Increases in soil CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O emissions with warming depend on plant species in restored alpine meadows of Wugong Mountain,China

Purpose

Ecosystem restorations can impact carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions which are important greenhouse gasses. Alpine meadows are degraded worldwide, but restorations are increasing. Because their soils represent large carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools, they may produce significant amounts of CO₂ and N₂O depending on the plant species used in restorations. In addition, warming and N deposition may impact soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions from restored meadows.

Materials and methods

We collected soils from degraded meadows and plots restored using three different plant species at Wugong Mountain (Jiangxi, China). We measured CO₂ and N₂O emissions when soils were incubated at different temperatures (15, 25 or 35 °C) and levels of N addition (control vs. 4 g m^?2) to understand their responses to warming and N deposition.

Results and discussion

Dissolved organic C was higher in restored plots (especially with Fimbristylis dichotoma) compared to non-restored bare soils, and their soil inorganic N was lower. CO₂ emission rates were increased by vegetation restorations, decreased by N deposition, and increased by warming. CO₂ emission rates were similar for the three grass species at 15 and 25 °C, but they were lower with Miscanthus floridulus at 35 °C. Soils from F. dichotoma and Carex chinensis plots had higher N₂O emissions than degraded or M. floridulus plots, especially at 25 °C.

Conclusions

These results show that the effects of restorations on soil greenhouse gas emissions depended on plant species. In addition, these differences varied with temperature suggesting that future climate should be considered when choosing plant species in restorations to predict soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions and global warming potential.

     

Interactive effects of biochar addition and elevated carbon dioxide concentration on soil carbon and nitrogen pools in mine spoil

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the effects of biochar on improving nitrogen (N) pools in mine spoil and examine the effects of elevated CO₂ on soil carbon (C) storage.

Materials and methods

The experiment consisted of three plant species (Austrostipa ramossissima, Dichelachne micrantha, and Lomandra longifolia) planted in the N-poor mine spoil with application of biochar produced at three temperatures (650, 750, and 850 °C) under both ambient (400 μL L^?1) and elevated (700 μL L^?1) CO₂. We assessed mine spoil total C and N concentrations and stable C and N isotope compositions (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N), as well as hot water extractable organic C (HWEOC) and total N (HWETN) concentrations.

Results and discussion

Soil total N significantly increased following biochar application across all species. Elevated CO₂ induced soil C loss for A. ramossissima and D. micrantha without biochar application and D. micrantha with the application of biochar produced at 750 °C. In contrast, elevated CO₂ exhibited no significant effect on soil total C for A. littoralis, D. micrantha, or L. longifolia under any other biochar treatments.

Conclusions

Biochar application is a promising means to improve N retention and thus, reduce environmentally harmful N fluxes in mine spoil. However, elevated CO₂ exhibited no significant effects on increasing soil total C, which indicated that mine spoil has limited potential to store rising atmospheric CO₂.

     

Nitrogen addition impacts on the emissions of greenhouse gases depending on the forest type: a case study in Changbai Mountain,Northeast China

Purpose

Anthropogenic-induced greenhouse gas (GHG) emission rates derived from the soil are influenced by long-term nitrogen (N) deposition and N fertilization. However, our understanding of the interplay between increased N load and GHG emissions among soil aggregates is incomplete.

Materials and methods

Here, we conducted an incubation experiment to explore the effects of soil aggregate size and N addition on GHG emissions. The soil aggregate samples (0–10 cm) were collected from two 6-year N addition experiment sites with different vegetation types (mixed Korean pine forest vs. broad-leaved forest) in Northeast China. Carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and methane (CH₄) production were quantified from the soil samples in the laboratory using gas chromatography with 24-h intervals during the incubation (at 20 °C for 168 h with 80 % field water capacity).

Results and discussion

The results showed that the GHG emission/uptake rates were significantly higher in the micro-aggregates than in the macro-aggregates due to the higher concentration of soil bio-chemical properties (DOC, MBC, NO₃ ^?, NH₄ ⁺, SOC and TN) in smaller aggregates. For the N addition treatments, the emission/uptake rates of GHG decreased after N addition across aggregate sizes especially in mixed Korean pine forest where CO₂ emission was decreased about 30 %. Similar patterns in GHG emission/uptake rates expressed by per soil organic matter basis were observed in response to N addition treatments, indicating that N addition might decrease the decomposability of SOM in mixed Korean pine forest. The global warming potential (GWP) which was mainly contributed by CO₂ emission (>98 %) decreased in mixed Korean pine forest after N addition but no changes in broad-leaved forest.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that soil aggregate size is an important factor controlling GHG emissions through mediating the content of substrate resources in temperate forest ecosystems. The inhibitory effect of N addition on the GHG emission/uptake rates depends on the forest type.

     

Mechanisms behind the stimulation of nitrification by N input in subtropical acid forest soil

Purpose

Input of N as NH₄ ⁺ is known to stimulate nitrification and to enhance the risk of N losses through NO₃ ^? leaching in humid subtropical soils. However, the mechanisms responsible for this stimulation effect have not been fully addressed.

Materials and methods

In this study, an acid subtropical forest soil amended with urea at rates of 0, 20, 50, 100 mg N kg^?1 was pre-incubated at 25 °C and 60 % water-holding capacity (WHC) for 60 days. Gross N transformation rates were then measured using a ¹⁵N tracing methodology.

Results and discussion

Gross rates of mineralization and nitrification of NH₄ ⁺-N increased (P?<?0.05), while gross rate of NO₃ ^? immobilization significantly decreased with increasing N input rates (P?<?0.001). A significant relationship was established between the gross nitrification rate of NH₄ ⁺ and the gross mineralization rate (R ²?=?0.991, P?<?0.01), so was between net nitrification rate of NH₄ ⁺ and the net mineralization rate (R ²?=?0.973, P?<?0.05).

Conclusions

Stimulation effect of N input on the gross rate of nitrification of NH₄ ⁺-N in the acid soil, partially, resulted from stimulation effect of N input on organic N mineralization, which provides pH-favorable microsites for the nitrification of NH₄ ⁺ in acid soils (De Boer et al., Soil Biol Biochem 20:845–850, 1988; Prosser, Advan Microb Physiol 30:125–181, 1989). The stimulated gross nitrification rate with the decreased gross NO₃ ^? immobilization rate under the elevated N inputs could lead to accumulation of NO₃ ^? and to enhance the risk of NO₃ ^? loss from humid forest soils.

     

Nitrogen transformation rates and N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O producing pathways in two pasture soils

Purpose

Better understanding of N transformations and the regulation of N₂O-related N transformation processes in pasture soil contributes significantly to N fertilizer management and development of targeted mitigation strategies.

Materials and methods

¹⁵N tracer technique combined with acetylene (C₂H₂) method was used to measure gross N transformation rates and to distinguish pathways of N₂O production in two Australian pasture soils. The soils were collected from Glenormiston (GN) and Terang (TR), Victoria, Australia, and incubated at a soil moisture content of 60% water-filled pore space (WFPS) and at temperature of 20 °C.

Results and discussion

Two tested pasture soils were characterized by high mineralization and immobilization turnover. The average gross N nitrification rate (n_tot) was 7.28 mg N kg^?1 day^?1 in TR soil () and 5.79 mg N kg^?1 day^?1 in GN soil. Heterotrophic nitrification rates (n_h), which accounting for 50.8 and 41.9% of n_tot, and 23.4 and 30.1% of N₂O emissions in GN and TR soils, respectively, played a role similar with autotrophic nitrification in total nitrification and N₂O emission. Denitrification rates in two pasture soils were as low as 0.003–0.004 mg N kg^?1 day^?1 under selected conditions but contributed more than 30% of N₂O emissions.

Conclusions

Results demonstrated that two tested pasture soils were characterized by fast N transformation rates of mineralization, immobilization, and nitrification. Heterotrophic nitrification could be an important NO₃^?–N production transformation process in studied pasture soils. Except for autotrophic nitrification, roles of heterotrophic nitrification and denitrification in N₂O emission in two pasture soils should be considered when developing mitigation strategies.

     

Temperature sensitivity of gross N transformation rates in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Purpose

Alpine ecosystems on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are sensitive to global climatic changes. However, the effects of temperature change resulting from global warming or seasonal variation on soil N availability in those ecosystems are largely unknown.

Materials and methods

We therefore conducted a ¹⁵N tracing study to investigate the effects of various temperatures (5–35 °C) on soil gross N transformation rates in an alpine meadow (AM) soil on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. A natural secondary coniferous forest (CF) soil from the subtropical region was chosen as a reference to compare the temperature sensitivity of soil gross N transformation rates between alpine meadow and coniferous forest.

Results and discussion

Our results showed that increasing temperature increased gross N mineralization and NH₄ ⁺ immobilization rates and overall enhanced N availability for plants in both soils. However, both rates in the CF soil were less sensitive to a temperature change from 5 to 15 °C compared to the AM soil. In both soils, different N retention mechanisms could have been operating with respect to changing temperatures in the different climatic regions. In the CF soil, the absence of NO₃ ^? production at all incubation temperatures suggests that in the subtropical soil which is characterized by high rainfall, an increase in N availability due to increasing temperature could be completely retained in soils. In contrast, the AM soil may be vulnerable to N losses with respect to temperature changes, in particular at 35 °C, in which higher nitrification rates were coupled with lower NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^? immobilization rates.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that increased soil temperature arising from global warming and seasonal variations will most likely enhance soil N availability for plants and probably increase the risk of N losses in the alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

     

Effect of N addition,moisture, and temperature on soil microbial respiration and microbial biomass in forest soil at different stages of litter decomposition

Purpose

The objective of the present study was to investigate the interactive effects of nitrogen (N) addition, temperature, and moisture on soil microbial respiration, microbial biomass, and metabolic quotient (qCO₂) at different decomposition stages of different tree leaf litters.

Materials and methods

A laboratory incubation experiment with and without litter addition was conducted for 80 days at two temperatures (15 and 25 °C), two wetting intensities (35 and 50 % water-filled porosity space (WFPS)) and two doses of N addition (0 and 4.5 g N m^?2, as NH₄NO₃). The tree leaf litters included three types of broadleaf litters, a needle litter, and a mixed litter of them. Soil microbial respiration, microbial biomass, and qCO₂ along with other soil properties were measured at two decomposition stages of tree leaf litters.

Results and discussion

The increase in soil cumulative carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux and microbial biomass during the incubation depended on types of tree leaf litters, N addition, and hydrothermal conditions. Soil microbial biomass carbon (C) and N and qCO₂ were significantly greater in all litter-amended than in non-amended soils. However, the difference in the qCO₂ became smaller during the late period of incubation, especially at 25 °C. The interactive effect of temperature with soil moisture and N addition was significant for affecting the cumulative litter-derived CO₂-C flux at the early and late stages of litter decomposition. Furthermore, the interactive effect of soil moisture and N addition was significant for affecting the cumulative CO₂ flux at the late stage of litter decomposition but not early in the experiment.

Conclusions

This present study indicated that the effects of addition of N and hydrothermal conditions on soil microbial respiration, qCO₂, and concentrations of labile C and N depended on types of tree leaf litters and the development of litter decomposition. The results highlight the importance of N availability and hydrothermal conditions in interactively regulating soil microbial respiration and microbial C utilization during litter decomposition under forest ecosystems.

     

A new 3D conceptual structure modeling of biochars by molecular mechanic and molecular dynamic simulation

Purpose

The combination of analytical chemistry and simulation methods provides more complete information about biochars.

Materials and methods

The biochars prepared by pyrolysis of the crop straw at 300 and 500 °C were investigated by elemental analysis, pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) and solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry to build the 2D structural models of biochars. The most stable and balanced 3D conformations were gained by optimizing in the optimized potential for liquid simulation (OPLS) force field of molecular mechanic and molecular dynamic simulation of HyperChem® software.

Results and discussion

There were few O-containing and N-containing compounds in biochars. According to the results of Py-GC-MS, 41 and 28 pyrolysis products were identified for the building of the conceptual models of 300 and 500 °C biochars. Solid-state ¹³C NMR data also demonstrated that there were very high values of unsaturated C in biochars. The agreement between elemental concentration and chemical functional groups of two simulated models and experimental biochars was successfully achieved. Quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) properties were calculated and indicated the correlation of molecular structures with properties such as surface area, volume, polarizability, refractivity, and hydration energy.

Conclusions

The conceptual structural models of corn straw biochars produced at 300 and 500 °C were C₇₈H₆₈N₂O₂₅ and C₅₉H₂₉NO₁₀, respectively. The simulation results showed that the 3D structure of the 300 °C biochar with ?4 charges and the nonprotonated 3D structure of the 500 °C biochar were the most stable. Deprotonation reaction is an endothermic process.

     

Decomposition of soil organic carbon influenced by soil temperature and moisture in Andisol and Inceptisol paddy soils in a cold temperate region of Japan

Purpose

Understanding the effects of temperature and moisture on soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics is crucial to predict the cycling of C in terrestrial ecosystems under a changing climate. For single rice cropping system, there are two contrasting phases of SOC decomposition in rice paddy soils: mineralization under aerobic conditions during the off-rice season and fermentation under anaerobic conditions during the growth season. This study aimed to investigate the effects of soil temperature and moisture on SOC decomposition under the aerobic and subsequently anaerobic conditions.

Materials and methods

Two Japanese paddy soils (Andisol and Inceptisol) were firstly incubated under four temperatures (±5, 5, 15, and 25°C) and two moisture levels (60 and 100% water-filled pore space (WFPS)) under aerobic conditions for 24 weeks. Then, these samples were incubated for 4 weeks at 30°C and under anaerobic conditions. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) productions were measured during the two incubation stages to monitor the SOC decomposition dynamics. The temperature sensitivity of SOC was estimated by calculation of the Q₁₀ parameter.

Results and discussion

The total CO₂ production after the 24-week aerobic incubation was significantly higher in both soils for increasing soil temperature and moisture (P < 0.01). During the subsequent anaerobic incubation, total decomposed C (sum of CO₂ and CH₄ productions) was significantly lower in samples that had been aerobically incubated at higher temperatures (15 and 25°C). Moreover, CH₄ production was extremely low in all soil samples. Total decomposed C after the two incubation stages ranged from 256.8 to 1146.1 mg C kg^?1 in the Andisol and from 301.3 to 668.8 mg C kg^?1 in the Inceptisol. However, the ratios of total decomposed C to SOC ranged from 0.29 to 1.29% in the Andisol and from 2.21 to 4.91% in the Inceptisol.

Conclusions

Both aerobic and anaerobic decompositions of SOC in two paddy soils were significantly affected by soil temperature and moisture. Maintaining optimal soil temperature and medium moisture during the off-rice season might be an appropriate agricultural management to mitigate CH₄ emission in the following rice growth season. Although it is high in SOC content, Andisol has less biodegradable components compared to Inceptisol and this could be a probable reason for the distinct difference in temperature sensitivity of SOC decomposition between two paddy soils.

     

Climate change affects soil labile organic carbon fractions in a Tibetan alpine meadow

Purpose

Changes in bioactive soil C pools and their temperature sensitivities will dominate the fate of soil organic C in a warmer future, which is not well understood in highland ecosystems. This study was conducted in order to evaluate climate change, especially cooling effects, on soil labile organic C (LOC) pools in a Tibetan alpine meadow.

Materials and methods

A short-term reciprocal translocation experiment was implemented to stimulate climate warming (downward translocation) and cooling (upward translocation) using an elevation gradient on the Tibetan Plateau. Variations in soil microbial biomass C (MBC), dissolved organic C (DOC) and LOC were analyzed.

Results and discussion

Over the range of soil temperature from 0.02 to 5.5 °C, warming averagely increased soil MBC, DOC and LOC by 15.3, 17.0 and 3.7 % while cooling decreased them by 11.0, 11.9 and 3.2 %, respectively. Moreover, warming generally increased the proportion of DOC in LOC but cooling had an opposite effect, while the response of the MBC proportion to DOC and LOC varied depending on vegetation type. Soil MBC, DOC and LOC pools were positively related to soil temperature and showed a hump-shaped relationship with soil moisture with a threshold of about 30–35 %. Although soil DOC was more sensitive to warming (5.1 % °C^?1) than to cooling (3.0 % °C^?1), soil LOC showed a symmetrical response due to regulation by soil moisture.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that climate change would not only change the size of soil LOC pools but also their quality. Therefore, cooling effects and regulation of soil moisture should be considered to evaluate the fate of soil organic C in Tibetan alpine meadows in a warmer future.

     

Effectiveness of crop straws,and swine manure in ameliorating acidic red soils: a laboratory study

Purpose

Crop straws and animal manure have the potential to ameliorate acidic soils, but their effectiveness and the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of two crop (maize and soybean) straws, swine manure, and their application rates on acidity changes in acidic red soils (Ferralic Cambisol) differing in initial pH.

Materials and methods

Two red soils were collected after 21 years of the (1) no fertilization history (CK soil, pH 5.46) and (2) receiving annual chemical nitrogen (N) fertilization (N soil, pH 4.18). The soils were incubated for 105 days at 25 °C after amending the crop straws or manure at 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 g kg^?1 (w/w), and examined for changes in pH, exchangeable acidity, N mineralization, and speciation in 2 M KCl extract as ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate plus nitrite (NO₃^??+?NO₂^?).

Results and discussion

All three organic materials significantly decreased soil acidity (dominated by aluminum) as the application rate increased. Soybean straw was as effective (sometimes more effective) as swine manure in raising pH in both soils. Soybean straw and swine manure both significantly reduced exchangeable acidity at amendment rate as low as 10 g kg^?1 in the highly acidic N soil, but swine manure was more effective in reducing the total acidity especially exchangeable aluminum (e.g., in the N soil from initial 5.79 to 0.50 cmol₍₊₎ kg^?1 compared to 2.82 and 4.19 cmol₍₊₎ kg^?1 by soybean straw and maize straw, respectively). Maize straw was less effective than soybean straw in affecting soil pH and the acidity. The exchangeable aluminum decreased at a rate of 4.48 cmol₍₊₎ kg^?1 per pH unit increase for both straws compared to 6.25 cmol₍₊₎ kg^?1 per pH unit from the manure. The NO₃^??+?NO₂^? concentration in soil increased significantly for swine manure amendment, but decreased markedly for straw treatments. The high C/N ratio in the straws led to N immobilization and pH increase.

Conclusions

While swine manure continues to be effective for ameliorating soil acidity, crop straw amendment has also shown a good potential to ameliorate the acidity of the red soil. Thus, after harvest, straws should preferably not be removed from the field, but mixed with the soil to decelerate acidification. The long-term effect of straw return on soil acidity management warrants further determination under field conditions.

     

Assessing the potential of using biochar in mine rehabilitation under elevated atmospheric CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> concentration

Purpose

Re-establishment of soil nitrogen (N) capital is a priority in mine rehabilitation. We aimed to evaluate the effects of biochar addition on improving mine spoil N pools and the influence of elevated CO₂ concentration on mine rehabilitation.

Materials and methods

We assessed the effects of pinewood biochar, produced at three temperatures (650, 750 and 850 °C, referred as B₆₅₀, B₇₅₀ and B₈₅₀, respectively), on mine spoil total N concentrations with five different plant species, including a tree species (Eucalyptus crebra), N-fixing shrubs (Acacia floribunda and Allocasuarina littoralis) and C₃ and C₄ grasses (Austrodanthonia tenuior and Themeda australis) incubated at ambient (400 μL L^?1) and elevated (700 μL L^?1) atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, as well as the effects of elevated CO₂ on mine rehabilitation.

Results and discussion

Soil total N significantly improved following biochar incorporation under all plant species (P < 0.05) except for T. Australis. E. crebra had the highest soil total N (0.197%, 0.198% and 0.212% for B₆₅₀, B₇₅₀ and B₈₅₀, respectively). Different from the negligible influence of elevated CO₂ on soil properties under the grasses and the N-fixing shrubs, elevated CO₂ significantly increased soil water and hot water extractable organic C (WEOC and HWEOC, respectively) and decreased total C under E. crebra, indicating that the nutrient demands were not met.

Conclusions

Biochar addition showed the potential in mine rehabilitation in terms of improving soil N pool, especially with E. crebra. However, it would be more difficulty to rehabilitate mine spoils in future with the rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration.

     

Temperature-dependent oxide removal from manganese- and iron oxide-coated soil redox bars

Purpose

Soil temperature is a fundamental parameter affecting not only microbial activity but also manganese (Mn^III,IV) and iron (Fe^III) oxide reduction rates. The relationship between Mn^III,IV oxide removal from oxide-coated redox bars is missing at present. This study investigated the effect of variable soil temperatures on oxide removal by Mn^III,IV and Fe^III oxide-coated redox bars in water-saturated soil columns in the laboratory.

Materials and methods

The Mn coatings contained the mineral birnessite, whereas the Fe coatings contained a mixture of ferrihydrite and goethite. Additionally, platinum (Pt) electrodes designed to measure the redox potential (E_H) were installed in the soil columns, which were filled with either a humic topsoil with an organic carbon (C_org) content of 85 g kg^?1 (pH 5.8) or a subsoil containing 2 g C_org kg^?1 (pH 7.5). Experiments were performed at 5, 15, and 25 °C.

Results and discussion

Although elevated soil temperatures accelerated the decrease in E_H after water saturation in the topsoil, no E_H decreases regardless of soil temperature occurred in the subsoil. Besides soil temperature, the importance of soil organic matter as an electron donor is highlighted in this case. Complete removal of the Mn^III,IV oxide coating was observed after 28, 14, and 7 days in the soil columns filled with topsoil at 5, 15, and 25 °C, respectively. Along the Fe redox bars, Fe^III reducing conditions first appeared at 15 °C and oxide removal was enhanced at 25 °C because of lower E_H, with the preferential dissolution of ferrihydrite over goethite as revealed by visual differences in the Fe^III oxide coating. Oxide removal along redox bars followed the thermodynamics of the applied minerals in the order birnessite > ferrihydrite > goethite.

Conclusions

In line with Van’t Hoff’s rule, turnover rates of Mn^III,IV and Fe^III oxide reduction increased as a result of increased soil temperatures. Taking into account the stability lines of the designated minerals, E_H-pH conditions were in accordance with oxide removal. Soil temperature must therefore be considered a master variable when evaluating the oxide removal of redox bars employed for the monitoring of soil redox status.

     

Alpine meadow restorations by non-dominant species increased soil nitrogen transformation rates but decreased their sensitivity to warming

Purpose

Alpine meadow soils are large carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools correlated significantly with global C and N cycling. Soil N transformations, including nitrification and N mineralization, are key processes controlling N availability. Alpine meadow degradations are common worldwide, and vegetation restorations have been widely implemented. However, grass species used for restorations may alter soil N transformations or their response to warming and N deposition due to divergent plant traits and their different effects on soil characteristic. To understand the effects of meadow restorations by non-historically dominant species on N transformations, we measured N transformation rates in restored soils and control soils under the context of warming and N deposition.

Materials and methods

We collected soils from plots restored by dominant (Miscanthus floridulus) and non-dominant species (including Carex chinensis and Fimbristylis dichotoma) and non-restored plots in alpine meadows of Wugong Mountain, China. We measured nitrification and N mineralization rates when soils were incubated at different temperature (15 or 25 °C) and N additions (control vs. 4 g m^?2) to examine their responses to restoration species, warming, and N.

Results and discussion

Vegetation restored soils differed substantially from non-restored bare soils. Total N, total organic C, pH, and dissolved organic C contributed the most to the separation. Restoration altered soil N transformations substantially, even though the effects varied among restoration species. Specifically, non-historically dominant species accelerated N transformations, while the originally dominant species decreased N transformations. In addition, sensitivity of nitrification to warming in restored soils was decreased by restorations. Soils restored by originally dominant species were higher in sensitivity of N transformations to warming than those restored by the other two species. Warming increased nitrification rates by 45.5 and 17.4 % in bare soils and restored soils, respectively. Meanwhile, N mineralization rates were increased by 52.8 and 21.9 %, respectively.

Conclusions

Vegetation restoration of the degraded meadows impacted N transformations and their sensitivity to warming. The effects varied with identity of the restoration species, suggesting that grass species should be considered in future restorations of degraded meadows in terms of their divergent effects on N transformations and sensitivity to warming.

     

Clay amendment to sandy soil—effect of clay concentration and ped size on nutrient dynamics after residue addition

Purpose

Crop growth on sandy soils can be increased by claying. In modified sandy soils, the added clay is in the form of peds ranging in size from millimetres to centimetres creating a highly non-uniform matrix where ped size could influence nutrient availability and organic C binding. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of clay addition rate and ped size in residue amended sandy soil on soil respiration, nutrient availability and organic C retention.

Materials and methods

In this study, clay peds of 1, 2 or 3 mm size derived from a clay-rich Vertosol (73 % clay) were added to a sandy soil (3 % clay) at clay addition rates of 10 and 20 % w/w. After the addition of ground faba bean residue (C/N 37) at 10 g kg^?1, the soils were incubated for 45 days at 80 % of water-holding capacity.

Results and discussion

Clay addition had no consistent effect on cumulative respiration, but reduced NH₄ ⁺ availability with a greater reduction at 20 % compared to 10 % clay and with 1 and 2 mm compared to 3 mm peds. Sandy soil with clay peds had a greater maximum NH₄ ⁺ and P sorption capacity than sandy soil alone, and sorption capacity was higher at 20 % compared to 10 % clay addition and greater with 1 mm compared to 3 mm peds. Retrieval of clay peds at the end of the experiment showed ped breakdown during the experiment but also the formation of larger peds. Compared to the <53 μm fraction added at the start of the experiment, the total organic carbon (TOC) content of the <53 μm fraction was increased up to nearly two fold, particularly in the smaller peds (1 and 2 mm).

Conclusions

When sandy soils are amended with clay, N availability and organic C binding depend on both clay addition rate and ped size.

     

Responses of soil microbial community to nitrogen fertilizer and precipitation regimes in a semi-arid steppe

Purpose

Changes of nitrogen (N) cycle caused by N fertilization and precipitation regimes have affected the key ecosystem structure and functions in temperate steppe, which may modify the structure of soil microbial communities involved in N transformation. This paper was designated to examine the response of soil ammonia oxidizers and denitrifiers to the N fertilization and precipitation regimes in a semi-arid steppe where N and water contents are major limiting factors of the grassland productivity.

Materials and methods

This study was based on a long-term N fertilization and precipitation regimes experiment in Inner Mongolia (116° 17′ 20″ E, 42° 2′ 29″ N). The treatments including CK (control), R (reduced precipitation), W (30% increase in precipitation), N (10 g N m^?2 y^?1), RN (reduced precipitation and 10 g N m^?2 y^?1), and WN (30% increase in precipitation and 10 g N m^?2 y^?1). Soil basic chemical properties and microbial activities were analyzed. Molecular methods were applied to determine the abundance, structure and diversity of ammonia oxidizers and denitrifiers. Statistical analysis detected the main and interactive effect of treatments on soil microbial communities and revealed the relationship between soil microbial community structures and environmental factors.

Results and discussion

N fertilization significantly increased ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) abundance. Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) community structure was markedly changed in N fertilizer treatment and strongly affected by soil pH, while soil nitrate and water content correlated with AOB community structure. Soil nitrate was the key factor influencing nirK gene community structure, while soil pH and water content explained much of the variations of nosZ gene community. AOB-amoA and nosZ gene community diversities were influenced by precipitation regimes and interaction of N fertilization and precipitation regimes, respectively.

Conclusions

N fertilization and precipitation regimes had significant influences on the changes of soil properties and microbial functional communities. Soil nitrification was mainly driven by AOB in the semi-arid grassland. Changes of substrate content and soil pH were the key factors in shifting functional microbial communities. The non-synergistic effects of N fertilization and precipitation regimes on the microbial functional groups indicated that the negative effect of lower pH induced by N fertilization would be alleviated by precipitation regimes, which should be well considered in grassland restoration.

     

Steam activation of biochars facilitates kinetics and pH-resilience of sulfamethazine sorption

Purpose

Sulfamethazine (SMT) is increasingly detected in environmental matrices due to its versatile use as antibiotics. We aimed to investigate the benefits and roles of steam activation of biochars with respect to SMT sorption kinetics and equilibrium sorption.

Materials and methods

Biochars were produced from burcucumber plant and tea waste using a pyrolyzer at a temperature of 700 °C for 2 h. The biochar samples were treated with 5 mL min^?1 of steam for an additional 45 min for post-synthesis steam activation. The SMT sorption on the unmodified and steam activated biochars were compared.

Results and discussion

The time taken to reach equilibrium was significantly less for steam activated biochars (～4 h) than non-activated biochars (>24 h). Up to 98 % of SMT could be removed from aqueous solutions by steam activated biochars. The sorption kinetic behaviors were well described by the pseudo-second model and SMT sorption rates of steam activated biochars (k ₂?～?1.11–1.57 mg g^?1 min^?1) were significantly higher than that of the unmodified biochars (k ₂?～?0.04–0.11 mg g^?1 min^?1) because of increased availability of accessible porous structure with averagely larger pore diameters. Moreover, the equilibrium sorption on the unmodified biochars was significantly influenced by increasing solution pH (～30–50 % reduction) because of speciation change of SMT, whereas steam activated biochars manifested much stronger sorption resilience against pH variation (～2–4 % reduction only) because the enhanced porosity offset the effect of unfavorable electrostatic repulsion.

Conclusions

The observed features of steam activated biochars would render their applications more versatile and reliable in field throughout changeable environmental conditions.

     

Effects of fertilization practices on aluminum fractions and species in a wheat soil

Purpose

To better understand the effect of fertilizer practices on soil acidification and soil organic matter (SOM) stocks in a rice-wheat system, a field experiment was conducted to (i) investigate the influence of fertilizer practices on the Al forms in solid phases and the distribution of Al species in water extracts and (ii) explore the relationship between the Al forms, the quantity and composition of SOM, and soil acidity.

Materials and methods

Seven fertilizer treatments including CL (no fertilizer), NK, PK, NPK, N₂PK (PK and 125 % of N), NP₂K (NK and 125 % of P), and organic fertilizer (OF) were applied to induce various changes in pH and SOM composition (i.e., total C and N contents, C/N ratio, and SOM recalcitrant indices) in a rice-wheat system. After 6-year cultivation, different pools of Al forms (i.e., amorphous Al; organically bound Al of varying stability; exchangeable Al; water-soluble inorganic Al³⁺, Al-OH, Al-F, Al-SiO₃, and Al-SO₄; and organic Al monomers) were quantified and related with SOM composition and soil pH during the wheat phase.

Results and discussion

Fertilizer types significantly changed soil pH and SOM composition and which explained 84 % of the variance of Al forms using redundancy analysis. An interaction between soil pH and SOM quality on Al forms also existed but only accounted for a very small (6 %) portion of the variation. Compared to CL and chemical fertilizer, OF practice with relative low SOM stabilization is likely to favor the formation of amorphous Al in order to bind more SOM. The decrease in exchangeable acidity and water-extractable Al via hydroxyl-Al precipitation but not in the form of organo-aluminum complexes evidenced this phenomenon. In contrast, chemical fertilizer input increased exchangeable Al and water extract Al (especially Al³⁺), partly at the expense of organically bound Al. The destabilization of organic-aluminum complexes was a mechanism of pH buffering evidenced by the increased soluble Al-dissolved organic matter (DOM) as soil pH decreases. Further, the magnitude of this trend was much greater for elevated N input compared with P input.

Conclusions

Chemical fertilizer with relative high SOM stabilization favored the formation of exchangeable Al and soluble Al resulting in soil acidification, whereas OF with relative low SOM stabilization tended to transform exchangeable Al and soluble Al to amorphous Al, thereby alleviating soil acidification and enhancing C stocks in a rice-wheat system.

     

Biochar nutrient availability rather than its water holding capacity governs the growth of both C3 and C4 plants

Purpose

Biochar has been suggested as a soil conditioner to improve soil fertility and crop productivity while simultaneously mitigate global climate change by storing carbon in the soil. This study investigated the effect of pine (Pinus radiata) biochar application on soil water availability, nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) pools and growth of C3 and C4 plants.

Materials and methods

In a glasshouse pot trial, a pine biochar (untreated) and nutrient-enriched pine biochar were applied to a market garden soil with C3 (Spinacia oleracea L.) and C4 (Amaranthus paniculatus L.) plants at rates of 0, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 % (w/w). Plant biomass, soil pH, moisture content, water holding capacity (WHC), hot water extractable organic C (HWEOC), and total N (HWETN), total C and N, and their isotope compositions (δ ¹³C and δ ¹⁵N) of soils and plants were measured at the end of the experimentation.

Results and discussion

The soil moisture content increased while plant biomass decreased with increasing untreated biochar application rates. The addition of nutrient-enriched biochar significantly improved plant biomass in comparison to the untreated biochar addition at most application rates. Biochar application also increased the levels of labile organic C and N pools as indicated by HWEOC and HWETN.

Conclusions

The results suggested that the addition of pine biochar significantly improved soil water availability but not plant growth. The application of nutrient-enriched pine biochar demonstrated that the growth of C3 and C4 plants was governed by biochar nutrient availability rather than its water holding capacity under the pot trial condition.

     

Soil organic carbon as a key predictor of N in forest soils of Brazil

Purpose

Despite the ancillary knowledge that soil N is chiefly retained as soil organic matter, little is known about how it is affected by other soil and environmental factors, especially in the tropics. In this study, we performed a comprehensive survey of soils under native vegetation in Minas Gerais, Brazil, aiming to (a) measure soil Kjeldahl-N concentrations to a 1-m depth, (b) identify the main affecting factors of soil N retention, and (c) predict N through soil profile based on organic C (SOC) and its main conditioning factors.

Materials and methods

Soils under 36 fragments of native forest and savanna were sampled at five depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–100 cm) and characterized by physical and chemical analyses, including total N determined by the micro-Kjeldahl method. Single and multivariate regressions were used to predict N concentrations based on soil properties and climatic factors.

Results and discussion

The average N concentrations ranged between 0.12 and 7.54 g kg^?1, decreasing with depth, and can be predicted using SOC concentrations (R ² = 0.86). Multivariate regressions using more input data, namely texture, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and altitude increased slightly R ² values (0.68–0.90) for separate soil depths, but not for the whole dataset (R ² = 0.85).

Conclusions

We demonstrated that N can be adequately predicted based on SOC concentrations, for any depth and forest type. The implications of the stable SOC/N relation and their coupled cycles and the environmental factors affecting N retention in Brazilian weathered soils are further discussed.