The chemistry of humic and fulvic acids extracted from argentine soils—I. Analytical characteristics

Five humic and three fulvic acids were extracted from Argentine Chestnut, Brunizem, Solod and Solonetz soils and analysed by electrometric, spectroscopic and spectrometric methods. There were great similarities in elementary analysis, functional group content, absorption characteristics in the visible region and in the IR, and in the ESR measurements between the humic acids and, similarly, between the fulvic acids. There were distinct differences between the humic and fulvic acids in C, H, N and O content, distribution of oxygen in functional groups, E₄/E₆ ratios and free radical content.     

The redox characteristics of four peat profiles

In several previous observations on peat soils, redox potentials appeared to vary with season and depth. To clarify this variation, a systematic study was made over 1 yr at four peat sites, including wet and dry areas at high and low altitude in northern England.The coefficients of linear regressions of redox potential on seasonal temperatures became progressively more negative with increasing depth at all four sites. These observations support an hypothesis that increased aeration accompanying increased temperature played a role at the surface, but was of less importance in the deeper layers, where the reducing conditions that result from microbial activity were dominant.By using orthogonal polynomials, it was possible to demonstrate the existence of redox minima in the profiles at all sites. There were rather more minima present using this method at the lowland sites that at the upland ones where trends of redox with depth were otherwise linear or non-significant. Although the mean redox potentials over whole profiles were lower in the wetter sites than the drier, the mean depths of the redox minima were similar. These mean depths were poorly defined however having standard deviations of 30–50 per cent of the means calculated from the year's observations.Finally, it was shown that although the potentials were measured 60 s after closing the circuit, very similar conclusions would have been reached if the readings had been taken after 10 s.     

The arthropods associated with the decomposition of some common grass and weed species in the soil

The arthropod fauna associated with the decomposition of herbage of various species on the surface of the soil was studied. Litter of Rumex, Urtica, Ranunculus, Senecio and Lolium disappeared rapidly at first and thereafter at a slower rate. Dactylis disappeared more slowly than the other litters over the first 6$\text{1}\text{2}$ months but its rate of disappearance thereafter was greater than that of the other species. There were quantitative and qualitative differences between the microarthropod communities associated with the various litters. Highest populations of microarthropods were recorded from Dactylis. Dactylis and Lolium were the most similar in the species composition of their faunas. Changes occurred in the relative abundance of various arthropod groups and species during the course of decomposition in all litters.     

Electron microscopical studies of chlamydospores of Fusarium solani F. cucurbitae formed in natural soil

Macroconidia of Fusarium solani f. cucurbitae were placed into natural soil, incubated for various times, recovered and examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. Lysis of macroconidia and formation of chlamydospores were studied and the fine structure of these propagules and their associated microflora was investigated. The two most obvious features of chlamydospore morphology were the sloughing of outer wall layers and the accretion of micro-fibrillar elements adjacent to the plasmalemma. Chlamydospore formation was partially suppressed by addition of nitrogenous compounds to the soil.     

STUDIES OF RESPONSE TO FERTILIZER NITROGEN

The effects of 59, 118 or 177 kg N/ha were measured on 7 occasions from 8 to 57 days after application to a perennial ryegrass sward in terms of changes in composition. The first increase Dt of N significantly raised percentages of CP, non-protein N, K, P, Ca, Na and Mg and significantly depressed percentages of DM, OM and OM digestihility. The second increment of N resulted in a further rise in the percentages of CP, true protein, non-protein N, K, P, Ca, Na and Mg; the percentages of DM and OM were further depressed but OM digestihility was not significantly depressed. Percentages of P and Na showed increased responses for the more mature herbage; while percentage non-protein N showed a more marked response in younger herbage. As herbage matured percentages of OM and Na rose, the latter only from days 16 to 45. All other attributes showed falling percentages to levels which could be inadequate for a 500 kg dairy cow yielding 15 kg milk. CP percentage reached this critical level (1.4% N) at days 37, 45 or 56 given 59, 118 or 177 kg N/ha; P percentage became critically low (< 0.36%) at days 27, 35 or 38, respectively; Mg percentage fell to the critical level (0.12%) at days 23, 35 and 46. Na percentage showed the reverse trend, being deficient (< 0.13%) in the earliest samples and becoming satisfactory from days 23 or 27 at 118 and 177 kg N/ha but it remained inadequate at 59 kg N/ba.     

Some enzyme and respiratory activities of tropical soils from new hebrides

Activities of invertase and amylase and respiratory activities of samples of 11 soils from New Hebrides were determined. The soils mostly were under forest and were acid with medium to low C/N ratios. Invertase activities were rather low but amylase activities were similar to those found in New Zealand soils. The ratios of invertase to amylase activities were mostly low.O₂ uptakes mostly responded markedly to glucose. Most values of respiratory quotients were about 1.0. Most, but not all, dehydrogenase activities were strongly related to O₂ uptakes. On an organic C basis, these respiratory activities declined with the depths to which the soils were sampled.Biochemical activities were mostly similar in forest soils derived from basalt and from andesite. Invertase activities were lower in soils under forest than under grassland covers.All biochemical activities were correlated significantly with contents of soil moisture and organic C, less with numbers of aerobic bacteria, and negatively with soil pH. On an organic C basis, none of the biochemical activities was significantly correlated with either soil moisture content or pH.     

The abundance of Trichoderma propagules and the distribution of species in forest soils

Propagules of Trichoderma generally formed less than 3 per cent of the total fungal propagules in a variety of forest soils in the southeastern U.S. and Washington State. The largest populations were found in the F and H organic horizons of the forest floor or under conditions of excessive moisture. T. viride Pers. ex S.F. Gray and T. polysporum (Link ex Pers.) Rifai were largely restricted to cool temperate regions; whereas, T. harzianum Rifai was characteristic of warm climates. T. koningii Oud. and T. hamatum (Bon.) Bain, were the most widely distributed species aggregates and were found in all the climatic regions investigated. Under conditions of excessive moisture, strains of T. hamatum and T. pseudokoningii Rifai were the dominant forms.     

Isolation and characterization of Thiobacillus from alkali soils

Alkali soils are poor in sulphur-oxidizing bacteria. By appropriate enrichment, two bacterial strains resembling Thiobacillus thiooxidans and T. novellus have been isolated from an alkali soil. The strain of T. novellus possesses characteristics which make it suitable in reclamation of alkali soils by sulphur amendment.