Two-year fluctuation of Cd bioavailability in a remediated rice field under different water managements

Purpose

Based on two consecutive years of field-scale trials, under different water managements, we illustrated the persistence of remediation effect of palygorskite on a Cd-polluted rice field.

Materials and methods

The Cd uptake by a plant, pH and Cd chemical extractability, available P/K, and extractable Zn/Cu in paddy soils were used to evaluate the influence of palygorskite on Cd immobilization and soil fertility index.

Results and discussion

In contrast to the 1st year, at 0–1.5% palygorskite applied dose in soils, 0.025 M HCl–extractable Cd in continuous flooding reduced by 12.1–19.0%, and that in wetting irrigation increased by 10.9–18.9% in the 2nd year (p?<?0.05). The toxicity characteristic leaching procedure Cd reduction of 3.0–11.4% and increase of 8.9–12.0% were obtained under above-mentioned water managements (p?<?0.05). Compared with the 1st year, at different clay additional concentrations, grain Cd in continuous flooding reduced by 7.0–11.3%, and that in wetting irrigation increased by 6.5–10.8% in the 2nd year (p?<?0.05). Although trace elements in clay treated soils declined, they had no influence on the grain yield due to a minimum value higher than the critical value of 1.5 mg kg^?1 for Zn and 2.0 mg kg^?1 for Cu. The available P in continuous flooding took on a maximum increase of 8.2% in the 2nd year (p?<?0.05).

Conclusions

Two consecutive years of field-scale in situ demonstration tests revealed that continuous flooding was a preferable water management regime for Cd immobilization using palygorskite in the rice field. There were no remarkable differences in extractable Zn/Cu between 2 years.

     

Ripening reduces the shrinkage of processed dredged material

Purpose

The utilization of dredged material in dike construction as a substitute for traditionally used materials is considered as an option to preserve natural resources such as marsh sediments. As a prerequisite for this application, the equivalency with respect to soil physical and mechanical properties of the materials must be assessed. Previous investigations have shown pronounced differences in shrinkage behavior and desiccation cracking between sediments and dredged material. The key objective of the study was to assess whether shrinkage of processed dredged material can be reduced by further processing, i.e., dewatering, which can be referred to as ripening.

Materials and methods

To compare the shrinkage behavior of the materials, three different methods of different scales were applied. Small-scale methods conducted were the standard procedure for the determination of the shrinkage limit and the determination of the coefficient of linear extensibility (COLE_rod). Large-scale shrink-swell experiments were carried out in a specially constructed test system with 90 l capacity for a period of up to 385 days. Here the materials were ripened, i.e., air-dried, until shrinkage almost ceased, and a rewetting-air-drying cycle was conducted. Shrinkage and swelling were determined during the processes by measuring the changes in volume. On the ripened materials, COLE_rod was determined.

Results and discussion

The experiments show that the shrinkage behavior of processed dredged material can be ameliorated by ripening. COLE_rod of the ripened materials were about 20–80% lower than COLE_rod of the un-ripened materials. The large-scale shrink-swell experiments showed that shrinkage in the second drying cycle amounted to less volume than in the first drying cycle and that shrinkage behavior in contrast to the first drying cycle, where pronounced proportional shrinkage was observed, was dominated by structural and residual shrinkage in this cycle.

Conclusions

Ripening of processed dredged material is considered a useful pre-treatment option to ameliorate the shrink-swell behavior of processed dredged material and to obtain a better functional equivalency with traditionally used dike construction materials such as fine-grained marsh sediments.

     

Organic phosphorus mineralization characteristics in sediments from the coastal salt marshes of a Chinese delta under simulated tidal cycles

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Sediment organic phosphorus (OP) mineralization plays an important role in phosphorus cycling in coastal salt marshes. However, information on OP mineralization...     

Short-term effects of aglime on inorganic- and organic-derived CO2 emissions from two acid soils amended with an ammonium-based fertiliser

Purpose

Aglime application can promote carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from acid soils. However, the controlling mechanisms are still poorly understood, particularly the role of fertiliser-ammonium oxidation. This study therefore assessed the effects of aglime on soil inorganic C (SIC)– and soil organic C (SOC)–derived CO₂ emissions from acid soils amended with ammonium.

Materials and methods

Ammonium at three N rates [0% (A0), 0.005% (A1), and 0.2% (A2) w/w] and labelled aglime (Ca¹³CO_3,¹³C 5.94% aa) at three rates [0% (L1), 0.067% (L1), and 0.392% (L2) w/w] were applied to two contrasting acid soils (Nariva series, Mollic Fluvaquents; and Piarco series, Typic Kanhaplaquults) and incubated in 1-l media bottles for 23 days. A calcareous soil (Princes Town series, Aquentic Eutrudepts, carbonate δ¹³C of ??4.79‰) was included as a control that only received ammonium at the three rates.

Results and discussion

The application of ammonium at the A2 rate significantly (p?<?0.05) increased cumulative SIC-CO₂ emissions by 15.8 and 27.1% in comparison to the A0 rate for the Nariva and Piarco soils, respectively, when they were limed at the L2 rate. The lower rate of ammonium (A1), however, had no effect on these emissions, which suggests that enough acidity may not have been generated at this rate to significantly enhance the release of SIC-CO₂. Furthermore, no effect of ammonium rates was observed on SIC-CO₂ emissions from the calcareous soil, which refutes the hypothesis that this amendment plays a greater role in regulating these emissions from calcareous soils compared with acid soils. Also, in contradiction to another hypothesis, the aglime-induced priming effect on SOC decomposition was more apparent in the low-C Piarco soil. This effect was also significantly (p?<?0.05) greater at the L2 rate (above the lime requirement for Piarco), which demonstrates the negative impact that over-liming could have on the sequestration of C in this soil. Our results also showed that ammonium addition may also help to reduce the magnitude of the aglime-induced priming effect in the Piarco soil when it is not over-limed.

Conclusions

Overall, the findings of this study suggest that ammonium fertiliser broadcast at conventional rates may not serve as a significant regulator of SIC-CO₂ emissions from highly to moderately acidic soils amended with aglime. Our findings also indicate a need to consider nitrogen management as an important factor regulating the effects of aglime on SOC-CO₂ emissions.

     

Microbiological analysis of cadmium-contaminated sediments during biostabilization with indigenous sulfate-reducing bacteria

Purpose

Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) have received particular attention in the bioremediation of sediments contaminated with heavy metals. In this study, indigenous SRB were used to stabilize Cd in sediments spiked with different Cd concentrations (≤ 600 mg kg^?1).

Materials and methods

The study investigated the Cd leaching efficiency from sediments after 166 days (d) of biotreatment and assessed the bacterial community and bacteria relationship in sediments during SRB biostabilization.

Results and discussion

The study found that the Cd leaching efficiency of sediments was reduced by 18.1–40.3% (29.4 ± 8.7%) after 166 days of biotreatment. During the biostabilization, the bacterial community in sediments significantly changed, particularly after 61 days of biotreatment. At the family level, the identified dominant bacteria (mean abundance > 3%) included Bacillaceae, norank Nitrospira, Anaerolineaceae, Nitrospinaceae, Streptococcaceae, and Hydrogenophilaceae. The study also speculated the complex relationships between these bacteria. The relative abundance of Desulfobacteraceae and Desulfobulbaceae in sediments was enhanced after biotreatment. Bacillaceae and Streptococcaceae may play a negative role in Cd biostabilization and inhibited SRB biological activity. However, Anaerolineaceae and Hydrogenophilaceae may have commensalism and mutualism relationships, respectively, with typical SRB. The presence of Nitrospinacea and norank Nitrospira may reduce the inhibitive effect of denitrifying bacteria on SRB, thereby exhibiting a positive effect on biologic sulfate reduction and Cd biostabilization.

Conclusions

Indigenous SRB treatment increased Cd stability in sediments and changed bacterial community. During SRB biostabilization, complex relationships between bacteria in sediments were speculated, including competition, syntrophism, and antagonism. These results provide insights for better regulating and controlling SRB biostabilization.

     

A field experiment on stabilization of Cd in contaminated soils by surface-modified nano-silica (SMNS) and its phyto-availability to corn and wheat

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Cd-contaminated soil is a common environmental problem. Stabilization is an effective way of in situ remediation for Cd contamination in soils, but there is a lack...     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal-like fungi and glomalin-related soil protein drive the distributions of carbon and nitrogen in a large scale

Purpose

Arbuscular mycorrhizal-like fungi (AM-like fungi) are crucial for ecosystem functioning and soil organic matter (SOM) is an indicator of soil quality. However, the spatial distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal-like fungi, glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) and SOM in a large scale is still unclear. The objectives of this study were to investigate the spatial distribution of SOM, arbuscular mycorrhizal-like fungi and GRSP, and reveal the potential relationship among them in a large scale across China.

Materials and methods

Soil samples (different in vegetation type, climate, and soil variables) were collected from 26 sites in a large scale across China. The soil properties including pH, total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), and SOM were determined. Quantitative PCR amplification of the 18S rRNA gene was conducted to evaluate the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal-like fungi. The contents of easily extractable GRSP (EE-GRSP), difficultly extractable GRSP (DE-GRSP), and total GRSP (T-GRSP) were measured.

Results and discussion

Arbuscular mycorrhizal-like fungi abundance was significantly affected by the vegetation type and dramatically correlated with the soil TN and mean annual precipitation (MAP). EE-GRSP and DE-GRSP were more associated with the TC and TN content, respectively. The abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal-like fungi significantly but weakly correlated with the T-GRSP and EE-GRSP. The SOM content positively correlated with the DE-GRSP and T-GRSP. Those results suggested that the arbuscular mycorrhizal-like fungi are a larger contributor to regulating the content of GRSP, which is an important indicator of the soil organic carbon pool.

Conclusions

Our results indicated that arbuscular mycorrhizal-like fungi abundance has a greater contribution to driving the distribution of soil C and N in a large scale by affecting the content of glomalin-related soil protein.

     

Response of organic carbon fractions and microbial community composition of soil aggregates to long-term fertilizations in an intensive greenhouse system

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Soil organic carbon (SOC) content and stability, which are regulated by microbial communities, vary depending on aggregate size. The objectives of this study were...     

Nitrogen transformation mediated by nitrate-dependent iron oxidation in anoxic freshwater

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Fe(III) transformation to Fe(II) via the nitrate-dependent iron oxidation process, occurring in anoxic sediments, has an important role in the nitrogen cycle. In...     

中国奶业全产业链绿色发展指标的时空变化特征

奶业是关乎国民健康和食品安全的战略性农业产业,本文从社会发展、经济效益、产品生产、资源投入和生态环境5个方面选取28项指标,发展和完善了中国奶业全产业链绿色发展指标体系和分级标准。基于该指标体系,利用NUFER-animal模型,定量分析了1990—2017年中国奶业绿色发展指标的时空分布特征,剖析了产业绿色发展的限制因素,阐明了优化途径。结果表明:中国人均奶制品消费量稳步提高,从2.0kg?cap.?1?a?1增加到12.5kg?cap.?1?a?1;奶牛单产水平不断提高,从2.4t?head?1?a?1增加到7.0t?head?1?a?1,种养系统氮素利用效率由8.4%提升至14.4%;单位牛奶的资源投入和环境代价均呈下降趋势,生产单位牛奶的蓝水足迹由0.5 m3?kg?1降低到0.2 m3·kg?1,耕地资源投入量由18.5 m2?kg?1降低到3.3 m2?kg?1;养殖系统氨挥发量指标由21.9 g(N)?kg?1降低到7.0 g(N)?kg?1,但仍远远高于欧美国家水平;牛奶生产和加工成本逐年增加,利润却低于欧美等先进国家的水平。空间特征分析表明:农牧交错带和东部沿海地区产品生产、资源投入和生态环境绿色发展水平相对较高,北方地区牛奶及奶制品的生产、消费水平均高于南方地区。发展种养一体化产业链融合绿色发展技术与模式、构建产销一体化产业链融合绿色发展利益共享机制和形成全产业链质量追踪服务体系与国民消费信任机制是促进中国奶业振兴和绿色发展的有效途径。