次降雨过程中北京市不同土地利用方式下土壤养分流失特征

研究了次降雨过程中北京市不同土地利用方式下(草地、农田、林地和果园)土壤养分流失特征。结果表明:(1)在不同土地利用方式下,地表径流量的变化均随着降雨时间的增加呈对数变化趋势,在同一降雨时间内,地表径流量均表现为草地农田林地果园。(2)草地泥沙流失量随降雨历时变化幅度较大,在降雨后期出现陡增陡降的变化趋势,其他3种土地利用方式下泥沙流失量的增加变化幅度较小;不同土地利用方式下泥沙流失量大小顺序为:草地农田林地果园。(3)草地和农田地表径流量显著高于林地和果园(P0.05),地表径流量和壤中流均表现为:草地农田果园林地;从壤中流总量变化特征来看,草地和农田产生的壤中流显著高于林地和果园(P0.05)。(4)不同土地利用方式下的泥沙积累量均随降雨历时而呈指数的变化趋势。(5)不同土地利用方式下水相氮磷流失量、泥沙氮磷流失量和氮磷流失总量均表现为:草地农田果园林地。(6)降雨径流过程中,不同土地利用方式下磷的流失是以侵蚀泥沙相为主,氮素的流失以径流水相为主。(7)不同土地利用方式降雨前期土壤全氮和全磷含量大小基本表现为:草地农田林地果园,泥沙N和P含量比雨前土壤表层N和P含量有所增加,说明侵蚀泥沙对N和P具有一定的富集作用,并且不同土地利用方式下侵蚀泥沙对P的富集高于对N的富集,综合比较可知,草地侵蚀泥沙富集养分的能力最高。(8)不同土地利用方式下泥沙量与侵蚀泥沙中全氮和全磷含量均存在显著或者极显著的正相关关系(P0.05),与土壤全氮和全磷含量存在不同的正相关关系(相关系数较低),说明侵蚀泥沙量的增加会引起泥沙中养分含量不同程度的增加效应,并且草地和农田侵蚀量与养分含量的相关系数高于林地和果园。     

红壤小流域不同土地利用方式下土壤N,P流失特征研究

研究了次降雨过程中红壤小流域5种不同土地利用方式土壤N,P养分流失特征。结果表明,在降雨后,花生地、花-橘间作、橘园、板栗园和水田5种利用方式表层土壤N,P养分含量均有不同程度下降,其中花生地N,P含量下降最为明显,水田N,P含量降幅则最小;不同形态养分平均降幅依次为有效氮(5.49%)、有效磷(5.25%)、全氮(1.45%)、全磷(0.59%)。各样地地表径流中水溶态N,P养分含量花生地明显高于其他样地,而泥沙中N,P养分含量则以水田最高;各样地侵蚀泥沙中N,P养分有明显的富集现象,板栗园和橘园N,P养分富集率高于其他样地,水田N,P养分富集率最低。不同形态养分富集率也不同,全氮平均富集率为1.30,有效氮1.18,全磷1.11,有效磷1.38。侵蚀径流中N,P养分与表层土壤相同形态养分之间呈显著正相关。     

红壤坡耕地地表径流与壤中流氮磷流失比较

采用人工模拟降雨试验研究了红壤坡耕地典型旱作模式(花生常规种植)的土壤在地表径流和壤中流中所产生的氮、磷流失特征差异。结果表明:(1)壤中流和地表径流产流特征差异显著,壤中流产流时间滞后于地表径流,但产流时间长、产流量大,壤中流产流量占总径流量52.26%~67.19%,是红壤坡耕地重要的径流形式。(2)壤中流与地表径流氮、磷流失特征具有较大差异,地表径流养分输出浓度表现为降雨初期较高而后逐渐趋于稳定的特征,壤中流养分浓度在整个径流过程中保持相对稳定。(3)壤中流总氮、硝态氮含量是地表径流相应养分含量的5.97~22.19,7.82~42.57倍。壤中流的氮素输出以硝态氮为主,铵态氮较少,其硝态氮浓度是铵态氮的5.73倍以上。壤中流在红壤坡耕地降雨径流中占有相当份额,壤中流中流失的养分不容忽视。     

生育期对红壤旱坡花生地氮素径流流失的影响

探明作物不同生育期的氮素流失特征,以期为红壤旱坡地氮素流失预测与有效防控提供理论依据。采用土壤水分渗漏试验装置,对自然降雨条件下赣北第四纪红壤旱坡花生地不同生育期的地表径流、渗漏水及其各形态氮素输出过程进行连续观测。结果表明:(1)红壤旱坡花生地产流主要发生在降雨量最为集中的开花下针期。渗漏水是各生育期主要的径流形式,占总径流量的64%。(2)各生育期,氮素流失的主要途径为渗漏水,主要形式为可溶性氮,占总氮(TN)流失量的54%～99%。除饱果成熟期外,各生育期渗漏水中氮素流失的主要成分为硝态氮,占TN的38%～50%。(3)地表径流和渗漏水氮素浓度总体表现为幼苗期和开花下针期较大,饱果成熟期最小,而氮素流失量则表现为开花下针期最大。因此,幼苗期和降雨量最为集中的开花下针期为防治红壤旱坡花生地氮素流失的关键时期,控制硝态氮等氮素淋溶损失是减少红壤旱坡花生地氮素流失的关键途径。     

水土保持综合措施对红壤坡地养分流失作用过程研究

为了研究红壤坡地养分流失规律,通过江西省水土保持生态科技园2006～2007年野外试验,分析了3种生态措施、3种典型降雨红壤坡地N、P流失过程。结果表明:不同降雨类型下采取生态措施能对整个径流过程中的总氮和总磷浓度起到明显的控制作用,且各处理径流中氮和磷的流失主要集中在径流初期,后期均匀稳定。养分流失均以侵蚀泥沙携带养分流失为主,但随着降雨的减小,泥沙携带养分流失量占养分总流失量的比例会降低。各处理侵蚀泥沙均有养分富集现象,而且随着降雨的减小而增大。     

不同土地利用方式对土壤侵蚀及养分流失的影响

研究川中丘陵区次降雨过程中不同土地利用方式对土壤侵蚀及养分流失的影响。结果表明:(1)不同土地利用方式下,地表径流量的变化均随着降雨时间的增加呈对数变化趋势,在同一降雨时间内,地表径流量均表现为农田果园草地灌丛林地。(2)农田泥沙流失量随降雨时间的增加幅度较大,且在降雨后期出现陡增陡降的变化特征,其他土地利用方式下泥沙流失量的增加幅度较小;不同土地利用下泥沙流失量大小顺序为:农田果园草地灌丛林地。(3)农田和果园地表径流量和壤中流总量显著高于灌丛和林地(p0.05),地表径流量和壤中流均表现为:农田果园草地灌丛林地。(4)不同土地利用方式下泥沙积累量均随降雨时间的延续而呈指数变化趋势。(5)不同土地利用方式下水相氮磷流失量、泥沙氮磷流失量和氮磷流失总量均表现为:农田果园草地灌丛林地;不同土地利用方式下降雨径流过程中,氮素的流失是以径流水相为主,而磷的流失是以侵蚀泥沙相为主。(6)不同土地利用方式降雨前期土壤全氮和全磷含量大小均表现为农田果园草地灌丛林地,泥沙氮磷含量比雨前土壤表层氮磷含量有所增加,说明侵蚀泥沙对氮、磷具有富集作用,并且不同土地利用方式下侵蚀泥沙富集磷素能力高于富集氮素能力,综合比较可知,农田和果园侵蚀泥沙富集养分的能力最高,而灌丛和林地是减少水土流失的土地利用方式。     

不同种类肥料对石灰岩坡地水土和养分流失的影响

基于人工模拟降雨试验,研究不同种类肥料下石灰岩坡地土壤侵蚀和养分流失特征。结果表明:复合肥、不同种类肥料之间的产沙量、产流量、养分流失量均差异显著,配施肥在产沙量、产流量、产沙模数、径流系数均是三者最大的;复合肥在养分流失中为三者最高。配施肥坡面产沙量是复合肥的2.1倍,是缓控释肥的3.2倍,复合肥的养分流失量是配施肥的1.03~1.19倍。太行山石灰岩坡地在施肥种类条件下,产沙总量(x)与产流总量(y)呈y=bx+c(b0)线性方程关系。太行山石灰岩区以减少地表有效养分含量、减少地表流水为治理坡面水土流失的有效途径。     

人工模拟降雨条件下石灰土养分流失规律

通过对三峡库区香溪河流域选取具有代表性石灰土坡耕地进行原位人工模拟降雨试验,研究了在不同降雨强度下石灰土中氮磷养分随地表径流的流失规律。结果表明:雨强越大,地表径流量、径流总量、泥沙流失量越大,初始产流时间越短,但是雨强对泥沙流失浓度的影响不显著;不同雨强下TP、TN浓度都随着产流时间的延长逐渐变小,最后趋于平衡,而且雨强越大,TP、TN浓度流失越严重,其中TP主要以PP形式流失,达到80%以上,TN的流失在大雨时PN占优,中雨时以DN占优;地表径流磷素的流失主要以泥沙携带为主,泥沙养分流失浓度与雨强无关,但是泥沙养分流失量却与雨强和泥沙流失量成正比。     

模拟降雨对工程建设区裸露坡地产流产沙及氮素流失的影响

为揭示不同降雨强度下工程建设区裸露坡地土壤侵蚀过程和氮素流失特征,采用人工模拟降雨的方法,研究不同降雨强度(1,1.5,2mm/min)和处理(裸地、坡面覆盖纱网)对工程裸露坡地产流产沙及氮素流失的影响。结果表明:(1)径流强度、径流含沙量、土壤剥蚀率都与降雨强度呈正相关关系,土壤入渗率与降雨强度呈现负相关关系。(2)累积泥沙量与累积径流量在裸地处理中呈现线性函数关系,在纱网处理中呈现幂函数关系。(3)地表径流中氮素流失浓度随降雨历时呈现"下降—稳定"趋势,氮素流失量随降雨强度的增加而增大,其中NO_3~-—N流失量占总氮比重高于NH_4~+—N。(4)土壤坡面覆盖纱网后能有效控制水土流失量和氮素流失量,其中径流量和NO_3~-—N流失量在小雨强处降低效果显著,分别降低了60.21%和56.74%;TN流失量和NH_4~+—N流失量在小、中雨强处降低效果较好,均达到59.26%以上;侵蚀泥沙量在小、中、大雨强处均降低了79%以上。说明土壤坡面覆盖纱网这一措施对降低工程建设区裸露坡地土壤侵蚀量和氮素流失量具有效果显著,可以作为工程建设区水土流失防止措施。     

模拟降雨条件下农田径流中氮的流失过程

在室内降雨模拟试验条件下，研究暴雨径流中农田氮素养分流失及施肥处理的影响。结果表明，农田暴雨径流氮养分的流失量与累积径流量成正相关；施用NH4HCO3显著地增大了农田径流中溶解态氮浓度及流失量（P＝0．01），而对颗粒态氮浓度及流失量没有显著影响（P＝0．1）在大暴雨和裸露地试验条件下，颗粒态氮是农田暴雨径流氮养分流失的主要形态；在44min降雨径流中，以颗粒态流失的氮达476．3－488．7mg/m^2；侵蚀泥沙有富集氮养分的特点，其富集系数与侵蚀泥沙累积量存在对数线性关系；LOG（ER）＝0．770－0．300LOG（SED）；减少地表径流和土壤侵蚀，降低表土中速效氮养分含量是减少农田地表径流氮流失的关键。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

Electron donor and pH relationships for biologically enhanced dissolution of chlorinated solvent DNAPL in groundwater

Biologically enhanced dissolution offers a method to speed removal of chlorinated solvent dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) sources such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichoroethene (TCE) from aquifers. Bioremediation is accomplished by adding an electron donor to the source zone where fermentation to intermediates leading to acetic acid and hydrogen results. The hydrogen and possibly acetic acid are used by dehalogenating bacteria to convert PCE and TCE to ethene and hydrochloric acid. Reductive dehalogenation is thus an acid forming process, and sufficient alkalinity must be present to maintain a near neutral pH. The bicarbonate alkalinity required to maintain pH above 6.5 is a function of the electron donor: 800 mg/L of bicarbonate alkalinity is sufficient to achieve about 1.2 mM TCE dechlorination with glucose, 1.7 mM with lactate, and a much higher 3.3 mM with formate. Laboratory studies indicate that in mixed culture, formate can be used as an electron donor for complete conversion to ethene, contrary to pure cultures studies indicating it cannot. Various strategies can be used to add electron donor to an aquifer for DNAPL dehalogenation while minimizing pH problems and excessive electron donor usage, including use of injection-extraction wells, dual recirculation wells, and nested injection-extraction wells.     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Increase in auxiliary photoprotective photosynthetic pigments in wheat seedlings induced by Azospirillum brasilense

Inoculation of wheat seedlings with the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Cd was immobilized in alginate microbeads and, without applying any stress, significantly increased the quantity of several photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and the auxiliary photoprotective pigments violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheroxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin, and β-carotene. This resulted in greener plants with no apparent visible stress. After monitoring the quantity of photosynthetic pigments for 4 weeks, we observed that inoculated plants had higher quantities of pigments in shoot and stem. The greatest difference in the quantity of all pigments between inoculated and noninoculated plants occurred in the first week of growth. Regardless of treatment, the quantity of pigments in stems was three to four times less than the quantity of these pigments in shoots. Application of Azospirillum, either as liquid inoculant or as alginate microbeads, did not alter the positive effect of the bacteria on pigment production or the positive response of the plants towards A. brasilense Cd inoculation.     

In-situ enrichment and analysis of atrazine-degrading microbial communities using atrazine-containing porous beads

We examined the community composition of microbes that colonized atrazine-containing beads buried in agricultural soils that differed in atrazine treatment history. Bacterial abundance was 5-40-fold greater in atrazine-fortified beads. In beads containing 20 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ buried in soil with a history of atrazine application (conditioned soil), the abundance of Actinobacteria increased approximately 80-fold whereas in control soil, Actinobacteria were enriched only 10-fold and the gamma-Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes increased by 60- and 25-fold, respectively. The gamma-Proteobacteria were enriched by 120- and 230-fold in beads containing 200 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ in conditioned and control soil, respectively. The results demonstrate that BioSep^® beads are a suitable matrix for recruiting a diverse subset of the bacterial community involved in atrazine degradation.