Using ®eld mesocosms maintained for 6 months in an acid spruce forest, we investigated the in ̄uence of microarthropods on biomass, structure and function of the soil microbial community. In the litter layer (L/F layer), the re-immigration of mesofauna into mesocosms did not signi®cantly a€ect substrate-induced respiration (SIR), biomass C, biomass N, biomass P, Nmineralisation or enzymes involv...

This study aimed to explore the effects of Trichoderma reesei FS10-C on the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil by the hyperaccumulator Sedum plumbizincicola and on soil fertility. The Cd tolerance of T. reesei FS10-C was characterized and then a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the growth and Cd uptake of S. plumbizincicola with the addition of inoculation agents in the presenc...

Relationships between soil characteristics, various forms of soil organic matter, microbial biomass and the structure of phytoparasitic nematode populations were investigated in six fallow fields aged from 1 to 26 years in the West African Savanna (WAS) belt in southern Senegal. Soil sampling was performed along two transects in each field. Herbaceous biomass and soil physical, chemical and bio...

During winter when the active layer of Arctic and alpine soils is below 0 C, soil microbes are alive but metabolizing slowly, presumably in contactwith unfrozenwater. This unfrozenwater is at the same negative chemical potential as the ice. While both the hydrostatic and the osmotic components of the chemical potential will contribute to this negative value, we argue that the osmotic component ...

Rising global temperatures may increase the rates of soil organic matter decomposition by heterotrophic microorganisms, potentially accelerating climate change further by releasing additional carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere. However, the possibility that microbial community responses to prolonged warming may modify the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration creates large uncertainty...

The size and activity of the soil microbial biomass was studied in the plant row and in the inter-row of a sugarcane field under burning or green cane harvesting. The sites sampled were on the long-term trash management trial situated at Mount Edgecombe. Soils were sampled to 30 cm depth in (i) the centre of the plant row, (ii) 30 cm out from the row centre and (iii) 60 cm out from the row cent...

Apple orchard surface soils in Japan are polluted with copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) due to long-term use of metal-based pesticides. We investigated the effects of heavy metals accumulated in the surface soils in apple orchards on the microbial biomass and the microbial communities. Soil samples were taken from a chestnut orchard (unpolluted control) and five apple orchards with diff...

soil enzyme activities are considered as one of the most important biological indicators and reflect the soil quality and fertility. current study was conducted to investigate the relationship between urease, invertase, alkaline phosphatase and aryl sulphatase activities of two histosols (located in kerman and shahrekord provence) and some of the soil chemical and biological properties. soil sa...

Changes in litterfall dynamics and soil properties due to anthropogenic or natural perturbations have important implications to soil carbon (C) and nutrient cycling via microbial pathway. Here we determine soil microbial responses to contrasting types of litter inputs (leaf vs. fine woody litter) and nitrogen (N) deposition by conducting a multi-year litter manipulation and N addition experimen...