The influence of SHF radiation on soil streptomycetes

Streptomycete cultures isolated from chernozem, soddy-podzolic, and low-moor peat soils were used in the experiment. The spore suspensions responded to SHF radiation (superhigh frequency radiation) at a shorter (30 s) exposition than the suspensions of vegetative streptomycete cells (60 s) did. The SHF radiation affected all the streptomycetes investigated. Both the suppression and stimulation of the respiration intensity, as well as a higher biomass accumulation and a resonance effect, were observed for different species of streptomycetes under the influence of microwaves. The effect of the SHF radiation on the biomass accumulation and the intensity of the other physiological processes may lead to the changes in the number of streptomycetes and their activity in the microbial complex of the soils. The changes in the capability of the streptomycetes concerning the assimilation of substrates under the influence of SHF radiation were revealed using multisubstrate testing.     

Effect of soil pH and organic matter on desorption hysteresis of chlorimuron-ethyl in two typical Chinese soils

Purpose  

Chlorimuron-ethyl is a sulfonylurea herbicide widely used to control many annual broadleaf weeds, and the residue for a long period posed a heavy hazard to rotational crops or vegetables. Knowledge about effect of soil pH and organic matter on desorption processes of chlorimuron-ethyl remains obscure. In this study, desorption behavior of chlorimuron-ethyl as a function of soil pH and organic matter was investigated.     

Changes in soil pH due to the storage of soils

Abstract. The pH of soil samples was remeasured after storage for 20 years in the laboratory. The pH decreases were minor in acid to neutral soils (-0.3), but greater in alkaline soils (-0.63). The pH differences were statistically significant only for alkaline soils. The decreases of pH with time are probably mainly due to the decomposition of organic matter, the CO₂ produced, the hydroscopic water and the presence of CaCO₃.     

Studies on the association of humic acid in soils

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to find the form of association of humic acid in volcanic ash soils, in which humus was accumulated more than 10%. Some consideration was taken, on the other hand, on the reason of this accumulation.     

Response of acid sulphate soils to different liming treatments II. Exchangeability of soil cations

Liming-induced changes in cation exchangeability were studied in six samples from acid sulphate soils (pH 3.9-4.7) incubated with water or with equivalent quantities of Ca(OH)₂ or KOH. The extractability of acid cation species susceptible to hydrolysis was shown to be affected not only by increased pH but also by the kind of the cation and related electrochemical properties of the base used. Both liming treatments practically eliminated the exchangeable Al. In the virgin soils, however, the polynuclear Al-complexes formed by Ca(OH)₂ treatment seemed to have been hydrolyzed further. The superiority of Ca(OH)₂ was assumed to be due to the higher valency of its cation and its act of provoking a higher increase in ionic strength. The liming agents affected to varying extents also the extractability of base cations. Exchangeable soil K seemed to decrease by the KOH treatment and the soil Ca by the Ca(OH)₂ treatment, whereas K and Ca were only slightly, if any, affected by the Ca(OH)₂ and KOH treatments, respectively. Thus, the reductions were assumed to be attributable to other factors than increased pH. A fixation of K and a possible precipitation of Ca as CaSO₄ were discussed. Ca(OH)₂ decreased in all soil samples the exchangeability of Mg more than did KOH. The depression was not related to the Al polymerization and, thus, cannot entirely be ascribed to specific sorption on Al gel. The results imply that liming may affect base cation exchange reactions by neutralizing exchangeable Al of high bonding strength and by replacing it by cations of the liming agent.     

The role of plant residues in pH change of acid soils differing in initial pH

Reports on the effect of plant residues on soil pH have been contradictory. The conflicting accounts have been suggested to result from differences in compositions and types of plant residues and characteristics of soils. This incubation study examined the effect of plant residues differing in concentrations of N (3-49 g kg⁻¹) and of alkalinity (excess cations) (220-1560 mmol kg⁻¹) on pH change of three soils differing in initial pH (3.9-5.1 in 0.01 M CaCl₂). The addition of plant residues at a rate of 15 g kg⁻¹ soil weight increased the pH of all soils by up to 3.4 units and the pH reached the maximum at day 42 after incubation for Wodjil (initial pH 3.87) and Bodallin (pH 4.54) soils and day 14 for Lancelin soil (pH 5.1). The amount of pH buffering was decreased by residue addition in Wodjil soil, increased in Bodallin soil and remained unchanged in Lancelin soil, which closely related to changes of soil pH. Residue addition increased concentration and the increase in concentration generally correlated positively with the concentration of residue N. The concentration increased with time, reached the peak at Days 42-105 for Wodjil soil, Days 14-105 for Bodallin soil and Days 14-42 for Lancelin soil, and then decreased only in Lancelin soil. The concentration of was kept minimal in Wodjil and Bodallin soils. In Lancelin soil, concentrations increased with incubation time from days 14-28. Irrespective of plant residue and incubation time, the amounts of alkalinity produced due to residue addition correlated highly with the sum of the alkalinity added as plant residues (excess cations) and those resulting from mineralization of residue N, with the slope of regression lines decreasing with increase of the initial soil pH. Direct shaking of soil with the residues at the same rate of alkalinity (excess cations) under sterile conditions increased the pH of the Wodjil soil but decreased it in the Lancelin soil. It is suggested that the decarboxylation of organic anions (as indicated by excess cations) of added plant residues and ammonification of the residue N causes soil pH increase whereas nitrification of mineralised residue nitrogen causes soil pH decrease, and that the association/dissociation of organic compounds also plays a role in soil pH change, depending initial pH of the soil. The overall effect on soil pH after addition of plant residues would therefore depend on the extent of each of these processes under given conditions.     

The effects of pH and chloride concentration on mercury sorption. II. By a soil

The pH of a soil was altered by incubation with either acid or lime, and the sorption of mercury was measured in the absence of chloride and at three chloride concentrations. In the absence of chloride there were only small effects of pH on sorption between pH 4 and 6; sorption decreased at higher pH. Addition of chloride decreased sorption at low pH but had little effect on sorption at high pH. Consequently, in the presence of chloride, sorption increased with increasing pH between pH 4 and 6 and then decreased. Many of the mercury sorption curves were sigmoid. This was explained by assuming that a small amount of complexing material was present in the solution after mixing with the soil. Calculation of the mercury species present in solution was made difficult by uncertainties about the postulated complexing material. Nevertheless, between pH 4 and pH 5.8, it was possible to explain the effects of pH and of chloride concentration on sorption as entirely due to changes in the HgOH⁺ concentration.     

Interpreting pH and nitrate concentration in solutions drained from acid soils. Possible artefacts of lysimeters

Abstract. Solutions collected from lysimeters of acid soils can show pH values close to or even above neutral. Laboratory experiments on an acid soil from Burundi were planned to test if denitrification or CO₂ degassing might explain such a paradox. In the first experiment, soil profiles were reconstituted in columns and leached with 55 μ m Ca(NO₃)₂ solutions at 30 °C and 4 °C. Two drainage regimes were applied: intermittent suction or no suction at the bottom of the columns. In the second experiment, pH values were measured in solutions drained from different horizons at 30 °C, before and after equilibration with ambient air. Sterilized soil was also tested in the same way. Results from experiment 1 showed that despite the accumulation of water in the bottom of soil profiles when no suction was applied, aeration still existed so that reduction reactions, namely denitrification, are not expected to affect greatly the percolate composition. Indeed nitrate concentration was similar in both drainage regimes and was close to the input value. The pH values in percolates were close to 7 at 30 °C and they dropped to about 5.5 when the columns were at 4 °C. In experiment 2, equilibration of percolates with ambient air resulted in pH increase which was greater for the top horizon (C-rich) but negligible when the soil was first sterilized. These convergent results illustrate the very important effect of CO₂ degassing on pH of drained solutions when microbial activity is stimulated at high temperatures, in C-rich soil. This is of prime importance when interpreting results from lysimeter experiments. By chance, this study also showed that large quantities of nitrate can be produced in soil at low temperatures.     

pH 升高对红壤硝化过程产生 N2O 的影响

对红壤添加NaOH培养获得不同pH系列的土壤.通过室内培养试验.研究了3种pH条件下土壤的N_2O排放和无机N的变化情况.结果表明:硝化活性随土壤pH升高而增强:pH升高增加了土壤N_2O的释放;纯化学过程对N_2O散发的贡献随pH的升高而降低;Nitrapyrin在pH 4.8和pH 6.0时表现山硝化抑制作用,在pH 8.5时抑制效果不明显,且提高了培养期间pH8.5土壤N_2O的释放量.     

Effect of zeolite application and soil pH on cadmium sorption in soils

Abstract

In this study the influence of zeolite application and soil liming on cadmium (Cd) sorption by soils in Greece was investigated. The zeolite was natural and consisted mainly of clinoptilolite. The soil samples were strongly acid surface horizons of an Alfisol limed from a pH of 4.0 to 8.5, and a neutral Bt horizon. The result showed that liming and zeolite application substantially increased sorption of Cd in the soils. Cadmium sorption was described adequately by the Freundlich equation whereas the Langmuir model failed to describe Cd sorption in the soils. The Freundlich constant K increased in value by zeolite application as well as by soil liming. A strong relationship was observed between this parameter and soil pH. A high percentage of cadmium sorbed was released in the desorption procedure. The amount of Cd released was reduced by zeolite application as well as by soil liming. It is concluded that zeolite application as well as soil liming increased Cd sorption by the soils.     

Studies on soils of Peaty paddy fields II

Chemical changes ordinarily occuring in flooded paddy soils in Japan had been investigated in detail by Dr. SHIOIRI and his coworkers (1). The problem of degraded paddy soils had also been discussed by them on the basis of the experimental results on the deficiency of free iron oxides which affect the root of rice plant. As described in the previous report (2), causes for low rice production in the peaty Paddy fields seemed to be different from those in the degraded paddy ones. Thereupon, for a comprehensive understanding of the properties of peaty paddy soils, many important aspects such as the nature and role of each soil layer, and the behaviour of iron and nitrogen in soil Will have to be studied.     

The influence of acid soil factors on the growth of snapbeans in major appalachian soils

Abstract

Acid soil limitations to plant growth were assessed In 55 horizons of 14 major Appalachian hill land soils. Aluminum sensitive “Romano” and Al‐tolerant “Dade” snapbeans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were grown for 5 weeks in limed and unlimed treatments of the 55 horizons. Shoot and root growth was depressed >20% in unlimed relative to limed treatments in approximately 2/3 of the horizons. Dade snapbeans were generally more tolerant of the acid soil conditions and had higher Ca concentrations in the shoots than Romano snapbeans. However, the sensitive‐tolerant snapbean pair could not consistently be used to identify horizons with soil Al problems. Growth of both snapbeans was generally best in A horizons and worst in E horizons. The E horizons in this study were characterized by low Ca saturation (exchangeable Ca x 100/cation exchange capacity) and high Al saturation (exchangeable Al x 100/cation exchange capacity). Exchangeable Ca, soil Ca saturation and total soil solution Ca were positively correlated (p<0.01) with snapbean root and shoot growth. Soil Al saturation, total soil solution Al and soil solution Al reacting in 15 seconds with 8‐hydroxyquinoline were negatively correlated (p<0.01) with growth. The ratio of Ca/Al in soil solution was more closely related to snapbean growth than the soil solution concentration of any individual element. Soil and soil solution Mn were, in general, not significantly correlated with snapbean growth. Many of the horizons in this study had both Al toxicity and Ca deficiency problems and interaction between Ca and Al affected both snapbean growth and Ca uptake. These findings confirm the importance of considering Ca as well as Al when investigating Al phytotoxicity.     

Model organic compounds differ in their effects on pH changes of two soils differing in initial pH

The mechanisms by which organic materials affect soil pH are not fully understood. This study for the first time compared the short-term effect of various model organic compounds on pH change of two soils differing in initial pH (Podosol of pH 4.4 and Tenosol of pH 6.1). Eight organic compounds, representing common compounds in plant residues, were selected based on the number and type of chemical functional groups. The addition of organic acids (acetic, malic, citric, and benzoic acid) reduced soil pH immediately due to H⁺ dissociation. The magnitude of pH decrease depended on the rate of application, degree of dissociation of the acids, and initial soil pH. During a subsequent incubation, pH was slowly restored as these compounds were decomposed. The degree to which pH was restored was reduced with increasing addition rate. The production of H⁺ ions was increased with increasing rate of acid addition and decreased over time. When potassium citrate (organic anion) was added, soil pH increased due to H⁺ consumption upon decomposition. Compounds with amine groups (glucosamine hydrochloride) and less easily decomposable compounds (phenol) did not significantly alter pH during 16-day shaking. Changes in pH after glucose addition were relatively small compared with other compounds and were not expected because hydroxyl chemical groups of glucose are neutral. The present study demonstrated that the addition of model organic compounds to soil caused soil pH to increase, decrease, or remains unaffected. The extent and direction of pH change was dependent on the chemical functional group, addition rate, decomposition, and the initial soil pH.     

Low pH and aluminum tolerance of Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from acid soils in Indonesia

Sixty-seven strains of Bradyrhizobium isolated from soybean plants growing on acid soils in West Java and Sumatra, Indonesia, were examined for the effect of the pH and aluminum concentration on their growth in nutrient media, compared with 61 strains of Bradyrhizobium from soils in Japan. The results in this study indicated that the indigenous population of Bradyrhizobium in the soils of Indonesia showed a large difference in acid- and Al-tolerance from that of Japan. Eighty-five and 48% of the isolates from Japanese soils and Indonesian soils, respectively, were unable to grow in YEM broth at pH below 4.5. The acid-tolerance was correlated with AI-tolerance of the isolates on YEM agar plates at pH 4.4. Seventy-five percent of the isolates that grew in YEM broth at pH 4.5 were also resistant to 400 µM Al on the YEM plates. Acetylene reduction assay of the root nodules revealed that 3 of the acid- and Al-tolerant isolates from Indonesian soils showed a significantly high nitrogen fixation activity.     

铅对两个红壤中酶活性的影响

Enzyme activities have the potential to indicate biological functioning of soils. In this study, soil urease, dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and invertase activities and fluorescein diacetate（FDA） hydrolysis were measured in two red soils spiked with Pb^2＋ ranging from 0 to 2 400 mg kg^-1 to relate the enzyme activity values to both plant growth and the levels of available and total Pb^2＋ concentrations in soils, and to examine the potential use of soil enzymes to assess the degrees of Pb contamination. Soil samples were taken for enzyme activities assaying during 3 month’s incubation and then after planting of celery（Apium graveolens L.） and Chinese cabbage（Brassica chinensis L.）. Enzyme activities in the red soil derived from arenaceous rock（RAR） were generally lower than those in the red soil developed on Quaternary red earths（REQ）. At high Pb^2＋ loadings, in both incubation and greenhouse studies, urease activity and FDA hydrolysis were significantly inhibited. But there were no significant relationships between soil dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase or invertase activity and soil Pb^2＋ loadings in both RAR and REQ soils. The growth of celery and Chinese cabbage increased soil urease activity and FDA hydrolysis, but had minimal effect on dehydrogenase and invertase activities. There were positive correlations between celery biomass and soil urease activity and FDA hydrolysis. These results demonstrate that urease activity and FDA hydrolysis are more sensitive to Pb^2＋ than acid phosphatase, dehydrogenase and invertase activities in the RAR and REQ soils.     

酸性土壤活性锰与pH、Eh关系及其生物反应

以灰潮土为对照研究了湖北省 3种有代表性的酸性土壤在盆栽条件下 ,不同酸化处理土壤pH、Eh与活性锰的动态变化关系。结果表明 ,供试的棕红壤和黄棕壤酸化后 ,在盆栽油菜生长的前 70d内 ,土壤交换性锰含量增加 ,土壤交换性锰与碳酸盐结合态锰呈一定负相关 ,且交换性锰含量增加明显滞后于碳酸盐结合态锰的增加 ;30～90d内 ,碳酸盐结合态锰与易还原性锰呈一定正相关。虽然土壤pH和Eh在作物生长季节不断变化 ,但其 pe +pH仍维持不变。土壤 pH、Eh与交换性锰的关系能较好地反映土壤锰的转化机制 ,在进一步酸化时 ,供试的棕红壤MnO2/Mn2+电对是该土壤锰化合物变化的主要形式 ,MnO2是变化过程的电子受体。供试的黄棕壤则以MnOOH MnO电对为其锰化合物氧化还原的主要形式 ,土壤酸化对其锰电对电位的影响没有直接引起Mn2+ 的变化 ;Mn2+的增加可能是MnO在该过程中进一步溶解所致。试验结果还表明 ,油菜体内的锰铁比随锰中毒程度的加强而急剧增加 ,这一趋势远高于土壤锰铁比的增加。     

Effect of soil pH on the sorption capacity of soil organic matter for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in unsaturated soils

Sorption by soil organic matter (SOM) is considered the most important process affecting the bioavailability of hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs)in soil.The sorption capacity of SOM for HOCs is affected by many environmental factors.In this study,we investigated the effects of soil pH and water saturation level on HOC sorption capacity of SOM using batch sorption experiments.Values of soil organic carbon-water partition coefficient (K_OC) of six selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocar...     

The retention of nitrate in acid soils from the tropics

Abstract. In most soils of temperate regions nitrate is not held on soil surfaces and moves freely in solution. But when soils carry positive charges, nitrate is held as an exchangeable anion. As a result, leaching of nitrate is delayed relative to the movement of water. The delay can be predicted provided the anion exchange capacity (AEC) can be measured and the concentration of counter-anions is known. For soils with variable charge, the AEC varies with both pH and ionic strength, and the effective AEC should be determined under conditions similar to those in soil solution. A simple leaching method is described which satisfies this requirement. Delays in the leaching of nitrate measured in columns of repacked soil were strongly related to the AEC.     

Psychrotolerant actinomycetes in soils of the tundra and northern taiga

Actinomycetes adapted to low-temperature conditions are present in the cold soils of the tundra and northern taiga in quantities comparable to mesophylic forms and dominate in the soil actinomycete complex. Actinomycetes isolated from cold soils were identified as Streptomyces. Most actinomycetes relate to psychrotolerant forms according to habitation temperature. Two of them are conditionally psychrophilic. Specific properties of the investigated populations were identified by multirespirometrical testing.