Organic matter status and the size,activity and metabolic diversity of the soil microflora as indicators of the success of rehabilitation of mined sand dunes

The effectiveness of the rehabilitation of mined sand dunes on the northern coast of KwaZulu–Natal, South Africa, was assessed based on measurements of the total and labile organic matter content and the size, activity and metabolic diversity of the soil microflora. Soil was sampled (0–10 cm) after 0, 5, 10, 20 and 25 years of rehabilitation and compared with soil under undisturbed native forest and under long-term commercial pine forest. Following topsoil removal, stockpiling and respreading on reformed dunes, there was a massive loss of organic C such that, at time zero, organic C content was only 24% of that present under native forest. Soil organic C content increased progressively during rehabilitation until, after 25 years, it represented 93% of that present under native forest. The pattern of change in light-fraction C, KMnO₄-extractable C, water-soluble C, microbial biomass C, basal respiration and arginine ammonification rate was broadly similar to that for organic C, but the extent of the initial loss and the magnitude of the subsequent increase differed. Microbial biomass C, water-soluble C and KMnO₄-extractable C, expressed as a percentage of organic C, declined during rehabilitation as humic substances progressively accumulated. Principal component (PC) analysis of catabolic response profiles to 36 substrates revealed that the catabolic diversity of microbial communities differed greatly between native forest, commercial pine forest, 0 years and 10 years of rehabilitation. On the PC1 axis, values for soils under native forest and after 25 years rehabilitation were similar, but there was still separation on the PC2 axis. The main factor explaining variation in response profiles on the PC1 axis was organic C content; and the greatest catabolic diversity occurred in soils under native forest and after 25 years of rehabilitation.     

Effect of lithological substrate on microbial biomass and enzyme activity in brown soil profiles in the northern Apennines (Italy)

The aim of the present study was to investigate the microbial activity along forest brown soil profiles sequence developed on different lithological substrates (carbonate or non-carbonated cement in sandstone formations) at different altitudes. The main question posed was: does carbonate affect the biochemical activity of brown soil profiles at different altitudes? For the purpose of this study, four soil profiles with different amounts and compositions of SOM developed on different lithological substrates were selected: two with carbonate (MB and MZ) and the other two with non-carbonated cement in the sandstone formations (MF1 and MF2). Chemical and biochemical properties of soil were analysed along soil profiles in order to assess the SOM quantity and quality, namely total organic C (C_org), water extractable organic C (WEOC) and humification indices (HI, DH, HR). Microbial biomass (C_mic and N_mic) content, as well as the specific activities of acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase and chitinase enzymes were chosen as indicators of biochemical activity. The soil biochemical properties provided evidence of better conditions for microorganisms in MB than in MF1, MF2 and MZ soil profiles, since patterns of microbial biomass content and activity might be expected in response to the amount and quality of organic substances. The different lithological substrates did not show any clear effect on soil microbial biomass content, since similar values were obtained in MF1, MF2 (with non-carbonated cement) and MZ (with carbonate). However, the specific activities of acid phosphatase (per unit of C_org and per unit of C_mic) were higher in soils with no carbonate (MF1 and MF2) than in soils with carbonate (MB and MZ). In conclusion, the biochemical activity along brown soil profiles was mainly regulated by different soil organic matter content and quality, while the two different lithological substrates (with carbonate or non-carbonated cement in the sandstone formations) did not show any direct effect on microbial biomass and its activity. However, the activity of acid phosphatase per unit of C was particularly enhanced in soil with non-carbonate cement in the sandstone formations.     

Soil microbial biomass and activity in organic tomato farming systems: Effects of organic inputs and straw mulching

Organic farming is rapidly expanding worldwide. Plant growth in organic systems greatly depends on the functions performed by soil microbes, particularly in nutrient supply. However, the linkages between soil microbes and nutrient availability in organically managed soils are not well understood. We conducted a long-term field experiment to examine microbial biomass and activity, and nutrient availability under four management regimes with different organic inputs. The experiment was initiated in 1997 by employing different practices of organic farming in a coastal sandy soil in Clinton, NC, USA. Organic practices were designed by applying organic substrates with different C and N availability, either in the presence or absence of wheat-straw mulch. The organic substrates used included composted cotton gin trash (CGT), animal manure (AM) and rye/vetch green manure (RV). A commercial synthetic fertilizer (SF) was used as a conventional control. Results obtained in both 2001 and 2002 showed that microbial biomass and microbial activity were generally higher in organically than conventionally managed soils with CGT being most effective. The CGT additions increased soil microbial biomass C and activity by 103-151% and 88-170% over a period of two years, respectively, leading to a 182-285% increase in potentially mineralizable N, compared to the SF control. Straw mulching further enhanced microbial biomass, activity, and potential N availability by 42, 64, and 30%, respectively, relative to non-mulched soils, likely via improving C and water availability for soil microbes. The findings that microbial properties and N availability for plants differed under different organic input regimes suggest the need for effective residue managements in organic tomato farming systems.     

Organic matter accumulation and fertilizer-induced acidification interact to affect soil microbial and enzyme activity on a long-term sugarcane management experiment

The effects of crop residue management and fertilizer applications on the size and activity of the microbial community and the activity of exocellular enzymes involved in mineralization of C, N, P and S were examined on a long-term (60 years) field trial under sugarcane situated at Mount Edgecombe, South Africa. Treatments at the site included pre-harvest burning with harvest residues removed (B), burning with harvest residues (unburnt tops) left on the soil surface (B_t) and green cane harvesting with retention of a trash blanket (T). Plots were either fertilized annually with N, P and K or unfertilized. The size and activity of the microbial community and the activity of soil enzymes assayed increased with increasing inputs of crop residues (B < B_t < T) and this effect was evident to a depth of 30 cm. The metabolic quotient was decreased by inputs of both crop residues and fertilizers. Annual fertilizer additions did not affect basal respiration, increased fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis rate and acid phosphatase, invertase and protease activities and decreased arginine ammonification rate and dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulphatase and histidase activities. These effects were attributed to an interaction between the positive effect of fertilizer in increasing the size of the microbial biomass and the negative effect of fertilizer-N-induced soil acidification on microbial activity and on the activity of exocellular enzymes. Such results demonstrate the importance of using a range of measurements of microbial and enzyme activity when determining the effects of management on soil microbial and biochemical properties.     

Negligible effect of X-ray μ-CT scanning on archaea and bacteria in an agricultural soil

X-ray Microfocused Computed Tomography (X-ray μ-CT) allows a non-destructive and three-dimensional observation of microbial habitats (i.e. pore space) in soil. A major premise for microbiological studies integrating X-ray μ-CT is that soil microorganisms are not affected by irradiation dose in terms of physiology and composition. However, the compatibility of X-ray μ-CT and soil biological experiments has been evaluated controversially.We performed an incubation experiment with packed microcosms to assess the effect of X-ray μ-CT on native microbial populations with emphasis on soil archaea and bacteria. Before (14 days) and after (1 and 14 days) scanning we analyzed (i) respiration, (ii) enzyme activity, (iii) microbial biomass, (iv) abundance and (v) community structure in scanned and control treatments.None of the microbial parameters exhibited significant differences among scanned and unscanned soil samples at all sampling times with the exception of lower archaeal cell numbers subsequent to X-ray μ-CT. Incubation time was the main factor that induced a significant alteration of microbial soil populations while irradiation had no or only very little effect thereupon. Taken together, three-dimensional in situ data obtained via X-ray μ-CT may well be combined with microbiological analyses in soil.     

接种蚯蚓和食细菌线虫对红壤性状及花生产量的影响

通过温室花生盆栽试验研究了接种有益土壤动物(蚯蚓和食细菌线虫)对旱地红壤生物学性质(微生物生物量碳氮、基础呼吸、微生物熵、脲酶和酸性磷酸酶活性)、土壤速效养分(碱解氮和速效磷)及花生产量的影响.试验包含4个处理:不接种处理(CK)、仅接种蚯蚓(E)、仅接种食细菌线虫(N)、联合接种蚯蚓和食细菌线虫(EN).结果表明:①蚯蚓和食细菌线虫均提高了土壤微生物生物量碳氮的含量,线虫对微生物生物量碳的贡献大于蚯蚓.②除花生成熟期的接种蚯蚓处理外,接种蚯蚓和食细菌线虫后土壤基础呼吸均有所增加,且食细菌线虫的影响也大于蚯蚓.③除花生结荚期无显著性差异外,蚯蚓和食细菌线虫均极显著提高了土壤脲酶和酸性磷酸酶活性(P＜0.05).④蚯蚓和食细菌线虫均能增加土壤速效磷和碱解氮含量.⑤接种蚯蚓和食细菌线虫后花生产量的增幅为17％～ 20％.总之,在4个花生生长时期,相对于不接种的对照处理,接种蚯蚓和食细菌线虫能明显改善红壤性状并最终提高花生产量.     

Influence of stock camping behaviour on the soil microbiological and biochemical properties of grazed pastoral soils

 The size and activity of the soil microbial biomass in grazed pastures was compared on the main grazing area and on stock camp areas where animals congregate. Two sites were on hill country and three on gently sloping border-dyke irrigated land. Due to the transfer of nutrients and organic matter to the camp areas via dung and urine there was an accumulation of soil organic C, organic and inorganic P and S and soluble salts in the camp areas. Soil pH also tended to be higher in camp areas due to transfer of alkalinity by the grazing animals. Water soluble organic C, microbial biomass C and basal respiration were all higher in soils from camp areas but the proportion of organic C present as microbial C and the microbial respiratory quotient were unaffected. Microbial activity as quantified by arginine ammonification rate and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis was higher in camp than non-camp soils but dehydrogenase activity remained unaffected. Activities of protease, histidase, urease, acid phosphatase and aryl-sulphatase were all higher in stock camp soils. The activities of both histidase and aryl-sulphatase were also higher when expressed per unit of microbial biomass C, indicating that the increased activity was the result of increased enzyme production by the microbial community. Prolonged regular applications of dairy shed effluent (diluted dung and urine from cattle) to a field had a similar effect to stock camping in increasing soil organic matter content, nutrient accumulation and soil biological activity. It was concluded that the stock camping activity of grazing animals results in an increase in both the fertility and biological activity in soils from camp areas at the expense of these properties on the main grazing areas. Received: 20 October 1997     

不同类型短期逆境胁迫对蕉园土壤团聚体 组成及酶活性的影响

采集海南蕉园土壤,通过室内模拟试验研究不同类型环境胁迫对土壤团聚体组成及酶活性的影响。土样经干旱、渍水、酸化和病原菌入侵处理后,采用湿筛法筛分不同粒径团聚体,并进行土壤酶活性和微生物检测。结果发现,除酸化处理土壤2 mm团聚体比例高于对照外,其余各处理土样0.25 mm团聚体所占比例与对照相比均显著下降,而0.25 mm小团聚体比例均显著增加。土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶、磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶等的酶活性与对照相比下降20%~90%。土样经不同处理后细菌数量均显著降低,酸化和病原菌入侵后尖孢镰刀菌数量由原来102 CFU/g分别提高到103 CFU/g及104 CFU/g。Miseq测序结果显示,土壤微生物群落结构也发生了显著变化。结果表明,短期逆境胁迫会影响蕉园土壤结构及功能,降低土壤质量。     

Contrasting soil microbial responses to fertilizers and herbicides in a canola-barley rotation

The combination of high input costs and low commodity prices is forcing some farmers to consider reducing crop inputs like seed, fertilizer and herbicides. In a field trial in which different canola (Brassica napus L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) inputs were subtracted from a full package, or added to an empty package, we studied the effects of full or reduced fertilizer and herbicide inputs on soil microbiological characteristics at two sites from 2005 to 2008. The full package consisted of a high-yielding crop variety seeded at an optimum rate, with fertilizers and herbicides applied at recommended rates. The empty package consisted of a less expensive, low-yielding crop variety seeded at a low rate, with no fertilizer or herbicide applied. Between these two extremes were treatments in which fertilizers or herbicides were applied at 50% of recommended rates or not at all. Each treatment was repeated year after year in the same plot, i.e., treatment effects were cumulative. Fertilizer effects on soil microbial biomass C (MBC), β-glucosidase enzyme activity and bacterial functional diversity (based on community-level physiological profiles) were usually positive. Reduced fertilizer application rates reduced the beneficial fertilizer effects. Significant herbicide effects on soil microbiological properties occurred less often, were smaller in magnitude than fertilizer effects, and were mostly negative. Reduced herbicide rates reduced the deleterious herbicide effects. These significant fertilizer and herbicide effects were observed in canola more than barley, and mostly in the final year of the study, indicating the cumulative nature of treatment effects over time. Therefore, repeated applications of agricultural inputs like fertilizers and herbicides can have more significant effects on soil biology and biological processes than single applications indicate.     

沈阳市郊玉米连作土壤有机质组成及其对土壤结构的影响

通过对沈阳市郊玉米连作土壤的有机质、结构情况以及二者相互关系研究表明,土壤中有机质大致范围在16.31gkg-1～23.72gkg-1,腐殖质大致范围在15.17gkg-1～21.49gkg-1,非腐殖质大致范围在1.14gkg-1～2.59gkg-1;在腐殖质各组分中,胡敏素的含量最高,约占腐殖质总量的58.93%～66.34%,胡敏酸约占16.26%～22.87%,富里酸约占16.82%～18.20%,胡富比约在0.95～1.32之间;干筛处理后>0.25mm的土壤团聚体占到80%以上,其中以>2mm团聚体为主,湿筛处理后>0.25mm的土壤团聚体仅占20%左右,其中0.25～0.5mm团聚体为主,水稳性系数在17.33%～35.67%。对有机质及其各组分与土壤各级团聚体做的相关分析结果表明,有机质与0.25～5mm粒径组的团聚体呈显著相关,与>5mm团聚体不相关,且胡敏酸主要影响1～5mm大团聚体的形成。     

秸秆深还田对土壤微生物特征及其影响因素的研究

为探索秸秆深还田后土壤微生物碳氮和酶活性的动态规律,采用尼龙网袋的方法,研究秸秆还田到土壤不同深度(0 cm、0~15 cm、15~30 cm、30~45 cm)30天、60天、90天、120天后对土壤微生物碳氮和酶活性的影响。结果显示:秸秆还田120天,秸秆深埋分解率(70%~80%)远大于秸秆覆盖分解率(20%);比较各时期不同土层土壤微生物碳氮的变化,还田15~30 cm微生物碳含量最高,在各时期与其他处理达到显著差异,地表覆盖微生物氮含量最高,与其他处理达到显著差异;比较各时期不同土层土壤酶活性的变化,均为秸秆地表覆盖的土壤酶活性较高,土壤酶活性均随季节变化呈先升高后降低的趋势,秸秆还田90天后脲酶出现峰值,秸秆还田60天后蔗糖酶出现峰值。与对照相比,秸秆还田显著增加了土壤脲酶及蔗糖酶活性,且在还田15~30 cm,土壤脲酶及蔗糖酶活性的提高更加显著。相关性分析表明,秸秆还田深度与土壤微生物氮含量、土壤脲酶、蔗糖酶、土壤温度及土壤含水量有着显著地相关性。     

Phosphomonoesterase production and persistence and composition of bacterial communities during plant material decomposition in soils with different pH values

The aim of this work was to study the synthesis and persistence of acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterases in three soils with different pH values amended with ryegrass residues. The organic input increased soil respiration, as estimated by CO₂-C evolution in all soils. The ATP content of the three soils showed a 3-7-fold increase between 7 and 10 d in the different soils since the amendment. The dsDNA content of the three amended soils also peaked between 7 and 10 d, increasing by 2.5-3.5 times in the different soils. The bacterial species richness increased in the amended as compared to the control soils during the early stages (7-10 d) of organic matter decomposition, as indicated by the decreasing values of the Sørensen similarity index between the treatments in this period. Soil amendment increased the alkaline phosphomonoesterase activity by 6, 8 and 15 times in the Vallombrosa acidic, Romola neutral and Vicarello alkaline soil, respectively, whereas the acid phosphomonoesterase activity showed a 6-, 2- and 10-fold increase in the Vallobrosa acidic, Romola neutral and Vicarello alkaline soil, respectively. Phosphatase activities peaked between 4 and 10 d, depending on the activity and the soil considered, but activity of alkaline phosphomonoesterase was higher in alkaline soils and persisted longer than the acid phosphomonoesterase activities; the opposite occurred in the acid soil. During a 180 d decomposition period, both acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities were related to dsDNA and ATP contents in all soils. Peaks of phosphmonoesterase activity coincided with the changes in the composition of the bacterial microflora, as detected by 16S-rDNA analysis, although no relationship between bacterial community composition and persistence of the phosphomonoesterase activities could be shown. It was concluded that acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterases are produced in greater amounts during plant residue decomposition, and that in acid soils acid phosphomonoesterase activity predominates and in neutral and alkaline soils alkaline phosphomonoesterase activity predominates. However, the persistence of newly produced enzymes is determinated by other factors such as soil texture, organic matter content and formation of soil colloid-enzyme complexes.     

铜和磺胺嘧啶复合污染对土壤酶活性及微生物群落功能多样性的影响

随着畜禽养殖业规模化发展以及畜禽粪便的大量农用,由此导致的土壤重金属和抗生素复合污染问题日益突出。以畜禽养殖常用的饲料添加剂铜(Cu)和磺胺嘧啶(sulfadiazine, SDZ)为目标污染物,分别采用土壤酶试剂盒(微量法)和Biolog-ECO板法,研究二者复合污染对土壤酶活性和微生物群落功能多样性的影响。结果发现:低剂量Cu(200 mg/kg)复合污染可缓解SDZ对土壤脱氢酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶活性的抑制效应,低剂量Cu与SDZ表现为拮抗作用;但加重SDZ对磷酸酶活性的抑制效应,二者表现为协同抑制作用。高剂量Cu(500 mg/kg)和SDZ复合对所测试土壤酶活性均表现为协同抑制作用。Biolog-ECO分析表明,SDZ 10 mg/kg添加量对土壤微生物活性具有促进作用,而Cu和SDZ复合污染则可显著抑制土壤微生物代谢活性。多样性指数分析表明,Cu和SDZ复合污染对微生物群落多性影响较小,但可显著改变微生物种群的均一性;且主成分分析也表明,二者复合污染可显著改变土壤微生物群落结构组成。可见,Cu和SDZ复合污染对土壤酶活性的影响与土壤酶的种类及复合剂量有关,且土壤脱氢酶活性是反映...     

Burning causes long-term changes in soil organic matter content of a South African grassland

The effects of burning a native grassland on soil organic matter status was investigated on a long-term (50 years) field experiment where different times and frequencies of burning were compared. Significant decreases in organic C were observed only in the surface 0-2 cm layer and only under annual and biennial winter burning and biennial and triennial autumn burning. Burning in spring did not significantly affect organic C content presumably because substantial amounts of litter decomposed and/or were incorporated into the soil by faunal activity prior to burning. Total N content was decreased substantially to a depth of 6 cm by all burning treatments and as a result, the C:N ratio of soil organic matter was widened. In addition, the amount of potentially mineralizable N, as measured by either aerobic incubation or plant N uptake in a pot experiment, was much reduced. Burning also induced a decrease in light fraction and hot water-extractable C in the 0-2 cm layer but an increase in these parameters, and in microbial biomass C and root density, in the 4-10 cm layer. This was attributed to burning causing a decrease in above-ground litter inputs but increased turnover of root material below the surface. Despite the decrease in organic C and total N content with increasing soil depth, potentially mineralizable N showed the opposite trend. This unexpected finding was confirmed at a nearby site under native grassland and contrasted with decreasing potentially mineralizable N with depth which was measured under a fertilized kikuyu grass dairy pasture. The wide C:N ratio of litter from native grassland, in association with the decreasing size and activity of the microbial biomass with depth results in greater N immobilization (thus less net mineralization) occurring in soil samples taken from close to the soil surface.