l-Asparaginase activity of soils

Summary A simple, precise, and sensitive method to assay l-asparaginase (l-asparagine amidohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.1) activity in soils is described. This method use steam distillation to determine the NH _inf4 ^sup+ produced by l-asparaginase activity when soil is incubated with buffered (0.1 M THAM, pH 10) l-asparagine solution and toluene at 30°C for 2 h. The procedure developed gives quantitative recovery of NH _inf4 ^sup+ -N added to soils and does not cause chemical hydrolysis of l-asparagine. The optimum buffer pH for NH _inf4 ^sup+ -N released by l-asparaginase activity in soils was 10. This enzyme was saturated with 50 mM l-asparagine, and the reaction rate essentially followed zero-order kinetics. The d-isomer of asparagine was also hydrolyzed in soils, but at only 16% of the activity of the l-isomer at a saturating concentration of the substrate. The optimal temperature for the soil l-asparaginase reaction occurred at 60°C and denaturation began at 65°C. The Arrhenius equation plot for l-asparaginase activity in three selected soils was linear between 10 and 50°C. The activation energy values of this enzyme ranged from 20.2 to 34.1 (average 26.6) kJ mol^-1. Application of three linear transformations of the Michaelis-Menten equation showed that the K _m values of l-asparaginase in nine soils ranged from 2.6 to 10.0 (average 6.1) mM and the V _max values ranged from 9 to 131 g NH _inf4 ^sup+ -N released g^-1 soil 2 h^-1. The temperature coefficients (Q ₁₀) for soil l-asparaginase activity ranged from 1.12 to 1.70 (average 1.39). Steam sterilization (121°C for 1 h), formaldehyde, and NaF decreased the activity but the presence of toluene increased the amount of NH _inf4 ^sup+ released. Treatment of soils with dimethylsulfoxide completely destroyed l-asparaginase activity. The use of sulfhydryl reagents indicated that a free sulfhydryl moiety was required to maintain the active enzyme. l-Asparaginase activity in soils was increased by 13 to 18% in the presence of THAM buffer prepared to contain 5 mM Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, respectively.     

Prediction of potentially mineralizable N from amidohydrolase activities in a manure-applied, corn residue-amended soil

Prediction of potentially mineralizable N as an important N pool from soil amidohydrolases was investigated. Composite soil samples were collected from plots of a field experiment in which 0, 50 and 100 Mg cow manure ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ had been applied for five consecutive years. The soils were treated with corn shoots or roots or remained untreated in a factorial combination with the manure treatments, with three replications. The mineralized inorganic N was measured periodically in 20-week incubations and potentially mineralizable N (N₀) was calculated based on a first-order kinetic model. Urease, l-glutaminase and l-asparaginase activities were measured before and after incubation. The values of N₀ ranged from 208.6 in the controls to 388.4 in soils that had received 50 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ of cow manure and were amended with corn shoots. Corn residue amendment in the manure treated soils, increased the values of N₀ or changed the N mineralization kinetic pattern from a first-order to a zero-order model. According to a relative sensitivity index, l-asparaginase was the most sensitive enzyme to the treatments. Multiple regression analysis revealed that 92% of N₀ variations can be described by the activities of urease and l-asparaginase and therefore the soil amidohydrolase activities have the potential to evaluate potentially mineralizable N.     

Effect of tillage and residue management on enzyme activities in soils

Recent interest in soil tillage and residue management has focused on low-input sustainable agriculture. In this study we investigated the effect of three tillage systems (no-till, chisel plow, and moldboard plow) and four residue placements (bare, normal, mulch, and double mulch) on the activities of four amidohydrolases (amidase, L-asparaginase, L-glutaminase, and urease) in soils from four replicated field-plots. Correlation coefficients (r) for linear regressions between the activities of each of the enzymes and organic C or pH and between all possible paired amidohydrolases were also calculated. The results showed that the effects of tillage and residue management on pH in the 28 surface soil (0–15 cm) samples were not significant. The organic C content, however, was affected significantly by the different tillage and residue-management practices studied, being the greatest in soils with notill/double mulch treatment, and the least with no-till/bare and moldboard/normal treatments. Within the same tillage system, mulch treatment resulted in greater organic C content compared with normal or bare treatment. The activities of the amidohydrolases studied were generally greater in mulch-treated plots than in non-treated plots, and were significantly correlated with organic C contents of soils, with r values ranging from 0.70^*** to 0.90^***. Linear regression analyses of enzyme activities on pH values (in 0.01 M CaCl₂) of the 28 surface soils showed significant correlations for L-asparaginase, L-glutaminase, and urease, with r values of 0.74^***, 0.77^***, and 0.72^***, respectively, but not for amidase (r=0.24). The activities of the four amidohydrolases studied in the 40 soil samples tested were significantly intercorrelated, with r values ranging from 0.72^*** to 0.92^***. The activities of the four amidohydrolases decreased with increasing soil depth of the plow layer, and were accompanied by a decrease in organic C content.     

Broad antifungal activity of β-isoxazolinonyl-alanine,a non-protein amino acid from roots of pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings

Summary -(Isoxazolin-5-on-2-yl)-alanine (IA), a heterocyclic non-protein amino acid from root extracts and root exudates of pea seedlings, acts as a potent growth inhibitor of several eukaryotic organisms, including yeasts, phytopathogenic fungi, unicellular green algae, and higher plants. The antibiotic effect on baker's yeast was reversed by l-methionine, l-cysteine, and l-homocysteine. Phytopathogenic fungi such as Botrytis cinerea, Pythium ultimum, and Rhizoctonia solani grown on agar containing IA were inhibited in the growth of mycelia or in the production of sclerotia. In contrast, no significant inhibition of either Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria was observed. Rhizobium leguminosarum, the compatible microsymbiont of Pisum spp., and Rhizobium meliloti were able to tolerate up to 2.9 mM IA (500 ppm) without any effect on the growth rate. Bradyrhizobium japonicum even gave a positive chemotactic response to IA. The ecological significance of IA as a preformed plant protectant during the seedling stage of Pisum spp. and other IA-containing legumes is discussed.     

Enzyme activities in a limed agricultural soil

 This study assessed the effect of eight lime application rates, with four field replications, on the activities of 14 enzymes involved in C, N, P, and S cycling in soils. The enzymes were assayed at their optimal pH values. The soil used was a Kenyon loam located at the Northeast Research Center in Nashua, Iowa. Lime was applied in 1984 at rates ranging from 0 to 17,920 kg effective calcium carbonate equivalent (ha^–1), and surface samples (0–15 cm) were taken after 7 years. Results showed that organic C and N were not significantly affected by lime application, whereas the soil pH was increased from 4.9 to 6.9. The activities of the following enzymes were assayed: α- and β-glucosidases, α- and β-galactosidases, amidase, arylamidase, urease, l-glutaminase, l-asparaginase, l-aspartase, acid and alkaline phosphatases, phosphodiesterase, and arylsulfatase. With the exception of acid phosphatase, which was significantly (P<0.001) but negatively correlated with soil pH (r=–0.69), the activities of all the other enzymes were significantly (P<0.001)and positively correlated with soil pH, with r values ranging from 0.53 for the activity of α-galactosidase to 0.89 for alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase. The Δ activity/Δ pH values ranged from 4.4 to 38.5 for the activities of the glycosidases, from 1.0 to 107 for amidohydrolases and arylamidase, 97 for alkaline phosphatase, 39.4 for phosphodiesterase, and 11.2 for arylsulfatase. This value for acid phosphatase was –35.0. The results support the view that soil pH is an important indicator of soil health and quality. Received: 3 May 1999     

Arylamidase and amidohydrolases in soils as affected by liming and tillage systems

This study investigated the long-term effect of lime application and tillage systems (no-till, ridge-till and chisel plow) on the activities of arylamidase and amidohydrolases involved in N cycling in soils at four long-term research sites in Iowa, USA. The activities of the following enzymes were assayed: arylamidase, -asparaginase, -glutaminase, amidase, urease, and -aspartase at their optimal pH values. The activities of the enzymes were significantly (P<0.001) and positively correlated with soil pH, with r values ranging from 0.42^* to 0.99^*** for arylamidase, 0.81^*** to 0.97^*** for -asparaginase, 0.62^*** to 0.97^*** for -glutaminase, 0.61^*** to 0.98^*** for amidase, 0.66^** to 0.96^*** for urease, and 0.80^*** to 0.99^*** for -aspartase. The Δactivity/ΔpH values were calculated to assess the sensitivity of the enzymes to changes in soil pH. The order of the sensitivity of enzymes was as follows: -

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-aspartase. The enzyme activities were greater in the samples of the 0–5 cm depth than those of the 0–15 cm samples under no-till treatment. Most of the enzyme activities were significantly (P<0.001) and positively correlated with microbial biomass C (C_mic) and N (N_mic). Lime application significantly affected the specific activities of the six enzymes studied. Results showed that soil management practices, including liming and type of tillage significantly affect soil biological and biochemical properties, which may lead to changes in nitrogen cycling, including N mineralization in soils.     

Cover crop and tillage effects on soil enzyme activities following tomato

Increasing numbers of vegetable growers are adopting conservation tillage practices and including cover crops into crop rotations. The practice helps to increase or maintain an adequate level of soil organic matter and improves vegetable yields. The effects of the practices, however, on enzyme activities in southeastern soils of the United States have not been well documented. Thus, the objectives of the study were to investigate the effects of cover crops and two tillage systems on soil enzyme activity profiles following tomato and to establish relationships between enzyme activities and soil organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). The cover crops planted late in fall 2005 included black oat (Avena strigosa), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), or crimson clover–black oat mixed. A weed control (no cover crop) was also included. Early in spring 2006, the plots were disk plowed and incorporated into soil (conventional tillage) or mowed and left on the soil surface (no-till). Broiler litter as source of N fertilizer was applied at a rate of 4.6 Mg ha⁻¹, triple super phosphate at 79.0 kg P ha⁻¹, and potassium chloride at 100 kg K ha⁻¹ were also applied according to soil testing recommendations. Tomato seedlings were transplanted and grown for 60 days on a Marvyn sandy loam soil (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults). Ninety-six core soil samples were collected at incremental depths (0–5, 5–10, and 10–15 cm) and passed through a 2-mm sieve and kept moist to study arylamidase (EC 3.4.11.2), l-asparaginase (EC 3.5.1.1), l-glutaminase (EC 3.5.1.2), and urease (EC 3.5.1.5) activities. Tillage systems affected only l-glutaminase activity in soil while cover crops affected activities of all the enzymes studied with the exception of urease. The research clearly demonstrated that in till and no-till systems, l-asparaginase activity is greater (P ≤ 0.05) in plots preceded by crimson clover than in those preceded by black oat or their mixture. Activity of the enzyme decreased from 11.7 mg NH₄⁺–N kg⁻¹ 2 h⁻¹ at 0–5 cm depth to 8.73 mg NH₄⁺–N kg⁻¹ 2 h⁻¹ at 5–10 cm and 10–15 cm depths in the no-till crimson clover plots. Arylamidase activity significantly correlated with soil organic C (r = 0.699**) and soil organic N (r = 0.764***). Amidohydrolases activities significantly correlated with soil organic N but only urease significantly correlated with soil organic C (r = 0.481*). These results indicated that incorporation of cover crops into rotations may increase enzyme activities in soils.     

保定市污灌区土壤的Pb、Cd污染与土壤酶活性关系研究

本文应用一元线性与非线性回归事寻优模型，着重研究了保定市污灌区土壤重金Ｐｂ、Ｃｄ污染与土壤酶活性之间的关系。结果表明，污灌区土壤Ｐｂ、Ｃｄ含量比清灌区有明显的增加，且均高于国内外重点城市的土壤背景值，已接近或达到轻度污染程度。     

土壤残渣有机质与固定态铵之间的关系

采集了全国不同类型的土壤40个,分析了土壤全氮、有机质、固定态铵、剩余有机质（KOBr处理后的土壤有机质）、残渣有机质（KOBr-HF处理后的土壤有机质）含量.结果表明,以2∶1型粘粒矿物为主土壤的残渣有机质含量与固定态铵含量之间呈极显著正相关（r=0.831^＊＊）,晶格之间存在的有机质（即残渣有机质与剩余有机质之差值）含量则与固定态铵含量之间也呈极显著正相关（r=0.832^＊＊）,而以1∶1型粘粒矿物为主土壤的残渣有机质含量和晶格有机质含量与固定态铵含量不相关;土壤剩余有机质、残渣有机质的含量分别为2.59 g kg^-1、3.70 g kg^-1,分别占土壤有机质的10%和16%.土壤残渣C/N比（平均值为16.69）明显高于原土壤（平均值为5.37）.     

Status and distribution of soil sulphur fractions,total nitrogen and organic carbon in camp and non-camp soils of grazed pastures supplied with long-term superphosphate

Summary Topsoils (0–75 mm) from four different soil types were collected from stock camp and non-camp (main grazing area) areas of grazed pastures in New Zealand, which had been fertilised annually with superphosphate for more than 15 years, in order to assess the effects of grazing animals on the status and distribution of soil S fractions and organic matter. These soils were analysed for organic C, total N, total S, C-bonded S, hydriodic acid-reducible S, 0.01 M CaCl₂, and 0.04 M Ca(H₂PO₄)₂-extractable S fractions, and soil pH. Soil inorganic and organic S fractions extracted by NaHCO₃ and NaOH extractants were also determined. The results obtained showed that camp soils contain higher soil pH, organic C, total N, total S, organic (C-bonded S and hydriodic acid-reducible S) and inorganic S fractions, NaHCO₃-and NaOH-extractable soil S fractions but a lower anion retention capacity than non-camp soils, attributed to a higher return of plant litter and animal excreta to camp soils. In both soils, total S, organic S, C-bonded S, and hydriodic acid-reducible S were significantly correlated with organic C (r0.90***, ***P0.001) and total N (r0.95***), suggesting that C, N, and S are integral components of soil organic matter. However, C: N : S ratios tended to be lower in camp (60: 5.6: 1–103: 7.2: 1) than in non-camp soils (60:6.1:1–117:8.3:1). Most (>95%) of the total soil S in camp and non-camp soils is present as organic S, while the remainder is readily soluble and adsorbed S (i.e. Ca(H₂PO₄)₂-extractable S). C-bonded S and hydriodic acid-reducible S constituted 55%–74% and 26%–45% of total S, respectively, reflecting a regular return of plant litter and animal excreta to the grazed pastures. NaHCO₃, and especially NaOH, extracted significantly higher amounts of total soil S (13%–22% and 49%–75%, respectively) than Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ or CaCl₂ (<5%). In addition, NaHCO₃ and NaOH-extractable soil S fractions were significantly rorrelated with soil organic S (r0.94***), C-bonded S (r0.90***) and hydriodic acid-reducible soil S (r0.93***). Differences between soils in either camp or non-camp areas were related to their sulphate retention capacities, as soils with high sulphate retention capacities (>45%) contain higher levels of C-bonded and hydriodic acid-reducible S fractions than those of low sulphate retention soils (<10%). Long-term annual superphosphate applications significantly increased the accumulation of soil organic and inorganic S fractions, and organic C and total N in the topsoil, although this accumulation did not occur when the superphosphate application rates were increased from 188 to 376 kg ha^-1 year^-1.     

Effects of cow manure and sewage sludge on the activity and kinetics of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-glutaminase in soil

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of cow manure and sewage sludge application on the activity and kinetics of soil l-glutaminase. Soil samples were collected from a farm experiment in which 0, 25, and 100 Mg ha⁻¹ of either cow manure or sewage sludge had been applied annually for 4 consecutive years to a clay loam soil (Typic Haplargid). A chemical fertilizer treatment had also been applied. Results indicated that the effects of chemical fertilizer and the solid waste application on pH in the 18 surface soil (0–15 cm) samples were not significant. The organic C content, however, was affected significantly by the different treatments, being the greatest in soils treated with 100 Mg ha⁻¹ cow manure, and the least in the control treatment. l-Glutaminase activity was generally greater in solid-waste applied soils and was significantly correlated (r = 0.939, P < 0.001) with organic C content of soils. The values of l-glutaminase maximum velocity (Vmax) ranged from 331 to 1,389 mg NH₄ ⁺–N kg⁻¹ 2 h⁻¹. Values of the Michaelis constant (K _m) ranged from 35.1 to 71.7 mM. Organic C content of the soils were significantly correlated with V _max (r = 0.919, P < 0.001) and K _m (r = 0.763, P < 0.001) values. These results demonstrate the considerable influence that solid waste application has on this enzymatic reaction involved in N mineralization in soil.     

Long-term effects of heavy metals from composted municipal waste on some enzyme activities in a cultivated soil

A 3-year field experiment on a calcareous Fluventic Xerochrept planted with corn (Zea mays L.) was carried out to evaluate the effects of amending the soil with high and low rates of composted municipal waste on soil enzyme activities (alkaline phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase, arylsulphatase, dehydrogenase, and l-asparaginase). These enzyme activities all increased when compost was added at rates of up to 90 t ha^-1, and the phosphatases continued to show a linear increase with compost rates of up to 270 t ha^-1. The addition of mineral fertilizer increased enzyme activities in unamended soil, and masked the stimulating effect of compost on the amended soils. Heavy metals did not affect soil enzyme activities up to a compost addition of at least three times the amount specified by Italian law.     

Impacts of elemental S applied under various temperature and moisture regimes on pH and available P in acidic, neutral and alkaline soils

We evaluated the effect of elemental S (S⁰) under three moisture (40, 60, 120% water-filled pore space; WFPS) and three temperature regimes (12, 24, 36°C) on changes in pH and available P (0.5 N NaHCO₃-extractable P) concentrations in acidic (pH 4.9), neutral (pH 7.1) and alkaline (pH 10.2) soils. Repacked soil cores were incubated for 0, 14, 28 and 42 days. Application of S⁰ did not alter the trends of pH in acidic and neutral soils at all moisture regimes but promoted a decrease in the pH of alkaline soil under aerobic conditions (40%, 60% WFPS). Moisture and temperature had profound effects on the available P concentrations in all three soils, accumulation of available P being greatest under flooded conditions (120% WFPS) at 36°C. Application of S⁰ in acidic, neutral and alkaline soils resulted in the net accumulation of 16.5, 14.5 and 13 g P g^–1 soil after 42 days at 60% WFPS, but had no effect under flooded conditions. The greatest available P accumulations in the respective soils were 19, 19.5 and 20 g P g^–1 soil (equivalent to 38, 41, 45 kg P ha^–1) with the combined effects of 36°C, 60% WFPS and applied S⁰. The results of our study revealed that oxidation of S⁰ lowered the pH of alkaline soil (r=–0.88, P<0.01), which in turn enhanced available P concentrations. Also, considering the significant relationship between the release of sulphate and accumulation of P, even in acidic soil (r=0.92, P<0.01) and neutral soil (r=0.85, P<0.01) where the decrease in pH was smaller, it is possible that the stimulatory effect of sulphate on the availability of P was due to its concurrent desorption from the colloidal surface, release from fixation sites and/or mineralization of organic P. Thus, in the humid tropics and irrigated subtropics where high moisture and temperature regimes are prevalent, the application of S⁰ could be beneficial not only in alleviating S deficiency in soils but also for enhancing the availability of P in arable soils, irrespective of their initial pH.     

土壤钾释放速率参数的理论计算及其实践应用

选用二种电场强度研究２０个低丘红壤玉米田试验的钾释放速率特性,用二级动力学方程来表征,并求得土壤释放的速率方程和钾释放的初始速率等参数。     

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.     

Toxic levels of metals in Ferralsols under natural vegetation and crops in New Caledonia

The chemistry of soil solutions and the potential toxicity of trace metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and Mn) were investigated on soils formed on ultramafic rocks. Soil solutions were collected along a soil toposequence under natural vegetation and under a cropped field. In the latter, metal speciation and species activity were computed with the WHAM 6 model. Total element concentrations varied with the soil topographic position. Upslope, in well‐drained soils, they were relatively small with mean concentrations of <0.2 µmol l⁻¹ for Co and Cr and <2 µmol l⁻¹ for Ni and Mn. Downslope, in temporarily waterlogged soils, concentrations reached 37 (Mn), 5.6 (Ni), 1.9 (Co) and 0.1 (Cr) µmol l⁻¹. Under crops, Ni, Mn and Co concentrations were similar to those under natural vegetation, but Cr concentration averaged 5 µmol l⁻¹. Cu concentration was close to 1 µmol l⁻¹. Free‐ion species amounted to 53–71% of all species for Co, Ni and Mn but only 5% for Cu. Cr was almost entirely in the Cr(VI) form (CrO, HCrO. The free‐metal‐ion activities were in the range 26–81% of the corresponding free‐metal‐ion concentration. Comparing our data with levels that are toxic to crops, Ni and Cr are potentially toxic in the well‐drained and the poorly‐drained soils. In the latter, Co and Mn are also potentially toxic. Both the large concentration of metals and the chemical species in which they occur in solution could limit the use of the land for agricultural purpose.     

Mineral-fixed ammonium in clay- and silt-size fractions of soils incubated with 15N-ammonium sulphate for five years

Summary Four soils with 6, 12, 23, and 47% of clay were incubated for 5 years with ¹⁵N-labeled (NH_{4 2}SO₄ and hemicellulose. The incubations took place at 20°C and 55% water-holding capacity. Samples of whole soils, and clay- (<2 m) and silt-(2–20 m) size fractions (isolated by ultrasonic dispersion and gravity sedimentation) were analysed for labeled and native mineral-fixed ammonium. Mineral-fixed ammonium in non-incubated soil samples accounted for 3.4%–8.3% of the total N and showed a close positive correlation with the soil clay content (r ² = 0.997). After 5 years of incubation, the content of mineral-fixed ammonium in the clay fraction was 255–430 g N g^–1, corresponding to 71%–82% of the mineral-fixed ammonium in whole soils. Values for silt were 72–166 g N g^–1 (14%–33% of whole soil content). In the soils with 6% and 12% clay, less than 1 % of the labeled clay N was present as mineral-fixed ammonium. In the soil with 23% clay, 3% of the labeled N in the clay was mineral-fixed ammonium. Labeled mineral-fixed ammonium was not detected in the silt fractions. For whole soils, and clay and silt fractions, the proportion of native N present as mineral-fixed ammonium varied between 3% and 6%. In contrast, the proportion of labeled N found as mineral-fixed ammonium in the soil with 4701o clay was 23%, 38% and 31% for clay, silt, and whole-soil samples, respectively. Corresponding values for native mineral-fixed ammonium were 12%, 16%, and 10%. Consequently, studies based on soil particle-size fractions and addressing the N turnover in clay-rich soils should consider the pool of mineral-fixed ammonium, especially when comparing results from different size fractions with those from fractions isolated from soils of a widely different textural composition.     

Phosphate solubilization by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium</Emphasis> spp. closely associated with wheat roots

In this study we found that Penicillium spp. exhibiting P-solubilizing activity are common both on and in the roots of wheat plants grown in southern Australian agricultural soils. From 2,500 segments of washed and surface-disinfested root pieces, 608 and 223 fungi were isolated on a selective medium, respectively. All isolates were screened for P solubilization on solid medium containing hydroxyapatite (HA); 47 isolates (5.7%) solubilized HA and were identified as isolates of Penicillium or its teleomorphs. These isolates were evaluated for solubilization of Idaho rock phosphate (RP) in liquid culture. Penicillium bilaiae strain RS7B-SD1 was the most effective, mobilizing 101.7 mg P l^–1 after 7 days. Other effective isolates included Penicillium simplicissimum (58.8 mg P l^–1), five strains of Penicillium griseofulvum (56.1–47.6 mg P l^–1), Talaromyces flavus (48.6 mg P l^–1) and two unidentified Penicillium spp. (50.7 and 50 mg P l^–1). A newly isolated strain of Penicillium radicum (KC1-SD1) mobilized 43.3 mg P l^–1. RP solubilization, biomass production and solution pH for P. bilaiae RS7B-SD1, P. radicum FRR4718 or Penicillium sp. 1 KC6-W2 was determined over time. P. bilaiae RS7B-SD1 solubilized the greatest amount of RP (112.7 mg P l^–1) and had the highest RP-solubilizing activity per unit of biomass produced (up to 603.2 g P l^–1 mg biomass^–1 at 7 days growth). This study has identified new isolates of Penicillium fungi with high mineral phosphate solubilizing activity. These fungi are being investigated for the ability to increase crop production on strong P-retaining soils in Australia.     

Recovery of fertilizer nitrogen from continuous corn soils under contrasting tillage management

Tillage systems influence soil properties and may influence the availability of applied and mineralized soil N. This laboratory study (20°C) compared N cycling in two soils, a Wooster (fine, loamy Typic Fragiudalf) and a Hoytville (fine, illitic Mollic Epiaqualf) under continuous corn (Zea mays) production since at least 1963 with no-tillage (NT), minimum (CT) and plow tillage (PT) management. Fertilizer was added at the rate of 100 mg ¹⁵N kg^–1–1 soil as 99.9% ¹⁵N as NH₄Cl or Ca(NO₃)₂ and the soils were incubated in leaching columns for 1 week at 34 kPa before being leached periodically with 0.05 M CaCl₂ for 26 weeks. As expected, the majority of the ¹⁵NO₃^– additions were removed from both soils with the first leaching. The majority of applied ¹⁵NH₄⁺ additions were recovered as ¹⁵NO₃^– by week 5, with the NT soils demonstrating faster nitrification rates compared with soils under other tillage practices. For the remaining 22 weeks, only low levels of ¹⁵NO₃^– were leached from the soils regardless of tillage management. In the coarser textured Wooster soils (150 g clay kg^–1), mineralization of native soil N in the fertilized soils was related to the total N content (r² 0.99) and amino acid N (r² 0.99), but N mineralization in the finer textured Hoytville (400 g clay kg^–1) was constant across tillage treatments and not significantly related to soil total N or amino acid N content. The release of native soil N was enhanced by NH₄⁺ or NO₃^– addition compared to the values released by the unfertilized control and exceeded possible pool substitution. The results question the use of incubation N mineralization tests conducted with unfertilized soils as a means for predicting soil N availability for crop N needs.     

Distribution of two C cycle enzymes in soil aggregates of a prairie chronosequence

Knowledge of the cycling and compartmentalization of soil C that influence C storage may lead to the development of strategies to increase soil C storage potentials. The objective of this study was to use soil hydrolases and soil aggregate fractionation to explore the relationship between C cycling activity and soil aggregate structure. The prairie chronosequence soils were native prairie (NP) and agricultural (AG) and tallgrass prairies restored from agriculture in 1979 (RP-79) and 1993 (RP-93). Assays for -glucosidase (E.C. 3.2.1.21) and N-acetyl--glucosaminidase (NAGase, EC 3.2.1.30) activities were conducted on four aggregate size fractions (>2 mm, 1–2 mm, 250 m–1 mm, and 2–250 m) from each soil. There were significantly greater amounts of >2-mm aggregates in the RP-79 and RP-93 soils compared to the NP and AG soils due to rapid C accumulation from native plant establishment. Activities for both enzymes (g PNP g^–1 soil h^–1) were greatest in the microaggregate (2–250 m) compared to the macroaggregate (>2 mm) fraction; however, microaggregates are a small proportion of each soil (<12%) compared to the macroaggregates (75%). The RP soils have a hierarchical aggregate system with most of the enzyme activity in the largest aggregate fractions. The NP and AG soils show no hierarchical structure based on aggregate C accretion and significant C enzyme activity in smaller aggregates. The distribution of enzyme activity may play a role in the storage of C whereby the aggrading restored soils may be more susceptible to C loss during turnover of macroaggregates compared to the AG and NP soils with less macroaggregates.