Microbial aggregation of sand in a maritime dune succession

Aggregation of sand by microorganisms was assessed in a dune succession ranging from unstable foredunes to stable fixed dunes. The microorganisms isolated from aggregates were fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes and algae, including cyanobacteria. Aggregation increased as the dunes became stabilized and the higher plant succession developed. The number and weight of aggregates were interrelated and most aggregates were in the > 1 <1.4 and > 2 mm ranges. The smaller aggregates were colonized by fewer fungal species than the larger ones. The general aspects of microbial aggregation in sand dunes are discussed.     

Microbial aggregation of sand in an embryo dune system

The importance of microorganisms in the aggregation of sand in an embryo dune system was examined. Of three main types of aggregates formed, microbial aggregates were found to be more important at stabilizing sand than either root-microbial or debris-microbial aggregates on the beach and at the edge of the dune but roots and their associated microorganisms were more important on the hummock of the dune. The amount of microbial and root-microbial aggregated sand was higher during the winter when the vegetation was dying down and decaying. In the absence of roots, microorganisms, in particular bacteria, play a major role in aggregating sand. The bacteria are well adapted to the unfavourable habitat of the beach as they are motile and tolerant to sea water, being able to grow in a salinity of 3.5%. Bacteria may play a major role in aggregating and stabilizing sand prior to colonization by higher plants.     

Studies on the ecology of actinomycetes in soil— VII. Actinomycetes in a coastal sand belt

Distribution of actinomyeetes in beach and dune sand at two sites was studied. At one site. dunes were eroding while at the other accretion of sand and dune development occurred. Actinomycetes occurred in low numbers in beach sand hul increased sharply when dunes were colonized by Ammophila arenaria (L) Link or Agropyron junceiforme (A & D Löve) A & D Löve. Micromonospora strains predominated in beach sand but Streptomyces was the predominant genus in dunes.Salinity tolerance of isolates was not clearly related to their source but tolerance of dune isolates was generally greater than those from the beach. Tolerance of Streptomyces strains varied but all Micromonospora isolates were intolerant of salinities above that of sea water.Evidence for increased growth of actinomycetes in the root region of A. arenaria and A. junceiforme was obtained but there was little qualitative difference between those in the root region and root-free sand. In laboratory experiments actinomycetes colonized old. dead Ammophila roots more readily than young ones and arose carly in succession on the former. Young, living roots stimulated bacteria and fungi but not actinomyeetcs. It was concluded that most activity of actinomycetes in the Ammophila root region occurred on old root tissue and it was suggested that this might be true of other plants.     

Coating a dredged sand with recycled ferrihydrites to create a functional material for plant substrate

Purpose

Urban greenery provides a series of benefits for the environment and inhabitants of cities. However, the substrate preparation mostly implies the mining and erosion of valuable natural soils (e.g., peat). Purpose-designed substrates, preferably made of waste materials, could avoid the extraction damage. The present work aims at improving the production and lowering the costs of a functional stably coated sand with ferrihydrite. This functional substrate combines the Fe (hydr)oxide sorptive capacities and the fast drainage of sand. Thus, secondary raw materials were tested: a dredged sand and three Fe (hydr)oxides; one from groundwater, an industrial intermediate product, and a mining by-product.

Materials and methods

Three Fe (hydr)-oxides were structurally characterized by XRD, XRF analysis, and SSA measurements. Further, amorphous Fe (hydr)oxide concentrations were determined. Sludges of these Fe (hydr)oxides in different concentrations were hand-mixed with a dredged and a mined sand, and dried at 35 °C. The stabilization of the coating was made by heavy shaking (250 rpm) the coated sand with water (3:1 w:w) for 0, 10, and 1000 min, washing and drying at 35 °C afterwards. Thereafter, the effectiveness of this treatment was determined by the Fe concentration and pH of the coated sand, along with the particle size of the detached aggregates during shaking, and the pH in the washing water. The morphology of the coating was observed by scanning electron microscopy.

Results and discussion

All Fe (hydr)oxides were 2-line ferrihydrites with large SSA, and coated both sands. Only after 1000 min shaking, homogeneous and small ferrihydrite aggregates covered the sands surfaces (verified by SEM and particle size). The impurities of the ferrihydrites affected the stabilization of the coating. Calcium carbonates enhanced the aggregation and reattachment of the Fe aggregates to the sand during shaking, while phosphate reduced the reattachment by stabilizing the aggregates in the suspension.

Conclusions

Two out of three ferrihydrites were suitable to develop a stable coating. To coat dredged sand with both ferrihydrites lowers the cost and production time to obtain a functional substrate. One ferrihydrite has a high pH due to its high CaCO3 content, and sand coated with it may be used as an amendment for acidic clayey soils.

     

Effects of rice husk biochar on selected soil properties and nitrate leaching in loamy sand and clay soil

Biochar is a product of pyrolysis of biomass in the absence of oxygen and has a high potential to sequester carbon into more stable soil organic carbon (OC). Despite the large number of studies on biochar and soil properties, few studies have investigated the effects of biochar in contrasting soils. The current research was conducted to evaluate the effects of different biochar levels (0 (as control), 1% and 3%) on several soil physiochemical properties and nitrate leaching in two soil types (loamy sand and clay) under greenhouse conditions and wet-dry cycles. The experiment was performed using a randomized design with three levels of biochar produced from rice husks at 500 °C in three replications. Cation exchange capacity increased significantly, by 20% and 30% in 1% and 3% biochar-amended loamy sand soil, respectively, and increases were 9% and 19% in 1% and 3% biochar-amended clay soil, respectively. Loamy sand soil did not show improvement in aggregate indices, including mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter, water stable aggregates and fractal dimension, which was contrary to the results for the clay soil. Rice husk biochar application at the both rates decreased nitrate leaching in the clay soil more than in the loamy sand. Our study highlights the importance of soil type in determining the value of biochar as a soil amendment to improve soil properties, particularly soil aggregation and reduced nitrate leaching. The benefits of the biochar in the clay soil were greater than in the loamy sand soil.     

风沙冲蚀与碳化耦合作用下风积沙粉体混凝土耐久性能

该研究以风积沙粉体为水泥替代材料的风积沙粉体混凝土为研究对象,设计风沙冲蚀-碳化、碳化-风沙冲蚀2种工况,探讨其在风沙冲蚀、碳化环境下的劣化机理及耐久性能。结果表明,风沙冲蚀时,90o冲蚀角作用时以撞击作用为主,产生冲蚀坑洞,45°冲蚀角作用时以削切作用为主,产生冲蚀沟壑,且风沙冲蚀破坏混凝土表面水泥石结构,可使碳化深度增加3倍以上;碳化作用时,普通混凝土碳化时是由于氢氧化钙和水化硅酸钙发生脱钙反应,风积沙粉体混凝土则是由于氢氧化钙、水化硅酸钙和钙矾石发生脱钙反应,且由于碳化产物自身的膨胀作用使混凝土变的疏松,使风沙冲蚀后质量损失增加1.6倍以上;风积沙粉体混凝土内部孔径在20 nm以下的无害孔的比例多于普通混凝土21.37个百分点,200 nm以上多害孔少于普通混凝土13.93个百分点,其劣化显著性低于普通混凝土;相对于单一工况,风沙冲蚀、碳化耦合作用下劣化显著性更高,且风沙冲蚀-碳化耦合作用劣化显著性低于碳化-风沙冲蚀耦合作用,风沙冲蚀-碳化耦合作用后的10~15 mm范围内出现碳化区域、碳化产物发生变化(生成硫酸钙)及非碳化区域的混合区,且风沙冲蚀-碳化耦合作用后风积沙粉体混凝土孔隙度下降0.47%,20 nm以下的无害孔的比例高出普通混凝土25.15%。     

Role of root-hairs and hyphae in adhesion of sand particles

The aggregation process in sandy soils depends on biological activity. We reported here results obtained from one sample time of: (a) adhesion of sand particles by root hairs and fungal hyphae, examined on root sections of four plant species (amaranth, Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.; Bermuda grass, Cynodon dactylon L.; maize, Zea mays L. and sunflower, Helianthus annuus L.) grown at field for 3 months; (b) root-adhering soil (RAS), root biomass (RB), and dry and water stable-aggregate fractions obtained from root:soil monoliths; and (c) arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization. Microscope observations on fine roots (<1 mm) showed that root hairs and hyphae contributed simultaneously, but not in the same proportion, to enmeshment of sand particles (20-150 μm). Hyphae contribution was considerably fewer than that of root-hairs. Maize and Bermuda grass had a higher root-hair density but a lower amount of external hyphae than those of amaranth and sunflower. Root-hairs of Bermuda grass and maize held approximately three times more sand particles than those of amaranth and sunflower (20 and 7 mm⁻¹ of root section, respectively). These results were consistent with the higher RAS:RB ratio of Bermuda grass and maize (302 and 257, respectively), than that of amaranth and sunflower (89 and 159). Intensity of mycorrhizal colonization in the whole root system was higher in maize, Bermuda grass and sunflower (range of 22.7-25%) as compared to that of amaranth (6.8%). A. hypochondriacus, considered as a non-mycorrhizal plant species, showed typical structures (vesicles, hyphae and arbuscules) in the root system. Results emphasized the preponderant role of root hairs (of grasses and dicotyledon species) in the process of soil adhesion by roots under sandy conditions (pumice and feldspath particles) and semi-arid climate.     

A simple method to produce birnessite‐coated quartz sand

Birnessite is a highly reactive manganese oxide and common in soil. We checked the attachment of birnessite, synthesized by the reduction of permanganate by lactate, on sand‐sized quartz to produce birnessite‐coated sand (BCS). Attachment and aggregation of birnessite increased with pH and reaction time. The extent of Cu and Zn adsorption to BCS was similar to that of birnessites in previous studies. Based on these results and the stability of this BCS, it may be used in water treatment.     

Soil aggregate stabilization by a saprophytic lignin-decomposing basidiomycete fungus I. Microbiological aspects

 We studied the effects of a saprophytic lignin-decomposing basidiomycete isolated from plant litter on soil aggregation and stabilization. The basidiomycete produced large quantities of extracellular materials that bind soil particles into aggregates. These binding agents are water-insoluble and heat-resistant. Water stability of aggregates amended with the fungus and the degrees of biodegradation of the binding agents by native soil microorganisms were determined by the wet-sieving method. The data demonstrated that aggregates supplemented with a source of C (millet or lentil straw) were much more water-stable and resisted microbial decomposition longer than when they were prepared with fungal homogenates alone. Moreover, retrieval of fungal-amended aggregates supplemented with millet during the first 4 weeks of incubation in natural soil exhibited more large aggregate fractions (>2 mm) than the ones supplemented with lentil straw. The possible relationship of the role of basidiomycetes in litter decomposition and soil aggregation is discussed. Received: 27 September 1999     

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     

不同沙埋程度下带状沙障的防风固沙效果研究

沙障在防护过程中,易发生沙障沙埋现象。为了对比分析不同沙埋程度下沙障的防风固沙效果差异,该文通过风洞模拟和野外试验相结合的方法,研究了沙袋沙障在裸露、浅埋、深埋3种状态下,防护区近地层风流场、输沙通量等风沙运动规律,并以未设置沙障的流沙区作为对照,明确了沙埋过程中沙障的防风固沙效果变化规律。结果表明,沙障在经历裸露至深埋过程中:1)对过境气流的防护距离、防护高度逐渐减小,近地层风速廓线变化趋势与对照相同,并逐渐服从对数函数;2)沙障防护区输沙分布高度显著降低(P0.01),输沙分布高度由42 cm(裸露)降低至34 cm(浅埋),最终降至28 cm(深埋),而对照的输沙分布高度为24 cm;3)近地层输沙率分布曲线逐渐服从对数函数,0～50 cm高度范围输沙量也呈现递增趋势;4)3种埋设深度野外试验说明,经过两个风季后,裸露、浅埋、深埋的沙袋沙障防护区土壤风蚀呈现降低趋势,风蚀深度分别比对照降低了18.53%、72.97%、80.40%。研究可以为沙障高度优化及应用技术提升提供理论依据。     

Vegetation and sand characteristics influencing nesting activity of Caretta caretta on Sekania beach

Despite its relatively small length (650 m), Sekania beach on Zakynthos island (Ionian sea) is the single most important Caretta caretta L. nesting beach in the Mediterranean Sea. The aim of this work was to tackle the possible relationships of sand and vegetation characteristics with the nesting activity of sea turtle C. caretta. The vegetation structure and distribution along the sandy beach was studied with the use of line transect method. Grouping of plant species was revealed through an ordination method. Plant groups were distinguished and mapped. Sand texture, pH, and organic matter were measured on the transects. Nesting activity was also mapped on the beach and hatching success was recorded. It was concluded that where sand salinity is high enough to prevent vegetation development, wet sand is located at a threshold depth for excavating an egg chamber. It seems that well-sorted sand grains favor nesting activity on the beach. The increase of fine sand - from east to west - is proportional with the reduction of nesting density. The data collected for this study are organized in a GIS database, which could be the basis for the establishment of an integrated monitoring system for Sekania beach.     

騰格里沙漠地区沙地土壤微生物学特性的研究

沙漠的严重危害主要是流沙的移动。因此,沙漠改造和治理中的重要工作之一。是采取各种措施固定流沙^[1]。一般說来,固定流沙有两种方法:一种是植物固沙,一种是机械固沙。机械固沙是暂时的固沙法,为固定流沙不可缺少的一环;而植物固沙是一种最根本最可靠的永久固沙方法^[2,3]流沙一经生长植物,它的基本性质就要改变,形成固定沙丘。这就为进一步改造利用沙漠,创造了先决条件。时的固沙法,为固定流沙不可缺少的一环;而植物固沙是一种最根本最可靠的永久固沙方法^[2,3]流沙一经生长植物,它的基本性质就要改变,形成固定沙丘。这就为进一步改造利用沙漠,创造了先决条件。     

Novel ferrihydrite sand coating process as a first step for designed technosols

Purpose

The production of technosols to remediate polluted or sealed urban soils to sustain new green areas is mainly empirical. For this, our research aims to contribute with the scientific knowledge base for purpose designing of technosols. Since iron minerals play an important role for many different functions of soils, we simplified a technique to incorporate and stabilize iron minerals in a substrate: a sand coated with an amorphous iron (hydr)oxide, a 2-line ferrihydrite (2L-FH).

Materials and methods

The 2L-FH was precipitated by neutralization of a concentrated FeCl₃ solution. The suspension was homogeneously mixed with the sand and the mixture was dried at 35 °C. The mechanical stability of the 21 2L-FH-coated sand was determined by shaking the aggregates in water for 0, 1, 10, 100, and 1 000 min. The degree of coating detachment and the properties of the coating after shaking were characterized through (a) Fe content, (b) zeta-potential and particle size of the detached particles, (c) the specific surface area (SSA) of the coated sand, and (d) its surface structure using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A phosphate adsorption isotherm was performed to measure the P-sorption capacity of the shaken samples and to test the 2L-FH-quartz attachment stability against the surface charge reduction of the 2L-FH associated with P adsorption.

Results and discussion

A reduced Fe loss (30 %) and smaller sizes of the coating detached particles in the sample shaken for 1 000 min indicate that a fractioning and reattachment of these aggregates occurred during the agitation process, resulting in a smoother surface (SEM), and a larger SSA and P-sorption capacity. The coated shaken samples showed P-adsorption capacities (5.3–6.34 μmol P g^?1) comparable to high loadings of phosphate in soils, and low detachment of Fe (7–14 %) in spite of negativity surface charge increase.

Conclusions

The practical novel coating process along with the 1 000-min shaking produced a mechanical resistant and P-adsorptive effective coated sand that could sustain the needs of plants in further experiments.

     

Nitrogen reduction in a eutrophic river canal using bioactive multilayer capping (BMC) with biozeolite and sand

Purpose

Nitrogen reduction in a eutrophic river canal using bioactive multilayer capping (BMC) with biozeolite and sand was examined through laboratory incubation experiments over 121 days.

Materials and methods

Biofilm formation on zeolite was cultivated by a mixed culture containing isolated heterotrophic nitrifiers (Bacillus sp.) and aerobic denitrifiers (Acinetobacter sp.). Two combination methods of biozeolite and sand (with two grain sizes) were used in the experiments: combination I had biozeolite on top of sand, while combination II had sand on top of biozeolite.

Results and discussion

BMC not only completely inhibited ammonium release from sediment but also reduced total nitrogen (TN) in the overlying water and sediment. On day 24, the reduction efficiencies of TN in overlying water by BMC were 60–82 %. After day 24, the long-term effectiveness of nitrogen reduction by BMC using combination II was found to be significantly better than that using combination I. Fine sand used for BMC was found to be superior to coarse sand in nitrogen reduction. Fine sand on the upper layer could strengthen biological denitrification of the biozeolite layer. The optimal BMC could reduce the amount of biozeolite and thus the costs of the technique. The TN reduction efficiency of sediment by the optimal BMC was up to 13 %.

Conclusions

BMC with biozeolite under the fine sand was found to be a feasible technique to reduce N in a eutrophic river canal.     

Growth of the earthworm Eisenia foetida on microorganisms and cellulose

The growth of Eisenia foetida (Savigny) (200–300 mg live weight) was measured on mixtures of inorganic salts, vitamins, and cellulose upon a base of ashed loam or sand. High concentrations of inorganic salts, exceeding an ionic conductivity of about 8mS cm^?1 were detrimental, and lower concentrations failed to promote growth.Hatchlings (5 mg live wt) grew to 233 ± 14 mg (SE) on 22 species of bacteria (100 mg dry wt) at 24±1°C, in 8 weeks. There were no significant differences in growth on Gram-negative versus Gram-positive bacteria. Human pathogens were no less nutritive than non-pathogenic species.There was no growth on 6 of 19 species of fungi. Only 31% weight (70 ± 16 mg) was gained per unit weight of fungi as per unit weight of bacteria (100 mg dry microbial biomass).Worms grew as well (274 ± mg) on three species of protozoa as on 22 bacterial species. Growth on any microorganisms tested was less than on activated sludge.E. foetida doubled in weight on the fungus Coriolus hirsutus with the addition of sand or ashed loam. With either of these two forms of grit and microorganisms there was no growth. For growth, a combination of carbohydrate (cellulose), microorganisms and grit appeared necessary. Lyophilized microorganisms had to be washed free of ionic conductivity (and presumably organic residues) from their culture medium for earthworms to grow favorably.     

Deposition of sand over a cyanobacterial soil crust increases nitrogen bioavailability in a semi-arid woodland

The movement of sand by erosion is a common feature of drylands during droughts and periods of sparse vascular plant cover. We examined the effects of sand deposition on the bioavailability of N in cyanobacterial-dominant soil crusts during and after a severe drought. Crusts were sampled from two depths on stony and stone-free surfaces with and without sandy deposits. All sites supported an extensive cover (up to 51%) of N-fixing cyanobacteria and cyanolichens. During drought, sand-covered crusts had up to three-times more mineral N (NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻) and twice the mineralisable N, at both depths, than sand-free samples. Mineralisable N was always greater in the surface soil layer both during and after drought. During the drought, two common N-fixing cyanobacteria (Scytonema cf. hofman-bangii, Stigonema ocellatum) were significantly more abundant on uncovered than sand-covered surfaces. Increased N bioavailability likely results from autolysis and subsequent breakdown of N-enriched cyanobacterial cell material mediated by changes in the soil surface microenvironment. Our work suggests that landscape-level processes of sand deposition have a marked effect on soil nutrient pools by enhancing the accumulation of plant-available N on cyanobacterial crusted surfaces. Inappropriate land management or the loss of cyanobacterial soil crusts during drought would compromise the long-term bioavailability of soil N.     

Root growth,and microorganisms associated with the rhizoplane and root zone soil of a native C4 grass on burned and unburned sand prairies

We investigated the root growth of native Schizachyrium scoparium, little bluestem grass, and the seasonal abundance of rhizoplane and root zone soil microorganisms on burned and unburned sand prairies. Root growth and abundances of rhizoplane and root zone microorganisms were greater in burned than unburned sites. Microbe populations were nearly always higher on the rhizoplane than in the root zone soils, although they were not always significantly different. The seasonal dynamics of total bacteria, total fungi, fluorescent pseudomonads, and microorganisms that decompose chitin, cellulose, and protein varied between burned and unburned sites. Some microbial populations showed significant, though weak, relationships with root growth. Populations of most microorganisms were usually highest from June through August, when roots were being shed following the peak standing crop of root mass in May. The production of fine roots on burned sites early in the growing season and the consequent shedding of fine roots probably have an important effect on microbe population dynamics.     

Influence of Soil Moisture and Salinity on the Carbon Dioxide Emission and Water Consumption during Germination of Cereal Seeds

The influence of moisture and salinity of quartz sand on activation of the CO₂ emission and water consumption by seeds of spring wheat (Triticum), winter rye (Secále cereále), triticale (Triticosecale), and spring barley (Hórdeum) treated by a stimulant was studied under conditions of a model experiment. It was found that the seeds treated with a stimulant get advantages in the development upon a decrease in the water content of quartz sand. However, in the case of sand salinization, stimulant application did not lead to acceleration of seed development. The deficiency of moisture in saline sand also resulted in the increase of stimulant application efficiency. It was supposed that optimum moisture contents of quartz sand for seed germination and for the development of endophytic microorganisms do not coincide: active development of endophytic microorganisms stimulating seed development began under a lower moisture in comparison with that of the active seed development. Thus, active development of endophytic microorganisms upon the low moisture content mitigates the deceleration of seed development in the case of water deficiency. Hence, application of the microbial stimulant for seeds should be efficient in the cases, when germination of seeds proceeds under conditions of possible moisture deficiency, i.e., in the regions, where early spring droughts are frequent.     

Role of active aluminum in the formation of water-stable macroaggregates

Soil structure is determined by the arrangement of particles in soil and the particles of sand, silt, and clay bind together into aggregates of various sizes by organic and inorganic materials. Structural stability which is the ability of the aggregates and pores to remain intact when subjected to stress, markedly affects crop production and soil erosion (Tisdall 1996). Since water, either directly as rainfall or as surface runoff is the main agent of aggregate breakdown, in the analyzes of stable soil aggregation, the term water-stable aggregation is generally used (Lynch and Bragg 1985). Water-stable aggregates have been divided into micro aggregates < 0.25 mm dia.) and macro aggregates (> 0.25 mm dia.) (Edwards and Bremner 1967; Tisdall and Oades 1982). Microaggregates show a relatively high stability against physical disruption (Edwards and Bremner 1967). On the other hand, macro aggregates are sensitive to soil management (Tisdall and Oades 1982).

There are many reports on the relationships between the aggregate stability and the soil physicochemical properties. For example, significant correlations were found between the aggregate stability and the amounts of organic C (Tisdall and Oades 1982), total N, and carbohydrates or the CEC (Chaney and Swift 1984). However, most of these studies were conducted in non-volcanic ash soils. Volcanic ash soils are widely distributed in Japan and are very important soils for crop production. The objective of this study was, therefore, to obtain more information on the relationship between the degree of macro aggregation and the soil physicochemical properties in non-volcanic and volcanic ash soils.