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PubMed2004

[Effect of land-use change on soil habitat in north Hebei plateau during last 50 years].

The change of soil habitat in an area depends on the land-use and cover change in the area to a great extent. Analysis of soil data in north Hebei plateau during last 50 years confirmed that the land-use change, i.e., the disorder reclamation of a large stretch of natural grassland into cultivated land and the extensive farming, had a series of negative effects on the soil habitat, and made the soil nutrients decreased. During last 50 years, the total and available amount of soil organic matter, N, P, and K decreased by 36.90%, 67.77%, 44.44%, 34.15%, 32.22%, 58.90% and 35.29%, respectively, and the granulometric contents of sand, silt and clay also varied by 18.24%, 19.55%, and 12.29%, respectively, which revealed that in order to ensure the land quality in the regionally important but vulnerable habitat area against the effect of land-use change and its possible degradation with time and to be in sustained dynamic equilibrium, it is necessary to take reasonable fertilization and reliable technical measures.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2005

[Dynamics of soil active organic matter in Chinese fir plantations].

Soil active organic matter is the main source of soil nutrients, and plays an important role in the formation and stabilization of soil aggregate. Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) is the most important fast-growing timber tree species in southern China, but its continuous plantation has caused soil deterioration. The study on the active fractions of soil organic matter under the first and second generation plantations of Chinese fir and the native broad-leaved forest at Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Hunan Province showed that their contents were higher under native broad-leaved forest than under Chinese fir plantations, and higher under the first than under the second generation plantation. The content of soil active organic carbon (SAOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) was 18.79 g x kg(-1), 421.7 mg x kg(-1), 252.2 mg x kg(-1) and 136.3 mg x kg(-1) under the first generation plantation of Chinese fir, and 22.31 g x kg(-1), 800.5 mg x kg(-1), 361.1 mg x kg(-1) and 220.1 mg x kg(-1) under the native broad-leaved forest, respectively. The corresponding values under the second generation plantation of Chinese fir were 73.6%, 87.9%, 66.3% and 53.2% of those under the first generation plantation of Chinese fir. The results also indicated that there existed some extent correlations among the active fractions of soil organic matter, and higher correlations between soil microbial biomass carbon and other active fractions of soil organic matter.

Carbon↗
PubMed2005

[Effects of different de-farming and reafforestation patterns on changes of soil fertility quality in Karst region of southwestern China].

A ten-year fixed site harnessing was conducted in the severely eroded karst region of Ziyun County, Guizhou Province by adopting four different de-farming and reafforestation patterns, and the properties of soil chemistry, soil microbiology, and soil enzymology after harnessing were determined in 2003. The results showed that the total amount of soil microbes and the individuals of bacteria, fungi and actinomyces were increased obviously, the activities of soil hydrolytic and oxidoreductive enzymes and the soil respiration rate enhanced evidently, and the storage of soil nutrients as well as their supplying intensities promoted pronouncedly, demonstrating that the soil quality in all adopted patterns was improved in varying degrees. The values of soil integrated fertility index (IFI) had an increasing trend. Therefore, proper biological measures and essential supplementary engineering measures were effective in improving the soil fertility quality of severely degraded karst region.

China↗
PubMed2000

Incorporation of (15)N from spiked cattle dung pats into soil under two moorland plant communities.

The rate and depth of cattle dung incorporation into moorland soil may be an important factor influencing plant community dynamics through its effects on soil nutrient availability. This study traces the incorporation of (15)N-labelled dung into a moorland soil under two vegetation types in Dartmoor National Park, UK. Cores of treated and control soil 10 cm deep were collected at 2, 4, 8 and 16 week intervals and divided into 2 cm depth increments. Soil samples were freeze-dried, ground and analysed for atom% (15)N and %N content using continuous-flow isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. The contribution of dung N to the soil N pool was estimated by changes in atom% (15)N of the soil. The incorporation of dung dry matter into the soil was also calculated. The labile component of the dung N was incorporated deeper and more rapidly into soil under grass than under heather vegetation. The implications of these processes for the dynamics of upland plant communities are considered in relation to the ability of plants to compete for nutrients.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of sewage sludge, septic waste and sludge compost applications to corn and forage: Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and B content of crops and soils.

This is the second of two papers presenting the data from an experiment on the application of aerobically-digested sewage sludge (AES), anaerobic lagoon septic wastes (ANS), sewage sludge compost and fertilizer to soils for grass forage and feed corn production at two different sites in Nova Scotia. Crop yields, plant tissue and Mehlich-1 extractable soil nutrients were evaluated; 15 elements were analyzed in the plant tissue and 9 elements in the soil extracts. This paper describes the Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and B content of the crops and the Mehlich-1 extractable content of the soils. The response to the amendments was not consistent at the two sites with the two different crops. We found that the septic sludge (ANS) produced the highest forage Fe, Cu and Zn levels and was equal to compost in elevating corn stover and forage S and the forage B content. The compost produced the highest forage Ca and corn Zn, the AES produced the highest corn Mn, and fertilizer produced the highest forage Mn. None of the amendments produced excessive levels of the above nutrients; rather, the amendments improved the feed quality of the forage and corn stover. Lastly, it was noted that the Mehlich-1 extract only had a significantly positive correlation with forage Cu content.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2004

Evaluation of manometric respiration tests to assess the effects of veterinary antibiotics in soil.

Extensive use of antimicrobials in veterinary medicine results in environmental exposure. Of major concern are microbial effects; including effects on nutrient soil cycles and antibiotic resistance. There is a need to assess the effects of these compounds in the environment. The application of standardized guidelines is relevant in studying many compounds. However there is a lack of special test methods designed for antibiotics. We validate manometric test flasks using glucose and a recalcitrant herbicide. The suitability of these tests for studying antibacterial agents is then investigated using two target functions (aerobic biodegradation and carbon transformation). Compound stability is quantified using HPLC techniques. Effects on total soil respiration in the biodegradation test are immediate and differ significantly from background. We show that compounds do not function as substrates, so effects are due to other soil processes, correlate well to sorption characteristics and are not dose dependent. This test provides details of relative antimicrobial potency towards soil microorganisms and can be used to rank compounds. However the test does not provide details on the nature or extent of specific microbial effects. In contrast, the carbon transformation test is more specific and provides a reproducible indication of dose effect relationships, which is more suitable in assessing the effects of these compounds in the environment. Presently, standard guidelines do not take into account the normal input of antibiotics into soils via contaminated sludge or manure. This should be corrected in future guidelines as these inputs alter microbial composition, organic matter, ionic strength and pH affect sorption and overall impact the test results.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2002

Reed (Phragmites australis) decline in a brackish wetland in Italy.

A comparative field study was carried out at two sites (a healthy site and a declining site) in a brackish wetland in northern Italy, with the objective to investigate the symptoms and the possible causes leading to reed (Phragmites australis) decline in this area. The declining reed plants presented many of the symptoms (clumping habit, smaller size, weaker culms, abnormal rhizome and root anatomy, low starch levels in rhizomes) comprised within the so-called reed die-back syndrome, frequently observed in central European wetlands but never recorded previously in (Sub)Mediterranean regions. Soil nutrient levels did not differ much between the two sites, with nitrate concentrations in the soil being even higher at the healthy site (1.54 microg g(-1); die-back site 0.76 microg g(-1)). Hence, eutrophication did not seem to represent a major cause in determining reed decline in this area. High sulphate concentrations in saltwater associated with low soil redox potentials (-215 mV) due to waterlogging resulted in high soil sulphide concentrations. Concentrations of organic acids, especially acetic acid, did not differ remarkably between sites. High sulphide levels presumably accounted for abnormal anatomical formations (callus blocking aerenchyma channels), lower rates of net CO2 exchange and reduced reserve storage, observed at the die-back site. This was associated with a lower mechanical resistance of reed culms which accelerated reed mortality in the die-back areas. We concluded that high sulpihde levels in permanently waterlogged soils may result in die-back of reed stands in Mediterranean wetlands.

Ecosystem↗
PubMed2004

[An overview on studies of soil organic matter in Chinese fir plantation].

Soil organic matter (SOM) is an important component of soil and an important carbon pool of terrestrial ecosystems, which plays an important role in soil nutrient cycling and in the balance of global carbon cycle. This paper discussed the SOM quality in Chinese fir plantation, the influence of rotation on SOM content, the change of SOM during Chinese fir growth, and the effect of human activities such as burning, site preparations and fertilization on SOM. Human activities changed soil environment including soil moisture, temperature, total porosity and nutrient contents, and hence, made the turnover of SOM slower or quicker. The content and quality of SOM in mixed forests were higher than those in pure Chinese fir plantations, and decreased with rotation. In the last part of this paper, some issues to be further researched were put forward, including the turnover model of SOM, its components, and its relationship with global carbon cycle.

Carbon↗
PubMed2006

Monitoring biodegradation of diesel fuel in bioventing processes using in situ respiration rate.

An in situ measuring system of respiration rate was applied for monitoring biodegradation of diesel fuel in a bioventing process for bioremediation of diesel contaminated soil. Two laboratory-scale soil columns were packed with 5 kg of soil that was artificially contaminated by diesel fuel as final TPH (total petroleum hydrocarbon) concentration of 8,000 mg/kg soil. Nutrient was added to make a relative concentration of C:N:P = 100:10:1. One soil column was operated with continuous venting mode, and the other one with intermittent (6 h venting/6 h rest) venting mode. On-line O2 and CO2 gas measuring system was applied to measure O2 utilisation and CO2 production during biodegradation of diesel for 5 months. Biodegradation rate of TPH was calculated from respiration rate measured by the on-line gas measuring system. There were no apparent differences between calculated biodegradation rates from two columns with different venting modes. The variation of biodegradation rates corresponded well with trend of the remaining TPH concentrations comparing other biodegradation indicators, such as C17/pristane and C18/phytane ratio, dehydrogenase activity, and the ratio of hydrocarbon utilising bacteria to total heterotrophic bacteria. These results suggested that the on-line measuring system of respiration rate would be applied to monitoring biodegradation rate and to determine the potential applicability of bioventing process for bioremediation of oil contaminated soil.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed2005

[Dynamics of soil nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter in alfalfa-crop rotated farmland in semiarid area of Northwest China].

Pasture-crop rotation is regarded as a key planting system in the semiarid area of China's Loess Plateau. This paper studied the dynamics of soil nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter within the two years of alfalfa-crop rotation. The results showed that in comparing with continuous alfalfa planting, alfalfa-crop rotation induced a decline of soil total nitrogen and organic matter contents by 5.4% and 19.5%, and 46.8% and 28.2%, respectively, in the first and second year, but no significant difference was found in soil total phosphorus. Soil nutrient availability was improved due to the rotation. In the first and second year of rotation, soil nitrate nitrogen and available phosphorus contents increased by 15.5% and 159.1%, and 44.5% and 48.0%, respectively. Planting spring wheat could maintain soil fertility, the second was fallow and planting potato, while planting corn accelerated the depletion of soil total nitrogen, organic matter and available phosphorus. As a result, in the alfalfa-crop rotation, planting spring wheat could be more available to the maintenance of soil fertility.

Biomass↗
PubMed2000

Primary metabolism and its control in streptomycetes: a most unusual group of bacteria.

Streptomycetes are Gram-positive bacteria with a unique capacity for the production of a multitude of varied and complex secondary metabolites. They also have a complex life cycle including differentiation into at least three distinct cell types. Whilst much attention has been paid to the pathways and regulation of secondary metabolism, less has been paid to the pathways and the regulation of primary metabolism, which supplies the precursors. With the imminent completion of the total genome sequence of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2), we need to understand the pathways of primary metabolism if we are to understand the role of newly discovered genes. This review is written as a contribution to supplying these wants. Streptomycetes inhabit soil, which, because of the high numbers of microbial competitors, is an oligotrophic environment. Soil nutrient levels reflect the fact that plant-derived material is the main nutrient input; i.e. it is carbon-rich and nitrogen- and phosphate-poor. Control of streptomycete primary metabolism reflects the nutrient availability. The variety and multiplicity of carbohydrate catabolic pathways reflects the variety and multiplicity of carbohydrates in the soil. This multiplicity of pathways has led to investment by streptomycetes in pathway-specific and global regulatory networks such as glucose repression. The mechanism of glucose repression is clearly different from that in other bacteria. Streptomycetes feed by secreting complexes of extracellular enzymes that break down plant cell walls to release nutrients. The induction of these enzyme complexes is often coordinated by inducers that bear no structural relation to the substrate or product of any particular enzyme in the complex; e.g. a product of xylan breakdown may induce cellulase production. Control of amino acid catabolism reflects the relative absence of nitrogen catabolites in soil. The cognate amino acid induces about half of the catabolic pathways and half are constitutive. There are reduced instances of global carbon and nitrogen catabolite control of amino acid catabolism, which again presumably reflects the relative rarity of the catabolites. There are few examples of feedback repression of amino acid biosynthesis. Again this is taken as a reflection of the oligotrophic nature of the streptomycete ecological niche. As amino acids are not present in the environment, streptomycetes have rarely invested in feedback repression. Exceptions to this generalization are the arginine and branched-chain amino acid pathways and some parts of the aromatic amino acid pathways which have regulatory systems similar to Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis and other copiotrophic bacteria.

Carbon↗
PubMed1999

Eutrophication: impacts of excess nutrient inputs on freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems.

In the mid-1800s, the agricultural chemist Justus von Liebig demonstrated strong positive relationships between soil nutrient supplies and the growth yields of terrestrial plants, and it has since been found that freshwater and marine plants are equally responsive to nutrient inputs. Anthropogenic inputs of nutrients to the Earth's surface and atmosphere have increased greatly during the past two centuries. This nutrient enrichment, or eutrophication, can lead to highly undesirable changes in ecosystem structure and function, however. In this paper we briefly review the process, the impacts, and the potential management of cultural eutrophication in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems. We present two brief case studies (one freshwater and one marine) demonstrating that nutrient loading restriction is the essential cornerstone of aquatic eutrophication control. In addition, we present results of a preliminary statistical analysis that is consistent with the hypothesis that anthropogenic emissions of oxidized nitrogen could be influencing atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide via nitrogen stimulation of global primary production.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Phosphorus removal in emergent free surface wetlands.

Constructed and natural wetlands are capable of absorbing new phosphorus loadings, and, in appropriate circumstances, can provide a low-cost alternative to chemical and biological treatment. Phosphorus interacts strongly with wetland soils and biota, which provide both short-term and sustainable long-term storage of this nutrient. Soil sorption may provide initial removal, but this partly reversible storage eventually becomes saturated. Uptake by biota, including bacteria, algae, and duckweed, as well as macrophytes, forms an initial removal mechanism. Cycling through growth, death, and decomposition returns most of the biotic uptake, but an important residual contributes to long-term accretion in newly formed sediments and soils. Despite the apparent complexity of these several removal mechanisms, data analysis shows that relatively simple equations can describe the sustainable processes. Previous global first order removal rates characterize the sustainable removal, but do not incorporate any biotic features. This article reviews the relevant processes and summarizes quantitative data on wetland phosphorus removal.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2001

[Effect of Shajiang black soil amended by coal fly ash on ecological factors and residue of heavy metal in wheat field].

The effect of Shajiang black soil amended by coal fly ash on ecological factors in wheat field and residua of Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg and As were studied by pot experiment. The results showed that applying coal fly ash into Shajiang black soil could decrease soil density, soil proportion and clay content, but increase soil porosity, filtration coefficient and soil temperature. Moreover, it could promote water evaporating when soil moisture was high and keep soil water when lower than 10%. It also could facilitate activity of soil micro-organism and promote soil nutrient transforming. With (6-18) x 10(4) kg.hm-2 coal fly ash applied in Shajiang black soil, the accumulated quantity of Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg and As in soil and in wheat grain were lower than international standard index of pollution. Therefor, Shajiang black soil amended by coal fly ash was safe and reliable within the above range.

Coal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Leaching of dissolved organic carbon and carbon dioxide emission after compost application to six nutrient-depleted forest soils.

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of compost application on soil respiration and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) output of nutrient-depleted forest soils. An amount of 6.3 kg m(-2) mature compost was applied to the forest floor of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.), and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands at Soiling and Unterlüss, Germany. Cumulative soil respiration significantly increased by 499 g C m(-2) in the spruce stand at Unterlüss and by 274 g C m(-2) in the beech stand at Soiling following compost application whereas soil respiration of the other four stands was not affected. The increases in soil respiration of the two stands were explained by improved microbial decomposition of soil organic matter. The DOC concentrations and fluxes in throughfall and seepage water at 10- and 100-cm depths were determined from August 1997 to March 2000. In the control plots, cumulative DOC outputs at 10 cm ranged between 57 and 95 g C m(-2), with the highest rates in the pine stands. Compost treatment significantly increased cumulative DOC outputs by 31 to 69 g C m(-2) at 10 cm and by 0.3 to 6.6 g C m(-2) at 100 cm. The mineral soils between the 10- and 100-cm depths acted as significant sinks for DOC, as shown by much lower cumulative outputs at 100 cm of 3 to 11 g C m(-2) in the control and 6 to 16 g C m(-2) in the compost plots. Our results suggest that a single, moderate application of mature compost to nutrient-depleted forest soils has little effect on C losses to the atmosphere and ground water.

Carbon↗
PubMed2003

[Soil fertility evolution, nutrient balance and reasonable fertilization in paddy field in southern area of Jiangsu Province].

With the integration of macro-statistical data, micro-survey data and parameters obtained from previous studies, the soil fertility evolution and nutrient balance in paddy fields in southern Jiangsu were analyzed to provide evidence of scientific fertilizer application. It was showed that from 1982 to 1996, the total nitrogen and organic matter contents in Wuxi paddy fields had a rapid increase, phosphorus had a slow increase, and potassium had a general decrease. Soil nutrient balance analysis in Wuxi and Changzhou cities showed that nitrogen was commonly surplus, potassium was generally inadequate, and phosphorus was different from nitrogen and potassium. Phosphorus was surplus in Wuxi city and inadequate in Changzhou city. On the basis of nutrient balance, the reasonable nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer application amount was 488.9, 113.1 and 235.1 kg.hm-2 in Wuxi, and 499.4, 112.5 and 234.2 kg.hm-2 in Changzhou paddy fields, respectively. Due to the nitrogen accumulation and potassium absence in soil, the nitrogen and potassium application amount should be lower and higher than the above reasonable nitrogen and potassium application amount.

Fertilizers↗
PubMed2001

The impact of long-term nitrogen addition on microbial community composition in three Hawaiian forest soils.

We evaluated the microbial communities in three Hawaiian forest soils along a natural fertility gradient and compared their distinct responses to long-term nitrogen (N) additions. The sites studied have the same elevation, climate, and dominant vegetation, but vary in age of development, and thus in soil nutrient availability and nutrient limitation to plant growth. Fertilized plots at each site have received 100 kg ha year(-1) N addition for at least 8 years. Soil parameters, water content, pH, and ammonium and nitrate availability differed by site, but not between control and N-addition treatments within a site at the time of sampling. Microbial biomass also varied by site, but was not affected by N addition. In contrast, microbial community composition (measured by phospholipid analysis) varied among sites and between control and N-addition plots within a site. These data suggest that microbial community composition responds to N addition even when plant net primary productivity is limited by nutrients other than N. This may have implications for the behavior of forests impacted by atmospheric N deposition that are considered to be "nitrogen saturated," yet still retain N in the soil.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2006

Rangeland dynamics in southern Ethiopia: (1) botanical composition of grasses and soil characteristics in relation to land-use and distance from water in semi-arid Borana rangelands.

The distribution and compositional pattern of the grass layer, as well as soil quality of southern Ethiopian semi-arid rangelands were examined under three land-use systems (communal land, government ranch and a traditional grazing reserve enclosure) and along a distance gradient (near, middle and far) from water sources. In total, 49 grass species were identified, 65% of which were perennials. Of the most commonly distributed highly desirable species, Chrysopogon aucheri showed the greatest frequency under the traditional grazing reserve (27.6%), and the lowest in the communal land (14.0%). The frequency of Cenchrus ciliaris was similar in all the study sites. The proportion of Lepthotrium senegalensis was low under the land-use systems (3.9%) and increased away from water sources (2.3%). Of the less desirable species, Sporobulus nervosus was extremely more abundant (<0.05) in the communal land (13.3%) than the traditional grazing reserve (3.3%) and the government ranch (1.9%). Sporobolus pyramidalis was dominant in the study sites, with similar (P>0.05) frequency percentages under the land-use systems and along the distance gradients from water. Basal cover was low and similar on all the study sites (3.3%). Concerning the soil texture, sand (71.1%) constituted the largest proportion, followed by silt (21.3%) and lastly, clay (7.7%). With regard to soil exchangeable cations, organic C and total nitrogen were generally low and did not show marked variation in all the study sites. The study showed significant differences for most of the vegetation variables between the communal land and the other land-uses. This suggested that grazing intensity was higher in the communal land and moderate in the government ranch and in the traditional grazing reserves (kallos). The lack of significant differences in most of the studied (vegetation) variables along the distance gradient from water could be ascribed to the fact that grazing disturbance has already exceeded a certain threshold of degradation. Under the present low states of soil nutrients and rainfall, cultivation is neither sustainable nor environmentally friendly and this will lead to further degradation of the soil in these marginal lands.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗