DOM对米槠次生林不同土层土壤微生物呼吸及其熵值的影响

可溶性有机质(Dissolved organic matter,DOM)作为土壤可溶性有机碳的重要来源,进入土壤之后通过改变土壤微生物数量和活性影响土壤矿化。DOM输入对土壤微生物呼吸和熵值的研究多集中在表层土壤,但对深层土壤微生物呼吸和熵值的影响关注较少。通过室内培养实验(120 d)研究米槠(Castanopsis carlesii)鲜叶DOM添加对表层土壤(0—10 cm)和深层土壤(40—60 cm)微生物呼吸及其土壤代谢熵和微生物熵的影响,为揭示DOM输入对亚热带森林土壤碳过程的影响提供理论依据。结果表明,在培养第1天,添加DOM的表层和深层土壤CO_2瞬时排放速率均显著高于对照(P0.001),分别是对照(不添加DOM)的3.58倍和6.93倍,之后显著下降。就累积排放量而言,无论是DOM添加处理还是对照,表层土壤显著大于深层土壤;在米槠鲜叶DOM添加后,表层土壤累积排放量显著大于对照的表层土壤(P0.001),但DOM添加处理深层土壤累积排放量与对照的深层土壤无明显差异。就微生物生物量碳而言,表层土壤微生物生物量碳含量在培养期间显著大于深层土壤。在整个添加DOM培养期间,表层土壤微生物生物量碳含量显著大于表层对照土壤,深层土壤微生物生物量碳含量显著大于深层对照土壤(第3天除外)。培养结束时(120 d),米槠鲜叶DOM添加处理下,表层土壤和深层土壤有机碳含量与第3天相比分别减少26%和19%。米槠鲜叶DOM添加处理后的深层土壤代谢熵(qCO_2)显著低于对照的深层土壤和DOM添加处理的表层土壤qCO_2(P0.001),说明外源DOM进入深层土壤后提高了土壤微生物对碳的利用效率。米槠鲜叶DOM添加处理后的深层土壤微生物熵是培养第3天的1.58倍,显著大于培养初期(P0.05),而DOM添加处理的表层土壤、对照的表层土壤与深层土壤的微生物熵分别是培养第3天的68%、79%和21%,说明DOM添加提高了深层土壤质量。     

西南亚高山针叶林主要树种互作及增温对根区土壤微生物群落的影响

温度与植物种类是生态系统土壤微生物群落组成与结构的重要影响因子。气候变暖背景下, 不同树种及树种互作对土壤微生物群落产生的影响仍不清楚。该文以西南亚高山针叶林主要建群种粗枝云杉(Picea asperata)和岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)为研究对象, 采用红外加热器模拟增温, 通过不同种植方式(云杉、冷杉单种和二者混种, 以及裸地对照), 研究不同物种及增温对土壤微生物磷脂脂肪酸(PLFAs)含量与群落结构的影响。结果表明: (1)无论增温与否, 与裸地相比, 云杉与冷杉单种均显著增加了土壤微生物群落主要类群及总PLFAs含量, 而混种仅在非增温条件下增加了微生物群落PLFAs含量; 另一方面, 增温显著促进了裸地真菌(F)和云杉根区革兰氏阴性菌(GN)的生长, 但对冷杉与冷杉-云杉混种小区微生物群落具有显著的抑制作用。(2)主成分分析(PCA)表明, 非增温条件下, 植物种植对土壤微生物群落组成的影响更为明显。非增温情况下云杉、冷杉单种和混种均对微生物群落结构有显著影响, 显著降低了土壤革兰氏阳性菌/阴性菌(GP/GN), 增加了土壤真菌细菌比(F/B)(64.29%-35.71%), 而增温时, 仅冷杉单种对GP/GN和F/B有显著影响。(3) PLFAs含量与土壤碳含量显著正相关, 微生物群落结构(F/B)则与土壤pH及无机氮含量有显著相关关系。以上结果说明, 在非增温情况下, 无论单种还是混种均有利于土壤微生物生长, 但在增温情况下混种对微生物群落PLFAs含量无显著影响, 两个物种对微生物群落结构的影响在增温条件下也有减弱的趋势。     

Effects of plant interspecific interaction and warming on soil microbial community in root zone soil of two dominant tree species in the subalpine coniferous forest in southwestern China

温度与植物种类是生态系统土壤微生物群落组成与结构的重要影响因子。气候变暖背景下, 不同树种及树种互作对土壤微生物群落产生的影响仍不清楚。该文以西南亚高山针叶林主要建群种粗枝云杉(Picea asperata)和岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)为研究对象, 采用红外加热器模拟增温, 通过不同种植方式(云杉、冷杉单种和二者混种, 以及裸地对照), 研究不同物种及增温对土壤微生物磷脂脂肪酸(PLFAs)含量与群落结构的影响。结果表明: (1)无论增温与否, 与裸地相比, 云杉与冷杉单种均显著增加了土壤微生物群落主要类群及总PLFAs含量, 而混种仅在非增温条件下增加了微生物群落PLFAs含量; 另一方面, 增温显著促进了裸地真菌(F)和云杉根区革兰氏阴性菌(GN)的生长, 但对冷杉与冷杉-云杉混种小区微生物群落具有显著的抑制作用。(2)主成分分析(PCA)表明, 非增温条件下, 植物种植对土壤微生物群落组成的影响更为明显。非增温情况下云杉、冷杉单种和混种均对微生物群落结构有显著影响, 显著降低了土壤革兰氏阳性菌/阴性菌(GP/GN), 增加了土壤真菌细菌比(F/B)(64.29%-35.71%), 而增温时, 仅冷杉单种对GP/GN和F/B有显著影响。(3) PLFAs含量与土壤碳含量显著正相关, 微生物群落结构(F/B)则与土壤pH及无机氮含量有显著相关关系。以上结果说明, 在非增温情况下, 无论单种还是混种均有利于土壤微生物生长, 但在增温情况下混种对微生物群落PLFAs含量无显著影响, 两个物种对微生物群落结构的影响在增温条件下也有减弱的趋势。     

海拔梯度变化对中亚热带黄山松土壤微生物生物量和群落结构的影响

全球变暖对陆地生态系统造成一系列生态问题,使这些问题将随着全球平均气温的升高而进一步加剧。海拔梯度变化是研究气候变暖对陆地生态系统影响的一种重要手段。目前为止利用海拔梯度对微生物影响的研究尚未定论,其主要原因是忽略了植被类型的影响。因此,以中亚热带戴云山的3个海拔(1300、1450、1600 m)的黄山松(Pinus taiwanensis)林为研究对象,探究沿海拔梯度的变化,森林土壤微生物生物量和微生物群落结构的响应变化。结果表明:土壤碳氮磷养分(SOC、TN、TP)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)、微生物生物量磷(MBP)和丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)、革兰氏阴性菌(GN)、真菌(Fungi)、总磷脂脂肪酸(T_(PLFA)),细菌∶真菌(F∶B)均随海拔升高显著下降,而革兰氏阳性菌∶革兰氏阴性菌(GP∶GN)随海拔升高呈相反的趋势。冗余分析(RDA)表明,温度(T)和可溶性有机氮(DON)是影响微生物群落结构的最重要的环境因子。研究表明:与1600 m海拔相比,1300 m海拔温度较高,土壤有机质矿化作用较强,土壤速效养分及微生物生物量随之增加,从而提高(Fungi)、细菌(Bacteria)等。因此,未来气候变暖将通过改变土壤碳氮磷养分来影响本区域微生物群落组成结构。这对进一步深入了解气候变化对山地生态系统土壤养分循环过程具有重要意义。     

贺兰山东坡不同海拔土壤微生物群落特征及其影响因素

土壤微生物作为连接地上植物群落和地下生物过程的重要桥梁,在调控地下生态学过程中扮演着重要角色。然而,我们对旱区山地生态系统沿海拔梯度上的土壤微生物群落变化特征及其驱动因素尚不清楚。本研究以贺兰山1300～2800 m范围内7个海拔的土壤为研究对象,揭示贺兰山林下植物群落组成、土壤理化性质、土壤微生物群落海拔分布格局,采用方差分解和冗余分析探明影响土壤微生物群落的驱动因素。结果表明：随着海拔上升,土壤微生物总量和细菌生物量呈先增加后降低的变化趋势,真菌、放线菌、丛枝菌根真菌、革兰氏阳性菌和革兰氏阴性菌生物量呈现逐渐增加的变化趋势。真菌细菌比(F/B)显示,低海拔土壤细菌的积累能力强于真菌,而在高海拔则相反。革兰氏阳性菌与阴性菌比例(GP/GN)随海拔上升呈逐渐减小的趋势,表明随海拔上升土壤细菌和有机碳可利用度分别发生由“寡”到“富”和由“低”到“高”转变。植被属性、土壤物理和化学属性共同解释土壤微生物群落变异的95.7%。土壤有机碳(SOC)、土壤含水率(SWC)和全氮(TN)显著影响土壤微生物群落组成。本研究揭示了贺兰山东坡土壤微生物群落沿海拔梯度的分布模式及其驱动因素,可为深化认识旱...     

洞庭湖典型湿地植被群落土壤微生物特征

以洞庭湖湿地3种典型植被(虉草、苔草、芦苇)为对象,研究了不同植被下土壤微生物生物量和微生物呼吸等特征,并对其主要影响因子进行了分析.结果表明:微生物生物量碳、氮和微生物呼吸以虉草群落最高,苔草群落次之,芦苇群落最低,微生物碳熵变化趋势为虉草群落＞苔草群落＞芦苇群落,微生物呼吸熵具有与微生物碳熵相反的变化趋势.相关分析表明:土壤含水量、容重和有机质是影响土壤微生物特征变化的重要因子,同时,土壤pH和土壤总氮与土壤微生物生物量碳、微生物生物量氮、微生物呼吸等也有较强的关联性.     

高山林线土壤微生物群落结构对模拟增温的响应

研究土壤微生物群落结构对模拟增温的响应,对预测全球气候变化背景下土壤碳氮磷循环具有重要意义.采用开顶式生长室(OTC)模拟增温,研究了土壤有机质层和矿质土壤层真菌(F)、细菌(B)、革兰氏阳性菌(G⁺)和革兰氏阴性菌(G^-)PLFAs微生物量,以及真菌/细菌(F/B)和革兰氏阴性菌/革兰氏阳性菌(G^-/G⁺)比值对模拟增温的响应.结果表明: OTC模拟增温使空气温度增加0.87 ℃,土壤有机质层温度增加0.5 ℃,矿质土壤层温度增加0.23 ℃.土壤有机质层微生物群落组成比矿质土壤层对模拟增温的响应更敏感.细菌比真菌对模拟增温的响应更加敏感,模拟增温显著影响了土壤有机质层的F/B和G^-/G⁺比值,对矿质土壤层的所有PLFAs含量或比值均没有显著影响.微生物的PLFAs含量及真菌/细菌和G^-/G⁺比值总体呈现非生长季低于生长季前期和生长季后期.冗余分析表明,土壤中的碳含量(可溶性有机碳DOC 12.1%、凋落物可溶性碳DC 9.5%和全碳TC 3%)是微生物群落结构的决定性因素,可溶性组分(DOC和DC)对微生物群落结构的影响大于全量养分(全碳和总氮).     

马尾松林土壤微生群落结构对不同营林处理的响应

以不同营林处理措施(对照、除灌、采伐1(15%)、采伐2(70%)后不同时期(处理后2个月,2013年12月;处理后15个月,2014年12月)三峡库区马尾松飞播林为研究对象,采用磷脂脂肪酸分析法对其土壤微生物生物量、微生物群落结构进行测定,同时比较了不同处理土壤理化性质特征,结果表明:1)处理后1年,除丛枝菌根真菌外,除灌、采伐1和采伐2微生物群落各类群生物量以及总生物量与对照相比均呈现减少的趋势,而在处理后初期并无规律性变化;2)主成分分析表明(PCA)不同处理措施在实施后初期并未对微生物群落结构产生显著影响,而在处理后1年,除灌和采伐1、采伐2的微生物群落结构显著区别于对照,且与土壤微生物群落多样性相关的2个主成分分别解释变量变化的50.40%和26.70%;3)2013年真菌生物标记(20:1 w9c)与主成分1极显著相关,而在2014年与主成分1极显著相关的生物标记物变为革兰氏阴性细菌(16:1w7c);4)冗余度分析表明,土壤湿度、土壤温湿度比值、土壤微生物熵(微生物量碳(MBC)/土壤有机碳(SOC))是影响不同时期微生物群落结构的显著环境因子(P0.05)。     

红壤侵蚀区芒萁对土壤微生物群落结构的影响

土壤微生物是反映土壤质量状况的重要指标,研究侵蚀地植被恢复后土壤微生物群落结构的变化对深入认识土壤质量的演变具有重要意义。对比分析了未治理地(Y0)、治理13年(Y13)和31年(Y31)的马尾松林(Pinus massoniana)林下芒萁(Dicranopteris dichotoma)覆盖地(NRd)、去除芒萁覆盖地(Rd)与林下裸地(CK)土壤微生物生物量和群落结构差异,结果表明:林下裸地土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)和总微生物磷脂脂肪酸量(总PLFAs)的含量均显著低于芒萁覆盖地,且去除芒萁4个月后,MBC和总PLFAs均有降低趋势,表明芒萁覆盖对土壤微生物生物量具有重要影响;林下芒萁覆盖地土壤革兰氏阳性菌(GP)、革兰氏阴性菌(GN)、丛植菌根真菌(VAM)、真菌(Fungi)、放线菌(ACT)的PLFAs含量显著高于林下裸地(Y13例外),去除芒萁4个月后,各值均有有接近林下裸地的趋势;芒萁覆盖地真菌/细菌的比值(F/B)均显著高于林下裸地(P0.05),芒萁覆盖地革兰氏阳性菌/革兰氏阴性菌的比值(GP/GN)、饱和直链脂肪酸/单不饱和脂肪酸的比值(sat/mono)和(cy17:0+cy19:0ω8c)/(16:1ω7c+18:1ω7c)(cy/pre)显著小于林下裸地(P0.05),去除芒萁4个月后,芒萁覆盖地土壤cy/pre显著升高(P0.05)(Y13例外),意味着芒萁覆盖地土壤生态系统更稳定,土壤的养分可利用性更高,微生物生物量和群落结构更丰富,活性更强;皮尔逊相关分析和冗余分析发现,土壤理化性质与土壤微生物生物量和群落结构关系密切,土壤C/N、p H和氮素水平是调控芒萁覆盖下土壤微生物生物量和群落结构的主要生态因子。     

亚热带森林转换对土壤微生物呼吸及其熵值的影响

土壤微生物呼吸及其熵值是表征土壤质量变化的敏感性指标,不仅能衡量土壤微生物碳利用效率,还能揭示土壤有机碳的变化。通过比较亚热带米槠天然林转换为马尾松人工林和杉木人工林后土壤微生物呼吸速率、土壤微生物生物量碳以及微生物熵、代谢熵的差异,研究亚热带森林转换对土壤微生物碳利用效率的影响。研究结果显示:(1)与天然林相比,马尾松人工林0—10 cm土壤微生物呼吸速率上升32%(P0.05),马尾松人工林和杉木人工林10—20 cm土壤微生物呼吸速率分别下降26%和24%(P0.05);但在20—40 cm土层和40—60 cm土层,天然林土壤微生物呼吸速率比马尾松人工林分别高50%和43%;(2)马尾松人工林和杉木人工林0—10 cm土层土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)比天然林分别下降19%和40%(P0.05),但马尾松人工林10—20 cm土壤MBC上升29%(P0.05);(3)人工林表层土壤微生物熵与天然林没有显著差异,但与天然林相比,杉木人工林和马尾松人工林20—40 cm土层土壤微生物熵分别下降51%和71%(P0.05),40—60 cm分别下降52%、66%(P0.05)。土壤微生物代谢熵的变化主要发生在0—10 cm土层,马尾松人工林和杉木人工林分别比天然林增加38%和29%(P0.05),在深层土壤,3种林分微生物代谢熵没有显著差异。亚热带森林转换导致表层土壤微生物碳利用效率下降,深层土壤易分解碳在总有机碳库中占比下降,有机碳可利用程度降低。     

有机物料厌氧发酵液中拮抗苹果再植障碍病原真菌的细菌筛选及其防治效果

有机物料厌氧发酵液(AFOF)能显著改善苹果再植障碍.本研究对AFOF中能拮抗苹果再植障碍主要病原菌(腐皮镰刀菌、层出镰刀菌、尖孢镰刀菌、串珠镰刀菌)的细菌进行了分离筛选,并对其作用效果进行了盆栽验证.结果表明: AFOF能显著抑制病原真菌的生长繁殖;对峙试验共得到4株具有较强拮抗作用的细菌(L11、L12、L13、L14),最高抑菌率达到57.3%,鉴定发现这4株细菌均属于芽孢杆菌属,相互之间没有明显的拮抗作用;在盆栽条件下,与连作土相比,溴甲烷熏蒸处理和拮抗菌菌液处理对平邑甜茶幼苗的生物量均有不同程度的促进作用;在幼苗的长势上,溴甲烷熏蒸处理效果要好于拮抗菌菌液处理;在根系活力上,拮抗菌菌液处理效果要好于溴甲烷熏蒸处理,根系长度、根尖数分别增加了25.1%、70.9%.与连作土处理相比,拮抗菌菌液和溴甲烷熏蒸均能显著降低土壤中的真菌数量,分别降低了71.2%和64.2%,拮抗菌菌液处理能显著增加土壤中的细菌和放线菌数量,分别增加了48.0%和140.2%,使土壤微生物结构向“细菌型”转化;而溴甲烷熏蒸处理显著降低了土壤中的细菌和放线菌数量,说明拮抗菌的确能够抑制土壤中病原真菌的生长.     

川西亚高山森林土壤呼吸和微生物生物量碳氮对施氮的响应

随着全球大气氮沉降的明显增加,将有可能显著影响我国西部地区受氮限制的亚高山森林生态系统。土壤微生物是生态系统的重要组成部分,是土壤物质循环和能量流动的重要参与者。由于生态系统类型、土壤养分、氮沉降背景值等的差异,土壤呼吸和土壤生物量碳氮对施氮的响应存在许多不确定性。而施氮会不会促进亚高山森林生态系统中土壤呼吸和微生物对土壤碳氮的固定?基于此假设,选择了川西60年生的四川红杉(Larix mastersiana)亚高山针叶林为研究对象,通过4个水平的土壤施氮控制试验(CK:0 g m~(-2) a~(-1)、N1:2 g m~(-2)a~(-1)、N2:5 g m~(-2) a~(-1)、N3:10 g m~(-2)a~(-1)),监测了土壤呼吸及土壤微生物生物量碳氮在一个生长季的动态情况。结果表明:施氮对土壤呼吸各指标和土壤微生物碳氮都有极显著的影响,施氮能促进土壤全呼吸、自养呼吸、异养呼吸通量和土壤微生物生物量碳氮的增长,施氮使土壤呼吸通量提高了11%—15%,土壤微生物量碳提高了5%—9%,土壤微生物量氮提高了23%—34%。在中氮水平下(5 g m~(-2) a~(-1))对土壤呼吸的促进最显著。相关分析发现,土壤呼吸与微生物生物量碳氮和微生物代谢商极呈显著正相关,微生物量碳氮与土壤温度呈极显著的正相关,与土壤湿度呈极显著负相关。通过一般线性回归拟合土壤呼吸速率与土壤10 cm温湿度的关系,发现土壤呼吸速率与土壤温度呈极显著的正相关,与土壤湿度极显著负相关(P0.001),中氮水平下土壤温度敏感性系数Q_(10)值(7.10)明显高于对照(4.26)。     

Microbial activity and soil respiration under nitrogen addition in Alaskan boreal forest

Climate warming could increase rates of soil organic matter turnover and nutrient mineralization, particularly in northern high‐latitude ecosystems. However, the effects of increasing nutrient availability on microbial processes in these ecosystems are poorly understood. To determine how soil microbes respond to nutrient enrichment, we measured microbial biomass, extracellular enzyme activities, soil respiration, and the community composition of active fungi in nitrogen (N) fertilized soils of a boreal forest in central Alaska. We predicted that N addition would suppress fungal activity relative to bacteria, but stimulate carbon (C)‐degrading enzyme activities and soil respiration. Instead, we found no evidence for a suppression of fungal activity, although fungal sporocarp production declined significantly, and the relative abundance of two fungal taxa changed dramatically with N fertilization. Microbial biomass as measured by chloroform fumigation did not respond to fertilization, nor did the ratio of fungi : bacteria as measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. However, microbial biomass C : N ratios narrowed significantly from 16.0 ± 1.4 to 5.2 ± 0.3 with fertilization. N fertilization significantly increased the activity of a cellulose‐degrading enzyme and suppressed the activities of protein‐ and chitin‐degrading enzymes but had no effect on soil respiration rates or ¹⁴C signatures. These results indicate that N fertilization alters microbial community composition and allocation to extracellular enzyme production without affecting soil respiration. Thus, our results do not provide evidence for strong microbial feedbacks to the boreal C cycle under climate warming or N addition. However, organic N cycling may decline due to a reduction in the activity of enzymes that target nitrogenous compounds.     

Biochar as Electron Acceptor for Microbial Extracellular Respiration

Biochar is a charred carbonaceous material that has recently been identified to provide many potential environmental and agricultural applications. Biochar amendments are shown to effectively improve the quality of soil and increase soil microbial biomass. However, the interactions between biochar and microorganisms and the mechanisms through which biochar influences soil microbial growth and activities remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the potential for biochar to function as an electron acceptor for microbial extracellular respiration and growth. Anaerobic incubation of Geobacter sulfurreducens revealed that biochar was used as a sole terminal electron acceptor, as evidenced by a 31-fold increase of biomass and gradual increase in reducing equivalents of biochar and the consumption of acetate after 15 d. An electron stoichiometry analysis showed that 58.7% of the electrons released from acetate oxidation could be recovered in biochar, which was comparable to that of humic substances (44.8%). The finding that biochar participates in microbial extracellular respiration may have important environmental implications considering the widespread existence of both extracellular-respiring microorganisms and black carbon in the environment.     

Measurement of the microbial biomass in intact cores of soil

The fumigation/respiration technique was used to estimate the size of the soil microbial biomass. Sieving decreased the biomass in winter but increased it in summer; we suggest that this was a consequence of the different substrates available and the different microbial populations during the year. The flush in respiration following fumigation correlated significantly with the CO₂-C produced 10 days after fumigation (X), so that in the soils studied by us the biomass (B) can be calculated from Bk=0.673X–3.53, wherek is the fraction of fumigated organisms mineralized to CO₂, thus avoiding the need to measure CO₂ production from unfumigated cores.     

Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations on soil microorganisms

Effects of elevated CO(2) on soil microorganisms are known to be mediated by various interactions with plants, for which such effects are relatively poorly documented. In this review, we summarize and synthesize results from studies assessing impacts of elevated CO(2) on soil ecosystems, focusing primarily on plants and a variety the of microbial processes. The processes considered include changes in microbial biomass of C and N, microbial number, respiration rates, organic matter decomposition, soil enzyme activities, microbial community composition, and functional groups of bacteria mediating trace gas emission such as methane and nitrous oxide. Elevated CO(2) in atmosphere may enhance certain microbial processes such as CH(4) emission from wetlands due to enhanced carbon supply from plants. However, responses of extracellular enzyme activities and microbial community structure are still controversy, because interferences with other factors such as the types of plants, nutrient availabilitial in soil, soil types, analysis methods, and types of CO(2) fumigation systems are not fully understood.     

Protozoa,Nematoda and Lumbricidae in the rhizosphere of Hordelymus europeaus (Poaceae): faunal interactions,response of microorganisms and effects on plant growth

Interactions among protozoa (mixed cultures of ciliates, flagellates and naked amoebae), bacteria-feeding nematodes (Pellioditis pellio Schneider) and the endogeic earthworm species Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny) were investigated in experimental chambers with soil from a beechwood (Fagus sylvatica L.) on limestone. Experimental chambers were planted with the grass Hordelymus europeaus L. (Poaceae) and three compartments separated by 45-m mesh were established: rhizosphere, intermediate and non-rhizosphere. The experiment lasted for 16 weeks and the following parameters were measured at the end of the experiment: shoot and root mass of H. europaeus, carbon and nitrogen content in shoots and roots, density of ciliates, amoebae, flagellates and nematodes, microbial biomass (SIR), basal respiration, streptomycin sensitive respiration, ammonium and nitrate contents, phosphate content of soil compartments. In addition, leaching of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and leachate pH were measured at regular intervals in leachate obtained from suction cups in the experimental chambers. Protozoa stimulated the recovery of nitrifying bacteria following defaunation (by chloroform fumigation) and increased nitrogen losses as nitrate in leachate. In contrast, protozoa and nematodes reduced leaching of phosphate, an effect ascribed to stimulation of microbial growth early in the experiment. Earthworms strongly increased the amount of extractable mineral nitrogen whereas it was strongly reduced by protozoa and nematodes. Both protozoa and nematodes reduced the stimulatory effect of earthworms on nitrogen mineralization. Microbial biomass, basal respiration, and numbers of protozoa and nematodes increased in the vicinity of the root. Protozoa generally caused a decrease in microbial biomass whereas nematodes and earthworms reduced microbial biomass only in the absence of protozoa. None of the animals studied significantly affected basal respiration, but specific respiration of microorganisms (O₂ consumption per unit biomass) was generally higher in animal treatments. The stimulatory effect of nematodes and earthworms, however, occurred only in the absence of protozoa. The sensitivity of respiration to streptomycin suggested that protozoa selectively grazed on bacterial biomass but the bacterial/fungal ratio appeared to be unaffected by grazing of P. pellio. Earthworms reduced root biomass of H. europaeus, although shoot biomass remained unaffected, and concentrations of nitrogen in shoots and particularly in roots were strongly increased by earthworms. Both nematodes and protozoa increased plant biomass, particularly that of roots. This increase in plant biomass was accompanied by a marked decrease in nitrogen concentrations in roots and to a lesser extent in shoots. Generally, the effects of protozoa on plant growth considerably exceeded those of nematodes. It is concluded that nematodes and protozoa stimulated plant growth by non-nutritional effects, whereas the effects of earthworms were caused by an increase in nutrient supply to H. europaeus.     

The microfood web of grassland soils responds to a moderate increase in atmospheric CO2

The response of the soil microfood web (microflora, nematodes) to a moderate increase in atmospheric CO₂ (+20%) was investigated by means of a free air CO₂ enrichment experiment. The study was carried out in a seminatural temperate grassland for a period of 4 consecutive years (1 year before fumigation commenced and 3 years with fumigation). Several soil biological parameters showed no change (microbial biomass, bacterial biomass) or decline (microbial respiration) in the first year of elevated CO₂ treatment as compared with controls. Each of these parameters were higher than controls, however, after 3 years of treatment. The relative abundance of predaceous nematodes also decreased in year 1 of the experiment, increased in year 2, but decreased again in year 3. In contrast, the relative abundance of root hair feeding nematodes, at first, increased under elevated CO₂ and then returned to the initial level again. Increased microbial biomass indicates enhanced C storage in the labile carbon pool of the active microfood web in subsequent years. According to measurements on the amounts of soil extractable C, changes in resource availability seem to be key to the response of the soil microfood web. We found a strong response of bacteria to elevated CO₂, while the fungal biomass remained largely unchanged. This contrasts to findings reported in the literature. We hypothesize that this may be because of contrasting effects of different levels of CO₂ enrichment on the microbial community (i.e. stimulation of bacteria at moderate levels and stimulation of fungi at high levels of CO₂ enrichment). However, various CO₂ effects observed in our study are similar in magnitude to those observed in other studies for a much higher level of atmospheric carbon. These include the particular sensitivity of predaceous nematodes and the long‐term increase of microbial respiration. Our findings confirm that the potential of terrestrial ecosystems to accumulate additional carbon might be lower than previously thought. Furthermore, CO₂‐induced changes of temperate grassland ecosystems might emerge much earlier than expected.