Availability and immobilization of 137Cs in subtropical high mountain forest and grassland soils

To understand the behavior of (137)Cs in undisturbed soils after nuclear fallout deposition between the 1940s and 1980s, we investigated the speciation of (137)Cs in soils in forest and its adjacent grassland from a volcano and subalpine area in Taiwan. We performed sequential extraction of (137)Cs (i.e., fractions readily exchangeable, bound to microbial biomass, bound to Fe-Mn oxides, bound to organic matter, persistently bound and residual). For both the forest and grassland soils, (137)Cs was mainly present in the persistently bound (31-41%) and residual (22-62%) fractions. The proportions of (137)Cs labile fractions--bound to exchangeable sites, microbial biomass, Mn-Fe oxides, and organic matter--were lower than those of the recalcitrant fractions. The labile fractions in the forest soils were also higher than those in the grassland soils, especially in the volcanic soil. The results suggest that the labile form of (137)Cs was mostly transferred to the persistently bound and resistant fractions after long-term deposition of fallout. The readily exchangeable (137)Cs fraction was higher in soils with higher organic matter content or minor amounts of 2:1 silicate clay minerals.     

Novel approach to monitoring of the soil biological quality

In this study, a new approach to interpretation of results of the simple microbial biomass and respiration measurements in the soil microbiology is proposed. The principle is based on eight basal and derived microbial parameters, which are standardized and then plotted into sunray plots. The output is visual presentation of one plot for each soil, which makes possible the relative comparison and evaluation of soils in the monitored set. Problems of soil microbiology, such as the lack of benchmarking and reference values, can be avoided by using the proposed method. We found that eight parameters provide enough information for evaluation of the status of the soil microorganisms and, thus, for evaluation of the soil biological quality. The usage of rare parameters (potential respiration PR, ratio of potential and basal respiration PR/BR, biomass-specific potential respiration PR/C(bio), available organic carbon C(ext), and biomass-specific available organic carbon C(ext)/C(bio)) can be recommended, besides classical and well-known parameters (microbial biomass C(bio), basal respiration BR, metabolic coefficient qCO(2)). The combination of basal parameters and derived coefficients can also extend our knowledge about the condition of the soil microorganisms. In monitoring the case studies presented, we observed that soils evaluated to possess good biological quality displayed generally higher values of organic carbon, total nitrogen, clay, and cation exchange capacity. The soils of good biological quality can display higher levels of contaminants. This is probably related with the higher content of organic carbon and clay in these soils.     

Effect of arsenic contamination on microbial biomass and its activities in arsenic contaminated soils of Gangetic West Bengal, India

A study was conducted to see the effect of arsenic contamination on soil quality indicators, viz., microbial biomass, soil respiration, fluorescein diacetate and dehydrogenase (DHG) activity in arsenic contaminated soils of West Bengal. All the parameters were significantly and negatively correlated with all the form of arsenic (bioavailable and total) but the microbial metabolic quotient was significantly and positively correlated with all forms of arsenic, indicating arsenic induced stress to the soil microbial community. This may be due to part of the microbial biomass, which is located in the inner parts of the micro-aggregates of soil, which is affected by arsenic accumulates present in soil particles. Linear regression analysis revealed that the bioavailable arsenic exerted greater inhibitory effect on the soil microbial population than the total arsenic content of soils. Water-soluble arsenic showed more inhibitory effect than NaHCO(3) extractable form, in their association with biological properties of the contaminated soils. Water-soluble form of arsenic was much more toxic than insoluble forms. This signified that with increase in bioavailability, the arsenic exerted more inhibitory effect on these parameters. It is thus suggested that the microbial biomass, fluorescein diacetate and dehydrogenase activity alone and expressed on a soil organic matter basis along with the soil respiration parameters can be helpful in assessing the effects of arsenic on the size and activity of microbial biomass in soils.     

Ecophysiological indicators of microbial biomass status in chernozem soils of the Central Caucasus (in the territory of Kabardino-Balkaria with the Terek variant of altitudinal zonation)

A comparative assessment of the biological properties of chernozem soils in agro- and biogeocenoses has been made by determining the rates of basal and substrate-induced soil respiration and using these data to calculate ecophysiological indices characterizing the potential and stability of soil microbial biomass. The results show that the rate of CO₂ emission and the contents of microbial biomass carbon in agriculturally exploited chernozem soils have decreased by factors of 3 and 2.6, respectively. The values of microbial metabolic quotients are indicative of medium-to-strong disturbance to the stability of microbial communities in chernozem soils of agrocenoses.     

Evaluation of 14C abundance in soil respiration using acclerator mass spectrometry

To clarify the behavior of 14C in terrestrial ecosystems, 14C abundance in soil respiration was evaluated in an urban forest with a new method involving a closed chamber technique and 14C measurement by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Soil respiration had a higher Delta14C than the contemporary atmosphere. This indicates that a significant portion of soil respiration is derived from the decomposition of soil organic matter enriched in 14C by atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, with a notable time lag between atmospheric 14C addition and re-emission from soil. On the other hand, delta14C in soil respiration demonstrated that 14C abundance ratio itself in soil-respired CO2 is not always high compared with that in atmospheric CO2 because of the isotope fractionation during plant photosynthesis and microbial decomposition of soil organic matter. The Delta14C in soil respiration was slightly lower in August than in March, suggesting a relatively high contribution of plant root respiration and decomposition of newly accumulated and/or 14C-depleted soil organic matter to the total soil respiration in August.     

利用方式对岩溶山地土壤团粒结构的影响研究

岩溶山地是典型的脆弱生态环境，土壤资源存在先天不足性，其退化恢复受土地利用方式的影响大。以重庆市北碚、黔江、金佛山为代表，研究了6种典型土地利用方式对岩溶山地土壤水稳性团聚体的影响。结果表明：＞0．25mm水稳性团聚体为灌草坡＞原始林地＞次生林地＞果园＞弃耕地＞耕地；林地、草坡的土壤表层团聚体的水稳性较高且水稳性团聚体以＞2mm为主，而果园、弃耕地、耕地土壤团聚体的水稳性较低且＞2mm的水稳性团聚体较少。水稳性团聚体(尤其是＞2mm的水稳性团聚体)以及团聚的水稳性主要受有机质的含量影响，目前有机质是这一地区土壤结构形成的最为重要的胶结物质；林地、草坡开垦后，土壤有机质分解加快或补充减少是土壤团聚体水稳性下降及数量减少的主要原因。坡耕地退耕后，土壤团聚体可得到恢复。     

苏南水稻土有机碳矿化特征及其与活性有机碳组分的关系

通过对江苏省常熟市全市范围代表性水稻土采样并布置室内短期（20 d）培育实验，研究土壤有机碳矿化过程动态，并分析其与微生物生物量碳和水溶性有机碳含量的关系。结果表明：研究区域水稻土有机碳含量变化为488～2731 g/kg，平均为1807 g/kg，全氮含量变化为058～284 g/kg，平均为186 g/kg；微生物生物量碳、氮及水溶性有机碳含量分别为2940～1 2874，1854～8178和701～2879 mg/kg，且不同土属间存在显著差异（〖WTBX〗p〖WTBZ〗＜005）；土壤呼吸强度为3476～19168 mgCO2/（kg·d），平均为7993 mgCO2/（kg·d），不同土属间高低顺序为乌栅土＞乌黄泥土＞灰黄泥土＞白土＞黄泥土＞乌沙土；培养期内有机碳日均矿化量为1076～6520 mgCO2/kg，平均为4046 mgCO2/kg，有机碳累计矿化量为21525～1 30213 mgCO2/kg，平均为80720 mgCO2/kg，不同土属间有机碳日均矿化量和累计矿化量变化趋势为乌栅土＞乌黄泥土＞乌沙土＞白土＞灰黄泥土＞黄泥土；研究区域水稻土有机碳矿化率为307%～758%，但不同土属间差异不显著（p＞005）。统计结果表明，土壤有机碳呼吸强度和日均矿化量与微生物生物量碳及水溶性有机碳之间均呈显著正线性关系，相关系数分别为0686、0594、0826、0749。〖     

Effects of soil type, moisture content, redox potential and methyl bromide fumigation on Kd values of radio-selenium in soil

Understanding the processes that determine the solid-liquid partitioning (K(d) value) of Se is of fundamental importance in assessing the risk associated with the disposal of radio-selenium-containing waste. Using a mini-column (rather than batch) approach, K(d) values for (75)Se were determined over time in relation to soil moisture content (field capacity or saturated), redox potential and methyl bromide fumigation (used to disrupt the soil microbial population) in three contrasting soil types: clay loam, organic and sandy loam. The K(d) values were generally in the range 50-500 L kg(-1), with mean soil K(d) increasing with increasing organic matter content. Saturation with water lowered the measured redox potentials in the soils. However, only in the sandy loam soil did redox potential become negative, and this led to an increase in (75)Se K(d) value in this soil. Comparison of the data with the Eh-pH stability diagram for Se suggested that such strong reduction may have been consistent with the formation of the insoluble Se species, selenide. These findings, coupled with the fact that methyl bromide fumigation had no discernible effect on (75)Se K(d) value in the sandy loam soil, suggest that geochemical, rather than microbial, processes controlled (75)Se partitioning. The inter-relations between soil moisture content, redox potential and Se speciation should be considered in the modelling and assessment of radioactive Se fate and transport in the environment.     

退耕还湖后菜子湖湿地土壤理化性质及微生物量变化

以不同退耕年限下菜子湖湿地土壤和邻近原始湿地及仍耕作油菜地为研究对象,分析退耕还湖后土壤理化性质和微生物量碳氮变化。研究结果表明：随着退耕还湖年限增加,土壤容重逐渐降低,土壤含水量和粘粒含量逐渐增加,土壤有机质和全氮含量逐渐增加,而土壤全磷含量降低;表层土壤微生物量碳含量为33377~70075mg/kg,表层土壤微生物量氮含量为3080~6401 mg/kg,且均有退耕还湖后升高趋势;土壤微生物量碳与土壤有机质、全氮、pH呈极显著相关（P<001）,与土壤粘粒含量显著相关（P<005）;土壤微生物量氮与土壤有机质、全氮、容重呈极显著相关（P<001）,与pH显著相关（P<005）。分析表明,退耕还湖后随着人类活动干扰压力的减弱和湿地水文条件的恢复,自然植被也逐渐恢复,土壤理化性质朝原始湿地方向改善,促使土壤微生物量升高,但总体仍未达到原始湿地状况     

庐山不同森林植被类型土壤特性及其健康评价

土壤作为森林生态系统的一个重要因子,评价森林土壤健康状况对森林健康的维护经营以及森林系统功能的发挥具有重要意义。在系统调查和分析庐山8种森林植被类型土壤特性的基础上,评价指标分别从物种多样性以及不同的森林土壤特性中进行筛选,包括物种多样性系数、枯落物层厚度、腐殖质层厚度、土层厚度、容重、粘粒含量、有机质、p H值、阳离子交换量、全氮、水解氮、有效磷、速效钾、磷酸酶活性等指标,基于SPSS19.0软件对所获得数据进行差异性检验和相关分析,确定各项指标的权重,应用合适的土壤健康评分函数,将测得的指标值转换为对应指标的分值,最后通过加权综合法,计算其土壤健康指数,并对不同森林植被类型土壤健康状况进行评价。结果表明,8种森林植被类型下最终的土壤健康指数大小排序为:针阔混交林(0.78)常-落混交林(0.72)灌丛(0.69)常绿阔叶林(0.67)落叶阔叶林(0.64)竹林(0.59)马尾松林(0.53)黄山松林(0.46)。     

Inorganic iodine incorporation into soil organic matter: evidence from iodine K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure

The transformation of inorganic iodine (I⁻ and IO₃⁻) incubated in soils with varying amounts of organic matter (Andosols from the surface layer of an upland field and forest, as well as Acrisols from surface and subsurface layers of an upland field) was investigated by using the iodine K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES). After 60 d of reaction, both I⁻ and IO₃⁻ were transformed into organoiodine in surface soils containing sufficient amounts of organic matter, whereas IO₃⁻ remained unchanged in the subsurface soil of Acrisols with low organic matter contents. Transformation of IO₃⁻ into organoiodine was not retarded when the microbial activity in soil was reduced by γ-ray irradiation, suggesting that microbial activity was not essential for the transformation of inorganic iodine into organoiodine. Soil organic matter has the ability to transform inorganic iodine into organoiodine.     

Effect of heavy metals and PAH on soil assessed via dehydrogenase assay

Dehydrogenase enzyme activity (DHA) assay method using resazurin was accommodated for measuring of toxicity of compound contaminants on uncharacterized microbial communities present in any given soil. The method was used to compare the toxic effect of heavy metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminant mixture (Cr, Pb, Cu, Cd, Pyrene) on four typical Estonian soils covering a range of compositions. The method proved to be useable on all soils; the sensitivity of soil microbiology to toxic effect of contaminants was found to have a negative correlation with Ca and organic matter (OM) content and a positive correlation with amorphous phase content of soils.     

Estimation of the impact of oil palm plantation establishment on greenhouse gas balance

Estimates of emissions indicate that if tropical grassland is rehabilitated by oil palm plantations, carbon fixation in plantation biomass and soil organic matter not only neutralises emissions caused by grassland conversion, but also results in the net removal of about 135 Mg carbon dioxide per hectare from the atmosphere. In contrast, the emission from forest conversion clearly exceeds the potential carbon fixation of oil palm plantings. Forest conversion on mineral soils to promote continued oil palm mono cropping causes a net release of approximately 650 Mg carbon dioxide equivalents per hectare, while the emission from peat forest conversion is even higher due to the decomposition of drained peat and the resulting emission of carbon oxide and nitrous oxide. The conversion of one hectare of forest on peat releases over 1,300 Mg carbon dioxide equivalents during the first 25-year cycle of oil palm growth. Depending on the peat depth, continuous decomposition augments the emission with each additional cycle at a magnitude of 800 Mg carbon dioxide equivalents per hectare. The creation of ‘flexibility mechanisms’ such as the clean development mechanism and emission trading in the Kyoto Protocol could incorporate plantations as carbon sinks in the effort to meet emission targets. Thus, for the oil palm industry, grassland rehabilitation is an option to preserve natural forest, avoid emissions and, if the sequestered carbon becomes tradable, an opportunity to generate additional revenue. Readers should send their comments on this paper to BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

Monitoring of radionuclides contamination of soils in Shatsk National Natural Park (Volyn region, Ukraine) during 1994-2001

The results of studies of radionuclide contamination of the soils in the western part of the territory of Shatsk National Natural Park (ShNNP), Volyn region, Ukraine, performed during 1994-2001 are presented. Based on the experimental results, the three-dimensional plot of the 137Cs density contamination for the soils at the territory under investigation has been constructed. The monitoring during 1994-2001 of the 137Cs vertical distributions in the different kinds of soils from the Park and the forecasting of the distribution changes of the depth down to 50 cm for the sod loamy sandy gleyed loamy sand soil of the Park up to 2086 have been performed.     

黔中石漠化地区不同土地利用方式对土壤环境的影响

在贵州省普定县喀斯特石漠化地区通过调查分析,对3种土地不同利用方式（Ⅰ封山育林地、Ⅱ退耕还林地、Ⅲ农耕地）土壤物理性质、化学性质及土壤种子库进行了研究。结果表明利用方式的不同对土壤物理性质、化学性质及土壤种子库均产生了显著的影响。土壤容重、土壤毛管孔隙度随土壤扰动的加剧而下降,表现为Ⅰ＞Ⅱ＞Ⅲ;土壤总孔隙度与非毛管孔隙度呈现出随土壤扰动程度增加而增加的趋势,表现为Ⅲ＞Ⅱ＞Ⅰ;不同层次之间容重的变异较小,土壤质地比较均一;Ⅱ土壤有机质低于类型Ⅲ和Ⅰ;Ⅰ初步形成了林地环境,林地土壤表现出良性转变。随土壤深度的增加,有机质、全氮、全磷、速效氮表现出减少的趋势,土壤扰动降低了土壤化学性质层次间变异。不同利用方式下土壤种子库物种组成变化不大,土壤中的种子集中分布在表层0～5 cm内,随土层的加深所含种子数量、物种数逐渐降低。不同利用类型的土壤种子数量在0～5 cm层次差异显著（〖WTBX〗p〖WTBZ〗=0.021 897）,种子种类差异不显著（〖WTBX〗p〖WTBZ〗=0.097 628）。土壤扰动促进种子向深层传播,退耕还林有利于土壤质量的恢复。     

洞庭湖湿地土壤持水能力及其影响因素研究

土壤持水能力是反映土壤调节水文和供给植物耗水的重要指标,受土壤有机质、容重、机械组成和植物地下生物量的直接或间接影响。与森林和农田生态系统相比,湿地土壤持水能力关注较少。于2010年12月,对洞庭湖湿地3种主要植被（苔草、芦苇和杨树）土壤持水能力、土壤理化性质和地下生物量进行了调查,并采用主成分分析对影响土壤持水能力的主要环境因子进行了分析。结果表明：除非毛管孔隙度外,3种植被上层土壤的总孔隙度、毛管孔隙度、田间持水量和含水量差异显著,均为苔草＞芦苇=杨树,而中、下层无显著差异。沙粒为苔草≥杨树≥芦苇,而粗粉粒、细粉粒和粘粒均为杨树≥芦苇≥苔草;容重为杨树≥芦苇＞苔草,有机质为苔草=芦苇＞杨树。各级别生物量在植被类型大小顺序不一：总地下生物量、0～1 mm和＞5 mm径级地下生物量均以芦苇最大,而1～5 mm径级地下生物量则以苔草最大。主成分分析表明,上层土壤,容重、有机质和1～5 mm径级地下生物量是影响其持水能力的主要因素,而中层土壤和下层土壤,环境因子对土壤持水能力的影响很小。此研究对于洞庭湖生物多样性保护和湿地管理政策的制定具有重要意义     

邹城东滩矿区复垦土壤微生物量碳与#br# 基础呼吸的特征

探究复垦土壤微生物量碳与基础呼吸的特征及其演变归因,有助于监测复垦土壤质量演变,并为提高复垦土壤质量提供科学依据。利用“空间代替时间”的方法研究了邹城东滩矿区复垦土壤微生物量碳（MBC）与基础呼吸（SBR）随复垦年垦的变化及其与土壤环境因子的关系。结果表明：复垦土壤MBC和微生物熵（qSMBC）随复垦年限呈增加趋势;复垦土壤SBR均显著高于对照,土壤代谢熵（qCO2）随复垦年限趋于降低,复垦后土壤微生物量逐渐恢复,同时土壤微生物对碳源利用效率逐渐提高,说明土壤环境逐渐有利于土壤微生物的生长。土壤MBC与碱解氮、总氮和有机碳呈极显著正相关（p＜0.01）,反映土壤养分缺乏是复垦后土壤微生物生长的主要限制因素。土壤代谢熵（qCO2）与土壤碱解氮、速效磷和MBC均呈极显著负相关（p＜0.01）与pH呈显著正相关（p＜0.05）,说明氮磷等元素的缺乏以及较高的土壤pH环境是限制微生物生长的重要因素。这些对全面监测复垦后土壤质量的演变,并指导今后的复垦工作具有重要理论与实践意义。 关键词： 采煤塌陷区;土壤微生物量碳;土壤微生物熵;基础呼吸     

Radiocaesium soil-to-plant transfer in tropical environments

In this work, soil-to-plant transfer factors of radiocaesium are predicted based on soil properties such as pH, organic matter content, exchangeable K+ and clay content valid for the tropical environments in Bangladesh, China and Japan, and using a previously published model. Due to insufficient data of soil properties in the selected regions, the average values of pH, organic matter content, exchangeable K+ and clay content were taken as the input model parameters within the ranges given for Asia. Nevertheless, a complete set of soil properties of Japanese soils was used to compare the measured and calculated TF values of radiocaesium for radish. The calculated TF values for radiocaesium are comparable with the measured values especially for leafy parts of a plant. However, calculated values for rice, an important crop in Asia are found to overestimate the measured values due to an overestimate of calculated CECs in soils in the selected regions. The empirical parameters used in the model need to be re-evaluated for the specific part of a plant and/or for a variety of different plants. Alternatively, a general conversion factor for each part of a plant and/or for a variety of different plants for a specific region is suggested for tropical environments.     

Dynamics of leaf litter and soil respiration in a complex multistrata agroforestry system,Pernambuco, Brazil

High litter inputs in agroforestry systems contribute to soil microbial activity, soil fertility and productivity. Considering that the cycling of organic matter is essential to the maintenance of physical–chemical and microbiological properties of the soil, the aims of this work were to estimate the production, accumulation and decomposition of litter, and assess soil microbial respiration in a complex multistrata agroforestry system located in the north-east of Brazil. This agroforestry system has three strata formed by forest and fruit trees and species of multiple uses. During 3 years (2011–2013), leaf litter was sampled monthly to account for litterfall and quarterly to account for litter accumulation. The rates of litter decomposition were estimated using the ratio produced-to-accumulated litter, and the correlation between litter fall and rainfall was calculated. Precipitation data were provided by the water and climate agency of Pernambuco (APAC). Soil samples (0–15 cm) were also taken quarterly, simultaneously with the litter accumulation samples, and soil microbial respiration was assessed using the capture, by a KOH solution, of the evolved CO₂. The annual production of leaf litter was stable in the 3 years of study in this agroforestry system, and the monthly input of litter to the soil was influenced by rainfall, being higher in the dry seasons. The accumulated litter on the ground was constant, as was microbial activity (respiration) through time. The estimated litter decomposition rates were 1.49 (first year), 1.33 (second year) and 1.42 (third year), being considered rapid rates of decomposition. This guarantees (to the farmer) that this system is capable of maintaining soil fertility and eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers.     

向家坝水电站不同修复模式下根际土壤微生物化学计量特征

为探究水电站扰动区人工植被恢复后土壤质量及肥力的变化,以向家坝植被混凝土、厚层基材和框格梁3种典型边坡下优势物种荩草根际与非根际土壤为研究对象,对土壤的养分和微生物生态化学计量比进行研究。结果表明：（1）植被混凝土、厚层基材样地的养分平均含量均显著高于框格梁样地;植被混凝土、框格梁样地下土壤养分含量在根际存在一定的富集,以有机碳的富集作用最为明显,而厚层基材样地则表现为土壤全量养分在根际土壤中存在亏缺;（2）植被混凝土和框格梁修复模式样地的土壤微生物量为根际土壤较高,MBC/MBN、MBC/MBP表现为非根际土壤较高,3种样地下根际与非根际土壤微生物生态化学计量比差异性显著（P＜0.05）;（3）相关性分析表明,土壤微生物碳、微生物氮、有机碳和全氮之间具有显著的正相关性（P＜0.01）,微生物量磷与土壤有机碳和全磷具有极显著的正相关性（P＜0.01）。综合评价十数年后向家坝水电站工程扰动区人工修复土壤技术,植被混凝土和厚层基材修复措施对该区土壤全量养分含量的累积作用较好,框格梁样地的植物生长发育受到磷素营养的限制较大。