The effect of woodland soil translocation on carbon and nitrogen mineralisation processes

Two investigations into the translocation of temperate deciduous woodland soil were carried out in Kent, S. E. England, to study the effects on C and N mineralisation. In the field experiment, two translocation methods were compared: (i) placement, moving soil as an intact surface profile and (ii) loose-tipping in which the surface profile was mixed. These were implemented in winter both in situ (under the woodland canopy) and ex situ (soil moved to a receptor site outside woodland). In a second experiment, intact soil cores from the woodland site were subjected to different levels of disturbance in a polythene tunnel environment. Measurements of soil CO₂ evolution and N mineralisation in both experiments showed a clear seasonal pattern, strongly influenced by temperature. Over a 7-month period, cumulative net N mineralisation in the field was greater in the woodland controls and placement treatments than loose-tipping treatments. Soil CO₂ emissions were also greater in woodland control plots in the winter compared with ex situ treatments. Similarly, in the polythene tunnel environment, CO₂ emissions were highest in the undisturbed soil cores, while N mineralisation varied with soil depth but, across the whole profile, was also greater in the controls. We conclude that the mixing of organic rich topsoil with mineral subsoil in clayey soil may have protected the organic residues on the clay-silt surfaces, resulting in overall lower mineralisation rates in the disturbed soil. These results indicate that N mineralisation does not necessarily increase when soil translocation operations are carried out on clayey soils in winter. Placement methods appeared the most likely to conserve soil mineralisation processes close to those in undisturbed woodland soil, but depend greatly on the success of maintaining the soil profile intact. It appears that, on clayey soils, the development of vegetation at the receptor site is more likely to be determined by alterations in the light, soil temperature and moisture regime that will occur in open conditions after woodland translocation than from increased soil N supply.     

湖南主要类型稻田土壤固定态铵含量及其影响因素

通过野外调查取样和室内培养试验 ,应用Silva和Bremner方法 ,研究了湖南省主要类型稻田土壤的固定态铵含量及其影响因素 .结果表明 ,该省主要类型稻田土壤固定态铵含量为 141～ 35 3mg·kg-1,平均为 2 72± 6 7mg·kg-1,占土壤全N的 11.2 % ,高于湖南省以北各地区土壤和本地区地带性土壤———红壤的固定态铵含量 .其含量的顺序为河沙泥 >紫泥田 >潮沙泥 >黄泥田 >红黄泥 .在土壤剖面中 ,固定态铵含量随剖面深度的变化有 4种情况 :在 1m深度范围内随深度增加而增加 ;随深度增加而减少 ;随深度增加而无明显变化 ;土壤剖面中某一土层固定态铵含量明显增加或减少 .土壤固定态铵含量占土壤全N百分比随深度增加而恒增大 .土壤对NH+ 4的固定作用在 30℃下最强 ,高于 2 0℃和 40℃ ;长期淹水有利于潮沙泥、紫泥田和河沙泥对NH+ 4的固定作用 ,但干湿交替有利于黄泥田对NH+ 4的固定作用 .相关分析表明 ,土壤固定态铵含量仅与 <0 .0 1mm粘粒含量呈P0 .0 5水平的显著正相关 ,与有机质、全N、有机N和 <0 .0 0 1mm粘粒含量的相关性均不显著     

Short-term carbon and nitrogen mineralisation in soil amended with winery and distillery organic wastes

The aim of this work was to study the influence of the organic wastes derived from the winery and distillery industry (grape stalk (GS), grape marc (GM), wine lees (WL) and exhausted grape marc (EG)) and the soil type (clayey-loam (S1), loam (S2) and sandy textured (S3)) on different soil characteristics, especially the carbon and nitrogen mineralisation. The evolution of C mineralisation fitted a first-order kinetic for all amended soils. An initial increase was observed in the specific respiration (qCO(2)) at the beginning of the experiment. However, afterwards, the evolution in the qCO(2) was to tend towards the values of the control soil due to the pattern of the soil to recover its initial equilibrium status. The addition of these materials in the soils produced a slight increase of the inorganic nitrogen content, except in the case of GS and EG in most of the studied soils. The use of GS as amendment produced an inhibition in the N mineralisation in the three types of soils studied. Organic matter mineralisation was probably influenced by soil type, the sandy soil favouring more the N and C mineralisation processes than the clayey-loam and loam soils.     

Effects of sewage sludge amendment on the properties of two Brazilian oxisols and their humic acids

The effect of sewage sludge (SS) amendment on the general properties of the top layers of a sandy and a clayey oxisols and on the nature of their humic acid (HA) fractions was evaluated by chemical and physico-chemical techniques. The amended soils, especially the sandy soil, benefited of SS amendment by increasing their pH to above neutrality and enhancing the contents of C, N, P, and Ca and cation exchange capacity. The SS-HA-like sample showed larger H and N contents and a greater aliphatic character and humification degree than the HAs isolated from non-amended soils. The composition and structure of amended soil HAs were affected by SS application as a function of soil type and layer. In particular, N-containing groups and aliphatic structures of SS-HA-like sample appears to be partially incorporated in the amended soil HAs, and these effects were more evident in the HAs from the sandy oxisol.     

Comparison of methodologies for field measurement of net nitrogen mineralisation in arable soils

This study evaluated the suitability of a soil core incubation technique (with acetylene added to inhibit loss of N by denitrification; CIT) and a resin-core incubation technique (RCT) for measurement of net N mineralisation under arable cropping conditions. A conventional N balance (BAL) approach to the measurement of N mineralisation was used for comparison. In a sandy soil during winter 1996/97, CIT estimates of net N mineralisation were approximately 3 times greater than RCT and BAL estimates, which were in close agreement. Soil disturbance (with the consequent exposure of physically protected organic matter) did not enhance the rate of net N mineralisation measured by CIT on the sandy, low-organic-matter soil studied, although an increase in soil aeration may have enhanced rates above those measured by RCT and BAL. Overall, RCT was considered to be the more favourable technique for estimation of net N mineralisation. It also provided a measure of nitrate leaching which was comparable to that obtained by porous ceramic water samplers. However, separate estimates of the likely loss of N by denitrification should be obtained with soils which are particularly vulnerable (eg. poor aeration and high clay or water content). Spatial variability was a particular problem with all three techniques which can be overcome by taking a large number of soil cores to increase sample replication. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mineralisation of nitrogen from an incorporated catch crop at low temperatures: experiment and simulation

The release of nitrogen from incorporated catch crop material in winter is strongly influenced by soil temperatures. A laboratory experiment was carried out to investigate this influence in the range of 1-15 °C. Samples of sandy soil or a mixture of sandy soil with rye shoots were incubated at 1-5-10-15 °C, and samples of sandy soil with rye roots were incubated at 5-10-15 °C. Concentrations of N_min (NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^--N) were measured after 0-1-2-4-7-10 weeks for the sandy soil and the sandy soil:rye shoot mixture, and after 0-2-7-10 weeks for the sandy soil:rye root mixture. At 1 °C, 20% of total organic N in the crop material had been mineralised after ten weeks, indicating that mineralisation at low temperatures is not negligible. Maximum mineralisation occurred at 15 °C; after ten weeks, it was 39% of total applied organic nitrogen from shoot and 35% from root material. The time course of mineralisation was calculated using an exponential decay function. It was found that the influence of temperature in the range 1-15 °C could be described by the Arrhenius equation, stating a linear increase of ln(k) with T^-1, k being the relative mineralisation rate in day^-1 and T the temperature (°C). A simulation model was developed in which decomposition, mineralisation and nitrification were modelled as one step processes, following first order kinetics. The relative decomposition rate was influenced by soil temperature and soil moisture content, and the mineralisation of N was calculated from the decomposition of C, the C to N ratio of the catch crop material and the C to N ratio of the microbial biomass. The model was validated first with the results of the experiment. The model was further validated with the results of an independent field experiment, with temperatures fluctuating between 3 and 20 °C. The simulated time course of mineralisation differed significantly from the experimental values, due to an underestimation of the mineralisation during the first weeks of incubation.     

湖南稻田土壤固定态铵含量的季节变化及生物有效性

以湖南省3种固定态铵含量较高的稻田土壤为供试土壤,通过盆栽试验,研究了稻田土壤固定态铵在植稻期间的动态变化及其生物有效性。结果表明,稻田土壤的固定态铵含量处于不断的变化之中,施氮肥和有机肥使土壤固定态铵含量升高,而水稻吸收氮则使土壤固定态铵含量降低,其变化趋势与土壤碱解氮含量变化相似。“新固定的”固定态铵基本对当季水稻全部有效。而“原有的”固定态铵对当季作物和后季作物部分有效,就供试土壤而言,在水稻生育期间,土壤固定态铵的释放量是潮沙泥>紫泥田>河沙泥;就不同水稻而言,早稻生育期间土壤固定态铵的释放量大于晚稻生育期间土壤固定态铵的释放量。     

两种外源抗生素在农业土壤中的吸附与迁移特性

长期施用禽畜排泄物可导致抗生素在土壤中的积累,对生态环境产生不良影响.为了解长江三角洲和珠江三角洲农业土壤中长期施用含抗生素的有机肥可能产生的环境影响,选择了7个典型农业土壤,用室内模拟方法研究了我国常用的2种抗生素(泰乐菌素和土霉素)在这些土壤中吸附和迁移行为.研究表明,抗生素在土壤中的吸附、迁移行为与抗生素种类和土壤性质有关,土壤对土霉素的吸附能力明显高于泰乐菌素.土壤对抗生素的吸附能力主要与土壤粘粒含量、有机质和氧化铁呈正相关,与其它土壤性质的相关性较小.这2类抗生素在粘质农业土壤剖面中的迁移能力较弱;但泰乐菌素在砂质土壤中较易迁移,有较大的环境风险.     

Impact of application of organic waste materials on microbial and enzyme activities of mine soils in the Lusatian coal mining region

The objective of the present work was to study the short-term stimulation of microbial and enzyme activity in mine soils by application of organic waste materials in lysimeter and mesocosm studies. The mine soils derived from tertiary and quaternary deposits were ameliorated with brown coal filter ash (tertiary deposits) and lime (quaternary deposits). At the beginning of recultivation the soils were treated with varying amounts of sewage sludge, coal sludge, composted sewage sludge and compost to a depth of 30 cm. In the first 2 years after application of organic waste materials we found a very low level of microbial properties especially in the sandy materials from quaternary deposits but a significant increase in microbial respiration, substrate induced respiration and enzyme activities like invertase and alkaline phosphatase with increasing application rates of sewage sludge, compost and sewage sludge mixed with coal sludge. This can be explained by an increase in organic matter and nutrient content of the soils and an improvement of soil physical properties such as water and nutrient retention capacity. Additionally it can be assumed, that constituents of the coal admixtures of tertiary deposits can be mineralised or converted by the soil microorganisms. In the tertiary materials ameliorated with brown coal ash the highest amounts of microbial and enzyme activities were measured after application of nitrogen-rich sewage sludge or very high amounts of mature compost mainly consisting of green waste. Compared with sewage sludge the stimulating effects of composted sewage sludge were quite lower because of organic matter fragmentation and a reduced energy and nutrient supply to soil microorganisms. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nitrogen cycling and proton fluxes in an acid forest soil

Ironhill, near Liphook, UK, was the site of a forest fumigation experiment. Nitrogen cycling within the humoferric podzol soil was a component of the study into the impacts of sulphur dioxide and ozone on coniferous trees. Variation in total soil N and N mineralisation was too great to determine impacts from the fumigant gases. Differences in the nitrogen mineralisation potential of the soils were unrelated to the initial levels of mineral or total N, or to pH. Mineralisation potential was affected by temperature and a Q₁₀ of approximately 3 was demonstrated. Mineralisation potential was reduced in very dry soils, but the wetting of these dry soils did not result in enhanced mineralisation, relative to fresh samples of equivalent moisture content. Nitrification potential was detected in this forest soil of pH 3 (in 0.01 m CaCl₂).The soil N data and those from the analysis of N within vegetation were used to prepare N budgets for the second and third seasons' growth of a mixed conifer forest; by the third year, N appeared to limit tree growth.The relative magnitude of proton fluxes from plant growth, nitrification and atmospheric inputs was estimated. Acidity generated from the balance of cations and anions in plant uptake, and soil N transformations was estimated to be comparable to that from `acid rain'. This comparison was based on only parts of the N cycle because they may occur remotely, in time or space, from other transformations of N. The comparison is valid, therefore, at the scale of individual trees or small-scale experimental plots, but at forest scale, wet and dry deposition were predicted to be the more significant for ecosystem acidification.     

施用南荻生物炭对不同类型土壤氨挥发的影响

在洞庭湖区农田施用秸秆生物炭不仅能实现秸秆资源化利用,还可降低环境污染压力。本研究于2020年采用水稻盆栽试验,研究了不同南荻秸秆生物炭施用量对土壤氨挥发速率、累积氨挥发量、表面水pH值和NH₄⁺-N浓度的影响。供试土壤为第四纪红土发育的红黄泥和花岗岩发育的麻砂泥水稻土,设置6个南荻秸秆生物炭添加处理,即分别以土柱0～20 cm土壤重量的0%、1%、2%、4%、6%和8%比例添加生物炭,每盆施用复合肥200 kg N·hm^-2。结果表明: 施用生物炭导致两种土壤之间或不同生物炭处理之间的氨挥发速率和累积量均存在显著差异。麻砂泥施用生物炭处理在施肥后第2天出现氨挥发峰值,且较不施生物炭处理峰值降低了23.6%～53.4%;红黄泥氨挥发峰值出现在施肥后第7～13天,且其峰值随着生物炭添加量的增加而升高。整体上,麻砂泥土壤的氨挥发速率均高于红黄泥。麻砂泥土壤＜4%生物炭添加量能抑制土壤氨挥发速率及累积量,其中以2%处理降幅最大(46.9%),但生物炭添加对水稻生长前期表面水pH值的影响不显著;红黄泥土壤随着南荻生物炭用量的增加,表面水中pH值和NH₄⁺-N浓度增加,导致氨挥发速率及累积量增幅达1.3～10.5倍。回归分析显示,生物炭添加量是影响两种土壤氨挥发的关键因素。Elo-vich方程能较好地拟合两种土壤的氨挥发累积量随时间的变化动态,各施炭处理的相关系数均达极显著水平。总体上,对于偏中性的麻砂泥土壤,施用一定量的南荻生物炭对氨排放有一定的抑制作用,而对于酸性的红黄泥土壤,增施南荻生物炭会通过提高表面水的pH值和NH₄⁺-N浓度促进氨挥发,因此针对不同类型土壤施用南荻秸秆生物炭应注意选择适宜用量,以降低氮素损失。     

Mineralisationsuntersuchungen in der Malcolmia cephallenica-und der cerastiumarabis verna-assoziation auf Kephallinia

Zusammenfassung Aus den vorliegenden Befunden geht hervor, daß in einem humusreichen Substrat die Mineralisation bodeneigenen Materials infolge des hier sehr regen Mikroorganismenlebens schneller erfolgt, als in Böden, die arm an organischer Substanz sind. Die Fruchtbarkeit eines Kohlenstoff-reichen Bodens zeigt sich innerhalb der Malcolmia cephallenica-Assoziation deutlich in der größeren Zahl von Pflanzenarten. Wird jedoch in einen humusreichen Boden organische Substanz inkubiert, so verlaufen die Mineralisationsvorgänge sehr viel langsamer als in humusarmen Substraten.

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Summary Soil samples from four places under two plant associations (Malcolmia cephallenica-and Cerastium-Arabis vernaass.) were taken on the Greek island of Kephallinia. The mineralisation of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus was studied by laboratory measurements.The highest production of CO₂ was found in the soil with the highest amount of humus and nitrogen. In this soil was also the best mineralisation of nitrogen. The incubation of organic matter added to soil samples caused a high activity just in such soils which had the lowest amount of C and N. The decomposition and mineralisation of added pepton and lecithin was better in the poor than in the rich soils.

     

Microbial biomass and activity of an agricultural soil amended with the solid phase of pig slurries

Information about the mineralisation rates and effects on soil microorganisms must be obtained prior to the rational use of organic wastes in agriculture or forestry. The objective of this work was to study the mineralisation of two manures derived from the solid phase of pig slurries and the effects on the soil microbial biomass of an agricultural soil. Samples of this soil were mixed at two different rates with two manures derived from the solid phase of pig slurry (composted, CSP, and non-composted, NSP), and then were incubated during 163 days. Carbon mineralised from manures was fitted to first-order kinetic model, and small differences were found between manures despite the composting of one of them. Approximately 45% of the C added was mineralised in the experimental period. The soil microbial biomass C (C(mic)) was increased by the amendments according to the application rate. The sudden increases of the qCO(2) in the treated samples were ephemeral. The most appreciable differences between these manures were those related with net N mineralisation, being greater in the NSP-treated samples. The application of the solid phase of pig slurries, composted or not, could be a feasible practice to enhance in a short-term the microbial biomass of agricultural soils. In order to avoid an excessive release of inorganic N, the use of composted materials is preferred.     

Influence of soil texture, moisture, and surface cracks on the performance of a root-feeding flea beetle, Longitarsus bethae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent for Lantana camara (Verbenaceae)

Laboratory studies were conducted to determine the influence of soil texture, moisture and surface cracks on adult preference and survival of the root-feeding flea beetle, Longitarsus bethae Savini and Escalona (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a natural enemy of the weed, Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae). Adult feeding, oviposition preference, and survival of the immature stages of L. bethae were examined at four soil textures (clayey, silty loam, sandy loam, and sandy soil), three soil moisture levels (low, moderate, and high), and two soil surface conditions (with or without surface cracks). Both soil texture and moisture had no influence on leaf feeding and colonization by adult L. bethae. Soil texture had a significant influence on oviposition, with adults preferring to lay on clayey and sandy soils to silty or sandy loam soils. However, survival to adulthood was significantly higher in clayey soils than in other soil textures. There was a tendency for females to deposit more eggs at greater depth in both clayey and sandy soils than in other soil textures. Although oviposition preference and depth of oviposition were not influenced by soil moisture, survival in moderately moist soils was significantly higher than in other moisture levels. Development of immature stages in high soil moisture levels was significantly slower than in other soil moisture levels. There were no variations in the body size of beetles that emerged from different soil textures and moisture levels. Females laid almost three times more eggs on cracked than on noncracked soils. It is predicted that clayey and moderately moist soils will favor the survival of L. bethae, and under these conditions, damage to the roots is likely to be high. This information will aid in the selection of suitable release sites where L. bethae would be most likely to become established.     

秸秆全量还田对稻田土壤溶解有机碳含量和水稻产量的影响

以南粳44为供试材料,在粘土和砂土土壤中,设置麦秸秆不还田和全量还田(6000 kg·hm^-2)及3种施氮量(0、225、300 kg·hm^-2)试验,研究了麦秸秆全量还田的腐解率和有机碳释放量动态变化,及其对稻田0～45 cm土壤溶解有机碳(DOC)含量和水稻产量的影响.结果表明： 麦秸秆还田的前期(0～30 d)其腐解率和有机碳释放量最高,腐解率为35.0%(粘土)和31.7%(砂土),有机碳释放率为34.1%(粘土)和33.1%(砂土);30 d后两者均减小.施用氮肥可显著促进秸秆腐解和有机碳释放量,粘土中麦秸秆腐解率和有机碳释放量明显大于砂土.麦秸秆还田后土壤DOC含量逐渐增加,至25 d达最大值,粘土和砂土分别为60.18和56.62 mg·L^-1,此后逐渐减小并趋于稳定.麦秸秆还田处理15 cm处土壤DOC含量显著高于未还田处理,但两者在30和45 cm处土壤DOC含量差异不显著,说明秸秆还田主要增加了稻田0～15 cm土层DOC含量.与不施氮处理相比,施氮处理土壤DOC含量降低,2种施氮处理间差异不显著.秸秆还田减少了水稻前期分蘖发生量,显著降低了有效穗数,增加了穗粒数、结实率和千粒重,显著提高了水稻产量.     

Short-term effects on soil properties and wheat production from secondary paper sludge application on two Mediterranean agricultural soils

This study was conducted under greenhouse conditions to evaluate the potential use of SPS as a fertilizer, amendment and/or liming agent for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Two representative Mediterranean agricultural soils, a Cambic Arenosol (cmAR) and a Cromic Cambisol (crCM) were used. Treatments included four sludge rates ranging from 0 to 40 g kg(-1) (equivalent of 0, 38, 88 and 120 Mg ha(-1)). A significant increment in soil pH, organic carbon, N total, available P and exchangeable K were observed in both soils. Sludge application significantly increased N and decreased Zn, Mn and Cu concentrations in wheat. Wheat grain yields were reduced by 33% and 37% when 120 Mg SPS ha(-1) was applied to cmAR and crCM soils, respectively, due apparently to unavailability of Mg. However, straw yields, with much lower Mg requirements, increased significantly with SPS rates. Secondary pulp mill sludge seems to be a potential source of organic matter, N, P, K and a potential soil amendment liming agent for acid soils, when appropriate supplemental fertilizer was provided. For grain crops grown in these soils, addition of Mg is required for proper nutrient balance.     

Nitrogen dynamics under Lolium perenne after a single application of three different sewage sludge types from the same treatment stream

Three sludge types from the same treatment stream (undigested liquid, anaerobically digested liquid and dewatered, anaerobically digested cake) were used in a field based tub study. Amendments (4, 8, and 16 Mg dry solid (ds)ha(-1)) were incorporated into the upper 15 cm of a sandy loam soil prior to sowing with rye-grass (Lolium perenne L.). Nitrogen transformations in the soil were determined for the 80 d period following incorporation. Nitrogen uptake and crop yield were measured in the cut sward 35 and 70 d after sowing. The study showed that application of sewage sludge at rates as low as 4 Mgha(-1) can have a nutritional benefit to rye-grass over the two harvests. Differences in N transformation, and hence crop nutritional benefit, between sludge types were evident throughout the experiment. In particular, the dewatering process changed the mineral N characteristics of the anaerobically digested sludge, which, when not dewatered, outperformed the other sludges in terms of yield and mineralisation rate at both harvests. The dewatered sludge produced the lowest yield of rye-grass. The undigested liquid sludge had the lowest foliar N and soil NO(3)-N concentrations, possibly immobilised as the large oxidisable C component of this sludge was metabolised by the microbial biomass. Correlation data support the concept of preferential uptake of NH(4)-N over NO(3)-N in Lolium perenne. Results are discussed in the context of managing sludge type and application for a plant nutrient source and NO(3)-N release.     

Effects of carbon and nitrate additions to soil upon leaching of nitrate,microbial predators and nitrogen uptake by plants

Amendments with glucose significantly reduced the amount of nitrate leached from a sandy soil amended with nitrate. The decrease was most likely caused by immobilisation of the nitrate into microbial cells. Populations of ciliates and flagellates and amoebae, but not nematodes, increased 7–14 days following glucose amendments. Mineralisation of the immobilised nitrate occurred during this period. Some of the mineralised nitrogen appeared to be available to ryegrass plants only if the roots exploited most of the soil during the period of maximum predator activity. After 28 days, 44% of the organic N remaining in the soil after leaching was taken up by the plants. The difference developed over the last 2 weeks when amoebal populations were large.     

The biogeochemical controls of N2O production and emission in landfill cover soils: the role of methanotrophs in the nitrogen cycle

Emissions of N2O from cover soils of both abandoned (> 30 years) and active landfills greatly exceed the maximum fluxes previously reported for tropical soils, suggesting high microbial activities for N2O production. Low soil matrix potentials (<-0.7 MPa) indicate that nitrification was the most likely mechanism of N2O formation during most of the time of sampling. Soil moisture had a strong influence on N2O emissions. The production of N2O was stimulated by as much as 20 times during laboratory incubations, when moisture was increased from -2.0 MPa to -0.6 MPa. Additional evidence from incubation experiments and delta13C analyses of fatty acids (18:1) diagnostic of methanotrophs suggests that N2O is formed in these soils by nitrification via methanotrophic bacteria. In a NH3(g)-amended landfill soil, the rate of N2O production was significantly increased when incubated with 100 ppmv methane compared with 1.8 ppmv (atmospheric) methane. Preincubation of a landfill soil with 1% CH4 for 2 weeks resulted in higher rates of N2O production when subsequently amended with NH3(g) relative to a control soil preincubated without CH4. At one location, at the soil depth (9-16 cm) of maximum methane consumption and N2O production, we observe elevated concentrations of organic carbon and nitrogen and distinct minima in delta15N (+1.0%) and delta13C (-33.8%) values for organic nitrogen and organic carbon respectively. A delta13C value of -39.3% was measured for 18:1 carbon fatty acids in this soil, diagnostic of type II methanotrophs. The low delta15N value for organic nitrogen is consistent with N2 fixation by type II methanotrophs. These observations all point to a methanotrophic origin for the organic matter at this depth. The results of this study corroborate previous reports of methanotrophic nitrification and N2O formation in aqueous and soil environments and suggest a predominance of type II rather than type I or type X methanotrophs in this landfill soil.     

Soil properties affect the availability, movement, and virulence of entomopathogenic fungi conidia against puparia of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae), is the major tephritid pest in the Mediterranean region. This insect may overwinter as pupae inside fruits or in soil. Therefore, infection with entomopathogenic fungi is a potentially useful control technique during the insect’s soil-dwelling stage. Entomopathogenic fungi have an important role in Integrated Pest Management programs as an alternative to conventional chemical control, but they have been usually selected on the basis of laboratory results with little regard to fungal ecology. In this work, we designed several experiments to study the availability and movement of the EF Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill. and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) conidia in 16 soils differing widely in pH, texture, organic matter, and carbonate contents. Experiments of adsorption and drag of conidia by soil particles suspended in CaCl₂ solutions of different ionic strength showed B. bassiana conidia to be retained by clay particles, and this effect disappeared with increasing ionic strength. The availability of M. anisopliae conidia in the suspension tended to be lower for sandy than for clayey soils and was not influenced by ionic strength. Regardless of soil properties, over 90% of the added fungal propagules were recovered from the surface layer of columns of packed soils representing model combinations of texture (sandy or clayey) and pH values (acid or alkaline). However, retention of B. bassiana conidia in the surface layer was higher in clayey than in sandy soils, and the retention of M. anisopliae conidia in the surface layer was higher in sandy than in clayey soils. Finally, neither soil texture nor ionic strength affected the infectivity of conidia of both fungal strains to C. capitata puparia.