Legacy effects of elevated ozone on soil biota and plant growth

Many studies have examined how human-induced atmospheric changes will influence ecosystems. The long-term consequences of human induced climate changes on terrestrial ecosystems may be determined to a large extend by how the belowground compartment will respond to these changes. In a free-air ozone enrichment experiment running for 5 years, we reciprocally transplanted soil cores from ambient and elevated ozone rings to test whether exposure to elevated ozone results in persistent changes in the soil biota when the plant and soil are no longer exposed to elevated ozone, and how these legacy effects of elevated ozone influenced plant growth as compared to current effects of elevated ozone. After one growing season, the current ozone treatment enhanced plant growth, but in soil with a historical legacy of elevated ozone the plant biomass in that soil was reduced compared to the cores originated from ambient rings. Current exposure to ozone increased the phospholipid fatty acids of actinomycetes and protozoa, however, it decreased dissolved organic carbon, bacterivorous and fungivorous nematodes. Interestingly, numbers of bacterivorous and fungivorous nematodes were enhanced when soils with a legacy of elevated ozone were placed under elevated ozone conditions. We conclude that exposure to elevated [O₃] results in a legacy effect in soil. This legacy effect most likely influenced plant growth and soil characteristics via responses of bacteria and fungi, and nematodes that feed upon these microbes. These soil legacies induced by changes in soil biotic community after long-term exposure of elevated ozone can alter the responses of ecosystems to current climatic changes.     

Methods for evaluating human impact on soil microorganisms based on their activity,biomass, and diversity in agricultural soils

The present review is focused on microbiological methods used in agricultural soils accustomed to human disturbance. Recent developments in soil biology are analyzed with the aim of highlighting gaps in knowledge, unsolved research questions, and controversial results. Activity rates (basal respiration, N mineralization) and biomass are used as overall indices for assessing microbial functions in soil and can be supplemented by biomass ratios (C : N, C : P, and C : S) and eco‐physiological ratios (soil organic C : microbial‐biomass C, qCO₂, qN_min). The community structure can be characterized by functional groups of the soil microbial biomass such as fungi and bacteria, Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria, or by biotic diversity. Methodological aspects of soil microbial indices are assessed, such as sampling, pretreatment of samples, and conversion factors of data into biomass values. Microbial‐biomass C (µg (g soil)^–1) can be estimated by multiplying total PLFA (nmol (g soil)^–1) by the F_PLFA‐factor of 5.8 and DNA (µg (g soil)^–1) by the F_DNA‐factor of 6.0. In addition, the turnover of the soil microbial biomass is appreciated as a key process for maintaining nutrient cycles in soil. Examples are briefly presented that show the direction of human impact on soil microorganisms by the methods evaluated. These examples are taken from research on organic farming, reduced tillage, de‐intensification of land‐use management, degradation of peatland, slurry application, salinization, heavy‐metal contamination, lignite deposition, pesticide application, antibiotics, TNT, and genetically modified plants.     

Effects of a plant parasitic nematode (Heterodera trifolii) on clover roots and soil microbial communities

We studied the effects of the root endoparasitic nematode Heterodera trifolii on rhizodeposition and the root architecture of white clover (Trifolium repens). Rhizosphere solutions were collected from the root systems of plants growing with and without H. trifolii (200 juveniles per inoculated plant) in sand-based microlysimeters. The organic carbon (C) content of these solutions was analyzed, and they were applied to plant-free soils to investigate microbial responses. Although plant biomass was unaffected by nematodes, the architecture of the root systems was significantly altered, with a decrease in overall root length and an increase in the density of lateral branches from the primary root. The presence of nematodes reduced the concentration of organic compounds in the rhizosphere solutions but only on the final sampling date (75 days). Analysis of microbial signature phospholipid fatty acids revealed no change in the structure of the microbial communities in soils to which rhizosphere solutions were applied. However, these microorganisms did respond with changes in substrate utilization patterns (community-level physiological profiles). Microbes in soils that received rhizosphere solutions from the nematode-infected clover showed lower utilization of most substrates but higher utilization of oligosugars. These responses appear to be related to changes in roots and rhizodeposition associated with nematode infection of clover roots. The results of this study suggest that root herbivory can negatively impact carbon-limited soil microbial communities via changes in root architecture that moderate rhizodeposition.     

Resilience of microorganisms and aggregation of a sandy calcareous soil to amendment with organic and synthetic fertilizer

Marginal coastal soils are dependent on appropriate land management to prevent soil erosion, as a result of low soil stability combined with exposure to strong winds. An example of such an area is the machair, a fixed dune system utilized for agriculture in the northwest of Scotland, UK. The separate and combined effects of synthetic NPK fertilizer and a traditional soil conditioner (kelp, a seaweed) on soil structure formation, stabilization and biological parameters were studied on a cropped field on the machair. Soil physical properties examined included water retention at 10 kPa matric suction, water stable aggregates (WSA) >1 mm, aggregate stability, and biological properties including ester-linked fatty acid (ELFA) analysis and β-glucosidase activity for microbial biomass and activity, respectively. Significant treatment effects were few and inconsistent between sampling times, but included kelp and/or NPK fertilizer reducing aggregation, water retention, microbial biomass and activity relative to the unamended control treatment. Furthermore, seasonal variation, which could be attributed to changes in soil water content, was stronger than variation in response to fertilizer treatments. Principal components analysis of the ELFA data showed that ploughing promoted fungal biomass relative to bacteria, and confirmed both the absence of consistent synthetic and organic fertilizer effects and the sensitivity of microbial biomass to season. Overall, the study demonstrated the resilience of a calcareous sandy soil to amendment with fertilizer.     

Impact of fertilization on cover crops and microbial community on a bauxite‐mined soil undergoing reclamation

The reclamation of bauxite‐mined areas can be favored by the application of organic and/or chemical fertilization to restore the vegetation. Otherwise, the impact of fertilizations on soil microbiota or plant–microbe interactions as land reclamation progresses is less understood. To address this issue, we evaluated the impact of organic and chemical fertilization on plants and soil microbial community within the first 36 months of land reclamation in a bauxite‐mined site. The experiment was set up according to a split‐plot design in which the main plots received fertilizations [non‐fertilized control (NF), chemical fertilization (CF; NPK and rock phosphate), organic fertilization (OF; poultry litter), and CF+OF combined], and the subplots received cover crops [no cover crops (NC), grass (B; Brachiaria), legume (S, Stylosanthes), and B+S combined]. Cover crops biomass yield was assessed annually with five field campaigns per year. We used phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) to infer the impacts of mining and restoration practices on actinobacteria, Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and fungi. Accordingly, PLFAs were determined before bauxite mining (pre‐mining), six months after topsoil reconfiguration (post‐mining), and after 14 and 36 months following the application of the fertilizations and cover crops. PLFAs results indicated that in post‐mining, the living microbiota was significantly lower than in pre‐mining. Cover crops biomass yield was highest for B and B+S fertilized with CF+OF at 14 and 36 months. Both parametric and non‐parametric statistics showed a temporal variation in the response of living microbes to the treatments applied. After 14 months, living microbes showed greatest response to OF, while at 36 months their response was strongest in the treatments with highest plant biomass production (B and B+S). These results suggest that in the early stages of land reclamation, living microbial biomass benefit the most from organic fertilizers. As this initial boost decline, living microbes are more likely to thrive in areas undergoing reclamation where they can develop synergistic interactions with plants.     

磷脂脂肪酸生物标记法分析养猪发酵床微生物群落结构的空间分布

采用磷脂脂肪酸(Phospholipid Fatty Acids,PLFA)生物标记法分析发酵床大栏养猪微生物群落结构的空间分布特点。从发酵床的5个区域(A、B、C、D、E)和3个层次(表层、中间层和底层)采集垫料样品,利用Sherlock MIS 4.5系统分析各样品的PLFA。结果表明,15:00、17:00、a15:0等7种PLFA在各样品中均有分布,为完全分布型,而a12:0和17:1 w6分别只在A区和B区分布,为不完全分布型。指示细菌、真菌、放线菌、革兰氏阳性细菌(G+)、革兰氏阴性细菌(G-)的PLFA及总PLFA在D区表层分布量最大。在各垫料中,PLFA分布量均表现为细菌真菌放线菌。A区各层次的真菌/细菌比值显著高于其他区域(P0.05),而G+/G-比值则显著低于其他区域(P0.05)。多样性分析表明,不同区域和层次的垫料Simpson指数、Shannon指数和Pielou指数值均呈现显著差异(P0.05)。聚类分析表明,当兰氏距离为117.1时,可将各样品聚为两个类群:类群Ⅰ包含A区的垫料,其特征是指示不同微生物的PLFA种类少和含量低;类群Ⅱ包含其他4个区域的垫料。当兰氏距离为23.4时,B区和D区各层次样本聚在同一亚类群中,其PLFA种类多、含量高,而C区和E区各层次样本聚在另一亚类群中,其PLFA含量中等。主成分分析表明,主成分1和主成分2基本能将发酵床不同空间垫料样本区分出来,其中A区单独归在一类群,D区和B区归在一类群,C区和E区归在一类群,与聚类分析结果一致。综上,发酵床大栏养猪不同空间的微生物种群结构不同,A区微生物种类少、含量低,而B区和D区微生物种类多、含量高。     

棘孢木霉菌肥对黄瓜枯萎病的防治效果及对连作黄瓜根际土壤微生物种群的影响

为明确棘孢木霉Trichoderma asperellum菌肥在防治黄瓜枯萎病的同时对连作黄瓜根际土壤微生物种群的影响,采用实时荧光定量PCR(real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR,RT-qPCR)和磷脂脂肪酸(phospholipid fatty acid,PLFA)分析方法分别测定了棘孢木霉菌肥对连作4年的黄瓜根际棘孢木霉菌和尖孢镰孢菌Fusarium oxysporum DNA拷贝数变化和黄瓜根际微生物种群的影响。结果表明:棘孢木霉菌肥对黄瓜幼苗期和速长期黄瓜枯萎病的防治效果分别为70.24%和76.81%,均与药剂对照的防效差异不显著。棘孢木霉菌的DNA拷贝数出现2个高峰期,即黄瓜苗期和盛果期,其DNA拷贝数分别为235 000.00 ng/μL和80 500.00 ng/μL。黄瓜速长期、盛果期、生长末期的尖孢镰孢菌DNA拷贝数分别为15.41、54.87和18.36 ng/μL,且显著低于同一时期药剂对照和清水对照。黄瓜幼苗期、速长期、开花期和盛果期根际土壤微生物丰度分别为2.24、1.98、2.52和2.12,均高于药剂对照。由此可见,棘孢木霉菌肥在防治黄瓜枯萎病的同时,还可以改善黄瓜连作土壤微生物种群结构。     

土壤微生物群落表征中磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)方法研究进展

土壤是生物圈的主要成员之一,而土壤微生物群落被认为是土壤生态系统变化的预警及敏感指标,指示土壤质量变化。磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)方法是一种新兴的用来表征微生物群落结构的方法,已在土壤微生物学研究中得到广泛应用。对其研究进展进行了综述。     

Overstory-specific effects of litter fall on the microbial carbon turnover in a mature deciduous forest

Mature deciduous forests can serve as important carbon (C) sinks, but the C storage differs significantly in dependency on the tree species. To specify the significance of overstory-specific effects of litter fall on the soil microbial C turnover, we have investigated the ¹³C isotopic signature of microbial biomarker phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). Samples were taken under pure Fagus sylvatica and mixed overstory (F. sylvatica and Fraxinus excelsior or F. excelsior, Acer spp. and F. sylvatica) in a mature temperate deciduous forest in Central Germany 4 weeks prior to and 3 weeks after litter fall. Accordingly, the CO₂ emission from soil was measured before, during and after the litter fall to investigate the response of decomposition. At all sites and at both sampling dates the fungal biomarker PLFA 18:2ω6,9 had predominantly lower δ¹³C values (from −32 to −43‰) than the bacterial biomarker PLFAs (δ¹³C values from −23 to −39‰). This difference indicated that fungi generally used preferentially plant derived C, whereas the bacterial populations include groups which used SOM derived C, independent on the overstory trees. Under pure F. sylvatica overstory the δ¹³C values of microbial biomarker PLFAs were slightly decreased (up to 2‰ for 17:0br) or unchanged after litter fall. By contrast, under both variants of mixed overstory the δ¹³C values of biomarker PLFAs of fungi (18:2ω6,9) were increased after litter fall (+3.5 and +3.8‰). This might be explained partly by a faster initial decomposition of foliar litter from mixed overstory already during litter fall as confirmed by higher CO₂ emission under mixed F. excelsior, Acer spp. and F. sylvatica than under pure F. sylvatica in this period. However, the involved microbial populations differed overstory-specific. Bacterial biomarker PLFAs with strongest overstory-specific differences in the response on litter fall were 17:0br (Gram-positive bacteria), 18:1 and 19:0cy (Gram-negative bacteria). The present results indicate that a tree species conversion even exclusively between deciduous tree species might alter the soil microbial C turnover during litter decomposition and suggest that it would in the long-term change the SOM stability and C storage.