Azolla incorporation and dual cropping influences CH4 and N2O emissions from flooded paddy ecosystems

ABSTRACT

To investigate the influence of Azolla (A. filiculoides Lam.) incorporated as a green manure and its subsequent growth as a dual crop with rice on simultaneous methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from a flooded alluvial soil planted with rice, a pot experiment with three treatments, chemical fertilizers (NPK) as the control, incorporation of Azolla as green manure (AGM), and AGM plus basal chemical fertilizers (NPK+AGM) was conducted in Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan in 2017. AGM and NPK+AGM treatments significantly increased CH₄ emissions at early rice growth stages before 63 days after transplanting (DAT) by 123.0% and 176.7% compared to NPK, respectively. At late rice growth stages (after 63 DAT), only the NPK+AGM treatment significantly increased CH₄ emission by 22.1% compared to NPK. However, percentage of CH₄ emitted after 63 DAT relative to the seasonal CH₄ emission followed the order of NPK (86.2%) > AGM (76.5%) > NPK+AGM (73.3%). Higher CH₄ emissions from AGM and NPK+AGM before 63 DAT were attributed to the incorporated Azolla, while the higher emissions after 63 DAT in all treatment groups were ascribed to rice photosynthesis. AGM and NPK+AGM treatments significantly decreased N₂O emissions by 71.6% and 81.1% compared to NPK, respectively, at early rice growth stages. Azolla incorporation may have restricted N₂O emission from initial soil nitrate before 63 DAT and not have contributed to N₂O emissions after 63 DAT. Significantly higher grain yields were observed under the AGM (32.5%) and NPK+AGM (36.3%) compared to NPK. Together, AGM and NPK+AGM treatments significantly increased seasonal CH₄ emissions by 31.5% and 43.5%, and decreased seasonal N₂O emissions 3.4- and 4.6- fold compared to NPK, respectively. There were no significant differences in the CH₄ emissions per grain yield among the treatments; however compared to NPK, AGM and NPK+AGM treatments significantly reduced N₂O emissions per grain yield by 78.7% and 84.1%, respectively.     

Impact of fresh and aged palm shell biochar on N2O emissions,soil properties,nutrient content and yield of Komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis) under sandy soil conditions

ABSTRACT

Biochar can reduce N₂O emissions and it can be added to the soil once, whereas fertilizers are often applied every cultivation season. The aging of biochar in soil affects its functioning but it is unclear whether palm shell biochar (PSB) could still mitigate N₂O emissions even when additional basal N fertilizers are applied 1 year after the initial biochar application. We studied the impact of fresh and aged PSB (0%, 6%, 12%, and 18% w/w of dry soil) on N₂O emissions, soil properties, nutrient content and yield of Komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis) under sandy soil conditions. The aged PSB non-significantly reduced N₂O emissions but significantly offset soil acidification, and maintained a high soil nutrient status. Biochar application with fertilizer significantly increased plant tissue K and Ca content but decreased N, P and Mg content compared to the treatments without biochar. At higher application rates, biochar had negative effects on crop yield but as it aged, the negative effects were offset as a result of the similar variation in plant N uptake. Since seasonal N fertilizer application seems to be inevitable in Komatsuna cultivation, addition of biochar could be a possible way of counteracting the effects of excessive fertilizer use. Further research is needed to assess the feasible biochar application rates for Komatsuna fields in various soil types under field conditions.     

Relationship between increment of groundwater level at the beginning of irrigation period and paddy filed area in the Tedori River Alluvial Fan Area, Japan

There are many paddy fields and large amounts of groundwater in the Tedori River Alluvial Fan in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Water infiltration from paddy fields during irrigation may significantly contribute to groundwater recharge. Groundwater recharge is known to be one outcome of paddy farming, and in general is usually related to land use. However, a decreased area of paddy fields because of socioeconomic factors such as urbanization and increasing area of fallow fields has possibly affected the groundwater environment. Evaluation of the quantitative effect of paddy fields on groundwater is necessary for groundwater conservation. This study examined the relationship between differences in the depth of groundwater from just before the irrigation period to just after the first irrigation of paddy fields (increments of groundwater levels) in observation wells and the area of paddy fields around each well. The paddy areas within circular buffer zones, which were delineated at 0.2 km intervals between 0.2 and 2.0 km centered on each observation well, were calculated. A positive relationship was found between the rise in groundwater and the area of paddy field within different buffer zones at most wells. In addition, in the middle or upper part of the fan, the effect of changes in the area of paddy fields surrounding the well on the groundwater level rise was greater than that on the lower part of the fan.     

Changes in the pericellular connective tissue and breaking strength of the three types of muscles of the cultured carp Cyprinus carpio during storage in ice

To elucidate the structural changes in pink (P), white (W), and red (R) muscles during storage in ice, we measured the breaking strength and changes in pericellular connective tissues of cultured carp. The breaking strength just after killing was highest in R muscle (1.00 ± 0.20 N), lowest in W muscle (0.37 ± 0.07 N), and intermediate (0.84 ± 0.12 N) in P muscle. During the storage period, the breaking strength decreased first in R muscle, then in P muscle, followed by W muscle. The diameter of muscle fibers was greater in W muscle (113 ± 15 μm) than in P muscle (72 ± 3 μm) and R muscle (48 ± 2 μm). Destruction of the honeycomb structure of the pericellular connective tissue occurred most rapidly in W muscle and most slowly in R muscle. These results suggest that the interposing of P muscle fibers in the dorsal ordinary muscle contributes to the acceleration of post-mortem tenderization in fish.     

Differential Expression of Two Cytosolic Ascorbate Peroxidases and Two Superoxide Dismutase Genes in Response to Abiotic Stress in Rice

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) play central roles in the pathway for scavenging reactive oxygen species in plants, thereby contributing to the tolerance against abiotic stress. Here we report the responses of cytosolic SOD (cSOD; sodCc1 and sodCc2) and cytosolic APX (cAPX; OsAPX1 and OsAPX2) genes to oxidative and abiotic stress in rice. RNA blot analyses revealed that methyl viologen treatment caused a more prominent induction of cAPXs compared with cSODs, and hydrogen peroxide t...     

CMA staining analysis of chromosomes in several species of Aurantioideae

Fluorochrome staining with chromomycin A₃ (CMA) was used to characterize and compare the CMA banding patterns of chromosomes of 17 species from 13 genera of Aurantioideae, which is one of the seven subfamilies of Rutaceae. All species used in this study had 2n = 18 chromosomes. These chromosomes were classified into five types based on the number and position of CMA-positive bands; B: one telomeric and one proximal band, C: two telomeric bands, D: one telomeric band, E: without bands and Dst: type D with a satellite chromosome. Each species possessed two or four types of chromosomes and unique CMA banding patterns. The CMA banding patterns were 6D + 12E in Clausena anisata (Willd.) Hook. f.,1C + 3D + 14E in Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng., 1C + 11D + 6E in Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack, 1B + 1C + 10D + 6E in Merrillia caloxylon (Ridl.) Swing., 1C + 9D + 7E + 1Dst in Paramignya lobata Burkill, 2C + 5D + 11E in Severinia buxifolia (Poir.) Tenore, 5D + 13E in Hesperethusa crenulata (Roxb.) Roem., 16D + 2E in Citropsis gabunensis (Engl.) Swing. et M. Kell, 14D + 4E in Citropsis schweinfurthii (Engl.) Swing. et M. Kell, 8D + 10E in Atalantia monophylla DC., 1C + 3D + 14E in Atalantia ceylanica (Arn.) Oliv., 2D + 16E in Atalantia roxburghiana Hook. f., 18E in Swinglea glutinosa (Blanco) Merr., 2D + 16E in Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr., 4D + 14E in Afraegle paniculata (Schum.) Engl., 2B + 2D + 13E + 2Dst in Feronia limonia (L.) Swing. and 3B + 9D + 6E in Feroniella oblata Swing. The advanced genera in each tribe and subtribe such as Merrillia and Feroniella showed heterochromatin (CMA-positive bands) rich chromosome configuration in general. Swinglea glutinosa without heterochromatin rich chromosome, which is considered to be the most primitive chromosome configuration, seems to be the key genus for clarifying the evolution of the tribe Citreae.     

Effect of soil exchangeable potassium content on cesium absorption and partitioning in buckwheat grown in a radioactive cesium-contaminated field

The effect of soil exchangeable (plant-available) potassium (ExK) content on cesium (Cs) absorption and translocation in buckwheat was evaluated in a field contaminated with radioactive Cs (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs, RCs) in 2013. The RCs concentration in buckwheat was significantly positively correlated with the naturally occurring stable Cs (¹³³Cs, SCs) concentration, and was lower at higher soil ExK content. The RCs and SCs were actively absorbed by buckwheat until the flowering stage. The soil ExK content was significantly negatively correlated with soil exchangeable RCs and SCs (ExRCs and ExSCs) concentrations. Greater RCs and SCs absorption by buckwheat in soils with low ExK contents was mainly due to higher soil ExRCs and ExSCs concentrations. Reproductive organs showed the largest differences in SCs concentration between low-ExK and high-ExK plots. The root–shoot and shoot–reproductive organs translocations of SCs markedly decreased with increasing soil ExK content. In the root–shoot and shoot–reproductive organs translocations, the discrimination of SCs and K decreased with decreasing soil ExK content. Our main findings were as follows: (1) because RCs are mainly taken up at the earlier growth stage, potassium should be applied as a basal fertilizer to decrease the RCs concentration in buckwheat; (2) lower soil ExK content led to higher soil ExRCs concentrations, resulting in greater RCs absorption by buckwheat; (3) the high Cs absorption and translocation and weaker discrimination between Cs and K in low ExK content soil may be due to the expression of K transporter(s) with weak discrimination between Cs and K.     

利用食盐替代物柠檬酸钠制作日本方头鱼盐干品的品质

近年来,随着全球减盐行动的推进,人们对低盐饮食的健康需求日益增长,具备良好风味和外观的低钠盐食品已成为当前的研究热点之一。为适应消费者对健康饮食的需求,本研究利用柠檬酸钠作为食盐替代物制作盐干品,对其品质进行了调查研究。本研究以日本方头鱼为原料,用9%(W/V,质量浓度)食盐(对照组)和柠檬酸钠(实验组)浸渍后风干,制作了高水分半干制品,对表皮颜色和pH值,鱼肉中的Na+浓度、质地、鲜味特征物质IMP、新鲜度指标K值,以及烤制后的感官评价开展了品质研究。结果显示,实验组盐干品表皮红色色度值a*、彩度值C*和pH值显著高于对照组;其肌肉组织中Na+浓度为对照组的39%,且具有较高的持水力,较低的断裂荷重和断裂应力,断裂变形显著高于对照组;同时,IMP和K值等品质指标没有显著差异。烤制后的感官评价结果验证了以上结果,实验组的咸味评分显著低于对照组,在外观评分略高的基础上,咀嚼性、鲜味和总体可接受性等方面没有显著差异。研究表明,用柠檬酸钠代替食盐制作日本方头鱼盐干品,在保证品质的同时,可有效提升表皮色彩,降低Na+含量,是理想的钠盐替代物之一,可为水产品干制加工的工艺改善、口味调节、减少钠盐用量等提供新的思路。     

Serological diagnosis of enzootic pneumonia of swine by a double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using a monoclonal antibody and recombinant antigen (P46) of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

To facilitate the control of enzootic pneumonia (EP) of swine caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, the complement fixation (CF) test has been used for the detection of M. hyopneumoniae antibodies. However, the CF test is a cumbersome and time-consuming technique and cross-reactivity are major drawbacks associated with this method. To circumvent these drawbacks, we have developed a double-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), consisting of purified monoclonal antibody (Mab) against the 46 kDa surface antigen (P46) of M. hyopneumoniae and recombinant P46 protein expressed in Escherichia coli, for the detection of antibodies to M. hyopneumoniae in serum samples from pigs experimentally inoculated with M. hyopneumoniae and from naturally infected pigs, and compared the practical usefulness of ELISA using the CF test. In experimentally inoculated pigs, the CF and ELISA antibodies were detected at almost the same time, and a good correlation was demonstrated between the CF test and the ELISA. In a survey conducted on field samples, the seropositivity by ELISA in pigs of age 2-6 months was increased. At the time of slaughter, approximately 80% of the animals were seropositive for ELISA. However, a gradual decrease in the prevalence of ELISA positive samples was observed in sows with increasing parity. No correlation was seen between the results obtained with the two methods in the clinical samples. The CF test appears to have limited value for the diagnosis of EP in conventional herds because nonspecific reactions were frequently observed. Therefore, this ELISA is a useful alternative to the CF test currently used for the diagnosis of EP.     

High chromosomal variability of mandarins (Citrus spp.) revealed by CMA banding

Fluorochrome staining with chromomycin A₃(CMA) was used to characterize and compare the CMA banding patterns of chromosomes in 17 accessions of mandarins (Citrus spp.). All accessions had 2n = 18 chromosomes. These chromosomes were classified into six types based on the number and position of CMA positive bands; A: two telomeric and one proximal band, B: one telomeric and one proximal band, C: two telomeric bands, D: one telomeric band, E: without bands, F: one proximal band. Each accession possessed two to five types of chromosomes, and showed unique CMA banding patterns. Type D and E chromosomes were predominant in all accessions. Their numbers were generally higher in Chinese and Indian mandarins. Type F chromosome was present only in some mandarins originating in Japan, which could thus be distinguished from mandarins originating in other areas. This study is the first report of type F chromosome in citrus. The Vietnamese mandarins we studied were the only one shaving type A, B, C, D and E chromosomes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.