Anetta Siwik-Ziomek

Effects of farmyard manure and nitrogen fertilizers on mobility of phosphorus and sulphur in wheat and activity of selected hydrolases in soil

Abstract The paper demonstrates the results of research on the mobility of phosphorus and sulphur in winter wheat fertilized with several rates (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 t ha-1) of farmyard manure and nitrogen (0, 40, 80, 120 kg N ha-1). The content of these nutrients was related to the activity of acid phosphatase and arylsulphatase in a Haplic Luvisol. The highest content of available phosphorus (91.58 mg P kg-1) was reported in the soil amended with farmyard manure at the rate of 60 t ha-1. The content of sulphates (VI) in the Haplic Luvisol was high and, on average, equal to 25.22 mg kg-1. The activity of acid phosphatase in the soil increased with increasing mineral nitrogen rates. The highest content of sulphates (VI) and the lowest activity of arylsulphatase were identified at the nitrogen rate of 40 kg N ha-1. The mobility of phosphorus in winter wheat was the highest when farmyard manure at the rate of 60 t ha-1 and mineral nitrogen at the rate of 120 kg N ha-1 were incorporated into the soil. The greatest translocation of sulphur was reported at the high farmyard manure rates (40, 60 and 80 t ha-1) and the nitrogen rate of 80 kg N ha-1.

Biological parameters in technogenic soils of a former sulphur mine

Abstract This study was conducted on the soils originating from a reclamation area of the former sulphur mine in Tarnobrzeg, Poland. Soil was sampled 16 years after the completion of mining works with the open-pit method at Machów, as well as 7 years after sulphur mining via the ‘smelting’ method in the Jeziórko mine was abandoned. Several biological parameters were examined: soil respiration, soil microbial biomass and the activity of rhodanese and arylsulphatase enzymes taking part in sulphur transformation within the site’s soils. The soils showed a high total sulphur and sulphates content. The SO42- constituted a large fraction of total sulphur, in some cases, exceeding 80% or even 95% of total sulphur. The soil pH decreased due to the degrading effects of sulphur mining. In the soils studied from the locations with the lowest soil pH value, no activity of arylsulphatase was reported and the activity of rhodanese was lowest. The highest soil respiration values were recorded from the 0-5 cm layer in the areas covered with forest vegetation. A high soil respiration value at the waste heap at Machów wherein a very high concentration of Stot and SO42- was observed can be due to the ability of fungi to produce hyphal strands and to survive unfavourable conditions.

The effect of long-term fertilisation on arylsulphatase activity and sulphates (VI) content in a lessive soil

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of long-term mineral–organic fertilisation on the dynamics of arylsulphatase (EC 3.1.6.1) activity, the enzyme taking part in the mineralisation of sulphur compounds in soil. The soil under study was sampled in 2001–2004 three times over the vegetation period, at the beginning, in the middle and just before harvest. Plants were cultivated in the crop rotation: potato, winter wheat, spring barley and maize. The split-plot experiment was carried out as a two-factor one (fertilisation with cattle farmyard manure in five doses and fertilisation with mineral nitrogen in four doses). Samples were analysed for carbon of organic compounds, total nitrogen and pH in KCl, according to commonly used methods. Arylsulphatase activity was assayed according to Tabatabai and Bremner, and sulphates as described by Bardsley–Lancaster and modified by COMN-IUNG. Sulphur was abundant in this soil, and therefore the plants should be well supplied with this element. The highest arylsulphatase activity and sulphates (VI) content were found in the case of fertilisation with 60 t · ha−1 farmyard manure. Significant correlations were noted between the parameters under study.