轮耕对渭北旱塬玉米连作系统土壤水分和作物产量的影响

陕西渭北旱塬属于暖温带半湿润易旱气候区,干旱对旱地农作物生产威胁严重,该地区制约春玉米生长发育和产量低而不稳的主要因素为降水少且季节性差异较大。该研究力求探索渭北旱塬春玉米连作田在不同保护性耕作措施下土壤蓄水保墒效果和作物增产增收效应。于2007-2013年在陕西合阳实施了渭北旱塬春玉米连作田保护性耕作长期定位试验,设置了连续免耕、免耕/深松和连续翻耕等3种不同轮耕处理措施下的田间定位试验,测定春玉米休闲期和生育期土壤水分,分析各耕作处理下春玉米产量及水分利用效率的变化规律。结果表明:1相对于连续翻耕处理,冬闲期免耕/深松和连续免耕处理0~200 cm土层土壤蓄水效率6 a平均值分别提高64.6%(P0.05)和46.1%(P0.05)。平水年免耕/深松较连续免耕处理土壤蓄水效率有提高的趋势,但枯水年差异不显著。2相对于连续翻耕处理,玉米生育期免耕/深松和连续免耕处理0~200 cm土层土壤蓄水量6 a平均分别增加了9.7和2.1 mm,休闲期蓄水效率分别增加了0.7和0.5个百分点(P0.05)。3相对于连续翻耕处理,免耕/深松和连续免耕处理6 a平均玉米籽粒产量分别提高7.6%、0.3%,收获指数分别提高3.6和2.3个百分点,水分利用效率分别提高18.6%、5.8%(P0.05)。在3种耕作处理中,冬闲期和生育期深松/翻耕和连续免耕模式下土壤蓄水量、玉米籽粒产量、收获指数和水分利用效率均优于传统连续翻耕,且免耕/深松处理模式对于提高土壤蓄水保墒能力和作物增产效果最好,可作为渭北旱塬区春玉米连作田较适宜的休闲保护性轮耕模式。     

轮耕对宁南旱区土壤理化性状和旱地小麦产量的影响

为了探索免耕/深松隔年轮耕对土壤理化性状及冬小麦产量的影响,2007年至2010年在宁南旱区采用免耕/深松/免耕、深松/免耕/深松与连年翻耕3种耕作模式,对土壤容重、团聚体、养分及小麦产量等进行了研究。结果表明:与传统耕作相比,免耕/深松/免耕和深松/免耕/深松模式显著(p<0.05)降低土壤容重,改善了土壤的孔隙状况;两种轮耕模式可显著(p<0.05)增加0～40 cm各土层2～0.25 mm水稳性团聚体的含量。3种耕作方式比较,深松/免耕/深松模式最能有效增加0～40 cm土壤有机质和0～20 cm土层全氮含量;免耕/深松/免耕和深松/免耕/深松处理较传统耕作显著增加0～40 cm土层碱解氮和有效磷含量、20～40 cm土壤速效钾含量,改善了土壤的养分状况。试验期间,免耕/深松/免耕、深松/免耕/深松模式3年平均小麦籽粒产量较传统耕作显著增加,分别增产9.59%和10.69%(p<0.05),以深松/免耕/深松处理增产效果最佳。     

Prediction of tillage operation strategies for dryland wheat production in a degraded loess soil

Conservation tillage systems are advocated worldwide for sustainable crop production; however, their favorable effects on soil properties are subject to the length of their use. The following study aimed at using the CENTURY agroecosystem model to simulate long-term changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production. Tillage systems include conventional tillage (CT, control), minimum tillage, chisel plow (CP) and zero tillage with (R⁺) and without residues (R^?) in fallow-wheat system. The model validation with 2-year field experiment showed that the simulated results were strongly correlated with observed results for total organic carbon (r² = 0.94), active soil carbon (r² = 0.91), slow soil carbon (r² = 0.84) and passive soil carbon (r² = 0.85). Similarly, model simulations for biomass and grain yields were, respectively, 81% and 76% correlated with observed results. The long-term simulations predicted that SOC stock and its fractions will gradually build up, crop biomass and grain yield will enhance with crop residue retention, especially under chisel plough in comparison of existing CT system. The study concludes that CP and retention of crop residues have potential to improve SOC contents and ultimately crop production.     

不同耕作方式对旱作区冬小麦生产和产量的影响

为了筛选出适宜旱作区推广的耕作技术,在旱作大田条件下,设置一次深翻、免耕覆盖、深松覆盖、传统耕作四种耕作方式,研究了不同耕作方式下花后土壤水分和养分状况、小麦旗叶叶绿素含量、小麦旗叶净光合速率和小麦籽粒灌浆速率及产量。结果表明,免耕覆盖、深松覆盖开花期和灌浆期0～40 cm土层土壤水分含量分别比传统耕作提高了4.13%、6.23%和5.50%、9.27%,0～40 cm土层土壤碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾含量均显著高于传统耕作,为小麦开花后生长发育提供了良好的环境,从而提高了小麦灌浆中后期旗叶叶绿素含量和净光合速率,促进花后干物质积累及干物质向籽粒转运,进而提高了籽粒灌浆速率,使得籽粒产量显著提高。     

耕作方式对农田土壤理化性质、微生物学特性及小麦营养品质的影响

【[目的 ]】耕作措施对土壤健康和作物营养品质提升具有关键作用,明确不同耕作方式对土壤理化性质、微生物学特性及小麦营养品质的影响,为集约化农田可持续管理提供理论依据。【[方法 ]】田间试验自2012年起在山东德州进行,供试土壤为潮土,种植制度为小麦–玉米轮作。设置4种耕作模式处理：传统耕作、旋耕、休耕和免耕。2020年,采集0—20 cm土层土样分析土壤物理、化学性质和细菌群落结构,采集小麦籽粒样品分析其营养品质。【[结果 ]】与传统耕作相比,免耕、休耕和旋耕处理显著提高了土壤含水量、铵态氮、硝态氮、有机质、全氮及有效磷含量,休耕还显著提高了土壤容重,降低了土壤孔隙度。免耕、休耕和旋耕处理显著提高土壤微生物量碳、氮含量以及土壤细菌群落多样性指数,休耕及免耕处理提高土壤厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)的相对丰度,降低放线菌门(Actinobacteria)的相对丰度。从营养品质变化来看,休耕显著提高小麦籽粒蛋白质、淀粉、微量元素的含量,旋耕和免耕显著增加小麦籽粒蛋白质含量,除天冬氨酸外,其他16种氨基酸组分变化趋势与氨基酸总量变化基本一致。Pe...     

保护性耕作对土壤水分和小麦产量的影响

采用3种稻田保护性耕作栽培模式与传统栽培模式的定位试验,对成都平原稻田小麦季的土壤水分及产量进行了研究。结果表明:小麦全生育期,免耕覆盖处理的土壤含水率明显地高于翻耕覆盖处理,而翻耕不覆盖处理最差;小麦分蘖高峰期,覆盖处理的土壤含水率比不覆盖处理高17.7%～75.9%,免耕覆盖处理的土壤含水率比翻耕覆盖处理高12.7%～41.0%;免耕覆盖处理的小麦最高茎蘖数又比翻耕覆盖处理增加23.8%～72.3%,均极显著优于翻耕处理;覆盖处理的小麦产量比不覆盖处理增产6.3%～19.5%,免耕覆盖处理比翻耕覆盖处理增产3.2%～8.0%。稻田保护性耕作有利于提高成都平原区小麦产量。     

耕作措施对陇中麦豆轮作系统土壤真菌群落的影响

为探究耕作措施对陇中旱农区麦豆轮作系统土壤真菌多样性的影响,依托2001年布设在陇中旱农区的田间定位试验,应用高通量测序技术比较传统耕作(T)与3种保护性耕作[免耕(NT)、传统耕作+秸秆还田(TS)和免耕+秸秆覆盖(NTS)]对麦豆轮作体系真菌群落结构的影响。结果表明:1)子囊菌门(52.74%)、担子菌门(14.10%)为陇中旱农区麦豆轮作系统土壤真菌的主要优势种群,免耕秸秆覆盖处理下担子菌门丰度较传统耕作增加15.01%,免耕处理子囊菌门、担子菌门丰度较传统耕作分别提高3.67%、1.86%。2)保护性耕作措施能不同程度提高0～30 cm土层土壤真菌丰富度与多样性指数,其中以免耕秸秆覆盖效果最明显,但各处理间差异不显著;较传统耕作,0～30 cm土层土壤真菌特有OTU数量NTNTSTST,同时较传统耕作,免耕秸秆覆盖处理土壤真菌OTU数量提高8.07%,免耕处理提高12.41%。因此,在陇中旱农区推广以免耕秸秆覆盖为主的保护性耕作措施有利于提高土壤真菌群落丰富度和多样性。     

土壤耕作及秸秆还田对冬小麦生长状况及产量的影响

该文研究了土壤耕作、秸秆还田两项技术措施及其交互效应对冬小麦群体发育动态、冬小麦产量形成及其构成要素的影响。常规耕作、免耕、耙耕、深松4种土壤耕作技术与无秸秆还田、秸秆全量粉碎还田两种秸秆还田量构成8个处理,并对不同处理中冬小麦生长发育动态及产量形成进行调查、分析。结果表明不同耕作处理对冬小麦出苗率、群体动态、产量构成有显著影响,免耕小麦出苗率仅60.2%,群体过小,产量显著低于常规耕作;耙耕、深松在与常规耕作相同播量下能形成适宜的群体,且穗粒数、千粒重均高于常规耕作,分别比常规耕作增产8.15%和6.91%;经作用力分析,耕作措施是影响冬小麦群体结构与产量构成的最重要因素,作用力大于秸秆及秸秆×耕作交互效应。     

Variations in soil microbial biomass and N availability due to residue and tillage management in a dryland rice agroecosystem

Seasonal changes in the levels of soil microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN), N-mineralization rate and available-N concentration were studied in rice–barley supporting tropical dryland (rainfed) agroecosystem under six combinations of tillage (conventional, minimum and zero tillage) and crop residue manipulation (retained or removed) conditions. Highest levels of soil MBC and MBN (368–503 and 38.2–59.7 μg g⁻¹, respectively) were obtained in minimum tillage residue retained (MT+R) treatment and lowest levels (214–264 and 20.3–27.1 μg g⁻¹, respectively) in conventional tillage residue removed (CT−R, control) treatment. Along with residue retention tillage reduction from conventional to zero increased the levels of MBC and MBN (36–82 and 29–104% over control, respectively). The proportion of MBC and MBN in soil organic C and total N contents increased significantly in all treatments compared to control. This increase (28% in case of C and 33% N) was maximum in MT+R and minimum (10% for C and N both) in minimum tillage residue removed (MT−R) treatment. In all treatments concentrations of N in microbial biomass were greater at seedling stage, thereafter these concentrations decreased drastically (21–38%) at grain-forming stage of both crops. In residue removed treatments, N-mineralization rates were maximum during the seedling stage of crops and then decreased through the crop maturity. In residue retained treatments, however, N-mineralization rates were lower than in residue removed treatments at seedling stage of both crops. At grain-forming stage in all instances the N-mineralization rates in residue retained treatments considerably exceeded the rates in corresponding residue removed treatments. Tillage reduction and residue retention both increased the proportion of organic C and total N present in soil organic matter as microbial biomass. Microbial immobilization of available-N during the early phase of crops and its pulsed release later during the period of greater N demand of crops enhanced the degree of synchronization between crop demand and N supply. The maximum enhancement effects were recorded in the minimum tillage along with residue retained treatment. In the dryland agroecosystem studied, two management practices in combination proved more advantageous than either practice alone in maintaining soil fertility levels. For soil fertility amelioration in dryland agroecosystems with least dependence upon chemical fertilizer input, post-harvest retention of about 20 cm shoot biomass (accounting for 25–40% aboveground biomass) of previous crop and its incorporation in soil through minimum tillage in the succeeding crop is suggested, especially in the case of cereal.     

低锌旱地土壤水分对小麦产量和锌利用的影响

【目的】西北旱地土壤有机质含量低,pH和碳酸钙含量高,导致土壤有效锌含量低,加之水分缺乏,不仅制约冬小麦生长和产量,还严重影响小麦锌的吸收利用。本研究选取西北旱地典型缺锌区,在土施锌肥的基础上,设置了2年的补充灌水田间试验,进一步研究水分对土壤锌有效性、 小麦生长、 产量以及锌和相关元素吸收利用的影响。【方法】田间试验于2010~2012年在陕西永寿县进行,采用裂区设计,锌肥为主处理,在不施锌与施锌(ZnSO4·7H2O)50 kg/hm2的基础上,设置在冬小麦关键生长期补充和不补充灌水2个副处理。在成熟期采集植株样品,测定了小麦产量、 生物量,各器官部位的锌及氮、 磷、 钾、 铁的含量; 采集0—40 cm土层土壤,测定了土壤有效性锌含量。【结果】在返青期、 孕穗期补灌20~30 mm水分对小麦产量、 土壤有效锌含量无显著影响,却有提高小麦各部位锌含量、 锌肥利用率的趋势,不施锌和施锌条件下,灌水比不灌水处理小麦籽粒锌含量分别提高3.8%~16.3%、 3.8%~13.1%,灌水使锌肥利用率提高21.2%~177.8%。灌水量和灌水时期的不同也影响锌在小麦各器官部位的分配与累积,第一季施锌和不施锌条件下,灌水比不灌水处理锌收获指数分别降低5.1%和2.0%,而第二季锌收获指数分别提高2.1%和2.7%。两季灌水对小麦籽粒中铁及大量元素氮磷钾含量的影响亦各不相同。【结论】在旱地缺锌土壤上,小麦生长关键期灌水对小麦产量、 土壤有效锌含量无显著影响,却有提高小麦各部分锌含量、 锌肥利用率的趋势,说明水肥结合对旱地石灰性土壤锌和锌肥有效性的影响应引起进一步重视,这对提高旱地缺锌地区作物和人体锌营养水平具有潜在意义。     

不同保护性耕作措施对麦-豆轮作土壤有机碳库的影响

通过设置在甘肃省定西市李家堡镇的不同保护性耕作试验,对春小麦、豌豆两种轮作次序下的土壤总有机碳、活性有机碳、微生物量碳含量进行了测定,并计算了各处理土壤碳库管理指数.结果表明:经过5年的轮作后,与传统耕作相比,两种轮作次序下免耕秸秆覆盖和传统耕作结合秸秆还田处理均能不同程度地提高土壤总有机碳、活性有机碳、微生物量碳含量及土壤碳库管理指数,而免耕不覆盖处理除在0～5 cm提高了土壤有机碳库管理指数外,其他各层次均降低了土壤有机碳库管理指数,说明仅依靠免耕而不结合秸秆覆盖或还田对于土壤有机碳库的管理来讲是不可持续的.     

轮耕对土壤物理性状和冬小麦产量的影响

针对华北地区土壤连续单一耕作存在的主要问题,进行了土壤轮耕效应的研究。试验选择冬小麦夏玉米玉两熟区连续5 a免耕田,设置免耕、翻耕和旋耕3种轮耕处理（即免耕一免耕,免耕一翻耕和免耕一旋耕）,冬小麦播种前进行耕作处理。研究结果表明：多年免耕后进行土壤耕作（翻耕、旋耕）可以显著降低土壤体积质量;旋耕显著降低0～10 cm土壤体积质量,翻耕则降低0～20 cm体积质量;随时间变化各处理土壤体积质量差异逐渐降低。翻耕、旋耕均显著增加了0～10 cm土壤总孔隙,同时翻耕显著增加了10～20 cm土壤总孔隙;翻耕、旋耕显著提高了5～10 cm毛管孔隙。0～10 cm土壤饱和导水率表现为旋耕＞翻耕＞免耕,翻耕、旋耕在5%水平上显著高于免耕;10～20、20～30 cm土层均表现为翻耕＞旋耕＞免耕,且10～20 cm翻耕5%水平上显著高于免耕;饱和导水率与体积质量呈显著线性负相关。翻耕、旋耕有效穗数与免耕相比分别提高了24.1%、22.3%;冬小麦的实际产量表现为：旋耕＞翻耕＞免耕,翻耕、旋耕分别比免耕增产11.8%、16.9%。总之,长期免耕后进行土壤耕作有利于改善土壤物理性状,提高作物产量。     

不同轮耕模式对旱地土壤结构及入渗蓄水特性的影响

为了探索免耕与深松隔年轮耕对土壤结构及入渗蓄水性能的影响,2007-2010年在宁南旱区采用免耕/深松/免耕、深松/免耕/深松与连年翻耕3种耕作模式,对土壤体积质量、团聚体、入渗率及水分利用效率等方面的影响进行了研究。结果表明:与连年翻耕相比,免耕/深松/免耕、深松/免耕/深松处理使0～60cm各土层土壤体积质量平均降低3.5%、6.2%(P<0.05);使0～20cm土层>0.25mm机械稳定性团聚体数量平均分别增加10.3%(P<0.05)和20.3%(P<0.01),>20～40cm土层分别平均增加17.2%(P<0.05)和23.6%(P<0.01)。免耕/深松/免耕处理0～10cm和>30～40cm土层的水稳性团聚体稳定率分别比连年翻耕提高35.1%和45.8%(P<0.05),深松/免耕/深松处理>10～20cm和>20～30cm土层水稳性团聚体稳定率分别提高101.7%和61.7%(P<0.01)。不同轮耕模式显著增强了土壤的入渗性能,提高对土壤水分的有效利用及降水利用率,免耕/深松/免耕、深松/免耕/深松处理降雨入渗率较连年翻耕分别提高35.2%和15.3%(P<0.05),水分利用效率平均提高7.2%和7.7%(P<0.05),降水生产效率平均提高9.6%和10.7%(P<0.05)。     

耕作措施对旱农区农田土壤质量与碳排放的影响

依托2001年布设在陇中旱农区的田间定位试验,于2018年研究了传统耕作(T)、免耕(NT)、传统耕作+秸秆还田(TS)和免耕+秸秆覆盖(NTS)对麦豆轮作体系下豌豆田土壤碳排放、土壤质量的影响.研究结果表明:1)NTS处理可以提高黄绵土土壤质量.NTS处理下土壤物理、化学和生物学质量均最高;2)NT、NTS可以减少黄...     

轮耕对渭北旱塬春玉米田土壤理化性状和产量的影响

为了揭示不同轮耕处理对渭北旱塬春玉米田土壤理化性状及春玉米产量的影响,于2008—2010年在陕西合阳设置了免耕深松免耕(NT/ST/NT)、深松翻耕深松(ST/CT/ST)、翻耕免耕翻耕(CT/NT/CT)、免耕免耕免耕(NT/NT/NT)、深松深松深松(ST/ST/ST)和翻耕翻耕翻耕(CT/CT/CT)6种轮耕模式,测定和分析了各轮耕处理下土壤容重、土壤养分与玉米产量差异。结果表明:(1)各轮耕处理降低了土壤容重,提高了土壤孔隙度,增加了田间持水量,且以NT/ST/NT处理效果最佳;与对照CT/CT/CT相比,NT/ST/NT处理0～20cm和20～40 cm土层土壤容重分别降低11.43%和9.79%,土壤孔隙度分别增加11.05%和9.87%。(2)NT/ST/NT处理对耕层0～20 cm土层土壤有机质和全氮含量影响显著(P<0.05),0～60 cm土层土壤有机质平均含量最高(10.36 g.kg 1),土壤全氮含量平均值比试验开始前和对照CT/CT/CT分别提高10.65%和4.31%;各耕作处理对0～20 cm土层土壤全氮和碱解氮含量影响较大,而对20～40 cm土层土壤有效磷和速效钾含量影响较大,保护性轮耕处理对土壤培肥效应显著(P<0.05)高于传统翻耕处理。(3)NT/ST/NT、ST/CT/ST、CT/NT/CT、NT/NT/NT和ST/ST/ST处理产量比对照CT/CT/CT处理分别增产22.42%、16.33%、3.77%、9.91%和14.18%(P<0.05),以NT/ST/NT处理春玉米增产率最高。     

Effects of reduced tillage and liming on microbial activity and soil properties in a weakly-structured soil

The effects of reduced tillage and lime on crop yield and soil physical and microbial properties were studied in a weakly-structured silty clay loam soil. Two autumn primary tillage practices were compared, mouldboard ploughing to 20–25 cm and cultivation to 12 cm. Seedbed preparation was carried out by several harrowing operations in the mouldboard ploughed treatment, and with a PTO-driven harrow in the same operation as sowing in the shallow cultivation treatment. The tillage treatments were applied alone or were combined with liming aimed at soil structural improvement. Lime was added as 6.5 Mg CaO ha⁻¹ before the start of the experiment and mixed into the top 12 cm of soil with a disc cultivator. A 4-year crop rotation was used: spring barley, spring oilseed rape, spring/winter wheat and oats, and all crops were compared each year. Crop residues were retained in the experiment and incorporated at cultivation. Aggregate stability was improved by the shallower tillage depth, probably as an effect of an increase in soil organic matter and a more active microbial biomass. Liming had little effect on soil structure variables but increased microbial activity to some extent. This was reflected in higher crop yields, especially when the shallow tillage depth was combined with liming. Penetration resistance in the seedbed subsoil was highest when mouldboard ploughing was carried out in plots without liming. Data were examined with principal component analyses, and the structures in the data were presented as scores and loading plots, which revealed groupings between samples and relationships between variables, respectively.     

Long-term tillage and cropping effects on microbiological properties associated with aggregation in a semi-arid soil

Little is known about the long-term tillage and cropping management effects on the microbiologically derived factors that influence macroaggregates in semi-arid soil. We tested the hypothesis that differences in macro-aggregation are due to changes in soil structure related to management treatment-induced microbiological changes. In an experiment, microbiological factors consisting of aggregate stability, glomalin, russuloid basidiomycete fungi, uronic acids, total organic C (TOC), and total N (TN) were quantified in macroaggregate-size classes ranging from 4.75 to 0.25 mm, collected at 0–5 cm depth for the following treatments: (1) 12th year of fallow phase after 11 years of conventional- and no-tilled spring wheat-fallow (CTF and NTF), (2) 12th year of lentil phase after 11 years of conventional- and no-tilled spring wheat-lentil (CTL and NTL), (3) 12 years no-tilled continuous spring wheat (NTCW), and (4) 16 years uncultivated pasture (P) used as a baseline treatment. Immunoreactive easily extractable glomalin concentration was five to six times greater under P, NTCW, or NTL in the 2.00–1.00- and 1.00–0.50-mm macroaggregate-size classes than the other treatments and these results corroborated well with the results from aggregate stability assays. Russuloid basidiomycetes were highest in all NTCW macroaggregate-size classes, suggesting that annual input of lignin-containing wheat residues may influence the growth and survival of these fungi. Uronic acid amounts were highest in P but did not differ among the other treatments. In all macroaggregate-size classes, TOC content was greater in NTCW compared to CTF, and TN was about three times higher in NTL than NTF or CTF. In conclusion, 12 years of NTCW management in semi-arid soil has resulted in higher macroaggregate stability, glomalin concentration, russuloid basidiomycete populations, and TOC in macroaggregates compared to alternate-year fallow. Lentil can be used to replace fallow in dryland wheat rotation under no-till to enhance TN content and improve soil macro-aggregation.     

Quantifying soil displacement and tillage erosion rate by different tillage systems in dryland northwestern Iran

Redistribution of soil particles by the force applied by tillage is a major factor in soil degradation of agricultural land. Decreasing tillage intensity can reduce the amount of soil displaced and the distance moved and hence may reduce rates of erosion. To understand the relative importance of erosion, we tabulated machine, soil and landform properties likely to be involved. We compared soil displacement and tillage erosion rates under different systems, including mouldboard ploughing (conventional tillage), chisel ploughing (reduced tillage), stubble cultivator (minimum tillage) and no‐tillage under dryland agriculture in northwestern Iran. The area was undulating and so all tillage took place along contours. Metallic tracers were buried in the soil at known locations and depths and their recovery after tillage provided a measure of soil displacement and tillage erosion. Conventional tillage along a contour line caused significantly greater soil displacement (≃57 cm) in the direction of tillage than reduced and minimum tillage systems (~20 and ~15 cm, respectively). Conventional tillage also caused more lateral soil displacement (downwards in the main direction of slope, the tillage erosion rate) than reduced or minimum tillage systems (48 cm or 152 kg/m vs. 5 and 4 cm or 16 and 7 kg/m, respectively). Although a range of factors contribute to the tillage systems used by farmers, our results suggest that under dryland conditions, similar to those found in our study area, adoption of noninversion, reduced tillage along the contour, for example by chisel ploughing can substantially limit tillage erosion relative to conventional tillage.     

Effects of nutrient concentration on the biodegradation of crude oil and associated microbial populations in the soil

The influence of nutrient amendments on the biodegradation of a crude oil and on associated microbial populations in an agricultural soil was studied in microcosms during a 150-day experiment. Concentration and chemical composition of residual hydrocarbons (HC) were periodically monitored in series of polluted soils unfertilized and fertilized with increasing concentrations of nutrients. The decrease in HC concentration was effective in all soils over time. The maximal biodegradation extent was 62%, meanwhile the natural attenuation contributed to 47% of degradation. A permanent inhibition of hydrocarbons assimilation was recorded with a high input of nutrients. The biodegradation of saturates, aromatics and polars was respectively, permanently, temporally and not reduced by excessive fertilization in soil. Accumulation of polar metabolic by-products was demonstrated. Enumerations of total heterotrophic bacteria and hydrocarbon-adapted bacteria showed a strong stimulation in both populations. Maximum stimulation was observed with the highest input of nutrients. However, the extents of biodegradation were not concurrently improved, thus indicating that the microbial degraders were selected depending on the nutrient supply. The permanent and/or temporally inhibition of the saturated and unsaturated HC assimilation revealed that different nutrient supplies were optimum for the degradation of aliphatic and aromatic HC.