Soil microbial activity after restoration of a semiarid soil by organic amendments

Unsuitable agricultural practices together with adverse environmental conditions have led to degradation of soil in many Mediterranean areas. One method for recovering degraded soils in semiarid regions, is to add organic matter in order to improve soil characteristics, thereby enhancing biogeochemical nutrient cycles. In this study, the effect of adding the organic fraction of urban wastes (both fresh and composted) on different carbon fractions and on microbiological and biochemical parameters (microbial biomass C, basal respiration and different enzymatic activities) of a degraded soil of SE Spain has been assessed in a 2 year experiment. Three months after the addition of the organic material, spontaneous plant growth occurred and the plant cover lasted until the end of the experiment. Organic soil amendment initially increased the levels of soil organic matter, microbial biomass, basal respiration and some enzyme activities related to the C and N cycles These values decreased but always remained higher than those of the unamended soil. The results indicate that the addition of urban organic waste is beneficial for recovering degraded soils, the microbial activity of which clearly increases with amendment. The incorporation of compost seemed to have a greater positive effect on the soil characteristics studied than the incorporation of fresh organic matter.     

不同恢复方式下盐渍化弃耕地土壤生物学活性的变化

以干旱区新疆玛纳斯河流域冲积扇缘定点定位试验地为研究对象, 研究灌溉处理、人工草地处理和补植处理对盐渍化弃耕地土壤微生物量、酶活性及土壤呼吸速率的影响。结果表明, 不同恢复方式均明显增加了土壤微生物数量和土壤微生物量碳、氮及土壤酶活性。不同处理土壤微生物量碳、氮分别比原始弃耕地高17.80%、26.38%、5.33%和7.89%、12.75%、21.93%; 不同处理土壤微生物数量分别是原始弃耕地的4.72倍、6.04倍和4.56倍; 不同处理土壤蔗糖酶活性分别比原始弃耕地高3.4倍、3.2倍和7.7倍, 多酚氧化酶活性比原始弃耕地高1.7倍、1.2倍和1.5倍, 脲酶活性比原始弃耕地高11.1%、52.3%和37.1%; 灌溉处理土壤过氧化氢酶活性最高, 是原始弃耕地的1.53倍, 土壤呼吸速率变化表现为人工草地处理>灌溉处理>补植处理>原始弃耕地, 其中, 人工草地处理土壤呼吸速率比弃耕地高52.25%。相关分析表明, 微生物量碳与微生物C/N和微生物数量之间均呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05); 土壤呼吸速率与土壤脲酶、微生物数量和微生物量碳的相关性达到显著水平(P<0.05), 与土壤微生物量氮呈负相关关系, 但相关性不显著; 土壤蔗糖酶与其他3种酶以及微生物量氮呈显著正相关关系, 土壤脲酶与微生物数量呈显著正相关关系, 多酚氧化酶与过氧化氢酶相关性达到显著水平(P<0.05)。本研究表明干旱区盐渍化弃耕地采用灌溉与人工草地处理有利于土壤养分积累, 可在一定程度上改善土壤质量。     

Suitability of soil microbial parameters as indicators of heavy metal pollution

Several microbial parameters (microbial biomass, respiration, dehydrogenase, phosphatase, sulphatase, glucosidase, protease and urease activities) were measured in soils from five sites located in urban green areas close to roads differing in traffic density. Our aims were to evaluate the suitability of such parameters as field biomarkers of stress induced by heavy metal pollution, and to compare results obtained by single microbial parameters with results given by an index expressing the average microbial (AME) response of the microbial community. Data showed that all parameters were significantly reduced in the sites characterized by the highest load of metals in soil. Dehydrogenase, sulphatase, glucosidase activities and respiration, declined exponentially with increasing metal concentration, whereas phosphatase activity and AME decreased following a sigmoidal type relationship. In contrast, protease, urease and microbial biomass were not significantly correlated with soil metal concentration. Microbial parameters differed both in sensitivity to critical metal concentrations and in the rate of decline at increasing metal loads in soil. Due to the complex interplay of chemical, physical and biological factors which influence microbial activities and biomass, the proposed index (AME) appeared more suitable than single microbial parameters for a biomonitoring study of this type.     

Near‐infrared spectroscopy for rapid estimation of microbial properties in reclaimed mine soils

Several chemical and microbial properties of mine soils need to be measured for comprehensive assessment of the reclamation success. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of NIR spectroscopy to predict organic C (C_org), total N (N_t), and several microbial properties of mine soils reclaimed for forestry. Soils samples (n = 154) were collected at two reclaimed areas in central and S Poland, and their spectra in the NIR region (including the visible range, 400–2500 nm) were recorded. A half of the samples was used to develop calibration equations, and another half was used for validation. The modified partial least squares regression was applied to build calibration equations using the whole spectrum (0 to 2nd derivative). The best predictions were obtained for C_org and N_t (ratio of standard deviation to standard error of prediction in the validation stage [RPD] = 3.4 and 4.1; the regressions coefficients [a] of linear regression [measured against predicted values] = 0.94 and 0.96; correlation coefficients [r] = 0.96 and 0.97, respectively). Very well predictive models applicable for quantitative measurements were obtained also for microbial biomass, basal respiration, and the activities of dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase (RPD = 2.3–2.5, a = 0.90–0.99, r = 0.90–0.92). Prediction of urease activity was slightly worse (RPD = 2.1, a = 0.88, r = 0.87) but sufficient for rough estimation. The obtained results indicated the ability of NIR spectroscopy to predict complex soil microbial properties. Therefore, application of this analytical method may improve the assessment of recovery of microbial functions in reclaimed post‐mining barrens.     

Land restoration management after topsoil mining and implications for restoration policy guidelines in New Zealand

A three-year field trial on an upland loessial soil (Belmont silt loam) in New Zealand investigated the effects of ripping, application of fertilizer N and grazing management on the recovery of some physical, chemical and biochemical properties of soil and pasture productivity following removal (mining) of topsoil. Removing the top 31 cm of soil by mining (all of the A horizon and part of the AB horizon) also removed most of the soil's labile organic matter fractions, and to a lesser extent its total organic matter. After three years, the microbial C and mineralizable N in the 0–10 cm depth of mined soil had reached 65 and 62 per cent of the corresponding levels in unmined soil. Ripping to a depth of 30 cm, application of fertilizer N and lenient grazing of the pasture failed to enhance the recovery of soil fertility. A soil sampling depth of 20 cm provided a reasonable basis to assess the microbial biomass and potential fertility. Pasture productivity was, on average, 30 per cent lower on mined land than on unmined land over the first three years after mining. Application of N proved uneconomic in terms of farm production, although a good pasture response to N fertilizer was obtained. The results from this and related trials are summarized as a series of recommendations for the monitoring and regulation of topsoil mining. An incentive regime is also recommended to encourage land owners and/or topsoil miners to use successful restoration techniques on topsoil-mined land. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil properties and perceived disturbance of grasslands subjected to mechanized military training: evaluation of an index

Mechanized maneuver training impacts the landscape by creating depressions, compacting soils, producing bare ground areas, transporting seeds of invasive plants, and crushing vegetation. We measured 3 physical, 13 chemical, and 2 biological soil properties and used a disturbance index (DI) based on perceptions of soil conditions on a military installation to assess the condition of 100 × 100 m plots (1 ha): 10 in 2002 and 10 in 2004. Potential DI scores range from 0 (no appreciable evidence of disturbance) to 1 (>95 per cent of the plot disturbed). Bulk density, porosity (%), and water content (%)—all at 5·1–10·0 cm depth, and nematode family richness (NFR) were significantly, negatively correlated (Spearman coefficients, r_s) with the DI of both years. The strong negative correlation (r_s = −0·69 in 2002, −0·79 in 2004) of NFR with the DI appears to reflect the status of nematode diversity and, therefore, may serve as a useful, inexpensive approach to rapidly assessing grasslands subjected to mechanized military training. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

土壤微生物量作为土壤肥力指标的探讨

对不同利用方式19个黑土样品的微生物量和养分进行了分析,结果表明林地的微生物量明显高于玉米地和大豆地,但玉米地和大豆地之间未表现出显著差异,土壤微生物量和土壤养分含量大体上都呈现出林地>大豆地>玉米地的一致的趋势;同时土壤微生物量与土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、速效钾和碱解氮呈现出显著或极显著正相关关系,分析结果还表明土壤微生物量碳作为评价土壤肥力指标比土壤微生物量氮更为灵敏。因此,土壤微生物量可以作为评价不同利用方式的黑土肥力水平的一个生物指标。     

植被恢复模式对川西北沙化草地土壤微生物量及酶活性研究

为研究不同植被恢复模式对高寒沙化草地治理过程中土壤微生物量及酶活性的影响,以川西北高寒沙化草地为研究区,以未恢复沙化草地为对照(CK),通过野外试验与室内分析相结合的方法对围栏禁牧布设沙障恢复模式(WLCD)、围栏禁牧布设沙障撒播草种(RGCD)和围栏禁牧布设沙障混播燕麦草种(YMCD)3种植被恢复模式下沙化草地的土壤微生物量以及土壤酶活性的变化规律和相互关系的研究。结果表明:(1)3种植被恢复模式下土壤微生物量碳氮、多酚氧化酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶与硝酸还原酶活性均显著高于CK(P0.05),其中YMCD变化最显著。与CK相比,YMCD土壤微生物量碳氮、多酚氧化酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶与硝酸还原酶活性均增加了217.52%,725.26%,130.88%,387.78%,300.33%,192.32%;(2)随着土层的加深,微生物量碳氮、脲酶、蔗糖酶、多酚氧化酶与硝酸还原酶活性显著减小(P0.05),尤其是0—20cm土层;(3)微生物量碳氮与多酚氧化酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶、硝酸还原酶间呈极显著正相关(P0.01);(4)多酚氧化酶与蔗糖酶、脲酶、硝酸还原酶呈极显著正相关(P0.01),蔗糖酶与脲酶、硝酸还原酶呈极显著正相关(P0.01),脲酶与硝酸还原酶呈极显著正相关(P0.01);(5)研究表明土壤多酚氧化酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶与硝酸还原酶可敏感地反映植被过程中土壤质量的变化,植被恢复措施可改善表层与深层土壤的生物学性质。     

退化马尾松林恢复过程中芒萁覆盖对土壤微生物生物量碳氮及其周转的影响

为探究侵蚀退化红壤马尾松林恢复过程中林下芒萁对土壤微生物生物量碳氮月动态及其周转的影响,以不同恢复年限的马尾松林为研究对象,对比分析马尾松林恢复过程中林下保留芒萁、去除芒萁处理和林下裸地土壤中12个月的土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)和微生物量氮(MBN)含量及其周转速率、周转时间和流通量,并分析其与土壤理化性状的关系。结果表明:(1)保留芒萁覆盖处理的MBC和MBN平均含量分布比林下裸地提高26.99%~277.31%和13.54%~173.39%,而去除芒萁处理分布比保留芒萁处理降低12.29%~27.01%和5.02%~28.45%,差异均随恢复年限呈先降低后增加的趋势。(2)所有处理的土壤微生物量碳氮季节动态均表现为春夏季较高,秋冬季较低的趋势,进入生长季前的土壤微生物量碳氮含量更能反映该地区的平均水平。(3)在退化马尾松林恢复过程中,芒萁覆盖降低土壤微生物生物量碳氮周转速率,增加周转时间,提高土壤微生物生物量碳氮含量和流通量,促进土壤有机质的积累和养分释放。相关分析和逐步回归分析表明,MBC、MBN流通量分别与DOC、DON呈显著正相关,周转速率分别与铵态氮(NH₄⁺-N)和TN呈显著负相关,表明土壤碳和氮及其有效性是影响土壤微生物量周转的关键因素。     

不同林龄杉木林下套种阔叶树对土壤磷组分的影响

套种是杉木人工林经营的重要措施,磷是南方森林生态系统中主要限制性养分元素之一,但套种模式对土壤磷素的影响尚不明确。以亚热带杉木人工林表层(0-10 cm)土壤为对象,研究套种林(杉阔套种幼林、杉阔套种成熟林)和杉木幼林土壤理化性质和土壤各形态磷含量差异,分析套种对杉木人工林土壤磷含量的影响。结果表明:(1)不同套种林显著改变土壤总磷、土壤总无机磷、土壤总有机磷、土壤微生物生物量磷(MBP)和土壤酸性磷酸酶活性(APA),大小顺序均为杉阔套种成熟林>杉阔套种幼林>杉木幼林。(2)土壤各磷组分中活性磷含量较低,其中NaHCO3-Po在活性组分中占主导;土壤NaOH-Po是中等活性磷的主要组分,杉阔套种成熟林尤为显著;闭蓄态磷(Residual-P)在总磷含量中最高。(3)与杉木幼林相比,杉阔套种成熟林显著增加了树脂提取态磷(Resin-Pi)、碳酸氢钠提取态有机和无机磷(NaHCO3-Pi、NaHCO3-Po)、氢氧化钠提取态有机和无机磷(NaOH-Pi、NaOH-Po)、氢氧化钠残留提取态有机磷(NaOHu.s-Po)、盐酸提取态磷(HCl-Pi)和闭蓄态磷(Residual-P)含量;土壤总无机磷、NaHCO3-Po、HCl-Pi、NaHCO3-Pi、NaOHu.s-Pi和Residual-P对杉阔套种幼林的响应不敏感。(4)除含水率外不同林龄下杉阔套种林土壤磷形态与土壤理化性质(土壤总碳氮、土壤可溶性有机氮、土壤微生物生物量磷、酸性磷酸酶)呈正相关性(P<0.05)。冗余分析表明,土壤磷组分的变化主要受MBP调控,且MBP与有机磷组分(NaOHu.s-Po、NaOH-Po)和HCI-Pi呈显著正相关。总之,套种林的土壤磷素有效性高于杉木幼林,土壤养分状况更佳。     

Effect of different types of organic fertilizers on the chemical properties and enzymatic activities of an Oxisol under intensive cultivation of vegetables for 4 years

The effects of different types of organic fertilizers on the chemical and enzymatic properties of an Oxisol were studied after being fertilized for four consecutive years (26 crops) in a greenhouse under intensive cultivation of vegetables. Seven treatments, consisting of five types of organic fertilizer treatments, one "sequential application" (SA) treatment, and a chemical fertilizer treated plot were compared. The organic fertilizers used were dairy cattle dung compost (DCDC), hog dung compost (HDC), chicken dung compost (CDC), pea residue compost (PRC) and soybean meal (SBM). After 4 years of cultivation, the soils were analyzed for their chemical properties and enzymatic activities. The microbial carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), basal respiration and nitrification rate were also measured. The results showed that the SBM significantly lowered the soil pH, and that the HDC and DCDC raised the soil pH. The SBM and CDC resulted in the lowest soil electrical conductivity. The SBM had no significant effect on soil organic C and total N contents when compared with the CF plot. However, the DCDC resulted in the highest contents of soil organic C and total N. The organic fertilizers applied did not significantly affect the soil available copper, zinc, cadmium, lead and nickel. The effects of the different organic fertilizers on soil enzymatic activities depended on the types of organic fertilizers applied. The SBM and CDC often resulted in a lower microbial C (or N) and respiration rate, while in contrast DCDC and PRC resulted in high measurements. Most of the measured soil enzymatic activities in the SBM treatment, except for acid phosphatase, were the lowest. Differing contents of different heavy metals in the organic fertilizers resulted in different Mehlich III extractable heavy metal contents in the soils. From the point of view of the soil chemical and enzymatic properties, SBM is not an appropriate organic fertilizer for continuous application to an Oxisol.     

燕沟流域土壤微生物学性质对植被恢复过程的响应

以黄土高原丘陵区陕北延安燕沟流域为例,研究了退耕地土壤微生物生物量对植被恢复过程的响应。结果表明,随植被恢复年限的增加,植被盖度、多度和物种数均呈现先增加后减少然后又增加的趋势。同对照农地相比,表层(0—5 cm)土壤呼吸速率和土壤微生物生物量均明显增加。表层土壤呼吸速率和微生物量碳、氮、磷分别比对照农地增加31.61%3~60.75%和15.19%5~12.81%、122.91%6~97.15%、193.5%2~068.17%。表层土壤呼吸速率对植被恢复的响应是在植被恢复初期(02~9年),随植被恢复年限的增加而增加;植被恢复305~5年期间,随植被恢复年限的增加而减少;而植被恢复55年以后,又随植被恢复年限的增加而增加。植被恢复过程中,土壤微生物量碳、氮和磷的变化与土壤呼吸速率变化趋势类似。除植被恢复8和16年外,植被恢复年限间的土壤呼吸速率、呼吸熵和微生物量碳、氮、磷均有显著性差异。表层土壤呼吸速率与土壤微生物量氮、磷呈极显著相关,土壤微生物量碳与土壤微生物量氮呈显著相关;而土壤呼吸熵与呼吸速率和微生物量碳、氮、磷相关性不明显。     

Organic matter status and the size,activity and metabolic diversity of the soil microflora as indicators of the success of rehabilitation of mined sand dunes

The effectiveness of the rehabilitation of mined sand dunes on the northern coast of KwaZulu–Natal, South Africa, was assessed based on measurements of the total and labile organic matter content and the size, activity and metabolic diversity of the soil microflora. Soil was sampled (0–10 cm) after 0, 5, 10, 20 and 25 years of rehabilitation and compared with soil under undisturbed native forest and under long-term commercial pine forest. Following topsoil removal, stockpiling and respreading on reformed dunes, there was a massive loss of organic C such that, at time zero, organic C content was only 24% of that present under native forest. Soil organic C content increased progressively during rehabilitation until, after 25 years, it represented 93% of that present under native forest. The pattern of change in light-fraction C, KMnO₄-extractable C, water-soluble C, microbial biomass C, basal respiration and arginine ammonification rate was broadly similar to that for organic C, but the extent of the initial loss and the magnitude of the subsequent increase differed. Microbial biomass C, water-soluble C and KMnO₄-extractable C, expressed as a percentage of organic C, declined during rehabilitation as humic substances progressively accumulated. Principal component (PC) analysis of catabolic response profiles to 36 substrates revealed that the catabolic diversity of microbial communities differed greatly between native forest, commercial pine forest, 0 years and 10 years of rehabilitation. On the PC1 axis, values for soils under native forest and after 25 years rehabilitation were similar, but there was still separation on the PC2 axis. The main factor explaining variation in response profiles on the PC1 axis was organic C content; and the greatest catabolic diversity occurred in soils under native forest and after 25 years of rehabilitation.     

Soil chemical properties and microbial biomass after 16 years of no-tillage farming on the Loess Plateau, China

Data from a 16-year field experiment conducted in Shanxi, on the Chinese Loess Plateau, were used to compare the long-term effects of no-tillage with straw cover (NTSC) and traditional tillage with straw removal (TTSR) in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) monoculture. Long-term no-tillage with straw cover increased SOM by 21.7% and TN by 51.0% at 0–10 cm depth and available P by 97.3% at 0–5 cm depth compared to traditional tillage. Soil microbial biomass C and N increased by 135.3% and 104.4% with NTSC compared to TTSR for 0–10 cm depth, respectively. Under NTSC, the metabolic quotient (CO₂ evolved per unit of MBC) decreased by 45.1% on average in the top 10 cm soil layer, which suggests that TTSR produced a microbial pool that was more metabolically active than under NTSC. Consequently, winter wheat yield was about 15.5% higher under NTSC than under TTSR. The data collected from our 16-year experiment show that NTSC is a more sustainable farming system which can improve soil chemical properties, microbial biomass and activity, and thus increase crop yield in the rainfed dryland farming areas of northern China. The soil processes responsible for the improved yields and soil quality, in particular soil organic matter, require further research.     

Soil organic matter turnover as a function of the soil clay content: consequences for model applications

Based on a literature review including 201 surface soils from wet, mild, mid-latitude climates and 290 soils from the Lower Saxony soil monitoring programme (Germany), we investigated the relationship between soil clay content and soil organic matter turnover. The relationship was then used to evaluate the clay modifier for microbial decomposition in the organic matter module of the soil-plant-atmosphere model DAISY. A positive relationship was found between soil clay content and soil microbial biomass (SMB) C. Furthermore, a negative relationship was found between soil clay content and metabolic quotient (qCO₂) as an indicator of specific microbial activity. Both findings support the hypothesis of a clay dependent capacity of soils to protect microbial biomass. Under the differing conditions of practical agriculture and forestry, no or only very weak relationships were found between soil clay content and non-living soil organic matter C (humus C). It is concluded that the stabilising effect of clay is much stronger for SMB than for humus. This is in contrast to the DAISY clay modifier assuming the same negative relationship between soil clay content, on the one hand, and turnover of SMB and turnover of soil humus on the other. There is a positive relationship between SMB and microbial decomposition activity under steady-state conditions (microbial growth≈microbial death). The original concept of a biomass-independent simulation of organic matter turnover in the DAISY model must therefore be rejected. In addition to the original modifiers of organic matter turnover, a modifier based on the pool size of decomposing organisms is suggested. Priming effects can be simulated by applying this modifier. When using this approach, the original modifiers are related to specific microbial activity. The DAISY clay modifier is a useful approximation of the relationship between the metabolic quotient (qCO₂) as an indicator of specific microbial activity and soil clay content.