The microbial PLFA composition as affected by pH in an arable soil

The influence of soil pH on the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition of the microbial community was investigated along the Hoosfield acid strip, Rothamsted Research, UK - a uniform pH gradient between pH 8.3 and 4.5. The influence of soil pH on the total concentration of PLFAs was not significant, while biomass estimated using substrate induced respiration decreased by about 25%. However, the PLFA composition clearly changed along the soil pH gradient. About 40% of the variation in PLFA composition along the gradient was explained by a first principal component, and the sample scores were highly correlated to pH (R² = 0.97). Many PLFAs responded to pH similarly in the Hoosfield arable soil compared with previous assessments in forest soils, including, e.g. monounsaturated PLFAs 16:1ω5, 16:1ω7c and 18:1ω7, which increased in relative concentrations with pH, and i16:0 and cy19:0, both of which decreased with pH. Some PLFAs responded differently to pH between the soil types, e.g. br18:0. We conclude that soil pH has a profound influence on the microbial PLFA composition, which must be considered in all applications of this method to detect changes in the microbial community.     

Assessing phosphorus 'Change-Points' and leaching potential by isotopic exchange and sequential fractionation

Abstract. There is increasing evidence that phosphorus (P) can be transferred to surface waters by leaching as well as by erosion and surface runoff. Recently it has been suggested that P soluble in 0.01 m CaCl₂ may be a good indicator of the specific Olsen-P concentration (usually termed the 'Change Point') at which the rate of P leaching from soil suddenly increases and poses a greater threat of eutrophication to standing waters. We know that these 'Change Points' vary from soil to soil but, so far, we do not fully understand the mechanism(s) involved. Here, we combine methods for assessing isotopically exchangeable P and P sequential fractionation to gain an insight into the processes which cause this sudden increase in P solubilization. We suggest that Change-Points simply define the asymtote of rapid desorption isotherms relating to that P which is most readily isotopically exchangeable (i.e at 24 h –³³P₂₄) with the soil solution. This involves ligand exchange at hydroxyl sites associated with Fe and Al cations, which is kinetically governed by the concentration of surface complexes on soil minerals. Individual Change-Points reflect the mineralogy and surface chemistry of different soil types. Laboratory and field measurements of the Olsen-P Change-Point reflect these surface phenomena and are similar. Olsen-P extracts the portion of the exchangeable pool that most readily controls solution P, and the Olsen-P/³³P₂₄ ratio is linearly related to Olsen-P Change-Points. This may provide a method for estimating P Change-Points where gradients of soil P are not available.     

土壤磷淋失机理初步研究

用石膏标记的方法,研究了蝼土磷素淋移的机理。试验表明,(土娄)土中广泛存在的大孔隙,可能是磷素淋移的主要途径。石膏悬液可以达到的最大可见深度约为90.cm(距灌溉面约70cm)。用200mg/kg磷溶液浇灌,非常明显地提高了沿大孔隙壁深达80.cm土壤的OlsenP含量,但本体土样没有明显提高;试验还观察到石膏悬液可以通过根表到达距地表55cm深的土壤剖面。     

灌溉与旱作条件下长期施肥(土娄)土剖面磷的分布和移动

利用12年长期定位试验研究了灌溉和旱作条件下不同施肥处理对(土娄)土土壤剖面全磷与有效磷(Olsen - P)分布和移动的影响.结果表明,(土娄)2土施磷后主要累积在耕层,极大地提高了0-20cm土层全磷与Olsen - P含量.旱作条件下,施用磷肥或化肥配施有机肥提高了100cm以上土体全磷与Olsen - P含量; 而化肥配合有机肥,Olsen - P含量在100-300cm土壤剖面中都高于对照(不施肥)和化肥处理.灌溉条件下,与旱作有相同趋势,但磷钾、有机肥配施氮磷钾处理,全磷和Olsen - P不仅在0-300cm剖面中高于对照和氮磷钾处理,而且也高于旱作条件下的相同处理.(土娄)土上存在磷素的淋失.     

The use of microbial parameters in monitoring soil pollution by heavy metals

Microbial parameters appear very useful in monitoring soil pollution by heavy metals, but no single microbial parameter can be used universally. Microbial activities such as respiration, C and N mineralization, biological N₂ fixation, and some soil enzymes can be measured, as can the total soil microbial biomass. Combining microbial activity and population measurements (e.g., biomass specific respiration) appears to provide more sensitive indications of soil pollution by heavy metals than either activity or population measurements alone. Parameters that have some form of internal control, e.g., biomass as a percentage of soil organic matter, are also advantageous. By using such approaches it might be possible to determine whether the natural ecosystem is being altered by pollutants without recource to expensive and long-running field experiments. However, more data are needed before this will be possible. Finally, new applications of molecular biology to soil pollution studies (e.g., genetic fingerprinting) which may also have value in the future are considered.     

Evaluation of substitutes for paraquat in soil microbial ATP determinations using the trichloroacetic acid based reagent of

The trichloroacetic acid (TCA) based reagent proposed by Jenkinson and Oades (1979) fits all the criteria required to measure soil microbial biomass ATP (biomass ATP). Amongst other components it contains paraquat (0.1 M 1,1′ dimethyl-4,4′ bipyridylium dichloride), usually extracted from the herbicide Gramoxone. Paraquat is added as an analogue of ATP. It is tightly fixed to soil and so decreases ATP fixation. However, Gramoxone is now banned as an agricultural chemical in both Europe and North America. Our aim was to find an effective replacement for paraquat to measure biomass ATP. The best replacement was 0.6 M imidazole in 1.10 M TCA containing 0.25 M P (termed the TIP reagent). Biomass ATP concentrations were not significantly different in five soils extracted by either reagent 10.37 and 11.17 μmol ATP g⁻¹ biomass C, respectively; standard error of differences of means = 0.36; p = 0.091.     

土壤磷淋溶状况及其Olsen磷“突变点”研究

对英国Broaddbalk长期土壤肥料试验地和Woburn农场三块试验地地下排水中磷形态及其含量等研究表明(1)由于连续150多a的施肥,Broadbalk试验地地下排水中总磷(TP)浓度很高,最高达4.83 mg@L-1;其中,以颗粒附着态磷(PP)为主,其次是可溶态反应性无机磷(MRP),可溶态有机磷(DOP)含量最低;(2)随着降雨量和排水量的增大,Broadbalk试验地地下排水中TP浓度和PP所占的比例明显增大;(3)Woburn农场三块试验地地下排水中磷浓度较低,且以MRP为主要成分;(4)用"突变点"法可以较好的预测土壤磷淋溶的趋势;Broadbalk和Woburn农场发生磷淋溶的土壤Olsen-P含量"突变点"分别是60 mg@kg-1和17mg@kg.     

Evaluating soil stabilisation by biological processes using step-wise aggregate fractionation

Soil biological processes contribute stability against physical disruption. We present an approach of step-wise fragmentation to assess the role that microbes and organic matter have on soil aggregate stabilisation. Compared to slaking and ultrasound procedures, the approach has a low impact on the microbial biomass. It also does not impose a severe drying stress. Grassland soil was found to be more stable than arable soil. Further examination of the arable soil revealed that increased disruption by shaking caused unstable microaggregates 53–250 μm in size to fragment, leaving a higher proportion of stable microaggregates in this size range. Carbohydrates, C:N, and basal respiration were found to be higher in the stable microaggregates than the other size fractions. Our results indicate that a distinct size range of soil aggregates exists in which microbial stabilisation dominates. This contradicts other research and questions the usefulness of measuring the biological properties of aggregate size fractions without understanding the physical effects of the fractionation procedure.