乌兰布和沙区绿洲农田土壤微生物及酶活性研究

以撂荒地为对照,通过测定0-20cm和20-40cm层次土样,利用统计分析方法系统研究乌兰布和沙区籽瓜、玉米、油葵和苜蓿地4种绿洲农田土壤微生物（细菌、放线菌和真菌）和土壤酶活性（蔗糖酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶、碱性磷酸酶、蛋白酶和多酚氧化酶）特征。结果表明：（1）各农田微生物数量均为细菌（107）〉放线菌（105）〉真菌（103）,三者中,细菌数量占三大类微生物总数的99%以上;各农田表层微生物数量整体高于对照的,且表层均高于下层,但差异不显著;农田间,籽瓜地微生物数量最多;种植苜蓿可显著提升真菌数量。（2）6种酶活性中,仅蔗糖酶和脲酶在层次间和农田间存在显著差异;各农地表层蔗糖酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶和蛋白酶活性均高于对照的;除多酚氧化酶外,苜蓿地酶活性整体较高。（3）各生物学性质相互关联,互相影响。6种酶间呈显著或极显著相关,酶活性既显专性又显共性;蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶、脲酶、蛋白酶、多酚氧化酶、真菌和放线菌直接影响有机质含量的程度达85%;总体而言,乌兰布和沙区绿洲体系形成后,长期农作活动使得绿洲农田生物学性质得以改善,土壤质量整体有所提高;设法提高研究区土壤有机质含量是提高绿洲农田土壤质量和改善其生态环境的关键所在,应广种苜蓿。     

河北山前平原高产田冬小麦土壤微生物学特性的动态变化

以河北山前平原现有高产田和周边常规农田为研究对象,对秸秆还田条件下冬小麦生长季土壤酶及微生物特征指标的动态变化进行了研究。结果表明,现有高产田土壤生物学性状良好,高产田0-40 cm土层内:土壤蔗糖酶、磷酸酶活性和土壤微生物量磷在冬小麦生长旺盛期显著高于常规农田(P0.05)。高产田蔗糖酶活性在扬花期达到最大,为5.49 mg/g,磷酸酶活性在拔节期最大,为30.63 mg/g,微生物量磷最大值出现在收获期,为109.2 mg/g;土壤过氧化氢酶活性和微生物量碳、氮总体高于常规农田;脲酶活性则低于常规农田。土壤呼吸商最大值出现在常规农田收获期,为0.3,高产田土壤微生物对秸秆的利用情况也优于常规农田。     

植被恢复模式对川西北沙化草地土壤微生物量及酶活性研究

为研究不同植被恢复模式对高寒沙化草地治理过程中土壤微生物量及酶活性的影响,以川西北高寒沙化草地为研究区,以未恢复沙化草地为对照(CK),通过野外试验与室内分析相结合的方法对围栏禁牧布设沙障恢复模式(WLCD)、围栏禁牧布设沙障撒播草种(RGCD)和围栏禁牧布设沙障混播燕麦草种(YMCD)3种植被恢复模式下沙化草地的土壤微生物量以及土壤酶活性的变化规律和相互关系的研究。结果表明:(1)3种植被恢复模式下土壤微生物量碳氮、多酚氧化酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶与硝酸还原酶活性均显著高于CK(P0.05),其中YMCD变化最显著。与CK相比,YMCD土壤微生物量碳氮、多酚氧化酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶与硝酸还原酶活性均增加了217.52%,725.26%,130.88%,387.78%,300.33%,192.32%;(2)随着土层的加深,微生物量碳氮、脲酶、蔗糖酶、多酚氧化酶与硝酸还原酶活性显著减小(P0.05),尤其是0—20cm土层;(3)微生物量碳氮与多酚氧化酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶、硝酸还原酶间呈极显著正相关(P0.01);(4)多酚氧化酶与蔗糖酶、脲酶、硝酸还原酶呈极显著正相关(P0.01),蔗糖酶与脲酶、硝酸还原酶呈极显著正相关(P0.01),脲酶与硝酸还原酶呈极显著正相关(P0.01);(5)研究表明土壤多酚氧化酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶与硝酸还原酶可敏感地反映植被过程中土壤质量的变化,植被恢复措施可改善表层与深层土壤的生物学性质。     

不同恢复方式下盐渍化弃耕地土壤生物学活性的变化

以干旱区新疆玛纳斯河流域冲积扇缘定点定位试验地为研究对象, 研究灌溉处理、人工草地处理和补植处理对盐渍化弃耕地土壤微生物量、酶活性及土壤呼吸速率的影响。结果表明, 不同恢复方式均明显增加了土壤微生物数量和土壤微生物量碳、氮及土壤酶活性。不同处理土壤微生物量碳、氮分别比原始弃耕地高17.80%、26.38%、5.33%和7.89%、12.75%、21.93%; 不同处理土壤微生物数量分别是原始弃耕地的4.72倍、6.04倍和4.56倍; 不同处理土壤蔗糖酶活性分别比原始弃耕地高3.4倍、3.2倍和7.7倍, 多酚氧化酶活性比原始弃耕地高1.7倍、1.2倍和1.5倍, 脲酶活性比原始弃耕地高11.1%、52.3%和37.1%; 灌溉处理土壤过氧化氢酶活性最高, 是原始弃耕地的1.53倍, 土壤呼吸速率变化表现为人工草地处理>灌溉处理>补植处理>原始弃耕地, 其中, 人工草地处理土壤呼吸速率比弃耕地高52.25%。相关分析表明, 微生物量碳与微生物C/N和微生物数量之间均呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05); 土壤呼吸速率与土壤脲酶、微生物数量和微生物量碳的相关性达到显著水平(P<0.05), 与土壤微生物量氮呈负相关关系, 但相关性不显著; 土壤蔗糖酶与其他3种酶以及微生物量氮呈显著正相关关系, 土壤脲酶与微生物数量呈显著正相关关系, 多酚氧化酶与过氧化氢酶相关性达到显著水平(P<0.05)。本研究表明干旱区盐渍化弃耕地采用灌溉与人工草地处理有利于土壤养分积累, 可在一定程度上改善土壤质量。     

连作Ⅰ-107杨树无性系苗圃地的土壤酶活性特征

 为给苗圃地经营和防止地力衰退提供理论依据,以Ⅰ107杨树无性系为试材,研究苗圃地连作育苗对土壤酶活性的影响,并分析土壤酶之间、土壤酶与土壤养分和土壤微生物之间的相关关系。研究结果表明:随着育苗代数的增加,苗圃地土壤酶活性除多酚氧化酶外均呈现出下降趋势,在垂直土壤剖面上,脲酶、过氧化氢酶、过氧化物酶活性均随着土层的加深而降低,多酚氧化酶活性则表现出先增加后减小的趋势。除多酚氧化酶之外,其余3种酶活性之间均呈正相关关系,多酚氧化酶与其他3种酶之间则呈负相关。苗圃地土壤中的有机质、土壤速效N、P、K和微量元素Cu的含量,也随着育苗代数的增加而降低。连作苗圃地土壤脲酶、过氧化氢酶和过氧化物酶活性,与土壤基础肥力有机质、速效N、P、K的相关性,均达到显著或极显著的水平,脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性与微量元素Cu的相关性,也达到显著水平,多酚氧化酶活性与土壤各营养元素含量,呈负相关。随着育苗代数的增加,表层(0～20cm)土壤中各类微生物的数量均呈下降趋势,并且脲酶与放线菌、过氧化氢酶与细菌、放线菌、微生物总量、过氧化物酶与真菌之间的相关性达显著水平,过氧化氢酶与真菌、过氧化物酶与细菌、微生物总量之间的相关性达极显著水平,多酚氧化酶与各类微生物数量之间是负相关关系。     

氮素和水分对贝加尔针茅草原土壤酶活性和微生物量碳氮的影响

在内蒙古贝加尔针茅草原,分别设对照(N0)、1.5 g·m-2(N15)、3.0 g·m-2(N30)、5.0 g·m-2(N50)、10.0 g·m-2(N100)、15.0 g·m-2(N150)、20.0 g·m-2(N200)和30g·m-2(N300)(不包括大气沉降的氮量)8个氮素(NH4NO3)梯度和模拟夏季增加降水100 mm的水分添加交互试验,研究氮素和水分添加对草原土壤养分、酶活性及微生物量碳氮的影响。结果表明:氮素和水分添加对草原土壤理化性质和生物学特性有显著影响。随施氮量的增加土壤总有机碳、全氮、硝态氮、铵态氮含量呈增加的趋势,相反,土壤pH值呈降低的趋势。土壤脲酶和过氧化氢酶的活性随施氮量的增加而升高,多酚氧化酶则随施氮量的增加呈下降的趋势。氮素和水分添加对草原土壤微生物量碳氮含量有显著影响,高氮处理(N150、N200和N300)显著降低了微生物碳含量,微生物氮含量随施氮量的增加呈上升趋势。水分添加能够减缓氮素添加对微生物的抑制作用,提高微生物量碳、微生物量氮含量。草原土壤养分、土壤酶活性及土壤微生物量碳氮含量间关系密切,过氧化氢酶与全氮、总有机碳、硝态氮呈显著正相关,多酚氧化酶与铵态氮、硝态氮、全氮呈显著负相关。微生物量氮含量与土壤全氮、铵态氮、硝态氮含量以及过氧化氢酶和磷酸酶活性呈显著正相关,与多酚氧化酶呈负相关;微生物量碳与过氧化氢酶呈负相关,与多酚氧化酶活性呈正相关。     

退化生态系统植被恢复过程中土壤微生物群落活性响应

通过分析退化生态系统中主要植被恢复类型对土壤微生物群落活性的影响,探讨敏感和可靠的微生物群落活性响应指标,揭示适合当地生态条件的植被恢复类型。结果表明,沙米荒地、白沙蒿、柠条、沙冬青和人工乔木林地土壤微生物量C,N,P和微生物商、蔗糖酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶、碱性磷酸酶均表现出显著差异(P<0.05)。在土壤各层内,除上层人工乔木林地土壤微生物量N相对较高外,柠条恢复草地土壤微生物量C,N,P都相对较高,沙米荒地均较低;土壤微生物商没有明显的趋势;人工乔木林地蔗糖酶和柠条恢复草地脲酶活性相对较高,过氧化氢酶和碱性磷酸酶活性没有明显的变化趋势,沙米荒地的蔗糖酶、脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性以及白沙蒿草地碱性磷酸酶活性较低。方差分析(ANOVA)显示,蔗糖酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶和碱性磷酸酶与土壤有机质、全氮以及微生物量C,N,P之间呈显著相关关系;主成分分析(PCA)表明,土壤微生物量N,C,P和蔗糖酶、土壤微生物商基本反映了研究区植被恢复中土壤微生物群落活性的响应信息。不同植被恢复类型草地中土壤微生物群落活性的变化表明,柠条和人工乔木林是研究区域内适合当地生态条件的植被恢复类型。     

衡阳紫色土丘陵坡地不同植被恢复阶段土壤酶活性特征研究

本文以典型的衡阳紫色土丘陵坡地不同植被恢复阶段为研究对象,采用空间代替时间序列方法,选用立地条件基本相似的草坡阶段（Grassplot, GT）、 灌草阶段（Frutex and grassplot,FG）、 灌丛阶段（Frutex, FX）和乔灌阶段（Arbor and frutex, AF）,通过调查取样和实验分析,对不同植被恢复阶段的土壤酶、 养分与微生物及其相关性进行了研究。结果表明, 1）随着恢复阶段的演替,脲酶、 多酚氧化酶、 蔗糖酶与过氧化氢酶的活性显著增加,在每个恢复阶段,脲酶、 多酚氧化酶、 蔗糖酶与过氧化氢酶活性随着土层的加深而逐渐减弱,脲酶与多酚氧化酶、 蔗糖酶与过氧化氢酶活性呈显著正相关关系,蔗糖酶与脲酶和多酚氧化酶呈极显著正相关。 2）随着恢复阶段的演替,土壤养分的时空变化与土壤酶活性的变化趋势基本一致,土壤有机碳、 全氮与碱解氮含量呈上升趋势,土壤pH随植被恢复和演替而降低,随土壤深度的增加而上升,与土壤酶活性的变化趋势相反;脲酶与有机碳、 全氮、 碱解氮呈极显著正相关,与pH呈显著负相关,多酚氧化酶与有机碳、 碱解氮呈极显著正相关,与全氮、 速效磷、 速效钾呈显著正相关,与pH呈显著负相关,蔗糖酶活性与有机碳、 全氮、 碱解氮、 速效磷、 速效钾呈显著正相关。 3）不同恢复阶段土壤细菌数量最多,真菌数量和放线菌数量与细菌数量的变化趋势各不相同;细菌平均数量为AF＞FX＞FG＞GT,真菌数量为 FG＞GT＞FX＞AF,放线菌数量为 GT＞FX＞FG＞AF。4）主成分分析揭示脲酶与多酚氧化酶可作为衡阳紫色土丘陵坡地土壤质量评价的指标。研究结果将丰富该地区植物生态学与恢复生态学的内容,为衡阳紫色土丘陵坡地生态系统的恢复与重建提供了重要依据。     

连续3年施用生物有机肥对土壤养分、微生物生物量及酶活性的影响

通过温室盆栽试验,研究了连续3年在不同土壤中施用不同量的生物有机肥的土壤养分、微生物生物量、酶活性及棉花各器官干物质量的变化。结果表明:连续3年施用生物有机肥,3种土壤的养分、酶活性、微生物量和各器官干物质量均有不同程度的提高。随着其用量的增加,土壤养分、微生物量及脲酶活性也在增加,土壤pH则相反,土壤蔗糖酶、多酚氧化酶、蛋白酶活性表现先上升后下降的趋势,且在不同土壤施用生物有机肥10~30 g/kg时基本达到最高,过氧化氢酶活性无显著变化。高、中、低有机质含量的土壤的棉花各器官干物质量分别在施用生物有机肥10~20、20~30、40 g/kg时基本达到最高。随着施肥年限的延长,3种土壤微生物生物量碳、氮均表现为先降低后升高的趋势,土壤酶活性则变化差异较大。通过在不同有机质含量土壤中施肥与不施肥比较发现,本底有机质含量越低的土壤,施肥较不施肥的土壤养分、脲酶、蔗糖酶、蛋白酶活性及微生物量增加幅度越大。     

模拟氮沉降对杉木人工林土壤可溶性有机碳和微生物量碳的影响

在杉木人工林中开展模拟氮沉降试验,设计N0(对照)、N1(60kg N/hm2.a)、N2(120kg N/hm2.a)和N3(240kg N/hm2.a)4种氮沉降水平。通过连续7年的处理后,研究外加氮源对土壤可溶性有机碳及微生物量碳的影响及与土壤酶活性的关系。相同N沉降处理下,土壤有机碳、可溶性有机碳和微生物量碳均随土层加深而降低。氮沉降对土壤有机碳具有促进作用,中-低氮沉降(N1、N2)增加幅度大,高氮沉降(N3)增加幅度小。低氮(N1)处理促进土壤微生物生物量C增加,而中、高氮(N2、N3)则抑制;各氮沉降处理土壤可溶性有机碳含量从高到低的顺序为:N3、N2>N1>N0。40-60cm土壤微生物量碳与蔗糖酶、纤维素酶呈极显著正相关关系,与淀粉酶、多酚氧化酶、过氧化物酶呈极显著负相关关系;除40-60cm土层的β-葡糖苷酶外,各层土壤可溶性有机碳与土壤蔗糖酶、纤维素酶和β-葡糖苷酶活性呈极显著正相关关系,与淀粉酶、多酚氧化酶和过氧化物酶呈极显著负相关关系。因此,氮沉降增加将会对土壤碳累积与分解过程产生较大的影响。     

土壤质量生物学指标研究进展

本文对近年土壤微生物、土壤酶活性和土壤动物等土壤质量生物学指标研究成果进行了综合评述。土壤微生物是土壤有机组分和生态系统中最活跃的部分,被认为是最敏感的土壤质量生物学指标:微生物生物量代表参与调控土壤中能量和养分循环及有机物质转化所对应微生物的数量,但须结合多样性研究以弥补其无法反映土壤微生物组成和区系变化的缺陷;微生物群落组成和多样性动态反映土壤中生物类群的多变性和土壤质量在微生物数量和功能上的差异;土壤微生物活性体现在土壤微生物商、微生物呼吸和代谢商等方面,应考虑生物量大小与微生物种群活性间的相关关系以反映微生物种群内的差异。土壤酶活性具有极高时效性,在较短时间内就能反映出土壤质量的变化。土壤动物通常以种类的组成和数量,土壤动物区系的相对丰度、多样性或活性作为评价土壤生物质量的敏感指标。与土壤理化指标相比,土壤生物学指标更能对土壤质量的变化做出灵敏迅速的响应,因而被广泛地用于评价土壤质量。     

长期施用畜禽粪便对土壤生物化学质量指标的影响

采用两种母质发育的,长期施用畜禽粪便和化肥的稻麦轮作土壤作为供试土壤,探讨了施用畜禽粪便对土壤微生物组成、微生物生物量及活性、土壤酶活性等生物化学质量指标的影响。研究结果显示,与施用化肥比较,长期施用畜禽粪便显著提高了土壤细菌和放线菌数量(+72%和+132%)、土壤微生物生物量碳、氮(+89%和+74%)、土壤基础呼吸速率和微生物商(+49%和+45%),但降低了土壤真菌的数量(-38%)。土壤脲酶和转化酶活性也表现为长期施用畜禽粪便土壤高于施用化肥土壤。由于受土壤pH值强烈影响,土壤微生物代谢商(qCO2)和土壤磷酸酶活性没有表现出明显的变化规律。回归分析结果显示,长期施用畜禽粪便改变土壤活性有机碳含量和理化性质是导致土壤生物化学质量指标变化的主要原因。     

长期重金属胁迫下的土壤微生物特征: 沈阳张士污灌区的案例研究

Soil samples were collected from Zhangshi Wastewater Irrigation Area in the suburb of Shenyang City, China, an area with a 30-year irrigation history with heavy metal-containing wastewater. The chemical properties and microbial characteristics of the soils were examined to evaluate the present situation of heavy metal pollution and to assess the soil microbial characteristics under long-term heavy metal stress. In light of the National Environmental Quality Standards of China, the soil in the test area was heavily polluted by Cd and to a lesser degree by Zn and Cu, even though wastewater irrigation ceased in 1993. Soil metabolic quotient （qCO2） had a significant positive correlation, while soil microbial quotient （qM） had a negative correlation with content of soil heavy metals. Soil microbial biomass carbon （MBC） had significantly negative correlation with Cd, but soil substrate~induced respiration （SIR）, dehydrogenase activity （DHA）, cellulase activity, and culturable microbial populations had no persistent correlations with soil heavy metal content. Soil nutrients, except for phosphorous, showed positive effects on soil microbial characteristics, which to a certain degree obscured the adverse effects of soil heavy metals. Soil Cd contributed more to the soil microbial characteristics, but qM and qCO2 were more sensitive and showed persistent responses to heavy metals stress. It could be concluded that qM and qCO2 can be used as bioindicators of heavy metal pollution in soils.     

不同措施对滨海盐渍土壤呼吸、电导率和有机碳的影响

在苏北滩涂围垦区的轻度和中度盐渍土上,通过田间试验,研究了不同农田管理措施(传统耕作、施用有机肥、氮肥增施、秸秆还田和免耕)对土壤盐分、呼吸和有机碳等的影响。结果表明,0~40cm土层平均电导率在玉米种植季明显升高,小麦种植季出现小幅降低,轻度盐渍土的电导率为4.57~8.20 d S m~(~(-1)) ,中度盐渍土为4.89~10.13 d S m~(~(-1)) ,处理之间秸秆还田最低,免耕最高,秸秆还田和施用有机肥有效减少了土壤盐分含量。与中度盐渍土相比,轻度盐渍土的呼吸强度较高,在夏玉米和冬小麦种植季节分别高约16%和18%。有机肥、氮肥增施、秸秆还田处理的土壤呼吸均高于对照,而免耕较低。两组试验的土壤有机碳和微生物生物量碳均有缓慢增加,其中施用有机肥和秸秆还田可以大幅提高其含量。轻度盐渍土壤代谢熵高于中度盐渍土,总体上对照最高,免耕最低。     

Variation of soil microbial biomass C and hydrolytic enzyme activities in a rangeland ecosystem: are slope aspect and position effective?

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of slope aspect and position on microbial biomass C (MBC) and some hydrolytic enzyme activities involved in soil N, P, and S cycles in a rangeland ecosystem of west central Iran. Soil samples were collected from three slope positions (summit, backslope, and footslope) of contiguous north- and south-facing slopes. Results indicated higher silt and clay content, soil organic C (SOC), total N (TN), and C/N ratio on the north-facing slope. Furthermore, MBC, alkaline phosphomonoesterase (ALP), acid phosphomonoesterase (ACP), arylsulfatase (ARS), urease (URS), L-asparaginase (LAS), and L-glutaminase (LGL) activities were greater by 46.1, 65.9, 58.6, 59.6, 52.6, 62.8, and 65.7%, respectively, on the north-facing slope compared to the south-facing one. Higher ratios of enzyme activities to MBC were observed on the north-facing slope. In contrast, per cent of inorganic N and microbial quotient were greater on the south-facing slope. The activity of ALP, ACP, ARS along with SOC, TN, and MBC values decreased from summit to footslope. Overall, our findings indicate that north-facing slope and summit position support greater microbial biomass and hydrolytic diversity.     

Soil biochemical response to long-term conservation tillage under semi-arid Mediterranean conditions

We studied the effects of long term conservation tillage (CT) versus traditional tillage (TT) on soil biological status of a semi-arid sandy clay loam soil (Xerofluvent). The study was conducted in a wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.)–sunflower (Helianthus annuus, L.) crop rotation established in 1991 under rainfed conditions in SW Spain. A fodder pea (Pisum arvense, L.) crop was introduced in the rotation in 2005. Soil biological status was evaluated by measuring the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and some enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, β-glucosidase and protease) in autumn of 2004 and in summer of 2005, before and after the fodder pea crop, respectively. Soil analyses were performed in samples collected at three depths (0–5, 5–10 and 10–25 cm). In general and in both samplings, increases in the organic matter content, MBC and enzymatic activities were found in the more superficial layers of soil under CT than under TT. Values of MBC were lower in summer, whereas values of enzyme activities were similar in both samplings. Biological properties showed a pronounced decrease with increasing soil depth. Statistical differences in biochemical properties between soils under the different tillage were not found in the deeper layer (10–25 cm). Enzymatic activities, MBC and organic matter (water-soluble carbon (WSC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) contents) were strongly correlated (p < 0.01). Conservation tillage improved the quality of soil in the superficial layer by enhancing its organic matter content and, especially, its biological status, as reflected in the values of stratification ratios for MBC and enzymatic activities.     

黄土高原中国松人工林演替过程中的土壤微生物和酶活性

Successional and seasonal effects on soil microbial and enzymatic properties were studied in Chinese pine (Pinus tabu- laeformis) plantations in an age sequence of 3-, 7-, 13-, 21- and 28-year-old in northern Ziwuling region in the middle of Loess Plateau, China. The results indicated that plantation age and season affected soil microbial and enzymatic parameters significantly. Soil organic C, total N, microbial biomass C, microbial quotient, basal respiration, dehydrogenase, N-α-benzoyl-L-argininamide (BAA)-protease, urease and β-glucosidase increased quickly and tended to be highest at PF21 (21-year plantation), thereafter they remained nearly at a constant level, whereas the metabolic quotient (qCO 2 ) showed an initial increase and then decreased gradually. Measures of these soil properties showed significant seasonal fluctuations except for organic C and total N, which were found to be relatively stable throughout the study period, and the seasonal distributions were autumn spring summer winter for microbial biomass C, microbial quotient, dehydrogenase, and β-glucosidase; autumn summer spring winter for BAA-protease and urease; and summer autumn spring winter for basal respiration and qCO 2 . Significant season × age interaction was observed for biomass C, basal respiration, dehydrogenase and BAA-protease.     

The adverse effects of soil salinization on the growth of Trifolium alexandrinum L. and associated microbial and biochemical properties in a soil from Iran

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of increasing concentrations of salt solutions (including 0.12, 2, 6, and 10 dS m⁻¹) on the growth of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) and related soil microbial activity, biomass and enzyme activities. Results showed that the dry weights of root and shoot decreased with an increase in the concentrations of salt solutions. Soil salinization depressed the microbiological activities including soil respiration and enzyme activities. Substrate-induced respiration was consistently lower in salinized soils, whereas microbial biomass C did not vary among salinity levels. Higher metabolic quotients (qCO₂) and unaffected microbial biomass C at high EC values may indicate that salinity is a stressful factor, inducing either a shift in the microbial community with less catabolic activity or reduced efficiency of substrate utilization. Acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase activities decreased with increasing soil salinity. We found significant, positive correlations between the activities of phosphatase enzymes and plant's root mass, suggesting that any decrease in the activities of the two enzymes could be attributed to the reduced root biomass under saline conditions.     

Changes in soil biological and biochemical characteristics in a long-term field trial on a sub-tropical inceptisol

Soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), their ratio (MBC/SOC) which is also known as microbial quotient, soil respiration, dehydrogenase and phosphatase activities were evaluated in a long-term (31 years) field experiment involving fertility treatments (manure and inorganic fertilizers) and a maize (Zea mays L.)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) rotation at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute near New Delhi, India. Applying farmyard manure (FYM) plus NPK fertilizer significantly increased SOC (4.5-7.5 g kg⁻¹), microbial biomass (124-291 mg kg⁻¹) and microbial quotient from 2.88 to 3.87. Soil respiration, dehydrogenase and phosphatase activities were also increased by FYM applications. The MBC response to FYM+100% NPK compared to 100% NPK (193 vs. 291 mg kg⁻¹) was much greater than that for soil respiration (6.24 vs. 6.93 μl O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹) indicating a considerable portion of MBC in FYM plots was inactive. Dehydrogenase activity increased slightly as NPK rates were increased from 50% to 100%, but excessive fertilization (150% NPK) decreased it. Acid phosphatase activity (31.1 vs. 51.8 μg PNP g⁻¹ h⁻¹) was much lower than alkali phosphatase activity (289 vs. 366 μg PNP g⁻¹ h⁻¹) in all treatments. Phosphatase activity was influenced more by season or crop (e.g. tilling wheat residue) than fertilizer treatment, although both MBC and phosphatase activity were increased with optimum or balanced fertilization. SOC, MBC, soil respiration and acid phosphatase activity in control (no NPK, no manure) treatment was lower than uncultivated reference soil, and soil respiration was limiting at N alone or NP alone treatments.     

Effect of cinnamic acid on soil microbial characteristics in the cucumber rhizosphere

In order to elucidate the effect of allelochemicals on soil microbial characteristics in the cucumber rhizosphere, the soil microbial biomass and respiration, community functional diversity and RAPD marker diversity as affected by exogenous cinnamic acid were studied. Exogenous cinnamic acid increased soil microbial respiration and the metabolic quotient, but decreased soil microbial biomass-C. Soil microbial community functional diversity and genetic diversity (as indicated by RAPD markers) were also significantly altered by exogenous cinnamic acid. These results suggest that allelochemicals can change soil microbial genetic diversity, biological activity and microbial metabolic activity, which alter soil microbial ecology and accordingly affect the growth of cucumber with accumulation in the soil of allelochemicals.