Fuzzy classification of microbial biomass and enzyme activities in grassland soils

Soil microbial properties are widely used as indicators of soil quality. The interpretation of soil microbial processes, however, is difficult because of their regional and seasonal heterogeneity as well as the lack of reference values. One possibility to overcome these limitations to apply the fuzzy set theory. This approach more realistically describes ecological systems because it considers natural ambiguity and complexity. The present study applies a fuzzy rule-based classification model to define soil quality based on soil microbial biomass, N-mineralisation, enzyme activity data (urease, xylanase, phosphatase, arylsulfatase) and soil organic matter. The data have been collected from different grassland sites in the European Union over a period of 20 years. The fuzzy model is based on a rule system derived from a training set using simulated annealing as an optimisation algorithm. For each variable, nine triangular fuzzy sets were defined for consideration as possible rule arguments. The model uses the t-norm for combination of arguments, product inference, the weighted sum as rule combination and the maximum method for defuzzification. The output is the assignment of membership of the object to a given soil quality class. The soil quality classes (very poor, poor, medium, high, very high) were defined by five heavy metal contamination levels (very high, high, medium, low, no). A predefined number of fuzzy rules were assessed using a simulated annealing algorithm. The fuzzy model was validated by a test file by assigning the soils to the quality class with the highest response value. The fuzzy model yielded an overall coincidence of 88.8% between observed and simulated results. The most sensitive index of soil quality was microbial biomass. N-mineralisation was a good indicator for the high-quality soils, while urease and arylsulfatase were important indicators for heavily contaminated, poor soil quality. Xylanase and phosphatase behaved ambivalently. Including soil organic carbon in the model decreased its effectiveness by 6.5%. We suggest that the presented fuzzy model based on soil microbial properties could be applied not only to soil degradation, upscaling and prediction, but also to judge the response of soils to environmental changes.     

Effect of cattle slurry in grassland on microbial biomass and on activities of various enzymes

We examined the long-term effects of cattle slurry, applied at high rates, on microbial biomass, respiration, the microbial quotient (qCO₂) and various soil enzyme activities. In March, June, July, and October 1991, slurry-amended grassland soils (0–10 cm) contained significantly higher levels of microbial biomass, N mineralization and enzyme activities involved in N, P, and C cycling. With microbial biomass as the relative value, the results revealed that the slurry treatment influenced enzyme production by the microbial biomass. High levels of urease activity were the result not only of a larger microbial biomass, but also of higher levels of enzmye production by this microbial biomass. The ratio of alkaline phosphatase and xylanase to microbial biomass was nearly constant in the different treatments. The metabolic quotient (qCO₂) declined with increased levels of slurry application. Therefore it appears that microorganisms in slurry-amended soils require less C and energy if there is no competition for nutrients. The results of this study suggest that urease activity, nitrification, and respiration (metabolic quotient) can be used as indicators of environmental stress, produced by heavy applications of cattle slurry.     

Organic matter, microbial biomass and enzyme activity of soils under different crop rotations in the tropics

Soil organic matter level, soil microbial biomass C, ninhydrin-N, C mineralization, and dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activity were studied in soils under different crop rotations for 6 years. Inclusion of a green manure crop of Sesbania aculeata in the rotation improved soil organic matter status and led to an increase in soil microbial biomass, soil enzyme activity and soil respiratory activity. Microbial biomass C increased from 192 mg kg^–1 soil in a pearl millet-wheat-fallow rotation to 256 mg kg^–1 soil in a pearl millet-wheat-green manure rotation. Inclusion of an oilseed crop such as sunflower or mustard led to a decrease in soil microbial biomass, C mineralization and soil enzyme activity. There was a good correlation between microbial biomass C, ninhydrin-N and dehydrogenase activity. The alkaline phosphatase activity of the soil under different crop rotations was little affected. The results indicate the green manuring improved the organic matter status of the soil and soil microbial activity vital for the nutrient turnover and long-term productivity of the soil. Received: 7 January 1996     

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     

The combined effects of earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a calcareous soil spiked with cadmium

Earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to independently affect soil microbial and biochemical properties, in particular soil microbial biomass (SMB) and enzymes. However, less information is available about their interactive effects, particularly in soils contaminated with heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd). The amount of soil microbial biomass C (MBC), the rate of soil respiration (SRR) and the activities of urease and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured in a calcareous soil artificially spiked with Cd (10 and 20 mg Cd kg⁻¹), inoculated with earthworm (Lumbricus rubellus L.), and AMF (Glomus intraradices and Glomus mosseae species) under maize (Zea mays L.) crop for 60 days. Results showed that the quantity of MBC, SRR and enzyme activities decreased with increasing Cd levels as a result of the elevated exchangeable Cd concentration. Earthworm addition increased soil exchangeable Cd levels, while AMF and their interaction with earthworms had no influence on this fraction of Cd. Earthworm activity resulted in no change in soil MBC, while inoculation with both AMF species significantly enhanced soil MBC contents. However, the presence of earthworms lowered soil MBC when inoculated with G. mosseae fungi, showing an interaction between the two organisms. Soil enzyme activities and SRR values tended to increase considerably with the inoculation of both earthworms and AMF. Nevertheless, earthworm activity did not affect ALP activity when inoculated with G. mosseae fungi, while the presence of earthworm enhanced urease activity only with G. intraradices species. The increases in enzyme activities and SRR were better ascribed to changes in soil organic carbon (OC), MBC and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) contents. In summary, results demonstrated that the influence of earthworms alone on Cd availability is more important than that of AMF in Cd-polluted soils; and that the interaction effects between these organisms on soil microorganism are much more important than on Cd availability. Thus, the presence of both earthworms and AMF could alleviate Cd effects on soil microbial life.     

Evaluating soil microbial biomass carbon as an indicator of long-term environmental change

The aim is to assess whether soil microbial biomass carbon (biomass C) could be used as an indicator of environmental change in natural and semi-natural ecosystems. Biomass C was measured by fumigation-extraction in soils from two sites at Rothamsted. One was a plot from the Broadbalk Wheat Experiment, given inorganic fertiliser and chalk, which has been in continuous cultivation for more than 150 yr. The other was a similar sized area, from Geescroft Wilderness, which has been left to revert to woodland since 1885, after being an arable field. Other soil properties (pH, soil organic C and exchangeable cations) were also measured to compare with biomass C. The coefficients of variation (cvs) of the properties measured were calculated for comparison, little difference was found between the cvs for biomass C from each site: cv=26% for Broadbalk and 23% for Geescroft. The cvs for the other, chemical properties, were mostly <10% for Broadbalk and generally >25% for Geescroft, as expected, given the different cultivation histories. Statistical analysis of the variation in biomass C concentration revealed that such measurements would not be valid indicators of environmental change, without processing impossibly large numbers of samples. To decrease the least significant percentage change to less than 5% after three samplings, 320 samples would have to be taken each time. This would be also be true of the other chemical properties in Geescroft Wilderness, where the measured background variation would mask any subtle environmental change. This indicates that, for some properties at least, statistically significant changes will only be detected in the longer term with regular sampling, e.g. 30-40 yr.     

Effect of soil CO2 concentration on microbial biomass

The effect of increasing soil CO₂ concentration was studied in six different soils. The soils were incubated in ambient air (0.05 vol.% CO₂) or in air enriched with CO₂ (up to 5.0 vol.% CO₂). Carbon dioxide evolution, microbial biomass, growth or death rate quotients and glucose decay rate were measured at 6, 12 and 24 h of CO₂ exposure. The decrease in soil respiration ranged from 7% to 78% and was followed by a decrease in microbial biomass by 10–60% in most cases. High CO₂ treatments did not affect glucose decay rate but the portion of C_gluc mineralized to CO₂ was lowered and a larger portion of C_gluc remained in soils. This carbon was not utilized by soil microorganisms. Received: 30 August 1996     

Relationships of soil respiration to microbial biomass, substrate availability and clay content

The roles of microbial biomass (MBC) and substrate supply as well as their interaction with clay content in determining soil respiration rate were studied using a range of soils with contrasting properties. Total organic C (TOC), water-soluble organic carbon, 0.5 M K₂SO₄-extractable organic C and 33.3 mM KMnO₄-oxidisable organic carbon were determined as C availability indices. For air-dried soils, these indices showed close relationship with flush of CO₂ production following rewetting of the soils. In comparison, MBC determined with the chloroform fumigation-extraction technique had relatively weaker correlation with soil respiration rate. After 7 d pre-incubation, soil respiration was still closely correlated with the C availability indices in the pre-incubated soils, but poorly correlated with MBC determined with three different techniques—chloroform fumigation extraction, substrate-induced respiration, and chloroform fumigation-incubation methods. Results of multiple regression analyses, together with the above observations, suggested that soil respiration under favourable temperature and moisture conditions was principally determined by substrate supply rather than by the pool size of MBC. The specific respiratory activity of microorganisms (CO₂-C/MBC) following rewetting of air-dried soils or after 7 d pre-incubation was positively correlated with substrate availability, but negatively correlated with microbial pool size. Clay content had no significant effect on CO₂ production rate, relative C mineralization rate (CO₂-C/TOC) and specific respiratory activity of MBC during the first week incubation of rewetted dry soils. However, significant protective effect of clay on C mineralization was shown for the pre-incubated soils. These results suggested that the protective effect of clay on soil organic matter decomposition became significant as the substrate supply and microbial demand approached to an equilibrium state. Thereafter, soil respiration would be dependent on the replenishment of the labile substrate from the bulk organic C pool.     

Impact of faunal complexity on microbial biomass and N turnover in field mesocosms from a spruce forest soil

In a field study using soil mesocosms in an acid spruce forest soil we investigated the effects of mesofauna and macrofauna on microbial biomass, dissolved organic matter, and N cycling. Intact soil monoliths were taken from the ground, defaunated by deep-freezing, and wrapped in nets of various mesh-sizes to control re-immigration of different faunal size-classes. The monoliths were then replanted in the field. Three treatments of mesocosms were prepared: (1) with only microbiota, (2) microbiota and mesofauna, and (3) microbiota, mesofauna, and macrofauna (= complex fauna). After 8 months of exposure the mesocosms and the unmanipulated control plots (treatment 4) were destructively sampled. We estimated microbial biomass by substrate-induced respiration and the chloroform fumigation-extraction method. N cycling was measured by monitoring microbial N mineralization, the NH _inf4 ^sup+ content, and selected amino acids and the activities of protease, urease, and deaminase. The results from the L/F layer showed that the pool of the microbial biomass was not changed by the activity of the mesofauna. However, the mesofauna and macrofauna together enhanced SIR. An increase in microbial N mineralization was only observed in treatment 3 (microbiota + complex fauna). Protease activity and NH _inf4 ^sup+ content increased in treatments 2 (microbiota + mesofauna) and 3 (microbiota + complex fauna). The complex fauna induced a soil pH increase in treatment 3 as opposed to treatment 1 and the control. This increase was presumably due to excretory NH _inf4 ^sup+ . Principal component analysis revealed that the complex fauna in treatment 3 caused a significantly higher N turnover per unit of microbial biomass.     

Short-term effects of dairy slurry amendment on carbon sequestration and enzyme activities in a temperate grassland

Land application of animal wastes from intensive grassland farming has resulted in growing environmental problems relating to greenhouse gas emissions, ammonia volatilisation, and nitrate and phosphorus leaching into surface and groundwater. We examined the short-term effects of dairy slurry amendment on carbon sequestration and enzyme activities in a temperate grassland (Southwest England). Slurry was collected from cows fed either on perennial ryegrass (C₃) or maize (C₄) silages. Fifty m³ ha⁻¹ of each of the obtained C₃ or C₄ slurries (δ¹³C=−30.7 and −21.3‰, respectively) were applied to a C₃ pasture soil with δ¹³C of −30.0±0.2‰. We found that water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) content was two to three times higher in the slurry amended plots compared with the unamended control. No significant change in the soil microbial biomass (SMB) carbon content was observed in the four weeks (772 h) following slurry application. Natural abundance ¹³C isotope analysis suggested a rapid initial incorporation (>25% within 2 h of application) of slurry-derived C in the SMB-C and WSOC pools of the 0-2 cm layer. Linear relationships were found between slurry-derived C in the whole soil, SMB, and WSOC for the 0-2 cm depth in the soil. Applied slurry-derived C was sequestered in the SMB pool in two phases. The first phase (0-48 h) was dominated by the incorporation of labile slurry C from the liquid phase, whereas beyond 48 h slurry-derived C was mainly from less mobile particulate C. No significant differences between treatments were found for invertase and xylanase. Urease activity was always higher in slurry treatments. Cellobiohydrolase, β-N-acetyl-glucosamidase, β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase activities became significantly higher in slurry treatments after 336 h. However, the observed temporal changes in enzyme activities were not correlated with the amounts of slurry-C incorporated in the SMB and WSOC pool.     

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。     

长期石油污水灌溉对东北旱田土壤微生物生物量及土壤酶活性的影响

以土壤微生物生物量和土壤酶活性等为土壤微生物变化指标,研究了含油污水长期灌溉对东北沈抚灌区农田土壤微生物的影响.结果表明:土壤微生物生物量碳和生物量氮随着污灌有机物污染程度的增加而增加,与土壤石油烃(TPH)含量极显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.955和0.962(P<0.01);与土壤多环芳烃(PAHs)含量也极显著正相关,相关系数为0.941和0.946(P<0.01).土壤酶活性分析表明,土壤脱氢酶和多酚氧化酶与土壤TPH含量极显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.977和0.958(P<0.01);与PAHs含量也极显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.997和0.977(P<0.01).土壤中的脲酶受污水灌溉中含N物质的影响与TPH含量显著相关,相关系数为0.713(P<0.05),与PAHs污染无明显相关性.而纤维素酶与土壤有机物污染无明显相关关系.土壤微生物生物量和土壤脱氢酶、多酚氧化酶可以作为污灌土壤TPH和PAHs污染敏感的生物学和生物化学指标.     

Three decades of soil microbial biomass studies in Brazilian ecosystems: Lessons learned about soil quality and indications for improving sustainability

Soil microbial biomass plays important roles in nutrient cycling, plant-pathogen suppression, decomposition of residues and degradation of pollutants; therefore, it is often regarded as a good indicator of soil quality. We reviewed more than a hundred studies in which microbial biomass-C (MB-C), microbial quotient (MB-C/TSOC, total soil organic carbon) and metabolic quotient (qCO₂) were evaluated with the objective of understanding MB-C responses to various soil-management practices in Brazilian ecosystems. These practices included tillage systems, crop rotations, pastures, organic farming, inputs of industrial residues and urban sewage sludge, applications of agrochemicals and burning. With a meta-analysis of 233 data points, we confirmed the benefits of no-tillage in preserving MB-C and reducing qCO₂ in comparison to conventional tillage. A large number of studies described increases in MB-C and MB-C/TSOC due to permanent organic farming, also benefits from crop rotations particularly with several species involved, whereas application of agrochemicals and burning severely disturbed soil microbial communities. The MB-C decreased in overgrazed pastures, but increased in pastures rotated with well-managed crops. Responses of MB-C, MB-C/TSOC and qCO₂ to amendment with organic industrial residues varied with residue type, dose applied and soil texture. In conclusion, MB-C and related parameters were, indeed, useful indicators of soil quality in various Brazilian ecosystems. However, direct relationships between MB-C and nutrient-cycling dynamics, microbial diversity and functionality are still unclear. Further studies are needed to develop strategies to maximize beneficial effects of microbial communities on soil fertility and crop productivity.     

不同农田生态系统土壤微生物生物量碳的变化研究

试验研究不同农田生态系统土壤微生物生物量碳的变化结果表明,长期单施N、P肥处理对土壤有机碳和微生物生物量碳的影响不明显,施有机肥处理土壤微生物生物量碳及微生物生物量碳/有机碳值均高于其他施肥处理,轮作中引入豆科作物或豆科连作均对土壤微生物生物量碳的积累有显著作用。     

Long-term tillage and rotation effects on soil microbial biomass,carbon and nitrogen

Summary Three mollisols, typical of the Palouse winter wheat region of eastern Washington and northern Idaho, were analyzed for microbial biomass, total C and total N after 10 years of combined tillage and rotation treatments. Treatments included till, no-till and three different cereal-legume rotations. All crop phases in each rotation were sampled in the same year. Microbial biomass was monitored from April to October, using a respiratory-response method. Microbial biomass, total C and total N were highest under no-till surface soils (0–5 cm), with minimal differences for tillage or depth below 5 cm. Microbial biomass differences among rotations were not large, owing to the relative homogeneity of the treatments. A rotation with two legume crops had the highest total C and N. Microbial biomass was significantly higher in no-till surface soils where the current crop had been preceded by a high-residue crop. The opposite was true for the tilled plots. There was little change in microbial biomass over the seasons until October, when fresh crop residues and rains had a strong stimulatory effect. The seasonal pattern of biomass in no-till surface soils reflected the dry summer/winter rainfall climate of the region. The results of this study show that numerous factors affect soil microbial biomass and that cropping history and seasonal changes must be taken into account when microbial biomass data are compared.Scientific paper no. 7634     

分根装置中接种AM真菌对玉米秸秆降解及土壤微生物量碳、氮和酶活性的影响

本试验通过两室分根装置种植玉米,利用网袋法研究接种Glomus mosseae和Glomus etunicatum两种AM真菌对玉米秸秆降解的影响。试验分别在玉米移栽后第20 d、30 d、40 d、50 d和60 d时取样,通过测定接种AM真菌后玉米秸秆中碳、氮释放,土壤中3种常见酶活性、微生物量碳、微生物量氮及土壤呼吸的动态变化,探讨AM真菌降解玉米秸秆可能的作用机制。研究结果表明:经60 d的培养后,与未接种根室相比,接种G.mosseae和G.etunicatum真菌的菌根室玉米秸秆降解量提高了20.75%和20.97%;另外,接种G.mosseae和G.etunicatum加快了玉米秸秆碳素释放,降低了氮素释放,致使碳氮比降低25.45%和26.17%,有利于秸秆进一步降解。在本试验条件下,接种AF真菌的菌根室中土壤酸性磷素酶、蛋白酶和过氧化氢酶活性均有显著提高,并增加了微生物量碳、氮和土壤呼吸作用,形成了明显有别于根际的微生物区系。这一系列影响都反映出AM真菌能够直接或间接作用于玉米秸秆的降解过程,是导致玉米秸秆降解加快的重要原因。     

Relative role of soil nutrients vs. carbon availability on soil carbon mineralization in grassland receiving long-term N addition

High nitrogen (N) input often induces soil carbon (C) limitation, eutrophication of macronutrients, deficiency of base cations, and accumulation of toxic micronutrients. These changes are perceived to be critical factors in regulating soil C mineralization. Previous studies primarily focused on the individual effects of C, macronutrients, exchangeable base cations, and micronutrients on soil C mineralization. However, the relative importance of those factors in regulating soil C mineralization, especially in N-enriched ecosystems, remains unclear. To disentangle the relative contributions of aforementioned factors, lime and/or glucose were added to soils that were collected from a field experiment with historical N addition (6 years) at seven rates (0–50 g N m⁻² year⁻¹) in a grassland ecosystem. Lime and glucose were added to improve the soil C and key nutrient conditions. The responses of soil C mineralization rate to changes in soil C and macronutrients (N and P), exchangeable base cations (K⁺, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺), and micronutrients (Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺) were examined. We found that lime addition decreased soil micronutrients, while glucose addition improved the soil available P and exchangeable base cations, especially at high historical N addition rates. The soil C mineralization was weakly associated with changes in soil nutrients, including the availability of N, P, exchangeable base cations, and micronutrients, which were conventionally and previously considered as the vital drivers of soil C mineralization. However, soil C mineralization strongly increased with glucose-induced enhancement of C availability and the subsequent enhancement of microbial biomass under increasing N addition rates. Based on the Structural Equation Model, the standardized total effects of C, macronutrients (N and P), base cations and micronutrients on soil C mineralization were 0.86, − 0.29, 0.15 and − 0.08, respectively. Findings from this study demonstrated that the N-induced significant changes in soil nutrients (e.g., eutrophication of N and P, base cations deficiency and accumulation of toxic macronutrients) mediated soil C mineralization, with C availability being the most critical driver for C mineralization in N-enriched soil. This study provides insight into the mechanistic understanding of the relationship between N input and terrestrial C cycling.     

Responses of enzymatic activities within soil aggregates to 9-year nitrogen and water addition in a semi-arid grassland

Soil microorganisms secrete enzymes used to metabolize carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) from the organic materials typically found in soil. Because of the connection with the active microbial biomass, soil enzyme activities can be used to investigate microbial nutrient cycling including the microbial response to environmental changes, transformation rates and to address the location of the most active biomass. In a 9-year field study on global change scenarios related to increasing N inputs (ambient to 15 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹) and precipitation (ambient to 180 mm yr⁻¹), we tested the activities of soil β-glucosidase (BG), N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) and acid phosphomonoesterase (PME) for three soil aggregate classes: large macroaggregates (>2000 μm), small macroaggregates (250–2000 μm) and microaggregates (<250 μm). Results showed higher BG and PME activities in micro-vs. small macroaggregates whereas the highest NAG activity was found in the large macroaggregates. This distribution of enzyme activity suggests a higher contribution of fast-growing microorganisms in the micro-compared with the macroaggregates size fractions. The responses of BG and PME were different from NAG activity under N addition, as BG and PME decreased as much as 47.1% and 36.3%, respectively, while the NAG increased by as much as 80.8%, which could imply better adaption of fungi than bacteria to lower soil pH conditions developed under increased N. Significant increases in BG and PME activities by as much as 103.4 and 75.4%, respectively, were found under water addition. Lower ratio of BG:NAG and higher NAG:PME underlined enhanced microbial N limitation relative to both C and P, suggesting the repression of microbial activity and the accompanied decline in their ability to compete for N with plants and/or the accelerated proliferation of soil fungi under elevated N inputs. We conclude that changes in microbial activities under increased N input and greater water availability in arid- and semi-arid grassland ecosystems where NPP is co-limited by N and water may result in substantial redistribution of microbial activity in different-sized soil particles. This shift will influence the stability of SOM in the soil aggregates and the nutrient limitation of soil biota.     

Humus accumulation and microbial activities in calcari-epigleyic fluvisols under grassland and forest diked in for 30 years

The accumulation and transformation of organic matter during soil development is rarely investigated although such processes are relevant when discussing about carbon sequestration in soil. Here, we investigated soils under grassland and forest close to the North Sea that began its genesis under terrestrial conditions 30 years ago after dikes were closed. Organic C contents of up to 99 mg g⁻¹ soil were found until 6 cm soil depth. The humus consisted mainly of the fraction lighter than 1.6 g cm⁻³ which refers to poorly degraded organic carbon. High microbial respiratory activity was determined with values between 1.57 and 1.17 μg CO₂-C g⁻¹ soil h⁻¹ at 22 °C and 40 to 70% water-holding capacity for the grassland and forest topsoils, respectively. The microbial C to organic C ratio showed values up to 20 mg C_mic g⁻¹ C_org. Although up to 2.69 kg C m⁻² were estimated to be sequestered during 30 years, the microbial indicators showed intensive colonisation and high transformation rates under both forest and grassland which were higher than those determined in agricultural and forest topsoils in Northern Germany.     

Effect of phosphate rock, lime and cellulose on soil microbial biomass in acidic forest soil and its significance in carbon cycling

Phosphate rock (PR), limestone, coal combustion by-product (CCBP) high in Ca and high organic manures are potential amendments for increasing agricultural production in the acidic soils of the Appalachian region. The objective of this study was to examine effects of PR, CCBP and cellulose addition on soil microbial biomass in an acidic soil based on the measurement of soil microbial biomass P (P _mic) and on the mineralization of organic matter. Application of PR alone or in combination with CCBP increased P _mic. The P _mic was far less when the soil received PR in combination with limestone than with PR application alone or PR in combination with CCBP. Either CCBP or limestone application alone considerably decreased P _mic in the soil due to reduced P solubility. Cellulose addition alone did not increase P _mic, but P _mic was significantly increased when the soil was amended with cellulose in combination with PR. The decomposition of added cellulose was very slow in the soil without PR amendment. However, mineralization of both native organic matter and added cellulose was enhanced by PR application. Mineralization of organic matter was less when the soil was amended with PR in combination with high rates of CCBP (> 2.5%) because PR dissolution varied inversely with amount of CCBP addition. Overall, CCBP had no detrimental effect on soil microbial biomass at low application rates, although, like limestone, CCBP at a high rate may decrease P _mic in P-deficient soils through its influence on increased soil pH and decreased P bioavailability in the soil. Application of PR to an acidic soil considerably enhanced the microbial activity, thereby promoting the cycling of carbon and other nutrients. Received: 11 December 1995