Eff ect of prescribed burning on the small-scale spatial heterogeneity of soil microbial biomass in Pinus koraiensis and Quercus mongolica forests of China

Prescribed burning can alter soil microbial activity and spatially redistribute soil nutrient elements.However,no systematic,in-depth studies have investigated the impact of prescribed burning on the spatial patterns of soil microbial biomass in temperate forest ecosystems in Northeast China.The present study investigated the impacts of prescribed burning on the small-scale spatial heterogeneity of microbial biomass carbon(MBC)and microbial biomass nitrogen(MBN)in the upper(0–10 cm)and lower(10–20 cm)soil layers in Pinus koraiensis and Quercus mongolica forests and explored the factors that infl uence spatial variations of these variables after prescribed burning.Our results showed that,MBC declined by approximately 30%in the 10–20 cm soil layer in the Q.mongolica forest,where there were no signifi cant eff ects on the soil MBC and MBN contents of the P.koraiensis forest(p>0.05)after prescribed burning.Compared to the MBC of the Q.mongolica forest before the prescribed burn,MBC spatial dependence in the upper and lower soil layers was approximately 7%and 2%higher,respectively.After the prescribed burn,MBN spatial dependence in the upper and lower soil layers in the P.koraiensis forest was approximately 1%and 13%lower,respectively,than that before the burn,and the MBC spatial variability in the 0–10 cm soil layer in the two forest types was explained by the soil moisture content(SMC),whereas the MBN spatial variability in the 0–10 cm soil layer in the two forests was explained by the soil pH and nitrate nitrogen(NO_(3)^(–)-N),respectively.In the lower soil layer(10–20 cm)of the Q.mongolica forest,elevation and ammonium nitrogen(NH 4+-N)were the main factors aff ecting the spatial variability of MBC and MBN,respectively.In the 10–20 cm soil layer of the P.koraiensis forest,NO_(3)^(–)-N and slope were the main factors aff ecting the spatial variability of MBC and MBN,respectively,after the burn.The spatial distributions of MBC and MBN in the two forests were largely structured with higher spatial autocorrelation(relative structural variance C/[C 0+C]>0.75).However,the factors infl uencing the spatial variability of MBC and MBN in the two forest types were not consistent between the upper and lower soil layers with prescribed burning.These fi ndings have important implications for developing sustainable management and conservation policies for forest ecosystems.

Effects of Different Fertilization Treatments on Soil Microbial Biomass,Soil Enzyme Activities and Related Nutrients in Continuous-cropping Sugarcane Field

[Objective] This study was conducted to expound the fertility improvement effect in continuous-cropping sugarcane field and provide reference for establishment of rational sugarcane fertilization system and improvement of soil quality in continuous-cropping sugarcane field. [Method] The soil in the experimental region is latosolic red soil which was planted with sugarcane for 11 years continuously, and 8 treatments including sole application of chemical fertilizers, sole application of organ- ic fertilizer, and combined application of organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizers were designed according to different fertilization measures. The effects of different fertilization treatments on soil microbial biomass, soil enzyme activities and related fertility factors were determined. [Result} Different fertilization treatments all showed soil microbial biomass N, C and P and activities of soil acid phosphatase, catalase, sucrase and urease higher than the CK. Soil microbial biomass N increased by 5.56%-67.13%, soil microbial biomass C increased by 4.01%-20.40%, and soil mi- crobial biomass P increased by 6.39%-67.02%. The activity of acid phosphatase was improved by 12.96%-35.19%, the activity of catalase was improved by 18.24% -78.93%, the activity of sucrase was improved by 3.00%-42.00%, and the activity of urease was improved by 1.21%-23.43%. However, the soil nutrients of different fertilization treatments increased non-significantly （P〉0.05）. Soil microbial biomass N, C and P and activities of acid phosphatase, catalase and urease were in significant （P〈0.05） or very significant correlation （P〈0.01） with contents of soil rapidly available P, rapidly available K and total N. [Conclusion] The evaluation of improvement of soil fertility in continuous-cropping sugarcane field using soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities as indexes is more comprehensive and sensitive.

Seasonal variation in soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in an artificial sand-binding vegetation area in Shapotou, northern China

In this study, seasonal variation characteristics of surface soil microbial biomass carbon （MBC） and soil microbial biomass nitrogen （MBN） of an artificial vegetation area located in Shapotou for different time periods were studied using the chloroform fumigation method, and the results were compared with those of near-natural vegetation areas and mobile dunes. Results showed that the MBC and MBN levels in the 0-5 cm soil layer were higher in autumn than in summer and spring. As the prolongation of vegetation restoration raised the MBC and MBN levels in summer and autumn, no clear variation was found in spring. However, the MBC and MBN in 5-20 cm had no obvious seasonal variation. During summer and autumn, the variation trend of MBC and MBN in the vertical direction was shown to be 0-5 〉 5-10 〉 10-20 cm in the vegetation area, while for mobile dunes, the MBC and MBN levels increased as the depth increased. The natural vegetation area was shown to possess the highest MBC and MBN levels, and yet mobile dunes have the lowest MBC and MBN levels. MBC and MBN levels in artificial sand-binding vegetation increased with the prolongation of vegetation restoration, indicating that the succession of sand-binding vegetation will result in the ac- cumulation of soil carbon and nitrogen, as well as the restoration of soil fertility.

Soil Microbial Biomass Nitrogen and Its Relationship to Uptake of Nitrogen by Plants

The contents of the soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN) in the soils sampled from the Loess Plateau of China were determined using chloroform fumigation aerobic incubation method (CFAIM), chloroform fumigation anaerobic incubation method (CFANIM) and chloroform fumigation-extraction method (CFEM).The N taken up by ryegrass on the soils was determined after a glasshouse pot experiment. The flushes of nitrogen (FN) of the soils obtained by the CFAIM and CFANIM were higher than that by the CFEM, and there were significantly positive correlations between the FN obtained by the 3 methods. The N extracted from the fumigated soils by the CFAIM, CFANIM and CFEM were significantly positively correlated with the N uptake by ryegrass. The FN obtained by the 3 methods was also closely positively correlated with the plant N uptake. The contributions of the SMBN and mineral N and mineralized N during the incubation period to plant N uptake were evaluated with the multiple regression method. The results showed that the N contained in the soil microbial biomass might play a noticeable role in the N supply of the soils to the plant.

Relationship Between Soil Microbial Biomass C and N and Mineralizable Nitrogen in Some Arable Soils on Loess Plateau

The chloroform fumigation-incubation method was used to measure the soil microbial biomass C (SMBC)and N (SMBN) in 16 loessial soils sampled from Ausai, Yongshou and Yangling in Shaanxi Province. The SMBC contents in the soils ranged from 75.9 to 301.0 μg Cg-1 with an average of 206.1 μg C g-1, accounting for 1.36%～6.24% of the total soil organic C with an average of 3.07%, and the SMBN contents from 0.51 to 68.40 μg N g-1 with an average of 29.4 μg N g-1, accounting for 0.20%～5.65% of the total N in the soils with an average of 3.36%. A close relationship was found between SMBC and SMBN, and they both were positively correlated with total organic C, total N, NaOH hydrolizable N and mineralizable N. These results confirmed that soil microbial biomass had a comparative role in nutrient cycles of soils.

Short Term Influence of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer on Soil Microbial Biomass and DNA in Summer and Spring

The present study was conducted to see the short term impact of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil microbial biomass both in spring and summer. Also aimed to observe the correlation between soil microbial biomass and soil DNA. The study concluded that type of fertilizer might alter the soil microbial biomass and DNA contents. In soil treated with organic fertilizers resulted in higher concentrations of microbial biomass and DNA contents in summer as compared to spring dute to increase in temperature. Correspondingly, in case of inorganic fertilizer, concentrations of soil microbial biomass and DNA detected higher in summer instead of spring. The statistical correlation between soil microbial biomass, DNA and ODR in spring and summer along with organic and inorganic fertilizers were calculated highly significant （p〉0.01）. This study demonstrated the impact of fertilizers and seasonal variations on soil microbial biomass and also revealed significant correlation between soil microbial biomass and soil DNA.

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.

Toxicity of cadmium to soil microbial biomass and its activity:Effect of incubation time on Cd ecological dose in a paddy soil

Cadmium (Cd) is ubiquitous in the human environment and has toxic effect on soil microbial biomass or its activity, including microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and basal respiration (BR), etc., Cmic, DHA, BR were used as bioindicators of the toxic effect of Cd in soil. This study was conducted to determine the effects of Cd on soil microbial biomass and its activity in a paddy soil. The inhibition of microbial biomass and its activity by different Cd concentrations was described by the kinetic model (M1) and the sigmoid dose-response model (M2) in order to calculate three ecological doses of Cd: ED50, ED10 and ED5. Results showed that M2 was better fit than M1 for describing the ecological toxicity dose effect of cadmium on soil microbial biomass and its activity in a paddy soil. M2 for ED values (mg/kg soil) of Cmic, DHA, BR best fitted the measured paddy soil bioindicators. M2 showed that all ED values (mg/kg) increased in turn with increased incubation time. ED50, ED10 and ED5 of Cmic with M2 were increased in turn from 403.2, 141.1, 100.4 to 1000.7, 230.9, 144.8, respectively, after 10 d to 60 d of incubation. ED50, ED10 and ED5 of DHA with M2 increased in turn from 67.6, 6.2, 1.5 to 101.1, 50.9, 41.0, respectively, after 10 d to 60 d of incubation. ED50, ED10 and ED5 of BR with M2 increased in turn from 149.7, 6.5, 1.8 to 156.5, 50.8, 35.5, respectively, after 10 d to 60 d of incubation. So the ecological dose increased in turn with increased incubation time for M2 showed that toxicity of cadmium to soil microbial biomass and its activity was decreased with increased incubation time.

Variation of Soil Microbial Biomass and Enzyme Activities at Different Growth Stages of Rice (Oryza sativa)

A pot experiment was conducted under submerged conditions with hybrid rice Zhenong 7 to study the variation in the soil microbial biomass carbon （Cmic）, soil microbial biomass nitrogen （Nmic）, soil respiration rate, soil microbial metabolic quotient, soil enzyme activities, chlorophyll content, proline content and peroxidase activity （POD） in rice leaf at different growth stages. The soil Cmic, Nmic and soil respiration rate significantly increased at the early stage and then declined during rice growth, but ascended slightly at maturity. However, soil metabolic quotient declined at all the stages. Soil urease activity increased at first and then decreased, while acid phosphatase and dehydrogenase activities descended before ascended and then descended again. Soil urease activity and acid phosphatase activity showed a peak value at the tillering stage about 30 days after rice transplanting, but the peak value of dehydrogenase activity emerged at about 50 days after rice transplanting and the three soil enzymatic activities were significantly different at the different developmental stages. As rice growing, chlorophyll content in rice leaf descended at the early stage then ascended and a peak value appeared at about the 70th after rice transplanting, after that declined drastically, while POD activity increased gradually, but proline content declined gradually. There was a slight relation between rice physiological indices and soil biochemical indices, which indicated that soil biochemical characteristics were affected significantly by rice growth in the interaction system of the rice. soil and microorganisms.

Influence of Salt Content on Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon

Soil salinization has become a global issue. Saline and alkaline arable land was taken as research object in this paper and four salt gradients were set(S1: 0.1%; S2:0. 5%; S3:0.9%; S4:1.3%). Through the addition of different substrates( CK: no addition of substrate; N: addition of nitrogen source; C: addition of glucose,C + N: addition of glucose and nitrogen source) to soil,it analyzed the influence of salt content on the soil microbial biomass carbon( SMBC) for the purpose of surveying the response mechanism of soil carbon turnover to salt stress. Results indicated that after addition of different substrates,the SMBC in high salt content(S3 and S4) is obviously lower than that in low salt content( S1 and S2). The decline rate of S3 and S4 is 5. 4% and 14. 2% for no addition of substrate; the decline rate is 9.0% and 24.0% for addition of nitrogen source; the decline rate is 11.5% and 28.0% for addition of carbon source; the decline rate is 19.5% and 39.5% for addition of carbon source + nitrogen source. Compared with no addition of substrates,addition of nitrogen source could not increase the SMBC. Addition of carbon source and carbon + nitrogen can significantly increase the SMBC,and the increase in low salt content soil( 80.0%- 81.0% and 58.0%- 59.0%) is obviously higher than high salt content soil( 52.0%- 69.0%and 34.0%- 50.0%). Generally,when the soil salt content is low( 0.5%),the influence of different substrate treatment is little on the SMBC,and increasing the soil salt content can obviously reduce the SMBC.

Effects of Different Land Cover Types on Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon and Nitrogen in the Lower Reaches of Niyang River

[Objectives]To comprehensively and deeply explore the effects of different land cover types in the lower reaches of Niyang River on soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen,and to provide a scientific basis for the rational use and sustainable management of land resources in this area.[Methods]Taking the 3 types of land cover(cultivated land,grass land and forest land)in the lower reaches of Niyang River in Tibet as the research object,the contents,distribution characteristics and relationships of soil organic carbon,organic nitrogen,microbial biomass carbon,microbial biomass nitrogen and readily oxidizable organic carbon,and their relationships were studied in 0-10,10-20,20-40,40-60,and 60-100 cm soil depth.[Results]The soil organic carbon content of forest land was higher than that of grass land and cultivated land;the vertical change trend of soil organic carbon content decreased with the increase of depth(P<0.05),and it was mainly concentrated in the soil with a depth of 0-20 cm.The soil organic carbon content was significantly different among forest land,grass land and cultivated land(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between cultivated land and grass land(P>0.05).The soil organic nitrogen content was significantly different among cultivated land,grass land,and forest land(P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between grass land and forest land(P>0.05).The readily oxidizable organic carbon,microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in forest land were higher than that in cultivated land and grass land.The change trend of soil readily oxidizable organic carbon,microbial biomass carbon and microbial biomass nitrogen was similar to the change of soil organic carbon content,showing a significant positive correlation.In addition to being subject to land cover,soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen content were also subject to the interaction of factors such as soil temperature,humidity,pH and vegetation types.[Conclusions]Changes in land cover significantly affect soil organic carbon and nitrogen,readily oxidizable organic carbon,microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen content.

Effects of Forest Types and Environmental Factors on Soil Microbial Biomass in a Coastal Sand Dune of Subtropical China

Coastal sand dune ecosystems generally have infertile soil with low water-holding capacity and high salinity. However, many plant species have adapted to the harsh sand environment along the southeastern coast of China. Studying the microbial biomass in such an ecosystem can improve our understanding of the roles that microbes play in soil fertility and nutrient cycling. We investigated the differences in soil microbial biomass carbon(MBC) and nitrogen(MBN) contents and their seasonal dynamics in five forest types(a secondary forest and plantations of Casuarinas, Pine, Acacia, and Eucalyptus). The results indicated that the seasonal variations of soil MBC and MBN contents in all five forest stands were higher in spring and winter, but lower in summer and autumn. The MBC content was lower in the Casuarinas plantation than in the other plantations in the same soil layer. However, no significant differences were observed in MBN contents among the different forest types. The MBC and MBN concentrations were positively correlated with soil moisture, but negatively correlated with soil temperature. The MBC and MBN contents also decreased with increasing soil depth. Across all soil layers, secondary forest had the highest MBC and MBN concentrations. Our study also showed that the MBC and MBN contents were positively affected by total soil carbon(TC), pH, and litter N content, but were negatively impacted by soil bulk density and litter C content. Moreover, the MBN content was positively correlated with root N content. In summary, environmental factors and the differences in litter and fine roots, soil nutrient contents, as well as the soil physical and chemical properties caused by different tree species collectively affected the concentrations of the soil MBC and MBN.

Impact of Vanadium on Enzyme Activity and Microbial Biomass in Soils

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the impact of vanadium at dif- ferent concentration on enzyme activity and microbial biomass in soils. [Method] Us- ing pot experiments in the growth cabinet, we would like to investigate the changes of the soil enzyme activity and microbial biomass at different growing stages of rape （Brassica juncea L.） at different soil vanadium concentrations （soil background value was 147 mg/kg, spiked with 0, 50, 100, 150, 250 and 500 mg/kg of exogenous vanadium）. [Result] Among all enzymes examined, polyphenol oxidase was most sensitive to soil vanadium. Addition of 50 mg/kg vanadium decreased its activity up to 56% of the control probably due to the vanadium toxicity. In comparison, the ac- tivities of sucrase, urease and catalase was less affected by soil vanadium. Surpris- ingly, the activity of sucrase, urease and catalase at the rape seedling stage differed significantly from at the maturity stage, highlighting the potential impact of plant growth on the vanadium-soil enzyme interaction. Different soil vanadium concentra- tions led to increases of microbial biomass to different extents. However, the corre- lation between soil microbial biomass carbon and phosphorus with vanadium con- centrations was insignificant. This revealed that the presence of additional factors （eg. plant） affected soil microbial biomass carbon and phosphorus aside from soil vanadium. [Conclusion] Polyphenol oxidase may be considered as an indicator of soil vanadium contamination. Due to the highly complicated interaction between vanadium and soil biological activities during plant growth, more investigations are required to reveal the mechanisms beyond our findings here.

Effects of Long-Term Combined Application of Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Microbial Biomass,Soil Enzyme Activities and Soil Fertility

Soil health is important for the sustainable development of terrestrial ecosystem. In this paper, we studied the relationship between soil quality and soil microbial properties such as soil microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities in order to illustrate the function of soil microbial properties as bio-indicators of soil health. In this study, microbial biomass C and N contents （Cmic ＆ Nmic）, soil enzyme activities, and soil fertility with different fertilizer regimes were carried out based on a 15-year long-term fertilizer experiment in Drab Fluvo-aquic soil in Changping County, Beijing, China. At this site, 7 different treatments were established in 1991. They were in a wheat-maize rotation receiving either no fertilizer （CK）, mineral fertilizers （NPK）, mineral fertilizers with wheat straw incorporated （NPKW）, mineral fertilizers with incremental wheat straw incorporated （NPKW＋）, mineral fertilizers plus swine manure （NPKM）, mineral fertilizers plus incremental swine manure （NPKM＋） or mineral fertilizers with maize straw incorporated （NPKS）. In different fertilization treatments Cmic changed from 96.49 to 500.12 mg kg^-1, and Nmic changed from 35.89 to 101.82 mg kg^-1. Compared with CK, the other treatments increased Cmic ＆ Nmic, Cmic/Corg （organic C） ratios, Cmic/Nmic, urease activity, soil organic matter （SOM）, soil total nitrogen （STN）, and soil total phosphorus （STP）. All these properties in treatment with fertilizers input NPKM＋ were the highest. Meantime, long-term combined application of mineral fertilizers with organic manure or crop straw could significantly decrease the soil pH in Fluvo-aquic soil （the pH around 8.00 in this experimental soil）. Some of soil microbial properties （Cmic/Nmic, urease activity） were positively correlated with soil nutrients. Cmic/Nmic was significantly correlated with SOM and STN contents. The correlation between catalase activity and soil nutrients was not significant. In addition, except of catalase activity, the soil pH in this experiment was negatively correlated with soil microbial properties. In conclusion, soil microbial properties reflect changes of soil quality and thus can be used as bio-indicators of soil health.

C:N:P stoichiometry and nutrient limitation of the soil microbial biomass in a grazed grassland site under experimental P limitation or exces

Introduction:The availability of essential nutrients,such as nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P),can feedback on soil carbon(C)and the soil microbial biomass.Natural cycles can be supplemented by agricultural fertiliser addition,and we determined whether the stoichiometry and nutrient limitation of the microbial biomass could be affected by an unbalanced nutrient supply.Methods:Samples were taken from a long-term trial(in effect since 1968)with annual applications of 0,15 and 30 kg P ha^(−1) with constant N and potassium.Soil and microbial biomass CNP contents were measured and nutrient limitation assessed by substrate-induced respiration.Linear regression and discriminant analyses were used to identify the variables explaining nutrient limitation.Results:Soil and biomass CNP increased with increasing P fertiliser,and there was a significant,positive,correlation between microbial biomass P and biomass C,apart from at the highest level of P fertilisation when the microbial biomass was over-saturated with P.The molar ratios of C:N:P in the microbial biomass remained constant(homeostatic)despite large changes in the soil nutrient ratios.Microbial growth was generally limited by C and N,except in soil with no added P when C and P were the main limiting nutrients.C,N and P,however,did not explain all the growth limitation on the soils with no added P.Conclusions:Increased soil C and N were probably due to increased net primary production.Our results confirm that C:N:P ratios within the microbial biomass were constrained(i.e.homeostatic)under near optimum soil conditions.Soils with no added P were characterised by strong microbial P limitation and soils under high P by over-saturation of microorganisms with P.Relative changes in biomass C:P can be indicative of nutrient limitation within a site.

Microbial biomass in subtropical forest soils： effect of conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation

Conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation is a common management practice in subtropical China. In this study, we compared soil physico-chemical properties, microbial biomass in one natural secondary broad-leaved forest and two C. lanceolata plantation sites to estimate the effects of forest conversion on soil microbial biomass at the Huitong Experimental Station of Forestry Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Concentrations of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, NH4^＋-N and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were much lower under C. lanceolata plantations as compared to natural secondary broad-leaved forest. Soil microbial biomass C in the first and second rotation of C. lanceolata plantations was only 53%, 46% of that in natural secondary broad-leaved forest, and microbial biomass N was 97% and 79%, respectively. The contribution of microbial biomass C to soil organic C was also lower in the plantation sites. However, the contribution of microbial N to total nitrogen and NH4^＋-N was greater in the C. lanceolata plantation sites. Therefore, conversion of natural secondary broad-leaved forest to C. lanceolata plantation and continuous planting of C. lanceolata led to the decline in soil microbial biomass and the degradation of forest soil in subtropical China.

Dynamics of Microbial Biomass in a Rainfed Soil Under Wheat Cultivation

A pot experiment was conducted to determine the dynamics of soil microbial biomass in a rainfed soil under wheat cultivation at the University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The treatments applied were: 1) a control (CK), 2) NPK (0.44-0.26-0.18 g pot-1), 3) farmyard manure (FYM, 110 g pot-1), 4)poultry manure (PM, 110 g pot-1), 5) FYM (110 g pot-1) + NPK (0.44-0.26-0.18 g pot-1), 6) poultry manure (PM, 110 g pot-1) + NPK (0.44-0.26-0.18 g pot-1), 7) FYM (110 g pot-1) + NPK(S) (0.44-0.26-0.18 g pot-1, one half of the NPK at sowing and the other half one month after sowing), and 8) PM (110 g pot-1) + NPK(S) (0.44-0.26-0.18 g pot-1, one half of the NPK applied at sowing and the other half one month after sowing). The experiment was laid out using a completely randomized design with three replications. Microbial biomass C, N and P contents increased continuously from the beginning of the experiment up to the three-leaf stage. A slight decline was observed at the tillering stage in all treatments except with the organic manures + NPK(S) treatments. After tillering there was an increase in all treatments to the recorded maximum point at the full heading stage in all treatments except with the organic manures + NPK(S) treatments. In the FYM + NPK(S) and PM + NPK(S) treatments; however, there was a continuous increase in microbial biomass up to the heading stage. At the harvesting stage a sharp decline was noted in all treatments. The C:N ratio of microbial biomass in tested soil ranged from 7.8 to 11.3, while C:P ratio of microbial biomass in the tested soil ranged from 22.6 to 35.1 throughout all growth stages of the wheat crop.

Evaluation of Rhizobium tropici-Derived Extracellular Polymeric Substances on Selected Soil Properties, Seed Germination, and Growth of Black-Eyed Peas (Vigna unguiculata)

Rhizobium tropici-derived extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) have been used in soils to enhance soil structures and mitigate soil erosions. However, information on their use to improve soil health and fertility indicators, and plant growth is limited. In a greenhouse study, we investigated their effects on some soil health, soil fertility indices, and the growth of black-eyed peas (Vigna unguiculate). Results showed that soils incubated with EPS significantly increased basal soil respiration, soil microbial biomass, permanganate oxidizable carbon (POC), and potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN). The EPS shifted microbial populations from bacteria to fungi and Gram (−ve) to Gram ( ve) bacteria. However, it had little or no effects on soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). The EPS decreased soil moisture loss, increased soil aggregate stability, but delayed blacked-eyed peas germinations in the soils. At 0.1% (w/w) concentrations in soils, there was increase in plant root nodulations and vegetative growth. This study was carried out within 40 days of incubating soils with EPS or growing the black-eyed peas in a greenhouse study. The plant growth parameters were taken before flowering and fruiting. Further studies of the effects of incubating soils with the extracellular polymeric substances on plant growth. Soil microbial biomass, microbial diversities, and other soil fertility indices are deemed necessary.

Effects of Soil Salinity on Microbial Biomass Nitrogen of Landscape Soil

Soil salinization can limit the development of agriculture in the Yellow River Delta.In this paper,saline and alkaline farmland in the Yellow River Delta was chosen as the research object,and effects of soil salinity on soil microbial biomass nitrogen(SMBN) under different conditions were investigated to study the response of soil nitrogen turnover to salt stress.There were four salinity gradients(S1:0.1%;S2:0.5%;S3:0.9%;S4:1.3%),and four substrates were added to the soil.The results showed that after the addition of various substrates,SMBN in treatments with high soil salinity(S3 and S4) was obviously lower than that in treatments with low soil salinity(S1 and S2).In comparison with treatment S1,the average of SMBN in treatments S3 and S4 decreased by 35.8% and 46.7% respectively when there was no substrate added to them;it declined by 55.6% and 56.1% respectively as the carbon source was added to them;it reduced by 24.6% and 28.3% when the nitrogen source was added to them;it dropped by 43.8% and 57.0% respectively as the carbon and nitrogen source were added to them.Compared with treatments without substrates,the addition of the nitrogen source could not improve SMBN;the addition of the carbon source or carbon and nitrogen source could enhance SMBN obviously,and it increased by 60.9% and 66.1%(or 110.8% and 140.2%) in treatments with low soil salinity(S1 and S2),while it changed slightly in treatments with high soil salinity(S3 and S4).In order to increase SMBN,it is needed to apply organic fertilizer or chemical fertilizer and organic fertilizer to maintain or improve soil fertility.

Soil microbial properties and nutrients in pure and mixed Chinese fir plantations

An investigation on soil organic carbon, total N and P, NO3-N, available P, microbial biomass C, N and P, basal respiration and metabolic quotients （qCO2） was conducted to compare differences in soil microbial properties and nutrients between 15-year-old pure Chinese fir （Cunninghamia lanceolata） and two mixed Chinese fir plantations （mixed plantations with Alnus crernastogyne, mixed plantations with Kalopanax septemlobus） at Huitong Experimental Station of Forest Ecology （26°45′N latitude and 109°30′E longitude）, Chinese Academy of Sciences in May, 2005. Results showed that the concentrations of soil organic carbon, total N, NO3^--N, total P and available P in mixed plantations were higher than that in pure plantation. Soil microbial biomass N in two mixed plantations was averagely higher 69% and 61% than that in pure plantation at the 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil depth, respectively. Soil microbial biomass C, P and basal respiration in mixed plantations were higher 11%, 14% and 4% at the 0-10 cm soil depth and 6%, 3% and 3% at the 10-20 cm soil depth compared with pure plantation. However, soil microbial C： N ratio and qCO2 were averagely lower 34% and 4% in mixed plantations than pure plantation. Additionally, there was a closer relation between soil microbial biomass and soil nutrients than between basal respiration, microbial C： N ratio and qCO2 and soil nutrients. In conclusion, introduction of broad-leaved tree species into pure coniferous plantation improved soil microbial properties and soil fertility, and can be helpful to restore degraded forest soil.