Microbial activity and organic matter composition in Mediterranean humus forms

Andreetta, Anna; Macci, Cristina; Giansoldati, Virginia; Masciandaro, Grazia; Carnicelli, Stefano

doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2013.06.010

Cited by 26 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 87 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Furfural is mostly derived from polysaccharides, lignocellulosic materials, proteins, and other easily degradable C compounds (Andreetta, Macci, Giansoldati, Masciandaro, & Carnicelli, 2013). As these compounds are more susceptible to microbial attack, the high furfural content corresponds to high microbial activity (Aranda, Macci, Peruzzi, & Masciandaro, 2015).…”

Section: Pyrolysis-gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen fertilization changes the molecular composition of soil organic matter in a subtropical plantation forest

Geng

Cheng

Fang

et al. 2020

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The biochemical mechanisms responsible for soil organic C (SOC) accumulation under N enrichment are not well understood. By examining two N types (NH4Cl and NaNO3) and three rates (0, 40, and 120 kg N ha−1 yr−1), we investigated the concentration and distribution of SOC by using soil aggregate separation and physical fractionation of soil organic matter (SOM). The molecular composition of SOM within bulk soil and each physical fraction was determined by pyrolysis–gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Nitrogen fertilization led to soil NO3−–N accumulation and intensified soil acidification. Four years of N fertilization did not change total SOC concentrations in the 0‐ to 20‐cm depth but a high rate of NaNO3 addition increased the concentrations of fine particulate organic C and microaggregate‐associated organic C by 133 and 83.4%, respectively. The change in SOC concentration was positively correlated with the change in fine particulate organic C and mineral‐associated organic C concentrations. Four years of N fertilization significantly changed the molecular composition of SOM, with an increase in the relative abundance of furfural and acetic acid and a decrease in pyrrole in the mineral‐associated organic matter (MAOM) fraction. Fertilization increased the furfural/pyrrole and aliphatic/aromatic ratios in the SOM and MAOM fractions, suggesting decreased stability of the passive SOM fraction. The SOC concentration was negatively correlated with the benzene/toluene ratio in both bulk soil and the MAOM fraction. Overall, exogenous N input to this subtropical plantation forest decreased the mineralization and humification of SOM, which could be detrimental to soil C accumulation.

show abstract

Section: Pyrolysis-gas Chromatography-mass Spectrometry Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen fertilization changes the molecular composition of soil organic matter in a subtropical plantation forest

Geng

Cheng

Fang

et al. 2020

Soil Science Soc of Amer J

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Variables were either not correlated or very weak to moderate (r < 0.50; Evans, 1996). Climate variables were obtained from the WorldClim global The soil variables, measured according to standard procedures (Andreetta, Macci, Giansoldati, Masciandaro, & Carnicelli, 2013;Andreetta et al, 2011Andreetta et al, , 2016, are indicative of soil nutrient status [topsoil available potassium (K), and total nitrogen TN] and N availability (N/C; Rowe, Emmett, Smart, & Frogbrook, 2011), they serve as properties of the parent material (subsoil P), regulate nutrient availability (soil pH) and are considered a good proxy of water-holding capacity (effective soil volume).…”

Section: Explanatory Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of climate, soil, forest structure and land use on the functional composition of the understorey in Italian forests

Chelli

Simonetti

Wellstein

et al. 2019

J Vegetation Science

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Question In functional biogeography studies, generalizable patterns in the relationship between plant traits and the environment have yet to emerge. Local drivers (i.e., soil, land use, vegetation structure) can increase our understanding of the trait–environment relationship. What is the role of climate and local drivers in shaping abundance‐weighted trait patterns of forest understories at biogeographic scales? Location Italian forests. Methods We selected 201 sites that are statistically representative for the heterogeneity of Italian forests across three biogeographic regions (alpine, continental, and mediterranean). Understorey vegetation was recorded for each site on an area of 400 m2, together with 25 environmental variables related to climate, soil, land use and forest structure. Specific leaf area (SLA), plant height (H) and seed mass (SM) were obtained from databases. Community‐weighted mean (CWM) values were calculated. Variance partitioning was used to identify the relative role of groups of environmental variables on the CWM of traits. Generalized Additive Models were used to assess the relationship between traits and single variables. Results Climate alone and climate–soil interactions explained the largest proportion of the variation of all the traits (13.7% to 22.8%). Temperature‐related factors as well as soil N and P availability were the climatic and edaphic explanatory variables most correlated to trait variation. Forest structure and land use accounted for a smaller percentage of the variation in traits. Land‐use factors alone were important in explaining only SLA variation. Conclusions While climate plays a major role in trait–environment relationships in forest understories, our results highlighted the need to integrate at least soil properties as local drivers of trait variation in broad scale functional biogeography studies of these systems.

show abstract

“…In order to understand spatial decomposition patterns in a high mountain environment, it would be useful if humus forms could be applied as indicators not only of the distribution of enchytraeid species [9,28], but also of microbiological parameters [29]. Hence, the aims of this study were (i) to map humus forms and topsoil pH values in a mountain forest area in the Italian Alps as a basis for upscaling, (ii) to examine correlations between humus forms, pH values and microbiological parameters of the topsoil, (iii) to rank the examined parameters in terms of their usability for upscaling by proxy of humus forms and topsoil pH values, (iv) to upscale microbiological parameters utilizing humus forms and topsoil pH values if feasible according to (iii).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Humus Forms and Soil Microbiological Parameters in a Mountain Forest: Upscaling to the Slope Scale

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Humus forms are the morphological results of organic matter decay and distribution in the topsoil, and thus important indicators for decomposer activities in forest ecosystems. The first aim was to examine if humus forms are suitable indicators of microbiological properties of the topsoil in a high mountain forest (Val di Rabbi, Trentino, Italian Alps). The second aim was to predict microbiological parameters based on the topsoil pH value on two slopes of the study area (ca. 1200-2200 m a.s.l.). We investigated humus forms and determined pH values and microbiological parameters (enzymatic activities, carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio and the ratio of bacterial/archaeal abundance) of the uppermost mineral horizon. The results reveal significant correlations between pH value and microbiological parameters (except for bacterial/archaeal abundance), which enable upscaling to the landscape scale using linear models. Based on a random forest with kriging of model residuals, predictive maps of humus form, pH value and microbiological parameters show that decomposition processes in our study area correspond with the topography. As compared to locations on south-facing slopes or close to the valley bottom, locations on north-facing slopes or close to the upper treeline exhibit Moder (scarcely Mull or Amphimull), more acidic topsoil (around pH 4), a lower activity of leucine-aminopeptidase, a lower ratio of alkaline/acid phosphomonoesterase activity and a higher soil C/N ratio (above 20). Our results suggest a high potential of humus forms to indicate soil microbiological properties in a high mountain forest. Together with the pH values of the topsoil, humus forms proved to be a useful tool as a basis for predictive maps of leucine-aminopeptidase activity, ratio of alkaline/acid phosphomonoesterase activity and C/N ratio of the mineral topsoil.

show abstract

Microbial activity and organic matter composition in Mediterranean humus forms

Cited by 26 publications

References 87 publications

Nitrogen fertilization changes the molecular composition of soil organic matter in a subtropical plantation forest

Nitrogen fertilization changes the molecular composition of soil organic matter in a subtropical plantation forest

Effects of climate, soil, forest structure and land use on the functional composition of the understorey in Italian forests

Humus Forms and Soil Microbiological Parameters in a Mountain Forest: Upscaling to the Slope Scale

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About