南亚热带森林干季期间土壤变湿后一氧化氮排放

Information about soil nitric oxide (NO) emissions from subtropical forests is quite limited, and even less is known about the pulse emission of NO when wetting soils after a long period of dryness. In this study, we measured NO fluxes following wetting of dry soil in a broadleaf forest and a pine forest in subtropical China. Large pulses of NO fluxes were observed after soil wetting in both forests. NO fluxes increased significantly within 0.5 h following wetting in both forests and reached peak 1 h and 4 h after soil wetting in the pine forest and the broadleaf forest, respectively. In the broadleaf forest, averaged peak flux of NO pulses was 157 ng N m–2 s–1, which was 8 times the flux value before wetting, and in the pine forest, the averaged peak flux was 135 ng N m–2 s–1, which was 15.5 times the flux value before wetting. The total pulses-induced NO emissions during the dry season were roughly estimated to be 29.4 mg N m–2 in the broadleaf forest and 22.2 mg N m–2 in the pine forest or made up a proportion of 4.6% of the annual NO emission in the broadleaf forest and 5.3% in the pine forest.     

亚热带气候环境条件下不同森林类型的土壤CO2通量的研究

The flux of carbon dioxide(CO2) from soil surface presents an important component of carbon(C) cycle in terrestrial ecosystems and is controlled by a number of biotic and abiotic factors. In order to better understand characteristics of soil CO2 flux(FCO2) in subtropical forests,soil FCO2 rates were quantified in five adjacent forest types(camphor tree forest,Masson pine forest,mixed camphor tree and Masson pine forest,Chinese sweet gum forest,and slash pine forest) at the Tianjiling National Park in Changsha,Hunan Province,in subtropical China,from January to December 2010. The influences of soil temperature(Tsoil),volumetric soil water content(θsoil),soil pH,soil organic carbon(SOC) and soil C/nitrogen(N) ratio on soil FCO2 rates were also investigated. The annual mean soil FCO2 rate varied with the forest types. The soil FCO2 rate was the highest in the camphor tree forest(3.53 ± 0.51 μmol m-2s-1),followed by,in order,the mixed,Masson pine,Chinese sweet gum,and slash pine forests(1.53 ± 0.25 μmol m-2 s1). Soil FCO2 rates from the five forest types followed a similar seasonal pattern with the maximum values occurring in summer(July and August) and the minimum values during winter(December and January). Soil FCO2 rates were correlated to Tsoiland θsoil,but the relationships were only significant for Tsoil. No correlations were found between soil FCO2 rates and other selected soil properties,such as soil pH,SOC,and C/N ratio,in the examined forest types. Our results indicated that soil FCO2 rates were much higher in the evergreen broadleaved forest than coniferous forest under the same microclimatic environment in the study region.     

温室栽培条件下N2O排放量和浓度分布对肥料和施肥的短期响应

In vegetable cultivation, the majority of N2O emissions occur after fertilization; it is therefore important to understand any factors contributing to this process. An experiment was conducted to investigate short-term N2O dynamics following topdressing in a greenhouse vegetable field in South China. During two topdressing processes, three different urea-N treatments with irrigation were conducted in May and June in a tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum) cultivation. The N2O fluxes, soil concentration profiles and soil environments at the 0-60 cm depths at 10 cm intervals were measured both immediately prior to and 5 days after topdressing. The N2O fluxes before topdressing ranged from 6.7±2.1 to 55.0±28.8 μ g N m 2 h 1 ; even higher numbers were recorded in highly fertilized plots. The NO3-N accumulation in the soil caused by vegetable cultivation during the 5 years prior to the start of the experiment, resulted in high background N2O fluxes. One day after topdressing (1 DAT) in May and June, N2O fluxes increased, which coincided with sharp increases in soil N2O concentrations at depths of 2.5 and 15 cm and in NO3-N and NH+4 -N contents at depths of 0-20 cm. From 1 to 5 DAT, fluctuations in the N2O fluxes did not harmonize with the N2O concentrations at a depth of 2.5 cm, which was attributed to different gas diffusion rates at depths of 0-10 cm. These results suggested that surface soil N and environmental conditions were crucial for determining the short-term N2O ebullitions during topdressing in greenhouse vegetable cultivation.     

不同水稻、小麦品种对N2O排放的影响

Plant species of cropping systems may affect nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. A field experiment was conducted to investigate dynamics of N2O emissions from rice-wheat fields from December 2006 to June 2007 and the relationship between soil and plant parameters with N2O emissions. The results indicated that N2O emissions from different wheat varieties ranged from 12 to 291 μg N2O-N m-2 h-1 and seasonal N2O emissions ranged from 312 to 385 mg N2O-N m-2. In the rice season, it was from 11 to 154 μg N2O-N m-2 h-1 with seasonal N2O emission of 190--216 mg N2O-N m-2. The seasonal integrated flux of N2O differed significantly among wheat and rice varieties. The wheat variety HUW 234 and rice variety Joymoti showed higher seasonal N2O emissions. In the wheat season, N2O emissions correlated with soil organic carbon (SOC), soil NO3--N, soil temperature, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight. Among the variables assessed, soil temperature followed by SOC and soil NO3--N were considered as the important variables influencing N2O emission. N2O emission in the rice season was significantly correlated with SOC, soil NO3--N, soil temperature, leaf area, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight. The main driving forces influencing N2O emission in the rice season were soil NO3--N, leaf area, and SOC.     

Effects of Maize-Soybean Intercropping on Nitrous Oxide Emissions from a Silt Loam Soil in the North China Plain

Maize(Zea mays L.), a staple crop in the North China Plain, contributing substantially to agricultural nitrous oxide(N_2O)emissions in this region. Many studies have focused on various agricultural management measures to reduce N_2O emissions. However, few have investigated soil N_2O emissions in intercropping systems. In the current study, we investigate whether maize-soybean intercropping treatments could reduce N_2O emission rates. Two differently configured maize-soybean intercropping treatments, 2:2 intercropping(two rows of maize and two rows of soybean, 2M2S) and 2:1 intercropping(two rows of maize and one row of soybean,2M1S), and monocultured maize(M) and soybean(S) treatments were performed using a static chamber method. The results showed no distinct yield advantage for the intercropping systems. The total N_2O production from the various treatments was 0.15 ± 0.04–113.85 ± 12.75 μg m~(-2) min~(-1). The cumulative N_2O emission from the M treatment was 16.9 ± 2.3 kg ha~(-1) over the entire growing season(three and a half months), which was significantly higher(P 0.05) than that of the 2M2S and 2M1S treatments by 36.6% and 32.2%, respectively. Two applications of nitrogen(N) fertilizer(as urea) at 240 kg N ha~(-1) each induced considerable soil N_2O fluxes. Short-term N_2O emissions(within one week after each of the two N applications) accounted for 74.4%–83.3% of the total emissions. Soil moisture, temperature, and inorganic N were significantly correlated with soil N_2O emissions(R~2= 0.246–0.365, n =192, P 0.001). Soil nitrate(NO_3~-) and moisture decreased in the intercropping treatments during the growing season. These results indicate that maize-soybean intercropping can reduce soil N_2O emissions relative to monocultured maize.     

土壤有机碳对沼渣或牛粪施用后温室气体排放潜力的影响—盆栽试验结果

A change in the European Union energy policy has markedly promoted the expansion of biogas production.Consequently,large amounts of nutrient-rich residues are being used as organic fertilizers.In this study,a pot experiment was conducted to simulate the high-risk situation of enhanced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions following organic fertilizer application in energy maize cultivation.We hypothesized that cattle slurry application enhanced CO2 and N2O fluxes compared to biogas digestate because of the overall higher carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) input,and that higher levels of CO2 and N2O emissions could be expected by increasing soil organic C (SOC) and N contents.Biogas digestate and cattle slurry,at a rate of 150 kg NH4+-N ha-1,were incorporated into 3 soil types with low,medium,and high SOC contents (Cambisol,Mollic Gleysol,and Sapric Histosol,termed Clow,Cmedium,and Chigh,respectively).The GHG exchange (CO2,CH4,and N2O) was measured on 5 replicates over a period of 22 d using the closed chamber technique.The application of cattle slurry resulted in significantly higher CO2 and N2O fluxes compared to the application of biogas digestate.No differences were observed in CH4 exchange,which was close to zero for all treatments.Significantly higher CO2 emissions were observed in Chigh compared to the other two soil types,whereas the highest N2O emissions were observed in Cmedium.Thus,the results demonstrate the importance of soil type-adapted fertilization with respect to changing soil physical and environmental conditions.     

草甸草原模拟氮沉降抑制甲烷吸收、促进氧化亚氮排放

Few studies are conducted to quantify the effects of enhanced N deposition on soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emission and methane (CH4) uptake in the meadow steppe of Inner Mongolia,China.A two-year field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of nitrogen (N) deposition rates (0,10,and 20 kg N ha-1 year-1 as (NH4)2SO4) on soil N2O and CH4 fluxes.The seasonal and diurnal variations of soil N2O and CH4 fluxes were determined using the static chamber-gas chromatography method during the two growing seasons of 2008 and 2009.Soil temperature,moisture and mineral N (NH4+-N and NO3--N) concentration were simultaneously measured.Results showed that low level of (NH4)2SO4 (10 kg N ha-1 year-1) did not significantly affect soil CH4 and N2O fluxes and other variables.High level of (NH4)2SO4 (20 kg N ha-1 year-1) significantly increased soil NO3--N concentration by 24.1％ to 35.6％,decreased soil CH4 uptake by an average of 20.1％,and significantly promoted soil N2O emission by an average of 98.2％.Soil N2O emission responded more strongly to the added N compared to CH4 uptake.However,soil CH4 fluxes were mainly driven by soil moisture,followed by soil NO3--N concentration.Soil N2O fluxes were mainly driven by soil temperature,followed by soil moisture.Soil inorganic N availability was a key integrator of soil CH4 uptake and N2O emission.These results suggest that the changes of availability of inorganic N induced by the increased N deposition in soil may affect the CH4 and N2O fluxes in the cold semi-arid meadow steppe over the short term.     

森林养分循环模型应用

The nutrient cycling model NuCM is one of the most detailed models for simulating processes that influence nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. A field study was conducted at Tieshanping, a Masson pine （Pinus massoniana Lamb.） forest site, in Chongqing, China, to monitor the impacts of acidic precipitation on nutrient cycling. NuCM simulations were compared with observed data from the study site. The model produced an approximate fit with the observed data. It simulated the mean annual soil solution concentrations in the two simulation years, whereas it sometimes failed to reproduce seasonal variation. Even though some of the parameters required by model running were measured in the field, some others were still highly uncertain and the uncertainties were analyzed. Some of the uncertain parameters necessary for model running should be measured and calibrated to produce a better fit between modeled results and field data.     

日本北海道地区森林、牧场、草原和玉米田温室气体排放及模型研究

Information on the most influential factors determining gas flux from soils is needed in predictive models for greenhouse gases emissions.We conducted an intensive soil and air sampling along a 2 000 m transect extending from a forest,pasture,grassland and corn field in Shizunai,Hokkaido (Japan),measured CO 2 ,CH 4 ,N 2 O and NO fluxes and calculated soil bulk density (ρ b ),air-filled porosity (f a ) and total porosity (Φ).Using diffusivity models based on either f a alone or on a combination of f a and Φ,we predicted two pore space indices: the relative gas diffusion coefficient (D s /D o ) and the pore tortuosity factor (τ).The relationships between pore space indices (D s /D o and τ) and CO 2 ,CH 4 ,N 2 O and NO fluxes were also studied.Results showed that the grassland had the highest ρ b while f a and Φ were the highest in the forest.CO 2 ,CH 4 ,N 2 O and NO fluxes were the highest in the grassland while N 2 O dominated in the corn field.Few correlations existed between f a ,Φ,ρ b and gases fluxes while all models predicted that D s /D o and τ significantly correlated with CO 2 and CH 4 with correlation coefficient (r) ranging from 0.20 to 0.80.Overall,diffusivity models based on f a alone gave higher D s /D o ,lower τ,and higher R 2 and better explained the relationship between pore space indices (D s /D o and τ) and gases fluxes.Inclusion of D s /D o and τ in predictive models will improve our understanding of the dynamics of greenhouse gas fluxes from soils.D s /D o and τ can be easily obtained by measurements of soil air and water and existing diffusivity models.     

盐碱地土壤：氧化亚氮和二氧化碳排放的潜在来源？

Increasing salt-affected agricultural land due to low precipitation,high surface evaporation,irrigation with saline water,and poor cultural practices has triggered the interest to understand the influence of salt on nitrous oxide(N_2O) and carbon dioxide(CO_2)emissions from soil.Three soils with varying electrical conductivity of saturated paste extract(EC_e)(0.44-7.20 dS m~(-1)) and sodium adsorption ratio of saturated paste extract(SARe)(1.0-27.7),two saline-sodic soils(S2 and S3) and a non-saline,non-sodic soil(S1),were incubated at moisture levels of 40%,60%,and 80%water-filled pore space(WFPS) for 30 d,with or without nitrogen(N)fertilizer addition(urea at 525 μg g~(-1) soil).Evolving CO_2 and N2 O were estimated by analyzing the collected gas samples during the incubation period.Across all moisture and N levels,the cumulative N_2O emissions increased significantly by 39.8%and 42.4%in S2 and S3,respectively,compared to S1.The cumulative CO_2 emission from the three soils did not differ significantly as a result of the complex interactions of salinity and sodicity.Moisture had no significant effect on N_2O emissions,but cumulative CO_2 emissions increased significantly with an increase in moisture.Addition of N significantly increased cumulative N_2O and CO_2 emissions.These showed that saline-sodic soils can be a significant contributor of N_2O to the environment compared to non-saline,non-sodic soils.The application of N fertilizer,irrigation,and precipitation may potentially increase greenhouse gas(N2O and CO_2) releases from saline-sodic soils.     

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.