Phytolith‐associated potassium in fern: characterization,dissolution properties and implications for slash‐and‐burn agriculture

In recent time, phytoliths (silicon deposition between plant cells) have been recognized as an important nutrient source for crops. The work presented here aims at highlighting the potential of phytolith‐occluded K pool in ferns. Dicranopteris linearis (D. linearis ) is a common fern in the humid subtropical and tropical regions. Burning of the fern D. linearis is, in slash‐and‐burn regions, a common practice to prepare the soil before planting. We characterised the phytolith‐rich ash derived from the fern D. linearis and phytolith‐associated potassium (K) (phytK), using X‐ray tomographic microscopy in combination with kinetic batch experiments. D. linearis contains up to 3.9 g K/kg d.wt, including K subcompartmented in phytoliths. X‐ray tomographic microscopy visualized an interembedding structure between organic matter and silica, particularly in leaves. Corelease of K and Si observed in the batch experiments confirmed that the dissolution of ash phytoliths is one of major factors controlling K release. Under heat treatment, a part of the K is made available, while the remainder entrapped into phytoliths (ca. 2.0–3.3%) is unavailable until the phytoliths are dissolved. By enhanced removal of organic phases, or forming more stable silica phases, heat treatment changes dissolution properties of the phytoliths, affecting K release for crops and soils. The maximum releases of soluble K and Si were observed for the phytoliths treated at 500–800 °C. For quantitative approaches for the K provision of plants from the soil phytK pool in soils, factors regulating phytolith dissolution rate have to be considered.     

毛竹林生态系统植硅体的分布及其影响因素

在浙江省临安市青山、安吉县船坝、新昌县巧英和新昌县大市聚等4个地点选取毛竹Phyllostachys edulis竹叶及林地土壤,运用微波消解及Walkley-Black方法,研究不同岩性土壤上发育的同一竹龄毛竹竹叶和同一岩性土壤上发育的不同竹龄毛竹竹叶中植硅体的产生和分布规律,为毛竹林植硅体碳汇调控提供科学参考。结果表明:①毛竹竹叶中植硅体质量分数为50.8~99.1 g·kg-1,基本上是由上部到下部递减,在不同岩性间的差异表现为花岗岩>花岗闪长岩>玄武岩>页岩。②毛竹竹叶中植硅体的产生通量变化范围为154.9~605.9 kg·hm-2·a-1,在不同岩性间的差异表现为花岗岩>花岗闪长岩>玄武岩>页岩。③若按目前全国毛竹林面积3.3×106hm2,植硅体产生通量209.5~420.2 kg·hm-2·a-1以及植硅体中碳含量(3±1)%计算,那么中国毛竹林通过叶植硅体约可以固定二氧化碳(76.1~152.5)×106kg·a-1。     

Silicon distribution in meadow steppe and typical steppe of northern China and its implications for phytolith carbon sequestration

Silicon (Si) not only plays an important role in plant growth but also contributes significantly to the long‐term terrestrial carbon sink in the form of phytoliths. This study investigated Si content of 184 plant species in meadow steppe and typical steppe of northern China to examine the influential factors of Si distribution and evaluate the potential phytolith carbon sequestration of these grasslands. Our results indicated that the average Si content generally decreased in the following order of Equisetopsida > Monocotyledoneae > Dicotyledoneae. Within angiosperms, although most Si accumulator plants were commelinid monocots, many eudicots also accumulated abundant Si in their above‐ground tissues. The Si content of plant above‐ground parts in typical steppe (6.53 ± 2.88 g/kg) was significantly higher than that in meadow steppe (2.15 ± 0.92 g/kg). The estimated phytolith‐occluded carbon (PhytOC) production flux in typical steppe (0.81 ± 0.36 kg CO₂ ha^?1 year^?1) was higher than that in meadow steppe (0.54 ± 0.23 kg CO₂ ha^?1 year^?1). This study demonstrates that plant phylogeny influences the Si content of individual species, whereas grassland type with different mean annual precipitation and mean annual temperature may significantly affect the abundance of high Si species. We conclude that increasing the abundance of grass species with high Si content in meadow steppe and appropriate grazing and fertilizer application in typical steppe will enhance the phytolith carbon sequestration in grasslands of northern China.     

外源La(Ⅲ)和Si对水稻幼苗植硅体固镧能力的影响

为研究环境中稀土元素(REEs)和硅(Si)对植物植硅体固镧能力(PLSA)的影响,以水稻(Oryza sativa L.)为代表,通过设置不同浓度镧[La(Ⅲ)]和Si正交实验,利用微波消解法提取根、茎和叶植硅体,以电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱和实时荧光定量PCR等实验手段揭示环境La(Ⅲ)对水稻各器官PLSA的影响。结果显示,低浓度La(Ⅲ)使叶哑铃型植硅体大小和根Lsi1表达增加,促进叶和根PLSA,而高浓度La(Ⅲ)会减少叶哑铃型植硅体大小,降低根Lsi1和Lsi2表达,抑制根、茎和叶PLSA。外源La(Ⅲ)是提高根、茎和叶植硅体镧固定效率的重要因素。与单一La(Ⅲ)浓度影响相比,La(Ⅲ)与Si的复合处理显著促进叶和茎PLSA,外源Si能够缓解高浓度La(Ⅲ)对根、茎和叶PLSA的抑制作用。研究证明不同浓度的外源La(Ⅲ)和Si能够改变水稻不同器官的PLSA。     

野生型水稻及其低硅突变体中植硅体和植硅体碳的含量与分布特征

【目的】水稻是典型的富硅植物,植硅体沉积在水稻体内可封存有机碳。本文分析不同吸硅能力基因型水稻植硅体含量、形态、分布及其固碳特征,探究水稻植硅体固碳机理。【方法】盆栽试验在浙江大学玻璃房内进行。供试材料为水稻低硅突变体Lsi1和Lsi2及其野生型,所有施肥和管理措施一致。于成熟期,取水稻地上部茎、叶、鞘样品,常规方法测定硅、植硅体、植硅体碳含量。【结果】1)不同基因型水稻体内硅含量、植硅体含量、生物量干物质植硅体碳含量存在显著差异,均表现为突变体显著低于其野生型,大小依次为Lsi1野生型> Lsi2野生型> Lsi2突变体> Lsi1突变体,Lsi1和Lsi2突变体水稻植硅体碳含量显著高于其野生型,大小依次为Lsi1突变体> Lsi2突变体> Lsi2野生型> Lsi1野生型。2)野生型水稻硅与植硅体含量为鞘>叶>茎,而突变体水稻硅与植硅体含量为叶>鞘>茎,水稻叶片中的植硅体碳与生物量干物质植硅体碳含量最高,植硅体碳含量整体分布趋势为叶>茎>鞘,生物量干物质植硅体碳含量整体变化趋势为叶>鞘>茎。3)水稻植硅体含量与硅含量之间呈极显著正相关(P <0.01),高吸硅的水稻植硅体含量高,且形成的植硅体比表面积小,表明植硅体含量及其形态受其遗传特性的影响。植硅体含量与生物量干物质植硅体碳含量之间呈极显著正相关(P <0.01),植硅体碳含量与生物量干物质植硅体碳含量之间呈极显著负相关(P <0.01),表明生物量干物质植硅体碳含量除了受植硅体含量影响,还受植硅体所包裹的有机碳浓度影响。4) Lsi1及Lsi2野生型水稻生物量、植硅体储量、植硅体碳储量显著高于其突变体。【结论】具有高吸硅能力的野生型水稻与其突变体相比,生物量、硅、植硅体、生物量干物质植硅体碳含量增加,分布不同,虽然植硅体碳含量降低,但植硅体碳储量增加。Lsi1及Lsi2野生型水稻比低硅突变体水稻具有更高的固碳潜力。     

北亚热带麻栎林土壤植硅体碳储量研究

  目的  研究北亚热带麻栎Quercus acutissima林土壤植硅体碳(PhytOC)质量分数及剖面分布规律,探讨不同林龄麻栎林土壤植硅体碳储量的差异。  方法  以江苏省句容市不同林龄麻栎林土壤为研究对象,按照0~10、10~20、20~40、40~60 cm分层取土壤样品,测定植硅体和植硅体碳质量分数,并估算麻栎林土壤植硅体碳储量。  结果  土壤有效硅质量分数为45.7~153.3 mg·kg?1,随土层深度增加而增大,各分层之间有效硅质量分数差异不显著,不同林龄麻栎林土壤有效硅质量分数差异显著(P＜0.05)。幼龄林和成熟林土壤植硅体、植硅体碳和植硅体中有机碳质量分数均随土层深度增加先增大后减小,而中龄林则随土层深度增加而减小;不同林龄之间土壤植硅体、植硅体碳、植硅体中有机碳质量分数差异显著(P＜0.05),而各土层之间差异均不显著。土壤植硅体碳和总有机碳质量分数比值(PhytOC/TOC)为0.36%~1.49%,大致随土层深度的增加而增大;不同土层之间PhytOC/TOC差异不显著,但各林龄之间差异显著(P＜0.05)。土壤植硅体与植硅体碳质量分数之间呈极显著正相关关系(P＜0.01),植硅体碳与有效硅质量分数之间无相关性;麻栎林土壤植硅体碳储量为1.15~1.47 t·hm?2,幼龄林、中龄林、成熟林土壤的植硅体碳储量占有机碳储量的比例分别为0.80%~1.50%、0.73%~1.10%、0.36%~0.67%,占比较小。  结论  受土壤理化性质、淋溶作用等的影响,植硅体和植硅体碳质量分数在不同林龄麻栎林土壤剖面中的分布具有一定的差异性。植硅体碳储量占有机碳储量的比例较小,但随土层深度的增加而增大,表明植硅体碳较其他形式的碳更加稳定。从时间尺度上来讲,植硅体碳汇是森林长期碳汇的重要组成部分。图3表4参41     

植硅体分析与稻作农业

植硅体分析是植物考古研究的重要方法之一。回顾近三十年的研究历程,植硅体分析方法在我国的考古学研究中应用广泛,成果丰硕,主要集中于以稻为主的农作物种属鉴定与驯化、栽培与管理技术、收割与加工方式、粮食储存与食用等方面。随着多学科研究的加强和考古学研究的深化,植硅体分析的理论基础和研究方法仍需不断完善,以推进农业考古研究。     

Tooth length and incisal wear and growth in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) fed diets of different abrasiveness

Dental diseases are among the most important reasons for presenting guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) and other rodents to veterinary clinics, but the aetiopathology of this disease complex is unclear. Clinicians tend to believe that the ever‐growing teeth of rabbits and rodents have a constant growth that needs to be worn down by the mastication of an appropriate diet. In this study, we tested the effect of four different pelleted diets of increasing abrasiveness [due to both internal (phytoliths) and external abrasives (sand)] or whole grass hay fed for 2 weeks each in random order to 16 guinea pigs on incisor growth and wear, and tooth length of incisors and cheek teeth. There was a positive correlation between wear and growth of incisors. Tooth lengths depended both on internal and external abrasives, but only upper incisors were additionally affected by the feeding of whole hay. Diet effects were most prominent in anterior cheek teeth, in particular M1 and m1. Cheek tooth angle did not become shallower with decreasing diet abrasiveness, suggesting that a lack of dietary abrasiveness does not cause the typical ‘bridge formation’ of anterior cheek teeth frequently observed in guinea pigs. The findings suggest that other factors than diet abrasiveness, such as mineral imbalances and in particular hereditary malocclusion, are more likely causes for dental problems observed in this species.     

Plant communities and soil phytolith assemblages relationship in native grasslands from southeastern Buenos Aires province,Argentina

This study has compared the phytolith production and soil phytolith assemblages of two native grass communities typical in Argentina, namely the monospecific Paspalum quadrifarium community or “pajonal”, and the Stipa-Piptochaetium community or “flechillar”. Five sites – three of which had been unmanaged while other two had been submitted to fire and fire-grazing management activities – were selected for study. The results show that in these sites a) phytolith production of the plant communities differed due to their diverse floristic composition, b) it was possible to define the type of management or the type of community based on soil phytolith assemblages, c) there were differences between plant communities and soil phytolith assemblages. These results suggest that modern phytolith assemblages are composed not only of local and present vegetation but also of extralocal/regional and probably past vegetation. Hypotheses about the probable processes involved in phytolith incorporation to soil have emerged during the investigation.     

中国亚热带5种林分凋落物层植硅体碳的封存特性

【目的】森林生态系统的植硅体碳是一种长期(数千年)封存的土壤有机碳,对全球固碳有重要意义。本研究旨在估测中国亚热带森林凋落物层的植硅体碳贮量。【方法】以中国亚热带5种常见林分类型(毛竹林、杉木林、马尾松林、阔叶林和针阔混交林)的凋落物为研究对象,收集地表凋落物并采集0～10 cm 土层土样,用微波消解法提取凋落物及土壤中的植硅体,并测定植硅体中的碳含量。【结果】不同森林凋落物 SiO2含量表现为毛竹林(152.50 g·kg －1)＞阔叶林(13.96 g·kg －1)＞针阔混交林(12.55 g·kg －1)＞杉木林(7.62 g·kg －1)＞马尾松林(6.59 g·kg －1);凋落物植硅体含量表现为毛竹林(180.20 g·kg －1)＞阔叶林(14.67 g·kg －1)＞针阔混交林(11.49 g·kg －1)＞马尾松林(11.36 g·kg －1)＞杉木林(5.58 g·kg －1);凋落物中植硅体碳含量表现为毛竹林(4.34 g·kg －1)＞阔叶林(1.07 g·kg －1)＞针阔混交林(1.04 g·kg －1)＞马尾松林(0.67 g·kg －1)＞杉木林(0.50 g·kg －1);凋落物现存生物量表现为阔叶林(3.20 kg·m －2)＞马尾松林(2.51 kg·m －2)＞针阔混交林(2.38 kg·m －2)＞杉木林(1.88 kg·m －2)＞毛竹林(1.45 kg·m －2); 5种林分凋落物中的 SiO2含量与植硅体含量极显著正相关(R2=0.9405,P ＜0.01);植硅体含量与植硅体碳含量(R2=0.9500,P ＜0.01)以及植硅体碳中有机碳含量与凋落物中植硅体碳含量(R2=0.7018,P＜0.01)均极显著相关;毛竹林、杉木林、马尾松林、阔叶林和针阔混交林凋落物层中的植硅体碳贮量分别为0.231,0.034,0.062,0.125和0.090 tCO2·hm －2;毛竹林、杉木林、马尾松林、阔叶林和针阔混交林 0～10 cm 土层的植硅体碳贮量分别为0.492,0.217,0.352,0.362和0.448 tCO2·hm －2。【结论】5种林分均能通过凋落物植硅体将植硅体碳封存到土壤中;毛竹林凋落物中植硅体碳含量、凋落物和土壤的植硅体碳贮量在5种林分中都表现为最高;若以中国亚热带毛竹林年凋落物量3.6 t·hm －2 a －1计算,毛竹林凋落物的植硅体碳封存速率为0.057 tCO2·hm －2 a －1。本研究得到的中国亚热带中 5种林分凋落物的植硅体碳贮量数据为进一步评价中国亚热带森林生态系统植硅体碳封存潜力提供科学依据。