Shifts in microbial diversity through land use intensity as drivers of carbon mineralization in soil

Land use practices alter the biomass and structure of soil microbial communities. However, the impact of land management intensity on soil microbial diversity (i.e. richness and evenness) and consequences for functioning is still poorly understood. Here, we addressed this question by coupling molecular characterization of microbial diversity with measurements of carbon (C) mineralization in soils obtained from three locations across Europe, each representing a gradient of land management intensity under different soil and environmental conditions. Bacterial and fungal diversity were characterized by high throughput sequencing of ribosomal genes. Carbon cycling activities (i.e., mineralization of autochthonous soil organic matter, mineralization of allochthonous plant residues) were measured by quantifying ¹²C- and ¹³C-CO₂ release after soils had been amended, or not, with ¹³C-labelled wheat residues. Variation partitioning analysis was used to rank biological and physicochemical soil parameters according to their relative contribution to these activities. Across all three locations, microbial diversity was greatest at intermediate levels of land use intensity, indicating that optimal management of soil microbial diversity might not be achieved under the least intensive agriculture. Microbial richness was the best predictor of the C-cycling activities, with bacterial and fungal richness explaining 32.2 and 17% of the intensity of autochthonous soil organic matter mineralization; and fungal richness explaining 77% of the intensity of wheat residues mineralization. Altogether, our results provide evidence that there is scope for improvement in soil management to enhance microbial biodiversity and optimize C transformations mediated by microbial communities in soil.     

The influence of temperature on the growth and sulfur uptake of oats (Avena sativa L.)

Abstract

Oats were grown in perlite and nutrient solution at temperatures varying from 10/5°C (day/night) to 36/31°C. The optimum temperature for growth of tops was found to be 27°C day/22°C night over an eight week period. Plant S content showed an inverse relationship with yield.

Uptake of S was low at low temperature (10/5, 15/10°C), but was balanced by retarded growth at this temperature. Hence, uptake did not restrict growth at low temperature.     

农田生态系统中氮循环模型研究进展

农田生态系统中的氮循环是影响农业生产力的主要因素之一,同时也会对环境产生影响。在农田生态系统氮循环的研究中模型已成为重要的工具而受到人们关注。在介绍国际上发表的模型基础上,阐述了目前一些比较成功的模型的研究进展,并指出了今后模型发展的趋势。     

Enhancement of revegetation on construction fill by fertilizer and topsoil application: Effect on mycorrhizal infection

The influence of topsoil and fertilizer application on denuded road construction sites was evaluated to assess its contribution to improvement of vegetation re-establishment. the study sites were within a mixed hardwood and conifer forest on crushed, unweathered subsurface material with low fertility and low biological activity. Topsoils were removed from the site, stockpiled and reapplied to the site after construction. the effect of topsoil amendment on plant growth, soil fertility, mycorrhizal infection and an index of microbial biomass were measured in field and greenhouse experiments. Plant growth on the topsoil amended field plots were greatly increased relative to treatments with fertilizer but no topsoil. Three years after establishment, dry weight production on the plots without topsoil treatment was about 40 per cent of the plots treated with topsoil. Greenhouse experiments were designed to compare fresh, dried and stockpiled topsoil. These experiments indicated that storage of the harvested topsoil for five months in a stockpile had minor effects on plant growth, soil fertility, mycorrhizal infection and microbial biomass. Topsoil volumes had to exceed 20 per cent of the total soil volume to achieve statistically significant benefits and higher ratios showed greater benefit. the percentage of mycorrhizal infection was greatest in topsoil treatments without fertilizer. the addition of fertilizer increased growth but reduced the percentage of roots forming mycorrhizae. When the total weight of infected roots was calculated, however, infection was found to be greatest with a moderate level of fertilizer (equivalent to approximately 27 kg N ha⁻¹ and 39 kg P ha⁻¹), and was less in both higher fertilizer treatments and in unfertilized treatments. Topsoil amendment increased microbial biomass nitrogen but fertilizer treatment did not.     

INTEGRATED CROP-LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS: LESSONS FROM NEW YORK,BRITISH COLUMBIA,AND THE SOUTH-EASTERN UNITED STATES

• Livestock production in North America has moved to fewer farms with greater inventories • Land application of livestock manures is a preferred nutrient recycling strategy • Confined animal feeding operations have challenges to utilize livestock manure sustainably • Integration of livestock and cropping systems is possible on a farm or among farms • Nutrient balance is needed for environmental sustainability Livestock production in the United States (US) and Canada is diverse, but shows a common trend in most livestock sectors toward fewer farms producing the majority of animal products despite a large number of farms still small in production scale. The migration to larger and more concentrated animal feeding operations in beef finishing and poultry, swine, and dairy production allows processors to streamline supplies to meet market demand for abundant, low-cost livestock products, whether that be for packaged meat, dairy products, or eggs. With concentration of livestock operations comes the challenge of managing manures. When sufficient land is available and nutrients are needed, livestock manure is an excellent nutrient source and land application is the preferred method of recycling this resource. However, when livestock production is constrained in a geographical area and animal densities are high, manure may become an environmental liability with potentially greater risk for runoff and leaching of nutrients, emission of odors, ammonia, and greenhouse gases, and release to the environment of pathogens and chemicals of emerging concern. Addressing these challenges now and into the future requires learning from mistakes and adopting successful approaches. We describe different levels of integration between livestock and crop producers in New York, British Columbia, and the south-eastern US as learning opportunities to improve economic and environmental sustainability. Examples show that effective solutions should recognize (1) manure has value and is not just a cost, (2) farmers, farm advisors, extension educators, nutrient management planners, crop advisors, nutritionists, state agency personnel, regulators, and university researchers need to be active participants in development of solutions, and (3) change to a sustainable future requires a combination of government regulation and outcome-based incentives.     

磷酸盐氧同位素技术在土壤磷循环中的应用

磷是土壤生态系统中的重要组成元素,开展土壤磷循环研究对提高磷肥利用效率和降低磷的生态环境风险具有重要意义。磷酸盐氧同位素技术已经被证明是一种示踪环境中磷生物地球化学行为的有效方法。本文系统综述了磷酸盐氧同位素技术的研究进展和未来发展方向。详细介绍了磷酸盐氧同位素的技术原理、样品处理和测定方法;阐述了无机磷和有机磷的氧同位素特征及时空分布特征;从评估土壤磷微生物利用状况和示踪土壤磷循环两个方面探讨了磷酸盐氧同位素技术在土壤磷循环研究中的应用前景,分析了磷来源、环境条件、生物活动和样品前处理过程对土壤磷酸盐氧同位素特征的影响,最后展望了该技术未来的研究方向。以期为磷酸盐氧同位素技术在土壤学和环境科学领域的发展和应用提供新的视角和科学指导。     

稻虾共作模式氮和磷循环特征及平衡状况

稻虾共作模式是我国长江中下游地区一种新兴的稻田复合种养生态模式,研究稻虾共作系统中氮（N）和磷（P）的循环特征及盈亏状况,对合理调控稻虾共作系统养分循环和平衡,指导系统N和P优化管理具有重要的意义。本文通过田间试验,采用投入产出法,以中稻单作模式作为对照,研究了稻虾共作模式下N和P的循环特征及平衡状况。结果表明：克氏原螯虾子系统N和P的输出/输入比分别为0.62和0.44,且子系统中N和P以饲料输入最大,占总输入的92.9%和96.4%,以成虾N和P输出最大,分别占总输出的53.3%和59.5%;在目前投入水平下,两种模式土壤子系统中N和P表观平衡均出现盈余,且稻虾共作模式土壤子系统N的盈余量高于中稻单作模式,而P的盈余量则低于中稻单作模式;稻虾共作模式和中稻单作模式的N和P输出/输入比均小于1,且稻虾共作模式的N和P输出/输入比均小于中稻单作模式;稻虾共作模式增加了土壤截存的N和P量,其土壤截存的N和P量较中稻单作模式分别提高49.2 kg·hm^-2和9.1 kg·hm^-2;稻虾共作模式提高了系统N和P表观损失量,其系统N和P表观损失量较中稻单作模式分别提高10.2 kg·hm^-2和1.0 kg·hm^-2。可见稻虾共作模式降低了N和P输出/输入比,促进了土壤中N和P的累积,但增加了系统N和P表观损失量。     

Impacts of wetting-drying cycles on short-term carbon and nitrogen dynamics in Amynthas earthworm casts

Effects of earthworm casts on soil nutrient dynamics and their responses to changing moisture availability in subtropical ecosystems remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine short-term carbon(C) and nitrogen(N) dynamics and their interactions with wetting-drying cycles in three different structural forms(i.e., granular, globular, and heap-like) of Amynthas earthworm casts. The rates of C and N mineralization in the earthworm casts were examined under two different wetting-drying cycles(i.e., 2-d and 4-d wetting intervals) using a rainfall simulation experiment. After three simulated rainfall events, subsamples of the earthworm casts were further incubated for 4 d for the determination of CO_2 and N_2O fluxes. The results of this study indicated that the impacts of wetting-drying cycles on the short-term C and N dynamics were highly variable among the three cast forms, but wetting-drying cycles significantly reduced the cumulative CO_2 and N_2O fluxes by 62%–83% and 57%–85%, respectively, when compared to the control without being subjected to any rainfall events. The C mineralization rates in different cast forms were affected by the amount of organic substrates and N content in casts, which were associated with the food preference and selection of earthworms. Meanwhile, the cumulative N_2O fluxes did not differ among the three cast forms. Repeated wetting and drying of casts not only enhanced aggregate stability by promoting bonds between the cast particles, but also inhibited microbial survival and growth during the prolonged drying period, which together hindered decomposition and denitrification. Our findings demonstrated that the interactions between the structural forms, aggregate dynamics, and C and N cycling in the earthworm casts were highly complex.     

稳定13C同位素示踪技术在农田土壤碳循环和团聚体 固碳研究中的应用进展

农田土壤有机碳库是全球碳循环的重要组成部分,其积累和分解直接影响陆地生态系统碳贮藏与全球碳平衡。土壤团聚体是土壤结构的物质基础和土壤肥力的重要载体,也是土壤有机碳的固定场所。稳定~(13)C同位素示踪技术是研究土壤碳动态变化的有效手段,能够揭示新输入碳在土壤及团聚体中赋存状态、周转过程以及微生物的调节机制。本文主要归纳与阐述了稳定~(13)C同位素示踪技术在农田土壤有机碳循环及土壤团聚体固碳机理方面的研究进展,提出~(13)C同位素示踪技术在未来土壤碳循环和固碳机制方面的主要研究方向。     

铅锌尾矿中砷代谢功能基因的多样性

Microbial activities impact arsenic (As) transformation in mine tailings substantially,yet little is understood on the functional diversity of As metabolism genes.This study explored this issue using a metagenomic approach coupled by a local BLASTN procedure established in our recent studies.An assembled metagenome,recovered from hypersaline and sulfidic mine tailings,was screened for As metabolism genes aioA,arrA,arsC and arsM.This was done using a local BLASTN procedure against databases of the As metabolism genes built in this study.Putative As metabolism genes detected in the assembled metagenome included 11 arsM,20 arsC and 1 arrA full-length sequences.Together with the rRNA-based phylogenetic profiling results,a picture depicting microbial As cycling in the tailings to the genus level was obtained.It was found that most of the dominant genera in the tailings potentially harboured the genes for As reduction and/or methylation.In particular,a typical pyrite-eater present in the tailings,Thioalkalivibrio sp.,was found to harbour not only arsC and arsM,but also arrA.These results highlight the unexpected diversity of As metabolism genes in the tailings,especially considering the extremely low species diversity therein.The microbial As cycling picture established here has potential use for guiding the purposeful manipulation of As biogeochemistry in the tailings.