不同林龄油松土壤微生物、酶活性和养分特征

对不同林龄油松林根际和非根际土壤养分、酶活性和微生物数量进行了研究。结果表明:(1)油松林的土壤pH处于偏弱酸性,根际和非根际土壤pH随着油松林龄的增长表现出先降低后增加趋势,在成熟林阶段达到最低,不同生长阶段油松根际土壤pH显著低于非根际土壤pH(p0.05)。(2)土壤中根际和非根际有机碳、全氮、有效磷和有效钾含量呈一致的变化趋势,随着油松林龄的增长表现出先增加后降低趋势,在成熟林阶段达到最大值,其中幼林、中林和成熟林根际有机碳、全氮、有效磷和有效钾含量显著高于非根际(p0.05),过熟林根际有机碳、全氮、有效钾和有效磷含量与非根际差异并不显著(p0.05)。(3)土壤中根际和非根际土壤酶活性(蔗糖酶活性、碱性磷酸酶活性、脲酶活性、过氧化氢酶活性)和微生物群落多样性(物种丰富度指数、均匀度指数、优势度指数、碳源利用指数)呈一致的变化趋势,随着油松林龄的增长表现出先增加后降低趋势,在成熟林阶段达到最大值,其中幼林、中林和成熟林根际土壤酶活性和微生物群落多样性显著高于非根际(p0.05),过熟林根际土壤酶活性和微生物群落多样性与非根际差异并不显著(p0.05)。(4)油松根际土壤微生物总数高于非根际,其中细菌数目所占比例最高,放线菌数目所占比例最低。(5)相关性分析表明,土壤pH与土壤微生物群落功能多样性各指标呈负相关,土壤有机碳和全氮、蔗糖酶活性、碱性磷酸酶活性、细菌数目、微生物总数与土壤微生物群落功能多样性各指标呈显著的相关性。由此可知,土壤pH对土壤微生物群落功能多样性贡献为负,土壤养分、土壤酶活性和微生物数量对土壤微生物群落功能多样性起到正调节作用,其中土壤有机碳和全氮、蔗糖酶活性、碱性磷酸酶活性、细菌数目和微生物总数是土壤微生物群落多样性的主要影响因子。     

植被自然恢复过程中土壤有机碳密度与微生物量碳动态变化

以黄土丘陵区典型草原带宁夏固原地区为例,研究了退耕地在植被自然恢复过程中土壤有机碳密度及微生物量碳的动态变化。结果表明,植被自然恢复过程中,土壤有机碳(SOC)和微生物量碳(SMBC)表现为0-5cm土层5-10cm土层10-20cm土层,且在不同土层之间的差异性达到极显著水平(P0.01)。SOC和SMBC在植被自然恢复过程中亦表现出一定的表聚性。土壤剖面各土层SOC和SMBC皆随植被恢复年限的增加总呈上升趋势,且与恢复年限之间呈极显著的对数函数关系。植被恢复0～23a期间,表层土壤(0-5cm)SOC和SMBC年增长率分别为4.81%和6.96%,增加幅度较大;植被恢复23～75a期间,表层土壤SOC和SMBC的年增长率均为0.25%,增加趋势减缓。土壤剖面各土层微生物熵(SMQ)变化于2.113～4.375。土壤有机碳周转速率在恢复前期(0～12a)较快,恢复后期(12～75a)趋于稳定,土壤有机碳积累与转化主要发生在土壤表层。SOC和SMBC之间有极显著的线性正相关关系。植被恢复0～23a期间,与对照农地相比,0-20cm土层土壤有机碳密度增加了85.23%,增加速率较快;而在植被恢复23～75a期间,有机碳密度仅增加了6.60%,增幅减缓。表明植被自然恢复有助于黄土丘陵区土壤有机碳储量的增加,促进土壤碳固定。     

喀斯特石漠化过程对土壤活性有机碳的影响

以贵州省花江峡谷区典型喀斯特石漠化小流域为研究区域,对潜在、轻度、中度、强度石漠化等级样地代表性土壤活性有机碳进行了测试分析.分析结果表明,随着石漠化程度的增加,土壤微生物生物量碳(sMBc)、轻组有机碳(LFOC)、可矿化碳(MC)、微生物商(qSMBC)呈下降趋势,微生物呼吸商(qCO2)呈上升趋势,与石漠化过程有一致性,能较好体现石漠化过程中土壤退化的本质.开垦序列土壤活性有机碳库的周转速率和土壤微生物碳库的下降速率大于樵采序列,使得开垦序列土壤即使在高的生物归还量下,形成土壤有机碳的比例相对较小.土壤SMBC,LFOC,MC,易氧化有机碳(LOC),qSMBC,qCO2等生物学性质除了与人为干扰方式有关外,还与植被生物量有关,可以体现土壤质量发展的方向,是石漠化过程土壤退化及恢复评价的敏感指标.     

乙草胺对玉米根际和非根际可培养微生物的影响

为探明土壤-植物系统中,田间施用量的乙草胺对玉米根际和非根际微生物数量的影响,采用田间试验及室内测试方法,在玉米苗期不同阶段测定了土壤中微生物量碳的变化,并进一步用平板稀释培养法研究了玉米根际和非根际土壤中细菌和真菌数量的变化。结果表明,乙草胺施用对玉米根际和非根际的土壤微生物群落均具有一定影响。可培养的根际细菌和真菌均呈现先抑制后刺激的变化,但与真菌不同,细菌受到的抑制作用时间较短,刺激作用时间较长;而本体土壤中可培养细菌和真菌则主要受到抑制作用,但是抑制作用的强度和持续时间差别很大。乙草胺对根际土壤微生物量碳可产生一定刺激作用,但影响并不显著;由于乙草胺施用对非根际土壤细菌和真菌的影响不同步并存在群落结构的补偿作用,从而维持了非根际土壤总体微生物生物量碳的基本稳定。     

不同林龄杉木根际与非根际土壤微生物群落特征

为探究中亚热带杉木土壤微生物群落随林龄变化特征,以中亚热带7,24,34 a生杉木人工林为研究对象,采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)法分析其根际和非根际土壤微生物数量和群落结构及驱动土壤微生物变化的主要土壤环境因子。结果表明:随着杉木林龄的增长,非根际土壤各类微生物数量不断减少,根际土壤微生物数量不断增加,34 a生杉木人工林细菌含量、革兰氏阴性菌含量、Cy:MONO根际土壤显著高于非根际土壤,而其他各类微生物在根际和非根际土壤间均没有显著差异。相关分析和冗余分析结果表明:土壤环境因子对杉木土壤微生物群落有显著影响,其中有效磷和铵态氮含量对土壤微生物群落的影响较大,有效磷含量与土壤微生物群落呈正相关,土壤铵态氮含量与其呈负相关。因此,在杉木人工林管理过程中,可适当增加磷的输入,以增加土壤微生物数量,提高土壤质量,促进杉木的生长。     

岷江上游山地森林/干旱河谷交错带不同植被恢复模式对根际土壤微生物量碳氮及固氮菌群落结构的影响

以岷江上游山地森林/干旱河谷交错带5种植被恢复模式的根际与非根际土壤为研究对象,对土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和土壤固氮菌群落结构的影响进行了初步研究。结果表明,5种不同植被根际与非根际土壤的微生物生物量存在显著差异且根际土壤含量大于非根际土壤,依次为:青冈次生林>灌木林>刺槐林>人工幼林>针阔混交林;DGGE图谱显示,5种植被根际与非根际土壤固氮类群有一条明显的共有条带,其中刺槐林和灌木林的固氮菌多样性最高;多样性指数、群落丰富度分析表明,灌木根际土壤固氮菌的群落种群结构最丰富,其次为刺槐;聚类分析结果显示,不同植被恢复的10种供试土壤样品分为4大类群。总之,自然恢复(青冈林和灌木林)效果好于人工林(刺槐林、人工幼林、针阔林);3种人工林相比较,刺槐林比其它两种人工林更有利于提高微生物生物量及土壤固氮菌群落结构多样性;在人工幼林地采取的封禁措施也有利于植被恢复。     

麦秸与氮肥配施对水稻根际区土壤微生物量碳氮的影响

土壤微生物生物量碳氮(SMBC、SMBN)是表征土壤肥力高低及变化的关键因子。水稻根际是水稻-土壤-微生物相互作用的场所,根际微生物作为根际生态的重要组成部分,是土壤有机质和养分转化的动力。本试验针对长江中下游典型水稻-小麦轮作区水稻非根际和根际区土壤SMBC和SMBN对麦秸还田与氮肥配施的响应规律开展研究。基于盆栽模拟试验,采用根际袋法研究了不施加秸秆+不施加氮肥(CK)、麦秸直接还田(SN0)、麦秸与低量氮肥配施(SN1)、麦秸与高量氮肥配施(SN2) 4种模式下,两种类型土壤(高砂土和黄泥土)水稻成熟期非根际和根际区SMBC和SMBN含量的变化。结果表明:与CK相比, SN0处理下高砂土根际和非根际SMBC含量分别显著提高40.3%和48.1%,而黄泥土根际和非根际区SMBC分别显著提高95.7%和75.4%。与SMBC不同,与CK相比, SN0处理下高砂土根际SMBN含量变化不显著,非根际显著降低19.9%;而黄泥土根际和非根际土SMBN含量分别显著降低19.5%和49.0%。与SN0相比,低量氮肥施用(SN1)显著提高了高砂土根际区和黄泥土非根际区SMBC含量,提高比例约5.1%和11.1%,同时SN1处理也显著提高了两种类型土壤根际和非根际SMBN含量,其中高砂土提高17.3%和9.8%,黄泥土提高36.1%和68.9%;随着施氮量增加,与SN0相比,高量氮肥施用(SN2)显著提高两种类型土壤根际和非根际区SMBC和SMBN含量,其中高砂土提高8.58%和13.5%,黄泥土提高25.6%和232.9%。综合分析认为,无论氮肥施用量高低,秸秆还田配施氮肥都可以有效提高非根际和根际区SMBC和SMBN含量,从而提升土壤养分有效性。因此,秸秆还田配施氮肥对于提高长江中下游稻麦轮作区土壤肥力和促进作物生长具有重要意义。     

银北盐碱区植物根际土壤酶活性及微生物群落特征

开展盐碱区耐盐植物根际微生物群落多样性研究,对于盐碱土壤的植被恢复和生态修复具有重要意义。运用Biolog微平板技术,对宁夏银北盐碱区6种耐盐植物根际土壤酶活性及微生物群落代谢功能多样性进行研究。结果表明:不同植物根际土壤理化性质和酶活性存在一定的差异。与裸地相比,6种植物能显著提高盐碱地土壤酶活性,苜蓿根际土壤三种酶活性显著高于其他植物。土壤平均颜色变化率(AWCD)随培养时间的延长而逐渐增加,大小顺序依次为苜蓿(MX)、芨芨草(JJC)、柽柳(CL)、柳枝稷(LZJ)、苦豆子(KDZ)、枸杞(GQ)和裸地土壤(CK),根际土壤与盐碱裸地土壤之间差异显著(P0.05)。土壤微生物群落香农指数、辛普森指数和麦金塔指数均以苜蓿根际土壤最高,芨芨草次之,二者较其他土壤差异显著(P0.05)。不同植物根际土壤微生物碳源利用能力存在差异,苜蓿根际土壤微生物的利用率显著高于其他土壤(P0.05),碳水化合物类是根际土壤微生物的主要碳源,其次为氨基酸类和羧酸类,胺类的利用率最小。主成分分析显示,对PC1和PC2起分异作用的主要碳源为碳水化合物类和羧酸类。综合各项指标,均表现为植物根际土壤优于盐碱裸地,其中苜蓿和芨芨草能显著提高土壤微生物群落功能多样性,对盐碱地根际微环境的养分循环具有积极意义。     

PLFA方法研究连作对加工番茄根际土壤微生物群落结构的影响

通过在石河子大学农学院试验站开展加工番茄连作定点微区试验,采用氯仿熏蒸和磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)法相结合,研究了不同连作处理(种植1 a、连作3 a、5 a和7 a)对新疆加工番茄花果期和成熟期根际土壤微生物群落结构及土壤微生物量的影响。结果表明,连作导致土壤微生物量碳(SMBC)、微生物量氮(SMBN)和微生物熵(q MB)下降,SMBC/SMBN升高,而微生物量磷(SMBP)随连作年限和生育期的变化而不同。连作显著增加了真菌PLFAs含量,降低了细菌PLFAs含量、土壤PLFAs总量及细菌/真菌PLFAs的比值,而放线菌PLFAs含量变化无规律。连作7 a时,成熟期的细菌PLFAs含量、土壤PLFAs总量较对照分别减少62.9%、50.3%(P0.05),而真菌PLFAs含量较对照升高60.2%(P0.05)。从多样性指数分析看,Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数、Brillouin指数和Pielou指数均随连作年限的延长呈先升后降的变化,其中连作3 a时各项指数最大,连作7 a时最小,表明在本试验年限范围内,连作使得微生物群落多样性与均匀程度皆出现了一定程度的降低。相关性分析表明,土壤微生物各类群PLFAs量、微生物量及土壤肥力之间存在相关性,说明土壤微生物量与土壤肥沃程度相关,可作为评价土壤肥力的生物学指标。可见,加工番茄连作改变了土壤微生物群落结构,降低了土壤微生物量,最终在根际土壤微生态系统和环境因子等因素的综合作用下产生连作障碍。     

生物土壤结皮对荒漠区土壤微生物生物量的影响

为探明生物土壤结皮对土壤微生物生物量碳和氮的影响,以腾格里沙漠东南缘的人工植被固沙区生物土壤结皮覆盖的沙丘土壤为研究对象,根据固沙时间的不同将样地分为4个不同的区进行采样(55、47、30和20 a固沙区),以流沙区(0 a)和天然植被区(100 a)为对照。研究表明:人工植被固沙区的藻-地衣结皮和藓类结皮均可显著提高土壤微生物生物量碳(SMBC)和氮(SMBN)含量(p0.05),且固沙年限与SMBC和SMBN含量存在显著的正相关关系(p0.05);结皮类型显著影响土壤微生物生物量,藓类结皮下SMBC和SMBN含量显著高于藻-地衣结皮下SMBC和SMBN含量(p0.05);此外,生物土壤结皮可显著提高0~20 cm土层SMBC和SMBN含量(p0.05),且这种影响随土层的增加而减弱。而且,生物土壤结皮下SMBC和SMBN含量表现明显的季节变化,表现为夏季春季秋季。水热因子是决定土壤微生物生物量季节变化的主要因子,而生物土壤结皮通过调节土壤温度和湿度而影响土壤微生物生物量的季节变化。     

Soil Properties Influence Distribution of Extractable Boron in Soil Profile

Depth distribution of boron (B) extractable by hot calcium chloride (HCC), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (PDP), and tartaric acid (TA) in some typical B‐deficient Inceptisols, Entisols, and Alfisols in relation to soil properties was studied. The magnitude of B extraction followed the order HCC > PDP > TA for Inceptisols, TA > HCC > PDP for Entisols, and PDP > HCC > TA for Alfisols and showed a decrease along soil depth. The low pH of TA and effective desorption of B by phosphate of PDP are attributed to their higher efficiency in extracting B in Entisols and Alfisols, respectively. A decrease in organic carbon (C), clay, and amorphous iron oxide content was responsible for the observed decrease in extractable B along depth of soil profile. The HCC showed more efficiency than PDP and TA for extracting B in soils high in organic C. Multiple regression equations explained only 21, 57, and 59% of the variability in PDP‐, HCC‐, and TA‐extractable B content in soils by the soil properties analyzed, of which organic C and clay were the most important. There were dynamic equilibria among the amount of B extracted by the extractants, indicating B extraction by them from more or less similar pools in the soils.     

Soil physicochemical and microbial drivers of temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter decomposition under boreal forests

Soil organic matter(SOM)in boreal forests is an important carbon sink.The aim of this study was to assess and to detect factors controlling the temperature sensitivity of SOM decomposition.Soils were collected from Scots pine,Norway spruce,silver birch,and mixed forests(O horizon)in northern Finland,and their basal respiration rates at five different temperatures(from 4 to 28℃)were measured.The Q_(10) values,showing the respiration rate changes with a 10℃ increase,were calculated using a Gaussian function and were based on temperature-dependent changes.Several soil physicochemical parameters were measured,and the functional diversity of the soil microbial communities was assessed using the MicroResp?method.The temperature sensitivity of SOM decomposition differed under the studied forest stands.Pine forests had the highest temperature sensitivity for SOM decomposition at the low temperature range(0–12℃).Within this temperature range,the Q_(10) values were positively correlated with the microbial functional diversity index(H'_(mic))and the soil C-to-P ratio.This suggested that the metabolic abilities of the soil microbial communities and the soil nutrient content were important controls of temperature sensitivity in taiga soils.     

水分对苹果园土壤呼吸季节性与年际变化的影响

[目的]了解果园土壤呼吸的季节和年际变化及其影响因素,为退耕还果条件下黄土高原地区土壤碳源汇功能变化研究提供依据。[方法]在长武农田生态系统国家野外站,以盛产期果园为对象,利用土壤碳通量监测系统(Li-COR,Lincoln,NE,USA)连续3 a原位监测了土壤呼吸、土壤水分和温度变化,分析了土壤呼吸的季节性和年际间的变化及其与水分、温度变化之间的关系。[结果]土壤呼吸具有明显的季节和年际变异特征:最高值出现在雨季(7—9月),3 a分别为3.14,3.98,4.71μmol/(m~2·s),最低值出现在11月后,3 a依次为0.99,0.88,0.69μmol/(m~2·s);年际间累积呼吸量变异约21%。土壤呼吸与温度呈显著指数关系,而不同水分状况下土壤呼吸及温度敏感性(Q_(10))不同,当土壤水分含量11.12%时,土壤呼吸为2.01μmol/(m~2·s),当土壤含水量变化于11.12%～23.63%之间时,土壤呼吸为2.24μmol/(m~2·s),当土壤含水量23.63%时,土壤呼吸则为1.38μmol/(m~2·s);相应地不同水分条件下Q_(10)值分别为1.57,1.63和1.38。[结论]土壤水分显著影响黄土区苹果园土壤呼吸和Q_(10),研究结果为黄土区果园生态系统碳汇功能的估算提供了依据。     

Plant canopy effects on litter accumulation and soil microbial biomass in two temperate forests

The objective of this study was to determine whether differences in canopy structure and litter composition affect soil characteristics and microbial activity in oak versus mixed fir-beech stands. Mean litter biomass was greater in mixed fir-beech stands (51.9t ha⁻¹) compared to oak stands (15.7t ha⁻¹). Canopy leaf area was also significantly larger in mixed stands (1.96m² m⁻²) than in oak stands (1.73m² m⁻²). Soil organic carbon (C _org) and moisture were greater in mixed fir-beech stands, probably as a result of increased cover. Soil microbial biomass carbon (C _mic), nitrogen (N _mic), and total soil nitrogen (N _tot) increased slightly in the mixed stand, although this difference was not significant. Overall, mixed stands showed a higher mean C _org/N _tot ratio (22.73) compared to oak stands (16.39), indicating relatively low rate of carbon mineralization. In addition, the percentage of organic C present as C _mic in the surface soil decreased from 3.17% in the oak stand to 2.26% in the mixed stand, suggesting that fir-beech litter may be less suitable as a microbial substrate than oak litter.     

不同生物硝化抑制剂对红壤性水稻土N2O排放的影响及其机制

为揭示不同生物硝化抑制剂(BNIs)对红壤性水稻土N₂O排放的影响差异及作用机制,通过21 d的土柱淹水培养试验,比较了三种BNIs 1,9-癸二醇(1,9-D)、亚麻酸(LN)和3-(4-羟基苯基)丙酸甲酯(MHPP)与化学合成硝化抑制剂双氰胺(DCD)对土壤N₂O排放及相关硝化、反硝化功能基因的影响。结果表明:不同BNIs(1,9-D、LN、MHPP)可以显著平均降低土壤N₂O日排放峰值40.1%;1,9-D和MHPP可分别抑制N₂O排放总量44.5%和43.9%,而DCD和LN对N₂O排放总量没有显著影响。1,9-D和MHPP对AOA(氨氧化古菌)、AOB(氨氧化细菌)硝化菌和nirS、nirK型反硝化菌的调控均有所不同,1,9-D可以同时抑制AOA、AOB和nirS微生物的生长;MHPP仅可以抑制AOA的生长;其中,AOA-amoA和nirS基因丰度与土壤N₂O的排放呈显著正相关关系。同时,1,9-D和MHPP均增加了nosZ基因丰度及其与AOA-...     

不同改良剂对融雪剂盐害土壤的修复效果

[目的]探究不同改良剂对融雪剂盐害土壤的修复效果及其对矮牵牛生长的影响,为改良剂的大田推广提供理论依据。[方法]采用香菇菌糠、平菇菌糠和脱硫石膏3种改良剂,通过土柱室内模拟试验,对改良后土壤的pH值,土壤电导率(EC),K+,Na+,Cl-、容重和孔隙度进行测定。[结果]改良处理后,pH值均有不同程度的降低;香菇菌糠施用量为24g/kg时,降低土壤EC值效果最显著;平菇菌糠改良可以有效提高土壤中K+离子含量;对于降低土壤中Na+离子含量而言,表现为:平菇菌糠香菇菌糠脱硫石膏;香菇菌糠处理(24g/kg)对于降低土壤中Cl-离子含量、土壤容重和提高孔隙度等方面效果最显著,土壤容重比CK减少了57.3%,孔隙度增加了24.6%,使矮牵牛单株鲜重较CK增加了244.64%。[结论]当香菇菌糠施用量达到24g/kg时,改良融雪剂盐害土壤的效果最显著。     

Soil actinomycetes as potential biofungicides

The biological control of fungal diseases in plants is considered an efficient and environmentally friendly alternative or supplement to fungicides. Soil antagonistic streptomycetes are particularly suitable for the biological control; they proved to be highly efficient in reducing the incidence of fungal pathogens. Streptomycetes isolated from the podzolic soils were evaluated for the biosuppression of fungal populations. Seventeen strains of streptomycetes (out of the total 279 isolates) were found to be strongly antagonistic to fungal pathogens in vitro and were selected for further experiments in situ. The full protection of plants against Fusarium spp. was obtained with the Streptomyces hygroscopicus strain K49.     

万寿菊生物熏蒸对连作苹果幼苗和土壤微生物的影响

以苹果(平邑甜茶)幼苗为试验材料,盆栽条件下以万寿菊植株风干粉末拌土熏蒸老苹果园土壤,为环境友好型熏蒸措施防控苹果连作障碍提供理论依据。试验设置老龄苹果园土壤对照(未作处理,CK)、覆膜(未拌入万寿菊,F)、万寿菊1.5 g kg~(-1)+覆膜(1.5T+F)、万寿菊6.0 g kg~(-1)+覆膜(6.0T+F)、万寿菊15.0 g kg~(-1)+覆膜(15.0T+F)。结果表明,与对照相比,万寿菊生物熏蒸处理能显著提高连作土壤中平邑甜茶幼苗的生物量,促进根系生长,提高土壤酶活性,土壤真菌减少、细菌增多。6.0 g kg~(-1)处理的效果最明显,幼苗地上部及根系干重分别为对照的8.1倍、13.1倍,根表面积及根体积分别增加了333.0%、548.4%;脲酶、磷酸酶活性分别较对照高103.6%、77.6%,蔗糖酶活性高出200.4%,过氧化氢酶活性升高64.6%;土壤细菌/真菌比值为219.9,是对照的5.6倍;真菌多样性、均匀度和丰富度指数均降低,优势度指数增加;层出镰孢菌基因拷贝数较对照降低57.9%。主成分分析(PCA)结果显示,万寿菊生物熏蒸处理对连作土壤真菌群落多样性有显著影响,能够显著减少层出镰孢菌的数量。综上,连作土壤中添加6.0 g kg~(-1)万寿菊进行生物熏蒸可提高连作平邑甜茶幼苗生物量,改善连作土壤环境,有效缓解平邑甜茶的连作障碍。     

Soil N Losses by Denitrification Evaluated Using the 15N Tracer Method

Molecular nitrogen (N₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) generated by denitrification increase N losses in the soil–plant system. This study aimed to quantify N₂ and N₂O from potassium nitrate (K¹⁵NO₃) applied to soils with different textures and moisture contents in the absence and presence of a source of carbon (C) using the ¹⁵N tracer method. In the three soils used (sandy texture (ST), sandy clay loam texture (SCLT), and clayey texture (CT)), three moisture contents were evaluated (40%, 60%, and 80% of the water holding capacity (WHC)) with (D⁺) and without (D^?) dextrose added. The treatments received 100 mg N kg^?1 (KNO₃ with 23.24 atom% ¹⁵N). N₂ emissions occurred in all of the treatments, but N₂O emissions only occurred in the D⁺ treatment, showing increases with increasing moisture content. SCLT with 80% WHC in the D⁺ treatment exhibited the highest accumulated N emission (48.26 mg kg^?1). The ¹⁵N balance suggested trapping of the gases in the soil.     

Soil suppressiveness and functional diversity of the soil microflora in organic farming systems

Arable fields of 10 organic farms from different locations in The Netherlands were sampled in three subsequent years. The soil samples were analysed for disease suppressiveness against Rhizoctonia solani AG2.2IIIB in sugar beet, Streptomyces scabies in radish and Verticillium longisporum in oilseed rape. In addition, a variety of microbial, chemical and physical soil characteristics were assessed. All data were correlated by multiple regression and multivariate analyses with the objective to find correlations between soil suppressiveness and biotic or abiotic soil characteristics. Significant differences in soil suppressiveness were found between the fields for all three diseases. Multiple regression indicated a significant correlation between suppressiveness against Rhizoctonia and the number of antagonistic Lysobacter spp., as well as with % active fungi and bacterial diversity. Grass-clover stimulated Rhizoctonia suppression as well as the presence of antagonistic Lysobacter spp. (mainly L. antibioticus and L. gummosus) in clay soils. Streptomyces suppression correlated with the number of antagonistic Streptomyces spp., % of active fungi and bacterial population size. The presence of antagonistic Streptomyces spp. correlated with a high fungal/bacterial biomass ratio. Verticillium suppression was only measured in 2004 and 2005, due to the inconsistent suppressiveness along the years. Nevertheless, a significant correlation with pH, potential nitrogen mineralization and bacterial biomass was found. Bacterial and fungal PCR-denaturing gel electrophoresis fingerprinting of bacterial and fungal communities, in general, did not significantly correlate with disease suppression. Highly significant explanatory factors of the composition of the dominating bacterial and fungal populations were % lutum, pH, C/N quotient, biomass and growth rate of bacteria. Additionally, the % of organic matter and years of organic farming were explaining significantly the composition of the bacterial population.Thus, significant correlations between several soil characteristics and suppressiveness of different soil-borne pathogens were found. For two of the three pathogens, suppression correlated with biotic soil characteristics combined with the presence of specific bacterial antagonists. Probably the soil suppressiveness measured in the organic fields is a combined effect of general and specific disease suppression.