The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ash from combustion of plant biomass of energy willow and Pennsylvania fanpetals on yields of willow grown as an energy crop and on soil properties. A three-year pot experiment was carried out on substrates with a loamy sand texture. Ash application rates were based on the potassium fertilisation demand. An incubation experiment was carried out to determine the effect of biomass-based ash on soil properties. Three soils with textural categories were incubated for 3 months with the ashes, the doses of which were determined on the basis of the hydrolytic acidity of soils (¼; ½ and 1.0 Hh). It was found that ashes generated from burning willow or Pennsylvania fanpetals can be applied instead of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium fertilisers in the cultivation of energy willow. The plant uptake of P, K and Mg from the ashes did not diverge from their absorption by plants when supplied with mineral salts. The application of these alkaline ashes will increase the soil content of phytoavailable forms of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium. The examined ashes enriched the soil with micronutrients.

Vertical distribution of soil biota is not well understood. Here we studied the development of vertical distribution of soil chemical and biological properties in two post-mining chronosequnces in heaps after open cast coal mining, one left to succession (sites 20, 35 and 60 years old) and one reclaimed by levelling and Alder (Alnus glutinosa and Alnus incana) afforestation (sites 10, 25, 40, and 60 years old) near Sokolov, Czechia. When spoil material is compacted during levelling and afforestation, as in reclaimed sites, the effect of time in soil biota development was less important than in spontaneous succession where no compaction occurs. Soil depth was a stronger explanatory factor in explaining the soil microbial biomass variations under reclamation regimes while comparatively less strong under spontaneous succession which points at the impact of spoil compaction on vertical development of organisms. Spontaneous succession encourages a more diverse and dynamic vertical, as well as horizontal, faunal community development, especially across time. Breaking down fauna into ecological subgroups, time was more of an important factor for fauna active below ground (endogeic), than for surface-dwelling fauna likely due to further soil profile development by time. Calculated depth in which 90% individuals occur shows that considering only the depth of 0–10 cm overlooks a substantial part of some faunal groups (e.g. Pauropoda and Symphylan) that are abundant in deeper layers. Soil depth is also more of a strong predictor of soil biota than soil C content, indicating that the population decrease in soil biota community with depth cannot be explained only by decreasing organic matter content.

The extent to which ecological properties of restored coastal wetlands in the northern Gulf of Mexico recover to natural wetland conditions has not been synthesized. We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to evaluate whether vegetation and soil parameters at marsh sites restored through sediment addition recovered to levels found at paired reference sites. From 1342 candidate publications, we identified 25 studies (< 1 to > 30 years since initial restoration) suitable for quantitative meta-analysis. Vegetation cover was 50% lower at restored sites compared to reference sites over the first 5 years of restoration while aboveground biomass was 25% higher. On average, belowground parameters (root biomass and soil organic matter) were 44 to 92% lower at restored sites during the first 15 years of restoration compared to reference sites. Mean recovery trajectories for belowground biomass and productivity, vegetation cover, and soil parameters indicated that mean values for restored sites reached reference site conditions within 30 years following restoration. We also evaluated recovery curves for the 20th percentile of site data, which we suggest provides a valuable perspective for natural resource agencies to consider when evaluating individual projects, as it should ensure higher success rates compared with using mean recovery rates to estimate success. Understanding marsh recovery rates following restoration helps future restoration design and monitoring, but recovery rates vary across measurement endpoints. Deciding on the appropriate response(s) to use as the basis of performance measures and monitoring will influence the apparent success of marsh restoration projects.

In order to investigate the seed yield, uptake of macronutrients and some properties of the biological soil indices in intercropping of linseed and faba bean under biofertilizers application, a field experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Iran, during growing season of 2017. The first factor included five intercropping patterns consist of 1 row linseed + 1 row faba bean, 2 rows linseed + 2 rows faba bean,  3 rows linseed + 3 rows faba bean, and solecropping of each crop and the second factor was included control (no fertilizer), and biofertilizers application of mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mossea+ Glomus intraradices+ Glomus etunicatum) plus nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria (Azotobacter vinelandii), P-solubilizing bacteria (the combination of Pseudomonas putida and Pantoea agglomerans, respectively), K-solubilizing bacteria (the combination of Pseudomonas koreensis and Pseudomonas vancouverensis,  and sulfur supplier bacteria (containing Thiobacillus, respectively)].The results showed that the effect of cropping pattern had a significant effect on the seed yield, absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium nutrients. The highest seed yield of faba bean (4280 kg.ha-1) and linseed (2230 kg.ha-1) were obtained from solecropping but nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium absorption in intercropping were higher than solecropping of both species. Also, the amount of absorption of these elements in the inoculation with biofertilizer showed a significant increase compared to control (no use of fertilizer).The highest soil microbial respiration, soil microbial biomass and nutrient LER were related to the two rows linseed + two rows of fababean with biofertilizer application. This cropping pattern (2:2) because of the high proportion of equality in the absorption of nutrients and improve the biological soil is recommended.

The present study aimed to assess the effect of canopy combination of beech trees and mixed species (beech-hornbeam-maple, beech-hornbeam, beech-maple and pure beech) on microbial indices and soil nutrient stockscharacteristics in Mazandaran Province, north of  Iran. Leaf litter sampling was done by using litter traps and soil samples (30 × 30 × 30 cm) were taken in each of the stands with five replicaties under the canopy of beech trees. Characteristics of litter (organic carbon, total nitrogen, carbon to nitrogen ratio, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium) were measured. The physical, chemical, biochemical and microbial properties of soil (bulk density, Sand, silt, clay, pH, EC, organic carbon, total nitrogen, carbon to nitrogen ratio, sequestration of organic carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium, ammonium, nitrate, microbial respiration, metabolic and microbial quotient) were also investigated. The results showed that beech-hornbeam-maple stand had the highest pH, nitrogen sequestration, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, microbial biomass of carbon and nitrogen, and microbial respiration. Also, the highest amount of soil carbon, carbon to nitrogen ratio, carbon sequestration, metabolic and microbial quotients were allocated to pur beech stands. In addition, the highest ammonium and nitrate levels were also observed in beech- maple and beech-hornbeam stands. According to the present study, beech-hornbeam- maple stand improved the litter quality, nutrient storageand microbial indicators of the soil, followed by beech-hornbeam, beech- maple and pure beech stands. The practical results of this research indicate the positive effects of tree species diversity on improvement of soil qualitaty and health.

The triggering response has attracted much research interest. However, the main C source of triggered CO₂–C and the dynamics of soil microbial biomass C (biomass C) and adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) concentrations during the triggering response still remain largely unknown. We labeled the soil microbial biomass of three soil layers (0–10 cm, 10–30 cm and 30–60 cm) of a forest soil with dried aboveground maize (22 atom%, 2.5 mg g⁻¹ soil) and glucose (22 atom%, 2.5 mg g⁻¹ soil) to determine the contribution of the four potential C sources involved in the triggering response: ¹³C-labeled maize and glucose, biomass C, soil organic carbon (SOC), and triggering glucose. After 56 days of soil pre-incubation, the ¹³C abundances of biomass C and SOC were 5.27–6.71 and 1.94–2.82 atom%, respectively. Addition of 10 μg glucose-C g⁻¹ soil caused a strong and rapid triggering response resulting in 2.3–6 times more triggered CO₂–C evolved than was contained in the triggering glucose, which increased with soil depth. The atom% ¹³C–CO₂ values of model calculations were closest to measured values when assumed to derive completely from biomass C. Biomass C did not significantly change at day 1 but significantly decreased by 7.1–27.6% at day 5. ATP concentrations (nmol ATP g⁻¹ soil) increased from 6.2-10.8% by day 1 to 9.2- 28% by day 5 (p < 0.05). Soil biomass C and ATP contents reached values similar to those of the control after 10 days. These results indicate that the CO₂–C from the triggering response mainly derived from mineralization of biomass C during the early triggering stage and from mineralization of residual substrates thereafter. Biomass ATP concentrations (μmol ATP g⁻¹ biomass C) remained constant during the later stages. We conclude that the triggering response is mainly due to the rapid activation of soil microorganisms through mineralization of biomass C. Microorganisms that adopt this survival strategy, may have a rapid reaction in the utilization of fresh substrates.

Study of temporal patterns of microbial biomass can help in understanding the functioning of various ecosystems. In the present study an attempt has been made to study the influence of trees on the microbial biomass and soil C, N and P levels with an accompanied attempt to find the temporal variables influencing it. Three sites with Acacia nilotica sub. cupressiformis as the woody component in the traditional agroforestry systems of Indian arid zone were selected and studied for the spatial and temporal variation in microbial biomass and soil nutrients over a period of two years. Soil samples were collected from both the undercanopy and the open area. Higher values of microbial and soil nutrients were recorded during monsoon, post monsoon and winter seasons, reflecting the role of moisture availability on the functioning of dryland agroecosystems. Soil nutrients serving as resource for the microbial biomass revealed strong relationship; organic C with biomass C (r = 0.44; P<0.01), soil N with biomass C (r = 0.52; P<0.01) and biomass N (r = 0.44; P<0.01) and available P with biomass P (r = 0.54; P<0.01). Soil N similarly revealed strong relationship with organic C (r = 0.52; P<0.01). As an outcome of spatial heterogeneity, biomass C and N revealed heterogeneous relationship among the three sites, which was significant only in one of the three sites (r = 0.63; P<0.01). Similarly in one site, 78.8% variation in available P was due to soil moisture and biomass P, and 75.9% of variation in biomass N has been attributed to soil moisture and soil N.

A comparative assessment of the pools of fungal and bacterial biomass in dark humus forest soil has been performed using luminescent microscopy and cascade filtration. Cascade filtration indicates that the bacterial biomass is compatible to the fungal biomass (31–54% for bacteria and 46–69% for fungi) in the upper horizons of investigated soil. However, in the lower horizons, the bacterial biomass predominates (up to 69% at the depth of 100 cm). Thus, the cascade filtration method has made it possible to refine data on the bacterial biomass in the soil and to show for the first time that the biomass of bacteria is compatible to the biomass of fungi in the upper soil horizons and exceeds fungal biomass in the lower horizons. This method provides for a more accurate assessment of both the number and the biomass of bacteria, which allows revising the opinion of many soil microbiologists on the significant prevalence of fungal biomass in soils.