Impact of atrazine on soil microbial properties: A meta-analysis. (15th April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Yang; Jiang, Zhao; Hou, Anqi; Wang, Xiaodong; Zhou, Ziqian; Qin, Bo; Cao, Bo; Zhang, Ying
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 323(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04-15
• Subjects: Meta-analysis -- Atrazine -- Bioavailability -- Organic carbon -- Soil texture; SMB soil microbial biomass -- SMR soil microbial respiration -- SMD soil microbial diversity -- SEA soil enzyme activity -- PLFA phospholipid fatty acid -- a.i. available ingredient -- SE standard error -- SD standard deviation -- CI confidence interval; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121337
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: Atrazine is a biotoxic long-residing herbicide whose toxic effects on soil microorganisms have attracted widespread attention. However, previous studies on the effects of atrazine on soil microorganisms have yielded highly variable results. Therefore, a meta-analysis using a database containing 1141 data points from 39 peer-reviewed papers was conducted to illustrate the response of soil microorganisms to the application of atrazine. The results showed that the application of atrazine significantly increased soil microbial biomass and respiration by 8.9% and 26.77%, respectively, and decreased soil microbial diversity and enzyme activity by 4.87% and 24.04%, respectively. In addition, mixed-effect models were used to explain the influence of moderator variables, including water holding capacity, temperature, pH, organic carbon content, atrazine concentration, duration, and soil texture, on the results to help account for inconsistent conclusions. It was found that soil microbial biomass was significantly positively correlated with temperature, organic carbon content, atrazine concentration, clay content and silt content, while it was negatively correlated with pH and sand content. Soil microbial respiration was negatively correlated with pH and positively correlated with atrazine concentration. Soil microbial diversity was positively correlated with water holding capacity, pH, silt content and sand content, and negatively correlated with organic carbon content and clay content. Soil enzyme activity, the indicator that showed the largest decrease after atrazine application, was significantly positively correlated with water holding capacity, temperature, organic carbon content, and herbicide concentration; it was negatively correlated with soil pH. On the basis of these analysis results, we recommend that atrazine should not be allowed to persist in alkaline sandy soil for long periods of time, as this can result in atrazine having a significant negative impact on soil microorganisms. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Impact of atrazine on soil microbes was evaluated using meta-analysis. Environmental factors affected the toxicity of atrazine to soil microbes. Soil enzyme activity is particularly sensitive to atrazine stress. Atrazine has a particularly negative impact on soil microbes in alkaline sandy soil.