Soil fungi: Relationships between hyphal activity and staining with fluorescein diacetate

The relationship between fungal activity in soil and staining with fluorescein diacetate (FDA) was investigated using Penicillium citrinum and Rhizoctonia solani inoculated into autoclaved and non-sterilized soil, with or without nutrient amendment. Correlations of fungal activity with FDA staining allowed a quantitative relationship between FDA-staining and fungal CO₂-evolution to be calculated. Results suggest that where nutrient fluxes occur in the soil, correlation between FDA-staining and CO₂ evolution may be useful in assessing fungal contributions to carbon transformations.     

Korrelationen von Enzymaktivitäten im Boden

Correlations of Enzyme-Activities in Soil Enzyme-activities often have been used as indicators of the biological state of soil. In this connection some questions may be posed: Which enzyme is the best indicator of biological activities in soil, what is the relationship of enzyme-activities to other ecological parameters and what is the interdependency between different enzymes? To answer these questions we measured activities of amylase, catalase, invertase, pectinase, urease, xylanase and cellulase at nine alpine and subalpine sites. Furthermore the CO₂-evolution, contens of nitrogen, carbon, organic matter, the soil density, total bacterial number and water capacity were determined. With these data correlation coefficients were calculated. The best relationships were found between cellulase-xylanase and amylase-invertase activities (Table 1). While catalase and pectinase are in the middle range, urease shows relatively low values. There are highly significant correlations between enzyme-activities and the content of nitrogen, carbon, organic matter, soil density or the CO₂-evolution (number of samples used for calculations was 68). Almost no correlations were found with total bacterial count (Table 2). For these calculations 34 samples of each parameter were used. To prove that the lower number of samples is not the reason for low correlation coefficients we computed data of 17 samples (Table 3). The water capacity is depending on soil density and content of organic matter and the correlations are in the same range (Comparison Table 1 and 3). This means that 17 samples of each parameter are enough for these calculations. Enzyme-activities proof therefore to be good indicators of the biological state of soil. It is inappropriate to characterise biological activities of soil by total bacterial counts only.     

Einfluß polychlorierter Biphenyle auf die mikrobielle Aktivität in Böden

Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on soil microbial activity In laboratory experiments the microbial toxicity of the PCB congeners 5 (2, 3-Dichlorobiphenyl), 8 (2, 4′-Dichlorobiphenyl), 29 (2. 4, 5-Trichlorobiphenyl) and 77 (3, 3′, 4, 4′-Tetrachlorobiphenyl) which is supposed to be extremely toxic to wildlife was investigated using Parabrownearth-Ap and Podsol-Ahe horizon material. In addition the technical PCB mixtures Arochlor 1242 and 1260 were tested. Microbial toxicity was measured by means of long-term respiration (CO₂-evolution), short-term respiration (CO₂-evolution 12 h, after addition of glucose), and dehydrogenase activity (TTC reduction) tests. 1 mg/kg of the Dichlorobiphenyls 5 and 8 reduced the long-term and short-term respiration of the Podsol-Ahe during the whole experiment (35 and 28 days, respectively). The Trichlorobiphenyl 29 became effective after addition of 10 mg/kg. No effect except a short stimulation of long-term respiration was observed for PCB 77 (Tetrachloro-PCB). Due to its higher sorption capacity, all PCB congeners reduced the microbial activity of the Parabrownearth-Ap to a lower degree. In general the toxicity of PCBs decreased with increasing degree of chlorination in both soil horizons. The technical mixtures reduced the long-term respiration only after high additions of 50 mg/kg (Podsol-Ahe) and 100 mg/kg (Parabrownearth-Ap), respectively. Arochlor 1242 proved to be more toxic than Arochlor 1260.     

Persistence and effect of dexon on soil respiration

The effect of the fungicide Dexon (p-dimethylaminobenzenediazo sodium sulfonate) on CO₂ production from soil amended or not with organic matter, was studied for 60 days. Dexon was found to retard the breakdown of glucose and paddy straw added to soil. Inhibition of CO₂ production occurred during the early stages of glucose decomposition and in the case of straw throughout the period of study. Dehydrogenase activity in the soil was also found to be reduced by this fungicide. Total organic carbon content increased when straw was added to soil in the presence of Dexon. On the other hand, addition of Dexon alone to soil caused a decrease in the amount of organic carbon. Its effect on nitrogen content of the soil was marginal. Dexon had almost completely disappeared from the soil by 60 days.     

Response of soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities to the transient elevation of carbon dioxide in a semi-arid grassland

Although elevation of CO₂ has been reported to impact soil microbial functions, little information is available on the spatial and temporal variation of this effect. The objective of this study was to determine the microbial response in a northern Colorado shortgrass steppe to a 5-year elevation of atmospheric CO₂ as well as the reversibility of the microbial response during a period of several months after shutting off the CO₂ amendment. The experiment was comprised of nine experimental plots: three chambered plots maintained at ambient CO₂ levels of 360 μmol mol⁻¹ (ambient treatment), three chambered plots maintained at 720 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂ (elevated treatment) and three unchambered plots of equal ground area used as controls to monitor the chamber effect.Elevated CO₂ induced mainly an increase of enzyme activities (protease, xylanase, invertase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase) in the upper 5 cm of the soil and did not change microbial biomass in the soil profile. Since rhizodeposition and newly formed roots enlarged the pool of easily available substrates mainly in the upper soil layers, enzyme regulation (production and activity) rather than shifts in microbial abundance was the driving factor for higher enzyme activities in the upper soil. Repeated soil sampling during the third to fifth year of the experiment revealed an enhancement of enzyme activities which varied in the range of 20-80%. Discriminant analysis including all microbiological properties revealed that the enzyme pattern in 1999 and 2000 was dominated by the CO₂ and chamber effect, while in 2001 the influence of elevated CO₂ increased and the chamber effect decreased.Although microbial biomass did not show any response to elevated CO₂ during the main experiment, a significant increase of soil microbial N was detected as a post-treatment effect probably due to lower nutrient (nitrogen) competition between microorganisms and plants in this N-limited ecosystem. Whereas most enzyme activities showed a significant post-CO₂ effect in spring 2002 (following the conclusion of CO₂ enrichment the previous autumn, 2001), selective depletion of substrates is speculated to be the cause for non-significant treatment effects of most enzyme activities later in summer and autumn, 2002. Therefore, additional belowground carbon input mainly entered the fast cycling carbon pool and contributed little to long-term carbon storage in the semi-arid grassland.     

Impact of elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>, flooding,and temperature interaction on heterotrophic nitrogen fixation in tropical rice soils

Response of N₂ fixation to elevated CO₂ would be modified by changes in temperature and soil moisture because CO₂ and temperature or water availability has generally opposing effects on N₂ fixation. In this study, we assessed the impacts of elevated CO₂ and temperature interactions on nitrogenase activities, readily mineralizable C (RMC), readily available N (NRN) contents in an alluvial and a laterite rice soil of tropical origin. Soil samples were incubated at ambient (370 μmol mol^-1) and elevated (600 μmol mol^-1) CO₂ concentration at 25oC, 35oC, and 45oC under non-flooded and flooded conditions for 60 days. Elevated CO₂ significantly increased nitrogenase activities and readily mineralizable C in both alluvial and laterite soils. All these activities were further stimulated at higher temperatures. Increases in nitrogenase activity as a result of CO₂ enrichment effect over control were 16.2%, 31.2%, and 66.4% and those of NRN content were 2.0%, 1.8%, and 0.5% at 25oC, 35oC and 45oC, respectively. Increases in RMC contents were 7.7%, 10.0%, and 10.6% at 25°C, 35°C and 45°C, respectively. Soil flooding resulted in a more clear impact of CO₂ enrichment than the non-flooded soil. The results suggest that in tropical rice soils, elevated CO₂ increased readily available C content in the soil, which probably stimulates growth of diazotrophic bacteria with enhanced N₂ fixation and thereby higher available N.     

Effect of Varying Soil Temperatures on the Degradation of Methabenzthiazuron,Isocarbamid and Metamitron

The ¹⁴C-labelled herbicidal active ingredients methabenzthiazuron, isocarbamid and metamitron were subjected to decomposition for 10 to 12 weeks in a degraded loess soil at 65% of maximum water holding capacity. To simulate the field situation, the standardised soil temperature of 0, 10 and 20°C were increased several times by 5 or 10°C, either daily or weekly. The rates of ¹⁴CO₂ evolution clearly showed the delay in degradation as a consequence of lowering the temperature or of the retarded microbial activity. For all 3 herbicidal compounds, a strongly reduced degradation was readily observed at 10°C, and at 0°C degradation stopped almost entirely. Daily temperature increases had only a weak stimulating influence. At the standardised temperature of 20°C, however, daily temperature increases, or temperature increases lasting for a longer period, by 5 or 10°C effected a marked increase in the rates of ¹⁴CO₂-evolution. On the other hand, the higher temperatures led to lower extractability of residual herbicide in the soil. In the case of isocarbamid and metamitron, about 90% of the extracted radioactivity still represented the unchanged active ingredient, whilst, in the case of methabenz-thiazuron, this fraction was between 97 and 100%.     

Impact of atmospheric CO2 and plant life forms on soil microbial activities

From the global change perspective, increase of atmospheric CO₂ and land cover transformation are among the major impacts caused by human activities. In this study, we are addressing the combined issues of the effect of CO₂ concentration increase and plant type on soil microbial activities by asking how annual and perennial plant groups affect soil microbial processes under elevated CO₂. The experimental design used a mix of species of different growth forms for both annuals and perennials. Our objective was: (1) to determine how two years of annual or perennial plant cover and CO₂ enrichment could affect Mediterranean soil microbial processes; (2) to test the resistance and the resilience of these soil functional processes after a natural perturbation. We determined the effects of 2 years atmospheric CO₂ enrichment on soil potential respiration (SIR), denitrification (DEA) and nitrification (NEA) activities. We could not find any significant effect of CO₂ increase on SIR, DEA and NEA. However, we found a strong effect of the plant cover type, i.e. annuals versus perennials, on the potential microbial activity related to N cycling. DEA and NEA were significantly higher in soil under annual plants while SIR was not significantly different. To determine whether these changes would survive a natural perturbation, we carried out a rain event experiment once the experimental treatments (i.e. different plant cover and atmospheric CO₂ concentration) were stopped. The soil potential respiration, as expressed by the SIR, was not affected and remained stable. DEA rates converged rapidly under annuals and perennials after the rain event. Under both annuals and perennials NEA increased significantly after the rain event but remained significantly higher in the soil with annual plants. The relative change of the soil microbial processes induced by annual and perennial plants was inversely related to the density and the diversity of the corresponding microbial functional groups.     

二氧化碳升高与干旱对植物生理、土壤碳及土壤酶活的影响

Global climate models have indicated high probability of drought occurrences in the coming future decades due to the impacts of climate change caused by a mass release of CO2.Thus,climate change regarding elevated ambient CO2 and drought may consequently affect the growth of crops.In this study,plant physiology,soil carbon,and soil enzyme activities were measured to investigate the impacts of elevated CO2 and drought stress on a Stagnic Anthrosol planted with soybean (Glycine max).Treatments of two CO2 levels,three soil moisture levels,and two soil cover types were established.The results indicated that elevated CO2 and drought stress significantly affected plant physiology.The inhibition of plant physiology by drought stress was mediated via prompted photosynthesis and water use efficiency under elevated CO2 conditions.Elevated CO2 resulted in a longer retention time of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soil,probably by improving the soil water effectiveness for organic decomposition and mineralization.Drought stress significantly decreased C:N ratio and microbial biomass carbon (MBC),but the interactive effects of drought stress and CO2 on them were not significant.Elevated CO2 induced an increase in invertase and catalase activities through stimulated plant root exudation.These results suggested that drought stress had significant negative impacts on plant physiology,soil carbon,and soil enzyme activities,whereas elevated CO2 and plant physiological feedbacks indirectly ameliorated these impacts.     

CO2 emissions from soils of different depths of a permafrost peatland,Northeast China: response to simulated freezing–thawing cycles

Soil freezing–thawing cycle (FTC) is an important factor controlling C dynamics in mid–high latitude regions, especially in the permafrost regions impacted by global warming. Nonetheless, the response of C cycling in the deeper active layers of permafrost regions to FTC remains far from certain. We aimed to characterize the emission of CO₂ from soils of multiple depths as impacted by FTC and its relationship with active organic C (OC) and enzyme activities. We collected soil samples from three soil layers (0–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm) of an undisturbed peatland in the Da Xing'anling Mountains, NE China, and then subjected them to various freezing (10 to –10°C) and thawing (–10 to 10°C) cycles. Soil CO₂ emissions, two active OC fractions, and activities of three enzymes were monitored during incubation periods. At the thawing stage of the first FTC, CO₂ emission rates in the three soil layers presented transient peaks being ≈ 1.6–1.7 times higher than those of the unfrozen control sample. Although FTC did not change the overall patterns of decreasing CO₂ emission along the soil profile, FTC significantly reduced the amount of CO₂ emission when compared with the unfrozen control sample, possibly because the small CO₂ emission at the freezing stage neutralized the peak of CO₂ emission at the thawing stage. This study suggests that in the active layer of permafrost peatlands, CO₂ emission during FTCs may be lower than the emission under higher temperatures, but experiment with more temperature gradients should be encouraged to verify this conclusion in the future. Meanwhile, FTC significantly increased water extracted OC release from the three soil layers, ≈ 1.2–1.6 times higher compared to the unfrozen control sample, indicating that soil carbon loss in the form of leachate may increase during freezing–thawing periods. Additionally, the CO₂ emissions impacted by FTCs were significantly correlated with active OC fractions and enzyme activities, which indicated that active OC and enzymes were sensitive to FTCs, and surviving microbes and enzymes might use the increased liable substrates and induce the CO₂ emission during freezing–thawing periods.     

Soil algae: Effects of herbicides on growth and C2H2 reduction (nitrogenase) activity

The influence of the soil-applied herbicides chlortoluron, terbutryne, metabenzthiazuron, chloridazon, and dinosebacetate as well as the fungicide carbendazime on the growth and nitrogenase activity of soil algae was tested. The degree of algal cover on the soil surface was correlated with the measured C₂H₂-reduction (nitrogenase) activity. All the herbicides tested at recommended rates of application caused a total suppression of algal growth and C₂H₂-generation for several weeks. The fungicide had no detectable effect on algal populations or C₂H₂ reduction.     

Nine years of enriched CO2 changes the function and structural diversity of soil microorganisms in a grassland

To gain insight into microbial function following increased atmospheric CO₂ concentration, we investigated the influence of 9 years of enriched CO₂ (600 μl litre⁻¹) on the function and structural diversity of soil microorganisms in a grassland ecosystem under free air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE), as affected by plant species (Trifolium repens L. and Lolium perenne L. in monocultures and mixed culture) and nitrogen (N) supply. We measured biomass and activities of enzymes covering cycles of the most important elements (C, N and P). The microbial community was profiled by molecular techniques of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis. The enrichment in CO₂ increased soil microbial biomass (+48.1%) as well as activities of invertase (+36.2%), xylanase (+22.9%), urease (+23.8%), protease (+40.2%) and alkaline phosphomonoesterase (+54.1%) in spring 2002. In autumn, the stimulation of microbial biomass was 25% less and that of enzymes 3–12% less than in spring. Strong correlations between activities of invertase, protease, urease and alkaline phosphomonoesterase and microbial biomass were found. The stimulation of microbial activity in the enriched atmosphere was probably caused by changes in the quantity and kind of root litter and rhizodeposition. The response of soil microorganisms to enriched CO₂ was most pronounced under Trifolium monoculture and under greater N supply. The PLFA analysis revealed that total PLFA contents were greater by 24.7% on average, whereby the proportion of bioindicators representative of Gram‐negative bacteria increased significantly in the enriched CO₂ under less N‐fertilized Lolium culture. Discriminant analysis showed marked differences between the PLFA profiles of the three plant communities. Shannon diversity indices calculated from DGGE patterns were greater (+12.5%) in the enriched CO₂, indicating increased soil bacterial diversity. We conclude that greater microbial biomass and enzyme activity buffer the potential increase in C sequestration occurring from greater C addition in enriched CO₂ due to greater mineralization of soil organic matter.     

Effect of temperature on below-ground N-dynamics in a weedy model ecosystem at ambient and elevated atmospheric CO2 levels

Model multispecies terrestrial communities composed of four trophic levels (plants, herbivores, parasitoids, decomposers) were established in the Ecotron controlled environment facility. Two experimental runs enabled us to investigate the effects of enhanced temperature on below-ground microbial processes (N-mineralisation, urease, arginine deaminase, protease activity and potential denitrification) in both ambient and elevated (ambient +200 ppm) CO₂ atmospheres.The enzyme activities involved in nitrogen cycling showed weak responses to elevated temperature in both experimental runs. In the Ambient CO₂ Run, protease and arginine deaminase values tended to be lower in elevated temperature; on the other hand, N-mineralisation, urease and denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) were higher. In the Elevated CO₂ Run, all microbial variables showed higher activities at elevated temperature, although only the results for DEA and arginine deaminase were statistically significant. The interaction between higher temperature and elevated CO₂ weakly affected root growth and tissue C:N ratio, limiting feedbacks into the microbial community.Besides temperature and CO₂, substrate availability, water stress and successional development regulated the response of the soil microbes. The supply of organic carbon and nitrogen in the soil allowed plant growth and maintenance of the microbial population. Nitrogen competition between vegetation and microbes restricted net microbial growth. The increase of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) at higher CO₂ and temperature levels significantly favoured DEA. The high water regime in the soil also favoured DEA and inhibited oxidation of organic compounds, as indicated by low levels of enzyme activity. Additionally, water stress decreased rooting density in the soil; this resulted in negative feedback into microbial processes. We conclude that water stress and soil nitrogen deficiency caused an early levelling-off of both microbial population growth and activity rates during the early part of the model ecosystem's development.     

Pore‐space CO2 dynamics in a deep,well‐aerated soil

Most studies implicitly consider soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) efflux as the instantaneous soil respiration and thereby neglect possible changes in the amount of CO₂ stored in the soil pore‐space. We measured the CO₂ concentration profile of a well‐aerated soil continuously to evaluate the dynamics of the stored CO₂ and to analyse the influence of environmental factors. For 25% of the observation period, changes in the amount of stored CO₂ accounted for more than 15% of the soil‐CO₂ efflux. The following factors were identified to interfere with steady‐state CO₂ storage: (i) the fluctuating groundwater table altered the volume of the vadose zone, causing viscous airflow in air‐filled soil pores, (ii) atmospheric turbulence caused pressure‐pumping at the soil–atmosphere interface and (iii) intense rain greatly reduced the diffusivity of the uppermost soil layer. The friction velocity above the canopy was strongly correlated with fluctuations in the differential pressure between soil air and atmosphere, but no static pressure gradient could be detected because of the permeable nature of the soil. Unexpected short‐term declines in the soil CO₂ concentration were observed during intense rainfall events. These declines were explained by the intensified CO₂ saturation deficit of the infiltrating rainwater caused by the carbonate chemistry of the soil solution.     

大气CO2浓度升高对温带森林土壤微生物活性的影响

Microorganisms play a key role in the response of soil ecosystems to the rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) as they mineralize organic matter and drive nutrient cycling. To assess the effects of elevated CO2 on soil microbial C and N immobilization and on soil enzyme activities, in years 8 (2006) and 9 (2007) of an open-top chamber experiment that begun in spring of 1999, soil was sampled in summer, and microbial biomass and enzyme activity related to the carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycling were measured. Although no effects on microbial biomass C were detected, changes in microbial biomass N and metabolic activity involving C, N and P were observed under elevated CO2. Invertase and dehydrogenase activities were significantly enhanced by different degrees of elevated CO2. Nitrifying enzyme activity was significantly (P < 0.01) increased in the August 2006 samples that received the elevated CO2 treatment, as compared to the samples that received the ambient treatment. Denitrifying enzyme activity was significantly (P < 0.04) decreased by elevated CO2 treatments in the August 2006 and June 2007 (P < 0.09) samples. β-N-acetylglucosaminidase activity was increased under elevated CO2 by 7% and 25% in June and August 2006, respectively, compared to those under ambient CO2. The results of June 2006 samples showed that acid phosphatase activity was significantly enhanced under elevated CO2. Overall, these results suggested that elevated CO2 might cause changes in the belowground C, N and P cycling in temperate forest soils.     

Dynamics of maize (Zea mays L.) leaf straw mineralization as affected by the presence of soil and the availability of nitrogen

An incubation experiment was carried out with maize (Zea mays L.) leaf straw to analyze the effects of mixing the residues with soil and N amendment on the decomposition process. In order to distinguish between soil effects and nitrogen effects for both the phyllospheric microorganisms already present on the surface of maize straw and soil microorganisms the N amendment was applied in two different placements: directly to the straw or to the soil. The experiment was performed in dynamic, automated microcosms for 22 days at 15 °C with 7 treatments: (1) untreated soil, (2) non-amended maize leaf straw without soil, (3) N amended maize leaf straw without soil, (4) soil mixed with maize leaf straw, (5) N amended soil, (6) N amended soil mixed with maize leaf straw, and (7) soil mixed with N amended maize leaf straw. ¹⁵NH₄¹⁵NO₃ (5 at%) was added. Gas emissions (CO₂, ¹³CO₂ and N₂O) were continuously recorded throughout the experiment. Microbial biomass C, biomass N, ergosterol, δ¹³C of soil organic C and of microbial biomass C as well as ¹⁵N in soil total N, mineral N and microbial biomass N were determined in soil samples at the end of the incubation. The CO₂ evolution rate showed a lag-phase of two days in the non-amended maize leaf straw treatment without soil, which was completely eliminated when mineral N was added. The addition of N generally increased the CO₂ evolution rate during the initial stages of maize leaf straw decomposition, but not the cumulative CO₂ production. The presence of soil caused roughly a 50% increase in cumulative CO₂ production within 22 days in the maize straw treatments due to a slower decrease of CO₂ evolution after the initial activity peak. Since there are no limitations of water or N, we suggest that soil provides a microbial community ensuring an effective succession of straw decomposing microorganisms. In the treatments where maize and soil was mixed, 75% of microbial biomass C was derived from maize. We concluded that this high contribution of maize using microbiota indicates a strong influence of organisms of phyllospheric origin to the microbial community in the soil after plant residues enter the soil.     

Plant roots and species moderate the salinity effect on microbial respiration,biomass, and enzyme activities in a sandy clay soil

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of plant absence or presence on microbial properties and enzyme activities at different levels of salinity in a sandy clay soil. The treatments involved five salinity levels—0.5 (control), 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 dS m^?1 which were prepared using a mixture of chloride salts—and three soil environments (unplanted soil, and soils planted with either wheat or clover) under greenhouse conditions. Each treatment was replicated three times. At the end of the experiment, soil microbial respiration, substrate-induced respiration (SIR), microbial biomass C (MBC), and enzyme activities were determined after plant harvest. Increasing salinity decreased soil microbial properties and enzyme activities, but increased the metabolic quotient (qCO₂) in both unplanted and planted soils. Most microbial properties of planted soils were greater than those of unplanted soils at low to moderate salinity levels, depending upon plant species. There was a small or no difference in soil properties between the unplanted and planted treatments at the highest salinity level, indicating that the indirect effects of plant presence might be less important due to significant reduction of plant growth. The lowered microbial activity and biomass, and enzyme activities were due to the reduction of root activity and biomass in salinized soils. The lower values of qCO₂ in planted than unplanted soils support the positive influence of plant root and its exudates on soil microbial activity and biomass in saline soils. Nonetheless, the role of plants in alleviating salinity influence on soil microbial activities decreases at high salinity levels and depends on plant type. In conclusion, cultivation and growing plant in abandoned saline environments with moderate salinity would improve soil microbial properties and functions by reducing salinity effect, in particular planting moderately tolerant crops. This helps to maintain or increase the fertility and quality of abandoned saline soils in arid regions.     

Removal of Phenol Using Sulphate Radicals Activated by Natural Zeolite-Supported Cobalt Catalysts

There is increasing community awareness of the potential environmental risks posed by Cu-based fungicide use, which is placing increasing pressure on governments and industry to undertake risk minimisation action. However, if there is going to be a widespread move away from the use of Cu-based fungicides, logically there needs to be assurance that the alternatives pose a lower environmental risk. To that end, this study compared the effect of copper hydroxide, captan and trifloxystrobin on soil enzymatic (phosphomonoesterase and urease) activity. Compared to an untreated control, copper did not inhibit either enzyme activity, even at the highest dose used in the study (156 mg/kg). At their respective high doses, captan (96 mg/kg) and trifloxystrobin (144 mg/kg) did not cause inhibition of phosphomonoesterase activity but did inhibit urease activity. Consequently, the results from this study suggest that the copper hydroxide alternatives, captan and trifloxystrobin, do not pose a short-term risk to P cycling processes in soil, although the results do suggest that these two are more toxic than copper hydroxide to N cycling processes in soil. Moreover, captan and trifloxystrobin compounds are unlikely to pose a long-term risk to soil microbial function as they are unlikely to persist in soil at concentrations found to cause an adverse effect on urease activity. Nonetheless, the potential disruption to N cycling processes needs to be recognised and consideration given to limiting the annual applications of these fungicides, particularly around the timing of repeat fungicide applications, to prevent accumulation of the fungicides in surface soils.     

黄土区刺槐林土壤含水量变化对土壤呼吸强度的影响

通过室内培养实验来评估土壤含水量的变化对土壤枯落物层、不同深度土壤层及DOC淋失后的土壤呼吸的影响.采集安塞纸坊沟31a刺槐林土样及林下混合枯落物,通过碱液吸收法测定100％,20％和2％含水量条件下3个深度土样(20,40和60 cm);去除DOC土样(仅100％含水量条件下);3种处理枯落物混合土样(林下混合枯落物、刺槐枯落物和草本类枯落物)培养过程中CO2的累计释放量.结果表明,100％和20％含水量条件下各深度土壤CO2释放量为20 cm土样＞60 cm土样＞40 cm土样;20 cm土样去除DOC后CO2释放量明显减少,40 cm明显增加,60 cm没有明显变化;混合枯落物土样在l00％含水量条件下CO2释放量最高;20％和2％含水量条件下刺槐枯落物CO2释放量明显大于草类,而100％含水量条件下草类枯落物略大于刺槐枯落物.研究证明土壤含水量对SOC组分含量和枯落物种类不同的土壤层呼吸强度存在差异性影响,强降水对DOC的淋失可造成表层土壤呼吸的减弱.     

Long term CO2 enrichment stimulates N-mineralisation and enzyme activities in calcareous grassland

Elevated concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide will affect carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Possible effects include increased carbon input into the soil through the rhizosphere, altered nutrient concentrations of plant litter and altered soil moisture. Consequently, the ongoing rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide might indirectly influence soil biota, decomposition and nutrient transformations.N-mineralisation and activities of the enzymes invertase, xylanase, urease, protease, arylsulfatase, and alkaline phosphatase were investigated in spring and summer in calcareous grassland, which had been exposed to ambient and elevated CO₂ concentrations (365 and 600 μl l⁻¹) for six growing seasons.In spring, N-mineralisation increased significantly by 30% at elevated CO₂, while there was no significant difference between treatments in summer (+3%). The response of soil enzymes to CO₂ enrichment was also more pronounced in spring, when alkaline phosphatase and urease activities were increased most strongly by 32 and 21%. In summer, differences of activities between CO₂ treatments were greatest in the case of urease and protease (+21 and +17% at elevated CO₂).The stimulation of N-mineralisation and enzyme activities at elevated CO₂ was probably caused by higher soil moisture and/or increased root biomass. We conclude that elevated CO₂ will enhance below-ground C- and N-cycling in grasslands.