Impact of soil fumigation practices on soil nematodes and microbial biomass

This study was designed to understand the impact of methyl bromide (MB) (CHaBr) and its alternatives on both free-living and root-knot nematodes in the soil. A randomized complete block experiment with six treatments and 4 replicates (each replicate in a separate greenhouse) was established in Qingzhou, Shandong Province, China. In addition to MB and untreated control (CK) treatments there were four alternative soil fumigation practices including MB virtually impermeable films (VIF), metam sodium (MS), MS VIF and soil solarization combined with selected biological control agents (SS BCA). Two tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) cultivars, cv. Maofen-802 from the Xian Institute of Vegetable Science, China, and cv. AF179 Brillante from the Israeli Hazera Quality Seeds, were selected as test crops. The results indicated that Rhabditidae was the most dominant population with percentage abundance as high as 85% of the total number of identified free-living nematodes, followed by that of Cephalobidae. Methyl bromide and its alternatives except for the non-chemical SS BCA treatment controlled the target pest, root-knot nematodes. Also, the impact of the three chemical alternatives on free-living nematode number and functional group abundance was similar to the impact associated with a typical methyl bromide application. Chemical fumigation practices, especially that with MB, significantly reduced the number of nematodes in the soil and simultaneously significantly reduced the number of nematode genera thereby reducing nematode diversity. All the four soil chemical fumigation activities decreased soil microbial biomass and had an obvious initial impact on microorganism biomass. Furthermore, both plant-parasitic and fungivore nematodes were positively correlated with soil microbial biomass.     

Ecotoxicological assessment of nickel pollution of soil and water environments adjacent to soddy–podzolic soil

The indicators of functioning of soil microorganisms in soddy–podzolic soil contaminated with Ni compounds show different ranges of soil ecotoxicity. A halving of soil microorganisms' nitrogen-fixing activity has been shown in slightly acidic soddy–podzolic cultivated soil with a Ni concentration of 150 mg/kg and for noncultivated acidic soils with a Ni concentration 100 mg/kg. The reduction of denitrification activity in cultivated soil has been observed with a Ni concentration of 500 mg/kg, and in uncultivated soil it has been observed at a Ni dose of 100 mg/kg. The inhibition of soil respiration in slightly acidic soil occurred only at the highest dose of Ni, 1000 mg/kg, while in the acidic soil it took place at 300 mg/kg. Biotesting based on bacterial luminescence can be used for determination of soil pollution with heavy metals such as Ni, as well as for the assessment of the toxicity of aqueous environments in contact with contaminated soils.     

Effects of soil compaction and water‐filled pore space on soil microbial activity and N losses

Abstract

Soil compaction is a significant production problem for agriculture because of its negative impact on plant growth, which in many cases has been attributed to changes in soil N transformations. A laboratory experiment was conducted to study the effect of soil compaction and water‐filled pore space on soil microbial activity and N losses. A hydraulic soil compaction device was used to evenly compress a Norfolk loamy sand (fine‐loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Kandiudults) soil into 50 mm diameter by 127 mm long cores. A factorial arrangement of three bulk density levels (1.4, 1.6, and 1.8 Mg/m³) and four water‐filled pore space levels (60, 65, 70, 75%) was used. Fertilizer application of 168 kg N/ha was made as 1.0 atom % ¹⁵N as NH₄NO₃. Soil cores were incubated at 25°C for 21 d. Microbial activity decreased with both increasing water‐filled pore space and soil bulk density as measured by CO₂‐C entrapment. Nitrogen loss increased with increasing bulk density from 92.8 to 334.4 g N/m³ soil at 60% water‐filled pore space, for 1.4 and 1.8 Mg/m³, respectively. These data indicate that N loss and soil microbial activity depends not only on the pore space occupied by water, but also on structure and size of soil pores which are altered by compaction.     

Effects of concentrated application of soil conditioners on soil–air permeability and absorption of nitrogen by young peach trees

ABSTRACT

To study the effects of concentrated application of two soil conditioners, two-year-old peach trees (Prunus persica L.‘Chunmei’) were selected to test the soil air permeability, ¹⁵N absorption and the growth of trees. The experiment comprised three treatments involved concentrated applying either polyacrylamide (treatment I) or Agri-SC (a proprietary soil conditioner, treatment II) at the bottom of each pit or neither of the two (treatment III). And then the whole pit was back-filled with soil. Neither digging a hole nor use of soil conditioners as the control (CK). The results showed that volumetric oxygen content in gases in 5–10 cm soil layer upon concentrated application layer was significantly higher in treatments I and II than that in CK. Soil volumetric water content upon concentrated application layer was higher in treatments I and II than that in CK. Compared with CK, no matter root activity, leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content, or leaf net photosynthesis rate in treatments I and II increased in August and October, which promoted the growth of new shoots and the stem. Compared with CK, the leaf superoxide dismutase activity increased 31.24%, 22.66% and 4.74%, Guaiacol peroxidase increased 21.88%, 13.25% and 3.39%, Catalase increased 11.80%, 7.92% and 1.24% respectively in treatments I, II and III in October. As a result, values of the total roots surface area, total root volume, number of root tips, dry matter accumulation, and organ nitrogen content were markedly higher in treatments I and II than that in CK. And the ¹⁵N utilization rate significantly increased 24.22% and 10.40% respectively in treatments I and II. The result suggested that concentrated application of soil conditioners formed a rhizosphere water storage and breathable layer that not only stores moisture but is also permeable to air. That, in turn, promotes plant growth, increases the nitrogen use efficiency.     

Effect of soil amendments on fractionation of Selenium‐enriched soil

Abstract

This study was to determine the effect of soil amendments on the fractionation of selenium (Se) using incubation experiments under simulated upland and flooded conditions. The treatments were as follows: 1) control [soil + sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃) (1 mg Se kg^‐1)]; 2) control + calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) (5 g kg^‐1); 3) control + alfalfa (40 g kg^‐1); and 4) control + CaCO₃ (5 g kg^‐1) + alfalfa (40 g kg^‐1). After a 90‐day incubation, soil was sampled and fractionated into five fractions: 1) potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄)‐soluble fraction (available to plants); 2) potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH₂PO₄)‐exchangeable fraction (potentially available); 3) ammonium hydroxide (NH₃H₂O)‐soluble fraction (potentially available); 4) hydrochloric acid (HCl)‐extractable fraction (unavailable); and 5) residual fraction (unavailable). Compared with the control, CaCO₃ increased the K₂SO₄ fraction at the expense of the NH₃H₂O fraction. Alfalfa increased both the K₂SO₄ and residual fractions but reduced the KH₂PO₄ and NH₃H₂O fractions. The CaCO₃‐alfalfa treatment had a similar effect to the alfalfa treatment alone. The comparison between the upland and flooded conditions showed that the flooded condition generally increased the residual fraction and decreased the potentially‐available fractions. In general, CaCO₃ was a better amendment because it not only increased the available fraction but also maintained the potentially available fractions at a high level. The application of Na₂SeO₃ and use of appropriate soil amendments can improve Se availability in soil.     

Assay and properties of 1,3-β-glucanase in soil

1.3-β-Glucanase (laminarinase) activity in soil was measured using laminarin as the substrate. Activity was optimal in sodium acid-maleate buffer at pH 5.4 and followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Three methods of analysing kinetic data gave K_m values of 0.23, 0.21 and 0.20 mg.ml^?1. V_max values were 0.41, 0.39 and 0.39 μmole glucose, g^?1. h^?1. The activation energy of the reaction was 49 kJ. mole^?1. A proportion of the activity was highly resistant to storage at various temperatures: at 50 C 1,3-β-glucanase had a half-life of 28 days.     

Integrated effect of potassium humate and α-tocopherol applications on soil characteristics and performance of Phaseolus vulgaris plants grown on a saline soil

Soil salinity is one of the major problems of agriculture that limits plant performance, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. Therefore, the effect of potassium humate (KH) and α-tocopherol (TOC), used singly or in integration, on soil characteristics, and on plant performance, physio-biochemical attributes and antioxidative defense system of Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants grown under salt stress (EC = 6.35–6.42 dS m^?1) was investigated. Half g KH kg^?1 soil was used as soil amendment before sowing and 1.0 mM TOC was used as foliar spray twice; at 25 and 40 days after sowing. Results showed that, KH significantly improved soil physical and chemical properties, which positively reflected on plant growth and productivity, physio-biochemical attributes, mineral nutrients (N, P, K and Ca), osmoprotectants (soluble sugars and proline), non-enzymatic (ascorbic acid, glutathione and TOC) and enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX)) antioxidants compared to untreated controls. The single TOC foliar application recorded the same positive results of KH. Integrated KH + TOC treatment was most effective compared to the single treatments. The above results recommended benefits of this integrated KH + TOC for the possibility of sustainable agronomic performance of common beans grown on saline soils.     

Estimation of turnover and equilibrium of soil organic matter using a mathematical approach

The methods based on N uptake of aerial-plants, soil organic matter （SOM） dynamics, Jenny＇s equation, and actual measurement of long-term field experiments in Jiaxing, Quzhou, Huangyan and Hangzhou of Zhejiang Province, China were used to determine the organic mineralization rate being helpful in estimating the organic requirement for SOM equilibrium. The results showed that the estimated mineralization ratios of SOM for Jiaxing and Quzhou were, respectively, 0.0404 and 0.0508 based on N uptake of aerial-plants in non-fertilized plots; 0.0405 and 0.012 using SOM dynamics in non-fertilized plots; and 0.0413 and 0.0513 using the actual investigated data and Jenny＇s equation. With Jenny＇s equation, soil organic C balance in manure ＋ N-P-K plots was estimated at nearly 28.8 g kg^-1 for Jiaxing and 32.4 g kg^-1 for Quzhou with predicted SOM linearly related to the actual investigated values （r^2 = 0.9640 for Jiaxing and 0.8541 for Quzhou）. To maintain the SOM balance in the non-fertilized plots the recommended rate of organic materials was 3 000-6 600 kg ha^-1, and the relevant rates of farm yard manure （FYM） in the manure and N-P-K plots were estimated at 3 375 （dry） and 17670 kg ha^-1 （wet） for Jiaxing, 1845 （dry） and 6090 kg ha^-1 （wet） for Quzhou.     

Using micro focus industrial computed tomography to characterize the effects of soil type and soil depth on soil pore characteristics,morphology, and soil compression in Xi’an,China

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Land subsidence has caused serious geological damage in many countries, including China. Soil pore number, size, shape, and pore size distribution affect soil...     

Spatial variation of soil δ13C and its relation to carbon input and soil texture in a subtropical lowland woodland

Spatial patterns of soil δ¹³C were quantified in a subtropical C₃ woodland in the Rio Grande Plains of southern Texas, USA that developed during the past 100 yrs on a lowland site that was once C₄ grassland. A 50 × 30 m plot and two transects were established, and soil cores (0–15 cm, n = 207) were collected, spatially referenced, and analyzed for δ¹³C, soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil particle size distribution. Cross-variogram analysis indicated that SOC remaining from the past C₄ grassland community co-varied with soil texture over a distance of 23.7 m. In contrast, newer SOC derived from C₃ woody plants was spatially correlated with root biomass within a range of 7.1 m. Although mesquite trees initiate grassland-to-woodland succession and create well-defined islands of soil modification in adjoining upland areas at this site, direct gradient and proximity analyses accounting for the number, size, and distance of mesquite plants in the vicinity of soil sample points failed to reveal any relationship between mesquite tree abundance and soil properties. Variogram analysis further indicated soil δ¹³C, texture and organic carbon content were spatially autocorrelated over distances (ranges = 15.6, 16.2 and 18.7 m, respectively) far greater than that of individual tree canopy diameters in these lowland communities. Cross-variogram analysis also revealed that δ¹³C – SOC and δ¹³C-texture relationships were spatially structured at distances much greater than that of mesquite canopies (range = 17.6 and 16.5 m, respectively). These results suggest fundamental differences in the functional nature and consequences of shrub encroachment between upland and lowland landscapes and challenge us to identify the earth system processes and ecosystem structures that are driving carbon cycling at these contrasting scales. Improvements in our understanding how controls over soil carbon cycling change with spatial scale will enhance our ability to design vegetation and soil sampling schemes; and to more effectively use soil δ¹³C as a tool to infer vegetation and soil organic carbon dynamics in ecosystems where C₃–C₄ transitions and changes in structure and function are occurring.     

Microbial DNA extraction and analyses of soil iron–manganese nodules

Iron–manganese (Fe–Mn) nodules and concretions are soil new growth, reflecting soil environmental conditions during their formation. Bacteria play a dominant role in the oxidation of dissolved Mn(II) in aqueous systems and the formation of marine and freshwater Fe–Mn nodules. However, the role and significance of bacteria in soil Fe–Mn nodule formation have not been well recognized. In this paper, microbial DNA was directly extracted from two Fe–Mn nodule samples collected from Wuhan and Guiyang in central China. The extracted DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned. The clones were then screened by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). Twenty patterns were obtained for Wuhan sample and Guiyang sample, respectively. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the bacterial compositions of the Fe–Mn nodules were mainly belonged to Firmicutes, β-proteobacteria, γ-proteobacteria branches of the domain bacteria. These divisions had close relativeness with Mn(II)-oxidizing bacteria identified from marine Fe–Mn nodules, implying the possible contributions of these bacteria to soil Fe–Mn nodule formation.     

Zinc,copper, and nickel availabilities as determined by soil solution and DTPA extraction of a sludge‐amended soil

Abstract

Extracting sludge‐amended soil with DTPA does not always give a reliable measure of plant‐available heavy metals. The major purpose of this greenhouse pot study was to help explain why. Two anaerobically digested sludges from sewages treated with either Ca(OH)₂or FeCl₃were applied to 3‐kg samples of a Mollic Albaqualf previously limed with Ca(OH)₂rates of 0, 2.5, and 10g/pot that resulted in pHs in the check pots of 5.4, 6.2, or 7.7 after the first harvest. Sludge rates provided 0, 200, 40, 800, and 1600 mg Zn kg^‐1of soil. Two consecutive crops of soybeans (Glycine MaxL.) were grown for 42 d each in the greenhouse. DTPA‐extractable, soil‐solution, and plant concentrations of Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Zn²⁺were measured.

Dry matter yields were depressed due to salt toxicity, while DTPA‐extracted Cu²⁺correlated with plant uptake of Cu²⁺for both sludges. DTPA‐extracted Ni²⁺also correlated with plant Ni²⁺from the Ca(OH)₂‐sludge‐amended soil, although DTPA‐extracted Ni²⁺did not correlate with plant uptake of Ni²⁺from the FeCl₃‐sludge‐amended soil, DTPA‐extracted Zn did not correlate with plant uptake of Zn²⁺from any sludge‐amended soil. Soil‐solution composition correlated with plant uptake of Cu²⁺and Ni²⁺in both sludges; it also correlated with plant uptake of Zn²⁺from FeCl₃‐sludge‐amended soil but not from Ca(OH)₂‐sludge‐amended soil. DTPA extraction probably failed with Ni²⁺and Zn²⁺because of (i) its ineffectiveness at low pH, (ii) the inability of DTPA to buffer each soil extract near pH 7.3, and (iii) increased amounts of soluble chelated micronutrients at higher sludge rates and higher soil pHs. Soil‐solution composition seemed to fail only where micronutrient cations in solution probably were present largely as organic chelates     

Acid soil tolerances of two wheat cultivars related to soil Ph,KCl‐extractable aluminum and degree of aluminum saturation

Aluminum toxicity, associated with soil acidity, is a major growth‐limiting factor for plants in many parts of the world. More precise criteria are needed for the identification of potential Al toxicity in acid soils. The objective of the current study was to relate the acid soil tolerances of two wheat cultivars to three characteristics of an acid Tatum subsoil (clayey, mixed, thermic, typic Hapludult): pH in a 1:1 soil to water suspension; KCl‐extractable Al; and degree of Al saturation. Aluminum‐tolerant ‘BH 1146’ (Brazil) and Al‐sensitive ‘Sonora 63’ (Mexico) wheat cultivars were grown in greenhouse pots of soil treated with CaCO₃ to establish final soil pH levels of 4.1, 4.6, 4.7, 4.9, 5.2 and 7.3. Soil Al, Ca and Mg were extracted with 1 N KCl, and Al saturation was calculated as KCl‐Al/KCl Al + Ca + Mg%.

Within the soil pH range of 4.1 to 4.9, BH 1146 tops and roots produced significantly more dry matter than did those of Sonora 63; however, at pH 5.2 and 7.3, the top and root yields of the two cultivars were not significantly different. Significant cultivar differences in yield occurred over a range of 36 to 82% saturation of the Tatum soil. Graphs of relative top or root yields against soil pH, KCl‐extractable Al and Al saturation indicated that the two cultivars could be separated for tolerance to Tatum soil under the following conditions: pH less than 5.2 (1:1 soil‐water); KCl‐Al levels greater than 2 c mole kg^‐1 and Al saturations greater than 20%. Results demonstrated that any soil test used to predict Al toxicity in acid soils must take into account the Al tolerances of the plant cultivars involved.     

Do elevated soil concentrations of metals affect the diversity and activity of soil invertebrates in the long‐term?

This study aimed to elucidate the response of diversity and activity of soil invertebrates to elevated soil metal concentrations that were a result of sewage sludge application. Field sampling of soil invertebrates was carried out from 2002 to 2004 at an experimental site established in 1982 to test the effects on crop production of metal contamination from sewage sludge applications with elevated concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) with certain treatments exceeding the current UK statutory limits for the safe use of sludge on land. At metal concentrations within the limits, none of the invertebrates sampled showed adverse effects on their abundance or overall community diversity (from Shannon–Weiner index). At concentrations above the limits, individual taxa showed sensitivity to different metals, but overall diversity was not affected. Earthworm abundance was significantly reduced at total Cu concentrations at and above 176 mg kg^?1, while nematode and enchytraeid abundances were sensitive to Cu and high Zn concentrations. Correspondingly, litter decomposition was lower in Zn and Cu treatments although there was no direct relationship between decomposition and soil invertebrate abundance or diversity. Such enduring changes in both soil biodiversity and biological activity around the current UK regulatory limits warrant further investigation to determine whether they indicate detrimental damage to soil functioning over the long‐term.     

Snow cover and soil moisture controls of freeze–thaw-related soil gas fluxes from a typical semi-arid grassland soil: a laboratory experiment

In situ field measurements as well as targeted laboratory studies have shown that freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs) affect soil trace gas fluxes. However, most of past laboratory studies adjusted soil moisture before soil freezing, thereby neglecting that snow cover or water from melting snow may modify effects of FTCs on soil trace gas fluxes. In the present laboratory study with a typical semi-arid grassland soil, three different soil moisture levels (32 %, 41 %, and 50 % WFPS) were established (a) prior to soil freezing or (b) by adding fresh snow to the soil surface after freezing to simulate field conditions and the effect of the melting snow on CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O fluxes during FTCs more realistically. Our results showed that adjusting soil moisture by watering before soil freezing resulted in significantly different cumulative fluxes of CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O throughout three FTCs as compared to the snow cover treatment, especially at a relatively high soil moisture level of 50 % WFPS. An increase of N₂O emissions was observed during thawing for both treatments. However, in the watering treatment, this increase was highest in the first thawing cycle and decreased in successive cycles, while in the snow cover treatment, a repetition of the FTCs resulted in a further increase of N₂O emissions. These differences might be partly due to the different soil water dynamics during FTCs in the two treatments. CO₂ emissions were a function of soil moisture, with emissions being largest at 50 % WFPS and smallest at 32 % WFPS. The largest N₂O emissions were observed at WFPS values around 50 %, whereas there were only small or negligible N₂O emissions from soil with relatively low soil water content, which indicates that a threshold value of soil moisture might exist that triggers N₂O peaks during thawing.     

Studies on microörganisms and their activities in soil Part. 2. Virgin and cultivated soil of the same origin

The nature of soil is modified differently depending upon the artificial condition such as its utilization or management. It is therefore expected that the microbiological characteristic of soil is changed also. Greaves¹⁾ and Williams²⁾ reported that the reclamation of virgin soil brought about a change of bacterial count. Suzuki et al³⁾ observed that the kind of fungi differed between a virgin and a cultivated soil and that the vegetative mycelium was numerous in the former than in the latter. On the other hand, according to W aksman and Starkey⁴⁾, the bacterial count differed depending upon the fertility of soil. Singh⁵⁾ reported also that the number of fungi and actinomycetes was higher in a fertile than in an infertile soil. Lochhead⁶⁾, and Lochhead and Chasen studied the bacterial flora of a fertile (long-continued application of manure) and an infertile (no fertilizer for many years) soil and found that a certain difference could be observed when morphological, physiological and nutritional classification are tried.     

Speciation and biochemical transformations of sulfur and copper in rice rhizosphere and bulk soil—XANES evidence of sulfur and copper associations

Purpose  

Contamination of heavy metals in soil and its subsequent accumulation along the food chain is a potential risk to human health. Cu speciation in soil–plant system, particularly on the availability to plant roots, has obtained great attention. X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) provides information about the bonding of Cu soil components at the molecular scale. In paddy soils, changes of redox conditions led to microbially mediated sulfur transformation, thus affecting heavy metal behavior. The objective of this work was to investigate how sulfur transformation in a paddy soil affected Cu biogeochemical processes.     

Spatial distribution of glomalin-related soil protein and its relationships with root mycorrhization,soil aggregates,carbohydrates, activity of protease and β-glucosidase in the rhizosphere of Citrus unshiu

Relationships between the spatial distributions of glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) and soil aggregates, carbohydrates or relevant enzymes are poorly studied. We found that two categories of GRSP, the easily extractable Bradford-reactive soil protein (EE-BRSP) and total BRSP (T-BRSP), respectively ranged between 0.3–0.6 and 0.5–0.8 mg/g DW soil, and these two BRSPs decreased with the increase of soil depth (0–40 cm) in the rhizosphere of a 22-year-old Citrus unshiu orchard. Both EE-BRSP and T-BRSP were significantly positively correlated with mycorrhization, 0.25–0.50 mm soil water-stable aggregates, water-extractable or hydrolyzable carbohydrates, and β-glucosidase, but significantly negatively correlated with protease. Our results demonstrate that the spatial distribution of GRSP is significantly affected by mycorrhization, soil carbohydrate, β-glucosidase and protease.     

Root development in potato and carrot crops – influences of soil compaction

Row crops such as potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) and carrots (Daucus carota L.) are of high economic value in the Nordic countries. Their production is becoming more and more specialized, including continuous arable cropping and heavier farm machinery, with increased risk of soil compaction. The result may be restricted root development and economic losses. Potatoes have widely branched adventitious roots, whereas carrots have taproots with fibrous roots extending from them. Under optimal soil conditions, total root length per surface area may reach more than 10 km m^?2 for both species. Maximal root depth is about 140 cm for potato and more than 200 cm in carrots. Most of the root mass is usually distributed within the upper 100 cm, whereof more than 50% may be deeper than 30 cm. Soil compaction causes a dense soil with few large pores, poor drainage and reduced aeration, especially in wet soils with low organic matter content and high proportions of silt or clay. With compacted subsoil layers, roots will be concentrated more in the upper layers and thus explore a smaller soil volume. This will lead to reduced water and nutrient uptake, reduced yields and low nutrient utilization efficiency. In this review article, we describe the interactions between root development and soil conditions for potatoes and carrots, with special focus on sub-optimal conditions caused by soil compaction. We also discuss the effects of tilling strategies, organic material, irrigation and fertilization strategies and controlled traffic systems on root and yield development. To reduce subsoil compaction there is a need to implement practises such as controlled traffic farming, new techniques for ploughing, better timing of soil operations, crop rotations with more perennial crops and supplements of organic material. Moreover, there is a need for a stronger focus on the impacts of farm machinery dimensions.