Effects of nutrient concentration on the biodegradation of crude oil and associated microbial populations in the soil

The influence of nutrient amendments on the biodegradation of a crude oil and on associated microbial populations in an agricultural soil was studied in microcosms during a 150-day experiment. Concentration and chemical composition of residual hydrocarbons (HC) were periodically monitored in series of polluted soils unfertilized and fertilized with increasing concentrations of nutrients. The decrease in HC concentration was effective in all soils over time. The maximal biodegradation extent was 62%, meanwhile the natural attenuation contributed to 47% of degradation. A permanent inhibition of hydrocarbons assimilation was recorded with a high input of nutrients. The biodegradation of saturates, aromatics and polars was respectively, permanently, temporally and not reduced by excessive fertilization in soil. Accumulation of polar metabolic by-products was demonstrated. Enumerations of total heterotrophic bacteria and hydrocarbon-adapted bacteria showed a strong stimulation in both populations. Maximum stimulation was observed with the highest input of nutrients. However, the extents of biodegradation were not concurrently improved, thus indicating that the microbial degraders were selected depending on the nutrient supply. The permanent and/or temporally inhibition of the saturated and unsaturated HC assimilation revealed that different nutrient supplies were optimum for the degradation of aliphatic and aromatic HC.     

Just Add Water and Salt: the Optimisation of Petrogenic Hydrocarbon Biodegradation in Soils from Semi-arid Barrow Island, Western Australia

We investigated the potential of soil moisture and nutrient amendments to enhance the biodegradation of oil in the soils from an ecologically unique semi-arid island. This was achieved using a series of controlled laboratory incubations where moisture or nutrient levels were experimentally manipulated. Respired CO₂ increased sharply with moisture amendment reflecting the severe moisture limitation of these porous and semi-arid soils. The greatest levels of CO₂ respiration were generally obtained with a soil pore water saturation of 50?C70%. Biodegradation in these nutrient poor soils was also promoted by the moderate addition of a nitrogen fertiliser. Increased biodegradation was greater at the lowest amendment rate (100 mg N kg^?1 soil) than the higher levels (500 or 1,000 mg N kg^?1 soil), suggesting the higher application rates may introduce N toxicity. Addition of phosphorous alone had little effect, but a combined 500 mg N and 200 mg P kg^?1 soil amendment led to a synergistic increase in CO₂ respiration (3.0×), suggesting P can limit the biodegradation of hydrocarbons following exogenous N amendment.     

Effects of methanol on the microflora of an arctic soil

The effect of 36 lm^?2 of 20% and 100% methanol spillage on the microflora of a soil near Inuvik, N.W.T. was assessed. Gas-liquid chromatography was used to monitor the residual methanol in the soil. Associated with residual methanol determination were measurements of changes in numbers of bacteria, fungal standing crop, respiration and isolation of methanol utilizing bacteria. Twenty percent methanol spillage had two different effects on the surface vegetation, in that the vegetation was killed in some plots and not others. The applied methanol disappeared completely between 1 and 4 weeks. No increased soil activity (as indicated by respiration, bacterial numbers, fungal standing crop) was detected when methanol was present in the soil. Because only one bacterium (i.e. pink gram negative rods) metabolized only very small concentrations of methanol, it was concluded that biodegradation of methanol was not a significant agent affecting methanol loss from the soil.     

Evaluation of a new composting method in terms of its biodegradation pathway and assessment of compost quality,maturity and stability

The need for scientific composting methods for effective utilization of organic waste is increasing day by day. In this respect, a new process called the Novcom composting method is being increasingly adopted by the organic tea planters of Assam and Darjeeling (India) for large-scale composting. Study of the biodegradation process under this method and quality evaluation of the end product was carried out at Maud tea estate (Assam) during 2008–2009 and 2009–2010. Generation of high temperatures (>65°C) within the compost heap during the biodegradation process provided an indication regarding the destruction of pathogens and weed seeds in the composted material. Samples collected on day 0, 7, 14, 21 and 30 of composting, were analyzed for physicochemical properties, nutrient status, microbial population, stability and phytotoxicity parameters. The most significant finding was the high microbial population (in the order of 10¹⁶ cfu g^?1) in the final product, which was generated naturally during biodegradation. Assessment of the maturity and stability parameters of the compost indicated that biodegradation was complete in ～3 weeks. The study provided an indication of the potential of the Novcom composting method for the production of good quality, stable and mature compost, within a short period.     

EDTA Leaching of Cu Contaminated Soils Using Ozone/UV for Treatment and Reuse of Washing Solution in a Closed Loop

Ozone and UV irradiation were used for oxidative decomposition of EDTA-Cu complexes in washing solution obtained during multi-step leaching of Cu (344,1?±?36.5 mg kg^?1) contaminated vineyard soil with EDTA as a chelant. The released Cu was absorbed from the washing solution on a commercial mixture of metal absorbing minerals, and the treated washing solution then reused for removal of soil residual Cu-EDTA complexes in a closed-loop process. Six consecutive leaching steps (6?×?2.5 mmol kg^?1 of EDTA) removed 38.8 % of Cu from soils, and reduced Cu soil mobility, determined using the toxicity characteristic leaching test (TCLP), by 28.5%. The final washing solution obtained after soil remediation was colourless, with a pH close to neutral (7.5?±?0.2) and with low concentrations of Cu and EDTA (0.51?±?0.22 mg L^?1 and 0.083 mM, respectively). The proposed remediation method has therefore potential not just to recycle and save process water, but also not to produce toxic wastewaters. Soil treatment did not substantially alter the soil properties determined by pedological analysis, and had relatively little impact on soil hydraulic conductivity and soil water sorption capacity.     

Organic manure supplementation effects on rice–pulse cropping system productivity

The effects of organic manure supplementation on rice–pulse cropping system productivity were studied. Three pulses, viz., blackgram, greengram and pea were grown after rice on the same plots to explore the feasibility of growing second crops with carry-over residual soil moisture and residual soil fertility. The study revealed that during the rainy season, 30%–35% higher rice grain yield was obtained when both inorganic and organic sources of nutrients were applied compared with the full dose of inorganic fertilizer, and the rice grain yield was 65%–78% higher than obtained following farmers’ practices. In the post-rainy season, pea crop recorded the highest grain yield of 490 kg ha^-1 under the treatment combination of Sesbania and inorganic fertilizer. Organic carbon, and available N, P, K also enhanced yield by 20%–29%, 5.0%–29.4% to 7.9%–39.9% and 22.4%–60.3%, respectively when 25% N was applied through different organic sources of nutrients (green manure/press mud/farmyard manure).     

利用改进的生物反应器研究不同通气条件下土壤中菲的降解

利用自行设计的生物反应器进行多环芳烃菲污染土壤的生物修复研究。在控制土壤水分、养分的情况下 ,设 6个通气处理 ,分析测定各处理的土壤菲降解率、微生物量、多酚氧化酶以及土壤酸度的动态变化。为期 6 0天的试验结果表明 ,通气量为 0 .0 8m3 h-1时 ,菲的降解率最高 ,达 72 .6 % ;与对照相比 ,微生物量最多 ,其中细菌、真菌都显著高于对照 ;多酚氧化酶活性也最高。通气量为 0 .0 8m3 h-1处理还可以控制土壤中酸度的变化 ,保持土壤中pH的稳定 ,从而更快地降解污染土壤中的菲。较高的菲降解率与通气改变土壤条件有关。在本实验的条件下 ,反应器中土壤细菌、真菌数量增加 ,多酚氧化酶活性提高 ,土壤保持稳定的pH值是土壤中菲降解率提高的主要原因。因而 ,改进的反应器具有较高的降解效果。本研究还表明 ,利用生物反应器能够快速、高效地消除土壤中的有机污染物 ,实现有机污染土壤的离位生物修复。     

Iron Toxicity in Lowland Rice

Lowland rice is a staple food for more than 50% world population. Iron toxicity is one of the main nutritional disorders, which limits yield of lowland rice in various parts of the world. The toxicity of iron is associated with reduced soil condition of submerged or flooded soils, which increases concentration and uptake of iron (Fe^{2 +}). Higher concentration of Fe^{2 +} in the rhizosphere also has antagonistic effects on the uptake of many essential nutrients and consequently yields reduction. In addition to reduced condition, increase in concentration of Fe^{2 +} in submerged soils of lowland rice is associated with iron content of parent material, oxidation-reduction potential, soil pH, ionic concentration, fertility level, and lowland rice genotypes. Oxidation-reduction potential of highly reduced soil is in the range of –100 to –300 mV. Iron toxicity has been observed in flooded soils with a pH below 5.8 when aerobic and pH below 6.5 when anaerobic. Visual toxicity symptoms on plants, soil and plant tissue test are major diagnostic techniques for identifying iron toxicity. Appropriate management practices like liming acid soils, improving soil fertility, soil drainage at certain growth stage of crop, use of manganese as antagonistic element in the uptake of Fe^{2 +} and planting Fe^{2 +} resistant rice cultivars can reduce problem of iron toxicity.     

EFFECT OF SOIL AMENDMENT WITH ALFALFA POWDERS AND DISTILLERS GRAINS ON NUTRITION AND GROWTH OF CANOLA

Two pot experiments were carried out under controlled environment conditions in the growth chamber to assess the potential use of alfalfa powders and distiller grains as organic fertilizers. Two types of dehydrated alfalfa powders (one with canola meal protein extraction by-product and one without) and two types of distiller grains (dried distillers grain with distillation solubles added and wet distillers grain without solubles) from wheat-based ethanol production were evaluated. Four different nitrogen (N)-based amendment application rates (0, 100, 200 and 400 kg N ha^?1) were used along with urea applications made at the same N rates to a Brown Chernozem (Aridic Haploboroll) loamy textured soil collected from south-central Saskatchewan, Canada. Canola biomass yield, N, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) uptake were measured along with soil properties including pH, salinity, organic carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorus and extractable nutrients and cadmium before and after canola growth in each of the treatments. Application of alfalfa powder and distiller grain amendments resulted in significant canola biomass yield increases along with increased N, P, and K uptake compared to the unfertilized control. However, only a portion of the N added (～30% to 50%) in the organic amendments was rendered available over the five week duration of the experiments. Amendments that had higher N content and lower carbon (C):N ratios such as dried distillers grain with solubles resulted in greater canola N uptake. Reduced germination and emergence of canola seedlings was observed at high rates of addition of distillers grain (400 kg N ha^?1), the reason for which is unclear but may be due to a localized salt or toxicity effect of the amendment. The amendment with alfalfa powders and distiller grains resulted in small increases in residual soil nutrients. Effects on pH, salinity, organic carbon and extractable metals tended to be small and often not significant. Alfalfa powders and distillers grains appear to be quite effective in supplying nutrients, especially N, for plant growth over the short-term.     

Chlorothalonil Degradation under Anaerobic Conditions in an Agricultural Tropical Soil

Chlorothalonil, a halogenated benzonitrile compound, is one of the most widely used fungicides in the world. Anaerobic microcosm assays were established to evaluate the combined effect of the initial content of carbon (6.3, 9.45 and 12.6 mg g^-1), nitrogen (0.6, 1.8 and 3 mg g^-1)and chlorothalonil (432, 865 and 1298 ηg g^-1) on the biodegradation of this fungicide by microbiota from an agricultural tropical soil. A Box-Behnken experimental design was used and chlorothalonil depletion was followed by HPLC with UV detection. The initial carbon content and fungicide dose were found to have a significant effect on removal efficiency. After 25 days of incubation, a high chlorothalonil depletion was observed in all biologically active microcosms (56–95%) although abiotic loss in a sterile blank was also notable (37%). The results suggest a high potential for chlorothalonil biodegradation under anaerobic conditions by indigenous microbial communities from soil that has been continuously exposed to high doses of the fungicide.     

Biodegradation of PAHs and PCBs in Soils and Sludges

Results from a multi-year, pilot-scale land treatment project for PAHs and PCBs biodegradation were evaluated. A mathematical model, capable of describing sorption, sequestration, and biodegradation in soil/water systems, is applied to interpret the efficacy of a sequential active–passive biotreatment process of organic chemicals on remediation sites. To account for the recalcitrance of PAHs and PCBs in soils and sludges during long-term biotreatment, this model comprises a kinetic equation for organic chemical intraparticle sequestration process. Model responses were verified by comparison to measurements of biodegradation of PAHs and PCBs in land treatment units; a favorable match was found between them. Model simulations were performed to predict on-going biodegradation behavior of PAHs and PCBs in land treatment units. Simulation results indicate that complete biostabilization will be achieved when the concentration of reversibly sorbed chemical (S _RA) reduces to undetectable levels, with a certain amount of irreversibly sequestrated residual chemical (S _IA) remaining within the soil particle solid phase. The residual fraction (S _IA) tends to lose its original chemical and biological activity, and hence, is much less available, toxic, and mobile than the “free” compounds. Therefore, little or no PAHs and PCBs will leach from the treatment site and constitutes no threat to human health or the environment. Biotreatment of PAHs and PCBs can be terminated accordingly. Results from the pilot-scale testing data and model calculations also suggest that a significant fraction (10–30%) of high-molecular-weight PAHs and PCBs could be sequestrated and become unavailable for biodegradation. Bioavailability (large K _d , i.e., slow desorption rate) is the key factor limiting the PAHs degradation. However, both bioavailability and bioactivity (K in Monod kinetics, i.e., number of microbes, nutrients, and electron acceptor, etc.) regulate PCBs biodegradation. The sequential active–passive biotreatment can be a cost-effective approach for remediation of highly hydrophobic organic contaminants. The mathematical model proposed here would be useful in the design and operation of such organic chemical biodegradation processes on remediation sites.     

Alfalfa Responses to Combined Use of Lime and Limiting Nutrients on an Acidic Soil

An on-farm field experiment was conducted on an acidic soil to investigate the effects of combined use of lime and deficient nutrients on herbage yield of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Omitting lime and limiting nutrients led to elevated concentrations of aluminium (Al), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) in alfalfa leaves and stems and caused severe reductions in herbage yield of alfalfa. Combined use of lime (2 t ha^?1) and nutrients [phosphorus (P): 20 kg ha^?1, sulfur (S): 20 kg ha^?1, zinc (Zn): 4 kg ha^?1, and boron (B): 2 kg ha^?1] had the maximum increase in groundcover, root biomass, nodulation, leaf retention, leaf-to-stem ratio, herbage yield, crude protein, and nutrient composition of alfalfa. These beneficial effects were due to raised soil pH; improved calcium (Ca), P, S, Zn, and B nutrition; and reduced Al, Mn, and Fe toxicity. Aluminium and all the nutrients except copper (Cu) were more concentrated in alfalfa leaves than stems.

Aluminum concentration was about three times greater in the lower leaves than in upper leaves. Lower leaves also had much greater concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, and B compared with upper leaves. In contrast, P and Zn concentrations were greater in the upper leaves than in lower leaves. Results suggest that the combined use of lime and all the limiting nutrients may realize potential beneficial effects of alfalfa on acidic soils where more than one essential nutrient is deficient. This may increase growth potential, nitrogen contributions, and groundcover by alfalfa and reduce soil erosion and runoff.     

Cross-enhancement: enhanced biodegradation of isothiocyanates in soils previously treated with metham sodium

Rates of degradation of 2-propenyl isothiocyanate (PrITC), benzyl isothiocyanate (BeITC) and 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate (2-PeITC) in a soil known to biodegrade methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) at an accelerated rate, but never previously exposed to the other ITCs, were higher (persistence in soil increased by 1150, 80 and 100%, respectively,) than in a similar non-degrading soil. The rate of degradation of the same three ITCs was significantly lower in sterilised (autoclaved) soils than in the degrading soil. These results indicate that the three ITCs are susceptible to enhanced cross-biodegradation in soils where enhanced biodegradation of MITC has been induced by use of metham sodium soil fumigant. When Brassica plant tissue containing sinigrin (2-propenyl glucosinolate) as the predominant glucosinolate (GSL) was added to the degrading soil, the amount of PrITC present after 24 h was significantly lower than in the non-degrading soil at the same amendment rates. The toxicity to an insect test organism of the PrITC produced from the biofumigant plant tissue was correlated with the concentration of PrITC measured in the two soils, with 67% more plant tissue required in the degrading soil to cause 100% mortality as in the non-degrading soil (3.0 vs 5.0 mg g⁻¹). The effectiveness of biofumigation using ITC-producing Brassica plants may be diminished in soil suffering from enhanced biodegradation of MITC.     

Residual effects of nitrogen sources,sulfur and boron levels on mungbean (Vigna radiata) in a sunflower (Helianthus annuus)–mungbean system

Field experiments were conducted during spring–rainy (kharif) seasons of 2005 and 2006 on a sunflower–mungbean cropping system at the research farm of the Division of Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, India. The objectives of this study were to investigate the residual effect of nitrogen sources, sulfur and boron levels applied to sunflower on productivity, nutrient concentrations and their uptake by the succeeding mungbean crop in a sunflower–mungbean cropping system. The experiment with 19 treatments was laid out in factorial randomized block design for both sunflower and mungbean. The residual effects of nutrients applied to sunflower were significant on the succeeding mungbean crop in terms of biometric parameters, yield attributing characters, seed yield and soil nutrient status. The highest mungbean seed yield (961.2 kg ha^?1) was produced with 50 kg ha^?1 sulfur application to the preceding sunflower crop, which was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than with 0 and 25 kg sulfur ha^?1. The concentrations and uptake of nitrogen, sulfur and boron were also greater in the succeeding mungbean crop due to the residual effects of nutrients applied to the preceding sunflower crop. The soil nutrient status before and after mungbean indicated that the available nitrogen and sulfur were higher due to application to the preceding crop, while available boron after mungbean was even higher than after sunflower due to its slow release and static nature in the soil.     

耕作模式对冷浸田水稻产量和土壤特性的影响

为探明不同耕作模式对冷浸田的影响机制,挖掘冷浸田的生产潜力,以冷浸田为研究对象,通过田间试验,以常规平作模式为对照,研究了垄作和稻鱼共作模式对冷浸田水稻产量以及土壤团聚体、温度、pH及有机质和还原性物质含量以及酶活性的影响。结果表明:相比对照(CK),垄作模式(T1)能显著降低土壤微团聚体(0.25 mm)含量,促进大团聚体的形成,提高土壤温度,增加土壤有机质含量,提高土壤pH,抑制水稻分蘖期后土壤亚铁含量的上升,降低土壤亚锰含量,减轻其对水稻根系的毒害作用,提高土壤酶活性,增加土壤速效养分含量。稻鱼共作模式(T2)对冷浸田土壤理化性状影响不显著,但能显著增加土壤速效养分含量,土壤速效钾含量在水稻孕穗期和成熟期分别较对照(CK)增加18.2%和69.2%,从而为水稻生长提供良好的土壤环境和营养,促进水稻生长发育,提高水稻产量。研究表明T1和T2模式能显著提高冷浸田水稻产量,增产范围为8.8%~25.8%,T1模式增产效果最显著,实际产量达到7 623 kg·hm-2。综上所述,垄作模式可以有效地改善冷浸田土壤特性,提高水稻产量,而稻鱼共作模式增产效果主要体现在增加冷浸田水体和土壤的速效养分。     

Short-term effects of olive mill waste water (OMW) on chemical and biochemical properties of a semiarid Mediterranean soil

Olive mill waste water (OMW), a by-product of the olive mill industry, is produced in large amounts in Mediterranean countries. Olive mill waste water contains a high organic load, substantial amounts of plant nutrients but also several compounds with recognized toxicity towards living organisms. Moreover, OMW may represent a low cost source of water. Thus, the use of OMW for soil fertigation is a valuable option for its disposal, provided that its impact on soil chemical and biochemical properties is established. Investigations were performed on the short-term influence of OMW on several chemical and biochemical properties of a soil from a continental semi-arid Mediterranean region (Morocco). The soil was amended with 0, 18 and 36 ml 100 g⁻¹ soil of OMW (corresponding to a field rate of 0, 40 and 80 m³ ha⁻¹, respectively) and changes in various functionally related properties such as microbial biomass, basal respiration, extractable C and N, and soil hydrolases and oxido-reductases activities were measured over time. The variations of the main physical and chemical properties as well as the residual phytotoxicity of OMW amended and non-amended soils as assessed by tomato seed germination tests were also monitored. Temporary and permanent changes in several chemical and biochemical soil properties occurred following OMW application, thus being these properties varied in sensitivity to the applied disturbance. A sudden increase of total organic C, extractable N and C, available P and extractable Mn and Fe contents were measured. Simultaneously, a rapid increase of soil respiration, dehydrogenase and urease activities and microbial biomass (at 14 day incubation) of OMW amended soils occurred. In contrast, the activities of phosphatase, β-glucosidase, nitrate reductase and diphenol oxidase decreased markedly. The soil became highly phytotoxic after OMW addition (large decline of soil germination capability), mainly at 80 m³ ha⁻¹ OMW. After 42 days' incubation, however, a complete recovery of the soil germination capability and a residual phytotoxicity of about 30% were observed with 40 and 80 m³ ha⁻¹ OMW, respectively. These findings indicate that the impact of OMW on soil properties was the result of opposite effects, depending on the relative amounts of beneficial and toxic organic and inorganic compounds present. The toxic compounds contained in OMW most likely counteracted the beneficial effect of organic substrates provided, which promoted the growth and activity of indigenous microorganisms.     

Dynamics of soil microbial populations involved in 2,4-D biodegradation revealed by FAME-based Stable Isotope Probing

Stable Isotope Probing (SIP) is a powerful tool for analysing the fate of pesticides in soil. Together with FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Esters), it can help identify biodegradation pathways and recycling into the microbial biomass. The fate of ring-labelled ¹³C-2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or 2,4-D (C_2,4-D) was determined in soil during a 6-month incubation. The distribution of ¹³C among the microbial biomass, the CO₂ respired, the water, methanol and dichloromethane soluble fractions, and the residual non-extracted bulk soil was measured. Molecular analyses were carried out on the lipid and the non-extractable fractions. After 8 days, about half of the initial amount of C_2,4-D was mineralised; the other half remained in soil as non-extractable residues (NER). C_2,4-D continued to be mineralised, suggesting that NER were still bioavailable. Analysis of C_2,4-D-enriched FAME contained in the lipid fraction suggested that a succession of microbial populations was involved in 2,4-D biodegradation. This is possibly due to the change of 2,4-D availability. The C_2,4-D yield coefficient and degrader diversity evolved during the incubation, providing corroboratory evidence that different physiological groups were active during the incubation. The ¹³C-labelled microbial community was always less diverse than the total community, even at the end of the incubation, suggesting that the cross-feeding community is also a specific part of the total community. This work shows that molecular analysis of ¹³C-labelled pesticides is a useful tool for understanding both chemical and biological aspects of their fate in soil.     

Fate of residual 15N-labeled fertilizer in dryland farming systems on soils of contrasting fertility

Abstract

Up to 50% of nitrogen (N) fertilizer can remain in soil after crop harvest in dryland farming. Understanding the fate of this residual fertilizer N in soil is important for evaluating its overall use efficiency and environmental effect. Nitrogen-15 (¹⁵N)-labeled urea (165 kg N ha^?1) was applied to winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growing in three different fertilized soils (no fertilizer, No-F; inorganic nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilization, NPK; and manure plus inorganic NPK fertilization, MNPK) from a long-term trial (19 years) on the south of the Loess Plateau, China. The fate of residual fertilizer N in soils over summer fallow and the second winter wheat growing season was examined. The amount of the residual fertilizer N was highest in the No-F soil (116 kg ha^?1), and next was NPK soil (60 kg ha^?1), then the MNPK soil (43 kg ha^?1) after the first winter wheat harvest. The residual fertilizer N in the No-F soil was mainly in mineral form (43% of the residual ¹⁵N), and for the NPK and MNPK soils, it was mainly in organic form. The loss rate of residual ¹⁵N in No-F soil over summer fallow was as high as 48%, and significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that in the NPK soil (22%) and MNPK soil (19%). The residual ¹⁵N use efficiency (RNUE) by the second winter wheat was 13% in the No-F soil, 6% in the NPK soil and 8% in the MNPK soil. These were equivalent to 9.0, 2.0 and 2.2% of applied ¹⁵N. The total ¹⁵N recovery (¹⁵N uptake by crops and residual in 0–100 cm soil layer) in the MNPK and NPK soils (84.5% and 86.6%, respectively) were both significantly higher than that in the No-F soil (59%) after two growing seasons. The ¹⁵N uptake by wheat in two growing seasons was higher in the MNPK soil than in NPK soil. Therefore, we conclude that a high proportion of the residual ¹⁵N was lost during the summer fallow under different land management in dryland farming, and that long-term combined application of manure with inorganic fertilizer could increase the fertilizer N uptake and decrease N loss.     

Soil Biological Activities in Monitoring the Bioremediation of Diesel Oil-Contaminated Soil

The effects of two different biological treatments on hydrocarbon degradation and on soil biological activities were determined during a 100-d incubation period. An evaluation of soil biological activities as a monitoring instrument for the decontamination process of diesel-oil contaminated soil was made using measurements of organic carbon content, soil microbial respiration, soil ATP and dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, lipase enzyme activities. Five samples were used: S (control, uncontaminated soil), CS (contaminated soil), SCS (sterilized contaminated soil), CFS (contaminated soil plus N and P), CCS (contaminated soil plus compost). The relationships between soil parameters and the levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) residues were investigated. Results showed that inorganic nutrients NP and compost stimulated hydrocarbon biodegradation but not all biological activities to a significant extent. The residual hydrocarbon trend was positively related with that of the organic C content, microbial respiration and with β-glucosydase activity, while both soil lipase and dehydrogenase activities were negatively related with the hydrocarbon trend. Lipase activity was found to be the most useful parameter for testing hydrocarbon degradation in soil.     

Yard Trimmings as a Source of Nitrogen for Crop Production

Yard trimmings from sources rich in grass clippings have the potential to supply nutrients for crop production. Our objectives were to estimate N availability from yard trimmings and determine their effects on crop production, soil nutrients, and organic matter levels. We conducted a field experiment, comparing three consecutive years of yard trimmings applications (22, 44, or 66 Mg ha^?1 yr^?1 dry weight) with inorganic N (112 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1) and zero-N controls in a silage corn (Zea mays L.) - winter triticale (Triticosecale spp.) rotation. The yard trimmings were screened and ground, and allowed to heat for a short period. They were incorporated each spring before planting corn. We measured crop yield and N uptake, and estimated apparent N recovery (ANR). We measured soil inorganic N two weeks after yard trimmings application and after corn harvest. In a one-year on-farm demonstration, we compared three sources of yard trimmings applied at a single rate. Yard trimmings applied at 44 Mg ha^?1 dry weight provided sufficient available N to replace inorganic N. For silage corn grown with summer irrigation, estimated ANR in the crop was 7% in Year 1, 19% in Year 2, and 18% in Year 3 at the 44 Mg ha^?1 yard trimmings rate, compared with a mean ANR of 65% for the inorganic N treatment. Postharvest soil nitrate residual (0-to 120-cm depth) was similar for the 44 Mg ha^?1 treatment and inorganic N treatment. We observed variation in N availability with year and source of material. Yard trimmings also increased soil test K and organic matter.