Ground beetle communities on reclaimed mine spoil: Effects of organic matter application and revegetation

On a study site in the Lusatian lignite mining region (Germany), sandy mine spoil was ameliorated with either sewage sludge, compost or mineral fertilizer. Plots were sown with the grass Secale multicaule and planted with pine seedlings except for a control that was not meliorated and not revegetated. Pitfall catches of ground beetles in 1996/97 yielded high numbers of species and individuals directly after revegetation. The dominant beetles were xerophilic species, known to prefer open sandy sites. Catches in different plots were positively correlated with the amount of vegetation cover and declined as follows: amelioration with sewage sludge > compost > mineral fertilizer > untreated control. Even beetles characteristic of open sandy sites showed a distinct preference for plots with high vegetation cover treated with organic waste. For the dominant species, an attraction to shelter and a more balanced, humid microclimate is assumed. A year-to-year comparison showed an increase in beetles typical of dry grasslands and ruderal sites in the second year, while characteristic species of open sandy sites decreased. Application of organic waste combined with revegetation led to an immediate increase in beetle numbers. In the long term, revegetation would be expected to reduce suitable habitats for endangered ground beetles which prefer open sites with poor sandy soils. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

森林类型对土壤有机质、微生物生物量及酶活性的影响

以澳大利亚南昆士兰州典型森林类型——湿地松、南洋杉和贝壳杉林为对象,开展土壤可溶性有机碳和氮(SOC和SON)、微生物生物量碳和氮(MBC和MBN),以及土壤酶活性的研究,剖析森林类型对土壤质量的影响.结果表明:不同林型土壤SOC、SON含量分别在552 ～1154 mg·kg-1和20.11～57.32mg·kg-1;MBC、MBN分别在42～149 mg·kg-1和7～35 mg·kg-1.MBC、MBN之间呈显著相关.土壤几丁质酶、酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶的活性分别为2.96 ～7.63、16.5 ～29.6、0.79 ～ 3.42和3.71 ～9.93 μg ·g-1·h-1,亮氨酸氨肽酶活性为0.18～0.46 μg·g-1·d-1.不同林型土壤SOC含量,以及土壤几丁质酶和亮氨酸氨肽酶活性为湿地松林、南洋杉林、贝壳杉林依次降低;而SON含量为南洋杉林＞贝壳杉林＞湿地松林,且南洋杉林的SON含量显著(P＜0.05)高于湿地松林;MBC和MBN以及碱性磷酸酶活性为贝壳杉林＞湿地松林＞南洋杉林;酸性磷酸酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶活性为湿地松林＞贝壳杉林＞南洋杉林.在土壤生物代谢因子中,MBC、MBN、SON和亮氨酸氨肽酶对不同森林类型土壤影响较大.     

废弃盐田复垦利用后土壤盐分与有机质含量空间变异特征

针对目前莱州湾南岸废弃盐田复垦过程中存在的土壤盐碱、瘠薄等障碍问题,以该区两个典型复垦地块为研究对象,综合运用经典统计学和地质统计学的克立格法,研究不同复垦年限下各层土壤盐分和表层土壤有机质的空间变异性,对二者进行相关性分析,并绘制了各土层盐分和表层土壤有机质含量的空间分布图。结果表明:两个区域各层土壤含盐量较高,均超过1g/kg;受复垦年限、土地平整水平和施肥等人为复垦措施影响,二区土壤含盐量明显低于一区;两个区域土壤有机质含量普遍较低,其中一区为4.37g/kg,二区为3.66g/kg;两个区域各层土壤含盐量和表层土壤有机质变异系数在32.79%—83.83%之间,在水平方向上呈中等变异强度;相关性分析结果表明各层土壤含盐量与有机质含量均呈极显著负相关;各土层土壤含盐量和有机质含量的块基比均小于25%,表明二者具有强烈的空间相关性;空间自相关距离最小为440m,超过采样间距(最小为160m),表明采样间距设置合理;Kriging插值结果表明两个区域土壤含盐量和有机质含量呈条带状分布;一区土壤含盐量以中部为高值区逐渐向南北部降低,二区土壤含盐量则以东南部最低,逐渐向西北部高值区过渡;一区土壤有机质含量表现为中部低南北部较高,二区则为东南部最高,中北部含量较低。研究结果为后期高含盐量的水盐运移模拟研究提供初步论证,也为盐田复垦区盐渍土的合理分区,改良利用和科学管理提供了技术支撑。     

凋落物中水溶性有机物和残渣对亚热带森林土壤氮素转化的影响

设置60%和90%WHC两种土壤水分条件,并添加凋落物过滤液、剩余残渣和丙氨酸,进行为期36 d的室内培养(25 ℃),研究了凋落物中水溶性有机物和残渣对土壤氮素转化的影响.结果表明: 在60%和90%WHC条件下,丙氨酸在土壤中迅速矿化,该处理的土壤铵态氮(NH₄⁺-N)含量分别比对照显著提高5.4%～44.7%和16.1%～41.3%,净氮矿化和氨化速率在培养前期也高于对照,而凋落物过滤液和残渣添加处理则降低了土壤NH₄⁺-N含量,且残渣的降幅大于过滤液.试验期间,土壤硝态氮(NO₃^--N)含量呈直线增长趋势,培养结束时60%WHC条件下NO₃^--N含量显著高于90%WHC.土壤水分含量增多不利于土壤有机质的矿化;90%WHC条件下可溶性有机碳(SOC)含量明显低于60%WHC,而土壤氧化亚氮(N₂O)排放量比60%WHC提高1.5～63.0倍,且在60%WHC条件下凋落物残渣添加处理显著促进了土壤N₂O的排放.凋落物在分解过程中的可溶性物质和剩余物对土壤氮的影响存在差异,且这种差异随分解而发生动态变化.     

Decomposition of cellulose,soil organic matter and plant litter in a temperate grassland soil

The formation of mor humus in an experimental grassland plot, which has been acidified by long-term fertiliser treatment, has been studied by comparing the rates of cellulose, soil organic matter and plant litter decay with those in an adjacent plot with near-neutral pH and mull humus. The decomposition of cellulose filter paper in litter bags of 5 mm, 1-mm and 45-μm mesh size buried at 3 to 4 cm depth the plots was followed by measuring the weight loss and changes in glucose content over a 6 month period. Soil pH was either 5.3 or 4.3. Decomposition of native soil organic matter and plant litter in soil from the same plots were followed using CO₂ evolution in laboratory microcosms. Cellulose weight loss at pH 5.3 was greatest from the 5-mm mesh bags and least from the 45-um mesh bags. At pH 4.3 there was little weight loss from bags and no significant differences in weight loss between bags with different sized mesh. There was, however, a reduction in the glucose content of the hydrolysed and derivatised filter paper with time. The decomposition rate of native soil organic matter in the low pH soil was increased to that observed in the less acid soil when the pH of the former was increased from 4.3 to 5.3. The increase in decomposition rate of added plant litter in the more acid soil as a result of CA(OH)₂ addition was only 60% of that observed in the soil with pH 5.3. These data support the hypothesis that the absence of soil animals and the restricted microbial decomposition in the acidic soil was responsible for mor humus formation.     

Impact of spruce forest and grass vegetation cover on soil micromorphology and hydraulic properties of organic matter horizon

Two organic matter horizons developed under a spruce forest and grass vegetation were chosen to demonstrate the impact of a different vegetation cover on the micromorphology, porous system and hydraulic properties of surface soils. Micromorphological studies showed that the decomposed organic material in the organic matter horizon under the grass vegetation was more compact compared to the decomposed organic material in the organic matter horizon under the spruce forest. The detected soil porous system in the organic matter horizon under the spruce forest consisted of two clusters of pores with different diameters that were highly connected within and between both clusters. The soil porous system in the organic matter horizon under the grass vegetation consisted of one cluster of pores with the larger diameters and isolated pores with the smaller diameter. The retention ability of the organic matter horizon under the grass vegetation was higher than the retention ability of the organic matter horizon under the spruce forest. Presented at the International Conference on Bioclimatology and Natural Hazards, Poľana nad Detvou, Slovakia, 17–20 September 2007.     

更新方式对亚热带森林土壤溶液可溶性有机质数量及化学结构的影响

采用负压法对福建省三明市亚热带常绿阔叶林中米槠次生林(BF)、米槠人促更新林(RF)、米槠人工林(CP) 0～15、15～30、30～60 cm土层土壤溶液可溶性有机质(DOM)的浓度及光谱学特征进行研究.结果表明: 土壤溶液可溶性有机碳(DOC)浓度整体趋势为RF>CP>BF,而可溶性有机氮(DON)则为米槠人工林最高;且 DOC 和 DON 在表层(0～15 cm)土壤浓度皆显著高于底层(30～60 cm).芳香化指数大小为RF>CP>BF,且整体为表层较高.米槠人工林表层土壤以荧光强度高的短波峰(320 nm)为特征峰,表明其易分解物质含量高,腐殖化程度较低;而米槠人促更新林表层土壤则以宽平的中长波峰(380 nm)为特征峰,说明其腐殖化程度较高,有助于土壤肥力的储存.此外,30～60 cm深层DOM特性几乎不受森林更新方式的影响.     

人为干扰对鼎湖山马尾松林土壤细根和有机质的影响

通过处理 (根据当地习惯收割凋落物和林下层 )和保护 (无任何人为干扰 )样地的比较试验 ,1990～ 1995年期间研究了人为干扰对鼎湖山生物圈保护区马尾松 (Pinus massoniana)林土壤细根和有机质的影响。在此 5 a的研究期间 ,由于人为干扰活动而直接从处理样地取走的林下层和凋落物总量为 2 1.7t/ hm2。在保护样地 ,林下层生物量从 2 .2 t/ hm2增加至 11.10 t/ hm2 ,地表凋落物 (包括枯死的林下层 )量则从 3.0 t/ hm2 增加至 13.3t/ hm2 。收割林下层和凋落物这种人为干扰活动对林地土壤细根生物量的影响不明显 ,但却显著降低土壤轻腐殖质 (Soil lightorganic matter)量。在细根分解过程中 ,其分解速率在处理样地(试验结束时细根残存量占起始量的 4 0 .8% )显著高于在保护样地 (试验结束时细根残存量占起始量的 4 4 .3% ) ;与 Ca、Mg和K元素不同 ,N和 P两种元素的释放速率在处理样地显著高于保护样地 ,表明这种人为干扰活动不仅直接取走所收割的林下层和凋落物中的养分 ,而且还可能增加林地有效养分的流失潜力     

Effects of dissolved organic matter from different plant sources on soil enzyme activities in subtropical forests

探究不同植物来源可溶性有机质(DOM)进入土壤后对酶活性的影响, 可以为降水淋溶下亚热带地区不同森林生态系统土壤碳循环提供科学依据。该研究提取杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)、木荷(Schima superba)和楠木(Phoebe zherman) 3种植物鲜叶中的DOM分别输入杉木人工林土壤中, 以等量的去离子水添加为对照, 进行25天的室内培养。培养结束后测定土壤理化性质、微生物生物量和酶活性等指标。结果表明: 与对照处理(CT)相比, 添加3种叶片DOM后, 土壤总有机碳(SOC)、总氮(TN)含量和碳氮比均无显著变化。杉木叶片DOM添加处理(CL)的TN含量显著低于木荷叶片DOM添加处理(SL)和楠木叶片DOM添加处理(PL), 碳氮比显著高于SL和PL。3种叶片DOM输入整体上提高了土壤溶解有机碳(DOC)和溶解有机氮(DON)的含量。叶片DOM输入后土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)含量无显著变化, 然而CL和SL的土壤微生物生物量氮(MBN)含量分别比CT降低了50.9%和51.1%, PL的MBN含量比CT提高了54.0%。与CT相比, 不同植物来源DOM输入后, β-葡萄糖苷酶(βG)、纤维素水解酶(CBH)和过氧化物酶(PEO) 3种酶活性均显著上升, 而多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性则显著下降; 此外, βG和CBH活性均表现出CL > SL > PL的特征。相关性分析的结果表明, 添加叶片DOM 3种处理的SOC、TN、MBN含量和βG、CBH活性都与所输入DOM的DOC含量和腐殖化指数(HIX)显著相关, 此外, 土壤MBN含量和PPO活性与输入叶片DOM的pH呈正相关关系。冗余分析(RDA)结果表明, 叶片DOM输入后引起土壤酶活性变化的关键因子是DON和DOC含量。总体来说, 不同植物来源DOM性质的差异会影响土壤碳循环水解酶的活性, 而叶片DOM输入后增加了土壤碳和氮的有效性, 引起4种碳循环酶的不同响应。     

Characterization of soil organic matter from a sandy soil in relation to management practice using FT-IR spectroscopy

Previous results from differently fertilized long-term field experiments on a sandy soil suggested that the chemical composition of soil organic matter (SOM) is affected by fertilization. The objective of this paper is to confirm this finding for a site with higher soil-clay contents. Four combinations of different fertilizer treatments at long-term field experiment located at a sandy loam were selected: liquid manure (LM), liquid manure+N (LM+N), straw+N (S+N) and mineral nitrogen only (N). Soil organic matter was extracted using sodium pyrophosphate solution at pH of 10 and hot water. The extracts were analyzed using Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicate that the composition of SOM from the hot water extracts did not show significant differences while the sodium pyrophosphate extracted SOM is affected by the type of fertilization. Soil samples fertilized with LM+N and S+N show the highest intensity of the carboxyl band. This can be explained by the fact that the combination of S+N fertilization with green manure leads to an enrichment of carboxyl groups in SOM. Differences between the band intensities of the treatments for the SOM samples are, however, not as distinct as for the sandy soil samples. This is possibly a result of the higher clay content and lower age of the long-term experiment at the sandy loam site. The intensity of the carboxyl band of the SOM is correlated with the cation exchange capacity of the soil samples. The composition of SOM may, in addition to the SOM content, be used for studying quantitative effects of different management practices or even land use changes on soil properties. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

不同植物来源可溶性有机质对亚热带森林土壤酶活性的影响

探究不同植物来源可溶性有机质(DOM)进入土壤后对酶活性的影响, 可以为降水淋溶下亚热带地区不同森林生态系统土壤碳循环提供科学依据。该研究提取杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)、木荷(Schima superba)和楠木(Phoebe zherman) 3种植物鲜叶中的DOM分别输入杉木人工林土壤中, 以等量的去离子水添加为对照, 进行25天的室内培养。培养结束后测定土壤理化性质、微生物生物量和酶活性等指标。结果表明: 与对照处理(CT)相比, 添加3种叶片DOM后, 土壤总有机碳(SOC)、总氮(TN)含量和碳氮比均无显著变化。杉木叶片DOM添加处理(CL)的TN含量显著低于木荷叶片DOM添加处理(SL)和楠木叶片DOM添加处理(PL), 碳氮比显著高于SL和PL。3种叶片DOM输入整体上提高了土壤溶解有机碳(DOC)和溶解有机氮(DON)的含量。叶片DOM输入后土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)含量无显著变化, 然而CL和SL的土壤微生物生物量氮(MBN)含量分别比CT降低了50.9%和51.1%, PL的MBN含量比CT提高了54.0%。与CT相比, 不同植物来源DOM输入后, β-葡萄糖苷酶(βG)、纤维素水解酶(CBH)和过氧化物酶(PEO) 3种酶活性均显著上升, 而多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性则显著下降; 此外, βG和CBH活性均表现出CL > SL > PL的特征。相关性分析的结果表明, 添加叶片DOM 3种处理的SOC、TN、MBN含量和βG、CBH活性都与所输入DOM的DOC含量和腐殖化指数(HIX)显著相关, 此外, 土壤MBN含量和PPO活性与输入叶片DOM的pH呈正相关关系。冗余分析(RDA)结果表明, 叶片DOM输入后引起土壤酶活性变化的关键因子是DON和DOC含量。总体来说, 不同植物来源DOM性质的差异会影响土壤碳循环水解酶的活性, 而叶片DOM输入后增加了土壤碳和氮的有效性, 引起4种碳循环酶的不同响应。     

植物凋落物影响土壤有机质分解的研究进展

植物凋落物是土壤动物和土壤微生物的主要生命物质和能量来源,其类型、组成以及物理化学等性质直接决定了土壤有机质的品质。对植物凋落物的类型、品质、物理性质、层效应和激发效应以及根际碳淀积与土壤有机质分解的关系进行了总结,可为研究植物凋落物对土壤有机质的影响提供理论参考,指出要在全球变暖背景下进一步加强凋落物分解过程中土壤微生物和酶活性变化的研究。     

长白山原始阔叶红松林土壤有机质组分小尺度空间异质性

土壤有机质(SOM)对于维持生态系统生产力具有非常重要的意义,有机质的组成、空间分布和空间关联性是影响和控制诸多生态系统过程的重要因素。应用地统计学方法,对长白山原始阔叶红松林局部尺度内0—20 cm土壤有机质与活性有机质的空间异质性进行了研究,并通过交叉半方差分析探讨了二者之间的相关性。研究结果表明:(1)总体上来说,土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、颗粒态有机碳(POC)和颗粒态有机氮(PON)空间异质性较小;而土壤微生物量碳(MBC)、微生物量氮(MBN)和表层(0—10 cm)溶解性有机碳(DOC)的空间异质性较大;(2)SOC、TN、MBC、DOC、POC和PON随着深度的增加空间自相关性增加;而溶解性有机氮(DON)的空间自相关性随深度的增加变化不大;(3)SOC与TN在表层和下层(10—20 cm)均存在空间上的正相关关系;(4)SOC、TN在表层和下层分别与MBC、MBN、DOC、DON和POC呈空间上的正相关性,但是与PON之间的空间相关关系较差;(5)不同土层深度的土壤活性有机质之间的相关关系存在差异。在表层,除POC,PON外,其余土壤活性有机质组分在空间上两两相关;但是随着土壤深度的增加,活性有机质变量之间在空间上两两相关。研究结果表明土壤有机质组分在长白山原始阔叶红松林小尺度内存在不同空间异质性和空间关联性,这为人们更好的理解森林生态系统功能(如土壤养分循环)提供了重要的理论依据。     

Regional variation in the temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter decomposition in China's forests and grasslands

How to assess the temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition and its regional variation with high accuracy is one of the largest uncertainties in determining the intensity and direction of the global carbon (C) cycle in response to climate change. In this study, we collected a series of soils from 22 forest sites and 30 grassland sites across China to explore regional variation in Q₁₀ and its underlying mechanisms. We conducted a novel incubation experiment with periodically changing temperature (5–30 °C), while continuously measuring soil microbial respiration rates. The results showed that Q₁₀ varied significantly across different ecosystems, ranging from 1.16 to 3.19 (mean 1.63). Q₁₀ was ordered as follows: alpine grasslands (2.01) > temperate grasslands (1.81) > tropical forests (1.59) > temperate forests (1.55) > subtropical forests (1.52). The Q₁₀ of grasslands (1.90) was significantly higher than that of forests (1.54). Furthermore, Q₁₀ significantly increased with increasing altitude and decreased with increasing longitude. Environmental variables and substrate properties together explained 52% of total variation in Q₁₀ across all sites. Overall, pH and soil electrical conductivity primarily explained spatial variation in Q₁₀. The general negative relationships between Q₁₀ and substrate quality among all ecosystem types supported the C quality temperature (CQT) hypothesis at a large scale, which indicated that soils with low quality should have higher temperature sensitivity. Furthermore, alpine grasslands, which had the highest Q₁₀, were predicted to be more sensitive to climate change under the scenario of global warming.     

亚热带森林不同植物及器官来源的可溶性有机质输入对土壤激发效应的影响及其作用机理

外源有机物的输入可以通过正负激发效应影响土壤有机碳(SOC)的矿化。然而, 当前的研究较少考虑不同植物及器官来源可溶性有机质(DOM)输入对土壤激发效应的影响及其作用机理。该研究以武夷山森林土壤为研究对象, 以室内培养的方式向土壤中添加¹³C标记青冈(Cyclobalanopsis glauca)、杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)、木莲(Manglietia fordiana)和相思(Acacia confusa)这4种植物的根和叶来源DOM, 研究不同植物及器官来源DOM输入对土壤激发效应的影响及其作用机理。主要结果: 不同植物及器官来源DOM添加初期加快了SOC的矿化, 呈现正激发效应, 随后转为负激发效应。从整个培养期(90天)的累积激发效应来看, DOM的输入均抑制了SOC的矿化, 使其矿化量减少22%-49%, 其中青冈根DOM输入使SOC的矿化量减少最多, 而由木莲叶DOM输入减少的SOC矿化量最少。DOM输入引起的土壤激发效应强度受不同植物器官影响明显, 具体表现在植物根来源DOM输入所引起的土壤激发效应强度显著高于植物叶来源DOM输入所引起的激发效应强度(相思除外)。DOM的输入总体上提高了土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)含量、土壤β-葡萄糖苷酶活性、纤维素酶活性以及土壤有效氮含量, 而对微生物群落组成无明显影响。从结构方程模型来看, DOM输入所引起的土壤激发效应主要受土壤微生物对外源碳的利用(¹³C-MBC)、纤维素酶活性以及土壤有效氮含量的影响, 这些因子的变化可解释植物叶来源DOM和根来源DOM添加处理下土壤激发效应变化的68%和86%。该研究结果表明在土壤氮充足的条件下, DOM的输入可以通过提高微生物生物量、土壤酶活性来加快分解所添加的外源有机物, 从而减少了对SOC的分解。因此, 在该研究中“底物优先利用”是土壤激发效应的主要作用机理。     

开垦对海北高寒草甸土壤有机碳的影响

在中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站地区,选择高寒草甸开垦后形成的农田(种植春油菜)作为研究对象,开垦年限分别为0、10、20和30年,利用土壤有机碳密度分组法,对0~10 cm、10~20 cm、20~30 cm、30~40 cm土层土壤有机碳(SOC)及不同组分(轻组有机碳LFOC,重组有机碳HFOC)含量及随开垦年限变化关系进行了研究。结果表明,高寒草甸开垦后土壤有机碳及其组分的变化主要发生在0~10 cm土层,LFOC下降最快,其次为HFOC和SOC,至30年时分别下降了48.63%、43.97%、37.64%。而0~40 cm土体内,SOC、LFOC和HFOC亦呈下降趋势,开垦30年,它们的下降速率分别为785.77、16.79和460.29 kg C.hm-2.yr-1。开垦将大大降低高寒草甸作为碳汇的功能,土壤碳库的总贮量由143 516.94 kg C.hm-2.yr-1下降至114 298.34 kg C.hm-2.yr-1,使其逆转为碳源。     

Microbial degradation of geogenic organic C and N in mine spoils

Many mine spoils present at the surface of reclamation sites in the Lower Lusatian mining district are carboniferous substrates, i.e. contain geogenic organic matter. Depending on its susceptibility to microbial degradation, geogenic organic matter might influence the establishment of a carbon requiring microflora in mine spoils. As geogenic organic matter contains substantial amounts of organic nitrogen it is also a potential source for plant available N. The objective of the present study was to quantify C and N mineralisation and microbial biomass in geogenic organic matter present at reclamation sites in Lower Lusatia. We also studied, whether these properties can be influenced by raising the originally low pH to near neutral conditions. In laboratory incubation studies, the rates of CO₂ evolution and net N mineralisation were determined in geogenic organic matter and carboniferous mine spoil with and without addition of lime. At the same time, microbial biomass carbon was estimated. As a reference, soil organic matter originating from the humus layer of a 60-year-old Pinus sylvestris stand was used. As indicated by the initial rates of C mineralisation, geogenic carbon was microbially available but to a lower extent than soil organic carbon. During incubation, C mineralisation remained constant or tended to increase with time, depending on the origin of the sample, while it decreased in soil organic matter. Unlike in soil organic matter, in geogenic organic matter and carboniferous mine spoil, C mineralisation was not consistently promoted by lime addition. Prior to incubation, microbial biomass in geogenic organic matter and carboniferous mine spoil was about 10-fold lower than in soil organic matter and tended to increase with incubation time while it decreased in soil organic matter. Similar to C mineralisation, microbial biomass in geogenic organic matter increased after liming, while it declined in carboniferous mine spoil immediately after lime addition. Rates of net N mineralisation were very low in geogenic organic matter and carboniferous mine spoil regardless of the length of incubation and could not be enhanced by raising the pH. It was concluded, that in mine spoils where accumulation of soil organic matter has not yet occurred, geogenic organic matter can be favourable for the establishment of a heterotrophic microflora. However, in the short term, geogenic matter is no source for plant available N in mine spoils. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Modeling changes in soil organic matter in Amazon forest to pasture conversion with the Century model

Land use and land cover changes in the Brazilian Amazon region have major implications for regional and even global carbon cycling. We analyzed the effects of the predominant land use change, conversion of tropical forest to pasture, on total soil C and N, using the Century ecosystem model and data collected from the Nova Vida ranch, Western Brazilian Amazon. We estimated equilibrium organic matter levels, plant productivity and residue carbon inputs under native forest conditions, then simulated deforestation following the slash and burn procedure. Soil organic matter dynamics were simulated for pastures established in 1989, 1987, 1983, 1979, 1972, 1951, and 1911. Using input data from the Nova Vida ranch, the Century model predicted that forest clearance and conversion to pasture would cause an initial decline in soil C and N stocks, followed by a slow rise to levels exceeding those under native forest. Simulated soil total C and N levels (2500 g C m^?2 and 245 g N m^?2 in the 0–20 cm layer) prior to conversion to pasture were close to those measured in the native forest. Simulated above‐ and below‐ground biomass for the forest and pasture were comparable with literature values from this region. The model predicted the long‐term changes in soil C and N under pasture inferred from the pasture chronosequence, but there was considerable variation in soil C stocks for pastures <20 years in age. Differences in soil texture between pastures were relatively small and could not account for much of the variability between different pastures of similar ages, in either the measured or simulated data. It is likely that much of the variability in C stocks between pastures of similar ages is related to initial C stocks immediately following deforestation and that this was the largest source of variability in the chronosequence. Internal C cycling processes in Century were evaluated using measurements of microbial biomass and soil δ¹³C. The relative magnitude and long‐term trend in microbial biomass simulated by the model were consistent with measurements. The close fit of simulated to measured values of δ¹³C over time suggests that the relative loss of forest‐derived C and its replacement by pasture‐derived C was accurately predicted by the model. After 80 years, almost 90% of the organic matter in the top 20 cm was pasture derived. While our analysis represents a single ‘case study’ of pasture conversion, our results suggest that modeling studies in these pasture systems can help to evaluate the magnitude of impacts on C and N cycling, and determine the effect of management strategies on pasture sustainability.     

Phosphorus availability in different types of open-cast mine spoil and the potential impact of organic matter application

Greenhouse experiments were conducted in order to determine for carboniferous and non-carboniferous mine spoil substrates from the Lusatian lignite mining area (i) the suitable extraction method for plant available P, (ii) the soil capacity for immobilisation of P and (iii) the impact of sewage sludge and compost on P availability. Ca-lactate extraction (DL) and NH₄F-extraction (Bray) were both suited equally well for the determination of plant available P as they extracted similar amounts of P on both spoils, they showed a close correlation with each other (R=0.97 ²) and they showed a close relation with plant P uptake (R²=0.63 and R²=0.66, respectively). Phosphorus recovery from limed carboniferous mine spoil five days after mineral fertiliser application was only 50%, and decreased to 30% after 54 days. As pH was increased from 3.0 to 5.0 the amount of P immobilised decreased only by about 5%. Several pH dependent processes of P immobilisation and release could occur concurrently counteracting each other. One process could be P sorption to newly formed hydroxy-Al-surfaces but P desorption could also take place as pH increases by decreasing surface positive charge. Finally, due to high Ca concentrations in spoil solution formation of Ca-phosphates, even at lower pH values, cannot be excluded as a possible mechanism of P immobilisation. As part of the P is bound in organic matter, application of P with organic matter resulted in a lower P recovery compared to mineral P-fertiliser. However, the amount of P recovered did not differ between carboniferous and non-carboniferous mine spoil, if P was applied in the form of organic matter, indicating that the application of P with organic matter might be a measure to overcome P immobilisation in carboniferous mine spoils. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Influence of rhizodeposition under elevated CO2 on plant nutrition and soil organic matter

Atmospheric CO₂ concentrations can influence ecosystem carbon storage through net primary production (NPP), soil carbon storage, or both. In assessing the potential for carbon storage in terrestrial ecosystems under elevated CO₂, both NPP and processing of soil organic matter (SOM), as well as the multiple links between them, must be examined. Within this context, both the quantity and quality of carbon flux from roots to soil are important, since roots produce specialized compounds that enhance nutrient acquisition (affecting NPP), and since the flux of organic compounds from roots to soil fuels soil microbial activity (affecting processing of SOM).From the perspective of root physiology, a technique is described which uses genetically engineered bacteria to detect the distribution and amount of flux of particular compounds from single roots to non-sterile soils. Other experiments from several labs are noted which explore effects of elevated CO₂ on root acid phosphatase, phosphomonoesterase, and citrate production, all associated with phosphorus nutrition. From a soil perspective, effects of elevated CO₂ on the processing of SOM developed under a C4 grassland but planted with C3 California grassland species were examined under low (unamended) and high (amended with 20 g m^–2 NPK) nutrients; measurements of soil atmosphere 13C combined with soil respiration rates show that during vegetative growth in February, elevated CO₂ decreased respiration of carbon from C4 SOM in high nutrient soils but not in unamended soils.This emphasis on the impacts of carbon loss from roots on both NPP and SOM processing will be essential to understanding terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage under changing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations.Abbreviations SOM soil organic matter - NPP net primary productivity - NEP net ecosystem productivity - PNPP p-nitrophenyl phosphate