季节性冻融土壤水热耦合运移模拟

根据季节性冻融条件下土壤垂直一维水热运移状况,在地表能量质量平衡条件下,利用水热耦合模型对土壤温度和水分变化进行了模拟。模拟时考虑土壤冻结时冰和水对土壤体积热容、热传导及导水度的影响,并考虑了雪盖层的影响。本模型由实验所在地2008年1月1日至2010年12月31日连续3 a气象数据驱动,用实测地温、水分和冻结深度数据进行验证。结果表明,在地面以下0、5、40、80、160 cm等不同深处模拟温度与实测温度均方根误差(RMSE)分别为3.65、1.59、1.75、1.35、1.64℃,冻结深度也趋一致。除去表层,其他不同深度土壤含水量模拟值与实测值平均误差在3%左右,均方根误差低于4%。此模型及参数化方案能够模拟季节性冻融条件下一定深度土壤温度、水分运移状况,可用于多年冻土区活动层水、热变化规律研究,并可与生态过程模型耦合,从而改进冻土环境下生态系统模型中土壤温度、水分和冻融深度的模拟精度。     

冻融期积雪覆盖下土壤水热交互效应

为了研究季节性冻土区土壤水热时空分异特征,揭示冻融过程中的水热相互作用机理及其复杂性。在松嫩平原黑土区,以野外实测试验数据为基础,分别建立裸地、自然降雪、积雪压实和积雪加厚覆盖处理条件下20 cm土层土壤含水率和温度的耦合模型,并通过对比模型的预测效果研究土壤水热变化的复杂程度,采用差异性分析和基于小波变换的分形理论方法定量研究含水率与温度序列的变异波动性和分维指标,进而验证不同覆盖处理条件对于土壤水热空间变异复杂性的影响。结果表明:冻结期,积雪阻碍了环境因素对于土壤水热迁移过程的影响,土壤含水率和温度的耦合效果较好,并且预测值与实测值能够较好的吻合,裸地、自然降雪、积雪压实、积雪加厚处理条件下的相对误差分别为0.42%、0.31%、0.13%和0.06%,随着积雪厚度的增加和密度的增大,含水率和温度的差异性减弱,复杂程度逐渐降低;融化期,积雪覆盖区的融雪水入渗抑制了土壤温度稳定提升,含水率出现骤然升高的现象,自然降雪、积雪压实、积雪加厚条件下的含水率变化分别为14.31%、15.90%和16.91%,土壤温度变化范围分别为-5.9~5.3、-3.6~6.9和-3.1~3.8℃,二者的互作效应减弱,并且随着积雪覆盖量的增加,土壤的水热时空迁移复杂程度逐渐增强。同时,采用基于小波变换的分形理论研究土壤含水率和温度的时间序列复杂性精度较高、结果可靠。该研究对于揭示冻土区土壤水热迁移动态规律,准确预测春播期土壤温度和墒情,合理高效地利用松嫩平原的土壤水资源具有重要的理论价值和现实意义。     

地表覆盖对土壤热参数变化的影响

覆盖条件下土壤热性质的研究对于包气带水热运移及覆盖技术的应用均有重要意义。使用11针热脉冲探头对沙黄土不同深度(6 mm、18 mm、30 mm)的土壤热扩散率、热容量和热导率三个热参数进行测定,并进行地表覆盖(石子覆盖、秸秆覆盖)处理,旨在探究覆盖条件下表层土壤热性质动态变化过程及土壤热参数与水分的内在联系。结果表明:(1)相对于裸土,石子和秸秆覆盖条件下土壤热参数增大,且覆盖对于靠近表层土壤热参数的影响更加明显;(2)随降雨的发生,土壤热参数均增大,在两次降雨期间,土壤热参数逐渐减小,覆盖与裸土热参数差异逐渐增大;(3)三个热参数随降雨的发生,其动态变化过程表现不同,热容量对降雨的响应最为敏感,热导率次之,热扩散率开始减小的时间较热导率和热容量滞后,三个深度滞后时间均在48 h以上,而且覆盖以后热扩散开始减小的时间较裸土推迟(48 h以上)。土壤容重不变的情况下,在频繁干湿交替的过程中土壤水分为土壤热参数变化的最主要影响因素。覆盖条件下土壤热参数与土壤含水量关系研究表明:石子和秸秆覆盖条件下土壤热参数与土壤含水量的变化关系与裸土条件下一致,热导率与含水量呈幂函数增加的趋势,热容量随含水量线性增加,热扩散率随含水量增加先增后减,本研究所用沙黄土热扩散率峰值对应的含水量在0.20 cm3cm-3左右。由以上结果可以发现覆盖对近表层土壤热参数的动态变化有显著的影响,覆盖的保水效应直接影响土壤热参数的变化。     

饱和土壤冻融过程中水热迁移数值模拟

利用土壤冻融过程的水热传输方程,模拟了饱和土壤冻融的年变化过程,分析了土壤冻结深度的年变化规律和水分向冻结界面迁移的特征。同时亦对影响土壤冻结深度的温度因子做了探讨。     

冻融期不同覆盖和气象因子对土壤导热率和热通量的影响

为了研究冻融期不同覆盖和气象因子对土壤导热率和土壤热通量的影响,在2015年11月-2016年4月期间,设置了裸地(BL)、自然积雪覆盖(SC)、6 000 kg/hm~2秸秆+积雪覆盖(SM1)、12 000 kg/hm~2秸秆+积雪覆盖(SM2)和18 000 kg/hm~2秸秆+积雪覆盖(SM3)5种不同的处理,测定了20、40、60和100 cm土壤含水率和温度,并计算出土壤导热率和土壤热通量。研究结果发现:在土壤冻结期,土壤导热率随着土壤的冻结而增大,直至完全冻结后基本保持不变,而在土壤融化期则逐渐减小。冻融阶段,积雪和秸秆覆盖会延缓土壤导热率的变化,减小土壤导热率的变化。冻结期,裸地处理的土壤导热率最大,平均为1.55 W/(m×K);融化期,裸地处理的土壤导热率最小,平均为0.79 W/(m×K)。在冻结期,土壤热量向上传递,传递量先增加后减小;在融化期,土壤热量向下传递,传递量逐渐增加。积雪和秸秆覆盖可以减小土壤热通量及其变化。积雪和秸秆覆盖条件下的土壤热通量比裸地少4.73~8.84 W/m~2。裸地处理的土壤导热率与水汽压的相关性最好,相关系数为-0.84,与风速的相关性最差,相关系数为-0.43。积雪和秸秆覆盖条件下的土壤导热率与环境温度的相关性最好,相关系数为-0.67~-0.73,与风速的相关性最差,相关系数为-0.18~-0.25。土壤热通量与太阳辐射的相关性最好,相关系数为-0.88~-0.91,与风速的相关性最差,相关系数为-0.44~-0.53。整体而言,积雪和秸秆覆盖会减小大气环境对土壤导热率和热通量的影响。     

积雪覆盖条件下土壤液态含水率空间分布

为了揭示季节性冻土区积雪覆盖条件下土壤垂直剖面各层次液态含水率序列的复杂性变化过程,基于(2013年11月-2014年4月)实测的田间数据,分析了裸地、自然降雪、积雪压实和积雪加厚覆盖处理条件下5、10、15、20、40、60、100、140、180 cm土层土壤液态含水率的变化过程,采用变异系数、方差等指标评价其时间序列的离散程度,同时利用小波变换信息量系数(wavelet transform information cost function,WT-ICF)值对含水率序列的复杂性进行识别验证。结果表明:冻融期,积雪覆盖阻碍了土壤与环境之间的水汽传输与能量交换过程,裸地处理条件下土壤含水率变幅最大的层面出现在20 cm土层处,其含水率变幅为18.31%,自然降雪、积雪压实和积雪加厚条件下其最大变幅层面分别为15、15、10 cm,层面逐渐上升;裸地处理条件下20 cm土层处的离散程度最大,随着积雪覆盖厚度的增加和密度的增大,序列离散程度最大的层面逐渐上移,其变异系数依次为6.0189%、6.1367%和6.8546%,波动性增强;小波变换信息量系数能够精确的测算各土层土壤含水率的复杂度,裸地、自然降雪、积雪压实和积雪加厚处理条件下其复杂性活跃层依次为21、18、14和10 cm,积雪的存在导致了环境因子对于土壤的影响区域减小,复杂性活跃层向地表移动。该研究揭示了北方寒区冻融期土壤水分迁移的复杂性特征,对于合理预测春播期土壤墒情,精准、高效的利用土壤水资源具有指导意义。     

积雪对地面热状况的影响

加拿大学者研究了积雪对地温稳定性的影响,结果显示,冻土区的土壤导热率比非冻土区的要大。在多年冻土区,积雪状况决定年均地温。有积雪覆盖存在时,年均地温提高了几度。在季节性冻土区,温度的增加主要取决于积雪持续时间,受积雪堆积过程中的参数影响不大。最大最小温度包络线的宽度越小,年均地温的图像越接近冰点。即使是在地表裸露或相类似的情况下,随深度增加温度包络线宽度变小,年均地温接近零点。在多年冻土区,有积雪覆盖时,随着深度的增加,年地温波动的振幅减小;与此相反,在季节性冻土区,有积雪覆盖时,随着深度的增加,年地温波动的振幅加大。春季融雪率对年均地温的影响不大。     

东北大豆农田保护性耕作水热效应的Meta分析

摘要：基于公开发表文章中有关东北地区保护性耕作下大豆农田土壤温度和湿度数据，以传统耕作（CT）为对照，免耕（NT）、少耕（RT）、秸秆覆盖（SM）、免耕秸秆覆盖（NTSM）为处理，应用Meta分析方法定量评估保护性耕作措施对东北大豆农田土壤水热状况的影响程度。结果表明：与CT相比，保护性耕作总体上使东北大豆农田0-170cm土层的土壤体积含水量增加了9.2%，使浅层土壤（0-30cm）温度降低了8.2%；不同气候条件下4种保护性耕作措施均能提高土壤湿度；秸秆覆盖可以提高大豆整个生育时期土壤含水量，且在营养生长期对土壤水热的影响最大，土壤温度随秸秆覆盖量的增加而增加；保护性耕作措施降低土壤温度的幅度随着土壤黏粒减少而降低，提高土壤湿度的幅度随土壤深度增加而降低；免耕秸秆覆盖在不同土壤深度的蓄水保墒效果最明显，在0-20cm土层提高了32.9%的土壤湿度。综上，保护性耕作措施较传统耕作具有增湿降温效应，气温、降水、生育时期、秸秆覆盖量、土壤类型及土壤深度均对保护性耕作下大豆农田的土壤水热状况产生影响。     

基于SHAW模型的青海湖流域土壤温度模拟

土壤温度与地气间能量交换、水分循环密切相关，影响着植被生长乃至区域生态安全。本文首先分析了青海湖流域2018年10月至2020年7月实测的不同深度土壤温度变化特征，然后结合2018年10月至2019年8月土壤温度对SHAW模型进行了率定，并根据2019年9月至2020年7月观测数据对率定参数进行了验证，在此基础上探究了植被和土壤参数对土壤温度变化的影响。结果表明：(1)伴随深度增加，土壤温度的变化幅度逐渐减小，5 cm深度逐日平均土壤温度的极差达到25.50℃，而35 cm深度极差为20.19℃，均远低于相同时期气温的极差(36.32℃)；(2)率定期各层土壤温度的纳什效率系数(NSE)均高于0.94，均方根误差(RMSE)由表层(1.91℃)至深层(0.86℃)逐渐减小，模型模拟精度随着土层深度增加而提高；验证期各评价指标略低于率定期，但各层NSE均超过0.93,RMSE由浅层的1.98℃降低至最深层的0.98℃，说明SHAW模型可以模拟青海湖流域土壤温度的动态变化；(3)土壤温度变化与叶面积指数、土壤容重均呈负相关关系，饱和导水率、孔径指数和进气势分别降低60%、40%和30%以后...     

降雨－径流－土壤混合层深度研究进展

降雨－径流－土壤混合层深度是模拟表层土壤－水－化学物质混合体内微观机制和宏观行为的一个重要参数。该文对混合层深度的基础理论以及实际应用等进行了综述,探讨了存在的问题和今后的方向研究。混合层深度受降雨因素、下垫面条件和溶质性质等影响,有关的概念和模型主要包括完全混合深度、不完全混合深度、有效作用深度、有效传递深度和等效径流迁移深度等,一般均采用示踪法和率定模型法确定，主要用于模拟土壤溶质随地表径流迁移过程、估算非点源污染物输出负荷和衡量土壤养分有效性。今后应扩大试验模拟和理论研究的尺度和对象，加强混合层深度和溶质径流迁移过程对近地表土壤水文条件和土壤侵蚀的响应研究，用混合层深度模型或确定各区域适宜的深度值代替非点源污染模型中的1.0 cm深度，以提高模拟精度。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

Electron donor and pH relationships for biologically enhanced dissolution of chlorinated solvent DNAPL in groundwater

Biologically enhanced dissolution offers a method to speed removal of chlorinated solvent dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) sources such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichoroethene (TCE) from aquifers. Bioremediation is accomplished by adding an electron donor to the source zone where fermentation to intermediates leading to acetic acid and hydrogen results. The hydrogen and possibly acetic acid are used by dehalogenating bacteria to convert PCE and TCE to ethene and hydrochloric acid. Reductive dehalogenation is thus an acid forming process, and sufficient alkalinity must be present to maintain a near neutral pH. The bicarbonate alkalinity required to maintain pH above 6.5 is a function of the electron donor: 800 mg/L of bicarbonate alkalinity is sufficient to achieve about 1.2 mM TCE dechlorination with glucose, 1.7 mM with lactate, and a much higher 3.3 mM with formate. Laboratory studies indicate that in mixed culture, formate can be used as an electron donor for complete conversion to ethene, contrary to pure cultures studies indicating it cannot. Various strategies can be used to add electron donor to an aquifer for DNAPL dehalogenation while minimizing pH problems and excessive electron donor usage, including use of injection-extraction wells, dual recirculation wells, and nested injection-extraction wells.     

Enhanced establishment and growth of giant cardon cactus in an eroded field in the Sonoran Desert using native legume trees as nurse plants aided by plant growth-promoting microorganisms and compost

To evaluate the feasibility of long-term desert reforestation technology of mixed vegetation, cardon cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) seedlings from indoor and outdoor nurseries were planted in the field adjacent to one seedling of potential legume nurse trees: mesquite amargo (Prosopis articulata), yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla), and blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida). Some of the planting holes were also supplemented with common dairy compost. Additionally, the combinations of legume tree–cactus were inoculated with either a consortium of desert arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB; the diazotroph Azospirillum brasilense Cd, and the phosphate solubilizer Paenibacillus sp.), or a mixture of all. The field experiments were evaluated periodically during 30 months for survival and growth. Cardons reared in an outdoor screen house survived better in the field than those reared in a controlled growth chamber and hardened later outdoors. Association with any legume nurse tree increased survival and enhanced growth of untreated cardons. For cardons growing alone, application of either compost, AM fungi, and all the treatments combined increased survival. For these plants, no treatment affected plant growth during the first 3 months after transplanting. Later, all treatments, except for AM fungi, enhanced plant growth. However, only 2 years after transplanting the enhanced growth effect of AM fungi was also significant. In the presence of the legume nurse trees, transient positive effects on cardon growth were recorded. General evaluation after 30 months of cultivation showed that the treatments positively affected cardon growth when growing alone or in combination only with mesquite amargo but not with the other two legume trees. This study proposes that young legume trees have the capacity to enhance survival and growth of cardon cactus, depending on the legume cactus combination. Additional treatments such as compost or PGPB can either amplify the effect or else attenuate it.