Physical, chemical and phosphatase activities characteristics in soil-feeding termite nests and tropical rainforest soils

Little is known about the relationship between soil biological function and the physical and chemical characteristics of soil-feeding termite nests in the Lopé tropical rainforest (Gabon). We compared nine soil-feeding termite nests of Cubitermes of different ages (fresh to mature to old) and six surrounding soils that originated from three forests differing with respect to age and vegetative cover according to 14 physical and chemical variables and acid (pH 4) and alkaline (pH 9) phosphatase activities. Physical and chemical variables of the studied samples were influenced by the three factors tested: (1) forest age, (2) termite activity (nest versus soil), (3) termite nest age. Soils from the gallery forest were strongly discriminated from all the other soils studied notably due to their high organic matter contents. All mature nests showed significant increases in K, P, clay and fine silt, pH, and cationic exchange capacity compared to soils. Some nests also had increased amounts of organic matter and larger water retention capacities. Moreover, we observed that with age the termite nests possessed decreased values of these variables from fresh to mature to old. Likewise, phosphatase activities also differed according to the three factors tested. Due to its high organic matter contents, the highest phosphatase activities were noted in the gallery forest. Within each forest, phosphatase activities decreased in mature nests compared to soils and tended to be higher in fresh nests compared to mature nests. These differences might be due to an inhibition by high inorganic P contents, as mature nests were enriched in this element and to the quality of organic matter as nests are built with termite faeces. Termite activity has an important role in influencing physical and chemical variables and phosphatase activities.     

Role of Azospirillum brasilense nitrate reductase in nitrate assimilation by wheat plants

Summary The nitrogen metabolism of wheat plants inoculated with various Azospirillum brasilense strains and nitrate reductase negative (NR^–) mutants was studied in two monoxenic test tube experiments. The spontaneous mutants selected with chlorate under anaerobic conditions with nitrite as terminal electron acceptor fixed N₂ in the presence of 10 mM NO₃ ^– and were stable after the plant passage. One strain (Sp 245) isolated from surface-sterilized wheat roots produced significant increases in plant weight at both NO₃ levels (1 and 10 mM) which were not observed with the NR^– mutants or with the two other strains. Similar effects were observed in a pot experiment with soil on dry weight and total N incorporation but only at the higher N fertilizer level. In the monoxenic test tube experiments plants inoculated with the mutants showed lower nitrogenase activities than NR⁺ strains at the low NO₃ ^– level (1 = mM) but maintained the same level of activity with 10 mM NO₃ ^– where the activity of all NR⁺ strains was completely repressed. The nitrate reductase activity of roots increased with the inoculation of the homologous strains and with the mutants at both NO₃ ^– levels. At the low NO₃ ^– level this also resulted in increased activity in the shoots, but at the high NO₃ ^– level the two homologous strains produced significantly lower nitrate reductase activity in shoots while the mutants more than doubled it. The possible role of the bacterial nitrate reductase in NO₃ ^– assimilation by the wheat plant is discussed.     

Effects of organic manure and NPK fertilization on earthworm activity in an Oxisol

The effects of fertilization with N, P, K, and organic manure (alone or in combination) on earthworm populations, biomass, and casting activity were measured in a cultivated soil (organic C 1.5%, annual rainfall 2000–2300 mm). These applications of fertilizer caused significant increases in earthworm numbers, biomass, and casts. N alone or in combination with P and K also influenced these earthworm parameters significantly. The inorganic NPK fertilizer in combination with organic manure had a significantly greater effect on earthworm activities than NPK fertilizer alone, and therefore the addition of organic matter appears advisable in order to obtain maximum benefits from NPK fertilizer in this soil.     

Nutrient availability and interactions between soil arthropods and microorganisms during decomposition of coniferous litter: a mesocosm study

Summary The functional roles of the fungivorous collembolan Tomocerus minor and the detritivorous isopod Philoscia muscorum during the decomposition of Pinus nigra needles were studied in mesocosms filled with two different types of F1 litter, obtained from two different forest soils. The effects of the animals on the availability of K⁺, Ca²⁺, NO _inf3 ^sup- , NH _inf4 ^sup+ , and PO _inf4 ^sup3- and on the respiration, dehydrogenase, and cellulase activity of microorganisms were measured over one growing season. The animals were introduced into the F1 litter in three densities. The most important animal effect was a buffering effect, in that addition of the animals increased nutrient availability and microbial activity where the corresponding values in control mesocosms without animals were low, and decreased the nutrient availability and microbial activity where control values were high. This effect occurred for both species and was most evident in the substrate with the highest temporal fluctuations. The effects on nutrient availability are attributed to an animal effect on the activity of and successional stage reached the microbial community, with NH _inf4 ^sup+ availability seen as the most important factor. The concept of functional groups in relation to these animal effects is discussed.     

氨气敏电极-标准加入法测定土壤脲酶活性

本文研究了用氨气敏电极－标准加入法测定土壤脲酶活性的新方法。该法使样品液和标准溶液均处于同一条件下测定，消除了土壤中基体对测定的影响，提高了方法的准确性。方法简便、快速，结果可靠，应用于不同土壤样品中脲酶活性的测定，相对标准偏差为1.78%-3.94%，回收率在98.3%-101.8%之间。     

土壤微量元素与人类活动强度的对应关系

本文以天津地区为例 ,在分析影响土壤中微量元素含量各种人为因素的基础上 ,利用天津地区人类活动强度对土壤微量元素含量变化的联系、不同土地利用方式土壤微量元素含量的变化规律 ,探讨土壤微量元素含量变化与人类活动强度之间的联系。研究发现 ,Hg、Cd、Se元素是最敏感的地球化学因子 ,能够反映天津地区土壤环境受人类活动的影响程度 ,利用土壤环境中Hg、Cd、Se的变化特征 ,可以确定本地区土壤环境受人类影响程度的大小     

Response of potatoes to different nutrient solution management in a closed hydroponic system

Ion control of nutrient solutions to control nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) was developed for Superior (medium-to-early maturing) and Atlantic (mid-late) potato cultivars grown in closed hydroponic systems in which solutions were replenished and recirculated. Results were compared with conventional nutrient solution management strategies. In the “solution replacement” treatment, nutrient solutions were completely replaced each week. In the “electrical conductivity (EC) control” treatment, water use by potato plants was compensated by adding ground water to achieve the original volume (water replenishment) and the diluted EC of the solution was adjusted to the target levels using stock solution. In “ion control” treatment, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (NH₄H₂PO₄) and potassium nitrate (KNO₃) were added to the EC-controlled nutrient solution. The amounts increased with plant age in both cultivars. The concentrations of nitrate (NO₃), P, and K in the ion control nutrient solution could be maintained at target levels. In water replenishment, recycling of nutrient solution resulted in a progressive decrease in EC and an increase in pH. Root activity increased by 93% and 59% in the Superior and Atlantic cultivars, respectively, compared with the nutrient solution replacement. These changes decreased photosynthesis, plant growth, water use, and thus tuber growth in the Superior cultivar. Decreased growth of shoots and tubers occurred without affecting photosynthesis in the Atlantic cultivar. Although there were no significant differences in root activity, photosynthesis, or plant growth between the ion control treatment and the EC control treatment, increased tuber growth was observed in the ion control treatment, possibly as a result of the constant supply of nutrients. High tuber growth and the capability to maintain solution nutrient concentration in the ion control treatment are highly desirable for closed hydroponic systems.     

农艺措施对不同生态环境稻田土壤状况的影响: Ⅱ. 土壤温度的影响

A 21－d incubation experiment was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions to study the effects of elevated temperatures(10,25,and 40℃)on some microbiological and biochemical properties in flooded paddy soil amended or unamended with urea at 100μg N g^-1 soil and /or insecticide(triazophos) at field rate(FR).Enhancements in temperature led to increase the electron transport system(ETS)/dehydrogenase activity and phospholipid contents of the soil,while soil organic matter phenol and protein contents decreased with increasing tenperature with or wihtout the addition of inputs.An incerease of temperature from 10℃ to 25 or 40℃ enhanced the ETS activity 2 folds (on avergae for all soils),while the inclusion of N and insecticide increased and decreased it ,respectively,compared to the control.The soil phenol and protein contents were highly correlated with temperatures(for all soils,r=-0.936 and -0.971,respectively)and the additions of N and insecticide produced slight reductions and enhancemetns in them,respectively,At a particular tempeature,the soil protein contents remained unaffected among all the soil treatments.An overall slight increase in phospholipid contents with N and a small decline with insecticide addition were noticed against the untreated soil.the toxcity of fertilizer and insecticide decrased as the incubation temperature increased suggesting faster degradation of agrochemicals with raising temperature.     

酸马奶酒中微生物的分离鉴定及抗菌特性的研究

从内蒙古锡盟不同地区采集15份酸马奶酒样品,经分离纯化、归属种鉴定,并单菌发酵液经调pH值、蒸发酒精、浓缩后,对李斯特杆菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、大肠杆菌进行抑菌研究。结果表明,酸马奶酒是由多种乳酸菌和酵母菌共同发酵的乳饮料。其中乳酸菌中有球菌5个属,杆菌6个属,酵母菌6个属。乳酸菌中有9株乳球菌和12株乳杆菌对李斯特杆菌有抑制作用,对大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌无抑制作用。酵母菌中有4株对大肠杆菌有抑菌作用,其中有2株同时对金黄色葡萄球菌有抑制作用,对李斯特杆菌无抑制作用     

Barley yield and soil microbial and enzyme activities as affected by contamination of two soils with lead, zinc or copper

The effects of increasing rates of Pb, Zn and Cu on extractable heavy metal levels, barley yields, basal respiration and the activities of catalase, urease, invertase and acid phosphatase were investigated in two soils in a 2-year greenhouse experiment. In the first year, barley yields were decreased by increasing additions of Pb, Zn and Cu. In the second year, increased yields were recorded at lower rates of addition of all three metals in both the chestnut and chernozem soils. Yield depressions were most marked for added Cu and least marked for Pb but, in contrast, accumulation of heavy metals in grain, in excess of recommended limits, was most pronounced for Pb and did not occur for Cu. Increasing rates of all three metals caused a decrease in basal respiration; the degree of inhibition was generally greater in the second than in the first year. After 1 year of incubation, increasing rates of addition of metals reduced all tested enzyme activities. However, after 2 years, the pattern of response was more complex, with increases in enzyme activities being noted at lower rates of addition of all three metals. In general, invertase and urease activities were more markedly inhibited by heavy metal contamination than those of catalase and phosphatase. Ammonium acetate-extractable heavy metal concentrations in soils were less after 2 years than 1 years reaction time due to their transformation into less labile forms. Significant negative correlations between grain yield, basal respiration and enzyme activities were observed in both years.