Production of root-derived material and associated microbial growth in soil at different nutrient levels

Summary Maize plants were grown for 42 days in a sandy soil at two different mineral nutrient levels, in an atmosphere containing ¹⁴CO₂. The ¹⁴C and total carbon contents of shoots, roots, soil and soil microbial biomass were measured 28, 35 and 42 days after germination. Relative growth rates of shoots and roots decreased after 35 days at the lower nutrient level, but were relatively constant at the higher nutrient level. In the former treatment, 2% of the total ¹⁴C fixed was retained as a residue in soil at all harvests while at the higher nutrient level up to 4% was retained after 42 days. Incorporation of ¹⁴C into the soil microbial biomass was close to its maximum after 35 days at the lower nutrient level, but continued to increase at the higher level. Generally a good agreement existed between microbial biomass, ¹⁴C contents and numbers of fluorescent pseudomonads in the rhizosphere. Numbers of fluorescent pseudomonads in the rhizosphere were maximal after 35 days at the lower nutrient level and continued to increase at the higher nutrient level. The proportions of the residual ¹⁴C in soil, incorporated in the soil microbial biomass, were 28% to 41% at the lower nutrient level and 20%6 – 30% at the higher nutrient level. From the lower nutrient soil 18%6 – 52%6 of the residual soil ¹⁴C could be extracted with 0.5 N K₂SO₄, versus 14%6 – 16% from the higher nutrient soil.Microbial growth in the rhizosphere seemed directly affected by the depletion of mineral nutrients while plant growth and the related production of root-derived materials continued.     

Turnover of carbon and nitrogen through the microbial biomass in a sandy loam and a clay soil incubated with [14C(U)]glucose and [15N](NH4)2So4 under different moisture regimes

Two soils, one a sandy loam and the other of relatively high clay content, were incubated with [¹⁴C(U)]gtucose and [¹⁵N](NH₄)₂SO₄ for 101 days, either under continuously moist conditions, or with intermittent drying of soils. Rates of evolution of ¹⁴CO₂, decline in residual organic ¹⁴C, and net immobilization and mineralization of N and ¹⁵N in the sandy loam soil were more rapid than in the clay soil. First order decay rates for the decomposition of residual ¹⁴C, after 10 days, were consistently twice as fast in the sandy loam soil. By contrast, the efficiency with which glucose was utilized within the first few days, and the amounts of C, ¹⁴C, N and ¹⁵N present as soil biomass throughout the incubation, were greater in the clay soil than in the sandy loam. Biomass ¹⁴C as a percentage of residual organic ¹⁴C, was consistently 1.5 times greater in the clay soil. Compared with soils held continuously moist, soils which were intermittently dried and remoistened contained smaller amounts of isotope-labelled biomass C and N, but overall similar amounts of total residual organic ¹⁴C and ¹⁵N. Remoistening of dried soils caused a temporary (4 days) flush in C and N mineralization rates.A simulation model describes C and N behaviour in the two soils. Three features of the model are proposed to expain short-term differences between soils in the rates of C and N turnover, viz. the clay soil (a) has a greater capacity to preserve biomass C and N (b) holds a higher proportion of microbial decay products in the near vicinity of surviving cells, and, to a lesser extent, (c) utilizes glucose and metabolic products more efficiently for biosynthetic reactions.     

Soil carbon responses to past and future CO2 in three Texas prairie soils

Changes in soil carbon storage could affect and be affected by rising atmospheric CO₂. However, it is unlikely that soils will respond uniformly, as some soils are more sensitive to changes in the amount and chemistry of plant tissue inputs whereas others are less sensitive because of mineralogical, textural, or microbial processes. We studied soil carbon and microbial responses to a preindustrial-to-future CO₂ gradient (250–500 ppm) in a grassland ecosystem in the field. The ecosystem contains three soil types with clay fractions of 15%–55%: a sandy loam Alfisol, a silty clay Mollisol, and a black clay Vertisol. Soil and microbial responses to atmospheric CO₂ are plant-mediated; and aboveground plant productivity in this ecosystem increased linearly with CO₂ in the sandy loam and silty clay. Although total soil organic carbon (SOC) did not change with CO₂ treatment after four growing seasons, fast-cycling SOC pools increased with CO₂ in the two clay soils. Microbial biomass increased 18% and microbial activity increased 30% across the CO₂ gradient in the black clay (55% clay), but neither factor changed with CO₂ in the sandy loam (15% clay). Similarly, size fractionation of SOC showed that coarse POM-C, the youngest and most labile fraction, increased four-fold across the CO₂ gradient in the black clay, but increased by only 50% across the gradient in the sandy loam. Interestingly, mineral-associated C, the oldest and most recalcitrant fraction, declined 23% across the gradient in the third soil type, a silty clay (45% clay). Our results provide evidence for priming in this soil type, as labile C availability and decomposition rate (measured as soil respiration and soil C mineralization) also increased across the CO₂ gradient in the silty clay soil. In summary, CO₂ enrichment in this grassland increased the fast-cycling SOC pool as in other CO₂ studies, but only in the two high-clay soils. Priming in the silty clay could limit SOC accumulation after prolonged CO₂ exposure. Because soil texture varies geographically, including data on soil types could enhance predictions of soil carbon and microbial responses to future CO₂ levels.     

Influence of the rhizosphere on microbial biomass and recently formed organic matter

We have aimed to quantify the effect of roots on the size of the soil microbial biomass, and their influence on the turnover of soil organic matter and on the extent of the rhizosphere. We sampled a sandy clay loam topsoil from two subplots with different treatment histories. One had a normal arable fertilization record, the other had received only inorganic nitrogen fertilizer but no phosphorus and potassium for 30 years. Glucose labelled with ¹⁴C was added to both samples which were then incubated for 4 weeks before the soil was packed in cylinders and planted with ryegrass. In both soils, microbial biomass at the root surface doubled during the first 8 days. At day 15, the microbial biomass had further increased in the fertile soil, and the rhizosphere effect had extended 2.5 mm into the fertile soil, but to only 1 mm in the infertile soil. The microbial ¹⁴C increased threefold near the roots in the fertile soil as a result of assimilation of previously formed microbial residues, but in the infertile soil there was no increase. There was a close relation between the increase in microbial ¹⁴C and a decrease in ¹⁴C soluble in 2 m KCl, indicating that the microbial residues were more weakly adsorbed in the fertile soil. We conclude that the increased microbial population living near the root surfaces re‐assimilated part of the ¹⁴C‐labelled microbial residues in the fertile soil. In the infertile soil, microbial residues resisted decomposition because they were more strongly sorbed on to soil surfaces.     

Moisture modulates rhizosphere effects on C decomposition in two different soil types

While it is well known that soil moisture directly affects microbial activity and soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition, it is unclear if the presence of plants alters these effects through rhizosphere processes. We studied soil moisture effects on SOM decomposition with and without sunflower and soybean. Plants were grown in two different soil types with soil moisture contents of 45% and 85% of field capacity in a greenhouse experiment. We continuously labeled plants with depleted ¹³C, which allowed us to separate plant-derived CO₂-C from original soil-derived CO₂-C in soil respiration measurements. We observed an overall increase in soil-derived CO₂-C efflux in the presence of plants (priming effect) in both soils. On average a greater priming effect was found in the high soil moisture treatment (up to 76% increase in soil-derived CO₂-C compared to control) than in the low soil moisture treatment (up to 52% increase). Greater plant-derived CO₂-C and plant biomass in the high soil moisture treatment contributed to greater priming effects, but priming effects remained significantly higher in the high moisture treatment than in the low moisture treatment after correcting for the effects of plant-derived CO₂-C and plant biomass. The response to soil moisture particularly occurred in the sandy loam soil by the end of the experiment. Possibly, production of root exudates increased with increased soil moisture content. Root exudation of labile C may also have become more effective in stimulating microbial decomposition in the higher soil moisture treatment and sandy loam soil. Our results indicate that moisture conditions significantly modulate rhizosphere effects on SOM decomposition.     

Effect of plant roots on carbon metabolism of soil microbial biomass

The utilization of plant- and soil-C by the microbial biomass in the rhizosphere of maize plants was investigated as a function of root proximity. The plants were cultivated in pots with divided root chambers and their shoots supplied with ¹⁴CO₂ for 23 days. Subsequently the individual soil zones were analyzed for organic C, ¹⁴C, biomass C and biomass ¹⁴C. Plant roots induced a 197% increase in microbial biomass and a 5.4% decrease in soil organic C compared with an 1.2% decrease in the unplanted control soil. The contributions of plant- and soil-C to this increased microbial growth amounted to 68% and 32% respectively. Biomass-¹⁴C corresponded to 1.6% of the total photosynthetically fixed ¹⁴C, to about 15% of the organic ¹⁴C-input into the rhizosphere and to 58% of the plant carbon remaining in soil after the removal of roots. 20% of this biomass-¹⁴C was found outside the immediate root zone. These results demonstrate that growing roots are a significant C-source for the microbial biomass and render an additional fraction of soil-C available to microbial utilization. The efficiency of C-utilization by the rhizosphere biomass is lower than values obtained with liquid cultures in laboratory experiments. The supply of plant-C to the microbial biomass outside the immediate root vicinity indicates that the overall volume of the maize rhizosphere is greater than what has been supposed so far.     

Nitrogen Mineralization Potential as Influenced by Microbial Biomass,Cotton Residues and Temperature

Integrating information on nitrogen (N) mineralization potentials into a fertilization plan could lead to improved N use efficiency. A controlled incubation mineralization study examined microbial biomass dynamics and N mineralization rates for two soils receiving 56 and 168 kg N ha^?1 in a Panoche clay loam (Typic Haplocambid) and a Wasco sandy loam (Typic Torriorthent), incubated with and without cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) residues at 10 and 25°C for 203 days. Microbial biomass activity determined from mineralized carbon dioxide (CO₂) was higher in the sandy loam than in clay loam independent of incubation temperature, cotton residue addition and N treatment. In the absence of added cotton residue, N mineralization rates were higher in the sandy loam. Residue additions increased N immobilization in both soils, but were greater in clay loam. Microbial biomass and mineralization were significantly affected by soil type, residue addition and temperature but not by N level.     

Impact of addition of different rates of rice-residue biochar on C and N dynamics in texturally diverse soils

Impacts of crop residue biochar on soil C and N dynamics have been found to be subtly inconsistent in diverse soils. In the present study, three soils differing in texture (loamy sand, sandy clay loam and clay) were amended with different rates (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 4%) of rice-residue biochar and incubated at 25°C for 60 days. Soil respiration was measured throughout the incubation period whereas, microbial biomass C (MBC), dissolved organic C (DOC), NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–N were analysed after 2, 7, 14, 28 and 60 days of incubation. Carbon mineralization differed significantly between the soils with loamy sand evolving the greatest CO₂ followed by sandy clay loam and clay. Likewise, irrespective of the sampling period, MBC, DOC, NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–N increased significantly with increasing rate of biochar addition, with consistently higher values in loamy sand than the other two soils. Furthermore, regardless of the biochar rates, NO₃^–-N concentration increased significantly with increasing period of incubation, but in contrast, NH₄⁺-N temporarily increased and thereafter, decreased until day 60 in all soils. It is concluded that C and N mineralization in the biochar amended soils varied with the texture and native organic C status of the soils.     

Carbon and net nitrogen mineralisation in two forest soils amended with different concentrations of biuret

Biuret is a known contaminant of urea fertilisers that might be useful as a slow release N fertiliser for forestry. We studied carbon (C), net nitrogen (N) mineralisation and soil microbial biomass C and N dynamics in two forest soils (a sandy loam and a silt loam) during a 16-week long incubation following application of biuret (C 23.3%, N 40.8%, O 30.0% and H 4.9%) at concentrations of 0, 2, 10, 100 and 1000 mg kg⁻¹ (oven-dried) soil to assess the potential of biuret as a slow-release N fertiliser. Lower concentrations of biuret specifically increased C mineralisation and soil microbial biomass C in the sandy loam soil, but not in the silt loam soil. A significant decrease of microbial biomass C was found in both soils at week 16 after biuret was applied at higher concentrations. C mineralisation declined with duration of incubation in both soils due to decreased C availability. Biuret at concentrations from 10 to 100 mg kg⁻¹ soil had a significantly positive priming effect on soil organic N mineralisation in both soils. The causes for the priming effects were related to the stimulation of microbial growth and activity at an early stage of the incubation and/or the death of microbes at a later stage, which was biuret-concentration-dependent. The patterns in NH₄⁺-N accumulation differed markedly between the two soils. Net N mineralisation and nitrification were much greater in the sandy loam soil than in the silt loam soil. However, the onset of net nitrification was earlier in the silt loam soil. Biuret might be a potential slow-release N source in the silt loam soil.     

Characterisation of the dynamics of C-partitioning within Lolium perenne and to the rhizosphere microbial biomass using 14C pulse chase

The dynamics of C partitioning with Lolium perenne and its associated rhizosphere was investigated in plant-soil microcosms using ¹⁴C pulse-chase labelling. The ¹⁴CO₂ pulse was introduced into the shoot chamber and the plants allowed to assimilate the label for a fixed period. The microcosm design facilitated independent monitoring of shoot and root/soil respiration during the chase period. Partitioning between above- and below-ground pools was determined between 30 min and 168 h after the pulse, and the distribution was found to vary with the length of the chase period. Initially (30 min after the pulse), the ¹⁴C was predominantly (99%) in the shoot biomass and declined thereafter. The results indicate that translocation of recent photoassimilate is rapid, with ¹⁴C detected below ground within 30 min of pulse application. The translocation rate of ¹⁴C below ground was maximal (6.2% h^-1) between 30 min and 3 h after the pulse, with greatest incorporation into the microbial biomass detected at 3 h. After 3 h, the microbial biomass ¹⁴C pool accounted for 74% of the total ¹⁴C rhizosphere pool. By 24 h, approximately 30% of ¹⁴C assimilate had been translocated below ground; thereafter ¹⁴C translocation was greatly reduced. Partitioning of recent assimilate changed with increasing CO₂ concentration. The proportion of ¹⁴C translocated below ground almost doubled from 17.76% at the ambient atmospheric CO₂ concentration (450 ppm) to 33.73% at 750 ppm CO₂ concentration. More specifically, these changes occurred in the root biomass and the total rhizosphere pools, with two- and threefold ¹⁴C increases at an elevated CO₂ concentration compared to ambient, respectively. The pulselabelling strategy developed in this study provided sufficient sensitivity to determine perturbations in C dynamics in L. perenne, in particular rhizosphere C pools, in response to an elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration.     

Nitrogen availability to grain sorghum from organic and inorganic sources on sandy and clayey soil surfaces in a greenhouse pot study

In a greenhouse pot study, we examined the availability of N to grain sorghum from organic and inorganic N sources. The treatments were¹⁵N-labeled clover residues, wheat residues, and fertilizer placed on a sandy clay loam and loamy sand soil surface for an 8-week period. Soil aggregates formed under each soil texture were measured after 8 weeks for each treatment. Significantly greater ¹⁵N was taken up and recovered by grain sorghum in sandy clay loam pots compared with loamy sand pots. Greater ¹⁵N recovery was consistently observed with the inorganic source than the organic sources regardless of soil texture or time. Microbial biomass C and N were significantly greater for sandy clay loam soil compared with the loamy sand. Microbial biomass ¹⁵N was also significantly greater in the sandy clay loam treatment compared to the loamy sand. The fertilizer treatment initially had the greatest pool of microbial biomass ¹⁵N but decreased with time. The crop residue treatments generally had less microbial biomass ¹⁵N with time. The crop residues and soil texture had a significant effect on the water-stable aggregates formed after 8 weeks of treatments. Significantly greater water-stable aggregates were formed in the sandy clay loam than the loamy sand. Approximately 20% greater water-stable aggregates were formed under the crop residue treatments compared to the fertilizer only treatment. Soil texture seemed to be one of the most important factors affecting the availability of N from organic or inorganic N sources in these soils.Contribution from the MissouriAgricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No.12131     

Salinity reduces the ability of soil microbes to utilise cellulose

An incubation experiment was conducted to determine the response of soil microbial biomass and activity to salinity when supplied with two different carbon forms. One nonsaline and three saline soils of similar texture (sandy clay loam) with electrical conductivities of the saturation extract (EC_e) of 1, 11, 24 and 43 dS m^?1 were used. Carbon was added at 2.5 and 5 g C kg^?1 (2.5C, 5C) as glucose or cellulose; soluble N and P were added to achieve a C/N ratio of 20 and C/P ratio of 200. Soil microbial activity was assessed by measuring CO₂ evolution continuously for 3 weeks; microbial biomass C and available N and P were determined on days 2, 7, 14 and 21. In all soils, cumulative respiration was higher with 5C than with 2.5C and higher with glucose than with cellulose. Cumulative respiration was highest in the nonsaline soil and decreased with increasing EC, whereas the decrease was gradual with glucose, there was a sharp drop in cumulative respiration with cellulose from the nonsaline soil to soil with EC11 with little further decrease at higher ECs. Microbial biomass C and available N and P concentrations were highest in the nonsaline soil but did not differ among the saline soils. Microbial biomass C was higher and available N was lower with 5C than with 2.5C. The C form affected the temporal changes of microbial biomass and available nutrients differentially. With glucose, microbial biomass was highest on day 2 and then decreased, whereas available N showed the opposite pattern, being lowest on day 2 and then increasing. With cellulose, microbial biomass C increased gradually over time, and available N decreased gradually. It is concluded that salinity reduced the ability of microbes to decompose cellulose more than that of glucose.     

Criteria for measurement of microbial growth and activity in soil

Changes in CO₂ evolution, phosphatase and urease activity and ATP contents were related to bacterial and fungal biomass determined microscopically during glucose mineralization at different concentrations of mineral nutrients. Similar results were obtained in a sandy loam and a clay soil except that in the clay the increase in microbial and enzyme activities were delayed. Higher initial rates of CO₂ evolution were noted after the addition of P to a glucose and N amended soil at C:P ratios greater than 30:1. Increases in phosphatase activity coincided with increases in bacterial and fungal populations only in treatments without inorganic P. Peak rates of CO₂ evolution preceded biomass production by 18–24 h, therefore, CO₂ evolution rates did not show a correlation on normal regression analysis with biomass. Soil ATP content was influenced by P concentrations and soil type. ATP was therefore not a specific indicator of biomass in the detailed studies where P concentrations and sequential growth of bacteria and fungi were major factors. Soil urease increased with bacterial and fungal populations. It did not respond to P other than through microbial biomass and was highly correlated with microbial biomass. The results show that no one measurement of microbial biomass or activity is sufficient to interpret microbial growth in the soil system. Each of the criteria measured were sensitive to specific conditions affecting biomass and activity.     

Interaction between rhizosphere microorganisms and plant roots: 13C fluxes in the rhizosphere after pulse labeling

The input dynamics of labeled C into pools of soil organic matter and CO₂ fluxes from soil were studied in a pot experiment with the pulse labeling of oats and corn under a ¹³CO₂ atmosphere, and the contribution of the root and microbial respiration to the emission of CO₂ from the soil was determined from the fluxes of labeled C in the microbial biomass and the evolved carbon dioxide. A considerable amount of ¹³C (up to 96% of the total amount of the label found in the rhizosphere soil) was incorporated into the biomass of the rhizosphere microorganisms. The diurnal fluctuations of the labeled C pools in the microbial biomass, dissolved organic carbon, and CO₂ released in the rhizosphere of oats and corn were related to the day/night changes, i.e., to the on and off periods of the photosynthetic activity of the plants. The average contribution of the corn root respiration (70% of the total CO₂ emission from the soil surface) was higher than that of the oats roots (44%), which was related to the lower incorporation of rhizodeposit carbon into the microbial biomass in the soil under the corn plants than in the soil under the oats plants.     

Microbial immobilisation of C rhizodeposits in rhizosphere and root-free soil under continuous C labelling of oats

A greenhouse experiment was conducted by growing oats (Avenasativa L.) in a continuously ¹³CO₂ labeled atmosphere. The allocation of ¹³C-labeled photosynthates in plants, microbial biomass in rhizosphere and root-free soil, pools of soil organic C, and CO₂ emissions were examined over the plant's life cycle. To isolate rhizosphere from root-free soil, plant seedlings were placed into bags made of nylon monofilament screen tissue (16 μm mesh) filled with soil. Two peaks of ¹³C in rhizosphere pools of microbial biomass and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), as well as in CO₂ emissions at the earing and ripeness stages were revealed. These ¹³C maxima corresponded to: (i) the end of rapid root growth and (ii) beginning of root decomposition, respectively. The δ¹³C values of microbial biomass were higher than those of DOC and of soil organic matter (SOM). The microbial biomass C accounted for up to 56 and 39% of ¹³C recovered in the rhizosphere and root-free soil, respectively. Between 4 and 28% of ¹³C assimilated was recovered in the root-free soil. Depending on the phenological stage, the contribution of root-derived C to total CO₂ emission from soil varied from 61 to 92% of total CO₂ evolved, including 4-23% attributed to rhizomicrobial respiration. While 81-91% of C substrates used for microbial growth in the root-free soil and rhizosphere came from SOM, the remaining 9-19% of C substrates utilized by the microbial biomass was attributable to rhizodeposition. The use of continuous isotopic labelling and physical separation of root-free and rhizosphere soil, combined with natural ¹³C abundance were effective in gaining new insight on soil and rhizosphere C-cycling.     

The spatial distribution of soil microbial biomass in a permanent row crop

The effects of soil texture (silt loam or sandy loam) and cultivation practice (green manure) on the size and spatial distribution of the microbial biomass and its metabolic quotient were investigated in soils planted with a permanent row crop of hops (Humulus lupulus). The soil both between and in the plant rows was sampled at three different depths (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm). The silt loam had a higher overall microbial biomass C concentration (260 g g^-1) than the sandy loam (185 g g^-1), whereas the sandy loam had a higher (3.1 g CO₂-C mg^-1 microbial Ch^-1) metabolic quotient than the silt loam (2.6 g CO₂-C mg^-1 microbial C h^-1), on average over depth (0–30 cm) and over all treatments. There was a sharp decrease in the microbial biomass with increasing depth for all plots. However, this was more pronounced in the silt loam than in the sandy loam. There was no distinct influence of sampling depth on the metabolic quotient. The microbial biomass was considerably higher in the rows than between the rows, especially in the silt loam plots. There was no significant difference between plots without green manure and plots with green manure for either the microbial biomass or the metabolic quotient.     

Influence of texture on habitable pore space and bacterial-protozoan populations in soil

Summary Soil texture affects pore space, and bacterial and protozoan populations in soil. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that bacteria are more protected from protozoan predation in fine-textured soils than in coarse-textured soils because they have a larger volume of protected pore space available to them. The experiment consisted of three sterilized Orthic Black Chernozemic soils (silty clay, clay loam, and sandy loam) inoculated with bacteria, two treatments (with and without protozoa), and five sampling dates. The soils were amended with glucose and mineral N on day 0. On day 4 bacterial numbers in all three soils were approximately 3×10⁹ g^–1 soil. The greatest reduction in bacteria due to protozoan grazing occurred between day 4 and day 7. Compared to the treatment without protozoa, bacteria in the treatment with protozoa were reduced by 68, 50, and 75% in the silty clay, clay loam, and sandy loam, respectively. On day 4, 2 days after the protozoan inoculation, all protozoa were active. The numbers were 10330, 4760, and 15 380 g^–1 soil for the silty clay, clay loam, and sandy loam, respectively. Between day 4 and day 7, the period of greatest bacterial decline, total protozoa increased greatly to 150480, 96160, and 192100 g^–1 soil for the three soils, respectively. Most protozoa encysted by day 7. In all soils the addition of protozoa significantly increased CO₂–C evolution per g soil relative to the treatment without protozoa. Our results support the hypothesis that bacteria are more protected from protozoan predation in fine-textured soils than in coarse-textured soils.     

Reponse de la biomasse microbienne a l'adjonction au sol de materiel vegetal marque au 14C: Role des racines vivantes

¹⁴C and ¹⁵N-labelled immature wheat straw was incubated in the laboratory for 450 days in either a sandy soil or a clay soil, under controlled conditions of temperature and humidity. One-half of the treatments were cropped 4 times in succession with spring wheat. After each harvest, the roots and shoots were removed from the soil. The remaining treatments were kept bare, without plants. After 277 days, 1% unlabelled wheat straw was again mixed with the soils. Microbial biomass was measured after 0, 25, 53, 80, 185, 318 and 430 days, using the fumigation technique. This paper presents the ¹⁴C-data.The half-life of the labelled compounds in soil was from 60 to 70 days. After 430 days about 10% more labelled C remained in bare soil than in cropped soil. Labelled biomass carbon reached its maximum before day 25. By then 50% of the biomass-C was labelled and the biomass represented 20% of the total labelled C remaining in the soils. This percentage decreased slowly to 15% after 430 days in bare sandy soil and to 17% in bare clay soil. A second incorporation of plant material, this time unlabelled, did not appreciably alter the shape of the curve representing the decrease of labelled C in biomass, expressed as % of the total remaining labelled C. Total biomass-C (labelled + unlabelled) in cropped soil was sometimes higher and sometimes lower than in bare soil. However, the labelled C/total C ratio in biomass was always lower; in cropped soils than in soils without plants, clearly showing the effect of rhizodeposition. From days 25 to 430 an increasing difference appeared between the ratio labelled C/total and C in CO₂ and the corresponding ratio labelled C/total C in biomass. In CO₂-C the ratio diminished rapidly, in biomass-C it remained at a high level, most probably indicating a lower turnover of C in resting but living microorganisms. Other explanations are also discussed. The amount of CO₂-C released mg^?1 of biomass-C was higher in cropped than in bare soil, presumably because the microorganisms were activated by the living (or dying) root system.     

Carbon flows in the rhizosphere of ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

This study addresses the issue of carbon (C) fluxes through below ground pools within the rhizosphere of Lolium perenne using the ¹⁴C pulse labeling. Lolium perenne was grown in plexiglas chambers on topsoil of a Haplic Luvisol under controled laboratory conditions. ¹⁴C‐CO₂ efflux from soil, as well as ¹⁴C content in shoots, roots, soil, dissolved organic C (DOC), and microbial biomass were monitored for 11 days after the pulsing. Lolium allocates about 48 % of the total assimilated ¹⁴C below the soil surface, and roots were the primary sink for this C. Maximum ¹⁴C content in the roots was observed 12 hours after the labeling and it amounts to 42 % of the assimilated C. Only half of the ¹⁴C amount was found in the roots at the end of the monitoring period. The remainder was lost through root respiration, root decomposition, and rhizodeposition. Six hours after the ¹⁴C pulse labeling soil accounted for 11 %, DOC for 1.1 %, and microbial biomass for 4.9 % of assimilated C. ¹⁴C in CO₂ efflux from soil was detected as early as 30 minutes after labeling. The maximum ¹⁴C‐CO₂ emission rate (0.34 % of assimilated ¹⁴C h^—1) from the soil occurred between four and twelve hours after labeling. From the 5^th day onwards, only insignificant changes in carbon partitioning occurred. The partitioning of assimilated C was completed after 5 days after assimilation. Based on the ¹⁴C partitioning pattern, we calculated the amount of assimilated C during 47 days of growth at 256 g C m^—2. Of this amount 122 g C m^—2 were allocated to below ground, shoots retained 64 g C m^—2, and 70 g C m^—2 were lost from the shoots due to respiration. Roots were the main sink for below ground C and they accounted for 74 g C m^—2, while 28 g C m^—2 were respired and 19 g C m^—2 were found as residual ¹⁴C in soil and microorganisms.     

Microbial Activity of Cu Contaminated Soils and Effect of Lime and Compost on Soil Resiliency

In vineyards, the long-term use of copper fungicides has increased soil Cu concentrations that can adversely affect the number and activities of soil microorganisms. To better understand this phenomenon and to ameliorate such harmful effects, an incubation experiment was carried out with a sandy loam and a sandy soil to which increasing rates of CuSO₄ were added. By this treatment, the basal soil respiration (7-55%) and decomposition of added vine branches (46-86%) was inhibited. At the application rate of 500 mg Cu kg^?1, soil microbial biomass-C was inhibited (7-66%) in the sandy soil and stimulated (2-10%) in the sandy loam soil. The specific respiration rate was a reliable indicator for Cu stress, and it increased with time and higher Cu concentrations before lime and compost applications. Total number of bacteria and streptomycetes were also strongly inhibited. Fungal population was significantly more tolerant to copper toxicity than the bacteria. A stimulation of fungal population at a dose of 500 mg Cu kg^?1 in both soils was observed. A criterion such as “stimulation” lasting for more than 60 days can also be used as indication of Cu contamination of soils. The order of inhibition (on day 125) at a dose of 500 mg Cu kg^?1 soil was as follows: A. sandy loam soil (pH> 7.0) — fungi < biomass-C < basal soil respiration < bacteria < streptomycetes; B. sandy soil (pH< 6.0) — fungi < basal soil respiration < biomass-C < bacteria < streptomycetes. The application of lime increased soil recovering ability at a moderate rate (for CO₂ production – 22-70% and for biomass-C- 39-156%), but the combination of lime and compost significantly increased soil resiliency (for CO₂ production- 16-518% and for biomass-C- 103-693%). The soil resiliency assessed by number of bacteria in compost treatments was 30-120% in sandy loam soil and 92-700% in the sandy soil. Compost and lime application increased the number of streptomycetes from 52 to 500% in sandy loam soil and from 100 to 700% in sandy loam soil. Fungal population was less increased in sandy soil as compared to sandy loam soil. The ecological dose higher than 5% inhibition of microbial processes and microorganisms appears to be suitable to assess Cu contamination of soils. CO₂ production, biomass-C and specific respiration rate were less sensitive indicators as compared to streptomycetes and bacteria. It appears that compost application effectively promoted the recovery of soil microbial activity and soil fertility of Cu contaminated soils.