Degradation of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin in decomposing spruce needle litter in relation to N

Decomposing needles from a Norway spruce forest in southern Sweden were studied for 559 days under laboratory conditions. Falling needles were collected in control (Co) plots and plots that had received 100 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ as (NH₄)₂SO₄ for 9 years under field conditions. One of the aims was to determine whether the previously documented low decomposition rate of the N fertilized (NS) needles could be explained by a lower degradation degree of lignin. The lignin content was studied using the alkaline CuO oxidation method, the Klason lignin method and CPMAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The amounts of cellulose and hemicellulose were also determined.The fertilized needle litters initially decomposed faster than the unfertilized, but later this reaction reversed, so that at the end the mass loss was 45% initial C in the control and 35% initial C in NS. Klason lignin decreased with time in both treatments and overall, the change of Klason lignin mirrored the litter mass loss. No major difference as regards the decomposition of hemicellulose occurred between the treatments, whereas significantly lower concentrations of cellulose were found in NS needles throughout the incubation. The CuO derived compounds (VSC) were somewhat lower in NS needles throughout the decomposition time. Initially, VSC increased slightly in both treatments, which contradicts the Klason lignin data. There was a weak positive relationship (p>0.05) between VSC and Klason lignin. Both vanillyls compounds (V) and cinnamyl compounds (Ci) increased slightly during decomposition, whereas syringyl compounds (S) vanished entirely. The lignin degradation degree, i.e. the acid-to-aldehyde ratio of the vanillyl compounds expressed as (Ac/Al)_v, showed no significant effect of treatment. The ¹³C NMR analyses of the combined samples showed increased content of aromatic C with increasing decomposition time. The carbohydrate content (O-alkyl C) was lower in the fertilized needle litter throughout the incubation time. The alkyl C content tended to increase with decomposition time and N fertilization. The alkyl C/O-alkyl C ratios increased in both treatments during the incubation. The NMR results were not tested statistically.In conclusion, no major difference concerning lignin degradation could be found between the unfertilized and N fertilized needle litter. Thus, the study contradicts the hypothesis that higher amounts of N reduce lignin degradation. The reduced biological activity is probably due to direct N effects on the microorganisms and their decomposing ability.     

Long-term N addition effects on the C mineralization and DOC production in mor humus under spruce

This study was based on laboratory incubations of mor humus from two N fertilized stands of Norway spruce in Sweden (Skogaby and Stråsan), which had received repeated N additions (100 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ as (NH₄)₂SO₄ at Skogaby and 35, 73 and 108 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ as NH₄NO₃ at Stråsan) during 8 and 24-29 years, respectively. The aim was to investigate long-term N effects on the mineralization of C and production of DOC. Mor humus (Oe and Oa) was incubated in columns at 20 °C for 49 days. Columns were leached once a week with artificial throughfall solution, which was analyzed for DOC, total N, NH₄⁺-N and NO₃⁻-N. Prior to each leaching event, CO₂ evolution from the columns was determined. C-to-N ratios in the N-treated Oe layers at Stråsan (21-24) and Skogaby (24) were significantly lower than those of the controls (Stråsan, 32; Skogaby, 28). The cumulative amount of CO₂-C showed a significant treatment effect in the Oe layer at Skogaby, i.e. 18 and 29 mg C g⁻¹ C in the N treatment and control, respectively. At Stråsan, the cumulative CO₂-C was significantly lower in the N3 treatment compared to the control in both layers (33 compared to 74 mg C g⁻¹ C in the Oe layer and 16 compared to 35 mg C g⁻¹ C in the Oa layer). Neither the DOC nor the DON production showed any significant treatment effects at the two sites. However, DOC was lower in the fertilized Oe layer at Skogaby throughout the incubation. The leaching of DON was highest in the Oe layers at both sites, and DON increased with time at Skogaby while there was a decreasing trend at Stråsan. The DOC-to-DON ratio tended to be lower in the fertilized Oe layers at both sites. The NH₄⁺ leaching at Skogaby decreased in the N-treated Oe and Oa layers. At Stråsan, NH₄⁺ from the Oe layer increased in N2 and control. The NO₃⁻ leaching was low and constant in both Skogaby layers. At Stråsan, NO₃⁻ increased in the Oe layer of N1. Cumulative CO₂ was positively correlated to C-to-N ratio (r2=0.71,p<0.01) and to cumulative DOC (r2=0.63,p<0.05) in the Oe layer at Stråsan. Our conclusion was that long-term N additions caused decreased C-to-N ratios and decreased CO₂ evolution rates. The correlation between CO₂ and C-to-N ratio in the Oe layers at Stråsan may be due to a changed quality of the fertilized forest floor material and presence of more N efficient microorganisms.     

Decomposition and substrate quality of leaf litters and fine roots from three exotic plantations and a native forest in the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia

Substrate quality and decomposition (measured as CO₂ release in laboratory microcosms) of fresh leaf litter and fine roots of Cupressus lusitanica, Pinus patula, Eucalyptus grandis and native forest trees were studied. Changes in litter chemistry in each forest stand were analysed by comparing fresh leaf litter (collected from trees) and decomposed litter from the forest floor. Elemental concentrations, proximate fractions including monomeric sugars, and cross polarisation magic-angle spinning (CPMAS) ¹³C NMR spectra were analysed in leaf litters, decomposed litter and fine roots. Leaf litters and fine roots varied in their initial substrate chemistry with Ca concentration in leaf litters being higher than that in fine roots. In each stand, fine roots had a higher acid unhydrolysable residue (AUR) (except for the Pinus stand), higher holocellulose concentration and lower concentration of water-soluble extractives (WSE) and dichloromethane extractives (NPE) than fresh leaf litter. Likewise, ¹³C NMR spectra of fine roots showed lower alkyl and carboxyl C, and higher phenolic (except P. patula), aromatic and O-alkyl C proportions than leaf litters. Compared with fresh leaf litter, decomposed litter had lower concentrations of potassium, holocellulose, WSE, NPE, arabinose and galactose, similar or higher concentrations of Mg, Ca, S and P, and higher concentrations of N and AUR. CPMAS ¹³C NMR spectra of decomposed litter showed a higher relative increase in signal intensity due to methoxyl C, aromatic C, phenolic C and carboxylic C compared with alkyl C. In a microcosm decomposition study, the proportion of initial C remaining in leaf litter and fine roots significantly fitted an exponential regression model. The decomposition constants (k) ranged between 0.0013 and 0.0030 d⁻¹ for leaf litters and 0.0010-0.0017 d⁻¹ for fine roots. In leaf litters there was a positive correlation between the k value and the initial Ca concentration, and in fine roots there was an analogous positive correlation with initial WSE. Leaf litters decomposed in the order Cupressus>native forest>Eucalyptus∼Pinus, and fine roots in the order Pinus>native forest>Cupressus∼Eucalyptus. In each stand the fine root decomposition was significantly lower than the leaf litter decomposition, except for the P. patula stand where the order was reversed.     

Effects of the addition of forest floor extracts on soil carbon dioxide efflux

Composition and effects of additions of fibric (Oi) and hemic/sapric (Oe + Oa) layer extracts collected from a 20-year-old stand of radiata pine (Pinus radiata) on soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) evolution were investigated in a 94-day aerobic incubation. The ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy indicated that Oi layer extract contained greater concentrations of alkyl C while Oe + Oa layer extract was rich in carboxyl C. Extracts from Oi and Oe + Oa layers were added to a forest soil at two different polyphenol concentrations (43 and 85 μg g⁻¹ soil) along with tannic acid (TA) and glucose solutions to evaluate effects on soil CO₂ efflux. CO₂ evolution was greater in amended soils than control (deionized water) indicating that water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) was readily available to microbial degradation. However, addition of WSOC extracted from both Oi and Oe + Oa layers containing 85 μg polyphenols g⁻¹ soil severely inhibited microbial activity. Soils amended with extracts containing lower concentrations of polyphenols (43 μg polyphenols g⁻¹ soil), TA solutions, and glucose solutions released 2 to 22 times more CO₂-C than added WSOC, indicating a strong positive priming effect. The differences in CO₂ evolution rates were attributed to chemical composition of the forest floor extracts.     

Effects of decreasing water potential on gross ammonification and nitrification in an acid coniferous forest soil

Changes in the soil water regime, predicted as a consequence of global climate change, might influence the N cycle in temperate forest soils. We investigated the effect of decreasing soil water potentials on gross ammonification and nitrification in different soil horizons of a Norway spruce forest and tested the hypotheses that i) gross rates are more sensitive to desiccation in the Oa and EA horizon as compared to the uppermost Oi/Oe horizon and ii) that gross nitrification is more sensitive than gross ammonification. Soil samples were adjusted by air drying to water potentials from about field capacity to around −1.0 MPa, a range that is often observed under field conditions at our site. Gross rates were measured using the ¹⁵N pool dilution technique. To ensure that the addition of solute label to dry soils and the local rewetting does not affect the results by re-mineralization or preferential consumption of ¹⁵N, we compared different extraction and incubation times.T₀ times ranging from 10 to 300 min and incubation times of 48 h and 72 h did not influence the rates of gross ammonification and nitrification. Even small changes of water potential decreased gross ammonification and nitrification in the O horizon. In the EA horizon, gross nitrification was below detection limit and the response of the generally low rates of gross ammonification to decreasing water potentials was minor. In the Oi/Oe horizon gross ammonification and nitrification decreased from 37.5 to 18.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹ and from 15.4 to 5.6 mg N kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹ when the water potential decreased from field capacity to −0.8 MPa. In the Oa horizon gross ammonification decreased from 7.4 to 4.0 mg N kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹ when the water potential reached −0.6 MPa. At such water potential nitrification almost ceased, while in the Oi/Oe horizon nitrification continued at a rather high level. Hence, only in the Oa horizon nitrification was more sensitive to desiccation than ammonification. Extended drought periods that might result from climate change will cause a reduction in gross N turnover rates in forest soils even at moderate levels of soil desiccation.     

Organic N forms of a subtropical Acrisol under no-till cropping systems as assessed by acid hydrolysis and solid-state NMR spectroscopy

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of land-use systems (grassland and cropland) and of long-term no-till cropping systems [bare soil, oat/maize (O/M), pigeon pea+maize (P+M)] on the composition of organic N forms in a subtropical Acrisol. Soil samples collected from the 0- to 2.5-cm layer in the study area (Eldorado do Sul RS, Brazil) were submitted to acid hydrolysis and cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) ¹⁵N and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. The legume-based cropping system P+M contained the highest contents of non-hydrolysable C and N, hydrolysable C and N, amino acid N and hydrolysed unknown N. The relative proportion of non-hydrolysable N was higher in bare soil (30.0%) and decreased incrementally in other treatments based on the total C and N contents. The amino acid N corresponded to an average of 37.2% of total N, and was not affected by land use and no-till cropping systems. The non-hydrolysable residue contained lower O-alkyl and higher aromatic C concentrations, as revealed by CPMAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and higher C:N ratio than the bulk soil. No differences in the bulk soil organic matter composition could be detected among treatments, according to CPMAS ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectra. In the non-hydrolysable fraction, grassland showed a lower concentration of aromatic and a higher concentration of alkyl C than other treatments. From CPMAS ¹⁵N NMR spectra, it could be concluded that amide N from peptide structures are the main organic N constituent. Amide structures are possibly protected through encapsulation into hydrophobic sites of organic matter and through organomineral interaction.     

土壤腐殖质氮结构的X-光电能谱研究

X－ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) was applied to examine the N structures of soil humic substances and some of their analogues.It was found that for soil humic substances XPS method gave similar results as those obtained by ^15N CPMAS NMR (cross-polarization magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance) method.70%-86% of total N in soil humic substances was in the form of amide,and 6%-13% was presented as ammes,with the remaining part as heterocyclic N.There was no difference in the distribution of the forms of N between the humic substances from soils formed over hundreds or thousands of years and the newly formed ones.For fulvic acid from weathered coal and benzoquinone-(NH4)2SO4 polymer the XPS results deviated significantly from the ^15N CPMAS NMR data.     

Atmospheric nitrate deposition and the microbial degradation of cellobiose and vanillin in a northern hardwood forest

Human activity has increased the amount of N entering terrestrial ecosystems from atmospheric NO₃⁻ deposition. High levels of inorganic N are known to suppress the expression of phenol oxidase, an important lignin-degrading enzyme produced by white-rot fungi. We hypothesized that chronic NO₃⁻ additions would decrease the flow of C through the heterotrophic soil food web by inhibiting phenol oxidase and the depolymerization of lignocellulose. This would likely reduce the availability of C from lignocellulose for metabolism by the microbial community. We tested this hypothesis in a mature northern hardwood forest in northern Michigan, which has received experimental atmospheric N deposition (30 kg NO₃⁻-N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) for nine years. In a laboratory study, we amended soils with ¹³C-labeled vanillin, a monophenolic product of lignin depolymerization, and ¹³C-labeled cellobiose, a disaccharide product of cellulose degradation. We then traced the flow of ¹³C through the microbial community and into soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial respiration. We simultaneously measured the activity of enzymes responsible for lignin (phenol oxidase and peroxidase) and cellobiose (β-glucosidase) degradation. Nitrogen deposition reduced phenol oxidase activity by 83% and peroxidase activity by 74% when compared to control soils. In addition, soil C increased by 76%, whereas microbial biomass decreased by 68% in NO₃⁻ amended soils. ¹³C cellobiose in bacterial or fungal PLFAs was unaffected by NO₃⁻ deposition; however, the incorporation of ¹³C vanillin in fungal PLFAs extracted from NO₃⁻ amended soil was 82% higher than in the control treatment. The recovery of ¹³C vanillin and ¹³C cellobiose in SOC, DOC, microbial biomass, and respiration was not different between control and NO₃⁻ amended treatments. Chronic NO₃⁻ deposition has stemmed the flow of C through the heterotrophic soil food web by inhibiting the activity of ligninolytic enzymes, but it increased the assimilation of vanillin into fungal PLFAs.     

Use of 13C and 15N natural abundance techniques to characterize carbon and nitrogen dynamics in composting and in compost-amended soils

Isotope fractionation during composting may produce organic materials with a more homogenous δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N signature allowing study of their fate in soil. To verify this, C, N, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N content were monitored during nine months covered (thermophilic; >40 °C) composting of corn silage (CSC). The C concentration reduced from 10.34 to 1.73 g C (g ash)⁻¹, or 83.3%, during composting. Nitrogen losses comprised 28.4% of initial N content. Compost δ¹³C values became slightly depleted and increasingly uniform (from −12.8±0.6‰ to −14.1±0.0‰) with composting. Compost δ¹⁵N values (0.3±1.3 to 8.2±0.4‰) increased with a similar reduced isotope variability.The fate of C and N of diverse composts in soil was subsequently examined. C, N, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N content of whole soil (0-5 cm), light (<1.7 g cm⁻³) and heavy (>1.7 g cm⁻³) fraction, and (250-2000 μm; 53-250 μm and <53 μm) size separates, were characterized. Measurements took place one and two years following surface application of CSC, dairy manure compost (DMC), sewage sludge compost (SSLC), and liquid dairy manure (DM) to a temperate (C₃) grassland soil. The δ¹³C values and total C applied (Mg C ha⁻¹) were DM (−27.3‰; 2.9); DMC (−26.6‰; 10.0); SSLC (−25.9‰; 10.9) and CSC (−14.0‰; 4.6 and 9.2). The δ¹³C of un-amended soil exhibited low spatial (−28.0‰±0.2; n=96) and temporal (±0.1‰) variability. All C₄ (CSC) and C₃ (DMC; SSLC) composts, except C₃ manure (DM), significantly modified bulk soil δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N. Estimates of retention of compost C in soil by carbon balance were less sensitive than those calculated by C isotope techniques. One and two years after application, 95 and 89% (CSC), 75 and 63% (SSLC) and 88 and 42% (DMC) of applied compost C remained in the soil, with the majority (80-90%) found in particulate (>53 μm) and light fractions. However, C₄ compost (CSC) was readily detectable (12% of compost C remaining) in mineral (<53 μm) fractions. The δ¹⁵N-enriched N of compost supported interpretation of δ¹³C data. We can conclude that composts are highly recalcitrant with prolonged C storage in non-mineral soil fractions. The sensitivity of the natural abundance tracer technique to characterize their fate in soil improves during composting, as a more homogeneous C isotope signature develops, in addition to the relatively large amounts of stable C applied in composts.     

Decomposition of plant tissue submerged in an extremely acidic mining lake sediment: phenolic CuO-oxidation products and solid-state C NMR spectroscopy

In extremely acidic mining sediments of the Lusatian mining district, the alkalinisation process relies on organic C, which can serve as electron donor for microbially induced sulfate reduction. Plant material of the pioneer plant Juncus bulbosus is an important organic matter source in lake sediments. Therefore, decomposition of the plant tissue was assessed during the exposure of litterbags for 30 months in the 0-5 cm layer of waterlogged mining sediments, which have a pH between 2.5 and 3. The ash free dry weight (AFDW) and elemental content of the plant tissue were recorded several times during the exposure. Changes in chemical structure were analyzed by solid-state ¹³C cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (CPMAS NMR) spectroscopy and the lignin component characterized by wet-chemical CuO oxidation. The AFDW accounted for about 34% of initial biomass after field exposure for 30 months. Mass loss of biomass occurred in two phases with decomposition rates varying between 30 and 430 mg AFDW d⁻¹. The mass loss increased considerably after 5-7 months when litterbags were invaded by fresh J. bulbosus plants. With respect to higher mass loss, ¹³C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy, showed slight changes of the bulk chemical composition after 11 months, indicating that microorganisms present in the sediments or in the rhizosphere degrade plant material as a whole, rather than selectively. During the second phase from about 11 months until the end of the exposure period, contribution of O-alkyl C most probably assignable to easily degradable polysaccharides decreased. In contrast, the contribution of alkyl, aromatic and carboxyl C increased. CuO oxidation showed that the lignin component of J. bulbosus is degraded oxidatively during field exposure. Our results indicate that the exposed plant material is decomposed in the sediment due to changes in sediment conditions that followed plant invasion of the litterbags. It is suggested that the rhizosphere of J. bulbosus by its influence on the redox potential, pH and the microbial component plays a crucial role in organic matter degradation in acidic mining sediments.     

Rhizodeposition-induced decomposition increases N availability to wild and cultivated wheat genotypes under elevated CO2

Elevated CO₂ may increase nutrient availability in the rhizosphere by stimulating N release from recalcitrant soil organic matter (SOM) pools through enhanced rhizodeposition. We aimed to elucidate how CO₂-induced increases in rhizodeposition affect N release from recalcitrant SOM, and how wild versus cultivated genotypes of wheat mediated differential responses in soil N cycling under elevated CO₂. To quantify root-derived soil carbon (C) input and release of N from stable SOM pools, plants were grown for 1 month in microcosms, exposed to ¹³C labeling at ambient (392 μmol mol⁻¹) and elevated (792 μmol mol⁻¹) CO₂ concentrations, in soil containing ¹⁵N predominantly incorporated into recalcitrant SOM pools. Decomposition of stable soil C increased by 43%, root-derived soil C increased by 59%, and microbial-¹³C was enhanced by 50% under elevated compared to ambient CO₂. Concurrently, plant ¹⁵N uptake increased (+7%) under elevated CO₂ while ¹⁵N contents in the microbial biomass and mineral N pool decreased. Wild genotypes allocated more C to their roots, while cultivated genotypes allocated more C to their shoots under ambient and elevated CO₂. This led to increased stable C decomposition, but not to increased N acquisition for the wild genotypes. Data suggest that increased rhizodeposition under elevated CO₂ can stimulate mineralization of N from recalcitrant SOM pools and that contrasting C allocation patterns cannot fully explain plant mediated differential responses in soil N cycling to elevated CO₂.     

The contribution of soil organic matter fractions to carbon and nitrogen mineralization and microbial community size and structure

The aims of this study were to: (i) assess the impact of hay and fertilizer application on organic matter (OM) fractions (dissolved organic matter (DOM), light fraction organic matter (LFOM, <1.0 g cm⁻³), heavy fraction OM (HFOM, <1.7 g cm⁻³)), carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling processes and microbial community size and structure, and (ii) quantify the role of OM fractions to C and N cycling. Soil was collected in 2001 from a field experiment to which grass hay (1996) and/or fertilizer (1995 and 1999) had previously been applied. DOM-C (P<0.05) and DOM-N (P=0.07) were significantly higher in control and fertilized soil than hay and hay+fertilized soil. LFOM and HFOM C and N contents and C/N ratios were significantly (P<0.05) higher in hay+fertilized and hay amended soil than in control and fertilized soil. Potentially mineralizable-N (PMN), microbial biomass-C (MB-C), microbial biomass-N (MB-N) and microbial respiration (CO₂) were not affected by fertilizer and/or hay application. Gross N mineralization (Gross Min) and gross nitrification (Gross Nit) rates were significantly (P<0.05) higher in fertilized, hay, hay+fertilized soil than control soil. However, there was no significant difference between treatments in gross N immobilization rates. Results reported here highlight the importance of a labile fraction of the DOM pool to N and C cycling as its removal significantly (P<0.05) reduced PMN, MB-N, Gross Min and Gross Nit compared with whole soil in most or all treatments. In soil where DOM+LFOM were removed PMN was significantly (P<0.05) lower, but MB-C, Gross Min and Gross Nit was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in DOM removed soil. This suggests that LFOM plays an important role as a sink for mineral-N. Total soil phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher in hay amended than control, fertilized and hay+fertilized soil. Principal components analysis was able to clearly discriminate between control, fertilized, hay+fertilized and hay amended soil. Soil amended with hay or fertilizer had a microbial community structure which differed from that of the control or hay+fertilized soils. Redundancy analysis with Monte Carlo permutation tests revealed that PLFA profiles were strongly correlated to differences in Gross Min, Gross Nit, MB-N, MB-C, MB-C/N ratio, total soil C and total soil C/N ratio. The results of this research suggest that changes in microbial structure are related to aspects of soil C and N pools and cycling.     

Soil organic matter dynamics and land use change at a grassland/forest ecotone

In the grassland/forest ecotone of North America, many areas are experiencing afforestation and subsequent shifts in ecosystem carbon (C) stocks. Ecosystem scientists commonly employ a suite of techniques to examine how such land use changes can impact soil organic matter (SOM) forms and dynamics. This study employs four such techniques to compare SOM in grassland (Bromus inermis) and recently forested (∼35 year, Ulmus spp. and Quercus spp.) sites with similar soil types and long-term histories in Kansas, USA. The work examines C and nitrogen (N) parameters in labile and recalcitrant SOM fractions isolated via size and density fractionation, acid hydrolysis, and long-term incubations. Size fractionation highlighted differences between grassland and forested areas. N concentration of forested soils’ 63-212 μm fraction was higher than corresponding grassland soils’ values (3.0±0.3 vs. 2.3±0.3 mg g_fraction⁻¹, P<0.05), and N concentration of grassland soils’ 212-2000 μm fraction was higher than forested soils (3.0±0.4 vs. 2.3±0.2 mg g_fraction⁻¹, P<0.05). Similar trends were observed for these same fractions for C concentration; forested soils exhibited 1.3 times the C concentration in the 63-212 μm fraction compared to this fraction in grassland soils. Fractions separated via density separation and acid hydrolysis exhibited no differences in [C], [N], δ¹⁵N, or δ¹³C when compared across land use types. Plant litterfall from forested sites possessed significantly greater N concentrations than that from grassland sites (12.41±0.10 vs. 11.62±0.19 mg g_litter⁻¹). Long-term incubations revealed no differences in C or N dynamics between grassland and forested soils. δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of the smallest size and the heavier density fractions, likely representing older and more recalcitrant SOM, were enriched compared to younger and more labile SOM fractions; δ¹⁵N of forested soils’ 212-2000 μm fraction were higher than corresponding grassland soils (1.7±0.3‰ vs. 0.5±0.4‰). δ¹³C values of acid hydrolysis fractions likely reflect preferential losses of ¹³C-depleted compounds during hydrolysis. Though C and N data from size fractions were most effective at exhibiting differences between grassland and forested soils, no technique conclusively indicates consistent changes in SOM dynamics with forest growth on these soils. The study also highlights some of the challenges associated with describing SOM parameters, particularly δ¹³C, in SOM fractions isolated by acid hydrolysis.     

Microbial community response to nitrogen deposition in northern forest ecosystems

The productivity of temperate forests is often limited by soil N availability, suggesting that elevated atmospheric N deposition could increase ecosystem C storage. However, the magnitude of this increase is dependent on rates of soil organic matter formation as well as rates of plant production. Nonetheless, we have a limited understanding of the potential for atmospheric N deposition to alter microbial activity in soil, and hence rates of soil organic matter formation. Because high levels of inorganic N suppress lignin oxidation by white rot basidiomycetes and generally enhance cellulose hydrolysis, we hypothesized that atmospheric N deposition would alter microbial decomposition in a manner that was consistent with changes in enzyme activity and shift decomposition from fungi to less efficient bacteria. To test our idea, we experimentally manipulated atmospheric N deposition (0, 30 and 80 kg NO₃⁻-N) in three northern temperate forests (black oak/white oak (BOWO), sugar maple/red oak (SMRO), and sugar maple/basswood (SMBW)). After one year, we measured the activity of ligninolytic and cellulolytic soil enzymes, and traced the fate of lignin and cellulose breakdown products (¹³C-vanillin, catechol and cellobiose).In the BOWO ecosystem, the highest level of N deposition tended to reduce phenol oxidase activity (131±13 versus 104±5 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹) and peroxidase activity (210±26 versus 190±21 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹) and it reduced ¹³C-vanillin and ¹³C-catechol degradation and the incorporation of ¹³C into fungal phospholipids (p<0.05). Conversely, in the SMRO and SMBW ecosystems, N deposition tended to increase phenol oxidase and peroxidase activities and increased vanillin and catechol degradation and the incorporation of isotope into fungal phospholipids (p<0.05). We observed no effect of experimental N deposition on the degradation of ¹³C-cellulose, although cellulase activity showed a small and marginally significant increase (p<0.10). The ecosystem-specific response of microbial activity and soil C cycling to experimental N addition indicates that accurate prediction of soil C storage requires a better understanding of the physiological response of microbial communities to atmospheric N deposition.     

C signature of CO2 evolved from incubated maize residues and maize-derived sheep faeces

Analyses of the spatial and temporal variations in the natural abundance of ¹³C are frequently employed to study transformations of plant residues and soil organic matter turnover on sites where long continued vegetation with the C₃-type photosynthesis pathway has been replaced with a C₄-type vegetation (or vice versa). One controversial issue associated with such analyses is the significance of isotopic fractionation during the microbial turnovers of C in complex substrates. To evaluate this issue, C₃-soil and quartz sand were amended with maize residues and with faeces from sheep feed exclusively on maize silage. The samples were incubated at 15 °C for 117 days (maize residues) or 224 days (sheep faeces). CO₂ evolved during incubation was trapped in NaOH and analysed for C isotopic contents. At the end of incubation, 63 and 50% of the maize C was evolved as CO₂ in the soil and sand, respectively, while 32% of the faeces C incubated with soil and with sand was recovered as CO₂. Maize and faeces showed a similar decomposition pattern but maize decomposed twice as fast as faeces. The δ¹³C of faeces was 0.3‰ lower than that of the maize residue (δ¹³C −13.4‰), while the δ¹³C of the C₃-soil used for incubation was −31.6‰. The δ¹³C value of the CO₂ recovered from unamended C₃-soil was similar or slightly lower (up to −1.5‰) than that of the C₃-soil itself except for an initial flush of ¹³C enriched CO₂. The δ¹³C values of the CO₂ from sand-based incubations typically ranged −15‰ to −17‰, i.e. around −3‰ lower than the δ¹³C measured for maize and faeces. Our study clearly demonstrates that the decomposition of complex substrates is associated with isotopic fractionation, causing evolved CO₂ to be depleted in ¹³C relative to substrates. Consequently the microbial products retained in the soil must be enriched in ¹³C.     

Characterization of hydrophobic acid fractions in water-soluble organic matter in Dystric Cambisol and in a stream in a small forested watershed: Seasonal and vertical variations in chemical properties

Abstract

Chemical properties of hydrophobic acid (HoA) fractions in water-soluble organic matter in soil and water are concerned with its interactions with mineral soil surfaces and organic pollutants. In 2004 we examined the seasonal and vertical changes in chemical properties of the HoA fraction in a Cambisol profile and compared these properties with those in the HoA fraction of an adjacent stream (aquatic humic substances) in a temperate forested watershed using high performance size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) and ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The HoA fractions from Oi, Oe/Oa, A and B horizon soils in summer had lower O-alkyl C proportions than those recorded in samples in other seasons. The proportions of aromatic C in HoA fractions from A and B horizons were highest in summer. These seasonal variations were less significant than variations with soil depth. O-alkyl C proportions in HoA fractions decreased with increasing soil depth from the Oi to the A horizon. The HoA fractions from the B horizon showed a higher alkyl C proportion than samples from other horizons in winter and spring. These changes with soil depth from the Oi to A horizons might result from selective utilization of carbohydrate carbon by microorganisms, whereas those in the B horizon may result from sorption to mineral surfaces. The HoA fractions in the stream were similar in relative molecular weight, distribution of each type of proton and carbon species in HoA fractions from the B horizon, whereas stream HoA fractions collected in summer would be derived from organic horizons. This indicated that vertical changes in the chemical properties of HoA fractions in soil and pathways of water to the stream would largely affect the chemical properties of HoA fractions in the stream.     

Nitrate leaching in soil: Tracing the NO3 sources with the help of stable N and O isotopes

Legumes increase the plant-available N pool in soil, but might also increase NO₃⁻ leaching to groundwater. To minimize NO₃⁻ leaching, N-release processes and the contribution of legumes to NO₃⁻ concentrations in soil must be known. Our objectives were (1) to quantify NO₃⁻-N export to >0.3 m soil depth from three legume monocultures (Medicago x varia Martyn, Onobrychis viciifolia Scop., Lathyrus pratensis L.) and from three bare ground plots. Furthermore, we (2) tested if it is possible to apply a mixing model for NO₃⁻ in soil solution based on its dual isotope signals, and (3) estimated the contribution of legume mineralization to NO₃⁻ concentrations in soil solution under field conditions. We collected rainfall and soil solution at 0.3 m soil depth during 1 year, and determined NO₃⁻ concentrations and δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O of NO₃⁻ for >11.5 mg NO₃⁻-N l⁻¹. We incubated soil samples to assess potential N release by mineralization and determined δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O signals of NO₃⁻ derived from mineralization of non-leguminous and leguminous organic matter.Mean annual N export to >0.3 m soil depth was highest in bare ground plots (9.7 g NO₃⁻-N m⁻²; the SD reflects the spatial variation) followed by Medicago x varia monoculture (6.0 g NO₃⁻-N m⁻²). The O. viciifolia and L. pratensis monocultures had a much lower mean annual N export (0.5 and 0.3 g NO₃⁻-N m⁻²). The averaged NO₃⁻-N leaching during 70 days was not significantly different between field estimates and incubation for the Medicago x varia Martyn monoculture.The δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O values in NO₃⁻ of rainfall (δ¹⁵N: 3.3±0.8‰; δ¹⁸O: 30.8±4.7‰), mineralization of non-leguminous SOM (9.3±0.9‰; 6.7±0.8‰), and mineralization of leguminous SOM (1.5±0.6‰; 5.1±0.9‰) were markedly different. Applying a linear mixing model based on these three sources to δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O values in NO₃⁻ of soil solution during winter 2003, we calculated 18-41% to originate from rainfall, 38-57% from mineralization of non-leguminous SOM, and 18-40% from mineralization of leguminous SOM.Our results demonstrate that (1) even under legumes NO₃⁻-N leaching was reduced compared to bare ground, (2) the application of a three-end-member mixing model for NO₃⁻ based on its dual isotope signals produced plausible results and suggests that under particular circumstances such models can be used to estimate the contributions of different NO₃⁻ sources in soil solution, and (3) in the 2nd year after establishment of legumes, they contributed approximately one-fourth to NO₃⁻-N loss.     

Savanna-derived organic matter remaining in arable soils of the South African Highveld long-term mixed cropping: Evidence from C and N natural abundance

Sustainable agriculture requires the formation of new humus from the crops. We utilized ¹³C and ¹⁵N signatures of soil organic matter to assess how rapidly wheat/maize cropping contributed to the humus formation in coarse-textured savanna soils of the South African Highveld. Composite samples were taken from the top 20 cm of soils (Plinthustalfs) cropped for lengths of time varying from 0 to 98 years, after conversion from native grassland savanna (C4). We performed natural ¹³C and ¹⁵N abundance measurements on bulk and particle-size fractions. The bulk soil δ¹³C values steadily decreased from −14.6 in (C4 dominated) grassland to −16.5‰ after 90 years of arable cropping. This δ¹³C shift was attributable to increasing replacement of savanna-derived C by wheat crop (C3) C which dominated over maize (C4) inputs. After calculating the annual C input from the crop yields and the output from literature data, by using a stepwise C replacement model, we were able to correct the soil δ¹³C data for the irregular maize inputs for a period of about one century. Within 90 years of cropping 41-89% of the remaining soil organic matter was crop-derived in the three studied agroecosystems. The surface soil C stocks after 90 years of the wheat/maize crop rotation could accurately be described with the Rothamsted Carbon Model, but modelled C inputs to the soil were very low. The coarse sand fraction reflected temporal fluctuations in ¹³C of the last C₃ or C₄ cropping and the silt fraction evidenced selective erosion loss of old savanna-derived C. Bulk soil ¹⁵N did not change with increasing cropping length. Decreasing δ¹⁵N values caused by fertilizer N inputs with prolonged arable cropping were only detected for the coarse sand fraction. This indicated that the present N fertilization was not retained in stable soil C pool. Clearly, conventional cropping practices on the South African highlands neither contribute to the preservation of old savanna C and N, nor the effective humus reformation by the crops.     

Maturity indices for composted dairy and pig manures

Bulking agents and bedding materials used on farms for composting manures affect the time required for composts to mature. The effects of these materials on guidelines for the use of composted manures in potting mixes are not fully known. Several chemical and biological compost characteristics were mentioned and a cucumber plant growth greenhouse bioassay was performed on samples removed from windrows during composting of: (i) dairy manure amended with wheat straw; (ii) dairy manure amended with sawdust (mostly Quercus spp.); and (iii) pig manure amended with sawdust and shredded wood (mostly Quercus spp.). Dry weights of cucumber seedlings grown in fertilized and unfertilized potting mixes amended with composts (30%, v/v) having stability values of <1 mg CO₂-C g^-1 dw d⁻¹, did not differ significantly from those in a control peat mix. Only the most mature dairy manure-wheat straw compost samples consistently established sufficient N concentrations in cucumber shoots in unfertilized treatments. For the dairy manure-wheat straw compost, all possible subset regression analyses of compost characteristics versus cucumber plant dry weight revealed that any of several compost characteristics (electrical conductivity-EC, compost age, total N, organic C, C-to-N ratio, ash content, CO₂ respirometry, Solvita CO₂ index and the Solvita^® Compost Maturity Index) predicted growth of cucumber in the unfertilized treatments, and thus maturity. In contrast, at least two characteristics of the dairy manure-sawdust compost were required to predict growth of cucumber in the unfertilized treatments. Effective combinations were EC with compost age and the Solvita^® maturity index with total N. Even five compost characteristics did not satisfactorily predict growth of cucumber in the non-fertilized pig manure-wood compost. Nutrient analysis of cucumber shoots indicated N availability was the principal factor limiting growth in potting mixes amended with the dairy manure-sawdust compost, and even more so in the pig manure-wood compost even though the compost had been stabilized to a high degree (<1 mg CO₂-C g⁻¹ dw d⁻¹). Maturity of the composted manures, which implies a positive initial plant growth response of plants grown without fertilization, could not be predicted by compost characteristics alone unless the bulking agent or bedding type used for the production of the composts was also considered.     

Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralization and Humus Composition Following Municipal Solid Waste Compost Addition to Laterite Soils under Continuous Cassava Cultivation

A glasshouse incubation experiment was conducted to study the carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) added at differential rates to a laterite soil where cassava has been continuously cultivated for the past 10 years. The rate of C mineralization from added substrates increased with increasing rates of addition of MSWC. Available N significantly increased with increase in the rate of application of MSWC. There was a decreasing trend in E₄₆₅/E₆₆₅ ratio of humic acid as we increased the rate of application of MSWC from 2.5 to 20 t ha^?1. The Cross Polarization Magic Angle Spinning (CPMAS) ¹³C NMR spectral analysis revealed that there are differences in the rate of humification of added MSWC, and application of MSWC at 15 t ha^?1 resulted in least humification with the greatest alkyl C, lowest aromatic C, and greater O-alkyl C content. The decomposition rate (R) was found to be greater for this treatment. The residual C in soil was found to increase over time coincident with greater rates of MSWC application, indicating increased C stabilization, which could improve soil quality.