Evaluating biodegradability of soil organic matter by its thermal stability and chemical composition

The stability of soil organic matter (SOM) as it relates to resistance to microbial degradation has important implications for nutrient cycling, emission of greenhouse gases, and C sequestration. Hence, there is interest in developing new ways to quantify and characterise the labile and stable forms of SOM. Our objective in this study was to evaluate SOM under widely contrasting management regimes to determine whether the variation in chemical composition and resistance to pyrolysis observed for various constituent C fractions could be related to their resistance to decomposition. Samples from the same soil under permanent pasture, an arable cropping rotation, and chemical fallow were physically fractionated (sand: 2000-50 μm; silt: 50-5 μm, and clay: <5 μm). Biodegradability of the SOM in size fractions and whole soils was assessed in a laboratory mineralization study. Thermal stability was determined by analytical pyrolysis using a Rock-Eval pyrolyser, and chemical composition was characterized by X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the C and N K-edges. Relative to the pasture soil, SOM in the arable and fallow soils declined by 30% and 40%, respectively. The mineralization bioassay showed that SOM in whole soil and soil fractions under fallow was less susceptible to biodegradation than that in other management practices. The SOM in the sand fraction was significantly more biodegradable than that in the silt or clay fractions. Analysis by XANES showed a proportional increase in carboxylates and a reduction in amides (protein) and aromatics in the fallow whole soil compared to the pasture and arable soils. Moreover, protein depletion was greatest in the sand fraction of the fallow soil. Sand fractions in fallow and arable soils were, however, relatively enriched in plant-derived phenols, aromatics, and carboxylates compared to the sand fraction of pasture soils. Analytical pyrolysis showed distinct differences in the thermal stability of SOM among the whole soil and their size fractions; it also showed that the loss of SOM generally involved preferential degradation of H-rich compounds. The temperature at which half of the C was pyrolyzed was strongly correlated with mineralizable C, providing good evidence for a link between the biological and thermal stability of SOM.     

In-field management of corn cob and residue mix: Effect on soil greenhouse gas emissions

In-field management practices of corn cob and residue mix (CRM) as a feedstock source for ethanol production can have potential effects on soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of CRM piles, storage in-field, and subsequent removal on soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions. The study was conducted in 2010–2012 at the Iowa State University, Agronomy Research Farm located near Ames, Iowa (42.0°′N; 93.8°′W). The soil type at the site is Canisteo silty clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Typic Endoaquolls). The treatments for CRM consisted of control (no CRM applied and no residue removed after harvest), early spring complete removal (CR) of CRM after application of 7.5 cm depth of CRM in the fall, 2.5 cm, and 7.5 cm depth of CRM over two tillage systems of no-till (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) and three N rates (0, 180, and 270 kg N ha⁻¹) of 32% liquid UAN (NH₄NO₃) in a randomized complete block design with split–split arrangements. The findings of the study suggest that soil CO₂ and N₂O emissions were affected by tillage, CRM treatments, and N rates. Most N₂O and CO₂ emissions peaks occurred as soil moisture or temperature increased with increase precipitation or air temperature. However, soil CO₂ emissions were increased as the CRM amount increased. On the other hand, soil N₂O emissions increased with high level of CRM as N rate increased. Also, it was observed that NT with 7.5 cm CRM produced higher CO₂ emissions in drought condition as compared to CT. Additionally, no differences in N₂O emissions were observed due to tillage system. In general, dry soil conditions caused a reduction in both CO₂ and N₂O emissions across all tillage, CRM treatments, and N rates.     

光胁迫对沙冬青叶绿素荧光特征和光呼吸的影响

使用LI-6400测定乌兰布和沙漠东北缘的沙冬青在不同光合有效辐射下的叶绿素荧光特征和光呼吸变化,进而研究其光破坏防御特征的变化。结果表明,PSⅡ最大光化学量子产量(Fv/Fm)可作为衡量沙冬青光胁迫程度大小指标,有效光化学量子产量(Fv′/Fm′)、总光合速率(Pt)、非光化学猝灭(qN)、光呼吸速率(Rp)和Rp/Pt等指标的光进程曲线临界点值和临界点光强度与Fv/Fm的关系都具有明显的规律性。随着Fv/Fm降低,光胁迫程度增加,导致沙冬青光胁迫的最小光合有效辐射降低。可见,沙冬青光破坏防御的一种策略是在胁迫程度较小时通过提高热耗散和光呼吸相对比值(Rp/Pt)来消耗过剩能量,而在胁迫程度较大时可通过增加抑制热耗散和光呼吸的光合有效辐射实现对过剩光能的消耗。     

Perivascular wall tumour presenting as pastern mass in a Standardbred gelding

A 2-year-old Standardbred gelding was referred for a mass on the palmaromedial right front pastern which was accompanied by progressively worsening lameness. The mass was firm to palpation and covered by normal skin. Ultrasonographically, a smooth encapsulated mass was present, medial to the flexor tendons and palmar to the neurovascular bundle. Because of a poor prognosis for future athletic performance without surgical or chemotherapeutic intervention and economic constraints preventing further diagnostics and treatment, the horse was euthanised. Post-mortem magnetic resonance imaging, histopathology and immunohistochemistry revealed the mass to be a perivascular wall tumour, the first record of such a neoplasia in the horse.     

Flowability,moisture sorption and thermal properties of tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] grain flours

Recently tef is attracting the attention of the modern food industry since it is a gluten-free grain encompassing highly appreciated nutritional advaxntages. As a relatively new raw material, little information on its handling and processing properties is available. Flowability, water sorption characteristics and thermal properties of flours from three Ethiopian tef varieties were studied. Wheat (whole and refined) and rice flours were included as references. Tef flours were less flowable than the reference flours and their flow properties were more sensitive to water activity changes. Tef flours led to sigmoidal sorption isotherms with estimated monolayer water content of 0.053 (BET model) and 0.057 (GAB model) g water/g dry solids. No significant differences among the three tef varieties were observed on their gelatinization enthalpies that were higher than that of wheat and similar to rice. The amylopectin recrystallization extent after 7 days of storage at 4 °C was significantly higher in tef than in wheat flour.     

杉木老龄林群落的种-多度关系研究

以杉木老龄林群落为研究对象,结合对数级数和对数正态分布模型,建立3 600 m2的大样地分析杉木老龄林群落的种-多度关系。结果表明:样方的平均物种数和个体数分别为6.86种和35.75株,各样方的物种数及个体数存在极显著正相关关系,说明杉木老龄林群落中生境空间对物种个体的承载能力,还未限制其物种数量。个体数-种序(p>0.05)和频度-种序(p>0.05)的分布曲线均符合对数级数分布;对数正态分布模型则能够较好拟合个体数-种序(p>0.05)的分布曲线,但频度-种序(p<0.05)的分布曲线则不适合用该模型来解释。随着尺度的增加,物种数和个体数的变异系数、二者间的相关性及物种数的方差逐步下降,个体数的方差却呈上升的趋势。     

减少底肥施用量增加叶面施肥次数对玉米产量的影响

该试验目的是研究降低底肥施用量但是增加叶面肥施用次数方面对玉米产量的变化规律，旨在找出最经济的施肥方式以达到在保护环境的基础上提高经济效益的目的。试验表明，玉米产量随着底肥施用量的增加而提高，并且叶面肥喷施次数越多产量越高，每喷一次，可增加产量258~592.5 kg/hm2，增产幅度2.3%~5.6%。     

Organic input quality is more important than its quantity: C turnover coefficients in different cropping systems

Annual C input to soil is a major factor affecting soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. However different types of C-sources can have different behaviour, in relation to their chemical characteristics and how they interact with soil. Root-derived C, in particular, should be more efficient than other organic materials as a result of the physicochemical and biological characteristics of the surrounding environment, leading to a reduction in the C decomposition rate.To test this hypothesis, we considered a long-term experiment underway in Northern Italy since 1962, comparing permanent meadow and 6 different crop rotations over a wide range of nutrient inputs, in both organic and inorganic forms. C inputs from amendments were measured and those from crops were calculated using allometric functions and crop and residues yields. The time evolution of SOC was studied through a single-pool, first-order kinetic model, allowing the estimation of humification coefficients for residues, roots, farmyard manure and cattle slurries.The highest value of the humification coefficient was estimated for farmyard manure, which confirmed its high efficiency in stabilising SOC content. Root C presented a humification coefficient 1.9 times higher than above-ground plant materials while slurries were intermediate, with a humification coefficient roughly half that of farmyard manure and even lower that of roots.The quality of C input thus seems of fundamental importance for evaluating the sustainability of different cropping systems in terms of SOC dynamics.     

半胱胺对育成期水貂生长和饲料转化率的影响

选择健康育成期水貂208只,其中200只为试验组,8只为对照组,采用二因子试验设计:一个因子为半胱胺的不同添加量,分别按每千克体质量添加10、40、70、100、130 mg半胱胺;另一因子为半胱胺的不同添加间隔时间,分别为1、3、5、7、9 d 5个时间间隔.通过饲养试验研究了半胱胺对育成期水貂体质量增加、饲料转化率...