Influence of pasture management (nitrogen and lime addition and insecticide treatment) on soil organisms and pasture root system dynamics in the field

At an upland field site in Scotland on an established Festuca-Agrostis pasture, the effects of soil amendment on root dynamics, using nitrogen and lime and the regular application of insecticide, were studied over a period of 1 year. The most common insect root herbivore at the site was Tipula paludosa, and the application of insecticide (chlorpyrifos) reduced numbers of all insect larvae of all species. Root biomass, root appearance, root disappearance and root density were all reduced by insecticide. This reduced rooting could reflect reduced root replacement, due to the reduction in root herbivory in insecticide-treated plots or could be a direct affect of insecticide application on the roots. Root appearance, root disappearance and C and N input to the soil were increased by treatment with nitrogen and lime, while root survival time was reduced. The nitrogen and lime treatment also increased bacterial numbers in the soil and enhanced their potential C utilization. An altered rooting density and longevity was brought about by the two soil treatments, which could have both direct and indirect effects on the soil biota.     

Roles of dominant understory Sasa bamboo in carbon and nitrogen dynamics following canopy tree removal in a cool‐temperate forest in northern Japan

To clarify the role of dense understory vegetation in the stand structure, and in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics of forest ecosystems with various conditions of overstory trees, we: (i) quantified the above‐ and below‐ground biomasses of understory dwarf bamboo (Sasa senanensis) at the old canopy‐gap area and the closed‐canopy area and compared the stand‐level biomasses of S. senanensis with that of overstory trees; (ii) determined the N leaching, soil respiration rates, fine‐root dynamics, plant area index (PAI) of S. senanensis, and soil temperature and moisture at the tree‐cut patches (cut) and the intact closed‐canopy patches (control). The biomass of S. senanensis in the canopy‐gap area was twice that at the closed‐canopy area. It equated to 12% of total biomass above ground but 41% below ground in the stand. The concentrations of NO₃^? and NH₄⁺ in the soil solution and soil respiration rates did not significantly change between cut and control plots, indicating that gap creation did not affect the C or N dynamics in the soil. Root‐length density and PAI of S. senanensis were significantly greater at the cut plots, suggesting the promotion of S. senanensis growth following tree cutting. The levels of soil temperature and soil moisture were not changed following tree cutting. These results show that S. senanensis is a key component species in this cool‐temperate forest ecosystem and plays significant roles in mitigating the loss of N and C from the soil following tree cutting by increasing its leaf and root biomass and stabilizing the soil environment.     

氮素对花铃期干旱再复水后棉花根系生长的影响

于2005~2006年在江苏南京农业大学卫岗试验站进行盆栽试验, 设置正常灌水(土壤含水量为田间持水量的75%左右)和棉花(Gossypium hirsutum)花铃期土壤短期干旱处理(将正常灌水的棉花自然干旱持续8 d, 以棉株出现萎蔫症状为标准, 之后复水至正常灌水水平), 每个处理再设置3个氮素水平(0、3.73、7.46 g N·pot^-1, 分别相当于0、240、480 kg N·hm^-2), 研究氮素对花铃期干旱及复水后棉花根系生长的影响。结果表明, 花铃期干旱条件下, 土壤相对含水量迅速减少, 并随氮素水平的提高而降低。在干旱处理结束时, 与正常灌水处理相比, 干旱处理棉花根重与氮素累积量显著降低, 但干物质根冠比(R/S)与氮素累积量根冠比(R_N/S_N)增大; 根系超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性明显升高, 而过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性降低, 同时, 丙二醛(MDA)含量相应增大。花铃期短期干旱亦显著降低棉花根系活力与叶片净光合速率。施氮可提高干旱处理棉花根重与氮素累积量, 降低SOD活性, 增强POD与CAT活性, 但以240 kg N·hm^-2水平最有利于根系生长, 其内在生理机制表现为R/S与R_N/S_N最小, 膜脂过氧化程度最低, 而根系活力最强, 其叶片的净光合速率亦最高。复水后, 干旱处理棉花根重与氮素累积量显著高于正常灌水处理; 内源保护酶活性相应变化, 其根系MDA含量与正常灌水处理已无显著差异; 根系活力显著高于正常灌水处理。施氮有助于增加复水后棉花根重与氮素累积量, 提高POD与CAT活性, 降低膜脂过氧化程度, 增强棉花根系活力, 从而提高叶片净光合速率。综合分析认为, 过量施氮或施氮不足均不利于棉花根系生长, 两年的试验结果表明, 在本试验设置的3个氮素水平中, 花铃期干旱胁迫下以240 kg N·hm^-2, 且基施50%, 初花期追施50%较适宜。     

A global analysis of fine root production as affected by soil nitrogen and phosphorus

Fine root production is the largest component of belowground production and plays substantial roles in the biogeochemical cycles of terrestrial ecosystems. The increasing availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) due to human activities is expected to increase aboveground net primary production (ANNP), but the response of fine root production to N and P remains unclear. If roots respond to nutrients as ANNP, fine root production is anticipated to increase with increasing soil N and P. Here, by synthesizing data along the nutrient gradient from 410 natural habitats and from 469 N and/or P addition experiments, we showed that fine root production increased in terrestrial ecosystems with an average increase along the natural N gradient of up to 0.5 per cent with increasing soil N. Fine root production also increased with soil P in natural conditions, particularly at P < 300 mg kg(-1). With N, P and combined N + P addition, fine root production increased by a global average of 27, 21 and 40 per cent, respectively. However, its responses differed among ecosystems and soil types. The global average increases in fine root production are lower than those of ANNP, indicating that above- and belowground counterparts are coupled, but production allocation shifts more to aboveground with higher soil nutrients. Our results suggest that the increasing fertilizer use and combined N deposition at present and in the future will stimulate fine root production, together with ANPP, probably providing a significant influence on atmospheric CO(2) emissions.     

Impact of low pH and aluminium on nitrogen uptake and metabolism in roots of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Lotus japonicus</Emphasis>

The effect of low pH and aluminum on nitrogen uptake and metabolism was studied in roots of Lotus japonicus grown in hydroponic cultures. The low pH slightly suppressed root elongation, and this effect was accompanied by the suppression of nitrate and ammonia uptake, as well as the nitrate reductase activity. In spite of high resistance of young Lotus plants to short-term Al application, the one-day treatment of Al strongly reduced nitrate uptake and also the activity of nitrate reductase (NRA) in the apical parts of roots. The glutamine synthetase activity was also suppressed by Al treatment, but in lower extent. On the other hand, the ammonium uptake and nitrite reductase activity stayed unchanged by Al treatment and the values were practically the same as in control plants. These results support the view that nitrate uptake and nitrate reduction might be the main processes responsible for Al induced growth retardation in Lotus plants grown in mineral acid soils.     

模拟氮沉降及经营方式对毛竹林土壤酶活性的影响

研究粗放经营和集约经营条件下毛竹林蔗糖酶、纤维素酶、硝酸还原酶、脲酶和过氧化氢酶5种土壤酶活性对4种氮沉降水平(0、30、60和90 kg·hm^-2·a^-1)的响应.结果表明:与粗放经营相比,集约经营分别显著提高土壤蔗糖酶、纤维素酶和脲酶活性55.5%、112.9%和28.6%,显著抑制硝酸还原酶活性31.5%,对过氧化氢酶活性的影响不显著.氮沉降显著抑制粗放和集约经营方式下毛竹林蔗糖酶活性20.0%～49.4%和36.2%～45.1%、纤维素酶活性20.5%～46.3%和18.3%～49.0%、硝酸还原酶活性67.9%～85.2%和15.2%～34.2%,以及集约经营毛竹林脲酶活性23.1%～47.6%,显著增加了粗放经营毛竹林土壤脲酶活性8.1%～50.6%,对过氧化氢酶活性的影响不显著.氮沉降与经营方式的复合作用除对过氧化氢酶活性的影响不显著外,对其他4种土壤酶活性的影响均达到显著水平.     

Root sampling methods - applications and limitations of the minirhizotron technique

Applications and limitations of the minirhizotron technique (non-destructive) in relation to two frequently used destructive methods (soil coreing and ingrowth cores) is discussed. Sequential coreing provides data on standing crop but it is difficult to obtain data on root biomass production. Ingrowth cores can provide a quick estimate of relative fine-root growth when root growth is rapid. One limitation of the ingrowth core is that no information on the time of ingrowth and mortality is obtained.The minirhizotron method, in contrast to the destructive methods permits simultaneous calculation of fine-root length production and mortality and turnover. The same fine-root segment in the same soil space can be monitored for its life time, and stored in a database for processing. The methodological difficulties of separating excavated fine roots into living and dead vitality classes are avoided, since it is possible to judge directly the successive ageing of individual roots from the images. It is concluded that the minirhizotron technique is capable of quantifying root dynamics (root-length production, mortality and longevity) and fine-root decomposition. Additionally, by combining soil core data (biomass, root length and nutrient content) and minirhizotron data (length production and mortality), biomass production and nutrient input into the soil via root mortality and decomposition can be estimated.     

Root growth and nitrogen uptake in sycamore (Acer pseudoplantanus L.) seedlings in relation to nitrogen supply

Acer pseudoplatanus L. trees were grown in sand culture for 2 years and, in 1988, supplied with either 1.0 mol N m^-3 (low N) or 6.0 mol N m^-3 (high N) to precondition their growth. In 1989, the same trees received either high or low nitrogen, producing four treatments; High N in 1988/High N in 1989; High N in 1988/Low N in 1989; Low N in 1988/Low N in 1989; and Low N in 1988/High N in 1989. Plant growth was affected by N supply in both years. In 1989 the Low N/High N treated trees had the same overall mass, leaf mass and stem girth as the High N/High N treatment. Early spring growth of foliage and roots was conditional on nitrogen supplied in the previous season. Later, the rapid increases in leaf, stem and root growth under high N was through root uptake. Internal partitioning of growth was affected, with the Low N/High N treatment producing more new leaves on axillary shoots, and more new white roots on existing structures, than the Low N/Low N treatment. Despite effects of the N preconditioning on the structure of both canopy and root system, nitrogen uptake was solely dependent on the current nitrogen supply.     

Effects of stubble and N fertilization management on N availability and uptake under successive rice (Oryza sativa L.) crops

Experiments were conducted in fields which had a history of nil to four rice (Oryza sativa L.) crops during the previous four summers. Incorporating stubble after each harvest reduced soil nitrate-N content between crops, but increased soil N mineralization potential. During the fourth successive crop, plots where stubble had been incorporated after the previous three harvests had an average 21% more soil NH₄N and 22% more N uptake than plots where stubble had been burnt.Soil fertility fell rapidly with increasing numbers of crops, and the unfertilized fifth crop accumulated approximately half the N (60 kg N ha^-1) found in the unfertilized first crop (116 kg). Fertilizer N alleviated the effects of annual cropping; the application of 210 kg N ha^-1 to the fifth crop (uptake of 156 kg N ha^-1) resulted in similar N uptake to the first crop fertilized with 50 kg N ha^-1 (154 kg N ha^-1).Applying N at sowing had no significant effect on soil NH₄-N concentration after permanent flood (PF), while N application at PF resulted in increased NH₄-N concentration and N uptake until panicle initiation (PI). N applied at PI increased soil NH₄-N concentration at least until the microspore stage.Management factors such as stubble incorporation and increasing N application rate, maintained N supply and enabled successive rice crops to accumulate similar quantities of N at maturity.     

Interactions of water,mulch and nitrogen on sorghum in Niger

We tested the hypothesis that plants only stimulate net mineralization of N when intense competition for N exists between plants and heterotrophs. Nitrogen mineralization in the soil used was insensitive to the range of moisture fluctuations that were inevitable during plant growth. Pots were planted to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or left unplanted and received no straw, straw added in one central layer, or straw added uniformly through the whole soil volume. Through the addition of¹⁵ N-labelled nitrate, initial soil inorganic N was increased to 17 g g^–1 in unplanted treatments and to 17 g g^–1 and 72 g g^–1 in planted treatments. Straw addition increased microbial immobilization of labelled N (soil inorganic N at planting), but did not reduce net mineralization of unlabelled soil N (soil organic N at planting), indicating that straw decomposers immobilized N early in the growth period. Plant growth did not reduce immobilization of N by straw decomposers. Net mineralization of N was not affected by plant growth at the low rate of N addition, but was reduced at the high rate of N addition. We conclude that the influence of wheat growth on net mineralization of N depends on soil N availability, with reductions in net mineralization at high N levels due to increased immobilization.     

增温与氮添加对不同季节杉木幼苗细根不同形态氮吸收动力学的影响

为了揭示不同季节下杉木人工林不同形态氮吸收速率对全球变暖与氮沉降的地下响应,在福建三明森林生态系统与全球变化研究站陈大观测点开展增温和氮添加双因子试验,包括对照、增温、施氮、增温+施氮4个处理。结果表明:(1)在三个季节中,4个处理的杉木细根对不同浓度下硝态氮的吸收速率基本呈现出春季较高,夏秋季较低的态势,而对不同浓度下铵态氮的吸收速率则相反,为夏秋季较高,春季较低。(2)不同季节四个处理的离体根对不同浓度下铵态氮的吸收均遵循米氏-曼氏动力学方程,而对硝态氮的吸收并不完全遵循米氏方程,表现为双相动力学。(3)春季,与无氮添加相比,氮添加提高了NH⁺₄的最大吸收速率(V_max-NH⁺₄)。夏季,与无增温相比,增温提高了V_max-NH⁺₄。秋季,与无增温相比,增温降低了NH⁺₄的半饱和常数(K_m-NH⁺₄);...     

Fine Root Production and Turnover in a Norway Spruce Stand in Northern Sweden: Effects of Nitrogen and Water Manipulation

Fine root length production, biomass production, and turnover in forest floor and mineral soil (0–30 cm) layers were studied in relation to irrigated (I) and irrigated-fertilized (IL) treatments in a Norway spruce stand in northern Sweden over a 2-year period. Fine roots (<1 mm) of both spruce and understory vegetation were studied. Minirhizotrons were used to estimate fine root length production and turnover, and soil cores were used to estimate standing biomass. Turnover was estimated as both the inverse of root longevity (RTL) and the ratio of annual root length production to observed root length (RTR). RTR values of spruce roots in the forest floor in I and IL plots were 0.6 and 0.5 y⁻¹, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for RTL were 0.8 and 0.9 y⁻¹. In mineral soil, corresponding values for I, IL, and control (C) plots were 1.2, 1.2, and 0.9 y⁻¹ (RTR) and 0.9, 1.1, and 1 y⁻¹ (RTL). RTR and RTL values of understory vegetation roots were 1 and 1.1 y⁻¹, respectively. Spruce root length production in both the forest floor and the mineral soil in I plots was higher than in IL plots. The IL-treated plots gave the highest estimates of spruce fine root biomass production in the forest floor, but, for the mineral soil, the estimates obtained for the I plots were the highest. The understory vegetation fine root production in the I and IL plots was similar for both the forest floor and the mineral soil and higher (for both layers) than in C plots. Nitrogen (N) turnover in the forest floor and mineral soil layers (summed) via spruce roots in IL, I, and C plots amounted to 2.4, 2.1, and 1.3 g N m⁻² y⁻¹, and the corresponding values for field vegetation roots were 0.6, 0.5, and 0.3 g N m⁻² y⁻¹. It was concluded that fertilization increases standing root biomass, root production, and N turnover of spruce roots in both the forest floor and mineral soil. Data on understory vegetation roots are required for estimating carbon budgets in model studies.