Soil restoration under pasture after topsoil removal: Some factors influencing C and N mineralization and measurements of microbial biomass

Factors influencing rates of C and N mineralization of soil and plant materials, and the reliability of different procedures for estimating microbial biomass, were measured in a soil (Typic Dystrochrept) that had been restored under grazed pasture in a temperate environment for 10–11 years after 20 cm of the original topsoil had been removed by stripping. Rates of net N mineralization were appreciably lower, but CO₂-C production higher, in the stripped than in the unstripped soil. These activities were not influenced directly by levels of soil mineral-N, but they were influenced by differences in plant composition. Herbage and litter, and roots, from the stripped plots were generally mineralized more readily to CO₂-C, but more slowly to net mineral-N, than were the corresponding materials from the unstripped plots. Rates of mineralization of herbage and litter, or roots, were mainly indistinguishable in stripped and unstripped soil, whereas rates of mineralization of all standing dead material were lower in stripped soil. Measurements of extractable-C flush, and of CO₂-C flush (using a fumigated soil control) and mineral-N flush by fumigation-incubation procedures, indicated that microbial biomass in stripped soil had recovered to at least 88 percent of the levels in unstripped soil. Substrate-induced respiration also generally indicated high levels of recovery of microbial biomass. The fumigation-incubation procedure appeared to under-estimate microbial biomass markedly in stripped soil when unfumigated soil controls were used; the used of a large soil inoculum (20 percent w/w) only sometimes overcame this problem. Possible reasons for apparent anomalies in estimation of microbial C are discussed.     

Temporal variations in some plant and soil P pools in two pasture soils of widely different P fertility status

Temporal variations in plant production, plant P and some soil P (and N) pools were followed over 21 months in two New Zealand pasture soils of widely different P fertility status. Plant growth rates, and herbage composition at the high-fertility site, were closely linked to soil water use, with growth rates falling when soil water deficits exceeded 60 mm. Herbage P concentrations reflected P fertility, and varied with season, being generally higher in winter and lower in summer. A similar temporal pattern was also observed for labile organic P (NaHCO₃-extractable P₀) in both soils. In the low-fertility soil in spring, net mineralization was especially strong, but from early winter net immobilization occurred. Surprisingly, Olsen P also changed temporally in the high-fertility soil. The microbial biomass remained fairly constant throughout the year, whereas the P content of the biomass varied seasonally. Although microbial biomass was not a useful index of soil fertility, highest microbial P₀ contents coincided with periods of maximum labile P₀ mineralization, when herbage production was also at a peak. Net N-mineralization in the low-fertility soil, in contrast to the high-fertility soil, was low but varied seasonally, under standardised incubation conditions. Soil P and N dynamics were apparently synchronised in the low-fertility soil through soil microbial processes, with mineral N being negatively correlated with microbial P₀ in samples collected two months later. The results of this investigation suggest that the demands of rapid and sustained pasture growth in spring and early summer can best be met by maximising the build-up of organic matter during the preceding autumn and winter. This practice could help to alleviate the common problem of feed shortage in North Island hill country pastures in late winter-early spring.     

The effects of biomass removal and N additions on microbial N transformations and biomass at different vegetation types in an old-field ecosystem in northern China

There is an increasing demand for the sustainable management of old-field communities in northern China, which have developed on abandoned cropland on formerly converted natural steppe sites, to regain forage yield, biodiversity, and soil fertility. In thus study we examined how two management options—clipping and nitrogen (N) addition—may affect net >microbial N mineralization (ammonification?+?nitrification), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), and microbial respirations (MR) in grass dominated, herb dominated, and grass-herb mixed patches in an old-field community in northern China.Topsoil (0–10 cm) net N mineralization rate was 177% and 69% higher in mixed grass and herb patches (patch B) as compared to unmixed grass (patch A) or herb (patch C) patches, respectively. Topsoil MBN was significantly different among the three patches with the highest value for soils taken from umixed grass patches. However, patches with mixed grass and herb or herb dominated patches had 12% higher microbial respiration (MR) than unmixed grass patch. Clipping and N addition had no effects on net N mineralization or MBC, but both treatments decreased MBN and MR and increased the ratio between microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N (MBC/MBN) in the growing season. Incubation of soil cores under optimal water and temperature conditions in the laboratory showed that the response of microbial N transformations in soils under different vegetation patches to experimental N addition and clipping was limited by soil water availability. Our results strongly highlight the need to further study the importance of belowground C supply as a control of microbial N cycling processes. It also suggests that during the restoration process of degenerated croplands N cycling rates are stimulated, but that the magnitude of this stimulation is modulated by plant community composition of the old-fields.     

秦岭山区人工林地枯落叶客置对土壤生物、化学性质的影响

通过对秦岭山区日本落叶松、油松、灰楸和锐齿栎4种典型人工纯林2年的枯落叶客置试验,探讨了枯落叶客置对土壤生物、化学性质的影响,以及不同树种的种间关系.结果表明：阔叶林枯落叶的年分解速率高出针叶林33.70%.当针叶林枯落叶被客置到阔叶林地后,年分解速率提高8.35%～12.15%,而当阔叶林枯落叶被客置到针叶林地后,年分解速率下降5.38%～9.49%.针阔树种间的枯落叶客置均能不同程度地提高土壤有机碳、速效氮、速效磷和速效钾的含量,且针叶林地的增幅(8.70%～35.84%)明显大于阔叶林地(3.73%～10.44%),其中针叶林地客置灰楸枯落叶后的增幅(24.63%～35.84%)大于客置锐齿栎枯落叶(8.70%～28.15%). 客置阔叶林枯落叶使针叶林地土壤由偏酸向中性方向发展, 土壤酶活性、微生物量C、N含量及其微生物数量提高,其中,客置灰楸枯落叶的增幅大于客置锐齿栎枯落叶;客置针叶林枯落叶后阔叶林地土壤酶活性、微生物量C、N含量及其微生物数量变化因树种而异,其中锐齿栎林地土壤酶活性和微生物量C、N含量有所提高,而灰楸林地却有所下降.客置阔叶林地枯落叶可改善针叶林地的土壤性质,而客置针叶林枯落叶后阔叶林地的效应则因树种而异.说明在人工纯林土壤退化的防治过程中,引入其他树种形成混交林或进行枯落叶客置都应注意种间关系的方向性.     

Effects of Single Chinese Fir and Mixed Leaf Litters on Soil Chemical, Microbial Properties and Soil Enzyme Activities

The quality of leaf litter can control decomposition processes and affect the nutrient availability for plant uptake. In this study, we investigated the effect of single leaf litter (Chinese fir – Cunninghamia lamcealata (Lamb.) Hook) and mixed leaf litters (C. lamcealata, Liquidamba formosana Hance and Alnus cremastogyne Burk) on soil chemical properties, soil microbial properties and soil enzyme activities during 2 years decomposition. The results showed that soil microbial biomass C, the ratio of soil microbial biomass C to total soil organic C (soil microbial quotient, Cmic/Corg) and soil enzymes (urease, invertase, dehydrogenase) activities increased significantly in mixed leaf litters treatments whereas soil chemical properties remained unchanged. However, soil microbial metabolic quotient (qCO₂) values and soil polyphenol oxidase activity were higher in the single Chinese fir leaf litter treatment that had a higher C:N (carbon:nitrogen) ratio (79.53) compared with the mixed leaf litter (C:N ratios of 76.32, 56.90, 61.20, respectively). Our results demonstrated that the mixed leaf litter can improve forest soil quality, and that soil microbial properties and soil enzyme activities are more sensitive in response to litter quality change than soil chemical properties.     

Root-Parasitic Nematodes Enhance Soil Microbial Activities and Nitrogen Mineralization

Obligate root-parasitic nematodes can affect soil microbes positively by enhancing C and nutrient leakage from roots but negatively by restricting total root growth. However, it is unclear how the resulting changes in C availability affect soil microbial activities and N cycling. In a microplot experiment, effects of root-parasitic reniform nematodes (Rotylenchulus reniformis) on soil microbial biomass and activities were examined in six different soils planted with cotton. Rotylenchulus reniformis was introduced at 900 nematodes kg^–1 soil in May 2000 prior to seeding cotton. In 2001, soil samples were collected in May before cotton was seeded and in November at the final harvest. Extractable C and N were consistently higher in the R. reniformis treatments than in the non-nematode controls across the six different soils. Nematode inoculation significantly reduced microbial biomass C, but increased microbial biomass N, leading to marked decreases in microbial biomass C:N ratios. Soil microbial respiration and net N mineralization rates were also consistently higher in the nematode treatments than in the controls. However, soil types did not have a significant impact on the effects of nematodes on these microbial parameters. These findings indicate that nematode infection of plant roots may enhance microbial activities and the turnover of soil microbial biomass, facilitating soil N cycling. The present study provides the first evidence about the direct role of root-feeding nematodes in enhancing soil N mineralization.     

内生真菌感染对禾草宿主生境土壤特性和微生物群落的影响

以羊草(Leymus chinensis)-内生真菌共生体为研究对象, 分别在野外样地和室内盆栽两种实验条件下研究了内生真菌感染对土壤特性和微生物群落结构的影响。结果显示：在处理时间较长并伴随有枯落物分解的羊草样地中, 内生真菌感染促进了土壤氮(N)的积累, 提高了30天培养时间内土壤初始碳(C)矿化速率和前3天土壤矿化量和土壤矿化总量; 而在处理时间较短且没有地上枯落物分解的盆栽羊草中, 内生真菌感染对土壤的C、N含量及C矿化均无显著影响。无论是野外样地还是室内盆栽实验, 内生真菌感染均未引起土壤微生物磷脂脂肪酸种类的变化, 但内生真菌感染均有提高土壤微生物生物量的趋势, 内生真菌显著增加了盆栽羊草土壤中细菌、革兰氏阴性细菌、真菌磷脂脂肪酸含量和磷脂脂肪酸总量, 增加了羊草样地土壤中革兰氏阳性细菌和放线菌的磷脂脂肪酸含量。总体看来, 内生真菌感染能够改变土壤N积累和C矿化率, 并且改变土壤中微生物群落的结构, 这有助于进一步认识内生真菌与羊草之间的共生关系及其在生态系统C、N循环中所起的作用。     

Implantation du genêt à balais,précédent cultural et dynamique du sol dans les friches (Bretagne,France)

The soil dynamics of old-fields, characterized by the early establishment of broom (Cytisus scoparius L.), is analysed in the Breton bocage. The role of former land use practices is estimated by comparing two similar plant successions, post cultivation and post pasture. Different variables (organic matter, mineral N content, microbial biomass, total microbial activity and mineralization) are measured within the soil layer disturbed by farming (between –5 and –25 cm). One year after abandonment, the parameters taken into account show similar values for both series. After 8 years, in broom thickets, the two soil series are characterized by an increase in microbial activity, organic matter and mineral N contents. However, the post cultivation thicket differed by higher N content and mineralization rate than the post pasture thicket, but also by a smaller microbial biomass. It appears that, if the development of similar vegetational communities promotes the same kind of soil dynamics, the former land use practices significantly modify this evolution, for at least the first 8 years following abandonment.     

黄土高原纸坊沟流域不同植物对土壤微生物生物量和土壤酶活性的影响

为了解不同植被类型对土壤微生物生物量和土壤酶活性的影响,以黄土高原纸坊沟流域的9种植物为研究对象,选取撂荒地为参照,分析了各类植被植物根际土土壤微生物生物量、土壤酶活性及其与土壤理化因子的相关性.结果显示:(1)与撂荒地相比,经过植被恢复后,乔木和灌木植被下土壤肥力、微生物生物量和土壤酶活性均有所提高,而草本植被下土壤的碱解氮含量、微生物生物量磷、脲酶活性和过氧化氢酶活性却有所降低.(2)不同植被类型土壤微生物生物量碳和氮、蔗糖酶和碱性磷酸酶活性符合灌木＞乔木＞草本的规律;土壤微生物生物量磷、脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性符合乔木＞灌木＞草本的规律.(3)土壤微生物生物量碳、氮、磷与土壤有机质、全氮及全磷含量呈极显著正相关;4种土壤酶活性与土壤有机质、全氮及碱解氮含量呈极显著正相关.研究表明,黄土高原纸坊沟流域土壤微生物生物量和土壤酶活性受植被类型及土壤养分等因素的共同影响,且人工灌木植被对土壤的恢复作用高于乔木和草本植被.     

水稻和稗草共生土壤微生物生物量碳及酶活性的变化

以稻田稗草、化感水稻PI312777和普通水稻辽粳9为试材,研究了田间稗草和水稻1∶1共生条件下,土壤微生物生物量碳及脱氢酶、脲酶和转化酶活性的变化.结果表明：在稗草 的干扰下,化感水稻PI312777根区土壤微生物生物量碳含量比单作减少了 50.52％（P<0.01）,而行间土壤微生物生物量碳含量增加;普通水稻辽粳9根区土壤 微生物生物量碳含量比单作减少了38.99％（P<0.01）,但其行间土壤微生物生物量碳含量无明显变化.两个水稻品种根区土壤脱氢酶活性均被显著抑制（P<0.05）,下降率都在20％以上;PI312777根区土壤脲酶和转化酶活性均被显著促进（P<0.01）;而辽粳9根区土壤转化酶活性也被显著抑制（P<0.01）,但脲酶活性无明显变化.化感水稻根区土壤微生物生物量碳含量的显著减少及脲酶、转化酶活性的增加是其化感特性的表现,表明土壤微生物和酶均参与了水稻和稗草的种间作用,化感水稻具有抗稗草干扰的明显优势.     

有机物料在维持土壤微生物体氮库中的作用

采用室内和田间培养试验,研究了有机物料矿化过程中土壤微生物体氮的变化,测定结果表明,有机物料对矿化过程和微生物体氮的影响,既与有机物料本身性质和组成有关,也与土壤肥力水平和施氮与否有关。加入Ｃ／Ｎ比高的有机物料后,微生物对矿质氮的净固定持续时间长,而加入Ｃ／Ｎ比小的则固定时间短;高肥力土壤上的固定时间比低肥力土壤短。不同有机物料对土壤微生物体氮的影响不同。从加绿豆茎叶、小麦茎叶、未腐解马粪、腐熟马粪、腐熟猪粪到厩肥,土壤微生物体氮依次减小,提供的有效能源物质丰富（如绿豆茎叶）或Ｃ／Ｎ比较高（如小麦茎叶）时影响效果突出。土壤肥力不同,有机物料对微生物体的影响效果不同,在低肥力土壤的效果突出,约为高肥力土壤的４倍,因此,在评价有机物料对土壤微生物体氮的影响时,既考虑有有机物料的性质和组成,也考虑土壤力水平、矿质氮含量和培养时期。     

科尔沁沙地草地营造樟子松人工林对土壤化学和生物学性状的影响

以科尔沁沙地东南缘沙质草地和不同年龄樟子松（Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica）人工林（15、24和30年生）为对象,研究草地造林对土壤pH,土壤C、N、P含量,无机N（铵态氮、硝态氮）含量,C、N矿化速率,微生物生物量C含量以及土壤酶（脲酶、转化酶和过氧化氢酶）活性的影响.结果表明：草地造林初期,林地土壤C、N、P含量逐渐降低,随着林龄增加而逐渐恢复;与草地相比,24年生樟子松人工林土壤C、N、P含量最低,分别下降29%、34%和33%,而30年生樟子松人工林土壤C和N含量与草地差异不显著.草地造林能够影响土壤无机N存在形式,使土壤铵态氮含量逐渐增加,硝态氮含量下降.草地造林对土壤潜在N矿化速率和硝化速率影响不显著,但能够改变土壤C矿化速率,不同林龄樟子松人工林土壤C矿化速率依次为：24年生>30年生>草地>15年生.草地造林初期,土壤微生物生物量C含量和土壤转化酶活性明显降低,随着林龄的增加又逐渐增加;草地造林对土壤脲酶活性影响不显著,而使土壤过氧化氢酶活性逐渐增加.科尔沁沙地草地造林能够显著改变土壤化学和生物学性状,且随着林龄的变化而有所差异.     

Grass species and soil type effects on microbial biomass and activity

We evaluated plant versus soil type controls on microbial biomass and activity by comparing microbial biomass C, soil respiration, denitrification potential, potential net N mineralization and nitrification in different soils supporting four grass species, and by growing a group of 10 different grass species on the same soil, in two experiments respectively. In the first experiment, none of the microbial variables showed significant variation with grass species while all variables showed significant variation with soil type, likely due to variation in soil texture. In the second experiment, there were few significant differences in microbial biomass C among the 10 grasses but there were significant relationships between variation in microbial biomass C and potential net N mineralization (negative), soil respiration (positive) and denitrification (positive). There was no relationship between microbial biomass C and either plant yield or plant N concentration. The results suggest that 1) soil type is a more important controller of microbial biomass and activity than grass species, 2) that different grass species can create significant, but small and infrequent, differences in microbial biomass and activity in soil, and 3) that plant-induced variation in microbial biomass and activity is caused by variation in labile C input to soil.     

Influence of fertilizers on nitrogen mineralization and utilization in the rhizosphere of wheat

Plant roots and microorganisms play an important role in the soil N cycle and plant N nutrition through the release of extracellular enzymes. In the present greenhouse pot experiment, wheat (Triticum aestivum) seedlings were grown in a fluvo-aquic soil (Udifluvent) to investigate N mineralization and utilization in the rhizosphere of wheat. The soil received chemical fertilizer (¹⁵N-labeled urea), chemical fertilizer plus manure (common urea + ¹⁵N-labeled swine manure) or no N. Plant roots were separated from the soil with a nylon cloth, and 1-mm increments of soil moving laterally away from roots were analyzed for N, microbial C, and the activities of invertase, urease and protease. Chemical fertilizer plus manure promoted wheat growth and N absorption significantly compared with chemical fertilizer. ¹⁵N from both chemical fertilizer and swine manure accumulated significantly in the rhizosphere soil within 5 mm of the roots. Fertilized N could thus move easily laterally towards roots and there was no indication that movement through the soil limited plant N supply. A large proportion of fertilizer N was lost from the soil during the wheat growing period, and N utilization efficiency was 24% for chemical fertilizer and 30% for swine manure. In addition, faster rates of N mineralization, larger amounts of microbial C, and increased activities of invertase, urease and protease occurred in the rhizosphere compared with other parts of the soil. There was a significant correlation between microbial C and N mineralization rate (r?=?0.968, P?<?0.01) in the whole soil. Microbial C also showed significant positive correlations with activities of invertase (r?=?0.892, P?<?0.01) and protease (r?=?0.933, P?<?0.01). Further study showed that adding manure into soil increased microbial C and the activities of invertase and protease; adding urea stimulated urease activity in the same soil. Changes in soil enzyme activities in response to N fertilizers could be considered indicators for different fertilizer managements.     

南亚热带森林土壤微生物量碳对氮沉降的响应

研究了鼎湖山自然保护区3种森林生态系统土壤微生物量碳对氮沉降增加的响应.选取南亚热带代表性森林类型马尾松林、混交林和季风常绿阔叶林(季风林)建立野外模拟氮沉降试验样地.2003年7月开始每月进行氮处理.这些处理分别为对照、低氮处理、中氮处理和高氮处理,即0、50、100 kg N hm-2 a-1 和150 kg N hm-2 a-1.在2004年11月和2006年6月用氯仿熏蒸浸提法分别测定土壤微生物量碳和土壤可浸提有机碳.土壤微生物量碳和可浸提有机碳含量均表现为2006年6月高于2004年11月;季风林高于马尾松林和混交林.随着氮沉降增加季风林土壤微生物量碳减少,但可浸提有机碳含量则增加,且此趋势在高氮处理下表现明显.然而,氮沉降增加对马尾松林和混交林土壤微生物量碳和可浸提有机碳含量的影响不显著.以上结果表明,氮沉降增加可能提高季风林土壤有机碳的固持能力.     

杉木与阔叶树叶凋落物混合分解对土壤活性有机质的影响

通过室内培养,研究了杉木叶凋落物及与桤木、刺楸和火力楠混合叶凋落物对土壤活性有机质的影响．结果表明：添加叶凋落物显著地增加了土壤微生物碳、氮及土壤呼吸强度和可溶性有机碳含量．其中,添加杉-阔混合叶凋落物对土壤活性有机质的增加效应大于纯杉木叶凋落物．在培养后期（第135天）,添加纯杉木叶凋落物和杉-阔混合叶凋落物处理土壤微生物碳含量分别比对照土壤高49％和63％,微生物氮高35％和75％,土壤呼吸强度高65％和100％,可溶性有机碳含量高66％和108％．添加叶凋落物对土壤微生物熵和微生物C／N的影响不显著（P〉0．05）．     

Microbial Biomass, N Mineralization and Nitrification, Enzyme Activities, and Microbial Community Diversity in Tea Orchard Soils

Understanding the chronological changes in soil microbial and biochemical properties of tea orchard ecosystems after wasteland has been reclaimed is important from ecological, environmental, and management perspectives. In this study, we determined microbial biomass, net N mineralization, and nitrification, enzyme (invertase, urease, proteinase, and acid phosphatase) activities, microbial community diversity assessed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products, and related ecological factors in three tea orchard systems (8-, 50-, and 90-year-old tea orchards), adjacent wasteland and 90-year-old forest. Soil microbial biomass C (C_mic) and activity, i.e., soil basal respiration (R_mic), microbial biomass C as a percent of soil organic C (C_mic/C_org), N mineralization, invertase, urease, proteinase, and acid phosphatase, significantly increased after wasteland was reclaimed; however, with the succeeding development of tea orchard ecosystems, a decreasing trend from the 50- to 90-year-old tea orchard became apparent. Soil net nitrification showed an increasing trend from the 8- to 50-year-old tea orchard and then a decreasing trend from the 50- to 90-year-old tea orchard, and was significantly higher in the tea orchards compared to the wasteland and forest. Urea application significantly stimulated soil net nitrification, indicating nitrogen fertilizer application may be an important factor leading to high-nitrification rates in tea orchard soils. The Shannon’s diversity index (H) and richness (S) based on DGGE profiles of 16S rRNA genes were obviously lower in all three tea orchards than those in the wasteland; nevertheless, they were significantly higher in all three tea orchards than those in the forest. As for the three tea orchard soils, comparatively higher community diversity was found in the 50-year-old tea orchard.     

玉米生长期间土壤微生物量与土壤酶变化及其相关性研究

研究了玉米生长期间土壤微生物量碳、氮与土壤过氧化氢酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶、蛋白酶活性变化及其相关性．结果表明，玉米生长前期和中期，土壤微生物量碳、氮及酶活性迅速上升，并逐渐达到最大值；玉米生长后期，土壤微生物量碳、氮、酶活性下降至某一值后并逐渐趋于平稳．几种处理相比较，以秸秆＋尿素处理的土壤微生物量碳、氮及酶活性为最大．除玉米生长后期，土壤微生物量碳、氮与碱解氮、活性腐殖质、土壤ｐＨ不相关外，土壤微生物量碳、氮与土壤过氧化氢酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶、蛋白酶活性及速效养分在玉米生长期间均相关或极相关     

Indigenous legumes biomass quality and influence on C and N mineralization under indigenous legume fallow systems

Non-cultivated N₂-fixing indigenous legumes can be harnessed to enhance soil fertility replenishment of smallholder farms. Understanding N release patterns of biomass generated by such legumes is key in managing N availability to crops. Nitrogen and C mineralization patterns of indigenous legume species, mainly ofTephrosia andCrotalaria genera, and of soils sampled at termination of 1- and 2-year indigenous legume fallows (indifallows)were investigated in leaching tube incubations under laboratory conditions. With the exception ofTephrosia longipes Meisn (2.4%) andCrotalaria cylindrostachys Welw.ex Baker (1.8%), all indigenous legumes had >2.5% N. Total polyphenols and lignin were <4% and 15%, respectively, for all species.Crotalaria pallida (L.) andEriosema ellipticum Welw.ex Baker mineralized >50% of the added N in the first 30 days of incubation. Similar to mixed plant biomass from natural weed fallow,C. Cylindrostachys immobilized N during the 155-day incubation period. Indifallow fallow biomass reached peak N mineralization 55 days after most legumes had leveled off. Carbon release by legume species closely followedN release patterns,with mostCrotalaria species releasing >500 mg CO₂-C kg^?1 soil. Soils sampled at termination of fallows reached peak N mineralization in the first 21 days of incubation, with indifallows mineralizing significantly (P<0.05) more N than natural fallows. Application of mineral P fertilizer to indifallows and natural fallows increased C and N mineralization relative to control treatments. It was concluded that (i) indigenous legumes generate biomass of high quality within a single growing season, (ii) the slow N release of biomass generated under indifallow systems suggests that such fallows can potentially be manipulated to enhance N availability to crops, and (iii) N and C mineralization of organic materials in sandy soils is likely controlled by availability of P to the soil microbial pool.     

Alternate partial root-zone irrigation induced dry/wet cycles of soils stimulate N mineralization and improve N nutrition in tomatoes

Given the same amount of irrigation volume, applying alternate partial root-zone irrigation (PRI) has improved crop N nutrition as compared to deficit irrigation (DI), yet the mechanisms underlying this effect remain unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate whether PRI induced soil dry/wet cycles facilitate soil organic N mineralization hereby contributing to the improvement of N nutrition in tomatoes. The plants were grown in split-root pots in a climate-controlled glasshouse and were subjected to PRI and DI treatments during early fruiting stage. ¹⁵N-labeled maize residues were incorporated into the soils. Results showed that PRI resulted in 25% higher net ¹⁵N mineralization than did DI, indicating that the enhanced mineralization of soil organic N alone could account for the 16% increase of N accumulation in the PRI than in the DI plants. The higher net N mineralization under PRI was coincided with an intensified soil microbial activity. In addition, even though soil chloroform fumigation labile carbon (CFL-C, as an index of microbial biomass) was similar for the two irrigation treatments, a significant increase of chloroform fumigation labile nitrogen (CFL-N) was found in the PRI wetting soil. Consequently, the C:N ratio of the chloroform fumigation labile pool was remarkably modified by the PRI treatment, which might indicate physiological changes of soil microbes or changes in labiality of soil organic C and N due to the dry/wet cycles of soils, altering conditions for net N mineralization. Moreover, in both soil compartments PRI caused significantly less extractable organic carbon (EOC) as compared with DI; whilst in the PRI wetting soil significantly higher extractable organic nitrogen (EON) was observed. A low EOC:EON ratio in the PRI wetting soil may indicate an increasing net mineralization of the organic N as a result of microbial metabolism. Conclusively, PRI induced greater microbial activity and higher microbial substrates availability are seemingly responsible for the enhanced net N mineralization and improved N nutrition in tomato plants.