Effects of long-term compost and fertilizer application on stability of aggregate-associated organic carbon in an intensively cultivated sandy loam soil

The study examined the influence of compost and mineral fertilizer application on the content and stability of soil organic carbon (SOC). Soil samples collected from a long-term field experiment were separated into macroaggregate, microaggregate, and silt + clay fractions by wet-sieving. The experiment involved seven treatments: compost, half-compost N plus half-fertilizer N, fertilizer NPK, fertilizer NP, fertilizer NK, fertilizer PK, and control. The 18-year application of compost increased SOC by 70.7–121.7%, and mineral fertilizer increased by 5.4–25.5%, with no significant difference between control soil and initial soil. The C mineralization rate (rate per unit dry mass) in microaggregates was 1.52–2.87 mg C kg⁻¹ day⁻¹, significantly lower than in macroaggregate and silt + clay fractions (P < 0.05). Specific C mineralization rate (rate per unit SOC) in silt + clay fraction amounted to 0.48–0.87 mg C g⁻¹ SOC day⁻¹ and was higher than in macroaggregates and microaggregates. Our data indicate that SOC in microaggregates is more stable than in macroaggregate and silt + clay fractions. Compost and mineral fertilizer application increased C mineralization rate in all aggregates compared with control. However, compost application significantly decreased specific C mineralization rate in microaggregate and silt + clay fractions by 2.6–28.2% and 21.9–25.0%, respectively (P < 0.05). By contrast, fertilizer NPK application did not affect specific C mineralization rate in microaggregates but significantly increased that in silt + clay fractions. Carbon sequestration in compost-amended soil was therefore due to improving SOC stability in microaggregate and silt + clay fractions. In contrast, fertilizer NPK application enhanced SOC with low stability in macroaggregate and silt + clay fractions.     

Influence of soil tillage systems on aggregate stability and the distribution of C and N in different aggregate fractions

Soil aggregation is influenced by the tillage system used, which in turn affects the amount of C and N in the different aggregate fractions. This study assessed the impact of different tillage systems on soil aggregates by measuring the aggregate stability, the organic carbon (C_org) and the total nitrogen (N_tot) contents within different aggregate fractions, and their release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Soil samples were collected from the top 0 to 10 cm of a long-term tillage experiment at Fuchsenbigl (Marchfeld, Austria) where conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT), and minimum tillage (MT) treatments were applied to a Chernozem fine sandy loam. The stable aggregates (1000–2000 μm) were subject to dispersion by the soil aggregate stability (SAS or wet sieving) method after Kemper and Rosenau (1986), and the ultrasonic method of Mayer et al. (2002). Chemical analysis of the soil was obtained for the aggregate fractions 630–1000, 250–630 and 63–250 μm gathered from the ultrasonic method. Using the SAS method, CT and RT had the least amounts of stable aggregates (18.2% and 18.9%, respectively), whereas MT had twice as much stable aggregates (37.6%). Using the ultrasonic method, MT also had the highest amount of water stable aggregates in all three fractions (1.5%, 3.7%, and 35%, respectively), followed by RT (1%, 2.3%, 32.3%), and CT (0.8%, 1.7%, 29.1%). For comparison, a reference soil, EUROSOIL 7 (ES-7) was also analysed (40%, 6.7%, and 12.1%). The highest amounts of C_org and N_tot were measured under MT in all three fractions, with 8.9%, 3.8%, and 1.3% for C_org, and 0.4%, 0.3%, and 0.1% for N_tot. Apart from the fraction 630–1000 μm, the aggregates of RT and CT contained <50% of the C_org and N_tot values of MT. The C/N ratio was least favourable for CT (42.6) in the aggregate fraction 630–1000 μm. The DOC release from stable aggregates after 10 min of ultrasonic dispersion was highest from MT soil (86.7 mg l⁻¹). The values for RT and CT were 21% and 25% below this value. The results demonstrate that tillage type influences both aggregate stability and aggregate chemical composition. This research confirms that CT interferes more with the natural soil properties than RT and MT. Furthermore, MT has the highest potential to sequester C and N in this agriculturally used soil.     

Aggregate associated-C and physical protection in a tropical clayey soil under Malagasy conventional and no-tillage systems

Share-ploughed tillage with residue removed (CT-R) is the traditional tillage practice in the Highlands of Madagascar. No-tillage with residue mulching (NT+R) is nowadays often used as an alternative cultivation practice. Soils (0–5 cm layer) were sampled in Spring 2003 from both management systems after 11 years of soybean–maize annual rotation on a clayey Ferralsol. Soil aggregate stability can influence soil organic carbon (SOC) storage by its protection from microbial decomposition. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content was significantly impacted by systems and crop residues derived-carbon represented 64% of the annual benefit in SOC of NT+R system. The carbon associated with soil water stable macro- (200–2000 μm), meso- (20–200 μm) and microaggregates (<20 μm) from both systems, and their physical protection was studied by an incubation experiment of intact vs. crushed aggregates. Results showed macroaggregate content was significantly higher in NT+R than in CT-R system and mesoaggregate content was significantly higher in CT-R than in NT+R. Macroaggregates associated-C were 1.8 time higher in NT+R than in CT-R (31.9 and 17.9 g C g⁻¹ soil, respectively) and made up the largest percentage (>80%) of the difference of SOC content between NT+R and CT-R systems. The amount of mineralized C over 28 days was higher in NT+R than in CT-R, and higher in meso- than in macroaggregates. However, crushing aggregates did not significantly affect the amount of mineralized C in macro- and mesoaggregates for both management systems. The macro- and mesoaggregates protected-C was lower than 54 μg g⁻¹ soil for both NT+R and CT-R systems. Hence, the physical protection of C in aggregate larger than 50 μm was not the main process of C protection in the studied systems. Thus, C protection might occur in aggregates larger or smaller than 50 μm via physico-chemical protection mechanisms by association of organic matter to clay and silt fractions, or by protection due to chemical composition.     

Evaluation of ultrasonic aggregate stability and rainfall erosion resistance of disturbed and amended soils in the Lake Tahoe Basin, USA

Application of organic soil amendments to disturbed soil has been shown to improve aggregate stability and reduce soil susceptibility to erosion. Employing ultrasonic aggregate stability assessment techniques described earlier [Fristensky, A. and Grismer, M.E., 2008. A simultaneous model for ultrasonic aggregate stability assessment. Catena, 74: 153–164.], we assess the effect of two experimental organic soil amendments – a compost and a woodchip mulch incorporated at a rate of 2000–6000 kg ha^− 1 N-equivalence – on soil aggregation and aggregate stability at four drastically disturbed sites within the Lake Tahoe Basin, USA. Experimental plots were established 1–3 years prior to testing. The soils were of granitic or volcanic origin, and disturbed by either ski run or road development. Soil treatments were observed to significantly (p < 0.05) increase both aggregation (300% average increase) and ultrasonic aggregate stability (600% average increase) relative to the untreated soil. However, at the two sites disturbed by ski run development, the control treatment (tilling and surface application of pine–needle mulch) performed comparably to the two incorporated compost treatments, suggesting that the effects of the experimental amendments on aggregation were negligible at these sites, or their effective duration was shorter than the evaluation period.Rainfall simulations (72–120 mm h^− 1) were performed on the treatment plots, and results were compared with the ultrasonic aggregate stability indices. Significant (p < 0.05) positive correlations were obtained between the measurements of aggregate instability and indices of soil susceptibility to runoff, including steady-state infiltration rate (measured values between 1 and 120 mm h^− 1), and the level of kinetic energy of applied rainfall at which runoff commences (EBR, measured values between 12 and 224 J m^− 2). However, no correlation was found between the ultrasonic aggregate stability indices and observed soil erosion variables. Interestingly, positive relationships (p < 0.05) were observed between both infiltration rate and EBR and the proportion of 2–20 μm and < 2 μm particles liberated from the largest aggregates detected in each soil. Our results suggest that ultrasonic aggregate stability indices may be useful indicators of soil susceptibility to runoff and erosion under rainfall.     

Physical properties of tsunami-affected soils in Aceh, Indonesia: 2½ years after the tsunami

On 26 December 2004, a tsunami caused extensive loss of life, damaged property and degraded agricultural land in the province of Aceh, Indonesia. While some of the associated soil chemical changes have been documented, information on soil physical properties is sparse. The objective of this study was to quantify physical properties of some tsunami-affected upland agricultural soils in Aceh, Indonesia. Soil was sampled approximately 21/2 years after the tsunami, from the 0–0.1 m, 0.1–0.3 m and 0.3–0.5 m depths in four sites in the villages of Kling Cot Aroun in Aceh Besar sub-district, Kuta Kruen in Aceh Utara sub-district, Udjong Blang Mesjid in Bireuen sub-district and Meue in Pidie Jaya sub-district on the east coast of Aceh. These sites were located within 1 km from the sea at elevations ranging from 0 to 5 m ASL. The soils were Ultisols except for Meue, which was an Entisol. Soil properties measured were bulk density, structural stability and particle size distribution. Soil water retention, pore-size distribution and saturated hydraulic conductivity were estimated by inserting the values of bulk density, clay, sand and silt contents into pedotransfer functions from the literature. The analyses conducted during this study did not permit us to ascertain what proportion of the soil particles were of tsunami-origin. Nonetheless, deposition of finer-textured material may have occurred in two of the sites. In comparison with the greyish-white, coarse textured soil in the rest of the profile, a finer-textured yellow horizon was present in the lower slopes of the Udjong Blang Mesjid site. At Meue, clay and silt contents were higher in the surface 0.3 m than in the 0.3–0.5 m depth, although a distinct horizon was absent. Particle size distribution in all sites was dominated by the sand fraction, although clay and silt contents were relatively high (20–30 g 100 g^− 1) at Kuta Kruen. Among the sand fractions, fine sand (0.02–0.25 mm) was highest at Kling Cot Aroun, Kuta Kruen and in the “yellow horizon” at Udjong Blang Mesjid, making them more prone to hardsetting and compaction after intensive tillage. Soil compaction was present in all sites with that in the “yellow horizon” at Udjong Blang Mesjid being highest. The relatively low porosity in this layer may be beneficial, as it is likely to reduce the high rates of water drainage and nutrient leaching in this sandy soil. The more compacted soils were characterised by higher numbers of micropores (r, pore radius < 4.3 μm), lower water retention at saturation, smaller numbers of macropores (r > 14.3 μm), lower hydraulic conductivity and intensive gleying, indicating frequent waterlogging. The soils in all depths from Kling Cot Aroun and the “yellow horizon” at Udjong Blang Mesjid were very dispersive, that at Meue moderately dispersive in the 0.3–0.5 m depth but stable in the 0–0.1 m depth, and at Kuta Kruen very stable in all depths. Soil physical degradation was a feature of the soils examined, and its amelioration will be the key to improving and sustaining crop yields in these soils. Possible management interventions include organic amendments such as compost or manure, and minimum tillage options such permanent beds or zero tillage with retention of crop residues as in situ mulch together with suitable cover crops.     

Soil organic carbon changes in particle-size fractions following cultivation of Black soils in China

Soil texture can be an important control on soil organic carbon (SOC) retention and dynamics. The (clay + silt)-sized SOC pool (SOC < 20 μm) in non-cultivated or grassland soils has been proposed to reach an equilibrium or maximum level named protective capacity. Proper knowledge of SOC in this size fraction in non-cultivated and cultivated Black soils is important to evaluate management-induced changes in SOC in NE China. Twenty-seven paired soil samples (non-cultivated vs. cultivated) were collected in the Black soil zone in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces. Bulk soil was dispersed in water with an ultrasonic probe and then soil size fractions were collected using the pipette technique for SOC analyses. Soil organic carbon in bulk soil and size fractions was measured by dry combustion. Average content of SOC < 20 μm was 23.2 g C kg⁻¹ at the 0–30 cm depth for the non-cultivated soils, accounting for 75.1% of the total SOC at the same depth. There was significant positive relationship between soil clay plus silt content and SOC < 20 μm in non-cultivated soils. Accordingly, a model of the maximum SOC < 20 μm in 0–30 cm depth of non-cultivated Black soils was developed: y = 0.36x where y is the maximum SOC < 20 μm pool (g C kg⁻¹) and x is the percentage of clay + silt (<20 μm) content. The average content of SOC < 20 μm was 18.7 g C kg⁻¹ at 0–30 cm depth for cultivated soils, accounting for 81.5% of total SOC. This average value of SOC was 4.4 g C kg⁻¹ less than the maximum value (23.1 g C kg⁻¹) and accounted for 55.0% of the difference of SOC between non-cultivated and cultivated Black soils. Cultivation resulted in 45.0% loss of sand-sized (>20 μm) SOC concentration relative to SOC < 20 μm. This result indicates that SOC < 20 μm and sand-sized SOC both play important roles in SOC dynamics resulting from management practices. This model can be applied to calculate the actual potential to restore SOC for cultivated Black soils under conservation tillage in NE China.     

Storage and dynamics of carbon and nitrogen in soil physical fractions following woody plant invasion of grassland

Woody plant invasion of grasslands is prevalent worldwide. In the Rio Grande Plains of Texas, subtropical thorn woodlands dominated by C₃ trees/shrubs have been replacing C₄ grasslands over the past 150 yr, resulting in increased soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and concomitant increases in soil total nitrogen (STN). To elucidate mechanisms of change in SOC and STN, we separated soil organic matter into specific size/density fractions and determined the concentration of C and N in these fractions. Soils were collected from remnant grasslands (Time 0) and woody plant stands (ages 10-130 yr). Rates of whole-soil C and N accrual in the upper 15 cm of the soil profile averaged 10-30 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ and 1-3 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹, respectively, over the past 130 yr of woodland development. These rates of accumulation have increased soil C and N stocks in older wooded areas by 100-500% relative to remnant grasslands. Probable causes of these increased pool sizes include higher rates of organic matter production in wooded areas, greater inherent biochemical resistance of woody litter to decomposition, and protection of organic matter by stabilization within soil macro- and microaggregates. The mass proportions of the free light fraction (<1.0 g cm⁻³) and macroaggregate fraction (>250 μm) increased linearly with time following woody plant invasion of grassland. Conversely, the mass proportions of free microaggregate (53-250 μm) and free silt+clay (<53 μm) fractions decreased linearly with time after woody invasion, likely reflecting stabilization of these fractions within macroaggregate structures. Carbon and N concentrations increased in all soil fractions with time following woody invasion. Approximately half of the C and N accumulated in free particulate organic matter (POM) fractions, while the remainder accrued in stable macro- and microaggregate structures. Soil C/N ratios indicated that the organic C associated with POM and macroaggregates was of more recent origin (less decomposed) than C associated with the microaggregate and silt+clay fractions. Because grassland-to-woodland conversion has been geographically extensive in grassland ecosystems worldwide during the past century, changes in soil C and N storage and dynamics documented here could have significance for global cycles of those elements.     

Distribution of two C cycle enzymes in soil aggregates of a prairie chronosequence

Knowledge of the cycling and compartmentalization of soil C that influence C storage may lead to the development of strategies to increase soil C storage potentials. The objective of this study was to use soil hydrolases and soil aggregate fractionation to explore the relationship between C cycling activity and soil aggregate structure. The prairie chronosequence soils were native prairie (NP) and agricultural (AG) and tallgrass prairies restored from agriculture in 1979 (RP-79) and 1993 (RP-93). Assays for -glucosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.21) and N-acetyl--glucosaminidase (NAGase, EC 3.2.1.30) activities were conducted on four aggregate size fractions (>2 mm, 1–2 mm, 250 m–1 mm, and 2–250 m) from each soil. There were significantly greater amounts of >2-mm aggregates in the RP-79 and RP-93 soils compared to the NP and AG soils due to rapid C accumulation from native plant establishment. Activities for both enzymes (g PNP g^–1 soil h^–1) were greatest in the microaggregate (2–250 m) compared to the macroaggregate (>2 mm) fraction; however, microaggregates are a small proportion of each soil (<12%) compared to the macroaggregates (75%). The RP soils have a hierarchical aggregate system with most of the enzyme activity in the largest aggregate fractions. The NP and AG soils show no hierarchical structure based on aggregate C accretion and significant C enzyme activity in smaller aggregates. The distribution of enzyme activity may play a role in the storage of C whereby the aggrading restored soils may be more susceptible to C loss during turnover of macroaggregates compared to the AG and NP soils with less macroaggregates.     

The influence of freeze–thaw cycles and soil moisture on aggregate stability of three soils in Norway

Winter conditions with seasonally frozen soils may have profound effects on soil structure and erodibility, and consequently for runoff and erosion. Such effects on aggregate stability are poorly documented for Nordic winter conditions. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of variable freeze–thaw cycles and soil moisture conditions on aggregate stability of three soils (silt, structured clay loam—clay A and levelled silty clay loam—clay B), which are representative of two erosion prone areas in southeastern Norway. A second purpose was to compare aggregate stabilities measured by the Norwegian standard procedure (rainfall simulator) and the more widely used wet-sieving procedure. Surface soil was sampled in autumn. Field moist soil was sieved into the fraction 1–4 mm and packed into cylinders. The water content of the soil was adjusted, corresponding to matric potentials of − 0.75, − 2 and − 10 kPa. The soil cores were insulated and covered, and subjected to 0, 1, 3 or 6 freeze–thaw cycles: freezing at − 15 °C for 24 h and thawing at 9 °C for 48 h. Aggregate stability was measured in a rainfall simulator (all soils) and a wet-sieving apparatus (silt and clay B). The rainfall stability of silt was found to be significantly lower than of clay A and clay B. Clay A and clay B had similar rainfall stabilities, even though it was expected that the artificially levelled clay B would have lower stability. Freezing and thawing decreased the rainfall stability of all soils, but the effect was more severe on the silt soil. There was no evident effect of water content on the stability, probably due to experimental limitations. The same effects were observed for wet-sieved soil, but the wet-sieving resulted in less aggregate breakdown than the rainfall simulator. Rainfall impact seemed to be more detrimental than wet-sieving on more unstable soil, that is, on silt soil and soil subjected to many freeze–thaw cycles. Such conditions are expected to occur frequently during field conditions in unstable winters.     

Sedimentary aggregates in the Peoria Loess of Nebraska, USA

Loess grain size data used to infer transport direction or wind strength are generally derived from vigorously disaggregated samples. However, these data may not adequately represent the effective particle size distribution during loess transport, if the transported dust contained aggregates of fine-grained material. Thin sections of minimally altered C and BC horizons in the late Pleistocene Peoria Loess of Nebraska, USA, indicate the presence of aggregates with diameters of 30–1000 μm. The larger aggregates (>250 μm) are unlikely to have been transported, and are interpreted as the result of soil faunal activity and other pedogenic processes after deposition. Aggregates smaller than 250 μm could have a similar origin, but laser diffraction particle size analysis suggests that many are sedimentary particles. Comparison of minimally and fully dispersed particle size distributions from each sampling site was used to estimate the modal diameter of aggregates. The aggregate modal diameter becomes finer with decreasing loess thickness, representing increasing distance from the source. A similar trend was observed in the modal diameter of fully dispersed particle size distributions, which represents the mode of sand and silt transported as individual grains. We interpret both trends as the result of sorting during transport, supporting the interpretation that many of the aggregates were transported rather than formed in place. Aggregate content appears to increase with distance from the source, explaining a much more rapid downwind increase in clay content than would be expected if clay were transported as particles smaller than 2 μm diameter. Although the Peoria Loess of Nebraska contains sedimentary aggregates, many of the coarse silt and sand grains in this loess were transported as primary particles, were thoroughly exposed to sunlight and are potentially well suited for luminescence dating.     

Effect of straw and plastic film management under contrasting tillage practices on the physical properties of an erodible loess soil

The current cropping system of excessive tillage and stubble removal in the northwestern Loess Plateau of China is clearly unsustainable. A better understanding of tillage and surface cover management on surface soil structure is vital for the development of effective soil conservation practices in the long term. Changes in surface soil structure and hydraulic properties were measured after 4 years of straw and plastic film management under contrasting tillage practices (no tillage vs. conventional tillage) in a silt loam soil (Los Orthic Entisol) which had been under conventional management for hundred of years in the northwestern Loess Plateau, China. Surface soil (0–10 cm) under no tillage with straw cover had the highest water stability of macro-aggregates (>250 μm) and the highest saturated hydraulic conductivity. Compared with straw cover, plastic film cover did not change macro-aggregate stability and the soil had the lowest saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) but the highest % <50 μm soil particles. Significant correlation was found between water stable macro-aggregates and soil organic carbon content, indication the importance of the latter on soil structural development. No tillage on its own (without straw cover) was not sufficient to improve structural stability probably due to lack of organic carbon input. While use of plastic film cover might lead to short term yield increases, results indicated that it did little to improve soil physical fertility. On the other hand, no tillage with straw cover management should lead to long-term improvement of physical quality of this structurally fragile soil.     

Variation of intra‐aggregate organic carbon affects aggregate formation and stability during organic manure fertilization in a fluvo‐aquic soil

The aggregate formation and stability are controlled by the dynamics of soil organic matters (SOM), but how it is related to SOM chemical composition within different‐sized aggregates is largely unknown during manure fertilization. In this study, the variations of intra‐aggregate organic carbon (OC), including intra‐particulate organic matter (iPOM) and mineral‐associated organic matter, were quantitatively and qualitatively analysed, and then, their effects on aggregate formation and stability were assessed under four treatments: control (CK), mineral fertilizer (NPK), reduced manure (30%M) and manure fertilizers (M). Manure application (M) significantly increased macroaggregate proportion, mean weight diameter (MWD), and OC contents within different‐sized aggregates compared to CK, NPK, and 30%M. The OC accumulation of macroaggregate in M was attributed to OC content increase in silt plus clay subfraction rather than iPOM with more labile organic groups; oppositely, in microaggregate it was located in the relatively stable fine iPOM. The macroaggregate formation and stability were controlled by the fine iPOM within macroaggregates, whose abundant polysaccharide‐C and aliphatic‐C after manure fertilization advanced the microbial growth except for Gram‐positive bacteria, which further promoted macroaggregate formation and stability. The free silt plus clay fraction also affected macroaggregate formation and stability, and its polysaccharide‐C derived from microorganisms or decomposing SOM was positively associated with MWD and macroaggregate proportion. Because polysaccharide‐C can be easily associated with mineral particles, further improving micro‐ or macroaggregation. We conclude that continuous manure fertilization could increase labile SOM accumulation within aggregates and then facilitate microbial growth, which collectively are responsible for aggregate formation and stabilization.     

Soil porous system changes quantified by analyzing soil water retention curve modifications

Soil water retention curves (SWRCs) relate soil water pressure head (h) to soil water content (θ) and can also be used to find information regarding soil pore distribution. To analyze SWRCs in relation to pore size distribution (PSD), changes due to wetting and drying (W–D) cycles were studied in three different tropical soils (Geric Ferralsol, GF; Eutric Nitosol, EN; Rhodic Ferralsol, RF), using three different treatments: T₀, the control with samples not submitted to W–D cycles; T₃, samples submitted to three consecutive W–D cycles; T₉, samples submitted to nine consecutive W–D cycles. Log-normal PSD equations for each treatment were obtained using the S-theory. For the GF soil, the pressure heads separating structural and matrix domains (h_s) were 17.7, 12.2 and 14.7 kPa for T₀, T₃, and T₉, respectively. These values are equivalent to pore radia of 8.4 μm (T₀), 12 μm (T₃), and 10 μm (T₉). For the RF soil, h_s values were 8.5 kPa (T₀), 20.5 kPa (T₃), and 15.1 kPa (T₉), equivalent to radia of 18 μm (T₀), 7.3 μm (T₃), and 9.9 μm (T₉); and finally, for the EN soil, h_s were 18.1 kPa (T₀), 9.1 kPa (T₃), and 13.5 kPa (T₉), equivalent to radia of 8.2 μm (T₀), 16 μm (T₃), and 11 μm (T₉). It was found that the soil structure presented important changes in PSD due to W–D cycles for all the investigated soils. It was also observed that the W–D cycles increased the S_inf (slope of SWRC) value for the GF soil for all treatments; S_inf did not substantially change in all treatments for the EN soil; S_inf decreased between T₀ and T₃, and T₀ and T₉ for the RF soil. According to the S-theory, it is possible to infer that W–D cycles improved the soil structure of GF, made the RF soil structure worse and did not substantially change the EN soil structure.     

Mineral-fixed ammonium in clay- and silt-size fractions of soils incubated with 15N-ammonium sulphate for five years

Summary Four soils with 6, 12, 23, and 47% of clay were incubated for 5 years with ¹⁵N-labeled (NH_{4 2}SO₄ and hemicellulose. The incubations took place at 20°C and 55% water-holding capacity. Samples of whole soils, and clay- (<2 m) and silt-(2–20 m) size fractions (isolated by ultrasonic dispersion and gravity sedimentation) were analysed for labeled and native mineral-fixed ammonium. Mineral-fixed ammonium in non-incubated soil samples accounted for 3.4%–8.3% of the total N and showed a close positive correlation with the soil clay content (r ² = 0.997). After 5 years of incubation, the content of mineral-fixed ammonium in the clay fraction was 255–430 g N g^–1, corresponding to 71%–82% of the mineral-fixed ammonium in whole soils. Values for silt were 72–166 g N g^–1 (14%–33% of whole soil content). In the soils with 6% and 12% clay, less than 1 % of the labeled clay N was present as mineral-fixed ammonium. In the soil with 23% clay, 3% of the labeled N in the clay was mineral-fixed ammonium. Labeled mineral-fixed ammonium was not detected in the silt fractions. For whole soils, and clay and silt fractions, the proportion of native N present as mineral-fixed ammonium varied between 3% and 6%. In contrast, the proportion of labeled N found as mineral-fixed ammonium in the soil with 4701o clay was 23%, 38% and 31% for clay, silt, and whole-soil samples, respectively. Corresponding values for native mineral-fixed ammonium were 12%, 16%, and 10%. Consequently, studies based on soil particle-size fractions and addressing the N turnover in clay-rich soils should consider the pool of mineral-fixed ammonium, especially when comparing results from different size fractions with those from fractions isolated from soils of a widely different textural composition.     

Particle size fractionation of fungal and bacterial biomass in subalpine grassland and forest soils

Characterization of soil aggregates according to particle size fractions is a useful tool in process-oriented research into soil organic matter and biological properties. Substrate-induced respiration (SIR) inhibition was used to quantify microbial, fungal and bacterial biomass in particle size fractions of soils ranging from forest to grassland in a subalpine region of central Taiwan. In addition, ergosterol content was determined in the same samples to verify fungal biomass measured by SIR inhibition technique. Surface soil (0–10 cm) was fractionated into four particle size fractions: coarse sand (250–2000 μm), fine sand (53–250 μm), silt (2–53 μm) and clay (0.2–2 μm). The larger sized fractions (>250 μm and 53–250 μm) contained higher levels of fungal ergosterol than the smaller sized ones (2–53 μm and 0.2–2 μm). The largest particle size fraction (250–2000 μm) from all studied habitats showed the highest level of microbial biomass, with no clear trend in microbial biomass level among the other size fractions. SIR-calculated fungal biomass level and ergosterol converted fungal biomass content were positively correlated (r=0.71, p<0.05), and such correlation decreased as biomass levels were high. Ratios of fungi to bacteria ranged between 0.6 and 1.3 in fractions obtained in this study. This study indicates a high variability of microbial (fungal and bacterial) biomass level among particle size fractions in soil, and that the large-sized fractions tend to contain a high level of microbial biomass in a given ecosystem.     

咸水灌溉对麦—玉两熟制农田土壤水稳性团聚体的影响

为探明咸水灌溉对麦—玉两熟轮作农田土壤团聚体的影响效应,在长期定位咸水灌溉试验(始于2006年)的基础上,研究了不同矿化度咸水连续灌溉第13~14年农田土壤盐分(EC e)及水稳性团聚体分布和稳定性指标的变化规律。试验设置5个灌溉水矿化度处理,分别为1,2,4,6,8 g/L。结果表明,0—40 cm土层土壤EC e随灌溉水矿化度增加而增大,4,6,8 g/L灌水处理与1 g/L处理间差异达显著水平。咸水灌溉改变土壤水稳性团聚体的粒级分布,灌溉水矿化度≤4 g/L时,0—40 cm土壤水稳性团聚体以大团聚体(>0.25 mm)为优势粒级,随灌溉水矿化度增加,大团聚体质量分数降低,微团聚体(0.053~0.25 mm)和粉+黏团聚体(<0.053 mm)质量分数增大,当灌溉水矿化度达到6 g/L时,粉+黏团聚体占比最大。咸水灌溉降低土壤水稳性团聚体的稳定性,随灌溉水矿化度的增加,土壤团聚体平均重量直径和几何平均直径减小,分形维数增大,但2 g/L与1 g/L灌水处理间无显著差异。在该研究灌溉制度下,≥4 g/L咸水灌溉显著增加土壤盐分,破坏土壤团粒结构,应谨慎使用。     

水稻土物理性质空间变异性研究

本文应用时间序列分析方法和随机统计理论研究了水稻土物理性质田间实际观测值的变异特性,着重讨论了它们在二维平面上的空间变异结构。结果表明,各项性质在田间的变异和分布不是完全随机的,在一定的范围内,各测点的观测值之间存在着空间相关现象。因此,根据统计学原理,土壤观测样点的选取,除了需有合适的数目以外,还应确定观测点的合适大小以及观测点之间的合适间距。同时,本文通过土壤大团聚体含量变异原因的分析,表明了各性质的变异是相互关联、相互作用的。对以空间变异结构为基础的Kriging内插技术作了初步的尝试,取得了较好的效果,其內插精度比趋势面法有明显提高,内插值与真值之间的方差平均降低了32%。     

Assessing spatial variability of soil enzyme activities in pasture topsoils using geostatistics

The purpose of this study was to assess the spatial variability of the activity of three hydrolytic enzymes, i.e. urease activity (UAc), alkaline phosphatase activity (APAc), and arylsulfatase activity (ASAc), in pasture topsoils using geostatistics. Enzyme activities along a transect in a 1.35-ha pasture were determined using 77 soil samples from the upper 20 cm of soil. UAc varied from 101.0 to 182.7 μg N g⁻¹ soil h⁻¹; APAc varied from 1.56 to 3.62 μg p-nitrophenol g⁻¹ soil h⁻¹; and ASAc varied from 1.50 to 3.26 μg p-nitrophenol g⁻¹ soil h⁻¹. The linear models fit the best semivariogram models for UAc, APAc, and ASAc. Semivariograms for enzyme activities exhibited spatial dependence with ranges of influence of approximately 124.7 m.     

Seasonal changes in surface aggregate stability under different tillage and crops

Temporal changes in the surface aggregate stability of an Oxic Paleustalf under different tillage practices (direct drilled/stubble retained versus conventional cultivated/stubble burnt) and under different crops (wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) versus lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.)) were monitored at a 10-year-old rotation site in Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., Australia.

Seasonal fluctuations in aggregate stability were observed under all treatments and were greater than the differences detected between the different tillage and cropping treatments. The seasonal variation was significantly related to the soil water content at the time of sampling and the lowest stability occurred during the autumn/winter period. Cropping under direct drilling and stubble retention resulted in significantly higher stability and lower seasonal fluctuations in stability than under conventional tillage and stubble burning. Despite the seasonal fluctuation, water stability over the season of both of the macroaggregate (more than 250 μm) and microaggregate (less than 50 μm) fractions increased significantly.

While the mean (temporal) stability of the different treatments was significantly related to the mean organic carbon content (r = 0.91) and polysaccharide content, the temporal changes were not related to the soil organic carbon content nor the living root length density.

Lupin had a more beneficial effect on promoting macroaggregate stability than wheat under the conventional tillage/stubble burnt treatment but no significant difference was found under the direct drilled/stubble retained treatment.     

Water-drop stability of PVA-treated natural soil aggregates from different land uses

Soil erodibility is a function of land use as it affects the stability of soil aggregates. The use of soil conditioners like polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) may help in reducing the soil erodibility, but it is important to economize the use of PVA. A study was carried out to evaluate the interactive effects of land use and PVA concentration on the water-drop stability of natural soil aggregates collected from eroded, forest, agricultural and grass lands. The water-drop stability of these aggregates was monitored using single raindrop simulator. The water-drop stability was lowest in eroded soils, followed by soils from agriculture, forest and grass lands. The smaller aggregates were more stable than the bigger ones. The water-drop stability of aggregates of different sizes and from different lands increased with the application of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The mean water-drop stability increased with the application of PVA at the rate of 0.05% by 40% in 2–5 and 5–10 mm aggregates. Increasing the PVA concentration to 0.1 and 0.2% increased water-drop stability value by 71–73% and 87–88%, respectively. The PVA application at the rate of 0.1% could increase the water-drop stability of soils under eroded land equivalent to that of the untreated grassland soils.