Intensive organic vegetable production increases soil organic carbon but with a lower carbon conversion efficiency than integrated management

Intensive vegetable production in greenhouses has rapidly expanded in China since the 1990s and increased to 1.3 million ha of farmland by 2016, which is the highest in the world. We conducted an 11‐year greenhouse vegetable production experiment from 2002 to 2013 to observe soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics under three management systems, i.e., conventional (CON), integrated (ING), and intensive organic (ORG) farming. Soil samples (0–20 and 20–40 cm depth) were collected in 2002 and 2013 and separated into four particle‐size fractions, i.e., coarse sand (> 250 µm), fine sand (250–53 µm), silt (53–2 µm), and clay (< 2 µm). The SOC contents and δ¹³C values of the whole soil and the four particle‐size fractions were analyzed. After 11 years of vegetable farming, ORG and ING significantly increased SOC stocks (0–20 cm) by 4008 ± 36.6 and 2880 ± 365 kg C ha^?1 y^?1, respectively, 8.1‐ and 5.8‐times that of CON (494 ± 42.6 kg C ha^?1 y^?1). The SOC stock increase in ORG at 20–40 cm depth was 245 ± 66.4 kg C ha^?1 y^?1, significantly higher than in ING (66 ± 13.4 kg C ha^?1 y^?1) and CON (109 ± 44.8 kg C ha^?1 y^?1). Analyses of ¹³C revealed a significant increase in newly produced SOC in both soil layers in ORG. However, the carbon conversion efficiency (CE: increased organic carbon in soil divided by organic carbon input) was lower in ORG (14.4%–21.7%) than in ING (18.2%–27.4%). Among the four particle‐sizes in the 0–20 cm layer, the silt fraction exhibited the largest proportion of increase in SOC content (57.8% and 55.4% of the SOC increase in ORG and ING, respectively). A similar trend was detected in the 20–40 cm soil layer. Over all, intensive organic (ORG) vegetable production increases soil organic carbon but with a lower carbon conversion efficiency than integrated (ING) management.     

有机物料添加对内蒙古河套灌区碱化土壤可溶性有机碳的影响

通过研究不同有机物料添加对内蒙古河套灌区碱化土壤可溶性有机碳含量变化的影响，寻找合理高效的增碳方式，降低碱化土壤有机碳损失。以内蒙古河套灌区轻度、中度盐碱土为对象进行田间试验，设置生物炭（BC）添加、羊粪（GM）添加，对照（CK）3个处理，对比和分析不同有机物料添加后土壤有机碳（SOC）、可溶性有机碳（DOC）、土壤理化性质的变化。结果表明：（1）与CK相比，轻度碱化土壤BC、GM处理土壤DOC含量分别增加3.28%，20.66%，SOC含量增加5.40%，10.30%，中度碱化土壤BC和GM处理下可溶性碳增加41.32%，74.10%，土壤SOC含量增加60.24%，79.16%；（2）轻度碱化土壤BC和GM处理土壤DOC含量与SOC含量呈负相关，中度碱化土壤BC和GM处理下呈正相关；（3）盐碱土壤SOC、DOC含量主要与土壤pH、电导率的变化有关；BC处理较GM处理相比土壤电导率低约1.93%~29.15%，而GM处理土壤pH、碱化度比BC处理低0.31%~1.53%，7.10%~24.63%。总体来看，有机物料添加后均能使土壤中SOC、DOC含量提高，不同程度地降低土壤碱化程度，且羊粪添加较生物炭略好，因此羊粪添加对河套灌区碱化土壤碳含量的提高比生物炭添加更有效，土壤改良效果更好，土壤理化性质改善更明显。     

控释氮肥对玉米秸秆腐解及潮土有机碳组分的影响

施肥影响秸秆还田效果,研究不同形态氮肥对秸秆腐解及土壤有机碳组分的影响可为秸秆还田下氮肥合理施用提供科学依据。以10年小麦-玉米轮作定位施肥试验为基础,采用尼龙网袋田间填埋法,研究了控释掺混尿素和普通尿素不同用量(纯氮120,240,360 kg/hm~2)对潮土中玉米秸秆腐解及土壤有机碳组分的影响。结果表明:与普通尿素相比,控释掺混尿素具有促进秸秆腐解的趋势;在秸秆腐解后期,控释掺混尿素处理较普通尿素显著促进了秸秆氮、磷的释放,而不同氮肥处理对秸秆中钾素的释放影响并不显著。在秸秆腐解后期,相同施氮量条件下,常规施氮量和增施氮量的控释掺混尿素处理较普通尿素显著增加土壤水溶性和热水溶性有机碳含量。在增加土壤微生物量碳、氮含量方面,在秸秆腐解的某些阶段控释掺混尿素处理的促进作用显著高于普通尿素处理。综合来看,与普通尿素相比,控释掺混尿素在秸秆腐解和增加土壤有机碳组分方面具有较好的促进作用。     

Role of cytokeratin 8 on changes of intestinal epithelial permeability induced by corticotropin-releasing factor

AIM: To investigate the role of cytokeratin 8 (CK8) on the change of intercellular permeability of intestinal epithelial cells induced by corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). METHODS: The expression levels of CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) and CRFR2 on human colon adenocarcinoma HT29 cell surface were determined by immunofluorescence staining. After treatment with 100 nmol/L CRF for 72 h, the translocation of FITC-labelled dextran was measured in a Transwell chamber. The structural changes of tight junctions were observed under transmission electron microscope. The expression levels of CK8, and tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin were determined by Western blot. The activity of protein kinase C (PKC) was detected by ELISA. Furthermore, the effects of CRF on intestinal epithelial permeability were examined in CK8-silencing HT29 cells, which were constructed by infection with sh-CK8 lentivirus. RESULTS: CRF treatment increased the permeability of FITC-labelled dextran (P<0.05), caused the opening of tight junctions, and induced increased fluorescence intensity of CK8. The expression levels of occludin and ZO-1 were down-regulated (P<0.05). PKC activity was decreased at 1 h after CRF treatment (P<0.05). CRF-induced increase in the permeability and down-regulation of occludin were not blocked by CK8 silencing. Nevertheless,CK8 silencing blocked the effects of CRF regarding the decrease in the expression levels of ZO-1 and the increase in PKC activity (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: CK8 may be involved in CRF-induced increase in intestinal epithelial permeability by inhibiting the activity of PKC, and there may be other signaling pathways involved.     

有机培肥与耕作方式对稻麦轮作土壤团聚体和有机碳组分的影响

为了明确不同外源有机物和耕作方式对土壤地力培育的影响,以水稻-小麦轮作系统为对象,通过2个年度(2016—2018年)大田试验研究了外源有机物(秸秆和有机肥)和耕作方式及其交互作用[稻麦秸秆还田配合旋耕(SR),稻麦秸秆还田配合翻耕(SP),秸秆不还田、增施有机肥配合旋耕(MR),秸秆不还田、增施有机肥配合翻耕(MP),秸秆不还田、不施用有机肥、旋耕深度15 cm(CKR)]对土壤团聚体和有机碳组成的短期影响。结果表明:SR处理能够降低水稻季土壤容重并增加总孔隙度。相比CKR,小麦季SR处理显著增加0.05mm水稳性团聚体含量,增加量为7.2%。此外,外源有机物和耕作对土壤有机碳活性组分具有显著影响。其中,易氧化有机碳(EOC)主要受耕作与有机物交互作用影响,酸水解有机碳(LPIc和LPII_c)主要受耕作措施的影响, SR处理的土壤EOC和LPI_c含量比CKR提高0.3～2.6 g·kg~(-1)。颗粒有机碳(POC)主要受外源有机物的影响,并且秸秆还田处理POC平均含量高于增施有机肥处理,增加量为0.75g·kg~(-1)。短期内,外源有机物和耕作及其交互作用对稳定性有机碳(黑碳和矿物结合态有机碳)的影响较小。综上,秸秆还田配合旋耕有助于提高土壤水稳性团聚体和活性有机碳的含量(EOC、LPI_c和POC)。     

典型喀斯特洼地植被恢复过程中土壤碳氮储量动态及其对极端内涝灾害的响应

西南喀斯特地区是我国主要的生态脆弱区之一,石漠化严重,旱涝灾害频发。植被恢复是提升脆弱生态系统土壤碳氮固持的有效方式,但该区不同植被恢复方式土壤碳氮动态监测的研究还很缺乏。本研究以典型喀斯特峰丛洼地为对象,选取人工林、牧草地、人工林+牧草地、撂荒地自然恢复4种最主要的植被恢复方式为研究对象,以耕地作为对照,对比分析退耕前(2004年)、退耕10年(2014年)和13年后(2017年)土壤碳氮储量动态变化特征。其中2004—2014年研究区未发生极端内涝灾害, 2014—2017年连续发生2次极端内涝灾害事件。研究结果表明,退耕10年后, 4种恢复方式下土壤有机碳(SOC)储量均显著增加,但退耕13年后,除撂荒地SOC持续增加外,其他3种恢复方式下SOC表现出下降趋势。植被恢复后土壤全氮(TN)储量提升相对缓慢,退耕10年仅牧草地显著增加,退耕13年后人工林+牧草和撂荒地TN增加,且撂荒地在退耕后呈持续增加趋势。相关性分析结果表明,土壤交换性Ca~(2+)与SOC、TN均呈显著正相关关系,且与2014年相比, 2017年不同植物恢复方式下土壤交换性Ca~(2+)均显著下降,这可能与研究区2015年和2016年连续内涝灾害有关。以上结果说明,不同恢复方式均能显著提升喀斯特地区土壤碳氮固持,并以自然恢复最佳,其生态系统能有效抵御极端气候灾害带来的负面影响。     

Cultivation Influences on Soil Organic Carbon Associated with Texture in Seasonally Frozen Zones

[Objective] This study aimed to examine indicative roles of texture representing soil organic carbon presence and variability subsequent to cultivation under cold temperate climates with seasonal freeze-thaw events.[Method] Three chronosequences were selected for paired comparisons.Soil samples were collected at six depths with a 10 cm increment.Analysis of variance with general linear model and regression was performed for statistical analysis.[Result] In seasonally frozen soils where fragmentation of macroaggregates was stimulated,soil organic carbon level was positively associated with clay ＋ silt proportion due to a wider textural range,better than sole clay content.Exponential function better fitted the experimental data to present progressively increased effectiveness of clay ＋ silt content in maintaining carbon.Clay content explained 12％-41％ and 14％-43％ of variation via linear and exponential functions,respectively.Accordingly,clay ＋ silt content explained 47％-65％ and 46％-70％.[Conclusion] Texture reflected soil organic carbon occurrence as consequences of reclamation.For seasonally frozen soils with wider textural ranges,it is robust to adapt clay ＋ silt content as dependent variable and exponential function.The generated algorithms provided an available pathway to estimate soil organic carbon losses following cultivation and to evaluate soil fertility.     

Variations of SOC and MBC observed in an incubated brown loam soil managed under different tillage systems for 12 years

To assess changes in organic carbon pools, an incubation experiment was conducted under different temperatures and field moisture capacity (FMC) on a brown loam soil from three tillage practices used for 12 years: no‐till (NT), subsoiling (ST) and conventional tillage (CT). Total microbial respiration was measured for incubated soil with and without the input of straw. Results indicated that soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) under ST, NT and CT was higher in soil with straw input than that without, while the microbial quotient (MQ or MBC: SOC) and metabolic quotient (qCO₂) content under CT followed the opposite trend. Lower temperature, lower moisture and with straw input contributed to the increases in SOC concentration, especially under NT and ST systems. The SOC concentrations under ST, with temperatures of 30 and 35°C after incubation at 55% FMC, were greater than those under CT by 28.4% and 30.6%, respectively. The increase in MBC was highest at 35°C for 55%, 65% and 75% FMC; in soil under ST, MBC was greater than that under CT by 199.3%, 50.7% and 23.8%, respectively. At 30°C, the lower qCO₂ was obtained in soil incubated under NT and ST. The highest MQ among three tillage practices was measured under ST at 55% FMC, NT at 65% FMC and CT at 75% FMC with straw input. These data indicate the benefits of enhancing the MQ; the low FMC was beneficial to ST treatment. Under higher temperature and drought stress conditions, the adaptive capacity of ST and NT is better than that of CT.     

Biochar has little effect on soil dissolved organic carbon pool 5 years after biochar application under field condition

Biochar application can improve soil properties, such as increasing soil organic carbon content, soil pH and water content. These properties are important to soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC); however, the effects of biochar on DOC concentration and composition have received little research attention, especially several years after biochar application under field conditions. This study was conducted in a long‐term experimental field where the biochar was only applied once in 2009. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of different biochar application rates (0, 30, 60 and 90 t ha^?1) on the dynamics of soil water content, DOC concentration and DOC compositions (reducing sugar, soluble phenol and aromatics) over nine samplings during a 12‐month period in 2014. Our results showed that soil water content and DOC concentration varied from 7.1% to 14.5% and 59 to 230 mg C kg^?1 soil during the 12 months, respectively. However, the biochar application rates did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect soil water content, DOC concentration and DOC composition at the same sampling period. The DOC concentration across the biochar treatments was positively correlated to soil water content. Moreover, the DOC composition (reducing sugar, soluble phenol or aromatics) and their concentrations were positively correlated to the total DOC concentration. In addition, biochar did not affect soil bulk density, pH, saturated hydraulic conductivity and crop yields. The results indicated that some benefits of biochar to soil may not persist 5 years after the application of biochar under a field condition.     

Vitamin C in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) flower buds as affected by postharvest light,UV-B irradiation and temperature

In this study, the changes in vitamin C, l-ascorbic acid (AA) and l-dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) levels in broccoli flower buds were examined during pre-storage and storage periods, simulating refrigerated transport with wholesale distribution and retail, respectively. Broccoli heads were pre-stored for 4 or 7 days at 0 °C or 4 °C in the dark and then stored for 3 days at 10 °C or 18 °C. During storage the broccoli heads were exposed for 12 h per day to three different levels of visible light (13, 19 or 25 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) or a combination of visible light (19 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and UV-B irradiation (20 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹), or they were stored in the dark. The vitamin C content in broccoli flower buds during storage was significantly affected by pre-storage period and temperature. Higher vitamin C levels in flower buds after storage were observed for broccoli heads pre-stored for 4 days or at 0 °C as compared to those pre-stored for 7 days or at 4 °C. Storage temperature also affected vitamin C in broccoli flower buds, with higher levels observed for broccoli stored at 10 °C than at 18 °C. Hence, vitamin C in broccoli flower buds was demonstrated to decrease together with increasing pre-storage period, pre-storage temperature and storage temperature. AA in broccoli flower buds was influenced mainly by storage temperature and to a minor extent by pre-storage temperature. The DHA level and DHA/AA ratio were stable in flower buds of broccoli pre-stored for 7 days, whereas increasing tendencies for both DHA level and ratio were observed after pre-storage for 4 days. These results indicate a shift in the ascorbate metabolism in broccoli flower buds during storage at low temperatures, with its higher rate observed for broccoli pre-stored for shorter time. There were no effects of the light and UV-B irradiation treatments on vitamin C, AA and DHA levels in broccoli flower buds.