With the development of transgenic crops, there is an increasing concern about the possible adverse effects of their vegetation and residues on soil environmental quality. This study was carried out to evaluate the possible effects of the vegetation of transgenic Bt rice lines Huachi B6 (HC) and TT51 (TT) followed by the return of their straw to the soil on soil enzymes (catalase, urease, neutral phosphatase and invertase), anaerobic respiration activity, microbial utilization of carbon substrates and community structure, under field conditions. The results indicated that the vegetation of the two transgenic rice lines (HC and TT) and return of their straw had few adverse effects on soil enzymes and anaerobic respiration activity compared to their parent and distant parent, although some transient differences were observed. The vegetation and subsequent straw amendment of Bt rice HC and TT did not appear to have a harmful effect on the richness, evenness and community structure of soil microorganisms. No different pattern of impact due to plant species was found between HC and TT. It could be concluded that the vegetation of transgenic Bt rice lines and the return of their straw as organic fertilizer may not alter soil microbe-mediated functions.
Combined pollution of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (4-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDT) and cadmium (Cd) in agricultural soils is of great concern because they present serious risk to food security and human health.In order to develop a cost-effective and safe method for the removal of DDTs and Cd in soil,combined remediation of DDTs and Cd in soil by Sphingobacterium sp.D-6 and the hyperaccumulator,Sedum alfredii Hance was investigated.After treatment for 210 days,the degradation half-lives of DDTs in soils treated by strain D-6 decreased by 8.1% to 68.0% compared with those in the controls.The inoculation of strain D-6 into soil decreased the uptake of DDTs by pak choi and S.alfredii.The shoots/roots ratios of S.alfredii for the Cd accumulation ranged from 12.32 to 21.75.The Cd concentration in soil decreased to 65.8%-71.8% for S.alfredii treatment and 14.1%-58.2% for S.alfredii and strain D-6 combined treatment,respectively,compared with that in the control.The population size of the DDTs-degrading strain,Simpson index (1/D) and soil respiratory rate decreased in the early stage of treatment and then gradually increased,ultimately recovering to or exceeding the initial level.The results indicated that synchronous incorporation of strain D-6 and S.alfredii into soil was found to significantly (p 0.05) enhance the degradation of DDTs in soil and the hyperaccumulation of Cd in S.alfredii.It was concluded that strain D-6 and S.alfredii could be used successfully to control DDTs and Cd in contaminated soil.
