scholarly journals Effect of litter type on soil microbial parameters and dissolved organic carbon in a laboratory microcosm experiment

2014 ◽  
Vol 60 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 170-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Li ◽  
Pan KW ◽  
N. Wu ◽  
Wang JC ◽  
Wang YJ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Pinus Tabulaeformis ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Microbial Activities ◽  
Microcosm Experiment ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Laboratory Microcosm

A laboratory microcosm experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of the four single-species (Pinus tabulaeformis (Pt), Pinus radiata (Pr), Cercidiphyllum japonicum (Cj), and Ostryopsis davidiana (Od) litters from southwestern China and mixed pine-broadleaf (Pt + Cj, Pr + Cj, Pt + Od, Pr + Od) litters on soil microbial activities and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Microcosms with the local typical soil and litterbags containing the eight litter types were incubated with 60% water field capacity for 84 days at 20°C. The results showed that the dynamics of soil microbial parameters and DOC were influenced by the litter types with different initial chemical quality. Due to their initial poor nutrient contents, the Pt and Pr litter treatments always showed lower soil microbial activities and DOC at each sampling compared with the Cj and Od litter treatments. However, compared with the single-species pine litter treatments, the inclusion of broadleaf Cj or Od litter into pine litter significantly increased soil microbial activities, and the concentrations of soil DOC during the whole incubation process. The current work thus provided a good implication for plantation management that it should be appropriate to consider Cj as an ameliorative species or retain Od in the pine plantations to improve soil conditions.

scholarly journals The sensitivity of microbial processes in Icelandic soils to increasing temperatures

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 6749-6780 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Guicharnaud ◽  
O. Arnalds ◽  
G. I. Paton
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽  
Biomass Carbon ◽  
Labile Carbon ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Arctic Soils ◽  
Temperature Regimes

Abstract. Temperature change is acknowledged to have a significance effect on soil biological processes and the corresponding sequestration of carbon and the cycling of key nutrients. Soils at high latitudes are likely to be particularly impacted by increases in temperature. In this study, the response of a range of soil microbial parameters (respiration, nutrient availability, microbial biomass carbon, arylphosphatase and dehydrogenase activity) to temperature changes was measured in sub-arctic soils collected from across Iceland. Sample sites reflected two soil temperature regimes (cryic and frigid) and two land uses (pasture and arable). The soils were sampled from the field frozen, equilibrated at −20°C and then incubated for two weeks at −10°C, −2°C, +2°C and +10°C. Respiration and enzymatic activity were temperature dependent. Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen mineralisation did not change with temperature. The main factor controlling soil respiration at −10°C was the concentration of dissolved organic carbon. At −10°C, dissolved organic carbon accounted for 88% of the fraction of labile carbon which was significantly greater than that recorded at +10°C when dissolved organic carbon accounted for as low as 42% of the labile carbon fraction. Heterotrophic microbial activity is governed by both substrate availability and the temperature and this has been described by the Q10 factor. Elevated temperatures in the short term may have little effect on the size of the microbial biomass but will have significant impacts on the release of carbon through respiration. These results demonstrate that gradual changes in temperature across large areas at higher latitudes will have considerable impacts in relation to global soil carbon dynamics.

scholarly journals Comparative assessment of microbial enzyme activity with compost and sewage sludge amendment

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 1021-1028
Author(s):  
Jatinder Kaur ◽  
Sandeep Sharma ◽  
Hargopal Singh
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Microbial Activity ◽  
Available Phosphorus ◽  
Microbial Activities ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Microbial Enzyme ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Digested Sewage Sludge

Changes in soil microbial activities were investigated to examine the effect of aerobically digested sewage sludge (SS) and compared with compost under incubation conditions over 63 days. Sandy soil was amended with 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 % w/w of compost and sewage sludge. Enzyme activity (dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, phytase and urease) were examined at an interval of 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 and 63 days. At the end of the experiment the change in organic carbon, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus was also recorded.Results indicated that enzyme activities were substantially enhanced in presence of both amendments for first few days and the higher increases were measured at 1.5% of compost and sewage sludge amendment. Then an overall decrease in enzyme activity was recorded. Both the amendments also significantly increased the organic carbon, nitrogen and potassium of the soil while increase in available phosphorus was only recorded in treatment receiving compost. The present experiment indicated that addition of compost and sewage sludge have positive effect on soil microbial activity and can be safely used as soil amendment without having any adverse effect. Though, a previous examination of sewage sludge to be used must be made for heavy metals and pathogens.

scholarly journals Soil carbon and nitrogen fraction dynamics affected by tillage erosion

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Jun Nie ◽  
He-Bing Zhang ◽  
Yan-Yan Su
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Conservation ◽  
Microbial Activities ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Ammonium N ◽  
Soil C And N ◽  
Hydrolysable N ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Tillage Erosion

Abstract Understanding the impact of tillage erosion on soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N) fractions is essential for targeted soil conservation in mountainous and hilly areas. However, little is known about this issue. In this study, we selected a tillage erosion-dominated hillslope from the Sichuan Basin, China, to determine the effect of tillage erosion on particulate OC (POC), dissolved OC (DOC), light fraction OC (LFOC), ammonium N (NH4+-N), nitrate N (NO3−-N) and alkali-hydrolysable N (AN). Additionally, we investigated the microbial activities in relation to soil C and N dynamics, including soil microbial biomass, β-glucosidase and urease activities. Tillage erosion induced serious soil loss in upper slope positions and soil deposition in lower slope positions. The observations of the various labile OC fraction distributions across the hillslope suggest that tillage erosion exerts less impact on DOC and LFOC dynamics but a notable effect on POC. The distribution pattern in total organic carbon under tillage erosion mainly depends on POC redistribution. The POC redistribution is a major factor affecting microbial activities. The AN is more prone to the tillage erosion impact than NH4+-N and NO3−-N. Effective soil conservation measures should be taken to weaken the adverse impacts of tillage erosion on POC and AN redistribution in sloping farmlands.

scholarly journals Dissolved organic carbon dynamics in a UK podzolic moorland catchment: linking storm hydrochemistry, flow path analysis and sorption experiments

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Stutter ◽  
S. M. Dunn ◽  
D. G. Lumsdon
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Selective Filtration ◽  
Antecedent Conditions ◽  
Doc Concentration ◽  
Mineral Soils

Abstract. Better knowledge of spatial and temporal delivery of dissolved organic Carbon (DOC) in small catchments is required to understand the mechanisms behind reported long-term changes in C fluxes from some peatlands. We monitored two storms with contrasting seasons and antecedent conditions in a small upland UK moorland catchment. We examined DOC concentrations and specific UV absorbance (SUVA at 285 nm), together with solute concentrations required to undertake end member mixing analyses to define dominant flow paths contributing to streamflow. This was combined with laboratory soil-solution equilibrations. We aimed to resolve how seasonal biogeochemical processing of DOC and flowpath changes in organo-mineral soils combine to affect DOC exported via the stream. An August storm following a dry period gave maximum DOC concentration of 10 mg l−1. Small DOC:DON ratios (16–28) and SUVA (2.7–3.6 l mg−1 m−1) was attributed to filtration of aromatic compounds associated with up to 53% B horizon flow contributions. This selective filtration of high SUVA DOC was reproduced in the experimental batch equilibration system. For a November storm, wetter antecedent soil conditions led to enhanced soil connectivity with the stream and seven times greater DOC stream-load (maximum concentration 16 mg l−1). This storm had a 63% O horizon flow contribution at its peak, limited B horizon buffering and consequently more aromatic DOC (SUVA 3.9–4.5 l mg−1 m−1 and DOC:DON ratio 35–43). We suggest that simple mixing of waters from different flow paths cannot alone explain the differences in DOC compositions between August and November and biogeochemical processing of DOC is required to fully explain the observed stream DOC dynamics. This is in contrast to other studies proposing hydrological controls and provides evidence that DOC biogeochemistry must be incorporated in modelling to predict the impacts of changes in DOC delivery to aquatic systems.

scholarly journals Dissolved organic carbon dynamics in a UK podzolic moorland catchment: linking storm hydrochemistry, flow path analysis and sorption experiments

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 2159-2175 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. I. Stutter ◽  
S. M. Dunn ◽  
D. G. Lumsdon
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Dissolved Organic Carbon ◽  
Preliminary Evidence ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Antecedent Conditions ◽  
Doc Concentration ◽  
Mineral Soils

Abstract. Better knowledge of spatial and temporal delivery of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in small catchments is required to understand the mechanisms behind reported long-term changes in C fluxes from some peatlands. We monitored two storms with contrasting seasons and antecedent conditions in a small upland UK moorland catchment. We examined DOC concentrations and specific UV absorbance (SUVA at 285 nm), together with solute concentrations required to undertake end-member mixing analyses to define dominant flow paths contributing to streamflow. This was combined with laboratory soil-solution equilibrations. We aimed to resolve how seasonal biogeochemical processing of DOC and flowpath changes in organo-mineral soils combine to affect DOC exported via the stream. An August storm following a dry period gave maximum DOC concentration of 10 mg l−1. Small DOC:DON ratios (16–28) and SUVA (2.7–3.6 l mg−1 m−1) was attributed to filtration of aromatic compounds associated with up to 53% B horizon flow contributions. This selective filtration of high SUVA DOC was reproduced in the experimental batch equilibration system. For a November storm, wetter antecedent soil conditions led to enhanced soil connectivity with the stream and seven times greater DOC stream-load (maximum concentration 16 mg l−1). This storm had a 63% O horizon flow contribution at its peak, limited B horizon buffering and consequently more aromatic DOC (SUVA 3.9–4.5 l mg−1 m−1 and DOC:DON ratio 35–43). We suggest that simple mixing of waters from different flow paths cannot alone explain the differences in DOC compositions between August and November and biogeochemical processing of DOC is required to fully explain the observed stream DOC dynamics. This preliminary evidence is in contrast to other studies proposing hydrological controls on the nature of DOC delivered to streams. Although our study is based only on two storms of very different hydrological and biogeochemical periods, this should promote wider study of DOC biogeochemical alteration in headwaters so that this be better incorporated in modelling to predict the impacts of changes in DOC delivery to, and fate in, aquatic systems.

scholarly journals Application of dendrochronological analysis of Retama sphaerocarpa L. (Boiss) for dating agricultural abandonment

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Álvaro Herrán Fernández ◽  
Rafael G. Lacalle ◽  
María Jesús Iturritxa Vélez del Burgo ◽  
Mikel Martínez Azkuenaga ◽  
Juan Vilela Lozano
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Agricultural Abandonment ◽  
Retama Sphaerocarpa ◽  
Dendrochronological Analysis

Abandonment of agricultural land leads to changes in soil characteristics that may result in better or worse soil conditions. These changes are slow therefore the use of indicators for dating the time of abandonment is particularly useful. This study was carried out in Madrid, Spain with the aim to establish for the first time the use of <em>Retama sphaerocarpa</em> L. (Boiss) as a dendrochronological tool for dating land abandonment.  This offers the possibility to take into consideration a period of time long enough for changes in soil to be determined. Such changes can be indicated by fluctuations in soil organic carbon content (SOC), porosity or water availability.</p><p>Three different situations resulted from the dendrochronological analysis: soil currently tilled; soil recently abandoned (less than 5 years), and prolonged abandonment (in average 10 years). In addition the influence of <em>Retama sphaerocarpa</em> L. (Boiss) on soils was checked for these periods of abandonment.</p><p>The rate of SOC gain can be considered quick. Tilled soils accounted for 0.48% SOC, and  reached 1% in less than 5 years, although with wide standard deviations. Due to prolonged abandonment SOC reached 1.41%, (P=0.09). Total soil porosity under tillage was 49%, and decreased to 38% after 4-5 years, but recovered to 41% under prolonged abandonment. Water availability (volumetric soil moisture between field capacity and permanent wilting point) remained the same, ranging from 7.7 to 8.5% along the whole period of time.</p><p>The presence of <em>R.sphaerocarpa</em> L. (Boiss) accelerates soil changes as SOC in prolonged abandonment increased to 2.65%, porosity was 41% and water availability 10.3%.</p><p><strong><em>Key words</em></strong>: agricultural abandonment, dendrochronology, soil organic carbon, water availability

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