Biological Activity in Modern and Buried Soils of the Historical Center of St. Petersburg

Biological activity in the urban modern and medieval soils of St. Petersburg was determined using soil samples taken from sections located at the historical center of this city nearby the Kazan Cathedral and the Twelve Colleges building (now the main building of St. Petersburg State University) and on the site where the Swedish fortress Nienshants formerly existed. The studied parameters of biological activity included the rate of microbial transformation of organic matter under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, the intensity of denitrification and nitrogen fixation, and the amount of microbial biomass. This investigation is the first attempt to comparatively study modern urban anthropogenically impacted soils and buried soils that had formed the soil cover of this region before St. Petersburg was founded. The major microbiological and physicochemical parameters of the soils were subjected to correlation analysis.     

The relationship between the microbial activity of the autochthonous microorganisms of pristine and contaminated soils and their potential for the degradation of mineral oil hydrocarbons

The microbial activity of pristine and contaminated soils was investigated by measuring the following parameters: glucose induced respiration, dimethylsulphoxide reduction and the hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate. The viable counts were determined by the plate count method. The ability of the autochthonous microorganisms of the investigated soils to degrade diesel fuel was determined in a closed system on the basis of the oxygen consumption and by direct measurements of the hydrocarbon concentrations. As expected, compost showed the highest microbial activity with regard to all three parameters, followed by the grassland and the arable soil samples which were also found to have high activity. However, soils that had been exposed to mineral oil for a long period of time showed significantly lower values. Microorganisms from contaminated sites had a high degradation potential; few pristine soils reached similar turnover rates. The investigations showed that the level of the degradation of diesel fuel in pristine soils correlated with their microbial activity, but this correlation was not found in the investigated contaminated soils.     

Soil microbial activity variation after land use changes in savannah, Llanos Orientales, Venezuela

In West plains of Venezuela, the traditional land use of the Trachypogon savannah, has been the extensive grazing. The pressure over these savannahs to obtain a major animal productivity has stimulated the introduction of exotic forage plants, such as Brachiaria brizantha and Andropogon gayanus. In spite that great savannah extensions have been subject to this land use change, information about the effect that pastures and grazing activity have on microbial activity in these soils is scarce. So the objective of this study was to determine the impact that the extensive grazing and cover substitution have on microbial activity. The soil sampling was carried out during the dry and rainy seasons. The employed parameters to determine changes in soil microbial activity were the substrate induced respiration (SIR), basal respiration (BR), the dehydrogenase activity (DHS), the fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis (FDA) and the arginene ammonification (AA). The similarity of the structural soil characteristics studied allows us to infer, that the differences in the microbiological parameters are determined by climatic conditions and soil management. The results show that there is a low microbial activity in these soils. The rainy season caused an increase in all the microbiological parameters determined. B. brizantha made a greater contribution to soil carbon and promoted a greater heterotrophic activity. The extensive grazing and the low stocking rate in the West plain savannas did not affect the microbial activity in these soils.     

Soil biological activity and their seasonal variations in response to long-term application of organic and inorganic fertilizers

The objectives of this study were to explore the effects of long-term and continued application of fertilizers and manures on microbial biomass, soil biological activity and their seasonal variations in surface and subsurface soils in relation to soil fertility. For this, soils were sampled in spring, summer and autumn from Shenyang Long-term Experimental Station, northeastern China. The results showed that soil total nitrogen (N), organic carbon (C), basal respiration, microbial biomass and enzymatic activity increased in manure-amended surface soils, but decreased with soil depth. Long-term application of inorganic fertilizers significantly decreased soil pH value, sucrase activity and microbial biomass C, but increased soil metabolic quotient (qCO₂). However, no significant effect of inorganic fertilizers on soil total N, urease activity and microbial biomass N was observed in comparison with CK0 (neither tillage nor fertilization) and CK (no fertilizers). There was no significant difference between CK0 and CK in soil total N, organic C and microbial activity in surface soil layer (0–20 cm), but these parameters in subsurface soil layer (20–40 cm) were higher in CK than in CK0. Moreover, seasonal changes were observed in terms of soil nutrient contents, enzymatic activity, microbial biomass and soil respiration. There were significant correlations between soil microbial biomass C and N, between organic C and sucrase activity and between total N and urease activity, respectively. It is recommended that combined use of organic manure with inorganic fertilizers should be considered to maintain higher microbial biomass, soil biological activity and soil fertility. Considering considerably high nutrients reserve and microbial activity in subsurface layers of soil and wind-erosion-caused nutrient loss in spring in north China, we also propose that low tillage should be considered to make use of nutrients in soils.     

南京市不同功能城区表土微生物碳氮与酶活性分析

城市土壤环境污染及其对城市环境质量与社会生活的影响,已引起公众重视,但对其生境问题了解不够。将南京城市土壤划分为6种功能区(工业区、交通商业区)、老居民区、新开发区、城市广场和风景区,分析了各功能区土壤的微生物量碳、氮及脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性,探讨其对城市土壤环境质量的指示意义。结果表明,微生物量以公共绿地、风景区较高,以新开发区和交通商业区为最低。主成分分析表明,脲酶活性、微生物量碳、过氧化氢酶活性对公因子的贡献最大。与自然土壤相比．南京城市土壤碳氮比、Cmic／Corg变化范围均增大,表明土壤微生物区系受到人为活动较大的干扰。     

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

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

土壤样品长期保存对微生物群落代谢活性和功能类群的影响

【目的】评估土壤长期保存(4个月)对土壤微生物群落代谢活性的影响。【方法】采用Biolog? EcoPlateTM生态板研究4 °C风干保存和?20 °C低温冻存的农田土壤和森林土壤中微生物群落的碳源利用模式。【结果】与新鲜土壤样品相比,长期保存的土壤样品的微生物群落对碳源的利用能力大大降低,其多样性、均匀度和Simpson指数均降低;风干保存和低温冻存两者对土壤微生物的碳源利用的影响没有显著差异;除风干保存的土壤样品中利用多聚物类的微生物类群的代谢活性外,两种保存方法显著降低微生物群落的代谢活性,降低幅度为54.5%–99.8%。【结论】长期保存土壤可能会导致对微生物群落信息的低估,土壤微生物代谢活性研究的最佳样品为新鲜 土壤。     

Biological activity of soils in the settlements of southern (Microtus rossiaemeridionalis) and bank (Clethrionomys glareolus) voles

The effect of southern (Microtus rossiaemeridionalis) and bank (Clethrionomys glareolus) voles on the biological activity of soddy-podzolic soil and agrozem has been studied. To estimate this effect, the activity of nitrogen and carbon transformation in the soil taken from the paths and different chambers of the holes of these rodents, as well as from the control plots where there were no voles, has been determined. The contents of organic carbon and nitrogen in the soil have been found. The parameters of functional diversity of the microbial community of soil have been studied. It has been noted that the effect of voles on the biological activity of the above soils manifested itself in increased intensity of aerobic and anaerobic destruction of organic matter and changes in the parameters of functional diversity of the microbial community of soils.     

Comparative analysis of the functional activity and composition of hydrolytic microbial complexes from the lower Volga barrow and modern chestnut soils

The structure and specific characteristics of the hydrolytic microbial complexes from chestnut paleosols buried under the barrows of different ages (～4500 and ～3500 years) was compared with their modern analogue in microcosm experiments. Potential activity of the hydrolytic complex of the microbial community of the barrow paleosols was found to be higher than in the modern soil complex. The share of metabolically active cells revealed by FISH after the introduction of a growth-stimulating polysaccharide into the paleosol microcosm was 50% of the whole prokaryotic cell number. The paleosol community exhibited a more pronounced response to addition of the substrate than the modern soil community. The differences in the phylogenetic taxonomic structure of the prokaryotic metabolically active hydrolytic complex in the buried and modern soils were revealed. The hydrolytic complex of modern soil was more diverse, while the dominant hydrolytic organisms revealed in paleosols were unicellular and mycelial Actinobacteria, as well as Proteobacteria.     

Assessing the microbiological,biochemical, soil-physical and hydrological effects of amelioration of degraded soils in semiarid Spain

The way of improving degraded soils fertility and particularly of improving its microbial activity is to add “young” exogenous organic matter that contribute to provide labile organic matter to stimulate the life of the microorganisms existing in the soil. This organic matter will also improve both the retention and hydraulic characteristics of the degraded soils, all this contributing to soil restoration. In this study, the microbiological, biochemical, soil-physical and hydrological effects of the addition of a municipal solid waste compost to a degraded soil in El Campello, SE Spain were evaluated in a field experiment. Soil samples from experimental plots were analyzed 6 and 18 months after soil amendment. In both sampling time treated plots showed significantly higher microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activity values than control, indicating that soil microbial population’s development and activity were stimulated by compost addition, this effect being not ephemeral but lasting in the time. Soil urease activity was not affected by compost addition while protease hydrolysing N-α-benzoil-L-argininamide (BAA) activity was strongly stimulated by the incorporation of compost into the soils. Phosphatase and β-glucosidase activities were also stimulated by the organic amendment, this stimulation being particularly noticeable 18 months after the compost addition. Nevertheless, this increase in soil microbial populations and activity did not result in an increase in soil aggregation and hydrological parameters. This can be due to the high content of carbonates and Ca²⁺ ions in these calcareous soils, that lead to an initially high content of water-stable macroaggregates. Presented at the International Conference on Bioclimatology and Natural Hazards, Poľana nad Detvou, Slovakia, 17–20 September 2007.     

Effects of the nematofauna on microbial energy and matter transformation rates in European grassland soils

The effect of the nematofauna on the microbiology and soil nitrogen status was studied in 6 major European grassland types (Northern tundra (Abisko, Sweden), Atlantic heath (Otterburn, UK), wet grassland (Wageningen, Netherlands), semi-natural temperate grassland (Linden, Germany), East European steppe (Pusztaszer, Hungary) and Mediterranean garigue (Mt. Vermion, Greece). To extend the range of temperature and humidity experienced locally during the investigation period, soil microclimates were manipulated, and at each site 14 plots were established representing selected combinations of 6 temperature and 6 moisture levels. The investigated soils divided into two groups: mineral grassland soils that were precipitation fed (garigue, wet grassland, seminatural grassland, steppe), and wet organic soils that were groundwater fed (heath, tundra). Effects of the nematofauna on the microflora were found in the mineral soils, where correlations among nematode metabolic activity as calculated from a metabolic model, and microbial activity parameters as indicated by Biolog and ergosterol measurements, were significantly positive. Correlations with bacterial activity were stronger and more consistent. Microbial parameters, in turn, were significantly correlated with the size of the soil nitrogen pools NH4, NO3, and Norganic. Furthermore, model results suggested that there were remarkable direct effects of nematodes on soil nitrogen status. Calculated monthly nematode excretion contributed temporarily up to 27% of soluble soil nitrogen, depending on the site and the microclimate. No significant correlation among nematodes and microbial parameters, or nitrogen pools, were found in the wet organic soils. The data show that the nematofauna can under favourable conditions affect soil nitrogen status in mineral grassland soils both directly by excretion of N, and indirectly by regulating microbial activity. This suggests that the differences in nitrogen availability observed in such natural grasslands partly reflect differences in the activity of their indigenous nematofauna. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The effects of different urban land use patterns on soil microbial biomass nitrogen and enzyme activities in urban area of Beijing, China

Soil microbes are affected by various abiotic and biotic factors in urban ecosystem due to land use change. The effects of different land use patterns on soil microbial properties and soil quality are, however, largely unknown. This study compared soil nutrient status, microbial biomass nitrogen and enzyme activities under five different land use patterns—nature forest, park, farmland, street green, and roadside tree sites at various soil depths in Beijing, China. The results showed that soil properties were significantly affected by urban land use patterns and soil depths in the urban environment. Compared to forest sites, soil nutrients were markedly decreased in other land use patterns, except the highest soil organic matter content in roadside tree sites in 0–10 cm soil layer. Soil microbial biomass nitrogen showed the order as follows: nature forest > park > farmland > street green > roadside tree in 0–10 cm soil layer, and it decreased along with the soil depth gradient. Furthermore, urease activity was highest in nature forest and lowest in street green and roadside tree soils in each depth, while the activity of protease ranged between 0.84 and 3.94 mg g^?1 with the peak appeared in roadside tree at 30–40 cm soil layers. Nitrate reductase activity was also extremely higher in street green than other land use patterns. Correlation analyses suggested that change of soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity in different land use patterns were mainly controlled by nutrient availability and soil fertility in urban soils.     

Effect of various amendments on heavy mineral oil bioremediation and soil microbial activity

To examine the effects of amendments on the degradation of heavy mineral oil, we conducted a pilot-scale experiment in the field for 105 days. During the experiment, soil samples were collected and analyzed periodically to determine the amount of residual hydrocarbons and evaluate the effects of the amendments on microbial activity. After 105 days, the initial level of contamination (7490+/-480 mg hydrocarbon kg(-1) soil) was reduced by 18-40% in amended soils, whereas it was only reduced by 9% in nonamended soil. Heavy mineral oil degradation was much faster and more complete in compost-amended soil than in hay-, sawdust-, and mineral nutrient-amended soils. The enhanced degradation of heavy mineral oil in compost-amended soil may be a result of the significantly higher microbial activity in this soil. Among the studied microbial parameters, soil dehydrogenase, lipase, and urease activities were strongly and negatively correlated with heavy mineral oil biodegradation (P<0.01) in compost-amended soil.     

Long-Term Effects of Irrigation with Waste Water on Soil AM Fungi Diversity and Microbial Activities: The Implications for Agro-Ecosystem Resilience

The effects of irrigation with treated urban wastewater (WW) on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) diversity and soil microbial activities were assayed on a long-term basis in a semiarid orange-tree orchard. After 43 years, the soil irrigated with fresh water (FW) had higher AMF diversity than soils irrigated with WW. Microbial activities were significantly higher in the soils irrigated with WW than in those irrigated with FW. Therefore, as no negative effects were observed on crop vitality and productivity, it seems that the ecosystem resilience gave rise to the selection of AMF species better able to thrive in soils with higher microbial activity and, thus, to higher soil fertility.     

Environmental factors affect the response of microbial extracellular enzyme activity in soils when determined as a function of water availability and temperature

Microorganisms govern soil carbon cycling with critical effects at local and global scales. The activity of microbial extracellular enzymes is generally the limiting step for soil organic matter mineralization. Nevertheless, the influence of soil characteristics and climate parameters on microbial extracellular enzyme activity (EEA) performance at different water availabilities and temperatures remains to be detailed. Different soils from the Iberian Peninsula presenting distinctive climatic scenarios were sampled for these analyses. Results showed that microbial EEA in the mesophilic temperature range presents optimal rates under wet conditions (high water availability) while activity at the thermophilic temperature range (60°C) could present maximum EEA rates under dry conditions if the soil is frequently exposed to high temperatures. Optimum water availability conditions for maximum soil microbial EEA were influenced mainly by soil texture. Soil properties and climatic parameters are major environmental components ruling soil water availability and temperature which were decisive factors regulating soil microbial EEA. This study contributes decisively to the understanding of environmental factors on the microbial EEA in soils, specifically on the decisive influence of water availability and temperature on EEA. Unlike previous belief, optimum EEA in high temperature exposed soil upper layers can occur at low water availability (i.e., dryness) and high temperatures. This study shows the potential for a significant response by soil microbial EEA under conditions of high temperature and dryness due to a progressive environmental warming which will influence organic carbon decomposition at local and global scenarios.     

Variation in Microbial Activity in Histosols and Its Relationship to Soil Moisture

Microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, carbon metabolism, and aerobic bacterial populations were examined in cropped and fallow Pahokee muck (a lithic medisaprist) of the Florida Everglades. Dehydrogenase activity was two- to sevenfold greater in soil cropped to St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt) Kuntz) compared with uncropped soil, whereas biomass ranged from equivalence in the two soils to a threefold stimulation in the cropped soil. Biomass in soil cropped to sugarcane (Saccharum spp. L) approximated that from the grass field, whereas dehydrogenase activities of the cane soil were nearly equivalent to those of the fallow soil. Microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activity, aerobic bacterial populations, and salicylate oxidation rates all correlated with soil moisture levels. These data indicate that within the moisture ranges detected in the surface soils, increased moisture stimulated microbial activity, whereas within the soil profile where moisture ranges reached saturation, increased moisture inhibited aerobic activities and stimulated anaerobic processes.     

Molecular and Functional Assessment of Bacterial Community Convergence in Metal-Amended Soils

Species diversity and the structure of microbial communities in soils are thought to be a function of the cumulative selective pressures within the local environment. Shifts in microbial community structure, as a result of metal stress, may have lasting negative effects on soil ecosystem dynamics if critical microbial community functions are compromised. Three soils in the vicinity of a copper smelter, previously contaminated with background, low and high levels of aerially deposited metals, were amended with metal-salts to determine the potential for metal contamination to shape the structural and functional diversity of microbial communities in soils. We hypothesized that the microbial communities native to the three soils would initially be unique to each site, but would converge on a microbial community with similar structure and function, as a result of metal stress. Initially, the three different sites supported microbial communities with unique structural and functional diversity, and the nonimpacted site supported inherently higher levels of microbial activity and biomass, relative to the metal-contaminated sites. Amendment of the soils with metal-salts resulted in a decrease in microbial activity and biomass, as well as shifts in microbial community structure and function at each site. Soil microbial communities from each site were also observed to be sensitive to changes in soil pH as a result of metal-salt amendment; however, the magnitude of these pH-associated effects varied between soils. Microbial communities from each site did not converge on a structurally or functionally similar community following metal-salt amendment, indicating that other factors may be equally important in shaping microbial communities in soils. Among these factors, soil physiochemical parameters like organic matter and soil pH, which can both influence the bioavailability and toxicity of metals in soils, may be critical.     

The impacts of excessive nitrogen additions on enzyme activities and nutrient leaching in two contrasting forest soils

Nitrogen (N) deposition has increased dramatically worldwide, which may affect forest soils in various ways. In this study, we conducted a short-term manipulation experiment of N addition on two types of forest soils (urban and rural soils) found in Korea. N addition significantly decreased phenol oxidase activities in urban soil samples; however, it did not affect those in rural soils. Furthermore, N addition did not change β-glucosidase and N-acetylglucosaminidase activities, except for β-glucosidase activities in the O layer of rural soils. Changes in microbial biomass and general activity (dehydrogenase activity) were not induced by N addition, except for dehydrogenase in the A layer of urban soils. Although N addition did not change the extractable soil nutrients, organic matter, and water contents significantly, it enhanced nutrient leaching and resulted in lower pH leachate. These results suggest that excessive N addition to forest soils may induce nutrient leaching in the long-term. Overall results of our study also suggest that N addition may induce retardation of organic matter decomposition in soils; however, such a response may depend on the intensity of previous exposure to N deposition.     

Effects of heavy metal contamination of soils on micronucleus induction in Tradescantia and on microbial enzyme activities: a comparative investigation

The aim of this study was to investigate correlation between genotoxic effects and changes of microbial parameters caused by metal contamination in soils. In total, 20 soils from nine locations were examined; metal contents and physicochemical soil parameters were measured with standard methods. In general, a pronounced induction of the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in the Tradescantia micronucleus (Trad-MN) assay was seen with increasing metal concentration in soils from identical locations. However, no correlations were found between metal contents and genotoxicity of soils from different locations. These discrepancies are probably due to differences of the physicochemical characteristics of the samples. Also, the microbial parameters depended on the metal content in soils from identical sampling locations. Inconsistent responses of the individual enzymes were seen in soils from different locations, indicating that it is not possible to define a specific marker enzyme for metal contamination. The most sensitive microbial parameters were dehydrogenase and arylsulfatase activity, biomass C, and biomass N. Statistical analyses showed an overall correlation between genotoxicity in Tradescantia on the one hand and dehydrogenase activity, biomass C, and the metabolic quotient on the other hand. In conclusion, the results of the present study show that the Trad-MN assay is suitable for the detection of genotoxic effects of metal contamination in soils and furthermore, that the DNA-damaging potential of soils from different origin cannot be predicted on the basis of chemical analyses of their metal concentrations.     

Interactive effects of wildfire and permafrost on microbial communities and soil processes in an Alaskan black spruce forest

Boreal forests contain significant quantities of soil carbon that may be oxidized to CO₂ given future increases in climate warming and wildfire behavior. At the ecosystem scale, decomposition and heterotrophic respiration are strongly controlled by temperature and moisture, but we questioned whether changes in microbial biomass, activity, or community structure induced by fire might also affect these processes. We particularly wanted to understand whether postfire reductions in microbial biomass could affect rates of decomposition. Additionally, we compared the short‐term effects of wildfire to the long‐term effects of climate warming and permafrost decline. We compared soil microbial communities between control and recently burned soils that were located in areas with and without permafrost near Delta Junction, AK. In addition to soil physical variables, we quantified changes in microbial biomass, fungal biomass, fungal community composition, and C cycling processes (phenol oxidase enzyme activity, lignin decomposition, and microbial respiration). Five years following fire, organic surface horizons had lower microbial biomass, fungal biomass, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations compared with control soils. Reductions in soil fungi were associated with reductions in phenol oxidase activity and lignin decomposition. Effects of wildfire on microbial biomass and activity in the mineral soil were minor. Microbial community composition was affected by wildfire, but the effect was greater in nonpermafrost soils. Although the presence of permafrost increased soil moisture contents, effects on microbial biomass and activity were limited to mineral soils that showed lower fungal biomass but higher activity compared with soils without permafrost. Fungal abundance and moisture were strong predictors of phenol oxidase enzyme activity in soil. Phenol oxidase enzyme activity, in turn, was linearly related to both ¹³C lignin decomposition and microbial respiration in incubation studies. Taken together, these results indicate that reductions in fungal biomass in postfire soils and lower soil moisture in nonpermafrost soils reduced the potential of soil heterotrophs to decompose soil carbon. Although in the field increased rates of microbial respiration can be observed in postfire soils due to warmer soil conditions, reductions in fungal biomass and activity may limit rates of decomposition.