J. of Nuclear Sci. and Tech.

No. 51, pp. 52-57, 2010

1389 52-57 51

Short Paper

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The Effects of Different Uranium Concentrations on Soil Microbial

Populations and Enzymatic Activities
S. Bagherifam*1, A. Lakziyan1, S.J. Ahmadi2, A. Fotovvat1, M.F. Rahimi1
1- Department of Soil Science Engineering, Faculty of Agricultur, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, P.O.Box: 1163, Mashhad Iran
2- Nuclear Fuel Cycle Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 11365-8486, Tehran Iran

Abstract: Uranium is an ubiquitous constituent of natural environment with an average concentration

of 4mg/kg in earth crust. However, in local areas it may exceed the normal concentration due to human
activities resulting in radionuclide contamination in groundwater and surface soil. The effect of six levels
of uranium concentration (0, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000mg kg-1) on soil phosphatase activities and
microbial populations were studied in a completely randomized design as a factorial experiment with
three replications. The results showed a significant decrease in phosphatase activity. The result of the
experiment suggests that soil microbial populations (bacteria, funji and actinomysetes) decrease by
increasing the uranium levels in the soil. Therefore, assessment of soil enzymatic activities and microbial
populations can be helpful as a useful index for a better management of uranium and radioactive
contaminated soils.
Keywords: Uranium, Soil Microbial Populations, Enzime Phosphatase Activity

*email: saeed_bagherifam@yahoo.com

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1389 51

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