Effect of Silver Nanoparticles on Select Soil Enzyme Activities Involved in Nutrient Cycling

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Description

Soils are being continuously exposed to large amounts of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), especially silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). These materials can interact with microbial enzyme activity, stability and/or specificity affecting their role in nutrient cycling. Specific enzyme activity measurements have potential to serve as bioindicator in identifying major changes in the soil environment. Present study investigated the effect of AgNPs on soil enzymes known to play a critical role in mineralization of C, N, P and S in the soil. Soil samples were collected from surface layer (0-10 cm) of a Wrengart silt loam series. The study used two sizes (10 and 50 nm) and treatment included two rates (1.6 and 3.2 mg Ag/kg of dry soil) of silver nanoparticles and a control without AgNP application in a randomized complete design, replicated three times. The solution of AgNP was applied to the soil and mixed until homogeneously distributed. Acid Phosphatase, β-Glucosaminadase, β-Glucosidase and Arylsulfatase activities were measured after 1-hr, 1-week, and 1- month of incubation time. All four enzymes showed a decrease in activity after treatment with silver nanoparticles at 1-hr and 1-week incubation period compared to control. In this study there was some difference, though not highly significant, in the effect on enzyme activity between the two sizes used (10nm and 50nm).

Publication Date

2017

Keywords

Silver nanoparticles, AgNP, Engineered nanoparticles, ENPs, microbial enzyme activity, soil enzymes

Disciplines

Life Sciences

Effect of Silver Nanoparticles on Select Soil Enzyme Activities Involved in Nutrient Cycling

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