Soil microbial biomass and organic matter composition in soils under cultivation

To determine whether there is a relationship between the composition of soil organic matter and the activity of the soil microbial biomass, the composition of the organic matter in 12 typical arable soils in Northwest Germany was investigated by wet chemical analysis and CPMAS cross polarization magic angle spinning ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. The data were correlated with the microbial biomass as estimated by substrate-induced respiration. A strong correlation between the microbial biomass and alkylic C compounds was observed (r=-0.960^***). Recalcitrant substances were enriched in this fraction, which were classified as humic acids according to the wet chemical procedure. The microbial decomposition of these humic acids is probably retarded, due to their chemical structure and/or physical bonding, when the soil microbial biomass activity is limited.     

Soil microbial biomass and organic matter fractions during transition from conventional to organic farming systems

The aim of this study was to investigate the response of soil microbial biomass and organic matter fractions during the transition from conventional to organic farming in a tropical soil. Soil samples were collected from three different plots planted with Malpighia glaba: conventional plot with 10 years (CON); transitional plot with 2 years under organic farming system (TRA); organic plot with 5 years under organic farming system (ORG). A plot under native vegetation (NV) was used as a reference. Soil microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N (TN), soil organic matter fractioning and microbial indices were evaluated in soil samples collected at 0–5, 5–10, 10–20 and 20–40 cm depth. SOC and fulvic acids fraction contents were higher in the ORG system at 0–5 cm and 5–10 cm depths. Soil MBC was highest in the ORG, in all depths, than in others plots. Soil MBN was similar between ORG, TRA and NV in the surface layer. The lowest values for soil MBC and MBN were observed in CON plot. Soil microbial biomass increased gradually from conventional to organic farming, leading to consistent and distinct differences from the conventional control by the end of the second year.     

Plant biomass influences rhizosphere priming effects on soil organic matter decomposition in two differently managed soils

We used a continuous labeling method of naturally ¹³C-depleted CO₂ in a growth chamber to test for rhizosphere effects on soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition. Two C3 plant species, soybean (Glycine max) and sunflower (Helianthus annus), were grown in two previously differently managed soils, an organically farmed soil and a soil from an annual grassland. We maintained a constant atmospheric CO₂ concentration at 400±5 ppm and δ¹³C signature at −24.4‰ by regulating the flow of naturally ¹³C-depleted CO₂ and CO₂-free air into the growth chamber, which allowed us to separate new plant-derived CO₂-C from original soil-derived CO₂-C in soil respiration. Rhizosphere priming effects on SOM decomposition, i.e., differences in soil-derived CO₂-C between planted and non-planted treatments, were significantly different between the two soils, but not between the two plant species. Soil-derived CO₂-C efflux in the organically farmed soil increased up to 61% compared to the no-plant control, while the annual grassland soil showed a negligible increase (up to 5% increase), despite an overall larger efflux of soil-derived CO₂-C and total soil C content. Differences in rhizosphere priming effects on SOM decomposition between the two soils could be largely explained by differences in plant biomass, and in particular leaf biomass, explaining 49% and 74% of the variation in primed soil C among soils and plant species, respectively. Nitrogen uptake rates by soybean and sunflower was relatively high compared to soil C respiration and associated N mineralization, while inorganic N pools were significantly depleted in the organic farm soil by the end of the experiment. Despite relatively large increases in SOM decomposition caused by rhizosphere effects in the organic farm soil, the fast-growing soybean and sunflower plants gained little extra N from the increase in SOM decomposition caused by rhizosphere effects. We conclude that rhizosphere priming effects of annual plants on SOM decomposition are largely driven by plant biomass, especially in soils of high fertility that can sustain high plant productivity.     

Seasonal changes in the microbial biomass of Brazilian soils with different organic matter contents

Abstract

Carbon and nitrogen levels of microbial biomass were studied in four plots located in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Two samplings were carried out, the first one, on November 1992 when rainfall was high which led the soil to high levels of moisture, and the second one on March 1993 when there was a decrease in rainfall coupled with high temperatures. Microbial carbon (MBC) and microbial nitrogen (MBN) assessments were done by the fumigation‐extraction method. The results showed significant differences for MBC and MBN between the sampling times and between different plots. Moreover, MBN showed differences as a function of sampling depth. In the 1993 sampling, developed under moisture conditions of soil which promoted the mineralization of organic matter, lesser values of MBC and MBN were found, whereas there was no difference in the organic carbon content. This fact shows a major sensitivity of biomass measurements to reflect changes which occur in the soil organic matter content. Significant correlations were obtained between MBC and organic carbon (r = 0.35, P < 0.01, n = 68), MBN and total N (r = 0.62; P < 0.07, n = 47), and MBC with NBM (r 0.74, P < 0.01, n = 54).     

Characteristics of microbial biomass and soil organic matter in newly reclaimed wetland rice soils

Microbial biomass C, N, total organic C, N and mineralizable N were measured in newly reclaimed wetland sandy loam rice soil with a very low nutrient status. Microbial biomass C increased 5.4–10.4 times due to application of barnyard manure, but decreased drastically to 24–27% during rice cultivation. Organic C and N contents also decreased during cultivation, but to a lesser extent to 59–76%. At the tillering stage of the rice plant, microbial biomass N was highly correlated with mineralizable N (r=0.986).     

Nitrogen fertilization increases rhizodeposit incorporation into microbial biomass and reduces soil organic matter losses

Agricultural soils receive large amounts of anthropogenic nitrogen (N), which directly and indirectly affect soil organic matter (SOM) stocks and CO₂ fluxes. However, our current understanding of mechanisms on how N fertilization affects SOM pools of various ages and turnover remains poor. The δ¹³C values of SOM after wheat (C₃)-maize (C₄) vegetation change were used to calculate the contribution of C₄-derived rhizodeposited C (rhizo-C) and C₃-derived SOM pools, i.e., rhizo-C and SOM. Soil (Ap from Haplic Luvisol) sampled from maize rhizosphere was incubated over 56 days with increasing N fertilization (four levels up to 300 kg N ha^?1), and CO₂ efflux and its δ¹³C were measured. Nitrogen fertilization decreased CO₂ efflux by 27–42% as compared to unfertilized soil. This CO₂ decrease was mainly caused by the retardation of SOM (C₃) mineralization. Microbial availability of rhizo-C (released by maize roots within 4 weeks) was about 10 times higher than that of SOM (older than 4 weeks). Microbial biomass and dissolved organic C remained at the same level with increasing N. However, N fertilization increased the relative contribution of rhizo-C to microbial biomass by two to five times and to CO₂ for about two times. This increased contribution of rhizo-C reflects strongly accelerated microbial biomass turnover by N addition. The decomposition rate of rhizo-C was 3.7 times faster than that of SOM, and it increased additionally by 6.5 times under 300 kg N ha^?1 N fertilization. This is the first report estimating the turnover and incorporation of very recent rhizo-C (4 weeks old) into soil C pools and shows that the turnover of rhizo-C was much faster than that of SOM. We conclude that the contribution of rhizo-C to CO₂ and to microbial biomass is highly dependent on N fertilization. Despite acceleration of rhizo-C turnover, the increased N fertilization facilitates C sequestration by decreasing SOM decomposition.     

Soil organic matter, microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a tropical agroforestry system

 The effects of growing trees in combination with field crops on soil organic matter, microbial biomass C, basal respiration and dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activities were studied in soils under a 12-year-old Dalbergia sissoo (a N₂-fixing tree) plantation intercropped with a wheat (Triticum aestivum) – cowpea (Vigna sinensis) cropping sequence. The inputs of organic matter through D. sissoo leaf litter increased and crop roots decreased with the increase in tree density. Higher organic C and total N, microbial biomass C, basal soil respiration and activities of dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase were observed in treatments with tree-crop combination than in the treatment without trees. Soil organic matter, microbial biomass C and soil enzyme activities increased with the decrease in the spacing of the D. sissoo plantation. The results indicate that adoption of the agroforestry practices led to an improved organic matter status of the soil, which is also reflected in the increased nutrient pool and microbial activities necessary for long-term productivity of the soil. However, tree spacing should be properly maintained to minimize the effects of shading on the intercrops. Received: 21 February 1997     

Effects of organic matter application on microbial biomass and available nutrients in various types of paddy soils

Abstract

The effect of the addition of bromacil (pesticide) or/and a sewage sludge on the urease, phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities of soil was studied. Urease and phosphatase activities increased initially with the addition of bromacil. This effect disappeared after 28 d of soil incubation. The increase in the urease and phosphatase activities caused by the addition of sewage sludge was more pronounced than that of bromacil. The combined addition of sewage sludge and bromacil also led to an increase in the activity of both hydrolases. Dehydrogenase activity was affected negatively by the addition of bromacil and positively by the sewage sludge addition. When sewage sludge and bromacil were added simultaneously, dehydrogenase activity was higher than when sewage sludge alone was added.     

有机物料对污染土壤微生物碳和磷的影响

施用不同的有机物料对污染土壤微生物量及其磷素的固定作用的研究发现 ,有机物料施入污染土壤之后 ,土壤微生物碳 (C)在第 3d即达到高峰 ,土壤微生物磷 (P)在第 10d达到高峰 ,腐熟的牛粪对该土壤磷的活化作用很大 ,而葡萄糖的处理显著地降低了污染土壤磷的有效性 ,并不同程度地增加了对土壤磷的生物固定。     

Effects of successive soil freeze-thaw cycles on soil microbial biomass and organic matter decomposition potential of soils

Abstract

Effects of soil freeze-thaw cycles on soil microbial biomass were examined using 8 soil samples collected from various locations, including 4 arable land sites and 2 forest sites in temperate regions and 2 arable land sites in tropical regions. The amounts of soil microbial biomass C and N, determined by the chloroform fumigation and extraction method, significantly decreased by 6 to 40% following four successive soil freeze-thaw cycles (- 13 and 4°C at 12 h-intervals) compared with the unfrozen control (kept at 4°C during the same period of time as that of the freeze-thaw cycles). In other words, it was suggested that 60 to 94% of the soil microorganisms might survive following the successive freeze-thaw cycles. Canonical correlation analysis revealed a significantly positive correlation between the rate of microbial survival and organic matter content of soil (r = 0.948*). Correlation analysis showed that the microbial survival rate was also positively correlated with the pore-space whose size ranged from 9.5 to 6.0 μm (capillary-equivalent-diameter; r = 0.995**), pH(KCI) values (r = 0.925**), EC values (r = 0.855*), and pH (H₂O) values (r = 0.778*), respectively. These results suggested that the soil physicochemical properties regulating the amount of unfrozen water in soil may affect the rate of microbial survival following the soil freeze-thaw cycles. The potential of organic matter decomposition of the soils was examined to estimate the effects of the soil freeze-thaw cycles on the soil processes associated with the soil microbial communities. The soil freeze-thaw cycles led to significant 6% increase in chitin decomposition and 7% decrease in rice straw decomposition (p < 0.05), suggesting that the partial sterilization associated with the soil freeze-thaw cycles might disturb the soil microbial functions.     

Biochemical analysis of soil organic matter and microbial biomass composition—a pilot study

Biochemical composition of both intracellular (biomass) and extracellular soil organic matter was determined after extraction with 0.5 M K₂SO₄. Extractable carbon, hexoses, pentoses, total reducing sugars, ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen (NRN), proteins and DNA content were colorimetrically determined. The objective of the pilot study was to examine the information potential included in newly measured biochemical characteristics, their environmental variance and the relationships with main soil properties. Correlation analysis and PCA showed independence between biochemical parameters and physico-chemical properties of the soil. Thus, the parameters characterising biochemical composition of the soil biomass and extracellular matter seem to bring new information about the soils beyond the physico-chemical parameters. They also seem to reveal a more detailed view on microbial biomass or extracellular organic matter pool than C_bio or C_ext alone, respectively. The variance, which occurred in biochemical characteristics, also displayed a high discrimination potential between the defined soil categories. Three types of indices were newly proposed: index I (“substrate quantity index”)—the biomass-specific amount of the extracellular organic compounds, index II (“immobilisation ratio”)—the portion of the organic compound immobilised in microbial biomass, and index III (“substrate quality index”)—the extracellular organic compound content related to extracellular organic carbon. The indices displayed a higher potential than both soil biotic and abiotic parameters to discriminate soil characters and soil types.     

Dynamics of microbial biomass nitrogen as influenced by organic matter application in paddy fields

The effects of annual application of rice straw or cow manure compost for 17–20 y on the dynamics of fertilizer N and soil organic N in Gley paddy fields were investigated by using the ¹⁵N tracer technique during the rice cropping season. The chloroform fumigation-extraction method was evaluated to determine the properties of soil microbial biomass under submerged field conditions at the tillering stage before mid-summer drainage, with special reference to the fate of applied NH₄ ⁺-¹⁵N.

The transfer ratios from applied NH₄ ⁺-¹⁵N to immobilized N in soil and to uptake N by rice during given periods varied with the rice growth stages and were affected by organic matter application. The accumulated amounts of netmineralized soil organic N (net-M_j ), immobilized N (I_j ), and denitrified N (D_j ) during the cropping season were estimated to be 14.0–22.5, 6.3–11.2, and 3.4–5.3 g N m^-2, respectively. Values of net-M_j and I_j were larger in the following order: cow manure compost plot > rice straw plot > plot without organic matter application, and their larger increase by the application of cow manure compost contributed to a decrease of the D_j values, as compared with rice straw application.

Values of E _N extra extractable soil total N after fumigation, increased following organic matter application, ranging from 2.1 to 5.4 g N m^-2. Small residual ratios of applied ¹⁵N in the fraction E _N at the end of the given period indicated that re-mineralization of newly-assimilated ¹⁵N through the easily decomposable fraction of microbial biomass had almost ended. Thus, the applicability to paddy field soils of the chloroform fumigation-extraction method was confirmed.     

Influence of inorganic fertilizers and organic amendments on soil organic matter and soil microbial properties under tropical conditions

 Soil organic matter level, mineralizable C and N, microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase, urease and alkaline phosphatase activities were studied in soils from a field experiment under a pearl millet-wheat cropping sequence receiving inorganic fertilizers and a combination of inorganic fertilizers and organic amendments for the last 11 years. The amounts of soil organic matter and mineralizable C and N increased with the application of inorganic fertilizers. However, there were greater increases of these parameters when farmyard manure, wheat straw or Sesbania bispinosa green manure was applied along with inorganic fertilizers. Microbial biomass C increased from 147 mg kg^–1 soil in unfertilized soil to 423 mg kg^–1 soil in soil amended with wheat straw and inorganic fertilizers. The urease and alkaline phosphatase activities of soils increased significantly with a combination of inorganic fertilizers and organic amendments. The results indicate that soil organic matter level and soil microbial activities, vital for the nutrient turnover and long-term productivity of the soil, are enhanced by use of organic amendments along with inorganic fertilizers. Received: 6 May 1998     

Labile pools of organic matter and microbial biomass in the surface soils under shifting cultivation in northern Thailand

In order to analyze the N mineralization process under shifting cultivation in northern Thailand, labile pools of soil organic matter were studied, which were considered to be the factors contributing to the N mineralization process. Organic C, (organic + NH₄ ⁺)-N, and hexose-C were extracted from fresh soils in the surface 0–5 cm layers with a 0.5 M K₂S₀. solution at 110°C in an autoclave (fraction A) or at room temperature with a reciprocal shaker (fraction B), and analyzed as labile pools of organic matter. In the traditional shifting cultivation system, the content of organic C in fraction A in the fallow fields for 8 to 15 y was 3,710 mg kg^-1 while that in the fallow fields for 1 y and 3 to 5 y was 2,640 and 2,600 mg kg^-1, respectively. A high correlation was observed between the contents of the labile pool in fraction A and total soil organic matter. The ratio of the pool in fraction A to total soil organic matter apparently remained constant through the input-output balance in the pool. The content of the labile pool in fraction B was the highest among the fields cultivated for 1 y after the slash and burn practice and it decreased in the course of the fallow period. The content of organic C was 548 mg kg^-1 in the fields cultivated for 1 y and 235 mg kg^-1 in the fallow fields for 8-15 y, respectively. There was a reverse relation between the contents of the pool in fraction B and microbial biomass. Therefore, the origin of the pool in fraction B was attributed to the microbial debris associated mainly with a decrease in the soil moisture content in the dry season. On the other hand, in the relatively intensive cultivation system, there was no significant difference in the contents of the labile pools both in fractions A and B among the land use stages, suggesting that the preservation mechanism of these pools, which was observed in the traditional cultivation system, did not operate well in the intensive system. In alternative farming systems in future, it will be essential to apply organic materials to soils to supply organic matter and to maintain the microbial biomass.     

The proportional mineralisation of microbial biomass and organic matter caused by air-drying and rewetting of a grassland soil

During the first few days after rewetting of an air-dried soil (AD-RW), microbial activity increases compared to that in the original moist soil, causing increased mineralisation (a flush) of soil organic carbon (C) and other nutrients. The AD-RW flush is believed to be derived from the enhanced mineralisation of both non-biomass soil organic matter (due to its physical release and enhanced availability) and microbial biomass killed during drying and rewetting. Our aim was to determine the effects of AD-RW on the mineralisation of soil organic matter and microbial biomass during and after repeated AD-RW cycles and to quantify their proportions in the CO₂-C flushes that resulted. To do this, a UK grassland soil was amended with ¹⁴C-labelled glucose to label the biomass and then given five AD-RW cycles, each followed by 7 d incubation at 25 °C and 50% water holding capacity. Each AD-RW cycle increased the amount of CO₂-C evolved (varying from 83 to 240 μg g⁻¹ soil), compared to the control with, overall, less CO₂-C being evolved as the number of AD-RW cycles increased. In the first cycle, the amount of biomass C decreased by 44% and microbial ATP by 70% while concentrations of extractable C nearly doubled. However, all rapidly recovered and within 1.3 d after rewetting, biomass C was 87% and ATP was 78% of the initial concentrations measured prior to air-drying. Similarly, by 2 d, extractable organic C had decreased to a similar concentration to the original. After the five AD-RW cycles, the amounts of total and ¹⁴C-labelled biomass C remaining in the soil accounted for 60 and 40% of those in the similarly incubated control soil, respectively. Soil biomass ATP concentrations following the first AD-RW cycle remained remarkably constant (ranging from about 10 to 14 μmol ATP g⁻¹ biomass C) and very similar to the concentration in the fresh soil prior to air-drying. We developed a simple mathematical procedure to estimate the proportion of CO₂-C derived from biomass C and non-biomass C during AD-RW. From it, we estimate that, over the five AD-RW cycles, about 60% of the CO₂-C evolved came from mineralisation of non-biomass organic C and the remainder from the biomass C itself.     

Influence of inorganic and organic fertilization on soil microbial biomass, metabolic quotient and heavy metal bioavailability

 We studied the long-term effects (12 years) of municipal refuse compost addition on the total organic carbon (TOC), the amount and activity of the microbial biomass (soil microbial biomass C, B_C and metabolic quotient qCO₂) and heavy metal bioavaiability in soils as compared to manuring with mineral fertilizers (NPK) and farmyard manure (FYM). In addition, we studied the relationships between among the available fraction [Diethylenetriaminopentacetic acid (DTPA) extractable] of heavy metals and their total content, TOC and B_C. After 12 years of repeated treatments, the TOC and B_C of control and mineral fertilized plots did not differ. Soils treated with FYM and composts showed a significant increase in TOC and B_C in response to the increasing amounts of organic C added. Values of the B_C/TOC ratio ranged from 1.4 to 2, without any significative differences among soil treatments. The qCO₂ increased in the organic-amended soil and may have indicated microbial stress. The total amounts of metals in treated soils were lower than the levels permitted by the European Union in agricultural soils. DTPA-extractable metals increased in amended soils in response to organic C. A multiple regression analysis with stepwise selection of variables was carried out in order to discriminate between the influence exerted on DTPA-extractable metals by their total content, TOC and B_C. Results showed that each metal behaved quite differently, suggesting that different mechanisms might be involved in metal bioavailability Received: 31 October 1997     

不同有机堆肥对土壤性状及微生物生物量的影响

研究不同种类有机堆肥对土壤性状及微生物生物量的短期影响。采用盆栽试验的方式,探讨了施用50 g/kg 的啤酒污泥堆肥(BSC)、 牛粪堆肥(DMC)和菇渣堆肥(SMC)对土壤有机质、 氮磷钾含量、 容重、 持水性、 土壤呼吸及微生物生物量碳、 氮、 磷(SMBC、 SMBN、 SMBP)的影响。结果表明, 与对照相比,施用啤酒污泥、 牛粪和菇渣3种有机堆肥后,土壤中有机质、 全氮、 碱解氮、 有效磷、 速效钾含量显著增加,并且显著降低土壤容重和增大土壤孔隙度（P0.05）;经过1周土壤水分的变化,CK处理的土壤水分消耗率分别是BSC、 DMC和SMC处理的1.26、 1.24、 1.14倍;BSC、 DMC和SMC处理显著提高土壤呼吸（P0.05）,半年后分别与CK相比增加了142.17%、 114.30%、 105.39%;施用啤酒污泥、 牛粪和菇渣3种有机堆肥后显著增加SMBC、 SMBN、 SMBP含量（P0.05）,6个月后,SMBC含量分别是CK 的2.35、 1.84、 1.86倍,SMBN含量分别比 CK 高135.44%、 99.16%、 90.82%,SMBP含量分别是CK 的 2.76、 2.19、 2.04倍。啤酒污泥堆肥含有活性小颗粒对土壤性状和微生物生物量的影响最为明显,其次是牛粪堆肥,菇渣堆肥表现最差。     

Calibration model of microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen concentrations in soils using ultraviolet absorbance and soil organic matter

There is a need for a rapid, simple and reliable method of determining soil microbial biomass (SMB) for all soils because traditional methods are laborious. Earlier studies have reported that SMB‐C and ‐N concentrations in grassland and arable soils can be estimated by measurement of UV absorbance in soil extracts. However, these previous studies focused on soils with small soil organic matter (SOM) contents, and there was no consideration of SOM content as a covariate to improve the estimation. In this study, using tropical and temperate forest soils with a wide range of total C (5–204 mg C g^?1 soil) and N (1–12 mg N g^?1 soil) contents and pH values (4.1–5.9), it was found that increase in UV absorbance of soil extracts at 280 nm (UV₂₈₀) after fumigation could account for 92–96% of the variance in estimates of the SMB‐C and ‐N concentrations measured by chloroform fumigation and extraction (P < 0.001). The data were combined with those of earlier workers to calibrate UV‐based regression models for all the soils, by taking into account their varying SOM content. The validation analysis of the calibration models indicated that the SMB‐C and ‐N concentrations in the 0–5 cm forest soils simulated by using the increase in UV₂₈₀ and SOM could account for 86–93% of the variance in concentrations determined by chloroform fumigation and extraction (P < 0.001). The slope values of linear regression equations between measured and simulated values were 0.94 ± 0.03 and 0.94 ± 0.04, respectively, for the SMB‐C and ‐N. However, simulation using the regression equations obtained by using only the data for forest profile soils gave less good agreement with measured values. Hence, the calibration models obtained by using the increase in UV₂₈₀ and SOM can give a rapid, simple and reliable method of determining SMB for all soils.     

Effects of organic amendment and herbicide treatment on soil microbial biomass

 The interactive effects of vermi-compost from sewage sludge and either the sulfonylurea herbicide, rimsulfuron, or the imidazolinone herbicide, imazethapyr, on some soil biochemical and microbiological properties were investigated. The herbicides were applied at field and 10-fold field rates. Both herbicides exerted a detrimental effect on soil microbial biomass and its biochemical properties. Even though the effect of both herbicides on soil microbial biomass was not detectable at the field rate, some significant influences on acid and alkaline phosphatase were observed. The higher rate of herbicide application impaired the observed microbial parameters to a greater degree. The detrimental effects seemed to be reduced by organic amendments. Among the studied microbial characteristics, the specific respiration quotient was particularly reliable and sensitive in determining the influence of herbicides on the soil microbial biomass. In this paper a new synthetic index, specific hydrolytic activity (qFDA), for assessing microbial activity in reply to xenobiotic treatments is proposed. Received: 31 May 1999