Effects of liming and tillage systems on microbial biomass and glycosidases in soils

This study was undertaken to investigate the long-term influence of lime application and tillage systems (no-till, ridge-till and chisel plow) on soil microbial biomass C (C_mic) and N (N_mic) and the activities of glycosidases (- and -glucosidases, - and -galactosidases and -glucosaminidase) at their optimal pH values in soils at four agroecosystem sites [Southeast Research Center (SERC), Southwest Research Center (SWRC), Northwest Research Center (NWRC), and Northeast Research Center (NERC)] in Iowa, USA. Results showed that, in general, the C_mic and N_mic values were significantly (P <0.001) and positively correlated with soil pH. Each lime application and tillage system significantly (P <0.001) affected activities of the glycosidases. With the exception of -glucosidase activity, there was no lime×tillage interaction effect. Simple correlation coefficients between the enzyme activities and soil pH values ranged from 0.51 (P <0.05) for the activity of -glucosidase at the NWRC site (surface of the no-till) to 0.98 (P <0.001) at the SWRC site. To assess the sensitivity of the enzymes to changes in soil pH, the linear regression lines were expressed in activity/pH values. In general, their order of sensitivity to changes in soil pH was consistent across the study sites as follow: -glucosidase>-glucosaminidase>-galactosidase>-galactosidase>-glucosidase. Lime application did not significantly affect the specific activities (g p -nitrophenol released kg^–1 soil organic C h^–1) of the enzymes. Among the glycosidases studied, -glucosidase and -glucosaminidase were the most sensitive to soil management practices. Therefore, the activities of these enzymes may provide reliable long-term monitoring tools as early indicators of changes in soil properties induced by liming and tillage systems.     

Effect of different application rates of organic fertilizer on soil enzyme activity and microbial population

Abstract

After cultivating 24 crops of vegetables for three consecutive years in a greenhouse, the effects of different application rates of compost (Rate 1, 270 kg N ha^?1 y^?1; Rate 2, 540 kg N ha^?1 y^?1; Rate 3, 810 kg N ha^?1 y^?1; Rate 4, 1,080 kg N ha^?1 y^?1) were compared with the effects of chemical fertilizer (CF) and no application of fertilizer treatments (CK) for some selected soil chemical properties, microbial populations and soil enzyme activities (dehydrogenase, cellulase, β-glucosidase, protease, urease, arysulphatase, and acid and alkaline phosphatases). The results show that the pH, electrical conductivity, concentrations of total nitrogen (N) and the organic matter received from compost treatment were generally higher than those received through CF treatment. The soil microbial biomass, populations of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes, as well as soil enzyme activities increased significantly in the compost-treated soils compared with the CF-treated soil. In most instances, no significant increase was observed in the enzymatic activities studied for compost applications higher than a Rate 2 treatment. However, all enzymatic activities examined showed significant linear correlations with the organic matter contents of the soils. The vegetable yield reached its highest level at the Rate 2 treatment and declined or leveled off in the higher treatments, implying that a high application rate of compost cannot further increase the crop yield after the soil fertility has been established. High organic matter content in the soil was found to alleviate the adverse effect of soluble salts on vegetable growth. In conclusion, an application rate of compost at Rate 2, 540 kg N ha^?1 y^?1, is adequate on the basis of vegetable yields and soil chemical, biochemical and enzymatic properties in greenhouse cultivation under subtropical climatic conditions.     

玉米地土壤微生物量碳、氮及微生物熵对不同物料还田的响应

在四川丘陵区紫色土上进行田间试验,以无物料还田为对照,对比分析了蚕豆秸秆、油菜秸秆、猪粪3种物料还田对夏玉米吐丝期和收获期0—20,20—40cm土层土壤有机碳、全氮、微生物量碳氮含量及微生物熵的影响,以期为农业废弃有机物料的综合利用及四川丘陵区土壤质量的提升提供理论参考。结果表明:(1)尽管有机物料还田于0—20cm土层中,0—20,20—40cm土层土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、微生物量碳(SMBC)、微生物量氮(SMBN)含量均受到有机物料的深刻影响。各处理0—20cm土层SOC、TN、SMBC、SMBN含量均显著高于20—40cm土层,且上下2层土壤SOC、TN、SMBC和SMBN含量在生育时期间均表现为吐丝期>收获期。(2)在2个生育时期,3种物料还田均能提高0—20,20—40cm土层SOC、TN、SMBC、SMBN含量。与对照相比,物料还田处理的SOC、TN、SMBC、SMBN含量分别提高2.6%~141.2%,1.9%~33.0%,5.1%~114.7%,41.5%~98.7%,其中收获期各处理0—20,20—40cm土层SOC、SMBC、SMBN均表现为油菜秸秆>蚕豆秸秆>猪粪>对照,TN表现为蚕豆秸秆>猪粪>油菜秸秆>对照。(3)各处理SMBC/SMBN、qMB、SMBN/TN分别为3.74~10.53,0.86%~2.19%,1.01%~3.41%,且物料还田降低SMBC/SMBN,提高土壤qMB和SMBN/TN值。相关分析表明,SMBC、SMBN与SOC、TN之间均存在极显著正相关关系。因此,农业生产中可通过物料还田提供给微生物足够的碳氮营养,提高土壤SMBC、SMBN、SOC、TN含量和qMB值,维持较高的农田生产力,提升土壤质量,但具体施用物料时还需寻求土壤肥力提升、玉米产量增加以及环境效益之间的平衡。     

Short-term effects of tillage systems on active soil microbial biomass

 Conservation tillage, and especially no-tillage, induce changes in the distribution of organic pools in the soil profile. In long-term field experiments, marked stratification of the total soil microbial biomass and its activity have been observed as consequence of the application of no-tillage to previously tilled soils. Our objective was to study the evolution of the total and active soil microbial biomass and mineralized C in vitro during the first crop after the introduction of no-tillage to an agricultural soil. The experiment was performed on a Typic Hapludoll from the Argentinean Pampa. Remaining plant residues, total and active microbial biomass and mineralized C were determined at 0–5 cm and 5–15 cm depths, at three sampling times: wheat tilling, silking and maturity. The introduction of no-tillage produced an accumulation of plant residues in the soil surface layer (0–5 cm), showing stratification with depth at all sampling dates. Active microbial biomass and C mineralization were higher under no-tillage than under conventional tillage in the top 5 cm of the profile. The total soil microbial biomass did not differ between treatments. The active soil biomass was highly and positive correlated with plant residues (r ²=0.617;P<0.01) and with mineralized C (r ²=0.732;P<0.01). Consequently, the active microbial biomass and mineralized C reflected immediately the changes in residue management, whereas the total microbial biomass seemed not to be an early indicator of the introduction of a new form of soil management in our experiment. Received: 23 February 1999     

Land use changes the soil carbon stocks,microbial biomass and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) in Brazilian semiarid area

Land use affect soil C and microbial structure, especially in tropical dry areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the land use on physical, chemical, and microbiological attributes of soils from Brazilian semiarid. We analyzed soil physical, chemical, total carbon stocks (TCS), water-soluble carbon (WSC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial structure of soil from forest, no irrigation maize, succession areas (Anadenanthera falcate and Tabebuia alba) and secondary shrubby vegetation. The use of soil influences C stock. The forest soil showed higher TCS and MBC. The conversion in T. alba reduced in 9% soil total bacteria. The multivariate analysis showed that TCS, MBC and FAMEs contributed to separation of natural forest and other areas in the superficial layer. This study indicates that the conversion of forest into successional areas can decrease by up to 44% TCS and 68% MBC. The present study provided alarming data concerning the impact of land use on quality of soil in a tropical dry region in Northeastern Brazil. Our results provide an alternative tool for the management of deforested dry areas that could serve as guideline for management plan to sustainability for agricultural impacted dry areas.     

不同栽培方式对温室连作黄瓜土壤微生物量碳氮和作物产量的影响

以连作8年温室连作黄瓜土壤为材料,试验设5个不同轮作方式处理, 1）早春茬黄瓜夏茬休闲秋冬茬黄瓜（CK）; 2）早春茬黄瓜夏茬休闲秋冬茬黄瓜间作大蒜（CS1）; 3）早春茬黄瓜夏茬茼蒿秋冬茬黄瓜（CS2）; 4）早春茬番茄夏茬菠菜秋冬茬黄瓜（CS3）; 5）早春茬黄瓜夏茬大蒜秋冬茬黄瓜(CS4),进行了5年的盆栽试验,采用后3年的数据,评价不同栽培方式对土壤微生物量碳氮和主栽作物产量的连年影响,探讨栽培方式对连作黄瓜土壤的修复效果。研究结果表明,相对CK,CS3在第三和四年早春茬显著增加微生物量碳、 氮以及碳/氮,CS2和CS3在三至五年夏茬显著增加微生物量碳和碳/氮, CS2显著增加三至五年早春茬、 早春茬+秋冬茬产量,CS4显著增加第3和4年早春茬、 早春茬+秋冬茬产量和第三至五年秋冬茬产量; 微生物量碳和碳/氮与秋冬茬产量呈显著正相关,与早春茬+秋冬茬产量呈极显著正相关; 处理与季节均对微生物量碳和碳/氮产生极显著影响,且两者有极显著交互作用; 季节、 处理季节对微生物量氮有显著影响,处理、 季节、 处理季节对作物产量有极显著影响。总之,CS2提高微生物量碳、 碳/氮、 作物产量效果最佳。     

保护性耕作对麦-豆轮作土壤有机碳全氮及微生物量碳氮的影响

通过设置在甘肃省定西市李家堡镇的保护性耕作措施长期定位试验,共设4个处理（T：传统耕作;NT：免耕无覆盖;TS：传统耕作＋秸秆还田;NTS：免耕＋秸秆覆盖）,采用春小麦豌豆双序列轮作（即小麦→豌豆→小麦和豌豆→小麦→豌豆,本文中所指春小麦地、豌豆地分别指2008年种植春小麦、豌豆的轮作次序）,于2008年3月中旬对春小麦、豌豆双序列轮作下的土壤有机碳、全氮、土壤微生物量碳及土壤微生物量氮含量进行了采样测定。结果表明,经过7a的轮作后,两种轮作次序下,0-30cm土层中土壤有机碳、全氮、土壤微生物量碳、土壤微生物量氮含量均有在免耕＋秸秆覆盖、传统耕作＋秸秆还田处理较免耕不覆盖、传统耕作处理高的趋势,且其含量均随着土壤深度的增加而降低。其中,土壤微生物量碳含量在两种轮作次序下的排序均为：免耕＋秸秆覆盖（NTS）〉传统耕作＋秸秆还田（TS）〉免耕不覆盖（NT）〉传统耕作（T）;而土壤微生物量氮含量在春小麦地和豌豆地的排序则分别表现为：免耕＋秸秆覆盖（NTS）〉传统耕作＋秸秆还田（TS）〉传统耕作（T）〉免耕不覆盖（NT）和免耕＋秸秆覆盖（NTS）〉传统耕作＋秸秆还田（TS）〉免耕不覆盖（NT）〉传统耕作（T）。同时,微生物量碳、微生物量氮与有机碳和全氮均呈显著正相关,说明提高土壤有机质、全氮含量的保护性耕作模式有利于土壤微生物量碳与氮的积累。     

追施不同量尿素下麦后复种油菜对耕层土壤有机碳及微生物量碳氮的影响

[目的]研究不同追施尿素量对麦后复种油菜生物产量和耕层土壤有机碳、土壤微生物量碳氮及碳库管理指数的影响,为麦后复种油菜尿素施用量提供依据。[方法]在古浪县进行小区试验,设置5个试验水平:追施尿素0,90,120,150,180kg/hm2。[结果]追肥可提高麦后复种油菜的生物产量;土壤有机碳、微生物量碳、微生物氮以及碳库管理指数均随追肥量的增加呈抛物线型变化的趋势;碳库指数和碳库管理指数的变化趋势同有机碳的变化趋势;有机碳、微生物量碳与碳库管理指数显著相关,有机碳与碳库管理指数极显著相关,微生物量碳与有机碳含量虽呈现正相关关系,但未达到显著相关性。[结论]综合油菜生物产量和土壤微生物量等指标,古浪县麦后复种油菜的施肥量以追施尿素120~150kg/hm2为宜。     

相比其他传统作物作为生物能源作物柳枝稷种植土壤上的有机碳库研究

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been proposed as a sustainable bioenergy crop because of its high yield potential, adaptation to marginal sites, and tolerance to water and nutrient limitations. A better understanding of the potential effects of biomass energy crop production practices on soil biological properties and organic matter dynamics is critical to its production. Our objective was to evaluate changes in C pools under a warm-season perennial switchgrass in different soils compared to typically-grown crops collected at College Station, Dallas, and Stephenville, TX in February 2001. Sampling depths were 0-5, 5-15, and 15-30 cm. Switchgrass increased soil organic C (SOC), soil microbial biomass C (SMBC), mineralizable C, and particulate organic matter C (POM-C) compared to conventional cropping systems. Soil C concentrations were in the order: long-term coastal bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.]> switchgrass or kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.) planted in 1992> switchgrass 1997> conventional cropping systems. Soil C concentrations tended to increase with increasing clay content. Greater microbial biomass C followed the order of Dallas> College Station> Stephenville, and ranged from approximately 180 mg C kg-1 soil at Stephenville to 1 900 mg C kg-1 soil at Dallas. Particulate organic C was more sensitive than other fractions to management, increasing as much as 6-fold under long-term coastal bermudagrass compared to conventional cropping systems. Our study indicated that conversion of conventional cropping systems into switchgrass production can sequestrate more SOC and improve soil biological properties in the southern USA.     

改良剂对旱地红壤微生物量碳、氮及可溶性有机碳、氮的影响

基于室内模拟培养试验,研究改良剂(生物质炭、过氧化钙)对旱地红壤微生物量碳、氮及可溶性有机碳、氮的影响。试验设置4个处理,即CK、Ca(过氧化钙,1.72g/kg)、C(生物质炭,21.46g/kg)、C+Ca。结果表明:各处理土壤微生物量碳、氮以及可溶性有机碳具有相同的变化趋势,即前期(3d内)都增加较快,在第3天达到最大值,随试验进行有所下降,配施效果优于单施。各处理可溶性有机氮在21d内缓慢增加;第21天时,C+Ca、Ca、C相比CK分别显著增加了62.1%,55.5%,40.9%;35d以后,配施(C+Ca)与单施过氧化钙(Ca)的效果显著优于单施生物质炭(C)和对照(CK)。120d培养期内,配施(C+Ca)处理能够明显提高微生物量碳、氮以及可溶性有机碳、氮的平均含量;微生物量碳的平均含量大小顺序为C+CaCCKCa,微生物量氮的平均含量C+Ca处理显著高于其他处理;可溶性有机碳的平均含量大小顺序为C+CaCaCCK,可溶性有机氮的平均含量C+Ca、Ca处理显著高于CK、C处理。微生物量碳、氮以及可溶性有机碳之间互为极显著正相关(P0.01),而微生物量碳与可溶性有机氮之间呈极显著负相关。因此,生物质炭和过氧化钙能有效提高旱地红壤微生物量碳、氮及可溶性有机碳、氮,且生物质炭与过氧化钙配合施用更有助于土壤改良。     

Effect of different types of organic fertilizers on the chemical properties and enzymatic activities of an Oxisol under intensive cultivation of vegetables for 4 years

The effects of different types of organic fertilizers on the chemical and enzymatic properties of an Oxisol were studied after being fertilized for four consecutive years (26 crops) in a greenhouse under intensive cultivation of vegetables. Seven treatments, consisting of five types of organic fertilizer treatments, one "sequential application" (SA) treatment, and a chemical fertilizer treated plot were compared. The organic fertilizers used were dairy cattle dung compost (DCDC), hog dung compost (HDC), chicken dung compost (CDC), pea residue compost (PRC) and soybean meal (SBM). After 4 years of cultivation, the soils were analyzed for their chemical properties and enzymatic activities. The microbial carbon (C) and nitrogen (N), basal respiration and nitrification rate were also measured. The results showed that the SBM significantly lowered the soil pH, and that the HDC and DCDC raised the soil pH. The SBM and CDC resulted in the lowest soil electrical conductivity. The SBM had no significant effect on soil organic C and total N contents when compared with the CF plot. However, the DCDC resulted in the highest contents of soil organic C and total N. The organic fertilizers applied did not significantly affect the soil available copper, zinc, cadmium, lead and nickel. The effects of the different organic fertilizers on soil enzymatic activities depended on the types of organic fertilizers applied. The SBM and CDC often resulted in a lower microbial C (or N) and respiration rate, while in contrast DCDC and PRC resulted in high measurements. Most of the measured soil enzymatic activities in the SBM treatment, except for acid phosphatase, were the lowest. Differing contents of different heavy metals in the organic fertilizers resulted in different Mehlich III extractable heavy metal contents in the soils. From the point of view of the soil chemical and enzymatic properties, SBM is not an appropriate organic fertilizer for continuous application to an Oxisol.     

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.     

毛竹林土壤有机碳及微生物量碳特征研究

通过对湖南会同林区集约经营毛竹林地土壤有机碳和微生物量碳进行测定,结果表明,毛竹林地土壤(0-60 cm)有机碳和微生物量碳含量平均值分别为1.727%和551.84 mg/kg,不同土壤层次有机碳和微生物量碳含量差异极显著,其中,0-20 cm土层有机碳含量平均值为2.607%,分别是20-40 cm和40-60 cm土层有机碳含量的1.67倍和2.57倍;0-20 cm土层的微生物量碳占土壤总微生物量碳的58.9%,分别是20-40 cm和40-60 cm土层的2.69倍和3.08倍。不同季节间土壤微生物量碳有明显变化规律,即土壤微生物量碳含量1-7月份呈上升的趋势,7月达到最大值,8-12月份呈逐渐下降趋势;不同季节间有机碳含量差异不显著。毛竹林地土壤表层土壤微生物量熵为1.118 6%,与40-60 cm土壤层相当,略高于20-40 cm土壤层,说明毛竹林不同土壤层次有机碳积累强度相当。     

Microbial Biomass in Relation to Soil Properties under Integrated Farming Systems of Meghalaya,India

The effects of different integrated farming systems on microbial biomass was studied 20 years after their adoption at Meghalaya, India. The soil fertility was relatively greater in agricultural and agri‐horti‐silvi‐pastoral systems as a result of accumulation of leaf litter/crop residues and addition of inorganic and organic manures. Microbial biomass carbon was greatest in agricultural (378 mg kg^?1) followed by the agri‐horti‐silvi‐pastoral systems (291 mg kg^?1). The most microbial biomass nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) (32.4 and 17.07 mg kg^?1, respectively) were recorded in agricultural followed by agri‐horti‐silvi‐pastoral systems. Microbial biomass carbon (C) had a significant relationship with organic C, microbial biomass N, and biomass P, indicating that the living part of soil organic matter is involved in the transformation of nutrients into the labile pool and governs their availability to the plants. Application of inorganic fertilizers and organics along with lime has contributed more microbial biomass that led to more biological activity attributed in nutrient transformations and also maintained the soil fertility.