High HEV presence in four different wild boar populations in East and West Germany

Swine Hepatitis E virus (HEV) can be transmitted from pigs to humans causing hepatitis. A high prevalence of HEV in wild boar populations is reported for several European countries, but actual data for Germany are missing. During the hunting season from October to December 2007 liver, bile and blood samples were collected from wild boars in four different German regions. The samples were tested for HEV RNA by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and anti-HEV IgG antibodies by two different ELISAs and a Line immunoassay. A seroprevalence of 29.9% using ELISA and 26.2% in the Line immunoassay was determined. The seroprevalence rate varied greatly within the analyzed regions. However, qPCR analysis revealed a higher prevalence of 68.2% positive animals with regional differences. Surprisingly, also adult wild sows and wild boars were highly HEV positive by qPCR. Compared to liver and serum samples, bile samples showed a higher rate of positive qPCR results. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of a 969 nt fragment within ORF 2 revealed that all isolates clustered within genotype 3 but differed in the subtype depending on the hunting spot. Isolates clustered within genotypes 3i, 3h, 3f and 3e. Within one population HEV isolates were closely related, but social groups of animals in close proximity might be infected with different subtypes. Two full-length genomes of subtypes 3i and 3e from two different geographic regions were generated. The wild boar is discussed as one of the main sources of human autochthonous infections in Germany.     

Comparison of critical limits for crop plant growth based on different indicators for the state of soil compaction

Soil compaction affects physical soil condition, in particular aeration, soil strength, and water availability and has adverse effects on plant growth. Bulk density is the most frequently used indicator to describe the state of compaction of a soil. However, this parameter lacks a direct functional relationship with plant growth. Various indicators have been proposed to simultaneously characterize the state of compaction of agricultural soil and its suitability for plant growth. This paper examines and compares the critical limits for crop plant growth based on three of these indicators: packing density, least limiting water range, and S parameter (the latter is the slope of the soil water‐retention curve in the inflexion point). In a first step, we reviewed the literature for published optimum and limiting values of bulk density and found that these values were highly dependent on clay and silt content. Converting them into corresponding values of packing density (composite index of bulk density and clay content), a value of 1.70 was found to effectively distinguish between optimum and limiting soil conditions for plant growth. In a second step, the packing density of 59 soil horizons sampled in N Switzerland was compared with the least limiting water range and the S parameter of these soil horizons (both determined by means of pedotransfer functions taken from the literature). A linear relationship between the three parameters was found, which allowed for a comparison of the published critical limits for plant growth based on these parameters. The critical limits of the three indicators, which had been postulated independently of each other in the literature, were found to agree well with each other. This means that all of them could equally be used to describe the compaction state of a soil and its physical suitability for plant growth. However, the proposed critical limits of packing density, least limiting water range, and S parameter still need further validation by field studies relating plant growth to soil compaction.     

15N标记氮在盆栽山毛榉中的分配

温室条件下,向盆栽山毛榉幼苗中施加192g.m·^-2^15N示踪物,研究连续两个生长季沉积氮在森林土壤（含森林地被物）、沥出物、以及地上和地下部分生物量的分配。模拟了四种处理（栽培和非栽培）下的NH4^＋和NO3^-沉积情况,每种处理各自标记为^15N-NH4^＋或者^15N-NO3^-。在整个体系中施加15N的总回收率分别是,盆栽处理的^15N-NH4^＋为67.3%～74.9%,非盆栽处理的^15N-NO3^-为85.3%～88.1%。两种^15N示踪物主要沉积在森林土壤（包括森林地被物）中,其中盆栽处理的森里土壤中^15N-NH4^＋为34.6%～33.7%,^15N-NO3^-为13.1%～9.0%,说明异养微生物有很强的固氮作用。森林土壤微生物对^15N-NH4^＋的固定能力比^15N-NO3^-的固定能力强三倍。^15N-NH4^＋的优先异养利用造成土壤中^15N-NH4^＋的沉积量是植物体保存量的两倍 而土壤中^15N-NO3^-的沉积量却低于植物体的。总之,植被-土壤系统中15N-NH4＋的沉积量比^15N-NO3^-的沉积高了60%,说明了沉积氮的形式在森林生态系统中氮保存中的重要性。     

Effects of atmospheric and climate change at the timberline of the Central European Alps

? This review considers potential effects of atmospheric change and climate warming within the timberline ecotone of the Central European Alps. After focusing on the impacts of ozone (O₃) and rising atmospheric CO₂ concentration, effects of climate warming on the carbon and water balance of timberline trees and forests will be outlined towards conclusions about changes in tree growth and treeline dynamics.

? Presently, ambient ground-level O₃ concentrations do not exert crucial stress on adult conifers at the timberline of the Central European Alps. In response to elevated atmospheric CO₂ Larix decidua showed growth increase, whereas no such response was found in Pinus uncinata. Overall climate warming appears as the factor responsible for the observed growth stimulation of timberline trees.

? Increased seedling re-establishment in the Central European Alps however, resulted from invasion into potential habitats rather than upward migration due to climate change, although seedlings will only reach tree size upon successful coupling with the atmosphere and thus loosing the beneficial microclimate of low stature vegetation.

? In conclusion, future climate extremes are more likely than the gradual temperature increase to control treeline dynamics in the Central European Alps.

     

Longtime effects of deep groundwater extraction management on water table levels in surface aquifers

Purpose

A longtime monitoring (2003–2013) of groundwater levels and soil moisture was done in a plain tract surrounded by deposits from the Saale glacial stage in northern Germany. The purpose was to document the changes in the soil water regime over time in relation to changes in management of groundwater extraction and to evaluate if the hitherto management has been suitable for plant water supply for the local grassland production.

Materials and methods

Groundwater wells in the surface aquifer were monitored at 11 survey sites, and soil matric potentials were measured with tensiometers at five depths per site. Soil analyses also were done. This report contains the results from three of the 11 survey sites, which best represent the variability of the soils in the area.

Results and discussion

The monitoring showed that groundwater extraction from deep aquifers via individual wells altered the groundwater levels in the surface aquifer, even though there was a distance of several meters depth and a geological parting between the two aquifers. The impact of the groundwater extraction was shown by significant correlations between groundwater levels in the surveyed soils and groundwater extraction rates of individual wells. Climatic factors only affected groundwater levels in individual years. The management of the groundwater extraction from 1977 to 2006 severely lowered the groundwater level in the surface aquifer. Due to a limitation of the groundwater extraction rates and a shift in the degree of capacity utilization of the individual wells from 2006 onward, groundwater levels in the area are recovering. Correspondingly, the contribution of capillary rise to plant water supply has increased within the monitoring period.

Conclusions

The monitoring proves that the present management of groundwater extraction is more suitable for the groundwater situation than past management. However, groundwater levels have not yet obtained a new equilibrium, so continual monitoring is needed.

     

Greenhouse gas emissions in response to straw incorporation,water management and their interaction in a paddy field in subtropical central China

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of combination of straw incorporation and water management on fluxes of CH₄, N₂O and soil heterotrophic respiration (Rh) in a paddy field in subtropical central China by using a static opaque chamber/gas chromatography method. Four treatments were set up: two rice straw incorporation rates at 0 (S1) and 6 (S2) t ha^?1 combined with two water managements of intermittent irrigation (W1, with mid-season drainage) and continuous flooding (W2, without mid-season drainage). The cumulative seasonal CH₄ emissions for the treatments of S1W2, S2W1 and S2W2 increased significantly by 1.84, 5.47 and 6.63 times, respectively, while seasonal N₂O emissions decreased by 0.67, 0.29 and 1.21 times, respectively, as compared to S1W1 treatment. The significant increase in the cumulative Rh for the treatments S1W1, S2W1 and S2W2 were 0.54, 1.35 and 0.52 times, respectively, in comparison with S1W2. On a seasonal basis, both the CO₂-equivalents (CO₂e) and yield-scaled CO₂e (GHGI) of CH₄ and N₂O emissions increased with straw incorporation and continuous flooding, following the order: S2W2>S2W1>S1W2>S1W1. Thus, the practices of in season straw incorporation should be discouraged, while mid-season drainage is recommended in paddy rice production from a point view of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.     

生物炭引起的土体回弹变化：土壤质地和生物炭用量的影响

Biochars are,amongst other available amendment materials,considered as an attractive tool in agriculture for carbon sequestration and improvement of soil functions.The latter is widely discussed as a consequence of improved physical quality of the amended soil.However,the mechanisms for this improvement are still poorly understood.This study investigated the effect of woodchip biochar amendment on micro-structural development,micro-and macro-structural stability,and resilience of two differently textured soils,fine sand (FS) and sandy loam (SL).Test substrates were prepared by adding 50 or 100 g kg-1 biochar to FS or SL.Total porosity and plant available water were significantly increased in both soils.Moreover,compressive strength of the aggregates was significantly decreased when biochar amount was doubled.Mechanical resilience of the aggregates at both micro-and macro-scale was improved in the biochar-amended soils,impacting the cohesion and compressive behavior.A combination of these effects will result in an improved pore structure and aeration.Consequently,the physicochemical environment for plants and microbes is improved.Furthermore,the improved stability properties will result in better capacity of the biochar-amended soil to recover from the myriad of mechanical stresses imposed under arable systems,including vehicle traffic,to the weight of overburden soil.However,it was noted that doubling the amendment rate did not in any case offer any remarkable additional improvement in these properties,suggesting a further need to investigate the optimal amendment rate.