长期围栏封育对天山中部草地土壤有机碳及微生物量碳的影响

以天山中部中科院巴音布鲁克草原生态观测站三种类型草地长期（26 a）围栏封育样地为研究对象,通过野外调查取样结合室内分析的方法,研究了长期（26 a）围栏封育对草地土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量的影响,结果表明：（1）围栏外（自然放牧条件下）,表层的土壤有机碳含量为高寒草甸（165.29 g·kg-1）〉高寒草甸草原（98.73 g·kg-1）〉高寒草原（83.54 g·kg-1）,微生物量碳含量依次为高寒草甸草原（181.70 mg·kg-1）〉高寒草甸（146.37 mg·kg-1）〉高寒草原（43.06 mg·kg-1）。围栏封育后,高寒草甸、高寒草甸草原、高寒草原表层土壤有机碳含量分别提高了11.37%、3.26%和2.21%;高寒草甸草原和高寒草甸微生物量碳含量分别增长2.89%和12.04%,而高寒草原降低40.36%。（2）从围栏内外土壤剖面来看,土壤有机碳、微生物量碳含量随着土壤深度的增加依次降低,微生物熵也随土壤深度的增加呈现降低的趋势。（3）微生物量碳含量与土壤速效钾、全磷含量达到极显著负相关（P〈0.01）,与速效磷含量达到极显著正相关（P〈0.01）,与土壤有机碳、全氮、全钾含量呈显著正相关（P〈0.05）与土壤速效氮含量正相关,但不显著。     

围封对内蒙古荒漠草原土壤理化性质及稳定碳氮同位素的影响

以内蒙古中西部希拉穆仁荒漠草原为研究对象,比较分析了退化荒漠草原自由放牧、围封3a和围封5a土壤理化性质及稳定性碳氮同位素的差异。结果表明:①与自由放牧相比,围封显著增加了土壤有机碳含量、全碳含量、土壤含水量及土壤碳氮比(C/N)(P<0.05),土壤容重和全氮含量则显著降低(P<0.05),但土壤全氮含量有随围封年限增加而升高的趋势。②相比自由放牧,围封显著降低了土壤的δ¹³C值和δ¹⁵N值。③土壤有机碳含量与δ¹³C值呈显著负相关关系(P<0.05),而土壤全氮含量与δ¹⁵N值呈极显著正相关关系(P<0.01)。可见,围封有利于促进退化荒漠草原土壤有机碳的积累,减缓土壤氮循环,改善土壤性质。     

植茶年龄对茶园土壤微生物特性及酶活性的影响

分析了浙江省两个典型茶区土壤化学、微生物学性质以及酶活性。结果表明,茶园土壤的酸化程度随植茶年龄的增加而加重,土壤有效态N以NO-3 N为主。两茶区高龄茶园的土壤微生物量均很低,表明长期植茶形成的独特生态环境对微生物有抑制作用。两茶园土壤微生物代谢商(Rmic/Cmic)都较非茶园对照土壤低,并且随植茶年龄的增加,两者呈相似的变化趋势。土壤微生物商的变化可能与茶园土壤环境胁迫状况有关,低龄茶园的土壤微生物商(Cmic/Corg)高于非茶园对照土壤,也明显高于高龄茶园。土壤有机碳,全N ,有效P ,NH-4 N ,NO-3 N ,脲酶和酸性磷酸酶活性均随植茶年龄的增加而增加,而与土壤pH值呈相反的变化趋势     

覆盖与间作对亚热带丘陵区茶园土壤微生物量的影响

在亚热带丘陵区红壤幼龄茶园经过4年稻草覆盖及间作三叶草田间小区试验，对土壤剖面分析结果表明．稻草覆盖及间作三叶草均能明显增加土壤表层有机C、碱解N、有效P．增加土壤微生物量C、N、P。剖面中土壤有机C、微生物量C、全N、碱解N、土壤微生物量N、全P、有效P、微生物量P随深度的增加而递减。稻草覆盖影响到40cm土层左右，阃作白三叶草影响到20cm左右。0～20cm土层微生物量C／有机CT2〉T3〉T1，3个处理微生物量N／全N在1．02～2．74之间，微生物量P和全P比值在2．27～13．1之间。亚热带丘陵区红壤幼龄茶园土壤微生物量碳与土壤有机碳C、碱解N、微生物量N、有效P、微生物量P具有极显著的正相关关系（P〈0．01），与全N、全P呈显著的正相关关系（P〈0．05）。     

不同放牧强度对呼伦贝尔羊草草甸草原土壤活性有机碳的影响

土壤活性有机碳是土壤中较为活跃的化学组分,能反映土壤有机碳(SOC)的有效性,可作为土壤质量和肥力的指示性指标。研究探讨放牧干扰对羊草草甸草原土壤活性有机碳的影响,从而了解放牧对草地生态系统中碳循环的影响机制,旨在为退化草地生态恢复过程提供理论支撑。依托于呼伦贝尔草原生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站的长期肉牛放牧平台,分析6种不同放牧强度[不放牧(G0.00)、较轻度放牧(G0.23)、轻度放牧(G0.34)、中度放牧(G0.46)、重度放牧(G0.69)、极重度放牧(G0.92)]下羊草草甸草原土壤活性有机碳的变化,并探讨其相关性。结果表明:(1)土壤有机碳和活性碳组分的含量在不同土层间差异显著,随着土层深度的增加,SOC和活性有机碳[颗粒有机碳(POC)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)、微生物生物量碳(MBC)、易氧化有机碳(EOC)]含量均显著降低。(2)不同土层活性有机碳占比与放牧强度呈线性正相关,随着放牧强度的增加土壤活性有机碳占比也随之增加,不同放牧强度不同土层下土壤各形态活性有机碳占比呈POC>EOC>MBC>DOC的趋势,且EOC、MBC和POC占比随土壤深度增加而降低。(3)随着放牧强度的增加,植被群落地上生物量、地下生物量和土壤水分均呈下降趋势。(4)放牧强度与SOC和DOC呈显著负相关;植被群落地上生物量与土壤碳组分间呈显著正相关;地下生物量与DOC之间呈极显著正相关;土壤温度与POC呈显著负相关;土壤水分与POC呈极显著正相关,与SOC之间呈显著正相关。研究表明:放牧会降低地上生物量、地下生物量和土壤水分,适度放牧不仅能增加土壤有机碳和活性碳组分,而且能增加土壤活性碳占比,且符合中度干扰     

盐胁迫对棉田土壤微生物量和土壤养分的影响

以耐盐品种中棉所44为材料,模拟滨海混合盐土成分,研究了正常灌水(土壤相对含水量保持在75±5%)和轻度干旱(55±5%)下,不同程度盐胁迫(0,0.35%,0.60%,0.85%,1.00%)对棉田土壤微生物量和土壤养分的影响。结果表明,棉花产量及产量构成(铃数和铃重)、生物量、根重均随着盐浓度的升高而显著递减。棉田土壤微生物量C和N在棉花各个生育期内均随着盐浓度的升高而显著降低,花铃期达到最大,土壤有机质、全氮、速效N、有效P、速效K等养分含量的变化趋势与土壤微生物量C和N基本一致,但降幅较小。土壤微生物量碳与土壤有机碳的比值、土壤微生物量氮与全氮的比值均随着盐浓度的升高而呈现逐渐下降的趋势,表明了土壤微生物量碳氮受盐胁迫的影响大于土壤有机碳和全氮,也表明了土壤微生物对土壤有机碳和全氮转化效率的显著减低。正常灌水条件下各盐分处理的棉花生物量、铃数、铃重、根重、土壤微生物量和土壤养分含量均显著高于相应干旱处理,干旱加重了盐分对土壤微生物量和土壤养分的抑制效应。土壤微生物量C和N与土壤pH值之间存在显著负相关,与土壤有机质、全氮、速效N、有效P、速效K之间均存在显著正相关。     

火烧对退耕还湿土壤微生物活性的影响

选取退耕还湿火烧当年的土壤,研究了火烧和未烧对照0-10 cm,10-20 cm和20-30 cm土壤有机碳(SOC)、微生物量碳(MBC)、微生物量氮(MBN)、基础呼吸(BR)、呼吸势(PR)、微生物商(Cmic/Corg)和代谢商(qCO2)的变化规律。结果表明,火烧0-10 cm土壤微生物量碳、微生物氮、基础呼吸、微生物商和代谢商分别增加6.7%,26.8%,23.1%,18.7%和15.4%,火烧0-10 cm土壤有机碳低于未烧对照,且差异显著,而火烧0-10 cm土壤呼吸势与对照无明显差异;火烧对10-20 cm和20-30 cm土壤无明显影响;火烧增加了0-10 cm土壤可利用的营养物质,增强0-10 cm土壤微生物活性,同时,土壤微生物利用基质的能力下降;而火烧对10-20 cm和20-30 cm土壤的微生物活性无明显影响。     

重金属污染矿区复垦土壤微生物生物量及酶活性的研究

对铜矿废弃地复垦土壤微生物生物量及酶活性研究结果表明 ,与对照土壤相比 ,矿区复垦土壤微生物生物量C、N和P均有所降低 ,微生物商Cmic Corg可作为矿区重金属污染土壤微生物学敏感指标之一 ;酶活性变化与此相似 ,脲酶、脱氢酶和酸性磷酸酶与对照差异显著 ,其他则与对照差异明显 ,一定程度削弱了矿区土壤中C、N营养元素周转速率和能量循环     

氮素和水分对贝加尔针茅草原土壤酶活性和微生物量碳氮的影响

在内蒙古贝加尔针茅草原,分别设对照(N0)、1.5 g·m-2(N15)、3.0 g·m-2(N30)、5.0 g·m-2(N50)、10.0 g·m-2(N100)、15.0 g·m-2(N150)、20.0 g·m-2(N200)和30g·m-2(N300)(不包括大气沉降的氮量)8个氮素(NH4NO3)梯度和模拟夏季增加降水100 mm的水分添加交互试验,研究氮素和水分添加对草原土壤养分、酶活性及微生物量碳氮的影响。结果表明:氮素和水分添加对草原土壤理化性质和生物学特性有显著影响。随施氮量的增加土壤总有机碳、全氮、硝态氮、铵态氮含量呈增加的趋势,相反,土壤pH值呈降低的趋势。土壤脲酶和过氧化氢酶的活性随施氮量的增加而升高,多酚氧化酶则随施氮量的增加呈下降的趋势。氮素和水分添加对草原土壤微生物量碳氮含量有显著影响,高氮处理(N150、N200和N300)显著降低了微生物碳含量,微生物氮含量随施氮量的增加呈上升趋势。水分添加能够减缓氮素添加对微生物的抑制作用,提高微生物量碳、微生物量氮含量。草原土壤养分、土壤酶活性及土壤微生物量碳氮含量间关系密切,过氧化氢酶与全氮、总有机碳、硝态氮呈显著正相关,多酚氧化酶与铵态氮、硝态氮、全氮呈显著负相关。微生物量氮含量与土壤全氮、铵态氮、硝态氮含量以及过氧化氢酶和磷酸酶活性呈显著正相关,与多酚氧化酶呈负相关;微生物量碳与过氧化氢酶呈负相关,与多酚氧化酶活性呈正相关。     

放牧与围栏内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳、氮变化及微生物群落结构PLFA分析

以内蒙古贝加尔针茅草原、大针茅草原和克氏针茅草原为研究对象,采用氯仿熏蒸法和磷脂脂肪酸（PLFA）分析方法研究了放牧与围栏条件下内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物生物量和群落结构特征的变化情况。研究表明放牧与围栏草地土壤微生物生物量和群落结构差异显著。氯仿熏蒸法分析结果表明内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳的含量介于166.6-703.5mg·kg^-1之间,微生物生物量氮含量介于30.34-92.15mg·kg^-1之间,其中贝加尔针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳、氮最高,大针茅草原次之,克氏针茅草原则最低。放牧条件下,贝加尔针茅草原、大针茅草原土壤微生物生物量碳、氮显著低于围栏草地,克氏针茅草原则无显著变化。PLFA分析结果显示,内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物群落PLFAs种类、含量丰富,共检测出28种PLFA生物标记磷脂脂肪酸,并且以直链饱和脂肪酸和支链饱和脂肪酸为主,相对含量占总量的2/3左右,其中贝加尔针茅草原土壤微生物含量最丰富,其围栏样地土壤的PLFA含量达到27.3nmol·g-1,大针茅草原和克氏针茅草原依次降低。围栏条件下,各类型草原土壤细菌脂肪酸与总PLFA含量均显著高于放牧草地,真菌脂肪酸含量则因草原类型不同各有差异;放牧导致各类型草原革兰氏阳性细菌PLFAs/革兰氏阴性细菌PLFAs（GPPLFAs/GNPLFAs）比值显著降低,而除了克氏针茅草原,细菌PLFAs/真菌PLFAs比值则显著升高。PLFAs主成分分析表明,放牧和围栏处理对内蒙古针茅草原土壤微生物群落结构产生影响,且围栏处理的影响程度大于放牧处理。经相关分析表明,氯仿熏蒸法和PLFA分析方法之间有很好的一致性,且土壤微生物PLFAs与土壤有机质、全磷、硝态氮显著相关。     

Soil microbial biomass C and N along a climatic transect in the Mongolian steppe

The relationships of soil microbial biomass C (C_mic) or N (N_mic) with mean annual precipitation and temperature were studied along a climatic transect in the Mongolian steppe. Soil organic C (C_org) and total N (N_t), respiration rate, C_mic and N_mic at depths of 0–5 and 5–10 cm decreased with increasing aridity. The contents of C_org and N_t in the 0- to 5-cm soil layers decreased linearly with precipitation reduction along the transect. C_mic and N_mic changes with precipitation were not linear, with higher changes between 330 and 128 mm mean annual precipitation. C_mic/C_org and N_mic/N_t increased with increasing aridity. The metabolic quotient qCO₂ of 0- to 5-cm soil layers was low between 330 and 273 mm precipitation. The relationship between the qCO₂ of the 0- to 5-cm soil layers and the mean annual precipitation was well fitted with a quadratic function y =0.0006x² –0.40x +86.0, where y is the qCO₂ (µmol CO₂-C mmol^–1 C_mic) and x is the mean annual precipitation (mm). C_org, N_t, C_mic, N_mic and respiration rate decreased exponentially with increasing mean annual temperature in both the 0- to 5- and 5- to 10-cm soil layers, and change rate was lower when the mean annual temperature was higher than 2.6°C. The close relationships of the mean annual precipitation or temperature with soil C_org, N_t, C_mic, N_mic, C_mic/C_org and qCO₂ indicate that each parameter can be calculated by determining the other parameters in this specific climatic range.     

Microbial C,N, and P relationships in moisture‐stressed soils of Potohar,Pakistan

In 11 rain‐fed arable soils of the Potohar plateau, Pakistan, the amounts of microbial‐biomass C (C_mic), biomass N (N_mic), and biomass P (P_mic) were analyzed in relation to the element‐specific total storage compartment, i.e., soil C_org, N_t, and P_t. The effects of climatic conditions and soil physico‐chemical properties on these relationships were highlighted with special respect to crop yield levels. Average contents of soil C_org, N_t, and P_t were 3.9, 0.32, and 0.61 mg (g soil)^–1, respectively. Less than 1% of P_t was extractable with 0.5 M NaHCO₃. Mean contents of C_mic, N_mic, and P_mic were 118.4, 12.0, and 3.9 µg (g soil)^–1. Values of C_mic, N_mic, P_mic, soil C_org, and N_t were all highly significantly interrelated. The mean crop yield level was closely connected with all soil organic matter– and microbial biomass–related properties, but showed also some influence by the amount of precipitation from September to June. Also the fraction of NaHCO₃‐extractable P was closely related to soil organic matter, soil microbial biomass, and crop yield level. This reveals the overwhelming importance of biological processes for P turnover in alkaline soils.     

Energetic eco‐physiology of the soil microbiota in two landscapes of southern and northern Germany

Interactions between microbial communities and organic matter were analyzed for soils from the project regions ’︁Ecosystem Research in the Agricultural Landscape/FAM, Munich’ in southern Germany and ’︁Ecosystem Research in the Bornhöved Lake district’ from northern Germany using ratios between microbial biomass content (C_mic), microbial metabolic quotient (qCO₂) and organic carbon content (C_org). In the agricultural soils in southern Germany, the qCO₂/C_org ratio differed significantly with respect to agricultural management in contrast to ecophysiological C_mic/C_org ratio. In addition, C_mic/C_org ratio decreased from 39 to 21 mg C_mic g^—1 C_org and qCO₂/C_org ratio increased from 72 to 180 mg CO₂‐C g^—1 C_mic h^—1 (g C_org g^—1 soil)^—1 with increasing soil depth. For the upper soil horizons from the landscape in northern Germany the two quotients differed significantly with reference to land use showing highest microbial colonization under grassland and lowest under beech forest. In contrast, C use efficiency was lowest in arable field under maize monoculture and highest in a wet grassland having a high organic C content.     

Changes in the fungal-to-bacterial respiratory ratio and microbial biomass in agriculturally managed soils under free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) - A six-year survey of a field study

In soil ecology, microbial parameters have been identified as sensitive indicators of changes in the soil environment. The Braunschweig FACE project provided the opportunity to study the effects of elevated CO₂ (550 μmol mol⁻¹) as compared to ambient CO₂ (370 μmol mol⁻¹) on total microbial biomass (C_mic), C_mic-to-C_org ratio and the fungal-to-bacterial respiratory ratio together with total C_org, N_t, C:N ratio and pH over a six-year period. Field management followed a typical crop rotation system of this region with either a crop-related full nitrogen supply (N100) or 50% reduced N supply (N50). The soil microbial parameters responded to the elevated CO₂ treatment in varying intensities and time spans. The fungal-to-bacterial respiratory ratio was the most sensitive parameter in responding to an elevated CO₂ treatment with highly significant differences to ambient CO₂-treated control plots in the third year of CO₂ fumigation. After six years bacterial respiratory activity had increased in ascending order to 34% in FACE-treated plots (N50 and N100) as compared to control plots. Soil microbial biomass (C_mic) responded more slowly to the FACE treatment with highly significant increases of >12% after the fourth year of CO₂ fumigation. The C_mic-to-C_org ratio responded very late in the last two years of the CO₂ treatment with a significant increase of >7.0% only in the N100 variant. Total C_org and N_t were slightly but significantly increased under FACE around 10.0% with ascending tendency over time starting with the second year of CO₂ treatment. No significant FACE effects could be recorded for the C:N ratio or pH.These results suggest that under FACE treatment changes in the soil microbial community will occur. In our study the fungal-to-bacterial respiratory ratio was superior to total C_mic as microbial bioindicators in reflecting changes in the soil organic matter composition.     

Spatial structure of microbial biomass and activity in prairie soil ecosystems

Management of soil ecosystems requires assessment of key soil physicochemical and microbial properties and the spatial scale over which they operate. The objectives were to determine the spatial structure of microbial biomass and activity and related soil properties, and to identify spatial relationships of these properties in prairie soils under different management histories. Soil were sampled along a transect at 0.2 m intervals in each of five long-term treatments, namely, undisturbed, cattle grazed at two intensities, and cultivated with either wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Contents of organic carbon (C_org), dissolved organic C (DOC), soluble nitrogen (N_sol), and microbial biomass C (C_mic) and N (N_mic) as well as dehydrogenase activity (DH) in 70 samples were evaluated. Results showed that long-term soil management altered the spatial structure and dependence of C_org and microbial biomass and activity. Cultivation has contributed to high nugget variance for C_org, C_mic, N_mic and DH which interfered with detection of spatial structure at the sampling scale used. Contents of C_org were spatially connected to microbial biomass and activity and to DOC in the uncultivated but not in the cultivated soils, indicating that various factors affected by management may operate at different spatial scales.     

Soil microbial biomass and activity: the effect of site characteristics in humid temperate forest ecosystems

Microbial biomass, respiratory activity, and in‐situ substrate decomposition were studied in soils from humid temperate forest ecosystems in SW Germany. The sites cover a wide range of abiotic soil and climatic properties. Microbial biomass and respiration were related to both soil dry mass in individual horizons and to the soil volume in the top 25 cm. Soil microbial properties covered the following ranges: soil microbial biomass: 20 µg C g^–1–8.3 mg C g^–1 and 14–249 g C m^–2, respectively; microbial C–to–total organic C ratio: 0.1%–3.6%; soil respiration: 109–963 mg CO₂‐C m^–2 h^–1; metabolic quotient (qCO₂): 1.4–14.7 mg C (g C_mic)^–1 h^–1; daily in‐situ substrate decomposition rate: 0.17%–2.3%. The main abiotic properties affecting concentrations of microbial biomass differed between forest‐floor/organic horizons and mineral horizons. Whereas microbial biomass decreased with increasing soil moisture and altitude in the forest‐floor/organic horizons, it increased with increasing N_tot content and pH value in the mineral horizons. Quantities of microbial biomass in forest soils appear to be mainly controlled by the quality of the soil organic matter (SOM), i.e., by its C : N ratio, the quantity of N_tot, the soil pH, and also showed an optimum relationship with increasing soil moisture conditions. The ratio of C_mic to C_org was a good indicator of SOM quality. The quality of the SOM (C : N ratio) and soil pH appear to be crucial for the incorporation of C into microbial tissue. The data and functional relations between microbial and abiotic variables from this study provide the basis for a valuation scheme for the function of soils to serve as a habitat for microorganisms.     

Soil microbial biomass C and N changes in relation to forest conversion in the Northwestern Turkey

Tree species differ in their effect on soil development and nutrient cycling. Conversion of beech coppice to pine plantations can alter soil physical and chemical properties, which in turn may have significant impacts on soil microbial biomass C and N (C_mic, N_mic). The major objective of this study was to evaluate soil quality changes associated with the forest conversion in humid NW Turkey. Results from this study showed that levels of soil organic carbon (C_org), total nitrogen (N_t), moisture, C_mic and N_mic under beech coppice were consistently higher but levels of pH, CaCO₃ and EC were lower compared to pine plantation. Differences between the forest stands in C_mic and N_mic were mainly related to the size of the C_org stores in soil and to tree species. In addition, high level of CaCO₃ is likely to reduce pools of soil organic C and possibly even microbial biomass C and N in pine forests. The average C_mic:N_mic ratios were higher in soils under beech coppice than pine plantation, while C_mic:C_org and N_mic:N_t percentages were similar in both forest types. These results revealed the differences in microbial community structure associated with different tree species and the complex interrelationships between microbial biomass, soil characteristics, litter quantity and quality. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Plant canopy effects on litter accumulation and soil microbial biomass in two temperate forests

The objective of this study was to determine whether differences in canopy structure and litter composition affect soil characteristics and microbial activity in oak versus mixed fir-beech stands. Mean litter biomass was greater in mixed fir-beech stands (51.9t ha⁻¹) compared to oak stands (15.7t ha⁻¹). Canopy leaf area was also significantly larger in mixed stands (1.96m² m⁻²) than in oak stands (1.73m² m⁻²). Soil organic carbon (C _org) and moisture were greater in mixed fir-beech stands, probably as a result of increased cover. Soil microbial biomass carbon (C _mic), nitrogen (N _mic), and total soil nitrogen (N _tot) increased slightly in the mixed stand, although this difference was not significant. Overall, mixed stands showed a higher mean C _org/N _tot ratio (22.73) compared to oak stands (16.39), indicating relatively low rate of carbon mineralization. In addition, the percentage of organic C present as C _mic in the surface soil decreased from 3.17% in the oak stand to 2.26% in the mixed stand, suggesting that fir-beech litter may be less suitable as a microbial substrate than oak litter.     

Utilization of Distillation Waste–Based Vermicompost and Other Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Improving Production Potential in Geranium and Soil Health

Vermicompost (VC) produced from distillation waste of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), farmyard manure (FYM) produced from animal excreta mixed with pine needle (Pinus sp.), and biofertilzer (Azotobacter) were utilized for this experiment. The plant growth attributes, biomass, and oil yield of geranium were significantly increased with integrated nutrient supply, and maximum increase was found in T₈ treatments (N₁₀₀P₆₀ K₆₀ + 5t VC). Soil organic carbon (C_org) significantly increased by 4.2% to 81.8% in T₄ and T₈ treatments, respectively, over the control. Data obtained on total nitrogen (N_t) and available N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) clearly showed that the integrated nutrient supply considerably improved the soil health and sustainability. The soil respiration and microbial biomass C (C_mic) and N (N_mic) were increased by the manures according to the application rate. The C_mic accounted for 1.8 to 2.7% of the soil C_org content and microbial N accounted for 3.9 to 5.8 % of N_t under different treatment combinations.     

SOIL MICROBIAL BIOMASS AND NITROGEN MINERALIZATION RATES ALONG AN ALTITUDINAL GRADIENT ON THE COFRE DE PEROTE VOLCANO (MEXICO): THE IMPORTANCE OF LANDSCAPE POSITION AND LAND USE

A study was conducted to examine the responses of microbial activity and nitrogen (N) transformations along an altitudinal gradient. The gradient was divided into three parts. Three areas were sampled: upper part (UP): coniferous forest, corn field, and abandoned corn field; middle part (MP): tropical cloud forest, grassland, and corn field (COL); and lower part (LP): tropical deciduous forest and sugarcane. The results showed that soil microbial biomass carbon (C) and basal respiration were significantly higher in MP and UP than in LP, whereas the microbial quotient (C_mic/C_org) was higher in LP and MP than in UP. The metabolic quotient (qCO₂) was similar among gradient parts evaluated. Net N mineralization, ammonification, and nitrification rates were higher in UP than MP and LP. We found that in UP, the forest conversion to cropland resulted in no significant differences in microbial activity and N transformation rates between land uses. In MP, microbial biomass C, ammonification, and net N mineralization rates decreased significantly with conversion to cropland, but C_mic/C_org and nitrification were higher in COL. Basal respiration and qCO₂ were significantly lower in COL when compared with other land uses. In LP, lower microbial biomass C, C_mic/C_org, and nitrification rates but higher ammonification and net N mineralization rates were observed in tropical deciduous forest than in sugarcane. No significant differences in basal respiration and qCO₂ were found between uses of LP. Clearly, then, soil organic C is not equally accessible to the microbial community along the gradient studied. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.