Priming effects: Interactions between living and dead organic matter

In this re-evaluation of our 10-year old paper on priming effects, I have considered the latest studies and tried to identify the most important needs for future research. Recent publications have shown that the increase or decrease in soil organic matter mineralization (measured as changes of CO₂ efflux and N mineralization) actually results from interactions between living (microbial biomass) and dead organic matter. The priming effect (PE) is not an artifact of incubation studies, as sometimes supposed, but is a natural process sequence in the rhizosphere and detritusphere that is induced by pulses or continuous inputs of fresh organics. The intensity of turnover processes in such hotspots is at least one order of magnitude higher than in the bulk soil. Various prerequisites for high-quality, informative PE studies are outlined: calculating the budget of labeled and total C; investigating the dynamics of released CO₂ and its sources; linking C and N dynamics with microbial biomass changes and enzyme activities; evaluating apparent and real PEs; and assessing PE sources as related to soil organic matter stabilization mechanisms. Different approaches for identifying priming, based on the assessment of more than two C sources in CO₂ and microbial biomass, are proposed and methodological and statistical uncertainties in PE estimation and approaches to eliminating them are discussed. Future studies should evaluate directions and magnitude of PEs according to expected climate and land-use changes and the increased rhizodeposition under elevated CO₂ as well as clarifying the ecological significance of PEs in natural and agricultural ecosystems. The conclusion is that PEs - the interactions between living and dead organic matter - should be incorporated in models of C and N dynamics, and that microbial biomass should regarded not only as a C pool but also as an active driver of C and N turnover.     

The effects of compost in a rice–wheat cropping system on aggregate size,carbon and nitrogen content of the size–density fraction and chemical composition of soil organic matter,as shown by 13C CP NMR spectroscopy

We investigated whether the long‐term application of compost from agricultural waste improved soil physical structure, fertility and soil organic matter (SOM) storage. In 2006, we began a long‐term field experiment based on a rice–wheat rotation cropping system, having a control without fertilizer (NF) and three treatments: chemical fertilizers (CF), pig manure compost (PMC) and a prilled mixture of PMC and inorganic fertilizers (OICF). Following the harvest of wheat in 2010, the mean‐weight diameter (MWD) of water‐stable aggregates and the concentration of C and N in bulk soil (0–20 cm; <2 mm fraction) were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in PMC and NF plots than in CF or OICF plots. Pig manure compost significantly increased the proportion of >5‐mm aggregates, whereas CF significantly increased the proportion of 0.45‐ to 1‐mm aggregates. The C and N contents of all density fractions were greater in PMC than in other treatments with levels decreasing in the following order: free particulate organic matter (fPOM) >occluded particulate organic matter (oPOM) > mineral‐combined SOM (mineral–SOM). Solid‐state ¹³C CPMAS NMR spectra showed that alkyl C/O‐alkyl C ratios and aromatic component levels of SOM were smaller in PMC and OICF plots than in CF plots, suggesting that SOM in PMC and OICF plots was less degraded than that in CF plots. Nevertheless, yields of wheat in PMC and NF plots were smaller than those in CF and OICF plots, indicating that conditions for producing large grain yields did not maintain soil fertility.     

优质高产芝麻新品种郑芝13号的选育及配套栽培技术

郑芝13号是以9202作母本、8808早作父本杂交,连续7代定向选育而成的芝麻新品种,2009年通过河南省品种委员会鉴定。该品种2005—2007年参加河南省芝麻区域试验及生产试验,增产达极显著水平;粗脂肪含量56.96%,粗蛋白质含量20.92%;高抗茎点枯病和枯萎病,且耐渍、抗倒伏能力强。介绍了郑芝13号的选育背景和经过,总结了其产量表现和特征特性,并提出了配套栽培技术,以期为该品种的推广提供参考。     

Differential Expression Analysis of MUC4 and MUC13 Genes Between Resistant and Sensitive Weaned Meishan Piglets to ETEC F18

MUC4 and MUC13 genes as important candidate genes for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coil (ETEC) F4 resistance,may play an important role in the process of against ETEC F18 infection in weaned piglets. In this study,ETEC F18-resistant and -sensitive weaned Meishan piglets were used,and the expression levels of MUC4 and MUC13 genes in 11 tissues (heart,liver,spleen,lung,kidney,stomach,muscle,thymus,lymph nodes,duodenum and jejunum) were determined by quantitative Real-time PCR. The results showed that MUC4 and MUC13 genes were broadly expressed with different expression levels in all the 11 tissues. In the thymus and lymph tissues,the expression of MUC4 gene in resistant piglets was significantly higher than that in sensitive piglets (P<0.05);In the lung tissue,theMUC13 gene expression level in resistant individuals was significantly higher than that in sensitive individuals (P<0.05),and in the intestinal tissues of duodenum and jejunum, the expression level of MUC13 gene was relatively higher in resistant individuals. Thus we speculated that the high expression of MUC4 gene in immune tissues and MUC13 gene in intestinal tissues might improve the immune ability of piglets,protect and lubricate the intestinal tract, and resist ETEC F18 infection.     

椪柑优良新株系——东13选育报告

东13椪柑是1973年通过营养系选种,在广东省杨村华侨柑桔场选出的优良新株系。经过14年来系统的株系比较试验、中间试验及示范推广,证明该株系果大优质、果形高桩美观、早结丰产等性状稳定,综合性状优于目前生产上推广的品种(系)。该株系大面积出口货源基地已在广东省建立,省内外推广面积已超过8000亩。     

Carbon Sequestration in Restored Soils by Applying Organic Amendments

The study of different natural carbon sinks has become especially important because of climate change effects. The restoration of contaminated areas can be an ideal strategy for carbon sequestration. The studied area was affected by toxic Aznalcóllar mine spill in 1998. Restoration process of the contaminated area was based, mainly, on the use of two organic amendments: leonardite (LE) and biosolid compost (BC). The objective of this study was to verify whether the application of these amendments promotes the long‐term carbon sequestration in this soil. Five treatments were established: untreated control, biosolid compost (doses 4 and 2) and leonardite (doses 4 and 2). The addition of amendments implied an improvement in soil quality that was directly related to the amendment dose: decrease in bulk density, increase in pH, higher respiration rates and an improvement in the stratification ratio. Dose‐dependent changes in the molecular composition of soil organic matter were shown by nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Both amendments promoted carbon retention, although because of the low mineralization rates of soil organic matter in LE treatments, the carbon storage was higher. The dosage effect on the carbon balance was more important in LE treatments, whereas in the BC treatments, the balance was similar for both doses. Our findings suggest that LE4 significantly increased the total organic carbon and it was the most suitable treatment for long‐term carbon storage, because of its molecular composition rich in relatively stable aromatic and lignin‐derived compounds. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Associations between grain yield and carbon isotope discrimination in cowpea

Twenty cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) genotypes, comprising Kenyan cultivars and Kenyan and introduced breedings lines, were grown in 15 replicated field trials carried out at three locations in semi-arid eastern Kenya over four seasons. Grain and straw yields and the carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) of this material were determined, and days to flowering and maturity observed.None of the seasons in which the trials were conducted was appreciably drier than the long term average for the sites, and some trials received excessive rain. Averaging the data for the 15 trials, one genotype yielded much less grain (77 g m⁻²) than the 19 others, whose yield ranged from 125 to 177 g m⁻² (average 148 g m⁻²). Trial mean yield trials had a high straw Δ (r = +0.567) and had received more rain between flowering and maturity (r = +0.428) than lower yielding ones. Among genotypes, averaging over trials, the correlation coefficient (r) between grain yield and grain Δ was +0.394, and between grain yield and straw Δ, +0.460. Early genotypes had the highest grain Δ and straw Δ. The correlation among genotypes between date of flowering and grain Δ was −0.632 and with straw Δ, −0.502. When comparisons were made among trials, there was no clear relationship between the strength of the correlations among genotypes between grain yield and straw Δ or grain Δ and the degree of stress experienced by a trial (as indicated by the rainfall it had received). It appeared that this was because the variances of grain Δ and straw Δ were greater in the most droughted trials, whereas the variance of yield was greatest in the least droughted trials.It is concluded that the genetic correlation between grain yield and either grain Δ or straw Δ is unlikely to be strong enough to make either Δ a useful surrogate or adjunct in selecting for high yield in the segregating generations of a breeding programme for semi-arid eastern Kenya, but that Δ may be of value in the selection of parent genotypes.     

超甜玉米"粤甜13号"早春地膜覆盖栽培研究

粤甜13号品种优质、耐寒、耐密植,适合广东省早春种植,但缺乏相配套的栽培技术,影响了品种特性的发挥。试验于2006年1月7日在广州市钟落潭镇的广东省农业科学院白云基地进行,试验设盖膜与不盖膜2个处理,3600株/667m2、4000株/667m2、4800株/667m2、5600株/667m2等4个栽培密度,3次重复,随机区组设计,就栽培密度和地膜覆盖两个因素对粤甜13号鲜果穗产量、商品性等的影响进行了分析,结果显示:随着栽培密度增加,鲜果穗产量也显著增加;地膜覆盖栽培能使生育期缩短10d,当栽培密度提高到5600株/667m2时,鲜果穗的商品性仍然维持在很高的水平;非地膜栽培时,穗长和穗粗比盖地膜栽培要高,但随着密度的增加秃顶长明显变长,当密度增加到4800株/667m2时,秃顶长达到2.27cm,严重影响商品外观,因此,在生产上非地膜覆盖栽培的密度应低于4800株/667m2。该研究结果充分显示了粤甜13号耐密植性和适合早春种植特性;同时表明,早春地膜覆盖栽培除了缩短生育期,使产品提早上市以外,还通过增加种植的密度增加产量,使种植的经济效益显著提高。     

Leaf litter decomposition in a chaparral ecosystem, Southern California

Decomposition losses from leaves of three evergreen chaparral species, scrub oak (Quercus dumosa), ceanothus (Ceanothus crassifolius), and manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca), were quantified over a 2-y field exposure using litterbags. Changes in ash-free dry mass, C, and N were monitored at 2- to 6-month intervals at four replicate sites composed of patches of these three chaparral species. Three proximate C fractions were extracted from fresh and decomposing litter samples: polar and non-polar extractives (EXT), acid-solubles (ACID), and acid-insolubles (KLIG). The chemical structure of fresh and decomposed litter was additionally characterized using high-resolution solid-state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, while morphological properties were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). After 2 y, the litters had lost between 20.7%±1.2 (Ceanothus) and 35.2%±6.8 (Quercus) of their original ash-free dry mass. The manzanita decomposed at a significantly faster rate than the other two litter types during the first few months of field exposure. Yet, after 2 y, mass loss was greater for the oak. Differences in decomposition rates could not be accounted for based on a single litter quality index. Fresh manzanita exhibited a significantly higher N content, which could explain its initially faster decay rate. Fresh oak litter, on the other hand, had a relatively high ACID and O-alkyl C (O-ALK) content, which may have been responsible for its decay pattern. Fresh ceanothus contained a relatively low KLIG content, yet it decomposed more slowly than the two other species. The solid-state ¹³C NMR spectra of the ceanothus litter had two peaks characteristic of proanthocyanidins, which likely contributed to the recalcitrance of this litter type. SEM revealed that ceanothus leaf surfaces were left nearly unchanged after field exposure. In comparison, the oak and manzanita leaf surfaces were pitted and covered by microbial growth to the point of being unrecognizable. Taken together, our results indicate that a combination of biological, physical and chemical factors need to be examined to clarify the different decomposition rates and patterns of these three chaparral species.     

Impact of long-term N fertilization on the structural composition of spruce litter and mor humus

The aims of this study were to determine the degree of lignin degradation and to investigate changes in the chemical composition of the organic matter in the forest floor in an N fertilized Norway spruce forest soil. Needle litter and mor humus were collected from the field experiment at Skogaby in southern Sweden (56°33′N; 13°13′E). The spruce stand had been fertilized for 11 years with 100 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ as (NH₄)₂SO₄. The degree of lignin degradation was determined with alkaline CuO oxidation followed by HPLC analysis. The chemical composition of the organic matter was characterized by CPMAS ¹³C NMR. Tannin was specifically analyzed using dipolar dephasing CPMAS ¹³C NMR and the N distribution was studied by CPMAS ¹⁵N NMR.The C-to-N ratios in the fertilized Oi and Oe layers were significantly lower than in the unfertilized layers (24 compared to 34 and 23 compared to 27, respectively). Neither the sum of the CuO oxidation products (Vanillyls+Syringyls+Cinnamyls expressed as VSC) nor the acid-to-aldehyde ratio ((Ac/Al)_V) showed any significant treatment effects. The content of aromatic C (including phenolic C) was significantly lower in the unfertilized than in the fertilized Oi layer (18 versus 21%). In the unfertilized soil, VSC was positively correlated (r=+0.63, p<0.05) with the C-to-N ratio, whereas the phenolic C content was negatively correlated (r=−0.61, p<0.05). The tannin index showed a tendency of increasing from Oi to Oe layers in both treatments. Most of the organic N was found as amide-N, whereas no heterocyclic N was detected. We have not been able to show any major C structural changes due to N fertilization. We suggest that the significantly higher content of aromatic and phenolic C in the fertilized Oi layer is due to an initial stimulation of the microbial community.