Soil enzyme activities,microbial community composition and function after 47 years of continuous green manuring

Green manuring practices can influence soil microbial community composition and function and there is a need to investigate the influence compared with other types of organic amendment. This study reports long-term effects of green manure amendments on soil microbial properties, based on a field experiment started in 1956. In the experiment, various organic amendments, including green manure, have been applied at a rate of 4 t C ha⁻¹ every second year. Phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) indicated that the biomass of bacteria, fungi and total microbial biomass, but not arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, generally increased due to green manuring compared with soils receiving no organic amendments. Some differences in abundance of different microbial groups were also found compared with other organic amendments (farmyard manure and sawdust) such as a higher fungal biomass and consequently a higher fungal/bacterial ratio compared with amendment with farmyard manure. The microbial community composition (PLFA profile) in the green manure treatment differed from the other treatments, but there was no effect on microbial substrate-utilization potential, determined using the Biolog EcoPlate. Protease and arylsulphatase activities in the green manure treatment were comparable to a mineral fertilized treatment receiving no additional C, whereas acid phosphatase activity increased. It can be concluded that green manuring had a beneficial impact on soil microbial properties, but differed in some aspects to other organic amendments which might be attributed to differences in quality of the amendments.     

Abundance, production and stabilization of microbial biomass under conventional and reduced tillage

Soil tillage practices affect the soil microbial community in various ways, with possible consequences for nitrogen (N) losses, plant growth and soil organic carbon (C) sequestration. As microbes affect soil organic matter (SOM) dynamics largely through their activity, their impact may not be deduced from biomass measurements alone. Moreover, residual microbial tissue is thought to facilitate SOM stabilization, and to provide a long term integrated measure of effects on the microorganisms. In this study, we therefore compared the effect of reduced (RT) and conventional tillage (CT) on the biomass, growth rate and residues of the major microbial decomposer groups fungi and bacteria. Soil samples were collected at two depths (0-5 cm and 5-20 cm) from plots in an Irish winter wheat field that were exposed to either conventional or shallow non-inversion tillage for 7 growing seasons. Total soil fungal and bacterial biomasses were estimated using epifluorescence microscopy. To separate between biomass of saprophytic fungi and arbuscular mycorrhizae, samples were analyzed for ergosterol and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) biomarkers. Growth rates of saprophytic fungi were determined by [¹⁴C]acetate-in-ergosterol incorporation, whereas bacterial growth rates were determined by the incorporation of ³H-leucine in bacterial proteins. Finally, soil contents of fungal and bacterial residues were estimated by quantifying microbial derived amino sugars. Reduced tillage increased the total biomass of both bacteria and fungi in the 0-5 cm soil layer to a similar extent. Both ergosterol and PLFA analyses indicated that RT increased biomass of saprophytic fungi in the 0-5 cm soil layer. In contrast, RT increased the biomass of arbuscular mycorrhizae as well as its contribution to the total fungal biomass across the whole plough layer. Growth rates of both saprotrophic fungi and bacteria on the other hand were not affected by soil tillage, possibly indicating a decreased turnover rate of soil microbial biomass under RT. Moreover, RT did not affect the proportion of microbial residues that were derived from fungi. In summary, our results suggest that RT can promote soil C storage without increasing the role of saprophytic fungi in SOM dynamics relative to that of bacteria.     

Specific response of fungal and bacterial residues to one-season tillage and repeated slurry application in a permanent grassland soil

The dynamics of fungal and bacterial residues to a one-season tillage event in combination with manure application in a grassland soil are unknown. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the effects of one-season tillage event in two field trials on the stocks of microbial biomass, fungal biomass, microbial residues, soil organic C (SOC) and total N in comparison with permanent grassland; (2) to determine the effects of repeated manure application to restore negative tillage effects on soil microbial biomass and residues. One trial was started 2 years before sampling and the other 5 years before sampling. Mouldboard ploughing decreased the stocks of SOC, total N, microbial biomass C, and microbial residues (muramic acid and glucosamine), but increased those of the fungal biomarker ergosterol in both trials. Slurry application increased stocks of SOC and total N only in the short-term, whereas the stocks of microbial biomass C, ergosterol and microbial residues were generally increased in both trials, especially in combination with tillage. The ergosterol to microbial biomass C ratio was increased by tillage, and decreased by slurry application in both trials. The fungal C to bacterial C ratio was generally decreased by these two treatments. The metabolic quotient qCO₂ showed a significant negative linear relationship with the microbial biomass C to SOC ratio and a significant positive relationship with the soil C/N ratio. The ergosterol to microbial biomass C ratio revealed a significant positive linear relationship with the fungal C to bacterial C ratio, but a negative one with the SOC content. Our results suggest that slurry application in grassland soil may promote SOC storage without increasing the role of saprotrophic fungi in soil organic matter dynamics relative to that of bacteria.     

有机无机肥配施对麦-稻轮作系统土壤微生物学特性的影响

采用盆栽试验研究了不同比例有机无机肥配施对连续4茬麦-稻轮作后土壤微生物学特性的影响。结果表明,与对照相比,单施化肥处理促进了土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和微生物熵的增加,提高了土壤蔗糖酶、蛋白酶、脲酶活性,降低了过氧化氢酶活性,提高了放线菌的数量,但对土壤细菌、真菌数量的影响不明显;有机无机肥配施处理的土壤微生物生物量碳、微生物生物量氮、微生物熵、土壤酶活性及3大类土壤微生物数量显著高于单施化肥及对照处理;土壤微生物生物量碳、微生物生物量氮、微生物熵和3大类微生物数量随着有机肥配施比例的提高而增加,以配施30%有机肥处理的最高;土壤酶活性综合指数以配施20%有机肥处理的最高。可见,化肥配施有机肥特别是配施中高量有机肥更有利于改善土壤微生物学特性,提高土壤生产能力。     

有机物料对原生盐碱地土壤生物学性质的影响

采用连续2年大田试验方法,研究了颗粒型秸秆(KL)、正常秸秆(JG)、牧草(MC)以及羊粪(YF)4种有机物料处理对试验地微生物数量、微生物生物量碳氮、土壤呼吸强度、三种土壤酶活性以及水稻产量的影响,并分析了生物学性质与测产指标的相关性。结果表明:与不施有机物料处理(CK)对比,施用有机物料的JG、MC、YF处理均不同程度提高了微生物数量、微生物生物量碳氮含量、土壤呼吸强度、土壤酶活性以及水稻产量,但差异不明显。同种有机物料不同形态之间差异显著,颗粒秸秆效果优于正常秸秆,颗粒秸秆与CK相比,提高了39.45%的土壤细菌、50.28%放线菌、89.91%真菌数量、63.21%和46.02%的土壤微生物生物量碳氮含量,土壤呼吸强度提高46.22%,过氧化氢酶活性提高18.03%,转化酶活性提高23.22%,纤维素酶活性提高79.32%,增产130.6%。土壤微生物数量(细菌、真菌和放线菌)与千粒重、结实率、每穗总粒数和产量具有相关性,土壤微生物活性(土壤呼吸强度和微生物生物量碳氮)与有效穗数、每穗总粒数、千粒重以及产量具有相关性,土壤酶活性(过氧化氢酶、转化酶和纤维素酶)与穗长和千粒重表现出相关性。结果表明相同条件下,原生盐碱地改良前期,不同种类有机物料对原生盐碱地作用效果相似,但同种有机物料不同形态其作用效果差异显著。     

Fungal and bacterial denitrification are differently affected by long-term pH amendment and cultivation of arable soil

Bacteria are considered as playing a predominant role in the production of nitrous oxide (N₂O) in arable soil. Despite the knowledge that fungi are able to denitrify their contribution to denitrifier N₂O production from arable soil is uncertain. Here, we assess the capability of fungi and bacteria to contribute to N₂O emission from arable soil by measuring potential denitrification rates (PDR) as N₂O production, after application of selective inhibitors aimed at distinguishing between fungal and bacterial denitrification, and related PDR to characteristics of the soil microbial community. Soil was sampled from a long-term crop rotation maintained since 1961 at seven different pH levels, ranging in 0.5 increments from pH 4.5 to 7.5, and along a cultivation gradient from freshly ploughed soil to three years under ley grass. Over both pH and cultivation gradients, bacteria contributed up to 54% and fungi contributed to 18% of the PDR. Residual N₂O production that was not targeted by the selective inhibitors and hence could not be attributed to fungi or bacteria might be due to pre-synthesised enzymes or resistant organisms. The PDR of the bacterial community responded positively to increase in soil pH with the lowest PDR at pH 4.2 and the highest around pH 5.9. In contrast, fungal denitrification was not influenced by soil pH. Changes in ester linked fatty acids (ELFA) concentrations showed that whilst total bacterial biomass decreased with increasing pH fungal biomass was not significantly influenced by pH, driving an increase in the ratio of fungal–bacterial biomass. Both fungal biomass and bacterial biomass, and the PDR from the control treatment (no inhibitor application) across the pH gradient were greatest under long-term ley. Concentrations of fatty acids a15:0, 16:1ω7 and 17:1ω8 of microbial origin were positively correlated with the proportion of denitrification activity that was repressed by bacterial inhibitors. This suggests that there is a relationship between organisms that possess the fatty acids a15:0, 16:1ω7 and 17:1ω8, and the function of denitrification. Our results demonstrate that both fungal and bacterial denitrification were occurring in this arable soil. That management for pH and cultivation had differing effects on the potential contribution of fungal and bacterial denitrification to N₂O production has implications for the development of appropriate management practices for mitigation of this greenhouse gas.     

Impact of activated charcoal and tannin amendments on microbial biomass and residues in an irrigated sandy soil under arid subtropical conditions

Effects of goat manure application combined with charcoal and tannins, added as feed additives or mixed directly, on microbial biomass, microbial residues and soil organic matter were tested in a 2-year field trial on a sandy soil under Omani irrigated subtropical conditions. Soil microbial biomass C revealed the fastest response to manure application, followed by microbial residue C, estimated on the basis of fungal glucosamine and bacterial muramic acid, and finally soil organic C (SOC), showing the slowest, but still significant response. At the end of the trial, microbial biomass C reached 220 μg g^?1 soil, i.e. contents similar to sandy soils in temperate humid climate, and showed a relatively high contribution of saprotrophic fungi, as indicated by an average ergosterol to microbial biomass C ratio of 0.35 % in the manure treatments. The mean fungal C to bacterial C ratio was 0.55, indicating bacterial dominance of microbial residues. This fraction contributed relatively low concentrations of between 20 and 35 % to SOC. Charcoal added to manure increased the SOC content and the soil C/N ratio, but did not affect any of the soil microbial properties analysed. Tannins added to manure reduce the 0.5 M K₂SO₄-extractable N to N total ratio compared to manure control. These effects occurred regardless of whether charcoal or tannins were supplied as feed additive or directly mixed to the manure.     

Carbon pulses but not phosphorus pulses are related to decreases in microbial biomass during repeated drying and rewetting of soils

Drying and rewetting cycles are known to be important for the turnover of carbon (C) in soil, but less is known about the turnover of phosphorus (P) and its relation to C cycling. In this study the effects of repeated drying-rewetting (DRW) cycles on phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) pulses and microbial biomass were investigated. Soil (Chromic Luvisol) was amended with different C substrates (glucose, cellulose, starch; 2.5 g C kg⁻¹) to manipulate the size and community composition of the microbial biomass, thereby altering P mineralisation and immobilisation and the forms and availability of P. Subsequently, soils were either subjected to three DRW cycles (1 week dry/1 week moist) or incubated at constant water content (70% water filled pore space). Rewetting dry soil always produced an immediate pulse in respiration, between 2 and 10 times the basal rates of the moist incubated controls, but respiration pulses decreased with consecutive DRW cycles. DRW increased total CO₂ production in glucose and starch amended and non-amended soils, but decreased it in cellulose amended soil. Large differences between the soils persisted when respiration was expressed per unit of microbial biomass. In all soils, a large reduction in microbial biomass (C and P) occurred after the first DRW event, and microbial C and P remained lower than in the moist control. Pulses in extractable organic C (EOC) after rewetting were related to changes in microbial C only during the first DRW cycle; EOC concentrations were similar in all soils despite large differences in microbial C and respiration rates. Up to 7 mg kg⁻¹ of resin extractable P (P_resin) was released after rewetting, representing a 35-40% increase in P availability. However, the pulse in P_resin had disappeared after 7 d of moist incubation. Unlike respiration and reductions in microbial P due to DRW, pulses in P_resin increased during subsequent DRW cycles, indicating that the source of the P pulse was probably not the microbial biomass. Microbial community composition as indicated by fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis showed that in amended soils, DRW resulted in a reduction in fungi and an increase in Gram-positive bacteria. In contrast, the microbial community in the non-amended soil was not altered by DRW. The non-selective reduction in the microbial community in the non-amended soil suggests that indigenous microbial communities may be more resilient to DRW. In conclusion, DRW cycles result in C and P pulses and alter the microbial community composition. Carbon pulses but not phosphorus pulses are related to changes in microbial biomass. The transient pulses in available P could be important for P availability in soils under Mediterranean climates.     

Soil microbial recolonisation after a fire in a Mediterranean forest

The capacity of different microbial groups to recolonise soil after a fire event will be decisive in determining the microbial community after the fire. Microbial recovery after a wildfire that occurred in Sierra la Grana (Alicante province, southeast Spain) was tracked for 32 months after the fire. Colony forming units (CFUs) of different microbial groups, microbial biomass, soil respiration, bacterial growth (leucine incorporation) and changes in the microbial community structure (phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis) were determined directly after the fire and four times during the recovery period. Direct effects were reflected by low values of most microbiological variables measured immediately after the fire. Microbial biomass increased during the first year after the fire but was below the unburned reference site 32 months after the fire. Bacterial activity and soil respiration showed the highest values immediately after the fire, but decreased to values similar to that of the unburned reference site or even lower (respiration) 32 months after the fire. Colony forming units of bacterial groups estimated by the plate count method peaked 8 months after the fire, but then decreased, showing values similar to the unburned reference site at the end of the study, with the exception of spore formers, which were 20 times higher than the reference site 32 months after the fire. Fungal CFUs were more sensitive to the fire and recovered more slowly than bacteria. Fungi recovering less rapidly than bacteria were also indicated by the PLFA pattern, with PLFAs indicative of fungi being less common after the fire. The recovery of microbial biomass and activity was mirrored by the initially very high levels of dissolved organic carbon being consumed and decreasing within 8 months after the fire. The wildfire event had thus resulted in a decrease in microbial biomass, with a more bacteria-dominated microbial community.     

连年翻压绿肥对植烟土壤物理及生物性状的影响

【目的】土壤的生物性状可作为评价土壤生态环境质量的指标,而土壤的物理性状对土壤的水、 肥、 气、 热等因素具有调控作用。绿肥是一种养分全面的优质生物肥源,翻压的绿肥种类以及绿肥和化肥的配施比例会影响土壤微生物的种群数量以及土壤酶活性,并对土壤的物理、 化学和生物性质以及生产力产生重要影响。本文研究连年翻压绿肥后土壤中微生物种群数量、 微生物量碳、 土壤酶的年际变化及其对植烟土壤团粒结构和土壤紧实度影响,旨在为烟区土壤改良和特色烟叶开发提供理论依据。【方法】利用3年田间定位试验,研究了连年翻压绿肥对植烟土壤物理及生物性状的影响; 将鲜土样过2 mm筛后,利用平板涂布法以及氯仿熏蒸培养法测定了连年翻压绿肥后土壤中细菌、 真菌和放线菌数量以及微生物量碳的含量; 将土样风干并过1 mm 筛后测定了土壤脲酶、 酸性磷酸酶以及过氧化氢酶的活性。土壤紧实度采用CP40Ⅱ数显式土壤紧实度仪对不同处理的土壤进行原位测定; 而土壤团聚体结构采用沙维诺夫法进行,采集的原状土样采用干筛法进行分级,然后计算出不同粒级团聚体的百分含量以及平均重量直径和几何平均直径。 【结果】连年翻压绿肥显著降低了10 cm土层处的土壤紧实度,且以翻压高量绿肥处理（30000 kg/hm2+85%化肥,GMH）的土壤紧实度最低,其土壤紧实度较常规施肥 (F) 和不施肥 (CK) 处理分别降低了25.4%和29.9%; 翻压绿肥增加了土壤中大于7 mm 的机械团聚体含量,但降低了小于1 mm 机械团聚体的含量。随着翻压绿肥年限的增加,翻压绿肥土壤中细菌、 真菌和放线菌的数量以及土壤微生物量碳均呈增加的趋势,翻压3 年绿肥后,GMH处理的土壤细菌、 真菌和放线菌的数量以及土壤微生物量碳含量较F处理分别提高了49.0%、 47.8%、 35.4%和40.7%; 与常规施肥相比,翻压低量绿肥 （15000 kg/hm2+85%化肥,GML）降低了土壤脲酶和过氧化氢酶的活性,但翻压高量绿肥能够恢复和提高其活性。【结论】连年翻压绿肥能够降低土壤紧实度,增强土壤团聚结构的稳定性,提高土壤中细菌、 真菌和放线菌的数量以及土壤微生物量碳的含量; 翻压高量的绿肥有利于土壤中脲酶、 过氧化氢酶和酸性磷酸酶活性的提高。     

Establishment of denitrification capacity in soil: Effects of carbon,nitrate and moisture

The effects of moisture, NO₃^?1 concentration and C addition on changes in denitrification capacity and total microbial biomass in a clay loam soil were investigated. Denitrification capacity was evaluated with an anaerobic slurry technique. Total microbial biomass was measured by CHC1₃ fumigation and by extraction of microbial ATP. The results indicate that denitrification capacity and total microbial biomass were increased only by the C addition; differences in NO₃^?1 concentration and moisture had no effect in this agricultural soil. The increase in denitrification capacity could be attributed solely to microbial growth, since the ratio of denitrification capacity to total microbial biomass remained constant and the increased respiration from the C amendment did not increase anaerobiosis. The results also show that denitrifiers compete as effectively for added C as do other heterotrophs.     

Analysis of manure and soil nitrogen mineralization during incubation

Understanding the N-cycling processes that ensue after manuring soil is essential in order to estimate the value of manure as an N fertilizer. A laboratory incubation of manured soil was carried out in order to study N mineralization, gas fluxes, denitrification, and microbial N immobilization after manure application. Four different manures were enclosed in mesh bags to allow for the separate analysis of manure and soil. The soils received 0.15 mg manure N g^–1 soil, and the microcosms were incubated aerobically and sampled throughout a 10-week period. Manure addition resulted in initial NH₄-N concentrations of 22.1 to 36.6 mg kg^–1 in the microcosms. All manured microcosms had net declines in soil mineral N. Denitrification resulted in the loss of 14.7 to 39.2% of the added manure N, and the largest N losses occurred in manures with high NH₄-N content. Increased soil microbial biomass N amounted to 6.0 to 8.6% of the added manure N. While the microcosms as a whole had negative N mineralization, all microcosms had positive net nitrification within the manure bags. Gas fluxes of N₂O and CO₂ increased in all manured soils relative to the controls. Our results show that measurement of microbial biomass N and denitrification is important to understand the fate of manure N upon soil application.     

Biological and chemical properties of arable soils affected by long-term organic and inorganic fertilizer applications

 Using soils from field plots in four different arable crop experiments that have received combinations of manure, lime and inorganic N, P and K for up to 20 years, the effects of these fertilizers on soil chemical properties and estimates of soil microbial community size and activity were studied. The soil pH was increased or unaffected by the addition of organic manure plus inorganic fertilizers applied in conjunction with lime, but decreased in the absence of liming. The soil C and N contents were greater for all fertilized treatments compared to the control, yet in all cases the soil samples from fertilized plots had smaller C:N ratios than soil from the unfertilized plots. The soil concentrations of all the other inorganic nutrients measured were greater following fertilizer applications compared with the unfertilized plots, and this effect was most marked for P and K in soils from plots that had received the largest amounts of these nutrients as fertilizers. Both biomass C determined by chloroform fumigation and glucose-induced respiration tended to increase as a result of manure and inorganic fertilizer applications, although soils which received the largest additions of inorganic fertilizers in the absence of lime contained less biomass C than those to which lime had been added. Dehydrogenase activity was lower in soils that had received the largest amounts of fertilizers, and was further decreased in the absence of lime. This suggests that dehydrogenase activity was highly sensitive to the inhibitory effects associated with large fertilizer additions. Potential denitrification and anaerobic respiration determined in one soil were increased by fertilizer application but, as with both the microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity, there were significant reductions in both N₂O and CO₂ production in soils which received the largest additions of inorganic fertilizers in the absence of lime. In contrast, the size of the denitrifying component of the soil microbial community, as indicated by denitrifying enzyme activity, was unaffected by the absence of lime at the largest rate of inorganic fertilizer applications. The results indicated differences in the composition or function of microbial communities in the soils in response to long-term organic and inorganic fertilization, especially when the soils were not limited. Received: 10 March 1998     

不同施肥处理对长期不施肥区稻田土壤微生物生态特性的影响

采用室内恒温培养方法,研究了不同施肥处理对水稻长期肥料试验中不施肥区（CK）和全肥区（NPK）土壤酶活性及微生物群落结构的变化。结果表明,施肥处理（单施化肥、施猪粪和施秸杆）可以显著提高土壤的微生物量碳以及脲酶、酸性磷酸酶的活性,施用有机肥的效果明显大于单施化肥; 有机肥在无肥区（CK）的施用效果与在全肥区（NPK）的效果接近。PLFA分析表明,施肥使无肥区（CK）土壤微生物群落结构发生了显著的变化,施用有机肥显著增加了土壤微生物群落结构的多样性。与不施肥和单施化肥相比,施有机肥主要增加了细菌和真菌的特征脂肪酸如不饱和脂肪酸、环状脂肪酸cy19∶0等的相对含量,而降低了放线菌标记性脂肪酸10Me18∶0的相对含量。     

Shifts in microbial community and water-extractable organic matter composition with biochar amendment in a temperate forest soil

Biochar amendment in soil has been proposed as a carbon sequestration strategy which may also enhance soil physical and chemical properties such as nutrient and water holding capacity as well as soil fertility and plant productivity. However, biochar may also stimulate microbial activity which may lead to increased soil CO₂ respiration and accelerated soil organic matter (OM) degradation which could partially negate these intended benefits. To investigate short-term soil microbial responses to biochar addition, we conducted a 24 week laboratory incubation study. Biochar produced from the pyrolysis of sugar maple wood at 500 °C was amended at concentrations of 5, 10 and 20 t/ha in a phosphorus-limited forest soil which is under investigation as a site for biochar amendment. The cumulative soil CO₂ respired was higher for biochar-amended samples relative to controls. At 10 and 20 t/ha biochar application rates, the concentration of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) specific to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as actinomycetes were lower than controls for the first 16 weeks, then increased between weeks 16–24, suggesting a gradual microbial adaptation to altered soil conditions. Increases in the ratio of bacteria/fungi and lower ratios of Gram-negative/Gram-positive bacteria suggest a microbial community shift in favour of Gram-positive bacteria. In addition, decreasing ratios of cy17:0/16:1ω7 PLFAs, a proxy used to examine bacterial substrate limitation, suggest that bacteria adapted to the new conditions in biochar-amended soil over time. Concentrations of water-extractable organic matter (WEOM) increased in all samples after 24 weeks and were higher than controls for two of the biochar application rates. Solution-state ¹H NMR analysis of WEOM revealed an increase in microbial-derived short-chain carboxylic acids, lower concentrations of labile carbohydrate and peptide components of soil OM and potential accumulation of more recalcitrant polymethylene carbon during the incubation. Our results collectively suggest that biochar amendment increases the activity of specific microorganisms in soil, leading to increased CO₂ fluxes and degradation of labile soil OM constituents.     

Tebuconazole application decreases soil microbial biomass and activity

A short-term mesocosm experiment was conducted to ascertain the impact of tebuconazole on soil microbial communities. Tebuconazole was applied to soil samples with no previous pesticide history at three rates: 5, 50 and 500 mg kg⁻¹ DW soil. Soil sampling was carried out after 0, 7, 30, 60 and 90 days of incubation to determine tebuconazole concentration and microbial properties with potential as bioindicators of soil health [i.e., basal respiration, substrate-induced respiration, microbial biomass C, enzyme activities (urease, arylsulfatase, β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase), nitrification rate, and functional community profiling]. Tebuconazole degradation was accurately described by a bi-exponential model (degradation half-lives varied from 9 to 263 days depending on the concentration tested). Basal respiration, substrate-induced respiration, microbial biomass C and enzyme activities were inhibited by tebuconazole. Nitrification rate was also inhibited but only during the first 30 days. Different functional community profiles were observed depending on the tebuconazole concentration used. It was concluded that tebuconazole application decreases soil microbial biomass and activity.     

Long term tillage,cover crop,and fertilization effects on microbial community structure,activity: Implications for soil quality

Conservation agriculture practices, such as reduced tillage, cover crops and fertilization, are often associated with greater microbial biomass and activity that are linked to improvements in soil quality. This study characterized the impact of long term (31 years) tillage (till and no-till), cover crops (Hairy vetch- Vicia villosa and winter wheat- Triticum aestivum, and a no cover control), and N-rates (0, 34, 67 and 101 kg N ha⁻¹) on soil microbial community structure, activity and resultant soil quality calculated using the soil management assessment framework (SMAF) scoring index under continuous cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) production on a Lexington silt loam in West Tennessee.No-till treatments were characterized by a significantly greater (P < 0.05) abundance of Gram positive bacteria, actinomycetes and mycorrhizae fungi fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) biomarkers compared to till. Saprophytic fungal FAME biomarkers were significantly less abundant (P < 0.05) under no-till treatments resulting in a lower fungi to bacteria (F:B) ratio. Key enzymes associated with C, N & P cycling (β-glucosidase, β-glucosaminidase, and phosphodiesterase) had significantly higher rates under no-till relative to till, corresponding to significantly greater (P < 0.05) soil C and N, extractable nutrients (P, K and Ca) and yields. Mycorrhizae fungi biomarkers significantly decreased (P < 0.05) with increasing N-rate and was significantly less (P < 0.05) under the vetch cover crop compared to wheat and no cover. Treatments under vetch also had significantly higher β-glucosaminidase and basal microbial respiration rates compared to wheat and no cover.Consequently, the total organic carbon (TOC) and β-glucosidase SMAF quality scores were significantly greater under no-till compared to till and under the vetch compared to wheat and no cover treatments, resulting in a significantly greater overall soil quality index (SQI).Our results demonstrate that long-term no-till and use of cover crops under a low biomass monoculture crop production system like cotton results in significant shifts in the microbial community structure, activity, and conditions that favor C, N and P cycling compared to those under conventional tillage practices. These practices also led to increased yields and improved soil quality with no-till having 13% greater yields than till and treatments under vetch having 5% increase in soil quality compared to no cover and wheat.     

Combined effects of the antibiotic sulfadiazine and liquid manure on the soil microbial‐community structure and functions

Sulfonamides are the second most used antibiotic class in veterinary medicine and applied to livestock to treat bacterial infections. Subsequently, they are spread onto agricultural soils together with the contaminated manure used as fertilizer. Both manure and antibiotics affect the soil microbial community. However, the influence of different liquid manure loads on effects of antibiotics to soil microorganisms is not well understood. Therefore, we performed a microcosm experiment for up to 32 d to clarify whether the function and structure of the soil microbial community is differently affected by interactions of manure and the antibiotic sulfadiazine (SDZ). To this end selected concentrations of pig liquid manure (0, 20, 40, 80 g kg^–1) and SDZ (0, 10, 100 mg kg^–1) were combined. We hypothesized that incremental manure amendment might reduce the effect of SDZ in soils, due to an increasing sorption capacity of SDZ to organic compounds. Clear dose‐dependent effects of SDZ on microbial biomass and PLFA pattern were determined, and SDZ effects interacted with the liquid manure application rate. Soil microbial biomass increased with incremental liquid manure addition, whereas this effect was absent in the presence of additional SDZ. However, activities of enzymes such as urease and protease were only slightly affected and basal respiration was not affected by SDZ application, while differences mostly depended on the concentration of liquid manure. These results illustrated that the microbial biomass and structural composition react more sensitive to SDZ contamination than functional processes. Furthermore, effects disproportionally increased with incremental liquid manure addition, although extractable amounts of SDZ declined with increasing liquid manure application.     

不同施肥管理措施对土壤碳含量及基础呼吸的影响

连续7年试验研究了施用15t/hm2和7.5t/hm2有机肥(包括EM堆肥、EM鸡粪肥和传统堆肥)、化肥和对照处理对土壤碳含量与基础呼吸的影响,结果表明:随有机肥施用量的提高,土壤可溶性碳、总有机碳、微生物生物量碳和土壤的基础呼吸随之增加。施用化肥可一定程度提高土壤可溶性碳、总有机碳、微生物生物量碳和土壤的基础呼吸。不同施肥措施对土壤有机碳、微生物生物量碳和土壤基础呼吸的影响趋势为EM堆肥处理>传统堆肥处理>化肥处理>对照,施肥对土壤微生物代谢商的影响趋势为EM堆肥处理<传统堆肥处理<化肥处理<对照。土壤微生物生物量碳与可溶性碳、总有机碳及土壤基础呼吸之间呈极显著正相关。土壤微生物代谢商与土壤可溶性碳、总有机碳、微生物生物量碳及基础呼吸之间呈极显著负相关。     

Microbial dynamics after adding bovine manure effluent together with a nitrification inhibitor (3,4 DMPP) in a microcosm experiment

The application of animal manure effluents in agriculture in combination with nitrification inhibitors should be beneficial for nutrient recycling, soil quality, plant productivity, and greenhouse gas emission and offer economic advantages to make them an alternative to conventional fertilizers. The present study aims to estimate the effects of the addition of bovine manure effluent alone or together with a nitrification inhibitor (3,4-dymethylpyrazol-phosphate (3,4 DMPP)) on the microbial community dynamics in a Mediterranean soil in an incubation experiment over 28 days. The application of the bovine manure effluent increased respiration, microbial biomass carbon, fungal and bacterial growth, and enzyme activities and changed the microbial community structure evaluated by the phospholipid fatty acid pattern. Adding the bovine manure effluent together with the nitrification inhibitor, although partly negating the positive effect of the effluent on soil microbial activity, still resulted in higher or similar growth and activity as in the control. Our results indicate that the addition of the nitrification inhibitor 3,4 DMPP together with a bovine manure effluent could be a promising solution to control the animal manure effluent application effects on soil microbiological properties and microbial dynamics, as well as counteracting direct inhibiting effects of 3,4 DMPP on the soil heterotrophic community.