Phosphatases in soils

Most studies on phosphatase activity in soils have been concerned with acid phosphatase. This study was conducted to determine the activity of phosphomonoesterases (acid and alkaline phosphatases), phosphodiesterase, and “phosphotriesterase”. The results indicate that acid phosphatase is predominant in acid soils and that alkaline phosphatase is predominant in alkaline soils. With universal buffer, the pH optima of phosphodiesterase and phosphotriesterase were at pH 10. The activities of these phosphatases in soils were much lower than those of the acid and alkaline phosphatases. Studies on the effects of various soil treatments on the activity of phosphatases in soils indicated that air-drying increased the activity of acid phosphatase and phosphotriesterase, decreased the activity of alkaline phosphatase, but did not affect the activity of phosphodiesterase. Steam sterilization of soils at 121 C for 1 h inactivated alkaline phosphatase, phosphodiesterase, and phosphotriesterase, but did not completely inactivate acid phosphatase. Addition of toluene to the incubation mixture did not markedly affect the activity of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, phosphodiesterase, but increased the activity of phosphotriesterase in soils.Studies of the kinetic parameters of phosphatases in the soils studied showed that the K_m values ranged from 1.11 to 3.40 mm for acid phosphatase. from 0.44 to 4.94 mm for alkaline phosphatase, and from 0.25 to 1.25 mm for phosphodiesterase. Expressed as μg p-nitrophenol released·h^?1·g^?1 soil, the V_max values ranged from 200 to 625 for acid phosphatase, from 124 to 588 for alkaline phosphatase, and from 46 to 127 for phosphodiesterase. The substrate of phosphotriesterase (tris-p-nitrophenyl phosphate) is insoluble in water; hence, the K_m and V_max values of this enzyme in soils could not be determined.     

Phosphomonoesterase,phosphodiesterase, phosphotriesterase,and inorganic pyrophosphatase activities in forest soils in an alpine area: effect of pH on enzyme activity and extractability

We investigated different types of phosphatase activity (phosphomono-, phosphodi-, phosphotriesterase, inorganic pyrophosphatase) in five forest soils in Vorarlberg, Austria. Phosphatase activity was determined both in soils and in soil extracts prepared with different solutions (distilled water, 0.1M sodium pyrophosphate at pH 7, 0.1M sodium phosphate buffer/1M KCl at pH 6.5, and a modified universal buffer at pH 4, 6.5, 9, and 11). High phosphomonoesterase activity in these soils indicated a severe deficiency in available P. Acidic phosphomonoesterase prevailed over alkaline phosphomonoesterase activity. Phosphodiesterase was highest in the least acidic soil but no general trend towards an optimum pH was recognized. Phosphotriesterase activity was observed in only two of the five soils and favoured an alkaline optimum pH; this activity was not detected in strongly acid soils. Inorganic pyrophosphatase activity was high in soils with no phosphotriesterase. Phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase and inorganic pyrophosphatase activities were much lower in soil extracts than in soils.     

Denitrification in soil: Effects of insecticides and fungicides

The effects of seven insecticides and six fungicides on denitrification of nitrate in soils were studied by determining the effects of 10 and 50μgg^?1 soil of each pesticide on the amounts of nitrate lost and the amounts of nitrite, N₂O and N₂ produced when soil samples were incubated anaerobically after treatment with nitrate. The insecticides used were lindane, fenitrothion, fonofos, malathion, phorate, terbufos and carbofuran. The fungicides used were mancozeb, maneb, thiram, benomyl, captan and terrazole.None of the insecticides studied had a significant effect on denitrification when applied at the rate of 10 μgg^?1 soil. When applied at the rate of 50μgg^?1 soil, lindane, fonofos and malathion enhanced denitrification in the three soils studied, whereas fenitrothion, phorate, terbufos and carbofuran either had no appreciable effect on denitrification in these soils, or enhanced denitrification in at least one of the soils.None of the fungicides studied had an appreciable effect on denitrification when applied at the rate of 10μgg^?1 soil, but thiram increased the ratio of N₂ to N₂O in the gaseous products of denitrification. Captan inhibited denitrification in two of three soils studied when applied at the rate of 50μgg^?1 soil. The other five fungicides either had no significant effect on denitrification, or enhanced denitrification, when applied at this rate. Reports that maneb, thiram and terrazole inhibit denitrification in soil were not confirmed.     

Previous Corn Row Effects on Potassium Nutrition and Yield of Subsequent No‐Till Soybeans

Abstract

Narrow‐row soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production in corn [Zea mays L.]–soybean rotations results in various distances of soybean rows from previous corn rows, yet little is known about soybean responses to proximity to prior corn rows in no‐till systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of preceding corn rows on potassium (K) nutrition and yield of subsequent no‐till soybeans. Four field experiments involving a corn–soybean rotation were conducted on long‐term no‐till fields with low to medium K levels from 1998 to 2000 near Paris and Kirkton, Ontario, Canada. In the corn year, treatments included K application rate and placement in conjunction with tillage systems or corn hybrids. Before soybean flowering, soil exchangeable K concentrations (0–20 cm depth) in previous corn rows were significantly higher than those between corn rows. At the initial flowering stage, trifoliate leaf K concentrations of soybeans in preceding corn rows were 2.0 to 5.3 g kg^?1 higher than those from corresponding plants between corn rows. Yield of no‐till soybeans in previous corn rows increased 10 to 44% compared to those between previous corn rows. Positive impacts of prior corn rows on soil K fertility, soybean leaf K, and soybean yield occurred even when K fertilizer was not applied in the prior corn season. Deep banding of K fertilizer tended to accentuate row vs. between‐row effects on soybean leaf K concentrations in low‐testing soils. Corn row effects on soybeans were generally not affected by either tillage system or corn hybrid employed in the prior corn crop. Potassium management strategies for narrow‐row no‐till soybeans should take the potential preceding corn row impacts on soil K distribution into account; adjustments to current soil sampling protocols may be warranted when narrow‐row no‐till soybeans follow corn on soils with low to medium levels of exchangeable K.     

Effect of cropping systems on phosphatases in soils

Phosphatases are widely distributed in nature and play a major role in phosphorus nutrition of plants. The effects of crop rotations and nitrogen fertilization on the activities of phosphatases (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and phosphodiesterase) were studied in soils from two long‐term cropping systems at the Northeast Research Center (NERC) in Nashua and the Clarion Webster Research Center (CWRC) in Kanawha, Iowa, USA. Surface soils (0—15 cm) were taken in 1996 and 1997 from replicated field plots in corn, soybeans, oats, or meadow (alfalfa) that received 0 or 180 kg N ha^—1 before corn. Because of differences in organic C contents among soils of the two sites, the soils from the CWRC sites contained greater enzyme activity values than those from the NERC site. Plots under oats or meadow showed the greatest activity values, whereas those under continuous corn at the CWRC site and soybean at the NERC site showed the least activities. Analysis of variance indicated that the activities of the phosphatases were significantly affected by crop rotation (P < 0.001) in both years at the NERC site but not at the CWRC site. Nitrogen fertilization affected the activity of acid phosphatase in soils from the CWRC site in both years and alkaline phosphatase only in 1997; but it did not affect the activities of the phosphatases in the soils from the NERC site. With the exception of alkaline phosphatase (CWRC) and phosphodiesterase (NERC) in soils sampled in 1997, activities of alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase were significantly correlated with microbial biomass C (C _mic) in soils from both sites and years, with r values ranging from 0.366* to 0.599***. Cropping systems and N fertilization affected the specific activities of phosphomonoesterases, especially acid phosphatase, but not of phosphodiesterase. Regression analysis showed that activities of phosphatases were significantly correlated with organic C contents of soils from the NERC site but not from the CWRC site.     

INFLUENCE OF TERBUFOS AND NICOSULFURON ON IRON CHLOROSIS AND GROWTH OF CORN

The larval stage of the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica vigifera zeae), the Mexican corn rootworm, is a highly devastating pest of cornfields in Texas and the Southwest. A systemic organophosphate insecticide, standard release terbufos (ST), applied in row with the corn seed at planting, has been termed effective in reducing crop damage from the Mexican corn rootworm. However, recent field observations have indicated possible association of micronutrient deficiency symptoms with use of terbufos and over-the-top sulfonyl urea herbicides (nicosulfuron, primisulfuron) on crops such as corn. This experiment was conducted to determine if this systemic soil insecticide would affect plant metabolic activities as measured by nutrient deficiency chlorosis and plant growth. The study also involved testing a controlled release terbufos (CR) version of the same insecticide. Each soil insecticide was compared with and without foliar treatments with one of the sulfonyl urea herbicides (nicosulfuron) used in controlling grass-type weeds in corn. The greenhouse study was conducted on a Monteola sandy clay loam (Typic Pellusterts), which is a typical soil used in corn production in southern Texas. Standard release (ST) and CR forms of terbufos were compared at the label recommended rate (1.1 kg a.i./ha) and also at 2 kg a.i./ha. All materials were banded in the seed row at planting. Treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. Early visual chlorosis ratings (7 days) and chlorophyll readings at 28 days indicated increased interveinal chlorosis with soil insecticide applications. Plants overcame these early effects with time and showed higher chlorophyll than untreated plants at 42 days. Depressed early plant growth and reduced tissue levels of certain micronutrients indicated these systemic insecticides both with and without over-the-top herbicide could be injurious during early stages of plant growth. However, the affected plants were able to overcome most of the effects later in the growing season. Tissue iron (Fe) concentrations were slightly reduced by terbufos alone and reduced further when nicosulfuron was applied. Zinc was reduced substantially by terbufos but appeared to not change when the over-the-top herbicide was included.     

几种杀虫剂胁迫对黄瓜幼苗抗氧化酶活性和相关生理指标的影响

明确杀虫剂多次施用后对黄瓜幼苗抗氧化酶活性和相关生理指标的影响,对指导黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)合理用药具有重要作用。本研究以室内盆栽的黄瓜幼苗为试材,研究了几种常用化学杀虫剂吡虫啉、啶虫脒、溴氰菊酯及生物杀虫剂玫烟色棒束孢对黄瓜幼苗抗氧化酶活性(SOD、POD、CAT)及丙二醛MDA、脯氨酸和蛋白质含量的影响。结果表明:不同杀虫剂对黄瓜幼苗抗氧化酶活性及相关生理指标的影响不同。当供试3种化学杀虫剂胁迫黄瓜幼苗2 d时,其体内SOD、POD、CAT活性与对照无显著差异;当胁迫时间延长到4 d时,溴氰菊酯和啶虫脒处理的黄瓜幼苗体内3种抗氧化酶活均明显升高且与对照差异显著;当胁迫时间延长到6 d时,3种化学杀虫剂均造成黄瓜幼苗体内SOD、POD活性升高且与对照差异显著,其中溴氰菊酯影响较吡虫啉和啶虫咪严重;胁迫8~10 d后,各处理黄瓜幼苗体内3种抗氧化酶活性均开始下降或恢复正常。同时,3种化学杀虫剂胁迫黄瓜幼苗4~8 d时,MDA和脯氨酸含量升高并与对照差异显著;胁迫10 d时,啶虫咪和溴氰菊酯胁迫的黄瓜幼苗MDA含量仍显著高于对照,而脯氨酸含量开始下降并趋于正常。此外,3种化学杀虫剂胁迫黄瓜幼苗2~8 d时均造成其蛋白质含量的降低,而生物杀虫剂玫烟色棒束孢胁迫对黄瓜幼苗SOD、POD、CAT活性及MDA、脯氨酸和蛋白质含量均没有显著影响。可见生物杀虫剂玫烟色棒束孢较3种化学杀虫剂对黄瓜幼苗安全,黄瓜幼苗受化学杀虫剂胁迫后需要一个过程才能修复杀虫剂对其自身造成的伤害。     

铅对两个红壤中酶活性的影响

Enzyme activities have the potential to indicate biological functioning of soils. In this study, soil urease, dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and invertase activities and fluorescein diacetate（FDA） hydrolysis were measured in two red soils spiked with Pb^2＋ ranging from 0 to 2 400 mg kg^-1 to relate the enzyme activity values to both plant growth and the levels of available and total Pb^2＋ concentrations in soils, and to examine the potential use of soil enzymes to assess the degrees of Pb contamination. Soil samples were taken for enzyme activities assaying during 3 month’s incubation and then after planting of celery（Apium graveolens L.） and Chinese cabbage（Brassica chinensis L.）. Enzyme activities in the red soil derived from arenaceous rock（RAR） were generally lower than those in the red soil developed on Quaternary red earths（REQ）. At high Pb^2＋ loadings, in both incubation and greenhouse studies, urease activity and FDA hydrolysis were significantly inhibited. But there were no significant relationships between soil dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase or invertase activity and soil Pb^2＋ loadings in both RAR and REQ soils. The growth of celery and Chinese cabbage increased soil urease activity and FDA hydrolysis, but had minimal effect on dehydrogenase and invertase activities. There were positive correlations between celery biomass and soil urease activity and FDA hydrolysis. These results demonstrate that urease activity and FDA hydrolysis are more sensitive to Pb^2＋ than acid phosphatase, dehydrogenase and invertase activities in the RAR and REQ soils.     

Corn response to potassium placement in conservation tillage

Improvements in the yield potential of corn (Zea mays L.) grown using conservation-tillage may depend, in part, on K fertility management. Field research was conducted in 1997 and 1998 on a field which had been in continuous no-tillage (NT) for the previous 12 years near Paris, Ont., Canada to evaluate potassium (KCl) placement effects on corn growth and yields in NT, spring zone-tillage (ZT) and spring mulch-tillage (MT) systems. Soils were classified as moderately well drained and had low soil-test K levels. Potassium was spring-applied (1 day prior to corn planting) at either 0 or 100 kg K ha⁻¹. Potassium was either broadcast applied, deep in-row banded (15 cm deep), or half broadcast applied and half shallow-banded (5 cm beside the row, 5 cm below seeding depth). Early season and mid-season corn ear-leaf K concentrations indicated that spring-applied K fertilizer was available for uptake by corn in conservation-tillage systems. Potassium application sometimes significantly increased corn yields compared to the zero K control in the NT and ZT systems. However, MT corn yields did not show any response to K fertilization in either season despite the low soil-test K levels. There were no significant corn yield increases with deep banding of K fertilizer relative to shallow placement in any tillage system. This study suggests that, for similar low-testing K soils, alternate K placements will have greater impacts on corn plant nutritional status than on final yields. Surface broadcasting of K fertilizer is appropriate for continuous NT corn despite evident K stratification present after long-term NT. MT may improve corn K nutrition after long-term NT.     

Interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and phosphate-solubilizing fungus (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Mortierella</Emphasis> sp.) and their effects on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kostelelzkya virginica</Emphasis> growth and enzyme activities of rhizosphere and bulk soils at different salinities

This study investigated the interactions between two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Glomus aggregatum and Glomus mosseae) and a P-solubilizing fungus (Mortierella sp.), with respect to their effects on growth of Kostelelzkya virginica and urease, invertase, neutral phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and catalase activities of rhizosphere and bulk soils at different salinity levels (i.e., 0, 100, 200, and 300 mM NaCl). Percentage of AMF colonization, Mortierella sp. populations, pH, electrical conductivity, and available P concentration in soil were also determined. Combined inoculation of AMF and Mortierella sp. increased the percentage of AMF colonization and Mortierella sp. populations under salt stress (i.e., 100, 200, and 300 mM NaCl). The dual inoculation of Mortierella sp. with AMF (G. aggregatum or G. mosseae) had significant effects on shoot and root dry weights and available P concentrations, pH values, and electrical conductivities of rhizosphere and bulk soils under salt stress. The inoculation of Mortierella sp. significantly enhanced the positive effects of AMF on some enzyme activities (i.e., neutral phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, and catalase in bulk soil; neutral phosphatase and urease in rhizosphere soil); on the contrary, it produced negative effects on urease activities in bulk soil and invertase activities in bulk and rhizosphere soils. The results indicated that the most effective co-inoculation was the dual inoculation with Mortierella sp. and G. mosseae, which may help in alleviating the deleterious effects of salt on plants growth and soil enzyme activities.     

Use of organic phosphorus byRhizobium leguminosarum biovarviceae phosphatases

Rhizobium leguminosarum biovarviceae strain TAL 1236 growing on different organic P compounds as sources of phosphate exhibited phosphatase activities. The strain was able to produce both acid and alkaline phosphatase. However, its ability to produce alkaline phosphatase was much higher. When cellular phosphate fell to 0.115% of cell protein, cellular and extracellular phosphatase activities were enhanced. Mg²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ca²⁺ stimulated the activity of alkaline phosphatase more than acid phosphatase. However, Mn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ activated acid phosphatase rather than alkaline phosphatase. It may be concluded thatR. leguminosarum contributes significantly to the release of P from organic compounds through the action of phosphatase which can be activated by a range of cations.     

Impact of tillage on microbial activity and the fate of pesticides in the upper soil

The impact of two tillage systems, plow tillage (PT) and no-tillage (NT), on microbial activity and the fate of pesticides in the 0–5 cm soil layer were studied. The insecticides carbofuran and diazinon, and the herbicides atrazine and metolachlor were used in the study, which included the incubation and leaching of pesticides from untreated soils and soils in which microorganisms had been inhibited. The mineralization of ring¹⁴C labeled pesticides was studied. The study differentiated between biotic and abiotic processes that determine the fate of pesticides in the soil. Higher leaching rates of pesticides from PT soils are explaned by the relative importance of each of these processes. In NT soils, higher microbial populations and activity were associated with higher mineralization rates of atrazine, diazinon and carbofuran. Enhanced transformation rates played an important role in minimizing the leaching of metolachlor and carbofuran from NT soils. The role of abiotic adsorption/retention was important in minimizing the leaching of metolachlor, carbofuran and atrazine from NT soils. The role of fungi and bacteria in the biodegradation process was studied by selective inhibition techniques. Synergistic effects between fungi and bacteria in the degradation of atrazine and diazinon were observed. Carbofuran was also degraded in the soils where fungi were selectively inhibited. Possible mechanisms for enhanced biodegradation and decreased mobility of these pesticides in the upper layer of NT soils are discussed.     

Spatial variation of soil enzyme activities and microbial functional diversity in temperate alley cropping systems

Spatially dependent patterns in microbial properties may exist in temperate alley cropping systems due to differences in litter quality and microclimate in areas under trees compared to those in the alleys. The effect of tree row location was evaluated for its impact on soil enzyme activities and Biolog substrate use patterns. Soils were sampled to a depth of 30 cm at the tree row and at the middle of the alley at two sites: a 21-year-old pecan (Carya illinoinensis)/bluegrass (Poa trivials) intercrop (Pecan site) and a 12-year-old silver maple (Acer saccharinum)/soybean (Glycine max)–maize (Zea mays) rotation (Maple site). Sampling was done in fall 2001 and summer 2002. β-Glucosidase activities, Biolog patterns expressed as average well color (AWC), substrate richness, and Shannon diversity index, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the tree row than at the middle of the alley for surface soils at the Pecan site. Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolytic activity was also higher at the tree row for soils sampled in the fall, but did not differ significantly for soils sampled in the summer. At the Maple site, AWC and substrate richness were significantly higher at the tree row for soils sampled in 2001. Soil volumetric water content and temperature were generally lower in the tree row at the Maple site. The results of this study suggest that functionally different microbial populations may be present under pecan trees compared to cropped alleys which may promote disparities in nutrient availability necessitating differential long-term nutrient management in such alley cropping systems.     

Interference with soil phosphatase activity by maize herbicidal treatment and incorporation of maize residues

Summary This study is concerned with the way alachlor, atrazine and metolachlor interfered with phosphatase activity in a clay loam soil unenriched and enriched with maize residues. Enrichment caused an increase in all phosphatase activities (acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase, phosphotriesterase) tested. Interference with phosphatase activity following herbicidal treatment was found in both unenriched and enriched soil samples. Statistically significant interference was dependent on soil enrichment, the type of herbicide and its rate of application and the time elapsed since the herbicidal treatment. The observed changes in phosphatase activities are attributed to herbicidal action on phosphatase-producing microorganisms. Among the herbicides tested, the acetanilide derivatives exerted a lesser inhibiting effect than atrazine. Nevertheless, all the altered phosphatase activities showed a tendency, more or less rapid, to reach the levels in the corresponding untreated soil samples.     

Rhizodeposits of Trifolium pratense and Lolium perenne: their comparative effects on 2,4-D mineralization in two contrasting soils

Rhizosphere enhanced biodegradation of organic pollutants has been reported frequently and a stimulatory role for specific components of rhizodeposits postulated. As rhizodeposit composition is a function of plant species and soil type, we compared the effect of Lolium perenne and Trifolium pratense grown in two different soils (a sandy silt loam: pH 4, 2.8% OC, no previous 2,4-D exposure and a silt loam: pH 6.5, 4.3% OC, previous 2,4-D exposure) on the mineralization of the herbicide 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid). We investigated the relationship of mineralization kinetics to dehydrogenase activity, most probable number of 2,4-D degraders (MPN_2,4-D) and 2,4-D degrader composition (using sequence analysis of the gene encoding α-ketoglutarate/2,4-D dioxygenase (tfdA)). There were significant (P<0.01) plant-soil interaction effects on MPN_2,4-D and 2,4-D mineralization kinetics (e.g. T. pratense rhizodeposits enhanced the maximum mineralization rate by 30% in the acid sandy silt loam soil, but not in the neutral silt loam soil). Differences in mineralization kinetics could not be ascribed to 2,4-D degrader composition as both soils had tfdA sequences which clustered with tfdAs representative of two distinct classes of 2,4-D degrader: canonical R. eutropha JMP134-like and oligotrophic α-proteobacterial-like. Other explanations for the differential rhizodeposit effect between soils and plants (e.g. nutrient competition effects) are discussed. Our findings stress that complexity of soil-plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere make the occurrence and extent of rhizosphere-enhanced xenobiotic degradation difficult to predict.     

Stable Isotope (δ13C and δ15N) Signatures and Their Relationship among Soil Enzyme Activities in Indian Semi-arid Agricultural Soils

ABSTRACT

A field evaluation of the stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) and their relationship among physicochemical and enzyme activities was conducted in Indian semi-arid agricultural soils. Composite soil samples were collected based on organic management (ORG), inorganic management (IM), integrated crop management (ICM) and precision farming (PF) experimental plots from the fall of September 2017 to October 2018. δ¹⁵N was significantly higher (13.85 %) in ORG soils compared with ICM (13.28 %), IM (12.84 %) and PF (12.75 %). In contrast δ¹³C was higher (?13.25%) in PF soils than IM (?13.6 %), ICM (?15.07 %) and ORG (?15.23 %). Soils from ORG had significantly higher levels of total N, total C, total S, organic carbon, available N, extractable P, Soil organic carbon stock, exchangeable K and enzyme activities compared to IM, ICM and PF. Urease, β – glucosidase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, invertase, cellulase and dehydrogenase activities significantly increased the δ¹⁵N and reduced δ¹³C in agricultural soils. Our results suggested that organic management had improved the δ¹⁵N, plant available nutrients and soil enzyme activities. Stable δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N isotopes are good indicators of monitor the soil health, carbon, and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles in Indian semi-arid agricultural soils.     

Enzyme activities in agricultural soils fumigated with methyl bromide alternatives

Pre-plant fumigation of agricultural soils with a combination of methyl bromide (MeBr) and chloropicrin (CP) to control nematodes, soil-borne pathogens and weeds has been a common practice in strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa Duchesne) production since the 1960s. MeBr will be phased out by 2005, but little is known about the impacts of alternative fumigants on soil microbial processes. We investigated the response of microbial biomass and enzyme activities in soils fumigated over two years with MeBr+CP and the alternatives propargyl bromide (PrBr), InLine, Midas and CP. Results were compared to control soils, which were not fumigated for the last 4-5 years for Watsonville and Oxnard, respectively, but had a 10 year history of MeBr+CP fumigation (history soils). Soil samples (0-15 cm) were taken from two sites in the coastal areas of California, USA, in Watsonville and Oxnard, at peak strawberry production after two years of repeated application. In addition to the soil enzymes, the activities of purified reference enzymes of β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase and arylsulfatase were assayed before and after fumigation with MeBr+CP and alternative biocides. At the Oxnard site, microbial respiration significantly decreased in soils fumigated with MeBr+CP (P=0.036), while microbial biomass C and N showed no response to fumigation at both sites. These results may indicate that fumigation promotes the growth of resistant species or that soil microorganisms had recovered at the time of sampling. Repeated soil fumigation with MeBr+CP significantly decreased the activities of β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase at the Watsonville site, and dehydrogenase activity at the Oxnard site. Although, enzyme activities in soils fumigated with PrBr, InLine, Midas and CP were lower compared to the control soil, effects were, in general, not significant. Fumigation with MeBr+CP and alternatives reduced the activities of purified reference enzymes by 13, 76 and 28% for acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase and arylsulfatase, respectively. Mean enzyme protein concentrations in fumigated agricultural soils were 2.93, 0.105, and 2.95 mg protein kg⁻¹ soil for acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase and arylsulfatase, respectively, all lower than in control soils. Organic matter turnover and nutrient cycling, and thus, the long-term productivity of agricultural soils seem unaffected in soils repeatedly fumigated with PrBr, InLine, Midas and CP.     

Response of phosphomonoesterases in soils to chloroform fumigation

The chloroform fumigation technique has been successfully employed to quantify intracellular and extracellular urease and arylsulfatase activities in soil. In this study, the same approach was evaluated for its ability to differentiate between various pools of phosphomonoesterase activities in soils and reference proteins purified from plant and microbial sources. The activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases were assayed in 10 surface soils and reference proteins at their optimal pH values before and after chloroform fumigation and in the presence and absence of toluene. Chloroform fumigation decreased the activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases in soils, on average, by 6 and 8%, respectively. Similarly, the activities of two purified reference enzyme proteins were decreased after fumigation, with acid and alkaline phosphatase activities exhibiting a reduction of 17 and 8%, respectively. Toluene treatment caused an increase in the activities of acid and alkaline phosphatases by 8 to 18% in nonfumigated soils, but showed no effect in the fumigated soils. Average enzyme protein concentrations, calculated for the 10 soils based on the activity values of the soils and the specific activity of the purified enzymes (i.e., activity values per mg protein), were 22.5 and 2.1 mg protein (kg soil)^—1 for acid and alkaline phosphatase, respectively. The decrease in enzyme activity by the fumigant was either by direct denaturing of the periplasmic and extracellular portion of the particular protein after lysis of the microbial cell membrane, by absorption and/or inhibition of the released phosphomonoesterases by organic and inorganic constituents or by degradation of the protein by soil proteases. The ratios of acid phosphatase protein concentrations relative to organic C in six soils were significantly, but negatively correlated with soil organic C, suggesting differences in organic C quality. Comparison of the activity values of soil phosphatases with those of the protein concentrations present in soils indicated that alkaline phosphatase has greater catalytic efficiency than does acid phosphatase.     

Soybean growth and yield response to residual fertilizer phosphorus bands

Residual effects on soybeans (Glycine max L.) from phosphrous (P) fertilizer bands applied 5 cm to the side and 5 cm below the seeds of a preceding corn (Zea mays L.) crop on a Brandt silt loam soil (fine‐silty, mixed Udic Haploboroll) were studied after an intervening no‐till fallow period. The P rates applied were 0, 12, 24, and 49 kg P ha^‐1. Soybean rows were planted as close as possible to the preceding corn rows. Soybean tissue was sampled at the early bloom stage in each row of the paired‐row design. Twenty soil column (2.5x3 cm) samples were collected from the 0–15 cm depth along a 50‐cm‐long trench that bisected a soybean row. The distance of the previous P band (column with the highest extractable Bray‐I P level) from the soybean row became a variable in this experiment with category range distances of <6 cm, 6–9 cm, and >9 cm from band to row. Residual P from all application rates increased shoot dry matter weight, shoot P uptake, and to a lesser extent grain yield in comparison to the unfertilized soybeans. Distance of the P band from the row was more important than the P concentration in the band. Shoot P uptake and grain yield were significantly larger for fertilized compared to unfertilized soybeans when the band distance was less than 9 cm from the row. Residual P band distance of greater than 9 cm from the row had little effect on soybean growth and yield.     

Characteristics of phosphorus fractions in the soils derived from sedimentary and serpentinite rocks in lowland tropical rain forests,Borneo

ABSTRACT

Soil organic phosphorus (P) is an important P source for biota especially in P-limited forests. Organic P has various chemical formations which differ in bioavailability and these organic P can be degraded by phosphatase enzymes. Here, we report soil P fractions inferred from solution ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy and soil phosphatase activities of two tropical rain forests on contrasting parent materials; sedimentary and ultramafic igneous (serpentinite) rocks. Compared to the sedimentary soils　and previous studies, P fractions of the serpentinite soils have distinctly high proportions of pyrophosphate and scyllo-inositol hexakisphosphate (scyllo-IP₆). The accumulation of pyrophosphate and scyllo-IP₆ may be related to strong sorptive capacity of iron oxides present in the serpentinite soils, which implies a consequent low P availability in the serpentinite soils. Mean value of soil phosphatase activities was higher in the serpentinite soils than in the sedimentary soils, suggesting that biota in these serpentinite forests depend more on soil organic P as a P source.