More evidence that anaerobic oxidation of methane is prevalent in soils: Is it time to upgrade our biogeochemical models?

Estimating future fluxes of CH₄ between land and atmosphere requires well-conceived process-based biogeochemical models. Current models do not represent the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in land surface soils, in spite of increasing evidence that this process is widespread. Our objective was to determine whether AOM, or potential AOM, commonly occurs in 20 hydromorphic soils spanning a wide range of chemical properties. Bulk soil samples were collected under shallow water near the shoreline of 15 recently drained fish ponds in southern Bohemia (Czech Republic), as well as from below the water table at 3 peatland locations in northeast Scotland and 2 acid sulfate soils on the southern coast of Finland. Each soil slurry was incubated under both oxic and anoxic conditions, with or without the addition of alternative electron acceptors (SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻) or H₂PO₄⁻. Here, “oxic” and “anoxic” conditions refer to anoxic soil respectively incubated in a headspace containing air or argon. Using the isotope dilution method, we determined the gross production and oxidation rates of CH₄ after 2 days incubation under oxic headspace conditions, and after 2, 21 and 60 days incubation under anoxic conditions. Large differences in net CH₄ fluxes were observed between soil types and between incubation conditions. AOM was detected in each of the 20 bulk soil samples, which spanned >6 pH units and 2 orders of magnitude in organic C content. Significant positive relationships were found between AOM and gross CH₄ production rates under anoxic conditions, resulting in AOM rates that were sometimes higher than CH₄ oxidation rates under oxic headspace conditions. There was no relationship between net and gross CH₄ production rates, such that 2 soil types could display similar low net rates, yet conceal very large differences in gross rates. The effects of alternative electron acceptors on AOM were idiosyncratic and resulted in no net trend. We did find, however, a negative effect of SO₄²⁻ and H₂PO₄⁻ on gross CH₄ production rates under anoxic and oxic conditions respectively. Under oxic headspace conditions, CH₄ oxidation was related to soil organic C content. Taken collectively, our results suggest that AOM, or potential AOM, is prevalent over a wide range of soil types, that AOM may contribute substantially to CH₄ oxidation in soils, and that AOM in soils should be integrated to current process-based CH₄ cycling models.     

Determination and Analysis of Heavy Metal Content in the Soil from Beef Cattle Farms in Three Regions of Xinjiang

In order to study and evaluate the feeding environment of the beef cattle farms in Xinjiang, the contents of heavy mentals in the soil from 8 beef cattle farms in Xinjiang Aksu, Yili and Tacheng regions were tested according to the Field of Livestock and Poultry Environment Quality Standard (NY/T 388—1999).The atomic absorption spectroscopic method was used to determine the contents of As, Hg, Pb, Cd, and Cr.The mean contents of As, Hg, Pb, Cd, and Cr in 8 beef cattle farms soil were 0.389, 0.568, 22.708, 0.573 and 149.449 mg/kg, respectively, and they were all below the upper limit of NY/T 388—1999.The comprehensive heavy metal pollution index of 8 beef cattle farms were 0.577 to 0.994, and the index were 0.7 to 1 of two observation points in Yili and one observation point in Tacheng.The soil environment quality of these 3 farms were at the level of slight cleaning.The comprehensive heavy metal pollution index of other five observation points were ≤0.7, the soil environment was in a clean level.The soil environment of beef cattle farms in these three regions conformed to the standards of livestock for environment quality and safe products.     

Response of labile organic C and N pools to plastic film removal from semiarid farmland soil

To examine the effects of plastic film removal on grain yield and soil organic matter (SOM), a spring maize (Zea may L.) field experiment was conducted for 5 yr at Changwu Agricultural and Ecological Experimental Station of Northwest China. Compared with traditional plastic film mulching during entire growing stages (FM), plastic film removal at the silking stage (RM) resulted in a 6.3% higher average maize yield. Under the RM treatment, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen significantly increased after the 5‐yr cultivation in the 0‐ to 20‐cm layer. Significant increases in extractable organic C (EOC), KMnO₄‐oxidizable C (KMnO₄‐C) and C management index (CMI) in the 0‐ to 20‐cm layer, and light fraction organic C and EOC in the 20‐ to 40‐cm layer were observed in response to plastic film removal after the 1‐yr treatment; the responses were more significant after 5 yr. Under the RM treatment, significant increases in microbial biomass C, light fraction organic N, extractable organic N, KMnO₄‐C and CMI were also observed after five years in the 20‐ to 40‐cm layer. Moreover, KMnO₄‐C and EOC were much more sensitive than other labile SOM fractions to the application of RM, even after only 1 yr of cultivation. Therefore, compared with mulching for the whole growing season, plastic film removal at the maize silking stage is an effective option for increasing yields and enhancing SOM concentration and soil sustainability in the regions with semiarid monsoon climates that have sufficient rainfall during maize reproductive stages.     

Proton accumulation accelerated by heavy chemical nitrogen fertilization and its long-term impact on acidifying rate in a typical arable soil in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain

Cropland productivity has been signiifcantly impacted by soil acidiifcation resulted from nitrogen (N) fertilization, especialy as a result of excess ammoniacal N input. With decades’ intensive agricul...     

农业重量物装卸机械应用现状及发展趋势

分析了目前国内外普遍采用的重量物装卸机械的应用及研究现状,介绍了它们各自的特点,并指出存在的问题,展望了未来农业重量物装卸机械的发展趋势。     

Can soil moisture deficit be used to forecast when soils are at high risk of damage owing to grazing animals?

A potentially significant cause of damage to grassland soils is compaction of unsaturated soil and poaching of saturated or nearly saturated soil by animal hooves. Damage is caused when an applied stress is in excess of the bearing strength of the soil and results in a loss of soil structure, macroporosity and air or water conductivity. Severely damaged soils can cause reduced grassland productivity and make grazing management very difficult for the farmer. The actual amount of soil damage that can occur during grazing is dependent on the grass cover which acts as a protecting layer, the soil water content and the characteristics of the grazing animal (weight and hoof size). Assuming that the farmer is knowledgeable about the characteristics of the grazing animal and grass cover, it would be very useful for short‐term operational farm planning to be able to predict when soil water contents were likely to be in a critical range with respect to potential hoof damage. In this study soil moisture deficits (SMDs) which can be derived from meteorological forecasts are evaluated for predicting when soil water conditions are likely to lead to hoof damage. Two contrasting Irish grassland soils were analysed using a Hounsfield servo‐mechanical vertical testing machine to simulate static (285.4 N) and dynamic (571 N) hoof loads on the soil over a range of estimated SMDs (0, 5, 10 and 20 mm). The deficits were analysed with respect to the soil volumetric water content, compression (displacement) and change in dry bulk density. The SMDs imposed in the laboratory were similar to those under field conditions and thus the methods used in this study are applicable elsewhere. The change in dry bulk density following loading (0.2–0.7 g/cm³) was linearly related to SMD (R² ranged from 0.90 to 0.99), leading to the conclusion that a forecast of SMD can be used to predict when grassland soils are likely to be at risk of damage from grazing.     

优化施肥对春小麦产量、氮素利用及氮平衡的影响

2009 ～ 2010年,在宁夏引黄灌区分别以宁春11号和宁春16号小麦为供试作物,利用田间试验研究了优化施肥(OPT)和习惯施肥(CON)对春小麦产量、氮素吸收利用和土壤硝态氮累积的影响,表观评估了土壤—小麦体系氮素平衡.结果表明,相对于CK处理,OPT和CON都显著提高春小麦籽粒产量地上部生物量,并促进籽粒N和地上...     

广西5种人工林地土壤微生物数量及土壤酶活性分析

为当地珍贵速生树种人工林的发展及合理利用提供理论依据。分析广西5种珍贵树种人工林土壤微生物数量及土壤酶活性差异,以相同立地条件下12年生的黑木相思(Acacia melanoxylon)、老排(Mytilaria laosensis)、红椎(Castanopsis hystrix)、黧蒴椎(Castanopsis fissa)和火力楠(Michelia macelurei)人工纯林为研究对象,采用稀释平板涂布法和土壤酶活性测定法,测定和分析该5种人工林地土壤微生物数量及酶活性。结果表明:5种林地的土壤微生物总数和细菌数量大小均为:火力楠黧蒴锥红椎黑木相思米老排。但5种林地的土壤酶活性大小不一,蔗糖酶、脲酶、蛋白酶、酸性磷酸酶活性在5种林地之间的差异极其显著,而过氧化氢酶活性不显著。5种林地中土壤酶活性相对较强的是米老排人工林,较弱的是黑木相思林和火力楠林。土壤酶活性与微生物数量的相关分析表明,土壤中蔗糖酶活性与放线菌数量呈极显著正相关关系,其余相关性没有达到显著水平。     

四川攀西山区植烟土壤养分特征分析与肥力评价

了解土壤肥力对烟田土壤保育具有积极的指导意义。本研究采集了四川攀西山区4个代表性植烟县(区)的19个典型烟田耕层样品,测定了对烤烟产质量影响大且能反映土壤肥力的指标,利用模糊综合评价法计算了土壤肥力综合肥力指数(IFI)。结果表明：19个烟田耕层土壤的pH、有机质、全氮、碱解氮、有效磷、有效钾和水溶性氯含量平均值分别为6.25、21.6 g/kg、1.28 g/kg、120.61 mg/kg、42.84 mg/kg、148.69 mg/kg和7.47 mg/kg,适宜的植烟烟田比例分别为52.67%、26.32%、36.84%、42.11%、36.84%、84.21%和21.05%。烟田土壤肥力综合评价指数介于0.30～0.87,平均为0.55,总体上处于较高水平。施肥上应注意多施钾肥和磷肥并提高其利用率,对氯素低的烟田(<10 mg/kg)可以酌情施用氯肥。     

扎鲁特旗山地草地土壤含水量动态与气候因子的关系

通过对内蒙古通辽市扎鲁特旗巴雅尔吐胡硕牧业气象站1983-2012年气象数据和山地草地土壤含水量数据分析,揭示土壤含水量的动态变化及其与气候因子之间的相关关系。结果表明,1983-2012年山地草地土壤各层(0-10、10-20、20-30、30-40、40-50和0-50cm)含水量均呈现逐渐降低的变化趋势,草地逐渐旱化;土壤含水量下降过程可以分为3个阶段,第1阶段为1983-1987年,该阶段土壤含水量在15%~30%之间波动,属于土壤含水量的较高阶段;第2阶段为1988-1999年,该阶段土壤含水量在5%~15%范围内波动,属于土壤含水量高(15%~30%)向低(2%~10%)过渡阶段;第3阶段是2000-2012年,该阶段土壤含水量在2%~10%范围内波动,属于土壤含水量较低阶段;土壤含水量与温度和日照时数呈负相关,与降水量、相对湿度、蒸散量呈正相关。