Fe2（SO4）3/γ-Al2O3催化剂微波法玉米皮中提肌醇工艺研究

以玉米皮为原料制取菲丁,采用Fe2(SO4)3/γ-Al2O3固体酸催化剂,甘油做为水解促进剂,在常压微波辅助下催化水解菲丁制取肌醇,通过单因素及正交试验确定了最优工艺条件:辐射功率600w、水解时间70min、甘油配比为5、催化剂用量10g,在此条件下肌醇收率为72.69%。     

水培条件下CO2与NH+4/NO-3配比对番茄幼苗生育的影响

升高CO₂浓度能够促进作物的光合作用，提高作物的生物量和产量，但关于CO₂与NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比及其交互作用对作物影响的研究较少，为探索番茄幼苗生长发育对CO₂浓度升高的响应是否对NH⁺₄/NO^-₃配比有较强的依赖关系，本试验在营养液栽培条件下，以番茄(Lycopersicun esculentum Mill)为试材，研究正常大气CO₂浓度(360 μL/L)和倍增CO₂浓度(720 μL/L)与不同NH⁺₄/NO^-₃配比的交互作用对番茄幼苗生长的影响。结果表明：CO₂浓度升高提高了低NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例处理中番茄叶片的光合速率和水分利用率，提高幅度随NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例的降低而增强，光合速率增强最大达55%。在同一CO₂浓度处理下净光合速率与水分利用率均随NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例的增加而显著降低。这说明CO₂浓度升高对番茄幼苗生长发育的促进作用随NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例的降低而提高，但并没有减弱全NH⁺₄-N处理中番茄幼苗的受毒害作用。综上所述，CO₂浓度升高能提高植物生产的节水能力和水分生产力；水培条件下，NO^-₃-N是最适合番茄幼苗生长发育的氮源，其它NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例对番茄幼苗的生长发育有一定的抑制作用，仅以NH⁺₄-N作氮源则番茄幼苗很难生长。     

红壤交换性碱和交换性酸的研究Ⅰ.与中性盐(Na2SO4, NaClO4和KClO4)的关系

用自动控制pH的装置定量研究了两种红壤类土壤胶体在三种中性盐溶液中的交换性碱和交换性酸的变化.发现在Na2SO4溶液中在pH低时出现交换性碱,pH高时出现交换性酸.砖红壤胶体的交换性碱比红壤胶体的大,并且在pH5.6附近还出现不受Na2SO4浓度影响的交换中性点.NaClO4和KClO4溶液中,在测定pH范围内只出现交换性酸,红壤胶体的数量比砖红壤胶体的大.同一土壤胶体在KClO4中的数量比NaClO4中的多.二者都有一峰值,对于砖红壤胶体前者在pH4.3,后者在pH5.8.提出了测定SO2-4-交换性碱的方法.     

膜下滴灌对土壤CO2与CH4浓度的影响

在温室进行了马铃薯盆栽试验,采用静态暗箱气相色谱法比较了滴灌(D)和漫灌(F)两种不同灌溉制度对土壤CO2与CH4浓度的影响。在每种灌溉制度下再分设覆膜(M)与不覆膜两种农艺措施处理。覆膜滴灌(MD)下按土壤湿润比(P)不同,再设3个处理,分别为P1(P=25%)、P2(P=33%)、P3(P=50%),共6个处理,即DP1、MDP1、MDP2、MDP3、FC(不覆膜漫灌)和MF(覆膜漫灌),裸土(BS)和覆膜裸土(MBS)为对照。研究结果表明:覆膜的增温保湿作用及薄膜对土壤与大气间气体传输的自然阻隔作用使土壤CO2浓度升高10.4%~94.5%,CH4浓度降低5.1%~47.4%。滴灌的干湿交替现象以及漫灌对土壤通气性的降低使漫灌处理土壤中CO2浓度高于滴灌7.4%~49.7%,CH4浓度降低6.6%~68.2%。而土壤湿度通过影响土壤通气性和土壤溶解性有机质两方面来影响土壤温室气体排放,覆膜滴灌下湿润比越高,土壤中CO2浓度越低,其对CH4浓度的影响不确定。土壤温度是土壤呼吸的主要驱动因子,也会影响CH4的氧化过程。观察DP1处理灌水后土壤中温室气体浓度发现,CO2浓度与温度呈显著正相关关系,CH4浓度与温度呈显著负相关关系,土壤中CO2浓度与CH4浓度呈显著负相关关系。     

夏季猪场污水贮存过程中CO2、CH4排放试验

猪场粪污是重要的温室气体排放源,针对中国缺乏猪场污水贮存过程中温室气体排放参数的问题,该文选择温度较高的夏季,利用动态箱法于2007年6月对猪场的三格式化粪池进行了CO<2、CH₄气体排放测试。测试结果表明：当大气平均温度为28.4℃时,86%的温室气体排放源于一级和二级化粪池,一级、二级和三级化粪池的温室气体排放通量分别为407.5、383.0、127.7 g/(m2?h)二氧化碳当量;CH₄是本污水贮存单元中产生的主要的温室气体,一、二、三级化粪池排放的温室气体总量中,CH₄排放的贡献率分别为95%、96%、95%,控制一、二级化粪池甲烷排放将大幅度减少猪场污水温室气体排放     

土壤水分状况对CH4氧化,N2O和CO2排放的影响

实验室培育试验表明，土壤氧化ＣＨ４，排放Ｎ２Ｏ和ＣＯ２的最佳水分含不量。水稻土氧化ＣＨ４的最佳水分含同于半干旱草地土壤，均接近于土壤环境常年水分含量。水稻土Ｎ２Ｏ排放量随着水分含量的下降而增加，半干旱草地土壤则随着水分含量的下降而减少，表明背离土壤环境上水分含量越远，Ｎ２Ｏ的排放量越大。因而，ＣＨ４氧化和Ｎ２Ｏ排放对土壤水分含量的反应呈极显著的负相关性。ＣＯ２排放的最佳水分含量接近或高于ＣＨ４氧化     

典型菜地土壤剖面N2O、CH4与CO2分布特征研究

为探究菜地土壤剖面N2O、CH4与CO2时空分布特征,利用地下气体原位采集系统与气相色谱法,周年动态监测3种典型菜地,即休闲裸地、轮作地Ⅰ(芹菜?空心菜?小白菜?苋菜)以及轮作地Ⅱ(菜心?芹菜?空心菜?大青菜)7 cm、15 cm、30 cm与50 cm土层N2O、CH4与CO2浓度变化。结果表明,0~50 cm土层范围内,N2O、CH4与CO2 3种气体浓度周年变异性较大,变幅分别为0.63~1 657.0μL(N2O)?L?1、0.8~72.5μL(CH4)?L?1和0.41~36.6 m L(CO2)?L?1。轮作地Ⅰ与轮作地Ⅱ的N2O平均浓度随土壤深度增加而增加,休闲裸地则呈现先增加(0~30 cm)后降低(30~50 cm)的变化趋势。两种轮作菜地4个土层N2O平均浓度均显著高于休闲裸地,二者氮肥施用量不同并未造成相同土层间N2O平均浓度的显著差异。3种菜地CH4与CO2平均浓度均呈现50 cm30 cm15 cm7 cm的梯度特征。轮作地Ⅰ与轮作地Ⅱ0~15 cm土层CH4平均浓度均大于休闲裸地,而在15~50 cm土层则分别大于和小于休闲裸地。CO2浓度呈现明显的季节性变化,除轮作地Ⅰ50 cm土层外,两种轮作菜地其他土层CO2平均浓度均小于休闲裸地对应土层。可见,蔬菜地高氮肥施用、多频次耕作等复杂管理使得N2O、CH4与CO2表现出较大的时空变异特征,其中氮肥施用对N2O的影响大于CH4与CO2,CH4受施肥与耕作的影响均较小,CO2显著受土壤温度与耕作措施的影响,在此基础上需进一步探究N2O、CH4与CO2的其他影响因素。     

模拟CCS技术CO2泄露对C4作物种子萌发的影响

模拟CCS技术CO₂泄露对C₄作物种子萌发的影响,以期为CCS技术CO₂泄露后可能产生的环境影响提供基础性资料。利用CO₂人工气候箱,模拟CCS技术CO₂泄露产生的高浓度CO₂环境,研究在CO₂分别为正常大气CO₂浓度(对照组),10000,20000,40000,80000 mg/kg时,对玉米、高粱、谷子、糜子4种C₄作物发芽率、发芽势以及平均发芽天数的影响。高浓度CO₂对玉米发芽率无明显影响,而高粱、谷子和糜子分别在10000,20000, 20000 mg/kg时发芽率达到最高值;高浓度CO₂对玉米发芽势亦无明显影响,而高粱、谷子和糜子均在20000 mg/kg时发芽势达到最高值;高浓度CO₂对4种C₄作物发芽天数均产生较小影响,其中,对糜子影响较为显著。在不同CO₂浓度范围内对C₄作物种子发芽率分别有促进和抑制作用,促进和抑制作用不是很显著,其中,促进范围1%~5%,抑制范围1%~4%;高浓度CO₂对C₄作物种子发芽势有比较显著的促进作用,较对照组,发芽势的促进范围为9%~16%;高浓度CO₂对4种C₄作物发芽天数均产生较小影响。     

稻田CH4和N2O排放对大气CO2浓度升高响应的研究进展

大气CO_2浓度升高是全球气候变化的主要驱动力,可直接或间接影响陆地生态系统碳氮循环。阐明稻田生态系统CH_4和N_2O排放对大气CO_2浓度升高的响应及其机制,是农业生产应对全球气候变化的重要组成部分。本文综述了国内外不同大气CO_2浓度升高模拟技术平台条件下稻田CH_4和N_2O排放的响应规律,进一步讨论分析了大气CO_2浓度升高影响CH_4和N_2O排放的相关机制,并展望了今后稻田CH_4和N_2O排放对大气CO_2浓度升高响应的主要研究方向,以期为应对全球气候变化提供理论依据和技术支撑。     

中国常年淹水稻田CH4排放量估算

A special kind of rice field exists in China that is flooded year-round. These rice fields have substantially large CH4 emissions during the rice-growing season and emit CH4 continuously in the non-rice growing season. CH4 emission factors were used to estimate the CH4 emissions from year-round flooded rice fields during the rice-growing season in China.The CH4 emissions for the year-round flooded rice fields in China for the rice growing season over a total area of 2.66 Mha were estimated to be 2.44 Tg CH4 year^-1. The uncertainties of these estimations are discussed as well. However,the emissions during the non-rice growing season could not be estimated because of limited available data. Nevertheless,methane emissions from rice fields that were flooded year-round could be several times higher than those from the rice fields drained in the non-rice-growing season. Thus, the classification of “continuously flooded rice fields”in the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories is suggested to be revised and divided into “continuously flooded rice fields during the rice growing season” and “year-round flooded rice fields”.     

Effect of elevated CO2 on soil N dynamics in a temperate grassland soil

The response of terrestrial ecosystems to elevated atmospheric CO₂ is related to the availability of other nutrients and in particular to nitrogen (N). Here we present results on soil N transformation dynamics from a N-limited temperate grassland that had been under Free Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) for six years. A ¹⁵N labelling laboratory study (i.e. in absence of plant N uptake) was carried out to identify the effect of elevated CO₂ on gross soil N transformations. The simultaneous gross N transformation rates in the soil were analyzed with a ¹⁵N tracing model which considered mineralization of two soil organic matter (SOM) pools, included nitrification from NH₄⁺ and from organic-N to NO₃⁻ and analysed the rate of dissimilatory NO₃⁻ reduction to NH₄⁺ (DNRA). Results indicate that the mineralization of labile organic-N became more important under elevated CO₂. At the same time the gross rate of NH₄⁺ immobilization increased by 20%, while NH₄⁺ oxidation to NO₃⁻ was reduced by 25% under elevated CO₂. The NO₃⁻ dynamics under elevated CO₂ were characterized by a 52% increase in NO₃⁻ immobilization and a 141% increase in the DNRA rate, while NO₃⁻ production via heterotrophic nitrification was reduced to almost zero. The increased turnover of the NH₄⁺ pool, combined with the increased DNRA rate provided an indication that the available N in the grassland soil may gradually shift towards NH₄⁺ under elevated CO₂. The advantage of such a shift is that NH₄⁺ is less prone to N losses, which may increase the N retention and N use efficiency in the grassland ecosystem under elevated CO₂.     

Comparison of NH4 pool dilution techniques to measure gross N fluxes in a coarse textured soil

We compared gross N fluxes by ¹⁵N pool dilution in a coarse-textured agricultural soil when ¹⁵N was applied to the soil NH₄⁺ pool by either: (i) mixing a ¹⁵NH₄NO₃ solution into disturbed soil or (ii) injection of ¹⁵NH₃ gas into intact soil cores. The two techniques produced similar results for gross N mineralization rates indicating that NH₄⁺ production in soil was not altered by soil disturbance, method of application (gas vs. solution), or amount of N applied. This was not the case for immobilization rates, which were twofold higher when ¹⁵N label was applied to the soil NH₄⁺ pool with the mixing technique compared to the injection technique. This was attributed to the fact that more NH₄⁺ was applied with the mixing technique. Estimates of gross nitrification were accompanied by large error terms meaning differences between ¹⁵N labeling methods could not be accurately assessed for this process rate.     

Gross fluxes of nitrogen in grassland soil exposed to elevated atmospheric pCO2 for seven years

Plant response to increasing atmospheric CO₂ partial pressure (pCO₂) depends on several factors, one of which is mineral nitrogen availability facilitated by the mineralisation of organic N. Gross rates of N mineralisation were examined in grassland soils exposed to ambient (36 Pa) and elevated (60 Pa) atmospheric pCO₂ for 7 years in the Swiss Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment experiment. It was hypothesized that increased below-ground translocation of photoassimilates at elevated pCO₂ would lead to an increase in immobilisation of N due to an excess supply of energy to the roots and rhizosphere. Intact soil cores were sampled from Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens swards in May and September, 2000. The rates of gross N mineralisation (m) and NH₄⁺ consumption (c) were determined using ¹⁵N isotopic dilution during a 51-h period of incubation. The rates of N immobilisation were estimated either as the difference between m and the net N mineralisation rate or as the amount of ¹⁵N released from the microbial biomass after chloroform fumigation. Soil samples from both swards showed that the rates of gross N mineralisation and NH₄⁺ consumption did not change significantly under elevated pCO₂. The lack of a significant effect of elevated pCO₂ on organic N turnover was consistent with the similar size of the microbial biomass and similar immobilisation of applied ¹⁵N in the microbial N pool under ambient and elevated pCO₂. Rates of m and c, and microbial ¹⁵N did not differ significantly between the two sward types although a weak (p<0.1) pCO₂ by sward interaction occurred. A significantly larger amount of NO₃⁻ was recovered at the end of the incubation in soil taken from T. repens swards compared to that from L. perenne swards. Eleven percent of the added ¹⁵N were recovered in the roots in the cores sampled under L. perenne, while only 5% were recovered in roots of T. repens. These results demonstrate that roots remained a considerable sink despite the shoots being cut at ground level prior to incubation and suggest that the calculation of N immobilisation from gross and net rates of mineralisation in soils with a high root biomass does not reflect the actual immobilisation of N in the microbial biomass. The results of this study did not support the initial hypothesis and indicate that below-ground turnover of N, as well as N availability, measured in short-term experiments are not strongly affected by long-term exposure to elevated pCO₂. It is suggested that differences in plant N demand, rather than major changes in soil N mineralisation/immobilisation, are the long-term driving factors for N dynamics in these grassland systems.     

Rhizodeposition-induced decomposition increases N availability to wild and cultivated wheat genotypes under elevated CO2

Elevated CO₂ may increase nutrient availability in the rhizosphere by stimulating N release from recalcitrant soil organic matter (SOM) pools through enhanced rhizodeposition. We aimed to elucidate how CO₂-induced increases in rhizodeposition affect N release from recalcitrant SOM, and how wild versus cultivated genotypes of wheat mediated differential responses in soil N cycling under elevated CO₂. To quantify root-derived soil carbon (C) input and release of N from stable SOM pools, plants were grown for 1 month in microcosms, exposed to ¹³C labeling at ambient (392 μmol mol⁻¹) and elevated (792 μmol mol⁻¹) CO₂ concentrations, in soil containing ¹⁵N predominantly incorporated into recalcitrant SOM pools. Decomposition of stable soil C increased by 43%, root-derived soil C increased by 59%, and microbial-¹³C was enhanced by 50% under elevated compared to ambient CO₂. Concurrently, plant ¹⁵N uptake increased (+7%) under elevated CO₂ while ¹⁵N contents in the microbial biomass and mineral N pool decreased. Wild genotypes allocated more C to their roots, while cultivated genotypes allocated more C to their shoots under ambient and elevated CO₂. This led to increased stable C decomposition, but not to increased N acquisition for the wild genotypes. Data suggest that increased rhizodeposition under elevated CO₂ can stimulate mineralization of N from recalcitrant SOM pools and that contrasting C allocation patterns cannot fully explain plant mediated differential responses in soil N cycling to elevated CO₂.     

Changes in forest soil organic matter pools after a decade of elevated CO2 and O3

The impact of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) may be mitigated, in part, by enhanced rates of net primary production and greater C storage in plant biomass and soil organic matter (SOM). However, C sequestration in forest soils may be offset by other environmental changes such as increasing tropospheric ozone (O₃) or vary based on species-specific growth responses to elevated CO₂. To understand how projected increases in atmospheric CO₂ and O₃ alter SOM formation, we used physical fractionation to characterize soil C and N at the Rhinelander Free Air CO₂-O₃ Enrichment (FACE) experiment. Tracer amounts of ¹⁵NH₄⁺ were applied to the forest floor of Populus tremuloides, P. tremuloides-Betula papyrifera and P. tremuloides-Acer saccharum communities exposed to factorial CO₂ and O₃ treatments. The ¹⁵N tracer and strongly depleted ¹³C-CO₂ were traced into SOM fractions over four years. Over time, C and N increased in coarse particulate organic matter (cPOM) and decreased in mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) under elevated CO₂ relative to ambient CO₂. As main effects, neither CO₂ nor O₃ significantly altered ¹⁵N recovery in SOM. Elevated CO₂ significantly increased new C in all SOM fractions, and significantly decreased old C in fine POM (fPOM) and MAOM over the duration of our study. Overall, our observations indicate that elevated CO₂ has altered SOM cycling at this site to favor C and N accumulation in less stable pools, with more rapid turnover. Elevated O₃ had the opposite effect, significantly reducing cPOM N by 15% and significantly increasing the C:N ratio by 7%. Our results demonstrate that CO₂ can enhance SOM turnover, potentially limiting long-term C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems; plant community composition is an important determinant of the magnitude of this response.     

Changes in natural 15N abundance in paddy soils under different,long-term soil management regimes in the Tohoku region of Japan

Abstract

Long-term temporal changes in natural ¹⁵N abundance (δ¹⁵N value) in paddy soils from long-term field experiments with livestock manure and rice straw composts, and in the composts used for the experiments, were investigated. These field experiments using livestock manure and rice straw composts had been conducted since 1973 and 1968, respectively. In both experiments, control plots to which no compost had been applied were also maintained. The δ¹⁵N values of livestock manure compost reflected the composting method. Composting period had no significant effect on the δ¹⁵N value of rice straw compost. The δ¹⁵N values increased in soils to which livestock manure compost was successively applied, and tended to decrease in soils without compost. In soils to which rice straw compost was successively applied, the δ¹⁵N values of the soils remained constant. Conversely, δ¹⁵N values in soils without rice straw compost decreased. The downward trend in δ¹⁵N values observed in soils to which compost and chemical N fertilizer were not applied could be attributed to the natural input of N, which had a lower δ¹⁵N value than the soils. Thus, the transition of the δ¹⁵N values in soils observed in long-term paddy field experiments indicated that the δ¹⁵N values of paddy soils could be affected by natural N input in addition to extraneous N that was applied in the form of chemical N fertilizers and organic materials.     

Pathways and dynamics of NO3 and NH4 applied in a mountain Picea abies forest and in a nearby meadow in central Switzerland

To evaluate the pathways and dynamics of inorganic nitrogen (N) deposition in previously N-limited ecosystems, field additions of ¹⁵N tracers were conducted in two mountain ecosystems, a forest dominated by Norway spruce (Picea abies) and a nearby meadow, at the Alptal research site in central Switzerland. This site is moderately impacted by N from agricultural and combustion sources, with a bulk atmospheric deposition of 12 kg N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ equally divided between NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻. Pulses of ¹⁵NH₄⁺ and ¹⁵NO₃⁻ were applied separately as tracers on plots of 2.25 m². Several ecosystem pools were sampled at short to longer-term intervals (from a few hours to 1 year), above and belowground biomass (excluding trees), litter layer, soil LF horizon (approx. 5-0 cm), A horizon (approx. 0-5 cm) and gleyic B horizon (5-20 cm). Furthermore, extractable inorganic N, and microbial N pools were analysed in the LF and A horizons. Tracer recovery patterns were quite similar in both ecosystems, with most of the tracer retained in the soil pool. At the short-term (up to 1 week), up to 16% of both tracers remained extractable or entered the microbial biomass. However, up to 30% of the added ¹⁵NO₃⁻ was immobilised just after 1 h, and probably chemically bound to soil organic matter. 16% of the NH₄⁺ tracer was also immobilised within hours, but it is not clear how much was bound to soil organic matter or fixed between layers of illite-type clay. While the extractable and microbial pools lost ¹⁵N over time, a long-term increase in ¹⁵N was measured in the roots. Otherwise, differences in recovery a few hours after labelling and 1 year later were surprisingly small. Overall, more NO₃⁻ tracer than NH₄⁺ tracer was recovered in the soil. This was due to a strong aboveground uptake of the deposited NH₄⁺ by the ground vegetation, especially by mosses.     

Effects of annual grass senescence on NH4 and N-glycine uptake by blue oak (Quercus douglasii) seedlings and soil microorganisms in California oak woodland

Annual grasses are stronger competitors for available soil N than blue oak seedlings and soil microorganisms. However, little is known about the dynamics of N competition during annual grass senescence. We conducted a field experiment in a California oak woodland to study effects of annual grass senescence on N uptake by grasses, blue oak seedlings and soil microorganisms. Labeled N was applied at the beginning of April, May and of June in the form of ¹⁵NH₄⁺ or ¹⁵N-glycine. Plants and soils were harvested after 5 days (¹⁵NH₄⁺ and ¹⁵N-glycine treatments) and after 26 days (¹⁵NH₄⁺ treatment only). We evaluated effects of N form, season and labeling period on N competition among oak seedlings, annual grasses and soil microorganisms. N forms did not affect competition among grasses, oak seedlings and soil microorganisms, but more ¹⁵N was incorporated into the soil organic N pool in the ¹⁵N-glycine treatments than in the ¹⁵NH₄⁺ treatments. There were no seasonal (May vs June) effects on ¹⁵N recovery in blue oak seedlings and soil microorganisms. Plant samples from April harvest were lost. In June, when grasses were senescing, more ¹⁵N was found in the soil inorganic pool than in May. Extremely dry soils in June may have limited inorganic N availability to oak seedlings and soil microorganisms. After 26-day labeling period, ¹⁵N recovery in blue oak seedlings and the soil organic N pool significantly increased, while ¹⁵N recovery in both the soil microbial and inorganic N pools decreased compared to the 5-day labeling period. Although blue oak seedling biomass changed little from early May to late June, N concentrations in oak roots increased 53%. In contrast, annual grass biomass peaked in May, and then decreased rapidly. Our results suggest that blue oak seedlings and annual grasses have different temporal competitive abilities. Blue oak seedlings appear to have a long-term strategy for N competition. Blue oaks take up N slowly but steadily, increasing N uptake from 5 to 26 days. This extended time period has a greater positive effect on N uptake than does reduced grass uptake caused by senescence.     

Use of 13C and 15N natural abundance techniques to characterize carbon and nitrogen dynamics in composting and in compost-amended soils

Isotope fractionation during composting may produce organic materials with a more homogenous δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N signature allowing study of their fate in soil. To verify this, C, N, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N content were monitored during nine months covered (thermophilic; >40 °C) composting of corn silage (CSC). The C concentration reduced from 10.34 to 1.73 g C (g ash)⁻¹, or 83.3%, during composting. Nitrogen losses comprised 28.4% of initial N content. Compost δ¹³C values became slightly depleted and increasingly uniform (from −12.8±0.6‰ to −14.1±0.0‰) with composting. Compost δ¹⁵N values (0.3±1.3 to 8.2±0.4‰) increased with a similar reduced isotope variability.The fate of C and N of diverse composts in soil was subsequently examined. C, N, δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N content of whole soil (0-5 cm), light (<1.7 g cm⁻³) and heavy (>1.7 g cm⁻³) fraction, and (250-2000 μm; 53-250 μm and <53 μm) size separates, were characterized. Measurements took place one and two years following surface application of CSC, dairy manure compost (DMC), sewage sludge compost (SSLC), and liquid dairy manure (DM) to a temperate (C₃) grassland soil. The δ¹³C values and total C applied (Mg C ha⁻¹) were DM (−27.3‰; 2.9); DMC (−26.6‰; 10.0); SSLC (−25.9‰; 10.9) and CSC (−14.0‰; 4.6 and 9.2). The δ¹³C of un-amended soil exhibited low spatial (−28.0‰±0.2; n=96) and temporal (±0.1‰) variability. All C₄ (CSC) and C₃ (DMC; SSLC) composts, except C₃ manure (DM), significantly modified bulk soil δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N. Estimates of retention of compost C in soil by carbon balance were less sensitive than those calculated by C isotope techniques. One and two years after application, 95 and 89% (CSC), 75 and 63% (SSLC) and 88 and 42% (DMC) of applied compost C remained in the soil, with the majority (80-90%) found in particulate (>53 μm) and light fractions. However, C₄ compost (CSC) was readily detectable (12% of compost C remaining) in mineral (<53 μm) fractions. The δ¹⁵N-enriched N of compost supported interpretation of δ¹³C data. We can conclude that composts are highly recalcitrant with prolonged C storage in non-mineral soil fractions. The sensitivity of the natural abundance tracer technique to characterize their fate in soil improves during composting, as a more homogeneous C isotope signature develops, in addition to the relatively large amounts of stable C applied in composts.     

Natural N abundances in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem exposed to 8-y of elevated atmospheric CO2

After 8-y of elevated CO₂, we previously detected greater amounts of total soil nitrogen, suggesting that rates of ecosystem N flux into or out of tallgrass prairie had been altered. Denitrification and associative N fixation rates are the two primary biological processes that are known to control N loss and accumulation in tallgrass prairie soil. Therefore, our objective was to assess the natural abundance of plant and soil ¹⁵N isotopes as a cumulative index of potential change in efflux or influx of N into and out of the tallgrass prairie after 8-y of exposure to elevated CO₂. Aboveground plant delta ¹⁵N values of Andropogon gerardii were close to zero and more positive as a result of elevated CO₂, but whole-soil values at the 5-30 cm depth were significantly reduced (6.8 vs 7.3; P<0.05) under elevated CO₂-chamber (EC) relative to ambient CO₂- chamber (AC). Total, aboveground plant biomass, root-in-growth, extractable N, microbial biomass N, and soil pools collectively exhibited a range of delta ¹⁵N values from −2.8 to 7.3. Measurements of surface soil ¹⁵N indicate that a change in N inputs and outputs has occurred as a result of elevated atmospheric CO₂. In addition to possible changes in denitrification and N₂ fixation, other sources of N such as the re-translocation of N to the surface from deeper soil layers are needed to explain how soil N accrues in surface soils as a consequence of elevated CO₂. Our results support the notion that C accrual may promote N accrual, possibly driven by high plant and microbial N demand amplified by soil N limitation.