Phospholipid fatty acid composition of microbiota in the percolating water from a rice paddy microcosm

The microbiota in the percolating water from the plow layer soil in paddy fields was studied based on the composition of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) in a pot experiment. The mean concentrations of PLFAs in the percolating water were 17±5 and 11±4 µg L^-1 in the planted and non-planted pots, respectively. The dominant PLFAs in the percolating water were 16: 0, 16: 1ω7c, 18: 1ω7, 18: 1ω9, il5: 0, and ail5: 0 PLFAs in both the planted and non-planted pots. The dominance percentage of 18: 3ω6c and 17: 1ω8 PLFAs increased at the late stage of rice growth in the planted pots. The percolating water from the planted pots contained in a higher percentage of straight mono-unsaturated PLFAs and a lower percentage of branched-chain PLFAs than that from the non-planted pots. Considerable differences in the PLFA composition in the percolating water were observed between the planted and non-planted treatments and with the duration of the growth period. Principal component analysis indicated that the microbiota in the percolating water was derived from the microbiota in the floodwater and in the plow layer soil. Cluster analysis showed that the similarity of the PLFA composition in the percolating water to the PLFA composition in the plow layer soil was higher than that in the floodwater. The stress factor that was estimated from the trans/cis ratio of 16: 1ω7 PLFA was 0.08±0.04 and 0.14±0.05 in the percolating water from the planted and non-planted pots, respectively, which indicated that the degree of stress on the microbiota in the percolating water from the planted pots was low in a similar way to the degree of stress on the microbiota in the floodwater, while the degree in the percolating water from the non-planted pots was similar to that in the plow layer soil, respectively.     

Effect of CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> on nitrification and immobilization of NH<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript>-N

A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted to demonstrate that reduced availability of CO₂ may be an important factor limiting nitrification. Soil samples amended with wheat straw (0%, 0.1% and 0.2%) and (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ (200 mg N kg^–1 soil, 2.213 atom% ¹⁵N excess) were incubated at 30±2°C for 20 days with or without the arrangement for trapping CO₂ resulting from the decomposition of organic matter. Nitrification (as determined by the disappearance of NH₄⁺ and accumulation of NO₃^–) was found to be highly sensitive to available CO₂ decreasing significantly when CO₂ was trapped in alkali solution and increasing substantially when the amount of CO₂ in the soil atmosphere increased due to the decomposition of added wheat straw. The co-efficient of correlation between NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–-N content of soil was highly significant (r =0.99). During incubation, 0.1–78% of the applied NH₄⁺ was recovered as NO₃^– at different incubation intervals. Amendment of soil with wheat straw significantly increased NH₄⁺ immobilization. From 1.6% to 4.5% of the applied N was unaccounted for and was due to N losses. The results of the study suggest that decreased availability of CO₂ will limit the process of nitrification during soil incubations involving trapping of CO₂ (in closed vessels) or its removal from the stream of air passing over the incubated soil (in open-ended systems).     

Influences of organic debris and rice root on the nitrogen fixation in the submerged soil

Abstract

A series of experiments has been conducted on the N2 fixation in the paddy soils by the authors (1–4). The amount of organic substrates for microorganisms and the degree of reduction of the soil are found to be two major factors affecting the N₂-fixing activity of the heterotrophic microorganisms in the submerged soil. Organic debris, rice root and their neighboring soils are identified to be the important micro-sites for the heterotrophic N₂ fixers. The organic debris and the rice root are considered to play dual roles by supplying the organic substances; (1) increase of the population of the heterotrophic N₂ fixers—the amount of nitrogenase, (2) preparation of the reduced conditions favorable for the nitrogenase activity.

However, it is not yet clearly known which of these two roles of the organic substrates is more essential to the N₂-fixing activity in the paddy soil. In addition, it is expected that there must be some differences between the organic debris and rice root in their contribution to the N₂ fixation in the paddy soil.

An experiment was carried out to clarify these problems. Moist soil sample was collected from the plough layer of the paddy field at Central Agric. Exp. Sta. in Konosu City, Saitama Pref., passed through a 5 mm sieve and placed in pots (3 kg moist soil/pot). Ammonium sulfate, calcium superphosphate, and potassium chloride at the rate of 0.4-0.4-0.4 (N-P₂O₅-K₂0) g/pot were incorporated into the soil 7 days before transplanting. Split application of ammonium sulfate at the rates of 0.2 and 0.4 g N/pot were also incorporated at 30 and 41 days after transplanting respectively. These pots were divided into three series; planted (P-series), non-planted (N-series), and non-planted and applied with organic manure (O-series). In case of O-series, 60 g of fairly rotted organic manure was applied to each pot. Each pot of P-series was planted with two 4O-day-old seedlings of rice plant at 7 days after submergence. The Nseries was regarded as a control. Each series was not replicated in this preliminary experiment.     

Estimating N transfers between N<Subscript>2</Subscript>-fixing actinorhizal species and the non-N<Subscript>2</Subscript>-fixing<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Prunus avium</Emphasis> under partially controlled conditions

Two methods of N transfer between plants—by litter decomposition and root-to-root exchange—were examined in mixed plantations of N-fixing and non-fixing trees. Nitrogen transfers from decaying litters were measured by placing ¹⁵N-labelled litters from four actinorhizal tree species around shoots of containerized Prunus avium. Nitrogen transfers by root-to-root exchanges were measured after foliar NO₃-¹⁵N fertilization of Alnus subcordata and Elaeagnus angustifolia growing in containers in association with P. avium. During the first 2 years of litter decomposition, from 5–20% of the N, depending on the litter identity, was released and taken up by P. avium. N availability in the different litters was strongly correlated with the amount of water-soluble N, which was highest in leaves of E. angustifolia. In the association between fixing and non-fixing plants, 7.5% of the A. subcordata N and 25% of E. angustifolia N was transferred to P. avium by root exchange. These results showed that the magnitude of N transfers by root exchange depended on the associated N₂-fixing species. Among the species investigated, E. angustifolia displayed the highest capacity for exudating N from roots as well as for releasing N from litters. These qualities make this tree a promising species for enhancing wood yields in mixed stands.     

Evaluation of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate as a nitrification inhibitor in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrus</Emphasis>-cultivated soil

 The objectives of this work were to evaluate the inhibitory action on nitrification of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) added to ammonium sulphate nitrate [(NH₄)₂SO₄ plus NH₄NO₃; ASN] in a Citrus-cultivated soil, and to study its effect on N uptake. In a greenhouse experiment, 2 g N as ASN either with or without 0.015 g DMPP (1% DMPP relative to NH₄ ⁺-N) was applied 6 times at 20-day intervals to plants grown in 14-l pots filled with soil. Addition of DMPP to ASN resulted in higher levels of NH₄ ⁺-N and lower levels of NO₃ ^–-N in the soil during the whole experimental period. The NO₃ ^–-N concentration in drainage water was lower in the ASN plus DMPP (ASN+DMPP)-treated pots. Also, DMPP supplementation resulted in greater uptake of the fertilizer-N by citrus plants. In another experiment, 100 g N as ASN, either with or without 0.75 g DMPP (1% DMPP relative to NH₄ ⁺-N) was applied to 6-year-old citrus plants grown individually outdoors in containers. Concentrations of NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N at different soil depths and N distribution in the soil profile after consecutive flood irrigations were monitored. In the ASN-amended soil, nitrification was faster, whereas the addition of the inhibitor led to the maintenance of relatively high levels of NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N in soil for longer than when ASN was added alone. At the end of the experiment (120 days) 68.5% and 53.1% of the applied N was leached below 0.60 m in the ASN and ASN+DMPP treatments, respectively. Also, leaf N levels were higher in plants fertilized with ASN+DMPP. Collectively, these results indicate that the DMPP nitrification inhibitor improved N fertilizer efficiency and reduced NO₃ ^– leaching losses by retaining the applied N in the ammoniacal form. Received: 31 May 1999     

Comparing microbial biomass, denitrification enzyme activity, and numbers of nitrifiers in the rhizospheres of Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies and Betula pendula seedlings by microscale methods

 Flushes of C and N from fumigation-extraction (FE-C and FE-N, respectively), substrate-induced respiration (SIR), denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) and numbers of NH₄ ⁺ and NO₂ ^– oxidizers were studied in the rhizospheres of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce [(Picea abies (L.) Karsten] and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings growing in soil from a field afforestation site. The rhizosphere was defined as the soil adhering to the roots when they were carefully separated from the rest of the soil in the pots, termed as "planted bulk soil". Soil in unplanted pots was used as control soil. All seedlings had been grown from seed and had been infected by the natural mycorrhizas of soil. Overall, roots of all tree species tended to increase FE-C, FE-N, SIR and DEA compared to the unplanted soil, and the increase was higher in the rhizosphere than in the planted bulk soil. In the rhizospheres tree species did not differ in their effect on FE-C, FE-N and DEA, but SIR was lowest under spruce. In the planted bulk soils FE-C and SIR were lowest under spruce. The planted bulk soils differed probably because the roots of spruce did not extend as far in the pot as those of pine and birch. The numbers of both NH₄ ⁺ and NO₂ ^–oxidizers, determined by the most probable number method, were either unaffected or decreased by roots, with the exception of the spruce rhizosphere, where numbers of both were increased. Received: 26 August 1998     

Response of CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> oxidation and methanotrophic diversity to NH<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript> and CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> mixing ratios

Methane oxidising activity and community structure of 11, specifically targeted, methanotrophic species have been examined in an arable soil. Soils were sampled from three different field plots, receiving no fertilisation (C), compost (G) and mineral fertiliser (M), respectively. Incubation experiments were carried out with and without pre-incubation at elevated CH₄ mixing ratios (100 ml CH₄ l⁻¹) and with and without ammonium (100 mg N kg⁻¹) pre-incubation. Four months after fertilisation, plots C, G and M did not show significant differences in physicochemical properties and CH₄ oxidising activity. The total number of methanotrophs (determined as the sum the 11 specifically targeted methanotrophs) in the fresh soils was 17.0×10⁶, 13.7×10⁶ and 15.5×10⁶ cells g⁻¹ for treatment C, G and M, respectively. This corresponded to 0.11 to 0.32% of the total bacterial number. The CH₄ oxidising activity increased 10⁵-fold (20–26 mg CH₄ g⁻¹ h⁻¹), the total number of methanotrophs doubled (28–76×10⁶ cells g⁻¹) and the methanotrophic diversity markedly increased in treatments with a pre-incubation at elevated CH₄ concentrations. In all soils and treatments, type II methanotrophs (62–91%) outnumbered type I methanotrophs (9–38%). Methylocystis and Methylosinus species were always most abundant. After pre-incubation with ammonium, CH₄ oxidation was completely inhibited; however, no change in the methanotrophic community structure could be detected.     

Effect of soil water status and mulching on N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> emission from lowland rice field in China

Cultivation of rice in unsaturated soils covered with mulch is receiving more attention in China because of increasingly serious water shortage; however, greenhouse gas emission from this cultivation system is still poorly understood. A field experiment was conducted in 2001 to compare nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) emission from rice cultivated in unsaturated soil covered with plastic or straw mulch and the traditional waterlogged production system. Trace gas fluxes from the soil were measured weekly throughout the entire growth period using a closed chamber method. Nitrous oxide emissions from unsaturated rice fields were large and varied considerably during the rice season. They were significantly affected by N fertilizer application rate. In contrast, N₂O emission from the waterlogged system was very low with a maximum of 0.28 mg N₂O m^–2 h^–1. However, CH₄ emission from the waterlogged system was significantly higher than from the unsaturated system, with a maximum emission rate of 5.01 mg CH₄ m^–2 h^–1. Our results suggested that unsaturated rice cultivation with straw mulch reduce greenhouse gas emissions.     

Effect of bulk density and soil water tension on denitrification in the rhizosphere of spring wheat (Triticum vulgare

Summary Pot experiments were carried out to study the influence of bulk density (D _b), soil water tension (pF) and presence of plants (spring wheat) on denitrification in a low-humus B_t-horizon of a udalf. Pots of only 5-cm depth were found to be most suitable for the experiments when using the acetylene inhibition method. Almost homogeneous soil compaction between 1.1 and 1.6g soil cm^–3 was achieved by a Proctor tamper. Water tensions were adjusted by means of ceramic plates on which negative pressure was applied. No denitrification was detected in unplanted pots. With planted pots and increasing bulk density denitrification increased more in pots with 14-day-old plants than in pots with 7-day-old plants. With 14-day-old plants N₂O emission pot^–1 increased steadily from 2 mol at D _b 1.1 to 8 mol at D _b 1.6, when soil moisture was adjusted to pF 1.5, although root growth was impaired by higher bulk density. From an experiment with different bulk densities and water tensions it could be deduced that the air-filled porosity ultimately determined the rate of denitrification. When low water tension was applied for a longer period, water tension had an overriding effect on total denitrification. Denitrification intensity, however, i.e. the amount of N₂O g^–1 root fresh weight, was highest when low water tension was accompanied by high bulk density. The results suggest that the increase in denitrification intensity at oxygen stress is partly due to higher root exudation.     

Stimulation of methane oxidation by CH<Subscript>4</Subscript>-emitting rose chafer larvae in well-aerated grassland soil

In this study, the impact of rose chafer (Cetonia aurata L.) larvae on net and gross methane (CH₄) fluxes in soil from an old permanent grassland site (Giessen, Germany) was investigated. Previous studies at this site suggested the existence of Scarabaeidae larvae-induced “CH₄-emitting hot spots” within the soil profile which may subsequently lead to increased CH₄ oxidation. The net (soil + larvae) and gross (soil and larvae separated) CH₄ fluxes were studied in a 3-month laboratory incubation. Addition of larvae changed the soil from a net sink (?330 ± 11 ng CH₄ kg^?1 h^?1) to a net source (637 ± 205 ng CH₄ kg^?1 h^?1). Supply of plant litter to the soil + larvae incubation jars tended to increase CH₄ emissions which was not significant due to large variability. After 11–13 weeks of incubation, the net soil CH₄ oxidation was significantly stimulated by 13–21% in the treatments containing larvae when these were taken out. Analysis of archaeal 16S rRNA genes revealed that the majority of the obtained clones were closely related to uncultured methanogens from guts of insects and other animals. Other sequences were relative to cultivated species of Methanobrevibacter, Methanoculleus, and Methanosarcina. Hence, Scarabaeidae larvae in soils (i) may represent an underestimated source of CH₄ emissions in aerobic upland soils, (ii) may stimulate gross CH₄ consumption in their direct soil environment, and, thus, (iii) contribute to the spatial heterogeneity often observed in the field with closed-chamber measurements. Long-term CH₄-flux balances may be wrongly assessed when “exceptional” net CH₄ flux rates (due to larvae hot spots) are excluded from data sets.     

Effects of biochar addition on N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O and CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> emissions from two paddy soils

Impacts of biochar addition on nitrous oxide (N₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from paddy soils are not well documented. Here, we have hypothesized that N₂O emissions from paddy soils could be depressed by biochar incorporation during the upland crop season without any effect on CO₂ emissions. Therefore, we have carried out the 60-day aerobic incubation experiment to investigate the influences of rice husk biochar incorporation (50 t ha⁻¹) into two typical paddy soils with or without nitrogen (N) fertilizer on N₂O and CO₂ evolution from soil. Biochar addition significantly decreased N₂O emissions during the 60-day period by 73.1% as an average value while the inhibition ranged from 51.4% to 93.5% (P < 0.05–0.01) in terms of cumulative emissions. Significant interactions were observed between biochar, N fertilizer, and soil type indicating that the effect of biochar addition on N₂O emissions was influenced by soil type. Moreover, biochar addition did not increase CO₂ emissions from both paddy soils (P > 0.05) in terms of cumulative emissions. Therefore, biochar can be added to paddy fields during the upland crop growing season to mitigate N₂O evolution and thus global warming.     

Plant biomass influences rhizosphere priming effects on soil organic matter decomposition in two differently managed soils

We used a continuous labeling method of naturally ¹³C-depleted CO₂ in a growth chamber to test for rhizosphere effects on soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition. Two C3 plant species, soybean (Glycine max) and sunflower (Helianthus annus), were grown in two previously differently managed soils, an organically farmed soil and a soil from an annual grassland. We maintained a constant atmospheric CO₂ concentration at 400±5 ppm and δ¹³C signature at −24.4‰ by regulating the flow of naturally ¹³C-depleted CO₂ and CO₂-free air into the growth chamber, which allowed us to separate new plant-derived CO₂-C from original soil-derived CO₂-C in soil respiration. Rhizosphere priming effects on SOM decomposition, i.e., differences in soil-derived CO₂-C between planted and non-planted treatments, were significantly different between the two soils, but not between the two plant species. Soil-derived CO₂-C efflux in the organically farmed soil increased up to 61% compared to the no-plant control, while the annual grassland soil showed a negligible increase (up to 5% increase), despite an overall larger efflux of soil-derived CO₂-C and total soil C content. Differences in rhizosphere priming effects on SOM decomposition between the two soils could be largely explained by differences in plant biomass, and in particular leaf biomass, explaining 49% and 74% of the variation in primed soil C among soils and plant species, respectively. Nitrogen uptake rates by soybean and sunflower was relatively high compared to soil C respiration and associated N mineralization, while inorganic N pools were significantly depleted in the organic farm soil by the end of the experiment. Despite relatively large increases in SOM decomposition caused by rhizosphere effects in the organic farm soil, the fast-growing soybean and sunflower plants gained little extra N from the increase in SOM decomposition caused by rhizosphere effects. We conclude that rhizosphere priming effects of annual plants on SOM decomposition are largely driven by plant biomass, especially in soils of high fertility that can sustain high plant productivity.     

Distribution of assimilated carbon in the system <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites australis</Emphasis>-waterlogged peat soil after carbon-14 pulse labelling

 Short-term (3–6 days) and long-term (27 days) laboratory experiments were carried out to determine the distribution of assimilated C in the system Phragmites australis (common reed)-waterlogged fen soil after ¹⁴C pulse labelling. The investigated system of fen plants and anaerobic organic soil showed different patterns of assimilated ¹⁴C distribution when compared to systems with cultivated plants and aerobic mineral soil. Between 90% and 95% of the ¹⁴C in the system was found in the reed plants. A maximum of 2% of the assimilated plant ¹⁴C was released from the fen soil as CO₂ and about 5–9% remained in the soil. The ¹⁴C remaining in the waterlogged fen soil of the reed plant had the same amount as that of a cultivated plant in mineral soil, despite lower ¹⁴C-release (i.e. rhizodeposition and root respiration) from reed roots. Assuming that root respiration of fen plants is low, this indicates that microbial C turnover in waterlogged fen soil is much slower than in mineral soil. The estimated quantity of the assimilated C remaining in the soil was of an ecologically relevant order of magnitude. Received: 8 July 1999     

Short-term uptake of <Superscript>15</Superscript>NH<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript> into soil microbes and seedlings of pine,spruce and birch in potted soils

Short-term competition between soil microbes and seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) for N was assessed in a pot study using (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ as a tracer. Seedlings were grown in organic and mineral soil, collected from a podsol soil; 3.18 mg (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ per pot were injected into the soil, corresponding to 4 µg ¹⁵N g^-1 d.m. (dry matter) mineral soil and 17 µg ¹⁵N g^-1 d.m. organic soil. The amounts of N and ¹⁵N in the seedlings and in microbial biomass derived from fumigation-extraction were measured 48 h after addition of ¹⁵N. In the mineral soil, 19–30% of the added ¹⁵N was found in the plants and 14–20% in the microbial biomass. There were no statistically significant differences between the tree species. In the organic soil, 74% of the added ¹⁵N was recovered in the microbial biomass in birch soil, compared to 26% and 17% in pine and spruce soils, respectively. Correspondingly, about 70% of the ¹⁵N was recovered in pine and spruce seedlings, and only 23% in birch seedlings. In conclusion, plants generally competed more successfully for added ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ than soil microbes did. An exception was birch growing in organic soil, where the greater amount of available C from birch root exudates perhaps enabled micro-organisms to utilise more N.     

Soil N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emissions and N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O/(N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O+N<Subscript>2</Subscript>) ratio as affected by different fertilization practices and soil moisture

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the chemical nature and application frequency of N fertilizers at different moisture contents on soil N₂O emissions and N₂O/(N₂O+N₂) ratio. The research was based on five fertilization treatments: unfertilized control, a single application of 80 kg ha⁻¹ N-urea, five split applications of 16 kg ha⁻¹ N-urea, a single application of 80 kg ha⁻¹ N–KNO₃, five split applications of 16 kg ha⁻¹ N–KNO₃. Cumulative N₂O emissions for 22 days were unaffected by fertilization treatments at 32% water-filled pore space (WFPS). At 100% and 120% WFPS, cumulative N₂O emissions were highest from soil fertilized with KNO₃. The split application of N fertilizers decreased N₂O emissions compared to a single initial application only when KNO₃ was applied to a saturated soil, at 100% WFPS. Emissions of N₂O were very low after the application of urea, similar to those found at unfertilized soil. Average N₂O/(N₂O+N₂) ratio values were significantly affected by moisture levels (p = 0.015), being the lowest at 120% WFPS. The N₂O/(N₂O+N₂) ratio averaged 0.2 in unfertilized soil and 0.5 in fertilized soil, although these differences were not statistically significant.     

Seasonal dynamics of leaf- and root-derived C in arctic tundra mesocosms

We investigated contributions of leaf litter, root litter and root-derived organic material to tundra soil carbon (C) storage and transformations. ¹⁴C-labeled materials were incubated for 32 weeks in moist tussock tundra soil cores under controlled climate conditions in growth chambers, which simulated arctic fall, winter, spring and summer temperatures and photoperiods. In addition, we tested whether the presence of living plants altered litter and soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition by planting shoots of the sedge Eriophorum vaginatum in half of the cores. Our results suggest that root litter accounted for the greatest C input and storage in these tundra soils, while leaf litter was rapidly decomposed and much of the C lost to respiration. We observed transformations of ¹⁴C between fractions even when total C appeared unchanged, allowing us to elucidate sources and sinks of C used by soil microorganisms. Initial sources of C included both water soluble (WS) and acid-soluble (AS) fractions, primarily comprised of carbohydrates and cellulose, respectively. The acid-insoluble (AIS) fraction appeared to be a sink for C when conditions were favorable for plant growth. However, decreases in ¹⁴C activity from the AIS fraction between the fall and spring harvests in all treatments indicated that microorganisms consumed recalcitrant C compounds when soil temperatures were below 0 °C. In planted leaf litter cores and in both planted and unplanted SOM cores, the greatest amounts of ¹⁴C at the end of the experiment were found in the AIS fraction, suggesting a high rate of humification or accumulation of decay-resistant plant tissues. In unplanted leaf litter cores and planted and unplanted root litter cores most of the ¹⁴C remaining at the end of the experiment was in the AS fraction suggesting less extensive humification of leaf and root detritus. Overall, the presence of living plants stimulated decomposition of leaf litter by creating favorable conditions for microbial activity at the soil surface. In contrast, plants appeared to inhibit decomposition of root litter and SOM, perhaps because of microbial preferences for newer, more labile inputs from live roots.     

Does accelerated soil organic matter decomposition in the presence of plants increase plant N availability?

Plant roots can increase microbial activity and soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition via rhizosphere priming effects. It is virtually unknown how differences in the priming effect among plant species and soil type affect N mineralization and plant uptake. In a greenhouse experiment, we tested whether priming effects caused by Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) and Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) grown in three different soil types increased plant available N. We measured primed C as the difference in soil-derived CO₂-C fluxes between planted and non-planted treatments. We calculated “excess plant available N” as the difference in plant available N (estimated from changes in soil inorganic N and plant N pools at the start and end of the experiment) between planted and non-planted treatments. Gross N mineralization at day 105 was significantly greater in the presence of plants across all treatments, while microbial N measured at the same time was not affected by plant presence. Gross N mineralization was significantly positively correlated to the rate of priming. Species effects on plant available N were not consistent among soil types. Plant available N in one soil type increased in the P. fremontii treatment but not in the P. ponderosa treatment, whereas in the other two soils, the effects of the two plant species were reversed. There was no relationship between the cumulative amount of primed C and excess plant available N during the first 107 days of the experiment when inorganic N was still abundant in all planted soils. However, during the second half of the experiment (days 108-398) when soil inorganic N in the planted treatments was depleted by plant N uptake, the cumulative amount of primed C was significantly positively correlated to excess plant available N. Primed C explained 78% of the variability in plant available N for five of the six plant-soil combinations. Excess plant available N could not be predicted from cumulative amount of primed C in one species-soil type combination. Possibly, greater microbial N immobilization due to large inputs of rhizodeposits with low N concentration may have reduced plant available N or we may have underestimated plant available N in this treatment because of N loss through root exudation and death. We conclude that soil N availability cannot be determined by soil properties alone, but that is strongly influenced by root-soil interactions.     

Changes in CH<Subscript>4</Subscript> production during different stages of litter decomposition under inundation and N addition

Purpose

Our aim was to examine linkages between mass loss, chemical transformation and CH₄ production during decomposition of leaf litters submerged under water. We hypothesised that (i) labile leaf litters would fuel a rapid, high rate of methane (CH₄) production and that recalcitrant litters would fuel long-lasting but lower emissions, (ii) leaf litters experiencing a greater alteration to chemical properties would stimulate increased CH₄ production and (iii) nitrogen (N) addition would increase CH₄ emissions.

Materials and methods

Litters from six plant species were collected from a riparian ecosystem adjacent to Wyaralong Dam, located in Queensland, Australia, i.e., Lophostemon confertus, Cynodon dactylon, Heteropogon contortus, Chamaecrista rotundifolia, Chrysocephalum apiculatum and Imperata cylindrica. We evaluated the rate of mass loss and CH₄ emissions for 122 days of incubation in inundated microcosms with and without N addition. We quantified the chemical changes in the decomposing litters with ¹³ C-cross polarization and magic angle spinning (CPMAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum.

Results and discussion

The inundation treatment of plant litters significantly affected decomposition rates. All litters decomposed in either inundated or aerobic microcosms were quite distinct with regard to the NMR spectra of their initial litters. N addition altered the NMR spectra under both inundation and aerobic conditions. The N treatment only marginally influenced the decomposition rates of I. cylindrica and C. apiculatum litters. The diurnal patterns of CH₄ production in the H. contortus, C. rotundifolia and C. apiculatum litters under inundation incubation could be expressed as one-humped curves, with the peak value dependent on litter species and N treatment. N addition stimulated CH₄ emission by C. rotundifolia and C. apiculatum litters and inhibited CH₄ emission from microcosms containing the litters of the three gramineous species, i.e., I. cylindrica, C. dactylon and H. contortus.

Conclusions

Our results provide evidence that labile leaf litters could fuel a rapid, high rate of CH₄ production and that recalcitrant litters fuelled a lower CH₄ emission. We did not find that leaf litters with altered chemical properties stimulated increased CH₄ production. We also found that N addition was able to increase CH₄ emissions, but this effect was dependent on the litter species.

     

Carbon turnover in the rhizosphere under continuous plant labeling with <Superscript>13</Superscript>CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>: Partitioning of root,microbial, and rhizomicrobial respiration

The input of labeled C into the pool of soil organic matter, the CO₂ fluxes from the soil, and the contribution of root and microbial respiration to the CO₂ emission were studied in a greenhouse experiment with continuous labeling of oat plants with ¹³CO₂ using the method of the natural ¹³C abundance in the air. The carbon of the microbial biomass composed 56 and 39% of the total amounts of ¹³C photoassimilates in the rhizosphere and in the bulk soil, respectively. The contribution of root respiration to the CO₂ emission from the soil reached 61–92%, including 4–23% of the rhizomicrobial respiration. The contribution of the microbial respiration to the total CO₂ emission from the soil varied from 8 to 39%. The soil organic matter served as the major carbon-containing substrate for microorganisms in the bulk soil and in the rhizosphere: 81–91% of the total amount of carbon involved in the microbial metabolism was derived from the soil organic matter.     

Carbon mineralization in an organic soil, with and without added grass litter, from a high-CO2 environment at a carbon dioxide spring

Both CO₂-C production and the decomposability of grass leaf litter in a gley soil from a naturally occurring CO₂ spring were previously shown to be influenced by the atmospheric CO₂ concentrations under which the soil and litter were sampled. Here we investigate C mineralization in an organic soil from very high CO₂ environments (range 1220-3900 μl l⁻¹) at the same spring, and the effect of added leaf litter on CO₂-C production. Carbon mineralization in the organic soil was unusual in two respects: (1) the proportion of labile components was very high, with more than 11% of the initial soil C being metabolized to CO₂-C after 56 d at 25 °C; (2) rates of CO₂-C production in autumn samples increased on incubation, after an initial decline. Decomposition was initially more rapid in C3 Holcus lanatus (Yorkshire fog) than in C4 Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu) litter, but differed little in samples from different atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. Overall, the effects of environmental variables on estimates of litter decomposability in the organic soil were similar to, although much less marked than, those in the gley soil. Results suggest that organic components in the organic soil were metabolized at least as readily as those of added litter during the later stages of the 56-d incubation.