Zeolitites (ZTs) are rocks containing more than 50% of zeolite minerals and are known to be a suitable material for agricultural purposes by improving soil physicochemical properties and nitrogen (N) use efficiency. However, little is known about their effects on soil microbial biomass. This study aimed to evaluate short-term effects of different chabazite-rich ZT (CHAZT) amendments on soil microbial biomass and activity. A silty-clay agricultural soil was amended in three different ways, including the addition of natural (5% and 15%) and NH+4-enriched (10%) CHAZT. Soil dissolved organic carbon (C), total dissolved N, NH+4, NO−3, NO−2, microbial biomass C and N, and ergosterol were measured periodically over 16 d in a laboratory incubation. To verify the microbial immobilization of the N derived from NH+4-enriched CHAZT, a high15N source was used for enriching the mineral to measure the microbial biomass δ15N signature. An increase in the ergosterol content was observed in the soil amended with 5% natural CHAZT. However, no similar result was observed in the soil amended with 15% natural CHAZT, suggesting that the fungal biomass was favored at a lower CHAZT application rate. In the soil amended with NH+4-enriched CHAZT, microbial biomass N was related to NO−3production over time and inversely related to NH+4, suggesting high nitrification process. Isotopic measurements on microbial biomass confirmed immediate assimilation of N derived from NH+4-enriched CHAZT. These results suggested that the NH+4-enriched CHAZT used in this study supplied an immediately available N pool to the microbial biomass.

Short-Term Response of Soil Microbial Biomass to Different Chabazite Zeolite Amendments

FERRETTI, Giacomo
Primo
;
FACCINI, Barbara;COLOMBANI, Nicolò;COLTORTI, Massimo;MASTROCICCO, Micòl
Ultimo
2018

Abstract

Zeolitites (ZTs) are rocks containing more than 50% of zeolite minerals and are known to be a suitable material for agricultural purposes by improving soil physicochemical properties and nitrogen (N) use efficiency. However, little is known about their effects on soil microbial biomass. This study aimed to evaluate short-term effects of different chabazite-rich ZT (CHAZT) amendments on soil microbial biomass and activity. A silty-clay agricultural soil was amended in three different ways, including the addition of natural (5% and 15%) and NH+4-enriched (10%) CHAZT. Soil dissolved organic carbon (C), total dissolved N, NH+4, NO−3, NO−2, microbial biomass C and N, and ergosterol were measured periodically over 16 d in a laboratory incubation. To verify the microbial immobilization of the N derived from NH+4-enriched CHAZT, a high15N source was used for enriching the mineral to measure the microbial biomass δ15N signature. An increase in the ergosterol content was observed in the soil amended with 5% natural CHAZT. However, no similar result was observed in the soil amended with 15% natural CHAZT, suggesting that the fungal biomass was favored at a lower CHAZT application rate. In the soil amended with NH+4-enriched CHAZT, microbial biomass N was related to NO−3production over time and inversely related to NH+4, suggesting high nitrification process. Isotopic measurements on microbial biomass confirmed immediate assimilation of N derived from NH+4-enriched CHAZT. These results suggested that the NH+4-enriched CHAZT used in this study supplied an immediately available N pool to the microbial biomass.
2018
Ferretti, Giacomo; Keiblinger, Katharina Maria; DI GIUSEPPE, Dario; Faccini, Barbara; Colombani, Nicolò; ZECHMEISTER-BOLTENSTERN, Sophie; Coltorti, Ma...espandi
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
1-s2.0-S1002016018600165-main.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Full text (versione editoriale)
Licenza: NON PUBBLICO - Accesso privato/ristretto
Dimensione 249.04 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
249.04 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Ferrettietalpreprint.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Pre-print
Licenza: PUBBLICO - Pubblico con Copyright
Dimensione 604.32 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
604.32 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11392/2388498
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 24
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 21
social impact