Elke Schulz

Effect of mineral and organic fertilization on crop yield, nitrogen uptake, carbon and nitrogen balances, as well as soil organic carbon content and dynamics: results from 20 European long-term field experiments of the twenty-first century

Assembled results from 20 European long-term experiments (LTE), mainly from the first decade of the twenty-first century, are presented. The included LTEs from 17 sites are the responsibility of institutional members of the International Working Group of Long-term Experiments in the IUSS. Between the sites, average annual temperatures differ between 8.1 and 15.3°C, annual precipitation between 450 and 1400 mm, and soil clay contents between 3 and 31%. On average of 350 yield comparisons, combined mineral and organic fertilization resulted in a 6% yield benefit compared with mineral fertilization alone; in the case of winter wheat, the smallest effect was 3%, the largest effect, seen with potatoes, was 9%. All unfertilized treatments are depleted in soil organic carbon (SOC), varying between 0.36 and 2.06% SOC. The differences in SOC in unfertilized plots compared with the respective plots with combined mineral (NPK) and organic (10 t ha−1 farmyard manure) fertilization range between 0.11 and 0.72%, with an average of 0.3% (corresponding to ∼15 t ha−1). Consequently, the use of arable soils for carbon sequestration is limited and of low relevance and merely depleted soils can temporarily accumulate carbon up to their optimum C content.

Influence of site conditions and management on different soil organic matter (som) pools

Basing on both a site gradient as well as a gradient in management intensities the influence of these factors on different SOM pools was investigated: (A) a very easily decomposable C pool, (B) a C pool which is related to clay fraction and representing a relatively inert pool, (C) a C pool which is not, or only loosely connected to the mineral soil part representing the intermediates between the extreme C pools (A) and (B). The decomposable C pool was measured by the parameter of hot water extractable carbon (HW-C). The clay related and not clay related SOM pools were isolated by a combined fractionation according to both particle sizes (clay fraction < 1 μm and 1 – 2 μm) and specific densities (light fraction < 1.8 g/cm3 and 1.8 – 2.0 g/cm3). Fertilization increases easily decomposable SOM pools reflected in C content of a hot water extractable SOM fraction and in mass of specific light SOM fractions but to a certain extent the C pool associated with clay minerals as well. At comparable management (fertilization) levels transformation conditions at a site (temperature and precipitation) have an influence on the accumulation of the decomposable SOM pool (effective biological transformation time – WMZ)

Mineral vs. Organic Amendments: Microbial Community Structure, Activity and Abundance of Agriculturally Relevant Microbes Are Driven by Long-Term Fertilization Strategies

Soil management is fundamental to all agricultural systems and fertilization practices have contributed substantially to the impressive increases in food production. Despite the pivotal role of soil microorganisms in agro-ecosystems, we still have a limited understanding of the complex response of the soil microbiota to organic and mineral fertilization in the very long-term. Here, we report the effects of different fertilization regimes (mineral, organic and combined mineral and organic fertilization), carried out for more than a century, on the structure and activity of the soil microbiome. Organic matter content, nutrient concentrations, and microbial biomass carbon were significantly increased by mineral, and even more strongly by organic fertilization. Pyrosequencing revealed significant differences between the structures of bacterial and fungal soil communities associated to each fertilization regime. Organic fertilization increased bacterial diversity, and stimulated microbial groups (Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Zygomycota) that are known to prefer nutrient-rich environments, and that are involved in the degradation of complex organic compounds. In contrast, soils not receiving manure harbored distinct microbial communities enriched in oligotrophic organisms adapted to nutrient-limited environments, as Acidobacteria. The fertilization regime also affected the relative abundances of plant beneficial and detrimental microbial taxa, which may influence productivity and stability of the agroecosystem. As expected, the activity of microbial exoenzymes involved in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous mineralization were enhanced by both types of fertilization. However, in contrast to comparable studies, the highest chitinase and phosphatase activities were observed in the solely mineral fertilized soil. Interestingly, these two enzymes showed also a particular high biomass-specific activities and a strong negative relation with soil pH. As many soil parameters are known to change slowly, the particularity of unchanged fertilization treatments since 1902 allows a profound assessment of linkages between management and abiotic as well as biotic soil parameters. Our study revealed that pH and TOC were the majors, while nitrogen and phosphorous pools were minors, drivers for structure and activity of the soil microbial community. Due to the long-term treatments studied, our findings likely represent permanent and stable, rather than transient, responses of soil microbial communities to fertilization.

Heisswasserlöslicher C und N im Boden als Kriterium für das N-Nachlieferungsvermögen

Summary Results of hot water extractable carbon (Chwl) of soils from various long-time experiments and from agricultural producing co-operatives are presented. Chwl contains simple organic compounds and slightly decomposable carbohydrates and by this the microbial biomass too. The value of Chwl is relatively independent of variations over the year. It reflects well the level of organic matter supply of the soil and by this the ability of soils for releasing nitrogen. The analytical procedure for the determination of hot water extractable carbon and nitrogen allows analyses of larger series. Compared with hot water extractable nitrogen the determination of Chwl is more reliable.

Impact of the plant community composition on labile soil organic carbon, soil microbial activity and community structure in semi-natural grassland ecosystems of different productivity

AimsThe main objective was to describe the effects of plant litter on SOC and on soil microbial activity and structure in extensively managed grasslands in Central Germany that vary in biomass production and plant community composition.MethodsThe decomposition of shoot and root litter was studied in an incubation experiment. Labile C and N were isolated by hot water extraction (CHWE, NHWE), while functional groups of microbes were identified by PLFA analysis and microbial activity was measured using a set of soil exo-enzymes.ResultsThe plant community composition, particulary legume species affected SOC dynamics and below-ground microbial processes, especially via roots. This was reflected in about 20% lower decomposition of root litter in low productivity grassland soil. The CHWE soil pool was found to be a key driver of the below-ground food web, controlling soil microbial processes.ConclusionsBelow-ground responses appear to be related to the presence of legume species, which affected the microbial communities, as well as the ratio between fungal and bacterial biomass and patterns of soil enzyme activity. Low productivity fungal-dominated grasslands with slow C turnover rates may play an important role in SOC accumulation. The approach used here is of particular importance, since associated biological and biochemical processes are fundamental to ecosystem functioning.

Charakterisierung der organischen bodensubstanz (OBS) nach dem grad ihrer umsetzbarkeit und ihre bedeutung für transformationsprozesse für nähr‐ und schadstoffe

Aus langjahrigen Untersuchungen sowie aus Literaturdaten werden unterschiedliche Kriterien der Fraktionierung der OBS vorgestellt und diskutiert. Es wird abgeleitet, das die OBS fur die Beurteilung von Umsatzprozessen in mindestens zwei Fraktionen unterteilt werden mus. Zur Abschatzung des umsetzbaren Anteils der OBS, zur Stickstoffnachlieferung aus dem Boden sowie trendweise zur Abschatzung von Mobilitaten und Verfugbarkeiten von Schwermetallen und Schadorganika wird die Eignung der einfach zu erfassenden heiswasserextrahierbaren Fraktion der OBS herangezogen.

Influence of different forest system management practices on leaf litter decomposition rates, nutrient dynamics and the activity of ligninolytic enzymes: a case study from central European forests.

Leaf litter decomposition is the key ecological process that determines the sustainability of managed forest ecosystems, however very few studies hitherto have investigated this process with respect to silvicultural management practices. The aims of the present study were to investigate the effects of forest management practices on leaf litter decomposition rates, nutrient dynamics (C, N, Mg, K, Ca, P) and the activity of ligninolytic enzymes. We approached these questions using a 473 day long litterbag experiment. We found that age-class beech and spruce forests (high forest management intensity) had significantly higher decomposition rates and nutrient release (most nutrients) than unmanaged deciduous forest reserves (P<0.05). The site with near-to-nature forest management (low forest management intensity) exhibited no significant differences in litter decomposition rate, C release, lignin decomposition, and C/N, lignin/N and ligninolytic enzyme patterns compared to the unmanaged deciduous forest reserves, but most nutrient dynamics examined in this study were significantly faster under such near-to-nature forest management practices. Analyzing the activities of ligninolytic enzymes provided evidence that different forest system management practices affect litter decomposition by changing microbial enzyme activities, at least over the investigated time frame of 473 days (laccase, P<0.0001; manganese peroxidase (MnP), P = 0.0260). Our results also indicate that lignin decomposition is the rate limiting step in leaf litter decomposition and that MnP is one of the key oxidative enzymes of litter degradation. We demonstrate here that forest system management practices can significantly affect important ecological processes and services such as decomposition and nutrient cycling.

Mercury Volatilization from Three Floodplain Soils at the Central Elbe River, Germany

Wetlands at the riverside of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve “Central Elbe” are highly contaminated by heavy metals, especially mercury (Hg). The Hg-polluted Elbe floodplain soils turn out to be a source of gaseous mercury via Hg volatilization from soil into the atmosphere. A modified field sampling method was used to measure total gaseous mercury (TGM) volatilization from three different sites at the Elbe River. The modified setup had a reduced chamber size and contained an internal gas circulation system. An in-ground stainless steel cylinder minimizes Hg volatilization from adjacent soil air. Cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) was used to determine TGM amalgamated on gold traps. Sampled TGM amounts ranged between 0.02 and 0.63 ng (absolute), whereas the calculated Hg fluxes varied from 2.0 to 63.3 ng m−2 h−1. The modified system should allow measurements of Hg volatilization at various sites with a high spatial resolution, which should enable the study of interrelations between TGM emission and several key factors influencing Hg emission from floodplain soils at the Elbe River and other riverine ecosystems in the near future.

Influence of Extreme Management on Decomposable Soil Organic Matter Pool

Basing on two long-term model experiments (microplots as well as greenhouse pot experiment) the influence of extreme management on a very easily decomposable pool of soil organic matter (SOM) was measured. The carbon content (C hwe ) of a hot water extractable pool of SOM was used as an indicator for the decomposable C pool. This parameter reflects both the dynamics of the amount of decomposable organic C pool and the different transformation conditions in case of the pot experiment (outside versus inside the greenhouse). Depending on soil type and both the total and decomposable organic matter level at the starting point of the experiments we can observe differences in the decreasing speed of the decomposable C pool: in the soils having a high level of SOM at starting point C hwe pool decreases more rapidly compared to the soils unfertilized or in case of the only P and K treatment of the Static Fertilization Experiment at the beginning of the pot experiment. At least we can observe a difference in decreasing intensity of this C hwe pool when comparing different soil types.

Short-term bioavailability of carbon in soil organic matter fractions of different particle sizes and densities in grassland ecosystems.

The quality, stability and availability of organic carbon (OC) in soil organic matter (SOM) can vary widely between differently managed ecosystems. Several approaches have been developed for isolating SOM fractions to examine their ecological roles, but links between the bioavailability of the OC of size-density fractions and soil microbial communities have not been previously explored. Thus, in the presented laboratory study we investigated the potential bioavailability of OC and the structure of associated microbial communities in different particle-size and density fractions of SOM. For this we used samples from four grassland ecosystems with contrasting management intensity regimes and two soil types: a Haplic Cambisol and a typical Chernozem. A combined size-density fractionation protocol was applied to separate clay-associated SOM fractions (CF1, <1 μm; CF2, 1-2 μm) from light SOM fractions (LF1, <1.8 g cm(-3); LF2, 1.8-2.0 g cm(-3)). These fractions were used as carbon sources in a respiration experiment to determine their potential bioavailability. Measured CO2-release was used as an index of substrate accessibility and linked to the soil microbial community structure, as determined by phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) analysis. Several key factors controlling decomposition processes, and thus the potential bioavailability of OC, were identified: management intensity and the plant community composition of the grasslands (both of which affect the chemical composition and turnover of OC) and specific properties of individual SOM fractions. The PLFA patterns highlighted differences in the composition of microbial communities associated with the examined grasslands, and SOM fractions, providing the first broad insights into their active microbial communities. From observed interactions between abiotic and biotic factors affecting the decomposition of SOM fractions we demonstrate that increasing management intensity could enhance the potential bioavailability of OC, not only in the active and intermediate SOM pools, but also in the passive pool.