Enzyme activities and heavy metal interactions in calcareous soils under different land uses

This study was carried out to examine the interaction of enzyme activities, microbial biomass carbon, and CO2 respiration with heavy metals under different land uses in terms of quality and sustainability of the soil. There is a statistically significant positive correlation between dehydrogenase enzyme activity and Mn, Pb, Cd, and Co, while it was negative between Cr. There was a positive correlation between catalase enzyme activity and Mn and Pb and between urease and Co. The higher interaction of dehydrogenase activity with heavy metals, which is included in the endo enzyme group, has been explained as a much stronger effect of heavy metals on living microorganisms and endoenzymes than extracellular enzymes stabilized on clay minerals and organic matter. The high clay content of the soil is thought to reduce some of the negative effects of heavy metals on enzymes. The results of this study may be good indicators of enzyme activities, especially dehydrogenase, catalase, and urease, for soil health and quality, chemical degradation and restoration processes, and ecosystem functioning in soils contaminated or to be contaminated with heavy metals. It shows that the activities of these enzymes are very sensitive and can decrease rapidly in case of high concentrations of heavy metals.

Effects of vegetation and soil changes on microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in the Napahai meadow under N deposition

To explore the responses of soil microorganisms to short-term nitrogen deposition in alpine meadow, we set three treatments of low nitrogen (5 g N·m-2·a-1), medium nitrogen (10 g N·m-2·a-1), and high nitrogen (15 g N·m-2·a-1) addition to investigate the effects of nitrogen-deposition induced alterations in plant diversity and soil physicochemical properties on microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) in a typical alpine meadow community of Carex nubigena in Napahai. The results showed that nitrogen addition significantly increased soil MBC, MBN, and their quotients, with the increases of MBC being as high as 139.3% under medium nitrogen treatment. Both MBC and MBN showed significant decreases along the soil layer, with a reduction of 24.1% to 75.1%. Nitrogen addition significantly increased aboveground biomass and reduced Shannon and Simpson indices by 6.6%-65.4%. Nitrogen addition significantly decreased soil pH, increased the contents of organic matter, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen, with the highest reduction (7.0%-511.1%) being observed in medium nitrogen treatment. Soil pH increased while other physical and chemical indicators significantly decreased with the increases of soil layer, with a variation range of 19.5%-91.2%. Results of structural equation model showed that microbial biomass was significantly positively correlated with ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and organic matter, but negatively correlated with pH and Shannon index. The interaction of plant and soil physicochemical properties explained 55%-77% of the variations in MBC, MBN and their quotient. Soil physicochemical properties had the highest effect value (0.56-0.95) on MBC, MBN and their quotients, followed by plant diversity and aboveground biomass. Therefore, nitrogen deposition increased soil MBC and MBN and their quotient, primarily through improving soil nutrient availability and plant aboveground biomass, whereas MBC and MBN and their quotient were suppressed by high-level nitrogen deposition due to soil acidification and plant diversity losses.

Seed Bank Community under Different-Intensity Agrophytocenoses on Hilly Terrain in Lithuania

On the summit of a hill with a lack of humidity, and in usually stronger eroded midslope parts, crops thin out. Changing ecological conditions change the soil seed bank as well. The aim of this study was to examine changes in the seed bank size and number of species and the influence of seed surface characteristics on their spread in different-intensity agrophytocenoses under hilly relief conditions. This study included different parts of the hill (summit, midslope and footslope) in Lithuania. The southern exposition slope's soil was slightly eroded Eutric Retisol (loamic). In spring and autumn, the seed bank was investigated at depths of 0-5 and 5-15 cm. Irrespective of the season, in the soil of permanent grassland, the seed number was 6.8 and 3.4 times smaller compared to those of cereal-grass crop rotation and crop rotation with black fallow. The highest number of seed species was determined in the footslope of the hill. Seeds with rough surfaces dominated on all parts of the hill, but the highest amount (on the average 69.6%) was determined on the summit of the hill. In autumn, a strong correlation was found between the total seed number and soil microbial carbon biomass (r = 0.841-0.922).

Three-dimensional mapping of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in soil microbial biomass and their stoichiometry at the global scale

Soil microbial biomass and microbial stoichiometric ratios are important for understanding carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we compiled data from 12245 observations of soil microbial biomass from 1626 published studies to map global patterns of microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP), and their stoichiometry using a random forest model. Concentrations of MBC, MBN, and MBP were most closely linked to soil organic carbon, while climatic factors were most important for stoichiometry in microbial biomass ratios. Modeled seasonal MBC concentrations peaked in summer in tundra and in boreal forests, but in autumn in subtropical and in tropical biomes. The global mean MBC/MBN, MBC/MBP, and MBN/MBP ratios were estimated to be 10, 48, and 6.7, respectively, at 0-30 cm soil depth. The highest concentrations, stocks, and microbial C/N/P ratios were found at high latitudes in tundra and boreal forests, probably due to the higher soil organic matter content, greater fungal abundance, and lower nutrient availability in colder than in warmer biomes. At 30-100 cm soil depth, concentrations of MBC, MBN, and MBP were highest in temperate forests. The MBC/MBP ratio showed greater flexibility at the global scale than did the MBC/MBN ratio, possibly reflecting physiological adaptations and microbial community shifts with latitude. The results of this study are important for understanding C, N, and P cycling at the global scale, as well as for developing soil C-cycling models including soil microbial C, N, and P as important parameters.

[Effects of different amounts of straw return and nitrogen fertilizer application on soil CO2 emission from maize fields]

Understanding the effects of different amounts of straw returning and nitrogen fertilizer application on soil CO₂ emission from maize field can provide theoretical support for carbon sequestration and CO₂ emission reduction and the implementation of black soil region conservation plan. Three rates of straw returning were set up in the semi-arid area of northwest Liaoning Province, China, i.e. 3000 (S₁), 6000 (S₂) and 9000 kg·hm^-2(S₃, full amount of straw returned to the field); crossed with three nitrogen fertilizer application rates in the sub-region, respectively, i.e. 105 (N₁), 210 (N₂, conventional nitrogen application rate) and 420 kg N·hm^-2(N₃). In addition, there was a control treatment (CK) without nitrogen fertilizer and straw returning. Soil samples were collected after 4 years field experiment with maize plantation. The influence of different treatments on maize field soil CO₂ emission and the relationship between CO₂ emission and soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) were investigated in an incubation experiment. The results showed that both of straw returning and nitrogen fertilizer application promoted soil CO₂ emission in maize field, which were increased significantly with the increases of straw returning amount and nitrogen application amount. Nitrogen fertilizer application was the most important factor promoting soil CO₂ emission in maize field. Straw returning combined with nitrogen fertilizer promoted soil CO₂ emission by increasing microbial biomass and increasing DOC consumption. MBC and DOC stimulated soil CO₂ emission significantly in maize field, and were mainly affected by their contents in the early stage of incubation. From the perspective of ensuring the fertilization of straw return to the field while reducing CO₂ emissions, results from our experiment showed that 210 kg N·hm^-2 conventional nitrogen application in combination with 6000 kg N·hm^-2 straw returning (N₂S₂) was the most promising mode in the semi-arid area of northwest Liaoning Province.

How the Soil Microbial Communities and Activities Respond to Long-Term Heavy Metal Contamination in Electroplating Contaminated Site

The effects of long-term heavy metal contamination on the soil biological processes and soil microbial communities were investigated in a typical electroplating site in Zhangjiakou, China. It was found that the soil of the electroplating plant at Zhangjiakou were heavily polluted by Cr, Cr (VI), Ni, Cu, and Zn, with concentrations ranged from 112.8 to 9727.2, 0 to 1083.3, 15.6 to 58.4, 10.8 to 510.0 and 69.6 to 631.6 mg/kg, respectively. Soil urease and phosphatase activities were significantly inhibited by the heavy metal contamination, while the microbial biomass carbon content and the bacterial community richness were much lower compared to noncontaminated samples, suggesting that the long-term heavy metal contamination had a severe negative effect on soil microorganisms. Differently, soil dehydrogenase was promoted in the presence of Chromate compared to noncontaminated samples. This might be due to the enrichment of Sphingomonadaceae, which have been proven to be able to secrete dehydrogenase. The high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene documented that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi were the dominant bacterial phyla in the contaminated soil. The Spearman correlation analysis showed the Methylobacillus, Muribaculaceae, and Sphingomonadaceae were able to tolerate high concentrations of Cr, Cr (VI), Cu, and Zn, indicating their potential in soil remediation.

Species richness promotes ecosystem carbon storage: evidence from biodiversity-ecosystem functioning experiments

Plant diversity has a strong impact on a plethora of ecosystem functions and services, especially ecosystem carbon (C) storage. However, the potential context-dependency of biodiversity effects across ecosystem types, environmental conditions and carbon pools remains largely unknown. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis by collecting data from 95 biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) studies across 60 sites to explore the effects of plant diversity on different C pools, including aboveground and belowground plant biomass, soil microbial biomass C and soil C content across different ecosystem types. The results showed that ecosystem C storage was significantly enhanced by plant diversity, with stronger effects on aboveground biomass than on soil C content. Moreover, the response magnitudes of ecosystem C storage increased with the level of species richness and experimental duration across all ecosystems. The effects of plant diversity were more pronounced in grasslands than in forests. Furthermore, the effects of plant diversity on belowground plant biomass increased with aridity index in grasslands and forests, suggesting that climate change might modulate biodiversity effects, which are stronger under wetter conditions but weaker under more arid conditions. Taken together, these results provide novel insights into the important role of plant diversity in ecosystem C storage across critical C pools, ecosystem types and environmental contexts.

[Distribution characteristics of exogenous carbon in different carbon fractions in biocrusts-covered soil]

The distribution characteristics of exogenous carbon (C) in the C fractions of biocrusts-covered soil are critical for understanding the geochemical cycling of C with biocrusts in drylands. A ¹³C pulse labeling experiment was conducted for moss-dominated biocrusts-covered soil and bare soil on the Loess Plateau of China with semiarid climate, with the content of ¹³C in different C fractions being continuously measured to determine the biocrust effects on the distribution of exogenous C in each C fraction. Our results showed that, 1) the ¹³C abundance of each C fraction in the biocrusts-covered soil was steadily changed with time, due to the relatively low rate of nutrient cycling in the biocrusts-covered soil and also to the relatively low biomass of moss in the biocrusts-covered soil as compared with vascular plants. 2) The ¹³C content of each C fraction in the biocrusts-covered soil was significantly higher than that in the bare soil. Specifically, the ¹³C content of total organic C (TOC), microbial biomass C (MBC), and dissolved organic C (DOC) in the biocrusts-covered soil was 0.258, 0.078, and 0.004 mg·kg^-1, respectively, which was 3.1, 18.5, and 2.6 times higher than that in the bare soil. Moreover, the ¹³C content in the moss of the biocrusts-covered soil was 1.45 mg·kg^-1. 3) The presence of biocrusts changed the distribution characteristics of each C fraction, with the newly assimilated C being mainly distributed in active organic C and biological components of the biocrusts-covered soil. In the biocrusts-covered soil, the ¹³C distribution in MBC (30.6%) was higher than that in DOC (1.7%), and the ¹³C distribution in the C of moss was 20.3%. 4) The transferred amount and storage capacity of MB¹³C in the biocrusts-covered soil were 15.7 and 19.5 times of that in the bare soil, respectively. The turnover rate of MB¹³C in the biocrusts-covered soil and bare soil was 2.94 and 3.30 times per month, respectively, implying that the turnover time of MB¹³C in the biocrusts-covered soil was 1.1 times longer than that in the bare soil. In conclusion, biocrusts could greatly change the distribution characteristics of each C fraction and increase C turnover rate, highlighting its important roles in C cycling in dryland ecosystems.

Effects of plant diversity on soil carbon in diverse ecosystems: a global meta-analysis

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a valuable resource for mediating global climate change and securing food production. Despite an alarming rate of global plant diversity loss, uncertainties concerning the effects of plant diversity on SOC remain, because plant diversity not only stimulates litter inputs via increased productivity, thus enhancing SOC, but also stimulates microbial respiration, thus reducing SOC. By analysing 1001 paired observations of plant mixtures and corresponding monocultures from 121 publications, we show that both SOC content and stock are on average 5 and 8% higher in species mixtures than in monocultures. These positive mixture effects increase over time and are more pronounced in deeper soils. Microbial biomass carbon, an indicator of SOC release and formation, also increases, but the proportion of microbial biomass carbon in SOC is lower in mixtures. Moreover, these species-mixture effects are consistent across forest, grassland, and cropland systems and are independent of background climates. Our results indicate that converting 50% of global forests from mixtures to monocultures would release an average of 2.70 Pg C from soil annually over a period of 20 years: about 30% of global annual fossil-fuel emissions. Our study highlights the importance of plant diversity preservation for the maintenance of soil carbon sequestration in discussions of global climate change policy.

Dissipation of chlorantraniliprole in contrasting soils and its effect on soil microbes and enzymes

An experiment was set up to determine the rate of dissipation of chlorantraniliprole (CTP) from two soils with contrasting properties. The other objective of the study was to find out the effect of CTP on soil microorganisms (population, microbial biomass carbon and soil enzymes) under controlled environment. CTP residues when applied at recommended dose ((RD) (at 40 g a.i./ha)) could not be recovered either from alluvial soil or red soil at 60 days post application of CTP in a microcosm study. Higher clay content led to higher half-life in alluvial soil compared to red soil. CTP could not be recovered from RD treatment at 30 days after pesticide application under controlled environment. Faster dissipation of CTP was observed in rice rhizosphere soil with 23.89 and 34.65 days dissipation half-lives for RD and double the recommended dose (DRD) treatments, respectively. Different doses of chlorantraniliprole did not have considerable negative effect on actinomycetes, fungi, biological nitrogen fixers and phospahte solubilising bacteria except the bacteria population. Among the treatments, DRD recorded the lowest activity of dehyrodeganse, fluoresein diacetate hydrolase, acid and alkaline phosphatases followed by RD treatment. Microbial biomass carbon, β -glycosidase and urease did not vary significantly among the different doses of CTP. In general, RD did not have negative effcts on soil microbes. Hence, CTP can be recommeded in rice pest managment maintaining existing soil microbes and soil enzymes activity.

[Effects of ant nesting on soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient in tropical forest of Xishuangbanna.]

Ant nesting can modify soil physicochemical conditions in the tropical forest, exerting a crucial effect on spatiotemporal variation in soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient. In this study, the chloroform fumigation method was used to measure the spatiotemporal dynamics of microbial biomass carbon and quotient in ant nests and the reference soils in Syzygium oblatum community of tropical Xishuangbanna. The results were as following: 1) Microbial biomass carbon and quotient were significantly higher in ant nests (1.95 g·kg^-1, 6.8%) than in the reference soils (1.76 g·kg^-1, 5.1%). The microbial biomass carbon in ant nests and the reference soils showed a signifi-cantly unimodal temporal variation, whereas the temporal dynamics of microbial biomass quotient presented a distribution pattern of "V" type. 2) The microbial biomass carbon and quotient showed significant vertical changes in ant nests and the reference soils. The microbial biomass carbon decreased, and microbial biomass quotient increased significantly along the soil layers. The vertical variations in microbial biomass carbon and quotient were more significant in ant nests than in refe-rence soils. 3) Ant nesting significantly changed the spatiotemporal distributions of soil water and temperature in ant nests, which in turn affected spatiotemporal dynamics of soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient. Soil water content could explain 66%-83% and 54%-69% of the variation of soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient, respectively. Soil temperature could explain 71%-86% and 67%-76% of the variation of soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient in ant nests and the reference soils, respectively. 4) Changes in soil physicochemical properties induced by ant nesting had significant effect on the soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient. There were positive correlations of soil microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon, soil temperature, total nitrogen and soil water content, and to bulk density, nitrate nitrogen and hydrolyzed nitrogen; whereas a negative correlation of them was observed with soil pH. Soil pH was positively and other soil physicochemical properties were negatively correlated with microbial biomass quotient. Total organic carbon, total nitrogen and soil temperature had greater contribution to microbial biomass carbon, while total organic carbon and total nitrogen had the least negative effect on microbial biomass quotient. Therefore, ant nesting could modify microhabitats (e.g., soil water and soil temperature) and soil physicochemical properties (e.g., total organic carbon and total nitrogen), thereby regulating the spatiotemporal variation in soil microbial biomass carbon and quotient in tropical forests.

[Effects of Organic Amendments on Microbial Biomass Carbon and Nitrogen Uptake by Corn Seedlings Grown in Two Purple Soils]

An incubation experiment and a pot experiment were carried out to investigate the effects of organic materials on microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN) content, dry weight, and nitrogen uptake of maize seedlings grown in an acidic purple soil and a calcareous purple soil. The organic materials used included pig manure biogas residue (PM), cattle manure biogas residue (CM), sludge compost (SC), compost from rural domestic waste both with and without 20% sludge (RWC1 and RWC2, respectively). The results showed that MBC content in the acidic and calcareous purple soils increased by 53.63%-102.91% and 12.14%-137.00%, respectively. The slower the decomposition of organic materials and the higher the C/N ratio, the bigger the MBC content of the soils. Furthermore, MBN contents, which were affected by the different forms of organic, increased by 23.37%-150.08% and 35.02%-160.02%, respectively. The MBC/MBN contents of both soils decreased with the increase in the C/N ratio of the organic materials, but a higher C/N ratio was beneficial for maintaining a higher MBN content over an extended period of time. With the exception of CM, the addition of organic materials improved the biomass of maize seedlings, and their nitrogen uptake and utilization rate in both soils were also significantly enhanced, although these effects were less than that achieved through conventional fertilization. The uptake and utilization of nitrogen followed the order of SC > PM > RWC2 > RWC1. The inhibiting effect of CM was related to its higher C/N ratio, while the promoting effect of the other materials on nitrogen uptake by the corn seedlings increased as soil MBC/MBN content decreased. Therefore, the influence of organic materials on the change and supply of soil nitrogen was not only related to their properties but also to their effects on soil MBC/MBN content.

Mineral-Associated Soil Carbon is Resistant to Drought but Sensitive to Legumes and Microbial Biomass in an Australian Grassland

Drought is predicted to increase in many areas of the world with consequences for soil carbon (C) dynamics. Plant litter, root exudates and microbial biomass can be used as C substrates to form organo-mineral complexes. Drought effects on plants and microbes could potentially compromise these relative stable soil C pools, by reducing plant C inputs and/or microbial activity. We conducted a 2-year drought experiment using rainout shelters in a semi-natural grassland. We measured aboveground biomass and C and nitrogen (N) in particulate organic matter (Pom), the organo-mineral fraction (Omin), and microbial biomass within the first 15 cm of soil. Aboveground plant biomass was reduced by 50% under drought in both years, but only the dominant C4 grasses were significantly affected. Soil C pools were not affected by drought, but were significantly higher in the relatively wet second year compared to the first year. Omin-C was positively related to microbial C during the first year, and positively related to clay and silt content in the second year. Increases in Omin-C in the second year were explained by increases in legume biomass and its effect on Pom-N and microbial biomass N (MBN) through structural equation modeling. In conclusion, soil C pools were unaffected by the drought treatment. Drought resistant legumes enhanced formation of organo-mineral complexes through increasing Pom-N and MBN. Our findings also indicate the importance of microbes for the formation of Omin-C as long as soil minerals have not reached their maximum capacity to bind with C (that is, saturation).

[Responses of accumulation-loss patterns for soil organic carbon and its fractions to tillage and water erosion in black soil area]

Tillage and water erosion have been recognized as the main factors causing degradation in soil organic carbon (SOC) pools of black soil. To further explore the response of SOC and its fractions to different driving forces of erosion (tillage and water), geostatistical methods were used to analyze spatial patterns of SOC and its three fractions at a typical sloping farmland based on tillage and water erosion rates calculated by local models. The results showed that tillage erosion and deposition rates changed according to the slope positions, decreasing in the order: upper-slope > lower-slope > middle-slope > toe-slope and toe-slope > lower-slope > middle-slope > upper-slope, respectively; while the order of water erosion rates decreased in the order: lower-slope > toe-slope > middle-slope > upper-slope. Tillage and water erosion cooperatively triggered intense soil loss in the lower-slope areas with steep slope gradient. Tillage erosion could affect C cycling through the whole slope at different levels, although the rate of tillage erosion (0.02-7.02 t·hm^-2·a^-1) was far less than that of water erosion (5.96-101.17 t·hm^-2·a^-1) in black soil area. However, water erosion only played a major role in controlling C dynamics in the runoff-concentrated lower slope area. Affected by water erosion and tillage erosion-deposition disturbance, the concentrations of SOC, particulate organic carbon and dissolved organic carbon in depositional areas were higher than in erosional areas, however, microbial biomass carbon showed an opposite trend. Tillage erosion dominated SOC dynamic by depleting particulate organic carbon.

Effects of Short-Term Set-Aside Management Practices on Soil Microorganism and Enzyme Activity in China

Set-aside farmland can effectively improve the self-rehabilitation of arable soil. Long-term set-asides however cannot satisfy provisionment, therefore the use of short-term set-asides to restore cultivated soil is a better option. Few studies have compared short-term set-aside patterns, and the effects of set-asides on soil microbial community and enzyme enzymes. We analyzed the bacterial structure, microbial biomass carbon/nitrogen and enzyme activity of farmland soil under different set-aside regimes in the Yellow River Delta of China. Bacterial alpha diversity was relatively lower under only irrigation, and farmyard manure applications showed clear advantages. Set-asides should consider their influence on soil organic carbon and nitrogen, which were correlated with microbial community structure. Nitrospira (0.47–1.67%), Acidobacteria Gp6 (8.26–15.91%) and unclassified Burkholderiales (1.50–2.81%) were significantly altered (p < 0.01). Based on functions of these genera, some set-aside patterns led to a relative balance in nitrogen and carbon turnover. Partial treatments showed a deficiency in organic matter. In addition, farmyard manure may lead to the increased consumption of organic matter, with the exception of native plants set-asides. Conventional farming (control group) displayed a significant enzyme activity advantage. Set-aside management practices guided soil microbial communities to different states. Integrated soil microbiota and the content of carbon and nitrogen, native plants with farmyard manure showed an equilibrium state relatively, which would be helpful to improve land quality in the short-term.

[Effects of Biochar Pyrolyzed at Varying Temperatures on Soil Organic Carbon and Its Components:Influence on the Soil Active Organic Carbon]

Soil active organic carbon is the most important carbon pool and a good indicator in ecosystem management due to its great significance in soil carbon cycling and soil quality.In order to investigate the effect of biochar (BC) addition on soil organic matter fractions,apple tree twigs were used to produce BC at 300,400,500 and 600℃,respectively.Elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to determine the characteristics of BC.Four kinds of BC were added into soils at five application rates (0,0.5%,1%,2% and 3%) and incubated at 25℃ in lab for over 360 days.Soil organic carbon (SOC),microbial biomass carbon (MBC),water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and readily oxidized organic carbon (ROC) were measured during the incubation.The mass fraction of carbon (C) in the generated BC ranged from 62.20%-80.01%,while hydrogen (H) ranged from 2.72%-5.18% and Oxygen (O) ranged from 15.98%-30.92%.The increasing temperature increased the mass fraction of C,while decreased the O and H mass content,as well as the ratio of H/C and O/C.The addition of BC significantly increased SOC,and the treatments amended with BC500 had the highest increments.Compared with the control treatment (CK),the addition of BC produced at temperatures below 400℃ increased the contents of MBC,WSOC and ROC during the incubation,at the end of the incubation,BC300 treatments significantly increased the contents by 38.25%,82.09% and 63.53%(P<0.05),respectively;BC400 treatments significantly increased the contents by 26.07%,65.61% and 48.09%(P<0.05),respectively;while lower contents of MBC,WSOC and ROC were found in the treatments amended with BC produced at temperatures above 400℃ after 40-60 d incubation.After 360 d of incubation,the contents of MBC,WSOC and ROC were significantly decreased by 0.27%,13.48% and 14.67% in BC500 treatments and 7.80%,14.66% and 15.79% in BC600 treatments (except for the MBC in BC500 treatment)(P<0.05).The relative contents of ROC ranged from 3.39% to 15.65%,BC application decreased the relative content of ROC,suggesting that the increase was in proportion to the stability of organic carbon in the soil.Considering the content and quality of SOC,when the BC products were applied to the Loutu soil,500℃ was the optimal temperature for preparing apple-derived BC due to its significant increase of the soil organic carbon and a slight decrease of the relative content of soil active organic carbon.

[Effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen in natural evergreen broad-leaved forest in the Rainy Area of West China]

To understand the effects of increasing nitrogen deposition on soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen(MBN), an in situ experiment was conducted in a natural evergreen broad-leaved forest in Ya'an City, Sichuan Province. Four levels of nitrogen deposition were set: i.e., control (CK, 0 g N·m^-2·a^-1), low nitrogen (L, 5 g N·m^-2·a^-1), medium nitrogen (M, 15 g N·m^-2·a^-1), and high nitrogen (H, 30 g N·m^-2·a^-1). The results indicated that nitrogen deposition significantly decreased MBC and MBN in the 0-10 cm soil layer, and as N de-position increased, the inhibition effect was enhanced. L and M treatments had no significant effect on MBC and MBN in the 10-20 cm soil layer, while H treatment significantly reduced. The influence of N deposition on MBC and MBN was weakened with the increase of soil depth. MBC and MBN had obvious seasonal dynamic, which were highest in autumn and lowest in summer both in the 0-10 and 10-20 cm soil layers. The fluctuation ranges of soil microbial biomass C/N were respectively 10.58-11.19 and 9.62-12.20 in the 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil layers, which indicated that the fungi hold advantage in the soil microbial community in this natural evergreen broad-leaved forest.

[Influence of Biochar on Greenhouse Gases Emissions and Physico-chemical Properties of Loess Soil]

Biochar is known to be a good soil amendment to improve soil physical and biochemical characteristics, to increase crop yield, and to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from soils. In this study, five addition levels of apple tree branches-derived biochar (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 t·hm^-2) were used in field plot test. The effects of biochar on soil temperature, soil aggregates, NO₃^--N, NH₄⁺-N, microbial biomass carbon and greenhouse gas fluxes were investigated during the whole pepper growth season. The results showed that biochar amendment increased the temperature moderation capability of soil and increased the content of soil macro-aggregates, especially the content of aggregates with sizes >5 mm, 5-2 mm and 1-0.5 mm. As compared with the control, the contents of NO₃^--N, NH₄⁺-N and microbial biomass carbon increased by 4.9%-33.9%, 9.1%-41.1% and 11.8%-38.5% with the increase of biochar content respectively. Biochar amendment increased CO₂ emissions and CH₄ uptake by 6.73%-23.35% and 3.62%-14.17%, respectively. N₂O emissions and global warming potential (GWP) decreased at biochar levels of 20 and 40 t·hm^-2 and increased when the biochar levels were 60 and 80 t·hm^-2 as compared with the control. The results suggested that as a soil conditioner, biochar improved soil quality, soil fertility and function of agriculture soil on carbon sequestion and decreased emission cut. In addition, the choice of biochar level is very important.

Grazing exclusion reduced soil respiration but increased its temperature sensitivity in a Meadow Grassland on the Tibetan Plateau

Understanding anthropogenic influences on soil respiration (R_s) is critical for accurate predictions of soil carbon fluxes, but it is not known how R_s responds to grazing exclusion (GE). Here, we conducted a manipulative experiment in a meadow grassland on the Tibetan Plateau to investigate the effects of GE on R_s. The exclusion of livestock significantly increased soil moisture and above‐ground biomass, but it decreased soil temperature, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and R_s. Regression analysis indicated that the effects of GE on R_s were mainly due to changes in soil temperature, soil moisture, and MBC. Compared with the grazed blocks, GE significantly decreased soil carbon release by 23.6% over the growing season and 21.4% annually, but it increased the temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) of R_s by 6.5% and 14.2% for the growing season and annually respectively. Therefore, GE may reduce the release of soil carbon from the Tibetan Plateau, but under future climate warming scenarios, the increases in Q₁₀ induced by GE could lead to increased carbon emissions.

Humic fractions of forest, pasture and maize crop soils resulting from microbial activity

Humic substances result from the degradation of biopolymers of organic residues in the soil due to microbial activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of three different ecosystems: forest, pasture and maize crop on the formation of soil humic substances relating to their biological and chemical attributes. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial respiratory activity, nitrification potential, total organic carbon, soluble carbon, humic and fulvic acid fractions and the rate and degree of humification were determined. Organic carbon and soluble carbon contents decreased in the order: forest > pasture > maize; humic and fulvic acids decreased in the order forest > pasture=maize. The MBC and respiratory activity were not influenced by the ecosystems; however, the nitrification potential was higher in the forest than in other soils. The rate and degree of humification were higher in maize soil indicating greater humification of organic matter in this system. All attributes studied decreased significantly with increasing soil depth, with the exception of the rate and degree of humification. Significant and positive correlations were found between humic and fulvic acids contents with MBC, microbial respiration and nitrification potential, suggesting the microbial influence on the differential formation of humic substances of the different ecosystems.