The effect of disturbance by Phellinus weirii on decomposition and nutrient mineralization in a Tsuga mertensiana forest

Summary Microbial biomass in the upper 7 cm of soil and needle decomposition on the forest floor were measured seasonally for 10 months in a mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) old-growth forest and in a regrowth forest after Phellinus weirii, a root-rot pathogen infection, had caused disturbance. The microbial biomass was higher in the old-growth forest soil than in the regrowth forest soil. However, T. mertensiana needle decomposition rates were higher in the regrowth than in the old-growth forest. Total N, Ca, Fe, Cu, and Zn concentrations in needles increased during the 1st year of decomposition in both the old and the regrowth forests, but P, K, Mg, Mn, and B concentrations decreased. N, P, K, Mg, Cu, and Zn concentrations were lower in regrowth than in old-growth decomposing needles. During mineralization, needles in the regrowth forests released more N, P, and K as a result of higher needle decomposition rates. Our results suggest that higher needle decomposition rates increased the mineralization of N, P, and K, which may lead to increased soil fertility and faster tree growth rates in the regrowth forest.     

A simple gas chromatographic approach to evaluate CO2 release,N2O evolution,and O2 uptake from soil

Summary We have developed a simple method for the determination of gaseous compounds that reflect microbial activity in soil, as affected by factors such as the presence of an organic amendment (peat) or a variation in soil moisture. The method is based on a gas chromatographic analysis of the headspace of vials containing the soil under examination. A single gas chromatograph can detect up to 10 different gases. As expected, after peat was added to the soil, CO₂ evolution and O₂ uptake increased significantly. Positive relationships were found between the evolution of N₂O, and soil moisture and the amount of peat added to the soil. Both the these variables influenced the CO₂:O₂ ratio. The results given by this method show high reproducibility.     

重金属复合污染下红壤微生物活性及其群落结构的变化

在室内培养条件下,应用4因素5水平二次正交回归旋转组合设计方案,对重金属复合污染红壤的微生物活性及群落功能多样性进行了研究。结果表明,在Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd复合污染生境中重金属的微生物毒性效应发挥主要由Cd、Cu两元素决定,其生物毒性顺序表现为:Cd>Cu>Zn>Ph,红砂泥中表现较为突出。与单一镉、单一铅污染处理相比,重金属复合污染对供试红壤微生物生物活性及其群落功能多样性的影响并非仅仅表现出简单的加和作用,同时还存在协同作用和拮抗作用。典型相关分析显示,红壤微生物活性与重金属含量之间关系密切,第一对典型变量的相关系数r达0.885 8、0.932 8,均达极显著水平(p<0.001), 说明重金属复合污染与红壤微生物间存在较为稳定的数量反馈机制,红壤总体微生物活性指标能较好地反映供试红壤重金属复合污染状况,可作为重金属污染红壤环境质量评价及量化分类的有效指标。     

Measuring rates of gross and net mineralisation of organic phosphorus in soils

The isotopic dilution method developed by Oehl et al. [2001b. Organic phosphorus mineralisation studies using isotopic dilution techniques. Soil Science Society of America Journal 65, 780-787] to measure gross mineralisation of soil organic phosphorus (P) was tested on a range of low-P sorbing soils. This isotopic dilution method relies on accurate prediction of radiolabel behaviour due to soil physicochemical processes. Based on experimental validation of the extrapolation for isotopic dilution due to physicochemical processes using autoclaved soils, a simple power function was used for extrapolation rather than the more complex equation used in the original method. For several soils, however, a potential overestimation of gross mineralisation by 0.1-2.0 mg P kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ was revealed. In addition, the detection limit of P mineralisation ranged between 0.6 and 2.6 mg P kg⁻¹ d⁻¹. The method is likely to be at the detection limit for soils that are high in available P and low in biological activity. The method was modified with respect to the extrapolation and successfully applied to a soil with relatively high microbial P (18 mg P kg⁻¹) and soil respiration rates (29 mg C kg⁻¹ d⁻¹), revealing gross mineralisation rates of organic P of 0.9-1.2 mg P kg⁻¹ d⁻¹. Measurement of uptake of ³²P by the microbial biomass allowed derivation of a net organic P mineralisation rate of 0.5-0.9 mg P kg⁻¹ d⁻¹.     

Do plant clumps constitute microbial hotspots in semiarid Mediterranean patchy landscapes?

Three semiarid Mediterranean patchy landscapes were investigated to test the existence of a microsite effect (i.e. plant canopy vs. inter-canopy) on soil microbial communities. Surface soil samples were independently taken from both microsites under naturally changing conditions of humidity and temperature through the year. In gypsiferous soils covered with a shrub steppe, improved physical and chemical soil properties were registered underneath the plant canopy, where the densest and most active microbial communities were also detected (e.g. microbial biomass C averaged 531 and 202 mg kg⁻¹ in canopy and inter-canopy areas, respectively). In calcareous perennial tussock grasslands, either growing on soils over limestones or alluvial deposits, the microsite effect was not so marked. Soil humidity, temperature and total organic C were homogeneously distributed over the landscape conditioning their uniform microbial activity under field moisture conditions (ATP content averaged 853 and 885 nmol kg⁻¹ in canopy and intercanopy areas, respectively). However, readily mineralizable C and microbial biomass C were preferentially accumulated in soils underneath the tussocks determining their larger potential microbial activity (e.g. C hydrolysis capacity under optimal conditions). In conclusion, plant clumps either functioned as microbial hotspots where enhanced microbially driven ecosystem processes took place or as microbial banks capable of undergoing a burst of activity under favourable climatic conditions. Our results provide experimental evidence of a non-patchy distribution of certain soil microbial properties in semi-arid Mediterranean patchy ecosystems.     

Mineralization rate of C-labelled dissolved organic matter from leaf litter in soils of a weathering chronosequence

During the processes of primary succession and soil development, large stocks of organic C with very long residence times accumulate in many soils. Soluble organic C adsorbed by soils may contribute to the stock of organic C accumulating during soil development. We determined whether the mineralization rate of water-soluble organic C and the insoluble residue from ¹⁴C-labelled leaf litter added to soils from a weathering chronosequence decrease as soil age and adsorption capacity increase. The soils were formed on mudflows of andesitic material deposited about 75, 255, 616 y ago, and another older but undetermined time before this study. The percentage of the DOC adsorbed by the soils increased with age. After 1 year of incubation there were no significant differences in the mineralization rates of DOC added to soils of different ages. The DOC appeared to be comprised of two fractions, one that comprises about 32% of the total that mineralized with a half decay time of 0.02 y (7 d) and a second fraction comprising 68% with a half decay time of about 1.6 y. Consequently, the slowly mineralized fraction of the soluble C contributed to the accumulation of slowly mineralized C in the soil. Both the slowly and rapidly mineralized fractions of the insoluble residue decomposed more slowly than the corresponding fractions in DOC. We found no support for the idea that increased adsorption capacity due to weathering resulted in protection of soluble organic C from microbial mineralization.     

不同气候条件对旱地红壤微生物群落代谢特征的长期影响

利用1988年设置的暖温带和中亚热带两种气候条件下的土壤置换试验,采用BIOLOG方法,研究了气候条件对红壤中微生物群落功能的影响。结果表明,长期处于不同的气候条件改变了红壤的pH和养分状况,从而影响红壤微生物群落的代谢特征。与中亚热带气候条件相比,暖温带气候条件下,红壤的pH和全磷含量显著升高,速效钾含量显著下降;红壤微生物群落活性(以AWCD值表示)也显著降低。主成分分析表明,不同气候条件下红壤微生物群落代谢特征显著不同,与暖温带气候相比,中亚热带气候条件下,红壤微生物群落对氨基酸、胺类和酚类化合物等含氮化合物的利用显著增加。相关分析表明,影响不同气候条件下红壤微生物代谢特征的主要因素有:温度和降雨量气候因子,土壤pH、速效钾和全氮含量等土壤因子。     

Microbial biomass and respiratory activity in soil aggregates of different sizes from three beechwood sites on a basalt hill

We studied the effects of aggregates of different sizes on the soil microbial biomass. The distribution of aggregate size classes (<2, 2–4, 4–10, >10 mm) in the upper mineral soil horizon (A_h layer) was very different in three sites (upper, intermediate, lower) in a beechwood (Fagus sylvatica) on a basalt hill (Germany). Aggregates of different sizes (<2, 2–4, 4–10 mm) contained different amounts of C and N but the C:N ratios were similar. C and N contents were generally higher in smaller aggregates. The maximum initial respiratory response by microorganisms in intact aggregates and in aggregates passed through a 1-mm sieve declined with the aggregate size, but the difference was more pronounced in intact aggregates. Disruption of aggregates generally increased this response, particularly in 4- to 10-mm aggregates in the lower site. Basal respiration differed strongly among sites, but was similar in each of the aggregate size classes. Aggregate size did not significantly affect the specific respiration (g O₂ g^–1 microbial C h^–1) nor the microbial: organic C ratio, but these parameters differed among sites. Microbial growth was increased strongly by passing the soil through a 1-mm sieve in each of the aggregate materials. The growth of microorganisms in disrupted aggregates was similar, and the effect of aggregate disruption depended on the growth of microorganisms in intact aggregates.     

Soil fumigation and compost amendment alter soil microbial community composition but do not improve tree growth or yield in an apple replant site

Apple replant disease (ARD) is a disease complex that reduces survival, growth and yield of replanted trees, and is often encountered in establishing new orchards on old sites. Methyl bromide (MB) has been the fumigant used most widely to control ARD, but alternatives to MB and cultural methods of control are needed. In this experiment, we evaluated the response of soil microbial communities and tree growth and yield to three pre-plant soil treatments (compost amendment, soil treatment with a broad-spectrum fumigant, and untreated controls), and use of five clonal rootstock genotypes (M.7, M.26, CG.6210, G.30 and G.16), in an apple replant site in Ithaca, New York. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)—denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis was used to assess changes in the community composition of bacteria and fungi in the bulk soil 8, 10, 18 and 22 months after trees were replanted. PCR-DGGE was also used to compare the community composition of bacteria, fungi and pseudomonads in untreated rhizosphere soil of the five rootstock genotypes 31 months after planting. Tree caliper and extension growth were measured annually in November from 2002 to 2004. Apple yield data were recorded in 2004, the first fruiting year after planting. Trees on CG.6210 rootstocks had the most growth and highest yield, while trees on M.26 rootstocks had the least growth and lowest yield. Tree growth and yield were not affected by pre-plant soil treatment except for lateral extension growth, which was longer in trees growing in compost-treated soil in 2003 as compared to those in the fumigation treatment. Bulk soil bacterial PCR-DGGE fingerprints differed strongly among the different soil treatments 1 year after their application, with the fingerprints derived from each pre-plant soil treatment clustering separately in a hierarchical cluster analysis. However, the differences in bacterial communities between the soil treatments diminished during the second year after planting. Soil fungal communities converged more rapidly than bacterial communities, with no discernable pattern related to pre-plant soil treatments 10 months after replanting. Changes in bulk soil bacterial and fungal communities in response to soil treatments had no obvious correlation with tree performance. On the other hand, rootstock genotypes modified their rhizosphere environments which differed significantly in their bacterial, pseudomonad, fungal and oomycete communities. Cluster analysis of PCR-DGGE fingerprints of fungal and pseudomonad rhizosphere community DNA revealed two distinct clusters. For both analyses, soil sampled from the rhizosphere of the two higher yielding rootstock genotypes clustered together, while the lower yielding rootstock genotypes also clustered together. These results suggest that the fungal and pseudomonad communities that have developed in the rhizosphere of the different rootstock genotypes may be one factor influencing tree growth and yield at this apple replant site.     

Responses of microbial biomass and respiration of soil to topography,burning, and nitrogen fertilization in a temperate steppe

Temporal dynamics of microbial biomass and respiration of soil and their responses to topography, burning, N fertilization, and their interactions were determined in a temperate steppe in northern China. Soil microbial indices showed strong temporal variability over the growing season. Soil microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN) were 14.8 and 11.5% greater in the lower than upper slope, respectively. However, the percentage of organic C present as MBC and the percentage of total N present as MBN were 16.9 and 26.2% higher in the upper than lower slope, respectively. Neither microbial respiration (MR) nor metabolic quotient (qCO₂) was affected by topography. Both MBC and MBN were increased by burning, on average, by 29.8 and 14.2% over the growing season, and MR and qCO₂ tended to reduce depending on the sampling date, especially in August. Burning stimulated the percentage of organic C present as MBC and the percentage of total N present as MBN in the upper slope, but did not change these two parameters in the lower slope. No effects of N fertilization on soil microbial indices were observed in the first growing season after the treatment. Further research is needed to study the long-term relationships between changes in soil microbial diversity and activity and plant community in response to burning and N fertilization.