Soil ecosystem engineering by the train millipede Parafontaria laminata in a Japanese larch forest

Periodic swarming by adult train millipedes Parafontaria laminata (Attems, 1909) occurs in central Japan on an 8-year cycle, and the emergence of new adults is highly predictable. Millipede biomass reaches a maximum and feeding habits change upon the emergence of adults. Larvae are geophagous while adults feed on both litter and soil. We hypothesized that the shift in the developmental stages of P. laminata influenced the carbon dynamics in the soil and conducted a field mesocosm experiment in a larch plantation forest over 2 years (1999 and 2000) using three developmental stages: sixth- and seventh-instar larvae and adults. By experimentally manipulating millipede density at four levels, we obtained the following results: larvae were geophagous, while adults consumed both litter and soil (mixed-feeding) and consequently showed stronger density effects on litter decomposition rates than larvae; adult activities in the high-density treatment increased soil microbial biomass but not at low adult densities or at the larval stages; and adults increased the carbon accumulation in soil layers especially at high densities due to their mixed-feeding on litter and soil. We determined that due to synchronized postembryonic development with high densities and changes in feeding habits, the train millipede periodically sequestered carbon in this forest.     

Influences of recovery from clear-cut, climate variability, and thinning on the carbon balance of a young ponderosa pine plantation

From 1999 to 2002, the variations in carbon flux due to management practices (shrub removal, thinning) and climate variability were observed in a young ponderosa pine forest originated from clear-cutting and plantation in 1990. These measurements were done at the Blodgett Forest Ameriflux site located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Thinning in spring 2000 decreased the leaf area index (LAI) by 34% and added 496 g C m⁻² of wood and leaf debris at the soil surface. Total ecosystem respiration was not significantly affected by thinning (1261 g C m⁻² in 1999 and 1273 g C m⁻² in 2000), while canopy photosynthesis decreased by 202 g C m⁻². As a result the ecosystem shifted from a net sink of CO₂ in 1999 (−201 g C m⁻²) to a small net source in 2000 (13 g C m⁻²). Woody and leaf debris resulting from thinning only accounted for maximum 1% and 7% of the total respiration flux, respectively. Thinning did not affect the relative proportion of the different components of respiration to an observable degree. Low soil water availability in summer 2001 and 2002 decreased the proportion of soil respiration to the total respiration. It also imposed limitations on canopy photosynthesis: as a result the ecosystem shifted from a sink to a source of carbon 1 month earlier than in a wetter year (1999). The leaf area index and biomass of the stand increased rapidly after the thinning. The ecosystem was again a sink of carbon in 2001 (−97 g C m⁻²) and 2002 (−172 g C m⁻²). The net carbon uptake outside the traditionally-defined growing season can be important in this ecosystem (NEE = −50 g C m⁻² in 2000), but interannual variations are significant due to differences in winter temperatures.     

Diversity and abundance of earthworms across an agricultural land-use intensity gradient

Understanding how communities of important soil invertebrates vary with land use may lead to the development of more sustainable land-use strategies. We assessed the abundance and species composition of earthworm communities across six replicated long-term experimental ecosystems that span a gradient in agricultural land-use intensity. The experimental systems include a conventional row-crop agricultural system, two lower-intensity row-crop systems (no-till and tilled organic input), an early successional old-field system, a 40–60 years old coniferous forest plantation, and an old-growth deciduous forest system. Earthworm populations varied among systems; they were lowest in the most intensively managed row-crop system (107 m⁻²) and coniferous forest (160 m⁻²); intermediate in the old-field (273 m⁻²), no-till (328 m⁻²) and tilled organic (344 m⁻²) cropping systems; and highest in the old-growth deciduous forest system (701 m⁻²). Juvenile Aporrectodea species were the most common earthworms encountered in intensively managed systems; other species made up a larger proportion of the community in less intensively managed systems. Earthworm community biomass and species richness also varied and were lowest in the conventional row-crop system and greatest in the old-growth forest system. These results suggest that both land-use intensity and land-use type are strong drivers of the abundance and composition of earthworm communities in agricultural ecosystems.     

The effects of N and P additions on soil microbial properties in paired stands of temperate secondary forests and adjacent larch plantations in Northeast China

The conversion of secondary forests to larch plantations in Northeast China has resulted in a significant decline in soil available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and thus affects plant productivity and ecosystem functioning. Microbes play a key role in the recycling of soil nutrients; in turn, the availability of soil N and P can constrain microbial activity. However, there is little information on the relationships between available soil N and P and the microbial biomass and activity in larch plantation soil. We studied the responses of soil microbial respiration, microbial biomass and activity to N and P additions in a 120-day laboratory incubation experiment and assessed soil microbial properties in larch plantation soil by comparing them with the soil of an adjacent secondary forest. We found that the N-containing treatments (N and N + P) increased the concentrations of soil microbial biomass N and soluble organic N, whereas the same treatments did not affect microbial respiration and the activities of β-glucosidase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase and acid phosphatase in the larch plantation. In addition, the concentration of microbial biomass P decreased with N addition in larch plantation soil. In contrast, N and N + P additions decreased microbial respiration, and N addition also decreased the activity of N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase in the secondary forest soil. The P treatment did not affect microbial respiration in either larch plantation or secondary forest soils, while this treatment increased the activities of β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase in the secondary forest soil. These results suggested that microbial respiration was not limited by available P in either secondary forest or larch plantation soils, but microbial activity may have a greater P demand in secondary forest soil than in larch plantation soil. Overall, there was no evidence, at least in the present experiment, supporting the possibility that microbes suffered from N or P deficiency in larch plantation soil.     

川西亚高山人工云杉林地有机物和养分库的退化与调控

研究了川西亚高山云杉人工林地有机物和养分库状况 ,结果表明 :该区云杉人工林有机物和养分库严重退化 ,表现为 ,其凋落物的分解速率和周转期均较次生阔叶林和原始云杉林慢 ,致使地表枯枝落叶干物质和各种养分贮量滞留于凋落物层而不能进入土壤 ,土壤中有机质、全N、全P和碱解N含量随人工云杉林龄的增加而大幅度下降。人工云杉林份组成单一 ,其凋落物分解慢 ,归还土壤凋落物和养分数量少 ,是川西亚高山云杉人工林地土壤有机物和养分库退化的重要原因 ,人为收集凋落物积肥和人工抚育清灌 ,不断带走植被中养分是土壤有机物和养分库不断耗竭的另一重要原因。建议对该区人工成熟林抚育间伐和营造针阔混交林 ,改善成熟林下微环境和改变林份组成 ,可在很大程度上防治云杉人工林土壤有机物和养分库的退化     

Differences in soil respiration between different tropical ecosystems

We examined the relationship between soil respiration rate and environmental determinants in three types of tropical forest ecosystem—primary forest, secondary forest, and an oil palm plantation in the Pasoh Forest Reserve on the Malaysian Peninsula. In August 2000, the soil respiration rate and environmental factors (soil temperature, soil water content, soil C and N contents, biomass of fine roots, and microbes) were measured at 12–16 points in research quadrats. Soil respiration rates were 831 ± 480, 1104 ± 995, 838 ± 143, 576 ± 374, and 966 ± 578 (mean ± S.D.) mg CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹ in the primary forest canopy and gap site, secondary forest canopy and gap site, and oil palm plantation, respectively. Although the mean soil respiration rates in the three forest ecosystems did not differ significantly, differences were evident in the environmental factors affecting the soil respiration. The major causes of spatial variation in soil respiration were fine root biomass, soil water content, and soil C content in the primary and secondary forests and oil palm plantation, respectively.     

亚热带不同林龄次生林与杉木林土壤氮淋溶损失特征

为分析不同林龄亚热带常绿阔叶次生林和杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)种植对土壤氮淋溶的影响,采用土柱微宇宙原位培养,分别比较9年生和45年生次生林(以米槠Castanopsis carlesii为建群种)之间、米槠和杉木人工林(均为9年生)之间的土壤总氮、硝态氮和铵态氮浓度及通量。结果表明：(1)4种类型森林土壤总氮和硝态氮浓度均表现为45年生次生林>9年生次生林>杉木人工林>米槠人工林;铵态氮浓度则为45年生次生林>杉木人工林>9年生次生林>米槠人工林。(2)4种类型森林土壤总氮和硝态氮的淋溶通量在整个试验期表现为9年生次生林>45年生次生林>杉木人工林>米槠人工林;5—8月4种类型森林土壤氨态氮淋溶通量差异较大,但大体上表现为杉木人工林>45年生次生林>9年生次生林>米槠人工林。(3)9年生和45年生次生林、米槠人工林、杉木人工林土壤总氮年淋溶量分别为14.24,13.27,7.26,10.97 [g/(m²·a)],硝态氮年淋溶量分别为10.88,9.97,5.35...     

Faunal stage-dependent altering of soil nitrogen availability in a temperate forest

Functional traits of organisms often depend on their developmental stages during growth. However, whether the ecological functions of organisms change at different developmental stages remains poorly understood, especially for soil animals. The train millipede, Parafontaria laminata, which has a synchronised life cycle, often dominates in soil invertebrate communities in central Japan. Because adults of this species are litter-feeders and larvae are soil-feeders, we hypothesised that the train millipede assumes a different role in of the cycling of nitrogen (N) depending on its developmental stage. To determine the effects of P. laminata on N retention or loss in temperate forest soil, millipede density was manipulated in two mesocosm experiments using adult and larval millipedes. We found strong evidence that the effects of P. laminata on N dynamics differ between millipede developmental stages. Larvae enhanced N leaching, which was significantly higher in the high-density treatment than in treatments without millipedes (control). In contrast, adults did not affect N leaching, although high and intermediate adult density significantly increased soil N content compared to control and low-density treatments. Our results suggest that soil-feeding larvae promote soil N mineralisation, whereas litter-feeding adults inhibit N mineralisation, potentially sustaining N levels in the soil for at least the duration of our experimental period. Because natural populations of P. laminata exhibit high abundance and a synchronised life cycle at the landscape level, the soil-to-litter feeding shift that depends on P. laminata's developmental stage-of may cause large temporal variation in N dynamics in forest ecosystems compared to macrofauna-free systems.     

Response of labile soil organic matter to changes in forest vegetation in subtropical regions

Labile soil organic matter (SOM) can sensitively respond to changes in land use and management practices, and has been suggested as an early and sensitive indicator of SOM. However, knowledge of effects of forest vegetation type on labile SOM is still scarce, particularly in subtropical regions. Soil microbial biomass C and N, water-soluble soil organic C and N, and light SOM fraction in four subtropical forests were studied in subtropical China. Forest vegetation type significantly affected labile SOM. Secondary broadleaved forest (SBF) had the highest soil microbial biomass, basal respiration and water-soluble SOM, and the pure Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation (PC) the lowest. Soil microbial biomass C and N and respiration were on average 100%, 104% and 75%, respectively higher in the SBF than in the PC. The influence of vegetation on water-soluble SOM was generally larger in the 0–10 cm soil layer than in the 10–20 cm. Cold- and hot-water-soluble organic C and N were on average 33–70% higher in the SBF than in the PC. Cold- and hot-soluble soil organic C concentrations in the coniferous-broadleaved mixed plantations were on average 38.1 and 25.0% higher than in the pure coniferous plantation, and cold- and hot-soluble soil total N were 51.4 and 14.1% higher, respectively. Therefore, introducing native broadleaved trees into pure coniferous plantations increased water-soluble SOM. The light SOM fraction (free and occluded) in the 0–10 cm soil layer, which ranged from 11.7 to 29.2 g kg⁻¹ dry weight of soil, was strongly affected by vegetation. The light fraction soil organic C, expressed as percent of total soil organic C, ranged from 18.3% in the mixed plantations of C. lanceolata and Kalopanax septemlobus to 26.3% in the SBF. In addition, there were strong correlations among soil organic C and labile fractions, suggesting that they were in close association and partly represented similar C pools in soils. Our results indicated that hot-water-soluble method could be a suitable measure for labile SOM in subtropical forest soils.     

森林转换对土壤活性有机碳组分的影响

为了研究林型转换对土壤活性有机碳组分的影响,在安徽皖南地区蔡家桥林场选取了马尾松次生林、湿地松人工林以及杉木人工林3种森林类型,分别采集了0—10,10—30,30—50 cm的土壤,测定了土壤有机碳(SOC)、颗粒有机碳(POC)、易氧化有机碳(EOC)、微生物生物量碳(MBC)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)以及土壤理化指标,分析了林型转换后土壤活性有机碳组分变化特征及其与土壤理化因子间的相关关系。结果表明：(1)马尾松次生林转换成湿地松人工林和杉木人工林后主要对0—10 cm土壤活性有机碳组分产生影响,其中土壤SOC,POC,EOC含量均在林型转换后出现下降,DOC含量上升,而MBC在林型转换前后无显著差异。(2)林型转换后各土层POC/SOC均出现下降,DOC和EOC占SOC比例总体呈升高趋势,MBC/SOC则未表现出明显规律。(3)土壤有机碳与活性碳组分以及TN,EC,NH⁺₄-N,NO^-₃-N均呈极显著正相关,各活性碳组分之间也存在极显著正相关关系(p<0.01)。综上,马尾松次生林转换成...     

冀北山地天然次生林与人工林地上植被层的水文调控功能

[目的]比较冀北山地天然次生杨桦林(13,18和28a)和人工落叶松林(9,13,15和30a)地上植被层(林冠层、凋落物)的水文调控功能,为评估两种森林类型的转化对该地区水文过程的影响提供科学依据。[方法]采用标准样地和测定分析法对林分的生物量、凋落物及其持水量的进行测算。[结果](1)不同林龄的人工落叶松林地上植被层的降水截留量均大于天然次生杨桦林,且差异显著。(2)两种林分类型不同地上植被层的截留量均表现为:凋落物林冠层灌木层。(3)幼、中龄人工落叶松林的林冠截流量明显大于同龄的天然次生杨桦林,而近熟林,由抚育间伐导致的林分密度下降使得人工落叶松林低于天然次生杨桦林。(4)在各个林龄上,人工落叶松林的凋落物持水量均显著大于天然次生杨桦林,其中13a落叶松为35.36±6.50t/hm2,13a杨桦林为15.79±4.85t/hm2。[结论]冀北山地大面积的人工落叶松林地上植被层具有良好的水文调控功能,其水文调控功能不低于甚至高于当地的天然次生杨桦林,对人工林的抚育间伐在一定程度上会使地上植被层的水文调控功能出现一定程度的下降。     

Distribution pattern of woodlice (Isopoda) and millipedes (Diplopoda) in four primeval forests of the Western Carpathians (Central Slovakia)

We collected 1605 isopod individuals (eight species) and 671 diplopod individuals (17 species) in four primeval forests of the Western Carpathians, Central Slovakia, by leaf litter extraction. The forests are of different temperate deciduous forest types varying in tree species, aspect, elevation and soil characteristics. The oak forests, established on southwest oriented slopes at an elevation of 280-600 m, were characterized by Hyloniscus riparius, Porcellium conspersum, Enantiulus nanus and Ophioiulus pilosus. The beech forests, established on northeast oriented slopes at an elevation of 700-1100 m, were characterised by Ligidium hypnorum, Trachysphaera costata and Polyzonium germanicum. A remarkable increase of the total number of species and individuals occurred in both forest types adjacent to coarse woody debris (CWD). Woodlice density close to CWD was between 200 and 630 individuals m⁻² (35-130 individuals m⁻² distant from CWD); millipede density close to CWD ranged from 60 to 230 individuals m⁻² (15-75 individuals m⁻² distant from CWD). Species richness of both taxa close to CWD varied from 13 to 16 species m⁻² (7-12 species m⁻² distant from CWD). Thus, CWD has a significant influence on saprophages. However, structural components such as CWD and the amount of leaf litter did not significantly alter species assemblages. Species at sites distant from CWD were a subset of species at sites close to CWD. According to a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), ‘forest type’ and ‘elevation within a slope’, as well as chemistry of the upper soil layer, i.e. ‘acidification’ and ‘nutrition’, strongly influenced species assemblages.     

黄河三角洲盐碱地人工刺槐混交林细根分布研究

为研究黄河三角洲盐碱地人工刺槐混交林及纯林细根空间分布格局,选取绒毛白蜡刺槐混交林、臭椿刺槐混交林、刺槐纯林,采用土柱法取样,从细根生物量密度、表面积密度、体积密度、根长密度等方面研究盐碱地中不同林分中树木细根的垂直分布情况,从细根生物量分析不同林木细根垂直分布情况,研究不同人工林细根分布差异及土壤影响因子。结果表明:绒毛白蜡刺槐混交林在细根的生物量、表面积、体积、根长等方面都显著高于臭椿刺槐混交林和刺槐纯林;绒毛白蜡刺槐混交林95.77%细根生物量分布在0~60 cm土层,臭椿刺槐混交林85.37%细根生物量分布在0~40 cm土层,而刺槐纯林的细根在土壤中分布则比较均匀,0~40 cm土层细根占生物量总量的66.38%。绒毛白蜡细根生物量最高,显著高于其他林木。绒毛白蜡刺槐混交林细根表面积密度、体积密度、根长密度显著高于刺槐纯林;臭椿刺槐混交林高于刺槐纯林,差异不显著。绒毛白蜡刺槐混交林、臭椿刺槐混交林细根总根尖数分别是刺槐纯林的2.34倍、1.23倍,总分叉数分别为刺槐纯林的6.15倍、1.66倍。绒毛白蜡刺槐混交林、臭椿刺槐混交林、刺槐纯林树木细根生物量与土壤有效磷、速效钾含量呈显著正相关关系;绒毛白蜡刺槐混交林细根生物量碱解氮、有机质含量呈极显著正相关关系。适当的混交模式在一定程度上提高了人工林细根生物量,增强植物吸收土壤营养物质的能力,混交使人工林在盐碱立地条件下适应能力提高。     

缙云山5种植被下土壤活性有机碳及碳库变化特征

为揭示重庆市缙云山不同植被下土壤活性有机碳及碳库分配特征,以该地区5种植被类型:阔叶林、针叶林、混交林、竹林和荒草地为研究对象,分析不同植被类型下各土层土壤有机碳(SOC)、微生物生物量碳(MBC)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)、易氧化有机碳(ROC)含量及其土壤碳库的变化特征.结果表明:SOC和各活性有机碳组分含量及分配比...     

不同林龄杉木林下套种阔叶树对土壤磷组分的影响

套种是杉木人工林经营的重要措施,磷是南方森林生态系统中主要限制性养分元素之一,但套种模式对土壤磷素的影响尚不明确。以亚热带杉木人工林表层(0-10 cm)土壤为对象,研究套种林(杉阔套种幼林、杉阔套种成熟林)和杉木幼林土壤理化性质和土壤各形态磷含量差异,分析套种对杉木人工林土壤磷含量的影响。结果表明:(1)不同套种林显著改变土壤总磷、土壤总无机磷、土壤总有机磷、土壤微生物生物量磷(MBP)和土壤酸性磷酸酶活性(APA),大小顺序均为杉阔套种成熟林>杉阔套种幼林>杉木幼林。(2)土壤各磷组分中活性磷含量较低,其中NaHCO3-Po在活性组分中占主导;土壤NaOH-Po是中等活性磷的主要组分,杉阔套种成熟林尤为显著;闭蓄态磷(Residual-P)在总磷含量中最高。(3)与杉木幼林相比,杉阔套种成熟林显著增加了树脂提取态磷(Resin-Pi)、碳酸氢钠提取态有机和无机磷(NaHCO3-Pi、NaHCO3-Po)、氢氧化钠提取态有机和无机磷(NaOH-Pi、NaOH-Po)、氢氧化钠残留提取态有机磷(NaOHu.s-Po)、盐酸提取态磷(HCl-Pi)和闭蓄态磷(Residual-P)含量;土壤总无机磷、NaHCO3-Po、HCl-Pi、NaHCO3-Pi、NaOHu.s-Pi和Residual-P对杉阔套种幼林的响应不敏感。(4)除含水率外不同林龄下杉阔套种林土壤磷形态与土壤理化性质(土壤总碳氮、土壤可溶性有机氮、土壤微生物生物量磷、酸性磷酸酶)呈正相关性(P<0.05)。冗余分析表明,土壤磷组分的变化主要受MBP调控,且MBP与有机磷组分(NaOHu.s-Po、NaOH-Po)和HCI-Pi呈显著正相关。总之,套种林的土壤磷素有效性高于杉木幼林,土壤养分状况更佳。     

Effects of phosphorus addition on soil microbial biomass and community composition in three forest types in tropical China

Elevated nitrogen (N) deposition in humid tropical regions may aggravate phosphorus (P) deficiency in forest on old weathered soil found in these regions. From January 2007 to August 2009, we studied the responses of soil microbial biomass and community composition to P addition (in two monthly portions at level of 15 g P m^?2 yr^?1) in three tropical forests in southern China. The forests were an old-growth forest and two disturbed forests (mixed species and pine dominated). The objective was to test the hypothesis that P addition would increase microbial biomass and change the composition of the microbial community, and that the old-growth forests would be more sensitive to P addition due to its higher soil N availability. Microbial biomass C (MBC) was estimated twice a year and the microbial community structure was quantified by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis at the end of the experiment. Addition of P significantly increased the microbial biomass and altered the microbial community composition in the old-growth forest, suggesting that P availability is one of the limiting factors for microbial growth. This was also reflected by significant increases in soil respiration after P addition. In contrast, P addition had no effect on the microbial biomass and the microbial community composition in the pine forests. Also in the mixed forest, the microbial biomass did not significantly respond to P addition, but soil respiration and the ratio of fungal-to-bacteria was significantly increased.     

川西米亚罗林区不同林分类型土壤养分性质研究

采用野外调查、取样和室内实验分析相结合的方法,研究了川西米亚罗林区9种林分类型林地土壤养分特征。结果表明:(1)9种林分类型土壤pH均小于5.6,属于酸性土壤;林地土壤有机质含量大小顺序为:冷杉林(FF)>40a云杉—落叶松林(D)>70a云杉林(F)>40a云杉林(C)>灌木林(SF)>桦木林(BF)>40a落叶松林(B)>25a云杉—落叶松林(A)>55a云杉林(E);冷杉林土壤全N含量最大,25a云杉—落叶松林最小;(2)9种林分类型中,40a落叶松林地全K含量最大,40a落叶松—云杉林土壤速效K含量最大;(3)9种林分类型中,40a落叶松林地全P含量最大,速效P含量以55a云杉林为最大;(4)9种林地中,土壤pH与土壤有机质极显著负相关,与土壤全N显著负相关;土壤有机质含量与全氮极显著正相关,与土壤有效磷和全钾显著负相关;土壤全钾和全磷分别与土壤速效钾和有效磷相关性不显著。     

Carbon and nitrogen store and storage potential as affected by land-use in a Leymus chinensis grassland of northern China

Understanding the store and storage potential of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) helps us understand how ecosystems would respond to natural and anthropogenic disturbances under different management strategies. We investigated organic C and N storage in aboveground biomass, litter, roots, and soil organic matter (SOM) in eight sites that were floristically and topographically similar, but which had been subjected to different intensities of disturbance by grazing animals. The primary objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of grazing exclusion (GE) on the store and storage potential of C and N in the Leymus chinensis Tzvel. grasslands of northern China. The results revealed that the total C storage (including that stored in aboveground biomass, litter, roots, and SOM, i.e. top 100-cm soil layer) was significantly different among the eight grasslands and varied from 7.0 kg C m⁻² to 15.8 kg C m⁻², meanwhile, the total N storage varied from 0.6 kg N m⁻² to 1.5 kg N m⁻². The soil C storage decreased substantially with grassland degradation due to long-term heavy grazing. 90% C and 95% N stored in grasslands were observed in the SOM, and they were minor in other pools. The limit range of C and N storage observed in these grassland soils suggests that GE may be a valuable mechanism of sequestering C in the top meter of the soil profile.     

Land use effects on microbial biomass C, β-glucosidase and β-glucosaminidase activities,and availability,storage, and age of organic C in soil

Microbial biomass, β-glucosidase and β-glucosaminidase activities, and availability, storage, and age of soil organic C were investigated after 26 years of conversion from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) to forest (Eucaliptus robusta or Leucaena leucocephala), pasture (mixture of tropical grasses), and to vegetable cropping (agriculture) in a vertisol in Puerto Rico. Soil organic C (SOC) at 0–100 cm was similar under Leucaena (22.8 kg C/m²), Eucalyptus (18.6 kg C/m²), and pasture (17.2 kg C/m²), which were higher than under agriculture (13.0 kg C/m²). Soil organic N (SON) at 0–100 cm was similar under the land uses evaluated which ranged from 1.70 (under agriculture) to 2.28 kg N/m² (under Leucaena forest). Microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN) of the 0–15-cm soil layer could be ranked as: pasture > Leucaena = Eucalyptus > agriculture. The percentages of SOC and SON present as MBC and MBN, respectively, were nearly 1% in pasture and less than 0.50% in forest under Leucaena or Eucalyptus and agricultural soil. The activity of β-glucosidase of the 0–15-cm soil layer could be ranked as: Leucaena = Eucalyptus > pasture > agriculture; while β-glucosaminidase activity was ranked as: Eucalyptus > Leucaena = pasture > agriculture. The soil δ ¹³C changed from 1996 to 2006 in forest under Eucalyptus (18.7‰ to 21.2‰), but not under Leucaena (20.7‰ to 20.8‰). The soil under Leucaena preserved a greater proportion of old C compared to the forest under Eucalyptus; the former had an increased soil mineralizable C from the current vegetation inputs. The soil under agriculture had the lowest enzyme activities associated with C cycling, lowest percentage of SOC as MBC, highest percentage of SOC present as mineralizable C, and highest percentage of MBC present as mineralizable C compared to the other land uses.     

Influence of soil properties on microbial populations, activity and biomass in humid subtropical mountainous ecosystems of India

 Microbial populations, biomass, soil respiration and enzyme activities were determined in slightly acid organic soils of major mountainous humid subtropical terrestrial ecosystems, along a soil fertility gradient, in order to evaluate the influence of soil properties on microbial populations, activity and biomass and to understand the dynamics of the microbial biomass in degraded ecosystems and mature forest. Although the population of fungi was highest in the undisturbed forest (Sacred Grove), soil respiration was lowest in the 7-year-old regrowth and in natural grassland (approximately 373 μg g^–1 h^–1). Dehydrogenase and urease activities were high in "jhum" fallow, and among the forest stands they were highest in the 7-year-old regrowth. Microbial biomass C (MBC) depended mainly on the organic C status of the soil. The MBC values were generally higher in mature forest than in natural grassland, 1-year-old jhum fallow and the 4-year-old alder plantation. The MBC values obtained by the chloroform-fumigation-incubation technique (330–1656 μg g^–1) did not vary significantly from those obtained by the chloroform-fumigation-extraction technique (408–1684 μg g^–1), however, the values correlated positively (P<0.001). The enzyme activities, soil respiration, bacterial and fungal populations and microbial biomass was greatly influenced by several soil properties, particularly the levels of nutrients. The soil nutrient status, microbial populations, soil respiration and dehydrogenase activity were greater in Sacred Grove, while urease activity was greater in grassland. Received: 14 October 1998