Adenylates in the soil microbial biomass at different temperatures

Five soils from temperate sites (Germany; 2 arable and 3 grassland) were incubated aerobically at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35, and 40 °C for 8 days. Soils were analysed for soil microbial biomass C, biomass N, AMP, ADP, and ATP to determine whether the increase in the ATP-to-microbial biomass C ratio with increasing temperature was either due to an increase in the adenylate energy charge (AEC) or de novo synthesis of ATP, or both. Around 80% of the variance in microbial biomass C and biomass N was explained by differences in soil properties, only 7% by the temperature treatments. Averaging the data of all 5 soils for each incubation temperature, the microbial biomass C content decreased with increasing temperature from 15 to 40 °C continuously by 2.5 μg g⁻¹ soil °C⁻¹ after 8-days' incubation. However, this decrease was not accompanied by a similar decrease in microbial biomass N. The average microbial biomass C/N ratio was 6.8. Between 54 and 76% of the variance in AMP, ADP, ATP and the sum of adenylates was explained by differences in soil properties and between 14 (ADP) and 27% (ATP) by the temperature treatments. However, temperature effects on AMP and ADP were variable and inconsistent. In contrast, ATP and consequently also the sum of adenylates increased continuously from 5 to 30 °C followed by a decline to 40 °C. The AEC showed similarly a small, but significant increase with increasing temperature from 0.73 to 0.85 at 30 °C. Consequently, the majority of the variance, i.e. roughly 60% in AEC values, but also in ATP-to-microbial biomass C ratios was explained by the incubation temperature. The mean ATP-to-microbial biomass C ratio increased from 4.7 μmol g⁻¹ at 5 °C to a 2.5 fold maximum of 12.0 μmol g⁻¹ at 35 °C. This increase was linear with a rate of 0.26 μmol ATP g⁻¹ microbial biomass C °C⁻¹. The energy for the extra ATP produced during temperature increase is probably derived from an accelerated turnover of endocellular C reserves in the microbial biomass.     

Mineralization of carbon and nitrogen from cowpea leaves decomposing in soils with different levels of microbial biomass

Soils with greater levels of microbial biomass may be able to release nutrients more rapidly from applied plant material. We tested the hypothesis that the indigenous soil microbial biomass affects the rate of decomposition of added green manure. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) Walp.] leaves were added to four soils with widely differing microbial biomass C levels. C and N mineralization of the added plant material was followed during incubation at 30°C for 60 days. Low levels of soil microbial biomass resulted in an initially slower rate of decomposition of soil-incorporated green manure. The microbial biomass appeared to adjust rapidly to the new substrate, so that at 60 days of incubation the cumulative C loss and net N mineralization from decomposing cowpea leaves were not significantly affected by the level of the indigenous soil microbial biomass.     

Changes in microbial biomass after continuous application of azolla and rice straw in soil

A model experiment was conducted under tropical conditions with a view to evaluating the changes in microbial biomass and nutrient dynamics in upland soil through the continuous application of azolla and rice straw (2 g C kg^-1 soil per each application). Flush decomposition of C was observed immediately after each application and the rate of mineralization did not change appreciably during this period. After flush decomposition, the rate of C mineralization from azolla was higher than that from rice straw until 9 to 13 weeks after each application and thereafter the mineralization rate was similar. The amount of inorganic N released from azolla increased following each application, whereas inorganic N in rice straw plot was immediately immobilized and the rate of immobilization increased until the 3rd application and did not increase further after the 4th application. The amounts of biomass C and N increased immediately after residue incorporation, reached the maximum level one week after each application and declined thereafter. Maximum biomass formation increased until the 2nd application and then the level remained constant. Maximum biomass N formation was higher in azolla than in rice straw after the 1st application, but after repeated applications, the difference became less pronounced: Continuous increase in biomass in a certain week after each application was observed, probably because of the cumulative effects of the previous applications. The increase suggests that continuous application of organic materials may enable to improve the amount of soil microbial biomass.     

Influence of vegetation types and soil properties on microbial biomass carbon and metabolic quotients in temperate volcanic and tropical forest soils

Abstract

There is limited knowledge about the differences in carbon availability and metabolic quotients in temperate volcanic and tropical forest soils, and associated key influencing factors. Forest soils at various depths were sampled under a tropical rainforest and adjacent tea garden after clear-cutting, and under three temperate forests developed on a volcanic soil (e.g. Betula ermanii and Picea jezoensis, and Pinus koraiensis mainly mixed with Tilia amurensis, Fraxinus mandshurica and Quercus mongolica), to study soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) concentration and metabolic quotients (qCO₂, CO₂-C/biomass-C). Soil MBC concentration and CO₂ evolution were measured over 7-day and 21-day incubation periods, respectively, along with the main properties of the soils. On the basis of soil total C, both CO₂ evolution and MBC concentrations appeared to decrease with increasing soil depth. There was a maximal qCO₂ in the 0–2.5 cm soil under each forest stand. Neither incubation period affected the CO₂ evolution rates, but incubation period did induce a significant difference in MBC concentration and qCO₂ in tea soil and Picea jezoensis forest soil. The conversion of a tropical rainforest to a tea garden reduced the CO₂ evolution and increased the qCO₂ in soil. Comparing temperate and tropical forests, the results show that both Pinus koraiensis mixed with hardwoods and rainforest soil at less than 20 cm depth had a larger MBC concentration relative to soil total C and a lower qCO₂ during both incubation periods, suggesting that microbial communities in both soils were more efficient in carbon use than communities in the other soils. Factor and regression analysis indicated that the 85% variation of the qCO₂ in forest soils could be explained by soil properties such as the C:N ratio and the concentration of water soluble organic C and exchangeable Al (P < 0.001). The qCO₂ values in forest soils, particularly in temperate volcanic forest soils, decreased with an increasing Al/C ratio in water-soluble organic matter. Soil properties, such as exchangeable Ca, Mg and Al and water-soluble organic C:N ratio, were associated with the variation of MBC. Thus, MBC concentrations and qCO₂ of the soils are useful soil parameters for studying soil C availability and microbial utilization efficiency under temperate and tropical forests.     

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and microbial biomass in soil: Effects of storage at different temperatures and at different moisture levels

Abstract

On air‐drying, the ATP contents of two moist soils fell to about one quarter of their original values. When a freshly‐sampled soil (field temperature 5.5°C) was stored moist (43% water holding capacity) for 7 days at 25°C the ATP content increased from 4.54 to 7.84 μg ATP g^‐1 soil. Storage at 10°C caused a smaller increase; to 5.39 μg g^‐1 soil. Microbial biomass C also increased on storage but the relative increase was less than that of ATP. Thus the biomass C/ATP ratio fell from 234 in the freshly sampled soil to 168 in the soil stored moist for 7 days at 25°C. The ATP content declined to less than half its starting value if storage was under waterlogged conditions.

The ATP method for determining microbial biomass in soil depends on the use of a constant factor (5.85 mg ATP g^‐1 biomass C) for converting ATP content to biomass C. This factor came from work on soils that had been stored moist at 25°C for several days before biomass C and ATP measurements were made: it is only applicable to soils that have been stored in this way.     

Gross sulphur mineralisation-immobilisation turnover in soil amended with plant residues

The rates of sulphur (S) released to and removed from the soil inorganic pool were estimated using the isotopic dilution technique. In an initial study fresh soil was mixed with combinations of two inorganic S levels (0 and 10 μg S g⁻¹ soil) and three plant residues (wheat straw, perennial ryegrass and oilseed rape) and followed over 32 days of incubation. As ³⁵S recovery was inadequate prior to day 2 and re-mineralisation of immobilised ³⁵S occurred after day 8 thereby invalidating the method, estimates of gross S transformation rates should be based on data sampled between days 2 and 8. In the main experiment 16 plant residues with ranges in S contents of 0.08-0.81%, C/S ratios of 50-604 and lignin content of 0.9-10.8 were mixed with soil and carrier-free ³⁵S label. Net turnover rates varied from 58% of S in Persian clover being immobilised to 76% of S in winter cress being mineralised within 5 days of incubation. Gross S mineralisation varied from 0.9-14.9 μg S g⁻¹ soil d⁻¹, whereas gross immobilisation only varied from 0.5 to 3.1 μg S g⁻¹ d⁻¹. Gross S immobilisation was strongly correlated to the C/S ratio of the plant material (P<0.001), whereas gross S mineralisation showed a weaker, but still significant, correlation with lignin content (P<0.05). The results indicate that immobilisation may predominantly have been a biological process in response to carbon addition while early mineralisation may have been dominated by the biochemical hydrolysis of organic sulphates in the residues. If attention is paid to the various constraints and limitations, isotopic pool dilution using ³⁵S offers a tool that may prove valuable in understanding and modelling soil S turnover.     

Response of white mustard (Sinapis alba) and the soil microbial biomass to P and Zn addition in a greenhouse pot experiment

A 45‐d pot experiment was carried out to investigate the response of white mustard and the soil microbial biomass after Zn and P addition to a P deficient silt loam. The underlying hypothesis was that P application reduces the Zn availability to crops and microbial biomass. White mustard was supplied with different levels of P (0, 50, and 100 µg g^?1 soil) and Zn (0, 10, and 20 µg g^?1 soil). Amendments of P generally reduced extractable Zn, shoot Zn and soil microbial biomass Zn. Amendments of P generally decreased the microbial biomass C/P ratio. At 20 µg Zn g^?1 soil, a negative effect on the microbial biomass C/P ratio was observed, suggesting that high contents of extractable Zn have a negative impact on the microbial P uptake. However, the minimum Zn requirements of soil microorganisms and the consequences of microbial Zn deficiency for soil microbiological processes are completely unknown.     

Response of maize and soil microorganisms to decomposing poplar root residues after shallow or homogenous mixing into soil

During re‐conversion of short‐rotation poplar tree plantations back to arable land use, large amounts of tree residues must be incorporated into soil. A 90‐d pot experiment with and without N addition was carried out after mixing the same amounts of chaffed poplar root residues into the pots at 0–5 cm or at 0–20 cm depth. The objective was to investigate whether shallow mixing has positive effects on maize growth, reduces poplar root residue decomposition, and changes the microbial community structure towards fungi. Aboveground maize yield was strongly reduced after mixing of poplar root residues at 0–20 cm depth without N fertilization, but was not affected if mixed at 0–5 cm depth. Neither the mixing nor N fertilization had significant effects on root residue decomposition, estimated as recovered particulate organic matter. The total increase in microbial biomass C and biomass N was strongest after homogenous mixing of root residues at 0–20 cm, but remained unaffected by N fertilization. In contrast, the total amount of ergosterol remained unaffected by the mixing treatments, but responded positively to N fertilization. Shallow incorporation of poplar root residues did not affect the microbial biomass C/N ratio but disproportionately increased the fungal ergosterol to microbial biomass C ratio. Shallow incorporation of poplar root residues seems to reduce the demand for N fertilization of following crops, which should be further tested in field experiments.     

Linear relation between the amount of respiratory quinones and the microbial biomass in soil

A linear relationship was observed between the amount of total respiratory quinones and the microbial biomass measured by a fumigation-extraction method in 15 soil samples regardless of the significant differences in the composition of the quinone profiles, with one exception in a soil amended with a very high application rate of farmyard manure. It is suggested that the amount of total respiratory quinones can be used as an indicator of the microbial biomass in soil.     

Enzymatic activities and microbial biomass in soil as influenced by metalaxyl residues

A laboratory experiment was conducted to study the impact of metalaxyl application at different concentration levels on microbial biomass and the biochemical activities in soil. A dissipation study of metalaxyl highlighted 52.5-56.8% loss of metalaxyl due to the presence of microbial activity. However, a small but significant decline in microbial biomass was observed on 60 d of incubation period. Metalaxyl showed a highly significant effect in decreasing total N and organic C content in soil from 0 to 30 d of incubation. Dehydrogenase, phosphatase, urease, arylsulphatase and β-glucosidase activities were monitored in metalaxyl treated soils. Except urease, all the enzymatic activities initially increased and then decreased. Urease activity showed a continuous gradual decrease throughout the experimental period. Thus, metalaxyl might influence the growth and development of crop-plants, since it has direct impact on nutrient recycling and energy flow in soil.     

Variations in soil microbial biomass and crop roots due to differing resource quality inputs in a tropical dryland agroecosystem

The influence of exogenous organic inputs on soil microbial biomass dynamics and crop root biomass was studied through two annual cycles in rice-barley rotation in a tropical dryland agroecosystem. The treatments involved addition of equivalent amount of N (80 kg N ha⁻¹) through chemical fertilizer and three organic inputs at the beginning of each annual cycle: Sesbania shoot (high-quality resource, C:N 16, lignin:N 3.2, polyphenol+lignin:N 4.2), wheat straw (low-quality resource, C:N 82, lignin:N 34.8, polyphenol+lignin:N 36.8) and Sesbania+wheat straw (high-and low-quality resources combined), besides control. The decomposition rates of various inputs and crop roots were determined in field conditions by mass loss method. Sesbania (decay constant, k=0.028) decomposed much faster than wheat straw (k=0.0025); decomposition rate of Sesbania+wheat straw was twice as fast compared to wheat straw. On average, soil microbial biomass levels were: rice period, Sesbania?Sesbania+wheat straw>wheat straw?fertilizer; barley period, Sesbania+wheat straw>Sesbania?wheat straw?fertilizer; summer fallow, Sesbania+wheat straw>Sesbania>wheat straw?fertilizer. Soil microbial biomass increased through rice and barley crop periods to summer fallow; however, in Sesbania shoot application a strong peak was obtained during rice crop period. In both crops soil microbial biomass C and N decreased distinctly from seedling to grain-forming stages, and then increased to the maximum at crop maturity. Crop roots, however, showed reverse trend through the cropping period, suggesting strong competition between microbial biomass and crop roots for available nutrients. It is concluded that both resource quality and crop roots had distinct effect on soil microbial biomass and combined application of Sesbania shoot and wheat straw was most effective in sustained build up of microbial biomass through the annual cycle.     

Exploring patterns of Camellia seed cake application in relation to plant growth,soil nematodes and microbial biomass

ABSTRACT

The suppression of plant-parasitic nematodes is crucial for maintaining the worldwide development of the banana industry. In this study, different application patterns of Camellia seed cake previously reported to suppress root-knot nematode were conducted to manage pests and promote banana seedling growth. The results demonstrated seven days delay before transplanting was necessary after Camellia seed cake application. The dose 5 g/kg soil resulted in best plant growth promotion performance, which increased banana seedling height, stem diameter, shoot, and root fresh weight by upto 29%, 27%, 47%, and 21%, respectively. Plastic film mulching was beneficial when high amount (2%) of Camellia seed cake was added. The application of Camellia seed cake increased nutrient potassium amounts; the abundance of soil free-living nematodes, especially bacterivores; and the abundance of soil microbes and the soil catalase activity, while reduced plant-parasitic nematodes amounts. Further correlation analysis between the soil nematodes and microbial abundance showed that plant-parasite numbers had significant negative correlations with the bacterial biomass and a portion of the fungal biomass; bacterivores had significant positive correlations with the bacterial biomass; and omnivores had significant correlations with the bacterial biomass and fungal biomass. A fundamental challenge of root-knot nematode control is to sustain ecological services without losing biodiversity. This study provided an environmentally friendly strategy based on Camellia seed cake to regulate the soil health and quality.     

Seasonal variations of soil microbial biomass and activity in warm- and cool-season turfgrass systems

Plant growth can be an important factor regulating seasonal variations of soil microbial biomass and activity. We investigated soil microbial biomass, microbial respiration, net N mineralization, and soil enzyme activity in turfgrass systems of three cool-season species (tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis L., and creeping bentgrass, Agrostis palustris L.) and three warm-season species (centipedegrass, Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro.) Hack, zoysiagrass, Zoysia japonica Steud, and bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.). Microbial biomass and respiration were higher in warm- than the cool-season turfgrass systems, but net N mineralization was generally lower in warm-season turfgrass systems. Soil microbial biomass C and N varied seasonally, being lower in September and higher in May and December, independent of turfgrass physiological types. Seasonal variations in microbial respiration, net N mineralization, and cellulase activity were also similar between warm- and cool-season turfgrass systems. The lower microbial biomass and activity in September were associated with lower soil available N, possibly caused by turfgrass competition for this resource. Microbial biomass and activity (i.e., microbial respiration and net N mineralization determined in a laboratory incubation experiment) increased in soil samples collected during late fall and winter when turfgrasses grew slowly and their competition for soil N was weak. These results suggest that N availability rather than climate is the primary determinant of seasonal dynamics of soil microbial biomass and activity in turfgrass systems, located in the humid and warm region.     

Nitrogen dynamics and microbial response in soil amended with either olive pulp or its by-products after biogas production

Olive pulp (OP), the residual material of a two-phase olive oil extraction system, and effluents from hydrogen (EH₂) and methane (ECH₄) production, have been evaluated as soil amendments particularly for their impact on soil mineral nitrogen (N) dynamics, gross N mineralization, and soil microbial biomass N (N_mic). Both N transformation and microbial growth were mainly influenced by the amount and quality of added organic carbon (C). Both OP and EH₂, which contain more carbohydrates and lipids than polyphenolic compounds, stimulated NO₃ ⁻ immobilization during the early incubation period and increased N_mic, saprophytic fungi, and N mineralization. On the contrary, soil amended with ECH₄, which is characterized by the lowest C content but the highest content of polyphenolic compounds, behaved as the control; neither NO₃ ⁻ immobilization nor microbial growth were observed and gross N mineralization was stimulated only at the beginning of the incubation period. Bacterial plate count was significantly correlated with direct bacterial count and fungal count was correlated with N_mic. Therefore, it is suggested that both bacterial and fungal plate counts may be used as indicators of the overall bacterial and fungal populations inhabiting soil, respectively. The knowledge of the impact of these materials on soil N dynamics is crucial for their correct use in agriculture because it has been shown that NO₃ ⁻ availability can be strongly influenced by the addition of different amounts and quality of organic amendment.     

Influence of polychlorinated biphenyls on microbial biomass and its activity in grassland soil

Microbial biomass content, soil respiration and biomass specific respiration rate were measured in two parts of an area polluted by a municipal waste incinerator [polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from combustion processes]. The soils in the studied parts differed significantly only in their levels of PCBs. The concentration of PCBs found in a control plot (4.4 ng g^-1 soil) can be regarded as a background value while the polluted plot contained an increased amount of PCBs (14.0 ng g^-1 soil). A significantly lower microbial biomass (decreased by 23%, based on the chloroform-fumigation extraction technique) and a lower specific respiration rate (decreased by 14%) were observed in the polluted plot in comparison with the control plot at the end of experimental period (1992–1994). Furthermore, a lower ability of microorganisms in the polluted plot to convert available C_org into new biomass was found in laboratory incubations with glucose-amended samples.     

Enzyme activity and microbial biomass in a field soil amended with municipal refuse

Summary Changes in enzyme activity levels, in biomass-C content, and in the rate of fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis were measured in a loamy soil to which solid municipal refuse had been applied as compost over a 3-year period at two different rates. Addition of the compost caused significant increases in the activity of all enzymes tested. The increases were much higher at 90 t ha^-1 year^-1 than at 30 t ha^-1 year^-1. Significant increases were also observed in the biomass-C content and in the rate of fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis. Significant correlations among changes in biomass-C content and the rate of fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis and the changes in all enzymes tested were found.Two activity indices were calculated; a biological index of fertility and an enzyme activity number. No correlations were found between the biological index of fertility and the changes in the various enzyme activities. However, significant correlations were found either between enzyme activity number and most of the changes in enzyme activity, or between the enzyme activity number index and the biomass-C content (r=0.850). The use of a new activity index, the hydrolysis coefficient, is proposed. This coefficient was significantly correlated with biomass-C content (r=0.925) and with the enzyme activity number index (r=0.780).     

Effect of cultivation on microbial carbon and nitrogen in dry tropical forest soil

Summary Fifteen- and forty-year-old cropfields developed from a dry tropical forest were examined for soil organic C and total N and soil microbial C and N. The 15-year-old field had never been manured while the 40-year-old field had been fertilized with farmyard manure every year. The native forest soil was also examined. The results indicated that the native forest soil lost about 57% and 62% organic C and total N, respectively, in the 0–10 cm layer after 15 years of cultivation. The microbial C and N contents of the forest soil were greater than those of the cultivated soils. Application of farmyard manure increased the biomass-C and -N levels in the cultivated soil but the values were still markedly lower than in the forest soil. There was an appreciable seasonal variation in biomass C and N, the values being highest in summer and lowest in the rainy season. During an annual cycle, biomass-C contents varied from 180 to 727 g g^–1 and N from 20 to 80 g g^–1 dry soil, and both were linearly related. Microbial biomass C represented 1.6%–3.6% of total soil organic C and microbial biomass N represented 1.7% 1–4.4% of soil organic N.