Effects of ammonium sulfate on the metabolism and Kfeldspar weathering of two potassium-bearing mineralsolubilizing bacteria

Abstract:

Abstract:［Objective］To determine the best conditions for Bacillus globisporus Q12 and Rhizobium sp．Q32 to produce organic acids and extracellular polysaccharides，respectively，and further elucidate the weathering mechanism of the two potassium-bearing mineral-solubilizing bacteria．［Methods］Different contents (0－1.2 g/L) of (NH4)2SO4 were added to media to analyze the ability of the strains to produce organic acids and extracellular polysaccharides，and assess the ability of Q12，Q32 and their mixture to dissolve potassium feldspar． Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was also used to observe the distribution of the bacterial cells on the surfaces of the feldspar and the mineral weathering． ［Results］ Results show that Bacillus globisporus Q12 produced more organic acids，when the contents of (NH4) 2SO4 were 0.6 g/L;Rhizobium sp． Q32 produced more extracellular polysaccharides，when there was no (NH4) 2SO4 in the media; and the mixture of two strains produced more organic acids and extracellular polysaccharides，when the contents of (NH4)2SO4 were 0.3 g/L． Mineral dissolution experiment showed that Bacillus globisporus Q12，Rhizobium sp． Q32 and the mixture (Q12 + Q32) significantly dissolved the feldspar and released the elements from the mineral，of which the mixture of Q12 and Q32 had the best weathering ability than strain Q12 or Q32; SEM also indicated that the mixture of Q12 and Q32 had more ability to weather feldspar than each tested strain． ［Conclusion］ The contents of (NH4)2SO4 in the media could affect the growth and metabolites of the strains Q12 and Q32 and the mineral bioweathering，the mixture of strains Q12 and Q32 had the more potential of feldspar weathering through the combined action of organic acids and extracellular polysaccharides produced by strains Q12 and Q32．