Labile, recalcitrant, and inert organic matter in Mediterranean forest soils

The biochemical quality of soil organic matter (SOM) was studied in various profiles under Quercus rotundifolia Lam. stands on calcareous parent material. Special attention was paid to the question of how biochemical quality is affected by position within the soil profile (upper versus lower horizons). The following global SOM characteristics were investigated: (a) overall recalcitrance, using hydrolysis with either hydrochloric or sulphuric acid; (b) hydrolyzable carbohydrates and polyphenolics; (c) extractability by hot water and quality of the extract; and (d) abundance of inert forms of SOM: charcoal and soot-graphite. The recalcitrance of soil organic carbon (OC) decreases with depth, following the order: H horizons>A horizons>B horizons. In contrast, the recalcitrance of nitrogen is roughly maintained with depth. The ratio carbohydrate C to total OC increases from H to B horizons, due to the increasing importance of cellulosic polysaccharides in B horizons, whereas other carbohydrates are maintained throughout the soil profile at a relatively constant level, 12-15% of the total OC in the horizon. Whereas the quality of the hydrolyzable carbon (measured by the carbohydrate to polyphenolic C ratio) decreases with depth from H to B horizons, the quality of the hot-water extractable organic matter is much higher in B horizons than in A or H horizons. The relative importance of both charcoal and soot-graphitic C and N tends to increase with depth. The ratio black/total is usually higher for N than for C, a result that suggests that inert SOM may represent a relevant compartment in the nitrogen cycle. Overall, our data suggest that in Mediterranean forest soils the organic matter in B horizons could be less stable than often thought.     

芸香草不同极性提取物的体外抗氧化活性研究

[目的]芸香草不同极性提取物中多酚含量的测定并研究其体外抗氧化活性。[方法]用70%乙醇、氯仿、乙酸乙酯、正丁醇和水等溶剂对云香草进行提取,分别测量其中的多酚含量,并以其中的多酚为基准,比较分析各提取物的抗氧化活性。[结果]云香草70%乙醇、氯仿、乙酸乙酯、正丁醇和水提取物多酚含量分别为3.87、0.52、0.41、0.83和1.57 mg/g,即提取液极性增大时,多酚含量也相应增加;各提取物均有一定的抗氧化活性,所含多酚质量浓度相同时,70%乙醇和水提取物的抗氧化活性较大,并与抗坏血酸相近,而氯仿、乙酸乙酯、正丁醇的抗氧化活性较小。[结论]芸香草多酚以极性多酚为主,且其抗氧化活性随多酚极性的增加而加强的趋势。