The effect of mixing ground leaf litters to soil on the development of pitch pine ectomycorrhizal and soil arthropod communities in natural soil microcosm systems

The addition of leaf litter to soil influences both the nutrients and polyphenols of soil. It is likely that contrasting nutrient and polyphenolic composition of different plant litters may affect plant growth, mycorrhizal and soil arthropod communities. We report results from a microcosm experiment of effects of incorporation of three single leaf litter species and a mixture of all three on pitch pine seedling growth, their ectomycorrhizal community and soil arthropod community. The three litter species (pine, oak and huckleberry) represent co-dominant species within the New Jersey pine barrens ecosystem. We show that the leaf litters have different composition of nutrients and polyphenols, with rooting matrix containing pine litter having lower inorganic nitrogen content (1.6 μg g⁻¹) than oak (19.9 μg g⁻¹) and huckleberry (4.4 μg g⁻¹), but oak litter having the highest extractable phosphorus (13.3 cf. 0-0.08 μg g⁻¹) and total phenol content and lowest condensed tannin content. These differences were imparted to rooting matrix of homogenized humic (Oa) layer of pine barrens soil to which milled leaf litter was added and used in the microcosms. Pitch pine seedlings grew significantly better in un-amended rooting matrix (0.33±0.02 g) than any of the litter treatments (0.15±0.02-0.17±0.01 g) and tissue P concentrations tracked phosphate concentrations in the rooting matrix. Total P accumulation into plant tissue was higher in oak than control, attributable to a significantly higher (P<0.05) accumulation in roots (3.3±0.19 mg g⁻¹) compared to other species (1.1±0.04-2.3±0.08 mg g⁻¹). No relationship was seen between tissue N concentration and soil N, but seedlings growing in huckleberry litter amended soil accumulated less N than control. The effect of leaf litters on the ectomycorrhizal community composition were determined by PCA (first two axes accounted for 81% of the variance) and stepwise multiple regression analysis. These analyses showed that huckleberry leaf litter had a significant impact on mycorrhizal community composition with morphotypes Cg and DB being more abundant in the presence of huckleberry litter (178±13 cf. 68±15-106±15 for Cg and 141±11 cf. 88±23-111±18 for DB) and its influence of elevating nitrate nitrogen, organic nitrogen, total phenols and protein precipitation content of the rooting matrix. Mycorrhizal morphotypes BS and SB were significantly more abundant in the community where these soil factors were low in the absence of leaf litter addition. Total ectomycorrhizal abundance was negatively related to hydrolysable tannin concentration in the rooting matrix (r²=0.132, P<0.05). There was no influence of leaf litter type on mite density (dominated by non-burrowing phthiracarids), but collembolan density (dominated by Folsomia spp) showed a greater than threefold reduction in population density in the presence of leaf litter (F=6.47, P<0.05). Collembolan density was positively correlated with mycorrhizal morphotypes GS and SB (P<0.05) and negatively related to morphotypes DB (P<0.05) and soil extractable NH₄-N (P<0.05), suggesting a possible selection of fungal species in their diet and a relationship between collembola and nitrification.     

Lead tolerance in Aporrectodea rosea earthworms from a clay pigeon shooting site

Lead tolerance in individuals of the earthworm species Aporrectodea rosea collected from a clay pigeon shooting site was investigated. Lead concentrations in the shooting site soil and the un-shot control site were 6410±2250 and 296±98 mg_Pb kg⁻¹ dry weight, respectively. Of these concentrations 1050±240 and 12±9 mg_Pb kg⁻¹ dry weight were suggested to be available, using ammonium acetate (1 M), respectively. With respect to earthworm body burdens of lead the shooting site earthworms had a body burden of 6.1±1.2 mg_Pb g⁻¹ dry weight while the uncontaminated site earthworms had almost a 1000-times lower body burden of 7.1±9.0 μg_Pb g⁻¹ dry weight. Lead tolerance was assessed in uncontaminated soil that had been augmented with lead, using lead nitrate solutions, to obtain lead concentrations in soil of 0.5, 5 and 50 mg_Pb kg⁻¹ dry weight. Earthworms were exposed for 28 days during which time a semi-qualitative assessment was made of their condition. Results showed no decrease in condition in the shooting site earthworms with increasing exposure time or concentration. In contrast, earthworms collected from an uncontaminated site showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in condition when exposed to lead concentrations above, and including, a concentration of 5 mg kg⁻¹ dry weight soil. These results suggested lead tolerance in the shooting site earthworms.     

Adenylates in the soil microbial biomass at different temperatures

Five soils from temperate sites (Germany; 2 arable and 3 grassland) were incubated aerobically at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35, and 40 °C for 8 days. Soils were analysed for soil microbial biomass C, biomass N, AMP, ADP, and ATP to determine whether the increase in the ATP-to-microbial biomass C ratio with increasing temperature was either due to an increase in the adenylate energy charge (AEC) or de novo synthesis of ATP, or both. Around 80% of the variance in microbial biomass C and biomass N was explained by differences in soil properties, only 7% by the temperature treatments. Averaging the data of all 5 soils for each incubation temperature, the microbial biomass C content decreased with increasing temperature from 15 to 40 °C continuously by 2.5 μg g⁻¹ soil °C⁻¹ after 8-days' incubation. However, this decrease was not accompanied by a similar decrease in microbial biomass N. The average microbial biomass C/N ratio was 6.8. Between 54 and 76% of the variance in AMP, ADP, ATP and the sum of adenylates was explained by differences in soil properties and between 14 (ADP) and 27% (ATP) by the temperature treatments. However, temperature effects on AMP and ADP were variable and inconsistent. In contrast, ATP and consequently also the sum of adenylates increased continuously from 5 to 30 °C followed by a decline to 40 °C. The AEC showed similarly a small, but significant increase with increasing temperature from 0.73 to 0.85 at 30 °C. Consequently, the majority of the variance, i.e. roughly 60% in AEC values, but also in ATP-to-microbial biomass C ratios was explained by the incubation temperature. The mean ATP-to-microbial biomass C ratio increased from 4.7 μmol g⁻¹ at 5 °C to a 2.5 fold maximum of 12.0 μmol g⁻¹ at 35 °C. This increase was linear with a rate of 0.26 μmol ATP g⁻¹ microbial biomass C °C⁻¹. The energy for the extra ATP produced during temperature increase is probably derived from an accelerated turnover of endocellular C reserves in the microbial biomass.     

Microbial biomass dynamics in recently air-dried and rewetted soils compared to others stored air-dry for up to 103 years

Our aim was to compare the soil microbial biomass concentration and its activity (measured as CO₂-C evolved) following the rewetting and aerobic incubation of soils which have previously been stored air-dry for different periods. Some of the soils have been stored in the Rothamsted sample archive for 103 years, others were comparable freshly sampled soils following air-drying and rewetting and other soils were stored air-dry for 2 years then rewetted for the work described here. Following air-drying, soil ATP concentrations were variable in recently air-dried soil, comprising about 10-35% of the initial ATP concentrations in fresh soil. Following rewetting, the percentage recovery of ATP increased in all soils by 7 days, then declined to between 73% and 87% of the original ATP concentration in the air-dried soils by day 12. Storage of air-dried soils decreased the ability of the microbial biomass to restore its ATP concentrations. For example, the ATP concentration in a soil sampled from stubbed (i.e. tree seedling, saplings and bushes cut frequently to ground level) grassland of the Broadbalk continuous wheat experiment at Rothamsted then air-dried for 2 years was only about 14% of that in the fresh soil at 2 days after rewetting. In other soils from the Hoosfield Barley Experiment, also at Rothamsted, previously given NPK or FYM since 1852, and sampled then stored air-dry for between 13 and 83 years, from 52% to 57% of the ATP in the comparable fresh soils was measured at two days after rewetting. The soil ATP concentration then changed little more up to 12 days. One of the most interesting findings was that while the microbial biomass ATP concentration in the above NPK soils only ranged from about 2 to 4 μmol ATP g⁻¹ biomass C, in the FYM soil the microbial biomass ATP concentrations (range 11.5-13.6 μmol ATP g⁻¹ biomass C) were the same as we repeatedly measure in fresh moist aerobic soil. We do not yet know the reasons for this. More than twice as much CO₂-C was evolved from the long-term stored soils than from freshly sampled ones. However, the specific respiration of the microbial biomass did not change much after the first 12 years of storage, indicating that loss of viability mainly occurred in the earlier years.     

Volatile organic compounds in the roots and rhizosphere of Pinus spp.

Plant roots normally release a complex mixture of chemicals which have important effects in the rhizosphere. Among these different root-emitted compounds, volatile isoprenoids have received very little attention, yet they may play important and diverse roles in the rhizosphere, contributing to the regulation of microbial activity and nutrient availability. It is therefore important to estimate their abundance in the rhizosphere, but so far, there is no reliable sampling method that can be used to measure realistic rates of root emissions from plants growing in field conditions, or even in pots. Here, we measured root content of volatile isoprenoids (specifically monoterpenes) for Pinus pinea, and explored the feasibility of using a dynamic bag enclosure method to measure emissions from roots of intact pot-grown plants with different degrees of root cleaning. We also investigated a passive diffusion method for exploring monoterpenes in soil at incremental distances from mature Pinus sylvestris trees growing in field conditions. Total monoterpene content of P. pinea roots was 415±50 μg g⁻¹ fresh wt in an initial screening study, and between 688±103 and 1144±208 μg g⁻¹ dry wt in subsequent investigations. Emissions from shaken-clean roots of intact plants and roots of intact plants washed to remove remaining soil after shaken-clean experiments were 119±14 and 26±5 μg g⁻¹ dry wt h⁻¹, respectively. Emissions from intact roots in soil-balls were an order of magnitude lower than from shaken-clean roots, and probably reflected the amount of emitted compounds taken up by physical, chemical or biological processes in the soil matrix surrounding the roots. Although monoterpene content was not significantly different in droughted roots, emission rates from droughted roots were generally significantly lower than from well-watered roots. Finally, passive sampling of monoterpenes in the soil at different distances from mature P. sylvestris trees in field conditions showed significantly decreasing sampling rates with increasing distance from the trunk. We conclude that it is feasible to measure volatile isoprenoid emissions from roots but the method of root preparation affects magnitude of measured emissions and therefore must be decided according to the application. We also conclude that the rhizosphere of Pinus species is a strong and previously un-characterized source of volatile isoprenoid emissions and these are likely to impact significantly on rhizosphere function.     

Subtropical plantations are large carbon sinks: Evidence from two monoculture plantations in South China

Quantifying the net carbon (C) storage of forest plantations is required to assess their potential to offset fossil fuel emissions. In this study, a biometric approach was used to estimate net ecosystem productivity (NEP) for two monoculture plantations in South China: Acacia crassicarpa and Eucalyptus urophylla. This approach was based on stand-level net primary productivity (NPP, based on direct biometric inventory) and heterotrophic respiration (R_h). In comparisons of R_h determination based on trenching vs. tree girdling, both trenching and tree girdling changed soil temperature and soil moisture relative to undisturbed control plots, and we assess the effects of corrections for disturbances of soil moisture and soil moisture on the estimation of soil CO₂ efflux partitioning. Soil microbial biomass and dissolved organic carbon were significantly lower in trenched plots than in tree girdled plots for both plantations. Annual soil CO₂ flux in trenched plots (R_h-t) was significantly lower than in tree-girdled plots (R_h-g) in both plantations. The estimates of R_h-t and R_h-g, expressed as a percentage of total soil respiration, were 58 ± 4% and 74 ± 6%, respectively, for A. crassicarpa, and 64 ± 3% and 78 ± 5%, respectively, for E. urophylla. By the end of experiment, the difference in soil CO₂ efflux between the trenched plots and tree-girdled plots had become small for both plantations. Annual R_h (mean of the annual R_h-t and R_h-g) and net primary production (NPP) were 470 ± 25 and 800 ± 118 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹, respectively, for A. crassicarpa, and 420 ± 35 and 2380 ± 187 g C m⁻² yr⁻², respectively, for E. urophylla. The two plantations in the developmental stage were large carbon sinks: NEP was 330 ± 76 C m⁻² yr⁻¹ for A. crassicarpa and 1960 ± 178 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ for E. urophylla.     

Microbial activity and functional composition among northern peatland ecosystems

The extent to which complex interrelationships between plants and microorganisms influence organic matter dynamics is critical to our understanding of global C cycles in changing environments. We examined the hypothesis that patterns of soil microbial activity and functional composition differ among vegetation types in northern peatland ecosystems. Microbial characteristics were compared among peatlands differing in plant growth form (tree, shrub/moss, sedge) in two regions (New York State and West Virginia). Microbial activity (basal respiration) was greater in surface (0-15 cm) than subsurface (15-30 cm) peat and from sites dominated by shrubs and Sphagnum moss (3.9±0.65 μg C g⁻¹ h⁻¹) compared to forested (1.8±0.20 μg C g⁻¹ h⁻¹) or sedge-dominated sites (1.9±0.38 μg C g⁻¹ h⁻¹). Microbial activity was not related to decomposability of peat organic matter among vegetation types, and activity was unexpectedly higher in sites with lower peat pH and higher water table level. Substrate-induced respiration (SIR) did not show a clear pattern among vegetation types, but was greater in surface than subsurface peat. Microbial responsiveness to added glucose was very low. The ratio of basal respiration to SIR varied between 0.39 and 0.72 and, like activity, was highest in shrub/Sphagnum sites. Microbial substrate utilization patterns (assayed with BIOLOG^® GN plates) also differed between shrub/Sphagnum sites and forest or sedge sites, suggesting that C fluxes were mediated by different assemblages of microorganisms in shrub/Sphagnum peatlands. Principal component (PC) scores indicated more utilization of N-containing compounds and carboxylic acids, and less utilization of carbohydrates by microbial communities in shrub/Sphagnum sites. PC scores were much more variable both within and among vegetation types for sites in West Virginia than in New York State, and a greater diversity of C sources were utilized in WV (57±3) than NYS (47±2) peat. Our results suggest a link between microbial respiratory activity and microbial functional composition as they vary among these peatland vegetation types.     

Community composition and activities of denitrifying bacteria from adjacent agricultural soil, riparian soil, and creek sediment in Oregon, USA

We examined denitrifying bacteria from wet soils and creek sediment in an agroecosystem in Oregon, USA that received inputs of nitrogen (N) fertilizer. Our objective was to determine the variation in denitrifying community composition and activities across three adjacent habitats: a fertilized agricultural field planted to perennial ryegrass, a naturally vegetated riparian area, and creek sediment. Using C₂H₂ inhibition, denitrifying enzyme and N₂O-reductase activities were determined in short-term incubations of anaerobic slurries. A key gene in the denitrification pathway, N₂O reductase (nosZ), served as a marker for denitrifiers. Mean denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA) was similar among habitats, ranging from 0.5 to 1.8 μg N g⁻¹ dry soil h⁻¹. However, the ratio of N₂O production, without C₂H₂, to DEA was substantially higher in riparian soil (0.64±0.02; mean±standard error, n=12) than in agricultural soil (0.19±0.02) or creek sediment (0.32±0.03). Mean N₂O-reductase activity ranged from 0.5 to 3.2 μg N g⁻¹ dry soil h⁻¹, with greater activity in agricultural soil than in riparian soil. Denitrifying community composition differed significantly among habitats based on nosZ terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphisms. The creek sediment community was unique. Communities in the agricultural and riparian soil were more closely related but distinct. A number of unique nosZ genotypes were detected in creek sediment. Sequences of nosZ obtained from riparian soil were closely related to nosZ from Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Although nosZ distribution and N₂O-reductase activity differed among habitats, relationships between activity and community composition appeared uncoupled across the agroecosystem.     

Microbial community response to nitrogen deposition in northern forest ecosystems

The productivity of temperate forests is often limited by soil N availability, suggesting that elevated atmospheric N deposition could increase ecosystem C storage. However, the magnitude of this increase is dependent on rates of soil organic matter formation as well as rates of plant production. Nonetheless, we have a limited understanding of the potential for atmospheric N deposition to alter microbial activity in soil, and hence rates of soil organic matter formation. Because high levels of inorganic N suppress lignin oxidation by white rot basidiomycetes and generally enhance cellulose hydrolysis, we hypothesized that atmospheric N deposition would alter microbial decomposition in a manner that was consistent with changes in enzyme activity and shift decomposition from fungi to less efficient bacteria. To test our idea, we experimentally manipulated atmospheric N deposition (0, 30 and 80 kg NO₃⁻-N) in three northern temperate forests (black oak/white oak (BOWO), sugar maple/red oak (SMRO), and sugar maple/basswood (SMBW)). After one year, we measured the activity of ligninolytic and cellulolytic soil enzymes, and traced the fate of lignin and cellulose breakdown products (¹³C-vanillin, catechol and cellobiose).In the BOWO ecosystem, the highest level of N deposition tended to reduce phenol oxidase activity (131±13 versus 104±5 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹) and peroxidase activity (210±26 versus 190±21 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹) and it reduced ¹³C-vanillin and ¹³C-catechol degradation and the incorporation of ¹³C into fungal phospholipids (p<0.05). Conversely, in the SMRO and SMBW ecosystems, N deposition tended to increase phenol oxidase and peroxidase activities and increased vanillin and catechol degradation and the incorporation of isotope into fungal phospholipids (p<0.05). We observed no effect of experimental N deposition on the degradation of ¹³C-cellulose, although cellulase activity showed a small and marginally significant increase (p<0.10). The ecosystem-specific response of microbial activity and soil C cycling to experimental N addition indicates that accurate prediction of soil C storage requires a better understanding of the physiological response of microbial communities to atmospheric N deposition.     

Filtration increases the correlation between water extractable organic carbon and soil microbial activity

A study was carried out in order to establish the relationship between the water extractable organic carbon (WEOC) content of soils and soil microbial activity, and to determine how variations in the extraction procedure might influence the quantity of WEOC recovered. Concentrations of WEOC were determined in soils taken from 12 different sites in the south east of Scotland, using a procedure in which samples were shaken with distilled water, centrifuged at 5000g and then filtered through 0.45 μm Millipore filters. Filtration resulted in between 30 and 400 μg C g⁻¹ being extracted using this procedure and the concentration of WEOC in the resultant extracts correlated with soil microbial production of CO₂ and dehydrogenase activity (P<0.001). Without filtration, although more WEOC was extracted (between 31 and 716 μg C g⁻¹), there was no significant correlation with biological activity. There was also no correlation between WEOC and nitrous oxide release during the incubations. Centrifugation at 20,000g for at least 10 min prior to filtration was required to remove particulate organic materials. Storage of samples at 4 °C or for up to 1 week or freezing for up to 3 months was not found to have a large influence on the concentration of WEOC in extracts, although amounts increased with soil:extractant ratio and increasing extraction time (from 15 to 60 min).     

Cyanobacterial inoculation of heated soils: effect on microorganisms of C and N cycles and on chemical composition in soil surface

Physiological groups of soil microorganisms, total C and N and available nutrients were investigated in four heated (350 °C, 1 h) soils (one Ortic Podsol over sandstone and three Humic Cambisol over granite, schist or limestone) inoculated (1.5 μg chlorophyll a g⁻¹ soil or 3.0 μg chlorophyll a g⁻¹ soil) with four cyanobacterial strains of the genus Oscillatoria, Nostoc or Scytonema and a mixture of them.Cyanobacterial inoculation promoted the formation of microbiotic crusts which contained a relatively high number of NH₄⁺-producers (7.4×10⁹ g⁻¹ crust), starch-mineralizing microbes (1.7×10⁸ g⁻¹ crust), cellulose-mineralizing microbes (1.4×10⁶ g⁻¹ crust) and NO₂⁻ and NO₃⁻ producers (6.9×10⁴ and 7.3×10³ g⁻¹ crust, respectively). These crusts showed a wide range of C and N contents with an average of 293 g C kg⁻¹ crust and 50 g N kg⁻¹ crust, respectively. In general, Ca was the most abundant available nutrient (804 mg kg⁻¹ crust), followed by Mg (269 mg kg⁻¹ crust), K (173 mg kg⁻¹ crust), Na (164 mg kg⁻¹ crust) and P (129 mg kg⁻¹ crust). There were close positive correlations among all the biotic and abiotic components of the crusts.Biofertilization with cyanobacteria induced great microbial proliferation as well as high increases in organic matter and nutrients in the surface of the heated soils. In general, cellulolytics were increased by four logarithmic units, amylolytics and ammonifiers by three logarithmic units and nitrifiers by more than two logarithmic units. C and N contents rose an average of 275 g C kg⁻¹ soil and 50 g N kg⁻¹ soil while the C:N ratio decreased up to 7 units. Among the available nutrients the highest increase was for Ca (315 mg kg⁻¹ soil) followed by Mg (189 mg kg⁻¹ soil), K (111 mg kg⁻¹ soil), Na (109 mg kg⁻¹ soil) and P (89 mg kg⁻¹ soil). Fluctuations of the microbial groups as well as those of organic matter and nutrients were positively correlated.The efficacy of inoculation depended on both the type of soil and the class of inoculum. The best treatment was the mixture of the four strains and, whatever the inoculum used, the soil over lime showed the most developed crust followed by the soils over schist, granite and sandstone. In the medium term there were not significant differences between the two inocula amounts tested.These results showed that inoculation of burned soils with alien N₂-fixing cyanobacteria may be a biotechnological means of promoting microbiotic crust formation, enhancing C and N cycling microorganisms and increasing organic matter and nutrient contents in heated soils.     

Priming effect of biuret addition on native soil N mineralisation under laboratory conditions

This study was carried out to quantify the priming effect of biuret on native soil nitrogen (N) mineralisation during a 112-day incubation. Addition of biuret (100 mg ¹⁵N-labelled biuret kg⁻¹ soil) increased the turnover rate constant of soil organic matter and had a positive priming effect on native soil N mineralisation in two soils. The additional mineralisation was 0.65% of the total soil N (equivalent to 47.1 kg N ha⁻¹) in a sandy loam soil and 0.62% of the soil N (equivalent to 46.5 kg N ha⁻¹) in a silt loam soil.     

Distribution of monoterpenes between organic resources in upper soil horizons under monocultures of Picea abies, Picea sitchensis and Pinus sylvestris

The aim of this study was to compare the monoterpene content and distribution in litters and roots of three conifer species: Picea abies (L.) Karst, Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr. and Pinus sylvestris (L.). We analysed the monoterpene content of green needles, needle litter, F (fermentation) layer material and roots collected from monoculture plots. The rate of loss of monoterpenes from freshly fallen litter in the field was also studied at two monthly intervals over 10 months, to assess the length of time that monoterpenes entering the litter layer remain. Monoterpene analysis was carried out by extracting homogenised samples in hexane and identifying and quantifying the resulting monoterpenes using gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Mean total monoterpene concentrations varied significantly between the three species examined (e.g. in freshly fallen litter 1531 ± 96, 100 ± 5 and 1175 ± 122 μg g⁻¹ d. wt for P. abies, P. sitchensis and P. sylvestris); each species had distinctive and consistent monoterpene profiles associated with each type of tissue, and total monoterpene concentrations in green needles varied between individual trees of the same species, particularly for P. sitchensis. A substantial proportion of the monoterpene content of green needles remained in the needles after litter fall for P. abies (42%), P. sitchensis (11%) and P. sylvestris (30%). Although rates of monoterpene loss from needle litters varied initially (P. sylvestris > P. abies > P. sitchensis), the majority of the monoterpene content was lost after 4-6 months. Maximum monoterpene emission rates from decaying litter were calculated of 39 (P. abies), 1.7 (P. sitchensis) and 39 μg m⁻² h⁻¹ (P. sylvestris). Monoterpene concentrations in F layer material were very low (<10 μg g⁻¹ d. wt). Roots, particularly in P. sylvestris, represented a significant pool of monoterpenes (185 ± 16, P. abies; 258 ± 54, P. sitchensis; 2133 ± 200 μg g⁻¹ d. wt, P. sylvestris). The monoterpene profile was similar between roots and litter of P. sylvestris (α-pinene most abundant), and for P. sitchensis, (limonene and α-pinene most abundant), although a different pattern was observed between needle litter (most abundant β-pinene) and roots (most abundant myrcene) of P. abies. The relatively high concentrations and different profiles of monoterpenes characterised in upper organic soil horizons here emphasise the need for their influence on soil ecological processes to be assessed.     

Soil organic matter dynamics and land use change at a grassland/forest ecotone

In the grassland/forest ecotone of North America, many areas are experiencing afforestation and subsequent shifts in ecosystem carbon (C) stocks. Ecosystem scientists commonly employ a suite of techniques to examine how such land use changes can impact soil organic matter (SOM) forms and dynamics. This study employs four such techniques to compare SOM in grassland (Bromus inermis) and recently forested (∼35 year, Ulmus spp. and Quercus spp.) sites with similar soil types and long-term histories in Kansas, USA. The work examines C and nitrogen (N) parameters in labile and recalcitrant SOM fractions isolated via size and density fractionation, acid hydrolysis, and long-term incubations. Size fractionation highlighted differences between grassland and forested areas. N concentration of forested soils’ 63-212 μm fraction was higher than corresponding grassland soils’ values (3.0±0.3 vs. 2.3±0.3 mg g_fraction⁻¹, P<0.05), and N concentration of grassland soils’ 212-2000 μm fraction was higher than forested soils (3.0±0.4 vs. 2.3±0.2 mg g_fraction⁻¹, P<0.05). Similar trends were observed for these same fractions for C concentration; forested soils exhibited 1.3 times the C concentration in the 63-212 μm fraction compared to this fraction in grassland soils. Fractions separated via density separation and acid hydrolysis exhibited no differences in [C], [N], δ¹⁵N, or δ¹³C when compared across land use types. Plant litterfall from forested sites possessed significantly greater N concentrations than that from grassland sites (12.41±0.10 vs. 11.62±0.19 mg g_litter⁻¹). Long-term incubations revealed no differences in C or N dynamics between grassland and forested soils. δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of the smallest size and the heavier density fractions, likely representing older and more recalcitrant SOM, were enriched compared to younger and more labile SOM fractions; δ¹⁵N of forested soils’ 212-2000 μm fraction were higher than corresponding grassland soils (1.7±0.3‰ vs. 0.5±0.4‰). δ¹³C values of acid hydrolysis fractions likely reflect preferential losses of ¹³C-depleted compounds during hydrolysis. Though C and N data from size fractions were most effective at exhibiting differences between grassland and forested soils, no technique conclusively indicates consistent changes in SOM dynamics with forest growth on these soils. The study also highlights some of the challenges associated with describing SOM parameters, particularly δ¹³C, in SOM fractions isolated by acid hydrolysis.     

Phosphorus content in five representative landscape units of the Lomas de Arequipa (Atacama Desert-Peru)

Phosphorus forms and content were studied in soils of the Lomas de Arequipa (Atacama desert, Peru) using a fractionation method. These Lomas are small hills periodically submitted to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) which causes heavy rainfall. Sample soils were randomly selected in five landscape types characterized by vegetation: cactaceae (Cac), cactaceae and herbaceous (CacHerb), shrubs (Shr), trees with cover < 60% (Tree) and shrubs or trees with cover > 60%) (ShrTree). All the soils were strongly acidic and classified as loamy sand, sandy loam or silt loam. Organic carbon content was under 1% in Cac or CacHerb, then increased strongly in ShrTree (6.50%). Considering phosphorus, all the forms (labile as well resistant forms) increased markedly from Cac soils to ShrTree soils. In all the soils, the labile forms (Resin-P: range 45–105 μg g^− 1; NaHCO3-Pi: 23–123 μg g^− 1; or NaHCO3-Po: 10–122 μg g^− 1) were very high. These high phosphorus contents were attributed to the specific climatic conditions of the Lomas that feature a long period of vegetation dormancy (very dry period) and a short period of growth, following ENSO-associated precipitation. We suggested that during the dry period, plant decay and microbial cells death lead to release and accumulation of labile P in the soil, the rainfall wetting the soil, permitting vegetation growth. In this respect, the Lomas climatic conditions contribute to soil fertility, especially as labile forms of phosphorus are chiefly concerned.     

Does soil ergosterol concentration provide a reliable estimate of soil fungal biomass?

Our aim was to determine if soil ergosterol concentration provides a quantitative estimate of the soil fungal biomass concentration, as is usually assumed. This was done by comparing soil ergosterol measurements with soil fungal biomass (fungal biomass C) concentrations estimated by microscopic measurements and by the selective inhibition technique linked to substrate-induced respiration (SIR). The measurements were compared in a silty-clay loam soil given a range of previous treatments designed to increase or decrease the soil fungal biomass and so also to change the soil ergosterol concentration. The treatments used were ryegrass amendment, to increase the total and fungal biomass, and CHCl₃-fumigation and the addition of the biocides, captan, bronopol and dinoseb, to decrease both ergosterol and fungal biomass C concentrations. The mineralization of ergosterol following addition to sand innoculated with soil extract, and to a sandy loam soil, was also determined. The added ergosterol was little, if at all, degraded following addition to either sand or the unfumigated or fumigated soil during a 10 d aerobic incubation. Similarly, pesticide addition did not significantly change soil ergosterol concentrations yet the soil fungal biomass C concentration decreased significantly. Thus, the ratio: (soil ergosterol concentration/soil fungal biomass C concentration) was much higher in the pesticide-treated soils than the control soil. Following ryegrass amendment, soil ergosterol concentration increased from about 6-12 μg⁻¹ soil within 5 d and then decreased gradually to about 7 μg g⁻¹ soil by 20 d incubation. Changes in fungal biomass C (measured by direct microscopy) closely mirrored changes in soil ergosterol over this period. However, when the amended soil was fumigated and then incubated for a further 5 d, the initial ergosterol concentration declined from 7 to 5 μg g⁻¹ soil by 20 d incubation (a decline of about 0.4). The comparable decline in fungal biomass C was about eight-fold. Thus the ratio of ergosterol to fungal biomass C increased from 0.005 to about 0.01. There was a significant correlation (r>0.84, P<0.001) between soil ergosterol concentration and fungal biomass measured by either SIR or microscopy. However, three data points played a vital role in the correlation. When these points were excluded the relationship was very poor (r<0.4). Our results therefore suggest that substantial amounts of ergosterol may exist, other than in living cells, for considerable periods, with little, if any mineralization. Thus, these results indicate that ergosterol and fungal biomass C concentrations are not always closely correlated, due to the slow metabolism of ergosterol in recently dead fugal biomass and/or the existence of exocellular ergosterol in soil.     

Nitrous oxide flux from soil amino acid mineralization

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a greenhouse gas produced during microbial transformation of soil N that has been implicated in global climate warming. Nitrous oxide efflux from N fertilized soils has been modeled using NO₃⁻ content with a limited success, but predicting N₂O production in non-fertilized soils has proven to be much more complex. The present study investigates the contribution of soil amino acid (AA) mineralization to N₂O flux from semi-arid soils. In laboratory incubations (−34 kPa moisture potential), soil mineralization of eleven AAs (100 μg AA-N g⁻¹ soil) promoted a wide range in the production of N₂O (156.0±79.3 ng N₂O-N g⁻¹ soil) during 12 d incubations. Comparison of the δ¹³C content (‰) of the individual AAs and the δ¹³C signature of the respired AA-CO₂-C determined that, with the exception of TYR, all of the AAs were completely mineralized during incubations, allowing for the calculation of a N₂O-N conversion rate from each AA. Next, soils from three different semi-arid vegetation ecosystems with a wide range in total N content were incubated and monitored for CO₂ and N₂O efflux. A model utilizing CO₂ respired from the three soils as a measure of organic matter C mineralization, a preincubation soil AA composition of each soil, and the N₂O-N conversion rate from the AA incubations effectively predicted the range of N₂O production by all three soils. Nitrous oxide flux did not correspond to factors shown to influence anaerobic denitrification, including soil NO₃⁻ contents, soil moisture, oxygen consumption, and CO₂ respiration, suggesting that nitrification and aerobic nitrifier denitrification could be contributing to N₂O production in these soils. Results indicate that quantification of AA mineralization may be useful for predicting N₂O production in soils.     

Laccase and peroxidase isoenzymes during leaf litter decomposition of Quercus ilex in a Mediterranean ecosystem

The dynamics of leaf litter decomposition of Quercus ilex (L.) were investigated over a 2 year period by determining the activities and isoenzyme distribution of laccases and peroxidases. The analysis of isoenzymes was performed by isoelectric focusing on high stability pH gradients with high resolving power. The preparation of zymograms was carried out using the leaf litter extract without previous concentration. During litter decomposition, laccase and peroxidase activities changed as well as the type and number of enzyme isoforms. The activities of both enzymes were low (≤0.017 and ≤0.031 mmol o-tolidine oxidized h⁻¹ g⁻¹ d.w. for laccase and peroxidase, respectively) in first year and increased in October-January of the second year of litter decay. The highest activities measured after 15-18 months of litter exposure (0.37±0.03 and 0.19±0.02 mmol o-tolidine oxidized h⁻¹ g⁻¹ d.w. for laccase and peroxidase, respectively), showed that litter chemical composition affected the growth of ligninolytic microbial community. The activation energy for laccase and peroxidase reactions also changed during decomposition: the highest values (55±6 kJ mol⁻¹ for laccase and 60±6 kJ mol⁻¹ for peroxidase) occurred in autumn-winter, even if spatial changes were evidenced. Some enzyme isoforms (pI=5.3 and 5.5 for laccase and pI=5.0 and 5.1 for peroxidase, respectively), contributed more than others to the overall laccase and peroxidase activity, suggesting that some ligninolytic species bloomed in particular seasons of the year, even if other species with similar functional activities colonized the litter.     

Changes in soil biological and biochemical characteristics in a long-term field trial on a sub-tropical inceptisol

Soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), their ratio (MBC/SOC) which is also known as microbial quotient, soil respiration, dehydrogenase and phosphatase activities were evaluated in a long-term (31 years) field experiment involving fertility treatments (manure and inorganic fertilizers) and a maize (Zea mays L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) rotation at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute near New Delhi, India. Applying farmyard manure (FYM) plus NPK fertilizer significantly increased SOC (4.5-7.5 g kg⁻¹), microbial biomass (124-291 mg kg⁻¹) and microbial quotient from 2.88 to 3.87. Soil respiration, dehydrogenase and phosphatase activities were also increased by FYM applications. The MBC response to FYM+100% NPK compared to 100% NPK (193 vs. 291 mg kg⁻¹) was much greater than that for soil respiration (6.24 vs. 6.93 μl O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹) indicating a considerable portion of MBC in FYM plots was inactive. Dehydrogenase activity increased slightly as NPK rates were increased from 50% to 100%, but excessive fertilization (150% NPK) decreased it. Acid phosphatase activity (31.1 vs. 51.8 μg PNP g⁻¹ h⁻¹) was much lower than alkali phosphatase activity (289 vs. 366 μg PNP g⁻¹ h⁻¹) in all treatments. Phosphatase activity was influenced more by season or crop (e.g. tilling wheat residue) than fertilizer treatment, although both MBC and phosphatase activity were increased with optimum or balanced fertilization. SOC, MBC, soil respiration and acid phosphatase activity in control (no NPK, no manure) treatment was lower than uncultivated reference soil, and soil respiration was limiting at N alone or NP alone treatments.     

Evaluation of substitutes for paraquat in soil microbial ATP determinations using the trichloroacetic acid based reagent of

The trichloroacetic acid (TCA) based reagent proposed by Jenkinson and Oades (1979) fits all the criteria required to measure soil microbial biomass ATP (biomass ATP). Amongst other components it contains paraquat (0.1 M 1,1′ dimethyl-4,4′ bipyridylium dichloride), usually extracted from the herbicide Gramoxone. Paraquat is added as an analogue of ATP. It is tightly fixed to soil and so decreases ATP fixation. However, Gramoxone is now banned as an agricultural chemical in both Europe and North America. Our aim was to find an effective replacement for paraquat to measure biomass ATP. The best replacement was 0.6 M imidazole in 1.10 M TCA containing 0.25 M P (termed the TIP reagent). Biomass ATP concentrations were not significantly different in five soils extracted by either reagent 10.37 and 11.17 μmol ATP g⁻¹ biomass C, respectively; standard error of differences of means = 0.36; p = 0.091.