黄土高原中国松人工林演替过程中的土壤微生物和酶活性

Successional and seasonal effects on soil microbial and enzymatic properties were studied in Chinese pine (Pinus tabu- laeformis) plantations in an age sequence of 3-, 7-, 13-, 21- and 28-year-old in northern Ziwuling region in the middle of Loess Plateau, China. The results indicated that plantation age and season affected soil microbial and enzymatic parameters significantly. Soil organic C, total N, microbial biomass C, microbial quotient, basal respiration, dehydrogenase, N-α-benzoyl-L-argininamide (BAA)-protease, urease and β-glucosidase increased quickly and tended to be highest at PF21 (21-year plantation), thereafter they remained nearly at a constant level, whereas the metabolic quotient (qCO 2 ) showed an initial increase and then decreased gradually. Measures of these soil properties showed significant seasonal fluctuations except for organic C and total N, which were found to be relatively stable throughout the study period, and the seasonal distributions were autumn spring summer winter for microbial biomass C, microbial quotient, dehydrogenase, and β-glucosidase; autumn summer spring winter for BAA-protease and urease; and summer autumn spring winter for basal respiration and qCO 2 . Significant season × age interaction was observed for biomass C, basal respiration, dehydrogenase and BAA-protease.     

退化喀斯特植被恢复与土壤微生物特征的关系

The mechanism of vegetation restoration on degraded karst regions has been a research focus of soil science and ecology for the last decade.In an attempt to preferably interpret the soil microbiological characteristic variation associated with vegetation restoration and further to explore the role of soil microbiology in vegetation restoration mechanism of degraded karst regions,we measured microbial biomass C and basal respiration in soils during vegetation restoration in Zhenfeng County of southwestern Guizhou Province,China.The community level physiological profiles(CLPP) of the soil microbial community to were estimated determine if vegetation changes were accompanied by changes in functioning of soil microbial communities.The results showed that soil microbial biomass C and microbial quotient(microbial biomass C/organic C) tended to increase with vegetation restoration,being in the order arboreal community stage > shrubby community stage > herbaceous community stage > bare land stage.Similar trend was found in the change of basal respiration(BR).The metabolic quotient(the ratio of basal respiration to microbial biomass,qCO 2) decreased with vegetation restoration,and remained at a constantly low level in the arboreal community stage.Analyses of the CLPP data indicated that vegetation restoration tended to result in higher average well color development,substrate richness,and functional diversity.Average utilization of specific substrate guilds was highest in the arboreal community stage.Principle component analysis of the CLPP data further indicated that the arboreal community stage was distinctly different from the other three stages.In conclusion,vegetation restoration improved soil microbial biomass C,respiration,and utilization of carbon sources,and decreased qCO 2,thus creating better soil conditions,which in turn could promote the restoration of vegetation on degraded karst regions.     

清水灌溉在消除土壤多环芳烃中的作用及对土壤微生物特征的影响: 以沈抚灌区为例

To evaluate the effect of groundwater irrigation on the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) pollution abatement and soil microbial characteristics,a case study was performed in the Shenfu irrigation area of Shenyang,Northeast China,where the irrigation with petroleum wastewater had lasted for more than fifty years,and then groundwater irrigation instead of wastewater irrigation was applied due to the gradually serious PAHs pollution in soil.Soil chemical properties,including PAHs and nutrients contents,and soil microbial characteristics,including microbial biomass carbon,substrateinduced respiration,microbial quotient(qM),metabolic quotient(qCO2),dehydrogenase(DH),polyphenol oxidase(PO),urease(UR) and cellulase(CE) in surface and subsurface were determined.Total organic C,total N,total P,and available K were significantly different between the sites studied.The PAHs concentrations ranged from 610.9 to 6362.8 μg kg-1 in the surface layers(0-20 cm) and from 404.6 to 4318.5 μg kg-1 in the subsurface layers(20-40 cm).From the principal component analysis,the first principal component was primarily weighed by total PAHs,total organic C,total N,total P and available K,and it was the main factor that influencing the soil microbial characteristics.Among the tested microbial characteristics,DH,PO,UR,CE,qM and qCO2 were more sensitive to the PAHs stress than the others,thus they could serve as useful ecological assessment indicators for soil PAHs pollution.     

巴西东北部地区土地退化对土壤微生物量和活性的影响

Land degradation causes great changes in the soil biological properties.The process of degradation may decrease soil microbial biomass and consequently decrease soil microbial activity.The study was conducted out during 2009 and 2010 at the four sites of land under native vegetation(NV),moderately degraded land(LDL),highly degraded land(HDL) and land under restoration for four years(RL) to evaluate changes in soil microbial biomass and activity in lands with different degradation levels in comparison with both land under native vegetation and land under restoration in Northeast Brazil.Soil samples were collected at 0-10 cm depth.Soil organic carbon(SOC),soil microbial biomass C(MBC) and N(MBN),soil respiration(SR),and hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate(FDA) and dehydrogenase(DHA) activities were analyzed.After two years of evaluation,soil MBC,MBN,FDA and DHA had higher values in the NV,followed by the RL.The decreases of soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities in the degraded lands were approximately 8-10 times as large as those found in the NV.However,after land restoration,the MBC and MBN increased approximately 5-fold and 2-fold,respectively,compared with the HDL.The results showed that land degradation produced a strong decrease in soil microbial biomass.However,land restoration may promote short-and long-term increases in soil microbial biomass.     

重复添加植物残体后土壤微生物活性和生物量对盐度的响应特征

Microbial adaptation to salinity can be achieved through synthesis of organic osmolytes,which requires high amounts of energy;however,a single addition of plant residues can only temporarily improve energy supply to soil microbes.Therefore,a laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the responses of soil microbes to increasing salinity with repeated additions of plant residues using a loamy sand soil with an electrical conductivity in saturated paste extract（EC_e） of 0.6 dS m^-1.The soil was kept non-saline or salinized by adding different amounts of NaCl to achieve EC_e of 12.5,25.0 and 50.0 dS m^-1.The non-saline soil and the saline soils were amended with finely ground pea residues at two rates equivalent to 3.9 and 7.8 g C kg^-1 soil on days 0,15 and29.The soils receiving no residues were included as a control.Cumulative respiration per g C added over 2 weeks after each residue addition was always greater at 3.9 than 7.8 g C kg^-1 soil and higher in the non-saline soil than in the saline soils.In the saline soils,the cumulative respiration per g C added was higher after the second and third additions than after the first addition except with3.9 g C kg^-1 at EC_e of 50 dS m^₁.Though with the same amount of C added(7.8 g C kg^-1),salinity reduced soil respiration to a lesser extent when 3.9 g C kg^-1 was added twice compared to a single addition of 7.8 g C kg^-1.After the third residue addition,the microbial biomass C concentration was significantly lower in the soils with EC_e of 25 and 50 dS m^₁ than in the non-saline soil at3.9 g C kg^-1,but only in the soil with EC_e of 50 dS m^-1 at 7.8 g C kg^-1.We concluded that repeated residue additions increased the adaptation of soil microbial community to salinity,which was likely due to high C availability providing microbes with the energy needed for synthesis of organic osmolytes.     

温度和秸秆质量调节与秸秆分解相关的微生物磷脂脂肪酸（PLFA）组成

Variations in temperature and moisture play an important role in soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition. However, relationships between changes in microbial community composition induced by increasing temperature and SOM decomposition are still unclear. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of temperature and moisture levels on soil respiration and microbial communities involved in straw decomposition and elucidate the impact of microbial communities on straw mass loss. A 120-d litterbag experiment was conducted using wheat and maize straw at three levels of soil moisture (40%, 70%, and 90% of water-holding capacity) and temperature (15, 25, and 35°C). The microbial communities were then assessed by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. With the exception of fungal PLFAs in maize straw at day 120, the PLFAs indicative of Gram-negative bacteria and fungi decreased with increasing temperatures. Temperature and straw C/N ratio significantly affected the microbial PLFA composition at the early stage, while soil microbial biomass carbon (C) had a stronger effect than straw C/N ratio at the later stage. Soil moisture levels exhibited no significant effect on microbial PLFA composition. Total PLFAs significantly influenced straw mass loss at the early stage of decomposition, but not at the later stage. In addition, the ratio of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial PLFAs was negatively correlated with the straw mass loss. These results indicated that shifts in microbial PLFA composition induced by temperature, straw quality, and microbial C sources could lead to changes in straw decomposition.     

Pb-Zn交互作用对红壤微生物生物量的影响

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of lead and zinc applied alone or in various combinations on the size of microbial biomass in a red soil. Treatments included the application of lead at six different levels i. e., 0 (background), 100, 200, 300, 450 and 600 g g^-1 soil along with each of the four levels of zinc (0, 50, 150 or 250 g g^-1 soil). Application of lead or zinc alone to soil significantly (P < 0. 001) affected the soil microbial biomass. The microbial biomass carbon (C_mic), biomass nitrogen (N_mic) and biomass phosphorus (P_mic) decreased sharply in soils contaminated with lead or zinc. Combined application of lead and zinc resulted in a greater biocidal effect on soil microbial biomass, which was significantly higher (P < 0. 001) than that when either lead or zinc was applied alone. Consistent increase in the biomass C: N and decline in the biomass C:P ratios were also observed with the increased metal (Pb and Zn) toxicity in the soil.     

黄土高原某些耕作土壤中土壤微生物生物量C、N与矿化N的关系

The chloroform fumigation-incubation method was used to measure the soil microbial biomass C (SMBC) and N (SMBN) in 16 loessial soils sampled from Ansai, Yongshou and Yangling in Shaanxi Province. The SMBC contents in the soils ranged from 75.9 to 301.0 μg C g^-1 with an average of 206.1 μg C g^-1, accounting for 1.36%~6.24% of the total soil organic C with an average of 3.07%, and the SMBN contents from 0.51 to 68.40 μg N g^-1 with an average of 29.4 μg N g^-1, accounting for 0.20%~5.65% of the total N in the soils with an average of 3.36%. A close relationship was found between SMBC and SMBN, and they both were positively correlated with total organic C, total N, NaOH hydrolizable N and mineralizable N. These results confirmed that soil microbial biomass had a comparative role in nutrient cycles of soils.     

中国土壤微生物量的大小

The microbial biomass C, N and P of soils all over China were determined in this study to study their affecting factors. The results, about 100-417 mg C kg^-1 soil, 18-51 mg N kg^-1 soil and 4.4-27.3 mg P kg^-1 soil, showed the biomass C, N and P in linear relationship with the soil total organic C, toal N and soil organic P. The ratios of C: N and C:P, ranging from 5.6 to 9.6 and from 11.2 to 48.4 respectively, were affected by soil pH, texture, crop rotation, macroclimate, etc. The ratio of C:N in soil biomass increases gradually from the north to the south in China.     

传统耕作和覆盖作物管理方式下半干旱区葡萄园表层土壤性质影响降水后碳氧化物排放

In semiarid regions of the Mediterranean basin, a rainfall event can induce a respiratory pulse that releases a large amount of soil carbon dioxide(CO_2) into the atmosphere; this pulse can significantly contribute to the annual ecosystem carbon(C) balance.The impacts of conventional tillage and two different cover crops, resident vegetation and Bromus catharticus L., on soil CO_2 efflux were evaluated in a Vitis vinifera L. vineyard in La Rioja, Spain. Soil CO_2 efflux, gravimetric water content, and temperature were monitored at a depth of 0–5 cm after rainfall precipitation events approximately every 10 d in the period from May 17 to July 27, 2012,during which the cover crops had withered. Additionally, on June 10, 2012, soil organic C, microbial biomass C, and β-glucosidase activity were determined at soil depths of 0–2.5, 2.5–5, 5–15, and 15–25 cm. The results show that pulses of soil CO_2 were related to the increase in soil water content following precipitation events. Compared to the conventional tillage treatment, both cover crop treatments had higher soil CO_2 efflux after precipitation events. Both cover crop treatments had higher soil organic C, microbial biomass C, and β-glucosidase activity at the soil surface(0–2.5 cm) than the conventional tillage treatment. Each pulse of CO_2 was related to the surface soil properties. Thus, this study suggests that the enhancement of soil organic C and microbiological properties at the soil surface under cover crops may increase soil CO_2 efflux relative to conventional tillage immediately after precipitation events during the dry season.     

Plant extracts from the Mediterranean zone of Chile potentially affect soil microbial activity related to N transformations: A laboratory experiment

Abstract

Available soil N can be lost through ammonia volatilization, nitrate leaching to surface and ground waters, and nitrous oxide emission under intensive systems of agricultural production. Research has shown that phenolic compounds isolated from certain plants influence N cycling in soils, which results in a decrease of N losses and represents a key issue for environmental protection worldwide. In this study, water-soluble and ethanol-soluble compounds were extracted from the leaves, bark and roots of certain tree and shrub species in the Mediterranean zone of Chile, with the aim of measuring their effects on N transformation, soil respiration, soil microbial biomass and urease activity. The studied species were Acacia caven Mol, Quillaja saponaria Mol., Bacharis linearis (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. and Pinus radiata D. Don. Plant extracts were applied to soil (Haploxeralf) fertilized with urea. The extracts obtained from the roots of A. caven in water, bark of A. caven in ethanol, bark of P. radiata in ethanol, leaves of P. radiata in water and roots of B. linearis in water showed a reduction in the soil nitrification rate. The bark of A. caven in ethanol and bark of P. radiata in ethanol extracts showed a reduction in urease activity. In conclusion, only the bark of P. radiata in ethanol extract affected all the biological parameters considered, reducing soil nitrification, urease activity, microbial biomass and carbon dioxide emissions from the soil, these being attributed to high levels of phenolic content in the extract. However, further research is necessary to explain the mechanisms involved.     

Effects of heavy metal accumulation in apple orchard soils on microbial biomass and microbial activities

Abstract

The effects of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, and As) accumulated in apple orchard surface soils on the microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, and soil respiration were investigated. The largest concentrations of total Cu, Pb, and As found in the soils used were 1,010, 926, and 166 mg kg^?1 soil, respectively. The amounts of microbial biomass C and N, expressed on a soil organic C and soil total N basis, respectively, were each negatively correlated with the amounts of total, 0.1 M HCI-extractable, and 0.1 M CaCl₂-extractable Cu as logarithmic functions, the correlation coefficient being lowest for the 0.1 M CaCl₂extractable Cu. Nevertheless, they were not correlated with the soil pH which was controlling the solubility of Cu in 0.1 M CaCl₂. The dehydrogenase activity expressed per unit of soil organic C was also negatively correlated with the amounts of total, 0.1 M HCI-extractable Cu, and 0.1 M CaCl₂-extractable Cu as logarithmic functions. However, the correlation coefficient was highest for the 0.1 M CaCl₂-extractable Cu. Although the soil respiration per unit of soil total organic C did not show any significant correlations with the total concentrations of heavy metals, it showed negative significant correlations with the amount of 0.1 M HCI-extractable Cu, and to a greater extent, with the amount of 0.1 M CaCl₂-extractable Cu. Both the dehydrogenase activity and respiration per unit of soil total organic C increased significantly with increasing soil pH. These results suggested that in apple orchard soils with heavy metal accumulation the microbial biomass was adversely affected by the slightly soluble Cu, whereas the microbial activities by the readily soluble Cu whose amount depended on the soil pH. The respiration per unit of microbial biomass C showed a positive significant correlation with the logarithmic concentration of total Cu. Furthermore, the contribution of fungi to substrate-induced respiration increased with increasing total Cu content in the soils.     

连续施用无害化污泥对沙质潮土土壤肥力和微生物学性质的影响

以小麦-玉米轮作体系下的沙质潮土为研究对象,选用经无害化处理后的城市污泥产物,通过2013~2015年田间定位试验,研究了不同城市污泥施用量对土壤肥力的影响,以期为城市污泥资源化利用提供理论基础和技术依据。设置单施化肥(CK)、CK+污泥15 t·hm~(-2)(CS1)、CK+污泥30 t·hm~(-2)(CS2)和CK+污泥45 t·hm~(-2)(CS3)共4个处理。主要研究结果如下:(1)连续定位试验结果表明,同一施用量污泥处理的土壤p H值随施用时间的增加呈下降趋势;土壤有机质(SOM)和养分含量如全氮(TN)、有效磷(AP)和速效钾(AK)随施用时间的增长呈上升趋势;(2)与CK比较,在2015年玉米季施用污泥各处理的土壤p H值显著降低了0.34~0.83个单位(P0.05),且与污泥施用量呈反比,以高施量污泥45 t·hm~(-2)下降最多;土壤SOM、TN、AP和AK分别显著提高了52.1%~166.9%、77.3%~177.8%、215.7%~486.3%和167.2%~379.0%(P0.05),且与污泥施用量呈正比,以高施量污泥45 t·hm~(-2)效果最显著;(3)试验所用污泥施用量范围内不会造成土壤和植物籽粒重金属污染,能够保持土壤环境健康;(4)与CK比较,施用污泥各处理土壤微生物量碳(MBC)、氮(MBN)含量均显著提高(P0.05),且与污泥施用量呈正比,并且季节不同也显著影响土壤MBC、MBN含量(P0.05);施用污泥能够显著提高土壤MBC/MBN(P0.05),说明施用污泥能够改变土壤微生物群落组成;(5)施用污泥,尤其是高施量污泥45 t·hm~(-2),在保证土壤和植物籽粒质量安全下,其土壤培肥效果最优。     

Runoff and losses by erosion in soils amended with sewage sludge

In order to promote the transformation of a burnt Mediterranean forest area into a dehesa system, 10 t ha⁻¹ of dry matter of the same sewage sludge in three different forms: fresh, composted and thermally‐dried, were added superficially to field plots of loam and sandy soils located on a 16 per cent slope. This application is equivalent to 13ċ8 t ha⁻¹ of composted sludge, 50 t ha⁻¹ of fresh sludge and 11ċ3 t ha⁻¹ of thermally‐dried sludge. The surface addition of a single application of thermally‐dried sludge resulted in a decrease in runoff and erosion in both kinds of soil. Runoff in thermally‐dried sludge plots was lower than in the control treatment (32 per cent for the loam soil and 26 per cent for the sandy soil). The addition of any type of sludge to both soil types also reduces sediment production. Significant differences between the control and sludge treatments indicate that the rapid development of plant cover and the direct protective effect of sludge on the soil are the main agents that influence soil erosion rates. Results suggest that the surface application of thermally‐dried sludge is the most efficient way to enhance soil infiltration. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

How different long‐term fertilization strategies influence crop yield and soil properties in a maize field in the North China Plain

The impact of fertilization on maize (Zea mays L.) yield and soil properties was investigated in a long‐term (> 18 y) experimental field in N China. A completely randomized block design with seven fertilizer treatments and four replications was used. The seven fertilizer treatments were (1) compost (COMP), (2) half compost plus half chemical fertilizer (COMP1/2), (3) balanced NPK fertilizer (NPK), (4–6) unbalanced chemical fertilizers without one of the major elements (NP, PK, and NK), and (7) an unamended control (CK). In addition to maize yield, soil chemical and biological properties were investigated. Compared to the balanced NPK treatment, maize yield from the COMP treatment was 7.9% higher, from the COMP1/2 was similar, but from the NP, PK, NK, and CK treatment were 12.4%, 59.9%, 78.6%, and 75.7% lower. Across the growing season, microbial biomass C and N contents, basal soil respiration, and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, dehydrogenase, urease, and invertase activities in the COMP and COMP1/2 treatments were 7%–203% higher than the NPK treatment. Values from all other treatments were up to 60% lower than the NPK treatment. Maize yield is closely related to the soil organic C (OC) and biological properties, and the OC is closely related to various biological properties, indicating that OC is a suitable indicator for soil quality. Our results suggest the most limiting nutrient for improving the yield or soil quality was P, followed by N and K, and balanced fertilization is important in maintaining high crop yield and soil quality. Additionally, increases in OC, N, and biological activities in COMP and COMP1/2 treatments imply that organic compost is superior to the chemical fertilizers tested.     

Temporal response of soil biochemical properties in a pastoral soil after cultivation following high application rates of undigested sewage sludge

Soil biochemical properties were measured annually between 1995 and 1999 in soil from an 8-ha site that had received over 1,000 wet tonnes ha^–1 undigested sewage sludge, 1–4 years earlier. Basal respiration generally declined with time and was usually greatest in the untreated control area. This trend was attributed to a similar trend in soil moisture content. In contrast, microbial biomass C increased with time and also generally increased with sludge treatment age. Microbial biomass C, and to a lesser extent sulphatase activity, accurately predicted the order of sludge application to the site. This was perceived as a function of time since tillage and pasture establishment, with activities increasing in parallel to the build up of C residues in the soil, and not an effect of sludge or its composition. Except immediately after sludge application, there was no effect on N mineralisation and nitrification. None of the biochemical properties was strongly correlated with heavy metal concentrations. Our results suggest that there was little effect on soil biochemical properties, either adverse or beneficial, of adding raw sewage sludge to this site. Although a companion study showed considerable mobility and plant uptake of heavy metals, this difference could mainly be attributed to a different sampling strategy and the effects of intensive liming of the site.     

污泥生物炭对杨树人工林土壤环境质量的影响

通过田间实验,研究污泥生物炭(SSBC)施用对杨树人工林土壤理化性质、重金属含量、土壤微生物生物量碳氮以及土壤酶活性的影响。试验设置4个处理:对照 (CK: 0 t·hm-2)、低量(LS: 15 t·hm-2)、中量(MS: 30 t·hm-2)及高量(HS: 60 t·hm-2)。结果表明:SSBC的施用可降低土壤pH,增加土壤EC值;随着SSBC用量的增加,土壤营养成分和重金属含量均呈现增加趋势,其中SOC增加18.4~47.9%、全N含量增加20.4~46.5%、全P含量增加27.9~74.9%、有效氮增加4.2~23.1%及有效磷增加16.3~ 28.3%,且重金属污染可控。SSBC提高微生物生物量碳氮含量,并使土壤 β-葡糖苷酶(BG)、N-乙酰-葡糖苷酶(NAG)和蛋白酶(LAP)活性显著增加,即BG、NAG和LAP分别增加17.1%~35.3%、18.1~36.8%及29.3~70.3%,其中MS处理的增幅最大。总体而言,SSBC的应用不仅显著增加土壤营养成分,而且改善部分微生物环境,致使土壤环境质量一定程度上有所改善。     

Influence of vegetation types and soil properties on microbial biomass carbon and metabolic quotients in temperate volcanic and tropical forest soils

Abstract

There is limited knowledge about the differences in carbon availability and metabolic quotients in temperate volcanic and tropical forest soils, and associated key influencing factors. Forest soils at various depths were sampled under a tropical rainforest and adjacent tea garden after clear-cutting, and under three temperate forests developed on a volcanic soil (e.g. Betula ermanii and Picea jezoensis, and Pinus koraiensis mainly mixed with Tilia amurensis, Fraxinus mandshurica and Quercus mongolica), to study soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) concentration and metabolic quotients (qCO₂, CO₂-C/biomass-C). Soil MBC concentration and CO₂ evolution were measured over 7-day and 21-day incubation periods, respectively, along with the main properties of the soils. On the basis of soil total C, both CO₂ evolution and MBC concentrations appeared to decrease with increasing soil depth. There was a maximal qCO₂ in the 0–2.5 cm soil under each forest stand. Neither incubation period affected the CO₂ evolution rates, but incubation period did induce a significant difference in MBC concentration and qCO₂ in tea soil and Picea jezoensis forest soil. The conversion of a tropical rainforest to a tea garden reduced the CO₂ evolution and increased the qCO₂ in soil. Comparing temperate and tropical forests, the results show that both Pinus koraiensis mixed with hardwoods and rainforest soil at less than 20 cm depth had a larger MBC concentration relative to soil total C and a lower qCO₂ during both incubation periods, suggesting that microbial communities in both soils were more efficient in carbon use than communities in the other soils. Factor and regression analysis indicated that the 85% variation of the qCO₂ in forest soils could be explained by soil properties such as the C:N ratio and the concentration of water soluble organic C and exchangeable Al (P < 0.001). The qCO₂ values in forest soils, particularly in temperate volcanic forest soils, decreased with an increasing Al/C ratio in water-soluble organic matter. Soil properties, such as exchangeable Ca, Mg and Al and water-soluble organic C:N ratio, were associated with the variation of MBC. Thus, MBC concentrations and qCO₂ of the soils are useful soil parameters for studying soil C availability and microbial utilization efficiency under temperate and tropical forests.     

Initial results from a long-term, multi-site field study of the effects on soil fertility and microbial activity of sludge cakes containing heavy metals

In a long‐term study of the effects on soil fertility and microbial activity of heavy metals contained in sewage sludges, metal‐rich sludge cakes each with high Zn, Cu or Cd concentrations were applied annually for 4 years (1994–1997) to nine sites throughout Britain. These sites were selected to represent agricultural soils with a range of physical and chemical properties, typical of those likely to be amended with sewage sludge. The aim was to establish individual total Zn (approx. 60–450 mg kg^?1), total Cu (approx. 15–200 mg kg^?1) and total Cd (approx. 0.2–4 mg kg^?1) metal dose–response treatments at each site. Sludges with low metal concentrations were added to all treatments to achieve as constant an addition of organic matter as possible. Across the nine sites, soil pH was the single most important factor controlling Zn (P < 0.001; r² = 92%) and Cd extracted with 1 m NH₄NO₃ (P < 0.001; r² = 72%), and total iron content the most important factor controlling Cu extracted with 1 m NH₄NO₃ (P < 0.001; r² = 64%). There were also positive relationships (P < 0.001) between soil organic carbon (C) concentrations and soil biomass C and respiration rates across the nine sites. Oxidation of sludge C following land application resulted in approximately 45% of the digested sludge cake C and approximately 64% of the ‘raw’ sludge cake C being lost by the end of the 4‐year application period. The sludge cake applications generally increased soil microbial biomass C and soil respiration rates, whilst most probable numbers of clover Rhizobium were generally unchanged. Overall, there was no evidence that the metal applications were damaging soil microbial activity in the short term after the cessation of sludge cake addition.