NaOH‐extractable organic matter of andic soils from Galicia (NW Spain) under different land use regimes: a pyrolysis GC/MS study

The objective of this study was to determine to what extent the attenuation or loss of andic soil properties caused by land use change – from forest (FOR, average C content 118.2 ± 23.7 g kg^?1) to agricultural land (AGR, average C content 55.7 ± 16.7 g kg^?1) use – is reflected in soil organic matter (SOM) at the molecular level. For this, NaOH‐extractable SOM of A horizons from 17 soils developed on amphibolitic parent material in NW Spain was studied by pyrolysis gas chromatography spectrometry (Py‐GC/MS). We also included two buried andic A horizons (PAL, 2200 cal yr BP in age) on the same parent material, as a reference for the molecular composition of SOM from soils without recent litter additions. Organic matter of PAL soils had a composition largely different from that of superficial soils (FOR and AGR), with an important relative contribution of microbial polysaccharides and N‐compounds, and an absence of compounds that characterize fresh plant litter (e.g. lignins). In the superficial soils, the relative contribution of lignin‐derived compounds was greater in AGR than in FOR soils. Differences were also observed in the relative contribution of aliphatic compounds, FOR soils being enriched in this type of components compared with AGR soils. The results indicated that land use change from FOR to AGR, which was accompanied by a decrease in total SOM, resulted in an enrichment in primary SOM. The smaller relative abundance of primary SOM derivatives in andic FOR soils indicates that these compounds were quickly degraded in Andisols.     

Soil‐organic‐matter stability in sandy cropland soils is related to land‐use history

Sandy cropland soils in NW Europe were found to contain unusually high organic‐carbon (OC) levels, and a link with their land‐use history has been suggested. This study's aim was to assess the discriminating power of physical and chemical fractionation procedures to yield information on soil‐organic‐matter (OM) stability for these soils. In relict‐ and cultivated‐heathland soils, much higher proportions of 6% NaOCl treatment–resistant but 10% HF–soluble OC (MOC) and N (32.2% and 29.9%) were measured compared to a set of “permanent"‐cropland soils without a history of heathland land use (11.9% and 8.5%). Also, the proportions of 6% NaOCl– and 10% HF treatment–resistant OC and N in the relict and cultivated heathlands (19.2% and 12.0%) were higher than in the permanent‐cropland soils (17.7% and 5.7%). Stepwise multiple linear‐regression yielded a significant relationship between the annual mineralization (g C [100 g OC]^–1), soil OC (g C kg^–1) content, and %MOC: Annual mineralization = 4.347 – 0.087 soil OC – 0.032 %MOC (R² = 0.65). Combinations of incubation experiments for quantification of the labile soil OM pool with chemical fractionation may thus yield meaningful data for development of soil‐organic‐matter models with measurable pools, but their applicability will be limited to specific combinations of former land use with soil, climate, and current management.     

Repeated monitoring of organic carbon stocks after eight years reveals carbon losses from intensively managed agricultural soils in Western Germany

Past land‐use changes, intensive cropping with large proportions of root crops, and preferred use of mineral fertilizer have been made responsible for proceeding losses of soil organic C (SOC) in the plough layer. We hypothesized that in intensive agriculturally managed regions changes in SOC stocks would be detectable within a decade. To test this hypothesis, we tracked the temporal development of the concentrations and stocks of SOC in 268 arable sites, sampled by horizon down to 60 cm in the Cologne‐Bonn region, W Germany, in 2005 and in 2013. We then related these changes to soil management data and humus balances obtained from farmers' surveys. As we expected that changes in SOC concentrations might at least in part be minor, we fractionated soils from 38 representative sites according to particle size in order to obtain C pools of different stability. We found that SOC concentrations had increased significantly in the topsoil (from 9.4 g kg^?1 in 2005 to 9.8 g kg^?1 in 2013), but had decreased significantly in the subsoil (from 4.1 g kg^?1 in 2005 to 3.5 g kg^?­1 in 2013). Intriguingly, these changes were due to changes in mineral‐bound SOC rather than to changes in sand‐sized organic matter pools. As bulk density decreased, the overall SOC stocks in the upper 60 cm exhibited a SOC loss of nearly 0.6 t C (ha · y)^?1 after correction by the equivalent soil mass method. This loss was most pronounced for sandy soils [?0.73 t SOC (ha · y)^?1], and less pronounced for loamy soils [?0.64 t SOC (ha · y)^?1]; silty soils revealed the smallest reduction in SOC [?0.3 t SOC (ha · y)^?1]. Losses of SOC occurred even with the overall humus balances having increased positively from about 20 kg C (ha · y)^?1 (2003–2005) to about 133 kg C (ha · y)^?1 (2005–2013) due to an improved organic fertilization and intercropping. We conclude that current management may fail to raise overall SOC stocks. In our study area SOC stocks even continued to decline, despite humus conservation practice, likely because past land use conversions (before 2005) still affect SOC dynamics.     

Evidence of plaggen soils in SW Norway

This study aimed at clarifying whether a notable group of soils of the Jæren region, SW Norway, with deep humus‐rich top soils support a man‐made genesis. Four sites were investigated. The soils are characterized by thick top soils of 45, 70, 80, and 90 cm, which are enriched in soil organic matter and often also in artifacts, like fragments of potter's clay, indicating an anthropogenic origin. Soil pH ranges from 5.4 to 6.2 (H₂O) and 4.4 to 5.3 (CaCl₂), respectively. Soil organic C (SOC) contents range from 6.4 to 51.6 g kg^?1 and N contents vary between 0 and 2.9 g kg^?1. Increased P contents of up to 2,924.3 mg kg^?1 total P (P_t) and 1,166.4 mg kg^?1 citric acid‐soluble phosphorus (P_c) in the humus‐rich top soils support the assumption of an anthropogenic influence. Although many characteristics indicate an anthropogenic genesis, one soil lacks the required depth of 50 cm of a plaggen horizon and cannot be classified as Plaggic Anthrosol (WRB) and Plagganthrept (US Soil Taxonomy). As the requirement is 40 cm in the German system, all soils can be classified as Plaggenesch. The formation of these soils is related to human activity aiming at increasing soil fertility and overcoming the need of bedding material, the basic aims of the plaggen management in Europe. Highest P contents ever found for this kind of soils and references from the literature indicate that the formation of the soils in Norway started at Viking time, hence, being older than most other Plaggic Anthrosols.     

Characterization of organic matter fractions in the top layer of soils under different land uses in Central‐Eastern Europe

The objective of this study was to investigate differences in organic matter fractions, such as dissolved organic carbon and humic substances, in soils under different land uses. Soil samples were collected from the upper layer of arable lands and grasslands. Humic substances (HS) were chemically fractionated into fulvic acids (FA), humic acids (HA) and humins (HUM), and based on the separated fractions, the humification index (HI) and the degree of HS transformation (DT) were calculated. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was determined by cold (CWE) and hot water (HWE) extractions. Regardless of land use, the results indicated significant differences in soil organic carbon (SOC) and HS composition, with HA and HUM as the dominant fractions. Total SOC was higher in grassland (median = 17.51 g kg^?1) than arable soils (median = 9.98 g kg^?1); the HI and DT indices did not differ significantly between land uses (HI = 0.3–10.3 and DT = 0.2–6.2 for grasslands, p > 0.05; HI = 0.3–3.9 and DT = 0.2–20.1 for arable lands, p > 0.05). This indicates the relatively high stability of organic carbon and efficient humification processes in both land uses. Additionally, in arable soils lower CWE‐C (0.75 g kg^?1) and higher HWE‐C (2.59 g kg^?1) than in grasslands (CWE‐C = 1.13 g kg^?1, HWE‐C = 1.60 g kg^?1) can be related to farming practice and application of soil amendments. The results showed that both labile and humified organic matter are better protected in grassland soils and are consequently less vulnerable to mineralization.     

Comparing NaOH‐extractable organic matter of acid forest soils that differ in their pedogenic trends: a pyrolysis‐GC/MS study

Soil organic matter (SOM) in Alu‐andic Andosols and Alu‐humic Umbrisols is believed to accumulate because of the protection caused by binding to aluminium (Al). We investigated soils that differed in the abundance of organo‐Al complexes to determine the effect of such binding on SOM chemistry. For this, the surface horizons of three types of acid soils in the Basque Country (northern Spain) under forest stands were studied: (i) Alu‐andic Andosols (AND soils) on basalts and trachytes, (ii) Umbrisols or so‐called ‘aluminic’(ALU) soils also on basalts and trachytes and (iii) soils with a podzolizing trend (POD), on quartzites. Values of Al extractable with sodium pyrophosphate (Al_p) in the surface horizons of these soils ranged between 8.5 and 13.1, 1.9 and 9.3, and 0.8 and 3.7 g kg^?1 dry weight, for the AND, ALU and POD soils respectively. For POD and ALU soils, surface horizons were sampled at two depths, 0–5 and 5–20 cm, whereas the AND soils were sampled at different depths down to the B horizon. NaOH‐extractable SOM from three AND soils, 12 ALU soils and 12 POD soils was studied by pyrolysis‐gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The POD soils had the largest loads of plant‐derived markers (lignin, long‐chain alkanes and alkenes, methyl ketones, fatty acids); SOM of the AND soils had the smallest amounts of plant‐derived SOM and the largest amounts of microbial products (microbial sugars and N‐compounds) of the soils studied. ALU soils had an intermediate pattern, as expected. The results indicate that the SOM of Alu‐andic Andosols, developed from basalt and trachyte rocks, is essentially dissimilar to that of soils derived from quartz‐rich parent material, under the same climate conditions and similar forest stands. The dominance of secondary (microbial‐derived) SOM in Alu‐andic Andosols, also observed in previous research on Sil‐andic Andosols (these are dominated by short‐range ordered Si compounds in contrast to the dominance of organo‐Al complexes in Alu‐andic Andosols), reveals the small contribution of primary (plant‐derived) material to SOM in soils with andic properties.     

Sodium hypochlorite oxidation reduces soil organic matter concentrations without affecting inorganic soil constituents

Oxidative treatment can isolate a stable organic matter pool in soils for process studies of organic matter stabilization. Wet oxidation methods using hydrogen peroxide are widely used for that purpose, but are said to modify poorly crystalline soil constituents. We investigated the effect of a modified NaOCl oxidation (pH 8) on the mineral composition of 12 subsoils (4.9–38.2 g organic C kg^?1) containing varying amounts of poorly crystalline mineral phases, i.e. 1.1–20.5 g oxalate‐extractable Fe kg^?1, and of different phyllosilicate mineralogy. Post‐oxidative changes in mineral composition were estimated by (i) the determination of elements released into the NaOCl solution, (ii) the difference in dithionite‐ and oxalate‐extractable Si, Al and Fe, and (iii) the specific surface areas (SSAs) of the soils. The NaOCl procedure reduced the organic C concentrations by 12–72%. The amounts of elements released into the NaOCl extracts were small (≤ 0.14 g kg^?1 for Si, ≤ 0.13 g kg^?1 for Al, and ≤ 0.03 g kg^?1 for Fe). The SSA data and the amounts of dithionite‐ and oxalate‐extractable elements suggest that the NaOCl oxidation at pH 8 does not attack pedogenic oxides and hydroxides and only slightly dissolves Al from the poorly crystalline minerals. Therefore, we recommend NaOCl oxidation at pH 8 for the purpose of isolating a stable organic matter pool in soils for process studies of organic matter stabilization.     

13C NMR studies of organic matter in whole soils: H. A case study of some Rothamsted soils

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra were obtained for solid samples of whole soils from three long–term field sites at Rothamsted Experimental Station, UK. In all sites, soil organic matter content was either increasing or decreasing due to contrasted long–continued treatments. Two soils were from Highfield, one from under old grassland (47 g organic C kg^?1) and one from an area kept as bare fallow following ploughing of grass 21 years previously (14 g organic C kg^?1). Three soils were taken from Broadbalk, two from plots within the Broadbalk Continuous Wheat Experiment which had received no fertilizer or animal manure annually for 148 years (7 and 27 g organic C kg^?1, respectively) and one from Broadbalk Wilderness, wooded section (38 g organic C kg^?1). Broadbalk Wilderness was arable until 1881 and has reverted to deciduous woodland in the subsequent 110 years. Two soils were from Geescroft, one from an arable field (9 g organic C kg^?1) and one from Geescroft Wilderness (35 g organic C kg^?1) which began reversion to deciduous woodland at the same time as Broadbalk Wilderness but is now acid (pH = 4.2) in contrast to Broadbalk which is calcareous (pH = 7.3). Solid–state ¹³C NMR spectra were obtained on a 300–MHz instrument using cross polarization (CP) and magic angle spinning (MAS). All samples exhibited peaks in the following spectral regions: 0–45 ppm (alkyl), 45–60 ppm (methoxyl, carbohydrate and derivatives), 60–110 ppm (carbohydrates and derivatives, C–α of peptides), 110–160 ppm (aromatics) and 160–185 ppm (carboxyl groups and derivatives). Within the spectrum of a specific sample it was not possible to determine the relative proportions of soil organic carbon in the different forms identified because a range of factors can potentially alter the relative areas of peaks in different regions of the spectrum. However, from a comparison of relative peak areas within a set of soils from a given site, differing only in organic matter content, information can be deduced regarding the forms of C that are more or less subject to change in response to land use or management. At all sites carbohydrate C appears to be the form that is most subject to change, suggesting that it is an ‘active’ fraction compared with the other forms. It was greatest where organic matter inputs were greatest (due to inputs of farmyard manure or reversion to woodland) and declined relative to other forms following ploughing of old grassland. Alkyl C increased as total C accumulated but did not decline relative to other forms following ploughing of grass. One reason for the non–quantitative nature of the soil ¹³C CPMAS spectra was a short (approximately 1 ms) component of the rotating–frame T_I relaxation time for H nuclei (T_1pH). This problem was not overcome by acquiring data at – 60°C. In principle, solid–state spectra of soils obtained by direct polarization (i.e. without CP) might produce quantitative results, but the low C content of most mineral soils (10–50 g C kg^?1) precludes this, given current instrumentation.     

The composition of the functional pools of labile organic matter in the zonal range of automorphic soils of the central Russian Plain

The granule-densimetric fractionation method was used to identify the characteristic features of the composition of different functional pools of labile organic matter (OM) from the automorphic soils of a zonal range from the center of the Russian Plain. Labile OM included free organic matter (FM) represented by a light fraction (LFR) of a density lower than 1.8 g/cm³ and a size larger than 53 μm, and aggregated discrete organic matter (LF_AGR1) represented by an organic matter LF of a density lower than 1.8 g/cm³ and a size smaller than 53 μm and a phytolith LF (LF_AGR2) (density 1.8–2.0 g/cm³). The composition of the fractions isolated was studied using electron microscopy, microanalysis, and chemical analysis.     

Are horticulture-based land uses benign for fertility and health of soils in mid to high hills of the north-western Himalayan region?

ABSTRACT

Soil fertility in many parts of the north?western Himalayan region (NWHR) has declined owing to accelerated nutrient mining under existing crop regime. Therefore, this study aimed to assess effect of the predominant horticulture?based land uses on soil fertility and health in mid and high hills of NWHR. Soil samples (0?20 cm) were collected, analyzed for different soil chemical attributes (pH, electrical conductivity, organic C, available primary-, secondary-, and micro-nutrients), and compared across five key land uses: perennial grass (PG), peach orchard (PO), apple orchard (AO), field vegetable farming (VF), and protected vegetable farming (PV). Soils of the investigated land uses were neutral to near neutral in soil reaction (6.3?6.8) except field vegetable and protected vegetable farming. Amount of soil organic C and labile organic C was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in soils of apple orchards (18.6 g kg^?1 and 687.3 mg kg^?1, respectively) and peach orchards (20.4 g kg^?1 and 731.3 mg kg^?1, respectively) over others. An abrupt and significant increase in Olsen-P was recorded in soils of field vegetable farming (17.1 mg kg^?1) and protected vegetable farming (13.0 mg kg^?1), which shifted their nutrient index (NI) of P in to high category (≥ 2.33). The concentration of mineralizable-N in soil was statistically at par in soils under perennial grass and fruit orchards, while protected vegetable farming showed maximum soil mineralizable-N content (115.5 mg kg^?1) and NI of nitrogen (1.83). The NI was in high category (≥ 2.33) for copper, iron, and manganese in majority of the land uses. In view of the results, temperate fruit?tree based land uses are benign in up?keeping soil fertility and soil health, and needs promotion on large scale. Additionally, policies to create incentives for the build-up of soil organic matter and replenishment of the depleted soil macro and micro nutrients in vegetable-farmed lands are warranted.     

Organic Matter Influence in Cadmium Uptake by Sorghum

Abstract

The influence of soil organic matter (OM) in the uptake of cadmium (Cd) by Sorghum will be studied in order to get a better knowledge in the yield and understanding of detoxification mechanisms of soils. Plants were grown for 60 days in a greenhouse pot experiment using a contaminated soil with 4.5 and 35 mg Cd kg^?1, in absence and presence of OM. An Irish peat moss (70 g kg^?1 of soil) was added as OM. In the presence of OM the biomass production of root and shoot was increased with a positive correlation between biomass increment and contamination level. For experiments with 35 mg Cd kg^?1 of soil the biomass production was increased of about 7 times in the presence (vs. absence) of OM. Although the presence of OM had decreased Cd root concentration by decreasing Cd bioavailability in soil, the increase of biomass in presence of OM led to an increase of about 3 times on the Cd amount in shoot, result that can be important in soil phytoremediation.     

Soil organic matter accumulation, litter decomposition and humus forms under mediterranean-type forests in southern Tuscany, Italy

The amount of organic matter and rate of litter decomposition in relation to vegetation type under mediterranean-type forests in southern Tuscany was studied. Since existing concepts are largely based on studies of soils on calcareous substrates in this region, particular attention was paid to soils on non-calcareous materials. The humus type and distribution at five sites on acid metamorphic rocks and at one site on dolomitic limestone with different vegetation types was investigated. The input of above-ground litter was also determined. On the metamorphic rocks, clear trends in humus profile development could be observed from deciduous through sclerophyllous to coniferous vegetation: there was a decrease in litter nitrogen content (9.3 to 5.8 g N kg^?1 DM), an increase in the amount of organic matter in ectorganic layers (2.53 to 4.66 kg m^?2), a decrease in the decay constant k (0.26 ± 0.02 to 0.17 ± 0.03 a^?1), and a decrease in soil faunal activity. The results indicate that, under eu-mediterranean to sub-mediterranean forests, decomposition rates are comparable to those under temperate deciduous forests, and that the dominant humus form is a leptomoder. The spatial variation in the amount of organic matter within the plots was considerable, and was related to vegetation type.     

Internal nitrogen cycling in two humic-rich acidic soils

Surface samples (0–10 cm) of two equally-acidic soils (pH 4.5) exhibited very different net N mineralization rates. In an andic soil, it was negligible despite a high (46%) organic matter content, whereas it was appreciable in a colluvial soil of lower (14%) organic matter content. During incubation experiments no NO^?₃ was observed in the andic soil, whereas nitrification occurred in the colluvial soil. Incorporation of added ¹⁵NH₄ is much higher in the andic soil, despite no greater biological immobilization than in the colluvial soil.Added ¹⁵NO₂^? and nitrapyrin experiments showed that incorporation of inorganic-N into the organic fraction of the andic soil can also proceed via a chemical pathway, NO₂^? self-decomposition and fixation on organic matter. This can be a limitation to NO₃^? appearance in this soil. The protective effect of amorphous aluminium is also considered to lower mineralization of organic-N. These two mechanisms could be responsible for low concentration of inorganic-N in many aluminous humic-rich acidic soils.     

Soil Fertility Index,Soil Evaluation Factor,and Microbial Indices under Different Land Uses in Acidic Soil of Humid Subtropical India

A study was conducted to examine the impact of land use on soil fertility in an Entisol in the Jalpaiguri District of humid subtropical India. The natural forest served as a control against which changes in soil properties were compared. Soil samples were collected from four different depths (0–25, 25–50, 50–75, and 75–100 cm) of soil from four land uses (viz. forest, home garden, arecanut plantation, and agriculture) and examined for pH, organic carbon (OC), electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity, available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), exchangeable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), aluminum (Al), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) and dehydrogenase activity (DHA). Soil pH (5.7), OC (2.29%), N (386 kg ha^?1), and P (22.54 kg ha^?1) were greatest in forest soil, followed by soil from arecanut plantation, agriculture, and home garden. The greatest Ca (0.892 cmol kg^?1), Mg (0.527 cmol kg^?1), and Al (1.86 cmol kg^?1) were found in the arecanut plantation, whereas K (0.211 cmol kg^?1) was greatest in forest. The greatest content of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid–extractable copper, zinc, manganese, and iron (2.25, 1.66, 4.86, and 7.65 ppm, respectively) were found in forest. MBC (558 mg kg^?1), MBN (26.67 mg kg^?1), and DHA (33.03 μg TPF 24 h^?1 g^?1) was greatest in forest soil. Soil fertility index varied from 13.13 in arecanut plantation to 18.49 in forest. The soil evaluation factor ranged from 5.32 in agriculture to 6.56 in forest. Pearson's correlation matrix revealed strongly significant positive correlation of soil fertility index and soil evaluation factor with soil properties.     

Impact of land use on soil organic carbon stocks in the humid tropics of NE Tanzania

The conversion of tropical forests to agricultural land use is considered as a major cause for a decline in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. However, the extent and impact of different land uses on SOC stock development is highly uncertain, especially for tropical Africa due to a lack of reliable data. Interactions of SOC with the soil mineral phase can modify the susceptibility of SOC to become mineralized. Pedogenic Fe‐, Al‐oxides and clay potentially affect SOC stabilization in highly weathered soils typically found in the humid tropics. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of different land uses on SOC stock on such soils. For that purpose, 10 pedologically similar, deeply weathered acidic soils (Acrisols, Alisols) in the Eastern Usambara Mountains (Amani Nature Reserve, NE Tanzania) under contrasting land use were sampled to a depth of 100 cm. The calculated mean SOC stocks were 17.5 kg C m^?2, 16.8 kg C m^?2, 16.9 kg C m^?2, and 20.0 kg C m^?2 for the four forests, two tea plantations, three croplands, and one homegarden, respectively. A significant difference in mean SOC stock of 1.3 kg C m^?2 was detected between forest and cropland land use for the 0–10 cm depth increment. No further significant impacts of land use on SOC stocks were observed. All soils have a clearly clay‐dominated texture. They are characterized by high content of pedogenic oxides with 29 to 47 g kg^?1 measured for the topsoils and 36 to 65 g kg^?1 for the subsoils. No positive significant relationship was found between SOC and clay content. Statistically significant positive relationships existed between oxalate‐extractable Fe, Al, and SOC content for cropland soils only. Compared to data published in literature the SOC stocks determined in our study were generally high independent of the established land use. It appears that efficient SOC stabilization mechanisms are counteracting the higher disturbance regime under agricultural land use in these highly weathered tropical soils.     

Response of phosphorus fractions to land-use change followed by long-term fertilization in a sub-alpine humid soil of Qinghai–Tibet plateau

Purpose

Identification of phosphorus (P) species is essential to understand the transformation and availability of P in soil. However, P species as affected by land use change along with fertilization has received little attention in a sub-alpine humid soil of Tibet plateau.

Materials and methods

In this study, we investigated the changes in P species using Hedley sequential fractionation and liquid-state ³¹P-NMR spectroscopy in soils under meadow (M) and under cropland with (CF) or without (CNF) long-term fertilization for 26 years in a sub-alpine cold-humid region in Qinghai–Tibet plateau.

Results and discussion

Land-use change and long-term fertilization affected the status and fractions of P. A strong mineralization of organic P (OP) was induced by losing protection of soil organic matter (SOM) and Fe and Al oxides during land-use change and resulted in an increase of orthophosphate (from 56.49 mg kg^?1 in M soils to 130.07 mg kg^?1 in CNF soils) and great decreases of orthophosphate diesters (diester-P, from 23.35 mg kg^?1 in M soils to 10.68 mg kg^?1 in CNF soils) and monoesters (from 336.04 mg kg^?1 in M soils to 73.26 mg kg^?1 in CNF soils). Long-term fertilization boosted P supply but failed to reclaim soil diester-P (from 10.68 mg kg^?1 in CNF soils to 7.79 mg kg^?1 in CF soils). This may be due to the fragile protection from the combination of SOM with diester-P when long-term fertilization had only improved SOM in a slight extent.

Conclusions

These results suggest that SOM plays an important role in the soil P cycling and prevents OP mineralization and losses from soil. It is recommended that optimization of soil nutrient management integrated with SOM was required to improve the P use efficiency for the development of sustainable agriculture.

     

长江三角洲地区土壤环境质量与修复研究 Ⅳ.多环芳烃在土壤不同有机质组分中分配特征的研究

多环芳烃(PAHs)在土壤不同活性有机质库中的分配会影响它们在土壤中的迁移和生物有效性。本研究采用土壤有机无机复合体的分组方法,分离出以游离态有机物质存在的轻组和以有机无机复合体存在的重组,研究了15种美国环境保护署(USEPA)优控的PAHs在土壤轻组和重组以及重组结合态腐殖质不同组分中的分配特征。结果表明,轻组中PAHs总量的含量范围为1.30×104~1.07×105μg kg-1,远远高于PAHs总量的含量为221.7~297.8μg kg-1的重组。土壤中轻组的含量虽然只有0.4%~2.3%,但它结合的PAHs量却占土壤中PAHs总量的31.5%~69.5%。重组中PAHs含量主要分布在紧结态腐殖质中,占重组PAHs总量71.2%~87.2%。结合态腐殖质不同组分中PAHs的含量与它们有机碳的含量呈显著性正相关(p<0.01),紧结态腐殖质对PAHs的富集能力显著高于稳结态和松结态腐殖质。PAHs污染土壤的环境风险可能主要在于轻组结合的PAHs。     

Novel Fertilizer as an Alternative for Supplying Manganese and Boron to Soybeans

Soybean (Glycine max) commonly experience Mn deficiencies in the coarse-textured soils of Coastal Plain Virginia, especially under high pH conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of a novel coated fertilizer to provide Mn and B to soybeans in soils where Mn deficiency is common and B deficiency, although far less common than with Mn, is possible. A 60-d greenhouse experiment was conducted with three treatments: control, uncoated KCl, and Mn +B coated KCl applied to Bojac and Dragston sandy loams. Soil and whole plant tissue samples were collected throughout the experiment. Bojac and Dragston soils treated with the coated KCl contained 12.0 mg kg^?1 and 15.8 mg kg^?1 more Mehlich 1 – Mn, 21.7 mg kg^?1 and 23.0 mg kg^?1 more Mehlich 3 Mn, and 4.5 mg kg^?1 and 4.6 mg kg^?1 CaCl₂ – Mn than the control and uncoated KCl, respectively. Coated KCl increased above ground tissue Mn by 42.9 mg kg^?1 compared to the control and the uncoated KCl treatments in the Bojac soil, while the Dragston soil showed no significant differences in Mn tissue concentration between treatments. Above ground tissue, Mn was much lower in the Dragston soil than the Bojac, probably due to greater organic matter which chelates Mn keeping it less plant available. Boron concentrations did not differ in plant tissue or soil, regardless of the extraction method. Results indicate that the coated KCl product could consistently provide increased Mn concentration in acidic sandy soils despite varying levels of organic matter, but is not effective for B.     

Phosphorus source,organic matter,and arbuscular mycorrhiza effects on growth and mineral acquisition of chickpea grown in acidic soil

Abstract

Plants grown in acidic soil usually require relatively high amounts of available phosphorus (P) to optimize growth and productivity, and sources of available P are often added to meet these requirements. Phosphorus may also be made available at relatively high rates in native soil when roots are colonized with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Addition of P to soil usually reduces root‐AMF colonization and decreases beneficial effects ofAMF to plants. In glasshouse experiments, soil treatments of P [0 P (Control), 50 mg soluble‐P kg^?1 as KH₂PO₄ (SP), and 200 mg P kg^?1 as phosphate rock (PR)], organic matter (OM) at 12.5 g kg^?1, AMF (Glomus darum), and various combinations of these (OM+SP, OM+PR, AMF+SP, AMF+PR, AMF+OM, AMF+OM+SP, and AMF+OM+PR) were added to steam treated acidic Lily soil (Typic Hapludult, pH_w=5.8) to determine treatment effects on growth and mineral acquisition by chickpea (Cicer areitinum L.). The various treatment applications increased shoot dry matter (DM) above the Control, but not root DM. Percentage AMF‐root colonization increased 2‐fold or more when mycorrhizal plants were grown with AMF, OM+SP, and OM+PR. Regardless of P source, plant acquisition of P, sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and potassium (K) was enhanced compared to the Control, and mineral enhancement was greater in PR compared to SP plants. Mycorrhizal plants also had enhanced acquisition of macronutrients. OM+SP and OM+PR enhanced acquisition of P, K, and Mg, but not Ca. Concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Al were generally lower than Controls in SP, RP, AMF+PR, AMF+SP, and OM plants, and mycorrhizal plants especially had enhanced micronutrients. Relative agronomic effectiveness values for shoot DM and shoot P, Ca, and Mg contents were considerably higher for PR, including OM+PR, AMF+PR, and AMF+OM+PR, than for SP. PR and OM applications to AMF plants are low‐cost attractive and ecologically sound alternatives to intensive use of P fertilizers for crops grown in acidic soils.     

Effect of organic matter applications on 13C-NMR spectra of humic acids of soil

Much attention has been paid to improving soil fertility with organic matter (OM) application, which not only deals with organic wastes and protects the environment, but also maintains soil fertility and increases crop yields. Much research has also been on the effects of OM applications on the soil’s physical, chemical and biological properties, but relatively less attention has been spent on humic substance (HS). In order to clarify the mechanism of improving soil fertility by applying OM, we analysed the changes of structural characteristics of humic acid (HA) from OM applications to soils by ¹³C‐NMR, chemical analysis, thermal analysis, optical properties, IR and fluorescence spectroscopy. Samples of a brown soil (Paleudalf) and a paddy soil (an anthropogenic soil originating from Udifluvents) were collected from the plough layer of the long‐term field experiment at Shenyang Agricultural University and Liaoning Provincial Alkali‐Saline Soil Institute, respectively. Both field experiments included three treatments each: (i) brown soil, zero‐treatment (CK_br) and two pig manure (PM) applications (O₁ and O₂) at annual rates of 0.9 t ha^?1 and 1.8 t ha^?1 of organic carbon, respectively; and (ii) paddy soil, zero‐treatment (CK_pad), pig manure (O_p) and rice straw (O_r) at annual rates of 2.62 t ha^?1 and 1.43 t ha^?1 of organic carbon, respectively. An incubation experiment was also carried out to test the field experiment on the brown soil, namely four treatments: zero‐treatment (CK_c), and three pig manure applications at rates of 30 g kg^?1 (C₁), 50 g kg^?1 (C₂) and 70 g kg^?1 (C₃), respectively. The total incubation was 180 days. The results indicated that number‐average molecular weights (M_n), total acidity, aromaticity, excitation maximum wavelength (λ_Exmax), and the heat ratio of the high to moderate temperature exothermic regions (H₃/H₂) of the HA all decreased after OM application. The degree of activation (AD), the absorption intensity ratio of 2920 cm^?1 to 1720 cm^?1 in infrared spectra (IR_2920/1720), alkyl C and O‐alkyl C of the HA increased. The HA structure tended to become simpler and more aliphatic.