Analysis of the life cycle of the soil saprophyte Bacillus cereus in liquid soil extract and in soil

Bacillus is commonly isolated from soils, with organisms of Bacillus cereus sensu lato being prevalent. Knowledge of the ecology of B. cereus and other Bacillus species in soil is far from complete. While the older literature favors a model of growth on soil-associated organic matter, the current paradigm is that B. cereus sensu lato germinates and grows in association with animals or plants, resulting in either symbiotic or pathogenic interactions. An in terra approach to study soil-associated bacteria is described, using filter-sterilized soil-extracted soluble organic matter (SESOM) and artificial soil microcosms (ASM) saturated with SESOM. B. cereus ATCC 14579 displayed a life cycle, with the ability to germinate, grow, and subsequently sporulate in both the liquid SESOM extract and in ASM inserted into wells in agar medium. Cells grew in liquid SESOM without separating, forming multicellular structures that coalesced to form clumps and encasing the ensuing spores in an extracellular matrix. Bacillus was able to translocate from the point of inoculation through soil microcosms as shown by the emergence of outgrowths on the surrounding agar surface. Microscopic inspection revealed bundles of parallel chains inside the soil. The motility inhibitor L-ethionine failed to suppress outgrowth, ruling out translocation by a flagellar-mediated mechanism such as swimming or swarming. Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis Marburg and four Bacillus isolates taken at random from soils also displayed a life cycle in SESOM and ASM and were all able to translocate through ASM, even in presence of L-ethionine. These data indicate that B. cereus is a saprophytic bacterium that is able to grow in soil and furthermore that it is adapted to translocate by employing a multicellular mode of growth.     

The influence of soil volume on the absorption of soil phosphorus by plants and on the determination of labile soil phosphorus

Summary In a pot experiment the soil volume available for ryegrass growth was varied. There was relatively greater uptake of phosphorus from the smaller amounts of soil and an increase in the pool of labile phosphorus (the L-value). It appears that an equilibrium exists in the soil between non-labile and labile phosphorus, and this equilibrium may be disturbed by the removal of phosphorus by plants.The variations of L-value with time followed a pattern indicating the initial influence of seed-borne phosphorus and slow isotopic exchange of the added carrier-free P³² with soil phosphorus.     

土壤氟形态与氟污染土壤修复

我国土壤氟污染问题严峻,给部分地区人体健康和生态安全造成严重威胁,但土壤氟污染与防治问题仍没有受到人们的广泛关注.本文概述了土壤中氟的存在形态以及发生的主要化学反应,综述了近年来国内外有关氟污染土壤修复的研究进展,提出了今后氟污染土壤修复的研究方向,以期为氟污染土壤的修复提供借鉴和参考.土壤中氟主要分为5种形态,其中90%以上以残渣态存在,土壤溶液中的氟主要发生沉淀-溶解、络合-解离和吸附-解吸等反应来维持水-土系统中的氟平衡.目前,氟污染土壤修复技术研究主要集中在化学固定修复技术、化学淋洗技术、电动修复技术以及植物修复技术.今后需要重点研究氟在土壤中的赋存形态及其影响因子,筛选功能微生物和植物,开发联合修复技术以修复氟污染土壤.     

The use of thin soil sections for the study of soil micro-organisms

Summary Modifications of Alexander and Jackson's¹ technique for the preparation of thin soil sections are described.The distribution of bacterial colonies within soil aggregates has been examined using this technique and it has been demonstrated that distinct distribution patterns may occur.     

城市土壤封闭对有机碳库影响的时空变化模拟

随着全球城市化的迅速发展,城市生态系统的研究日益受到关注。城市化过程引发的大面积土壤封闭,导致土壤功能退化,进而影响城市生态系统。通过构建城市封闭土壤碳循环模型,考虑土壤温度,水分,有效氮含量以及各项理化性质等影响土壤有机碳在封闭条件下分解的影响因素,模拟南京市1980年至2010年城市封闭土壤有机碳含量与土壤有机碳库的时空变化过程,揭示人工封闭对于城市土壤功能的影响。结果表明:南京市1980年至2010年封闭土壤的有机碳含量显著减少,2010年土壤有机碳含量的均值为6.7 g/kg,比开放土壤低54.7%。土壤有机碳含量较低的区域主要分布在快速城市化的地区。由于封闭土壤阻碍了土壤有机碳的来源,造成封闭土壤有机碳含量持续减少,1980年至2010年间城市土壤有机碳库的总量减少约0.32 Tg。城市封闭对土壤有机碳影响的时空变化模拟可为研究城市化过程中的生态环境效应与城市生态建设提供参考。     

Effect of soil microstructure on the relationship between the intensity of nitrification and soil moisture

The relationship between the logarithm of nitrification intensity and moisture (expressed as pF) did not have an ideal linear course in structural soils in which pores of a certain size predominated. When increasing the incubation moisture it could be observed that the intensity of nitrification decreases at pF 3.5-4.4 and increases again on further increasing the incubation moisture. The detected anomaly was observed when applying moistures corresponding to peaks of derivation pF-curves. It can be assumed that the relationship between the intensity of nitrification and moisture is modified by soil microstructure; therefore, this relationship was studied in more detail in the present communication.     

Observations on the vertical distribution of soil Oribatei in a woodland soil

• 1 The vertical distribution of Oribatei in a black pine plantation soil was studied in situ using the soil sectioning technique.
• 2 Oribatei were most abundent in the upper 3 cm due to the greater abundance of suitable food in this region.
• 3 Larger species were usually confined to the upper layers but some smaller species were also abundant in this region.
• 4 A correlation between the size of the species and their penetration was not found to be statistically significant.
• 5 Nested analysis of variance showed seasonal redistribution in some species.
• 6 The vertical distribution of individual species is discussed, and partially explained.

     

Effects of plant hedgerows on soil erosion and soil fertility on sloping farmland in the purple soil area

Effect of using plant hedgerows on controlling soil and water losses has received wide recognition and this technology has been applied in many areas in the world. Yet, studies on the effect of using plant hedgerows on soil fertility on sloping lands are rare. Carrying out an eight-year fixed field experiment, the authors investigated the effect of two different hedgerows against the control treatment on soil fertility. Results showed that clay particles tended to accumulate in front of the plant hedgerows and began to erode downward below the hedgerows along the contour lines across the field. Distribution of soil organic matter and all plant nutrients except potassium (K) showed the same pattern as the clay particles. Potassium, however, was evenly distributed in the field without any noticeable influence from the hedgerows. Since the fixed experiment started, soil phosphorus (P) kept accumulating, while soil organic matter and K were in depletion. The results accordingly suggested better nutrient management practices on the sloping lands by using properly reduced rates of P and increased rates of farm manure and K. Taking the sloping field as a whole, special attention in nutrient management should be given to the soil strips —the portions below the plant hedgerows suffering from more serious soil erosion.     

Effects of plant hedgerows on soil erosion and soil fertility on sloping farmland in the purple soil area

Effect of using plant hedgerows on controlling soil and water losses has received wide recognition and this technology has been applied in many areas in the world. Yet, studies on the effect of using plant hedgerows on soil fertility on sloping lands are rare. Carrying out an eight-year fixed field experiment, the authors investigated the effect of two different hedgerows against the control treatment on soil fertility. Results showed that clay particles tended to accumulate in front of the plant hedgerows and began to erode downward below the hedgerows along the contour lines across the field. Distribution of soil organic matter and all plant nutrients except potassium (K) showed the same pattern as the clay particles. Potassium, however, was evenly distributed in the field without any noticeable influence from the hedgerows. Since the fixed experiment started, soil phosphorus (P) kept accumulating, while soil organic matter and K were in depletion. The results accordingly suggested better nutrient management practices on the sloping lands by using properly reduced rates of P and increased rates of farm manure and K. Taking the sloping field as a whole, special attention in nutrient management should be given to the soil strips —the portions below the plant hedgerows suffering from more serious soil erosion.     

土壤侵蚀与土地利用方式对黑土地土壤水气传输特性的影响

土壤侵蚀是东北黑土退化的主要原因之一,了解不同土地利用方式下土壤水气传输性质的差异,可以为黑土区水土资源的高效利用和保护提供科学依据。本研究选取东北黑土区典型的3种土地利用方式(农地、林地、撂荒地)进行0~5 cm土层原位土壤饱和导水率、导气率和相对气体扩散率的测定,探讨土壤侵蚀和土地利用方式对土壤水气传输性质的影响。结果表明:不同侵蚀程度农地之间以及不同土地利用方式之间土壤水气传输性质差异显著。重度侵蚀农地容重显著高于其他样地,未侵蚀农地容重显著低于其他样地。与未侵蚀农地相比,轻度、中度和重度侵蚀农地容重分别增加12.7%、17.6%和39.2%,饱和导水率分别降低84.4%、53.7%和12.7%,导气率分别降低94.6%、64.4%和14.0%,相对气体扩散率分别降低91.3%、82.6%和4.3%。松林地饱和导水率、导气率和相对气体扩散率较未侵蚀农地分别降低86.5%、83.0%和91.3%。沙棘林地饱和导水率、导气率和相对气体扩散率较未侵蚀农地分别降低51.7%、45.6%和82.6%,撂荒地饱和导水率、导气率和相对气体扩散率较未侵蚀农地分别降低16.2%、1.4%和73.9%。可以利用测得的土壤导气率、相对气体扩散率估算土壤饱和导水率。土壤侵蚀和土地利用方式显著影响黑土地土壤水气传输特性。     

Forest soil fertility: the base of relationships between soil and vegetation

To understand the relationships between soils and vegetation in forest ecosystems, it is necessary to establish the spatial levels where they are implemented and to determine parameters characterizing the relationships. The key step in the development of the hierarchy of the spatial levels is the establishment of the elementary unit of the soil-vegetation cover. Such a unit, called tessera, is substantiated. Studies conducted in boreal forests have demonstrated a close association between the vegetation and soil components of tesserae. It can be quantitatively described in terms of informative fertility parameters: pH; C: N ratio; contents of nutrients, such as Ca and Mn; etc. Thus, data on the relationships between soil and vegetation determined in tesserae can be summarized at higher spatial levels of the forest cover: parcel, biotope, etc.     

Optimization of soil physical and chemical conditions for the bioremediation of creosote-contaminated soil

Mispah type soil (FAO : Lithosol) contaminated with >250 000 mg kg^-1 creosote was collected from the yard of a creosote treatment plant. The soils carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus contents were determined. Due to creosote contamination, thecarbon content of the soil was found to be 130,000 mg C kg^-1. This concentration was found to greatly affect the nitrogen content (0.08%). The phosphorus content was less affected (4.5%). It was estimated that a nutrient amendment to bring the soil to a C : N 10 : 1 would be adequate to stimulate microbial growth and creosote degradation. The soil was amended with a range of C : N ratios below and above the estimated ratio. In one of the treatments, the phosphorus content was amended. Sterile and natural controls were also set up. The soil was incubated at 30 °C on a rotaryshaker at 150 rpm in the dark for six weeks. Water content was maintained at 70% field capacity. The lowest nitrogen supplementation (C : N = 25 : 1) was more effective in enhancing microbial growth (3.12E + 05) and creosote removal (68.7%) from the soil. Additional phosphorus was not very effective in enhancing the growth of microorganisms and removal of creosote. The highest nitrogen supplementation(C : N = 5 : 1) did not enhance microbial growth and creosote removal.A relationship between mass loss and creosote removal was also observed. Phenolics and lower molecular mass polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were observed to be more susceptible to microbial degradation than higher molecular mass compounds. Nutrient concentration, moisture content and pH were thus observed to play very significant roles in the utilization of creosote in soil. These results are being used for the development of a bioremediation technology for the remediation of creosote contaminated soils in a treatment plant in South Africa.     

植物篱对紫色土区坡耕地水土流失及土壤肥力的影响

植物篱的水土保持效果已得到广泛的认可,并在世界很多地方推广应用,然而,到目前为止,植物篱对坡耕地土壤肥力的影响规律研究却很少。利用长期定位小区试验,研究了植物篱对坡耕地土壤肥力的影响规律,旨在弄清植物篱提高土壤肥力的作用与效果,不断完善植物篱技术。研究发现,坡耕地在建立植物篱后,土壤粘粒在篱前富积,篱下加剧侵蚀,粘粒的富积与侵蚀沿等高线成水平带状分布;土壤有机质、N、P等主要营养元素出现与土壤颗粒相同的分布规律;对K来说,其分布不受植物篱的影响,表现出较为均一分布的特点。从土壤养分的绝对数量来看,P呈高度富积,而有机质和K则是高度耗竭。因此,坡耕地施肥时可以适当减少P的施用量,增加有机物和K的施用量。针对植物篱带对坡耕地肥力影响的特点,即篱前肥力升高,篱下肥力下降,在坡耕地管理上应特别加强篱下土壤带的培肥,以提高坡面整体生产能力。     

松嫩平原苏打盐渍化旱田土壤表观电导率空间变异

在松嫩平原西部吉林省大安市乐胜乡,于2013年4月20日选择盐碱程度不均一的典型盐渍化旱田地块,面积为4.8 hm~2作为研究样地。利用EM38大地电导率仪测定结合田间定点采样,并通过经典统计和地统计相结合的方法研究了盐渍化旱田土壤表观电导率空间变异特征,分析了土壤表观电导率与土壤盐碱指标之间的关系。结果表明,盐渍化旱田土壤水平方向表观电导率(EC_h)经对数转换后具有强空间自相关,其变异特征主要是与地形地貌和水文状况等结构性因素有关。垂直方向表观电导率(EC_v)经对数转换后具有中等空间自相关性,其变异特征受结构性因素和随机因素共同作用。EC_h和EC_v半方差模拟的最优模型分别为球状模型和指数模型。Pearson分析表明土壤表观电导率(EC_h和EC_v)与土壤盐碱指标EC_(1∶5)、pH_(1∶5)、SAR、SC、Na~+、CO_3~(2-)、HCO_3~-呈正相关关系(P0.05),EC_h与土壤盐碱指标相关系数均大于EC_v。在实际应用中可以用EC_h来指示土壤的盐碱程度。回归分析表明土壤表观电导率(EC_h和EC_v)与土壤盐碱指标呈线性相关,且EC_h回归模型的决定系数均大于EC_v回归模型的决定系数,可用水平方向土壤表观电导率(EC_h)来计算土壤盐碱指标,进行土壤盐渍化的快速评估。     

土壤砷植物暴露途径的土壤因子模拟

确定土壤中重金属生物有效性是评价土壤重金属污染生态风险的关键,然而在生态风险评价实际应用中,测定土壤重金属生物有效性耗时且高成本,限制了生物有效性评价法的应用。通过对模式植物的文献搜集,总结了影响植物富集土壤砷的7个土壤因子,揭示了土壤砷植物暴露的影响机制。运用SPSS 18.0对文献数据集各个土壤因子进行了回归分析、相关性分析和共线性分析。单因子回归分析表明营养盐类对植物富集砷影响很小,可以忽略不计;相关性分析和共线性分析结果表明土壤因子之间存在多元共线性;主成分分析结果表明,植物富集砷浓度主要受土壤质地的物理综合指标以及土壤总砷含量和土壤酸碱度等化学综合指标影响。其中植物富集浓度受土壤中总砷浓度影响最大,受土壤质地中砂粒含量影响其次;土壤粉粒、粘粒、有机质含量和阳离子交换量对富集也有一定影响;而土壤酸碱度对植物富集浓度的影响相对较小。最终通过数学模型解释植物富集砷浓度随土壤性质变化的规律,建立了土壤性质与土壤砷植物暴露的相关关系,为土壤重金属生物有效性风险评价法提供理论依据。