Lability of soil organic carbon in tropical soils with different clay minerals

Soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and turnover is influenced by interactions between organic matter and the mineral soil fraction. However, the influence of clay content and type on SOC turnover rates remains unclear, particularly in tropical soils under natural vegetation. We examined the lability of SOC in tropical soils with contrasting clay mineralogy (kaolinite, smectite, allophane and Al-rich chlorite). Soil was sampled from A horizons at six sites in humid tropical areas of Ghana, Malaysian Borneo and the Solomon Islands and separated into fractions above and below 250 μm by wet sieving. Basal soil respiration rates were determined from bulk soils and soil fractions. Substrate induced respiration rates were determined from soil fractions. SOC lability was significantly influenced by clay mineralogy, but not by clay content when compared across contrasting clay minerals. The lability of SOC was lowest in the allophanic and chloritic soil, higher in the kaolinitic soils and highest in the smectitic soil. Our results contrast with conventional concepts of the greater capacity of smectite than of kaolinite to stabilize SOC. Contents of dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate extractable Fe and Al were inversely related to SOC lability when compared across soil types. A stronger inverse correlation between content of ammonium-oxalate extractable Fe and SOC lability was found when considering the kaolinitic soils only and we conclude that the content of active Fe (hydr-) oxides controls SOC stabilization in the kaolinitic soils. Our results suggest that the validity of predictive models of SOC turnover in tropical soils would be improved by the inclusion of soil types and contents of Fe and Al (hydr-) oxides.     

Mercury porosimetry of compacted clay minerals

The clay minerals, kaolin and montmorillonite, were compacted at different pressures up to 300 MPa. The textural characteristics (pore radius, surface area and porosity) of the clay minerals were measured after compaction and related to the particle size and the cation exchange capacity of these clays. Kaolins and montmorillonites with and without compaction were characterized by mercury intrusion using a porosimeter within the range 0.1 MPa to 200 MPa. A negative linear correlation was obtained between the mean pore radius of compacted clays and the cation exchange capacity. A larger percentage of fine particles originated compacts with small pore sizes. The pore radius and the porosity of the clay minerals diminished with increasing compaction pressure, whereas the surface area increased.     

Adsorption,activity, and kinetics of acid phosphatase as influenced by selected oxides and clay minerals

Abstrac

The effects of 3 oxides (Fe, Al, and Mn oxides) and 3 clay minerals (kaolin, montmorillonite, and allophane) on the adsorption and subsequent kinetic properties of acid phosphatase were compared. The amount of enzyme adsorbed by the oxides and clay minerals followed the order: montmorillonite ? kaolin > Mn oxide > Fe oxide > Al oxide ? allophane. The adsorption isotherms of the enzyme on the oxides and clay minerals, except for montmorillonite and allophane, fitted the Langmuir equation. The activity of the enzyme immobilized by the inorganic components studied was in the order of allophane > kaolin > Fe oxide > montmorillonite > Al oxide ≒ Mn oxide. Compared to the free enzyme, the V _max, K_m, and V _max / K _m values of the immobilized enzyme decreased, increased, and decreased, respectively. Among the oxides or clay minerals, the higher the ability of the inorganic components to adsorb the enzyme, the lower the value of the V _max / K _m ratio of the immobilized enzyme. These findings suggest that the catalytic efficiency of the enzyme complexes formed is determined by the adsorbability of the inorganic components for the enzyme.     

Ammonium fixation by clay minerals in different layers of two paddy soils after flooding

 The influence of flooding and cellulose addition on the fixation of NH₄ ⁺ in different soil layers of two paddy soils from China (an entisol and an ultisol) was investigated. In both soils the content of total reducing substances (TRS) sharply increased during the first days after flooding and was highest in the anoxic layers. This increase, which was more pronounced in the entisol with the higher total C content, was accompanied by an increase in the concentration of non-exchangeable NH₄ ⁺ in both soils. The increase in mineralization after flooding, resulting in higher concentrations of exchangeable NH₄ ⁺, favoured the fixation of NH₄ ⁺. Although the application of cellulose resulted in higher TRS contents, the fixation of NH₄ ⁺ ions decreased, which may have been the result of microbiological N immobilization. Received: 29 April 1998     

亚热带小流域不同沉积区土壤粘粒矿物的演变

在亚热带丘陵河谷地小流域范围内地表物质的迁移常可导致不同沉积区物质组成的变化 .从黄泥土→洪积泥砂土→培泥砂土 ,随着搬运距离的增加 ,其粘粒矿物组成发生了一系列的变化 ;高岭石逐渐下降 ,云母逐渐增加 ,蛭石渐趋下降消失 ,而绿泥石则逐渐形成 ;同时赤铁矿、针铁矿也先后下降消失 .矿物的演化与沉积物所处环境的水分条件及溶液中盐基物质和酸碱度变化有关     

The sorption of mercury species by clay minerals

The amount of Hg sorbed by kaolinite and illite, in the absence of ligands, changes little with pH; with montmorillonite, Hg uptake decreases with increasing pH. An overall decrease in the amounts sorbed by these clays occurs in solutions which contain ligands such as cyanide (2:1); acetate (5:1); and nitrilotriacetate (6:5). [Values in parentheses are mole ratio of ligand: Hg.] In the presence of chloride (2:1), the order for the uptake of Hg by the three clays is illite > montmorillonite > kaolin. The addition of thiourea (2:1) results in total precipitation of mercury at pH > 4; in the presence of sulfate or phosphate (> 1:1) Hg is lost from solution by precipitation/sorption at pH 4 but the amount decreases to near zero at pH > 8. Solution processes (i.e. complex formation, precipitation) appear to have a dominating influence on mercury distribution.     

Browning of pyrogallol as affected by clay minerals

One of the authors, Kumada(1), has presented the idea that humification must be regarded as browning phenomena of organic matter in soils. The browning reaction can be accelerated non-enzymatically as well as enzymatically, and it is considered that humification would be conducted under the influence of some catalytic actions of clay fraction, composed of various kinds of clay minerals, free oxides and electrolytes, as well as soil enzymes, under the prevailing hydrothermal conditions. This was well illustrated by Kyuma and Kawaguchi(2), who definitely demonstrated the catalytic effect of allophane on the oxidative polymerization of polyphenols.     

Adsorption of DNA on clay minerals and various colloidal particles from an Alfisol

Adsorption and desorption of salmon sperm DNA on four different colloidal fractions from Brown Soil and clay minerals were studied. The adsorption isotherms of DNA on the examined soil colloids and minerals conformed to the Langmuir equation. The amount of DNA adsorbed followed the order: montmorillonite?fine inorganic clay>fine organic clay>kaolinite>coarse inorganic clay>coarse organic clay. A marked decrease in the adsorption of DNA on organic clays and montmorillonite was observed with the increase of pH from 2.0 to 5.0. Negligible DNA was adsorbed by organic clays above pH 5.0. As for inorganic clays and kaolinite, a slow decrease in DNA adsorption was found with increasing pH from 2.0 to 9.0. The results implied that electrostatic interactions played a more important role in DNA adsorption on organic clays and montmorillonite. Magnesium ion was more efficient than sodium ion in promoting DNA adsorption on soil colloids and minerals. DNA molecules on soil colloids and minerals were desorbed by sequential washing with 10 mM Tris, 100 mM NaCl and 100 mM phosphate at pH 7.0. A percentage of 53.7-64.4% of adsorbed DNA on organic clays and montmorillonite was released, while only 10.7-15.2% of DNA on inorganic clays and kaolinite was desorbed by Tris and NaCl. The percent desorption of DNA from inorganic clays, organic clays, montmorillonite and kaolinite by phosphate was 39.7-42.2, 23.6-28.8, 29.7 and 11.4%, respectively. Data from this work indicated that fine clays dominate the amount of DNA adsorption and coarse clays play a more important role in the binding affinity of DNA in soil. Organic matter may not favor DNA adsorption in permanent-charge soil. The information obtained is of fundamental significance for the understanding of the ultimate fate of extracellular DNA in soil.     

Changes in clay minerals of vertic chernozems under the impact of different ameliorants in a model experiment

The interaction of different ameliorants and fertilizers with the solid phase of clayey vertic chernozems was studied in a model experiment. Changes in the organization and properties of the mineral mass from the plow horizon under the impact of ameliorants took place at several hierarchical levels. At the level of soil aggregates, both the disaggregation of the soil mass and the formation of agronomically valuable soil aggregates under the impact of different ameliorants were observed. The method of fractional peptization of the soil mass was applied to study the behavior of clay minerals. The specificity of the crystallochemistry of smectitic minerals and their changes under the impact of introduced substances were studied in different fractions of clay.     

X-ray diffractometry and electron microscopy of DNA from Bacillus subtilis bound on clay minerals

DNA bound on clay minerals, sand, and humic acids has been shown, both in vitro and in situ, to be capable of transforming bacteria and to resist degradation by nucleases, which could result in the crypticity of genes in soil and other natural habitats. To determine where DNA is bound on clay minerals, which may help to explain how bound DNA becomes resistant to degradation by nucleases but retains the ability to transform competent cells, chromosomal DNA from Bacillus subtilis bound on montmorillonite (M) and kaolinite (K) was examined by X-ray diffractometry and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the basal spacings of M and K were not altered, indicating that this DNA did not significantly intercalate the clays. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy showed that the binding of this DNA was primarily on the edges of M and K, although some binding was also apparent on the planar surfaces. Based on the results of these studies, it is postulated that:

Electron microscopy of clay minerals treated with salt solutions

Quasi-crystals and quasi-crystalline states of matter are a new field of research in solid-state physics. In this respect, the use of highly localized analytic methods making it possible to study the processes on the solid phase surface seems to be very promising. The interaction of soluble salts with clay minerals was studied by electron microscopy. It was found that changes in the hydrosorptive parameters of kaolinite and smectite upon their saturation with soluble salts is related not only to the influence of the residual amounts of salts but also to the transformation of the mineral particles’ structural arrangement and the formation of quasi-crystals.     

Sorption of L-methionine-sulphoximine on humic acids and clay minerals

 The sorption of L-methionine-sulphoximine (MSX) on soil-extracted humic fractions (MW>20,000 Da), and mined clays (kaolinite and montmorillonite) was studied by a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method. The molecule, acting as an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase activity, was recently used in soil incubation assays for the determination of gross rates of N mineralization. Equilibrium data of MSX adsorbed on humic fractions and clay minerals were described by both the Freundlich and Langmuir sorption isotherms. It was observed that humic fractions were more effective than mined clay minerals in removing MSX from water. Most isotherms were of Langmuir type, indicating a higher affinity of MSX for sorbing sites which become increasingly saturated at higher equilibrium concentrations. Analysis of Langmuir empirical constants revealed that different adsorbing mechanisms took place. Results showed that when MSX is applied in soil incubation assays, sorption of MSX on soil colloids considerably reduces the availability of the inhibitor to target microorganisms, and renders the method unsuitable for the determination of the gross rate of N mineralization, especially when high levels of both organic matter and clay minerals are present in the soil. Received: 19 April 1999     

Biodegradation of clay minerals under the influence of cyanobacterial-actinomycetal associations

The capacity of associations of cyanobacteria and actinomycetes to transform the structure of clay minerals (kaolin, vermiculite, mica, and montmorillonite) was experimentally revealed. First, easily weatherable vermiculite and biotite were transformed. The rate of transformation of micas to mixed-layered minerals depended on their structure: trioctahedral mica (biotite, the component of vermiculite) was changed much faster than dioctahedral mica (the component of kaolin). The lattices of all the phyllosilicates were altered (disordered and disaggregated) under the influence of the cyanobacterial-actinomycetal associations.     

不同壳聚糖改性黏土对小球藻的絮凝效应及絮凝条件优选

微藻个体微小,不易采收,为其开发利用带来了很大困难。利用酸性壳聚糖对3种不同类型的黏土矿物(膨润土、硅藻土、沸石)进行改性,制备无公害复合絮凝剂,探究其对小球藻(C.pyrenoidosa)的絮凝效果,并考察了复合絮凝剂的浓度、静置时间、藻液p H值和壳聚糖与黏土矿物的比例对絮凝率的影响。结果表明:复合絮凝剂的絮凝效果明显高于壳聚糖。其中壳聚糖改性硅藻土对小球藻的絮凝效果最佳,其最佳絮凝条件为p H值为8,壳聚糖和硅藻土的配比为1∶6,浓度为0.2 g/L,沉降120 min。在该条件下,小球藻的絮凝采收率可达到约96.16%。复合絮凝剂无毒环保,不会造成二次污染影响微藻生物质后续加工利用,是一种环境友好,安全健康的微藻絮凝剂,具有良好的应用前景。     

Composition of clay minerals and their pedogenetic and taxonomic implications for Stagnic Anthrosols derived from different parent materials in Hunan Province,China

Purpose

The aims of this study were to investigate the composition of clay minerals in soils derived from different parent materials and to elucidate how parent materials and pedogenic environment affect the distribution of clay minerals and reveal the implications for pedogenetics and taxonomy in Stagnic Anthrosols.

Materials and methods

Clay mineralogy and physicochemical properties of the Hydragric horizon of Stagnic Anthrosols derived from granite (GR), plate shale (PS), quaternary red clays (QRC), limestone (LS), purple sandy shale (PSS) and fluvial-lacustrine deposit (FLD) located in Hunan Province of China were analysed to explore the relationships between the conditions influencing the formation of the soil and the composition of clay minerals.

Results and discussion

Results indicated that the composition of clay minerals is closely related to both parent material and type of Stagnic Anthrosols: the soils derived from GR, PS and QRC, which are mostly classified as Fe-accumulic-Stagnic Anthrosols, are dominantly 1:1 type kaolinite and vermiculite and illite/vermiculite mixed layer minerals of widespread distribution. However, soils derived from LS, PSS and FLD were mainly classified as Hapli-Stagnic Anthrosols and are mainly composed of 2:1 type illite/smectite mixed layer minerals, where chlorite is commonly found. Illite is widely distributed and its content varies the least among different parent materials. An extremely significant relationship between pH and kaolinite, chlorite and mixed layer minerals was noted, and the two kinds of mixed layer minerals showed highly significant negative correlation.

Conclusions

This study revealed that the types and quantities of clay minerals in the soil are closely related to the types of parent material. This reflected better direction and degree of development in Stagnic Anthrosols, which is related to the physicochemical properties of parent material and can be used as one of the bases for the classification of soil groups and subgroups within the soil family for Stagnic Anthrosols in Chinese Soil Taxonomy.

     

Crystalline clay minerals of the soils derived from recent volcanic ashes in Hokkaido,Japan

For the past ten years much work has been carried out on clay minerals of volcanic ash soils. Most investigators have reported that allophane is dominant among clay minerals of volcanic ash soils and crystallizes to halloysite or meta-halloysite with the advance of weathering (1–8). On the other hand, UCHIYAMA, MASUI and ONIKURA (1960) found that montmorillonite predominates in the clay fraction of volcanic ash soil in Kawatabi (9). Furthermore, MASUI, SHOJI and UCHIYAMA (1966) showed that the major crystalline clay minerals of volcanic ash soils in the Tohoku district are montmorillonite, vermiculite, intergradient montmorillonite-vermiculite and chlorite (10). They also showed that these minerals increase with the advance of weathering and that kaolin minerals are minor constituents.     

矿物对溶解性有机质及其不同组分的吸附作用

溶解性有机质(Dissolved Organic Matter,DOM)在土壤矿物表面的吸附控制着其在土壤中的迁移,会影响土壤/矿物对重金属、有机污染物等的传质过程[1～3]。已往资料揭示,土壤中黏土矿物是DOM的重要吸附质;但迄今,有关DOM在不同类型黏土矿物表面吸附的差异及机制尚很不清楚。另外,不同DOM组分在土壤矿物上的吸附各异,土壤矿物对DOM不同成分的吸附具有选择性;因此分离DOM不同组分,分别研究其在土壤矿物上的吸附有助于揭示DOM与土壤矿物的结合机理,但该研究尚待深化。此外,目前研究中DOM多以土壤中提取的为主[4],对于因污泥农用等农业管理措施而从外部引入土壤的DOM的研究还较     

Bacterial growth on proteins in the presence of clay minerals

The growth of microorganisms on gelatin, bovine serum albumin and lysozyme in the presence of the clay minerals, montmorillonite and kaolinite was studied. The growth of microorganisms was diauxic, protein hydrolysis taking place in the second phase of growth. Depending on the protein-to-clay ratio, the second phase of growth could be divided into one of three types. At high protein-to-clay ratios, growth was not affected by the clay; at intermediate protein-to-clay ratios, growth rate but not final yield was reduced; and at low protein-to-clay ratios, the protein was unavailable for hydrolysis. The protein-to-clay ratios differentiating the three growth types were not well correlated with change in the affinity of adsorption of the protein to the clay and were different for different organisms.A model that explains the results is proposed. The main assumption of this model is that protein can bind strongly to clay and is either available or unavailable to proteases. The quantities of protein bound in these two modes are defined by the clay mineral, the protein and the protease.