生物质炭化还田对稻田温室气体排放及土壤理化性质的影响

通过水稻种植田间试验,研究了水稻秸秆直接还田、水稻秸秆与生活垃圾炭化后还田对稻田温室气体CH4、CO2和N2O排放及土壤理化性质和水稻产量的影响.结果表明:与直接还田相比,秸秆炭化后还田可显著降低稻田CH4和N2O的累积排放量,降幅分别为64.2%～78.5%和16.3%～18.4%.与不添加生物炭相比,无论种植水稻与否,添加秸秆炭和垃圾炭均显著降低了稻田N2O的累积排放量;不种植水稻情况下,添加垃圾炭显著降低了稻田CO2的累积排放量,降幅为25.3%.秸秆炭对提高稻田土壤pH和速效钾含量的作用优于垃圾炭.两种生物炭均能显著提高稻田土壤有机碳含量,但对土壤容重、全氮、有效磷、阳离子交换量及水稻籽粒产量均未产生显著影响.与秸秆直接还田相比,秸秆炭化后还田对水稻增产的效果更佳.     

秸秆不同还田方式对旱地棕壤CO_2排放和土壤碳库管理指数的影响

通过玉米种植田间试验,研究了玉米秸秆直接还田和炭化还田对旱地棕壤CO2排放及土壤碳库管理指数的影响。结果表明:与对照相比,秸秆直接还田和秸秆炭化还田均显著增加了土壤CO2的累积排放量,分别高于对照132%和76%;在同等化肥施用条件下,秸秆炭化还田比直接还田显著降低了土壤CO2的累积排放量,降幅为24%。与秸秆直接还田相比,生物炭的施入起到了良好的CO2减排效果。秸秆还田可以显著提升土壤碳库管理指数,与秸秆炭化还田相比,秸秆直接还田的效果更为显著。     

土壤溶解性有机物对CO_2和N_2O排放的影响

农田土壤是温室气体的重要排放源,溶解性有机物作为土壤微生物容易利用的基质,其含量变化与温室气体的产生和排放密切相关。基于室内培养试验,对溶解性有机物影响土壤CO2、N2O的排放过程进行了分析。设置空白(CK)、单施秸秆(S)、单施氮肥(N)、秸秆和氮肥(S+N)4个不同的处理,对添加不同物质条件下土壤溶解性有机碳(DOC)、溶解性有机氮(DON)和CO2、N2O的排放动态进行了研究,对DOC和DON影响CO2、N2O的排放过程进行了探讨。结果表明:不同处理的温室气体排放通量和土壤DOC、DON含量差异显著;各处理的CO2排放通量和DOC动态随培养时间的延长呈现逐渐减小的趋势,S和S+N处理的N2O排放和DON动态呈现先增大后减小的趋势;S+N处理的CO2排放量最高,DON含量也显著高于其他处理,单施秸秆(S)处理的N2O排放量和DOC含量显著高于其它处理,单施氮肥(N)对土壤CO2的排放量和DOC含量的影响较小;土壤CO2和N2O的排放通量与土壤DOC和DON含量呈显著的相关性,相关系数(R2)达0.6以上,说明溶解性有机物的含量和动态对CO2、N2O的排放过程产生显著影响。     

施用生物炭和秸秆还田对华北农田CO2、N2O排放的影响

以华北农田冬小麦-夏玉米轮作体系连续6a施用生物炭和秸秆还田的土壤为研究对象,于2013年10月—2014年9月,采用静态暗箱-气相色谱法,对CO_2、N_2O通量进行了整个轮作周期的连续观测,探究施用生物炭与秸秆还田对其排放通量的影响。试验共设4个处理:CK(对照)、C1(低量生物炭4.5 t hm~(-2)a~(-1))、C2(高量生物炭9.0 t hm~(-2)a~(-1))和SR(秸秆还田straw return)。结果表明:在整个轮作周期内,各处理CO_2、N_2O通量随时间的变化趋势基本一致。随着生物炭施用量的增加,CO_2排放通量分别增加了0.3%—90.3%(C1)、1.0%—334.2%(C2)和0.4%—156.3%(SR)。其中,C2处理对CO_2累积排放量影响最大,增幅为42.9%。对N_2O而言,C2处理显著降低了N_2O累积排放量,但增加了CO_2和N_2O排放的综合增温潜势,C1和SR处理对N_2O累积排放量及综合增温潜势均没有显著影响。相关分析表明,土壤温度和土壤含水量是影响CO_2通量最主要的因素,两者之间呈极显著的正相关关系;N_2O通量与土壤温度、土壤含水量、NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N均表现出极显著的正相关关系,而与土壤p H值表现出极显著的负相关关系。由此可见,添加生物炭对于减少氮素的气体损失具有较大的潜力。     

秸秆还田对玉米根际氨氧化微生物群落及红壤硝化潜势的影响

为探讨酸性红壤根际氨氧化微生物群落以及硝化作用对不同秸秆还田处理的响应,基于中国科学院鹰潭红壤生态实验站设置的秸秆还田长期试验平台(9年),采用荧光定量PCR和高通量测序技术,研究不同秸秆还田处理(不施肥(CK);氮磷钾肥(NPK);氮磷钾肥+秸秆(NPKS);氮磷钾肥+秸秆猪粪配施(NPKSM);氮磷钾肥+秸秆生物炭(NPKB))下玉米根际土壤氨氧化古菌(ammonia-oxidizing archaea, AOA)和细菌(ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, AOB)丰度和群落结构的变化,揭示了秸秆还田对根际氨氧化微生物群落结构和硝化潜势(potential nitrification activity, PNA)的影响机制。结果发现：相比CK和NPK处理,秸秆还田显著提高了土壤养分含量和硝化潜势,其中有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)、速效磷(AP)、速效钾(AK)、硝态氮(NO~-₃-N)和铵态氮(NH~+₄-N)含量显著增加,NPKSM处理对土壤肥力提升效果最佳。AOA的硝化潜势显著高于AOB,表明AOA...     

秸秆还田结合氮肥减施对玉米产量和土壤性质的影响

农业生物质还田同时结合减少化肥施用量的措施能有效改善土壤质量。基于东北黑土的特殊性和重要性,本研究在中国科学院保护性耕作研发基地(吉林省)设置秸秆还田方式与氮肥水平相结合的裂区试验,综合分析作物产量、土壤((0～20 cm))理化性质与生物学性质,探讨秸秆还田基础上减少氮肥施用量的可行性。主区包括6个处理:秸秆移除(CK)、全量秸秆覆盖免耕(NT)、全量秸秆粉碎直接还田(SD)、全量秸秆腐解还田(SC)、全量秸秆炭化还田(BC)和9/10秸秆+1/10腐熟物组合还田(SDC)。副区包括3个氮肥水平处理:当地常规氮磷钾化学肥料(N100)、氮肥减量20%(N80,还田秸秆氮含量接近氮肥20%)和氮肥减量40%(N60)。试验处理1年后的结果表明,秸秆还田方式与氮水平处理对玉米生物量、玉米产量、耕层土壤(0～20 cm)理化性质(pH值、有机碳SOC、全氮TN、全磷TP)和酶活性(脱氢酶、α-葡糖苷酶、β-葡糖苷酶、N-乙酰氨基葡糖苷酶、酸性磷酸单酯酶和碱性磷酸单酯酶)均表现出明显的交互作用,秸秆处理具有显著的主效应(P 0.05),氮肥水平对所测指标均没有显著影响。化肥单独施用时,氮肥减量处理降低玉米生物量和产量,对土壤pH值、SOC、TN和N-乙酰氨基葡糖苷酶和碱性磷酸酶活性影响不显著,提高TP含量,增强脱氢酶、β-葡糖苷酶和酸性磷酸酶活性。秸秆还田配合常规化肥施用(N100)对土壤pH值、SOC、TN和TP(P0.05)均有一定幅度提升趋势,对脱氢酶、α-葡糖苷酶、β-葡糖苷酶和酸性磷酸单酯酶活性有一定增强作用,仅有少数处理未达到差异显著。相同秸秆还田条件下,氮肥减量施用(N80,N60)对玉米生物量和产量没有负影响,对土壤pH值、SOC、TN和TP(P0.05)均有一定幅度提升趋势,NT结合氮肥减量处理均提升β-葡糖苷酶和酸性磷酸酶活性,SC结合氮肥减量处理显著提升β-葡糖苷酶、酸性磷酸酶和碱性磷酸酶活性,SDC结合氮肥减量处理显著增强β-葡糖苷酶和碱性磷酸酶活性。因此,短期秸秆还田结合减氮处理在稳产同时减弱土壤酸化程度,且保持SOC、TN和TP含量不降低,对土壤养分库容、元素供应及其转化都有一定的改良效应。     

施加秸秆和蚯蚓活动对麦田N2O排放的影响

蚯蚓是农田生态系统的重要组成部分,对土壤的碳氮循环和N2O排放起着重要作用。为了研究接种蚯蚓（威廉腔环蚓,Metaphire guillelmi）对农田土壤特性及N2O排放通量的影响,分析蚯蚓在土壤N2O排放中的作用,于2007-2008年冬小麦生长季采用静态箱-气相色谱法,对施用秸秆（表施和混施）并接种蚯蚓后土壤N2O排放通量的变化进行了监测,结果显示接种蚯蚓增加了土壤N2O的排放量。在秸秆表施的情况下,接种蚯蚓处理N2O的排放量最大,全生育期达14.26 kg?hm-2,显著高于未接种蚯蚓处理11.59 kg?hm-2（p<0.05）。在秸秆混施时,接种蚯蚓与未接种蚯蚓的两个处理间N2O排放量在栽培后期差异不显著。接种蚯蚓处理土壤N的矿化作用加强,矿质N含量提高,铵态氮含量比较稳定,硝态氮含量显著提高,表施秸秆接种蚯蚓处理硝态氮含量比未接种处理提高了20.1% （p<0.05）,达到21.13 mg?kg-1,而混施秸秆后接种蚯蚓的硝态氮含量为21.21 mg?kg-1,较未接种处理提高了11.7%。分析表明,硝态氮含量与N2O排放密切相关,接种蚯蚓后N2O排放潜力的提高与蚯蚓活动促进土壤氮素矿化特别是硝态氮含量的增加有关,农田生态系统中蚯蚓对N2O排放的贡献主要体现在促进秸秆混入土壤,从而改变秸秆分解的微域环境,促进反硝化作用并增加N2O的排放。     

秸秆还田配施不同比例化肥对晚稻产量及土壤养分的影响

在不同秸秆还田方式对早稻的效应研究确定的最佳还田方式和还田量(粉碎还田3000 kg/hm2)基础上,以单施秸秆为对照,研究了秸秆还田配施不同比例化肥对晚稻产量、干物质积累与分配及土壤养分的影响。结果表明:(1)与对照相比,秸秆3000 kg/hm2+N 150 kg/hm2+P2O575 kg/hm2+K2O 37.5 kg/hm2增产效果最为显著,在水稻的每穗粒数、千粒重、结实率、充实度和产量等方面增加幅度最大,分别为9.32%、4.28%、13.70%、2.74%和26.38%。(2)各处理的干物质茎鞘比例随着生育进程不断降低,从孕穗期的66.68%—77.00%降低至成熟期的25.97%—34.79%,除SNPK1外,叶片比例从孕穗期的23.00%—33.32%降低至成熟期的7.41%—21.03%;秸秆还田配施不同比例化肥处理的茎鞘比例在孕穗期、抽穗期和成熟期高于对照,而叶片比例与茎鞘比例呈相反趋势。(3)与对照相比,秸秆还田配施不同比例化肥处理提高了土壤pH值、有机碳、全氮、碱解氮、全磷、有效磷、全钾、速效钾,降低了土壤C/N比。研究结果说明,秸秆还田配施不同比例化肥可以提高植株干物质积累速率、群体生物量,合理改善土壤养分,保证较高的水稻增产潜力,其中秸秆3000 kg/hm2+N 150 kg/hm2+P2O575 kg/hm2+K2O 37.5 kg/hm2效果最为显著。     

秸秆还田和施肥对砂姜黑土理化性质及小麦-玉米产量的影响

通过安徽省蒙城县砂姜黑土上连续4a的冬小麦-夏玉米连作长期定位试验,研究了秸秆还田配合施用不同量氮肥对土壤理化性质及作物产量的影响。结果表明,秸秆还田可降低土壤容重2.5%—9.2%,提高含水量8.2%—28.5%和表层土壤贮水量4.1%—19.9%;增加土壤总孔隙度1.1%—8.9%、毛管孔隙度18.9%—41.0%,非毛管孔隙度降低6.4%—38.8%,土壤毛管孔隙度占土壤总孔隙度的比例增加。秸秆还田所有处理耕层的土壤硝态氮含量高于秸秆移除处理,施氮540、630、720 kg N hm-2a-1时,秸秆还田处理的硝态氮含量显著高于秸秆移除,而铵态氮含量无明显变化规律。无论秸秆还田还是秸秆移除,耕层土壤的硝态氮含量随氮肥用量的增加呈指数趋势增加,硝态氮含量与施氮量的相关性秸秆移除处理高于秸秆还田处理;秸秆还田处理的铵态氮含量随施氮量增加成指数趋势增加,而秸秆移除处理呈指数趋势减小,相关性均不显著。秸秆还田条件下,小麦和玉米获得高产的年氮肥用量分别为630、696 kg N hm-2a-1,秸秆移除为579、627 kg N hm-2a-1。经作用力分析,秸秆还田是影响土壤物理性质的最重要因素,作物产量受秸秆还田和施氮量的影响,但氮肥水平大于秸秆还田。     

耕作方式和秸秆还田对棕壤土壤养分和酶活性的影响

在沈阳农业大学试验基地开展田间控制试验,研究翻耕秸秆移除(CK)、翻耕秸秆还田(PTS)、免耕秸秆移除(NT)、免耕秸秆还田(NTS)、旋耕秸秆移除(RT)、旋耕秸秆还田(RTS)6种耕作和秸秆还田方式对棕壤养分含量和酶活性的影响。结果表明,(1)对比CK,RTS和PTS增加了表层(0~15 cm)土壤有机碳(SOC)和全氮(TN)含量、β-1,4-葡萄糖苷酶(βG)、β-1,4-N-乙酰葡糖氨糖苷酶(NAG)和酸性磷酸酶(AP)活性,但NTS和RTS比CK降低了下层(15~25 cm)SOC含量,PTS对比其他处理显著增加了下层NAG活性,RTS和PTS对比CK显著增加了两土层硝态氮(NO3--N)含量。(2)3种耕作方式配合秸秆还田的处理与无秸秆还田处理相比,增加了表层土壤SOC、TN含量以及βG、NAG、AP活性,降低了下层SOC含量,但增加了NAG和AP活性。旋耕和翻耕配合秸秆还田的处理与无秸秆还田处理相比,增加了两土层NO3--N含量,而免耕趋势相反。(3)主成分分析表明,RTS和PTS处理增加了表层土壤有机碳、氮含量,改善了土壤速效养分含量,提高了土壤酶活性,是适合棕壤的耕作结合秸秆还田的方式。     

植物、土壤及土壤管理对土壤微生物群落结构的影响

土壤微生物是土壤生态系统的重要组成部分,对土壤微生物群落结构多样性的研究是近年来土壤生态学研究的热点。本文综述了有关植物、土壤类型以及土壤管理措施对土壤微生物群落结构影响的最新研究结果,指出植物的作用因植物群落结构多样性、植物种类、同种植物不同的基因型,甚至同一植物不同根的区域而异;而土壤的作用与土壤质地和有机质含量等因素有关;植物和土壤类型在对土壤微生物群落结构影响上的作用存在互作关系。不同的土壤管理措施对土壤微生物群落结构影响较大,长期连作、大量的外援化学物质的应用降低了土壤微生物的多样性;而施用有机肥、免耕可以增加土壤微生物群落结构多样性,有利于维持土壤生态系统的功能。     

Effect of soil moisture on bioremediation of chlorophenol-contaminated soil

A chlorophenol-contaminated soil was tested for the biodegradability in a semi-pilot scale microcosm using indigenous microorganisms. More than 90% of 4-chlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, initially at 30 mg kg^–1, were removed within 60 days and 30 mg pentachlorophenol kg^–1 was completely degraded within 140 days. The chlorophenols were degraded more effectively under aerobic condition than under anaerobic condition. Soil moisture had a significant effect with the slowest degradation rate of chlorophenols at 25% in the range of 10–40% moisture content. At 25–40%, the rate of chlorophenol degradation was directly related to the soil moisture content, whereas at 10–25%, it was inversely related. Limited oxygen availability through soil agglomeration at 25% moisture content might decrease the degradation rate of chlorophenols.     

耕作方式对潮土土壤团聚体微生物群落结构的影响

为探究不同耕作方式对潮土土壤团聚体微生物群落结构和多样性的影响,采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)法测定了土壤团聚体中微生物群落。试验设置4个耕作处理,分别为旋耕+秸秆还田(RT)、深耕+秸秆还田(DP)、深松+秸秆还田(SS)和免耕+秸秆还田(NT)。结果表明:与RT相比,DP处理显著提高了原状土壤和>5 mm粒级土壤团聚体中真菌PLFAs量和真菌/细菌,为真菌的繁殖提供了有利条件,有助于土壤有机质的贮存,提高了土壤生态系统的缓冲能力;提高了5～2 mm粒级土壤团聚体中细菌PLFAs量,降低了土壤革兰氏阳性菌/革兰氏阴性菌,改善了土壤营养状况;提高了<0.25 mm粒级土壤团聚体中微生物丰富度指数。总的来说,深耕+秸秆还田(DP)对土壤团聚体细菌和真菌生物量有一定的提高作用,并且在一定程度上改善了土壤团聚体微生物群落结构,有利于增加土壤固碳能力和保持土壤微生物多样性。冗余分析结果表明,土壤团聚体总PLFAs量、细菌、革兰氏阴性菌和放线菌PLFAs量与土壤有机碳相关性较强,革兰氏阳性菌PLFAs量与总氮相关性较强。各处理较大粒级土壤团聚体微生物群落主要受碳氮比、含水量、pH值和团聚体质量分数的影响,较小粒级土壤团聚体微生物群落则主要受土壤有机碳和总氮的影响。     

Estimating respiration of roots in soil: Interactions with soil CO2, soil temperature and soil water content

Little information is available on the variability of the dynamics of the actual and observed root respiration rate in relation to abiotic factors. In this study, we describe I) interactions between soil CO₂ concentration, temperature, soil water content and root respiration, and II) the effect of short-term fluctuations of these three environmental factors on the relation between actual and observed root respiration rates. We designed an automated, open, gas-exchange system that allows continuous measurements on 12 chambers with intact roots in soil. By using three distinct chamber designs with each a different path for the air flow, we were able to measure root respiration over a 50-fold range of soil CO₂ concentrations (400 to 25000 ppm) and to separate the effect of irrigation on observed vs. actual root respiration rate. All respiration measurements were made on one-year-old citrus seedlings in sterilized sandy soil with minimal organic material.Root respiration was strongly affected by diurnal fluctuations in temperature (Q₁₀ = 2), which agrees well with the literature. In contrast to earlier findings for Douglas-fir (Qi et al., 1994), root respiration rates of citrus were not affected by soil CO₂ concentrations (400 to 25000 ppm CO₂; pH around 6). Soil CO₂ was strongly affected by soil water content but not by respiration measurements, unless the air flow for root respiration measurements was directed through the soil. The latter method of measuring root respiration reduced soil CO₂ concentration to that of incoming air. Irrigation caused a temporary reduction in CO₂ diffusion, decreasing the observed respiration rates obtained by techniques that depended on diffusion. This apparent drop in respiration rate did not occur if the air flow was directed through the soil. Our dynamic data are used to indicate the optimal method of measuring root respiration in soil, in relation to the objectives and limitations of the experimental conditions.     

生物质炭对水稻土团聚体微生物多样性的影响

生物质炭施用对土壤微生物群落结构的影响已有报道,但土壤团聚体粒组中微生物群落对生物质炭施用的响应的研究还相对不足。以施用玉米秸秆生物质炭两年后的水稻土为对象,采用团聚体湿筛法,通过高通量测序对土壤团聚体的微生物群落结构与多样性进行分析,结果表明:(1)与对照相比,生物质炭施用显著促进了大团聚体(2000—250μm)的形成,并提高了团聚体的稳定性。(2)不同粒径团聚体间微生物相对丰度存在显著差异。在未施生物质炭的处理(C0)中,随着团聚体粒径增大,变形菌门、子囊菌门、β-变形杆菌目、格孢腔菌目的相对丰度逐渐降低,而酸杆菌门、担子菌门、粘球菌目、类球囊霉目的相对丰度逐渐升高。(3)生物质炭施用显著改变了团聚体间的微生物群落结构。与C0处理相比,生物质炭施用处理的大团聚体中变形菌门、鞭毛菌门和β-变形杆菌目的相对丰度分别显著提高了14.37%、33.28%和33.82%;微团聚体(250—53μm)中酸杆菌门、子囊菌门和粘球菌目的相对丰度分别显著降低了20.15%、19.93%和17.66%;粉、黏粒组分(53μm)中担子菌门的相对丰度升高90.25%,而子囊菌门和鞭毛菌门的相对丰度分别降低12.15%和12.58%。由此可见,生物质炭不仅改变土壤团聚体组成和分布,同时伴随着土壤微生物群落结构的改变。     

The porosity of soil aggregates from bulk soil and from soil adhering to roots

Summary Total porosity and pore-size distribution (p.s.d.) were determined in soil aggregates taken in plots planted with maize and treated with farmyard manure and three rates of compost. Soil aggregates were collected from the soil adherent to the maize roots (root soil aggregates) and from bulk soil (bulk soil aggregates). Mercury intrusion porosimetry was used to evaluate the total porosity and the p.s.d. Treatments did not affect the total porosity of the bulk soil aggregates. The same was observed for the root soil aggregates. However the total porosity of the root soil aggregates was always lower than that of the bulk soil aggregates. The loss of total porosity was found to be due to a decrease in the percentage of larger pores with respect to the total.     

Available soil nitrogen in relation to fractions of soil nitrogen and other soil properties

The available N of 27 soils from England and Wales was assessed from the amounts of N taken up over a 6-month period by perennial ryegrass grown in pots under uniform environmental conditions. Relationships between availability and the distribution of soil N amongst various fractions were then examined using multiple regression. The relationship: available soil N (mg kg^–1 dry soil)=(N_min×0.672)+(N_inc×0.840)+(N_mom×0.227)–5.12 was found to account for 91% of the variance in available soil N, where N_min=mineral N, N_inc=N mineralized on incubation and N_mom=N in macro-organic matter. The N mineralized on incubation appeared to be derived largely from sources other than the macro-organic matter because these two fractions were poorly correlated. When availability was expressed in terms of available organic N as % of soil organic N (N_ao) the closest relationship with other soil characteristics was: N_ao=[N_inc×(1.395–0.0347×CN_mom]+[N_mom×0.1416], where CN_mom=CN ratio of the macro-organic matter. This relationship accounted for 81% of the variance in the availability of the soil organic N.The conclusion that the macro-organic matter may contribute substantially to the available N was confirmed by a subsidiary experiment in which the macro-organic fraction was separated from about 20 kg of a grassland soil. The uptake of N by ryegrass was then assessed on two subsamples of this soil, one without the macro-organic matter and the other with this fraction returned: uptake was appreciably increased by the macro-organic matter.     

Temporal dynamics of soil bacterial network regulate soil resistomes

Soil bacteria are diverse and form complicated ecological networks through various microbial interactions, which play important roles in soil multi-functionality. However, the seasonal effects on the bacterial network, especially the relationship between bacterial network topological features and soil resistomes remains underexplored, which impedes our ability to unveil the mechanisms of the temporal-dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Here, a field investigation was conducted across four seasons at the watershed scale. We observed significant seasonal variation in bacterial networks, with lower complexity and stability in autumn, and a wider bacterial community niche in summer. Similar to bacterial communities, the co-occurrence networks among ARGs also shift with seasonal change, particularly with respect to the topological features of the node degree, which on average was higher in summer than in the other seasons. Furthermore, the nodes with higher betweenness, stress, degree, and closeness centrality in the bacterial network showed strong relationships with the 10 major classes of ARGs. These findings highlighted the changes in the topological properties of bacterial networks that could further alter antibiotic resistance in soil. Together, our results reveal the temporal dynamics of bacterial ecological networks at the watershed scale, and provide new insights into antibiotic resistance management under environmental changes.     

The breakdown of malathion in soil and soil components

The disappearance of the organophosphorus insecticide, malathion, from a silt loam soil and from its organic and inorganic components was examined. Half-lives and the time taken for 90% decomposition in nonsterile, sodium azide-treated, and 2.5 Mrad-irradiated soils were similar (3/4–1 1/2 days and 4–6 days, respectively) but breakdown in autoclaved soils was negligible. Decay in nonsterile sand, silt, and clay minus organic matter fractions was 3–6 times slower than that recorded in the original soil. Breakdown of malathion in the clay plus organic matter fraction (organo-mineral complex) was rapid (half-life, 1 day), as was the case in the separated organic matter (half-life, 1 3/4 days). Filter-sterilized organic matter was not as effective in catalyzing the breakdown of malathion (half-life, 4 days), and no loss occurred from any of the autoclaved components. Irradiation doses of 2.5 and 5.0 Mrad had little influence on the ability of soil to degrade malathion. Thereafter, increases up to 20 Mrad had a more drastic, though far from totally inhibitory, effect. Our results suggest that either the colloidal organic matter itself, or a fraction associated with it, is the most important single factor concerned with the rapid breakdown of malathion in the soil studied. Direct microbial metabolism is a slower process and may have a significant role in malathion disappearance in coarsetextured soils low in colloidal organic matter. The catalytic component of the organic matter is suggested to be a stable exoenzyme and is supportive of reports by other workers. The quantitative effect of organo-mineral complex (containing the active degradative ingredient) additions to sand and silt fractions on the rate of subsequent malathion decay is also described.