Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Carolina Pérez-Brandan Author-Workplace-Name: Estación Experimental Agropecularia Salta, Instituto Nacional de Tecnológia Agropecuaria (INTA EEA Salta), Cerrillos, Salta, Argentina Author-Name: Annabel Meyer Author-Workplace-Name: Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany Author-Name: José M. Meriles Author-Workplace-Name: Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina Author-Name: Jorgelina Huidobro Author-Workplace-Name: Estación Experimental Agropecularia Salta, Instituto Nacional de Tecnológia Agropecuaria (INTA EEA Salta), Cerrillos, Salta, Argentina Author-Name: Michael Schloter Author-Workplace-Name: Research Unit for Comparative Microbiome Analysis, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany Author-Name: Silvina Vargas-Gil Author-Workplace-Name: Instituto de Patología Vegetal, Centro de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Instituto Nacional de Tecnológia Agropecuaria (IPAVE, CIAP - INTA), Córdoba, Argentina Title: Relationships between soil physicochemical properties and nitrogen fixing, nitrifying and denitrifying under varying land-use practices in the northwest region of Argentina Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the response pattern of diazotrophic microbes, denitrifiers and nitrifiers to different types of land use management, such as soybean monoculture (M) during 5 and 24 years (M5 and M24) and soybean-maize rotation (R) during 4 and 15 years (R4 and R15) in two subsequent years at the time point of flowering. Soil samples from a site recently introduced into agriculture (RUA) and a pristine soil under native vegetation (NV) were used as controls. Abundances of different functional groups of microbes were assessed using the direct quantification of marker genes by quantitative real-time PCR using extracted DNA from rhizosphere samples. In addition, soil chemical and physical properties were analysed and correlated with the abundance data from the functional microbial groups under investigation. Overall, the results indicate that the abundance of nifH genes was higher under R treatments compared to M treatments. The abundance of ammonium monooxygenase genes amoA (AOA) was generally higher under rotation systems and decreased under M24. RUA evidenced a negative effect on the establishment and development of AOA communities. The influence of land use on nirS abundance was inconsistent. However, R treatments showed a high abundance of nirK genes compared to M treatments. In both growing seasons, the abundance of nosZ genes was higher under NV compared with the other treatments. Furthermore, M24 treatment was related to strongly changed chemical and physical soil properties compared with the other sites. As expected, soil samples from RUA showed the strong dynamics of measured parameters indicating the high sensitivity of soils under transition to environmental parameters. Our results also indicated that the long-term crop rotation modified the abundance of the investigated microbial groups compared to the monoculture and increased soil chemical and physical quality. Therefore, our results provide evidence for a stimulatory effect of the long-term crop rotation on the abundance of microbes involved in N transformation. Keywords: agricultural management, denitrification, nitrification, nitrogen fixation, soybean Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 1-9 Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/192/2017-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/192/2017-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-201901-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:14:y:2019:i:1:id:192-2017-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Minghao Mo Author-Workplace-Name: Jinagxi Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Prevention, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: Zhao Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Jinagxi Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Prevention, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: Jie Yang Author-Workplace-Name: Jinagxi Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Prevention, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: Yuejun Song Author-Workplace-Name: Jinagxi Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Prevention, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: Anguo Tu Author-Workplace-Name: Jinagxi Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Prevention, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: Kaitao Liao Author-Workplace-Name: Jinagxi Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Prevention, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: Jie Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Jinagxi Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Prevention, Nanchang, P.R. China Title: Water and sediment runoff and soil moisture response to grass cover in sloping citrus land, Southern China Abstract: Soil erosion is recognized as one of the major environmental problems in the hilly red soil region of Jiangxi province, southern China. An eight-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of grass cover in the sloping citrus land on water and sediment runoff. Soil moisture regimes were also analysed based on the in-situ soil moisture measurement. Four treatments were carried out in the runoff plot experiment: (1) no vegetation, bare land (BL); (2) conventional treatment, citrus without grass cover (CK); (3) citrus with strip planting of Bermuda grass (SP); (4) citrus with full cover of Bermuda grass (FC). Results showed that the annual runoff volumes were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced using SP (27.2 mm) and FC (33.0 mm) compared with CK (311.4 mm) and BL (456.7 mm) treatments. The SP and FC treatments significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the annual average sediment yield by as much as 99.38% to 99.67%, compared with CK treatment. Soil moisture variations at the four depths (0-10, 10-20, 20-30, and 30-40 cm) were consistent with the seasonal precipitation patterns. Within the soil profile, soil moisture content increased with depth. In 3 of the 4 depths, the soil moisture contents of SP (21.20-27.84 m3/m3, mean value) were the highest. Soil moisture contents of FC (14.92-26.30 m3/m3, mean value) were lower than in SP because of the water consumption by plant transpiration, but were still higher than those of CK (16.03-25.00 m3/m3, mean value). Based on Richards' equation numerical model, optimization tool and observed soil moisture data, actual evapotranspiration was calculated, and water balance analysis was carried out during drought and rain periods. The results indicated that planting grass in sloping citrus land can effectively reduce surface water runoff and soil erosion and increase water infiltration, but the risk of drought, resulting from planting grass, should be noticed. Compared with FC, the drought risk of SP was much lower during the drought period, and SP contributed to storage of more water in the root zone during the rain period. In conclusion, SP was a recommendable treatment. Keywords: Richards' equation, red soil slope, soil and water conservation, soil moisture content Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 10-21 Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/147/2017-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/147/2017-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-201901-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:14:y:2019:i:1:id:147-2017-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Yuanhao He Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Superior Timber Trees Resource Cultivation, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Forestry Research Institute, Nanning, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Central South University of Forest and Technology, Changsha, P.R. China Author-Name: Xiaojun Deng Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Superior Timber Trees Resource Cultivation, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Forestry Research Institute, Nanning, P.R. China Author-Name: Feng Che Author-Workplace-Name: Hubei Institute of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, Wuhan, P.R. China Title: Genetic diversity and community structure of soil bacteria in Chinese fir plantations Abstract: To explore the diversity of soil bacteria and changes in the bacterial community structure of Chinese fir plantations of different generations and developmental stages, the genetic diversity of soil bacteria was studied using the 454 sequencing technology. The results showed that the bacterial genetic diversity and community structure of Chinese fir plantation plots under monoculture planting and rotation planting practices were as follows: the Shannon diversity indices of first-generation young plantation of Chinese fir plantations (FYC), second-generation young plantation (SYC), and third-generation young plantation (TYC) initially decreased and then increased to 8.45, 8.1, and 8.43, respectively. Due to different management and tending measures, the phyla showing considerable differences in relative abundance were Cyanobacteria, Nitrospirae, Fibrobacteres, Thermotogae, and Planctomycetes. The bacterial genetic diversity and community structure of Chinese fir plantations at different developmental stages were as follows: the bacterial diversity and the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) decreased with increasing forest age; with the increasing forest age of Chinese fir, the bacteria with considerable differences in the relative abundance were Burkholderiales, Xanthomonadales, Ktedonobacteria, Nitrosomonadales, Anaerolineae, and Holophagae. The predominant bacteria of the Chinese fir plantations were Acidothermus, Bradyrhizobium, Lactococcus, Planctomyces, Sorangium, and Bryobacter. Keywords: Cunninghamia lanceolata, soil bacteria diversity, 454 pyrosequencing Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 22-31 Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/10/2018-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/10/2018-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-201901-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:14:y:2019:i:1:id:10-2018-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Juraj Fazekaš Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Management and Author-Name: Danica Fazekašová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Management and Author-Name: Peter Adamišin Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Management and Author-Name: Petra Huličová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Management and Author-Name: Eva Benková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Intercultural Communication, Faculty of Management, University of Prešov, Prešov, Slovak Republic Title: Functional diversity of microorganisms in metal- and alkali-contaminated soils of Central and North-eastern Slovakia Abstract: A field-based study and laboratory tests were undertaken to determine the functional diversity of microorganisms in metal- and alkali-contaminated soils in Central and North-eastern Slovakia where iron ore and magnesite have been mined and processed for a long time. To improve the understanding of the functional diversity of microorganisms, we examined the effects of environmental factors on the functional diversity of microorganisms in metal- and alkali-contaminated soils in the emission field of heaps and tailings impoundments of iron ore mines (Central Spiš) and magnesite factories (Jelšava and Lubeník). Biolog® Eco Plates were used to determine and assess metabolic profiles of microbial communities. The examined area of Central Spiš showed extremely high values of Hg and Cu and the values of Zn, Cd, Pb and Cr exceeding the permissible limit were determined. Soil reaction was extremely acidic to strongly acidic. The Jelšava and Lubeník area was characterized by alkaline contamination and the soil reaction was slightly acidic to strongly alkaline. The values of Cr, Mn, and Mg exceeding the permissible limit were measured there. The results indicate harmful and even toxic contamination. Our results showed that the diversity of microorganisms was different in the investigated areas and it was significantly influenced by environmental factors such as soil reaction, bulk density, porosity, and heavy metals Hg, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu, Mn and Mg. Based on the results of the Shannon index, we can conclude that the diversity was low to moderate (2.5-3.3) and medium (3.3-4.0). Correlations between functional diversity of microorganisms and soil reaction, Hg, Cr, and Cu were determined. Our findings are decisive for understanding the microbial diversity in metal- and alkali-contaminated soils and they can be used to assess the quality and health of soil, as well as for scientific applications of remediation techniques. Keywords: AWCD, bulk density, heavy metal, porosity, Shannon diversity index, soil reaction Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 32-39 Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/37/2018-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/37/2018-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-201901-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:14:y:2019:i:1:id:37-2018-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Grzegorz Jarnuszewski Author-Name: Edward Meller Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science, Grassland and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture, West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland Title: Total content of macroelements and trace elements in Holocene calcareous gyttja from the post-bog area of north-western Poland Abstract: The study covered 6 sites located in the Vistula glaciation area in north-western Poland, where the Holocene calcareous (gyttja) deposits occur. Three types of such calcareous deposits were isolated: marly (groundwater calcretes) (CaCO3 > 80%, loss of ignition < 20%, non-carbonate fractions < 20%), calcareous gyttja (CaCO3 50-80%, loss of ignition < 40%, non-carbonate fractions < 40%), and clay calcareous gyttja (CaCO3 20-50%, loss of ignition < 30%, non-carbonate fractions < 60%). The content of major and trace elements was determined in different horizons. Several parameters of Holocene calcareous deposits were determined, namely carbonate status, total organic carbon, non-carbonate mineral fractions and several major and minor components. Close correlations between CaCO3 and Ca, Mg contents, between non-carbonate fraction and K, Zn and Cu contents, as well as between ignition loss and Zn and Cu contents were observed in the sediments. The sediments exhibit vertical variability which relates to the genesis of sediments and soils. The highest content of macroelements was recorded in the uppermost layers for Ca, Mg, Na, and Mn and for microelements (trace elements) in bottom layers for S, P, K, Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, and Ni. Keywords: calcareous (gyttja) deposits, chemical composition of major and trace elements, pedogenetic processes Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 40-46 Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/146/2017-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/146/2017-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-201901-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:14:y:2019:i:1:id:146-2017-SWR Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ayele Teressa Chala Author-Name: Svatopluk Matula Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Water Resources, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Kamila Báťková Author-Name: František Doležal Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Water Resources, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Evaluation of methods for water and non-volatile LNAPL content measurement in porous media Abstract: Proper characterization of contaminants in subsurface helps to clean up effectively the contaminated sites. In this study, different methods were used to quantify non-volatile light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) and water from sample columns subjected to different water to LNAPL ratios. The objective of the study was to evaluate methods for porous media water and LNAPL contents analysis. The liquids were sampled from the sample columns using activated carbon pellets (ACP). Sample columns water content was also measured using soil moisture sensors. Dielectric mixing model (DMM) was evaluated for the estimation of LNAPL content after water and LNAPL contents of the sample columns were determined through gravimetric analysis method. The result shows that it was possible to sample both water and LNAPL using ACP proportionally but with high standard deviations. It also shows that more liquid was sampled from sample columns subjected to only one liquid compared to sample columns subjected to two liquids. On the other hand, analysis of water and LNAPL using gravimetric analysis method gave the best result although the presence of LNAPL resulted in underestimation of water content at higher LNAPL contents. Meanwhile, the presence of LNAPL modified the bulk relative permittivity (εa) of the sample columns and resulted in overestimation of water contents measured using soil moisture sensors at higher LNAPL content. The modification of εa was used for the estimation of LNAPL using DMM. The evaluation of the model with known water and LNAPL contents and in estimating the LNAPL content of the other sample columns shows that the model could be used for the proper estimation of LNAPL in porous media. Keywords: activated carbon pellet (ACP), dielectric mixing model (DMM), gravimetric analysis, light non-aqueous phase liquid, silica sand, soil moisture sensor Journal: Soil and Water Research Pages: 47-56 Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/80/2018-SWR File-URL: http://swr.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/80/2018-SWR.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/swr-201901-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlswr:v:14:y:2019:i:1:id:80-2018-SWR