大气CO2浓度升高对土壤碳库的影响

土壤碳库是输入、输出土壤碳量的平衡:大气CO2浓度升高有可能通过生态系统中的各种生理过程来增加输入土壤的碳量,输入土壤碳量的增加使土壤成为一个潜在的碳汇,有可能缓解大气CO2浓度的升高;但另一方面输入土壤碳量的增加,为微生物的生长提供了能量,从而提高了微生物的活性,因此土壤呼吸增强,土壤碳输出增加.本文综述了大气CO2浓度升高对土壤碳输入、输出的影响以及目前研究中存在的争论,并提出有待进一步研究的领域和方向.     

Direct and indirect effects of elevated CO2 and nitrogen addition on soil microbial communities in the rhizosphere of Bothriochloa ischaemum

Purpose

Elevated CO₂ and nitrogen (N) addition both affect soil microbial communities, which significantly influence soil processes and plant growth. Here, we evaluated the combined effects of elevated CO₂ and N addition on the soil–microbe–plant system of the Chinese Loess Plateau.

Materials and methods

A pot cultivation experiment with two CO₂ treatment levels (400 and 800 μmol mol^?1) and three N addition levels (0, 2.5, and 5 g N m^?2 year^?1) was conducted in climate-controlled chambers to evaluate the effects of elevated CO₂ and N addition on microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of Bothriochloa ischaemum using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles and associated soil and plant properties. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to identify the direct and indirect effects of the experimental treatments on the structure of microbial communities.

Results and discussion

Elevated CO₂ and N addition both increased total and fungal PLFAs. N addition alone increased bacterial, Gram-positive, and Gram-negative PLFAs. However, elevated CO₂ interacting with N addition had no significant effects on the microbial community. The SEM indicated that N addition directly affected the soil microbial community structure. Elevated CO₂ and N addition both indirectly affected the microbial communities by affecting plant and soil variables. N addition exerted a stronger total effect than elevated CO₂.

Conclusions

The results highlighted the importance of comprehensively studying soil–microbe–plant systems to deeply reveal how characteristics of terrestrial ecosystems may respond under global change.

     

土壤微生物生物量和呼吸强度对大气CO2浓度升高的响应

随着全球环境变化对陆地生态系统的影响逐渐成为公众和科学界关注的热点,CO2作为一种重要的温室气体受到格外重视.大气CO2浓度升高将直接影响陆地植物的光合作用[1].植物的光合产物约有20% ～ 50%被运送到地下,通过根系分泌及死亡输入土壤[2],因此大气CO2浓度升高将会间接影响土壤生态系统.长期以来,关于大气CO2浓度升高对农作物地上部分的研究较多,但关于大气CO2浓度升高对土壤特别是土壤微生物的影响的研究报道较少.     

大气CO2和O3升高对菜地土壤酶活性和微生物量的影响

利用OTC平台和青菜盆栽实验,探索[CO2]、[O3]或[CO2+O3]升高条件下,土壤理化性质、微生物量和土壤酶活性的变化,以期获得未来大气CO2或/和O3升高对土壤微生态系统的风险性。结果表明,[CO2]升高不同程度地提高了土壤的可溶性有机碳（DOC）、可溶性有机氮（DON）、总磷（TP）、总碳（TC）、铵态氮（AN）、硝态氮（NN）含量和含水量（SWC）,进而不同程度地提高了土壤微生物量碳（MBC）、微生物量氮（MBN）含量以及土壤蛋白酶（PRA）、蔗糖酶（SA）、脲酶（UA）、多酚氧化酶（POA）、酸性磷酸酶（APA）和中性磷酸酶（NPA）活性。相反,[O3]升高不同程度降低了土壤DOC、TP、TK、TC、TN、AN、NN、SWC、MBC和MBN含量,提高了MBC/MBN比值,在不同程度上降低了土壤PRA、SA、UA、POA、APA和NPA酶活性。而[CO2+O3]在一定程度上消减了[O3]对土壤微生物量和酶活性的抑制作用,也降低了[CO2]升高对土壤微生物量和酶活性的刺激效应。因此,土壤微生物量和土壤酶活性的变化可用于评价未来大气CO2或/和O3升高对菜地土壤微生态环境的影响。     

Links between pseudometallophytes and rhizosphere microbial communities in a metalliferous soil

Short-term improvements in soil health derived from pseudometallophytes growth and metal phytoremediation were quantified based upon specific microbial properties of potential value as bioindicators of soil functioning. To this aim, plant consortia, consisting of 1–3 pseudometallophytes with different metal-tolerance strategies (hyperaccumulator: Noccaea caerulescens; accumulator: Rumex acetosa; excluder: Festuca rubra), were grown in a mine soil. At the end of the experiment, soil microbial biomass, activity, structural and functional community profiling, and stability were determined. Growing together with N. caerulescens stimulated the growth of the other two pseudometallophytes. The combination of R. acetosa and N. caerulescens extracted the highest amounts of Zn. Except for β-glucosidase, a negative correlation was found between enzyme activities and number of pseudometallophytes present in the study pots. Microbial biomass C was highest in the presence of all three pseudometallophytes. The combination of different pseudometallophyte species, which may allow for a greater exploitation of potential niche space, appears promising for phytoremediation. When quantifying soil health, the importance of measuring various types of soil microbial properties has been highlighted, as the response observed was different in each of them.     

稻田CO2排放对大气CO2浓度升高的响应

利用FACE (free-air carbon dioxide enrichment)平台,采用静态暗箱-气相色谱法,研究了大气CO2浓度升高对稻田土壤CO2通过土壤-大气(土气)和植被-大气(植气)界面排放的影响.在整个水稻生长季中,土气界面CO2排放通量与土壤表面水层深度指数负相关,且在中期烤田和收获前排水阶段出现较大值;而植气界面CO2排放通量与根系生物量的变化趋势基本一致.在低氮(N 125 kg/hm2)和常氮(N 250 kg/hm2)水平上,高浓度CO2(对照大气CO2浓度+200 μmol/mol)有提高水稻生物量、降低土气和植气界面CO2累积排放量的趋势.在水稻的拔节、抽穗和成熟期,较高的施氮量显著增加水稻地上部分生物量,促进植气界面CO2的排放.研究结果表明,未来大气CO2浓度升高的环境下,稻田生态系统有增加CO2的固定(增加水稻生物量),减少CO2的排放(土气和植气界面CO2的排放)的趋势,可能发挥着碳汇的作用.     

Effect of soil CO2 concentration on microbial biomass

The effect of increasing soil CO₂ concentration was studied in six different soils. The soils were incubated in ambient air (0.05 vol.% CO₂) or in air enriched with CO₂ (up to 5.0 vol.% CO₂). Carbon dioxide evolution, microbial biomass, growth or death rate quotients and glucose decay rate were measured at 6, 12 and 24 h of CO₂ exposure. The decrease in soil respiration ranged from 7% to 78% and was followed by a decrease in microbial biomass by 10–60% in most cases. High CO₂ treatments did not affect glucose decay rate but the portion of C_gluc mineralized to CO₂ was lowered and a larger portion of C_gluc remained in soils. This carbon was not utilized by soil microorganisms. Received: 30 August 1996     

Rapid response of soil protozoa to elevated CO2

Short-term changes in bacterial and protozoan populations from the soil of plants grown under elevated atmospheric CO₂ were quantified. We grew Brassica nigra at either ambient or twice-ambient CO₂ levels within open-top chambers in the field for 4 weeks. Plant biomass, above- and belowground, was unaffected by elevated CO₂. Direct count bacterial density was unchanged under elevated CO₂. Flagellate density tended to increase, whereas amoebal density significantly declined under elevated CO₂. This change in protozoan community structure suggests trophic transfer of the elevated CO₂ fertilization effect through the soil food chain. Received: 20 August 1996     

Seasonality of soil biological properties in a poplar plantation growing under elevated atmospheric CO2

Microorganisms are the regulators of decomposition processes occurring in soil, they also constitute a labile fraction of potentially available N. Microbial mineralization and nutrient cycling could be affected through altered plant inputs at elevated CO_2. An understanding of microbial biomass and microbial activity in response to belowground processes induced by elevated CO₂ is thus crucial in order to predict the long-term response of ecosystems to climatic changes. Microbial biomass, microbial respiration, inorganic N, extractable P and six enzymatic activities related to C, N, P and S cycling (β-glucosidase, cellulase, chitinase, protease, acid phosphatase and arylsulphatase) were investigated in soils of a poplar plantation exposed to elevated CO_2. Clones of Populus alba, Populus nigra and Populus x euramericana were grown in six 314 m² plots treated either with atmospheric (control) or enriched (550 μmol mol⁻¹ CO₂) CO₂ concentration with FACE technology (free-air CO₂ enrichment). Chemical and biochemical parameters were monitored throughout a year in soil samples collected at five sampling dates starting from Autumn 2000 to Autumn 2001.The aim of the present work was: (1) to determine if CO₂ enrichment induces modifications to soil microbial pool size and metabolism, (2) to test how the seasonal fluctuations of soil biochemical properties and CO₂ level interact, (3) to evaluate if microbial nutrient acquisition activity is changed under elevated CO₂.CO₂ enrichment significantly affected soil nutrient content and three enzyme activities: acid phosphatase, chitinase and arylsulphatase, indicators of nutrient acquisition activity. Microbial biomass increased by a 16% under elevated CO₂. All soil biochemical properties were significantly affected by the temporal variability and the interaction between time and CO₂ level significantly influenced β-glucosidase activity and microbial respiration. Data on arylsulphatase and chitinase activity suggest a possible shift of microbial population in favour of fungi induced by the FACE treatment.     

Impact of plant species and atmospheric CO2 concentration on rhizodeposition and soil microbial activity and community composition

Both plant species and CO₂ concentration can potentially affect rhizodeposition and consequently soil microbial activity and community composition. However, the effect differs based on plant developmental stage. We focused on the effect of three plant species (forbs, grasses, and N₂‐fixers) at an early stage of development on root C deposition and fate, soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization and soil microbial community composition at ambient (aCO₂) and elevated (eCO₂) CO₂ levels. Plants were grown from seed, under continuous ¹³C‐labelling atmospheres (400 and 800 µmol mol^?1 CO₂), in grassland soil for three weeks. At the end of the growth period, soil respiration, dissolved organic C (DOC) and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles were quantified and isotopically partitioned into root‐ and soil‐derived components. Root‐derived DOC (0.53 ± 0.34 and 0.26 ± 0.29 µg mL soil solution^?1) and soil‐derived CO₂ (6.14 ± 0.55 and 5.04 ± 0.44 µg CO₂‐C h^?1) were on average two times and 22% higher at eCO₂ than at aCO₂, respectively. Plant species differed in exudate production at aCO₂ (0.11 ± 0.11, 0.10 ± 0.18, and 0.58 ± 0.58 µg mL soil solution^?1 for Plantago, Festuca, and Lotus, respectively) but not at eCO₂ (0.20 ± 0.28, 0.66 ± 0.32, and 0.75 ± 0.15 µg mL soil solution^?1 for Plantago, Festuca, and Lotus, respectively). However, no differences among plant species or CO₂ levels were apparent when DOC was expressed per gram of roots. Relative abundance of PLFAs did not differ between the two CO₂ levels. A higher abundance of actinobacteria and G‐positive bacteria occurred in unplanted (8.07 ± 0.48 and 24.36 ± 1.18 mol%) and Festuca‐affected (7.63 ± 0.31 and 23.62 ± 0.69 mol%) soil than in Plantago‐ (7.04 ± 0.36 and 23.41 ± 1.13 mol%) and Lotus‐affected (7.24 ± 0.17 and 23.13 ± 0.52 mol%) soil. In conclusion, the differences in root exudate production and soil respiration are mainly caused by differences in root biomass at an early stage of development. However, plant species evidently produce root exudates of varying quality affecting associated microbial community composition.     

Decomposition kinetics of soil carbon of different age from a forest exposed to 8 years of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration

Ecosystem exposure to elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration can often leads to increased ecosystem carbon (C) fluxes, as well as greater net primary production. Changes in the soil C pool with elevated [CO₂] are more difficult to measure and therefore remain poorly understood. In this study, we carried out a series of laboratory soil incubations, in order to determine whether 8 years of ecosystem exposure to elevated [CO₂] altered decomposition dynamics of two age classes of soil C in a temperate coniferous forest. Our objectives were to determine whether there were differences in the decomposition kinetics of soil C up to 8 years old (C_post-tr) and soil C older than 8 years (C_pre-tr), in the absence of concurrent plant activity. We collected soil from the Duke Forest Free Air CO₂ Enrichment site in North Carolina and incubated whole and crushed (all macroaggregates dispersed) soil from two depth increments (0–5 cm and 5–15 cm) for 102–127 days. We found that mineral soil from the treatment plots had higher respiration rates in the absence of concurrent plant activity than mineral soil from plots under ambient CO₂ conditions. These differences in respiration rate were only significant in 0–5 cm soil and could be largely explained by higher initial respiration rates of soil collected from the CO₂-treated plots. Disruption of soil macroaggregates did not result in a difference in efflux rate in soil from this forest under ambient or elevated CO₂ conditions at either depth. The specific respiration rate of C_post-tr was higher than that of C_pre-tr in the top 5 cm of soil, while the opposite was true for 5–15 cm of soil. Even though C_post-tr was assimilated by the ecosystem more recently than C_pre-tr, their decay constants were similar at both depths. These results suggest that, in the absence of plant activity, the mineralization of soil C of different ages in this forest may be under similar biological and/or biochemical control. Therefore, if the higher initial rates of decomposition of C_post-tr seen in these experiments are sustained in the field, greater labile pool size of recently added C, and potentially faster cycling of this pool, may in part explain higher soil respiration rates and limited soil C accumulation under elevated [CO₂] in this forest.     

Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 and N fertilization on abundance,diversity and C-isotopic signature of collembolan communities in arable soil

Rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are expected to have marked impacts on the carbon (C) turnover in agro-ecosystems through increased plant photosynthetic rates, leading to an enhanced biomass, and wider plant C/N ratios. Through increased carbon allocation below-ground, as well as through changed litter quality, CO₂ enrichment will indirectly affect soil faunal communities. In the present study we investigated how elevated atmospheric CO₂ and two different levels of N fertilization may affect abundance and diversity of collembolans, as important catalysts in decomposition processes, within an agro-ecosystem under winter wheat cultivation. The investigations were carried out in 2002 within a field experiment using the “Free Air CO₂ Enrichment” technique (FACE) at the Federal Agricultural Research Centre (Braunschweig, Germany). Stable C-isotopic analysis of collembolans, soil, and crops gave insight into C translocation. During our investigations δ¹³C values of all components analysed were significantly more negative under FACE compared to ambient air conditions. Stable C-isotopic signatures of collembolans were similar to those of soil under ambient air, but in between those of soil and roots under elevated CO₂ conditions. Our results revealed significant effects of both treatments (CO₂ enrichment and N fertilization) on density and species diversity of collembolans. Overall, collembolans were stimulated under elevated CO₂ conditions, showing an increased abundance of more than 50% (11 240 ind m⁻²) as well as a higher biodiversity (Shannon Weaver index = 2.5; evenness = 0.75) compared to ambient air conditions (7520 ind m⁻²; Shannon Weaver index = 2.2; evenness = 0.72). With regard to N supply, a decrease of about 20–30% under CO₂ enrichment and 45–55% under ambient air conditions in collembolan abundance with no alteration in diversity was recorded under reduced N fertilization. The observed impacts were species-specific.     

水稻土好氧甲烷氧化菌对大气CO2浓度升高的适应规律

CH4是仅次于CO2的第二大温室气体,而稻田是CH4的主要排放源,但未来大气CO2浓度升高情景下（elevated CO2, eCO2）,水稻土好氧甲烷氧化过程及其功能微生物群落适应规律尚不清楚。本研究依托中国FACE（Free Air CO2 Enrichment）水稻田试验平台,通过13C-CH4示踪的室内微宇宙培养实验,采用稳定性同位素核酸探针（DNA-SIP）和高通量测序技术,研究了未来大气CO2浓度升高对水稻土甲烷氧化活性及其功能微生物的影响规律。研究结果表明：与常规大气CO2浓度（ambient CO2, aCO2）相比,eCO2条件下的甲烷氧化活性显著增加,从243 nmol g-1 d.w.s h-1增加至302 mol g-1 d.w.s h-1,增幅高达24.3%,甲烷氧化菌数量则增加了1.1~1.2倍。通过超高速离心获得活性甲烷氧化菌同化13CH4后合成的13C-DNA,高通量测序发现,未来大气CO2升高情景下水稻土活性好氧甲烷氧化微生物群落极可能发生明显演替,与对照相比,类型I甲烷氧化菌甲基杆菌属Methylobacter的相对丰度增加16.2%~17.0%,而甲基八叠球菌属Methylosarcina的相对丰度下降4.7%-11.1%;同时刺激了食酸菌属Acidovorax和假单胞菌属Pseudomonas等非甲烷氧化菌的活性。这些研究结果表明：未来大气CO2升高情景下,水稻土好氧甲烷氧化微生物群落结构发生分异,促进了甲烷氧化通量,而甲烷氧化的代谢产物可能引发土壤中微生物食物网的级联反应,是土壤碳储存和周转的重要功能微生物群。     

Warming and elevated CO2 combine to increase microbial mineralisation of soil organic matter

The net annual exchange of carbon between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems is of prime importance in determining the concentration of CO₂ ([CO₂]) in the atmosphere and consequently future climate. Carbon loss occurs primarily through soil respiration; it is known that respiration is sensitive to the global changes in [CO₂] and temperature, suggesting that the net carbon balance may change in the future. However, field manipulations of temperature and [CO₂] alter many important environmental factors so it is unclear how much of the observed alterations in soil respiration is due to changes of microbial function itself instead of changes to the physical and chemical environment. Here we focus on resolving the importance of changes in the microbial community in response to warming and elevated [CO₂] on carbon mineralisation, something not possible in field measurements. We took plant material and soil inocula from a long running experiment where native grassland had been exposed to both warming and elevated CO₂ and constructed a reciprocal transplant experiment. We found that the rate of decomposition (heterotrophic respiration) was strongly determined by the origin of the microbial community. The combined warming + elevated CO₂ treatment produced a soil community that gave respiration rates 30% higher when provided with shoot litter and 70% for root litter than elevated CO₂ treatment alone, with the treatment source of the litter being unimportant. Warming, especially in the presence of elevated CO₂, increased the size of the apparent labile carbon pool when either C₃ or C₄ litter was added. Thus, the metabolic activity of the soil community was affected by the combination of warming and elevated CO₂ such that it had an increased ability to mineralise added organic matter, regardless of its source. Therefore, soil C efflux may be substantially increased in a warmer, high CO₂ world. Current ecosystem models mostly drive heterotrophic respiration from plant litter quality, soil moisture and temperature but our findings suggest equal attention will need to be paid to capturing microbial processes if we are to accurately project the future C balance of terrestrial ecosystems and quantify the feedback effect on atmospheric concentrations of CO₂.     

2-Phenylethylisothiocyanate concentration and microbial community composition in the rhizosphere of canola

Canola crops have been shown to inhibit soil-borne pathogens in following crops. This effect is mainly attributed to the release of low molecular S-containing compounds, such as isothiocyanates, during microbial degradation of the crop residues. We have assessed the effect of low concentrations of phenylethylisothiocyanate (PEITC) on soil microbial communities as well as its rate of degradation in soil and determined the concentration of PEITC and the microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of canola. PEITC was degraded within 96 h by soil microorganisms. PEITC added to the soil daily for 5 d affected both bacterial and eukaryotic community structure, determined by PCR-DGGE. Community structures of bacteria and eukaryotes changed at PEITC concentrations between 1300 and 3790 pmol g⁻¹ soil fresh weight but was unaffected at lower concentrations. The PEITC concentration in the rhizosphere of living canola roots was greater in first order laterals than in second order laterals. The maximal PEITC concentration detected in the rhizosphere was 1827 pmol g⁻¹. Redundancy analysis of the DGGE banding patterns indicated a significant correlation between the PEITC concentration in the rhizosphere and the community structure of the active fraction of eukaryotes and bacteria in the rhizosphere. Other important factors influencing the microbial community structure were soil moisture and plant dry matter. It is concluded that canola may affect the soil microbial community structure not only after incorporation of canola residues but also during active growth of the plants.     

Reduced net atmospheric CH4 consumption is a sustained response to elevated CO2 in a temperate forest

We compared, from 2004 through 2006, rates of soil–atmosphere CH₄ exchange at permanently established sampling sites in a temperate forest exposed to ambient (control plots; ∼380 μL L⁻¹) or elevated (ambient + 200 μL L⁻¹) CO₂ since August 1996. A total of 880 observations showed net atmospheric CH₄ consumption (flux from the atmosphere to the soil) from all static chambers most of the time at rates varying from 0.02 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ to 4.5 mg m⁻² day⁻¹. However, we infrequently found net CH₄ production (flux from the soil to the atmosphere) at lower rates, 0.01 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ to 0.08 mg m⁻² day⁻¹. For the entire study, the mean (±SEM) rate of net CH₄ consumption in control plots was higher than the mean for CO₂-enriched plots, 0.55 (0.03) versus 0.51 (0.03) mg m⁻² day⁻¹. Annual rates of 184, 196, and 197 mg m⁻² for net CH₄ consumption at control plots during the three calendar years of this study were 19, 10, and 8% higher than comparable values for CO₂ enriched plots. Differences between treatments were significant in 2004 and 2005 and nearly significant in 2006. Volumetric soil water content was consistently higher at CO₂-enriched sites and a mixed-effects model identified a significant soil moisture x CO₂ interaction on net atmospheric CH₄ consumption. Increased soil moisture at CO₂-enriched sites likely increases diffusional resistance of surface soils and the frequency of anaerobic microsites supporting methanogenesis, resulting in reduced rates of net atmospheric CH₄ consumption. Our study extends our observations of reduced net atmospheric CH₄ consumption at CO₂-enriched plots to nearly five continuous years, suggesting that this is likely a sustained negative feedback to increasing atmospheric CO₂ at this site.     

Plastic mulching increased soil CO2 concentration and emissions from an oasis cotton field in Central Asia

Although previous researchers suggest that carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are influenced by plastic mulching, the effects of this method on soil CO₂ concentration and emissions remain uncertain. Soil CO₂ concentration and emissions from ridge and furrow soils under mulched and nonmulched treatments in 2014 and 2015 were measured. The soil CO₂ concentration was observed using modified diffusion equilibrium samplers, and the soil CO₂ emissions were measured using a closed‐chamber method. In the ridge soil, although the plastic mulching increased the CO₂ concentration by 49% (0–40 cm), no significant difference in CO₂ emissions was found between the mulched and nonmulched treatments. Accordingly, the relationship between soil CO₂ concentration and CO₂ emissions was affected by plastic mulching, with a lower slope of the linear equation found in the mulched treatment compared to the nonmulched treatment. In the furrow soil, the plastic mulching increased the CO₂ concentration and emissions by 15% and 21%, respectively. In conclusion, plastic mulching significantly increased the CO₂ concentration in both the ridge and furrow soils and increased the cumulative CO₂ emissions by 8%. The temperature sensitivity of the soil CO₂ concentration increased with soil depth, whereas the plastic mulching only influenced the temperature sensitivity of the soil CO₂ concentration in both the ridge and furrow soils at a depth of 40 cm. Our results suggest that the temperature sensitivity of the soil CO₂ concentration not only reflects the effects of temperature on CO₂ production but also indicates poor diffusion in the deep profile.     

Shifts in soil bacterial communities associated with the potato rhizosphere in response to aromatic sulfonate amendments

Desulfonation is an important process in the sulfur cycle, through which organic sulfur compounds are mineralized, releasing S. Desulfonating bacteria are known to respond to inorganic S soil amendments. However, the extent to which these communities shift as a response to the addition of organic sulfur in the soil remains elusive. Here, we investigated how amendments of soil with inorganic or organic sulfur compounds influence the bacterial communities associated with potato, in a microcosm experiment. The soil was amended with two doses of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), here used as a model aromatic sulfonate compound, or with sulfate. Degradation of LAS was observed already at the young plant stage, as in all treatments 10- to 50-fold reductions of the initial (background) LAS concentrations were noted. Quantitative PCR analyses showed no significant effects of treatment on the bacterial abundances, which tended to increase from the young plant to the flowering stages of plant development. The bacterial community structures, determined via PCR-DGGE, were strongly affected by the presence of plants. This rhizosphere effect became more apparent at the flowering stages. Both the bacterial and β-proteobacterial community structures were affected by the presence of LAS, but dose-related effects were not observed. LAS also caused significant changes in the community structures, as compared to those in inorganic sulfate amended soil. Sulfate did not influence the bacterial community structures and only affected the β-proteobacterial ones at the flowering stage. Surprisingly, the presence of LAS did not exert any significant effect on the abundance of the Variovorax asfA gene, although clone libraries revealed a dominance of Variovorax types in the rhizosphere, especially in the high-level LAS treatment. Our results suggest that rhizosphere communities are key players in LAS degradation in soils, and that desulfonator Variovorax spp. plays a minor role in the mineralization of aromatic sulfonates in soil cropped with potato.     

Methane production in a flooded soil in response to elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations

 CH₄ production in a flooded soil as affected by elevated atmospheric CO₂ was quantified in a laboratory incubation study. CH₄ production in the flooded soil increased by 19.6%, 28.2%, and 33.4% after a 2-week incubation and by 38.2%, 62.4%, and 43.0% after a 3-week incubation under atmospheres of 498, 820, and 1050 μl l^–1 CO₂, respectively, over that in soil under the ambient CO₂ concentration. CH₄ production in slurry under 690, 920, and 1150 μl l^–1 CO₂ increased by 2.7%, 5.5%, and 5.0%, respectively, after a 3-day incubation, and by 6.7%, 12.8%, and 5.4%, respectively, after a 6-day incubation over that in slurry under the ambient CO₂ concentration. The increase in CH₄ production in the soil slurry under elevated CO₂ concentrations in a N₂ atmosphere was more pronounced than that under elevated CO₂ concentrations in air. These data suggested that elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations could promote methanogenic activity in flooded soil. Received: 2 March 1998     

Effect of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration on growth and physiology of wheat and sorghum under cadmium stress

ABSTRACT

Elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide (e[CO₂]) affect plant growth and physiological characteristics, including metal accumulation, and the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes. These effects were investigated in cadmium (Cd) tolerant wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.) cultivars. Plants were grown at the ambient and elevated CO₂ levels, with four concentrations of Cd (0, 10, 20 and 40 mg kg^?1) added to the soil. After 60 days, subsamples were tested for chlorophylls and carotenoids, protein, enzyme activities and morphological characteristics.

Results showed that e[CO₂] increased plant height, leaf area, and the dry weight of shoots and roots (P < 0.01). In addition, it decreased the Cd concentration in the shoots and roots of wheat, and increased the same concentrations for sorghum. With increasing Cd, the activities of the anti-oxidants, SOD and GSH-px increased in wheat. The differences in enzyme activity parallel the changes in Cd concentration in the plants of both species.