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1H NMR Relaxometry in Natural Humous Soil Samples: Insights in Microbial Effects on Relaxation Time Distributions

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Abstract

1H NMR relaxometry is applied for the investigation of pore size distributions in geological substrates. The transfer to humous soil samples requires the knowledge of the interplay between soil organic matter, microorganisms and proton relaxation. The goal of this contribution is to give first insights in microbial effects in the 1H NMR relaxation time distribution in the course of hydration of humous soil samples. We observed the development of the transverse relaxation time distribution of the water protons after addition of water to air dried soil samples. Selected samples were treated with cellobiose to enhance microbial activity. Besides the relaxation time distribution, the respiratory activity and the total cell counts were determined as function of hydration time.

Microbial respiratory activities were 2–15 times higher in the treated samples and total cell counts increased in all samples from 1×109 to 5×109 cells g−1 during hydration. The results of 1H NMR relaxometry showed tri-, bi- and mono-modal relaxation time distributions and shifts of peak relaxation times towards lower relaxation times of all investigated soil samples during hydration. Furthermore, we found lower relaxation times and merging of peaks in soil samples with higher microbial activity. Dissolution and hydration of cellobiose had no detectable effect on the relaxation time distributions during hydration. We attribute the observed shifts in relaxation time distributions to changes in pore size distribution and changes in spin relaxation mechanisms due to dissolution of organic and inorganic substances (e.g. Fe3+, Mn2+), swelling of soil organic matter (SOM), production and release of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and bacterial association within biofilms.

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Abbreviations

1H NMR:

Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

ρ 0 :

initial mean surface relaxivity

\(d_{\rm pore}={4V_0\over S_0}\) :

pore diameter of a cylindrical pore (Hinedi et al., 1997)

\({\overline T}_2\) :

initial mean relaxation time

\(\rho_i={\lambda\over T_{iS}}\) :

surface relaxivity

d 0 :

initial mean pore diameter; λ–layer thickness, in which TiS takes place

DAPI-:

4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindol

d BET :

mean pore diameter estimated from BET data

DOC:

Dissolved Organic Carbon

EPS:

extracellular polymeric substances

PGA:

polygalacturonic acid

S 0 :

water covered pore surface

S BET :

specific surface area estimated from BET data

SOM:

soil organic matter

t :

hydration time [days], τ–time constant of the first order process [days]

T i :

relaxation time of the longitudinal (i=1) or transverse (i=2) relaxation of proton magnetization

T iB :

bulk relaxation time

T iS :

surface relaxation time

V 0 :

water filled pore volume

Y :

replacement character for the peak relaxation time [ms]

Y ∞ :

peak relaxation time for infinite hydration time

Y 0 :

initial value for t=0.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Chemistry, University of Technology Berlin, Sekr. KF 3, Strasse des 17. Juni 135, D-10623, Berlin, Germany

    Fabian Jaeger & Gabriele E. Schaumann

  2. Department of Environmental Microbiology, University of Technology Berlin, Sekr. FR 1–2, Franklinstrasse 28/29, D-10587, Berlin, Germany

    Elisabeth Grohmann

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  1. Fabian Jaeger
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  2. Elisabeth Grohmann
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  3. Gabriele E. Schaumann
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Correspondence to Gabriele E. Schaumann.

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Jaeger, F., Grohmann, E. & Schaumann, G.E. 1H NMR Relaxometry in Natural Humous Soil Samples: Insights in Microbial Effects on Relaxation Time Distributions. Plant Soil 280, 209–222 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-005-3035-4

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