重庆市缙云山3种森林类型的土壤呼吸特征研究

2010年7—12月,采用LI—COR公司生产的LI-8100土壤碳通量测量系统及土壤温度、湿度传感器对重庆市缙云山自然保护区内的毛竹林、针阔混交林、针叶林的土壤呼吸速率以及地表下5cm处的土壤温度和体积含水量进行测定,最后对3种林地土壤呼吸的时间变化特征及其与土壤温湿度和森林凋落物的关系进行了分析。结果表明：（1）3种林地土壤呼吸速率日内变化特征不明显,白天总体呼吸速率大于夜间。（2）月际变化明显,表现为从7—8月土壤呼吸速率增大,8—12月逐渐减小。3种林分7—12月总体平均土壤呼吸速率表现为毛竹林〉针阔混交林〉针叶林。（3）毛竹林、针阔混交林、针叶林的土壤呼吸速率与5cm土壤温度均存在极显著的指数相关关系（p〈0.01）,温度每升高10℃,土壤呼吸的变化比率Q10值分别为2.67,2.19,2.13。（4）土壤呼吸特征与5cm土壤含水量之间没有明显的相关关系。（5）各林地无凋落物的土壤呼吸速率均小于对应林地有凋落物土壤呼吸速率,各林地无凋落物的Q10值均大于对应林地有凋落物的Q10值。     

陕西省植被水分利用效率及与气候因素的关系

水分利用效率是反映生态系统碳水循环的重要变量。利用MODIS的总初级生产力以及蒸散发数据产品,结合气象数据,对2002—2012年陕西省水分利用效率进行研究。结果发现,陕西省中部平原区年均WUE较高,北部年均WUE较低;在各植被类型中,耕地的年均WUE最高,达1.59 g/（m²·mm）,而灌草地年均WUE则较低。在不同年降水量及年均温区域,WUE与气候因子的关系有所差别:在年降水量低于627 mm的地区,WUE随着降水量增加而增加;在年均温低于11℃的地区,WUE随着年均温的增加而增加。2002—2012年陕西省各植被类型WUE呈增加趋势,其中林地WUE增加趋势不显著。不同的植被类型,其WUE与气候因子关系也不同,其中降水量对WUE产生显著影响的地区主要集中在耕地和草地,而温度对WUE产生显著影响的地区主要集中在林地。     

黄土区退耕草地凋落物-土壤界面水分过程特征研究

为研究不同退耕年限草地下垫面层凋落物对土壤蒸发过程和表层土壤保水特征的影响,通过室内模拟试验,以黄土高原地区不同退耕年限草地凋落物质量为因子,依据野外退耕还草5a,15a,30a的草地凋落物覆盖特征,设3个凋落物处理水平,以裸地为对照,比较分析了不同草地枯落物特征对地表土壤界面的水分过程影响效应。研究结果表明:具有凋落物处理能够有效地延缓径流的产生,并能显著增加表层土壤持水量;凋落物持水量与凋落物质量呈显著线性正相关;在降雨后24h内,凋落物层抑制土壤蒸发作用比较明显;随着凋落物含量的增加,72h后表层土壤含水量显著提高。在黄土高原干旱半干旱地区,耕地退耕后凋落物的增加显著改善了地表土壤的持水能力,提高了表层土壤水分含量。     

不同土地利用方式对山东滨海盐碱土理化性质的影响

山东滨海盐碱土壤盐分高、养分低、结构差等问题严重影响了该地区的农业发展,因此有效开发和利用该地区土地对其农业增产增收至关重要。以东营市垦利县四种土地利用方式（荒地、草地、耕地、林地）为研究对象,探讨不同土地利用方式对滨海盐碱土基本理化性质、团聚体稳定性的影响。结果表明：（1）土壤的电导率（EC）和水溶性K+、Na+含量均表现为荒地>耕地>草地>林地,且荒地的EC和Na+含量显著高于其他样地;（2）土壤的全氮（N）和总有机碳含量（SOC）表现为林地>草地>耕地>荒地,各土壤0.25~2 mm粒级的水稳性团聚体的SOC最高;（3）林地的机械稳定性平均质量直径（MWD）和> 0.25 mm的机械稳定性团聚体含量（R0.25）显著低于其他样地;（4）荒地的水稳性平均质量直径（WMWD）和> 0.25 mm的水稳性团聚体含量（WR0.25）显著低于其他样地;（5）团聚体破坏率（PAD）依次表现为荒地>耕地>草地>林地。扫描电镜（SEM）结果显示草地、耕地和林地中>2 mm水稳性团聚体的表面和内部有较明显的颗粒、孔隙及黏结物质。Pearson相关分析表明,机械组成与MWD、R0.25存在显著相关性;PAD与水溶性Na+含量、0.25~2 mm组分水稳性团聚体SOC存在极显著相关性。不同土地利用方式对土壤的物理、化学和力学性质有不同的影响。草地和林地土地利用方式对滨海盐碱土壤理化性质的改良效果均显著,林地具有更高的碳储量及团聚体水稳性,但机械稳定性较低。研究结果可为滨海盐碱地区土地利用的合理规划与可持续发展提供参考。     

岩溶区不同土地利用方式对溶蚀速率的影响研究

以重庆市中粱山岩溶区为例,选取草地、园地、耕地、菜地和林地等5种主要土地利用类型,通过野外溶蚀试片法获得溶蚀速率,分析不同土地利用方式下土壤性质对溶蚀速率的影响.结果表明:土地利用方式的不同造成土壤性质一系列的变化,对岩石的溶蚀速率产生明显的影响.对不同土地利用方式下平均溶蚀速率进行比较:林地菜地耕地园地草地;其中林地最大.可达303.92 mg/m2·d,明显高于其它土地利用方式.溶蚀速率受土壤pH值、有机碳、土壤水分和土壤孔隙度相互作用的共同影响,并不能笼统地说有机碳含量高就会对溶蚀速率有促进作用,土壤pH值成为影响溶蚀速率一个重要的控制因素.随着土壤深度的增加,土壤性质对溶蚀速率的影响减弱.林地可以促进碳酸盐岩溶蚀成土速率,有利于岩溶区土层不断增厚,同时林地具有较好的涵养水源功能.在岩溶区提高森林植被覆盖率具有重要意义.     

升金湖沿湖不同土地利用方式下土壤有机质和养分变化特征

为探讨升金湖沿湖不同土地利用方式土壤养分含量特征，以林地、农田、菜地和草地为研究对象，测定土壤有机质、pH值、C/N值以及氮磷钾等元素的含量。结果表明：（1）四种土地利用方式下，土壤 pH 值大小顺序为：农田>草地>林地>菜地，菜地和林地pH 值均为弱酸性；（2）土壤有机质含量顺序为：菜地>林地>农田>草地，菜地和林地有机质含量丰富，农田和草地稍欠缺。菜地C/N最高，农田C/N最低。（3）土壤全氮含量顺序为：菜地>林地>农田>草地。全磷、全钾含量没有明显差异，土地利用方式对二者影响不大。菜地中碱解氮和速效钾含量最高，农田中有效磷含量最高。本研究结果可为升金湖湖区土地资源的合理利用、保持和提高土壤肥力以及区域生态协调提供科学参考。     

贵州省溶岩区植被类型对凋落物量、土壤有机碳及速效养分的影响

在贵州省溶岩区的草地和人工林内设立1m×1m（乔木20m×20m）的样地,分析样方内凋落物积累量、凋落物碳氮含量、土壤速效养分含量、土壤有机碳（SOC）和可溶性碳（DOC）含量变化。结果表明,天然草地、杜仲林、刺槐林、冰脆李林、桤木林、滇柏林凋落物积累量依次为1.62,5.29,3.32,4.26,9.68和1.81t/hm2;与天然草地相比,人工植被的凋落物量为天然草地的1.12～5.98倍,在植被恢复条件下凋落物C/N由12.84提高到57.68。凋落物量对土壤速效钾含量有重要的影响,两者呈极显著的正相关关系,但仅仅具有较高的凋落物量不足以提高土壤碱解氮和有效磷含量。与天然草地（SOC含量7.28g/kg）相比,杜仲林、刺槐林、冰脆李林、桤木林和滇柏林的有机碳含量分别提高了5.24,12.14,6.04,8.93和6.78倍。凋落物量与土壤有机碳线性相关关系的拟合优度较低,凋落物积累量与0—10cm土层土壤可溶性碳存在显著线性相关关系,10cm以下线性相关关系的拟合优度较低。     

喀斯特山区不同土地利用方式下土壤质量变化及其对水环境的影响

对贵州中部喀斯特山区不同土地利用方式（阔叶林地、灌木林地、灌丛草地,耕地）对土壤、地表径流和浅层地下水进行采样与分析。结果表明,在喀斯特山区土地利用模式从阔叶林地-灌木林地-灌丛草地方向的演变过程中,土壤有机质、速效氮磷钾、交换性钙镁含量出现明显的下降,粘粒含量增加,土壤质量出现退化,耕地有机质含量明显低于林地和草地;耕地地表径流中SO4^2-,NH4^＋,PO4^3-,COD均显著高于林地和草地;浅层地下水的SO4^2-,NH4^＋,NO3^-,PO4^3-,COD也显著增加;土地利用由杖地变为耕地后,地下水质量出现一定程度的下降。     

土壤动物在土壤有机质形成中的作用

作为土壤生态系统重要组成部分的土壤动物,在土壤元素循环转化和迁移过程中发挥着重要的作用。土壤动物是凋落物分解的"微型粉碎机",通过体内"特殊转换器",影响土壤有机质的转化、腐殖质的形成。本文从土壤动物对地表枯落物分解入手,分析了影响土壤动物对凋落物分解的因素,土壤动物通过刺激土壤酶活性,与土壤微生物群落一起,加快土壤有机物的分解,促进土壤腐殖质的转化。旨在拓宽土壤动物生态功能,丰富土壤腐殖质形成机理学说,对保护土壤生物多样性、提高土壤地力、保障粮食安全具有重要的科学意义。     

低温季节西南亚高山森林土壤轻组分有机碳动态

轻组分有机碳(LFOC)易受短期土地利用方式和环境变化的影响而被用作土壤有机碳短期环境效应的特征指标。通过西南亚高山均质化土壤在不同覆盖情形(裸土除雪BNS、裸土覆雪BS、凋落物除雪LNS、凋落物覆雪Control)下低温季节原位培养,对0~10 cm和10~20 cm深度LFOC影响的动态分析,结果发现:西南亚高山土壤LFOC平均占该土层总有机碳比例为15.5%;经过一个低温季节,不同处理下的LFOC比例变幅介于13.6%~21.1%;土壤0~10 cm和10~20 cm的LFOC在低温季节波动剧烈且含量高,甚至高于生长季节初期和末期,显示亚高山森林土壤碳动态在低温季节仍然极活跃;0~10 cm土壤中在低温季节凋落物覆雪处理土壤LFOC最低,而其余3个处理裸土除雪、裸土覆雪、凋落物除雪处理下LFOC含量和波动幅度均高于凋落物覆雪处理,表明土壤表面的凋落物和积雪覆盖及其组合显著影响0~10 cm土壤LFOC动态和含量;10~20cm土层LFOC时间动态也存在处理效应,显示地表覆盖同样影响下层土壤的LFOC过程;效应分析显示凋落物、积雪、采样时间、土壤深度及其交互作用对土壤LFOC含量的主效应和交互作用达到显著水平,特别是凋落物和积雪同时存在时抑制土壤LFOC形成而有助于维持土壤有机碳的稳定,而凋落物和/或积雪的消失均导致低温季节土壤LFOC升高。因此,在西南亚高山低温季节地表凋落物和积雪覆盖及其组合变化,将会影响亚高山森林土壤碳的库容量和稳定性。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

Electron donor and pH relationships for biologically enhanced dissolution of chlorinated solvent DNAPL in groundwater

Biologically enhanced dissolution offers a method to speed removal of chlorinated solvent dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) sources such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichoroethene (TCE) from aquifers. Bioremediation is accomplished by adding an electron donor to the source zone where fermentation to intermediates leading to acetic acid and hydrogen results. The hydrogen and possibly acetic acid are used by dehalogenating bacteria to convert PCE and TCE to ethene and hydrochloric acid. Reductive dehalogenation is thus an acid forming process, and sufficient alkalinity must be present to maintain a near neutral pH. The bicarbonate alkalinity required to maintain pH above 6.5 is a function of the electron donor: 800 mg/L of bicarbonate alkalinity is sufficient to achieve about 1.2 mM TCE dechlorination with glucose, 1.7 mM with lactate, and a much higher 3.3 mM with formate. Laboratory studies indicate that in mixed culture, formate can be used as an electron donor for complete conversion to ethene, contrary to pure cultures studies indicating it cannot. Various strategies can be used to add electron donor to an aquifer for DNAPL dehalogenation while minimizing pH problems and excessive electron donor usage, including use of injection-extraction wells, dual recirculation wells, and nested injection-extraction wells.     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Increase in auxiliary photoprotective photosynthetic pigments in wheat seedlings induced by Azospirillum brasilense

Inoculation of wheat seedlings with the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Cd was immobilized in alginate microbeads and, without applying any stress, significantly increased the quantity of several photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and the auxiliary photoprotective pigments violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheroxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin, and β-carotene. This resulted in greener plants with no apparent visible stress. After monitoring the quantity of photosynthetic pigments for 4 weeks, we observed that inoculated plants had higher quantities of pigments in shoot and stem. The greatest difference in the quantity of all pigments between inoculated and noninoculated plants occurred in the first week of growth. Regardless of treatment, the quantity of pigments in stems was three to four times less than the quantity of these pigments in shoots. Application of Azospirillum, either as liquid inoculant or as alginate microbeads, did not alter the positive effect of the bacteria on pigment production or the positive response of the plants towards A. brasilense Cd inoculation.     

In-situ enrichment and analysis of atrazine-degrading microbial communities using atrazine-containing porous beads

We examined the community composition of microbes that colonized atrazine-containing beads buried in agricultural soils that differed in atrazine treatment history. Bacterial abundance was 5-40-fold greater in atrazine-fortified beads. In beads containing 20 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ buried in soil with a history of atrazine application (conditioned soil), the abundance of Actinobacteria increased approximately 80-fold whereas in control soil, Actinobacteria were enriched only 10-fold and the gamma-Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes increased by 60- and 25-fold, respectively. The gamma-Proteobacteria were enriched by 120- and 230-fold in beads containing 200 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ in conditioned and control soil, respectively. The results demonstrate that BioSep^® beads are a suitable matrix for recruiting a diverse subset of the bacterial community involved in atrazine degradation.