Effect of cultivated plants on physico‐chemical characteristics of humic substances of soils amended by sewage sludge

Abstract

Humic substances were extracted from raw sewage sludge samples as well as an alluvial slightly alkaline soil [Typic Xerofluvent (So)], a clay loam soil [Calcixerollic Xerochrept (M)] and the corresponding field plots amended with different rates of sewage sludge and cultivated with corn and cotton respectively, in a two‐year field experiment. These substances have been characterized by chemical and spectroscopic methods. The chemical analyses showed that humic acids (HAs) and fulvic acids (FAs), were effected by the cultivated plant. Humic substances extracted from field plots with cotton showed higher carbon, but less nitrogen (N), total acidity and carboxylic groups content, as compared with those under corn. Generally HAs and FAs extracted from the fields plots amended with sewage sludge had higher N content, lower values of total acidity, carboxylic groups and carbon contents than those from the unamended soils. The FT‐IR spectra of humic (HAs) and fulvic (FAs) acids extracted from sewage sludge indicated the presence of high percentage of aliphatic carbon, polysaccharides and proteinaceous materials. The spectra of the humic matter in the field plots showed less aliphatic but increased amide stretch in comparison with the sludge. The absorption due to C=O in carboxylic groups of the FAs was not pronounced, though the presence of polysaccharides and protein decomposition products was clearly indicated.     

不同分子量风化煤腐殖酸对玉米植株主要代谢物的影响

【目的】腐殖酸的分子量决定了其功能特性,研究不同分子量腐殖酸对玉米生长发育的影响,可为腐殖酸资源的高效利用提供理论依据。【方法】选用‘郑单958’为供试玉米品种,以霍格兰营养液为基础溶液进行水培试验。选择分子量为> 50 kDa (HA_H)、10 kDa～50 kDa (HA_M)和<10 kDa (HA_L)三种腐殖酸,添加量均为碳10 mg/L,以不添加腐殖酸为对照(CK),共四个处理。幼苗生长20 d后收获,分为根、茎和叶样品,烘干称重,采用傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(型号VERTEX 70,德国Bruker公司)检测玉米植株根、茎和叶的光谱特征。【结果】腐殖酸处理玉米根、茎和叶的干物质重较对照分别显著提高了91.07%、89.27%和88.53%。三种腐殖酸处理,以小于10 kDa分子量腐殖酸(HAL)对玉米植株生长的促进作用最大,根、茎和叶的干物质重分别提高了143.14%、123.41%和150.54%,其次为10～50 kDa分子量腐殖酸(HA_M),大于50 kDa分子量腐殖酸(HAH)效果又次之。腐殖酸处理的玉米根系FTIR光谱在3420 cm^–1和1655 cm^–1波数附近的透射率均低于对照,茎FTIR光谱在3420 cm^–1和1655 cm^–1波数附近的透射率均高于对照,表明腐殖酸处理能增加玉米根系碳水化合物、蛋白质、多肽和氨基酸类物质的含量,减少其在茎中的积累,腐殖酸各处理玉米叶片在3420、2920、1735、1655、1518、1380、1250和1050 cm^–1波数附近的透射率均低于对照,小于10 kDa分子量腐殖酸表现尤为明显。这表明不同分子量(尤其是小于10 kDa分子量)腐殖酸能够增加玉米叶片碳水化合物、脂类物质、蛋白质、多肽、氨基酸类物质和核酸等的含量。【结论】外源添加腐殖酸能够增加玉米干物质重,引起玉米植株不同器官中碳水化合物、脂类物质、蛋白质、多肽、氨基酸类物质及核酸发生变化,小分子量(<10 kDa)的腐殖酸对玉米植株生长的促进作用大于大分子量的,在生产中应尽量选择小分子腐殖酸产品,以充分发挥其促生作用。     

Effect of nitrate and humic substances of different molecular size on kinetic parameters of nitrate uptake in wheat seedlings

The kinetic parameters of nitrate uptake (I_max, Km and C_min) were evaluated in young seedlings of Triticum durum L., cv. Appulo, exposed to nitrate and/or to soil‐extracted humic acids (HAs) of different molecular weight. The uptake was enhanced after induction at low levels of nitrate (50 μM KNO₃), while it was inhibited after induction at higher concentrations (2000 μM). The kinetic parameters of uptake were selectively influenced by pre‐treatment with HAs: total (TE) and, at a greater extent, low (LMS, < 3500 Da) molecular size humic fraction increased either the nitrate uptake rate (I_max) and the efficiency of the whole transport system (low Km and C_min), while an opposite result was evidenced in high molecular size (HMS, > 3500 Da)‐treated plants. An additive effect was shown when nitrate and humic substances were provided simultaneously: the uptake rate was enhanced in TE‐ and LMS‐treated plants, but was strongly delayed in HMS‐treated plants. Removal of nitrate and/or humic fractions de‐induced the system and NO₃^— uptake rate decreased. Exposure to HAs was not able to induce nitrate reductase activity in root and leaf tissues. Inhibitors of protein synthesis p‐fluorophenylalanine and cycloheximide reversed the positive effect of LMS fraction on nitrate uptake. This would support the hypothesis of a promoting effect of HAs on the molecular expression of proteins of the nitrate transport system.     

Exogenous application of humic acid and salicylic acid to alleviate seedling drought stress in two corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids

Efficacy of 1?mM humic (HA) and salicylic (SC) acids on SC 260 and SC 705 corn seedlings to alleviate drought stress via polyethylene glycol was studied via hydroponics at Shiraz University, Iran in a factorial, randomized design, with four replicates each. Under stress, SC 260 had higher electrolyte leakage compared to SC 705, and exogenous application of HA combined with SA decreased SC 705 electrolyte leakage. As a general trend, photosynthetic pigment content, relative water content, root and shoot length, mean number and diameter of central and peripheral root metaxylem, and K⁺ accumulation were higher in SC 705 treated with HA and SA compared to SC 260. Application of HA with SA could be an effective and low cost approach to ensure seedling establishment and plant growth in fields affected by soil drought in the early season, especially for the SC 705 corn hybrid in semi-arid regions.     

Elemental composition and structural features of humic substances in young podzols developed on sand quarry dumps

Data were analyzed on the elemental composition of humic and fulvic acids isolated from organic and mineral horizons of different-aged podzols developed on sand quarry dumps in Leningrad oblast. It was shown that the humic substances from the young podzols significantly differed from those isolated from the mature soils. The humic acids (HAs) of the young podzols composed a more homogeneous group of natural compounds compared to the fulvic acids (FAs). The HAs isolated from the organic, podzolic, and illuvial horizons of the embryopodzols significantly differed in their structure. The litter HAs were characterized by the minimum aromaticity and the maximum content of aliphatic components. The HAs from the illuvial horizons contained the maximum portion of aromatic components; a significant portion of carboxyls, ethers, polysaccharides, carbohydrates, and amino acids; and the minimum portion of aliphatic components. The HAs from the podzolic horizons occupied an intermediate position between the humic substances of the organic and illuvial horizons. It was shown that Mendeleev’s formula was more suitable than Aliev’s formula for calculating the calorific values of the HAs because of their structural features. Based on the particular features of the humic substances studied, they were classified as prohumic substances.     

A comparative study on the chemical composition of humic acids from forest soil,agricultural soil and lignite deposit: Bound lipid,carbohydrate and amino acid distributions

Base- and acid-hydrolysable fractions of humic acids (HAs) isolated from a forest soil, an agricultural soil and a lignite deposit were analysed, and comparisons were made between the base hydrolysable lipid (bound lipid), carbohydrate and amino acid signatures of the different humic acids.Bound lipids differ depending on the humic acid origin. Their composition were rather similar for the two soil humic acids, with three main lipid classes identified: (i) aliphatic components, (ii) aromatic components and (iii) sterols and triterpenols. The aliphatic subfraction was the most abundant and consisted predominantly of cutin- and suberin-derived moieties some of which could be clearly related to the vegetation. A minor bacterial input was indicated by the presence of short chain α- and β-hydroxyalkanoic acids. Aromatic subfraction contributed to a low amount to the total base hydrolysates and consisted mainly of lignin-derived methoxyphenols. Present in trace amounts, sterols and triterpenols are mainly of higher plant origin. The base hydrolysate from lignite humic acid markedly differs. Bound lipids released from lignite HA comprised almost exclusively aliphatic components, largely dominated by long chain alkanoic acids. Lignin-derived moieties, hardly detected, consisted solely of vanillic and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids indicating a much higher degree of lignin alteration in lignite humic acid. Sterols and triterpenols were absent.Although the composition of monosaccharides released upon acid hydrolysis was rather uniform irrespective of the humic acid origin, the distribution changed with the degree of humification of the HAs. Ratios of (Galactose+Mannose) to (Xylose+Arabinose) increased from soil to lignite humic acids. The high values of the ratios indicate that carbohydrates are primarily of microbial origin.In all humic acids neutral and acidic protein amino acids dominated. Non protein amino acids were only minor components consisting mainly of hydroxy proline and ornithine. The amino acid distributions of both soil HAs were similar. The amino acid distribution of lignite HA resembled that of soil HAs except for the following differences: (1) the absence of hydroxy proline and the greater abundance of ornithine suggesting a higher microbial contribution to the amino acids as the degree of humification increases, (2) the higher contribution of polar amino acids suggesting a preferential preservation of these amino acids possibly by interaction with the humic acid surface through hydrogen bonds.     

Influence of bacteria on growth and phosphorus nutrition of mycorrhizal corn

Com plants were grown in a non‐sterile soil in a greenhouse or in hydroponic culture in a growth chamber. We studied the influence of chitinolytic, pectinolytic, P‐solubilizing bacterial isolates, and a collection of bacterial strains on the development of native vesicular‐arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) populations, colonization of roots by the VAM fungus Glomus fasciculatum and their influence on the phosphorus (P) nutrition and growth of plants. As compared with VAM native control, the most potent stimulants for root colonization of soil‐grown plants by the VAM native population was a strain of Agrobacterium radiobacter and isolate H30. All bacteria used significantly supressed shoot fresh weight of mycorrhizal plants (‐13% up to ‐37%), with the exception of Agrobacterium. Under hydroponic conditions, the P‐solubilizing isolate F27 significantly stimulated the intensity of mycorrhiza, the number of arbuscules in roots, and increased both the P concentration and P content in corn shoots (+30% and +35%), than did the VAM fungus alone. Isolate F27 significantly increased shoot dry weight as compared with the mycorrhizal control. The other bacteria did not influence biomass production of corn.     

Conformational changes of humic substances induced by some hydroxy-, keto-, and sulfonic acids

We studied the effect of organic acids of plant, microbial, or anthropic origin on the molecular size distribution of dissolved humic acids (HAs). High Performance Size Exclusion Chromatography (HPSEC) was used to evaluate size changes in four different HAs upon addition of hydroxy- (glycolic and malic), keto- (glyoxylic), and sulfonic (benzenesulfonic and methanesulfonic) acids. All humic substances showed a decrease of peaks absorbance when the pH of HAs dissolved in HPSEC mobile phase was lowered from 7 to 3.5 by acid addition before analysis. This effect, combined with an increase of peaks elution volumes in most cases, was interpreted as a disruption of supramolecular humic associations into smaller-size but energy-richer conformations brought about by the formation of mixed intermolecular hydrogen bonding upon acid treatment. The extent of size variation was related to the pKa of acids and also to the chemical and stereochemical affinity of humic components with the chemical structure of the acids. Dicarboxylic malic acid was the most effective in modifying humic conformations in all HAs whereas the aromatic-rich superstructure of HA from an oxidized coal was effectively disrupted by the relatively small methanesulfonic acid and the chemically akin benzenesulfonic acid. These results suggest that the conformational association of humus dissolved in the soil solution may be systematically altered by organic acids present in the rhizosphere and might have effects on plant and microbial activities.     

育苗基质添加腐植酸促进番茄穴盘苗生长改善生理特性

【目的】以番茄为材料,研究穴盘育苗基质中腐植酸添加对幼苗生长及硝酸还原酶活性、光合参数等的影响,为培育优质壮苗和腐植酸的应用提供参考依据。【方法】番茄育苗基质以草炭、蛭石、珍珠岩按体积比4:3:2配成,其中腐植酸含量为54.5 g/L（约11.85%）,播种前在基质中分别添加折合纯腐植酸0（CK）、10 g/L（T1）、20 g/L（T2）、30 g/L（T3）、40 g/L（T4）,共5个处理,每处理3次重复,每个重复3个穴盘。待植株长到5叶1心（子叶展开后29~31天）时测定番茄幼苗的生长指标、根系活力、硝酸还原酶活性、光合色素含量、光合参数和叶绿素荧光参数。【结果】T1、T2、T3处理均显著提高了番茄幼苗的株高、茎粗,对番茄幼苗根干重的提高幅度大于地上部干重;T1、T2处理显著提高了根冠比和壮苗指数,T3处理与CK差异不显著;各生长指标均以T2处理表现最好,T4处理最差。T1、T2、T3处理显著提高了根系活力和硝酸还原酶活性,而T4处理二者明显降低。基质中适当提高腐植酸含量,可提高番茄幼苗叶片各种光合色素含量,但腐植酸含量过高,则会降低各光合色素含量。T1、T2、T3处理的Pn、Gs、Ci均显著高于CK,均以T2处理最高,T4处理的Pn、Gs显著低于CK,但其Ci高于CK;Tr表现为CK最高,随腐植酸添加量的增加,逐渐降低。T1、T2处理的Fo、NPQ均低于CK,且以T2处理的最低,T3、T4处理的均高于CK,且以T4处理的最高;各处理的Fv/Fm和ΦPSⅡ的大小顺序均为T2 > T1 > CK > T3 > T4,其中T1、T2处理显著高于CK,T3、T4处理则显著低于CK。【结论】番茄育苗基质中腐植酸在已含有54.5 g/L的基础上以添加20 g/L能够更好地促进番茄穴盘苗生长,改善其生理活动,对培育壮苗有更好的效果。     

Comparison of root and root hair growth in solution and soil culture

Aerated solution culture is frequently used for studying plant growth. Few comparisons have been made of root growth in solution with that found in soil. The objective of this study was to compare root growth and root hair development in these two mediums. Corn (Zea mays L.) grown in aerated solution at two temperatures (18 and 25°C) and three P concentrations (2, 10, and 500 μmol L^‐1) was compared with that in three soils, Raub (Aquic Argiudoll) and two Chalmers (Typic Haplaquoll) silt loams, in a controlled climate chamber over 21d. Corn plant weight and root growth were similar in solution culture and Raub soil when grown at an air and soil temperature of 18°C. At 25°C both yield and root growth were greater in Raub soil, even though P uptake by corn was 7‐fold greater in solution culture. The same difference was found when corn grown at 25°C in solution culture at 3 different P concentrations was compared with that grown in Chalmers soil at two P levels. Percentage of total root length with root hairs, root length and density and consequently root surface area, were all greater in the Chalmers soil than in solution culture. An increase in soil P, resulted in a decrease in root hair growth. No such relationship was found in solution culture. Although the recovery and measurement of plant roots and root hairs is more convenient in solution culture, results from this study indicate that the usefulness of solution culture for determining those factors which control root growth and root hair development in soil is limited.     

腐植酸对番茄苗期氮素代谢的影响

腐植酸对肥料具有改性增效的作用,以番茄为供试材料,研究腐植酸增效剂不同添加量对番茄苗期生长及氮素代谢酶活性的影响,为腐植酸的开发应用提供参考依据。采用砂培试验方法,设置了向霍格兰营养液分别加入腐植酸增效剂0(HA0),1(HA1),2(HA2),5(HA3),10(HA4) mL/L处理。培养30天后,测定番茄的生长指标、植株养分含量、硝酸还原酶活性、谷氨酰胺合成酶和谷氨酸脱氢酶活性。添加适量腐植酸增效剂能促进番茄苗期生长,HA3处理番茄根系干重比HA0提高了31.68%,HA1处理番茄地上部干重最大。添加腐植酸可以提高番茄苗期叶片叶绿素含量,HA3处理番茄苗期叶片叶绿素总量和类胡萝卜素含量最高,分别比HA0提高了17.11%,24.04%。添加适量腐植酸增效剂能增加番茄苗期根系和地上部对氮素的吸收,HA3处理的番茄根系、地上部及总氮素积累量比HA0分别提高了30.61%,20.24%,21.54%。添加腐植酸增效剂可以调控番茄根系和叶片氮素代谢过程,提高了氮素代谢酶活性,与HA0相比,HA4处理根系硝酸还原酶活性最大,HA3处理根系谷氨酰胺合成酶活性最高,HA2处理根系谷氨酸脱氢酶的活性最大;HA3处理番茄苗期叶片中硝酸还原酶、谷氨酰胺合成酶和谷氨酸脱氢酶活性最大,与HA0处理相比分别提高了38.27%,64.54%,106.63%。添加腐植酸增效剂可以促进番茄苗期的生长和对氮素的吸收,提高氮素代谢酶活性,处理中以在营养液中添加5 mL/L腐植酸增效剂效果最佳,腐植酸增效剂添加量低于5 mL/L时,对番茄苗期的生长及氮素代谢具有明显的促进作用。     

谷胱甘肽对小麦幼苗铜毒害的缓解作用及其与氮、硫、磷积累的相关性

采用水培法,对外源谷胱甘肽（GSH）缓解小麦幼苗铜毒害及其与氮、硫、磷等元素积累的相关性进行了研究。结果表明,Cu处理（T0组）显著抑制小麦幼苗的生长发育,导致根长、茎叶长、生物量、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量以及氮元素积累量下降,诱导了植株蛋白质、内源GSH含量以及硫、磷元素积累量上升。随施用外源GSH浓度的升高,GSH处理（T1、T2、T3组）的小麦幼苗茎叶长、根长、生物量,叶绿素a、b和类胡萝卜素含量、蛋白质含量先上升后下降,内源GSH含量以及氮、硫、磷等营养元素积累量持续上升;其中,T2组小麦幼苗的各项指标与T0组差异均达到显著水平（P〈0.05）,与对照组（CK）无显著差异。外源GSH促进了植株对铜离子的吸收、转运和积累,而外源和内源GSH均与铜胁迫下小麦幼苗氮、硫、磷等营养元素的积累呈极显著正相关（P〈0.01）,其中以T2处理组缓解小麦幼苗铜毒害的作用最显著。     

过氧化脲及尿素配比对水培上海青生长及品质的影响

水培蔬菜中硝酸盐富集及供氧状况是当前水培体系亟待解决的问题.为降低水培上海青Brassica campestris ssp.Chinensis(L.)硝酸盐含量,本研究分别通过部分尿素替代日本园试配方中硝酸盐,以及不同过氧化脲(UHP)与尿素配比的方式,探究减硝增氧对水培叶菜生长及品质的影响.首先以30％、40％、50...     

Response of Rice Seedlings to Copper Toxicity and Acidity

Metal toxicity and soil acidity affect plant growth. A hydroponic experiment was conducted to simulate effects of pH and copper concentration [Cu] on early growth and biomass production of high-yielding rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L. cv. ‘NIAB 6’). The rice seedlings were allowed to grow in Yoshida nutrient solution with 1 (control), 8, 16, and 32 μM Cu at buffered pH levels of 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5, respectively. Shoot and root growth, leaf chlorophyll content, and root lipid peroxidation and K⁺ leakage of 15-day-old rice seedlings were determined. Results show that [Cu] had significant adverse effects on rice seedlings. Shoot height and root length were reduced by 18%–60% and 7%–69%, respectively, compared with the control, and shoot and root weight decreased by 26%–56%, and 25%, respectively, in response to progressive increases in [Cu]. Similarly, leaf chlorophyll content decreased by 150%–245% compared with the control treatment. Rice seedling roots suffered from significant increases in lipid peroxidation followed by K⁺ leakage (> 8–23 times) in response to increasing [Cu]. Averaged across [Cu], seedling growth and biomass were greater at pH 5.5 than at other pH treatments. In some instances, increasing pH minimized the adverse effects of Cu at low concentrations on rice seedlings.     

Release and activity of allelochemicals from allelopathic rice seedlings

3-Isopropyl-5-acetoxycyclohexene-2-one-1 (1), momilactone B (2), and 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyflavone (3) were isolated and identified from an allelopathic rice accession PI312777. These three compounds at low concentrations could inhibit the growth of weeds Echinochloa crusgalli and Cyperus difformis associated with rice, especially mixtures of the compounds had stronger inhibitory activity than did individual compounds. Studies with hydroponic culture, continuous root exudates trapping system (CRETS), and direct resin adsorption methods showed that a total of 7.6 n moles 1, 2, and 3 were exuded from living roots of each seedling into the environment at 10 days after seedlings were transplanted. Furthermore, 1, 2, and 3 were found in the soil growing PI312777 seedlings at day 15 after seedlings emergence and reached a total of 39.5 microg/g soil at day 30. The results indicated that PI 312777 seedlings could release sufficient quantities of 1, 2, and 3 into the environment to act as allelochemicals inhibiting the growth of associated weeds. Investigations on the distribution of 1, 2, and 3 in PI 312777 plant, and its root exudates showed that the levels of 1, 2, and 3 were significantly higher in the shoots and root exudates than in the roots, and only trace 1 was observed in the roots. The results suggest that the roots of rice seedlings are not major site of synthesis or accumulation 1, 2, and 3, but a pathway for their release into the environment. The levels of 1, 2, and 3 in the root exudates were over 2-folds higher under direct resin adsorption than under hydroponic culture and CRETS, and hence, it is the preferred method to collect and identify active allelochemicals in rice exudates in future studies on rice allelopathy.     

Chemical structure of humic acids in biosolids-amended soils as revealed by NMR spectroscopy

We used NMR spectroscopy to characterize humid acids extracted from soils that had received long-term application of 2 levels of biosolids to evaluate the soil organic matter (SOM) stability in biosolids-amended soils. The study also quantified fulvic acids (FAs), humic acids (HAs) and Fe/Al oxides. The soils were collected in 2004 from 7 fields, in Fulton County, southwestern Illinois, which received biosolids at a cumulative rate of 0 (control), 554 (low biosolids) and 1,066 (high biosolids) Mg ha⁻¹. The application of biosolids increased both FA and HA contents, but biosolids-amended soil and control soil did not differ in FA/HA ratio. Biosolids application had no effect on water-soluble organic carbon content. Biosolids application increased the presence of Fe/Al in the SOM complex and lowered its C/Fe and C/Al ratios. ¹³C NMR spectra showed increased alkyl C and decreased aromatic C content in soil HAs with the application of biosolids, and the extent of such changes was higher with high than low biosolids treatment. Under biosolids application, the soil HAs’ C structure shifts from O-alkyl-dominant to alkyl-dominant. Biosolids application does not decrease SOM stability but rather increases the stability of soil humic substances.     

Long term effects of a brown coal-based amendment on the properties of soil humic acids

In this study a typical grey-brown podzolic soil was amended with different doses of a brown coal-based preparation called Rekulter (R) largely used in Poland. After seven years, soils were analyzed and humic acids (HAs) were extracted both from the control soil and from the amended soils. All HAs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy both in emission, excitation and synchronous-scan mode and as Excitation-Emission-Matrix (EEM) contour maps. A higher carbon content was observed in the amended soils whereas significant differences were highlighted between the unamended and the amended soil HAs. HAs from amended soils showed a higher content of carboxyl groups and a more aromatic character, particularly HA extracted from the soil amended with the highest dose of R.     

氮、磷、钾营养胁迫对黄芪幼苗根系活力及根系导水率的影响

以膜荚黄芪为试验材料,通过室内1/2Hoagland全营养液、1/2Hoagland缺N(-N)、缺P(-P)和缺K(-K)营养液控制营养水平,进行水培试验,比较在营养胁迫情况下黄芪幼苗根系活力、根系导水率和叶绿素含量的变化。结果表明:与全素营养(CK)相比,缺素条件下黄芪根系活力、根系导水率及叶绿素含量降低,根面积减少,根冠比差异显著。-N和-P处理对根系导水速率影响极显著。     

Corn Tolerance to Atrazine and Cadmium and Sunflower to Cadmium in Soil and Hydroponic Culture

Abstract

Hydroponic culture is often used for screening plant tolerance or remediation efficacy to environmental pollutants. Field experiments are usually avoided because of soil and groundwater contamination; thus pot experiments are the next step. In this study, the effect of various levels of atrazine in corn and cadmium (Cd) in corn and sunflower on physiological traits was comparatively investigated in hydroponic and soil culture. Also, Cd absorption and transfer factor to shoots were determined in soil. Atrazine affected corn growth at about 20% at the rates of 2 mg L^?1 and 20 mg kg^?1. In both species, Cd was largely stored in the root (75–88%), and the transfer factor was higher in corn than sunflower (0.59 vs. 0.37, at 20 mg kg^?1). Cadmium threshold of 20% reduction in shoot growth, leaf area, and chlorophyll in corn was observed at about 20, 40, and 80 mg kg^?1, respectively. The ratio of hydroponic–soil pollutant rate that similarly affected plant growth was about 1:10 and 1:5 for atrazine and Cd, respectively. The linear correlation coefficient between traits was also studied.     

溶液体系中非生物因素对胡敏酸还原汞的影响

As a global pollutant process,the reduction of mercury(Hg)is especially important.One pathway is through an abiotic reduction with humic acids(HAs),which is controlled by different factors,including initial Hg and HA concentrations,pH,temperature and light.In this study,three humic acids were selected to illustrate the Hg~(2+)abiotic reduction mechanisms by HAs,and to identify the key limiting factors for reduction rates and amounts.In addition,the initial status of the HAs as a solid or in an aqueous solution were also compared,to help explain why HAs show different dominant characteristics(e.g.complexation or reduction)in the reaction process with Hg.Results indicated that HAs were able to reduce Hg abiotically.Higher initial Hg,higher HA concentrations and either high(8.1)or low(3.6)solution pH decreased the HA reduction capacity.In addition,Hg°production rates increased with increasing temperature,and the same trend was observed with light exposure.Humic acids added as an aqueous solution resulted in significantly greater Hg°production than addition as a bulk solid.Finally,the Hg reduction rate and capacity varied significantly(P0.05)with HAs from different sources.These findings helped to explain why HAs showed different dominant characteristics(e.g.complexation or reduction)in the reaction process with Hg,and evidentially demonstrated the existence of a possible pathway of Hg~(2+)reduction,which indicated that humic substances in natural environments,especially in water bodies,could act either as a sink or a source for Hg.