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ARS Home » Plains Area » Brookings, South Dakota » Integrated Cropping Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #242767
Title: Microbial community-level physiological profiling based on O2 consumption as an indicator of nitrogen status of agricultural soils

Author
item GARLAND, JAY - Dynamac Corporation
item ZABALOY, MARIA - South National University
item BIRMELE, MICHELE - Dynamac Corporation
item MACKOWIAK, CHERYL - University Of Florida
item Lehman, R - Michael
item FREY, SERITA - University Of New Hampshire

Submitted to: Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/19/2011
Publication Date: 4/15/2012
Citation: Garland, J.L., Zabaloy, M.C., Birmele, M., Mackowiak, C.L., Lehman, R.M., Frey, S.D. 2012. Microbial community-level physiological profiling based on O2 consumption as an indicator of nitrogen status of agricultural soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 47:46-52.

Interpretive Summary: We used a microtiter plate-based assay that measures oxygen consumption to detect levels of soil microbial respiration with and without additions of carbon substrates and nitrogen amendments. We present proof-of-concept data that demonstrates that response of soil microbial respiration to added nitrogen in the laboratory assay is proportional to the bioavailable nitrogen pools in the field. The study represents a fresh perspective on bioavailable nitrogen, its measurement, and its complex relationship with carbon pools.

Technical Abstract: Nitrogen-limited soil microbial activity has important implications for soil carbon storage and nutrient availability, but previous methods for assessing resource limitation have been restricted, due to enrichment criteria (i.e., long incubation periods, high substrate amendments) and/or logistical constraints (e.g., use of radioisotopes). A microtiter-based assay of basal and substrate induced soil respiration based on O2 consumption may be a rapid, ecologically relevant means of assessing N limitation. The present study evaluated this approach by examining 1) the extent and duration of N limitation on soil respiratory activity following different levels of N fertilization in the field, and 2) the relationship between N-limited activities and growth under the assay conditions. Fertilization rate and the time since fertilization had significant impacts on the degree of N limitation of soil microbial activity. The highest fertilization rate showed the earliest and most persistent reduction in N limitation, as would be predicted from the higher concentration of extractable inorganic soil N observed with this treatment. Bacterial growth under the assay conditions, as estimated by quantitative-PCR of 16S rRNA genes, was less than 1 doubling in soils demonstrating a rapid respiratory response (i.e, peak within 6-8 h of initiating incubation) to up to 2 doublings in soils demonstrating a slower respiratory response (i.e., peak response after ~14 hrs of incubation). Increased respiratory response with N amendment was usually associated with increased cell growth, although for rapidly responding soils some carbon sources showed N-limited use without growth. This was likely due to exhaustion of the relatively low levels of available C amendment before growth was detected. The method appears useful for assessing N-limited microbial growth, and it may be effective as a rapid indicator of bioavailable soil N. It may also be a tool to evaluate the complexity of N limitation among various metabolic pathways found in soil microbial communities, particularly if linked to dynamics in community structure and gene activation.