Plant availability and leaching of 15N-labelled mineral fertilizer residues retained in agricultural soil for 25 years: A lysimeter study

Background

A high use-efficiency of fertilizer N remains essential to sustain high crop productivity with low environmental impact. However, little is known on the long-term lability of mineral fertilizer N.

Aims

To quantify crop uptake and leaching of ¹⁵N-labelled mineral fertilizer that has been retained in an agricultural soil for 25–30 years in crops with variable growing season.

Methods

A field plot received ¹⁵N-labelled mineral fertilizers over a period of 5 years and was then kept under arable cropping for 12 years. After relocation to 16 lysimeters, the topsoil grew set-aside grassland for the next 13 years. Then crop uptakes and leaching losses of ¹⁵N remaining in soil was tested over a 2-year period by either converting set-aside grass to production grassland, or by replacing it with spring barley (+/− autumn cover crop) or vegetation-free fallow. All treatments received unlabelled mineral N fertilizers.

Results

Crop uptake and leaching of ¹⁵N were generally highest in the first test year after termination of the set-aside. The leaching of residual ¹⁵N in soil declined in the order: vegetation-free soil (4.7%), spring barley (1.9%), spring barley + cover crop (0.7%) and production grassland (0.2%). Corresponding losses for the second leaching period were 2.7%, 0.9%, 0.4% and 0.06%. There was a fixed relationship between leaching losses of ¹⁵N and total N.

Conclusions

After residing in soil for 25–30 years, the lability of labelled mineral N fertilizer residues appeared slightly higher than the lability of bulk soil N. Autumn vegetation was crucial for reducing leaching losses.     

Spatial variability of soil organic carbon stock in an olive orchard at catchment scale in Southern Spain

Orchards have a high potential for carbon sequestration. However, little research is available on the spatial variability at catchment scale and on the difference between the tree area and the lanes. We analyzed theik spatial variability of soil organic carbon stock, SOC_stock at 90 cm depth in an 8-ha catchment in Southern Spain with olives on a vertic soil. Results showed higher soil organic carbon concentration, SOC, in the tree area as compared to the lane up to 60 cm depth, but its impact on SOC_stock was negligible since it was compensated by the higher soil bulk density in the lane. SOC at different depths was correlated with that in the top 0–5 cm. The overall SOC_stock of the orchard was 4.14 kg m⁻², ranging between 1.8 and 6.0 kg m⁻². This SOC_stock is in the mid-lower range of values reported for olive orchards, measured at smaller scale, and similar to those other intensive field crops and agroforestry under comparable rainfall conditions. The spatial variability in SOC_stock was correlated to several geomorphological variables: elevation, cumulative upstream area, topographic wetness index, sediment transport index, and tillage erosion. Differences in SOC and SOC_stock are driven by the sediment redistribution downslope, mainly by tillage erosion, and higher soil water availability in lower areas allowing higher biomass production. These topographic indexes and the correlation between SOC in the topsoil and SOC_stock up to 90 cm should be further explored in other typology of olive orchards for facilitating the mapping of SOC_stock.     

低温冻害对黔南州农作物的生产影响及防冻措施

黔南州近年年初常出现低温冻害天气,冻害发生时气温在0℃以下,造成全州油菜、小麦、蔬菜和果树等农作物生产受到严重影响.据黔南州农业部门统计,2011-2013年平均每年农作物受灾面积为26700hm2,成灾面积4860hrn2,绝收面积660hm2,因灾造成直接经济损失5636.18万元.严重影响了农业增效,农民增收.针对黔南州农作物受低温冻害影响情况进行了调查,经详细分析提出低温冻害前农作物生产防冻措施,以减轻灾害给农业带来的损失.     

榆林沙区发展生物质能源植物长柄扁桃的前景分析

针对长柄扁桃具有的优良固沙、水土保持以及油料作物的特性,本文分析了榆林发展长柄扁桃生物质能源植物的社会背景、长柄扁桃在国内外开发利用现状和榆林沙区发展长柄扁桃生物质能源的优势等,阐述了榆林沙区发展长柄扁桃生物质能源和生态环境保护的重要性和现实意义。     

Computation Method and for Thermal Transmittance of Glass Curtain walls Appllcation

The heat conduction characteristic of glass curtain wall was investigated. Based on one dimensional steady heat conduction theory, the numerical calculation model of glass system thermal transmittance was set up by using insulating glass as an example. Based on two dimensional steady heat conduction theory and finite element method, both the thermal transfer matrix and temperature load array of 3 DOFs triangular element were derived. Then the revised formulas about the heat transfer matrix and temperature load array under the boundary conditions of constant heat flux, heat convective, radiation and coupled of them were also derived. Then the numerical calculation models of glass curtain wall frame and linear thermal transmittance were set up. The program TJCW based on the Visual C++ and ObjectARX was developed for calculating the thermal transmittance of glass curtain wall and was validated by contrast with the results calculated by thermal software LBNL. Finally, TJCW program was used to calculate and check the thermal transmittance of glass curtain wall in a practical project. The results indicate that the thermal transmittance of glass curtain wall can be calculated correctly by adopting the presented model, and the program based on this model can be used in energy conservation calculation and analysis in the actual projects.     

Experimental Analysis on Function of Free Cooling Unit with a Pump-driven Loop Heat Pipe for Internet Data Center

A free cooling unit with a pump-driven loop heat pipe was designed for internet data center (IDC), and its components and working processes were described. The experiment system for the developed prototype was built and the comprehensive studies were conducted. The experimental results demonstrate that the coefficient of performance (COP) of the unit can reach to 5.88 when the temperature difference between IDC indoor and outdoor is 10℃, and it will be 10.41 when the temperature difference is 18℃. When mass flow rate of the working fluid in the unit changes within a certain range, namely the gasification rate of the fluid being between 2% and 50%, there is no significant changes for the heat transfer capacity. And there is an approximately linear relationship between the capacity and the temperature difference. Meanwhile, with the increase of the system resistance, both temperature difference of the fluid between inlet and outlet of the evaporator and the proportion of the sensible heat to the capacity also increase.     

Shear resistant performance of RC columns subjected to vertical near-fault velocity pulse-like earthquake actions

The aim is to evaluate the seismic properties of ancient timber structure after strengthening and analyze the failure process and corresponding failure state. Based on the hysteretic behavior and energy dissipation principle of the dovetail column-frame strengthened with CFRP and Arches Brackets under the low reversed cyclic loading, the “potential of destruction-resisting” of the two energy-consuming components is obtained. The dissipated energy of each energy-consuming component under the various earthquake conditions is calculated combining with the shaking table test of ancient timber structure. The model of seismic damage evaluation of the two energy-consuming components is established on the basis of the “potential of destruction-resisting” and the dissipated energy. By means of the energy distribution coefficient, the relationship of the failure state between energy-consuming components and overall strengthened structure is discovered, and the model of seismic damage evaluation of the overall structure under the various earthquake conditions is presented. With the derived model of seismic damage evaluation, the failure coefficient of the energy-consuming components and the overall strengthened structure is quantitatively calculated. According to the failure state, the corresponding damage grade of overall strengthened structure is obtained. The results can provide a reliable theoretical basis for predicting the destruction before earthquake and re-reinforcement to the strengthened ancient timber structures after earthquake.     

Simulation Analysis and Calculation of Energy Consumption in Green Building Design:A Case Study in Chongqing

It is well known that green energy-saving building should be popularized with great effort. But when it comes to practice, a key stage of building design is how to choose energy-saving technology, products and measures for raising energy-saving levels according to a building's own features. In order to solve the problem, we consider simulate energy-consumption analysis as a tool to synthesize the effect of indicators, such as wall insulation, sunshade, lighting, ventilation etc. Then we compare the result with the national standard to make sure that the energy-saving technology, products and measures really work. As a result, the energy conservation measure can be determined and prominent energy-saving effect can be achieved.     

Study on Underground Hot Water Storage Tank Cooling of Solar Energy Heating System

In view of the different of the underground heat storage water tank of solar position arrangement, make use of the Fluent software program numerical simulation and calculation, it is concluded that under different conditions the heat storage water tank temperature field distribution of the soil around. At the same time, establishing physical model and mathematical model of underground heat storage water tank and combined with practical engineering, verify the underground storage tank for heat and energy storage, to obtain the relationship between the tank roof loss and total heat release. Calculation results show that under the same conditions, outdoor storage tank at the top of the heat dissipating capacity to reduce, so the method can be used to offset at the top of the energy required collector to reduce, so the method can be used to offset this part of the energy required collector area of the cut, improve thermal efficiency and reduce the user store hot water tank of the store.     

Necessity of shading on north facade and optimal selection of shading device

This research is aimed at exploring the necessity of shade on the north facade and optimal selection of shading device. Firstly, the direct and diffuse solar radiation distribution on the surface of each orientation is analyzed in the air conditioning period in Shanghai and Xiamen. Secondly, the simulated building model is established to analysis the impact of different external shades on solar radiation heat gain and day-lighting with Energy-plus. These shades include fixed overhang of different dimensions, roller with different properties and louver of different slat angles. The glare index of different shade devices is also analyzed, results show that the hours exceeding the glare index set point of the fixed overhang and roller are far more than louver’s. Finally, the impact of different external shades on lighting energy consumption and air conditioning energy consumption on the north facades is analyzed. Results show that the use of medium-reflect and medium-transmit external roller is the most energy-saving in Shanghai, the effect of adjustable external blind is close to the roller, and the effect of fixed overhang is not obvious. In Xiamen, the use of adjustable external blind is the most energy-saving, the next is roller, and the last is fixed overhang. Taking energy-saving and glare into consideration, adjustable louver is the best choice of shade on the north facade in Shanghai and Xiamen.