Relationships of soil respiration to microbial biomass, substrate availability and clay content

The roles of microbial biomass (MBC) and substrate supply as well as their interaction with clay content in determining soil respiration rate were studied using a range of soils with contrasting properties. Total organic C (TOC), water-soluble organic carbon, 0.5 M K₂SO₄-extractable organic C and 33.3 mM KMnO₄-oxidisable organic carbon were determined as C availability indices. For air-dried soils, these indices showed close relationship with flush of CO₂ production following rewetting of the soils. In comparison, MBC determined with the chloroform fumigation-extraction technique had relatively weaker correlation with soil respiration rate. After 7 d pre-incubation, soil respiration was still closely correlated with the C availability indices in the pre-incubated soils, but poorly correlated with MBC determined with three different techniques—chloroform fumigation extraction, substrate-induced respiration, and chloroform fumigation-incubation methods. Results of multiple regression analyses, together with the above observations, suggested that soil respiration under favourable temperature and moisture conditions was principally determined by substrate supply rather than by the pool size of MBC. The specific respiratory activity of microorganisms (CO₂-C/MBC) following rewetting of air-dried soils or after 7 d pre-incubation was positively correlated with substrate availability, but negatively correlated with microbial pool size. Clay content had no significant effect on CO₂ production rate, relative C mineralization rate (CO₂-C/TOC) and specific respiratory activity of MBC during the first week incubation of rewetted dry soils. However, significant protective effect of clay on C mineralization was shown for the pre-incubated soils. These results suggested that the protective effect of clay on soil organic matter decomposition became significant as the substrate supply and microbial demand approached to an equilibrium state. Thereafter, soil respiration would be dependent on the replenishment of the labile substrate from the bulk organic C pool.     

Compatibility of the ammonium lactate (AL) and sodium bicarbonate (Olsen) methods for determining available phosphorus in Swedish soils

Abstract

Plant-available P was first extracted in soils 114 years ago and a number of different analytical methods have since been developed, but for good reasons none of these methods has been adopted as a standard for all soils. With increasing cooperation within research, there is a need to harmonise the interpretation of analytical data for fertiliser recommendations, research, and environmental control. This paper evaluates the compatibility of the Swedish standard ammonium lactate (P_AL) method and the widely used Olson's sodium bicarbonate (P_Ols) method in 82 topsoil samples taken from Swedish long-term soil fertility field trials. The P_AL-values were usually larger than P_Ols, with a mean P_AL/P_Ols quotient of 2.30±1.04 (0.67–6.58). The P_AL and P_Ols means and ranges were 126±89 (5–360) and 55.1±33 (3.1–122.8) mg P kg^?1 dry soil, respectively. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between P_AL and P_Ols and how this relationship was affected by clay content, pH, and soil organic carbon content (SOC). After statistical transformation, it emerged that the square root of clay content (17.4%±13.82, range 1–54.4) and pH (6.45±0.54, range 5.5–7.7) significantly affected the relationship at partial R ²-values of 2 and 12%, respectively, while ln(SOC) (2.54%±1.21, range 1–6.03) did not, apparently due the narrow range. The regressions of predicted vs. measured values explained 95 and 94% of the variation in P_AL and P_Ols, respectively. The mean deviation of predicted compared with measured values was 21.3 and 8.3 mg P kg^?1 dry soil for P_AL and P_Ols, respectively, corresponding to 20 or 19% of the measured values. We conclude that a data set consisting of P_AL-values can be converted into P_Ols-values and vice versa with reasonably high accuracy when accounting for clay content and pH.     

Characterization of Andosols in Yakushima Island

We examined soils derived from volcanic ash of Kikai-Akahoya tephra on Yakushima Island, Japan, and classified them according to the Unified Soil Classification System of Japan, 2nd Approximation (USCSJ 2nd) and the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB). Five pedons with horizons showing high (>20%) volcanic glass content were investigated. Soils developed under evergreen broad-leaved forests had high acid oxalate-extractable aluminum (Alo) and acid oxalate-extractable silicon (Sio) concentrations, and low acid oxalate-extractable iron (Fe)/dithionite-citrate-extractable Fe ratio. This indicates a warmer climate and less severe leaching conditions compared with soils developed under coniferous forests dominated by Cryptomeria japonica and grasslands dominated by Pseudosasa owatarii. All soils contained considerable amount of hydroxyl-Al-interlayered 2:1 clay minerals. The surface horizons of the pedons developed under the cool-temperate C. japonica forests contained smectite as a result of podzolization. However, the surface horizon of the pedon developed under cool-temperate P. owatarii grasslands did not contain smectite. All pedons belonged to the Kuroboku soils great group (USCSJ 2nd) and Andosols (WRB). Pedons in mountainous areas did not contain horizons with more than 6?g?kg^?1 of Sio and hence were classified as non-allophanic Andosols. In mountainous areas, it was observed that allophane formation was inhibited by Al leaching due to intense rainfall (>10,000?mm year^?1); Al consumption due to the formation of the Al-humus complex; and Al incorporation into the interlayers of vermiculite. The low soil water pH [pH(H₂O)] and leaching of silicon (Si) in mountainous areas would support these anti-allophanic effects.     

以城市雕塑为例阐释地域性公共艺术建设的意义——黔东南地区下司县入口城市雕塑设计

从分析公共艺术在城市景观建设发展中的作用入手,分析了公共艺术的概念及其地域性含义,进而解析了公共艺术与公共艺术景观设计领域中的城市雕塑的关系,指明了城市雕塑能够强化城市空间景观,丰富公共艺术。具体阐释了城市雕塑的作用,集中体现在引导空间流动的交流性、创造人文环境的社会性、沟通空间与人的交流性方面。以黔东南地区下司县入口城市雕塑设计为例,对其所处区位与现状加以分析,强调其具有突出的区位优势,以及历史遗留的商业氛围,雕塑设计将代表商业文化的古钱币造型和代表黔东南地区苗族图腾的蝴蝶合二为一,在形成视觉冲击的同时突出了文化特色。总结了地域性城市雕塑的意义,强调其是城市文化的物质载体、是设计元素原创性的文化来源、是地域精神风貌的具体体现。     

Methods of microbial control in marine fish larval rearing: clay‐based turbidity and passive larval transfer

This study focused on methods to reduce bacterial loads in the larval culture tanks of California yellowtail (Seriola lalandi). We conducted two trials to evaluate methods to minimize bacterial loads in the larval rearing water. The first trial examined the use of bentonite clay as a turbidity agent to replace algae in a green water‐type environment. This trial consisted of three treatments: (1) clay with continuous feeding (CCO), (2) clay with batch feedings (CBA) and (3) algae paste with batch feedings (ALG). The results showed that both clay treatments had significantly fewer Vibrio colonies in the water column (CBA – 180 ± 78; CCO – 377 ± 120 CFU mL^?1) than the ALG treatment (5692 ± 2396 CFU mL^?1) after 14 days of culture. Survival was significantly higher in the CCO treatment (14.1 ± 2.6%) than either the CBA (2.3 ± 0.5%) or ALG treatments (2.8 ± 1.5%). The second trial attempted to limit bacterial loading in the larval culture tank by passively transferring the larvae into an adjacent, clean tank at 1, 5 and 9 days post hatch during the first 2 weeks of culture. The results from this trial showed that after 12 days of culture, water in the transfertank had fewer Vibrio colonies (1025 ± 541 CFU mL^?1) than the water in the control tanks (1962 ± 1415 CFU mL^?1). Also, survival was significantly higher among larvae that were transferred (43.9 ± 13.5%) than in the control tanks (23.1 ± 6.3%).     

硅酸盐黏土矿物的表面酸性研究进展

表面酸性是硅酸盐黏土矿物的重要表面化学性质之一。本文综述了硅酸盐黏土矿物表面酸性的主要测定方法,讨论了黏土矿物表面酸性的发生源及其影响因素,并论述了黏土矿物表面酸性与有机碱化合物吸附固定行为之间的关系。     

Availability of potassium in biomass combustion ashes and gasification biochars after application to soils with variable pH and clay content

The expansion of the bioenergy sector and adoption of novel thermal conversion technologies produce increasingly large amounts of biomass ashes and biochars. Before returning such products to agricultural soil, the plant availability of nutrients when mixing with soil should be assessed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potassium (K) availability in various types of biomass ashes and gasification biochars (GBs) derived from straw, wood, sewage sludge and poultry manure when mixed with soil. A 16-week incubation study was conducted with three contrasting soils of variable pH (5.8–7.8) and clay contents (3–17%). Exchangeable K in the product-soil mixture was determined, and the K recovery rate from the applied products varied from 31 to 86%. The relative recovery compared to applied KCl was used to indicate K availability and was 50–86% across all soils, but lower for two sewage sludge-based GBs in the alkaline soil. Most of the K release occurred within the first week, with insignificant release thereafter. Wet storage of GB did not affect K availability. We conclude that the tested biochars and ashes can be used as K fertilisers with slightly lower short-term availability than KCl.     

Clay Addition to Sandy Soil Reduces Nutrient Leaching—Effect of Clay Concentration and Ped Size

Leaching of nutrients, particularly in sandy soil with low nutrient and water holding capacity (WHC), is a major threat to marine and fresh water pollution. Addition of clay soil to sandy soil could be an option to increase water and nutrient holding capacity of sandy soils, but the effect of clay soil addition may depend on the form in which the clay soil is added and the addition rate. Clay soil was added to sandy soil at rate of 10 or 20% (w/w) finely ground (<2 mm) or 2 and 5 mm peds with and without nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer equivalent to 60 kg N ha^?1 and 15 kg P ha^?1. The clay sand mixture for each treatment was weighed (30 g) in cores with nylon mesh at the bottom. The soils were incubated at 80% WHC for 7 weeks. To obtain leachate, 20 mL reverse osmosis (RO) water was added every week to each core. Leachate was analysed for inorganic N, P, and pH. Soil was analyzed for N, P, and pH before and after the leaching. Clay addition significantly reduced the leaching of N and P compared to sandy soil alone, with greatest reduction by finely ground clay soil and least with 5 mm peds. Compared to sandy soil alone, 83% more N was retained in clay-amended soil and P retention was doubled. This study showed that addition of finely ground clay soil can substantially reduce N and P leaching and thereby increase fertilizer retention compared to sandy soil alone.     

锑/磷在膨润土和高岭土的竞争吸附

采用批处理法研究了锑/磷(Sb/P)在膨润土和高岭土上的竞争吸附等温线和动力学,并考察了pH的影响。结果表明:Sb和P吸附符合Langmuir或Freundlich方程(R~2=0.945 0~0.998 3,P0.000 1),存在极强的竞争吸附:P共存时Sb吸附容量(Q_(max))显著降低,分别从0.86和10.21 mmol/kg(先Sb后P)降低到0.64和2.61 mmol/kg(先P后Sb);Sb共存时P吸附亲合性(K)明显降低,分别从1.47和7.47 L/mmol(先P后Sb)降低到0.68和2.34 L/mmol(先Sb后P)。Sb和P的吸附总体随pH升高而降低,但相比高岭土,膨润土上的吸附受pH影响更大,意味着高岭土有更多配位吸附、膨润土有更多电性吸附。准二级动力学方程很好地拟合它们的竞争吸附(R~20.994,P0.000 1),并且在Sb/P共存下,膨润土对P吸附弱而慢(q_e=0.36 mmol/kg,,k_2=0.064 6 kg/(mmol·min))、对Sb吸附虽弱但快(q_e=0.19 mmol/kg,k_2=0.076 9 kg/(mmol·min));高岭土对P吸附强更快(q_e=0.66 mmol/kg,k_2=0.591 kg/(mmol·min))、对Sb吸附虽强但慢[q_e=0.39 mmol/kg,k_2=0.052 4 kg/(mmol·min)]。因此,Sb对P吸附的抑制在膨润土上更明显(主要是静电吸附竞争),P对Sb吸附的抑制则在高岭土上更突出(主要是配位吸附竞争)。     

Insecticidal formulation based on Xylopia aethiopica essential oil and kaolinite clay for maize protection

Insecticidal formulations based on the essential oil of Xylopia aethiopica (Annonaceae) and kaolinite-clay (particles size less than 50 μm) are efficient in protecting stored grains. Ingestion-contact insecticide tests have been conducted using the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.) (Curculionidae). Residual action of terpenic constituents adsorbed on clay was assessed. Bioassays indicated that S. zeamais adult mortality increased with the quantity of active ingredient. The formulation based on essential oil and clay produced mortality rates ranging from 22% at 2.5% (w/w) to 100% at 10% (w/w). The lethal concentration producing a 50% mortality rate (LC50) was 4.35% (w/w). Efficacy also depended on storage conditions and duration of the formulation, decreasing from 91 to 37% for formulation stored in closed boxes and from 91 to 17% for formulation stored in open boxes, after 1 and 15 days respectively.