Organic matter fractions and N mineralization in vegetable‐cropped sandy soils

Soil organic nitrogen mineralization rates and possible predictors thereof were investigated for vegetable‐growing soils in Belgium. Soil organic matter (SOM) was fractionated into sand (> 53 μm) and silt+clay (< 53 μm) fractions. The latter fraction was further separated into 6%NaOCl‐oxidation labile (6%NaOCl‐ox) and resistant N and C and subsequently into 10%HF‐extractable (mineral bound) and resistant (recalcitrant) N and C. The N mineralization turnover rate (% of soil N/year) correlated with several of the investigated N or C fractions and stepwise linear regression confirmed that the 6%NaOCl‐ox N was the best predictor. However, the small R² (0.42) of the regression model suggests that soil parameters other than the soil fractions isolated here would be required to explain the significant residual variation in N mineralization rate. A next step could be to look for alternative SOM fractionations capable of isolating bioavailable N. However, it would appear that the observed relationships between N fractions and N mineralization may not be causal but indirect. The number of vegetable crops per rotation did not influence N mineralization, but it did influence 6%NaOCl‐ox N, probably as an effect of differences in crop residues returned and organic manure supply. However, the nature of this relation between management, SOM quality and N mineralization is not clear. Explanation of correlations between N mineralization and presumed bioavailable N fractions, like the 6%NaOCl‐ox N, requires further mechanistic elucidation of the N mineralization process.     

Short‐term effects of polyacrylamide and dicyandiamide on C and N mineralization in a sandy loam soil

The soil conditioners anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) and dicyandiamide (DCD) are frequently applied to soils to reduce soil erosion and nitrogen loss, respectively. A 27‐day incubation study was set up to gauge their interactive effects on the microbial biomass, carbon (C) mineralization and nitrification activity of a sandy loam soil in the presence or absence of maize straw. PAM‐amended soils received 308 or 615 mg PAM/kg. Nitrogen (N)‐fertilized soils were amended with 1800 mg/kg ammonium sulphate [(NH₄)₂SO₄], with or without 70 mg DCD/kg. Maize straw was added to soil at the rate of 4500 mg/kg. Maize straw application increased soil microbial biomass and respiration. PAM stimulated nitrification and C mineralization, as evidenced by significant increases in extractable nitrate and evolved carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations. This is likely to have been effected by the PAM improving microbial conditions and partially being utilized as a substrate, with the latter being indicated by a PAM‐induced significant increase in the metabolic quotient. PAM did not reduce the microbial biomass except in one treatment at the highest application rate. Ammonium sulphate stimulated nitrification and reduced microbial biomass; the resultant acidification of the former is likely to have caused these effects. N fertilizer application may also have induced short‐term C‐limitation in the soil with impacts on microbial growth and respiration. The nitrification inhibitor DCD reduced the negative impacts on microbial biomass of (NH₄)₂SO₄ and proved to be an effective soil amendment to reduce nitrification under conditions where mineralization was increased by addition of PAM.     

Precipitation of enzymes and organic matter by aluminum—Impacts on carbon mineralization

The precipitation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) by aluminum (Al) results in a stable soil organic matter (OM) fraction. Extracellular enzymes can also be removed from soil solution by sorption or precipitation, but whether this affects their activity and their importance for carbon (C) mineralization is largely unknown. We studied the activity of eight extracellular enzymes, precipitated by Al together with DOM, in relation to C mineralization of the precipitated OM. Dissolved OM was obtained from the Oi and Oa horizon of two forest soils and precipitated at different Al : C ratios and pH values to achieve a large variation in composition and C mineralization of precipitated OM. All eight enzymes were present in a functional state in precipitated OM. On average 53% of DOM was precipitated, containing on average 17%–41% of the enzyme activity (EA) involved in C degradation (chitinase, cellobiohydrolase, β‐glucosidase, glucuronidase, lacasse, and xylosidase) previously present in soil solution. In contrast, on average only 4%–7% of leucine‐aminopeptidase and acid‐phosphatase activity was found in precipitated OM. The EA found in precipitates significantly increased the percentage of C mineralized of precipitated OM, with a stronger influence of C‐degrading enzymes than enzymes involved in N and P cycling. However, after 8 weeks of incubation the correlations between EA and C mineralization disappeared, despite substantial EA being still present and only 0.5%–7.7% of C mineralized. Thus, degradation of precipitated OM seems to be governed by EA during the first degradation phase, but the long‐term stability of precipitated OM is probably related to its chemical properties.     

Microbial biomass and microbial C:N ratio in bulk soil and buried bags for evaluating in situ net N mineralization in agricultural soils

The in situ net nitrogen mineralization (N_net) was estimated in five agricultural soils under different durations of organic farming by incubating soil samples in buried bags. Simultaneously, soil microbial C and N was determined in buried bags and in bulk soil under winter wheat and after harvest. The aim was to check for variations in soil microbial biomass contents and microbial C:N ratios during the incubation period, and their importance for N_net rates. Microbial C and N contents were highest in soils that had been organically farmed for 41 years, whereas N_net rates were highest in a short‐term organically managed soil that had been under grassland use until 36 years ago. The mean coefficient of variation in the bulk soil for microbial C estimates ranged from 5 to 12 %. Microbial N contents were similar inside buried bags and in the bulk soil at the end of the incubation periods. Under winter wheat during the incubation period until harvest, microbial C contents and microbial C:N ratios (in 10—27 cm depth only) decreased more strongly inside buried bags than in the bulk soil. Following harvest of winter wheat and ploughing, microbial biomass increased while in situ N_net decreased, presumably due to N immobilization. The N_net rates were not correlated with microbial N contents or changes in microbial N contents inside buried bags. At the end of the vegetation period of winter wheat, N_net rates were negatively correlated with microbial C:N ratios. Because these ratios concurrently decreased more inside buried bags than in the bulk soil, the N_net estimates of the buried bag method may differ from the N_net rates in the bulk soil at that time.     

外加碳、氮对黄绵土有机质矿化与激发效应的影响

应用14C标记的葡萄糖和麦秸,15N标记的(NH4)2SO4和Ca(NO3)2对生黄绵土、菜园黄绵土土壤有机质的矿化与激发效应进行了研究。结果表明,外加有机质,特别是外加易分解的葡萄糖,和外加氮源,特别是外加(NH4)2SO4,对两种黄绵土土壤的有机质矿化与激发效应都有明显的促进作用,土壤有机质的矿化是高肥力菜园黄绵土高于低肥力生黄绵土,而有机质矿化的激发效应却是低肥力生黄绵土高于高肥力菜园黄绵土。外加有机质与外加N同时施入土壤时,外加N对外加有机质的矿化与激发效应同样有明显的促进作用,并发现外加有机质与外加N在促进土壤有机质矿化与激发效应过程中表现出正交互作用。激发效应对土壤肥力的更新和培养有积极作用。     

Effects of fallow or planting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and fertilizing P or fertilizing P and N practices on soil carbon and nitrogen in a low-organic-matter soil

Soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) are important for maintaining soil fertility, and they are considerably affected by soil use and management. In the present study, we conducted an 8-year ?eld experiment on loessial dryland soil (Eum-Orthic Anthrosol, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)) in the southern Loess Plateau, China. We tested four soil management regimes—i.e., winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation with phosphorus (P) fertilization (WP), winter wheat cultivation with N and P fertilization (WNP), natural fallow (NF) and bare fallow (BF)—to evaluate their effects on soil C and N fractions. After 8 years, compared with the WNP treatment, the total soil organic nitrogen (SON) in the WP treatment decreased by 14.6% and 36.8%, and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) by 35.6% and 61.1%, at 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil depths, respectively. The soil heavy fraction nitrogen (HFN) and light fraction nitrogen (LFN) in the WP treatment also decreased by 36.6% and 39.4%, respectively. Furthermore, BF treatment decreased total soil organic carbon (SOC), heavy fraction carbon (HFC), LFN and MBN at both soil depths with average reductions of 43.4%. The NF treatment decreased light fraction carbon (LFC) by 17.0% at 0–20 cm soil depth, as well as MBN by 24.8% and 71.2%, and inorganic C by 29.1% and 23.8%, at 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil depths, respectively. There was no significant difference of microbial biomass C concentration among the WP, NF and BF treatments. These results confirmed that a lack of N fertilization decreased SON, BF reduced both SOC and SON, and NF decreased soil inorganic C. Therefore, the managements of a recommended rate of N fertilizer application and shortened time of bare fallow are critical for maintaining or increasing SON fraction sequestration, and natural fallow management is not a useful method for maintaining soil fertility in dryland in the Loess Plateau in China.

Abbreviations: HFC: heavy fraction carbon; HFN: heavy fraction nitrogen; LFC: light fraction carbon; LFN: light fraction nitrogen; MBC: microbial biomass carbon; MBN: microbial biomass nitrogen; SOC: soil organic carbon; SON: soil organic nitrogen     

Land‐Use Type Effects on Soil Organic Carbon and Microbial Properties in a Semi‐arid Region of Northeast Brazil

Land‐use change is one of the most important anthropogenic environmental change drivers affecting the biodiversity and functioning of ecosystems. However, there is limited knowledge of the consequences for soil processes in many regions around the globe. The Brazilian semi‐arid ecosystem known as Caatinga has experienced the transformation from native forest into agricultural land, with heretofore unknown effects on soil processes and microbial properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of five land‐use changes (to maize and cowpea cropland, grape orchard, and cut and grazed pasture) on total organic C (TOC) and total N (TN) stocks and soil microbial properties of Ultisol from Caatinga. Soil samples (0–10 and 10–20 cm depth) were collected during the wet and dry periods. Split–split plot analysis of variance was used to test the effects of land use, soil depth, season and the interaction between land‐use and soil depth on soil microbial properties, TOC and TN stocks. Land‐use effects were more pronounced in the top soil layer than in the lower layer, while the pattern was less consistent in soil microbial properties. Land conversion from native forest to cropland may cause C losses from the soil, but conversion to pastures may even increase the potential of soils to function as C sinks. Grazed pastures showed not only high C and N stocks but also the highest soil microbial biomass and lowest respiratory quotients, all indications for elevated soil C sequestration. Thus, grazed pastures may represent a land‐use form with high ecosystem multifunctionality in Caatinga. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of hydrophobic and hydrophilic organic matter on the water repellency of model sandy soils

Soil water repellency affects the hydrological functions of soil systems. Water repellency is associated with the content and the composition of soil organic matter. In the present study, we examined the effects of hydrophobic and hydrophilic organic matter contents, the hydrophobic/hydrophilic organic matter ratio and the total organic matter content on water repellency using model sandy soils. Stearic acid and guar gum were used as the hydrophobic and hydrophilic organic compounds, respectively. Water repellency was estimated using the sessile drop method. Hydrophobic organic matter content was found to be the dominant factor affecting soil water repellency. Hydrophilic organic matter was found to increase the contact angle to some extent without the presence of hydrophobic organic matter. With the presence of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic organic matter, the effects of the hydrophilic organic matter content on contact angle were found to be dependent on the hydrophobic organic matter content of the soil. This relationship was explained by the differences in the surface free energies of different organic matter and mineral surfaces. The contact angle increased with increasing hydrophobic/hydrophilic organic matter ratio when the hydrophilic organic matter content was constant. When the hydrophobic organic matter content was constant, contact angles were roughly comparable, irrespective of the hydrophobic/hydrophilic organic matter ratio. The contact angles were not comparable at each total organic matter content. Accordingly, the hydrophobic/hydrophilic organic matter ratio and the total organic matter content in soil may not provide satisfactory information about soil water repellency.     

高寒草甸土CO2流通和氮矿化之间的关系以及对外加碳或氮的响应

In nutrient-limited alpine meadows,nitrogen(N) mineralization is prior to soil microbial immobilization;therefore,increased mineral N supply would be most likely immobilized by soil microbes due to nutrient shortage in alpine soils.In addition,low temperature in alpine meadows might be one of the primary factors limiting soil organic matter decomposition and thus N mineralization.A laboratory incubation experiment was performed using an alpine meadow soil from the Tibetan Plateau.Two levels of NH4NO3(N) or glucose(C) were added,with a blank without addition of C or N as the control,before incubation at 5,15,or 25 ℃ for 28 d.CO2 efflux was measured during the 28-d incubation,and the mineral N was measured at the beginning and end of the incubation,in order to test two hypotheses:1) net N mineralization is negatively correlated with CO2 efflux for the control and 2) the external labile N or C supply will shift the negative correlation to positive.The results showed a negative correlation between CO2 efflux and net N immobilization in the control.External inorganic N supply did not change the negative correlation.The external labile C supply shifted the linear correlation from negative to positive under the low C addition level.However,under the high C level,no correlation was found.These suggested that the correlation of CO2 efflux to net N mineralization strongly depend on soil labile C and C:N ratio regardless of temperatures.Further research should focus on the effects of the types and the amount of litter components on interactions of C and N during soil organic matter decomposition.     

Effects of sewage sludge stabilization on organic‐N mineralization in two soils

Sewage sludge is a valuable source of organic matter, N, P and certain micronutrients that have beneficial effects on plant growth and biomass production. However, sanitary regulations often require the stabilization of sewage materials prior to applying them to soils as biosolids. Environmental regulations also demand appropriate management of biosolid‐N to avoid groundwater contamination. Because stabilization processes usually make sewage sludge less putrescible, we hypothesized that the mineralization rates of organic‐N from stabilized biosolids would be affected. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the mineralization of five biosolids in two soils – a sandy Spodosol and a clayey Oxisol. Digested sludge, composted sludge, limed sludge, heat‐dried sludge and solar‐irradiated sludge were mixed with soil samples at a concentration of 32.6 mg N/kg soil (1.0 dry t/ha of digested sludge) and incubated at 25 °C in a humidity chamber for 23 weeks. Results showed that the stabilization processes generally slowed the release of mineral‐N in soils relative to the digested sludge from which the biosolids originated. However, increments in the levels of mineral‐N were more influenced by soil type than by the type of stabilization process applied to the sewage sludge. Mineralization rates were up to 5‐fold higher in the Oxisol than in the Spodosol soil, and as a result, organic‐N in biosolids mineralized 10–24% in Spodosol and 23–52% in Oxisol. Any appropriate plan for the management of biosolid‐N for plant use should consider the interaction between soil type and biosolid type.     

Effect of CaCl2 on the kinetics of dissolved organic matter release from a sandy soil�

The dissolution of organic matter in soil is of fundamental relevance for the fate of organic contaminants associated with organic matter and for the microbial availability of organic matter. In this study, the kinetics of soil organic matter (SOM) dissolution from a sandy forest soil was investigated under different electrolyte conditions, using a continuous extraction method. The mathematical analysis of the concentration signal obtained from extractions with constant flow rates and after sudden flow rate changes showed that the dissolution of SOM is diffusion limited. The dissolution rate was lower during extraction with 0.01 M CaCl₂. The reaction on sudden flow rate changes was slower when extracting with 0.01 M CaCl₂ as compared to water, and the mechanism was different. These observations were explained by a gel phase developing in the swelling SOM. The lower dissolution rates found for extractions with 0.01 M CaCl₂ could indicate a more stable gel structure in the presence Ca²⁺. The development of the gel phase may be influenced by mechanical strain due to increased flow rates.     

Long‐lasting impact of biowaste‐compost application in agriculture on soil‐quality parameters in three different crop‐rotation systems

Soil‐quality parameters, such as soil organic matter (SOM) and plant‐available nutrient contents, microbial properties, aggregate stability, and the amounts of heavy metals were carried out in arable soils of different rotation schedules applied with a total of 50 Mg dry mass ha^–1 biowaste compost relative to an untreated control. This was investigated during a 10 y period from 1994 to 2004. Overall, soil‐quality parameters studied appeared to be promoted by biowaste‐compost application. This was evidenced for example by a remarkable increase of SOM and total N content of ≈ 15%–20% relative to the control. Subsequently, amounts of soil microbial biomass and alkaline phosphatase activity were significantly increased as well. In addition, biowaste‐compost application revealed an increase of plant‐available P and K contents and aggregate stability in soil. There was, however, no treatment effect for net N‐mineralization rates. Moreover, in soils of maize and sugar beet rotation schedule a slight decrease was found. Heavy‐metal contents of Pb and Zn were significantly increased in all compost‐treated soils, whereas no significant increase of Cd and Cu contents was measured. However, the investigated amounts were far below of the limits of the German Biowaste Ordinance. It is finally recommended, that biowaste compost may sustain and improve soil quality in agriculture when N nutrition will be considered.     

Effects of different quality plant residues on soil carbon accumulation and aggregate formation in a tropical sandy soil in Northeast Thailand as revealed by a 10‐year field experiment

Particulate organic matter (POM) plays important role in soil organic carbon (SOC) retention and soil aggregation. This paper assesses how quality (chemical composition) of four different‐quality organic residues applied annually to a tropical sandy loam soil for 10 years has affected POM pools and the development of soil aggregates. Water‐stable aggregate size distribution (>2, 0·25–2, 0·106–0·25 mm) was determined through wet sieving. Density fractionation was employed to determine POM (light—LF, and heavy—HF fractions, 0·05–1 mm). Tamarind leaf litter showed the highest SOC (<1 mm) accumulation, while rice straw showed the lowest. LF‐C contents had positive correlations with high contents of C and recalcitrant constituents, (i.e. lignin and polyphenols) of the residues. Dipterocarp, a resistant residue, showed the highest LF‐C, followed by the intermediate residues, tamarind, and groundnut, whereas HF was higher in groundnut and tamarind than dipterocarp residues. Rice straw had the lowest LF‐ and HF‐C contents. Tamarind had the highest quantity (51 per cent) of small macroaggregates (0·25–2 mm), while dipterocarp had the most (2·1 per cent) large macroaggregates (>2 mm). Rice straw had the lowest quantities of both macroaggregates. Similar to small‐sized HF (0·05–0·25 mm), small macroaggregates had positive correlation with N and negative correlation with C/N ratios, while large macroaggregates had positive correlations with C and recalcitrant constituents of the residues. Tamarind, with intermediate contents of N and recalcitrant compounds, appears to best promote small macroaggregate formation. Carbon stabilized in small macroaggregates accounted for the tamarind treatment showing the largest SOC accumulation. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

冬季作物对水稻生育期土壤微生物量碳、氮的影响

选取我国南方4种冬季作物黑麦草、紫云英、油菜、马铃薯,以冬闲田作对照,对水稻生育期土壤微生物量碳（SMBC）和土壤微生物量氮（SMBN）的短期内动态变化进行了研究。结果表明,早稻田翻耕前,冬季作物处理土壤SMBC和SMBN与冬闲田存在显著差异(P0.05),黑麦草处理SMBC为398.5 mg/kg,显著高于其他作物;紫云英处理SMBN最高,为97.8 mg/kg。在早稻整个生育期,黑麦草处理SMBC显著高于其他处理,晚稻生长过程中各处理无显著差异。冬季作物对稻田土壤微生物商(MQ)的影响,随着水稻生长发育进程有不同程度的变化,黑麦草处理在早稻整个生育期高于冬闲田。     

Biochemical analysis of soil organic matter and microbial biomass composition—a pilot study

Biochemical composition of both intracellular (biomass) and extracellular soil organic matter was determined after extraction with 0.5 M K₂SO₄. Extractable carbon, hexoses, pentoses, total reducing sugars, ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen (NRN), proteins and DNA content were colorimetrically determined. The objective of the pilot study was to examine the information potential included in newly measured biochemical characteristics, their environmental variance and the relationships with main soil properties. Correlation analysis and PCA showed independence between biochemical parameters and physico-chemical properties of the soil. Thus, the parameters characterising biochemical composition of the soil biomass and extracellular matter seem to bring new information about the soils beyond the physico-chemical parameters. They also seem to reveal a more detailed view on microbial biomass or extracellular organic matter pool than C_bio or C_ext alone, respectively. The variance, which occurred in biochemical characteristics, also displayed a high discrimination potential between the defined soil categories. Three types of indices were newly proposed: index I (“substrate quantity index”)—the biomass-specific amount of the extracellular organic compounds, index II (“immobilisation ratio”)—the portion of the organic compound immobilised in microbial biomass, and index III (“substrate quality index”)—the extracellular organic compound content related to extracellular organic carbon. The indices displayed a higher potential than both soil biotic and abiotic parameters to discriminate soil characters and soil types.     

Effect of burning on soil organic matter content and N mineralization under shifting cultivation system of Karen people in Northern Thailand

In the traditional shifting cultivation system practiced by the Karen people in northern Thailand, the effects of burning on the content of extractable organic matter, microbial biomass, and N mineralization process of the soils were studied. Five plots (5×5 m² quadrat) with 0, 10, 20, 50, and 100 Mg ha^-1 of slashed materials were arranged and burned. Ten to 20 Mg ha^-1 of slashed biomass corresponded to the amount commonly burned by the Karen people. During the burning process, the soil temperature at the depth of 2.5 cm in the 100 Mg ha^-1 plot almost evenly increased to 300°C while the temperature in the 10 to 50 Mg ha^-1 plots increased with large variations from 50 to 300°C. Burning caused a conspicuous increase in the contents of organic C and (organic + mineral)-N extracted at room temperature and a simultaneous decrease in the contents of microbial biomass C and N, especially in the soil of the 100 Mg ha^-1 plot. In the rainy season, the values of the changes induced by burning reverted to the values recorded before burning, except for the microbial biomass in the 100 Mg ha^-1 plot, which still remained lower. Based on an incubation experiment, N mineralization rate was higher in the soils taken just after burning, especially in the 100 Mg ha^-1 plot, than in the soils taken during the rainy season. However, the soil in the 100 Mg ha^-1 plot was considered to have the lowest ability to supply mineral N among the soils in the rainy season. Burning of 10 to 20 Mg ha^-1 biomass corresponding to the values recorded in Karen peoples' shifting cultivation system was more compatible with soil ecology in terms of N supply at the initial stage of crop growth and of microbial biomass recovery during the rainy season, compared to the burning of 100 Mg ha^-1 biomass corresponding to the value recorded in a natural forest. Thus, the shifting cultivation system implemented by the Karen people can be considered to be a well-balanced agricultural system.     

Soil development on loess substrate in central Germany — results of a long‐term trial on soil formation§

In 1948, a model soil formation trial was started in Halle/Saale by Schmalfuß. Loess nearly free of soil organic matter (SOM) was used as substrate and the soil formation has been studied in dependence on the level of mineral P and N fertilization. The trial consists of 48 glazed clay cylinders (∅︁ 40 cm × 100 cm), which are open at the bottom. The cylinders are embedded in the ground and stand on a layer of gravel. The trial is divided in a section with constant P and graduated N application and a section with constant N and graduated P application respectively. In the first 30 years, yields increased strongest in the highest NP fertilizer treatment compared with the no‐N or no‐P fertilizer treatment. Afterwards yields in the different fertilization treatments remained nearly constant on the reached levels. Actually the mean shoot dry matter per year is 2.5 times higher in the highest fertilizer treatment as compared to the no‐N fertilizer treatment. The C_org content in the topsoil increased over 49 years in the highest fertilized treatment from 0.18% at the beginning of the trial to 1.94%. Compared to the treatments without N or P fertilization this corresponded, however, only to a 1.2 fold increase. With higher levels of fertilizer application, humus accumulation and biological activity increased relatively faster than the C_org content in the topsoil. Soil organic matter improved the nutrient availability (increase of cation exchange capacity, mobile P fractions). It is assumed that decalcification and the decrease in the C/N ratio will continue. The lower C_org and N_org contents and the lower cation exchange capacity in comparison with soils developed in‐situ near to the parent loess material suggest a still ongoing soil formation process in the trial.     

鸡粪与化肥不同配比对杨树苗根际土壤酶和微生物量碳、氮变化的影响

为比较鸡粪有机肥与化肥以不同比例配施对杨树苗根际土壤环境的作用效果,通过盆栽试验,研究了N100（尿素提供100%的氮）、 M10N90（鸡粪和尿素分别提供10%和90%的氮)、 M30N70（鸡粪和尿素分别提供30%和70%的氮）和M50N50（鸡粪和尿素各提供50%的氮）等处理对一年生杨树苗根际土壤酶活性、 微生物量碳（SMBC）和微生物量氮（SMBN）的影响。结果表明, 同N100处理相比,M30N70处理的杨树苗根际土壤脲酶、 碱性磷酸酶、 过氧化氢酶和蔗糖酶活性分别提高14.41%~26.49%、 13.87%~27.93%、 12.07%~27.08%和29.17%~46.43%; 根际SMBC、 SMBN含量分别提高63.00%~76.62%、 40.01%~90.38%。在杨树苗的年生长过程中,根际土壤脲酶、 碱性磷酸酶、 过氧化氢酶和蔗糖酶活性均在施肥后120 d 最高; 而根际SMBC和SMBN含量分别在施肥后90 d和30 d达到最大值。随着杨树苗的生长发育,SMBN含量逐渐降低,而在落叶期有一定的回升。与M30N70处理相比,M10N90和M50N50处理对杨树苗根际土壤酶和微生物量碳、 氮的影响较小。综合分析认为,鸡粪有机肥与化肥以3∶7比例配施对杨树苗根际区域生态环境的改善效果最佳。     

Rate of soil‐aggregate formation under different organic matter amendments—a short‐term incubation experiment

To improve soil structure and take advantage of several accompanying ecological benefits, it is necessary to understand the underlying processes of aggregate dynamics in soils. Our objective was to quantify macroaggregate (> 250 μm) rebuilding in soils from loess (Haplic Luvisol) with different initial soil organic C (SOC) contents and different amendments of organic matter (OM) in a short term incubation experiment. Two soils differing in C content and sampled at 0–5 and 5–25 cm soil depths were incubated after macroaggregate destruction. The following treatments were applied: (1) control (without any addition), (2) OM₁ (addition of OM: preincubated wheat straw [< 10 mm, C : N 40.6] at a rate of 4.1 g C [kg soil]^–1), and (3) OM₂ (same as (2) at a rate of 8.2 g C [kg soil]^–1). Evolution of CO₂ released from the treatments was measured continuously, and contents of different water‐stable aggregate‐size classes (> 250 μm, 250–53 μm, < 53 μm), microbial biomass, and ergosterol were determined after 7 and 28 d of incubation. Highest microbial activity was observed in the first 3 d after the OM application. With one exception, > 50% of the rebuilt macroaggregates were formed within the first 7 d after rewetting and addition of OM. However, the amount of organic C within the new macroaggregates was ≈ 2‐ to 3‐fold higher than in the original soil. The process of aggregate formation was still proceeding after 7 d of incubation, however at a lower rate. Contents of organic C within macroaggregates were decreased markedly after 28 d of incubation in the OM₁ and OM₂ treatments, suggesting that the microbial biomass (bacteria and fungi) used organic C within the newly built macroaggregates. Overall, the results confirmed for all treatments that macroaggregate formation is a rapid process and highly connected with the amount of OM added and microbial activity. However, the time of maximum aggregation after C addition depends on the soil and substrate investigated. Moreover, the results suggest that the primary macroaggregates, formed within the first 7 d, are still unstable and oversaturated with OM and therefore act as C source for microbial decomposition processes.     

Effects of lime and sewage sludge on soil,pasture production,and tree growth in a six‐year‐old Populus canadensis Moench silvopastoral system

In many regions worldwide, silvopastoral systems are implemented to enable sustainable land use allowing short, medium, and long‐term economic returns. However, the short‐term production in silvopastoral systems is often limited due to nonappropriate soil‐fertility management. This study evaluated the effects of two doses of lime (0 and 2.5 t CaCO₃ ha^–1) and three sewage‐sludge treatments (0, 200, and 400 kg total N ha^–1 y^–1 applied in 2 consecutive years) on soil characteristics (soil pH, soil organic matter [SOM], soil nitrogen, cation‐exchange capacity [CEC]), pasture production, and tree growth in a silvopastoral system of Populus × canadensis Moench in Galicia, northern Spain during 6 years after establishment. Soil pH increased during the experimental period for all treatments, although this effect was more pronounced after lime application. Changes in SOM and soil nitrogen content were not consistent over time, but sewage‐sludge application seemed to result in higher values. Higher CEC was found for treatments with lime and sewage‐sludge application. Following incorporation of lime and sewage sludge, pasture production was significantly enhanced (cumulative pasture production 51.9 t DM ha^–1 for Lime/N400 compared to 39.0 t DM ha^–1 for No lime/N0). This higher pasture production also affected tree growth due to more severe competition between pasture and tree resulting in slower tree growth. Liming and application of sewage sludge are relevant measures to improve soil fertility and thereby optimizing the overall production of silvopastoral systems. However, it is important not to overintensify pasture production to ensure adequate tree growth.