Restoration,soil organisms,and soil processes: emerging approaches

Better understanding of the connection between aboveground plant communities and belowground soil organisms and processes has led to an explosion in recent research on the applications of this link to the field of ecological restoration. Research is only beginning to have the capacity to link soil organisms and specific ecosystem functions. Establishing general ecological principles of the role microbial communities have during ecological restoration is also still in its infancy. As such, the literature is at a critical point to generate a Special Feature that brings together novel approaches of linking soil and restoration to promote more regular inclusion and consideration of soil organisms and soil‐based processes in ecological restoration. In this special feature, we bring together nine research articles from different ecosystems that study the relationship between restoration activities, soil microbial communities, and soil properties. From these research articles, we describe two primary themes: (1) research on the impacts of ecosystem‐specific restoration activities on soil organisms and processes and (2) research testing methods of soil manipulation to improve restoration outcomes. We hope to inspire readers and restoration practitioners to consider soil microbes and soil processes in their research, restoration projects, and world views.     

Harvester ant nests, soil biota and soil chemistry

Many ant species accumulate organic debris in the vicinity of their nests. These organic materials should provide a rich resource base for the soil biota. We examined the effect of harvester ant nests (Pogonomyrmex barbatus) on the soil community and soil chemistry. Ant nest soils supported 30-fold higher densities of microarthropods and 5-fold higher densities of protozoa than surrounding, control soils. The relative abundances of the major groups of protozoa differed as well: amoebae and ciliates were relatively overrepresented, and flagellates underrepresented, in ant nest versus control soils. Densities of bacteria and fungi were similar in the two soil types. Concentrations of nitrate, ammonium, phosphorus, and potassium were significantly higher in ant nest soils, while concentrations of magnesium, calcium, and water were similar in nest and control soils. Ant nest soils were marginally more acidic than controls. The results demonstrate that P. barbatus nests constitute a significant source of spatial heterogeneity in soil biota and soil chemistry in arid grasslands. Received: 17 March 1997 / Accepted: 10 June 1997     

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。     

Evaluation of soil saturation, soil chemistry, and early spring soil and air temperatures as risk factors in yellow-cedar decline

Yellow‐cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis (D. Don) Oerst.) is a valuable tree species that is experiencing a widespread decline and mortality in southeast Alaska. This study evaluated the relative importance of several potential risk factors associated with yellow‐cedar decline: soil saturation, soil aluminum (Al) toxicity or calcium (Ca) deficiency, and air and soil temperature. Data were collected from permanent vegetation plots established in two low‐elevation coastal forests exhibiting broad ranges of cedar mortality. Measurements of each risk factor were contrasted among classified forest zones to indicate if there were strong links with decline. Hydrology alone is weakly associated with yellow‐cedar decline, but could have a predisposing role in the decline by creating exposed conditions because of reduced forest productivity. Yellow‐cedar decline is not strongly associated with soil pH and extractable Al and Ca, but there appears to be Ca enrichment of surface soils by feedback from dead yellow‐cedar foliage. Air and soil temperature factors are strongly associated with decline. Based on these results, an hypothesis is presented to explain the mechanism of tree injury where exposure‐driven tree mortality is initiated in gaps created by soil saturation and then expands in gaps created by the tree‐mortality itself. The exposure allows soils to warm in early spring causing premature dehardening in yellow‐cedar trees and subsequent freezing injury during cold events. Yellow‐cedars growing in the protection of shade or snow are not preconditioned by this warming, and thus not as susceptible to cold injury. Yellow‐cedar decline appears to be associated with regional climate changes, but whether the cause of these changes is related to natural or human‐induced climate shifts remains uncertain. Management implications, the possible role of climate, and recommended research are discussed.     

Interpreting,measuring, and modeling soil respiration

This paper reviews the role of soil respiration in determining ecosystem carbon balance, and the conceptual basis for measuring and modeling soil respiration. We developed it to provide background and context for this special issue on soil respiration and to synthesize the presentations and discussions at the workshop. Soil respiration is the largest component of ecosystem respiration. Because autotrophic and heterotrophic activity belowground is controlled by substrate availability, soil respiration is strongly linked to plant metabolism, photosynthesis and litterfall. This link dominates both base rates and short-term fluctuations in soil respiration and suggests many roles for soil respiration as an indicator of ecosystem metabolism. However, the strong links between above and belowground processes complicate using soil respiration to understand changes in ecosystem carbon storage. Root and associated mycorrhizal respiration produce roughly half of soil respiration, with much of the remainder derived from decomposition of recently produced root and leaf litter. Changes in the carbon stored in the soil generally contribute little to soil respiration, but these changes, together with shifts in plant carbon allocation, determine ecosystem carbon storage belowground and its exchange with the atmosphere. Identifying the small signal from changes in large, slow carbon pools in flux dominated by decomposition of recent material and autotrophic and mycorrhizal respiration is a significant challenge. A mechanistic understanding of the belowground carbon cycle and of the response of different components to the environment will aid in identifying this signal. Our workshop identified information needs to help build that understanding: (1) the mechanisms that control the coupling of canopy and belowground processes; (2) the responses of root and heterotrophic respiration to environment; (3) plant carbon allocation patterns, particularly in different forest developmental stages, and in response to treatments (warming, CO₂, nitrogen additions); and (4) coupling measurements of soil respiration with aboveground processes and changes in soil carbon. Multi-factor experiments need to be sufficiently long to allow the systems to adjust to the treatments. New technologies will be necessary to reduce uncertainty in estimates of carbon allocation, soil carbon pool sizes, and different responses of roots and microbes to environmental conditions.     

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.     

Ammonium, nitrate, and total nitrogen in the soil water of feedlot and field soil profiles

A level feedlot, located in an area consisting of Wann silt loam changing with depth to sand, appears to contribute no more NO₃^- nitrogen, NH₄⁺ nitrogen, and total nitrogen to the shallow water table beneath it than an adjacent cropped field. Soil water samples collected at 46, 76, and 107 cm beneath the feedlot surface generally showed NO₃^- nitrogen concentrations of less than 1 μg/ml. During the summer months, soil water NO₃^- nitrogen increased at the 15-cm depth, indicating that nitrification took place at the feedlot surface. However, the low soil water NO₃^- nitrogen values below 15 cm indicate that denitrification takes place beneath the surface.     

微生物多样性对土壤氮磷钾转化、酶活性及油菜生长的影响

采用灭菌土壤分别接种不同稀释倍数(1、10~(-2)、10~(-4)和10~(-6))未灭菌土壤悬浊液的方法,研究了土壤微生物多样性降低对油菜生长和养分吸收、土壤养分有效性和酶活性的影响。结果表明:(1)随着接种土壤悬浊液稀释倍数增加,油菜生物量逐渐降低,10-4的油菜生物量显著低于1和10~(-2),10~(-6)仅为1的26%;(2)油菜氮、磷和钾的吸收量与油菜生物量呈现相同的变化规律;(3)土壤铵态氮浓度随接种土壤悬浊液稀释倍数增加而降低;而土壤硝态氮则以10~(-4)为最高,其它处理间没有显著差异;土壤有效磷未发生显著变化;有效钾反而有上升趋势;(4)土壤多酚氧化酶(PhO X)活性随接种土壤悬浊液稀释倍数增加逐渐升高;β-1,4-葡萄糖苷酶(βG)活性以10~(-6)为最高,而其它处理差异不显著;土壤亮氨酸酶氨肽酶(LAP)活性和酸性磷酸酶(AP)活性变化不显著;(5)相关分析表明,油菜生物量与土壤铵态氮浓度的对数显著正相关;与多酚氧化酶、葡萄糖苷酶和亮氨酸氨肽酶活性显著负相关。研究表明,微生物多样性降低主要通过抑制土壤氮素释放影响植物生长。     

Microbial soil respiration and its dependency on carbon inputs, soil temperature and moisture

This experiment was designed to study three determinant factors in decomposition patterns of soil organic matter (SOM): temperature, water and carbon (C) inputs. The study combined field measurements with soil lab incubations and ends with a modelling framework based on the results obtained. Soil respiration was periodically measured at an oak savanna woodland and a ponderosa pine plantation. Intact soils cores were collected at both ecosystems, including soils with most labile C burnt off, soils with some labile C gone and soils with fresh inputs of labile C. Two treatments, dry‐field condition and field capacity, were applied to an incubation that lasted 111 days. Short‐term temperature changes were applied to the soils periodically to quantify temperature responses. This was done to prevent confounding results associated with different pools of C that would result by exposing treatments chronically to different temperature regimes. This paper discusses the role of the above‐defined environmental factors on the variability of soil C dynamics. At the seasonal scale, temperature and water were, respectively, the main limiting factors controlling soil CO₂ efflux for the ponderosa pine and the oak savanna ecosystems. Spatial and seasonal variations in plant activity (root respiration and exudates production) exerted a strong influence over the seasonal and spatial variation of soil metabolic activity. Mean residence times of bulk SOM were significantly lower at the Nitrogen (N)‐rich deciduous savanna than at the N‐limited evergreen dominated pine ecosystem. At shorter time scales (daily), SOM decomposition was controlled primarily by temperature during wet periods and by the combined effect of water and temperature during dry periods. Secondary control was provided by the presence/absence of plant derived C inputs (exudation). Further analyses of SOM decomposition suggest that factors such as changes in the decomposer community, stress‐induced changes in the metabolic activity of decomposers or SOM stabilization patterns remain unresolved, but should also be considered in future SOM decomposition studies. Observations and confounding factors associated with SOM decomposition patterns and its temperature sensitivity are summarized in the modeling framework.     

Soil steaming effects on weed seedling emergence under the influence of soil type,soil moisture,soil structure and heat duration

Soil steaming applied in bands is a new technology with the potential to radically lower the burden of hand‐weeding intra‐row weeds in non‐herbicidal vegetable cropping. Preliminary studies with band‐steaming have shown effective control of viable weed seeds when the maximum soil temperatures reach 60–80°C. This temperature range has a particular agronomic interest, and the present study aimed at investigating the influence of soil factors and heat duration on weed seed mortality of soil steaming targeting 60–80°C. Two soil types (sand versus sandy loam) and two moisture levels (moist versus dry) were studied in one experiment (expt) while two levels of structure of a sandy loam (coarse versus fine) were included in a second experiment. A third experiment was focussing on the significance of heat duration expressed as the speed of cooling‐down after steaming had been stopped. Weed control efficacy was generally greater in sand than in sandy loam and soil irrigation further improved weed control. Steam application to the finely structured soil improved weed control efficacy relative to that obtained with the coarse soil of larger aggregate size. The rapidity of cooling from the maximum temperature did not affect the efficacy of the treatment on weed seed mortality. Based on these experiments, a maximum soil temperature of 80°C should ensure satisfactory weed control under moist soil conditions, especially if the soil is cultivated prior to steaming.     

The critical soil P levels for crop yield, soil fertility and environmental safety in different soil types

Background and aims

Sufficient soil phosphorus (P) is important for achieving optimal crop production, but excessive soil P levels may create a risk of P losses and associated eutrophication of surface waters. The aim of this study was to determine critical soil P levels for achieving optimal crop yields and minimal P losses in common soil types and dominant cropping systems in China.

Methods

Four long-term experiment sites were selected in China. The critical level of soil Olsen-P for crop yield was determined using the linear-plateau model. The relationships between the soil total P, Olsen-P and CaCl₂-P were evaluated using two-segment linear model to determine the soil P fertility rate and leaching change-point.

Results

The critical levels of soil Olsen-P for optimal crop yield ranged from 10.9 mg kg^?1 to 21.4 mg kg^?1, above which crop yield response less to the increasing of soil Olsen-P. The P leaching change-points of Olsen-P ranged from 39.9 mg kg^?1 to 90.2 mg kg^?1, above which soil CaCl₂-P greatly increasing with increasing soil Olsen-P. Similar change-point was found between soil total P and Olsen-P. Overall, the change-point ranged from 4.6 mg kg^?1 to 71.8 mg kg^?1 among all the four sites. These change-points were highly affected by crop specie, soil type, pH and soil organic matter content.

Conclusions

The three response curves could be used to access the soil Olsen-P status for crop yield, soil P fertility rate and soil P leaching risk for a sustainable soil P management in field.     

基于GIS重庆土壤侵蚀及土壤保持分析

土壤侵蚀作为一个重大的全球环境问题,严重地威胁着区域生态环境质量和社会经济。在考虑植被覆盖度与土壤侵蚀关系的前提下,通过查表法,构建不同土地覆盖类型和不同植被覆盖度下的C值图层,并基于地理信息技术(GIS)和通用土壤侵蚀方程(USLE)估算了重庆地区土壤侵蚀量,土壤保持量和土壤保持价值。结果表明:重庆地区2010年土壤侵蚀量约为2.23亿t/a;土壤保持量约为14.69亿t/a。利用市场价值法,机会成本法和影子工程法评价了各类生态系统土壤保持的生态价值。研究区2010年土壤保持价值相对于2006年有所提升,2010年生态系统因防止土壤侵蚀而产生的土壤保持总价值约为6.18×105万元,其中保持土壤养分的价值为5.44×105万元;减少废弃地的价值为2.65×104万元;减轻泥沙淤积灾害的价值为4.78×104万元。各生态系统类型中,森林生态系统土壤保持价值量最大,单位面积价值最高。     

灰渣场土壤酶活笥与植被和土壤化学性质的关系

通过野外调查和实验分析,研究了芜湖火力发电厂灰渣场土壤蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶和脲酶活性与土壤污染物及植被的关系。结果表明,灰渣场植被多以单种植物组成的斑块零散布,以草本植物为主,且多为1－2年生。同时,灰渣场3种土壤酶活性和渣场的自然环境条件具有较强的相关性,其中3种酶活性对环境胁迫的敏感性依次为脲酶＞蔗糖酶＞过氧化氢酶,3种酶活性与环境中因子的相关性整体表现为蔗糖酶＞脲酶＞过氧化氢酶。由于对环境胁迫为敏感,而且其活性与植被状况和土壤化学性质具有显著或极显著相关性,建议用脲酶活性作为废弃地复垦的一个指示指标。     

Effects of young Artemisia rothrockii shrubs on soil moisture,soil nitrogen cycling,and resident herbs

Questions: How do young sagebrush shrubs (Artemisia rothrockii, Asteraceae) affect soil moisture availability? How do young sagebrush shrubs affect soil nitrogen cycling? How does the resident herb community respond to shrub removal in the early stages of sagebrush encroachment? Location: Mulkey and Bullfrog Meadows on the Kern Plateau in the Golden Trout Wilderness, Sierra Nevada Mountains, Inyo National Forest, Inyo County, California, USA. Methods: We removed young encroaching sagebrush shrubs from 3.5 m × 3.5 m plots and compared soil moisture, net mineralization, net nitrification, and herb cover with paired control plots over four growing seasons. Results: On average throughout the experiment, the difference between removal plots and control plots in soil moisture was small. Removal plots were wetter by 1.3 ± 2.0% at 0–30 cm depth, 2.1 ± 3.1% at 30–60 cm depth and 3.1 ± 5.8% at 60–90 cm depth. By contrast, after four years, net mineralization was 32 ± 26% (mean ± 95% CI) lower in sagebrush removal plots, suggesting that sagebrush encroachment increases rates of N‐cycling. Total herb cover was 13.0 ± 6.4% (mean ± 95% CI) higher in plots where young sagebrush shrubs were removed. This difference in cover appeared during the first season in which sagebrush shrubs were removed. Conclusions: Our results suggest that while young sagebrush shrubs do not contribute substantially to meadow drying, they alter N cycling rates, and may indirectly increase the rate of their own encroachment by competitively reducing resident herbs.     

森林植物多样性、树种重要值与土壤理化性质对球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白的影响

球囊霉素相关土壤蛋白(glomalin-related soil protein, GRSP)在土壤物理结构调节和土壤碳库稳定性中发挥着重要作用,但植物多样性和优势种如何影响GRSP还缺乏系统性研究。本研究依托东北林业大学哈尔滨实验林场的72块样地, 对1 m深土壤剖面分5层采样, 测定土壤易提取球囊霉素(easily extractable GRSP, EEG)、总提取球囊霉素(total GRSP, TG)及土壤理化性质, 并同时计算植物多样性指数及优势种重要值(importance value, IV), 进一步通过相关分析和冗余排序分析判断影响GRSP的主要因素与贡献。结果表明: (1)在整个土壤剖面上均表现为TG和EEG与土壤有机碳(SOC)正相关, 在部分土层深度与全氮(total nitrogen, TN)和含水量(moisture content, MC)正相关, 而与电导率(electrical conductivity, EC)和pH值负相关。(2)部分土层TG和EEG与黑皮油松(Pinus tabuliformis var. mukdensis)、樟子松(P. sylvestris var. mongolica)、胡桃楸(Juglans mandshurica)、黄檗(Phellodendron amurense)、榆树(Ulmus pumila)优势种重要值显著相关, 表现为黑皮油松重要值越高, 而黄檗、榆树重要值越小, 越有利于EEG的积累, 并且伴随EEG-C/SOC (EEG中C占SOC比例)增加、EEG/TG增大; 群落中胡桃楸、黄檗、榆树更有利于TG积累, 黑皮油松、落叶松(Larix gmelinii)、樟子松不利于TG的积累。(3)植物Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、物种丰富度与EEG、TG、EEG/TG无显著相关性, 而与EEG-C/SOC、EEG-N/TN (EEG中N占TN的比例)、TG-C/SOC (TG中C占SOC比例)、TG-N/TN (TG中N占TN的比例)显著负相关; 土壤EEG/TG和EEG-N/TN与植物均匀度指数显著正相关, 在1 m土壤不同土层趋势类似。(4)方差分解分析表明: 生物因子对GRSP变化的解释率是20.2%, 土壤理化因子解释率为7.8%, 而生物因子中植物优势种重要值的解释率最大(16.4%), 而植物物种多样性指数解释率仅为0.4%。冗余排序发现常绿针叶树种(黑皮油松和樟子松)越多且阔叶树种越少时, GRSP含量和GRSP对土壤碳氮的贡献越高(P < 0.01), 其机制可能与树种菌根类型有关: 外生菌根树种重要值与TG显著负相关, 丛枝菌根树种重要值与TG显著正相关。本研究解析了植物物种多样性对GRSP含量的重要影响, 并强调未来土壤管理和评估可以通过调整优势物种而不是树种多样性来促进GRSP积累。     

Influence of rocks on soil temperature,soil water potential,and rooting patterns for desert succulents

Summary At a site in the Sonoran Desert, subterranean rocks and exposed boulders affected soil water potential as well as root morphology and distribution. For Agave deserti, the number of lateral roots per unit length of main root was 11 times higher under rocks and six times higher alongside rocks than in rock-free regions. Total root length per unit soil volume for Echinocereus engelmannii averaged 3-fold higher within 1 cm of boulders than 5 cm away, where the soil was drier. The total length of lateral roots per unit length of main root for Ferocactus acanthodes was 4.2 m m^–1 under rocks but only 0.8 m m^–1 in rock-free regions. The number of lateral roots per unit length of main root for Opuntia acanthocarpa was 7-fold higher alongside rocks than in rock-free regions and even higher under rocks. For transplanted and watered A. deserti, the number of new main roots produced per 1–2 month interval averaged 13 for five plants on the north side of boulders, 8 on the south side, 11 for five plants with half of their roots under rocks, 2 for those with half of their roots over rocks, and 3 for the control plants without rocks. Laboratory experiments showed that the soil water potential under rocks for 10 and 30 mm waterings stayed above –0.5 MPa for 13 and 19 d longer, respectively, than for regions away from rocks. The shortwave absorptance of granitic rocks from the field site was 0.82, the thermal conductivity coefficient was 1.50 W m^–1 °C^–1, and the volumetric heat capacity was 1.75 MJ m^–3 °C^–1. Field measurements indicated that 5-cm-thick buried rocks decreased the diel variation in soil temperatures on their undersurface by only 0.4° C compared with soil. Thus, the primary influence of rocks at the field site on root proliferation and branching for the four species was apparently caused by influences on soil water content.     

Effects of root-knot nematodes on cucumber leaf N and P contents, soil pH, and soil enzyme activities

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of inoculation with root-knot nematodes on the cucumber leaf N and P contents, and the rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil pH and enzyme activities. The rhizospheric soil pH didn't have a significant decrease until the inoculation rate reached 6000 eggs per plant. With the increase of inoculation rate, the leaf N and P contents, rhizospheric soil peroxidase activity, and rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil polyphenol oxidase activity all decreased gradually, rhizospheric soil catalase activity was in adverse, non-rhizospheric soil pH decreased after an initial increase, and non-rhizospheric soil catalase activity had no regular change. After inoculation, rhizospheric soil urease activity decreased significantly, but rhizospheric and non-rhizospheric soil phosphatase activity and non-rhizospheric soil peroxidase activity only had a significant decrease under high inoculation rate. In most cases, there existed significant correlations between rhizospheric soil pH, enzyme activities, and leaf N and P contents; and in some cases, there existed significant correlations between non-rhizospheric soil pH, enzyme activities, and leaf N and P contents.