Eurasian Journal of Soil Science

Abstract

Soil quality approach can be used to describe soil health changes caused by different land use managements and vegetation types. Our objective was to assess the response of some soil quality indicators to different vegetation types including rainfed wheat (RW), grasses (G), Astragallus-Bromus (A-B), Astragallus-Lactuca (A-L), Astragallus-Artimisia (A-A) and Astragallus-Euphorbia (A-E) in a semiarid experimental rangeland in Hamedan, where environmental conditions in terms of slope aspect and soil parent material were similar., Substrate-induced microbial respiration (MRI) and the activity of phosphomonoesterase enzyme (PMEase) were determined in surface soil (0-15 cm) in spring and autumn. Morover, bioavailable phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were measured in autumn. No significant disparity was detected in P content of different vegetation types. Bioavailable K between was highest in A-E, and lowest in G and RW sites. MRI was significantly higher in spring irrespective of vegetation type. This index was significantly highest in A-B site in both seasons. As for PMEase, A-A and A-B showed the highest values in autumn in spring, A-B, A-A and A-L demonstrated the highest phosphatase activity. PMEase in A-L and A-A sites was significantly higher in spring than autumn. Strongly significant positive correlation was found between PMEase and MRI. Overall, soil quality is highest under vegetation types composed of perennial shrubs, irrespective of season.

Keywords

Soil quality indicators; soil enzyme; vegetation community; substrate-induced respiration

References

<p>Alef, K, 1991. Methodenhandbuch bodenmicrobiologie. Ecomed-vertagsgesellschaft, Landsberg.</p>

<p>Azeez, J.O., Averbeke, W.V., Okorogbona, A.O.M., 2010. Differential responses in yield of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima L.) and nightshade (Solanum retroflexum Dun.) to the application of three animal manures. Bioresource Technology 101: 2499&ndash;2505.</p>

<p>Bahrami, A., 2012. The effect of aspect on some soil quality indicators in Gonbad basin watershed, Hamedan. Master&#39;s theses. Bu Ali-Sina university, Iran.</p>

<p>Chaer, G.M., Myrold D.D., Bottomley, P.J., 2009. A soil quality index based on the equilibrium between soil organic matter and biochemical properties of undisturbed coniferous forest soils of the Pacific Northwest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 41: 822&ndash;830.</p>

<p>Gil-Sotres, F., Trasar-Cepeda, C., Leiro&acute;s, M.C., Seoane, S., 2005. Different approaches to evaluating soil quality using biochemical properties. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 37: 877&ndash;887.</p>

<p>Klute, A., 1966. Methods and soil analysis. Soil Science Society America. pp.432-449.</p>

<p>Liu, E., Yan, C., Mei, X., He, W., Bing, S.H., Ding, L., Liu, Q., Liu, S., Fan, T., 2010. Long-term effect of chemical fertilizer, straw, and manure on soil chemical and biological properties in northwest China. Geoderma 158: 173&ndash;180.</p>

<p>Olsen, R.S., Cole, V.C., Watanabey, F.S., Dean, L.A. 1954. Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate. US Department of Agricultural Circulation. p. 939.</p>

<p>Rezaei, S.A., Gilkes, R.J., 2005. The effects of landscape attributes and plant community on soil chemical properties in rangelands. Geoderma 125: 167&ndash;176.</p>

<p>Sanaullaha, M., Blagodatskaya, E., Chabbi, A., Rumpel, C., Kuzyakov, Y., 2011. Drought effects on microbial biomass and enzyme activities in the rhizosphere of grasses depend on plant community composition. Applied Soil Ecology 48: 38&ndash;44.</p>

<p>Tabatabai, M.A., Bermner, J.M., 1969. Use of &rho;-nitro-phenyl phosphate for Assay of Soil Phosphatase Activity. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 1: 301-307.</p>

<p>Taylor, J.P., Wilson, M., Mills, S., Burns, R.G., 2002. Co mparison of microbial numbers and enzymatic activities in surface soils and subsoils using various techniques. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 34: 387&ndash;401.</p>

<p>Vineela, C., Wani, S.P., Srinivasarao, C., Padmaja, B., Vittal, K.P.R., 2008. Microbial properties of soils as affected by cropping and nutrient management practices in several long-term manurial experiments in the semi-arid tropics of India. Applied Soil Ecology 40: 165&ndash;173.</p>

Abstract
Soil quality approach can be used to describe soil health changes caused by different land use managements and vegetation types. Our objective was to assess the response of some soil quality indicators to different vegetation types including rainfed wheat (RW), grasses (G), Astragallus-Bromus (A-B), Astragallus-Lactuca (A-L), Astragallus-Artimisia (A-A) and Astragallus-Euphorbia (A-E) in a semiarid experimental rangeland in Hamedan, where environmental conditions in terms of slope aspect and soil parent material were similar., Substrate-induced microbial respiration (MRI) and the activity of phosphomonoesterase enzyme (PMEase) were determined in surface soil (0-15 cm) in spring and autumn. Morover, bioavailable phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were measured in autumn. No significant disparity was detected in P content of different vegetation types. Bioavailable K between was highest in A-E, and lowest in G and RW sites. MRI was significantly higher in spring irrespective of vegetation type. This index was significantly highest in A-B site in both seasons. As for PMEase, A-A and A-B showed the highest values in autumn in spring, A-B, A-A and A-L demonstrated the highest phosphatase activity.  PMEase in A-L and A-A sites was significantly higher in spring than autumn. Strongly significant positive correlation was found between PMEase and MRI. Overall, soil quality is highest under vegetation types composed of perennial shrubs, irrespective of season.

Keywords: Soil quality indicators; soil enzyme; vegetation community; substrate-induced respiration

References

Alef, K, 1991. Methodenhandbuch bodenmicrobiologie. Ecomed-vertagsgesellschaft, Landsberg.

Azeez, J.O., Averbeke, W.V., Okorogbona, A.O.M., 2010. Differential responses in yield of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima L.) and nightshade (Solanum retroflexum Dun.) to the application of three animal manures. Bioresource Technology 101: 2499–2505.

Bahrami, A., 2012. The effect of aspect on some soil quality indicators in Gonbad basin watershed, Hamedan. Master's theses. Bu Ali-Sina university, Iran.

Chaer, G.M., Myrold D.D., Bottomley, P.J., 2009. A soil quality index based on the equilibrium between soil organic matter and biochemical properties of undisturbed coniferous forest soils of the Pacific Northwest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 41: 822–830.

Gil-Sotres, F., Trasar-Cepeda, C., Leiro´s, M.C., Seoane, S., 2005. Different approaches to evaluating soil quality using biochemical properties. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 37: 877–887.

Klute, A., 1966. Methods and soil analysis. Soil Science Society America. pp.432-449.

Liu, E., Yan, C., Mei, X., He, W., Bing, S.H., Ding, L., Liu, Q., Liu, S., Fan, T., 2010. Long-term effect of chemical fertilizer, straw, and manure on soil chemical and biological properties in northwest China. Geoderma 158: 173–180.

Olsen, R.S., Cole, V.C., Watanabey, F.S., Dean, L.A. 1954. Estimation of available phosphorus in soils by extraction with sodium bicarbonate. US Department of Agricultural Circulation. p. 939.

Rezaei, S.A., Gilkes, R.J., 2005. The effects of landscape attributes and plant community on soil chemical properties in rangelands. Geoderma 125: 167–176.

Sanaullaha, M., Blagodatskaya, E., Chabbi, A., Rumpel, C., Kuzyakov, Y., 2011. Drought effects on microbial biomass and enzyme activities in the rhizosphere of grasses depend on plant community composition. Applied Soil Ecology 48: 38–44.

Tabatabai, M.A., Bermner, J.M., 1969. Use of ρ-nitro-phenyl phosphate for Assay of Soil Phosphatase Activity. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 1: 301-307.

Taylor, J.P., Wilson, M., Mills, S., Burns, R.G., 2002. Co mparison of microbial numbers and enzymatic activities in surface soils and subsoils using various techniques. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 34: 387–401.

Vineela, C., Wani, S.P., Srinivasarao, C., Padmaja, B., Vittal, K.P.R., 2008. Microbial properties of soils as affected by cropping and nutrient management practices in several long-term manurial experiments in the semi-arid tropics of India. Applied Soil Ecology 40: 165–173.