Mineralization and changes in microbial biomass in water-saturated soil amended with some tropical plant residues

An incubation experiment was conducted in the laboratory at 25 and 35°C during 56 d to analyze the mineralization patterns and the changes in microbial biomass in water-saturated soils amended with 6 types of organic materials (O.M.) including residues from 4 tropical plants. C and N mineralization in amended and non-amended soils was influenced by the temperature, A significantly positive correlation was observed between C mineralization and the amount of hexoses of the amended O.M. regardless of the period of incubation. A negative relationship between the N mineralized from amended O.M. and C/N ratios and the amounts of cellulose plus hemicellulose of the added O.M. was observed during the period of maximum mineralization on the 49th day at 25°C. The critical C/N ratio value for N mineralization and immobilization was observed in dhaincha (15.7) and cowpea (22.0).

The pattern of changes in microbial biomass C and N was almost similar at both 25 and 35°C. The amount of biomass C and N gradually increased up to a period of 28 to 42 d and thereafter decreased gradually. A significant increase in the amount of biomass C and N was observed in O.M. amended soils over the control. The contribution of rice straw and cowpea to biomass C formation was significantly larger than that of other O.M. at the end of incubation (56 d). In the case of biomass N, the contribution of rice straw was significantly larger than that of other O.M. except for azolla at 25°C and cowpea at 35°C. The significant contribution of rice straw and cowpea to biomass formation suggests that microbial biomass remaining in soil on the 56th day had been influenced by the combination of a larger amount of cellulose plus hemicellulose and higher C/N ratio in plant residues.     

Organic fertilizers derived from plant materials Part I: Turnover in soil at low and moderate temperatures

The aim was to investigate different organic fertilizers derived from plant materials with respect to their nitrogen and carbon turnover in soil in comparison with organic fertilizers derived from animal‐waste products. In a 64‐day incubation study at 5°C and 15°C, the following fertilizers were used: coarse faba bean–seed meal (Vicia faba L.), coarse meals of yellow and white lupin seeds (Lupinus albus L. and Lupinus luteus L.), Phytoperls^® (waste products of maize [Zea mays L.] processing), coarse meal of castor cake (Ricinus communis L.) as a widely used organic fertilizer, and horn meal as a reference fertilizer‐derived from animal waste products. At 15°C, horn meal showed the highest apparent net N mineralization of fertilizer‐derived N, followed by castor cake and the two lupin meals. At 5°C, apparent net N mineralization of fertilizer‐derived N from horn meal and coarse meal of yellow lupin seeds was nearly identical, followed by castor‐cake meal. Net N mineralization from legume‐seed meals showed no or even a negative temperature response, at least temporarily. In contrast, the other fertilizers showed a positive temperature response of net N mineralization. The content in recalcitrant structural components and the decoupling of decomposition of N‐rich and C‐rich tissue components in time are discussed as controlling factors of fertilizer‐N turnover at low temperature. Microbial residues seem to be an important temporary sink of fertilizer‐derived C and N. Legume‐seed meals induced considerable N‐priming effects. Temperature induced differences in the decomposition of total fertilizer C, indicated by changes in the sum of cumulative CO₂‐C evolution, total K₂SO₄‐soluble organic C and microbial‐biomass C were much smaller than indicated by cumulative CO₂‐C evolution alone. Our results indicate that legume‐seed meals have the potential to replace horn meal and castor‐cake meal in organic vegetable production, especially when soil temperatures in early spring are still low.     

Nitrogen turnover of legume seed meals as affected by seed meal texture and quality at different temperatures

The aim was to investigate how legume seed meal texture and corresponding quality affects N turnover at different temperatures. Therefore, the effect of size fractionation ‘fine’ and ‘coarse’ of seed meals of yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.), blue lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.) on net N mineralization and turnover was investigated in an incubation experiment at 5°C, 12°C and 20°C. The differences in N release from the two particle size fractions could not be detected at 12 and 20°C incubation temperature. Moreover, net N mineralization at 5°C was higher during incubation of the coarse particle size fractions than during incubation of the fine fraction. In contrast to the common understanding of temperature dependence of microbial processes, the overall influence of incubation temperature on net N mineralization was less expressed. The formation of microbial biomass was highest at 5°C. The subsequent decrease of soil microbial biomass was only partly reflected by net N mineralization suggesting the formation of microbial residues as a preliminary N sink. The control of the N release from legume seed meals seems to be dominated by the N-immobilizing effects of polyphenols at lower temperatures and of C-rich polymers (hemicelluloses) at higher temperatures.     

Effects of Temperature,Moisture, and Chemical Composition of Organic Substrates on C Mineralization in Soils

Laboratory experiments were conducted to (i) study the influence of chemical composition of organic substrates (green manure, rice straw, wheat straw, and farmyard manure) and temperature on carbon (C) mineralization under flooded and nonflooded moisture conditions, (ii) study the relationship between C mineralization and chemical composition of organic materials, and (iii) model C mineralization kinetics under different temperature and moisture conditions. The proportion of added C mineralized under nonflooded conditions ranged between 45 and 66% at 35 °C compared to 18 to 42% at 15 °C. Flooding the soil reduced the proportion of added C mineralized, which ranged between 25 to 47% at 35 °C and 6 to 20% at 15 °C. Water-soluble components, cellulose, lignin, and nitrogen content of the organic source significantly influenced C mineralization. Temperature sensitivity of decomposition depended on the quality of the organic substrate with relatively less decomposable farmyard manure (FYM) being more sensitive (Q₁₀ ?3.0) than the easily decomposable green manure (Q₁₀ ?2.5). A first-order monocomponent model that is based on relative rate of mineralization and includes a parameter for speed of aging best described C mineralization under both the temperature and moisture conditions. It was concluded that FYM with preponderance of recalcitrant components and low decomposability provides greater C sequestration potential than green manure and crop residues.     

Microbial biomass and activity indices after organic substrate addition to a selenium-contaminated soil

High concentrations of Se in soil might have negative effects on microorganisms. For this reason, the effect of organic substrate addition (glucose + maize straw) on Se volatilisation in relation to changes in microbial biomass and activity indices was investigated using an artificially Se-contaminated soil. Microbial biomass N was reduced on average by more than 50% after substrate addition, but adenylate energy charge (AEC) and metabolic quotient qCO₂ were both increased. The Se content decreased by nearly 30% only with the addition of the organic substrate at 25°C. No significant Se loss occurred without substrate at 25°C or with substrate at 5°C. In the two treatments with substrate addition, the substrate-derived CO₂ evolution was about 30% lower with Se addition than without. In contrast, Se had no effect on any of the other soil microbial indices analysed, i.e. microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), AEC, ATP-to-microbial biomass C, and qCO₂.     

有机、无机肥料施用后土壤生物量C、N、P的变化及N素转化

研究结果表明,有机、无机肥施用后,土壤微生物量C、N、P开始增加很快,随着时间的推移,土壤微生物量C又有所降低,但生物量N和P则基本保持稳定。硫铵施入土壤后,微生物对肥料¹⁵N的生物固持10天后达到最高峰,以后被固持在体内的¹⁵N有一部分被逐渐释放出来,但一个月后仍有17%左右的¹⁵N被固持在微生物体内。硫铵与有机肥配合施用时,微生物对硫铵¹⁵N固持比例有所增加。有机肥中的¹⁵N被微生物固持的比例也较大,在肥料施入20天左右达到最大值,一个月后仍有19-25%存在于微生物体内。硫铵施用一个月后¹⁵N损失高达18%,有机肥中的N也有少量被损失。     

Substrate type,temperature, and moisture content affect gross and net N mineralization and nitrification rates in agroforestry systems

Accurate prediction of soil N availability requires a sound understanding of the effects of environmental conditions and management practices on the microbial activities involved in N mineralization. We determined the effects of soil temperature and moisture content and substrate type and quality (resulting from long-term pasture management) on soluble organic C content, microbial biomass C and N contents, and the gross and net rates of soil N mineralization and nitrification. Soil samples were collected at 0–10 cm from two radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) silvopastoral treatments (with an understorey pasture of lucerne, Medicago sativa L., or ryegrass, Lolium perenne L.) and bare ground (control) in an agroforestry field experiment and were incubated under three moisture contents (100, 75, 50% field capacity) and three temperatures (5, 25, 40 °C) in the laboratory. The amount of soluble organic C released at 40 °C was 2.6- and 2.7-fold higher than the amounts released at 25 °C and 5 °C, respectively, indicating an enhanced substrate decomposition rate at elevated temperature. Microbial biomass C:N ratios varied from 4.6 to 13.0 and generally increased with decreasing water content. Gross N mineralization rates were significantly higher at 40 °C (12.9 g) than at 25 °C (3.9 g) and 5 °C (1.5 g g^–1 soil day^–1); and net N mineralization rates were also higher at 40 °C than at 25 °C and 5 °C. The former was 7.5-, 34-, and 29-fold higher than the latter at the corresponding temperature treatments. Gross nitrification rates among the temperature treatments were in the order 25 °C >40 °C >5 °C, whilst net nitrification rates were little affected by temperature. Temperature and substrate type appeared to be the most critical factors affecting the gross rates of N mineralization and nitrification, soluble organic C, and microbial biomass C and N contents. Soils from the lucerne and ryegrass plots mostly had significantly higher gross and net mineralization and nitrification rates, soluble organic C, and microbial biomass C and N contents than those from the bare ground, because of the higher soil C and N status in the pasture soils. Strong positive correlations were obtained between gross and net rates of N mineralization, between soluble organic C content and the net and gross N mineralization rates, and between microbial biomass N and C contents.     

Nitrogen Mineralization Potential as Influenced by Microbial Biomass,Cotton Residues and Temperature

Integrating information on nitrogen (N) mineralization potentials into a fertilization plan could lead to improved N use efficiency. A controlled incubation mineralization study examined microbial biomass dynamics and N mineralization rates for two soils receiving 56 and 168 kg N ha^?1 in a Panoche clay loam (Typic Haplocambid) and a Wasco sandy loam (Typic Torriorthent), incubated with and without cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) residues at 10 and 25°C for 203 days. Microbial biomass activity determined from mineralized carbon dioxide (CO₂) was higher in the sandy loam than in clay loam independent of incubation temperature, cotton residue addition and N treatment. In the absence of added cotton residue, N mineralization rates were higher in the sandy loam. Residue additions increased N immobilization in both soils, but were greater in clay loam. Microbial biomass and mineralization were significantly affected by soil type, residue addition and temperature but not by N level.     

Carbon mineralization is promoted by phosphorus and reduced by nitrogen addition in the organic horizon of northern hardwood forests

Limitations to the respiratory activity of heterotrophic soil microorganisms exert important controls of CO₂ efflux from soils. In the northeastern US, ecosystem nutrient status varies across the landscape and changes with forest succession following disturbance, likely impacting soil microbial processes regulating the transformation and emission of carbon (C). We tested whether nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) limit the mineralization of soil organic C (SOC) or that of added C sources in the Oe horizon of successional and mature northern hardwood forests in three locations in central New Hampshire, USA. Added N reduced mineralization of C from SOC and from added leaf litter and cellulose. Added P did not affect mineralization from SOC; however, it did enhance mineralization of litter- and cellulose- C in organic horizons from all forest locations. Added N increased microbial biomass N and K₂SO₄-extractable DON pools, but added P had no effect. Microbial biomass C increased with litter addition but did not respond to either nutrient. The direction of responses to added nutrients was consistent among sites and between forest ages. We conclude that in these organic horizons limitation by N promotes mineralization of C from SOC, whereas limitation by P constrains mineralization of C from new organic inputs. We also suggest that N suppresses respiration in these organic horizons either by relieving the N limitation of microbial biomass synthesis, or by slowing turnover of C through the microbial pool; concurrent measures of microbial growth and turnover are needed to resolve this question.     

Influence of organic by-products and nitrogen source on chemical and microbiological status of an agricultural soil

We assessed the influence of the addition of four municipal or agricultural by-products (cotton gin waste, ground newsprint, woodchips, or yard trimmings), combined with two sources of nitrogen (N), [ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) or poultry litter] as carbon (C) sources on active bacterial, active fungal and total microbial biomass, cellulose decomposition, potential net mineralization of soil C and N and soil nutrient status in agricultural soils. Cotton gin waste as a C source promoted the highest potential net N mineralization and N turnover. Municipal or agricultural by-products as C sources had no affect on active bacterial, active fungal or total microbial biomass, C turnover, or the ratio of net C:N mineralized. Organic by-products and N additions to soil did not consistently affect C turnover rates, active bacterial, active fungal or total microbial biomass. After 3, 6 or 9 weeks of laboratory incubation, soil amended with organic by-products plus poultry litter resulted in higher cellulose degradation rates than soil amended with organic by-products plus NH₄NO₃. Cellulose degradation was highest when soil was amended with newsprint plus poultry litter. When soil was amended with organic by-products plus NH₄NO₃, cellulose degradation did not differ from soil amended with only poultry litter or unamended soil. Soil amended with organic by-products had higher concentrations of soil C than soil amended with only poultry litter or unamended soil. Soil amended with organic by-products plus N as poultry litter generally, but not always, had higher extractable P, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations than soil amended with poultry litter or unamende soil. Agricultural soil amended with organic by-products and N had higher extractable N, P, K, Ca and Mg than unamended soil. Since cotton gin waste plus poultry litter resulted in higher cellulose degradation and net N mineralization, its use may result in faster increase in soil nutrient status than the other organic by-products and N sources that were tested. Received: 15 May 1996     

A field study of gross rates of N mineralization and nitrification and their relationships to microbial biomass and enzyme activities in soils treated with dairy effluent and ammonium fertilizer

Abstract. Gross N mineralization and nitrification rates were measured in soils treated with dairy shed effluent (DSE) (i.e. effluent from the dairy milking shed, comprising dung, urine and water) or ammonium fertilizer (NH₄Cl) under field conditions, by injecting ¹⁵N-solution into intact soil cores. The relationships between gross mineralization rate, microbial biomass C and N and extracellular enzyme activities (protease, deaminase and urease) as affected by the application of DSE and NH₄Cl were also determined. During the first 16 days, gross mineralization rate in the DSE treated soil (4.3–6.1 μg N g^?1 soil day^?1) were significantly (P 14;< 14;0.05) higher than those in the NH₄Cl treated soil (2.6–3.4 μg N g^?1 soil day^?1). The higher mineralization rate was probably due to the presence of readily mineralizable organic substrates in the DSE, accompanied by stimulated microbial and extracellular enzyme activities. The stable organic N compounds in the DSE were slow to mineralize and contributed little to the mineral N pool during the period of the experiment. Nitrification rates during the first 16 days were higher in the NH₄Cl treated soil (1.7–1.2 μg N g^?1 soil day^?1) compared to the DSE treated soil (0.97–1.5 μg N g^?1 soil day^?1). Soil microbial biomass C and N and extracellular enzyme activities (protease, deaminase and urease) increased after the application of the DSE due to the organic substrates and nutrients applied, but declined with time, probably because of the exhaustion of the readily available substrates. The NH₄Cl application did not result in any significant increases in microbial biomass C, protease or urease activities due to the lack of carbonaceous materials in the ammonium fertilizer. However, it did increase microbial biomass N and deaminase activity. Significant positive correlations were found between gross N mineralization rate and soil microbial biomass, protease, deaminase and urease activities. Nitrification rate was significantly correlated to biomass N but not to the microbial biomass C or the enzyme activities. Stepwise regression analysis showed that the variations of gross N mineralization rate was best described by the microbial biomass C and N.     

Mineralisation dans le sol de materiaux microbiens marques au carbone 14 et a l'azote 15: Quantification de l'azote de la biomasse microbienne

The mineralization of microbial material of different C-to-N ratios (5.2, 7.9, 10.2, 12.7) was followed in fumigated soil. The microbial materials used were from Aspergillus flavus cultures, grown in liquid media and labelled with [¹⁴C]glucose and (¹⁵NN4)3804. Three contrasting soils were used and the microbial materials incubated with the fumigated soils for 28 days at 28°C.The evolution of the added organic microbial C was fast: 80% of the [¹⁴C]CO₂ produced during the whole 28 days incubation was evolved in the first week. Microbial C mineralization was mainly related to soil type; the C-to-N ratio had small effect on the ratio (mineralized microbial carbon-to-added microbial carbon). Calculation of the K_c- coefficient (the fraction of the added microbial C mineralized in 7 days) shows that K_c values lie between 0.38 and 0.43 in the 3 soils.Organic N in the added microbial material also breaks down quickly: between 60 and 100% of the organic nitrogen mineralized was evolved during the first week of incubation. Mineralization kinetics are related to soil type and to the C-to-N ratio of the microbial material.The proportion of N mineralized in 7 days was lower in an acid soil than in near neutral soils and lower with high C-to-N ratio material than with low C-to-N ratio material. The ratio (mineralized microbial N-to-added microbial N) depends on soil type and is negatively correlated with the C-to-N ratio of the microbial material. The K_N value (the fraction of the added microbial N mineralized in 7 days) lies between 0.22 and 0.47 for the three soils and four materials investigated. The added microbial material induced a priming effect on soil native N: materials with C-to-N ratios of 10.2 and 12.7 produced negative priming effects whereas materials with C-to-N ratios of 5.2 and 7.9 sometimes produced a positive priming action.From the relationship between the C-to-N ratio of the added material and the (mineralized microbial C-to-mineralized microbial N) ratio, the soil native microbial biomass was estimated using the fiush-C-to-flush-N ratio. Biomass nitrogen was then calculated from the formula biomass-N = biomassC/(biomass C-to-N ratio). Calculated in this way, 2–4% of the total nitrogen in the three soils was in microbial biomass.     

Carbon dioxide production and oxygen consumption during the early decomposition of different litter types over a range of temperatures in soil‐inoculated quartz sand

Oat straw, hay, and alfalfa litter, differing in microbial colonization and recalcitrance, were added to organic matter–free quartz sand (5 mg C [g material]^–1) and incubated in the laboratory at 5°C, 10°C, 15°C, 20°C, and 25°C. Different incubation periods were chosen so that theoretically the same amounts of CO₂ would be produced and the same amounts of O₂ would be consumed for each litter type. It was investigated whether Q₁₀ values (change in respiration rate between two temperatures) increase with decreasing temperature and how much these Q₁₀ values and also the respiratory quotient (RQ: mol CO₂/mol O₂) depend on the litter type. The sums of CO₂‐C evolved and O₂ consumed, but also the contents of microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N showed a nearly 7‐fold increase in the order oat straw < hay < alfalfa litter. In contrast, the ratio of the fungal cell‐membrane component ergosterol to microbial biomass C was highest in the oat straw (4.1‰) and lowest in the alfalfa litter (0.2‰). This ratio reached a similar level between 5°C and 15°C (1.9‰), significantly higher (p = 0.01) than the level at 20°C (0.9‰). Respiration was similar between 20°C and 25°C, with a mean Q₁₀ value of 1.9. The use of temperature rate‐modifying factors suggested by the carbon‐turnover model ROTHC revealed that the incubation period for similar respiration rates was underestimated at 5°C and overestimated at 25°C. The lignin‐poor and protein‐rich alfalfa litter showed the highest Q₁₀ values of the three litter types in the medium temperature range of 10°C to 20°C. In contrast, the lignin‐rich and protein‐poor oat straw showed significantly highest Q₁₀ values at 5°C and 25°C in comparison with the other two litter types. The RQ was significantly highest in the hay litter (1.05) and in comparison with alfalfa litter (0.97) and oat straw (0.92). Strong temperature‐dependent variations in Q₁₀ values and respiratory quotients suggest interactions between litter quality, microbial colonization of litter, and temperature, which warrants further investigation.     

尕海湿地植被退化过程中土壤碳矿化特征研究

以甘南尕海4种不同退化程度的湿地(未退化(UD)、轻度退化(LD)、中度退化(MD)及重度退化(HD))为研究对象,采用室内5 ℃、15 ℃、25 ℃、35 ℃ 培养法,测定不同土层 SOC 矿化速率和累积矿化量,运用一级动力学方程对土壤的半矿化分解时间(T_1/2)、有机碳矿化潜势(C₀)等参数进行拟合,分析温度、土壤深度和退化程度对土壤碳矿化过程的影响。结果表明：(1)在不同土层、不同温度下,各植被退化程度湿地土壤有机碳 CO₂ 释放量在整个培养期间大致可以分三个阶段,0-4 d快速生成 CO₂ 阶段,4-27 d缓慢生成 CO₂ 阶段,27-41 d平稳阶段;0-10 cm 土层各培养温度下,土壤有机碳矿化速率表现为UD＞LD＞MD＞HD。(2)培养期间,不同退化湿地土壤有机碳矿化速率均随土层加深而降低,表层 0-10 cm的矿化速率(1.14~16.23 mg/(g?d))均显著高于10-20 cm(1.05~2.85 mg/(g?d))和20-40 cm(0.94~1.26 mg/(g?d))土层。(3)整个培养期内,不同退化湿地土壤有机碳总累积矿化量排序为5 ℃(34.54 mg/g)、15 ℃(46.67 mg/g)、25 ℃(58.28 mg/g)和35 ℃(86.46 mg/g)。(4)双库一级动力学方程的C₀值随退化程度增加呈递减趋势,而C₀/SOC随着温度的升高而降低。     

Gross nitrogen mineralization and nitrification rates and their relationships to enzyme activities and the soil microbial biomass in soils treated with dairy shed effluent and ammonium fertilizer at different water potentials

 Gross N mineralization and nitrification rates and their relationships to microbial biomass C and N and enzyme (protease, deaminase and urease) activities were determined in soils treated with dairy shed effluent (DSE) or NH₄ ⁺ fertilizer (NH₄Cl) at a rate equivalent to 200 kg N ha^–1 at three water potentials (0, –10 and –80 kPa) at 20  °C using a closed incubation technique. After 8, 16, 30, 45, 60 and 90 days of incubation, sub-samples of soil were removed to determine gross N mineralization and nitrification rates, enzyme activities, microbial biomass C and N, and NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^– concentrations. The addition of DSE to the soil resulted in significantly higher gross N mineralization rates (7.0–1.7 μg N g^–1 soil day^–1) than in the control (3.8–1.2 μg N g^–1 soil day^–1), particularly during the first 16 days of incubation. This increase in gross mineralization rate occurred because of the presence of readily mineralizable organic substrates with low C : N ratios, and stimulated soil microbial and enzymatic activities by the organic C and nutrients in the DSE. The addition of NH₄Cl did not increase the gross N mineralization rate, probably because of the lack of readily available organic C and/or a possible adverse effect of the high NH₄ ⁺ concentration on microbial activity. However, nitrification rates were highest in the NH₄Cl-treated soil, followed by DSE-treated soil and then the control. Soil microbial biomass, protease, deaminase and urease activities were significantly increased immediately after the addition of DSE and then declined gradually with time. The increased soil microbial biomass was probably due to the increased available C substrate and nutrients stimulating soil microbial growth, and this in turn resulted in higher enzyme activities. NH₄Cl had a minimal impact on the soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities, possibly because of the lack of readily available C substrates. The optimum soil water potential for gross N mineralization and nitrification rates, microbial and enzyme activities was –10 kPa compared with –80 kPa and 0 kPa. Gross N mineralization rates were positively correlated with soil microbial biomass N and protease and urease activities in the DSE-treated soil, but no such correlations were found in the NH₄Cl-treated soil. The enzyme activities were also positively correlated with each other and with soil microbial biomass C and N. The forms of N and the different water potentials had a significant effect on the correlation coefficients. Stepwise regression analysis showed that protease was the variable that most frequently accounted for the variations of gross N mineralization rate when included in the equation, and has the potential to be used as one of the predictors for N mineralization. Received: 10 March 1998     

Response of soil chemical and biological variables to small and large scale changes in climatic factors

This paper studies the effect of large- and small-scale changes of soil temperature and humidity on soil microbial biomass C and N, ergosterol, carbon utilization potential, organic and inorganic N and rate of C and N mineralization at 25°C. Large-scale variations are identified with seasonal changes in temperature and humidity. To simulate small-scale changes, soil temperature and humidity were manipulated in the field. The treatment resulted in damping of temperature fluctuations and a decrease of soil humidity.The majority of the studied variables exhibit pronounced seasonality, showing a clear-cut distinction between summer (July–August) and winter (December). In summer, C mineralization rate and carbon utilization potential was high but microbial and fungal biomass (ergosterol) was low.C and N mineralization rate and microbial and fungal biomass were only affected by sampling date, demonstrating that gross parameters of biomass and activity of microorganisms are not affected by small-scale changes in temperature and humidity. In contrast, variables relating to N availability (organic N, NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻, microbial biomass N) and carbon utilization potential of the microbial community were highly affected by small-scale changes in soil abiotic conditions. The results suggest that changes in N dynamics induced by small-scale changes of temperature and humidity are caused by shifts in the structure of the microbial community rather than by variations in microbial biomass.     

Soil microbial biomass and nitrogen dynamics in a turfgrass chronosequence: A short-term response to turfgrass clipping addition

A mechanistic understanding of soil microbial biomass and N dynamics following turfgrass clipping addition is central to understanding turfgrass ecology. New leaves represent a strong sink for soil and fertilizer N, and when mowed, a significant addition to soil organic N. Understanding the mineralization dynamics of clipping N should help in developing strategies to minimize N losses via leaching and denitrification. We characterized soil microbial biomass and N mineralization and immobilization turnover in response to clipping addition in a turfgrass chronosequence (i.e. 3, 8, 25, and 97 yr old) and the adjacent native pines. Our objectives were (1) to evaluate the impacts of indigenous soil and microbial attributes associated with turf age and land use on the early phase decomposition of turfgrass clippings and (2) to estimate mineralization dynamics of turfgrass clippings and subsequent effects on N mineralization of indigenous soils. We conducted a 28-d laboratory incubation to determine short-term dynamics of soil microbial biomass, C decomposition, N mineralization and nitrification after soil incorporation of turfgrass clippings. Gross rates of N mineralization and immobilization were estimated with ¹⁵N using a numerical model, FLAUZ. Turfgrass clippings decomposed rapidly; decomposition and mineralization equivalent to 20-30% of clipping C and N, respectively, occurred during the incubation. Turfgrass age had little effect on decomposition and net N mineralization. However, the response of potential nitrification to clipping addition was age dependent. In young turfgrass systems having low rates, potential nitrification increased significantly with clipping addition. In contrast, old turfgrass systems having high initial rates of potential nitrification were unaffected by clipping addition. Isotope ¹⁵N modeling showed that gross N mineralization following clipping addition was not affected by turf age but differed between turfgrass and the adjacent native pines. The flush of mineralized N following clipping addition was derived predominantly from the clippings rather than soil organic N. Our data indicate that the response of soil microbial biomass and N mineralization and immobilization to clipping addition was essentially independent of indigenous soil and microbial attributes. Further, increases in microbial biomass and activity following clipping addition did not stimulate the mineralization of indigenous soil organic N.     

Factors affecting N immobilisation/mineralisation kinetics for cellulose-, glucose- and straw-amended sandy soils

The kinetics of N immobilisation/mineralisation for cellulose-, glucose- and straw-amended sandy soils were investigated in a series of laboratory incubations. Three Scottish soils expected to exhibit a range of biological activity were used: a loamy sand, intensively cropped horticultural soil subject to large inputs of inorganic fertilisers and pesticides (Balmalcolm - pH 7.2, organic matter 3.3%); a sandy loam soil highly enriched with organic manures and used for organic vegetable production (Strathmiglo - pH 7.1, organic matter 7.3%); and a loamy sand soil of low fertility in a zero-grazing, low intensity organic ley-arable rotation (Aldrochty pH 6.0, organic matter 5.0%). Incubations of soils with 1,000 mg cellulose-C kg^-1 soil at 8°C, showed peak N immobilisation of 71Lj, 92Lj and 65ᆣ mg N g^-1 added C for the Balmalcolm (after 34 days), Strathmiglo (after 34 days) and Aldrochty soils (after 63 days). The N remineralisation by the end of the incubation (>300 days) was 0, 50 and 22 mg N g^-1 cellulose-C in the Balmalcolm, Strathmiglo soil and Aldrochty soils, respectively. Only about 30% of the N immobilisation could be explained by soil microbial biomass N accumulation (much less than expected from model simulations). The C/N ratio of the extra microbial biomass was quite wide (19). Bacterial, protozoan and nematode biomass accounted for only 18%, 0.1% and 0.5% of the extra C immobilisation, respectively. These data suggest that fungal biomass growth and deposition of recalcitrant fungal metabolites are the main sinks for the N immobilised. With 1,000 mg glucose-C kg ^-1 added to the Balmalcolm soil, about 75 mg N g^-1 added C were immobilised after 6 days. Under less well aerated conditions at 15°C, immobilisation of only 10-20 mg N g^-1 added cellulose C took place in 2-4 weeks, but soluble organic C increased greatly. The N remineralised after 4-6 weeks.     

Soil microbial biomass and mineralization of carbon and nitrogen in ecological, integrated and conventional forage and arable cropping systems

 In a cropping systems experiment in southeastern Norway, ecological (ECO), integrated (INT) and conventional (CON) forage (FORAGE) and arable (ARABLE) model farms were compared. After 5 experimental years, topsoil was sampled in spring from spring grain plots and incubated for 449 days at controlled temperature (15  °C) and moisture content (50% water-holding capacity). There were no detectable differences between model farms in terms of total soil C or N. For INT and CON, however, values of microbial biomass C and N, microbial quotient (C_mic/C_org), and C and N mineralization were, or tended to be, higher for FORAGE than for ARABLE. For the ECO treatment, values were similar for FORAGE and ARABLE and did not differ significantly from that of CON-FORAGE. For INT and CON, the metabolic quotient (qCO₂) was lower for FORAGE than for ARABLE. Again, for the ECO treatment, values were similar for FORAGE and ARABLE and did not differ significantly from that of CON-FORAGE. We estimated the sizes of conceptual soil organic matter pools by fitting a decomposition model to biomass and mineralization data. This resulted in a 48% larger estimate for CON-FORAGE than for CON-ARABLE of physically protected biomass C. For physically protected organic C the difference was 42%. Moreover, the stability of soil aggregates against artificial rainfall was substantially greater for CON-FORAGE than for CON-ARABLE. On this basis, we hypothesized that the lower qCO₂ values in the FORAGE soils were mainly caused by a smaller proportion of active biomass due to enclosure of microorganisms within aggregates. Altogether, our results indicated a poorer inherent soil fertility in ARABLE than in FORAGE rotations, but the difference was small or absent in the ECO system, probably owing to the use of animal and green manures and reduced tillage intensity in the ECO-ARABLE rotation. Received: 28 October 1998     

An evaluation of a microbial inoculum in promoting organic C decomposition in a paddy soil following straw incorporation

Purpose

Impacts of a commercially available decay-facilitating microbial inoculum on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization were evaluated during decomposition of rice straw in a paddy soil.

Materials and methods

Two incubation experiments were conducted for 105 days with a typical low-yield high-clay soil in central China to monitor effects of straw and the inoculum on CO₂ evolution, as well as dissolved organic C (DOC), NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^?, and pH under conditions of 15 °C 70 %, 25 °C 40 %, 25 °C 70 %, 25 °C 100 %, and 35 °C 70 % of water-holding capacity (WHC) with adequate N, supplied as urea or manure, respectively.

Results and discussion

Treatments of 25 °C 70 % WHC, 25 °C 100 % WHC, and 35 °C 70 % WHC generally achieved significant higher CO₂ evolution while treatment of 25 °C 40 % WHC had least. This was more evident with added manure compared to urea (P?<?0.05). The inoculum generally increased the decomposition of C inputs and the largest increases were in the initial 28 day in treatments 25 °C 70 % WHC, 25 °C 100 % WHC, and 35 °C 70 % WHC; only the 25 °C 40 % WHC actually immobilized C. The CO₂ release rates were positively correlated with DOC, but with different slopes within treatments. Despite equivalent N application rates, manure treatments had significantly less N (including NO₃ ^?, NH₄ ⁺, and total dissolved N) than those with urea. Incubation of 25 °C 40 % WHC decreased soil pH the least, probably due to relative low moisture causing delayed nitrification.

Conclusions

The results implied that the inoculum, especially fungi, would adjust to edaphic and N fertilization in regulating organic C mineralization, during which water potential would exhibit a great role in regulating substrate and nutrient availability.