Contrasting development of soil microbial community structure under no-tilled perennial and tilled cropping during early pedogenesis of a Mollisol

A range of agricultural practices influence soil microbial communities, such as tillage and organic C inputs, however such effects are largely unknown at the initial stage of soil formation. Using an eight-year field experiment established on exposed parent material (PM) of a Mollisol, our objectives were to: (1) to determine the effects of field management and soil depth on soil microbial community structure; (2) to elucidate shifts in microbial community structure in relation to PM, compared to an arable Mollisol (MO) without organic amendment; and (3) to identify the controlling factors of such changes in microbial community structure. The treatments included two no-tilled soils supporting perennial crops, and four tilled soils under the same cropping system, with or without chemical fertilization and crop residue amendment. Principal component (PC) analysis of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles demonstrated that microbial community structures were affected by tillage and/or organic and inorganic inputs via PC1 and by land use and/or soil depth via PC2. All the field treatments were separated by PM into two groups via PC1, the tilled and the no-tilled soils, with the tilled soils more developed towards MO. The tilled soils were separated with respect to MO via PC1 associated with the differences in mineral fertilization and the quality of organic amendments, with the soils without organic amendment being more similar to MO. The separations via PC1 were principally driven by bacteria and associated with soil pH and soil C, N and P. The separations via PC2 were driven by fungi, actinomycetes and Gram (−) bacteria, and associated with soil bulk density. The separations via both PC1 and PC2 were associated with soil aggregate stability and exchangeable K, indicating the effects of weathering and soil aggregation. The results suggest that in spite of the importance of mineral fertilization and organic amendments, tillage and land-use type play a significant role in determining the nature of the development of associated soil microbial community structures at the initial stages of soil formation.     

The combined effects of cover crops and symbiotic microbes on phosphatase gene and organic phosphorus hydrolysis in subtropical orchard soils

P deficiency is a major obstacle for crop production in subtropical red soils in South China, and the hydrolysis of organic P (Po) is of great significance in these soils due to the immobilization of P by Fe and Al. Cover cropping in orchards and symbiotic microbial inoculation are considered to improve soil quality, including P status, however, their effects on the hydrolysis of Po is little known. In this study, five soil managements were established in a guava orchard in South China for two and a half years, including clean culture (CC), cover cropping with Paspalum natatu (PN), PN with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal inoculation (PNA), cover cropping with Stylosanthes guianensis (SG), SG with rhizobial inoculation (SGR). Soil chemical, biochemical and microbial properties were analyzed. Results indicate that soil pH and SOM content tended to increase following cover cropping alone or with microbial inoculation. Po content was significantly elevated in PNA. Po fractionation revealed that cover cropping alone or with microbial inoculation significantly affected the contents of moderately labile Po (MLPo) and moderately resistant Po (FAPo). Enzyme assay indicated that cover cropping with microbial inoculation increased the activities of acidic phosphomonoesterase (ACP), neutral phosphomonoesterase (NP) and alkaline phosphomonoesterase (ALP), with ALP the most sensitive, although ACP activity dominated in red soils. Correlation analysis suggested a significantly positive relationship between ALP activity and MLPo or FAPo. PCR-DGGE profile of the alp-harboring bacterial community showed that cover cropping with S. guianensis and mycorrhizal inoculation to P. natatu promoted the bacterial diversity and/or species richness. For almost all the measured parameters, PN and SG were comparable, however, PNA was superior to SGR, indicating the stronger additive effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus than that of rhizobia. Cat-PCA indicated that MLPo was the most influential factor on phosphomonoesterase. In general, this study suggests that, in subtropical orchards with red soil, cover cropping with microbial inoculation can improve the Po hydrolysis via the promoted alp-harboring bacterial community and then ALP activity. Our results also suggest that the combination of P. natatu and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus is better than S. guianensis and rhizobia, which possesses practical significance for sustainable production in these orchards.     

Postharvest quality response of strawberries with aloe vera coating during refrigerated storage

Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) were coated either with chitosan (1, 1.5, and 2% solution, w/v) or aloe vera (AV) gel and the coatings were air dried. Coated strawberries were put in a polypropylene box and stored in refrigerator (6 ± 1°C and 50 ± 5% relative humidity. The success of coating in retaining the postharvest quality of the strawberries was evaluated by determining respiration rate, firmness, weight loss, external colour change, ascorbic acid content, total soluble solids, acidity, pH, microbial decay and sensory quality. The incidence of microbial rot started on day-6 in uncoated and 1% chitosan coated strawberries. Strawberries coated with 1.5 and 2% chitosan were affected by microbial decay on day-9 of storage. On the other hand, rot incidence was initiated in AV gel coated strawberries on day-15 of storage. Aloe vera gel or chitosan coating reduced respiration rate, weight loss, and microbial decay and preserved firmness, ascorbic acid content, and other quality parameters, thus delaying ripening and the progress of fruit decay due to senescence or microbial attack. Furthermore, AV gel delayed the changes in external colour and retained all other postharvest quality of strawberries compared to chitosan coated or uncoated ones throughout the storage.     

白酒糟与菊芋渣混合青贮发酵品质及微生物菌群多样性

利用青贮原理将白酒糟和菊芋渣混合进行固态发酵,二者按照不同鲜质量比发酵10、30、60 d时,分别考察营养成分、木质纤维含量和发酵特性的动态变化,并通过高通量测序技术解析发酵微生物菌群多样性。结果表明,当白酒糟和菊芋渣以1.2:1和1:1.5比例发酵时,可溶性碳水化合物含量显著高于其他处理组(P0.05),中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维和木质素含量均显著低于其他处理组(P0.05),相对饲用价值和生物降解潜力较高。发酵过程中pH值、乳酸和氨氮含量等特性参数均处于优良青贮品质范围,V-score评分均为优等。白酒糟或菊芋渣单独发酵期间主要以变形菌和厚壁菌门细菌为主,混合发酵时则演变为以厚壁菌门、乳杆菌属细菌为主。总之,白酒糟与菊芋渣能通过生化互补特性发挥协同效应实现优质青贮,综合考虑糟渣生物质资源的利用价值和处理效率等因素,实际生产中建议以1.2:1比例混合青贮发酵30 d为宜,可获得良好发酵品质。     

外源添加剂对黄贮小麦秸秆产甲烷潜力及微生物群落的影响

为探讨添加不同外源添加剂对黄贮小麦秸秆产甲烷潜力和微生物群落结构的影响,该研究以小麦秸秆为黄贮原料,添加乙酸(3‰ACE组)和异型发酵乳酸菌复合系(3‰MI1组,6‰MI2组),调整含水率至50%,黄贮65 d后,以黄贮小麦秸秆为厌氧发酵原料,探究发酵过程中的指标性质和微生物群落结构。研究发现黄贮预处理后,发酵系统中的初始挥发性有机酸中的乳酸和乙酸增加、甲烷含量增加、可溶性化学需氧量(sCOD)增加。添加了外源添加剂的ACE组、MI1组、MI2组的累积甲烷产量较干黄小麦秸秆(WS组)提高了4.7%～10.6%,而未添加添加剂的CK组的累积甲烷产量较WS组降低了9%。发酵系统中的主要优势细菌为Bacteroidetes、Firmicutes和Proteobacteria,优势古菌为甲烷鬃菌属Methanosaeta,黄贮预处理改变了发酵系统微生物的群落结构,促进了小麦秸秆的甲烷转化,为木质纤维素的沼气转化提供参考。     

复合潜流人工湿地对农村生活污水的净化效果 及其微生物群落结构特征

试验探究了复合潜流人工湿地对农村生活污水的净化效果及其微生物群落结构特征。结果表明，当水力负荷为0.35 m³·(m²·d）^-1时，系统对TN、NH₄⁺-N、COD和TP去除效率分别为（89.84±7.64）%、（98.67±1.31）%、（61.63±16.01）%和（70.21±8.00）%。湿地中一共发现11个主要菌门、18个主要菌纲和33个主要菌属，变形菌门（Proteobacteria）、蓝藻门（Cyanobacteria）、拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）、厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）、绿弯菌门（Chloroflexi）、酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）、放线菌门（Actinobacteria）是其中的优势菌门，它们在各级湿地中表层和底层的相对丰度分别是57.26%、61.37%、91.60%、93.22%、88.78%、88.02%。蓝藻菌纲（Cyanobacteria）、α-变形菌纲(Alphaproteobacteria) 、芽孢杆菌纲(Bacilli)和γ-变形菌纲(Gammaproteobacteria)、β-变形菌纲(Betaproteobacteria)是其中优势菌纲，约占主要菌纲的70%。共有17个优势菌属，在各级湿地中的分布情况不同，其中芽孢杆菌属（Bacillus）相对丰度最高，集中分布于第三级湿地，其次是Leptolyngbya、席藻属（Phormidium），在第一、二级湿地中广泛分布。复合潜流人工湿地具有良好污水净化效果，系统中有机物和氮素的去除主要依靠微生物作用，磷素的去除主要依靠基质吸附沉淀作用。     

Variations of SOC and MBC observed in an incubated brown loam soil managed under different tillage systems for 12 years

To assess changes in organic carbon pools, an incubation experiment was conducted under different temperatures and field moisture capacity (FMC) on a brown loam soil from three tillage practices used for 12 years: no‐till (NT), subsoiling (ST) and conventional tillage (CT). Total microbial respiration was measured for incubated soil with and without the input of straw. Results indicated that soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) under ST, NT and CT was higher in soil with straw input than that without, while the microbial quotient (MQ or MBC: SOC) and metabolic quotient (qCO₂) content under CT followed the opposite trend. Lower temperature, lower moisture and with straw input contributed to the increases in SOC concentration, especially under NT and ST systems. The SOC concentrations under ST, with temperatures of 30 and 35°C after incubation at 55% FMC, were greater than those under CT by 28.4% and 30.6%, respectively. The increase in MBC was highest at 35°C for 55%, 65% and 75% FMC; in soil under ST, MBC was greater than that under CT by 199.3%, 50.7% and 23.8%, respectively. At 30°C, the lower qCO₂ was obtained in soil incubated under NT and ST. The highest MQ among three tillage practices was measured under ST at 55% FMC, NT at 65% FMC and CT at 75% FMC with straw input. These data indicate the benefits of enhancing the MQ; the low FMC was beneficial to ST treatment. Under higher temperature and drought stress conditions, the adaptive capacity of ST and NT is better than that of CT.     

秸秆还田与优化施氮改善烤烟根际土壤碳氮转化及氮素吸收

针对华南沙泥田烟区氮肥过量施用导致烟叶品质下降的问题,拟通过秸秆还田与氮肥优化配施调节烤烟各生育期氮吸收、根际土壤碳氮转化及相关酶的活性。试验采用随机区组设计,设水稻秸秆还田与氮肥两因素,其中3个碳（秸秆还田）水平：C0,无秸秆还田,0 kg/hm ²;C1,中量秸秆还田,4500 kg/hm ²;C2,全部秸秆还田,9000 kg/hm ²;2个氮水平：N1,传统施氮,169.50 kg/hm ²;N2,优化施氮,105.00 kg/hm ²。结果表明,与N1相比,N2处理秸秆还田下烤烟前期烟叶和根系氮吸收和累积正常,而后期有所下降;C1、C2处理时,与现蕾期相比,成熟期时根系氮含量均降低4.2 g/kg,叶片氮含量降低3.8、3.0 g/kg;成熟期时,与N1处理相比,N2处理时C1、C2处理的土壤无机氮含量降低30.4%、20.0%,前期2个氮处理间土壤无机氮含量无差异,优化施氮下中量秸秆还田（C1N2）处理烤烟土壤NH₄ ⁺-N含量在整个生育期内较高且呈降低趋势,而硝态氮和土壤无机氮含量在成熟期最低,表明中量秸秆还田下优化施氮能够维持生育前期土壤无机氮含量,且降低成熟期土壤无机氮含量。2个秸秆还田量处理时,团棵期N2处理的土壤转化酶活性是N1处理的1.30、1.13倍;旺长期土壤转化酶活性是N1处理的1.27、1.10倍;与传统施氮相比,秸秆还田下优化施氮处理增加了整个生育期土壤脲酶、磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶活性。在中量秸秆还田（C1）处理下,与N1水平相比,现蕾期和成熟期的N2处理土壤水溶性碳含量提高11.2%和14.1%;与N1相比,N2处理的土壤微生物量氮含量呈降低趋势。综上所述,优化施氮耦合中量秸秆还田（C1N2）能够提高土壤水溶性碳含量,维持土壤氮素合理供应,稳定烤烟生育前期对氮素吸收与累积,减少生育后期烟叶氮素奢侈吸收,与烤烟吸氮规律比较吻合。