A comparison of methods for soil microbial population and biomass studies

A comparison was made of 15 different techniques which are used in assessing soil microbial populations and/or biomasses. These include direct observations (fungal standing crop, fluorescein diacetate active mycelia, acridine orange stained bacteria), cultural methods (bacterial plate counts), physiological methods (total microbial, bacterial and fungal biomasses, O₂-uptake), soil enzyme analyses (dehydrogenase, catalase, alkaline and acid phosphatase, protease, amylase), and ATP-analyses. The various techniques were applied to six soils known to have different microbial characteristics. The results are discussed with respect to the convertability of counts and measurements into microbial biomasses, the variability of the techniques, the correlations within comparable groups of methods, and the practical limitations in application of individual methods to different soils.     

Cadmium in upland forests after vitality fertilization with wood ash—a summary of soil microbiological studies into the potential risk of cadmium release

The use of wood ash in forestry has been questioned because of the potential risk associated with its cadmium (Cd) content (1–30 mg kg^–1). In agriculture, wood ash is only allowed for use as a fertilizer when its Cd content is below 3 mg kg^–1. This restriction has not been applied to forest soils and there is a lack of knowledge about the potentially harmful effects of the Cd in wood ash on forest ecosystems. This paper summarizes our recent studies on the microbial communities of boreal coniferous forest humus exposed to Cd-containing wood ash treatment. The main objectives of our studies were to test if the Cd in wood ash has the potential to affect the humus layer microflora of coniferous upland forests and if it has the potential to enter the human food chain. These objectives were tested both in laboratory and field experiments with ash and ash spiked with Cd (in laboratory 400 or 1,000 mg Cd kg^–1 as CdO or CdCl₂; in field 400 mg Cd kg^–1 as CdO). In one study the dissolution of ash was accelerated by irrigating it with simulated acid rain (SAR). Wood ash increased humus layer pH and microbial activities (respiration or thymidine incorporation rates) and changed its microfloral community structure (Biolog, PLFA, 16S or 18S rDNA PCR-DGGE) in both laboratory and field experiments. Spiking ash with Cd induced no further changes in the above-mentioned variables compared to ash alone. The Cd added with wood ash did not become bioavailable as detected with a bacterial biosensor Bacillus subtilis BR151(pTOO24). The form and level of Cd added in the ash had no further effect on the microbiological variables studied. Irrigation of ash with SAR did not increase the amount of bioavailable Cd, although the dissolution rate of the ash was increased. The concentration of Cd in soil water and in the berries of Vaccinium uliginosum and V. vitis-idaea, and the amount of humus bioavailable Cd did not increase with applied ash or ash spiked with Cd although the ash spiked with Cd increased the amount of humus total and extractable Cd in the 4-year field study. Only the ash spiked with Cd and not the unspiked normal wood ash resulted in significantly higher Cd concentrations in the mushroom Lactarius rufus and a slight increase in the berries of Empetrum nigrum (first year only). In conclusion, the Cd in wood ash did not become bioavailable and harmful to forest soil microbes, or leach into the humus layer even when treated with simulated acid rain. It is thus safe to use wood ash as a fertilizer in forests. However, since wood ash adds Cd to the environment, it is recommended that the same sites should not be fertilized with wood ash more than once. The effects of wood ash (3 t ha^–1) on forest soil humus layer microbes are long-term, lasting at least 20 years, and probably longer if higher application dose and/or hardened ash is used.     

Trade-off between height growth and spring flushing in common beech (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus sylvatica</Emphasis> L.)

• Introduction   

The annual development cycle of boreal and temperate trees results from an evolutionary trade-off between two opposing forces. These are namely, the adjustment of leaf phenology to the timing of frost occurrence at the beginning and/or the end of the growth season countered by an effective adjustment to the duration of the growth season to maximise photosynthesis and biomass production during the growing season.     

Element (Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, Tl and Zn), element ratio and lead isotope profiles in a sediment affected by a mining operation episode during the late 19th century

Mining operations at Mårsätter in 1877–81 resulted in increased metal loading to a small lake, notably as sulphidic tailings. The event is taken as an opportunity to study the present environmental impact of a historical single major metal release. Lake water and four sediment cores were sampled and analysed for principal and trace elements in solid and aqueous phases as well as general hydrochemical conditions. Chronologies were determined from ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios and historical records. Ordinary sedimentation after the event has lead to that the tailings are found as a distinct layer at a depth of 18–22 cm in the sediment. The layer is characterized by elevated metal concentrations in the solid and pore water phases, respectively, circum neutral pH and sulphate concentrations below detection. Geochemical modelling indicated a preference for carbonate equilibrium in the waste while sulphides prevailed above it. It is concluded that the growth of the ordinary sediment on top of the waste has lead to a physicochemical barrier that seals of the waste from the overlying sediment. Chemical or physical rupture of the barrier will release the metals to downstream regions. According to the chronologies at least three sources have contributed to the present elevated levels of metals, in additions to the release of tailings. Copper from a historical blast furnace prior to the event at Mårsätter, transport from mineralized parts of the watershed and release of contaminated water from present mining operations maintain elevated levels of notably zinc, silver, cadmium and lead. At present less than 10% of the lead content at the sediment/water interface comes from atmospheric deposition. Increased levels of antimony and thallium were not observed prior to ca 1950.     

Total folate content and retention in rosehips (Rosa ssp.) after drying

Folate concentrations in rosehips and commercial rosehip products and factors affecting folate retention during drying were investigated. On the basis of the raw material studied during 3 years, rosehips were shown to be a rich folate source, 400-600 microg/100 g based on dry matter and 160-185 microg/100 g based on the fresh weight (edible part). Rosehips are not often consumed fresh; therefore, drying to produce stable semimanufactures is a crucial step. The degradation of folate was shown to be dependent on the drying time until the water activity was below 0.75. The required drying time was reduced by cutting the rosehips in slices and to some extent also by increasing the temperature. Retention of folate and ascorbic acid was affected by the same factors, and high content of ascorbic acid could provide a possible protection for folate degradation.     

Three-component model of runoff generation,Lysina catchment,Czech Republic

The forested Lysina catchment is situated in an area very susceptible to acid deposition. The stream water is characterized by extremely high concentrations of total dissolved Al (volume weighted mean 66 Μmol L^?1) and H⁺ (average pH=3.87). In a simple two-component model, the surface runoff component contributes only 6% of runoff in winter and 4% of runoff in summer. During flood episodes, the direct runoff contributes up to 20% of streamflow. There is a strong positive correlation between stream acidity and stream discharge. The observed exponential increase in streamwater acidity with discharge during high flow periods cannot be explained by the simple two-component model. A three-component model used for hydrograph separation is based on chemical and¹⁸O analysis of precipitation, soil water and runoff. It incorporates a soil water component along with groundwater and rainfall components in streamwater generation. Dissociated organic acids leached during the flow of water through the uppermost soil horizon help to balance an apparent anion deficit. The apparent anion deficit was found to increase exponentially with flow rate. Low variability in streamwaterδ ¹⁸O corresponds to a high contribution of indirect components (i.e., soil and ground water) in the runoff. The soil water contribution to indirect runoff calculated from the apparent anion deficit of streamwater, varied from 0 at base flow up to 80% during floods. On average, 40% of the streamwater is derived from soil water (from 31 to 39% in winter and from 47 to 54% in summer).     

Yield and soil system changes from conservation tillage in dryland farming: A case study from North Eastern Tanzania

Yield levels in smallholder farming systems in semi-arid sub-Saharan Africa are generally low. Water shortage in the root zone during critical crop development stages is a fundamental constraining factor. While there is ample evidence to show that conservation tillage can promote soil health, it has recently been suggested that the main benefit in semi-arid farming systems may in fact be an in situ water harvesting effect. In this paper we present the result from an on-farm conservation tillage experiment (combining ripping with mulch and manure application) that was carried out in North Eastern Tanzania from 2005 to 2008. Special attention was given to the effects of the tested treatment on the capacity of the soil to retain moisture. The tested conservation treatment only had a clear yield increasing effect during one of the six experimental seasons (maize grain yields increased by 41%, and biomass by 65%), and this was a season that received exceptional amounts of rainfall (549 mm). While the other seasons provided mixed results, there seemed to be an increasing yield gap between the conservation tillage treatment and the control towards the end of the experiment, and cumulatively the yield increased with 17%. Regarding soil system changes, small but significant effects on chemical and microbiological properties, but not on physical properties, were observed. This raises questions about the suggested water harvesting effect and its potential to contribute to stabilized yield levels under semi-arid conditions. We conclude that, at least in a shorter time perspective, the tested type of conservation tillage seems to boost productivity during already good seasons, rather than stabilize harvests during poor rainfall seasons. Highlighting the challenges involved in upgrading these farming systems, we discuss the potential contribution of conservation tillage towards improved water availability in the crop root zone in a longer term perspective.