Compost amendment to grassland is a novel strategy proposed and demonstrated to increase ecosystem carbon (C) storage. However, the effects of compost applications on biomass production and plant diversity are not well known. We assessed impacts of a onetime compost amendment over 4 yr on plant dynamics in two grazed grassland ecosystems in California: a coastal prairie and valley grassland. Th...

The objective of this study was to assess the functional response of microbial communities to sulfur amendment in calcareous organic soils of the Everglades Agricultural Area in south Florida. Soils under sugarcane cultivation were amended with elemental S at four rates up to 448 kg S ha to decrease pH and enhance nutrient availability. Soil samples were collected 2, 6, 9, and 13 months after S...

Introduction and Research Objectives Use of organic by-products as soil amendments in agricultural production exemplifies a strategy for converting wastes to resources. Paper mill sludge is one of the largest underutilized organic by-products in Wisconsin. Paper mill sludge (PS) generation in Wisconsin increases approximately 5% per year, and 70% of all PS generated currently (740,000 dry tons)...

A hot topic in recent decades, the application of organic amendments to arid-degraded soils has been shown to benefit microbially-mediated processes. However, despite the importance of soils for global sustainability, a gap has not been addressed yet in soil science: is there any connection between ecosystem-community processes, cellular functionality, and microbial lifestyles (i.e. oligotrophy...

Rather than landfilling, composting the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes recycles the waste as a safe and nutrient enriched soil amendment, reduces emissions of greenhouse gases and generates less leachate. The objective of this project was to investigate the composting effectiveness of three bulking agents, namely chopped wheat (Triticum) straw, chopped mature hay consisting of 80% t...

Sulfate-reducing bacterial communities from coastal sediments with a long-term exposure to copper (Cu)-mining residues were studied in lactate enrichments. The toxicity of excess copper may affect sulfate-reducing bacterial communities. Sulfate reduction was monitored by sulfate and organic acid measurements. Molecular diversity was analyzed by 16S rRNA, dissimilatory sulfate reduction dsrAB, a...

A field trial was performed to investigate the effect of municipal biowaste biochar (MBB) on rice and wheat growth, metal bioaccumulation, and greenhouse gas emissions in a rice paddy in eastern China. MBB was amended in 2010 before rice transplanting at rates of 0 and 40 t ha -1 in a field experiment lasting one cropping year. MBB soil amendment significantly increased soil pH, total soil orga...

Addition of organic amendments is a commonly used practice to offset potential loss soil matter from agricultural soils. The aim the present study was examine how long-term addition affects abundance different biota across trophic levels and role that quality plays. Here we 17-year-old fertilization experiment investigate responses four fertilizers, compared with two mineral nitrogen fertilizer...

Organic amendments have been widely used for management of plant-parasitic nematodes. Relatively rapid declines in nematode population levels may occur when decomposing materials release toxic compounds, while longer-term effects might include increases in nematode antagonists. Improved crop nutrition and plant growth following amendment use may lead to tolerance of plant-parasitic nematodes. R...