Effects of Organic Amendments on Soil Physical Attributes and Aggregate-Associated Phosphorus Under Long-Term Rice-Wheat Cropping

The quantification of phosphorus(P) in bulk soil and P distribution in different size fractions of water-stable aggregates(WSAs)are important for assessing potential P loss through runoff. We evaluated available and total P distribution within WSAs of a sitty clay to clay soil in a long-term fertility experiment of a rice-wheat cropping system in India. Surface soil samples were collected from seven plots amended with NPK fertilizers in combination with or without organic amendments, farmyard manure(FYM), green manure(GM), and paddy straw(PS). The plot with no NPK fertilizers or organic amendments was set as a control. The soil samples were separated by wet sieving into four soil aggregate size fractions: large macroaggregates( 2.0 mm), small macroaggregates(0.25–2.0 mm), fine microaggregates(0.05–0.25 mm), and a silt + clay-sized fraction( 0.05 mm). Structural indices were higher in the soil receiving organic amendments than in the soil receiving inorganic fertilizer alone. Organically amended soil had a higher proportion of stable macroaggregates than the control and the soil receiving inorganic fertilizer alone, which were rich in microaggregates. Total and available P contents within WSAs were inversely related to the aggregate size, irrespective of treatment. The distribution of available and total P in the soil aggregate size fraction was as follows: silt + clay-size fraction small macroaggregates fine microaggregates large macroaggregates. Within a size class, aggregate-associated available and total P contents in the organically amended soil were in the following order: FYM PS ≥ GM. The available P content of the microaggregates( 0.25 mm) was 8-to 10-times higher than that of the macroaggregates( 0.25 mm), and the total P content of the microaggregates was 4-to 5-times higher than that of the macroaggregates. Cultivation without organic amendments resulted in more microaggregates that could be checked by the application of organic amendments such as FYM and GM, which increased the proportion of water-stable macroaggregates by consolidating microaggregates into macroaggregates.     

引黄灌溉耕作对土壤团聚体有机碳的影响

为研究灌溉耕作影响下土壤团聚体及有机碳的特征情况,以宁夏引黄灌区为研究对象,选取对照土壤与耕作土壤,通过干、湿筛结合的方法,得到大团聚体(2mm)、中间团聚体(2~0.25mm)、微团聚体(0.25~0.053mm)和粉+黏团聚体(0.053mm),并测定团聚体有机碳含量,分析团聚体有机碳与总有机碳之间的关系。结果表明,灌溉耕作对团聚体分布具有极显著影响(P0.01),其中大团聚体和中间团聚体质量分数上升,微团聚体和粉+黏团聚体质量分数下降,灌溉土壤团聚体分布趋势为微团聚体粉+黏团聚体中间团聚体大团聚体。经灌溉耕作后土壤团聚体稳定性大于对照土壤,不同类型的灌溉土壤稳定性基本一致,对照土壤间差异明显。除0.053mm外,团聚体有机碳分布在经过灌溉耕作后有显著性差异(P0.05),团聚体有机碳分布随粒级大小基本呈"V"形分布。团聚体有机碳含量均表现出灌溉土壤高于对照土壤,其中灌溉土壤中灌淤土和潮土团聚体有机碳总量较高。未受人为灌溉耕作影响的自然土壤团聚体有机碳与总有机碳间具有显著的正相关性,土壤总有机碳增加主要依赖0.053mm团聚体有机碳增加。引黄灌溉耕作有利于增加大粒级团聚体的比例,提升团聚体稳定,显著增加有机碳含量。     

Effects of intercropping and drought on soil aggregation and associated organic carbon and nitrogen

Drought has significant effects on soil physicochemical properties and thereby crop productivity. Intercropping is a traditional agricultural practice with a good ecological effect and can improve soil structure. However, the effects of intercropping on soil aggregate distribution and associated organic carbon (OC) and nitrogen (N) compared with monoculture under drought remains unclear. Therefore, a two-year controlled rainfall field (i.e., 30–40 days of 100% rainfall reduction during crop growth) was carried out to examine the effects of intercropping and short-term drought on soil aggregate stability and associated OC and N in Northeast China. Results showed that soil OC and N were predominant in macroaggregates (2–0.25 mm), accounting for 39%–51% of SOC, 36%–51% of N at 0–10 cm depth, and 44%–67% of SOC, 43%–66% of N at 10–20 cm depth. After 2 years of a rainfall reduction treatment, large macroaggregates (>2 mm) increased by 84.7% at 0–10 cm and the aggregate stability improved. There was no difference in the mass of aggregates between monoculture and intercropping, but short-term drought increased >0.25 mm aggregates and stability in intercropping soil at 0–10 cm depth. Moreover, drought significantly increased bulk soil OC in 10–20 cm but decreased the OC and N concentrations in large macroaggregates and silt + clay fractions (<0.053 mm) in 0–10 cm. Compared with the monoculture, intercropping enhanced OC and N concentrations in aggregates, and decreased soil C/N ratio. Therefore, these findings provide insights into how intercropping and short-term drought interactively influence soil aggregation, and C and N processes.     

Long‐term effects of soil management regimes on carbon contents and respiration rates of aggregate size fractions

This study investigated long‐term effects of soil management on size distribution of dry‐sieved aggregates in a loess soil together with their organic carbon (OC) and their respiratory activity. Soil management regimes were cropland, which was either abandoned, left bare fallow or cropped for 21 yr. Abandonment increased the abundance of macroaggregates (>2 mm) in the surface soil layer (0–10 cm) and reduced that of microaggregates (<0.25 mm) relative to Cropping, whereas the Fallow treatment reduced the abundance of macroaggregates at depths of 0–10 and 10–20 cm. All treatments yielded similar aggregate size distributions at a depth of 20–30 cm. The SOC content of aggregate size fractions in the surface soil from the Abandoned plots was greater (by 1.2–4.8 g/kg) than that of the corresponding fractions from the Cropped plots, but the opposite trend was observed in the subsurface soils. Conversely, the Fallow treatment reduced the SOC content of every aggregate size fraction. Smaller aggregates generally exhibited greater cumulative levels of C mineralization than larger ones. However, the bulk of the SOC losses from the soils via mineralization was associated with aggregates of >2 mm. Abandonment significantly increased the relative contribution of macroaggregates (>2 mm) to the overall rate of SOC loss, whereas the Fallow treatment significantly reduced the contribution of 0.25–2 mm aggregates to total SOC loss in the surface soil while substantially increasing their contribution in the subsurface soil.     

Contributions of soil biota to C sequestration varied with aggregate fractions under different tillage systems

It is increasingly believed that substantial soil organic carbon (SOC) can be sequestered in conservation tillage system by manipulating the functional groups of soil biota. Soil aggregates of different size provide diverse microhabitats for soil biota and consequently influence C sequestration. Our objective was to evaluate the contributions of soil biota induced by tillage systems to C sequestration among different aggregate size fractions. Soil microbial and nematode communities were examined within four aggregate fractions: large macroaggregates (>2 mm), macroaggregates (2–1 mm), small macroaggregates (1–0.25 mm) and microaggregates (<0.25 mm) isolated from three tillage systems: no tillage (NT), ridge tillage (RT) and conventional tillage (CT) in Northeast China. Soil microbial and nematode communities varied across both tillage systems and aggregate fractions. The activity and abundance of microbes and nematodes were generally higher under NT and RT than under CT. Among the four aggregate fractions, soil microbial biomass and diversity were higher in microaggregates, while soil nematode abundance and diversity were higher in large macroaggregates. Structural equation modelling (SEM) revealed that the linkage between microbial and nematode communities and their contributions to soil C accumulation in >1 mm aggregate fractions were different from those in <1 mm aggregate fractions. Higher abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could enhance C retention within >1 mm aggregates, while more gram-positive bacteria and plant-parasitic nematodes might increase C accumulation within <1 mm aggregates. Our findings suggested that the increase in microbial biomass and nematode abundance and the alteration in their community composition at the micro-niche within aggregates could contribute to the higher C sequestration in conservation tillage systems (NT and RT).     

常规与有机农田土壤团聚体组成及碳氮储量研究

长期施用化肥或连作农田管理模式导致土壤质量退化及碳氮损失加剧。以常规农作大豆和转换后的有机农作大豆田土壤为研究对象,利用土壤物理分组技术,分析了土壤团聚体组成及碳氮储量变化。结果表明,常规农作大豆田转换为有机农作大豆田后,<0.053mm粉粒加黏粒比重显著降低,0.053~0.25mm较小团聚体显著增加,土壤稳定性增大,土壤及团聚体中有机碳和全氮含量都显著增加。有机农作大豆田土壤包被于较小的大团聚体(0.25~2mm)中的<0.053mm细颗粒有机质百分比显著降低,0.053~2mm粗颗粒有机质显著增加。有机农作大豆田土壤及团聚体中碳氮储量都显著高于常规农作大豆田,土壤碳汇和氮汇效应增大。有机农作大豆田土壤稳定性增加,团聚体中碳氮含量显著增加,土壤碳汇效应增强,有机农作方式可能比常规农作方式更有利于土壤碳氮资源持续利用。     

Changes in soil aggregate‐associated enzyme activities and nutrients under long‐term chemical fertilizer applications in a phosphorus‐limited paddy soil

Paddy soils in subtropical China are usually deficient in phosphorus (P) and require regular application of chemical fertilizers. This study evaluated the effects of chemical fertilizers on the distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (N) and available P, and on the activity of the associated enzymes in bulk soil and aggregates. Surface soils (0–20 cm) were collected from a 24‐yr‐old field experiment with five treatments: unfertilized control (CK), N only (N), N and potassium (NK), N and P (NP), and N, P and K (NPK). Undisturbed bulk soils were separated into >2, 1–2, 0.25–1, 0.053–0.25 and <0.053 mm aggregate classes using wet sieving. Results showed that both NP‐ and NPK‐treated soils significantly increased mean weight diameter of aggregates, SOC, available P in bulk soil and aggregates, as compared to CK. Most SOC and total N adhered to macro‐aggregates (>0.25 mm), which accounted for 64–81% of SOC and 54–82% of total N in bulk soil. The activities of invertase and acid phosphatase in the 1–2 mm fraction were the highest under NPK treatment. The highest activity of urease was observed in the <0.053 mm fraction under NP treatment. Soil organic carbon and available P were major contributors to variation of enzyme activities at the aggregate scale. In conclusion, application of NP or NPK fertilizers promoted the formation of soil aggregates, nutrient contents and activities of associated enzymes in P‐limited paddy soils, and thus enhanced soil quality.     

不同土地利用方式对岷江流域土壤团聚体稳定性及有机碳的影响

采用湿筛法测量了岷江流域不同土地利用方式下不同土层（0—10,10—20,20—30 cm）土壤大团聚体（> 2 mm）、中间团聚体（0.25~2 mm）、微团聚体（53 μm~0.25 mm）以及粉+黏团聚体（<53 μm）的质量分数及各粒径团聚体中的有机碳含量,并探讨了各粒径土壤团聚体的有机碳储量。结果表明,土地利用方式对土壤团聚体稳定性及其有机碳具有重要影响;土壤养分均呈现出一致性规律,大致表现为撂荒地 > 次生林 > 人工林 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地,土壤全磷差异并不显著（p>0.05）;林地的开垦行为会导致大团聚体的破碎化,灌草丛及坡耕地>0.25 mm的大团聚体含量较林地低,土壤结构趋于恶化;而坡耕地闲置为撂荒地后,则会促使粉+黏团聚体向粒径大的微团聚体及中间团聚体转化,使土壤结构趋于改善,在0—30 cm土层内,灌草丛及坡耕地土壤颗粒的MWD（平均质量直径）和GMD（几何平均直径）值均显著低于林地和撂荒地（p<0.05）,坡耕地撂荒后,MWD和GMD值均显著升高（p<0.05）,表明林地开垦为坡耕地导致土壤团聚体的稳定性降低,而坡耕地弃耕撂荒会增强团聚体的稳定性,提高土壤抵抗外力破坏的能力。不同土地利用方式下各粒径土壤团聚体有机碳含量均随土层深度的增加而降低。在0—30 cm土层深度内,不同土地利用方式下各粒径土壤团聚体有机碳储量表现为:大团聚体有机碳储量为林地 > 撂荒地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地,中间团聚体有机碳储量为撂荒地 > 林地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地,微团聚体有机碳储量为撂荒地 > 林地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地;粉+黏团聚体有机碳储量为撂荒地 > 林地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地。各粒径土壤团聚体内有机碳储量均为林地和撂荒地高于果园和坡耕地,表明将林地开垦为坡耕地后,将导致各团聚体组分内有机碳的损失,而坡耕地撂荒则有助于土壤有机碳的恢复和截存;林地和撂荒地土壤有机碳主要蓄积在中间团聚体内,而坡耕地则主要蓄积在粉+黏团聚体内,表明在土地利用变化过程中,粒径较大的团聚体有机碳不稳定,更容易发生变化。     

不同土壤管理措施下塿土团聚体的大小分布及其稳定性

土壤团聚体是土壤的重要组成部分,其大小分布影响土壤的功能。本文利用22年土长期定位试验,研究不同土壤管理措施和不同施肥对土壤机械稳定性和水稳性团聚体的分布及其稳定性的影响。土壤管理措施包括裸地休闲、 撂荒和小麦/玉米轮作体系,其中小麦/玉米轮作体系中有9种施肥处理,分别为不施肥（CK）,化肥氮（N）、 磷（P）和钾（K）不同配施5个处理（N、 NP、 NK、 PK、 NPK）,秸秆还田与化肥配合（SNPK）,有机肥与化肥配施2个处理（M1NPK、 M2NPK）。结果表明,不同管理措施显著影响表层（010 cm）和亚表层（1020 cm）土壤的机械稳定性和水稳性团聚体的分布。与作物体系比较,长期休闲可显著增加机械稳定性微团聚体（0.25 mm）的含量,对水稳性团聚体的含量和分布没有显著影响。而长期撂荒显著增加了大于2 mm 的团聚体含量及团聚体的稳定性。长期不同施肥显著影响 030 cm 土层的机械稳定性和水稳性团聚体的分布,总趋势为施肥比不施肥处理降低了1 mm的团聚体含量,增加了0.25~1 mm的团聚体含量,但对土壤团聚体的稳定性没有显著影响。因此,土撂荒22年后显著增加了土壤团聚体的稳定性,而种植作物和不同施肥处理对土壤团聚体的稳定性影响甚微。     

广东省赤红壤区土壤团聚体有机碳和铁氧化物特征及稳定性

通过野外采样和室内分析相结合,以广东省赤红壤区花岗岩(G)、第四纪红土(Q)和砂页岩(S)母质发育的林地(FL)、水田(PF)和旱地(UL)土壤为研究对象,分析了土壤团聚体有机碳及其组分和不同形态铁氧化物含量,探究了其对土壤团聚体稳定性的影响及贡献。结果显示:(1)3种母质发育的3种利用方式土壤团聚体均以>0.25 mm为主,2~5 mm团聚体以花岗岩母质发育林地土壤最高(58.51%),0.25~2 mm团聚体以花岗岩(62.93%)和第四纪红土(59.21%)母质发育水田和旱地土壤最高;土壤团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)和几何平均直径(GMD)以砂页岩母质发育林地土壤最高;(2)3种母质发育林地土壤团聚体有机碳及其组分主要分布在2~5 mm粒径中,水田和旱地土壤团聚体有机碳及其组分主要分布在<0.053 mm粒径中;3种母质发育林地土壤团聚体铁氧化物含量主要分布在<0.053,0.25~2 mm粒径中,水田和旱地土壤团聚体铁氧化物含量主要分布在<0.053 mm粒径中。(3)相关分析和主成分分析表明,MWD、GMD与团聚体HAC、HAC/FAC、Fe fr和Fe co呈显著相关(P<0.05);不同母质和利用方式以砂页岩母质发育的林地土壤团聚体胶结能力最好。研究表明,不同母质和利用方式土壤团聚体HAC、HAC/FAC、Fe fr和Fe co含量分布差异显著,进而影响了土壤团聚体分布和稳定性,同时砂页岩母质发育的林地土壤团聚体结构较稳定。     

生物炭及秸秆长期施用对紫色土坡耕地土壤团聚体有机碳的影响

依托紫色土坡耕地长期施肥试验观测平台,研究生物炭、秸秆对紫色土坡耕地团聚体有机碳分布的影响。长期施肥试验处理包括不施肥(CK)、无机氮磷钾肥(NPK)、秸秆还田(RSD)、生物炭与无机氮磷钾配施(BCNPK)、秸秆与无机氮磷钾配施(RSDNPK)。利用湿筛法,进行土壤团聚体粒径分组,随后测定各粒径团聚体含量及其有机碳含量,并计算团聚体平均质量直径(MWD)和几何平均直径(GMD)。结果表明,RSD、RSDNPK和BCNPK处理的表层SOC含量比CK处理增加43.1%～90.5%,SOC储量提高65.1%～74.3%,其中RSDNPK处理、BCNPK处理较NPK处理SOC显著增加25.2%～33.1%(P0.05), SOC储量显著提高23.2%～30.0%(P0.05)。团聚体MWD和GMD均为RSD处理RSDNPK处理BCNPK处理NPK处理CK处理; RSD处理0.25～2 mm的团聚体含量高达45.5%,较CK处理提高57.7%;秸秆和生物炭配施处理(RSDNPK处理和BCNPK处理)0.25～2mm的团聚体含量为41.3%～45.7%,而0.053mm粒径团聚体含量却降低54.1%～55.4%。NPK处理、RSD处理与CK处理的增长趋势相似,呈随团聚体粒径减小,团聚体有机碳含量先增大后减小,继而再增大的趋势;而RSDNPK、BCNPK处理则呈随粒径减小团聚体有机碳含量增加的趋势。生物炭和秸秆的施用能显著提升土壤有机碳含量,增强土壤结构稳定性,但生物碳的施用对提升土壤有机碳含量效果优于秸秆的施用,秸秆的施用对稳定土壤结构效果更优,因此生物炭和秸秆的施用可作为紫色土耕地土壤肥力维持和提升的有效管理措施。     

Influence of soil properties on the aggregation of some Mediterranean soils and the use of aggregate size and stability as land degradation indicators

Soil aggregation in relation to other soil properties was studied along a climatological transect in the Southeast of Spain. Three sites were selected along this transect ranging from semiarid to subhumid climatological conditions. The aggregate size distribution, the macro and microaggregate stability of the superficial soil horizon and their relations with other soil properties were analysed. Large aggregates (>10, 10–5, 5–2 mm) were present in highest proportions in the most arid of the studied areas. These large aggregates were associated with high values of water-stable microaggregates; however, they did not improve soil structure and are related to high bulk densities and low water retention. Aggregates 1–0.105 mm were positively correlated to medium, fine, very fine sand and silt fractions and to organic matter. Aggregates <0.105 mm were positively correlated to organic matter and clay content. Small aggregate sizes (1–0.105 and <0.105 mm) had a positive influence on soil water retention and they seem a good indicator of soil degradation.Water stability of microaggregates showed a positive correlation with clay content while the stability of the macroaggregates depended on the organic matter content when the organic matter content was greater than 5 or 6%. Below that threshold the carbonate content was strongly correlated with aggregate stability. A general conceptual scheme of associations between aggregate size distribution, water-stable microaggregation and textural characteristics for the area was developed.The land use history affecting soil overlaps the pattern of climatological situations and has to be taken into account. Aggregate size distribution and stability can be used as indicator of soil degradation, but not as a unique parameter.     

利用方式和土壤肥力对土壤团聚体和养分的影响

The size distribution of water-stable aggregates and the variability of organic C, N and P contents over aggregate size fractions were studied for orchard, upland, paddy, and grassland soils with high, medium, and low fertility levels. The results showed that > 5 mm aggregates in the cultivated upland and paddy soils were 44.0% and 32.0%, respectively, less than those in the un-tilled orchard soil. Organic C and soil N in different size aggregate fractions in orchard soil with high fertility were significantly higher than those of other land uses. However, the contents of soil P in different size aggregates were significantly greater in the paddy soil as compared to the other land uses. Soil organic C, N and P contents were higher in larger aggregates than those in smaller ones. The amount of water-stable aggregates was positively correlated to their contribution to soil organic C, N and P. For orchard and grassland soils, the > 5 mm aggregates made the greatest contribution to soil nutrients, while for upland soil, the 0.25-0.053 mm aggregates contributed the most to soil nutrients. Therefore, the land use with minimum disturbance was beneficial for the formation of a better soil structure. The dominant soil aggregates in different land use types determined the distribution of soil nutrients. Utilization efficiency of soil P could be improved by converting other land uses to the paddy soil.     

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

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

不同土地利用方式的土壤团粒及微团粒的分形特征

 为研究不同土地利用方式对土壤团粒和微团粒的影响,探索土壤质量、结构的定量化描述,在宁夏固原上黄试验区,对灌木林地、农地、天然草地、果园和人工草地5种利用方式土壤的团粒结构和微团聚体结构及其分形特征进行分析和研究。结果表明:土壤团聚体总量为天然草地>灌木林地>果园>农地>人工草地,而且这5种土地利用方式土壤团粒结构分形维数在2.36～2.84之间,表现为团聚体总量越低,其结构的粒径分布的分形维数越高;其中天然草地和灌木林地有助于土壤微团聚体的形成,其他利用方式较差,同时发现>0.005mm粒级的微团聚体与分形维数表现为极显著负相关,而<0.005粒级（黏粒）的微团聚体表现为极显著正相关;土壤团聚体和微团聚体的分形维数可以表明土壤物理性质的好坏。不合理的土地利用方式是土壤退化和生态环境恶化的主要原因,因此,合理利用土地势在必行。     

Protection of soil carbon by microaggregates within earthworm casts

Earthworms are known to play a role in aggregate formation and soil organic matter (SOM) protection. However, it is still unclear at what scale and how quickly earthworms manage to protect SOM. We investigated the effects of Aporrectodea caliginosa on aggregation and aggregate-associated C pools using ¹³C-labeled sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) leaf residue. Two incubations were set up. The first incubation consisted of soil samples crushed <250 μm to break up all macroaggregates with three treatments: (i) control soil; (ii) soil+¹³C-labeled residue and (iii) soil+¹³C-labeled residue+earthworms. Earthworms were added after 8 d and 12 d (days) later, aggregate size distribution was measured together with total C and ¹³C in each aggregate fraction. A second incubation was made to assay protected versus unprotected total C and ¹³C from 21-d laboratory incubations of intact and crushed large (>2000 μm) and small (250-2000 μm) macroaggregates and microaggregates (53-250 μm). Eight different pools of aggregate-associated C were quantified: (1) and (2) unprotected C pools in large and small macroaggregates, (3) unprotected C pools in microaggregates, (4) and (5) protected C pools in large and small macroaggregates, (6) protected C pool in microaggregates, and (7) and (8) protected C pools in microaggregates within large and small macroaggregates. In the presence of earthworms, a higher proportion of large macroaggregates was newly formed and these aggregates contained more C and ¹³C compared to bulk soil. There were no significant differences between the samples with or without earthworms in the C pool-sizes protected by macroaggregates, microaggregates or microaggregates within small macroaggregates. However, in the presence of earthworms, the C protected by microaggregates within large macroaggregates was a significant pool and 22% of this C pool was newly added C. In conclusion, these results clearly indicate the direct involvement of earthworms in providing protection of soil C in microaggregates within large macroaggregates leading to a possible long-term stabilization of soil C.     

Soil organic carbon and nutrient content in aggregate‐size fractions of a subtropical rice soil under variable tillage

The effects of tillage on soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient content of soil aggregates can vary spatially and temporally, and for different soil types and cropping systems. We assessed SOC and nutrient levels within water‐stable aggregates in ridges with no tillage (RNT) and also under conventional tillage (CT) for a subtropical rice soil in order to determine relationships between tillage, cation concentrations and soil organic matter. Surface soil (0–15 cm) was fractionated into aggregate sizes (>4.76 mm, 4.76–2.00 mm, 2.00–1.00 mm, 1.00–0.25 mm, 0.25–0.053 mm, <0.053 mm) under two tillage regimes. Tillage significantly reduced the proportion of macroaggregate fractions (>2.00 mm) and thus aggregate stability was reduced by 35% compared with RNT, indicating that tillage practices led to soil structural change for this subtropical soil. The patterns in SOC, total N, exchangeable Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and total exchangeable bases (TEB) were similar between tillage regimes, but concentrations were significantly higher under RNT than CT. This suggests that RNT in subtropical rice soils may be a better way to enhance soil productivity and improve soil C sequestration potential than CT. The highest SOC was in the 1.00–0.25 mm fraction (35.7 and 30.4 mg/kg for RNT and CT, respectively), while the lowest SOC was in microaggregate (<0.025 mm) and silt + clay (<0.053 mm) fractions (19.5 and 15.7 mg/kg for RNT and CT, respectively). Tillage did not influence the patterns in SOC across aggregates but did change the aggregate‐size distribution, indicating that tillage affected soil fertility primarily by changing soil structure.     

Influence of dry–wet cycles on the interrelationship between aggregate,particulate organic matter,and microbial community dynamics

Aggregate dynamics and their relationship to the microbial community have been suggested as key factors controlling SOM dynamics. Dry–wet (DW) cycles are thought to enhance aggregate turnover and decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM), particularly in tilled soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of DW cycles on aggregate stability, SOM dynamics, and fungal and bacterial populations in a Weld silt loam soil (Aridic Paleustoll). Samples, taken from 250 μm sieved air-dried soil (i.e. free of macroaggregates > 250 μm), were incubated with ¹³C-labeled wheat residue. In one set of soil samples, fungal growth was suppressed using a fungicide (Captan) in order to discern the effect of dry–wet cycles on fungal and bacterial populations. Aggregate formation was followed during the first 14 d of incubation. After this period, one set of soil samples was subjected to four DW cycles, whereas another set, as a control, was kept at field capacity (FC). Over 74 d, total and wheat-derived respiration, size distribution of water stable aggregates and fungal and bacterial biomass were measured. We determined native and labeled C dynamics of three particulate organic matter (POM) fractions related to soil structure: the free light fraction (LF), and the coarse (250–2000 μm) and fine (53–250 μm) intra-aggregate POM fraction (iPOM). In the fungicide treated soil samples, fungal growth was significantly reduced and no large macroaggregates (> 2 mm) were formed, whereas without addition of fungicide, fungi represented the largest part of the microbial biomass (66%) and 30% of the soil dry weight was composed of large macroaggregates. During macroaggregate formation, labeled free LF-C significantly decreased whereas labeled coarse iPOM-C increased, indicating that macroggregates are formed around fresh wheat residue (free LF), which is consequently incorporated and becomes coarse iPOM. The first drying and wetting event reduced the amount of large macroaggregates from 30 to 21% of the total soil weight. However, macroaggregates became slake-resistant after two dry-wet cycles. Fine iPOM-C was significantly lower in soil after two dry–wet cycles compared to soil kept at FC. We conclude that more coarse iPOM is decomposed into fine iPOM in macroaggregates not exposed to DW cycles due to a slower macroaggregate turnover. In addition, when macroaggregates, subjected to dry–wet cycles, became slake-resistant (d 44) and consequently macroaggregate turnover decreased, fine iPOM accumulated. In conclusion, differences in fine iPOM accumulation in DW vs. control macroaggregates are attributed to differences in macroaggregate turnover.     

Sensitivities to nitrogen and water addition vary among microbial groups within soil aggregates in a semiarid grassland

We investigated whether enhanced nitrogen (N) and water inputs would redistribute the microbial community within different soil aggregate size classes in a field manipulation experiment initiated in 2005. Distribution of microbial groups was monitored in large macroaggregates (>2000 μm), small macroaggregates (250–2000 μm), and microaggregates (<250 μm) in a semiarid grassland. Both arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and saprophytic fungi were the most abundant in soil macroaggregates. The gram-negative bacteria were more abundant in soil microaggregates. Total phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) concentration in general and actinomycetes in particular decreased with N addition under ambient precipitation but was unaffected by combined additions of N and water within the three soil aggregate fractions as compared to control plots. In contrast, the abundance of saprophytic fungi decreased with combined N and water addition, but it was not affected by N addition under ambient precipitation. The abundance of gram-positive bacteria increased with N addition under both ambient and elevated water conditions for all soil aggregate fractions. In summary, the higher short-term nutrient and water availabilities provoked a shift in soil microbial community composition and increased total PLFA abundance irrespectively of the level of soil aggregation. In the long term, this could destabilize soil carbon pools and influence the nutrient limitation of soil biota within different soil aggregate size classes under future global change scenarios.     

土壤团聚体氧化亚氮排放潜势与微生物学机制

氧化亚氮（N2O）是主要温室气体之一,土壤是N2O的重要排放源,其排放主要受N2O产生和还原的功能微生物影响。土壤团聚体是由原生颗粒（砂、粉、黏粒）、胶结物质和孔隙组成的土壤基本结构单元。土壤不同粒径团聚体之间因基质和孔隙差异形成特殊独立的微生境被视为N2O的生物化学反应器。在不同的微生境中,N2O产生和还原的功能微生物分布不同,因而土壤不同粒径团聚体N2O排放可能存在差异。目前在不同生态系统土壤全土N2O排放特征的报道较多,而对于不同粒径土壤团聚体N2O排放相对贡献尚不清楚、功能微生物分布还未知、N2O产生和还原热区尚未明确。本文综述了近年来国内外关于土壤团聚体对N2O产生和排放机制的研究,总结了土壤团聚体性状特征对N2O产生和还原的影响,阐述了不同粒径土壤团聚体对N2O排放影响的微生物学机制,进一步明确了今后需加强土壤团聚体N2O产生和还原的热区、环境因子阈值范围的确定、系列功能基因（酶）整体性的研究,以期为N2O模拟排放模型优化提供参考,为土壤N2O减排提供理论依据。