Project information
Application of respiration curves for evaluation pesticides effects on soil microorganisms

Studying the effects of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on soil microorganisms is one of the research topics in the Laboratory of soil ecotoxicology at Research Centre for Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology (RECETOX). The main aim of this project is to extent a set of methods for measuring soil microbial parameters. Soil microorganisms play a key role in soil organic matter decomposition and a nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Effects of POPs on soil microorganisms could be well studied only if several microbial processes are monitored. The project helps to set up and optimize methods for measuring continual soil respiration - respiration curves (parameter of carbon mineralization) and ammonification and nitrification (parameters of nitrogen mineralization). Consequently this methods are going to use for assess the effects of selected pesticides (model organic toxic compounds) on microbial community of real soil samples. Soils with different physical-chemical characteristics will be chosen to compare effects in various soil conditions. The obtain results will be presented as poster on an international conference and as article manuscript. The methods will also be included and used to improve a laboratory practical within the microbial ecotoxicology course.