秸秆还田施氮调节碳氮比对土壤无机氮、 酶活性及作物产量的影响

秸秆的质量,特别是C/N是影响秸秆分解速率和养分释放的重要因素。在秸秆还田条件下,如何科学合理地施用氮肥是秸秆利用和优化施肥研究的关键问题。本研究以秸秆还田施入碳氮的C/N为切入点,于2012—2013年通过田间试验(设秸秆不还田不施肥、秸秆还田不施氮、秸秆还田施用无机氮肥调节C/N为10∶1、16∶1和25∶1以及秸秆还田施用有机氮肥调节C/N为25∶1处理),研究秸秆还田不同氮输入对小麦-玉米轮作田土壤无机氮、土壤微生物量氮、酶活性以及作物产量的影响。结果表明:1)在C/N为25∶1下,施用有机氮肥和无机氮肥对土壤无机氮含量无显著影响;在施用无机氮肥的情况下,C/N越低土壤无机氮含量越高。2)秸秆还田施氮提高了土壤微生物量氮含量,但是各秸秆还田施氮处理之间差异不显著;秸秆还田不同施氮处理对脲酶活性无显著影响;秸秆还田施氮提高了FDA水解酶活性,并随C/N降低呈升高趋势,施用无机氮肥的效果强于施用有机氮肥的。3)秸秆还田施用无机氮肥显著提高了小麦和玉米地上部生物量,施用无机氮肥调节C/N为10∶1和16∶1相比于C/N为25∶1提高了小麦和玉米的苗期和成熟期地上部生物量;施用有机氮肥调节C/N为25∶1相比秸秆还田不施氮对地上部生物量无显著影响。秸秆还田施用无机氮肥提高了作物产量,施用无机氮肥调节C/N为16∶1产量最高,而施用有机氮肥调节C/N为25∶1有降低作物产量的趋势。综合以上结果来看,施用无机氮肥调节C/N为16∶1较为合理。     

重金属污染矿区复垦土壤微生物生物量及酶活性的研究

对铜矿废弃地复垦土壤微生物生物量及酶活性研究结果表明 ,与对照土壤相比 ,矿区复垦土壤微生物生物量C、N和P均有所降低 ,微生物商Cmic Corg可作为矿区重金属污染土壤微生物学敏感指标之一 ;酶活性变化与此相似 ,脲酶、脱氢酶和酸性磷酸酶与对照差异显著 ,其他则与对照差异明显 ,一定程度削弱了矿区土壤中C、N营养元素周转速率和能量循环     

小叶锦鸡儿固沙群落土壤微生物生物活性的季节动态

为探讨科尔沁沙地小叶锦鸡儿固沙群落土壤微生物生物量和酶活性的季节动态规律,选取6,11,24年生人工群落和天然群落为对象,研究了不同土层深度微生物生物量(C、N、P)和脲酶、蛋白酶、蔗糖酶、磷酸单酯酶、脱氢酶和多酚氧化酶的活性随季节的变化特征。土壤按5层取样:0-10cm,10-20cm,20-30cm,30-40cm,40-50cm。结果表明,6～24年生小叶锦鸡人工固沙群落及天然群落土壤微生物生物量表现出明显的季节性变化,微生物生物量C和N为夏季>秋季>春季;微生物生物量P为夏季>秋季;6种土壤酶的活性也随季节发生显著变化,夏季显著高于春季和秋季。土壤微生物生物量和6种酶的活性随群落发育年限的增长而升高,但人工群落土壤的生物活性始终低于天然群落。6种土壤酶活性和微生物生物量最高值均出现在土壤表层(0-10cm),随着土层的加深生物活性逐渐降低。     

重金属Cd、Zn、Cu、Pb复合污染对土壤微生物和酶活性的影响

通过野外土样采集及室内测定,研究了云南东川铜矿区土壤酶和微生物特征,并采用盆栽试验研究了重金属Cd、Zn、Cu、Pb复合污染对土壤微生物和酶活性的影响。结果表明,距离矿口越近,土壤有机质、有效N、P、K的含量、土壤pH值亦越低,土壤酶活性和土壤微生物数量、微生物生物量C和N受到的抑制程度也增强,其中土壤酶中的酸性磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶,土壤微生物中的细菌对重金属污染较为敏感。盆栽试验中,Cd、Zn、Cu、Pb复合污染使白菜(Brassica rapapekinensis)生物量明显下降,且随复合污染程度的增加,白菜生物量下降幅度增加。Cd与Zn、Cu、Pb,Zn与Cd、Cu、Pb,Cu与Cd、Zn、Pb的复合效应机制为协同效应,而Pb与Cd、Zn、Cu的复合效应机制为拮抗效应。重金属Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd复合污染使土壤酶活性显著降低,但低量的Cd、Zn、Cu、Pb复合污染刺激了细菌、真菌、放线菌、微生物生物量C和N。重金属Cd、Zn、Cu、Pb对土壤酶活性和土壤微生物数量及微生物生物量C和N的复合效应机制表现出协同和拮抗效应。     

长期有机无机肥配施对褐土微生物生物量碳、氮量及酶活性的影响

通过对山西省寿阳长期定位试验田0―20 cm和20―40 cm的土壤测定和分析,探讨了长期有机无机肥配施下褐土微生物生物量碳、氮和酶活性的变化以及相关性。结果表明,褐土微生物生物量C、N变化基本一致。褐土微生物生物量碳、氮从0―20 cm到20―40 cm土层均呈减少趋势;长期单施高量有机肥、有机无机肥合理配施都能提高褐土微生物生物量碳、氮;不同用量的长期单施化肥处理不能使微生物生物量C、N显著增加。脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性从0―20 cm到20―40 cm土层呈减少趋势;长期单施高量有机肥和有机无机肥合理配施可使褐土脲酶及碱性磷酸酶活性增加。脲酶活性随单施化肥量的增加有变大趋势,而碱性磷酸酶活性则呈变小趋势。土壤微生物量碳氮、土壤酶活性及土壤养分之间的显著相关性表明,微生物生物量C、N和土壤酶活性可以判断褐土土壤有机质和N素状况,可作为评价褐土土壤肥力水平和土壤培肥效果的生物学指标,同时也可为提高褐土土壤肥力水平和土壤培肥效果提供依据。     

菌肥对混播牧草土壤酶活性及微生物的影响

为研究菌肥与混播对土壤酶活性及微生物生物量的影响,本试验以苜蓿和饲用高粱为研究对象,设8个处理,分别为苜蓿单播(N1)、饲用高粱单播(N2)、苜蓿与饲用高粱同行混播(N3)、苜蓿与饲用高粱间行混播(N4)以及分别施入微生物菌肥(T1、T2、T3与T4)。在饲草生长的苗期、旺盛期与收获期分别取0～20、20～40和40～60 cm土样并测定土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶活性以及微生物生物量碳、氮含量。结果表明:菌肥及混播各处理土壤酶活性及微生物生物量均显著高于未施菌肥及饲草单播各处理,且混播配施菌肥效果更优。土壤酶活性随土层深入逐渐降低,随生育期推进,过氧化氢酶和蔗糖酶活性呈现先降低后升高趋势;土壤脲酶活性呈现先升后降趋势,微生物生物量碳、氮的规律与脲酶相同。混播配施菌肥有利于增加有益酶活性,提高土壤微生物生物量,增强土壤生产力的可持续性,从而达到保护和改善土壤环境的效果,为内蒙古地区马铃薯提供倒茬作物,提供充足饲草,对农业与畜牧业发展意义重大。     

不同种植时间菜园土壤微生物生物量和酶活性变化特征

土壤生物学指标能够反映土壤质量在各种自然和人为作用下的微小变化,是敏感的土壤质量指标。本文以太湖地区高强度开发为背景,研究了不同利用年限的菜园土壤微生物生物量C和酶活性的变化特征。研究结果表明,菜园土壤随着利用年限的不断增加,土壤养分逐渐升高,土壤脲酶活性、土壤微生物生物量C与土壤有机质、全N、全P之间具有良好的线性关系,土壤纤维素酶活性随菜地利用时间增加有上升的趋势,它们能较好地区别不同利用年限的菜地土壤,可以作为敏感的土壤生物学指标。但土壤转化酶活性与土壤养分的变化没有明显的相关性。     

长期施肥对红壤旱地土壤活性有机碳和酶活性的影响

以江西进贤长期肥料定位试验为平台,研究了红壤旱地不同施肥措施对土壤微生物生物量、活性有机C、C库管理指数以及土壤酶活性的影响。研究结果表明:与不施肥和单施化肥土壤相比,施有机肥处理土壤的pH、CEC、有机C、全N、全P、无机N、速效P、速效K及土壤微生物生物量均显著增加,土壤活性有机C和C库管理指数也较试前土壤和其他处理土壤明显提高,此外,土壤的转化酶、脱氢酶、脲酶和酸性磷酸酶活性也较其他处理显著增加。土壤微生物生物量、活性有机C以及4种土壤酶活性之间的相关关系显著,且它们均与土壤有机C、全N、全P、无机N、速效P等土壤养分呈显著正相关。因此,红壤旱地通过长期施用有机肥或与无机肥配施,不仅能显著提高土壤有机质的数量和质量,而且能增加土壤微生物生物量和酶活性,从而显著提高土壤肥力和土壤持续生产力。     

不同施肥处理对黄泥土微生物生物量碳氮和酶活性的影响

通过室内培育实验,研究了不同施肥处理对黄泥土微生物生物量C、N和脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、蔗糖酶活性的影响。培养过程中,单施化肥处理土壤微生物生物量C、N均呈下降趋势,施用有机肥处理的土壤微生物量C前期升高至一定水平后或保持稳定、或呈下降趋势,而微生物生物量N总体均呈下降趋势;不同施肥处理的脲酶活性呈前期上升后期下降趋势,而酸性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶则单施化肥处理呈上升趋势、配施有机肥处理呈下降趋势。与对照处理相比,单施化肥处理显著降低土壤微生物生物量C、N,高量施用化肥处理还显著降低土壤脲酶活性,但对酸性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶活性的影响并不明显。秸秆施用可显著提高土壤微生物生物量C、N和酶活性,特别是高量施用秸秆的效果更明显。施用猪粪由于同时带入了大量的活性养分,对土壤微生物生物量C、 N和酶活性的影响尚难评价。在高度集约农业利用下,继续保持较高的化肥施用量并不利于土壤生物质量的维护和提高,而秸秆直接还田才是保持土壤健康状态的有效措施。     

降雨对荒漠草原生物土壤结皮化学计量的影响

生物土壤结皮是干旱地区地表景观的基本组成部分,对生物地球化学循环具有重要影响。在中国北方荒漠化地区,生物土壤结皮化学计量在很大程度上是未知的,特别是降雨如何影响荒漠草原生物土壤结皮化学计量仍然不确定。该研究以自然降雨为对照,通过使用遮雨棚和喷灌系统控制降水输入,开展增水和减水处理野外控制性试验,研究降雨量对荒漠草原生物土壤结皮化学计量的影响。试验结果表明:1)减水处理增加了结皮层C∶N、C∶P和N∶P的比率,增水处理增加了结皮层下垫面C∶N、C∶P和N∶P比率;2)减水处理增大了结皮层与下垫面之间C含量的差异,同时减小了N和P含量的差异,增水处理增大了结皮层与下垫面之间N和P含量的差异,减水处理有利于结皮层C的积累,而增水后结皮层中磷的有效性降低;3)适宜的土壤水分条件促进了结皮层及下垫面土壤微生物生物量碳(Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon,SMBC)和土壤微生物生物量氮(Soil Microbial Biomass Nitrogen,SMBN)的积累,而过高的降雨量导致土壤养分损失,不利于SMBC和SMBN的积累。相对干旱的土壤环境有利于结皮层土壤C、N的富集,为土壤微生物呼吸提供较多的营养物质,有利于SMBC和SMBN的积累。总之,在中国北方荒漠化地区,生物土壤结皮和下垫面的C∶N∶P化学计量对降雨量有不同的响应。     

Soil compaction and forest floor removal reduced microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a boreal aspen forest soil

Soil enzymes are linked to microbial functions and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems and are considered sensitive to soil disturbances. We investigated the effects of severe soil compaction and whole-tree harvesting plus forest floor removal (referred to as FFR below, compared with stem-only harvesting) on available N, microbial biomass C (MBC), microbial biomass N (MBN), and microbial biomass P (MBP), and dehydrogenase, protease, and phosphatase activities in the forest floor and 0–10 cm mineral soil in a boreal aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forest soil near Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada. In the forest floor, no soil compaction effects were observed for any of the soil microbial or enzyme activity parameters measured. In the mineral soil, compaction reduced available N, MBP, and acid phosphatase by 53, 47, and 48%, respectively, when forest floor was intact, and protease and alkaline phosphatase activities by 28 and 27%, respectively, regardless of FFR. Forest floor removal reduced available P, MBC, MBN, and protease and alkaline phosphatase activities by 38, 46, 49, 25, and 45%, respectively, regardless of soil compaction, and available N, MBP, and acid phosphatase activity by 52, 50, and 39%, respectively, in the noncompacted soil. Neither soil compaction nor FFR affected dehydrogenase activities. Reductions in microbial biomass and protease and phosphatase activities after compaction and FFR likely led to the reduced N and P availabilities in the soil. Our results indicate that microbial biomass and enzyme activities were sensitive to soil compaction and FFR and that such disturbances had negative consequences for forest soil N and P cycling and fertility.     

北松辽平原沿纬度梯度农田土壤酶活性与微生物量分布研究

Soil enzymes activities and microbial biomass have an important influence on nutrient cycling. The spatial distribution of soil enzymes activities and microbial biomass were examined along a latitudinal gradient in farmlands of Songliao Plain, Northeast China to assess the impact of climatic changes along the latitudinal transect on nutrient cycling in agroecosystems. Top soils （0-20 cm depth） were sampled in fields at 7 locations from north （Hallun） to south （Dashiqiao） in the end of October 2005 after maize harvest. The contents of total C, N, and P, C/N, available N, and available P increased with the latitude. The activities of invertase and acid phosphatase, microbial biomass （MB） C and N, and MBC/MBN were significantly correlated with latitude （P 〈 0.05, r^2 = 0.198, 0.635, 0.558, 0.211 and 0.317, respectively）, that is, increasing with the latitude. Significant positive correlations （P 〈 0.05） were observed between invertase activity and the total N and available P, and between acid phosphatase activity and the total C, C/N, available N, total P and available P. The urease, acid phosphatase, and dehydrogenase activities were significantly correlated with the soil pH and electrical conductivity （EC） （P 〈 0.05）. MBC and MBN were positively correlated with the total C, C/N, and available P （P 〈 0.05）. The MBC/MBN ratio was positively correlated with the total C, total N, C/N, and available N （P 〈 0.05）. The spatial distribution of soil enzyme activities and microbial biomass resulted from the changes in soil properties such as soil organic matter, soil pH, and EC, partially owing to variations in temperature and rainfall along the latitudinal gradient.     

Seasonal changes in microbial biomass in soils cropped with palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii L.) and Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.) in subtropical India

Changes in microbial C, N, and P were investigated for 1 year in two soils with similar physicochemical properties but supporting different crops under subtropical conditions. One was cropped with palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii L.) and the other with Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis L.). Both the season and the type of cropping had a significant influence on changes in the soil microbial biomass. In general, soil microbial biomass C, N, and P were highest in summer months and lowest in midwinter. Soil microbial biomass levels and microbial C:N and C:P ratios were higher and N:P ratios lower under palmarosa soil than under mint.     

Soil biochemical and microbial indices in wet tropical forests: Effects of deforestation and cultivation

Little information is available about the long‐term effects of deforestation and cultivation on biochemical and microbial properties in wet tropical forest soils. In this study, we evaluated the general and specific biochemical properties of soils under evergreen, semi‐evergreen, and moist deciduous forests and adjacent plantations of coconut, arecanut, and rubber, established by clear felling portions of these forests. We also examined the effects of change in land use on microbial indices and their interrelationships in soils. Significant differences between the sites occurred for the biochemical properties reflecting soil microbial activity. Microbial biomass C, biomass N, soil respiration, N mineralization capacity, ergosterol, levels of adenylates (ATP, AMP, ADP), and activities of dehydrogenase and catalase were, in general, significantly higher under the forests than under the plantations. Likewise, the activities of various hydrolytic enzymes such as acid phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase, casein‐protease, BAA‐protease, β‐glucosidase, CM‐cellulase, invertase, urease, and arylsulfatase were significantly higher in the forest soils which suggested that deforestation and cultivation markedly reduced microbial activity, enzyme synthesis and accumulation due to decreased C turnover and nutrient availability. While the ratios of microbial biomass C : N and microbial biomass C : organic C did not vary significantly between the sites, the ratios of ergosterol : biomass C and ATP : biomass C, qCO2 and AEC (Adenylate Energy Charge) levels were significantly higher in the forest sites indicating high energy requirements of soil microbes at these sites.     

黄土丘陵区垂直陡壁表面不同类型生物土壤结皮养分与微生物养分限制特征

生物土壤结皮的发育类型对土壤养分和微生物代谢起着重要作用。为进一步明确在生物结皮发育过程中微生物的限制性养分与影响因素,研究选择黄土丘陵区垂直陡壁表面上的裸土(CK)、浅色藻结皮(LA)、深色藻结皮(DA)、藻藓混合结皮(AM)和藓结皮(M)为研究对象,分析了不同生物土壤结皮类型下碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)养分状况与胞外酶活性,并通过胞外酶化学计量来量化微生物的代谢限制。结果表明:LA,DA,AM和M这4种类型生物土壤结皮C,N,P养分含量和微生物生物量C,N,P均显著高于CK(p<0.05),并且SOC,TN,TP和微生物生物量C,N,P随CK,LA,DA,AM和M的顺序逐渐增大,藓结皮微生物量C,N,P分别是CK处理的18.3,27.6,14.1倍。生物土壤结皮的发育显著提高了C,N,P循环酶的活性,冗余分析结果表明土壤养分与酶活性密切相关。此外,通过酶计量的矢量模型结果来看,生物土壤结皮的发育造成微生物相对碳限制的增大与相对磷限制的减小,并受到速效养分含量的影响。偏最小二乘路径模型结果也表明生物土壤结皮的类型会间接影响微生物的代谢限制。总的来说,生物土壤结皮类型的变化会改善土壤养分状况与微生物量等性质,养分资源的供应状况会造成微生物养分代谢的变化。     

Long-term gravel–sand mulch affects soil physicochemical properties,microbial biomass and enzyme activities in the semi-arid Loess Plateau of North-western China

The use of gravel–sand mulch is a traditional water-conservation technique in the semi-arid Loess Plateau of North-western China. In this study, we investigated the 16-year effects of this mulch on soil physicochemical properties (total organic C, N and P; bulk density; Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn; soil texture; pH), microbial biomass C, N and P and enzymatic activities (peroxidase, dehydrogenase, invertase, β-glucosidase, alkaline phosphomonoesterase and urease) in a field trial in China's Gaolan County. We examined how these parameters changed after 7, 11 and 16 years of mulching. After 16 years, soil bulk density and sand content increased significantly. Soil Ca and Cu contents did not change significantly during the study period, but Fe, Mg, Mn and Zn contents all decreased significantly after 16 years. The total N increased significantly after 11 years, but total C and N both decreased dramatically and significantly after 16 years (by 22% and 13%, respectively, compared to the control). The mulch significantly increased microbial biomass C (by 29% after 11 years), with similar results for N and P, but these positive effects were lost after 16 years. Enzyme activities revealed changes in the soil microbial community over time; the mulch increased enzyme activities until 11 years, followed by a significant decrease that suggested degradation of soil quality after long-term mulching. The positive effects of the mulch (increasing soil temperature) could explain the high microbial biomass and enzyme activities after 11 years. However, long-term increases in soil bulk density and sand content (caused by mixing of the mulch layer with the surface soil) and a lack of inputs of organic matter (caused by the barrier created by the mulch layer) led to degradation of the soil after 16 years.     

Effects of fertilizer application and fire regime on soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen,and nitrogen mineralization in an Australian subalpine eucalypt forest

The effects of a range of fertilizer applications and of repeated low-intensity prescribed fires on microbial biomass C and N, and in situ N mineralization were studied in an acid soil under subalpine Eucalyptus pauciflora forest near Canberra, Australia. Fertilizer treatments (N, P, N+P, line + P, sucrose + P), and P in particular, tended to lower biomass N. The fertilizer effects were greatest in spring and smaller in summer and late actumn. Low-intensity prescribed fire lowered biomass N at a soil depth of 0–5 cm with the effect being greater in the most frequently burnt soils. No interactions between fire treatments, season, and depth were significant. Only the lime + P and N+P treatments significantly affected soil microbial biomass C contents. The N+P treatment increased biomass C only at 0–2.5 cm in depth, but the soil depth of entire 0–10 cm had much higher (>doubled) biomass C values in the line + P treatment. Frequent (two or three times a year) burning reduced microbial boomass C, but the reverse was true in soils under forest burn at intervals of 7 years. Soil N mineralization was increased by the addition of N and P (alone or in combination), line + P, and sucrose + P to the soil. The same was true for the ratio of N mineralization to biomass N. Soil N mineralization was retarded by repeated fire treatments, especially the more frequent fire treatment where rates were only about half those measured in unburnt soils. There was no relationship between microbial biomass N (kg N ha^-1) and the field rates of soil N mineralization (kg N ha^-1 month^-1). The results suggest that although soil microbial biomass N represents a distinct pool of N, it is not a useful measure of N turnover.     

退化生态系统植被恢复过程中土壤微生物群落活性响应

通过分析退化生态系统中主要植被恢复类型对土壤微生物群落活性的影响,探讨敏感和可靠的微生物群落活性响应指标,揭示适合当地生态条件的植被恢复类型。结果表明,沙米荒地、白沙蒿、柠条、沙冬青和人工乔木林地土壤微生物量C,N,P和微生物商、蔗糖酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶、碱性磷酸酶均表现出显著差异(P<0.05)。在土壤各层内,除上层人工乔木林地土壤微生物量N相对较高外,柠条恢复草地土壤微生物量C,N,P都相对较高,沙米荒地均较低;土壤微生物商没有明显的趋势;人工乔木林地蔗糖酶和柠条恢复草地脲酶活性相对较高,过氧化氢酶和碱性磷酸酶活性没有明显的变化趋势,沙米荒地的蔗糖酶、脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性以及白沙蒿草地碱性磷酸酶活性较低。方差分析(ANOVA)显示,蔗糖酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶和碱性磷酸酶与土壤有机质、全氮以及微生物量C,N,P之间呈显著相关关系;主成分分析(PCA)表明,土壤微生物量N,C,P和蔗糖酶、土壤微生物商基本反映了研究区植被恢复中土壤微生物群落活性的响应信息。不同植被恢复类型草地中土壤微生物群落活性的变化表明,柠条和人工乔木林是研究区域内适合当地生态条件的植被恢复类型。     

Composted biosolids enhance fertility of a sandy loam soil under dairy pasture

Field and pot trials were established to assess potential benefits and adverse effects of amending a sandy loam soil, under grazed ryegrass-clover pasture, with compost manufactured from wastewater biosolids, wood waste and green waste. Compost was applied to the field trial site annually for 4 years and the pot trials used soil from the field trial site each year after compost application. The pot trials demonstrated that yield of silver beet (Beta vulgaris L.) increased with increasing compost application rate and that plant metal uptake was (except for Zn) unrelated or inversely related to soil metal concentrations. In samples from the field trial, soil total C, N, P and Olsen P increased markedly with increasing compost application rate. Cation exchange capacity, exchangeable cations and total-extractable and EDTA-extractable metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) were also elevated, total Cu to the limit allowable in biosolids-amended soil. Soil basal respiration, microbial biomass C and anaerobically mineralisable N were significantly increased in the amended plots. Anaerobically mineralisable N was highly correlated with respiration (r =0.98, n =24) and only weakly related to microbial biomass C, probably indicating that a high proportion of the N mineralised was from the compost organic matter. Sulphatase and phosphatase activities increased, but not significantly, and there were no measurable effects on rhizobial numbers or on sensitive microbial biosensors (Rhizotox C and lux-marked Escherichia coli). Biosolids compost application enhanced soil fertility, productivity and microbial biomass and activity, with no apparent adverse effects attributable to heavy metals.     

Mobile and readily available C and N fractions and their relationship to microbial biomass and selected enzyme activities in a sandy soil under different management systems

Within different land‐use systems such as agriculture, forestry, and fallow, the different morphology and physiology of the plants, together with their specific management, lead to a system‐typical set of ecological conditions in the soil. The response of total, mobile, and easily available C and N fractions, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities involved in C and N cycling to different soil management was investigated in a sandy soil at a field study at Riesa, Northeastern Germany. The management systems included agricultural management (AM), succession fallow (SF), and forest management (FM). Samples of the mineral soil (0—5, 5—10, and 10—30 cm) were taken in spring 1999 and analyzed for their contents on organic C, total N, NH₄⁺‐N and NO₃^—‐N, KCl‐extractable organic C and N fractions (Corg_(KCl) and Norg_(KCl)), microbial biomass C and N, and activities of β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase. With the exception of Norg_(KCl), all investigated C and N pools showed a clear relationship to the land‐use system that was most pronounced in the 0—5 cm profile increment. SF resulted in greater contents of readily available C (Corg_(KCl)), NH₄⁺‐N, microbial biomass C and N, and enzyme activities in the uppermost 5 cm of the soil compared to all other systems studied. These differences were significant at P ≤ 0.05 to P ≤ 0.001. Comparably high C_mic:C_org ratios of 2.4 to 3.9 % in the SF plot imply a faster C and N turnover than in AM and FM plots. Forest management led to 1.5‐ to 2‐fold larger organic C contents compared to SF and AM plots, respectively. High organic C contents were coupled with low microbial biomass C (78 μg g^—1) and N contents (10.7 μg g^—1), extremely low C_mic : C_org ratios (0.2—0.6 %) and low β‐glucosidase (81 μg PN g^—1 h^—1) and L‐asparaginase (7.3 μg NH₄‐N g^—1 2 h^—1) activities. These results indicate a severe inhibition of mineralization processes in soils under locust stands. Under agricultural management, chemical and biological parameters expressed medium values with exception for NO₃^—‐N contents which were significantly higher than in SF and FM plots (P ≤ 0.005) and increased with increasing soil depth. Nevertheless, the depth gradient found for all studied parameters was most pronounced in soils under SF. Microbial biomass C and N were correlated to β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase activity (r ≥ 0.63; P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, microbial biomass and enzyme activities were related to the amounts of readily mineralizable organic C (i.e. Corg_(KCl)) with r ≥ 0.41 (P ≤ 0.01), suggesting that (1) KCl‐extractable organic C compounds from field‐fresh prepared soils represent an important C source for soil microbial populations, and (2) that microbial biomass is an important source for enzymes in soil. The Norg_(KCl) pool is not necessarily related to the size of microbial biomass C and N and enzyme activities in soil.<?show $6#>