Gas exchange of a desert shrub (Zygophyllum dumosum Boiss.) under different soil moisture regimes during summer drought

The effects of soil water potential on photosynthesis and transpiration of whole Zygophyllum dumosum Boiss. shrubs were examined with a field IRGA system during a rainless summer. Daily photosynthesis and transpiration activities were not notably different on a unit phyllode area basis among shrubs at naturally differing soil water potentials. Irrigation of shrubs caused phyllodes to increase significantly in water content and new leaflets to appear. Leaflets had three times as many stomata per unit area (23000 stomata cm^-2) as phyllodes (7100 stomata cm^-2) but photosynthesis and transpiration rates were not measurably different between irrigated and non-irrigated shrubs on a unit area basis. This finding suggests that sufficient soil moisture will lead to increased carbon uptake of the entire shrub simply because the total area of photosynthesizing tissue increases. Gas exchange rates appear to be controlled solely by atmospheric conditions under the stresses of summer.     

Short-term effects of wildfire on microbial biomass and abundance in black pine plantation soils in Turkey

Measurement of soil microbial biomass and abundance offers a means of assessing the response of all microbial populations to changes in the soil environment after a fire. We examined the effects of wildfire on microbial biomass C and N, and abundance of bacteria and fungi 2 months after a fire in a pine plantation. Soil organic carbon (C_org), total nitrogen (N_tot), and electrical conductivity (EC) increased following the fire. In terms of microbial abundance, the overall results showed that burned forest soils had the most bacteria and fungi. Microbial biomass C and N from soil in the burned forest were not significantly different from their unburned forest counterparts. However, microbial indices indicated that fire affects soil microbial community structure by modifying the environmental conditions. The results also suggested that low-intensity fire promotes microorganism functional activity and improves the chemical characteristics of soils under humid climatic conditions.     

丛枝霸王（Zygophyllum dumosum）根际AM真菌生态学研究

AM真菌是一类广泛分布的土壤真菌,与宿主植物形成共生结构后,对于植物生长和植被恢复有多种有益的生理学和生态学作用。1999年11月至2000年10月,通过每月分别从0－10cm和10－20cm土层采集根际土样,对以色列荒漠地区丛枝霸王（Zygophyllum dumosum Boiss）根际AM真菌进行了系统的生态学研究。AM真菌的分布和定殖与季节变化和采样浓度密切相关。菌根真菌的最高定殖率并不伴随有最大的孢子密度,最高的定殖率发生在1999年11月,而最大的孢子密度则出现在2000年9月。10－20cm土层中的菌根真菌定殖率和孢子密度明显高于0－10cm土层。土壤温度与所有菌根结构的定殖率呈正相关,土壤有机质含量与泡囊和丛枝定殖率呈正相关,而土壤总可溶性氮对泡囊和丛枝定殖有显著正效应,对孢子密度有显著负效应。结果建议,孢子密度、泡囊和丛枝定殖程度可作为检测荒漠土壤状况的生态指标。研究应用于我国特别是西部荒漠地区的植被建立和恢复,可望发挥重任作用：（1）AM真菌能与绝大多数高奶系形成共生联合体,促进根系对土壤矿质营养和水分的吸收,提高植物对干旱、高温、盐碱、根部病害等的抗性,提高逆境条件下植物的成活率,深入研究荒漠生态系统中AM真菌动态分布,以及筛选优势AM菌种和人工接种,进行菌根化育苗,为植被建立和恢复提供优质苗木;（2）菌根的丛枝定殖时间短,主要发生在幼根,泡囊定殖时间长,主要发生在老根,而AM真菌的生长发育和繁殖所需的碳水化合物来自植物根系的分泌活动,所以,通过检测不同时期菌根各种结构的定殖程度和孢子的丰富度,可以获得宿主植物根系的生长状况,进而对土壤环境作出科学的评估。     

荒漠灌木梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)周围土壤微生物的空间分布

以古尔班通古特沙漠荒漠生态系统中主要优势种——梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)冠幅内外的土壤为研究对象,通过分析从树干基部向外水分和养分变化下土壤微生物生物量、多样性和群落组成的变化规律,试图揭示荒漠生态系统中土壤微生物空间分布的基本特征。微生物生物量和多样性采用磷脂脂肪酸进行测定。结果表明:从树干基部向外,土壤微生物总生物量、多样性以及不同微生物类群的生物量均随土壤水分和养分含量降低而逐渐降低,指示了土壤微生物从裸地向内集聚分布的特征。另外,在微生物群落组成中,不同类群微生物的生物量从树干基部向外的减少程度有所不同,例如,从树干基部附近5 cm处到冠外裸地200 cm处,真菌、细菌、革兰氏阳性菌、革兰氏阴性菌的生物量分别减少了50.25%、84.06%、82.70%、92.57%,指示了细菌从裸地向内集聚分布的程度强于真菌,革兰氏阴性菌从裸地向内集聚分布的程度也较强于革兰氏阳性菌。研究表明,在资源稀缺的荒漠生态系统中,土壤微生物倾向于分布在冠内资源丰富的区域。土壤微生物的空间分布不仅与资源的丰富度有关,而且与微生物自身对环境变化的忍耐性或敏感性有关。     

Bioremediation of olive oil mill wastewater and production of microbial biomass

Olive oil mill wastewater (OMWW) was used as a substrate for the culture of a mixture of edible fungi in order to obtain a potentially useful microbial biomass and to induce a partial bioremediation of this fastidious waste. Before fermentation, the OMWW underwent an alkaline-oxidative treatment with the aim of decreasing the polyphenolic content which is the main cause of its toxicity. The fungal mixture grew fairly well in the treated OMWW and reached a maximum of biomass production within about 14 days of fermentation at room temperature. Up to 150–160 g of wet biomass was obtained per liter of OMWW. Analysis of the partially dehydrated biomass revealed a protein content of about 13 g% and 6 g% of row fiber. A relevant presence of unsaturated fatty acids was found, as well as the presence of significant amounts of vitamins A and E, nicotinic acid, calcium, potassium and iron. The possibility of using the microbial biomass produced from OMWW as an additive to animal feed is discussed.     

Soil plus root respiration and microbial biomass following water, nitrogen, and phosphorus application at a high arctic semi desert

In order to investigate the effects of anticipated increased precipitation and changing soil nutrient levels on soil CO₂ efflux from high arctic semi desert, a field experiment was carried out in Northeast Greenland. Water, phosphorus, and nitrogen were added to plots in a fully factorial design. Soil microbial biomass carbon was analysed after one year, and respiration from soil plus roots was measured in situ throughout the third growing season after initiation of the experiment. Soil plus root respiration was enhanced by up to 47%, and the microbial biomass by 24%, by the weekly water additions, but not by nutrient additions. The direct effect of increased soil moisture on CO₂ efflux suggests that future changes of precipitation levels and patterns may strongly affect below-ground respiration in arctic semi deserts, with direction of responses depending upon amounts and frequencies of precipitation events. Morover, low CO₂ emission at low light intensities regardless of treatment suggests that the major part of the below-ground respiration originated from turnover of recently fixed C. Hence, the more recalcitrant soil organic matter C pool may not change in proportion to changes in below-ground respiration rate.     

The role of environmental, root, and microbial biomass characteristics in soil respiration in temperate secondary forests of Northeast China

For secondary forests, the major forest resources in China (accounting for more than 50% of the national total), soil respiration (R _S) and the relationship between R _S and various biotic/abiotic factors are poorly understood. The objectives of the present study were to examine seasonal variations in soil respiration during the growing season, and to explore the factors affecting the variation in soil respiration rates for three forest types (Mongolian oak, Manchurian walnut and mixed forests) of temperate secondary forest in Northeast China. The results showed that (1) the maximum total R _S rate occurred in July, following a bell-shaped curve with season, (2) for all forest types, the total R _S was significantly influenced by soil temperature (P < 0.01), and did not significantly correlate with soil moisture, (3) compared with fine root biomass, coarse root biomass was more closely related with the root respiration in mixed forest (R ² = 0.711, P = 0.017) and in Manchurian walnut forest (R ² = 0.768, P = 0.010), and (4) microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen were significantly correlated with heterotrophic R _S in Mongolian oak forest (R ² = 0.664, P = 0.026; R ² = 0.784, P = 0.008, respectively) and in mixed forest (R ² = 0.918, P = 0.001; R ² = 0.967, P = 0.001, respectively). We can conclude that in temperate secondary forests: (1) the R _S rate and the relationships between R _S and abiotic/biotic factors change greatly with forest types, and (2) R _S is strongly influenced by soil temperature, MBC, microbial biomass nitrogen and coarse root biomass in temperate secondary forests.     

Root biomass and nutrient dynamics in a scrub-oak ecosystem under the influence of elevated atmospheric CO2

Elevated CO₂ can increase fine root biomass but responses of fine roots to exposure to increased CO₂ over many years are infrequently reported. We investigated the effect of elevated CO₂ on root biomass and N and P pools of a scrub-oak ecosystem on Merritt Island in Florida, USA, after 7 years of CO₂ treatment. Roots were removed from 1-m deep soil cores in 10-cm increments, sorted into different categories (<0.25 mm, 0.25–1 mm, 1–2 mm, 2 mm to 1 cm, >1 cm, dead roots, and organic matter), weighed, and analyzed for N, P and C concentrations. With the exception of surface roots <0.25 mm diameter, there was no effect of elevated CO₂ on root biomass. There was little effect on C, N, or P concentration or content with the exception of dead roots, and <0.25 mm and 1–2 mm diameter live roots at the surface. Thus, fine root mass and element content appear to be relatively insensitive to elevated CO₂. In the top 10 cm of soil, biomass of roots with a diameter of <0.25 mm was depressed by elevated CO₂. Elevated CO₂ tended to decrease the mass and N content of dead roots compared to ambient CO₂. A decreased N concentration of roots <0.25 mm and 1–2 mm in diameter under elevated CO₂ may indicate reduced N supply in the elevated CO₂ treatment. Our study indicated that elevated CO₂ does not increase fine root biomass or the pool of C in fine roots. In fact, elevated CO₂ tends to reduce biomass and C content of the most responsive root fraction (<0.25 mm roots), a finding that may have more general implications for understanding C input into the soil at higher atmospheric CO₂ concentrations.     

红壤微生物量在土壤—黑麦草系统中的肥力意义

研究了红壤微生物量与土壤养分循环及植物生长的内在联系．结果表明,红壤微生物量不仅与土壤有机碳、全氮、有效氮等显著相关,而且与植物干物质产量及吸Ｎ 量也存在着良好的相关性,可作为指示红壤肥力水平和作物产量的重要指标．试验测得的红壤微生物量Ｎ 周转期较短,每年通过微生物周转的Ｎ 素达到微生物量氮含量的１ ．５ 倍到数倍．     

Predicted microbial biomass in the rhizosphere of barley in the field

Summary Laboratory data for the loss of root material by barley and field data for the growth of barley plants in Syria and in England have been combined to predict the amount of material lost by barley roots during a season, and to predict the resulting microbial biomass in the rhizosphere. The predicted microbial biomass C in the rhizosphere ranged from 10–34% of the total plant biomass C depending mainly upon the value used for rate of loss of root material. Total loss of root material predicted during a season in England constituted 7.7–25.4 percent of C fixed by photosynthesis. The major assumptions made in these calculations are considered, and the predicted values discussed in relation to reported values for soil microbial biomass, CO₂ fluxes from soil and associative nitrogen fixation.     

The effects of different soil water potentials, temperature and salinity on germination of seeds of the desert shrub Zygophyllum dumosum

The effects of different soil water potentials, temperature and NaCl concentration on seed germination of Zygophyllum dumosum Boiss., a common shrub in Israeli deserts, was investigated. Seeds had to be exposed to constant field capacity conditions (–0.0316 MPa) for a minimal period of two days before germination could start. Maximal germination under such conditions occurred after four days or more. Under simulated conditions of gradual dehydration of the soil, seeds were inhibited either at low soil water potentials (–0.10 to –10.00 MPa) or at high ones (–0.002 to –0.0398 MPa). Germination of Z. dumosum was independent of temperature in the range of 10–25°C, but strongly inhibited at 30 and 35°C. At 20°C germination was inhibited by salinity of the medium but still occurred (0.5%) even at a concentration of 0.5 M NaCl.     

淹水培养条件下土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和可溶性有机碳、氦的动态

以洞庭湖区2个典型水稻土（红黄泥和紫潮泥）为对象,研究了25℃、淹水培养条件下稻草-硫铵配施和单施硫铵处理土壤微生物生物量碳、氮（SMBC、SMBN）和可溶性有机碳、氦（SDOC、SDON）的动态变化．结果表明,SMBC、SMBN和SDOC、SDON在培养前期达到峰值,之后降低,并趋于稳定．添加底物后,2种土壤不同处理土壤微生物生物量碳与有机碳（SMBC／TC）和土壤微生物生物量氮与全氮（SMBN／TN）的平均值都在2％-3％之间变化;可溶性碳与全碳（SDOC／TC）的平均值为1％左右,可溶性氮与全氮（SDON／TN）平均值为5％-6％．2种土壤中SMBC峰值单施硫铵处理最大,但与稻草-硫铵配施处理差异均不显著;SMBN、SDOC和SDON峰值稻草-硫铵配施最大．稻草．硫铵配施与单施硫铵处理中,低肥力红黄泥的SMBN、SDOC和SDON峰值差异显著;而高肥力紫潮泥SMBN和SDOC峰值差异不显著．前7d,SMBC／SMBN〈10;14d后,同一时刻单施硫铵处理SMBC／SMBN〉稻草．硫铵配施．不同处理的SDOC!SDON3d时最大．28d时最小．     

Pollinosis related to Zygophyllum fabago in a Mediterranean area

Zygophyllum fabago is a herbaceous plant withairborne pollen found widely in the MurciaRegion, in the Southeast of Spain. Although itsallergenicity has been recently reported,little is known of its involvement inpollinosis. Aerobiological study andsensitization in pollinotics weremeasured using a Hirst volumetric trap. Wehave measured the atmospheric concentrationsof this pollen and other allergenicpollen types in our region, between March 1993 andMarch 1997. Z. fabago pollen wascollected for a morphometric study of thepollen grain, and a lyophilized extract wasprepared for skin prick tests. We haveconducted skin tests with different pollen typesfrom our region and with Z. fabago in1736 patients with symptomssuggesting pollinosis. The size of the pollengrain averages 15.17 × 17.35 µm. Thepollination period extends from May to August,with a mean accumulated concentration of 448grains/m³. Out of 1736 pollinotics,263 (15.15%) showed a positive skin test forZ. fabago, 6 were monosensitized and 257were sensitized to other common pollen types fromour Region. Specific IgE to Z. fabago wasequal or higher than 0.35 ku/l in 86.56% ofsensitized patients. Chenopodiaceae pollinateduring spring and autumn and sensitize a largernumber of patients; Urticaceae reach thehighest pollen concentrations for a longerperiod but are not the primary cause ofpollinosis. This study shows that Z. fabagopollen becomes airborne, elicits an IgEresponse and, like other pollens, contributestowards triggering allergic symptoms.It should therefore be considered arelevant allergen and accordingly beincluded in skin test procedures.     

荒漠草原土壤微生物矿化对灌丛引入过程及水分的响应

以宁夏荒漠草原封育草地（封育14年）、放牧地为对照,开展不同年限（3a、12a、22a）和间距（40 m、6 m、2 m）柠条地（Caragana korshinskii）灌丛引入过程土壤微生物矿化及对不同水分梯度（自然降雨、前期饱和、持续干旱）响应特征研究。结果表明：灌丛地0-20 cm和0-100 cm土层土壤全氮含量均高于放牧地且随年限和密度增加呈增高趋势,分别为0.28-0.42、0.27-0.42 g/kg和0.28-0.51、0.27-0.51 g/kg,但在22年且密度增至2 m间距的灌丛地与封育草地相比差异不显著或呈降低趋势;微生物量氮变化分别为0.041-0.057、0.041-0.081 mg/kg,且22年灌丛地呈显著降低,2 m间距灌丛地呈显著增加,但均显著低于封育草地0.079 mg/kg和放牧地0.103 mg/kg （P<0.05）;真菌/细菌比值随灌丛地年限和密度增加变化为0.06-0.33,均高于封育草地0.04和放牧地0.03（P<0.05）,微生物变化改变了灌丛地的矿化过程,相较封育草地0.003 mg kg^-1 d^-1和放牧地-0.068 mg kg^-1 d^-1的净矿化速率,不同年限/间距灌丛地虽分别降低为-0.155--0.084、-0.116--0.061 mg kg^-1 d^-1,但均表现为前期加速硝化过程,使得硝态氮则随年限和密度增加呈增加趋势显著高于两样地,而铵态氮变化则较为稳定;封育草地对干旱具缓冲作用,持续矿化,而放牧地和灌丛地净矿化速率对水分降低响应积极,分别降低280.3%和440.2%,其中放牧地和灌丛地以硝化作用变化尤为显著,特别是灌丛地则随干旱加剧净硝化速率均呈显著降低趋势（P<0.05）,其净矿化速率变化以硝化过程占主导。     

米亚罗林区土地利用变化对土壤有机碳和微生物量碳的影响

为了解土地利用变化对土壤有机碳和微生物量碳的影响,分析了川西米亚罗林区原始冷杉林、20世纪60年代云杉人工林、20世纪80年代云杉人工林和农地的土壤有机碳和微生物量碳状况.结果表明,土地利用变化明显地影响了土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量.土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量原始林最高,其次为60年代人工林和80年代人工林,农地最低.农地土壤有机碳含量分别比原始林、60年代人工林和80年代人工林低83%、53%和52%,微生物量碳含量分别低23%、25%和21%.土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量均随土壤深度的增加而降低,并且两者在不同土地利用类型的变化趋势基本一致.相关分析表明,土壤有机碳和土壤微生物量碳与全氮、水解氮、速效磷呈极显著相关(P＜0.01),说明土壤微生物量碳可作为衡量土壤有机碳变化的敏感指标,而土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量可作为衡量土壤肥力和土壤质量变化的重要指标.     

Nutrient and water addition effects on day- and night-time conductance and transpiration in a C3 desert annual

Recent research has shown that many C₃ plant species have significant stomatal opening and transpire water at night even in desert habitats. Day-time stomatal regulation is expected to maximize carbon gain and prevent runaway cavitation, but little is known about the effect of soil resource availability on night-time stomatal conductance (g) and transpiration (E). Water (low and high) and nutrients (low and high) were applied factorially during the growing season to naturally occurring seedlings of the annual Helianthus anomalus. Plant height and biomass were greatest in the treatment where both water and nutrients were added, confirming resource limitations in this habitat. Plants from all treatments showed significant night-time g (~0.07 mol m⁻² s⁻¹) and E (~1.5 mol m⁻² s⁻¹). In July, water and nutrient additions had few effects on day- or night-time gas exchange. In August, however, plants in the nutrient addition treatments had lower day-time photosynthesis, g and E, paralleled by lower night-time g and E. Lower predawn water potentials and higher integrated photosynthetic water-use efficiency suggests that the nutrient addition indirectly induced a mild water stress. Thus, soil resources can affect night-time g and E in a manner parallel to day-time, although additional factors may also be involved.     

微生物生物量C、土壤呼吸的季节性变化与黑土稻田甲烷排放

对黑土水稻田一个生长季中土壤微生物生物量C、土壤呼吸和甲烷排放通量进行了监测。结果表明,在水稻生长初期,长效尿素能显著抑制微生物生物量C和土壤呼吸(P<0．05),间歇灌溉措施对二者几乎没有影响,间歇灌溉能减少稻田甲烷的排放,平均排放量比对照减少了32．5％,长效尿素的施用稻田使甲烷的排放略有增加,施用长效尿素的处理,微生物生物量C与甲烷排放量之间呈显著正相关关系。     

Storage behavior of Zygophyllum xanthoxylon (Bge.) Maxim seeds at low moisture contents

This research aimed to determine whether low moisture content storage improves the longevity and storability of Zygophyllum xanthoxylon (Bge.) Maxim seeds. The seeds of Z. xanthoxylon were dried from 11.43 to 4.81%, 3.81 and 2.41% moisture content in a desiccating container with silica gel. After storage for 24 months their level of vigor was measured. After the ageing process, some physiology indices, including the relative electrical conductivity, SOD, PER, CAT, volatile aldehydes and malondialdehyde were tested. The results indicated that SOD, PER and CAT activities of the low moisture content seeds were higher than the control seeds while volatile aldehydes and malondialdehyde were lower than the control group. The electrical conductivity showed that there was obvious statistical difference between low moisture content seeds with the control group. All the results showed that low moisture content storage is beneficial for maintaining the vigor of Z. xanthoxylon seeds. Thus Z. xanthoxylon seeds can be stored with low moisture content at ambient temperature condition for a long time.     

内蒙古温带草原土壤微生物生物量碳的空间分布及驱动因素

【目的】探索内蒙古温带草原土壤微生物生物量碳的空间分布特征以及驱动因素。【方法】在内蒙古自治区境内沿着年均温、年降水梯度选择17个草原样点,在土壤剖面上分0-10 cm、10-20 cm、20-40 cm、40-60 cm、60-100 cm五层,分别采集土壤样品,测定土壤微生物生物量碳以及主要的环境和生物影响因子,分析不同草地类型以及不同土壤深度土壤微生物生物量碳的差异,探索非生物因子和生物因子对土壤微生物量碳的影响。【结果】草甸草原土壤微生物量碳最高,典型草原次之,荒漠草原最低。在0-10 cm土壤中,草地类型间的微生物量碳变异系数高于草甸草原和典型草原,低于荒漠草原;在0-100 cm土壤中,草甸草原样点间的微生物量碳的变异系数低于典型草原和荒漠草原。土壤微生物量碳与年降水、土壤含水量、粘粒含量、土壤养分元素、地上生物量、地下生物量呈显著正相关,与年均温和土壤p H值呈显著负相关关系。随着土壤深度的增加,土壤微生物量碳显著减少,非生物因子与微生物量碳的相关性减弱,草地类型间以及同一草地类型不同样点间的变异系数增加。0-10 cm土壤微生物量碳与10-40 cm土壤微生物量碳的相关指数高于0.5,与40-100 cm的土壤微生物量碳的相关指数小于0.3。【结论】内蒙古温带草原土壤微生物量碳的垂直分布呈现一定的规律性,且非生物因子对微生物量碳的影响也呈现垂直减弱的规律。     

Root CEC determinations to establish root biomasses of two plant species grown in mixtures

Summary The use of measurements on the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of roots in competition experiments with two plant species is suggested. If the root-CEC differences between the two species are not too small, measurement of this parameter offers a very simple way to determine the separate contributions of the two plant species in the total root biomass of the mixture. This root-CEC method can be applied to total root yields as well as to detailed root-zone studies.Grassland Species Research Group, Publication no. 48