Spatial structure of microbial biomass and activity in prairie soil ecosystems

Management of soil ecosystems requires assessment of key soil physicochemical and microbial properties and the spatial scale over which they operate. The objectives were to determine the spatial structure of microbial biomass and activity and related soil properties, and to identify spatial relationships of these properties in prairie soils under different management histories. Soil were sampled along a transect at 0.2 m intervals in each of five long-term treatments, namely, undisturbed, cattle grazed at two intensities, and cultivated with either wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Contents of organic carbon (C_org), dissolved organic C (DOC), soluble nitrogen (N_sol), and microbial biomass C (C_mic) and N (N_mic) as well as dehydrogenase activity (DH) in 70 samples were evaluated. Results showed that long-term soil management altered the spatial structure and dependence of C_org and microbial biomass and activity. Cultivation has contributed to high nugget variance for C_org, C_mic, N_mic and DH which interfered with detection of spatial structure at the sampling scale used. Contents of C_org were spatially connected to microbial biomass and activity and to DOC in the uncultivated but not in the cultivated soils, indicating that various factors affected by management may operate at different spatial scales.     

Estimation of a network irrigation efficiency to cope with reduced water supply

The overall irrigation efficiency, e_p, for the irrigationnetworks in the Thessaloniki plain, in Northern Greece, wasestimated from historical data, spanning eight years. Irrigationnetworks differ regarding the method of water delivery and themethod of field application. Overall irrigation efficiency is theparameter which helps to adjust water supply to meet the actualcrop water requirements. A method is introduced which calculatesnetworks e_p using spatially distributed data. Efficiencyvalues for all systems were calculated using the proposed method.Seasonally averaged e_p values for eight years for 32(surface and sprinkler) irrigation networks ranged from 0.38 to0.81. Analysis of the time series e_p values can identifyoperational factors that might affect network e_p. Sprinklerand surface network irrigation efficiencies did not show anysignificant difference.     

Estimating field-measured, plant extractable water from soil properties: beyond statistical models

For effective irrigation management we need to know the water storage capacity of the soil reservoir. Though plant extractable water is best measured in the field, sometimes it is useful to estimate it. Laboratory-derived retention curves do not necessarily reflect field conditions. Statistical models to estimate plant extractable water from other soil properties are restricted by assumptions that are difficult to check, and they can look very complicated. We propose to test a physical-based model that exploits the similarity between the particle size distribution curve and the soil water retention curve. A large data set of soil properties from the USA was used. Detailed particle size fraction data enabled the construction of simulated soil water retention curves for 388 samples. The physical-based model was compared against a statistical model that was derived from a subset of the data base. The statistical model fit the data better than the physical-based model. On the other hand, the statistical model overpredicted the soil water limits of those soils that were not used in the derivation of the statistical model. The strength of the physical model is that it represents a cause and effect relationship between particle size distribution and soil water retention. Also, it is conceptually simple and requires few inputs. The physical model may be improved by considering soil structure and type of clay.     

Long-term management effects on organic C and N pools and activities of C-transforming enzymes in prairie soils

Changes in soil microbial and biochemical properties in response to management practices reflect changes in the functional capacity of soil ecosystems. The objectives were to evaluate effects of long-term management practices on different soil organic C and N pools and activities of glycoside hydrolases, including α- and β-glucosidases, α- and β-galactosidases, cellulase, and invertase, in semiarid prairie soils. Soils were sampled from five long-term management systems including: undisturbed, abandoned from cultivation, moderately grazed, heavily grazed, and cultivated with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Activities of C-transforming enzymes were sensitive in discriminating soil ecosystems under various land uses and can be used as indicators for detecting impact of soil management practices on the soil capacity to cycle C. Long-term cultivation (more than 30 yr) decreased total organic C and N, microbial biomass, and activities of C-transforming enzymes, and led to development of a microbial community with enhanced metabolic activity. Grazing, especially at moderate intensity, did not lessen soil capacity to support microbial life and cycle C. The intermediate status of the chemical, microbial, and biochemical properties in the abandoned from cultivation soils suggested that through secondary succession the soil ecosystem is restoring its capacity to sequester C and support microbial life.