Effects of conventional tillage on biochemical properties of soils

Modification of soil environment by different farming practices can significantly affect crop growth. Tillage causes soil disturbance, altering the vertical distribution of soil organic matter and plant nutrient supplies in the soil surface, and it may affect the enzyme activity and microbial biomass which are responsible for transformation and cycling of organic matter and plant nutrients. In this study, the influence of three conventional tillage systems (shallow plowing, deep plowing and scarification) at different depths on the distribution and activity of enzymes, microbial biomass and nucleic acids in a cropped soil was investigated. Analysis of variance for depth and tillage showed the influence of the different tillage practices on the activity of some enzymes and on the nucleic acids. Glucosidase, galactosidase, nitrate reductase and dehydrogenase activity were significantly affected by the three tillage modalities. Activity in the upper layer (0–20 cm) was higher in the plots tilled by shallow plowing and scarification than in those tilled by deep plowing. Positive relationships were observed between the soil enzymes themselves, with the exception of urease and pyrophosphatase activity. Moreover, significant correlations were found between DNA and β-galactosidase, and between RNA and β-glucosidase, β-galactosidase, alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase. α-Glucosidase, β-galactosidase, alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase were highly correlated with biomass C determined by the fumigation-extraction method. Received: 27 June 1996     

Enzymatic activities and microbial communities in an Antarctic dry valley soil: Responses to C and N supplementation

The soils of the Antarctic dry valleys are exposed to extremely dry and cold conditions. Nevertheless, they contain small communities of micro-organisms that contribute to the biogeochemical transformations of the bioelements, albeit at slow rates. We have determined the dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, acid and alkaline phosphatase and arylsulphatase activities and the rates of respiration (CO₂ production) in laboratory assays of soils collected from a field experiment in an Antarctic dry valley. The objective of the field experiment was to test the responses of the soil microbial community to additions of C and N in simple (glucose and NH₄Cl) and complex forms (glycine and lacustrine detritus from the adjacent lake comprising principally cyanobacterial necromass). The soil samples were taken 3 years after the experimental treatments had been applied. In unamended soil, all enzyme activities and respiration were detected indicating that the enzymatic capacity to mineralize organic C, P and S compounds existed in the soil, despite the very low organic matter content. Relative to the control (unamended soil), respiration was significantly increased by all the experimental additions of C and N except the smallest NH₄Cl addition (1 mg N g⁻¹ soil) and the smallest detritus addition (1.5 mg C g⁻¹ soil and 0.13 mg N g⁻¹ soil). The activities of all enzymes except dehydrogenase were increased by C and combined large C (10 mg C g⁻¹ soil) and N additions, but either unchanged or diminished by addition of either N only or N (up to 10 mg N g⁻¹ soil) with only small C (1 mg C g⁻¹ soil) additions in the form of glucose and NH₄Cl. This suggests that in the presence of a large amount of N, the C supply for enzyme biosynthesis was limited. When normalized with respect to soil respiration, only arylsulphatase per unit of respiration showed a significant increase with C and N additions as glucose and NH₄Cl, consistent with S limitation when C and N limitations have been alleviated. Based on the positive responses of enzyme activity, detritus appeared to provide either conditions or resources which led to a larger biological response than a similar amount of C and more N added in the form of defined compounds (glucose, NH₄Cl or glycine). Assessment of the soil microbial community by ester-linked fatty acid (ELFA) analysis provided no evidence of changes in the community structure as a result of the C and N supplementation treatments. Thus the respiration and enzyme activity responses to supplementation occurred in an apparently structurally stable or unresponsive microbial community.     

小麦种子活力及其与脱氢酶活性的相关性研究

[目的]研究不同贮藏方式对小麦种子活力的影响,探讨小麦种子活力与脱氢酶活性的相关性,为小麦种子活力的检验提供理论依据。[方法]6个小麦品种（系）的种子分别采用室温密闭和低温密闭贮藏8个月,通过幼苗生长、模拟田间出苗率、电导率和脱氢酶活性测定等方法来测定贮藏前后小麦种子的活力,并进行各活力指标间的相关分析。[结果]不同品种（系）种子的耐藏性存在差异,低温密闭贮藏有利于保持种子活力 贮藏前后小麦种子的脱氢酶活性与活力指数、模拟田间出苗率均存在显著或极显著正相关,与浸泡液电导率、绝对电导率、相对电导率均存在负相关。[结论]脱氢酶活性可作为衡量小麦种子活力的较好指标之一。     

黄河三角洲撂荒地土壤氧化还原酶活性与化学性质通径分析

为正确评价典型盐碱土壤化学性质对土壤氧化还原酶活性的影响, 运用通径分析法研究了黄河三角洲撂荒地土壤氧化还原酶活性与土壤化学性质的关系.结果表明, 土壤氧化还原酶活性关于土壤化学性质的标准化多元线性回归方程分别可以解释84.63%的过氧化氢酶活性变化和88.03%的过氧化物酶活性变化, 剩余通径系数分别为0.392 0和0.346 0.速效钾和有机质对过氧化氢酶活性有显著积极影响, 速效钾对过氧化物酶活性有显著积极影响, 全氮对过氧化物酶活性有显著消极影响.     

Cu对猪粪堆肥过程中堆料性质和氧化还原类酶活性的影响

以猪粪和秸秆为主要试验材料, 添加不同浓度重金属Cu, 采取发酵罐处理方法, 在好氧高温条件下研究了重金属Cu对猪粪堆肥过程中多酚氧化酶、脱氢酶活性的变化, 以及堆腐过程堆体温度、堆料pH、胡敏酸E4/E6值变化的影响。结果表明: 不添加外源重金属Cu的CK处理在降温期堆温高于Cu含量为100 mg·kg^-1、500 mg·kg^-1的堆料; CK堆料pH最低点为5.94, E4/E6平均值为3.88。Cu含量为500 mg·kg^-1的堆料pH最高点为8.85, E4/E6平均值为3.68。Cu含量为100 mg·kg^-1的堆料升温快, 高温期持续时间长, 最高温度高于CK和Cu含量为500 mg·kg^-1的堆料, 能有效杀灭病原微生物, 达到无害化处理要求; 堆料pH控制在7~8之间, E4/E6大多情况低于CK和Cu含量为500 mg·kg^-1的堆料, 多酚氧化酶平均活性、脱氢酶平均活性均最高, 但在脱氢酶活性测定中表现出“抗性酶活性现象”。     

超干处理两种落叶松种子的生理生化特征研究

采用硅胶干燥法, 将两种落叶松种子含水量由自然含水量降至5%以下, 测定不同含水量种子老化前后的发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数、相对电导率、脱氢酶和异柠檬酸裂解酶活性。结果表明: 长白落叶松种子含水量降至3.02%时, 种子各发芽指标在老化前后保持在较高水平, 且老化前的活力指数及老化后的发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数显著高于自然干燥种子; 在此含水量下, 老化后种子脱氢酶和异柠檬酸裂解酶活性显著高于自然干燥种子, 相对电导率比后者低, 说明长白落叶松种子以含水量为3.02%时储藏较为适宜。兴安落叶松种子含水量为2.63%时, 各发芽指标均高于自然干燥种子, 且老化前除发芽势外各发芽指标及老化后各发芽指标差异显著; 此含水量下, 老化后种子脱氢酶和异柠檬酸裂解酶活性显著高于自然干燥种子, 相对电导率比后者低, 比其他含水量种子表现出更强的抗老化能力, 说明兴安落叶松种子较适宜在2.63%含水量下储藏。     

TTC法测定水稻土泥浆中脱氢酶活性的影响因素

以厌氧水稻土泥浆为供试材料,采用不同质量浓度2,3,5-氯化三苯基四氮唑(TTC)、反应时间、萃取剂及测定波长等条件,对影响水稻土泥浆中脱氢酶活性测定的因素进行探讨。结果表明,10g/L TTC的灵敏度最高,10～20g/L可作为测定水稻土泥浆中脱氢酶活性的适宜质量浓度;相应的脱氢酶活性在0.25h时最高,并随着反应时间的延长而逐渐降低。乙醇和丙酮对三苯基甲臜(TF)的萃取效果优于甲醇和甲苯,且0.2h为最佳的萃取时间。通过比较标准体系和泥浆体系的差异,TF的最佳吸收峰为480nm。测定土壤泥浆脱氢酶的最佳条件为10g/L TTC,恒温水浴反应0.25h,乙醇萃取0.2h,在480nm下比色测定TF的生成量。     

Inhibitory effects of the total and water-soluble concentrations of nine different metals on the dehydrogenase activity of a loess soil

 This study focuses on a comparison of the microbial toxicity of nine metals, including As as a metalloid and two species of Cr. A loess soil [Ap horizon, clay 15.2%, organic C 1.12%, pH(CaCl₂) 7.02] was spiked with 8–12 geometrically increasing doses of the metals. The dehydrogenase assay (2-p-iodophenyl-3-p-nitrophenyl-5-phenyltetrazoliumchloride method) was combined with sorption and solubility experiments. The resulting dose-response curves and sorption isotherms were used to derive total doses that caused definite percentage inhibitions [i.e. effective doses (ED) causing a 10–90% reduction in dehydrogenase activity (dha)] as well as the corresponding toxic solution concentrations causing the same reductions in dha (i.e. effective concentrations; EC₁₀–EC₉₀). Based on total doses, the toxicity decreased in the following order with ED₅₀ values (mg kg^–1) given in brackets: Hg (2.0)>Cu (35)>Cr(VI) (71)>Cr(III) (75)>Cd (90)>Ni (100)>Zn (115)>As (168)>Co (582)>Pb (652). With regard to solution concentrations, toxicity decreased in the order (EC₅₀ in mg l^–1): Hg (0.003)>Pb (0.04)>Cu (0.05)>Cd (0.14)>Zn (0.19)>Cr(III) (0.62)>Ni (0.69)>Co (30.6)>As (55.5)>Cr(VI) (78.1). The retention of the metals by the soil differed strongly. Pb, Cu, and Hg exhibited the highest and Ni, As, and Cr(VI) the lowest sorption constants (Freundlich K values: 2455, 724, 348, 93, 13, and 0.06 mg kg^–1, respectively). The sorptivity of the metals and their microbial toxicity in the aqueous phase were characteristically related: metals with a strong toxic action in the soil solution were adsorbed by the soil to a high degree and vice versa. Therefore, especially for metals with a high inherent toxicity, sorption is an effective way of immobilizing them and temporarily detoxifying soil. Received: 2 July 1998     

Microbial response of an acid forest soil to experimental soil warming

 Effects of increased soil temperature on soil microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity were examined on organic (O) horizon material in a low-elevation spruce-fir ecosystem. Soil temperature was maintained at 5  °C above ambient during the growing season in the experimental plots, and soil temperature, moisture, microbial biomass, and dehydrogenase activity were measured during the experiment. An incubation study was also conducted under three temperature regimes, 5, 15, and 25  °C, and under four moisture regimes of 20, 120, 220, and 320% to further evaluate these environmental factors on dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass. Soil moisture content and microbial biomass controls were significantly lower (30% and 2 μg g^–1 soil, respectively) in the heated plots during the treatment period, suggesting that moisture content was important in controlling microbial biomass. In the incubation study, temperature appeared more important than moisture in controlling microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity. Increasing temperature between 5  °C and 25  °C resulted in significant decreases in microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity. Received: 7 August 1998     

Lasting microbiological and biochemical effects of the addition of municipal solid waste to an arid soil

 This paper reports the effect of the addition of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste at two different rates on the microbiological and biochemical properties of an arid soil after 8 years. The vegetation that appeared spontaneously just after the amendment was still present 8 years later. The organic matter fractions were higher in the amended soil than in the control soil. Amended soil showed higher values of microbial biomass C, soil basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity than control soil, which reached values near to those of the natural soils in the area. The organic amendment had a positive effect on the activity of enzymes related with C, N, P cycles, particularly when the amendment was at the highest dose. This effect could be also observed on the activity of extracted enzymes. The results indicated that the addition of urban waste could be a suitable technique with which to restore soil quality. Received: 3 July 1998