Soil restoration under pasture after topsoil removal: Some factors influencing C and N mineralization and measurements of microbial biomass

Factors influencing rates of C and N mineralization of soil and plant materials, and the reliability of different procedures for estimating microbial biomass, were measured in a soil (Typic Dystrochrept) that had been restored under grazed pasture in a temperate environment for 10–11 years after 20 cm of the original topsoil had been removed by stripping. Rates of net N mineralization were appreciably lower, but CO₂-C production higher, in the stripped than in the unstripped soil. These activities were not influenced directly by levels of soil mineral-N, but they were influenced by differences in plant composition. Herbage and litter, and roots, from the stripped plots were generally mineralized more readily to CO₂-C, but more slowly to net mineral-N, than were the corresponding materials from the unstripped plots. Rates of mineralization of herbage and litter, or roots, were mainly indistinguishable in stripped and unstripped soil, whereas rates of mineralization of all standing dead material were lower in stripped soil. Measurements of extractable-C flush, and of CO₂-C flush (using a fumigated soil control) and mineral-N flush by fumigation-incubation procedures, indicated that microbial biomass in stripped soil had recovered to at least 88 percent of the levels in unstripped soil. Substrate-induced respiration also generally indicated high levels of recovery of microbial biomass. The fumigation-incubation procedure appeared to under-estimate microbial biomass markedly in stripped soil when unfumigated soil controls were used; the used of a large soil inoculum (20 percent w/w) only sometimes overcame this problem. Possible reasons for apparent anomalies in estimation of microbial C are discussed.     

The influence of soil C/N ratios on nitrogen mineralization during anaerobic incubation

Summary N-availability in 25 soils, spanning a wide range of C : N ratios, was estimated by maize growth in a pot experiment and ammonium-N production during anaerobic incubation. Discrepancies between the two indices were traced to soils with a high organic matter content and high C : N ratio. Whereas there existed a highly significant negative correlation between C : N ratio and incubation ammonium-N production, maize N-uptake was unrelated to C : N ratio. In particular, for soils of high C : N ratio, soil ammonium-N content after incubation gives a more reliable estimate of N-availability than does incubation ammonium-N production.     

Adaptation of methods for evaluating N2 fixation in food legumes and legume cover crops

Methods for partitioning the nitrogen assimilated by nodulated legumes, between nitrogen derived from soil sources and from N₂ fixation, are described as applied in peninsular Malaysia. The analysis of nitrogenous components translocated from the roots to the shoots of nodulated plants in the xylem sap is outlined, with some precautions to be observed for applications in the tropics. Some examples of the use of the technique in surverying apparent N₂ fixation by tropical legumes, in studying interrow cropping in plantation systems and in assessing effects of experimental treatments on N₂ fixation by food legumes, are described. Techniques for assesing N₂ fixation by means of¹⁵N abundance have been used to show that applications of nitrogenous fertilizers commonly used in Malaysia for soybeans depress N₂ fixation, that similar results are obtained with natural abundance and¹⁵N-enrichment methods and that, in at least two locations in Malaysia, differences between the natural abundance of¹⁵N in plant-available soil nitrogen and in atmospheric N₂ are great enough to permit application to measurement of N₂ fixation by leguminous crops.     

Fine root biomass and tree species effects on potential N mineralization in afforested sodic soils

The study was carried out under three types of plantation forest of 40 years, growing on infertile sodic soils, poor in organic matter and N content, of Indogangetic alluvium at Lucknow (26°45 N; 80°53 E). Fine root biomass estimated under three forests did not differ much with season, or with species (106–113 g m^-2) but varied with soil depth to 0.45 m. The proportion of very fine roots (<0.5 mm) increased with soil depth. Available N in soil was greatest under mixed forest followed by Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Acacia nilotica planted soils. N was maximum in summer season and decreased with soil depth. Nitrogen mineralization during anerobic incubation of 14 days could not be differentiated by tree species, but the monsoon season favoured the process and winter season retarded it. Mineralization decreased with soil depth corresponding to fine roots. There was a reduction in bulk density of soil, pH and EC in forested soil compared to a similar but non forested soil, whereas, organic C and total N increased in forested soils. N mineralization was found to be affected significantly with the fine root biomass and available N content in the soils, whereas negative relations of mineralized N with pH and EC were noticed, though these were not significantly different in this study.     

Impact of residue quality on the C and N mineralization of leaf and root residues of three agroforestry species

A laboratory incubation experiment with ¹⁵N labeled root and leaf residues of 3 agroforestry species (Leucaena leucocephala, Dactyladenia barteri and Flemingia macrophylla) was conducted under controlled conditions (25 C) for 56 days to quantify residue C and N mineralization and its relationship with residue quality.No uniform relation was found between the chemical composition of the above and below residues. The leucaena and dactyladenia roots contained more lignin (8 and 26% respectively) and less N (2.0 and 1.0% respectively) than the respective leaves (2 and 13% lignin and 2.9 and 1.4% N, respectively), whereas the differences between the lignin and N contents of the flemingia leaves and roots were not significant (4.6 and 3.0% lignin and 2.63 and 2.68% N, respectively). The leucaena leaves contained more polyphenols than the roots (6.4 and 3.6%), while the polyphenol content of the leaves and roots of the other residues was similar (5.0 and 5.1% for dactyladenia and 4.0 and 3.5% for flemingia).Three patterns of N mineralization could be distinguished. A first pattern, followed by residues producing the highest amounts of CO₂, showed an initial immobilization of soil derived N, followed by a net release of both soil and residue derived N after 7 days of incubation. A second pattern, followed by the flemingia leaf residues which produced intermediate amounts of CO₂ and had an intermediate quality, showed no significant immobilization of soil derived N, and significant mineralization of residue N. A third pattern, followed by both low quality dactyladenia residues, showed a low release of residue derived N and a continued inmobilization of soil derived N.Residue C mineralization was significantly (p<0.05) correlated with the residue lignin content, C-to-N ratio, and polyphenol-to-N ratio. The proportion of residue N mineralized (immobilized) after 56 days of incubation was significantly correlated with the residue N content (p<0.01) and the C-to-N ratio (p<0.05). The relations were quadratic, rather than linear. The ratio of the proportion of residue N mineralized (immobilized) over the proportion of residue C mineralized after 56 days was highly significantly correlated with the lignin content (p<0.01) and C-to-N (p<0.001), lignin-to-N (p<0.01), polyphenol-to-N (p<0.01) and (lignin+polyphenol)-to-N ratios (p<0.01) in a linear way. This indicates that due to the low availability of the residue C, relatively less N is immobilized for the very low quality residues ((lignin+polyphenol)-to-N ratio: 29.7) than for the residues with a relatively higher quality ((lignin+polyphenol)-to-N ratios between 3.3 and 12.5).     

Land-use change effects on soil C and N transformations in soils of high N status: comparisons under indigenous forest, pasture and pine plantation

Globally, land-use change is occurring rapidly, and impacts on biogeochemical cycling may be influenced by previous land uses. We examined differences in soil C and N cycling during long-term laboratory incubations for the following land-use sequence: indigenous forest (soil age = 1800 yr); 70-year-old pasture planted after forest clearance; 22-year-old pine (Pinus radiata) planted into pasture. No N fertilizer had been applied but the pasture contained N-fixing legumes. The sites were adjacent and received 3–6 kg ha^–1 yr^–1volcanic N in rain; NO₃ ^–-N leaching losses to streamwater were 5–21 kg ha^–1 yr^–1, and followed the order forest < pasture = pine. Soil C concentration in 0–10 cm mineral soil followed the order: pasture > pine = forest, and total N: pasture > pine > forest. Nitrogen mineralization followed the order: pasture > pine > forest for mineral soil, and was weakly related to C mineralization. Based on radiocarbon data, the indigenous forest 0–10 cm soil contained more pre-bomb C than the other soils, partly as a result of microbial processing of recent C in the surface litter layer. Heterotrophic activity appeared to be somewhat N limited in the indigenous forest soil, and gross nitrification was delayed. In contrast, the pasture soil was rich in labile N arising from N fixation by clover, and net nitrification occurred readily. Gross N cycling rates in the pine mineral soil (per unit N) were similar to those under pasture, reflecting the legacy of N inputs by the previous pasture. Change in land use from indigenous forest to pasture and pine resulted in increased gross nitrification, net nitrification and thence leaching of NO₃ ^–-N.     

Dynamics of biomass and N accumulation of alfalfa under three N fertilization rates

The dynamics of biomass and N accumulation following defoliation of alfalfa and the application of N fertilization has rarely been studied under field conditions, particularly in the seeding year. Our objectives were to determine the effect of N fertilization on the dynamics of biomass and N accumulation during the first regrowth of alfalfa in the seeding year, and to determine if a model describing critical N concentration developed for established stands could be used in the seeding year. In two separate experiments conducted in 1992 and 1993, the biomass and N accumulation of alfalfa grown with three N rates (0, 40 and 80 kg N ha^-1) were determined weekly. Maximum shoot growth was reached with 40 kg N ha^-1 in 1992, and maximum shoot growth was not reached with the highest N fertilization rate in 1993. Nitrogen fixation, root N reserves and soil inorganic N uptake when no N was applied were, therefore, not sufficient to ensure non-limiting N conditions, particularly when growth rates were the highest between 14 to 21 d after defoliation. Nitrogen fertilization increased shoot biomass accumulation in the first 21 d of regrowth, biomass partitioning to the shoots and shoot and taproot N concentrations. The model parameters of critical N concentration developed by Lemaire et al. (1985) for established stands of alfalfa were not adequate in the seeding year. The N requirements per unit of shoot biomass produced are greater in the seeding year than on established stands, and this was attributed to a greater proportion of leaves in the seeding year.     

Temperature and moisture effects on C and N mineralization from surface applied clover residue

A better understanding of the effect of temperature (T) and moisture on soil microbial activity should improve our ability to predict N mineralization from soil organic matter and crop residues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of water potential () and T on C and N mineralization from unamended Cecil loamy sand soil (clayey, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludult) and from crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) residues applied on the soil surface. Cecil soil was packed into acrylic plastic cylinders, adjusted to -5.0, -1.5, -0.03, or -0.003 MPa, treated with clover residues on the surface or left unamended, and incubated at 10, 20, 28, or 35°C for 21 d. Headspace gas samples for CO2 and N2O determinations were taken periodically and NH3 evolved was trapped. Inorganic N in soil and residue extracts was analyzed after 21 d. When increased from -5.0 to -0.003 MPa, total CO2 evolved from unamended soil increased linearly with ln(-), whereas total CO2 evolved from clover residue increased exponentially with . In both cases the effect of was enhanced as T increased. Two-dimensional (T, ) equations were developed to describe these effects. Apparent net mineralized N from the clover residue increased with until it reached a maximum between -0.5 and -0.03 Mpa.     

不同施肥制度土壤微生物量碳氮变化及细菌群落16S rDNA V3 片段PCR产物的DGGE分析

应用化学分析和变性梯度凝胶电泳（DGGE）技术分离PCR扩增的16S rDNA的方法,研究了不同施肥制度对土壤微生物量碳、氮变化及微生物多样性的影响。结果表明,连续15a长期试验下,土壤微生物量碳（SMB-C）和微生物量氮（SMB-N）的含量大小均为长期撂荒（CK0）土壤高于农田土壤,而在农田土壤中,长期施肥的处理（NPK、NPKM、NPKSt和NPKF）高于长期不施肥处理（CK）,不同的种植制度中,长期复种轮作（NPKF）高于长期复种连作（NPK）;各处理的SMB-C/SOC（土壤有机碳）和SMB-N/TN（全氮）的比值的变化趋势与SMB-C和SMB-N变化一致;从PCR-DGGE分析,长期氮磷钾化肥配施有机肥（NPKM）处理的微生物量碳、氮的含量最高,微生物丰度最高,细菌物种最多,其次为长期撂荒（CK0）,CK处理细菌物种最少。UPGMC聚类分析表明NPK和NPKF处理细菌的群落结构相似,CK和CK0处理细菌的群落结构相似,而NPKM和NPKSt处理细菌的群落结构相似。     

N recovery from legume prunings and priming effects are governed by the residue quality

Nitrogen recovery from 15N-labelled prunings of Gliricidia sepium, Peltophorum dasyrrachis, Calliandra calothyrsus and Leucaena leucocephala, each of two different chemical qualities, was followed over three cropping cycles in a growth room. Half of the pots of each treatment received a further addition of unlabelled pruning material, from the same species as that previously applied, before the second and third crop cycle. The cumulative maize total N accumulation revealed the largest benefit from N rich, low lignin and polyphenols Gliricidia prunings followed by Leucaena, Calliandra and Peltophorum. Cumulative N recovery measured using 15N over the three crop cycles ranged from 9% from Calliandra prunings to 44% from Gliricidia prunings. The vast majority of this N was recovered during the first crop cycle which agreed well with estimates using the N difference method. Recoveries in the second and third crops ranged from 0.4–5% (15N method) and 6–14% (N difference method) of the N initially applied. The protein binding capacity of polyphenols was the best predictor of N recovery at both initial and later crop cycles. Treatments which led to a large N recovery initially, continued to provide greater N benefits in subsequent cycles although with increasing harvest time this trend decreased. Thus, there was no compensation in initial N release from low quality prunings at later harvests and the agronomic implications of this are discussed. Addition of unlabelled Gliricidia prunings before the second and third cycle led to a positive apparent priming effect on previously applied 15N labelled prunings. By contrast, repeated additions of Peltophorum residues, rich in lignin and active polyphenols, resulted in a reduced recovery of initially applied pruning-15N. However, the maximum positive or negative effects on recovery of pruning N amounted to less than 2% recovery of the initial amount of N added over 14 weeks. Thus the scope for regulation of N release from tree prunings during these later stages of decomposition appears to be limited.     

Reappraisal of drying and wetting effects on C and N mineralization and fluxes in soils

In the next decades, many soils will be subjected to increased drying/wetting cycles or modified water availability considering predicted global changes in precipitation and evapotranspiration. These changes may affect the turnover of C and N in soils, but the direction of changes is still unclear. The aim of the review is the evaluation of involved mechanisms, the intensity, duration and frequency of drying and wetting for the mineralization and fluxes of C and N in terrestrial soils. Controversial study results require a reappraisal of the present understanding that wetting of dry soils induces significant losses of soil C and N. The generally observed pulse in net C and N mineralization following wetting of dry soil (hereafter wetting pulse) is short‐lived and often exceeds the mineralization rate of a respective moist control. Accumulated microbial and plant necromass, lysis of live microbial cells, release of compatible solutes and exposure of previously protected organic matter may explain the additional mineralization during wetting of soils. Frequent drying and wetting diminishes the wetting pulse due to limitation of the accessible organic matter pool. Despite wetting pulses, cumulative C and N mineralization (defined here as total net mineralization during drying and wetting) are mostly smaller compared with soil with optimum moisture, indicating that wetting pulses cannot compensate for small mineralization rates during drought periods. Cumulative mineralization is linked to the intensity and duration of drying, the amount and distribution of precipitation, temperature, hydrophobicity and the accessible pool of organic substrates. Wetting pulses may have a significant impact on C and N mineralization or flux rates in arid and semiarid regions but have less impact in humid and subhumid regions on annual time scales. Organic matter stocks are progressively preserved with increasing duration and intensity of drought periods; however, fires enhance the risk of organic matter losses under dry conditions. Hydrophobicity of organic surfaces is an important mechanism that reduces C and N mineralization in topsoils after precipitation. Hence, mineralization in forest soils with hydrophobic organic horizons is presumably stronger limited than in grassland or farmland soils. Even in humid regions, suboptimal water potentials often restrict microbial activity in topsoils during growing seasons. Increasing summer droughts will likely reduce the mineralization and fluxes of C and N whereas increasing summer precipitation could enhance the losses of C and N from soils.     

Germination, field establishment patterns and nitrogen fixation of indigenous legumes on nutrient-depleted soils

Integrating N₂-fixing indigenous legumes in smallholder farming systems has potential to alleviate some of the major soil fertility constraints associated with lack of nitrogen (N) inputs in many parts of Sub-SaharanAfrica. Studies were conducted under low (450–650 mm yr^?1) and high (>800 mm yr^?1) rainfall areas in Zimbabwe to investigate the establishment and nitrogen fixation patterns of fifteen indigenous legume species. The legume seeds were broadcast in mixtures at 120 seeds m^?2 species^?1 during 2004/05 and 2005/06 rainfall seasons.Eriosema ellipticum, Crotalaria ochroleuca andC. pallida had emergence rates above 15% compared with <10% forTephrosia radicans andIndigofera astragalina. Seed hardness accounted for >50% germination failure, while low viability explained 10–30%.Crotalaria ochroleuca andC. pallida attained a maximum biomass of 5–9 t ha^?1 (dry weight) over six months, while species that reached peak biomass over three months (e.g.C. cylindrostachys andC. glauca) gave lowest yields of ≈0.5 t ha^?1. Biennials,Neonotonia wightii, E. ellipticum and Tephrosia radicans, exhibited slow growth rates and only attained their maximum biomass of ≈2 t ha^?1 in the second season. The legumes derived 60–99% of their N from the atmosphere, fixing 5–120 kg N ha^?1 under low rainfall and 78–267 kg N ha^?1 under high rainfall. These findings suggest that the legumes could contribute in restoring productivity of soils continuously cultivated with little or no nutrient inputs in most of Zimbabwe and similar agro-ecologies in SubSaharan Africa.     

Herbivore influence on soil microbial biomass and nitrogen mineralization in a northern grassland ecosystem: Yellowstone National Park

Microorganisms are largely responsible for soil nutrient cycling and energy flow in terrestrial ecosystems. Although soil microorganisms are affected by topography and grazing, little is known about how these two variables may interact to influence microbial processes. Even less is known about how these variables influence microorganisms in systems that contain large populations of free-roaming ungulates. In this study, we compared microbial biomass size and activity, as measured by in situ net N mineralization, inside and outside 35- to 40-year exclosures across a topographic gradient in northern Yellowstone National Park. The objective was to determine the relative effect of topography and large grazers on microbial biomass and nitrogen mineralization. Microbial C and N varied by almost an order of magnitude across sites. Topographic depressions that contained high plant biomass and fine-textured soils supported the greatest microbial biomass. We found that plant biomass accurately predicted microbial biomass across our sites suggesting that carbon inputs from plants constrained microbial biomass. Chronic grazing neither depleted soil C nor reduced microbial biomass. We hypothesize that microbial populations in grazed grasslands are sustained mainly by inputs of labile C from dung deposition and increased root turnover or root exudation beneath grazed plants. Mineral N fluxes were affected more by grazing than topography. Net N mineralization rates were highest in grazed grassland and increased from dry, unproductive to mesic, highly productive communities. Overall, our results indicate that topography mainly influences microbial biomass size, while mineral N fluxes (microbial activity) are affected more by grazing in this grassland ecosystem. Received: 4 June 1997 / Accepted: 16 December 1997     

Simulating the effects of N availability, straw particle size and location in soil on C and N mineralization

Predicting the C and N mineralization of straw added to soil is important for forecasting subsequent soil N availability during and between crop growth cycles. The decomposition module of the STICS model, parameterized under optimal conditions, was used to predict straw decomposition in sub-optimal conditions, i.e. when contact between soil and residue was poor (due to large size residues or surface placement) or when mineral N availability was restricted. The data used in the simulations were obtained from published studies of effects of residue size, location and N availability on C and N mineralization from straw under controlled laboratory conditions. We selected studies in which the dynamics of C and N mineralization were measured simultaneously. The dynamics of straw mineralization could be well predicted by the model under optimal conditions with standard parameter values as derived from measured C/N ratios of the residues, but not under sub-optimal conditions which required a new parameterization. A good fit could be obtained on these treatments by a marked reduction in the rate constants of residue and microbial biomass decomposition and a marked increase in the microbial biomass C/N ratio. Our results show the need to include in decomposition models routines for simulating effects of spatial heterogeneity of residue distribution, different particle sizes and limiting N availability.     

The influence of some chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides on the mineralization of N fertilizers and plant growth

Summary The variable effects, previously observed under field and laboratory conditions, resulting from the application of the widely used chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides has stimulated further investigations. Because of the possible cumulative harmful effects of the insecticides on the activities of soil micro-organisms, several investigations have been concerned with the influence of these insecticides on the conversion of ammonia to nitrate.The present investigation is concerned with the relationship between the deleterious effect of certain pesticides on the activities of the soil microflora and the use of nitrogenous fertilizers; an aspect of the problem which has not previously been considered.The results of the investigation may allow the anomalous effects of the insecticides in the laboratory and in the field to be understood.The observations indicate that the basis of the effects of hexachlorocyclohexane on soils is as an inhibitor of nitrification.     

Effects of n(2) deficiency on transport and partitioning of C and N in a nodulated legume

Nodulated root systems of white lupin (Lupinus albus L. cv Ultra: Rhizobium strain WU425) were exposed to Ar:O₂ (80:20, v/v) or Ar:N₂:O₂ (70:10:20, v/v/v) and C and N partitioning were examined over a 9- or 10-day period in comparison with control plants with nodulated roots retained in air. Accumulation of N ceased in plants exposed to Ar:O₂ or was much reduced in plants exposed to Ar:N₂:O₂, but net C assimilation rates and profiles of C utilization remained similar to those of control N₂-fixing plants. There was, however, a proportional reduction in CO₂ evolution from nodulated roots of the Ar:O₂ treatment. Xylem N levels fell rapidly after application of Ar:O₂. C:N ratios of phloem sap of petioles and of stem base rose during the first day of Ar:O₂ treatment and then fell progressively back to levels close to that of control plants as leaf reserves of N became available for loading of phloem. Stem top phloem sap increased progressively in C:N ratio throughout Ar:O₂ treatment, presumably due to increasing shortage of xylem derived N for xylem to phloem exchange. Reexposure of Ar:O₂-treated nodulated root systems to air prompted a rapid recovery of N₂ fixation and restoration of plant N status. Rates of N₂ fixation in plants whose roots were exposed to a range of N₂ concentrations indicated an apparent K_m of 10% N₂ for the attached intact white lupin nodule.     

Nitrogen mineralization in relation to C:N ratio and decomposability of organic materials

A desk study was made on N mineralization of various organic materials. Data were obtained from the literature containing information on mineralized organic N, C/N of the substrate and some index for decomposability. Per class of substrate decomposability, linear regression lines between N mineralization and substrate C/N were established, from which apparent initial age and humification coefficient were calculated to indicate decomposability. For quantitative grading, a resistance index was formulated comprising the concentrations of lignin and polyphenols. The results confirmed that the fraction of mineralized organic N is linearly related to substrate C/N for equally decomposable materials. The nature of the organic materials and the processes to which they had been subjected were reflected in the ranking by decomposability.     

干湿交替对半干旱区沙地樟子松人工林土壤C和N矿化速率影响

在干旱/半干旱地区,土壤干湿交替是非常普遍的自然现象。近年来,随着极端降水和极端干旱气候事件增加,干湿交替对土壤C和N循环过程影响受到广泛重视。本研究以我国北方半干旱地区科尔沁沙地樟子松人工林为对象,模拟土壤干湿交替对土壤C和N矿化速率影响及其延时效应。结果表明,土壤呼吸CO2释放速率随土壤干旱化增加不断降低,干旱土壤重新湿润后,土壤呼吸速率能够迅速恢复到初始水平。与恒湿处理相比,干湿交替变化能够降低土壤呼吸CO2释放累积量和土壤硝态氮含量;而干湿交替处理土壤呼吸CO2释放累积量、土壤硝态氮含量和净硝化速率均显著高于恒干处理。在干湿交替结束后延时期间,土壤呼吸CO2释放速率、累积释放量对干湿交替变化表现出延时性,而土壤净硝化速率在不同处理间差异不显著。研究表明,土壤水分是影响半干旱地区沙地樟子松人工林土壤C和N循环的重要环境因子,且土壤C和N矿化速率对土壤干湿交替变化的延时响应存在差异。