不同热解温度茶渣生物质炭对茶园土壤吸附解吸NH4-N的影响

生物质炭对铵根的吸附解吸影响着土壤的固氮效果,为探讨茶渣生物质炭对茶园土吸附—解吸NH_4~+—N性能的影响,减少土壤中氮素的淋失,提高氮素利用效率,通过模拟培养试验,采用平衡吸附法及HCL解吸法,研究了不同热解温度下制备的茶渣生物质炭在不同添加比例(0.35%,0.70%,1.40%,2.80%)下,茶园土对NH_4~+—N吸附解吸的特性。结果表明:施用生物质炭能有效增强茶园土对NH_4~+—N的吸附,并随生物质炭添加量的增加而增强。同一生物质炭添加量下,4种生物质炭处理下茶园土对NH_4~+—N的吸附量大小表现为BC400BC300BC500BC600。生物质炭的CEC含量是影响土壤吸附NH_4~+—N能力的主要因素。土壤对NH_4~+—N的吸附过程均以Langmuir方程拟合达到显著水平(0.953 7R~20.995 5),以单层吸附为主。施用生物质炭后,土壤产生了解吸滞后,有效降低了茶园土对NH_4~+—N的解吸率,BC400的解吸率最低。茶渣生物质炭能够增强土壤对NH_4~+—N的吸附,降低对NH_4~+—N的解吸,有利于提高土壤对氮素的吸持能力,其中BC400,2.80%处理下效果最佳。     

不同温度玉米秸秆生物炭对萘的吸附动力学特征与机理

通过批平衡实验,研究不同剂量热解温度(300、400、500、600℃,记作C300、C400、C500、C600)玉米秸秆生物炭对萘的吸附动力学特征与机理。同一热解温度下生物炭投加剂量为10 mg时对萘的平衡吸附量大于50 mg。热解温度对生物炭吸附萘的影响也不同,投加剂量为10 mg时,萘的平衡吸附量为C400C300C600C500;剂量为50 mg时,C300、C400和C600的平衡吸附量相近,而C500的平衡吸附量最低。生物炭对萘的吸附动力学数据随时间的变化可以用假二级动力学方程很好地拟合,表明生物炭对萘的吸附是复杂的,并不是单一的单层吸附。用颗粒内扩散模型和Boyd模型分析,发现液膜扩散以及颗粒内扩散均影响吸附过程,且液膜扩散为限速因素。     

热裂解温度对生物质炭吸附解吸Cd~(2+)行为的影响

以玉米秸秆、水稻秸秆、稻壳为原料分别在350℃、450℃、550℃、650℃热裂解温度下制备玉米秸秆炭(MSB)、水稻秸秆炭(RSB)和稻壳炭(RHB),比较不同热裂解温度下三种生物质炭对溶液中重金属离子Cd~(2+)的吸附解吸特性。利用准一级、准二级和颗粒内扩散模型对吸附过程进行拟合,结果表明三种生物质炭对Cd~(2+)的吸附满足颗粒内扩散方程。随着热裂解温度的升高,同一种原料制备的生物质炭达到吸附平衡的时间缩短。Langmuir方程和Freundlich方程拟合结果显示,三种生物质炭对溶液中Cd~(2+)的吸附更符合Langmuir方程。单位数量的RSB在一定浓度Cd~(2+)溶液中对Cd~(2+)的吸附量显著高于MSB和RHB。三种生物质炭对Cd~(2+)的吸附量随制备生物质炭的热裂解温度的升高而降低。三种生物质炭中玉米秸秆炭的解吸率最小。因此评价生物质炭对溶液中重金属的去除效果需要考虑原料、热裂解温度等多种因素的影响。     

小麦秸秆生物炭对高氯代苯的吸附过程与机制研究

以小麦秸秆为原料,分别在三种温度(400℃、500℃、600℃)下制备小麦秸秆生物炭,并标记为WSB400、WSB500、WSB600。分析了秸秆炭的元素组成,表征了其结构和表面特征,研究了秸秆炭对五氯苯和六氯苯的吸附动力学和吸附等温线。结果表明,升温热解使得小麦秸秆有机组分炭化、极性官能团消除,炭化程度增强;三种秸秆炭均可快速高效地吸附高氯代苯,且对六氯苯的吸附要快于五氯苯,假二级动力学方程能更好地拟合秸秆炭对氯苯的吸附动力学过程;不同秸秆炭对氯苯的饱和吸附量大小顺序为WSB400WSB500WSB600;对吸附等温线进行分析可得,随着秸秆炭制备温度的升高,其对氯苯的吸附等温曲线由线性变为非线性,吸附机理则由以分配作用为主过渡到分配作用与表面吸附共同作用。     

刺桐生物炭对水中氨氮和磷的吸附

本研究以园林绿化废弃物刺桐为原料,在不同的热解温度下(300、500、700℃)制备生物炭,用动力学方程和等温吸附方程分别拟合生物炭对氨氮和磷的吸附性能。等温吸附方程拟合结果表明:生物炭对水中氨氮和磷的吸附量均随着氨氮和磷的初始浓度的增加而增大,且均能较好地拟合Langmuir吸附方程,且BC500吸附效果最好;动力学方程拟合结果表明:不同热解温度下得到的生物炭对氨氮和磷的吸附速率较快的过程分别发生在最初的300 min和60 min内,且均能较好地拟合准二级动力学方程;此外,生物炭对不同初始p H下对氨氮和磷溶液的吸附效果分别为p H7p H11p H3和p H11p H7p H3。     

不同温度花生壳生物炭孔隙特征及其差异

为评价花生壳生物炭农业与环境领域应用价值与潜力,该研究分别在100~800℃条件下制备花生壳生物炭,测定其孔隙参数,以期了解花生壳生物炭在不同热解温度条件下的孔结构变化规律。结果表明,在100~500℃条件下制备的花生壳生物炭以中孔和大孔为主,其吸附解析等温线为Ⅱ类吸附等温线,迟滞回线属于H3型,孔隙结构主要由狭缝孔构成;600~800℃条件下制备的生物炭以微孔为主,其吸附解析等温线为Ⅰ类吸附等温线,迟滞回线属于H4型,孔隙结构主要是锥形孔。当热解温度从100℃上升至600℃过程中,BET比表面积、比孔容均呈上升趋势,同时t-Plot微孔比表面积、t-Plot微孔孔容、中孔比表面积、中孔孔容也均在600℃时基本达到最高水平。花生壳生物炭的孔径分布随温度的变化非常明显,孔峰主要在3~5 nm处,100~600℃条件下峰值表现为升高趋势,600~800℃条件下峰值逐渐降低,与比表面积分布图结果相一致。花生壳生物炭孔隙表面分形维数D1和体积分形维数D2均在600~800℃条件下水平较高,高热解温度导致孔隙结构的复杂程度有所增加,生物炭表面更加粗糙。根据花生壳生物炭在不同热解温度条件下的孔结构变化规律,为花生壳生物炭制备及应用提供参考依据,有利于实现花生壳综合高效利用。     

木屑生物质炭对水中阿特拉津、多菌灵和啶虫脒复合农药的吸附性能研究

选取木屑为原材料，在500、700℃下制备生物质炭(标记为MX500和MX700)，试验考察了溶液初始pH和生物质炭投加量对其吸附性能的影响，并利用吸附动力学、吸附等温线以及傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)等手段，研究了木屑生物质炭对水溶液中3种不同类型的典型常用农药阿特拉津(ATR)、多菌灵(CAR)和啶虫脒(ACE)的吸附特性及吸附机理。结果表明：热解温度700℃，pH 3.0，生物质炭投加量为2.0 g/L时，木屑生物质炭对3种农药的联合吸附效果最好。MX700对ATR、CAR和ACE的最大吸附量分别为40.2、50.4和44.9 μg/g，约为MX500的1.4倍 ~ 2.2倍。吸附动力学和吸附等温线结果显示，准二级动力学方程、颗粒内扩散方程和Langmuir方程能较好地拟合吸附过程。FTIR结果显示，木屑生物质炭主要通过酚羟基和羧基等含氧官能团以及芳香环结构去除水中ATR、CAR和ACE。木屑生物质炭对农药的吸附机理包括静电作用力、氢键作用力及π-π键相互作用力。在100 μg/L浓度下，木屑生物质炭对ATR、CAR和ACE复合农药的吸附效果和机理与农药单体类似。综上，木屑生物质炭作为复合农药污染水体净化的吸附剂具有较大的应用潜力。     

无轴螺旋连续热解装置上的生物质热解特性

连续热解是一种高效的生物质能转化技术,无轴螺旋式连续热解装置不仅可减轻送料部件的质量,而且为热解挥发性产物的排出提供了有效空间,是极具发展前景的连续热解装置。为了解无轴螺旋式生物质连续热解特性,该文在无轴螺旋连续热解装置上,开展了以稻壳、花生壳和木薯茎秆为生物质原料的热解试验,分析了3种生物质在不同热解温度下的三态产物分布特性、热解气体组分变化规律及热解炭的组织结构和表面形貌特征。结果表明:炭产率随热解温度升高逐渐下降,气体产率逐渐上升,液体产率先上升再下降,在450℃时达到最大,产物分布特性与其他热解反应器的一致;不同原料炭产率由高到低依次为:稻壳花生壳木薯茎秆,液体产率由高到低依次为:稻壳花生壳木薯茎秆,气体产率与液体产率相反。热解气体组分受温度影响较大,热解温度升高,可燃气体组分含量不断上升,不可燃气体组分含量不断下降,不同原料对气体组分含量影响较小。热解炭的工业分析结果与原料的工业分析结果存在相关性,热解温度升高,热解炭中挥发分含量逐渐下降,固定碳及灰分含量增加,木薯茎秆炭的挥发分含量最高,花生壳炭的固定碳含量最高,稻壳炭的灰分含量最高;低温热解炭的表面官能团较为丰富,随热解温度升高官能团种类逐渐减少;原料自身结构特性对热解炭的表面形貌影响较大,随着热解温度升高,生物质原料的表面结构不断被破坏,热解炭表面出现孔隙结构,花生壳炭与木薯茎秆炭表面孔隙结构比稻壳炭更为发达。     

水稻秸秆生物质炭对土壤磷吸附影响的研究

以水稻秸秆为原料,分析了不同热解温度下所制备的生物质炭的性质,并采用批处理法,分析了生物质炭添加量和不同热解温度制备的生物质炭对土壤磷吸附特性的影响。结果表明:随着热解温度的升高,生物质炭的碳化程度、比表面积和磷含量增加。添加生物质炭显著减少了土壤对磷的吸附量,而且随着生物质炭热解温度的增加,土壤对磷的吸附量显著增加。Langmuir方程和Freundlich方程都能够较好地拟合添加生物质炭土壤的磷等温吸附曲线。准一级动力学方程和准二级动力学方程可较好地描述添加生物质炭土壤的磷吸附动力学行为。通过以上研究结果可知,水稻秸秆生物质炭可以减少土壤对磷的吸附并增加土壤有效磷的含量,因此在土壤磷肥肥效改良方面具有一定的应用潜力。     

热解温度对玉米秸秆炭产率及理化特性的影响

【目的】通过对不同热解温度条件下玉米秸秆炭理化特性的分析,探索玉米秸秆炭具有较高利用价值的炭化温度。【方法】以玉米秸秆为原料,采用低氧升温炭化法,在不同热解温度下 (100℃、200℃、300℃、400℃、500℃、600℃、700℃、800℃) 分别炭化2 h,制备生物炭,收集并测定了固体产物生物炭产率及特性。【结果】生物炭的产率随热解温度的升高逐渐降低。生物炭全碳含量和碳氮比随热解温度升高而升高,全氮含量在400℃以后随热解温度升高而降低。阳离子交换量 (CEC) 在400℃～600℃达到较高水平,为70.87～83.48 cmol/kg。随热解温度升高,玉米秸秆炭表面碱性含氧官能团增加、酸性含氧官能团减少,pH随着热解温度的升高逐渐增加,当温度达到400℃及400℃以上时呈碱性甚至强碱性。红外光谱分析表明,热解温度达到500℃时,纤维素和半纤维素已经完全分解;高温热解使玉米秸秆中–CH₃、–CH₂、–OH、–C=O间发生缔合或消除,促进芳香基团的形成。随着热解温度的升高,玉米秸秆炭的比表面积和比孔容均是先变大后变小,孔径先变小后变大,在400℃～600℃条件下,玉米秸秆炭的孔隙相对较为丰富,不同热解温度下玉米秸秆炭的比表面积和比孔容呈极显著正相关关系(P < 0.01)。【结论】综合各项指标,玉米秸秆的最佳热解温度为400℃～500℃,此温度下制备的生物炭产出率相对较高,氮、碳养分损失少,生物炭的理化性能和养分利用均达到最优。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.