enhanced the morphological firmness. The increased concentration of platinum nanoparticles reduced the amount of
water in SOM and catalyzed the crystallization of aliphatic
fractions.
4.5 Soil Microbial Characteristics
The incorporation of environmentally hazardous nanoparticles in agricultural soils may significantly hamper the normal
ecological functioning of existing microbial communities
(Navarro et al. 2008). Addition of nanoparticles into soil
leading to variations in microbial characteristics in terms of
bacterial community constitution based on denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) is described by
Ben-Moshe et al. (2013). Diminished soil microbial performance and biomass upon challenged with multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) are narrated by different workers
(Chung et al. 2011; Chen et al. 2018). Reduction in microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, together with the upsurge
in metabolic quotient by MWCNT, silver nanoparticles and
titanium dioxide nanoparticle is reported by Xin et al.
(2020). The observed effects were dose-dependent and much
apparent at higher concentrations of MWCNT, nanosilver,
and titanium dioxide. Modifications in metabolic profiles of
bacterial communities surviving in three different soil types
under the presence of ENPs consisting of silver and zinc
oxide are recently demonstrated by Chavan and Nadanathangam (2020). However, titanium dioxide nanoparticle
did not exert observable differences. The supplementation
with silver and zinc oxide nanoparticle also led to substantial
changes in selected diversity indices.
4.6 Soil Enzymes
Soil enzymes are important contributor of agro-ecosystem
regulating cycling of different nutrients and the introduction
of nanoparticles may likely hinder the natural phenomena
(Shin et al. 2012). Inhibitory action of silver nanoformulation on enzymatic activities of calcareous soil is well documented (Rahmatpour et al. 2017). The silver nanoparticles
exerted greater inhibition over enzymatic activities in comparison with bulk silver ions. Experimental investigation
indicating restrictions in soil enzymatic activities including
dehydrogenase, urease, and phosphatase by the action of
MWCNT, nanosilver, and nanotitanium oxide is registered
currently by Xin et al. (2020). The increased deployment of
nanoformulated pesticides is considered to hinder the natural
soil biogeochemical cycling of beneficial elements. The
inhibitory effects of copper oxide-based nanoparticles at the
concentrations 10, 100, and 500 mg/kg during 60 h
exposure affecting the enzymes involved in denitrification
and electron transfer phenomenon are demonstrated (Zhao
et al. 2020). The introduction of nanoparticles reduced 10–
42% activities of nitrate reductase, nitric oxide reductase,
and retarded denitrification process resulting into diminished
emission of N 2 O. The observed impacts were attributed to
the inhibitory action of copper ions released from nanoparticles. The observed negative effects of nanoparticle addition
on soil enzymes are considered to be the resultant of:
(a) interaction of released metals with sulfhydryl group of
active site of enzyme (Liau et al. 1997), and (b) direct
interaction of nanoparticles with soil enzymes (Wigginton
et al. 2010).
4.7 Soil Annelids and Arthropods
Soil invertebrates like annelids and arthropods are important
fauna affecting the characteristics of different agricultural
soils. Numbers of studies have indicated the impact of ENPs
on normal cellular functioning, reproductive processes, and
behavioral responses in given environmental conditions
(Shoults-Wilson et al. 2011; Schlich et al. 2013; Kwak et al.
2014). The toxicity of silver nanoparticles to model soil
annelid Eisenia fetida through similar pathways causing
perturbation in ribosomal activity, metabolic processes
associated with sugar and protein, and interferences in
energy generation mechanisms has been established by
Novo et al. (2015). Impact assessment of powdered zinc
oxide nanoparticles to annelid Enchytraeus crypticus in
gel-based media suggesting toxicity to soil organism is
illustrated (Hrdá et al. 2016). The toxicity in terms of mortality was affected by size of agglomerated nanoparticle and
method of media preparation for treatment. The annelid
mortality upon exposure differed in the range of 28.9–34.4%
and 0–66.6% for the two different treatment methods using
the nanoparticle concentrations 50, 100, 200, 500, and
1000 mg/kg. Recently, silver nanoparticle-induced toxicological effects in terms of reproduction and mortality on soil
arthropod Folsomia candida after four week exposure is
represented by Hlavkova et al. (2020). Silver nanoparticles
had higher EC 50 value as compared to bulk silver ions
implying lesser toxicity to tested invertebrate. Further, silver
nanoparticles in the concentration range 166–300 mg kg
−1
dry weight did not exert toxicity.
Apart from type and amount of nanoparticles, the
observed effect in agro-environment is influenced by properties of given soil (Xin et al. 2020). The impact of
nanoparticle on soil characteristics is essential to investigate
the ecotoxicity in order to safeguard the agricultural
ecosystem. The extensive investigation would help regulate
the quantity of nanoparticle to be used for agricultural
Effect of Engineered Nanoparticles on Soil Attributes …
123
water in SOM and catalyzed the crystallization of aliphatic
fractions.
4.5 Soil Microbial Characteristics
The incorporation of environmentally hazardous nanoparticles in agricultural soils may significantly hamper the normal
ecological functioning of existing microbial communities
(Navarro et al. 2008). Addition of nanoparticles into soil
leading to variations in microbial characteristics in terms of
bacterial community constitution based on denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) is described by
Ben-Moshe et al. (2013). Diminished soil microbial performance and biomass upon challenged with multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) are narrated by different workers
(Chung et al. 2011; Chen et al. 2018). Reduction in microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, together with the upsurge
in metabolic quotient by MWCNT, silver nanoparticles and
titanium dioxide nanoparticle is reported by Xin et al.
(2020). The observed effects were dose-dependent and much
apparent at higher concentrations of MWCNT, nanosilver,
and titanium dioxide. Modifications in metabolic profiles of
bacterial communities surviving in three different soil types
under the presence of ENPs consisting of silver and zinc
oxide are recently demonstrated by Chavan and Nadanathangam (2020). However, titanium dioxide nanoparticle
did not exert observable differences. The supplementation
with silver and zinc oxide nanoparticle also led to substantial
changes in selected diversity indices.
4.6 Soil Enzymes
Soil enzymes are important contributor of agro-ecosystem
regulating cycling of different nutrients and the introduction
of nanoparticles may likely hinder the natural phenomena
(Shin et al. 2012). Inhibitory action of silver nanoformulation on enzymatic activities of calcareous soil is well documented (Rahmatpour et al. 2017). The silver nanoparticles
exerted greater inhibition over enzymatic activities in comparison with bulk silver ions. Experimental investigation
indicating restrictions in soil enzymatic activities including
dehydrogenase, urease, and phosphatase by the action of
MWCNT, nanosilver, and nanotitanium oxide is registered
currently by Xin et al. (2020). The increased deployment of
nanoformulated pesticides is considered to hinder the natural
soil biogeochemical cycling of beneficial elements. The
inhibitory effects of copper oxide-based nanoparticles at the
concentrations 10, 100, and 500 mg/kg during 60 h
exposure affecting the enzymes involved in denitrification
and electron transfer phenomenon are demonstrated (Zhao
et al. 2020). The introduction of nanoparticles reduced 10–
42% activities of nitrate reductase, nitric oxide reductase,
and retarded denitrification process resulting into diminished
emission of N 2 O. The observed impacts were attributed to
the inhibitory action of copper ions released from nanoparticles. The observed negative effects of nanoparticle addition
on soil enzymes are considered to be the resultant of:
(a) interaction of released metals with sulfhydryl group of
active site of enzyme (Liau et al. 1997), and (b) direct
interaction of nanoparticles with soil enzymes (Wigginton
et al. 2010).
4.7 Soil Annelids and Arthropods
Soil invertebrates like annelids and arthropods are important
fauna affecting the characteristics of different agricultural
soils. Numbers of studies have indicated the impact of ENPs
on normal cellular functioning, reproductive processes, and
behavioral responses in given environmental conditions
(Shoults-Wilson et al. 2011; Schlich et al. 2013; Kwak et al.
2014). The toxicity of silver nanoparticles to model soil
annelid Eisenia fetida through similar pathways causing
perturbation in ribosomal activity, metabolic processes
associated with sugar and protein, and interferences in
energy generation mechanisms has been established by
Novo et al. (2015). Impact assessment of powdered zinc
oxide nanoparticles to annelid Enchytraeus crypticus in
gel-based media suggesting toxicity to soil organism is
illustrated (Hrdá et al. 2016). The toxicity in terms of mortality was affected by size of agglomerated nanoparticle and
method of media preparation for treatment. The annelid
mortality upon exposure differed in the range of 28.9–34.4%
and 0–66.6% for the two different treatment methods using
the nanoparticle concentrations 50, 100, 200, 500, and
1000 mg/kg. Recently, silver nanoparticle-induced toxicological effects in terms of reproduction and mortality on soil
arthropod Folsomia candida after four week exposure is
represented by Hlavkova et al. (2020). Silver nanoparticles
had higher EC 50 value as compared to bulk silver ions
implying lesser toxicity to tested invertebrate. Further, silver
nanoparticles in the concentration range 166–300 mg kg
−1
dry weight did not exert toxicity.
Apart from type and amount of nanoparticles, the
observed effect in agro-environment is influenced by properties of given soil (Xin et al. 2020). The impact of
nanoparticle on soil characteristics is essential to investigate
the ecotoxicity in order to safeguard the agricultural
ecosystem. The extensive investigation would help regulate
the quantity of nanoparticle to be used for agricultural
Effect of Engineered Nanoparticles on Soil Attributes …
123