基于不同监测方法的太湖地区水稻穗肥期氨排放研究

稻田追肥撒施氮肥易引起氨挥发损失,水稻穗肥撒施后稻田生态系统的氨排放仍未明确。在太湖地区水稻穗肥施用后同步采用微气象学法(IHF)、密闭室抽气法和通气法对稻田氨排放进行监测。结果表明,三种方法监测的稻田氨排放动态变化特征一致,施肥后第2天达峰值,至第5天不再有明显排放,田面水NH_4~+-N浓度与氨排放变化规律一致;IHF法监测稻田冠层上方氨排放量为5.45kg·hm~(-2)(以N计,下同),占施氮量的6.73%;密闭室抽气法监测稻田土-水表面氨排量为17.4kg·hm~(-2),占施氮量的21.5%,土-水表面氨排放与气温直线相关,适宜抽气时间为8:00～9:00和16:00～17:00,密闭室抽气法测定的为土-水表面氨排放潜力,未考虑冠层对挥发氨的捕获,导致穗肥期氨排放高估,该法适宜比较不同处理的氨排放潜力,今后需统一抽气室规格和抽气量;通气法监测土-水表面氨排放结果低于密闭室抽气法。评价稻田穗肥氨排放应以IHF法监测的冠层上方的排放量为准。     

湖南典型双季稻田氨挥发对施氮量的响应研究

选择湖南典型双季稻田为对象,采用密闭室连续抽气法研究了不同施氮量下的氨挥发损失。结果表明,稻田氨挥发总量随施氮量增加而显著增加,在当地农民习惯施肥水平（早稻150 kg/hm2、晚稻180 kg/hm2）下,早稻氨挥发损失氮量占施氮量的39.8%,晚稻则达46.9%,双季稻平均氨挥发损失率达43.7%。氨挥发通量与田面水的NH+4-N浓度和 pH 之间均存在极显著的正相关关系。可见,氨挥发是该区域稻田氮素损失的最主要途径之一。     

基于不同监测方法的太湖地区稻田基蘖肥期氨排放研究

稻田施用化学氮肥易产生氨挥发损失,目前我国稻田氨排放研究尚缺乏不同监测方法的同步对比研究,这影响到对稻田氨排放的科学评价以及稻田氮肥的合理施用。在太湖地区水稻基肥和分蘖肥施用后同时采用微气象学法(IHF)、密闭室抽气法和通气法对稻田氨排放进行监测研究。结果表明,采用三种方法监测的氨排放变化趋势大体一致,基肥施用后峰值出现在施肥后第3～4天,分蘖肥施用后峰值出现在施肥后第2天,两次施肥后氨排放持续时间均为1周左右。基肥施用后采用微气象学法、密闭室抽气法和通气法监测的氨排放峰值分别为8.8、11.3和3.2kg·hm~(-2)·d~(-1)(以N计,下同),氨排放量分别为34.6、38.2和12.9kg·hm~(-2),占基肥施氮量的32.0%、35.4%和11.9%;分蘖肥施用后三种方法监测的峰值分别为12.5、7.7和5.3kg·hm~(-2)·d~(-1),氨排放量分别为26.7、16.8和11.8kg·hm~(-2),占分蘖肥施氮量的33.0%、20.7%和14.6%。三种方法之间具有良好的相关性。综合基肥和分蘖肥期氨排放总量,密闭室抽气法与微气象学法结果接近,通气法低估了氨排放量。密闭室抽气法可用于监测稻田基蘖肥施用后的氨排放,须保证监测期间的换气次数及抽气流量,并确保施肥后试验区田埂保水保肥。     

施氮量和田面水含氮量对紫色土丘陵区稻田氨挥发的影响

采用密闭室连续抽气法研究了四川省丘陵区紫色土上不同施氮量条件下(0、112.5、150、187.5、225 kg/hm2)稻田氨(NH3)挥发特征及田面水含氮量对其的影响。结果表明,施氮肥后的1~3天内出现NH3挥发峰值,随后逐渐下降。稻田NH3挥发总量随施氮量的增加而增加,二者呈极显著的相关关系(r=0.916 6***)。通过稻田NH3挥发损失的氮素占施氮量的比例为29.4%~38.0%。施氮肥后稻田田面水NH4+-N、可溶性氮和总氮浓度均迅速升高,稻田NH3挥发速率与田面水中的NH4+-N、可溶性氮和总氮浓度均具有显著的相关关系,观测期内的最高相关系数分别为0.926 9、0.841 2和0.881 3。因此,控制施氮量可有效降低田面水NH4+-N、可溶性氮和总氮浓度,以此来减少紫色土丘陵区稻田NH3挥发损失。     

黄河上游灌区稻田氨挥发损失研究

采用密闭气室间歇式抽气法研究了黄河上游灌区不同施肥处理下稻田氨挥发损失特征。结果表明,在水稻全生育期不同施肥处理下稻田氨挥发量为N 27.6～94.1 kg/hm2,肥料氮损失率为16.4%～22.2%;不同施肥阶段氨挥发损失持续时间为10 d左右,氨挥发最大峰值均发生在施肥后2～3d;分蘖肥后氨挥发损失量最大,损失量占全生育期损失总量的27.1%～37.0%。温度、光照、pH值是黄河上游灌区氨挥发的主要影响因素,稻田田面水铵浓度与氨挥发呈显著线性正相关。稻田氨挥发损失量随氮肥施用量的增加而增加,与习惯施肥（N300）相比,减氮20%（N240）及有机肥和化肥配合施用（N240-1/2OM）均能有效减少稻田氨挥发损失,且这两个处理的水稻产量最高,是生态效益和经济效益双赢的最佳模式。     

添加脲酶抑制剂NBPT对麦秆还田稻田氨挥发的影响

氨挥发是稻田氮素损失的重要途径,为探明脲酶抑制剂NBPT对小麦秸秆还田稻田中氨挥发的影响,采用密闭室通气法,在太湖地区乌珊土上,研究了脲酶抑制剂n-丁基硫代磷酰三胺(NBPT)对小麦秸秆还田稻田中施肥后尿素水解和氨挥发动态变化的影响。结果表明:稻田氨挥发损失主要集中在基肥和分蘖肥时期。添加NBPT可明显延缓尿素水解,推迟田面水NH4+-N峰值出现的时间,并降低NH4+-N峰值,降低了田面水氨挥发速率和挥发量。NBPT的效果在基肥和分蘖肥施用后尤为明显,不加NBPT时施入的尿素在2~3 d内基本水解彻底,NH4+-N和氨挥发速率在第2 d即达到峰值,两次施肥后NH4+-N峰值分别为132.3 mg·L-1和66.3mg·L-1,氨挥发峰值为15.6 kg·hm-2·d-1和10.4 kg·hm-2·d-1;而添加NBPT后,NH4+-N峰值推迟至施肥后第4 d出现,NH4+-N峰值降至70.7 mg·L-1和51.6 mg·L-1,氨挥发峰值降至4.7 kg·hm-2·d-1和2.6 kg·hm-2·d-1。添加NBPT使稻田氨挥发损失总量从73.3 kg(N)·hm-2(占施氮量的24.4%)降低至34.5 kg(N)·hm-2(占施氮量的11.5%),降低53%。在添加小麦秸秆稻田中添加NBPT通过延缓尿素水解而显著降低了氨挥发损失。     

太湖地区氮磷肥施用对稻田氨挥发的影响

在太湖地区乌栅土上,采用田间小区试验连续两年研究了施氮(N)量为0、180、255、330kg hm-2,施磷(P2O5)量为0、309、0、180 kg hm-2的6个组合(对照N0P0、低氮N180P90、优化N255P90、低磷N255P30、高磷N255P180、高氮N330P90)以及三个施肥时期对稻田氨挥发损失的影响,氨挥发采用密闭室间歇通气法测定。结果表明,稻田氨挥发损失主要发生在施肥后6d内,基肥和第一次追肥后各处理氨挥发量占施氮量的0.4%~11.5%,而第二次追肥后氨挥发损失比例较大,对照、低氮、优化、低磷、高磷和高氮处理的氨挥发在2002年稻季分别占施氮量的5.8%、9.7%、25.6%、15.6%和11.6%,在2003年稻季则分别为27.4%、26.2%、30.0%、35.1%和27.6%。若施肥后遇阴雨天气或正值水稻拔节孕穗期,氨挥发量便降低。田面水中的NH4 -N浓度是氨挥发的决定因素之一,与氨挥发通量呈正相关。施磷量相同时,氨挥发随施氮量增加而增加;施氮量相同时,高磷和低磷处理氨挥发均高于优化处理,表明在氮磷不平衡施用时,氮肥氨挥发损失会加剧,从氨挥发损失方面考虑,稻田推荐施磷量不宜超过P2O590 kg hm-2。     

典型双季稻田基施碳酸氢铵和尿素的氨挥发损失研究

采用密闭室连续抽气法研究了湖南典型双季稻田,尿素和碳酸氢铵基施后的氨挥发特征。结果表明,基施碳酸氢铵(NC)稻田初始氨挥发强度和氨挥发总量大于基施尿素(UR)稻田。早稻季NC处理稻田氨挥发排放量为45.19 kg·hm-2,损失率达30.12%,UR处理氨挥发排放量为32.93 kg·hm-2,损失率达21.95%;晚稻季NC处理稻田氨挥发排放量为70.91 kg·hm-2,损失率达31.93%,UR处理氨挥发排放量为61.78 kg·hm-2,损失率达27.04%。基施尿素能够显著降低稻田氨挥发排放,减少氮素损失。     

江淮丘陵区不同氮肥管理模式下稻田氨挥发损失特征研究

为了探索减少江淮丘陵区稻田氨挥发损失和提高其氮肥利用率的途径,采用密闭室连续抽取法,研究了不同氮肥管理模式对稻田氨挥发损失特征和氮肥利用率的影响。结果表明,整个稻季,氨挥发损失率以分蘖肥期最高,基肥期次之,穗肥期最低。较常规施肥(CN),缓释尿素与普通尿素配施(CRU)处理稻季氨挥发损失总量和损失率分别降低了26.23%和4.52%,氮肥利用率提高了6.07%;各施肥处理的氨挥发量与同期田面水中的铵态氮浓度呈线性正相关。综合分析,缓释尿素与普通尿素配施既能减少氨挥发损失,又能获得较高的经济效益,在江淮丘陵区具有推广应用价值。     

洱海北部地区不同施氮强度对水稻季稻田氨挥发的影响

为明确洱海北部地区农田氨挥发损失规律及其影响因素,采用密闭室通气法研究了洱海北部地区水稻季不同施氮量对田面水氨挥发损失的影响,同时测定了田面水NH4+-N浓度、NO3--N浓度、pH值等氨挥发影响因素的变化。结果表明:在施入基肥后,氨挥发通量在第3 d达到峰值后呈波动下降趋势,9 d后氨挥发停止,在施入孕穗肥后,氨挥发通量在第1~2 d内到达顶点而后迅速下降,5 d后氨挥发停止;不同施氮水平与各生育期的氨挥发累积量呈极显著正相关(相关系数在0.839以上),不同生育期的氨挥发累积量表现为:基肥孕穗肥,施氮处理的氨挥发累积量为15.23~55.45 kg hm-2,而氨挥发损失率在11.28%~15.40%之间;田面水NH4+-N浓度到峰值时比氨挥发通量达最大值时早1 d,当NH4+-N浓度小于10 mg L-1后时不利于田面水氨挥发损失;不同施氮量的氨挥发通量和田面水NH4+-N浓度呈极显著正相关(相关系数为0.624),与田面水pH值、NO3--N浓度则无显著相关。因此,施肥后5~9 d内是控制氨挥发损失的关键时期,而施氮量和田面水NH4+-N浓度的变化是决定氨挥发损失量的关键因素之一。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

Electron donor and pH relationships for biologically enhanced dissolution of chlorinated solvent DNAPL in groundwater

Biologically enhanced dissolution offers a method to speed removal of chlorinated solvent dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) sources such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichoroethene (TCE) from aquifers. Bioremediation is accomplished by adding an electron donor to the source zone where fermentation to intermediates leading to acetic acid and hydrogen results. The hydrogen and possibly acetic acid are used by dehalogenating bacteria to convert PCE and TCE to ethene and hydrochloric acid. Reductive dehalogenation is thus an acid forming process, and sufficient alkalinity must be present to maintain a near neutral pH. The bicarbonate alkalinity required to maintain pH above 6.5 is a function of the electron donor: 800 mg/L of bicarbonate alkalinity is sufficient to achieve about 1.2 mM TCE dechlorination with glucose, 1.7 mM with lactate, and a much higher 3.3 mM with formate. Laboratory studies indicate that in mixed culture, formate can be used as an electron donor for complete conversion to ethene, contrary to pure cultures studies indicating it cannot. Various strategies can be used to add electron donor to an aquifer for DNAPL dehalogenation while minimizing pH problems and excessive electron donor usage, including use of injection-extraction wells, dual recirculation wells, and nested injection-extraction wells.     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Increase in auxiliary photoprotective photosynthetic pigments in wheat seedlings induced by Azospirillum brasilense

Inoculation of wheat seedlings with the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Cd was immobilized in alginate microbeads and, without applying any stress, significantly increased the quantity of several photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and the auxiliary photoprotective pigments violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheroxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin, and β-carotene. This resulted in greener plants with no apparent visible stress. After monitoring the quantity of photosynthetic pigments for 4 weeks, we observed that inoculated plants had higher quantities of pigments in shoot and stem. The greatest difference in the quantity of all pigments between inoculated and noninoculated plants occurred in the first week of growth. Regardless of treatment, the quantity of pigments in stems was three to four times less than the quantity of these pigments in shoots. Application of Azospirillum, either as liquid inoculant or as alginate microbeads, did not alter the positive effect of the bacteria on pigment production or the positive response of the plants towards A. brasilense Cd inoculation.     

In-situ enrichment and analysis of atrazine-degrading microbial communities using atrazine-containing porous beads

We examined the community composition of microbes that colonized atrazine-containing beads buried in agricultural soils that differed in atrazine treatment history. Bacterial abundance was 5-40-fold greater in atrazine-fortified beads. In beads containing 20 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ buried in soil with a history of atrazine application (conditioned soil), the abundance of Actinobacteria increased approximately 80-fold whereas in control soil, Actinobacteria were enriched only 10-fold and the gamma-Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes increased by 60- and 25-fold, respectively. The gamma-Proteobacteria were enriched by 120- and 230-fold in beads containing 200 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ in conditioned and control soil, respectively. The results demonstrate that BioSep^® beads are a suitable matrix for recruiting a diverse subset of the bacterial community involved in atrazine degradation.