Methane emission and entrapment in flooded rice soils as affected by soil properties

Laboratory incubation experiments were conducted to study the effects of soil chemical and physical properties on CH₄ emission and entrapment in 16 selected soils with a pH range of 4.7–8.1, organic matter content of 0.72–2.38%, and soil texture from silt to clay. There was no significant correlation with CH₄ emission for most of the important soil properties, including soil aerobic pH (measured before anaerobic incubation), total Kjeldahl N, cation exchange capacity, especially soil organic matter, and soil water-soluble C, which were considered to be critical controlling factors of CH₄ emission. A lower CH₄ emission was observed in some soils with a higher organic matter content. Differences in soil Fe and Mn contents and their chemical forms contributed to the this observation. A significant correlation between the CH₄ emission and the soil organic C content was observed only after stratifying soils into subgroups according to the level of CH₄ emission in soils not amended with organic matter. The results also showed that the soil redox potential (Eh), anaerobic pH, anerobic pH, and biologically reducible Fe and Mn affected CH₄ emission significantly. Urea fertilization promoted CH₄ emission in some soils and inhibited it in others. This result appeared to be related to the original soil pH. CH₄ entrapment was positively correlated with soil clay content, indicating the importance of soil physical characteristics in reducing CH₄ emissions to the atmosphere.     

Structures and physicochemical properties of six wild rice starches

Starches from six wild rice cultivars were studied for their chemical structures and physicochemical properties and compared with a long-grain rice starch. The six wild rice starches were similar in morphological appearance, X-ray diffraction patterns, swelling power, and water solubility index but different in amylose content, beta-amylolysis limit, branch chain length distribution, thermal properties, and pasting properties. The structure of the wild rice amylopectins was close to that of waxy rice amylopectin with more branching and a larger proportion of short branch chains of degree of polymerization 6-12 as compared with that of amylopectin from rice starch with a similar amylose content. The differences in branch chain length distribution of amylopectin and amylose content were assumed to contribute to the differences in physicochemical properties among the six wild rice starches as well as to the differences between the wild rice starches and the rice starch.     

Silicon nutrition of rice is affected by soil pH,weathering and silicon fertilisation

Silicon (Si) is a beneficial element for tropical grasses such as rice (Oryza sativa) and responses to applications of Si are common on highly weathered soils. However, the importance of pH (and hence Si speciation), weathering and fertilisation on Si uptake is still poorly understood. The responses of rice to Si fertilisation were studied in two variably weathered basalt soils (Red Ferrosol, Grey Vertosol) adjusted at different pH values (5.5–9.5) with three levels of acidulated wollastonite. Soil Si was extracted using deionised water (H₂O), 0.01 M CaCl₂, or 0.5 M NH₄OAc. Significant increases in Si uptake and rice biomass were observed in the Red Ferrosol following fertilisation (p < 0.01). Greater biomass production was observed at lower pH, due to decreased Si sorption and higher solution Si concentrations. Silicon uptake by rice was greater at low pH, despite similar extractable Si concentrations; suggesting a relationship between Si speciation and uptake. In contrast, Si uptake and rice shoot dry matter in the less weathered Grey Vertosol were unaffected by Si fertilisation (p > 0.05) except at the highest rate and lowest pH (5.5). Solution Si concentrations were controlled by precipitation/polymerisation reactions in equilibrium with specific soil pH values rather than adsorption processes. Silicon speciation effects (monosilicic acid vs. silicate ions) were unable to be measured due to an induced phosphorus deficiency in both soils at pH values > 8.5. In conclusion, weathered soils are more responsive to Si fertilisation and Si uptake is increased at low pH.     

Antioxidant properties of wheat as affected by pearling

The effects of pearling on the content of phenolics and antioxidant capacity of two Canadian wheat classes, namely, Canada Western Amber Durum; Triticum turgidum L. var. durum; CWAD) and Canada Western Red Spring; Triticum aestivum L.; CWRS) were examined. The antioxidant activity of wheat phenolics was evaluated using oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), inhibition of photochemiluminescence (PCL), Rancimat method, inhibition of oxidation of low-density lipoprotein, and DNA. The phenolic composition of wheat extracts was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. The antioxidant capacity of both pearled grains and byproducts significantly decreased as the degree of pearling increased. Among grains, the unprocessed whole grains demonstrated the highest antioxidant capacity. The byproducts always demonstrated higher antioxidant capacity compared to the pearled grains, regardless of the wheat class. The resultant byproducts from 10-20% pearling possessed the highest antioxidant capacity. Processing of cereals may thus exert a significant effect on their antioxidant activity. The concentration of grain antioxidants is drastically reduced during the refining process. As phenolic compounds are concentrated in the outermost layers, the bran fractions resulting from pearling may be used as a natural source of antioxidants and as value-added products in the preparation of functional food ingredients or for enrichment of certain products.     

Reduced tillage techniques for wetland rice as affected by herbicides

Two experiments on land preparation practices, consisting of zero, minimum and conventional tillage treatments, revealed that conventional tillage was the best practice in terms of grain yield, tiller number and weed yield. It was followed by minimum and zero tillage, respectively. A third experiment where zero tillage was associated with dry-seeding with a rolling-injection planter produced yields which were similar to minimum and conventional tillage. Compared to paraquat and SC-0224, glyphosate performed better both in zero and in minimum tillage when followed by harrowing. Application time of paraquat or glyphosate did not affect the grain yield. Butachlor (0.8) application 6 days after seeding significantly increased the grain yield and tiller number. Of the crop establishment methods tested, dry-seeding with a rolling-injection planter in zero tillage, broadcast wet-seeding by hand in minimum tillage and wet-seeding with a low land-seeder in conventional tillage proved to be most suitable. Dry-seeding with a rolling-injection planter proved better in the dry-season, than in the wet-season experiment.     

特定pH条件下Ca2+/Cu2+引发胡敏酸胶体凝聚的比较研究

土壤腐殖质颗粒与金属离子间的相互作用深刻地影响着土壤中的微观过程和宏观现象的发生。而胡敏酸是土壤腐殖质的主要组成物质,本文利用光散射技术研究了不同浓度的Ca(NO3)2和Cu(NO3)2溶液中胡敏酸胶体颗粒的凝聚过程和形成凝聚体的结构,并在此基础上进行比较分析。结果表明:由于Ca2+和Cu2+在带电胶体表面的吸附方式不同而对胡敏酸胶体的凝聚的影响表现出很大差异。(1)散射光强的稳定与否可以反映体系的稳定性,Ca(NO3)2体系中散射光强可以在较宽的电解质浓度范围从0 mmol L-1至20 mmol L-1内保持稳定,而Cu(NO3)2体系中光强稳定的电解质浓度范围较窄,只有0 mmol L-1至3 mmol L-1。(2)随电解质浓度的提高,两种电解质体系中凝聚体的有效粒径随时间先呈线性增长再呈幂函数增长,但胡敏酸胶体凝聚过程对Cu(NO3)2体系浓度变化的敏感性远大于Ca(NO3)2体系,并且1 mmol L-1Cu2+吸附下胡敏酸胶体的凝聚速率为69.55 nm min-1,近乎是7.5 mmol L-1Ca2+吸附下凝聚速率23.94 nm min-1的3倍,可见Cu2+作用下颗粒的平均凝聚速率远远高于Ca2+作用的情况。(3)Ca(NO3)2体系中,电解质浓度越高形成凝聚体的结构越开放,但放置50 d后分形维数变小,结构变得更加疏松,说明该凝聚过程具有可逆性;而Cu2+作用下形成的凝聚体初期结构开放度较高,在放置50 d后分形维数变大,结构更加致密紧实,说明该凝聚过程具有不可逆性。这些信息为研究腐殖质超分子聚合物的形成机制提供了新思路。     

The bioaccumulation of Cd in rice grains in paddy soils as affected and predicted by soil properties

Purpose

The area of cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soil in China is increasing due to the rapid development of the Chinese economy. To ensure that the rice produced in China meets current food safety and quality standards, the current soil quality standards for paddy soils urgently need to be updated.

Materials and methods

We conducted a pot experiment with 19 representative paddy soils from different parts of China to study the effects of soil properties on bioaccumulation of Cd in rice grains. The experiment included a control, a low treatment concentration (0.3 mg kg^–1 for pH?<?6.5 and 0.6 mg kg^–1 for pH?≥?6.5), and a high treatment concentration (0.6 mg kg^–1 for pH?<?6.5 and 1.2 mg kg^–1 for pH?≥?6.5) of Cd salt added to soils.

Results and discussion

The results showed that the Cd content in grains of the control and low and high Cd treatments ranged from 0.021 to 0.14, 0.07 to 0.27, and 0.12 to 0.33 mg kg^–1, respectively. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that soil pH and organic carbon (OC) content could explain over 60 % of the variance in the (log-transformed) bioaccumulation coefficient (BCF) of Cd in grains across soils. Aggregated boosted trees analysis showed that soil pH and OC were the main factors controlling Cd bioavailability in paddy soils. Validation of the models against data from recent literature indicated that they were able to accurately predict the BCF in paddy soils.

Conclusions

These quantitative relationships between the BCF of Cd in grains and soil properties are helpful for developing soil-specific guidance on Cd safety threshold value for paddy soils.     

Fine structures and physicochemical properties of starches from chalky and translucent rice kernels

This work compared the molecular structures and physicochemical properties of starches obtained from chalky and translucent kernels of six rice cultivars. Starch samples were prepared according to a modified alkali steeping method. Crystallinity, pasting characteristics, and thermal properties were studied by X-ray diffraction, rapid viscosity analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. Starch molecular size fractions (amylopectin, amylose, and intermediate material) were estimated by high-performance size exclusion chromatography, and the chain length profiles of isoamylase-debranched amylopectin were evaluated by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection. Starches from chalky kernels contained less amylose (more amylopectin) and more short branch-chain amylopectin (less long branch-chain amylopectin) compared with the translucent kernel starches. Differences in starch structural features significantly correlated with observed variation in grain translucency, starch X-ray diffraction patterns, thermal properties, and pasting characteristics. Starch synthesis in chalky kernels may slightly favor glucan chain branching over chain elongation.     

The microbial PLFA composition as affected by pH in an arable soil

The influence of soil pH on the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition of the microbial community was investigated along the Hoosfield acid strip, Rothamsted Research, UK - a uniform pH gradient between pH 8.3 and 4.5. The influence of soil pH on the total concentration of PLFAs was not significant, while biomass estimated using substrate induced respiration decreased by about 25%. However, the PLFA composition clearly changed along the soil pH gradient. About 40% of the variation in PLFA composition along the gradient was explained by a first principal component, and the sample scores were highly correlated to pH (R² = 0.97). Many PLFAs responded to pH similarly in the Hoosfield arable soil compared with previous assessments in forest soils, including, e.g. monounsaturated PLFAs 16:1ω5, 16:1ω7c and 18:1ω7, which increased in relative concentrations with pH, and i16:0 and cy19:0, both of which decreased with pH. Some PLFAs responded differently to pH between the soil types, e.g. br18:0. We conclude that soil pH has a profound influence on the microbial PLFA composition, which must be considered in all applications of this method to detect changes in the microbial community.     

Changes in profile distribution and chemical properties of natural nanoparticles in paddy soils as affected by long-term rice cultivation

Systematic studies on the genesis, properties, and distribution of natural nanoparticles(NNPs) in soil remain scarce. This study examined a soil chronosequence of continuous paddy field land use for periods ranging from 0 to 1 000 years to determine how NNPs in soil changed at the early stages of soil genesis in eastern China. Soil samples were collected from coastal reclaimed paddy fields that were cultivated for 0, 50, 100, 300, 700, and 1 000 years.Natural nanoparticles were isolated and characterized along with bulk soil samples( 2-mm fraction) for selected physical and chemical properties. The NNP content increased with increasing soil cultivation age at 60 g m-2 year-1, which was related to decreasing soil electrical conductivity(172–1 297 μS cm-1) and NNP zeta potentials(from-22 to-36 m V) with increasing soil cultivation age. Changes in several NNP properties, such as pedogenic iron oxide and total organic carbon contents, were consistent with those of the bulk soils across the soil chronosequence. Notably, changes in NNP iron oxide content were obvious and illustrated active chemical weathering, pedogenesis, and potential impacts on the microbial community. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that the soil cultivation age was the most important factor affecting NNP properties, contributing 60.7% of the total variation. Cluster and principal component analysis(PCA) revealed splitting of NNP samples into age groups of 50–300 and 700–1 000 years, indicating rapid evolution of NNP properties, after an initial period of desalinization(approximately 50 years). Overall, this study provides new insights into NNP evolution in soil during pedogenesis and predicting their influences on agriculture and ecological risks over millennial-scale rice cultivation.     

Soil microbial biomass as affected by non-flooded plastic mulching cultivation in rice

The long-term field experiments were initiated in 2001 on five sites in Zhejiang province of China to monitor the impacts of non-flooded plastic mulching management on rice soil microbial biomass for sustainable agro-ecosystem. The three treatments were plastic film mulching with no flooding (PM), no plastic film mulching and no flooding (UM), and the traditional flooding management (TF). Microbial biomass C accounted for 0.3–2.4% of the soil total organic C, microbial biomass N for 0.79–4.3% of the soil total N, and microbial biomass P for 0.1–1.6% of the soil total P. Three years of non-flooded plastic film mulching reduced microbial biomass C and N and increased microbial biomass P in rice soil.     

Growth and yield of paddy rice as affected by tillage and nitrogen levels

Although tropical wetlands are rapidly being developed for the needed increase in rice (Oryza sativa L.) production, knowledge is still limited concerning the optimum soil and crop management practices. A study was thus carried out to evaluate the effects of different tillage systems on the growth and yield of paddy rice, grain yield response to N applications, and weed control. Five experiments were conducted for three consecutive seasons on hydromorphic soils (loamy and sandy loamy, mixed, isohyperthermic Aeric Tropaqualfs) at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, comparing the effects of zero tillage (without dry tillage and puddling) and conventional tillage (dry tillage and puddling) at two or more N levels. In two of the above experiments the effects of either two moisture regimens or chemical versus manual weed control were also evaluated.In four experiments there were no statistically significant differences in grain yield between zero-tillage plots sprayed with paraquat and conventional-tillage plots. Only in Experiment 2 did zero-tillage (with paraquat) plots give a significantly lower yield than conventional-tillage plots (5200 versus 5580 kg ha^?1, respectively) but the difference could be explained by greater rat damage in the former. The highly significant response in grain yield to N applications in all five experiments was statistically similar under both tillage systems. The continuous flooding treatment (Experiment 1) gave better weed control and higher grain yield than the saturation moisture regime (6150 versus 5420 kg ha^?1 grain yield). In zero-tillage plots where weeds were slashed before transplanting (Experiment 2), grain yield was lower and the weed growth greater than in zero-tillage and low N level. Satisfactory weed control was obtained with paraquat and continuous flooding.     

Physical properties of octenyl succinic anhydride modified rice,wheat, and potato starches

The physical properties of octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) starches prepared from rice, wheat, and potato starches were studied. Rice and wheat OSA starches had significantly higher peak viscosity (PV), hot paste viscosity (HPV), and cool paste viscosity (CPV), but potato OSA starch had only significantly higher CPV, relative to the native starch. The gel hardness was higher with lower degree of substitution (DS) but lower with higher DS OSA compared to native starch. The swelling volumes (SV) of rice and wheat OSA starches were significantly higher compared to native starch, but the SV of potato OSA starch was slightly lower at high DS. The gelatinization temperature (GT) of rice OSA starches was sharply lower at low DS; for wheat OSA starch it was slightly lower even at high DS, but potato OSA starches had higher GT than the native starch. The enthalpy of all the OSA starches decreased gradually with increased DS. This study showed that the magnitude of changes in physical properties of OSA-modified starches depends not only on their DS but also on the botanical origin of the native starches.     

Radio-labile cadmium and zinc in soils as affected by pH and source of contamination

The determination of radio‐labile metals in soil has gained renewed interest for predicting metal availability. There is little information on to what extent the fraction of labile metal is affected by the soil properties and the source of metal contamination. The radio‐labile content (E value) of Cd and Zn was measured in field‐collected soils with Cd and Zn originating from different sources. The E values were erratic and sometimes even exceeded total metal content when the concentration in the soil extract was less than 8 μg Zn l^?1 or less than 3 μg Cd l^?1. Addition of EDTA (0.1 mm ) to the radio‐labelled soil suspension resulted in larger concentrations of Cd and Zn in solution and smaller E values for these soils. The E values were, however, unaffected by the presence of EDTA (0.1 mm ) in soils with larger concentrations of Cd and Zn in solution. The %E values (E value relative to metal soluble in aqua regia) ranged from 9% to 92% (mean 61%) for Cd and from 3% to 72% (mean 33%) for Zn. No correlation between soil properties and %E was observed for Cd, and the %E of Zn was negatively correlated with soil pH (r = ?0.65). There was a strong negative correlation between pH and %E in soils enriched with metals in soluble form (e.g. metal salts, corrosion of galvanized structures). In soils where Cd or Zn were added in a less soluble form, no such correlation was found, and %E values were generally less than in soils spiked with metal salts, suggesting that the source of the contamination controls mainly the labile fractions of Cd and Zn.     

Adsorption kinetics of zinc in a calcareous soil as affected by pH and temperature

Abstract

Sorption of zinc (Zn) in a calcareous soil was studied using a miscible displacement procedure. Sorption of Zn in soil can be described by a second‐order equation and by a diffusion equation based on the overall higher value of correlation coefficient and the lower value of standard error. The results show that the sorption of Zn in soil was increased by elevated temperature and pH. The maximum of Zn sorbed in soil increased, but the rate coefficient decreased with increasing pH. The maximum of sorbed Zn and rate coefficient tended to increase with elevated temperature. The value of activation energy (E_a) estimated with different kinetic equations was found to be variable and in the range of 5.0–17 kJ.mol^‐1. The relative diffusion rate coefficient (D/r²), estimated using a diffusion equation, was found to be in the order of 10^‐6 sec^‐1. The intra‐aggregate diffusion and/or film diffusion of Zn may be a rate‐limiting process in the sorption of Zn in soils.     

Formation of odorants in Maillard model systems based on l-proline as affected by pH

Formation of the odorants acetic acid, 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3-(2H)-furanone (HDMF), 6-acetyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridine (ATHP), and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (AP) was monitored by isotope dilution assays at pH 6, 7, and 8 in Maillard model reactions containing glucose and proline (Glc/Pro) or the corresponding Amadori compound fructosyl-proline (Fru-Pro). In general, higher yields were obtained at pH 7 and 8. Acetic acid was the major odorant with up to 40 mg/mmol precursor followed by HDMF (up to 0.25 mg/mmol), the formation of which was favored in the Fru-Pro reaction systems. On the contrary, ATHP (up to 50 microg/mmol) and AP (up to 5 microg/mmol) were more abundant in Glc/Pro. However, the sensory relevance of the two N-heterocycles was more pronounced on the basis of odor activity values, confirming their contribution to the overall roasty note of the reaction samples. It was also found that formation and decomposition of Fru-Pro were faster at pH 7 as compared to pH 6, explaining in part the preferred formation of the four odorants studied under neutral and slightly alkaline conditions. After 4 h of reaction at pH 7 in the presence of proline, about one-fourth of the glucose was consumed leading to acetic acid with a transformation yield of almost 40 mol %.     

Dynamics of soil hydraulic properties during fallow as affected by tillage

There is limited information on the effects of tillage practices on soil hydraulic properties, especially changes with time. The objective of this study was to evaluate on a long-term field experiment the influence of conventional tillage (CT), reduced tillage (RT) and no-tillage (NT) on the dynamics of soil hydraulic properties over 3 consecutive 16–18 month fallow periods. Surface measurements of soil dry bulk density (ρ_b), soil hydraulic conductivity (K(ψ)) at −14, −4, −1 and 0 cm pressure heads using a tension disc infiltrometer, and derived hydraulic parameters (pore size, number of pores per unit of area and water-transmission porosity) calculated using the Poiseuille's Law were taken on four different dates over the fallow period, namely, before and immediately after primary tillage, after post-tillage rains and at the end of fallow. Under consolidated structured soil conditions, NT plots presented the most compacted topsoil layer when compared with CT and RT. Soil hydraulic conductivity under NT was, for the entire range of pressure head applied, significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that measured for CT and RT. However, NT showed the largest mean macropore size (0.99, 0.95 and 2.08 mm for CT, RT and NT, respectively; P < 0.05) but the significantly lowest number of water-conducting pores per unit area (74.1, 118.5 and 1.4 macropores per m² for CT, RT and NT, respectively; P < 0.05). Overall, water flow was mainly regulated by macropores even though they represented a small fraction of total soil porosity. No significant differences in hydraulic properties were found between CT and RT. In the short term, tillage operations significantly increased K (P < 0.05) for the entire range of pressure head applied, which was likely a result of an increase in water-conducting mesopores despite a decrease in estimated mesopore diameter. Soil reconsolidation following post-tillage rains reduced K at a rate that increased with the intensity of the rainfall events.     

Mobility of mercury in soil as affected by soil physicochemical properties

Purpose

The interaction of mercury with organic matter was studied on three soils with distinct physical-chemical compositions (Fluvisol, Luvisol, and Chernozem) and three vermicomposts based on various bio-waste materials (digestate, kitchen waste with woodchips, and garden bio-waste).

Materials and methods

Laboratory batch experiments, in which organic matter composition was modeled by adding graded doses of vermicompost to individual soils, were carried out. The composition of organic matter in these vermicomposts was assessed via fractionation of humic acids, fulvic acids, hydrophilic compounds, and possible hydrophobic neutral organic matter. Furthermore, the samples were artificially contaminated with inorganic and organic mercury. Prepared samples were stored under constant temperature of 25 °C. The incubation experiments lasted for 56 days, in which the samples were taken ten times. During the experiments, the changes in mercury mobile phase amount were observed, and the influence of the source of contamination was evaluated.

Results and discussion

The amount of mobile mercury increased and then decreased during the time. In most of the soils and vermicompost combinations, the content of mercury bound to the soil was stable after 21 days. The effects of the mercury source on the exchangeable portion of Hg in the soils were most obvious in samples without added vermicompost. Nevertheless, differences between mobile inorganic and organic forms of Hg were lower in the case of Fluvisol compared to other soils. Moreover, in this soil, the content of available mercury was higher than from others.

Conclusions

In general, the smallest differences between mobile inorganic and organic forms of Hg were observed in the case of soil with the highest content of organic matter. Also higher doses of vermicomposts decreased the amount of mercury mobile phase available. Additionally, the largest positive influence of vermicompost dose on Hg mobility was measured in soils combined with vermicompost with the highest portion of humic acids.

     

Biochemical properties of forest soils as affected by a fire retardant

Synthetic polymers are currently being used as water additives to control wildfires and prescribed burns. This laboratory study examines the effects of one of these acrylic-based polymers (Firesorb) on some biochemical properties (microbial biomass C, hydrolysis of FDA, #-glucosidase, urease and N mineralization) of two coarse textured soils (loamy sand and sandy loam) under pinewood located at Galicia (NW Spain). Firesorb was added to unheated and heated soil samples at two levels of application (1 and 3 times the recommended dose) and measurements were made after 6 and 12 weeks of aerobic incubation. The results obtained for both soils at different incubation times were found to be comparable. Except for N mineralization, which was reduced by Firesorb addition, in both unheated and heated soils, the Firesorb-treated samples showed similar or significantly higher values for the biochemical parameters analyzed than those in the untreated control soils. This finding suggests that under these assay conditions the synthetic polymer used as a fire-fighting chemical had no adverse effects on soil microbial communities.