Soil Perturbation in Mediterranean Ecosystems Reflected by Differences in Free-Lipid Biomarker Assemblages

Environmental information provided by free lipids in soil samples collected from control and disturbed plots (Madrid, Spain) was assessed by comparing molecular assemblages of terpenoids and distribution patterns of alkanes and fatty acids (FAs) analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Wildfires in pine forests led to increased proportions of retene, dehydroabietin, and simonellite. Friedo-oleananes were characteristic in soils under angiosperms, and norambreinolide-type diterpenes were characteristic in soils encroached by Cistus bushes. Steroids were major compounds in pastured sites. Enhanced Shannon's lipid biodiversity index in disturbed soils compared with in control soils suggested patterns of recent lipids overlapping a preserved original lipid signature. The extent of the environmental impacts was illustrated as Euclidean distances between paired control and disturbed sites calculated using the compounds in alkyl homologous series as descriptors. As expected, reforestation, bush encroachment, wildfires, and cultivation were reflected by changes in the molecular record of lipids in soils.

Analysis of carbon and nitrogen forms in soil fractions after the addition of 15N-compost by 13C and 15N nuclear magnetic resonance

A quantitative laboratory assessment of the different C and N forms in soil humus fractions was carried out by incubation of a mineral substrate after the addition of (15)N-labeled compost. The experimental design included (i) preparation of the (15)N-labeled organic matter (city refuse compost, 640 g kg(-1) wheat straw and K(15)NO(3) composted for 80 days), (ii) a further 80 day incubation of a mixture of the labeled compost with a mineral soil (32 g kg(-1)), (iii) measurement of stable isotope ratios, and (iv) isolation and structural comparison by (13)C and (15)N cross-polarization, magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) of different organic fractions, i.e., soluble, colloidal (humic and fulvic type), and particulate (free organic matter and humin), from both the compost and the compost-treated soil. The results showed that the amide forms dominated in all of the newly formed N compounds, but an increased amount of alkali insoluble organic fractions was observed after incubation of the soil. The analysis of the insoluble, particulate fractions shows that nonextractable amides constitute the major pool of newly formed N compounds. The particulate soil fraction isolated by flotation in CHBr(3)-MeOH contained 16.8% of the total soil N and 26% of the (15)N. The (13)C NMR spectra showed that the fulvic acid-like fraction (7.6% of the soil N, 8.8% of (15)N) consisted almost completely of a C=O-containing carbohydrate material, whereas the humic acid-like fraction (20.3% of the total soil N, 8.6% of (15)N) resembled an oxidized lignoproteic fraction containing the most significant aromatic domain. The water soluble fraction was, in both soil and compost, the one with the highest isotopic abundance of (15)N (96%), but the (15)N NMR spectrum revealed minor amounts of soluble mineral N in this fraction and the remainder consisting of amide compounds.

Biogeochemical assessment of resilient humus formations from virgin and cultivated northern Botswana soils

Humic matter in virgin and cultivated Vertisols and Arenosols from Pandamatenga (northern Botswana) has been studied by chemical fractionation and visible and infrared derivative spectroscopies. The in vitro soil respiration was also determined. Soils contained <15 g of total C kg(-1) and displayed scant mineralization activity. In Vertisols, cultivation has led to scarce significant changes in humus characteristics, pointing to a noteworthy resilience of the organic matter. Humic acids showed a very dark color, indicating a large concentration of aromatic structures and stable free radicals. Infrared spectra were featureless and alike. This strong structural stability is also suggested by Curie-point pyrolysis of humic acids, which failed to yield substantial amounts of diagnostic products, mainly in the case of Vertisols. Some unexpected similarities between Vertisols and Arenosols indicate that the influence of external factors on the humic acid formation processes prevails on that of the geological substrate. In Pandamatenga soils only small amounts of recalcitrant C and N forms are sequestered; they represent stable pools relatively independent from short- or medium-term climatic changes or management practices.

Pyrolysis-GC-MS analysis of the formation and degradation stages of charred residues from lignocellulosic biomass

The structural transformations undergone by lignocellulosic biomass (freeze-dried rye grass, Lolium rigidum) subjected to progressive isothermal heating (burning at 350 degrees C under oxidizing conditions for 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 s) have been monitored by Curie-point pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). The pyrograms suggest that even charred residues after severe heating (carbon loss ca. 50%) still contain substantial concentrations of some resistant plant structural components. Several trends were observed when monitoring the relative concentrations of the different groups of pyrolysis compounds released during successive charring stages: (i) the tetrapyrrole moiety of chlorophylls is rapidly destroyed as indicated by the decreasing yields of pyrroles and pyrrolines, whereas the phytol backbone is comparatively more resistant, leading to phytadienes after dehydration and reduction; (ii) the increasing yields of imidazoles from progressively heated samples (maximum at 45 s stage) suggest accumulation of newly formed nitrogen-containing compounds that may survive natural fires; (iii) the lignin backbone shows a relative resistance, the yields of aromatic products pointing to progressive demethoxylation; and, (iv) a selective accumulation of recalcitrant alkyl material occurred, which is interpreted as the result of thermal condensation of hydrocarbons and fatty acids into macromolecular materials in the charred residue. In terms of the intensity of the isothermal heating, the yields of the different classes of alkyl compounds follow the order phytadienes < fatty acids < alkanes < wax esters < sterols.