Carbon and oxygen controls on N2O and N2 production during nitrate reduction

Here we provide evidence that the form of carbon compound and O₂ concentration exert an inter-related regulation on the production and reduction of N₂O in soil. 6.7 mM d-glucose, 6.7 mM D-mannitol, 8 mM L-glutamic acid or 10 mM butyrate (all equivalent to 0.48 g C l⁻¹) were applied to slurries of a sandy loam soil. At the start of the experiment headspace O₂ concentrations were established at ∼2%, 10% and 21% O₂ v/v for each C treatment, and 2 mM K¹⁵NO₃ (25 atom % excess ¹⁵N) was applied, enabling quantification of ¹⁵N-N₂ production, ¹⁵N-(N₂O-to-N₂) ratios and DNRA. The form of C compound was most important in the initially oxic (21% O₂ v/v) soils, where addition of butyrate and glutamic acid resulted in greater N₂O production (0.61 and 0.3 μg N₂O-N g⁻¹ soil for butyrate and glutamic acid, respectively) than the addition of carbohydrates (glucose and mannitol). Although, there was no significant effect of C compound at low initial O₂ concentrations (∼2% O₂ v/v), production of ¹⁵N-N₂ was greatest where headspace O₂ concentrations were initially, or fallen to, ∼2% O₂ v/v, with greatest reduction of N₂O and lowering ¹⁵N-(N₂O-to-N₂) ratios (∼0-0.27). This may reflect that the effect of C is indirect through stimulation of heterotrophic respiration, lowering O₂ concentrations, providing sub-oxic conditions for dissimilatory nitrate reduction pathways. Addition of carbohydrates (glucose and mannitol) also resulted in greatest recovery of ¹⁵N in NH₄⁺ from applied ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻, indicative of the occurrence of DNRA, even in the slurries with initial 10% and 21% O₂ v/v concentrations. Our ¹⁵N approach has provided the first direct evidence for enhancement of N₂O reduction in the presence of carbohydrates and the dual regulation of C compound and O₂ concentration on N₂O production and reduction, which has implications for management of N₂O emissions through changing C inputs (exudates, rhizodeposition, residues) with plant species of differing C traits, or through plant breeding.     

Soybean preference for Bradyrhizobium japonicum for nodulation

For examining the probability of increase in the occupation ratio of inoculated rhizobium in nodules, various Rj-soybean cultivars including the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-lines of soybean were grown in a field of the Kyushu University Farm. Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 that carries uptake hydrogenase (Hup⁺) was used as an inoculum. The relative efficiency of nitrogen fixation generally increased by the inoculation. However, there were no significant differences in the effects among the genotypes of the host plants. The occupation ratio of serogroup USDA110 in the nodules on the taproot of the inoculated plants was in the range of 77–100%, suggesting that the B. japonicum strain USDA110 infected taproots immediately after inoculation. The occupation ratios in the nodules on the lateral roots were 53–67, 40–86, 63–83, and 62–77% in inoculated plants of the non-Rj-, Rj ₂ Rj ₃-, Rj ₄-, and Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotypes, respectively, and they decreased in all the genotypes with the progression of growth. At the time of the first sampling, the occupation ratios on the lateral roots of these Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotypes showed values intermediate between those of IAC-2 (Rj ₂ Rj ₃) and Hill (Rj ₄) , which were the parent cultivars of the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-lines, B340, B349, and C242. The reduction in the occupation ratio of the serogroup USDA110 for about 1 month after the first sampling was the lowest (0.13–0.16) in the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotypes, excluding B349, followed by the non-Rj- and Rj ₂ Rj ₃-genotypes and highest (0.52–0.69) in the Rj ₄-genotypes, excluding Hill. Therefore, it was considered that the population of compatible rhizobia with host soybean plants increased in the rhizosphere with the progression of the development and growth. The results showed that with the expansion of the root area of host plants, the occupation ratio of type A rhizobia including the serogroup USDA110 was high. Therefore, the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotypes were superior to other Rj-genotypes in terms of the inoculation effects of nodulation type A rhizobium, B. japonicum USDA110. However, the preference of the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotype for serogroup USDA110 is not sufficient to rule out the competition with the other serogroups in this study. Therefore, the study should be centered on the isolation of more efficient (Hup⁺) and highly compatible rhizobial strains with the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄- genotypes.     

光辐射强度对侧柏油松幼苗光合特性与水分利用效率的影响

 探讨不同土壤水分条件下光辐射强度对侧柏和油松苗木光合特性与水分利用效率的影响规律,可为林木栽培和管理提供科学依据。在黄土半干旱区,采用人工控制土壤水分的方法,利用模拟光源研究了侧柏和油松苗木的净光合速率、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率和胞间CO2浓度随模拟光辐射增强的变化规律。结果表明:在模拟光辐射为0～2200μmol/（m2.s）的范围内,侧柏和油松叶片的净光合速率、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率均随光辐射强度的增强而增大,但光辐射强度进一步增强,侧柏和油松净光合速率和水分利用效率呈下降趋势;在同样土壤水分条件下,侧柏净光合速率、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率高于油松,侧柏光饱和点高于油松,而侧柏光补偿点低于油松,侧柏光能利用率高于油松;随着土壤水分的增加,侧柏与油松净光合速率、蒸腾速率和胞间CO2浓度升高,而水分利用效率降低。在土壤含水量为7.90%、13.00%和19.99%条件下,侧柏光饱和点分别为1275、1 450和1 675μmol/（m2.s）,光补偿点分别为4225和13μmol/（m2.s）,由光饱和点对应最大净光合速率分别为3.04、4.06和5.53μmol/（m2.s）;在土壤含水量为7.83%1、3.04%与20.15%条件下,油松光饱和点分别为11001、325和1500μmol/（m2.s）,光补偿点分别为60.30和23μmol/（m2.s）,由光饱和点对应最大净光合速率分别为1.08、3.35和4.36μmol/（m2.s）。     

Spatio-temporal variation of anisotropy of saturated hydraulic conductivity in a tilled sandy loam soil

Knowledge on anisotropy of saturated hydraulic conductivity can improve the understanding of transport phenomena in soil. We hypothesized that saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_s) in the upper part of the root zone of an agricultural sandy loam soil was anisotropic at different soil depths and times after tillage. K_s was measured on undisturbed 100 cm³ core samples taken in the horizontal and vertical directions in up to four soil layers (Surf: surface layer (0–5 cm); Top: topsoil (10–15 cm); Trans: transition layer between topsoil and subsoil; Sub: subsoil (40–60 cm)) 1, 8 and 32 months, respectively, after mouldboard ploughing and drilling. The ratio between estimated geometric mean values for K_s in the vertical and the horizontal directions (K_ms,v/K_ms,h) was used to test the hypotheses. A total of 669 soil samples were analysed.K_ms,v/K_ms,h varied with time after tillage and between soil layers. One month after ploughing, K_ms,v/K_ms,h was <0.23 (P = 0.975) in the Trans layer with an average value of 0.084, i.e. K_ms,h was 12 times larger than K_ms,v. Anisotropy could not be documented in this layer 8 or 32 months after ploughing, i.e. K_ms,v/K_ms,h was not significantly different from 1.0. For the Surf and Top layers 32 months after ploughing, K_ms,v/K_ms,h was in the intervals 1.4–50 and 3.1–77, respectively, (P = 0.95) with average values of 8.4 and 15, respectively. Thus, K_ms,v was 8.4 respectively 15 times larger than K_ms,h in the two layers. Anisotropy was not found in these layers 1 or 8 months after tillage. Strong anisotropy was found in the Sub layer with K_ms,v/K_ms,h averaging to 14 and 32, respectively, 8 and 32 months after tillage. K_ms,v and K_ms,h generally decreased with time in the Surf, Top and Trans layers, except in the vertical direction in the Top layer between 8 and 32 months after ploughing, and in the Trans layer between 1 and 8 months after ploughing. Overall, the geometric means of K_s varied between 10^−4.0 and 10^−7.1 m s⁻¹.The results may reflect systematic effects of soil settlement and drying/wetting phenomena coupled with biological activity and the existence of stable, vertically oriented biopores in the subsoil. It appears to be necessary to consider anisotropy of K_s and its variation in the analysis and modelling of water flow and chemical transport in agricultural soils, particularly to explain heterogeneous flow phenomena at the plot and field scales.     

Influence of selenium on oxidoreductive enzymes activity in soil and in plants

The aim of this greenhouse experiment was the assessment of the influence of H₂SeO₃ at soil concentrations of 0.05, 0.15 and 0.45 mmol kg⁻¹, on the activity of selected oxidoreductive enzymes in wheat (Triticum aestivum). The wheat plants were grown in 2 dm³ pots filled with dust-silt black soil of pH 7.7. Applied H₂SeO₃ caused activation of plant nitrate reductase at all concentrations, but activation of plant polyphenol oxidase at only two lower concentrations. The highest concentration caused inhibition of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase. Plant catalase activity decreased under the influence of 0.15 and 0.45 mmol kg⁻¹ concentration. After the final analysis Se was quantified in plants and soil. The amounts in plants were: control (unamended soil) 1.95 mg kg⁻¹; I dose (0.05 mmol kg⁻¹) 18.27 mg kg⁻¹; II dose (0.15 mmol kg⁻¹) 33.20 mg kg⁻¹ and III dose (0.45 mmol kg⁻¹) 38.37 mg kg⁻¹, in soil: 0.265 mg kg⁻¹; 3.61 mg kg⁻¹; 10.53 mg kg⁻¹; 30.53 mg kg⁻¹; respectively. Simultaneously, a laboratory experiment was performed, where the activity of soil catalase and peroxidase were tested after 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 112 days after Se treatment. Peroxidase activity in soil decreased with increasing Se content, over the whole experiment. The lowest dose of Se caused activation a significant 10% increase in catalase activity, but the influence of others doses was unclear.     

Spatial patterns of adenylate kinase,catalase, endopeptidase and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase encoding genes allelic variation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegilops tauschii</Emphasis> Coss.

Investigation of spatial patterns of adenylate kinase, catalase, endopeptidase and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase encoding genes (Ak, Cat1, Cat2, Ep, Fdp) allelic variation in Aegilops tauschii was carried out. About 300 accessions, representing all the species range were taken for the study. Cat2 and Fdp loci are completely monomorphic in ssp. strangulata and in the western part of ssp. tauschii range, as well. Both Cat2 and Fdp are highly polymorphic in the eastern part of ssp. tauschii range, with the patterns of this polymorphism being discordant in these two loci. Ak ¹⁰⁸, a rare allele with sporadical spatial occurrence, was found in ssp. tauschii only. On the contrary, Ak ⁹² is absent in ssp. tauschii: it is the most common Ak allele in ssp. strangulata in Precaspian Iran, the most moist part of the area, and is very rare in other parts of ssp. strangulata area. Ep is a highly polymorphic locus with the highest level of variation in the west of Ae. tauschii area, where this species had originated. Ep allele variation patterns are rather similar in ssp. tauschii and ssp. strangulata. The data reveal the adaptive nature of Ak, Cat2, and Fdp allele variation, while Ep polymorphism seems to be mostly neutral.     

Denitrification and fermentation in plant-residue-amended soil

Summary Nitrous oxide production (denitrification) during anaerobic incubation of ground-alfalfa-, red-clover-, wheat-straw-, and cornstover-amended soil was positively related to the initial water-soluble C content of the residue- amended soil. The water-soluble C concentration decreased in all treatments during the first 2 days, then increased in the alfalfa-, red-clover-, and wheat-straw-amended soil until the end of the experiment at 15 days. An accumulation of acetate, propionate, and butyrate was partly responsible for the increased water-soluble C concentration. Denitrification rates were much higher in the alfalfa-and red-clover-amended soil, but NO ₃ ^– was not fully recovered as N₂O in these treatments. Supported by earlier experiments in our laboratory, we conclude that some of the NO ₃ ^– was reduced to NH ₄ ⁺ through fermentative NO ₃ ^– reduction, otherwise known as dissimilatory NO ₃ ^– reduction to NH ₄ ⁺ . Acetate, the primary product of anaerobic fermentation, accumulated in the alfalfa- and red-clover-amended soil in the presence of NO ₃ ^– , supporting previous observations that the processes of denitrification and fermentation occur simultaneously in C-amended soil. The partitioning of NO ₃ ^– between denitrification and fermentative NO ₃ ^– reduction to NH ₄ ⁺ depends on the activity of the denitrifying and fermentative bacterial populations. NO₂ concentration may be a key in the partitioning of NO ₃ ^– between these two processes.     

A mono-component model of carbon mineralization with a dynamic rate constant

The difficulties in using complicated models of carbon mineralization and the poor performance of simple ones call for new models that are simple in use and robust in performance. We have developed a model for the mineralization of carbon from experimental data in which the organic matter is treated as a single component. The logarithm of the average relative mineralization rate, K, or rate constant, of a substrate considered as a whole was found to be linearly related to the logarithm of time, t, provided prevailing soil conditions remained unchanged. The equation is: logK = logR–S logt, or K = R t^–S, in which R (dimension t^{S ? 1}) represents K at t = 1, and S (dimensionless, 1 ≥ S≥ 0) is a measure of the rate at which K decreases over time, also called the speed of ‘ageing’ of the substrate. The quantity of the remaining substrate, Y_t, is calculated by Y_t = Y₀ exp(–Rt^{1 – S}), where Y₀ is the initial quantity of the substrate. The actual relative mineralization rate, k, at time t is proportional to K, according to k = (1 ? S)K. The model was tested against an assembly of 136 sets of data collected from trials conducted in 14 countries all over the world. They cover materials ranging from glucose, cellulose and plant residues, to farmyard manure, peat and soil organic matter. The results lead to the conclusion that the model describes well the dynamics of organic matter in soil over time varying from months to tens of years, provided major environmental conditions remain unchanged. It can easily be applied in practice and is attractive because of its modest input requirements.     

不同供氮水平对广藿香产量与品质的影响

为探讨不同供氮水平对广藿香产量和品质的影响,采用砂培试验,研究了广藿香在3、 6、 12、 18、 24 mmol/L 5种不同氮水平下（用N1、 N2、 N3、 N4、 N5表示）氮营养、 生长性状、 产量、 挥发油含量和品质的变化。结果表明,随着供氮水平的提高,广藿香生长性状参数、 氮营养、 植株鲜（干）重量、 挥发油含量增加,茎和叶的油分含量下降。在广藿香的茎挥发油中,N1和N2处理的12种成分含量均显著高于N4与N5。-广藿香烯、 -愈创木烯、 苦橙油醇、 -愈创木烯、 反式-丁香烯、 广藿香醇、 广藿香酮含量以N1处理最高。刺蕊草烯、 -广藿香烯、 -愈创木烯、 -榄香烯、 异石竹烯含量在N2处理最高。在广藿香叶挥发油所测定的成分中,除了-广藿香烯外, N1和N2 处理的其他成分含量均显著高于N4与N5。-广藿香烯、 -愈创木烯、 -愈创木烯、 -荜澄茄烯、 异石竹烯、 -愈创木烯、 反式-丁香烯、 广藿香醇、 广藿香酮含量在N1处理最高。刺蕊草烯、 -广藿香烯、 -榄香烯含量以N2处理最高。广藿香茎和叶挥发油所测定的12种有效成分N1与N2及N4与N5处理之间无显著差异。总之提高氮水平有利于增加挥发油含量,但油分含量降低。     

鸡粪腐解过程不同溶解性腐殖物质结合形态锌的动态

以鸡粪为材料,添加不同比例的铜锌进行腐解试验,研究了腐解过程中不同溶性（水溶性、氢氧化钠溶性、氢氧化钠-焦磷酸钠混合液溶性）腐殖物质结合形态锌浓度的动态变化、受铜含量的影响及其与有效锌的关系。结果表明,粪肥原样水溶性锌（H2O-Zn）占其全锌量的0.74%,在腐解过程中逐渐下降;随着粪肥中添加锌量的增加（Cu/Zn为1: 1、1: 2、1: 3处理）,H2O-Zn含量也相应增加,但平均含量占其全锌的比例低于对照处理,同时也随着腐解时间延长呈减少趋势。铜含量的增加对H2O-Zn提取有促进作用。腐解初期,粪肥原样中NaOH浸提取锌含量占其全锌量的62.41%,在腐解过程其比例大幅度下降;NaOH腐殖物质结合态锌（NaOH-Zn）随着加入锌的增大而有所增加,随着铜含量增加,NaOH溶性腐殖物质结合态锌的含量也有增加趋势,而随着腐解时间呈下降趋势。粪肥原样中NaOH-Na4P2O7提取腐殖物质络合锌含量占其全锌量的13.59%,随腐解时间推移呈增加趋势;NaOH-Na4P2O7提取腐殖物质络合态锌（NaOH-Na4P2O7-Zn）的量随着加入锌量的增加,其变化不大,且铜含量对NaOH-Na4P2O7提取腐殖物质络合态锌的量影响很小。在堆腐前,在各个处理样中,50%～85%的可溶性锌分配在NaOH的溶液,10%～50%分配在碱性混合液,0～5%在水溶液;至腐解后期,58%～92%分配在NaOH-Na4P2O7溶液,6%～41%分配在NaOH的溶液,0～2%分配在水溶液。随着锌含量增加,H2O-Zn和NaOH-Zn的分配比例逐渐增加,而NaOH-Na4P2O7-Zn的分配比例减少。在堆腐粪肥中,水溶性锌、NaOH溶性腐殖物质结合态锌与有效锌浓度之间显极正显著或正显著相关,而NaOH-Na4P2O7-Zn溶性腐殖物质络合态锌与水溶性锌,NaOH溶性腐殖物质结合态锌及有效锌浓度都显极负显著或负显著相关。     

嫁接黄瓜果实表面蜡粉形成与砧木的相关性及其硅吸收分配特性

黄瓜果实表面蜡粉的多少影响其商品品质,蜡粉多少在一定条件下取决于植株对硅的吸收特性。本试验选择4个果实表面具蜡粉的南瓜自交系（Z1、 Z2、 Z3和Z4）和4个果实表面没有蜡粉的南瓜自交系（Z5、 Z6、 Z7 和Z8）为砧木,嫁接津优1号黄瓜,以自根黄瓜为对照,研究了嫁接和自根黄瓜果面蜡粉形成与硅吸收分配的关系。结果表明, 采用果面具蜡粉砧木Z1、 Z2嫁接的黄瓜果实表面鲜亮、 光滑,几乎无蜡粉;果面具蜡粉的砧木Z3、 Z4以及不具蜡粉的4个砧木嫁接的黄瓜果面蜡粉量多,色灰暗,与自根黄瓜之间差异显著或不显著。果面没有蜡粉的黄瓜植株各器官中硅含量显著低于果面有蜡粉的黄瓜;果实果皮中硅含量高于果肉。嫁接黄瓜果面是否具蜡粉与砧木果面有无蜡粉没有必然联系,采用去蜡粉砧木嫁接的黄瓜硅吸收量明显减少。     

中国西北棉花根系呼吸对土壤呼吸贡献率的研究

To measure the contribution of root respiration (Rr) to total soil respiration (Rt) in arid cotton fields, eighteen plots, nine for girdling and nine control, were built in an arid cotton field in the Aksu National Experimental Station of Oasis Farmland Ecosystem, Xinjiang of China. Given the difference of soil respiration between girdled plots and non-girdled control plots, the components of soil respiration, root respiration (Rr) and respiration originating from decomposition (Rd) were divided. The temperature sensitivities of R r and R d were analyzed, respectively. The results showed that the average contribution of R r to R t in arid cotton field was about 32% during the study period. The temperature-response curve of R r differed from that of Rd . The dynamic variation of R d was more related to the change of soil temperature as compared to Rr . Rr and Rd had different responses to the variation of environment, and thus new models capable of differentiating between Rr and Rd are needed for evaluating the different factors controlling these two components of soil respiration in arid cotton field.     

Comparison of foliar composition of eucalyptus globulus and quercus agrifolia growing together

Foliage of each species was sampled at 26 paired locations in the San Francisco Bay area. Eucalyptus globulus had significantly higher concentrations of Mn, Ca and Na, but significantly lower concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn, P, NO₃‐N and Kjeldahl‐N than did Quercus agrifolia. Concentrations of K and Mg did not differ between species. The relative concentration series for the species were similar: N>Ca>K>Mg>Na>P>Mn>Fe for Q. agrifolia and Ca>N>K> Mg>Na>Mn>P>Fe for E. globulus. Correlations between species were statistically significant for concentrations of Fe and Ca only. Thus, for these elements analysis of one species could be used as an indicator of the other.     

Use of electrical conductivity to estimate effects of competing ions on radionuclide distribution coefficients

The distribution coefficient (K _d) between the soil solid phase and the liquid phase is a commonly used parameter to evaluate radionuclide behavior in soil. For reliable evaluation, the variability of the K _ddue to changes of environmental conditions should be clarified. In the present study, applicability of electrical conductivity (EC) to estimate effects of competing ions on K _dwas examined in batch experiments. The K _dof five radionuclides (⁶⁰Co, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁸⁵Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, ⁶⁵Zn) were found to be in inverse proportion to the supernatant EC. The K _dof ⁶⁰Co and ⁵⁴Mn were increasing at 7 days and no stable K _dcould be determined. For ⁸⁵Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, and ⁶³Zn, the regression equations obtained between the K _dof the equilibrium state and the supernatant EC were validated in another experiment; it is expected that their K _ds can be determined accurately using the EC. Because of its simplicity in measurements, using EC should be very practical for estimating effects of competing ions on K _dof selected radionuclides.     

The magnitude and variability of soil-surface CO2 efflux increase with mean annual temperature in Hawaiian tropical montane wet forests

Soil-surface CO₂ efflux (F_S; ‘soil respiration’) accounts for ≥50% of the CO₂ released annually by the terrestrial biosphere to the atmosphere, and the magnitude and variability of this flux are likely to be sensitive to climate change. We measured F_S in nine permanent plots along a 5.2 °C mean annual temperature (MAT) gradient (13-18.2 °C) in Hawaiian tropical montane wet forests where substrate type and age, soil type, soil water balance, disturbance history, and canopy vegetation are constant. The objectives of this study were to quantify how the (i) magnitude, (ii) plot-level spatial variability, and (iii) plot-level diel variability of F_S vary with MAT. To address the first objective, annual F_S budgets were constructed by measuring instantaneous F_S monthly in all plots for one year. For the second objective, we compared plot-level mean instantaneous F_S in six plots derived from 8 versus 16 measurements, and conducted a power analysis to determine adequate sample sizes. For the third objective, we measured instantaneous F_S hourly for 24 h in three plots (cool, intermediate and warm MATs). The magnitude of annual F_S and the spatial variability of plot-level instantaneous F_S increased linearly with MAT, likely due to concomitant increases in stand productivity. Mean plot-level instantaneous F_S from 8 versus 16 measurements per plot yielded statistically similar patterns. The number of samples required to estimate plot-level instantaneous F_S within 10% and 20% of the actual mean increased with MAT. In two of three plots examined, diel variability in instantaneous F_S was significantly correlated with soil temperature but minimal diel fluctuations in soil temperature (<0.6 °C) resulted in minimal diel variability in F_S. Our results suggest that as MAT increases in tropical montane wet forests, F_S will increase and become more spatially variable if ecosystem characteristics and functioning undergo concurrent changes as measured along this gradient. However, diel variation in F_S will remain a minor component of overall plot-level variation.     

Degradation Kinetics of Perchlorate in Sediments and Soils

This study investigated the intrinsic perchlorate (ClO₄ ^-)degradation kinetics of sediments and soils from multiple sites in microcosm studies, including the influence of varying nitrate concentration (NO₃ ^--N from 1 to 22.8 ppm) and up to 300 ppm sulfate. The first-order degradation rates and lag times of both ClO₄ ^- and NO₃ ^- degradation were site-specific and dependent on environmental conditions such as organic substrate availability, nitrate, initial ClO₄ ^- concentration, and prior ClO₄ ^- exposure. At an initial ClO₄ ^- concentration of 5 ppm, ClO₄ ^- degradation rates ranged from 0.13 to 0.46 day^-1, and lag times of ClO₄ ^- degradation ranged from 0 to 60.0 days; while NO₃ ^- degradation occurred at rates ranging from 0.03 to 1.42 day^-1, with lag times ranging from 0 to 29.7 days. Under the same treatment conditions, NO₃ ^- degradation rates were relatively higher than that of ClO₄ ^-. Perchlorate degradation rates remained constant at both lower (0.5 ppm) and higher (5 ppm) ClO₄ ^- concentrations. Generally, ClO₄ ^- rates were affected by the availability of organic substrate, which was represented here by Total Volatile Solids (TVS) of sediments and soils, and not by NO₃ ^-. Nitrate did increase the lag time of ClO₄ ^- degradation, which may account for the persistence of ClO₄ ^- in the environment, especially when ClO₄ ^- is typically ppb levels in the environment compared to ppm levels of NO₃ ^-. This study showed rapid intrinsic ClO₄ ^- degradation in sediments and soils of contaminated sites, and highlighted the potential for natural attenuation of ClO₄ ^- in the environment.     

Phosphorus and iron erosion from non-vegetated sites in a post-mining landscape,Lusatia, Germany: Impact on aborning mining lakes

Particulate phosphorus (P) can be transported via soil erosion in overland flow to waters, where it provides a long-term source of P for aquatic biota, and can accelerate freshwater eutrophication. Hence, knowledge of P sources is important for good environmental management. However, data on P, and related Fe, losses from various structures of a post-mining landscape are lacking. A year-long monitoring, and ten short rainfall simulations on plot scale, at ridges and rills and a combination of them, revealed high erosion from bare lignite mining dumps at Schlabendorf-North, Lusatia, Germany. The mean annual soil erosion rate from the year-long monitoring site was 18 × 10⁶ kg km^− 2 yr^− 1, corresponding to 0.034 g m^− 2 min^− 1. The erosion rates were lowest at rill plots (1.9–4.4 g m^− 2 min^− 1), intermediate at ridge plots (14.3–37.1 g m^− 2 min^− 1), and highest at a combined rill and ridge plot (48.7–63.4 g m^− 2 min^− 1). These differences in extent were due to small scale differences in morphology and extreme water repellency. The hydrophobicity leads to very low infiltration, thus generating surface runoff even at low rainfall intensities. Loss rates of P and Fe, as deduced from the year-long erosion rate, were 470–650 kg km^− 2 yr^− 1, and 37.9 × 10³–71 × 10³ kg km^− 2 yr^− 1 respectively. However, these P inputs from lignite mining dump erosion, consisting of P-poor (17–90 μg g^− 1) tertiary spoil materials, into aborning mining lakes, are negligible since they are accompanied by high Fe inputs, which favour an efficient P co-precipitation in the water column.     

Spatial and temporal variability of sediment and dissolved loads from two alpine watersheds of the Lesser Himalayas

Estimation of sediment load from Himalayan basins is of considerable importance for the planning, designing, installation and operation of hydro-power projects, including management of reservoirs. In the present study, an assessment of physical and chemical load, sediment yield and erosion rate has been undertaken at eight different locations in the Sainj and Tirthan watersheds. The analysis revealed that the maximum load was transferred during the monsoon season. Moreover, the estimated average chemical erosion rate of the Sainj (83 t km^− 2 yr^− 1) and Tirthan (80 t km^− 2 yr^− 1) watersheds were higher than that of the Indian average (69 t km^− 2 yr^− 1) representing all the rivers. Both watersheds were eroding physically and chemically at a faster rate than that of the world global average erosion rate (185 t km^− 2 yr^− 1). The flattish nature of the channels in some segments of these watersheds showed a lower transport of sediments, where as the constricted segments having steep bed slopes increased the velocity of flow and the sediment transport rate. These findings have important implications for water resource management in the context of sediments mobilization, erosion, channel management, ecological functions and operation of the hydro-power projects in the Lesser Himalayan region.     

Emissions of CO2, CH4 and N2O from Southern European peatlands

Peatlands play an important role in emissions of the greenhouse gases CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O, which are produced during mineralization of the peat organic matter. To examine the influence of soil type (fen, bog soil) and environmental factors (temperature, groundwater level), emission of CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O and soil temperature and groundwater level were measured weekly or biweekly in loco over a one-year period at four sites located in Ljubljana Marsh, Slovenia using the static chamber technique. The study involved two fen and two bog soils differing in organic carbon and nitrogen content, pH, bulk density, water holding capacity and groundwater level. The lowest CO₂ fluxes occurred during the winter, fluxes of N₂O were highest during summer and early spring (February, March) and fluxes of CH₄ were highest during autumn. The temporal variation in CO₂ fluxes could be explained by seasonal temperature variations, whereas CH₄ and N₂O fluxes could be correlated to groundwater level and soil carbon content. The experimental sites were net sources of measured greenhouse gases except for the drained bog site, which was a net sink of CH₄. The mean fluxes of CO₂ ranged between 139 mg m⁻² h⁻¹ in the undrained bog and 206 mg m⁻² h⁻¹ in the drained fen; mean fluxes of CH₄ were between −0.04 mg m⁻² h⁻¹ in the drained bog and 0.05 mg m⁻² h⁻¹ in the drained fen; and mean fluxes of N₂O were between 0.43 mg m⁻² h⁻¹ in the drained fen and 1.03 mg m⁻² h⁻¹ in the drained bog. These results indicate that the examined peatlands emit similar amounts of CO₂ and CH₄ to peatlands in Central and Northern Europe and significantly higher amounts of N₂O.     

Regulation of urease production in soil by microbial assimilation of nitrogen

Summary Studies of the effects of different forms of N on urease production in soils amended with organic C showed that although microbial activity, as measured by CO₂ production, was stimulated by the addition of NH₄ ⁺ or NO₃ ^- to C-amended soils (200 mol glucose-C g^–1 soil), urease production was repressed by these forms of N. The addition of L-methionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of inorganic N assimilation by microorganisms, relieved the NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^- repression of urease production in C-amended soil. The addition of sodium chlorate, an inhibitor of NO₃ ^- reduction to NH₄ ⁺ by microorganisms, relieved the NO₃ ^- repression of urease production, but did not eliminate the repression associated with NH₄ ⁺. These observations indicate that microbial production of urease in C-amended soils is not directly repressed by NH₄ ⁺ or NO₃ ^-, but by products formed by microbial assimilation of these forms of N. This conclusion is supported by our finding that the biologically active L-isomers of alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartate, and glutamine, repressed urease production in C-amended soil, whereas the D-isomers of these amino acids had little or no influence on urease production. This work suggests that urease synthesis by soil microorganisms is controlled by the global N regulon.