Soil organic matter in urban soils: Estimation of elemental carbon by thermal oxidation and characterization of organic matter by solid-state C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy

To reduce soil destruction by urban sprawl, land use planning has to promote the use of soils within cities. As soil functions are now protected by law in Germany, urban soil quality has to be evaluated before soil management. We studied contributions from elemental carbon (EC) and soil organic matter (SOM) quality in topsoil horizons at seven sites in Stuttgart, Germany, differing in impurities by technogenic substrates. The most disturbed site was found at a disused railway area while high-density areas, public parks and garden areas showed varying degrees of disturbance by anthropogenic activities. For most soils, compounds derived from plant litter dominated organic matter (OM) quality characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Although high contents of EC (up to 70% of soil organic carbon) were indicated by thermal oxidation, this was not confirmed by aromatic C intensities in NMR spectra. Only for the highly aromatic railway soil were results for elemental carbon by thermal oxidation and NMR similar. As other technogenic substrates beside EC like plastics may also contribute in the long-term to OM in urban soils, new analytical techniques are therefore required. This knowledge will promote the evaluation of urban soil properties and their sustainable use.     

正反转旋耕作业的秸秆混埋效果比较

秸秆混埋是增强土壤碳汇的重要技术途经。为分析和比较正、反转旋耕作业的秸秆混埋效果,进行了正、反转旋耕秸秆混埋对比试验。测取旋耕处理后的地貌形态及秸秆在土壤空间中的分布状况,并使用Pro-E造型展示秸秆的空间分布状况。结果表明三维数字化仪配合虚拟造型技术能够直观反映混埋后秸秆在土壤空间的分布状态。2种旋耕处理方式的地表形态及土壤空间内秸秆分布对比分析表明,正转旋耕的秸秆埋覆率及纵向空间分布总体均匀率优于反转旋耕,而反转旋耕的秸秆在沿土壤深度方向的空间分布均匀率、秸秆-土壤混合效果、耕幅内地表平整度等优于正转旋耕。综合分析表明正转旋耕的秸秆混埋质量略有优势,但具体选择混埋模式时还应考虑田间秸秆残留情况。秸秆量较少时反转旋耕较适宜,反之正转旋耕更好。     

Effects of previous elemental sulfur applications on oxidation of additional applied elemental sulfur in soils

Oxidation of elemental sulfur (S⁰) in 20 Chinese agricultural soils was tested and the effects of previous S⁰ applications on the oxidation of additional applied S⁰ in selected soils were investigated using laboratory, greenhouse, and field experiments. Results showed that sulfur oxidative capacities presented great variability among 20 tested soils, with a coefficient of variation of 92.4%. There were no significant relationships between S⁰ oxidation and physical and chemical properties of the selected soil. Previous S⁰ amendment significantly increased the oxidation rate of additional applied S⁰. These stimulatory effects after the first applications of S⁰ were greater than those after two applications. The percent increase in S⁰ oxidation rate due to S⁰ pretreatment was negatively correlated with the oxidation capacities of soils before S⁰ pretreatments. The significant reduction of sulfur oxidation in autoclaved soils and significant increase in S⁰ oxidation after inoculation with S⁰-treated soil suspension demonstrated that microbial oxidation was mainly responsible for the enhancement of soil oxidation ability after previous S⁰ amendments.     

Do same-aged but different height Norway spruce (Picea abies) clones affect soil microbial community?

The influence of individual trees in monocrop forests on soil microbial communities is poorly understood. We measured basal respiration, substrate-induced respiration and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), bacterial growth rate with the ³H-thymidine incorporation technique and fungal growth rate as ¹⁴C-acetate incorporation into ergosterol to investigate whether slow- and fast-growing 12-year-old Norway spruce (Picea abies) clones have affected differently on their associated soil microbial communities. Understorey vegetation, soil chemical properties and elemental concentrations of needles were also determined. The slow- and fast-growing spruce clones differed in PLFA profiles, understorey vegetation and elemental concentrations in needles suggesting that spruce clones have directly or indirectly affected soil microbes.     

冬季秸秆还田对冬灌田水稻生长期CH4产生、氧化和排放的影响

有机肥施用和土壤水分管理是影响稻田CH4排放最重要的2个因素。本文通过室内培养和田间试验研究了冬季秸秆还田对冬灌田水稻生长期CH4的产生、氧化和排放的影响。结果表明:淹水混施处理CH4产生潜力在水稻移栽后35和51天显著大于淹水不施肥处理(p0.05),其余时间则无显著差异(p0.05);冬季秸秆还田对CH4氧化潜力无显著影响(p0.05),水稻生长期土温和稻田施用氮肥可能是较其更重要的影响因素;淹水混施处理CH4平均排放通量(CH426.7mg/(m2·h))显著大于淹水不施处理(CH420.3mg/(m2·h))(p0.05)。     

有机物料对白土土壤胡敏酸结构特征的影响

【目的】研究有机物料施入对白土土壤的腐殖质含量组成和胡敏酸(HA)结构特征的影响,为明确不同腐殖质组分对土壤肥力的影响提供理论依据。【方法】供试土壤为江苏省溧阳市南渡镇"白土改良大田示范试验核心区"的南方中低产水稻土(白土)。试验设秸秆还田(ST)、施有机肥(OM)和对照(CK,不施有机物)3个处理,培肥3年。同时采集试验田周围相邻的江苏省耕地质量监测点(2007~2013年)的每年施化肥(LAF)和长期不施肥(NF)的两种处理土壤进行比对研究。分别测定土壤的基本理化性质及其腐殖质含量的组成,并提取土壤胡敏酸(HA)固体样品利用红外光谱和元素分析来进行结构表征。【结果】秸秆还田和施有机肥处理的有机碳、全氮含量明显高于对照;与对照相比,施有机物料土壤HA的E4/E6比值增加,且秸秆还田施有机肥对照。红外光谱显示,试验区域和耕地监测点的不同处理土壤HA均在1650 cm-1处(酰胺I带)和1550 cm-1处(1500~1580 cm-1酰胺II带伸缩振动)有特征吸收。施有机肥和秸秆还田处理土壤HA的2920/1720、2920/1650比值显著大于对照。在元素组成上,OM、ST处理的土壤腐殖质(HA)中C、H、N的含量比均高于CK,相对长期施化肥(LAF)和不施肥(NF)的土壤有明显提高,而氧元素的含量呈降低的趋势;OM和ST处理土壤HA的[H]/[C]和[O]/[C]原子数比均低于CK;与LAF和NF处理相比,试验区域各处理土壤腐殖质的[H]/[C]和[O]/[C]原子数比均有明显降低。【结论】有机物料施入土壤后可增加土壤有机碳含量,改善土壤理化性质,提高作物产量和品质,且施入土壤的有机物料可转化为新的腐殖质,降低土壤的腐殖化程度。土壤腐殖质(HA)的红外光谱分析说明,白土土壤HA具有明显的酰胺类化合物特征。有机物料施入后使得土壤脂族性增强,羧基量减少,芳香度降低;秸秆还田和施有机肥处理与对照相比,土壤HA的[H]/[C]和[O]/[C]比均有下降的趋势,且HA的氮素含量明显增加,这显示有机物料施入后白土土壤腐殖质发生"脱水"过程,同时也反映了白土土壤腐殖质形成的特征。     

Effect op foliar sprays of sulphuric acid with and without elemental sulphur in the prevention of chlorosis In Peanut (Arachis hypogaea. L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on an alkaline calcareous soil of Agronomy farm of the College of Agriculture, University of Udaipur to study the effect of sulphur on crop yield, leaf elemental composition, chlorophyll synthesis and activities of haematin enzymes. Application of elemental sulphur 21 days before planting with and without 0.1 per cent foliar sprays of H₂SO₄. increased crop yield by 137 to 197 per cent. Application of all these treatnents had no effect on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content of leaves but sulphur content was signficantly increased. Iron content of green leaves was decreased significantly 4 to 5 times together with an increase in the activity of catalase and peroxidase enzymes. Chlorosis in these soils appears to be on account of a reduced physiological availability of iron after absorption.     

A comparison between X‐ray fluorescence and dissolution methods employing lithium metaborate fusion for elemental analysis of soil clays

Abstract

A method employing fusion of soil clay samples with lithium metaborate (1:5 ratio) in a furnace at 1050°C for 1 hr. subsequent dissolution of the fused sample in 4% HNO₃. and elemental analysis for Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, K, and Ti by atomic absorption spectrometry was compared with the X‐ray fluorescence (XRF) fused disc technique for analysis. Duplicated analyses were performed on 15 clay samples from soils of the southern U.S and three API reference samples. The mean total percent recovery by this method was excellent (100.14 ± 2.85). Elemental oxide quantities in terms of SiO₂. Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, MgO, CaO and K₂O determined by atomic absorption/flame emission (AA/FE) spectroscopy were in good agreement with values measured by x‐ray fluorescence (XRF) on the same subsamples (r = 0.89^* to 0.98^**). but somewhat more variable on subsamples seperated from different pretreatments (r = 0.70^* to 0.97^** ). The method, which has also been tested on 36 additional clay samples from a variety of Kentucky soils with total percent recoveries ranging from 96.5 ‐ 103.5%. demonstrated no bias due to mineralogy with respect to mixed, montmorillonitic. and siliceous classes. This technique presents numerous advantages over other elemental analysis techniques utilizing fusion, dissolution, or XRF spectroscopy with respect to time, effort and cost. With the introduction of inductively‐coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectroscopy. efficiency can be additionally improved.     

Effect of Aquasorb and Organic Compost Amendments on Soil Water Retention and Evaporation with Different Evaporation Potentials and Soil Textures

Abstract

Aquasorb PR3005A, a hydrophilic polymer (a salt copolymer polyacrylamide), and garden waste compost were added to a loamy sand and a loam soil in pots to assess their impact upon soil physical properties at two different evaporation potentials. Compost was mulched and incorporated, the Aquasorb was incorporated, and their effect on temperature and amelioration of soil water content and evaporation was investigated. Mulching with compost reduced evaporation and increased soil temperature. Maize (Zea mays var. single cross 704) was sown in the same pots later, and growth indicator factors (plant height, fresh and dry weight, root weight, and leaf area) were compared. It was concluded that compost mulch application is beneficial to soil water retention whereas compost incorporation did not show these benefits. Compost mulch advances seedling emergence and enhances early growth through hydrologic soil amelioration. High rates of Aquasorb were also beneficial in advancing the emergence and early growth of maize seeded in loamy sand. The hydration capacity of Aquasorb is reduced as the electrolyte concentration and electrical conductivity are increased. Increased electrolyte concentration in soil solution, through drying, may result in gel dehydration and water release at potentials greater than field capacity, which may be lost to drainage. Furthermore, it is concluded that pot experiments with amendments fail to simulate field conditions.     

N-utilization by maize (Zea mays L.) as influenced by crop rotation and field pea (Pisum sativum L.) residue management

Abstract. A five year field experiment was conducted to assess the influence of crop rotation and field pea residue incorporation into the soil on maize yield. The data indicated a 30% increase in maize yield grown in rotation with field pea compared to when it was grown after wheat and a further increase of 35% when field pea residues were incorporated into the soil. The effect of field pea and residue incorporation was greater in the presence of fertilizer nitrogen indicating the enhanced capacity of the crop to utilize N from the residue. Legume residue management in sub-tropical regions of the world, having coarse textured soils low in organic matter, could help to increase the yield of cereals besides saving some of the expensive fertilizer input.