Effects of plant-symbiotic relationships on the living soil microbial community and microbial necromass in a long-term agro-ecosystem.

We examined the impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia on the living microbial community and microbial necromass under different long-term fertilization treatments at the long-term Static Fertilization Experiment Bad Lauchstädt (Germany). Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) and amino sugars plus muramic acid, were used as biomarkers for soil microbial bio- and necromass, respectively, and analyzed from six treatments imposed on two crop rotations, varying only in the inclusion/non-inclusion of a legume. Treatments included: two levels of only farmyard manure (FYM), only mineral fertilizer (NPK), the combined application of both fertilizer types and a non-fertilized control. PLFA profiles differed clearly between the investigated crop rotations and were significantly related to labile C, mineral N, and soil pH. This emphasizes the role of carbon, and of mycorrhizal and rhizobial symbioses, as driver for changes in the microbial community composition due to effects on the living conditions in soil. We found some evidence that legume associated symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia act as a buffer, reducing the impact of varying inputs of mineral nutrients on the decomposer community. While our results support former findings that living microbial populations vary within short-term periods and are reflective of a given crop grown in a given year, soil necromass composition indicates longer term changes across the two crop rotation types, mainly shaped by fertilizer related effects on the community composition and C turnover. However, there was some evidence that specifically the presence of a legume, affects the soil necromass composition not only over the whole crop rotation but even in the short-term.

Emissions of inorganic and organic arsenic compounds via the leachate pathway from pretreated municipal waste materials: a landfill reactor study.

The emission of arsenic (As) with leachate from mechanically biologically pretreated municipal solid waste (MBP-MSW) was quantified over one year using landfill simulation reactors. Arsenic mobilization and transformation processes were studied by simulating different environmental conditions (anoxic conditions with underlying soil or oxic/anoxic conditions). Amounts of mono-, di-, and trimethylated As in MBP-MSW prior to simulation were < 48 microg As kg(-1) and were magnified to 300-390 microg As kg(-1) under anoxic conditions, whereas methylated As was undetectable in the oxic setup. The highest leachate concentrations (up to 84 microg L(-1)) occurred during the first four weeks of manipulation. The annual Astotal release with leachates averaged 19.6, 7.6, and 4.5 microg kg(-1) under an anoxic environment with underlying soil, oxic conditions, and anoxic conditions, respectively, with 15-50% occurring as organic As. The annually released As represented 0.2-0.8% of the Astotal pool, suggesting that As mobilization from waste is a slow process. The anoxia diminished As release rates, whereas anoxic conditions with underlying soil material elevated the As mobilization, probably due to reductive dissolution of soil-derived Fe and Mn (hydr)oxides. The mass balance of methylated As in MBP-MSW and leachates before and after the treatments highlights As methylation under anoxic conditions and demethylation under oxic landfill conditions.

Emissions of organo-metal compounds via the leachate and gas pathway from two differently pre-treated municipal waste materials -- A landfill reactor study.

Due to their broad industrial production and use as PVC-stabilisers, agro-chemicals and anti-fouling agents, organo-metal compounds are widely distributed throughout the terrestrial and marine biogeosphere. Here, we focused on the emission dynamics of various organo-metal compounds (e.g., di,- tri-, tetra-methyl tin, di-methyl mercury, tetra-methyl lead) from two different kinds of pre-treated mass waste, namely mechanically-biologically pre-treated municipal solid waste (MBP MSW) and municipal waste incineration ash (MWIA). In landfill simulation reactors, the emission of the organo-metal compounds via the leachate and gas pathway was observed over a period of 5 months simulating different environmental conditions (anaerobic with underlying soil layer/aerated/anaerobic). Both waste materials differ significantly in their initial amounts of organo-metal compounds and their environmental behaviour with regard to the accumulation and depletion rates within the solid material during incubation. For tri-methyl tin, the highest release rates in leachates were found in the incineration ash treatments, where anaerobic conditions in combination with underlying soil material significantly promoted its formation. Concerning the gas pathway, anaerobic conditions considerably favour the emission of organo-metal compounds (tetra-methyl tin, di-methyl mercury, tetra-methyl lead) in both the MBP material and especially in the incineration ash.