Soil Biological Responses under Different Vegetation Types in Mediterranean Area

The knowledge of the effects of fire on soil properties is of particular concern in Mediterranean areas, where the effects of vegetation type are still scarce also. This research aimed: to assess the properties of burnt soils under different vegetation types; to highlight the soil abiotic properties driving the soil microbial biomass and activity under each vegetation type; to compare the biological response in unburnt and burnt soils under the same vegetation type, and between unburnt and burnt soils under different vegetation types. The soils were collected at a Mediterranean area where a large wildfire caused a 50% loss of the previous vegetation types (holm oak: HO, pine: P, black locust: BL, and herbs: H), and were characterized by abiotic (pH, water, and organic matter contents; N concentrations; and C/N ratios) and biotic (microbial and fungal biomasses, microbial respiration, soil metabolic quotient, and hydrolase and dehydrogenase activities) properties. The biological response was evaluated by the Integrative Biological Responses (IBR) index. Before the fire, organic matter and N contents were significantly higher in P than H soils. After the fire, significant increases of pH, organic matter, C/N ratio, microbial biomass and respiration, and hydrolase and dehydrogenase activities were observed in all the soils, especially under HO. In conclusion, the post-fire soil conditions were less favorable for microorganisms, as the IBR index decreased when compared to the pre-fire conditions.

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Characteristics of Soil Organic Carbon and Total Nitrogen Along Various Vegetation Types in Hongqipao Reservoir, Northeast China

10.20944/preprints202007.0539.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Bing Yu ◽

Patteson Chula Mwagona ◽

Yuncong Li ◽

Xiaoyu Li ◽

Hongjun Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Microbial Biomass ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Spatial Variability ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Total Nitrogen ◽

Soil Microbial Biomass ◽

Vegetation Types ◽

Soil Microbial

This study investigated the spatial variability of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN) in Hongqipao reservoir dominated by different vegetation types and the possible relationships with other soil properties. Top 0–50cm soil samples were collected in sites dominated by different vegetation types within the reservoir littoral zone. There was high spatial variability for SOC, TN, SMBC and SMBN in the Hongqipao reservoir. In addition, the SOC, TN, SMBC and SMBN contents decreased with increasing soil depth. This could be attributed by the fact that when plants detritus decompose, most of their organic matter is mineralized and a new soil layer which contains a greater amount of organic carbon is formed at the top. According to Pearson's correlation values and redundancy analysis (RDA) results, SOC was significantly and positively correlated with TN likely because the vegetation organic matter and liter could be the main nitrogen sources. Similarly, soil moisture content (MC) was significant positive correlated with SOC and TN. Conversely, BD was significant negative correlated with SOC and TN contents in the 0-50 cm soil profiles. However, no significant correlations were observed between SOC, TN, SMBC and SMBN contents and soil pH values. SMBN was significantly and positive correlated with C:N ratio and BD and negative related with MC. Multiple linear regression model revealed that all measures soil properties in this study could explain higher significant variability of the response variables (SOC, TN, SMBC and SMBN contents). This implies that all the measured soil variables within the different vegetation types in the reservoir played a crucial role in determining the contents of SOC, TN, SMBC and SMBN. This study further suggests that vegetation types play a major role in determining the spatial characteristics of SOC and TN. Any changes in the vegetation types in the reservoir may influence the distribution of SOC and TN. This may affect the global carbon budget and the atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration significantly.

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Measurement of soil microbial biomass provides an early indication of changes in total soil organic matter due to straw incorporation

Soil Biology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/0038-0717(87)90076-9 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 159-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 653

Author(s):

D.S. Powlson ◽

P.C. Prookes ◽

B.T. Christensen

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Microbial Biomass ◽

Soil Microbial Biomass ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Total Soil ◽

Straw Incorporation ◽

Early Indication

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Soil microbial biomass—Interpretation and consideration for soil monitoring

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr10203 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 49 (4) ◽

pp. 287 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

V. Gonzalez-Quiñones ◽

E. A. Stockdale ◽

N. C. Banning ◽

F. C. Hoyle ◽

Y. Sawada ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Microbial Biomass ◽

Soil Microorganisms ◽

Soil Microbial Biomass ◽

Biological Function ◽

Anthropogenic Change ◽

Soil Monitoring ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Quality Assessments ◽

The Impact

Since 1970, measurement of the soil microbial biomass (SMB) has been widely adopted as a relatively simple means of assessing the impact of environmental and anthropogenic change on soil microorganisms. The SMB is living and dynamic, and its activity is responsible for the regulation of organic matter transformations and associated energy and nutrient cycling in soil. At a gross level, an increase in SMB is considered beneficial, while a decline in SMB may be considered detrimental if this leads to a decline in biological function. However, absolute SMB values are more difficult to interpret. Target or reference values of SMB are needed for soil quality assessments and to allow ameliorative action to be taken at an appropriate time. However, critical values have not yet been successfully identified for SMB. This paper provides a conceptual framework which outlines how SMB values could be interpreted and measured, with examples provided within an Australian context.

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Mineralization of native soil organic matter is not regulated by the size, activity or composition of the soil microbial biomass—a new perspective

Soil Biology and Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/j.soilbio.2007.06.021 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 61-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 254

Author(s):

S.J. Kemmitt ◽

C.V. Lanyon ◽

I.S. Waite ◽

Q. Wen ◽

T.M. Addiscott ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Microbial Biomass ◽

Soil Microbial Biomass ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Native Soil ◽

New Perspective

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Effect of the amount of organic trigger compounds, nitrogen and soil microbial biomass on the magnitude of priming of soil organic matter

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0216730 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (5) ◽

pp. e0216730 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Domenico Paolo Di Lonardo ◽

Wietse de Boer ◽

Hans Zweers ◽

Annemieke van der Wal

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Organic Matter ◽

Microbial Biomass ◽

Soil Microbial Biomass ◽

Soil Microbial

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Ratio of soil microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon in Himalayan rangeland

Himalayan Journal of Science and Technology ◽

10.3126/hijost.v2i0.25852 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 96-101

Author(s):

Dil Kumar Limbu ◽

Madan Koirala

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Microbial Biomass ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Microbial Biomass ◽

Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽

Biomass Carbon ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon ◽

Microbial Carbon

The soil microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon ratio is a useful measure to monitor soil organic matter and serves as a sensitive index than soil organic carbon alone. Thus, the objective of this study is to identify and quantify the present status of ratio of soil microbial biomass carbon to soil organic carbon in Himalayan rangeland and to make recommendations for enhancing balance between microbial carbon and organic carbon of the soil. To meet the aforementioned objective, a field study was conducted from 2011 to 2013 following the Walkley-Black, Chromic acid wet oxidation method, and chloroform fumigation method for analysis of microbial carbon and organic carbon respectively. The study showed that the heavily grazed plot had significantly less value of ratio than occasionally grazed and ungrazed plots. The ratio was significantly high on legume seeding plot compared to nonlegume plot, but the ratio was independent of soil depth. Soil microbial biomass appeared to be more responsive than soil organic matter.

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