Effect of fulvic and humic acids on nitrificationpart ii: The nitrifying potential of cecil and davidson soils

Abstract

A disagreement exists in the literature regarding the effect of organic matter on nitrification. Therefore, this investigation was conducted to study the effect of fulvic (FA) and humic acids (HA) on nitrification by chemical means. In part I, results of an experiment showed a general trend for nitrite production to increase with increase application of FA and HA. On the other hand, nitrate production decreased in the presence of FA and HA. Since the previous experiment was conducted in vitro without soil, a second experiment was initiated as discussed below to include the use of a Cecil and Davidson soil. Soil samples mixed with 0 to 1000 mg HA/kg were incubated for 21 days according to the Schmidt and Belser's nitrifying potential procedure, and an alternate method. Ammonium sulfate was added as the N‐source. The soils were then extracted with 2M KC1 for analysis of initial and final nitrate concentrations with which the nitrifying potential was calculated. An additional experiment was included to study nitrification in the presence of plant growth. For this purpose corn plants were grown for 25 days in pots, receiving 0 to 1000 mg HA/kg, 100 mg (NH₄)₂SO₂/kg, and 1 ml of a mixed nitrifier extract. The soils were again extracted with 2M KCl for analysis of initial and final nitrate concentrations and the nitrifying potential. The Schmidt and Belser method yielded results indicating that the Cecil soil had a greater nitrifying potential than the Davidson soil. A tendency was noted in the Davidson soil for nitrification to decrease with added HA. The inhibitory effect of HA on nitrate production was clearly demonstrated by the alternate method, which yielded a linear decrease in nitrate concentrations with increased HA treatments. Plant growth, and humic acid treatments appeared to decrease the final nitrate concentrations in the third experiments. The effect was more pronounced in the Cecil than in the Davidson soil. The nitrifying potential of the Cecil soil under corn, ranging from 1.05 to 2.23 mg NO^‐ ₃‐N/kg, was three to eight times smaller than that detected in the experiments without plants. These observations are in support of results discussed in Part I.     

Macromolecule‐P associations and inositol phosphates in some chilean volcanic soils of temperate regions

Abstract

Total organic P, humic and fulvic acid‐P associations and inositol phosphates in nine volcanic soils of southern Chile were determined. The concentration of organic P (Po) ranged from 654 to 1942 ppm accounting for 49% to 64% of total soil P. Phosphorus associated to humic (HA‐P) and fulvic acids (FA‐P) accounted for 51–68% and 32–49% of Po, respectively. Inositol penta‐ and hexaphosphates represented 42% to 67% of Po suggesting that significant amounts are associated with both humic and fulvic acids. Po content was significantly correlated to organic C, total soil P and HA‐P. HA‐P and FA‐P fractions obtained from the most representative soil were examined by dyalisis and gel filtration. While approximately 96% of HA‐P presented a molecular weight higher than 100,000 daltons, 53% of FA‐P had a molecular weight under 12,000 daltons. It is suggested that these more labile organic P forms would be more easily mineralized, thus increasing the available P pool.     

Dissolution of aluminum and iron phosphate by humic acids

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to study the effect of humic (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) on the dissolution of aluminum phosphate (AlPO₄) and iron phosphate (FePO₄), to analyze the dissolution products, and assess their availability to plants. The rate of dissolution was determined by shaking 10 mg of Al‐ or FePO₄ with 0 to 800 mg L^‐1 of HA or FA solutions at pH 7.0 for 0 to 192 hours. The phosphorus (P) concentration was measured in the extracts by spectrophotometry, whereas the nature of P‐humic acid complexes was determined by ³¹P NMR analysis. Availability of dissolution products was studied by growing corn plants in aerated hydroponic solutions receiving treatments of 50 mg Al‐ or FePO₄ and 0 to 800 mg L^‐1 of HA or FA at pH 5.0. The results indicated that the amount of P released by HA or FA increased with time. Humic acid was more effective than FA in dissolving the metal phosphates. The ³¹P NMR analysis showed that the dissolution products contained free orthophosphates and minor amounts of P‐humic acid complexes. This confirms the role of HA as a powerful chelator of Al and Fe, liberating in this way the orthophosphate anions. Corn plants grown in hydroponics, with AlPO₄ or FePO₄ as the source of P, exhibited better growth performance when HA or FA are present.     

Soil and compost humic fractions regulate the response of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum to exogenously added allelochemical compounds

Allelochemical compounds released by plants to signal their presence and needs interact in soils with very important macromolecules, such as humic acids (HAs), which are able to modulate the ultimate effects on target organisms. Most of the available studies on plants and microorganisms report the effects of allelochemicals or those of humic fractions, separately. In this study, we investigated the combined activity of these two types of compounds on the soil-resident fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Thus, ferulic acid (FA), caffeic acid (CA), benzoic acid (BA), salicylic acid (SA), gallic acid (GA) and phthalic acid (PA), exogenously applied to the fungal growth medium, were tested both alone and in combination with a soil HA (SHA) and a compost HA (CHA). The two HAs were also tested alone on the fungus. When the allelochemicals were applied alone, only FA, BA and SA evidenced a significant inhibition of mycelial growth, whereas FA, BA and CA increased the number of sclerotia formed. The two HAs alone reduced the early growth of the fungus and markedly stimulated sclerotia formation. A significant attenuation or, in some cases, suppression of the allelochemical effect on mycelial growth was caused by the coexistence in the medium of the allelochemical and each HA, especially CHA. Moreover, in general, the combinations of HA-allelochemical significantly stimulated sclerotia formation, with respect to the sole allelochemical, but decreased it with respect to HA alone. Thus, investigations on the response of fungi to plant-released allelochemicals should not exclude interactive aspects of these compounds with ubiquitous coexisting humic macromolecules.     

Modifications of degradation-resistant soil organic matter by soil saprobic microfungi

Modifications of humic (HA) and fulvic (FA) acids in their solutions and in sterile soil by microfungal species and two well-known HA degraders were studied by measurement of total oxidizable carbon (OC), absorbances, enzyme activities and CO₂ release. The effect of glucose on FA and HA, and also minerals on FA utilization was also observed. Microfungi affected HA more than FA. Common microfungal species decolorized HA and decreased their molecular size (evaluated in terms of A₄/A₆ ratio). Some of them decreased aromaticity of HA and FA as the only carbon sources. They did not affect OC, although released CO₂ from FA. Under higher availability of mineral nutrients, the FA aromaticity increased and FA decolorization decreased. The molecular size of HA decreased in the presence of glucose. In the FA medium complemented by minerals, the known basidiomycete HA degrader, Trametes versicolor, decreased the amount of aromatic compounds in contrast to microfungal species Alternaria alternata, Clonostachys rosea, Exophiala cf. salmonis, Fusarium coeruleum, F. redolens, Penicillium canescens, Phoma sp. and another basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium. No microfungal species exhibited lignin peroxidase activity. On the other hand, activities of manganese peroxidase (MnP) were recorded for all species incubated in FA. Carbon dioxide produced from soil inoculated by microfungi negatively correlated with the decolorization, aromaticity and OC of/in FA reisolated from the soil. The results support the hypothesis that soil microfungi can attack both HA and FA and can represent an important factor in their transformations in arable soils. The enzyme involved in FA modifications is probably fungal MnP. We enriched a group of known HA and FA degraders and showed some abilities of a few frequent soil microfungal species. This can be one of the first but important step towards learning the functioning of carbon release from the big reservoir represented by humic substances in arable soils.     

土壤腐殖质分组研究

采用Pallo法对两种耕地土壤腐殖质进行分组,初步研究了各组分的数量和结构特征。结果表明:焦磷酸钠提取的胡敏酸(HAp)是胡敏酸(HA)的主要组分;游离富里酸(FAf)是富里酸(FA)的主要组分;胡敏素(HM)的主要组分为非溶解性胡敏素(ISHM),而溶解性胡敏素(SHM)含量较低。通常随土层深度增加,HA、HM各组分的绝对数量和相对数量都下降;FA各组分的绝对数量也下降,而相对数量增加;HA/FA比值下降。一般来看,焦磷酸钠提取的富里酸(FAp)、氢氧化钠提取的富里酸(FAs)比相应的HAp、氢氧化钠提取的胡敏酸(HAs)的分子结构简单,铁结合胡敏素(HMi)比粘粒结合胡敏素(HMc)的分子结构简单;随土层深度增加,HAp、HAs的分子结构变简单,而HMi、HMc的分子结构变复杂。     

Influence of natural and synthetic humic substances on the activity of urease

The activity of a purified urease, obtained from Bacillus pasteurii, was inhibited by humic and fulvic acids obtained from an agricultural soil. Enzyme kinetic studies showed that the humic substances affected the affinity of the enzyme for its substrate (K_m) and the maximum velocity of the reaction (V_max). The V_max was inhibited to the same extent by both humic (HA) and fulvic (FA) acids, the precise effect depending on the pH and concentration of humic substance. At pH 4.0, HA concentrations of 25 pg cm^?3 and 10 μg cm^?3 inhibited the V_max by 38.5% and 20% respectively. HA and FA had similar effects on the K_m but in this case the lowering of the affinity of the enzyme for its substrate was not concentration dependent in the range 0–25 μg cm^?3 of humic substance. Typically, the affinity was decreased from a K_M of 50 mM in the control to 67 mM in the presence of HA and FA. The effects were not due primarily to the ash or N contents of the humic substances because de-ashed humic acid and synthetic model humic (made from catechol, guaiacol, pyrogallol, resorcinol and protocatechuic acid) and fulvic acid (made from polymaleic acid), containing virtually no ash or N, were equally as effective. The effect was not related to the phenolic monomers which, before polymerization, had no effect on urease activity.     

Organic carbon quantity and forms as influenced by tillage and cropping sequence

Abstract

Soil organic matter and its chemical fractions have a profound impact on soil chemical and physical properties. In turn, the effect of management (cropping and tillage) on the quantity and chemical properties of soil organic matter can be substantial. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of specific tillage regimes and crop sequences commonly used in the central Great Plains of the United States on the quantity, quality, and distribution with depth of soil organic carbon (SOC). Soils were sampled in 1 cm or 2 cm increments to a depth of 10 cm from experimental field plots on a Sharpsburg silty clay loam (fine, montmorillonitic, mesic Typic Argiudoll). The plots had been under 6 continuous tillage regimes since 1978 and cropped to continuous corn, continuous soybean, or corn‐soybean in rotation since 1985. Soils were analyzed for total SOC, fulvic acid (FA) carbon, and humic acid (HA) carbon. No‐till and continuous corn (Zea mays L.) management generally had the highest SOC, with a sharp reduction in SOC below 2 cm. Only no‐till increased FA, which also decreased with depth, especially between 2 and 4 cm. Humic acid concentration was highest under continuous corn but was unaffected by tillage. Humic acid also was highest in the 1‐ to 2‐cm increment of continuous corn. Two ratios which are used as indices of degree of humification, HA/FA and (HA+FA)/SOC, gave different estimates of the effect of management. Only continuous com increased HA/FA, suggesting increased humification. No treatment affected (HA+FA)/SOC. Overall, continuous corn and no‐till contributed the greatest amounts of residue and maintained a soil environment conducive to preserving the resulting organic matter. These management options increase not only total SOC, but also alter the quality of that SOC as measured by HA and FA. These changes in SOC characteristics may have implications for long‐term soil quality and soil productivity.     

Effect of fulvic and humic acids on nitrificationPart 1: In vitro production of nitrite and nitrate

Abstract

Mixed opinions exist on the effect of organic matter on nitrification in soils as well as the lack of data on the effect of fulvic (FA) and humic (HA) acids on this biochemical process. This in vitro investigation was conducted to study the effect of FA and HA on oxidation of NH⁺ ₄ and NO^‐ ₂ by soil nitrifiers and on the delay period (t') and maximum nitrification rate (K_max). Soil extracts containing an ammonium‐oxidizer population were incubated in vitro for 3 weeks at 25C in the presence of (NH₄)₂SO₄and 0 to 320 mg FA or HA/L at pH 7.0 or 8.0. A similar experiment was conducted with soil extracts containing a nitrite‐oxidizer population, but with KNO₂ as the N source. An additional experiment was conducted with the nitrite‐oxidizer extracts for the determination of t’ and K_max values. Nitrite production tended to increase linearly as a result of FA and HA treatments from 0 to 320 mg/L at pH 7.0 or 8.0. Fulvic acid appeared to be more effective than HA in increasing the oxidation process. Differences in pH had only a slight effect. On the other hand, nitrate production was decreased linearly by FA or HA treatments from 0 to 320 mg/L which provided some justification for reports of lower nitrate, but higher nitrite concentrations in soils high in organic matter content. Humic acid treatments increased the delay period (t¹), and at the same time decreased the maximum nitrification rate (K_max). The latter suggests that in the presence of HA more time is required to reach a maximum nitrification rate.     

The significance of solid‐state 13C NMR spectroscopy of whole soil in the characterization of humic matter

Abstract

Differences in characteristics of humic matter were investigated by solid‐state CP/MAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopy of whole (nontreated) materials and their extracted humic fractions. Samples used in the analysis were lignite, a commercial humate AG, and the Bh horizons of a Mascotte and a Lawnwood soil. Humic fractions were extracted by the 0.1 M NaOH or Na₄P₂O₇ (pH 9.8) method. The humic (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) obtained were weighed and analysed for total acidity, carboxyl and phenolic‐OH group contents. Whole lignite, humate AG and soil samples, and the HA and FA fractions were analyzed by solid state CP MAS ¹³C NMR and infrared spectroscopy. Carbon, H, and N contents were determined by chemical analysis. NMR spectra of the combined HA+FA extracts resembled the spectra of the whole materials. No additional signals were detected, indicating that alien compounds were not produced during the extraction. The best spectra were obtained with HA samples produced by the NaOH method. These spectra closely resembled those of the untreated materials. Spectral and chemical differences noticed between the HA (or FA) fractions were attributed more to differences in origin than to the extraction procedure. Aliphatic, aromatic and carboxyl groups were the major components of HA from lignite and humate AG. In contrast, HA from the two Haplaquods were characterized by four major components: the aliphatic, polysaccharide, aromatic, and carboxyl groups. Regardless of origin, all the HA fractions contained similar functional groups, as indicated by their close similarities in infrared spectra.     

Peanut Straw Decomposition Products Promoted by Chemical Additives and Their Effect on Enzymatic Activity and Microbial Functional Diversity in Red Soil

ABSTRACT

The objectives of the present study were to determine the promotional effect of chemical additives on quality of peanut straw decomposition products and to evaluate the influence of the resulting products on soil biological properties. Straw was mixed with or without chemical additives, such as iron(II) sulfate (FeSO₄), alkali slag, or FeSO₄ combined with alkali slag, and decomposed for 50 days. The decomposition products were used as organic fertilizer and added to red soil for an incubation experiment. The chemical additives increased total organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), and available N content but decreased the C:N ratios in decomposition products compared to controls. Adding FeSO₄ gave the highest humic acid content (HA, 30.34 g kg^?1) and ratio of humic to fulvic acid (HA/FA, 0.53) and the lowest ratio of HA absorption value at 465 nm to that at 665 nm (E₄/E₆, 6.05), suggesting high humification of decomposition products. Application of the resulting products to soil increased soil urease and invertase activities. BIOLOG analysis showed that microbial C utilization ability, Shannon–Weaver diversity, and McIntosh evenness indexes were improved by the organic fertilizer promoted by chemical additives. Principal component analysis indicated that microbial community structures were also influenced by different amendments in decomposition products. Our study provides a reference point for acquiring high quality straw compost and improving soil biological functions by organic fertilizer.     

施用有机物料对土壤镉形态的影响

采用室内培养试验,研究作物新鲜秸秆和腐熟猪粪对模拟镉（Cd）污染的土壤中Cd形态转化的动态影响。结果表明,各处理土壤交换态Cd含量随培养时间均逐渐降低。碳酸盐结合态和铁锰氧化物结合态Cd含量先增加后降低, 而有机质结合态和残渣态Cd含量则逐渐增加。添加秸秆可增加土壤交换态Cd含量,但随时间延长,增幅逐渐降低, 猪粪则可降低土壤交换态Cd含量。添加有机物后土壤交换态Cd含量的变化主要是由有机质结合态或残渣态Cd含量的变化而引起。秸秆和猪粪对土壤Cd形态的转化与土壤胡敏酸（HA）和富里酸（FA）的变化有关。秸秆对能活化土壤Cd的FA增加幅度大于对能钝化土壤Cd的HA增加幅度,降低HA/FA比,但降幅随时间逐渐减少; 猪粪在整个培养阶段对HA增加幅度均大于FA的增加幅度,增加HA/FA比。秸秆和猪粪均可降低潮土pH而提高红壤pH,但只有猪粪可通过提高红壤pH降低Cd向交换态转化。添加秸秆和猪粪后,Cd由低活性态向交换态转化与HA/FA呈显著负相关。     

Composition of humic acids extracted under air and nitrogen atmosphere

Abstract

Differences in nature and composition of humic matter, attributed to NaOH extraction under air or a N₂ gas atmosphere, were investigated. Samples from the Ap horizons of a Cecil and Onaway soil, and lignite were shaken with 0.1 M NaOH in the presence of air or under N₂ gas. The humic (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) separated were weighed, and analyzed for C, H, O, N, and S contents. Total acidity, carboxyl and phenolic‐OH group contents were determined by chemical analysis. Characterization was performed by ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The results indicated that differences in amounts of HA and FA, attributed to NaOH extraction under air and N₂ gas, were small and no definite trend was noted for more HA and FA extracted under air. No differences in C, H, O, N, and S contents of HA and FA were also noticed as a result of the influence of air or N₂ gas during extraction. However, HA and FA exhibited larger values for total acidities when extracted under a N₂ gas atmosphere than under air. The lower amounts of carboxyl and phenolic‐OH group contents in HA and FA as a result of NaOH extraction under air, however, do not support the idea of increased oxidation by NaOH. No differences were noticed in NMR and IR spectra of HA and FA attributable to the two extraction methods. The differences in NMR and IR features obtained were more the result of differences in origin than in methods of extraction.     

有机物料对不同作物根系土壤腐殖质组成和结构的影响

为探讨施用有机物料后不同作物根系土壤腐殖质各组分含量和胡敏酸元素组成的变化情况,以吉林农业大学试验田培肥2a的黑土为研究对象,试验选取3种作物(玉米、大豆、白菜),每种作物设4种施肥处理,包括化肥(CK)、玉米秸秆配施化肥、树叶配施化肥和鸡粪配施化肥。采用腐殖质修改法提取水溶性物质(WSS)、胡敏酸(HA)、富里酸(FA)、胡敏素(HM),利用重铬酸钾外加热法测定腐殖质各组分有机碳含量,采用分光光度计法测定HA和FA的光学性质,通过光密度E_4/E_6值和元素组成分析HA的结构变化。结果表明:土壤总有机碳(TOC)和腐殖质各组分有机碳含量均表现为白菜玉米大豆。相比CK,配施有机物料后作物根系土壤TOC、WSS、HA含量分别显著增加5%~8%,34%~55%,8%~20%,FA含量变化不明显。相比树叶和鸡粪,秸秆可显著提高TOC含量;WSS在各物料之间差异不明显;HM含量表现为秸秆树叶鸡粪CK。有机物料对PQ值的影响因作物而异,秸秆和鸡粪对玉米、大豆根系土壤PQ值(HA占腐殖酸的比率)的影响相似,而鸡粪对白菜根系土壤PQ值的影响显著高于玉米秸秆。施用有机物料后HA的E_4/E_6未发生明显改变,FA的E_4/E_6显著提高。有机物料使根系土壤HA缩合度升高,分子结构更加复杂,且有利于HA含氮基团的形成,以秸秆处理作用最好。由此可见,有机物料具有良好的培肥效果,其中鸡粪对白菜根系土壤培肥效果最显著,秸秆与鸡粪对玉米、大豆根系土壤培肥效果相似,均显著高于化肥。     

Paramagnetic Properties of Humic Substances in Taiga and Tundra Soils of the European Northeast of Russia

The study of paramagnetic activity of humic substances in taiga and tundra soils of the Komi Republic and the assessment of the influence of soil hydromorphism on concentrations of free radicals in the structure of humic acids (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs) have been performed. The concentration of free radicals in HA specimens was up to 11 times higher than that in FA specimens due to a higher content of aromatic and other condensed structures in HA molecules. This fact attests to the high capacity of HAs to polymerization and complexation reactions with participation of radicals. The average value of g-factor is higher for FA specimens than for HA specimens, which attests to a greater electron density shift of unpaired electron to oxygen atom in the structure of FAs because of its spin-orbital interaction with oxygen-containing functional groups, the concentrations of which are significantly higher in FAs than in HAs. An increase in the concentration of free radicals in the molecular structure of HAs is observed in taiga soils with an increase in the degree of their hydromorphism (from automorphic to semihydromorphic soils), which is related to the biohydrothermal conditions of humus formation in bog-podzolic soils with retarded biochemical processes and low degree of plant litter humification. As a result, HAs with the high content of free radicals in their structure are formed. An opposite situation is observed for HAs in tundra soils with a decrease in the content of unpaired electrons under conditions of the increased hydromorphism. The difference in the character of changes in the paramagnetic activity of HAs in taiga and tundra soils with different degrees of hydromorphism may be related to different natures of plant residues participating in humification processes. A tendency for a decrease in the paramagnetic activity in both HAs and FAs from the south to the north is observed, which may be related to a general decrease in the content of poly-conjugated systems in the structure of humic substances in tundra soils.     

Properties of neutral phosphate buffer extractable organic matter in soils revealed using size exclusion chromatography and fractionation with polyvinylpyrrolidone

Abstract

A neutral phosphate buffer (NPB) extraction method has been used to estimate the amount of available N in soil. However, the properties of soil NPB-extractable organic N have not been fully elucidated. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the properties of organic matter in the NPB extracts of soils. The NPB extracts were obtained from three soil samples, and the organic matter in the extracts was separated into three fractions according to its solubility in acid and adsorption onto polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). High-performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) with ultraviolet (UV) and fluorescence detections was applied to the NPB extracts and their fractions. The HPSEC analysis of the NPB extract revealed the presence of a single broad peak, irrespective of the detection methods. The broad peak was identified as humic substances using the on-flow measurements of UV absorption spectra and fluorescence emission spectra. Among the fractions, the PVP-non-adsorbed fulvic acid (FA) fraction accounted for the largest proportion of organic C or N in the NPB extract, followed by the PVP-adsorbed FA and humic acid (HA) fractions. The peak of humic substances was observed for all fractions using HPSEC with the on-flow measurement of UV absorption and fluorescence emission spectra. The molecular weight of the humic substances varied with each fraction. When the Coomassie Blue-reactive substances (CBRS) were quantified using a Bradford protein assay, they were detected in the NPB extract and almost half were distributed in the PVP-non-adsorbed FA fraction. However, humic substances were considered to be the main constituents of CBRS in the soil NPB extract because of their reactivity with Coomassie Blue and the absence of proteinaceous materials. Furthermore, an incubation experiment revealed that the organic matter available to microorganisms was included in the HA and PVP-non-adsorbed FA fractions. Based on the HPSEC analysis of the NPB extracts and their fractions, it was observed that the humic substances in the NPB extract, particularly in the HA and PVP-non-adsorbed FA fractions, were available to microorganisms.     

不同植被类型紫色土腐殖质的剖面分布特征

[目的]研究龙川江流域6种不同植被类型对紫色土腐殖质(胡敏酸、富里酸、胡敏素)和土壤养分(总磷、速效磷、总氮、碱解氮)剖面分布特征的影响,为该地区保持土壤肥力提供科学依据。[方法]采用锯齿形布点法,采集紫色土表层至30 cm深度的3个土层紫色土样品,用3次4分法分离多余样品,并测定相应指标。[结果]总磷、速效磷、总氮、碱解氮的含量和腐殖质、胡敏素、胡敏酸、富里酸碳量随土壤深度的增加而减小,枯枝落叶层显著高于其他层(地下0—10,10—20,20—30 cm),不同植被类型土壤无显著差异。果园土壤腐殖质及其组成显著高于桉树林覆盖土壤,表现为果园落叶阔叶林暖温性针叶林针阔混交林灌丛桉树林。土壤腐殖质各组分之间均存在极显著正相关关系,腐殖质组成与土壤有机质、总磷、速效磷、总氮、碱解氮均存在显著正相关关系。[结论]果园和落叶阔叶林下土壤腐殖质及其组分显著高于其他植被类型土壤,腐殖质组分含量与土壤理化性质之间呈极显著正相关。     

Influence of land use on the characteristics of humic substances in some tropical soils of Nigeria

In highly weathered tropical conditions, soil organic matter is important for soil quality and productivity. We evaluated the effects of deforestation and subsequent arable cropping on the qualitative and quantitative transformation of the humic pool of the soil at three locations in Nigeria. Cultivation reduced the humic pool in the order: acetone‐soluble hydrophobic fraction (HE) > humic acid (HA) > humin (HU) > fulvic acid (FA), but not to the same degree at all three sites. The C and N contents, as well as the C/N ratios of humic extracts, were large and not substantially influenced by land use. The δ¹³C values of the humic extracts were invariably more negative in forested soils thereby showing a dilution of δ¹³C signature with cultivation from C3 to C4 plants. The δ¹³C values of apolar HE fractions were generally more negative, indicating a reduced sensitivity compared with other humic fractions to turnover of crop residues. The contents of hydrophobic constituents (alkyl and aromatic C), as revealed by cross‐polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, in HA, FA and HU were generally < 50%, with the exception of larger hydrophobicity in HU in the forested soil at Nsukka and HA in that at Umudike. The HE fraction contained significantly more apolar constituents, and consequently had a larger intrinsic hydrophobicity than the other humic fractions. The larger reduction of apolar humic constituents than of the less hydrophobic humic fractions, when these soils were deforested for cultivation, indicates that at those sites the stability of accumulated organic matter is to be ascribed mainly to the selective preservation of hydrophobic compounds.     

Application of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy for the Assessment of Soil Quality in a Long‐Term Pasture

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to assess the ability of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to analyze chemical soil properties and to evaluate the effects of different phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilization rates on soil quality in different layers of a long‐term pasture. The NIRS calibrations were developed for humus, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (N_Kjeldahl), and several humic substances (HA1, “mobile” humic acids fraction; ΣHA, sum of humic acids; FA1, “mobile” fulvic acids; ΣFA, sum of fulvic acids, etc.) using soil samples of rather heterogeneous origin, collected during 1999–2003. Different spectral preprocessing and the modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression method were explored to enhance the relation between the spectra and measured soil properties. The equations were employed for the quality prediction of a sod gleyic light loam (Cambisol) in five PK fertilization treatments. The soil was sampled in 2000 and 2003 in three field replicates at depths of 0–10, 10–20, 20–30, and 30–50 cm, n=60 samples yr^?1. The best coefficients of correlation, R², between the reference and NIRS‐predicted data were as follows: for N_Kjeldahl, 0.965; humus, 0.938; HA1, 0.903; HA2, 0.905; HA3, 0.924; ΣHA, 0.904; and FA1, 0.911; and ΣFA, 0.885. Our findings suggest that it is feasible to use NIRS for the assessment of the effects of the inorganic PK fertilizer on the soil quality in different depths of a long‐term pasture.     

Characterization of humic substances derived from swine manure-based compost and correlation of their characteristics with reactivities with heavy metals

Various composts contain a significant amount of humic substances including humic acid (HA) and fulvic acids (FAs). The FA fraction in soils is considered to be sensitive to agronomic and environmental factors. In this study, three fractions of humic substances, HA (MW > 1000 Da), FA (MW > 1000 Da), and FA (MW < 1000 Da) were extracted from swine manure-based compost and characterized, and then, their reactivities were correlated with heavy metals. Compositions of the three fractions of humic substances were characterized by elemental and total acidity analyses and electron spin resonance (ESR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance with cross-polarization and magic-angle spinning spectroscopic techniques. Elemental analyses indicated that HA has higher contents of C, H, N, and S than those of FAs. However, FA (MW > 1000) and especially FA (MW < 1000) have higher contents of O than that of HA (MW > 1000). The g values of the ESR spectra of the three fractions showed that the organic free radical characteristics and the widths of the spectra and free radical concentrations of the three fractions are significantly different. The FTIR spectra indicated that HA (MW > 1000) is abundant in C=C bonds while FA (MW > 1000), especially FA (MW < 1000), are abundant in C=O bonds. In addition, 13C NMR spectra indicate that carboxyl contents of FA (MW > 1000), especially FA (MW < 1000), are higher than that of HA (MW > 1000). The sequence of the reactivity in terms of acidic functional groups was FA (MW < 1000) > FA (MW > 1000) > HA (MW > 1000). Elemental and functional group compositions of the three fractions significantly correlated with reported reactivities with heavy metals. The application of swine manure-based compost containing HA and FAs fractions to soil and associated environments may thus significantly affect the concerned reactions with organic and inorganic compounds including pollutants.