The measurement of soil fungal:bacterial biomass ratios as an indicator of ecosystem self-regulation in temperate meadow grasslands

 There is much interest in the development of agricultural land management strategies aimed at enhancing reliance on ecosystem self-regulation rather than on artificial inputs such as fertilisers and pesticides. This study tested the usefulness of measures of soil microbial biomass and fungal:bacterial biomass ratios as indicators of effective conversion from an intensive grassland system, reliant mainly on fertilisers for crop nutrition, to a low-input system reliant mainly on self-regulation through soil biological pathways of nutrient turnover. Analysis of soils from a wide range of meadow grassland sites in northern England, along a gradient of long-term management intensity, showed that fungal:bacterial biomass ratios (measured by phospholipid fatty acid analysis; PLFA) were consistently and significantly higher in the unfertilised than the fertilised grasslands. There was also some evidence that microbial biomass, measured by chloroform fumigation and total PLFA, was higher in the unfertilised than in the fertilised grasslands. It was also found that levels of inorganic nitrogen (N), in particular nitrate-N, were significantly higher in the fertilised than in the unfertilised grasslands. However, microbial activity, measured as basal respiration, did not differ between the sites. A field manipulation trial was conducted to determine whether the reinstatement of traditional management on an improved mesotrophic grassland, for 6 years, resulted in similar changes in the soil microbial community. It was found that neither the cessation of fertiliser applications nor changes in cutting and grazing management significantly affected soil microbial biomass or the fungal:bacterial biomass ratio. It is suggested that the lack of effects on the soil microbial community may be related to high residual fertility caused by retention of fertiliser N in the soil. On the basis of these results it is recommended that following the reinstatement of low-input management, the measurement of a significant increase in the soil fungal:bacterial biomass ratio, and perhaps total microbial biomass, may be an indicator of successful conversion to a grassland system reliant of self-regulation. Received: 4 May 1998     

酸雨与土壤生态系统

酸雨能改变土壤生态系统中土壤酸碱性,增加土壤毒害,降低土壤活性,破坏土壤结构,同时土壤生态系统影响酸雨的形成和污染.针对我国国情提出进一步增强全民绿化意识,挖掘土壤生态系统潜在功能,提高植物对酸雨的抗性,采取加强筛选和大力推广抗酸雨、抗SO2污染的优质植物品种等生态措施,为减缓酸雨污染土壤生态环境寻求有效途径.     

中国森林生态系统保护土壤的价值评价

 针对我国森林保护土壤的生态价值,用机会成本法、影子价格法和替代工程法,对我国森林生态系统在减少土地废弃、土壤养分流失及泥沙淤积等方面的价值进行了估算。结果表明:我国森林每年减少土地废弃的总经济价值为6亿2414万元;每年减少的土壤N、P、K损失的经济价值为4538亿7240万元;每年减少淤积泥沙的经济价值为13亿7545万元。以森林为主的森林生态系统每年减少土壤侵蚀的总经济价值为4558亿7200万元。我国主要森林生态系统保护土壤服务功能价值大小顺序为:亚热带>热带>温带草原>寒温带>温带>温带荒漠>暖温带>青藏高原。我国亚热带土壤保持量最大,为32亿8704万t/a;温带荒漠最小,为2亿6214万5000t/a。     

Water-soluble organic materials in paddy soil ecosystem

Abstract

Column experiments were conducted to analyze the effect of the temperature on the amounts of organic materials in the leachate, especially organic acids and methane, from samples of the plow layer soil amended with rice straw. Total amount of inorganic carbon in the leachate during the 30-d period of incubation in relation to the temperature was 18°C < 25°C ≤ 30°C > 37°C > 45°C. Total amount of organic carbon in the leachate was signiicantly larger under 45°C incubation than that at other temperatures.

Acetic acid was the dominant organic acid in the leachate regardless of the temperature. Butylic and propionic acids were also present in large amounts in the early and the late period of incubation of temperatures ranging between 18 and 37°C, while only acetic acid was the dominant organic acid during the 30-d period of incubation at 45°C.

The total amount of methane in leachate during the 30-d period of incubation was very small at 18°C, while very large at 25, 30, and 37°C. It decreased nearly to one half at 45°C compared with that at 30°C. Based on the values of δ¹³CH₄ in the leachate, 3 different stages were recognized in the predominant processes of methane production in the submerged paddy soil amended with rice straw: the stage when methane production from CO₂-B₂ was predominant followed by the stages of methane production from acetic acid and from CO₂-H₂ in this order. The second stage coincided with the time of decrease of the organic acid contents in the leachate. Under 45°C incubation, methane production from CO₂-H₂ was predominant throughout the 30-d period of incubation.     

Water-soluble organic materials in paddy soil ecosystem

Abstract

A column experiment was conducted to analyse the composition of organic materials in the leachate from the plow layer and their fate in the subsoil. Water-soluble organic materials in the leachate were fractionated by insoluble polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and ion exchange resins. The content of total organic carbon (TOC) in the leachate increased by the addition of rice straw (RS) to the plow layer soil sample. The leachate contained a constant amount of PVP-adsorbed Fraction, while that of the PVP-non-adsorbed Fraction changed during the 45 day incubation period. In the fractionation using ion exchange resins, the fraction adsorbed onto the anion exchange resin was the major one.

By the connection of a subsoil column to the plow layer soil column with RS, the TOC content in the leachate decreased by percolation into the subsoil sample. In the Anjo soil sample (Yellow Soil), the decrease occurred throughout the incubation period, and about 90% of the PVP-adsorbed Fraction in the leachate decreased by percolation into the subsoil sample. In the Fukushima soil sample (Gray Lowland Soil), the TOC content decreased in the early and middle periods of incubation, while in the late period the decrease was negligible. This decrease of the TOC content by percolation into the subsoil sample was mainly due to retention in the subsoil sample of the Anjo soil, while in the Fukushima soil sample it was due to decomposition and retention. It was considered that easily decomposable organic materials like organic acids were decomposed in the early to middle periods of incubation, while in the late period the contents of such substances in the leachate from the plow layer soil sample with RS were small and the decrease of TOC was negligible.     

桓台县高产农田土壤硝态氮淋失动态研究

试验研究高产农田生态系统条件下N肥施用量和秸秆还田对土体硝态氮（NO3^--N）的时空分布动态结果表明，NO3^- -N含量在空间上随土壤深度而降低，这一相关关系可用Y=aX^b函数表达。小麦-玉米2季秸秆还田同单季小麦秸秆还田对NO3^- -N的动态影响较小，但相同施N量下未进行玉米秸秆还田0-40cm土层土壤中NO3^- -N含量偏高，土体NO3^- -N有淋失较强的趋势。土体NO3^- -N含量年度内波动大小与施N量密切相关，0-40cm土层土壤内NO3^- -N含量起伏最大，60cm土层以下相对稳定。各土层内NO3^- -N含量与施N量相关密切，这一相关关系影响到2m土层深度。土体中NO3^- -N含量周年内出现2次峰值和1次低谷，峰值出现在玉米和小麦收获后，低谷发生在小麦苗期-开花期土体养分大量吸收时期。9月下旬2m土层土壤NO3^- -N含量可高达10mg/kg，而且有淋失出2m土体的趋势。     

The microbial PLFA composition as affected by pH in an arable soil

The influence of soil pH on the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition of the microbial community was investigated along the Hoosfield acid strip, Rothamsted Research, UK - a uniform pH gradient between pH 8.3 and 4.5. The influence of soil pH on the total concentration of PLFAs was not significant, while biomass estimated using substrate induced respiration decreased by about 25%. However, the PLFA composition clearly changed along the soil pH gradient. About 40% of the variation in PLFA composition along the gradient was explained by a first principal component, and the sample scores were highly correlated to pH (R² = 0.97). Many PLFAs responded to pH similarly in the Hoosfield arable soil compared with previous assessments in forest soils, including, e.g. monounsaturated PLFAs 16:1ω5, 16:1ω7c and 18:1ω7, which increased in relative concentrations with pH, and i16:0 and cy19:0, both of which decreased with pH. Some PLFAs responded differently to pH between the soil types, e.g. br18:0. We conclude that soil pH has a profound influence on the microbial PLFA composition, which must be considered in all applications of this method to detect changes in the microbial community.     

The action of an animal ecosystem engineer: Identification of the main mechanisms of earthworm impacts on soil microarthropods

Non-trophic interactions are shaping soil food web structure and functions. Particularly, the action of ecosystem engineers, such as earthworms, are likely to fundamentally impact the abiotic and biotic properties of their environment. The present study aimed to identify the main mechanisms through which earthworms belonging to varying ecological groups - epigeic, endogeic and anecic species - affect soil microarthropods by reviewing the literature on this topic and by performing meta-analyses.Earthworm ecological groups differed considerably in their impacts on microarthropods, whereas effects did not vary significantly between microarthropod taxa at the habitat scale. Inconsistent impacts of epigeic species on soil microarthropods are most likely due to differences in earthworm densities. Effects can thus be positive in the case of moderate densities or negative in the case of high densities and associated distinct changes in the physical structure of the upper soil organic layers. By contrast, impacts of endogeic earthworms appeared to be mainly negative and were primarily due to competition with microarthropods for food resources. Consequently, negative impacts on soil microarthropods intensified with increasing earthworm density and biomass. This interaction between endogeic earthworms and microarthropods is better referred to as amensalism due to the competitive predominance of earthworms. Impacts of anecic earthworm species differed significantly from that of endogeic ones; they were neutral at the habitat scale and positive on the microhabitat scale. Moreover, impacts were independent of earthworm densities due to the quasi-territorial behaviour of anecic earthworms. Positive effects were mainly attributed to the formation of stable microhabitats by anecic species; namely burrows/middens, rich in nutrients and microorganisms.The present study points to the relevance of the non-trophic biotic interactions that drive the composition of belowground food webs by identifying the most essential mechanisms underlying the impacts of animal ecosystem engineers on soil microarthropods. Moreover, as earthworms emerge as important biological invaders, the results of the present study may help to fully appreciate, estimate and model the consequences of this momentous global change phenomenon. Particularly, the spread of exotic epigeic and endogeic earthworm species likely threatens soil microarthropod density, diversity and functions.     

Thawing permafrost alters nematode populations and soil habitat characteristics in an Antarctic polar desert ecosystem

Spatial distribution of soil nematode populations in Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems is tightly controlled by environmental factors and thus highly sensitive to changes in soil properties. Increases in the magnitude and frequency of episodic warming events as well as eventual warming trends are likely to result in increased water availability due to glacial melting and permafrost thaw, and may also incite changes in soil physical and chemical characteristics that determine nematode habitat suitability. We hypothesized that climate warming would result in new suitable soil habitats leading to heightened diversity and activity in nematode communities. In order to test this hypothesis, we compared nematode populations in patches of soil wetted by naturally enhanced permafrost thaw versus adjacent soils unaffected by thaw. We found that thaw sites had significantly lower nematode abundances and living to dead ratios, contradicting our hypothesis. We also observed significantly altered soil texture (finer particle size), lower pH and higher salinity in permafrost seeps. These observations suggest that current and future changes in climate may alter soil properties and result in significant changes in nematode population structure, distribution and function.     

南亚热带果园土壤二氧化碳释放变异性研究

Temporal variability in soil CO2 emission from an orchard was measured using a dynamic open-chamber system for measuring soil CO2 effiux in Heshan Guangdong Province, in the lower subtropical area of China. Intensive measurements were conducted for a period of 12 months. Soil CO2 emissions were also modeled by multiple regression analysis from daily air temperature, dry-bulb saturated vapor pressure, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, soil moisture, and soil temperature. Data was analyzed based on soil moisture levels and air temperature with annual data being grouped into either hot-humid season or relatively cool season based on the precipitation patterns. This was essential in order to acquire simplified exponential models for parameter estimation. Minimum and maximum daily mean soil CO2 effiux rates were observed in November and July, with respective rates of 1.98 ± 0.66 and 11.04 ± 0.96 μmol m^-2 s^-1 being recorded. Annual average soil CO2 emission （FCO2） was 5.92 μmol m^-2 s^-1. Including all the weather variables into the model helped to explain 73.9% of temporal variability in soil CO2 emission during the measurement period. Soil CO2 effiux increased with increasing soil temperature and soil moisture. Preliminary results showed that Q10, which is defined as the difference in respiration rates over a 10 ℃ interval, was partly explained by fine root biomass. Soil temperature and soil moisture were the dominant factors controlling soil CO2 effiux and were regarded as the driving variables for CO2 production in the soil. Including these two variables in regression models could provide a useful tool for predicting the variation of CO2 emission in the commercial forest Soils of South China .     

Hydraulic conductivity as an index of soil structure

Good soil structure is well recognised as a must for intensive cultivation. Various indices of soil structure suggested by earlier investigators had their own limited use in their application to the practical problems on the field. RICHARDS et al (1960) suggested compacted bulk density and hydraulic conductivity on the compacted samples as means of evaluating the structural status of soils. Problems of compaction, inadequate aeration and undesirable soil moisture relationships for growth of plants that are associated with soil structure depend on effective porosity (DAKSHINAMURTI, 1959) and porespace distribution in the soil for their solution. Hydraulic conductivity being related to the effective porosity should work out as a comparatively better index of soil structure. In the present investigation hydraulic conductivity and bulk density under varying conditions of compaction were studied and their significance and sensitivity as indices in comparison to other indices of soil structure were discussed.     

DTPA as an extractant of available soil iron

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to evaluate DTPA as an extractant of available soil Fe and to establish interpretive guides. A critical level of 6 ppm DTPA‐extractable soil Fe correctly predicted Fe deficiency of field grown plants at 11 of 13 locations. In a greenhouse experiment increased yields of sorghum from treatments that increased soil Fe availability were correctly predicted on 13 of 14 soils by a critical level of 5 ppm.     

Long-term impacts of tillage on the soil ecosystem

An overview of the available knowledge of long-term impacts of different tillage systems on the soil is given. Various studies, carried out in Germany, show that with the transition from conventional (CT) to reduced (RT) and no-tillage (NT) no reduction in yields is to be expected. Both the concentration and the amount of organic matter in the top soil is increased. However, in the transitional phase nitrogen is accumulated. The biological activity increases as well. The higher compaction has a positive effect on the water holding capacity. On the other hand, the aeration is reduced as well as the thermal conductivity. More stable pore systems cause, on the whole, a higher infiltration capacity and a reduction in erosion. The factors of influence are developed to a different extent, depending on soil texture and climate.     

土壤生态系统硝化微生物研究进展

微生物主导的硝化作用是生态系统中氮素循环的关键过程,其不仅与酸雨、温室气体、水体富营养化等环境问题的发生有关,还作用于土壤中氮素营养的转化,与人类生产生活密切相关。土壤生态系统中进行硝化作用的微生物包括细菌、古细菌、真菌等。这些微生物根据自身能量代谢类型的不同,利用不同的生物酶进行着不同机制的硝化作用。本文综述了目前已报道的生态系统中进行自养(经典自养硝化和全程氨氧化)和异养硝化作用的微生物类群、硝化作用关键酶及其编码基因类型、其在生态系统中多样的分布特征,以及其前沿的分子生态学研究方法。同时对不同类型硝化微生物类群今后的研究热点提出了展望,以期为系统地研究土壤生态系统中硝化微生物提供参考。     

The use of sewage sludge as soil amendment. The need for an ecotoxicological evaluation

Background, aim, and scope  Sewage sludge use in agriculture should be limited by the presence of metals and other persistent environmental pollutants. The present study aims to contribute for the definition of a test battery of ecotoxicological assays that allows a proper ecotoxicological characterization of sludges, providing information on their potential hazard and identified “safe” application levels. Materials and methods  Three sludges from distinct sources (urban, olive-processing, and electroplating industries) were tested using avoidance and reproduction tests with earthworms (Eisenia andrei) and springtails (Folsomia candida) and plant growth tests with turnips (Brassica rapa) and oats (Avena sativa). Different soil–sludge mixture concentrations mimicking recommended/realistic field dosages were tested. Results  Only the sludge from the electroplating industry induced an avoidance response from the earthworms (EC₅₀ = 0.4 t/ha) and collembolans (no observed effect concentration (NOEC) = 15 t/ha). This sludge was the only sludge responsible for any effect on the reproductive output of the earthworms (EC₅₀ = 7.74 t/ha). Regarding collembolans, none of the sludges tested caused any significant decrease in reproduction. In higher plant tests, the two industrial sludges were toxic, causing a decrease growth in both species. The EC₂₀ values determined for B. rapa were 20.3 and 24.2 t/ha and for A. sativa 14.7 and 16.2 t/ha for sludges from olive-processing and electroplating industries, respectively. Discussion  The metal loadings of the different test sludges could partially explain the results obtained. The toxicity of the test sludge from electroplating industry observed on the tested invertebrates and plants could be explained by the high amount of total chromium from which 22.3% was in the most toxic oxidation state—Cr(VI). However, the toxicity caused by the sludge from the olive-processing industry in the test plants could be attributed to the presence of other compounds (not measured in this study) since the metal content was not high enough to induce such an effect. The absence of toxicity showed by the urban test sludge was in agreement with its low levels of metals. Conclusions  The response of the different test organisms and end points varied according to the sludge type. The urban sludge was non-toxic whereas the sludge from the electroplating industry caused a toxic effect on almost all parameters measured (avoidance behavior of both test organisms, reproduction of earthworms, and growth of both plant species). Sludge from the olive-processing industry only caused a toxic effect on growth of both plant species. By analyzing the sensitivity of the different parameters for the most toxic sludge, it was found that avoidance and reproduction were more sensitive than plant growth, whereas plant seed germination was not sensitive at all. Recommendations and perspectives  The ecotoxicological evaluation of wastes can be used as an environmental safety control of sludge use in agriculture. A tiered approach could be adopted for this purpose, incorporating avoidance tests in the first tier (screening level) and reproduction and plant growth tests in a second tier. But more evidence aiming to define the most suitable ecotoxicological test battery for specific sludges with a different contamination profile is still needed.     

The spatial distribution of exoenzyme activities across the soil micro-landscape,as measured in micro- and macro-aggregates,and ecosystem processes

The spatial ecology of soil microbial communities and their functioning is an understudied aspect of soil microbial ecology. Much of our understanding of the spatial organisation of microbial communities has been obtained at scales that are inappropriate for identifying how microbial functioning and spatial patterns are related. In order to reveal the spatial strategies of soil microorganisms, we measured the microscale spatial distribution of 6 exoenzyme activities (EEA) and related them to the catalytic potential of three soils. The relationship between EEA profiles and microbial community structure was also measured in soil aggregates. All the EEA exhibited scale-invariant spatial clustering. The extent of spatial clustering varied significantly among EEA, suggesting that microbial communities employ different spatial strategies when foraging for different elements. The dispersed distribution of alkaline phosphatase suggests that microorganisms invest more heavily in the acquisition of P. The EEA associated with the C and N cycles, but not the P cycle, were significantly affected by management practices in the loamy soil. A significant negative relationship between the extent of spatial clustering of EEA and the overall intensity of the EEA was identified in the two loamy soils, indicating that the microscale spatial ecology of microbial activity may have a significant impact on biogeochemical cycles. No relationship was found between microbial community structure and EEA profiles in aggregates. However, a number of negative relationships between the relative abundance of certain taxa and the most dispersed EEA (alkaline phosphatase and β-glucosidase) were found, suggesting that these taxa make the EEA products available by means other than the production of exoenzymes (e.g. solubilisation of phosphate through the production of organic acids).     

Rhizosphere effects on soil bacterial abundance and diversity in the Yellow River Deltaic ecosystem as influenced by petroleum contamination and soil salinization

In this study, we compared the differences of bacterial abundance and diversity between rhizosphere and surrounding bulk soils under soil salinization and petroleum contamination in the Yellow River Delta on a 110-km-distance scale. In comparison with bulk soils, rhizosphere soils were mainly characterized by lower salinity and higher water content in saline soils. For bacterial abundance, the numbers of total bacteria and hydrocarbon degraders were significantly higher in rhizosphere soils than those in bulk soils. Although there was no significant difference in total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentration between the two types of soils, TPH had distinctly different effects on bacterial abundance in rhizosphere and bulk soils. TPH concentration was the major determinant of total bacterial abundance and had positive effects on abundances of hydrocarbon degraders. However, the abundances of total bacteria and hydrocarbon degraders in bulk soils were primarily determined by soil salinity and water content. Great abundance of rhizosphere bacteria suggested that plant roots could alleviate the stresses from soil salinization and provide more favorable microhabitats for bacterial growth. TPH had positive effects on bacterial diversity of both rhizosphere and bulk soils. Our results support the view that petroleum in the environments functions as both toxic chemicals and carbon sources to soil bacteria. Great abundance and diversity of total bacteria in plant rhizospheres would potentially improve the roles of bacteria in maintaining ecosystem functioning in the degraded ecosystems. Our results would improve our understanding of the relationships between rhizosphere effects and multiple environmental stresses that control the development of bacterial community in fragile anthropologically-affected ecosystems.     

The use of sodium EDTA as an extractant for determining available phosphate in soil

The use of a neutral solution of 0.0025M Na₂EDTA as an extractant in the assessment of soil phosphate available to plants is described. In the soil types used, a high correlation was found between EDTA extractable soil phosphate and plant responses, as measured by phosphate content of dry matter. The dry-matter yield of plants was also closely correlated with P_DTA values. The method provides a satisfactory estimate of the availability of phosphate to wheat plants in the soils under investigation.     

Biotic and abiotic factors controlling the spatial and temporal variation of soil respiration in an agricultural ecosystem

Based on the continuous observation of soil respiration and environmental factors in a maize ecosystem from late April to late September in 2005, the spatial and temporal variation of soil respiration and their controlling factors were analyzed. There was a significant spatial pattern for soil respiration at the plant scale and higher soil respiration rates tended to occur near the maize plant during the growing season. On one measurement moment, root biomass (B) in soil collars exerted significant influence on the spatial pattern of soil respiration under the relatively homogeneous environmental conditions. A linear relationship existed between soil respiration rate and root biomass

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