We evaluated the effect of elemental S (S0) under three moisture (40, 60, 120% water-filled pore space; WFPS) and three temperature regimes (12, 24, 36°C) on changes in pH and available P (0.5 N NaHCO3-extractable P) concentrations in acidic (pH 4.9), neutral (pH 7.1) and alkaline (pH 10.2) soils. Repacked soil cores were incubated for 0, 14, 28 and 42 days. Application of S0 did not alter the trends of pH in acidic and neutral soils at all moisture regimes but promoted a decrease in the pH of alkaline soil under aerobic conditions (40%, 60% WFPS). Moisture and temperature had profound effects on the available P concentrations in all three soils, accumulation of available P being greatest under flooded conditions (120% WFPS) at 36°C. Application of S0 in acidic, neutral and alkaline soils resulted in the net accumulation of 16.5, 14.5 and 13 g P g–1 soil after 42 days at 60% WFPS, but had no effect under flooded conditions. The greatest available P accumulations in the respective soils were 19, 19.5 and 20 g P g–1 soil (equivalent to 38, 41, 45 kg P ha–1) with the combined effects of 36°C, 60% WFPS and applied S0. The results of our study revealed that oxidation of S0 lowered the pH of alkaline soil (r=–0.88, P<0.01), which in turn enhanced available P concentrations. Also, considering the significant relationship between the release of sulphate and accumulation of P, even in acidic soil (r=0.92, P<0.01) and neutral soil (r=0.85, P<0.01) where the decrease in pH was smaller, it is possible that the stimulatory effect of sulphate on the availability of P was due to its concurrent desorption from the colloidal surface, release from fixation sites and/or mineralization of organic P. Thus, in the humid tropics and irrigated subtropics where high moisture and temperature regimes are prevalent, the application of S0 could be beneficial not only in alleviating S deficiency in soils but also for enhancing the availability of P in arable soils, irrespective of their initial pH. 相似文献
Under semiarid Mediterranean climatic conditions, soils typically have low organic matter content and weak structure resulting in low infiltration rates. Aggregate stability is a quality indicator directly related to soil organic matter, which can be redistributed within soil by tillage. Long-term effects (1983–1996) of tillage systems on water stability of pre-wetted and air dried aggregates, soil organic carbon (SOC) stratification and crop production were studied in a Vertic Luvisol with a loam texture. Tillage treatments included conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT) and zero tillage (ZT) under winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and vetch (Vicia sativa L.) rotation (W–V), and under continuous monoculture of winter wheat or winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) (CM). Aggregate stability of soil at a depth of 0–5 cm was much greater when 1–2 mm aggregates were vacuum wetted prior to sieving (83%) than when slaked (6%). However, slaking resulted in tillage effects that were consistent with changes in SOC. Aggregate stability of slaked aggregates was greater under ZT than under CT or MT in both crop rotations (i.e., 11% vs. 3%, respectively).
SOC under ZT tended to accumulate in the surface soil layer (0–5 and 5–10 cm) at the expense of deeper ones. At depths of 10–20 and 20–30 cm no differences in SOC were encountered among tillage systems, but CT exhibited the highest concentration at 30–40 cm depth. Nevertheless, when comparisons were made on mass basis (Mg ha−1), significant differences in stocked SOC were observed at depths of 0–10 and 0–20 cm, where ZT had the highest SOC content in both rotations. The stock of SOC to a depth of 40 cm, averaged across crop rotations, was greater under ZT (43 Mg ha−1) than under CT (41 Mg ha−1) and MT (40 Mg ha−1) although these figures were not significantly different. Likewise, no significant differences were encountered in the stock of SOC to a depth of 40 cm among crop rotations (i.e., 42 Mg ha−1 for W–V vs. 40 Mg ha−1 for CM).
Crop production with wheat–vetch and continuous cereal showed no differences among tillage systems. Yields were strongly limited by the environmental conditions, particularly the amount of rainfall received in the crop growth season and its distribution. Similar yield and improved soil properties under ZT suggests that it is a more sustainable system for the semiarid Mediterranean region of Spain. 相似文献
Chromusterts and Pellusterts located in India represent 20 % of the 257 million ha of Vertisols found worldwide. These soils are commonly associated with soils that exhibit vertick characteristics, such as Ustochrepts and Ustropepts, but that are too shallow (< 50 cm) to be classified as Vertisols; India has 20 million ha of such soils. Nitrogen is generally deficient in these soils, irrespective of their depth. N response of sorghum on the Vertisols is good even under rainfed conditions. Over a period of 5 years (1982, 83, 84, 85, and 87) the responses of sorghum to applied N on a deep Pellustert and a shallow vertic Ustochrept were compared and, with the use of labelled fertilizer, the fate of N was traced through the soil-plant system. It is clear from the results that, when weather conditions were favorable, response to applied N was excellent and losses were low, irrespective of soil depth. However, when periods of excessive rainfall occurred, the loss of native and applied N apparently increased rapidly, particularly in the shallow Ustochrept where rooting is largely limited to the top 50 cm. Losses of N from applied urea were up to threefold higher in the shallow Ustochrept than in the deep Pellustert; these losses, together with the rapid loss of applied NO3, suggest that leaching is the predominant cause of N loss. Nitrogen application rates should be adjusted on the basis of rainfall during the early part of the growing season. Due to the unpredictability of the rainfall pattern following fertilizer application, NO3 sources should be avoided and nitrogen split as frequently as possible on the shallow vertic Ustochrepts of the Indian semi-arid tropics. 相似文献
Patches where shrubs have either positive or negative effects on their understory plant community are common in arid ecosystems. The intensity and balance of these effects change along environmental severity gradients but, despite the major role of soil microbes in plant interactions, little is known about the differences among soil microbial communities under these species and their possible influence on such contrasting shrub effects. We hypothesized that microbial communities associated to benefactor and allelopathic shrubs would differ among them and that differences would increase with environmental severity. To test these hypotheses we characterized soil microbial biomass, activity and community composition under a benefactor shrub species, Retama sphaerocarpa, an allelopathic shrub species, Thymus hyemalis, and in bare soil among plants (gaps) at three sites along an environmental severity gradient. Shrubs promoted an increase in soil bacterial diversity, being bacterial communities associated to benefactor shrubs, allelopathic shrubs and gaps different in composition. Microbial enzymatic activity and biomass increased under shrubs and under more mesic conditions; nonetheless, they were highest under benefactor shrubs at the most arid site and under allelopathic shrubs at the less severe site. Compared to gaps, the presence of shrubs induced changes in microbial activity and community composition that were larger at the most severe site than at the less severe site. Along the gradient, benefactor shrubs enhanced the abundance of bacterial groups involved in organic matter decomposition and N fixation as well as plant pathogens, which could contribute to Retama's outstanding positive effects on understory plant biomass and diversity. Plant patches mitigate the effects of extreme conditions on associated plant and soil microbial communities and promote soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in arid ecosystems, with shrubs actively selecting for specific microbial groups in their understory. 相似文献
Soil amendment with manures from intensive animal industries is nowadays a common practice that may favorably or adversely affect several soil properties, including soil microbial activity. In this work, the effect of consecutive annual additions of pig slurry (PS) at rates of 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 m3 ha−1 y−1 over a 4-year period on soil chemical properties and microbial activity was investigated and compared to that of an inorganic fertilization and a control (without amendment). Field plot experiment conducted under a continuous barley monoculture and semiarid conditions were used. Eight months after the fourth yearly PS and mineral fertilizer application (i.e. soon after the fourth barley harvest), surface soil samples (Ap horizon, 0-15 cm depth) from control and amended soils were collected and analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), contents of total organic C, total N, available P and K, microbial biomass C, basal respiration and different enzymatic activities. The control soil had a slightly acidic pH (6.0), a small EC (0.07 dS m−1), adequate levels of total N (1.2 g kg−1) and available K (483 mg kg−1) for barley growth, and small contents of total organic C (13.2 g kg−1) and available P (52 mg kg−1). With respect to the control and mineral fertilized soils, the PS-amended soils had greater pH values (around neutrality or slightly alkaline), electrical conductivities (still low) and contents of available P and K, and slightly larger total N contents. A significant decrease of total organic C was observed in soils amended at high slurry rate (12.3 g kg−1). Compared with the control and mineral treatments, which produced almost similar results, the PS-amended soils were characterized by a higher microbial biomass C content (from 311 to 442 g kg−1), microbial biomass C/total organic C ratio (from 2.3 to 3.6%) and dehydrogenase (from 35 to 173 μg INTF g−1), catalase (from 5 to 24 μmol O2 g−1 min−1), BAA-protease (from 0.7 to 1.9 μmol g−1 h−1) and β-glucosidase (from 117 to 269 μmol PNP g−1 h−1) activities, similar basal respirations (from 48 to 77 μg C-CO2 g−1 d−1) and urease activities (from 1.5 to 2.2 μmol g−1 h−1), and smaller metabolic quotients (from 6.4 to 7.7 ng C-CO2 μg−1 biomass C h−1) and phosphatese activities (from 374 to 159 μmol PNP g−1 h−1). For example, statistical analysis of experimental data showed that, with the exception of metabolic quotient and total organic C content, these effects generally increased with increasing cumulative amount of PS. In conclusion, cumulative PS application to soil over time under semiarid conditions may produce not only beneficial effects but also adverse effects on soil properties, such us the partial mineralization of soil organic C through extended microbial oxidation. Thus, PS should not be considered as a mature organic amendment and should be treated appropriately before it is applied to soil, so as to enhance its potential as a soil organic fertilizer. 相似文献