Spectrophotometric and Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectroscopy Determination of Gallium in Natural Soils and Soils Polluted by Industry: Relationships between Elements

The aim of this work was to determine gallium contents in different soils of Poland using a sensitive spectrophotometric method based on the complex of Ga(III) with chrome azurol S and benzyldodecyldimethylammonium bromide and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry technique. The total content of gallium in the soils clearly depends on the soil location and properties and ranged from 41.7 to 437 μg g^–1. The contents of gallium determined in 10% nitric acid and 1 M of magnesium chloride extract ranges respectively from 38.0 to 81.9% and 20–40% of the total content of this element. A strong correlation has been found between gallium and zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper. The high Pearson correlation coefficient values and the proportional relationship between the concentrations of Ga and these metals may make it possible to treat gallium as an indicator of soil contamination with heavy metals.     

Microbial Respiration in Soils of the Argentine Pampas after Metsulfuron Methyl, 2,4‐D,and Glyphosate Treatments

Abstract

Short‐term response of microbial respiration after treatment with different doses of the herbicides metsulfuron methyl (MET), 2,4‐D, and glyphosate (GLY) was studied in microcosms of soils collected in three agricultural sites of the Southern Pampas region, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The influence of diammonium phosphate [(NH₄)₂PO₄] on carbon dioxide (CO₂) evolution, when applied with the highest doses of the herbicides, was also investigated. MET had no effect on microbial respiration of an acidic soil of San Román (pH 6.06), even at the highest rate. However, MET inhibited microbial respiration in soils of Bordenave (pH 7.44), at a rate of 0.1 mg kg^?1 soil. Low application rates of GLY and 2,4‐D produced only transitory effects on CO₂ evolution, whereas the addition of high doses of these herbicides stimulated microbial activity. On the other hand, the addition of fertilizer to soil treated with a high dose of GLY temporarily inhibited CO₂ release.     

Soil Organic Carbon,Phosphorous, and Potassium Status in Rice–Wheat Soils of Different Agro-climatic Zones in Indo-Gangetic Plains of India

The status of available macronutrients [phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)] and soil organic carbon (SOC) of the surface soil under a rice–wheat cropping system was studied in 40 districts of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) of India. The soil samples were collected from the farmers' fields in four transects (Trans-, Upper, Middle, and Lower Gangetic Plains) of the IGP. The selection of farmers, villages, blocks, and districts within an agro-climatic zone (ACZ) was done on the basis of a multistage statistical approach. The available macronutrients were characterized as low, medium, and high. In Trans-Gangetic Plains, SOC, available P, and available K were in the ranges of 0.06–0.86%, 6.7–85.1 kg ha^?1, and 50–347 kg ha^?1, respectively. In Upper Gangetic Plains, the respective values were in the ranges of 0.05–2.55%, 4.5–155.0 kg ha^?1, and 45 to 560 kg ha^?1. Similarly, in Middle Gangetic Plains, these values were in the ranges of 0.04–2.01%, 4.7–183.7 kg ha^?1, and 72–554 kg ha^?1, respectively. In Lower Gangetic Plains, respective values were 0.12–1.78%, 2.2–112.0 kg ha^?1, and 83–553 kg ha^?1. In Trans-Gangetic plains, the majority of the soils in the midplains ACZ representing intensively cultivated rice–wheat system area were low to medium in SOC and available P, whereas available K status was medium to high. Irrespective of the agroclimatic variations, more than 90% of the soils were low to medium in SOC and available P with a marginal deficiency of K. The majority of the coarse-textured soils in Shiwaliks were found to have low to medium SOC and available P, whereas less intensively cultivated arid zone soils were high in SOC, available P, and available K. In Upper and Middle Gangetic Plains, the majority of the soils tested medium for SOC and medium to high in available P and K. The dominance of medium status of available P in these soils could be due to mining of soil P by the rice–wheat cropping system practiced in these regions for more than 300 years. In Lower Gangetic Plains, the SOC was medium to high in most of the soils, whereas available P and K were high. Recent introduction of the rice–wheat system on intensive scale in these traditionally rice-growing areas resulted in less mining of SOC, P, and K.     

Fertilizer Amendment of Mining-Impacted Soils from Broken Hill, Australia: Fixation or Release of Contaminants?

The aim of the study was to appraise various types of phosphate fertilizers (bone meal, superphosphate, triple superphosphate, and potassium orthophosphate) for immobilizing metals and metalloids in mining-impacted soils from Broken Hill, Australia. Soils were rich in metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd) and metalloids (As and Sb) which were mainly contained in minor to trace amounts of coronadite [PbMn₈O₁₆], kintoreite [PbFe₃(PO₄)₂(OH,H₂O)₆], Pb, and Zn sulfides and sulfates (possibly sphalerite, galena, and anglesite) as well as in unidentified soluble metal-bearing phases. Phosphate stabilization experiments were conducted as kinetic column leaching experiments, and chemical and mineralogical changes were assessed using elemental, sulfur isotope, and XRD analyses as well as electron microprobe phase mapping. The application of phosphate fertilizer to the metal-contaminated topsoils led to mineralogical changes, including the formation of secondary metal-bearing phosphates. The elemental concentrations of leachates were used as a criterion to assess the performance of phosphate treatments. Potassium orthophosphate fertilizer was the most effective amendment for Cd stabilization; superphosphate and triple superphosphate fertilizers were the most effective amendments for Pb stabilization. By contrast, the release of As, Cu, Mn, Sb, and Zn were not significantly suppressed, and in several cases, increased, using bone meal, superphosphate, triple superphosphate, and potassium orthophosphate amendments. This study indicates that in situ phosphate stabilization of mining-impacted soils at Broken Hill would most likely be a complex and impractical undertaking in residential areas due to the risk of substantial metal, metalloid, phosphate, and sulfate release.     

Effects of Plant Residue Decomposition on Soil N Availability,Microbial Biomass and β-Glucosidase Activity During Soil Fertility Improvement in Ghana

With limited use of inorganic fertilizers on smallholder farms,plant residues could be viable alternatives for soil fertility improvement.This study was conducted to determine how residue quality and decomposition of nine plant species influence soil N availability,microbial biomass,andβ-glucosidase activity during soil fertility improvement.Significant differences in N concentration were found among the species,ranging from 12.2 g kg-1 in Zea mays to 39.2 g kg-1 in Baphia nitida.The C/N ratio was the highest in Z.mays(34.4),whereas lignin and polyphenol concentrations were the greatest in Acacia auriculiformis.The highest decomposition rate(0.251%per day)occurred in Tithonia diversifolia,and the lowest in A.auriculiformis,Albizia zygia,B.nitida,and Z.mays,with the half-lives of 28-56 d.Between 80%and 89%of N,P,K,Ca,and Mg were released from T.diversifolia in 7 d,compared with over 70%retention in A.auriculiformis,B.nitida,and Z.mays.The decomposition and nutrient release half-lives of Gliricidia sepium,Leucaena leucocephala,Azadirachta indica,and Senna spectabilis were less than 14 d.Soil mineral N,microbial biomass,andβ-glucosidase activity increased under all treatments,with T.diversifolia having the greatest effect.While N mineralization occurred in all of the species throughout the experiment,an initial N immobilization was recorded in the A.zy.gia,B.nitida,A.auriculiformis,and Z.mays treatments for up to 14 d.Decomposition and nutrient release rates,mineral N,soil microbial biomass,andβ-glucosidase activity were dependent on residue quality,and P and lignin levels,the lignin/N ratio,and the(lignin+polyphenol)/N ratio had the most significant effects(P≤0.05).     

Soil Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Sorghum–Sunflower Rotation in Rainfed Semi-arid Tropical Alfisols: Effects of Fertilization Rate and Legume Biomass Incorporation

The long-term effects of plant legume [horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum)] biomass incorporations were assessed in terms of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, soil quality parameters, and climatically influenced soil parameters in a dryland Alfisol under varying soil fertility conditions. Six selected treatments consisted of off-season legume incorporation (I) and no incorporation?/?fallow (F), each under three varying nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer levels (viz., N₀P₀, N₂₅P₃₀, and N₅₀P₃₀). Soil moisture, soil temperature, soil surface carbon dioxide emission, soil dehydrogenases, and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) were monitored at three different crop situations [viz., Kharif period (KP), legume/fallow period (LP), and no crop period (NP)] at 14 different periods of the year. Incorporation practices resulted in greater rates of CO₂ emission over fallow conditions during the Kharif and legume periods, whereas the emission rate was greater in fallow soils during the end of the legume and no crop periods. The increased rates of fertilizer doses also significantly increased the soil CO₂ flux during the majority of the measurements. Beneficial effects of incorporation practices were observed in terms of high soil moisture (5–11%), low soil temperature (3–7%), and high content of MBC over without incorporations. Correlation studies indicated that the soil property MBC was found to be the greatest significant variable with CO₂ emission in all the fertilizer treatments under biomass-incorporated soils. These results indicated the undesirable (in terms of CO₂ fluxes) and desirable (soil biological and other parameters) effects of legume biomass incorporation and fertilizer application and their significance in improving soil quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in dryland Alfisols of semi-arid tropics.     

SE—Structures and Environment: Diurnal Variation in Ammonia,Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapour Emission from an Uninsulated,Deep Litter Building for Growing/Finishing Pigs

In an uninsulated livestock building with natural ventilation, the air temperature and airflow show a large variation according to the daily variations in weather and season. The objective of this investigation was to determine the diurnal variation in the emission of NH₃, CO₂ and moisture from an uninsulated building with a deep litter system for growing/finishing pigs and to investigate the influence of air temperature and airflow rate on the NH₃ emission. The investigations were carried out in an uninsulated experimental building with 125 growing/finishing pigs in deep litter pens. The building was 12 m wide and 20 m long (240 m²), naturally ventilated but also equipped with exhaust fans. The NH₃ concentration, the CO₂ concentration, the outside and inside air temperature, the outside and inside relative humidity and the animal activity were measured continuously during 6 days at a constant airflow rate of 146 m³ m⁻² h⁻¹. During six nights the effect of airflow rate on the NH₃ emission was investigated by changing the airflow rate in steps from 26 to 165 m³ m⁻² h⁻¹. The measurements were carried out between day 16 and day 46 from the beginning of the growing period. The NH₃ emission from an uninsulated, deep litter building for growing/finishing pigs showed a clear diurnal variation. During the 6 days with constant airflow rate the emission varied from 6 to 247% of the mean, with the minimum around 6.00 a.m. and the maximum around 5.00 p.m. The daily mean of NH₃ emission increased from 0·23 to 0·65 gh⁻ per pig (day 16–day 43). The diurnal variation of NH₃ emission was correlated to the inside air temperature (correlation coefficient r_s=0·86–0·91) and the animal activity (r_s=0·69–0·83). The increase of NH₃ emission with the air temperature followed an exponential pattern. The relative NH₃ emission flux increased from 0·2 to 2·0 between the air temperatures −2 to 14°C inside the building. An increase in airflow rate through the building from 26 to 165 m³ m⁻²h⁻¹ increased the relative NH₃ emission flux from 0·4 to 1·4. The CO₂ emission during the 6 days at constant airflow rate had a daily mean between 81 and 120 gh⁻¹ per pig with a diurnal variation from 61 to 249% of the mean. The CO₂ emission was correlated to the inside air temperature (r_s=0·42–0·83) and animal activity (r_s=0·67–0·85). The daily mean of water vapour emission increased during the same days between 146 and 408 gh⁻¹ per pig and varied from 18 to 269% of the mean. The water vapour emission was correlated to the inside air temperature (r_s=0·53–0·97), animal activity (r_s=0·57–0·85) and the water absorption capacity of the inlet air (r_s=0·27–0·94). The diurnal variations in NH₃, CO₂ and water vapour emission were correlated to each other.     

Hunting or habitat degradation? Decline of primate populations in Udzungwa Mountains,Tanzania: An analysis of threats

Hunting and habitat degradation are universal threats to primates across the tropics, thus deciphering the relative impact of threats on population relative abundance is critical to predicting extinction risk and providing conservation recommendations. We studied diurnal primates over a period of nearly 6 years in the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania, a site of global importance for primate conservation. We assessed how population relative abundance of five species (of which two are endemic and IUCN-Endangered) differed between two forest blocks that are similar in size and habitat types but contrast strongly in protection level, and how abundance changed during 2004–2009. We also measured habitat and disturbance parameters and, in the unprotected forest, evaluated hunting practices. We found significant differences in primates’ abundance between protected and unprotected forests, with the greater contrast being the lower abundance of colobine monkeys (Udzungwa red colobus and Angolan colobus) in the unprotected forest. At this site moreover, colobines declined to near-extinction over the study period. In contrast, two cercopithecines (Sanje mangabey and Sykes’ monkey) showed slightly higher abundance in the unprotected forest and did not decline significantly. We argue that escalating hunting in the unprotected forest has specifically impacted the canopy-dwelling colobus monkeys, although habitat degradation may also have reduced their abundance. In contrast, cercopithecines did not seem affected by the current hunting, and their greater ecological adaptability may explain the relatively higher abundance in the unprotected forest. We provide recommendations towards the long-term protection of the area.     

Methods to Estimate Aggregate Protected Soil Organic Carbon, 2: Does the Grinding of the Plant Residues Affect the Estimations of the Aggregate Protected Soil Organic Carbon?

A method to estimate the amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) physically protected within macroaggregates (>200 μm) consists of crushing soil samples and measuring the following SOC mineralization increase. This study investigated the effect of grinding the plant residues during soil crushing on the calculated amount of the protected SOC on two tropical soils (Arenosol and Ferralsol). Incubations of crushed and uncrushed soil samples amended with ground or unground plant residues were conducted. Our results showed that soil crushing increased SOC mineralization and that the presence of plant residues enhanced soil respiration also. The plant residues of the two soils had different decomposition rates, but grinding plant residues did not increase the amounts of cumulative carbon (C) mineralized after the 28 days of the experiment. We propose that the extra C mineralized after soil crushing is due to the breakdown of the soil structure and not to the grinding of plant residues.     

Microbial biomass growth,following incorporation of biochars produced at 350 °C or 700 °C,in a silty-clay loam soil of high and low pH

Biochar has been widely proposed as a soil amendment, with reports of benefits to soil physical, chemical and biological properties. To quantify the changes in soil microbial biomass and to understand the mechanisms involved, two biochars were prepared at 350 °C (BC350) and 700 °C (BC700) from Miscanthus giganteus, a C4 plant, naturally enriched with ¹³C. The biochars were added to soils of about pH 4 and 8, which were both sampled from a soil pH gradient of the same soil type. Isotopic (¹³C) techniques were used to investigate biochar C availability to the biomass. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the microbial colonization, and Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) to highlight structural changes at the surface of the biochars. After 90 days incubation, BC350 significantly increased the biomass C concentration relative to the controls in both the low (p < 0.05) and high pH soil (p < 0.01). It declined between day 90 and 180. The same trend occurred with soil microbial ATP. Overall, biomass C and ATP concentrations were closely correlated over all treatments (R² = 0.87). This indicates that neither the biomass C, nor ATP analyses were affected by the biochars, unless, of course, they were both affected in the same way, which is highly unlikely. About 20% of microbial biomass ¹³C was derived from BC350 after 90 days of incubation in both low and high pH soils. However, less than 2% of biomass ¹³C was derived from BC700 in the high pH soil, showing very low biological availability of BC700. After 90 days of incubation, microbial colonization in the charsphere (defined here as the interface between soil and biochar) was more pronounced with the BC350 in the low pH soil. This was consistent with the biomass C and ATP results. The microbial colonization following biochar addition in our study was mainly attributed to biochar C availability and its large surface area. There was a close linear relationship between ¹³CO₂ evolved and biomass ¹³C, suggesting that biochar mineralization is essentially a biological process. The interactions between non-living and living organic C forms, which are vital in terms of soil fertility and the global C cycle, may be favoured in the charsphere, which has unique properties, distinct from both the internal biochar and the bulk soil.     

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Soil Organic Carbon in the Corn Belt of Northeastern China, 1980s–2005: A Case Study in Four Counties

Estimates of changes and possible causes of regional soil organic carbon (SOC) are critical for evaluation of potential responses of terrestrial biosphere to global changes. A total of 382 soil samples, collected in the 1980s from four counties in the Corn Belt of northeastern China, and of 1,514 samples collected in 2005 from the same area, were examined for SOC concentrations. Spatial and temporal SOC concentrations were evaluated after the 25-year interval using geostatistics and kriging interpolation method. Results indicated that the average topsoil SOC concentrations of the study area increased from 1.24% in the 1980s to 1.47% in 2005. Spatial distributions of SOC in the two separate evaluations showed greater SOC concentrations in the middle part of the study area and lower SOC concentrations in the remaining areas. From the 1980s to 2005, SOC concentrations in the central part increased, whereas those in the northeastern and southwestern parts decreased. The increasing trend of SOC concentrations might be attributed to the land-use and land cover changes, crop productivity increase, and agricultural management.     

PO 4 3? Removal by and Permeability of Industrial Byproducts and Minerals: Granulated Blast Furnace Slag, Cement Kiln Dust, Coconut Shell Activated Carbon, Silica Sand, and Zeolite

Excess PO ₄ ^3? from agricultural subsurface drainage and runoff degrades the overall water quality of the receiving surface waters in a cumulatively damaging process known as eutrophication. In the past 25 years, PO ₄ ^3? removal by industrial byproducts and minerals has received considerable attention because these materials are both abundant and inexpensive. In this study, the saturated falling-head hydraulic conductivity and phosphate removal capability of granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS), cement kiln dust (CKD), zeolite, silica sand, and coconut shell activated carbon (CS-AC) were assessed. GBFS, zeolite, silica sand, CS-AC, and 5:95% and 10:90% CKD/sand blends all exhibited hydraulic conductivities ??0.001 cm/s. GBFS and the CKD/sand blends exhibited >98% PO ₄ ^3? removal while CS-AC removed 70?C79% of initial PO ₄ ^3? concentrations. In contrast, silica sand and zeolite removed 21?C58% of PO ₄ ^3? . The phosphate removal data for each material was modeled against the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and Frumkin sorption isotherms to yield insight into possible removal mechanisms. Overall, GBFS, CKD, zeolite, silica sand, and CS-AC were sufficiently permeable and removed significant amounts of PO ₄ ^3? and should be considered for use in treatment of agricultural effluent.     

What's the Beef in South Korea Protests?: The Technical,Psychometric, and Sociocultural Dimensions of News Coverage of Risk

Millions of South Koreans took to the streets for more than 2 months in 2008 ostensibly in protest over their government's handling of beef imports from the United States. This study examines the technical, psychometric, and sociocultural dimensions of these public protests by conducting a content analysis of the coverage of the English language daily newspaper The Korea Herald. The results suggest that the scarcity of technical risk assessment information and the preponderance of normative or outrage factors in the newspaper's coverage (lack of trust in government, perceptions of inequity, and unequal benefits accruing to both nations) may have fueled public anxiety and anger. The findings also point to social, cultural, and historical factors that may explain why allowing U.S. beef into the Korean market elicited strong public reactions.     

How do environmental factors and different fertilizer strategies affect soil CO2 emission and carbon sequestration in the upland soils of southern China?

Upland soils have been identified as a major CO₂ source induced by human activities, such as fertilizer applications. The aim of this study is to identify the characteristics of soil CO₂ emission and carbon balance in cropland ecosystems after continuous fertilizer applications over decades. The measurements of soil surface CO₂ fluxes throughout the years of 2009 and 2010 were carried out based on a fertilization experiment (from 1990) in a double cropping system rotated with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) in upland soil in southern China. Four treatments were chosen from the experiment for this study: no-fertilizer application (SR), nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium chemical fertilizers (NPK), NPK plus pig manure (NPKM) and pig manure alone (M). Results showed that the mean value of soil CO₂ fluxes from 08:00 to 10:00 am could represent its daily mean value in summer period (June–August) and that from 09:00 am to 12:00 pm for the rest season of a year. Soil temperature and moisture combined together could explain 70–83% of variations of CO₂ emission. Annual cumulative soil CO₂ fluxes in the treatments with manure applications (8.2 ± 0.8 and 11.0 ± 1.2 t C ha⁻¹ in 2009, and 7.9 ± 0.9 and 11.1 ± 1.2 t C ha⁻¹ in 2010 in NPKM and M, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the treatments with non-manure addition (2.5 ± 0.2 and 3.4 ± 0.2 t C ha⁻¹ in 2009, and 2.1 ± 0.2 and 3.7 ± 0.3 t C ha⁻¹ in 2010 in SR and NPK, respectively). However, the treatments with manure applications represented a carbon sink in the soil (carbon output/input ratio < 1.0), which demonstrated potential for carbon sequestration.     

Who eats four or more servings of fruit and vegetables per day? Multivariate classification tree analysis of data from the 1998 Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition in the Republic of Ireland

OBJECTIVE: To identify, using the novel application of multivariate classification trees, the socio-economic, sociodemographic and health-related lifestyle behaviour profile of adults who comply with the recommended 4 or more servings per day of fruit and vegetables. DESIGN: Cross-sectional 1998 Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition. SETTING: Community-dwelling adults aged 18 years and over on the Republic of Ireland electoral register. SUBJECTS: Six thousand five hundred and thirty-nine (response rate 62%) adults responded to a self-administered postal questionnaire, including a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: The most important determining factor of compliance with the fruit and vegetable dietary recommendations was gender. A complex constellation of sociodemographic and socio-economic factors emerged for males whereas the important predictors of 4 or more servings of fruit and vegetable consumption among females were strongly socio-economic in nature. A separate algorithm was run to investigate the importance of health-related lifestyle and other dietary factors on compliance with the fruit and vegetable recommendations. Following an initial split on compliance with dairy recommendations, a combination of non-dietary behaviours showed a consistent pattern of healthier options more likely to lead to compliance with fruit and vegetable recommendations. There did, however, appear to be a compensatory element between the variables, particularly around smoking, suggesting the non-existence of an exclusive lifestyle for health risk. CONCLUSIONS: Material and structural influences matter very much for females in respect to compliance with fruit and vegetable recommendations. For males, while these factors are important they appear to be mediated through other more socially contextual-type factors. Recognition of the role that each of these factors plays in influencing dietary habits of men and women has implications for the manner in which dietary strategies and policies are developed and implemented.     

SE—Structures and Environment: Optimal Control Strategies for Carbon Dioxide Enrichment in Greenhouse Tomato Crops,Part II: Using the Exhaust Gases of Natural Gas Fired Boilers

Optimized control strategies for carbon dioxide (CO₂) enrichment of greenhouse tomato crops using CO₂ from the exhaust gases of boilers burning natural gas are presented. In one group of strategies, the heat produced during CO₂ generation which exceeds the immediate heat requirement of the greenhouse is stored as hot water and used subsequently for heating. The simulations show that, use of optimal control can increase the financial margin of crop value over the combined expenditure on gas used for CO₂ and heating by £2·3 m⁻² (11%) when heat is not stored and by £4·9 m⁻² (24%) when heat is stored, compared with enriching with CO₂ only when heating is required. A 30% increase in gas price reduced the financial margin by 11%, whereas a 30% increase in tomato price increased the margin by 40%. The capacity of the heat store places a limit on the amount of heat that can be stored and consequently on the amount of natural gas that can be burnt and the associated amount of CO₂ produced during the day. The optimum size of heat store is 20×10⁻³ m³ per unit greenhouse area.     

Mechanical and water-holding properties and microstructures of soy protein isolate emulsion gels induced by CaCl2, glucono-δ-lactone (GDL), and transglutaminase: influence of thermal treatments before and/or after emulsification

The mechanical properties, water-holding capacities (WHC), and microstructures of emulsion gels, induced by glucono-δ-lactone (GDL), CaCl(2), and microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) from unheated and heated soy protein isolate (SPI)-stabilized emulsions (at protein concentration 5%, w/v; oil volume fraction, 20%, w/v), were investigated and compared. The influence of thermal pretreatments (at 90 °C for 5 min) before and/or after emulsification was evaluated. Considerable differences in mechanical, water-holding, and microstructural properties were observed among various emulsion gels. The thermal pretreatment after emulsification increased the strength of the emulsion gels induced by GDL and CaCl(2), whereas in the case of MTGase, thermal pretreatments before and/or after emulsification on the contrary greatly inhibited gel network formation. The application of the enzyme coagulant exhibited much higher potential to form SPI-stabilized emulsion gels with higher mechanical strength than that of the other two coagulants. The WHC of the emulsion gels seemed to be not directly related to their gel network strength. Confocal laser scanning microscope analyses indicated that the network microstructure of the formed emulsion gels, mainly composed of aggregated protein-stabilized oil droplets and protein aggregate clumps, varied with the type of applied coagulants and emulsions. The differences in microstructure were basically consistent with the differences in mechanical properties of the gels. These results could provide valuable information for the formation of cold-set soy protein-stabilized emulsion gels.