Evaluation of methods to estimate the soil microbial biomass and the relationship with soil texture and organic matter

Kaiser, Ernst‐August; Müeller, Torsten; Joergensen, Rainer Georg; Insam, Heribert; Heinemeyer, Otto

doi:10.1016/0038-0717(92)90046-z

Cited by 310 publications

(110 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Correlation of gene abundances with soil characteristics revealed a number of relationships. The 16S rRNA gene, along with nifH, nirS, nirK, and nosZ all demonstrated a positive relationship with % N and % C and a negative relationship with NO 3 -N. Correlation between microbial biomass and nitrogen availability has been documented previously, and indicates the importance of N in microbial metabolism (Kaiser et al, 1992). Furthermore, Strong et al (1999) discuss the role of the soil matrix in N mineralization, hypothesizing that soil wetting cycles may result in the movement of N into microbial-laden pores.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Addition of activated switchgrass biochar to an aridic subsoil increases microbial nitrogen cycling gene abundances

Ducey

Ippolito

Cantrell

et al. 2013

Applied Soil Ecology

175

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a b s t r a c tIt has been demonstrated that soil amended with biochar, designed specifically for use as a soil conditioner, results in changes to the microbial populations that reside therein. These changes have been reflected in studies measuring variations in microbial activity, biomass, and community structure. Despite these studies, very few experiments have been performed examining microbial genes involved in nutrient cycling processes. Given the paucity of research in this area, we designed a 6 month study in a Portneuf subsoil treated with three levels (1%, 2%, and 10% w/w ratio) of a biochar pyrolyzed from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) at 350 • C and steam activated at 800 • C to measure the abundances of five genes involved in N cycling. Gene abundances were measured using qPCR, with relative abundances of these genes calculated based on measurement of the 16S rRNA gene. At the end of the 6 month study, all measured genes showed significantly greater abundances in biochar amended treatments as compared to the control. In soil amended with 10% biochar, genes involved in nitrogen fixation (nifH), and denitrification (nirS), showed significantly increased relative abundances. Lastly, gene abundances and relative abundances correlated with soil characteristics, in particular NO 3 -N, % N and % C. These results confirm that activated switchgrass-derived biochar, designed for use as a soil conditioner, has an impact on the treated soils microbial communities. We therefore suggest that future use of biochar as a soil management practice should take into account not only changes to the soil's physiochemical properties, but its biological properties as well.Published by Elsevier B.V.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Addition of activated switchgrass biochar to an aridic subsoil increases microbial nitrogen cycling gene abundances

Ducey

Ippolito

Cantrell

et al. 2013

Applied Soil Ecology

175

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“…Microbial biomass is often correlated with soil organic carbon, with clayey soils typically higher in microbial biomass than sandy soils (Kaiser et al, 1992;Hassink, 1994;Franzluebbers et al, 1996). However, microbial biomass may be more highly correlated with active carbon than total C (Weil et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of soil type and farm management on soil ecological functional genes and microbial activities

et al. 2010

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Relationships between soil microbial diversity and soil function are the subject of much debate. Process-level analyses have shown that microbial function varies with soil type and responds to soil management. However, such measurements cannot determine the role of community structure and diversity in soil function. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of gene frequency and diversity, measured by microarray analysis, on soil processes. The study was conducted in an agro-ecosystem characterized by contrasting management practices and soil types. Eight pairs of adjacent commercial organic and conventional strawberry fields were matched for soil type, strawberry variety, and all other environmental conditions. Soil physical, chemical and biological analyses were conducted including functional gene microarrays (FGA). Soil physical and chemical characteristics were primarily determined by soil textural type (coarse vs fine-textured), but biological and FGA measures were more influenced by management (organic vs conventional). Organically managed soils consistently showed greater functional activity as well as FGA signal intensity (SI) and diversity. Overall FGA SI and diversity were correlated to total soil microbial biomass. Functional gene group SI and/or diversity were correlated to related soil chemical and biological measures such as microbial biomass, cellulose, dehydrogenase, ammonium and sulfur. Management was the dominant determinant of soil biology as measured by microbial gene frequency and diversity, which paralleled measured microbial processes.

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“…The lower respiration activity of the mine soils was apparently related to their lower OM content. It is well known that a soil's microbial activity is positively related to its OM content, as organic compounds are an energy source for microbes [20]. The studied mine soils developed from excavated sands that did not contain organic matt er.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of environmental stressors on respiration activity of afforested mine soils

Pudełko¹,

Sroka²

2017

geom

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Abstract:The functioning of soils strongly depends on the activity of the soil microbial communities and their ability to withstand diff erent environmental stresses. The aim of this work is to compare the eff ect of two frequently occurring stressors (drought-rewet and freeze-thaw cycles) on the basal respiration rate of mine and natural soils. Soil samples (n = 18) were delivered from the Szczakowa open-cast sand quarry in Poland. The samples were measured for organic matt er (OM) content, basal respiration, pH levels, and electric conductivity. The studied mine and natural soils had a similar texture and were classifi ed as loamy sands. The natural soils contained signifi cantly more OM than the mine soils but did not diff er in terms of pH. There were no signifi cant diff erences in the OM content, pH, and texture of the soils under the studied tree species (Pine, Birch, Larch). Mine soils exhibited signifi cantly lower initial respiration rate (RESP value) than the natural soils (1.34 μg C-CO 2 g −1 24 h −1 vs . 3.13 μg C-CO 2 g −1 24 h −1 ). Five freeze-thaw cycles reduced cumulative CO 2 evolution both in both the mine and the natural soils by 17.8% and 6.7%, respectively. Moreover, the reaction of the respiration rate to dry-rewet cycles diff ered distinctly between the mine and natural soils. In the natural soils, all dry-rewet cycles increased the respiration rate, wherein the increase was much more pronounced in the last two cycles. We conclude that periods of drought in the summer and freeze-thaw events in the autumn and spring may have a stronger negative eff ect on the functioning of forest ecosystems in the reclaimed lands than in natural stands.

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Evaluation of methods to estimate the soil microbial biomass and the relationship with soil texture and organic matter

Cited by 310 publications

References 36 publications

Addition of activated switchgrass biochar to an aridic subsoil increases microbial nitrogen cycling gene abundances

Addition of activated switchgrass biochar to an aridic subsoil increases microbial nitrogen cycling gene abundances

Effects of soil type and farm management on soil ecological functional genes and microbial activities

The effect of environmental stressors on respiration activity of afforested mine soils

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