HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Frankenberger, W. T. Articles by Troeh, F. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Frankenberger, W. T., Jr. Articles by Troeh, F. R. Agricola Articles by Frankenberger, W. T. Articles by Troeh, F. R.

Bacterial Utilization of Simple Alcohols and Their Influence on Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity¹

ABSTRACT

Two simple alcohols (methanol and n-propanol) were used to leach saturated soil columns for 2,000 hours, and changes in saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) over time were determined. For both alcohols and a distilled water treatment, K_sat was found to decrease with time, attaining a constant value after approximately 1,500 hours. The addition of simple alcohols reduced K_sat considerably when compared with the flow rate of distilled water in soils. Initial decreases in K_sat were attributed to structural breakdown of unstable aggregates and expansion of clays, but the final portion of conductivity-time curves was probably due to microbial action, in which soil pores became clogged with products of growth and cells. The pH values of effluents collected from soils treated with simple alcohols were lower than those of the added influents. Soils leached with distilled water became more acidic than those leached with methanol and n-propanol. Phosphatase activity was assayed in each soil column, and results showed greater activities in the oxidized zones of soils. The magnitude of phosphatase activities in the oxidized zones of the treated soils were consistently higher in the following order: methanol > n-propanol > distilled water. The decrease in K_sat of soils treated with simple alcohols was related to acid phosphatase activity, in that, as phosphatase activity increased, K_sat decreased.

¹ Journal Paper no. J-10310 of the Iowa Agric. Home Econ. Exp. Stn., Ames, Iowa. Project 2,134.

² Graduate Research Assistant and Professor, respectively, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA 50011. The Senior Author is currently Assistant Professor, Dep. of Soil and Environ. Sci., Univ. of California, Riverside, CA 92521.

Received for publication July 9, 1981. Accepted for publication January 4, 1982.