水稻根尖细胞原生质膜表面电势对不同氮形态、 铝和pH的响应

相对于NO_3~--N,NH_4~+-N可以缓解植物铝毒害,但其机制还不清楚。铝在细胞膜表面的吸附量受细胞膜表面电势影响,直接影响到铝毒害。本文采用酶解法提取水稻根尖原生质体,研究了原生质膜表面zeta(ξ)电势对NH_4~+N、NO_3~--N、铝和pH的响应。结果表明,不管是否加铝,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N本身并不显著影响原生质膜表面ξ电势,但是加铝和降低pH均可以去极化原生质膜表面ξ电势。水稻吸收NH_4~+-N一般降低生长介质pH,吸收NO_3~--N升高生长介质pH。因此,NH_4~+-N缓解水稻铝毒的原因,不是因为NH_4~+-N本身去极化了细胞膜表面电势,而是因为水稻吸收NH_4~+-N降低了介质pH,去极化了细胞膜表面电势,从而可能降低了铝在水稻根尖表面的吸附。     

祁连山哈溪林区移植前后土壤氮对比研究

研究不同海拔梯度森林土壤氮的分布特征,对于合理利用森林资源、改善森林的生态功能都有重要意义。采用封顶埋管法,对祁连山东段哈溪林区不同海拔梯度和不同植被类型的土壤氮进行了研究。结果表明:(1)海拔2 650m青海云杉林土壤的初始TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量均最低,海拔2 950 m青海云杉林土壤的初始TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量均最高;各海拔梯度青海云杉林土壤经培养后,其TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量均减小。(2)就不同植被类型而言,青海云杉林土壤TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量均最高,草地和灌丛土壤TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量较低,且二者差异不大。草地和灌丛土壤培养后TN和NH_4~+-N含量显著升高,NO_3~--N含量变化不大。(3)某一海拔青海云杉林土壤移植到其他海拔青海云杉林培养后,土壤TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量变化不大;不同植被类型之间土壤相互移植培养后,土壤TN,NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量变化明显,不同植被类型对土壤氮的含量差异显著。     

科尔沁沙地固定沙丘土壤氮素空间分布特征研究

为了研究固定沙丘土壤N素空间分布特征,选择以栽植小叶锦鸡儿25年后的固定沙丘为研究对象,从迎风坡、顶坡和背风坡3个位置4个层次(0～5、5～10、10～20和20～40 cm)进行取样分析.研究结果表明:全N、NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N含量均随着土层加深而呈现出减少的趋势,0～5 cm土层显著高于其他各层.表层土壤受凋落物的影响较大,从而相对于深层土壤来说积累了更多的N素.全N、NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N含量在不同坡位间存在显著差异(p＜0.01):全N和NO_3~--N含量在迎风坡较高,而NH_4~+-N含量在背风坡较高.丛下全N、NO_3~--N和NH_4~+-N的含量显著高于丛间(p＜0.01).土壤电导率与全N、NO_3~--N、NH_4~+-N含量呈显著正相关,而pH与NO_3~--N、NH_4~+-N含量呈显著负相关,NO_3~--N、NH_4~+-N的富集降低了土壤pH值.小叶锦鸡儿的栽植对沙土改良具有重要意义.     

戴云山自然保护区森林土壤氮转化特点研究

利用~(15)N稳定同位素成对标记法并结合MCMC数值模型,研究了戴云山国家级自然保护区天然毛竹林(BF)及其邻近黄山松–杉木林(NF)土壤氮素初级转化速率,以评估该地区森林生态系统土壤氮状态,并分析其保氮机制。结果表明:BF土壤NH_4~+-N的总产生速率(以N量计,13.16μg/(g×d))是NF土壤的2倍(6.25μg/(g×d)),其中黏土矿物对NH_4~+-N的解吸作用是BF产生NH_4~+-N的主要过程(55%),而NF主要以有机氮的矿化作用为主(56%)。BF土壤氮素初级矿化速率为5.56μg/(g×d),显著高于NF的3.40μg/(g×d)。土壤氮素初级矿化速率与土壤全氮含量显著正相关(P0.05),而与C/N比表现显著负相关(P0.05)。BF与NF土壤NH_4~+-N总产生量的90%均被土壤微生物的同化作用以及黏土矿物的吸附作用所消耗。两种土壤的硝化作用微弱,BF土壤总硝化速率(以N量计,0.23μg/(g×d))与NF土壤(0.26μg/(g×d))相差不大。两种林地土壤硝化作用均以有机氮的异养硝化为主,自养硝化过程可忽略不计。BF与NF土壤中NO_3~–-N消耗速率均超过了产生速率,表明BF与NF土壤均能有效降低NO_3~–-N的潜在淋失风险,其中BF土壤中NO_3~–-N的消耗以微生物的同化作用为主(58%),而NF土壤以NO_3~–-N异化还原为NH_4~+-N过程为主(68%)。戴云山国家级自然保护区两种亚热带森林土壤的氮转化过程均以NH_4~+-N转化为主,产生的绝大多数NH_4~+-N会迅速通过微生物对NH_4~+-N的同化作用以及黏土矿物对NH_4~+-N的吸附作用固持到有机氮库中;自养硝化过程微弱,使得无机氮主要以NH_4~+-N的形式保存于土壤中,同时酸性土壤环境有效削弱了NH_4~+-N的挥发损失。此外,相对较高的NO_3~–-N微生物同化速率以及异化还原为NH_4~+-N速率,进一步有效降低了NO_3~–-N的淋溶损失以及反硝化作用的气态损失风险,使该地区森林土壤能够在多雨的条件下有效保持氮素,满足植物的生长需求。     

两种典型温度下农村化粪池出水氮素在原地土壤中的迁移转化过程

为探究典型温度下(25℃和5℃)农村化粪池出水氮素在排污口原地土壤中的迁移转化过程,采集原地表层土壤及化粪池出水,构建室内模拟系统,分析化粪池出水经土壤渗滤前后氮素组成。结果表明,农村化粪池出水氮素以可溶性无机氮(DIN)为主,其中NH_4~+-N占70%以上;两种温度条件下化粪池出水DIN差异不显著(P0.05,n=12),NH_4~+-N、NO_2~--N、NO_3~--N浓度均具有极显著性差异(P0.01,n=12),25℃时硝化作用明显,导致出水NH_4~+-N低于5℃,NO_2~--N、NO_3~--N高于5℃;两种温度条件下原地土壤对化粪池出水DIN均有削减作用,其中NH_4~+-N削减量均占DIN削减量60%以上;25℃和5℃条件下,NH_4~+-N削减率分别为23.11%～47.37%和25.37%～43.47%;25℃时NH_4~+-N削减主要通过氨挥发、反硝化、厌氧氨氧化等作用完成,而5℃时NH_4~+-N削减主要通过土壤NH_4~+-N吸附作用完成;25℃时土壤对NO_3~--N还存在蓄积作用。研究表明,两种温度下化粪池出水NO-_2~--N和NO_3~--N在原地土壤中可发生反硝化或异化还原作用进而得到削减。     

铵硝营养对水稻氮效率和矿质养分吸收的影响

NH_4~+和NO_3~–是对植物有效的两种主要无机氮源。水稻一般被认为是偏好NH_4~+的植物,但是在NO_3~–条件下,水稻也能良好地生长。大多数关于水稻铵硝营养的报道是在pH 6.0左右的水培条件下开展的,但是对于酸性条件下水稻铵硝营养研究很少。随着土壤酸化的加重及一些边际酸性土壤被用作水稻种植,研究酸性条件下水稻的铵硝营养具有重要意义。本文采用水培试验,在pH 5.0的条件下,通过添加和不添加pH缓冲剂MES(2-(N-吗啡啉)乙磺酸),研究了NH_4~+和NO_3~–对水稻生长、氮效率和矿质养分(N、P、K、Ca、Mg、Fe、Zn、Cu、Mn)吸收的影响。结果表明,在不添加MES的条件下,水稻地上部生长(株高、叶绿素含量、干重)在NH_4~+和NO_3~–之间没有显著差异,而添加MES后,NH_4~+处理的水稻地上部生长优于NO_3~–。不管是否添加MES,NO_3~–处理的水稻地下部生长(根长、根表面积和根物质量)优于NH_4~+。水稻含氮量和氮利用效率在不同NH_4~+和NO_3~–处理之间没有显著差异,但是NH_4~+处理的水稻氮吸收效率高于NO_3~–。与NO_3~–相比,NH_4~+增加了水稻地上部P和Fe含量,而降低了水稻地上部Ca、Mg、Zn、Cu和Mn含量,对K含量影响较小。上述结果表明,NH_4~+有利于改善水稻地上部生长,提高氮吸收效率、地上部P和Fe含量,而NO_3~–则有利于水稻发根,提高地上部Ca、Mg、Zn、Cu和Mn含量。     

氮肥基追比对小麦产量、土壤水氮分布及利用的影响

为解决区域土壤质地类型针对性氮肥施用问题,在轻壤土和黏壤土上分别设置不施氮肥,氮肥基追比3∶7,4∶6,5∶5,6∶4和7∶3处理,研究小麦产量、水氮利用效率以及土壤含水量、贮水量、NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N动态变化规律。结果表明:轻壤质土壤氮肥基追比4∶6的处理小麦产量、水分利用效率、氮肥生产效率最高分别为8 265.3 kg/hm~2,27.6 kg/(hm~2·mm),34.4 kg/kg。黏壤质土壤氮肥基追比5∶5的处理小麦产量、水分利用效率、氮肥生产效率最高分别为8 363.2 kg/hm~2,28.3 kg/(hm~2·mm),34.8 kg/kg。小麦不同生育期各土层含水量垂直分布变化较大,轻壤质土壤含水量在9.3%～26.2%,而黏壤质为9.7%～27.6%;小麦全生育期内土壤贮水量呈先升高后降低趋势,黏壤质土壤贮水量高于轻壤质。氮素追施量越多土壤表层NH_4~+-N与NO_3~--N含量越高,且随土层加深土壤NH_4~+-N与NO_3~--N含量降低,受降水影响轻壤质土壤NH_4~+-N与NO_3~--N更易于向土层深处淋溶,成熟期黏壤质各土层的NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量均多于轻壤质。说明黏壤质土壤保水保氮肥能力强于轻壤质,氮肥基追比可以适当增加。     

春季解冻期3种温带森林土壤氮素动态变化

为了研究春季土壤冻融过程对氮素周转的影响,以长白山地区3种森林土壤为研究对象,利用原位培养连续取样法,测定和分析了不同形态氮素(NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N和微生物量氮(MN))在春季解冻期间的含量动态变化。结果表明:土壤解冻过程中,3种森林土壤微生物量氮时间变化动态不同,且土壤微生物量氮表现出明显的垂直空间异质性,0~10 cm层土壤微生物量氮显著高于10~20 cm层。解冻期3种林型土壤NH_4~+-N时间变化动态表现一致,最大土壤NH_4~+-N释放量出现于解冻中后期。解冻期3种林型0~10 cm土壤NO_3~--N变化动态基本一致,但10~20 cm层土壤NO_3~--N含量的变化动态表现各异。解冻期间,除长白松林外,红松阔叶林与次生白桦林的0~10 cm层土壤NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量显著高于10~20 cm层土壤。土壤解冻中前期以NH_4~+-N生成为主,而解冻中后期,NO_3~--N生成量显著增加。     

冻融作用对农田土壤可溶性氮组分的影响

为了解非生长季农田土壤氮素转化过程,采用室内冻融模拟培养试验研究了不同冻融温度和冻融循环次数对东北4种典型农田土壤(棕壤、褐土、草甸土、黑土)可溶性氮组分含量的影响。结果表明:随着冻结温度降低,4种农田土壤可溶性无机氮(DIN,NO_3~–-N+NH_4~+-N)、可溶性有机氮(DON)和可溶性全氮(DTN)含量均显著增加。随着融化温度升高,除NH_4~+-N含量显著升高外,4种农田土壤NO_3~–-N、DON和DTN含量的变化行为受冻结温度和土壤类型的协同影响。随着冻融循环次数增加,棕壤和褐土NO_3~–-N、NH_4~+-N、DON和DTN含量均显著增加;草甸土NO_3~–-N、DON和DTN含量均显著增加,而NH_4~+-N含量显著降低;黑土NO_3~–-N和NH_4~+-N含量均显著降低,而DON和DTN含量则先升高后降低。不同类型土壤受冻融作用影响的响应能力不同,其大小顺序为褐土棕壤、草甸土黑土。可见,冻融作用促进了土壤氮素转化,有利于土壤有效氮的累积,为春季作物生长提供足够的氮素,但同时也增加了土壤氮素流失风险。     

螃蟹对闽江河口互花米草湿地土壤活性养分变化的影响

为阐明螃蟹活动对湿地土壤活性养分含量变化的影响,对闽江河口湿地不同潮滩螃蟹干扰下的土壤DOC、MBC、NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N、Fe及其价态含量特征进行测定和分析。结果表明:有螃蟹组土壤DOC和MBC含量分别为95.98,11.13mg/kg,对照组含量分别为106.99,7.54mg/kg,螃蟹组土壤DOC含量略低于对照组(P0.05),螃蟹组土壤MBC含量高于对照组(P0.05);两者含量最高值和最低值分别出现在夏季和冬季,且夏季显著高于其他季节(P0.05)。螃蟹组土壤NH_4~+-N和土壤NO_3~--N含量分别为22.45,1.08mg/kg,对照组含量分别为23.65,1.44mg/kg,螃蟹组土壤NH_4~+-N含量低于对照组(P0.05),螃蟹组土壤NO_3~--N含量低于对照组(P0.05);不同季节,土壤NH_4~+-N和NO_3~--N含量存在显著差异(P0.01)。螃蟹组土壤总铁含量略高于对照组(P0.05);螃蟹组土壤Fe2+含量显著高于对照组(P0.05);螃蟹组和对照组土壤Fe3+含量差异不明显(P0.05)。不同季节,土壤总Fe、Fe~(2+)和Fe~(3+)含量存在显著差异(P0.01)。     

Comparison of volatile generation in serine/threonine/glutamine-ribose/glucose/fructose model systems

Thermal generation of volatiles in nine model reactions was studied and compared. Each of the model systems contained one amino acid and one monosaccharide. The amino acid was serine, threonine, or glutamine, and the monosaccharide was ribose, glucose, or fructose. More unsubstituted pyrazine was generated in serine-sugar systems than threonine-sugar systems. The formation of several furfuryl-substituted pyrazines and pyrroles was observed in some of the studied systems. Total pyrazines were generated more in glutamine-containing systems than in serine- and threonine-containing systems, and the reverse was true for generation of furfuryl-substituted compounds. Acetylpyrazine was generated in serine/threonine/glutamine-glucose and serine/glutamine-fructose systems.     

Cu/Pb/Zn/Cd在石英砂中的迁移实验及模拟

通过稳定流混合置换实验,研究了孔隙水流速和pH变化对Cu/Pb/Zn/Cd在石英砂中迁移行为的影响,获得了示踪剂Br-和Cu/Pb/Zn/Cd的穿透曲线(BTCs);并通过室内批量平衡实验获得吸附系数,进而计算出阻滞因子Rd。基于这些实验结果,借助CXTFIT2.1软件,用平衡CDE模型拟合了Br-的BTCs,得到了弥散系数D;在此基础上应用CDE非平衡模型拟合Cu/Pb/Zn/Cd在不同流速和pH条件下的BTCs,并预测了平行实验和不同埋深处Cu/Pb/Zn/Cd浓度的动态变化。结果表明,Cu/Pb/Zn/Cd的迁移能力随流速的增大而增强,而随pH的增大而降低;化学非平衡的两点模型能较好地模拟本文实验条件下Cu/Pb/Zn/Cd的迁移过程。     

Chemical and colloidal stability of sols in the Al2O3-Fe2O3-SiO2-H2O system: their role in podzolization

Concentrations of dialysable silica in equilibrium with Al₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂O sols at pH 4.5–5.0 confirm the formation of a poorly ordered non-dialysable proto-imogolite species with an Al : Si ratio near 2, close to that of imogolite. Sols with Al : Si>2 give nearly constant levels of free silica in solution in the range 2–6 μg/cm³, indicating equilibrium between proto-imogolite and aluminium hydroxide species. These findings indicate that imogolite-like precipitates in acid soils will buffer silica in solution to within this range during leaching episodes. Imogolite is more stable than a previous estimate suggested, and a revised value for its free energy of formation is proposed: ΔG⁰_f(298.15) = -2929.7 kJ/mol. In Fe₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂O sols, the Fe : Si ratio of the non-dialysable species varies smoothly from 11 to 3 as free silica in solution ranges from 4 to 35 μg/cm³. Such sols are much less colloidally stable than hydroxyaluminium silicate sols, but mixed Al₂O₃—Fe₂O₃—SiO₂—H₂O sols are almost as stable as iron-free sols up to a Fe : Al ratio of 1.5. Thus migration of Al and Fe as mixed hydroxide sols can account for the almost constant ratio of Al to Fe with depth in oxalate extracts from Bs horizons of podzols.     

Diversity of Paenibacillus polymyxa populations in the rhizosphereof wheat (Triticum durum) in Algerian soils

The diversity of Paenibacillus polymyxa populations associated with the rhizosphere of durum wheat was investigated in Algerian soils sampled in regions where wheat had been cultivated for 5 and 26 years (Hamiz, H5 and Z26), 70 years (Algiers, D70), and more than 2 000 years (Tiaret, T2000 and K2000). A total of 111 strains were isolated by immunotrapping and identified as P. polymyxa using an API50CHB kit and restriction analysis of the amplified 16S rDNA gene. The phenotypic characteristics of the P. polymyxa populations were compared and the strains found not to cluster according to their origin. The longer the history of wheat cultivation, the lower the phenotypic diversity and the higher the frequency of nitrogen-fixing strains. Population genetic diversity, evaluated by ERIC-PCR, showed the same trends as phenotypic diversity. The distribution of ERIC genotypes among the different populations studied were compared using Pearson’s Chi-squared test. The strains isolated in D70, Z26, and H5 derived from soil populations sharing the same genetic structure, but those isolated in T2000 and K2000 each stemmed from a population with a specific genetic structure. These data suggest that the genetic structure of P. polymyxa populations has been affected by long-term wheat cultivation.     

Diffusion of NH+4 and NO−3 mineralized from organic N in soil

The mineralization of native soil organic matter and the simultaneous diffusion of zero NH⁺₄ and NO^?₃ to a solution sink of zero N concentration was analysed experimentally and theoretically for a fine sandy loam soil. Experimentally, the NH₄ and NO₃ ions produced in an incubated unsaturated soil column were allowed to diffuse through a sintered glass plate into a stirred solution sink. The distribution of NH⁺₄ and NO^?₃ in the soil column was measured after various incubation times. The rate of ammonification was measured directly during incubation and the rate of nitrification modelled from nitrifier growth kinetics. A Freundlich equation was used to describe the equilibrium between soluble and exchangeable NH⁺₄ in the soil. Terms for the microbial transformation of N and the adsorption-desorption of NH⁺₄ were combined with diffusion equations which were solved numerically using finite difference methods. The model constructed was used to predict the NH⁺₄ and NO^?₃ con-centration distributions in the soil column, and good agreement was obtained between the experimental and predicted concentration profiles. The use of the model for predicting the diffusive flux of mineral N to the outer surfaces of soil peds, where it is vulnerable to leaching, was demonstrated.     

Abundance of Frankia from Gymnostoma spp. in the rhizosphere of Alphitonia neocaledonica, a non-nodulated Rhamnaceae endemicto New Caledonia

The capacity of different soils of New Caledonia to induce nodulation in Gymnostoma poissonianum was studied. The soils were sampled under five Gymnostoma species, Alphitonia neocaledonica (a non-nodulated endemic Rhamnaceae) and Pinus caribea (an introduced species) growing in various ecological conditions. Using G. poissonianum as trap-host, we observed a higher abundance of Frankia from Gymnostoma spp. in the rhizosphere of A. neocaledonica as compared with bare soils and P. caribea rhizosphere. The nodulating capacity of A. neocaledonica rhizosphere was almost similar to that of the five Gymnostoma species (symbiotic host) studied in the same stations. In comparison, bare soils or rhizosphere of P. caribea had poor nodulating capacities. We isolated fourteen Frankia strains from nodules of G. poissonianum after baiting with the rhizospheric soils of five Gymnostoma and A. neocaledonica. Using the PCR/RFLP method, we confirmed the similarity with those already described. Frankia was abundant in the rhizosphere of A. neocaledonica in all the sites studied. One explanation could be a positive tropism of Frankia towards species belonging to families having nodulated species, which is the case of A. neocaledonica endemic in New Caledonia. We can suppose that the non-nodulated plants belonging to these families can excrete some chemical substances able to attract Frankia and to induce its proliferation.     

3 种挺水植物吸收水体NH4+、NO3-、H2PO4- 的动力学特征比较

本文用动力学试验研究了具有景观价值的3 种挺水植物—— 水生美人蕉(Canna generalis)、细叶莎草(Cyperus papyrus)、紫芋(Colocasia tonoimo)对H₂PO₄^-、NH₄⁺、NO₃^- 的吸收特征及差异。试验结果表明: 3 种挺水植物吸收H₂PO₄^- 时, 美人蕉的吸收速率最快, 且在较低离子浓度条件下也可以吸收该离子, 说明其具有嗜磷特性, 能够适应广范围浓度H₂PO₄^- 环境; 吸收NO₃^- 时, 细叶莎草的速率最快, 但对低浓度NO₃^- 环境的适应能力较差, 美人蕉吸收NO₃^- 的特性与细叶莎草刚好相反; 吸收NH₄⁺ 时, 细叶莎草的吸收速率最快, 且在低浓度NH₄⁺ 环境下仍能吸收该离子, 而美人蕉的吸收速率最慢, 但能在低浓度NH₄⁺ 环境下吸收该离子。说明不同植物对养分的吸收特性存在较大差异, 各自的污染水体修复适用范围也不同。美人蕉可用于各种浓度H₂PO₄^- 污染的水体修复; 而NO₃^- 污染严重的水体最适宜用细叶莎草作先锋植物, 修复到一定程度后再种植美人蕉来维持水质; 细叶莎草在各种浓度NH₄⁺ 污染的水体中均适用, NH₄⁺ 污染较轻的水体也可用美人蕉修复。     

Evidence that fungi can oxidize NH4+ to NO3− in a grassland soil

The contribution of bacteria and fungi to NH₄⁺ and organic N (N_org) oxidation was determined in a grassland soil (pH 6.3) by using the general bacterial inhibitor streptomycin or the fungal inhibitor cycloheximide in a laboratory incubation study at 20°C. Each inhibitor was applied at a rate of 3 mg g^?1 oven‐dry soil. The size and enrichment of the mineral N pools from differentially (NH₄¹⁵NO₃ and ¹⁵NH₄NO₃) and doubly labelled (¹⁵NH₄¹⁵NO₃) NH₄NO₃ were measured at 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours after N addition. Labelled N was applied to each treatment, to supply NH₄⁺‐N and NO₃^?‐N at 3.15 μmol N g^?1 oven‐dry soil. The N treatments were enriched to 60 atom % excess in ¹⁵N and acetate was added at 100 μmol C g^?1 oven‐dry soil, to provide a readily available carbon source. The oxidation rates of NH₄⁺ and N_org were analysed separately for each inhibitor treatment with a ¹⁵N tracing model. In the absence of inhibitors, the rates of NH₄⁺ oxidation and organic N oxidation were 0.0045 μmol N g^?1 hour^?1 and 0.0023 μmol N g^?1 hour^?1, respectively. Streptomycin had no effect on nitrification but cycloheximide inhibited the oxidation of NH₄⁺ by 89% and the oxidation of organic N by more than 30%. The current study provides evidence to suggest that nitrification in grassland soil is carried out by fungi and that they can simultaneously oxidize NH₄⁺ and organic N.     

Ca2+ Effects on K+ Fluxes in Arabidopsis Seedlings Exposed to Al3+

Potassium transport was investigated in the root elongation zone of Arabidopsis seedlings during the first minutes of Al³⁺ exposure, using the non-invasive MIFE microelectrode technique. To prevent pH changes during Al³⁺ application, and to separate aluminium from acidic stress, plants were pre-treated with 5 mM homoPIPES before addition of AlCl₃ (pH 4.2). The 30-min treatment with 50 or 500 μM AlCl₃ led to a significant increase in K⁺ efflux in solutions containing 100 μM CaCl₂. This efflux was suppressed by high concentrations of Ca²⁺ (10 mM) in the bathing solution. Our results suggest that elevated external Ca²⁺ activities can sustain K⁺ influx in the root elongation zone during Al³⁺ exposure either by maintaining [Ca²⁺]_cyt or by affecting Al³⁺ uptake across the plasma membrane.     

Assessment of N2O, NOx and NH3 emissions from a typical rural catchment in Eastern China

To evaluate the atmospheric load of reactive gaseous nitrogen in the fast-developing Eastern China region, we compiled inventories of nitrous oxide (N₂O), nitrogen oxide (NO_x) and ammonia (NH₃) emissions from a typical rural catchment in Jiangsu province, China, situated at the lower reach of the Yangtze River. We considered emissions from synthetic N fertilizer, human and livestock excreta, decomposition of crop residue returned to cropland and residue burning, soil background and household energy consumption. The results showed that, for the 45.5 km² catchment, the annual reactive gaseous emission was 279 ton N, of which 7% was N₂O, 16% was NO_x and 77% was NH₃. Synthetic N fertilizer application was the dominant source of N₂O and NH₃ emissions and crop residue burning was the dominant source of NO_x emission. Sixty-seven percent of the total reactive gaseous N was emitted from croplands, but on a per unit area basis, NO_x and NH₃ emissions in residential areas were higher than in croplands, probably as a result of household crop residue burning and extensive human and livestock excreta management systems. Emission per capita was estimated to be 18.2 kg N year⁻¹ in the rural catchment, and emission per unit area was 56.9 kg N ha⁻¹year⁻¹ for NH₃ + NO_x, which supports the observed high atmospheric N deposition in the catchment. Apparently, efficient use of N fertilizer and biological utilization of crop straw are important measures to reduce reactive gases emissions in this rural catchment.