Long-term effects of land use and fertiliser treatments on sulphur transformations in soils from the Broadbalk experiment

Sulphur transformations were monitored in a unique set of arable, grassland and woodland soils from the Broadbalk Classical Experiment, which started in 1843. In an open incubation experiment with periodic leaching, 14–35 mg SO₄²⁻-S kg⁻¹ was mineralised in 28 weeks at 25°C, equivalent to 4.4–8.3% soil organic S. Cumulative amounts of S mineralised increased linearly during the 28 weeks, indicating constant rates of mineralisation. The rate of mineralisation was the greatest in the woodland soil (170 μg SO₄-S kg⁻¹ day⁻¹), followed by the grassland (120 μg SO₄-S kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) and the arable soil from the farmyard manure (FYM) plot (110 μg SO₄-S kg⁻¹ day⁻¹). Three soils from arable plots receiving different inorganic fertiliser treatments but no FYM had similar rates of S mineralisation (~70 μg SO₄-S kg⁻¹ day⁻¹). In an incubation experiment with ³⁵SO₄²⁻, addition of glucose greatly enhanced S immobilisation. In 132 days, the woodland and grassland soils immobilised more S than the arable soils, with or without glucose amendment. Immobilisation and mineralisation of S occurred concurrently, and both were stimulated by glucose addition. The results show that S mineralisation and immobilisation were influenced strongly by the type of land-use and long-term organic manuring, whereas annual application of sulphate-containing fertilisers for over 150 years had few effects on short-term S transformations.     

Desiccation and product accumulation constrain heterotrophic anaerobic respiration in peats of an ombrotrophic temperate bog

To gain insight into the effects of drying and rewetting events on anaerobic respiration in ombrotrophic peat soils, we investigated bacterial sulfate (SO₄) reduction and methane (CH₄) production in anaerobic incubations of intact peat microcores from 30 to 40 cm depth of Mer Bleue bog, Ontario/Canada. Concentrations of dissolved SO₄, carbon dioxide (CO₂), CH₄, acetate, and hydrogen (H₂) were recorded and net turnover rates calculated from regression. Gross rates of bacterial sulfate reduction were determined by ³⁵SO₄ tracer incubation. After incubation, the peat was dried and rewetted, with saturated peat serving as control. CO₂ production was initially rapid (up to <360 nmol cm^?3 d^?1) and slowed towards an endpoint of 2–3 mmol l^?1, which was only partly related to thresholds of Gibbs free energies of the involved processes. Acetate rapidly accumulated to levels of 600–800 μmol l^?1 and remained constant thereafter. CH₄ production (0–2.8 nmol cm^?3 d^?1) was small and delayed, even after SO₄ was depleted, by about 30–40 d. Hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis was endergonic and the process thus likely followed an acetotrophic pathway. Drying and rewetting replenished the SO₄ pool, enhanced SO₄ reduction rates and suppressed methanogenesis. The overall contribution of net SO₄ reduction and methanogenesis to the CO₂ production rate was small (0.5–22%) and only enhanced in replicates subjected to drying (35–62%). The major fraction of respiration in the incubated peat cores thus followed yet unidentified pathways.     

Nitrogen fertilization and cropping systems effects on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen pools under chisel-plow tillage in Illinois

Agricultural soils can be a major sink for atmospheric carbon (C) with adoption of recommended management practices (RMPs). Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization and cropping systems on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N (TN) concentrations and pools. Replicated soil samples were collected in May 2004 to 90 cm depth from a 23-year-old experiment at the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Monmouth, IL. The SOC and TN concentrations and pools, soil bulk density (ρ_b) and soil C:N ratio were measured for five N rates [0 (N₀), 70 (N₁), 140 (N₂), 210 (N₃) and 280 (N₄) kg N ha⁻¹] and two cropping systems [continuous corn (Zea mays L.) (CC), and corn–soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) rotation (CS)]. Long-term N fertilization and cropping systems significantly influenced SOC concentrations and pools to 30 cm depth. The SOC pool in 0–30 cm depth ranged from 68.4 Mg ha⁻¹ for N₀ to 75.8 Mg ha⁻¹ for N₄. Across all N treatments, the SOC pool in 0–30 cm depth for CC was 4.7 Mg ha⁻¹ greater than for CS. Similarly, TN concentrations and pools were also significantly affected by N rates. The TN pool for 0–30 cm depth ranged from 5.36 Mg ha⁻¹ for N₀ to 6.14 Mg ha⁻¹ for N₄. In relation to cropping systems, the TN pool for 0–20 cm depth for CC was 0.4 Mg ha⁻¹ greater than for CS. The increase in SOC and TN pools with higher N rates is attributed to the increased amount of biomass production in CC and CS systems. Increasing N rates significantly decreased ρ_b for 0–30 cm and decreased the soil C:N ratio for 0–10 cm soil depth. However, none of the measured soil properties were significantly correlated with N rates and cropping systems below 30 cm soil depth. We conclude that in the context of developing productive and environmentally sustainable agricultural systems on a site and soil specific basis, the results from this study is helpful to strengthening the database of management effects on SOC storage in the Mollisols of Midwestern U.S.     

Carbon mineralization and properties of water-extractable organic carbon in soils of the south Loess Plateau in China

Addition of organic manure over thousands of years has resulted in the development of very fertile soils in parts of the Loess Plateau in Northwest China. This region also suffers from serious soil erosion. For that reason, afforestation of arable soils has taken place. The dynamics of soil organic matter in these soils affected by a very specific management and by land use changes is largely unknown. Therefore, we measured C mineralization in a 35-days incubation experiment and analyzed amounts and properties of water-extractable organic carbon (WEOC) in 12 topsoils of this region. The soils differed in land use (arable vs. forest) and in amounts of added organic manure. Afforestation of arable soils resulted in a distinct stabilization of organic C as indicated by the smallest C mineralization (0.48 mg C g⁻¹ C d⁻¹) and the highest C content (2.3%) of the studied soils. In the soils exposed to intensive crop production without regular addition of organic manure we found the largest C mineralization (0.85 mg C g⁻¹ C d⁻¹) and the lowest contents of organic C (0.9%). Addition of organic manure over a time scale of millennia resulted in high organic C contents (1.8%) and small C mineralization (0.55 mg C g⁻¹ C d⁻¹). The content of WEOC reflected differences in C mineralization between the soils quite well and the two variables correlated significantly. Water-extractable organic C decreased during C mineralization from the soil illustrating its mainly labile character. Carbon mineralization from soils was particularly large in soils with small specific UV absorbance of WEOC. We conclude that amounts and properties of WEOC reflected differences in the stability of soil organic C. Both afforestation of arable land and the long-term addition of organic manure may contribute to C accumulation and stabilization in these soils.     

Effects of nonylphenols on soil microbial activity and water retention

The main aim of this study is to analyze the influence of 4-nonylphenol (NP) on soil water retention and biological activity. Two doses of 4-nonylphenol (25 and 50 mg kg⁻¹) were tested in a loam soil with and without peat amendment. In general, one week after the start of the experiment, the soil water content retained at −0.75 MPa of soil suction was 18% higher in the soil amended and its basal respiration (BR) was 15% higher than soil without peat. In contrast, the microbial activity indices (CM: coefficient of mineralization or BR:total organic carbon (TOC) ratio; Cmic:Corg: microbial biomass carbon (MBC):TOC ratio; qCO₂: metabolic quotient or BR:MBC ratio) were higher in the soil without peat, compared to the soil amended with peat. On the other hand, the addition of NP to soil was able to modify soil biological but not physical (water retention, desorption) properties. When soil was amended with peat, MBC was reduced one week after applying NP. In contrast, no effects of NP on MBC were observed in the soil without peat. BR was reduced by 16% one week after applying 50 mg kg⁻¹ of NP to soil with peat, and was increased by 46% one week after applying 25 mg kg⁻¹ of NP to soil without peat. The effects of NP on MBC and BR could be associated more with the adsorption of NP by soil organic matter, while changes in CM or Cmic:Corg ratio were more closely related to changes in soil water retention. The potential toxic effects of NP (high qCO₂ values) were only observed in the absence of peat amendments. Peat addition reduced NP toxic effects on microorganisms.     

Climatic influences on active fractions of soil organic matter

Biologically active fractions of soil organic matter are important in understanding decomposition potential of organic materials, nutrient cycling dynamics, and biophysical manipulation of soil structure. We evaluated the quantitative relationships among potential C and net N mineralization, soil microbial biomass C (SMBC), and soil organic C (SOC) under four contrasting climatic conditions. Mean SOC values were 28±11 mg g⁻¹ (n=24) in a frigid–dry region (Alberta/British Columbia), 25±5 mg g⁻¹ (n=12) in a frigid–wet region (Maine), 11±4 mg g⁻¹ (n=117) in a thermic–dry region (Texas), and 12±5 mg g⁻¹ (n=131) in a thermic–wet region (Georgia). Higher mean annual temperature resulted in consistently greater basal soil respiration (1.7 vs 0.8 mg CO₂–C g⁻¹ SOC d⁻¹ in the thermic compared with the frigid regions, P<0.001), greater net N mineralization (2.8 vs 1.3 mg inorganic N g⁻¹ SOC 24 d⁻¹, P<0.001), and greater SMBC (53 vs 21 mg SMBC g⁻¹ SOC, P<0.001). Specific respiratory activity of SMBC was, however, consistently lower in the thermic than in the frigid regions (29 vs 34 mg CO₂–C g⁻¹ SMBC d⁻¹, P<0.01). Higher mean annual precipitation resulted in consistently lower basal soil respiration (1.1 vs 1.3 mg CO₂–C g⁻¹ SOC d⁻¹ in the wet compared with the dry regions, P<0.01) and lower SMBC (31 vs 43 mg SMBC g⁻¹ SOC, P<0.001), but had inconsistent effects on net N mineralization that depended upon temperature regime. Specific respiratory activity of SMBC was consistently greater in the wet than the dry regions (≈33 vs 29 mg CO₂–C g⁻¹ SMBC d⁻¹, P<0.01). Although the thermic regions were not able to retain as high a level of SOC as the frigid regions, due likely to high annual decomposition rates, biologically active soil fractions were as high per mass of soil and even 2–3-times greater per unit of SOC in the thermic compared with the frigid regions. These results suggest that macroclimate has a large impact on the portion of soil organic matter that is potentially active, but a relatively small impact on the specific respiratory activity of SMBC.     

Microbial activity in response to water-filled pore space of variably eroded southern Piedmont soils

Potential C and N mineralization and soil microbial biomass C (SMBC) are soil biological properties important in understanding nutrient and organic matter dynamics. Knowledge of soil water content at a matric potential near field capacity is needed to determine these biological properties. The objective of this study was to examine whether adjustment of soil water content to a common level of water-filled pore space (WFPS) may be an acceptable alternative that would require little prior analysis in comparison with adjustment based on matric potential. Potential C and N mineralization and SMBC were determined from 15 variably eroded soils of the Madison–Cecil–Pacolet association (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults) in response to WFPS. The levels of WFPS to achieve maximum activity and biomass under naturally settled conditions were unaffected by clay content and occurred at 0.42±0.03 m³ m⁻³ for net N mineralization during 24 days of incubation, 0.51±0.22 m³ m⁻³ for specific respiratory activity of SMBC, 0.60±0.07 m³ m⁻³ for cumulative C mineralization during 24 d of incubation, and 0.76±0.27 m³ m⁻³ for SMBC. Selecting a common WFPS level of 0.5 m³ m⁻³ resulted in 96±2%, 97±5%, 97±4%, and 88±10% of the maximum for these four properties, respectively, and was a reasonable compromise when attempting to estimate these properties during simultaneous incubations. Adjusting soil water content based on WFPS was simpler and nearly as reliable as based on matric potential, in which soil water content at −33 kPa varied from 0.16 to 0.30 g g⁻¹.     

Deep-burrowing earthworm additions changed the distribution of soil organic carbon in a chisel-tilled soil

We investigated the influence of earthworms on the three-dimensional distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) in a chisel-tilled soil. By burrowing, foraging, and casting at the surface and throughout the soil, anecic earthworms such as Lumbricus terrestris L. may play a major role in regulating the spatial distribution of organic matter resources both at the surface and within the soil. In the fall of 1994, we manipulated ambient earthworm communities, which were without deep burrowing species, by adding 100 earthworm individuals m⁻² in spring and fall for 3 years. Overall, the biomass of L. terrestris was increased with earthworm additions and total earthworm biomass declined compared with ambient control treatments. To investigate the spatial variability in soil organic carbon due to this shift in earthworm community structure, we sampled soil on a 28×24 cm grid from the surface to 40 cm in four layers, 10 cm deep. Samples were analyzed for total carbon. We found that additions of anecic earthworms significantly increased average soil organic carbon content from 16.1 to 17.9 g C kg⁻¹ for the 0–10 cm soil, and from 12.4 to 14.7 g kg⁻¹ at 10–20-cm depth, and also changed the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon from uniform to patchy, compared with the ambient treatment.     

Effect of freezing on soil nitrogen mineralization under different plant communities in a semi-arid area during a non-growing season

The influences of winter climate on terrestrial ecosystem processes have been the subject of growing attention, which is necessary to make the predictions about ecological responses to global warming in the future. However, little information can be found about the impacts of a large range of soil temperature fluctuation (e.g. −10 to 5 °C) over winter on the soil nitrogen (N) dynamics in the field. In the present study, we employed an intact soil core in situ incubation technique, and measured soil N mineralization and nitrification rates under three plant communities, i.e. a grassland, a shrub and a plantation, during the non-growing season (October 2004–April 2005) in Inner Mongolia, China. Our results demonstrate the significant effects of different plant communities on soil net N mineralization and the great temporal variations of soil N dynamics during the incubation period. The mean soil net N mineralization rates were 0.93, 0.77 and −1.28 mg N m⁻² d⁻¹, respectively, in the grassland, shrub and plantation. The mean soil NH₄⁺-N in the three plant communities declined by 40%, but the mean soil NO₃⁻-N increased by 190% by the end of the incubation compared with their initial concentrations at the beginning of incubation. The differences in plant communities significantly affected their soil N mineralization rates, accumulations and turnover rates, which followed the order: grassland > shrub > plantation. During the winter time, the studied soils experienced the three phases consisting of mild freezing (−7 to −2 °C soil), deep freezing (approximately −10 °C soil) and freeze–thaw (−2 to 5 °C soil). The results suggest that temporal variations of soil N mineralization are positively affected by the soil temperature and the soil nitrification is dominant in the N transformation process during the non-growing season. Our study indicates that the soil N mineralization over winter can make a substantial contribution to the mineral N pool that plants are able to utilize in the upcoming spring, but may also pose a great risk of mineral N leaching loss if great rainfalls occur during spring and early summer.     

Fe,Al and Si species and organic matter leached off a ferrallitic and podzolic soil system from Central Amazonia

The geochemistry of soil formation in central Amazonia, Brasil, was investigated by studying the waters draining off small podzolic, ferrallitic or mixed catchment areas. Dissolved, colloidal and particulate fractions were obtained by cascade filtration and tangential-flow filtration. The organic carbon, Fe, Si, Al concentrations and the complexing capacity with regard to Cu²⁺ were determined for each fraction. In the waters draining podzolic areas, bulk concentrations were in the range 25.0–38.1 mg L^− 1 for organic carbon, 240–280 μg L^− 1 for Fe, 130–630 μg L^− 1 for Al and around 0.9 mg L^− 1 for Si. Fe mainly migrates as organo-metallic complexes, while Al migrates roughly half as inorganics in the particulate fraction and half as small species likely inorganic in the dissolved fraction. The result is the leaching of all elements and the relative accumulation of residual quartz. In the waters draining ferrallitic areas, bulk concentrations were in the range 1.2–1.9 mg L^− 1 for organic carbon, 45–55 μg L^− 1 for Fe, 106–220 μg L^− 1 for Al and around 1.9 mg L^− 1 for Si, this later concentration remaining below saturation with quartz. Most elements were transported in the dissolved fraction, except 10% of Si which was in the particulate fraction, likely as quartz, and 40–45% of Al which was in the colloidal fractions, likely as Al-hydroxides. The result is a relative enrichment of the soil in Si with regard to Al. The soils strongly control the physico-chemical characteristics of the forest stream waters, and their transport capacity with regard to complexable metals. Moreover, our results showed that the behaviour of Al with regard to organic matter was different from the behaviour of Fe.     

Testing the stability of carbon pools stored in tussock sedge meadows

Tussocks formed by Carex stricta are a relatively large carbon (C) pool in sedge meadows, but the stability of organic matter in these ecosystems is not well understood. We initiated year-long incubation experiments (22.5 °C) to evaluate the CO₂ and CH₄ production potentials of sedge meadow substrates under field moist and inundated treatments from five sites in the Upper Midwest, USA (4 reference, 1 restored). C mineralization potentials decreased with depth (tussocks > underlying soil), and were positively correlated with macro-organic matter content and negatively with lignin. Across sites, C stored in tussocks and soil at the restoration was the least stable, suggesting that the restoration of C-storage function may take decades. Mineralization potentials were similar between field moist and inundated treatments, but inundation resulted in higher methane production, accounting for 24–51% of total carbon mineralized from tussocks. In the field however, C. stricta tussocks emitted less methane (393 ± 76 mg CH₄ m⁻² d⁻¹) than tussock interspaces (1362 ± 371 mg CH₄ m⁻² d⁻¹) early in the growing season; we suggest that tussock tops oxidized methane produced from deeper anoxic horizons. Our results highlight the importance of considering how microtopography modulates greenhouse gas flux from wetlands and suggests that the C stored in the older, more decomposed C. stricta tussock sedge meadow substrates (both within and between sites) is relatively stable.     

Overgrazing and soil carbon dynamics in the western Chaco of Argentina

Very little is known about the effect of overgrazing on carbon loss from soil in semi-arid savannas and woodlands of South America. Soil carbon parameters were measured in a 10,000 ha restoration project in the western Chaco of Argentina (24°43′S and 63°17′W). Three situations were compared: highly restored (HRS), moderately restored (MRS) and highly degraded (HDS). Soil and litter samples were recovered in the dry and wet seasons. SOC and CO₂–C values decreased from the HRS (7.0 kg m⁻² and 130 g m⁻²) to the HDS (1.5 kg m⁻² and 46 g m⁻²) whereas the C mineralization rate increased toward the less restored sites (0.96–2.29). Surface-litter C was similar in both sites under restoration (260 and 229 g m⁻²), being non-existent at the HDS. Leaves from woody species dominated surface-litter in the HRS, whereas grass material was predominant in the MRS. During the wet season, the SOC decreased, whereas both CO₂–C and C mineralization rate increased. The magnitude of the between-season differences was highest at the HDS (62% in SOC, 55% in CO₂, and 80% in C mineralization rate). We estimated that C loss since introduction of cattle into the forest was 58 Mg ha⁻¹, reaching a total of 2×10¹⁵ g at for the entire Chaco. These values are higher than those caused by the conversion of savannas and other ecosystems into agriculture or cultivated pastures. The amount of C fixed in the highly restored site (275 g ha⁻¹ per year) indicates that the Chaco soils have a significant potential as atmospheric carbon sinks.     

Stability of soil organic matter under long-term biosolids application

Little is know on the impact of biosolids application on soil organic matter (SOM) stability, which contributes to soil C sequestration. Soil samples were collected in 2006 at plow layer from fields that received liquid and dry municipal biosolids application from 1972 to 2004 at the cumulative rate of 1416 Mg ha⁻¹ in mined soil and 1072 Mg ha⁻¹ in nonmined soil and control fields that received chemical fertilizer at Fulton County, western Illinois. The biosolids application increased the soil microbial biomass C (SMBC) by 5-fold in mined soil and 4-fold in nonmined soil. The biosolids-amended soils showed a high amount of basal respiration and N mineralization, but low metabolic quotient, and low rate of organic C and organic N mineralization. There was a remarkable increase in mineral-associated organic C from 6.9 g kg⁻¹ (fertilizer control) to 26.6 g kg⁻¹ (biosolids-amended) in mined soil and from 8.9 g kg⁻¹ (fertilizer control) to 23.1 g kg⁻¹ (biosolids-amended) in nonmined soil. The amorphous Fe and Al, which can improve SOM stability, were increased by 2–7 folds by the long-term biosolids application. It is evident from this study that the biosolids-modified SOM resists to decomposition more than that in the fertilizer treatment, thus long-term biosolids application could increase SOM stability.     

Dynamics of phosphorus phytoavailability in soil amended with stabilized sewage sludge materials

Reducing the environmental risk of soluble P loss from sludge-amended soils is essential for increasing soils capacity to utilize sewage sludge beneficially. Fresh dewatered anaerobically digested sewage sludge (FSS), stabilized with ferrous sulphate (FeSul–SS), calcium oxide (CaO–SS) and aluminum sulphate (alum–SS), each at three chemical-to-FSS ratios, or by composting (BSC), was applied to alluvial soil at rates of 150 and 300 mg P kg^? 1 soil. Changes in P phytoavailability in comparison to KH₂PO₄-amended soil were probed during 100 days of incubation by a P-bioassay and were compared to the concentration of water-soluble P (WSP) and Olsen-P. P phytoavailability was notably linked to the incubation duration and the stabilization process. In general, P phytoavailability at equal P-addition rates was KH₂PO₄ > > alum–SS > BSC ≥ FSS > CaO–SS > > FeSul–SS; and it was positively related to the added P rates, although with quite different patterns among the various sludge products. The concentration of inorganic WSP (WSP_i) extracted from the soil increased following the application of FSS or BSC, and additional P mineralization further increased its concentration during incubation. In contrast, in most cases the chemically stabilized sludges, especially the FeSul–SS, showed considerably reduced inorganic WSP concentrations relative to the untreated soil. The total WSP, Olsen-P and organic WSP (WSP_o) positively correlated to P phytoavailability, indicating that WSP_o plays a role in plant P utilization in these soils. It is concluded that all the chemically stabilized sewage sludge studied effectively controlled WSP_i in soil while still supplying P to support plant growth.     

Soil organic matter and water-stable aggregates under different tillage and residue conditions in a tropical dryland agroecosystem

Changes in the proportions of water-stable soil aggregates, organic C, total N and soil microbial biomass C and N, due to tillage reduction (conventional, minimum and zero tillage) and crop residue manipulation (retained or removed) conditions were studied in a tropical rice–barley dryland agroecosystem. The values of soil organic C and total N were the highest (11.1 and 1.33 g kg⁻¹ soil, respectively) in the minimum tillage and residue retained (MT+R) treatment and the lowest (7.8 and 0.87 g kg⁻¹, respectively) in conventional tillage and residue removed (CT−R) treatment. Tillage reduction from conventional to minimum and zero conditions along with residue retention (MT+R,ZT+R) increased the proportion of macroaggregates in soil (21–42% over control). The greatest increase was recorded in MT+R treatment and the smallest increase in conventional tillage and residue retained (CT+R) treatment. The lowest values of organic C and total N (7.0–8.9 and 0.82–0.88 g kg⁻¹ soil, respectively) in macro- and microaggregates were recorded in CT−R treatment. However, the highest values of organic C and total N (8.6–12.6 and 1.22–1.36 g kg⁻¹, respectively) were recorded in MT+R treatment. The per cent increase in the amount of organic C in macroaggregates was greater than in microaggregates. In all treatments, macroaggregates showed wider C/N ratio than in microaggregates. Soil microbial biomass C and N ranged from 235 to 427 and 23.9 to 49.7 mg kg⁻¹ in CT−R and MT+R treatments, respectively. Soil organic C, total N, and microbial biomass C and N were strongly correlated with soil macroaggregates. Residue retention in combination with tillage reduction (MT+R) resulted in the greatest increase in microbial biomass C and N (82–104% over control). These variables showed better correlations with macroaggregates than other soil parameters. Thus, it is suggested that the organic matter addition due to residue retention along with tillage reduction accelerates the formation of macroaggregates through an increase in the microbial biomass content in soil.     

Miscanthus sinensis and wild flowers as food resources of Lumbricus terrestris L.

Senescent leaves of Miscanthus sinensis contained 36% soluble polysaccharides, 26% cellulose and had a C/N ratio of 45. In 11 wild flower species contents of soluble polysaccharides (21–30%), cellulose (3–16%) and C/N ratio (13–31) were lower. Decomposing leaves of M. sinensis lost weight at a rate of 0.002 day⁻¹, increased the C/N ratio from 45 to about 100, the bacterial biomass from 0.4 to 1 μg C mg⁻¹ dry weight, and decreased the tensile strength from 35 to 10 N. The withdrawal rate of Lumbricus terrestris with senescent leaves of M. sinensis was 30 mg g⁻¹ week⁻¹; the feeding rate was lower. With most senescent wild flowers withdrawal and feeding rates were higher. During decomposition of M. sinensis withdrawal rates increased to about 90, and feeding rates to about 30 mg g⁻¹ week⁻¹. The rates were not related to soluble polysaccharides, cellulose, acid-insoluble residue, C/N ratio and the presence of trichomes on the leaves. The abundance of L. terrestris decreased in a meadow turned into a field of M. sinensis from 55 to 26 earthworms m⁻² and increased in a rotational maize field turned into wild flower strips from 28 to 46 earthworms m⁻². The species richness of earthworms decreased with M. sinensis from 7.2 to 4.7 and increased with wild flowers from 4.7 to 6.7 species per sampling unit.     

An outline of soil nematode succession on abandoned fields in South Bohemia

Secondary succession of nematodes was studied in 1–48-year-old abandoned fields on cambisols in South Bohemia, Czech Republic, and compared with cultivated field and sub-climax oak forests. Bacterivores were the predominant group in the cultivated field whereas in forests root-fungal feeders (mainly Filenchus) were almost as abundant as bacterivores. The total abundance of nematodes in the cultivated field averaged 868 × 10³ ind m⁻². During the first three years of succession the abundance practically did not change (775 × 10³ ind m⁻²), the fauna was still similar to that in cultivated field but the biomass increased mainly due to Aporcelaimellus. Then the abundance increased up to 3731 × 10³ ind m⁻² in 7–8-year-old abandoned fields, plant parasites (Helicotylenchus) dominated and the fungal-based decomposition channel was activated. Later the abundance stabilised at between 1086 and 1478 × 10³ ind m⁻² in 13–25-year-old successional meadow stages with high population densities of omnivores and predators. The total abundance of nematodes was low in the 12–13-year-old willow shrub stage (594 × 10³ ind m⁻²), increased in the 35–48-year-old birch shrub stage (1760 × 10³ ind m⁻²) and the nematode fauna developed towards a forest community. The diversity and maturity of nematode communities generally increased with the age of abandoned fields but the highest values were in meadow stages (81–113 species, 57–68 genera, MI 2.73–3.30). The development of meadow arrested succession towards forests or diverted succession towards a waterlogged ecosystem. The succession of nematodes was influenced by the method of field abandonment (bare soil vs. legume cover, mowing) that affected the formation of either a shrub or meadow stage, and by the soil water status. The composition of the nematode fauna indicated that the soil food web could recover faster from agricultural disturbance under successive meadows than under shrubs.     

Quadratic response models for N and P mineralization in domestic sewage sludge for mininig dump reclamation

A valuable feature of sewage sludge used for restoring degraded soils is its supplying capacity for C, N and P. A series of laboratory incubation experiments to quantify the release of N and P from raw (dried) and co-composted urban sewage sludges applied to mine dump soil were conducted. The effect of application dose (0–100 g kg⁻¹) and incubation time (0–30 day) on N and P mineralization as well as the process modelling were carried out by Response Surface Methodology. Models fitted revealed significant interaction effects between factors involved in soil-sludge dynamics, which accounted for 26% total variance in N-mineralization. The response models were used to predict nutrient releases required in properly formulating sludge management guidelines, viz. maximum simultaneous value for extractable inorganic forms of N and P achieved 11 and 18 days after applying 100 g kg⁻¹ of co-compost and dried sludge, respectively. Addition of sludges resulted into mineralization of 18% total N and up to 15% total P, while chemical and biochemical properties of the amended soil were improved paralleling organic matter mineralization. Compared to dried sludge, co-composting sludge lead to a decline of up to 30% and 65% in the availability in soil of N and P, respectively, but at expenses of C losses of only 7%, illustrating that co-composting was superior in turning sludge into an environmentally safe soil amendment.     

Experimental nitrogen deposition alters the quantity and quality of soil dissolved organic carbon in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a central role in driving biogeochemical processes in soils, but little information is available on the relation of soil DOM dynamics to microbial activity. The effects of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ deposition in grasslands on the amount and composition of soil DOM also remain largely unclear. In this study, a multi-form, low-dose N addition experiment was conducted in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau in 2007. Three N fertilizers, NH₄Cl, (NH₄)₂SO₄ and KNO₃, were applied at four rates: 0, 10, 20 and 40 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Soil samples from surface (0–10 cm) and subsurface layers (10–20 cm) were collected in 2011. Excitation/emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (EEM) was used to assess the composition and stability of soil DOM. Community-level physiological profile (CLPP, basing on the BIOLOG Ecoplate technique) was measured to evaluate the relationship between soil DOC dynamics and microbial utilization of C resources. Nitrogen (N) dose rather than N form significantly increased soil DOC contents in surface layer by 23.5%–35.1%, whereas it significantly decreased soil DOC contents in subsurface layer by 10.4%–23.8%. Continuous five-year N addition significantly increased the labile components and decreased recalcitrant components of soil DOM in surface layer, while an opposite pattern was observed in subsurface layer; however, the humification indices (HIX) of soil DOM was unaltered by various N treatments. Furthermore, N addition changed the amount and biodegradability of soil DOM through stimulating microbial metabolic activity and preferentially utilizing organic acids. These results suggest that microbial metabolic processes dominate the dynamics of soil DOC, and increasing atmospheric N deposition could be adverse to the accumulation of soil organic carbon pool in the alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.     

Are enchytraeid worms (Oligochaeta) sensitive indicators of ammonia-N impacts on an ombrotrophic bog?

Enchytraeid worms (Oligochaeta) are the dominant mesofauna in wet acidic habitats. They have key roles in biogeochemical cycling, and can be used as biological indicators. Here we report the response of these worms to in situ ammonia-N (NH₃-N) deposition on an ombrotrophic bog. Three years of NH₃-N fumigation from an automated release system has created a gradient of NH₃-N concentrations downwind of the release pipe ranging from 83 μg m⁻³ (near source) to 4.5 μg m⁻³ NH₃-N (60 m from release pipe); the ambient NH₃-N concentration is 0.56 μg m⁻³ NH₃-N. Peat pH and mineral N content have increased near the ammonia release pipe. We hypothesised that enhanced N deposition at the site would have improved litter quality and thus, enchytraeid distribution would be increased along the transect compared to ambient. However, neither litter quality nor enchytraeid abundance and diversity were affected by NH₃-N despite increases in peat pH and mineral N. This suggests that three years of ammonia fumigation was not enough time for plant matter exposed to ammonia to become incorporated into the peat litter layer. Enchytraeids appear not to be sensitive indicators of NH₃ fumigation because there was no effect below-ground of peat chemistry on litter quality.