Speciation of phosphorus in temperate zone forest soils as assessed by combined wet‐chemical fractionation and XANES spectroscopy

Phosphorus availability in terrestrial ecosystems is strongly dependent on soil P speciation. Here we present information on the P speciation of 10 forest soils in Germany developed from different parent materials as assessed by combined wet‐chemical P fractionation and synchrotron‐based X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. Soil P speciation showed clear differences among different parent materials and changed systematically with soil depth. In soils formed from silicate bedrock or loess, Fe‐bound P species (FePO₄, organic and inorganic phosphate adsorbed to Fe oxyhydroxides) and Al‐bound P species (AlPO₄, organic and inorganic phosphate adsorbed to Al oxyhydroxides, Al‐saturated clay minerals and Al‐saturated soil organic matter) were most dominant. In contrast, the P speciation of soils formed from calcareous bedrock was dominated (40–70% of total P) by Ca‐bound organic P, which most likely primarily is inositol hexakisphosphate (IHP) precipitated as Ca₃‐IHP. The second largest portion of total P in all calcareous soils was organic P not bound to Ca, Al, or Fe. The relevance of this P form decreased with soil depth. Additionally, apatite (relevance increasing with depth) and Al‐bound P were present. The most relevant soil properties governing the P speciation of the investigated soils were soil stocks of Fe oxyhydroxides, organic matter, and carbonate. Different types of P speciation in soils on silicate and calcareous parent material suggest different ecosystem P nutrition strategies and biogeochemical P cycling patterns in the respective ecosystems. Our study demonstrates that combined wet‐chemical soil P fractionation and synchrotron‐based XANES spectroscopy provides substantial novel information on the P speciation of forest soils.     

Mycorrhizal (Rhizophagus Intraradices) Symbiosis and Fe and Zn Availability in Calcareous Soil

Greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) fractionation patterns in soils of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus-inoculated and uninoculated maize plants fertilized with varying levels of Fe and Zn. Soil samples were collected for Fe and Zn fractions and available Fe, Zn and phosphorus (P) contents besides organic and biomass carbon (BMC), soil enzymes and glomalin. Major portion of Fe and Zn fractionations was found to occur in the residual form. Mycorrhizal symbiosis increased the organically bound forms of Fe and Zn while reducing the crystalline oxide, residual Fe and Zn fractions, indicating the transformation of unavailable forms into available forms. Soil enzymes, viz. dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase activities in M+ soils, were significantly higher than M? soil consistently. Overall, the data suggest that mycorrhizal symbiosis enhanced the availability of Fe and Zn as a result of preferential fractionation and biochemical changes that may alleviate micronutrient deficiencies in calcareous soil.

Abbreviations: AM: arbuscular mycorrhiza; Fe: Iron; Zn: Zinc; P: Phosphorous; Amox-Zn: amorphous oxide bound zinc; Cryox-Zn: crystalline oxide bound zinc; DAS: days after sowing; DTPA: diethylene Triamine Penta Acetic Acid; MnO₂-Zn: manganese oxide bound zinc; OC-Zn: organically bound zinc; WSEX: water soluble plus exchangeable zinc; MnO₂ Fe: manganese oxide bound iron; OC-Fe: Organically bound iron; WSEX Fe: water soluble plus exchangeable iron.     

不同土地利用方式下第四纪古红土有机碳分布特征研究

以不同土地利用方式下（疏林荒草地、荒草地、林地和耕地）第四纪古红土和埋藏第四纪古红土剖面为研究对象,测定古红土各发生层全土及各粒级团聚体的有机碳含量,比较不同土地利用方式下第四纪古红土剖面及团聚体的有机碳分布特征。结果表明:（1）埋藏古红土有机碳含量较低,随深度分布均一,各粒级团聚体内有机碳含量随团聚体粒径减小而降低;（2）埋藏古红土出露地表后,由于受到人为活动影响,表层全土有机碳及各粒级团聚体有机碳含量均增加,呈现林地 > 耕地 > 疏林荒草地 > 荒草地 > 埋藏古红土的特征,其中,林地显著高于其他土地利用方式,说明林地是古红土分布区的一种较合理的土地利用方式;（3）耕地0 ~ 10 cm土层粒径 > 1 mm和 < 0.25 mm团聚体的有机碳含量均随团聚体粒径减小而逐渐增加,1 ~ 0.25 mm团聚体有机碳含量随团聚体粒径减小逐渐降低。其余土地利用方式下古红土均呈现 > 0.25 mm团聚体的有机碳含量随着团聚体粒径减小而逐渐降低,< 0.25 mm团聚体的有机碳含量随团聚体粒径减小而逐渐增加。     

解钾细菌C6X对不同富钾矿物含量土壤钾素迁移的影响

为了改善黄土高原地区煤炭开采引起土壤质量急剧退化的现状,该文以玉米为供试植物,通过日光温室短期盆栽的方式,系统研究解钾细菌C6X和玉米生长对土壤钾素迁移的影响.结果表明:1)玉米生长条件下,解钾细菌在富钾矿物质量分数45％上层土壤(0～20 cm)中对速效钾增量的促进作用最佳.2)解钾细菌和玉米生长协同提高上层土壤钾素固定能力,缓效钾增量在土壤富钾矿物质量分数68％为最大值.3)解钾细菌和玉米生长协同促进土壤钾素上移能力,在富钾矿物质量分数45％水平,土壤上移速效钾呈最大值;同时,解钾细菌促进土壤上移速效钾和玉米钾素积累量二者趋于线性稳定,利于土壤钾肥长期管理.因此,解钾细菌和玉米生长协同促进土壤钾素的释放和固定,并促进土壤钾素上移.     

南极半岛海洋气候区的土壤Ⅶ. 矿物学特性

南极海洋气候区岩石风化和土壤形成过程中有明显的原生矿物蚀变作用和自生矿物成矿作用。本文以粗骨寒冻灰化土和石灰性扰动冻土两种有代表性的土壤类型为例,阐述了本区土壤矿物学特征。指出铝氧化物、绿泥石、碳酸盐是本区玄武岩类风化物质上发育土壤中的主要自生矿物类型,蒙脱石、特别是绿泥-蒙脱石混层矿物是南极海洋气候区土壤粘粒部分的特征矿物。不同土壤由于成土环境、成土过程、成土历史的差异,其土壤物质的矿物学组成、含量、形态、分布具有明显不同。土壤发生性铁氧化物与成土作用和土壤过程密切相关,其矿物类型、含量、形态特征、分布模式在不同的土壤中明显不同,是表征土壤发育程度与剖面形态表达的有效指标。     

Carbon isotopic ratios of wetland and terrace soil sequences in the Maya Lowlands of Belize and Guatemala

This article provides new data and synthesizes earlier findings on the carbon isotope ratios of the humin part of soil organic matter from a range of sites in the central Maya Lowlands. Changes down the soil profile in carbon isotope ratios can provide an important line of evidence for vegetation change and erosion over time, especially in well dated aggrading profiles. Research thus far has provided substantial evidence for significant inputs from C₄ vegetation in buried layers from the Ancient Maya periods in depositional soils but equivocal evidence from sloping soils. We present new findings from soil profiles through ancient Maya wetland fields, upland karst wetlands, ancient Maya aguadas (reservoirs), and ancient Maya terraces. Most of the profiles exhibited δ¹³C enrichment greater than the 2.5–3‰ typical from bacterial fractionation. Seven of nine ancient Maya wetland profiles showed δ¹³C enrichment ranging from 4.25 to 8.56‰ in ancient Maya-dated sediments that also contained phytolith and pollen evidence of grass (C₄ species) dominance. Upland karst sinks and ancient reservoirs produced more modest results for δ¹³C enrichment. These seasonal wetland profiles exhibited δ¹³C enrichment ranging from 1 to 7.3‰ from the surface to ancient Maya-period sediments. Agricultural terraces produced mixed results, with two terraces having substantial δ¹³C enrichment of 5.34 and 5.66‰ and two producing only equivocal results of 1.88 and 3.03‰ from modern topsoils to Maya Classic-period buried soils. Altogether, these findings indicate that C₄ plants made up c. 25% of the vegetation at our sites in the Maya Classic period and only a few percent today. These findings advance the small corpus of studies from ancient terraces, karst sinks, and ancient wetland fields by demonstrating substantial δ¹³C and thus C₄ plant enrichment in soil profile sections dated to ancient Maya times. These studies are also providing a new line of evidence about local and regional soil and ecological change in this region of widespread environmental change in the Late Holocene.     

Testing mechanisms underlying the Hedley sequential phosphorus extraction of soils

The Hedley fractionation has become the preeminent measure for estimating the bioavailability of phosphorus (P) in soils. However, mechanisms underlying P extractability have never been tested. We hypothesize that P sequentially extracted by individual steps can either be referred to a specific mineral source (Hypothesis 1) or to its binding strength to minerals (Hypothesis 2). We prepared mineral‐P associations in the laboratory using various secondary mineral phases and P forms (orthophosphate, phytic acid, ribonucleic acid), which were then subject to the Hedley sequential extraction scheme (anion exchange resin in form, 0.5 M NaHCO₃, 0.1 M NaOH, 1 M HCl, and concentrated HCl at 80°C). Extracts were analyzed for P as well as for the main mineral‐borne elements by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP–OES). In order to test if the observed mineral dissolution patterns match those of natural soils, we applied the Hedley fractionation to forest soils comprising various P stocks and measured in addition to extracted P also iron, aluminum, and calcium by ICP – OES. Phosphorus extractability from mineral‐P associations differed between P forms and mineral phases. Adsorbed P always contributed to several or all extracts, Hypothesis 1 was thus not tenable. Aluminum hydroxide, allophane, ferrihydrite, and goethite completely dissolved during Hedley fractionation from the third extraction step onwards. Successive mineral dissolution also occurred for the soil samples. Thus, extracted P represents partly desorbed P from various soil constituents and partly P co‐released upon dissolution of various minerals. Consequently, also Hypothesis 2 could not be confirmed, i.e., the sequential extraction is not suitable to assess different binding strengths between P forms and minerals. We conclude that the method hardly provides information for studies aiming at the mechanistic understanding of P bioavailability in soil.     

基于CT分析露天煤矿复垦年限对土壤有效孔隙数量和孔隙度的影响

露天煤矿排土场由于排土过程中大型机械压实等作用会对土壤的孔隙结构产生影响,重构适合于植被生长的土壤孔隙结构是排土场土地复垦的重要工作。为对排土场重构土壤孔隙结构进行定量分析,该文采用高精度无损计算机断层扫描技术(CT)对山西平朔矿区安太堡露天煤矿排土场平台全黄土母质覆盖的不同复垦年限(0、20、23 a)以及原地貌的土壤进行分层扫描成像,并利用Photoshop和Arcgis软件对扫描图像进行处理和统计分析,探讨了排土和复垦对土壤孔隙数量和孔隙度的影响,分析了排土场重构土壤大、中和小孔隙的变化。结果表明:原地貌土壤孔隙数量和孔隙度最大,其次是复垦23和20 a的土壤,排土后未复垦土壤孔隙数量和孔隙度最小。采矿和排土等活动由于大型机械压实作用降低了土壤孔隙数量和孔隙度,尤其是大孔隙数量和大孔隙度;土地复垦对增加土壤孔隙数量和孔隙度有一定的作用,但是过程比较缓慢。采矿和排土等活动对表层土壤孔隙数量和孔隙度的影响要高于底层土壤。该研究可为黄土区大型露天煤矿排土场重构土壤结构的优化与土地复垦措施选择提供依据。     

Calcium‐ and iron‐related phosphorus in calcareous and calcareous marsh soils: Sequential chemical fractionation and 31p nuclear magnetic resonance study

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) forms in soils determine the amount of P available for crops and the potential for this element to be released to water. Sequential chemical fractionation can provide some information about major P forms in soils, and allow one to distinguish iron (Fe)‐related phosphorus from calcium (Ca)‐bound P. The ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been used in the identification of organic P, precipitated Ca‐phosphates, and aluminum (Al)‐related P in acid soils. Three calcareous soils and four calcareous marsh soils were used in this study. These two types of soils differ in the nature of iron oxides, which are the main P sorbent surfaces. The ratio of low crystalline to high crystalline iron oxides is higher in marsh soils than in calcareous soils as a consequence of the special genesis and conditions of the soil (reduction‐oxidation cycles). Such a ratio is related to the proportion of occluded P in low crystalline oxides relative to that of high crystalline oxides. Citrate‐bicarbonate extractable P (CB‐P) in the fractionation schemes can be ascribed to adsorbed P and high soluble calcium phosphates. CB‐P is correlated with the sum of P fractions in all the soils, thus indicating that the amount of the P that can be easily released is related to the rate of P enrichment of the soil. The ³¹P NMR spectral data reveal that hydroxyapatite is the dominant P form in the soils studied. This is consistent with the fractionation data, where acid‐extractable P is the main P fraction. The spectra also provide some information about the amount of total inorganic P and Ca‐phosphates in calcareous soils.     

Characterization of Soil Phosphorus in Differently Managed Clay Soil by Chemical Extraction Methods and 31P NMR Spectroscopy

Changes in land use alter the natural cycling of phosphorus (P) in soil. Understanding the chemical nature of these changes is important when developing sustainable management practices for cultivated soils. In this study, we evaluated the ability of commonly used laboratory methods to characterize land use–induced changes in various P pools. Also, the characteristics of soil P revealed by different methods are discussed. Soil samples were taken from three differently managed field plots of the same clay soil: uncultivated grassland and organic and conventional crop rotations. Soil P reserves were characterized using Chang and Jackson and Hedley sequential fractionation procedures and by sodium hydroxide (NaOH)–ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) extraction followed by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. Both of the tested fractionation methods identified differences in the P pools and provided evidence regarding land use–induced changes. However, the ³¹P NMR analysis suggests that the quality of organic P in this soil was not affected by the change in land use.     

Fractional composition of lead compounds in soils of Moscow and Moscow region

Sequential fractionation of lead compounds from the urban and suburban soils of Moscow and eastern Moscow region was performed using the Tessier method. It was found that strongly bound lead compounds retained by Fe and Mn hydroxides were predominant in the background (reference) soils of the Meshchera Lowland in Moscow oblast. The content of almost all the lead fractions, except for the hydroxide fraction, increased in the contaminated soils. The quantitative proportions of the particulate fractions varied depending on the distance from the city, the physicochemical properties of the soils, and the land use. The profile distribution of the lead was of accumulative character; the metal was fixed on the biogeochemical barrier, where the lead compounds of the fourth fraction bound to organic matter are mainly accumulated.     

Elemental prospecting and geoarchaeology in Turkey and Mexico

Understanding past human impacts on soils requires many forms of evidence including elemental chemistry. Human activities leave traces of different elements, distinguishing activity sites. Since the 1990s more scholars have used a full range of analytical techniques including inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP/AES), and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP/MS). Also since that time the near singular focus on phosphate as a prime indicator of human activity has broadened to include a large suite of elemental indicators, aided by the emergence of many tools and techniques such as ICP. This paper focuses on the elemental chemistry of sediments at two archaeology sites, Chunchucmil, Mexico, and Kinet, Turkey. The purpose of this study is to understand how certain elements correlate with each other and vary by space and time at different archaeology sites, and as an important methodological consideration, how different solvents affect ICP-AES analyses. In other words, does human activity significantly alter the elemental chemistry of a site, and if so, is this in a systematic way or does it vary geographically? And, are these chemical signatures of human activity hidden or highlighted by different ICP methods? We examined soil chemistry by types of geomorphic and archaeological location contexts (e.g., floors, natural deposits, walls, streets) and by age of deposit (e.g., Hellenistic, Iron Age) to detect differences in soil chemistry signatures associated with them, and for regional variations in ICP methods’ effectiveness. Our analyses revealed detectable differences between natural and anthropogenic deposits, site types, eras, and large differences between methods. High amounts of lead were correlated with streets and rooms in the Medieval and Bronze periods in Kinet, Turkey and natural deposits had lower levels of cadmium and mercury. ICP-NP treatments revealed higher detection levels of most elements than did ICP-DT treatments in Chunchucmil, Mexico.     

作为颗粒运移的示踪剂的土壤7Be, 137Cs, 226Ra和228Ra的地球化学种类

A brunisolic soil collected from an erosive forest land(HF-1-1) and a yellow soil from and accumulative shallow basin(HF-6-1) in the watershed of Lake Hongfeng (HF) were used for activity measurements of ^7Be,^137Cs,^226Ra and ^228Ra in different geochemical speciation.More than 85% of ^7Be,^137Cs,^226Ra and 228Ra in the soils were bound to organic Fe-Mn oxy-hydroxide and residual fractions.They could move with soil particlesw and be used as tracers for the erosion and /or accumulation of soil particles.^7Be gohemical specition in the soils agreed with its trace for seasonal particle transport.^137Cs geohemial speciaiton was suitable for tracing soil particle accumulation and for sediment aating.^226Ra and ^228Ra were ombined in crystalline skeleton of clay minerals and mainly remained as residues in the soils and little was bound to the soluble,exchangeable and carbonate fractions.The differentiation of ^226 Ra/^228Ra activity ratios in different geoheical fractions in the soils could be used as a parameter to trace accumulation and /or erosion of soil particles.     

Long-term land-use change effects on phosphorus fractionation in Zrêbar Lake margin soils

The aim of this study was to survey long-term changes in phosphorus (P) fractions in soils in different land uses. Sequential extraction had been used to determine soil P fractionation on the basis of land-use change, i.e. native forest to vineyard and wetland to both alfalfa and wheat at the end of 30 and 20 years, respectively. The highest values of labile-P (L-P) fractions in surface soil layers were observed in the cultivated land. The calcium-bound P was the most affected fraction by land-use change with the lowest amount in the vineyard and the highest amount in the alfalfa land. Conversion of forest to vineyards causes P in the soils to be more vulnerable to transmission; thus, the least amount of total P (T-P) in vineyard may be attributed to the removal of sediment and sediment bond P from runoff in response to land-use changes. Average L-P in alfalfa land was two times more than that in vineyard. Results showed that 44.5% of T-P in native land was stored in surface layer; besides, the portion of the arable surface horizon in T-P sequestration was 33%.     

绰墩遗址古今水稻土黏土矿物特征比较研究

在江苏绰墩山遗址考古发掘中,发现了在剖面不同深度埋藏的距今约6000年的史前水稻土层、距今约3 000年的商周史前的古水稻土层和现代水稻土层.本研究为了比较古今水稻土黏土矿物特征的差异,以土壤剖面P01(包含史前古水稻土、商周史古水稻土和现代水稻土)与P03(仅含商周时期古水稻土和现代水稻土)为对象,测定其各种形态铁锰...     

Mapping contemporary magnetic mineral concentrations in peat soils using fine-resolution digital terrain data

Small-scale spatial variability in the concentration of magnetic minerals in peat soils has been explained by differences in the deposition and interception of magnetic minerals at the soil surface and the retention of magnetic minerals within the soil. Each of these processes is controlled by topographic conditions. Recent advances in the field of digital terrain analysis and the availability of fine-resolution digital elevation models means that the relationship between the concentration of magnetic minerals in peat soils and topography can be explored using quantitative methods. Alport Moor is an ombrotrophic peat moorland in the Peak District National Park, UK. 24 peat cores were collected from Alport Moor covering an area of 0.1 km². Each core was analysed for mass specific magnetic susceptibility. Three topographic attributes (topographic wetness index, difference from mean elevation and elevation as a percentage of elevation range) were extracted from a high resolution LiDAR digital elevation model of Alport Moor. Stepwise multiple regression analyses show that topographic wetness index and difference from mean elevation are excellent predictors of variation in peak magnetic susceptibility and total magnetic susceptibility inventories for peat soils of this upland area. The results demonstrate that the contemporary concentration of magnetic minerals in the peat soils of Alport Moor is controlled by micro- and local-scale variations in water table position. The results also suggest that the contemporary level of magnetic minerals in the peat soils of Alport Moor is controlled by the retention of such particles in the soil environment. Differences in the deposition and interception of magnetic minerals play a secondary role in controlling magnetic mineral concentrations. Spatial maps of magnetic susceptibility reveal that peat soils adjacent to gully edges at Alport Moor have the highest concentration of magnetic minerals. The mapping approach used in this study could be applied to other peatland environments.     

栽培模式及施肥对玉米和大豆根际土壤磷素有效性的影响

栽培模式及施肥管理对作物吸收利用土壤磷素的影响较大,本研究为探明玉米/大豆套作系统作物根系交互作用下根际土壤无机磷组分动态变化特征,利用盆栽试验测定了玉米/大豆套作(M/S)、玉米单作(MM)和大豆单作(SS)3种栽培模式以及不施肥(CK)、施氮钾肥(NK)和施氮磷钾肥(NPK)3种施肥处理下玉米和大豆地上部生物量及吸磷量和根际与非根际土壤速效磷、无机磷组分含量,以期为优化玉米/大豆套作系统磷素管理提供理论依据。研究结果表明同一施肥水平下,套作玉米的籽粒产量显著高于单作玉米;施磷显著提高了单作玉米籽粒产量,而对套作玉米籽粒产量影响不大。无论施肥与否,套作大豆秸秆及籽粒产量均高于单作大豆。所有施肥处理均表现为套作模式下单株作物地上部磷积累量显著高于单作模式。玉米成熟期,CK、NK处理下套作玉米根际土壤速效磷含量分别比单作玉米高54.2%和71.8%;大豆始花期,NPK处理下套作大豆根际土壤速效磷含量比单作大豆高19.8%。大豆成熟期,NK、NPK处理下套作大豆根际土壤速效磷含量分别比单作大豆高23.8%和108.0%。无论是单作还是套作模式,玉米根际土壤Al-P含量在3个施肥处理下均低于非根际土壤。CK和NK处理下单作玉米根际土壤Al-P含量分别是套作玉米的1.19倍和1.22倍;NPK处理下单作玉米根际土壤Fe-P含量是套作玉米的1.21倍。在CK、NK和NPK施肥处理下,单作大豆根际土Al-P含量分别是套作大豆1.12倍、1.30倍和1.25倍,单作大豆非根际土Al-P含量分别是套作大豆的1.22倍、1.30倍和1.06倍。CK、NK处理下单作大豆根际土壤Fe-P含量分别是套作大豆的1.47倍和1.12倍。研究得出结论,低磷条件下,与单作相比,玉米/大豆套作更有利于作物对土壤Al-P、Fe-P的活化吸收。     

解钾细菌与黏土矿物协同促进玉米生长提高土壤养分有效性

为了揭示解钾细菌在西北矿区浅埋古河道土壤中对植物生长和土壤养分利用的影响,通过日光温室短期盆栽的方式,以不同黏土矿物配比的人工培土为基质模拟古河道不同质地土壤,以西北地区常见农作物玉米为宿主,研究解钾细菌在人工培土基质中的微生物数量变化规律,以及二者协同作用对玉米生长和矿质养分吸收的影响。结果表明:1)土壤黏土矿物含量增大有利于提高土壤解钾细菌数量,促进微生物活性。当黏土矿物质量分数为68%,速效钾质量分数约170 mg/kg时,解钾细菌数量最大;2)玉米地上部分干质量、根冠比、根系活力随黏土矿物含量增大而增大,以解钾细菌作用下黏土矿物质量分数68%的玉米生长效果最佳;3)在解钾细菌作用下,植物氮磷钾积累量和土壤养分利用的最佳土壤黏土矿物质量分数为45%、68%和75%,土壤钾素、氮素和磷素最大利用率分别达到65%、53%和17%;4)解钾细菌在土壤钾素含量低时促进土壤磷素吸收,土壤钾素过量时,促进土壤氮磷钾的吸收,提高土壤养分利用率。因此,土壤黏土矿物与解钾细菌相互作用,而且积极影响植物生长和土壤养分的吸收利用,这对进一步探寻适合矿区浅埋古河道土壤的微生物复垦技术,深入改良和开发矿区退化土壤具有重要意义。     

Influence of former agricultural land use on net nitrate production in forest soils

Except where nitrate is added to the soil artificially, nitrate is leached from forest soils only if it is produced. Although the factors influencing nitrification have been widely studied, nitrification activity still cannot be simply predicted from ecosystem characteristics. In France, about half of the present forest area was agricultural in 1850. Previous work suggested that former cultivation could be a major factor influencing nitrogen availability in forest soils. Using laboratory incubations, we compared the net production of ammonium and nitrate in soils from formerly manured lands planted with conifers 70–100 years ago with that in soils of surrounding ancient coniferous forests. Net nitrate production, available P content, and natural abundance of nitrogen 15, δ¹⁵N, were greater in soils from formerly manured plots than other land, whereas the C:N ratio of the soil was less. The difference in net nitrate production between previously manured sites and adjacent ancient forests was related to differences in δ¹⁵N values in the soil but not evidently to other soil properties. Because soil δ¹⁵N increases with the intensity of organic manuring, these results suggest that nitrification in forest soils depends on previous manurial practices under agriculture. In this context, the soil δ¹⁵N might be used as an indicator of both previous agricultural land use and potential nitrification. Because a significant proportion of West European forests grow on previously cultivated soils, past land use should be taken into account when evaluating the risks of nitrate leaching from forests.     

Drying/rewetting cycles mobilize old C from deep soils from a California annual grassland

We measured the ¹⁴C and ¹³C signatures of CO₂ respired from surface and deep soils released through multiple dry/rewetting cycles in laboratory incubations. The C respired from surface soils included components fixed before and after the 1960s. However, that respired from deep soils was derived from organic matter with a mean turnover time estimated in the range of 650-850 years. This reinforces previous research suggesting that a substantial amount of deep soil C is chemically labile but physically inaccessible to microorganisms, but also suggests that substantial amounts of that C may not be so strongly bound to minerals as to be effectively inert, raising the question of why it hasn’t already been metabolized. It also demonstrates the contribution of C fixed before the 1960s to CO₂ metabolized in the surface soils at this site.