Carbon dioxide emissions of soils under pure and mixed stands of beech and spruce, affected by decomposing foliage litter mixtures

Soil respiration is the largest terrestrial source of CO₂ to the atmosphere. In forests, roughly half of the soil respiration is autotrophic (mainly root respiration) while the remainder is heterotrophic, originating from decomposition of soil organic matter. Decomposition is an important process for cycling of nutrients in forest ecosystems. Hence, tree species induced changes may have a great impact on atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. Since studies on the combined effects of beech-spruce mixtures are very rare, we firstly measured CO₂ emission rates in three adjacent stands of pure spruce (Picea abies), mixed spruce-beech and pure beech (Fagus sylvatica) on three base-rich sites (Flysch) and three base-poor sites (Molasse; yielding a total of 18 stands) during two summer periods using the closed chamber method. CO₂ emissions were higher on the well-aerated sandy soils on Molasse than on the clayey soils on Flysch, characterized by frequent water logging. Mean CO₂ effluxes increased from spruce (41) over the mixed (55) to the beech (59) stands on Molasse, while tree species effects were lower on Flysch (30-35, mixed > beech = spruce; all data in mg CO₂-C m⁻² h⁻¹). Secondly, we studied decomposition after fourfold litter manipulations at the 6 mixed species stands: the O_i - and O_e horizons were removed and replaced by additions of beech -, spruce - and mixed litter of the adjacent pure stands of known chemical quality and one zero addition (blank) in open rings (20 cm inner diameter), which were covered with meshes to exclude fresh litter fall. Mass loss within two years amounted to 61-68% on Flysch and 36-44% on Molasse, indicating non-additive mixed species effects (mixed litter showed highest mass loss). However, base cation release showed a linear response, increasing from the spruce - over the mixed - to the beech litter. The differences in N release (immobilization) resulted in a characteristic converging trend in C/N ratios for all litter compositions on both bedrocks during decomposition. In the summers 2006 and 2007 we measured CO₂ efflux from these manipulated areas (a closed chamber fits exactly over such a ring) as field indicator of the microbial activity. Net fluxes (subtracting the so-called blank values) are considered an indicator of litter induced changes only and increased on both bedrocks from the spruce - over the mixed - to the beech litter. According to these measurements, decomposing litter contributed between 22-32% (Flysch) and 11-28% (Molasse) to total soil respiration, strengthening its role within the global carbon cycle.     

Dominant effects of litter substrate quality on the difference between leaf and root decomposition process above- and belowground

Initial decomposition rates, changes in organic chemical components (acid-insoluble fraction, holocellulose, polyphenols, soluble carbohydrates) and nutrient dynamics (K, Mg, Ca, P, N) were examined for fine roots and leaves of Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa). Litterbag experiments designed to evaluate the relative effects of litter type and position of litter supply in the soil were carried out, considering that root and leaf litter typically occupy different locations and have different substrate qualities. Litterbags of roots and leaves were placed at two positions (on the soil surface and in the humus layer), and collected every 3 months over one year. The mass loss rate and N release were slower during root decomposition in the humus layer than during leaf decomposition on the soil surface. These differences between root and leaf decomposition were mainly caused by the litter type, and the effect of the position on decomposition was relatively small. Root litter was less influenced by position related effects, such as differences in humidity, than leaf litter, and this recalcitrant trait to environmental effects may be responsible for the slower mass loss rate and N release in root decomposition. The results of the present study suggest that fine roots are persistent in the soil and serve an important role in N retention in forest ecosystems because of their litter substrate quality.     

Phosphorus availability of sewage sludge‐based fertilizers determined by the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique

The plant‐availability of phosphorus (P) in fertilizers and soil can strongly influence the yield of agricultural crops. However, there are no methods to efficiently and satisfactorily analyze the plant‐availability of P in sewage sludge‐based P fertilizers except by undertaking time‐consuming and complex pot or field experiments. We employed the diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique to quantify the plant P availability of various types of P fertilizers with a novel focus on sewage sludge‐based P fertilizers. Mixtures of fertilizer and soil were incubated for 3 weeks at 60% water holding capacity. DGT devices were deployed at the beginning of the incubation and again after 1, 2, and 3 weeks. Two weeks of incubation were sufficient for the formation of plant‐available P in the fertilizer/soil mixtures. In a pot experiment, the DGT technique predicted maize (Zea mays L.) biomass yield and P uptake significantly more accurately than standard chemical extraction tests for P fertilizers (e.g ., water, citric acid, and neutral ammonium citrate). Therefore, the DGT technique can be recommended as a reliable and robust method to screen the performance of different types of sewage sludge‐based P fertilizers for maize cultivation minimizing the need for time‐consuming and costly pot or field experiments.     

基于MCGS的马铃薯淀粉废水蒸发回收工艺的上位机监控系统设计

介绍MCGS工控组态软件的系统结构和功能,并结合宁夏南部山区马铃薯淀粉生产废水处理工艺,构建了其上位机监控系统,扩展了MCGS的应用领域。     

Seasonal Changes in the Nutrient Concentrations of Leaves and Leaf Litter in a Young Cryptomeria japonica Stand

The leaves and leaf litter of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don was collected from April 1994 to March 1995 to describe the seasonal changes in nutrient concentrations in leaves and leaf litter. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations were in the order new leaves > old leaves > leaf litter, whereas calcium (Ca) concentration was in the order leaf litter > old leaves > new leaves during the whole year. N, P and K concentrations were at their highest during the new leaf growth phase, and then decreased as a result of the diluting effect and translocation, whereas Ca increased with time. Magnesium did not show any clear seasonal trend compared with other nutrients. N resorption efficiency was lower than P resorption efficiency. There were two nutrient resorption peaks, which could be attributed to high nutrient translocation to new leaves in the spring and to translocation from old leaves before senescence in the autumn. A significant correlation between N and P resorption was observed.     

Rice Growth and Nutrient Accumulation as Affected by Different Composts

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of four different kinds of compost: pea–rice hull compost (PRC), cattle dung–tea compost (CTC), hog dung–rice hull compost (HDR), and hog dung–sawdust compost (HDS). These types of compost differ in nitrogen composition and in the dry matter yield and nutrient accumulation [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K)], of rice plants. The rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants were planted in an Oxisol soil. Plants were cultivated in pots, which contained 3 kg of soil, mixed with the four different composts (PRC, 404 g; CTC, 395 g; HDR, and HDS, 450 g) and chemical fertilizer (CHEM) (N:P₂O₅:K₂O=120:96:72) The residual effect was studied after the crop was harvested. All treatments were replicated four times, with a randomized complete block design. The nutrient concentrations in the root, leaf sheath, leaf blade, stalk, and grain were analyzed at different growth stages. After the first crop, the dry matter yield and the amount of N, P, and K absorbed from the CTC or HDS treatments were higher than those of the other treatments, at the most active tillering stage. The growth and nutrient accumulation of rice plants given the PRC treatment were higher than those given the CHEM treatment at the heading stage or the HDR treatment at the maturity stage. In the second crop, the dry matter yield from the PRC, CTC, and HDR treatments was higher than from the other treatments. The nutrient accumulation of the rice plants was positively correlated with the dry matter yield. The residual effect of the HDS compost was the least among all four composts.     

Chemical,sensory and rheological properties of porridges from processed sorghum (Sorghum bicolor,bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) flours

The chemical, sensory and rheological properties of porridges made from blends of sprouted sorghum, bambara groundnuts and fermented sweet potatoes were examined. Sorghum and bambara groundnuts were sprouted for 48 h while sweet potatoes were fermented for the same period. Blends were formulated from the processed ingredients in the ratio of 60:40:0, 57:42:1, 55:44:1 and 52:46:2 (protein basis) of sorghum, bambara groundnuts and sweet potatoes. Porridges were prepared from the composite flours and the traditional sorghum complementary food. Standard assay methods were used to evaluate the flours for nutrient composition. The porridges were also tested for sensory properties and viscosity. Processing increased the levels of most of the nutrients evaluated. Relative to the sorghum traditional complementary food, thecomposite flours had higher levels of lipids, protein, ash, crude fiber and minerals (p<0.05). The porridges from the composite flours were generally liked slightly by the panelists and were about seven times less viscous than the porridge from the traditional sorghum complementary food. Use of the composite flours, particularly the 52:46:2 blend, as a traditional complementary food should be encouraged in Nigeria especially with the increasing cost of commercial complementary foods.     

肉用山羊营养需要量的研究进展

本文综述了肉用山羊的饲料采食量，蛋白质、能量、矿物质及维生素等营养需要量的研究进展及现状。     

花生硫素营养特性的研究

对花生的硫素营养特性进行了研究 ,结果表明 :施硫均能显著提高花生各生育阶段对N、S的吸收量 ,提高其N、S含量 ,降低N S比 ,提高花生盛花期以后的N积累比例 ,明显促进S养分向花生籽实部分运转。在不同硫肥品种中 ,以石膏促进花生吸收N、S,提高其N、S含量的效果最好。花生在始花～盛花期吸收硫的强度最大     

施氮水平对青海中华羊茅产量和营养成分含量的影响

在高寒地区旱作条件下种植青海中华羊茅最适施氮量为N60kg/hm^2,施肥后三年内产草量比对照提高23.62%,其增产值是施肥成本的2.37倍,产籽量提高12.38%,其增产值是施肥成本的4.97倍。青海中华羊茅的产量随着施氮量的增加而增加,施氮后第二年的增产量高于施肥当年的增产量。粗蛋白质含量随着施氮量的增加而增加,但其增加速度随着施氮量的增加而减少,无氮浸出物的含量则随着施氮量的增加而急剧减少,而减少的速度随着施氮量的增加而减小。