A β-sitosterol assay for fine-root mass in soils

Sinsabaugh, Robert L.; Antibus, Robert K.; Jackson, Colin R.; Karpanty, Sarah M.; Robinson, Michael; Liptak, M.; Franchini, Paula

doi:10.1016/s0038-0717(96)00268-4

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…The β-sitosterol and brassicasterol were used as biomarkers of plant (Sinsabaugh et al, 1997) and microalgal (Volkman, 1986(Volkman, , 2003 residues in organic matter (OM), respectively. Both sterols were determined simultaneously using microwave-assisted extraction adapted from Montgomery et al (2000) and GC/MS analysis (ISQ MS equipped with Focus GC, Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA).…”

Section: Sterol Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil microbial biomass, activity and community composition along altitudinal gradients in the High Arctic (Billefjorden, Svalbard)

et al. 2018

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Abstract. The unique and fragile High Arctic ecosystems are vulnerable to global climate warming. The elucidation of factors driving microbial distribution and activity in arctic soils is essential for a comprehensive understanding of ecosystem functioning and its response to environmental change. The goals of this study were to investigate microbial biomass and activity, microbial community structure (MCS), and their environmental controls in soils along three elevational transects in the coastal mountains of Billefjorden, central Svalbard. Soils from four different altitudes (25, 275, 525 and 765 m above sea level) were analyzed for a suite of characteristics including temperature regimes, organic matter content, base cation availability, moisture, pH, potential respiration, and microbial biomass and community structure using phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs). We observed significant spatial heterogeneity of edaphic properties among transects, resulting in transect-specific effects of altitude on most soil parameters. We did not observe any clear elevation pattern in microbial biomass, and microbial activity revealed contrasting elevational patterns between transects. We found relatively large horizontal variability in MCS (i.e., between sites of corresponding elevation in different transects), mainly due to differences in the composition of bacterial PLFAs, but also a systematic altitudinal shift in MCS related to different habitat preferences of fungi and bacteria, which resulted in high fungi-to-bacteria ratios at the most elevated sites. The biological soil crusts on these most elevated, unvegetated sites can host microbial assemblages of a size and activity comparable to those of the arctic tundra ecosystem. The key environmental factors determining horizontal and vertical changes in soil microbial properties were soil pH, organic carbon content, soil moisture and Mg 2+ availability.

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Section: Sterol Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil microbial biomass, activity and community composition along altitudinal gradients in the High Arctic (Billefjorden, Svalbard)

et al. 2018

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“…It might be important to consider differences in belowground life history strategies when choosing a method to quantify root turnover (for discussions on methodology for quantifying fine-root turnover, see Bo$ hm et al (1977), Cheng et al (1990), Swinnen et al (1995), Bloomfield et al (1996), Majdi (1996), Sinsabaugh et al (1997) and Vogt et al (1998)). Because each procedure has advantages and disadvantages, different methods are appropriate depending on the rooting habits evolved by a given plant species.…”

Section: -51mentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial and temporal deployment of crop roots in CO₂‐enriched environments

2000

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 Growth of crops in CO# -enriched atmospheres typically results in significant changes in root growth and development. Increased root carbohydrates stimulate root growth either directly (functioning as substrates) or indirectly (functioning as signal molecules) by enhancing cell division or cell expansion, or both. Although highly variable, the literature suggests that, generally, initiation and stimulation of lateral roots is favored over the elongation of primary roots, leading to more highly branched, shallower root systems. Such architectural shifts can render root systems less efficient, perhaps contributing to the lower specific root activities often reported. Allocation of carbon (C) to roots fluctuates through the life of the plant ; root functional and growth responses should therefore not be viewed as static. In annual crops, C allocation to belowground processes changes as vegetative growth switches to reproduction and maturation. Reductions in C allocation to roots over time might cause temporal shifts in root deployment, perhaps affecting root demography. However, significant changes in root turnover (defined here as root flux or mortality relative to total root pool size) as a result of decreased root longevities in crop plants are unlikely. Consideration of changing C allocation to roots, a more thorough understanding of the mechanistic controls on root longevity, and a better characterization of the rooting habits (life histories) of different crop species will further our understanding of how increasing atmospheric [CO # ] will affect root demography. This knowledge will lead the way toward a more thorough understanding of the linkage of atmosphere with belowground plant function and also that of plant function with soil biology and structure. Ultimately, successful modeling of global C and nitrogen (N) cycles will require empirical data concerning spatial and temporal deployment of roots for a range of crop species grown under different agricultural management systems.

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“…β-Sitosterol present in plant membranes indicates phytobiomass in soil and it has been shown that in early stages of decomposition it is degraded at about the same rate as bulk litter (Sinsabaugh et al 1997). The strong correlation between β-sitosterol and SOM reflects the high proportion of relatively fresh litter in SOM in the study sites.…”

Section: Differences Between Sitesmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…The slightly modified method of Sinsabaugh et al (1997) was used: The total volume of methanol was made up to 100 ml before refluxing the samples for two hours. For saponification, 5 ml of 4% KOH in ethanol was added and the samples were refluxed for an additional 30 min.…”

Section: Ergosterol and β-Sitosterol Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Because fungi in soil are important producers of extracellular enzymes and are probably affected by forest soil transfer, when ectomycorrhiza are no longer supported by trees, we also measured ergosterol content. β-Sitosterol, which reflects plant impact on soil, including litter, was also assayed (Sinsabaugh et al 1997). Monitoring the changes in plant species composition are in wide-spread use in the studies of successional changes on reclaimed habitats and were also applied here to describe the general successional patterns on the experimental areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Variability of soil enzyme activities and vegetation succession following boreal forest surface soil transfer to an artificial hill

Niemi¹,

Pöyry²,

Heiskanen³

et al. 2014

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A landfill site in southern Finland was converted into urban green space by covering it with a layer of fresh forest humus transferred from nearby construction sites. The aim was to develop the 70 m high artificial hill into a recreational area with high biodiversity of flora and fauna. Forest humus was used as a source of organic matter, plant roots, seeds, soil fauna and microorganisms in order to enable rapid regeneration of diverse vegetation and soil biological functions. In this study we report the results of three years of monitoring of soil enzyme activity and plant species compositional patterns. Monthly soil samples were taken each year between June and September from four sites on the hill and from two standing reference forests using three replicate plots. Activities of 10 different enzymes, soil organic matter (SOM) content, moisture, pH and temperature of the surface layer were monitored. Abundances of vascular plant species were surveyed on the same four hill sites between late May and early September, three times a season in 2004 and 2005. Although the addition of organic soil considerably increased soil enzyme activities (per dw), the activities at the covered hill sites were far lower than in the reference forests. Temporal changes and differences between sites were analysed in more detail per soil organic matter (SOM) in order to reveal differences in the quality of SOM. All the sites had a characteristic enzyme activity pattern and two hill sites showed clear temporal changes. The enzyme activities in uncovered topsoil increased, whereas the activities at the covered Middle site decreased, when compared with other sites at the same time. The different trend

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A β-sitosterol assay for fine-root mass in soils

Cited by 7 publications

References 25 publications

Soil microbial biomass, activity and community composition along altitudinal gradients in the High Arctic (Billefjorden, Svalbard)

Soil microbial biomass, activity and community composition along altitudinal gradients in the High Arctic (Billefjorden, Svalbard)

Spatial and temporal deployment of crop roots in CO₂‐enriched environments

Variability of soil enzyme activities and vegetation succession following boreal forest surface soil transfer to an artificial hill

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A β-sitosterol assay for fine-root mass in soils

Cited by 7 publications

References 25 publications

Soil microbial biomass, activity and community composition along altitudinal gradients in the High Arctic (Billefjorden, Svalbard)

Soil microbial biomass, activity and community composition along altitudinal gradients in the High Arctic (Billefjorden, Svalbard)

Spatial and temporal deployment of crop roots in CO2‐enriched environments

Variability of soil enzyme activities and vegetation succession following boreal forest surface soil transfer to an artificial hill

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Spatial and temporal deployment of crop roots in CO₂‐enriched environments