Relative importance of sorption versus aggregation for organic matter storage in subsoil horizons of two contrasting soils

Soil organic matter (OM) stabilization by the mineral phase can take place through sorption and aggregation. In this study we examined both of these processes, (i) organic carbon (OC) sorption onto clay‐sized particles and (ii) OC occlusion in silt‐size aggregates, with the objective of evaluating their relative importance in OM storage and stabilization in soil. We studied two loamy soil profiles (Haplic Luvisol and Plinthic Cambisol) currently under agricultural use down to a depth of 2 m. Our approach was based on two parallel fractionation methods using different dispersion intensities; these methods isolated a free clay fraction (non‐occluded) and a clay fraction occluded within water‐stable silt‐size aggregates. The two clay fractions were analysed for their C content and ¹⁴C activity. The proportion of sorbed OC was estimated as OC loss after hydrofluoric acid (HF) demineralization. Our results showed an important contribution to SOM stabilization by occlusion of OC into silt‐size aggregates with depth through both soil profiles. In the Haplic Luvisol, OC associated with clay and located in silt‐size aggregates accounted for 34–64% of the total soil OC, whereas in the Plinthic Cambisol this occluded material represented 34–40% of total OC. In the Haplic Luvisol, more OC was located in silt‐size aggregates than was sorbed onto clay‐size minerals, suggesting that silt‐size aggregation plays a dominant role in OC storage in this soil. In the Plinthic Cambisol, the abundance of sorbed OC increased with depth and contributed more to the stored C than that associated with silt‐size aggregates. Radiocarbon dating of both clay fractions (either occluded within silt‐size aggregates or not) suggests, in the case of the Plinthic Cambisol, a preferential stabilization of OC within silt‐size aggregates.     

Long‐term effect of compost and inorganic fertilizer on activities of carbon‐cycle enzymes in aggregates of an intensively cultivated sandy loam

The activities of carbon‐cycle enzymes were measured in soil and aggregates to understand compost and inorganic fertilizer amendment effects on soil organic carbon accumulation in an intensively cultivated upland field. Soil samples were collected from a long‐term field experiment with seven treatments: compost, half‐compost N plus half‐fertilizer N, fertilizer NPK, fertilizer NP, fertilizer NK, fertilizer PK and no fertilizer control. The 18‐yr continuous application of compost increased organic C content in soil and three aggregate sizes by 72–124 and 78–234%, respectively, compared with the control. Fertilization also significantly increased organic C contents in soil, macroaggregates and the silt + clay fraction, but not in microaggregates. Compost application significantly reduced the specific activities of polyphenol oxidase (activity per unit organic C) in soil and three aggregate sizes compared with control, whereas fertilization had a much weaker effect. Compost amendment also significantly lowered the specific activities of invertase in macroaggregates and the silt + clay fraction, and this effect was more pronounced than the addition of fertilizer NPK. In contrast, inorganic fertilizer and compost application significantly increased the specific activities of cellobiohydrolase in soil, macroaggregates and microaggregates (but not in the silt + clay fraction), and xylosidase in microaggregates. The application of fertilizer NPK had a more pronounced effect than compost. We considered that the increase in organic C in compost‐amended soil was therefore probably associated with the accumulation of lignocellulose and sucrose in macroaggregates, lignocellulose and hemicellulose in microaggregates and lignin (its derivative) and nonstructural carbohydrates in the silt + clay fraction. However, the application of fertilizer NPK enhanced organic C probably due to an increase in the content of lignin (its derivative) and sucrose in macroaggregates and the silt + clay fraction. Therefore, the application of compost with high lignocellulose should be effective to increase soil organic C in the North China Plain.     

长期不同施肥对土壤各粒级组分中氮含量及分配比例的影响

土壤培肥过程中氮素的积累和在各级土壤颗粒中的分配对了解土壤氮素积累机制和氮素的可持续管理具有重要意义。本研究以红壤旱地长期定位试验为基础,采用离心法分离土壤颗粒,通过分析氮素在土壤不同颗粒中的含量,研究长期施肥对土壤中不同粒级土壤氮的分配的影响。结果表明,施肥二十年后,在020 cm土层,施肥处理的全氮含量在1.19~1.98 g/kg 之间,施肥处理全氮含量显著高于不施肥处理（CK）。在2040 cm土层,土壤全氮含量分布在0.59~0.84 g/kg之间,显著低于表层土壤氮含量; 在020 cm土层,与氮磷钾化肥配施处理（NPK）相比,单施或者配施有机肥的土壤与砂粒、 粗粉粒、 细粉粒、 粘粒结合的氮含量分别提高220%、 84%、 46%和26%。而在2040 cm土层,与NPK处理相比,有机肥的施用仅提高了与细粉粒、 粘粒结合的氮含量,降低了与粗粉粒结合的氮含量; 在020 cm土层中,红壤氮素主要分布在粘粒中。2040 cm土层CK、 NPK和氮磷钾配施加秸秆还田处理（NPKS）表现为与粗粉粒结合的氮的分配比例最高,而施用有机肥的处理氮素分布仍以粘粒占比例最高。相关分析表明,土壤表层＜5 m粒级的土壤颗粒中氮含量和作物的经济产量呈显著性正相关。长期施用有机肥可以显著提高表层土壤全氮及与各个颗粒结合氮的含量,不同处理的氮主要保存在粘粒中。而亚表层土壤中,施化肥或者秸秆还田加速了粘粒结合态氮的耗竭,配施有机肥促进了氮在粘粒中的积累,也更有利于土壤全氮的积累,是可持续的氮素管理措施。     

Microbiological and enzymatic properties of soil deposits originating from wind erosion

A characterization of deposits originating from wind erosion of agriculturally managed soils in eastern Austria with the main soil types Chernozems and Allochthonous Calcaric Fluvisols was conducted using measurements of microbial counts, soil respiration, soil microbial biomass, and several enzyme activities. The deposits were rich in organic matter, silt‐ and clay‐sized mineral particles, and had high water‐holding and cation exchange capacities. Microbial counts, biomass, and enzyme activities of the deposits covered ranges frequently reported for agriculturally managed soils. Metabolic quotients indicated reduced energetic efficiences of deposit associated microbial communities. Microorganisms might suffer from stress imposed by habitat destruction, drifting, and unfavorable physical conditions in the deposits. Shifts in microbial communities or properties of organic materials in the deposits might also result in high metabolic quotients. It will be the subject of further study to clarify causal relationships.     

Influence of fertilization and organic amendments on organic‐carbon fractions in Heilu soil on the loess plateau of China

The influence of fertilization on organic‐carbon fractions separated by density and particle size in Heilu soil (Calcic Kastanozems, FAO) was investigated in a 20‐year (1979–1999) long‐term experiment on the Loess Plateau of China. Compared to an unfertilized treatment, N application alone did not increase total organic carbon (TOC) and its fractions of density and particle size. However, the treatment of N + P fertilization significantly increased salty‐solution–soluble organic carbon (SSOC), microbial biomass C (MB‐C), and organic C associated with fine silt. When manure was applied alone and in combination with N and P fertilizer, the light fraction of organic C (LFOC), SSOC, and MB‐C were increased significantly, and the TOC was as high as that of a native Heilu soil. Organic C associated with different particle‐size fractions was also increased significantly, and the allocation of C among the fractions was altered: the proportions of C in sand (>50 μm), coarse‐silt (20–50 μm), and fine‐clay (<0.2 μm) fractions were increased whereas fine‐silt (2–20 μm) and coarse‐clay (0.2–2 μm) fractions were decreased. It is concluded that N fertilizer alone is not capable of restoring organic‐matter content in the Heilu soils of the Loess Plateau and that C‐containing material like manure and straw is necessary to produce significant increase in soil organic carbon in these soils.     

Land‐use effects on the distribution of soil organic carbon within particle‐size fractions of volcanic soils in the Transmexican Volcanic Belt (Mexico)

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of land‐use and forest cover depletion on the distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) within particle‐size fractions in a volcanic soil. Emphasis was given to the thermal properties of soils. Six representative sites in Mexico were selected in an area dominated by Andosols: a grassland site, four forested sites with different levels of degradation and an agricultural site. Soils were fractionated using ultrasonic energy until complete dispersion was achieved. The particle‐size fractions were coarse sand, fine sand, silt, clay and particulate organic matter from the coarse sand sized fraction (POM‐CS) and fine sand (POM‐FS). Soil organic carbon decreased by 70% after forest conversion to cropland and long‐term cultivation; forest cover loss resulted in a decrease in SOC of up to 60%. The grassland soil contained 45% more SOC than the cropland one. Soil organic carbon was mainly associated with the silt‐size fraction; the most sensitive fractions to land‐use change and forest cover depletion were POM followed by SOC associated with the silt and clay‐sized fractions. Particulate organic matter can be used as an early indicator of SOC loss. The C lost from the clay and silt‐sized fractions was thermally labile; therefore, the SOC stored in the more degraded forest soils was more recalcitrant (thermally resistant). Only the transformation of forest to agricultural land produced a similar loss of thermally stable C associated with the silt‐sized fraction.     

Long‐term effects of liming on microbial biomass and activity and soil organic matter quality (13C CPMAS NMR) in organic horizons of Norway spruce forests in Southern Germany

Long‐term effects of liming on microbial biomass and activity and soil organic matter (SOM) were investigated in samples from organic horizons (Of/Oh) in spruce forests at Adenau, Höglwald, Idar‐Oberstein, and Schluchsee (Southern Germany) where plots have been manually treated 7 to 13 years ago with dolomitic limestone. At all sites, pH values were markedly increased after liming. The contents of C and N in the organic horizons of the limed plots appeared to be lower with the greatest decrease at Höglwald (Dystric Luvisol) where liming has affected the soil properties for the longest time of all sites. Catalase activity was promoted after liming at Adenau (Cambic Podzol). This was also the case for the Dystric Luvisol where liming resulted also in higher basal respiration. Biomass‐C was higher in samples from the limed plot at Idar‐Oberstein (Dystric Cambisol). The ¹³C CPMAS NMR spectra of organic horizons from the control plots indicate no differences in the gross carbon composition of SOM. Furthermore, spectra from the limed Cambic Podzol, Dystric Cambisol, and Haplic Podzol (Schluchsee) were remarkably similar. However, for the Dystric Luvisol, the lime‐induced promotion of microbial activity resulted in lower O‐alkyl‐C intensity. The observed patterns of microbial biomass and activity were site‐dependent rather than a result of liming. Obviously liming had only small long‐term effects on the humus quality in the organic horizons, as far as detectable by CPMAS NMR spectroscopy. More sensitive techniques like pyrolysis‐GC/MS should be applied to analyze differences in C composition.     

Characterization of effects of a long-term wastewater irrigation on soil quality by microbiological and biochemical parameters

Investigations were conducted to evaluate the effects of long-term (up to 100 years) wastewater irrigation on the selected microbiological and biochemical characteristics of a Cambisol and a Haplic Luvisol. The developments of soil oligotrophic and copiotrophic bacteria (including actinomycetes), the total microbial biomass (ATP content), and acitivity of enzymes catalyzing major substrate transformations in soil (β-glucosidase, β-acetyl-glucosaminidase, proteinase, phosphatase) indicated significantly differences between wastewater treated and non-irrigated soil sites. The increases of the individual indices under the effect of wastewater irrigation show that remarkable differences in the microbiological and biochemical parameters of soil quality remained detectable also 20 years after the soil treatment was terminated.     

Vertical distribution of soil properties under short‐rotation forestry in Northern Germany

Short‐rotation forestry (SRF) on arable soils has high potentials for biomass production and leads to long‐term no‐tillage management. In the present study, the vertical distributions of soil chemical and microbial properties after 15 y of SRF with willows and poplar (Salix and Populus spp.) in 3‐ and 6‐year rotations on an arable soil were measured and compared to a pertinent tilled arable site. Two transects at different positions in the relief (upper and lower slope; transect 1 and 2) were investigated. Short‐rotation forestry caused significant changes in the vertical distribution of all investigated soil properties (organic and microbial C, total and microbial N, soil enzyme activities), however, the dimension and location (horizons) of significant effects varied. The rotation periods affected the vertical distribution of the soil properties within the SRF significantly. In transect 1, SRF had higher organic‐C concentrations in the subsoil (Bv horizon), whereas in transect 2, the organic‐C concentrations were increased predominantly in the topsoil (Ah horizon). Sufficient plant supply of P and K in combination with decreased concentrations of these elements in the subsoil under SRF pointed to an effective nutrient mobilization and transfer from the deeper soil horizons even in the long term. In transect 1, the microbial‐C concentrations were higher in the B and C horizons and in transect 2 in the A horizons under SRF than under arable use. The activities of β‐glucosidases and acid phosphatases in the soil were predominantly lower under SRF than under arable use in the topsoil and subsoil. We conclude, that long‐term SRF on arable sites can contribute to increased C sequestration and changes in the vertical distribution of soil microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities in the topsoil and also in the subsoil.     

Mulching effects on phosphorus and sulfur concentrations in a Miamian soil in central Ohio,USA

In addition to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S) elements are also essential to conversion of biomass carbon into soil humus. Therefore, soil analyses were done on two long‐term mulching experiments initiated in 1989 and 1996 on a Crosby silt loam (Aeric Ochraqualf or Stagnic Luvisol) soil in central Ohio to assess P and S dynamics in soil for different rates of mulching. Mulch treatments were 0, 8 and 16 Mg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ without any crop cultivation. Our objectives were to assess: (i) the effect of different mulch rates on P and S concentrations, and soil organic carbon sequestration; (ii) association of available and total P and S with different particle size fractions; and (iii) temporal changes in available and total P and total S concentrations within aggregate and particle size fractions with duration of mulching. Soil samples from 0 to 5 and 5 to 10 cm depths were obtained in November 2000. Mulch rate significantly increased Bray‐P in 0 to 5 and 5 to 10 cm depths but had no significant effect on total P after 4 years of mulching. Total P concentration in the 5 to 10 cm layer increased significantly with mulch application after 11 years, but the total S concentration was not affected. Total P in aggregates>2 mm size at 5 to 10 cm depth was significantly higher than whole soil after 11 years of mulching. More than 50 per cent of the total P was associated with clay fraction, and P concentration increased with duration of mulching. The enrichment factor for total P was in the order: clay>sand>silt. Total S concentration in aggregates increased with increase in aggregate size for both depths, and was in the order: clay>sand>silt. The clay fraction accounted for 48 per cent of total S after 4 years of mulching and 50 per cent after 11 years of mulching. The enrichment factor of S in clay and sand fractions increased with duration of mulching and with depth for clay, and decreased for sand. The C:P and C:S ratios decreased both with duration of mulching and particle size. Availability of P and S is essential for humification of carbon input in crop residue mulch. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of Wastewater Irrigation on Physicochemical Properties of Soil and Availability of Heavy Metals in Soil and Vegetables

The present study investigated the impact of irrigation with wastewater on nutritional property and heavy‐metal concentrations in the soil and consequent accumulation in vegetables at sites having long‐term uses of wastewater for irrigation. Samples of irrigation water, soil, and root and shoot parts of palak plants were analyzed to determine the concentration of heavy metals. Wastewater irrigation led to increases in the total and phytoavailable heavy‐metal concentrations in the soil at all the sites. Heavy‐metal concentrations in soil under wastewater irrigation were negatively and positively correlated with soil hydrogen potential (pH) and organic carbon (OC), respectively. The enrichment factor and metal pollution index were higher at wastewater‐irrigated sites as compared to the clean water–irrigated ones. The study concludes that wastewater irrigation modified the physicochemical properties of the soil, leading to more availability of heavy metals in the soil and consequently to the plant.     

Clay mineralogy determines the importance of biological versus abiotic processes for macroaggregate formation and stabilization

Plant residues, living roots and microbial activity play an important role in aggregate formation and the stabilization of soil organic carbon (SOC), but their impact might differ among soils with different clay mineralogy. We investigated the effect of these organic agents on aggregation and SOC during a 76‐day incubation of 2‐mm sieved soil from an illitic Kastanozem and a kaolinitic Ferralsol, subjected to the following treatments: (i) control (no residue input or plant growth), (ii) residue input, (iii) living plants, and (iv) residue input and living plants. After 46 and 76 days, aggregate size distribution, aggregate‐associated SOC and microbial‐C were measured. In both soils, microbial‐C was less in the control than in the residue and/or plant treatments. After 46 days, new large macroaggregates (> 2000 µm) were formed in the control treatment of the kaolinitic soil, but not of the illitic soil. Control macroaggregates in the kaolinitic soil were formed out of silt and clay particles without accumulating C. Residue input and plant growth had a greater positive effect on macroaggregate formation in the illitic than in the kaolinitic soil. A stronger relation was found between microbial‐C and amount of large macroaggregates in the illitic than in the kaolinitic soil. We conclude that kaolinitic soils can rapidly form macroaggregates independent of biological processes due to physical or electrostatic interactions between the 1:1 clay minerals and oxides. However, biological processes led to stronger organic bonds between the illite compared with the kaolinite clay, resulting in more macroaggregates with long‐term stability in the illitic than in the kaolinitic soil.     

Effects of land use and mineral characteristics on the organic carbon content,and the amount and composition of Na‐pyrophosphate‐soluble organic matter,in subsurface soils

Land use and mineral characteristics affect the ability of surface as well as subsurface soils to sequester organic carbon and their contribution to mitigation of the greenhouse effect. There is less information about the effects of land use and soil properties on the amount and composition of organic matter (OM) for subsurface soils as compared with surface soils. Here we aimed to analyse the long‐term (≥ 100 years) impact of arable and forest land use and soil mineral characteristics on subsurface soil organic carbon (SOC) contents, as well as on amount and composition of OM sequentially separated by Na pyrophosphate solution (OM(PY)) from subsurface soil samples. Seven soils with different mineral characteristics (Albic and Haplic Luvisol, Colluvic and Haplic Regosol, Haplic and Vertic Cambisol, Haplic Stagnosol) were selected from within Germany. Soil samples were taken from subsurface horizons of forest and adjacent arable sites continuously used for >100 years. The OM(PY) fractions were analysed for their OC content (OC_PY) and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Multiple regression analyses for the arable subsurface soils indicated significant positive relationships between the SOC contents and combined effects of the (i) exchangeable Ca (Ca_ex) and oxalate‐soluble Fe (Fe_ox) and (ii) the Ca_ex and Al_ox contents. For these soils the increase in OC (OC_PY multiplied by the relative C=O content of OM(PY)) and increasing contents of Ca_ex indicated that OM(PY) mainly interacts with Ca²⁺. For the forest subsurface soils (pH < 5), the OC_PY contents were related to the contents of Na‐pyrophosphate‐soluble Fe and Al. The long‐term arable and forest land use seems to result in different OM(PY)‐mineral interactions in subsurface soils. On the basis of this, we hypothesize that a long‐term land‐use change from arable to forest may lead to a shift from mainly OM(PY)‐Ca²⁺ to mainly OM(PY)‐Fe³⁺ and ‐Al³⁺ interactions if the pH of subsurface soils significantly decreases to <5.     

Usefulness of near‐infrared spectroscopy for the prediction of chemical and biological soil properties in different long‐term experiments

The prediction accuracy of visible and near‐infrared (Vis‐NIR) spectroscopy for soil chemical and biological parameters has been variable and the reasons for this are not completely understood. Objectives were (1) to explore the predictability of a series of chemical and biological properties for three different soil populations and—based on these heterogeneous data sets—(2) to analyze possible predictive mechanisms statistically. A number of 422 samples from three arable soils in Germany (a sandy Haplic Cambisol and two silty Haplic Luvisols) of different long‐term experiments were sampled, their chemical and biological properties determined and their reflectance spectra in the Vis‐NIR region recorded after shock‐freezing followed by freeze‐drying. Cross‐validation was carried out for the entire population as well as for each population from the respective sites. For the entire population, excellent prediction accuracies were found for the contents of soil organic C (SOC) and total P. The contents of total N and microbial biomass C and pH were predicted with good accuracy. However, prediction accuracy for the other properties was less: content of total S was predicted approximately quantitatively, whereas Vis‐NIR spectroscopy could only differentiate between high and low values for the contents of microbial N, ergosterol, and the ratio of ergosterol to microbial biomass C. Contents of microbial biomass P and S, basal respiration, and qCO₂ could not be predicted. Prediction accuracies were greatest for the entire population and the Luvisol at Garte, followed by the Luvisol at Hohes Feld, whereas the accuracy for the sandy Cambisol was poor. The poor accuracy for the sandy Cambisol may have been due to only smaller correlations between the measured properties and the SOC content compared to the Luvisols or due to a general poor prediction performance for sandy soils. Another reason for the poor accuracy may have been the smaller range of contents in the sandy soil. Overall, the data indicated that the accuracy of predictions of soil properties depends largely on the population investigated. For the entire population, the usefulness of Vis‐NIR for the number of chemical and biological soil properties was evident by markedly greater correlation coefficients (measured against Vis‐NIR predicted) compared to the Pearson correlation coefficients of the measured properties against the SOC content. However, the cross‐validation results are valid only for the closed population used in this study.     

引黄灌溉耕作对土壤团聚体有机碳的影响

为研究灌溉耕作影响下土壤团聚体及有机碳的特征情况,以宁夏引黄灌区为研究对象,选取对照土壤与耕作土壤,通过干、湿筛结合的方法,得到大团聚体(2mm)、中间团聚体(2~0.25mm)、微团聚体(0.25~0.053mm)和粉+黏团聚体(0.053mm),并测定团聚体有机碳含量,分析团聚体有机碳与总有机碳之间的关系。结果表明,灌溉耕作对团聚体分布具有极显著影响(P0.01),其中大团聚体和中间团聚体质量分数上升,微团聚体和粉+黏团聚体质量分数下降,灌溉土壤团聚体分布趋势为微团聚体粉+黏团聚体中间团聚体大团聚体。经灌溉耕作后土壤团聚体稳定性大于对照土壤,不同类型的灌溉土壤稳定性基本一致,对照土壤间差异明显。除0.053mm外,团聚体有机碳分布在经过灌溉耕作后有显著性差异(P0.05),团聚体有机碳分布随粒级大小基本呈"V"形分布。团聚体有机碳含量均表现出灌溉土壤高于对照土壤,其中灌溉土壤中灌淤土和潮土团聚体有机碳总量较高。未受人为灌溉耕作影响的自然土壤团聚体有机碳与总有机碳间具有显著的正相关性,土壤总有机碳增加主要依赖0.053mm团聚体有机碳增加。引黄灌溉耕作有利于增加大粒级团聚体的比例,提升团聚体稳定,显著增加有机碳含量。     

Organic matter in particle-size fractions from A and B horizons of a Haplic Alisol

The organic matter in soils may be stabilized by its interactions with minerals. We have studied such interactions in a Haplic Alisol under forest in which clay and organic matter have migrated from an eluvial A horizon to accumulate in an illuvial B horizon. We have tried to trace the fate of organic matter in these horizons (Ah and Bvt) by determining clay mineralogy, carbon and nitrogen content, hydrolysable amino acids, lignin signature by alkaline CuO oxidation and carbon species by ¹³C CPMAS NMR of bulk soils and particle‐size fractions. In both horizons, most of the organic matter was present in O–alkyl and methylene structures, each contributing one‐third to the bulk organic matter. In the Ah horizon the ratios of carbon‐to‐nitrogen, and yields for lignin and hydrolysable amino acids decreased as the particle‐size class decreased, but side‐chain oxidation of lignin compounds increased with decreasing particle size. In contrast to previous observations, the proportions of O–alkyl carbon increased as particle size decreased, constituting a major proportion of the organic carbon in the clay‐size fractions from both the Ah and Bvt horizons (≥ 38%), while proportions of methylene carbon decreased. Illite was the dominant mineral in the fraction ≤ 6 μm, whereas the mobile fine clay fraction (<0.2 μm) was rich in smectites – minerals with large surface areas. Our results support the hypothesis that potentially labile organic matter, such as O–alkyl carbon typically present in polysaccharides, may be stabilized against further degradation in organomineral complexes.     

不同培肥模式对茶园土壤微生物活性和群落结构的影响

以闽东地区红黄壤茶园定位实验地为对象,通过测定6种不同施肥处理土壤微生物学特性,研究不同培肥对土壤微生物特性和生物化学过程的影响,阐明各指标间的相互关系.结果表明,除了单施无机肥处理外,半量化肥+半量有机肥、全量有机肥、全量化肥+豆科绿肥以及半量化肥+半量有机肥+豆科绿肥等的培肥方式均不同程度提高了土壤有机质,可培养微生物数量,微生物量碳、氮含量及土壤酶活性,尤以半量无机肥+半量有机肥+豆科牧草的培肥模式增幅更为明显,而单施无机肥不利于微生物的生长、酶活性的提高和维持生态系统的稳定性.微生物群落磷脂脂肪酸(PLFAs)标记主成分分析显示,各种不同施肥方式使微生物群落结构发生改变.相关分析表明,微生物量与可培养微生物数量、微生物磷脂脂肪酸含量之间的相关性明显高于微生物量与各种酶活性之间的相关性,说明微生物数量大小对微生物群落结构的影响大于对酶活性功能的影响.研究也表明土壤各微生物指标能从不同方面反映土壤肥力水平,所以采用各种不同的方法能更客观地评价闽东地区茶园红黄壤质量的优劣.     

Priming effects in soil size fractions of a podzol Bs horizon after addition of fructose and alanine

It is well known that the addition of easily available substrates to soils can affect microbial activity and thus the mineralization of soil organic carbon (SOC). Up to now, little is known about the processes leading to these priming effects and which fractions of organic matter (OM) are affected. The objectives of this study were to determine if SOC associated with isolated soil size fractions showed different susceptibility to priming effects, whether these pools are easily depleted, or whether the amount of substrate addition affects the extent of priming effects. In an incubation experiment, the effect of the uniformly ¹⁴C‐labeled substrates fructose and alanine on the mineralization of the SOC of a Bs horizon of a Haplic Podzol was investigated. The soil sample was fractionated into the three soil size fractions sand, silt, and clay by a mild sonication followed by sieving and sedimentation. Additionally, nonfractionated soil of the horizon was included in the experiment. Every soil sample received four substrate additions repeated at weekly intervals with 3.325 μg substrate‐C (mg SOC)^–1 and a final addition of 13.3 μg substrate‐C (mg SOC)^–1 after 4 weeks. The respiration was determined hourly and ¹⁴CO₂ was analyzed every 2, 4, and 7 d after the respective substrate addition. After 56 d, between 42% and 58% of the added substrates had been mineralized. Both substrates strongly increased the mineralization of the OM in all fractions (positive priming effects). The priming effects were always higher after the addition of the high substrate dose than during the first 4 weeks when four small doses were added. In general, the priming effects increased with decreasing particle size. Alanine generally caused higher priming effects than fructose in the soil size fractions (up to 280% vs. 231%, respectively). This indicates that alanine serves not only as an energy substrate but also as a N source and, thus, also promotes microbial growth. The strong priming effects in the silt and clay fraction (133% and 125% with fructose, 172% and 168% with alanine) showed, that not only the labile pool of OM is affected, but also a more stable pool characterized by higher ¹⁴C ages. We assume that the stability of the OM in these fractions is not only due to recalcitrance or to interactions with the minerals, but that it may also be caused by a substrate limitation of the degrading microorganisms.     

渭北旱塬区不同坡向土地利用类型对土壤性质的影响

为了研究不同坡向土地利用类型对土壤性质的影响,以渭北旱塬区5种土地利用类型(不同坡向)为研究对象,系统分析该区不同坡向土地利用类型剖面土壤物理、化学和生物性质的差异。结果表明:(1)除土壤pH和土壤颗粒组成外,5种土地利用类型土壤含水量、总孔隙度、有机质、全氮、微生物量碳和氮含量总体随土层加深呈下降趋势,土壤容重则相反。(2)0-30cm土层,阳坡农用地土壤含水量、黏粒含量和pH最高,粉粒和全氮含量最低;人工草地砂粒和全氮含量最高,黏粒含量最低;人工林地土壤总孔隙度、土壤有机质、微生物量碳和氮含量最高,土壤含水量、土壤容重和pH最低;天然草地土壤容重和粉粒含量最高,总孔隙度和砂粒含量最低;退耕地有机质、微生物量碳和氮含量最低。阴坡农用地土壤含水量、粉粒含量和pH最高,黏粒和全氮含量最低;人工草地土壤容重、黏粒和微生物量氮含量最高,土壤总孔隙度、粉粒、砂粒和有机质含量最低;人工林地有机质含量和微生物量碳含量最高;天然草地土壤总孔隙度、砂粒和全氮含量最高,土壤容重和pH最低;退耕地土壤含水量、微生物量碳和氮含量最低。(3)5种土地利用类型中,土壤容重、细黏粒、粗黏粒、细粉粒、粗砂粒、土壤pH和有机质(退耕地除外)表现为阳坡阴坡,土壤含水量(退耕地和农用地除外)、总孔隙度、粗粉粒、细砂粒、土壤质地粗化度、全氮(人工草地除外)、土壤微生物量碳和氮含量则为阴坡阳坡。     

A re‐evaluation of the enriched labile soil organic matter fraction

Identifying ‘functional' pools of soil organic matter and understanding their response to tillage remains elusive. We have studied the effect of tillage on the enriched labile fraction, thought to derive from microbes and having an intermediate turnover time. Four soils, each under three regimes, long‐term arable use without tillage (NT), long‐term arable under conventional tillage (CT), and native vegetation (NV), were separated into four aggregate size classes. Particle size fractions of macro‐ (250–2000 μm) and microaggregates (53–250 μm) were isolated by sonication and sieving. Subsequently, densiometric and chemical analyses were made on fine‐silt‐sized (2–20 μm) particles to isolate and identify the enriched labile fraction. Across soils, the amounts of C and N in the particle size fractions were highly variable and were strongly influenced by mineralogy, specifically by the contents of Fe and Al oxides. This evidence indicates that the fractionation procedure cannot be standardized across soils. In one soil, C associated with fine‐silt‐sized particles derived from macroaggregates was 567 g C m^?2 under NV, 541 g C m^?2 under NT, and 135 g C m^?2 under CT, whereas C associated with fine‐silt‐sized particles derived from microaggregates was 552, 1018, 1302 g C m^?2 in NV, NT and CT, respectively. These and other data indicate that carbon associated with fine‐silt‐sized particles is not significantly affected by tillage. Its location is simply shifted from macroaggregates to microaggregates with increasing tillage intensity. Natural abundance ¹³C analyses indicated that the enriched labile fraction was the oldest fraction isolated from both macro‐ and microaggregates. We conclude that the enriched labile fraction is a ‘passive' pool of soil organic matter in the soil and is not derived from microbes nor sensitive to cultivation.