The short-term effects of cessation of fertiliser applications,liming, and grazing on microbial biomass and activity in a reseeded upland grassland soil

A field study was conducted to determine the influence of a short-term (2 year) cessation of fertiliser applications, liming, and sheep-grazing on microbial biomass and activity in a reseeded upland grassland soil. The cessation of fertiliser applications (N and NPK) on a limed and grazed grassland had no effect on microbial biomass measurements, enzyme activities, or respiration. Withholding fertiliser and lime from a grazed grassland resulted in significant reductions in both microbial biomass C (P<0.05) and dehydrogenase activity (P<0.05) by approximately 18 and 21%, respectively. The removal of fertiliser applications, liming, and grazing resulted in even greater reductions in microbial biomass C (44%, P<0.001) and dehydrogenase activity (31%, P<0.001), and significant reductions in microbial biomass N (P<0.005), urease activity (P<0.05), phosphatase activity (P<0.001), and basal respiration (P<0.05). The abundance of culturable bacteria and fungi and the soil ATP content were unaffected by changes in grassland managements. With the cessation of liming soil pH fell from 5.4 to 4.7, and the removal of grazing resulted in a further reduction to pH 4.5. A significant negative linear relationship (r ²=0.97; P<0.01) was found between increasing soil acidity and dehydrogenase activity. Possible mechanisms influencing these changes are discussed.     

Soil microbial biomass and activity under a potato crop fertilised with N with and without C

Summary A range of soil microbiological parameters were measured at intervals throughout the growing season of a potato crop. Treatments applied to the soil at sowing were zero N fertilisation of N fertilisation at 120 kg N ha^–1, either alone or supplemented with straw or sucrose at 1200 kg C ha^–1. C and N flushes determined by fumigation-incubation and fumigation-extraction, and substrate-induced respiration, were measured as indicators of microbial biomass. Microbial activity was measured as respiration (CO₂ production) and dehydrogenase activity (formazan production). The greatest effects were obtained from the addition of N plus sucrose. Both biomass size and activity were significantly stimulated for up to 25 days after incorporation, with the magnitude of the effects consistently diminishing over time. By 125 days after planting, there was no detectable legacy from any of the treatmentson any of the biomass parameters that were measured, and all values had reverted to those prevalent at planting. There was no consistent effect from adding N, either alone or supplemented with straw, on any of the biomass parameters. There was no evidence for crop-induced stimulation of the biomass. The experiment demonstrates that biomass is only influenced where the quantity, quality, and rate of incorporation of C into the soil is appropriate, in this case, only by adding C as a pulse of sucrose.     

Effect of drying and rewetting on mineralization and distribution of bacterial constituents in soil fractions

Summary Mineralization of ¹⁴C- and ¹⁵N-labelled whole bacteria, cytoplasm, and cell walls and their distribution in different soil fractions were studied during 211 days of incubation including two drying and rewetting cycles. With any of these three soil amendments, almost 60% of C derived from cellular constituents was released as CO₂, 15% was incorporated into the living microbial biomass and 25% was distributed into protected microbial metabolites or recalcitrant microbial products. The distribution of C and N derived from the amendments in the different soil fractions showed that constituents adsorbed on fine clay (<0.2 m were more rapidly decomposed than those adsorbed on silt (50-2 ) and coarse clay (2–0.2 ), indicating a faster organic matter turnover in fine clay than in silt and coarse clay. Although alternate soil drying and rewetting cycles did not significantly affect the mineralization of bacterial constituents, the cycles did have an important effect on the size and specific activities of newly formed microbial biomass. This suggests the presence of an active and a dormant fraction of soil biomass.     

Long-term tillage and crop rotation effects on microbial biomass and C and N mineralization in a Brazilian Oxisol

Crop rotation and tillage impact microbial C dynamics, which are important for sequestering C to offset global climate change and to promote sustainable crop production. Little information is available for these processes in tropical/subtropical agroecosystems, which cover vast areas of terrestrial ecosystems. Consequently, a study of crop rotation in combination with no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) systems was conducted on an Oxisol (Typic Haplorthox) in an experiment established in 1976 at Londrina, Brazil. Soil samples were taken at 0–50, 50–100 and 100–200 mm depths in August 1997 and 1998 and evaluated for microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and mineralizable C and N. There were few differences due to crop rotation, however there were significant differences due to tillage. No tillage systems increased total C by 45%, microbial biomass by 83% and MBC:total C ratio by 23% at 0–50 mm depth over CT. C and N mineralization increased 74% with NT compared to CT systems for the 0–200 mm depth. Under NT, the metabolic quotient (CO₂ evolved per unit of MBC) decreased by 32% averaged across soil depths, which suggests CT produced a microbial pool that was more metabolically active than under NT systems. These soil microbial properties were shown to be sensitive indicators of long-term tillage management under tropical conditions.     

Microbial biomass and microbial C:N ratio in bulk soil and buried bags for evaluating in situ net N mineralization in agricultural soils

The in situ net nitrogen mineralization (N_net) was estimated in five agricultural soils under different durations of organic farming by incubating soil samples in buried bags. Simultaneously, soil microbial C and N was determined in buried bags and in bulk soil under winter wheat and after harvest. The aim was to check for variations in soil microbial biomass contents and microbial C:N ratios during the incubation period, and their importance for N_net rates. Microbial C and N contents were highest in soils that had been organically farmed for 41 years, whereas N_net rates were highest in a short‐term organically managed soil that had been under grassland use until 36 years ago. The mean coefficient of variation in the bulk soil for microbial C estimates ranged from 5 to 12 %. Microbial N contents were similar inside buried bags and in the bulk soil at the end of the incubation periods. Under winter wheat during the incubation period until harvest, microbial C contents and microbial C:N ratios (in 10—27 cm depth only) decreased more strongly inside buried bags than in the bulk soil. Following harvest of winter wheat and ploughing, microbial biomass increased while in situ N_net decreased, presumably due to N immobilization. The N_net rates were not correlated with microbial N contents or changes in microbial N contents inside buried bags. At the end of the vegetation period of winter wheat, N_net rates were negatively correlated with microbial C:N ratios. Because these ratios concurrently decreased more inside buried bags than in the bulk soil, the N_net estimates of the buried bag method may differ from the N_net rates in the bulk soil at that time.     

红壤水稻土微生物生物量氮与总氮矿化的关系

通过田间采样并布置室内培育试验,研究了红壤水稻土微生物生物量N和总N的矿化动态及其相互关系。结果表明,红壤水稻土微生物生物量N矿化速率和矿化量随培养时间延长而降低,随水稻土肥力水平提高而增加。12周培养期内,红壤水稻土微生物生物量N的一半以上被矿化,其中约1/2的矿化量出现在前4周;不同熟化程度红壤水稻土的累积矿化N量为73.0～127.8mg/kg,平均矿化速率为6.09～10.7mg/(kg·wk)。用双指数方程和一级动力学方程可以很好地模拟红壤水稻土微生物生物量N和总N的矿化过程。微生物生物量N和总N的矿化过程均可分为快速和缓慢2个阶段,培养的前8周是快速矿化阶段。2个模拟方程参数的比较表明,微生物生物量N矿化量占总N矿化量的比例为10.8%～49.5%,其矿化潜力大,持续矿化时间长,对保证土壤N素的持续供应有积极作用。     

Carbon pulses but not phosphorus pulses are related to decreases in microbial biomass during repeated drying and rewetting of soils

Drying and rewetting cycles are known to be important for the turnover of carbon (C) in soil, but less is known about the turnover of phosphorus (P) and its relation to C cycling. In this study the effects of repeated drying-rewetting (DRW) cycles on phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) pulses and microbial biomass were investigated. Soil (Chromic Luvisol) was amended with different C substrates (glucose, cellulose, starch; 2.5 g C kg⁻¹) to manipulate the size and community composition of the microbial biomass, thereby altering P mineralisation and immobilisation and the forms and availability of P. Subsequently, soils were either subjected to three DRW cycles (1 week dry/1 week moist) or incubated at constant water content (70% water filled pore space). Rewetting dry soil always produced an immediate pulse in respiration, between 2 and 10 times the basal rates of the moist incubated controls, but respiration pulses decreased with consecutive DRW cycles. DRW increased total CO₂ production in glucose and starch amended and non-amended soils, but decreased it in cellulose amended soil. Large differences between the soils persisted when respiration was expressed per unit of microbial biomass. In all soils, a large reduction in microbial biomass (C and P) occurred after the first DRW event, and microbial C and P remained lower than in the moist control. Pulses in extractable organic C (EOC) after rewetting were related to changes in microbial C only during the first DRW cycle; EOC concentrations were similar in all soils despite large differences in microbial C and respiration rates. Up to 7 mg kg⁻¹ of resin extractable P (P_resin) was released after rewetting, representing a 35-40% increase in P availability. However, the pulse in P_resin had disappeared after 7 d of moist incubation. Unlike respiration and reductions in microbial P due to DRW, pulses in P_resin increased during subsequent DRW cycles, indicating that the source of the P pulse was probably not the microbial biomass. Microbial community composition as indicated by fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis showed that in amended soils, DRW resulted in a reduction in fungi and an increase in Gram-positive bacteria. In contrast, the microbial community in the non-amended soil was not altered by DRW. The non-selective reduction in the microbial community in the non-amended soil suggests that indigenous microbial communities may be more resilient to DRW. In conclusion, DRW cycles result in C and P pulses and alter the microbial community composition. Carbon pulses but not phosphorus pulses are related to changes in microbial biomass. The transient pulses in available P could be important for P availability in soils under Mediterranean climates.     

Seasonal variations of soil microbial biomass and activity in warm- and cool-season turfgrass systems

Plant growth can be an important factor regulating seasonal variations of soil microbial biomass and activity. We investigated soil microbial biomass, microbial respiration, net N mineralization, and soil enzyme activity in turfgrass systems of three cool-season species (tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis L., and creeping bentgrass, Agrostis palustris L.) and three warm-season species (centipedegrass, Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro.) Hack, zoysiagrass, Zoysia japonica Steud, and bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.). Microbial biomass and respiration were higher in warm- than the cool-season turfgrass systems, but net N mineralization was generally lower in warm-season turfgrass systems. Soil microbial biomass C and N varied seasonally, being lower in September and higher in May and December, independent of turfgrass physiological types. Seasonal variations in microbial respiration, net N mineralization, and cellulase activity were also similar between warm- and cool-season turfgrass systems. The lower microbial biomass and activity in September were associated with lower soil available N, possibly caused by turfgrass competition for this resource. Microbial biomass and activity (i.e., microbial respiration and net N mineralization determined in a laboratory incubation experiment) increased in soil samples collected during late fall and winter when turfgrasses grew slowly and their competition for soil N was weak. These results suggest that N availability rather than climate is the primary determinant of seasonal dynamics of soil microbial biomass and activity in turfgrass systems, located in the humid and warm region.     

Effects of plant species on microbial biomass phosphorus and phosphatase activity in a range of grassland soils

Soil P transformations are primarily mediated by plant root and soil microbial activity. A short-term (40 weeks) glasshouse experiment with 15 grassland soils collected from around New Zealand was conducted to examine the impacts of ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and radiata pine (Pinus radiata) on soil microbial properties and microbiological processes involved in P dynamics. Results showed that the effect of plant species on soil microbial parameters varied greatly with soil type. Concentrations of microbial biomass C and soil respiration were significantly greater in six out of 15 soils under radiata pine compared with ryegrass, while there were no significant effects of plant species on these parameters in the remaining soils. However, microbial biomass P (MBP) was significantly lower in six soils under radiata pine, while there were no significant effects of plant species on MBP in the remaining soils. The latter indicated that P was released from the microbial biomass in response to greater P demand by radiata pine. Levels of water soluble organic C were significantly greater in most soils under radiata pine, compared with ryegrass, which suggested that greater root exudation might have occurred under radiata pine. Activities of acid and alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase were generally lower in most soils under radiata pine, compared with ryegrass. The findings of this study indicate that root exudation plays an important role in increased soil microbial activities, solubility of organic P and mineralization of organic P in soils under radiata pine.     

Soil microbial biomass and activity in organic tomato farming systems: Effects of organic inputs and straw mulching

Organic farming is rapidly expanding worldwide. Plant growth in organic systems greatly depends on the functions performed by soil microbes, particularly in nutrient supply. However, the linkages between soil microbes and nutrient availability in organically managed soils are not well understood. We conducted a long-term field experiment to examine microbial biomass and activity, and nutrient availability under four management regimes with different organic inputs. The experiment was initiated in 1997 by employing different practices of organic farming in a coastal sandy soil in Clinton, NC, USA. Organic practices were designed by applying organic substrates with different C and N availability, either in the presence or absence of wheat-straw mulch. The organic substrates used included composted cotton gin trash (CGT), animal manure (AM) and rye/vetch green manure (RV). A commercial synthetic fertilizer (SF) was used as a conventional control. Results obtained in both 2001 and 2002 showed that microbial biomass and microbial activity were generally higher in organically than conventionally managed soils with CGT being most effective. The CGT additions increased soil microbial biomass C and activity by 103-151% and 88-170% over a period of two years, respectively, leading to a 182-285% increase in potentially mineralizable N, compared to the SF control. Straw mulching further enhanced microbial biomass, activity, and potential N availability by 42, 64, and 30%, respectively, relative to non-mulched soils, likely via improving C and water availability for soil microbes. The findings that microbial properties and N availability for plants differed under different organic input regimes suggest the need for effective residue managements in organic tomato farming systems.     

Effect of bamboo harvest on dynamics of nutrient pools,N mineralization,and microbial biomass in soil

The effect of harvesting bamboo savanna on the dynamics of soil nutrient pools, N mineralization, and microbial biomass was examined. In the unharvested bamboo site NO _inf3 ^sup- -N in soil ranged from 0.37 to 3.11 mg kg^-1 soil and in the harvested site from 0.43 to 3.67 mg kg^-1. NaHCO₃-extractable inorganic P ranged from 0.55 to 3.58 mg kg^-1 in the unharvested site and from 1.01 to 4.22 mg kg^-1 in the harvested site. Over two annual cycles, the N mineralization range in the unharvested and harvested sites was 0–19.28 and 0–24.0 mg kg^-1 soil month^-1, respectively. The microbial C, N, and P ranges were 278–587, 28–64, and 12–26 mg kg^-1 soil, respectively, with the harvested site exhibiting higher values. Bamboo harvesting depleted soil organic C by 13% and total N by 20%. Harvesting increased N mineralization, resulting in 10 kg ha^-1 additional mineral N in the first 1st year and 5 kg ha^-1 in the 2nd year following the harvest. Microbial biomass C, N and P increased respectively by 10, 18, and 5% as a result of bamboo harvesting.     

Long-term effects of tillage and fallow-frequency on soil quality attributes in a clay soil in semiarid southwestern saskatchewan

Reduced tillage management is being adopted at an accelerated rate on the Canadian prairies. This may influence soil quality and productivity. A study conducted on a clay soil (Udic Haplustert) in southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada, to determine the effects of fallow frequency [fallow-wheat (F-W) vs. continuous wheat (Cont W)] and tillage [no-tillage (NT) vs. conventional (CT) or minimum tillage (MT)] on yields of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), was sampled after 3, 7 and 11 years to assess changes in selected soil quality attributes. Tillage had no effect on amount of crop residues returned to the land, but the tilled systems had significantly (P<0.05) lower total organic C and N in the 0–7.5 cm soil depth, though not in the 7.5–15 cm depth. Further, these differences were observed after only 3 years and persisted for the entire 11 years of the study. For example, in the 0–7.5 cm depth, organic C in F-W (MT) after 3 years was 10 480 kg ha⁻¹ and in F-W (NT) 13 380 kg ha⁻¹, while in Cont W (CT) and Cont W (NT) corresponding values were 11 310 and 13 400 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. After 11 years, values for F-W (MT) and F-W (NT) were 11 440 and 14 960 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, and for Cont W (CT) and Cont W (NT), 12 970 and 16 140 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. In contrast to total organic matter, two of the more labile soil quality attributes [i.e., C mineralization (C_min) and N mineralization (N_min)] did not respond to fallow frequency until after 7 years and only in the 0–7.5 cm depth. Microbial biomass (MB) and the ratio of C_min to MB [specific respiratory activity (SRA)], two attributes also regarded as labile, were not influenced by the treatments even after 11 years. After 11 years, only C_min and N_min among the labile soil quality attributes responded to the treatments. Surprisingly, the labile attributes were no more sensitive to the treatments than was total organic C or N. More research is required to determine why responses in this soil differed from those reported elsewhere.     

Microbial biomass and C mineralization in agricultural soils as affected by atrazine addition

This study examines the effects of atrazine on both microbial biomass C and C mineralization dynamics in two contrasting agricultural soils (organic C, texture, and atrazine application history) located at Galicia (NW Spain). Atrazine was added to soils, a Humic Cambisol (H) and a Gleyic Cambisol (G), at a recommended agronomic dose and C mineralization (CO₂ evolved), and microbial biomass measurements were made in non-treated and atrazine-treated samples at different time intervals during a 12-week aerobic incubation. The cumulative curves of CO₂–C evolved over time fit the simple first-order kinetic model [Ct = Co (1 − e ^−kt )], whose kinetic parameters were quantified. Differences in these parameters were observed between the two soils studied; the G soil, with a higher content in organic matter and microbial biomass C and lower atrazine application history, exhibited higher values of the total C mineralization and the potentially mineralizable labile C pool than those for the H soil. The addition of atrazine modified the kinetic parameters and increased notably the C mineralized; by the end of the incubation the cumulative CO₂–C values were 33–41% higher than those in the corresponding non-added soils. In contrast, a variable effect or even no effect was observed on the soil microbial biomass following atrazine addition. The data clearly showed that atrazine application at normal agricultural rates may have important implications in the C cycling of these two contrasting acid soils.     

Soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity in subarctic agricultural and forest soils

Summary Microbial biomass, activities of dehydrogenase, phosphatase, and urease, and numbers of ammonium oxidizers were determined at monthly intervals on soil samples obtained from an on-going tillage residue-management study during the summers of 1985 and 1986. The site was cleared of black spruce (Picea mariana, Mill.) in 1979 and has been planted to spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) since 1982. Tillage treatments were no-tillage or disked twice, and residuemanagement treatments were removal of stubble and loose straw or leaving all straw on the plots. Microbial biomass and enzyme activities were moderate to high in the Ap horizon but very low in the B horizon. There was no difference in any parameter measured due to tillage or residue management. In 1986, comparisons were made between the Ap horizon and the agricultural soil and the A horizon of the soil beneath an adjacent black-spruce forest. Total microbial biomass and enzyme activities were generally greater in the forest soil than in the agricultural soil. However, specific activity of the biomass was generally greater in the agricultural soil. Soil microbial biomass and urease activities of both agricultural and forest soils were similar to those reported for warmer climates, but dehydrogenase activity was higher and phosphatase was lower.     

The proportional mineralisation of microbial biomass and organic matter caused by air-drying and rewetting of a grassland soil

During the first few days after rewetting of an air-dried soil (AD-RW), microbial activity increases compared to that in the original moist soil, causing increased mineralisation (a flush) of soil organic carbon (C) and other nutrients. The AD-RW flush is believed to be derived from the enhanced mineralisation of both non-biomass soil organic matter (due to its physical release and enhanced availability) and microbial biomass killed during drying and rewetting. Our aim was to determine the effects of AD-RW on the mineralisation of soil organic matter and microbial biomass during and after repeated AD-RW cycles and to quantify their proportions in the CO₂-C flushes that resulted. To do this, a UK grassland soil was amended with ¹⁴C-labelled glucose to label the biomass and then given five AD-RW cycles, each followed by 7 d incubation at 25 °C and 50% water holding capacity. Each AD-RW cycle increased the amount of CO₂-C evolved (varying from 83 to 240 μg g⁻¹ soil), compared to the control with, overall, less CO₂-C being evolved as the number of AD-RW cycles increased. In the first cycle, the amount of biomass C decreased by 44% and microbial ATP by 70% while concentrations of extractable C nearly doubled. However, all rapidly recovered and within 1.3 d after rewetting, biomass C was 87% and ATP was 78% of the initial concentrations measured prior to air-drying. Similarly, by 2 d, extractable organic C had decreased to a similar concentration to the original. After the five AD-RW cycles, the amounts of total and ¹⁴C-labelled biomass C remaining in the soil accounted for 60 and 40% of those in the similarly incubated control soil, respectively. Soil biomass ATP concentrations following the first AD-RW cycle remained remarkably constant (ranging from about 10 to 14 μmol ATP g⁻¹ biomass C) and very similar to the concentration in the fresh soil prior to air-drying. We developed a simple mathematical procedure to estimate the proportion of CO₂-C derived from biomass C and non-biomass C during AD-RW. From it, we estimate that, over the five AD-RW cycles, about 60% of the CO₂-C evolved came from mineralisation of non-biomass organic C and the remainder from the biomass C itself.     

The extent of drying influences the flush of respiration after rewetting in non-saline and saline soils

Drying and rewetting are common events in soils during summer, particularly in Mediterranean climate where soil microbes may be further challenged by salinity. Previous studies in non-saline soils have shown that rewetting induces a flush of soil respiration, but little is known about how the extent of drying affects the size of the respiration flush or how drying and rewetting affects soil respiration in saline soils. Five sandy loam soils, ranging in electrical conductivity of the saturated soil extract (ECe) from 2 to 48 dS m⁻¹ (EC2, EC9, EC19, EC33 and EC48), were kept at soil water content optimal for respiration or dried for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days (referred to 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D and 5D) and maintained at the achieved water content for 4 days. Then the soils were rewet to optimal water content and incubated moist for 5 days. Water potential decreased with increasing drying time; in the 5D treatment, the water potential ranged between −15 and −30 MPa, with the lowest potentials in soil EC33. In moist and dry conditions, respiration rates per unit soil organic C (SOC) were highest in soil EC19. Respiration rates decreased with increasing time of drying; when expressed relative to constantly moist soil, the decline was similar in all soils. Rewetting of soils only induced a flush of respiration compared to constantly moist soil when the soils were dried for 3 or more days. The flush in respiration was greatest in 5D and smallest in 3D, and greater in EC2 than in the saline soils. Cumulative respiration per unit SOC was highest in soil EC19 and lowest in soil EC2 Cumulative respiration decreased with increasing time of drying, but in a given soil, the relationship between water potential during the dry phase and cumulative respiration at the end of the experiment was weaker than that between respiration rate during drying and water potential. In conclusion, rewetting induced a flush in respiration only if the water potential of the soils was previously decreased at least 3-fold compared to the constantly moist soil. Hence, only marked increases in water potential induce a flush in respiration upon rewetting. The smaller flush in respiration upon rewetting of saline soils suggests that these soils may be less prone to lose C when exposed to drying and rewetting compared to non-saline soils.     

Organic amendments decomposability influences microbial activity in saline soils

Organic amendments with contrasting biochemical properties were investigated by conducting an incubation experiment in soils irrigated with different levels of saline water. Soil samples were taken from a long-term experimental field plots irrigated with normal water and saline water having electrical conductivity (EC) 6 and 12 dS m^?1, respectively. Finely ground biochar, rice straw (RS), farm yard manure (FYM) and glucose were added at two rates (1% and 2.5% carbon basis) and incubated for 8 weeks at 25°C. Cumulative respiration (CR), microbial biomass carbon and available nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) were negatively correlated with EC, irrespective of the source and amount of added carbon (C). Compared with non-saline soil, at EC 12, relative decrease in CR was lowest with glucose (21.0%) followed by RS (32.0%), FYM (46.0%) and biochar (55.0%). Dissolved organic carbon was positively correlated with salinity and its concentration was higher in treatments with higher rate of C addition (2.5% C). This study showed decomposability of organic amendments and their rate of addition determines microbial activity in saline soils. Further, lower nitrogen (N) release from amendments under saline conditions limits microbial ability to utilize available C for satisfying their energy needs.     

The influence of nitrogen on atrazine and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid mineralization in grassland soils

The influence of fertilizer N on the mineralization of atrazine [2-chloro-4(ethylamino)-6(isopropylamino)-s-triazine] and 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) in soils was assessed in microcosms using radiometric techniques. N equivalent to 0, 250, and 500 kg N as NH₄NO₃ ha^-1 was added to three grassland soils. Compared to the control, the 250- and 500-kg treatments suppressed mineralization of atrazine by 75 and 54%, respectively, and inhibited mineralization of 2,4-D by 89 and 30%, respectively. Active fungal biomass responded to the N treatments in an opposite manner to herbicide mineralization. Compared to the control, the 250- and 500-kg treatments increased the active fungal biomass by more than 300 and 30%, respectively. These results agree with other observations that N can suppress the decomposition of resistant compounds but stimulate the primary growth of fungi. The degree of suppression was not related to the amount of N added nor to the inherent soil N levels before treatment. The interaction between the N additions and the active fungal biomass in affecting herbicide mineralization suggests that N may alter microbial processes and their use of C sources and thus influence rates of herbicide degradation in the field.     

Relative role of soil nutrients vs. carbon availability on soil carbon mineralization in grassland receiving long-term N addition

High nitrogen (N) input often induces soil carbon (C) limitation, eutrophication of macronutrients, deficiency of base cations, and accumulation of toxic micronutrients. These changes are perceived to be critical factors in regulating soil C mineralization. Previous studies primarily focused on the individual effects of C, macronutrients, exchangeable base cations, and micronutrients on soil C mineralization. However, the relative importance of those factors in regulating soil C mineralization, especially in N-enriched ecosystems, remains unclear. To disentangle the relative contributions of aforementioned factors, lime and/or glucose were added to soils that were collected from a field experiment with historical N addition (6 years) at seven rates (0–50 g N m⁻² year⁻¹) in a grassland ecosystem. Lime and glucose were added to improve the soil C and key nutrient conditions. The responses of soil C mineralization rate to changes in soil C and macronutrients (N and P), exchangeable base cations (K⁺, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺), and micronutrients (Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺) were examined. We found that lime addition decreased soil micronutrients, while glucose addition improved the soil available P and exchangeable base cations, especially at high historical N addition rates. The soil C mineralization was weakly associated with changes in soil nutrients, including the availability of N, P, exchangeable base cations, and micronutrients, which were conventionally and previously considered as the vital drivers of soil C mineralization. However, soil C mineralization strongly increased with glucose-induced enhancement of C availability and the subsequent enhancement of microbial biomass under increasing N addition rates. Based on the Structural Equation Model, the standardized total effects of C, macronutrients (N and P), base cations and micronutrients on soil C mineralization were 0.86, − 0.29, 0.15 and − 0.08, respectively. Findings from this study demonstrated that the N-induced significant changes in soil nutrients (e.g., eutrophication of N and P, base cations deficiency and accumulation of toxic macronutrients) mediated soil C mineralization, with C availability being the most critical driver for C mineralization in N-enriched soil. This study provides insight into the mechanistic understanding of the relationship between N input and terrestrial C cycling.     

Soil microbial biomass, activity and nitrogen transformations in a turfgrass chronosequence

Understanding the chronological changes in soil microbial properties of turfgrass ecosystems is important from both the ecological and management perspectives. We examined soil microbial biomass, activity and N transformations in a chronosequence of turfgrass systems (i.e. 1, 6, 23 and 95 yr golf courses) and assessed soil microbial properties in turfgrass systems against those in adjacent native pines. We observed age-associated changes in soil microbial biomass, CO₂ respiration, net and gross N mineralization, and nitrification potential. Changes were more evident in soil samples collected from 0 to 5 cm than the 5 to 15 cm soil depth. While microbial biomass, activity and N transformations per unit soil weight were similar between the youngest turfgrass system and the adjacent native pines, microbial biomass C and N were approximately six times greater in the oldest turfgrass system compared to the adjacent native pines. Potential C and N mineralization also increased with turfgrass age and were three to four times greater in the oldest vs. the youngest turfgrass system. However, microbial biomass and potential mineralization per unit soil C or N decreased with turfgrass age. These reductions were accompanied by increases in microbial C and N use efficiency, as indicated by the significant reduction in microbial C quotient (qCO₂) and N quotient (qN) in older turfgrass systems. Independent of turfgrass age, microbial biomass N turnover was rapid, averaging approximately 3 weeks. Similarly, net N mineralization was ∼12% of gross mineralization regardless of turfgrass age. Our results indicate that soil microbial properties are not negatively affected by long-term management practices in turfgrass systems. A tight coupling between N mineralization and immobilization could be sustained in mature turfgrass systems due to its increased microbial C and N use efficiency.