La(NO3)3 对盐胁迫下黑麦草幼苗生长及抗逆生理特性的影响

为探讨稀土元素镧(La)对牧草盐胁迫伤害的缓解作用, 采用水培法研究了叶面喷施20 mg·L^-1La(NO₃)₃ 对NaCl 胁迫下黑麦草幼苗生长及其抗逆生理特性的影响。结果表明: 盐胁迫显著抑制黑麦草幼苗的生长, 提高叶片电解质渗漏率及丙二醛(MDA)、O₂^- 和H₂O₂ 含量, 其作用随盐浓度的增大而增强。超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性和抗坏血酸(AsA)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)、可溶性蛋白质、脯氨酸含量随盐浓度增大呈先升后降趋势, 可溶性糖和Na⁺/K⁺比逐渐增大, 质膜H⁺-ATP 酶活性逐渐降低, 过氧化物酶(POD)活性及POD 同功酶数量表达增强。喷施La(NO₃)₃ 处理可降低盐胁迫下黑麦草幼苗叶片的O₂^- 和H₂O₂ 含量, 提高SOD、CAT、POD、APX 和质膜H⁺-ATP 酶的活性及POD 同功酶的表达, 使AsA、GSH、可溶性蛋白质、可溶性糖和游离脯氨酸含量及幼苗生物量增加, Na⁺/K⁺比降低。表明La(NO₃)₃ 可通过提高抗氧化系统的活性和积累渗透溶质减轻盐胁迫伤害, 从而提高黑麦草的耐盐性。     

猪粪堆肥过程中NH3和H2S的释放及除臭微生物的筛选研究

为了治理粪便臭气污染，测定了猪粪好氧堆肥过程中NH₃和H₂S的释放量以及堆肥温度、pH值、含水率、水溶性铵态氮等指标。结果表明，NH₃在前20天释放量占总释放量的84.6%、H₂S在前13天释放量占总释放量的100%。因此，在堆肥初期的前20天是控制臭气的最佳时期。并从畜禽粪便、垃圾、土壤和堆肥中分离、纯化了一些微生物，经过初筛得到能利用NH₃的微生物41株，经过复筛得到脱除H₂S较好的细菌一株，与对照相比其去除率达85.7%，经鉴定该菌是松鼠葡萄球菌。     

SO42-和Cl-对稻田土壤养分及其吸附解吸特性的影响

利用长期定位试验 ,比较了长期施用含SO₄^2-和Cl^- 化肥 22年后稻田土壤的 pH值、养分状况及其吸附解吸特性。结果表明 ,长期施用含SO₄^2-化肥 ,土壤有机质、速效氮和速效钾的含量较高 ,但全量氮磷钾的含量较低 ;长期施用含Cl^- 化肥 ,土壤全量氮磷钾和速效磷的含量较高 ,但pH值相对较低。长期施用含上述二种阴离子的化肥后 ,土壤对H₂PO₄^-的最大吸附量均较大 ,且在Cl^- 处理下土壤对H₂PO₄^-吸附的结合能较大 ,而SO₄^2-处理下土壤在同等吸附量时对H₂PO₄^-的解吸量相应较多。长期施用含SO₄^2-的化肥亦使土壤对钾素的供应强度较大 (ΔK0的绝对值较大 )、缓冲能力增强 (AR0值较高 ) ,而长期施用含Cl^- 的化肥时则与SO₄^2-相反     

不同利用方式红壤反硝化势和气态产物排放特征

采用厌氧培养-乙炔抑制法测定了4种不同利用方式红壤的反硝化势和气态产物N₂O和N₂的排放速率。结果表明，不同利用方式红壤反硝化势和N₂O和N₂的排放速率差异明显，土壤反硝化势强弱顺序依次为：竹林>茶园>林地>旱地。反硝化势与土壤有机碳(P<0.05)、厌氧培养期间土壤CO₂累积排放量(P<0.01)、nirS基因丰度( P<0.05)和nirK基因丰度(P<0.05) 呈显著正相关关系。逐步回归分析结果表明，CO₂累积排放量表征的易矿化碳是造成不同利用方式红壤反硝化势差异的主要原因，可以解释反硝化势变化的66%(P<0.01)。不同利用方式红壤N₂O和N₂排放速率差异明显，旱地红壤N₂O和N₂排放速率均最低，表明土壤pH的提升并没有增加旱地红壤的反硝化损失风险和N₂O排放速率。土壤易矿化有机碳含量也是影响不同利用方式红壤N₂O和N₂排放速率的主要因素。反硝化功能基因nirS、nirK和nosZ的丰度均与CO₂累积排放量呈显著正相关关系，进一步支持了土壤易矿化有机碳含量是影响不同利用方式红壤反硝化势和气态产物排放的主要因子。土壤pH是影响不同利用方式红壤反硝化气态产物N₂/N₂O的主要因素，但是pH影响红壤N₂/N₂O的微生物机制仍需要进一步研究。     

测试稿件

为探明地下滴灌对土壤 N₂O 排放的影响及机理,本文研究了不同滴灌管埋深(0、10、20、30 cm,即CK、 S10、 S20、 S30)番茄根区土壤N₂O排放规律,分析了地下滴灌形成的根区土壤水热、养分、微生物等微域环境对 N₂O 排放的影响。结果表明土壤供水位置(滴灌管埋深)不同,显著影响土壤水分分布及其他土壤微域环境因素,其中根系分叉数、0-20 cm土壤孔隙度、反硝化细菌、亚硝化细菌等是影响N₂O累积排放量的主要因素。S10 番茄根系分叉数为 CK 的1.85倍；0-20 cm土壤孔隙度比 CK 显著增加 10.72%；土壤硝态氮为CK的2.02倍,土壤溶解性有机碳 为CK的1.49倍；果实成熟期土壤亚硝化菌数量为 CK 的 2.11 倍；开花坐果期、果实成熟期土壤反硝化菌数量为 CK 的 3.8、3.75 倍；土壤N₂O累积排放量为CK的1.99倍。S20 番茄根系分叉数为 CK 的2.77倍；0-20 cm土壤孔隙度比 CK 显著增加22.32%；土壤硝态氮分别为CK的2.66倍,土壤溶解性有机碳为 CK的1.38倍；果实成熟期土壤亚硝化菌数量为 CK 的 5.56 倍；开花坐果期、果实成熟期土壤反硝化菌数量为 CK 的 6.0、12.5 倍；土壤N₂O累积排放量为CK的2.24倍。S30 番茄根系分叉数为 CK 的2.22倍；土壤硝态氮为CK的1.66倍；开花坐果期亚硝化细菌数量、反硝化细菌分别为CK 的 2.0、1.8倍；但反硝化细菌数量、硝态氮和溶解性有机碳含量、0-20 cm土壤孔隙度等显著低于S20处理,根系-土壤交互作用减弱,土壤N₂O累积排放量与CK无显著差异。总体上,滴灌管埋深10 cm、20 cm 提高了土壤N₂O累积排放量,但其排放显著低于IPCC推荐的排放标准且能提高番茄植株根、茎氮含量,在生产实际中优于常规地表覆膜滴灌。     

煤粉尘添加量与温度对山西省两种土壤碳释放规律的影响

采用室内培养试验, 观测不同温度和不同煤粉尘用量条件下山西省电厂土和焦化厂土两种土壤的碳释放规律。结果表明, 室温(16~23 ℃)和25 ℃恒温下, 培养前期(4~9 d)土壤CO₂ 的释放量均为最大, 且25 ℃ 恒温培养土壤CO₂ 的释放量是室温条件下的2 倍左右。随煤粉尘添加量的增加, 土壤CO₂ 的释放量显著增加,且土壤活性有机质相应增加, 添加高量煤粉尘土壤CO₂ 的释放量最高达57.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1, 两种土壤活性有机碳的增幅为0.3~3.8 g·kg^-1。不同温度和不同煤粉尘用量条件下电厂土释放的CO₂ 均高于焦化厂土, 可能是电厂土含有较高的有机碳和较低的黏粒所致。由此可知, 温度是影响土壤有机碳分解的主要因素, 其次是添加煤粉尘的量, 土壤理化性质也是原因之一。本研究表明, 煤粉尘的降落一方面增加了土壤CO₂ 的释放, 另一方面增加了土壤碳库。     

几种主要CO2施肥肥源性能的比较与评价

在空闲拱棚和黄瓜日光温室内，分别研究了化学反应法(H₂SO₄+NH₄HCO₃）、煤球燃烧法和颗粒CO₂气肥3种肥源的性能，并与液体CO₂进行成本比较，结果表明：化学反应法产气迅速，设备折旧成本较低；煤球燃烧法产气速度中等，原料成本最低；颗粒CO₂气肥产气速度较慢且不易调控，原料成本最高。考虑化学反应产物的再利用因素，化学反应法、煤球燃烧法和液体CO₂ 3种肥源总成本接近，但从生态、节能、成本和效果等方面综合评价，煤球燃烧法原料丰富、成本低廉，较符合我国目前的设施、经济、资源和技术条件。     

土壤呼吸及其13C同位素测定方法的对比研究

为比较不同方法在土壤呼吸及其_¹³C同位素测定中的差异，我们应用几种常见的方法测定了不同有机质含量的水稻土壤在一定时间内的CO₂排放量及_¹³C-CO₂丰度，以期准确评估土壤呼吸及碳排放，并为相关研究提供参考。本实验采用了气相色谱仪法(GC-TCD)、稳定同位素比值质谱仪气体进样法(Gasbench-IRMS)、甲酚红显色法(MicroResp)、碱液吸收法四种方法测定土壤呼吸速率；Gasbench-IRMS法和碱液吸收法两种方式检测土壤呼吸的_¹³CO₂含量。结果表明,(1)两种仪器法(GC、IRMS)测定土壤呼吸速率的数值结果相近(基础呼吸)或趋势一致(诱导呼吸),且重复性好（标准差分别为0.011、0.010 mg C /kg/h）,准确度高；MicroResp法的测定结果与仪器测量值较为相近,但分辨率较低；碱液吸收法的测定结果较真实值偏高(当土壤有机质含量低时)或偏低(当土壤有机质含量高时)。(2)在测定CO₂中的_¹³C含量上,Gasbench-IRMS直接测定的结果误差小(δ_¹³C值的标准偏差为0.137‰),接近实际值,可以准确地反应出土壤微生物呼吸时对底物的利用状况。综上,仪器法较化学分析法(MicroResp、碱液吸收)更能准确测定土壤呼吸及其_¹³C同位素。     

缓释肥处理下麦田土壤细菌和真菌群落对气候变化的响应

采用控制系统来模拟未来大气CO₂浓度和气温升高的气候变化情景,借助基于半导体芯片技术的IonS5TMXL测序平台并结合相关生物信息学方法对气候变化背景下缓释肥处理的麦田土壤进行16S rRNA细菌V4区和18S rRNA真菌ITS区测序分析,探究了缓释肥处理下麦田土壤细菌和真菌对气候变化的响应。结果显示,所有样品测序后获得细菌和真菌平均有效序列数分别是80543和64303个,平均OTUs分别是3149和1161个。Alpha多样性分析显示,大气CO₂浓度升高小麦土壤细菌的Shannon和Chao1指数均降低,而土壤真菌在各气候环境下均无显著差异。主成分分析显示,各处理下土壤细菌群落结构差异不明显,真菌群落结构在气温升高时差异明显。缓释肥处理与普通肥相比,土壤细菌和真菌的Alpha多样性及群落结构在不同气候条件下均没有差异。菌群分类学表明,小麦土壤的优势细菌门为变形菌门、放线菌门、拟杆菌门和酸杆菌门,主要的优势细菌属有9种;优势真菌门为子囊菌门、被孢菌门和担子菌门,主要的优势真菌属有7种。大气CO₂浓度升高条件下,施用普通尿素使变形菌门和鞘氨醇单胞菌属的相对丰度分别增加10.34%和46.27%。在对照温度对照CO₂浓度条件下,缓释肥处理比普通肥处理使子囊菌门和毛壳菌属相对丰度分别显著增加39.85%和295.33%;在升高温度对照CO₂浓度条件下,缓释肥处理比普通肥处理使子囊菌门和毛壳菌属分别增加33.16%和154.49%。CO₂对变形菌门、鞘氨醇单胞菌属和毛壳菌属的影响达显著水平。在各气候变化环境下,各土壤理化性质均有所改善;与普通氮肥相比,缓释氮肥处理在各气候环境下土壤有机质、碱解氮和全氮含量降低,土壤有效磷和总磷含量升高。冗余分析表明,土壤细菌群落结构主要受土壤全氮和盐分含量的影响,而真菌群落结构主要受土壤pH和有效磷含量的影响。研究结果表明,未来气候环境变化对土壤微生物群落的影响大于缓释肥处理。该结果加深了缓释肥对土壤微生物群落结构和多样性影响的认识,为未来气候环境变化下缓释肥推广使用提供理论依据。     

干燥过程气体成分对蔬菜干制品质的影响

采用自制的QTM试验装置对蔬菜进行气调干制试验，研究了不同温度条件下气体成分对苦瓜片、萝卜丝和香葱干制品质量的影响。结果表明：采用N₂或CO₂进行气体调节，降低干燥过程气体的O₂含量，可明显提高蔬菜干制品叶绿素含量和降低干制过程维生素C质量分数的损失。用指数函数拟合蔬菜干制品的叶绿素含量与O₂含量间的关系，用幂函数拟合维生素C质量分数损失率与O₂含量间的关系，回归方程置信水平都大于95%。     

多氯联苯污染土壤的Fenton试剂化学修复效应

采用室内模拟实验,研究了0.5mol/LFeSO4溶液与1.0mol/LH2O2溶液组成的Fenton试剂对污染土壤中PCBs的去除效果。结果表明:20ml FeSO4+40ml H2O2的Fenton试剂对PCBs污染土壤处理336h后,PCBs总量的去除率达71.9%,继续增加Fenton试剂剂量或延长Fenton反应时间对PCBs去除效果影响较小。Fenton试剂对三氯、四氯、五氯、六氯等PCBs同系物去除效果较好,去除率分别为92.5%、75.8%、51.4%、39.5%。加入Fenton试剂后,供试土壤的pH值出现明显降低,而对土壤有机质含量的影响不明显。可见,该剂量的Fenton试剂对PCBs污染土壤的修复有明显的效果,是一种可利用的环境修复材料。     

Twenty years of intensive fertilization and competing vegetation suppression in loblolly pine plantations: Impacts on soil C, N, and microbial biomass

Silvicultural treatments of fertilization (F) and competing vegetation suppression (H) have continued to increase as demands for forest products have grown. The effects of intensive annual F and H treatments on soil C, N, microbial biomass, and CO₂ efflux were examined in a two-way factorial experiment (control, F, H, FxH) in late-rotation (20+ years) loblolly pine stands. This study is unique in testing the cumulative effects of continual H and repeated F treatments for the first 20 years of stand growth, an uncommon operational practice, and in having treatments replicated upon four different soil types in the state of Georgia, USA. Annual fertilization included applications of N, P, K and periodic additions of micronutrients while competing vegetation suppression was maintained for all non-pine vegetation with herbicides throughout the rotation. Measurements included total O-horizon (forest floor) organic matter, C, and N, and 0-10 cm mineral soil pH, C, N, microbial biomass C and N, and surface CO₂ efflux. Sample collections and analyses were conducted seasonally for 1.5 yrs. Competing vegetation suppression was associated with a decrease of total soil C, soil microbial biomass C and N, and soil surface CO₂ efflux, while increasing O-horizon C:N. The fertilization treatment greatly reduced soil microbial biomass C and N, soil pH, and O-horizon C:N, while increasing O-horizon mass, N content, and soil carbon. No significant interactions between F and H were found. The combination of F and H treatments acted additively to achieve the greatest loss of soil microbial biomass, which may possibly have negative implications for long-term soil fertility.     

Atmospheric CO2 enrichment and nutrient additions to planted soil increase mineralisation of soil organic matter, but do not alter microbial utilisation of plant- and soil C-sources

Plants link atmospheric and soil carbon pools through CO₂ fixation, carbon translocation, respiration and rhizodeposition. Within soil, microbial communities both mediate carbon-sequestration and return to the atmosphere through respiration. The balance of microbial use of plant-derived and soil organic matter (SOM) carbon sources and the influence of plant-derived inputs on microbial activity are key determinants of soil carbon-balance, but are difficult to quantify. In this study we applied continuous ¹³C-labelling to soil-grown Lolium perenne, imposing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations and nutrient additions as experimental treatments. The relative use of plant- and SOM-carbon by microbial communities was quantified by compound-specific ¹³C-analysis of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). An isotopic mass-balance approach was applied to partition the substrate sources to soil respiration (i.e. plant- and SOM-derived), allowing direct quantification of SOM-mineralisation. Increased CO₂ concentration and nutrient amendment each increased plant growth and rhizodeposition, but did not greatly alter microbial substrate use in soil. However, the increased root growth and rhizosphere volume with elevated CO₂ and nutrient amendment resulted in increased rates of SOM-mineralisation per experimental unit. As rhizosphere microbial communities utilise both plant- and SOM C-sources, the results demonstrate that plant-induced priming of SOM-mineralisation can be driven by factors increasing plant growth. That the balance of microbial C-use was not affected on a specific basis may suggest that the treatments did not affect soil C-balance in this study.     

Nitrous oxide production and consumption in serially diluted soil suspensions as related to in situ N2O emission in submerged soils

A simple method for characterizing soil microbial community composition relevant to N₂O production and consumption was proposed. Ten-fold series soil dilution was prepared. Nitrate or N₂O was provided as the sole electron acceptor. Nitrous oxide concentration in the headspace gas across the serially diluted soil suspensions was measured against controls. Results showed that the patterns of N₂O production and consumption across the soil suspensions provided useful information on the microbial community composition relevant to N₂O production and consumption in these soils. An independent method, to that proposed here, was also employed to characterize denitrifier community compositions of the same soils. Data indicated that information on the soil microbial community composition characterized by both methods were compatible or mutually supporting and apparently related to in situ N₂O emissions. Soil samples from manure (applied with animal manure plus chemical fertilizer) plots had higher denitrification rates than the samples from normal fertilizer (applied with chemical fertilizer only) plots. It was concluded that functional characteristics of soil microbial communities relevant to N₂O production and consumption could be characterized at ecological levels and may potentially affect N₂O emissions.     

Effects of land-use type and nitrogen addition on nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide production potentials in Japanese Andosols

Land-use type and nitrogen (N) addition strongly affect nitrous oxide (N₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) production, but the impacts of their interaction and the controlling factors remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of both factors simultaneously on N₂O and CO₂ production and associated soil chemical and biological properties. Surface soils (0–10 cm) from three adjacent lands (apple orchard, grassland and deciduous forest) in central Japan were selected and incubated aerobically for 12 weeks with addition of 0, 30 or 150 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1. Land-use type had a significant (p < 0.001) impact on the cumulative N₂O and CO₂ production. Soils from the apple orchard had higher N₂O and CO₂ production potentials than those from the grassland and forest soils. Soil net N mineralization rate had a positive correlation with both soil N₂O and CO₂ production rates. Furthermore, the N₂O production rate was positively correlated with the CO₂ production rate. In the soils with no N addition, the dominant soil properties influencing N₂O production were found to be the ammonium-N content and the ratio of soil microbial biomass carbon to nitrogen (MBC/MBN), while those for CO₂ production were the content of nitrate-N and soluble organic carbon. N₂O production increased with the increase in added N doses for the three land-use types and depended on the status of the initial soil available N. The effect of N addition on CO₂ production varied with land use type; with the increase of N addition doses, it decreased for the apple orchard and forest soils but increased for the grassland soils. This difference might be due to the differences in microbial flora as indicated by the MBC/MBN ratio. Soil N mineralization was the major process controlling N₂O and CO₂ production in the examined soils under aerobic incubation conditions.     

大气CO2和O3升高对菜地土壤酶活性和微生物量的影响

利用OTC平台和青菜盆栽实验,探索[CO2]、[O3]或[CO2+O3]升高条件下,土壤理化性质、微生物量和土壤酶活性的变化,以期获得未来大气CO2或/和O3升高对土壤微生态系统的风险性。结果表明,[CO2]升高不同程度地提高了土壤的可溶性有机碳（DOC）、可溶性有机氮（DON）、总磷（TP）、总碳（TC）、铵态氮（AN）、硝态氮（NN）含量和含水量（SWC）,进而不同程度地提高了土壤微生物量碳（MBC）、微生物量氮（MBN）含量以及土壤蛋白酶（PRA）、蔗糖酶（SA）、脲酶（UA）、多酚氧化酶（POA）、酸性磷酸酶（APA）和中性磷酸酶（NPA）活性。相反,[O3]升高不同程度降低了土壤DOC、TP、TK、TC、TN、AN、NN、SWC、MBC和MBN含量,提高了MBC/MBN比值,在不同程度上降低了土壤PRA、SA、UA、POA、APA和NPA酶活性。而[CO2+O3]在一定程度上消减了[O3]对土壤微生物量和酶活性的抑制作用,也降低了[CO2]升高对土壤微生物量和酶活性的刺激效应。因此,土壤微生物量和土壤酶活性的变化可用于评价未来大气CO2或/和O3升高对菜地土壤微生态环境的影响。     

腐熟羊粪有机肥配施无机肥对植烟土壤微生物群落结构和多样性的影响

为了探究腐熟羊粪有机肥与无机肥配施对洛阳烟区植烟土壤微生物群落结构和土壤肥力特性的影响，采用盆栽控制试验和高通量测序技术，研究了不施肥（CK）、100%无机氮肥（T0）、50%羊粪有机肥氮+50%无机氮肥（T50）和100%羊粪有机肥氮（T100）4个处理下植烟土壤细菌和真菌群落结构及多样性的差异，并结合土壤理化性质分析了土壤肥力指标与土壤微生物多样性的关系。结果表明：植烟土壤细菌优势菌门为变形菌门（Proteobacteria）、酸杆菌门（Acidobacteria）和放线菌门（Actinobacteria），土壤真菌优势菌门为子囊菌门（Ascomycota）和担子菌门（Basidiomycota）；T50处理的变形菌门、酸杆菌门和子囊菌门相对丰度最高，但放线菌门和担子菌门相对丰度最低；NMDS分析和相似性分析发现，T50处理的土壤微生物群落结构与其他处理差异显著；Alpha多样性分析也表明，T50处理土壤细菌和真菌群落的丰富度和多样性最高。不同处理土壤理化性质和土壤关键酶活性差异显著，以T50处理土壤养分含量和土壤碳氮代谢酶的活性最高；Pearson相关性分析显示，土壤碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾含量及蛋白酶和脲酶活性与植烟土壤微生物多样的关系最为密切。总之，采用腐熟羊粪有机肥和无机肥配施通过影响植烟土壤细菌和真菌群落结构和多样性，促进了土壤养分的释放和转化，有利于土壤养分的供应和土壤质量的提升，研究结果为洛阳烟区应用羊粪有机肥改良土壤提供了理论依据。     

Changes in soil microbial biomass carbon and enzyme activities under elevated CO2 affect fine root decomposition processes in a Mongolian oak ecosystem

The relationships between soil microbial properties and fine root decomposition processes under elevated CO₂ are poorly understood. To address this question, we determined soil microbial biomass carbon (SMB-C) and nitrogen (SMB-N), enzymes related to soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling, the abundance of cultivable N-fixing bacteria and cellulolytic fungi, fine root organic matter, lignin and holocellulose decomposition, and N mineralization from 2006 to 2007 in a Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica Fischer ex Ledebour) ecosystem in northeastern China. The experiment consisted of three treatments: elevated CO₂ chambers, ambient CO₂ chambers, and chamberless plots. Fine roots had significantly greater organic matter decomposition rates under elevated CO₂. This corresponded with significantly greater SMB-C. Changes in the activities of protease and phenol oxidase under elevated CO₂ could not explain the changes in fine root N release and lignin decomposition rates, respectively, while holocellulose decomposition rate had the same response to experimental treatments as did cellulase activity. Changes in cultivable N-fixing bacterial and cellulolytic fungal abundances in response to experimental treatments were identical to those of N mineralization and lignin decomposition rates, respectively, suggesting that the two indices were closely related to fine root N mineralization and lignin decomposition. Our results showed that the increased fine root organic matter, lignin and holocellulose decomposition, and N mineralization rates under elevated CO₂ could be explained by shifts in SMB-C and the abundance of cellulolytic fungi and N-fixing bacteria. Enzyme activities are not reliable for the assessment of fine root decomposition and more attention should be given to the measurement of specific bacterial and fungal communities.     

Compared effects of long-term pig slurry applications and mineral fertilization on soil denitrification and its end products (N2O, N2)

The long-term (9 years) effect of pig slurry applications vs mineral fertilization on denitrifying activity, N₂O production and soil organic carbon (C) (extractable C, microbial biomass C and total organic C) was compared at three soil depths of adjacent plots. The denitrifying activities were measured on undisturbed soil cores and on sieved soil samples with acetylene method to estimate denitrification rates under field or potential conditions. Pig slurry applications had a moderate impact on the C pools. Total organic C was increased by +6.5% and microbial biomass C by ≥25%. The potential denitrifying activity on soil suspension was stimulated (×1.8, P<0.05) 12 days after the last slurry application. This stimulation was still apparent, but not significant, 10 months later and, according to both methods of denitrifying activity measurement (r ²=0.916, P<0.01 on sieved soil; r ²=0.845, P<0.001 on soil cores), was associated with an increase in microbial biomass C above a threshold of about 105 mg kg⁻¹. The effect of pig slurry on denitrification and N₂O reduction rates was detected on the surface layer (0–20 cm) only. However, no pig slurry effect could be detected on soil cores at field conditions or after NO₃ ⁻ enrichments at 20°C. Although the potential denitrifying activity in sieved soil samples was stimulated, the N₂O production was lower (P<0.03) in the plot fertilized with pig slurry, indicating a lower N₂O/(N₂O + N₂) ratio of the released gases. The pig-slurry-fertilized plot also showed a higher N₂O reduction activity, which is coherent with the lower N₂O production in anaerobiosis.     

Climate change goes underground: effects of elevated atmospheric CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> on microbial community structure and activities in the rhizosphere

General concern about climate change has led to growing interest in the responses of terrestrial ecosystems to elevated concentrations of CO₂ in the atmosphere. Experimentation during the last two to three decades using a large variety of approaches has provided sufficient information to conclude that enrichment of atmospheric CO₂ may have severe impact on terrestrial ecosystems. This impact is mainly due to the changes in the organic C dynamics as a result of the effects of elevated CO₂ on the primary source of organic C in soil, i.e., plant photosynthesis. As the majority of life in soil is heterotrophic and dependent on the input of plant-derived organic C, the activity and functioning of soil organisms will greatly be influenced by changes in the atmospheric CO₂ concentration. In this review, we examine the current state of the art with respect to effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ on soil microbial communities, with a focus on microbial community structure. On the basis of the existing information, we conclude that the main effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ on soil microbiota occur via plant metabolism and root secretion, especially in C3 plants, thereby directly affecting the mycorrhizal, bacterial, and fungal communities in the close vicinity of the root. There is little or no direct effect on the microbial community of the bulk soil. In particular, we have explored the impact of these changes on rhizosphere interactions and ecosystem processes, including food web interactions.