Influence of Cognettia sphagnetorum (Oligochaeta: Enchytraeidae) on nitrogen mineralization in homogenized mor humus

Summary The influence of the enchytraeid species Cognettia sphagnetorum on N mineralization in homogenized mor humus was examined in a laboratory study. The mor humus was incubated in containers (150 ml) for 8 months at various temperatures and with different moisture levels. Two series were used, one with C. sphagnetorum and one without. The presence of enchytraeids in the cultures increased the level of NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^- by about 18% compared with the cultures without enchytraeids. Almost 40% of this difference was explained by the decomposition of dead enchytraeids. Temperature and soil moisture were the most important factors controlling the mineralization rate. The optimum moisture for N mineralization was between pF 1.6 and 1.1.Dedicated to the late Prof. Dr. W. Kühnelt     

Effects of artificial acidification and liming on the activity of digestive enzymes in Cognettia sphagnetorum (Vejdovsky´, 1878) (Annelida, Enchytraeidae)

The effects of simulated acid rain and acidification, combined with liming, on amylolytic, laminarinolytic and xylanolytic activity in whole body homogenates of enchytraeids Cognettia sphagnetorum were studied under field conditions. Simulated acid rain (pH 2.5) and simulated acid rain with subsequent liming (CaCO₃) were applied to experimental plots in a mixed forest soil. The pH of the soil was lowered by acid treatment (4.3), while the pH increased after liming (6.3) in comparison with the control (4.5). Acidification of soil caused a decrease in enchytraeid body mass and amylolytic activity. In acidified plots after liming, amylolytic activity and laminarinolytic activity increased, while live body mass decreased. The enzymatic activity of enchytraeids depended on season and also indirectly on individual mean mass. Received: 12 February 1996     

Influence of diterpenes (colophony and abietic acid) and a triterpene (beta-sitosterol) on net N mineralization,net nitrification,soil respiration,and microbial biomass in birch soil

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of common diterpenes (colophony, abietic acid) and triterpene (beta-sitosterol) on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) transformations in soil under birch (Betula pendula L.). Samples were taken from the organic layer at two study sites, Kivalo (N-poor soil) and Kerimäki (N-rich soil), and incubated with the above-mentioned terpenes in laboratory conditions. Carbon dioxide evolution (C mineralization), net N mineralization, nitrification, and N and C in microbial biomass were measured. All these terpenes increased C mineralization, but decreased net N mineralization. The potential to decrease net N mineralization depended on amount of terpenes, with a stronger effect at a higher amount. Net nitrification in Kerimäki soil (N-rich soil) decreased but was not completely inhibited by terpenes. Effect of terpenes on soil microbial biomass C and N was not so clear, but they tended to increase both. Our study suggests that higher terpenes can act as a carbon source for soil microbial communities.     

Effects of oxalic acid and lime on the enchytraeid Cognettia sphagnetorum (VEJD) in mor humus

A two-factor orthogonal plan of experimental design was used to estimate a coupled influence of oxalic acid and lime on the enchytraeid Cognettia sphagnetorum in mor humus. Calcium carbonate (X ₁ ) in doses of 0, 300 and 600 mg per 10 g dry wt of mor humus and oxalic acid (X ₂ ) in doses of 0, 45 and 90 mg were added in accordance with the plan. Enchytraeid number (initial number — 50 per container) after three weeks of experiment was maximal at the medium calcium carbonate dose and absence of oxalic acid and minimal at the highest doses of the compounds. Influence of the compounds on the enchytraeid number (Y) is described by the second order equations: $$Y = 23.4 - 3.3X_1 - 6.8X_2 - 3.4X_1 X_2 - 7.7X_1 ^2 + 1.8X_2 ^2 {\text{ (in coded form) and}}$$ $$Y = 24.4 - .051X_1 - .157X_2 - .00025X_1 X_2 - .000085X_1 ^2 + .0009X_2 ^2 {\text{ (in natural form)}}$$ (in natural form). Negative effects of heavy liming can not be explained only by pH changes.     

Assessing biogas digestate,pot ale,wood ash and rockdust as soil amendments: effects on soil chemistry and microbial community composition

Applying by-products as soil amendments to agricultural systems is growing in popularity. We aimed to assess the efficacy of some contemporary by-products to provide nutrients to crops as well as the potential harm of adding toxic elements to the environment. Four different by-products widely available in Northern Europe were tested for their effects on two nutrient-poor agricultural soils in terms of increasing available macro- and micro-nutrients as well as toxic elements. Assessing soil microbial community as a sensitive tool for evaluating soil quality was conducted with the focus on microbial activity, carbon metabolism and on Rhizobium/Agrobacterium. Wood ash increased pH and Ca_EDTA, K_EDTA and Mg_EDTA in the soils. The only increase in EDTA-extractable micronutrients in the soils was observed by applying pot ale, increasing Cu. None of the amendments increased the availability of Pb and Cd in the soils. Soils amended with the by-products thus remained similar to the unamended control but were quite different from fully mineral fertilised soils. There were no detectable adverse effects on the physiological and genetic profiles of microbial communities. The by-products were moderately beneficial and did not change the soil microbial community as much as the fully fertilised treatment with mineral fertilisers. Changes in the microbial community profiles were probably due to direct effects on microbes limited by K, Ca and N as opposed to indirect effects on plant growth. This is potentially significant in understanding how to improve impoverished and marginal soils as microbial activity affects many other ecosystem functions.     

Environmental conditions rather than microbial inoculum composition determine the bacterial composition,microbial biomass and enzymatic activity of reconstructed soil microbial communities

The composition of microbial communities and the level of enzymatic activity in the soil are both important indicators of soil quality, but the mechanisms by which a soil bacterial community is generated and maintained are not yet fully understood. Two soil samples were collected from the same location, but each had been subjected to a different long-term fertilization treatment and was characterized by different microbial diversity, biomass and physicochemical properties. These samples were γ-sterilized and swap inoculated. Non-sterilized soil samples along with sterilized and inoculated soil samples were incubated for eight months before their nutrient content, microbial biomass, enzymatic activity and bacterial composition were analyzed. Total phosphorus, and potassium concentrations along with the overall organic matter content of the non-sterilized soil were all equal to those of the same soil that had been sterilized and self/swap inoculated. Additionally, the microbial biomass carbon concentration was not affected by the specific inoculum and varied only by soil type. The activities of catalase, invertase, urease, protease, acid phosphatase and phytase were smaller in the sterilized soils that had been inoculated with organisms from chemical fertilizer amended soil (NPK) when compared to sterilized soil inoculated with organisms from manure and chemical fertilizer amended soil (NPKM) and non-sterilized soil samples. Bacterial 16S rRNA examined by 454-pyrosequencing revealed that the composition of bacterial community reconstructed by immigrant microbial inoculum in the soil was mainly influenced by its physicochemical properties, although the microbial inoculum contained different abundances of bacterial taxa. For example, the pH of the soil was the dominant factor in reconstructing a new bacterial community. Taken together, these results demonstrated that both soil microbial composition and functionality were primarily determined by soil properties rather than the microbial inoculum, which contributed to our understanding of how soil microbial communities are generated and maintained.     

Influence of polychlorinated biphenyls on microbial biomass and its activity in grassland soil

Microbial biomass content, soil respiration and biomass specific respiration rate were measured in two parts of an area polluted by a municipal waste incinerator [polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from combustion processes]. The soils in the studied parts differed significantly only in their levels of PCBs. The concentration of PCBs found in a control plot (4.4 ng g^-1 soil) can be regarded as a background value while the polluted plot contained an increased amount of PCBs (14.0 ng g^-1 soil). A significantly lower microbial biomass (decreased by 23%, based on the chloroform-fumigation extraction technique) and a lower specific respiration rate (decreased by 14%) were observed in the polluted plot in comparison with the control plot at the end of experimental period (1992–1994). Furthermore, a lower ability of microorganisms in the polluted plot to convert available C_org into new biomass was found in laboratory incubations with glucose-amended samples.     

Effects of Cd,Zn, or both on soil microbial biomass and activity in a clay loam soil

We investigated Cd, Zn, and Cd + Zn toxicity to soil microbial biomass and activity, and indigenous Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii, in two near neutral pH clay loam soils, under long-term arable and grassland management, in a 6-month laboratory incubation, with a view to determining the causative metal. Both soils were amended with Cd- or Zn-enriched sewage sludge, to produce soils with total Cd concentrations at four times (12 mg Cd g⁻¹ soil), and total Zn concentrations (300 mg Zn kg⁻¹ soil) at the EU upper permitted limit. The additive effects of Cd plus Zn at these soil concentrations were also investigated. There were no significant differences in microbial biomass C (B _C), biomass ninhydrin N (B _N), ATP, or microbial respiration between the different treatments. Microbial metabolic quotient (defined as qCO₂ = units of CO₂–C evolved unit⁻¹ biomass C unit⁻¹ time) also did not differ significantly between treatments. However, the microbial maintenance energy (in this study defined as qCO₂-to-μ ratio value, where μ is the growth rate) indicated that more energy was required for microbial synthesis in metal-rich sludge-treated soils (especially Zn) than in control sludge-treated soils. Indigenous R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii numbers were not significantly different between untreated and sludge-treated grassland soils after 24 weeks regardless of metal or metal concentrations. However, rhizobial numbers in the arable soils treated with metal-contaminated sludges decreased significantly (P < 0.05) compared to the untreated control and uncontaminated sludge-treated soils after 24 weeks. The order of decreasing toxicity to rhizobia in the arable soils was Zn > Cd > Cd + Zn.     

Impact of deforestation on soil physicochemical characteristics,microbial biomass and microbial activity of tropical soil

The study dealt with the assessment of the impact of deforestation on tropical soil through a comparative analysis of physicochemical and microbiological parameters of natural forest and a deforested barren site. With significant decline in clay, texturally the soil of the deforested barren site was observed to be different from that of natural forest. Bulk density and porosity data revealed structural deterioration of deforested barren soil. The soil hydrological regime was also adversely affected by the deforestation. Levels of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, microbial biomass C, N and microfungal biomass also exhibited significant decline in deforested site. Analysis of microbial respiratory quotient (q CO₂) was also observed to be impaired in the deforested site. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of organic-complexed superphosphates on microbial biomass and microbial activity of soil

Organic complexed super-phosphates (CSPs) are formed by the complexation of humic acid (HA) with calcium monophosphate. The aim of this study was to determine whether two CSPs, characterized by different HA concentrations, added to a calcareous soil at an agronomic dose, were able to maintain the phosphorus (P) in a soluble form longer than the superphosphate fertilizer. Another important goal was to verify if CSP could positively influence soil microbial biomass and soil microbiological activities. Organic complexed super-phosphates were capable of keeping a large portion of P in a soluble form under different soil water conditions. In particular, the CSP with the highest organic C content was the most effective product, capable of maintaining, in an available form, the 73 % of the initially added P at the end of the experiment. In addition, it was the most effective in increasing C–CO₂ soil emission, microbial biomass carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), fluoresceine diacetate hydrolysis and activities of alkaline phosphomonoesterase, β-glucosidase and urease. The addition of CSPs to soil probably produced a priming effect, increasing several times C–CO₂ release by the treated soil. The significant correlation (p?<?0.05) between C–CO₂ emission and the amount of C added to soil by CSP suggests that the added HA acted as trigger molecules.     

Influence of erosion on soil microbial biomass,abundance and community diversity

This study aimed to determine microbial biomass carbon and microbial abundance immediately after, and two years after, forest soil erosion, so as to estimate the degree of damage, including the rate of recovery of microorganisms, in each area. It also aimed to determine the community diversity, and to establish relationships between microbial biomass, microbial abundance and the physico‐chemical properties of the soil. Three different study areas in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, were used. One undisturbed area and two eroded areas (one immediately after and one two years after erosion). The analysis of variance showed a highly significant difference in microbial biomass carbon and abundance between the study areas. The undisturbed area showed the highest value, followed by the area eroded two years ago, then lastly the area studied immediately after the erosion. The biomass carbon was highly correlated with gram positive bacteria with r² = 0·983, p < 0·01. The biomass carbon and microbial population were shown to be significantly correlated to the soil's physico‐chemical properties, such as pH, moisture content, water‐holding capacity and CN ratio. However, CN ratio proved to be closely correlated to biomass carbon with r² = −0·978, p < 0·01, to Gram‐positive bacteria with r² = −0·977, p < 0·01, to Gram‐negative bacteria with r² = −0·989, p < 0·01 and to fungi with r² = −0·977, p < 0·01. The undisturbed area showed a highly diverse community in both of the restriction enzymes used, followed by the area affected by erosion two years ago, then the area immediately after erosion. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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     

长期施肥处理对玉米生长期潮土微生物生物量和活度的影响

以1989年建立的中国科学院封丘农田生态系统国家试验站的长期定位试验为平台,研究经18a连续不同施肥处理后玉米季土壤微生物生物量碳氮和微生物活度的动态变化及其与土壤有机碳之间的相互关系,并探讨施肥措施对土壤微生物及其活性的影响。施肥处理包括:(1)有机肥(OM);(2)1/2化肥和1/2有机肥(1/2OM+1/2NPK);(3)氮磷钾肥(NPK);(4)氮磷肥(NP);(5)磷钾肥(PK);(6)氮钾肥(NK);(7)不施肥,即对照(CK)7个处理。结果表明,微生物生物量碳氮和微生物活度在玉米生长期内均有明显的时间变异性,其中微生物生物量碳与微生物活度的动态变化比较一致,其间的极显著相关关系表明潮土微生物生物量碳的变化可以在很大程度上代表土壤微生物活度的变化。施肥制度显著影响微生物生物量碳氮和微生物活度的变化,总体趋势为OM1/2OM+1/2NPKNPKNPPKNKCK,表明OM有利于保持土壤的生物化学环境及促进土壤的生物学活性;与OM处理相比,化学肥料的长期施用有降低土壤微生物生物量和微生物活度的趋势,尤其是缺素处理的表现更为明显,其中以缺磷处理的表现最为严重。土壤微生物生物量碳氮、微生物活度与土壤有机碳变化均呈极显著正相关。     

Herbicide degradation in soil: Influence of microbial biomass

The rates of degradation of the thiocarbamate herbicides diallate and triallate were determined in a single agricultural soil which had been manipulated through C-starvation or C-amendment to contain different quantities of metabolically-active microorganisms. In all soils, and for both herbicides, the rates of degradation were directly related to the microbial biomass. Qualitative differences in the biomasses, roughly evaluated by examination of shifts in fungal populations that could be isolated by the soil washing technique from the C-starved soils, had no apparent influence on the degradation rates.     

Estimation of microbial biomass and activity in soil using microcalorimetry

Relationships between the rate of heat output from soil, the rate of respiration and the soil microbial biomass were investigated for 25 soils from northern Britain. The rate of heat output, measured in a Calvet microcalorimeter at 22°C, correlated well with the rate of carbon dioxide respiration. The average amount of heat evolved per cm³ of gas respired. 21.1 J cm^?3, suggests that the biomass metabolism was largely aerobic. The rate of heat output per unit of total microbial biomass was remarkably uniform over a wide range of soils, but showed differences depending upon whether the soil had been stored or amended. Mineral soils that had been stored at 4°C had the lowest heat output, 12.0 mW g^?1 biomass C, compared with a mean of 20.4 mW g^?1 biomass C for freshly-collected soils. Amendment with glucose (0.5% w/w) caused an immediate increase in respiration and heat output, up to 59.4 mW g^?1 biomass C for stored soils and 188.2 mW g^?1 biomass C for freshly collected soils. There was a consistent relationship between the biomass and the rate of heat output from freshly collected and amended mineral and organic soils which gave a linear fit using log transformed data: y= 0.6970+ 1.025x (r= 0.98, P < 0.001) (y=log₁₀ biomass C, μgC g^?1; x=log₁₀ rate of heat output at 22°C, μW g^?1). The overall relationship between biomass and the rate of heat output for all the amended samples was: 1 g biomass C= 180.05 ± 34.61 mW.     

Phyllostachys edulis (moso bamboo) rhizosphere increasing soil microbial activity rather than biomass

Purpose

Rhizosphere and fertilization might affect soil microbial activities, biomass, and community. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of Phyllostachys edulis (moso bamboo) rhizospheres on soil nutrient contents and microbial properties in a moso bamboo forest with different fertilizer applications and to link soil microbial activities with abiotic and biotic factors.

Materials and methods

The experiment included three treatments: (1) application of 45% slag fertilizer (45%-SF); (2) application of special compound fertilizer for bamboos (SCF); and (3) the control without any fertilizer application (CK). Simultaneously, bulk soils and 0.5, 2.5, 4.5, and 6.5-year-old (y) bamboo rhizosphere soils were selected. Soil nutrient contents were analyzed. Microbial activities were evaluated based on the activities of soil enzymes including β-glucosidase, urease, protease, phosphatase, and catalase. The total microbial biomass and community were assessed with the phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) method.

Results and discussion

In the CK and SCF treatments, organic matter contents of rhizosphere soils were significantly higher than those of bulk soils. Soil β-glucosidase, urease, protease, phosphatase, and catalase activities in rhizosphere soils were higher than those of bulk soils, with the sole exception of β-glucosidase of 0.5 y rhizosphere soil in the 45%-SF treatment. Compared with the CK treatment, fertilizer applications tended to increase soil total PLFAs contents and changed soil microbial community. Moso bamboo rhizospheres did not significantly increase the total microbial biomass. In the SCF treatment, the Shannon index of bulk soil was significantly lower than those of rhizosphere soils.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that both rhizospheres and fertilizer applications could change the soil microbial community structures and that moso bamboo rhizosphere could increase microbial activity rather than biomass in the forest soils with different fertilizer applications.

     

聚丙烯酸盐类土壤改良剂对燕麦土壤微生物量氮及酶活性的影响

以燕麦田土壤为研究对象,探讨了聚丙烯酸盐类土壤改良剂及其复配(聚丙烯酸钾、聚丙烯酰胺、腐植酸钾、聚丙烯酸钾+腐植酸钾、聚丙烯酰胺+腐植酸钾)对燕麦田土壤微生物量氮及土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明,不同土壤改良剂均能提高土壤有机质、碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾的含量,各指标分别比对照增加了8.24%～30.22%、7.60%～19.29%、5.15%～29.45%和27.86%～68.86%;土壤改良剂能促使燕麦全生育期内0～10、10～20和20～40 cm各土层的土壤微生物量氮含量显著提高,聚丙烯酸钾+腐植酸钾和聚丙烯酰胺+腐植酸钾复配处理较其各单施效果显著,随土壤深度的增加土壤微生物量氮逐层递减;与对照相比,土壤改良剂能显著提高燕麦全生育期各土层过氧化氢酶活性,在抽穗期活性最高,且以聚丙烯酸钾+腐植酸钾较高;但对于脲酶,聚丙烯酸钾+腐植酸钾、聚丙烯酰胺+腐植酸钾和腐植酸钾3个处理在苗期显著低于对照,在抽穗期和成熟期高于对照,两种酶活性均随土壤深度的增加逐渐降低。     

Impact of bovine urine deposition on soil microbial activity,biomass, and community structure

Nitrogen (N) from urine excreted by grazing animals can be transformed into N compounds that have detrimental effects on the environment. These include nitrate, which can cause eutrophication of waterways, and nitrous oxide, which is a greenhouse gas. Soil microbes mediate all of these N transformations, but the impact of urine on microbes and how initial soil conditions and urine chemical composition alter their responses to urine are not well understood. This study aimed to determine how soil inorganic N pools, nitrous oxide fluxes, soil microbial activity, biomass, and the community structure of bacteria containing amoA (nitrifiers), nirK, and nirS (denitrifiers) genes responded to the addition of urine over time. Bovine urine containing either a high (15.0 g K⁺ l^?1) or low salt content (10.4 g K⁺ l^?1) was added to soil cores at either low or high moisture content (hereafter termed dry and wet soil respectively; 35% or 70% water-filled pore space after the addition of urine). Changes in soil conditions, inorganic N pools, nitrous oxide fluxes, and the soil microbial community were then measured 1, 3, 8, 15, 29 and 44 days after urine addition. Urine addition increased soil ammonium concentrations by up to 2 mg g d.w.^?1, soil pH by up to 2.7 units, and electrical conductivity (EC) by 1.0 and 1.6 dS m^?1 in the low and high salt urine treatments respectively. In response, nitrate accumulation and nitrous oxide fluxes were lower in dry compared to wet urine-amended soils and slightly lower in high compared to low salt urine-amended soils. Nitrite concentrations were elevated (>3 μg g d.w.^?1) for at least 15 days after urine addition in wet urine-amended soils, but were only this high in the dry urine-amended soils for 1 day after the addition of urine. Microbial biomass was reduced by up to half in the wet urine-amended soils, but was largely unaffected in the dry urine-amended soils. Urine addition affected the community structure of ammonia-oxidising and nitrite-reducing bacteria; this response was also stronger and more persistent in wet than in dry urine-amended soils. Overall, the changes in soil conditions caused by the addition of urine interacted to influence microbial responses, indicating that the effect of urine on soil microbes is likely to be context-dependent.