Soil moisture pre-treatment effects on enzyme activities as indicators of heavy metal-contaminated and reclaimed soils

Heavy metal contamination can inhibit soil functions but it is often difficult to determine the degree of pollution or when soil reclamation is complete. Enzyme assays offer potential as indicators of biological functioning of soils. However, antecedent water content of soil samples may affect the outcome of biological measurements. In Mediterranean regions, for much of the year ‘field moist’ surface soil can have water content similar to that of air-dry samples. The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine the sensitivity of a range of enzyme assays to detect the degree of pollution from a heavy metal mine spill; (2) evaluate rewetting field-dry soil as a pre-treatment for enzyme assays; and (3) test multivariate analysis for improving discrimination between polluted, reclaimed and non-polluted soils. The Aznalcóllar mining effluent spill provided a unique opportunity to address these objectives. This accident released toxic, heavy metal-contaminated (As, Bi, Cd, Cu, Pb, Tl, Zn…) and acid tailings into the Guadiamar watershed (SW Spain) in 1998, severely affecting the riparian zone along more than 4000 ha. Contaminated soils were collected from the highly polluted upper watershed and less polluted lower watershed along with reclaimed soil at both sites. Enzyme activities (phosphatases, arylsulfatase, β-glucosidase, urease and dehydrogenase) were assessed on both field-moist samples and soils rewetted to 80% of water-holding capacity and then incubated at 21 °C for 7 d prior to the assay. The reclaimed soils had higher activities than polluted soils but, typically, 1.5-3 times lower levels of activity than the non-polluted soil. Regardless of the moisture pre-treatment, all enzymes showed significant effects due to pollution, with urease and β-glucosidase showing the greatest discrimination between degrees of contamination. In general, rewetting field-dried soils increased activities on non-polluted and reclaimed soils which improved discrimination with polluted soils. Another method to increase the potential of soil enzyme activities to detect soil contamination could be to combine them in multivariate analysis, which provides a more holistic representation of the biochemical and microbial functionality of a soil.     

Dynamics of soil microbial biomass C and soil fertility in cropland mulched with plastic film in a semiarid agro-ecosystem

Microbial biomass C (MBC) is one of the soil properties used as an indicator for the fertility status of a soil. A study was conducted on a semi-arid Loess Plateau in China. The field was planted with spring wheat and mulched with plastic film for various lengths of time. Our primary objectives were to (i) explore the influence of film mulching on soil MBC and soil fertility, and (ii) seek an effective approach of maintaining and improving sustainability of cropland mulched with plastic film in two growing seasons. Four treatments were tested, non-mulching (M0), mulching for 30 days after sowing (M30), mulching for 60 DAS (M60) and mulching for the whole growing period (Mw). An increasing air temperature with time within the growing season promoted soil MBC in the two growing seasons, but a severe drought led to a lower MBC in 2000 compared with the wet year of 1999. Film mulching promoted MBC significantly in the 2 years, but decreased soil organic carbon (SOC). SOC is very low in the experimental soil, accounting for the higher MBC/SOC ratio compared with ratios reported by others. The SOC is greatly reduced in the non-mulched and the Mw treatments compared to the M30 and M60 treatments. In conclusion, the benefits of film mulching in semi-arid agricultural systems are enormous but realizing their full potential depends on how long the mulching material is maintained during the growing season. In the system tested, it is desirable to mulch the plots for 30-60 DAS in order to enhance microbial biomass and cycling of nutrients and also to provide a more stable soil micro-environment that generates more residues in the rhizosphere.     

Soil volatile fungistasis and volatile fungistatic compounds

Fungistasis is a widespread phenomenon that can be mediated by soil microorganisms and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The relationship between soil microorganisms and VOCs is still unclear, however, and many fungistatic compounds remain to be identified. We assessed the effects of soils (soil direct fungistasis) and VOCs produced by natural soils (soil volatile fungistasis) on the spore germination of several fungi. Both strong soil direct fungistasis and soil volatile fungistasis were observed in a wide range of soils. Soil fungistasis and VOC fungistasis were significantly correlated (P<0.001). The volatile fungistatic activity of soils stopped after autoclaving. Some VOCs were identified by using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrum. VOC composition and in vitro antagonism of relatively pure commercial compounds also were measured. Some VOCs, trimethylamine, 3-methyl-2-pentanone, dimethyl disulfide, methyl pyrazine, 2,5-dimethyl-pyrazine, benzaldehyde, N,N-dimethyloctylamine and nonadecane, were produced by various fungistatic soils. Moreover, antifungal activity test of above VOCs showed that trimethylamine, benzaldehyde, and N,N-dimethyloctylamine have strong antifungal activity even at low levels (4-12 mg l⁻¹).     

孔隙结构图像分析中不同试验因素对分析结果的影响

研究了不同试验因素 (包括图像分辨率、土壤切片定向性、分析区域大小等 )对孔隙结构图像分析结果的影响以及试验误差 ,并简要介绍了用于分析土壤孔隙结构的土壤切片及数字图像的制备技术。结果表明 :不同试验因素对分析结果均会产生一定的影响 ,试验误差约在 1 0 %。这表明同一研究中应保持试验条件的相对一致以保证分析结果的可靠性和可比性     

耕层土壤颗粒表面的分形维数及其与主要土壤特性的关系

四川 1 6个耕地表层的土壤颗粒表面分形维数D为 2 80 5～ 2 942 ,其中砂土2 82 1、壤土 2 870、粘壤土 2 91 6和粘土 2 939。统计分析表明D分别与国际制粗砂粒和细砂粒含量呈极显著负相关 ,与粉粒和粘粒含量呈极显著正相关 ;它与粉粒、粘粒和有机质含量的偏相关关系达极显著水平 ,与容重的偏相关关系达显著水平     

土壤颗粒的分形特征及其应用

本文应用土壤颗粒的质量分布原理来描述土壤颗粒的分形特征。通过对10种土壤颗粒的机械组成进行分析,分别计算出它们的分形维数（D=2.489～2.896）,并分析了其与土壤质地之间的关系。同时对土壤颗粒分形维数与所对应土壤的幂函数型水分特征曲线的拟合分形维数进行比较分析,建立了二者之间的相关关系。结果表明:分形维数的大小反映了土壤质地中粘粒、粉粒和砂粒含量的变化,随粘粒含量的增多分形维数增大,随砂粒含量的增多分形维数减小;同时土壤颗粒分形维数与所对应的水分特征曲线的拟合分形维数呈现出良好的一致性,因而对所研究的土壤而言,可应用土壤颗粒的质量分形维数结合幂函数模型来估算土壤水分特性曲线。     

紫色土退化旱地的肥力恢复与重建

常规耕作的水土流失造成紫色土坡耕地土层浅薄化、土壤养分贫瘠化、土壤干旱化及土壤结构劣化等土壤肥力退化问题。 1 984～ 1 996年长期田间试验结果表明 ,聚土免耕通过垄沟网状结构可保持水土 ,其多年平均径流与土壤侵蚀模数分别为 65 7.7m3hm- 2 和5 30 .0tkm- 2 ,而常规耕作的相应值分别为 1 75 4 .0m3hm- 2 和 31 2 2 .0tkm- 2 ,通过聚土与改土结合 ,聚土免耕活土层厚度平均增加 1 1 .8cm ,聚土免耕耕作技术还通过垄沟强化培肥降低土壤容重 ,增加土壤有机质及N、P、K含量 ,改善土壤理化性状 ,恢复土壤肥力。聚土免耕作物产量比平作高 1 5 %～ 30 %。 1 996～ 1 998年秸秆覆盖实验结果表明 ,秸秆覆盖增加土壤有机质和养分含量 ,改善并维持土壤结构。聚土免耕与秸秆覆盖结合有利于土壤养分活化、土壤结构形成与维护 ,是紫色土退化旱地肥力恢复与重建的关键技术。     

坡地赤红壤不同利用模式对土壤磷和酶的影响

试验采用广东东莞花岗岩发育的坡地赤红壤为样品进行研究表明 :在坡地赤红壤的 4种利用模式中 ,旱地种植花生 ,荔枝可以有效地改善土壤的酸性 ,提高土壤肥力 ;提高土壤Al-P和Fe -P的含量 ,减少O -P的所占的比例 ,提高坡地赤红壤磷酸盐的有效性 ;增加土壤表层的脲酶和蛋白酶的活性 ,可能使土壤的磷酸酶的活性降低     

土壤有机态Cd转(活)化的影响因子及其综合作用

为实现重金属污染土壤的修复 ,本文讨论了土壤有机态Cd转 (活 )化的影响因子及其综合作用。根据统计学的判别分析发现 :EM菌为其主导影响因子 ,而非以往形态转化研究中所说的pH ,其作用机制可能主要是生物降解 ;就影响因子的综合作用效果而言 ,在有机态Cd向活化态Cd转化中 ,有效的处理组合是随着土壤 pH的改变而变化的 :pH 6.5时 ,以EM菌 1%、C/N 2 0为最佳。pH 7.0时 ,以EM菌 1%、C/N =3 5为最宜。pH 7.5时 ,EM菌 3 %、C/N =3 5才最适 ;本研究条件下有机态Cd减少和活性态Cd增加的协同转化率为 11.5 %。本研究为重金属污染土壤的修复提供了重要的理论依据     

粉煤灰施入砂姜黑土对麦田重金属元素分布影响的研究

采用盆栽试验方法 ,研究了粉煤灰施入砂姜黑土的改良效果及Cd、Cr、Pb、Hg和As等重金属元素在小麦各部位的积累与分布。结果表明 :粉煤灰施入砂姜黑土可以降低土壤容重、比重及土壤粘粒含量 ,增加孔隙和土壤渗透系数。被吸收的重金属元素主要分布在根系中 ,其次是叶片 ,在茎杆、叶鞘及籽粒中的分布极少。根系对Cd和As具有富集作用 ;籽粒中Cd、Cr、Pb、As随用灰量的增加而增加 ,Hg则减少 ,但在 3 6× 10 4kg/hm2 的用灰量范围内 ,5种重金属元素在籽粒及土壤中的含量均在安全标准之内