长期施肥对红壤磷素持续供应能力的影响

以长期施肥(始于1988年)的旱地红壤为研究材料,通过对历史数据的统计与分析,讨论了红壤全磷累积量与有效供磷量之间的相互关系,同时,通过有效磷的连续提取实验研究了红壤的持续供磷能力。研究结果表明:在长期施肥的过程中约有76.9%～86.8%的磷素积累在旱地红壤中,有效磷水平是红壤磷素肥力高低的直观表现,随着土壤全磷累积量的增大而增加;土壤磷素的纯盈余量又决定着全磷与有效磷的供应水平。由连续提取实验结果可以初步推测,如果现在减少或停止施用磷肥,红壤现有的供磷水平至少可以满足3～4季作物的磷素需求。因此,应在兼顾土壤磷素的农业效应和环境安全的前提下,建立新的施肥制度,使磷素资源的利用更加合理化。     

长期施肥对旱地红壤磷素饱和度的影响

磷素饱和度(Degree of phosphorus saturation, DPS)能够有效评估土壤磷素的流失潜能及地表水磷富营养化问题,可用于评价土壤磷素环境风险。DPS值通常由酸性草酸铵提取态磷(Pox)与提取态铁铝(Feox, Alox)的摩尔质量比除以校正常数(Corrected constant,α)计算得到,而α是通过建立土壤饱和吸磷量与影响土壤磷吸附的土壤特征值间的相关关系而计算得到的数值;α的取值大小(常取0.5)会直接影响到DPS的准确估算。因此,本文以中国科学院红壤生态实验站(28°04′～28°37′N,116°41′～117°09′E)为依托,以长期施肥(1988～2014年)的旱地红壤为研究材料,通过两种计算方法得到了土壤的DPS值,分析了校正常数α=0.5在长期施肥的旱地红壤DPS计算中的适用性,并确定了长期施肥旱地红壤DPS计算中α的适用性阈值。研究结果表明:校正常数α=0.5虽适用于长期施肥旱地红壤DPS的估算,但易导致旱地红壤DPS的过高估算;对比计算发现,长期施肥旱地红壤DPS计算时,校正常数α的最适取值范围为0.71～0.81。但是,不同环境背景下旱地红壤DPS计算公式中校正常数α的适应性阈值仍需进一步校正与验证,从而提高红壤区土壤磷素环境风险评估的准确性。     

长期施肥对旱地红壤团聚体磷素固持与释放能力的影响

在中国科学院红壤生态试验站26年的旱地红壤长期肥料定位试验中,选取无机肥试验区的NPK、NK处理,有机无机肥配施试验区的对照(CK)、CK+稻秆(RS)、CK+花生秸秆还田(PS)、CK+绿肥(FR)及CK+猪厩肥(PM)等7个肥料处理土壤,采用湿筛法逐级提取并得到粒级依次为2 mm、2~1 mm、1~0.25 mm与0.25~0.053 mm的团聚体土壤样品;通过室内分析获得了土壤及各粒级团聚体的全磷(TP)、有效磷(Available P)、水溶性磷(CaCl_2-P)、土壤磷素吸持指数(PSI)及土壤磷素饱和度(DPS)等指标值,并探讨了上述测定指标间的相关关系。结果表明:长期施用磷肥可有效保持旱地红壤的供磷水平,配施猪厩肥可显著增加旱地红壤及大小团聚体的TP、有效磷及CaCl_2-P含量、降低土壤PSI并显著增大旱地红壤DPS,加大了旱地红壤磷素的流失风险;随着土壤中1 mm粒级团聚体数量的增多,旱地红壤磷素储量显著增加,磷素固持能力显著下降,土壤磷释放潜能随之增大。由DPS、有效磷及CaCl_2-P的分段线性拟合方程可以推断得出,当旱地红壤中有效磷为168~260 mg kg~(-1)时或DPS28%,土壤磷素具有潜在流失风险;当有效磷≥260 mg kg~(-1)或DPS≥28%,土壤磷素具有极高的流失风险,应立即停止施用磷肥尤其是有机磷肥,并重新调整施肥方案,以避免土壤磷素流失及其对水体环境的污染。     

不同施肥条件下旱地红壤磷素固定及影响因素的研究

以Langmuir曲线测出的Xm值（最大吸磷量）为指标，对不同施肥条件下红壤旱地土壤的吸磷能力变化特征及影响磷素吸附的主要因素进行了研究。结果表明：施用磷肥能显著降低土壤的最大吸磷量，其中。施用厩肥的土壤Xm值最小。有机质是影响土壤吸磷能力的一个重要因素，随着有机质含量的升高，土壤吸磷能力减小；活性铝也是影响磷素吸附的重要因素，随活性铝含量增加，磷素吸附能力增加；活性铁的影响不显著；pH对红壤旱地吸磷能力影响也不显著。通过因子分析得到，有机质含量对土壤吸附磷素的能力影响最大。在生产上，磷素最大吸附量Xm值可以作为初步判断土壤需施磷肥量大小的依据。这些可为红壤地及的褴毒施用研有档供理论依据和实践指导。     

长期施肥对旱地红壤微团聚体磷素有效性的影响

【目的】土壤微团聚体是磷素储存与周转的重要载体,明确长期施肥下旱地红壤微团聚体中赋存磷素的形态及其生物有效性,为磷肥的高效合理施用提供理论依据。【方法】以位于鹰潭农田生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站院内的长期肥料定位试验(1988～2014)为依托,分别以有机无机配施区的1/2 NPK(CK)、低量NPK+稻秆(RS)与低量NPK+猪厩肥(PM)处理及无机肥区的NK与NPK处理的旱地红壤为研究材料,采用水分散-吸管法逐级提取了土壤中0.25～0.05 mm、0.05～0.01 mm、0.01～0.005 mm与<0.005 mm粒级微团聚体,对比分析了各粒级微团聚体中全磷、有效磷及磷活化系数的变化差异。基于土壤磷素分级结果,分析了旱地红壤中大小粒级微团聚体中极有效磷、中等有效磷及非有效磷对长期施肥的响应。借助于结构方程模型探讨了微团聚体中各形态磷、磷活化系数、颗粒组成、有机质、铁铝氧化物等因子与有效磷的互应关系。【结果】长期配施猪粪可以显著增加旱地红壤各粒级微团聚体中全磷、有效磷、磷活化系数及极有效磷、中等有效磷及非有效磷的含量,且<0.005 mm粒级微团聚体中的各组分磷增...     

不同施肥条件下红壤旱地磷素形态及有效性分析

磷素是红壤地区农业生产的最重要的限制因素，因此红壤磷素形态与转化问题的研究，对红壤地区农业生产具有重要意义。用Hedley方法对不同施肥条件下红壤旱地土壤磷素形态进行了研究，结果表明：施磷肥能明显增加红壤各形态无机磷含量和大多数形态有机磷含量；红壤中，对植物最有效的树脂磷和碳酸氢钠磷含量很少，铁铝结合态磷和残留磷含量很多；对有效磷（Bray磷）贡献最大的磷素形态是碳酸氢钠无机磷、铁铝结合态无机磷和存在于土壤团聚体内表面的有机磷。这对于了解不同施肥条件对红壤旱地磷素有效性的影响、探索磷素消长规律、指导红壤旱地磷素管理等都有一定的理论和实践意义。     

千岛湖库区农地土壤磷的固定与释放特性的研究

农田土壤中磷的流失与磷的积累及其吸附/释放特性等有关。为了解千岛湖库区土壤中磷素积累对农地土壤磷流失的潜在影响,本文选择了10个代表性土壤,采用等温吸附与室内加磷培养及化学提取等试验,探讨了库区代表性农地土壤对磷的固定和释放特性;同时采样评估了库区内140个农田土壤有效磷积累状况及其磷素释放的潜力。结果表明,千岛湖库区农地土壤最大磷吸附量有较大的差异,在214.5~745.2 mg kg-1之间变化,平均最大磷吸附量:红壤石灰岩土水稻土紫色土。土壤最大磷吸附量主要与粘粒和游离氧化铁含量有关。加磷培养试验表明,水溶性磷水平随土壤磷的积累呈显著的增加,当土壤有效磷(Olsen P)达45 mg kg-1左右时,土壤磷的释放潜力明显增强。对库区代表性农田磷素积累研究表明,约有19.8%的样点土壤有效磷在45 mg kg-1以上,存在一定的磷流失风险。研究建议加强千岛湖库区农田土壤的测土配方施肥工作,减免因农田土壤中磷素的过度积累而增加对水体的污染。     

长期不同施肥对黄壤磷素吸附–解吸特性的影响

  【目的】  磷吸附–解吸特性对土壤磷素有效性和环境流失风险有重要影响。研究长期不同施肥对黄壤旱地磷吸附–解吸特性的影响,可为黄壤区合理施用磷肥提供理论依据。  【方法】  供试黄壤肥力长期定位试验位于贵阳,始于1995年。设有对照 (CK)、施氮钾肥 (NK)、施氮磷钾肥 (NPK)、单施有机肥 (M) 和有机肥化肥配施 (MNPK) 5个处理。采用恒温平衡方法,研究了磷最大吸附量 (Q_m)、磷吸附常数 (K)、磷吸附自由能 (|ΔG|)、磷最大缓冲容量 (MBC)、磷吸附饱和度 (DPS)、磷固定量 (PI)、磷解吸率 (DR),不同施肥处理土壤对外源磷的吸附和解吸特征,并分析土壤磷吸附解吸特征参数与土壤理化性质之间的关系。  【结果】  M和MNPK处理显著降低了土壤中的黏粒含量,提高了有机质含量和pH,提高了土壤全磷和有效磷及微生物量磷含量;NK和NPK处理对土壤黏粒含量没有显著影响,但是降低了有机质和pH,NK处理降低了土壤的磷含量和有效性。Langmuir吸附等温线方程能很好地拟合土壤吸附磷和相应的平衡溶液磷浓度曲线 (R2为0.9532～0.9950,P < 0.01)。与CK相比,NK、NPK处理Q_m分别显著增加了39.2%、40.9%,M处理Q_m显著降低了20.0%,MNPK处理Q_m无显著差异,说明施用化肥可增加土壤对磷素的吸附位点,而施用有机肥则减少了土壤对磷素的吸附位点,有机无机肥配施时则吸附位点无显著变化;各处理K、|ΔG|、MBC、PI表现为MNPK≤ M < CK < NPK < NK,DPS则表现为MNPK > M > NPK > CK > NK,DR均值表现为MNPK>M>CK>NPK>NK。当加入外源磷浓度 < 10 mg/L时,NK和NPK处理的磷固液比为85.8～100.3,CK为4.2～28.8,M和MNPK处理为2.5～7.7,说明当施用的外源磷浓度较低时,长期施用化肥处理中的磷大部分被土壤吸附,难以被作物利用,而长期施用有机肥处理中磷则大部分留存在液相中,有利于作物的吸收利用。相关分析表明,Q_m、K、|ΔG|、MBC、PI等磷吸附特征参数与土壤黏粒含量、pH、有机质相关系数基本大于与土壤磷的相关系数,说明土壤黏粒含量、pH和有机质对土壤磷素吸附解吸特性的影响大于土壤磷素水平的影响。  【结论】  黄壤磷素吸附–解吸特性受磷肥性质的影响大于施磷量,长期施用有机肥可降低土壤对磷素的吸附,促进土壤磷素解吸,提高土壤磷素有效性,长期施用化肥效果则相反。长期有机无机肥配施可综合有机肥和化肥优势,在土壤磷浓度较低时,可降低土壤对磷的吸附,促进磷素解吸,提高土壤磷素的有效性;在土壤磷浓度较高时,可以降低土壤磷素解吸率,减小磷素环境流失风险,是黄壤旱地上最佳的施肥模式,但本研究中MNPK处理施磷量过高导致土壤磷素大量累积,磷素流失风险较大。     

不同有机培肥方式对红壤性水稻土磷素的影响

基于红壤性水稻土有机肥长期定位试验,分析了红壤双季稻种植模式下,不施肥、NPK、紫云英+猪粪+化肥、紫云英+猪粪+秸秆+化肥、紫云英+秸秆+化肥处理耕层土壤全磷、Olsen-P、磷素有效性和磷素利用率35年的变化特征,以及Olsen-P与水稻产量的响应关系。结果表明:不施肥处理土壤全磷含量显著降低,有效磷含量及磷素有效性略微下降。配施猪粪显著提高全磷、Olsen-P含量和磷素有效性,但显著降低磷肥利用率,增加磷的环境污染风险。化肥配合紫云英及稻草还田处理土壤全磷、有效磷含量以及磷素有效性保持稳定,但显著提高磷肥利用率。Olsen-P的产量农学阈值为16.36 mg kg-1。     

长期不同施肥处理红壤旱地剖面养分分布差异

【目的】 研究长期不同施肥措施下红壤旱地的培肥效果、养分迁移特征以及环境风险，对制定红壤旱地合理的养分管理和培肥技术，促进畜禽粪便的循环利用具有重要意义。 【方法】 依托始于1986年的红壤旱地肥料定位试验，选取不施肥 (CK)、氮磷钾肥配施 (NPK)、2倍氮磷钾肥配施 (2NPK)、有机肥 (OM) 和有机肥和氮磷钾肥配施 (NPKM) 5个处理，采集0—10 cm、10—20 cm、20—40 cm、40—60 cm、60—80 cm、80—100 cm土壤样品，分析了pH值、有机质及氮磷钾养分含量。 【结果】 连续施肥28年后，红壤旱地土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮、全磷、有效磷、速效钾等含量均随着土壤深度增加逐步降低。与对照相比，施用有机肥显著提高了0—40 cm土壤的pH值，其余处理pH有所下降。长期施用化肥后，红壤旱地土壤有效磷、全磷、碱解氮和全氮在0—20 cm耕层累积，土壤速效钾的累积则达到40 cm深；与化肥处理相比，有机肥和有机无机肥配施处理0—40 cm土壤的全氮、碱解氮、速效钾、有效磷和全磷的含量显著增加，土壤全氮和碱解氮的下移累积达到40 cm，而土壤全磷和有效磷的下移累积则达到了60 cm。红壤旱地长期施用猪粪等有机肥主要增加了0—40 cm耕层土壤的磷素累积，而在剖面80 cm以下未表现出明显累积现象。 【结论】 长期施用化肥 (28年)处理养分主要在0—20 cm红壤旱地耕层土壤累积，而长期施用有机肥或有机无机肥配施还可以明显提高20—40 cm土壤养分含量，养分下移累积作用明显。此外，红壤旱地长期施用有机肥可以缓解耕层土壤的酸化、提高耕层土壤肥力水平，是增加培肥深度的有效措施，但是长期施用猪粪导致的氮磷下渗深度增加可能引起的环境风险也应引起重视。      

Potential of wild species for genetic enhancement of some semi-arid food crops

Discovery and incorporation of genes from wild species provide means to sustain crop improvement, particularly when levels of resistance in the cultigens are low and virulent strains of pests and pathogens overcome the host plant resistance. The extent of utilization and the potential of the wild genepool for genetic enhancement were reviewed in five important food crops viz. sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut grown in the semi-arid tropics. Introgression from compatible wild germplasm in the primary gene pool resulted in transfer of new cytoplasmic male sterility systems in pearl millet and pigeonpea, development of high protein, cleistogamous flower and dwarf pigeonpea lines and foliar disease resistant groundnut cultivars. Utilization of wild species in secondary and tertiary gene pools has been generally limited due to sterility, restricted recombination or cross incompatibility. Nevertheless, these species are extremely important as they contain high levels of resistance to several important biotic and abiotic stresses. Several of them, like those belonging to the Parasorghum section and the rhizomatous Arachis species are sources of multiple resistances and hold great promise to sustain crop productivity.     

“绿色革命”以来大气CO2浓度升高对C3作物营养品质的影响

自20世纪60年代"绿色革命"以来,育种技术和农耕技术的发展促进了农作物产量的大幅提升,然而作物的营养品质出现下降趋势。在相似的遗传背景下,大气CO_2浓度升高会使单位体积农作物产品的营养元素含量下降,因此"绿色革命"至今,农作物产品的营养元素下降可能受大气CO_2浓度升高影响。通过植物生长箱模拟"绿色革命"初期和目前的大气CO_2浓度水平(310μmol/mol和400μmol/mol),针对主要C_3作物水稻、小麦和大豆,研究"绿色革命"以来大气CO_2浓度升高对其籽粒的C、N、Fe、Zn元素含量的影响,结果表明:CO_2浓度升高对3种作物籽粒的C元素含量几乎没有影响,变化幅度在±1.5%之间;籽粒的N、Fe、Zn元素含量普遍呈现下降趋势,但均未达到显著水平。     

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

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications     

Collection and preliminary evaluation of native turfgrass accessions in Italy

Despite a raising interest on turfs in Italy, all theavailable varieties of this kind in the Country are of foreign origin, and areoften poorly adapted to the prevailing climatic conditions. This prompted tobegin a collection activity of indigenous turfgrass species, with the ultimategoal of identifying promising materials for future breeding based on localgenetic resources. The collection was carried out in three areas of Italy, viz.the northern Po Plain, the coastal region of Liguria, and the island of Sardiniathat are characterised, respectively, by subcontinental, warm temperate, andtypical Mediterranean climate. Altogether, 141 sites were visited, yielding 226accessions belonging to eight species of potential interest for turfs:Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis,Festuca rubra, Festuca arundinacea,Lolium perenne, Agrostis stolonifera,Agrostis tenuis, and Cynodon dactylon,this last being a warm-season grass. Poa pratensis andCynodon dactylon were mostly collected in northern Italyand Sardinia, respectively, whereas Festuca arundinacea andLolium perenne were rather ubiquitous. The collection sitesranged from 0 to 1040 m asl, but sites over 750 m wereonly visited in the inner part of Sardinia. All the accessions, collected aswhole plants, were transplanted at Lodi, northern Italy, where they are beingevaluated. Their preliminary evaluation for traits of importance for turf use,such as sward colour and overall quality, highlighted the great variation andthe occurrence of interesting accessions in all species. Other characters wererecorded, bearing specific importance in individual species, and in all casespromising accessions were identified. The germplasm of Festucarubra, Festuca arundinacea, and Loliumperenne proved highly infected by endophytic (symbiotic) fungi of thegenus Neotyphodium.     

Leaf position and genotype differences for mineral element concentrations in sorghum grown on tropical acid soil 1

Mineral element deficiencies and toxicities are common problems associated with sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production on acid soils. To better understand some of the mineral element problems and the analysis of plant tissue of sorghum plants grown on acid soils, four sorghum genotypes were grown on an acid Oxisol at Carimagua, Colombia limed with dolomite at 2 and 6 Mg ha^‐1.

Samples for mineral element analyses were obtained from leaves at different positions on the four genotypes. Concentrations of P and Mg were highest in the flag leaf (Leaf No. 1) and decreased as the position on the plant declined from the top of the plant for plants grown at 2 Mg lime ha^‐1. Similar decreases in P, Mg, K, and Zn concentrations occurred in plants grown with 6 Mg lime ha^‐1. Concentrations of Ca, S, Si, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Al increased as leaf position declined from the flag leaf for plants grown at 2 and 6 Mg lime ha^‐1. The higher lime supply enhanced Ca and reduced Mn and Fe concentrations in leaves. Differences in mineral element concentrations for the four genotypes used were fairly extensive. The elements to show the greatest range among genotypes were Al and Si and the elements to show the least range among genotypes were P, K, and S. Care should be used in collecting leaf samples for plant analysis and genotypic differences for accumulation of mineral elements should be considered in interpretation of results.     

Short-term variation in the concentration of selected ions within individual tropical rainstorms

Rainwater was collected at the campus of the University of Brunei Darussalam in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, using a funnel-in-bottle sampler. Polypropylene bottles were changed at intervals during rainstorm events. The pH and conductivity were determined immediately after collection on aliquots of the sample. Samples were refrigerated at 5°C for subsequent chemical analysis. Analyses for Na, Mg, Ca, Zn and Fe were carried out by means of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES); Cu and Mn were analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS); K was analysed using flame atomic emission spectroscopy (FAES); and Cl^–, NO₃ ^– and SO₄ ^2– were analysed by ion chromatography (IC). Concentration versus time profiles are reported for three rainstorm events. All ions exhibited a decrease in concentration during the rainstorm. The first sample contained the highest concentration of ions, consistent with a first-flush effect. The contribution of the initial stages of the shower to the total quantity of ion deposited during the entire rainstorm is quite overwhelming; in many cases 20 to 30% of the mass was deposited in less than 5% of rainstorm duration. On the other hand, the pH and conductivity variation during rainstorms did not exhibit a consistent pattern.     

Leaf litter selection by detritivore and geophagous earthworms

Summary Litterbag experiments with 10 different kinds of leaf litter showed that detritivore (Lumbricus species) and geophagous (Aporrectodea species) earthworms prefer certain litter types over others, since different numbers of worms were found below the litter after 50–52 days of exposure in a pasture. The detritivores preferred Fraxinus, Tilia, and predecomposed Ulmus and Fagus litter to Fagus litter and paper, while geophages preferred Tilia litter to Alnus and Ulmus litter, so that the two groups of earthworms showed different preferences. The detritivores seemed to be more selective than the geophages. The palatability of the litter was examined in relation to the C: N ratio, the lignin concentration and the initial and final polyphenol concentration. The numbers of detritivores were significantly correlated with the C: N ratio and the final polyphenol concentration, so that selection of litter seems to be related to palatability. The numbers of geophages were not significantly correlated with any of the parameters for palatability. The disappearance of litter after 50–52 days appeared to be due to detritivore activity, since the numbers found below the litter were positively and significantly correlated with the litter disappearance. There was no significant correlation with geophage activity. This indicates that detritivores use litter as food, and therefore influence the composition of the litter layer.     

The 5S rRNA gene diversity in the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Secale</Emphasis> and determination of its closest haplomes

We analyzed 127 rDNA sequences (5S DNA units) obtained from 23 seed accession samples from more or less 10 taxa in wild and cultivated rye, genus Secale L. The sequences fell into two known groups, here assigned to two unit classes, viz. long R1 and short R1 (designations to reflect on R haplome of rye). The different taxa could not be fully differentiated based on the 5S DNA units. We searched for 5S DNA sequences from known unit classes most closely similar to the long R1 and the short R1. One set with the long R1 unit class contained sequences of the long P1 unit class from Agropyron (P haplome) and from Kengyilia (StYP haplome), long J1 from Thinopyrum (J haplome), whereas the set with the short R1 included the long S1 from Pseudoroegneria (St haplome) and Kengyilia (StYP haplome), the short J1 from Thinopyrum (J haplome) and the short V1 from Dasypyrum (V haplome). Each of the two sets was analyzed separately by maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis from which we were able to infer that the 5S DNA units of Secale differentiated in a non-clock fashion and followed the HKY substitution model in the gene tree with the long R1 unit class and the HKY + G in the gene tree with the short R1 unit class. A complementary Bayesian analysis yielded identical tree topologies to the ML ones for each of the two sequence sets. In the tree with the long R1 units the long P1 and long J1 unit classes were closest to the long R1 unit class, whereas in the tree with the short R1 units the long S1 and short J1 unit classes were closest to the short R1 unit class, indicating possibly a close relationship between the St, J and R haplomes.     

Nematode succession and microfauna-microorganism interactions during root residue decomposition

The quality of plant material affects the vigor of the decomposition process and composition of the decomposer biota. Root residues from hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), rye (Secale cereale L.) and vetch+rye, packed in litterbags were placed in pots of soil at 15 C and the content of the bags was analyzed after 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Bacterial biomass did not differ between residues with contrasting composition. Among bacterivores groups of nematodes that require high bacterial production dominated in fast decomposing resources whereas flagellates with smaller requirements prevail in slower decomposing resources. Biomass of bacterial feeding nematodes correlated positively with early phase (0-2 wk) decomposition that increased in the order: rye< vetch+rye<vetch. Bacterial biomass therefore seems to be under top-down (predation) control during early decomposition. In contrast, the fungal biomass differed between resources with highest values for rye. Moreover, this increase in fungal biomass occurred later during succession and was correlated with decomposition activity for rye in that period. Fungal biomass therefore seems to be under bottom-up (resource) control. The composition of the nematode assemblages (composed of 25 taxa) showed a clear relationship to initial plant resource quality as well as decomposition phase. Early successional microbivorous nematodes vary according to resource quality with demanding bacterivores+predators (Neodiplogasteridae) dominating in vetch and less demanding bacterivores (Rhabditidae) and fungivores (Aphelenchus) being equally common in vetch and rye. Later in the succession (2-4 wk) bacterivorous Cephalobidae and fungivorous Aphelenchoides prevailed similarly on the different root materials whereas bacterivorous protozoa and the amoebal fraction thereof dominated in rye. At week 12 no species dominated the nematode assemblages that were similar between the resources. The differences between nematode assemblages among plant resources at 2 week were similar to the results of a field study sampled after 6 weeks with the same soil and plant resources. This lends support to the relevance of the successional patterns observed in this incubation study.     

Cycling of extracellular DNA in the soil environment

Upon entering the soil environment, extracellular DNA is subjected to dynamic biological, physical, and chemical factors that determine its fate. This review concerns the fate of both recombinant and non-recombinant sources of DNA. A schematic of DNA cycling coupled with genetic transformation is presented to understand its behavior in soil. Extracellular DNA may persist through cation bridging onto soil minerals and humic substances, be enzymatically degraded and restricted by DNases of microbial origin, and/or enter the microbial DNA cycle through natural transformation of competent bacteria. Lateral gene transfer may disseminate DNA through the microbial community. An understanding of DNA cycling is fundamental to elucidating the fate of extracellular DNA in the soil environment.