免耕秸秆覆盖条件下尿素来源铵态氮和硝态氮的累积与垂直运移过程

为准确量化常规垄作和免耕不同量秸秆覆盖处理条件下,玉米不同生育期尿素氮来源铵态氮(NH_4~+-N)和硝态氮(NO_3~--N)在土壤剖面中的累积、垂直运移特性和淋失风险,于2016年在连续运行9年的长期免耕定位试验基地上设置田间原位~(15)N同位素示踪微区试验,试验设5个处理,分别为常规垄作(RT)、免耕无秸秆覆盖(NT-0)、免耕33%秸秆覆盖(NT-33)、免耕67%秸秆覆盖(NT-67)和免耕100%秸秆覆盖(NT-100)。研究结果表明:玉米苗期和抽雄期,0~20 cm和20~40 cm土层尿素来源NO_3~--N的累积量显著高于尿素来源的NH_4~+-N,尿素来源NO_3~--N占所施入尿素氮的比例在苗期最高,各个处理相应土层的平均值分别为24.0%和17.4%。玉米成熟期,0~100 cm土壤剖面中残留的尿素来源的矿质氮96%以上是NO_3~--N,约有7%左右的尿素氮以NO_3~--N的形态垂直运移至80~100 cm土层中,其对相应土层总的土壤NO_3~--N库的贡献比例达50%以上,说明当季作物施入氮肥的淋溶损失风险较高。与常规垄作处理相比,免耕67%和100%秸秆覆盖处理降低了尿素来源NO_3~--N在深层土壤剖面的残留,但差异未达到显著性水平。     

基于15N同位素示踪盐渍化农田向日葵氮素利用规律

为探明盐渍化农田不同施氮水平下向日葵氮素吸收利用规律,采用¹⁵N同位素示踪技术进行田间微区试验,以不施氮处理(N0)为对照,设计3种施氮水平(N1=150 kg/hm²、N2=225 kg/hm²、N3=300 kg/hm²),于向日葵成熟期测定植株和0—100 cm土层土壤¹⁵N同位素丰度及总氮含量,研究各处理肥料氮素的去向及其利用机制。结果表明:向日葵氮素吸收量随施氮量的增加而增加,成熟期作物氮素吸收量在N2水平较不施氮显著增加38.7%;土壤氮和肥料氮对作物当季氮素吸收的贡献比例为84.9%和15.1%。N2水平下,肥料氮的贡献比例较N1增加35.7%,土壤氮的贡献比例较N1降低4.3%。肥料氮残留量随土层深度增加而减少,土壤中47.4%的残留肥料氮主要集中在0—20 cm土层。不同施氮水平下肥料氮去向均表现为氮肥损失率>氮肥残留率>氮肥利用率,N2施氮水平下氮肥利用率较N1、N3显著提高22.7%和14.6%,土壤残留率较N1、N3减少8.5%和8.6%。综合考虑向日葵氮素吸收利用及土壤中氮素残留情况,225 kg/hm²施氮量下氮肥利用率为27.4%,氮肥残留率为32.3%,氮肥损失率为40.3%,是中度盐渍化农田较适宜的施氮量。     

减量施氮及秸秆深埋对春玉米地土壤电导率和硝态氮淋溶的影响

通过在中国科学院长武黄土高原农业生态试验站半覆膜种植春玉米大田试验,研究了减氮及秸秆深埋对土壤电导率、土壤硝态氮淋溶和玉米产量的影响,旨在为提高氮肥利用效率和保护环境提供理论依据。试验设5个处理3个重复,处理包括不施氮(CK)、常规施氮(CON1,N 250kg/hm2)、常规施氮加秸秆(CON2,N 250kg/hm2+秸秆)、减量施氮(CR1,N 200kg/hm2)和减量施氮加秸秆(CR2,N 200kg/hm2+秸秆)。测量了春玉米各生育期土层剖面土壤电导率、收获期土壤硝态氮含量和春玉米产量。结果表明:土壤电导率在分蘖期、拔节期40—150cm土层出现峰值,在抽穗期、成熟期40—200cm土层出现峰值,峰值范围下移。在0—150cm土层范围内,土壤电导率整体呈现CON2CON1,CR2CR1。在0—150cm土层范围内,常规施氮土壤电导率高于减量施氮。与常规施氮相比,减量施氮减少了土壤剖面硝态氮含量,同时,采取秸秆深埋措施也能减少土壤剖面硝态氮含量,并延缓硝态氮的淋溶下移。与常规施氮相比,减量20%施氮增产9.59%。施氮条件下,秸秆深埋时,有利于提高作物产量,提高氮肥增产潜力。秸秆深埋有利于提高土壤电导率,减少土壤硝态氮含量,阻控土壤硝态氮向下淋溶,提高玉米产量。     

添加尿素和秸秆对三熟制水旱轮作土壤各形态氮素的影响

添加不同外源氮对土壤中不同形态氮素的转化具有十分重要的影响。选取长期耕作土壤,设置对照、添加尿素N 150 kg/hm~2(U150)、添加秸秆(相当于添加N 38 kg/hm~2,Straw)、添加尿素N 150 kg/hm~2+秸秆(相当于添加N188 kg/hm~2,U150+Straw)和添加尿素N 188 kg/hm~2(U188)5个处理进行室内培养试验,研究了添加不同外源氮对土壤铵态氮、硝态氮、可溶性有机氮、微生物生物量氮含量的影响。结果表明,土壤铵态氮随着培养时间的延长表现为先增后减的趋势,添加尿素的两个处理其土壤铵态氮较Straw、U150+Straw处理能够更快地达到峰值;而土壤硝态氮则表现为逐步增加的趋势。添加尿素处理能够显著提高土壤矿质氮的含量,在添加等量氮素的条件下,U188处理矿质氮含量在培养期间始终高于U150+Straw处理;此外,U150+Straw处理矿质氮含量在培养前期均低于U150处理,至培养30天后其含量略高于U150处理。与对照相比,培养结束时添加不同外源氮素处理的土壤矿质氮含量能够提高169.61%~496.75%。对于微生物生物量氮和可溶性有机氮而言,添加不同外源氮素分别在培养10天和30天达到峰值,此后逐渐降低。不同处理而言,添加秸秆+尿素、添加秸秆处理的微生物生物量氮和可溶性有机氮含量在培养前期明显高于仅添加尿素的两个处理,说明添加有机物料氮源主要有益于提高土壤有机态的氮素含量。     

我国设施菜地表观氮平衡分析及其空间分布特征

为定量评估区域设施菜地土壤氮素的输入输出平衡状况,探明土壤中氮素的基本去向和氮素潜在污染,从CNKI中文数据库和Web of Science等英文数据库中检索筛选出针对设施菜地氮循环研究的可用数据648组,对我国设施菜地表观氮素平衡进行了分析,并根据《全国设施蔬菜重点区域发展规划(2015—2020年)》中的蔬菜分区,探索了不同区域的氮平衡分布特征。结果表明,我国设施菜地每一生长季总体上表观氮平衡为正值,盈余量为49～1154 kg N·hm~(-2),均值为324 kg N·hm~(-2),氮肥利用率平均为18.6%。从氮素的输入途径来看,每季氮素总投入约为863 kg N·hm~(-2),以化肥和有机肥投入为主,分别为471、306 kg N·hm~(-2),灌溉水带入的氮也不容忽视,达到86 kg N·hm~(-2)。从氮素的支出途径来看,每季氮素总支出为539 kg N·hm~(-2),其中除了作物生长从土壤中吸取大量的氮素(230 kg N·hm~(-2))外,以淋溶、硝化反硝化和氨挥发等形式损失的氮达到309 kg N·hm~(-2),占输出量的57.4%,超过了作物吸收带走的氮(42.6%)。每季区域氮平衡差异显著,其中,黄淮海与环渤海暖温区氮素盈余最高,达到441 kg N·hm~(-2),其较高氮投入和较低的作物吸收是造成农田土壤氮素大量盈余的主要原因,同时也存在较高的氮素损失,通过淋溶流失的氮达到186 kg N·hm~(-2)。总体上,当前我国设施菜地整体表观氮平衡为正盈余,主要由于化肥和有机肥投入量大,但同时存在较高的氮素损失风险。降低氮素投入水平和提高作物的吸收利用率是有效的氮优化管理途径,尤其是在黄淮海与环渤海暖温区,应减少氮素投入,重点关注氮素淋溶损失。     

秸秆与地膜覆盖条件下旱作玉米田土壤氮组分生长季动态

研究不同覆盖措施下农田土壤全氮及其活性和半活性组分在作物生长季的动态变化,有助于深入理解农田土壤氮循环过程。基于黄土高原8年春玉米覆盖定位试验,系统分析了土壤全氮、矿质氮、微生物量氮、潜在可矿化氮以及颗粒有机氮在玉米不同生育期的动态特征。试验包括全生育期9 000kg/hm2秸秆覆盖、全生育期地膜覆盖和不覆盖对照3个处理。结果表明:(1)除硝态氮和铵态氮在苗期上升外,秸秆和地膜覆盖下土壤全氮及其组分含量在春玉米生育期基本呈苗期下降、拔节期上升、大喇叭口—抽雄期下降、灌浆和收获期回升的变化趋势;(2)与对照相比,秸秆覆盖提高了大多数生育时期0—40cm土层全氮和硝态氮含量及0—20cm土层铵态氮含量,提高各生育时期0—40cm土层微生物量氮、潜在可矿化氮以及颗粒有机氮含量;(3)地膜覆盖较对照提高大多数生育时期0—40cm土层硝态氮和0—20cm土层铵态氮含量,降低作物生育后期0—20cm土层全氮和0—40cm土层颗粒有机氮含量,降低大多数时期0—40cm土层微生物量氮和10—20cm土层潜在可矿化氮含量;(4)除了地膜覆盖下20—40cm土层颗粒有机氮相对含量在作物不同生育期差异不显著外,秸秆和地膜覆盖下0—40cm土层微生物量氮、潜在可矿化氮、颗粒有机氮对土壤全氮的动态均有重要贡献。总之,黄土高原的春玉米田秸秆覆盖具有明显的提升土壤全氮及其组分含量的作用,有助于培肥地力和土壤固氮;地膜覆盖则降低了作物生育后期土壤全氮及其组分含量,同时显著提高了土壤硝态氮水平,导致农田土壤氮素淋溶风险提高。     

华北平原玉米种植中施入氮肥的去向研究

为了定量研究玉米氮肥利用特性以及肥料氮的去向,设计了~(15) N标记微区控制试验,设置3个施氮水平:不施氮肥(对照)、低氮处理(120kg N/hm~2)和高氮处理(240kg N/hm~2)。结果表明:土壤中残留~(15) N量随施氮量增加而显著增加(P0.05)。在空间分布上,总体呈现出随土壤深度先下降后上升的趋势,高氮处理和低氮处理~(15) N累积量均以40—60cm和60—80cm土层最多,这两层残留~(15) N总量分别占总投入量的37.55%和18.99%。与对照相比,施氮处理均显著提高了玉米地上、地下生物量和籽粒产量以及各部分吸氮量。虽然高氮处理较低氮处理施氮量增加了1倍,但籽粒产量仅增加0.14倍。氮肥农学效率与氮肥表观利用率随着施氮量增加而显著降低。高氮处理和低氮处理中玉米对~(15) N标记氮肥的利用率分别为28.86%和31.15%,土壤氮残留率分别为50.42%和36.52%,当季进入地下水的比率分别为4.27%和0.68%,其他损失率分别为16.45%和32.33%。研究结果表明,施氮量为120kg/hm~2可有效增加玉米产量,同时提高氮肥利用率,减少土壤氮累积,减小氮肥施用产生的环境污染风险。     

移栽叶龄对水稻氮素吸收利用及~(15)N-肥料去向影响

利用15N示踪技术研究了不同叶龄移栽对水稻产量、氮肥吸收利用及其氮素去向的差异。结果表明,随移栽叶龄推迟,水稻产量显著降低,籽粒与秸秆氮肥吸收量、肥料利用率及其残留量也降低,而氮素损失增加。水稻所吸收的氮素约2/3来源于土壤氮,1/3来源于当季肥料施的氮。肥料利用率为20.8%~25.7%,氮肥残留率为17.9%~32.2%,有42.1%~61.3%的肥料损失。无论哪种叶龄移栽条件下,肥料主要残留在0~20cm土层中。研究表明水稻早栽能增加产量、提高肥料利用率,减少肥料损失,降低氮素对环境的污染。     

长期不同培肥措施下玉米产量稳定性及棕壤氮素累积分布特征

  【目的】  研究长期不同培肥措施下玉米产量的稳定性、可持续性和土壤矿质氮累积分布、微生物量氮含量特征,为制定合理的施肥措施和保证东北棕壤地区农业的可持续绿色发展提供理论依据。  【方法】  棕壤肥料长期定位试验始于1979年。选取其中的12个处理:不施肥对照(CK)、单施氮肥(N)、氮磷肥配施(NP)、氮磷钾肥配施(NPK)、低量有机肥(M1)及其与化肥配施(M1N、M1NP和M1NPK)、高量有机肥(M2)及其与化肥配施(M2N、M2NP和M2NPK),分析长期施肥下玉米产量的变化,并于2018年在玉米收获期采集植株和土壤样品,阐明玉米地上部吸氮量变化,0—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮分布、累积及微生物量氮含量的差异。  【结果】  长期不同施肥下玉米产量呈波动变化,且在1979—1998年内玉米产量变化趋势较平稳,1999—2018年内变幅较大。M1NPK、M2NPK处理玉米平均产量最高,在试验前20年较NPK处理分别提高了10.3%、11.7%,后20年分别提高了17.1%、19.4%。随着试验年限增加,玉米产量的稳定性和可持续性增加,有机肥配施化肥各处理高于单施化肥处理,在试验前20年和后20年玉米产量的可持续性指数(SYI)介于0.43～0.58和0.50～0.67,低量有机肥配施处理高于高量有机肥配施处理。配施有机肥各处理肥料贡献率高于单施化肥处理,且试验后20年M1NPK处理肥料贡献率最高,达54%。施肥40年后(2018年)玉米地上部吸氮量以M1NPK处理最高(302 kg/hm2),与M2NPK处理差异不显著。配施低量有机肥玉米收获期80—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮含量较低,M1NPK处理 0—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮贮量为127 kg/hm2,显著低于M1N和M1NP处理。而高量有机肥配施各处理0—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮贮量较化肥试区和低量有机肥试区分别增加了324.5%和172.9%,增加了氮素损失风险。此外,长期配施有机肥处理0—40 cm土层土壤微生物量氮含量增加,但低量和高量有机肥试区各处理间差异不显著。  【结论】  长期不同培肥措施会影响玉米产量的稳定性和可持续性,改变土壤氮素分布和累积,进而影响玉米氮素吸收。低量有机肥(13.5 t/hm2)配施氮磷钾化肥可促进玉米生长和氮素吸收,降低0—100 cm土层土壤矿质氮贮量,降低氮素损失风险,增加微生物量氮含量,较高的微生物量氮又可作为有机氮库来增加土壤供氮并固持易损失的矿质氮和肥料氮,以保证玉米的高产稳产和环境友好。     

旱地土壤中残留肥料氮的动向及作物有效性

氮素是作物生长最重要的必需元素之一。合理施用氮肥能促进作物生长并提高产量,但是,过多施用氮肥则抑制作物生长并导致大量的肥料氮残留在土壤中,这部分氮素不但会引起土壤养分不平衡,而且为生态环境带来潜在威胁,因此,研究残留氮的动向及作物有效性可为合理施用化肥氮、高效利用土壤残留氮素和减少残留氮素的损失提供依据。应用~(15)N示踪技术,通过4年定位试验,研究了黄土高原南部旱地冬小麦/夏玉米轮作过程中土壤残留肥料氮的变化及作物吸收利用。在冬小麦和夏玉米轮作的第一个周期,为了制造高肥料氮残留背景,于冬小麦播种前向微区施入240 kg hm~(-2)的~(15)N标记氮素;在夏玉米拔节期,为了研究氮肥施入对残留肥料氮的影响,设置0和120 kg hm~(-2)两个氮水平,以普通尿素施入微区。在第2至第4个轮作周期内,为了分析残留肥料氮的动向及其对作物的有效性,微区内不施任何肥料。结果发现,冬小麦播种前施用的~(15)N标记氮肥于收获期在0~200 cm土壤剖面中均有残留,但大部分累积在0~40 cm土层中,累积总量达到200.9 kg hm~(-2),占当季施入量的83.7%。在随后的夏玉米生长季残留的肥料氮迅速减少,之后随生长季的后移缓慢减少,然后保持相对稳定。经过4年的冬小麦/夏玉米轮作,0~300 cm土壤剖面仍残留大量的~(15)N肥料,后季不追施氮肥和追施氮肥处理的残留量分别为47.1 kg hm~(-2)和54.0 kg hm~(-2)。可见,有一部分肥料氮被固定在土壤有机质中。作物对残留氮的回收量逐年减少,且因后季追施氮肥与否而异,4年中作物对肥料氮的总利用率不追施氮肥和追施氮肥处理的分别为46.9%和50.4%,其中在第1个轮作周期中,小麦和玉米的总利用率分别41.6%和42.0%,后3年利用率分别仅有5.3%和8.4%;4年中残留~(15)N的损失率分别达38.1%和29.7%,其损失主要发生在第1个轮作周期的夏玉米生长季节。说明,在旱地土壤上,氮肥的残留是不可避免的,残留肥料氮的有效性较低,只有少量被作物逐年吸收,一部分以有机形态残留在土壤剖面中,另一部分发生了无效损失。后季追施氮肥可促进作物对土壤残留肥料氮的吸收且增加肥料氮在土壤中的保留,减少残留肥料氮的无效损失,但是以自身的大量损失为代价的。     

Nutrient Solution and Nutrient Soil Solution Parameter Evolution in Tomato with Dynamic Fertigation under Saline Conditions

This trial was carried out to study the evolution of the nutrient parameters of the nutrient solution applied to tomato plants (Lycopersicum sculentum Mill. Forteza) cultivated in Mediterranean greenhouse conditions under different fertigation management models. The dynamic model is based on soil water content, which was measured by tensiometers, and on soil solutions obtained with suction cups (porous ceramic cup water samplers). The local traditional method consists of following technical recommendations, and the classical model requires the estimation of Crop Factor (Kc) and knowing the nutrient extraction. Nutrient solution and water applied are functions of the fertigation management criteria. The water used for fertigation was classified as C₄-S₃ according to the Riverside classification system. The cultivation period lasted from 15 August to 20 April. The nutrient parameters studied in nutrient and soil solution were pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrate (NO₃ ^?), phosphate (H₂PO₄ ^?), potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), magnesium (Mg²⁺), sodium (Na⁺), and chloride (Cl^?). The pH shows similar trends under the different treatments. Electrical conductivity is in the range of 2.8–4.5 dS m^?1. Chloride, sodium, magnesium, and sulfate are exclusively modified by the salt concentration in the irrigation water, so it can be assumed that the three treatments vary equally. Nitrate, potassium, phosphate, and calcium are modified depending on each fertigation management method. Soil solution is modified by the nutrient solution applied. Dynamic management allows low nutrient concentration in the nutrient solution to be maintained and keeps soil nutrient concentration low, reducing fertilizer losses and therefore aquifer contamination.     

应用15N稀释法测定土壤氮素初级转化速率的一些关键技术

本文综合评述了应用~(15)N库稀释法测定土壤氮素初级转化速率的一些关键技术,即~(15)N标记土壤氮库的方法、~(15)N的加入量、丰度和标记物种类的选择,以及初始取样时间的确定。只有合理地运用这些关键技术,才能更准确地测定土壤氮素初级转化速率,进而更真实地表征土壤氮素的实际周转状况。     

Activity Disequilibrium between 234U and 238U Isotopes in Southern Baltic

The aim of the work was to determine the concentration of ²³⁴U and ²³⁸U and calculate the values of the ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratio in samples of living organisms, bottom water, surface and interstitial water and also sediments from the various regions of southern Baltic Sea. The knowledge of ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratio in ecosystem allows getting know about the mechanisms and processes of uranium transport and origin.The activities of the analyzed uranium radionuclides in samples were measured using alpha spectrometry. The results of researches revealed diversified concentrations of uranium in the sediments of the southern Baltic Sea (sea and coastal waters) and increase of uranium with sediment depth, suggesting the diffusion of uranium from sediments to water through interstitial water and diagenesis processes in sediment material. The nuclides of uranium ²³⁴U and ²³⁸U were radioactive state equilibrium in most of the sediments. The values of the ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratio oscillate around one. In bottom, surface, interstitial water and living organisms mean values of the ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratio are between 1.12 and 1.15. Higher uranium concentration was observed in samples of sediments and seawater after flood in 1997 and torrential rainfalls in 2000–2001. River waters are characterized by higher ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratio. The values of the ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratio equal 1.27 in sediments and 1.34–1.38 in seawater indicate the influence of fresh waters.     

A study of soil and fertilizer phosphorus intake by Barley plants,using Radioactive tracer technique

Introduction

Phosphorus applied on a phosphate deficient soil, by increasing the root development of the plant, or by stimulating the soil microflora especially in the rhizosphere, may increase the amount of phosphorus which the plant takes up from the soil. This present paper is a report on a pot culture investigation of such an effect of added phosphorus.     

Radioactive cesium distribution in bamboo [Phyllostachys reticulata (Rupr) K. Koch] shoots after the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster

Abstract

Radioactivity levels of cesium (Cs)-134 and ¹³⁷Cs in bamboo [Phyllostachys reticulata (Rupr) K. Koch] sprouts grown from April to June 2011 over a wide area (including Fukushima Prefecture) were elevated (max. 3100 Bq kg^?1 fresh weight) after the Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc. (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster in March 2011. Bamboo sprouts in 2012 also contained high radioactivity levels. Radioactivity imaging analysis of bamboo sprouts harvested in 2012 showed increasing concentration gradients of radioactivity from the lower parts to the top of the sprouts. The peels were individually separated from the sprouts, and the inner edible part (trunk) was cross-sectioned at the internodal sections from the top to the lower parts. Each segmented trunk and its corresponding peel were analyzed for radioactive cesium (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) and stable cesium (¹³³Cs). The concentrations of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs showed significant increases from the lower part to the top, whereas ¹³³Cs showed an almost constant value in the trunk and peel except in the peel of the top node. We speculated that ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs in newly emerging bamboo sprouts in 2012 were translocated mainly from various plant tissues (where the fallout was layered on the bamboo tissues) in older bamboo, while ¹³³Cs was translocated from the soil through the roots of the new bamboo sprouts and was present in the roots and stems.     

Die Aufnahme von137Cs und 90Sr durch verschiedene sommerrapsgenotypen aus dem Boden*

Die Aufnahme von ¹³⁷Cs und ⁹⁰Sr durch verschiedene Sommerrapsgenotypen aus kontaminiertem Boden wurde geprüft. Statistisch gesicherte Unterschiede bei der Aufnahme von Radionukliden zwischen den Genotypen konnten festgestellt werden. Die Aufnahme von ¹³⁷Cs und ⁹⁰Sr ist bei den einzelnen Sorten nicht gleichsinnig. Nur ein geprüfter Genotyp nahm sowohl geringe Mengen von ¹³⁷Cs, als auch von ⁹⁰Sr auf. Die mittleren jährlichen Schwankungen in der Radionuklidaufnahme waren größer, als die Unterschiede zwischen den Genotypen.     

Atmospheric nitrate deposition and the microbial degradation of cellobiose and vanillin in a northern hardwood forest

Human activity has increased the amount of N entering terrestrial ecosystems from atmospheric NO₃⁻ deposition. High levels of inorganic N are known to suppress the expression of phenol oxidase, an important lignin-degrading enzyme produced by white-rot fungi. We hypothesized that chronic NO₃⁻ additions would decrease the flow of C through the heterotrophic soil food web by inhibiting phenol oxidase and the depolymerization of lignocellulose. This would likely reduce the availability of C from lignocellulose for metabolism by the microbial community. We tested this hypothesis in a mature northern hardwood forest in northern Michigan, which has received experimental atmospheric N deposition (30 kg NO₃⁻-N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) for nine years. In a laboratory study, we amended soils with ¹³C-labeled vanillin, a monophenolic product of lignin depolymerization, and ¹³C-labeled cellobiose, a disaccharide product of cellulose degradation. We then traced the flow of ¹³C through the microbial community and into soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial respiration. We simultaneously measured the activity of enzymes responsible for lignin (phenol oxidase and peroxidase) and cellobiose (β-glucosidase) degradation. Nitrogen deposition reduced phenol oxidase activity by 83% and peroxidase activity by 74% when compared to control soils. In addition, soil C increased by 76%, whereas microbial biomass decreased by 68% in NO₃⁻ amended soils. ¹³C cellobiose in bacterial or fungal PLFAs was unaffected by NO₃⁻ deposition; however, the incorporation of ¹³C vanillin in fungal PLFAs extracted from NO₃⁻ amended soil was 82% higher than in the control treatment. The recovery of ¹³C vanillin and ¹³C cellobiose in SOC, DOC, microbial biomass, and respiration was not different between control and NO₃⁻ amended treatments. Chronic NO₃⁻ deposition has stemmed the flow of C through the heterotrophic soil food web by inhibiting the activity of ligninolytic enzymes, but it increased the assimilation of vanillin into fungal PLFAs.     

The use of environmental radionuclides as tracers in soil erosion and sedimentation investigations: recent advances and future developments

Although much of the recent attention on the environmental problems has focused on climatic change, there is also increasing concern that accelerated soil erosion and associated land degradation represent a major problem for sustainable development and environmental protection. There is an urgent need to obtain reliable quantitative data on the extent and rates of soil erosion worldwide to provide a more comprehensive assessment of the magnitude of the problems and to underpin the selection of effective soil conservation measures. The use of environmental radionuclides, in particular ¹³⁷Cs, affords an effective and valuable means for studying erosion and deposition within the landscape. The key advantage of this approach is that it can provide retrospective information on medium-term (30–40 years) erosion/deposition rates and spatial patterns of soil redistribution, without the need for long-term monitoring programmes. Advantages and limitations of the technique are highlighted. The launching of two closely linked International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) research networked projects in 1996 involving some 25 research groups worldwide has made a major contribution to co-ordinating efforts to refine and to standardise the ¹³⁷Cs technique. The efficacy and value of the approach has been demonstrated by investigations in a number of environments. Significant developments that have been made to exploit its application in a wide range of studies are reported in this review paper. Other environmental radionuclides, such as unsupported ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be offer considerable potential for use in soil erosion investigations, both individually and complementary to ¹³⁷Cs. The IAEA through research networks and other mechanisms is promoting further development and applications of these radionuclides in soil erosion and sedimentation studies for a sustainable resource use and environmental protection.     

Kinetics of 110mAg, 60Co, 137Cs and 54Mn Bioaccumulation from Water and Depuration by the Crustacean Daphnia Magna

As part of a research program on the transfer withinfreshwater ecosystems of the radionuclides present inthe weakly radioactive liquid effluents from nuclearpower stations, this article presents an assessment ofthe dynamics of zooplankton contamination from water.The experiments were carried out on young pre-adultdaphnids, placed at a density of 250 individualsL^-1, in 0.45 m filtered river water. Inorder to maintain the radionuclide contamination at ahigh level and to limit alterations in the chemicalcharacteristics of the medium, the water was reneweddaily. The dynamics of contamination were described bya one (¹³⁷Cs) or a two compartmental model(^110mAg, ⁶⁰Co and ⁵⁴Mn), taking intoaccount the fluctuations of the radionuclideconcentration in the water, as well as the growth rateof the daphnids. The contamination levels weredescribed by the steady state value of theconcentration factor, which was 2870 mL g^-1 wetweight, 320 mL g^-1 wet weight, 265 mL g^-1wet weight and 30 mL g^-1 wet weight, for^110mAg, ⁵⁴Mn, ⁶⁰Co and ¹³⁷Cs,respectively. During the depuration phase,radioactivity decrease in daphnids was a very fastphenomenon indicating that radionuclide adsorption tothe surface was the major process involved in thecontamination of daphnids. The two correspondinghalf-lives of the depuration kinetics were 10 min and7 d, 20 min and 1 d and 3 hr and 1.5 d for⁶⁰Co, ^110mAg and ⁵⁴Mn, respectively.The loss of ¹³⁷Cs was characterised by a singlehalf-life of 0.3 d.