Phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere and its relation to the depletion of soil organic phosphorus

Summary The distribution of phosphatase activity and of phosphate fractions of the soil in the proximity of roots was studied in order to evaluate the significance of phosphatases in P nutrition of various plants (Brassica oleracea, Allium cepa, Triticum aestivum, Trifolium alexandrinum). A considerable increase in both acid and alkaline phosphatase activity in all the four soil-root interfaces was observed. Maximum distances from the root surface at which activity increases were observed ranged from 2.0 mm to 3.1 mm for acid phosphatase and from 1.2 mm to 1.6 mm for alkaline phosphatase. The increase in phosphatase activity depended upon plant age, plant species and soil type. A significant correlation was noticed between the depletion of organic P and phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere soil of wheat (r = 0.99^**) and clover (r = 0.97^**). The maximum organic P depletion was 65% in clover and 86% in wheat, which was observed within a distance from the root of 0.8 mm in clover and 1.5 mm in wheat. Both the phosphatases in combination appear to be responsible for the depletion of organic P.     

Fertilizer and temperature effects on urea hydrolysis in undisturbed soil

Summary Few published studies have examined the effects of a continuous fertilizer application on urea hydrolysis. In the present study we investigated the effects of 9 years of continuous application of urea and P fertilizers on urea hydrolysis in undisturbed soil samples as affected by temperature (5–45°C). Undisturbed soil samples of surface horizons (0–7 cm) were obtained with cutting rings (50 cm³) from different fertilizer-treatment plots and inserted in polyethylene bottles (with cutting rings). Each soil sample (in the cutting ring) was treated with 10 ml urea solution (0.5 mmol urea N g^-1 soil) and then broght to 90% field capacity. The samples were left to equilibrate for 30 min at a temperature of 4°C, then placed in an incubator at 37°C for 6 h. The results indicated that 9 years of continuous application of urea but not P had a significant effect on urea hydrolysis in soil. There was a good correlation between temperature and urea hydrolysis in soil. Q ₁₀ was between 1.97 and 2.08 in the temperature range 5–45°C.     

Chemical,physical, and biochemical soil properties and plant roots as affected by native and exotic plants in Neotropical arid zones

At ‘Cerro Saroche’ National Park, one of the few protected arid zones in northern South America (Venezuela), two exotic plants, Kalanchoe daigremontiana and Stapelia gigantea, have become established. Our goal was to examine what type of relationship existed between these exotics and some biotic (enzymes activities and microbes, fine root mass, and the associated nutrient content) and abiotic (physical-chemical characteristics) soil properties. Soil samples were collected during the dry season from sites at which both exotics have become established and from places inhabited only by native plants. K. daigremontiana grew successfully on soil with greater clay contents for the best supply of Ca. S. gigantea grew in the same soil conditions than the resident plants, but the dense and shallow fine root mass system of this species probably allowed it to exploit a greater upper soil volume that the native plants coexisting with it. Urease activity was highest at the K. daigremontiana site and was related to the high soil organic carbon. Both alkaline phosphatase and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis were not affected by the presence of exotic plants. These are the first data on the interactions between invasive plants and soil properties in tropical arid lands.     

Identification of soil organic phosphorus by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Abstract

Soil samples from different land use systems were collected before cropping (in spring) and after harvest (in fall) for organic phosphorus (P) extractions by 0.4M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and characterization by ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. To prevent hydrolysis of organic P compounds prior to sample concentration, NaOH was removed from the NaOH soil extracts using a G‐25 Sephadex column. The ³¹P NMR spectra in the NaOH soil extracts showed the presence of glucose‐6 phosphate (up to 64%), glycerophosphate (up to 45%), nucleoside monophosphates (up to 91%), and polynucleotides (up to 58%) as the major forms of organic P in soils. The relative concentration of nucleoside monophosphates and polynucleotides decreased in some of the soils after harvest. The ³¹P NMR spectra of the extracts also revealed the presence of phosphoenolpyruvates, a previously unreported form of soil organic P.     

Organic and inorganic soil phosphates and acid phosphatase activity in the rhizosphere of 80-year-old Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] trees

Summary Inorganic and organic phosphates (P) were measured in bulk soil, rhizosphere soil and mycorrhizal rhizoplane soil of Norway spruce. Various methods of P extraction and estimation were compared. In addition, acid phosphatase activity and mycelial hyphae length were determined. In soil solutions from various locations, about 50% (range 35%–65%) of the total P was present as organic P. Compared to the bulk soil, the concentrations of readily hydrolysable organic P were lower in the rhizosphere soil and in the rhizoplane soil; this difference was particularly marked in the humus layer. In contrast, the concentrations of inorganic P either remained unaffected or increased. A 2- to 2.5-fold increase was found in the activity of acid phosphatase in the rhizoplane soil in comparison to the bulk soil. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.83^***) between phosphatase activity and the length of mycelial hyphae. The results stress the role of organic P and of acid phosphatase in the rhizosphere in the P uptake by mycorrhizal roots of spruce trees grown on acid soils.     

生物质炭施用对杉木幼苗土壤磷组分的影响

通过盆栽试验，采用Hedley连续浸提法研究不同生物质炭施用量处理（CK：0 t/hm²；B₁₂：12 t/hm²；B₃₆：36 t/hm²）对杉木幼苗土壤磷组分的影响。结果表明：与CK相比，试验180 d后B₁₂和B₃₆处理土壤全磷与有效磷含量分别增加了8.7%~26.0%和24.0%~101.7%，有效磷在全磷中的比例显著提高；土壤磷组分中，残余态磷在全磷及无机磷组分中的比例均最高，分别为48.5%~51.1%和58.7%~68.3%。B₃₆处理下，土壤各无机磷组分均显著增加，其中易分解态磷和中等易分解态磷在无机磷中的比例显著提高，而稳定态磷和残余态磷的比例显著降低。中等易分解态磷占总有机磷的比例最高，达69.3%~70.2%，生物质炭施用对各有机磷组分在总有机磷中的比例影响均不显著，仅在B₃₆处理下，土壤有机磷中易分解态磷和中等易分解态磷含量显著降低。冗余分析表明，土壤全碳与各无机磷组分呈显著正相关关系，与有机磷组分呈显著负相关关系，是影响土壤磷组分变化的关键因子。     

31Phosphorus‐Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis in extracts of a phosphorus‐enriched volcanic soil of Chile

Abstract

The nature of organic and inorganic phosphorus (P) in fertilized and unfertilized samples of Vilcun soil, a Chilean medial mesic typic Dystrandept which was studied through ³¹phosphorus‐nuclear magnetic resonance (³¹P‐NMR) analysis carried out on a single alkaline extraction. The total P contents ranged from 1,506 mg P kg^‐1 (B horizon, unfertilized soil) to 7,541 mg P kg^‐1 (A horizon, fertilized soil). The magnitude of the P signal (SEM‐EDAX results) appears to be related to that of the iron (Fe) signal. Signals of ³¹P‐NMR spectra are attributable to inorganic orthophosphate, and orthophosphate monoesters and diesters. No important differences between horizons were observed. Apparently in this soil, P are mainly associated with iron oxides and organic matter. The organic P forms were not readily subjected to mineralization.     

Microbial biomass phosphorus in soils of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests

Thirty-eight soils from forest sites in central Germany dominated by beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) were sampled to a depth of about 10 cm after careful removal of the overlying organic layers. Microbial biomass P was estimated by the fumigation — extraction method, measuring the increase in NaHCO₃-extractable phosphate. The size of the microbial P pool varied between 17.7 and 174.3 g P g^-1 soil and was on average more than seven times larger than NaHCO₃-extractable phosphate. Microbial P was positively correlated with soil organic C and total P, reflecting the importance of soil organic matter as a P source. The mean microbial P concentration was 13.1% of total P, varying in most soils between 6 and 18. Microbial P and microbial C were significantly correlated with each other and had a mean ratio of 14.3. A wide (5.1–26.3) microbial C: P ratio indicates that there is no simple relatinship between these two parameters. The microbial C: P ratio showed strong and positive correlations with soil pH and cation exchange capacity.     

Soil phosphorus dynamics and phytoavailability from sewage sludge at different stages in a treatment stream

The effect of different stages of sewage sludge treatment on phosphorus (P) dynamics in amended soils was determined using samples of undigested liquid (UL), anaerobically digested liquid (AD) and dewatered anaerobically digested (DC) sludge. Sludges were taken from three points in the same treatment stream and applied to a sandy loam soil in field-based mesocosms at 4, 8 and 16 t ha⁻¹ dry solids. Mesocosms were sown with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Melle), and the sward was harvested after 35 and 70 days to determine yield and foliar P concentration. Soils were also sampled during this period to measure P transformations and the activities of acid phosphomonoesterase and phosphodiesterase. Data show that the AD amended soils had the greatest plant-available and foliar P content up to the second harvest, but the UL amended soils had the greatest enzyme activity. Characterisation of control and 16 t ha⁻¹ soils and sludge using solution ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy after NaOH–EDTA extraction revealed that P was predominantly in the inorganic pool in all three sludge samples, with the highest proportion (of the total extracted P) as inorganic P in the anaerobically digested liquid sludge. After sludge incorporation, P was immobilised to organic species. The majority of organic P was in monoester-P forms, while the remainder of organic P (diester P and phosphonate P) was more susceptible to transformations through time and showed variation with sludge type. These results show that application of sewage sludge at rates as low as 4 t ha⁻¹ can have a significant nutritional benefit to ryegrass over an initial 35-day growth and subsequent 35-day re-growth periods. Differences in P transformation, and hence nutritional benefit, between sludge types were evident throughout the experiment. Thus, differences in sludge treatment process alter the edaphic mineralisation characteristics of biosolids derived from the same source material.     

Relationship of Phosphorus Fractions with Soil Properties in Mothbean Growing Acid Soils of North Western Indian Himalayas

Phosphorus (P) availability in acid soils is affected and hence it is important to monitor the distribution of P in acid soils. Here, the relationship was investigated taking 81 surface (0–0.20 m) soil samples into consideration collected from 21 mothbean cultivated areas and were analyzed for different phosphorus fractions in relation to their physical and chemical properties. Results revealed that available P ranged from 8.19 to 15.46 kg ha^–1 which lies in a slightly low-to-medium range. Available P was significantly positively correlated with organic carbon and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The content of soil total P increased significantly with organic carbon and was found in range between 201.00 and 596.11 mg kg^–1 which was in suffice category. Various phosphorus fractions under study viz., Al–P, Fe–P and Ca–P ranged between 20.23–32.28, 34.80–51.44 and 8.57–15.00 mg kg^?1, respectively. Among the various P fractions, organic carbon was positively correlated with Fe–P and Ca–P.     

Alder-poplar associations: Determination of plant nitrogen sources by isotope techniques

Summary Three¹⁵N isotopic dilution methods (¹⁵N natural abundance, labelled mineral fertilizer, and organic matter) were used to determine the proportion of N derived from different available sources in seedlines ofAlnus glutinosa andPopulus nigra planted together or in monoculture under natural climatic conditions. The proportion of N derived from N₂ fixation in associated alders was appreciably higher than that determined in monoculture. The reduction of soil N uptake by associated alders contributed to an increase in total plant N and biomass production in associated poplars. When slightly N-labelled organic matter (alder leaf litter) was incorporated into the soil, 10–15% of its initial N content was recovered in poplar tissues, showing that this N source makes an important contribution to the N yield of associated non-fixing plants. There were no significant differences between the results obtained by¹⁵N natural abundance and those obtained by labelled fertilizer methods, suggesting that the ¹⁵N method could be used to evaluate annual N budgets in natural ecosystems.     

Use of poultry manure and plant cultivation for the reclamation of burnt soils

Annual (Pisum sativum L. and Vicia sativa L.) and perennial (Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L.) leguminous species were grown in pots containing samples from the ash layers of two Cambisols under Pinus sylvestris L., which has been affected by high-intensity wildfires 3 and 15 days before the sampling. The gramineous Lolium perenne L. was cultivated as a second plant after Trifolium and Lotus harvesting. Three treatments were compared: soils without fertilization and soils fertilized with two doses of poultry manure (1 and 2 g total N kg^-1 dry soil). The aim of the work was to study the capacity of the ash layer to sustain vegetation and the influence of plants and organic manure on the recovery of vegetation cover, ash layer fixation and soil structure formation to avoid erosion. The ash samples were able to sustain vegetation without fertilization. The organic manure increased the yields of all the plants tested, the lower dose being the optimal for the first crop whereas the higher dose was beneficial for the second crop. The annual legumes grew very quickly. The mixture of Trifolium and Lotus seemed very suitable for reclamation of soil degraded by wildfires because Trifolium produced more phytomass than Lotus in the first growing stages whereas the development of Lotus was higher in the later growing stages. Ash layer conditions did not inhibit nodulation, which was, however, stimulated by the organic manure, particularly in the case of Lotus. Lolium after perennial legumes was the best plant combination because it produced the highest phytomass, particularly root phytomass, and thus improved vegetation cover and ash layer fixation. All the plants tested improved the formation of soil aggregates, particularly the combination of perennial legumes and Lolium. However, wet aggregate stability was higher when plants were grown on soils fertilized with poultry manure than when plants were cropped on unmanured soils, which points to the favourable influence of the organic manure on soil aggregation.     

Soil–Phosphorus Mobilization Potential of Phytate Mineralizing Fungi

Four most efficient phytase and phosphatase producing fungi belonging to genera Aspergillus, Trichoderma, and Penicillium were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of leguminous, cereal, and vegetable crops. Efficacy order of fungi in terms of phytate hydrolysis under laboratory conditions was Aspergillus > Penicillium > Trichoderma. The test fungi released more of extracellular (E) phytase than intracellular (I) phytase (E: I- 3.44 - 6.03:1) and produced acid phosphatase activity ranging from 367- 830 μmol pNP ml^?1 h^?1. Aspergillus niger possessed the twin ability of phosphate mineralization and solubilization. The incubation studies in compost-amended soil exhibited the higher competence of Penicillium chrysogenum to improve the soil available P and increase the level of extractable organic P under alkaline soil to benefit P nutrition. Developing microbial inoculant using P. chrysogenum strain and its subsequent application to soil may help the marginal farmer to replenish soil P more economically compared to chemical fertilizer.     

不同农业土壤中有效磷的变化与磷平衡的关系

Maintaining soil phosphorus(P) at adequate levels for plant growth requires assessing how the long-term P balance(viz., the difference between P inputs and outputs) results in changes in soil test P. The hypothesis that routinely measured soil properties can help predict the conversion factor of P balance into Olsen P was tested at 39 sites in agricultural areas of the Mediterranean region in Spain. A set of soil samples from each site was analyzed for Olsen P, inorganic P(P extracted using 0.5 mol L~(-1) H_2SO_4), pseudototal P(P extracted using 0.5 mol L~(-1) H_2SO_4 following ignition at 550℃), and organic P(the difference between pseudototal P and inorganic P). Organic and Olsen P were uncorrelated in most of the 39 soil sets, which suggests that organic P content changed little with P inputs and outputs. The slopes of the regression lines of Olsen P against pseudototal and inorganic P, which were used as two different measures of the conversion factor, ranged widely(from 0.03 to 0.25 approximately), with their average values(about 0.10) being similar to those found in long-term experiments conducted in temperate areas. Neither conversion factor was significantly correlated with any routinely measured soil property; however, the conversion factor for inorganic P was significantly lower for calcareous soils than for noncalcareous soils. Our negative results suggest the need to isolate the influence of soil properties from that of management systems and environmental factors relating to P dynamics in future studies.     

A sensitive method for measuring cyanide and cyanogenic glucosides in sand culture and soil

Summary Sensitive methods for measuring cyanide and cyanogenic glucosides in soil and sand culture have been developed. A microdiffusion technique is described which depends on the enzymic conversion of linamarin and lotaustralin to HCN, its release following acidification and incubation, and its detection in NaOH. Conditions for hydrolysis and HCN recovery have been optimised. The cyanide content of a silt loam soil (under non-cyanogenic wheat) was 5.47 nmol cyanide g^–1 air-dried soil whilst that in an organic soil under the cyanogenic bracken, Pteridium aqgilinum, was 12.2 nmol g^–1. Exudation of cyanogenic glucosides by linseed, Linum usitatissimum, was measured in plant growth tubes containing sand and a nutrient medium. Sterile plants exuded an average of 6.88 nmol glucosides plant^–1 week^–1 whilst, in contaminated tubes, the level fell to 4.72 nmol. Analysis of plant roots on each sampling occasion showed that 6.88 nmol was, on average, equivalent to 16.15% of the total root content of cyanogenic glucosides. There was a low but positive correlation between fresh weight of plant roots and the level of exuded glucosides. There was no evidence that plant roots produced free HCN.     

晋西黄土区不同密度油松人工林保育土壤功能评价

研究晋西黄土区不同密度油松林保育土壤功能变化规律及差异性,评价其保育土壤功能,以加强林分管理和生态恢复建设.以山西吉县蔡家川流域4种不同密度(925,1 325,1 750,2 250株/hm2)油松人工林为研究对象,对其土壤容重、孔隙度等物理性质、有机质等化学性质以及坡面径流泥沙量进行测定和分析,确定了 12项评价指...     

Phosphorus Availability as Influenced by Organic Residues in Five Calcareous Soils

The use of organic residue is appropriate in maintaining long-term phosphorus (P) requirement of crops. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of time and organic residue addition on P availability in some calcareous soils. Five plant residues and two manures in a wide range of C/N ratios were added to the soil samples at rates of 20 g kg^?1 soil. The samples were incubated for 2, 72, 336, 672, 1440, and 2160 hours at constant temperature and moisture. Extractable phosphorus (Olsen-P) was determined after the incubation. There were decreases in the Olsen-P in all five amended soils during 2160 hours of incubation. The power model was found to be suitable to describe P transformation rates from amended soils. The constant b in the power model of P for amended soils was defined as transformation rate were in the order (average of five soils) vegetables waste > sheep manure > potato > poultry manure > sunflower > rape > weeds residues. There were significant correlations between C/P in residues and parameters a and parameter b. There were significant correlations between clay content and calcium carbonate and transformation rate of P in soils. The model parameters of P are suitable to estimate the P-fertilizer effect of organic residues.     

Synergistic effects of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and diazotrophic bacteria on nutrition and growth of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

Summary Sweet potatoes were micropropagated and then transplanted from axnic conditions to fumigated soil in pots in the greenhouse. Spores of Glomus clarum were obtained from Brachiaria decumbens or from sweet potatoes grown in soil infected with this fungus and with an enrichment culture of Acetobacter diazotrophicus. Three experiments were carried out to measure the beneficial effects of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi-diazotroph interactions on growth, nutrition, and infection of sweet potato by A. diazotrophicus and other diazotrophs obtained from sweet potato roots. In two of these experiments the soils had been mixed with ¹⁵N-containing organic matter. The greatest effects of mycorrhizal inoculation were observed with co-inoculation of A. diazotrophicus and/or mixed cultures of diazotrophs containing A. diazotrophicus and Klebsiella sp. The tuber production was dependent on mycorrhization, and total N and P accumulation were increased when diazotrophs and G. clarum were applied together with VAM fungal spores. A. diazotrophicus infected aerial plant parts only when inoculated together with VAM fungi or when present within G. clarum spores. More pronounced effects on root colonization and intraradical sporulation of G. clarum were observed when A. diazotrophicus was co-inoculated. In non-fumigated soil, dual inoculation effects, however, were of lower magnitude. ¹⁵N analysis of the aerial parts and roots and tubers at the early growth stage (70 days) showed no statistical differences between treatments except for the VAM+Klebsiella sp. treatment. This indicates that the effects of A. diazotrophicus and other diazotrophs on sweet potato growth were caused by enhanced mycorrhization and, consequently, a more efficient assimilation of nutrients from the soil than by N₂ fixation. The possible interactions between these effects are discussed.     

Phosphorus mineralization in subarctic agricultural and forest soils

Summary Potential P and C mineralization rates were determined in a 12-week laboratory incubation study on subarctic forest and agricultural soil samples with and without N fertilizer added. There was no significant difference in net inorganic P produced between N fertilized and unfertilized soils. The forest soil surface horizons had the highest net inorganic P mineralized, 32 mg P kg^-1 soil for the Oie and 17 mg P kg^-1 soil for the Oa. In the cropped soils net inorganic P immobilization started after 4 weeks and lasted through 12 weeks of incubation. Cumulative CO₂–C evolution rates differed significantly among soils, and between fertilizer treatments, with the N-fertilized soils evolving lower rates of CO₂–C than the unfertilized soils. Soils from the surface horizons in the forest evolved the highest rates of CO₂–C (127.6 and 89.4 mg g^-1 soil for the Oie and Oa horizons, respectively) followed by the cleared uncropped soil (42.8 mg g^-1 soil C), and the cropped soils (25.4 and 29.0 mg g^-1 soil C). In vitro soil respiration rates, or potential soil organic matter decomposition rates, decreased with increasing time after clearing and in accord with the degree of disturbance. Only soils with high potential C mineralization rates and high organic P to total P ratios, mineralized P by the end of the study. Mineralizable P appeared to be associated with readily mineralizable organic C.     

Distribution of exogenous phytase activity in soil solid–liquid phases and their effect on soil organic P hydrolysis

The bioavailability and stability of organic phosphorus (P) in the soil may be affected by exogenous phytase (EPase) activity and distribution, but remain poorly understood. The distribution of EPase activity and hydrolysis ability of EPase on organic P in soil solid‐liquid phases was investigated. The EPase addition to soil suspension (1:20, w/v) from three soil types (red soil, brown soil, and cinnamon soil) under three treatments (untreated soil, removing clay from soil, and removing organic matter from soil) with different characters in the solution and solid phases was assayed. The results showed that the disappearance pattern of EPase activity from solution was similar for all soils, whereas the enzyme activity on the solid phase was dependent on soil types and treatments with the greatest in red soil and untreated soil. When EPase was added to soils, the adsorption ratio of organic matter and clay was 10 to 25% and 3 to 7%, respectively, with sorption capacity of organic matter being significantly (p < 0.05) stronger than that of clay. Additionally, soil dehydrogenase activity, which is the indicator of overall soil microbial activities, increased after EPase addition and the two enzymes showed significant negative relation in the soil suspension and solution. At the same time, the organic P decreased significantly (p < 0.05) after the addition of EPase in the soil solid, which had a varied rate under –40% after incubating 192 h, whereas organic P in the solution phase increased significantly (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated that organic matter had a strong protective and adsorptive effect on EPase effectiveness and microbes mightbe directly affect EPase longevity and decay. This finding suggests that EPase activity in the solid phase played a more important role in organic P hydrolysis.