Soil resource availability impacts microbial response to organic carbon and inorganic nitrogen inputs

Impacts of newly added organic carbon （C） and inorganic nitrogen （N） on the microbial utilization of soil organic matter are important in determining the future C balance of terrestrial ecosystems. We examined microbial responses to cellulose and ammonium nitrate additions in three soils with very different C and N availability. These soils included an organic soil（ 14.2% total organic C, with extremely high extractable N and low labile C）, a forest soi1（4.7% total organic C, with high labile C and extremely low extractable N）, and a grassland soil（1.6% total organic C, with low extractable N and labile C）. While cellulose addition alone significantly enhanced microbial respiration and biomass C and N in the organic and grassland soils, it accelerated only the microbial respiration in the highly-N limited forest soil. These results indicated that when N was not limited, C addition enhanced soil respiration by stimulating both microbial growth and their metabolic activity, New C inputs lead to elevated C release in all three soils, and the magnitude of the enhancement was higher in the organic and grassland soils than the forest soil. The addition of cellulose plus N to the forest and grassland soils initially increased the microbial biomass and respiration rates, but decreased the rates as time progressed. Compared to cellulose addition alone, cellulose plus N additions increased the total C-released in the grassland soil, but not in the forest soil. The enhancement of total C- released induced by C and N addition was less than 50% of the added-C in the forest soil after 96 d of incubation, in contrast to 87.5% and 89.0% in the organic and grassland soils. These results indicate that indigenous soil C and N availability substantially impacts the allocation of organic C for microbial biomass growth and/or respiration, potentially regulating the turnover rates of the new organic C inputs.     

Heavy metal availability and impact on activity of soil microorganisms along a Cu/Zn contamination gradient

All the regulations that define a maximum concentration of metals in the receiving soil are based on total soil metal concentration. However, the potential toxicity of a heavy metal in the soil depends on its speciation and availability. We studied the effects of heavy metal speciation and availability on soil microorganism activities along a Cu/Zn contamination gradient. Microbial biomass and enzyme activity of soil contaminated with both Cu and Zn were investigated. The results showed that microbial biomass was negatively affected by the elevated metal levels. The microbial biomass-C （Cmic）/organic C （Corg） ratio was closely correlated to heavy metal stress. There were negative correlations between soil microbial biomass, phosphatase activity and NH4NO3 extractable heavy metals. The soil microorganism activity could be predicted using empirical models with the availability of Cu and Zn. We observed that 72% of the variation in phosphatase activity could be explained by the NH4NO3-extractable and total heavy metal concentration. By considering different monitoring approaches and different viewpoints, this set of methods applied in this study seemed sensitive to site differences and contributed to a better understanding of the effects of heavy metals on the size and activity of microorganisms in soils. The data presented demonstrate the relationship between heavy metals availability and heavy metal toxicity to soil microorganism along a contamination gradient.     

Soil microbial community structure and function responses to successive planting of Eucalyptus

Many studies have shown soil degradation after the conversion of native forests to exotic Eucalyptus plantations. However, few studies have investigated the long-term impacts of short-rotation forestry practices on soil microorganisms. The impacts of Eucalyptus successive rotations on soil microbial communities were evaluated by comparing phospholipid fatty acid （PLFA） abundances, compositions, and enzyme activities of native Pinus massoniana plantations and adjacent 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation Eucalyptus plantations. The conversion from P. massoniana to Eucalyptus plantations significantly decreased soil microbial community size and enzyme activities, and increased microbial physiological stress. However, the PLFA abundances formed ＂U＂ shaped quadratic functions with Eucalyptus plantation age. Alternatively, physiological stress biomarkers, the ratios of monounsaturated to saturated fatty acid and Gram＋ to Gram- bacteria, formed ＂∩＂ shaped quadratic functions, and the ratio of cy17：0 to 16： 1ω7c decreased with plantation age. The activities of phenol oxidase, peroxidase, and acid phosphatase increased with Eucalyptus plantation age, while the cellobiobydrolase activity formed ＂U＂ shaped quadratic functions. Soil N：P, alkaline hydrolytic nitrogen, soil organic carbon, and understory cover largely explained the variation in PLFA profiles while soil N：P, alkaline hydrolytic nitrogen, and understory cover explained most of the variability in enzyme activity. In conclusion, soil microbial structure and function under Eucalyptus plantations were strongly impacted by plantation age. Most of the changes could be explained by altered soil resource availability and understory cover associated with successive planting of Eucalyptus. Our results highlight the importance of plantation age for assessing the impacts of plantation conversion as well as the importance of reducing disturbance for plantation management.     

Variability of soil organic carbon reservation capability between coastal salt marsh and riverside freshwater wetland in Chongming Dongtan and its microbial mechanism

Two representative zones in Chongming Dongtan which faced the Yangtze River and East China Sea respectively were selected to study the variability of soil organic carbon (SOC) reservation capability between coastal wetland and riverside wetland in the Chongming Dongtan wetland as well as its mechanism by analyzing soil characteristics and plant biomass. The results showed the SOC content of riverside wetland was only 48.61% (P = 0.000 < 0.05) that of coastal wetland. As the organic matter inputs from plant litter of the coastal wetland and riverside wetland were approximately the same, the higher soil microbial respiration (SMR) of riverside wetland led to its lower SOC reservation capability. In the riverside wetland, the high soil microbial biomass, higher proportion of β-Proteobacteria, which have strong carbon metabolism activity and the existence of some specific aerobic heterotrophic bacteria such as Bacilli and uncultured Lactococcus, were the important reasons for the higher SMR compared to the coastal wetland. There were additional differences in soil physical and chemical characteristics between the coastal wetland and riverside wetlands. Path analysis of predominant bacteria and microbial biomass showed that soil salinity influenced β-Proteobacteria and microbial biomass most negatively among these physical and chemical factors. Therefore the low salinity of the riverside area was suitable for the growth of microorganisms, especially β-Proteobacteria and some specific bacteria, which led to the high SMR and low SOC reservation capability when compared to the coastal area.     

Organic carbon stock in topsoil of Jiangsu Province, China, and the recent trend of carbon sequestration

Data collection of soil organic carbon(SOC) of 154 soil series of Jiangsu, China from the second provincial soil survey and of recent changes in SOC from a number of field pilot experiments across the province were collected. Statistical analysis of SOC contents and soil properties related to organic carbon storage were performed. The provincial total topsoil SOC stock was estimated to be O. 1 Pg with an extended pool of 0.4 Pg taking soil depth of 1 m, being relatively small compared to its total land area of lOl?00 km^2. One quarter of this topsoil stock was found in the soils of the Taihu Lake region that occupied 1/6 of the provincial arable area. Paddy soils accounted for over 50% of this stock in terms of SOC distribution among the soil types in the province. Experimental data from experimental farms widely distributed in the province showed that SOC storage increased consistently over the last 20 years despite a previously reported decreasing tendency during the period between 1950--1970. The evidence indicated that agricultural management practices such as irrigation, straw return and rotation of upland crops with rice or wheat crops contributed significantly to the increase in SOC storage. The annual carbon sequestration rate in the soils was in the range of 0.3-3.5 tC/(hm^2. a), depending on cropping systems and other agricultural practices. Thus, the agricultural production in the province, despite the high input, could serve as one of the practical methods to mitigate the increasing air CO2.     

Modeling effects of temperature and precipitation on carbon characteristics and GHGs emissions in Abies fabric forest of subalpine

Abies fabric forest in the eastern slope of Gongga mountain is one type of subalpine dark coniferous forests of southwestern China. It is located on the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and is sensitive to climatic changes. A process-oriented biogeochemical model, Forest-DNDC, was applied to simulate the e ects of climatic factors, temperature and precipitation changes on carbon characteristics, and greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions in A. fabric forest. Validation indicated that the Forest-DNDC could be used to predict carbon characteristics and GHGs emissions with reasonable accuracy. The model simulated carbon fluxes, soil carbon dynamics, soil CO2, N2O, and NO emissions with the changes of temperature and precipitation conditions. The results showed that with variation in the baseline temperature from –2℃ to +2℃, the gross primary production (GPP) and soil organic carbon (SOC) increased, and the net primary production (NPP) and net ecosystem production (NEP) decreased because of higher respiration rate. With increasing baseline precipitation the GPP and NPP increased slightly, and the NEP and SOC showed decreasing trend. Soil CO2 emissions increased with the increase of temperature, and CO2 emissions changed little with increased baseline precipitation. With increased temperature and decreased baseline temperature, the total annual soil N2O emissions increased.With the variation of baseline temperature from –2℃ to +2℃, the total annual soil NO emissions increased. The total annual N2O and NO emissions showed increasing trends with the increase of precipitation. The biogeochemical simulation of the typical forest indicated that temperature changes strongly a ected carbon fluxes, soil carbon dynamics, and soil GHGs emissions. The precipitation was not a principal factor a ecting carbon fluxes, soil carbon dynamics, and soil CO2 emissions, but changes in precipitation could exert strong e ect on soil N2O and NO emissions.     

Modeling effects of temperature and precipitation on carbon characteristics and GHGs emissions in Abies fabric forest of subaipine

Abies fabric forest in the eastern slope of Gongga mountain is one type of subalpine dark coniferous forests of southwestern China. It is located on the southeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and is sensitive to climatic changes. A process-oriented biogeochemical model, Forest-DNDC, was applied to simulate the effects of climatic factors, temperature and precipitation changes on carbon characteristics, and greenhouse gases （GHGs） emissions in A. fabric forest. Validation indicated that the Forest-DNDC could be used to predict carbon characteristics and GHGs emissions with reasonable accuracy. The model simulated carbon fluxes, soil carbon dynamics, soil CO2, N2O, and NO emissions with the changes of temperature and precipitation conditions. The results showed that with variation in the baseline temperature from -2℃ to ＋2℃, the gross primary production （GPP） and soil organic carbon （SOC） increased, and the net primary production （NPP） and net ecosystem production （NEP） decreased because of higher respiration rate. With increasing baseline precipitation the GPP and NPP increased slightly, and the NEP and SOC showed decreasing trend. Soil CO2 emissions increased with the increase of temperature, and CO2 emissions changed little with increased baseline precipitation. With increased temperature and decreased baseline temperature, the total annual soil N2O emissions increased. With the variation of baseline temperature from -2℃ to ＋2℃, the total annual soil NO emissions increased. The total annual N2O and NO emissions showed increasing trends with the increase of precipitation. The biogeochemical simulation of the typical forest indicated that temperature changes strongly affected carbon fluxes, soil carbon dynamics, and soil GHGs emissions. The precipitation was not a principal factor affecting carbon fluxes, soil carbon dynamics, and soil CO2 emissions, but changes in precipitation could exert strong effect on soil N2O and NO emissions.     

Effects of combination of plant and microorganism on degradation of simazine in soil

The degradative characteristics of simazine （SIM）, microbial biomass carbon, plate counts of heterotrophic bacteria and most probably number （MPN） of SIM degraders in uninoculated non-rhizosphere soil, uninoculated rhizosphere soil, inoculated non- rhizosphere soil, and inoculated rhizosphere soil were measured. At the initial concentration of 20 mg SIM/kg soil, the half-lives of SIM in the four treated soils were measured to be 73.0, 52.9, 16.9, and 7.8 d, respectively, and corresponding kinetic data fitted first-order kinetics. The experimental results indicated that higher degradation rates of SIM were observed in rhizosphere soils, especially in inoculated rhizosphere soil. The degradative characteristics of SIM were closely related to microbial process. Vegetation could enhance the magnitude of rhizosphere microbial communities, microbial biomass content, and heterotrophic bacterial community, but did little to influence those community components responsible for SIM degradation. This suggested that rhizosphere soil inoculated with microorganisms-degrading target herbicides was a useful pathway to achieve rapid degradation of the herbicides in soil.     

Plant enhanced degradation of phenanthrene in the contaminated soil

The degradative characteristics ofphenanthrene, microbial biomass carbon, plate counts ofheterotrophic bacteria and most probable number （MPN） of phenanthrene degraders in non-rhizosphere or rhizosphere soils with uninoculating or inoculating phenanthrene degraders were measured. At the initial concentration of 20 mg phenanthrene/kg soil, the half-lives of phenanthrene in uninoculated non-rhizosphere soil, uninoculated rhizosphere soil, inoculated non-rhizosphere soil, and inoculated rhizosphere soil were measured to be 81.5, 47.8, 15.1 and 6.4 d, respectively, and corresponding kinetic data fitted first-order kinetics. The highest degradation rate of phenanthrene was observed in inoculated rhizosphere soil. The degradative characteristics of phenanthrene were closely related to the effects of vegetation on soil microbial process. Vegetation could enhance the magnitude of rhizosphere microbial communities, microbial biomass content, and heterotrophic bacterial community, but barely influence those community components responsible for phenanthrene degradation. Results suggested that combination of vegetation and inoculation with degrading microorganisms of target organic contaminants was a better pathway to enhance degradation of the organic contaminants in soil.     

Effect of heavy metals on soil microbial activity and diversity in a reclaimed mining wasteland of red soil area

The microbial biomass, basal respiration and substrate utilization pattern in copper mining wasteland of red soil area, southern China, were investigated. The results indicated that soil microflora were obviously different compared with that of the non-mine soil. Microbial biomass and basal respiration were negatively affected by the elevated heavy metal levels. Two important microbial ecophysiological parameters, namely, the ratio of microbial biomass C（ Cmic ）/organic C（ Corg ） and metabolic quotient（qCO2 ） were closely correlated to heavy metal stress. There was a significant decrease in the Cmic/Corg ratio and an increase in the metabolic quotient with increasing metal concentration. Multivariate analysis of Biolog data for sole carbon source utilization pattern demonstrated that heavy metal pollution had a significant impact on microbial community structure and functional diversity. All the results showed that soil microbiological parameters had great potential to become the early sensitive, effective and liable indicators of the stresses or perturbations in soils of mining ecosystems.     

太湖地区3种水稻土不同温度培养中有机碳库变化及其对升温的响应

全球变暖下土壤有机碳储存的变化是土壤与全球变化研究的热点问题.本研究选择了3种太湖地区代表性水稻土的表层土壤,分别进行20℃和25℃的室内恒温培养,监测培养过程中总有机碳、溶解性有机碳和微生物量碳的变化动态,试图了解这些土壤的有机碳分解过程对全球变暖的响应特点.结果表明,这些土壤培养中总有机碳变化可以用一级衰变动力学方程或对数衰减方程描述,但动力学特征依培养温度的不同而异.升温大大促进了铁渗水耕人为土和潜育水耕人为土中有机碳的分解与呼吸损失,而铁聚水耕人为土没有显著变化.供试土壤总有机碳损失的Q₁₀系数分别为:潜育水耕人为土(11.1～14.1)＞铁渗水耕人为土(4.4～6.4)＞铁聚水耕人为土(0.63～0.73).这一方面说明温度敏感性在同一地带的不同土壤间的差异超过文献上报道的不同气候带的差异,但另一方面揭示了水稻土可能是一类对全球升温敏感响应的人为土.溶解性有机碳和微生物量的碳的变化还提示不同温度培养下水稻土微生物群落结构可能改变,因而影响到土壤有机碳库的生物有效性在温度条件下的变化.可以认为,土壤升温下有机碳的变化不但与土壤有机碳的性质有关,而且与土壤性质控制下的生物条件的改变有关.故土壤升温下有机碳的损失不仅仅是温度对分解过程的反应速度的影响.当然,对于不同土壤间的这种差异还需从有机碳-土壤环境-土壤生物的相互关系上做进一步的工作.     

中亚热带5种类型森林土壤微生物群落特征

采用PLFA(phospholipid fatty acids,磷脂脂肪酸)分析法研究江西省九连山国家级自然保护区杉木纯林、马尾松纯林、杉木阔叶混交林、马尾松阔叶混交林与天然常绿阔叶林的土壤微生物群落结构特征,探讨植被特征和土壤理化特征对土壤微生物群落的影响. 结果表明:①杉木阔叶混交林土壤细菌、放线菌和总微生物生物量最高,分别为7.77、1.74和18.21 nmol/g,而马尾松纯林均最低. ②针阔混交显著提高了土壤微生物生物量及其丰富度. 土壤微生物生物量及其丰富度均与土壤含水率、w(AN)(AN为有效氮)、w(TC)、w(TN)呈显著正相关(R为0.426~0.701),而与C/N〔w(TC)/w(TN)〕呈显著负相关(R分别为-0.447、-0.518). ③w(AN)对土壤微生物群落结构的解释率达55.8%. 尽管林下灌木、草本层生物量对土壤微生物生物量影响不大,但对微生物群落结构有一定影响,解释率分别为5.5%和6.3%. 灌草层丰富度与土壤微生物生物量及其丰富度呈显著正相关(R为0.369~0.452). 可见,阔叶树种和林下灌草层能够显著影响土壤微生物群落组成.      

施氮水平对黄土旱塬区麦田土壤呼吸变化的影响

为评价土壤呼吸对施氮的响应,于2008年3月~2009年3月,监测了黄土旱塬区长期不同施氮水平条件下小麦连作系统中土壤呼吸日变化、季节变化以及不同生育期土壤可溶性碳(dissolved organic C,DOC)、微生物量碳(soil microbial biomassC,MBC)、土壤有机碳(soil organic C,SOC)和土壤全氮(soil total N,STN)的含量变化.研究涉及5个施氮水平(以N计)0(N0)、45(N45)、90(N90)、135(N135)和180(N180)kg/hm2.结果表明,施氮量为0~90 kg/hm2时,土壤呼吸速率随施氮量的增加而显著升高;90~135 kg/hm2时,土壤呼吸速率随施氮量的增加略有增加;135~180 kg/hm2时,随着施氮量的增加土壤呼吸呈降低趋势.在一年监测期间,N0、N45、N90、N135、N180波动范围(以CO2计)分别为0.27~2.01、0.36~2.26、0.58~2.56、0.65~2.94和0.58~2.6μmol/(m2.s).在季节变化尺度上,土壤呼吸具有显著的活跃期(3~10月)和微弱期(11月~次年2月).施氮显著影响DOC、MBC含量变化.土壤呼吸速率与DOC、MBC呈显著正相关,而与土壤碳氮比(C/N)呈显著负相关关系.     

三峡库区典型消落带土壤微生物生物量碳、氮的变化特征及其影响因素探讨

本文以三峡库区王家沟一典型消落带为研究对象,选择180、175、165和155 m这4个高程以探讨水位变化对土壤微生物生物量碳(SMBC)和微生物生物量氮(SMBN)的影响.其中,175、165和155m高程坐落在消落带内,分别表现为短、中和长期淹水,180 m高程作为对照,为永不淹水的陆地.土壤样品的采集深度为0~20 cm,每周采集一次.结果表明,180 m高程处土壤有机碳(SOC)和全氮(TN)均无明显的季节变化,而175 m高程处SOC和TN季节变化明显,表现为春夏季高于秋冬季;各高程上的SMBC和SMBN及其分配比例呈现出秋高夏低的季节变化形态,表明消落带夏季高温低湿的土壤环境限制了微生物活性及土壤有机碳氮的周转速率.数据分析表明,与180 m高程相比,消落带上的175 m和165 m高程SOC、TN、SMBC及微生物商、SMBN及其分配比例均得到不同程度的升高,而155 m高程除了SMBN及其分配比例与对照无显著差异外,其他指标均显著低于对照,表明与未淹水对照点相比较,中短期淹水有利于提高消落带土壤碳氮含量及周转速率和微生物生物量,而长期受到江水淹没胁迫的土壤则会抑制土壤碳氮以及SMBC含量,并降低SOC的周转速率.相关分析表明,SMBC和SMBN均与地下5 cm处温度和p H呈极显著负相关,说明地下5cm处的温度以及p H对土壤微生物生物量有强烈的影响.     

土壤自养微生物同化碳向土壤有机碳库输入的定量研究：14C连续标记法

自养微生物在土壤中广泛存在,但其CO2同化能力及其向土壤碳库的输入机制尚不明确.应用14C连续标记示踪技术,选取亚热带区4种典型稻田土壤在密闭系统模拟培养,探讨了土壤自养微生物同化碳向土壤碳库的输入过程和机制及其对土壤碳库活性组分的影响.结果表明,土壤微生物具有客观的CO2同化能力.标记培养110 d后,供试土壤的14C-SOC含量范围为69.06～133.81 mg.kg-1,而14C-DOC、14C-MBC含量范围为2.54～8.10 mg.kg-1、19.50～49.16 mg.kg-1.土壤自养微生物同化碳(14C-SOC)与其微生物截留碳(14C-MBC)呈极显著的正相关关系.土壤可溶解性有机碳(DOC)、微生物量碳(MBC)和SOC的更新率分别为5.65%～24.91%、4.23%～20.02%和0.58%～0.92%.而且,土壤自养微生物同化碳的输入对土壤活性碳组分的DOC、MBC含量变化影响较大,而对SOC影响较小.对微生物在土壤碳循环过程的基本功能的认识在本研究中得以丰富和加深.     

重金属铜、锌、镉、铅复合污染对土壤环境微生物群落的影响

以铜锌冶炼厂附近的水稻土为例 ,研究了重金属复合污染对土壤微生物群落的影响 .结果表明 ,有效铜、锌、镉、铅与微生物生物量碳、微生物生物量氮、微生物商、微生物生物量氮 全氮均呈显著负相关 .重金属污染均能降低细菌、真菌和放线菌的数量 .用BIOLOG生态盘研究了重金属污染对微生物群落结构的影响 ,发现重金属污染明显影响了微生物群落结构 ,反映在典型变量 1(CV1)与重金属元素含量呈极显著正相关 ,因此认为典型变量 1是反映重金属污染程度的有效指标 .经逐步回归分析发现 ,有效铜是影响典型变量 1最主要的因素 .     

人工油松林不同生长阶段深层土壤有机碳和活性碳的差异及其影响因素

研究深层土壤碳库动态对了解陆地生态系统深层碳汇潜力、应对全球CO₂升高具有重要意义。论文以黄土丘陵区人工油松林为研究对象,以撂荒地为参照,分析了不同生长阶段的人工油松林地0~200 cm土层土壤有机碳（soil organic carbon,SOC）和活性有机碳（readily oxidizable carbon,ROC）动态变化特征及其影响因素。结果表明：在0~200 cm剖面上,不同生长阶段油松林SOC含量及储量较撂荒地显著提高。浅层（0~100 cm）SOC平均含量,成熟林为撂荒地的2.03倍,提高最大;其次是中龄林,为1.85倍;最后是幼龄林,为1.59倍。深层（100~200 cm）SOC平均含量,幼龄林、中龄林和成熟林分别较撂荒地提高了1.43、1.38和1.36倍。各生长阶段油松林浅层和深层SOC储量分别占0~200 cm SOC储量的61.0%~69.8%和30.2%~39.0%,不同生长阶段间浅层SOC储量差异显著,但深层SOC储量差异不大。浅层ROC储量,幼龄林、中龄林和成熟林依次提高了54.8%、82.0%和91.6%;深层ROC储量依次提高了32.4%、40.9%和58.1%,且深层储量占0~200 cm土层的31.2%~33.3%。不仅浅层SOC和ROC含量受多个因素的影响,而且深层ROC含量也与油松高度、根系生物量以及枯落物厚度、干重呈极显著正相关。因此,人工林建设不仅显著提高浅层SOC和ROC含量,而且对深层土壤的固碳能力有一定改善。     

不同水分条件沼泽湿地土壤轻组有机碳与微生物活性动态

通过野外实验与室内分析,对三江平原生长季内毛果苔草(Carex lasiocapa)沼泽湿地生物量及0~20cm土壤不同有机碳组分进行观测,分析了不同水分条件下毛果苔草湿地土壤轻组有机碳(LFOC)与微生物量碳(MBC)的变化动态.结果表明,随水位增加毛果苔草群落地上生物量积累明显,与10~20cm积水条件相比,17~30cm水位状况下湿地土壤具有较高的轻组有机质含量与比例.生长季初期冻融过程提高了土壤轻组分(LF)有机碳含量与LFOC含量,之后随植物生长毛果苔草沼泽湿地土壤重组有机碳(HFOC)含量增长快于LFOC,说明毛果苔草沼泽湿地土壤具有较高的重组有机质持有能力.此外不同水位条件下毛果苔草沼泽湿地微生物活性受到土壤有机碳含量影响不同,低水位条件下微生物量碳与SOC呈显著正相关关系(R2=0.859),17~30cm水位条件下二者关系不显著,并且高水位毛果苔草沼泽湿地具有较低的MBC与微生物熵,表明该条件下土壤碳库具有较高的稳定性.