Nitrogen uptake and biochemical activity in maize rhizosphere during growth on acidic and neutralized soils

L Giagnoni, P Léon, M Benito, G Renella - Rhizosphere, 2022 - Elsevier

This work aimed to understand the effects of liming and no tillage on the pH stability and inorganic N uptake in the rhizosphere of maize plants on an acidic soil depleted in organic matter, reclaimed by liming and no tillage in a long-term field trial. We analyzed the inorganic N dynamics, respiration, microbial biomass and enzyme activities in the rhizosphere and bulk soil of maize plants grown in rhizoboxes on acidic soil under conventional tillage or no tillage management with or without liming and amendment (sugar …

Short-term resilience of soil microbial communities and functions following severe environmental changes

S Mocali, A Gelsomino, P Nannipieri, R Pastorelli… - Agriculture, 2022 - mdpi.com

Soil microorganisms are key drivers of soil biochemical processes, but the resilience of microbial communities and their metabolic activity after an extreme environmental change is still largely unknown. We studied structural (bacterial and fungal communities) and functional responses (soil respiration, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, hydrolase activities involved in the mineralization of organic C, N, P and S, and microbial community- level physiological profiles (CLPPs)) during the microbial recolonization of three heat …

Long-Term Effects of Soil Remediation with Willow Short Rotation Coppice on Biogeographic Pattern of Microbial Functional Genes

W Liu, K Xue, R Hu, J Zhou, JD Van Nostrand… - Microorganisms, 2022 - mdpi.com

Short rotation coppice (SRC) is increasingly being adopted for bioenergy production, pollution remediation and land restoration. However, its long-term effects on soil microbial communities are poorly characterized. Here, we studied soil microbial functional genes and their biogeographic pattern under SRC with willow trees as compared to those under permanent grassland (C). GeoChip analysis showed a lower functional gene diversity in SRC than in C soil, whereas microbial ATP and respiration did not change. The SRC soil …

Agronomic performance and food safety of strawberry cultivated on a remediated sediment

F Tozzi, G Renella, M Cristina, G Masciandaro… - Science of The Total …, 2021 - Elsevier

A marine sediment phytoremediated and homogenized by landfarming was tested for its potential recycle as growing media in horticulture. Two strawberry cultivars, Camarosa and Monterey, were grown on remediated sediment alone (TS100), commercial peat/pumice based growing medium (TS0) and a mixture 1: 1 in volume of sediment and peat (TS50). Chemical fertility and strawberry production and safety of produced food were monitored for three consecutive productive seasons on the same growing media. During the first year of …

Biological Restoration of Urban Soils after De-Sealing Interventions

A Maienza, F Ungaro, S Baronti, I Colzi, L Giagnoni… - Agriculture, 2021 - mdpi.com

Most urban greening interventions involve soil de-sealing and management to enhance fertility. Management typically requires translocating fertile topsoil to the site, which comes at great environmental costs. We hypothesized that de-sealed urban soils would undergo an increase of their fertility without exogenous topsoil application. We assessed experimental plots with de-sealed soil with topsoil, and de-sealed soil without topsoil. Both treatments were vegetated with two ornamental shrub species and irrigated. Soil fertility was analyzed …

Volatile organic compound emission and biochemical properties of degraded Ultisols ameliorated by no tillage and liming

L Giagnoni, C Taiti, L Paloma, C Costa, P Menesatti… - Pedosphere, 2020 - Elsevier

Abstract The Ultisols in the Raña de Cañamero area in Southwest Spain showed aluminum Al) phytotoxicity, and the clearance of natural vegetation and decades of intensive conventional agriculture caused the deplation of soil organic matter (SOM). Therefore, we studied the long-term effects of no tillage and liming using sugar beet foam (SF) and red gypsum (RG), alone or in combination, on the restoration of Ultisols affected by acidification, Al phytotoxicity, and SOM depletion. We measured the main soil chemical properties, soil …

Phytomanagement reduces metal availability and microbial metal resistance in a metal contaminated soil

K Xue, JD Van Nostrand, J Zhou, S Neu… - Frontiers in …, 2020 - frontiersin.org

Short rotation coppice (SRC) with metal tolerant plants may attenuate the pollution of excessive elements with potential toxicity in soils, while preserving soil resources and functionality. Here, we investigated effects of 6 years phytomanagement with willow SRC on properties including heavy metal levels, toxicity tested by BioTox, microbial biomass, enzyme activities and functional gene abundances measured by GeoChip of soils contaminated by As, Cd, Pb and Zn, as compared to the same soils under non-managed …

Dolomite and compost amendments enhance cu phytostabilization and increase microbiota of the leachates from a cu-contaminated soil

L Giagnoni, LG dos Anjos Borges, A Giongo… - Agronomy, 2020 - mdpi.com

The chemical properties, ecotoxicity, and microbiome of leachates from phytomanaged Cu- contaminated soils were analyzed. The phytomanagement was carried out using Cu-tolerant poplar Populus trichocarpa× deltoides cv. Beaupré and black bent Agrostis gigantea L., aided by soil amendments, ie, dolomitic limestone (DL) and compost (OM), alone and in combination (OMDL). Plants plus either DL or OMDL amendments reduced in leachates the electrical conductivity, the Cu concentration, and the concentration of total organic C except …

Liming reduces N2O emissions from Mediterranean soil after-rewetting and affects the size, structure and transcription of microbial communities

E Vázquez, N Teutscherova, R Pastorelli… - Soil Biology and …, 2020 - Elsevier

In Mediterranean regions, the accumulation of nitrogenous substrates in soil during summer fallow period has been linked to pulses of N 2 O emissions upon soil rewetting. Although the mechanisms of N2O emission after soil rewetting have been previously studied, potential mitigation of agronomic practices on N2O pulses is still poorly understood. We studied the N2O emissions after rewetting of degraded soils managed by no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT), both with or without lime application under laboratory conditions …

Long-term soil biological fertility, volatile organic compounds and chemical properties in a vineyard soil after biochar amendment

L Giagnoni, A Maienza, S Baronti, FP Vaccari… - Geoderma, 2019 - Elsevier

The agronomic management of vineyards, aimed at the maximization of grape yields, is intensive and includes repeated tillage, crop residues removal, strict weed and pest control treatments. In viticulture, healthy soils and a suitable climate are the key factors that influence the quality of the produced wine. Even under intensive agronomic practices, typical of conventional viticulture, the choice of appropriate soil management strategies can preserve soil quality in the long term. The use of biochar as soil amendment has been …

Microbial expression profiles in the rhizosphere of two maize lines differing in N use efficiency

SI Pathan, T Větrovský, L Giagnoni, R Datta, P Baldrian… - Plant and Soil, 2018 - Springer

Aims Study of the microbial expression profile in the rhizosphere of two contrasting maize lines, differing in the Nitrogen Use efficiency (NUE). Methods The Lo5 and T250 inbredaize characterized by high and low NUE, respectively, were grown in rhizoboxes allowing precise sampling of rhizosphere and bulk soils. We conducted metatranscriptomic of rhizosphere and bulk soil by m-RNA sequencing. Results High activity of bacteria was observed compared to archaea and fungi in both rhizosphere and bulk soils of both maize …

Functional activity and functional gene diversity of a Cu-contaminated soil remediated by aided phytostabilization using compost, dolomitic limestone and a mixed tree stand 

K Xue, J Zhou, J Van Nostrand, M Mench, C Bes… - Environmental …, 2018 - Elsevier

Trace elements (TEs) availability, biochemical activity and functional gene diversity was studied in a Cu-contaminated soil, revegetated for six years with a mixed stand of willow, black poplar, and false indigo-bush, and amended or not with compost plus dolomitic limestone (OMDL). The OMDL amendment significantly reduced Cu and As availability and soil toxicity, and increased the biochemical activity and microbial functional diversity assessed with the GEOCHIP technique, as compared to the unamended soil (Unt). The …

Bacterial culturability and the viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state studied by a proteomic approach using an artificial soil

L Giagnoni, M Arenella, E Galardi, P Nannipieri… - Soil Biology and …, 2018 - Elsevier

Gram-negative bacteria in soil rapidly adapt to various stresses, including nutrient limitation and desiccation, by adopting the viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state as a survival strategy. Due to the physico-chemical and microbiological complexity of soils, little is understood on the effects of nutrient availability and moisture level on the transition from the VBNC state to culturability in soil. We evaluated the effects of gluconate or water on the transition of the soil borne bacterium C. metallidurans strain CH34 from the VBNC state to …

Nitrate induction and physiological responses of two maize lines differing in nitrogen use efficiency: effects on N availability, microbial diversity and enzyme …

Z Varanini, S Cesco, N Tomasi, R Pinton, F Guzzo… - Plant and soil, 2018 - Springer

Aim The rate of nitrate (NO 3−) uptake and changes in rhizosphere properties were studied growing seedlings of two maize inbred lines differing in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in rhizoboxes. Results Changes in NO 3− uptake rates occurred in response to anion addition (induction) in seedlings grown both in hydroponic culture and in soil in rhizoboxes. The characterization of root exudate composition showed a line-specific metabolite profile, which was also affected by NO 3− availability. The induction affected respiration, nitrification …

Greenhouse gas emissions from a Cu-contaminated soil remediated by in situ stabilization and phytomanaged by a mixed stand of poplar, willows, and false indigo …

M Šimek, D Elhottová, M Mench… - International journal …, 2017 - Taylor & Francis

Phytomanagement of trace element-contaminated soils can reduce soil toxicity and restore soil ecological functions, including the soil gas exchange with the atmosphere. We studied the emission rate of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) CO2, CH4, and N2O; the potential CH4 oxidation; denitrification enzyme activity (DEA), and glucose mineralization of a Cu- contaminated soil amended with dolomitic limestone and compost, alone or in combination, after a 2-year phytomanagement with a mixed stand of Populus nigra, Salix viminalis, S …

Use of phytoremediated sediments dredged in maritime port as plant nursery growing media

P Mattei, LP D'Acqui, FP Nicese, G Lazzerini… - Journal of environmental …, 2017 - Elsevier

We evaluated the potential of a phytoremediated sediment (TR) dredged from maritime port as peat-free growth substrate for seven ornamental plants, in comparison with an untreated sediment (NT), in a greenhouse experiment. The studied plants were Quercus ilex, Photinia x fraseri, Viburnum tinus, Cistus albidus, Raphiolepis indica, Westringia fruticosa and Teucrium fruticans. Plant growth was monitored for ten months, and the changes in the physico-chemical properties, toxicity, microbial biomass and enzyme activities involved in …

Evaluation of dredged sediment co-composted with green waste as plant growing media assessed by eco-toxicological tests, plant growth and microbial …

P Mattei, R Pastorelli, G Rami, S Mocali… - Journal of hazardous …, 2017 - Elsevier

Dredged sediments have currently no broad reuse options as compared to other wastes due to their peculiar physico-chemical properties, posing problems for the management of the large volumes of sediments dredged worldwide. In this study we evaluated the performance of sediment (S) co-composted with green waste (GW) as growing medium for ornamental plants. Analysis of the microbial community structure, eco-toxicological tests, were conducted on sediments at 1: 1 and 3: 1 S: GW composting ratios. Sediment-based growing …

Microbial community structure and activity in trace element-contaminated soils phytomanaged by Gentle Remediation Options (GRO)

M Touceda-González, Á Prieto-Fernández… - Environmental …, 2017 - Elsevier

Gentle remediation options (GRO) are based on the combined use of plants, associated microorganisms and soil amendments, which can potentially restore soil functions and quality. We studied the effects of three GRO (aided-phytostabilisation, in situ stabilisation and phytoexclusion, and aided-phytoextraction) on the soil microbial biomass and respiration, the activities of hydrolase enzymes involved in the biogeochemical cycles of C, N, P, and S, and bacterial community structure of trace element contaminated soils (TECS) …

Gasification biochar has limited effects on functional and structural diversity of soil microbial communities in a temperate agroecosystem

V Imparato, V Hansen, SS Santos, TK Nielsen… - Soil Biology and …, 2016 - Elsevier

Biochar may enhance soil fertility and carbon (C) sequestration but there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of its effects on soil microbial communities and functioning. This study tested the differential effects of two doses (6–8 and 0.8–1.4 t ha− 1 for High and Low doses, respectively) of wheat straw gasification biochar (GBC) and fresh straw incorporated as soil amendments into an agricultural field in Denmark. Soils were analysed three months after the amendments for pH, total organic matter, microbial biomass (ATP), ten …

Protease encoding microbial communities and protease activity of the rhizosphere and bulk soils of two maize lines with different N uptake efficiency

D Baraniya, E Puglisi, MT Ceccherini… - Soil Biology and …, 2016 - Elsevier

This study was carried out to understand the interplay of plant Nitrogen Utilizing Efficiency (NUE) with protease activity and microbial proteolytic community composition in the rhizosphere and bulk soils. Protease activity, diversity and abundance of protease genes (using DGGE and qPCR respectively of two key bacterial protease encoding genes: alkaline metallo-peptidase (apr) and neutral-metallopeptidases (npr)) were monitored in both rhizosphere and bulk soils from two maize in-bred lines L05 and T250 with higher and lower …

Availability of different nitrogen forms changes the microbial communities and enzyme activities in the rhizosphere of maize lines with different nitrogen use …

L Giagnoni, R Pastorelli, S Mocali, M Arenella… - Applied soil ecology, 2016 - Elsevier

We studied how the Lo5 and T250 maize lines, characterized by high and low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), respectively, modified the microbial biomass, enzymatic activities and microbial community structure in the rhizosphere after exposure to different N forms. The two maize lines were grown for 4 weeks in rhizoboxes allowing precise sampling of rhizosphere and bulk soil with no nutrient additions, and then exposed to with nitric-, ammonium-and urea-N. After N exposure, the plants were inserted back into their original rhizoboxes to …

Maize lines with different nitrogen use efficiency select bacterial communities with different β-glucosidase-encoding genes and glucosidase activity in the …

SI Pathan, MT Ceccherini, MA Hansen… - Biology and fertility of …, 2015 - Springer

We studied the molecular diversity of β-glucosidase-encoding genes, microbial biomass, cellulase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, β-glucosidase, and β-galactosidase activities in the hizosphere and bulk soil of two maize lines differing in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The maize lines had significant differences in diversity of β-glucosidase-encoding genes in their rhizosphere, and Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were the dominating phyla in all samples, but representatives of Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Deinococcus-Thermus …

Management with willow short rotation coppice increase the functional gene diversity and functional activity of a heavy metal polluted soil

K Xue, JD Van Nostrand, J Vangronsveld, N Witters… - Chemosphere, 2015 - Elsevier

We studied the microbial functional diversity, biochemical activity, heavy metals (HM) availability and soil toxicity of Cd, Pb and Zn contaminated soils, kept under grassland or short rotation coppice (SRC) to attenuate the risks associated with HM contamination and restore the soil ecological functions. Soil microbial functional diversity was analyzed by the GeoChip, a functional gene microarray containing probes for genes involved in nutrient cycling, metal resistance and stress response. Soil under SRC showed a higher abundance …

Biochar stimulates plant growth but not fruit yield of processing tomato in a fertile soil

FP Vaccari, A Maienza, F Miglietta, S Baronti… - Agriculture, Ecosystems …, 2015 - Elsevier

Biochar addition to soil is a promising option for climate change mitigation and is recognized to exert beneficial effects on soil fertility. However, recent meta-analysis documented controversial effects on soil–plant interactions and on crop yields response. The data presented in this paper are the results of a field experiment on a processing tomato crop aiming to enhance the knowledge on the real applicability of biochar at farm scale in a high fertility alkaline soil. The effects of two biochar types on soil properties and on quantitative …

Soil volatile analysis by proton transfer reaction-time of flight mass spectrometry (PTR-TOF-MS)

S Mancuso, C Taiti, N Bazihizina, C Costa… - Applied Soil …, 2015 - Elsevier

We analyzed the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from different soils by using the PTR-MS-TOF technique under laboratory conditions and compared them with soil chemical biochemical activities. The emitted VOCs were related to soil microbial biomass, soil respiration and some soil enzyme activities so as to evaluate if size and activity of soil microbial communities influenced the soil VOCs profiles. Our results showed that the emitted VOCs discriminated between soils with different properties and management, and …

Thermal sensitivity of enzyme activity in tropical soils assessed by the Q10 and equilibrium model

L Menichetti, AL Reyes Ortigoza, N García… - Biology and Fertility of …, 2015 - Springer

We studied the responses of soil microbial biomass, respiration and enzyme activities to temperature in three Mexican soils. Soils were incubated at temperature range of 15–550° C at 50 (wet) and 10%(dry) of their water holding capacity. Soils were assayed for their adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, CO 2-C evolution and acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase, β-glucosidase, urease, and protease activities. Thermal responses of soil enzyme activities were fitted to both the equilibrium model (EM) …

Enzyme activity and microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of two maize lines differing in N use efficiency

SI Pathan, MT Ceccherini, G Pietramellara… - Plant and Soil, 2015 - Springer

Aims Study of the changes in soil microbial biomass, enzyme activity and the microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of two contrasting maize lines differing in the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Methods The Lo5 and T250 inbred maize characterized by high and low NUE, respectively, were grown in rhizoboxes allowing precise sampling of rhizosphere and bulk soil and solution. We also determined microbial biomass, enzyme activities involved in the C, N, P and S cycles, and the microbial community structure using a …