Soil organic matter, microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a tropical agroforestry system

 The effects of growing trees in combination with field crops on soil organic matter, microbial biomass C, basal respiration and dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activities were studied in soils under a 12-year-old Dalbergia sissoo (a N₂-fixing tree) plantation intercropped with a wheat (Triticum aestivum) – cowpea (Vigna sinensis) cropping sequence. The inputs of organic matter through D. sissoo leaf litter increased and crop roots decreased with the increase in tree density. Higher organic C and total N, microbial biomass C, basal soil respiration and activities of dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase were observed in treatments with tree-crop combination than in the treatment without trees. Soil organic matter, microbial biomass C and soil enzyme activities increased with the decrease in the spacing of the D. sissoo plantation. The results indicate that adoption of the agroforestry practices led to an improved organic matter status of the soil, which is also reflected in the increased nutrient pool and microbial activities necessary for long-term productivity of the soil. However, tree spacing should be properly maintained to minimize the effects of shading on the intercrops. Received: 21 February 1997     

Influence of nitrogen fertilization on soil ammonia oxidizer and denitrifier abundance,microbial biomass,and enzyme activities in an alpine meadow

Terrestrial ecosystems are predicted to experience an increasing level of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition, which may cause significant shifts in plant community composition and concomitantly stimulate soil acidification. However, little is known concerning the effects of N deposition on belowground microbial communities in alpine grassland ecosystems such as on the Tibetan Plateau. This study examined the responses of soil N-transforming microbes (measured after DNA extraction and quantitative PCR), soil microbial biomass C (SMBC) and N (SMBN), and soil enzyme activities to different forms (NH₄ ⁺-N, NO₃ ^?-N, and NH₄NO₃-N) and rates (1.5 and 7.5 g N m^?2 year^?1, denoted as low and high N, respectively) of N fertilization (addition) in two successive plant growing seasons. The N rate, not N form, influenced the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA). High N addition significantly increased ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) abundance which differed across different N form treatments. Nitrogen addition had no significant impact on the abundance of soil denitrifiers. The SMBC and SMBN were significantly decreased by high N additions, but no difference was found among different N forms. Despite higher urease activities being detected in the late plant growing season, the activities of invertase and alkaline phosphomonoesterase stayed unchanged irrespective of the different N amendments and plant growing season. Significant positive correlations were found between potential nitrification rates and AOB abundances. These results highlight that AOB seemed to respond more sensitively to different N fertilization and might have prominent roles in soil N cycling processes in this Tibetan Plateau alpine meadow than AOA.     

不同耕作方式对土壤有机碳、微生物量及酶活性的影响

【目的】依托8年长期(2005~2012)固定道定位试验,研究不同耕作方式对土壤有机碳、土壤微生物量、土壤酶活性在0—90 cm土层的分布特征,为优化中国西北干旱区的耕作方式提供理论依据。【方法】试验包括固定道垄作(PRB)、固定道平作(PFT)与传统耕作(CT)三种耕作模式下的土壤有机碳土壤总有机碳(TOC)、颗粒有机碳(POC)、土壤微生物量碳(MBC)、土壤微生物量氮(MBN)、土壤微生物量磷(MBP)、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶、脲酶及小麦产量进行了测定和分析。【结果】在0—90 cm土层,不同耕作方式下的TOC、POC、MBC、MBN、MBP、蔗糖酶活性、脲酶活性均随着土层的增加呈下降趋势,过氧化氢酶活性呈先下降后增大的分布特征;在0—60 cm,固定道保护性耕作能够显著增加心土层作物生长带土壤有机碳储量,有机碳储量大小为PRBPFTCT;PRB、PFT较CT可以显著增加0—10 cm作物生长带TOC、POC、MBC、MBN、MBP含量、蔗糖酶、脲酶活性,其大小为PRBPFTCT;耕作方式对过氧化氢酶活性影响不显著;TOC、POC、MBC、MBN、MBP、蔗糖酶活性、脲酶活性、过氧化氢酶活性之间均达到了显著或极显著相关。【结论】PRB较PFT、CT能够提高耕作层(0—10 cm)土壤有机碳含量、土壤微生物量、土壤酶活性, 增加作物产量, 增大0—60 cm土层有机碳储量,耕作方式(PRB、PFT及CT)对10 cm以下土层土壤环境改善作用不明显。     

Soil microbial biomass, activity and nitrogen transformations in a turfgrass chronosequence

Understanding the chronological changes in soil microbial properties of turfgrass ecosystems is important from both the ecological and management perspectives. We examined soil microbial biomass, activity and N transformations in a chronosequence of turfgrass systems (i.e. 1, 6, 23 and 95 yr golf courses) and assessed soil microbial properties in turfgrass systems against those in adjacent native pines. We observed age-associated changes in soil microbial biomass, CO₂ respiration, net and gross N mineralization, and nitrification potential. Changes were more evident in soil samples collected from 0 to 5 cm than the 5 to 15 cm soil depth. While microbial biomass, activity and N transformations per unit soil weight were similar between the youngest turfgrass system and the adjacent native pines, microbial biomass C and N were approximately six times greater in the oldest turfgrass system compared to the adjacent native pines. Potential C and N mineralization also increased with turfgrass age and were three to four times greater in the oldest vs. the youngest turfgrass system. However, microbial biomass and potential mineralization per unit soil C or N decreased with turfgrass age. These reductions were accompanied by increases in microbial C and N use efficiency, as indicated by the significant reduction in microbial C quotient (qCO₂) and N quotient (qN) in older turfgrass systems. Independent of turfgrass age, microbial biomass N turnover was rapid, averaging approximately 3 weeks. Similarly, net N mineralization was ∼12% of gross mineralization regardless of turfgrass age. Our results indicate that soil microbial properties are not negatively affected by long-term management practices in turfgrass systems. A tight coupling between N mineralization and immobilization could be sustained in mature turfgrass systems due to its increased microbial C and N use efficiency.     

Soil microbial biomass and organic matter fractions during transition from conventional to organic farming systems

The aim of this study was to investigate the response of soil microbial biomass and organic matter fractions during the transition from conventional to organic farming in a tropical soil. Soil samples were collected from three different plots planted with Malpighia glaba: conventional plot with 10 years (CON); transitional plot with 2 years under organic farming system (TRA); organic plot with 5 years under organic farming system (ORG). A plot under native vegetation (NV) was used as a reference. Soil microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N (TN), soil organic matter fractioning and microbial indices were evaluated in soil samples collected at 0–5, 5–10, 10–20 and 20–40 cm depth. SOC and fulvic acids fraction contents were higher in the ORG system at 0–5 cm and 5–10 cm depths. Soil MBC was highest in the ORG, in all depths, than in others plots. Soil MBN was similar between ORG, TRA and NV in the surface layer. The lowest values for soil MBC and MBN were observed in CON plot. Soil microbial biomass increased gradually from conventional to organic farming, leading to consistent and distinct differences from the conventional control by the end of the second year.     

Soil suppressiveness and functional diversity of the soil microflora in organic farming systems

Arable fields of 10 organic farms from different locations in The Netherlands were sampled in three subsequent years. The soil samples were analysed for disease suppressiveness against Rhizoctonia solani AG2.2IIIB in sugar beet, Streptomyces scabies in radish and Verticillium longisporum in oilseed rape. In addition, a variety of microbial, chemical and physical soil characteristics were assessed. All data were correlated by multiple regression and multivariate analyses with the objective to find correlations between soil suppressiveness and biotic or abiotic soil characteristics. Significant differences in soil suppressiveness were found between the fields for all three diseases. Multiple regression indicated a significant correlation between suppressiveness against Rhizoctonia and the number of antagonistic Lysobacter spp., as well as with % active fungi and bacterial diversity. Grass-clover stimulated Rhizoctonia suppression as well as the presence of antagonistic Lysobacter spp. (mainly L. antibioticus and L. gummosus) in clay soils. Streptomyces suppression correlated with the number of antagonistic Streptomyces spp., % of active fungi and bacterial population size. The presence of antagonistic Streptomyces spp. correlated with a high fungal/bacterial biomass ratio. Verticillium suppression was only measured in 2004 and 2005, due to the inconsistent suppressiveness along the years. Nevertheless, a significant correlation with pH, potential nitrogen mineralization and bacterial biomass was found. Bacterial and fungal PCR-denaturing gel electrophoresis fingerprinting of bacterial and fungal communities, in general, did not significantly correlate with disease suppression. Highly significant explanatory factors of the composition of the dominating bacterial and fungal populations were % lutum, pH, C/N quotient, biomass and growth rate of bacteria. Additionally, the % of organic matter and years of organic farming were explaining significantly the composition of the bacterial population.Thus, significant correlations between several soil characteristics and suppressiveness of different soil-borne pathogens were found. For two of the three pathogens, suppression correlated with biotic soil characteristics combined with the presence of specific bacterial antagonists. Probably the soil suppressiveness measured in the organic fields is a combined effect of general and specific disease suppression.     

水稻根际和周围土壤中微生物功能基因丰度与碳、氮状况及其通量之间的关系

Rapid nitrogen（N） transformations and losses occur in the rice rhizosphere through root uptake and microbial activities. However,the relationships between rice roots and rhizosphere microbes for N utilization are still unclear. We analyzed different N forms（NH＋4,NO-3, and dissolved organic N）, microbial biomass N and C, dissolved organic C, CH4 and N2O emissions, and abundance of microbial functional genes in both rhizosphere and bulk soils after 37-d rice growth in a greenhouse pot experiment. Results showed that the dissolved organic C was significantly higher in the rhizosphere soil than in the non-rhizosphere bulk soil, but microbial biomass C showed no significant difference. The concentrations of NH＋4, dissolved organic N, and microbial biomass N in the rhizosphere soil were significantly lower than those of the bulk soil, whereas NO-3in the rhizosphere soil was comparable to that in the bulk soil. The CH4 and N2O fluxes from the rhizosphere soil were much higher than those from the bulk soil. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the abundance of seven selected genes, bacterial and archaeal 16 S rRNA genes, amoA genes of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, nosZ gene, mcrA gene, and pmoA gene, was lower in the rhizosphere soil than in the bulk soil, which is contrary to the results of previous studies. The lower concentration of N in the rhizosphere soil indicated that the competition for N in the rhizosphere soil was very strong, thus having a negative effect on the numbers of microbes. We concluded that when N was limiting, the growth of rhizosphere microorganisms depended on their competitive abilities with rice roots for N.     

Soil microbial biomass and activity in organic tomato farming systems: Effects of organic inputs and straw mulching

Organic farming is rapidly expanding worldwide. Plant growth in organic systems greatly depends on the functions performed by soil microbes, particularly in nutrient supply. However, the linkages between soil microbes and nutrient availability in organically managed soils are not well understood. We conducted a long-term field experiment to examine microbial biomass and activity, and nutrient availability under four management regimes with different organic inputs. The experiment was initiated in 1997 by employing different practices of organic farming in a coastal sandy soil in Clinton, NC, USA. Organic practices were designed by applying organic substrates with different C and N availability, either in the presence or absence of wheat-straw mulch. The organic substrates used included composted cotton gin trash (CGT), animal manure (AM) and rye/vetch green manure (RV). A commercial synthetic fertilizer (SF) was used as a conventional control. Results obtained in both 2001 and 2002 showed that microbial biomass and microbial activity were generally higher in organically than conventionally managed soils with CGT being most effective. The CGT additions increased soil microbial biomass C and activity by 103-151% and 88-170% over a period of two years, respectively, leading to a 182-285% increase in potentially mineralizable N, compared to the SF control. Straw mulching further enhanced microbial biomass, activity, and potential N availability by 42, 64, and 30%, respectively, relative to non-mulched soils, likely via improving C and water availability for soil microbes. The findings that microbial properties and N availability for plants differed under different organic input regimes suggest the need for effective residue managements in organic tomato farming systems.     

Alfalfa saponins and microbial transformations of nitrogen in peat

Alfalfa saponins, their sugar fraction or glucose, but not their sapogenin fraction, favored nitrogen immobilization and denitrification and inhibited proteolysis and ammonification in both peatinoculated and Pseudomonas sp.-inoculated media. Alfalfa root saponins and sapogenins significantly reduced the fungal peat population, but did not affect the bacterial population. The inhibition of N mineralization in peat by saponins and by their sapogenin fraction during dry and wet cycles was mostly due to their fungistatic activity. The inhibitory effect of the sugar fraction of alfalfa roots on mineral-N accumulation in peat is mainly under moist conditions.     

Differences in soil enzyme activities,microbial community structure and short-term nitrogen mineralisation resulting from farm management history and organic matter amendments

Changes in soil microbial biomass, enzyme activities, microbial community structure and nitrogen (N) dynamics resulting from organic matter amendments were determined in soils with different management histories to gain better understanding of the effects of long- and short-term management practices on soil microbial properties and key soil processes. Two soils that had been under either long-term organic or conventional management and that varied in microbial biomass and enzyme activity levels but had similar fertility levels were amended with organic material (dried lupin residue, Lupinus angustifolius L.) at amounts equivalent to 0, 4 and 8 t dry matter lupin ha^?1. Microbial biomass C and N, arginine deaminase activity, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, dehydrogenase enzyme activity and gross N mineralisation were measured in intervals over an 81-day period. The community structure of eubacteria and actinomycetes was examined using PCR–DGGE of 16S rDNA fragments. Results suggested that no direct relationships existed between microbial community structure, enzyme activities and N mineralisation. Microbial biomass and activity changed as a result of lupin amendment whereas the microbial community structure was more strongly influenced by farm management history. The addition of 4 t ha^?1 of lupin was sufficient to stimulate the microbial community in both soils, resulting in microbial biomass growth and increased enzyme activities and N mineralisation regardless of past management. Amendment with 8 t lupin ha^?1 did not result in an increase proportional to the extra amount added; levels of soil microbial properties were only 1.1–1.7 times higher than in the 4 t ha^?1 treatment. Microbial community structure differed significantly between the two soils, while no changes were detected in response to lupin amendment at either level during the short-term incubation. Correlation analyses for each treatment separately, however, revealed differences that were inconsistent with results obtained for soil biological properties suggesting that differences might exist in the structure or physiological properties of a microbial component that was not assessed in this study.     

适宜的水氮处理提高稻基农田土壤酶活性和土壤微生物量碳氮

为探讨节水灌溉与氮肥施用对稻田土壤微生物特性的影响,该试验采用防雨棚池栽试验,研究2个灌溉模式（常规灌溉与控制灌溉）与3个水平施氮量（90、180和270 kg/hm2））对稻基农田土壤脲酶活性、土壤过氧化氢酶活性、土壤磷酸酶活性、土壤转化酶活性、土壤微生物量碳及土壤微生物量氮的影响。研究结果表明,随着施氮水平增加,土壤脲酶活性和土壤微生物量氮增加,土壤过氧化氢酶活性、土壤磷酸酶活性、土壤转化酶活性、土壤微生物量碳、土壤微生物量碳与土壤微生物量氮的比值、土壤微生物熵均呈先增加后降低趋势;与常规灌溉相比,控制灌溉显著提高稻基农田土壤脲酶活性、土壤过氧化氢酶活性、土壤磷酸酶活性、土壤转化酶活性、土壤中微生物量碳、土壤微生物量氮、土壤微生物熵,降低土壤微生物量碳与土壤微生物量氮的比值。在该试验条件下,以控制灌溉模式下施氮量180 kg/hm2可获得最优的生物环境,土壤脲酶活性、土壤过氧化氢酶活性、土壤磷酸酶活性、土壤转化酶活性、土壤中微生物量碳、土壤微生物量氮分别达到3.02×10-2 mg/g、0.93 mL/g、5.70 mg/g、10.08 mL/g、237.58 mg/kg、52.60 m/kg。该研究对认识稻基农田水氮耦合关系、指导江淮丘陵季节性干旱区水稻优质节水高产高效栽培实践提供理论依据。     

Micro-scale distribution of microorganisms and microbial enzyme activities in a soil with long-term organic amendment

Microbial ecology is the key to understanding the function of biodiversity for organic matter cycling in the soil. We have investigated the impacts of farmyard manure added over 120 years on organic matter content, enzyme activities, total microbial biomass and structure of microbial populations in several particle‐size fractions of a Luvic Phaeozem a few kilometres northeast of Halle, Germany. We compared two treatments: no fertilization (control) and 12 t farmyard manure (FYM) ha^?1 year^?1 since 1878. The fine fractions contained most C and N, microbial biomass, total amount of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and greatest invertase activity. Xylanase activity as well as fungal biomass increased only gradually with diminishing particle size, whereas the relative abundance of fungi decreased with diminishing particle size. The least diversity of the soil microbial community, indicated by the smallest Shannon index based on the abundance and amount of different PLFAs and small number of terminal restriction fragments (T‐RFs) of 16S rRNA genes, was in the sand fractions. The results supported the hypothesis that this microhabitat is colonized by a less complex bacterial community than the silt and clay fractions. Addition of FYM had enhanced the amount of organic matter, total microbial biomass, and xylanase and invertase activity, and induced a shift of the microbial community towards a more bacteria‐dominated community in the coarse sand fraction. Microbial communities in finer fractions were less affected by addition of FYM.     

小分子有机物对土壤酶活性及微生物多样性的影响

目前对小分子有机物的研究主要集中在叶面肥方面,较少在土壤肥料的应用方面,而对土壤酶活性以及微生物功能多样性的研究就更少。以分别添加葡萄糖、甘油以及甘氨酸的土壤(25℃培养)为试材,采用酶活性(每15 d取样)测定方法与Biolog-Eco板技术(取培养45 d的土样),研究小分子有机物对土壤微生物及酶活性的影响。结果表明,3种小分子有机物处理土壤的4种酶活性在15～75 d内,变化规律基本一致;在45 d时葡萄糖处理土壤的过氧化氢酶活性显著高于清水对照(CK)、甘油以及甘氨酸,而碱性磷酸酶活性显著低于其它处理。与CK、葡萄糖以及甘氨酸相比,甘油处理土壤微生物平均吸光度值和功能多样性指标(除指数D外)显著提高,而CK、葡萄糖以及甘氨酸处理之间没有显著性差异。葡萄糖、甘油以及甘氨酸处理改变了土壤的微生物功能多样性以及碳源利用比分,其中甘氨酸和葡萄糖处理土壤胺类利用百分比(AM)几乎为零。土壤微生物多样性与酶活性冗余分析表明,碱性磷酸酶与微生物功能多样性指数S、U、H′、碳水化合物利用百分比以及AM呈显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.588、0.669、0.616、0.678及0.603,与指数D及蔗糖酶活性呈显著负相关,相关系数分别为-0.737和-0.741。由此可知,不同种类小分子有机添加物对土壤酶活性以及微生物功能多样性影响不一,其中甘油显著提高了土壤微生物代谢活性以及多样性指数(除指数D外),而土壤酶活性与微生物功能多样性的主成分分析表明甘氨酸与另外两种小分子有机物存在明显差别。     

Spatial variation of soil enzyme activities and microbial functional diversity in temperate alley cropping systems

Spatially dependent patterns in microbial properties may exist in temperate alley cropping systems due to differences in litter quality and microclimate in areas under trees compared to those in the alleys. The effect of tree row location was evaluated for its impact on soil enzyme activities and Biolog substrate use patterns. Soils were sampled to a depth of 30 cm at the tree row and at the middle of the alley at two sites: a 21-year-old pecan (Carya illinoinensis)/bluegrass (Poa trivials) intercrop (Pecan site) and a 12-year-old silver maple (Acer saccharinum)/soybean (Glycine max)–maize (Zea mays) rotation (Maple site). Sampling was done in fall 2001 and summer 2002. β-Glucosidase activities, Biolog patterns expressed as average well color (AWC), substrate richness, and Shannon diversity index, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the tree row than at the middle of the alley for surface soils at the Pecan site. Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolytic activity was also higher at the tree row for soils sampled in the fall, but did not differ significantly for soils sampled in the summer. At the Maple site, AWC and substrate richness were significantly higher at the tree row for soils sampled in 2001. Soil volumetric water content and temperature were generally lower in the tree row at the Maple site. The results of this study suggest that functionally different microbial populations may be present under pecan trees compared to cropped alleys which may promote disparities in nutrient availability necessitating differential long-term nutrient management in such alley cropping systems.     

Variations of soluble organic nitrogen and microbial nitrogen in deciduous forest soils along an urban-rural gradient

Soluble organic N and microbial N pools in terrestrial ecosystems have been less studied than those of inorganic N. Therefore, cross-system variation in their pool sizes and seasonal dynamics, both absolute and relative to inorganic N pools, needs to be quantified so that their ecological importance in different ecosystems can be evaluated. We measured extractable soil organic N (ESON), microbial biomass N (MBN), and the net production rates of ESON in red oak-dominated remnant forests, along an urban-rural gradient in the New York City metropolitan area. We were interested in (1) determining the seasonal dynamics of ESON and MBN, and (2) examining whether the contrasts in land use (urban, suburban, rural) surrounding these forest remnants were associated with different amounts of ESON and MBN. This field-based study was conducted continuously for 16 months. Yearly average ESON concentrations ranged from 60 to 140 mg kg⁻¹ soil organic matter (SOM), 3-4 times those of inorganic N, and average MBN ranged from 600 to 1100 mg kg⁻¹ SOM. There was a considerable MBN increase in spring in all plots across the gradient. The average increase expressed on an areal basis (to a depth of 7.5 cm) ranged from 1.75 to 4.19 g N m⁻². The N incorporated into the microbial biomass in spring was gradually released later in the growing season (the mean MBN decrease ranged from 1.11 to 3.82 g N m⁻²). The spring MBN increase could be an important retention mechanism for conserving soil inorganic N when plant N uptake may be low. The amplitude in the seasonal dynamics of ESON was far less than that of inorganic N, as was that of net ESON production rates when compared to net N mineralization. These suggest a closer coupling of plant N uptake with inorganic N, much more than with ESON. Both ESON and MBN were significantly higher in rural soils than in urban soils, and both concentrations were positively correlated with SOM content. The variation in ESON, MBN, or SOM associated with this urbanization gradient suggests that the form of N exported, the plant N budget and soil N retention mechanisms may be differentially affected by urban, suburban and rural land uses.     

Temporal and functional pattern of secreted enzyme activities in an ectomycorrhizal community

The ectomycorrhizal community of an oak forest has been monitored monthly throughout fifteen months. Eight enzymatic activities secreted by the ectomycorrhizal root tips and involved in the mobilization of nutrients from soil organic matter have been measured using microplate assays, resulting in potential activity patterns of individual fungal species. Both the species structure of the community and the specific activity level of each individual species changed with the season and soil horizon. This versatility may be an adaptative response of the ectomycorrhizal fungal community to a highly variable environment. The results also suggest that some ectomycorrhizal fungi behave as occasional saprobes and contribute to the decomposition of soil organic matter and nutrient cycling together with true saprotrophic fungi.     

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.     

Soil organic carbon distribution drives microbial activity and functional diversity in particle and aggregate-size fractions

Chemical and functional characterizations of particle-size and aggregate fractions of soils were performed to investigate whether accessibility and decomposability of organic matter regulate functions and diversity of the soil microbial community at the micro-habitat scale. Soils were physically fractionated into particle size fractions, free-particulate organic matter (F-POM), macro-aggregates (250–2000 μm) and micro-aggregates (53–250 μm). Organic C was enriched in silt and clay, micro-aggregates and F-POM fractions. Enzymes showed the greatest activity in the fine fractions (silt and clay) and F-POM, and were largely influenced by organic C content. MicroResp-CLPP (Community Level Physiological Profile) showed the lowest catabolic responses in the sand and the highest in the fine fraction and micro-aggregates. In general, organic C availability drove soil activity and functional diversity: soils with the higher amount of organic C showed the higher catabolic activity. However, this response was variable within soil fractions, where organic C accessibility, as well as microbial selection and distribution, affected functional diversity.     

小麦–玉米轮作体系长期施肥对塿土微生物量碳、氮及酶活性的影响

以20年塿土小麦玉米轮作体系长期肥料定位试验为平台,探讨不同施肥模式下土壤化学肥力要素、微生物量碳氮及酶活性的响应。试验包括不施肥（CK）、单施氮肥（N）、氮磷（NP）、磷钾（PK）、氮磷钾（NPK）、NPK+秸秆（SNPK）以及不同量有机肥+NPK（M1NPK、M2NPK）等8种施肥模式。结果表明,与CK相比,长期施用NP提高土壤有机碳含量达34.0%、全氮34.0%、全磷58.5%、速效磷608.9%、微生物量碳23.3%、微生物量氮54.0%、蔗糖酶53.9%、脲酶132.6%、碱性磷酸酶29.9%以及脱氢酶40.9%。长期施用NPK与NP效果相似,钾素效果甚微。作物秸秆还田配合氮磷钾化肥与氮磷钾相比没有明显影响土壤有机碳、氮和磷水平,但是显著提高微生物量碳的含量（29.5%）、碱性磷酸酶（23.0%）和脱氢酶（26.9%）的活性。有机肥配合氮磷钾与其它施肥处理相比,显著提升土壤化学肥力要素、微生物量碳氮和酶活性,特别是引起了磷素的大量富集（速效磷含量大于150 mg/kg）。因此,塿土不施有机物情况下,氮磷配合可以提高土壤化学和生物肥力,作物秸秆还田配合氮磷钾化肥的培肥效果优于氮磷钾化肥配合,而合理的有机无机肥配合是塿土提升化学肥力和保证生物健康的最佳施肥模式。     

26年连作影响下土壤酶活性和有机质组成

The study was to determine the long-term effects of subtropical monoculture and rotational cropping systems and fertilization on soil enzyme activities and soil C, N, and P levels. Cropping systems included continuous sorghum(Sorghum bicolor L.), cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.), corn(Zea mays L.), and cotton/sorghum rotations after 26 years of treatment imposition. Soil under continuous sorghum and continuous corn had 15% and 11%, respectively, greater C concentrations than soil under continuous cotton.Organic C was 10% higher at 0–7.5 cm than at 7.5–15 cm. Total N followed similar trends with soil depth as organic C. Continuous sorghum had 19% higher total N than other crop species and rotations. With fertilization, continuous cotton had the highest total P at 0–7.5 cm and sorghum had the highest at 7.5–15 cm. Soil total P was 14% higher at 0–7.5 than at 7.5–15 cm, and fertilization increased 15% total P compared to unfertilized soil. Arylsulfatase, alkaline phosphatase, and β-d-glucosidase activity were the highest for sorghum and the lowest for cotton. Rotation increased enzyme activities compared to continuous cotton but not for continuous sorghum. Of all crop species and rotations, continuous cotton generally showed the lowest levels of organic matter and enzyme activities after 26 years. Fertilization significantly increased the yields for all cropping systems, but rotation had no significant effect on either sorghum or cotton lint yield compared to each crop grown in monoculture. Long-term cropping did not increase soil organic matter levels beyond short-term gains, indicating the difficulty in promoting C sequestration in subtropical soils.