不同护坡草本植物的根系特征及对土壤渗透性的影响

为明确三峡库区植被边坡植物物种根系特征与土壤渗透性之间的关系,以裸地为对照,应用WinRHIZO(Pro.2004c)根系分析系统对香根草(Vetiveria zizanioides(Lin.) Nash)、百喜草(Paspalum notatum Flugge)、狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon (L) Pers.)和紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)等4种护坡草本的根系特征进行定量分析.结果表明:(1)紫花苜蓿和香根草的根长密度和根表面积密度显著大于狗牙根和百喜草;(2)不同草本类型和同一草本不同土层之间土壤渗透性存在较大差异,且各草本土壤渗透性随土层深度的增加而降低;相对于裸地而言,4种草本均能显著增强土壤渗透性,其土壤渗透性优劣表现为:香根草＞紫花苜蓿＞百喜草＞狗牙根;(3)土壤的初始入渗率、稳渗率、平均渗透率和渗透总量等各参数均随根长密度和根表面积密度增大而增强,且与直径介于0.5-5 mm不同径级的根系特征之间存在明显的相关性,故根系对土壤渗透性的增强作用主要归功于0.5-5 mm径级的根长密度和根表面积密度;(4)根长密度、根表面积密度对考斯加科夫入渗模型参数K和a有较大影响,随着根长密度和根表面积密度的增加,表征土壤初始入渗率的K值逐渐增大,而表征入渗能力衰减的参数a逐渐减小.     

三峡库区苔藓生物结皮对土壤水分入渗的影响

在三峡库区王家桥小流域选取以苔藓为优势种的生物结皮样地,以附近无结皮发育的裸地为对照,设计5个盖度水平(1%～20%、20%～40%、40%～60%、60%～80%和80%～100%),采用环刀法测定土壤入渗过程,研究生物结皮盖度对入渗过程的影响。结果表明: 与裸地相比,生物结皮发育可显著提高表层土壤粘结力、孔隙度、黏粒含量、水稳性团聚体和有机碳含量,显著降低土壤容重和砂粒含量。生物结皮促进了土壤水分入渗,初始入渗率、稳定入渗率、平均入渗率和累积入渗量可达裸地的2.0倍及以上,土壤入渗性能随结皮盖度的增大呈先增加后减小的变化规律,在40%～60%盖度下最大。通径分析显示,土壤初始入渗率主要受结皮盖度、土壤容重和有机碳含量的影响,稳定入渗率主要受结皮盖度和土壤容重的影响。Horton模型对三峡库区生物结皮覆盖土壤的水分入渗过程拟合效果最佳。     

元谋干热河谷三种植被恢复模式土壤贮水及入渗特性

采用双环法及主成分分析法、Pearson相关分析法,对云南省元谋干热河谷小跨山流域3种植被恢复类型(以裸地为对照)的土壤入渗与贮水特征进行了研究。结果表明：1）3种植被类型与裸地的饱和贮水量表现为、最大滞留贮水量和最大吸持贮水量均表现为罗望子 百喜草(1317.0 t?hm-2; 118.5 t?hm-2; 1198.5 t?hm-2)>银合欢林(1152.0 t?hm-2; 99.0 t?hm-2; 1053.0 t?hm-2)>扭黄茅(1108.5 t?hm-2; 89.5 t?hm-2; 1029.0 t?hm-2)>裸地(954.0 t?hm-2; 66.0 t?hm-2; 888.0 t?hm-2),且植被对土壤滞留贮存功能的改善作用大于土壤吸持贮存功能。2）3种植被类型与裸地间土壤入渗特征值均表现出初渗率(罗望子 百喜草: 7mm/min;银合欢林: 8.37mm/min;扭黄茅:6.01mm/min;裸地:0.62mm/min)>平均入渗率(5.93mm/min;5.06mm/min; 3.94mm/min;0.53mm/min)>稳渗率(4.94mm/min;2.88mm/min;3.29mm/min;0.27mm/min)的规律。不论旱季还是雨季,根据主成分分析法,得出土壤渗透性能综合判断值（F）的综合方程,综合评价3种植被类型与裸地土壤渗透性优劣,表现为：罗望子 百喜草(F值：1.2271)>扭黄茅(F值：0.5365)>银合欢林(F值：0.2688)>裸地(F值：-2.0323)。3）Pearson相关分析法表明,3种植被类型与裸地的土壤渗透性与总孔隙度、非毛管孔隙度、土壤有机质含量呈极显著(P＜0.01)或者显著正相关(P＜0.05),与土壤容重呈极显著(P＜0.01)或显著负相关(P＜0.05),并在此基础上建立了主导因子方程。4）对土壤入渗过程模拟得出通用经验方程是用于描述该流域土壤入渗过程的最优模型。     

植物篱的生态效益研究进展

植物篱/植被隔离带指沿坡地等高线,或在农田、河岸、沟道等水体边缘营建的,由草本或木本植物单一或组合形成的植物条带.植物篱可以改善土壤结构,对土壤质地、孔隙度、容重等物理性质有显著影响,其机械阻挡作用可以拦截径流、增加入渗、减少土壤流失、影响侵蚀过程,还能减缓坡度、促进坡耕地梯化.本文通过梳理和总结国内外学者在不同生态系统类型区和自然地理单元上开展的相关研究,综述了植物篱对改良土壤理化属性、调节降雨入渗和水蚀过程、植被恢复、生物多样性保护、优化景观及生态服务等多个方面的影响.同时,提出了当前植物篱研究中的两大主要问题：在工程技术与应用上,需要对植物篱种植模式、结构选择、管理办法系统化;在科学研究层面上,要深入探究影响植被恢复与生态演替的机理.     

渝北水源区水源涵养林构建模式对土壤渗透性的影响

土壤渗透性是评价土壤水源涵养作用重要指标之一,其受制于许多外在和内在因素的影响,与植被类型、土壤结构、土壤种类和降雨强度等关系密切。为探讨不同构建模式水源涵养林对土壤渗透性能的影响,以裸地为对照,以土壤初渗速率,稳渗速率,平均渗透速率和渗透总量表征土壤渗透性,对重庆北部水源区8种不同构建模式的水源涵养林地的土壤渗透性及其与理化性质的关系进行研究。结果表明:不同模式水源林地和同一模式林地不同层次土壤渗透性能存在较大差异,各林地土壤渗透性随土壤深度的增加而降低,母质层土壤渗透性受林分类型和林分结构等外界条件的干扰较小,差异不显著;8种林地土壤渗透性均好于裸地,各林地土壤渗透性能大小依次为:广东山胡椒×杉木混交林马尾松×柳杉混交林(火烧迹地)四川大头茶×四川山矾混交林毛竹×四川山矾×马尾松混交林马尾松×广东山胡椒混交林马尾松×四川大头茶混交林广东山胡椒×四川杨桐混交林毛竹纯林裸地,根据土壤渗透能力可将8种模式林分类型分为4类:第1类,广东山胡椒×杉木混交林和马尾松×柳杉混交林,土壤渗透性最好;第2类,四川大头茶×四川山矾混交林,土壤渗透能力较好;第3类,毛竹×四川山矾×马尾松混交林、马尾松×广东山胡椒混交林、广东山胡椒×四川杨桐混交林、马尾松×四川大头茶混交林,土壤渗透性好;第4类,毛竹林和裸露地,土壤渗透性最差。以广东山胡椒和杉木混交的林分模式的土壤渗透性最好,毛竹纯林地最差,毛竹纯林对提高土壤渗透性作用较差,营林时适当增加毛竹林中其他树种的混交比例可增强林地土壤渗透性能。通用经验方程对各林分土壤入渗过程的拟合效果最好,比较适用于描述本研究区域水源涵养林地土壤入渗特征的模型,Kostiakov方程拟合效果次之,Horton方程最差;结合相关分析,筛选出9个极显著或显著影响土壤渗透性能的土壤理化性质因子,通过主成分分析法,得到土壤渗透性能综合参数α及与其极显著相关因子的综合参数β,并构建土壤渗透性各指标及其综合参数α与β的线性回归模型,为重庆北部的水源涵养林建设和防治水土流失提供理论依据。     

海拔及旅游干扰对武功山山地草甸土壤渗透性的影响

土壤渗透能力是影响土壤侵蚀的重要因素之一,是反映土壤水源涵养及调节功能的重要指标,目前对于亚热带山地草甸土壤渗透性方面研究较少。江西武功山草甸是亚热带山地草甸的典型代表,以面积广和分布基准海拔低的特点,在华东植被垂直带谱中具有典型性和特殊性,但是人为干扰和过度旅游开发使武功山脆弱的山地草甸出现严重退化和破碎化态势。以武功山不同海拔及旅游干扰程度山地草甸土壤为研究对象,分别测定0—20 cm和20—40 cm土层土壤的初渗率、稳渗率、平均入渗率、前60分钟渗透总量、温度、湿度、容重、最大持水量、最小持水量、毛管持水量、pH、有机质、速效氮、速效磷、速效钾等理化指标,分析不同海拔及干扰程度草甸土壤渗透性特征,探讨影响土壤渗透性的相关因子,为亚热带地区退化草甸的修复及可持续经营提供参考。结果表明:(1)1600—1800 m范围,随着海拔升高,土壤渗透性呈降低趋势,在1900 m范围土壤渗透性又有所提高,各海拔土壤渗透性排序为1600 m1700 m1900 m1800 m。(2)随着干扰程度增强,草甸土壤渗透性呈降低趋势,各干扰程度的土壤渗透性排序为无干扰轻度干扰中度干扰重度干扰。(3)所有草甸分布区0—20 cm土层的土壤渗透性均高于20—40 cm土层,初渗率平均入渗率稳渗率。(4)通用经验模型更适合武功山草甸土壤水分入渗过程,Horton模型次之,Philip模型和Kostiakov模型拟合效果都比较差。(5)土壤渗透性与土壤湿度、毛管持水量呈显著正相关(P0.05),与容重呈显著负相关(P0.05),初渗率及平均入渗率与速效氮含量显著正相关(P0.05),稳渗率、平均入渗率、渗透总量与速效钾含量呈显著正相关(P0.05)。     

地膜覆盖玉米对土壤微生物量的影响

通过田间小区试验,对不同施肥条件下黄土塬区地膜覆盖栽培玉米与裸地种植玉米各生长期土壤微生物生物量C、N,P进行了研究,其结果表明：地膜覆盖栽培各生长期玉米地的微生物量C均低于裸地种植玉米地,微生物量N与C的趋势基本一致,其中苗期表现最明显;而微生物量P有所不同,拔节期地膜覆盖玉米地的微生物量P明显低于裸地种植玉米地,抽雄期则是前者明显高于后者。研究表明地膜覆盖种植玉米对土壤微生物量C,N,P产生重要影响,其影响程度与作物生育期有关。     

植物篱-农作坡地土壤团聚体组成和稳定性特征

基于植物篱控制水土流失的长期定位试验,研究植物篱-农作坡地土壤团聚体组成和稳定性特征.结果表明： 与常规等高农作模式相比,植物篱-农作复合农业模式下土壤>0.25 mm机械稳定性和水稳性团聚体含量分别显著增加13.3%~16.1%和37.8%~55.6%,明显提高了各坡位粒级>0.25 mm土壤水稳性团聚体含量,改善了粒级>0.25 mm土壤水稳性团聚体在下坡位的相对富集和上坡位相对贫乏的状况.植物篱显著提高了土壤团聚体平均质量直径和几何平均直径,降低了土壤团聚体分形维数和>0.25 mm土壤团聚体破坏率,进而增强了土壤团聚体的稳定性和抗蚀性.坡度与植物篱类型对土壤团聚体组成、稳定性和坡面变化无显著影响.     

植物篱-农作坡地土壤团聚体组成和稳定性特征

基于植物篱控制水土流失的长期定位试验,研究植物篱-农作坡地土壤团聚体组成和稳定性特征.结果表明： 与常规等高农作模式相比,植物篱-农作复合农业模式下土壤>0.25 mm机械稳定性和水稳性团聚体含量分别显著增加13.3%~16.1%和37.8%~55.6%,明显提高了各坡位粒级>0.25 mm土壤水稳性团聚体含量,改善了粒级>0.25 mm土壤水稳性团聚体在下坡位的相对富集和上坡位相对贫乏的状况.植物篱显著提高了土壤团聚体平均质量直径和几何平均直径,降低了土壤团聚体分形维数和>0.25 mm土壤团聚体破坏率,进而增强了土壤团聚体的稳定性和抗蚀性.坡度与植物篱类型对土壤团聚体组成、稳定性和坡面变化无显著影响.     

浙西南毛竹林覆盖对土壤渗透性及生物特征的影响

对浙西南山区4种不同覆盖年限下毛竹林地的土壤入渗、土壤理化性质、土壤根系和土壤动物特征进行了研究.结果表明:不同覆盖年限林地及同一林地不同土壤层次下土壤渗透性能存在较大差异,随着土层加深各林地土壤渗透性能均降低.渗透性能表现为覆盖1次林地＞未覆盖林地＞覆盖2次和3次后的林地.Kostiakov模型适合该研究区域的土壤水分入渗过程模拟.随着林地覆盖年限的增加(4～6年),林地土壤总孔隙度、非毛管孔隙度、pH值显著降低,而土壤容重、有机质和全N含量则显著提高.土壤初渗率、稳渗率、平均渗透率和渗透总量等均随根长密度减少而变小,土壤入渗能力的变化与直径0.5～5.0 mm的根长密度有关.不同覆盖年限毛竹林地土壤动物的平均密度差异显著,覆盖1次的林地最高,而覆盖3次的林地最低.综合纲、唇足纲、倍足纲、膜翅目、伪蝎目等大中型节肢动物,蜱螨目甲螨亚目、中气门亚目,以及弹尾目棘跳科、长角跳科、疣跳科、驼跳科等小型节肢动物数量的减少不利于土壤水分入渗.毛竹林长期覆盖会使土壤理化性状劣变,减弱土壤入渗性能,限制土壤动物活动,进而导致毛竹林退化.     

植物、土壤及土壤管理对土壤微生物群落结构的影响

土壤微生物是土壤生态系统的重要组成部分,对土壤微生物群落结构多样性的研究是近年来土壤生态学研究的热点。本文综述了有关植物、土壤类型以及土壤管理措施对土壤微生物群落结构影响的最新研究结果,指出植物的作用因植物群落结构多样性、植物种类、同种植物不同的基因型,甚至同一植物不同根的区域而异;而土壤的作用与土壤质地和有机质含量等因素有关;植物和土壤类型在对土壤微生物群落结构影响上的作用存在互作关系。不同的土壤管理措施对土壤微生物群落结构影响较大,长期连作、大量的外援化学物质的应用降低了土壤微生物的多样性;而施用有机肥、免耕可以增加土壤微生物群落结构多样性,有利于维持土壤生态系统的功能。     

Effect of soil moisture on bioremediation of chlorophenol-contaminated soil

A chlorophenol-contaminated soil was tested for the biodegradability in a semi-pilot scale microcosm using indigenous microorganisms. More than 90% of 4-chlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, initially at 30 mg kg^–1, were removed within 60 days and 30 mg pentachlorophenol kg^–1 was completely degraded within 140 days. The chlorophenols were degraded more effectively under aerobic condition than under anaerobic condition. Soil moisture had a significant effect with the slowest degradation rate of chlorophenols at 25% in the range of 10–40% moisture content. At 25–40%, the rate of chlorophenol degradation was directly related to the soil moisture content, whereas at 10–25%, it was inversely related. Limited oxygen availability through soil agglomeration at 25% moisture content might decrease the degradation rate of chlorophenols.     

耕作方式对潮土土壤团聚体微生物群落结构的影响

为探究不同耕作方式对潮土土壤团聚体微生物群落结构和多样性的影响,采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)法测定了土壤团聚体中微生物群落。试验设置4个耕作处理,分别为旋耕+秸秆还田(RT)、深耕+秸秆还田(DP)、深松+秸秆还田(SS)和免耕+秸秆还田(NT)。结果表明:与RT相比,DP处理显著提高了原状土壤和>5 mm粒级土壤团聚体中真菌PLFAs量和真菌/细菌,为真菌的繁殖提供了有利条件,有助于土壤有机质的贮存,提高了土壤生态系统的缓冲能力;提高了5～2 mm粒级土壤团聚体中细菌PLFAs量,降低了土壤革兰氏阳性菌/革兰氏阴性菌,改善了土壤营养状况;提高了<0.25 mm粒级土壤团聚体中微生物丰富度指数。总的来说,深耕+秸秆还田(DP)对土壤团聚体细菌和真菌生物量有一定的提高作用,并且在一定程度上改善了土壤团聚体微生物群落结构,有利于增加土壤固碳能力和保持土壤微生物多样性。冗余分析结果表明,土壤团聚体总PLFAs量、细菌、革兰氏阴性菌和放线菌PLFAs量与土壤有机碳相关性较强,革兰氏阳性菌PLFAs量与总氮相关性较强。各处理较大粒级土壤团聚体微生物群落主要受碳氮比、含水量、pH值和团聚体质量分数的影响,较小粒级土壤团聚体微生物群落则主要受土壤有机碳和总氮的影响。     

Estimating respiration of roots in soil: Interactions with soil CO2, soil temperature and soil water content

Little information is available on the variability of the dynamics of the actual and observed root respiration rate in relation to abiotic factors. In this study, we describe I) interactions between soil CO₂ concentration, temperature, soil water content and root respiration, and II) the effect of short-term fluctuations of these three environmental factors on the relation between actual and observed root respiration rates. We designed an automated, open, gas-exchange system that allows continuous measurements on 12 chambers with intact roots in soil. By using three distinct chamber designs with each a different path for the air flow, we were able to measure root respiration over a 50-fold range of soil CO₂ concentrations (400 to 25000 ppm) and to separate the effect of irrigation on observed vs. actual root respiration rate. All respiration measurements were made on one-year-old citrus seedlings in sterilized sandy soil with minimal organic material.Root respiration was strongly affected by diurnal fluctuations in temperature (Q₁₀ = 2), which agrees well with the literature. In contrast to earlier findings for Douglas-fir (Qi et al., 1994), root respiration rates of citrus were not affected by soil CO₂ concentrations (400 to 25000 ppm CO₂; pH around 6). Soil CO₂ was strongly affected by soil water content but not by respiration measurements, unless the air flow for root respiration measurements was directed through the soil. The latter method of measuring root respiration reduced soil CO₂ concentration to that of incoming air. Irrigation caused a temporary reduction in CO₂ diffusion, decreasing the observed respiration rates obtained by techniques that depended on diffusion. This apparent drop in respiration rate did not occur if the air flow was directed through the soil. Our dynamic data are used to indicate the optimal method of measuring root respiration in soil, in relation to the objectives and limitations of the experimental conditions.     

The porosity of soil aggregates from bulk soil and from soil adhering to roots

Summary Total porosity and pore-size distribution (p.s.d.) were determined in soil aggregates taken in plots planted with maize and treated with farmyard manure and three rates of compost. Soil aggregates were collected from the soil adherent to the maize roots (root soil aggregates) and from bulk soil (bulk soil aggregates). Mercury intrusion porosimetry was used to evaluate the total porosity and the p.s.d. Treatments did not affect the total porosity of the bulk soil aggregates. The same was observed for the root soil aggregates. However the total porosity of the root soil aggregates was always lower than that of the bulk soil aggregates. The loss of total porosity was found to be due to a decrease in the percentage of larger pores with respect to the total.     

Available soil nitrogen in relation to fractions of soil nitrogen and other soil properties

The available N of 27 soils from England and Wales was assessed from the amounts of N taken up over a 6-month period by perennial ryegrass grown in pots under uniform environmental conditions. Relationships between availability and the distribution of soil N amongst various fractions were then examined using multiple regression. The relationship: available soil N (mg kg^–1 dry soil)=(N_min×0.672)+(N_inc×0.840)+(N_mom×0.227)–5.12 was found to account for 91% of the variance in available soil N, where N_min=mineral N, N_inc=N mineralized on incubation and N_mom=N in macro-organic matter. The N mineralized on incubation appeared to be derived largely from sources other than the macro-organic matter because these two fractions were poorly correlated. When availability was expressed in terms of available organic N as % of soil organic N (N_ao) the closest relationship with other soil characteristics was: N_ao=[N_inc×(1.395–0.0347×CN_mom]+[N_mom×0.1416], where CN_mom=CN ratio of the macro-organic matter. This relationship accounted for 81% of the variance in the availability of the soil organic N.The conclusion that the macro-organic matter may contribute substantially to the available N was confirmed by a subsidiary experiment in which the macro-organic fraction was separated from about 20 kg of a grassland soil. The uptake of N by ryegrass was then assessed on two subsamples of this soil, one without the macro-organic matter and the other with this fraction returned: uptake was appreciably increased by the macro-organic matter.     

生物质炭对水稻土团聚体微生物多样性的影响

生物质炭施用对土壤微生物群落结构的影响已有报道,但土壤团聚体粒组中微生物群落对生物质炭施用的响应的研究还相对不足。以施用玉米秸秆生物质炭两年后的水稻土为对象,采用团聚体湿筛法,通过高通量测序对土壤团聚体的微生物群落结构与多样性进行分析,结果表明:(1)与对照相比,生物质炭施用显著促进了大团聚体(2000—250μm)的形成,并提高了团聚体的稳定性。(2)不同粒径团聚体间微生物相对丰度存在显著差异。在未施生物质炭的处理(C0)中,随着团聚体粒径增大,变形菌门、子囊菌门、β-变形杆菌目、格孢腔菌目的相对丰度逐渐降低,而酸杆菌门、担子菌门、粘球菌目、类球囊霉目的相对丰度逐渐升高。(3)生物质炭施用显著改变了团聚体间的微生物群落结构。与C0处理相比,生物质炭施用处理的大团聚体中变形菌门、鞭毛菌门和β-变形杆菌目的相对丰度分别显著提高了14.37%、33.28%和33.82%;微团聚体(250—53μm)中酸杆菌门、子囊菌门和粘球菌目的相对丰度分别显著降低了20.15%、19.93%和17.66%;粉、黏粒组分(53μm)中担子菌门的相对丰度升高90.25%,而子囊菌门和鞭毛菌门的相对丰度分别降低12.15%和12.58%。由此可见,生物质炭不仅改变土壤团聚体组成和分布,同时伴随着土壤微生物群落结构的改变。     

Temporal dynamics of soil bacterial network regulate soil resistomes

Soil bacteria are diverse and form complicated ecological networks through various microbial interactions, which play important roles in soil multi-functionality. However, the seasonal effects on the bacterial network, especially the relationship between bacterial network topological features and soil resistomes remains underexplored, which impedes our ability to unveil the mechanisms of the temporal-dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Here, a field investigation was conducted across four seasons at the watershed scale. We observed significant seasonal variation in bacterial networks, with lower complexity and stability in autumn, and a wider bacterial community niche in summer. Similar to bacterial communities, the co-occurrence networks among ARGs also shift with seasonal change, particularly with respect to the topological features of the node degree, which on average was higher in summer than in the other seasons. Furthermore, the nodes with higher betweenness, stress, degree, and closeness centrality in the bacterial network showed strong relationships with the 10 major classes of ARGs. These findings highlighted the changes in the topological properties of bacterial networks that could further alter antibiotic resistance in soil. Together, our results reveal the temporal dynamics of bacterial ecological networks at the watershed scale, and provide new insights into antibiotic resistance management under environmental changes.     

The breakdown of malathion in soil and soil components

The disappearance of the organophosphorus insecticide, malathion, from a silt loam soil and from its organic and inorganic components was examined. Half-lives and the time taken for 90% decomposition in nonsterile, sodium azide-treated, and 2.5 Mrad-irradiated soils were similar (3/4–1 1/2 days and 4–6 days, respectively) but breakdown in autoclaved soils was negligible. Decay in nonsterile sand, silt, and clay minus organic matter fractions was 3–6 times slower than that recorded in the original soil. Breakdown of malathion in the clay plus organic matter fraction (organo-mineral complex) was rapid (half-life, 1 day), as was the case in the separated organic matter (half-life, 1 3/4 days). Filter-sterilized organic matter was not as effective in catalyzing the breakdown of malathion (half-life, 4 days), and no loss occurred from any of the autoclaved components. Irradiation doses of 2.5 and 5.0 Mrad had little influence on the ability of soil to degrade malathion. Thereafter, increases up to 20 Mrad had a more drastic, though far from totally inhibitory, effect. Our results suggest that either the colloidal organic matter itself, or a fraction associated with it, is the most important single factor concerned with the rapid breakdown of malathion in the soil studied. Direct microbial metabolism is a slower process and may have a significant role in malathion disappearance in coarsetextured soils low in colloidal organic matter. The catalytic component of the organic matter is suggested to be a stable exoenzyme and is supportive of reports by other workers. The quantitative effect of organo-mineral complex (containing the active degradative ingredient) additions to sand and silt fractions on the rate of subsequent malathion decay is also described.