Local soil,but not commercial AMF inoculum,increases native and non‐native grass growth at a mine restoration site

Soil communities are often degraded in mined sites, and facilitating the recovery of soil mutualists such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) may assist with the restoration of native plants. At a grassland mine restoration site, I compared a commercial AMF inoculum with soil collected from beneath native grasses as a source of inoculum, as well as a control treatment. Field plots were broadcast‐inoculated and seeded with native grasses, and biomass of native and non‐native species was measured in three consecutive years. In addition, greenhouse‐grown seedlings of a native bunchgrass (Stipa pulchra) were inoculated with similar treatments, transplanted into the field, and assessed after 18 months. When broadcast inoculation was used, the local soil inoculum tended to increase non‐native grass biomass, and marginally decreased non‐native forb biomass in the second year of study, but did not significantly affect native grass biomass. Broadcast commercial inoculum had no detectable effects on biomass of any plant group. Stipa pulchra transplants had greater N content and mycorrhizal colonization, and marginally higher shoot mass and K content, when pre‐inoculated with local soil (relative to controls). Pre‐inoculation with commercial AMF increased AMF colonization of the S. pulchra transplants, but did not significantly affect biomass or nutrient content. The findings indicate that at this site, the use of local soil as an inoculum had greater effects on native and non‐native plants than the commercial product used. In order to substantially increase native grass performance, inoculation of transplanted plugs may be one potential strategy.     

Site preparation impacts on soil biotic and abiotic properties,weed control,and native grass establishment

In severely degraded systems active restoration is required to overcome legacies of past land use and to create conditions that promote the establishment of target plant communities. While our understanding of the importance of soil microbial communities in ecological restoration is growing, few studies have looked at the impacts different site preparation techniques have on these communities. We trialed four methods of site preparation: fire, top‐soil removal (TSR; removal of top 50 mm of soil), slashing (vegetation cut to 30 mm, biomass removed), and carbon (C; as sugar and saw‐dust) addition, and quantified resulting soil bacterial communities using DNA metabarcoding. We compared the effectiveness of these techniques to reduce weed biomass, improve native grass establishment, and induce changes in soil nutrient availability. TSR was the most effective technique, leading to a reduction in both available nutrients and competition from weeds. In comparison, the remaining methods had little or no effect on weed biomass, native grass establishment, or soil nutrient availability. Both TSR and C addition resulted in changes in the soil bacterial community. These changes have the potential to alter plant community assembly in many ways, such as via nutrient acquisition, pathogenic effects, nutrient cycling, and decomposition. We recommend TSR for ecological restoration of old‐fields and suggest it is a much more effective technique than burning, slashing, or C addition. Restoration practitioners should consider how their management techniques may influence the soil biota and, in turn, affect restoration outcomes.     

秸秆和生草覆盖对桃园土壤养分含量、微生物数量及土壤酶活性的影响

以秸秆(覆盖重量分别为小麦(Triticum aestivum)秸3.25 kg·m^-2、玉米(Zea mays)秸1.97 kg·m^-2、禾本科杂草3.67 kg·m^-2)和生草(白三叶草(Trifolium repens)、高羊茅(Festuca arundincea)和紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa), 播种量均为50 kg·hm^-2)为覆盖材料, 以不覆盖为对照, 研究了不同覆盖材料对桃园土壤微生物数量和酶活性的影响, 及其与土壤养分的关系。结果表明, 与对照相比, 除覆盖生草根际和非根际土壤全磷和速效磷含量差异均不显著外, 其他处理根际和非根际土壤碱解氮、速效钾、全氮、全钾和有机质含量差异均达到显著水平; 所有处理根际和非根际土壤氨化细菌、真菌和放线菌数量、土壤含水率和pH值、土壤脲酶和磷酸酶活性差异均达到显著水平。白三叶草处理的根际和非根际土壤碱解氮、速效钾、全氮、全钾、有机质含量, 土壤氨化细菌和真菌数量, 土壤脲酶和磷酸酶活性的平均升幅均最高, 分别为99%、270%、267%、117%、272%、158%、141%、156%和64%。氨化细菌、真菌、放线菌、脲酶和磷酸酶分别与土壤碱解氮、速效钾(放线菌和磷酸酶除外)、全氮、全钾和有机质呈显著或极显著的正相关。通径分析表明, 在3种土壤微生物和2种酶对养分含量的影响中, 脲酶是影响土壤碱解氮、速效钾、全氮、全钾和有机质的主要因子。     

Recording,processing and analysis of grass root images from a rhizotron

To develop and test a system for computer-assisted image analysis, repeated video recordings of reed canary-grass roots (Phalaris arundinacea L.) were made in an 18-window rhizotron. The images were digitized and processed using a Unix computer and the Khoros software development environment.Two image sizes, 126×95 mm and 61×46 mm, both comprising 650 × 490 pixels, were compared. Among image processing techniques used were median filtering, segmentation and skeletonization. Root area and length in both the topsoil and subsoil were estimated using the two image sizes. The resolution (image size) strongly affected the calculated root lengths. The results were compared with root length measurements obtained manually.Statistically significant differences in root length and area in the topsoil were detected between the sampling dates using the computer-assisted methods. Possible sources of error and methods for reducing them are discussed.     

Co-existing grass species have distinctive arbuscular mycorrhizal communities

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are biotrophic symbionts colonizing the majority of land plants, and are of major importance in plant nutrient supply. Their diversity is suggested to be an important determinant of plant community structure, but the influence of host-plant and environmental factors on AM fungal community in plant roots is poorly documented. Using the terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) strategy, the diversity of AM fungi was assessed in 89 roots of three grass species (Agrostis capillaris, Festuca rubra, Poa pratensis) that co-occurred in the same plots of a field experiment. The impact of different soil amendments (nitrogen, lime, nitrogen and lime) and insecticide application on AM fungal community was also studied. The level of diversity found in AM fungal communities using the T-RFLP strategy was consistent with previous studies based on clone libraries. Our results clearly confirm that an AM fungal host-plant preference exists, even between different grass species. AM communities colonizing A. capillaris were statistically different from the others (P < 0.05). Although grass species evenness changed in amended soils, AM fungal community composition in roots of a given grass species remained stable. Conversely, in plots where insecticide was applied, we found higher AM fungal diversity and, in F. rubra roots, a statistically different AM fungal community.     

Spatial sex segregation in the dioecious grass Poa ligularis in northern Patagonia: the role of environmental patchiness

We examined the effect of environmental patchiness on the spatial segregation of the sexes in the dioecious anemophilus grass Poa ligularis. Because the species is sensitive to grazing, a better understanding of environmental factors that control its spatial distribution and abundance could improve conservation efforts. We hypothesized that (i) males and females are spatially segregated in the microenvironments created by plant patches as the result of sexual specialization in habitat and/or resources use, (ii) sexual specialization is related to different tolerance to competition and reproductive costs of males and females, and (iii) changes in patch structure affect the microenvironment and the intensity of spatial segregation of the sexes. We analyzed the spatial distribution of sexes at three sites with different plant and micro-environmental patchiness and performed a controlled competition experiment with different substitution of males and females. Our results showed that large plant patches created larger sheltered soil fertility islands than small patches. As patch size and their area of influence increased, the density and the spatial segregation of the sexes of P. ligularis also increased, resulting in biased habitat-specific sex ratios. In accordance with their higher reproductive costs, females were more frequent in sheltered (low air evaporative demand) and nitrogen-rich areas inside patch perimeters than males. Females were also better able to tolerate inter-sexual competition than males. In contrast, males tolerated low nitrogen concentration in soil and low sheltering, probably gaining advantage in pollen dispersal. Inter- and intra-sexual competition, however, affected the reproductive output of both sexes. From the point of view of conservation, environmental patchiness is important to the status of P. ligularis populations. The reduction of patch size limits the available microsites, biases the sex ratio towards males inside patches, increases inter- and intra-sexual competition, and it might be expected to decrease overall seed and pollen production and consequently potential recruitment.     

Nitrate increases in soil water following conversion of chaparral to grass

An Arizona watershed converted from chaparral to grass, released high concentrations of nitrate to stream water. The nitrate originated from the rooting zone of the decomposing shrubs. High nitrate concentrations (44–373 ppm) were found in soil solutions from 1.5-, 3.0-, and 4.6-m depths on the converted watershed as compared with low nitrate concentrations (0.2–6.2 ppm) found in an adjacent undisturbed area. Soil solution nitrate concentrations at the 0.3-m depth were generally low, especially in the untreated area. High nitrate concentrations were balanced mainly by relative decreases in bicarbonate anions in the soil solutions and in the stream water. Multiple stepwise regression analyses showed improvement in the regression of bicarbonate on nitrate when chloride and sulfate anions were entered as variables.     

长期生草对柑橘园土壤化学及生物学性质的影响

以柑橘园清耕、自然生草和人工生草3种管理模式为研究对象,对其土壤化学及生物学性质进行测定,探明了长期生草对柑橘园不同土层土壤碳氮磷、微生物生物量碳氮磷、酶活性的影响及其相互关系。结果表明：生草类型和土层显著影响土壤碳氮磷养分含量、微生物生物量碳氮磷含量和相应的酶活性,但两者互作仅对β-葡萄糖苷酶、N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶和亮氨基酸氨基肽酶有显著影响(P<0.05)。总体上,土壤生物化学性质在生草类型间表现为人工生草>自然生草>清耕;在土层间表现为0—10 cm>10—20 cm>20—40 cm。冗余分析表明,前两轴土壤化学及生物学指标解释了80.2%土壤酶活性的变化,且主要表现为正效应。土壤化学及生物学指标对土壤酶活性的影响也因生草类型和土层而异,人工生草在各土层中对β-葡萄糖苷酶、纤维二糖水解酶、多酚氧化酶、N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶、亮氨基酸氨基肽酶和酸性磷酸酶6种土壤碳氮磷酶活性的影响均为正效应,而自然生草仅在0—20 cm土层中对β-葡萄糖苷酶和纤维二糖水解酶活性产生正效应,两种生草类型土壤酶活性均在0—10 cm土层受土壤碳氮磷等因子影响最为突出。因...     

Fleshy fungi in grass fields. Dependence on fertilization, grass species, and age of field

An experimental field with grass had 48 squares which were treated with combinations of NPK fertilizers. The fungus flora was studied 1978–1980 by numerous yearly observations. A total of 40 species were noted: 36 agarics and 4 gasteromycetes. 24 species were confined to squares where nitrate was applied. 5 of these species were recorded as fairy ring formers. The fairy rings developed exclusively in the +N squares. Some common species grew in both +N and –N squares, while a few species were confined to –N squares. None of the latter group was found in abundance. The squares were divided in parcels sown with 4 species of lawn grasses. Several fungi showed preference for one or two grass species. The field consists of two parts, sown in 1977 and 1972 respectively. The immigration pattern into the new field is described.     

自然生草对黄河三角洲梨园土壤物理性状及微生物多样性的影响

以山东省东营市济南军区黄河三角洲生产基地自然生草4a、6a和9a的黄金梨[Pyrus pyrifolia(Burm.f.).cv.Nakai]梨园耕作层土壤为试材,以清耕为对照,探讨了多年自然生草对黄河三角洲梨园土壤物理性状及微生物多样性的影响。结果表明,自然生草能明显提高耕作层土壤孔隙度,降低土壤容重和电导率(可溶性含盐量),而对土壤含水量没有影响;自然生草增加了土壤微生物量C、N,通过PCR-DGGE及测序技术发现细菌主要增加的是未培养菌类;与清耕对照相比,多年自然生草梨园土壤微生物呼吸、活性、活跃微生物量、微生物磷酯脂肪酸总量提高效果明显,但对微生物磷酯脂肪酸种类影响较小,处理间差异均不显著;同时,自然生草提高了碳源利用能力,其中以生草4a最大,随着生草年限增加,6类碳源利用更加均衡。综上所述,自然生草优化了黄河三角洲梨园耕作层土壤物理性状,增加了微生物量C、N,其中细菌主要增加的是未培养菌类;同时,持续多年自然生草,有利于参试梨园土壤微生物呼吸、活性、活跃微生物量及磷酯脂肪酸总量的提高,并对微生物均衡利用6类碳源作用明显。     

Susceptibility to take‐all of cereal and grass species,and their effects on pathogen inoculum

Two field trials were conducted to investigate different herbage grasses and cereals for their susceptibility to the disease take‐all, for their impact on concentrations of the pathogen, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt), in soil and for their effect on development of take‐all in a subsequent wheat crop. In the herbage grass trial, Bromus willdenowii was highly susceptible to Ggt, produced the greatest post‐senescence Ggt concentrations in soil and highest incidence of take‐all in following wheat crop. Lolium perenne, Lolium multiflorum and Festuca arundinacea supported low Ggt soil concentrations and fallow the least. The relationship between susceptibility to Ggt and post‐senescence concentrations in soil differed between pasture grasses and cereals. In a trial in which Ggt was added to half the plots and where wheat, barley, triticale, rye or fallow were compared, the susceptibility of the cereals to take‐all was not clearly linked to post‐harvest soil Ggt concentrations. In particular, triticale and rye had low and negligible take‐all infection respectively, but greater post‐harvest soil Ggt concentrations than barley or wheat. This indicates that low Ggt concentrations on roots may build up during crop senescence on some cereals. Soil Ggt concentrations were greater following harvest in inoculated plots sown to cereals, but in the second year there was more take‐all in the previously non‐inoculated than inoculated plots. Thus, the grass and cereal species differed in susceptibility to take‐all, in their impact on Ggt multiplication and in associated take‐all severity in following wheat crop.     

Biological nitrogen fixation in mixed legume/grass pastures

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in mixed legume/grass pastures is reviewed along with the importance of transfer of fixed nitrogen (N) to associated grasses. Estimates of BNF depend on the method of measurement and some of the advantages and limitations of the main methods are outlined. The amounts of N fixed from atmospheric N₂ in legume/grass pastures throughout the world is summarised and range from 13 to 682 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1. the corresponding range for grazed pastures, which have been assessed for white clover pastures only, is 55 to 296 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1.Biological nitrogen fixation by legumes in mixed pastures is influenced by three primary factors; legume persistence and production, soil N status, and competition with the associated grass(es). These factors and the interactions between them are discussed. Legume persistence, production and BNF is also influenced by many factors and this review centres on the important effects of soil moisture status, soil acidity, nutrition, and pests and disease.Soil N status interacts directly with BNF in the short and long term. In the short-term, increases in soil inorganic N occurs during dry conditions and where N fertiliser is used, and these will reduce BNF. In the long-term, BNF leads to accumulation of soil N, grass dominance, and reduced BNF. However, cyclical patterns of legume and grass dominance can occur due, at least in part, to temporal changes in plant-available N levels in soil. Thus, there is a dynamic relationship between legumes and grasses whereby uptake of soil N by grass reduces the inhibitory effect of soil N on BNF and competition by grasses reduces legume production and BNF. Factors affecting the competition between legumes and grasses are considered including grass species, grazing animals, and grazing or cutting management.Some fixed N is transferred from legumes to associated grasses. The amount of N transferred below-ground, predominantly through decomposition of legume roots and nodules, has been estimated at 3 to 102 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 or 2 to 26% of BNF. In grazed pasture, N is also transferred above-ground via return in animal excreta and this can be of a similar magnitude to below-ground transfer.Increased BNF in mixed legume/grass pastures is being obtained through selection or breeding of legumes for increased productivity and/or to minimise effects of nutrient limitations, low soil moisture, soil acidity, and pests and disease. Ultimately, this will reduce the need to modify the pasture environment and increase the role of legumes in low-input, sustainable agriculture.     

Perennial grass bioenergy cropping systems: Impacts on soil fauna and implications for soil carbon accrual

Perennial grass energy crop production is necessary for the successful and sustainable expansion of bioenergy in North America. Numerous environmental advantages are associated with perennial grass cropping systems, including their potential to promote soil carbon accrual. Despite growing research interest in the abiotic and biotic factors driving soil carbon cycling within perennial grass cropping systems, soil fauna remain a critical yet largely unexplored component of these ecosystems. By regulating microbial activity and organic matter decomposition dynamics, soil fauna influence soil carbon stability with potentially significant implications for soil carbon accrual. We begin by reviewing the diverse, predominantly indirect effects of soil fauna on soil carbon dynamics in the context of perennial grass cropping systems. Since the impacts of perennial grass energy crop production on soil fauna will mediate their potential contributions to soil carbon accrual, we then discuss how perennial grass energy crop traits, diversity, and management influence soil fauna community structure and activity. We assert that continued research into the interactions of soil fauna, microbes, and organic matter will be important for advancing our understanding of soil carbon dynamics in perennial grass cropping systems. Furthermore, explicit consideration of soil faunal effects on soil carbon can improve our ability to predict changes in soil carbon following perennial grass cropping system establishment. We conclude by addressing the major knowledge gaps that should be prioritized to better understand and model the complex connections between perennial grass bioenergy systems, soil fauna, and carbon accrual.     

Gramene,a tool for grass genomics

Gramene (http://www.gramene.org) is a comparative genome mapping database for grasses and a community resource for rice (Oryza sativa). It combines a semi-automatically generated database of cereal genomic and expressed sequence tag sequences, genetic maps, map relations, and publications, with a curated database of rice mutants (genes and alleles), molecular markers, and proteins. Gramene curators read and extract detailed information from published sources, summarize that information in a structured format, and establish links to related objects both inside and outside the database, providing seamless connections between independent sources of information. Genetic, physical, and sequence-based maps of rice serve as the fundamental organizing units and provide a common denominator for moving across species and genera within the grass family. Comparative maps of rice, maize (Zea mays), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), barley (Hordeum vulgare), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and oat (Avena sativa) are anchored by a set of curated correspondences. In addition to sequence-based mappings found in comparative maps and rice genome displays, Gramene makes extensive use of controlled vocabularies to describe specific biological attributes in ways that permit users to query those domains and make comparisons across taxonomic groups. Proteins are annotated for functional significance using gene ontology terms that have been adopted by numerous model species databases. Genetic variants including phenotypes are annotated using plant ontology terms common to all plants and trait ontology terms that are specific to rice. In this paper, we present a brief overview of the search tools available to the plant research community in Gramene.     

Simulation of field scale denitrification losses from soils under grass ley and barley

Denitrification losses from soils under barley and grass ley crops were simulated. The model, which includes the major processes determining inputs, transformations and outputs of nitrogen in arable soils, represents a scale compatible with information generally available in agricultural field research. The denitrification part of the model includes a field potential denitrification rate and functions for the effect of soil aeration status, soil temperature and soil nitrate content. Easily metabolizable organic matter is assumed not to limit denitrification. Simulated values were compared with denitrification measurements made during two growing seasons in the barley and grass ley treatments of a field experiment in central Sweden.Calibration revealed that the optimal parameter values describing the effect of soil aeration on denitrification rates were similar for both treatments. The response function derived agreed well with two data sets found in the literature. The potential denitrification rate constant, derived in the simulations, was higher for grass ley than for barley, which was consistent with the differences in overall rates of carbon and nitrogen turnover found between treatments.The simulated mean denitrification rates for the two seasons were within 20% of the mean of the measured values. However, simulated denitrification showed less temporal variability and a less skewed frequency distribution than measured denitrification. Some of the measured denitrification events not explained by the model could have been due to the stimulating effects of soil drying/wetting and freezing/thawing on microbial activity.     

禾草内生真菌对其它微生物的影响研究进展

禾草内生真菌在宿主植物的茎叶等地上组织中普遍存在,不仅能够提高禾草对生物与非生物逆境的抗性,而且能够对周围环境中的不同微生物类群产生影响。主要总结了禾草Neotyphodium/Epichlo内生真菌对病原真菌、丛枝菌根真菌和土壤微生物的影响及其作用机理。发现禾草内生真菌普遍存在对病原真菌的抑制作用,而对丛枝菌根真菌存在不对称的竞争作用,且因种类而异。禾草内生真菌对土壤微生物群落的作用则会随着土壤类型和时间等外界因素发生变化。禾草内生真菌对不同类群微生物的影响机制主要包括:通过生态位竞争、抑菌物质分泌、诱导抗病性等对病原真菌造成影响;通过根系化学物质释放、营养元素调节、侵染条件差异等对丛枝菌根真菌造成影响;通过根际沉积物和凋落物等对土壤微生物群落造成影响。禾草内生真菌产生的生物碱能提高宿主植物对包括昆虫在内草食动物采食的抗性,影响病原菌的侵入、定殖和扩展;根组织分泌物中包含次生代谢产物能够抑制菌根真菌、土传病原真菌及其它土壤微生物的侵染与群落组成;也可能通过次生代谢物影响禾草的其它抗性。因此,禾草内生真菌在植物-微生物系统中的作用应该给予更多的关注和深入研究。