Enzyme activities and litter decomposition in agricultural soils in northern,central, and southern Germany

Although enzyme activities were extensively investigated in soils with reference to abiotic environmental conditions and human impact, their role in litter decomposition is not fully understood. Therefore, decomposition rates and enzyme activities were studied using nylon bags and three litter types buried in silty‐loamy Cambisols and Luvisols in northern, central, and southern Germany under similar averaged temperature and precipitation and a maritime to continental gradient. After 180 d, the ash‐free mass remaining ranged between 15% and 68% for the Triticum, Secale, and Lolium litter. The enzyme activities were mainly controlled by the litter type and the decomposition time and less but significant by site. The highest decomposition rate occurred at the central German site for Lolium litter associated with highest arginine ammonification and urease activity in litter. In contrast, the recalcitrant Secale and Triticum litter were decomposed more rapidly at the northern and southern site where urease, protease, and arginine ammonification was high in the bulk soil. The β‐glucosidase activity was similar in soil and litter at the three locations and was not correlated to the velocity of litter decomposition. Since the abiotic environmental factors at the maritime to continental gradient did not explain the site‐specific velocity of both rapidly decomposing and refractory litter, enzyme activities related to the N cycling like arginine ammonification and urease activity were recognized to velocity of litter decomposition.     

Extraction of humic-β-glucosidase fractions from soil

Humic compounds with -glucosidase activity were extracted from soil using tetrasodium pyrophosphate as extracting solution. Mixture of soil samples with 0.01 M pyrophosphate in a ratio of 1:5 (w/v), adjustment to pH 7.0–7.3, extraction for 18 h with reciprocating agitation, and bacteriological filtration after centrifugation were the optimum conditions for extraction of the -glucosidase complexes. Otherwise, experimental conditions for extraction indicated that the concentration and pH of pyrophosphate were the factors with the most influence on enzymatic extraction yields. The results indicated that the -glucosidase was extracellular and associated with soil humates.     

Effects of some environmental factors on ammonia volatilization from simulated livestock urine applied to soil

Summary The proportion of the N that was volatilized as ammonia during 8 days, following the application of simulated livestock urine to soil, increased from 25 to 38% as the temperature of incubation was increased from 4° to 20°C in a system with a continuous flow of air at 70% relative humidity. However, volatilization was reduced if the application was followed by simulated rain; the reduction was greater as the amount of rain increased (up to at least 16 mm) and became less with an increasing length of time (up to 2–3 days) after the application of the urine. The effects of the soil water content before application of the urine, and of the relative humidity of the air, were generally small but volatilization was reduced by a combination of air-dry soil with a low relative humidity. Volatilization was slight (7%) when the flow of air was restricted to 0.5 h in every 12 h but, with an air flow for 12 h in every 24 h, the volatilization was much closer to that with a continuous flow for the whole 8-day period. When cool or dry conditions were imposed for 8 days and then more favourable conditions were instituted for a second period of 8 days, there was a substantial increase in volatilization following the change.     

Alkaline Hydrolyzable Organic Nitrogen as an Index of Nitrogen Mineralization in Soils: Relationship with Activities of Arylamidase and Amidohydrolases

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the relationship between a recently proposed alkaline hydrolysis method for estimating the chemical index of nitrogen (N) mineralization potential of soils and the activities of arylamidase and four amidohydrolases involved in hydrolysis of organic N (ON) in soils. Nitrogen mineralization was studied in 13 soils from uncultivated fields in Iowa, USA, by direct steam distillation of 1 g field-most soil treated with 1 M KOH or 1 M NaOH. The distillate was collected in boric acids, which was changed every 5 min for a total of 40 min. The NH₄ ⁺-N in the distillate was determined by titration with 0.005 M H₂SO₄. The cumulative amounts of N hydrolyzed were fitted to the first-order exponential equation to determine the “potentially hydrolyzable N (N_max )” for the soils. The activities of arylamidase, L-asparaginase, L-glutaminase, amidase, and L-aspartase were assayed at their optimal pH values. Results showed that estimated N_max values were strongly correlated with the activities of arylamidase and amidohydrolases. The activities of arylamidase and the amidohydrolases were significantly correlated, indicating that the activities of the two groups of enzymes are coupled in mineralization of ON in soils. Based on the specificity of enzyme reactions and the strong relationship between estimated N_max values and the activities of arylamidase and amidohydrolases, we concluded that similar amide-N bonds were susceptible to enzymatic and alkaline hydrolysis, and that alkaline hydrolyzable ON can be used as an index of N mineralization in soils.     

不同年龄大熊猫肠道菌群及其酶活特征分析

旨在探究年龄对大熊猫个体肠道微生态的影响。本研究采集大熊猫（Ailuropoda melanoleuca）（J₁（亚成年大熊猫个体）、J₂（成年大熊猫个体）、J₃（老年大熊猫个体））的新鲜粪便,基于16S rRNA基因技术,测定不同年龄的大熊猫个体肠道细菌组成,分析其物理和化学特征及酶活特异性,利用冗余分析（redundant analysis,RDA）分析大熊猫肠道微生物菌群丰度与其环境因子之间的关系。结果表明：在门水平上,变形菌门的相对丰度随着年龄的增加而升高,厚壁菌门的相对丰度随着年龄的增加而降低;在属水平上,链球菌属的相对丰度随着年龄的增加而降低;淀粉酶和纤维素酶的酶活力在J₂肠道最高,淀粉酶活力在J₃肠道最低,纤维素酶活力在J₁肠道最低,蛋白酶活力在J₁肠道最高,在J₃肠道最低;厚壁菌门和拟杆菌门的相对丰度均与淀粉酶活力和还原糖含量呈正相关,变形菌门的相对丰度与还原糖含量和氨基酸含量呈负相关。研究表明,不同年龄大熊猫个体的肠道微生物菌群的表现特征不同,其肠道细菌优势菌的相对丰度与其消化酶等环境因子存在相关性;建议需对亚成年大熊猫加强饮食和生活环境管理,并可以通过添加益生菌等方式加强对老年大熊猫肠道健康的管理。     

酸胁迫对夏枯草叶绿素荧光特性和根系抗氧化酶活性的影响

为了阐明夏枯草幼苗对酸性环境的耐受性,采用不同pH值(pH=4.5、4.0、3.5、3.0)的Hoagland营养液模拟酸胁迫环境,研究酸胁迫对夏枯草幼苗叶绿素荧光特性及根系抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果表明,随着pH值下降,代表供体与受体侧参数的K点相对可变荧光(W_K)、J点相对可变荧光(V_J)和电子受体QA-被还原的最大速率(dV/dt_o)逐渐升高,光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)电子传递的量子效率(φE_o)降低;表示单位反应中心吸收(ABS/RC)、捕获(TR_o/RC)、热耗散(DI_o/RC)的能量逐渐增加;用于电子传递的能量(ET_o/RC)逐渐下降;表示PSⅡ的最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m)、吸收光能为基础的光合性能指数(PI_abs)、表征光系统Ⅰ(PSⅠ)的最大氧化还原活性(ΔI/I_o)及PSⅡ与PSⅠ协调性(Φ_PSⅠ/PSⅡ)随酸胁迫程度增加逐渐下降。夏枯草根系超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)与过氧化物酶(POD)活性呈下降趋势,而根系抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性先升高后降低;夏枯草叶片可溶性糖、脯氨酸含量逐渐上升。酸胁迫下,夏枯草PSⅡ反应中心受损,电子传递受阻,光系统性能及PSⅡ与PSⅠ的协调性降低,根系SOD与POD活性受到抑制,在pH 3.0处理下表现较为明显。夏枯草通过提高单位反应中心的热耗散能力来减少过剩光能对叶片光合机构的破坏,通过提高根系APX抗氧化酶及叶片渗透调节物质含量来减少酸胁迫带来的伤害。     

低海拔舍饲对牦牛肌肉品质的影响研究

牦牛低海拔舍饲是解决藏区草畜矛盾的重要手段,同时也能促进冷季牦牛生长发育,改善牦牛肉品质。旨在探讨低海拔区域开展牦牛舍饲模式对牦牛生长发育、屠宰性能、肌肉品质以及血清指标的影响,初步探索低海拔舍饲影响牦牛肌肉品质的可能因素。选用10头36月龄体重、体况相近的健康公牦牛,随机均分为舍饲组与放牧组,舍饲组于广汉农区(海拔:600 m)进行全舍饲育肥,放牧组于红原县牦牛科技园区(海拔:3500 m)按传统模式天然放牧,试验期150 d。结果表明,舍饲牦牛增重极显著高于放牧组(P<0.01),其胴体重、净肉重、屠宰率和净肉率极显著高于放牧组(P<0.01)。舍饲组背最长肌食用品质显著改善:亮度(L^*)显著高于放牧组(P<0.05),熟肉率和肌内脂肪(IMF)含量显著高于放牧组(P<0.05),剪切力显著低于放牧组(P<0.05);舍饲组背最长肌营养品质显著改善:粗脂肪(EE)含量极显著高于放牧组(P<0.01)。舍饲组棕榈酸(C16:0)、硬脂酸(C18:0)含量极显著高于放牧组(P<0.01);饱和脂肪酸(SFA)、多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)和反式脂肪酸(TFA)含量均显著高于放牧组(P<0.05)。鲜味氨基酸(FAA)显著高于放牧组(P<0.05)。血清指标分析结果显示,舍饲组血清中血糖(GLU)显著高于放牧组(P<0.05),甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)的含量极显著高于放牧组(P<0.01),β-羟基丁酸(BHBA)含量极显著低于放牧组(P<0.01);乙酰辅酶A羧化酶(ACC)活性极显著高于放牧组(P<0.01),脂肪酸合成酶(FAS)活性显著高于放牧组(P<0.05);激素敏感性脂肪酶(HSL)活性显著低于放牧组(P<0.05)。由此可见,通过冷季低海拔舍饲可达到牦牛生长肥育的效果;可激活牦牛血清中脂沉积相关酶活性,促进肌肉中脂肪的合成与沉积,改善牦牛肉食用品质及营养品质。     

13个斑节对虾家系的生长及抗氨氮特性比较

采用巢式不平衡设计,按每尾雄虾配1~3尾雌虾进行人工授精构建家系。对其中13个家系进行生长和耐氨氮特性实验。8周的养殖实验结束后,各家系的特定生长率为2.97～4.00,饲料系数为1.04～1.74。其中家系S13-S11的特定生长率为4.00,明显优于其他家系;家系S3-S5的特定生长率在所有家系中最低,仅有2.97（P<0.05）,且其饲料系数显著高于其他家系（P<0.05）。在生长实验结束后,进行氨氮胁迫实验。氨氮胁迫48 h后,不同家系的成活率存在差异性,S14-S15的成活率为98.33%,显著高于其他家系（P<0.05）;血细胞数量与家系成活率呈正相关,SOD酶、AKP酶的活力与家系成活率呈负相关,POD酶的活力与家系成活率不具相关性。综合分析,以L2和S11为父本的半同胞家系生长快且抗氨氮特性强,可留作育种材料进行下一步选育。     

印度芥菜对Cu诱导的氧化胁迫响应

研究了印度芥菜对不同浓度 (0、 2、 4、 8和 1 6 μmol·L-1 )Cu处理的响应。结果表明 ,4～ 1 6 μmol·L-1 Cu抑制印度芥菜根和地上部生物量的积累 ,植株中H2 O2 和丙二醛 (MDA)含量上升 ;根和叶中超氧物歧化酶 (SOD ,EC1 1 5 1 1 )和过氧化物酶 (POD ,EC1 1 1 1 7)活性均随着Cu浓度增加而上升 ;2～ 8μmol·L-1 Cu能提高根中抗坏血酸过氧化物酶 (APX ,EC1 1 1 1 1 1 )活性 ,叶中APX活性最高时的外界Cu浓度为 4 μmol·L-1 ;过氧化氢酶 (CAT ,EC1 1 1 1 6 )活性在 2 μmol·L-1 Cu时最高 ;Cu浓度为 2～ 8μmol·L-1 时根中非蛋白巯基化合物 (NPT)含量上升     

白三叶叶片对酸沉降及冻融胁迫的生理响应特征

酸沉降及变温条件下,植物会对胁迫产生一定的生理响应。通过人工酸沉降,测定酸胁迫下白三叶在变温条件下叶片可溶性蛋白、丙二醛(MDA)及抗氧化酶活性的变化规律。结果表明,酸沉降胁迫下,叶片MDA、过氧化物酶(POD)、超氧化物酶(SOD)升高,分别升高0.60%~18.82%、10.34%~24.47%、0.09%~18.11%,而可溶性蛋白含量降低2.85%~24.18%,过氧化氢酶(CAT)活力变化趋势不明显;在融冻胁迫下,叶片抗氧化酶、可溶性蛋白随温度下降先增高后降低,最大值出现在-5℃,MDA呈上升趋势,p H组、CK组最大值均出现在-15℃,分别为4.04、3.97μmol/L。在冻融胁迫下,POD随温度升高而上升,SOD和可溶性蛋白先升高后下降,CAT活力先下降后趋于平稳,MDA含量持续下降。白三叶通过快速激活抗氧化酶活力和积累丙二醛以抑制膜脂过氧化在酸沉降和冻融胁迫上的适应,是未来值得推广的园林绿色植物。