Electron transfer capacity of soil dissolved organic matter and its potential impact on soil respiration

Purpose

Soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) as the labile fraction of soil organic carbon (SOC) is able to facilitate biogeochemical redox reactions effecting soil respiration and carbon sequestration. In this study, we took soil samples from 20 sites differing in land use (forest and agriculture) to investigate the electron transfer capacity of soil DOM and its potential relationship with soil respiration.

Materials and methods

DOM was extracted from 20 soil samples representing different land uses: forest (nos. 1–12) and agriculture (nos. 13–20) in Guangdong Province, China. Chronoamperometry was employed to quantify the electron transfer capacity (ETC) of the DOM, including electron acceptor capacity (EAC) and electron donor capacity (EDC), by applying fixed positive or negative potentials to a working electrode in a conventional three-electrode cell. The reversibility of electron accepting from or donating to DOM was measured by applying switchable potentials to the working electrode in the electrochemical system with the multiple-step potential technique. Carbon dioxide produced by soil respiration was measured with a gas chromatograph.

Results and discussion

Forest soil DOM samples showed higher ETC and electron reversible rate (ERR) than agricultural soil DOM samples, which may be indicative of higher humification rate and microbial activity in forest soils. The average soil respiration of forest soil (nos. 1–12) and agricultural soil (nos. 13–10) was 26.34 and 18.58 mg C g^?1 SOC, respectively. Both EDC and EAC of soil DOM had close relationship with soil respiration (p?<?0.01). The results implied that soil respiration might be accelerated by the electroactive moieties contained in soil DOM, which serve as electron shuttles and facilitate electron transfer reactions in soil respiration and SOC mineralization.

Conclusions

DOM of forest soils showed higher ETC and ERR than DOM of agricultural soils. As soil represents one of the largest reservoirs of organic carbon, soil respiration affects C cycle and subsequently CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere. As one of the important characteristics of soil DOM related to soil respiration, ETC has a significant impact on greenhouse gas emission and soil carbon sequestration but has not been paid attention to.     

Enhanced Bacillus thuringiensis Production from Sewage Sludge with Alkaline and Ultrasonic Pretreatments

Sewage sludge is a cost-effective media for the production of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) based biopesticides. To enhance the entomotoxicity of the fermentation broth, pretreatments of sewage sludge by alkali and ultrasonic were applied in this study. Effects of alkaline and ultrasonic pretreatments on the soluble COD (SCOD) and total COD (TCOD) were evaluated by altering the alkali addition dose and the ultrasonic specific energy. Suitable pretreatment conditions were optimized with 5 g l^?1 sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for alkaline treatment and 1.2?×?10⁵ kJ kg^?1 of total solid for ultrasonic treatment. Fermentations of raw and pretreated sludge for biopesticides were carried out in a bench scale fermentor. Results revealed that both pretreatments were effective for Bt growth and metabolism. Higher viable cells (VC) and viable spores (VS) counts, δ-endotoxin yields and entomotoxicity were achieved in the pretreated sludge. The enhancement was attributed to more available nutrients and better oxygen transfer. Moreover, ultrasonic pretreated sludge was superior to alkaline pretreated sludge for δ-endotoxin production and entomotoxicity owing to its higher soluble C/N ratio and finer particles.     

REDUCING NITRATE CONTENT IN LETTUCE BY PRE-HARVEST CONTINUOUS LIGHT DELIVERED BY RED AND BLUE LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES

Effect of pre-harvest continuous light with different red/blue ratio on photon flux density (R/B ratio) on reducing nitrate accumulation was studied by growing lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under continuous illumination delivered by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Results show that nitrate concentration decreased by 1648.0–2061.1 mg kg^?1 in leaf blade and 962.9–2090.3 mg kg^?1 in petiole, accompanied by a dramatic increase in soluble sugar content. Compared with monochromatic red light treatment, the decrease in nitrate concentration and increase in soluble sugar content in lettuce under mixed red and blue light were more pronounced. The lowest nitrate concentration was observed in the treatment with R/B ratio of 4. It's concluded that pre-harvest exposure to 48?h continuous LED light could effectively reduce nitrate accumulation in lettuce and this process is strongly affected by R/B ratio of light. This study may provide new perspective for pre-harvest quality management of vegetable, especially in commercial leaf vegetable production under artificial lighting.     

河南鸡公山白粉菌寄主植物调查

2005—2006年在河南省鸡公山国家级自然保护区调查白粉菌寄主植物,发现白粉菌寄主植物23科43属52种植物,其中7种为中国新记录寄主植物,27种为河南省新记录寄主植物;使鸡公山国家级自然保护区有记录的白粉菌寄主植物达25科47属57种。     

岔巴沟流域次暴雨产流无量纲模型

为了建立小流域次暴雨产流预报模型,在岔巴沟流域选取大小不同的4个小流域10 a水文资料,分析降雨、地貌等因素对流域产流的影响,选取主要因素最大30 min雨量、最大30 min雨强、流域沟道比降、流域面积和流域狭长度。用无量纲参数和逐步回归分析的方法估计模型参数,得到了岔巴沟流域次暴雨产流无量纲模型,用模型预报结果与实测结果对比,模型预报精度为70%。结果表明,所建立的模型具有参数少、结构简单、量纲和谐、物理意义明确的特点,可为流域产流模型进一步研究提供参考。     

鸡马立克氏病CVI988/Rispens疫苗免疫效力试验

本试验用北京市农林科学院畜牧兽医研究所制备的ＣＶＩ９８８／Ｒｉｓｐｅｎｓ疫苗和进口的ＣＶＩ９８８／Ｒｉｓｐｅｎｓ疫苗免疫１日龄来航鸡,７日龄以ＭＤＶ北京－１株血毒进行攻击,６０日龄全群剖检。经免疫效力试验两次测定,３批北京所制备的ＣＶＩ９８Ｒｉｓｐｅｎｓ疫苗产品保护指数分别为试验的９０．０、９０．０、９３．３和试验（２）的１００．０、１００．０、９４．５与进口商品ＣＶＩ／９８８Ｒｉｓｐｅｎｓ苗的保     

稻谷收获期粒间水分分布的研究

利用计算机和单粒水分测定装置,测定了稻谷成熟、收获、堆放过程中粒体之间的水分分布,研究了粒体之间的水分交换机理。发现在收获期稻粒的含水率受外界环境条件的影响很大,高温高湿的气候特点造成稻粒表层吸附大量自由水分是形成稻谷高湿的主要原因。比较新收稻谷和糙米粒间水分分布发现,稻谷的含水率始终比糙米的含水率高出很多,由此推测稻壳中的含水率比较高,这为安排工艺快速去除新收稻谷表面水分提供了依据。     

杂交小麦品种绵杂麦168稀植高效栽培技术初探

为解决杂交小麦生产用种量大,种子生产成本高这一难题,加速杂交小麦新品种在生产上的推广应用,特就施氮量与密度对绵杂麦168产量的影响进行了研究。试验采用两因素裂区设计,施氮量为主区,密度为副区,施氮量与密度各5水平。结果表明,施氮量、密度以及施氮量与密度的互作都极显著地影响绵杂麦168的产量。产量随着施氮量的增加而呈增加趋势;产量随着密度的增加也呈增加趋势,但在密度极高的情况下,产量又有所下降。在基础地力中等水平的情况下,在低用种量（密度≤165×104基本苗／hm2）下,在施氮量为150～300kg／hm2情况下,种植绵杂麦168可获得高于6750kg/hm2的产量和高于8000元／hm2的经济效益。     

田间菜蛾绒茧蜂对有机磷敏感性监测及毒理机制分析

对甲胺磷敏感性的田间监测结果显示,绒茧蜂存在着抗性演化,毒力生物测定结果与AChE的K_i值的监测结果呈明显的相关性,每年9月至次年2月期间AChE敏感性最低,8月期间敏感性最高。甲胺磷可显著地抑制绒茧蜂AChE、CarE和GSTs的活性。PB和TPP对AChE的活体抑制率极低,但PB可强烈抑制CarE的活性,而TPP仅在高浓度时对CarE有较显著的抑制作用,PB对甲胺磷有显著的增效作用,而TPP对甲胺磷无增效作用。AChE的K_m、V_(max)及K_i值研究结果表明,田间绒茧蜂对有机磷和氨基甲酸酯的抗性与AChE对杀虫剂的不敏感性有关。由此认为,绒茧蜂对有机磷的抗性主要与其最重要的靶标酶AChE的敏感性改变及多功能氧化酶有关。     

42个三角梅品种的花粉形态比较分析

采用扫描电镜对三角梅42个品种的花粉形态作观察,参考已发表的三角梅花粉育性的数据,探究花粉形态和花粉育性的联系。采集42个三角梅品种的花粉,人工干燥后进行电镜形态观察,采集3000倍下的近极面观、远极面观、赤道面观、侧面观以及10000倍下的外壁网脊等图片,确定三角梅不同品种花粉的整体外观形态。测定花粉的大小、萌发沟数量,对比不同品种和不同花粉部位的芽突数量。三角梅花粉呈现单侧凹陷、单侧突出的凸饼状结构,三角梅不同品种的花粉粒直径在21.64~31.14 μm之间。少数品种的萌发沟有3个,萌发沟少于3个的品种主要集中于花粉育性低的品种中。花粉表面网脊状褶皱,褶皱上芽突数量不等,不同品种有所差别。芽突数量与植株花粉育性关系密切,花粉育性高的品种花粉表面芽突数量多于花粉育性低的品种。花粉粒表面芽突数量减少,降低三角梅花粉的附着能力,这有可能是导致该品种花粉育性极低的原因之一。