不同干扰强度下农业生态系统土壤微生物生物量和活性的分异

Different management practices in six agroecosystems located near Goldsboro, NC, USA were conducted including a successional field (SU), a plantation woodlot (WO), an integrated cropping system with animals (IN), an organic farming system (OR), and two cash-grain cropping systems employing; either tillage (CT) or no-tillage (NT) to examine if and how microbial biomass and activity differ in response to alterations in disturbance intensity from six land management strategies. Results showed that soil microbial biomass and activity differed, with microbial activity in intermediately disturbed ecosystems (NT, OR, IN) being significantly higher (P < 0.01) than systems with either high or low disturbance intensities. There was also a significant and a highly significant ecosystem effect from the treatments on microbial biomass C (MBC) (P < 0.05) and on microbial activity (respiration) (P < 0.01), respectively. Multiple comparisons of mean respiration rates distinctly separated the six ecosystem types into three groups: CT < NT, SU and WO < OR and IN. Thus, for detecting microbial response to disturbance changes these results indicated that the active component of the soil microbial community was a better indicator than total biomass.     

小麦生长期间施肥后土壤微生物生物量C和P的变化

A pot experiment was carried out with a clay loam in a green house.The results showed that soil microbial biomass C increased with the application of organic manure at the beginning of the experiment and then gradually decreased with declining of the temperature .The soil biomass C increased at the tillering stage when the temperature gradually increased,and rose to the highest value at the anthesis stage,being about 554.9-794.4mg C kg^-1,The applicatio of organic manure resulted in the highest increase in biomass C among the fertiliztion treatments while that of ammonium sulphate gave the lowest At the harvest time the soil biomass C decreased to the presowing level. Like the soil biomass C the amount of biomass P was increased by the incorporation of organic manure and was the highest among the treatments,with the values of the check and ammonium sulphate treatments being the lowest ,Meanwhile,the changing patterns of the C/P ratio of soil microbial biomass at stages of wheat growth are also described.     

蚯蚓与黑麦草相互作用对土壤中荧蒽去除的影响

Earthworms can promote the bioremediation of contaminated soils through enhancing plant growth and microorganism development. The individual and combined effects of earthworms and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) on the removal of fluoranthene from a sandy-loam alluvial soil were investigated in a 70-d microcosm experiment. The experiment was set up in a complete factorial design with treatments in four replicates: without earthworms or ryegrass (control, CK), with earthworms only (E), with ryegrass only (P), and with both earthworms and ryegrass (EP). The residual fluoranthene, microbial biomass C, and polyphenol oxidase activity in the soil changed significantly (P<0.01) with time. In general, the residual concentration of fluoranthene in the soil decreased sharply from 71.8-88.7 to 31.7-37.4 mg kg 1 in 14 d, and then decreased gradually to 19.7-30.5 mg kg 1 on the 70th d. The fluoranthene concentration left in the soil was the least with both earthworms and ryegrass, compared to the other treatments at the end of the experiment. Half-life times of fluoranthene in the E, P, and EP treatments were 17.8%-36.3% smaller than that of CK. More fluoranthene was absorbed by earthworms than ryegrass. However, the total amounts of fluoranthene accumulated in both the ryegrass and earthworms were small, only accounting for 0.01%-1.20% of the lost fluoranthene. Therefore, we assumed that microbial degradation would play a dominant functional role in fluoranthene removal from soil. We found that earthworms significantly increased microbial biomass C and polyphenol oxidase activity (P<0.01) in the presence of ryegrass at the end of the experiment. Furthermore, microbial biomass C and polyphenol oxidase activity were significantly (P<0.05) and negatively related to the residual fluoranthene concentration. This implied that earthworms might promote the removal of fluoranthene from soil via stimulating microbial biomass C and polyphenol oxidase activity.     

在FACE条件下作物轮作过程中碳的流通

Mostly based on assumptions derived from controlled-environment studies, predicted future atmospheric CO2 concentrations [CO2] are expected to have considerable impacts on carbon （C） turnover in agro-ecosystems. In order to allow the in situ examination of C-transformations in the plant-soil system of arable crop rotations under future [002], a free air carbon dioxide enrichment （FACE） experiment （550 μmol mol^-1 CO2） was started at Braunschweig, Germany in 1999. The crop rotation under investigation comprised winter barley, a cover crop （ryegrass）, sugar beets and winter wheat. Assessments of CO2 effects included the determination of above- and belowground biomass production, measurements of canopy CO2- and H2O- fluxes, soil microbial biomass and in situ soil respiration. The results obtained during the 1st crop rotation cycle （3 years） showed that for the selected crops elevated [CO2] entailed significant positive effects （P 〈 0.05） on aboveground （6%-14% stimulation） and belowground biomass production （up to 90% stimulation）, while canopy evapotranspiration was reduced. This resulted in increased soil water content. Also, depending on crop type and season, high CO2 stimulated in situ soil respiration （up to 30%）, while soil microbial biomass did not show significant respouses to elevated [CO2] during the first rotation cycle.     

稻田系统管理措施对微生物生物量C、N、P的长期影响

A 12-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different tillage methods and fertil-ization systems on microbial biomass C,N and P of a gray fluvo-aguic soil in rice-based cropping system .Five fertilization treatments were designed under conventional tillae(CT) or on tillage(NT) system:no fertilizer(CK) ; chemical fertilizer only(CF) ; combining chemical fertilizer with pig manure(PM); combining chemical fertilizer with crop straw (CS) and fallow (F). The results showed that biomass C,N and P were enriched in the surface layer of no-tilled soil,whereas they distributed relatively evenly in the tilled soil,which might result from enrichment of crop resdue,organic manure and mineral fertilzer,and surficial developent of root systems under NT.Under the cultivation system NT had slightly greater biomass C,N and P at 0-5 cm depth ,significantly less biomass C,N and P at 5-15 cm depth ,less microbial biomass C,N and equivalent biomass P at 15-30 cm depth as compared to CT,indicating hat tillage was beneficial for the multiplication of organims in the plowed layer of soil.Under the fallow system,biomass C,N and P in the surface layer were significantly greater for NT than CT while their differences between the two tillage methods were neligible in the deeper layers.In the surface layer,biomass C,N and P in the soils amended with oranic manure combined with mineral fertilizers were significantly greater than those of the treatments only with mineral fertilizers and the control.Soils without fertilzer had the least biomass nutrient contents among the five fertilization treatments.Obviously,the long-term application of organic manure could maintain the higher activity of microorganisms in soils.The amounts of biomass C,N and P in the fallowed soils varied with the tillage methods;they were much greater under NT than under CT,especially in the surface layer,suggesting that the frequent plowing could decrease the content of organic matter in the surface layer of the fallowed soil.     

中国东北黑土上长期施用化肥对土壤微生物生物量和功能多样性的影响

An experiment with seven N, P, K-fertilizer treatments, i.e., control （no fertilizer）, NP, NK, PK, NPK, NP2K, and NPK2 where P2 and K2 indicate double amounts of P and K fertilizers respectively, was conducted to examine the effect of long-term continuous application of chemical fertilizers on microbial biomass and functional diversity of a black soil （Udoll in the USDA Soil Taxonomy） in Northeast China. The soil microbial biomass C ranged between 94 and 145 mg kg^-1, with the NK treatment showing a lower biomass; the functional diversity of soil microbial community ranged from 4.13 to 4.25, with an increasing tendency from control to double-fertilizer treatments, and to triple-fertilizer treatments. The soil microbial biomass, and the microbial functional diversity and evenness did not show any significant differences among the different fertilizer treatments including control, suggesting that the long-term application of chemical fertilization would not result in significant changes in the microbial characteristics of the black soil.     

Clay Addition to Sandy Soil——Influence of Clay Type and Size on Nutrient Availability in Sandy Soils Amended with Residues Differing in C/N ratio

Addition of clay-rich subsoil to sandy soil results in heterogeneous soil with clay peds(2-mm) or finely ground( 2 mm) clay soil(FG), which may affect the nutrient availability. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of clay soil particle size(FG or peds)and properties on nutrient availability and organic C binding in sandy soil after addition of residues with low(young kikuyu grass,KG) or high(faba bean, FB) C/N ratio. Two clay soils with high and low smectite percentage, clay and exchangeable Fe and Al were added to a sandy soil at a rate of 20%(weight/weight) either as FG or peds. Over 45 d, available N and P as well as microbial biomass N and P concentrations and cumulative respiration were greater in soils with residues of KG than FB. For soils with KG residues,clay addition increased available N and initial microbial biomass C and N concentrations, but decreased cumulative respiration and P availability compared to sandy soil without clay. Differences in measured parameters between clay type and size were inconsistent and varied with time except the increase in total organic C in the 53 μm fraction during the experiment, which was greater for soils with FG than with peds. We concluded that the high exchangeable Fe and Al concentrations in the low-smectite clay soil can compensate a lower clay concentration and proportion of smectite with respect to binding of organic matter and nutrients.     

季节性放牧和全年放牧对亚高山草地生态系统中土壤动物和微生物的影响

Grazing and over-grazing may drive changes in the diversity and functioning of below-ground meadow ecosystems.A field soil survey was conducted to compare microbial biomass carbon (Cmin) and soil fauna communities in the two main grassland management systems in subalpine regions of Yunnan Province,China:perennial grazing currently practiced due to increasing herd sizes and traditional seasonal grazing.A three-year exclosure experiment was then conducted to further compare the effects of different grazing practices,including treatments of no mowing,perennial grazing (NM + G),mowing followed by seasonal grazing (M + G),mowing and no grazing (M + NG),and no mowing or grazing (NM + NG).The comparative survey result revealed that Cmin and total density of soil fauna were significantly lower at a perennially grazed site than at a seasonally grazed site.The experiment results showed that in comparison to non-grazing treatments (M + NG and NM + NG),grazing (NM + G and M + G) reduced total fauna density (by 150 individuals m-2) and the number of taxonomic groups present (by 0.32 taxa m-2).Mowing decreased Cmin (by 0.31 mg g-1).Furthermore,the NM + G treatment (perennial grazing) had the lowest density of Collembola (16.24 individuals m-2),one of the two most common taxonomic groups,although other taxonomic groups responded differently to the treatments.Treatment effects on soil fauna were consistent with those on above-ground grasses,in which C:N ratios were greatly reduced by grazing,with this effect being the greatest for the NM + G treatment.In contrast,different grazing treatments had little effect on C:N ratio of soil.Furthermore,the traditional grazing method (mowing followed by seasonal grazing) may have less severe effects on some taxonomic groups than perennial grazing.Therefore,an appropriate management should aim to protect soil fauna and microbes in this area from over-grazing and against further degradation.     

合成条件对氧气氧化合成水钠锰矿的影响

A pot experiment was conducted to determine the dynamics of soil microbial biomass in a rainfed soil under wheat cultivation at the University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The treatments applied were: 1) a control (CK), 2) NPK (0.44-0.26-0.18 g pot^-1), 3) farmyard manure (FYM, 110 g pot^-1), 4)poultry manure (PM, 110 g pot^-1), 5) FYM (110 g pot^-1) NPK (0.44-0.26-0.18 g pot^-1), 6) poultry manure (PM, 110 g pot^-1) NPK (0.44-0.26-0.18 g pot^-1), 7) FYM (110 g pot^-1) NPK(S) (0.44-0.26-0.18 g pot^-1 one half of the NPK at sowing and the other half one month after sowing), and 8) PM (110 g pot^-1) NPK(S) (0.44-0.26-0.18 g pot^-1, one half of the NPK applied at sowing and the other half one month after sowing). The experiment was laid out using a completely randomized design with three replications. Microbial biomass C, N and P contents increased continuously from the beginning of the experiment up to the three-leaf stage. A slight decline was observed at the tillering stage in all treatments except with the organic manures NPK(S) treatments. After tillering there was an increase in all treatments to the recorded maximum point at the full heading stage in all treatments except with the organic manures NPK(S) treatments. In the FYM NPK(S) and PM NPK(S) treatments; however, there was a continuous increase in microbial biomass up to the heading stage. At the harvesting stage a sharp decline was noted in all treatments. The C:N ratio of microbial biomass in tested soil ranged from 7.8 to 11.3, while C:P ratio of microbial biomass in the tested soil ranged from 22.6 to 35.1 throughout all growth stages of the wheat crop.     

相比其他传统作物作为生物能源作物柳枝稷种植土壤上的有机碳库研究

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been proposed as a sustainable bioenergy crop because of its high yield potential, adaptation to marginal sites, and tolerance to water and nutrient limitations. A better understanding of the potential effects of biomass energy crop production practices on soil biological properties and organic matter dynamics is critical to its production. Our objective was to evaluate changes in C pools under a warm-season perennial switchgrass in different soils compared to typically-grown crops collected at College Station, Dallas, and Stephenville, TX in February 2001. Sampling depths were 0-5, 5-15, and 15-30 cm. Switchgrass increased soil organic C (SOC), soil microbial biomass C (SMBC), mineralizable C, and particulate organic matter C (POM-C) compared to conventional cropping systems. Soil C concentrations were in the order: long-term coastal bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.]> switchgrass or kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.) planted in 1992> switchgrass 1997> conventional cropping systems. Soil C concentrations tended to increase with increasing clay content. Greater microbial biomass C followed the order of Dallas> College Station> Stephenville, and ranged from approximately 180 mg C kg-1 soil at Stephenville to 1 900 mg C kg-1 soil at Dallas. Particulate organic C was more sensitive than other fractions to management, increasing as much as 6-fold under long-term coastal bermudagrass compared to conventional cropping systems. Our study indicated that conversion of conventional cropping systems into switchgrass production can sequestrate more SOC and improve soil biological properties in the southern USA.     

Effect of grazing intensity and soil characteristics on soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks in a temperate long-term grassland

The effects of different grazing pressures (GPs) on soil properties are not sufficiently understood. The objectives were to analyse the effects of three different extensive GPs on stocks of soil organic C and total N, soil microbial biomass C, basal respiration and mineral N in three different soil depths of a long-term pasture in Central Germany (FORBIOBEN field trial). No significant (p ≤ 0.05) effects of GP on weighted stocks of soil organic C, total N, soil microbial biomass C, mineral N and basal respiration rate were observed, suggesting that the C and N cycles are coupled in the three grazing treatments. Oxalate soluble Fe contents explained a marked part of the variation of soil organic C (multiple linear regression: R² = 0.64) and total N contents (R² = 0.64) in the soils, whereas almost all of the variability of soil microbial biomass C contents and basal respiration was explained by soil organic C contents. Overall, variabilities of soil organic C and N contents were largely explained by oxalate soluble Fe contents, whereas grazing intensity did not affect the C and N dynamics.     

黑麦草与施肥对石油-铅-镉复合污染土壤微生物活性的影响

随着工业和农业生产的发展,重金属、有毒有机物及其复合污染土壤日益增多,其修复问题在世界范围内是一项具有挑战性的任务。以砂质壤土为试验对象,模拟石油-铅-镉复合污染,共设置4个处理:(1)对照处理,复合污染土壤(CK);(2)不施肥处理,复合污染土壤+黑麦草(NF);(3)施氮肥处理,复合污染土壤+黑麦草+氮肥(F1);(4)施氮肥和磷肥处理,复合污染土壤+黑麦草+氮肥+磷肥(F2),研究种植黑麦草与施肥处理对石油-铅-镉复合污染土壤微生物活性的影响,以期为污染土壤修复及环境影响评价提供初步的理论基础。结果表明:黑麦草与施肥对复合污染土壤基础呼吸、微生物量碳均有促进作用,处理NF、F1和F2的土壤基础呼吸强度比对照处理CK最高分别增加约20.94%,24.41%,42.69%,其中施加氮、磷肥(F2)对土壤基础呼吸影响最显著;第10天时,处理NF、F1和F2土壤微生物量碳含量与对照相比分别增加约26.92%,127.43%,181.89%,施肥处理土壤微生物量碳含量显著高于不施肥处理;不同种类的酶活性对黑麦草与施肥的响应不尽相同,其中种植黑麦草与施肥均会抑制石油-铅-镉复合污染土壤中FDA水解酶活性,施加氮肥在一定时间内能较好地维持石油-铅-镉复合污染土壤内的脱氢酶活性,施肥能有效地提高并维持复合污染土壤中脲酶活性,而过氧化氢酶活性受黑麦草与施肥影响不显著。研究表明种植黑麦草配施氮、磷肥对土壤微生物基础呼吸、土壤微生物量碳及相关土壤酶活性均有增强作用,进而有利于促进土壤污染物的去除及土壤质量的改善。     

不同恢复方式下盐渍化弃耕地土壤生物学活性的变化

以干旱区新疆玛纳斯河流域冲积扇缘定点定位试验地为研究对象, 研究灌溉处理、人工草地处理和补植处理对盐渍化弃耕地土壤微生物量、酶活性及土壤呼吸速率的影响。结果表明, 不同恢复方式均明显增加了土壤微生物数量和土壤微生物量碳、氮及土壤酶活性。不同处理土壤微生物量碳、氮分别比原始弃耕地高17.80%、26.38%、5.33%和7.89%、12.75%、21.93%; 不同处理土壤微生物数量分别是原始弃耕地的4.72倍、6.04倍和4.56倍; 不同处理土壤蔗糖酶活性分别比原始弃耕地高3.4倍、3.2倍和7.7倍, 多酚氧化酶活性比原始弃耕地高1.7倍、1.2倍和1.5倍, 脲酶活性比原始弃耕地高11.1%、52.3%和37.1%; 灌溉处理土壤过氧化氢酶活性最高, 是原始弃耕地的1.53倍, 土壤呼吸速率变化表现为人工草地处理>灌溉处理>补植处理>原始弃耕地, 其中, 人工草地处理土壤呼吸速率比弃耕地高52.25%。相关分析表明, 微生物量碳与微生物C/N和微生物数量之间均呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05); 土壤呼吸速率与土壤脲酶、微生物数量和微生物量碳的相关性达到显著水平(P<0.05), 与土壤微生物量氮呈负相关关系, 但相关性不显著; 土壤蔗糖酶与其他3种酶以及微生物量氮呈显著正相关关系, 土壤脲酶与微生物数量呈显著正相关关系, 多酚氧化酶与过氧化氢酶相关性达到显著水平(P<0.05)。本研究表明干旱区盐渍化弃耕地采用灌溉与人工草地处理有利于土壤养分积累, 可在一定程度上改善土壤质量。     

冬季作物对水稻生育期土壤微生物量碳、氮的影响

选取我国南方4种冬季作物黑麦草、紫云英、油菜、马铃薯,以冬闲田作对照,对水稻生育期土壤微生物量碳（SMBC）和土壤微生物量氮（SMBN）的短期内动态变化进行了研究。结果表明,早稻田翻耕前,冬季作物处理土壤SMBC和SMBN与冬闲田存在显著差异(P0.05),黑麦草处理SMBC为398.5 mg/kg,显著高于其他作物;紫云英处理SMBN最高,为97.8 mg/kg。在早稻整个生育期,黑麦草处理SMBC显著高于其他处理,晚稻生长过程中各处理无显著差异。冬季作物对稻田土壤微生物商(MQ)的影响,随着水稻生长发育进程有不同程度的变化,黑麦草处理在早稻整个生育期高于冬闲田。     

生草对渭北旱地苹果园土壤有机碳组分及微生物的影响

在渭北旱地苹果园行间播种毛苕子（Vicia villosa）、白三叶（Trifolium repens）、黑麦草（Lolium perenne）和早熟禾（Poa pratensis）,以清耕为对照,对0100 cm土层的土壤有机碳各组分及微生物群落功能多样性进行研究。结果表明,行间生草可显著增加040 cm土层土壤的总有机碳（TOC）、颗粒有机碳（POC）、轻质有机碳（LFOC）、易氧化有机碳（ROC）、可溶性有机碳（DOC）和微生物量碳（MBC）,豆科牧草毛苕子和白三叶的各有机碳含量总体上高于禾本科牧草黑麦草和早熟禾。其中在020 cm土层中,豆科牧草的TOC含量平均每年增加约1.2 g/kg,禾本科牧草每年增加约0.9 g/kg。生草处理的微生物群落碳源利用率（AWCD）、微生物群落Shannon 指数（H）和微生物群落丰富度指数（S）均高于清耕处理,其中豆科牧草的微生物活性更高。因此,生草可以提高土壤有机碳各组分的含量、土壤微生物群落碳源利用率、微生物群落的丰富度和功能多样性,豆科牧草毛苕子和白三叶提高效应更加明显。     

Organic Fertilization in Traditional Mediterranean Grapevine Orchards Mediates Changes in Soil Microbial Community Structure and Enhances Soil Fertility

Soil microbial populations and their functions related to nutrient cycling contribute substantially to the regulation of soil fertility and the sustainability of agroecosystems. A field experiment was performed to assess the medium‐term effect of a mineral fertilizer and two organic fertilization systems with different nitrogen sources on the soil microbial community biomass, structure, and composition (phospholipid fatty acids, pattern, and abundance), microbial activity (basal respiration, dehydrogenase, protease, urease, β‐glucosidase, and total amount of phosphomonoesterase activities), and physical (aggregate stability) and chemical (total organic C, total N, available P and water‐soluble carbohydrates) properties in a vineyard under semiarid Mediterranean conditions after a period of 10 years. The three fertilization systems assayed were as follows: inorganic fertilization, addition of grapevine pruning with sheep manure (OPM), and addition of grapevine pruning with a legume cover crop (OPL). Both treatments, OPM and OPL, produced higher contents of total organic carbon, total N, available P, water‐soluble carbohydrates, and stable aggregates. The organic fertilization systems increased microbial biomass, shifted the structure and composition of the soil microbial community, and stimulated microbial activity, when compared with inorganic fertilization. The abundances of fungi and G+ bacteria were increased by treatments OPM and OPL, without significant differences between them. Organic and inorganic fertilization produced similar grapevine yields. The ability of the organic fertilization systems for promoting the sustainability and soil biological and chemical fertility of an agroecosystem under semiarid conditions was dependent of the organic N source. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Response of soil respiration to nitrogen addition in two subtropical forest types

Anthropogenic activities have increased nitrogen (N) deposition in terrestrial ecosystems, which directly and indirectly affects soil biogeochemical processes, including soil respiration. However, the effects of the increases in N availability on soil respiration are not fully understood. In this study, soil respiration was measured using an infrared gas analyzer system with soil chambers under four N treatments (0, 5, 15, and 30 g N m^-2 year^-1 as control, low N (LN), moderate N (MN), and high N (HN), respectively) in camphor tree and slash pine forests in subtropical China. Results showed that soil respiration rates decreased by 37% in the camphor tree forest and 27% in the slash pine forest on average on an annual base, respectively, in the N-fertilized treatments when compared with the control. No significant differences were found in the soil respiration rate among the LN, MN, and HN treatments in both forest types as these fertilized plots reached an adequate N content zone. In addition, soil microbial biomass carbon (C) content and fine root biomass declined in N-treated plots compared to the control. Our results indicated that elevated N deposition might alter the tree growth pattern, C partitioning, and microbial activity, which further affect soil C sequestration by reducing soil respiration in subtropical forests of China.     

Soil microbial biomass and activity in Chinese tea gardens of varying stand age and productivity

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is a globally important crop and is unusual because it both requires an acid soil and acidifies soil. Tea stands tend to be extremely heavily fertilized in order to improve yield and quality, resulting in a great potential for diffuse pollution. The microbial ecology of tea soils remains poorly understood; an improved understanding is necessary as processes affecting nutrient availability and loss pathways are microbially mediated. We therefore examined the relationships between soil characteristics (pH, organic C, total N, total P, available P, exchangeable Al), the soil microbial biomass (biomass C, biomass ninhydrin-N, ATP, phospholipid fatty acids—PLFAs) and its activities (respiration, net mineralization and nitrification). At the Tea Research Institute, Hangzhou (TRI), we compared fields of different productivity levels (low, medium and high) and at Hongjiashan village (HJS) we compared fields of different stand age (9, 50 and 90 years). At both sites tea soils were compared with adjacent forest soils. At both sites, soil pH was highest in the forest soil and decreased with increasing productivity and age of the tea stand. Soil microbial biomass C and biomass ninhydrin-N were significantly affected by tea production. At TRI, microbial biomass C declined in the order forest>low>high>middle production and at HJS in the order stand age 50>age 9>forest>age 90. Soil pH had a strong influence on the microbial biomass, demonstrated by positive linear correlations with: microbial biomass C, microbial biomass ninhydrin-N, the microbial biomass C:organic C ratio, the microbial biomass ninhydrin-N:total N ratio, the respiration rate and specific respiration rate. Above pH_(KCl) 3.5 there was net N mineralization and nitrification, and below this threshold some samples showed net immobilization of N. A principal component (PC) analysis of PLFA data showed a consistent shift in the community composition with productivity level and stand age. The ratio of fungal:bacterial PLFA biomarkers was negatively and linearly correlated with specific respiration in the soils from HJS (r²=0.93, p=0.03). Our results demonstrate that tea cultivation intensity and duration have a strong impact on the microbial community structure, biomass and its functioning, likely through soil acidification and fertilizer addition.     

Tillage effects on microbial biomass and nutrient distribution in soils under rain-fed corn production in central-western Mexico

Quantifying how tillage systems affect soil microbial biomass and nutrient cycling by manipulating crop residue placement is important for understanding how production systems can be managed to sustain long-term soil productivity. Our objective was to characterize soil microbial biomass, potential N mineralization and nutrient distribution in soils (Vertisols, Andisols, and Alfisols) under rain-fed corn (Zea mays L.) production from four mid-term (6 years) tillage experiments located in central-western, Mexico. Treatments were three tillage systems: conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and no tillage (NT). Soil was collected at four locations (Casas Blancas, Morelia, Apatzingán and Tepatitlán) before corn planting, at depths of 0–50, 50–100 and 100–150 mm. Conservation tillage treatments (MT and NT) significantly increased crop residue accumulation on the soil surface. Soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, potential N mineralization, total N, and extractable P were highest in the surface layer of NT and decreased with depth. Soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, total N and extractable P of plowed soil were generally more evenly distributed throughout the 0–150 mm depth. Potential N mineralization was closely associated with organic C and microbial biomass. Higher levels of soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, potential N mineralization, total N, and extractable P were directly related to surface accumulation of crop residues promoted by conservation tillage management. Quality and productivity of soils could be maintained or improved with the use of conservation tillage.