Nitrous oxide flux from soil amino acid mineralization

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a greenhouse gas produced during microbial transformation of soil N that has been implicated in global climate warming. Nitrous oxide efflux from N fertilized soils has been modeled using NO₃⁻ content with a limited success, but predicting N₂O production in non-fertilized soils has proven to be much more complex. The present study investigates the contribution of soil amino acid (AA) mineralization to N₂O flux from semi-arid soils. In laboratory incubations (−34 kPa moisture potential), soil mineralization of eleven AAs (100 μg AA-N g⁻¹ soil) promoted a wide range in the production of N₂O (156.0±79.3 ng N₂O-N g⁻¹ soil) during 12 d incubations. Comparison of the δ¹³C content (‰) of the individual AAs and the δ¹³C signature of the respired AA-CO₂-C determined that, with the exception of TYR, all of the AAs were completely mineralized during incubations, allowing for the calculation of a N₂O-N conversion rate from each AA. Next, soils from three different semi-arid vegetation ecosystems with a wide range in total N content were incubated and monitored for CO₂ and N₂O efflux. A model utilizing CO₂ respired from the three soils as a measure of organic matter C mineralization, a preincubation soil AA composition of each soil, and the N₂O-N conversion rate from the AA incubations effectively predicted the range of N₂O production by all three soils. Nitrous oxide flux did not correspond to factors shown to influence anaerobic denitrification, including soil NO₃⁻ contents, soil moisture, oxygen consumption, and CO₂ respiration, suggesting that nitrification and aerobic nitrifier denitrification could be contributing to N₂O production in these soils. Results indicate that quantification of AA mineralization may be useful for predicting N₂O production in soils.     

Changes in soil organic matter and net nitrogen mineralization in heathland soils,after removal,addition or replacement of litter from Erica tetralix or Molinia caerulea

Summary The effects of different litter input rates and of different types of litter on soil organic matter accumulation and net N mineralization were investigated in plant communities dominated by Erica tetralix L. or Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench. Plots in which the litter on the soil had repeatedly been removed were compared with plots in the same plant community in which litter had been added to the soil. In another treatment, litter was removed and replaced by litter from the other plant community. Net N mineralization was measured in situ after 5 years. Less soil organic matter and soil N was found in plots in which litter had been removed, compared with control plots, or plots to which litter had been added, but these differences were significant for the Erica sp. soils only. Plots in which litter had been replaced and control plots did not differ significantly in the amount of soil organic matter. However, in both plant communities, the differences agreed with the faster decomposition rate of Molinia sp. litter compared with Erica sp. litter. The gravimetric soil moisture content was correlated positively with the amount of soil organic matter, both in the Erica sp. soils and the Molinia sp. soils. Net N mineralization rates (g N m^-2) differed significantly between treatments for Erica sp. soils but no for Molinia sp. soils. For Erica sp. soils, net N mineralization rates increased with increasing amounts of soil organic matter and soil N. Replacing the litter with Molinia sp. litter (which differs in chemical composition) had no clear additional effect on the net N mineralization rate.     

Changes in soil chemical and microbial properties after a wildfire in a tropical rainforest in Sabah, Malaysia

Changes in soil caused by drought and wildfire in a Dipterocarp rainforest in Sabah, Malaysia were assessed by phosphorus fractionation, extractable nitrogen and nutrient limited respiration kinetics (after addition of glucose+N or P). Fire increased the concentration of total phosphorus (P) in the litter layer (per ha and per dry soil) by raising the 0.2 M NaOH extractable-P. In the soil organic layer, membrane exchangeable P was reduced by fire while 1.0 M HCl extractable-P, and 0.5 M NaHCO₃ extractable-P increased. Microbially available P increased after the fire and was most closely related to NaOH extractable-P that has been considered available to plants only over long time-scales. Total nitrogen (N) increased in the litter layer (per ha and per dry soil) due to post-fire litter fall, while the NO₃⁻ increased up to 10-fold down to the 10 cm mineral soil. In contrast, the microbially available N decreased by 50%. Basal respiration and substrate-induced respiration increased in the litter layer and decreased in the organic horizon (per dry soil and per organic matter). P limited microbial growth resulted in a slow and non-exponential increase in respiration, presumably reflecting the P-fixing nature of the soils, while N limitation resulted in a fast exponential increase. However, higher respiration rates were eventually achieved under P limitation than under N limitation.     

Plant species richness leaves a legacy of enhanced root litter-induced decomposition in soil

Increasing plant species richness generally enhances plant biomass production, which may enhance accumulation of carbon (C) in soil. However, the net change in soil C also depends on the effect of plant diversity on C loss through decomposition of organic matter. Plant diversity can affect organic matter decomposition via changes in litter species diversity and composition, and via alteration of abiotic and/or biotic attributes of the soil (soil legacy effect). Previous studies examined the two effects on decomposition rates separately, and do therefore not elucidate the relative importance of the two effects, and their potential interaction. Here we separated the effects of litter mixing and litter identity from the soil legacy effect by conducting a factorial laboratory experiment where two fresh single root litters and their mixture were mixed with soils previously cultivated with single plant species or mixtures of two or four species. We found no evidence for litter-mixing effects. In contrast, root litter-induced CO₂ production was greater in soils from high diversity plots than in soils from monocultures, regardless of the type of root litter added. Soil microbial PLFA biomass and composition at the onset of the experiment was unaffected by plant species richness, whereas soil potential nitrogen (N) mineralization rate increased with plant species richness. Our results indicate that the soil legacy effect may be explained by changes in soil N availability. There was no effect of plant species richness on decomposition of a recalcitrant substrate (compost). This suggests that the soil legacy effect predominantly acted on the decomposition of labile organic matter. We thus demonstrated that plant species richness enhances root litter-induced soil respiration via a soil legacy effect but not via a litter-mixing effect. This implies that the positive impacts of species richness on soil C sequestration may be weakened by accelerated organic matter decomposition.     

Amino acid 15N in long-term bare fallow soils: influence of annual N fertilizer and manure applications

Long‐term dynamics of amino acids (AAs), from a bare fallow soil experiment (established in 1928 at INRA‐Versailles, France), were examined in unamended control (Con) plots and plots treated with ammonium sulphate (Amsul), ammonium nitrate (Amnit), sodium nitrate (Nanit) or with animal manure (Man). Topsoil (0–25 cm) from 1929, 1963 and 1997 was analysed for C, N and ¹⁵N content and distribution of 18 amino acids recovered after acid hydrolysis with 6 m HCl. With time, soil N, C and AA content were reduced in Con, Amsul, Amnit and Nanit, but increased in Man. However, the absolute N loss was 3–11 times larger in Man than Nanit, Amsul, Amnit and Con, due to the much higher N annual inputs applied to Man. From 1929 to 1997 in Con, Amsul, Amnit and Nanit the whole soil and non‐hydrolysable‐N pool δ¹⁵N increased associated with the loss of N (indicative of Rayleigh ¹⁵N^/14N fractionation). No δ¹⁵N change from 1929 to 1997 was found in the hydrolysable AA‐N (HAN) pool. Fertilizer N inputs aided stabilization of soil AA‐N, as AA half‐life in the mineral N fertilizer treatments increased from 34 years in 1963 to 50 years in 1997. The δ¹⁵N values of alanine and leucine reflected both source input and ¹⁵N^/14N fractionation effects in soils. The δ¹⁵N increase of ornithine (～6‰) was similar to the whole soil. The δ¹⁵N change of phenylalanine in Con (decrease of 7‰) was related to its proportional loss since 1929, whereas for Amsul, Amnit, Nanit and Man it was associated with isotope effects caused by the fertilizer inputs. However, the soil δ¹⁵N value of most individual amino acids (IAAs) did not significantly change over nearly 70 years, even with mineral or organic N inputs. We conclude for these bare fallow systems that: (i) δ¹⁵N changes in the whole soil and non‐hydrolysable AA pool were solely driven by microbial processes and not by the nature of fertilizer inputs, and (ii) without plant inputs, the δ¹⁵N of the HAN pool and (most) IAAs may reflect the influence of plant–soil interactions from the previous (arable cropping) rather than present (fallow) land use on these soil δ¹⁵N values.     

Burning effects on the distribution of organic N compounds in a 15N labelled forest soil

Nitrogen distribution was studied, by successive 1 M (H1) and 3 M HCl (H2) hydrolyses, on a natural soil before (NS) and after ¹⁵N labelling (LS) in an incubation chamber and burning (BLS) in a furnace simulating an intense fire (385 °C, 10 min). The labelling increased the organic-N of H1 (H1-N) by 4.7%, due to the increase in hydrolyzable unidentified-N (HU-N, 66.3%) and amino acids (AA-N, 11.2%), which counterbalanced the reduction of amides (AM-N, 33.2%) and amino sugars (AS-N, 68.0%). After labelling, H2-N decreased by 7.5%, mainly due to the reduction of AA-N (12.2%) and AS-N (14.9%); conversely, ammonium-N (A-N) and non-hydrolyzable-N (NH-N) did not vary and total organic-N increased slightly (2.4%). In LS, the ¹⁵N labelling decreases as follows: H1-N (with AM-N>AS-N>AA-N≈HU-N)>H2-N (with HU-N>AA-N≈A-N>AS-N)>NH-N. The added ¹⁵N was mainly incorporated in organic forms (92.2%), following the distribution of the endogenous organic-N; nevertheless, the higher proportion of recently incorporated ¹⁵N in hydrolyzable fractions, and lower in NH-N, showed that it is more labile than endogenous N. The added ¹⁵N undergoes similar, but stronger, transformations and losses due to burning than the native N: (1) 18.1% of endogenous-N and 22.4% of exogenous-N were lost; (2) H1-N, H1-¹⁵N, H2-N, H2-¹⁵N, AA-N, AA-¹⁵N, HU-N and HU-¹⁵N decreased by 69.7%, 74.1%, 76.6%, 82.9%, 96.5%, 96.8%, 92.1% and 98.3%, respectively; (3) NH-N, NH-¹⁵N, A-N and A-¹⁵N increased by 81.0%, 314%, 81.3% and 78.2%, respectively; (4) AM-N increased (51.2%) whereas AM-¹⁵N decreased (1.7%). Therefore, soil burning reduces the soil organic N reserves, through N volatilization (especially of labile N), and decreases N bio-availability, through an important net transfer of N from the labile to the recalcitrant pool; jointly, both processes will increase the negative effects of wildfires on the N cycle. In spite of the previous ¹⁵N labelling process, LS could be considered as a representative forest soil, which undergoes similar changes during burning than unlabelled soils, leading to a representative burnt labelled soil. Neither in LS nor in BLS the distribution of the added ¹⁵N was uniform among the N fractions; nevertheless, as the reference levels of ¹⁵N enrichment in the organic N fractions are accurately known, both LS (as control treatment) and BLS will be useful for further studies on the efficiency of several techniques on the post-fire restoration of the soil N distribution.     

Gross nitrogen mineralisation rates in pastural soils and their relationships with organic nitrogen fractions, microbial biomass and protease activity under glasshouse conditions

In this study, gross nitrogen (N) mineralisation rates were determined in six pasture soils (Fleming, Kairanga, Karapoti, Lismore, Templeton and Waikoikoi) from three different regions of New Zealand. The soils were kept under controlled soil water potential (–10 to –30 kPa) and temperature (12–20°C) conditions in a glasshouse. The gross N mineralisation rates ranged from 0.76 to 5.87 g N g^–1 soil day^–1 in the six soils and were positively correlated with the amount of amino acid-N (AA-N), ammonia-N (NH₃-N), total hydrolysable-N (TH-N), microbial biomass-carbon (MB-C), microbial biomass-N (MB-N), protease activity and organic C and N. A stepwise regression was used to generate equations that could best describe gross N mineralisation rates. Microbial biomass-carbon and AA-N were included in the equation that best described the gross N mineralisation rate:

Organische Stoffgruppen im Mullhumus nicht kultivierter Böden mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Stickstoff-Fraktionen

Fractions of organic components in mull humus of non cultivated soil profiles with special reference to various nitrogen fractions Different fractions of organic components were studied by horizons in four mull humus profiles, differing in genesis and ecology. Two of the soils were located in unmanaged grassland (Rendoll and Entisol) and two under deciduous hardwood (Eutrochept and Fluvaquent). In the grassland soils characteristic F-mull developed, but in the woodland soils L – and wet mull occurred respectively. Water soluble-, hemicellulose-, cellulose sugars and lignin derivates decreased with increasing soil depth. In contrast, amino sugars, proteins, lipids and unknown nitrogen containing fractions increased. Essential changes of those fractions happened in the organic-mineral horizons. Some clear differences among the profiles were recorded, depending on litter type, the genesis and soil water regime. At least 41% (Rendoll) to at most 50% (Fluvaquent) of the organic substance were extractable and identified. Amounts and distribution of the different organic fractions in the litter layers depend on the chemical composition of the litter. Hydrolysable unknown N, non hydrolysable and pseudo amide N increased from the litter to the mineral horizons in the Eutrochrept from 34 to 44 and in the Rendoll from 27 to 49% of total N, but in the Entisol these fractions are decreasing from 52 to 43% of total N. No change was observed in the Fluvaquent. In contrast, amino acid-, amino sugar – and true amide N decreased in most cases from the litter to the mineral horizons. Inorganic bound N, nearly exclusive fixed NH₄⁺-N, reached not more than 5% of total nitrogen.     

苜蓿草地与苜蓿-作物轮作系统土壤微生物量与土壤轻组碳氮研究

从2000年10月到2004年4月，通过大田试验研究了半干旱黄土高原地区，苜蓿草地、苜蓿-作物轮作农田以及常规耕作农田中土壤有机碳、土壤全氮、土壤微生物生物量与土壤轻组物质的变化规律。结果表明，土壤轻组有机碳和氮含量苜蓿-作物轮作系统高于苜蓿草地。土壤微生物量碳和氮，以及它们占土壤有机碳和土壤全氮的比苜蓿-作物轮作系统高于常规耕作农田。土壤呼吸商苜蓿-作物轮作系统低于苜蓿草地和常规耕作农田。14年生苜蓿草地土壤微生物含量高，分解腐化植物碎片的能力高，但土壤有机物质利用不经济，3年中土壤全氮含量并无显著增加，这说明该系统较高的物质循环能力仅维持高的土壤肥力，而不能继续提高土壤肥力。苜蓿-作物用地系统不但能克服长时间种植苜蓿造成的物质循环的浪费，而且维持了良好的土壤肥力，促进了土壤氮素的有效利用。     

Nitrogen sequestration under long-term paddy management in soils developed on contrasting parent material

Long-term paddy management promotes nitrogen (N) sequestration, but it is unknown to what extent the properties of the parent soil modify the management-induced N sequestration in peptide-bound amino acids (AA-N). We hypothesized that paddy management effects on the storage of AA-N relate to the mineral assembly. Hence, we determined contents and chirality of peptide-bound amino acids in paddy soils developed on contrasting parent material (Vertisols, Andosols, Alisols in Indonesia, Alisols in China, and Gleysol/Fluvisol in Italy). Adjacent non-paddy soils served as references. Selected samples were pre-extracted with dithionite–citrate–bicarbonate (DCB) to better understand the role of reactive oxide phases in AA-N storage, origin, and composition. The results showed that topsoil N and AA-N stocks were significantly larger in paddy-managed Andosols and Chinese Alisols than in their non-paddy counterparts. In other soils, however, paddy management did not cause higher proportions of N and AA-N, possibly because N fixing intercrops masked the paddy management effects on N sequestration processes. Among the different soils developed on contrasting parent material, AA-N stocks were largest in Andosols, followed by Alisols and Fluvisols, and lowest in Vertisols. The N storage in amino acid forms went along with elevated d-contents of bacteria-derived alanine and glutamic acid, as well as with increasing stocks of DCB-extractable Fe, Mn, and Al. Other d-amino acids, likely formed by racemization processes, did not vary systematically between paddy and non-paddy managed soils. Our data suggest that the presence of oxides increase the N sequestration in peptide-bound amino acids after microbial N transformations.     

Response of Tifway 2 bermudagrass to fresh or composted broiler litter containing boric acid‐treated paper bedding

Abstract

Recycled paper treated with boric acid (BA) is gaining acceptance as bedding in broiler production houses. Applying this litter, or compost made from this litter, to turf raises an issue of boron (B) toxicity. There is also the question of nitrogen (N) availability from composts made from borated paper and broiler manure. The objective of this study was to determine if broiler house litter containing recycled BA‐treated paper poses a toxicity hazard to bermudagrass turf (Cynodon dactylon L. pers x C. Transvaalensis, Burtt‐Davis) when applied at agronomic N rates. The effects of five N sources at rates equivalent to 224, 448, and 896 kg N/ha in a factorial arrangement plus an unfertilized control and a high nitrogen‐phosphorus‐potassium (NPK) treatment with B at 22 kg B/ha on bermudagrass were determined in pot culture during the summer of 1992. The five NPKB sources were (M1) compost made from broiler manure, BA‐treated paper and yard refuse; (M2) fresh broiler manure with BA paper bedding; (M3) fresh broiler manure with pine shavings bedding; (M4) inorganic NPK; and (M5) inorganic NPK and BA. The soil was Cecil sandy clay loam subsoil. Top growth was harvested four times at 4 cm height with tops, roots, and stubble harvested at the fifth and final harvest. Composted litter was higher in water content and lower in NPK and B than fresh litter. As a result, over four times the mass had to be applied to achieve the desired N inputs. Boron concentrations in M1 on a dry matter basis were 290, M2=390, M3=52 mg B/kg, respectively. The NPK gave highest yields and compost (M1) gave the lowest yields. Yield response of fresh manure + BA paper was not different from fresh manure + pine shavings. Nitrogen recovery in plant growth from composts was very low. Nitrogen recovery in compost residue at the soil surface was very high. Nitrogen recoveries for BA paper litter and pine shavings litter were similar. No visual symptoms of B toxicity were observed, although a 16% yield reduction occurred at 22.4 kg B/ha at the 896 kg N/ha rate from NPK. Boron recovery in plant growth was negligible, but considerable B remained in the residue at the soil surface. Yield response efficiency was M1=2.5, M2=4.8, M3=5.3, NPK=15.5, NPKB=14.3 mg DM/mg N, respectively. Plant top N recovery response efficiency in mg N recovered/mg N per pot was 0.07, 0.15, 0.165, 0.63, and 0.58 for M1, M2, M3, NPK, and NPKB, respectively. Adding stubble, roots, and residue to total N recovery resulted in the following recoveries: M1=0.97, M2=0.25, M3=0.35, NPK=0.73, NPKB=0.68 mg N/ mg N applied. The risk of B toxicity to Tifway 2 bermudagrass from compost or manure containing BA‐treated paper is minimal if N rates are in the agronomic utilization range.     

Bacterial community structure and function change in association with colonizer plants during early primary succession in a glacier forefield

Plants directly interact with the soil microbial community through litter inputs and root exudates, and these interactions may be particularly important in nutrient poor soils that typically characterize early ecosystem development. However, little is known regarding how plant–microbe interactions may actually drive ecosystem processes in early succession, a perspective this study helps to define. We investigated how soil microbial communities develop and interact with the establishment of the first plants in the recently exposed soils of the Mendenhall Glacier forefield near Juneau, AK, USA. We sampled soils from under two different plant species (alder, Alnus sinuata and spruce, Picea sitchensis) and from unvegetated areas; all samples were collected along a single soil transect that had been exposed for 6 years. The presence or absence of vegetation as well as the type of plant (i.e., alder vs. spruce) structured the soil microbial community. Furthermore, asymbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation rates, which were greater in vegetated soils, correlated with differences in bacterial community composition. Although soil microbial community composition varied with vegetation type, soil nutrient and carbon (C) pools did not correlate with bacterial community composition. Moreover, pH did not significantly vary by vegetation type, yet it was the only soil parameter that correlated with bacterial community composition. Vegetation type explained more of the variation in bacterial community composition than pH, suggesting that plant acidification of soils only partly explains the observed shifts in bacterial communities. Plant specific differences in bacterial community structure may also relate to the chemical composition of litter and root exudates. Our research reveals differences in the bacterial community composition of vegetated soils, and how such differences may promote shifts in fundamental biogeochemical processes, such as rates of asymbiotic N fixation, in early stages of primary succession where low N availability may limit bacterial and plant growth and thus constrain ecosystem development. As such, this suggests that plant–soil microbe interactions in themselves may drive processes that shape the trajectory of primary succession.     

Legacies of plant litter on carbon and nitrogen dynamics and the role of the soil community

There is increasing awareness of the importance of ecological legacies in contemporary ecosystem processes. Decomposition is regulated by a set of interacting hierarchically organized factors. As spatial and temporal scales decrease, decomposition is largely dependent on the quality of resources and the decomposer community, but whether and how these factors manifest via historical legacy effects is not well understood. We tested whether the history of plant litter inputs had short-term legacy effects on contemporary litter and soil organic matter carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization. Using a field/laboratory microcosm approach, we exposed soils to two litters of contrasting chemistry and, after adding fresh substrates, we monitored C and N dynamics. In a parallel experiment, we manipulated the soil community to reduce litter-history impacts on its composition and size to investigate whether the soil community could be an important contributor to legacy effects We found strong short-term litter legacy effects on contemporary litter and soil N mineralization, the duration of which was dependent on the contemporary substrate for decomposition. These strong effects were not consistent with the home field advantage phenomenon, as exposure to a specific litter did not favor the decomposition of the same litter when it was applied as a contemporary substrate. Reduction of the litter-history effects on soil biota decreased the impact of litter history on N immobilization, suggesting that plant litter impacts on the soil community may be an important component of plant litter legacies on N decomposition. In contrast to N, litter legacies appeared to be much less important for C decomposition, suggesting that legacy effects might uncouple contemporary C and N dynamics.     

Contrasting effects of nitrogen limitation and amino acid imbalance on carbon and nitrogen turnover in three species of Collembola

Soil animal detritivores play an important role in facilitating decomposition processes but little information is available on how the quality of dietary resources affects their stoichiometry of carbon (C) nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and turnover of C and N. This study investigated how a fungal diet, Fusarium culmorum, with a low N content and imbalanced amino acid (AA) composition affected the physiology of three soil-dwelling collembolans (Folsomia candida, Protaphorura fimata and Proisotoma minuta) in comparison to a control diet, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with a high N content and balanced AA composition. We compared the elemental composition of animals, their growth rates and tissue replacement of C and N. We also measured the individual AA δ¹³C to investigate the extent that Collembola may rely on endogenous sources to compensate for scarcity of essential AAs. The results showed that animal's N content tracked closely the composition of their diets, decreasing from around 10 to 7% N from the high to low N diet. They also had a significant increase of C and a decrease of P. P. fimata was less affected than F. candida and P. minuta. The total incorporation of C and N in the animals due to growth and tissue replacement decreased from 11-17 to 6-12% DM d⁻¹ on the high and low N diet respectively with P. fimata experiencing the smallest change. Essential AAs δ¹³C did not always match perfectly between Collembola species and their diets; particularly on the low N diet. Isotope patterns of AAs indicate that bacteria may have been the alternative source of essential AAs. While the results of this study cannot be extrapolated directly to the dynamics of Collembola populations in the field, they serve to demonstrate their flexibility in adapting physiologically to the temporal and spatial patchiness of the soil environment.     

Improvement of 13C and 15N CPMAS NMR spectra of bulk soils, particle size fractions and organic material by treatment with 10% hydrofluoric acid

The small organic matter content of mineral soils makes it difficult to obtain ¹³C and ¹⁵N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra with acceptable signal-to-noise ratios. Subjecting such samples to hydrofluoric acid removes mineral matter and leads to a relative increase in organic material. The effect of treatment with 10% hydrofluoric acid on bulk chemical composition and resolution of solid-state ¹³C NMR spectra was investigated with six soils, some associated particle size fractions, plant litter and compost. The treatment enhanced the signal-to-noise ratio of the solid-state ¹³C NMR spectra. The improvement in spectrum quality was greatest in the clay fraction of soil contaminated with coal ash. The removal of paramagnetic compounds associated with the ash may be the main reason for the improvement. Based on total C, total N, C/N ratio and intensity distribution of the solid-state ¹³C NMR spectra, no changes in organic matter composition could be detected, except for a possible loss of carbohydrates. After treatment with HF, solid-state ¹⁵N NMR spectra of particle size fractions were obtained and indicated that the observable nitrogen is present mostly as peptides and free amino groups. Extraction with hydrofluoric acid is recommended as a routine treatment prior to solid-state ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR on soil containing little C or N and soil samples containing paramagnetic compounds from natural or anthropogenic sources.     

Growth,Nitrate Accumulation,and Macronutrient Concentration of Pakchoi as Affected By External Nitrate-N: Amino Acid-N Ratio

ABSTRACT

A study was carried out to determine the influence of nitrogen (N) sources on the growth, nitrate (NO₃ ^?) accumulation, and macronutrient concentrations of pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) in hydroponics. Plants were supplied with NO₃ ^? and two amino acids (AA), glutamic acid (Glu), and glutamine (Gln), at six NO₃ ^?-N/AA-N molar ratios: (1) 100:0, (2) 80:20, (3) 60:40, (4) 40:60, (5) 20:80, (6) 0:100. The total N concentration was 12.5 mmol/L for all treatments in nutrient solutions. Both AAs reduced plant growth with decreasing NO₃ ^?-N/AA-N ratios, but the reduction was for Gln than for Glu. At 80:20 NO₃ ^?-N: Gln-N ratio, the Gln had no significant effect on pakchoi fresh weights. Decreasing NO₃ ^?-N/AA-N ratios reduced NO₃ ^? concentrations in the plant, regardless of AA sources. Adding an appropriate portion of AA-N to nutrient solutions for hydroponic culture increased concentrations of N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in pakchoi shoots. Substituting 20% or less of NO₃ ^?-N with Gln-N in hydroponic culture will increase the pakchoi quality by reducing NO₃ ^? concentration and increasing mineral nutrient concentrations in shoots without significant reduction of crop yields.     

The soil invertebrate contribution to nitrogen mineralisation differs between soils under organic and conventional dairy management

Organic management aims to promote soil biological activity. To test whether organic management stimulates soil biological activity, invertebrates (macrofauna, mesofauna and microfauna) were collected from four paired commercial organically and conventionally managed dairy farms on different soil types (Allophanic, Pallic, Recent and flooded Recent). Food webs were constructed and rates of invertebrate-mediated N mineralisation calculated. The organic dairy operations used fewer nutrient inputs and had lower stocking rates than their paired conventional farms. This translated into lower calculated pasture production and less available plant litter entering the soil food web. Despite the lower plant litter inputs into the organic system, earthworm biomass was higher (particularly in the Recent and flooded Recent soils), suggesting that under conventional management the physical condition of the soil, as influenced by stock treading pressures, was more important for invertebrate activity and their influence on N mineralisation than was food supply. Nitrogen mineralisation was higher in organic systems, with earthworms contributing the most (24–98 kg N/ha/year). As the physical loading on the soil increased under conventional management, the ability of the soil to provide soil services (i.e. N mineralisation and litter decomposition) became compromised. Organic management on four soils stimulated biological activity by reducing the treading pressure on the soil and highlights the need to consider the influence of management practices on the faunal environment (food availability and physical condition) to understand the impacts of organic management and the role of fauna in N mineralisation.     

Soil organic matter transformations induced by Hieracium pilosella L. in tussock grassland of New Zealand

 To study the effect of Hieracium pilosella L. invasion on the transformations of soil organic matter of New Zealand tussock grassland soils (Ustochrepts), plant material and soils underneath Hieracium, the surrounding halo, and the adjacent herbfield (depleted tussock grassland) were examined for their chemical composition. An attempt was made to reveal possible changes in chemical composition of the soil organic matter induced by H. pilosella invasion. Small differences were detected by solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in the composition of the plant and soil materials from these zones. Most of the differences in soil organic matter occurred due to differences in the amount and quality of plant-residue inputs. Comparable amounts of phenolic C were detected in the solid-state ¹³C NMR spectra of H. pilosella and herbfield vegetation, while alkaline CuO oxidation yielded considerable lower lignin oxidation products for H. pilosella. A slightly higher proportion of these compounds in H. pilosella soil revealed an accumulation and a low degradation rate of lignin compounds under H. pilosella. The HCl hydrolysis and solid-state ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy showed similar chemical compositions of the N fractions of the three different soils. The absence of ¹⁵N NMR signal intensity assignable to aniline derivatives or aromatic heterocyclic N indicates that the condensation of phenolic compounds with N groups plays a minor role in N sequestration in these soils. Received: 6 September 1999     

Multiple effects of reindeer grazing on the soil processes in nutrient-poor northern boreal forests

Reindeer grazing has a great influence on the ground vegetation of nutrient-poor northern boreal forests dominated by Cladonia lichens in Fennoscandia. Grazing may influence the soil processes in these systems either by influencing the quality of plant litter, or by indirect effects through the soil microclimate. In order to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of reindeer on boreal forest soils, we analyzed litter decomposition, soil and microbial C and N, microbial community composition, and soil organic matter quality in three forest sites with old reindeer exclosures adjacent to grazed areas. There was no effect of grazing on soil C/N ratio, inorganic N concentrations, microbial biomass C, microbial community structure analyzed by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, and organic matter quality analyzed by sequential fractionation, in the soil organic layer. However, microbial N was enhanced by grazing at some of the sampling dates and was negatively correlated with soil moisture, which indicates that increased microbial N could be a stress response to drought. The effect of grazing on litter decomposition varied among the decomposition stages: during the first 1.5 months, the litter C loss was significantly higher in the grazed than the ungrazed areas, but the difference rapidly levelled out and, after one year, the accumulated litter C loss was higher in the ungrazed than the grazed areas. Litter N loss was, however, higher in the grazed areas. Our study demonstrates that herbivores may influence soil processes through several mechanisms at the same time, and to a varying extent in the different stages of decomposition.     

Soil‐phosphorus distribution and availability as affected by greenhouse subsurface irrigation

Vertical distribution and plant availability of soil P under subsurface irrigation were investigated in a 5‐year tomato‐grown‐greenhouse experiment. Irrigation was applied when soil water condition reached the predefined maximum allowable depletion (MAD) for different treatments, e.g., –10 kPa, –16 kPa, –25 kPa, –40 kPa, and –63 kPa. Results show that P distribution with soil depth was significantly affected by irrigation schedules. The general trend is that concentrations of soil total P and inorganic P were greater in topsoil than in subsoil, whereas the concentrations of soil organic P were larger at the depths of 0–10 cm, 30–40 cm, and 40–60 cm than at other soil depths. Comparison of different irrigation schedules indicates that more soil organic P was retained in the soils under the MAD of –25 kPa, –40 kPa, and –63 kPa, implying that irrigation of relatively low frequency and large water quantity of each irrigation event favored the accumulation of organic P in soils. In addition, we found that the concentrations of plant‐available P decreased with soil depth and were largest under the MAD of –16 kPa and –25 kPa. This result suggests that irrigation of relatively high frequency and low water quantity of each irrigation event led to greater P availability for plant uptake. Overall, this study suggests that the transformation and plant availability of soil P can be manipulated, to some degree, by soil‐water management. Maximum allowable depletion controlled between –16 kPa and –25 kPa could result in high availability of soil P in clay‐textured soils.