Soil microbial dynamics and genetic diversity in soil under monoculture wheat grown in different long-term management systems

Organic matter incorporation into soil can increase nutrient availability to plants but it can affect soil microbial communities. These in turn influence soil fertility and plant growth. Soil biochemical and microbiological properties are indicators of soil quality, but there is still no consensus as to how these should be used. Recent developments in molecular biology have provided new tools to obtain a view of the whole microbial community. The long-term impact of crop residue management on the microbial biomass, and on the activity and community structure of soil bacteria was evaluated in a clay soil of Southern Italy, where a monoculture of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) was grown in semiarid conditions, and burning or incorporation of post harvest plant residues were typical practices. The role of N-mineral fertilization, simultaneously with the ploughing in of crop residues and during the plant growth cycle was also investigated. Total bacterial counts of viable cells, biomass C, ATP content of soil microorganisms, genetic fingerprinting of the total eubacterial community and of ammonia oxidizers were evaluated. Burning and incorporation did not affect microbial biomass C, ATP content, and total bacterial counts of viable cells although statistically relevant changes were detected among rhizosphere and bulk soil samples regardless of the crop residue management used. Molecular fingerprinting confirmed that: no significant change in the composition and diversity of total bacteria, as well as of ammonia oxidizers was induced by the crop residue managements; that soil bacteria were more sensitive to N fertilizer application during the plant growth cycle; and that rhizosphere soil samples were significantly different from those of the bulk soil. As microbiological and genetic factors related to soil fertility were not affected significantly, the long-term incorporation of crop residues, under the field conditions investigated, is a sustainable practice to manage post-harvest residues.     

Changes in soil quality due to introduction of broad-leaf trees into clear-felled Chinese fir forest in the mid-subtropics of China

Abstract. After clear-felling of a first generation Chinese fir ( Cunninghamia lanceolata ) forest, mixed stands of Chinese fir and Michelia macclurei (a broadleaf tree) (MCM), pure M. macclurei stands (PMS) and pure Chinese fir stands (PCS) were established in 1983. The effects on soil were evaluated 20 years after planting by measuring physicochemical, microbiological and biochemical parameters. Both broadleaf monoculture and mixtures of broadleaf and conifer exerted a favourable effect on soil fertility. A soil quality index (SQI) decreased in the order: PMS (0.62) > MCM (0.57) > PCS (0.41). Improvement in soil quality, enhanced biological activity and forest productivity demonstrated that mixed stands are an effective measure to maintain sustainable forest productivity, as well as to control soil degradation under successive stands of Chinese fir. In addition, since the microbiological and biochemical parameters measured were sensitive to the forest management, they may be potential indicators for assessing the sustainability of different management systems. The results also showed that total organic carbon, cation exchange capacity and microbial biomass carbon are effective indicators of the improvement or deterioration of soil quality under forest.     

稻田土壤肥力评价方法及指标研究进展

水稻土作为典型的水耕人为土,其土壤肥力是水稻优质高产的重要基础,肥力评价是稻田培肥和管理的重要内容之一。然而,稻田肥力评价指标和方法的选择存在较大不确定性。通过分析不同土壤肥力评价方法特点,土壤肥力指标的影响因素和变化特征,对我国水稻土肥力评价的现状进行了总结。在选择评价方法时应最大程度地减少人为的主观性,同时,如何将作物产量纳入土壤肥力综合评价值得进一步探讨。在对稻田土壤肥力进行综合评价时,土壤容重、总孔隙度、土壤团聚体和黏粒含量可作为土壤物理肥力指标的主要因子;土壤化学肥力指标随着施肥、耕作模式和稻作区域的差异应各有侧重;众多的土壤生物学指标中,微生物量碳氮、酶活性和微生物群落结构等需重点关注。下一步应制定一套针对不同稻作区典型施肥和耕作模式下比较完整和有代表性的评价指标体系,以及客观又简单实用的评价方法,为以水稻高产优质为目标的土壤培肥技术提供参考。     

Soil quality in east coastal region of China as related to different land use types

Purpose

The impacts of different land use practices on soil quality were assessed by measuring soil attributes and using factor analysis in coastal tidal lands. The study provided relevant references for coastal exploitation, land management and related researches in other countries and regions.

Materials and methods

Measured soil attributes include physical indicators [bulk density (ρ _b), total porosity (? _t) and water-holding capacity (WHC)], chemical indicators [pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), soil organic matter (SOM), available N, available P and available K] and biological indicators (urease activity, catalase activity and phosphatase activity), and 60 soil samples were collected within five land use types [(1) intertidal soils, (2) reclaimed tidal flat soils, (3) farmland soils, (4) suburban vegetable soils, (5) industrial area soils) in Jianggang village of Dongtai county, Jiangsu province of China.

Results and discussion

The results from the investigation indicated that selected soil properties reduced to three factors for 0–20-cm soil depth; “Soil fertility status” (factor 1), “Soil physical status” (factor 2) and “Soil salinity status” (factor 3). For the first factor, the measured soil attributes with higher loadings were TN and SOM, which represented soil fertility feature, and for the second and third factors, the measured soil attributes with higher loadings were ρ _b and available K as well as EC, which reflected soil physical properties and soil salinity feature, respectively.

Conclusions

Changes in different land use types due to plants (corn, wheat and green vegetable) and application of fertilizers were characterized by promoted soil quality, including improvements in chemical properties (increasing SOM concentration, TN and nutrient available to plants; decreasing EC), improvements in soil physical properties (decreasing ρ _b; increasing ? _t and WHC) and enhancements in soil enzyme activities. Judging from the soil quality indices, the soil quality was affected by different land use practices and decreased in sequence of suburban vegetable soils, farmland soils, industrial area soils, reclaimed tidal flat soils and intertidal soils in the study area.     

Water erosion assessment using farmers' indicators in the West Usambara Mountains, Tanzania

The contribution of local knowledge to ecological sciences has not been fully exploited: there is still a gap between the recognition of farmers' knowledge as valid and an effective use of such knowledge in activities aimed at sustainable development. This study explores the use of farmers' indicators of erosion for developing a rapid tool for water erosion assessment at field level in the West Usambara Mountains (Tanzania). Two extensive field surveys were conducted in the research area concurrently. One survey consisted of applying an established erosion assessment method, the Assessment of Current Erosion Damage (ACED). According to the erosion features observed, fields were classified into five erosion classes, from very slightly eroded to very severely eroded. The second survey consisted of recording the type and number of indicators of erosion listed by farmers and present in the fields. The number of farmers' indicators per field increased with erosion intensity, from less than four in slightly eroded fields to more than eight in severely eroded fields. All farmers' indicators were positively correlated to the ACED erosion assessment classes. However, two groups of farmers' indicators could be distinguished in terms of erosion assessment: strong indicators, which were observed in more than 70% of cases in severely eroded fields, and weak indicators, which were observed more frequently in slightly and moderately eroded fields. Weak indicators appeared to be indicative of other land degradation phenomena, such as chemical fertility decline. Strong indicators and number of indicators were used to create a field erosion assessment tool in the form of a classification tree. The tree was built using one half of the field survey data and validated using the other half. The tree consisted of a hierarchical sequence of questions. Presence of rills and number of farmers' indicators were the most important factors of the tree. The validation yielded a highly significant Spearman's rho correlation coefficient (0.81). The contingency table showed that more than 80% of very severely eroded fields were correctly classified, whereas most misclassification occurred among slightly and moderately eroded fields. Farmers include land degradation phenomena and soil fertility decline in their definition of soil erosion. Soil and water conservation planning should address this broader farmers' perception by including, e.g., soil fertility improvements beside soil conservation. The distinction between strong and weak indicators of erosion is important in recommending the right intervention in the right spot, e.g., by counteracting soil erosion where strong indicators are present and by improving chemical fertility where weak indicators are present. The classification tree is of empirical nature and may need adaptation before being applied to other areas. The proposed methodology can be easily replicated and showed a high potential to provide extensionists with a field tool for erosion assessment. The classification tree was a successful example of integrating different types of knowledge for enhancing the co-operation between stakeholders involved in the erosion-control activities.     

太行山封育区森林土壤肥力的特性研究

通过主成分分析选出 10个环境指标作为影响封育区森林土壤肥力的关键因子 ,采用聚类分析法将封育区土壤肥力划分为 4个类型 ,并对分类结果进行了检验。在对 4个土壤肥力类型综合评价的基础上 ,提出了不同肥力类型的植被恢复措施及其经营利用方向。其分析结果对合理利用、恢复土壤资源及营林有实际指导意义     

岩溶区典型根系地下生境的土壤质量分析

选择岩溶区三种不同的典型根系地下生境类型土壤为研究对象(类型Ⅵ——白云岩水平产状多层空间类型、类型Ⅸ——白云岩倾斜产状多层空间类型及类型Ⅺ——白云岩直立产状多层空间类型),根据不同类型的土壤物理、化学及生物学指标,计算土壤肥力的综合指标值,对其土壤质量进行综合分析评价。结果表明:(1)不同植物根系地下生境类型和不同空间土壤层次的土壤指标值差异极显著;(2)不同类型的土壤质量存在差异,且具有明显的层次性,土壤质量表现为白云岩倾斜产状多层空间类型最好,且三种类型的土壤质量均呈现出随土壤深度的增加而逐渐降低的趋势。该文揭示了根系地下生境的土壤质量差异,这为岩溶石漠化区的植被恢复技术研究和治理均有积极的作用。     

Soil Fertility — Phenomenon and Concept

This paper is based on an extensive review of soil fertility in the literature of soil science, agronomy and ethnic studies. The spectrum of scientific opinions on soil fertility was visualized in mind‐maps, definition types were analyzed, and problems within the conceptual approach towards soil fertility were shown. Differently oriented concepts were divided between the terms of soil fertility and soil quality. Soil fertility is not applicable as a technical term in natural sciences as it describes a definite, but dispositional (concealed), soil feature; therefore, it is not fully operationalizable for the natural sciences. Soil quality denotes undefined and interchangeable sets of appreciated soil attributes and functionalities, which are assigned by value judgements. It is a tool that integrates different soil state variables and functions in order to evaluate the capacity of a soil to do what it is expected (i.e. function) or to assess the sustainability of current land‐use practices. The phenomenon of soil fertility appears to the consciousness as an autonomous counter‐instance with its own mental and material qualities, referred to in traditional cultic cultivation. The main features of cultic cultivation of soil fertility are the uniting of the four elements, the religio towards the spiritual side of nature, the sacrificial, and the eros. A reevaluation of the soil fertility phenomenon in modern terms would be an innovative and forward‐looking research program. Practical and scientific work on soil fertility should rediscover and revive the feeling for, and apperception of, the phenomenon of soil fertility in its mental and material aspects.     

黄土旱塬地区小麦抗旱性的生理生态分析

对两个抗旱性强的旱地小麦品种和一个抗旱性弱的水地品种,在不同水肥条件下进行了生态生理学的系统比较研究.结果表明,两个旱地品种分别属于御旱力较强的旱肥型和耐旱力较强的旱薄型.它们各自形成的系统发育条件和适应干旱的方式有所不同.在黄土旱塬地区.抗旱育种指标应着重于御旱性状,各项耕作栽培措施应紧紧围绕"种好"、促进种子根下扎、培育壮苗这一中心环节.鉴定抗旱性的田间试验应采用水肥双重控制法.     

Soil microbial biomass and selected soil enzyme activities: Effect of fertilization and cropping practices

Selected microbiological properties of soils receiving different fertilizer management regimes were studied from adjoining wheat farms in the highly productive Palouse region of eastern Washington. Since 1909, the only N input to the soil of Farm Management System 1 has been through leguminous green manure crops consisting most recently of Austrian winter peas (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L., Poir), plus native soil fertility for N and all other plant nutrients. The soil of Farm Management System 2 received regular applications of anhydrous ammonia, P and S at recommended rates for the last 30 yr. There were no differences in numbers of soil microorganisms as determined by plate counts; however, soil from management system 1 had significantly higher levels of urease, phosphatase and dehydrogenase at all three samplings and significantly higher soil microbial biomass at the first two samplings. The data indicate that management system 1 soil had a larger and more active soil microflora.     

宁夏引黄灌区农田土壤酶活性及其空间变异

采集了同一地点不同土地利用方式,及不同地点不同典型土地利用类型下银川平原的灌淤土样品,在分析了土壤基本理化性质的基础上,用奈氏比色法、苯磷酸二钠比色法和高锰酸钾滴定法,分别测定了宁夏引黄灌区农田不同利用方式下土壤的磷酸酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶的活性状况,并对土壤酶活性与土壤的基本理化性质的相关性进行了相关分析。结果表明,土地利用方式对三种酶活性有很大的影响。12年果园磷酸酶活性最高,常年旱田脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性最高,而盐化旱田及常年淹水的稻田,三种酶活性都很低。脲酶活性与土壤全氮之间显著正相关,全磷与三种酶活性都极显著相关,三种酶之间达到显著或极显著正相关关系。表明磷酸酶、脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性的大小可以敏感地表征宁夏引黄灌区土壤肥力和生产力的高低。     

贵州中部岩溶丘陵区不同土地利用和管理方式对土壤肥力的影响

本文研究了黔中岩溶丘陵区几种不同士地利用和管理方式下土壤物理、化学和生物学性状的特征。结果表明,农林(林草)复合利用模式在土壤粒级组成、孔隙分布、持水性能、有机质和N、P养分、酶活性等方面表现出较好的肥力性状特征,有机无机肥配施、精细管理的灌溉农田次之,而粗放管理的旱坡耕地,土壤肥力性状严重恶化,逐步向石漠化景观演变。不同土地利用方式和管理措施显著影响土地肥力变化的程度和方向,调整土地利用结构,实行基本农田精细管理、陡坡耕地退耕还林(革)是保护土地资源,实现区域生态重建和农业可持续发展的根本途径。     

黄土高原地区水蚀风蚀交错带土壤质量综合评价

 为揭示黄土高原水蚀风蚀交错带土壤质量变化规律和总体水平,通过敏感性分析、主成分分析和相关分析,确定了研究区的土壤质量评价最小数据集,并利用综合指标和最小数据集定量评价了植被演替和不同植被恢复类型对土壤质量的影响。结果表明,研究区土壤质量评价指标最小数据集为有机质、速效磷、蔗糖酶和真菌。随着退耕年限的增加,土壤质量综合指数并非简单地线性增加,而是在演替的前15a呈现下降趋势,15a后开始呈现增加的趋势,即表现出非正U型的变化。就不同植被恢复类型而言,研究区土壤质量的排序为:刺槐林地>农地>退耕草地>油松林地>沙蒿地>柠条灌木地>杨树疏林地。所确定的土壤质量评价指标最小数据集能够反映综合评价指标的信息,评价结果具有较好的代表性。总体而言,研究区土壤肥力仍属于较低水平。因此,研究区生态建设的任务仍很艰巨,有关植被建设中如何缩短植被演替早期阶段的土壤质量退化是值得探讨的科学问题。     

Effect of rotation, nitrogen fertilization and management of crop residues on some chemical, microbiological and biochemical properties of soil

A long-term experiment, which started in 1971 near Perugia, central Italy, was performed to investigate the effect of different crop residue management practices and rotation systems on some soil properties. Twenty years after the beginning of the experiment, chemical (organic C, total N, humified organic C, humic and fulvic acids), microbiological and biochemical parameters (microbial biomass, global hydrolase activity, dehydrogenase and catalase activities) were investigated. Two crop residue management practices were used in the experiment, i.e. removal (RCR soils) and burial (BCR soils). These treatments were factorially combined with eight rotation systems, i.e. five maize-wheat rotations of different lengths (M-1W, M-2W, M-3W, M-4W and M-5W) and three continuous wheat systems with different fertilization inputs, from 150 to 250 kg N ha^–1. Soil samples were collected in the spring of 1991 for chemical determinations, and in the spring and autumn of 1992, 1993 and 1994, for microbiological and biochemical determinations. All soil chemical, microbiological and biochemical parameters investigated showed significant differences depending on the management of the crop residues. The BCR soils showed more favourable characteristics. In contrast, few significant effects were observed in relation to rotation and N-fertilization treatment. Significant correlations were found between organic-C content and all microbiological and biochemical parameters, as well as between the microbiological and biochemical parameters themselves, indicating that organic-C content plays an important role in determining the level of soil enzyme activity and, consequently, of soil fertility. This experiment showed that burying crop residues in soil can be considered good agronomic practice, which may help limit the gradual depletion of soil organic matter and improve the chemical properties of the soil. Received: 11 January 1996     

Impact of domestic wastewaters on soil microbial populations

The effect of different types of treated and untreated domestic wastewaters on soil microbiological properties was evaluated. A pot culture experiment was done using black cotton soil and different treatments of wastewater applied at a rate of 5 cm week^?1. Chemical and microbiological analyses showed the shifting pattern of the parameters studied. The population of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes were increased with each application of wastewater, while the growth of Rhizobium, a symbiotic N fixer was suppressed by raw sewage, diluted sewage and settled sewage application. The population of Azotobacter was slightly increased due to these applications. Compared with the untreated wastewaters, the treated wastewaters seem to have less effect on microflora both qualitatively and quantitatively. There was no appreciable change in the percent soil organic C thereby indicating that most of the organic matter added to the soil was stabilized by the microorganisms.     

民勤绿洲荒漠交错带不同土地覆被下土壤养分分布特征

以西北干旱区民勤绿洲荒漠交错带为例,选取民勤沙生植物园、东坝镇、苏武山等8个样带221个样点开展不同土地覆被类型下的土壤养分含量及土壤肥力综合评价研究.结果表明:(1)土壤有机质含量表现为绿洲区＞绿洲荒漠过渡带＞荒漠区的梯度变化;受人类活动影响和荒漠景观特征的影响,不同样带内土壤养分含量离散程度较大,变异系数为16.67％～410.68％,且土壤养分样带内变异程度基本呈现出沿荒漠—绿洲荒漠交错带—绿洲逐渐增加的趋势.(2)荒草地、灌木林地、乔木林地和裸地的土壤N,P,K含量主要受土壤质地和植被类型的影响而呈现出差异.(3)不同土地覆被下土壤肥力质量指数大小为草地(0.552)＞灌木地(0.057)＞乔木地(-0.642)＞裸地(-0.677),草本和灌木具有良好的土壤培肥作用.     

耕地地力对化肥养分利用的影响机制及其调控研究进展

耕地地力影响了化肥养分的利用效率,是调控养分利用率的基础途径。本文概述了耕地土壤障碍对养分利用的制约机制、耕地地力培育对养分利用的促进机制、提高养分资源利用效率的耕地培肥模式3个方面的研究进展。针对我国主要的耕地土壤–作物系统,提高化肥养分利用率需要解决4个地力调控方面的关键问题:地力与养分利用率关系及其时空变化规律、土壤障碍制约养分高效蓄积转化机制与消减原理、地力培肥促进根系–土壤–微生物互作提高养分耦合利用机制及调控途径、肥沃耕层构建与生物功能提升对养分蓄纳供应的协同驱动增效机制与调控理论。本文提出基于多时空尺度综合研究,建立稳定提升土壤功能–加速养分循环利用的"双核驱动"地力综合管理理论,在不同区域构建并应用化肥减施增效的耕地地力综合管理模式,实现耕地大面积均衡减施化肥的目标。     

论合理施氮的原则和指标

施用氮肥的主要目的是获得较高目标产量、相应品质和经济效益以及维持或提高土壤肥力.针对我国近年来过度强调施肥的环境影响,而放松施肥的生产目标和土壤培肥,导致无原则的"减氮"可能影响作物生产的趋势,本文定义了合理施氮的原则,即在特定的气候-土壤-作物体系,在一定的经营管理措施下(轮作与耕作、品种、灌溉等),能够实现可获得的...     

Soil fertility in three cropping systems after conversion from conventional to organic farming

Abstract

Temporal changes in the scores of selected soil fertility indices were studied over six years in three different cases of organic crop rotation located in southern, eastern and central Norway. The cropping history and the initial scores of fertility indices prior to conversion to organic cropping differed between the sites. Crop yields, regarded as an overall, integrating fertility indicator, were in all rotations highly variable with few consistent temporal trends following the first year after conversion. On the site in eastern Norway, where conversion followed several years of all-arable crop rotations, earthworm number and biomass and soil physical properties improved, whereas the system was apparently degrading with regard to P and K trade balances and contents in soil. On the other two sites, the picture was less clear. On the southern site, which had a relatively fertile soil before conversion, the contents of soil organic matter and K decreased during the six-year period, but the scores of other fertility indices showed no trends. On the site in central Norway, there were positive trends for earthworm-related indices such as worm biomass and tubular biopores, and negative trends for soil porosity. The results, especially those from the eastern site, illustrate the general difficulty in drawing conclusions about overall fertility or sustainability when partial indicators show divergent trends. Consequently, the study gave no unambiguous support to the initial working hypothesis that organic farming increases inherent overall soil fertility, but rather showed that the effect varied among indicators and depended on status of the cases at conversion. It is concluded that indicators are probably better used as tools to learn about and improve system components than as absolute measures of sustainability.