Soil organic matter and sorption capacity under different soil management practices in a productive vineyard

The effect of soil organic matter (SOM) on sorptive parameters under different soil management practices in Rendzic Leptosol was studied. In 2006, an experiment of different management practices in a productive vineyard was established in the locality of Nitra-Dra?ovce (Slovakia). The following treatments were established: (1) control (grass without fertilization), (2) T (tillage), (3) T + FYM (tillage + farmyard manure), (4) G + NPK3 (grass + 3rd intensity of fertilization for vineyards), (5) G + NPK1 (grass + 1st intensity of fertilization for vineyards). Soil samples were collected every month during the year 2010. Obtained results showed increased hydrolytic acidity (by 23%), sum of basic cations (by 37%) and decreased total cation exchange capacity (CEC) (by 36%) with higher doses of fertilization in comparison to control. Application of farmyard manure had a positive effect on the increase in the SOM cation sorption capacity. Positive correlations between pH and sum of basic cations (SBC) (r = 0.493, p ≤ 0.001), CEC (r = 0.498, p ≤ 0.001) and cation sorption capacity of SOM (r = 0.391, p ≤ 0.01) were observed. Higher values of labile carbon:potentially mineralizable nitrogen (C_L:N_pot) ratio corresponded with lesser CEC, SBC and base saturation values in the soil. With increased humus quality (higher values of humic acid:fulvic acid (C_HA:C_FA) ratio), cation sorption capacity of SOM significantly increased (r = 0.329, p ≤ 0.01). The results of this study proved that the application of farmyard manure had a positive effect on the increase of SOM sorption capacity, but higher doses of mineral fertilizers added to soil had a negative effect.     

施肥对土壤有机碳含量及碳库管理指数的影响

在华北夏玉米生产体系中,采用田间试验,研究了不同施肥措施下（不施肥、单施有机肥、推荐施肥、习惯施肥和单施化肥）,土壤有机碳含量、活性有机碳含量和碳库管理指数的变化。结果表明:与不施肥相比,单施有机肥土壤有机碳和活性有机碳含量分别增加 11.68%,21.71%。推荐施肥和习惯施肥土壤有机碳含量分别增加 6.57%,7.58%,活性有机碳含量分别增加 8.53%,4.26%。单施化肥土壤有机碳与活性有机碳含量均没有显著增加;施有机肥和推荐施肥土壤碳库管理指数比不施肥分别高 31.79,13.01。单施化肥土壤碳库管理指数没有显著变化;土壤活性有机碳与总有机碳、碳库管理指数、玉米子粒产量均存在极显著相关关系。碳库管理指数与玉米子粒产量极显著相关,能够指示土壤生产力的变化。可见在当地土壤肥力条件下,施有机肥或有机无机适当配施能提高土壤有机碳含量和土壤碳库管理指数,有利于改善土壤质量,提高土壤肥力。     

Soil organic matter in water-stable aggregates under different soil management practices in a productive vineyard

In a productive vineyard, the influence of different soil management practices on carbon sequestration and its dynamic in water-stable aggregates of Rendzin Leptosol was studied. In 2006, an experiment of different management practices in a productive vineyard was established in the locality of Nitra-Dra?ovce, in the Nitra winegrowing area of Slovakia. The following treatments were established: (1) control (grass without fertilization); (2) T (tillage); (3) T + FM (tillage + farmyard manure); (4) G + NPK3 (grass + NPK 120–55–195 kg ha^?1); and (5) G + NPK1 (grass + NPK 80–35–135 kg ha^?1). The results showed that the lowest soil organic matter content (9.70 g kg^?1) in water-stable microaggregates was determined in G + NPK3, as well as in T. However, the highest soil organic matter content in the highest size fractions of water-stable macroaggregates (>5 mm) was observed in T + FM (19.7 g kg^?1). The highest value for carbon sequestration capacity in water-stable microaggregates was observed in the ploughed farmyard manure treatment. However, the control treatment showed the highest values for carbon sequestration capacity in water-stable macroaggregates, including agronomically favourable size fractions (0.5–3 mm). In all soil management practices under a productive vineyard the most intensive changes in the soil organic matter content were observed in the highest size fractions (>3 mm) of water-stable macroaggregates.     

Soil dissolved organic carbon responses to sugarcane straw removal

Global demand for bioenergy increases interest in biomass‐derived fuels, as ethanol from sugarcane straw. However, straw is the main carbon source to soil and its removal reduces C input, affecting active fractions (dissolved organic carbon, DOC) and C storage. To quantify the effects of straw removal on DOC and C stocks, we built lysimeter system using soil (Rhodic Kandiudox) from sugarcane field. We evaluated four soil depths (1, 20, 50 and 100 cm) and four straw removal rates: no removal NR, medium MR, high HR and total TR, leaving 12, 6, 3 and 0 Mg/ha on the soil surface, respectively. After rainfall, drainage water was collected and analysed for DOC content. Soil C stocks were determined after the 17‐month. Total DOC released at 1‐cm depth amounted to 606, 500, 441 and 157 kg/ha in NR, MR, HR and TR, respectively. Net‐DOC suggests straw as the main source of DOC. Most of DOC in NR (50%) was retained within the 1–20 cm layer, resulting in higher C stock (10 Mg/ha) in the topsoil. In HR and MR, DOC retention was higher within 20–50 cm, suggesting differences in DOC composition. DOC in TR was 40% higher at 20 cm than at 1 cm, indicating C losses from topsoil. Low concentrations of DOC were found at 100‐cm depth, but representing 30% in TR. Straw removal for bioenergy production is sustainable, but we should leave at least 3 Mg/ha of straw to ensure DOC production and soil C storage, taking account the DOC contribution to key soil functions.     

Effects of tillage depth on organic carbon content and physical properties in five Swedish soils

The soil tillage system affects incorporation of crop residues and may influence organic matter dynamics. A study was carried out in five 15–20 year old tillage experiments on soils with a clay content ranging from 72 to 521 g kg⁻¹. The main objective was to quantify the influence of tillage depth on total content of soil organic carbon and its distribution by depth. Some soil physical properties were also determined. The experiments were part of a series of field experiments all over Sweden with the objective of producing a basis to advise farmers on optimal depths and methods of primary tillage under various conditions. Before the experimental period, all sites had been mouldboard ploughed annually for many years to a depth of 23–25 cm. Treatments included primary tillage to 24–29 cm depth by mouldboard plough (deep tillage) and to 12–15 cm by field cultivator or mouldboard plough (shallow tillage). Dry bulk density, degree of compactness and penetration resistance profiles clearly reflected the depth of primary tillage and substantially increased below that depth. Compared to deep tillage, shallow tillage increased the concentration of organic carbon in the surface layer but decreased it in deeper layers. Total quantity of soil organic carbon and carbon–nitrogen ratio were unaffected by the tillage depth. Thus, a reduction of the tillage depth from about 25 cm to half of that depth would appear to have no significant effect on the global carbon cycle.     

Short-term responses of soil nutrients and corn yield to tillage and organic amendment

Field experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2011 at the Agricultural College of Shiraz University to evaluate the effects of cattle manure and nitrogen (N) fertilizers on soil properties such as soil organic carbon (SOC), soil organic nitrogen (SON), soil electrical conductivity, soil pH and corn yield under two tillage systems. Treatments included tillage systems in two levels as conventional tillage and reduced tillage as subplots, cattle manure (0, 25 and 50 tons ha^?1) and N fertilizer (0, 125 and 250 kg N ha^?1) as sub-subplots. Results showed that SOC and SON were significantly affected by tillage system in both years of the experiment. SOC and SON were higher in reduced tillage compared to conventional tillage. Tillage system had no significant effect on grain yield, plant height and 1000 seed weight. Increased cattle manure rates at 25 and 50 tons ha^?1 increased grain yield by 27% and 38%, respectively, in 2010 and 25% and 25% in 2011. The results showed that application of cattle manure combined with N fertilizer might be an efficient management to increase soil productivity in southern Iran, in soils with poor organic content. Additionally, reduced tillage showed to be an efficient method to increase soil organic matter.     

Long‐term effects of tillage,nutrient application and crop rotation on soil organic matter quality assessed by NMR spectroscopy

Crop and land management practices affect both the quality and quantity of soil organic matter (SOM) and hence are driving forces for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. The objective of this study was to assess the long‐term effects of tillage, fertilizer application and crop rotation on SOC in an agricultural area of southern Norway, where a soil fertility and crop rotation experiment was initiated in 1953 and a second experiment on tillage practices was initiated in 1983. The first experiment comprised 6‐yr crop rotations with cereals only and 2‐yr cereal and 4‐yr grass rotations with recommended (base) and more than the recommended (above base) fertilizer application rates; the second experiment dealt with autumn‐ploughed (conventional‐till) plots and direct‐drilled plots (no‐till). Soil samples at 0–10 and 10–30 cm depths were collected in autumn 2009 and analysed for their C and N contents. The quality of SOM in the top layer was determined by ¹³C solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. The SOC stock did not differ significantly because of rotation or fertilizer application types, even after 56 yr. However, the no‐till system showed a significantly higher SOC stock than the conventional‐till system at the 0–10 cm depth after the 26 yr of experiment, but it was not significantly different at the 10–30 cm depth. In terms of quality, SOM was found to differ by tillage type, rate of fertilizer application and crop rotation. The no‐till system showed an abundance of O‐alkyl C, while conventional‐till system indicated an apparently indirect enrichment in alkyl C, suggesting a more advanced stage of SOM decomposition. The long‐term quantitative and qualitative effects on SOM suggest that adopting a no‐tillage system and including grass in crop rotation and farmyard manure in fertilizer application may contribute to preserve soil fertility and mitigate climate change.     

Assessment of soil organic matter mineralization under various management practices

ABSTRACT

Mineralization is the main organic matter conversion process, which leads not only to preservation of organic matter in the soil but also to its sequestration. Soil organic matter has equal value as mineral part if we want to improve soil quality or increase the yield. Because of intensive farming, irresponsible use of mineral fertilizers and natural factors, soil organic matter is decreasing. To counteract this process, different soil-friendly management practices and techniques, such as shallow tillage, no-tillage or direct drilling and application of additional organic matter are used. The objective of the present study was to assess the changes in the intensity of soil organic matter mineralization as influenced by primary soil tillage of different intensity in combination with organic matter incorporation. Long-term studies showed that land management practices differentiated the soil into two layers: upper (0–10?cm) layer containing more moisture and nutrients and lower (10–20?cm) layer comprising less moisture and nutrients. The conditions of aeration in the arable soil layer did not change under the effect of ploughing. In this soil, the rate of mineralization was lower than that in the ploughless tillage treatment. The most active mineralization of soil organic matter in the ploughless tillage treatment occurred in the autumn period, when high level of rainfall promoted the loss of nutrients from the topsoil layer.     

Short-Term Impacts of Gray Water Irrigation on Soil Characteristics in Land-Treatment Vegetation Filters

This study on soil quality parameters was conducted from December 2008 to July 2010 to see the short-term impacts of gray water irrigation on physical and chemical properties of soil. The results envisaged slight positive impacts of wastewater irrigation on upper soil layers (0–30 cm) with an increase in soil organic matter (SOM) from 1.45% to 1.89% and nutrient content increases from 199 to 267 kg ha^?1 nitrogen (N), from 12.4 to 27.1 kg ha^?1 phosphorus (P), and from 131 to 136 kg ha^?1 potassium (K). Slight changes were also recorded in the soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC), which increased from 6.39 to 6.81 and 145 to 229 μS cm^?1 respectively, in the upper soil layers. The soil bulk density (BD) slightly decreased to 1.34 g cm³ in the treatment plot from 1.45 g cm³ at the commencement of the trial, which indicates good soil conditioning under the gray water irrigation trial.     

Characterization of Compost Based on Crop Residues: Changes in Some Chemical and Physical Properties of the Soil after Applying the Compost as Organic Amendment

The objectives of the present study were to make a physical, physicochemical, and biological characterization of compost obtained from crop residues of horticultural plants grown in greenhouses and to assess the physical and chemical responses of a soil tested after the applications of this organic amendment. The compost showed a high percentage of inorganic material because the source of this compost includes not only crop residues but also soil; for this reason, it had high coarseness index (CI), electrical conductivity (EC), and pH. The application of the organic amendment to a soil with reduced bulk density (BD) increased the percentage of particles with large diameters, as well as increased the nutritional status and organic matter (OM). However, nitrogen and potassium levels in soil were low. Compost addition provoked an increase in soil EC, which restricts its use to salt-tolerant plants.     

不同封育年限草地土壤有机质组分及其碳库管理指数

土壤有机质对草地封育的生态效应具有重要指示作用,本文结合野外调查和室内分析,研究了半干旱区不同封育年限草地土壤有机质组分及其碳库管理指数变化,以分析土壤有机质对草地封育的响应特征,从而为该区土壤质量的改善和植被建设的生态效应评价提供依据。研究结果表明,土壤有机质及不同活性有机质含量均随土层加深而降低,且在各土层基本表现出封育18年、封育23年封育13年未封育封育3年的趋势。除封育3年土壤的3种活性有机质碳库管理指数在090cm土壤剖面均低于100外,封育13年草地060cm土层、封育18和23年草地090cm土层的3种活性有机质碳库管理指数均高于100,表明随年限的延长,封育对土壤有机质的改善深度也在加深。土壤3种活性有机质与有机质及多数土壤性质呈极显著正相关,能更为灵敏和直观地表征土壤管理的长期效应和土壤质量变化。     

Effect of long-term beef manure application on soil test phosphorus,organic carbon,and winter wheat yield

In this study, 24 years (1990–2013) of data from a long-term experiment, in Stillwater, Oklahoma (OK), were used to determine the effect of beef manure on soil test phosphorus (STP), soil organic carbon (SOC), and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield. Beef manure was applied every 4 years at a rate of 269 kg nitrogen (N) ha^?1, while inorganic fertilizers were applied annually at 67 kg N ha^?1, 14.6 kg phosphorus (P) ha^?1, and 27.8 kg potassium (K) ha^?1 for N, P, and K, respectively. Averaged across years, application of beef manure, and inorganic P maintained STP above 38 mg kg^?1 of Mehlich-3 extractable P, a level that is far beyond crop requirements. A more rapid decline in SOC was observed in the check plot compared to the manure-treated plot. This study shows that the application of animal manure is a viable option to maintaining SOC levels, while also optimizing grain yield.     

Quantifying and simulating carbon and nitrogen mineralization from diverse exogenous organic matters

The potential contributions of exogenous organic matters (EOMs) to soil organic C and mineral N supply depend on their C and N mineralization, which can be assessed in laboratory incubations. Such incubations are essential to calibrate decomposition models, because not all EOMs can be tested in the field. However, EOM incubations are resource-intensive. Therefore, easily measurable EOM characteristics that can be useful to predict EOM behaviour are needed. We quantified C and N mineralization during the incubation of 663 EOMs from five groups (animal manures, composts, sewage sludges, digestates and others). This represents one of the largest and diversified set of EOM incubations. The C and N mineralization varied widely between and within EOM subgroups. We simulated C and N mineralization with a simple generic decomposition model. Three calibration methods were compared. Individual EOM calibration of the model yielded good model performances, while the use of a unique parameter set per EOM subgroup decreased the model performance, and the use of two EOM characteristics to estimate model parameters gave an intermediate model performance (average RMSE-C values of 32, 99 and 65 mg C g⁻¹ added C and average RMSE-N values of 50, 126 and 110 mg N g⁻¹ added N, respectively). Because of the EOM variability, individual EOM calibration based on incubation remains the recommended method for predicting most accurately the C and N mineralization of EOMs. However, the two alternative calibration methods are sufficient for the simulation of EOMs without incubation data to obtain reasonable model performances.     

Water-stable aggregates and organic matter pools in a calcareous vineyard soil under four soil-surface management systems

Abstract. Vineyards in Champagne, France are generally situated on slopes where the soils are subject to erosion. Therefore it is important to find a soil‐surface management practice that protects the soil against water erosion. We assessed the potential of mulches or grass covers to stabilize soil aggregates in a calcareous sandy loam from a vineyard in Champagne after 9 years under different management systems. Four different treatments were studied: (i) a bluegrass (Poa pratensis) surface cover between the vine rows (GC) with bare soil under the vines (R); two organic mulches of (ii) coniferous (CB) or (iii) poplar (PB) bark that covered the entire soil surface, and (iv) bare soil between the rows as a control. The bark amendments were applied every 3 years at rates of 61 and 67 t ha^?1 for the PB and CB treatments, respectively. The kinetics of soil disaggregation in water fitted a power law (A=K t^?D), in which K was the fraction of water‐stable >200 μm aggregates remaining after 1 hour of wet‐sieving. In the 0–5 cm layer, aggregate stability was greater for GC (K=21.7), CB (K=15.2) and PB (K=13.6) than for the control (K=10.5) and R (K=11.8). In the 0–20 cm layer, CB also stabilized soil aggregates (K=14.0–15.0); but PB did not. Structural stability was more strongly related to total organic carbon (R²=0.64, P <0.001) than to microbial biomass carbon (R²=0.54, P<0.001). A bluegrass cover enhanced structural stability in the 0–5 cm and 0–20 cm layers (K=14.2), probably because of intense root development and rhizodeposition enhancing microbially produced metabolites, such as carbohydrates. Establishing grass cover or applying bark mulch are effective agricultural practices that improve soil aggregate stability and thus should reduce soil erosion. The vegetative growth of the vines was greater on the soils amended with bark mulches and less on the grass covered soils compared with the control soil; however, no difference in wine quality was observed among the different treatments.     

Soil aggregation and organic carbon in short-term stockpiles

Surface mining is known to drastically reduce soil organic carbon (OC) pools through various mechanisms associated with topsoil salvage, stockpiling and respreading. Stockpiling is an important management practice; however, the effects of this practice on reductions and recovery of soil aggregation and aggregate OC are poorly understood. Objectives of this research were to monitor soil aggregation and aggregate OC in the surface of a short‐term stockpile (<3 yr) followed by a second movement of stockpiled soils to a temporary location. Samples were analysed for aggregate size distribution, aggregate fractions, OC, and organic matter turnover using ¹³C natural abundance. Macroaggregate proportions increased and microaggregate proportions decreased after 3 yr of storage, possibly indicating recovery of soil structure. Following the removal of the stockpile and placement in a temporary pile, macroaggregation decreased and free silt and clay fractions increased relative to initially stockpiled soils. The second disturbance resulted in greater destruction of aggregate structure than the initial disturbance during topsoil salvage. Aggregate organic matter (as indicated by OC) increased significantly between the early sampling of the stockpiled soils (<1 yr in storage) and the placement of the topsoil in a temporary pile in macroaggregates and remained the same for microaggregates. Organic matter not protected within aggregates decreased with storage time as this material was available for utilization by microbes while aggregate protected organic matter (OM) remained unchanged or slightly increased for macro‐ and microaggregates with stockpile storage time. Aggregate δ¹³C values did not indicate inclusion of new OM within soil aggregates after 3 yr of topsoil stockpiling. Short‐term stockpiling was beneficial for aggregation in the surface layers where plant roots and microbial communities were active; however, subsequent movement of the topsoil resulted in a greater loss of soil aggregation relative to the initial topsoil salvage without impacting soil OC.     

长期施肥对土壤有机碳和无机碳的影响

利用18年长期定位试验,研究了在不同施肥条件下,土壤有机碳和无机碳在0~50 cm土层分布特征。结果表明,施肥对土壤有机碳的影响随着土层深度的增加而下降,0~7.5 cm土层的土壤有机碳比7.5~15 cm、15~30 cm、30~50 cm分别增加了4.6%、22.0%、63.1%,而无机碳含量随着土层深度的增加而增加,与有机碳的变化规律正好相反。不同种类的肥料对土壤有机碳的影响也不相同,化肥、有机肥长期配合施用和长期施用有机肥可以在0~30 cm土层增加土壤有机碳含量,降低土壤中的无机碳含量,而长期单施化肥对土壤的有机碳和无机碳含量无明显差异。     

不同培肥方式对土壤有机碳与微生物群落结构的影响

为揭示旱作区耕地土壤有机碳累积规律及其与土壤微生物群落间的相互作用机制,试验采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)指纹图谱及土壤腐殖质形态分组的方法,通过田间定位试验,研究了马铃薯-马铃薯-油用向日葵-马铃薯-油用向日葵轮作模式下,有机、无机肥配施(不施肥、单施化肥、化肥配施牛粪、化肥配施羊粪、化肥配施生物有机肥、化肥配施黄腐酸钾)对土壤有机碳累积、土壤腐殖质形态的影响及其与土壤微生物群落结构间的相互关系。结果表明:在连续培肥5年间,随培肥时间延长,土壤有机碳呈波动性上升趋势。与对照相比,化肥配施牛粪、化肥配施羊粪处理土壤有机碳以年6.61%和8.97%的增长率累积增加,不同处理外源有机碳含量及有机肥种类的差异影响了土壤有机碳的累积速率。化肥配施高量有机肥(化肥+羊粪、化肥+牛粪)处理显著提高了土壤稳结态、松结态腐殖质含量及松结态/紧结态腐殖质的比例,且以PLFA表征的土壤细菌、真菌、放线菌、原生动物、土壤微生物群落总生物量与对照处理间均有显著性差异(P0.05)。与对照相比,各施肥处理的革兰氏阳性菌/革兰氏阴性菌(G+/G-)值均呈降低趋势;但不同有机无机相结合的土壤培肥方式对土壤G+/G-的比例没有显著差异。多元分析表明,基于土壤微生物主要类群磷脂脂肪酸含量的排序轴与基于土壤有机碳、腐殖质形态的排序轴之间相关性(P1=0.568,P2=0.611)较好,累积变量在98.69%上揭示不同有机无机培肥措施影响下的土壤微生物群落生物量与环境因子间的相互关系。土壤松结态腐殖质含量与土壤G+/G-比值正相关。外源有机碳的施入促进了土壤紧结态腐殖碳向稳结态、松结态腐殖质转化;较高量外源有机碳施入有助于提升土壤细菌、真菌的生物量。总体而言,土壤微生物群落结构的变化是受有机无机培肥措施所引起的土壤有机碳含量、腐殖质形态变化驱动;化肥配施牛粪和化肥配施羊粪有利于土壤有机碳积累和松结态腐殖质的形成,促进土壤中微生物生物量提高。研究结果可为宁夏中部干旱区土壤合理培肥提供科学依据。     

长期保护性耕作提高土壤大团聚体含量及团聚体有机碳的作用

【目的】团聚体形成被认为是土壤固碳的最重要机制。本文以河南豫西地区长期耕作试验为研究对象,研究了长期保护性耕作对土壤团聚体性质及土壤有机碳(SOC)含量的影响,为探讨土壤固碳机理,优化黄土高原坡耕地区农田耕作管理措施,实现土壤固碳减排、培肥土壤提供理论依据。【方法】长期耕作试验开始于1999年,试验处理有免耕覆盖(NT)、深松覆盖(SM)和翻耕(CT)。利用湿筛法筛分第3年(2002年)和第13年(2011年)0—10cm和10—20 cm土层中,2000、250~2000、53~250和53μm级别的水稳性团聚体,计算团聚体平均质量直径(MWD),并测定了各级别团聚体的有机碳(SOC)含量。【结果】1)连续13年免耕覆盖和深松覆盖显著提高了土壤表层0—10 cm的SOC含量,分别比翻耕增加了33.47%和44.48%。2011年免耕覆盖和深松覆盖SOC含量较2002年上升了1.92%和8.59%,翻耕下降了18.97%。2)与翻耕相比,免耕覆盖和深松覆盖2000μm团聚体含量显著提高了40.71%和106.75%;53~250μm团聚体含量显著降低了19.72%和22.53%;团聚体平均质量直径显著提高了20.55%和39.68%,显示了土壤结构的明显改善。3)免耕覆盖和深松覆盖显著提高了表层土壤所有团聚体有机碳的含量,尤其以2000μm团聚体提升最多。与翻耕相比,2000μm团聚体有机碳分别提高了40.0%和27.6%。4)免耕覆盖和深松覆盖下表层土壤大团聚体有机碳含量随耕作年限增加,微团聚体有机碳随耕作年限降低。2000μm的土壤团聚体有机碳含量2011年较2002年分别升高了23.93%和7.12%,53~250μm微团聚体有机碳含量分别下降了19.58%和13.27%。【结论】长期保护性耕作(包括免耕覆盖和深松覆盖)可显著提高表层土壤大团聚体含量,降低微团聚体含量,提高团聚体的水稳性,改善土壤结构。同时可增加土壤团聚体有机碳含量,提高土壤肥力。长期保护性耕作在河南豫西丘陵地区是一种较为合理的耕作方式。     

Incorporation of C-labeled rice-straw-derived carbon into microbial communities in submerged rice field soil and percolating water

Rice straw is a major organic material applied to rice fields. The microorganisms growing on rice-straw-derived carbon have not been well studied. Here, we applied ¹³C-labeled rice straw to submerged rice soil microcosms and analyzed phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) in the soil and percolating water to trace the assimilation of rice-straw-derived carbon into microorganisms. PLFAs in the soil and water were markedly enriched with ¹³C during the first 3 days of incubation, which indicated immediate incorporation of rice-straw-derived carbon into microbial biomass. The enrichment of PLFAs in the percolating water with ¹³C suggested that microorganisms other than the population colonizing rice straw also assimilated rice-straw-derived carbon or that some bacterial groups were selectively released from the straw. The microbial populations could be categorized into two communities based on the carbon isotope data of the PLFAs: those derived from rice straw and those derived from soil organic matter (SOM). The composition of the PLFAs from the two communities differed, which indicated the assimilation of rice-straw-derived carbon by a subset of microbial populations. The composition of rice-straw-derived PLFAs in the percolating water was also distinct from that in the soil.