心土改良的研究进展

心土作为作物生长发育重要的养分、水分储存库和供给源,在植物生长发育过程中发挥着重要的作用。心土改良的目的是为作物创造更加适宜的土壤条件,心土改良主要包括深松改土、混层耕改土和心土培肥改土等技术,并具有以下特点:一是改土增产效果明显。超深松在朽土上的增产效果4.1%~35%,第一代心土混层犁在白浆土上增产8%~16%,第二代混层耕犁增产10%~27%;心土培肥增产17%~26%。二是改土后效持久。超深松改良黑朽土的增产后效为2~3年,在特殊土壤上后效可持续10~15年;心土混层耕和心土培肥的后效为7~10年,土层置换为3~5年,是"半永久性"土壤改良技术。三是依赖特殊的改土机械才能实施。四是心土改良一次性投入大,作业效率相对较低,制约了心土改良技术的推广和普及。     

有机物料深耕还田改善石灰性黑钙土物理性状

为明确不同深耕方式和有机物料配施还田的改土效果,在黑龙江省安达市石灰性黑钙土上开展了深松、秸秆心土还田、秸秆心土还田+鸡粪3种深耕处理对不同土层土壤物理性状影响的研究,并与常规耕作进行了比较。结果表明:耕层土壤三相比处理间变化无规律,20 cm以下土层秸秆心土还田处理和秸秆心土还田+鸡粪处理降低土壤固相效果明显;深耕处理不同土层含水率均高于对照,其中30~50 cm土层差异明显;秸秆心土还田+鸡粪处理有增加土壤孔隙率、孔隙比和土壤饱和导水率的效果;各深耕处理20~50 cm土层土壤容重和硬度与对照相比降低;深松处理增产效果不明显,秸秆心土还田处理比对照平均增产10.5%,秸秆心土还田+鸡粪处理平均增产36.14%,该研究通过明确有机物料不同深耕改土措施对土壤物理性质的影响及与玉米产量的关系,为有机物料深耕还田改善石灰性黑钙土提供理论参考依据。     

有机物料深耕还田改善石灰性黑钙土化学性质提高玉米产量

为明确不同深耕方式和有机物料配施还田对石灰性黑钙土化学性质影响及持续改土效果,在黑龙江省安达市石灰性黑钙土上开展了深松、秸秆心土还田、秸秆心土还田+鸡粪3种深耕处理对土壤p H值、盐基离子、有效氮、磷、钾和玉米持续增产效果研究,并与常规耕作进行了比较。结果表明:深耕处理可以改变土壤酸碱度及盐基离子浓度,明显降低土壤p H值,降低幅度分别为0.59~0.96,土壤的水溶性钾、水溶性钠、HCO3-离子质量分数降低幅度分别为0.9~6.9、79.6~272.1、19.5~46.6 mg/kg,提高水溶性钙离子质量分数,幅度为36.5~125.6 6 mg/kg,土壤p H值与水溶性钠、HCO3-离子含量显著正相关,与土壤水溶性钙离子含量呈显著负相关;深耕处理可提高深层土壤有效氮、磷、钾含量,在20~50 cm土层,各处理土壤碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾含量高于对照,顺序为秸秆心土还田+鸡粪秸秆心土还田深松对照,其中秸秆心土还田+鸡粪处理对土壤有效氮、磷、钾影响最明显,高于对照幅度分别为13.5~36.0、2.4~4.1、41.2~71.3 mg/kg;深耕可以增加玉米产量,不同深耕技术增产效果不同,秸秆心土还田和秸秆心土还田+鸡粪处理一次改土后,连续3a均表现增产趋势,秸秆心土还田+鸡粪改土后第1年比对照增加47.1%,第2年和第3年分别比对照增产25.2%和24.7%,3a平均比对照增产32.3%,效果显著,秸秆心土还田处理与对照相比增产效果不如秸秆心土还田+鸡粪处理,第1、2和3年增产分别为11.2%、9.8%和18.1%,3a平均增产11.3%,深松处理增产效果在不同年份表现不一致,第1年没有增产,第2年增产6.3%,第3年增产14.3%,3a平均增产6.2%;从土壤化学性质的变化及改土后玉米产量看出,秸秆心土还田+鸡粪处理是比较适合石灰性黑钙土改良的耕作措施。     

心土间隔混层技术改善白浆土理化性质提高大豆产量

为了提高改土效率,打破白浆土障碍层次白浆层,改善贫瘠的心土层创造有利条件,该文设计了将白浆土"上翻20 cm,下混30 cm,同时间隔62 cm不混拌"的心土间隔混层犁。2016-2017年在黑龙江省八五四农场设置心土间隔混层区和浅翻深松区大区对比试验,研究改土作业后土壤理化性质、大豆产量及其农艺性状变化,明确改土机械作业效果与作物增产机理。结果表明:与浅翻深松相比,心土间隔处理改土2 a内:改善白浆土心土层土壤物理性质,提高土壤含水率,20～40 cm土层土壤含水率提高幅度为2.13～3.20个百分点;降低心土层土壤硬度,硬度值降低40%～50%,且在20～40cm心土层没有出现峰值,改善土壤三相比例,固相值降低5.06个百分点,液相值增加3.17个百分点,气相值增加1.89个百分点。改善心土层化学性质,20～40 cm土层碱解氮提高33.77%,有效磷提高39.25%,速效钾提高4.16%,有机质提高15.85%,同时提高心土层全量养分含量,降低土壤pH值,但效果不明显。连续调查两年大豆产量,心土间隔混层区比浅翻深松区增产12.66%～13.28%,一次改土后效时间长,增产效果显著。该研究结果可为旱地白浆土及其同类低产土壤的改良提供技术支撑。     

秸秆心土混合犁改良白浆土效果

为将表层秸秆施入心土,改善贫瘠的心土层创造有利条件,该文设计了将白浆土"上翻20 cm,下混30~40 cm,同时将有机物料施入心土层"的秸秆心土混合犁。该研究通过设置秸秆心土混合区和浅翻深松区田间对比试验,调查机械作业后土壤理化性质,指示作物农艺性状以及产量指标等,明确秸秆心土混合的改土增产机理,进一步拓宽白浆土改良途径,为机械改土技术的广泛应用提供技术支撑。研究结果表明:与浅翻深松相比,秸秆心土混合改善心土层土壤物理性质,20~40 cm土层土壤含水率提高2.69~4.90个百分点;硬度降低44.45%左右,且没有出现峰值;改善土壤通透性,固相降低幅度为4.51~2.14个百分点,液相增加幅度为1.17~4.13个百分点,气相增加幅度为0.38~0.98个百分点,容重下降幅度为0.16~0.11 g/cm~3;提高心土层养分含量,碱解氮提高17.33%,有效磷提高116.39%,速效钾提高37.86%,有机质提高36.66%,同时提高心土层全量养分含量,缓解土壤酸性。连续2 a调查大豆产量,秸秆心土混合区比对照区增产15.77%~16.33%,一次改土后效时间长,增产效果显著。该研究结果可为白浆土及其同类低产土壤改良及作物高产提供技术支撑。     

心土培肥改良白浆土的研究Ⅱ心土对作物产量的贡献及磷、钙培肥心土的效果

为明确心土对作物产量的贡献和P、Ca培肥心土的效果,采用盆栽试验与室内模拟试验相结合的方法,研究心土层对作物产量贡献和白浆土心土培肥的机理。结果表明:良好的心土层对作物产量影响十分明显。黑土厚度从20 cm增加到60cm,大豆增产40.4%;不同土层位置对大豆产量的贡献率分别为:20～40 cm土层10%以上,40～50 cm土层为4.57%;50 cm以下土层为1%。磷培肥后心土层吸附磷的能力降低、解吸率增加,土壤中有效磷含量提高;钙培肥后心土层土壤电导率和pH提高,但使土壤中磷的有效性降低;磷培肥后磷在土壤中主要转化为Ca2-P、Ca8-P、Al-P和Ca10-P。     

心土培肥改良白浆土的研究Ⅰ白浆土心土培肥的效果

采用心土培肥犁将白浆土的白浆层和淀积层混拌,并向混拌层施入改土物料钙肥和磷肥。试验结果显示:心土培肥的增产效果稳定,磷培肥区比对照区增产17.4%～26.4%,钙培肥区比对照区增产9.2%～16.3%。在心土混层耕基础上进行心土培肥,磷培肥的增产效果明显。对白浆土进行心土培肥,改善了其障碍层次,从而达到培肥土壤的目的。     

深翻结合心土与不同改土物料混合改良白浆土的效果

该研究通过设置心土混拌配施改土物料区和浅翻深松区进行小区对比试验,调查心土混拌配施不同改土物料对白浆土心土理化性质的改良效果,进而进一步拓宽白浆土心土改良途径。试验共设置浅翻深松区(CK);心土混合区(SML);秸秆+心土混合区(S+SML);秸秆+心土混合区+磷肥(S+SML+P),秸秆+心土混合区+石灰(S+SML+L);秸秆+心土混合区+石灰+磷肥(S+SML+L+P)6个处理。研究结果表明:1)与浅翻深松(CK)相比,深翻结合心土与不同改土物料混合能够改善心土层土壤物理性质,20~40 cm土层土壤含水率提高幅度为2.11~6.11个百分点;硬度降低40%~50%,且没有出现峰值;提高土壤通透性,改善土壤三相比值,固相降低幅度为8.5~9.97个百分点,液相增加幅度为2.82~5.41个百分点,气相增加幅度为3.89~6.65个百分点,容重下降幅度为10.13%~17.09%。2)提高心土层养分含量,碱解氮提高82.75%~121.63%,有效磷提高190.91%~681.82%,特别是添加磷肥处理变化明显,是对照处理6.5~6.8倍,速效钾提高20.7%~40.74%。有机质提高157.14%~185.71%。缓解土壤酸性,加石灰处理p H值提高0.45~0.47个单位。提高土壤全量养分,全氮提高45.76%~52.54%,全磷提高108.14%~144.19%,全钾提高8.10%~26.34%。3)连续两年提高作物产量。与对照区相比,第1年大豆增产13.42%~24.46%,第2年玉米增产13.43%~19.17%,一次改土后效时间长,增产效果显著。研究结果认为,心土混合配施秸秆、石灰和磷肥是白浆土区比较理想的心土改良技术,可为白浆土及其同类低产土壤改良及作物增产提供技术支撑。     

不同机械改土方式对白浆土物理特性及酶活性的影响

白浆土是我国东北地区主要低产土壤之一,土体中白浆层通气透水能力极差,生物酶活性很低,导致土壤表旱表涝严重,旱田作物根系有效土层一般只有20 cm左右。自20世纪80年代开始,包括深松在内的机械改土逐渐演变为白浆土的主要改良方式。为了探讨不同机械改土方式的改土效果,研究采用3种机械改土方式,依次为普通深松犁、秸秆心土混合犁、心土间隔混拌犁,并以普通深松犁为对照,在典型白浆土上开展改土试验。机械作业后,分别测定土壤物理性质及土壤酶活性。结果表明:秸秆心土混合犁、心土间隔混拌犁处理后,白浆层的硬度降低至7~9 kg cm-2,远低于对照白浆层硬度10~14 kg cm-2;固相分别为47.74%、50.13%,均低于对照53.16%;容重与对照相比分别降低了14.01%、10.19%。与对照相比,秸秆心土混合犁、心土间隔混拌犁降低了白浆层过氧化氢酶活性,秸秆心土混合犁处理降低了白浆层脲酶和蔗糖酶活性、增加了淀积层脲酶和蔗糖酶活性;两个处理与对照相比大豆分别增产21.34%、4.94%。秸秆心土混合犁、心土间隔混拌犁改善了土壤不良的理化性质,同时对土壤酶活性有很大的影响。研究为机械改良白浆土的评价方法探索了新途径。     

深耕培肥改良瘠薄黑土理化性质及提高大豆产量的研究

为明确深耕培肥对瘠薄黑土的改土效果,采用大田对比方法,以依安地区黑土为供试土壤,开展深耕培肥对瘠薄黑土土壤理化性质影响及对大豆产量的调查研究。结果表明:深耕培肥可以有效降低10~30 cm土层土壤容重、硬度,提高土壤通气性,容重第1年和第2年分别下降0.09 g cm~(-3)和0.05 g cm~(-3),通气系数分别提高为34.01×10~(-5) cm s~(-1)和10.89×10~(-5) cm s~(-1),10 cm以下土层土壤硬度与对照相比呈明显下降趋势;同时,深耕培肥后20~30 cm土层有效磷含量显著提高,两年增加幅度为15.05~16.23 mg kg~(-1);深耕培肥可以提高土壤速效钾含量,增加幅度为10.19~10.38 mg kg~(-1);并且深耕培肥提高了大豆产量,两年平均提高大豆产量达9.61%。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.