Organic Amendments and Elemental Sulfur Stimulate Microbial Biomass and Sulfur Oxidation in Alkaline Subtropical Soils

Sulfur deficiency arising due to intensive cultivation, use of sulfur free fertilizers and reduction in atmospheric sulfur depositions has become a major issue limiting crop production in many parts of the world. Elemental sulfur could be a good source of available S, but its slow oxidation is a problem for its efficient use as a sulfur fertilizer. Main objective of the study was to assess the effect of organic amendments (OA) and elemental sulfur (ES) on microbial activities, sulfur oxidation and availability in soil. A laboratory incubation experiment was carried out for a 56 days period using two sulfur deficient alkaline soils. Organic amendments (OA), i.e., farmyard manure (FYM), poultry litter (PL) and sugarcane filter cake (SF), were applied (1% w/w) with or without elemental sulfur (ES) at 50 mg kg−1. Application of ES alone or in combination with OA significantly increasedCO2-C evolution, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities in the soils, except dehydrogenase activity (DHA) which was not affected by ES application. Combined application of OA and ES had a more pronounced effect on microbial parameters compared to ES or OA applied alone. Ratios of dehydrogenase activity-to-microbial biomass C and arylsulfatase activity-to-microbial biomass C were high in ES+FYM and ES+SF treatments, respectively. Elemental sulfur got sufficiently oxidized resulting in significant improvement in plant available S. Relatively more ES was distributed into C-bonded-S than ester bonded-S. Increase in sulfur availability in ES+OA amended soils was the combined function of sulfur oxidation and mineralization processes through improved microbial activity.

Download Full-text

MICROBIAL BIOMASS AND ENZYMATIC ACTIVITIES IN SANDY SOIL CULTIVATED WITH LETTUCE INOCULATED WITH PLANT GROWTH PROMOTERS

Revista Caatinga ◽

10.1590/1983-21252018v31n408rc ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 860-870

Author(s):

Marcele de Cássia Henriques dos Santos Moraes ◽

Erika Valente de Medeiros ◽

Dayane da Silva de Andrade ◽

Leandro Dias de Lima ◽

Ivonaldo Carlos da Silva Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Biomass ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Sandy Soil ◽

Crop Production ◽

Enzymatic Activities ◽

Cattle Manure ◽

Growth Promoter ◽

Pseudomonas Sp ◽

Growth Promoters ◽

Combined Application

ABSTRACT Plant growth promoter microorganisms have been studied as important tools for increasing crop production. Lettuce is the most consumed hardwood crop in the world. Numerous microorganisms are capable of acting in a beneficial way in the growth of this culture. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of Trichoderma and Pseudomonas on the microbial biomass, enzymatic activities in sandy soil and lettuce production. The experimental design was completely randomized with ten replicates and treatments: CONT (absolute control); CM (control with cattle manure fertilization); CMB (with fertilization and Pseudomonas sp.); CMF (with fertilization and T. aureoviride) and CMBF (with fertilization and the two microorganisms combined). The fertilizer used was organic with cattle manure in a dose recommended for the culture. This study evaluated the production of lettuce, microbial biomass and the enzymatic activity of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and urease. The combined application of CMBF was efficient in increasing lettuce production, because it increased 85% of the cv. Veronica cultivated on sandy soil. The combined use of plant growth promoting microorganisms resulted to an increase in microbial biomass. In lettuce crops, it is recommended to use T. aureoviride URM 5158 and Pseudomonas sp. UAGF 14 in lettuce crops, because improved lettuce production, improves the biochemical quality of soils measured by absolute and specific enzymatic activities per unit of microbial biomass.

Download Full-text

Microbial biomass carbon and some soil properties as influenced by long-term sodic-water irrigation, gypsum, and organic amendments

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr07108 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 141 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Joginder Kaur ◽

O. P. Choudhary ◽

Bijay-Singh

Keyword(s):

Microbial Biomass ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽

Farmyard Manure ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Biomass Carbon ◽

Organic C ◽

Sodic Water

Long-term sodic-water irrigation may adversely affect the quality of soil organic carbon along with some soil properties. The extent to which the adverse effects can be ameliorated through the use of gypsum and amendments needs to be known. Soil properties and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) were studied after 14 years of sodic water (SW) irrigation and application of different levels of gypsum, farmyard manure (FYM), green manure (GM), and wheat straw (WS) to a sandy loam soil. Irrigation with SW increased pH, electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and bulk density, and decreased final infiltration rate of soil. Application of gypsum and organic amendments reversed these trends. Decrease in MBC due to SW irrigation was from 132.5 to 44.6 mg/kg soil in the 0–75 mm soil layer and from 49.0 to 17.3 mg/kg soil in the 75–150 mm soil layer. Application of gypsum and organic amendments significantly increased MBC; GM and FYM were more effective than WS. Changes in soil ESP explained 85 and 75% variation in MBC in the unamended and organically amended SW treatments, respectively. Soil pH as additional variable improved the predictability of MBC to 96% and 77%. Irrigation with SW reduced yield of rice plus wheat by 5 t/ha. Application of gypsum and organic amendments significantly increased the rice and wheat yield; it was significantly correlated with MBC (r = 0.56**, n = 60). It confirms that MBC rather than organic C is a more sensitive indicator of environmental stresses in soils caused by long-term sodic water irrigation.

Download Full-text

Dehydrogenase activity in topsoil at windthrow plots in Tatra National Park

Central European Forestry Journal ◽

10.1515/forj-2017-0017 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 63 (2-3) ◽

pp. 91-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Peter Hanajík ◽

Jana Gáfriková ◽

Milan Zvarík

Keyword(s):

Microbial Biomass ◽

Carbon Content ◽

Dehydrogenase Activity ◽

National Park ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Control Plot ◽

Microbial Biomass C ◽

Wood Debris ◽

Tatra National Park

AbstractThe aim of the study was to compare the effect of windthrow treatments established after the windstorm in 2004 on the activity of enzyme dehydrogenase (DHA) in forest topsoils. We also focused on the effect of the recent windthrow (May 2014) on the DHA in topsoil. Soil samples were collected in July 2014 from four sites in the Tatra National Park: EXT - tree trunks and wood debris extracted after the windstorm in 2004, NEX - area left for self-regeneration after the windstorm in 2004, REX - tree trunks and wood debris extracted after the windstorm (May 2014), REN - Norway spruce stand set as a control plot. We measured pH, dry weight %, soil organic matter (SOM), carbon content in microbial biomass (Cblo) and DHA. Dehydrogenase activity at studied plots was the lowest at the EXT plot and the highest values were measured at the REN plot. DHA at NEX was similar to REN suggesting comparable ecological conditions at these plots comparing to EXT. Carbon content in microbial biomass at plots reflected intensity of dehydrogenase activity in sequence EXT < REX < NEX < REN.

Download Full-text

Soil Dehydrogenase Activity and Microbial Biomass C in Croplands of JeJu Province

Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer ◽

10.7745/kjssf.2013.46.2.122 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 46 (2) ◽

pp. 122-128 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jae-Ho Joa ◽

Kyung-Hwan Moon ◽

Kyung-San Choi ◽

Seong-Cheol Kim ◽

Sang-Wook Koh

Keyword(s):

Microbial Biomass ◽

Dehydrogenase Activity ◽

Microbial Biomass C ◽

Soil Dehydrogenase Activity

Download Full-text

Bioavailability of Sulfur from Waste Obtained during Biogas Desulfurization and the Effect of Sulfur on Soil Acidity and Biological Activity

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr8070863 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 863 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Monika Tabak ◽

Aneta Lisowska ◽

Barbara Filipek-Mazur

Keyword(s):

Soil Ph ◽

Crop Production ◽

Soil Acidity ◽

Elemental Sulfur ◽

Sulfur Oxidation ◽

Soil Samples ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Alternative Source ◽

Soil Enzymatic Activity ◽

Waste Reuse

Sulfur deficiency has been recognized as a limiting factor for crop production in many regions of the world. A 120-day incubation experiment was conducted to assess the effect of the applied waste elemental sulfur on sulfur bioavailability in soil. Four doses of sulfur were applied: 10, 20, 30 and 60 mg S kg−1 dry matter (d.m.) of soil. In order to assess the effect of soil pH adjustment on sulfur oxidation, the research was conducted on two sets of soil samples: one set of soil samples had natural pH, and the second one was limed before sulfur application. Application of waste sulfur slightly affected the soil pH, and increased the content of available sulfur in soil proportionally to sulfur dose. A beneficial effect of waste sulfur application on soil dehydrogenase and catalase activity was found. Liming reduced soil acidity, and significantly increased sulfate content and soil enzymatic activity. Waste elemental sulfur may be an alternative source of sulfur, supplementing the deficiencies of this element in soils. The described way of sulfur waste reuse corresponds with the increasingly common approach to create waste-free technologies in all economy.

Download Full-text

Organic amendments differ in their effect on microbial biomass and activity and on P pools in alkaline soils

Biology and Fertility of Soils ◽

10.1007/s00374-012-0738-6 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 49 (4) ◽

pp. 415-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Muhammad Asghar Malik ◽

Khalid Saifullah Khan ◽

Petra Marschner ◽

Safdar Ali

Keyword(s):

Microbial Biomass ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Alkaline Soils ◽

P Pools

Download Full-text

Effects of Organic Amendments on Soil Aggregate Stability and Microbial Biomass in a Long-Term Fertilization Experiment (IOSDV)

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13179769 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (17) ◽

pp. 9769

Author(s):

Gábor Csitári ◽

Zoltán Tóth ◽

Mónika Kökény

Keyword(s):

Microbial Biomass ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Temporal Variability ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Aggregate Stability ◽

Microbial Biomass C ◽

Organic C ◽

Fertilization Experiment ◽

Straw Incorporation

The effect of two types of organic amendment (manure and straw incorporation) and various doses (0–200 kg N*ha−1) of mineral N fertilization on microbial biomass C (MBC), aggregate stability (AS), soil organic C (SOC) and grain yield were investigated in an IOSDV long-term fertilization experiment (Keszthely, Hungary). This study was conducted during years 2015–2016 in a sandy loam Ramann-type brown forest soil (Eutric Cambisol according to WRB). Organic amendments had a significant effect on AS, MBC and SOC, increased their values compared to the unamended control. The organic amendments showed different effects on AS and MBC. AS was increased the most by straw incorporation and MBC by manure application. The magnitude of temporal variability of AS and MBC differed. Presumably, the different effects of organic amendments and the different degrees of temporal variability explain why there was only a weak (0.173) correlation between AS and MBC. AS did not correlate with SOC or grain yield. MBC correlated (0.339) with SOC but not with the grain yield. The N fertilizer dose did not have a significant effect on AS and MBC, but had a significant effect on SOC and grain yield.

Download Full-text

Repeated short-term organic amendments effects on physical and biological properties of a San Antón soil

The Journal of Agriculture of the University of Puerto Rico ◽

10.46429/jaupr.v100i2.12726 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 100 (2) ◽

pp. 123-140

Author(s):

Ian C. Pagán-Roig ◽

Joaquín A. Chong ◽

José A. Dumas ◽

Consuelo Estévez de Jensen

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Humic Acid ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Microbial Biomass ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Microbial Biomass C ◽

Microbial Biomass N ◽

Short Term ◽

Biomass N

The objective of this work was to measure the effects of repeated short-term organic amendments that we termed soil treatment management cycles (STMC) on physical and biological properties of a San Antón series soil. Each STMC lasted 60 days and consisted of incorporating 5% organic matter from coffee pulp compost; the planting, growth and incorporation of an intercrop of four green manure species; and the application of mycorrhizae and compost tea. The treatments were labeled: CL0, CL1, CL2 and CL3; where CL0 was the control, CL1 received one STMC, CL2 and CL3 received two and three STMC, respectively. The STMC intended to mimic the overall effect of a sustainable agricultural system, not to measure the individual effects of the practices. All treatments (CL1, CL2, CL3) showed an increase in soil organic matter (p≤0.05). When compared to the CL0 control, saturated hydraulic conductivity increased and bulk density decreased in all soils. Soil macroporosity was significantly increased by CL2 and CL3. Soil aggregate stability increased in CL1, CL2 and CL3 plots. Microbial biomass C increased in treatment CL3, and microbial biomass N increased in CL2 and CL3. The production of stable aggregates was correlated to humic acid content and positively influenced all other physical parameters assessed in this study. The STMC had a positive impact on soil properties by increasing the soil organic matter as well as the humic acid fraction. Soil macroporosity, defined as porosity with radius > 38 µm, was significantly increased by treatments CL2 and CL3. All of the organic matter fractions, including total organic matter, humic acid content, microbial biomass C and microbial biomass N were significantly increased by one or more STMC.

Download Full-text

Carbon, Nitrogen Dynamics and CO2 Efflux in the Calcareous Sandy Loam Soil Treated with Chemically Modified Organic Amendments

10.20944/preprints202105.0455.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ahmed Mohammed-Nour ◽

Mohamed Al-Sewailem ◽

Ahmed H. El-Naggar ◽

Mohamed Hamza ◽

Anwar A. Aly ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Microbial Biomass ◽

Sandy Loam ◽

C:N Ratio ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Microbial Biomass C ◽

Co2 Efflux ◽

Cow Manure ◽

Available Nitrogen ◽

Organic C ◽

Loam Soil

Although carbon (C) efflux from soils treated with organic wastes was widely covered in temperate and cold regions, still such data is not sufficient from arid and semi-arid regions. Saudi Arabia produces more than 335,000 tons/year of cow manure (CM), this CM either left as raw manure or being composted. The application of high C/N amendments is expected to increase soil organic carbon and reduce CO2 fluxes. A 90-day incubation experiment was conducted to study CO2 efflux, organic C microbial biomass C, available NH4+and NO3-when added to agricultural soil. Six manure types were added: cow manure, cow manure compost, cow manure biochar, cow manure stripped ammonia at pH 12 with a temperature of 95oC, cow manure stripped ammonia at pH 9 with a temperature of 95oC and control. The application of CM resulted in a considerable increase in soil available nitrogen, CO2 efflux compared to other treatments. Cow manure biochar showed the lowest CO2 efflux. Cumulative CO2 effluxes of cow manure effluents were lower than CM this possibly due to the relatively high C:N ratio of manure effluent. The content of, P, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn were decreased as incubation time increased. microbial biomass C of cow manure stripped ammonia at pH 12 with a temperature of 95oC were increased at 7 and 60 days illustrating to temperature effect on the decomposing of manure materials.

Download Full-text

Bell pepper yield and soil properties during conversion from conventional to organic production in Indian Himalayas

10.31220/osf.io/8whkp ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Gopinath KA

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Transition Period ◽

Farmyard Manure ◽

Organic Amendments ◽

Organic Production ◽

Bell Pepper ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Management Options ◽

Combined Application ◽

Conventional Practice

A conversion period of at least two years is required for annual crops before produce may be certified as organically grown. There is a need for better understanding of the various management options for transitioning from conventional to organic production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of three organic amendments on growth and yield of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), the benefit:cost ratio, soil fertility and enzymatic activities during conversion to organic production. The organic amendments were composted farmyard manure (FYMC), vermicompost (VC) and poultry manure (PM) along with biofertilizers [Azotobacter + Phosphorus solubilizing Bacteria (Pseudomonas striata)]. The bell pepper yield under organic management was markedly lower (33-53% and 18-40% less in first and second year of conversion, respectively) compared with conventional practice (FYMC 10 Mg ha-1 + NPK – 100:22:41.5 kg ha-1). Composted FYM 20 Mg ha-1 + biofertilizers (BF), and combined application of three organic amendments (FYMC 10 Mg ha-1 + PM and VC each 1.5 Mg ha-1 + BF) produced similar but significantly higher yield (27.9 and 26.1 Mg ha-1, respectively) of bell pepper compared with other organic amendment treatments. Composted FYM 20 Mg ha-1 + BF and combined application of three organic amendments greatly lowered soil bulk density (1.15-1.17 Mg m-3), and enhanced pH (7.1) and oxidizable organic carbon (1.2-1.3%) of soil compared with conventional practice and unamended control after a two-year transition period. However, the N, P and K levels were highest in the plots under conventional practice. Plots amended with FYMC 20 Mg ha-1 + BF had higher soil microbial activities of dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and β-glucosidase compared with other treatments. However, the urease activity was greater in the plots under conventional practice. Among the treatments involving organic amendments alone, FYMC 20 Mg ha-1 + BF gave the highest gross margin (US $ 8237.5 ha-1) compared to other treatments. We conclude that FYMC 20 Mg ha-1 + BF was found more suitable for enhancing bell pepper growth and yield, through improved soil properties, during conversion to organic production.

Download Full-text