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Relationship between basal soil respiration rate, tree stand and soil characteristics in boreal forests.

Soil respiration is considered to represent the overall microbial activity reflecting mineralisation of organic matter in soil. It is the most commonly used biological variable in soil studies. In long-term monitoring of forested areas, there is a need for reference values for soil microbiological variables in different forest ecosystems. In this study we describe the relationship between soil respiration rate, tree stand and humus chemical characteristics of boreal coniferous forests stands. Soil respiration rate was higher in pine dominated than in spruce dominated study sites when the result was calculated on dry matter bases. However, when calculated on area bases, the result was opposite and no difference was found when the soil respiration rate was calculated on organic carbon bases. Irrespective of the main tree species, the soil respiration rate was equal in different development classes but not equal in soil fertility classes, i.e. within forest site types based on differences in ground vegetation. Respiration rates were clearly higher in mesic sites when calculated on dry matter, C(org) or area bases. However, soil respiration rate did not correlate with soil chemical variables indicating site fertility. Soil respiration rate on dry matter basis was at a lower level in the south and on more fertile sites, and on the other hand at a higher level in older stands and on sites with a thicker organic layer.

Carbon Dioxide↗

Transfer of hexazinone and glyphosate through undisturbed soil columns in soils under Christmas tree cultivation.

Field studies monitoring pesticide pollution in the Morvan region (France) have revealed surface water contamination by some herbicides. The purpose of this study was to investigate in greater detail the transport of two herbicides, used in Christmas tree production in the Morvan, under controlled laboratory conditions. Thus, the leaching of hexazinone (3-cyclohexyl-6-dimethyl-amino-1-methyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4 (1H,3H) dione) and glyphosate (N-(phosphono-methyl-glycine)) through structured soil columns was studied using one loamy sand and two sandy loams from sites currently under Christmas tree cultivation in the Morvan. The three soils were cultivated sandy brunisol [Sound reference base for soils, D. Baize, M.C. Girard (Coord.), INRA, Versailles, 1998, 322 p] or, according to the FAO [FAO, World reference base for soil resources, ISSS-ISRIC-FAO, FAO, Rome, Italy, 1998], the La Garenne was an arenosol and the two other soils were cambisols. The clay contents of the soils ranged from 86 to 156 g kg(-1) and the organic carbon ranged from 98 to 347 g kg(-1). After 160 mm of simulated rainfall applied over 12 days, 2-11% of the applied hexazinone was recovered in the leachate. The recovery was much higher than that of glyphosate, which was less than 0.01%. The greater mobility of hexazinone might be related to its much lower adsorption coefficient, K(oc), 19-300 l kg(-1), compared with 8.5-10231 l kg(-1) for glyphosate (literature values). Another factor that may explain the higher amounts of hexazinone recovered in the leachates of the three soil columns is its greater persistence (19.7-91 days) relative to that of glyphosate (7.9-14.4 days). The mobility of both herbicides was greater in the soils with higher gravel contents, coarser textures, and lower organic carbon contents. Moreover, glyphosate migration seems negatively correlated not only to soil organic carbon, but also to aluminium and iron contents of soils. This soil column study suggests that at the watershed scale, surface water contamination by hexazinone could occur via the horizontal subsurface flow in upper centimeters of soil. In contrast, the surface water contamination with glyphosate by this mechanism appears unlikely.

Carbon↗

Air-soil exchange of mercury from background soils in the United States.

The air-surface exchange of mercury (Hg) was measured, using a dynamic polycarbonate flux chamber, for soils with low or "background" Hg concentrations (<0.1 mg/kg) at eleven locations across the contiguous United States. Sampling locations included agricultural, desert, grassland, mixed and pine forest ecosystems (n=1326 soil flux measurements at 46 individual sites). An overall soil Hg flux of 0.9+/-0.2 ng/m2/h for these background soils was obtained by averaging the means for the different locations. Soil Hg fluxes were significantly lower in dark conditions than in the light for all but the grassland sites. Mean inlet air Hg concentrations were 1.0+/-0.1 ng/m3 in the dark and 1.3+/-0.2 ng/m3 in the light. Soil temperature inside and outside of the chamber, air temperature, relative humidity, and irradiance were measured concurrently with soil Hg flux. Soil-air Hg exchange was weakly predicted by environmental variables (R2 from 0.07 to 0.52). For a single location, flux was better correlated with soil moisture than other measured environmental parameters, suggesting that soil moisture might be an important driver for Hg emissions from background soils. In addition, based on data collected we suggest some quality control measures for use of Tekran 2537A analyzers when measuring low mercury fluxes. Using basic scaling procedures, we roughly estimate that natural emissions from soils in the contiguous U.S. release approximately 100 Mg/yr of Hg to the atmosphere.

Agriculture↗

Algal tests with soil suspensions and elutriates: a comparative evaluation for PAH-contaminated soils.

An algal growth inhibition test procedure with soil suspensions is proposed and evaluated for PAH-contaminated soil. The growth rate reduction of the standard freshwater green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata (formerly known as Selenastrum capricornutum) was used as the toxicity endpoint, and was quantified by measuring the fluorescence of solvent-extracted algal pigments. No growth rate reduction was detected for soil contents up to 20 g/l testing five non-contaminated Danish soils. Comparative testing with PAH-contaminated soil elutriates and soil suspensions showed that the suspensions had toxicity endpoints 2.5-3000 times lower than tests with the corresponding elutriates. Algal growth inhibition tests with soil suspensions are recommended for screening purposes as a supplement to elutriate testing. Experiments with a phenanthrene-spiked soil, showed that the sorbed compound did not contribute to the toxicity. However, the soil did act as a reservoir for phenanthrene, allowing desorption to occur continuously during the algal test which maintained higher concentrations of phenanthrene in the dissolved phase. Phenanthrene-spiked soil incubated for 90 days before algal testing, resulted in a reduction of the toxicity to P. subcapitata by a factor of 76 (from EC10 = 0.3 to 23.6 g soil/l). However, during this 90-day period the total concentration of phenanthrene in the soil decreased by 38% (from 322 to 199 mg/kg) indicating that phenanthrene in the aged soil had become less bioavailable.

Absorption↗

Effect of concentration, moisture and soil type on the dissipation of flufenacet from soil.

Effect of concentration, moisture and soil type on dissipation of flufenacet from soil has been studied under laboratory condition. The treated soil samples (1 and 10 microg/g levels) were incubated at 25+/-1 degrees C. The effect of moisture was studied by maintaining the treated soil samples (10 microg/g level) at field capacity and submerged condition. In general, flufenacet persisted for 60-90 days at lower and beyond 90 days at high rate. The dissipation of flufenacet from soil followed first order kinetics with half-life (DT50) values ranging from 10 to 31 days. The dissipation of flufenacet was faster at low rate than high rate of application. The slow dissipation at high rate could be attributed to inhibition of microbial activity at high rate. There was little overall difference in rate of dissipation in Ranchi and Nagpur soil maintained at field capacity and submerged condition moisture regimes. In Delhi soil net dissipation was faster under field capacity moisture than submerged condition. Soil types greatly influenced the dissipation of flufenacet. Dissipation was fastest in Delhi soil (DT50 10.1-22.3 days) followed by Ranchi soil (DT50 10.5-24.1 days) and least in Nagpur soil (DT50 29.2-31.0 days). The difference in dissipation could be attributed to the magnitude of adsorption and desorption of flufenacet in these soils.

Acetamides↗

Influence of seedling roots, environmental factors and soil characteristics on soil CO2 efflux rates in a 2-year-old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation in the Virginia Piedmont.

To understand the role of managed forests in carbon sequestration an understanding of factors controlling soil CO2 efflux will be necessary. This study examined the influence of seedling roots, environmental factors, nutrient availability, and soil characteristics on soil CO2 efflux patterns in a 2-year-old pine plantation in the Virginia Piedmont. Efflux rates were measured both near the base of seedlings and midway between rows in plots that had received fertilization and mulch treatments in a factorial combination. Soil CO2 efflux rates were consistently higher near the base of seedlings, fertilization increased seedling growth with no significant effect on rates. and mulching increased winter efflux rates. In a regression analysis of seasonal soil CO2 efflux, soil temperature explained 42.2% of the variance followed by the interaction of soil temperature and moisture and of soil temperature and plot position, which together explained an additional 9.8% of the observed variance in seasonal rates. During March 2000 measurements, the spatial pattern of soil CO2 efflux between plots was most influenced by differences in soil nitrogen and pine root biomass. Furthermore, spatial differences observed in mean annual efflux rates were found to be highly influenced by the amount of soil coarse fragments in the upper soil profile.

Biomass↗

Sorption and desorption of triadimefon by soils and model soil colloids.

Sorption-desorption of the azole fungicide triadimefon [1-(4-chlorophenoxy)-3,3-dimethyl-1-(1H-1,2, 4-triazol-1-yl)-2-butanone] on eight soils and a series of single, binary, and ternary model soil colloids was determined using the batch equilibration technique. Regression analysis between Freundlich sorption coefficients (K(f)) and soil properties suggested that both clay and organic C (OC) were important in triadimefon sorption by soils, with increasing importance of clay for soils with high clay and relatively low OC contents. Triadimefon sorption coefficients on soil were not significantly affected by the concentration of electrolyte or the presence of soluble soil material in solution, but they were highly dependent on the soil:solution ratio due to the nonlinearity of triadimefon sorption on soil. Freundlich sorption isotherms slopes were very similar for all soils (0.75 +/- 0.02). Desorption did not greatly depend on the concentration at which it was determined and showed higher hysteresis for more sorptive soils. Results of triadimefon sorption on model sorbents supported that both humic acid and montmorillonite-type clay constituents contribute to triadimefon retention by soil colloids.

Adsorption↗

Temporal evolution of copper distribution in soil fractions, influence of soil pH and organic carbon level on copper distribution.

The present paper deals with the temporal evolution, over 6 years, of copper distribution in soil fractions using a sequential extraction procedure isolating five soil fractions which are operationally defined but commonly identified as : F1 = exchangeable metals, F2 = metals bound to organic matter, F3 = metals bound to manganese oxides, = metals bound to iron oxides and F5 = the residual fraction. The soil studied was a silty agricultural soil whose four plots were deliberately enriched with copper sulphate in October 1992 and one of them was also enriched with organic matter, another one with lime and the last one with both organic matter and lime. The great advantage of such an experimental procedure was that the five plots represent the same soil and thus had the same soil texture. It was then possible to fully describe anthropogenic copper behaviour, and to describe clearly the influence of pH and organic carbon level on copper distribution. Furthermore, the plots were subjected to natural climatic conditions allowing a temporal study of copper distribution under natural conditions. The total Cu level as well as Cu-F3 and Cu-F4 were clearly decreasing with time. Copper concentration in artificially defined soil fractions were described with multiple regression equations with the variable total copper content (TCu) and with the variables soil pH and soil organic carbon level when required. Cu-F1 and Cu-F2 depended on soil pH and soil organic carbon level, while Cu-F3 depended only on TCu. Copper level bound to iron oxides depended on soil pH.

Agriculture↗

Copper phytoavailability and uptake by Elsholtzia splendens from contaminated soil as affected by soil amendments.

Pot and field experiments were conducted to evaluate bioavailability of Cu in contaminated paddy soil (PS) and phytoremediation potential by Elsholtzia splendens as affected by soil amendments. The results from pot experiment showed that organic manure (M) applied to the PS not only remarkably raised the H2O exchangeable Cu, which were mainly due to the increased exchangeable and organic fractions of Cu in the PS by M, but also stimulated plant growth and Cu accumulation in E. splendens. At M application rate of 5.0%, shoot Cu concentration in the plant increased by four times grown on the PS, so as to the elevated shoot Cu accumulation by three times as compared to the control. In the field trial, soil amendments by M and furnace slag (F), and soil preparations like soil capping (S) and soil discing (D) were performed in the PS. Soil capping and discing considerably declined total Cu in the PS. Application of M solely or together with F enhanced plant growth and increased H2O exchangeable Cu levels in the soil. The increased extractability of Cu in the rhizosphere of E. splendens was noted, which may have mainly attributed to the rhizospheric acidification and chelation by dissolved organic matter (DOM), thus resulting in elevating Cu uptake and accumulation by E. splendens. Amendments with organic manure plus furnace slag (MF) to the PS caused the highest exactable Cu with saturated H2O in the rhizospheric soil of E. splendens after they were grown for 170 days in the PS, thus achieving 1.74 kg Cu ha(-1) removal from the contaminated soil by the whole plant of E. splendens at one season, which is higher than those of the other soil treatments. The results indicated that application of organic manure at a proper rate could enhance Cu bioavailability and increase effectiveness of Cu phytoextraction from the contaminated soil by the metal-tolerant and accumulating plant species (E. splendens).

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

Extensive diversity of ionizing-radiation-resistant bacteria recovered from Sonoran Desert soil and description of nine new species of the genus Deinococcus obtained from a single soil sample.

The ionizing-radiation-resistant fractions of two soil bacterial communities were investigated by exposing an arid soil from the Sonoran Desert and a nonarid soil from a Louisiana forest to various doses of ionizing radiation using a (60)Co source. The numbers of surviving bacteria decreased as the dose of gamma radiation to which the soils were exposed increased. Bacterial isolates surviving doses of 30 kGy were recovered from the Sonoran Desert soil, while no isolates were recovered from the nonarid forest soil after exposure to doses greater than 13 kGy. The phylogenetic diversities of the surviving culturable bacteria were compared for the two soils using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. In addition to a bacterial population that was more resistant to higher doses of ionizing radiation, the diversity of the isolates was greater in the arid soil. The taxonomic diversity of the isolates recovered was found to decrease as the level of ionizing-radiation exposure increased. Bacterial isolates of the genera Deinococcus, Geodermatophilus, and Hymenobacter were still recovered from the arid soil after exposure to doses of 17 to 30 kGy. The recovery of large numbers of extremely ionizing-radiation-resistant bacteria from an arid soil and not from a nonarid soil provides further ecological support for the hypothesis that the ionizing-radiation resistance phenotype is a consequence of the evolution of other DNA repair systems that protect cells against commonly encountered environmental stressors, such as desiccation. The diverse group of bacterial strains isolated from the arid soil sample included 60 Deinococcus strains, the characterization of which revealed nine novel species of this genus.

DNA, Bacterial↗

Phosphorus leaching in relation to soil type and soil phosphorus content.

Phosphorus losses from arable soils contribute to eutrophication of freshwater systems. In addition to losses through surface runoff, leaching has lately gained increased attention as an important P transport pathway. Increased P levels in arable soils have highlighted the necessity of establishing a relationship between actual P leaching and soil P levels. In this study, we measured leaching of total phosphorus (TP) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) during three years in undisturbed soil columns of five soils. The soils were collected at sites, established between 1957 and 1966, included in a long-term Swedish fertility experiment with four P fertilization levels at each site. Total P losses varied between 0.03 and 1.09 kg ha(-1) yr(-1), but no general correlation could be found between P concentrations and soil test P (Olsen P and phosphorus content in ammonium lactate extract [P-AL]) or P sorption indices (single-point phosphorus sorption index [PSI] and P sorption saturation) of the topsoil. Instead, water transport mechanism through the soil and subsoil properties seemed to be more important for P leaching than soil test P value in the topsoil. In one soil, where preferential flow was the dominant water transport pathway, water and P bypassed the high sorption capacity of the subsoil, resulting in high losses. On the other hand, P leaching from some soils was low in spite of high P applications due to high P sorption capacity in the subsoil. Therefore, site-specific factors may serve as indicators for P leaching losses, but a single, general indicator for all soil types was not found in this study.

Adsorption↗

Biochemical parameters and bacterial species richness in soils contaminated by sludge-borne metals and remediated with inorganic soil amendments.

The effectiveness of two amendments for the in situ remediation of a Cd- and Ni-contaminated soil in the Louis Fargue long-term field experiment was assessed. In April 1995, one replicate plot (S1) was amended with 5% w/w of beringite (B), a coal fly ash (treatment S1+B), and a second plot with 1% w/w zerovalent-Fe iron grit (SS) (treatment S1+SS), with the aim of increasing metal sorption and attenuating metal impacts. Long-term responses of daily respiration rates, microbial biomass, bacterial species richness and the activities of key soil enzymes (acid and alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, beta-glucosidase, urease and protease activities) were studied in relation to soil metal extractability. Seven years after initial amendments, the labile fractions of Cd and Ni in both the S1+B and S1+SS soils were reduced to various extents depending on the metal and fractions considered. The soil microbial biomass and respiration rate were not affected by metal contamination and amendments in the S1+B and S1+SS soils, whereas the activity of different soil enzymes was restored. The SS treatment was more effective in reducing labile pools of Cd and Ni and led to a greater recovery of soil enzyme activities than the B treatment. Bacterial species richness in the S1 soil did not alter with either treatment. It was concluded that monitoring of the composition and activity of the soil microbial community is important in evaluating the effectiveness of soil remediation practices.

Adsorption↗

Attachment to autoclaved soil of bacterial cells from pure cultures of soil isolates.

Pure cultures of Arthrobacter globiformis and four fresh soil isolates were incubated individually in autoclaved soil, in both the presence and absence of glucose. These bacteria grew in the soil and, except for A. globiformis, eventually attached firmly to the soil solids. Firmly attached cells were defined as those which could not be separated from the soil solids by blending combined with a series of low-speed centrifugal washings. The attachment attained by the soil isolates appeared to duplicate that of the overall bacterial population that resides naturally in unaltered, unamended soil. Cell attachment in the autoclaved-soil system was accelerated slightly by glucose, but, except for one soil isolate, several months of incubation were still required before firm attachment was complete. Electron microscopy indicated that all attached cells produced extracellular polysaccharide slimes in the autoclaved soil and that these materials appeared to connect the cells to surrounding pieces of soil debris. The actual role of polysaccharides in attachment was not clear, however, because at least one of these organisms possessed extracellular slime during the long period in which it had not yet attached to the soil.

Journal Article↗

Survival of cowpea rhizobia in soil as affected by soil temperature and moisture.

Successful inoculation of peanuts and cowpeas depends on the survival of rhizobia in soils which fluctuate between wide temperature and moisture extremes. Survival of two cowpea rhizobial strains (TAL309 and 3281) and two peanut rhizobial strains (T-1 and 201) was measured in two soils under three moisture conditions (air-dry, moist (-0.33 bar), and saturated soil) and at two temperatures (25 and 35 degrees C) when soil was not sterilized and at 40 degrees C when soil was sterilized. Populations of rhizobia were measured periodically for 45 days. The results in nonsterilized soil indicated that strain 201 survived relatively well under all environmental conditions. The 35 degrees C temperature in conjunction with the air-dry or saturated soil was the most detrimental to survival. At this temperature, the numbers of strains T-1, TAL309, and 3281 decreased about 2 logs in dry soil and 2.5 logs in saturated soil during 45 days of incubation. In sterilized soil, the populations of all strains in moist soil increased during the first 2 weeks, but decreased rapidly when incubated under dry conditions. The populations did not decline under saturated soil conditions. From these results it appears that rhizobial strains to be used for inoculant production should be screened under simulated field conditions for enhanced survival before their selection for commercial inoculant production.

Journal Article↗

Influence of soil-water ratio on the performance of slurry phase bioreactor treating herbicide contaminated soil.

The influence of soil-water ratio was studied on the performance of the slurry phase bioreactor operated in sequencing batch mode (anoxic-aerobic-anoxic microenvironments) during the bioremediation of soil contaminated with pendimethalin. The performance of the reactors was evaluated at different soil-water ratios (1:5-1:25; at soil loading rate (60 kg of soil/cum-day to 12 kg of soil/cum-day)) keeping the loading rate of pendimethalin constant (133.2 g/kg of soil-day) in six reactors and variable (66.6 g/kg of soil-day to 166.6 g/kg of soil-day) in other four reactors. At 1:20 soil-water ratio, the slurry phase system showed enhanced degradation of substrate (629 microg pendimethalin/g soil). The removal efficiency of pendimethalin in the reactors was dependent on the mass-transfer rates of the substrate from the soil to the aqueous phase. Soil-water ratio and substrate loading rates showed significant influence on the substrate portioning, substrate degradation efficiency and substrate desorption rate.

Bioreactors↗

Soil remediation time to achieve clean-up goals I: Influence of soil water content.

The current models are not simple enough to allow a quick estimation of the remediation time. This work reports the development of an easy and relatively rapid procedure for the forecasting of the remediation time using vapour extraction. Sandy soils contaminated with cyclohexane and prepared with different water contents were studied. The remediation times estimated through the mathematical fitting of experimental results were compared with those of real soils. The main objectives were: (i) to predict, through a simple mathematical fitting, the remediation time of soils with water contents different from those used in the experiments; (ii) to analyse the influence of soil water content on the: (ii(1)) remediation time; (ii(2)) remediation efficiency; and (ii(3)) distribution of contaminants in the different phases present into the soil matrix after the remediation process. For sandy soils with negligible contents of clay and natural organic matter, artificially contaminated with cyclohexane before vapour extraction, it was concluded that (i) if the soil water content belonged to the range considered in the experiments with the prepared soils, then the remediation time of real soils of similar characteristics could be successfully predicted, with relative differences not higher than 10%, through a simple mathematical fitting of experimental results; (ii) increasing soil water content from 0% to 6% had the following consequences: (ii(1)) increased remediation time (1.8-4.9h, respectively); (ii(2)) decreased remediation efficiency (99-97%, respectively); and (ii(3)) decreased the amount of contaminant adsorbed onto the soil and in the non-aqueous liquid phase, thus increasing the amount of contaminant in the aqueous and gaseous phases.

Models, Theoretical↗

Risk-based ecological soil quality criteria for the characterization of contaminated soils. Combination of chemical and biological tools.

This paper describes the development of soil quality criteria for the characterization of soils focused on the potential risk to the ecosystem. The approach combines both Generic Soil Quality standards (GSQs) for individual chemicals and direct ecotoxicity assays on soil samples taken from the site. Criteria establish three main risk levels with their corresponding trigger values. The trigger values to determine high risk or "polluted" soils are exclusively based on direct toxicity assessments. The trigger values for the other categories are established by a combination of the application of GSQs and the results of bioassays. Low-risk is assumed when no toxicity is observed and GSQs based on precautionary ecotoxicity thresholds are not exceeded; high-risk must be considered if acute toxicity above the proposed trigger value is observed in soil or leachate samples. In between these levels, the risk cannot be elucidated and a site-specific assessment is required. The GSQs take into account the current or future land use, thus defining three categories: industrial soils, urban/residential soils and natural/agricultural/forest soils, each of them with different ecological requirements. The GSQ values are established following an inverse risk assessment methodology, integrating ecotoxicity and exposure models and setting the soil levels associated to pre-established criteria for the assumption of low risk. The proposed methodology covers all relevant ecological receptors and processes, soil organisms, potential contamination of ground and surface waters, and exposure of terrestrial vertebrates due to bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Exposure routes and protection criteria are defined in each protection goal. The relevance of each receptor and route is established according to the land use.

Animals↗

Assessing soil biodiversity across Great Britain: national trends in the occurrence of heterotrophic bacteria and invertebrates in soil.

An assessment of the biodiversity of soils was a component of the Countryside Survey 2000 (CS2000). This was the first integrated survey of soil biota and chemical properties at a national scale. A total of 1052 soil samples were collected across Great Britain during CS2000 and analysed for a range of soil microbial and invertebrate characteristics resulting in the production of a series of robust datasets. A principal objective was to use these datasets to investigate relationships between soil biota and environmental factors such as geographical location, vegetation, land use, land cover, soil type and pollutant levels as first stages in characterising the inherent biodiversity of British soils and investigating the potential of soil biodiversity as indicators of soil health at a regional or national scale. Preliminary results for culturable heterotrophic, invertebrate taxa, Acari, Collembola and Oribatid mites are presented here to illustrate the nature of the data collected and the patterns of soil biodiversity in relation to large-scale regional, vegetation and soil characteristics across the British countryside.

Animals↗