Soil microbial biomass and carbon dioxide flux under wheat as influenced by tillage and crop rotation

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Z. Lupwayi ◽  
W. A. Rice ◽  
G. W. Clayton
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Organic C ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
Total Soil ◽  
Northern Alberta

Soil organic matter is important both from an agronomic and an environmental perspective because it affects the capacity of the soil to sustain crop growth, and it is a source and sink of atmospheric CO2-C. Soil microbial biomass comprises a small proportion of total soil organic matter, but it is more dynamic than total soil organic matter. Therefore, measurements of soil microbial biomass may show the effects of soil management on potential changes in soil organic matter before such effects can be detected by measuring total soil organic matter. The effects of tillage and crop rotation on soil microbial biomass and activity were studied in 1995–1997 in the wheat phase of different cropping rotations that had been established in 1992 under zero tillage or conventional tillage in northern Alberta. Soil microbial biomass was often significantly (P < 0.05) higher, but never significantly lower, under zero tillage than under conventional tillage. However, CO2 evolution (basal respiration) was usually higher under conventional tillage than under zero tillage, resulting in higher specific respiration (qCO2) under conventional tillage than under zero tillage. The higher additions but lower losses of labile C under zero tillage mean that more C is sequestered in the soil in the zero-tillage system. Thus, this system contributes less to atmospheric CO2 than conventional tillage, and that soil organic matter accumulates more under zero tillage. Plots preceded by summerfallow, especially under conventional tillage, usually had the lowest microbial biomass and CO2 evolution, and plots preceded by legume crops had higher microbial biomass and lower qCO2 than other treatments. Tillage and rotation had little effect on total soil organic matter 5 yr after the treatments had been imposed, probably because of the cold climate of northern Alberta, but the results confirm that the labile forms of soil C are more sensitive indicators of soil organic C trends than total soil organic C. These effects of tillage and rotation on soil microbial biomass were similar to those on microbial diversity reported previously. These results confirm that zero tillage and legume-based crop rotations are more sustainable crop management systems than conventional tillage and fallowing in the Gray Luvisolic soils of northern Alberta. Key words: Carbon sequestration, carbon mineralization, microbial activity, soil organic matter

Soil microbial biomass and diversity respond to tillage and sulphur fertilizers

2001 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 577-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Z. Lupwayi ◽  
M. A. Monreal ◽  
G. W. Clayton ◽  
C. A. Grant ◽  
A. M. Johnston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Microbial Diversity ◽  
Soil Microorganisms ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass ◽  
Conventional Tillage ◽  
Bulk Soil ◽  
Zero Tillage ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Soil Microbial

There is little information on the effects of S management strategies on soil microorganisms under zero tillage systems o n the North American Prairies. Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of tillage and source and placement of S on soil microbial biomass (substrate induced respiration) and functional diversity (substrate utilization patterns) in a canola-wheat rotation under conventional and zero tillage systems at three sites in Gray Luvisolic and Black Chernozemic soils. Conventional tillage significantly reduced microbial biomass and diversity on an acidic and C-poor Luvisolic soil, but it had mostly no significant effects on the near-neutral, C-rich Luvisolic and Chernozemic soils, which underlines the importance of soil C in maintaining a healthy soil. Sulphur had no significant effects on soil microbial biomass, and its effects on microbial diversity were more frequent on the near-neutral Luvisol, which was more S-deficient, than on the acidic Luvisol or the Chernozem. Significant S effects on microbial diversity were observed both in the bulk soil (negative effects, compared with the control) and rhizosphere (positive effects) of the acidic Luvisol, but all significant effects (positive) were observed in root rhizospheres in the other soils. Sulphur by tillage interactions on acidic Luvisolic soil indicated that the negative effects of S in bulk soil occurred mostly under zero tillage, presumably because the fertilizer is concentrated in a smaller volume of soil than under conventional tillage. Sulphate S effects, either negative or positive, on microbial diversity were usually greater than elemental S effects. Therefore, S application can have direct, deleterious effects on soil microorganisms or indirect, beneficial effects through crop growth, the latter presumably due to increased root exudation in the rhizosphere of healthy crops. Key Words: Biolog, conservation tillage, microbial biodiversity, rhizosphere, soil biological quality, S fertilizer type and placement

scholarly journals Effect of the amount of organic trigger compounds, nitrogen and soil microbial biomass on the magnitude of priming of soil organic matter

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. e0216730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domenico Paolo Di Lonardo ◽  
Wietse de Boer ◽  
Hans Zweers ◽  
Annemieke van der Wal
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Microbial

The mineralisation of fresh and humified soil organic matter by the soil microbial biomass

2008 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 716-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.C. Brookes ◽  
M.L. Cayuela ◽  
M. Contin ◽  
M. De Nobili ◽  
S.J. Kemmitt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Microbial

scholarly journals Modelling organic matter dynamics in different soils.

1990 ◽  
Vol 38 (3A) ◽  
pp. 221-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.L.J. Verberne ◽  
J. Hassink ◽  
P. de Willigen ◽  
J.J.R. Groot ◽  
J.A. van Veen
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass ◽  
State Level ◽  
N Cycling ◽  
First Order ◽  
Soil Microbial ◽  
First Order Kinetics ◽  
Different Soils

A mathematical model was developed to describe carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in different soil types, e.g. clay and sandy soils. Transformation rates were described by first-order kinetics. Soil organic matter is divided into four fractions (including microbial biomass pool) and three fractions of residues. The fraction of active soil organic matter was assumed to be affected by the extent of physical protection within the soil, as was the soil microbial biomass. The extent of protection influenced the steady state level of the model, and, hence, the mineralization rates. The mineralization rate in fine-textured soils is lower than in coarse-textured soils; in fine-textured soils a larger proportion of the soil organic matter may be physically protected. The availability of organic materials as a substrate for microorganisms is not only determined by their chemical composition, but also by their spatial distribution in the soil. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

scholarly journals Potential of the soil microbial biomass C to tolerate and degrade persistent organic pollutants

2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (No. 1) ◽  
pp. 12-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Mühlbachová
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Microbial Biomass ◽  
Contaminated Soil ◽  
Soil Microorganisms ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass ◽  
Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Microbial Activities ◽  
Soil Microbial Biomass C ◽  
Soil Microbial

A 12-day incubation experiment with the addition of glucose to soils contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) was carried out in order to estimate the potential microbial activities and the potential of the soil microbial biomass C to degrade 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDT), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The microbial activities were affected in different ways depending on the type of pollutant. The soil organic matter also played an important role. The microbial activities were affected particularly by high concentrations of PAHs in the soils. Soil microorganisms in the PAHs contaminated soil used the added glucose to a lesser extent than in the non-contaminated soil, which in the contaminated soil resulted in a higher microbial biomass content during the first day of incubation. DDT, DDD and DDE, and PCB affected the soil microbial activities differently and, in comparison with control soils, decreased the microbial biomass C during the incubation. The increased microbial activities led to a significant decrease of PAH up to 44.6% in the soil long-term contaminated with PAHs, and up to 14% in the control soil after 12 days of incubation. No decrease of PAHs concentrations was observed in the soil which was previously amended with sewage sludges containing PAHs and had more organic matter from the sewage sludges. DDT and its derivates DDD and DDE decreased by about 10%, whereas the PCB contents were not affected at all by microbial activities. Studies on the microbial degradation of POPs could be useful for the development of methods focused on the remediation of the contaminated sites. An increase of soil microbial activities caused by addition of organic substrates can contribute to the degradation of pollutants in some soils. However, in situ biodegradation may be limited because of a complex set of environmental conditions, particularly of the soil organic matter. The degradability and availability of POPs for the soil microorganisms has to be estimated individually for each contaminated site.

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