Geochemical conditions in groundwater systems: Implications for the attenuation of agricultural nitrate

Nitrate resulting from nitrogen fertilisers used in Agriculture is a widespread contaminant of shallow groundwater and causes adverse effects on human, animal and ecosystem health. In order to evaluate the full extent of groundwater nitrate contamination, and how it might evolve in time, it is essential to understand controls on aquifer assimilative capacity. This level of understanding will also help to better target policies and incentives aimed at controlling the amount of nitrate entering downstream water systems.The potential for nitrate attenuation in groundwater was assessed by examining the concentration and distribution pattern of electron donors such as dissolved organic carbon (DOC), ferrous iron, and redox indicators such as dissolved oxygen (DO) and Eh in 57 monitoring bores on the lower Burdekin coastal floodplain, one of Queensland's and Australia's premier irrigation districts. Nitrate concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 14.4 mg/L NO₃-N but were mostly undetectable in bores close to the coast. Groundwater age dates suggest that while there are nitrate ‘hot spots’ in certain areas, some or most of the nitrate is being consumed on its way to the ocean. Low nitrate concentrations were coupled with high ferrous concentrations. The low DO concentrations (<2 mg/L) and high ferrous concentrations found in 55% of the bores indicate that redox conditions are suitable for nitrate attenuation by either denitrification or dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium. The reducing environment may be associated with the high DOC concentrations (up to 82 mg C/L) found in these groundwaters. Furthermore, high levels of ferrous iron found in the Ayr area combined with the wide spread geographical distribution of DOC indicate that these areas have a high potential for sustaining geochemical processes that reduces nitrate levels. The distribution of geochemical indicators also suggests that the shallower depths (<15 m) of the groundwater systems have more potential for nitrate reduction than the deeper depths. The map identifying areas within the lower Burdekin with most potential for denitrification is a valuable first step in helping to understand and manage the fate of nitrate entering the groundwater.     

QTLs and candidate genes for chlorate resistance in rice (Oryzasativa L.)

Chlorate resistance is one of the reliable characters in Indica/Japonica classification. To understand the genetic basis of chlorate resistance is very important for revealing the evolutionary mechanism of Indica/Japonica differentiation. In this study, a doubled haploid (DH) population derived from anther culture of ZYQ8/JX17, a typical Indica and Japonica hybrid, was used as the genetic material to investigate chlorate sensitivity of the parents and DH lines. The quantitative trait loci (QTLs) of chlorate resistance were analyzed based on the molecular linkage map of this population. Total of 3 QTLs (qCHR-2, qCHR-8 and qCHR-10) for chlorate resistance were detected on chromosomes 2, 8 and 10, respectively. A QTL × QTL epistatic interaction was detected between qCHR-2 and qCHR-10. Genes involved in nitrogen assimilation, such as nitrate reduction, molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis and nitrate transport were strong candidates of QTLs for chlorate resistance. A putative nitrate reductase gene (8611.t00011), and two putative nitrate reductase genes (9319.t00010 and 9319.t00012) were in the genomic region of qCHR-2, and qCHR-8, respectively, and a putative nitrate transporter gene (756.t00011) was in the region of qCHR-10. The expression of 8611.t00011, 9319.t00010 and 756.t00011 were confirmed by the corresponding cDNAs, and 2 in/del and 12 SNPs in the coding regions of these three genes were found between Indica (cv. 9311) and Japonica (cv. Nipponbare) in silico. These results indicated that these three genes were candidates of the chlorate resistance QTLs. An in/del in the coding region of 8611.t00011 was used to develop a new PCR marker. A polymorphism was detected between JX17/Nipponbare and ZYQ8/9311. This polymorphism corresponds to the chlorate sensitivity of Nipponbare and 9311. This marker was located between Y8007R and RM250 on chromosome 2 in the DH population, where qCHR-2 was also located.     

植物硝酸还原酶功能的研究进展

硝酸还原酶（Nitrate Reductase,简称NR）是高等植物氮素同化的限速酶,可直接调节硝酸盐还原,从而调节氮代谢,并影响到光合碳代谢。发掘NR新的生理功能并探讨其作用机理具有重要的理论和实际意义。随着分子生物学技术的迅猛发展,可以从分子水平上深入了解NR的生理功能及作用机制;此外还可能由此了解氮代谢及其与其它生理过程之间的关系;同时也深入了解NR、NO与植物抗逆性的关系;以及研究硝酸还原酶的展望。     

Optimized denitrification bioreactor treatment through simulated drainage containment

In the design of wood-based, enhanced-denitrification bioreactors to treat nitrate in agricultural drainage, the consideration of the highly variable flow rates and nitrate concentrations inherent to many drainage systems is important. For optimized mitigation of these nitrate loads, it may be best to contain drainage water prior to treatment in order to facilitate longer, more constant retention times rather than to allow cycles of flushing and dry periods in the denitrification bioreactor. Simulated containment prior to bioreactor treatment compared to passing drainage directly through a bioreactor was investigated with the use of six pilot-scale denitrification bioreactors constructed with plywood and filled with Pinus radiata woodchips at Massey University No. 4 Dairy Farm (Palmerston North, New Zealand). Initial bromide tracer tests were followed with a series of five simulated drainage events each at successively declining inflow nitrate concentrations. During each drainage event, three pilot bioreactors received a simulated hydrograph lasting 1.5 days (Non-Containment treatment) and three pilot bioreactors received the same total drainage volume treated over 4 days at a constant flow rate (i.e. constant retention time; Containment treatment). Results showed significantly different total mass removal efficiencies of 14.0% vs. 36.9% and significantly different removal rates of 2.1 g N m⁻³ day⁻¹ vs. 6.7 g N m⁻³ day⁻¹ for the Non-Containment and Containment treatments, respectively, which indicated that treating drainage at constant retention times provided more optimized nitrate removal. While this work was done to evaluate treatment under New Zealand drainage conditions, it also provides valuable information for optimizing agricultural drainage denitrification bioreactor performance in general.     

蚯蚓发酵液对果蔬品质的影响

为探索蚯蚓发酵液对果蔬品质的影响,以番茄、黄瓜、辣椒、枸杞、葡萄、西瓜和甜瓜为材料,设置不施肥（CK1）、单施化肥（CK2）、施用蚯蚓发酵液（T）3种施肥处理,测定了维生素C（V_c）、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、游离氨基酸、有机酸等果蔬营养品质指标和硝酸盐含量。结果表明：施用蚯蚓发酵液可显著增加7种果蔬的V_c、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、游离氨基酸含量,显著降低有机酸和硝酸盐含量,即蚯蚓发酵液有利于营养品质的形成,并能改善果蔬的适口性。     

Assessing ground water quality in the irrigated plain of Triffa (north-east Morocco)

Irrigated agriculture in (semi-)arid regions may exert serious pressures on groundwater resources and jeopardise further agricultural and socio-economical developments. For assessing these pressures, we present in this paper results from a groundwater quality survey performed in 2005 within the irrigated agricultural Triffa plain in north-east Morocco. The study focuses on the physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of the groundwater body within the plain and exploits the correlation and spatial dependency of the quality parameters. It is demonstrated that the water quality in this region is critical. Nitrate levels are situated between 2 and 153 mg/l, with 73% of the observations exceeding the critical level of 50 mg/l. Nitrite, ammonia, orthophosphate and dissolved organic matter content do not exceed existing norms. Bacteriological residues (faecal, total coliforms, faecal streptococcus and clostridium sulfido-reductants), however, are retrieved in nearly all water samples. Bacteriological contamination is merely correlated with nitrite and ammonia content rather than with nitrate content, indicating a possible contribution of local pollution sources to groundwater deterioration. The variability of the nitrate and bacteriological pollution is important and spatially correlated. The spatially dependency is modelled using spherical and Gaussian semi-variograms and is used to map the nitrate and bacteriological contamination using ordinary kriging techniques. The results shown are significantly different as compared to earlier studies on groundwater quality for the studied aquifer. The differences may be explained partially by modified but inappropriate fertilizer management practices in combination with intensive irrigation. Given the agricultural developments in this area, further deterioration of the groundwater quality is expected if no mitigation strategies are developed.     

花生硝酸还原酶与根瘤中固氮酶活性的研究

花生品种间根瘤量的变化有显著差异,但每克根瘤中固氮酶活性则差异不显著。固氮酶活性在全生育期出现两次高峰,分别在下针期和结荚期,而单株根瘤中固氮酶活性和单株根瘤量均在结荚期出现一次高峰。花生主茎复叶硝酸还原酶活性(NRA)在生育前期出现一次高峰,其活性的高低与品种耐肥性呈负相关。NRA 和根瘤中固氮酶活性有正相关     

Phosphate interference in the Devarda's alloy reduction method for nitrate

Abstract

Phosphate interfered markedly with a Devarda's alloy distillation method for the determination of nitrate. Only 9% of added nitrate was recovered by this method when 200 mg P was present. This interference can be overcome by the addition of calcium ions, to precipitate the phosphate, and an extended distillation time.     

华北农业高产粮区地下水硝酸盐污染环境价值损失评估技术研究——以山东省桓台县为例

应用人力资本法、防护支出法和支付意愿调查法评估了华北高产粮区桓台县地下水农业面源硝酸盐污染的环境经济损失,并分析了不同评估技术对农业面源硝酸盐污染地下水环境价值损失评估的适用性,其适用性优先序为防护支出法的深井工程法>脱硝工程法≥人力资本法>支付意愿调查法。2 0 0 2年该县由农业地下水硝酸盐污染造成的年环境价值损失约为880万元(86 0 .8～1170 .1万元/浕) ,占当年农业总产值的1.1%～1.5 %。     

菜田土壤有效氮的动态研究

在田间条件下研究了种植莴苣和西葫芦对菜田土壤硝态氮、有机态氮和微生物量氮剖面动态的影响 ,结果表明 ,不同作物对土壤表层硝态氮、有机态氮和微生物量氮影响较大 ,表层有效氮在作物生长期间基本上处于耗竭状态 ;2 0～ 4 0cm土层土壤有效氮除硝态氮以外 ,受作物影响较小 ;而 4 0～ 60cm土层土壤各种形态氮基本不受作物影响