盐沼湿地中植物根围土壤细菌群落结构和多样性的16S rDNA分析

The structure and diversity of the bacterial communities in rhizosphere soils of native Phragmites australis and Scirpus rnariqueter and alien Spartina alterniflora in the Yangtze River Estuary were investigated by constructing 16S ribosomal DNA （rDNA） clone libraries. The bacterial diversity was quantified by placing the clones into operational taxonomic unit （OTU） groups at the level of sequence similarity of 〉 97%. Phylogenetic analysis of the resulting 398 clone sequences indicated a high diversity of bacteria in the rhizosphere soils of these plants. The members of Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Deltaproteobacteria of the phylum Proteobacteria were the most abundant in rhizobacteria. Chao 1 nonpaxametric diversity estimator coupled with the reciprocal of Simpson＇s index （l/D） was applied to sequence data obtained from each library to evaluate total sequence diversity and quantitatively compare the level of dominance. The results showed that Phragmites, Scirpus, and Spartina rhizosphere soils contained 200, 668, and 382 OTUs, respectively. The bacterial communities in the Spartina and Phragraites rhizosphere soils displayed species dominance revealed by 1/D, whereas the bacterial community in Scirpus rhizosphere soil had uniform distributions of species abundance. Overall, analysis of 16S rDNA clone libraries from the rhizosphere soils indicates that the changes in bacterial composition may occur concomitantly with the shift of species composition in plant communities.     

烟草根际土壤中解钾细菌的分离与多样性分析

土壤中含有丰富的钾元素,但主要以缓效态形式存在于钾长石或云母等硅酸盐矿物中,不能被作物直接吸收利用。解钾微生物能溶解硅酸盐矿物中的钾,提高土壤中作物可利用钾的含量,有望缓解我国钾肥短缺的现状。本研究利用选择性培养基,从烟草根际筛选钾细菌,基于16S rDNA序列分析烟草根际土壤解钾细菌的多样性,通过测定解钾细菌的解钾效能及对烟草的促生作用,筛选有应用潜力的优良解钾细菌菌株。结果表明,从四川、湖北和山东烟区烟草根际土壤分离获得的27株解钾细菌,在解钾固体培养上溶钾圈直径为0.11~0.30 cm。16S rDNA序列分析表明,烟草根际土壤解钾细菌主要包括变形菌门γ亚群(Gammaproteobacteria,85.18%)、变形菌门α亚群(Alphaproteobacteria,3.70%)、变形菌门β亚群(Betaproteobacteria,3.70%)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria,3.70%)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes,3.70%),其中克雷伯菌属(Klebsiella)为优势菌属(66.67%)。27个菌株均有一定的解钾能力,解钾活性为0.59~4.40 mg.L–1。参试菌株均对烟草有一定的促生作用,利用解钾细菌菌液处理烟株20 d后,与对照相比,株高增加0.97%~38.64%,最大叶长增加4.40%~31.02%。本研究筛选出的菌株XF11、GM2、JM19和GL7具有较高的解钾活性和促进植物生长的能力,展现了良好的应用潜力。     

Selection for root colonising bacteria stimulating wheat growth in saline soils

High salinity of soils in arid and semi-arid regions results in desertification and decreased crop yield. One possibility to circumvent this problem is to use root colonising salt tolerant bacterial inoculants which can alleviate salt stress in plants. In the present work, the best five enhanced wheat root tip coloniser bacteria were selected from the rhizosphere of wheat grown in saline soil and were identified by the 16S rRNA gene sequence as Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas extremorientalis, Pseudomonas chlororaphis and Pseudomonas aurantiaca. The isolates tolerated salt of 5% NaCl and produced indole acetic acid under saline conditions. Four isolates proved to be very efficient in promoting a significant increase in the shoot, root and dry matter of wheat and were able to survive in saline soil. Four of the isolated strains appeared to be better competitive colonisers than reference strains and probably outcompeted with indigenous microorganisms of the rhizosphere. These results are promising for the application of selected environmentally save microbes in saline agricultural soils.     

Überleben inokulierter Rhizosphärenbakterien und deren Einfluß auf native Bakterienpopulationen im Wurzelraum von Luzerne

Survival of inoculated rhizosphere bacteria and their influence on native bacterial populations in the rhizosphere of alfalfa The survival of inoculated bacteria and their influence on native bacterial populations in the rhizosphere of alfalfa were investigated in a greenhouse experiment. The plant growth promoting strains Rhizobium meliloti me18 and Pseudomonas fluorescens PsIA12 were reisolated from the rhizosphere about 7 weeks after single and mixed strain inoculation. They did not induce lasting changes in the diversity of the native bacterial communities of the rhizosphere. Only within the first week after inoculation was an increase in total bacterial abundance observed. In general, the diversity of bacterial communities increased with plant age and with proximity to the root tip.     

Effect of Capsicum annuum cultivated in sub-alkaline soil on bacterial community and activities of cultivable plant growth promoting bacteria under field conditions

In literature, it remains little explored the soil–plant relationships within Capsicum agroecosystem. We studied how chili peppers plants contribute to influence microbial diversity. Across the bulk and rhizosphere soils of three genotypes of Capsicum annuum, the structure, the diversity and the abundance of bacteria was evaluated by means of DNA-based culture-independent approach. Furthermore, 515 bacterial strains isolated from the bulk and rhizosphere soil, were used to investigate the effect of C. annuum on four plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) abilities. Our results indicated that the three genotypes influence differently the physical-chemical and microbial properties of soil around the roots. Bacterial abundance resulted in increasing with different trend rhizospheres to bulk soil ratio; however, bacterial diversity was significantly higher only in the rhizosphere of one genotype. Only the indolic compounds production was stimulated in the rhizosphere of the three cultivars. Inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum was stimulated just with one genotype, where 53 of rhizosphere isolates showed more than 10% of inhibition. 165 of isolates produced siderophores and the major part belonged to the high production level. Interactions between PGPB features revealed that anti-phytopathogenic activity was not associated with the others characteristics; however, phosphate solubilization was associated with both siderophores and indolic compounds productions.     

Multistate assessment of wetland restoration on CO2 and N2O emissions and soil bacterial communities

Over the last 200 years, wetlands have been converted to other land uses leading to the loss of approximately 53% of wetlands in the continental United States. In the late 1980's, policies were instated to mitigate further wetland loss through wetland creation and restoration. Restored wetlands provide important ecosystem services, such as filtration of nutrients and wildlife habitat. However, these benefits could be offset by increased greenhouse gas production. We assessed the impact of wetland conversion to agriculture and restoration on CO₂ and N₂O emissions and microbial communities in three land use types: wetlands with native vegetation (natural); wetlands converted to agricultural management (converted); and restored wetlands (restored). Soil properties varied among land use types. Most notably, soils from restored and converted sites had the lowest C and N, and higher pH. Multivariate analysis of soil properties showed the pocosin wetlands in North Carolina separating from all other locations, regardless of land use. Soil bacterial communities showed a similar trend with communities from North Carolina soils separating from the others with no significant effect of land use or season. Furthermore, land use did not have a significant effect on CO₂ or N₂O emissions, although there was significant temporal variation in CO₂ emissions. These findings indicate that while wetland conversion and restoration may alter some soil properties, these alterations do not appear to be great enough to override the underlying geographic and edaphic influences on soil bacterial communities. Furthermore, wetland restoration did not lead to increased N₂O emission at the dates sampled.     

Parasitism by Cuscuta australis affects the rhizhospheric soil bacterial communities of Trifolium repens L.

ABSTRACT

The effect of parasitism on belowground microbial communities is not well understood. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to test the effect of Cuscuta australis parasitism on the composition and diversity of bacterial community in the rhizospheric soil of the host plant Trifolium repens. 94569 sequences were obtained from the amplicons of non-parasitised, and 97172 sequences were obtained from the parasitised rhizospheric soil bacterial community. Parasitism of C. australis significantly decreased the relative abundance of the bacterial phylum Nitrospirae, while it significantly increased that of Verrucomicrobia. Parasitism of C. australis significantly decreased the relative abundance of 10 bacterial genera, while it significantly increased those of nine genera. The Chao 1 indexes of the rhizospheric soil bacterial community of parasitised T. repens were significantly lower than those of non-parasitised T. repens. Principal coordinate analysis (based on the genus) and principal component analysis (based on the predicted gene function of bacterial communities) showed that rhizospheric bacterial communities from parasitised and non-parasitised T. repens differed and can be divided into two groups. These results suggest that infection of the holoparasitic plant could indirectly change the composition, diversity, and function of rhizospheric soil bacteria of the host plant.     

Significance of Silver Birch and Bushgrass for Establishment of Microbial Heterotrophic Community in a Metal-Mine Spoil Heap

Differences in the culturable fractions of total and metal-tolerant bacteria inhabiting bulk soil of a metal-mine spoil heap and the rhizosphere of silver birch (Betula pendula) or bushgrass (Calamagrostis epigejos), completed with changes in total microbial community structure in the soil, were assessed by MIDI-FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) profiling of whole-cell fatty acids. In addition, the abundance of metal-tolerant populations among the culturable bacterial communities and their identity and the metal-tolerance patterns were determined. The high proportions of Cu- and Zn-tolerant bacteria that ranged from 60.6% to 94.8% were ascertained in the heap sites. Within 31 bacterial isolates obtained, 24 strains were Gram-positive and Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Rathayibacter, Brochothrix, and Staphylococcus represented those identified. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data indicated that several strains developed multi-metal tolerance, and the highest tolerance to Cu (10 mM) and Zn (12 mM) was found for Pseudomonas putida TP3 and three isolated strains (BS3, TP12, and SL16), respectively. The analysis of FAME profiles obtained from the culturable bacterial communities showed that Gram-positive bacteria predominated in bulk soil of all heap sites. In contrast, the rhizosphere communities showed a lower proportion of the Gram-positive group, especially for silver birch. For the total microbial community, mostly Gram-negative bacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas) inhabited the heap sites. The results suggest that the quantitative and qualitative development of heterotrophic microbiota in the soil of the metal-mine spoil heap seems to be site-dependent (i.e., rhizosphere vs. bulk soil), according to differences in the site characteristics (e.g., enrichment of nutrients and total metal concentrations) and impact of plant species.     

胶州湾滨海湿地土壤的盐渍化特征

[目的]了解胶州湾滨海湿地土壤盐渍化特征,为胶州湾滨海湿地保护和区域土壤盐渍化防治提供科学依据。[方法]在胶州湾选取芦苇、碱蓬、光滩及大米草4种典型滨海湿地分层采集土壤样品,通过测定土壤pH值、电导率和主要盐离子浓度开展研究。[结果]胶州湾滨海湿地土壤盐分含量表现由低到高依次为:芦苇湿地碱蓬湿地光滩湿地大米草湿地,盐渍化类型呈现由滨海硫酸盐—氯化物型向氯化物盐渍化土类型过渡的特征;垂直方向上,大米草湿地和芦苇湿地具有表层积盐特征,碱蓬和光滩湿地则呈现出下层稍高趋势。除CO_3~(2-)(和HCO_3~-离子以外,胶州湾滨海湿地土壤主要盐离子含量均呈现出与全盐量、电导率一致的规律,主要盐离子浓度从高到低依次为:Cl~-Na~++K~+SO_4~(2-)Mg~(2+)HCO_3~-Ca~(2+)。[结论]胶州湾滨海湿地土壤属于极重度盐化土,呈现自芦苇湿地向大米草湿地方向递增趋势;土壤碱度上属非碱化土,与土壤含盐量呈相反趋势,但植被易受苏打碱化土的潜在毒害作用。     

Analysis of bacterial communities in soil by PCR-DGGE targeting protease genes

We studied the effects of the application of organic (OM) and inorganic fertilizer (CF) on soil protease activity and proteolytic bacterial communities in rhizosphere and bulk soil on an experimental lettuce field in Hokkaido, Japan. The protease activity always was higher in soils of the OM than with the CF treatment, and also higher in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil. We analyzed proteolytic bacterial communities by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of the alkaline metalloprotease (apr) and neutral metalloprotease (npr) genes. Most apr forms detected were closely related to apr of Pseudomonas fluorescens, and all npr variants closely resembled the gene of Bacillus megaterium. These results were consistent with findings from tests using cultured bacterial communities, indicating a high specificity of our PCR-DGGE for amplifying apr and npr genes. The community compositions of proteolytic bacteria were assessed by principal component analysis of the DGGE profiles. There were significant differences in the effects of CF and OM on the community compositions of apr- and npr-expressing bacteria, and the communities of the two types of bacteria played different roles in rhizosphere and bulk soil. We found significant correlations between the protease activity and the communities of the two types of bacteria. The results indicate that different proteolytic bacteria release different amounts or activities of protease, and that the composition of proteolytic bacterial communities may play a major role in determining overall soil protease activity.     

黄河三角洲退化湿地微生物群落特性研究

Five different sites with a soluble salt gradient of 3.0--17.7 g kg-1 dry soil from the coast to the inland were selected, and the microbial population size, activity and diversity in the rhizospheres of five common plant species and the adjacent bulk soils (non-rhizosphere) were compared in a degraded wetland of the Yellow River Delta, Shandong Province, China to study the effects of soil environment (salinity, seasonality, depth, and rhizosphere) on microbial communities and the wetland’s ecological function, thus providing basic data for the bioremediation of degraded wetlands. There was a significant negative linear relationship between the salinity and the total number of microorganisms, overall microbial activity, or culturable microbial diversity. Salinity adversely affected the microbial community, and higher salinity levels resulted in smaller and less active microbial communities. Seasonal changes were observed in microbial activity but did not occur in the size and diversity. The microbial size, activity and diversity decreased with increasing soil depth. The size, activity and diversity of culturable microorganisms increased in the rhizospheres. All rhizospheres had positive effects on the microbial communities, and common seepweed had the highest rhizosphere effect. Three halophilic bacteria (Pseudomonas mendocina, Burkholderia glumae, and Acinetobacter johnsonii) were separated through BIOLOG identification, and common seepweed could be recommended for bioremediation of degraded wetlands in the Yellow River Delta.     

Diversity of rhizosphere bacteria associated with different soybean cultivars in two soil conditions

Aiming at learning the effects of soil conditions and cultivar on the bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere of soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr.), bacterial communities associated with four soybean cultivars grown in two soils were revealed by terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) combined with sequencing analysis of a 16S rDNA clone library. Lower bacteria diversity was found in soil A which has higher salinity and nutrient contents, while the highest bacterial diversity was found in the rhizosphere of cv. Jidou 12 in both soils. These results revealed that both the soil conditions and soybean cultivar affected the community composition of rhizosphere bacteria, but the effect of soil conditions was greater than that of soybean cultivar as demonstrated by the principal component analysis. It also revealed that the abundant rhizosphere bacteria may also the main symbiotic or non-symbiotic nodule endophytes.     

盐胁迫油菜根际中含假单胞菌（Pseudomonas spp.1）的氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸 (ACC) 脱氨基酶特征研究

When exposed to biotic or abiotic stress conditions,plants produce ethylene from its immediate precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate(ACC),leading to retarded root growth and senescence.Many plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria contain the enzyme ACC deaminase and this enzyme can cleave ACC to form α-ketobutyrate and ammonium,thereby lowering levels of ethylene.The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize ACC deaminase-producing bacteria from the rhizosphere of salt-stressed canola(Brassica napus L.).Out of 105 random bacterial isolates,15 were able to utilize ACC as the sole source of nitrogen.These 15 isolates were also positive for indole acetic acid(IAA) production.Phylogenetic analysis based on partial 16 S rDNA sequences showed that all isolates belonged to fluorescent Pseudomonas spp.In the canola rhizosphere investigated in this study,Pseudomonas fluorescens was the dominant ACC deaminase-producing species.Cluster analysis based on BOX-A1R-based repetitive extragenic palindromic-polymerase chain reaction(BOX-PCR) patterns suggested a high degree of genetic variability in ACC deaminase-producing P.fluorescens strains.The presence of indigenous ACC-degrading bacteria in the rhizosphere of canola grown in saline soils indicates that these bacteria may contribute to salinity tolerance.     

Rhizosphere microbiota assemblage associated with wild and cultivated soybeans grown in three types of soil suspensions

Soil microbial community composition is determined by the soil type and the plant species. By sequencing the V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons, the current study assessed the bacterial community assemblage in rhizosphere and bulks soils of wild (Glycine soja) and cultivated (Glycine max) soybeans grown in the suspensions of three important soil types in China, including black, red and soda-saline-alkali soils. The alpha-diversity of the bacterial community in the rhizosphere was significantly higher than that of the bulk soils suggesting that bulk soil lacks plant nurturing effect under the current study conditions. Black and red soils were enriched with nitrifying and nitrogen-fixing bacteria but the soda-saline-alkali soil suspension had more denitrifying bacteria, which may reflect agronomic unsuitability of the latter. We also observed a high abundance of Bradyrhizobium and Pseudomonas, enriched cellulolytic bacteria, as well as a highly connected molecular ecological network in the G. soja rhizosphere soil. Taken all, the current study suggest that wild soybeans may have evolved to recruit beneficial microbes in its rhizosphere that can promote nutrients requisition, biostasis and disease-resistance, therefore ecologically more resilient than cultivated soybeans.     

Effect of calcium carbonate, sand, and organic matter levels on mortality of five species of Azospirillum in natural and artificial bulk soils

 Five bacterial strains, one from each of the five known species of the plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) Azospirillum (A. brasilense, A. lipoferum, A. amazonense, A. halopraeference, and A. irakense) were inoculated into two natural, semiarid soils (terra rosa and loessial sandy) from Israel, and two artificial soils constructed to simulate the native soils. Within 60 days, the populations of all five Azospirillum species declined significantly in a linear fashion, in both the native soils and in the homologous artificial soils. Increased levels of CaCO₃, and fine and rough sand, had significant detrimental effects on the survival of the five Azospirillum species, whereas increased organic matter content improved survival. In contrast, when the bacterial strains were incubated in the rhizosphere of tomato seedlings grown in the artificial soils, manipulation of these soil variables had only a marginal effect on bacterial survival; all Azospirillum species survived well in the tomato rhizosphere under conditions that are otherwise detrimental. This study indicates that most cells of the strains of five known species of Azospirillum died out linearly over time in two semiarid soils, and that only the major soil components affected Azospirillum survival in soil. Because mortality was similar in native soils and in artificial homologous soils, artificial soils can be used to study the soil behavior of Azospirillum. Received: 9 April 1999     

Characterization of copper-resistant bacterial community in rhizosphere of highly copper-contaminated soil

The characteristics of copper (Cu)-resistant bacterial communities in a rhizosphere and a non-rhizosphere of the ditch reed, Phragmites, in a highly Cu-contaminated area near a copper mine were investigated. The total Cu concentration was 720 μg·g^–1 in the rhizosphere soil and 5 680 μg·g^–1 in the non-rhizosphere soil. In the rhizosphere, the multiplication of bacteria, particularly non-resistant bacteria, was promoted as compared with the non-rhizosphere. The properties of the bacterial community in the rhizosphere were quite different from those in the non-rhizosphere in terms of Cu sorption ability, growth rate and exopolymer production. Both the Cu-resistant bacteria and non-resistant bacteria in the rhizosphere grew more rapidly in media than those in the non-rhizosphere. For almost all the isolated Cu-resistant bacteria, exopolymer production was prompted by Cu stimuli especially for the isolates from the rhizosphere. The adverse effect of Cu on the growth rate was found to be small for the Cu-resistant bacteria producing exopolymers in a large quantity, suggesting the involvement of exopolymers in the detoxification of Cu. The role of Cu resistance in the bacterial chemotactic migration in the Cu-contaminated soils was not evident.     

Density,metabolic activity,and identity of cultivable rhizosphere bacteria on Salix viminalis in disturbed arable and landfill soils

The objective of this study was to provide fundamental data for a subsequent selection of willow growth and soil remediation promoting bacterial strains. The rhizosphere of willows (Salix viminalis) was screened for cultivable bacteria with high enzymatic activity (proteolytic, pectolytic, cellulolytic, amylolytic) and production of siderophores at four test sites with broad spectrum of anthropogenic soil disturbance: sewage‐sludge application, impoverishment by unfavorable arable use, ash dumping, and household‐waste depositing. The density of bacteria in the rhizosphere ranged from 7.92 to 8.56 log₁₀ of colony‐forming units per gram dry weight of soil and varied in a site‐ and willow‐clone‐specific manner. Within the 240 bacterial strains, a high diversity of metabolic activities was observed but was rarely combined in one strain (1.2% having six and 5.8% having five out of seven metabolic activities, respectively). The majority of strains (79.2%) revealed just one or two metabolic activities. Most common was a combination of lipolytic, proteolytic activities, and siderophore production as found in 13.8% of the bacterial strains. The 50 strains with the highest metabolic activity belonged predominantly to the Gammaproteobacteria (66%), the others to Flavobacteria (18%), Betaproteobacteria (8%), Actinobacteria (4%), and Bacilli (4%). The highest portion of cultivable strains of rhizosphere bacteria with high metabolic activities belonged to the genera Pseudomonas, Serratia, and Flavobacterium. We hypothesize that these genera include strains that support willow growth and soil remediation. Therefore, the described strain collection from the rhizosphere of S. viminalis provides a valuable basis for a subsequent selection of these candidates for applications in improvement of site adaptation of plants or remediation of soils.     

Changes in proteolytic bacteria in paddy soils in response to organic management

Proteolytic bacterial communities, which mineralize organic nitrogen, play a key role in agricultural systems. In this study, alkaline metalloprotease (apr) gene fragments from proteolytic bacteria were investigated in bulk and rhizosphere paddy soil from four fields under organic management (for 2, 3, 5, and 9 years), and from one field under conventional management (for 2 years). We analyzed the abundance and structure of the proteolytic bacterial communities using real-time quantitative PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Our results showed that the abundance of proteolytic bacteria ranged from 1.57?×?10⁸ to 8.02?×?10⁸?copies/g of soil. In addition, the abundance of the proteolytic bacteria in the paddy soils under organic management was significantly higher than those in the paddy soil under conventional management. Moreover, the gene copy numbers in the rhizosphere soils were significantly higher than those in the bulk soils. The abundance of proteolytic bacteria tended to increase with the duration of organic management, with the highest abundance being found in the soil that had been under organic management for 5 years. However, the proteolytic bacteria communities in the paddy soils were not significantly affected by management practices. Phylogeny analysis showed that all gel bands obtained represented genes from Pseudomonas. Additionally, correlation analysis and canonical correspondence analysis showed that C/N, C, and N were important factors that influenced the abundance and community structure of the proteolytic bacteria. These results suggest that proteolytic bacteria are indicators in organic management systems, depolymerize organic N and hence maintain soil sustainability.

Abbreviations: CM: conventional management; OM: organic management; DGGE: denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis; qPCR: real-time quantitative PCR detecting system; COFCC: China organic food certification center; CCA: canonical correspondence analysis     

Bacterial communities associated with natural and commercially grown rooibos (Aspalathus linearis)

Aspalathus linearis is a commercially important plant species endemic to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa and is used to produce a herbal tea known as rooibos tea. Symbiotic interactions between A. linearis and soil bacteria play an important role in the survival of Aspalathus plants in the highly nutrient-poor, acidic fynbos soil. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare rhizosphere and bulk soil bacterial communities associated with natural and commercially grown A. linearis, as well as the effect of seasonal changes on these communities. Bacterial communities were characterized using high throughput amplicon sequencing, and their correlations with soil chemical properties were investigated. The N-fixing bacterial community was characterized using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria were the most dominant bacterial phyla detected in this study. Highly similar bacterial communities were associated with natural and commercially grown plants. Significant differences in the bacterial community were observed between rhizosphere and bulk soils collected in the dry season, while no significant differences were detected in the wet season. This study provides insights into bacterial community structure and potential factors shaping bacterial community structure with commercially important A. linearis.     

The effects of changes in soil moisture on nitrogen cycling in acid wetland types of the New Jersey Pinelands (USA)

Wetlands are subject to changes in soil moisture as a result of both short-term seasonal climate variations and long-term changes in regional water resource management, both of which can modify the dynamics of ground and surface water inputs. In the New Jersey Pinelands, forested wetlands that differ in both plant communities and soil structure occur along a topographic and hydrological gradient associated with an unconfined aquifer. Proposed groundwater withdrawals may affect water content of soils along this gradient. We hypothesized that prolonged changes in soil moisture would alter net nitrogen mineralization and nitrification rates in proportion to the amount of moisture change, and that these changes would be similar for the different soils along the drainage catena. Soils from two catenary sequences of wetlands, including pine-dominated (driest landscape position), hardwood-dominated, and Atlantic white-cedar-dominated (wettest landscape position) communities were used in long-term laboratory incubations (36 weeks). Production of NH₄⁺-N, NO₃⁻-N, and dissolved organic N were measured under two sets of conditions: constant moisture levels of 100%, 60% and 30% water-holding capacity (WHC), and fluctuating moisture levels (alternating 2 week periods at 100% and 30% WHC). In soils from most of the wetlands, we observed increases in net mineralization and nitrification when constant low-moisture conditions were established, but not under fluctuating conditions. Contrary to expectations, responses to the drying treatments varied between wetland types and between replicate wetlands of each type. Under constant-moisture conditions, nitrification increased more in cedar swamps than in either type of pine wetland. Under all conditions, soils from all the wetlands within one of the catenas produced more inorganic and organic soluble N than did the wetlands from the other catena, suggesting that area-wide effects are as important as wetland type in regulating production of soluble N. Within both catenas, pine-hardwood wetlands generated more soluble N under all moisture conditions than did either pine-dominated or cedar wetlands. Our results suggest that changes in soil moisture due to management of water resources will affect N cycling in wetland soils, but that the magnitude of the effects, and the potential for large releases of nitrate, will depend on the specific soil properties of affected wetlands.