江苏省不同种植年限的西/甜瓜农田土壤线虫群落特征

在江苏省主要西/甜瓜产区,采集不同种植年限的西/甜瓜农田土壤,采用线虫形态学的鉴定方法,分析了不同种植年限西/甜瓜农田土壤线虫的数量、群落结构及相关生态指数的变化。结果表明:所有调查样点中,共发现土壤线虫54属,平均682条·100 g^-1干土,其中原杆属线虫、拟丽突属线虫和矮化属线虫在不同种植年限的西/甜瓜农田土壤中均为优势属;随着种植年限的增加,土壤线虫的总数量虽无显著变化,但其中食细菌类线虫和杂食-捕食类线虫数量显著减少,而植物寄生类线虫数量显著增加;植物寄生类线虫中的矮化属、根结属线虫数量不断增加;随着种植年限的增加,土壤线虫的多样性指数(H)、瓦斯乐斯卡指数(WI)、自由生活线虫成熟度指数(MI)显著降低,线虫通道指数(NCR)、植物寄生线虫成熟度指数(PPI)、PPI/MI显著升高,其他指数无显著变化;相关性分析结果显示,土壤线虫数量与土壤pH、速效磷、有效锌和有效硼均呈显著正相关;土壤p H、有机质、全氮、速效钾、有效硼和有效锌对土壤优势属线虫的影响较大;连续种植西/甜瓜会增加土壤植物寄生类线虫数量,进而可能造成西/甜瓜连作障碍的发生;连续种植6~10年,土壤线虫的多样性最低、稳定性最差,土壤环境已趋于恶化。     

江苏省不同种植年限的西/甜瓜农田土壤线虫群落特征

在江苏省主要西/甜瓜产区,采集不同种植年限的西/甜瓜农田土壤,采用线虫形态学的鉴定方法,分析了不同种植年限西/甜瓜农田土壤线虫的数量、群落结构及相关生态指数的变化。结果表明:所有调查样点中,共发现土壤线虫54属,平均682条·100 g~(-1)干土,其中原杆属线虫、拟丽突属线虫和矮化属线虫在不同种植年限的西/甜瓜农田土壤中均为优势属;随着种植年限的增加,土壤线虫的总数量虽无显著变化,但其中食细菌类线虫和杂食-捕食类线虫数量显著减少,而植物寄生类线虫数量显著增加;植物寄生类线虫中的矮化属、根结属线虫数量不断增加;随着种植年限的增加,土壤线虫的多样性指数(H)、瓦斯乐斯卡指数(WI)、自由生活线虫成熟度指数(MI)显著降低,线虫通道指数(NCR)、植物寄生线虫成熟度指数(PPI)、PPI/MI显著升高,其他指数无显著变化;相关性分析结果显示,土壤线虫数量与土壤pH、速效磷、有效锌和有效硼均呈显著正相关;土壤p H、有机质、全氮、速效钾、有效硼和有效锌对土壤优势属线虫的影响较大;连续种植西/甜瓜会增加土壤植物寄生类线虫数量,进而可能造成西/甜瓜连作障碍的发生;连续种植6～10年,土壤线虫的多样性最低、稳定性最差,土壤环境已趋于恶化。     

新疆长期棉花连作对土壤理化性状与线虫群落的影响

土壤线虫群落特征是评价和指示土壤生态系统健康状况的重要依据。本研究选取不同连作年限(5、10、15、20和25年)的棉田为样地,采用高通量测序技术,探究土壤性状和线虫群落对棉田长期连作的响应。结果表明: 棉田连作10～15年后,土壤pH、电导率显著升高,有机碳、全氮、有效磷、有效钾、硝态氮含量和土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)显著降低。在连作棉田中共鉴定出土壤线虫3纲7目18科25属,其中螺旋属在不同连作年限的棉田土壤中均为优势属;土壤植物寄生类线虫在不同连作年限中均为优势营养类群,呈现先降低后增加的趋势,连作25年较其他连作年限植物寄生类线虫增加9.1%～208.6%,其中螺旋属线虫增加了392%。随着连作年限的增加,矮化属、茎属、Discopersicus、中环属和中轮属等植物寄生类线虫被检出。连作15年的棉田土壤中,土壤线虫丰富度指数和自由生活线虫成熟度指数显著降低,植物寄生线虫成熟度指数/自由生活线虫成熟度指数显著升高,Shannon多样性指数和瓦斯乐斯卡指数最低;有效磷和MBC是影响土壤线虫群落变化的主要环境因子。这说明棉田连作10～15年会发生土壤养分失衡,土壤线虫多样性降低,土壤食物网稳定性变差,棉花致病类植物寄生线虫增加,产生连作障碍。     

不同稻作年限下土壤微生物学性质和线虫群落特征的变化

红壤地区旱地改水田后随稻作年限的增加土壤性质会发生改变,但缺乏对百年尺度内土壤动物群落特征变化的了解.本研究选取了旱改水后1 yr、10 yr、20 yr、50 yr和100 yr五个时序的田块,研究了稻作土壤微生物学性质及线虫群落特征的变化.结果表明,随着稻作年限的延长,土壤微生物生物量碳氮、基础呼吸、矿质氮、速效磷、线虫数量及线虫属数均随稻作时间增长而逐渐上升,在50 yr均达到显著水平(P＜0.05),在50-100 yr变化渐缓或有所下降.线虫群落中植食者的比例显著上升(P＜0.05),捕食/杂食者的比例有所下降但差异不显著.线虫通道指数也随稻作年限的增加而逐渐增长(P＜0.05),表明土壤食物网结构趋向于细菌通道.稻作年限对线虫群落成熟度指数和结构指数的影响并不一致.总之,土壤微生物学性质和线虫群落在旱改水50 yr时土壤各项性质均达到较高水平,随稻作年限的继续延长呈现稳定趋势.     

不同植被类型的滩涂湿地土壤线虫群落特征

对江苏盐城湿地保护区内不同植被带土壤线虫的群落结构特征进行了研究.结果表明：调查共鉴定出20科39属,优势属和常见属的数量占总个体数的90%以上;不同植被类型的滩涂湿地土壤线虫总数存在明显差异性,线虫数量范围为每100 g干土79～449条,小麦地显著高于其他植被带,光滩地数量最少.线虫群落生态指数对植被带有不同的响应,土壤线虫群落多样性指数H、均匀度指数J在不同植被带的分布依次为：苇草带＞盐蒿带＞小麦地＞米草带＞光滩带,而优势度指数λ的分布为：光滩带＞米草带＞小麦地＞盐蒿带＞苇草带,表明光滩带的线虫群落多样性和稳定性小于其他植被带,土壤线虫群落趋于单一化;成熟度指数MI表现为保护区内未开垦植被带高于已开垦的小麦地,说明农田受外界干扰明显.不同植被带间的线虫群落结构存在显著差异,各植被带的最大贡献物种各不相同.土壤理化性状与线虫数量、营养类群、生态指数存在明显的相关关系.表明线虫群落的变化能很好地反映植被带生境的多样性,土壤线虫可作为湿地生态系统中一个重要的生物指示因子.     

黄土高原半干旱区不同种植年限紫花苜蓿人工草地土壤微生物和线虫群落特征

建植紫花苜蓿人工草地是黄土高原植被恢复的重要措施之一。土壤微生物和线虫群落特征是评价和调控植被恢复的生态环境效应的重要依据。本研究在宁夏南部山区选取不同种植年限(1、2、6和12年)的紫花苜蓿人工草地为研究样地,以农田和天然草地作为对照,探索黄土高原人工草地植被恢复过程中土壤微生物和线虫群落的演变规律及其影响因素。结果表明: 1)种植苜蓿显著提高了土壤细菌群落的Chao1、ACE和Shannon多样性指数,并在种植苜蓿后第6年达到最高,但在种植6年和12年后真菌群落多样性降低;随着苜蓿种植年限的增加,真菌群落组成从农田逐渐向天然草地方向演变;2)土壤线虫数量与细菌群落多样性的变化趋势相同,在种植苜蓿后第6年出现峰值,该时期线虫群落结构组成与农田较相似,苜蓿12年样地则更接近天然草地;随着苜蓿种植年限的增加,食细菌线虫、植食性线虫比例总体呈上升趋势,食真菌线虫、杂食/捕食线虫比例呈下降趋势,土壤成熟度指数(MI)逐渐减小,植物寄生线虫指数(PPI)和线虫通路指数(NCR)则不断增大;3)在苜蓿人工草地植被恢复过程中,土壤有机碳、全氮和速效磷对土壤微生物群落结构影响较大,并进一步影响线虫群落结构;细菌和真菌群落优势类群和多样性与线虫的不同营养类群及生态指数之间存在密切联系,表明微生物群落结构与多样性对线虫群落具有显著影响;在不同种植年限苜蓿草地中,植物的生物量与多样性的变化可能通过影响土壤微生物与线虫食物资源状况从而引起其群落特征的改变。     

陇东黄土高原石油开采对土壤线虫群落的影响

为研究陇东黄土高原石油开采对土壤线虫影响的强度与范围,选择长庆油田不同开采年限(1、10a和20a)油井共6口,按照距井基不同距离(3、6、10、20m和50m)采集土壤样品90个,共鉴定出土壤线虫22科43属;其中,食细菌线虫26属、食真菌线虫2属、植物寄生线虫9属、杂食/捕食线虫6属,优势类群为小杆属Rhabditis和孔咽属Aporcelaimus。土壤线虫生活史策略以c-p 2类群占优势,不同距离采样点,土壤线虫c-p 2和c-p 5差异极显著(P0.01)。随着距井基距离增加(3、6、10、20m和50m)线虫总数显著增加;其中,植食类、捕食杂食类和食真菌类线虫数量增加显著,且线虫群落多样性指数(H')显著增加(P0.05)。但不同距离之间优势度指数(λ),均匀度指数(J)和瓦斯乐斯卡指数(WI)差异不显著。不同开采年限油井,以10a土壤线虫群落多样性指数(H')、成熟度指数(MI)和瓦斯乐斯卡指数(WI)最低,而1a油井和20a油井较高,且与10a油井差异显著(P0.05)。油井作业改变周围土壤性质,导致土壤含水率降低、总石油烃(TPH)含量增高,但土壤线虫分布与土壤TPH无明显相关。研究结果表明,油田开采影响土壤线虫的组成与群落结构,但影响范围一般局限在作业区范围,指数H'和MI能较好的指示油田开采对线虫群落的影响。     

西藏色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉林土壤线虫群落特征

为了解西藏东南部亚高山地带典型森林群落类型——急尖长苞冷杉林土壤生态系统线虫多样性现状,于2010年夏季至2011年春季,调查了0～30 cm范围内不同深度土层的土壤线虫群落,用线虫个体密度、多样性指数和营养类群指数等特征值分析了土壤线虫群落的组成与结构特点.调查采用浅盘法分离得到土壤线虫7915条,隶属于2纲6目38科67属;线虫个体密度平均为620条·100 g-1干土;表层(0～5 cm)土壤中线虫个体数量占总数的56.9％,表聚性明显.垫咽属、螺旋属及绕线属为优势属.植食性线虫是主要营养类群,非植食线虫中食真菌性线虫所占比例最大.土壤有机质以真菌分解途径为主.土壤线虫群落H'多样性指数、J'均匀度指数、λ优势度指数及SR丰富度指数季节间差异均不显著,不同土层间的.J'均匀度指数差异不显著,H'多样性指数、λ优势度指数及SR丰富度指数土层间的差异随土壤深度加深而增大.表明色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉林生态系统成熟度较高,抵抗外界干扰的能力较强.     

川西北高寒地区多年生禾本科人工草地土壤线虫群落动态

为了查明青藏高原地区建植多年生禾本科人工草地对土壤线虫群落的影响及土壤线虫群落随人工草地建植年限增加的变化趋势，以川西北红原县2018年建植的垂穗披碱草样地(Elymus nutans)和老芒麦样地(Elymus sibiricus)为研究对象，以天然草地(Natural grassland)为对照，于2018—2020每年9月对土壤线虫群落、植被和土壤因子等进行连续监测。研究共分离到土壤线虫38470条，隶属于2纲8目65科172属，平均密度2482条/100g干土；食细菌线虫是研究样地的主要营养类群。垂穗披碱草和老芒麦样地的土壤线虫群落组成结构与天然草地间存在明显差异，但差异性随建植年限增加逐渐降低。线虫群落密度和多样性指数在垂穗披碱草、老芒麦和天然草地间均无显著差异。随建植年限增加，土壤线虫群落密度显著上升，Pielou指数显著下降，丰富度和Shannon指数无显著变化；植物寄生线虫密度和比例在第2年显著增加，并成为优势营养类群。线虫群落生态指数在不同草地类型间无显著差异，但垂穗披碱草和老芒麦样地的线虫基础指数随建植年限增加先增加，在第3年时显著降低(P<0.05)。冗余分...     

植茶年限对土壤团聚体线虫群落结构的影响

在野外调查的基础上,采用干筛法和改良的Baermann漏斗法,研究植茶年限(19年、26年、34年和56年)对土壤团聚体线虫群落结构的影响。本研究共捕获线虫6602条,隶属于46属,以Acrobeloides为优势属,食细菌线虫为优势营养类群。线虫总数和大多数营养类群数量均随植茶年限的延长先升高后降低,在植茶26年时数量达到最高,且随粒径的减小而减少。线虫类群数则随着植茶年限的延长,虽随着粒径的减小而减少,但对2 mm粒径团聚体中响应不敏感。线虫结构指数(Structure index, SI)多数小于50,富集指数(Enrichment index, EI)均大于50。随着植茶年限的延长,茶园生态系统土壤食物网逐渐退化;与大粒径团聚体相比,0.25 mm粒径团聚体中食物网受扰动相对较小。以上结果表明,植茶26年土壤更适合线虫繁殖且大粒径团聚体更有利于线虫生存;随着植茶年限的延长,土壤食物网退化,0.25 mm粒径团聚体受到的干扰较少,这一结果有助于揭示茶园土壤团聚体中线虫群落变化和土壤食物网对植茶年限的响应特征。     

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。     

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.     

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.     

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.