Thirty-seven years of soil nitrogen and phosphorus fertility management shapes the structure and function of the soil microbial community in a Brown Chernozem

We tested whether levels of soil available nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) control the composition and function of the soil microbial community in a Brown Chernozemic soil on the Canadian Prairie. Soil dissolved organic carbon, N and P, and microbial communities structure (phospholipid fatty acid profile) and function (enzyme activity) were evaluated in the fallow and first wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. AC Eatonia) phases of fallow-wheat-wheat rotations where the wheat received soil test recommended rates of mineral N and P fertilizers (+N+P), or where N (?N+P) or P (+N?P) fertilizer use was withheld for 37 years. Differential fertilization modified soil N and P availability, and microbial community structure. Low N level was a major constraint when a rapidly growing wheat crop (heading stage) was drawing on the resource, reducing both plant N uptake and soil microbial biomass-C in ?N+P soils. Available P level in +N?P soils was about half that measured in P-fertilized soils, but P did not limit plant productivity or microbial development at that time. Changes in the microbial community structure seemingly buffered the impact of lower P availability in +N?P soils. Phosphatase activity was not involved, but increased abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi might be associated with this effect. Low soil N availability explained lower specific denitrification and higher specific nitrogenase activities in ?N+P soil growing wheat. Higher denitrification activity in +N+P soil could be attributed to higher soil C level and fertilization-induced shifts observed in the structure of the soil microbial community. Irrespective of the fertility level of the soil, all microbial communities grew at the relative growth rate of 17% day^?1 in a nutrient limitation assay that revealed no C, N or P limitation in these communities. We conclude that mineral fertilization, which modifies soil available N and P fertility, can be a selective force causing structural and functional shifts in the soil microbial community with a resulting impact on soil quality and nutrient fluxes.     

Microbial biomass and respiration responses to nitrogen fertilization in a polar desert

How microbial communities respond to increases in available nitrogen (N) will influence carbon (C) and nutrient cycles. Most studies addressing N fertilization focus on mid-latitude ecosystems, where complex aboveground–belowground interactions can obscure the response of the soil microbial community, and little is known about how soil microbial communities of polar systems, particularly polar deserts, will respond. The low C content and comparatively simpler (low biomass and biodiversity) soil communities of the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica may allow easier identification of the mechanisms by which N fertilization influences microbial communities. Therefore, we conducted a microcosm incubation using three levels of N fertilization, added in solution to simulate a pulse of increased soil moisture, and measured microbial biomass and respiration over the course of 4.5 months. Soil characteristics, including soil pH, conductivity, cation content, chlorophyll a, and organic C content were measured. Soils from two sites that differed in stoichiometry were used to examine how in situ C:N:P influenced the N-addition response. We hypothesized that negative influences of N enrichment would result from increased salinity and ion content, while positive influences would result from enhanced C availability and turnover. We observed that microbes were moderately influenced by N addition, including stimulation and inhibition with increasing levels of N. Mechanisms identified include direct inhibition due to N toxicity and stimulation due to release from N, rather than C, limitation. Our results suggest that, by influencing microbial biomass and activity, N fertilization will influence C cycling in soils with very low C content.     

黄土高原森林草原区退耕地植被自然恢复与土壤养分变化

研究了黄土高原森林草原区退耕地植被自然恢复过程与土壤养分变化.结果表明,在显域生境下,植被自然演替过程虽然趋向于该区原有植物群落类型,但经过40～0年的时间,仍未形成灌丛或稀树等群落,分布较多的仍是长芒草、铁杆蒿、白羊草、大针茅和达乌里胡枝子等群落类型.从植被恢复时间对土壤养分变化的影响来看,除全P外(P＞0.0),有机质、全N、速效氮、速效钾的变化极显著(P＜0.001),速效磷变化较显著(0.0＜P＜0.01),并随植被恢复时间的延长而呈增加趋势.除恢复时间外,养分含量变化也随土壤剖面深度而变化,其中除全P含量变化较显著外(P＜0.0),其余各养分含量变化都达极显著水平(P＜0.001).土壤养分变化具有明显的表聚性.相关分析表明,土壤有机质、全N、有效氮与速效钾相互间相关极显著(P＜0.001),而与全P与速效磷相关性不明显(P＞0.0),全P与速效磷二者相关性也不明显(P＞0.0).     

黄河三角洲不同类型盐生植物土壤真菌群落结构特征

盐生植物种类及其所具有的不同耐盐调节方式影响着根际微生物群落的结构与组成。为明确不同类型盐生植物根际与非根际土壤中真菌群落结构与组成的差异及其与土壤环境间的相互关系,该研究采集了黄河三角洲地区芦苇、盐地碱蓬、獐毛3种不同类型盐生植物0～20 cm土层的根际和非根际土壤,通过高通量测序对其真菌群落多样性和结构进行了分析,以探究真菌群落特征与土壤理化因子间的关系。结果表明：(1)3种不同类型盐生植物根际土壤真菌群落丰富度显著大于各自非根际土,且獐毛根际土壤真菌群落丰富度显著大于芦苇和盐地碱蓬的根际土。(2)距离热图分析表明,芦苇和盐地碱蓬非根际土壤真菌群落间的相似性最大。(3)土壤真菌多样性和丰富度与土壤总碳、总氮、有效磷、pH呈正相关关系,与土壤盐分含量呈负相关关系。(4)3种不同类型盐生植物的根际与非根际土壤中,球囊菌门(Glomeromycota)均为绝对优势门,盾巨孢囊霉属(Scutellospora)为优势属。(5)RDA分析表明,土壤盐分含量是影响土壤真菌群落结构的重要因子,球囊菌门丰度与土壤总氮、总碳、有效磷、有机碳、pH呈正相关关系,与盐分呈负相关关系。(6)植物土壤真菌群...     

不同大豆连作年限对黑土细菌群落结构的影响

大豆连作导致作物产量下降、病原微生物富集和土壤退化等问题日趋严重。然而,目前关于大豆连作对土壤细菌群落结构组成及多样性分布的影响及发生机制尚不清楚。采用高通量测序技术,对大豆连作(不同年限)和大豆-玉米轮作下的黑土细菌16S rRNA基因进行测序分析。结果表明:轮作5年(CR5)和13年长期连作(CC13)处理显著增加了土壤pH、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)和速效养分(AN、AP和AK)含量。与短期连作相比,CR5和CC13处理均提高了细菌群落的OTUs数量、PD值、Chao1指数和Shannon指数。聚类分析图谱结果显示细菌群落结构组成受到轮作和连作年限的双重影响,而土壤pH、TN、TP、AN、AP和AK是细菌群落结构发生变化的主要驱动因子(P0.05)。此外,VPA分析发现上述土壤因子中,土壤pH对细菌群落结构变化的贡献度最大。本研究证明大豆长期连作提高了土壤养分含量和细菌群落的丰富度和多样性指数,从分子生物学的角度证实大豆长期连作在一定程度上改善了土壤环境,为大豆连作障碍的研究提供了理论依据。     

Plant nitrogen and phosphorus limitation in 98 North American grassland soils

The availability of nutrients is a critical determinant of ecological dynamics in grasslands, but the relationships between soil resource availability and nutrient limitation across ecosystems are not clear. To better understand how soil nutrient availability determines nutrient limitation in vegetation, we grew the same species of grass (Schizachyrium scoparium) in 98 North American grassland soils and fertilized them factorially with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). On average adding N, P, and the two nutrients together increased biomass relative to unfertilized plants by 81%, 22%, and 131%, respectively. Plants grown on low-P soils were not primarily limited by P. Instead, these plants were colimited by N and P, while plants grown on high-P soils were primarily limited by N and only secondarily limited by P. Limitation was not predicted by total soil N. The preponderance of colimitation between N and P on low-P soils suggests that low P availability alters the N cycle to constrain supplies to plants such that N and P are made available in proportion to their demand by plants.     

Organic matter turnover in a sagebrush steppe landscape

Laboratory incubations of¹⁵N-amended soils from a sagebrush steppe in south-central Wyoming indicate that nutrient turnover and availability have complex patterns across the landscape and between microsites. Total and available N and P and microbial C and N were highest in topographic depressions characterized by tall shrub communities. Net and gross N mineralization rates and respiration were also highest in these areas, but microbial efficiencies expressing growth relative to respiration cost were highest in soils of exposed ridgetop sites (prostrate shrub communities). Similar patterns occurred between shrub and intershrub soils, with greater nutrient availability under shrubs, but lower microbial efficiencies under shrubs than between. Surface soils had higher soil nutrient pools and N mineralization rates than subsurface soils, but N and C turnover and microbial efficiencies were lower in those surface soils. All soils decreased in respiration, mineralization, and immobilization rates during the 30-day incubation period, apparently approaching a steady-state substrate use. Soil microbial activity of the high organic matter accumulation areas was apparently more limited by labile substrate.     

Endogenous versus exogenous nutrient control over decomposition and mineralization in North Carolina peatlands

We examined the relative importance of exogenous (pH, water table, soil nutrient and cation availability) and endogenous (carbon quality, nutrient and cation concentrations of litter) controls on litter decay over both the short term (1 yr) and intermediate term (3 yr) in four freshwater peatland communities that occur along a P and N availability gradient in the Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Four litter types were reciprocally transplanted into each community. Additionally, the effects of exogenous nutrient availability and low pH on decomposition dynamics were examined by fertilizing and liming plots in the most nutrient-deficient community, the short pocosin. Both exogenous and endogenous factors were important in controlling decay rates and nutrient mineralization-immobilization dynamics. The most important site factor controlling decay rates was water table, with greater rates of decomposition in drained sites. High initial soluble phenolic concentrations and a low holocellulose quotient (% holocellulose / % lignocellulose) in litter inhibited decay rates. Despite the extremely low nutrient availability in the pocosins and low soil pH in all three communities, both the cross-community comparison and the amendment experiment in the short pocosin demonstrated that exogenous nutrient availability, endogenous nutrient concentrations in litter, and low soil pH do not inhibit decomposition in these sites. In contrast, immobilization-mineralization dynamics of N and P were largely driven by a source-sink relationship, with greatest immobilization found with high exogenous nutrient availability and low initial endogenous nutrient concentrations. We suggest a conceptual model of nutrient control over decomposition as a function of carbon quality of litter.     

Mycorrhizal Response to Experimental pH and P Manipulation in Acidic Hardwood Forests

Many temperate forests of the Northeastern United States and Europe have received significant anthropogenic acid and nitrogen (N) deposition over the last century. Although temperate hardwood forests are generally thought to be N-limited, anthropogenic deposition increases the possibility of phosphorus (P) limiting productivity in these forest ecosystems. Moreover, inorganic P availability is largely controlled by soil pH and biogeochemical theory suggests that forests with acidic soils (i.e., <pH 5) are particularly vulnerable to P limitation. Results from previous studies in these systems are mixed with evidence both for and against P limitation. We hypothesized that shifts in mycorrhizal colonization and community structure help temperate forest ecosystems overcome an underlying P limitation by accessing mineral and organic P sources that are otherwise unavailable for direct plant uptake. We examined arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (EcM) communities and soil microbial activity in an ecosystem-level experiment where soil pH and P availability were manipulated in mixed deciduous forests across eastern Ohio, USA. One year after treatment initiation, AM root biomass was positively correlated with the most available P pool, resin P, while AM colonization was negatively correlated. In total, 15,876 EcM root tips were identified and assigned to 26 genera and 219 operational taxonomic units (97% similarity). Ectomycorrhizal richness and root tip abundance were negatively correlated with the moderately available P pools, while the relative percent of tips colonized by Ascomycetes was positively correlated with soil pH. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed regional, but not treatment, differences in AM communities, while EcM communities had both treatment and regional differences. Our findings highlight the complex interactions between mycorrhizae and the soil environment and further underscore the fact that mycorrhizal communities do not merely reflect the host plant community.     

松嫩草甸3种主要植物群落土壤脲酶的初步研究

 松嫩草甸羊草（Leymus chinensis）群落、碱茅（Puccinellia tenuiflora）群落和虎尾草（Chloris virgata）群落土壤脲酶活性的季节动态呈单峰曲线变化,在土体中随土层的加深,其活性逐渐递减。各群落0～10 cm土层中的土壤脲酶活性与月平均降雨量呈幂函数关系,与土壤温度呈指数函数关系。土壤脲酶活性受多种土壤理化因子的共同影响,对于羊草群落,各因子的影响程度依次为：pH值>有机质>速效氮>C/N>容重>全氮>速效磷;碱茅群落为：有机质>C/N>全氮>容重>速效磷>速效氮>pH值;虎尾草群落为：全氮>有机质>速效氮>pH值>C/N>速效磷>容重。对该地区土壤肥力影响因子的主成分分析表明：有机质、全氮、速效氮、C/N和土壤容重对土壤肥力的贡献率占主导地位,土壤脲酶活性所占的比重较小,它不能完全反映土壤肥力状况。     

The impact of long-term nitrogen addition on microbial community composition in three Hawaiian forest soils

We evaluated the microbial communities in three Hawaiian forest soils along a natural fertility gradient and compared their distinct responses to long-term nitrogen (N) additions. The sites studied have the same elevation, climate, and dominant vegetation, but vary in age of development, and thus in soil nutrient availability and nutrient limitation to plant growth. Fertilized plots at each site have received 100 kg ha year(-1) N addition for at least 8 years. Soil parameters, water content, pH, and ammonium and nitrate availability differed by site, but not between control and N-addition treatments within a site at the time of sampling. Microbial biomass also varied by site, but was not affected by N addition. In contrast, microbial community composition (measured by phospholipid analysis) varied among sites and between control and N-addition plots within a site. These data suggest that microbial community composition responds to N addition even when plant net primary productivity is limited by nutrients other than N. This may have implications for the behavior of forests impacted by atmospheric N deposition that are considered to be "nitrogen saturated," yet still retain N in the soil.     

Soil microbial responses to elevated phosphorus and pH in acidic temperate deciduous forests

Although northern temperate forests are generally not considered phosphorus (P) limited, ecosystem P limitation may occur on highly weathered or strongly acidic soils where bioavailable inorganic P is low. In such environments, soil organisms may compensate by increasing the utilization of organic P via the production of extracellular enzymes to prevent limitation. In this study, we experimentally increased available P and/or pH in several acidic eastern deciduous forests underlain by glaciated and unglaciated soils in eastern Ohio, USA. We hypothesized that where inorganic P is low; soil microbes are able to access organic P by increasing production of phosphatase enzymes, thereby overcoming biogeochemical P limitations. We measured surface soil for: available P pools, N mineralization and nitrification rates, total C and N, enzymes responsible for C, N, and P hydrolysis, and microbial community composition (PLFA). Increasing surface soil pH a whole unit had little effect on microbial community composition, but increased N cycling rates in unglaciated soils. Phosphorus additions suppressed phosphatase activities over 60% in the unglaciated soils but were unchanged in the glaciated soils. All treatments had minimal influence on microbial biomass, but available pools of P strongly correlated with microbial composition. Microbes may be dependent on sources of organic P in some forest ecosystems and from a microbial perspective soil pH might be less important overall than P availability. Although our sampling was conducted less than 1 year after treatment initiation, microbial community composition was strongly influenced by available P pools and these effects may be greater than short-term increases in soil pH.     

不同林龄刺槐叶片养分重吸收特征及其对土壤养分有效性的响应

为揭示丘陵沟壑区刺槐的养分重吸收特征及其驱动因素,研究该区不同林龄刺槐叶片全氮和全磷的浓度,以及土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、铵态氮、硝态氮和速效磷浓度及其化学计量,分析了叶片氮磷重吸收效率与土壤养分特性之间的关系。结果表明: 植物和土壤的养分随林龄增长发生显著变化,而土壤总磷和速效磷浓度较低。氮重吸收效率随林分生长先增加后降低,范围为48.2%～54.0%,平均为48.5%;磷重吸收效率则显著增加,范围为45.2%～49.4%,平均为46.9%。氮重吸收效率与土壤氮素和氮磷比呈负向响应,而磷重吸收效率与氮磷比呈显著正相关,与土壤速效磷呈负相关。表明土壤养分有效性的变化负向驱动养分重吸收效率。由于该生境中刺槐林的固氮效应及磷限制,叶片养分重吸收策略对土壤氮磷比响应强烈。     

西宁南山4种灌木根际和非根际土壤微生物、酶活性和养分特征

西宁南山区植被退化情况严重,人工造林植被恢复被看作是最有效的恢复手段,其中选择合适造林树种尤为关键。选择人工种植的唐古特白刺Nitraria tangutorum、柠条Caragana korshinskii、西北小蘗Berberis vernae和短叶锦鸡儿Caragana brevifolia共4种灌木树种造林试验区为研究对象,通过测定根际和非根际土壤微生物数量、酶活性及养分含量,综合比较种植4种灌木树种根际和非根际土壤肥力差异,科学评价其对土壤的改善效果。研究表明:(1)土壤微生物数量和酶活性总体呈现出根际高于非根际的规律,仅放线菌数量和脲酶活性出现了根际低于非根际现象。(2)土壤养分方面,4种灌木根际土壤和非根际土壤p H值、全N、全P、全K含量差异不显著,有机质、有效P、速效K含量均呈现出根际非根际,而碱解N则是根际非根际。(3)土壤酶活性与土壤微生物数量相关性不显著,土壤有机质含量与土壤细菌、真菌数量呈极显著正相关,有效P含量与土壤细菌、真菌和放线菌数量呈极显著正相关,速效K含量与过氧化氢酶、酸性磷酸酶活性呈显著正相关,全N、碱解N含量均与脲酶活性呈显著正相关。(4)从土壤肥力综合水平来看,根际非根际,其中根际土壤中西北小蘗柠条短叶锦鸡儿唐古特白刺,研究结果表明西北小蘗和柠条能大幅提高土壤肥力,改良土壤效果较好。     

紫茎泽兰入侵对土壤酶活性和理化因子的影响

紫茎泽兰是我国危害最严重的外来入侵植物之一,为探明其入侵对土壤肥力的影响,比较研究了紫茎泽兰、云南菅、狗尾草群落和撂荒地下0~30 cm的4层土壤中6种酶活性和12种理化因子。结果表明群落类型和土壤深度对测定的各参数均有显著影响。随土壤深度的增加,多酚氧化酶、碱性磷酸酶、脲酶活性,以及有机质、全氮、全磷、全钙、水解氮、有效磷、速效钾含量和pH值均降低。总的看来,紫茎泽兰群落下碱性磷酸酶和脲酶活性,有机质、全氮、全磷、全钙、水解氮和有效磷含量,以及pH值均较高,全钾含量较低,但速效钾含量并不低,表明紫茎泽兰入侵多年后土壤肥力水平提高,形成了对其生长有利的土壤环境。     

四种荒漠草原植物的生长对不同氮添加水平的响应

大气氮(N)沉降增加加速了生态系统N循环, 从而会对生态系统的结构和功能产生巨大的影响, 尤其是一些受N限制的生态系统.研究N添加对荒漠草原植物生长的影响, 可为深入理解N沉降增加对我国北方草原群落结构的影响提供基础数据.该文基于2011年在宁夏荒漠草原设置的N沉降增加的野外模拟试验, 研究了两年N添加下4个常见物种(牛枝子(Lespedeza potaninii),老瓜头(Cynanchum komarovii),针茅(Stipa capillata)和冰草(Agropyron cristatum))不同时期种群生物量和6-8月份相对生长速率的变化特征.并通过分析物种生长与植物(群落和叶片水平)和土壤碳(C),N,磷(P)生态化学计量学特征的关系, 探讨C:N:P化学计量比对植物生长养分限制的指示作用.结果显示N添加促进了4个物种的生长, 但具有明显的种间差异性, 且这种差异也存在于相同生活型的不同物种间.总体而言, 4个物种种群生物量与叶片N浓度,叶片N:P,群落N库,土壤全N含量和土壤N:P存在明显的线性关系, 与植物和土壤C:N和C:P的相关关系相对较弱.几个物种相对生长速率与植物和土壤N:P也呈现一定程度的正相关关系, 但与其他指标相关性较弱.以上结果表明, 短期N沉降增加提高了植物的相对生长速率, 促进了植物生长, 且更有利于针茅和老瓜头的生物量积累, 从而可能会逐渐改变荒漠草原群落结构.植物N:P和土壤N:P对荒漠草原物种生长具有较强的指示作用: 随着土壤N受限性逐渐缓解, 土壤N含量和N:P相继升高, 可供植物摄取的N增多, 因而有利于植物生长和群落N库积累.     

中国亚热带典型天然次生林土壤微生物碳源代谢功能影响因素

天然次生林地比人工林地不仅土壤肥力较高,且土壤碳代谢功能更强。然而维持天然次生林高碳代谢功能的原因尚不十分清楚。分析天然次生林中土壤微生物碳源代谢功能的影响因素对于调控土壤微生物的功能乃至天然次生林的保护具有重要意义。本文选择中国亚热带地区典型天然次生林,研究了土壤微生物碳源代谢功能与土壤化学和物理因素及植物因素的关系。结果表明,3类因素能显著解释土壤微生物碳源代谢功能54.4% 的变异。乔木层植物多样性、土壤碳氮比、pH值和含水量是导致天然次生林碳代谢功能差异的主要因素,分别显著解释了土壤微生物碳源代谢16.7%、12.4%、10.5%和10.5%的变异。天然次生林较低的土壤碳氮比、较高的土壤含水量和土壤pH值（酸性范围内）,有利于土壤微生物碳源代谢功能的提高,同时天然次生林较高的阔叶树种的比例也能增加土壤微生物碳源代谢功能。     

Responses of growth of four desert species to different N addition levels

Aims The increase in atmospheric N deposition has accelerated N cycling of ecosystems, thus altering the structure and function of ecosystems, especially in those limited by N availability. Studies on the response of plant growth to artificial N addition could provide basic data for a better understanding of how the structure of grasslands in northern China responds to increasing N deposition. Methods We investigated the seasonal dynamics of plant growth of four species after 2-year multi-level N addition in a field experiment conducted in a desert steppe of Ningxia in 2011. Plant biomass and the relative growth rate (RGR) of the studied species were measured and their relationships with C:N:P ratios of plants (community and leaf levels) and soils were analyzed. Important findings Results in 2012 showed that 2-year N addition promoted the growth of the four species and the effects were different among growth forms and were species-specific. In general, the plant biomass of the studied species was significantly correlated with leaf N concentration, leaf N:P ratio, community N pool, soil total N content and soil N:P ratio, while only weak relationships were observed between plant biomass and C:N and C:P ratios of plants and soils. In contrast, there was a significant linear relationship between RGR and N:P ratios both of plants and soils.Our results suggest that short-term N addition promoted the accumulation of plant biomass, and the species-specific responses to stimulated N addition can directly affect the structure of the desert steppe ecosystem. Plant N:P ratio and soil N:P ratio could indicate nutrient limitation of plant growth to a certain extent: N addition increased soil N content and N:P ratio, and thus relieved N limitation gradually. Once more N is available to plants, the growth of plants and the accumulation of community N was stimulated in turn.     

紫茎泽兰与非洲狗尾草单、混种群落土壤酶活性和土壤养分的比较

 植物对土壤有效养分的影响是植物竞争取胜的重要生态策略之一, 土壤酶活性对土壤有效养分的变化具有重要作用。该文研究了紫茎 泽兰(Ageratina adenophora)单种(A)、非洲狗尾草(Setaria sphacelata)单种(S)和两物种混种(A+S)群落4种重要的土壤酶活性和土壤养分的 变化及其规律, 并对土壤酶活性与土壤养分进行了相关分析。结果表明: 1)群落S土壤有效氮(NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N)含量高于群落A对应养分含量, 而与群落A＋S该养分含量没有显著差异; 群落S土壤有效磷和有效钾含量低于群落A对应指标, 而群落A＋S其含量最低。2)群落S、A+S和A土壤蛋 白酶和脲酶活性的高低次序分别为S>A＋S>A、A＋S>S>A; 群落A+S、S和A磷酸酶活性依次升高; 群落A+S、A和S蔗糖酶活性依次降低。3)在生长 过程中, 3类群落土壤NO₃^--N、有效磷和有效钾含量在生长初期(5月)最高, 随后逐渐降低; 土壤NH₄⁺-N含量呈现单峰趋势, 在生长后期(9月)最 高。3类群落土壤蛋白酶和蔗糖酶活性随生长时间推移而升高, 在生长末期(11月)最高; 土壤磷酸酶和脲酶酶活性在生长过程中呈现单峰趋势, 在生长旺盛期(7月)最高。3类群落间土壤酶活性与土壤肥力具有较一致的相关性。由此推断, 非洲狗尾草对土壤含氮化合物的活化能力比紫茎 泽兰强, 且在种间竞争中能够强烈抑制紫茎泽兰对土壤含磷、含钾化合物的活化能力是其竞争取胜的可能原因; 不同植物群落土壤酶活性的差 异是引起土壤有效养分变化的重要驱动机制之一。     

Soil characteristics of Rocky Mountain National Park grasslands invaded by Melilotus officinalis and M. alba

Aim Invasion of nitrogen‐fixing non‐native plant species may alter soil resources and impact native plant communities. Altered soils may be the driving mechanism that provides a suitable environment to facilitate future invasions and decrease native biodiversity. We hypothesized that Melilotus invasion would increase nitrogen availability and produce soil microclimate and biochemical changes, which could in turn alter plant species composition in a montane grassland community. Location Our research addressed the effects of white and yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis and M. alba) invasion on soil characteristics and nitrogen processes in the montane grasslands in Rocky Mountain National Park. Methods We sampled soil in replicate sites of Melilotus‐invaded and control (non‐invaded) patches within disturbed areas in montane grassland habitats. Soil composites were analysed for available nitrogen, net nitrogen mineralization, moisture, carbon/nitrogen (C : N ratio), texture, organic matter and pH. Data were recorded at three sample dates during the growing seasons of 1998 and 1999. Results Contrary to our expectations, we observed lower nitrogen availability and mineralization in invaded patches, and differences in soil moisture content and soil C : N. Soil C : N ratios were higher in invaded plots, in spite of the fact that Melilotus had the lowest C : N ratios of other plant tissue analysed in this study. Main conclusions These findings provide land managers of natural areas with a better perspective on the possibilities of nitrogen‐fixing species impact on soil nutrient levels.