Soil microbial biomass and organic matter fractions during transition from conventional to organic farming systems

The aim of this study was to investigate the response of soil microbial biomass and organic matter fractions during the transition from conventional to organic farming in a tropical soil. Soil samples were collected from three different plots planted with Malpighia glaba: conventional plot with 10 years (CON); transitional plot with 2 years under organic farming system (TRA); organic plot with 5 years under organic farming system (ORG). A plot under native vegetation (NV) was used as a reference. Soil microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N (TN), soil organic matter fractioning and microbial indices were evaluated in soil samples collected at 0–5, 5–10, 10–20 and 20–40 cm depth. SOC and fulvic acids fraction contents were higher in the ORG system at 0–5 cm and 5–10 cm depths. Soil MBC was highest in the ORG, in all depths, than in others plots. Soil MBN was similar between ORG, TRA and NV in the surface layer. The lowest values for soil MBC and MBN were observed in CON plot. Soil microbial biomass increased gradually from conventional to organic farming, leading to consistent and distinct differences from the conventional control by the end of the second year.     

巴西东北部地区土地退化对土壤微生物量和活性的影响

Land degradation causes great changes in the soil biological properties.The process of degradation may decrease soil microbial biomass and consequently decrease soil microbial activity.The study was conducted out during 2009 and 2010 at the four sites of land under native vegetation(NV),moderately degraded land(LDL),highly degraded land(HDL) and land under restoration for four years(RL) to evaluate changes in soil microbial biomass and activity in lands with different degradation levels in comparison with both land under native vegetation and land under restoration in Northeast Brazil.Soil samples were collected at 0-10 cm depth.Soil organic carbon(SOC),soil microbial biomass C(MBC) and N(MBN),soil respiration(SR),and hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate(FDA) and dehydrogenase(DHA) activities were analyzed.After two years of evaluation,soil MBC,MBN,FDA and DHA had higher values in the NV,followed by the RL.The decreases of soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities in the degraded lands were approximately 8-10 times as large as those found in the NV.However,after land restoration,the MBC and MBN increased approximately 5-fold and 2-fold,respectively,compared with the HDL.The results showed that land degradation produced a strong decrease in soil microbial biomass.However,land restoration may promote short-and long-term increases in soil microbial biomass.     

Spatial patterns of soil biological and physical properties in a ridge tilled and a ploughed Luvisol

The present study was conducted to determine the spatial heterogeneity of bulk density, soil moisture, inorganic N, microbial biomass C, and microbial biomass N in the ridge tillage system of Turiel compared to conventional mouldboard ploughing on three sampling dates in May, July, and August. The soil sampling was carried out under vegetation representing the ridge in a high spatial resolution down the soil profile. Bulk density increased with depth and ranged from 1.3 g cm⁻³ at 10 cm depth to 1.6 g cm⁻³ at 35 cm in ploughed plots and from 1.0 g m⁻³ at 5 cm to 1.4 g m⁻³ at 35 cm in the ridges. In the ploughed plots, the contents of microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N remained roughly constant at 215 and 33 μg g⁻¹ soil, respectively, throughout the experimental period. The microbial biomass C/N ratio varied in a small range around 6.4. In the ridged plots, the contents of microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N were 5% and 6% higher compared to the ploughed plots. Highest microbial biomass C contents of roughly 300 μg g⁻¹ soil were always measured in the crowns in July. The lowest contents of microbial biomass C of 85–137 μg g⁻¹ soil were measured in the furrows. The ridges showed strong spatial heterogeneity in bulk density, soil water content, inorganic nitrogen and microbial biomass.     

间作白三叶对苹果/白三叶复合系统土壤微生物量碳、氮及酶活性的影响

以渭北黄土高原苹果园土壤为研究对象,设置传统苹果（Malus domestica Borkh.）园清耕及间作白三叶（Trifolium repens L.）两个处理,测定和分析了不同土层（0—5 cm,5—10 cm,10—20 cm及20—40 cm）的土壤微生物量碳（SMBC）、氮（SMBN）、4种土壤酶活性、有机碳（SOC）和全氮（TN）等指标,从土壤微生物碳、氮及酶活性的角度探讨间作白三叶对苹果/白三叶复合系统土壤的影响。结果表明:间作白三叶能够显著提高土壤微生物量碳、氮的含量和土壤酶活性,提高土壤微生物对有机碳和全氮的利用效率,其作用随着土层深度的增加而降低,在表层土壤效果更为显著。土壤微生物量碳、氮及土壤酶活性与土壤有机碳、全氮呈极显著相关或显著性相关。苹果园土壤微生物量碳、氮及土壤酶活性能敏感响应生草间作,可以作为评价果园生草对果园土壤影响的良好指标。     

北松辽平原沿纬度梯度农田土壤酶活性与微生物量分布研究

Soil enzymes activities and microbial biomass have an important influence on nutrient cycling. The spatial distribution of soil enzymes activities and microbial biomass were examined along a latitudinal gradient in farmlands of Songliao Plain, Northeast China to assess the impact of climatic changes along the latitudinal transect on nutrient cycling in agroecosystems. Top soils （0-20 cm depth） were sampled in fields at 7 locations from north （Hallun） to south （Dashiqiao） in the end of October 2005 after maize harvest. The contents of total C, N, and P, C/N, available N, and available P increased with the latitude. The activities of invertase and acid phosphatase, microbial biomass （MB） C and N, and MBC/MBN were significantly correlated with latitude （P 〈 0.05, r^2 = 0.198, 0.635, 0.558, 0.211 and 0.317, respectively）, that is, increasing with the latitude. Significant positive correlations （P 〈 0.05） were observed between invertase activity and the total N and available P, and between acid phosphatase activity and the total C, C/N, available N, total P and available P. The urease, acid phosphatase, and dehydrogenase activities were significantly correlated with the soil pH and electrical conductivity （EC） （P 〈 0.05）. MBC and MBN were positively correlated with the total C, C/N, and available P （P 〈 0.05）. The MBC/MBN ratio was positively correlated with the total C, total N, C/N, and available N （P 〈 0.05）. The spatial distribution of soil enzyme activities and microbial biomass resulted from the changes in soil properties such as soil organic matter, soil pH, and EC, partially owing to variations in temperature and rainfall along the latitudinal gradient.     

Soil compaction and forest floor removal reduced microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a boreal aspen forest soil

Soil enzymes are linked to microbial functions and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems and are considered sensitive to soil disturbances. We investigated the effects of severe soil compaction and whole-tree harvesting plus forest floor removal (referred to as FFR below, compared with stem-only harvesting) on available N, microbial biomass C (MBC), microbial biomass N (MBN), and microbial biomass P (MBP), and dehydrogenase, protease, and phosphatase activities in the forest floor and 0–10 cm mineral soil in a boreal aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forest soil near Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada. In the forest floor, no soil compaction effects were observed for any of the soil microbial or enzyme activity parameters measured. In the mineral soil, compaction reduced available N, MBP, and acid phosphatase by 53, 47, and 48%, respectively, when forest floor was intact, and protease and alkaline phosphatase activities by 28 and 27%, respectively, regardless of FFR. Forest floor removal reduced available P, MBC, MBN, and protease and alkaline phosphatase activities by 38, 46, 49, 25, and 45%, respectively, regardless of soil compaction, and available N, MBP, and acid phosphatase activity by 52, 50, and 39%, respectively, in the noncompacted soil. Neither soil compaction nor FFR affected dehydrogenase activities. Reductions in microbial biomass and protease and phosphatase activities after compaction and FFR likely led to the reduced N and P availabilities in the soil. Our results indicate that microbial biomass and enzyme activities were sensitive to soil compaction and FFR and that such disturbances had negative consequences for forest soil N and P cycling and fertility.     

不同耕作方式对土壤有机碳、微生物量及酶活性的影响

【目的】依托8年长期(2005~2012)固定道定位试验,研究不同耕作方式对土壤有机碳、土壤微生物量、土壤酶活性在0—90 cm土层的分布特征,为优化中国西北干旱区的耕作方式提供理论依据。【方法】试验包括固定道垄作(PRB)、固定道平作(PFT)与传统耕作(CT)三种耕作模式下的土壤有机碳土壤总有机碳(TOC)、颗粒有机碳(POC)、土壤微生物量碳(MBC)、土壤微生物量氮(MBN)、土壤微生物量磷(MBP)、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶、脲酶及小麦产量进行了测定和分析。【结果】在0—90 cm土层,不同耕作方式下的TOC、POC、MBC、MBN、MBP、蔗糖酶活性、脲酶活性均随着土层的增加呈下降趋势,过氧化氢酶活性呈先下降后增大的分布特征;在0—60 cm,固定道保护性耕作能够显著增加心土层作物生长带土壤有机碳储量,有机碳储量大小为PRBPFTCT;PRB、PFT较CT可以显著增加0—10 cm作物生长带TOC、POC、MBC、MBN、MBP含量、蔗糖酶、脲酶活性,其大小为PRBPFTCT;耕作方式对过氧化氢酶活性影响不显著;TOC、POC、MBC、MBN、MBP、蔗糖酶活性、脲酶活性、过氧化氢酶活性之间均达到了显著或极显著相关。【结论】PRB较PFT、CT能够提高耕作层(0—10 cm)土壤有机碳含量、土壤微生物量、土壤酶活性, 增加作物产量, 增大0—60 cm土层有机碳储量,耕作方式(PRB、PFT及CT)对10 cm以下土层土壤环境改善作用不明显。     

Changes in soil microbial biomass and functional diversity with a nitrogen gradient in soil columns

Fertilization generates nutrient patches that may impact soil microbial activity. In this study, nitrogen patches were generated by adding ammonium sulfate or urea to soil columns (length 25 cm; internal diameter 7.2 cm). Changes in nitrogen transformation, soil microbial biomass, and microbial functional diversity with the nitrogen gradients were investigated to evaluate the response of microbial activity to chemical fertilizer nutrient patches. After applying of ammonium sulfate or urea, the added nitrogen migrated about 7 cm. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was lower in fertilized soil than in the control (CK) treatment at the same soil layers. MBC increased with soil depth while microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) decreased. BIOLOG analysis indicated that the average well color development (AWCD) and functional diversity indices of the microbial communities were lower in the 1 cm and 2 cm soil layers after application of ammonium sulfate; the highest values were in the 3 cm soil layer. AWCD and Shannon indices from the 1 to 5 cm soil layers were higher than those from other soil layers under urea application. Both principal component analysis and carbon substrate utilization analysis showed significant separation of soil microbial communities among different soil layers under application of ammonium sulfate or urea. Microbial activity was substantially decreased when NH₄⁺-N concentration was higher than 528.5 mg kg⁻¹ (1–3 cm soil layer under ammonium sulfate application) or 536.8 mg kg⁻¹ (1 cm soil layer under urea application). These findings indicated that changes in soil microbial biomass and microbial functional diversity can occur with a nitrogen gradient. The extent of changes depends on the nitrogen concentration and the form of inorganic fertilizer.     

Responses of enzymatic activities within soil aggregates to 9-year nitrogen and water addition in a semi-arid grassland

Soil microorganisms secrete enzymes used to metabolize carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) from the organic materials typically found in soil. Because of the connection with the active microbial biomass, soil enzyme activities can be used to investigate microbial nutrient cycling including the microbial response to environmental changes, transformation rates and to address the location of the most active biomass. In a 9-year field study on global change scenarios related to increasing N inputs (ambient to 15 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹) and precipitation (ambient to 180 mm yr⁻¹), we tested the activities of soil β-glucosidase (BG), N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) and acid phosphomonoesterase (PME) for three soil aggregate classes: large macroaggregates (>2000 μm), small macroaggregates (250–2000 μm) and microaggregates (<250 μm). Results showed higher BG and PME activities in micro-vs. small macroaggregates whereas the highest NAG activity was found in the large macroaggregates. This distribution of enzyme activity suggests a higher contribution of fast-growing microorganisms in the micro-compared with the macroaggregates size fractions. The responses of BG and PME were different from NAG activity under N addition, as BG and PME decreased as much as 47.1% and 36.3%, respectively, while the NAG increased by as much as 80.8%, which could imply better adaption of fungi than bacteria to lower soil pH conditions developed under increased N. Significant increases in BG and PME activities by as much as 103.4 and 75.4%, respectively, were found under water addition. Lower ratio of BG:NAG and higher NAG:PME underlined enhanced microbial N limitation relative to both C and P, suggesting the repression of microbial activity and the accompanied decline in their ability to compete for N with plants and/or the accelerated proliferation of soil fungi under elevated N inputs. We conclude that changes in microbial activities under increased N input and greater water availability in arid- and semi-arid grassland ecosystems where NPP is co-limited by N and water may result in substantial redistribution of microbial activity in different-sized soil particles. This shift will influence the stability of SOM in the soil aggregates and the nutrient limitation of soil biota.     

Responses of soil microbial communities and functions associated with organic carbon mineralization to nitrogen addition in a Tibetan grassland

Alpine grasslands with a high soil organic carbon(SOC)storage on the Tibetan Plateau are experiencing rapid climate warming and anthropogenic nitrogen(N)deposition;this is expected to substantially increase the soil N availability,which may impact carbon(C)cycling.However,little is known regarding how N enrichment influences soil microbial communities and functions relative to C cycling in this region.We conducted a 4-year field experiment on an alpine grassland to evaluate the effects of four different rates of N addition(0,25,50,and 100 kg N ha^-1 year^-1)on the abundance and community structure(phospholipid fatty acids,PLFAs)of microbes,enzyme activities,and community level physiological profiles(CLPP)in soil.We found that N addition increased the microbial biomass C(MBC)and N(MBN),along with an increased abundance of bacterial PLFAs,especially Gram-negative bacterial PLFAs,with a decreasing ratio of Gram-positive to Gram-negative bacteria.The N addition also stimulated the growth of fungi,especially arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,reducing the ratio of fungi to bacteria.Microbial functional diversity and activity of enzymes involved in C cycling(β-1,4-glucosidase and phenol oxidase)and N cycling(β-1,4-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase and leucine aminopeptidase)increased after N addition,resulting in a loss of SOC.A meta-analysis showed that the soil C/N ratio was a key factor in the response of oxidase activity to N amendment,suggesting that the responses of soil microbial functions,which are linked to C turnover relative to N input,primarily depended upon the soil C/N ratio.Overall,our findings highlight that N addition has a positive influence on microbial communities and their associated functions,which may reduce soil C storage in alpine grasslands under global change scenarios.     

Differences in soil enzyme activities,microbial community structure and short-term nitrogen mineralisation resulting from farm management history and organic matter amendments

Changes in soil microbial biomass, enzyme activities, microbial community structure and nitrogen (N) dynamics resulting from organic matter amendments were determined in soils with different management histories to gain better understanding of the effects of long- and short-term management practices on soil microbial properties and key soil processes. Two soils that had been under either long-term organic or conventional management and that varied in microbial biomass and enzyme activity levels but had similar fertility levels were amended with organic material (dried lupin residue, Lupinus angustifolius L.) at amounts equivalent to 0, 4 and 8 t dry matter lupin ha^?1. Microbial biomass C and N, arginine deaminase activity, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, dehydrogenase enzyme activity and gross N mineralisation were measured in intervals over an 81-day period. The community structure of eubacteria and actinomycetes was examined using PCR–DGGE of 16S rDNA fragments. Results suggested that no direct relationships existed between microbial community structure, enzyme activities and N mineralisation. Microbial biomass and activity changed as a result of lupin amendment whereas the microbial community structure was more strongly influenced by farm management history. The addition of 4 t ha^?1 of lupin was sufficient to stimulate the microbial community in both soils, resulting in microbial biomass growth and increased enzyme activities and N mineralisation regardless of past management. Amendment with 8 t lupin ha^?1 did not result in an increase proportional to the extra amount added; levels of soil microbial properties were only 1.1–1.7 times higher than in the 4 t ha^?1 treatment. Microbial community structure differed significantly between the two soils, while no changes were detected in response to lupin amendment at either level during the short-term incubation. Correlation analyses for each treatment separately, however, revealed differences that were inconsistent with results obtained for soil biological properties suggesting that differences might exist in the structure or physiological properties of a microbial component that was not assessed in this study.     

Species-specific effects of plants colonising cutover peatlands on patterns of carbon source utilisation by soil microorganisms

Root exudates and litter are the main sources of inputs of labile carbon into the microbial pool in successional ecosystems. Here we studied whether typical pioneer species (Eriophorum vaginatum, Eriophorum angustifolium and Calluna vulgaris) alter the functional response of the microbial community of a previously cutover peatland. Peat was sampled at three depths (0–5, 20–25 and 40–45 cm) from beneath these species and from bare soil areas. MicroResp analysis using ecologically relevant, radiolabelled, carbon sources showed significant separation in community level physiological profiles (CLPP) of soil microorganisms according to peat depth. This effect was also reflected in microbial biomass carbon, which also decreased with increasing depth. Furthermore, distinct differences in CLPP were observed between the three plant species and the bare soil in the absence of an effect on microbial biomass carbon or total soil carbon. The plant species effects were driven by differential utilisation of xylose, glutamic acid, lysine and phenylethylamine. The data suggest that ‘new’ carbon inputs from plants colonising abandoned cutover peatland may support communities of microorganisms that have functionally distinct roles in carbon turnover.     

Season and Nitrogen Effects on Activities of Three Hydrolytic Enzymes in Soils of the Gurbantunggut Desert,Northwest China

The activities of three extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, soil invertase, urease, and alkaline phosphatase (AlP), were measured across seasons and with the experimental addition of nitrogen (N) in the soil of the Gurbantunggut Desert, Northwest China. Seasonal fluctuations in hydrolytic enzyme activities were not correlated with seasonal variations in soil temperature, water content, pH, conductance, and organic carbon. Invertase and AlP activities increased with low rates of N addition, peaked at a N addition rate of 3.0 g N m^?2 y^?1, and then decreased at higher N addition rates. Urease activity decreased with increasing N addition. Higher organic matter content in the upper depths of soil resulted in higher hydrolytic enzyme activity at depths of 0–5 cm in soil samples and hydrolytic enzyme activity at that depth was more sensitive to N addition and seasonal environmental factors than that at depths of 5–10 cm in soil samples.     

Soil microbial biomass and activities in a Japanese Andisol as affected by controlled release and application depth of urea

This experiment was conducted in maize field plots to study the effects of controlled release and application depth of urea on soil microbial biomass and activities at two depths of surface soil of a Japanese Andisol from June to September, 2001. Three N amendment treatments and a Control were included in this experiment: deep application (8 cm) of controlled release urea; deep application (8 cm) of conventional urea; surface application of conventional urea; Control, without N application. Prior to this experiment, the field plots received the same N fertilizer treatments for two consecutive years under maize/barley rotation. Soil microbial biomass, dehydrogenase and nitrification activities exhibited great vertical and temporal variations during the maize growth season, and the microbial biomass was significantly correlated to soil water-filled pore space (p<0.01). N fertilization did not significantly affect the microbial biomass, but greatly increased the dehydrogenase and nitrification activities. The increase in the microbial activities following N fertilization was not attributed to the increase in microbial biomass but to the increase in intrinsic microbial activities. Controlled release urea was found to continuously affect the dehydrogenase activity over a shorter distance, while conventional urea could greatly increase the enzyme activity for a shorter period of time. Both controlled release and deep application of urea had potentials to reduce the nitrification activity and suggested that the nitrate production might be decreased in 0–10 cm surface soil. Deep application of urea increased aboveground N uptake by maize and then the recovery rate of N fertilizer, whereas controlled release of urea greatly increased grain yield and N uptake by grain.     

Tillage and cropping sequence impacts on nitrogen cycling in dryland farming in eastern Montana, USA

Information on N cycling in dryland crops and soils as influenced by long-term tillage and cropping sequence is needed to quantify soil N sequestration, mineralization, and N balance to reduce N fertilization rate and N losses through soil processes. The 21-yr effects of the combinations of tillage and cropping sequences was evaluated on dryland crop grain and biomass (stems + leaves) N, soil surface residue N, soil N fractions, and N balance at the 0–20 cm depth in Dooley sandy loam (fine-loamy, mixed, frigid, Typic Argiboroll) in eastern Montana, USA. Treatments were no-tilled continuous spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (NTCW), spring-tilled continuous spring wheat (STCW), fall- and spring-tilled continuous spring wheat (FSTCW), fall- and spring-tilled spring wheat–barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) (1984–1999) followed by spring wheat–pea (Pisum sativum L.) (2000–2004) (FSTW-B/P), and spring-tilled spring wheat–fallow (STW-F). Nitrogen fractions were soil total N (STN), particulate organic N (PON), microbial biomass N (MBN), potential N mineralization (PNM), NH₄-N, and NO₃-N. Annualized crop grain and biomass N varied with treatments and years and mean grain and biomass N from 1984 to 2004 were 14.3–21.2 kg N ha⁻¹ greater in NTCW, STCW, FSTCW, and FSTW-B/P than in STW-F. Soil surface residue N was 9.1–15.2 kg N ha⁻¹ greater in other treatments than in STW-F in 2004. The STN at 0–20 cm was 0.39–0.96 Mg N ha⁻¹, PON 0.10–0.30 Mg N ha⁻¹, and PNM 4.6–9.4 kg N ha⁻¹ greater in other treatments than in STW-F. At 0–5 cm, STN, PON, and MBN were greater in STCW than in FSTW-B/P and STW-F. At 5–20 cm, STN and PON were greater in NTCW and STCW than in STW-F, PNM and MBN were greater in STCW than in NTCW and STW-F, and NO₃-N was greater in FSTW-B/P than in NTCW and FSTCW. Estimated N loss through leaching, volatilization, or denitrification at 0–20 cm depth increased with increasing tillage frequency or greater with fallow than with continuous cropping and ranged from 9 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in NTCW to 46 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in STW-F. Long-term no-till or spring till with continuous cropping increased dryland crop grain and biomass N, soil surface residue N, N storage, and potential N mineralization, and reduced N loss compared with the conventional system, such as STW-F, at the surface 20 cm layer. Greater tillage frequency, followed by pea inclusion in the last 5 out of 21 yr in FSTW-B/P, however, increased N availability at the subsurface layer in 2004.     

Chemical and Microbiological Soil Characteristics under Conventional and Organic Coffee Production Systems

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Conilon coffee (Coffea canephora) cultivated under conventional and organic management systems on the chemical and microbiological characteristics of the soil, as compared to an Atlantic forest. Chemical soil properties, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), microbial activity (MA), and metabolic quotient (qCO2) were determined at depths of 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm in two seasons (summer and winter). Although microbiological attributes varied according to the season and soil depth, MBC provided 54.15% of relative contribution to distinguish the treatments, followed by MBN and MA. Results indicate that the cultivation of coffee under organic management is more sustainable than under conventional system. Carbon from microbial biomass was the most important soil microbiological attribute in the clustering of the different management methods. Atlantic forest soil followed by organic coffee cultivation soil showed the best soil-quality indices.     

生物炭与氮肥配施改善枣区土壤微生物学特性

【目的】 探究生物炭与氮肥配施对华北平原枣区土壤微生物学特性的影响,从微生物学角度揭示其对土壤质量的改良状况,为生物炭在果园地区的应用提供科学依据。 【方法】 2013―2015年,在位于华北平原枣区的河南省濮阳市林科院进行了生物炭与氮肥配合施用的田间定位试验。生物炭用量设0、2.5、5和10 t/hm2 4个水平 (以C₀、C₁、C₂、C₃表示),氮素用量设300、450和600 kg/hm2 3个水平 (以N₁、N₂、N₃表示),加上1个完全空白处理CK (不施生物炭和氮肥),共计13个处理。在红枣收获后,采集0—20 cm土壤样品测定各配施处理下土壤微生物量、酶活性和微生物数量。 【结果】 生物炭对土壤微生物量碳、氮含量有极显著影响,且微生物量随生物炭用量的增加而增加。所有施生物炭处理的土壤微生物生物量较C₀均显著增加。在2.5 t/hm2生物炭 (C₁) 水平下,不同施氮处理间微生物生物量差异不显著;微生物量碳、氮含量分别以C₃N₂和C₃N₃处理增幅最大,分别较对照提高了208.6%和159.4%。与对照相比,土壤脲酶活性随生物炭与氮肥用量的增加而显著增加,最大增幅为91.7%,但生物炭与氮肥配合总体上对土壤碱性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶活性没有显著影响。生物炭用量、施氮水平及其交互作用对土壤细菌、真菌和放线菌均有极显著影响。与对照相比,细菌、真菌和放线菌的增幅分别为10.9%～80.4%、6.6%～143.1%和50.6%～115.2%。相关性分析表明,土壤微生物生物量、土壤酶活性及微生物数量三者之间存在显著或极显著的正相关关系。 【结论】 生物炭与氮肥配施总体上提高了枣区土壤微生物生物量、酶活性及微生物数量,三者共同促进了土壤微生物生态系统的改良,配施处理可作为改良枣区土壤质量的有效措施之一。综合试验结果及实际生产成本,10 t/hm2的生物炭,配施N 300 kg /hm2的氮肥为该地区最佳配比施肥量。      

Evaluation of soil microbial indices along a revegetation chronosequence in grassland soils on the Loess Plateau,Northwest China

There is a growing interest in using soil microbial parameters as indicators of soil quality changes after revegetation of disturbed soils. This study investigated the changes in different soil microbial parameters as well as physico-chemical parameters as affected by vegetation rehabilitation of soil in the Loess plateau of China subjected to natural succession after enclosure. The results showed that the soil nutrients tend to be concentrated in the soil surface layer, especially the soil organic C, total N and alkali extractable N with soil organic C being doubled (up to 20 g kg⁻¹) after 50 years of revegetation. Soil enzyme activities and microbial biomass C (Cmic) and N (Nmic) increased with rehabilitation time up to 23 years. After 23 years, soil Cmic and Nmic and enzyme activities remained stable. Enzyme activities increased rapidly during the early stage of revegetation, about 15–20 years after enclosure. Soil Cmic and Nmic also increased about 20% faster up to 23 years since enclosure in the 0–20-cm soil layer. Soil basal respiration (BR) in the 23 years site was higher than in other sites, indicating high microbial activity in this site. These findings demonstrated significant impacts of natural vegetation succession in overgrazed grassland on the properties of the surface soils, including the soil nutrients, organic matter, soil microbial biomass, respiration, and enzyme activities.     

Experimental nitrogen deposition alters the quantity and quality of soil dissolved organic carbon in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a central role in driving biogeochemical processes in soils, but little information is available on the relation of soil DOM dynamics to microbial activity. The effects of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ deposition in grasslands on the amount and composition of soil DOM also remain largely unclear. In this study, a multi-form, low-dose N addition experiment was conducted in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau in 2007. Three N fertilizers, NH₄Cl, (NH₄)₂SO₄ and KNO₃, were applied at four rates: 0, 10, 20 and 40 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Soil samples from surface (0–10 cm) and subsurface layers (10–20 cm) were collected in 2011. Excitation/emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (EEM) was used to assess the composition and stability of soil DOM. Community-level physiological profile (CLPP, basing on the BIOLOG Ecoplate technique) was measured to evaluate the relationship between soil DOC dynamics and microbial utilization of C resources. Nitrogen (N) dose rather than N form significantly increased soil DOC contents in surface layer by 23.5%–35.1%, whereas it significantly decreased soil DOC contents in subsurface layer by 10.4%–23.8%. Continuous five-year N addition significantly increased the labile components and decreased recalcitrant components of soil DOM in surface layer, while an opposite pattern was observed in subsurface layer; however, the humification indices (HIX) of soil DOM was unaltered by various N treatments. Furthermore, N addition changed the amount and biodegradability of soil DOM through stimulating microbial metabolic activity and preferentially utilizing organic acids. These results suggest that microbial metabolic processes dominate the dynamics of soil DOC, and increasing atmospheric N deposition could be adverse to the accumulation of soil organic carbon pool in the alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.     

Mobile and readily available C and N fractions and their relationship to microbial biomass and selected enzyme activities in a sandy soil under different management systems

Within different land‐use systems such as agriculture, forestry, and fallow, the different morphology and physiology of the plants, together with their specific management, lead to a system‐typical set of ecological conditions in the soil. The response of total, mobile, and easily available C and N fractions, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities involved in C and N cycling to different soil management was investigated in a sandy soil at a field study at Riesa, Northeastern Germany. The management systems included agricultural management (AM), succession fallow (SF), and forest management (FM). Samples of the mineral soil (0—5, 5—10, and 10—30 cm) were taken in spring 1999 and analyzed for their contents on organic C, total N, NH₄⁺‐N and NO₃^—‐N, KCl‐extractable organic C and N fractions (Corg_(KCl) and Norg_(KCl)), microbial biomass C and N, and activities of β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase. With the exception of Norg_(KCl), all investigated C and N pools showed a clear relationship to the land‐use system that was most pronounced in the 0—5 cm profile increment. SF resulted in greater contents of readily available C (Corg_(KCl)), NH₄⁺‐N, microbial biomass C and N, and enzyme activities in the uppermost 5 cm of the soil compared to all other systems studied. These differences were significant at P ≤ 0.05 to P ≤ 0.001. Comparably high C_mic:C_org ratios of 2.4 to 3.9 % in the SF plot imply a faster C and N turnover than in AM and FM plots. Forest management led to 1.5‐ to 2‐fold larger organic C contents compared to SF and AM plots, respectively. High organic C contents were coupled with low microbial biomass C (78 μg g^—1) and N contents (10.7 μg g^—1), extremely low C_mic : C_org ratios (0.2—0.6 %) and low β‐glucosidase (81 μg PN g^—1 h^—1) and L‐asparaginase (7.3 μg NH₄‐N g^—1 2 h^—1) activities. These results indicate a severe inhibition of mineralization processes in soils under locust stands. Under agricultural management, chemical and biological parameters expressed medium values with exception for NO₃^—‐N contents which were significantly higher than in SF and FM plots (P ≤ 0.005) and increased with increasing soil depth. Nevertheless, the depth gradient found for all studied parameters was most pronounced in soils under SF. Microbial biomass C and N were correlated to β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase activity (r ≥ 0.63; P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, microbial biomass and enzyme activities were related to the amounts of readily mineralizable organic C (i.e. Corg_(KCl)) with r ≥ 0.41 (P ≤ 0.01), suggesting that (1) KCl‐extractable organic C compounds from field‐fresh prepared soils represent an important C source for soil microbial populations, and (2) that microbial biomass is an important source for enzymes in soil. The Norg_(KCl) pool is not necessarily related to the size of microbial biomass C and N and enzyme activities in soil.<?show $6#>