Changes of Soil Microbial Biomass C and P During Wheat Growth After Application of Fertilizers

A pot experiment was carried out with a clay loam in a green house. The results showed that soil microbial biomass C increased with the application of organic manure at the beginning of the experiment and then gradually decreased with declining of the temperature. The soil biomass C increased at the tillering stage when the temperature gradually increased, and rose to the highest value at the anthesis stage, being about 554.9-794.4 mg C kg-1. The application of organic manure resulted in the highest increase in biomass C among the fertilization treatments while that of ammonium sulphate gave the lowest. At the harvest time the soil biomass C decreased to the presowing level. Like the soil biomass C the amount of biomass P was increased by the incorporation of organic manure and was the highest among the treatments, with the values of the check and ammonium sulphate treatments being the lowest. Meanwhile, the changing patterns of the C/P ratio of soil microbial biomass at stages of wheat growth are also described.

Soil microbial activity and nutrients of evergreen broad-leaf forests in mid-subtropical region of China

To better understand the effects of forest suc- cession on soil microbial activity, a comparison of soil microbial properties and nutrients was conducted between three forest types representing a natural forest succession chronosequence. The study compared a pine （Pinus mas- soniana） forest （PF）, a pine and broadleaf mixed forest （MF） and an evergreen broadleaf forest （BF）, in the Yingzuijie Biosphere Reserve, Hunan Province, China. Results showed that soil nutrients in the MF and BF plots were higher than in the PF plots. The range in microbial biomass carbon followed a similar pattem with Be havingthe greatest values, 522-1022 mg kg-1, followed by Mr 368-569 mg kg-1, and finally, PF 193--449 mg kg-1. Soil nutrients were more strongly correlated with microbial biomass carbon than basal respiration or metabolic quo- tient. Overall, forest succession in the study site improved soil microbial properties and soil fertility, which in turn can increase primary productivity and carbon sequestration.

The Importance of Three Protozoa in Corn Straw Decomposition and Nutrient Transformation

Three typical soil protozoa of Bodo edax, Colpoda cucullus and Amoeba proteus were inoculated into the soil amended with corn straw. The soils were then incubated at 25℃ for 60 days. It was found that the protozoa, particularly Bodo edax, significantly reduced soil microbial biomass C. However, the decomposition of corn straw was accelerated by the protozoa. Colpoda cucullus significantly enhanced soil available P content, but Amoeba proteus decreased soil available P content. Colpoda cucullus and Bodo edax did not obviously influence NH4+-N and NO3--N contents. In contrast, Amoeba proteus significantly increased both NH4+-N and NO3--N contents.

Transformation of Straw 14 C in Ultisol and Vertisol *1

Laboratory incubation was conducted to investigate transformation of straw 14 C in Ultisol and Vertisol under aerobic condition for 112 d at 30 oC. Dried and ground 14 C labeled rice and maize straws were mixed with the soils at the rate of 2.5 g kg -1 . Decomposition of the straw C and native soil C both revealed two stages, being faster during the initial days, and slower thereafter. About 37.33%～48.80% of the straw C and 4.22%～6.83% of the native soil C decomposed by the end of the incubation. The kinds of the straws only slightly influenced the rates of their decomposition in soils, however, some retardation was found in Ultisol at the initial decomposition stage due to its lower pH. Positive priming effects were observed in the soils applied with straw, and the rate of priming effect ranged from 7.23% to 13.80%. Net losses of native soil C were found under such incubation conditions, except Ultisol with rice straw. Soil biomass C and 14 C decreased gradually with incubation time, and seemed to be consistent with the decomposition patterns of straw C and native soil C. The ratio of biomass 12 C to biomass 14 C ranged from 1.35 to 3.37. Soil biomass C occupied 1.17%～2.32% of the total soil organic C, and the proportion of biomass 14 C to the residual 14 C varied from 7.3% to 14.3%.

Soil Organic Carbon Pools Under Switchgrass Grown as a Bioenergy Crop Compared to Other Conventional Crops

Switchgrass （Panicum virgaturn L.） has been proposed as a sustainable bioenergy crop because of its high yield potential, adap- tation to marginal sites, and tolerance to water and nutrient limitations. A better understanding of the potential effects of biomass energy crop production practices on soil biological properties and organic matter dynamics is critical to its production. Our objective was to evaluate changes in C pools under a warm-season perennial switchgrass in different soils compared to typically-grown crops col- lected at College Station, Dallas, and Stephenville, TX in February 2001. Sampling depths were 0-5, 5-15, and 15-30 cm. Switchgrass increased soil organic C （SOC）, soil microbial biomass C （SMBC）, mineralizable C, and particulate organic matter C （POM-C） com- pared to conventional cropping systems. Soil C concentrations were in the order： long-term coastal bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon （L.） Pers.] 〉 switchgrass or kleingrass （Panicum coloratura L.） planted in 1992 〉 switchgrass 1997 〉 conventional cropping systems. Soil C concentrations tended to increase with increasing clay content. Greater microbial biomass C followed the order of Dallas 〉 College Station 〉 Stephenville, and ranged from approximately 180 mg C kg-1 soil at Stephenville to 1 900 mg C kg-1 soil at Dallas. Particulate organic C was more sensitive than other fractions to management, increasing as much as 6-fold under long-term coastal bermudagrass compared to conventional cropping systems. Our study indicated that conversion of conventional cropping systems into switchgrass production can sequestrate more SOC and improve soil biological properties in the southern USA.

Bioavailability of Soil Copper from Different Sources:Integrating Chemical Approaches with Biological Indicators

Bioavailability is a key parameter in assessing contaminant transfer to biota. However, the input patterns and soil use types may impact the metal bioavailability. Several soil parameters were measured including chemical properties, such as pH, organic C, and Cu solution/solid speciation, and biological properties, such as soil microbial biomass C （SMBC）, seed germination, and root elongation, to evaluate the bioavailability of Cu contaminated soils from three different sources, i.e., non-ferrous metal mining, Cu-based fungicides, and Cu-smelting. The results revealed that free Cu2＋ ion in soil solution and the ratios of Cu fractions to total Cu content in the solid phase could not be used to predict total Cu content in soils. The indexes of seed germination and root elongation appeared not to be good biomonitors of Cu contamination in soils, which were more sensitive to soil pH and soil organic carbon （SOC）. Relationships between SMBC and soil Cu forms or the ratio of SMBC/SOC and soil Cu forms showed that free Cu2＋ ion and humie acid-complexed Cu could significantly inhibit soil microbial activities. Our findings suggested that both metal chemical forms and biological bioassays should be considered as a complementary technique rather than an alternative to evaluate the metal bioavailability from different pollution sources.

Temperature and Straw Quality Regulate the Microbial Phospholipid Fatty Acid Composition Associated with Straw Decomposition

Variations in temperature and moisture play an important role in soil organic matter(SOM) decomposition. However, relationships between changes in microbial community composition induced by increasing temperature and SOM decomposition are still unclear.The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of temperature and moisture levels on soil respiration and microbial communities involved in straw decomposition and elucidate the impact of microbial communities on straw mass loss. A 120-d litterbag experiment was conducted using wheat and maize straw at three levels of soil moisture(40%, 70%, and 90% of water-holding capacity)and temperature(15, 25, and 35?C). The microbial communities were then assessed by phospholipid fatty acid(PLFA) analysis.With the exception of fungal PLFAs in maize straw at day 120, the PLFAs indicative of Gram-negative bacteria and fungi decreased with increasing temperatures. Temperature and straw C/N ratio significantly affected the microbial PLFA composition at the early stage, while soil microbial biomass carbon(C) had a stronger effect than straw C/N ratio at the later stage. Soil moisture levels exhibited no significant effect on microbial PLFA composition. Total PLFAs significantly influenced straw mass loss at the early stage of decomposition, but not at the later stage. In addition, the ratio of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial PLFAs was negatively correlated with the straw mass loss. These results indicated that shifts in microbial PLFA composition induced by temperature, straw quality, and microbial C sources could lead to changes in straw decomposition.