Medium‐ and short‐term available organic matter,microbial biomass,and enzyme activities in soils under Pinus sylvestris L. and Robinia pseudoacacia L. in a sandy soil in NE Saxony,Germany

Total, mobile, and easily available C and N fractions, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities in a sandy soil under pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) stands were investigated in a field study near Riesa, NE Germany. Samples of the organic layers (Oi and Oe‐Oa) and the mineral soil (0–5, 5–10, 10–20, and 10–30 cm) were taken in fall 1999 and analyzed for their contents of organic C and total N, hot‐water‐extractable organic C and N (HWC and HWN), KCl‐extractable organic C and N (C_org(KCl) and N_org(KCl)), NH ‐N and NO ‐N, microbial‐biomass C and N, and activities of β‐glucosidase and L‐asparaginase. With exception of the HWC, all investigated C and N pools showed a clear response to tilling, which was most pronounced in the Oi horizon. Compared to soils under pine, those under black locust had higher contents of medium‐ and short‐term available C (HWC, C_org(KCl)) and N (HWN, N_org(KCl)), mineral N (NH ‐N, NO ‐N), microbial‐biomass C and N, and enzyme activities in the uppermost horizons of the soil. The strong depth gradient found for all studied parameters was most pronounced in soils under black locust. Microbial‐biomass C and N and enzyme activities were closely related to the amounts of readily mineralizable organic C (HWC and C_org(KCl)). However, the presented results implicate a faster C and N turnover in the top‐soil layers under black locust caused by higher N‐input rates by symbiotic N₂ fixation.     

中国亚热带稻田土壤碳氮含量及矿化动态

Dynamics of soil organic matter in a cultivation chronosequence of paddy fields were studied in subtropical China. Mineralization of soil organic matter was determined by measuring CO2 evolution from soil during 20 days of laboratory incubation. In the first 30 years of cultivation, soil organic C and N contents increased rapidly. After 30 years, 0-10 cm soil contained 19.6 g kg^-1 organic C and 1.62 g kg^-1 total N, with the corresponding values of 18.1 g kg^-1 and 1.50 g kg^-1 for 10-20 cm, and then remained stable even after 80 years of rice cultivation. During 20 days incubation the mineralization rates of organic C and N in surface soil （0-10 cm） ranged from 2.2% to 3.3% and from 2.8% to 6.7%, respectively, of organic C and total N contents. Biologically active C size generally increased with increasing soil organic C and N contents. Soil dissolved organic C decreased after cultivation of wasteland to 10 years paddy field and then increased. Soil microbial biomass C increased with number of years under cultivation, while soil microbial biomass N increased during the first 30 years of cultivation and then stabilized. After 30 years of cultivation surface soil （0-10 cm） contained 332.8 mg kg^-1 of microbial biomass C and 23.85 mg kg^-1 of microbial biomass N, which were 111% and 47% higher than those in soil cultivated for 3 years. It was suggested that surface soil with 30 years of rice cultivation in subtropical China would have attained a steady state of organic C content, being about 19 g kg^-1.     

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.     

Glycosidases in soils as affected by cropping systems

Glycosidases are a group of soil enzymes that play a major role in degradation of carbohydrates. This study was conducted to assess the impact of crop rotation and N fertilization on the activities of α‐ and β‐glucosidases and α‐ and β‐galactosidases in plots of two long‐term field experiments at the Clarion‐Webster Research Center (CWRC) and Northeast Research Center (NERC) in Iowa. Surface‐soil (0–15 cm) samples were taken in 1996 and 1997 in corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), oats (Avena sativa L.), or meadow (alfalfa) (Medicago sativa L.) plots that received 0 or 180 kg N ha^–1, applied as urea before corn, and an annual application of 20 kg P ha^–1 and 56 kg K ha^–1. Activities of the four glycosidases were significantly affected by crop rotations in both years at the two sites but not by nitrogen application. In general, higher activities were observed in plots under meadow or oat and the lowest in continuous corn (CWRC) and soybean (NERC). Four‐year rotation showed the highest activity, followed by 2‐year rotation and monocropping systems. Linear‐regression analyses indicated that, in general, the activities of the glycosidases were significantly correlated with microbial‐biomass C (r > 0.302, p ≤ 0.05) and microbial‐biomass N (r > 0.321, p ≤ 0.05), organic‐C (r > 0.332, p ≤ 0.05) and organic‐N (r > 0.399, p ≤ 0.01) contents of the soils. Results of this work suggest that multicropping stimulated the activities of the glycosidases. The specific activities of the glycosidases in soils of the two sites studied, expressed as g p‐nitrophenol released per kg of organic C, differed among the four enzymes. The lowest values were obtained for β‐galactosidase and α‐glucosidase, followed by α‐galactosidase and β‐glucosidase.     

Soil biochemical and chemical changes in relation to mature spruce (Picea abies) forest conversion and regeneration

To investigate soil changes from forest conversion and regeneration, soil net N mineralization, potential nitrification, microbial biomass N, L‐asparaginase, L‐glutaminase, and other chemical and biological properties were examined in three adjacent stands: mature pure and dense Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) (110 yr) (stand I), mature Norway spruce mixed with young beech (Fagus sylvatica) (5 yr) (stand II), and young Norway spruce (16 yr) (stand III). The latter two stands were converted or regenerated from the mature Norway spruce stand as former. The studied soils were characterized as having a very low pH value (2.9 – 3.5 in 0.01 M CaCl₂), a high total N content (1.06 – 1.94 %), a high metabolic quotient (qCO₂) (6.7 – 16.9 g CO₂ kg^–1 h^–1), a low microbial biomass N (1.1 – 3.3 % of total N, except LOf₁ at stand III), and a relatively high net N mineralization (175 – 1213 mg N kg^–1 in LOf₁ and Of₂, 4 weeks incubation). In the converted forest (stand II), C : N ratio and qCO₂ values in the LOf₁ layer decreased significantly, and base saturation and exchangeable Ca showed a somewhat increment in mineral soil. In the regenerated forest (stand III), the total N storage in the surface layers decreased by 30 %. The surface organic layers (LOf₁, Of₂) possessed a very high net N mineralization (1.5 – 3 times higher than those in other two stands), high microbial biomass (C, N), and high basal respiration and qCO₂ values. Meanwhile, in the Oh layer, the base saturation and the exchangeable Ca decreased. All studied substrates showed little net nitrification after the first period of incubation (2 weeks). In the later period of incubation (7 – 11 weeks), a considerable amount of NO₃‐N accumulated (20 – 100 % of total cumulative mineral N) in the soils from the two pure spruce stands (I, III). In contrast, there was almost no net NO₃‐N accumulation in the soils from the converted mixed stand (II) indicating that there was a difference in microorganisms in the two types of forest ecosystems. Soil microbial biomass N, mineral N, net N mineralization, L‐asparaginase, and L‐glutaminase were correlated and associated with forest management.     

Nitrogen pools and turnover in arable soils under different durations of organic farming: II: Source‐and‐sink function of the soil microbial biomass or competition with growing plants?

The following parameters were measured on seven field plots at 3 sites which had been under organic farming for different periods of time: mineral nitrogen (N _min) contents, in situ net nitrogen mineralization (N _net), soil microbial biomass carbon (C _mic), and nitrogen (N _mic) contents, and extractable organic N contents. The measurements were conducted every three weeks from spring 1995/1996 to autumn 1997. The objective was to test whether, under organic farming: 1) temporal fluctuations of N_mic contents over the course of the year are indicative for a source‐and‐sink function for plant‐available N of the soil microbial biomass, and 2) temporal variations in N_mic content can be related with in situ N_net or plant N uptake. N_min contents gradually increased after ploughing in autumn until late winter. During intensive plant growth in spring, values rapidly declined. In situ N_net fluctuated only moderately and reached high values during intensive plant growth (May—July) as well as after soil cultivation in autumn. The C_mic and N_mic contents generally were low in winter, increased in spring and reached maxima in late spring or summer. In spring, the increase in C_mic contents preceded the increase in N_mic contents, resulting in elevated C_mic:N_mic ratios until shooting of winter wheat. This corresponds to an uptake of available soil nitrogen by the plants at the expense of soil micro‐organisms. The subsequent increase in N_mic contents, coinciding with high plant N uptake rates, indicates an enhanced, plant‐induced N mobilization at that time. Possible mobilization mechanisms are discussed. Soil microbial biomass exerted a source‐and‐sink function for extractable organic N on some of the field plots. Estimates of in situ N_net measurements were neither correlated significantly with soil microbial biomass N, N_mic flux, N_mic turnover, nor with plant N uptake. Lower N_mic turnover rates on 41 years versus 3 years organically managed fields indicate a stabilizing effect of organic farming on soil microflora.     

Microbial C,N, and P relationships in moisture‐stressed soils of Potohar,Pakistan

In 11 rain‐fed arable soils of the Potohar plateau, Pakistan, the amounts of microbial‐biomass C (C_mic), biomass N (N_mic), and biomass P (P_mic) were analyzed in relation to the element‐specific total storage compartment, i.e., soil C_org, N_t, and P_t. The effects of climatic conditions and soil physico‐chemical properties on these relationships were highlighted with special respect to crop yield levels. Average contents of soil C_org, N_t, and P_t were 3.9, 0.32, and 0.61 mg (g soil)^–1, respectively. Less than 1% of P_t was extractable with 0.5 M NaHCO₃. Mean contents of C_mic, N_mic, and P_mic were 118.4, 12.0, and 3.9 µg (g soil)^–1. Values of C_mic, N_mic, P_mic, soil C_org, and N_t were all highly significantly interrelated. The mean crop yield level was closely connected with all soil organic matter– and microbial biomass–related properties, but showed also some influence by the amount of precipitation from September to June. Also the fraction of NaHCO₃‐extractable P was closely related to soil organic matter, soil microbial biomass, and crop yield level. This reveals the overwhelming importance of biological processes for P turnover in alkaline soils.     

Soil microbial biomass and activity: the effect of site characteristics in humid temperate forest ecosystems

Microbial biomass, respiratory activity, and in‐situ substrate decomposition were studied in soils from humid temperate forest ecosystems in SW Germany. The sites cover a wide range of abiotic soil and climatic properties. Microbial biomass and respiration were related to both soil dry mass in individual horizons and to the soil volume in the top 25 cm. Soil microbial properties covered the following ranges: soil microbial biomass: 20 µg C g^–1–8.3 mg C g^–1 and 14–249 g C m^–2, respectively; microbial C–to–total organic C ratio: 0.1%–3.6%; soil respiration: 109–963 mg CO₂‐C m^–2 h^–1; metabolic quotient (qCO₂): 1.4–14.7 mg C (g C_mic)^–1 h^–1; daily in‐situ substrate decomposition rate: 0.17%–2.3%. The main abiotic properties affecting concentrations of microbial biomass differed between forest‐floor/organic horizons and mineral horizons. Whereas microbial biomass decreased with increasing soil moisture and altitude in the forest‐floor/organic horizons, it increased with increasing N_tot content and pH value in the mineral horizons. Quantities of microbial biomass in forest soils appear to be mainly controlled by the quality of the soil organic matter (SOM), i.e., by its C : N ratio, the quantity of N_tot, the soil pH, and also showed an optimum relationship with increasing soil moisture conditions. The ratio of C_mic to C_org was a good indicator of SOM quality. The quality of the SOM (C : N ratio) and soil pH appear to be crucial for the incorporation of C into microbial tissue. The data and functional relations between microbial and abiotic variables from this study provide the basis for a valuation scheme for the function of soils to serve as a habitat for microorganisms.     

Changes in 15N abundance and amounts of biologically active soil nitrogen

 Estimation of the capacity of soils to supply N for crop growth requires estimates of the complex interactions among organic and inorganic N components as a function of soil properties. Identification and measurement of active soil N forms could help to quantify estimates of N supply to crops. Isotopic dilution during incubation of soils with added ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ compounds could identify active N components. Dilution of ¹⁵N in KCl extracts of mineral and total N, non-exchangeable NH4₄ ⁺, and N in K₂SO₄ extracts of fumigated and non-fumigated soil was measured during 7-week incubation. Samples from four soils varying in clay content from 60 to 710 g kg^–1 were used. A constant level of ¹⁵N enrichment within KCl and K₂SO₄ extracted components was found at the end of the incubation period. Total N, microbial biomass C and non-exchangeable NH₄ ⁺ contents of the soils were positively related to the clay contents. The mineralized N was positively related to the silt plus clay contents. The active soil N (ASN) contained 28–36% mineral N, 29–44% microbial biomass N, 0.3–5% non-exchangeable NH₄ ⁺ with approximately one third of the ASN unidentified. Assuming that absolute amounts of active N are related to N availability, increasing clay content was related to increased N reserve for crop production but a slower turnover. Received: 7 July 1998     

Dynamic of different C and N fractions in a Cambisol under five year succession fallow in Saxony (Germany)

The dynamic of different soil C and N fractions in a Cambisol under succession fallow was investigated from June 1996 until May 2001. Mineral soil samples (0 – 10 and 10 – 30 cm) were analyzed for their concentrations of organic C (C_org), total N (N_t), hot water extractable C and N (HWC and HWN), and KCl extractable C and N (C_org(KCl), N_org(KCl), NH₄⁺‐N, NO₃^–‐N). The values of all C and N fractions revealed a distinct depth gradient. While the concentrations of C_org increased after set aside significantly from 7.7 to 8.9 g kg^–1 at 0 – 10 cm, those at 10 – 30 cm depth decreased from 7.2 to 6.1 g kg^–1. N_t remained rather constant throughout the whole observation period. The HWC concentrations increased from 0.33 to 0.49 g kg^–1, while HWN decreased slightly at 0 – 10 cm with time. In contrast, both HWC and HWN increased at 10 – 30 cm soil depth. HWC showed close significant correlations to C_org, and HWN to N_t as well as to NH₄⁺‐N and NO₃^–‐N, respectively. In comparison to hot water‐extractable C and N, C_org(KCl) and N_org(KCl) accounted only about one tenth of those and showed a decreasing trend with time of succession. C : N ratio of the KCl fraction was in the same order of magnitude as the HWC : HWN ratio, except the last phase of the experiment where hot water extract values increased above 10.     

Microbial activity,organic C accumulation and <Superscript>13</Superscript>C abundance in soils under alley cropping systems after 9 years of recultivation of quaternary deposits

The impact of alley cropping on post-lignite mine soils developing from quaternary deposits after 9 years of recultivation was evaluated on the basis of microbial indicators, organic C and total N contents, and the isotope characteristics of soil C. Soils were sampled at the 0 to 3, 3 to 10, and 10 to 30 cm depths under black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), poplar (Populus spp.), the transition zone and in the middle of alley under rye (Secale cereale). There was no significant effect of vegetation on microbial properties presumably, due to the high variability, whereas organic C and total N contents at the 0- to 3-cm layer were significantly higher under black locust and poplar than in the transition zone and rye field. Organic C total N contents, and basal respiration, microbial biomass, and microbial quotient decreased with soil depth. Soil organic C and total N contents were more than doubled after 9 years of recultivation, with annual C and N accretion rate of 162 g C _org m⁻² year⁻¹ and 6 g N _t m⁻² year⁻¹. Microbial properties indicated that the soils are in early stages of development; the C isotope characteristics confirmed that the sequestered C was predominantly from C3 plants of the alley cropping.     

Microbial biomass in arable soils of Germany during the growth period of annual crops

Results from several field studies involving numerous measurements were used to describe the change of soil microbial biomass C (C_mic) and N (N_mic) during the growth period of annual crops (years 1988–1992, 1994, 1995) under the temperate climatic conditions of central Europe. The data were taken from our own investigations as well as from the literature. Only studies with at least eight measurements on one plot during the growth period were used. The total number of farms (cash crop–production farms) was 7, that of experimental plots was 15. The evaluation of these results through regression analysis demonstrated that C_mic and N_mic from the beginning of a year increased only slightly until summer and subsequently decreased until autumn to their initial levels. This increase on an average corresponded to a C assimilation of approx. 100 kg ha^–1 and an N immobilization of approx. 20 kg ha^–1 (30 cm)^–1. The increase in N_mic alone could not explain N immobilization rates frequently observed in different studies using ¹⁵N‐labeled fertilizers. Most of the labeled N that was immobilized (>50 kg N ha^–1) might have accumulated in the matrix of soil organic matter (SOM). Therefore, the changes in microbial biomass may be of less importance for changes in soil N storage as frequently assumed.     

Nitrogen turnover in a repeatedly manured arid subtropical soil: Incubation studies with 15N isotopes

Under the hot and moist conditions of irrigated agriculture in the arid subtropics, turnover of organic matter is high, which can lead to considerable carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) losses. Therefore, sustainable use of these soils requires regular manure application at high rates. To investigate the contribution of consecutive manure applications to an arid sandy soil to various soil N pools, goat manure was isotopically labeled by feeding ¹⁵N‐enriched Rhodes grass hay and applied to the soil during a two‐year field experiment. In the first year, soils received ¹⁵N‐labeled manure to distinguish between soil‐derived and manure‐derived N. In the second year, these plots were split for the application of either ¹⁵N‐labeled or unlabeled manure to discriminate N derived from previous (first year) and recent (second year) manure application. Soil samples (of control and ¹⁵N‐manured soil) were collected at the end of the first and the second year, and incubated in two laboratory experiments with labeled or unlabeled manure. At the beginning of Experiment 1, 7% of total N, 11% of K₂SO₄ extractable N, and 16% of microbial biomass N were derived from previously field‐applied manure. While the application of manure during incubation increased microbial biomass N by 225% and 410% in the control soil and the previously field‐manured soil, respectively, N₂O emissions were more affected on the control soil, releasing considerable amounts of the soil N‐pool (80% of total emissions). In Experiment 2, 4% of total N, 7% of K₂SO₄ extractable N, and 7% of microbial biomass N derived from previously applied manure, and 4%, 8%, and 3% from recently applied manure, respectively. Microbial biomass N and N₂O‐N derived from manure declined with time after manure application, whereas in Experiment 1 this tendency was only observed for microbial biomass N.     

Changes in soil–biological quality indices after long‐term addition of shredded shrubs and biogenic waste compost

Long‐term effects on soil chemical and soil biological properties were analyzed after an 8 y period with addition of biogenic household‐waste compost and shredded shrubs with and without N fertilization to an arable field. The addition of compost and shredded shrubs to soil increased significantly all soil organic matter–related properties. The effects of compost addition on soil chemical properties were in most cases stronger than those of adding shredded shrubs, especially the effects on total N, 0.5 M K₂SO₄‐extractable C_org and 0.5 M NaHCO₃‐extractable phosphate. In the shredded‐shrubs treatments, basal respiration and the contents of soil microbial‐biomass C, biomass N, and fungal ergosterol were significantly increased by 40%, 45%, 67%, and 90%, respectively. In the compost treatment, only microbial‐biomass C and biomass N were significantly increased by 25% and 38%, respectively. Microbial‐biomass P remained unaffected by both organic‐amendment treatments. Nitrogen fertilization had significantly negative effects on the NaHCO₃‐extractable P fraction (–22%) and on the basal respiration (–31%), but positive effects on the ergosterol content (+17%).     

中国土壤微生物量的大小

The microbial biomass C, N and P of soils all over China were determined in this study to study their affecting factors. The results, about 100-417 mg C kg^-1 soil, 18-51 mg N kg^-1 soil and 4.4-27.3 mg P kg^-1 soil, showed the biomass C, N and P in linear relationship with the soil total organic C, toal N and soil organic P. The ratios of C: N and C:P, ranging from 5.6 to 9.6 and from 11.2 to 48.4 respectively, were affected by soil pH, texture, crop rotation, macroclimate, etc. The ratio of C:N in soil biomass increases gradually from the north to the south in China.     

Use of mid‐infrared spectroscopy in the diffuse‐reflectance mode for the prediction of the composition of organic matter in soil and litter

Mid‐infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) is assumed to be superior to near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for the prediction of soil constituents, but its usefulness is still not sufficiently explored. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of MIRS to predict the chemical and biological properties of organic matter in soils and litter. Reflectance spectra of the mid‐infrared region including part of the near‐infrared region (7000–400 cm^–1) were recorded for 56 soil and litter samples from agricultural and forest sites. Spectra were used to predict general and biological characteristics of the samples as well as the C composition which was measured by ¹³C CPMAS‐NMR spectroscopy. A partial least‐square method and cross‐validation were used to develop equations for the different constituents over selected spectra ranges after several mathematical treatments of the spectra. Mid‐infrared spectroscopy predicted well the C : N ratio: the modeling efficiency EF was 0.95, the regression coefficient (a) of a linear regression (measured against predicted values) was 1.0, and the correlation coefficient (r) was 0.98. Satisfactorily (EF ≥ 0.70, 0.8 ≤ a ≤ 1.2, r ≥ 0.80) assessed were the contents of C, N, and lignin, the production of dissolved organic carbon, and the contents of carbonyl C, aromatic C, O‐alkyl C, and alkyl C. However, the N mineralization rate, the microbial biomass and the alkyl–to–aromatic C ratio were predicted less satisfactorily (EF < 0.70). Limiting the sample set to mineral soils did generally not result in improved predictions. The good and satisfactory predictions reported above indicate a marked usefulness of MIRS in the assessment of chemical characteristics of soils and litter, but the accuracies of the MIRS predictions in the diffuse‐reflectance mode were generally not superior to those of NIRS.     

Effect of grazing intensity and soil characteristics on soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks in a temperate long-term grassland

The effects of different grazing pressures (GPs) on soil properties are not sufficiently understood. The objectives were to analyse the effects of three different extensive GPs on stocks of soil organic C and total N, soil microbial biomass C, basal respiration and mineral N in three different soil depths of a long-term pasture in Central Germany (FORBIOBEN field trial). No significant (p ≤ 0.05) effects of GP on weighted stocks of soil organic C, total N, soil microbial biomass C, mineral N and basal respiration rate were observed, suggesting that the C and N cycles are coupled in the three grazing treatments. Oxalate soluble Fe contents explained a marked part of the variation of soil organic C (multiple linear regression: R² = 0.64) and total N contents (R² = 0.64) in the soils, whereas almost all of the variability of soil microbial biomass C contents and basal respiration was explained by soil organic C contents. Overall, variabilities of soil organic C and N contents were largely explained by oxalate soluble Fe contents, whereas grazing intensity did not affect the C and N dynamics.     

Carbon and nitrogen relationships in the microbial biomass of soils in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests

Soils from 38 German forest sites, dominated by beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) were sampled to a depth of about 10 cm after careful removal of overlying organic layers. Microbial biomass N and C were measured by fumigation-extraction. The pH of the soils varied between 3.5 and 8.3, covering a wide range of cation exchange capacity, organic C, total N, and soil C:N values. Maximum biomass C and biomass N contents were 2116 g C m^-2 and 347 g N m^-2, while minimum contents were 317 and 30 g m^-2, respectively. Microbial biomass N and C were closely correlated. Large variations in microbial biomass C:N ratios were observed (between 5.4 and 17.3, mean 7.7), indicating that no simple relationship exists between these two parameters. The frequency distribution of the parameters for C and N availability to the microflora divided the soils into two subgroups (with the exception of one soil): (1) microbial: organic C>12 mg g^-1, microbial:total N>28 mg g^-1 (n=23), a group with high C and N availability, and (2) microbial:organic C12 mg g^-1, microbial:total N28 mg g^-1 (n=14), a group with low C and N availability. With the exception of a periodically waterlogged soil, the pH of all soils belonging to subgroup 2 was below 5.0 and the soil C:N ratios were comparatively high. Within these two subgroups no significant correlation between the microbial C:N ratio and soil pH or any other parameter measured was found. The data suggest that above a certain threshold (pH 5.0) microbial C:N values vary within a very small range over a wide range of pH values. Below this threshold, in contrast, the range of microbial C:N values becomes very large.     

Soil microbiological properties and its stratification ratios for soil quality assessment under different cover crop management systems in a semiarid vineyard

In vineyards in Spain, tillage and semiarid Mediterranean climatic conditions accelerate organic matter loss from the soil. Cover crops are a conservation management practice that can provoke changes in soil quality which requires evaluation. Stratification ratios of soil properties such as soil organic C and labile C fractions have been proposed for the assessment of soil quality under different soil management systems. Our objective was to study the effect of different cover crop management on various soil parameters and their stratification ratios. We evaluated three different soil managements in a Typic Haploxerept from NE Spain: conventional tillage (CT); 5‐y continuous cover crop of resident vegetation (RV); and 4‐y continuous cover crop of Festuca longifolia Thuill., followed by 1‐y Bromus catharticus L. after resowing (BV). We monitored soil organic C, particulate organic C, water soluble C, potentially mineralizable N, microbial biomass C, β‐glucosidase and urease enzymatic activities, and water stable aggregates at 0–2.5, 2.5–5, 5–15, 15–25, and 25–45 cm soil depths. We calculated soil depth stratification ratios of those soil properties. Resident cover crop increased microbiological properties, labile C fractions, and aggregation with respect to conventional tillage at 0–2.5 and 2.5–5 cm soil depths. However, for Bromus cover crop the same soil properties were lower than for the resident cover crop at 0–2.5 cm depth. Stratification ratios of β‐glucosidase and urease enzymatic activities, and particulate organic C showed a higher sensitivity than other soil properties; therefore, they would be the best indicators for soil quality assessment in semiarid Mediterranean vineyards.     

Changes in soil microbial biomass, metabolic quotient, and organic matter turnover under Hieracium (H. pilosella L.)

 In New Zealand Hieracium is an opportunistic plant that invades high country sites more or less depleted of indigenous vegetation. To understand the invasive nature of this weed we assessed the changes in soil C, N and P, soil microbial biomass C, N and P contents, microbial C : N and C : P ratios, the metabolic quotient, and turnover of organic matter in soils beneath Hieracium and its adjacent herbfield resulting from the depletion of tussock vegetation. The amounts of soil organic C and total N were higher under Hieracium by 25 and 11%, respectively, compared to soil under herbfield. This change reflects an improvement in both the quantity and quality of organic matter input to mineral soil under Hieracium, with higher percentage organic C and a lower C : N ratio. The microbial biomass C, N and P contents were also higher under Hieracium. The amount of C respired during the 34-week incubation indicated differences in the nature of soil organic matter under Hieracium, the unvegetated "halo" zone surrounding Hieracium patches, and herbfield (depleted tussock grassland). Decomposition of organic matter in these zones showed that the Hieracium soil had the greatest rate of CO₂ respired, and the halo soil had the lowest. We relate the enhanced organic C turnover to the invasive nature of Hieracium. Net N mineralization was significantly lower from the Hieracium soil (57 mg N g^–1 soil N) than from herbfield and halo soils (74 and 71 mg N g^–1 soil N, respectively), confirming that the nature of organic N in Hieracium soil is different from adjoining halo and herbfield soils. It seems plausible that specific compounds such as polyphenols and lignins released by Hieracium are not only responsible for increased organic N, but also control the form and amount of N released during organic matter transformations. We conclude that the key to the success of Hieracium in the N-deficient South Island high country of New Zealand lies in its ability to control and sequester N supply through modifying the soil organic matter cycle. Received: 1 December 1998