G. P. Sparling

Extractable N and P in relation to microbial biomass in UK acid organic soils

SummarySamples of peat and mor humus were treated with CHCl3 to kill microbial cells and the amounts of C as CO2, N as soluble- and mineral-N, and P as inorganic-P released by the treatment were compared with estimates of the microbial biomass by the Anderson and Domsch test and ATP determination. Increased amounts of soluble-N and inorganic-P, extracted with 1M KCl and 0.01M CaCl2 respectively, were detected immediately after the fumigation treatment. However, the subsequent rates of production of CO2−C and mineral-N measured during a 10-day incubation period at 25°C were low and variable, resulting in anomalously low estimates of microbial biomass. The flush of inorganic-P was more consistent and, in mor humus, generally related to biomass-C as measured by the Anderson and Domsch test.

Influence of soil type, crop and air drying on residual carbohydrate content and aggregate stability after treatment with periodate and tetraborate

The relationship between the water stability of microaggregates and the residual carbohydrate content of soil was examined in 15 soils from 7 soil series under various cultivations. The carbohydrate was progressively removed by increasing the time of treatment with 0.02 M periodate and 0.1 M tetraborate. The resulting decrease in reducing sugar content was significantly correlated with an increased disruption of microaggregates (> 45 μm) as determined by a turbidimetric method. The most effective treatment removed about 80% of the soil carbohydrate and caused an increase of about 75% in the fraction of microaggregates (< 45 μm) compared to untreated soil.

Effect of periodate oxidation on the polysaccharide content and microaggregate stability of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils

SummaryThe relationship between the stability of soil microaggregates in water and the polysaccharide content was examined in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere samples from a pot experiment using three soils that had grown peas, barley or grasses. The polysaccharide was oxidised and removed using 168h treatment with 0.02M periodate followed by 6h with 0.1M tetraborate. The decrease in polysaccharide content, measured as change in residual reducing sugars, was compared with the stability of soil microaggregates (ca 45μm) in water, determined by a turbidimetric method.Total C, N and polysaccharide contents of rhizosphere soils were greater than those for the bulk soil, but the water stability of aggregates was not increased compared to unplanted controls. Periodate oxidation removed a large proportion (59–95%) of the polysaccharide and increased aggregated disruption, but there was no clear relationship between the two measurements. In rhizosphere soil, polysaccharides appreared to make less contribution to aggregate stability than polysaccharide in the bulk soil. The relatively small effect of rhizosphere polysaccharides is probably related to their presence as comparatively massive plant remains and debris; this contrasts with the decomposed and transformed material in the bulk soil.

Electron paramagnetic resonance characteristics of the humic acids from a podzol

A study has been made of solid and solution electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of humic acids from different horizons in a podzolic soil. Hyperfine splitting was observed in the solution spectra of humic acids from all horizons and depended on the strength of alkali and the period of dissolution. The upper organic horizons L, F and O1 contained humic acids with some spectral characteristics in common with lignin. Humic acid from the lower horizons showed different spectra. At least 5 different radical signals were present.