Partitioning root and microbial contributions to soil respiration in Leymus chinensis populations

Based on the enclosed chamber method, soil respiration measurements of Leymus chinensis populations with four planting densities (30, 60, 90 and 120 plants/0.25 m²) and blank control were made from July 31 to November 24, 2003. In terms of soil respiration rates of L. chinensis populations with four planting densities and their corresponding root biomass, linear regressive equations between soil respiration rates and dry root weights were obtained at different observation times. Thus, soil respiration rates attributed to soil microbial activity could be estimated by extrapolating the regressive equations to zero root biomass. The soil microbial respiration rates of L. chinensis populations during the growing season ranged from 52.08 to 256.35 mg CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹. Soil microbial respiration rates in blank control plots were also observed directly, ranging from 65.00 to 267.40 mg CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹. The difference of soil microbial respiration rates between the inferred and the observed methods ranged from −26.09 to 9.35 mg CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹. Some assumptions associated with these two approaches were not completely valid, which might result in this discrepancy. However, these two methods' application could provide new insights into separating root respiration from soil microbial respiration. The root respiration rates of L. chinensis populations with four planting densities could be estimated based on measured soil respiration rates, soil microbial respiration rates and corresponding mean dry root weight, and the highest values appeared at the early stage, then dropped off rapidly and tended to be constant after September 10. The mean proportions of soil respiration rates of L. chinensis populations attributable to the inferred and the observed root respiration rates were 36.8% (ranging from 9.7 to 52.9%) and 30.0% (ranging from 5.8 to 41.2%), respectively. Although root respiration rates of L. chinensis populations declined rapidly, the proportion of root respiration to soil respiration still increased gradually with the increase of root biomass.     

橡胶林土壤呼吸速率及其与土壤温湿度的关系

利用Li-6400光合仪研究4 a、12 a和19 a橡胶林的土壤呼吸及其各组分(微生物呼吸、根系呼吸、凋落物呼吸)呼吸速率的日变化和年变化特征,探索土壤温度和湿度对土壤呼吸速率的影响。结果表明: 不同树龄橡胶林土壤呼吸速率在全天观测期间,出现最大值和最小值的时刻有很大差异,但在9:00~11:00时刻的测定值均接近日均值;在不同树龄橡胶林中各组分呼吸速率日变化大小虽不一致,但均表现为凋落物呼吸速率最小。4 a、12 a和19 a橡胶林土壤呼吸速率均有明显的月变化,月均值分别是2.45、2.63和2.96 μmol m-2 s-1;最大值出现在7月和8月,最小值出现在2月和3月;不同树龄橡胶林土壤呼吸速率月变化相互间差异不显著;土壤微生物呼吸占土壤呼吸的比例最高(为43.6%),根系呼吸次之(为36.1%),凋落物呼吸较小(为20.4%)。土壤呼吸速率与土壤温度之间具有显著的指数函数关系,但与土壤湿度的相关性不显著,从而得知海南橡胶林土壤温度与土壤呼吸速率有着密切的关系,土壤水分与土壤呼吸速率可能没有直接的关系。     

Substantial rewetting phenomena on soil respiration can be observed at low water availability

Although metabolic activity of soil organisms is determined by water accessibility, little attention was given to rewetting with different water potentials. Rapid water potential increase induced a respiration pulse in organic layers in laboratory experiments and significant effects could be observed when soil below −6300 hPa was rewetted.     

Plant carbon inputs and environmental factors strongly affect soil respiration in a subtropical forest of southwestern China

Soil respiration is a large component of global carbon fluxes, so it is important to explore how this carbon flux varies with environmental factors and carbon inputs from plants. As part of a long-term study on the chemical and biological effects of aboveground litterfall denial, root trenching and tree-stem girdling, we measured soil respiration for three years in plots where those treatments were applied singly and in combination. Tree-stem girdling terminates the flow of carbohydrates from canopy, but allows the roots to continue water and nutrient uptake. After carbon storage below the stem girdles is depleted, the girdled trees die. Root trenching immediately terminates root exudates as well as water and nutrient uptake. Excluding aboveground litterfall removes soil carbon inputs, but allows normal root functions to continue. We found that removing aboveground litterfall and the humus layer reduced soil respiration by more than the C input from litter, a respiration priming effect. When this treatment was combined with stem girdling, root trenching or those treatments in combination, the change in soil respiration was indistinguishable from the loss of litterfall C inputs. This suggests that litterfall priming occurs only when normal root processes persist. Soil respiration was significantly related to temperature in all treatment combinations, and to soil water content in all treatments except stem girdling alone, and girdling plus trenching. Aboveground litterfall was a significant predictor of soil respiration in control, stem-girdled, trenched and stem-girdled plus trenching treatments. Stem girdling significantly reduced soil respiration as a single factor, but root trenching did not. These results suggest that in addition to temperature, aboveground carbon inputs exert strong controls on forest soil respiration.     

Pyrogenic carbon additions to soil counteract positive priming of soil carbon mineralization by plants

Important due to both its role in fire-affected ecosystems, and also its proposed intentional production and application for carbon (C) management, pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM) is thought to contain very stable forms of C. However, the mechanisms behind its interactions with non-PyOM soil organic C (SOC) remain speculative, with studies often showing short-term positive and then long-term negative “priming effects” on SOC decomposition after PyOM applications. Furthermore, studies of these interactions to date have been limited to systems that do not include plants. This study describes results from a 12-week greenhouse experiment where PyOM-SOC priming effects with and without plants were investigated using stable isotope partitioning. In addition, we investigated the optimal δ¹³C proxies for sources of SOC, PyOM, and plant-derived CO₂ emissions. The two-factorial experiment included the presence or absence of corn plants and of ¹³C-labelled PyOM. In order to control for pH and nutrient addition effects from PyOM, its pH was adjusted to that of the soil and optimal nutrient and water conditions were provided to the plants. The δ¹³C of PyOM sub-components were significantly different. Significant losses of 0.4% of the applied PyOM-C occurred in the first week. We find evidence for a “negative priming” effect of PyOM on SOC in the system (SOC losses are 48% lower with PyOM present), which occurred primarily during the first week, indicating it may be due to transient effects driven by easily mineralizable PyOM. Additionally, while the presence of corn plants resulted in significantly increased SOC losses (“positive priming”), PyOM additions counteract this effect, almost completely eliminating net C losses either by decreasing SOC decomposition or increasing corn C additions to soil. This highlights the importance of including plants in studies of PyOM-SOC interactions.     

Effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on soil respiration components and their temperature sensitivities in a semiarid grassland

Nitrogen (N) deposition to semiarid ecosystems is increasing globally, yet few studies have investigated the ecological consequences of N enrichment in these ecosystems. Furthermore, soil CO₂ flux – including plant root and microbial respiration – is a key feedback to ecosystem carbon (C) cycling that links ecosystem processes to climate, yet few studies have investigated the effects of N enrichment on belowground processes in water-limited ecosystems. In this study, we conducted two-level N addition experiments to investigate the effects of N enrichment on microbial and root respiration in a grassland ecosystem on the Loess Plateau in northwestern China. Two years of high N additions (9.2 g N m⁻² y⁻¹) significantly increased soil CO₂ flux, including both microbial and root respiration, particularly during the warm growing season. Low N additions (2.3 g N m⁻² y⁻¹) increased microbial respiration during the growing season only, but had no significant effects on root respiration. The annual temperature coefficients (Q₁₀) of soil respiration and microbial respiration ranged from 1.86 to 3.00 and 1.86 to 2.72 respectively, and there was a significant decrease in Q₁₀ between the control and the N treatments during the non-growing season but no difference was found during the growing season. Following nitrogen additions, elevated rates of root respiration were significantly and positively related to root N concentrations and biomass, while elevated rates of microbial respiration were related to soil microbial biomass C (SMBC). The microbial respiration tended to respond more sensitively to N addition, while the root respiration did not have similar response. The different mechanisms of N addition impacts on soil respiration and its components and their sensitivity to temperature identified in this study may facilitate the simulation and prediction of C cycling and storage in semiarid grasslands under future scenarios of global change.     

针阔树种人工林地表凋落物对土壤呼吸的贡献

了解地表凋落物呼吸对陆地生态系统碳循环研究具有重要意义。为了研究针阔树种地表凋落物对土壤呼吸的贡献,本文在京津风沙源地区选择林龄为10年的油松、杨树人工林,设置去除凋落物(no litter,NL)、覆盖凋落物(cover litter,CL)和自然状态(control,C)3种处理,利用Li-6400-09土壤呼吸测定系统对土壤呼吸速率以及地表5 cm土壤温度、土壤湿度进行观测。结果表明:1)凋落物的去除与覆盖显著改变土壤呼吸速率(P0.05),油松、杨树人工林3种处理土壤呼吸速率年均值(μmol?m?2?s?1)分别为2.28、2.81、2.55和2.13、2.62、2.32,均为CLCNL(P0.05);2)土壤呼吸对环境因子的响应产生地表凋落物贡献的季节性差异,土壤呼吸速率与地表5 cm土壤温度呈显著指数正相关关系(R2=0.54~0.88,P0.05),但与地表5 cm土壤湿度不存在相关关系,油松和杨树CL、NL、C 3种处理土壤呼吸的温度敏感性指数Q10值分别为1.97、1.90、2.25和2.79、2.61、2.93,大小趋势均为NLCLC(P0.05);3)油松林、杨树林地表凋落物对土壤呼吸的贡献分别为20.78%、20.75%,二者相差不大。本研究可为京津风沙源地区针阔树种人工林演替初期土壤呼吸组分研究、碳汇功能估算提供参考。     

Three scales of temporal resolution from automated soil respiration measurements

Soil respiration (R_s) is a combination of autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration, but it is often modeled as a single efflux process, influenced by environmental variables similarly across all time scales. Continued progress in understanding sources of variation in soil CO₂ efflux will require development of R_s models that incorporate environmental influences at multiple time scales. Coherence analysis, which requires high temporal frequency data on R_s and related environmental variables, permits examination of covariation between R_s and the factors that influence it at varying temporal frequencies, thus isolating the factors important at each time scale. Automated R_s measurements, along with air, soil temperature and moisture were collected at half hour intervals at a temperate forest at Harvard Forest, MA in 2003 and a boreal transition forest at the Howland Forest, ME in 2005. As in other temperate and boreal forests, seasonal variation in R_s was strongly correlated with soil temperature. The organic and mineral layer water contents were significantly related to R_s at synoptic time scales of 2–3 days to weeks, representing the wetting and drying of the soils as weather patterns move across the region. Post-wetting pulses of R_s were correlated with the amount of precipitation and the magnitude of the change from pre-wet-up moisture content to peak moisture content of the organic horizon during the precipitation events. Although soil temperature at 8–10 cm depth and R_s showed strong coherence at a 24-h interval, calculated diel Q₁₀ values for R_s were unreasonably high (6–74) during all months for the evergreen forest and during the growing season for the deciduous forest, suggesting that other factors that covary with soil temperature, such as canopy assimilatory processes, may also influence the diel amplitude of R_s. Lower diel Q₁₀ values were obtained based on soil temperature measured at shallower depths or with air temperature, but the fit was poorer and a lag was needed to improve the fit (peak R_s followed peak air temperature by several hours), suggesting a role for delayed substrate supply from aboveground processes to affect diel patterns of R_s. High frequency automated R_s datasets afford the opportunity to disentangle the temporal scales at which environmental factors, such as seasonal temperature and phenology, synoptic weather events and soil moisture, and diel variation in temperature and photosynthesis, affect soil respiration processes.     

Partitioning soil respiration and assessing the carbon balance in a Setaria italica (L.) Beauv. Cropland on the Loess Plateau, Northern China

A study was conducted in a Setaria italica (L.) Beauv. cropland on the Loess Plateau in order to partition total soil respiration (Rt) into microbial respiration (Rm) and root respiration (Rr) and to determine the carbon balance of the cropland ecosystem. A trenching method with micro-pore mesh was used to create root-free soil cores. Differences between mesh and non-mesh treatments were used to determine root respiration. Similar pattern was found in the diurnal variation of Rt and Rm with the minimum values at 3:00-6:00 h and the maximum at 13:00-15:00 h. The diurnal pattern of Rr was completely different, the minimum values appeared at 11:00-13:00 h and the maximum at 0:00-3:00 h. Soil temperature exerted predominant control over the diurnal variations of Rt and Rm. The daily mean values of Rt, Rm and Rr were close to the measurements taken at 9:00 h. On the seasonal scale, Rm was strongly dependent on soil temperature, with higher correlation with 2-cm-depth temperature (r² = 0.79, P < 0.001) than with 5-cm-depth temperature. When the effects of both soil temperature and moisture were considered, a linear model provided more accurate prediction of Rm (r² = 0.83, P < 0.0001). Root respiration (Rr) exhibited pronounced daily variation corresponding to changes in photosynthesis and seasonal variation related to crop phenological development. The seasonal variation in Rr was strongly correlated with leaf area index (LAI) (r² = 0.85, P < 0.05), and also positively, but marginally correlated with root biomass (RB, P = 0.073). Contribution of root respiration to total soil respiration (Rr/Rt ratio) showed pronounced diurnal and seasonal variations. The daily mean values of Rr/Rt ratios were close to the values obtained at 9:00 h. In different phenological stages, Rr/Rt ratios ranged from 22.3% to 86.6%; over the entire growing season, the mean Rr/Rt ratio was 67.3%.Total annual loss of C due to Rm in 2007 was estimated to be 121.3 g C m⁻² at the study site, while the annual NPP (net primary production) was 262.1 g C m⁻². The cropland system thus showed net carbon input of 140.8 g C m⁻².     

模拟酸雨对亚热带阔叶树苗土壤呼吸的影响

通过利用pH2.5、4.0和5.6的模拟酸雨喷淋乐东拟单性木兰(Paramecia latungensis)、青冈(Cyclobalanopsis glauca)和秃瓣杜英(Elaeocarpus glabripetalus)3种浙江典型地带性阔叶植物幼苗-土壤系统(编号分别为PL、CG和EG),研究了模拟酸雨短期胁迫对土壤呼吸的影响。结果表明:(1)不同生长季,重度酸雨(pH2.5)对PL和CG植物下土壤呼吸E值影响显著,PL均低于对照(pH5.6),CG冬季低于对照而春夏较对照高,EG仅冬季变化显著。中度酸雨(pH4.0)对PL的E值作用显著,除2007年8月较对照高25.3%外,均低于对照。CG的E值于2006年12月和2007年8月分别受中度酸雨的显著影响,12月低于对照,而8月升高至1.96μmol m-2s-1。中度酸雨仅在2007年11月使EG的E值显著降低了18.0%。(2)在生长周期内,PL和EG的土壤呼吸对模拟酸雨无显著响应,CG虽分别升高了87.8%(重度酸雨组)和11.1%(中度酸雨组),但是仅重度酸雨作用显著。(3)影响PL及CG土壤呼吸的主要因素是土壤温度和模拟酸雨,EG以土壤温度为主因子。模拟酸雨对CG土壤呼吸的作用强于PL,CG土壤呼吸E值与酸雨pH负相关。     

水土保持措施对板栗林土壤呼吸的影响

为阐明板栗林土壤呼吸对水土保持措施的响应,采用IRGA法,对不同类型板栗林的土壤呼吸从2009年3月至2010年9月开展为期1年半的定位观测。结果表明:1)采取水土保持措施后,样地的土壤水分状况得到一定程度的改善,尤其随着采取水土保持措施年限的延长,其对土壤水分时空分布影响更为显著。2)4个板栗林样地的土壤呼吸速率均呈明显的单峰曲线变化,水土保持措施对土壤呼吸的季节动态无明显影响。3)样地Ⅰ和Ⅲ的参考呼吸R10分别为1.718和1.595μmol/(m2.s);而采取水土保持措施后,样地Ⅱ和Ⅳ的R10均表现为一定程度的降低,分别为1.092和1.324μmol/(m2.s)。样地Ⅰ和Ⅲ的土壤呼吸的温度敏感性指数Q10分别为1.927和1.899;采取水土保持措施后,样地Ⅱ和Ⅳ的Q10均表现为略微增加。采取水土保持措施后,土壤温度和土壤湿度对土壤呼吸速率的影响有一定程度的增强。研究结果可为把水土保持措施作为土壤严重侵蚀地区一种潜在的固碳减排模式提供基础数据。     

Subtropical plantations are large carbon sinks: Evidence from two monoculture plantations in South China

Quantifying the net carbon (C) storage of forest plantations is required to assess their potential to offset fossil fuel emissions. In this study, a biometric approach was used to estimate net ecosystem productivity (NEP) for two monoculture plantations in South China: Acacia crassicarpa and Eucalyptus urophylla. This approach was based on stand-level net primary productivity (NPP, based on direct biometric inventory) and heterotrophic respiration (R_h). In comparisons of R_h determination based on trenching vs. tree girdling, both trenching and tree girdling changed soil temperature and soil moisture relative to undisturbed control plots, and we assess the effects of corrections for disturbances of soil moisture and soil moisture on the estimation of soil CO₂ efflux partitioning. Soil microbial biomass and dissolved organic carbon were significantly lower in trenched plots than in tree girdled plots for both plantations. Annual soil CO₂ flux in trenched plots (R_h-t) was significantly lower than in tree-girdled plots (R_h-g) in both plantations. The estimates of R_h-t and R_h-g, expressed as a percentage of total soil respiration, were 58 ± 4% and 74 ± 6%, respectively, for A. crassicarpa, and 64 ± 3% and 78 ± 5%, respectively, for E. urophylla. By the end of experiment, the difference in soil CO₂ efflux between the trenched plots and tree-girdled plots had become small for both plantations. Annual R_h (mean of the annual R_h-t and R_h-g) and net primary production (NPP) were 470 ± 25 and 800 ± 118 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹, respectively, for A. crassicarpa, and 420 ± 35 and 2380 ± 187 g C m⁻² yr⁻², respectively, for E. urophylla. The two plantations in the developmental stage were large carbon sinks: NEP was 330 ± 76 C m⁻² yr⁻¹ for A. crassicarpa and 1960 ± 178 g C m⁻² yr⁻¹ for E. urophylla.     

Variation of soil respiration at three spatial scales: Components within measurements, intra-site variation and patterns on the landscape

Soil respiration is an important component of terrestrial carbon cycling and can be influenced by many factors that vary spatially. This research aims to determine the extent and causes of spatial variation of soil respiration, and to quantify the importance of scale on measuring and modeling soil respiration within and among common forests of Northern Wisconsin. The potential sources of variation were examined at three scales: [1] variation among the litter, root, and bulk soil respiration components within individual 0.1 m measurement collars, [2] variation between individual soil respiration measurements within a site (<1 m to 10 m), and [3] variation on the landscape caused by topographic influence (100 m to 1000 m). Soil respiration was measured over a two-year period at 12 plots that included four forest types. Root exclusion collars were installed at a subset of the sites, and periodic removal of the litter layer allowed litter and bulk soil contributions to be estimated by subtraction. Soil respiration was also measured at fixed locations in six northern hardwood sites and two aspen sites to examine the stability of variation between individual measurements. These study sites were added to an existing data set where soil respiration was measured in a random, rotating, systematic clustering which allowed the examination of spatial variability from scales of <1 m to 100+ m. The combined data set for this area was also used to examine the influence of topography on soil respiration at scales of over 1000 m by using a temperature and moisture driven soil respiration model and a 4 km² digital elevation model (DEM) to model soil moisture. Results indicate that, although variation of soil respiration and soil moisture is greatest at scales of 100 m or more, variation from locations 1 m or less can be large (standard deviation during summer period of 1.58 and 1.28 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively). At the smallest of scales, the individual contributions of the bulk soil, the roots, and the litter mat changed greatly throughout the season and between forest types, although the data were highly variable within any given site. For scales of 1-10 m, variation between individual measurements could be explained by positive relationships between forest floor mass, root mass, carbon and nitrogen pools, or root nitrogen concentration. Lastly, topography strongly influenced soil moisture and soil properties, and created spatial patterns of soil respiration which changed greatly during a drought event. Integrating soil fluxes over a 4 km² region using an elevation dependent soil respiration model resulted in a drought induced reduction of peak summer flux rates by 37.5%, versus a 31.3% when only plot level data was used. The trends at these important scales may help explain some inter-annual and spatial variability of the net ecosystem exchange of carbon.     

Estimating heterotrophic and autotrophic soil respiration using small-area trenched plot technique: Theory and practice

The trenching method of root exclusion is generally used to estimate heterotrophic (microbial decomposition) (F_h) and autotrophic (root and associated rhizosphere respiration) (F_a) components of soil respiration (F₀), particularly in forest ecosystems. However, some uncertainties exist on the accuracy and interpretation of the results from such experiments using small-area root exclusion plots. Using field and laboratory measurements as well as simulations using a process-based model of CO₂ production and transport in soil, we show that: (a) CO₂ concentrations at or immediately below the depth of root exclusion in small-area root exclusion plots are similar to those at the same depth in nearby undisturbed soil and (b) the contribution of soil CO₂ flux from below the root exclusion depth to the measured efflux at the surface of a root exclusion plot (F_0re) is increased because of the higher concentration gradient at the bottom of the root exclusion layer due to the decreased rate of CO₂ production above this depth. Consequently, F_a, calculated as F_0c measured in control (non-disturbed) plots minus F_0re measured in root exclusion plots, is underestimated. We describe an analytical model, derived from the soil CO₂ production and diffusion equation, to obtain correct estimates of F_a measured using small-area root exclusion plots. The analytical model requires knowledge of depth distribution of soil CO₂ diffusivity and source strength as inputs.     

Response of soil respiration to nitrogen addition in two subtropical forest types

Anthropogenic activities have increased nitrogen (N) deposition in terrestrial ecosystems, which directly and indirectly affects soil biogeochemical processes, including soil respiration. However, the effects of the increases in N availability on soil respiration are not fully understood. In this study, soil respiration was measured using an infrared gas analyzer system with soil chambers under four N treatments (0, 5, 15, and 30 g N m^-2 year^-1 as control, low N (LN), moderate N (MN), and high N (HN), respectively) in camphor tree and slash pine forests in subtropical China. Results showed that soil respiration rates decreased by 37% in the camphor tree forest and 27% in the slash pine forest on average on an annual base, respectively, in the N-fertilized treatments when compared with the control. No significant differences were found in the soil respiration rate among the LN, MN, and HN treatments in both forest types as these fertilized plots reached an adequate N content zone. In addition, soil microbial biomass carbon (C) content and fine root biomass declined in N-treated plots compared to the control. Our results indicated that elevated N deposition might alter the tree growth pattern, C partitioning, and microbial activity, which further affect soil C sequestration by reducing soil respiration in subtropical forests of China.     

Relationships of soil respiration to microbial biomass, substrate availability and clay content

The roles of microbial biomass (MBC) and substrate supply as well as their interaction with clay content in determining soil respiration rate were studied using a range of soils with contrasting properties. Total organic C (TOC), water-soluble organic carbon, 0.5 M K₂SO₄-extractable organic C and 33.3 mM KMnO₄-oxidisable organic carbon were determined as C availability indices. For air-dried soils, these indices showed close relationship with flush of CO₂ production following rewetting of the soils. In comparison, MBC determined with the chloroform fumigation-extraction technique had relatively weaker correlation with soil respiration rate. After 7 d pre-incubation, soil respiration was still closely correlated with the C availability indices in the pre-incubated soils, but poorly correlated with MBC determined with three different techniques—chloroform fumigation extraction, substrate-induced respiration, and chloroform fumigation-incubation methods. Results of multiple regression analyses, together with the above observations, suggested that soil respiration under favourable temperature and moisture conditions was principally determined by substrate supply rather than by the pool size of MBC. The specific respiratory activity of microorganisms (CO₂-C/MBC) following rewetting of air-dried soils or after 7 d pre-incubation was positively correlated with substrate availability, but negatively correlated with microbial pool size. Clay content had no significant effect on CO₂ production rate, relative C mineralization rate (CO₂-C/TOC) and specific respiratory activity of MBC during the first week incubation of rewetted dry soils. However, significant protective effect of clay on C mineralization was shown for the pre-incubated soils. These results suggested that the protective effect of clay on soil organic matter decomposition became significant as the substrate supply and microbial demand approached to an equilibrium state. Thereafter, soil respiration would be dependent on the replenishment of the labile substrate from the bulk organic C pool.     

三峡库区几种耐水淹植物根系特征与土壤抗水蚀增强效应

为明确用于三峡库区消落区植被构建的岸生植物物种根系特征与土壤抗水蚀之间的关系,对狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon(L)Pers.)、空心莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides(Mart)Griseb)、荻(Triarrhena saccharifloraNakai)、牛鞭草(Hemarthria compressa(L.f.)R.Br.)、香附子(Cyperus rotundusL.)、野古草(Arundinella anomala Steud.)等6种耐水淹植物根系进行了研究。利用根钻(Eijkelkamp agrisearch equipmentmodel 15.01)在野外直接取样的方法,获取了含有目标物种根系的土柱试验样品,采用改进的抗崩解装置测量土壤的水蚀速率,计算了这6种植物根系对土壤的抗水蚀增强系数,并使用根系分析系统(WinRHIZO Pro.2004c)对根系特征进行了分析。研究发现,空心莲子草、荻、香附子和狗牙根的根冠比均值较大,野古草、荻具有较大的根长密度和根表面积密度;含有根系的土壤水蚀速率显著低于对照,空心莲子草、荻、野古草的土壤抗水蚀增强系数显著高于其他3个物种;根长密度、根表面积密度均与土壤抗水蚀增强系数之间呈极显著的线性关系;根系径级中D≤2 mm的根系与土壤抗水蚀关系最为密切,土壤抗水蚀增强系数与D≤2 mm根系的根长密度和根表积密度均呈显著的线性关系,相关系数随着径级的增加而减小。结果表明,6物种均能显著增强土壤的抗水蚀能力,空心莲子草、荻、野古草的增强作用最为明显;根长密度、根表面积密度能很好地表征土壤的抗水蚀能力,尤其是D≤2 mm或D≤0.5 mm根系的根长密度和根表积密度,可以作为表征土壤抗水蚀能力的最重要参数。     

An inter-laboratory comparison of multi-enzyme and multiple substrate-induced respiration assays to assess method consistency in soil monitoring

The use of indicators in soil monitoring schemes to detect changes in soil quality is receiving increased attention, particularly the application of soil biological methods. However, to date, the ability to compare information from different laboratories applying soil microbiological techniques in broad-scale monitoring has rarely been taken into account. This study aimed to assess the consistency and repeatability of two techniques that are being evaluated for use as microbiological indicators of soil quality: multi-enzyme activity assay and multiple substrate-induced respiration (MSIR). Data were tested for intrinsic (within-assay plate) variation, inter-laboratory repeatability (geometric mean regression and correlation coefficient) and land-use discrimination (principal components analysis). Intrinsic variation was large for both assays suggesting that high replicate numbers are required. Inter-laboratory repeatability showed diverging patterns for the enzyme assay and MSIR. Discrimination of soils was significant for both techniques with relatively consistent patterns; however, combined laboratory discrimination analyses for each technique showed inconsistent correspondence between the laboratories. These issues could be addressed through the adoption of reliable analytical standards for biological methods along with adequate replication. However, until the former is addressed, dispersed analyses are not currently advisable for monitoring schemes.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma</Emphasis> inoculation and trash management effects on soil microbial biomass,soil respiration,nutrient uptake and yield of ratoon sugarcane under subtropical conditions

A field experiment was conducted during 2003–2005 and 2004–2006 at the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research, Lucknow, India to study the effect of Trichoderma viride inoculation in ratoon sugarcane with three trash management practices, i.e. trash mulching, trash burning and trash removal. Trichoderma inoculation with trash mulch increased soil organic carbon and phosphorus (P) content by 5.08 Mg ha⁻¹ and 11.7 kg ha⁻¹ over their initial contents of 15.75 Mg ha⁻¹ and 12.5 kg ha⁻¹, respectively. Soil compaction evaluated as bulk density in 0- to 15-cm soil layer, increased from 1.48 Mg m⁻³ at ratoon initiation (in April) to 1.53 Mg m⁻³ at harvest (in December) due to trash burning and from 1.42 Mg m⁻³ at ratoon initiation (in April) to 1.48 Mg m⁻³ at harvest (in December) due to trash mulching. The soil basal respiration was the highest during tillering phase and then decreased gradually, thereafter with the advancement of crop growth. On an average, at all the stages of crop growth, Trichoderma inoculation increased the soil basal respiration over no inoculation. Soil microbial biomass increased in all plots except in the plots of trash burning/removal without Trichoderma inoculation. The maximum increase (40 mg C kg⁻¹ soil) in soil microbial biomass C, however, was observed in the plots of trash mulch with Trichoderma inoculation treatment which also recorded the highest uptake of nutrient and cane yield. On an average, Trichoderma inoculation with trash mulch increased N, P and K uptake by 15.9, 4.68 and 23.6 kg ha⁻¹, respectively, over uninoculated condition. The cane yield was increased by 12.8 Mg ha⁻¹ with trash mulch + Trichoderma over trash removal without Trichoderma. Upon degradation, trash mulch served as a source of energy for enhanced multiplication of soil bacteria and fungi and provided suitable niche for plant–microbe interaction.     

Study of soil respiration and fruit quality of table grape (Vitis vinifera L.) in response to different soil water content in a greenhouse

ABSTRACT

To understand the response of grape (Hutai No.8) quality and soil respiration (R_s) to different soil relative water contents (SRWCs), this study was designed with three soil moisture levels (A: 80–95%, B: 60–75%, and C: 40–55% of SRWC) for grape cultivation. Meanwhile, environmental factors, including air temperature (T_a), air relative humidity, and light intensity, were also recorded. The results showed the following: (1) Through the comprehensive analysis of fruit quality by the method of subordinate function, we concluded that the optimum soil moisture treatment was 60–75% SRWC, and the soluble sugars, proanthocyanidin, and resveratrol were most abundant. In addition, vitamin C (Vc) content was the largest under C treatment. (2) Photosynthetic characteristic under high soil moisture was better than those under low soil moisture condition during grape coloring periods, and it was largest under A treatment in 2015. R_s rate was in accordance with the trend of grape photosynthesis. High soil moisture could accelerate the photosynthetic rate of grape leaves and increase R_s. (3) Correlation analysis showed that higher soil moisture and air humidity and lower soil temperature (T_s) and T_a could promote the accumulation of more nutrients in grape berries; it also could increase photosynthetic rate and R_s during grape coloring periods. In conclusion, 60–75% SRWC was the optimum soil moisture condition, which could improve the nutrient contents and accumulate more bioactive substances. Of course, keeping a lower T_s and T_a, as well as higher air humidity, was also necessary.

Abbreviations: SRWC: soil relative water content; A, 90-95% SRWC; B, 70-75% SRWC; C, 40-55% SRWC; Rs: soil respiration; Ta: air temperature; Ts: soil temperature; OPC: proanthocyanidin; TSS: total soluble solids.