Phosphorus fractions and phosphomonoesterase activities in sandy soils under a temperate savanna and a neighboring Mongolian pine plantation

To assess the effects of savanna afforestation on soil phosphorus （P） transformations in eastern Horqin Sandy Land, China, P fractions and phosphomonoesterase activities were examined in two soil horizons （0-5 cm and 5-20 cm） under a savanna and an adjacent 30-year-old Mongolian pine （Pinus sylvestris L. vat. mongolica Litv.） plantation on a P-deficient semi arid sandy soil. The results showed that all soil P fractions and phosphomonoestcrase activities decreased with soil depth at both sites except that labile organic P under the plantation was constant with soil depth, In contrast to savanna, soils trader Mongolian pine plantation had lower phosphomonoesterase activities and concentrations of all P fractions （with an exception of Al-P）, lower proportions of organic P and Ca-P in total P, and higher proportions of labile P, Al-P and Fe-P in total P. These results suggested that P transformations mainly occurred in surface soils, and P recycled through litterfall was the most important source of plant available P. Mongolian pine afforestation enhanced the bioavailability of both organic P and Ca-P. simultaneously reduced soil P pools. indicating that protection of forest floor and P fertilization are necessary to maintain the sustainable functioning of Mongolian pine plantations.

Effect of Biochar and Inorganic Fertilizer on Soil Biochemical Properties in Njoro Sub-County, Nakuru County, Kenya

Declining soil fertility is a major constraint to potato farming, the second most important food crop in Kenya. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of different rates of biochar and inorganic fertilizer on some soil properties;soil pH, soil phosphomonoesterases, inorganic nitrogen and extractable phosphorus. The study was conducted for two seasons (short and long rains) at two locations (Egerton University agricultural field and farmer’s field in Mau Narok) using a split-plot design in a randomized complete block (RCBD) arrangement with variety as the main plot and soil amendments as the subplot. Biochar and Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) at 0, 5, and 10 t⋅ha−1 and 0, 250, and 500 kg⋅ha−1 respectively, were applied, resulting in nine treatment combinations. Two potato varieties (Shangi and Destiny) were used in the study. A combination of 5 t⋅ha−1 biochar and 500 kg⋅ha−1 DAP and sole application of biochar at 5 t⋅ha−1 resulted in an increase of 1.25, 2.54 units in soil pH in two seasons, respectively. Similarly, a combination of 5 t⋅ha−1 biochar and 250 kg⋅ha−1 DAP increased soil available phosphorus by 105 units from 30.7 mg⋅kg−1 to 136 mg⋅kg−1. The application rate of 5 t⋅ha−1 biochar with 250 or 500 kg⋅ha−1 DAP significantly increased soil nitrate by 102.11 and 116.14 units, respectively. Soils amended with biochar at 5 t⋅ha−1 combined with 500 kg⋅ha−1 DAP, 10 t⋅ha−1 of biochar combined with either 250 kg or 500 kg of DAP gave the highest alkaline enzymes (mM pNP × kg−1 × h−1). However, the highest acid soil phosphomonoesterases were obtained under the sole application of DAP at 500 ha−1. Thus, using biochar with chemical fertilizer seems a plausible option to ameliorate the declining nutrient base of farmland in Kenya, which could sustainably support potato growth.

Characterization of extracellular phosphatase activities in periphytic biofilm from paddy field

Periphytic biofilms exist widely in paddy fields, but their influences on the hydrolysis of organic phosphorus(P) have rarely been investigated. In this study,a periphytic biofilm was incubated in a paddy soil solution, and hydrolysis kinetic parameters(half-saturation constant(Km) and maximum catalytic reaction rate(Vmax)), optimal environmental conditions, substrate specificity, and response to different P regimes of the phosphatase activities in the periphytic biofilm were determined, in order to characterize extracellular phosphatase activities in periphytic biofilms from paddy fields. The results indicated that the periphytic biofilm could produce an acid phosphomonoesterase(PMEase), an alkaline PMEases, and a phosphodiesterase(PDEase). These three phosphatases displayed high substrate affinity, with Km values ranging from 141.03 to 212.96 μmol L^(-1). The Vmax/Km ratios for the phosphatases followed the order of alkaline PMEase > acid PMEase > PDEase, which suggested that the PMEases, especially the alkaline PMEase, had higher catalytic efficiency. The optimal pH was 6.0 for the acid PMEase activity and 8.0 for the PDEase activity, and the alkaline PMEase activity increased with a pH increase from 7.0 to 12.0. The optimal temperature was 50℃ for the PMEases and 60℃ for the PDEase. The phosphatases showed high catalytic efficiency for condensed P over a wide pH range and for orthophosphate monoesters at pH 11.0, except for inositol hexakisphosphate at pH 6.0. The inorganic P supply was the main factor in the regulation of phosphatase activities. These findings demonstrated that the periphytic biofilm tested had high hydrolysis capacity for organic and condensed P,especially under P-limited conditions.

Impacts of short-term nitrogen addition on the thallus nitrogen and phosphorus balance of the dominant epiphytic lichens in the Shennongjia mountains, China

Aims To better understand whether and how nitrogen addition impacts the epiphytic lichens in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve(China).Methods Five dominant epiphytic lichen species,including Usnea longis-sima,U.luridorufa,Ramalina calicaris var.japonica,U.dasopoga and U.betulina,were selected as materials,and then field and la-boratory nitrogen addition experiments were performed.The phos-phomonoesterase(PME)activity and nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)content of these lichens were measured,and then the effects of nitrogen addition on thallus nutrient balance and PME activity were discussed.Important Findings Our results showed that with an increased N deposition from 0.6 to 50 kg N ha^(−1) a^(−1),the thallus N content of the five lichen species increased significantly,suggesting that those lichens had strong ability to take up and accumulate N,and an universality of N intolerance in epiphytic lichens.Meanwhile,the P content of five lichens increased slower than N content among N treatments,indicating the supply of P was deteriorated when the supply of N increased.The N addition also led to the N:P ratios of five lichens increased from about 10 to 20,and reached a maximum at 50 kg N ha^(−1) a^(−1),and the PME activity of the five lichen species was upregulated by the N addition,indicated that the balance between N and P was deteriorated in these lichens.We concluded that in-creases in N deposition will lead to nutrient imbalance in lichens and that nitrogen enrichment will change these five lichen species from being N limited to being P limited.Our research will be of value in the conservation of lichen diversity in the Shennongjia Nature Reserve(China).