Microbial destruction of chitin in soils under different moisture conditions

The most favorable moisture conditions for the microbial destruction of chitin in soils are close to the total water capacity. The water content has the most pronounced effect on chitin destruction in soils in comparison with other studied substrates. It was found using gas-chromatographic and luminescent-microscopic methods that the maximum specific activity of the respiration of the chitinolytic community was at a rather low redox potential with the soil moisture close to the total water capacity. The range of moisture values under which the most intense microbial transformation of chitin occurred was wider in clayey and clay loamy soils as compared with sandy ones. The increase was observed due to the contribution of mycelial bacteria and actinomycetes in the chitinolytic complex as the soil moisture increased.     

The microbial destruction of chitin,pectin, and cellulose in soils

The most intensive degradation of polysaccharides takes place upon low and moderate temperatures in typical chernozems and gray forest soils and upon high temperatures in brown desert-steppe soils. This regularity is related to the structure of soil microbial complexes. The soil water content exerts a more pronounced effect on chitin decomposition in comparison with cellulose and pectin decomposition. The most favorable conditions for pectin decomposition by microbes are created at the water content close to the field capacity. Model experiments indicate that the range of moisture, upon which the transformation of chitin by microbes is most active, is wider in clay and loamy soils than in sandy soils. Direct study of microorganisms in the investigated soils under microscope has shown that actinomycetes, bacteria, and fungi participate in the transformation of polysaccharides. The role of actinomycetes in chitin decomposition increases in parallel with the rise in the soil water content and temperature. The role of fungi in pectin decomposition becomes higher under higher moistening and lower temperatures. The use of the FISH method makes it possible to reveal differences in the structure and number of metabolically active representatives of Bacteria and Archaea chitinolytic and pectinolytic prokaryotic complexes in the investigated soils under the impact of different ecological factors.     

Changes in nutrient content,enzymatic activities and microbial properties of lateritic soil due to application of different vermicomposts: a comparative study of ergosterol and chitin to determine fungal biomass in soil

In this experiment, vermicomposts, prepared from five different waste materials, were applied to acid lateritic soil under field conditions and soil samples were collected after 90 days to study the effect of vermicomposts on different chemical and biochemical. Results suggest that vermicompost prepared from paddy straw is most effective to improve nutrient content, enzymatic activities and microbial properties of lateritic soil. Vermicompost application significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased the concentration of organic C, mineralizable N, available P and exchangeable K in soil. Amylase, protease, urease and acid phosphatase activities were also significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in vermicompost treated soils compared with the control. Both basal and substrate‐induced microbial respiration, microbial biomass C and N and fungal population in lateritic soil were increased due to vermicompost application. Ergosterol and chitin content were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in vermicompost treated soils over the control. Application of vermicompost increased the proportion of fungal biomass in total soil microorganisms.     

Microbial destruction of chitin in different soils

Chitinolytic prokaryotic and eukaryotic complexes were studied in the course of succession initiated by an introduction of chitin and moistening of the soil. An increase in the number and biomass of chitinolytic microorganisms and stronger carbon dioxide emission were observed in the experimental variants with chitin as compared with the control without chitin. The increase was recorded for the prokaryotes (actinomycetes and bacteria) and not due to the eukaryotes in the course of the succession initiated by chitin. It was first found that the chitinolytic actinomycetal complex in an ordinary chernozem has a specific taxonomic structure. The representatives of the Streptosporangium genus were the dominating actinomycetes in the chitinolytic complex.     

Effect of continuous and alternate water regimes on methane efflux from rice under greenhouse conditions

In a greenhouse study, the effect of moisture regimes (continuously flooded, continuously nonflooded, alternately flooded) on methane efflux from an alluvial soil planted to rice was studied using the closed chamber method. Methane efflux was almost 10 times more pronounced under continuously flooded conditions than under continuously nonflooded conditions. Intermittently flooded regimes (alternately flooded and nonflooded cycles of 40 or 20 days each) emitted distinctly less methane than the continuously flooded system. A significant negative correlation was found between methane emission under different water regimes and rhizosphere redox potential. Extractable Fe²⁺, readily mineralizable carbon (RMC) and root biomass presented a significant positive correlation with cumulative methane emission. The correlation of methane emission with other plant parameters and microbial biomass was not significant. Our results further suggest the possibility of reduced methane emissions through appropriate water management in a rainfed rice ecosystem. Received: 4 June 1996     

Soil moisture and the rates of biodegradation of diallate and triallate

Degradation experiments were combined with biomass measurements and adsorption tests to determine how soil moisture content influences the rates of degradation of ⁴¹C-labelled diallate and triallate. In soils treated with 1 μg^?1 herbicide and incubated at constant temperature and moisture, degradation rates were regulated by two variables: the quantity of microbial biomass in the soil; and the quantity of herbicide dissolved in the soil solution. The quantity of biomass was influenced by soil water content and the duration of incubation. The amounts of herbicide in solution were determined by the amount of water present and the total quantity of herbicide in the soil. In all soil samples, the rates of degradation increased with increasing water content but decreased with prolonged incubation. The factors responsible for decrease with time were the loss of biomass during incubation and the decline in herbicide concentration in the soils as degradation proceeded.     

Population and biomass of soil microorganisms in old-growth primary spruce forests in the Northern Taiga

The number and biomass of microorganisms in the soils under lichen, grass-bilberry, and grass spruce forests of old age were studied on the Kola Peninsula. The dry biomass of microorganisms in the organic soil horizons was shown to reach 28 mg/g with a predominance (96 to 99%) of micromycetes. At tree trunk sites, in the organic horizons of all the soils studied, where the contents of organic carbon and mineral nutrients were higher, the number and biomass of all the groups of microorganisms was lower than in those in the soils of the gaps. The factors limiting the functioning of microorganisms in the soils under spruce tree crowns are thought to be the high acidity of the water flowing down the tree trunks and the high phenol content in it. In the mineral horizons of the soils, the patterns of the microorganisms were opposite: in all the spruce forests, the fungal biomass was the highest in the soils of the trunk zones, as well as the bacterial population and biomass in the grass spruce forest. In the latter, the maximal length of the actinomycete mycelium was also recorded in the soil of the trunk zones with the elevated contents of carbon and mineral nutrients.     

Methane in pristine and impaired mangrove soils and its possible effect on establishment of mangrove seedlings

Pristine and impaired mangrove soils (from road construction, aquaculture, and sewage) in Baja California Sur, Mexico were investigated for methane dynamics, related soil properties, and their impact on initial establishment of black mangrove propagules. All soils (Salic Fluvisols and Histosols) had neutral to alkaline pH, were saline, and had variable organic carbon content, and redox potentials. Most pristine mangrove soils showed low methane concentration, low methane production rates, and no methane emission. Impaired mangrove soil (from aquaculture) and mangrove soil affected by sewage water showed high methane concentration, high methane production rates, and high methane emission, thus acting as a methane source. Elevated methane concentrations, similar to levels detected in the impaired mangrove soil, reduce the growth of seedlings under closed chamber conditions. Addition of sulfate to the soil reversed the trend. These results indicate that impaired mangrove soils in dry climatic regions produce and emit methane and that elevated methane concentration in the vicinity of propagules may affect establishment of mangrove seedlings in impaired mangrove soils. This paper is in memory of the late mangrove researcher Dr. Gina Holguin of Mexico.     

A comparative study of the microbiology of soils managed under organic and conventional regimes

Abstract. Previous studies of the microbial status of soils managed under 'organic' and 'conventional' regimes have produced conflicting evidence of whether there are distinct differences in the size, composition and activity of the soil microbial biomass which may be attributed to management practice. In the present study, we have compared the microbiology of organically- and conventionally-managed soils at (primarily) two farms in England, over a two year period. Differences in microbial communities in soils under different management practice were subtle rather than dramatic. Many of the parameters measured, including total C and microbial biomass C, often showed no consistently significant differences in soils under different management. In soils from one farm, concentrations of ATP in Ringers solution soil extracts were mostly found to be significantly greater in organically-managed than in comparable conventionally-managed soils. While indirect (plate) counts showed that there were similar numbers of cultivable microorganisms present in these soils, total counts of bacteria (via DAPI-staining) were found to parallel the trends found for readily-extractable ATP. Numbers of metabolically-active bacteria, determined by FISH analysis using a EUB338 probe to detect ribosome-rich cells, indicated that the percentage of metabolically-active bacteria present was not determined by management practice. Total and active fungi were also found to be more abundant in organically-managed soils. It was concluded that changes in soil microbiology may occur as a consequence of switching to organic land management, but these may not be detectable by methods used frequently to assess soil biomass. In particular, increased numbers of viable but non-culturable bacteria and fungi in organically-managed soils points to a greater physiological diversity of microorganisms in such situations.     

施用等养分量有机肥和化肥对干旱胁迫下玉米生物量影响的比较

  目的  研究干旱胁迫条件下施用有机肥和与之等氮磷钾养分量化肥对玉米生物量的影响及其机制,为玉米抗旱技术措施的提出提供理论依据。  方法  通过温室盆栽模拟试验研究施肥（不施肥、施用牛粪和施用化肥）、微生物（不灭菌和灭菌）和水分（不干旱即田间持水量的70%和干旱即田间持水量的40%）三因素对苗期（45天后）玉米生长及土壤性质的影响。  结果  （1）与不施肥相比,施肥处理显著提高玉米生物量,其中地上部生物量提高了155% ~ 278%,根系提高了71% ~ 122%,总生物量提高了125% ~ 221%;在灭菌条件下,干旱后玉米生物量显著降低（30% ~ 34%）。（2）施肥后,未显著改变土壤无机氮的含量,显著提高了土壤速效磷和速效钾的含量;与正常水分处理相比,干旱仅在有机肥处理下显著降低了土壤速效钾含量,达43.8%;施肥对土壤微生物总生物量和细菌生物量均无显著影响,显著提高了真菌生物量以及真菌和细菌的比值;干旱后,土壤微生物总生物量、细菌和真菌生物量均未发生显著改变。（3）随土壤速效磷含量的增加,玉米总生物量显著增加。  结论  干旱显著降低了苗期玉米生物量,且这种干旱效应仅在灭菌土壤上出现,说明了土壤微生物能够增强植物对干旱胁迫的抗性;在干旱情况下,有机肥施用后玉米生物量显著高于化肥处理,土壤速效磷是主要的驱动因子。     

Effects of biochar application on soil methane emission at different soil moisture levels

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of biochar application on soil methane (CH₄) emission. Experiments were conducted over an 84-day incubation period with the following treatments: each of two soils (a paddy soil and a forest soil) was treated with or without biochar at three soil moisture levels (35, 60, and 100 % water-filled pore space (WFPS) for the paddy soil; 35, 60, and 85 % WFPS for the forest soil). Biochar application (P?<?0.05) significantly increased soil pH and stimulated C mineralization at the early incubation stage. The effects of biochar application on CH₄ emission were related to the soil moistures, with reduction of CH₄ emission at 35 and 60 % WFPS and stimulation at the highest soil moisture. While both soils changed from CH₄ sinks to sources by increasing soil moisture regardless of biochar addition, the effect was enhanced with biochar application. At lower soil moistures, the CH₄ oxidation activity in soils was higher with biochar than without biochar, while the trend became opposite at higher soil moistures. Therefore, the CH₄ production and consumption processes were influenced by different soil moisture levels and microbial communities of different soils.     

Specificity of soil hydrolytically microbial complex under different moisture conditions

It has been established that soil moisture has a significant impact on the activity of chitinolytic microbial processes, rather than pectinolytic processes. The degradation of polysaccharides with an increase in soil moisture in microbial complex markedly increases the role of prokaryotic microorganisms, especially actinomycetes. For the first time, using the FISH method, the amount of detected phylogenetic composition of a metabolically active hydrolytic complex of humus horizons of grey forest and gley and weakly podzolic soil and humus has been estimated depending on the humidity. At optimum moisture, phylogenetic groups Actinobacteria and Firmicutes dominated in the chitinolytic process. An increase in the proportion of proteobacteria is observed with an increase in humidity. The role of gamma- and alphaproteobacteria and actino-bacteria is heightened with the drying of soil in the hydrolytic complex. A quantitative estimate of the rate of degradation of polysaccharides (pectin and chitin) in different types of soils at different levels of moisture is given. The dependence of the phylogenetic composition of an active microbial hydrolytic complex of humus horizons of grey forest and gley, weakly podzolic soils and humus on humidity is revealed.     

Effects of rice‐straw and phosphorus application on production and emission of methane from tropical rice soil

Rice‐straw amendment increased methane production by 3‐fold over that of unamended control. Application of P as single superphosphate at 100 μg (g soil)^–1 inhibited methane (CH₄) production distinctly in flooded alluvial rice soil, in the absence more than in the presence of rice straw. CH₄ emission from rice plants (cv. IR72) from alluvial soil treated with single superphosphate as basal application, in the presence and absence of rice straw, and held under non‐flooded and flooded conditions showed distinct variations. CH₄ emission from non‐flooded soil amended with rice straw was high and almost similar to that of flooded soil without rice‐straw amendment. The cumulative CH₄ efflux was highest (1041 mg pot^–1) in rice‐straw‐amended flooded soil. Appreciable methanogenic reactions in rice‐straw‐amended soils were evident under both flooded and non‐flooded conditions. Rice‐straw application substantially altered the balance between total aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms even in non‐flooded soil. The mitigating effects of single‐superphosphate application or low‐moisture regime on CH₄ production and emission were almost nullified due to enhanced activities of methanogenic archaea in the presence of rice straw.     

Influence of drying of the samples on the transformation of nitrogen and carbon compounds in mountain-meadow alpine soils

The drying of samples of mountain-meadow soils characterized by their permanently high moisture under natural conditions fundamentally changes the concentrations of the labile nitrogen and carbon compounds, as well as the patterns of their microbial transformation. When the soil samples are dried, a four- to fivefold increase in the content of the extractable organic nitrogen compounds, carbon compounds, and inorganic nitrogen compounds is observed, while the content of nitrogen and carbon of the microbial biomass decreases by two-three times. The rewetting of the dried soil launches the process of the replenishment of the nitrogen and carbon reserves in the microbial biomass. However, even after two weeks of incubation, their values were 1.5–2 times lower than the initial values typical of the natural soil. The restoration of the microbial community in the samples of the previously dried soils occurs in the absence of a deficiency of labile organic compounds and is accompanied by their active mineralization and the low uptake of ammonium nitrogen by the microorganisms.     

Microbial biomass,activity, and organic matter accumulation in soils contaminated with heavy metals

Chemical characteristics and some parameters related to biological components were determined in 16 soils from a fairly homogeneous area in the north of Italy, contaminated with different levels of heavy metals. Correlation analysis of the parameters studied showed close positive relationships among the metals and with the organic C content in the soils studied. Negative relationships were observed among the heavy metals, soil respiration, and the ratio between evolved CO₂–C and microbial biomass C per unit time (specific respiratory activity). This was ascribed to an adverse heavy metal effect on the soil microflora, which appeared to increase the accumulation of organic matter as the heavy metal content increased, probably because the biomass was less effective in mineralising soil organic matter under these conditions.     

不同水分条件下添加白云石对酸性水稻土有机碳矿化的影响

施用石灰改良酸性土壤是常用的农艺措施之一。施用石灰影响土壤理化性质,进而影响土壤有机碳(Soil Organic Carbon,SOC)矿化。而SOC矿化与土壤肥力保持和有机碳库的大小存在紧密联系。因此,明晰施用石灰对酸性土壤有机碳矿化的影响具有重要的理论和现实意义。该研究以2种母质的酸性水稻土为对象,在50%、90%和130%土壤最大田间持水量(Water Holding Capacity,WHC)条件下添加和不添加白云石,再进行为期45 d的室内培养试验,探讨白云石和水分对SOC矿化的影响。研究结果表明,添加白云石显著影响2种土壤有机碳矿化速率,但白云石添加和水分的交互作用不显著。土壤含水量较低时(50%WHC),2种土壤有机碳矿化均受到抑制。在较高土壤含水量情况下(90%～130%WHC),白云石添加和水分的共同作用对SOC矿化的影响因土壤质地不同而异,淹水条件下(130%WHC)棕红壤有机碳矿化量高于湿润条件(90%WHC),而红壤中的情况正好相反。白云石添加和水分均显著影响SOC累计矿化量,但二者交互作用仅在棕红壤中显著。添加白云石后,2种土壤pH值随着水分含量的增加而提高;土壤含水量较低时(50%WHC),土壤pH值即可达到或接近目标值(pH值6.5)。这些结果表明,在评估施用白云石对SOC矿化的影响时,需要考虑土壤含水量和土壤本身的性质,以便为农业生产实践中合理施用白云石提供指导和建议。     

Specificity of soil functioning and formation on gas-bearing areas

Background, aim, and scope  Exploited gas fields and underground gasholders are specific sources of increasing methane concentration. Methane migrates into the soils by diffusion and convection through natural and technogenic cracks in geological structures and influences the function of the soils. Soil cover of gas-bearing area functions as a specific, bilateral, periodically penetrating, geomembrane. Soils shield, transform, and differentiate migrating fluxes of technogenic-allochthonous methane, preventing its emission to the atmosphere. Problems of methane’s emission are rather current at the present, as methane is the second in importance after CO₂ greenhouse gas, since its concentration in the atmosphere annually grows by approximately 1%. By global estimations, methane emissions in the gas industry make about 8% of annual receipt to the atmosphere, equal on the average to 500 Тg per a year (Cicerone and Oremland, Global Biogeochem Cy 2:299–327, 1988). But these calculations are based on the account of the technological losses making 3–12% from the mining of natural gas. The contribution of migratory methane fluxes to the atmosphere, as a rule, is not considered. The need for research of soil cover functioning on gas-bearing areas is explained by the fact that processes of methane oxidation, its transformation in soils, and emission to the atmosphere at these objects are now practically not being studied. The aim of our study was to reveal specific processes of soil function and formation on gas-bearing areas by an example of underground gasholder. Materials and methods  The material was sampled in 1998–2003 at the territory of underground gasholder located in Albeluvisol’s zone in Russia. According to the comparative-geographical method, 51 soil profiles have been studied in similar litologically geomorphological conditions in various geochemical zones: in the industrial zone, in the zone of gas dissipation, and at the regional background. The total square of investigated territory is about 60 km². Six soil profiles were investigated in seasonal dynamics. Samples of soils for physical, chemical, and microbiological analyses were taken from each horizon of soil profiles (202 samples). Samples of soil air for a definition of methane concentration were taken from depths of 20, 40, and 60 cm. Methane emission to the atmosphere was measured near soil’s cuts and, in addition, on all area of the investigated territory at knots of squares network through 700–1,000 m, in total at 32–42 points in May, July, and November. Years of investigation have been split by technological and hydrothermal conditions. The periods with the normal and lowered compression of gas in gasholder, dry and warm, and damp and cool years have been allocated. It has influenced the soil function processes and considered an interpretation of the data received. Results  The changes of functional parameters of soils at a gas-bearing area influenced by methane fluxes migrating from gas deposits, in comparison with background soils, are revealed. Such functional parameters are methane concentration in the soils, activity of its bacterial oxidation, methane emission to the atmosphere, and oxidation–reduction potential. Spatial and temporary dynamics of these parameters at gas-bearing and background territory are investigated. Discussion  Methane interaction with soil’s air is in its ascending (descending) and lateral diffusion and convection in soils. Methane fluxes dissipate in porous space of soils forming gas anomalies. The technogenic-allochthonous methane concentration strongly varies in soil’s air on gas-bearing area (1–10,500 ppm) and, on average, exceeds the autochthonous, microbiologically produced methane at background territories. Migratory methane is deposited on diffusion and sorption barriers. The capacity of diffusion barrier depends on effective coefficient of diffusion, the attitude of air and general porosity, and granulometric composition and sharply differs in auto-, semi-hydro-, and hydromorphic soils reaching maximum in hydromorphicity and among the soils with identical water content—in heavy soils. The capacity of the sorption barrier is defined by abiotic methane absorption and a specific surface of soils and grows with their increasing intensity in soils to a heavier granulometric composition or into soils with peat and gleyic horizons. The low sorption capacity leads to an increase of methane concentration in the soil’s air and decreases its utilization by microorganisms, in which its quantity depends on sorption properties. The central component of functioning that promotes a number of essential transformations in soils on gas-bearing areas is methane interaction with the biotic phase. The periods of methane deposition by diffusion and sorption barriers are used for biological methane oxidation and formation of biogeochemical barriers in soils. The activity of bacterial methane oxidation is characterized by spatial variability and depends on the entrance of methane, defined by granulometric composition, soil moisture, the attitude of air and general porosity, Eh, organic matter content, and salinization. During interaction between technogenic-allochthonous methane and soil on diffusion, sorption, and biogeochemical barriers, its transformation occurs, accompanied by a strengthening of variability of oxidation–reduction potential and formation of pedogenic, bacteriomorphic, and nanodispersic magnetic oxides of iron. Conclusions and perspectives  Specificity of soil functioning on a gas-bearing area is in interaction of technogenic-allochtonous methane with solid, liquid, gaseous, and living substance of the soil system. Spatial laws of soils functioning on gas-bearing area in the Albeluvisol’s zone are revealed. Distinctions of soil functions depending on litologically geomorphological conditions are shown. The greatest changes of parameters of functioning under the influence of technogenic-allochthonous methane occur in automorphic soils, and it is less in semi-hydromorphic soils. Activity of bacterial methane oxidation in soils, emission, and consumption from the atmosphere and their spatial laws are characterized by the time dynamics depending on hydrothermal and technological conditions of seasons and years. During oxidation in soils of gas-bearing areas, carbon of methane is concentrated on a biogeochemical barrier that is shown in the increase of methylotrophic microorganisms’ biomass and leads to a high variability and decrease of Eh and to the formation of magnetic oxides of iron. Recommendations  Results of research can be used for carrying out ecological monitoring and an estimation of tightness of objects of the gas industry. Activity of bacterial methane oxidation, Eh, and magnetic oxides of iron can be used as diagnostic parameters of soils on gas-bearing areas. This paper has been developed from a presentation at the conference SUITMA-4 (Soils in Urban, Industrial, Traffic, Mining and Military Areas) Nanjing, China, 2007     

Response of the chitinolytic microbial community to chitin amendments of dune soils

 The dynamics of culturable chitin-degrading microorganisms were studied during a 16-week incubation of chitin-amended coastal dune soils that differed in acidity. Soil samples were incubated at normal (5% w/w) and high (15% w/w) moisture levels. More than half of the added chitin was decomposed within 4 weeks of incubation in most soils. This rapid degradation was most likely due to fast-growing chitinolytic fungi (mainly Mortierella spp. and Fusarium spp.) at both moisture levels, as dense hyphal networks of these fungi were observed during the first 4 weeks of incubation. Chitin N mineralization was inhibited by cycloheximide, and fast-growing fungal isolates were capable of rapid chitin decomposition in sterile sand, further suggesting that these fungi play an important role in initial chitin degradation. The strong increase in fast-growing fungi in chitin-amended dune soils was only detected by direct observation. Plate counts and microscopic quantification of stained hyphae failed to reveal such an increase. During the first part of the incubation, numbers of unicellular chitinolytic bacteria also increased, but their contribution to chitin degradation was indicated to be of minor importance. During prolonged incubation, colony forming units (CFU) of chitinolytic streptomycetes and/or slow-growing fungi increased strongly in several soils, especially at the 5% moisture level. Hence, the general trend observed was a succession from fast-growing fungi and unicellular bacteria to actinomycetes and slow-growing fungi. Yet, the composition of chitinolytic CFU over time differed strongly between chitin-amended dune soils, and also between the two moisture levels. These differences could not be attributed to pH, organic matter or initial microbial composition. The possible consequence of such unpredictable variation in microbial community composition for the use of chitin-amendments as a biocontrol measure is discussed. Received: 10 March 1998     

Effects of straw amendment and moisture on microbial communities in Chinese fluvo-aquic soil

Purpose

Returning crop straw into fields is a typical agricultural practice to resolve an oversupply of straw and improve soil fertility. Soil microorganisms, especially eukaryotic microorganisms, play a critical role in straw decomposition. To date, microbial communities in response to straw amendment at different moisture levels in Chinese fluvo-aquic soil are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of straw amendment and moisture on microbial communities in Chinese fluvo-aquic soil.

Materials and methods

Two soils (one was applied with organic manure, and the other was not applied with any fertilizer) from a long-term field experiment in the North China Plain were collected. Soils with and without straw amendment at 25 and 55 % of the average water-holding capacities of the two soils were incubated at 25 °C for 80 days. All treatments were sampled 20 and 80 days after the start of incubation. Microbial biomass and community structure were analyzed by phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) assay, and the eukaryotic diversity and community composition were assessed via barcoded pyrosequencing of the 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicons.

Results and discussion

PLFA analysis showed that straw amendment increased the biomass of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, actinobacteria, and fungi and shifted microbial community structure. The varied straw availability resulted in a large variation in microbial community structure. In the presence of straw, actinobacterial and fungal biomass both decreased under high moisture content. 18S rRNA gene pyrosequencing indicated that straw amendment decreased eukaryotic diversity and richness and probably restructured the eukaryotic community. Under identical moisture content, long-term organic manure-fertilized soil had higher eukaryotic diversity and richness than the unfertilized soil. In the amended soils under high moisture content, the relative abundance of dominant fungal taxa (Dikarya subkingdom, Ascomycota phylum, and Pezizomycotina subphylum) decreased.

Conclusions

Straw amendment increases microbial biomass, shifts microbial community structure, and decreases eukaryotic diversity and richness. High moisture content probably has a negative effect on fungal growth in the amended soils. In conclusion, microbial communities in Chinese fluvo-aquic soil are significantly affected by straw amendment at different moisture levels.     

Soil Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Sorghum–Sunflower Rotation in Rainfed Semi-arid Tropical Alfisols: Effects of Fertilization Rate and Legume Biomass Incorporation

The long-term effects of plant legume [horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum)] biomass incorporations were assessed in terms of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, soil quality parameters, and climatically influenced soil parameters in a dryland Alfisol under varying soil fertility conditions. Six selected treatments consisted of off-season legume incorporation (I) and no incorporation?/?fallow (F), each under three varying nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer levels (viz., N₀P₀, N₂₅P₃₀, and N₅₀P₃₀). Soil moisture, soil temperature, soil surface carbon dioxide emission, soil dehydrogenases, and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) were monitored at three different crop situations [viz., Kharif period (KP), legume/fallow period (LP), and no crop period (NP)] at 14 different periods of the year. Incorporation practices resulted in greater rates of CO₂ emission over fallow conditions during the Kharif and legume periods, whereas the emission rate was greater in fallow soils during the end of the legume and no crop periods. The increased rates of fertilizer doses also significantly increased the soil CO₂ flux during the majority of the measurements. Beneficial effects of incorporation practices were observed in terms of high soil moisture (5–11%), low soil temperature (3–7%), and high content of MBC over without incorporations. Correlation studies indicated that the soil property MBC was found to be the greatest significant variable with CO₂ emission in all the fertilizer treatments under biomass-incorporated soils. These results indicated the undesirable (in terms of CO₂ fluxes) and desirable (soil biological and other parameters) effects of legume biomass incorporation and fertilizer application and their significance in improving soil quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in dryland Alfisols of semi-arid tropics.