Transport and deposition of Bacillus subtilis through an intact soil column
Guangming Jiang A C , Mike J. Noonan B , Graeme D. Buchan B and Neil Smith BA College of Environmental Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621002, P.R. China.
B Agriculture and Life Sciences Division, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.
C Corresponding author. Present address: Agriculture and Life Sciences Division, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand. Email: Guangming.jiang@gmail.com
Australian Journal of Soil Research 43(6) 695-703 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR04140
Submitted: 21 September 2004 Accepted: 20 June 2005 Published: 22 September 2005
Abstract
Bacterial transport in unsaturated soils is much less well understood than in saturated conditions, especially for intact soils. This paper aims to investigate the fate and transport of bacteria in intact soils with different water saturations, and particularly the effect of low suction (and hence removal of water flow in the largest macropores). An intact soil column (0.50 m diameter by 0.70 m depth) with a tension infiltrometer was used to investigate the transport and deposition of Bacillus subtilis endospores (i.e. dormant and persistent bacteria) during saturated and unsaturated flows. Soil porosity and pore size distribution were measured. Porosity decreased with depth and macropores were concentrated in the topsoil. Three tensiometers and a temperature sensor were installed along the soil column to monitor matric suction and temperature. Breakthrough curves for bacteria and chemical tracer Br– at 0 and 0.5 kPa suction were obtained during the 3-month leaching experiment. Bacterial breakthrough occurred earlier than the inert chemical tracer, which is consistent with effects of pore size exclusion. Also, saturated flow gave a significantly higher concentration and recovery ratio of leached bacteria, i.e. 51% v. 0.88%. Recovery of Br– in leachate at both suctions reached >85%. The column was destructively sampled for deposited endospores at the completion of leaching. Bacterial deposition was concentrated in the top 0.10 m, then decreased abruptly and was relatively constant with column depth, although showing some irregularity at the bottom of the column.
Additional keywords: unsaturated intact soil, tension infiltrometer, pore size exclusion, air-water interface, film straining.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge support from the Soil and Physical Sciences Group, Lincoln University, especially Jason Breitmeyer for analysis of bromide samples, and Barry Thompson for measurement of soil porosity and pore size distribution. We also thank Michelle Pattison and Neil Smith for their generous assistance in laboratory and field experiments. Appreciation is given to B. N. Dancer at University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology for supplying bacteria used in the research. Guangming Jiang is grateful for his postgraduate scholarship funded from NZAID (New Zealand Agency for International Development).
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