Integrating organic matter into banana plantation in North Queensland: the effects on soil properties

The major banana production areas in Australia are particularly sensitive to environments due to their close proximity to areas of World Heritage rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef catchment. Management of soil quality, nutrients and pesticides are vital to maintaining the integrity of these sensitive areas. Studies on cropping systems have suggested that integrating organic matter into ground cover management would improve the quality of soil under banana cultivation. In this study, an alternative management practice for bananas, which addresses the management of organic matter and fertiliser application, was assessed and compared to the conventional practice currently employed in the banana industry. Several chemical, physical and biological soil parameters were measured including: pH, electrical conductivity, water stable aggregates, bulk density, water filled pore space, porosity, water content, fluorescein diacetate hydrolyis (FDA) and beta-glucosidase activity. The alternative management practice did not have a significant impact of the production and growth of bananas but overall improved the quality of the soil. Although some differences were observed, the chemical and physical soil characteristics did not differ dramatically between the two management systems. The addition of organic matter resulted in the soil under alternative practice having higher FDA and beta-glucosidase levels, indicating higher microbial activity. The integration of organic matter into the management of bananas resulted in positive benefits on soil properties under bananas, however, methods of maintaining organic matter in the soil need to be further researched.

The Effect of Silica and Manure Addition into Suppressive and Conducive Soil on the Incidence of Fusarium Wilt Disease of Banana

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), is one of the most destructive diseases of banana. One potential method to manage fusarium wilt of banana is by manipulating the nutrient status in the soil. This study was conducted to determine the quality of Foc suppressive and conducive soil, the influence of soil application of silica and manure on the incidence of fusarium wilt of banana. Surveys were conducted in five banana plantations in three provinces in Indonesia: Lampung-Sumatra, West Java and Central Java. From the five locations, one location (Sala-man-Central Java) was heavily infected by Foc, another location (NTF Lampung-Sumatera) was slightly infected by Foc, while the rest (Sarampad-West Java, Talaga-West Java and GGP Lampung-Sumatra) were healthy banana plantations without Foc infection. Labile carbon analysis showed that the Foc suppressive soil had greater labile carbon content than conducive soil. Also, the analysis of fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis (FDA) and ?-glucosidase showed greater microbial activity in suppressive soil than the conducive soil. Observations of the incidence of necrotic rhizome of Foc susceptible 'Ambon Kuning' (AAA) banana cultivar showed that in the suppressive soil taken from Sarampad West Java, the application of silica and manure helped suppress fusarium wilt disease development. In the conducive soil taken from Salaman-Central Java, silica and manure applications were not able to suppress disease incidence. The result of this study indicated that in suppressive soil, the application of silica can increase plant resistance to Foc infection, while manure application can increase soil microbial activity, and suppress Foc development.

Strategic tillage in no-till farming systems in Australia’s northern grains-growing regions: II. Implications for agronomy, soil and environment

In semi-arid sub-tropical areas, a number of studies concerning no-till (NT) farming systems have demonstrated advantages in economic, environmental and soil quality aspects over conventional tillage (CT). However, adoption of continuous NT has contributed to the build-up of herbicide resistant weed populations, increased incidence of soil- and stubble-borne diseases, and stratification of nutrients and organic carbon near the soil surface. Some farmers often resort to an occasional strategic tillage (ST) to manage these problems of NT systems. However, farmers who practice strict NT systems are concerned that even one-time tillage may undo positive soil condition benefits of NT farming systems. We reviewed the pros and cons of the use of occasional ST in NT farming systems. Impacts of occasional ST on agronomy, soil and environment are site-specific and depend on many interacting soil, climatic and management conditions. Most studies conducted in North America and Europe suggest that introducing occasional ST in continuous NT farming systems could improve productivity and profitability in the short term; however in the long-term, the impact is negligible or may be negative. The short term impacts immediately following occasional ST on soil and environment include reduced protective cover, soil loss by erosion, increased runoff, loss of C and water, and reduced microbial activity with little or no detrimental impact in the long-term. A potential negative effect immediately following ST would be reduced plant available water which may result in unreliability of crop sowing in variable seasons. The occurrence of rainfall between the ST and sowing or immediately after the sowing is necessary to replenish soil water lost from the seed zone. Timing of ST is likely to be critical and must be balanced with optimising soil water prior to seeding. The impact of occasional ST varies with the tillage implement used; for example, inversion tillage using mouldboard tillage results in greater impacts as compared to chisel or disc. Opportunities for future research on occasional ST with the most commonly used implements such as tine and/or disc in Australia’s northern grains-growing region are presented in the context of agronomy, soil and the environment.

Nitrous oxide emissions from selected natural and managed northern ecosystems

Microbial activity in soils is the main source of nitrous oxide (N2O) to the atmosphere. Nitrous oxide is a strong greenhouse gas in the troposphere and participates in ozone destructive reactions in the stratosphere. The constant increase in the atmospheric concentration, as well as uncertainties in the known sources and sinks of N2O underline the need to better understand the processes and pathways of N2O in terrestrial ecosystems. This study aimed at quantifying N2O emissions from soils in northern Europe and at investigating the processes and pathways of N2O from agricultural and forest ecosystems. Emissions were measured in forest ecosystems, agricultural soils and a landfill, using the soil gradient, chamber and eddy covariance methods. Processes responsible for N2O production, and the pathways of N2O from the soil to the atmosphere, were studied in the laboratory and in the field. These ecosystems were chosen for their potential importance to the national and global budget of N2O. Laboratory experiments with boreal agricultural soils revealed that N2O production increases drastically with soil moisture content, and that the contribution of the nitrification and denitrification processes to N2O emissions depends on soil type. Laboratory study with beech (Fagus sylvatica) seedlings demonstrated that trees can serve as conduits for N2O from the soil to the atmosphere. If this mechanism is important in forest ecosystems, the current emission estimates from forest soils may underestimate the total N2O emissions from forest ecosystems. Further field and laboratory studies are needed to evaluate the importance of this mechanism in forest ecosystems. The emissions of N2O from northern forest ecosystems and a municipal landfill were highly variable in time and space. The emissions of N2O from boreal upland forest soil were among the smallest reported in the world. Despite the low emission rates, the soil gradient method revealed a clear seasonal variation in N2O production. The organic topsoil was responsible for most of the N2O production and consumption in this forest soil. Emissions from the municipal landfill were one to two orders of magnitude higher than those from agricultural soils, which are the most important source of N2O to the atmosphere. Due to their small areal coverage, landfills only contribute minimally to national N2O emissions in Finland. The eddy covariance technique was demonstrated to be useful for measuring ecosystem-scale emissions of N2O in forest and landfill ecosystems. Overall, more measurements and integration between different measurement techniques are needed to capture the large variability in N2O emissions from natural and managed northern ecosystems.

Urban ecosystem services at the plant-soil interface

Continuing urbanization is a crucial driver of land transformation, having widespread impacts on virtually all ecosystems. Terrestrial ecosystems, including disturbed ones, are dependent on soils, which provide a multitude of ecosystem services. As soils are always directly and/or indirectly impacted through land transformation, land cover change causes soil change. Knowledge of ecosystem properties and functions in soils is increasing in importance as humans continue to concentrate into already densely-populated areas. Urban soils often have hampered functioning due to various disturbances resulting from human activity. Innovative solutions are needed to bring the lacking ecosystem services and quality of life to these urban environments. For instance, the ecosystem services of the urban green infrastructure may be substantially improved through knowledge of their functional properties. In the research forming this thesis, the impacts of four plant species (Picea abies, Calluna vulgaris, Lotus corniculatus and Holcus lanatus) on belowground biota and regulatory ecosystem services were investigated in two different urban soil types. The retention of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus in the plant-soil system, decomposition of plant litter, primary production, and the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were examined in the field and under laboratory conditions. The main objective of the research was to determine whether the different plant species (representing traits with varying litter decomposability) will give rise to dissimilar urban belowground communities with differing ecological functions. Microbial activity as well as the abundance of nematodes and enchytraeid worm biomass was highest below the legume L. corniculatus. L. corniculatus and the grass H. lanatus, producing labile or intermediate quality litter, enhanced the proportion of bacteria in the soil rhizosphere, while the recalcitrant litter-producing shrub C. vulgaris and the conifer P. abies stimulated the growth of fungi. The loss of nitrogen from the plant-soil system was small for H. lanatus and the combination of C. vulgaris + P. abies, irrespective of their energy channel composition. These presumably nitrogen-conservative plant species effectively diminished the leaching losses from the plant-soil systems with all the plant traits present. The laboratory experiment revealed a difference in N allocation between the plant traits: C. vulgaris and P. abies sequestered significantly more N in aboveground shoots in comparison to L. corniculatus and H. Lanatus. Plant rhizosphere effects were less clear for phosphorus retention, litter decomposition and the degradation of PAH compounds. This may be due to the relatively short experimental durations, as the maturation of the plant-soil system is likely to take a considerably longer time. The empirical studies of this thesis demonstrated that the soil communities rapidly reflect changes in plant coverage, and this has consequences for the functionality of soils. The energy channel composition of soils can be manipulated through plants, which was also supported by the results of the separate meta-analysis conducted in this thesis. However, further research is needed to understand the linkages between the biological community properties and ecosystem services in strongly human-modified systems.

An ultrastable conjugate of silver nanoparticles and protein formed through weak interactions

In recent years, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted significant attention owing to their unique physicochemical, optical, conductive and antimicrobial properties. One of the properties of AgNPs which is crucial for all applications is their stability. In the present study we unravel a mechanism through which silver nanoparticles are rendered ultrastable in an aqueous solution in complex with the protein ubiquitin (Ubq). This involves a dynamic and reversible association and dissociation of ubiquitin from the surface of AgNP. The exchange occurs at a rate much greater than 25 s(-1) implying a residence time of <40 ms for the protein. The AgNP-Ubq complex remains stable for months due to steric stabilization over a wide pH range compared to unconjugated AgNPs. NMR studies reveal that the protein molecules bind reversibly to AgNP with an approximate dissociation constant of 55 mu M and undergo fast exchange. At pH > 4 the positively charged surface of the protein comes in contact with the citrate capped AgNP surface. Further, NMR relaxation-based experiments suggest that in addition to the dynamic exchange, a conformational rearrangement of the protein takes place upon binding to AgNP. The ultrastability of the AgNP-Ubq complex was found to be useful for its anti-microbial activity, which allowed the recycling of this complex multiple times without the loss of stability. Altogether, the study provides new insights into the mechanism of protein-silver nanoparticle interactions and opens up new avenues for its application in a wide range of systems.

Assessment of phytostabilization of Pb/Zn mine soils with organic amendments and a native metallicolous ecotype of Festuca Rubra l.: implications for amendment selection and recovery of soil health

La contaminación del suelo es una de las principales amenazas para los ecosistemas y la salud humana. Actualmente, desde un punto de vista tanto económico como ambiental, la fitoestabilización es la mejor tecnología para remediar suelos contaminados con elevadas concentraciones de metales como son los suelos mineros. La fitoestabilización asistida consiste en el empleo de plantas y enmiendas orgánicas y/o inorgánicas con el fin de reducir la movilidad y la biodisponibilidad de los contaminantes y recuperar la salud de suelo. En este trabajo se han realizado ensayos en microcosmos y en campo centrándonos en la salud del suelo minero contaminado con Pb y Zn durante un proceso de fitoestabilización empleando enmiendas orgánicas (purines vacunos, gallinaza, estiércol de oveja y lodos de papelera mezclados con gallinaza) y/o la especie metalífera Festuca rubra con el objetivo de (i) estudiar las interacciones suelo-enmienda responsables de los cambios inducidos por el proceso de quimioestabilización en las propiedades físicoquímicas y biológicas del suelo, (ii) evaluar la efectividad del proceso de fitoestabilización sobre suelos vegetados y de la revegetación sobre suelos desnudos (iii) valorar la idoneidad de distintos indicadores químicos y biológicos (parámetros microbianos y de la vegetación) para monitorizar la efectividad de la fitoestabilización asistida en términos de reducción de la biodisponibilidad de metales en el suelo, mejora de la vegetación y de la recuperación de la salud del suelo. La aplicación de enmiendas al suelo minero supone una entrada de materia orgánica y nutrientes que conduce a una disminución de la biodisponibilidad de metales, facilitando la colonización de las plantas y el crecimiento de la vegetación nativa, además de estimular la actividad microbiana del suelo. El pH del suelo es un factor crítico que condiciona la movilidad de los metales y la toxicidad del suelo. Las poblaciones microbianas de las enmiendas no modificaron la diversidad funcional de las comunidades microbianas nativas de la mina. Los purines vacunos y los lodos de papelera mezclados con gallinaza son los tratamientos más efectivos en el proceso de fitoestabilización asistida bajo condiciones de campo. La gallinaza fue el tratamiento que más estimuló el crecimiento de la vegetación nativa y la colonización en los suelos desnudos. El bioensayo de elongación radical de lechuga es un test sensible, sencillo y barato para evaluar la biodisponibilidad de metal y la ecotoxicidad del suelo. Los tocoferoles son biomarcadores de exposición a metales con potencial para su implementación en bioensayos de toxicidad. Este trabajo permite concluir que la población metalífera de F. rubra, combinada con enmiendas orgánicas, es una excelente candidata para los proyectos de fitoestabilización asistida. Además, la monitorización simultánea de los parámetros fisicoquímicos y microbiológicos del suelo y de su ecotoxicidad permite una evaluación adecuada de la salud del suelo, así como la selección de enmiendas apropiadas para el desarrollo de un proceso fitoestabilizador.

Impact of fertlizers and pesticides on soil and water quality

[ES]En la presente tesis se ha estudiado el impacto de diferentes fertilizantes y pesticidas utilizados en la Zona Vulnerable de Vitoria-Gasteiz en la calidad del suelo y las aguas de dicha zona. Se ha podido constatar que hoy en día siguen lixiviándose cantidades significativas de nitratos y pesticidas (e.g., etofumesato y difenoconazol) a las aguas de la Zona Vulnerable, durante el cultivo de remolacha azucarera (Beta vulgaris L.), muy característico de la zona de estudio. Se comprobó que el alto contenido en nitratos de las aguas subterráneas en la Zona Vulnerable es mitigado, al menos en parte, por la acción de la actividad microbiana desnitrificante que alberga la zona riparia del humedal de Salburua. Dicho proceso, sin embargo, supone la emisión a la atmósfera de importantes cantidades de gases de efecto invernadero (CO2 y N2O), y puede verse afectado negativamente por la presencia de pesticidas (e.g., deltametrina) en el medio.Por otra parte, hemos observado que diversos pesticidas (deltametrina, etofumesato, difenoconazol) aplicados en concentraciones similares a las dosis de aplicación en campo inducen cambios, de carácter limitado y transitorio, en las comunidades microbianas edáficas, siendo más significativos en el caso del fungicida difenoconazol. El efecto de los pesticidas fue más acusado a medida que aumentaba su concentración en el medio. Finalmente, encontramos que la aplicación de abonos orgánicos (avicompost), en lugar de los fertilizantes sintéticos tradicionales (NPK), además de mejorar la degradación de los pesticidas y disminuir el impacto de éstos sobre la calidad del suelo, podría ayudar a reducir las pérdidas de nitratos por lixiviación.

Bioestímulo e bioaumento na remediação de solo contaminado com óleo lubrificante usado escala piloto

O óleo lubrificante mineral é amplamente utilizado no cenário mundial no funcionamento de máquinas e motores. No entanto, o ciclo de vida deste petro-derivado resulta na geração de um resíduo (óleo lubrificante usado), o qual é nocivo ao meio ambiente quando não descartado adequadamente ou reciclado. No Brasil, apesar das normas que tratam especificamente do armazenamento, recolhimento e destino de óleo lubrificante usado, grande parte do mesmo ainda é despejado diretamente no meio ambiente, sem qualquer tratamento, sendo de grande importância estudos que visem o entendimento dos processos e o desenvolvimento de tecnologias de remediação de áreas contaminadas por esse resíduo. O objetivo geral do presente trabalho foi conduzir estudos de tratabilidade de solo arenoso contaminado experimentalmente com 5% (m m-1 seco) de óleo lubrificante usado, através de duas diferentes estratégias de biorremediação: bioestímulo e bioaumento. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos. No primeiro, foi avaliada a atividade microbiana aeróbia na biodegradação do OLU através do método respirométrico de Bartha. No segundo, foram montados três biorreatores de fase sólida simulando biopilhas estáticas com aeração forçada, cada um contendo 125 kg de solo e 5% (m m-1 seco) de óleo lubrificante automotivo usado, os quais receberam como tratamento: bioestímulo por ajuste de pH e umidade (BIOSca); bioestímulo por ajuste de pH e umidade associado ao bioaumento com a adição de composto maduro (BIOA1ca) ; e bioestímulo por ajuste de pH e umidade associado ao bioaumento com a adição de composto jovem (BIOA2ca). Foram também montados três biorreatores de bancada simulando biopilhas estáticas sem aeração forçada, cada um contendo 3 kg de solo e 5% (m m-1) do mesmo contaminante, sendo que o primeiro continha solo sem contaminação - CONTsa, o segundo, solo contaminado com ajuste de pH BIOSsa e o terceiro, solo contaminado com adição de 0,3% de azida sódica - ABIOsa. Os tratamentos foram avaliados pela remoção de hidrocarbonetos totais de petróleo (HTPs) e após 120 dias de experimento obteve-se remoções de HTPs de 84,75%, 99,99% e 99,99%, com BIOS, BIOA1 e BIOA2, respectivamente, demonstrando que a estratégia de bioestímulo associada ao bioaumento foram promissoras na remediação do solo contaminado pelo óleo lubrificante usado. Os tratamentos que receberam composto (BIOA1 e BIOA2) não apresentaram diferenças quanto à remoção de HTPs, evidenciando que a fase de maturação dos compostos não apresentou influência na eficiência do processo. No entanto, verificou-se uma eficiência nos tratamentos que receberam composto quando comparado ao tratamento sem adição de composto

Comparative evaluation of the proximate composition of smoked and salted-dried Oreochromis niloticus

This study was carried out to evaluate and compare the shelf life of smoked and salted-dried Oreochromis niloticus over a relative time period. Improved traditional smoking kiln and salting were employed respectively. The smoking kiln was constructed with iron metal with a dimension of 120cm x 70cm and consisting of three smoking racks with dimension of 30 x 30cm each. Table salt was used for preservation of some of the specimens. A total of 30 samples weighing 7.1kg were used. Fifteen (15) samples each were used respectively for smoking and salting. Satisfactory smoking was achieved in two days while salting to dryness was accomplished in four days. The initial percentage proximate compositions of the smoked products were 7.94%, 66. 97%, 8.`84% and 2.96% for moisture, protein, lipid and ash respectively, while that of the salted products were 8.37%, 63.93%, 12.91% and 3.95% for moisture, protein, lipid and ash. Preliminary results of the proximate compositions of the two products at the end of the fifth week of storage were as follows; 8.23%, 65.70%, 10.63% and 2.23% for moisture, protein, lipid and ash respectively of the smoked products, while 6.33%, 64.25%, 11.28% and 2.38% represent the values of moisture, protein, lipid and ash of the salted-dried products. By the individual product proximate characterization, it was discovered that both products were still relatively in good and acceptable condition. However, the protein and moisture values of the smoked products were relatively greater than those of the salted-dried products, while on the other hand, lipid and ash were relatively greater in salted-dried products. The prevailed relative higher moisture in the smoked products constitutes a predisposing condition for microbial activity and spoilage of the products, while the relative higher percentage lipid in the salted-dried products predisposes the products to lipid oxidation and rancidity.

Emissões atmosféricas oriundas da biorremediação de solo do Complexo Petroquímico do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (COMPERJ) experimentalmente contaminado por diesel Defesa

As pesquisas relacionadas às questões ambientais têm aumentado nos últimos anos à medida que os fenômenos climáticos têm mostrado alterações cada vez mais intensas, assim como eventos de contaminação têm ocorrido. Para reduzir a concentração de contaminantes em solos, podem ser empregados processos de biorremediação, que têm por objetivo reduzir a carga poluente através do uso de micro-organismos em condições específicas. Notadamente, a possibilidade, durante o tratamento, da emissão de gases de efeito estufa (GEE) ou compostos orgânicos voláteis (COV) possui poucos dados na literatura. Este trabalho avaliou o uso da biorremediação sob condições anaeróbicas e aeróbicas, para solo contaminado com diesel, em condições do solo de atenuação natural, processos abióticos e bioestímulo. Os estudos anaeróbios mostraram que as emissões de GEE (CH4, CO2 e N2O) alcançaram valores de 2,0 μg kg-1; 4,0x102 μg kg-1 e 0,3 μg kg-1, respectivamente e as emissões de COV foram observadas em toda a série (de hexano a decano). O estudo estatístico descritivo mostrou mudança na hierarquização dos produtos remanescentes no solo evidenciando atividade microbiana neste estudo. Para a eliminação da possibilidade de processos metanogênicos serem responsabilizados pelas emissões de CH4 observados no estudo anaeróbio, foi realizado o mesmo experimento, porém em condições de aeração forçada. Foi observado aumento das emissões de GEE e COV em 2,0 μg kg-1 h-1 para CH4, 5,0x102 μg kg-1 h-1 para CO2 e 0,4 μg kg-1 h-1 para N2O. O estudo estatístico descritivo também mostrou mudança na hierarquização dos produtos. As propriedades metanogênicas foram excluídas pelo estudo aeróbio, corroborando o fato de que ocorre emissão de GEE durante as etapas de biorremediação

Two antimicrobial peptides from skin secretions of Rana grahami

Two antimicrobial peptides manifested a broad spectrum of anti microbial activity against various microorganisms have been isolated from skin secretions of Rana grahami. These antimicrobial peptides were named grahamin 1 and grahamin 2. Their primary Stru

黑土微生物活力与组成对养分添加的响应

东北黑土是我国重要的商品粮生产基地，在保证我国的粮食安全中起着重要作用。鉴于东北黑土所具有的重要战略地位及其面临的严峻形势，如何通过化肥合理配施培肥黑土已经成为一个亟待解决的关键问题。 本文以东北黑土为供试土壤，设置CK、C、N、P、NP、CN、CP、CNP，8个养分组合，进行室内恒温模拟培养。通过对黑土呼吸强度的监测，研究黑土微生物活力对不同养分响应的规律；同时采用磷脂脂肪酸（Phospholipid Fatty Acids, PLFAs）和中性脂肪酸（Neutral Lipid Fatty Acids, NLFAs）为标识物，研究黑土微生物群落结构以及生理生态特性在不同养分条件下的动态变化，揭示黑土微生物活力与群落组成对不同养分响应的规律。 研究结果表明：黑土微生物活力首先受到可利用C源的限制，单加葡萄糖能够使土壤呼吸释放的CO2-C累积量达到对照的10倍以上，使黑土微生物活力显著提高；而在碳限制的状况被缓解后，氮便成为黑土微生物生长的主要限制因素，可利用碳底物充足的条件下，N的加入能够显著提高土壤呼吸强度，使释放出的CO2-C累积量达到对照处理的13倍以上，CN交互作用非常显著；在碳氮养分都充足的条件下，P的施入能更好地刺激微生物生长，提高黑土微生物活力，CNP处理，黑土微生物活力在培养的第3 d即达到峰值。CN和CNP组合能够迅速刺激真菌、细菌生长，使PLFA和NLFA含量、真菌/细菌比值均增加；并且CNP组合优于CN组合。单独加入C和CP组合，不能在短时间内使真菌、细菌的PLFA和NLFA含量显著增加，真菌/细菌比值也处于较低的水平。G+/G-比值在CN条件下，达到最大之后逐渐趋于平稳；而在单加C、CP和CNP条件下，G+/G-比值均在培养时间内达到两次峰值，显示出不同的养分条件下，微生物群落结构发生着内在的动态变化。

杉木人工林土壤微生物活性与土壤有机碳特征

土壤微生物参与陆地生态系统物质循环和能量流动，在土壤生态过程中起着重要作用。在森林生态系统管理过程中，森林树种组成的变化能影响土壤微生物数量和活性，这种影响的一个主要途径是通过森林凋落物的改变。我国南方杉木人工林取代地带性天然次生阔叶林后，林地土壤质量退化，随着杉木人工纯林的连栽，土壤质量进一步退化。树种单一化可能是引起土壤质量退化的一个重要原因，然而目前对其机理的认识十分有限。因此，本文比较研究了不同杉木人工林分布区（南带、中心产区、北带）杉木人工林和天然次生阔叶林土壤有机碳等土壤化学性状、土壤微生物数量以及土壤微生物活性特征。并且对位于中心产区的杉木人工林和天然次生常绿阔叶林土壤速效N、P、K养分及土壤酶活性的动态特征进行了研究，样地设在中国科学院会同森林生态实验站实验林场。同时，通过田间模拟试验，深入研究了不同杉阔叶凋落物（50％杉木＋5O％恺木、50％杉木＋500k枫香、330＆杉木＋33％恺木＋33％枫香）以及单一杉木叶凋落物对土壤化学性状、土壤微生物生物量碳（MBC）、土壤微生物活性等指标的影响。研究结果表明：（1）广西柳州、湖南会同、河南信阳三个地区杉木人工林与天然次生阔叶林相比，林地表层土壤总有机碳量下降分别达58.24％、36.55％、31.51％，土壤全N、全P含量亦有不同程度下降，林地表层土壤C／N、C／P比也呈降低趋势；三个地区的杉木人工林与天然次生林相比，土壤细菌数量分别降低了59.03％、88.25％、76.85％，真菌数量分别下降72.17％、43.15％、28.33％；杉木人工林土壤脉酶、蔗糖酶、脱氢酶、过氧化氢酶、土壤呼吸强度均低于天然次生林土壤，而土壤多酚氧化酶活性反而增加。（2）各季节天然次生阔叶林土壤氨态氮、硝态氮、有效P、有效K含量均高于杉木人工林；杉木人工林土壤酶活性具有明显季节动态特征，而天然次生阔叶林土壤酶活性季节性变化较小，但是天然次生阔叶林土壤酶活性普遍高于杉木人工林土壤酶活性。（3）凋落物模拟试验结果表明混合凋落物能在一定程度上改善土壤微生物生物量碳、代谢嫡（成0a）、微生物嫡（Cmic／C01＾9）、土壤脉酶、蔗糖酶、脱氢酶、多酚氧化酶活性等土壤质量的微生物学指标，尤其是杉木恺木这一组混合凋落物对土壤质量的改善似乎更有效。2004年4月份取样分析结果，SQF、SQ、SF处理土壤微生物生物量碳是咫处理土壤微生物生物量碳的1.64倍、1.64倍、1.28倍，10月份取样分析结果，SQF、SQ、SF处理土壤微生物生物量碳是PS处理的1.25倍、1.37倍、1.46倍；土壤代谢熵（qCO2）值在不同处理间表现出明显的差异（P＜0.05），两次取样比较结果均是PS处理qCO2值最高，其次为SF、SQF，最小为SQ；然而，不同处理凋落物对土壤总有机碳（TOC）等土壤化学性状影响差异不大。杉木人工林取代天然次生阔叶林后，由于森林生态系统生物多样性减少，林地凋落物质量变差，这可能是导致杉木人工林土壤质量退化的一个重要原因。增加人工林生态系统植物多样性，通过营造混交林（然而需要考虑混交树种的选择），改善林地凋落物质量，这一林地经营管理模式能在一定程度上减缓森林土壤质量退化。

次生植被土壤碳、氮养分季节动态及凋落物输入与温度的影响

土壤微生物量、可溶性有机碳与氮虽然只占土壤有机碳、氮总量的较小部分，但可以在土壤全碳、氮变化之前反映土壤微小的变化，又直接参与土壤生物化学转化过程，因而在植被恢复过程中，较其它土壤理化性质等能够更好地指示土壤恢复情况。在青藏高原东缘存在大面积的次生人工林替代灌丛或采伐迹地，而关于这些人工林替代后的生态效果和生态过程的评估却十分缺乏，本研究通过评估岷江上游植被恢复重建过程中典型人工替代次生植被凋落物层与土壤碳、氮等养分大小，动态监测土壤微生物生物量、水溶性碳、氮等指标，结合温度与凋落物输入等影响土壤活性有机碳、氮因子的控制试验，系统分析不同人工替代次生植被土壤碳、氮等养分的差异原因，试图寻找低效人工林优化调控与持续管理技术，为区域生态公益林持续管理提供理论和技术依据。主要结论如下： 1. 通过对不同人工替代次生植被凋落物层和土壤碳、氮分析发现，油松和华山松人工林替代次生灌丛后土壤碳、氮含量较灌丛和阔叶人工林低，主要原因可能为凋落物质量(C/N)较差，而引起碳、氮等元素难以归还土壤。进而通过对不同人工替代次生植被凋落物层和土壤微生物生物量、水溶性有机碳、氮等指标的季节性动态模式的分析，发现各次生植被土壤微生物生物量C、N，P以及土壤水溶性碳、氮含量均呈明显季节性动态，呈现秋季明显大于其它季节，冬季最低，在表层土壤最为明显。 2. 油松、华山松人工林凋落物层和土壤水溶性有机碳(WDOC)、土壤水溶性有机氮(WDON)明显低于灌丛和连香树，土壤微生物生物量C、N也以油松和华山松人工林最低，而落叶类植被，如灌丛、连香树和落叶松之间没有明显差异，说明可利用底物的数量和质量差异是影响各次生植被凋落物分解和土壤微生物活性的主要原因。MBC/OC和MBN/ON能较好地指示土壤微生物活性的变化，MBC/OC凋落层总体以灌丛和连香树人工林最高，油松和华山松人工林最低；而土壤中MBC/OC连香树人工最高，华山松人工林最低。说明以油松和华山松为主的人工造林替代乡土阔叶灌丛造成土壤C、N等养分严重匮乏，微生物活性低下是影响其养分周转的主要原因。 3. 从各次生植被凋落物产生看，凋落物年归还量最大的为华山松人工林(5.1×103 kg ha-1)，其次为落叶松人工林(4.8×103 kg ha-1)，阔叶灌丛林地凋落物产生总量(4.4×103 kg ha-1)略大于油松人工林(4.2×103 kg ha-1)，最小的为连香树人工林(3.6×103 kg ha-1)；叶是凋落物的主体，落叶类树种月动态表现为单峰型，高峰主要在10-11月，如落叶松、连香树和灌丛林；常绿的松类月动态不明显，各月基本相同，最为明显地为油松林，华山松人工林略有二个小峰，分别出现在11月和5月。落叶阔叶灌丛的凋落物分解速率大于常绿针叶林，如油松和华山松。结合凋落物的产生量和分解速率，不同树种人工林替代次生阔叶灌丛后，人工油松和华山松林枯落物总贮量和厚度明显大于落叶松人工林、灌丛林和连香树人工林，说明以油松和华山松为主的人工造林替代乡土阔叶灌丛延缓了有机物向土壤的顺利归还，不利于土壤C、N等养分循环。 4. 通过控制地面凋落物和地下根系输入有机物对土壤碳、氮的影响研究发现，(1) 单独去除根系以及根系与地面凋落物同时去除处理1年后对表层(0-10cm)土壤WDOC均没有显著影响，而土壤WDON显著增加，油松人工林土壤微生物生物量C、N显著降低，人工落叶松林没有显著差异，说明油松人工林土壤微生物活性对地下碳输入的依赖大于其它次生植被，而落叶松土壤微生物活性对地下碳输入依赖性较小；去除地面凋落物，明显降低了落叶松人工林土壤WDOC，华山松和连香树土壤WDON均较对照显著减少，油松人工林土壤微生物量C较对照显著减少；双倍增加地面凋落物处理对土壤微生物生物量、WDOC和WDON没有明显地增加，相反，连香树、华山松和油松人工林土壤WDON较对照减少。说明油松人工林微生物活性不仅依赖于地下碳输入，而且对地上有机物输入的依赖性也较大；连香树、落叶松和华山松人工林土壤微生物生物量并没有因地面凋落物的去除减少可能与土壤总有机碳含量及活性均较高有关，而双倍增加地面凋落物反而降低了土壤微生物生物量，说明凋落物覆盖后改变了土壤微气候。 5. 碳矿化累积量与有机碳含量和活性有机碳含量之间存在显著地正相关关系。凋落物碳累积矿化量、矿化速率以连香树最高，油松和华山松人工林次之，落叶阔叶灌丛低于常绿针叶纯林，导致其差异的主要原因可能为凋落物产生的时间动态模式不一样，致使凋落物起始分解时间不一致。而土壤层有机碳矿化速率和矿化量以阔叶落叶灌丛和连香树最高，油松和华山松人工土壤最低，再次证实利用针叶纯林恢复植被阻碍了有机质周转与循环。 6. 凋落物累积矿化量与C/N值呈显著地相关关系，并随着温度的升高而明显增加，而土壤累积矿化量与C/N值没有显著相关关系，说明土壤有机碳质量(C/N)对温度的响应不十分明显。通过双指数模型对不同温度下碳矿化过程进行模拟和计算出活性有机碳与惰性有机碳比例，发现温度升高促进了惰性有机碳向活性有机碳的转化，增加了活性有机碳含量，说明温度升高可促进次生植被凋落物与土壤有机质的分解，进而可影响到林地碳源/汇关系的变化。 综上，通过对不同人工替代次生植被凋落物与土壤C、N大小、以及土壤微生物生物量、水溶性C、N等指标动态变化模式研究，结合温度与凋落物数量输入等影响土壤活性C、N因子的综合分析，以油松和华山松人工纯林对山地植被恢复，延缓或阻碍了有机质周转与循环，造成了土壤肥力退化。对现有低效人工纯林改造，应为地面大量有机物分解创造条件。 Although soil microbial biomass, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) are a small part of total soil organic carbon and nitrogen, they can directly participate in the process of soil biochemical translation and indicate the fine changes before changes of soil total organic carbon and nitrogen occur. So, they are good indexes to indicate soil restoration condition during the process of vegetation rehabilitation. There are large areas of secondary vegetations which substitute for indigenous shrubs in the eastern fringe of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. However, it is not well known that the ecological effect and process after substitution by different secondary plantations. Based on comparison of soil organic and nitrogen contents in litter layer and soil under different secondary vegetations in upper reaches of Minjiang River, soil microbial biomass, DOC and DON in litter layer and soil were investigated in order to analyze the seasonal dynamic. Combining the effects of temperature, litter input and root exclusion on soil microbial biomass, DOC and DON, we also aim to understand the reason and mechanism of difference in soil carbon and nitrogen contents among different secondary vegetations. The study would contribute to comprehensively understanding C and N cycling processes and provide optimal control and sustainable technology of low-effect plantations in these regions. The results are as follows: (1) Organic carbon and nitrogen in litter layers and soil under different substitution plantations were investigated. The results showed that contents of soil organic carbon and nitrogen were lower in P. tabulaeformis (PT) and P. armandi Franch(PA) than those in native broad-leaf shrub and broad-leaf plantation. The low quality (C/N) of litter in PT and PA plantations caused carbon and nitrogen returning to soil difficultly. Seasonal dynamic of soil microbial carbon (MBC),-nitrogen (MBN),-phosphor (MBP), and WDOC and WDON showed similar pattern, which had the highest values in autumn and the lowest values in winter. (2) WDOC and WDON in litter layers and soil under PT and PA plantations were significantly lower than those in native broad-leaf shrub and Cercidiphyllum japonicum Sieb. et Zucc.(CJ). Soil MBC and MBN were also the lowest, while there were no significant differences among deciduous vegetations, i.e. native broad-leaf shrub, CJ and Larix kaempferi Lamb.(LK) plantation. The results suggested that difference in quantity and quality of available substance was main reason that affected the activity of microbe in soil and litter layer. MBC/OC and MBN/ON were good indexes to indicate the change of soil microbial activity. MBC/OC of litter had the highest value under native broad-leaf shrub and CJ plantation, and had the lowest value in PT and PA plantations, while MBC/OC of soil was the highest under CJ plantation, and was the lowest in PT and PA plantations. These results indicated that PT and PA plantations substituting for native broad-leaf shrub caused deficit of carbon and nitrogen in soil, low microbial activity was a main reason influencing the cycling and turnover of carbon and nitrogen in soil. (3) The annual litter fall production, composition, seasonal dynamic and decomposition of five typical secondary stands in upper reaches of Minjiang River were studied in this paper. The annual litter productions were: PA (5.1×103 kg ha-1), LK(4.8×103 kg ha-1), native broad-leaf shrub (4.4×103 kg ha-1), PT(4.2×103 kg ha-1)，CJ(3.6×103 kg ha-1). The litter production of leaves in five secondary vegetations occupied a higher percentage in the annual total litter production than those of other components. The litterfall was mostly producted in the cool and dry period (October-November) for deciduous vegetations and relatively equably producted in every season for evergreen coniferous vegetations. The decomposition rate of leaf litter in the broad-leaf stand was higher than those in evergreen coniferous stand. Combined with annual litter fall production and decomposition rate of leaf litter, we found that stock and depth of litter layer were significantly larger in PT and PA plantations than those in native broad-leaf shrub, LK and CJ plantations. The results confirmed that PT and PA plantations substituting for native broad-leaf shrub delayed organic matter returning to soil and hindered cycling of carbon and nitrogen again. (4) We explored plant litter removal, double litter addition, root trenching, and combining root trenching and litter removal treatments to examine the effects of above- and belowground carbon inputs on soil microbial biomass, WDOC and WDON in four secondary plantations. During the experimental period from June 2007 to July 2008, 1 year after initiation of the treatments, WDOC in soil did not vary in root trenching, and combining root trenching and litter removal treatments, while WDON in soil significantly increased compared with CK treatment. Root trenching reduced soil MBC and MBN in PT plantation, while MBC and MBN in soil did not vary in LK plantation. The rasults implied that soil microbial activity was more dependent on belowground carbon input in PT plantation than those in other secondary plantations, on the contrary, soil microbial activity in LK plantation was not dependent on belowground carbon input. Plant litter removal significantly decreased soil WDOC in LK plantation, decreased WDON in PA and CJ plantations, and also significantly reduced soil MBC in PT plantation. However, double litter addition did not increase soil microbial biomass, WDOC and WDON, on the contrary, soil WDON in CJ, PA and PT plantations were decreased. These suggested that soil microbial activity was not only dependent on belowground carbon input, but also on aboveground organic material input. Double litter addition could change the microclimate and result in the decrease of soil microbial activity in CJ, PA and PT plantations. (5) We measured carbon mineralization in a 107 days incubation experiment in 5℃,15℃ and 25℃. Carbon cumulative mineralization was positively correlated with organic matter and labile organic carbon in litter layer and soil. Cumulative carbon mineralization and mineralization rate of litter layers in PT and PA plantations were higher than that in native broad-leaf shrub. This difference between native broad-leaf shrub and coniferous plantations in cumulative carbon mineralization and mineralization rate of litter layers could be attributed to the initiating time of decomposition due to the difference in seasonal dynamic of litter fall production between two types of secondary plantations. However, cumulative carbon mineralization and mineralization rate in soil were the highest in native broad-leaf shrub and CJ plantation, and were the lowest in PT and PA plantations. This also confirmed that PT and PA plantations substituting for native broad-leaf shrub hindered the cycling and turnover of organic matter again. (6) Carbon cumulative mineralization was positively correlated with C/N in litter layer and increased with temperature increasing, while carbon cumulative mineralization was not correlated with C/N in soil. This indicated that soil organic matter quality (C/N) was insensitive to temperature. Applying bi-exponential model, we computed the percent of labile and stable carbon in different temperature incubation and found that temperature increasing would accelerate the transform from stable carbon to labile carbon and increase the percentage of labile organic carbon. This illuminated that temperature incraesing could facilitate the decomposition of litter and soil organic matter in secondary vegetations and hence affect the relationship between carbon source and sink.