of the soil environment as well as migration of ions found in the infiltrating waters to considerable depths and, by so doing, generating contamination of ground waters (Ligza and Misztal, 1999, Abrahams and Steigmajer, 2003). Soil quality evaluation is not easy due to the complexity of the soil environment, changeability of the existing physicochemical and biological conditions and the capability of soils for compensation of these transformations. A key role is played, in this respect, by changing conditions associated with the buffer capacity of the sorptive complex as well as with the retention and accumulation of constituents in soil (Janowska and Czpiska-Kamiska 2004, Bieliska and Pranagal 2007, Ajorlo et al. 2010). Objective approach as well as comprehensive characterisation of processes taking place in the soil environment requires a long-term and complex monitoring and identification of trends (Bieliska and Ligza 2006, Bieliska and Mocek-Plóciniak 2012). In order to recognise long-term risks of unfavourable soil changes in goose farms, communicative biochemical indices reflecting specific soil ecosystem processes as well as chemical indices describing actual soil ecochemical conditions were selected. The presented research results comprise an up-to-date, 15-year long measurement cycle (every 5 years). The paper can provide a basis for prognostication of pedosphere transformations as well as for the assessment of the intensity of advancing degradation of the soil environment on long-term goose farms. Materials and methods Investigations were carried out on two runs of large goose farms operating since 1978 in the following two locations: in Knyszyn ­ FK, Podlaskie Voivodeship (53°19N, 22°55´E) and in Huta Józefów ­ FHJ, Lublin Voivodeship (50°48´N, 2217E). Control objects were situated in the vicinity of experimental farms but outside the range of impact of geese, on soils of similar morphological structure left as wasteland. Soils from both goose farms as well as control soils have a lithological discontinuity and the contact zone of levels of different lithology is located at the depth not exceeding 1 m. The soils from Knyszyn were classified as Haplic Cambisols developed from boulder sands, whereas the soils from Huta Józefów ­ to Haplic Luvisols developed from silty material on loam and clay (Ligza 2009). In spring 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011 soil samples for laboratory analyses were collected from humus horizons. The activity of the following enzymes was determined in soil samples: alkaline phosphatase (Tabatabai and Bremner 1969), urease (Zantua and Bremner 1975) and proteases (Ladd and Butler 1972). The above enzymes play a significant role in continuous mineralisation of organic compounds of nitrogen (urease and proteases) and phosphorus (phosphatases). Within the framework of the performed chemical analyses, the following parameters were determined: pH in 1 mol·dm-3 KCl (ISO 2002); the contents of ammonia and nitrate nitrogen (ISO 1998), and available forms of phosphorus (ISO 1994). The total content of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn was determined with emission spectrometry in the Leeman Labs (PS 950) apparatus with ICP induction in argon. Soil samples were mineralized in a PROLABO microwave oven (Microdigest 3.6, France) by a wet method, which uses a mixture of nitric acid and perchloric acid at the ratio of 1:1 (Baran et al. 2002). All assays were performed in three replications. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Statistica package (Statistica 2007). Statistically significant differences between the results were evaluated on the basis of standard deviation determinations and on the analysis of variance method (ANOVA). Results and discussion Soils in the runs for geese showed higher pH values in comparison with control soils by: 1.7­2.4 pH units in 1 mol·dm-3 KCl in Knyszyn and by 0.2­1.5 units in 1 mol·dm-3 KCl in Huta Józefów (Table 1). Soil alkalization in the runs for geese was associated with the microbiological decomposition of the uric acid secreted by the birds into ammonia (Speir and Cowling 1984). In addition, bird excreta are rich in basic elements (Ligza and Misztal 1999). With the passage of time, a distinct tendency was observed for the increase of pHKCl in the examined soils both within boundaries of the runs as well as in the case of control soils (Table 1). In soils derived from the bird runs, very high concentrations of mineral nitrogen were determined, especially in the case of NO3- (Table 1), caused, primarily, by uric acid secreted by geese. Uric acid is the main source of bird nitrogen (Ligza 2009). At increased supply of nitrogen to the soil, N immobilization declines in the biomass of microorganisms and mineralization of this component increases (Tietema and Van Dam 1996). Nitrification, which is the results of enhanced mineralization, is the main cause of the increase of nitrate nitrogen in the soil environment (De Boer et al. 1990). Excess of the constituent in soils contributes to advancing degradation of hydrobiological systems in water reservoirs, including contamination of waters possible for utilization as drinking or municipal water (Ligza 2009, Brankov et al. 2012). The concentration of ammonia nitrogen increased significantly together with the passage of time both in soils of the examined farms as well as in soils situated in direct vicinity of these goose farms (control soils). In the case of nitrate nitrogen, this effect was observed only in soils collected from the birds' runs (Table 1). Nitrates (V) are considerably more exposed to losses than ammonia salts due to a greater diversity of processes leading to losses. Apart from losses in gaseous form (NO, N2O and N2), a significant role is also played by leaching from soil by precipitation waters as well as ease of diffusive migration. Moreover, very high phosphate concentrations in soils contribute to growing environment eutrophisation (Ligza and Misztal 1999, Mcfarland et al. 2001, Sobczyski 2009). In the described studies, exceptionally high accumulation of phosphorus was recorded in soils collected from the runs, although a relatively high content of available forms of phosphorus found in control soils, increasing significantly with the passage of time (Table 1), may indicate translocation Table 1. Concentration of nitrogen (NH4+ and NO3-), available phosphorus forms (P) and pH in soils Locality Object Years 1996 Farm Knyszyn Control 2001 2006 2011 1996 2001 2006 2011 1996 Farm Huta Józefów Control 2001 2006 2011 1996 2001 2006 2011 pH KCl 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.7 4.3 4.3 4.4 4.6 6.4 6.4 6.6 6.8 5.3 5.4 5.7 6.2 56.28b 65.47b 99.83c 105.12c 39.28a 46,57a 71.32b 76.74b 82.06b 89.32b 121.78d 132.61d 34.79a 42.08a 63.45b 67.31b N-NH4+ N-NO3(mg·kg ) -1 P 256.25d 319.47d 567.38e 592.69e 26.34a 33.16a 60.51b 94.22b 285.47d 392.11d 640.18e 668.42e 64.73b 88.29b 144.58c 152.93c 274.08c 290.14c 477.18d 544.53d 16.28a 17.15a 20.52a 28.43a 166.62b 172.04b 241.78c 269.92c 4.23a 5.44a 10.19a 12.23a Values in the column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly at p < 0.05, t-test. E.J. Bieliska, A. Mocek-Plóciniak cations of alkaline metals, such as, e.g., Ca2+, in which soils on goose farms are enriched (Ligza et al. 2000). The examined soils were characterised by low nickel concentrations ranging from 0.11 to 0.30 mg·kg-1 DM (Table 2), which could have been associated with a particularly high affinity of this metal to organic matter (Kabata-Pendias et al. 1993). Also Ligza et al. (2000) reported very low Ni concentration in soils following long-term occupation by birds: geese (goose farms), cormorants, herons and rooks. The layer of faeces deposited on the runs for geese exerted a negative influence on the enzymatic activity of the examined soils (Table 3). In the case of the Huta Józefów goose farm, the activity of all the examined enzymes turned out to be approximately 1.5 times lower in comparison with control soils, irrespective of the number of study-years (Table 3). In the case of the goose farm in Knyszyn, a significantly lower activity of the examined enzymes in soils from the runs in comparison with the control soil was observed only in years 2001 and 2011. This indicates the occurrence of a site drift caused by the supply to the soil environment of excess component from the layer of organic overlay deposited on the runs because earlier (1996 and 2001) the enzymatic activity of soils in Knyszyn was on a significantly higher level than in the control soil (Table 3). The observed soil enzymatic inactivation on the examined farms was associated with very high concentrations of mineral nitrogen and available forms of phosphorus (Table 1) as evidenced by coefficient values of negative correlation between the activity of the examined enzymes and the concentrations of these components in soils (Table 4). A high supply to the soil environment of biogenic substances can cause increase of soil microbiological activity of this constituent from goose farms. McFarland et al. (2001) emphasise that it is the content of phosphorus in soils as well as surface run-off that constitute the main factors threatening the environment on the part of goose farms. The concentrations of the determined heavy metals in soils collected from the runs for geese were significantly higher in comparison with the control soils (Table 2). Heavy metals may be added to pasture soils by animal direct defecation and urination (Abrahams and Steigmajer 2003, Wilkinson et al. 2003, Ajorlo et al. 2010). Other researchers also reported increased heavy metal concentrations in soils on which birds were kept (Headley 1996, Perez 1998, Ligza et al. 2000). With the passage of time, a clear tendency was observed for increased contents of heavy metals, in soil samples collected both from the geese runs as well as control plots. Statistically significant differences were found only in the case of cadmium in soils derived from the runs for geese (Table 2). In the light of current standards (Kabata-Pendias et al. 1993), the examined soils were characterised by natural concentrations of the majority of analysed heavy metals. According to these standards (Kabata-Pendias et al. 1993), the natural cadmium concentration in soils should not exceed 0.3 mg·kg-1. However, during the performed investigations, cadmium concentration in the soil derived from the goose farm in Huta Józefów ranged from 0.35­0.49 mg·kg-1 DM (Table 2). Cadmium is characterized by considerable mobility in a basic environment which is of special significance in the case of soils derived from the runs for geese which undergo alkalization. Kabata-Pendias et al. (1993) emphasise that, together with increasing soil alkalinity, cadmium sorption declines as a result of displacement of this element from the sorption complex by Table 2. Concentration of heavy metals in mg·kg-1 DM Locality Object Years 1996 Farm 2001 2006 2011 1996 Control 2001 2006 2011 1996 Farm Huta Józefów Control 2001 2006 2011 1996 2001 2006 2011 Cd 0.14b 0.16b 0.18b 0.22c 0.08a 0.09a 0.10a 0.11a 0.34d 0.35d 0.38d 0.49e 0.21c 0.23c 0.24c 0.26c Cr 6.69c 6.78c 7.12c 7.34c 2.09a 2.12a 2.28a 2.30a 4.08b 4.12b 4.23b 4,55b 2.02a 2.08a 2.10a 2,15a Cu 5.29b 5.36b 5.86b 6.10b 4.86a 4.91a 4.96a 5.14a 5.79b 5.85b 5.92b 5.99b 3.62a 3.90a 3,98a 4.02a Pb 10.82b 10.90b 10.98b 11.02b 6.78a 6.91a 6.94a 7.13a 13.09c 13.21c 13.18c 13.26c 9.88b 9.86b 10.21b 10.64b Ni 0.22b 0.24b 0.21b 0.30b 0.12a 0.12a 0.14a 0.16a 0.23b 0.22b 0.24b 0.28b 0.11a 0.13a 0.12a 0.15a Zn 26.41c 26.78c 26.93c 32.11c 8.33a 8.29a 8.52a 8.67a 16.34b 16,56b 17,21b 17.88b 8.55a 8.76a 8.93a 9.15a Knyszyn Values in the column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly at p < 0.05, t-test. and, simultaneously, decrease the activity of some enzymes (Bandick and Dick 1999, Domal and Bieliska 1997, Gostkowska et al. 1998). Excess of inorganic phosphorus in soil inhibits synthesis of phosphatases (Gostkowska et al. 1998, Bieliska and Mocek-Plóciniak 2012) and an elevated level of mineral nitrogen confines the activity of ureases and protease (Domal and Bieliska 1997). The activity of the examined enzymes declined systematically with the passage of time both on the runs as well as in the control soils but majority of important changed were determined in the case of soils on goose farms (Table 3). The activity of the examined enzymes exhibited a negative, highly significant dependence on the content of N-NH4+ (r = 0.82­0.92*), N-NO3- (r = 0.80­0.95*) and P (r = 0.82­0.96*) as well as a positive correlation with the total content of the analysed trace elements (Table 4). The action of heavy metals depends on the degree of soil contamination. If heavy metals occur in soils in quantities close to natural values, then they can stimulate the activity of soil enzymes and only their excessive amounts become their inhibitors (Khan et al. 2006, Liao and Xie 2007). A negative impact of heavy metals on soil enzymatic activity is alleviated by high concentrations of organic matter as well as neutral pH (Siebielec et al. 2009). Soils on the runs for geese are continually enriched in organic compounds supplied to the environment together with bird excreta. The important role of organic substance in the detoxification process of soils contaminated by heavy metals was also reported by other researchers (Castaldi et al. 2009, Egli et al. 2010). Recapitulating, it should be emphasised that enzyme activity ought to be taken into consideration when assessing the quality of soils in goose farms as indicated also by the fact that many chemical compounds assume toxic properties Table 3. Enzymatic activity of soils Locality Object Years 1996 Farm 2001 2006 2011 1996 Control 2001 2006 2011 1996 Farm 2001 2006 2011 1996 Control 2001 2006 2011 PhA 13.59c 12.72c 8.46a 8.04a 11.57b 11.23b 10.48b 10.51b 7.82a 7.53a 6.15a 6.20a 11.64b 11.28b 10.46b 9.64b UA 12.06d 11.52d 8.34b 8.11b 10.67c 10.04c 9.86c 9.61c 9.25c 8.24b 5.46a 5.24a 13.87d 12.49d 8.18b 8.72b PA 18.30e 17.29d 12.46b 11.24b 14.12c 13.68c 13.42c 13.17c 9.01a 8.49a 7.88a 6.92a 13.21b 12.72b 11.65b 10.43b Knyszyn Huta Józefów PhA ­ alkaline phosphatase in mmol PNP·kg-1·h-1, UA ­ urease in mg N-NH4+·kg-1·h-1, PA ­ protease in mg tyrosine·g-1·h-1, values in the column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly at p < 0.05, t-test. Table 4. Correlation coefficients between the activity of the examined enzymes and concentration of nitrogen (NH4+ and NO3-), phosphorus (PO43-) and heavy metals Enzymes Phosphatase Urease Protease NH4+ -0.82* -0.92* -0.86* NO3-0.80* -0.95* -0.89* PO43-0.96* -0.84* -0.82* Cd 0.52* 0.54* 0.56* Cr 0.58* 0.62* 0.61* Cu 0.57* 0.61* 0.53* Pb 0.46* 0.44* 0.49* Ni 0.56* 0.58* 0.55* Zn 0.55* 0.51* 0.54* significant at p = 0.05. E.J. Bieliska, A. Mocek-Plóciniak 2. A distinct tendency for the increase in heavy metal concentrations in the examined soils observed with the passage of time constitutes a significant threat for the environment on the part of goose farms. 3. The layer of excrements deposited on the goose runs exerted a negative influence on soil enzymatic activity in the examined farms. The activity of the examined enzymes decreased systematically with the passage of time both in the case of soils on the runs and in the control soils. 4. Soil enzymatic inactivation in the examined farms was significantly associated with very high contents of mineral nitrogen and available forms of phosphorus. 5. The obtained results confirmed that appropriate storage and management of excreta produced in goose farms is necessary from the point of view of environmental protection. following metabolic transformations that occur in living organisms. Frequently, metabolites are characterised by properties which are more noxious than contaminants from which they developed. Soil enzymatic activity reflects levels of environmental contamination which poses hazard to living organisms without the need to identify many compounds. Conclusions 1. Long-term investigations (1996­2011) conducted in two goose farms revealed strong contamination of soils with nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. High, significantly increasing with the passage of time, concentrations of N and P in soil samples collected from the runs but also in control soils neighbouring with the examined farms indicates translocation of these compounds. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Archives of Environmental Protection de Gruyter

Biochemical and chemical indices of soil transformations on goose farms in years 1996–2011 / Biochemiczne i chemiczne wskaźniki przeobrażeń gleb na terenie ferm gęsi w latach 1998–2011

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de Gruyter
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2083-4810
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Abstract

The paper presents characterisation of the eco-chemical condition and potential threats to soils of goose farms on the basis of recent monitoring of a 15-year measuring cycle. It was demonstrated that the observed soil enzymatic inactivation progressing with years of investigations on the examined farms was significantly associated with a very high content of mineral nitrogen and available forms of phosphorus. A distinct tendency towards increased content of heavy metals in soils derived from these farms as well as in their direct neighbourhood observed with the passage of time poses a serious hazard to the environment. Introduction Soils on goose farm runs are covered with a layer of organic overlay which develops from a mixture of feed as well as birds' excreta and feather. This layer contains high concentrations of easily-soluble macroelements, including nitrogen and phosphorus (Perez 1998, Mcfarland et al. 2001) as well as significant quantities of heavy metals (Ligza et al. 2000). In the areas of goose farms, the pool of components brought into the soil, as a rule, exceeds soil sorption capacity resulting in both progressing degradation of the soil environment as well as migration of ions found in the infiltrating waters to considerable depths and, by so doing, generating contamination of ground waters (Ligza and Misztal, 1999, Abrahams and Steigmajer, 2003). Soil quality evaluation is not easy due to the complexity of the soil environment, changeability of the existing physicochemical and biological conditions and the capability of soils for compensation of these transformations. A key role is played, in this respect, by changing conditions associated with the buffer capacity of the sorptive complex as well as with the retention and accumulation of constituents in soil (Janowska and Czpiska-Kamiska 2004, Bieliska and Pranagal 2007, Ajorlo et al. 2010). Objective approach as well as comprehensive characterisation of processes taking place in the soil environment requires a long-term and complex monitoring and identification of trends (Bieliska and Ligza 2006, Bieliska and Mocek-Plóciniak 2012). In order to recognise long-term risks of unfavourable soil changes in goose farms, communicative biochemical indices reflecting specific soil ecosystem processes as well as chemical indices describing actual soil ecochemical conditions were selected. The presented research results comprise an up-to-date, 15-year long measurement cycle (every 5 years). The paper can provide a basis for prognostication of pedosphere transformations as well as for the assessment of the intensity of advancing degradation of the soil environment on long-term goose farms. Materials and methods Investigations were carried out on two runs of large goose farms operating since 1978 in the following two locations: in Knyszyn ­ FK, Podlaskie Voivodeship (53°19N, 22°55´E) and in Huta Józefów ­ FHJ, Lublin Voivodeship (50°48´N, 2217E). Control objects were situated in the vicinity of experimental farms but outside the range of impact of geese, on soils of similar morphological structure left as wasteland. Soils from both goose farms as well as control soils have a lithological discontinuity and the contact zone of levels of different lithology is located at the depth not exceeding 1 m. The soils from Knyszyn were classified as Haplic Cambisols developed from boulder sands, whereas the soils from Huta Józefów ­ to Haplic Luvisols developed from silty material on loam and clay (Ligza 2009). In spring 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011 soil samples for laboratory analyses were collected from humus horizons. The activity of the following enzymes was determined in soil samples: alkaline phosphatase (Tabatabai and Bremner 1969), urease (Zantua and Bremner 1975) and proteases (Ladd and Butler 1972). The above enzymes play a significant role in continuous mineralisation of organic compounds of nitrogen (urease and proteases) and phosphorus (phosphatases). Within the framework of the performed chemical analyses, the following parameters were determined: pH in 1 mol·dm-3 KCl (ISO 2002); the contents of ammonia and nitrate nitrogen (ISO 1998), and available forms of phosphorus (ISO 1994). The total content of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn was determined with emission spectrometry in the Leeman Labs (PS 950) apparatus with ICP induction in argon. Soil samples were mineralized in a PROLABO microwave oven (Microdigest 3.6, France) by a wet method, which uses a mixture of nitric acid and perchloric acid at the ratio of 1:1 (Baran et al. 2002). All assays were performed in three replications. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Statistica package (Statistica 2007). Statistically significant differences between the results were evaluated on the basis of standard deviation determinations and on the analysis of variance method (ANOVA). Results and discussion Soils in the runs for geese showed higher pH values in comparison with control soils by: 1.7­2.4 pH units in 1 mol·dm-3 KCl in Knyszyn and by 0.2­1.5 units in 1 mol·dm-3 KCl in Huta Józefów (Table 1). Soil alkalization in the runs for geese was associated with the microbiological decomposition of the uric acid secreted by the birds into ammonia (Speir and Cowling 1984). In addition, bird excreta are rich in basic elements (Ligza and Misztal 1999). With the passage of time, a distinct tendency was observed for the increase of pHKCl in the examined soils both within boundaries of the runs as well as in the case of control soils (Table 1). In soils derived from the bird runs, very high concentrations of mineral nitrogen were determined, especially in the case of NO3- (Table 1), caused, primarily, by uric acid secreted by geese. Uric acid is the main source of bird nitrogen (Ligza 2009). At increased supply of nitrogen to the soil, N immobilization declines in the biomass of microorganisms and mineralization of this component increases (Tietema and Van Dam 1996). Nitrification, which is the results of enhanced mineralization, is the main cause of the increase of nitrate nitrogen in the soil environment (De Boer et al. 1990). Excess of the constituent in soils contributes to advancing degradation of hydrobiological systems in water reservoirs, including contamination of waters possible for utilization as drinking or municipal water (Ligza 2009, Brankov et al. 2012). The concentration of ammonia nitrogen increased significantly together with the passage of time both in soils of the examined farms as well as in soils situated in direct vicinity of these goose farms (control soils). In the case of nitrate nitrogen, this effect was observed only in soils collected from the birds' runs (Table 1). Nitrates (V) are considerably more exposed to losses than ammonia salts due to a greater diversity of processes leading to losses. Apart from losses in gaseous form (NO, N2O and N2), a significant role is also played by leaching from soil by precipitation waters as well as ease of diffusive migration. Moreover, very high phosphate concentrations in soils contribute to growing environment eutrophisation (Ligza and Misztal 1999, Mcfarland et al. 2001, Sobczyski 2009). In the described studies, exceptionally high accumulation of phosphorus was recorded in soils collected from the runs, although a relatively high content of available forms of phosphorus found in control soils, increasing significantly with the passage of time (Table 1), may indicate translocation Table 1. Concentration of nitrogen (NH4+ and NO3-), available phosphorus forms (P) and pH in soils Locality Object Years 1996 Farm Knyszyn Control 2001 2006 2011 1996 2001 2006 2011 1996 Farm Huta Józefów Control 2001 2006 2011 1996 2001 2006 2011 pH KCl 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.7 4.3 4.3 4.4 4.6 6.4 6.4 6.6 6.8 5.3 5.4 5.7 6.2 56.28b 65.47b 99.83c 105.12c 39.28a 46,57a 71.32b 76.74b 82.06b 89.32b 121.78d 132.61d 34.79a 42.08a 63.45b 67.31b N-NH4+ N-NO3(mg·kg ) -1 P 256.25d 319.47d 567.38e 592.69e 26.34a 33.16a 60.51b 94.22b 285.47d 392.11d 640.18e 668.42e 64.73b 88.29b 144.58c 152.93c 274.08c 290.14c 477.18d 544.53d 16.28a 17.15a 20.52a 28.43a 166.62b 172.04b 241.78c 269.92c 4.23a 5.44a 10.19a 12.23a Values in the column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly at p < 0.05, t-test. E.J. Bieliska, A. Mocek-Plóciniak cations of alkaline metals, such as, e.g., Ca2+, in which soils on goose farms are enriched (Ligza et al. 2000). The examined soils were characterised by low nickel concentrations ranging from 0.11 to 0.30 mg·kg-1 DM (Table 2), which could have been associated with a particularly high affinity of this metal to organic matter (Kabata-Pendias et al. 1993). Also Ligza et al. (2000) reported very low Ni concentration in soils following long-term occupation by birds: geese (goose farms), cormorants, herons and rooks. The layer of faeces deposited on the runs for geese exerted a negative influence on the enzymatic activity of the examined soils (Table 3). In the case of the Huta Józefów goose farm, the activity of all the examined enzymes turned out to be approximately 1.5 times lower in comparison with control soils, irrespective of the number of study-years (Table 3). In the case of the goose farm in Knyszyn, a significantly lower activity of the examined enzymes in soils from the runs in comparison with the control soil was observed only in years 2001 and 2011. This indicates the occurrence of a site drift caused by the supply to the soil environment of excess component from the layer of organic overlay deposited on the runs because earlier (1996 and 2001) the enzymatic activity of soils in Knyszyn was on a significantly higher level than in the control soil (Table 3). The observed soil enzymatic inactivation on the examined farms was associated with very high concentrations of mineral nitrogen and available forms of phosphorus (Table 1) as evidenced by coefficient values of negative correlation between the activity of the examined enzymes and the concentrations of these components in soils (Table 4). A high supply to the soil environment of biogenic substances can cause increase of soil microbiological activity of this constituent from goose farms. McFarland et al. (2001) emphasise that it is the content of phosphorus in soils as well as surface run-off that constitute the main factors threatening the environment on the part of goose farms. The concentrations of the determined heavy metals in soils collected from the runs for geese were significantly higher in comparison with the control soils (Table 2). Heavy metals may be added to pasture soils by animal direct defecation and urination (Abrahams and Steigmajer 2003, Wilkinson et al. 2003, Ajorlo et al. 2010). Other researchers also reported increased heavy metal concentrations in soils on which birds were kept (Headley 1996, Perez 1998, Ligza et al. 2000). With the passage of time, a clear tendency was observed for increased contents of heavy metals, in soil samples collected both from the geese runs as well as control plots. Statistically significant differences were found only in the case of cadmium in soils derived from the runs for geese (Table 2). In the light of current standards (Kabata-Pendias et al. 1993), the examined soils were characterised by natural concentrations of the majority of analysed heavy metals. According to these standards (Kabata-Pendias et al. 1993), the natural cadmium concentration in soils should not exceed 0.3 mg·kg-1. However, during the performed investigations, cadmium concentration in the soil derived from the goose farm in Huta Józefów ranged from 0.35­0.49 mg·kg-1 DM (Table 2). Cadmium is characterized by considerable mobility in a basic environment which is of special significance in the case of soils derived from the runs for geese which undergo alkalization. Kabata-Pendias et al. (1993) emphasise that, together with increasing soil alkalinity, cadmium sorption declines as a result of displacement of this element from the sorption complex by Table 2. Concentration of heavy metals in mg·kg-1 DM Locality Object Years 1996 Farm 2001 2006 2011 1996 Control 2001 2006 2011 1996 Farm Huta Józefów Control 2001 2006 2011 1996 2001 2006 2011 Cd 0.14b 0.16b 0.18b 0.22c 0.08a 0.09a 0.10a 0.11a 0.34d 0.35d 0.38d 0.49e 0.21c 0.23c 0.24c 0.26c Cr 6.69c 6.78c 7.12c 7.34c 2.09a 2.12a 2.28a 2.30a 4.08b 4.12b 4.23b 4,55b 2.02a 2.08a 2.10a 2,15a Cu 5.29b 5.36b 5.86b 6.10b 4.86a 4.91a 4.96a 5.14a 5.79b 5.85b 5.92b 5.99b 3.62a 3.90a 3,98a 4.02a Pb 10.82b 10.90b 10.98b 11.02b 6.78a 6.91a 6.94a 7.13a 13.09c 13.21c 13.18c 13.26c 9.88b 9.86b 10.21b 10.64b Ni 0.22b 0.24b 0.21b 0.30b 0.12a 0.12a 0.14a 0.16a 0.23b 0.22b 0.24b 0.28b 0.11a 0.13a 0.12a 0.15a Zn 26.41c 26.78c 26.93c 32.11c 8.33a 8.29a 8.52a 8.67a 16.34b 16,56b 17,21b 17.88b 8.55a 8.76a 8.93a 9.15a Knyszyn Values in the column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly at p < 0.05, t-test. and, simultaneously, decrease the activity of some enzymes (Bandick and Dick 1999, Domal and Bieliska 1997, Gostkowska et al. 1998). Excess of inorganic phosphorus in soil inhibits synthesis of phosphatases (Gostkowska et al. 1998, Bieliska and Mocek-Plóciniak 2012) and an elevated level of mineral nitrogen confines the activity of ureases and protease (Domal and Bieliska 1997). The activity of the examined enzymes declined systematically with the passage of time both on the runs as well as in the control soils but majority of important changed were determined in the case of soils on goose farms (Table 3). The activity of the examined enzymes exhibited a negative, highly significant dependence on the content of N-NH4+ (r = 0.82­0.92*), N-NO3- (r = 0.80­0.95*) and P (r = 0.82­0.96*) as well as a positive correlation with the total content of the analysed trace elements (Table 4). The action of heavy metals depends on the degree of soil contamination. If heavy metals occur in soils in quantities close to natural values, then they can stimulate the activity of soil enzymes and only their excessive amounts become their inhibitors (Khan et al. 2006, Liao and Xie 2007). A negative impact of heavy metals on soil enzymatic activity is alleviated by high concentrations of organic matter as well as neutral pH (Siebielec et al. 2009). Soils on the runs for geese are continually enriched in organic compounds supplied to the environment together with bird excreta. The important role of organic substance in the detoxification process of soils contaminated by heavy metals was also reported by other researchers (Castaldi et al. 2009, Egli et al. 2010). Recapitulating, it should be emphasised that enzyme activity ought to be taken into consideration when assessing the quality of soils in goose farms as indicated also by the fact that many chemical compounds assume toxic properties Table 3. Enzymatic activity of soils Locality Object Years 1996 Farm 2001 2006 2011 1996 Control 2001 2006 2011 1996 Farm 2001 2006 2011 1996 Control 2001 2006 2011 PhA 13.59c 12.72c 8.46a 8.04a 11.57b 11.23b 10.48b 10.51b 7.82a 7.53a 6.15a 6.20a 11.64b 11.28b 10.46b 9.64b UA 12.06d 11.52d 8.34b 8.11b 10.67c 10.04c 9.86c 9.61c 9.25c 8.24b 5.46a 5.24a 13.87d 12.49d 8.18b 8.72b PA 18.30e 17.29d 12.46b 11.24b 14.12c 13.68c 13.42c 13.17c 9.01a 8.49a 7.88a 6.92a 13.21b 12.72b 11.65b 10.43b Knyszyn Huta Józefów PhA ­ alkaline phosphatase in mmol PNP·kg-1·h-1, UA ­ urease in mg N-NH4+·kg-1·h-1, PA ­ protease in mg tyrosine·g-1·h-1, values in the column followed by the same letter do not differ significantly at p < 0.05, t-test. Table 4. Correlation coefficients between the activity of the examined enzymes and concentration of nitrogen (NH4+ and NO3-), phosphorus (PO43-) and heavy metals Enzymes Phosphatase Urease Protease NH4+ -0.82* -0.92* -0.86* NO3-0.80* -0.95* -0.89* PO43-0.96* -0.84* -0.82* Cd 0.52* 0.54* 0.56* Cr 0.58* 0.62* 0.61* Cu 0.57* 0.61* 0.53* Pb 0.46* 0.44* 0.49* Ni 0.56* 0.58* 0.55* Zn 0.55* 0.51* 0.54* significant at p = 0.05. E.J. Bieliska, A. Mocek-Plóciniak 2. A distinct tendency for the increase in heavy metal concentrations in the examined soils observed with the passage of time constitutes a significant threat for the environment on the part of goose farms. 3. The layer of excrements deposited on the goose runs exerted a negative influence on soil enzymatic activity in the examined farms. The activity of the examined enzymes decreased systematically with the passage of time both in the case of soils on the runs and in the control soils. 4. Soil enzymatic inactivation in the examined farms was significantly associated with very high contents of mineral nitrogen and available forms of phosphorus. 5. The obtained results confirmed that appropriate storage and management of excreta produced in goose farms is necessary from the point of view of environmental protection. following metabolic transformations that occur in living organisms. Frequently, metabolites are characterised by properties which are more noxious than contaminants from which they developed. Soil enzymatic activity reflects levels of environmental contamination which poses hazard to living organisms without the need to identify many compounds. Conclusions 1. Long-term investigations (1996­2011) conducted in two goose farms revealed strong contamination of soils with nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. High, significantly increasing with the passage of time, concentrations of N and P in soil samples collected from the runs but also in control soils neighbouring with the examined farms indicates translocation of these compounds.

Journal

Archives of Environmental Protection – de Gruyter

Published: Mar 1, 2015

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