土壤微生物敏感菌及信号调节途径对邻苯二甲酸二甲酯的响应

邻苯二甲酸二甲酯(Dimethyl phthalate,DMP)是一类具有生物毒性的有机化合物,已被中国环境监测中心和美国环保署列为优先控制污染物之一。土壤微生物对土壤环境变化能够作出精准且快速的反应,并能预测土壤的污染状况。因此,研究土壤微生物对邻苯二甲酸二甲酯污染的响应显得十分必要。试验通过土壤微生物宏基因组测序,探讨了DMP污染对土壤微生物敏感菌的丰度、多样性及信号调节途径的影响。首先,用DMP处理未污染土壤,使DMP终浓度为0、5、10、20、40 mg·kg~(-1),然后,暗培养20 d,进行土壤宏基因组测序。结果发现与芳香族化合物降解相关的菌种的相对丰度受到DMP污染促进,而其余在土壤中占比例较大且变化较显著的菌种的相对丰度受到DMP的抑制,且抑制效应与污染物浓度呈正相关;DMP污染导致土壤微生物群落Simpon和Shannon多样性降低;土壤微生物的ABC转运系统、双组分系统(TCS)和磷酸转移酶系统(PTS)总基因丰度及相关酶的基因丰度均受DMP污染的促进。研究表明DMP污染改变了土壤微生物敏感菌种的丰度,干扰土壤微生物基因表达调控系统,进而有可能引起土壤生态系统失衡,影响土壤健康。阐述DMP对土壤微生物的生态毒理效应对优化环境生态系统服务功能、改善环境质量具有科学意义和实际价值。     

代谢指纹评估苯噻草胺对水稻土微生物群落的短期影响

本文探讨了酰胺类除草剂苯噻草胺对水稻土微生物群落功能多样性的短期影响。本研究采用微生物群落基质利用潜力测定（Biolog法）评估生物群落。结果表明，苯噻草胺污染引起了水稻田微生物群落功能多样性的下降，降低了微生物对单-碳源底物的利用能力，但这种影响是短暂的，在试验最终没有导致土壤微生物群落功能多样性下降。多食鞘氨醇杆菌Y1（Sphingobacterium multiuorum）的添加有利于提高水稻土微生物群落的功能多样性。3个处理土壤的群落代谢剖面值与培养时间之间呈非线性关系，其变化过程符合微生物种群生长动态模型（S形）。模型模拟分析表明，动力学参数a和x0能更灵敏地表征苯噻草胺和Y1菌株处理对水稻土微生物群落功能多样性的影响。在本实验研究中，多样性指标指数Shannon（H）能灵敏而有效地指示污染环境的微生物学变化，但群落丰富度指标颜色变化孔数（S）提供的信息较片面。     

土壤中有机复合污染物微生物组转化机制与调控原理：进展与展望

实际污染土壤中有机污染物通常以复合污染状态存在,有机复合污染物的微生物降解过程及其作用机制显得更为复杂。土壤微生物类群多样,具有丰富的功能多样性。而有机复合污染物的降解通常由微生物组操控,通过微生物群落代谢网络完成污染物的去除。近年来,研究者逐渐关注有机复合污染土壤中微生物群落适应机制-微生物组转化过程-合成微生物组设计-原位微生物组修复等方面的研究,对认知污染土壤治理和修复具有重要的科学意义。本文以具有代谢协同性及功能互补性的微生物组为切入点,系统阐述土壤中有机复合污染物的微生物组转化机制与调控原理等,探讨微生物组在复合污染土壤绿色可持续原位生物修复中的发展前景。     

烟株生长过程中土壤微生物的变化特征

为有效防治烟草青枯病等土传病害,探究了烟株生长过程中土壤微生物的变化特征。分别在烟株不同生长期采集根部土壤进行可培养微生物数量测定和16S/18S rDNA基因测序,以分析烟株生长过程中微生物数量、多样性以及群落结构的变化。结果表明,可培养细菌、放线菌数量随烟株生长先增多后减少,其中旺长期数量最多;真菌数量先减少后增多,以旺长期数量最少。细菌群落多样性无明显变化,真菌群落多样性在旺长期最低。微生物群落结构在旺长期变化较大,细菌优势菌群Acidobacteria(酸杆菌门)丰度较团棵期减少30%±12%,Actinobacteria(放线菌门)丰度增加116%±19%,真菌优势菌群Ascomycota(子囊菌门)丰度增加57%±36%,norankk-Fungi丰度减少83%±17%。烟株生长发育改变了土壤微生物的数量和群落结构,旺长期微生物群落结构的改变与青枯病发生存在一定联系,特别是真菌优势菌的变化可能会影响青枯病的发生。     

河流渗滤系统中BTEX的吸附行为实验模拟研究

河流渗滤是一种自然净化过程,污染河水通过该过程在河流沉积层中发生物理、化学和生物作用,使得污染物浓度降低,入渗河水水质得到净化。为了研究BTEX污染河水通过河流渗滤系统时的吸附行为,进行了静态吸附模拟实验。结果表明BTEX 4种组分在3种河流沉积物样品中的吸附平衡均可以在48 h内完成。通过比较BTEX在3种不同河流沉积物样品中的吸附动力学曲线,可以发现BTEX在粉土中吸附速率最大,细砂中次之,粗砂中最小。BTEX在粉土和细砂中的吸附等温线符合Henry等温吸附方程,而在粗砂中符合Langmuir等温吸附方程。3种土壤中粉土和细砂具有较大的吸附容量,而粗砂吸附容量相对较小;粉土和细砂对苯的吸附能力最强,甲苯次之,乙苯和间二甲苯相对较小。从阻滞因子的计算结果来看,黄河花园口区采集的河流沉积物样品对BTEX各组分的迁移均具有较强的阻滞作用,在较高浓度范围内,河流渗滤系统能够通过吸附作用有效阻滞BTEX污染物,降低其对地下水的危害。     

基于整合高通量绝对定量法的土壤微生物多样性分析

目前,常用的高通量测序技术只能得到微生物群落结构的物种种类和相对丰度,而整合高通量绝对定量法（iHAAQ）结合了高通量测序技术和qPCR技术,可以进一步计算得到微生物群落结构的绝对含量。相对丰度和绝对含量均是描述微生物群落结构的必备指标,其中相对丰度适合描述和评价微生物群落结构在单个样本内微生物之间的关系,而绝对含量更适于描述和评价微生物群落结构真实的数量变化以及在样本间微生物之间的关系。本研究基于发表的香蕉土传病害、再造沙地农业生态系统和微生物抑制剂作用3篇文献的高通量测序和qPCR数据,通过整合高通量绝对定量法获得3篇文献中古菌域、细菌域和真核生物域的真菌三类微生物群落结构的绝对含量数据,并进一步计算出这三类微生物整体（简称三域微生物）的绝对含量和相对丰度,从而对土壤微生物群落结构不同物种的相对丰度和绝对含量进行分析,旨在更加深入、准确地揭示土壤微生物群落及其生态功能。结果表明：（1）土壤中细菌的物种丰度和绝对含量高于古菌和真菌,在三域微生物中占据主导地位,缺乏绝对含量指标可能造成对微生物群落结构变化理解的偏差;（2）基于相对丰度和绝对含量数据分析,微生物群落结构α多样性指数结果相同,但β多样性指数结果不同;（3）在香蕉土传病害和再造沙地农业生态系统研究中,三域微生物的PCoA结果与细菌的结果较为相似,表明这两项研究中三域微生物群落结构主要受细菌的影响,但在微生物抑制剂的研究中未发现类似结果。整合高通量绝对定量法可以应用于所有同时进行高通量测序和qPCR测序的研究,在未来的土壤微生物群落结构研究中,采用高通量绝对定量法开展三域微生物群落的物种种类、相对丰度和绝对含量的整体评价,具有重要的生态学意义。     

基于整合高通量绝对定量法的土壤微生物多样性分析

目前,常用的高通量测序技术只能得到微生物群落结构的物种种类和相对丰度,而整合高通量绝对定量法（iHAAQ）结合了高通量测序技术和qPCR技术,可以进一步计算得到微生物群落结构的绝对含量。相对丰度和绝对含量均是描述微生物群落结构的必备指标,其中相对丰度适合描述和评价微生物群落结构在单个样本内微生物之间的关系,而绝对含量更适于描述和评价微生物群落结构真实的数量变化以及在样本间微生物之间的关系。本研究基于发表的香蕉土传病害、再造沙地农业生态系统和微生物抑制剂作用3篇文献的高通量测序和qPCR数据,通过整合高通量绝对定量法获得3篇文献中古菌域、细菌域和真核生物域的真菌三类微生物群落结构的绝对含量数据,并进一步计算出这三类微生物整体（简称三域微生物）的绝对含量和相对丰度,从而对土壤微生物群落结构不同物种的相对丰度和绝对含量进行分析,旨在更加深入、准确地揭示土壤微生物群落及其生态功能。结果表明：（1）土壤中细菌的物种丰度和绝对含量高于古菌和真菌,在三域微生物中占据主导地位,缺乏绝对含量指标可能造成对微生物群落结构变化理解的偏差;（2）基于相对丰度和绝对含量数据分析,微生物群落结构α多样性指数结果相同,但β多样性指数结果不同;（3）在香蕉土传病害和再造沙地农业生态系统研究中,三域微生物的PCoA结果与细菌的结果较为相似,表明这两项研究中三域微生物群落结构主要受细菌的影响,但在微生物抑制剂的研究中未发现类似结果。整合高通量绝对定量法可以应用于所有同时进行高通量测序和qPCR测序的研究,在未来的土壤微生物群落结构研究中,采用高通量绝对定量法开展三域微生物群落的物种种类、相对丰度和绝对含量的整体评价,具有重要的生态学意义。     

长三角地区有机农药污染地下水的微生物群落分析

选择长江三角洲地区一处长期受到有机农药污染的浅层含水层,采集水样,采用不依赖于培养的16SrDNA序列分析方法,对该污染地下水中的微生物群落特征进行了分析和鉴定。结果表明,这种分析方法完全可行,该有机污染含水层具有较好的微生物多样性,且可能有一种未经鉴定的新菌种。     

外源降解基因和菌群刺激土著关键物种抵御1,4-二氯苯胁迫研究

有机氯农药污染场地危害人体健康及生态系统安全，高活性降解微生物对提升土壤有机氯农药降解效率十分必要。本研究结合高通量测序和荧光定量PCR技术，探究添加分别表达二氯苯降解基因(xylH、dmpB、catE)的质粒pUC19(10²～10³ copies/μL)和菌群(单独表达上述质粒的大肠杆菌E.coli DH5α,10⁵～10⁶ CFU/μL)后，土壤中1,4-二氯苯降解动力学、微生物群落组成与降解功能演变。研究发现：添加降解基因及菌群210 d后，土壤中1,4-二氯苯降解效率提升1.74倍～2.41倍，最高分别达38.43%和44.74%；优势菌门及关键物种相对丰度占比显著上升(P<0.05)；土著菌群降解基因绝对丰度显著上升了1.24倍～2.89倍，添加降解菌群上升幅度更显著(P<0.05)。本研究有助于探明外源添加降解基因及菌群后土著菌群应对污染胁迫的响应机制，为调控和优化农药污染土壤修复过程及效果提供技术支持。     

长期耕作对农田黑土几丁质降解菌群及酶活性的影响

为揭示长期耕作对农田黑土几丁质降解菌群及酶活性的影响及其驱动因子,以黑土区耕法长期定位试验为平台,采用荧光定量和高通量测序技术研究不同耕作措施（灭茬起垄、免耕、间隔深松和翻耕）下0～40 cm土层chiA几丁质降解菌基因丰度、微生物群落结构和酶活性。结果表明：0～20 cm土层,免耕显著提高chiA基因丰度;20～40 cm土层,免耕降低chiA基因丰度、alpha多样性和变形菌门（Proteobacteria）相对丰度,但是增加放线菌门（Actinobacteria）相对丰度。土壤pH、平均重量直径和养分含量显著影响chiA基因丰度和群落结构。与灭茬起垄相比,免耕显著提高0～20cm土层几丁质酶活性,而间隔深松和深翻显著提高0～40 cm土层几丁质酶活性。结构方程模型模拟发现耕作方式、土壤深度、平均重量直径、土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、chiA基因丰度和放线菌门相对丰度对几丁质酶活性具有显著直接效应。研究结果为明确黑土区不同耕作措施对土壤几丁质降解的影响提供理论基础。     

The importance of soil characteristics to the structure of alkane-degrading bacterial communities on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island

An investigation of the influence of soil properties on microbial community dynamics in soil on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island found that both carbon and nitrogen were important factors in determining soil microbial community structure. The phylogenetic diversity of soil microbial communities in hydrocarbon contaminated and non-contaminated sites was compared to the diversity of hydrocarbon-degrading genes and soil physicochemical characteristics. Genes involved in hydrocarbon degradation including alkane mono-oxygenase, catchecol-2,3-dioxygenase and naphthalene dioxygenase were found throughout the study sites. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 16S rRNA and alkB genes found that the patterns of diversity of these two genes were only correlated with each other where measurable levels of hydrocarbons were detected. We found that different sections of the microbial community are affected by different environmental factors depending on whether hydrocarbons were present. The overall microbial community structure as measured by the 16S rRNA gene was most influenced by the presence of carbon both as total organic carbon and as petroleum hydrocarbons. The alkane-degrading community was also influenced by carbon. Where hydrocarbons were present petroleum hydrocarbon concentration as well as the form and concentration of nitrogen present also influenced the alkane-degrading community. This level of complexity in the microbial community dynamics suggests that it is unlikely that one single environmental factor is responsible for structuring microbial communities.     

Long-term nitrogen fertilization alters microbial community structure and denitrifier abundance in the deep vadose zone

Purpose

The excessive use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer in intensive agriculture has increased nitrate leaching into groundwater, but its impacts on N transformation processes and the associated microbial communities in the deep vadose zone remain unclear.

Materials and methods

Soil samples from 0–1050 cm depth were collected from a 20-year field experiment with two N fertilization treatments: 0 (N0) and 600 kg N ha^?1 year^?1 (N600). Amplicon sequencing and quantitative PCR analyses were performed to profile the vertical distribution of soil microbial communities and denitrification genes.

Results and discussion

The soil microbial community structure and diversity were strongly influenced by soil depth and N fertilization. The 250 cm depth was identified as a threshold depth, as dramatically different microbial communities were found below and above this depth. Quantitative PCR results showed that the absolute abundance of denitrification genes decreased with increasing soil depth.

Conclusion

This study elucidated the profound effects of long-term N input on the composition and diversity of the microbial communities and the abundance of denitrifiers in the deep vadose zone. Our results provide basic information for use in mitigating nitrate leaching by enhancing microbial denitrification in deep vadose zones in intensive agricultural areas.

     

Response of microbial communities to different doses of chromate in soil microcosms

The toxic effect of chromate on soil microbial communities is not well documented, although microorganisms control biogeochemical cycling, contribute to formation of soil structure, regulate the fate of organic matter applied to soil. In this study the effects of short- and middle-term chromate on the soil microbial community were investigated. The shifts in the size and in the diversity of culturable heterotrophic bacterial community, the resistance to Cr(VI) of heterotrophic bacteria, the presence of cyanobacteria, the activity of 19 enzymes, and the ATP content were monitored over time (120 days) in soil microcosms artificially contaminated with three concentrations of chromate (50, 250 and 1000 mg kg⁻¹ soil). The chromate contamination affected the structure and the diversity of the soil bacterial community. Bacterial strains isolated from the microcosm contaminated with the highest concentration of chromate were identified by 16S rDNA gene sequencing. All isolates belonged to the genus Pseudomonas, were able to reduce Cr(VI), and showed a high resistance to chromate. To our knowledge, this is the first report that shows Pseudomonas strains having the capability to resist up to 40 mM of Cr(VI) on minimal medium. The cyanobacterial group was more sensitive to chromate contamination than culturable heterotrophic bacteria. No cyanobacterial growth was detected in enrichment cultures from the soil polluted with the highest chromate concentration. Some enzymes were inhibited by high concentrations of chromate, whereas others were stimulated. The ATP content in microcosms was strongly affected by chromate. We conclude that the soil microbial community responds to chromate pollution through changes in community structure, in metabolic activity, and in selection for Cr(VI)-resistance.     

Taxonomic and functional diversity of the soil microbiome recruited from alternative crops in a rotation system

Intensive cropping is considered to contribute to negative effects both on soil physiochemical properties and on long-term grain yield, which can be alleviated by appropriate crop rotations. The soil microbial community can vary with different crop rotations, which in turn affect soil quality and grain yield. Therefore, it is of great significance to elucidate the response of the soil microbial community to crop rotation. In this study, the structural and functional changes of microbial community in different crop rotations were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics analysis in a field experiment. The continuous winter wheat-summer maize cropping system was the control, and three crop rotations were established in October 2016 as follows: (1) spring peanut→winter wheat-summer maize, (2) winter wheat-summer peanut→winter wheat-summer maize and (3) spring sweet potato→winter wheat-summer maize. Soil samples were collected in September 2021 for soil microbial assessment. The results showed that the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota in the soil of spring sweet potato→winter wheat-summer maize was significantly higher (15.2%) than that in the control. The relative abundance of Ascomycota was significantly higher (19.8%–23.2%) in the soil following crop rotation compared with the control. Compared with the control, spring peanut→winter wheat-summer maize enriched energy metabolism genes, and spring sweet potato→winter wheat-summer maize reduced the genes related to plant–pathogen interaction. Compared with the control, crop rotation significantly decreased the relative abundance of the inorganic phosphorus solubilization gene (gcd) and the phosphorus transport gene (upgE) and increased the abundance of organic phosphorus mineralization genes (phoA and phyA). Based on these results, we concluded that the composition of the soil microbial community and functional genes can be altered by crop rotation, and spring peanut→winter wheat-summer maize and spring sweet potato→winter wheat-summer maize had more significant effects. This study provided a reference for the selection of crop rotations in the North China Plain based on the soil microbial community and its function.     

黄土高原旱地麦田26年免耕覆盖对土壤肥力及原核微生物群落多样性的影响

为明确黄土高原旱作麦田长期保护性耕作对土壤肥力和土壤原核微生物的效应,以位于山西省临汾市实施保护性耕作26年的小麦田为试验基地,采用Illumina Hiseq 2500高通量测序等手段,开展了不同耕作措施[免耕覆盖（NTS）、深松免耕覆盖（SNTS）和传统耕作（TT1）]对土壤理化性质和土壤原核微生物多样性的影响分析。研究结果表明：1）NTS和SNTS处理比TT1处理显著提高了土壤全氮、碱解氮、速效磷及速效钾的含量,降低了土壤pH,提高了土壤贮水能力和水分含量,降低了0~10 cm土层的土壤容重,但提高了10~20 cm土层的土壤容重;同时,SNTS处理显著增加了土壤的有机质含量。2）Illumina Hiseq高通量16S rRNA基因V4区测序结果表明：NTS和SNTS处理比TT1处理显著降低了绿弯菌门的相对丰度;NTS比SNTS处理显著降低了土壤中疣微菌门和绿弯菌门的相对丰度;NTS处理显著增加了土壤原核微生物群落的多样性,但未显著改变原核微生物群落的丰度;SNTS对原核微生物群落的多样性和丰富度均未有显著改变;NTS处理的显著性差异物种（Biomarker）高于其他2个处理;其他原核微生物门的相对丰度,在3个处理间尚未有明显差异。3）聚类分析可见：NTS和SNTS处理与TT1处理的微生物群落结构差异较大;NTS处理与SNTS处理间的微生物群落结构差异较小。4）CCA分析可知：土壤pH、有机质、速效氮、速效磷、速效钾含量对土壤原核微生物群落遗传多样性的变化起着重要作用;与TT1处理相比,NTS和SNTS处理在一定程度上改变了土壤原核微生物群落结构,但仍存在结构的相似性。综上所述,长期进行NTS和SNTS处理对黄土高原旱地麦田土壤微生物多样性、丰富度以及土壤肥力因子等的正效作用明显。     

Soil aggregate size mediates the impacts of cropping regimes on soil carbon and microbial communities

Understanding the influence of long-term crop management practices on the soil microbial community is critical for linking soil microbial flora with ecosystem processes such as those involved in soil carbon cycling. In this study, pyrosequencing and a functional gene array (GeoChip 4.0) were used to investigate the shifts in microbial composition and functional gene structure in a medium clay soil subjected to various cropping regimes. Pyrosequencing analysis showed that the community structure (β-diversity) for bacteria and fungi was significantly impacted among different cropping treatments. Functional gene array-based analysis revealed that crop rotation practices changed the structure and abundance of genes involved in C degradation. Significant correlations were observed between the activities of four enzymes involved in soil C degradation and the abundance of genes responsible for the production of respective enzymes, suggesting that a shift in the microbial community may influence soil C dynamics. We further integrated physical, chemical, and molecular techniques (qPCR) to assess relationships between soil C, microbial derived enzymes and soil bacterial community structure at the soil micro-environmental scale (e.g. within different aggregate-size fractions). We observed a dominance of different bacterial phyla within soil microenvironments which was correlated with the amount of C in the soil aggregates suggesting that each aggregate represents a different ecological niche for microbial colonization. Significant effects of aggregate size were found for the activity of enzymes involved in C degradation suggesting that aggregate size distribution influenced C availability. The influence of cropping regimes on microbial and soil C responses declined with decreasing size of soil aggregates and especially with silt and clay micro-aggregates. Our results suggest that long term crop management practices influence the structural and functional potential of soil microbial communities and the impact of crop rotations on soil C turnover varies between different sized soil aggregates. These findings provide a strong framework to determine the impact of management practices on soil C and soil health.     

高通量测序技术在微生物分子生态学研究中的应用

微生物在众多的自然和人工生态系统中发挥着核心的作用,但能够被培养分离的微生物在大部分生态系统中只占极少一部分,极大地限制了人们对微生物组成、功能及其潜在应用的认识。分子生物学方法,尤其是高通量测序技术应用到微生物生态学研究中,为认识微生物多样性、群落结构组成及其生态功能提供了有利手段。高通量测序作为一种新兴的免培养分子生物学技术,具备检测快速、准确、信息全面丰富等特点。随着高通量测序技术的不断升级换代,测序通量、读长和准确度的不断提升以及成本的大幅下降,该技术在过去十几年间被迅速应用于土壤、水体和肠道等微生物区系的研究中。本文简述了基于高通量测序技术的PCR产物测序技术和宏基因组学测序技术的原理、发展历程、数据分析方法与应用,以及宏基因组学测序技术在病毒学领域的应用,以期为微生物分子生态学研究提供参考。     

Microbiome analysis reveals soil microbial community alteration with the effect of animal excretion contamination and altitude in Tibetan Plateau of China

The fertile forages in the Tibetan Plateau provide natural conditions for animal husbandry, whereas it is still unclear that whether animal excretion can result in the alteration of soil microbial community. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the impact of animal excretion contamination and land altitude on the soil microbial community in different grazing areas of Tibetan Plateau. A total of 1160,190 high-quality valid sequences and 25,478 operational taxonomic units were achieved from 18 samples at three different altitude sites (Linzhi, Rikaze and Shannan). Here, we found excremental contamination did not alter the richness and diversity of soil microbial community, but it resulted in a significant alteration in the proportion of some bacteria. Specifically, the proportion of Proteobacteria in the LZa was obviously increased, whereas Gemmatimonadetes was significantly decreased as compared to LZe. Moreover, significant difference can also be observed in Verrucomicrobia between RKZe and RKZa. Remarkably, we also found that excremental contamination significantly decreased the abundance of some bacterial genera, such as Sphingopyxis, Polycyclovorans, Singulisphaera Cohnella, Polycyclovorans, Defluviicoccus, and Arthrobacter, which were closely related to soil health, pollutant degradation, and nutrient metabolism. Importantly, excremental contamination increased the proportion of harmful and beneficial bacteria in soil, such as the percentage of Acidibacter, Gemmatimonadaceae and Pajaroellobacter increased, while the ratio of Pontibacter, Flavisolibacter, Parasegetibacter, and Niastella decreased. Remarkably, soil samples collected from different altitude sites also displayed different soil microbial community structures. Our results demonstrated that excremental contamination could alter the soil microbial community structure and affect the normal function of the soil by affecting the proportion of harmful bacteria to beneficial bacteria. Moreover, this study can also provide a theoretical basis for the establishment of a supervision system for soil quality in Tibet.     

土壤和土壤悬液中1,2,4-三氯苯的微生物强化降解

Inoculating soil with an adapted microbial community is a more effective bioaugmentation approach than inoculation with pure strains in bioremediation.However,information on the potential of different inocula from sites with varying contamination levels and pollution histories in soil remediation is lacking.The objective of the study was to investigate the potential of adapted microorganisms in soil inocula,with different contamination levels and pollution histories,to degrade 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB).Three different soils from chlorobenzene-contaminated sites were inoculated into agricultural soils and soil suspension cultures spiked with 1,2,4-TCB.The results showed that 36.52% of the initially applied 1,2,4-TCB was present in the non-inoculated soil,whereas about 19.00% of 1,2,4-TCB was present in the agricultural soils inoculated with contaminated soils after 28 days of incubation.The soils inoculated with adapted microbial biomass (in the soil inocula) showed higher respiration and lower 1,2,4-TCB volatilization than the non-inoculated soils,suggesting the existence of 1,2,4-TCB adapted degraders in the contaminated soils used for inoculation.It was further confirmed in the contaminated soil suspension cultures that the concentration of inorganic chloride ions increased continuously over the entire experimental period.Higher contamination of the inocula led not only to higher degradation potential but also to higher residue formation.However,even inocula of low-level contamination were effective in enhancing the degradation of 1,2,4-TCB.Therefore,applying adapted microorganisms in the form of soil inocula,especially with lower contamination levels,could be an effective and environment-friendly strategy for soil remediation.     

Soil fertility and bacterial community composition in a semiarid Mediterranean agricultural soil under long-term tillage management

This research attempted to investigate a part of the United Nations sustainable development goal 15, dealing with preventing land degradation and halting the loss of microorganisms’ diversity. Since soil deterioration and biodiversity loss in the Mediterranean area are occurring because of intensive management, we evaluated some biochemical and microbiological parameters and bacterial biodiversity under long-term conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) practices, in Basilicata, a typical Region of Southern Italy, characterized by a semiarid ecosystem. The highest biological fertility index (BFI) (composed of soil organic matter, microbial biomass C, cumulative microbial respiration during 25 days of incubation, basal respiration, metabolic quotient and mineralization quotient) was determined for the 0–20 cm of NT soil (class V, high biological fertility level). The analysis of the taxonomic composition at the phylum level revealed the higher relative abundance of copiotrophic bacteria such as Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes in the NT soil samples as compared to the CT soil. These copiotrophic phyla, more important decomposers of soil organic matter (SOM) than oligotrophic phyla, are responsible of a higher microbial C use efficiency (CUE) in tilled soil, being microbial community composition, C substrates content and CUE closely linked. The higher Chao1 and Shannon indices, under the NT management, also supported the hypothesis that the bacterial diversity and richness increased in the no-till soils. In conclusion, we can assume that the long-term no-tillage can preserve an agricultural soil in a semiarid ecosystem, enhancing soil biological fertility level and bacterial diversity.