Responses of soil stoichiometry and soil enzyme activities in the different distance around opencast coal mine of the Hulun Buir Grassland of China

The objectives of this study were to explore the changes in soil stoichiometry and enzyme activities at different distances from an opencast coal mine in the Hulun Buir Grassland of China. Four transects were established on north and east sides of the opencast coal mining area, and samples were collected at 50 m, 550 m, and 1550 m from the pit on each transect. Control samples were collected from a grassland station 8 km from the opencast coal mining area that was not disturbed by mining. Four replicate soil samples were collected at each point on the four transects. Soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities were determined, and correlations between soil properties and stoichiometric ratios and enzyme activities were explored using redundancy analysis. The increase in distance from mining did not significantly affect soil properties, although soil urease activity was significantly lower than that of the control area. Soil properties 1550 m from the mine pit were similar to those at the grassland control. In addition, soil total nitrogen had the greatest effect on soil stoichiometry, and soil total potassium had the greatest effect on soil enzyme activities. Coal dust from opencast mining might be the main factor affecting soil stoichiometry and enzyme activities. The results of this study provide direction for the next step in studying the influence of mining areas on soil properties and processes.

Effects of desert plant communities on soil enzyme activities and soil organic carbon in the proluvial fan in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountain in Ningxia,China

It is of great significance to study the effects of desert plants on soil enzyme activities and soil organic carbon(SOC)for maintaining the stability of the desert ecosystem.In this study,we studied the responses of soil enzyme activities and SOC fractions(particulate organic carbon(POC)and mineral-associated organic carbon(MAOC))to five typical desert plant communities(Convolvulus tragacanthoides,Ephedra rhytidosperma,Stipa breviflora,Stipa tianschanica var.gobica,and Salsola laricifolia communities)in the proluvial fan in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountain in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,China.We recorded the plant community information mainly including the plant coverage and herb and shrub species,and obtained the aboveground biomass and plant species diversity through sample surveys in late July 2023.Soil samples were also collected at depths of 0–10 cm(topsoil)and 10–20 cm(subsoil)to determine the soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities.The results showed that the plant coverage and aboveground biomass of S.laricifolia community were significantly higher than those of C.tragacanthoides,S.breviflora,and S.tianschanica var.gobica communities(P<0.05).Soil enzyme activities varied among different plant communities.In the topsoil,the enzyme activities of alkaline phosphatase(ALP)andβ-1,4-glucosidas(βG)were significantly higher in E.rhytidosperma and S.tianschanica var.gobica communities than in other plant communities(P<0.05).The topsoil had higher POC and MAOC contents than the subsoil.Specifically,the content of POC in the topsoil was 18.17%–42.73%higher than that in the subsoil.The structural equation model(SEM)indicated that plant species diversity,soil pH,and soil water content(SWC)were the main factors influencing POC and MAOC.The soil pH inhibited the formation of POC and promoted the formation of MAOC.Conversely,SWC stimulated POC production and hindered MAOC formation.Our study aimed to gain insight into the effects of desert plant communities on soil enzyme activities and SOC fractions,as well as the drivers of SOC fractions in the proluvial fan in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountain and other desert 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.

Impact of Transgenic Bt+CpTI Cotton on Soil Enzyme Activities and Soil Microorganisms

Due to its strong and effective insecticidal properties, transgenic Bt＋CpTI cotton has witnessed an expanding planting area in recent years, and the impact of its cultivation on soil ecosystem becomes an important part of environmental risk assessment. Using transgenic Bt＋CpTI cotton sGK321 and its parental homologous conventional cotton Shiyuan 321 as the study objects, a comparative analysis was conducted on the changes in enzyme activities （urease, alkaline phosphatase, and catalase） of the rhizosphere soil and changes in the number of culturable microor-ganisms （bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes） at different growth stages （seedling stage, budding stage, flower and bol stage, and bol opening stage） of sGK321 and Shiyuan 321 under the condition of 13 years field plantings. The results showed that, the populations of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycete and the soil enzyme activi-ties of urease, alkaline phosphatase and catalase had a similar variation trend along with the cotton growing process for transgenic cotton and conventional cotton. Some occasional and inconsistent effects on soil enzyme activities and soil fungi composi-tion in the rhizosphere soil of transgenic Bt＋CpTI cotton were found at the seedling stage, budding stage, flower and bol stage as compared with that of conventional cotton. The amount of bacteria and actinomycetes were not significantly different during a certain stage; however, the activities of urease, catalase, alkaline phos-phatase, also with the number of fungi were significantly different, e.g. the urease activities at seedling stage, the alkaline phosphatase at seedling and budding stages, and the soil culturable fungi at flower and bol stage were less than that of conven-tional cotton, while the soil alkaline phosphatase activities at flower and bol stage were higher. Cluster analysis showed that soil enzyme activities and microbial popu-lation changed mainly along the growth processes, suffering little from the planting of transgenic Bt＋CpTI cotton.

Effect of Combined Application of Manure and Chemical Fertilizer on the Dynamic Changes of Purple Soil Nutrient and Soil Enzyme Activities

[Objective] The aim was to study the effects of combined of manure and fertilizer on the content of nutrients in purplish soil as well as release dynamics of enzyme activities.[Method] The effects of manure and fertilizer application on the content of AOM,NH＋4-N and NO-3-N in soil as well as release dynamics of enzyme activities were studied by means of simulation culturing.[Result] In the treatments of combined application of simulation culture experiment,the content of active organic matters,NH＋4-N,NO-3-N and soil enzyme activities changed dynamically,which showed a shape of inverted ＂S＂ with two or more peaks.Compared with the treatment of fertilization,their peaks were relatively flat and occurred relatively late,while the treatment of fertilization had only one but the highest peak.The content of active organic matter came to top around 10 d in the order of cow5fertilizer5pig5fertilizer5cow manurepig manurefertilizer Ⅰfertilizer Ⅱ;the activity of urease came to top around 10 d in all treatments and in the order of pig manurecow5fertilizer5cow manurefertilizer Ⅰfertilizer Ⅱpig5fertilizer5.The activity of saccharase was in the order of pig5fertilizer5pig manurecow5fertilizer5cow manureCKfertilizer Ⅱfertilizer Ⅰ.[Conclusion] The study could provide the theoretical basis for reasonable application of manure and fertilizer.

Soil Enzyme Activities with Greenhouse Subsurface Irrigation

Various environmental conditions determine soil enzyme activities, which are important indicators for changes of soil microbial activity, soil fertility, and land quality. The effect of subsurface irrigation scheduling on activities of three soil enzymes (phosphatase, urease, and catalase) was studied at five depths (0-10, 10-20, 20-30, 30-40, and 40-60 cm) of a tomato greenhouse soil. Irrigation was scheduled when soil water condition reached the maximum allowable depletion (MAD) designed for different treatments (-10, -16,-25,-40, and-63 kPa). Results showed that soil enzyme activities had significant responses to the irrigation scheduling during the period of subsurface irrigation. The neutral phosphatase activity and the catalase activity were found to generally increase with more frequent irrigation (MAD of -10 and -16 kPa). This suggested that a higher level of water content favored an increase in activity of these two enzymes. In contrast, the urease activity decreased under irrigation, with less effect for MAD of -40 and -63 kPa. This implied that relatively wet soil conditions were conducive to retention of urea N, but relatively dry soil conditions could result in increasing loss of urea N. Further, this study revealed that soil enzyme activities could be alternative natural bio-sensors for the effect of irrigation on soil biochemical reactions and could help optimize irrigation management of greenhouse crop production.

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.

Effects of long-term straw return on soil organic carbon fractions and enzyme activities in a double-cropped rice paddy in South China

Long-term straw return is an important carbon source for improving soil organic carbon(SOC) stocks in croplands, and straw removal through burning is also a common practice in open fields in South China. However, the specific effects of long-term rice straw management on SOC fractions, the related enzyme activities and their relationships, and whether these effects differ between crop growing seasons remain unknown. Three treatments with equal nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium nutrient inputs, including straw/ash and chemical nutrients, were established to compare the effects of straw removal(CK), straw return(SR), and straw burned return(SBR). Compared to CK, long-term SR tended to improve the yield of early season rice(P=0.057), and significantly increased total organic carbon(TOC) and microbial biomass carbon(MBC) in double-cropped rice paddies. While SBR had no effect on TOC, it decreased light fraction organic carbon(LFOC) in early rice and easily oxidizable organic carbon(EOC) in late rice, significantly increased dissolved organic carbon(DOC), and significantly decreased soil p H. These results showed that MBC was the most sensitive indicator for assessing changes of SOC in the double-cropped rice system due to long-term straw return. In addition, the different effects on SOC fraction sizes between SR and SBR were attributed to the divergent trends in most of the soil enzyme activities in the early and late rice that mainly altered DOC, while DOC was positively affected by β-xylosidase in both early and late rice. We concluded that straw return was superior to straw burned return for improving SOC fractions, but the negative effects on soil enzyme activities in late rice require further research.

Saline soil enzyme activities of four plant communities in Sangong River basin of Xinjiang,China

Soil enzyme activity plays an important role in the conversion of soil organic carbon into inorganic carbon, which is significant for the global carbon cycle. In this study, we investigated the soil enzyme activities of two ligninolytic enzymes （peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase） and five non-ligninolytic enzymes （a-l,4-glucosidase （AG）; 13-1,4-gluco- sidase （BG）; N-acetyl-[3-glucosaminidase （NAG）; ~3-D-cellobiosidase （CBH）; and ^-xylosidase （BXYL）） in four plant communities of the Sangong River basin in Fukang, North Xinjiang, China. The four typical plant communities were dominated by Haloxylon ammodendron, Reaumuria soongonica, Salsola passerina, and Tamarix rarmosissima, respec- tively, with saline soils of varied alkalinity. The results showed that the soil peroxidase activity decreased seasonally. The activities of the five non-ligninolytic enzymes decreased with increasing soil depths, while those of the two ligninolytic enzymes did not show such a trend. In the four plant communities, BG had the highest activity among the five non-ligninolytic enzymes, and the activities of the two ligninolytic enzymes were higher than those of the four non-ligninolytic ones （AG, NAG, CBH, and BXYL）. The community of H. ammodendron displayed the highest activity with respect to the two ligninolytic enzymes in most cases, but no significant differences were found among the four plant communities. The geometric mean of soil enzyme activities of the four plant communities was validated through an inde- pendently performed principal component analysis （PCA）, which indicated that different plant communities had different soil enzyme activities. The correlation analysis showed that soil polyphenol oxidase activity was significantly positively correlated with the activities of the five non-ligninolytic enzymes. The soil pH value was positively correlated with the ac- tivities of all soil enzymes except peroxidase. Soil microbial carbon content also showed a significant positive correlation （P〈0.01） with the activities of all soil enzymes except polyphenol oxidase. The results suggested that the H. ammoden- dron community has the highest ability to utilize soil organic carbon, and glucoside could be the most extensively utilized non-ligninolytic carbon source in the saline soil of arid areas in Xinjiang.

Short-Term Influence of Herbicide Quinclorac on Enzyme Activities in Flooded Paddy Soils

The influence of quinclorac (3,7-dichloroquinoline-8-carboxylic acid) on enzyme activities in flooded paddy soils was assessed under laboratory conditions. The enzymes differed markedly in their response to quinclorac. Quinclorac inhibited proteinase, hydrogen peroxidase, phosphorylase, and urease activities.The higher the concentration of quinclorac applied, the more significant the inhibition to these observed activities with a longer time required to recover to the level of the control. However, soils supplemented with quinclorac were nonpersistent for proteinase, phosphorylase and urease as opposed to soils without quinclorac. Dehydrogenase activity was also sensitive to quinclorac. Three soil samples with concentrations of quinclorac higher than 1 μg g-1 soil declined to less than 20% of that in the control. However, the highest dehydrogenase activity (up to 3.28-fold) was detected in soils with 2 μg g-1 soil quinclorac on the 25th day after treatment. Quinclorac had a relatively mild effect on saccharase activity at the concentrations used in this experiment and a stimulatory one on soil respiration when added to soil at normal field concentrations.Nonetheless it was inhibited at higher concentrations in paddy soils. Quinclorac is still relatively safe to the soil ecosystem when applied at a normal concentration (0.67 μg g-1 dried soil) but may have some effects on soil enzymes at higher concentrations.

Influence of water potential and soil type on conventional japonica super rice yield and soil enzyme activities

We carried out a pool culture experiment to determine the optimal water treatment depth in loam and clay soils during the late growth stage of super rice. Three controlled water depth treatments of 0-5, 0-10 and 0-15 cm below the soil surface were established using alternate wetting and drying irrigation, and the soil water potential （0 to -25 kPa） was measured at 5, 10 and 15 cm. A 2-cm water layer was used as the control. We measured soil enzyme activities, root antioxidant enzyme activities, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and rice yield. The results showed that the 0-5-cm water depth treatment significantly increased root antioxidant enzyme activities in loam soil compared with the control, whereas soil enzyme activities, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and yield did not differ from those of the control. The 0-10- and 0-15-cm water depth treatments also increased root antioxidant enzyme activities, whereas soil enzyme activities, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and yield decreased. In clay soil, the soil enzyme activities, root antioxidant enzyme activities, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and yield did not change with the 0-5-cm water treatment, whereas the 0-10- and 0-15-cm water treatments improved these parameters. Therefore,the appropriate depths for soil water during the late growth period of rice with a 0 to -25 kPa water potential were 5 cm in loam and 15 cm in clay soil.

Effect of Magnetic Field on Enzyme Activities in Main Soils of Northeast China

Soil enzyme activities as affected by applied magnetic field were studied with three main soils (brown soil, black soil and albic soil) collected from Northeast China. Appropriate intensities of magnetic field could obviously enhance the activities of hydrogen peroxidases, invertases, amylases and phosphatases in the three soils, although the effect varied with types and water regimes of the soils. Increasing times of magnetic treatment could multiple its good effect on the activities of hydrogen peroxidases in soils.

Effects of Different Cropping Patterns of Soybean and Maize Seedlings on Soil Enzyme Activities and MBC and MBN

Through the pot experiment, the effects of different cropping patterns of soybean and maize seedlings on rhizosphere soil urease, catalase, polyphenol oxidase and invertase activities and microbial biomass carbon （MBC） and nitrogen （MBN） were studied. Six treatments of soybean-soybean, soybean-maize, soybean-mixed, maize-soybean, maize-maize and maize-mixed were conducted in pots. Results showed that catalase activity and invertase activity of maize-maize were the highest and significantly different from those of the other treatments except maize-soybean; soil polyphenol oxidase activity of soybean-maize was the highest, and reached significant level among the other treatments, but there was no significant difference of urease activity among treatment soils; MBC of maize-maize soil and MBN of maize-mixed soil reached the highest and significant levels compared with other treatments; MBC and C/N ratio had positive and very significant correlations with soil catalase activity and invertase activity, respectively. Therefore, different cropping patterns could affect rhizosphere soil enzyme activities and soil MBC and MBN, which influenced soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization.

Effects of Combined Application of Biochar-based Organic Fertilizer and Reduced Nitrogen Fertilizer on Soil Enzyme Activity and Yield of Purple Cabbage(Brassica oleracea var.capita rubra)in Yuanmou County

[Objectives]In response to the issue of soil improvement in Yuanmou County,the effects of combined application of biochar-based organic fertilizer and reduced nitrogen fertilizer on soil nutrients,soil enzyme activity,and yield of purple cabbage(Brassica oleracea var.capita rubra)were investigated in the field base of Institute of Thermal Zone Ecological Agriculture,Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Yuanmou County.[Methods]A total of 13 treatments were set up by applying biochar-based organic fertilizer at three levels of 15,30 and 45 t/hm^(2)(T_(1),T_(2),T_(3)),combined with top application of nitrogen fertilizer(urea)at four levels:375(N_1),300(N_(2)),225(N_(3))and 0 kg/hm^(2),with non-fertilizing treatment as control check(CK),in order to explore the optimal ratio for the combined application of biochar-based organic fertilizer with nitrogen fertilizer.[Results]The application of biochar-based organic fertilizer could significantly improve soil nutrients,enzyme activity,and purple cabbage yield.The improvement effect of combined application with nitrogen fertilizer was higher than that of single application of biochar-based organic fertilizer,and the improvement effect was enhanced with the application amount of biochar-based organic fertilizer increasing.The contents of organic matter and total nitrogen were the highest in treatment T_(3)N_(3),of which the values increased by 81.39%and 56.09%compared with the CK,respectively.The contents of soil hydrolyzable nitrogen,available phosphorus,and available potassium were all the highest under treatment T_(3)N_(2),with increases of 92.76%,171.01%and 235.50%,respectively.There was a significant positive correlation between the activity of soil catalase,urease,and sucrase and organic matter,total nitrogen,and available nutrients.The overall soil enzyme activity was relatively higher in treatment T_(3)N_(2).The yield of purple cabbage treated with biochar-based organic fertilizer combined with nitrogen fertilizer could reach 85750 kg/hm^(2),which was 94.78%higher than that treated with biochar-based organic fertilizer alone.Based on comprehensive analysis,the optimal combination ratio was 45 t/hm^(2)of biochar-based organic fertilizer and 300 kg/hm^(2)of urea(T_(3)N_(2)).[Conclusions]This study provides data support for the promotion of biochar-based organic fertilizers and reduced fertilizer in agricultural soil in the Dam area of Yuanmou County.

Effects of Carbon Nanomaterials on Soil Enzyme Activity of Turfgrass

[Objectives]This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of carbon nanomaterials on soil ecosystem and explore the ecological risks of environmental exposure of carbon nanomaterials. [Methods] The effects of carbon nanomaterials on soil enzyme activity was studied by adding graphene, graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes to turfgrass soil. [Results] Compared with the control(CK), the activity of soil protease, sucrase, alkaline phosphatase and catalase was not significantly affected by carbon nanomaterials. Under the treatment of carbon nanotubes, urease activity was significantly lower than that of graphene and graphene oxide, and dehydrogenase activity was significantly lower than that of the CK, graphene and graphene oxide. [Conclusions] This study provides a theoretical basis for the safe application of carbon nanomaterials.

Effects of Bamboo Charcoal-based Biochar on Soil Enzyme Activity and Microbial Community Structure

[Objectives]This study was conducted to reveal the effects of bamboo charcoal-based biochar(or bamboo charcoal for short)on soil enzyme activity and microbial community structure.[Methods]The field experiment was carried out at the Modern Agriculture Demonstration Base of Gaoping Village,Gaoping Town,Suichang County,Zhejiang Province.Bamboo charcoal was applied at four different levels:T_(0)(no bamboo charcoal),T_(1)(1125 kg/hm^(2)bamboo charcoal),T_(2)(2250 kg/hm^(2)bamboo charcoal)and T_(3)(3375 kg/hm^(2)bamboo charcoal).Soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities in different treatments were measured.[Results]The soil fungal,bacterial and actinomycete populations increased significantly in the soils surrounding capsicum roots.The bacterial population,fungal population and fungus/bacterium ratio peaked in Treatment T_(2),up to 7.32×10^(6)cfu/g,2.65×10^(4)cfu/g and 0.36×10^(-2),respectively.The effect of bamboo charcoal in promotingβ-glucoside,catalase,acid phosphatase and sucrase activities was T_(2)>T_(3)>T_(1)>T_(0).With bamboo charcoal increasing,the bacterium population,fungus population,fungus/bacterium ratio,β-glucoside,catalase,acid phosphatase and sucrase activities all increased at first and then decreased.T_(2)treatment showed the best effects in improving soil physicochemical properties and microbial community structure.[Conclusions]Bamboo charcoal significantly improves soil enzyme activity and increases soil microbial population,and thus has important positive effects on the soil ecosystem.

Spatiotemporal variation and correlation of soil enzyme activities and soil physicochemical properties in canopy gaps of the Tianshan Mountains,Northwest China

The study of the heterogeneity of soil enzyme activities at different sampling locations in canopy gaps will help understand the influence mechanism of canopy gaps on soil ecological processes.In this paper,we analyzed the spatiotemporal variation of soil enzyme activities and soil physicochemical properties at different sampling locations(closed canopy,expanded edge,canopy edge,gap center)in different sampling time(December,February,April,June,August,and October)on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains,Northwest China.The results showed that soil catalase,cellulase,sucrase,and acid phosphatase activities were relatively high from June to October and low from December to April,and most of soil enzyme activities were higher at closed canopy than at gap center.Soil urease activity was high during December-February.The soil temperature reached the highest value during June-August and was relatively high at gap center in October,December,and February.Soil water content was significantly higher in December and April than in other months.Soil bulk density was higher at gap center than at closed canopy in December.Soil pH and soil electrical conductivity in most months were higher at closed canopy than at gap center.Soil organic carbon,soil total nitrogen,and soil total phosphorus were generally higher at gap center than at closed canopy.Furthermore,sampling time played a leading role in the dynamic change of soil enzyme activity.The key factors affecting soil enzyme activity were soil temperature and soil water content,which were governed by canopy gaps.These results provide important support for further understanding the influence mechanism of forest ecosystem management and conservation on the Tianshan Mountains.

Effects of Carbon and Nitrogen Additions on Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon and Enzyme Activities Under Rice Straw Returning

The effects of different amounts of carbon and nitrogen sources on the soil microbial biomass carbon,dissolved organic carbon and related enzyme activities were studied by the simulation experiment of rice straw returning to the field,and the mechanism of the decomposition of rice straw returning to the field was discussed.Completely randomized experiment of the two factors of the three levels was designed,and a total of nine treatments of indoor soil incubation tests were conducted.Full amount of rice straw was applied to the soil in this simulation experiment and different amounts of brown sugar and urea were added in the three levels of 0(no carbon source and nitrogen source),1(low levels of carbon and nitrogen sources)and 2(high levels of carbon and nitrogen sources),respectively.The results showed that the addition of different amounts of carbon and nitrogen sources to the rice straw could increase the soil carbon content.Compared with T0N0,the microbial biomass carbon of T2N2 was increased significantly by 170.48%;the dissolved organic carbon content of T1N2 was significantly increased by 58.14%and the free humic acid carbon contents of T0N2,T1N1 and T2N0 were significantly increased by 56.16%and 45.55%and 47.80%,respectively;however,there were no significant differences among those of treatments at later incubation periods.The addition of different carbon and nitrogen sources could promote the soil enzyme activities.During the incubation period,all of the soil enzyme activities of adding sugar and urea were higher than those of T0N0 treatment.Therefore,the addition of different amounts of carbon and nitrogen sources to rice straw returning could improve soil microbial biomass carbon content,dissolved organic carbon and soil enzyme activities.

Effects of Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Treatments on Soil Enzymatic Activities in Mulberry Gardens

[ Objective] The present experiment was undertaken to investigate the effects of different nitrogen fertilizer application levels on soil enzymatic activities in mulberry gardens, thus providing reference for rational application of nitrogen fertilizer and production of high-quality mulberry leaves. [Method] Field experiments were conducted with three different nitrogen fertilizer application levels： N, （ 120.75 kg/hm2 ）, N2 （ 172.5 kg/hm2 ）, and N3 （207 kg/hm2 ）. Activities of catalase, urease, acid phosphatase and invertase in soil applied with different amount of nitrogen fertilizer were determined to analyze the correlation between soil enzymatic activities and mulberry leaf yield. [ Result] Activities of urease and invertase in soil were improved with the increasing application level of nitrogen fertil- izer; activities of catalase and acid phosphatase reached the highest in treatment N2. Activities of invertase and urease in soil exhibited significant positive correla- tions; activities of invertase and phosphatase exhibited significant positive correlations; extremely significant positive correlations were found between mulberry leaf yield and activities of urease, phosphatase and invertase in soil. [ Conclusion] Rationally applying nitrogen fertilizer can improve activities of invertase, phosphatase and urease in mulberry gardens ; activities of urease and invertase in soil can be used as indicators to evaluate soil properties in mulberry gardens.

The competition between Bidens pilosa and Setaria viridis alters soil microbial composition and soil ecological function

Bidens pilosa is recognized as one of the major invasive plants in China.Its invasion has been associated with significant losses in agriculture,forestry,husbandry,and biodiversity.Soil ecosystems play an important role in alien plant invasion.Microorganisms within the soil act as intermediaries between plants and soil ecological functions,playing a role in regulating soil enzyme activities and nutrient dynamics.Understanding the interactions between invasive plants,soil microorganisms,and soil ecological processes is vital for managing and mitigating the impacts of invasive species on the environment.In this study,we conducted a systematic analysis focusing on B.pilosa and Setaria viridis,a common native companion plant in the invaded area.To simulate the invasion process of B.pilosa,we constructed homogeneous plots consisting of B.pilosa and S.viridis grown separately as monocultures,as well as in mixtures.The rhizosphere and bulk soils were collected from the alien plant B.pilosa and the native plant S.viridis.In order to focus on the soil ecological functional mechanisms that contribute to the successful invasion of B.pilosa,we analyzed the effects of B.pilosa on the composition of soil microbial communities and soil ecological functions.The results showed that the biomass of B.pilosa increased by 27.51% and that of S.viridis was significantly reduced by 66.56%.The organic matter contents in the bulk and rhizosphere soils of B.pilosa were approximately 1.30 times those in the native plant soils.The TN and NO_(3)^(-)contents in the rhizosphere soil of B.pilosa were 1.30 to 2.71 times those in the native plant soils.The activities of acid phosphatase,alkaline phosphatase,and urease in the rhizosphere soil of B.pilosa were 1.98-2.25 times higher than in the native plant soils.Using high-throughput sequencing of the16S rRNA gene,we found that B.pilosa altered the composition of the soil microbial community.Specifically,many genera in Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were enriched in B.pilosa soils.Further correlation analyses verified that these genera had significantly positive relationships with soil nutrients and enzyme activities.Plant biomass,soil p H,and the contents of organic matter,TN,NO_(3)^(-),TP,AP,TK,and AK were the main factors affecting soil microbial communities.This study showed that the invasion of B.pilosa led to significant alterations in the composition of the soil microbial communities.These changes were closely linked to modifications in plant traits as well as soil physical and chemical properties.Some microbial species related to C,N and P cycling were enriched in the soil invaded by B.pilosa.These findings provide additional support for the hypothesis of soil-microbe feedback in the successful invasion of alien plants.They also offer insights into the ecological mechanism by which soil microbes contribute to the successful invasion of B.pilosa.Overall,our research contributes to a better understanding of the complex interactions between invasive plants,soil microbial communities,and ecosystem dynamics.