Physicochemical Characteristics of Biochars Derived From Corn,Hardwood, Miscanthus,and Horse Manure Biomasses

Biochar, a carbon-rich by-product of biomass pyrolysis, is widely recognized as a potential ingredient for soil amendment, fertility, and carbon sequestration owing to its favorable physicochemical properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the chemical and physical properties of biochars produced through pyrolysis at 450°C from agricultural residues available in Northwest Missouri, namely hardwood (HW), corn stover (CR), miscanthus (MS), and horse manure (HM). These properties were assessed through the analysis of pyrolysis yield, pH, volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash and carbon (C), hydrogen (H), sulfur (S), nitrogen (N) contents, trace metal concentrations, surface morphology, surface functional groups, bulk density, and water holding capacity. The biochars derived from HW, MS and CR materials showed high volatile-matter (33–42%), high fixed carbon contents (42–47%), very low ash contents (6–15%), and low bulk density (0.14–0.28 g cm^?3) as compared to that of HM. A wide range of trace elements was observed in biochar samples with significant differences in concentrations. In addition, CR, HW and MS biochars displayed a disordered graphitic-like structure with well-developed pores and surface areas of 23, 70 and 90 m²/g respectively, and high water-holding capacity up to 750%, indicating their potential application as a soil amendment.     

Growth and development of Cirsium arvense in relation to herbicide dose,timing of herbicide application and crop presence

The aim of this study is to assess control effects of 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) dosage, application timing and crop presence on the weed Cirsium arvense. Swedish farmers are recommended to control C. arvense chemically when most shoots are 10-20 cm tall, and mechanically at the compensation point (CP). Recent studies have shown that the CP occurs before shoots reach the three-leaf stage. We hypothesised that (i) herbicide application near the three-leaf stage gives the strongest control, (ii) crop presence increases herbicide effects, and (iii) a 50% herbicide dose gives the same effect as 100%. Treatments of the pot experiment consisted of MCPA 750; 0%, 50% and 100% of the recommended dose applied at leaf stages 3-8, with and without barley. The strongest control was obtained at four leaves and a maximum shoot height of 13 cm, using the recommended dose and with spring barley. In a field population, a maximum shoot height of 13 cm corresponded to a medium height of 6 cm. The 50% dose gave poorer control. Spraying with the recommended dose at the four-leaf stage reduced the development of C. arvense most effectively. Based on this, we recommend that herbicide spraying should be performed at earlier leaf stages/median heights than previously recommended.     

Deep neural network algorithm for estimating maize biomass based on simulated Sentinel 2A vegetation indices and leaf area index

Accurate estimation of biomass is necessary for evaluating crop growth and predicting crop yield.Biomass is also a key trait in increasing grain yield by crop breeding.The aims of this study were(i)to identify the best vegetation indices for estimating maize biomass,(ii)to investigate the relationship between biomass and leaf area index(LAI)at several growth stages,and(iii)to evaluate a biomass model using measured vegetation indices or simulated vegetation indices of Sentinel 2A and LAI using a deep neural network(DNN)algorithm.The results showed that biomass was associated with all vegetation indices.The three-band water index(TBWI)was the best vegetation index for estimating biomass and the corresponding R2,RMSE,and RRMSE were 0.76,2.84 t ha−1,and 38.22%respectively.LAI was highly correlated with biomass(R2=0.89,RMSE=2.27 t ha−1,and RRMSE=30.55%).Estimated biomass based on 15 hyperspectral vegetation indices was in a high agreement with measured biomass using the DNN algorithm(R2=0.83,RMSE=1.96 t ha−1,and RRMSE=26.43%).Biomass estimation accuracy was further increased when LAI was combined with the 15 vegetation indices(R2=0.91,RMSE=1.49 t ha−1,and RRMSE=20.05%).Relationships between the hyperspectral vegetation indices and biomass differed from relationships between simulated Sentinel 2A vegetation indices and biomass.Biomass estimation from the hyperspectral vegetation indices was more accurate than that from the simulated Sentinel 2A vegetation indices(R2=0.87,RMSE=1.84 t ha−1,and RRMSE=24.76%).The DNN algorithm was effective in improving the estimation accuracy of biomass.It provides a guideline for estimating biomass of maize using remote sensing technology and the DNN algorithm in this region.     

Agronomic performance of late-season rice in South China

Improving rice yields is critical for global food security. China is a major rice-producing country having two rice cropping systems, i.e. single-season rice cropping system and a double-season system with both early- and late-season rice. There have been reports on the sink-source traits contributing to high grain yield for single- and early-season rice, but such information is limited for late-season rice. In this study, field experiments were conducted at the research farm of Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi Province, China in the late rice-growing season. Grain yield and sink-source traits were compared among five cultivars (Guiliangyou 2, Teyou 838, Y-liangyou 087, Teyou 582, and Yuxiangyouzhan) in 2012 and then three cultivars (Guiliangyou 2, Teyou 838, and Y-liangyou 087) in 2013. Y-liangyou 087 produced 6–26% higher grain yield than did the other cultivars. This higher grain yield was driven by improvements in sink-source capacity. Sink capacity was 8–31% higher in Y-liangyou 087 than in the other cultivars. Well-balanced relations between spikelets m^?2 and grain weight was responsible for the higher sink capacity in Y-liangyou 087. The result was that Y-liangyou 087 produced 11–17% greater biomass (source capacity) than did the other cultivars. The greater source capacity in Y-liangyou 087 was mainly attributed to higher radiation use efficiency (RUE). Our study suggests that enhancing sink capacity through balanced relations between number of spikelets per unit land area and grain size, while improving source capacity through increasing RUE is a feasible way to achieve higher grain yield of late-season rice in South China.     

基于多载荷无人机遥感的大豆地上鲜生物量反演

以多载荷无人机获取数据和地面实测的数据为基础,将大豆生殖生长期分段建模,采用植被指数和光谱参数相结合再加上农学参数株高,通过最小二乘法建立多元线性回规模型的方法,来估算大豆开花期和结荚期的鲜生物量,采用高光谱植被指数法估算大豆鼓粒期和成熟期的鲜生物量。结果表明:在大豆开花期和结荚期内,采用混合法构建生物量反演模型利用交叉验证法,验证结果的R~2和RMSE分别为0.714和0.393;在大豆鼓粒期和成熟期内,采用高光谱植被指数法构建生物量反演模型,利用交叉验证法,验证结果的R~2和RMSE分别为0.697和0.386;大豆开花结荚期构建的模型和鼓粒成熟期构建的模型都有比较高的精度和可靠性,利用这两种模型完成了高光谱影像鲜生物量的遥感空间制图,能反映当地当时大豆的真实长势情况。     

生物质燃油燃烧器的研究与设计

随着生物质热裂解制油技术的发展,为适应其工业化大规模生产,需要一款可以提供稳定的且高效率的生物燃油燃烧器,而传统的燃烧器很难将生物燃油充分燃烧,因此笔者设计一种生物燃油燃烧器,通过对燃烧器的工作原理和主要技术参数研究与确定,对燃烧机的结构进行了重新设计.该燃烧器结构简单,装配方便,可以将生物燃油进行三级雾化,燃烧效率高.     

生物质气化系统的(火用)值分析

基于生态热力学的最新进展,首次采用(火用)值理论方法研究生物质气化系统.以江苏盐城某20MW生物质气化燃气-蒸汽联合循环发电工程为研究案例,采用(火用)值分析理论对其生态环境效益进行综合评价,并计算了系统的(火用)值评价指标,与风力发电系统、太阳能热力发电系统、玉米酒精生产系统和沼气综合利用系统这几个典型的可再生能源转化利用系统进行对比分析.结果表明,生物质气化系统的(火用)值总输入为1.04E+ 15 Jc/a,(火用)值转换率为2.64 Jc/J.人力劳务是生物质气化系统(火用)值投入的主要部分,占总(火用)值投入的86.04％.生物质气化系统与其他可再生能源系统类似,都主要依赖于外购的资源,但对可再生资源的利用较高,具有较好的发展持续性和生态环境效益.     

Urban land-use impacts on composition and spatiotemporal variations in abundance and biomass of earthworm community

Soil fauna can sensitively respond to alterations in soil environment induced by land-use changes.However,little is known about the impact of urban land-use changes on earthworm communities.In this study,three land-use types(i.e.,forest,nursery and abandoned lands)were chosen to identify differences in diversity,abundance and biomass of earthworm community in Kunming City.Urban land-use had a pronounced difference in species composition,evenness and diversity of earthworm communities.Forest land had the highest density,biomass and diversity of the earthworm communities.Total abundance was dominated by endogeic species in nursery land(70%)and abandoned land(80%),whereas in the forest land,the earthworm community comprised epigeic,endogeic and anecic species.Temporal changes in earthworm density and biomass were also significantly affected by land-use change.Total density and biomass of earthworms in the forest and nursery lands were highest in September,but highest in the abandoned land in October.The influence of soil physicochemical properties on the earthworm density and biomass also varied with land-use types.Soil temperature significantly affected earthworm density and biomass in the three land-use types.Soil pH was positively correlated with earthworm biomass in the forest land,but negatively associated with earthworm density in the abandoned land.Soil organic matter was positively correlated only with density and biomass of earthworms in the nursery and abandoned lands.Our results suggest that the species composition,abundance and biomass of earthworm communities can be determined by the modification of soil properties associated with urban land-use type.     

基于森林资源调查的北京西山油松人工林生物量动态变化研究

基于森林资源调查数据分析西山林场油松人工林生物量多年动态变化情况,结果表明:2004-2014年,油松人工林以近熟林和成熟林为主,成熟林面积和生物量大幅增长,幼龄林、中龄林、近熟林面积和生物量明显减少,单位面积生物量及生产力最高的立地类型为低阴中松,单位面积生物量按大小排序:阔叶混交林>针阔混交林>针叶混交林>针叶纯林。     

不同育成年份冬小麦苗期根冠生物量分配

为探讨品种更替过程中小麦苗期根冠生物量分配的演变趋势,以历年来黄淮海麦区大面积推广种植的22个冬小麦品种为研究对象,采用砂培的方法进行幼苗培养,分析小麦种子萌发后不同时间根、冠生长及生物量分配的变化规律。结果表明:冬小麦种子萌发后第3天幼苗根数在品种间无显著差异,第9天、第15天随着品种更替的进行呈现出显著下降的趋势,现代品种初生根数目显著低于早期品种。在第3天、第9天、第15天,小麦苗期幼苗生长随品种更替呈现不同的变化趋势,芽长显著下降,但根长无显著差异。可见,冬小麦苗期芽干质量在品种改良过程中未发生明显变化,而根干质量和根冠比呈现出显著下降的趋势,冬小麦苗期现代品种地上部分分配到更多的生物量。