Effects of fresh and degraded dissolved organic matter derived from maize straw on copper sorption onto farmland loess

Purpose

The nature of dissolved organic matter (DOM) strongly influences heavy metal sorption onto soil. However, the constituents and structures of DOM change continuously as DOM is subjected to microbial decomposition and photodegradation at natural field scales. Thus, this study was designed to explore the effects of chemical changes of DOM on heavy metal sorption onto farmland soil in natural degradation.

Materials and methods

Fresh DOM (FDOM) and degraded DOM (DDOM) both were extracted from the straw of maize which was extensively planted in Loess Plateau, China. The characteristics of DOM were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis, excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra, UV-visible spectra (UV-vis), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and molecular weight analysis. Farmland loess soil in Loess Plateau and heavy metal Cu(II) which can easily form a complex with DOM in soil were employed to investigate the effects of DOM dynamic changes on Cu(II) sorption onto loess through batch tests.

Results and discussion

Compared with FDOM, DDOM changed significantly in composition including oxygen content, functional group species, aromatic properties, and molecular weight distribution. Oxygen content, aromaticity, and low-molecular-weight fraction (<3 kDa) decreased while aromatic substitution and high-molecular-weight fraction (>10 kDa) increased for DDOM. For these changes, the effects of FDOM and DDOM on heavy metal Cu(II) sorption onto loess were significantly different due to DOM-Cu(II) binding ability varied with FDOM degradation. FDOM promoted Cu(II) sorption onto loess at Cu(II) concentration below 400 mg l^?1 while inhibited above 400 mg l^?1, but DDOM always showed inhibition effects on Cu(II) sorption onto loess. Moreover, both the promotion and inhibition effects depended mainly on the initial concentrations and pH values of FDOM and DDOM.

Conclusions

The results of the present study demonstrate that chemical characteristics of FDOM and DDOM are greatly diverse in components, functional group species, molecular weight distribution, etc. although they are from the same source. The apparent differences can explain their distinct effects on copper sorption onto loess soil. Hence, future researches are supposed to focus on the dynamic changes of DOMs when evaluating their influence on heavy metals environmental behaviors under actual conditions.

     

Nitrogen leaching and phosphorus accumulation in a perennial pasture after composted goat manure was topdressed and incorporated in the Three Gorges region

Purpose  

Improper utilization of composted manure might increase risk of nutrients leaching and phosphorus (P) accumulation, hence causing eutrophication and threatening the ecological safety of river. In the current study, composted manure from a goat feedlot was applied to a perennial pasture in the Three Gorges region to evaluate its effects on pasture yield, NO₃–N leaching, and phosphorus accumulation in soil.     

Effects of bacterial-feeding nematodes and prometryne-degrading bacteria on the dissipation of prometryne in contaminated soil

Purpose  

Prometryne with moderate to low mobility in soil is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant in water and soil. Bioremediation is widely used to remove pollutants from contaminated soil. Bacterial-feeding nematodes have been tested on the decomposition of soil organic matter and the release of nutrients through their interaction with soil microorganisms, but little attention has been paid to their effects on the removal of herbicides in soil. In this study, we investigated the effects of bacterial-feeding nematodes (Cephalobus Bastian) on the dissipation of prometryne and microbial activity in prometryne contaminated soil.     

Comparison of the ameliorating effects on an acidic ultisol between four crop straws and their biochars

Purpose  

The amelioration effects of crop straws and their biochars on an acidic ultisol were compared in incubation experiments to determine suitable organic amendments for acid soils.     

Effect of different fertilization treatments on indole-3-acetic acid producing bacteria in soil

Purpose  

Soil microorganisms directly affect the growth of plants. Especially, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) play an important role in plant growth. There are many studies about the effects of different fertilization treatments on soil microbial community structure; however, the effects on PGPR, including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)-producing bacteria have not been previously reported. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of different types of fertilizers on IAA-producing bacteria.     

Effects of nitrogen fertilizer application rates on nitrate nitrogen distribution in saline soil in the Hai River Basin,China

Background and Objectives  

Soil nitrate nitrogen (NO₃ ⁻-N) accumulation is related closely to NO₃ ⁻ leaching, which is an important issue in groundwater pollution, especially in intensive agricultural areas with saline soils where volumes of water are used in irrigation to avoid salt accumulation in the root zone. However, in the saline environment in Hai River Basin, China, the importance of detailed research into NO₃ ⁻-N distribution in the root zone has not been adequately recognized. Considering the impacts of eco-environmental system N and crop production, the present study aimed at contributing to an understanding of the effects of N application rate on soil NO₃ ⁻-N distribution, NO₃ ⁻-N residue, N loss, and maize (Zea mays L.) yield in this region.     

Link between black carbon and resistant desorption of PAHs on soil and sediment

Purpose  

The effects of black carbon (BC) on resistant desorption of organic pollutants in soil and sediment were evaluated to further understand the mechanisms for the resistant desorption and to find a more accurate desorption model which can improve risk assessment and management of ubiquitous soil/sediment contamination.     

黄土高原不同侵蚀类型区侵蚀产沙强度变化及其治理目标

为了确定黄土高原不同侵蚀类型区的治理目标,采取"水文—地貌法",利用98个水文站控制区和234个侵蚀产沙单元,在分析其不同治理阶段土壤侵蚀产沙变化特征与减沙幅度,不同侵蚀强度面积的变化及其空间分布的基础上,提出了未来20a黄土高原主要流失区的区域治理目标:土壤流失量控制在3.60×108 t左右,土壤侵蚀模数1 300 t/(km2.a)左右。其中,黄土峁状丘陵沟壑区为3 000t/(km2.a),黄土梁状丘陵沟壑区为2 000t/(km2.a),干旱黄土丘陵沟壑区为2 000t/(km2.a),黄土平岗丘陵沟壑区为1 000t/(km2.a),风沙黄土丘陵沟壑区为1 000t/(km2.a),黄土山麓丘陵沟壑区为1 000t/(km2.a),森林黄土丘陵沟壑区为300t/(km2.a),黄土高塬沟壑区为1 500t/(km2.a),黄土残塬沟壑区为3 000t/(km2.a),黄土阶地区为500t/(km2.a),风沙草原区为500t/(km2.a),高原土石山区为100t/(km2.a)。未来20a黄土高原的治理重点区域为黄土峁状丘陵沟壑区(2.20×104 km2)、干旱黄土丘陵沟壑区(1.50×104 km2)、黄土高塬沟壑区(8 600km2)、黄土梁状丘陵沟壑区(4 600km2)。     

Greenhouse gas emissions from Silphium perfoliatum and silage maize cropping on Stagnosols

Background

The sustainability of bioenergy is strongly affected by direct field-derived greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and indirect emissions form land-use change. Marginal land in low mountain ranges is suitable for feedstock production due to small impact on indirect land-use change. However, these sites are vulnerable to high N₂O emissions because of their fine soil texture and hydrology.

Aims

The perennial cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) might outperform silage maize (Zea mays L.) on cold, wet low mountain ranges sites regarding yield and ecosystem services. The aim of this study was to assess whether the cultivation of cup plant also provides GHG mitigation potential compared to the cultivation of maize.

Methods

A t-year field experiment was conducted in a low mountain range region in western Germany to compare area and yield-scaled GHG emissions from cup plant and maize fields. GHG emissions were quantified using the closed chamber method.

Results

Cup plant fields emitted an average of 3.6 ± 4.3 kg N₂O-N ha^–1 year^–1 (–85%) less than maize fields. This corresponded to 74.0 ± 94.1 g CO_2-eq kWh^–1 (–78%) less emissions per produced electrical power. However, cup plant had a significantly lower productivity per hectare (–34%) and per unit of applied nitrogen (–32%) than maize.

Conclusion

Cup plant as a feedstock reduces direct field-derived GHG emissions compared to maize but, due to lower yields cup plant, likely increases emissions associated with land-use changes. Therefore, the increased sustainability of bioenergy from biogas by replacing maize with cup plant is heavily dependent on the performance of maize at these sites and on the ecosystem services of cup plant in addition to GHG savings.     

Phytoremediation efficiency of a PAH-contaminated industrial soil using ryegrass,white clover,and celery as mono- and mixed cultures

Purpose  

Phytoremediation has been recognized as a promising technology for the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated soils. However, little is known about how plant species and cropping patterns affect the process of phytoremediation removing PAHs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate further the effects of monocultures or mixed cultures of different plant species on PAH phytoremediation.     

Flooding-enhanced immobilization effect of sepiolite on cadmium in paddy soil

Purpose  

Little is known of the effect of sepiolite on the transformation of Cd in anthropogenically contaminated paddy soil under different moisture conditions; therefore, we studied the effects of sepiolite and flooding on the extractability and fractionation of Cd in paddy soils.     

Plant-induced changes in the bioavailability of heavy metals in soil and biosolids assessed by DGT measurements

Purpose  

This study investigated the effects of plants on the available pools of heavy metals and their re-supply potential in contaminated substrates in a short-term experiment using five metal-accumulating willow and poplar species/cultivars and in a longer-term experiment for Salix x reichardtii.     

Joint toxicity of three plant protection products to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> (L.) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica rapa</Emphasis> (L.)

Purpose  

Few studies have been conducted to evaluate the effects of mixtures of chemicals in terrestrial environment. Thus, it seems important to evaluate if the combined application of pesticides currently used in agricultural fields may pose a risk to terrestrial plants.     

Chronic toxicity of fenoxycarb to the midge Chironomus riparius after exposure in sediments of different composition

Background, aim, and scope  

Fenoxycarb is an insect growth regulator widely used to control a variety of pests. As a juvenile hormone analogue, it interacts with the natural hormones involved in insect development, inhibiting metamorphosis to the adult stage. Adverse effects of fenoxycarb on non-target organisms have been repeatedly observed and its rapid dissipation from water to the organic fraction of the sediment is known. The aim of this work was to investigate the impact of fenoxycarb on the development of sediment-dwelling larvae of the midge Chironomus riparius after exposure to spiked sediment.     

Glyphosate and glufosinate-based herbicides: fate in soil,transfer to,and effects on land snails

Purpose  

The aim of this work was to assess the transfer and effects of two widely used herbicides on the land snail Helix aspersa during long-term exposure under laboratory conditions.     

A critical assessment of soil amendments (slaked lime/acidic fertilizer) for the phytomanagement of moderately contaminated shooting range soils

Purpose  

The effects of the addition of an acidic fertilizer solution and/or slaked lime (5.5 g Ca(OH)₂ kg⁻¹) on a slightly acidic shooting range soil (pH 6.1, % organic carbon 5.4) with moderate metal (e.g., 620 mg kg⁻¹ Pb) and metalloid (17 mg kg⁻¹ Sb) concentrations on metal and Sb solubility and plant accumulation were investigated.     

Effects of plant rhizosphere on mercury methylation in sediments

Purpose  

This research investigates the effects of different plant species on Hg methylation rates, examines the difference in mercury (Hg) methylation rates in the plant rhizospheres, and shows the trend in methylmercury (MeHg) content of sediment in the Second Songhua River (SSR) of China, thereby providing the basis for estimating the ecological risk of this area.     

Lead accumulation in Westlake Longjing tea: non-edaphic genesis as revealed by regional scale estimate

Purpose  

Longjing (Dragon Well) tea from the West Lake region of Hangzhou, China, is one of the highest quality green teas prized for drinking and is often called the national drink of China. However, the ever-increasing accumulation of lead (Pb) in Westlake Longjing tea has been continually reported in the recent decades, while the exact Pb sources still remain unclear. Our purpose is to investigate the key factors that account for the concentration increase of Pb accumulated in Longjing tea based on a broad regional scale.     

Accumulation,transfer, and environmental risk of soil mercury in a rapidly industrializing region of the Yangtze River Delta,China

Purpose  

Mercury (Hg) accumulation and transfer in soil ecosystems has been altered on local, regional, and even global scales, and their environmental risk has increasingly been a concern to the public and the scientific community.     

Different influences of cadmium on soil microbial activity and structure with Chinese cabbage cultivated and non-cultivated

Purpose  

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal, accumulated in soil by anthropogenic activities and has serious effects on soil microbial activities in contaminated soils. Moreover, there is a lack of reliable data on the effects of Cd in the soil-plant system, since most of the information on Cd-microorganism interactions in soils are based on sewage sludge without plants. The main objective of this study was to assess the effects of Cd on soil microbial activities and community structure during growth of plant.