Effect of organic amendment on soil fertility and plant nutrients in a post-fire Mediterranean ecosystem

Backgrounds and aims

In Mediterranean frequently burnt areas, the decrease of soil fertility leads to regressive vegetation dynamics. Organic amendments could help to accelerate post-fire ecosystem resilience, by improving soil properties and plant nutrition. This study was conducted to assess the potential of a composted biosolid to restore an early post-fire shrubland.

Methods

About 50 Mg.ha^?1 of fresh co-composted sewage sludge and green wastes were surface applied 7 months after fire on a silty-clayey soil. We monitored over a 2-year period organic matter and nutrient transfers to soil, nutrient responses of dominant plant species, and ecosystem contamination by potentially toxic trace elements.

Results

Over the experimental survey, compost rapidly and durably improved soil P₂O₅, MgO and K₂O content, and temporarily increased N-(NO₃ ^? + NO₂ ^?) content. Plant nutrition was improved more or less durably depending species. The most positive compost effect was on plant and soil phosphorus content. Plant nutrient storage was not improved 2 years after amendment, suggesting luxury consumption. No contamination by trace elements was detected in soil and plant.

Conclusions

The use of compost after fire could help for rapidly restoring soil fertility and improving plant nutrition. The increase of soil nutrient pools after amendment emphazised the diversity of plant nutritional traits. Eutrophication risk could occur from high compost and soil P₂O₅ content.     

Sugar, organic acid, phenolic acid and plant growth regulator content of extracts of honeydew of the aphid Myzus persicae and of its host plant, Raphanus sativus

The honeydew of Myzus persicae feeding on radish seedlings contains glucose, fructose, trehalose, melezitose and sucrose, of which glucose and fructose are present in radish seedlings. In addition, the honeydew contains eight organic acids, of which seven are present in uninfested seedlings and six are present in infested radish seedlings: of the eighteen phenolic acids in the honeydew, five are present in uninfested radish seedlings. Auxins, gibberellins, growth inhibitors and cytokinins are present in the honeydew. The presence of carbonate and bicarbonate previously recorded in honeydew of M. persicae could not be confirmed, but ammonia is present in fresh honeydew and accounts for its high pH.     

Effect of alginite amendment on microbial activity and soil water content in forest soils

The effect of the amendment with alginite, an organic rock originating from the biomass of fossilized unicellular algae, on microbial activity of forest soils was tested using a pot experiment. Five variants of soil-alginite mixtures were tested in three replicates with two forest soils: a loose sandy soil and a sandy loam. Gravimetric moisture closely correlated with the dose of alginite in both soils. Basal respiration and catalase activity increased with the dose of alginite in the sandy soil, but not in the sandy loam, where the highest response was observed at intermediate doses of alginite. The correlations of microbial activity parameters with moisture in the sandy soil were also much closer than in the sandy loam. The amendment with alginite was thus effective in improving some of the selected microbial activity indicators, but the optimum dose of alginite strongly depends on soil texture.     

淹水条件下添加有机物料对蔬菜地土壤硝态氮及氮素气体排放的影响

蔬菜地大量施用氮肥可以引起土壤硝态氮积累,导致土壤退化,快速消除土壤积累的硝态氮,可以提高蔬菜地土壤质量,延长其使用时间.在硝态氮(360 mg N·kg^-1)积累的蔬菜地土壤中,分别加入0、2500、5000和7500 kg C·hm^-2黑麦草(记为CK、C₂₅₀₀、C₅₀₀₀和C₇₅₀₀),淹水条件下,30 ℃恒温室内培养240 h,研究土壤硝态氮含量及氮素气体排放量变化.结果表明：培养结束时,CK处理中土壤硝态氮含量高达310 mg N·kg^-1,添加黑麦草能有效地消除土壤中积累的硝态氮,C₂₅₀₀、C₅₀₀₀和C₇₅₀₀处理中土壤硝态氮含量降低至10 mg N·kg^-1以下需要的时间分别为240、48和24 h.添加黑麦草显著提高了土壤pH,降低了土壤电导率,其变化幅度随黑麦草添加量的增加而增大.添加黑麦草处理的土壤N₂O和N₂累积排放量为270～378 mg N·kg^-1,N₂O/N₂为0.6～1.5.淹水条件下添加黑麦草可快速消除蔬菜地土壤积累的硝态氮,但应充分重视N₂O在这一过程中的大量排放.     

Effect of AMP and related compounds on glycogen content of Tetrahymena

Addition of AMP to cultures of Tetrahymena pyriformis caused an increase in glycogen content of the cells and a small inhibition of growth. Adenine, adenosine, ADP, and ATP also increased glycogen content. Inosine and GMP were less effective; cytidine and uridine were ineffective. The increase in glycogen content was also observed in cultures supplemented with ribose, fructose, or glycerol, and when glyconeogenesis was increased by partial anaerobiosis. Adenine itself did not serve as a glycogen precursor, nor could the lipids of the cell have been the source of the carbon for the increased glycogen. The specific activity of glycogen from cultures supplemented with labelled amino acids was lower in AMP-treated cells than in controls. AMP-treatment had little effect on ¹⁴CO₂ production from labelled glucose, acetate, or pyruvate, but baused a marked inhibition of the oxidation of labelled glyoxylate. It was suggested that AMP increases the rate of glyconeogenesis from precursors other than amino acids and interferes with malate synthase activity or malate transfer from peroxisomes to mitochondria.     

Effect of soil texture and its organic content on the efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum (MIAU 145 C) in controlling Meloidogyne javanica and stimulating the growth of kidney beans

The efficiency of Trichoderma harzianum (MIAU 145 C) in promoting kidney bean (cv. Goli) growth in different soil texture (sandy loam, loam and clay loam) and organic matter content (0.5 and 2% of leaf litter) was assessed in a factorial experiment in the absence of Meloidogyne javanica. In another factorial experiment, the effect of soil texture, soil organic content and control measure (no control, 10?ml of T. harzianum containing 10⁶ spore ml^?1 and 2?mg ai cadusafos kg^?1 soil) was determined on nematode-infected kidney bean’s growth, fungus controlling activity and M. javanica reproduction. Except for the shoot length, the fungus improved plant growth. Clay loam was not a proper soil type for the cultivation of kidney bean plants (even in the soil without nematode), but the plant grew better in sandy loam and loam soil. The presence of leaf litter in the soil enhanced plant growth, increased fungal efficiency and increased nematode reproduction. It seems that T. harzianum can activate the plant defence system in sandy loam soil. T. harzianum was more effective in sandy loam or loam soil containing 2% organic matter (leaf litter) and reduced the reproduction factor of the nematode in the tested soil textures equally to the chemical nematicide treatment.     

腐生培养下爪哇虫草对寄主的转录组响应

爪哇虫草菌是广谱性虫生真菌,具有防治膜翅目社会性昆虫红火蚁Solenopsis invicta的生防潜能。为探究蚁巢弃尸堆中携菌虫体在侵染循环链的关键作用,探讨腐生条件下爪哇虫草Cordyceps javanica响应寄主的分子致病机制,本研究通过向培养基添加冷冻干燥的虫尸粉进行诱导,对诱导前后的菌丝孢子混合体进行转录组测序分析。结果表明,与纯培养条件相比,菌株经虫尸粉诱导后发掘新基因1 912个,有379个得到功能注释。显著差异表达基因有242个,上调表达基因111个,下调表达基因131个;GO富集分析表明,生物学过程的代谢过程和细胞过程、细胞组分的细胞结构体及分子功能中参与催化活性和结合相关的基因可能在爪哇虫草响应寄主过程中发挥了重要作用;KEGG分类和富集分析表明,代谢过程分类的色氨酸代谢、缬氨酸、亮氨酸和异亮氨酸降解、糖酵解/糖原异生和乙醛酸和二羧酸酯代谢,遗传信息过程分类的碱基切除修复和内质网的蛋白质加工,环境信息过程分类的ABC转运蛋白和丝裂原活化蛋白激酶信号通路,细胞过程分类的自噬和过氧物酶体通路是爪哇虫草的主要代谢途径。随机筛选8个差异表达基因进行实时荧光定量PCR验证,这些基因的表达模式与转录组数据分析结果基本一致。本研究结果表明,爪哇虫草在适应腐生环境过程中与氨基酸代谢和能量代谢相关的基因活跃,这可能是其在垂直和水平扩散过程中需维持侵染力,为自身提供营养并转化为能量和中间产物等物质所致。     

Rhizosphere microbial community and its response to plant species and soil history

The plant rhizosphere is a dynamic environment in which many parameters may influence the population structure, diversity and activity of the microbial community. Two important factors determining the structure of microbial community present in the vicinity of plant roots are plant species and soil type. In the present study we assessed the structure of microbial communities in response to four plant species (i.e. maize (Zea mays L.), oat (Avena sativa L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and commercial grass mix) planted in soil with different land use history (i.e. arable land under crop rotation, maize monoculture and permanent grassland). Both factors, plant species and land use history, showed clear effects on microbial community and diversity as determined by PCR-DGGE fingerprinting with universal and group-specific bacterial primers. Moreover, we explored the rhizosphere effect of these plant species on the abundance of bacterial antagonists of the potato pathogen Rhizoctonia solani AG3. The data showed that the abundance and taxonomic composition of antagonists differed clearly between the different plants. The highest percentages of antagonists were found in maize and grass rhizosphere. When antagonistic Pseudomonas populations were compared, the highest, abundance and diversity of antagonists were detected in barley and oat rhizospheres, as compared to maize and grass rhizosphere. The results obtained in our study demonstrate clearly that plant species and soil type are two important factors affecting the structure of total bacterial, Pseudomonas and Bacillus community.     

Effect of fluoride pollution on the organic matter content of soil

In the present study effect of fluoride contamination of soil and litter by an aluminium factory on the organic matter content of soil is investigated. It was found that increase in fluoride content of litter and soil causes accumulation of organic matter content in the surface soil. It is suggested that the presence of fluoride in the litter and soil decreases the growth and activity of micro-organisms resulting in greater accumulation of organic matter in the soil.     

Variation of DIMBOA and related compounds content in relation to the age and plant organ in maize

We report the variation of all 1,4-benzoxazin-3-one derivatives content detectable in maize with plant age in roots and aerial parts. Our results show that the concentration of hydroxamic acids, 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one glucoside (DIMBOA-Glc) and its 8-methoxylated analogue (DIM2BOA-Glc) is high after seed germination and then decreases with plant age. Nevertheless, these compounds continue to be biosynthesised during 6-10 days after germination. Variation in concentration of N-O-methylated DIMBOA-Glc (HDMBOA-Glc) is similar to the one of hydroxamic acids in aerial parts. On the contrary, in roots, its concentration remains relatively stable with plant age. After 10 days, HDMBOA-Glc becomes the main compound in roots. This compound is also present in higher concentration than hydroxamic acids in the oldest leaf of 20-day-old maize. The presence of four other DIMBOA related compounds in maize plants depends on variety, age and tissue. The role of these compounds in plant resistance to aphids is discussed.     

植物残茬对土壤酸度的影响及其作用机理

土壤强酸性是作物生长的最主要限制因子之一,某些植物残茬可以有效地提高土壤pH,降低活性铝含量,提高作物产量。植物残茬改良土壤酸度的效能因种而异,最高土壤pH升幅可达4.53个单位,多种豆科植物材料可使土壤pH提高2个单位以上,当pH>5时,土壤溶液活性铝降至极低水平,从而消除铝害。植物残茬改良土壤酸度的效能受植物残茬自身特性与土壤特性的影响,而且pH的上升通常在几个月后消失,但这种效能对当季作物有效。植物体内有机酸根的去羧化作用被认为是pH上升的主要机理之一,去羧化机理存在的主要证据是,随着土壤pH升高,植物材料内的可溶性有机成分下降,CO2排放与pH上升高度相关,以及杀菌条件下土壤pH上升速度显著减慢。超量碱机理是植物残茬导致pH上升的又一可能的重要机理,亦即有机盐的作用,有机盐分解转化为碳酸盐,其作用与石灰完全相似,有机盐水解也可导致土壤溶液的碱性反应。铵化作用与硝化作用是高氮植物材料影响土壤酸度的重要机理,有机氮的铵化直接消耗质子,铵的硝化则产生质子,pH的变化与这些氮过程高度相关。含硫植物材料及有机物质分解过程产生的氧化还原条件的变化,也可对土壤pH产生影响,但它们的作用较小。综合来看,去羧化作用机理基于间接证据,没有得到严格验证,超量碱机理可能是土壤pH上升的主要原因,超量碱只能转移,不能制造,含超量碱高的外源性有机材料施入耕地,将是改良土壤酸度,提高作物产量的一种有效途径。     

Effects of phenolic compounds on reactions involving various organic radicals

Investigation of effects produced by 26 various phenol and diphenol derivatives, including industrial and natural antioxidants (ionol, bis-phenol 2246, alpha-tocopherol), on final product yields of radiation-induced free-radical processes involving peroxyl, alkyl, alpha-hydroxyalkyl and alpha,beta-dihydroxyalkyl radicals has been performed. Ionol and bis-phenol 2246 have been shown to be more effective than alpha-tocopherol or diphenol derivatives in suppressing hydrocarbon oxidation processes. At the same time, alpha-tocopherol and its water-soluble analogues, as well as diphenol-based substances, are more effective than phenol derivatives in regulating various homolytic processes involving carbon-centered radicals. This fact can be accounted for by taking into consideration the contribution to formation of the final product set and the respective yields made by semiquinone radicals and compounds with quinoid structure arising in the course of homolytic transformations in systems containing diphenol derivatives.     

外源氧化铁对水稻土中有机酸含量的影响

在水稻土泥浆中添加Fe(OH) 3 可显著降低乙酸浓度 .在新鲜水稻土样品中 ,由于添加Fe(OH) 3导致对乙酸的竞争消耗 ,在培养 5d后 ,乙酸浓度降至 10～ 2 0 μmol·L-1的稳态浓度 ,而此刻对照中的乙酸浓度仍在 12 0 0 μmol·L-1以上 .在乙酸产生量较低的土壤中 ,添加Fe(OH) 3 可完全消耗体系中的乙酸 ,并导致产CH4过程的完全被抑制 .添加纤铁矿同样可使乙酸浓度显著减少 ,但作用效果不如无定形氧化铁 .添加赤铁矿可造成培养初期 (10d以内 )乙酸的大量积累 ,但并不引起产CH4量的增大 .添加Fe(OH) 3 、纤铁矿及铝取代针铁矿 ,能引起厌氧培养的水稻土中丙酸浓度的降低 ,其抑制效率为Fe(OH) 3 >纤铁矿 >铝取代针铁矿 .新鲜土样和经过 11周厌氧处理后的土样中 ,有机酸种类和含量有较大差别 .     

植物群落向土壤有机碳输入及其对气候变暖的响应研究进展

植物群落作为陆地生态系统土壤有机碳的主要来源,可通过地表凋落物分解、细根周转和根系分泌物等方式将光合作用同化的碳输入到土壤中。全球气候变暖正深刻地影响植物群落的分布、结构与功能,改变森林地上和地下凋落物产量与分解速率和根系分泌过程,从而改变植物群落向土壤输入有机碳数量。本文综述了植物群落向土壤有机碳输入过程及其对气候变暖的响应研究进展。研究表明,气候变暖可通过影响植物群落生产直接影响凋落物产量和根系分泌过程,还可通过改变凋落物分解环境条件、凋落物基质质量和分解者群落结构与活性等非生物与生物因子而间接作用于凋落物向土壤有机碳输入过程。气候变暖还可通过影响植物根系性状、根系分泌物化学组成等间接影响植物根系向土壤输入的碳量,但其具体机制还需深入探讨。未来的研究应该关注气候变暖导致植物群落结构改变进而影响土壤有机碳输入的具体机制以及粗木质残体对土壤有机碳输入的贡献,同时还应注重植物凋落物与根系分泌过程的整合研究,以期更全面地认识气候变暖背景下植物群落对土壤碳库及碳循环过程的贡献。     

Effect of methionine and its related compounds on rumen bacterial activity

The effect of several methionine sources (L‐methionine = L‐MET; DL‐ methionine = DL‐MET, DL‐S‐methyl‐methionine‐sulphonium‐chloride = SMM; N‐hydroxymethyl‐DL‐methionine‐Ca = NHM; methionine‐hydroxy‐analog free acid=MHA; methionine‐sulphoxyde=MSO) on rumen bacterial growth was studied using a new methodical approach which utilises a methionine free assay medium (Bacto Methionine Assay Media, Difco) supplemented by increasing quantities of the methionine sources and inoculated with one drop of diluted rumen bacteria. The optical density was measured after 18 h incubation on 39 °C.

L‐ and DL‐MET promoted the highest growth response, while SMM and NHM exerted significantly (p < 0.05) lower optical densities. MHA and MSO showed no growth response.

The methodical approach and the possible bacterial strains, which might have contributed to the growth response have been discussed.     

土壤有机氮组分的年际变化及其对秸秆还田的响应

阐明土壤有机氮组分的年际变化特征及其对秸秆还田的响应对合理调控土壤有机氮库和土壤可持续利用具有重要意义。在沈阳农田生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站进行田间微区试验(土壤类型为潮棕壤),设置单施氮肥(200 kg N·hm^-2,下同)、50%秸秆还田配施氮肥和100%秸秆还田配施氮肥3个处理,采用Bremner酸水解法对试验第1、3、6、9年的土壤有机氮组分进行分级。结果表明: 氨基酸态氮含量随着耕作年限的增加逐渐提升,提升幅度为39.8%;酸解未知态氮含量提升幅度为10.8%,且在第3年时最高;土壤总氮和其他有机氮组分含量随耕作年限变化不大。相对容易矿化的酸解总氮占土壤总氮的比例随耕作年限的增加逐渐增加,比较稳定的未酸解态氮占土壤总氮的比例随耕作年限的增加逐渐下降,说明随着耕作年限的增加土壤氮素有效性提高,土壤供氮能力增强。与单施氮肥相比,加入秸秆提高了土壤总氮和各酸解态氮含量,秸秆还田量越多,提升效果越明显。秸秆还田对酸解态氮组分的影响主要发生在试验第6、9年,增加的土壤总氮主要为氨基酸态氮和酸解未知态氮,从而提高了土壤中酸解态氮占土壤总氮的比例。秸秆还田能够提升土壤氮库容,提高土壤保氮供氮能力。     

Influence of feeding guild on insect response to host plant fertilization

Abstract.

• 1 The densities of insect herbivores in fertilized and unfertilized field plots of goldenrods, Solidago altissima (Compositae), were monitored over a period of 4 years.
• 2 A total of seventeen insect taxa occurred on the plots over the course of the study, including sap feeders, leaf chewers, leaf miners, leaf gallers and stem gallers with multiple representatives in each of these feeding guilds.
• 3 Nine of the seventeen taxa significantly increased in density on fertilized plots in at least one year of the study, two taxa showed marginally significant increases on fertilized plots, two significantly decreased in density on fertilized plots in at least one year, and the remaining taxa were unaffected by the fertilizer treatment.
• 4 The effects of fertilization on the insects were not strongly related to feeding guild; the group of insects that increased on fertilized plots was functionally diverse, and for the most part members of the same guild did not respond to the fertilizer treatment in consistent ways.
• 5 Differences between fertilized and unfertilized plots were greatest in the fourth year. The insects that showed delayed responses to fertilizer treatment may have been affected by changes in microclimate that developed slowly over the course of the study, suggesting that long-term studies may be necessary to detect effects of host plant stress on insect herbivores.