不同老化方法对生物炭表面特征及镉吸附能力的影响

为明确不同自然环境过程（氧化还原、降雨、光照）对生物炭的老化作用及其对重金属吸附能力的影响,该研究以不同温度（200、500 °C）和气氛（O₂、N₂）热解的小麦秸秆生物炭为研究对象,采用化学氧化、干湿交替、紫外光照氧化3种人工老化方法模拟生物炭在自然环境中的老化过程,并分析老化作用对生物炭理化性质及镉（Cd）吸附能力的影响。结果表明：与初始生物炭相比,老化作用使生物炭表面破碎,孔隙结构增多,提高了生物炭比表面积。干湿交替老化使低温生物炭的比表面积增大0.85倍,而经过化学氧化后的低温生物炭、高温生物炭比表面积分别增大8.81、0.37倍。老化过程使生物炭的官能团种类减少,且含氧官能团数量发生不同程度的变化,其中化学氧化使羧基、内酯基等含氧官能团增多,而干湿交替及紫外光照老化主要引起含氧官能团数量的减少。此外,热重分析结果表明化学氧化使低温生物炭热稳定性降低,而所有老化后的高温生物炭热稳定性均增强。化学氧化、紫外光照、干湿交替3种老化处理均可提高两种生物炭的吸附能力,Cd²⁺吸附量分别提高498.95%~799.36%、436.10%~768.43%、35.53%~128.10%。因此,生物炭实际应用时需综合考虑其环境过程、特性变化以及目标污染物种类,以促进生物炭环境应用的长远发展。     

三种改性小麦秸秆生物炭表征及其对Cu2+的吸附性能

为研究改性生物炭在水溶液中对Cu2+的吸附性能,利用硅酸钠溶液、氯化镁溶液、过氧化氢溶液制备了3种不同改性小麦秸秆生物炭,通过使用扫描电镜-X射线能量色散光谱（scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy,SEM-EDS）和傅里叶红外光谱（Fourier infrared spectroscopy,FTIR）等技术对改性前后的生物炭进行表征分析,探究其表面形貌、官能团等性质变化。硅酸钠改性生物炭（sodium silicate modified biochar,SBC）的比表面积与孔容最大,分别为43.69 m2/g、5.30 cm3/g,比未改性生物炭（biochar,BC）（6.02 m2/g、1.40 cm3/g）分别增加了6.25、2.79倍。由SEM-EDS结果表明,改性生物炭均出现C元素质量分数下降、O元素质量分数增加的现象,其中,SBC的C元素和O元素质量分数变化最大,且SBC和氯化镁改性生物炭（magnesium chloride modified biochar,MBC）上负载了大量含Si和Mg的颗粒。FTIR结果表明,改性处理均能增强官能团的峰值,硅酸钠改性增强程度最大。另外,过氧化氢改性生物炭（hydrogen peroxide modified biochar,HBC）、BC、MBC 和SBC对Cu2+的吸附动力学过程更符合准一级动力学模型,BC、MBC、SBC对Cu2+的等温吸附过程更符合Langmuir模型,HBC对Cu2+的等温吸附过程更符合Freundlich模型。分析吸附模型参数可知,改性生物炭MBC、SBC和HBC中,SBC对Cu2+的吸附能力更强,其理论吸附量可以达到230.20 mg/g,该结果可为改性生物炭对Cu2+污染水体的治理提供理论依据。     

小麦秸秆生物质炭的结构特征及其对Cr(VI)的吸附性能研究

以小麦秸秆为原料,在300℃和500℃下制备生物质炭（WS300和WS500）,对其性质进行表征,并研究其对Cr （VI）的吸附特性。结果表明随制备温度升高,生物质炭的C含量升高,缩合度增强,极性和亲水性减弱。WS500有更大的比表面积和孔容。Cr （VI）主要以HCrO₄^-和Cr₂O₇^2-的形态吸附在生物质炭表面。WS500有更为丰富的羟基、羧基、酯基等官能团,可与Cr （VI）发生络合、氧化还原等作用。Cr （VI）的吸附等温线更适合用Langmuir模型拟合,说明吸附主要是单分子层吸附。Cr （VI）在WS500上的吸附容量高于WS300。     

氮负载生物炭对干湿交替稻田水土生态环境的调控效应

农田面源污染已成为引起水体富营养化的主要原因之一。为了减少稻田氮素流失、改善稻田局部水体养分负载过重的问题,采用盆栽试验,通过生物炭吸附富营养水中的养分后再利用于盆栽水稻,设置主区为持续淹水灌溉（I_F）与干湿交替灌溉（I_A）,副区为1个对照（常规施氮,N1C0）与4种不同用量的氮肥与氮负载生物炭处理（N3/4C1、N3/4C2、N1/2C1、N1/2C2）,其中N3/4、N1/2表示氮肥施入量为当地传统施氮量（N1）的3/4,1/2倍;C1、C2分别为10 t/hm²和20 t/hm²氮负载生物炭。结果表明：（1）减少氮肥施入配施氮负载生物炭显著提高了常规施氮处理田面水的pH;（2）常规施氮肥处理下,干湿交替灌溉（I_A）田面水NH₄⁺—N平均浓度较持续淹水灌溉（I_F）高8.0%,但是添加20 t/hm²氮负载生物炭后,干湿交替灌溉田面水NH₄⁺—N平均浓度低于持续淹水灌溉处理;（3）水稻生育后期,氮负载生物炭对NH₄⁺—N具有明显的缓释作用,而在干湿交替灌溉中,减施氮肥配合添加氮负载生物炭处理较N1C0处理降低了田面水NO₃^-—N浓度;（4）减施氮肥配合添加氮负载生物炭可提高水稻分蘖率,而添加20 t/hm²氮负载生物炭在氮肥施用量较少时,有利于提高水稻的有效分蘖率。综上,氮负载生物炭不仅可以降低富营养水中30.8%含氮量,还能显著降低施肥初期水稻田面水中NH₄⁺—N浓度,降低流失风险,延长NH₄⁺—N的释放时间而减少1/4的施氮量和保证水稻生育末期的氮素需求,从而有利于水稻生长。     

凹凸棒土-生物炭缓释材料对养分缓释及小白菜生长的影响

为解决化肥径流淋洗及养分挥发损失量大、养分释放难与作物吸收同步等问题，该研究对天然缓释材料凹凸棒土进行了300℃热改性处理，同时与生物炭相结合，制备了热改性凹凸棒土-生物炭复合材料，以期提升该材料对氮磷钾养分的缓释性能，并以小白菜进行生物效应验证。试验共设7个处理：以不施肥（CK）和普通化肥（F）做对照，设置化肥+凹凸棒土（AF）、化肥+热改性凹凸棒土（TAF）、化肥+生物炭（BF）、化肥+凹凸棒土+生物炭（ABF）、化肥+热改性凹凸棒土+生物炭（TABF）缓释。结果表明：1）天然凹凸棒土经300℃热改性后，呈现破碎及圆形塌陷结构并出现大量的间隙和裂缝，为养分离子与复合材料相互作用提供更多位点，从而对氮磷钾元素呈现出较优的吸附性能。2）相比生物炭，热改性凹凸棒土+生物炭复合材料由片层转变为疏松多孔结构，具有更多孔道和较深的孔径；同时SiO₂、MgFe₄(SO₄)₆(OH)₂(H₂O)₂₀和CaMg(CO₃)₂含氧基团增加，提高了复合缓释材料吸附效果。3）与普通化肥（F）氮、磷养分释放高峰在第5天和第9天相比，TABF则出现在第52天和第42天，缓释效果突出。4）TABF代替化肥后，可与小白菜整个生育期对养分需求同步缓释，在表型指标、品质、产量等方面均优于CK和F处理；与普通化肥相比，5种缓释材料均能显著增加氮磷钾利用率和农学效率，其中以TABF最优。综上所述：300℃热改性显著增加了凹凸棒土的吸附位点，特别是凹凸棒土-生物炭复合材料更能有效提高肥料的缓释性能，与小白菜全生育期的养分需求同步性好，有效提高了氮磷钾利用率。     

生物炭和秸秆还田对干旱区玉米农田土壤温室气体通量的影响

为了研究生物炭及秸秆还田对干旱区玉米农田温室气体通量的影响,以内蒙古科尔沁地区玉米农田为试验对象,采用静态箱-气相色谱法对分别施入生物炭0 t·hm^-2（CK）、15 t·hm^-2（C15）、30 t·hm^-2（C30）、45 t·hm^-2（C45）及秸秆还田（SNPK）的土壤进行温室气体（CO₂、CH₄和N₂O）通量的原位观测,并估算生长季CH₄和N₂O的综合增温潜势（GWP）与排放强度（GHGI）。结果表明：添加生物炭能够显著减少土壤CO₂和N₂O的排放量,并促进土壤对CH₄的吸收作用。其中处理C15对CO₂的减排效果最好,与对照相比CO₂排放量降低21.16%。随着施入生物炭量的增加,生物炭对N₂O排放的抑制作用不断增强,处理C45对减排效果最好,与对照相比N₂O排放量降低86.25%。处理C15对土壤吸收CH₄的促进效果最好,CH₄吸收量增加56.62%;处理C45对CH₄的排放有促进作用,使生长季土壤吸收CH₄减少81.36%。SNPK对温室气体的减排作用接近处理C15。添加生物炭和秸秆还田对提高玉米产量和降低农田GWP与GHGI均有显著效果,施用生物炭及秸秆还田均有效提高了科尔沁地区的玉米产量,且玉米产量随着施入生物炭含量的增大而提升。从GWP上来看,施用15 t·hm^-2生物炭对温室气体减排的整体效果最好。从GHGI上来看,施用生物炭及秸秆还田均具有一定的经济效益和减排意义,其中施用15 t·hm^-2生物炭的综合效益最高。因此综合经济效益与环境因素,建议科尔沁地区农田在种植玉米时添加15 t·hm^-2生物炭,如不具备购买生物炭条件,可以考虑秸秆还田来实现玉米增产与温室气体减排。     

田间老化生物质炭减缓稻麦轮作系统土壤N2O排放能力降低的机理

作为一种重要的土壤调节剂,生物质炭在固碳减排,尤其在氧化亚氮(N₂O)减排方面的作用日益突出。本研究通过田间定位试验,分析稻麦轮作体系新鲜和田间不同时间老化生物质炭对N₂O排放的影响,旨在明确生物质炭对田间N₂O排放的持续效应及其作用机理。试验共设置5个处理,分别为CK（不施氮肥和生物质炭）、N（施氮肥）、NB_0y（氮肥+新鲜生物质炭）、NB_2y（氮肥+2年老化生物质炭）和NB_5y （氮肥+5年老化生物质炭）,动态监测稻麦轮作周期N₂O排放,测定水稻和小麦收获后土壤理化性质和氮循环功能基因丰度。结果表明,生物质炭显著降低土壤N2O累积排放量32.4% ~ 54.0%,且表现为NB_0y> NB_2y> NB_5y。与N处理相比,NB_0y, NB_2y 和NB_5y处理显著提高土壤pH值0.6 ~ 1.2个单位、土壤有机碳（SOC）含量21.4 % ~ 58.6%、硝态氮（NO_3^--N）含量1.7% ~ 31.3%,对土壤pH改善能力随着生物质炭老化而下降。生物质炭处理显著提高nosZ基因丰度54.9% ~ 249.4%,土壤 (nirS+nirK)/nosZ比值随着生物质炭老化而增加。相关性分析表明,土壤N₂O累积排放量与pH值呈显著负相关,与NO_3^--N含量和amoA-AOB（氨氧化细菌）丰度呈显著正相关。因此,新鲜和田间不同时间老化生物质炭均能显著改善土壤理化特性,降低土壤 N₂O排放且新鲜生物质炭的作用效果优于老化生物质炭。土壤NO_3^--N 含量及(nirS+nirK)/nosZ比值的增加,是导致老化生物质炭减排N₂O能力降低的主要原因。     

不同生物质炭对棕壤中磷素吸附解吸的影响

为了减少土壤磷素流失,提高磷肥利用效率,探究不同生物炭对棕壤中磷素吸附解吸行为的影响规律,以水稻秸秆、玉米秸秆和花生壳为原材料,利用限氧升温炭化法制备生物炭,通过批量吸附实验研究了生物炭种类和生物炭添加量对棕壤磷吸附解吸的影响。结果表明：水稻秸秆生物炭在添加量为0.4%时显著提高棕壤对磷的吸附量,花生壳生物炭和玉米秸秆生物炭则显著降低棕壤对磷的吸附量；等温吸附曲线表明,不同生物炭均未改变等温吸附曲线的变化趋势,均可用Langmuir方程和 Freundlich 方程进行描述(R²>0.93),其中 Langmuir 方程拟合效果更好,不同处理对磷的理论吸附量大小顺序为：水稻秸秆生物炭+棕壤>棕壤>花生壳生物炭+棕壤>玉米秸秆生物炭+棕壤；吸附动力学实验表明,不同生物炭均未改变磷吸附动力学曲线的变化趋势,在所有动力学模型中,准二级动力学模型最适合描述土壤对磷的吸附行为(R²>0.99),其次为准一级动力模型(R²>0.99)和Elovich动力学模型(R²>0.88)；三种生物炭均显著促进棕壤对磷的解吸,当生物炭添加量为≥0.2%时,水稻秸秆生物炭、玉米秸秆生物炭和花生壳生物炭,分别可提高棕壤对磷的解析率50%、70%和90%以上。由此可见,不同生物炭可提高棕壤对磷素的供应和利用,水稻秸秆生物炭在减少棕壤磷素流失、保护生态环境方面具有更大的应用价值。     

玉米秸秆生物炭对Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附机理研究

以玉米秸秆为原料,在350℃和700℃热解温度下分别制备了两种生物炭（BC350和BC700）,并对其理化性质进行了表征。在700℃下制备的生物炭芳构化程度更高,疏水性更强,比表面积更大,孔结构发育更加完全。研究Cd（Ⅱ）在两种生物炭上的吸附发现,Two-site Langmuir吸附等温模型比One-site Langmuir吸附等温模型能更好描述Cd（Ⅱ）在生物炭表面的吸附。BC700对Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附容量大于BC350,解吸率远小于BC350,吸附效果更好;离子交换和阳离子-π作用两种吸附机理同时存在并共同作用,前者分别占BC350和BC700总吸附容量的13.7%和1.1%,后者分别占86.3%和98.9%,阳离子-π作用是最主要的吸附机理。红外光谱FTIR分析表明,生物炭表面的含氧官能团和π共轭芳香结构分别提供不同机理的吸附位点。由于具有更多的离子交换位点,BC350对Cd（Ⅱ）吸附受pH影响较BC700更大。     

土壤混掺生物炭对微咸水蒸发特性的影响

为探究不同生物炭混掺量对微咸水蒸发特性的影响,采用离心机试验和室内土柱模拟试验,设置3个生物炭质量添加比例(B₀、B₂、B₄)和4个微咸水矿化度(W₀、W₁、W₃、W₅),分析不同处理对微咸水蒸发下的土壤水分特征曲线、孔隙分布、累积蒸发量、盐分运移、土壤温度日变幅的影响,并应用蒸发模型进行拟合分析。结果表明:生物炭和微咸水联合应用下能提高土壤持水能力,增加土壤中的较大孔隙和较小孔隙的比例;土壤累积蒸发量随着生物炭混掺量的增加先减少后增加,生物炭混掺量为2%时可以更好地抑制微咸水蒸发;Rose蒸发模型可以较好地拟合微咸水蒸发;土壤中混掺生物炭可以降低盐分表聚,使其在土壤中均匀分布;混掺生物炭可以有效降低土壤温度日变幅;相同生物炭施用量下,矿化度为3 g/L的微咸水,可以降低0—10 cm土层土壤平均温度,提高10—50 cm土层土壤平均温度。综合考虑各项指标,处理B₂W₃的生物炭和微咸水更适宜农田施用,为西北干旱地区更好地利用微咸水灌溉提供理论依据。     

Absorption and transport of Na and Cl in rice cultivars differing in their tolerance to salinity: An examination of the effects of ammonium and potassium salts

The absorption and transport of Na and Cl from 0.1 mM and 10 mM ²²Na labelled NaCl or ³⁶Cl labelled KCl were examined in 15 days old seedlings of 3 cultivars of rice differing in their tolerance to salinity. Furthermore, the effects of 10, 100 and 1000 ppm (N)₂S on their uptake were studied. It was found that in general, the salt‐tolerant cultivars BR and PNL‐1 absorbed more Na and translocated a lesser proportion of it to the shoot, compared to the salt‐sensitive IR‐8, from 0.1 mM NaCl. The presence of (N)₂S reduced the uptake of Na in all the cultivars. It was also found that the presence of 100 ppm K, KN or NNreduced Na absorption from 0.1 mM NaCl significantly in all the cultivars, and the translocation to shoot in BR‐ Chloride transport from 0.1 mM NaCl was reduced by (N)₂S in all the cultivars. The 3 cultivars differed significantly in the rates of absorption and transport of Na and Cl. The results indicate that PNL‐1 which is a cross of IR‐8 X BR, has inherited the salt tolerance trait from BR. Lower rates of Na translocation to the shoot can be used as an index of salt tolerance in rice.     

An examination of the total analysis of major elements in soil samples

Recently conventional chemical analyses were mostly replaced by instrumental analysis. Although results from both methods were examined in details after the samples had been solubilized or extracted by appropriate techniques, the solubilization method was considerably altered so as to be convenient for the following analysis. In atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), for example, fusion technique was mostly inadequate because of the higher salts concentration in the obtained solution. The use of H₂SO₄ must also be avoided in acid digestion for SO₄ ^2- precipitates with Sr²⁺ or La³⁺ which must be added to eliminate interferences in the succeeding procedure. Therefore, it is essential to consider the whole scheme including sample treatments to evaluate the suitability of instrumental analysis. In this experiment, the suitability of the methods which have been employed in our laboratory was examined by analyzing 9 rock standards.     

我国酸性硫酸盐土壤中铁锰形态转化及迁移

酸性硫酸盐土壤酸性很强，有机质含量高，造成了这种土壤所特有的铁锰淋洗、转化和迁移规律。研究结果表明：在酸性硫酸盐土壤中全铁含量较低，一般在３５－５０ｇ／ｋｇ（以Ｆｅ２Ｏ３计），全锰含量也低，一般在０．２５－０．５５ｇ／ｋｇ（以ＭｎＯ计），一般滩涂中全铁大于６０ｇ／ｋｇ，全锰大于１ｇ／ｋｇ。酸性硫酸盐土壤中，铁的游离度较小，一般在３７－７０％，铁的活化度较大，一般在８－２０％，而滩涂中铁的游离度一般     

Denitrification potential in a grassland subsoil: effect of carbon substrates

We examined the potential of a subsoil to denitrify nitrate under optimal anaerobic conditions in a laboratory-based incubation when supplied with a range of C substrates of increasing recalcitrance. Both topsoil and its associated subsoil were supplied with nitrate and either glucose, starch or cellulose. Microbial respiration and the evolution of N₂O and N₂ were measured. The subsoil supported low amounts of microbial activity and responded only to the glucose treatment; with less than one-fifth of the N₂O production measured in the top soil. Overall, our findings demonstrated that the denitrification potential of this particular subsoil is relatively low and that only simple carbohydrates could be utilised readily by the resident microorganisms.     

Availability and extractability of soil manganese in a liming experiment

Abstract

The availability of soil Mn to corn in relation to extractability of soil Mn by EDTA, Mg(NO₃)₂, CH₃COONH₄, hydroquinone, H₃PO₄, and NH₄H₂PO₄ as affected by liming was evaluated under field conditions on a single soil type. EDTA, Mg(NO₃)₂ and CH₃COONH₄‐extractable Mn were related inversely to available Mn. No useful relationships were found between hydroquinone, H₃PO₄, and NH₄H₂PO₄‐extractable soil Mn and Mn uptake by sweet corn.     

CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes of upland black spruce (Picea mariana) forest soils after forest fires of different intensity in interior Alaska

Abstract

Forest fires can change the greenhouse gase (GHG) flux of borea forest soils. We measured carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes with different burn histories in black spruce (Picea mariana) stands in interior Alaska. The control forest (CF) burned in 1920; partially burned (PB) in 1999; and severely burned (SB1 and SB2) in 2004. The thickness of the organic layer was 22 ± 6 cm at CF, 28 ± 10 cm at PB, 12 ± 6 cm at SB1 and 4 ± 2 cm at SB2. The mean soil temperature during CO₂ flux measurement was 8.9 ± 3.1, 6.4 ± 2.1, 5.9 ± 3.4 and 5.0 ± 2.4°C at SB2, SB1, PB and CF, respectively, and differed significantly among the sites (P < 0.01). The mean CO₂ flux was highest at PB (128 ± 85 mg CO₂-C m^?2 h^?1) and lowest at SB1 (47 ± 19 mg CO₂-C m^?2 h^?1) (P < 0.01), and within each site it was positively correlated with soil temperature (P < 0.01). The CO₂ flux at SB2 was lower than that at CF when the soil temperature was high. We attributed the low CO₂ flux at SB1 and SB2 to low root respiration and organic matter decomposition rates due to the 2004 fire. The CH₄ uptake rate was highest at SB1 [–91 ± 21 μg CH₄-C m^?2 h^?1] (P < 0.01) and positively correlated with soil temperature (P < 0.01) but not soil moisture. The CH₄ uptake rate increased with increasing soil temperature because methanotroph activity increased. The N₂O flux was highest [3.6 ± 4.7 μg N₂O-N m^?2 h^?1] at PB (P < 0.01). Our findings suggest that the soil temperature and moisture are important factors of GHG dynamics in forest soils with different fire history.     

Sulfur dioxide inhibition of photosynthesis at different CO2 and O2 concentrations in relation to photorespiration

The mechanism of SO₂ inhibition of photosynthesis in intact leaves of tomato and maze was studied to evaluate SO₂ inhibition of photorespiration. Leaf tissues were fumigated with SO₂ under photorespiratory (low CO, and/or high O, concentrations) and non-photo-respiratory conditions. When tomato leaf disks were fumigated with 10 ppm SO₂ at 2, 21 and 100° o O., SO₂ inhibited photosynthesis at 2% O₂ in the same degrees as at 21% O₂. SO₂ inhibition of photosynthesis was depressed at higher CO₂ concentrations when the disks were fumigated with SO₂ at different CO₂ concentrations. High CO₂ concentrations also reduced the photosynthesis inhibition of maize leaf disks. These results suggest that SO₂ inhibits photosynthesis through other mechanisms than photorespiration inhibition and confirm the view that SO₂ competes with CO₂ for the carboxylating enzymes in photosynthesis     

土壤有机矿质复合体研究Ⅵ.胶散复合体的化学组成及其结合特征

本文研究水热条件渐变的地带性土壤中Ｇ１、Ｇ２组胶散复合体有机、无机物的化学组成及其结合特点。结果表明：Ｇ２组中铁有积累现象，游离态铁、铝氧化物含量为Ｇ２＞Ｇ１，但均随土壤类型变化。松结态腐殖质（Ｈ１）为Ｇ１＞Ｇ２，紧结态腐殖质（Ｈ３）则为Ｇ１＜Ｇ２。可提取腐殖质中，松、稳结态腐殖质之比值Ｈ１／Ｈ２和胡敏酸、富里酸之比值ＨＡ／ＦＡ，除个别土壤之外，都相关不大。Ｇ１、Ｇ２两组复合体中都含有一定数量的络     

Acidifying emissions in The Netherlands

The emission of acidifying compounds to air in the Netherlands, expressed as acidifying equivalents, consisted in 1992 mainly of NO_X (45%), NH₃ (35%) and SO₂ (20%). Transportation, agriculture and large combustion plants each contributed about 30% to the national total emission of acidifying compounds. The emissions from transportation activities mainly consisted of NO_X, while in agriculture NH₃ emission strongly dominated. Combustion processes in large combustion plants resulted both in SO₂ emissions (especially from refineries) and NO_X emissions (especially from public power plants). The total emission of acidifying substances decreases steadily in the Netherlands. The emission in 1992 was 24% lower than in 1985. It is expected to decrease further in future. The emission levels in 1992 and 1993 still are more than twice as high as the emission objective for the year 2000, set by Dutch environmental policy.     

Factors regulating acetylene reduction assay for measuring heterotrophic nitrogen fixation in water-logged soils

In the C₂H₂-C₂H₄ assay for measurement of heterotrophic N₂ fixation in water-logged soils, the diffusion of C₂H₂ into the soil and the recovery of C₂H₄ from it are critical factors regulating the assay result. To establish an C₂H₂-C₂H₄ assay technique suitable for waterlogged soils, the C₂H₂-reducing activities (ARA), assayed by varying the method of assay gas filling, the pC₂H₂ of the assay gas, the duration of assay incubation and of soil vibration before the gas sampling, were compared.

A maximum ARA was measured when the following set of procedures were applied to the soil sample in assay flasks: 1) a 4-fold repetition of I-min evacuation under 0.01 atmospheric pressure and the subsequent I-min filling under 1 atmospheric pressure with assay gas at pC₂H₂ of 0.1 atm, 2) an assay incubation for 3 hr, and 3) a sampling of an aliquot of the headspace gas after strongly vibrating the flask for 1 min.

The ARA measured by this technique was several times larger than those measured by the techniques hitherto applied, and corresponded to an almost 80% of the V _max of the sample. This technique was, therefore, proposed for the assay of heterotrophic N₂ fixation in waterlogged soils.

A striking depression of ARA in the soil sample prepared with agitation indicated that a microbial ecosystem established in the soil should be kept as undisturbed as possible throughout the C₂H₂-C₂H₄ assay.