Calculation of the specific rate of catabolic activity (Ac) from the heat flow rate of soil microbial reactions measured by calorimetry: significance and applications

The calculation of parameters involved in the kinetics of the microbial soil reactions linked to the carbon cycle is strongly limited by the methodologies employed. Hence, a mathematical model is proposed to quantify easily the specific rate of catabolic activity A(c) by microcalorimetry based on Belaich's model. It permits to quantify A(c) from the plots of the heat flow rate vs. time recorded from soil samples amended with glucose. It was applied for several soil samples collected in the Amazon. The results obtained were compared, and statistical and graphical analyses were used to provide the biophysical significance of A(c) in soils. Results suggest that A(c) could be used as an empirical measure of stress. It correlates positively with the heat yield, Y(Q/X), of the soil microbial growth reactions, indicating that higher specific rates of catabolic activity cause higher dissipation of energy per unit of cell, yielding less-efficient metabolic reactions, which could affect negatively the soil quality. It is strongly affected by the initial microbial population and by the percentage of nitrogen in the samples. The statistical analysis also demonstrated that A(c) is more sensitive to changing environmental conditions than Y(Q/X), yielding more-accurate information about the soil metabolic processes.     

利用木糖-葡萄糖为原料产乙醇酵母的筛选、鉴定及发酵试验

建立筛选利用木糖为碳源产乙醇酵母模型,获得一株适合利用木质纤维素为原料产乙醇的酵母菌株。样品经麦芽汁培养基培养后,以木糖为唯一碳源的筛选培养基初筛,再以重铬酸钾显色法复筛。通过生理生化和26D1/D2区对筛选得到的菌株进行分析和鉴定,该菌初步鉴定为Pichia caribbica。经过筛选得到的菌株Y2-3以木糖（40g/L）为唯一碳源发酵时：生物量为23.5g/L,木糖利用率为94.7 %,乙醇终产量为4.57 g/L;以混合糖（葡萄糖40 g/L,木糖20 g/L）发酵时：生物量为28.6 g/L,木糖利用率为94.2 %,葡萄糖利用率为95.6%,乙醇终产量为20.6 g/L。Pichia caribbica是可以转化木糖及木糖-葡萄糖混合糖为乙醇的酵母菌株,为利用木质纤维素发酵乙醇的进一步研究奠定了基础。     

Metabolic flux distribution in Corynebacterium melassecola ATCC 17965 for various carbon sources

The distribution of carbon in the metabolic network of a bacterial cell was estimated by a mass-balance-based intracellular flux computation method. It was applied to the growth phase of Corynebacterium melassecola, a glutamic acid producing bacterium, using experimental production yields of biomass, lactate and acetate measured during batch cultures on glucose, fructose, and various mixtures of both sugars. This flux computation method identifies the direction of the 86 reactions that ensure proper metabolic function during the growth phase of C. melassecola. Flux ratios allow comparison of calculated and relevant experimental yields. The results highlight the key influence of the biomass production yield Y(X-O(2) ) on the overall distribution of carbon; the proportion of carbon drained in the pentose-P pathway fell from a value in the range of 54% to 47% on media containing glucose (Y(X-O(2) ) = 1.75 to 1.56 g X/g O(2)) to 37% on fructose medium (Y(X-O(2) ) = 1.36 g X/g O(2)). The highest maintenance requirement was calculated on fructose medium (J(m) = 290 mol ATP/100 mol fructose) which must be connected to a lower efficiency of cell multiplication observed on this substrate. Another important result was that the significant decreases in experimental values of production yields and rates observed on fructose medium which were related to the operation of the FBPase. In particular, it was estimated that, as long as the proportion of glucose in the carbon source remains above 22% (78% fructose), the operation of the FBPase is not necessary and the bacteria exhibit behavior similar to that observed on glucose alone; this result is consistent with experimental observations. (c) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

添加葡萄糖和淀粉对盆栽甜樱桃根区土壤碳代谢及根功能的影响

在1年生盆栽甜樱桃土壤中添加葡萄糖和淀粉(4 g·kg^-1),以不添加外源碳为对照,处理后0~60 d内定期采根区土样测定土壤微生物生物量碳、蔗糖酶和淀粉酶活性以及微生物群落功能多样性,处理后第30天测定根系呼吸速率、呼吸途径和根系活力.结果表明： 添加葡萄糖后,土壤蔗糖酶活性及微生物生物量碳均表现为先升高再降低,峰值分别出现在处理后第15天及第7天,分别高于对照14.0%和13.1%,土壤有机质含量表现为先升高再降低再缓慢回升;添加淀粉后显著提高了土壤淀粉酶活性,第15天时为对照的8.5倍,土壤微生物生物量碳除在第7天低于对照外,其余时期均高于对照,土壤有机质含量表现为先升高再下降,处理后第60天高于对照19.8%.BIOLOG分析表明,处理后第15天平均吸光度（AWCD）值及微生物活性均达到最大值,表现为淀粉>葡萄糖>对照.处理后第30天,葡萄糖处理显著增加了土壤微生物对碳水化合物类、羧酸类、氨基酸类、酚酸类和胺类碳源的利用,淀粉处理显著增加了土壤微生物对碳水化合物类、羧酸类、聚合物类和酚酸类碳源的利用.处理后第30天,葡萄糖处理甜樱桃根系总呼吸速率分别较对照及淀粉处理提高21.4%和19.4%,根系活力分别提高65.5%和37.0%.添加葡萄糖和淀粉影响了甜樱桃根区土壤稳定碳源及不稳定碳源的代谢过程,整体上提高了土壤微生物活性,增强了甜樱桃根系呼吸速率及根系活力.     

黄河三角洲贝壳堤土壤微生物生物量对不同生境因子的响应

从土壤微生物生物量角度分析黄河三角洲贝壳堤不同生境的土壤肥力状况,基于黄河三角洲贝壳堤植被类型,以4种不同生境的土壤为研究对象,测定了微生物生物量碳、氮、磷和相关的土壤理化性质。结果表明,不同生境中土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、土壤微生物生物量(MBN)、土壤微生物生物量(MBP)均值均为滩脊背海侧高潮线向海侧,且表现出明显的垂直分布特征:0—5 cm5—10 cm10—20 cm20—40 cm40—60 cm。土壤MBC、MBN、MBP占土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)百分比变化范围分别为1.09%—3.48%、2.62%—7.27%、0.78%—2.86%,滩脊、背海侧和高潮线处MBC/SOC无显著差异(P0.05),但显著高于向海侧MBC/SOC(P0.05)。土壤MBN/TN、MBP/TP的变化趋势为滩脊和背海侧向海侧和高潮线。滩脊和背海侧土壤微生物碳、氮、磷的非生物限制性因子为土壤含水量、p H值、含盐量;向海侧和高潮线区域土壤微生物碳、氮、磷的非生物限制性因子为含水量和pH值。滩脊、背海侧和高潮线土壤微生物生物量碳、氮、磷及土壤养分间的相关关系显著或极显著,且协同性和稳定性高,表明土壤微生物生物量碳、氮、磷可以作为判断黄河三角洲贝壳堤土壤肥力状况的生物学指标,这为黄河三角洲贝壳堤的土壤肥力管理和植被恢复提供一定的理论依据。     

Batch fermentation kinetics of sugar beet molasses by Zymomonas mobilis

A new osmotolerant mutant strain of Zymomonas mobilis was successfully used for ethanol production from beet molasses. Addition of magnesium sulfate to hydrolyzed molasses allowed repeated growth without the need of yeast extract addition. The kinetics and yields parameters of fermentation on media with different molasses concentrations were calculated. The anabolic parameters (specific growth rate, mu, and biomass yield, Y(X/S)) were inhibited at elevated molasses concentrations while the catabolic parameters (specific ethanol productivity, q(p), and ethanol yield, Y(p/s)) were not significantly affected. In addition to ethanol and substrate inhibition, osmotic pressure effects can explain the observed results.     

子午岭人工林土壤微生物生物量及酶活性

数十年来,黄土高原的生态恢复取得了显著的效益,不仅遏制了当地的土壤流失,改善了土壤质量,同时也减少了向黄河的输沙量.但是,区域森林物种和群落演替还远未得到充分发展.子午岭林区及其高度发达的森林群落,作为先进的生态区,可以将实践经验和知识借鉴到中国黄土高原的其他地区,有助于确定最有效的人工林树种,以便今后更好地进行生态恢复.为了系统地了解典型的当地树种对土壤性质的潜在影响,本研究以黄土高原子午岭天然次生林区生长状况较好的人工林(刺槐、油松和侧柏)为研究对象,并以子午岭林区顶极群落辽东栎天然林为对照,这4种林型具有较一致的树龄(25年)、立地条件等.采用传统方法测定4种乔木林0～20 cm土壤理化性质、土壤酶活性(蔗糖酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶)和土壤微生物生物量碳、氮.结果表明: 1)土壤蔗糖酶活性为16.94～64.49 mg·g^-1·24 h^-1,脲酶活性为0.15～0.26 mg·g^-1·24 h^-1,碱性磷酸酶为0.65～1.23 mg·g^-1·24 h^-1,且侧柏土壤的3种酶活性均显著高于刺槐和油松土壤.从3种酶活性几何平均值来看,侧柏土壤酶活性甚至高于辽东栎;2)土壤微生物生物量碳、氮变化范围分别为247.37～529.84 mg·kg^-1、41.48～77.91 mg·kg^-1,均为侧柏>油松>刺槐,且侧柏显著高于油松和刺槐.辽东栎土壤微生物生物量碳高于侧柏,而微生物生物量氮低于侧柏,但差异均不显著;3)油松土壤溶解性碳、氮含量较高,甚至高于土壤微生物生物量碳、氮,说明油松土壤中溶解性有机物是较微生物生物量更主要的活性养分;4)土壤微生物生物量碳、氮与土壤有机碳和全氮含量呈显著正相关性,刺槐和油松土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性分别与土壤有机碳、全氮和全磷含量呈显著正相关;5)主成分分析结果表明,植被类型对土壤微生物生物量碳和氮、有机碳、全氮、碳磷比、氮磷比、脲酶影响较大,土壤微生物生物量碳、氮、碳磷比、氮磷比和氮与磷呈负相关,土壤溶解性碳、氮与碳氮比呈负相关.表明侧柏是较油松和刺槐更适用于南部森林带的造林树种.     

苏南丘陵地区栓皮栎次生林与火炬松人工林土壤有效碳

采用重复熏蒸-培养法研究了苏南丘陵地区具有代表性的栓皮栎次生林和火炬松人工林土壤有效碳的变化特征。结果表明:栓皮栎次生林土壤中的有效碳和微生物量碳含量均显著高于火炬松人工林,而火炬松人工林土壤有效碳占总有机碳比率(4.7%)及土壤微生物量碳含量占土壤有效碳比率(54.3%)分别高于栓皮栎次生林(2.9%和40.9%);去除森林凋落物后,2种林分土壤有效碳含量均显著降低;土壤有效碳与土壤微生物量碳以及土壤总有效碳显著相关。重复熏蒸-培养法是估测该地区森林土壤有效碳的一种简单有效的方法。与火炬松人工林相比,天然次生栓皮栎林土壤含有较多的活性有机碳,可能对区域碳平衡产生较大的影响。     

Rhizodeposition shapes rhizosphere microbial community structure in organic soil

The aims of the study were to determine group specificity in microbial utilization of root-exudate compounds and whole rhizodeposition; quantify the proportions of carbon acquired by microbial groups from soil organic matter and rhizodeposition, respectively; and assess the importance of root-derived C as a driver of soil microbial community structure. Additions of 13C-labelled root-exudate compounds to organic soil and steady-state labelling of Lolium perenne, coupled to compound-specific isotope ratio mass spectrometry, were used to quantify group-specific microbial utilization of rhizodeposition. Microbial utilization of glucose and fumaric acid was widespread through the microbial community, but glycine was utilized by a narrower range of populations, as indicated by the enrichment of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis fractions. In L. perenne rhizospheres, high rates of rhizodeposit utilization by microbial groups showed good correspondence with increased abundance of these groups in the rhizosphere. Although rhizodeposition was not the quantitatively dominant C source for microbes in L. perenne rhizospheres, relative utilization of this C source was an important driver of microbial group abundance in organic soil.     

The Dry Limit of Microbial Life in the Atacama Desert Revealed by Calorimetric Approaches

The Atacama desert in Chile is one of the driest and most lifeless environments on Earth. It rains possibly once a decade. NASA examined these soils as a model for the Martian environment by comparing their degradation activity with Martian soil and looking for “the dry limit of life”. The existence of heterotrophic bacteria in Atacama soil was demonstrated by DNA extraction and by the isolation of microorganisms. So far, however, no data have been available about the metabolic activities in these soils due to the limitations of the existing methodologies when applied to desert soils. Calorimetry was used to obtain information on the metabolic and thermal properties of eleven soil samples collected at different sites in the Atacama desert. Differential scanning calorimetry and isothermal calorimetry were employed to determine the pyrolysis properties of the carbon‐containing matter and to measure biomass and microbial metabolism. They were compared to other soil properties such as total carbon and nitrogen, carbon to nitrogen ratio and pH. There was measurable organic matter in nine of the eleven samples and the heat of pyrolysis of those soils was correlated to the carbon content. In five of the eleven samples no biomass could be detected and the existence of basal microbial metabolism could not be established because all samples showed endothermic activity, probably from inorganic reactions with water. Six samples showed microbial activation after the addition of glucose. Carbon content, nitrogen content and the microbial activity after glucose amendment were correlated to the altitude and to the average minimum temperature of the sampling sites calculated from meteorological data. The detectable microbial metabolism was more dissipative with increasing altitude and decreasing temperature.     

Assimilable organic carbon (AOC) in soil water extracts using Vibrio harveyi BB721 and its implication for microbial biomass

Assimilable organic carbon (AOC) is commonly used to measure the growth potential of microorganisms in water, but has not yet been investigated for measuring microbial growth potential in soils. In this study, a simple, rapid, and non-growth based assay to determine AOC in soil was developed using a naturally occurring luminous strain Vibrio harveyi BB721 to determine the fraction of low molecular weight organic carbon in soil water extract. Calibration of the assay was achieved by measuring the luminescence intensity of starved V. harveyi BB721 cells in the late exponential phase with a concentration range from 0 to 800 μg l(-1) glucose (equivalent to 0-16.0 mg glucose C kg(-1) soil) with the detection limit of 10 μg l(-1) equivalent to 0.20 mg glucose C kg(-1) soil. Results showed that bioluminescence was proportional to the concentration of glucose added to soil. The luminescence intensity of the cells was highly pH dependent and the optimal pH was about 7.0. The average AOC concentration in 32 soils tested was 2.9±2.2 mg glucose C kg(-1). Our data showed that AOC levels in soil water extracts were significantly correlated (P<0.05) with microbial biomass determined as microbial biomass carbon, indicating that the AOC concentrations determined by the method developed might be a good indicator of soil microbial biomass. Our findings provide a new approach that may be used to determine AOC in environmental samples using a non-growth bioluminescence based assay. Understanding the levels of AOC in soil water extract provides new insights into our ability to estimate the most available carbon pool to bacteria in soil that may be easily assimilated into cells for many metabolic processes and suggest possible the links between AOC, microbial regrowth potential, and microbial biomass in soils.     

酸性矿山废水污染的水稻田土壤中重金属的微生物学效应

采样调查了广东大宝山地区受酸性采矿废水长期污染的亚热带水稻田的土壤理化性质 ,重金属 Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd的全量及其 DTPA浸提量 ,以及微生物生物量及其呼吸活性等指标。利用主成分和逐步回归分析了影响土壤重金属的有效性及其微生物学效应的因素。结果表明 :土壤高含硫 ,强酸性 ,有机碳、全氮较低 ,4种金属的全量普遍超标。DTPA可提取态金属含量较高 ,不仅与其全量呈显著正相关 ,而且与土壤酸度和粘粒含量正相关 ,和 Mn含量负相关。过量的金属显著降低了土壤微生物生物量 C、N、微生物商、生物量 N/全 N比 ,并抑制了微生物呼吸强度和对有机碳的矿化率 ,导致了土壤 C/N比的升高。同时 ,金属对微生物群落及生理代谢指标 ,如微生物生物量 C/N比和代谢商的影响不显著。 DTPA可提取态金属 ,特别是 DTPA- Cu是导致微生物生物量和活性指标变化的主要因素。以有机碳 (或全氮 )为基数的复合微生物指标降低了土壤性质差异造成的干扰 ,较单一指标更能准确指示微生物对金属胁迫的反应。土壤硫没有对金属有效性和微生物指标产生明显影响 ,但其氧化过程可能引起酸化和金属离子的释放     

水分对武夷山草甸土壤有机碳激发效应的影响

水分是影响土壤有机碳激发效应的重要因子,但水分如何影响山地草甸土有机碳激发效应尚不清楚.本试验以武夷山高海拔(2130 m)山地草甸土为研究对象,通过室内添加13C标记的葡萄糖结合控制土壤水分(30％FWC和60％ FWC,FWC为田间持水量),进行为期126 d的室内培养试验,定期测定CO2浓度和13C-CO2丰度值...     

Functional diversity changes of microbial communities along a soil aquifer for reclaimed water recharge

The physiochemical and functional diversity of soil-attached microorganisms was investigated using a stabilized laboratory-scale soil aquifer treatment (SAT) system. In this system, reclaimed water after ozonation was used as the feed water, and 60% dissolved organic carbon was removed by the unsaturated vadose layer in 0.8?days. Soil biomass (volatile solids, phospholipid extraction) and functional diversity significantly decreased from the unsaturated vadose layer to the saturated aquifer, where they maintained the same level. Using principal components analysis based on substrate utilization pattern, the vadose layer soil sample was clearly separated from the saturated layer samples. Exceptionally, the oxidation rates of esters remained stable during SAT, indicating the purification potential on certain recalcitrant organic compounds in the saturated aquifer given an adequate retention time. Correlation analysis revealed that organic carbon was the key limiting factor for microbial biomass and activity, especially for tyrosine-like aromatic proteins and soluble microbial byproduct-like materials.     

The Fate of Organic Sources of Carbon in Moss‐rich Tundra Soil Microbial Communities: A Laboratory Experimental Study

Effects of glucose‐carbon supplementation on soil respiration and bacterial and protist biomass were investigated in laboratory studies of three soil samples from Alaskan tundra: spring tussock sample 1 (thin surface moss), spring tussock sample 2 (thick surface moss), and a summer tundra open field sample. Addition of 1% (w/v) glucose solution produced an immediate, pronounced two to three fold increase in respiration above basal rate, which declined over 4 h to baseline levels. Less than 1% (w/w) of glucose‐C supplement was respired during the respiratory spike, relative to the 89 μg/g added. A more substantial amount of the glucose‐C became incorporated in microbial biomass. The total difference in microbial carbon (μg/g) between the experimental treatments and controls without glucose after 1 wk was as follows: spring sample 1 (8), spring sample 2 (31), and summer sample (70). The percent (w/w) of glucose‐C incorporated was: spring sample 1 (5%), spring sample 2 (17%), and summer sample (39%), most attributed to biomass of bacteria and heterotrophic nanoflagellates. Although respiratory response to pulsed glucose‐C was minimal, the overall mean basal rate after 1 wk ranged between 4 and 6 nmol/min/g soil, indicating a significant assimilation and respiration of constituent soil organic carbon.     

长期施肥对稻田土壤有机氮、微生物生物量及功能多样性的影响

以位于湖南省新化和宁乡县两个稻田肥力长期定位试验点的土样为材料,研究了不同施肥处理对稻田土壤有机氮组分、微生物生物量及功能多样性的影响.结果表明：与不施肥处理（CK）相比,化肥配施有机肥处理提高了稻田土壤酸解总氮（TAHN）及其组分中氨基糖氮（ASN）、氨基酸氮（AAN）和酸解氨态氮（AN）的含量,不同施肥处理对组分中酸解未知氮（HUN）的影响不尽相同.与CK相比,单施化肥处理对土壤微生物生物量碳、氮（MBC、MBN）含量的影响较小,化肥配施有机肥处理则显著提高了土壤MBC和MBN的含量.采用BIOLOG法对土壤微生物群落功能多样性进行测定,结果表明：中、高量有机肥处理提高了稻田土壤微生物的碳源利用率和微生物群落功能多样性;土壤微生物碳源利用的类型因长期不同施肥处理而产生差异.     

长期不同施肥制度下几种土壤微生物学特征变化

 为阐明土壤微生物对土壤健康的生物指示功能, 以国家褐潮土肥力与肥料效益监测基地的长期肥料试验为平台, 应用BIOLOG ECO微平板培养法与常规分析法研究了长期施肥15年后不同施肥制度对土壤微生物生物量、活性、群落代谢功能多样性及土壤肥力的影响。研究结果表明, 与对照(CK)相比, 长期化肥与有机肥配施土壤中土壤有机质(SOM)、全氮(STN)、全磷(STP)含量升高, 土壤C/N与pH值降低, 土壤微生物量碳(Soil microbial biomass carbon, SMBC)、生物微生物量氮(Soil microbial biomass nitrogen, SMBN)、微生物商(qMB)及脲酶(Urease)活性升高, BIOLOG ECO微平板平均颜色变化率(Average well color development, AWCD)、土壤微生物代谢功能多样性指数变化不明显。和长期单施化肥处理(NPK)相比, 长期化肥与有机肥配施处理中上述几种微生物学特征(SMBC、SMBN、qMB、Urease及AWCD、代谢功能多样性指数)均呈极显著增加。NPK处理与CK相比虽然SOM、STN、STP含量稍有升高, 土壤C/N与pH值降低, SMBC、SMBN、qMB及Urease活性增高, 但是AWCD、土壤微生物代谢功能多样性指数却显著下降。过氧化氢酶活性(Catalase)在各处理土壤中的差异不显著。土壤微生物碳源利用的主成分分析表明, 长期不同施肥各处理在土壤微生物利用碳源的种类和能力上有差异。此试验说明, 土壤微生物受农业管理措施和多种环境因素的影响, 土壤微生物学特征可作为土壤质量的敏感指标, 为提高作物产量、增强肥力提供理论参考。     

镜泊湖岩溶台地不同植被类型土壤微生物群落特征

为了探讨不同演替阶段植被类型土壤微生物群落特征,分别选取镜泊湖岩溶台地草本、矮灌木、高灌木、小乔木与灌木混生(简称混生)群落、落叶阔叶林及针阔混交林6种典型植被类型,进行植物群落调查和对土壤微生物生物量、群落结构和多样性指标、土壤物理化学性质的测定。结果表明：从土壤微生物量、土壤微生物群落组成、土壤微生物代谢动力学过程和代谢功能多样性的角度来看,各种植被类型土壤微生物群落具有明显的差异。演替前期的草本群落土壤微生物量碳氮、细菌生物量、真菌生物量,代谢活性及丰富度指数均最低,但Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和均匀度指数显著(P<0.05)高于其他植被类型。矮灌木土壤微生物群落组成显著受植被类型的影响。高灌木群落和混生(小乔木与灌木混生)群落具有极强的相似性, 但在碳源利用类型上两者表现出一定的差异。落叶阔叶林代谢活性最高,碳源利用能力最强,能利用BIOLOG微孔板中的所有31种碳源,这与其具有较高的微生物量碳氮和细菌生物量一致,其代谢功能丰富度最高。演替后期的针阔混交林下的土壤pH最低,真菌比例升高,在碳源丰富的条件下具有极强的竞争优势(仅次于落叶阔叶林),但在碳源贫瘠的条件下其利用碳源能力较弱(仅高于草本)。植被可能主要通过土壤全磷和有机质影响土壤微生物代谢功能多样性。     

The effect of temporal variation in soil carbon inputs on interspecific plant competition

Aims Release of carbon from plant roots initiates a chain of reactions involving the soil microbial community and microbial predators, eventually leading to nutrient enrichment, a process known as the 'microbial loop'. However, root exudation has also been shown to stimulate nutrient immobilization, thereby reducing plant growth. Both mechanisms depend on carbon exudation, but generate two opposite soil nutrient dynamics. We suggest here that this difference might arise from temporal variation in soil carbon inputs.Methods We examined how continuous and pulsed carbon inputs affect the performance of wheat (Triticum aestivum), a fast-growing annual, while competing with sage (Salvia officinalis), a slow-growing perennial. We manipulated the temporal mode of soil carbon inputs under different soil organic matter (SOM) and nitrogen availabilities. Carbon treatment included the following two carbon input modes: (i) Continuous: a daily release of minute amounts of glucose, and (ii) Pulsed: once every 3 days, a short release of high amounts of glucose. The two carbon input modes differed only in the temporal dynamic of glucose, but not in total amount of glucose added. We predicted that pulsed carbon inputs should result in nutrient enrichment, creating favorable conditions for the wheat plants.Important findings Carbon addition caused a reduction in the sage total biomass, while increasing the total wheat biomass. In SOM-poor soil without nitrogen and in SOM-rich soil with nitrogen, wheat root allocation was higher under continuous than under pulsed carbon input. Such an allocation shift is a common response of plants to reduced nutrient availability. We thus suggest that the continuous carbon supply stimulated the proliferation of soil microorganisms, which in turn competed with the plants over available soil nutrients. The fact that bacterial abundance was at its peak under this carbon input mode support this assertion. Multivariate analyses indicated that besides the above described changes in plant biomasses and bacterial abundances, carbon supply led to an accumulation of organic matter, reduction in NO 3 levels and increased levels of NH 4 in the soil. The overall difference between the two carbon input modes resulted primarily from the lower total wheat biomass, and lower levels of NO 3 and soil PH characterizing pots submitted to carbon pulses, compared to those subjected to continuous carbon supply. Carbon supply, in general, and carbon input mode, in particular, can lead to belowground chain reactions cascading up to affect plant performance.     

Microbial uptake and utilization of low molecular weight organic substrates in soil depend on carbon oxidation state

The fate of low molecular weight organic substances (LMWOSs) in soil is regulated by microbial uptake. However, C oxidation state, the number of C atoms and –COOH groups in the LMWOS can affect their microbial utilization. Thus, the aim of this study was to reveal the effects of substance chemical properties on initial uptake and utilization of sugars, carboxylic and amino acids by microorganisms. Soil solution, spiked with ¹⁴C-labelled glucose, fructose, malate, succinate, formate, alanine or glycine, was added to the soil and ¹⁴C was traced in the soil solution, CO₂, cytosol, and soil organic carbon (SOC) over 24 h. The half-life time of all LMWOS in the soil solution varied between 0.6 min (formic acid) and 5.0 min (sugars), indicating its dependence on C oxidation state of the substances. The half-life time of ¹⁴C in the fast mineralized pool in microorganisms, ranged between 30 (malic acid) and 80 (glycine) min and was independent on either C oxidation state, the number of C atoms, or number of –COOH groups. This suggests that intercellular metabolic pathways are more important for LMWOS transformation in soil than their basic chemical properties. The portion of mineralized LMWOS increased with their C oxidation state (20% for sugars vs. 90% for formic acid) corresponding to the decrease of C incorporated into the cytosol and SOC pools. Concluding, the physicochemical properties of the common LMWOS allow predicting their microbial uptake from soil solution and subsequent partitioning of C within microbial biomass.