Environmental stress response limits microbial necromass contributions to soil organic carbon

The majority of dead organic material enters the soil carbon pool following initial incorporation into microbial biomass. The decomposition of microbial necromass carbon (C) is, therefore, an important process governing the balance between terrestrial and atmospheric C pools. We tested how abiotic stress (drought), biotic interactions (invertebrate grazing) and physical disturbance influence the biochemistry (C:N ratio and calcium oxalate production) of living fungal cells, and the subsequent stabilization of fungal-derived C after senescence. We traced the fate of ¹³C-labeled necromass from ‘stressed’ and ‘unstressed’ fungi into living soil microbes, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total soil carbon and respired CO₂. All stressors stimulated the production of calcium oxalate crystals and enhanced the C:N ratios of living fungal mycelia, leading to the formation of ‘recalcitrant’ necromass. Although we were unable to detect consistent effects of stress on the mineralization rates of fungal necromass, a greater proportion of the non-stressed (labile) fungal necromass C was stabilised in soil. Our finding is consistent with the emerging understanding that recalcitrant material is entirely decomposed within soil, but incorporated less efficiently into living microbial biomass and, ultimately, into stable SOC.     

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.     

44个紫花苜蓿品种的酸铝适应性与耐受性评价

为了解紫花苜蓿在贵州地区的适应性及耐酸铝胁迫机理，以44份紫花苜蓿品种为研究对象，研究紫花苜蓿处于酸铝胁迫下的生理变化，并揭示其生理变化与耐酸铝胁迫间的关系。利用基因与环境互作模型对两个地点1年的紫花苜蓿进行产量分析，筛选出阿尔冈金、新疆大叶苜蓿、Trifecta、Vernal和中牧1号苜蓿5个耐酸铝强适应品种。利用敏感型UC-1465和耐受型阿尔冈金进行酸铝胁迫试验。结果表明：相同处理下，耐受型紫花苜蓿的电导率、相对铝含量、死亡率显著低于敏感型；紫花苜蓿对酸铝胁迫的响应主要通过柠檬酸、苹果酸、乙酸、酒石酸、反丁烯二酸和草酸的显著（P<0.05）增加来体现，其中苹果酸的合成和分泌增多可能是其耐酸铝胁迫的重要原因。     

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.     

施用生物有机肥对水晶蜜柚品质的影响

探讨生物有机肥与‘东试早’柚果实物理品质、化学品质及风味之间的影响，为德宏瑞丽地区‘东试早’柚适宜生物有机肥施用量提供参考。以11 年树龄‘东试早’柚为试材，测定‘东试早’柚果实物理、化学品质，并对果实进行感官风味品尝鉴定。结果表明，生物有机肥施用量30 kg/株，单果重、果肉重、纵径、横径最佳，此时还原糖、总糖、可溶性固形物和Vc含量最高，感官风味评价综合满意度分数最高。生物有机肥施用量增加到40 kg/株，单果重下降，可滴定酸含量显著升高，感官风味评价综合满意度分数有所下降。相关性分析显示，生物有机肥与还原糖、总糖、Vc和感官风味评价呈显著相关；感官风味评价的综合满意度与还原糖、总糖呈极显著正相关，与可滴定酸显著负相关。综合考虑‘东试早’柚的品质，生物有机肥用量以30 kg/株为宜。     

Soil organic carbon stock variability in the Northern Gangetic Plains of India: interaction between agro‐ecological characteristics and cropping systems

Soil organic carbon (SOC) content and its spatial distribution in the Northern Gangetic Plain (NGP) Zone of India were determined to establish the cause–effect relationship between agro‐ecological characteristics, prevailing crop management practices and SOC stock. Area Spread Index (ASI) approach was used to collect soil samples from the NGP areas supporting predominant cropping systems. Exponential ordinary kriging was found most suitable geo‐statistical model for developing SOC surface maps of the NGP. Predicted surface maps indicated that 43.7% area of NGP had 0.5–0.6% SOC, while the rest of the area was equally distributed with high (0.61–0.75%) and low (< 0.5%) SOC content levels. Averaged across cropping systems, maximum SOC content was recorded in Bhabar and Tarai Zone (BTZ), followed by Central Plain Zone (CPZ), Mid‐Western Plain Zone (MWPZ), Western Plain Zone (WPZ) and South‐Western Plain Zone (SWPZ) of the NGP. The SOC stock was above the optimum threshold (> 12.5 Mg/ha) in 97.8, 57.6 and 46.4% areas of BTZ, CPZ and MWPZ, respectively. Only 9.8 and 0.4% area of WPZ and SWPZ, respectively, had SOC stock above the threshold value. The variation in SOC stock was attributed largely to carbon addition through recycling of organic sources, cropping systems, tillage intensity, crop or residue cover and land‐use efficiency, nutrient‐use pattern, soil texture and prevailing ecosystem. Adoption of conservation agriculture, balanced use of nutrients, inclusion of legumes in cropping systems and agro‐forestry were suggested for enhancing SOC stock in the region.     

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。     

山西省襄垣县有机旱作农业发展研究

襄垣县是山西省有机旱作试点县,根据其自然条件,通过总结该县有机旱作发展现状、制约因素及潜力分析,提出适宜的对策措施,为今后有机旱农业的发展提供一定的参考。