Biological and chemical properties of arable soils affected by long-term organic and inorganic fertilizer applications

 Using soils from field plots in four different arable crop experiments that have received combinations of manure, lime and inorganic N, P and K for up to 20 years, the effects of these fertilizers on soil chemical properties and estimates of soil microbial community size and activity were studied. The soil pH was increased or unaffected by the addition of organic manure plus inorganic fertilizers applied in conjunction with lime, but decreased in the absence of liming. The soil C and N contents were greater for all fertilized treatments compared to the control, yet in all cases the soil samples from fertilized plots had smaller C:N ratios than soil from the unfertilized plots. The soil concentrations of all the other inorganic nutrients measured were greater following fertilizer applications compared with the unfertilized plots, and this effect was most marked for P and K in soils from plots that had received the largest amounts of these nutrients as fertilizers. Both biomass C determined by chloroform fumigation and glucose-induced respiration tended to increase as a result of manure and inorganic fertilizer applications, although soils which received the largest additions of inorganic fertilizers in the absence of lime contained less biomass C than those to which lime had been added. Dehydrogenase activity was lower in soils that had received the largest amounts of fertilizers, and was further decreased in the absence of lime. This suggests that dehydrogenase activity was highly sensitive to the inhibitory effects associated with large fertilizer additions. Potential denitrification and anaerobic respiration determined in one soil were increased by fertilizer application but, as with both the microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity, there were significant reductions in both N₂O and CO₂ production in soils which received the largest additions of inorganic fertilizers in the absence of lime. In contrast, the size of the denitrifying component of the soil microbial community, as indicated by denitrifying enzyme activity, was unaffected by the absence of lime at the largest rate of inorganic fertilizer applications. The results indicated differences in the composition or function of microbial communities in the soils in response to long-term organic and inorganic fertilization, especially when the soils were not limited. Received: 10 March 1998     

The foliar spray of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodopseudomonas palustris</Emphasis> grown under <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stevia</Emphasis> residue extract promotes plant growth via changing soil microbial community

Purpose

The extract of Stevia residue is an ideal substitute for cultivation of the purple nonsulfur bacterium, like Rhodopseudomonas palustris (R. palustris). But the influence of R. palustris grown under residue extract on its downstream application is still not well-characterized. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of foliar spray of R. palustris grown under Stevia residue extract on the plant growth and soil microbial properties.

Materials and methods

A pot experiment was carried out under the greenhouse condition, consisting of four treatments varying in the sprayed substances: sterilized water (control), R. palustris grown under the chemical medium supplemented with L-tryptophan (SyT), R. palustris grown under Stevia residue extract supplemented with L-tryptophan (ExT), and R. palustris grown under Stevia residue extract supplemented with NH₄Cl (ExT). The net photosynthesis rate of the uppermost leaves was measured with a portable photosynthesis system. Soil microbial activity was analyzed by microcalorimetry. Soil bacterial community components were determined by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and high-throughput sequencing techniques.

Results and discussion

Compared with SyT, the R. palustris grown under Stevia residue extract not only improved the plant biomass and the net photosynthetic rate to a large extent, but also increased soil microbial metabolic activity and altered community compositions as well. The treatments receiving R. palustris, especially ExT and ExN, increased the relative abundances of some functional guilds involved in C turnover and nutrient cycling in soil, including Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadaetes, Nitrospirae, and Planctomycetes.

Conclusions

R. palustris grown under the Stevia residue extract showed advantages over that under the chemical medium on both plant growth and soil microbial properties. One of the possible reasons could result from the increases in microbial activity and several bacterial keystone guilds involved into C and nutrient cycling, both of which potentially contribute to the improved plant growth. The results would be conducive to the downstream application of R. palustris in an economical way.

     

Impact of 12-year field treatments with organic and inorganic fertilizers on crop productivity and mycorrhizal community structure

The effect of manure and mineral fertilization on the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal community structure of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants was studied. Soils were collected from a field experiment treated for 12 years with equivalent nitrogen (N) doses of inorganic N, dairy manure slurry, or without N fertilization. Fresh roots of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) grass collected from the field plots without N fertilization and unfumigated field soils were used as native microbial inoculum sources. Sunflower plants were sown in pots containing these soils, and three different means of manipulating the microbial community were set: unfumigated soil with fresh grass roots, fumigated soil with fresh grass roots, or fumigated soil with sterilized grass roots. Assessing the implications with respect to plant productivity and mycorrhizal community structure was investigated. Twelve AM fungal OTUs were identified from root or soil samples as different taxa of Acaulospora, Claroideoglomus, Funneliformis, Rhizophagus, and uncultured Glomus, using PCR-DGGE and sequencing of an 18S rRNA gene fragment. Sunflower plants grown in manure-fertilized soils had a distinct AMF community structure from plants either fertilized with mineral N or unfertilized, with an abundance of Rhizophagus intraradices-like (B2). The results also showed that AM inoculation increased P and N contents in inorganic N-fertilized or unfertilized plants, but not in manure-fertilized plants.     

Influence of inorganic fertilizers and organic amendments on soil organic matter and soil microbial properties under tropical conditions

 Soil organic matter level, mineralizable C and N, microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase, urease and alkaline phosphatase activities were studied in soils from a field experiment under a pearl millet-wheat cropping sequence receiving inorganic fertilizers and a combination of inorganic fertilizers and organic amendments for the last 11 years. The amounts of soil organic matter and mineralizable C and N increased with the application of inorganic fertilizers. However, there were greater increases of these parameters when farmyard manure, wheat straw or Sesbania bispinosa green manure was applied along with inorganic fertilizers. Microbial biomass C increased from 147 mg kg^–1 soil in unfertilized soil to 423 mg kg^–1 soil in soil amended with wheat straw and inorganic fertilizers. The urease and alkaline phosphatase activities of soils increased significantly with a combination of inorganic fertilizers and organic amendments. The results indicate that soil organic matter level and soil microbial activities, vital for the nutrient turnover and long-term productivity of the soil, are enhanced by use of organic amendments along with inorganic fertilizers. Received: 6 May 1998     

Inoculation of root microorganisms for sustainable wheat-rice and wheat-black gram rotations in India

The scarcity of non-renewable resources such as soils and fertilizers and the consequences of climate change can dramatically influence the food security of future generations. Mutualistic root microorganisms such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve plant fitness. We tested the growth response of wheat (Triticum aestivum [L.]), rice (Oriza sativa [L.]) and black gram (Vigna mungo [L.], Hepper) to an inoculation of AMF and PGPR alone or in combination over two years at seven locations in a region extending from the Himalayan foothills to the Indo-Gangetic plain. The AMF applied consisted of a consortium of different strains, the PGPR of two fluorescent Pseudomonas strains (Pseudomonas jessenii, R62; Pseudomonas synxantha, R81), derived from wheat rhizosphere from one test region. We found that dual inoculation of wheat with PGPR and AMF increased grain yield by 41% as compared to un-inoculated controls. Yield responses to the inoculants were highest at locations with previously low yields. AMF or PGPR alone augmented wheat grain yield by 29% and 31%, respectively. The bio-inoculants were effective both at Zero and at farmers’ practice fertilization level (70 kg N ha⁻¹, 11 kg P ha⁻¹ in mineral form to wheat crop). Also raw protein (nitrogen × 5.7) and mineral nutrient concentration of wheat grains (phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese) were higher after inoculation (+6% to +53%). Phosphorus use efficiency of wheat grains [kg P grain kg⁻¹ P fertilizer] was increased by 95%. AMF and PGPR application also improved soil quality as indicated by increased soil enzyme activities of alkaline and acid phosphatase, urease and dehydrogenase. Effects on rice and black gram yields were far less pronounced over two cropping seasons, suggesting that AMF and PGPR isolated from the target crop were more efficient. We conclude that mutualistic root microorganisms have a high potential for contributing to food security and for improving nutrition status in southern countries, while safeguarding natural resources such as P stocks.     

Long-term impact of fertilization on activity and composition of bacterial communities and metabolic guilds in agricultural soil

To explore long-term impact of organic and inorganic fertilizers on microbial communities, we targeted both the total bacterial community and the autotrophic ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in soil from six treatments at an experimental field site established in 1956: cattle manure, sewage sludge, Ca(NO₃)₂, (NH₄)₂SO₄, unfertilized and unfertilized without crops. All plots, except the bare fallows, were cropped with maize. Effects on activity were assessed by measuring the basal respiration and substrate induced respiration (SIR) rates, and the potential activity of the AOB. To determine the bacterial community composition, 16S rRNA genes were used to fingerprint total soil communities by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and AOB communities by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The fertilization regimes had clear effects on both activity and composition of the soil communities. Basal respiration and r, which was kinetically derived as the exponentially growing fraction of the SIR-response, correlated well with the soil organic C content (r=0.93 and 0.66, respectively). Soil pH ranged from 3.97 to 6.26 in the treatments and was found to be an important factor influencing all microbial activities. pH correlated negatively with the ratio between basal respiration and SIR (r=0.90), indicating a decreased efficiency of heterotrophic microorganisms to convert organic carbon into microbial biomass in the most acid soils with pH 3.97 and 4.68 ((NH₄)₂SO₄ and sewage sludge fertilized plots, respectively). The lowest SIR and ammonia oxidation rates were also found in these treatments. In addition, these treatments exhibited individually different community fingerprints, showing that pH affected the composition of AOB and total bacterial communities. The manure fertilized plots harbored the most diverse AOB community and the pattern was linked to a high potential ammonia oxidation activity. Thus, the AOB community composition appeared to be more strongly linked to the activity than the total bacterial communities were, likely explained by physiological differences in the populations present.     

Inoculation of tomato plants with selected PGPR represents a feasible alternative to chemical fertilization under salt stress

Plant growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are soil bacteria that colonize the rhizosphere of plants, enhance plant growth, and may alleviate environmental stress, thus constituting a powerful tool in sustainable agriculture. Here, we compared the capacity of chemical fertilization to selected PGPR strains to promote growth and alleviate salinity stress in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.). A pot experiment was designed with two main factors: fertilization (chemical fertilization, bacterial inoculation with seven PGPR, or a non‐fertilized non‐inoculated control) and salt stress (0 or 100 mM NaCl). In the absence of stress, a clear promotion of growth, a positive effect on plant physiology (elevated F_v/F_m), and enhanced N, P, and K concentrations were observed in inoculated plants compared to non‐fertilized controls. Salinity negatively affected most variables analyzed, but inoculation with certain strains reduced some of the negative effects on growth parameters and plant physiology (water loss and K⁺ depletion) in a moderate but significant manner. Chemical fertilization clearly exceeded the positive effects of inoculation under non‐stressed conditions, but conversely, biofertilization with some strains outperformed chemical fertilization under salt stress. The results point at inoculation with selected PGPR as a viable economical and environment‐friendly alternative to chemical fertilization in salinity‐affected soils.     

Soil microbial biomass and bacterial and fungal community structures responses to long-term fertilization in paddy soils

Purpose

Long-term fertilization can influence soil biological properties and relevant soil ecological processes with implications for sustainable agriculture. This study determined the effects of long-term (>25 years) no fertilizer (CK), chemical fertilizers (NPK) and NPK combined with rice straw residues (NPKS) on soil bacterial and fungal community structures and corresponding changes in soil quality.

Materials and methods

Soil samples were collected from a long-term field site in Wangcheng County established in 1981 in subtropical China between mid summer and early autumn of 2009. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time qPCR) of bacterial and fungal community and microbial biomass (MB-C, -N and -P) were analyzed.

Results and discussion

Redundancy analysis of the T-RFLP data indicated that fertilization management modified and selected microbial populations. Of the measured soil physiochemical properties, soil organic carbon was the most dominant factors influencing bacterial and fungal communities. The bacterial and fungal diversity and abundance all showed increasing trends over time (>25 years) coupling with the increasing in SOC, total N, available N, total P, and Olsen P in the fertilized soils. Compared to chemical fertilizer, NPKS resulted in the greater richness and biodiversity of the total microbial community, soil organic C, total N, MB-C, -N and -P. The high biodiversity of microbial populations in NPKS was a clear indication of good soil quality, and also indicated higher substrate use efficiency and better soil nutrient supplementation. Otherwise, unfertilized treatment may have a soil P limitation as indicated by the high soil microbial biomass N: P ratio.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that NPKS could be recommended as a method of increasing the sustainability of paddy soil ecosystems.     

Long-term effects of mineral fertilizers on soil microorganisms – A review

Increasing nutrient inputs into terrestrial ecosystems affect not only plant communities but also associated soil microbial communities. Studies carried out in predominantly unmanaged ecosystems have found that increasing nitrogen (N) inputs generally decrease soil microbial biomass; less is known about long-term impacts in managed systems such as agroecosystems. The objective of this paper was to analyze the responses of soil microorganisms to mineral fertilizer using data from long-term fertilization trials in cropping systems. A meta-analysis based on 107 datasets from 64 long-term trials from around the world revealed that mineral fertilizer application led to a 15.1% increase in the microbial biomass (C_mic) above levels in unfertilized control treatments. Mineral fertilization also increased soil organic carbon (C_org) content and our results suggest that C_org is a major factor contributing to the overall increase in C_mic with mineral fertilization. The magnitude of the effect of fertilization on C_mic was pH dependent. While fertilization tended to reduce C_mic in soils with a pH below 5 in the fertilized treatment, it had a significantly positive effect at higher soil pH values. Duration of the trial also affected the response of C_mic to fertilization, with increases in C_mic most pronounced in studies with a duration of at least 20 years. The input of N per se does not seem to negatively affect C_mic in cropping systems. The application of urea and ammonia fertilizers, however, can temporarily increase pH, osmotic potential and ammonia concentrations to levels inhibitory to microbial communities. Even though impacts of fertilizers are spatially limited, they may strongly affect soil microbial biomass and community composition in the short term. Long-term repeated mineral N applications may alter microbial community composition even when pH changes are small. How specific microbial groups respond to repeated applications of mineral fertilizers, however, varies considerably and seems to depend on environmental and crop management related factors.     

Interactions between a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium,an AM fungus and a phosphate-solubilising fungus in the rhizosphere of Lactuca sativa

This study evaluated the interactions between the inoculation with an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith, a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium, Bacillus subtilis, and a filamentous soil fungus, Aspergillus niger, with respect to their effects on growth of lettuce plants and on indicators of biological soil quality (microbial biomass C, water-soluble C and carbohydrates and dehydrogenase, urease, acid phosphatase and benzoyl argininamide hydrolyzing protease activities). Water-soluble carbohydrates and microbial biomass were increased only in the rhizosphere soil of G. intraradices-plants. Rhizosphere soil from all microbial inoculation treatments had significantly higher dehydrogenase activity than the control soil, particularly in the soil inoculated with B. subtilis (about 21% higher than control soil). Inoculation with A. niger or B. subtilis increased significantly the urease, protease and phosphatase activities of the rhizosphere soil of the lettuce plants. The foliar P and K contents increased significantly with the B. subtilis or G. intraradices inoculation, alone or in combination. The most effective co-inoculation was observed in the combined treatment of inoculation with G. intraradices and B. subtilis, which synergistically increased plant growth compared with singly inoculated (about 77% greater with respect to the control plants).     

Interactions between phosphorus availability and an AM fungus (Glomus intraradices) and their effects on soil microbial respiration, biomass and enzyme activities in a calcareous soil

The interactions between soil P availability and mycorrhizal fungi could potentially impact the activity of soil microorganisms and enzymes involved in nutrient turnover and cycling, and subsequent plant growth. However, much remains to be known of the possible interactions among phosphorus availability and mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) grown in calcareous soils deficient in available P. The primary purpose of this study was to look at the interaction between P availability and an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus (Glomus intraradices) on the growth of berseem clover and on soil microbial activity associated with plant growth. Berseem clover was grown in P unfertilized soil (−P) and P fertilized soil (+P), inoculated (+M) and non-inoculated (−M) with the mycorrhizal fungus for 70 days under greenhouse conditions. We found an increased biomass production of shoot and root for AM fungus-inoculated berseem relative to uninoculated berseem grown at low P levels. AM fungus inoculation led to an improvement of P and N uptake. Soil respiration (SR) responded positively to P addition, but negatively to AM fungus inoculation, suggesting that P limitation may be responsible for stimulating effects on microbial activity by P fertilization. Results showed decreases in microbial respiration and biomass C in mycorrhizal treatments, implying that reduced availability of C may account for the suppressive effects of AM fungus inoculation on microbial activity. However, both AM fungus inoculation and P fertilization affected neither substrate-induced respiration (SIR) nor microbial metabolic quotients (qCO₂). So, both P and C availability may concurrently limit the microbial activity in these calcareous P-fixing soils. On the contrary, the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and acid phosphatase (ACP) enzymes responded negatively to P addition, but positively to AM fungus inoculation, indicating that AM fungus may only contribute to plant P nutrition without a significant contribution from the total microbial activity in the rhizosphere. Therefore, the contrasting effects of P and AM fungus on the soil microbial activity and biomass C and enzymes may have a positive or negative feedback to C dynamics and decomposition, and subsequently to nutrient cycling in these calcareous soils. In conclusion, soil microbial activity depended on the addition of P and/or the presence of AM fungus, which could affect either P or C availability.     

Effects of mineral and biofertilizers on barley growth on compacted soil

Abstract

Biofertilizers are an alternative to mineral fertilizers for increasing soil productivity and plant growth in sustainable agriculture. The objective of this study was to evaluate possible effects of three mineral fertilizers and four plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains as biofertilizer on soil properties and seedling growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare) at three different soil bulk densities, and in three harvest periods. The application treatments included the control (without bacteria inoculation and mineral fertilizers), mineral fertilizers (N, NP and P) and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria species (Bacillus licheniformis RC04, Paenibacillus polymyxa RC05, Pseudomonas putida RC06, and Bacillus OSU-142) in sterilized soil. The PGPR, fungi, seedling growth, soil pH, organic matter content, available P and mineral nitrogen were determined in soil compacted artificially to three bulk density levels (1.1, 1.25 and 1.40 Mg m^?3) at 15, 30, and 45 days of plant harvest. The results showed that all the inoculated bacteria contributed to the amount of mineral nitrogen. Seed inoculation significantly increased the count of bacteria and fungi. Data suggest that seed inoculation of barley with PGPR strains tested increased root weight by 9–12.2%, and shoot weight by 29.7–43.3% compared with control. The N, NP and P application, however, increased root weight up to 18.2, 25.0 and 7.4% and shoot weight by 31.6, 43.4 and 26.4%, respectively. Our data show that PGPR stimulate barley growth and could be used as an alternative to chemical fertilizer. Soil compaction hampers the beneficial plant growth promoting properties of PGPR and should be avoided.     

Soil microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, bacterial community structure in response to long-term fertilizer management

This study describes the effects of balanced versus nutrient-deficiency fertilization on soil microbial biomass, activity, and bacterial community structure in a long-term (16 years) field experiment. Long-term fertilization greatly increased soil microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase activity, except that the P-deficiency fertilization had no significant effect. Organic manure had a significantly greater (P<0.05) impact on the biomass C and the activity, compared with mineral fertilizers. Microbial metabolic activity (dehydrogenase activity per microbial biomass C) was significantly higher (P<0.05) under balanced fertilization than under nutrient-deficiency fertilization. General bacterial community structure was analyzed by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) targeting eubacterial 16S rRNA gene. Mineral fertilization did not affect the DGGE banding pattern, while specific DGGE band was observed in organic manure-fertilized soils. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the change of bacterial community in organic manure-fertilized soil might not be because of the direct influence of the bacteria in the compost, but because of the promoting effect of the compost on the growth of an indigenous Bacillus sp. in the soil. We emphasize the importance of balanced-fertilization, as well as the role of P, in maintaining soil organic matter, and promoting the biomass and activity of microorganisms.     

Effect of Azospirillum brasilense inoculation on rhizobacterial communities analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis

Nucleic acid-based techniques allow the exploration of microbial communities in the environments such as the rhizosphere. Azospirillumbrasilense, a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR), causes morphological changes in the plant root system. These changes in root physiology may indirectly affect the microbial diversity of the rhizosphere. In this study, the changes in the rhizobacterial structure following A. brasilense inoculation of maize (Zea mays) plants was examined by PCR-denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA), using two universal primers sets for the 16S rRNA gene, and an intergenic 16S-23S rDNA primer set, respectively. Similar results were obtained when using either ARISA or DGGE performed with these different primer sets, and analyzed by different statistical methods: no prominent effect of A. brasilense inoculation was observed on the bacterial communities of plant roots grown in two different soils and in different growth systems. In contrast, plant age caused significant shifts in the bacterial populations.     

Forest soil community responses to plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and spruce seedlings

The influence of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and spruce seedlings on the composition and activity of forest soil microbial communities was studied in a microcosm experiment in which sterile, sand-filled 25mm×150mm glass tubes were treated with a forest soil suspension containing Bacillus or Pseudomonas PGPR and 2-week-old spruce seedlings. Eighteen weeks after treatments were established, bacterial, actinomycete and fungal population sizes were determined by dilution plating, as were seedling dry weights and soil carbon substrate utilization profiles using Biolog plates. PGPR inoculation had little influence on the population sizes of actinomycetes or fungi. However, significant effects were detected on the total bacterial population size, primarily in microcosms without seedlings. Euclidean distances between treatments plotted on two dimensions by multidimensional scaling showed that the introduction of PGPR strains changed the type of microbial community, particularly when inoculated into soil without seedlings. Significant changes were also detected in one soil type in the presence of seedlings. Our results suggest that the type of soil community and the presence of seedlings are significant factors influencing the responses of soil communities to bacterial inoculation, and that for some soil communities, the presence of seedlings may mitigate perturbations caused by the introduction of PGPR. Received: 24 February 1997     

An Invasive Succulent Plant (Kalanchoe daigremontiana) Influences Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralization in a Neotropical Semiarid Zone

It has long been recognized that plant invasions may alter carbon(C) and nitrogen(N) cycles, but the direction and magnitude of such alterations have been rarely quantified. In this study, we quantified the effects caused by the invasion of a noxious exotic plant,Kalanchoe daigremontiana(Crassulaceae), on C and N mineralization and enzymatic and microbial activities in the soil of a semiarid locality in Venezuela. We compared soil parameters associated with these processes(C and N mineralization time and the cumulative values, fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity, and activities of dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, glucosaminidase, and urease) between invaded and adjacent non-invaded sites. In addition, correlations among these parameters and the soil physical-chemical properties were also examined to determine if a positive feedback exists between nutrient availability and K. daigremontiana invasion. Overall,our results showed that C mineralization and transformation of organic compounds to NH_4~+ were favored at sites colonized by K.daigremontiana. With this species, we found the highest cumulative amounts of NH_4~+-N and C and the lowest mineralization time.These results could be explained by higher activities of urease and glucosaminidase in soils under the influence of K. daigremontiana.In addition, higher amounts of organic matter and moisture content in invaded soils might favor C and N mineralization. In conclusion,invasion of Neotropical semiarid zones by K. daigremontiana may influence the chemical and biological properties of the soils covered by this species, increasing nutrient bioavailability, which, in time, can facilitate the invasion process.     

Responses of Soil Enzyme Activities and Microbial Community Composition to Moisture Regimes in Paddy Soils Under Long-Term Fertilization Practices

The effects of fertilization on activity and composition of soil microbial community depend on nutrient and water availability;however,the combination of these factors on the response of microorganisms was seldom studied.This study investigated the responses of soil microbial community and enzyme activities to changes in moisture along a gradient of soil fertility formed within a long-term(24 years)field experiment.Soils(0–20 cm)were sampled from the plots under four fertilizer treatments:i)unfertilized control(CK),ii)organic manure(M),iii)nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium fertilizers(NPK),and iv)NPK plus M(NPK+M).The soils were incubated at three moisture levels:constant submergence,five submerging-draining cycles(S-D cycles),and constant moisture content at 40%water-holding capacity(low moisture).Compared with CK,fertilization increased soil organic carbon(SOC) by 30.1%–36.3%,total N by 27.3%–38.4%,available N by 35.9%–56.4%,available P by 61.4%–440.9%,and total P by 28.6%–102.9%.Soil fertility buffered the negative effects of moisture on enzyme activities and microbial community composition.Enzyme activities decreased in response to submergence and S-D cycles versus low moisture.Compared with low moisture,S-D cycles increased total phospholipid fatty acids(PLFAs)and actinomycete,fungal,and bacterial PLFAs.The increased level of PLFAs in the unfertilized soil after five S-D cycles was greater than that in the fertilized soil.Variations in soil microbial properties responding to moisture separated CK from the long-term fertilization treatments.The coefficients of variation of microbial properties were negatively correlated with SOC,total P,and available N.Soils with higher fertility maintained the original microbial properties more stable in response to changes in moisture compared to low-fertility soil.     

AMF和PGPR修复甲胺磷污染土壤的效应

丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)和根围促生细菌(plant growthpromoting rhizobacteria,PGPR)能降解有毒有机物,但分解土壤中残留甲胺磷农药尚未见报道。本试验旨在测定AMF和PGPR矿化甲胺磷的效应。试验设甲胺磷0、50、100和150μg g-1下,对番茄(Lycospersicon esculentum,品种金冠)接种AMF Glomus mosseae(Gm)、Glomus etunicatum(Ge)、PGPR Bacillus subtilis(Bs)、Bacillus sp.B697(Bsp)、Pseudomonas fluorescens(Pf)、Gm+Bs、Gm+Bsp、Gm+Pf、Ge+Bs、Ge+Bsp、Ge+Pf和不接种对照,共48个处理。结果表明,接种Gm显著增加了根区土壤和根内PGPR定殖数量,而Pf处理显著提高了AMF侵染率,表明Gm与Pf能够相互促进。甲胺磷100μg g-1水平下,Gm+Pf处理的番茄株高显著高于其他处理,地上部干重显著高于其他处理(Ge+Pf除外),根系干重显著高于对照、PGPR各处理和Ge处理;而根内甲胺磷浓度则显著低于其他处理,茎叶中的则显著低于其他处理(Gm+Bs、Gm+Bsp和Ge+Pf除外)。AMF、PGPR或AMF+PGPR处理均显著降低番茄体内甲胺磷浓度。甲胺磷50~100μg g-1水平下,Gm+Pf显著降低根区土壤中甲胺磷残留量,矿化率达52%~60.6%。AMF和PGPR显著提高了根区土壤中甲胺脱氢酶活性,其中以Gm+Pf组合处理的酶活性最高。表明AMF和PGPR均能促进土壤中残留甲胺磷的降解,Gm+Pf是本试验条件下的最佳组合。     

Use of an artificial root to examine the influence of 8-hydroxyquinoline on soil microbial activity and bacterial community structure

Invasive plant species have been shown to alter the microbial community composition of the soils they invade and it is suggested that this below-ground perturbation of potential pathogens, decomposers or symbionts may feedback positively to allow invasive success. Whether these perturbations are mediated through specific components of root exudation are not understood. We focussed on 8-hydroxyquinoline, a putative allelochemical of Centaurea diffusa (diffuse knapweed) and used an artificial root system to differentiate the effects of 8-hydroxyquinoline against a background of total rhizodeposition as mimicked through supply of a synthetic exudate solution. In soil proximal (0-10 cm) to the artificial root, synthetic exudates had a highly significant (P < 0.001) influence on dehydrogenase, fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis and urease activity. In addition, 8-hydroxyquinoline was significant (p = 0.003) as a main effect on dehydrogenase activity and interacted with synthetic exudates to affect urease activity (p = 0.09). Hierarchical cluster analysis of 16S rDNA-based DGGE band patterns also identified a primary affect of synthetic exudates and a secondary affect of 8-hydroxyquinoline on bacterial community structure. Thus, we show that the artificial rhizosphere produced by the synthetic exudates was the predominant effect, but, that the influence of the 8-hydroxyquinoline signal on the activity and structure of soil microbial communities could also be detected.     

长期不同施肥对黄泥田土壤酶活性和微生物的影响

以农业部耕地保育福建观测实验站的长期肥料试验为平台,研究了长期不同施肥对黄泥田土壤酶活性和微生物的影响。结果表明:与不施肥(CK)相比,单施NPK(NPK)、NPK配施牛粪(NPKM)及NPK配施秸秆(NPKS)的土壤酶活性均有不同程度的提高,其中NPKM可显著提高转化酶活性,NPKS可显著提高脲酶活性。施肥均不同程度地提高了土壤细菌、真菌及放线菌的数量,尤其是放线菌数量,提高幅度均达到显著性水平;NPKS可显著提高土壤细菌数量,NPKM可显著提高土壤真菌数量。施肥均会对真菌群落产生重要影响;单施化肥对土壤细菌群落的影响不大,增施有机物料会对细菌群落产生明显影响;施用牛粪会对放线菌优势群落产生影响。以上结果表明,有机无机配施更有利于提高土壤酶活性和土壤微生物数量,提升土壤生物肥力。