Assessment of the effect of silver nanoparticles on the relevant soil protozoan genus Acanthamoeba

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are used in a broad range of consumer products and industrial applications. During the regular product life cycle and disposal, AgNP are continuously released into the environment. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential ecotoxicological effects of AgNP exposure on amoebae. The Acanthamoeba castellanii ATCC 30234 strain and environmental isolate Acanthamoeba strain C5/2, which are both affiliated with genotype T4, were chosen as representatives of ecologically important soil protozoan organisms. The amoebae were exposed to citrate‐stabilized AgNP (30 and 70 nm in size) for 24 h and 96 h at concentrations ranging from 600 µg L⁻¹ to 20 mg L⁻¹. A newly adopted cell culture based microscopic assay was applied to assess the adherence ability of the amoeba trophozoites. The general metabolic activity of Acanthamoeba was determined to be a second independent endpoint by means of intracellular reduction of the redox dye AlamarBlue®. The fate of AgNP within the amoebae and test solutions was visualized by light‐ and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Both Acanthamoeba strains showed a significant dose‐dependent decrease of adherence ability (p  < 0.04) and metabolic activity (p < 0.01) after 96 h of AgNP exposure. The environmental Acanthamoeba strain C5/2 lost both its adherence ability and metabolic activity at lower AgNP concentrations than the type strain, indicating a higher sensitivity to ionic silver. This was confirmed by the application of AgNO₃, provoking a higher effect level in strain C5/2. AgNP was visualized intracellularly by transmission electron microscopy within the cytoplasm of Acanthamoeba . This is the first report to show the ecotoxicological effects of short‐term AgNP exposure on the soil protist Acanthamoeba , causing both changes in the adherence ability and metabolic activity of this amoeba. This combined approach may be a powerful tool in the future for predicting potential harmful ecotoxicological effects of AgNP exposure using soil protozoans.     

Impact of newly introduced perennial bioenergy crops on soil quality parameters at three different locations in W‐Germany

The land areas used for bioenergy crop cultivation are increasing across Europe. For several years now, various perennial crops have been cultivated, including Miscanthus , switchgrass and reed canary grass, and the newly introduced cup plant, giant knotweed, tall wheatgrass, virginia mallow, and wild plant mixtures. We investigated the impact that many of these perennial bioenergy crops (PECs) have on the soil organic C and N pools, microbial properties, and earthworm activity at three different study sites in W‐Germany with varying soil conditions after an experimental period of five years. Silage maize (Zea maize ) in rotation with green rye (Cecale cereale ) or Triticale was used for comparison (= annual energy crops; AEC). The overall intention of this study was to gain insights into the future trends of soil quality with changes in land‐use towards bioenergy production. Our results emphasized that in general, soil quality was improved through the cultivation of perennials. For example, after five years of investigation, the mean soil organic carbon contents increased, on average, by 1–2% at two of the three study sites, the soil microbial biomass increased from 13% (virginia mallow) to 27% (tall wheatgrass) (p < 0.05) compared to AEC treatment and the mean earthworm activity (cast production) was significantly improved in PECs compared to AEC. These trends were mainly found in silty to loamy soils, but the results were slightly different in sandy soils and dry climate conditions. We suggest that this might be traced back to unfavourable growing conditions for perennial crops during the first years of establishment. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive field investigation of the impact of these newly introduced perennial crops on soil quality indicators that considers various site‐ and soil‐specific growth conditions.     

土壤有机碳对沼渣或牛粪施用后温室气体排放潜力的影响—盆栽试验结果

A change in the European Union energy policy has markedly promoted the expansion of biogas production.Consequently,large amounts of nutrient-rich residues are being used as organic fertilizers.In this study,a pot experiment was conducted to simulate the high-risk situation of enhanced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions following organic fertilizer application in energy maize cultivation.We hypothesized that cattle slurry application enhanced CO2 and N2O fluxes compared to biogas digestate because of the overall higher carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) input,and that higher levels of CO2 and N2O emissions could be expected by increasing soil organic C (SOC) and N contents.Biogas digestate and cattle slurry,at a rate of 150 kg NH4+-N ha-1,were incorporated into 3 soil types with low,medium,and high SOC contents (Cambisol,Mollic Gleysol,and Sapric Histosol,termed Clow,Cmedium,and Chigh,respectively).The GHG exchange (CO2,CH4,and N2O) was measured on 5 replicates over a period of 22 d using the closed chamber technique.The application of cattle slurry resulted in significantly higher CO2 and N2O fluxes compared to the application of biogas digestate.No differences were observed in CH4 exchange,which was close to zero for all treatments.Significantly higher CO2 emissions were observed in Chigh compared to the other two soil types,whereas the highest N2O emissions were observed in Cmedium.Thus,the results demonstrate the importance of soil type-adapted fertilization with respect to changing soil physical and environmental conditions.     

缙云山针阔混交林土壤呼吸速率对降水输入量变化的响应

为探讨亚热带季风性湿润气候地区降水对土壤呼吸的影响,于2014年选取重庆市缙云山自然保护区内针阔混交林为研究对象,通过人为拦挡和增水方式模拟不同降水输入量对土壤呼吸速率的影响,包括达到土壤含水量的70%(增水70%,70%A),100%(增水100%,100%A),130%(增水130%,130%A)及对照(CK)和零降水(Z)5种情况。结果表明:(1)不同降水处理下土壤呼吸速率日变化均呈单峰变化曲线,并在12:00—14:00之间达到最大值;其年内月变化也为单峰曲线,于8月份达到最大值,12月份达到最小值。(2)适当增水可以提高土壤呼吸速率与10cm深度土壤温度的Pearson相关性,但指数模型的拟合度以对照组最好,减水和过度增水都会减少其相关性;温度敏感性Q10值的变化情况与其相同。(3)土壤呼吸速率与10cm深度的土壤含水量的相关性总体很低,但明显受到土壤水分条件影响,除零降水处理表现为极显著正相关外,对照组几乎不相关,增水处理转为明显的负相关,尤其增水130%后呈显著负相关。(4)在研究地区的自然环境条件下,增水100%时提高了土壤呼吸速率,也扩大了其变化范围,减水明显降低了土壤呼吸速率。     

东北雨养区覆膜和种植密度对玉米田间土壤水分和根系生长的影响

为探讨东北雨养区玉米生长状况和田间水分对种植密度和地膜覆盖的响应,2015年在沈阳农业大学水利学院试验场设置了低(67 500株/hm~2)、中(82 500株/hm~2)、高(97 500株/hm~2)3个种植密度水平和覆膜、裸地2种方式的玉米田间试验,根据试验结果分析了土壤水分、玉米根系及其产量变化。结果表明:(1)在0—20cm土层中,整个生育期内,覆膜对于低密度处理的土壤田间含水率影响显著(p0.05),生育前期、中期和末期覆膜比裸地田间含水率分别提高了9.80%,15.93%,12.77%;在20—40cm土层中,生育前期,中密度覆膜种植的玉米田间含水率比裸地高13.83%(p0.05);在40—60cm土层中,覆膜对中密度玉米土壤含水率影响显著(p0.05),生育前期、中期、后期覆膜比裸地处理的土壤含水率分别提高了15.47%,4.11%,8.96%。(2)种植密度对玉米根系的根长、总投影面积、总根体积和根系表面积均有显著影响,随着种植密度的增加,四者均呈减小趋势;在种植密度相同时,覆膜相比裸地提高了玉米根系的根长、总投影面积、根系总体积和根系表面积;中密度时,覆膜对玉米根系的4项指标提高最为显著(p0.05),分别比裸地提高了44%,38%,38%,33%。(3)玉米产量随着种植密度的增加而减小,当密度为67 500株/hm~2时,玉米产量和百粒重均最大,百粒重为36.83g,产量为12 573.69kg/hm~2。结果说明:在水肥条件相同情况下,玉米种植存在一个最优密度,在最优密度内,玉米产量随着密度的增加而增加,超过了最优密度产量呈现减少趋势。研究结果对东北雨养区种植密度和覆盖方式的优化组合提供了理论依据,对提高雨水利用效率和玉米产量也具有参考意义。     

砒砂岩区主要造林树种枯落物及林下土壤持水特性

为了探究砒砂岩区不同造林树种水文特征,以该地区油松、侧柏、青杨、山杏、沙棘、柠条为研究对象,通过浸泡法和环刀法,对比分析了不同树种枯落物层和土壤层的持水特性。结果表明:砒砂岩区主要造林树种枯落物蓄积量变动范围为1.55~7.89t/hm~2,青杨林下枯落物最大持水率最高为281.26%,其他树种枯落物最大持水率依次为油松(217.14%)、侧柏(201.05%)、山杏(202.79%)、沙棘(170.96%)、柠条(158.08%)撂荒地(143.88%)。油松林下土壤层容重最小为1.46g/cm3,总孔隙度和毛管孔隙度最大分别为43.55%和36.99%,毛管持水量最大为14.50mm;山杏林下土壤非毛管孔隙度最大为13.12%,非毛管持水量最大为6.86mm。油松枯落物及其林下土壤层持水能力良好,更适宜作为砒砂岩地区植被建设树种。     

水钾耦合对褐土养分及花生养分累积的影响

为明确水钾耦合对土壤养分含量及花生养分吸收累积量的影响,以花育25为试验材料,采用水分(35%,50%,65%,80%的田间持水量)和钾肥(0,0.15,0.30,0.45g K_2O/kg)2因素4水平随机区组设计,通过遮雨棚盆栽试验探讨水钾耦合下褐土有机质、全量(全氮、全磷和全钾)和速效养分(碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾)含量的变化,以及花生植株养分累积量的差异。结果表明:钾肥用量增加会促进有效氮的吸收;在土壤水分缺乏时,水分胁迫低钾(W_1K_1)和轻度胁迫低钾(W_2K_1)两个处理在土壤全磷含量下降时有效磷含量不降反增,这表明施入少量钾肥有助于旱地磷的释放。施低钾K_1(135kg/hm~2)促进土壤速效钾的增加及土壤养分的平衡,较初始土壤提高0.43~0.59倍,且随钾肥用量的增加而不断升高。相同钾肥用量下,花生植株氮、磷和钾累积量随灌水量的增加均呈上升趋势;氮吸收量仅在水分胁迫时随着钾肥用量的增多而先增后减;除水分充足(W_4)外,在其他灌水处理下植株磷累积量随钾肥用量的增加均表现为先增后降;而钾累积量在各土壤水分下均随钾肥用量的增加呈现低-高-低的变化趋势,最高值均在中钾K_2(270kg/hm~2)处理。花生植株对营养元素的吸收累积与总生物产量和荚果产量相关性均达显著(p0.05)或极显著(p0.01)水平,总生物量与荚果产量呈极显著(p0.01)相关。综合考虑土壤养分的可持续供应、花生养分的累积和产量形成,建议土壤水分保持在65%FC,钾肥(K_2O)用量控制在135~270kg/hm~2为宜。     

施用生物质炭对旱地红壤有机碳矿化及碳库的影响

为探究生物质炭施入旱地红壤后对该地区土壤有机碳矿化以及有机碳库的影响,采用田间定位试验,设置7种生物质炭施用量处理,分别为0(C0),2.5(C1),5(C2),10(C3),20(C4),30(C5),40t/hm2(C6),以三库一级动力学理论为基础,对这7种处理的土样进行了室内呼吸培养试验。结果表明:(1)与C0相比,C4、C5和C6处理的土壤有机碳含量呈上升趋势,C5处理土壤有机碳含量上升幅度最大为14.66%;C2、C3、C4、C5和C6处理土壤活性碳均显著增加,C6处理增幅最大为25.00%;土壤惰性碳在C3、C4、C5和C6处理中显著增加,增幅分别为18.92%,40.09%,53.60%和49.55%;除C5处理外,其他生物质炭施用量下土壤缓性碳相对于C0处理,分别降低了1.96%,6.54%,8.82%,9.31%和12.91%。(2)与C0处理相比,施加生物质炭后土壤有机碳累积矿化量均显著降低,C6处理降低幅度达25.93%。随着生物质炭施用量的增加,土壤有机碳累积矿化量逐渐降低。(3)土壤有机碳、活性碳和惰性碳与生物质炭施用量存在极显著(p0.01)的正相关,土壤缓性碳与其存在显著(p0.05)的负相关。研究结果可为提升典型旱地红壤肥力,减缓温室气体排放提供科学依据。     

封育和水平沟生态恢复措施对宁夏黄土丘陵区典型草原土壤生物学特性的影响

研究禁牧封育和水平沟生态恢复措施下黄土丘陵区典型草原土壤生物学特性变化,以期为该区草地生态建设提供依据。采用空间梯度代替时间梯度的方法,在宁夏黄土丘陵区典型草原,选取未封育(放牧)、封育3~15a、水平沟整地后1~15a的土壤,分析0—10,10—20,20—30,30—40cm土壤微生物数量、微生物生物量碳、量氮和土壤酶活性的变化特征及其相关性。结果表明:(1)试验区土壤微生物类群以放线菌为主,达到86.18%~94.43%,数量表现为放线菌细菌真菌,土壤微生物总数、细菌和放线菌数、微生物生物量碳、量氮含量,脲酶、蛋白酶、磷酸酶、蔗糖酶活性随着草地封育年限增加呈上升变化,但水平沟措施下随着整地年限延长呈上升—下降—上升的趋势,2种措施下土壤过氧化氢酶活性变化趋势与其他指标相反,真菌数在封育6a和水平沟6a较低,分别为11.33,4.67cfu/g;(2)各处理下,0—40cm土壤微生物和酶活性整体呈现上层土壤高于下层土壤,土壤微生物、酶活性与有机碳等主要养分含量相关性显著(p0.05);(3)相近恢复年限下,土壤微生物数量、微生物生物量碳、微生物生物量氮以及酶活性总体为封育草地高于水平沟(p0.05);研究认为,禁牧封育较水平沟措施更有利于黄土丘陵区典型草原土壤微生物和酶活性的增加。     

秸秆覆盖对冬小麦农田土壤有机碳及其组分的影响

通过对黄土高原旱塬区冬小麦地4种覆盖方式下(无覆盖对照处理(CK)、全生育期9 000kg/hm~2秸秆覆盖(M1)、全生育期4 500kg/hm~2秸秆覆盖(M2)和夏闲期9 000kg/hm~2秸秆覆盖(SM))土壤的田间定位试验和室内分析,探讨不同秸秆覆方式对冬小麦地土壤有机碳及其组分含量以及各组分之间相关性的影响。结果表明:(1)较CK(无覆盖对照)处理,M1(全生育期9 000kg/hm~2)、M2(全生育期4 500kg/hm~2)和SM(夏闲期9 000kg/hm~2)处理,均显著增加0—10cm和10—20cm土层的土壤有机碳、微生物量碳、潜在矿化碳和颗粒有机碳含量(p0.05),而20—40cm土层差异不明显,其中M1(全生育期9 000kg/hm~2)处理效果最佳,SM(夏闲期9 000kg/hm~2)处理作用相对较弱。(2)不同覆盖方式影响土壤微生物量碳、潜在矿化碳和颗粒有机碳在总有机碳中的分配比例,土壤微生物量碳、潜在矿化碳和颗粒有机碳的相对含量变化范围分别为1.96%~3.31%,2.83%~3.78%,18.13%~37.25%。(3)各覆盖方式下土壤有机碳及其组分含量都随着土层的逐渐深入而下降,且土层越深,变化越趋于缓慢。(4)不同覆盖方式下的土壤有机碳及其组分含量两两之间均达到了极显著正相关关系(p0.01),颗粒有机碳、微生物量碳和潜在矿化碳与土壤有机碳的相关系数依次为:0.847,0.700,0.614,可见微生物量碳、潜在矿化碳、颗粒有机碳含量在一定程度上决定于土壤有机碳的贮存量。综上所述,秸秆覆盖对土壤有机碳及其组分含量具有增加效应,全生育期9 000kg/hm~2秸秆覆盖方式实际运用价值较高。颗粒有机碳和微生物量碳的动态变化更能反映土壤有机碳的早期变化,是土壤肥力变化更加敏感的指标。