Invasion of Pontoscolex corethrurus (Glossoscolecidae,Oligochaeta) in landscapes of the Amazonian deforestation arc

Pontoscolex corethrurus (Glossoscolecidae, Oligochaeta) is an invasive endogeic earthworm that has colonized most land transformed by human activities in the humid tropics. When installed, populations can change soil physical properties, biogeochemical processes and microbial communities. The aim of this study was to determine whether P. corethrurus establishment is a result of (1) a competitive exclusion of native earthworm species or (2) the exploitation of a new niche created by anthropogenic disturbance that native earthworm species cannot use. We tested these hypotheses by doing a survey of earthworm communities in 270 sites that represented the diversity of land use systems encountered in two contrasted regions of the Amazonian arc of deforestation located in Brazil and Colombia respectively. When present in forests, P. corethrurus had no negative effect on the native species communities that had similar (epigeic species) or even higher densities (endogeic species) in the presence of the invasive species. These results suggest the absence of competitive exclusion.The first two axes of a PCA multivariate analysis of communities represented the densities of native species (axis 1) and P. corethrurus (axis 2) respectively. This suggests that respective densities of the two groups respond to different conditions and that their variations are independent. The density of P. corethrurus co-varied with soil N content and pH in Colombian sites while the densities of other species did not. Our results thus suggest that this invasive species, unlike native species, is able to feed and develop in environments where litter resources are decreased while soils have been enriched in C and nutrients by deforestation and burning. We discuss the reasons why some primary forests in Central America have large populations of P. corethrurus.     

Physical protection of soil organic matter following mechanized forest operations in Pinus radiata D.Don plantations

Mechanized forest operations have a large impact on soil systems, and may cause disruption of aggregates and exposure of previously protected soil organic matter to microbial attack. In this study, we investigated how C storage, soil structure and unprotected, physically protected and resistant C pools recover 0, 7 and 20 years after mechanical harvesting and site preparation in second rotation Pinus radiata D.Don plantations. We detected differences in dry mean weight diameter (DMWD) of aggregates, with higher DMWD in 0- and 7-year-old pine stands (8.7 and 7.5 mm, respectively) than in 20-year-old stands (4.1 mm). This was attributed to the compaction induced by heavy machinery, as reflected by the positive relationship between DMWD and bulk density (r = 0.85, P < 0.05). Organic C contents in the top 5 cm were similar 0 and 7 years after disturbance, but were twice as high after 20 years, with mean values of 25, 28 and 52 Mg C ha⁻¹, respectively. In addition, the resistant C pool was also reduced by up to 7% after clearance. In contrast, unprotected C and physically-protected C were greatest in the youngest stands, indicating that stand establishment and harvesting with heavy machinery may have broken soil aggregates and exposed the previously protected SOM to microbial decomposition and that forest operations may create new mega-aggregates able to protect organic residues. However, the lowest physically-protected C values in 20-year-old pine stands may also be attributed to differences in SOM quality. The alkyl C/O-alkyl C ratios were highest in the oldest stands, indicating that SOM in these stands was more resistant to further decomposition. Mechanized forest operations in radiata pine stands released at least 30 t C ha⁻¹ from the first 5 cm of the soil profile immediately after clearance, caused significant alterations in the soil structure, which lasted for a minimum of seven years, and also reduced the resistant C pool. As the Kyoto Protocol encourages forest management practices that potentially increase carbon sequestration, mechanical harvesting and site preparation in these steep slopes should be reconsidered.     

恢复措施对皆伐油松林团聚体活性有机碳含量的影响——以黄土丘陵区松峪沟流域为例

团聚体中的活性有机碳对土壤质量改善以及碳库动态平衡具有重要意义.为了研究皆伐后土壤团聚体活性有机碳的分布状况,本实验选取黄土高原典型油松林为对象,以未皆伐人工油松林为对照,采用高锰酸钾氧化法研究皆伐后不同恢复植被群落(幼林、撂荒、灌木)地表0 ～ 20 cm层土壤团聚体中活性有机碳变化特征.结果表明:1)研究区土壤以大团聚体(＞ 250 μm)为主,自然恢复的灌木地以及撂荒地大团聚体质量分数显著增加(P＜0.05).2)有机碳质量分数随团聚体粒径的增大而增加,大团聚体是有机碳积累的主要场所,并且自然恢复的灌木地团聚体有机碳质量分数最高.3)研究区油松林团聚体低活性有机碳质量分数＞中活性有机碳质量分数＞高活性有机碳质量分数,大团聚体活性有机碳质量分数大于微团聚体.研究表明,皆伐会造成团聚体有机碳趋于活化,其中自然恢复的灌木地活性有机碳质量分数显著增加.本研究还进一步发现大团聚体中的高活性有机碳能更好地预测土壤碳库变化.     

Is invasion of deforested Amazonia by the earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus driven by soil texture and chemical properties?

Pontoscolex corethurus (Müller, 1857) is the most common invasive earthworm in disturbed lands in the tropics. Conditions required for its successful colonization of new plots are still not understood since some areas can be invaded while others, sometimes in the vicinity, are not. We kept newly hatched P. corethrurus in a wide range of Amazonian soils where population densities had been previously evaluated. We identified soil conditions that best sustain survival, soil ingestion and growth of P. corethrurus in controlled laboratory conditions and checked if presence/absence in the field was consistent with laboratory observations. While pH and Ca influenced survival; Mg and C content were the greatest determinants for growth and C:P, Mg and clay contents determined soil ingestion rates. Soil ingestion and growth rate were correlated. There were no differences in earthworm soil ingestion rates between invaded and non-invaded soils. However, growth rate and survival were higher in soils from invaded sites than in soils from non invaded sites, indicating that soil quality may play a role in the invasion process. We identified two cases where P. corethrurus did not occur: (1) unfavourable soil texture and chemical properties, but also some areas with and (2) favourable soil texture and chemical properties but no invasion. Other parameters, like vegetation cover (grass or trees), soil structure and compaction, soil hydrologic processes or biotic resistance of native earthworm communities could potentially also be key elements for understanding why P. corethrurus populations occur in some sites and not in others.     

耕作方式转变和秸秆还田对土壤活性有机碳的影响

深松是解决长期旋免耕后耕层浅薄化、亚表层(15~30 cm)容重增加等问题的有效方法之一,长期旋免耕后进行深松显著影响土壤有机碳及其组分的周转。为对比转变耕作方式对土壤活性有机碳(LOC)及碳库管理指数的影响,该研究基于连续6 a的旋耕转变为深松和免耕转变为深松定位试验,对比了2012-2014年长期旋免耕农田进行深松对农田土壤活性有机碳及碳库管理指数的影响。研究结果表明,耕作方式转变和秸秆还田均对土壤LOC含量、活性有机碳与有机碳的比例(LOC/SOC)和碳库管理指数产生显著影响。相对于原旋耕秸秆还田处理(RTS),虽然旋耕-深松秸秆还田处理(RTS-STS)提高了0~30 cm土层的LOC含量,但其土壤中LOC/SOC比例和碳库管理指数显著下降。而免耕-深松秸秆还田(NTS-STS)处理和耕作方式未转变的免耕秸秆还田处理(NTS)在0~10 cm土层其LOC含量无显著性差异,但NTS-STS处理显著提高LOC/SOC比例。耕作方式转变导致RTS-STS处理碳库管理指数随着土层的加深而逐渐降低,而NTS-STS处理则呈逐渐升高趋势。耕作、秸秆、年份、耕作与秸秆、耕作与年份及3者交互作用是导致耕作方式转变后各处理0~30 cm的LOC含量变化的主要作用力(P0.05)。秸秆还田条件下,将长期旋耕处理转变为深松可显著降低土壤SOC中的LOC比例,降低碳库管理指数,促进土壤碳库的稳定性;而长期免耕处理转变为深松能够显著提高土壤下层(10~30 cm)的土壤碳库活性。     

黄泛沙地不同林龄杨树人工林土壤团聚体及有机碳特征

为明确黄泛沙地不同林龄杨树人工林对土壤团聚体及有机碳的影响,以山东省国有东明林场3 a,5 a,8 a,10 a生杨树人工林土壤为研究对象,采用野外取样、室内试验与湿筛法分析了土壤团聚体组成与稳定性,并分析土壤有机碳含量与储量的变化特征。结果表明:(1)不同林龄杨树人工林团聚体分布均以大团聚体(>0.25 mm)为主,在表层土层(0—20 cm)中,随林龄的增加,大团聚体含量呈先显著降低后增加再略减的趋势; 而在20—40 cm土层中,土壤大团聚体含量为5 a>8 a>3 a>10 a; 在40—60 cm土层无显著差异;(2)在0—20 cm土层中,有机碳含量表现为3 a>5 a>10 a>8 a; 在20—60 cm土层,呈先增后减的趋势,且无显著差异。土壤稳定性与团聚体的形成和有机碳密切相关,有机碳含量与GMD值呈极显著正相关关系;(3)不同林龄杨树人工林有机碳储量均呈现一定程度表聚性,在0—20 cm各林龄碳储量占总碳储量的59.17%～74.26%。在3 a到5 a阶段由于土壤淋溶作用,可能导致有机碳储量发生转移,从表层土层(0—20 cm)向底层土层(20—60 cm)转移,而在8 a到10 a阶段,有机碳储量从底层土层向表层土层发生转移。研究结果为揭示黄泛沙地杨树人工林土壤团聚结构形成与有机碳提升提供了参考。     

Earthworm impacts on soil organic matter and fertilizer dynamics in tropical hillside agroecosystems of Honduras

Earthworms are important processors of soil organic matter (SOM) and nutrient turnover in terrestrial ecosystems. In agroecosystems, they are often seen as beneficial organisms to crop growth and are actively promoted by farmers and extension agents, yet their contribution to agroecosystem services is uncertain and depends largely on management. The Quesungual slash-and-mulch agroforestry system (QSMAS) of western Honduras has been proposed as a viable alternative to traditional slash-and-burn (SB) practices and has been shown to increase earthworm populations, yet the effect of earthworms on soil fertility and SOM in QSMAS is poorly understood. This study examined the role of Pontoscolex corethrurus in QSMAS by comparing their influence on aggregate-associated SOM and fertilizer dynamics with their effects under SB and secondary forest in a replicated field trial. Both the fertilized QSMAS and SB treatments had plots receiving additions of inorganic ¹⁵N and P, as well as plots with no inorganic N additions. Earthworm populations were manipulated in field microcosms at the beginning of the rainy season within each management treatment via additions of P. corethrurus or complete removal of existing earthworm populations. Microcosms were destructively sampled at harvest of Zea mays and soils were wet-sieved (using 53, 250 and 2000 μm mesh sizes) to isolate different aggregate size fractions, which were analyzed for total C, N and ¹⁵N. The effects of management system were smaller than expected, likely due to disturbance associated with the microcosm installation. Contrary to our hypothesis that earthworms would stabilize organic matter in soil aggregates, P. corethrurus decreased total soil C by 3% in the surface layer (0-15 cm), predominantly through a decrease in the C concentration of macroaggregates (>250 μm) and a corresponding depletion of C in coarse particulate organic matter occluded within macroaggregates. Earthworms also decreased bulk density by over 4%, but had no effect on aggregate size distribution. Within the two fertilized treatments, the QSMAS appeared to retain slightly more fertilizer derived N in smaller aggregate fractions (<250 μm) than did SB, while earthworms greatly reduced the recovery of fertilizer N (34% decrease) in both systems. Although management system did not appear to influence the impact of P. corethrurus on SOM or nutrient dynamics, we suggest the lack of differences may be due to artificially low inputs of fresh residue C to microcosms within all management treatments. Our findings highlight the potential for P. corethrurus to have deleterious impacts on soil C and fertilizer N dynamics, and emphasize the need to fully consider the activities of soil fauna when evaluating agroecosystem management options.     

Soil structure changes induced by the tropical earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus and organic inputs in a Peruvian ultisol

Inoculation of Pontoscolex corethrurus (Glossoscolecidae, Oligochaeta) in a Peruvian ultisol under several treatments (without or with organic input) has been previously shown to increase macroaggregation and bulk density and to decrease water infiltration and soil moisture. In the present study, we used image analysis of thin sections of soil to understand the impact of earthworm on the structure of the upper layer of the soil. Morphological analysis allowed to quantify the abundance of casts, soil compactness, pore morphology and connections between different pore classes. This approach was applied to experiments carried out at Yurimaguas (Peru), in four plots. Two of them had been inoculated with Pontoscolex corethrurus. In each case, one control plot was conducted without organic input, the other with crop residues and legume green manure. Morphological parameters were measured in fourteen horizontal sections within the first 3 cm. They showed compaction of soil surface due to cast coalescence in plots with earthworms but without organic input and illustrated the typical crumb structure induced by earthworms in plots with organic input.     

Earthworm activity affects soil aggregation and organic matter dynamics according to the quality and localization of crop residues—An experimental study (Madagascar)

Soil organic matter (SOM) plays a central role in the functioning of ecosystems, and is beneficial from agronomic and from environmental point of view. Alternative cultural systems, like direct seeding mulch-based cropping (DMC) systems, enhance carbon (C) sequestration in agricultural soils and lead to an increase in soil macrofauna. This study aimed at evaluating in field mesocosms the effects of earthworms on SOM dynamics and aggregation, as influenced by residue quality and management.In the highlands of Madagascar, buckets were filled with 2 mm-sieved clayey Inceptisol. The effects of earthworm addition (Pontoscolex corethrurus), residue addition (rice, soybean, and no addition), and localization of the residues (mulched or buried) were studied. After 5 months, soil from mesocosms with earthworms had significantly lower C concentration and higher proportion of large water-stable macroaggregates (>2000 μm) than those without earthworms, because of the production of large macroaggregates by earthworms. Earthworm effect on soil aggregation was greater with rice than with soybean residues. Casts (extracted from mesocosms with earthworms) were slightly enriched in C and showed significantly higher mineralization than the non-ingested soil (NIS), showing that at the time scale of our study, the carbon contained in the casts was not protected against mineralization. No difference in microbial biomass was found between casts and NIS.Complementary investigations are necessary to assess long-term effects of earthworm addition on SOM dynamics, the conditions of occurrence of physical protection, and the impact of earthworms on the structure of the microbial community.     

Removal of benzo (a) pyrene from soil using an endogeic earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus ()

The endogeic earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus (Müller, 1857) was the most abundant species (75%) in soil contaminated with hydrocarbons, mostly benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), in the state of Tabasco (Mexico). The earthworm P. corethrurus was tested for its capacity to remove 100 mg BaP kg⁻¹ from an Anthrosol soil (sterilized or not) and amended with legume Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. var. utilis (Wall. ex Wight) Baker ex Burck (3%) or the grass Brachiaria humidicola (L.) DC (3%) (recently renamed as Urochloa humidicola (Rendle) Morrone & Zuloaga) in an aerobic incubation experiment. P. corethrurus removed 26.6 mg BaP kg⁻¹ from the sterilized soil and application of B. humidicola as feed increased this to 35.7 mg BaP kg⁻¹ and M. pruriens to 34.2 mg BaP kg⁻¹ after 112 days. The autochthonous microorganisms removed 9.1 mg BaP kg⁻¹ from the unsterilized soil and application of B. humidicola increased this to 18.0 mg BaP kg⁻¹ and M. pruriens to 11.2 mg BaP kg⁻¹. Adding P. corethrurus to the unsterilized soil accelerated the removal of BaP and 36.1 mg kg⁻¹ was dissipated from soil. It was found that the autochthonous microorganisms removed BaP from soil, but addition of P. corethrurus increased the dissipation 4-fold. The endogeic earthworm P. corethrurus can thus be used to remediate hydrocarbon-contaminated soils in tropical regions.     

不同小生境对喀斯特山区花椒林表土团聚体有机碳和活性有机碳分布的影响

以贵州西南部典型喀斯特地区花椒林下的石缝、石沟、石洞、石槽、石坑及一般土壤为研究对象,对0-20cm土层土壤团聚体有机碳和活性有机碳分布特征进行分析。结果表明,与一般土壤相比,石沟和石坑明显增加了原状土壤和各粒径团聚体土壤有机碳及活性有机碳的含量,而石槽和石洞则有所降低。除石沟外,有机碳含量较高的土壤主要增加了>5mm粒级团聚体含量。随着土壤团聚体粒径的降低,有机碳和活性有机碳呈"∨"形分布,并在<0.25mm粒级达到最大。团聚体对土壤有机碳和活性有机碳的贡献出现2个峰值,分别在5～2mm和1～0.5mm 2个粒级中出现,而<0.25mm团聚体对有机碳和活性有机碳的贡献率最低。相关性分析表明,土壤团聚体活性有机碳含量与土壤团聚体总有机碳含量呈极显著正相关关系(r=0.796),团聚体活性有机碳可以作为衡量喀斯特山区土壤团聚体有机碳动态的一个敏感性指标。     

Charcoal consumption and casting activity by Pontoscolex corethrurus (Glossoscolecidae)

The endogeic earthworm Pontoscolex corethrurus (Glossoscolecidae) is a peregrine species commonly found in tropical lands cleared by man for cultivation. We compared the charcoal consumption and casting activity of a population of P. corethrurus from a cultivated area under repeated slash-and-burn (fallow population) with that of a population from a field cultivated after recent burning of a mature forest (forest population). Their cast production was measured in containers in the presence of pure charcoal, soil of fallow and forest origin, or a mixture of charcoal and soil. The forest population defecated less in pure charcoal than in forest soil, whereas the reverse was observed for the fallow population. When living in fallow soil, both populations defecated more at the surface of a mixture of charcoal and soil than at the surface of pure soil (×2 and ×3 with fallow and forest populations, respectively). In forest soil, both populations showed an increased charcoal consumption (×12). In the light of these experiments, we hypothesized that an adaptation of P. corethrurus to charcoal and fallow soil exists, supporting the observed distribution of this earthworm species in tropical open lands.     

Long‐term effects of soil management regimes on carbon contents and respiration rates of aggregate size fractions

This study investigated long‐term effects of soil management on size distribution of dry‐sieved aggregates in a loess soil together with their organic carbon (OC) and their respiratory activity. Soil management regimes were cropland, which was either abandoned, left bare fallow or cropped for 21 yr. Abandonment increased the abundance of macroaggregates (>2 mm) in the surface soil layer (0–10 cm) and reduced that of microaggregates (<0.25 mm) relative to Cropping, whereas the Fallow treatment reduced the abundance of macroaggregates at depths of 0–10 and 10–20 cm. All treatments yielded similar aggregate size distributions at a depth of 20–30 cm. The SOC content of aggregate size fractions in the surface soil from the Abandoned plots was greater (by 1.2–4.8 g/kg) than that of the corresponding fractions from the Cropped plots, but the opposite trend was observed in the subsurface soils. Conversely, the Fallow treatment reduced the SOC content of every aggregate size fraction. Smaller aggregates generally exhibited greater cumulative levels of C mineralization than larger ones. However, the bulk of the SOC losses from the soils via mineralization was associated with aggregates of >2 mm. Abandonment significantly increased the relative contribution of macroaggregates (>2 mm) to the overall rate of SOC loss, whereas the Fallow treatment significantly reduced the contribution of 0.25–2 mm aggregates to total SOC loss in the surface soil while substantially increasing their contribution in the subsurface soil.     

Effect of subsurface clay on nematode communities in a sandy soil

A variety of soil properties can directly or indirectly affect nematode community structure. The effects of subsurface clay content (at 20–40 cm depth) on nematodes in the surface layer (0–20 cm depth) of a sandy soil were examined in field experiments in Florida, USA. Plots were established in a site with a relatively uniform sandy upper soil layer (88–91% sand and 5–7% clay at 0–20 cm depth) but with varying levels of clay in the subsurface layer (3–35% clay at 20–40 cm depth). Nematode numbers in the surface soil layer were affected by the amount of clay in the subsurface layer. Population densities of a number of different nematode genera were greater in the surface layer of plots with 35% subsurface clay than in plots with 3% subsurface clay. Indices of nematode community structure were largely unaffected, since effects of subsurface clay were observed across all nematode groups. Most nematodes (70–80% of total numbers) occurred at 0–20 cm depth, although Teratocephalus was more common at 20–40 than at 0–20 cm. Subsurface clay content indirectly affected soil moisture and other environmental factors in the upper soil layer in which most nematodes reside.     

中国西南地区西双版纳不同时期橡胶林生态系统的碳储量变化

Rubber(Hevea brasiliensis) plantations have been expanded rapidly in tropical regions of Southwest China and cover more than20% of land area in Xishuangbanna.Several studies have addressed changes of soil C stocks in rubber plantations;however,estimates of total ecosystem C stocks and their temporal changes in rubber plantations have been inadequately studied.This study calculated C stocks in soil,biomass,litter,and dry rubber(latex),and estimated the total ecosystem C stocks of rubber plantations in an age sequence of 3-,7-,9-,21-,27-,and 34-year-old in Xishuangbanna,Southwest China.The total C stocks in rubber plantations ranged from 150.3 to 283.7 Mg C ha~(-1),with a mean of 213.4 Mg C ha~(-1).The plantations≤9-year-old had significantly lower(P0.05)total C stocks than those older than 9 years.Carbon stocks in soil(mass equivalent) were between 107.1–170.5 Mg C ha~(-1) and in living biomass were between 2.8–95.7 Mg C ha~(-1),representing the largest and the second largest C components in a rubber plantation ecosystem.Neglect of dry rubber C stock resulted in an underestimate of 7.8%–14.2% of the total C stock in the rubber plantations older than 9 years,which was much larger than the contribution of litter C stock(less than 2%).     

Deep incorporation of corn straw benefits soil organic carbon and microbial community composition in a black soil of Northeast China

‘Deep incorporation of corn straw’ (CSDI) is to concentrate the burial of corn straw into the subsurface soil layer (20–40 cm) and to break the plough pan, thereby creating a loosened plough layer (0–20 cm) and a fertile subsurface soil layer. However, its impacts on soil organic carbon (SOC) and the microbial community remain poorly understood. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of 1-year CSDI (CD1), 3-year CSDI (CD3) and 5-year CSDI (CD5) on soil aggregates and aggregate-associated SOC, as well as bacterial and fungal community characteristics (examined by the high-throughput gene sequencing method). The results demonstrated that SOC and soil fungal diversity were decreased by CD1, but increased by CD3 and CD5. Compared with the control, CD5 promoted 2–0.25 mm soil macroaggregation, significantly increased SOC by 8.94% and aggregate-associated SOC by 5.96%–8.84%, consequently improving the physical protection of SOC by soil aggregates. CD3 and CD5 enhanced the richness and diversity of soil bacteria and fungi, and altered community composition. For soil bacteria, the relative abundance of Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi was increased, while that of Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Sphingomonas and Bacillus was decreased. For soil fungi, the relative abundance of Ascomycota, Zygomycota, Mortierella and Fusarium was greatly improved, but that of Basidiomycota was reduced. These obvious variations in microbial community structure were beneficial to straw degradation and SOC accumulation. Overall, the optimization of microbial community with CSDI plays a positive role in promoting soil organic matter, nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration, and thus improving soil fertility.     

Deep-burrowing earthworm additions changed the distribution of soil organic carbon in a chisel-tilled soil

We investigated the influence of earthworms on the three-dimensional distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) in a chisel-tilled soil. By burrowing, foraging, and casting at the surface and throughout the soil, anecic earthworms such as Lumbricus terrestris L. may play a major role in regulating the spatial distribution of organic matter resources both at the surface and within the soil. In the fall of 1994, we manipulated ambient earthworm communities, which were without deep burrowing species, by adding 100 earthworm individuals m⁻² in spring and fall for 3 years. Overall, the biomass of L. terrestris was increased with earthworm additions and total earthworm biomass declined compared with ambient control treatments. To investigate the spatial variability in soil organic carbon due to this shift in earthworm community structure, we sampled soil on a 28×24 cm grid from the surface to 40 cm in four layers, 10 cm deep. Samples were analyzed for total carbon. We found that additions of anecic earthworms significantly increased average soil organic carbon content from 16.1 to 17.9 g C kg⁻¹ for the 0–10 cm soil, and from 12.4 to 14.7 g kg⁻¹ at 10–20-cm depth, and also changed the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon from uniform to patchy, compared with the ambient treatment.     

不同比例蚓粪替代化肥对设施土壤活性碳氮含量的影响

  目的  土壤微生物量碳氮（MBC、MBN）和水溶性有机碳氮（WSOC、WSON）是土壤中活跃的碳氮组分,是衡量土壤碳氮周转与养分有效性的重要指标。探究不同比例蚓粪替代化肥条件下,设施土壤微生物量碳氮、水溶性有机碳氮含量变化特征,旨在为设施土壤合理施肥提升提供科学依据。  方法  依托温室内有机肥替代部分化肥长期定位试验,以黄瓜为供试材料,试验共设6个处理,分别为100%化肥（CF100）、75%化肥（CF75）、25%蚓粪替代化肥（VM25）、50%蚓粪替代化肥（VM50）、100%蚓粪替代化肥（VM100）、不施肥（CK）。  结果  0 ~ 10 cm土层土壤活性碳氮含量略高于10 ~ 20 cm土层,其在生育期内呈先增高后降低的变化趋势。其中VM50处理提升效果最显著,较CF100处理分别提高了66.46%（0 ~ 10 cm土层）、76.02%（10 ~ 20 cm土层）;在黄瓜盛果期各处理土壤WSOC含量相对较高,VM50处理土壤WSOC含量较CF100处理分别提高22.88%（0 ~ 10 cm土层）、18.84%（10 ~ 20 cm土层）;0 ~ 10 cm土层,与CF100相比,生育前期VM25处理对土壤MBN含量提升效果较好,生育后期VM50处理对土壤MBN含量提升效果较好。10 ~ 20 cm土层,在黄瓜初果期各处理土壤WSON含量相对较高,VM50处理土壤WSON含量较CF100处理分别提高50.90%（0 ~ 10 cm土层）、12.55%（10 ~ 20 cm土层）;3种比例蚓粪替代化肥显著提高0 ~ 10 cm土层 MBC、WSOC在总有机碳,MBN、WSON在全氮中的占比,VM25、VM50处理对反映土壤微生物群落的结构信息的土壤MBC/MBN降低效果较好,VM50处理对土壤WSOC/WSON降低效果较好。  结论  在设施栽培条件下,可以通过蚓粪适量施入的措施合理替代化肥,达到给作物持续供应养分的目的,为设施栽培中科学合理施肥提供科学依据。     

秸秆还田对汉中盆地稻田土壤有机碳组分、碳储量及水稻产量的影响

为探索稻麦或稻油轮作制下,小麦、油菜秸秆还田对汉中盆地稻田土壤碳库组分的变化,设置小麦秸秆不还田(WSN)、小麦秸秆常规还田(WS)、小麦秸秆促腐还田(WSM)、油菜秸秆不还田(RSN)、油菜秸秆常规还田(RS)、油菜秸秆促腐还田(RSM),共6个处理,通过大田试验研究了不同秸秆类型及还田方式对稻田0—5,5—10,10—15,15—20,20—25cm 5个土壤层次中的土壤容重、总有机碳(TOC)、活性有机碳(LOC)、活性有机碳效率(ACL)、碳储量(SCS)、碳库管理指数(CPMI)及水稻产量的影响。结果表明:秸秆还田显著降低0—15cm土层容重,对15—25cm并未产生显著影响。与不还田相比,秸秆还田明显增加了各层次土壤有机碳库指标含量,但TOC和LOC含量均随土壤深度的增加而减少,两者在0—15cm土层含量较高,具有明显的表层富集现象;与不还田相比,小麦及油菜秸秆还田后可明显增加稻田0—25cm土层中的土壤碳储量(SCS),增幅可达21.9%~23.5%和1.7%~6.7%。不同土层中的LOC、ACL、CPIM对秸秆类型的响应不同,具体表现为小麦秸秆还田(WS、WSM)对0—15cm土层具有显著促进作用,而油菜秸秆还田(RS、RSM)对15—25cm土层中的有显著促进作用。产量方面,秸秆促腐还田模式下(WSM、RSM)水稻产量最高,常规还田模式(WSN、RSN)次之,而不还田时产量最低。相关分析显示0—10cm土壤活性有机碳有效率与水稻产量显著相关。秸秆还田是提高汉中盆地稻田土壤有机碳和产量较为有效的农田管理措施。两种轮作模式下,小麦秸秆全量旋耕还田更有利于固持稻田土壤有机碳和增加水稻产量增加。     

What are the limits of the drilosphere? An incubation experiment using Metaphire posthuma

The near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) method was used in the present study to compare earthworm-made soil aggregates to aggregates found in the surrounding bulk soil. After initially assessing the daily cast production of Metaphire posthuma, boxes with soil incubated with M. posthuma and control soils were subjected to wetting in order to reorganize the soil structure. After two months of incubation, soil aggregates produced by earthworms (casts and burrows), soil aggregates that were appeared to be unaffected by earthworms (bulk soil without visible trace of earthworm bioturbation from the earthworm treatment) and soil aggregates that were entirely unaffected by earthworms (control – no earthworm – treatment) were sampled and their chemical signatures analyzed by NIRS. The production of below-ground and surface casts reached 14.9 g soil g worm^?1 d^?1 and 1.4 g soil g worm^?1 d^?1, respectively. Soil aggregates from the control soils had a significantly different NIRS signature from those sampled from boxes with earthworms. However, within the earthworm incubation boxes the NIRS signature was similar between cast and burrow aggregates and soil aggregates from the surrounding bulk soil. We conclude that the high cast production by M. posthuma and the regular reorganization of the soil structure by water flow in and through the soil lead to a relatively homogenous soil structure. Given these results, we question the relevance of considering the bulk soil that has no visible activity of earthworm activity as a control to determine the effect of earthworms on soil functioning.