Assessing the benefits and wider costs of different N fertilisers for grassland agriculture

Fertiliser nitrogen (N) is essential for maintaining agronomic outputs for our growing population. However, the societal, economic and environmental impacts of excess reactive N from fertiliser is rarely assessed. Here the agronomic, economic and environmental efficacy of three N-fertiliser sources, ammonium-nitrate (AN), urea (U), and inhibited-urea (IU; with NPBT) were evaluated at two grassland sites. Dry matter yield and herbage quality were measured at each silage-cut. Additionally, NH₃-N and N₂O-N losses were measured and used to calculate the effective N source cost and externality costs, which account for associated environmental and societal impacts. We found no effect of different N sources on yield or herbage quality. However, NH₃-N emissions were significantly reduced under the IU treatment, by 48–65%. No significant differences in cumulative N₂O emissions were observed. Incorporating externality costs increased fertiliser prices by 1.23–2.36, 6.51–16.4, and 3.17–4.17 times the original cost, for AN, U and IU, respectively, transforming U from the cheapest, to the most expensive of the N sources examined. However, with no apparent yield differences between N-fertiliser sources there is no economic incentive for the land-manager to use the more environmentally and socially acceptable option, unless externality costs are incorporated into fertiliser prices at the point of sale.     

外源一氧化氮对盐胁迫下黄瓜幼苗叶片膜脂过氧化的缓解作用

从黄瓜幼苗生长、叶片丙二醛(MDA)含量和质膜相对透性3个方面的变化证实100 μmol·L-1的一氧化氮(nitric oxide, NO)供体硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside, SNP)对100 mmol·L-1 NaCl胁迫下黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)叶片氧化损伤有明显的缓解效应.NO处理后,盐胁迫下的黄瓜地上部和地下部干重显著高于未加NO的处理,叶片质膜相对透性显著低于未加NO的处理.NO能够明显诱导盐胁迫下黄瓜叶片超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、愈创木酚过氧化物酶(GPX)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活力的上升,延缓MDA和H2O2积累, 同时促进渗透调节物质脯氨酸含量的上升.说明NO提高了黄瓜叶片的抗氧化能力,减轻了盐胁迫诱导的膜脂过氧化损伤.     

NO诱导IAA和O2.-积累于侧根尖端促进水稻侧根生长

为了探讨NO和超氧阴离子对水稻种子根侧根生长的影响,以DR5-GUS标记IAA的转基因水稻为材料,种子催芽萌发后,用含有不同浓度的NO供体、NO合成酶抑制剂和清除剂溶液来培养萌发3 d的水稻幼苗,在培养的第3 d和第5 d分别测量初生根长度和初生根上侧根数量,并通过DAF-2DA对NO、GUS对IAA和NBT对超氧阴离子（O₂·^-）染色后,在显微镜下观察NO、IAA和O₂·^-在侧根的定位,分析与NO合成相关的基因表达。结果表明,NO和IAA主要分布在根中柱的维管束部分以及侧根起始形成处和侧根根尖,O₂·^-只极性分布在侧根起始部位和侧根根尖。当NO合成受到抑制或清除时,NO、IAA和O₂·^-在侧根的积累量明显减少,侧根数量及初生根长度也均显著下降。荧光定量PCR分析发现,外源的NO供体SNP处理均能显著诱导水稻OsNIA1和OsNIA2基因表达,而NO合成酶抑制剂处理则抑制OsNIA1和OsNIA2基因表达。基于我...     

苏南麦田基施包膜尿素的农学和环境效应评价

为验证包膜尿素一次性基施、速效矿质氮肥分次施用在南方冬小麦系统中的可替代性,在江苏江宁麦田建立田间试验,通过连续3 a的3个作物季观测,比较了0、160 kg N·hm~(-2)(低量)和240 kg N·hm~(-2)(习惯用量)施氮量下树脂包膜尿素一次基施(PU)和非包膜尿素分次施用(U)对小麦产量、氮肥利用率及NH_3挥发与N_2O排放的影响,并从经济效益和气态活性氮减排两方面评估了包膜尿素施用的农学和环境效应。结果表明:U和PU处理小麦产量均随施氮量增加而提高,但PU下增产更显著。习惯施氮量下,PU比U平均增加小麦产量16.6%,提高氮肥偏生产力和农学利用效率16.7%和26.6%。等氮量下PU虽不能提高氮肥生理效率,但却显著提高氮肥利用率35.7%～65.2%。同时,PU较U处理能有效削减NH_3和N_2O排放峰,习惯施氮量下可降低NH_3和N_2O季节累积排放量43.3%和37.6%。综合分析产量、肥料和其他管理成本的产投收益结果表明,施用160 kg N·hm~(-2)PU即可近似达到U习惯施氮量下小麦产量水平和净收益;且当PU施氮量增至240 kg N·hm~(-2)时,可在不显著增加NH_3和N_2O排放情况下,显著增加小麦产量,近而大幅提高农户净收益41.8%。研究表明,与农户习惯施氮相比,供试聚氨酯包膜尿素一次基施不仅能够获得高产,而且也有利于农户增收和环境保护。     

土壤氧化亚氮排放时空变异性及其方法研究进展

茶园土壤是重要的N₂O排放源,了解茶园土壤N₂O排放因素,为减排措施提供一定的理论依据。基于全球田间原位监测和室内培养试验的茶园土壤文献数据进行荟萃分析（Meta analysis）,量化茶园土壤N₂O年排放量,分析主要影响因素。全球茶园土壤田间原位监测结果表明平均N₂O-N年排放量为16.82 kg hm⁻²（95%置信区间（CI）：12.99 ~ 21.27 kg hm⁻²）,而室内培养试验结果表明N₂O-N排放速度为0.04 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹（CI：0.02 ~ 0.07 mg kg⁻¹ d⁻¹）。茶园土壤N₂O平均直接排放系数（EF_d）为2.25%,高于IPCC的建议值（1%）。方差分解分析（VPA）发现施氮量对茶园土壤N₂O排放的总解释量最大,贡献值为49.71%。施缓控释肥、生物炭和石灰材料分别可以减少茶园土壤35%、52%和55%的N₂O排放。上述结果表明,茶园土壤N₂O排放量大,施肥量是主控因子,通过改良施肥措施可有效减少N₂O排放。     

Effects of Ca2+on the releases of ET-1, NO and PGI2 from bovine coronary artery endothelial cells during hypoxia

AIM: To explore the mechanism of ET-1, NO and PGI² release from coronary artery endothelial cells(CAEC) induced by acute hypoxia. METHODS: Bovine coronary artery endothelial cells were cultured and [⁴⁵ Ca²⁺] was used to investigate the difference of calcium uptake between normoxia group and hypoxia group(3% O₂). The contents of ET-1, NO and PGI² in media of normoxia group, hypoxia group and hypoxia + verapamil group were measured 24 h after hypoxia. RESULTS: [ ⁴⁵ Ca²⁺] uptake by CAEC in hypoxia group was 1.9 times more than normoxia group(P< 0.01). Hypoxia + verapamil group released more PGI², ET-1 and less NO than hypoxia group(P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: Changes of ET-1, NO and PGI² releases during hypoxia may be caused by the inflow of Ca²⁺ into coronary artery endothelial cells.     

Effects of bamboo biochar application on global warming in paddy fields in Ehime prefecture,Southern Japan

Biochar application can reduce global warming via carbon (C) sequestration in soils. However, there are few studies investigating its effects on greenhouse gases in rice (Oryza sativa L.) paddy fields throughout the year. In this study, a year-round field experiment was performed in rice paddy fields to investigate the effects of biochar application on methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and C budget. The study was conducted on three rice paddy fields in Ehime prefecture, Japan, for 2 years. Control (Co) and biochar (B) treatments, in which 2-cm size bamboo biochar (2 Mg ha^?1) was applied, were set up in the first year. CH₄ and N₂O emissions and heterotrophic respiration (Rh) were measured using a closed-chamber method. In the fallow season, the mean N₂O emission during the experimental period was significantly lower in B (67 g N ha^?1) than Co (147 g N ha^?1). However, the mean CH₄ emission was slightly higher in B (2.3 kg C ha^?1) than Co (1.2 kg C ha^?1) in fallow season. The water-filled pore space increased more during the fallow season in B than Co. In B, soil was reduced more than in Co due to increasing soil moisture, which decreased N₂O and increased CH₄ emissions in the fallow season. In the rice-growing season, the mean N₂O emission tended to be lower in B (?104 g N ha^?1) than Co (?13 g N ha^?1), while mean CH₄ emission was similar between B (183 kg C ha^?1) and Co (173 kg C ha^?1). Due to the C release from applied biochar and soil organic C in the first year, Rh in B was higher than that in Co. The net greenhouse gas emission for 2 years considering biochar C, plant residue C, CH₄ and N₂O emissions, and Rh was lower in B (5.53 Mg CO₂eq ha^?1) than Co (11.1 Mg CO₂eq ha^?1). Biochar application worked for C accumulation, increasing plant residue C input, and mitigating N₂O emission by improving soil environmental conditions. This suggests that bamboo biochar application in paddy fields could aid in mitigating global warming.     

No significant difference in N2O emission,fertilizer-induced N2O emission factor and CH4 absorption between anaerobically digested cattle slurry and chemical fertilizer applied timothy (Phleum pratense L.) sward in central Hokkaido,Japan

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) fluxes from a fertilized timothy (Phleum pratense L.) sward on the northern island of Japan were measured over 2?years using a randomized block design in the field. The objectives of the present study were to obtain annual N₂O and CH₄ emission rates and to elucidate the effect of the applied material (control [no nitrogen], anaerobically digested cattle slurry [ADCS] or chemical fertilizer [CF]) and the application season (autumn or spring) on the annual N₂O emission, fertilizer-induced N₂O emission factor (EF) and the annual CH₄ absorption. Ammonium sulfate was applied to the CF plots at the same application rate of NH₄-N to the ADCS plots. A three-way ANOVA was used to examine the significance of the factors (the applied material, the application season and the year). The ANOVA for the annual N₂O emission rates showed a significant effect with regard to the applied material (P?=?0.042). The annual N₂O emission rate from the control plots (0.398?kg N₂O-N ha^?1?year^?1) was significantly lower than that from the ADCS plots (0.708?kg N₂O-N ha^?1?year^?1) and the CF plots (0.636?kg N₂O-N ha^?1?year^?1). There was no significant difference in the annual N₂O emission rate between the ADCS and CF plots. The ANOVA for the EFs showed insignificance of all factors (P?>?0.05). The total mean?±?standard error of the EFs (fertilizer-induced N₂O-N emission/total applied N) was 0.0024?±?0.0007 (kg N₂O-N [kg N]^?1), which is similar to the reported EF (0.0032?±?0.0013) for well-drained uplands in Japan. The CH₄ absorption rates differed significantly between years (P?=?0.014). The CH₄ absorption rate in the first year (3.28?kg CH₄?ha^?1?year^?1) was higher than that in the second year (2.31?kg CH₄?ha^?1?year^?1), probably as a result of lower precipitation in the first year. In conclusion, under the same application rate of NH₄-N, differences in the applied materials (ADCS or CF) and the application season (autumn or spring) led to no significant differences in N₂O emission, fertilizer-induced N₂O EF and CH₄ absorption.     

一氧化氮处理对冬枣贮藏期间乙醇代谢及相关品质的影响

 【目的】研究NO处理对冬枣贮藏期间乙醇代谢及相关品质的影响，探讨NO对冬枣褐变软化的作用机理,为NO应用于冬枣的贮藏保鲜提供理论依据。【方法】用0、10、20、30 µl•L-1 NO气体熏蒸4 h白熟期冬枣，研究了冬枣室温[（22±1）℃]贮藏和冷藏[（4±1）℃]期间外观品质变化的相关参数，丙酮酸、乙醇、乙醛等含量以及乙醇脱氢酶（ADH）和乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）活性的变化。【结果】20 µl•L-1 NO处理明显地减少了果实中乙醇、乙醛和丙酮酸的含量，且延缓了丙酮酸含量高峰的出现；显著抑制了乙醇脱氢酶（ADH）和乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）活性。30 µl•L-1 NO处理促进了冬枣果实在室温或冷藏期间的酒化软化。【结论】20 µl•L-1 NO处理可以减少乙醇积累对冬枣的毒害，有效抑制了冬枣果实贮藏期间的褐变软化。     

Quality Changes and Browning Developments During Storage of Dried-Seasoned Squid (Dosidicus gigas and Ommastrephes bartrami)

ABSTRACT

The physicochemical changes—moisture, water activity, crude protein, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), dimethylamine (DMA) and formaldehyde, reducing sugar and amino acid; microbiological changes—aerobic plate count (APC) and coliforms; and browning development (browning intensity and color) in dried-seasoned squids (Dosidicus gigas and Ommastrephes bartrami) during storage at 25°C were investigated. After the storage, the moisture and water activity decreased significantly. The content of crude protein decreased, accompanied by progressive accumulation of TVB-N and slow increase of APC. The high level of TMAO in dried-seasoned squid gradually decreased, whereas DMA and formaldehyde increased significantly during the whole period of storage. The browning intensity and b* value significantly increased, which revealed the occurrence of browning in two squid products. The dominant reducing sugar, lactose, and glucose, and the total amino acid including lysine and proline, decreased remarkably, which were well-correlated with the browning development. The quality deterioration in jumbo squid was more rapid than in neon flying squid partially due to the high level of reducing sugar in the former product. To improve quality and resist browning reaction of dried squid product during storage, the addition of extrinsic reducing sugar became a control factor.