scholarly journals Do lignite-derived organic amendments improve early-stage pasture growth and key soil biological and physicochemical properties?

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (9) ◽  
pp. 899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen R. Little ◽  
Michael T. Rose ◽  
William R. Jackson ◽  
Timothy R. Cavagnaro ◽  
Antonio F. Patti
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Brown Coal ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Mycorrhizal Colonisation ◽  
Key Indicators

Commercial products derived from lignite (brown coal), sold mainly as humate preparations, are widely promoted as plant growth stimulants leading to higher crop yields. These products are also claimed to improve key indicators of soil health including soil pH and microbial biomass. In a glasshouse setting, we investigated the effect of six lignite-derived amendments applied at the manufacturer’s recommended rate on the early-stage growth of two pasture species, lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). We used two soil types common to south-eastern Australia, and following an 8-week growing period, assessed soil pH, microbial biomass carbon and mycorrhizal colonisation as key indicators of soil health. We hypothesised that humic acid (HA) and macronutrients derived from the products would positively influence pasture growth and soil health indicators. Although significant growth effects were observed in response to some products, the effects were inconsistent across pasture and soil types. Treatment effects on tissue nutrient accumulation were rare, with the exception of increased potassium in ryegrass in one soil amended with raw brown coal, and decreased nitrogen in lucerne in the same soil amended with a granulated, slow-release humate product. Further, we found no consistent trends in mycorrhizal colonisation or microbial biomass carbon in response to individual treatments. Given the variable responses of the plant species and soil types to the amendments used here, we emphasise the need for further mechanistic studies to help understand how these amendments can be used to greatest effect.

Nitrous oxide emission from two acidic soils as affected by dolomite application

Soil Research ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Shaaban ◽  
Qian Peng ◽  
Shan Lin ◽  
Yupeng Wu ◽  
Jinsong Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Rice Paddy ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Acidic Soils

The effect of dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2) application on nitrous oxide (N2O) emission was examined in a laboratory study with soil from a rice paddy–rapeseed rotation (PR soil, pH 5.25) and from a rice paddy–fallow–flooded rotation soil (PF soil, pH 5.52). The soils were treated with 0, 0.5 (L) and 1.5 (H) g dolomite 100 g–1 soil. Results showed that N2O emissions were higher in control treatments (untreated dolomite) in both soils. Application of dolomite decreased N2O emissions significantly (P ≤ 0.001) as soil pH increased in both soils. The H treatment was more effective than the L treatment for the reduction of N2O emissions. The H treatment decreased the cumulative N2O emissions by up to 73.77% in PR soil and 64.07% in PF soil compared with the control. The application of dolomite also affected concentrations of dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, ammonium and nitrate in soils, which related to N2O emission. The results suggest that dolomite not only counteracts soil acidification but also has the potential to mitigate N2O emissions in acidic soils.

scholarly journals Carbon Mineralization Dynamics of Organic Materials and Their Usage in the Restoration of Degraded Tropical Tea-Growing Soil

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1191
Author(s):  
Liyana Rallage Mahesh Chaminda Liyanage ◽  
Muhammad Firdaus Sulaiman ◽  
Roslan Ismail ◽  
Gamini Perera Gunaratne ◽  
Randombage Saman Dharmakeerthi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Organic Materials ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Carbon Mineralization ◽  
Co2 Flux ◽  
Soil Restoration ◽  
Order Kinetic ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Tea Waste

Understanding carbon mineralization dynamics of organic amendments is essential to restore degraded lands. This study focused on the restoration potentials of tea-growing soils using organic materials available in tea ecosystems. The Selangor-Briah soil series association (Typic Endoaquepts) consisted of a high- (soil A) and a low-carbon (soil B) soils were incubated with different organic materials and released carbon dioxide (CO2) measured. Two kinetic models were applied to depict the mineralization process. Soil health parameters including microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, dehydrogenase and catalase activities were determined to assess the restoration potentials. The parallel first-order kinetic model fitted well for all amendments. Gliricidia markedly enhanced the net cumulative CO2 flux in both soils. Charged biochar, tea waste and Gliricidia improved the microbial biomass carbon by 79–84% in soil A and 82–93% in soil B, respectively. Microbial quotients and biomass nitrogen were increased over 50 and 70% in amended soils, respectively. Dehydrogenase activity was significantly accelerated over 80% by compost, charged biochar and tea waste. Charged biochar remarkably increased the soil catalase activity by 141%. Microbial biomass, dehydrogenase and catalase activities, and cumulative CO2 flux were positively correlated (r > 0.452) with one another. The studied amendments showed greater potential in improving the soil quality, while charged biochar, raw biochar and compost enrich the soil recalcitrant C pool ensuring the soil health in long term. Even though biochar sequesters carbon, it has to be charged with nutrients to achieve the soil restoration goals.

scholarly journals Soil carbon, microbial biomass carbon, soil health and productivity of toria (Brassica campestris L.) crop as affected by the application of organic manures

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 1379-1386
Author(s):  
B. Gogoi ◽  
◽  
B. Kalita ◽  
I. Bhupenchandra ◽  
P. Sutradhar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Cow Dung ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Branch Number ◽  
Organic Manures

Aim: To investigate the effect of different organic manures on the performance of toria crop and to understand their impact on the soil properties and availability of nutrients in acidic sandy loam soil. Methodology: Three-year fixed plot study was conducted with 7 treatments viz., T1: control, T2: recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF), T3: cow dung manure @ 5 t ha-1, T4: pig dung manure @ 5 t ha-1, T5: goat dung manure @ 5 t ha-1, T6: farm yard manure (FYM) @ 5 t ha-1, and T7: vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 replicating 3 times in a complete randomized block design. Data were collected and analysed following the standard procedures. The yield and yield attributing parameters of toria and the soil properties such as soil pH, organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon and available NPK were studied. Results: Application of different organic manures significantly affected the plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of siliquae per branch, number of seeds siliqua and 1000-seed weight of toria crop. Addition of organic manure significantly enhanced the soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon and available NPK in the soil over initial, except soil pH. The cost of cultivation, gross return and net return varied from 10.50 ×103 to 23.10 ×103, 15.00 ×103 to 35.10 ×103 and 4.46 ×103 to 19.96 ×103 Rs. ha-1, respectively. The B:C ratio varied in the order of goat dung manure > cow dung manure >RDF >FYM > pig dung manure > vermicompost > control treatment. Interpretation: To achieve maximum performance with nourishment of soil quality and health, application of vermicompost was confirmed to be the best over other organic sources of nutrients primarily due to enhancement in C and N status and an increase in microbial activities in soil.

Effect of Heavy Metals Cu and Zn in Typical Farmland Soil on Enzyme Activity and Microbial Biomass in a Local Area of Eastern China

2014 ◽  
Vol 700 ◽  
pp. 334-337
Author(s):  
Lei Yu ◽  
Jie Min Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Local Area ◽  
Soil Types ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Farmland Soil ◽  
Research Objects ◽  
Cu And Zn

This work regards the three main soil types in local area of eastern China as the research objects, that is, cinnamon, fluvo-aquic and brown soils are conducted corresponding investigations. In order to analyze the effects which Cu and Zn exert on urease’s and catalase’s activity as well as the microbial biomass carbon, the exogenous Cu and Zn were added to the gathered surface soil with the depth of 0-20cm.

scholarly journals Changes of some soil chemical and microbiological characteristics in a long-term fertilization experiment in Hungary

2018 ◽  
pp. 253-265
Author(s):  
János Kátai ◽  
Magdolna Tállai ◽  
Imre Vágó ◽  
Andrea Balláné Kovács
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Organic Matter Content ◽  
Nitrate Content ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Hydrolytic Acidity

Agricultural management practices – directly or indirectly – influence soil properties. Fertilization rates and crop rotation can strongly affect soil pH, soil nutrient supply and soil organic matter content due to the changes of microbial processes. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of different fertilization doses in monoculture and tri-culture of maize (monoculture: only maize grown since 1983, tri-culture: it is a three-year crop rotation system: pea – winter wheat – maize) on selected soil characteristics. The long-term fertilization experiments were set up in 1983 in Eastern Hungary. These experiments are situated west of Debrecen in Hajdúság loess region, on calcareous chernozem (according to WRB: Chernozems). The test plant was maize (Zea mays L.). One-one pilot blocks were selected from monoculture and tri-culture of the long-term experiments. The observed soil samples were taken in the 30th year of the experiment, in 2013. The doses of NPK fertilizers increased parallel together, so the effects of N-, P- and K-fertilizers cannot be separated. With the increasing fertilizer doses, the soil pH has decreased in both crop production systems and, in parallel, the hydrolytic acidity has significantly increased. A close negative correlation was proved between the pHH2O, pHKCl and hydrolytic acidity. An increased nutrient content in soil was recorded in every NPK treatment and the available phosphorus and nitrate content increased in higher proportion than that of potassium. Of the measured parameters of C-and N-cycles, fertilization has mostly had a positive effect on the microbial activity of soils. Besides the effects of fertilizer doses, correlation were looked for between soil microbiological properties. Evaluating the ratios among the measured parameters (organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon, OC/MBC ratio; carbon-dioxide and microbial biomass carbon; CO2/MBC proportion), the fertilization rate seems to be favoured by the increase of amounts of organic compounds

scholarly journals Assessment of the Microbial Biomass Carbon (MB-C), Nitrogen (MB-N) and Phosphorus (MB-P) in Soil Spiked with Pesticides (Carbofuran and Paraquat)

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
T. L. Ataikiru ◽  
G. S. C. Okpokwasili ◽  
P. O. Okerentugba
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Microbial Population ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Plate Count ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Treated Soil ◽  
The Impact

This study aimed at determining the impact of Carbofuran and Paraquat use on soil microbial biomass and microbial population as soil health index. Pot experiment, set-up as a randomized block design with replicates was done, with both pesticides applied at recommended rates for eight weeks. Twenty-four (24) soil samples were taken from the pesticides polluted soil as well as the unpolluted soil. These samples were used to assess the effect of pesticides on microbial biomass carbon (MB-C), nitrogen (MB-N) and phosphorus (MB-P). Also, microbial population (determined by aerobic spread plate count) of the pesticide-polluted soils was used as health index. The assessments were done weekly. The microbial biomass values increased from 273.48 µg/g to 293.15 µg/g (MB-C), 17.275 µg/g to 18.52 µg/g (MB-N) and 10.605 µg/g to 11.37 µg/g (MB-P) in carbofuran treated soil while increases from 277.26 µg/g to 288.365 µg/g (MB-C), 17.515 µg/g to 18.22 µg/g (MB-N) and 10.745 µg/g to 11.18 µg/g (MB-P) were observed in paraquat treated soil. The microbial counts in treated soils were within the ranges of 1.95 x 106 cfu/g to 1.03 x 107 cfu/g, 8.83 x 104 to 1.90 x 105 cfu/g, 1.08x 104 to 2.43 x 104, 1.15 x105 to 2.17 x 105 cfu/g, 1.38 x 105 to 2.22 x 105 cfu/g for total heterotrophic bacterial, fungal, actinomycetes, phosphate solubilizers, nitrifiers counts, respectively. The pesticides had no negative effects on the MB-C, MB-N, MB-P and soil microorganisms at recommended field rates, hence their use must be strictly based on these rates. These findings indicate that the relationship between soil nutrients and microbial biomass is significant in facilitating the use of microbial biomass as an important soil quality indicator.

scholarly journals Rice Residue-Based Biochar Mitigates N2O Emission from Acid Red Soil

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2462
Author(s):  
Muhammad Aamer ◽  
Muhammad Bilal Chattha ◽  
Athar Mahmood ◽  
Maria Naqve ◽  
Muhammad Umair Hassan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Ph ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Acid Soils ◽  
N2o Emission ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Red Soils

Biochar application is considered an effective approach to mitigating nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agricultural soils. However, the mechanisms of biochar to mitigate N2O emissions from acidic red soils are still unclear. Therefore, the present study aims to underpin mechanisms associated with rice residue-based biochar in mitigating N2O emissions from acid soils. Soil treated with different rates of biochar control, from 1%, 2%, and 3%, and different soil properties, including soil pH, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), NH4+-N, NO3−-N, genes abundance (nosZ, nirK, AOA, and AOB), and enzymatic activities ((nitrate reductase (NR) and urease (UR)) were studied. The application of 3% biochar increased the soil pH (5.21–6.48), MBC (565–685 mg/kg), NO3−-N contents (24.23–44.5 mg/kg), genes abundance (nosZ, nirK, AOA, and AOB) and UR activity. The highest N2O emission (43.60 μg kg−1) was recorded and compared with the application of 1% (26.3 μg kg−1), 2% (18.33 μg kg−1), and 3% biochar (8.13 μg kg−1). Applying 3% biochar effectively reduced the N2O emission due to increased soil pH, MBC, NO3−-N contents, genes abundance (nosZ, nirK, AOA, and AOB), and weakened NH4+-N and NR activities. Therefore, increasing soil pH, genes abundance, and weakened nitrification following the addition of rice residue-based biochar can effectively reduce the N2O emissions from acidic red soils.

scholarly journals How Elemental Stoichiometric Ratios in Microorganisms Respond to Thinning Management in Larix principis-rupprechtti Mayr. Plantations of the Warm Temperate Zone in China

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 684
Author(s):  
Mengke Cai ◽  
Shiping Xing ◽  
Xiaoqing Cheng ◽  
Li Liu ◽  
Xinhao Peng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Medium Density ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Stoichiometric Ratios

The stoichiometric ratios of elements in microorganisms play an important role in biogeochemical cycling and evaluating the nutritional limits of microbial growth, but the effects of thinning treatment on the stoichiometric ratio of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in microorganisms remain unclear. We conducted research in a Larix principis-rupprechtti Mayr. plantation to determine the main factors driving microbial carbon (C): nitrogen (N): phosphorus (P) stoichiometry following thinning and the underlying mechanisms of these effects. The plantation study varied in thinning intensity from 0% tree removal (control), 15% tree reduction (high density plantation, HDP), 35% tree reduction (medium density plantation, MDP), and 50% tree reduction (low density plantation, LDP). Our results indicated that medium density plantation significantly increased litter layer biomass, soil temperature, and other soil properties (e.g., soil moisture and nutrient contents). Understory vegetation diversity (i.e., shrub layer and herb layer) was highest in the medium density plantation. Meanwhile, thinning had a great influence on the biomass of microbial communities. For example, the concentration of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) for bacteria and fungi in the medium density plantation (MDP) was significantly higher than in other thinning treatments. Combining Pearson correlation analysis, regression modeling, and stepwise regression demonstrated that the alteration of the microbial biomass carbon: nitrogen was primarily related to gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, soil temperature, and soil available phosphorus. Variation in bacteria, actinomycetes, gram-positive bacteria, gram–negative bacteria, and soil total phosphorus was primarily associated with shifts in microbial biomass carbon: phosphorus. Moreover, changes in microbial biomass nitrogen: phosphorus were regulated by actinomycetes, gram-negative bacteria, and soil temperature. In conclusion, our research indicates that the stoichiometric ratios of elements in microorganisms could be influenced by thinning management, and emphasizes the importance of soil factors and microbial communities in driving soil microbial stoichiometry.

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