Examination of microbial biomass in beech forest moder profiles

Microbial biomass C, ATP, and substrate-induced respiration were measured in the organic layers and the mineral A horizon of three beech forest soils with moder humus differing in Ca and Mg supply. Analyses of variance showed that horizon-specific differences explained most of the variance in the three microbial parameters. All three were significantly interrelated, with Spearman rank correlation coefficients of between 0.86 and 0.93. However, differences in the decline of these parameters with depth led to horizon-specific differences in their ratios. Thus, the ratios were not markedly interrelated. The mean ATP: microbial C ratio was 5.2 mol ATP g^-1 C in the L 2 layer, 19.5 in the F layers, and 9.6 in the H and A horizons. The ratio of substrate-induced respiration to microbial C varied between 39.3 and 82.2 O₂h^-1 g^-1 C in the F1 layers and between 5.3 and 32.1 l in the other layers. It is concluded that the use of different parameters can help to analyze both horizonand site-specific differences in microbial performance.     

Identification of ergosterol in vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae

Summary Ergosta-5,7,22-tri-3-enol (ergosterol) was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in roots of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L., cv. Landsorte) and sweet corn (Zea mays L., cv. Honeycomb-F1) infected with the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus Glomus intraradices. The fungal-derived compound ergosterol was determined quantitatively in root extracts using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The concentrations of ergosterol in VAM-infected roots reached 72 g^-1 dry material in berseem and 52 g^-1 in sweet corn after 80 days of growth, whereas concentrations in non-infected roots remained below 8 g^-1 dry weight. Additionally, phytosterols such as -sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol were detected in both infected and non-infected roots. Ergosterol, as a characteristic fungal substance, is proposed as an indicator of fungal biomass in the early stages of VAM infection.     

Influence of beech litter fragmentation and glucose concentration on the microbial biomass in three different litter layers of a beechwood

In February 1993 samples of litter from three different litter layers (upper, intermediate, and lower) were taken from a beechwood growing on basalt soil. Using the substrate-induced respiration method, we investigated the influence of fragmentation and glucose concentration on the maximum initial respiratory response. Glucose concentrations ranged between 0 and 160000 g g^-1 dry weight. The initial respiratory response reached a maximum at 80000 g glucose g^-1 dry weight. The addition of higher concentrations of glucose resulted in negligible changes in respiration. Litter materials of four different size classes (intact leaves, fragmented <100 mm², <25 mm², and <5 mm²) were amended with 80000 g glucose g^-1 dry weight. Substrate-induced respiration was at a maximum in the size class <25 mm². The addition of glucose to intact litter did not result in microbial growth. It is concluded that C is not the primary limiting element for the microflora in litter layers of the study site. Fragmentation of beech litter enabled the microorganisms to grow. Presumably, nutrients that limited microbial growth in intact litter were mobilized by the fragmentation procedure and enabled microorganisms to grow in fragmented litter materials.     

Effects of nitrification inhibitors on denitrification of nitrate in soil

Summary The influence of 28 nitrification inhibitors on denitrification of nitrate in soil was studied by determining the effects of different amounts of each inhibitor on the amounts of nitrate lost and the amounts of nitrite, N₂O and N₂ produced when soil samples were incubated anaerobically after treatment with nitrate or with nitrate and mannitol. The inhibitors used included nitrapyrin (N-Serve), etridiazole (Dwell), potassium azide, 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methylpyrimidine (AM), sulfathiazole (ST), 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole(ATC),2,4-diamino-6-trichloromethyl-s-triazine (CL-1580), potassium ethylxanthate, guanylthiourea (ASU), 4-nitrobenzotrichloride, 4-mesylbenzotrichloride, sodium thiocarbonate (STC), phenylmercuric acetate (PMA), and dicyandiamide (DCD).Only one of the nitrification inhibitors studied (potassium azide) retarded denitrification when applied at the rate of 10 g g^–1 soil, and only two (potassium azide and 2,4-diamino-6-trichloromethyl-s-triazine) inhibited denitrification when applied at the rate of 50 g g^–1 soil. The other inhibitors either had no appreciable effect on denitrification, or enhanced denitrification, when applied at the rate of 10 or 50 g g^–1 soil, enhancement being most marked with 3-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole. Seven of the inhibitors (potassium azide, sulfathiazole, potassium ethylxanthate, sodium isopropylxanthate, 4-nitrobenzotrichloride, sodium thiocarbonate, and phenylmercuric acetate) retarded denitrification when applied at the rate of 50 g g^–1 soil to soil that had been amended with mannitol to promote microbial activity.Reports that nitrapyrin (N-Serve) and etridiazole (Dwell) inhibit denitrification when applied at rates as low as 0.5 g g^–1 soil could not be confirmed. No inhibition of denitrification was observed when these compounds were applied at the rate of 10 g g^–1 soil, and enhancement of denitrification was observed when they were applied at the rate of 50 or 100 g g^–1 soil.     

The effects of feeding by Oniscus asellus on leaf litter sulfur constituents

Summary Feeding by the isopod, Oniscus asellus, produced changes in the sulfur constituents of leaf litter substrates (Acer negundo, A. saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Picea rubens, and Tsuga canadensis). Isopod consumption of leaf litter generally accelerated the mineralization of carbon-bonded S and increased the formation of ester sulfate in all substrates. After the isopod egestion of A. negundo leaves, fecal decomposition over 6 weeks increased total S concentration from 68 to 120 mol S/g due to the catabolism of organic carbon. During the same period sulfate decreased from 34 to 20 mol S/g and carbon-bonded S increased from 34 to 100 mol S/g. Thus the total S pool in aged feces became enriched with organic S (83% of total S). Macroinvertebrate consumption accelerated the transformation of S constituents and the carbon-bonded S concentration approached that of the Oa organic horizon of a northern hardwood forest.Dedicated to the late Prof. Dr. M.S. Ghilarov     

Molybdenum reserves of seed,and growth and N2 fixation by Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Summary Plants grown from seed with high (1.5–7.3 g Mo seed^-1) and low (0.07–1.4 g Mo seed^-1) Mo contents were grown in the presence and absence of Mo in growth media (perlite) or in a flowing-solution culture, in a controlled environment. Neither the high (1.5 g Mo seed^-1) nor the low (0.1 g Mo seed^-1) Mo content in seed from a small-seeded genotype (BAT 1297) was able to prevent Mo deficiency (reduced shoot, root and nodule dry weight, N₂ fixation and seed production) in growth media without an external supply of Mo, whereas both the high (7.3 g Mo seed^-1) and the low (0.07 g Mo seed^-1) contents in seed were able to prevent Mo deficiency in a large-seeded genotype (Canadian Wonder). Responses to Mo treatment by the Two genotypes were inconsistent between the growth media and solution culture experiments. Seed with a large Mo content (3.5 g Mo seed^-1) from the Canadian Wonder genotype was unable to prevent Mo deficiency (reduced shoot and nodule dry weight and N₂-fixation) in a solution culture without an external source of Mo, whereas both the large (1.7 g Mo seed^-1) and the small (0.13 g Mo seed^-1) contents in seed prevented a deficiency in BAT 1297. Growing plants from seed with a small Mo content, without additional Mo, reduced the seed Mo content by 83–85% and seed production by up to 38% in both genotypes. Changes in seed size and increases in shoot, root and nodule dry weight occurred, but varied with the genotype and growth conditions. These effects were also observed in some cases where plants were grown with additional Mo, demonstrating that the amount of Mo in the seed sown can influence plant nutrition irrespective of the external Mo supply. Nodule dry weight, total N content of shoots and seed production were improved by using seed with a small Mo content (1.64–3.57 g Mo seed^-1) on acid tropical soils in Northern Zambia. Plants of both the large- and small-seeded genotypes grown from seed with a small Mo content (<1.41 g Mo seed^-1) had a smaller nodule weight, accumulated less N and produced less seed. The viability of seed with a small Mo content was lower (germination up to 50% less) than that of seed with a large Mo content.     

Influence of soil properties on microbial C,N, and P in dry tropical ecosystems

Summary Relationships between soil physicochemical characteristics and soil microbial C, N, and P in Indian dry tropical ecosystems are discussed. The major ecosystem studies were on forest, savanna, cropped fields, and mine spoils. The highest microbial C, N, and P levels were recorded from the mixed forest and the lowest levels in 5-year-old mine spoil. Across the sites, microbial C ranged from 226 to 643 g g^-1, microbial N from 19 to 71 g g^-1, and microbial P from 9 to 28 g g^-1 soil. The proportion of soil organic C contained in the microbial biomass ranged from 2.2 to 5.0%. The microbial C: N ratio in these soils ranged from 7.4. to 13.1 and the microbial C: P ratio from 16.6 to 30.6. The concentrations of microbial C, N, and P were correlated with several soil properties and among themselves. The soil properties, in various linear combinations, explained 90–99% of the variability in the microbial nutrients. Grazing of the savanna had some effect on the level of microbial biomass, and as the mine spoil aged, the level of microbial C, N, and P also increased.     

Ergosterol and microbial biomass relationship in soil

Ergosterol and microbial biomass C were measured in 26 arable, 16 grassland and 30 forest soils. The ergosterol content ranged from 0.75 to 12.94 g g^-1 soil. The geometric mean ergosterol content of grassland and forest soils was around 5.5 g g^-1, that of the arable soils 2.14 g g^-1. The ergosterol was significantly correlated with biomass C in the entire group of soils, but not in the subgroups of grassland and forest soils. The geometric mean of the ergosterol: microbial biomass C ratio was 6.0 mg g^-1, increasing in the order grassland (5.1), arable land (5.4) and woodland (7.2). The ergosterol:microbial biomass C ratio had a strong negative relationship with the decreasing cation exchange capacity and soil pH, indicating that the fungal part of the total microbial biomass in soils increased when the buffer capacity decreased. The average ergosterol concentration calculated from literature data was 5.1 mg g^-1 fungal dry weight. Assuming that fungi contain 46% C, the conversion factor from micrograms ergosterol to micrograms fungal biomass C is 90. For soil samples, neither saponification of the extract nor the more effective direct saponification during extraction seems to be really necessary.     

Aquatic Gastropods as Mercury Indicatorsin the Pantanal of Poconé Region (Mato Grosso, Brasil)

Gold mining is the principal polluting activity in themunicipality of Poconé at the northern limit ofthe Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brasil and ischaracterized by the inadequate use of mercury in thegold extraction process. A way to contribute to theassessment of the environmental impact of mercuryrelease in the Pantanal is to make use of bioaccumulation. Thus, determinations of total mercuryin 188 Gastropods of three different species were madein seven different sampling sites during the dry andwet periods. Increase of mercury levels in the snailswas restricted to the gold mining area and adjacentsedimentation areas. The largest mercuryconcentrations were found at the Tanque dos Padressite, reaching 2.04 g g^-1 in individuals ofPomacea scalaris. In the other sampling sites,molluscs collected in the Araras/Piuval Bay complex,a mercury retention area, showed the largest mercuryconcentration, reaching up to 1.12 g g^-1.     

The spatial distribution of soil microbial biomass in a permanent row crop

The effects of soil texture (silt loam or sandy loam) and cultivation practice (green manure) on the size and spatial distribution of the microbial biomass and its metabolic quotient were investigated in soils planted with a permanent row crop of hops (Humulus lupulus). The soil both between and in the plant rows was sampled at three different depths (0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm). The silt loam had a higher overall microbial biomass C concentration (260 g g^-1) than the sandy loam (185 g g^-1), whereas the sandy loam had a higher (3.1 g CO₂-C mg^-1 microbial Ch^-1) metabolic quotient than the silt loam (2.6 g CO₂-C mg^-1 microbial C h^-1), on average over depth (0–30 cm) and over all treatments. There was a sharp decrease in the microbial biomass with increasing depth for all plots. However, this was more pronounced in the silt loam than in the sandy loam. There was no distinct influence of sampling depth on the metabolic quotient. The microbial biomass was considerably higher in the rows than between the rows, especially in the silt loam plots. There was no significant difference between plots without green manure and plots with green manure for either the microbial biomass or the metabolic quotient.     

Effects of mesofauna exclusion on the microbial biomass in two moder profiles

Summary In December 1988, litterbags (mesh size 45 or 1000 m) were exposed in the organic layer of a limed and unlimed moder soil under beech forest in the Solling area (Germany). At both sites, substrata from the L1, L2, F1, F2 and from the H Layer were sampled shortly before the beginning of the experiment, defaunated, filled separately into litterbags and replaced in the respective horizons in the field. Litterbags were retrieved on three sampling dates (May, September, and November 1989). The soil microbial biomass was estimated by means of the fumigation extraction method. The results show that the effects of excluding mesofauna from the 45-m litterbags were different in different horizons, on different sampling dates and in different study sites. Calculation of the average effect from the three sampling dates revealed that mesofauna exclusion reduced the microbial biomass C at both sites. It was concluded from horizon- and season-specific differences between the two litterbag treatments that a depression in microbial biomass C in the organic layer of a moder soil by mesofaunal grazers is confined to situations where environmental conditions cause strong feeding pressure and when the microflora is exposed to environmental stress.     

Seasonal changes and the effects of fertiliser on some chemical,biochemical and microbiological characteristics of high-producing pastoral soil

Summary A 2-year study (1983–1984 to 1984–1985) was conducted to estimate temporal and seasonal changes and the effects of fertiliser on some soil chemical, biochemical and microbiological characteristics. The soil used was a Typic Vitrandept under grazed pasture. Soil samples were taken regularly to a depth of 75 mm from paired unfertilised and fertilised (500 kg ha^– 30% potassic superphosphate) plots. Except for organic C, fertiliser had little or no effect on the characteristics measured. Organic C averaged about 9.2% in unfertilised soil and was about 0.3% higher in the fertilised soil. The size of the microbial biomass fluctuated widely in the 1st year (3000 g C g^–1 in February to 1300 g C g^–1 in September) but there was less variation in the 2nd year (range 1900 g C g^–1 to 2500 g C g^–1 soil). CO₂ production values (10- to 20-day estimates averaged 600 g of CO₂-C g^–1 soil) were generally higher in spring compared to the rest of the year. Water extractable C increased over winter and declined through spring in both years (range 50 g C g^–1 soil to 150 g C g^–1 soil). Mineral-N flush values were higher in summer (300 g N g^–1 soil) and lower in winter months (200 g N g^–1 soil). The pattern of variation of microbial N values was one of gradual accumulation followed by rapid decline. This rapid decline in values occurred in spring and autumn (range 130–220 g N g^–1 soil). N mineralisation and bicarbonate-extractable N showed no clear trend; these values ranged from 100–200 and 122–190 g N g^–1 soil, respectively. There was a significant correlation (0.1%) between N mineralisation and bicarbonate-extractable N in the late summer-autumn-early winter period (February–August) in both years but not in spring. These results and their relationships to climatic factors and rates of pasture production are discussed.     

Sulphur mineralisation in some New Zealand soils

Summary An open incubation technique was used to measure S mineralisation in a range of New Zealand soils. For most of the soils studied, the release of S as sulphate was curvilinear with time, and during a 10-week incubation, the amounts of S mineralised ranged from less than 3 g S g^-1 soil to more than 26 g S g^-1 soil. The best predictor of mineralised S appeared to be the amount of C-bonded S in the soil (explaining 59% of the variation in mineralised S between soils). Examination of the soils after incubation also revealed that the bulk of the mineralised S was derived from the C-bonded S pool. Hydriodic acid-reducible forms of organic S appeared to make little contribution to mineralised S.Attempts were made to predict total potentially mineralisable S (S _o) from incubation data using an exponential equation and a reciprocal-plot technique. However, the dependence of estimated values of S _o on the length and temperature of incubation cast doubts on the validity of this approach.     

Uptake and toxicity of copper and zinc for the African earthworm,Eudrilus eugeniae (Oligochaeta)

Growth rate change in earthworms is considered to be a suitable endpoint when determining sublethal effects. In this study we evaluated growth and maturation in the vermicomposting earthworm speciesEudrilus eugeniae as marker of sublethal toxicity of copper and zinc. We also compared routes of uptake. Apart from exposing worms experimentally for 73 days to contaminated food, a series of contact filter paper tests was also performed to determine LD₅₀ for copper and zinc. Both copper and zinc at sublethal concentrations affected growth and maturation in worms exposed to contaminated food. These worms had a copper content of 34.5 g g^–1 after 73 days and a zinc content of 184.9 g g^–1, showing a differential uptake. Copper was more toxic than zinc. Also in the contact test worms did take up more zinc than copper and the LD₅₀ (48 h) for copper was 0.011 mg cm^–2 and for zinc 0.066 mg cm^–2, which translated to body burdens of 6 g g^–1 for copper and 131 g g^–1 for zinc. Indications were that a regulatory mechanism existed for both metals. Both metals were taken up through the body wall at a relatively fast rate. This study indicated that the skin was the major route of metal uptake. This study also showed a poor relation between the two types of tests for purposes of evaluating lethality of zinc and copper.     

Seasonal changes in microbial biomass and nutrient flush in forest soils

Microbial biomass and N, P, K, and Mg flushes were estimated in spring, summer, autumn, and winter samples of different forest soils. The microbial biomass showed significant seasonal fluctuations with an average distribution of 880±270 g C g^-1 soil in spring, 787±356 g C g^-1 soil in winter, 589±295 g C g^-1 soil in summer, and 560±318 g C g^-1 soil in autumn. The average annual concentrations of C, N, P, K, and Ca in the microbial biomass were 704, 106, 82, 69 and 10 g g^-1 soil, respectively. Microbial C represented between 0.5 and 2% of the organic soil C whereas the percentage of microbial N with respect to the total soil N was two-to threefold higher than that of C; the annual fluctuations in these percentages followed a similar trend to that of the microbial biomass. Microbial biomass was positively correlated with soil pH, moisture, organic C, and total N. The mean nutrient flush was 31, 15, 7, and 4 g g^-1 soil for N, K, P, and Mg, respectively, and except for K, the seasonal distribution was autumn spring winter summer. The average increase in available nutrient due to the mineralization of dead microbial cells was 240% for N, and 30, 26, and 14% for P, K, and Mg, respectively. There was a positive relationship between microbial biomass and the N, P, K, and Mg flushes. All the variables studied were significantly affected by the season, the type of soil, and the interaction between type of soil and season, but soil type often explained most of the variance.     

Biogeochemistry of aluminum in a forest catchment in the Czech Republic impacted by atmospheric inputs of strong acids

The Lysina catchment in the Czech Republic was studied to investigate the biogeochemical response of Al to high loadings of acidic deposition. The catchment supports Norway spruce plantations and is underlain by granite and podzolic soil. Atmospheric deposition to the site was characterized by high H⁺ and SO₄ ^2– fluxes in throughfall. The volume-weighted average concentration of total Al (Al_t) was 28 mol L^–1 in the O horizon soil solution. About 50% of Al_t in the O horizon was in the form of potentially-toxic inorganic monomeric Al (Al_i). In the E horizon, Al_t increased to 71 mol L^–1, and Al_i comprised 80% of Al_t. The concentration of Al_t (120 mol L^–1) and the fraction of Al_i (85%) increased in the lower mineral soil due to increases in Al_i and decreases in organic monomeric Al (Al_o). Shallow ground water was less acidic and had lower Al_t concentration (29 mol L^–1). The volume-weighted average concentration of Al_t was extremely high in stream water (60 mol L^–1) with Al_i accounting for about 60% of Al_t. The major species of Al_i in stream water were fluorocomplexes (Al-F) and aquo Al³⁺. Soil solutions in the root zone were undersaturated with respect to all Al-bearing mineral phases. However, stream water exhibited Al_i concentrations close to solubility with jurbanite. Acidic waters and elevated Al concentrations reflected the limited supply of basic cations on the soil exchange complex and slow weathering, which was unable to neutralize atmospheric inputs of strong acids.     

Effect of the insecticide methidathion on agricultural soil microflora

Summary We studied the effects of the organophosphorus insecticide methidathion, at concentrations of 10, 50, 100, 200 and 300 g g^-1 in an agricultural soil, on fungi, total bacterial populations, aerobic N₂-fixing bacteria, denitrifying bacteria, nitrifying bacteria (phases I and II), and nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction assay). The presence of 10–300 g g^-1 of methidathion significantly increased fungal populations (colony-forming units). Denitrifying bacteria, aerobic N₂-fixing bacteria and N₂ fixation were significantly increased at concentrations of 50–300 g g^-1. The total number of bacteria increased significantly at concentrations of 100–300 g g^-1. Nitrifying bacteria decreased initially at concentrations of 300 g g^-1, but recovered rapidly to levels similar to those in the control soil without the insecticide.     

Urea hydrolysis in wetland soil amended with Sesbania aculeata green manure and rice straw

Summary The effect of incorporating sesbania and rice straw and of period of decomposition on urea hydrolysis was studied in a wetland soil under laboratory conditions. Urea hydrolysis proceeded more rapidly in the crop residue-amended soil than in the control soil, and increased with increases in the rate of addition of crop residues and with longer periods of decomposition. Irrespective of amendment treatment, urea hydrolysis followed first-order reaction kinetics, and rate constants in the unamended soil ranged from 0.021 to 0.024 h^-1 after urea application of 200 g N g^-1 soil. In the amended soil, hydrolysis rates ranged from 0.033 to 0.149 h^-1 with sesbania and 0.071 and 0.250 h^-1 with rice straw, depending on the length of decomposition period.     

Suppression of methane oxidation in aerobic soil by nitrogen fertilizers,nitrification inhibitors,and urease inhibitors

Concentrations of CH₄, a potent greenhouse gas, have been increasing in the atmosphere at the rate of 1% per year. The objective of these laboratory studies was to measure the effect of different forms of inorganic N and various N-transformation inhibitors on CH₄ oxidation in soil. NH ₄ ⁺ oxidation was also measured in the presence of the inhibitors to determine whether they had differential activity with respect to CH₄ and NH ₄ ⁺ oxidation. The addition of NH₄Cl at 25 g N g^-1 soil strongly inhibited (78–89%) CH₄ oxidation in the surface layer (0–15 cm) of a fine sandy loam and a sandy clay loam (native shortgrass prairie soils). The nitrification inhibitor nitrapyrin (5 g g^-1 soil) inhibited CH₄ oxidation as effectively as did NH₄Cl in the fine sandy loam (82–89%), but less effectively in the sandy clay loam (52–66%). Acetylene (5 mol mol^-1 in soil headspace) had a strong (76–100%) inhibitory effect on CH₄ consumption in both soils. The phosphoroamide (urease inhibitor) N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) showed strong inhibition of CH₄ consumption at 25 g g^-1 soil in the fine sandy loam (83%) in the sandy clay loam (60%), but NH ₄ ⁺ oxidation inhibition was weak in both soils (13–17%). The discovery that the urease inhibitor NBPT inhibits CH₄ oxidation was unexpected, and the mechanism involved is unknown.     

Influence of oxygen on denitrification and aerobic respiration in soil

Summary The influence of the partial pressure of oxygen on denitrification and aerobic respiration was investigated at defined P02 values in a mull rendzina soil. The highest denitrification and respiration rates obtained in remoistened, glucose- and nitrate-amended soil were 43 1 N₂0 h^–1g^–1 soil and 130 1 O₂ h^–1g^–1 soil, respectively. At -55 kPa matric water potential, corresponding to 40% water saturation, N₂0 was produced only below P0₂ 40 hPa. The K _m, for O₂ was 3.0 x 10^–6 M. Formation of N₂O and consumption of O₂ occurred simultaneously with half maximum rates at P0₂ 6.7–13.3 hPa. Nitrite accumulated in soil below 40 hPa and increased with decreasing pO₂. The upper threshold for N₂0 formation in amended soil was P0₂ 33–40 hPa (39-47 M O₂).