Initial results from a long-term, multi-site field study of the effects on soil fertility and microbial activity of sludge cakes containing heavy metals

In a long‐term study of the effects on soil fertility and microbial activity of heavy metals contained in sewage sludges, metal‐rich sludge cakes each with high Zn, Cu or Cd concentrations were applied annually for 4 years (1994–1997) to nine sites throughout Britain. These sites were selected to represent agricultural soils with a range of physical and chemical properties, typical of those likely to be amended with sewage sludge. The aim was to establish individual total Zn (approx. 60–450 mg kg^?1), total Cu (approx. 15–200 mg kg^?1) and total Cd (approx. 0.2–4 mg kg^?1) metal dose–response treatments at each site. Sludges with low metal concentrations were added to all treatments to achieve as constant an addition of organic matter as possible. Across the nine sites, soil pH was the single most important factor controlling Zn (P < 0.001; r² = 92%) and Cd extracted with 1 m NH₄NO₃ (P < 0.001; r² = 72%), and total iron content the most important factor controlling Cu extracted with 1 m NH₄NO₃ (P < 0.001; r² = 64%). There were also positive relationships (P < 0.001) between soil organic carbon (C) concentrations and soil biomass C and respiration rates across the nine sites. Oxidation of sludge C following land application resulted in approximately 45% of the digested sludge cake C and approximately 64% of the ‘raw’ sludge cake C being lost by the end of the 4‐year application period. The sludge cake applications generally increased soil microbial biomass C and soil respiration rates, whilst most probable numbers of clover Rhizobium were generally unchanged. Overall, there was no evidence that the metal applications were damaging soil microbial activity in the short term after the cessation of sludge cake addition.     

Effects of heavy metal accumulation in apple orchard soils on microbial biomass and microbial activities

Abstract

The effects of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, and As) accumulated in apple orchard surface soils on the microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, and soil respiration were investigated. The largest concentrations of total Cu, Pb, and As found in the soils used were 1,010, 926, and 166 mg kg^?1 soil, respectively. The amounts of microbial biomass C and N, expressed on a soil organic C and soil total N basis, respectively, were each negatively correlated with the amounts of total, 0.1 M HCI-extractable, and 0.1 M CaCl₂-extractable Cu as logarithmic functions, the correlation coefficient being lowest for the 0.1 M CaCl₂extractable Cu. Nevertheless, they were not correlated with the soil pH which was controlling the solubility of Cu in 0.1 M CaCl₂. The dehydrogenase activity expressed per unit of soil organic C was also negatively correlated with the amounts of total, 0.1 M HCI-extractable Cu, and 0.1 M CaCl₂-extractable Cu as logarithmic functions. However, the correlation coefficient was highest for the 0.1 M CaCl₂-extractable Cu. Although the soil respiration per unit of soil total organic C did not show any significant correlations with the total concentrations of heavy metals, it showed negative significant correlations with the amount of 0.1 M HCI-extractable Cu, and to a greater extent, with the amount of 0.1 M CaCl₂-extractable Cu. Both the dehydrogenase activity and respiration per unit of soil total organic C increased significantly with increasing soil pH. These results suggested that in apple orchard soils with heavy metal accumulation the microbial biomass was adversely affected by the slightly soluble Cu, whereas the microbial activities by the readily soluble Cu whose amount depended on the soil pH. The respiration per unit of microbial biomass C showed a positive significant correlation with the logarithmic concentration of total Cu. Furthermore, the contribution of fungi to substrate-induced respiration increased with increasing total Cu content in the soils.     

不同类型的污泥对土壤微生物性质的影响: 地中海退化土的田间试验研究

The recycling of suitable organic wastes can enhance soil fertility via effects on soil physical, chemical and biological properties. To compare the effects of digested (DS), thermally dried (TDS) and composted dewatered (CDS) sewage sludge on soil microbiological properties, an experiment was conducted at field sites for more than one year (401 d) when applied to two Mediterranean degraded soils (loam and loamy sand soils). All three types of sewage sludge had a significant effect on measured parameters. I...     

Impact of deforestation on soil physicochemical characteristics,microbial biomass and microbial activity of tropical soil

The study dealt with the assessment of the impact of deforestation on tropical soil through a comparative analysis of physicochemical and microbiological parameters of natural forest and a deforested barren site. With significant decline in clay, texturally the soil of the deforested barren site was observed to be different from that of natural forest. Bulk density and porosity data revealed structural deterioration of deforested barren soil. The soil hydrological regime was also adversely affected by the deforestation. Levels of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, microbial biomass C, N and microfungal biomass also exhibited significant decline in deforested site. Analysis of microbial respiratory quotient (q CO₂) was also observed to be impaired in the deforested site. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Suitability of soil microbial parameters as indicators of heavy metal pollution

Several microbial parameters (microbial biomass, respiration, dehydrogenase, phosphatase, sulphatase, glucosidase, protease and urease activities) were measured in soils from five sites located in urban green areas close to roads differing in traffic density. Our aims were to evaluate the suitability of such parameters as field biomarkers of stress induced by heavy metal pollution, and to compare results obtained by single microbial parameters with results given by an index expressing the average microbial (AME) response of the microbial community. Data showed that all parameters were significantly reduced in the sites characterized by the highest load of metals in soil. Dehydrogenase, sulphatase, glucosidase activities and respiration, declined exponentially with increasing metal concentration, whereas phosphatase activity and AME decreased following a sigmoidal type relationship. In contrast, protease, urease and microbial biomass were not significantly correlated with soil metal concentration. Microbial parameters differed both in sensitivity to critical metal concentrations and in the rate of decline at increasing metal loads in soil. Due to the complex interplay of chemical, physical and biological factors which influence microbial activities and biomass, the proposed index (AME) appeared more suitable than single microbial parameters for a biomonitoring study of this type.     

Changes in the microbial activity of an arid soil amended with urban organic wastes

Changes produced in the biological characteristics of an arid soil by the addition of various urban wastes (municipal solid waste, sewage sludge and compost) at different doses, were evaluated during a 360-day incubation experiment. The addition of organic materials to the soil increased the values of biomass carbon, basal respiration, biomass C/total organic C ratio and metabolic quotient (qCO₂), indicating the activation of soil microorganisms. These biological parameters showed a decreasing tendency with time. Nevertheless, their values in amended soils were higher than in control soil, which clearly indicates the improvement of soil biological quality brought about by the organic amendment. This favorable effect on soil biological activity was more noticeable with the addition of fresh wastes (municipal solid waste or sewage sludge) than with compost. In turn, this effect was more permanent when the soil was amended with municipal solid waste than when it was amended with sewage sludge. Received: 28 May 1996     

Salinity and sodicity effects on respiration and microbial biomass of soil

An understanding of the effects of salinity and sodicity on soil carbon (C) stocks and fluxes is critical in environmental management, as the areal extents of salinity and sodicity are predicted to increase. The effects of salinity and sodicity on the soil microbial biomass (SMB) and soil respiration were assessed over 12weeks under controlled conditions by subjecting disturbed soil samples from a vegetated soil profile to leaching with one of six salt solutions; a combination of low-salinity (0.5dSm⁻¹), mid-salinity (10dSm⁻¹), or high-salinity (30dSm⁻¹), with either low-sodicity (sodium adsorption ratio, SAR, 1), or high-sodicity (SAR 30) to give six treatments: control (low-salinity low-sodicity); low-salinity high-sodicity; mid-salinity low-sodicity; mid-salinity high-sodicity; high-salinity low-sodicity; and high-salinity high-sodicity. Soil respiration rate was highest (56–80mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹ soil) in the low-salinity treatments and lowest (1–5mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹ soil) in the mid-salinity treatments, while the SMB was highest in the high-salinity treatments (459–565mg kg⁻¹ soil) and lowest in the low-salinity treatments (158–172mg kg⁻¹ soil). This was attributed to increased substrate availability with high salt concentrations through either increased dispersion of soil aggregates or dissolution or hydrolysis of soil organic matter, which may offset some of the stresses placed on the microbial population from high salt concentrations. The apparent disparity in trends in respiration and the SMB may be due to an induced shift in the microbial population, from one dominated by more active microorganisms to one dominated by less active microorganisms.     

连年翻压绿肥对植烟土壤微生物量及酶活性的影响

通过3年田间定位试验,研究连年翻压绿肥对植烟土壤微生物量碳、氮及酶活性的影响。结果表明,连年翻压绿肥能提高土壤微生物量碳、氮及土壤脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶的活性,且随翻压年限的增加而增加。整个生育期,翻压3年绿肥的处理与对照相比微生物量碳、氮分别提高31.0%~67.1%、23.0%~145.1%;土壤脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶活性分别提高34.4%~51.9%、11.0%~18.6%、58.0%~172.7%、24.0%~50.0%,表明翻压绿肥后土壤生物过程活跃,利于有机物质的转化和烤烟正常生长所需的营养供应。动态变化特征表明,翻压绿肥1、2、3年的各处理微生物量碳、氮均在团棵期出现峰值,土壤脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶均在旺长期出现峰值。在出现峰值时翻压3年的处理与对照相比微生物量碳、氮分别提高67.1%、60.7%;土壤脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶活性分别提高51.9%、14.2%、30.6%。此时正值生育旺期,利于烟株生长发育,说明连年翻压绿肥后培肥土壤效果显著。土壤微生物量C、N和酶活性能灵敏反映土壤肥力的变化,可作为评价土壤质量的生物学指标。     

Long‐term effects on soil microbial properties of heavy metals from industrial exhaust deposition

Soil samples were taken at 0—10 cm and 10—20 cm depth from 7 clay‐marsh sites used as grassland close to Nordenham in the north of Lower Saxony, Germany. The sites had been contaminated by deposition of heavy metals from industrial exhausts, the level of contamination varying according to their distances from a lead factory. The soils were analyzed to assess the depth‐specific effects of NH₄NO₃ extractable and total amounts of Zn, Pb, and Cu on basal respiration, adenylates, ergosterol, and biomass C estimated by fumigation extraction (FE) and substrate‐induced respiration (SIR). Most of the chemical and biological properties studied decreased with depth, but depth‐specific differences in the relationships between these properties rarely occurred. The biomass C/soil organic C ratio was at a relatively high level, but most consistently reflected pollution as a decrease with increasing heavy metal load, independently of the method used for biomass C estimation. However, the SIR estimates were on average 44 % lower than those of FE, mainly due to pH effects. The metabolic quotient SIR‐qCO₂ increased with increasing NH₄NO₃ extractable and total heavy metal contents, but also with decreasing pH, whereas the FE‐qCO₂ remained unaffected by heavy metals and pH. The ATP/FE‐biomass C ratio was on average 8.2 μmol g^—1 and negatively affected by soil pH, but also by total Zn, NH₄NO₃ extractable Zn and Cu. The ergosterol/FE‐biomass C ratio was on average 0.29 %, i.e. at a very low level, and increased with increasing heavy metal content. This indicates a change in the community structure towards fungi.     

污泥生物炭对杨树人工林土壤环境质量的影响

通过田间实验,研究污泥生物炭(SSBC)施用对杨树人工林土壤理化性质、重金属含量、土壤微生物生物量碳氮以及土壤酶活性的影响。试验设置4个处理:对照 (CK: 0 t·hm-2)、低量(LS: 15 t·hm-2)、中量(MS: 30 t·hm-2)及高量(HS: 60 t·hm-2)。结果表明:SSBC的施用可降低土壤pH,增加土壤EC值;随着SSBC用量的增加,土壤营养成分和重金属含量均呈现增加趋势,其中SOC增加18.4~47.9%、全N含量增加20.4~46.5%、全P含量增加27.9~74.9%、有效氮增加4.2~23.1%及有效磷增加16.3~ 28.3%,且重金属污染可控。SSBC提高微生物生物量碳氮含量,并使土壤 β-葡糖苷酶(BG)、N-乙酰-葡糖苷酶(NAG)和蛋白酶(LAP)活性显著增加,即BG、NAG和LAP分别增加17.1%~35.3%、18.1~36.8%及29.3~70.3%,其中MS处理的增幅最大。总体而言,SSBC的应用不仅显著增加土壤营养成分,而且改善部分微生物环境,致使土壤环境质量一定程度上有所改善。     

Immediate and subsequent effects of drying and rewetting on microbial biomass in a paddy soil

Many surface soils in Japan may experience more frequent and intense drying–rewetting (DRW) events due to future climate changes. Such DRW events negatively and positively affect microbial biomass carbon (MBC) through microbial stress and substrate supply mechanisms, respectively. To assess the MBC immediately after DRW and during the incubation with repeated DRW cycles, two laboratory experiments were conducted for a paddy soil. In the first experiment, we exposed the soil to different drying treatments and examined the MBC and hourly respiration rates immediately after the rewetting to evaluate the microbial stress. In the second experiment, we compared microbial growth rates during the incubation of the partially sterilized soil with a continuously moist condition and repeated DRW cycles to evaluate the contribution of the substrate supply from non-biomass soil organic C on MBC. First, all drying treatments caused a reduction in MBC immediately after the rewetting, and higher drying intensities induced higher reduction rates in MBC. A reduction of more than 20% in MBC induced the C-saturated conditions for surviving microbes because sufficient concentrations of labile substrate C were released from the dead MBC. Second, repeated DRW cycles caused increases in the microbial growth rates because substrate C was supplied from non-biomass organic C. In conclusion, MBC decreased immediately after DRW due to microbial stress, whereas MBC increased during repeated DRW cycles due to substrate C supplied from non-biomass organic C.     

长期施肥对红壤性水稻土微生物生物量与活性的影响

土壤微生物及其活性是指示土壤增肥过程和土壤环境变化的灵敏指标.本文研究了红壤荒地开垦为水田后不同施肥制度定位施肥 16 年后水稻土的微生物生物量与活性特征,结果表明:经 16 年水稻耕植,不同施肥措施下土壤的微生物生物量和活性还处于较低水平.施肥制度显著影响了水稻土的微生物生物量 C 和基质诱导呼吸,但对基础呼吸的影响还不明显.只施用 N、K 肥对提高土壤微生物生物量和活性没有显著效果,在不施肥或施用化肥的基础上配合有机循环可以显著提高土壤微生物的生物量、代谢活性和微生物呼吸的温度敏感性,N、P、K 肥配合有机循环的施肥制度对提高土壤微生物生物量和代谢活性的作用最好.     

长期施肥处理对玉米生长期潮土微生物生物量和活度的影响

以1989年建立的中国科学院封丘农田生态系统国家试验站的长期定位试验为平台,研究经18a连续不同施肥处理后玉米季土壤微生物生物量碳氮和微生物活度的动态变化及其与土壤有机碳之间的相互关系,并探讨施肥措施对土壤微生物及其活性的影响。施肥处理包括:(1)有机肥(OM);(2)1/2化肥和1/2有机肥(1/2OM+1/2NPK);(3)氮磷钾肥(NPK);(4)氮磷肥(NP);(5)磷钾肥(PK);(6)氮钾肥(NK);(7)不施肥,即对照(CK)7个处理。结果表明,微生物生物量碳氮和微生物活度在玉米生长期内均有明显的时间变异性,其中微生物生物量碳与微生物活度的动态变化比较一致,其间的极显著相关关系表明潮土微生物生物量碳的变化可以在很大程度上代表土壤微生物活度的变化。施肥制度显著影响微生物生物量碳氮和微生物活度的变化,总体趋势为OM1/2OM+1/2NPKNPKNPPKNKCK,表明OM有利于保持土壤的生物化学环境及促进土壤的生物学活性;与OM处理相比,化学肥料的长期施用有降低土壤微生物生物量和微生物活度的趋势,尤其是缺素处理的表现更为明显,其中以缺磷处理的表现最为严重。土壤微生物生物量碳氮、微生物活度与土壤有机碳变化均呈极显著正相关。     

Plant extracts from the Mediterranean zone of Chile potentially affect soil microbial activity related to N transformations: A laboratory experiment

Abstract

Available soil N can be lost through ammonia volatilization, nitrate leaching to surface and ground waters, and nitrous oxide emission under intensive systems of agricultural production. Research has shown that phenolic compounds isolated from certain plants influence N cycling in soils, which results in a decrease of N losses and represents a key issue for environmental protection worldwide. In this study, water-soluble and ethanol-soluble compounds were extracted from the leaves, bark and roots of certain tree and shrub species in the Mediterranean zone of Chile, with the aim of measuring their effects on N transformation, soil respiration, soil microbial biomass and urease activity. The studied species were Acacia caven Mol, Quillaja saponaria Mol., Bacharis linearis (Ruiz & Pav.) Pers. and Pinus radiata D. Don. Plant extracts were applied to soil (Haploxeralf) fertilized with urea. The extracts obtained from the roots of A. caven in water, bark of A. caven in ethanol, bark of P. radiata in ethanol, leaves of P. radiata in water and roots of B. linearis in water showed a reduction in the soil nitrification rate. The bark of A. caven in ethanol and bark of P. radiata in ethanol extracts showed a reduction in urease activity. In conclusion, only the bark of P. radiata in ethanol extract affected all the biological parameters considered, reducing soil nitrification, urease activity, microbial biomass and carbon dioxide emissions from the soil, these being attributed to high levels of phenolic content in the extract. However, further research is necessary to explain the mechanisms involved.     

耕作方式对长期免耕农田土壤微生物生物量碳的影响

以华北冬小麦-夏玉米两熟区长期免耕土壤为研究对象, 研究不同耕作方式(免耕、翻耕和旋耕)对长期免耕土壤微生物生物量碳(SMBC)的影响, 为制定合理的轮耕制度提供依据。试验结果表明: 长期免耕土壤进行耕作处理后SMBC 的时空分布和稳定性产生显著变化。不同耕作处理SMBC 含量在0~5 cm 和5~10 cm 土层变化明显, 小麦起身期含量最低, 收获期最高; 深层SMBC变化不明显。免耕处理SMBC 随土壤层次明显降低, 且各土壤层次SMBC 差异达显著(P<0.05)水平; 翻耕、旋耕处理0~5 cm 和5~10 cm 土层间SMBC 无明显差异, 其他层次间差异显著(P<0.05)。从生育期平均值看, 0~5 cm 土层免耕处理SMBC 含量较高, 翻耕和旋耕处理则分别比免耕降低6.7%、6.1%; 与免耕相比, 5~10 cm 土层SMBC 翻耕、旋耕处理分别增加30.2%和20.7%(P<0.01),10~20 cm 土层SMBC 翻耕、旋耕处理比免耕增加48.1%(P<0.01)和10.5%(P<0.05)。在冬小麦生育期内, 0~20 cm土层SMBC 稳定性表现为翻耕>旋耕>免耕, 20~30 cm 土层SMBC 稳定性表现为免耕>翻耕>旋耕。     

Influence of heavy metals on the functional diversity of soil microbial communities

Three soil types-Calcaric Phaeozem, Eutric Cambisol and Dystric Lithosol-in large container pots were experimentally contaminated with heavy metals at four different levels (light pollution: 300 ppm Zn, 100 ppm Cu, 50 ppm Ni, 50 ppm V and 3 ppm Cd; medium pollution: twofold concentrations; heavy pollution: threefold concentrations; uncontaminated control). We investigated the prognostic potential of 16 soil microbial properties (microbial biomass, respiration, N-mineralization, 13 soil enzymes involved in cycling of C, N, P and S) with regard to their ability to differentiate the four contamination levels. Microbial biomass and enzyme activities decreased with increasing heavy metal pollution, but the amount of decrease differed among the enzymes. Enzymes involved in the C-cycling were least affected, whereas vartous enzyme activities related to the cycling of N, P and S showed a considerable decrease in activity. In particular, arylsulfatase and phosphatase activities were dramatically affected. Their activity decreased to a level of a few percent of their activities in the corresponding unpolluted controls. The data suggest that aside from the loss of rare biochemical capabilities-such as the growth of organisms at the expense of aromatics (Reber 1992)-heavy metal contaminated soils lose very common biochemical propertities which are necessary for the functioning of the ecosystem. Cluster analysis as well as discriminant analysis underline the similarity of the enzyme activity pattern among the controls and among the polluted soils. The trend toward a significant functional diversity loss becomes obvious already at the lowest pollution level. This implies that concentrations of heavy metals in soils near the current EC limits will most probably lead to a considerable reduction in decomposition and nutrient cycling rates. We conclude that heavy metal pollution severely decreases the functional diversity of the soil microbial community and impairs specific pathways of nutrient cycling.Dedicated to Professor J. C. G. Ottow on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

The effect of tropical forest conversion on soil microbial biomass

We investigated the effects of converting forest to savanna and plough land on the microbial biomass in tropical soils of India. Conversion of the forest led to a significant reduction in soil organic C (40–46%), total N (47–53%), and microbial biomass C (52–58%) in the savanna and the plough land. Among forest, savanna, and plough land, basal soil respiration was maximum in the forest, but the microbial metabolic quotient (qCO₂ was estimated to be at a minimum in the forest and at a maximum in the plough land.     

Effect of an artificial soil mix from coal fly ash and sewage sludge on soil microbial activity

An artificial soil mix was prepared from coal fly ash and sewage sludge and an experiment was performed to evaluate their effects on soil microbial respiration. Coal fly ash at 0%, 5%, 10%, 35% and 50% w/w was mixed with dewatered sewage sludge and then each ash-sludge mixture was incubated with a sandy soil at 1:1 v/v at 28°C for 42 days. All treatments showed the same carbon dioxide production pattern with a peak production at day 7 to day 14. Addition of ash-sludge mixtures to soil resulted in an increase in carbon dioxide production but the production rate decreased according to the ash amendment rate. The high pH of coal fly ash and the dilution effect of the sludge were the major reasons for the decrease. However, the ecological dose 50% values sharply increased from 26% at day 3 to 39% ash at day 14. This indicates the rapid acclimatization of microorganisms to the fly ash-sludge mixtures. Therefore, a brief stabilization period may be required for the establishment of soil microbial populations in soil amended with ash-sludge mixtures.     

Experimentally induced effects of heavy metal on microbial activity and community structure of forest mor layers

This study compared the toxic effects of adding chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) at three dose levels to mor layer samples in laboratory experiments. Microbial activity in the form of soil respiration was monitored for 64 days. At the end of the experimental period, the composition of the soil microbial community structure was analysed by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. The metals added induced changes in the microbial community structure and affected respiration negatively, indicating toxicity. The microbial community structure (principal component analysis of the PLFA pattern) for all metals was significantly related to microbial activity (cumulative respiration), indicating intimate links between microbial community structure and activity. The most striking result in this study was that the shift in the microbial community because of metal stress was similar for all metals. Thus, the PLFA i16:0 increased most in relative abundance in metal-polluted soils, followed by other PLFAs indicative of Gram-positive bacteria (10Me16:0, 10Me17:0, 10Me18:0, a17:0 and br18:0). The PLFA 16:1ω5 was consistently negatively affected by metal stress, as were the PLFAs 18:1, 18:1ω7 and 19:1a. However, a significant separation between Cr- and Cd-polluted soils was observed in the response of the PLFA cy19:0, which decreased in abundance with Cr stress, and increased with Cd stress. Furthermore, the PLFA 18:2w6, indicating fungi, only increased with Cr and Zn stress. The effective doses of the metals, ranked with regard to background metal concentrations, decreased in the order: Zn > Cr > Pb > Mo > Ni > Cd. We concluded that interpretation of results of microbial activity from experiments of metal toxicity should include microbial structural patterns and background metal concentrations.     

Impact of agricultural land use on distribution of microbial biomass and activity within soil aggregates

The presence of aggregates of various sizes in the soil is an important condition for soil carbon sequestration. In this system, microbial biomass is a key link. This work was devoted to the study of the influence of land use systems on the distribution of SOС, MB-SIR, microbial activity and eco-physiological indices (qCO₂, QR, MB-SIR/SOС and qCO₂/SOС) in relation to the size of soil aggregates. The distribution of SOС, MB-SIR and mineralization activity among the aggregates was heterogeneous. In the soil of crop rotation, high mineralization activity and MB-SIR were found in the aggregates 0.5–0.1 mm, in the monoculture soil in aggregates <0.1 mm and in the control soil in the aggregates 1–0.25 mm. There was a general trend towards a decrease in microbial activity, MB-SIR and SOС availability with an increase in aggregate size. In agricultural soils, microbial activity was determined by large aggregates (>5 mm), while in the control soil, by the aggregates 5–1 mm. Depending on the type of site and the size of aggregates, the differences in microbial metabolism were revealed. The qCO₂ and QR values decreased, and the MB-SIR/SOС and qCO₂/SOС increased in the series: control soil > crop rotation > monoculture. In the control soil, the values of the eco-physiological indices decreased with decreasing aggregate size. And vice versa, in agricultural soils, these parameters were the highest in the microaggregates (<0.25 mm). The monoculture soil, in contrast to the control soil and crop rotation soil, turned out to be more energy efficient.