Changes in forest soil organic matter pools after a decade of elevated CO2 and O3

The impact of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) may be mitigated, in part, by enhanced rates of net primary production and greater C storage in plant biomass and soil organic matter (SOM). However, C sequestration in forest soils may be offset by other environmental changes such as increasing tropospheric ozone (O₃) or vary based on species-specific growth responses to elevated CO₂. To understand how projected increases in atmospheric CO₂ and O₃ alter SOM formation, we used physical fractionation to characterize soil C and N at the Rhinelander Free Air CO₂-O₃ Enrichment (FACE) experiment. Tracer amounts of ¹⁵NH₄⁺ were applied to the forest floor of Populus tremuloides, P. tremuloides-Betula papyrifera and P. tremuloides-Acer saccharum communities exposed to factorial CO₂ and O₃ treatments. The ¹⁵N tracer and strongly depleted ¹³C-CO₂ were traced into SOM fractions over four years. Over time, C and N increased in coarse particulate organic matter (cPOM) and decreased in mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) under elevated CO₂ relative to ambient CO₂. As main effects, neither CO₂ nor O₃ significantly altered ¹⁵N recovery in SOM. Elevated CO₂ significantly increased new C in all SOM fractions, and significantly decreased old C in fine POM (fPOM) and MAOM over the duration of our study. Overall, our observations indicate that elevated CO₂ has altered SOM cycling at this site to favor C and N accumulation in less stable pools, with more rapid turnover. Elevated O₃ had the opposite effect, significantly reducing cPOM N by 15% and significantly increasing the C:N ratio by 7%. Our results demonstrate that CO₂ can enhance SOM turnover, potentially limiting long-term C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems; plant community composition is an important determinant of the magnitude of this response.     

Characterization of humus-protease complexes extracted from soil

Pyrophosphate (140 mM, pH 7.1) extracts of two arable soils and one pasture soil were ultrafiltrated separating the extracted material into three fractions: A_I with nominal molecular weight (nmw) > 100 kD, A_II with nmw between 10 kD and 100 kD and R with nmw < 10 kD. Protease activity was determined in the fractions by using three different substrates: N-benzoyl-l-argininamide (BAA), specific for trypsin; N-benzyloxy-carbonyl-l-phenylalanyl l-leucine (ZPL), specific for carboxypeptidases; and casein, essentially a non-specific substrate. The derivative fractions were also analysed for their amino acid N and humic (HA) and fulvic (FA) acid contents. The organic matter of extracts and derivative fractions obtained from the pasture soil was analysed by isoelectric focusing (IEF) and that of fractions analysed by pyrolysis gas chromatography (Py-GC). Activities of the extract were monitored for their thermal stability and those of the extract and derivative fractions for their optimal pH.Due to the mechanical disintegrating action of sodium pyrophosphate over the humic substances during the fractionation process the amount of total organic C and FA in the fractions was ranked as R > A_II > A_I. The lowest amino acid N/organic C was found in the R fraction, whereas A_II fraction was rich in humic acids, carbohydrates and amino acid N and A_I fraction showed the lowest carbohydrate content. At least 70% of the total BAA- and ZPL-hydrolysing activity was associated to particles with nmw higher than 10 kD and at least 30% of these activities were present in particles with nmw higher 100 kD. Casein-hydrolysing activity was quite evenly distributed among the three fractions (A_I, A_II and R). The extracted protease-organic complexes were resistant to thermal denaturation and some of them showed optimal activity at pH values higher than 10 as a result of the polyanionic characteristics of the humic material surrounding enzyme molecules and of the presence of alkaline protease. Comparison of data obtained in Py-GC analyses and in protease activity suggests that BAA-hydrolysing activity was associated to a highly condensed humic matter and ZPL-hydrolysing activity to less resistant humic substances, while at least some of the extracted casein-hydrolysing activity was present as glyco-proteins not associated to humus. BAA-hydrolysing activity was probably inhibited by fresh organic matter of carbohydrate origin whereas lignin derived organic matter probably inhibited ZPL- and casein-hydrolysing activity.     

FACE对杂交籼稻汕优63干物质生产与分配的影响

2005--2006年利用我国惟一的农田开放式空气CO2浓度增高（FACE）研究平台,以三系杂交籼稻汕优63为供试材料,设计比大气CO2浓度（对照,370umol．mol^-1）高200umol．mol^-1的FACE处理（570umol．mol^-1）和施N量为125kg·hm^-2（LN）、250kg·hm^-2（NN）处理,研究其对汕优63物质生产与分配的影响。结果表明：（1）两季平均,FACE处理使汕优63移栽-分蘖中期、分蘖中期-拔节期、拔节-抽穗期和抽穗-成熟期干物质生产量分别比对照增加了39％、20％、32％和41％,结果使成熟期生物产量显著增加（＋33％）;（2）与干物质生产量相比,汕优63平均叶面积指数（LAI）和净同化率（NAR）对CO2的响应有相似的季节性变化趋势,但LAI的响应值明显大于NAR;（3）FACE处理使汕优63不同生育时期叶片和稻穗占地上部干重的比例下降,而使茎鞘占地上部干重的比例明显增加;（4）三系杂交籼稻汕优63成熟期生物产量以及不同生育阶段平均LAI、NAR和干物质生产量对FACE的响应与粳稻品种存在明显差异．而干物质分配差异较小。     

稻草不同途径还田对土壤结构及有机质特征的影响

通过3年的田间定位试验,系统的研究了稻草不同途径还田对稻田土壤容重、孔隙度、团聚体、有机碳总量、腐殖质组成及腐殖质结合形态的影响。结果表明,与无肥(CK)及纯施化肥(NPK)对照相比,稻草直接深埋还田(NPK+S)及利用后的菌渣、牛粪、沼渣深埋还田(NPK+FD、NPK+CD、NPK+BD)均能一定程度的降低土壤容重、增加孔隙度、增加>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体的数量和提高土壤团聚体的稳定性,有利于形成和保持良好的土壤结构;同时能提高土壤腐殖质中胡敏酸含量和HA/FA比值,增加松结态腐殖质含量和提高松/紧腐殖质比值,能一定程度的改善土壤腐殖质的组成、性质及结合形态,提高腐殖质品质,不过这4个处理间的差异不明显。稻草焚烧还田(NPK+S′)在以上方面效果均不显著,且带来严重的大气污染,并不可取。     

添加秸秆对土壤矿质氮量、微生物氮量和氮总矿化速率的影响

采用室内恒温培养法,研究了在乌沙土上添加15N标记秸秆后,秸秆15N在矿质氮、微生物氮和土壤不同组分中的分配情况,并应用氮同位素库稀释法测定了秸秆在乌沙土上的氮总矿化速率。结果表明:将秸秆添加到土壤后,微生物氮量显著增加,而土壤矿质氮量在14天时迅速下降。随着秸秆的分解,秸秆15N进入矿质氮库和微生物氮库,矿质15N在第7 d时最高,占到添加秸秆15N的6.7%,微生物15N在第14 d最高,占到添加秸秆15N的18.1%,随后矿质15N和微生物15N量都下降。56 d时,仍有50.8%的秸秆氮没有分解掉,5.4%的秸秆15N进入土壤53μm~2 mm组分,15.5%进入2~53μm组分,14.6%进入小于2μm组分,有13.6%的秸秆氮损失掉。在培养开始时,乌沙土的氮总矿化速率为2.81 mg kg-1d-1,秸秆在乌沙土上的氮总矿化速率分别为2.50 mg kg-1d-1。     

施肥水平对冬大麦干物质和氮素积累与转运的影响

为合理利用氮肥,进一步提高大麦产量和品质,以扬饲麦3号、港啤1号、扬农啤2号和Frankin共4个品种为供试材料,研究了0(CK),90(NL),180(NM)和270kg/hm2(NH)4个氮肥水平下冬大麦干物质和氮素积累、转运及对籽粒贡献的规律。结果表明,随着施氮量的提高,大麦干物质花前积累量呈增加趋势,积累率及对籽粒的贡献率呈下降趋势,各器官的转运量在NM处理(180kg/hm2)范围内呈增加趋势,高于此范围则下降。氮素营养花前积累量和转运量各品种均呈上升趋势,花前积累率、转运率和对籽粒氮的贡献率都呈下降趋势。不同品种不同氮肥处理下大麦干物质转运量以茎秆为最大,转运率大部分以芒壳+穗轴为最高,对籽粒的贡献率以茎秆为最高。各器官氮素转运量以叶片最高,转运率以芒壳+穗轴最大,氮素转运对籽粒的贡献率以叶片最高。大麦各品种籽粒产量与施氮量呈二次曲线关系,氮素积累量与施氮量呈显著线性正相关关系。表明在本试验条件下,大麦最高产量的最佳施氮范围为212.42～261.97kg/hm2。     

南方花岗岩红壤典型区土壤有机质的空间变异特征

 通过野外实地调查与室内试验,以长汀县为研究区,在GIS的支持下,运用地统计学方法分析南方花岗岩红壤典型区表层土壤有机质的空间变异特征。结果表明:研究区土壤有机质质量分数总体水平中等并具有中等的空间相关性,平均为2.73%;变异系数为72.73%,属中等变异;由空间自相关部分引起的空间变异性程度较大,C0/(C0+C)值为47.13%,变程为21.48km;在空间分布上呈现四周高中间低的分布特征,在中部地区形成连片的低值区,西部有机质质量分数整体较高,存在最高值。研究成果可为南方花岗岩红壤侵蚀退化地的生态恢复与重建提供参考。     

磺胺嘧啶在黑土及其不同粒径组分中的吸附行为研究

采用批平衡吸附试验法,研究了磺胺嘧啶在黑土及其不同粒径中的吸附行为。结果表明,磺胺嘧啶的吸附不同程度地偏离线性模型,但均可用Freundlich模型和Langmuir模型进行良好地线性拟合。黑土（〈0.2mm）及其不同粒径（粘粒：〈0.002mm、粉粒：0.002~0.02mm、砂粒：0.02~0.2mm）的Freundlich容量因子Kf值分别为29.6、53.1、32.9L.kg-1和21.6L.kg-1,说明磺胺嘧啶在黑土及其不同粒径中的吸附行为存在差异。将吸附参数Kf进行碳标化处理后,Koc值除粉粒外,其他基本一致。随着溶液pH的持续增加（1.0~10.0）,黑土及其不同粒径中的磺胺嘧啶的吸附参数lgKf呈现先急剧降低然后稍微回升的趋势,由此推测,阳离子交换作用可能是磺胺嘧啶土壤吸附的重要机制。过氧化氢处理去除土壤有机质后,黑土的Kd值从1.92L.kg-1降为1.22L.kg-1,磺胺嘧啶的吸附量由16.5mg.kg-1降低到11.2mg.kg-1,说明有机质含量也是影响磺胺嘧啶吸附行为的重要因素。     

施用生物黑炭对新疆灰漠土肥力与玉米生长的影响

通过田间小区对比试验,研究生物黑炭作为改良剂与堆肥等其他生物质改良剂相比对新疆低产土壤——灰漠土的改良和玉米增产的效果。结果表明,施入20t·hm^-2和40t·hm^-2的生物黑炭,能显著提高土壤有机质含量,与基础土壤相比,提高了22．77％和49．80％,明显高于秸秆还田、羊粪和腐植酸有机肥等对土壤有机质的提升效果。施用生物黑炭提高了玉米单穗重、千粒重、产量以及生物量,降低了玉米的根冠比,促进玉米根系生长,而追施氮肥对玉米产量的影响差异不显著。因此,施用生物黑炭能够大幅度提高土壤有机质含量,对灰漠土土壤质量和作物产量以及农艺性状的提高具有重要作用。     

Carbon isotopic ratios of wetland and terrace soil sequences in the Maya Lowlands of Belize and Guatemala

This article provides new data and synthesizes earlier findings on the carbon isotope ratios of the humin part of soil organic matter from a range of sites in the central Maya Lowlands. Changes down the soil profile in carbon isotope ratios can provide an important line of evidence for vegetation change and erosion over time, especially in well dated aggrading profiles. Research thus far has provided substantial evidence for significant inputs from C₄ vegetation in buried layers from the Ancient Maya periods in depositional soils but equivocal evidence from sloping soils. We present new findings from soil profiles through ancient Maya wetland fields, upland karst wetlands, ancient Maya aguadas (reservoirs), and ancient Maya terraces. Most of the profiles exhibited δ¹³C enrichment greater than the 2.5–3‰ typical from bacterial fractionation. Seven of nine ancient Maya wetland profiles showed δ¹³C enrichment ranging from 4.25 to 8.56‰ in ancient Maya-dated sediments that also contained phytolith and pollen evidence of grass (C₄ species) dominance. Upland karst sinks and ancient reservoirs produced more modest results for δ¹³C enrichment. These seasonal wetland profiles exhibited δ¹³C enrichment ranging from 1 to 7.3‰ from the surface to ancient Maya-period sediments. Agricultural terraces produced mixed results, with two terraces having substantial δ¹³C enrichment of 5.34 and 5.66‰ and two producing only equivocal results of 1.88 and 3.03‰ from modern topsoils to Maya Classic-period buried soils. Altogether, these findings indicate that C₄ plants made up c. 25% of the vegetation at our sites in the Maya Classic period and only a few percent today. These findings advance the small corpus of studies from ancient terraces, karst sinks, and ancient wetland fields by demonstrating substantial δ¹³C and thus C₄ plant enrichment in soil profile sections dated to ancient Maya times. These studies are also providing a new line of evidence about local and regional soil and ecological change in this region of widespread environmental change in the Late Holocene.