Microbial biomass phosphorus and its significance in predicting phosphorus availability in red soils

Abstract

Red soils are widespread in Southern China and other subtropical regions in the world. An improved management of phosphorus (P) is crucial for sustainable agriculture and environmental quality in red soil regions. Plant‐availability of P in red soils mainly depends on fertilization and biological cycling. Both laboratory analyses and greenhouse experiments were conducted to examine the relationships between plant P uptake, chemical index of P, and microbial biomass P in red soils with different fertility levels. Microbial biomass P ranged from 2.1 to 43 mg kg^‐1 in the red soils and was significantly correlated with total P (r=0.84*), organic P (r=0.87*), or Bray I extractable P (r=0.94**). Extractable P plus organic carbon accounted for >85% of the variation in microbial biomass P in the red soils. The significant relationship between microbial biomass P and extractable P suggests that microbial biomass P has a great potential in predicting P‐supply ability in soil. Greenhouse experiments showed that there were close relationships between ryegrass dry matter yield, plant P uptake or tissue P concentration and microbial biomass P in the red soils. The corresponding correlation coefficients were 0.79*, 0.90*, and 0.91*, respectively. These results imply that microbial biomass P plays an important role in the availability of P to plants, and is a potential biological index of P availability in the red soils.     

Microbial biomass phosphorus in soils of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests

Thirty-eight soils from forest sites in central Germany dominated by beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) were sampled to a depth of about 10 cm after careful removal of the overlying organic layers. Microbial biomass P was estimated by the fumigation — extraction method, measuring the increase in NaHCO₃-extractable phosphate. The size of the microbial P pool varied between 17.7 and 174.3 g P g^-1 soil and was on average more than seven times larger than NaHCO₃-extractable phosphate. Microbial P was positively correlated with soil organic C and total P, reflecting the importance of soil organic matter as a P source. The mean microbial P concentration was 13.1% of total P, varying in most soils between 6 and 18. Microbial P and microbial C were significantly correlated with each other and had a mean ratio of 14.3. A wide (5.1–26.3) microbial C: P ratio indicates that there is no simple relatinship between these two parameters. The microbial C: P ratio showed strong and positive correlations with soil pH and cation exchange capacity.     

Quantifying microbial biomass phosphorus in acid soils

 This study aimed to validate the fumigation-extraction method for measuring microbial biomass P in acid soils. Extractions with the Olsen (0.5 M NaHCO₃, pH 8.5) and Bray-1 (0.03 M NH₄F–0.025 M HCl) extractants at two soil:solution ratios (1 : 20 and 1 : 4, w/v) were compared using eight acid soils (pH 3.6–5.9). The data indicated that the flushes (increases following CHCl₃-fumigation) of total P (P_t) and inorganic P (P_i) determined by Olsen extraction provided little useful information for estimating the amount of microbial biomass P in the soils. Using the Bray-1 extractant at a soil:solution ratio of 1 : 4, and analysing P_i instead of P_t, improves the reproducibility (statistical significance and CV) of the P flush in these soils. In all the approaches studied, the P_i flush determined using the Bray-1 extractant at 1 : 4 provided the best estimate of soil microbial biomass P. Furthermore, the recovery of cultured bacterial and fungal biomass P added to the soils and extracted using the Bray-1 extractant at 1 : 4 was relatively constant (24.1–36.7% and 15.7–25.7%, respectively) with only one exception, and showed no relationship with soil pH, indicating that it behaved differently from added P_i (recovery decreased from 86% at pH 4.6 to 13% at pH 3.6). Thus, correcting for the incomplete recovery of biomass P using added P_i is inappropriate for acid soils. Although microbial biomass P in soil is generally estimated using the P_i flush and a conversion factor (k _P) of 0.4, more reliable estimates require that k _P values are best determined independently for each soil. Received: 3 February 2000     

Crop residue contributions to phosphorus pools in agricultural soils: A review

The phosphorus (P) content of crop residues and its availability to a subsequent crop can range from agronomically insignificant, to quantities in excess of crop P requirement. However, the contribution of crop residues to the P nutrition of subsequent crops has not been widely recognised, and simple predictive tools are lacking. By reviewing the published literature in which quantitative measurements of P transformations from plant residues applied to soil have been reported, we have evaluated the contribution of crop residue-derived P to the P nutrition of subsequent crops, assessed the key factors involved and summarised the knowledge as an empirical model. The contribution of crop residues to P availability is likely to be significant only under conditions where large amounts of crop residues of relatively high P concentration are applied to soil. Crop residues with low P concentration, such as cereal stubble (eg. due to re-translocation of a large proportion of stubble P into grain), will not make an agronomically significant contribution to soil P availability, but may reduce P availability due to assimilation in the microbial biomass. However, a productive green manure crop may release sufficient P to meet the requirements of a subsequent cash crop. The release of P from crop residues is significantly reduced in systems where the P-status of crops and soils is low, which reinforces the reliance on external P inputs for sustained crop productivity. The large variability in the potential contributions of plant residues to the P nutrition of subsequent crops suggests that there is a strong need to integrate model predictions of organically-cycled P with fertiliser management strategies.     

Microbial biomass and metabolic activity in four acid soils

The fumigation method was used to estimate microbial biomass C in four Haplumbrepts developed over different kinds of rock. In order to investigate the relationship between metabolic activity and microbial biomass and population density, CO₂ release from the glucose-enriched and unenriched soils was measured during 28 days of incubation.

Biomass C levels lay between 36 and 112 mg 100 g⁻¹ of dry soil, and made up only a small proportion of total soil C (0.77–1.38%). Only a small fraction of this biomass was detected by counting viables, but the microbial population was nevertheless significantly correlated with the biomass determined by fumigation. Among the physico-chemical properties of the soils, microbial biomass and population size were both chiefly affected (favourably) by humidity, total C and N and Al gel content. Metabolic activity was slight, either because part of the micro-organisms are inactive or because of a limited supply of substrate (the organic matter present may be unsuitable as a substrate or protected from microbial attack). Percentage C mineralization was inversely related to organic matter, silt and Al gel contents, and likewise failed to exhibit positive correlation with respiration, the biomass determined by fumigation or the counted population. The metabolic activity of the biomass appeared to depend upon the quality and nature of soil organic matter rather than its quantity, which nevertheless controlled microbial population size.

Neither microbial biomass estimates nor viable population counts faithfully reflected metabolic activity in the soils.     

Microbial biomass and activity in soils amended with glucose

Four contrasting soils were amended with glucose at concentrations up to 10 mg g^?1 soil. The soils were incubated at 22°C for 14 days and the biomass determined at various times by chloroform fumigation or substrate-induced respiration. The adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content or the amylase and dehydrogenase activities were also determined. The size of the increases in biomass, ATP content and the enzyme activities was generally related to the amount of glucose added. The initially higher ATP levels quickly declined, and apparent substrate conversion figures up to 84% indicated that substrate-induced respiration overestimated the biomass. There were generally no significant correlations between ATP, biomass or enzyme activities.     

Microbial biomass and its activities in salt-affected coastal soils

Seasonal fluctuations in salinity are typical in coastal soils due to the intrusion of seawater in the groundwater. We studied the effect of salinity on the microbial and biochemical parameters of the salt-affected soils of the coastal region of Bay of Bengal, Sundarbans, India. The average pH values and average organic C (OC) contents of soils from nine different sites cultivated with rice (Oryza sativa) ranged from 4.8 to 7.8 and from 5.2 to 14.1 g kg⁻¹, respectively. The average electrical conductivity of the saturation extract (EC_e) during the summer season was about five times higher than that during the monsoon season. Within the nine sites, three soils (S₃, S₄, and S₅) were the most saline. The average microbial biomass C (MBC), average basal soil respiration (BSR), and average fluorescein diacetate hydrolyzing activity (FDHA) were lowest during the summer season, indicating a negative influence of soil salinity. About 59%, 50%, and 20% variation in MBC/OC, FDHA/OC, and BSR/MBC (metabolic quotient, qCO₂), respectively, which are indicators of environmental stress, could be explained by the variation in EC_e. The decrease in MBC and microbial activities with a rise in salinity is probably one of the reasons for the poor crop growth in salt-affected coastal soils.     

丹江口水库库滨带典型植物群落氮矿化特征

为明确库滨带典型植物群落矿化特征,探究植物化学性质与土壤氮矿化的关系,选取丹江口水库库滨带的苘麻和蛇床群丛.试验采取单一叶处理、单一根处理和根+叶混合等9种处理,分别测定第1、3、7、14、21、31、41、51和61 d的土壤氮矿化量,系统分析添加植物后土壤氮矿化特征.结果表明:1)添加植物后,土壤氮矿化可分为3个阶段,即前期(1 ～7d)各处理矿化量均减小,中期(7 ～41 d)各处理矿化量都有所增加,幅度变化较大,后期(41 ～61d)基本保持平衡,所有处理的土壤矿化量均小于对照(CK)的79.53 mg/kg,单一处理中,苘麻叶(QL)矿化量最高,达到71.62 mg/kg,混合处理最高为苘麻叶+蛇床根(QL+ SR) 26.43 mg/kg;2)添加植物后,土壤微生物的质量分数显著增加(P＜0.05),QL＞4个混合处理＞另外3个单一处理;3)整个试验期间,土壤氮矿化量与植物全碳和全氮质量分数显著相关(P＜0.05),主成分分析(PCA)结果显示全氮质量分数对土壤有机氮矿化影响最明显,重要程度为全氮＞C∶N＞纤维素＞L∶N＞多元酚;4)所有混合处理中,实测氮素矿化量均显著小于预测值(P＜0.01).说明添加苘麻和蛇床后,土壤氮矿化表现为抑制作用,根茎混合处理没有激发效应.该研究为区域植被生态恢复、水土保持与非点源污染治理提供参考依据.     

Temporal and spatial patterns of denitrification enzyme activity and nitrous oxide fluxes in three adjacent vegetated riparian buffer zones

The aim of this study was to investigate temporal and spatial patterns of denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes in three adjacent riparian sites (mixed vegetation, forest and grass). The highest DEA was found in the surface (0–30 cm) soil and varied between 0.7±0.1 mg N kg^–1 day^–1 at 5°C and 5.9±0.4 mg N kg^–1 day^–1 at 15°C. There was no significant difference (P >0.05) between the DEA in the uppermost (0–30 cm and 60–90 cm) soil depths under different vegetation covers. In the two deepest (120–150 cm and 180–210 cm) soil depths the DEA varied between 0.0±0.0 mg N kg^–1 day^–1 at 5°C and 4.4±0.9 mg N kg^–1 day^–1 at 15°C and was clearly associated with the accumulation of buried organic carbon (OC). Two threshold values of OC were observed before DEA started to increase significantly, namely 5 and 25 g OC kg^–1 soil at 10–15°C and 5°C, respectively. In the three riparian sites N₂O fluxes varied between a net N₂O uptake of –0.6±0.4 mg N₂O-N m^–2 day^–1 and a net N₂O emission of 2.5±0.3 mg N₂O-N m^–2 day^–1. The observed N₂O emission did not lead to an important pollution swapping (from water pollution to greenhouse gas emission). Especially in the mixed vegetation and forest riparian site highest N₂O fluxes were observed upslope of the riparian site. The N₂O fluxes showed no clear temporal trend.     

Microbial biomass activities in urban soils in two consecutive years

Ecological soil functions are protected in Germany. Thus, for the sustainable use of urban soil resources data on the function of soils to serve as a habitat are required. Soil microbial biomass and activities were studied in two surface horizons in two consecutive years at nine sites in Stuttgart, Germany, differing in land use. Microbial biomass (chloroform‐fumigation extraction, substrate‐induced respiration) and microbial activities (potential N mineralization, potential ammonium oxidation, and enzyme activities of dehydrogenase, urease, arylsulfatase, and phosphatase) were determined in 2001 and 2002. DIN/ISO standard methods were applied as far as they were available. Furthermore, soil chemical properties were determined in the 2001‐samples. Large differences in chemical and microbiological properties among surface horizons were found. Concentrations of microbial biomass and microbial activities were, however, often comparable to agricultural or forest surface soils. The lowest microbial biomass and activities were observed at a highly disturbed railway area where vegetation was missing and total organic C (TOC) had been altered by anthropogenic organic particles. In contrast, microorganisms were promoted at vegetated sites and where organic impurities were negligible. As TOC was altered by obscure organic matter, total N (TN) and not TOC closely correlated with soil microbiological properties. Biomass and activity generally decreased with depth, but mixing of organic matter resulted in more uniform depth distribution of microbial properties in one garden soil. In 2002, microbial biomass and activity were often lower compared to 2001, but interpretation of this difference hampered as the number of samples taken was probably not sufficient to address the spatial variability in soil properties. Additional studies are needed to develop simple and cost‐effective procedures for the evaluation of ecological quality of urban soils by combined efforts of city planners and soil scientists.     

Microbial biomass and mineralization-immobilization of nitrogen in some agricultural soils

Summary The chloroform fumigation-incubation method (CFIM) was used to measure the microbial biomass of 17 agricultural soils from Punjab Pakistan which represented different agricultural soil series. The biomass C was used to calculate biomass N and the changes occurring in NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N content of soils were studied during the turnover of microbial biomass or added C source. Mineral N released in fumigated-incubated soils and biomass N calculated from biomass C was correlated with some N availability indexes.The soils contained 427–1240 kg C as biomass which represented 1.2%–6.9% of the total organic C in the soils studied. Calculations based on biomass C showed that the soils contained 64–186 kg N ha^–1 as microbial biomass. Immobilization of NCO₃ ^–-N was observed in different soils during the turnover of microbial biomass and any net increase in mineral N content of fumigated incubated soils was attributed entirely to NH₄ ⁺-N.Biomass N calculated from biomass C showed non-significant correlation with different N availability indexes whereas mineral N accumulated in fumigated-incubated soils showed highly significant correlations with other indexes including N uptake by plants.     

Microbial biomass in soils of Russia under long-term management practices

 Non-tilled and tilled plots on a spodosol (C_org 0.65–1.70%; pH 4.1–4.5) and a mollisol (C_org 3.02–3.13%, pH 4.9–5.3), located in the European region of Russia, were investigated to determine variances in soil microbial biomass and microbial community composition. Continuous, long-term management practices, including tillage and treatment with inorganic fertilizers or manure, were used on the spodosol (39 years) and mollisol (22 years). Total microbial biomass (C_mic), estimated by the substrate-induced respiration (SIR) method, and total fungal hyphae length (membrane filter technique) were determined seasonally over a 3-year period. Long-term soil management practices (primarily tillage and fertilizer application) led to decreases in total microbial biomass (80–85% lower in spodosol and 20–55% lower in mollisol), decreases in the contribution of C_mic to C_org (2.3- to 3.5-fold lower in spodosol and 1.2- to 2.3-fold lower in mollisol), and 50–87% decreases in total fungal hyphae length compared to non-tilled control plots. The contribution of fungi to total SIR in virgin mollisol and fallow spodosol plots was approximately 30%. However, the contribution of fungi to SIR was approximately two times greater in tilled spodosol plots compared to a fallow plot. In contrast, the contribution of fungi to SIR in tilled plots of mollisol was less (1.4–4.7 times) than for a virgin plot. In summary, long-term soil management practices such as tillage and treatment with organic or inorganic fertilizers are important determinants of soil microbial biomass and the contribution of fungi to total SIR. Received: 28 April 1998     

Microbial biomass and organic matter turnover in wetland rice soils

A decline in rice yields has been associated with intensification of rice production. In continuously irrigated systems this has been attributed to a decline in soil N supply. Nutrient mineralisation and immobilisation is constrained by the quantity and nature of the organic substrates and the physico-chemical environment of the soil system itself. A flooded soil is very different from an aerobic one; electron acceptors other than oxygen have to be used. The transition to continuously anaerobic conditions associated with the intensification of wetland rice systems affects their organic matter turnover and may adversely affect their productivity.     

镁碱化盐土微生物生物量和土壤基础呼吸

通过测定甘肃河西走廊疏勒河中游昌马冲积扇缘不同镁碱度条件下10个采样点30个土样的化学性质和生物化学性质指标,研究了电导率和镁碱度对土壤微生物生物量及其基础呼吸的影响。结果表明:微生物生物量碳(氮)和土壤基础呼吸与电导率、镁碱度和Mg2+/Ca2+之间显著负相关,表明盐度和镁碱度对土壤微生物群落有显著的抑制作用,而且盐度的抑制作用比镁碱度更大;微生物代谢熵(qCO2)和电导率、镁碱度、Mg2+/Ca2+之间为正相关关系,也说明镁碱化盐土对土壤微生物而言是一种严重的胁迫环境。     

PH对红壤微生物生物量碳和生物量磷的影响

The impact of pH changes on microbial biomass carbon (Cmic) and microbial biomass phosphorus (Pmic) were examined for 3 red soils under citrus production with different lengths of cultivation. Soil pH significantly affected Cmic and Pmic. The Cmie and Pmic changes, as a function of soil pH, appeared to follow a normal distribution with the original soil pH value at the apex and as pH increased or decreased compared to the original soil pH, Cmic and Pmic declined. Moreover, there were critical pH values at both extremes (3.0 on the acidic side and 8.0 to 8.5 on the alkaline side), beyond which most of microorganisms could never survive. The effect of pH on Cmic and Pmic was also related to the original soil pH. The higher the original soil pH was, the less Cmic or Pmic were affected by pH change. It is suggested that soil microorganisms that grow in a soil environment with a more neutral soil pH range (i.e. pH 5.5-7.5) may have a greater tolerance to pH changes than those growing in more acidic or more alkaline soil pH conditions.     

Microbial community structure in restored riparian soils of the Canadian prairie pothole region

In the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of Canada, wetlands once utilized for agricultural purposes are restored through the placement of a ditch plug to return them to their pre-existing hydrological state. The overall objective of this research was to assess differences in riparian soil microbial community structure between reference wetlands, those which had never been utilized for agricultural purposes, and restored wetlands, of varying times since restoration. Soil samples (0-6 cm) were taken from 15 reference and 28 restored wetlands. The soil microbial community was characterized using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. Data were analyzed using non-metric multidimensional scaling, multivariate regression trees (MRT) and indicator species analysis. The microbial community of younger restored soils (1-3 and 4-6 yrs) differed significantly from the reference soils, with reference soils having higher microbial biomass, evenness, and diversity. Richness showed an increasing trend with time since restoration. Results from the MRT underlined the importance of climatic factors, specifically precipitation - potential evapotranspiration (P-PE) in explaining the variation found in the microbial community. More specifically, drier sites had strong indicator species values associated with PLFAs of actinomycetal origin and fungal origin. Within the wetter sites, it was found that the older restored sites (7-11 yrs) and reference sites had strong indicator species values associated with PLFAs of Gram negative and fungal origin. The similarities in microbial community composition and biomass of the older restored sites (7-11 yrs) and the reference sites indicate that this component of the wetland ecosystems begins to recover within this time period.     

Microbial biomass in soils under different tillage and crop rotation systems

A long-term study on the effect of different crop rotations [soybean/wheat, S/W; maize/wheat, M/W or cotton/wheat, C/W] and tillage regimes [no-tillage (NT) or conventional tillage (CT)] on microbial biomass and other soil properties is reported. The experiment was established in 1976 in southern Brazil as a split-plot experimental design in three replications. Soil samples were taken in 1997 and 1998 at 0- to 5-, 5- to 10- and 10- to 20-cm depths and evaluated for microbial biomass C, N, P and S by direct extraction methods. The NT system showed increases of 103%, 54%, 36%, and 44% for microbial biomass C, N, P, and C_mic:C_org percentage, respectively at the 0- to 5-cm depth. NT systems also increased the C to N:S:P ratios. These results provide evidence that tillage or crop rotation affect microbial immobilization of soil nutrients. The larger amount of C immobilized in microbial biomass suggests that soil organic matter under NT systems provides higher levels of more labile C than CT systems.     

Microbial biomass and activity in salt affected soils under arid conditions

The effects of salinity on the size, activity and community structure of soil microorganisms in salt affected arid soils were investigated in Shuangta region of west central Anxi County, Gansu Province, China. Eleven soils were selected which had an electrical conductivity (EC) gradient of 0.32–23.05 mS cm⁻¹. There was a significant negative exponential relationship between EC and microbial biomass C, the percentage of soil organic C present as microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N, microbial biomass N to total N ratio, basal soil respiration, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis rate, arginine ammonification rate and potentially mineralizable N. The exponential relationships with EC demonstrate the highly detrimental effect that soil salinity had on the microbial community. In contrast, the metabolic quotient (qCO₂) was positively correlated with EC, and a quadratic relationship between qCO₂ and EC was observed. There was an inverse relationship between qCO₂ and microbial biomass C. These results indicate that higher salinity resulted in a smaller, more stressed microbial community which was less metabolically efficient. The biomass C to biomass N ratio tended to be lower in soils with higher salinity, reflecting the bacterial dominance in microbial biomass in saline soils. Consequently, our data suggest that salinity is a stressful environment for soil microorganisms.     

Microbial biomass and activity in alkalized magnesic soils under arid conditions

The effects of salinity and Mg²⁺ alkalinity on the size and activity of the soil microbial communities were investigated. The study was conducted along the border area of the alluvial fan of the Taolai River. Thirty soil samples were taken which had an electrical conductivity (EC) gradient of 0.93-29.60 mS cm⁻¹. Soil pH ranged from 8.60 to 9.33 and correlated positively with Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ ratio, exchangeable Mg²⁺ percentage and HCO₃⁻+CO₃²⁻. Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ varied considerably from 3.04 to 61.31, with an average of 23.03. Exchangeable Mg²⁺ percentage generally exceeded 60% and had a positive correlation with Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺. HCO₃⁻+CO₃²⁻ averaged 1.63 cmol kg⁻¹ and usually did not exceed 2.0 cmol kg⁻¹.Microbial biomass, indices of microbial activity and the activities of the hydrolases negatively correlated with Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ or exchangeable Mg²⁺ percentage. Biomass C, biomass N, microbial quotient (the percentage of soil organic C present as biomass C), biomass N as a percentage of total N, potentially mineralizable N, FDA hydrolysis rate and arginine ammonification rate decreased exponentially with increasing EC. The biomass C/N tended to be lower in soils with higher salinity and Mg²⁺ alkalinity, probably reflecting the bacterial dominance in microbial biomass in alkalized magnesic soils. The metabolic quotient (qCO₂) positively correlated with salinity and Mg²⁺ alkalinity, and showed a quadratic relationship with EC, indicating that increasing salinity and Mg²⁺ alkalinity resulted in a progressively smaller, more stressed microbial communities which was less metabolically efficient. Consequently, our data suggest that salinity and Mg²⁺ alkalinity are stressful environments for soil microorganisms.