Pine Soil Research Articles

Cellulolytic and pectolytic activity of streptomycetes isolated from root-free soil, rhizosphere and mycorrhizosphere of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Cellulolytic and pectolytic activity of streptomycetes isolated from root-free soil, rhizosphere and mycorrhizosphere of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Nutrition of loblolly pine on calcareous soils in Western Alabama

Abstract The occurrence of loblolly pine, growing at a productive rate on a calcareous soil, was investigated from a nutritional standpoint. Macro‐ and microelement concentrations were characterized in pine tissues and in the calcareous soil and were compared to those in loblolly pine foliage and soil from a nearby stand of similar age growing on an acid soil. Literature reports of element concentrations in the tissues of loblolly pine, growing under various soil fertility conditions, are also contrasted with those of the present study. The data in this study may describe the nutrition of loblolly pine under the most alkaline field conditions in which the species naturally occurs.

Soil properties beneath Pinus halepensis and Quercus calliprinos trees on burned and unburned mixed forest on Mt. Carmel, Israel

In order to study the effect of fire on soil properties of a mixed Pinus halepensis Mill. and Quercus calliprinos Webb. forest, pH, organic matter, total and available nitrogen [(N, NNH 4 and N(NO 3 + NO 2)] and phosphorus and soluble cations (K. Mg, and Ca) were determined from soil samples collected under these trees, in a burned and adjacent unburned forest. Samples from the latter were also collected from an open grassy patch. In addition, the responses of barley ( Hordeum sativum) and alfalfa ( Medicago sativa) to the different levels of nutrients of these soils were studied in pot tests. In the ash layer collected under the burned pine trees 2 months after the fire there was a significant increase in available nitrogen, phosphorus and soluble cations (K and Mg). Fourteen months after the fire, the organic matter and nutrient levels in the burned soil were less than those of the unburned. The exception was total phosphorus which was significantly higher in the upper, burned, soil layer than in the unburned. At the same time, all soil parameters measured were higher in the upper layer (0–5 cm) than in the lower one (5–25 cm). With the exception of available nitrogen [(NNH 4, N(NO + NO 2)], all soil nutrient levels measured were highest under the pine soils followed by oak soil, and lowest in the open-grass soil. No significant differences were found in pH values, which varied between 7.5 and 7.7. The measurements obtained for alfalfa and barley grown in burned and unburned soils verified the outcome of the soil analyses, showing the same trend of increase from pine to oak and open grassy. The exception was the above-ground phytomass of barley which was higher in the ‘oak soil’ than in the ‘pine soil’ due to the higher levels of nitrogen in the soil under these trees. For a thorough study, the patchiness of the vegetation affecting the upper soil layer should be taken into account.

Organic acids production byStreptomyces spp. isolated from soil, rhizosphere and mycorrhizosphere of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

The streptomycetes studied released into the medium the following organic acids: pyruvic, α-ketoglutaric, lactic, malic (or citric), succinic and oxalic. Soil streptomycetes produced more α-ketoglutaric-, lactic- and succinic acid than the root zone microorganisms. Mean indices of the total production of organic acids were in the following order: soil>rhizosphere>mycorrhizosphere. Amounts of pyruvic acid excreted by the soil streptomycetes were inversely proportional to their biomass, whereas those of α-ketoglutaric acid were directly proportional to dry weight. Small repeatability of the results of α-keto acids determinations in these organisms was stated.

MANIPULATION OF BACTERIA, FUNGI AND PROTOZOA BY BIOCIDES IN LODGEPOLE PINE FOREST SOIL MICROCOSMS: EFFECTS ON ORGANISM INTERACTIONS AND NITROGEN MINERALIZATION

Biocides were applied singly and in combination to determine their effect on target and nontarget microorganisms in mineral soil from a lodgepole pine forest and to determine microbial interaction effects on N mineralization. Soil was sterilized and reinoculated with field populations of bacteria, fungi and protozoa. Streptomycin (a bactericide), fungizone (a saprophytic fungicide), chloroform (reduces protozoa and a portion of the bacteria and fungi), a combination of cygon (an acaricide), carbofuran (an insecticide-nematicide) and chloroform and a combination of streptomycin and fungizone were used. Reduction of bacteria produced the same decreases in N immobilization and increases in soil inorganic N in forest soil as observed previously in grassland soil. Further, reduction of fungi decreased N mineralization. Chloroform reduced protozoa to below detection limits, reduced bacterial populations 2- to 10-fold, but only reduced fungal populations by twofold. Despite reductions in both bacteria and fungi, NH+4-N increased similarly to streptomycin treatments where only bacteria were reduced. When fungal populations increased after a reduction in bacterial populations, inorganic N concentrations increased. However, when fungal populations were reduced, bacterial populations did not increase, suggesting that bacteria do not compete with fungi for substrates. Key words: Microbial ecology, N mineralization, streptomycin, amphotericin B, chloroform, pesticide effects, lodgepole pine soil

Free amino acids production by actinomycetes, isolated from soil, rhizosphere, and mycorrhizosphere of pine (Pinns sylvestris L.)

Summary Qualitative-quantitative studies on free amino acids production by actinomycetes ( Streptomyces sp.) were performed. The actinomycetes, most frequently and in greatest amounts, produced the following amino acids: glutamic acid, alanine, valine, lysine, and unidentified ninhydrinpositive compounds. The actinomycetes isolated from the root zone released more glutamic acid than those originating from the root-free soil. A reverse phenomenon was noted with alanine. Regardless of the source of isolation, the actinomycetes studied not did differ in the ability of free amino acids production. Mean amounts of glutamic acid (a dominating amino acid) in postculture liquids of the root zone actinomycetes was 7.164 μ g/ml (mycorrhizosphere) and 43.484 μ g/mg dry mass(rhizosphere).

The "trap-log" method to survey the distribution of Armillariamellea in forest soils

A technique using trembling aspen logs was tested to detect and study Armillariamellea in the soil of a young lodgepole pine stand. A total of 121 sharpened trembling aspen logs were pounded into the ground 1 m apart in a 10 × 10 m grid. Evidence of colonization by A. mellea appeared in 31 logs. A map was drawn to show relationships of colonized logs to diseased and healthy trees as well as to stumps within the plot. Eight distinctive patches were found within the plot. Isolates from positive "trap logs" and diseased trees were found to be the same biological species of the A. mellea complex.

Production of B-group vitamins by mycorrhizal fungi and actinomycetes isolated from the root zone of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Studies were carried out on synthesis of B-group vitamins by mycorrhizal fungi and actinomycetes (Streptomyces sp.) derived from soil, rhizosphere and mycorrhizosphere of pine.

Synthesis of free amino acids by bacteria isolated from soil, rhizosphere, and mycorrhizosphere of pine (Pinns sylvestris L.)

Summary Production of free amino acids was studied in 50 strains of soil and root zone bacteria (rhizosphere and mycorrhizosphere) of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Most of the soil bacteria produced considerable amounts of glutamic acid and, somewhat less, of alanine and valine. Rhizosphere bacteria synthesized in general small amounts (with the exceptions of few strains) of glutamic acid, alanine lysine and unidentified ninhydrin-positive compound X2. On the other hand, the mycorrhizosphere bacteria produced considerably large amounts of alanine, leucine, and valine. Soil bacteria produced glutamic acid in amounts of 22–87μg/mg dry mass. This compound was excreted in amounts of 0.5–70 μg/mg dry mass by rhizosphere and mycorrhizosphere organisms. The quantity of other amino acids, excreted by the bacteria studied, was smaller than those mentioned above. It is suggested that the amino acids, produced by the root zone-inhabiting bacteria of pine, are essential for amino acids-requiring organisms, for mycorrhizal fungi, as well as for the plantmicrobe interrelationships.

Production of B-group vitamins by bacteria isolated from soil, rhizosphere, and mycorrhizosphere of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Studies on the production of B vitamins by soil, rhizosphere, and mycorrhizosphere bacteria have revealed that such ability is common among these organisms. Thiamin, nicotinic and folic acids were produced by the greatest number of bacteria. Bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere and mycorrhizosphere produced more riboflavin than those originating from the soil distant from roots. In general the soil strains produced higher amounts of vitamins (except riboflavin) than the root-zone isolates. Two and three vitamins were produced by the majority of bacteria. The synthesis of four and five vitamins was found in few strains only.

Lack of Vesicular‐Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculum in a Ponderosa Pine Forest

Comparison of live beetle—killed ponderosa pine stands revealed that understory biomass was higher under beetle—killed pines. Carex heliophila, a nonmycorrhizal plant, was virtually the only species present beneath live ponderosa pines. We examined the extent to which vesicular—arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) colonized understory plants on both live and beetle—killed pine sites; the availability of live— and killed—pine soil VAM inoculum in situ and in the laboratory; the abundance of VAM spores in field soils; and the possible inhibition of VAM formation by forest floor decomposition products in live—pine soils. Roots of field species from live and beetle—killed pine soils, as well as bioassay plants (species not native to the study site) grown in situ and in the laboratory were cleared, stained, and examined for presence or absence of VAM colonization. Sixty percent of the understory of live pine was composed of nonmycorrhizal species, 26% of mycorrhizal species, and 14% of species not examined for VAM. Twenty—nine percent of the understory of killed pine was composed of nonmycorrhizal species, 51% of mycorrhizal species, and 20% of species not examined for VAM. All laboratory bioassy plants were nonmycorrhizal in live—pine soils and mycorrhizal in killed—pine soils. No in situ bioassay plants became mycorrhizal beneath live pines. Counts of 50—250 μm VAM spores in May 1981 and August 1982 were 0.013 and 0.098 spores/g, respectively, in live—pine soils and 0.36 and 4.97 spores/g, respectively, in killed—pine soils. We found no evidence that VAM colonization in corn plants was inhibited by forest floor decomposition products. Mycorrhizal colonization of field species was greater in the killed—pine understory than in the live—pine understory. Laboratory and field studies showed that VAM inoculum was absent in the understory of live ponderosa pines. Allelopathic—type suppression, either of host plants or of the mycorrhizal colonization process, might explain the lack of inoculum. Direct inhibition of the colonization process, however, was not observed in greenhouse experiments.

Acetylene reduction in soil and litter from pine and eucalypt forests in south-eastern Australia

Rates of C 2H 2-reduction in surface soil and litter from pine and eucalypt forests were measured for 1 yr. Rates of reduction increased significantly with moisture content, and mean rates (nmol kg −1 h −1) decreased in the order pine litter (339), eucalypt litter (220), eucalypt soil (54), pine soil (7). Asymbiotic N 2-fixation in litter and surface soil was estimated to be 108 mg m −2 yr −1 in eucalypt forest and 64 mg m −2 yr −1 in pine forest. About 80% of total fixation in eucalypt was in the soil, while 80% of the total in pine was in the litter. N 2ase was active in rotting wood but not in fresh foliage.

Effects of pine-produced chemicals on selected understory species in aPinus ponderosa community

Pinus ponderosa accounted for more than 98% of all tree and shrub stratum stems in a climax community with low herb coverage and aboveground biomass, 35% and 60 g/m(2), respectively. Because of our previous report that nitrification and nitrifying bacteria in the same community were allelopathically inhibited, we speculated that the pine-produced allelochemics might also directly influence the development and growth of the herb stratum. In most cases decaying needles, needle leachate, and field soils significantly reduced germination and radicle growth ofAndropogon gerardii andA. scoparius, pine-associated herbaceous species. Additionally, growth ofAndropogon scoparius seedling radicles was reduced 28-56% by pine needle extracts, 33% by pine bark extracts, and 67% by soil hydrolysate extracts.Andropogon seed germination was reduced 20-25% by pine needles and soil. Phytotoxins identified in various plant parts and associated soils were caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and condensed tannins. Pine needle water and soil hydrolysate extracts were most inhibitory to the radicle growth of the test species. Thus it appears that the limited growth of the herbaceous stratum in the pine community may be accounted for, in part, by allelopathy. Such allelopathic interactions may have an adaptive ecological significance in various forest and other plant communities.

Fate of lead in the soil and its effects onPinus halepensis

Chemical analysis of samples of needles of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), humus and mineral soil collected in the vicinity of the Pb-smelter in Lavrion, Attica, showed that an area of about 2 km around the smelter is heavily polluted primarily with Pb and also with Zn, S and F−. Most of the Pb was found accumulated in the humus and the top layer of the mineral soil.

Presence of Rhizoctonia Solani in Native Callitris Pine Soils and Its Implications for Future Potato Growing.

Presence of Rhizoctonia Solani in Native Callitris Pine Soils and Its Implications for Future Potato Growing.

Fungal development and the transformation of 15N-labelled amino- and ammonium-nitrogen in forest soils under several management regimes

The effect of glucose on the transformation of 15N-labelled glycine in soils from three different vegetation types, viz. exotic pine plantation, protected eucalypt and burnt eucalypt forest, was studied in the laboratory during a 10-week incubation. There was considerable interchange between organic and inorganic N throughout the incubation, and the various N transformations could be interpreted in terms of fungal development as measured by the nylon mesh technique. The fungi in the pine and burnt eucalypt soils were particularly active but produced different end results, those in the pine soils maintaining greater amounts of the added 15N in hydrolysable forms whereas the fungi in the burnt eucalypt soil caused incorporation of most of the label into the nonhydrolysable fraction. Both management regimes however resulted in a loss of hydrolysable native-soil N. Addition of glucose caused rapid net immobilization of exchangeable 15NH 4 +-N, some of which was re-mineralized in the later stages of incubation. Glucose also resulted in a depletion of hydrolysable 15NH 4 +-N and a corresponding accretion in the total hydrolysable-N fraction. Increased demand for amino compounds by fungi in the presence of glucose is considered responsible.

The Effect of Forest Conversion with Herbicides on Pine (Pinus spp.) Establishment, Soil Moisture and Understory Vegetation

The effects of soil-applied and stem-injected herbicidal techniques of forest conversion on soil moisture, pine establishment and understory vegetation were determined in an Appalachian hardwood forest. Grid applications of fenuron (1,1-dimethyl-3-phenylurea) at 11.2 kg/ha were as effective in killing tops and controlling sprouting of hardwood species as the injection application with 2,4,5-T [(2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy)acetic acid] and fuel oil. Survival of white pine (Pinus strobusL.) was higher with 5.6 kg/ha than with 11.2 kg/ha of fenuron pellets. The growth in height of pines growing under reduced competition was considerably greater than for pines growing in competition with hardwoods. During the second growing season after treatment significantly more soil moisture was present in the plots treated with fenuron and 2,4,5-T than in the untreated ones. Herbaceous vegetation and understory woody plants increased after the herbicide treatments. The third season following herbicide treatment twenty-seven species were recorded on the treated areas that were not present on the untreated control areas.

The influence of different mycorrhizae on growth, nutrition and gas-exchange of Pinus mugo seedlings

The mycorrhizae on seedlings of Pinus mugo Turra were superseded by other types after seedlings were transplanted from a nursery to a subalpine pine soil. The mycorrhizae formed by a single symbiont, Hebeloma mesophaeum (Pers. ex Fr.) Quel, were more efficient in terms of seedling nutrition than mycorrhizae formed by the natural fungus population from a native site. This led to significant differences in growth of needles, and their rates of photosynthesis and transpiration. re]19721213

Soil and Plant Moisture Relations of Red Pine Growing on a Shallow Soil

AbstractThe relationship of plant moisture status to soil moisture content was studied in a 25‐year‐old red pine, Pinus resinosa Ait., plantation on 60 cm of channery silt loam soil over fractured siltstone bedrock. Two of the four‐tree plots received summer rainfall; rainfall was excluded from the remaining two plots by a plastic ground covering. The relative turgidity and needle moisture content of current‐ and second‐year needles were measured; only the second‐year needle relative turgidity was significantly correlated with soil moisture content. Wood moisture content was not correlated with soil moisture content. The dry weight of current‐year needles was closely related to the soil moisture availability during the period of growth. The degree to which the underlying bedrock was fractured, allowing roots to penetrate, was a primary factor in survival.

Hydrologic Characteristics of Three Soils Supporting Natural Hardwoods, Planted Red Pine, and Old Field Plant Communities

An investigation conducted during 1958 to 1961 compared hydrologic characteristics of the Hagerstown, Calvin-Edom, and Dekalb soils under natural hardwoods, planted red pine, and old field plant communities. Infiltration of simulated rainfall, water percolation, and soil properties were investigated. Other than surface organic matter accumulations and rooting habits, there were no significant differences in physical properties of soil profiles under old field and red pine cover. Hardwood soil profiles differed materially from old field and red pine soil profiles, with organic matter, porosity, and water-stable aggregates being higher and bulk density lower in the upper horizons under hardwoods. Average wet-run infiltration capacity was 33% higher under red pine than under old field cover, while infiltration under hardwoods exceeded that under red pine by only 7%. Infiltration was less variable under red pine and hardwoods than under old field cover. Vegetational influences affecting water percolation were exerted primarily through their effect on soil porosity. Noncapillary porosity was more closely related to variations in soil permeability than were total porosity or aggregate stability.