Effects of biological soil crusts on soil enzyme activities in revegetated areas of the Tengger Desert,China

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) cover up to 70% of the sparsely-vegetated areas in arid and semiarid regions throughout the world and play a vital role in dune stabilization in desert ecosystems. Soil enzyme activities could be used as significant bioindicators of soil recovery after sand burial. However, little is known about the relationship between BSCs and soil enzyme activities. The objective of this study was to determine whether BSCs could affect soil enzyme activities in revegetated areas of the Tengger Desert. The results showed that BSCs significantly promoted the activities of soil urease, invertase, catalase and dehydrogenase. The effects also varied with crust type and the elapsed time since sand dune stabilization. All the soil enzyme activities tested in this study were greater under moss crusts than under cyanobacteria–lichen crusts. The elapsed time since sand dune stabilization correlated positively with the four enzyme activities. The enzyme activities varied with soil depth and season, regardless of crust type. Cyanobacteria–lichen and moss crusts significantly enhanced all test enzyme activities in the 0–20 cm soil layer, but negatively correlated with soil depth. All four enzyme activities were greater in the summer and autumn than in spring and winter due to the vigorous growth of the crusts. Our study demonstrated that the colonization and development of BSCs could improve soil quality and promote soil recovery in degraded areas of the Tengger Desert.     

Carbon utilization, microbial biomass, and respiration in biological soil crusts in the Negev Desert

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) and the soils directly below crusts (SDBCs) (0–5 mm) were collected in the Negev Desert (Israel) during the wet and dry seasons of 2007 and 2008, gently separated, and microbial basal respiration, microbial biomass carbon (C_mic), carbon (C) source utilization rates, and catabolic diversity were analyzed using MicroResp^TM plates. The seasonal-change patterns of these parameters were similar to those of soil organic C (C_org) in the BSCs, i.e., increases were observed during the dry seasons relative to the wet seasons. Few seasonal variations in qCO₂ and C_mic/C_org in the BSCs indicated that the increases in crustal organism basal respiration and C source utilization rates can be attributed to microbial propagation as a result of the increases in available C during the dry seasons. High frequency of rain events, with precipitation higher than 0.1 mm during spring, can enable crustal organisms to maintain photosynthetic activity and can facilitate microbial propagation and C_org accumulation in the BSCs. The seasonal dynamics of the four biotic parameters in the SDBCs were the opposite of those of the BSCs, and C source utilization rates and catabolic diversity were higher than in the BSCs during the wet seasons. Downward migration of exopolysaccharides, crustal organism cell contents, and intracellular solutes with water infiltration can increase C and nutrient availability and enhance microbial catabolic activities and propagation in the SDBCs.     

中国腾格里沙漠生物土壤结皮中的可培养微真菌群落

Biological soil crusts are essential components of arid ecosystems. We examined the variations in microfungal communities inhabiting different biological crust types in the vicinity of the Shapotou Research Station in the Tengger Desert, China. A total of 134 species from 66 genera were isolated using the soil dilution plate method. The mycobiota of the crusts from the Tengger Desert, similar to that of the Negev Desert in Israel, was dominated by melanin-containing species with large multicellular spores. Abundance of these xeric species increased spatially with increasing xeric conditions from moss-dominated to cyanobacterial crusts. Density of microfungal isolates displayed the opposite trend and was positively correlated with chlorophyll content, indicating the possible significant influence of organic matter content and wetness duration on fungal biomass. Within a chronosequence of the localities of different periods after sand stabilization with revegetation, little variations were revealed in species composition and isolate density of the crust microfungal communities, while a tendency towards a decrease in the community diversity level with the crust age was noted. Microfungal communities from stabilized localities differed from those of the natural localities in abundance of the dominant and some frequent species, and in the fluctuations of diversity characteristics between the cyanobacterial and moss-dominated crusts. The variations in mycobiotic parameters in the soil crusts of the Tengger Desert were apparently associated with the topographically induced variations in abiotic conditions, while the differences in microfungal community of soil crusts between the Tengger and Negev deserts, such as the significantly higher abundance of thermotolerant species in the crusts of the Tengger Deserts, were caused by the principal differences in their precipitation regimes, associated with different rainy seasons, winter and summer in the Negev and Tengger deserts, respectively.     

生物土壤结皮对荒漠区土壤微生物生物量的影响

为探明生物土壤结皮对土壤微生物生物量碳和氮的影响,以腾格里沙漠东南缘的人工植被固沙区生物土壤结皮覆盖的沙丘土壤为研究对象,根据固沙时间的不同将样地分为4个不同的区进行采样(55、47、30和20 a固沙区),以流沙区(0 a)和天然植被区(100 a)为对照。研究表明:人工植被固沙区的藻-地衣结皮和藓类结皮均可显著提高土壤微生物生物量碳(SMBC)和氮(SMBN)含量(p0.05),且固沙年限与SMBC和SMBN含量存在显著的正相关关系(p0.05);结皮类型显著影响土壤微生物生物量,藓类结皮下SMBC和SMBN含量显著高于藻-地衣结皮下SMBC和SMBN含量(p0.05);此外,生物土壤结皮可显著提高0~20 cm土层SMBC和SMBN含量(p0.05),且这种影响随土层的增加而减弱。而且,生物土壤结皮下SMBC和SMBN含量表现明显的季节变化,表现为夏季春季秋季。水热因子是决定土壤微生物生物量季节变化的主要因子,而生物土壤结皮通过调节土壤温度和湿度而影响土壤微生物生物量的季节变化。     

Effects of biological soil crusts on soil nematode communities following dune stabilization in the Tengger Desert,Northern China

Biological soil crusts (BSCs) play an important role in the dune fixation and maintaining soil biota in arid desert systems. Free-living soil nematode communities could be used as significant bioindicators to reflect soil recover regime after sand burial. However, the relationship between BSCs and nematodes is rarely known. To examine the effects of BSCs on soil nematodes, 72 soil samples under cyanobacteria–lichen and moss crusts were collected to analyse nematode communities in the different aged vegetated areas at the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert. Our results showed the colonization and development of BSCs significantly enhanced nematode diversity. Nematode abundances, generic richness, H′, MI, EI and SI were greater under crusts than those under noncrust. In particular, nematode abundances, generic richness, H′, MI, EI and SI were positively correlated with crust ages. The differences in nematode communities were also dependent upon crust types. Nematode abundances and generic richness under moss crusts were higher than those under cyanobacteria–lichen crusts. This can be contributed to the present and succession of BSCs that increased thickness of topsoil after dunes have been stabilized, namely, creating suitable habitats and providing an essential food source for nematodes.     

土壤微生物群落结构对凋落物组成变化的响应

凋落物分解是陆地生态系统养分循环的关键过程,明确凋落物多样性如何影响土壤微生物群落构成和多度,继而潜在地改变凋落物分解的微生物学机制有助于认识生物多样性和森林生态系统功能的关系。通过小盆模拟试验,应用磷脂脂肪酸谱图的方法研究了我国南方红壤丘陵区典型物种马尾松和湿地松的凋落物分别与白栎和青冈的凋落物混合,与单一针叶凋落物分解时相比,针阔混合凋落物分解过程中土壤微生物群落结构的变化,结果显示:(1)针阔混合凋落物分解时土壤微生物群落磷脂脂肪酸(Phospholipidfatty acids,PLFA)总量低于单一针叶处理,细菌和放线菌的相对多度高于单一针叶处理,真菌则相反,群落真菌/细菌低于单一针叶处理,土壤微生物生物量的差异主要来自于真菌;(2)主成分分析表明:针阔混合凋落物分解与单一针叶凋落物分解的土壤微生物群落结构差异显著,两个时期(分解9个月和18个月)主成分一分别可以解释65.74%和89.63%的变异,第一主成分主要包括18∶2ω6,9、18∶1ω9c、17∶0和10Me18∶0等磷脂脂肪酸;(3)土壤微生物群落结构受凋落物初始C/N和木质素/N调控,土壤微生物群落细菌的相对多度与凋落物初始C/N和木质素/N显著负相关,真菌则与凋落物初始C/N和木质素/N显著正相关,群落真菌/细菌与凋落物初始C/N和木质素/N显著正相关。针阔凋落物混合分解通过改变凋落物C/N和木质素/N,提供了对分解者更为有利的微环境。     

生物结皮对荒漠地区土壤及植物的影响研究述评

 生物结皮是目前防沙治沙的一种重要措施。通过对国内外生物结皮研究的回顾,简要总结了生物结皮对荒漠地区土壤理化性质及植物的影响。生物结皮对其下层土壤的影响主要表现在土壤的机械组成、土壤盐分、土壤养分等方面。生物结皮具有明显的养分、盐分和细粒物质的聚集作用,对表层土壤发育有积极的意义。生物结皮及下部土壤细粒的增加,提高了土壤的吸湿性和持水性,但对降雨入渗的影响尚无定论。在生物结皮的发育过程中,其与维管植物萌发和定居间的关系也存在几种不同的观点。对生物结皮的研究是目前防沙治沙研究的一个重要领域,其对荒漠地区的土壤及植被某些方面的影响目前并未形成一致的结论,其形成机制、生物组成、演替规律、对后续植物定居的影响等,均是需要进一步深入研究的科学问题。     

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.     

土壤微生物群落结构与多样性对农田集约化管理程度降低的响应

Using a scheme of agricultural fields with progressively less intensive management （deintensification）, different management practices in six agroecosystems located near Goldsboro, NC, USA were tested in a large-scale experiment, including two cash-grain cropping systems employing either tillage （CT） or no-tillage （NT）, an organic farming system （OR）, an integrated cropping system with animals （IN）, a successional field （SU）, and a plantation woodlot （WO）. Microbial phospholipid fatty acid （PLFA） profiles and substrate utilization patterns （BIOLOG ECO plates） were measured to examine the effects of deintensification on the structure and diversity of soil microbial communities. Principle component analyses of PLFA and BIOLOG data showed that the microbial community structure diverged among the soils of the six systems.Lower microbial diversity was found in lowly managed ecosystem than that in intensive and moderately managed agroecosystems, and both fungal contribution to the total identified PLFAs and the ratio of microbial biomass C/N increased along with agricultural deintensification. Significantly higher ratios of C/N （P 〈 0.05） were found in the WO and SU systems, and for fungal/bacterial PLFAs in the WO system （P 〈 0.05）. There were also significant decreases （P 〈 0.05） along with agricultural deintensification for contributions of total bacterial and gram positive （G＋） bacterial PLFAs.Agricultural deintensification could facilitate the development of microbial communities that favor soil fungi over bacteria.     

Responses of nitrogen transformation and microbial community composition to nitrogen enrichment patch

Fertilization produces many nutrient patches that have been confirmed to affect root growth. However, it is not clear how nutrient transformation and microbial community composition are affected in an inorganic nutrient patch. In this experiment, a nitrogen enrichment patch was formed by the diffusion of a urea fertilizer layer in a specially-designed container. Responses of nitrogen transformation and microbial community composition to the nitrogen enrichment patch were investigated at different incubation times. Results showed that nitrogen status and microbial community composition were slightly affected in the control patch (CK patch). In the nitrogen enrichment patch, however, soil pH was significantly increased in most soil layers close to the urea fertilizer layer; NO₂^?–N was the predominant form of mineral N, and its transformation to NO₃^?–N was delayed. Microbial community composition shifted significantly, especially before day 28 of incubation. Principal components analysis (PCA) of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) patterns showed that the microbial community presented different sensitivity to high nitrogen concentration. Fungi (18:2ω6,9) showed the least sensitivity to high concentrations of NO₂^?–N and NO₃^?–N. Gram-positive bacteria showed the most sensitivity to NO₂^?–N. Gram-negative bacteria (cy17:0, cy19:0, 18:1ω9, and 18:1ω7) and actinomycetes (10Me17:0 and 10Me18:0) presented similar responses to NO₂^?–N and NO₃^?–N. Results of this study indicate that changes in nitrogen transformation and microbial community composition are likely to occur in nitrogen enrichment patches, but the extent of those changes depend on the microbial species and the distance of soil layers from the urea layer.     

Responses of nitrogen transformation and microbial community composition to nitrogen enrichment patch

Fertilization produces many nutrient patches that have been confirmed to affect root growth. However, it is not clear how nutrient transformation and microbial community composition are affected in an inorganic nutrient patch. In this experiment, a nitrogen enrichment patch was formed by the diffusion of a urea fertilizer layer in a specially-designed container. Responses of nitrogen transformation and microbial community composition to the nitrogen enrichment patch were investigated at different incubation times. Results showed that nitrogen status and microbial community composition were slightly affected in the control patch (CK patch). In the nitrogen enrichment patch, however, soil pH was significantly increased in most soil layers close to the urea fertilizer layer; NO₂⁻-N was the predominant form of mineral N, and its transformation to NO₃⁻-N was delayed. Microbial community composition shifted significantly, especially before day 28 of incubation. Principal components analysis (PCA) of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) patterns showed that the microbial community presented different sensitivity to high nitrogen concentration. Fungi (18:2ω6,9) showed the least sensitivity to high concentrations of NO₂⁻-N and NO₃⁻-N. Gram-positive bacteria showed the most sensitivity to NO₂⁻-N. Gram-negative bacteria (cy17:0, cy19:0, 18:1ω9, and 18:1ω7) and actinomycetes (10Me17:0 and 10Me18:0) presented similar responses to NO₂⁻-N and NO₃⁻-N. Results of this study indicate that changes in nitrogen transformation and microbial community composition are likely to occur in nitrogen enrichment patches, but the extent of those changes depend on the microbial species and the distance of soil layers from the urea layer.     

Foliage application of nitrogen has less influence on soil microbial biomass and community composition than soil application of nitrogen

Purpose

Many studies have shown the simulated effects of nitrogen (N) deposition on soil microbial community composition by adding N directly to the forest floor but have ignored the N retention process by the canopy. This study was conducted to compare the responses of soil microbial biomass and community composition between soil application of N (SAN) and foliage application of N (FAN).

Materials and methods

A pot experiment was designed with (1) two N application methods (SAN and FAN), (2) three N application levels (5.6, 15.6 and 20.6 g N m^?2 year^?1), and (3) two tree species (Schima superba Gardn. et Champ. and Pinus massoniana Lamb.) following a nested factorial design. Soil microbial biomass and community composition were determined using phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) techniques after 1 and 1.5 years of treatments.

Results and discussion

Nitrogen addition increased (P?<?0.05) soil NH₄⁺-N content and soil NO₃^?-N content and decreased (P?<?0.05) soil pH and soil microbial (bacterial, fungal, and actinomycete) biomass for both N application methods. Compared with the SAN treatment, the FAN treatment had higher (P?<?0.05) pH and lower (P?<?0.05) contents of soil NH₄⁺-N and soil NO₃^?-N. Soil microbial biomass and community composition were significantly different between the different N addition levels under the SAN treatment, but they showed no significant difference (P?<?0.05) between the different N addition levels under the FAN treatment. The soil microbial biomass in the S. superba soil was higher (P?<?0.05) than that in the P. massoniana soil for the FAN treatment, with the opposite trend observed under the SAN treatment. Moreover, redundancy analysis showed that soil microorganisms were significantly correlated with soil pH, soil water content, NH₄⁺-N, and NO₃^?-N.

Conclusions

The results showed that N addition affected soil properties, microbial biomass, and the composition of microbial communities; however, the FAN treatment had less influence on soil properties and soil microorganisms than did the SAN treatment over short time scales, and the extent of this effect was different between coniferous and broadleaf trees.

     

腾格里沙漠植被重建对土壤呼吸的影响

植被重建是防止和控制沙漠化的有效措施之一。为探讨腾格里沙漠植被重建对土壤呼吸的影响,利用Li-6400-09土壤呼吸室于2007年观测了1989年建立的植被重建区和流沙区土壤呼吸差异,并采用根系隔离法区分了植被重建区的土壤基础呼吸和根际呼吸。结果表明,植被重建18a显著影响了该区土壤CO2的释放过程,总土壤呼吸速率由流沙区的CO20.107±0.008μmolm-2s-1显著增加到植被区CO20.483±0.033μmolm-2s-1,而且出现了较为明显的季节波动。植被重建不但导致根际呼吸速率增加,而且影响了土壤基础呼吸速率。此外,植被重建区灌木的缀块状分布格局和养分的空间异质性导致了土壤呼吸的空间差异。     

干旱人工植被区藻结皮光合固碳的时间效应研究

研究了腾格里沙漠东南缘沙坡头地区不同建植年限(16、21、27、44和52a)人工植被区中发育藻结皮的净光合速率、年固碳量和累计固碳量变化特征,并分析了其与结皮生物学参数(盖度和生物量)和土壤表层0~3 cm有机碳含量的相关关系。结果表明:1)随着人工植被区建植年限的增加,藻结皮的最大净光合速率显著增加,从植被建植16a藻结皮的1.63μmol m-2s-1增加至植被建植52a的2.81μmol m-2s-1;藻结皮的最大光合速率与结皮生物量和结皮盖度呈显著正相关关系;2)藻结皮的年固碳量随植被区建植年限的延长呈指数增加,随着人工植被区建植年限的增加,藻结皮的年固碳量显著增加,从建植16a藻结皮的C 0.2 g m-2a-1增加到52a的C 2.78 g m-2a-1;3)植被区建植后,藻结皮的固碳总量经历两个阶段的变化,建植16a到27a,藻结皮固碳总量在C 2.2~6.2 g m-2,建植44a后,固碳总量增加到C 23.9 g m-2;并且,藻结皮的固碳总量与土壤表层有机碳含量呈显著线性正相关关系。以上研究结果说明,随着人工植被固沙区的演替,藻结皮发育成熟度逐渐提高,其光合固碳能力显著提高,有利于干旱区土壤有机碳的累计。     

No-till soil management increases microbial biomass and alters community profiles in soil aggregates

Aggregation is important for soil functioning, providing physical protection of organic matter and microbial inhabitants. Tillage disrupts aggregates, increases wind and water erosion of soils and exposes formerly protected organic matter to decomposition and losses. Microbial biomass and community dynamics in dry-sieved aggregate-size classes from long-term no-till (NT) and conventionally tilled (CT) soils were examined using phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA). Bacterial, fungal, and total biomass were up to 32% greater in NT compared to CT aggregates. Aggregate size also affected microbial biomass, which was highest in the 1–2 mm size class. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were particularly affected by tillage disturbance with increases of 40–60% among aggregate-size classes in NT vs. CT, but glomalin related soil protein concentration was not different between tillage treatments or among aggregate-size classes. Bacterial stress biomarkers were higher in CT than NT aggregates but were not significantly correlated with total C, total N or C:N ratio, indicating that the physiological status of bacteria within aggregates was not simply governed by the quantity of available resources. Ordination analysis of PLFA profiles demonstrated a shift in microbial community structure between NT and CT aggregates, correlated with AMF abundance in NT aggregates and increased bacterial stress biomarkers in CT aggregates. Our results demonstrated greater microbial biomass and altered microbial community structure in NT vs. CT aggregates. This work demonstrates that tillage management influences microbial community structure within aggregates and may provide a potential explanation for differences in process rates observed in NT vs. CT soils. Further research into the processes that govern community structure in aggregates from NT and tilled soils is needed to better understand how the interaction of microorganisms with their physical environment affects nutrient turnover and availability.     

Effects of phosphorus addition on soil microbial biomass and community composition in three forest types in tropical China

Elevated nitrogen (N) deposition in humid tropical regions may aggravate phosphorus (P) deficiency in forest on old weathered soil found in these regions. From January 2007 to August 2009, we studied the responses of soil microbial biomass and community composition to P addition (in two monthly portions at level of 15 g P m^?2 yr^?1) in three tropical forests in southern China. The forests were an old-growth forest and two disturbed forests (mixed species and pine dominated). The objective was to test the hypothesis that P addition would increase microbial biomass and change the composition of the microbial community, and that the old-growth forests would be more sensitive to P addition due to its higher soil N availability. Microbial biomass C (MBC) was estimated twice a year and the microbial community structure was quantified by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis at the end of the experiment. Addition of P significantly increased the microbial biomass and altered the microbial community composition in the old-growth forest, suggesting that P availability is one of the limiting factors for microbial growth. This was also reflected by significant increases in soil respiration after P addition. In contrast, P addition had no effect on the microbial biomass and the microbial community composition in the pine forests. Also in the mixed forest, the microbial biomass did not significantly respond to P addition, but soil respiration and the ratio of fungal-to-bacteria was significantly increased.     

Response by soil nematode populations and the soil microbial biomass to a rain episode in the hot,dry Negev Desert

Since the amount, intensity, and frequency of rainfall in desert regions vary strongly over space and time, the response by soil biota to this variability is of great importance. We conducted a study in the Negev desert in order to examine the immediate response by the soil nematode populations and the microbial biomass to varying amounts of water applied in a single pulse. Soil samples from the 0–10-cm depth were collected from areas undergoing four different wetting treatments, comprising 5, 10, 15, and 20 mm of water, and from a non-irrigated control soil. There was a correlation between diurnal variations in nematode populations and the diurnal fluctuations in soil moisture. The greatest abundance of nematodes was found in the soil treated with 20 mm water (970 individuals 100 g^-1 dry soil) which was 2, 4, 5, and 14 times larger than that found in the soil treated with 15, 10, 5, and 0 mm of water, respectively. Bacterialfeeding and fungal-feeding nematodes accounted for approximately 95% of the total nematode population found in all treatments. The microbial biomass examined in the current study exhibited an immediate response to the wetting which was greater in soil treated with, 10, 15, and 20 mm of water compared with 0 and 5 mm. However, after 4 days (96 hours) the microbial biomass stabilized again at the basic level of the 0-mm control. However, our results indicated that the major trigger for changes in the nematode populations, and in the microbial biomass, was diurnal fluctuations in soil moisture, since peaks in nematode populations and in the microbial biomass were observed at various times of the day.     

Exotic earthworms alter soil microbial community composition and function

Exotic earthworms can profoundly alter soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in northern temperate forests, but the mechanisms explaining these responses are not well understood. We compared the soil microbial community (SMC) composition (measured as PLFAs) and enzyme activity between paired earthworm-invaded and earthworm-free plots in northern hardwood forests of New York, USA. We hypothesized that differences in SMCs and enzyme activity between plots would correspond with differences in soil C content and C:N ratios. Relative abundance of several bacterial (mostly gram-positive) PLFAs was higher and that of two fungal PLFAs was lower in earthworm compared to reference plots, largely because of earthworm incorporation of the organic horizon into mineral soil. In surface mineral soil earthworms increased arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and gram-positive bacterial PLFAs, and decreased fungal (mostly saprotrophic) and several bacterial (gram-negative and non-specific) PLFAs. Earthworms also increased the activities of cellulolytic relative to lignolytic enzymes in surface mineral soil, and the relationships between enzyme activities and components of the SMC suggest a substrate-mediated effect on the SMC and its metabolism of C. A highly significant relationship between components of the SMC and soil C:N also suggests that earthworms reduce soil C:N through functional and compositional shifts in the SMC. Finally, changes in AMF abundances were linked to phosphatase activity, suggesting that earthworms do not necessarily inhibit P-acquisition by AMF-associated plants in our study system. We conclude that the combined influence of earthworm-related changes in physical structure, accessibility and chemistry of organic matter, and relative abundance of certain groups of fungi and bacteria promote C metabolism, in particular by increasing the activities of cellulolytic vs. lignolytic enzymes.