茶园土壤微生物群落基因多样性

应用PCR技术,直接从土壤中抽提总DNA,扩增16S rDNA V3 片段,采用变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)分析16S rDNA V3 片段的多态性,研究了杭州西湖梅家坞不同植茶年龄(8、50和90年)、不同利用方式(茶园、荒地和林地)的土壤微生物群落基因多样性.结果表明：不同植茶年龄和不同土地利用方式影响土壤微生物群落的基因多样性.荒地、茶园和林地土壤微生物群落基因多样性指数明显不同(P<0.05),其排列顺序为荒地>茶园>林地.不同植茶年龄的土壤中,50年茶园土壤的微生物群落基因多样性指数、微生物量碳和基础呼吸明显高于8年和90年茶园土壤(P<0.05).     

Microbial diversity of topographical gradient profiles in Fushan forest soils of Taiwan

To evaluate the microbial diversity of Fushan forest soils, the variation of soil properties, microbial populations, and soil DNA with soil depth in three sites of different altitude were analyzed. Microbial population, moisture content, total organic carbon (C_org), and total nitrogen (N_tot) decreased with increasing soil depth. The valley site had the lowest microbial populations among the three tested sites due to the low organic matter content. Bacterial population was the highest among the microbial populations. The ratios of cellulolytic microbes to the total bacteria in organic layers were high, implying their roles in the carbon cycle. The microbial biomass carbon (C_mic) and nitrogen (N_mic) contents ranged from 130.5 to 564.1 μg g⁻¹ and from 16.7 to 95.4 μg g⁻¹, respectively. The valley had the lowest C_mic and N_mic. The organic layer had the highest C_mic and N_mic and decreased with soil depth. Analysis using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons of 16S rDNA showed that the bacterial diversity of the three sites were very similar to each other in the major bands, and the variation was in the minor bands. However, the patterns in PCR-DGGE profile through gradient horizons were different, indicating the prevalence of specific microbes at different horizons. These results suggest that the microbial diversity in the deeper horizons is not simply the diluted analogs of the surface soils and that some microbes dominate only in the deeper horizons. Topography influenced the quantity and diversity of microbial populations.     

Differences of Soil Microbial Biomass and Nitrogen Transformation under Two Forest Types in Central Germany

In order to observe the tree species effect on soil N status, soil microbial biomass C and N (C_mic, N_mic), potential N mineralization and potential nitrification (under laboratory incubation conditions, 22 °C) in different subhorizons (LOf₁, Of₂, Oh and mineral soil at 0–10 cm depth) were determined at three forest sites in central Germany. At each site, two contrasting stands (Beech, Norway spruce or Scots pine) were selected, where the initial soil conditions were similar. Three sampling dates that represented different stages of tree growth were selected: growing season - August, dormant season - November, after budbreak – April. In organic layers, C_mic-to-total C (C_t) ratios under beech and under conifer were 0.72–4.74% and 0.34–2.11%, respectively. N_mic-to-total N (N_t) ratios were 2.47–11.61% and 0.71–5.77%, respectively. Both concentrations of C_mic and N_mic were significantly affected by the stand type and sampling time. Potential N mineralization rates, ranging from 3.7 to 19.7 mg N kg⁻¹ d⁻¹, showed no clear pattern in relation to stand type. However, potential nitrification rates were mostly significantly higher under beech than under contrasting conifer. In mineral soils, concentrations of C_mic and N_mic showed a clear temporal pattern in the order: August>November>April. The average N_mic and N_mic-to-N_t were higher in soils from beech than conifer, while C_mic and C_mic-to-C_t ratios were similar between the two forest types. In organic layers, the highest values of C_mic-to-N_mic ratio and C_mic were found in November samples, especially under beech. By contrast, in mineral soils the highest value of C_mic-to-N_mic ratios were found in April samples, and at that time the C_mic concentrations were the lowest, especially under conifer. These results revealed the differences in microbial growth form and survival strategy associated with different tree species and soil layers.     

云贵高原喀斯特坡耕地土壤微生物量 C、N、P空间分布

土壤微生物是地球生物演化进程中的先锋种类,具有重要的生态修复功能,但空间分布格局是否存在的争议很大。以云贵高原典型喀斯特坡耕地为对象,基于网格法取样,用经典统计学和地统计学综合分析了土壤微生物生物量的空间变异特征。结果表明,云贵高原喀斯特坡耕地土壤微生物生物量碳(C_mic)、磷(P_mic)以及碳氮比(C_mic/N_mic)适宜,氮(N_mic)的含量较低,变异均很大,空间自相关性明显,最佳拟合模型均为指数模型。块金值C₀较小(0.0016-0.0087),C₀/(C₀+C)均<25%(2.6%-10.2%),变程a较短(22.2-51.0 m),其强烈的空间变异主要由结构性变异引起。Kriging等值线图表明,C_mic、N_mic和C_mic/N_mic的高值区分布在坡的中上部,P_mic的高值区则在坡的中下部和坡脚。云贵高原喀斯特坡耕地土壤微生物不仅存在着小尺度的空间分布格局,而且不同土壤微生物属性的空间分布不同。     

Microbial biomass and growth kinetics of microorganisms in chernozem soils under different land use modes

The carbon content of microbial biomass and the kinetic characteristics of microbial respiration response to substrate addition have been estimated for chernozem soils under different land use: arable lands used for 10, 46, and 76 years, mowed meadow, natural forest, and forest shelter belt. Microbial biomass and the content of microbial carbon in humus (C_mic /C_org) decreased in the following order: soils under forest cenoses—mowed meadow—10-year arable land—46- and 75-year arable land. The amount of microbial carbon in the long-plowed horizon was 40% of its content in the upper horizon of natural forest. Arable soils were characterized by a lower metabolic diversity of microbial community and by the highest portion of microorganisms able to grow directly on glucose introduced into soil. The effects of different scenarios of carbon sequestration in soil on the amounts and activity of microbial biomass are discussed.     

Analysis of unculturable bacterial communities in tea orchard soils based on nested PCR-DGGE

The bacterial communities in the soils from tea orchards and their adjacent wasteland in Anhui Province, China were analysed by nested PCR-DGGE technique combined with sequencing. DGGE profiles revealed that the DGGE patterns of different soils were similar to each other and the most intensely bands appeared in all lanes. The bacterial genetic diversity index of tea orchard soils was lower than that of wasteland. For the tea orchard soils, Shannon’s diversity index decreased in the order: 45-year-old tea orchard >25-year-old tea orchard >7-year-old tea orchard >70-year-old tea orchard. The analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the fragments belong to Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, TM7, Cyanobacteria and Firmicutes. A comprehensive analysis of the bacterial community structure in the tea orchard soils indicated the bacterial community was dominantly composed of Acidobacteria, followed by Proteobacteria (Gamma and Alpha), Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria and candidate division TM7. The RDA combined with UPGMA clustering analysis showed that the more similar the environmental variables were, the more similar the bacterial community structures in tea orchard soils were.     

浙江慈溪旱作农田土壤微生物学性状的时空演变特征

测定了浙江慈溪5个不同利用年限旱作农田土壤（50～700 a）的微生物数量、生物量和酶活性,比较分析了农田土壤微生物学质量与利用年限的相关性,并测定了50 a、100 a和700 a 3个旱作土壤的微生物功能多样性.结果发现：农田土壤在旱作初期（<100 a）,除真菌数量（F）略有上升外,细菌数量（B）、B/F值、微生物生物量C、N及过氧化氢酶、转化酶、脲酶活性全部锐减;耕作100 a之后,仅真菌数量随年限延长而显著降低,细菌数量、B/F值、微生物生物量C、N及过氧化氢酶、转化酶、脲酶活性则全部升高;在50～700 a的整个旱作过程中,土壤微生物生物量C/N值始终随年限延长而显著升高.BIOLOG检测结果显示,旱作农田土壤微生物群落的Shannon、Simpson和McIntosh 3种功能多样性指数在利用年限上的变化规律与细菌数量、微生物生物量及酶活性等完全一致.表明浙江慈溪旱作农田土壤微生物群落结构一直随利用年限的延长而变化,且土壤微生物学质量总体在持续利用100 a左右止降回升.     

川西亚高山天然次生林不同演替阶段土壤-微生物生物量及其化学计量特征

开展不同恢复演替阶段天然次生林土壤-微生物生物量及其化学计量特征关系的研究,可为有效和持续管理川西亚高山次生林提供科学依据。以川西亚高山米亚罗林区20世纪60、70、80年代3种采伐迹地经自然恢复演替形成的次生林（SF60、SF70和SF80）和岷江冷杉（Abies faxoniana）原始林（PF）为研究对象,探讨了表层（0-20 cm）土壤有机碳（C_soil）、全氮（N_soil）、全磷（P_soil）含量及微生物生物量碳（C_mic）、氮（N_mic）、磷（P_mic）含量随自然恢复演替的变化特征,分析了它们的化学计量比与微生物熵（qMB）之间的相互关系。结果表明：（1）随着恢复演替年限的增加,C_soil和N_mic含量显著降低,N_soil和P_soil及C_mic和P_mic含量呈现先升后降的显著变化趋势,且3种次生林的表层土壤碳、氮、磷及其微生物生物量的含量均低于PF。（2）次生林恢复年限对土壤微生物熵C（qMBC）和P（qMBP）没有显著影响,但对土壤微生物熵N（qMBN）存在显著影响。（3）土壤-微生物化学计量不平衡性C_imb：N_imb随自然恢复演替进程呈先降后升的显著变化趋势,C_imb：P_imb呈不显著的降低趋势,N_imb：P_imb呈现显著降低趋势。冗余分析显示,N_imb：P_imb和C_mic：N_mic是影响qMB变化的主导因子,其中N_imb：P_imb解释了qMB变化的62.6%,说明土壤氮磷及其活性组分（N_mic和P_mic）含量变化可能会影响到qMB变化。综上可知,次生林近60 年的自然恢复演替引起了土壤碳氮磷含量的显著变化;天然次生林土壤-微生物生物量碳氮磷化学计量比主要受到氮磷的协同影响,且SF60土壤质量状况较差,为此,对SF60林分可适当增加氮素供给以促进其林木生长,进而提升土壤质量。     

木论喀斯特自然保护区土壤微生物生物量的空间格局

土壤微生物是森林生态系统中的重要分解者,在森林生态系统物质循环和能量转换中占有特别重要的地位。以典型喀斯特峰丛洼地为试验对象,利用经典统计学和地统计方法分析了土壤微生物量的空间变异特征。结果表明:土壤微生物量的变异程度均很大,土壤微生物量碳(Cmic)、土壤微生物量氮(Nmic)、土壤微生物量磷(Pmic)的变化范围依次为:44.29—5209.63,20.91—1894.37,0.34—77.06 mg/kg。Cmic、Nmic呈极显著的相关关系,Cmic/Nmic为4.78,明显低于其它生态系统。半变异函数分析表明,Cmic和Nmic的最佳拟合模型为高斯模型,Pmic的最佳拟合模型为球状模型,Cmic/Nmic的最佳拟合模型为指数模型。土壤微生物量的块金值/基台值均介于25%—75%之间,表现为中等空间相关性,说明其受随机因素和结构因素的综合影响。Cmic、Nmic的自相关距离约为50 m,随着滞后距离的增大,自相关函数逐渐向负方向增长,达到显著的负相关。Pmic的Moran’s I在滞后距大于70 m后反而增大,表现为正相关。Cmic/Nmic的Moran’s I较小,在-0.2—0.2之间波动。Cmic、Nmic的空间分布具有很高的相似性,呈凸型片状分布,坡中含量高且向两边递减。Pmic表现为明显不同的分布格局,其在坡中上位和洼地含量较高。Cmic/Nmic呈相反的凹形零星斑块状分布。土壤微生物存在着一定的空间格局,受干扰后其含量急剧降低,因此应加强喀斯特原生生态系统的保护。     

Plant functional traits and soil microbial biomass in different vegetation zones on the Loess Plateau

Plant functional traits built the relationships between plant diversity, species composition, and physiology along with the environmental changes, thus influencing soil microbial community. As the sensitivity indicators, soil microbial biomass and plant functional traits responses soil micro-organism and plant characteristics in direct way. Ten plant functional traits of 149 species and soil microbial biomass (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) were analyzed across the different vegetation types (forest, forest-steppe, and steppe) that are divided by environmental gradient (temperature and precipitation), aimed to find the correlations among them. Our results confirmed the greatest values of plant functional traits (except the leaf density and the fine root density) that were distributed in the steppe zone, mainly due to the different mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation conditions. For different plant growth forms, the plant functional traits were significant differences among the vegetation zones. The advantages of higher rate nutrient cycling, plentiful biomass supplements, and favorite habit conditions lead to the forest-steppe zone with the highest C_mic and N_mic concentrations. The canonical correlation analysis indicated that leaf nitrogen, root nitrogen, and fine root densities were correlated with root exudate and tissue which affected the concentrations of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (N), consequently impacting soil microbial biomass carbon (C_mic) and soil microbial biomass nitrogen (N_mic). Soil is the medium that connects micro-organism and plant root system that influenced leaf nitrogen, root nitrogen, and fine root density of plant functional traits, the concentrations of SOC and total N that plant feedback are consequently influencing C_mic and N_mic.     

帽儿山地区不同土地利用方式下土壤-微生物-矿化碳氮化学计量特征

土地利用方式的变化导致土壤碳氮含量及其化学计量关系的变化,然而土壤微生物化学计量及其驱动的碳氮矿化过程如何响应这种变化仍不明确。以帽儿山地区天然落叶阔叶林、人工红松林、草地和农田4种不同土地利用类型为对象,测定其土壤有机碳(C_(soil))、全氮(N_(soil))、微生物生物量碳和氮(C_(mic)和N_(mic))、土壤碳和氮矿化速率(C_(min)和N_(min)),旨在比较不同土地利用方式对土壤、微生物碳氮化学计量特征及矿化速率的影响,探索土壤-微生物-矿化之间碳氮化学计量特征的相关性,揭示微生物对土壤碳氮化学计量变化的响应和调控机制。结果显示:C_(soil)、N_(soil)、C_(mic)、N_(mic)和C_(min)均呈现天然落叶阔叶林人工红松林草地农田,而天然落叶阔叶林和草地的N_(min)显著高于人工红松林和农田。土地利用方式显著影响土壤和微生物碳氮比(C∶N_(soil)和C∶N_(mic)),均呈现农田最高。不同土地利用方式的数据综合分析发现:碳氮矿化速率比与C∶N_(mic)呈负相关,而和微生物与土壤碳氮化学计量不平衡性(C∶N_(imb))显著正相关。单位微生物生物量的碳矿化速率(qCO_2)随着C∶N_(mic)的增加而降低,而单位微生物生物量的氮矿化速率(qAN)随着C∶N_(mic)的增加而增加。C∶N_(imb)与qCO_2正相关,与qAN负相关。以上结果表明,微生物会通过改变自身碳氮化学计量、调整碳氮之间相对矿化速率,以适应土地利用变化导致的土壤碳氮及其化学计量的变异性,以满足自身生长和代谢的碳氮需求平衡。     

Effects of forest-pasture edge on C,N and P associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caesalpinia eriostachys</Emphasis>, a dominant tree species in a tropical deciduous forest in Mexico

Forest fragmentation in tropical ecosystems can alter nutrient cycling in diverse ways. We have analysed the effects of the forest-pasture edge on nutrient soil dynamics in a tropical deciduous forest (TDF) in Mexico. In two remnant forest fragments, both larger than 10 ha, litterfall, litter and soil samples associated to the tree Caesalpinia eriostachys were collected at five distances from the pasture edge into the inner forest (10 m in the pasture and 0–10, 30–40, 70–80 and 100–110 m towards the forest interior). We measured the concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in litterfall, surface litter and soil, and soil microbial C (C_mic) and microbial N (N_mic). Soil nutrient concentrations and C_mic and N_mic were lower in the pasture soils than in the forest soil samples. Total C and N pools, and C_mic and N_mic in the pasture were lower than in the forest. In contrast, net N immobilization and the increase in N_mic from rain to dry season increased from the edge to the inner forest. Soil P concentration was lower in the pasture and at the first distance class in the forest margin (0–10 m) than in the sites located further into the forest, while litter P concentration had the inverse pattern. Litterfall P was also reduced near the edge and increased towards the forest interior. As a consequence, litterfall C:P and N:P ratios decreased from the edge to the inner forest. These results suggest that the forest–pasture edge disrupts P dynamics within the first 10 m in the forest. Thus, plants' use of nutrients and productivity could be altered in the edge of fragmented forests.     

Exotic Earthworm Invasion and Microbial Biomass in Temperate Forest Soils

Invasion of north temperate forest soils by exotic earthworms has the potential to alter microbial biomass and activity over large areas of North America. We measured the distribution and activity of microbial biomass in forest stands invaded by earthworms and in adjacent stands lacking earthworms in sugar maple-dominated forests in two locations in New York State, USA: one with a history of cultivation and thin organic surface soil horizons (forest floors) and the other with no history of cultivation and a thick (3–5 cm) forest floor. Earthworm invasion greatly reduced pools of microbial biomass in the forest floor and increased pools in the mineral soil. Enrichment of the mineral soil was much more marked at the site with thick forest floors. The increase in microbial biomass carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in the mineral soil at this site was larger than the decrease in the forest floor, resulting in a net increase in total soil profile microbial biomass in the invaded plots. There was an increase in respiration in the mineral soil at both sites, which is consistent with a movement of organic matter and microbial biomass into the mineral soil. However, N-cycle processes (mineralization and nitrification) did not increase along with respiration. It is likely that the earthworm-induced input of C into the mineral soil created a microbial sink for N, preventing an increase in net mineralization and nitrification and conserving N in the soil profile.     

Land cover change effects on soil chemical and biological properties after planting Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) in sandy lands in Keerqin, northeastern China

We compared soil moisture content, pH, total organic carbon (C _org), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and inorganic N (NH₄ ⁺–N, NO₃ ^?–N) concentrations, soil potential C and N mineralization rates, soil microbial biomass C (C _mic), soil metabolic quotient (qCO₂), soil microbial quotient (C _mic/C _org) and soil enzyme (urease and invertase) activities in semiarid sandy soils under three types of land cover: grassland, Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) plantation, and elm (Ulmus punila)–grass savanna in southeastern Keerqin, in northeast China. Soil C _org, TN and TP concentrations (0–10, 10–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm) were lower while soil C/N and C/P ratios were higher in the plantation than in grassland and savanna. The effects of land cover change on NH₄ ⁺–N and NO₃ ^?–N concentrations, soil potential nitrification and C mineralization rates in the surface soil (0–10 cm) were dependent on sampling season; but soil potential N mineralization rates were not affected by land cover type and sampling season. The effects of land cover change on C _mic and qCO₂ of surface soil were not significant; but C _mic/C _org were significantly affected by land cover change and sampling season. We also found that land cover change, sampling season and land cover type?×?sampling season interaction significantly influenced soil enzyme (urease and invertase) activities. Usually soil enzyme activities were lower in the pine plantations than in grassland and savanna. Our results suggest that land cover change markedly influenced soil chemical and biological properties in sandy soils in the semiarid region, and these effects vary with sampling season.     

林地覆盖对雷竹林土壤微生物特征及其与土壤养分制约性关系的影响

为了探讨林地覆盖雷竹林退化机理,给退化雷竹林恢复提供理论参考,对不同覆盖年限(CK、1、3 a 和6 a) 雷竹林土壤微生物区系组成和生物量碳(C_mic)、氮(N_mic)、磷(P_mic)等特征因子进行了测定,并分析了其与土壤养分的制约性关系。结果表明:(1) 雷竹林土壤微生物以细菌为主,真菌次之,放线菌最少,分别占土壤微生物总量的90.11%-98.03%、1.04%-9.22%和0.67%-1.37%。随覆盖年限增加,细菌、放线菌比率呈下降趋势,真菌比率呈上升趋势;土壤微生物总数、细菌和放线菌数量及C_mic、N_mic、P_mic均呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,试验雷竹林间差异极显著,真菌数量总体呈极显著升高趋势。(2)雷竹林土壤微生物特征因子与土壤有机质(SOM)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)、碱解氮(Available nitrogen, AN)和pH均呈显著或极显著相关,其中,CK和覆盖1 a、3 a雷竹林土壤微生物特征因子与土壤养分主要呈正相关,与pH呈负相关,而覆盖6 a雷竹林则相反。(3)不同覆盖年限雷竹林土壤养分与土壤微生物的制约性关系存在一定的差异,CK雷竹林土壤SOM、TN、AN、速效钾(AK)和pH主要影响土壤C_mic、N_mic和细菌,覆盖1 a雷竹林土壤SOM、TN、TP和AK主要影响土壤P_mic、放线菌和细菌,覆盖3 a雷竹林土壤SOM、TN、速效磷(AP)和AN主要影响土壤N_mic、放线菌和真菌,覆盖6 a雷竹林土壤SOM、TN和pH主要影响土壤N_mic、真菌。研究表明:长期覆盖雷竹林土壤细菌、放线菌数量与比例明显降低,真菌数量与比例明显提高,土壤养分与土壤微生物的制约性作用关系会发生较为明显变化,产生土壤障害,这是覆盖雷竹林退化的主要原因之一。     

西南峡谷型喀斯特坡地土壤微生物量C、N、P空间变异特征

土壤微生物是陆地生态系统中最活跃的成分,它推动着生态系统的能量和物质循环,被公认为土壤生态系统变化的预警及敏感指标。以西南峡谷型喀斯特坡地为研究对象,基于网格法取样,结合经典统计学和地统计学方法,揭示了土壤微生物生物量的空间分布与格局及其主要影响因子。结果表明,西南峡谷型喀斯特坡地土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、氮(MBN)、磷(MBP)、碳氮比(MBC/MBN)、碳磷比(MBC/MBP)适宜,MBC、MBN、MBP变异均很大;空间自相关性明显,除MBP最佳拟合模型为球状模型外,其他指标均为指数模型。C0/(C0+C)均25%(4.9%—6.2%),呈强烈的空间相关,这主要由结构性变异引起。Kriging等值线图表明,MBC、MBN的高值区集中在坡中上部;MBP的格局明显不同,高值区集中在坡脚;MBC/MBN斑块较大,变化缓和;MBC/MBP的空间分布规律不明显,斑块多而破碎。西南峡谷型喀斯特坡地土壤微生物量空间分布的影响因子很多,其中,影响土壤微生物量碳和氮的主要因子有土层厚度、pH、碱解氮。西南峡谷型喀斯特坡地土壤微生物不仅存在着小尺度的空间分布格局,而且不同土壤微生物属性的空间分布不同。因此,应采取适宜措施,激活土壤微生物活性。     

中国西部3个亚高山森林土壤有机层和矿质层碳储量和生化特性

为了解土壤和植被界面的有机碳库和生化特性,分别将以云杉（Picea purpurea Masters）（SF）、冷杉（Abiesfaxoniana Rehder＆ E．H．Wilson）（FF）和白桦（Betulaplatyphylla Sukaczev）（BF）为优势树种的3个亚高山森林地表有机层（OL）分成新鲜凋落物层（LL）、半分解层（FL）和分解层（HL）,并同步测定了有机层和矿质土壤层（MS）的有机碳（OC）储量、微生物生物量碳（Cmic）、微生物生物量氮（N～）及转化酶、过氧化氢酶、脱氢酶和多酚氧化酶活性。云杉林、冷杉林和白桦林土壤有机层的有机碳储量分别为29．38Mghm^-2±1．28Mghm^-2、22．7Mghm^-2±1．12Mghm^-2和8．63Mghm^-2±0．95Mghm^-2,分别为总有机碳储量的62．2％、53．5％和36．6％。云杉林、冷杉林和白桦林土壤有机层和腐殖质层分别储存了92．8％、99．6％和78．7％的有机碳。所有林型中,HL具有最高的细菌数量、Cmic和Nmic及过氧化氢酶活性,FL具有最高的真菌、放线菌数量及转化酶、脱氢酶和多酚氧化酶活性。微生物数量、微生物生物量和酶活性的垂直分布格局意味着OL是土壤和植被之间最活跃的生态界面之一。     

Soil Amendment with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas fluorescens</Emphasis> CHA0: Lasting Effects on Soil Biological Properties in Soils Low in Microbial Biomass and Activity

Pseudomonas fluorescens strains are used in agriculture as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Nontarget effects of released organisms should be analyzed prior to their large-scale use, and methods should be available to sensitively detect possible changes in the environments the organism is released to. According to ecological theory, microbial communities with a greater diversity should be less susceptible to disturbance by invading organisms. Based on this principle, we laid out a pot experiment with field-derived soils different in their microbial biomass and activity due to long-term management on similar parent geological material (loess). We investigated the survival of P. fluorescens CHA0 that carried a resistance toward rifampicine and the duration of potential changes of the soil microflora caused by the inoculation with the bacterium at the sowing date of spring wheat. Soil microbial biomass (C _mic, N _mic) basal soil respiration (BR), qCO₂, dehydrogenase activity (DHA), bacterial plate counts, mycorrhiza root colonization, and community level substrate utilization were analyzed after 18 and 60 days. At the initial stage, soils were clearly different with respect to most of the parameters measured, and a time-dependent effect between the first and the second set point were attributable to wheat growth and the influence of roots. The effect of the inoculum was small and merely transient, though significant long-term changes were found in soils with a relatively low level of microbial biomass. Community level substrate utilization as an indicator of changes in microbial community structure was mainly changed by the growth of wheat, while other experimental factors were negligible. The sensitivity of the applied methods to distinguish the experimental soils was in decreasing order N _mic, DHA, C _mic, and qCO₂. Besides the selective enumeration of P. fluorescens CHA0 rif⁺, which was only found in amended soils, methods to distinguish the inoculum effect were DHA, C _mic, and the ratio of C _mic to N _mic. The sampling time was most sensitively indicated by N _mic, DHA, C _mic, and qCO₂. Our data support the hypothesis—based on ecosystem theory—that a rich microflora is buffering changes due to invading species. In other words, a soil-derived bacterium was more effective in a relatively poor soil than in soils that are rich in microorganisms.     

Soil nutrients and microbial biomass in three contrasting Mediterranean forests

Aims

The extent to which the spatial and temporal patterns of soil microbial and available nutrient pools hold across different Mediterranean forest types is unclear impeding the generalization needed to consolidate our understanding on Mediterranean ecosystems functioning.

Methods

We explored the response of soil microbial, total, organic and inorganic extractable nutrient pools (C, N and P) to common sources of variability, namely habitat (tree cover), soil depth and season (summer drought), in three contrasting Mediterranean forest types: a Quercus ilex open woodland, a mixed Q. suber and Q. canariensis woodland and a Pinus sylvestris forest.

Results

Soil microbial and available nutrient pools were larger beneath tree cover than in open areas in both oak woodlands whereas the opposite trend was found in the pine forest. The greatest differences in soil properties between habitat types were found in the open woodland. Season (drought effect) was the main driver of variability in the pine forest and was related to a loss of microbial nutrients (up to 75 % loss of N_mic and P_mic) and an increase in microbial ratios (C_mic/N_mic, C_mic/P_mic) from Spring to Summer in all sites. Nutrient pools consistently decreased with soil depth, with microbial C, N and P in the top soil being up to 208 %, 215 % and 274 % larger than in the deeper soil respectively.

Conclusions

Similar patterns of variation emerged in relation to season and soil depth across the three forest types whereas the direction and magnitude of the habitat (tree cover) effect was site-dependent, possibly related to the differences in tree species composition and forest structure, and thus in the quality and distribution of the litter input.     

Long-term effect of re-vegetation on the microbial community of a severely eroded soil in sub-tropical China

The long-term (18 years) effects of re-vegetating eroded soil on soil microbial biomass, community structure and diversity were investigated in a forest soil derived from Quaternary clay in the Red Soil Ecological Experimental Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Large areas of land in this region of China have been subjected to severe soil erosion, characterised by the removal of the fertile surface soil and even the exposure of parental rock in some areas due to a combination of deforestation and heavy rainfall. The effects of planting eroded or uneroded soil with Pinus massoniana, Cinnamomum camphora or Lespedeza bicolor on the soil microbial community and chemical properties were assessed. Total soil microbial community DNA was extracted and bacterial 16 S rRNA gene fragments were amplified by PCR and analysed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). Microbial biomass carbon (C_mic) was measured by chloroform fumigation-extraction. Following the restoration there were significant increases in both C_mic and bacterial diversity (Shannon index), and significant changes in bacterial community structure. Erosion factors were significant only in minor dimensions suggesting that the restoration had been largely successful in terms of bacterial community structure. Compared with uneroded soil, C_mic recovered in L. bicolor and P. massoniana restored eroded plots and was significantly greater under these tree species than C. camphora, although soils in C. camphora restored plots displayed the highest bacterial diversity. The recovery of microbial biomass and diversity in the eroded plots was, to large extent, accompanied by the development of the same bacterial community structure as in the uneroded plots with erosion having relatively little effect on bacterial community structure.