Carbon stocks and carbon fluxes from a 10‐year prescribed burning chronosequence on a UK blanket peat

Prescribed burning is a common land management technique in many areas of the UK uplands. However, concern has been expressed at the impact of this management practice on carbon stocks and fluxes found in the carbon‐rich peat soils that underlie many of these areas. This study measured both carbon stocks and carbon fluxes from a chronosequence of prescribed burn sites in northern England. A range of carbon parameters were measured including above ground biomass and carbon stocks; net ecosystem exchange (NEE), net ecosystem respiration (R_eco) and photosynthesis (P_g) from closed chamber methods; and particulate organic carbon (POC). Analysis of the CO₂ data showed that burning was a significant factor in measured CO₂ readings but that other factors such as month of sampling explained a greater proportion of the variation in the data. Carbon budget results showed that whereas all the plots were net sources of carbon, the most recent burn scars were smaller sources of carbon compared with the older burn scars, suggesting that burning of Calluna‐dominated landscapes leads to an ‘avoided loss’ of carbon. However, this management intervention did not lead to a transition to a carbon sink and that for carbon purposes, active peat‐forming conditions are desirable.     

Greater humification of belowground than aboveground biomass carbon into particulate soil organic matter in no-till corn and soybean crops

Quantifying the amount of carbon (C) incorporated from decomposing residues into soil organic carbon (C_S) requires knowing the rate of C stabilization (humification rate) into different soil organic matter pools. However, the differential humification rates of C derived from belowground and aboveground biomass into C_S pools has been poorly quantified. We estimated the contribution of aboveground and belowground biomass to the formation of C_S in four agricultural treatments by measuring changes in δ¹³C natural abundance in particulate organic matter (C_POM) associated with manipulations of C₃ and C₄ biomass. The treatments were (1) continuous corn cropping (C₄ plant), (2) continuous soybean cropping (C₃), and two stubble exchange treatments (3 and 4) where the aboveground biomass left after the grain harvest was exchanged between corn and soybean plots, allowing the separation of aboveground and belowground C inputs to C_S based on the different δ¹³C signatures. After two growing seasons, C_POM was primarily derived from belowground C inputs, even though they represented only ∼10% of the total plant C inputs as residues. Belowground biomass contributed from 60% to almost 80% of the total new C present in the C_POM in the top 10 cm of soil. The humification rate of belowground C inputs into C_POM was 24% and 10%, while that of aboveground C inputs was only 0.5% and 1.0% for soybean and corn, respectively. Our results indicate that roots can play a disproportionately important role in the C_POM budget in soils. Keywords Particulate organic matter; root carbon inputs; carbon isotopes; humification rate; corn; soybean.     

Cross‐linked polyacrylates in post‐mining substrates: persistence and effects on plant growth

Application of hydrophilic polymers composed of cross‐linked polyacrylate can improve soil water‐holding capacity and accelerate the restoration of post‐mining substrates. In this work, we studied the persistence of a polyacrylate polymer incorporated into a soil and its impact on plant nutrients at a reclamation site of former lignite mining in Lusatia (Germany). In contrast to autumn application, the incorporation of the polymer enhanced the sequestration of plant‐derived carbon in the soil, which was reflected by a significant increase in the concentration of a lignin marker. Attenuated total reflexion–Fourier transform infrared spectra (ATR‐FTIR) and total elemental contents in the applied polymer suggested an intensive cation exchange between the polymer framework and the soil‐forming substrate. In addition, there was an enrichment of carbonaceous material, which seems to reduce the swelling and thus the water‐holding capacity of the cross‐linked polyacrylate. Conversely, this process protected the polymer structure from rapid decomposition.     

烟草氨基酸代谢及其调控机制

综述了植物氨同化以及烟草中苯丙氨酸代谢、脯氨酸代谢、美拉德反应及其与烟叶风味和品质关系的研究进展,并分析了环境因素对烟草氨基酸代谢的影响,为深入研究氨基酸对烟叶品质和风味影响的机制奠定了基础。     

Seed Shattering of Cañahua (Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen)

Cañahua (Chenopodium pallidicaule Aellen) is a semi‐domesticated relative of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) with high nutritious quality. It is tolerant to frost, drought, saline soils and pests. One seed yield limitation is seed loss during the maturity stages. Two greenhouse experiments in Denmark and field experiments in Bolivia were carried out to determine seed shattering in landraces and cultivars with different growth habits. 15–21 % of the seed shattering in the fields took place whilst the plants still were flowering and 25–35 % during physiological maturity. Seed shattering varied between locations on the Bolivian Altiplano. Cañahua types with the semi‐prostrate growth (‘lasta’) had the highest seed shattering rate in the greenhouse experiments. The Umacutama landrace had lower seed shattering (1 %) than the cultivar Kullaca (7.2 %) both of the ‘lasta’ type. Under field conditions, the cultivar Illimani with the erect growth (‘saihua’) had the highest seed shattering rate (6.4–33.7 %) at both locations and at four different sowing dates. The Umacutama had the lowest rate (0.5–1.5 %). There were no significant differences between plants of the ‘lasta’ and the ‘saihua’ types. The landrace had significantly less seed loss than the cultivars. However, in the greenhouse, the landrace yield was approximately 25 % lower than the yields of the cultivars. In general, cañahua cultivars had higher yield compared to landraces, but also a higher seed shattering rate. Landraces may be used in breeding programmes to develop high‐yielding cultivars with reduced seed shattering.     

Nitrous oxide emission from a transplanted rice field in alluvial soil as influenced by management of nitrogen fertiliser

We investigated nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from an irrigated rice field over two years to evaluate the management of nitrogenous fertiliser and its effect on reducing emissions. Four forms of nitrogenous fertilisers: NPK at the recommended application rate, starch–urea matrix (SUM) + PK, neem‐coated urea + PK and urea alone (urea without coating) were used. Gas samples were collected from the field at weekly intervals with the static chamber technique. N₂O emissions from different treatments ranged from 11.58 to 215.81 N₂O‐N μg/m²/h, and seasonal N₂O emissions from 2.83 to 3.89 kg N₂O‐N/ha. Compared with other fertilisers, N₂O emissions were greatest after the application of the conventional NPK fertiliser. Moreover, SUM + PK reduced total N₂O emissions by 22.33% (P < 0.05) compared with NPK during the rice‐growing period (P < 0.05). The results indicate a strong correlation between N₂O emissions and soil organic carbon, nitrate, ammonium, above‐ and below‐ground plant biomass and photosynthesis (P < 0.05). The application of SUM + PK in rice fields is suitable as a means of reducing N₂O emissions without affecting grain production.     

多不饱和脂肪酸的生物学功能及其在动物生产中的应用

多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)是一种重要的营养物质,是细胞膜磷脂的重要组成成分,在生物系统中具有广泛的生物学功能,能够调节机体的脂类代谢、免疫,具有抗癌、预防和治疗心血管疾病、促进机体生长发育以及调控基因的表达等功能。本文就多不饱和脂肪酸的来源及生物学功能进行阐述,并浅谈了多不饱和脂肪酸在动物生产中的应用现状及前景。     

Whole-plant Corn Silage Quality Treated with Mixed Acids and its Effect on Sheep Growth Performance

In order to explore different concentrations of mixed acids in improving quality of whole-plant corn silage and their effects on growth performance of Dorper×Han F1 sheep.4 levels of 45% formic acid,45% propionic acid and 10% sodium propionate were mixed,and 0(control),0.3%,0.6% and 1% were added to 4 groups of ripening period whole-plant corn.The results showed that compared with control group,the experimental groups could significantly decrease the proportion of AA/PA in silage (P<0.05);0.3% and 0.6% groups had the better effects.Based on the result of CNCPS,0.6% group significantly improved the PB₃ component (P<0.05),reduced the CC component (P>0.05),and improved the quality of silage.Compared with control group,the experimental groups effectively inhibited the mold and yeast reproduction,improved the aerobic stability of silage.The feeding trial results showed that ADG and F/G of sheep in experimental groups were better than control group,and F/G of both 0.6% and 1% groups were significantly better than that in control group (P<0.05).In conclusion,treatment of mixed acids could improve the quality of whole-plant corn silage,and silage treated with 0.6% levels of mixed acids could significantly improve the growth performance of Dorper×Han F1 sheep.     

Vineyard soil bacterial diversity and composition revealed by 16S rRNA genes: Differentiation by geographic features

Here, we examine soil-borne microbial biogeography as a function of the features that define an American Viticultural Area (AVA), a geographically delimited American wine grape-growing region, defined for its distinguishing features of climate, geology, soils, physical features (topography and water), and elevation. In doing so, we lay a foundation upon which to link the terroir of wine back to the soil-borne microbial communities. The objective of this study is to elucidate the hierarchy of drivers of soil bacterial community structure in wine grape vineyards in Napa Valley, California. We measured differences in the soil bacterial and archaeal community composition and diversity by sequencing the fourth variable region of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (16S V4 rDNA). Soil bacterial communities were structured with respect to soil properties and AVA, demonstrating the complexity of soil microbial biogeography at the landscape scale and within the single land-use type. Location and edaphic variables that distinguish AVAs were the strongest explanatory factors for soil microbial community structure. Notably, the relationship with TC and TN of the <53 μm and 53–250 μm soil fractions offers support for the role of bacterial community structure rather than individual taxa on fine soil organic matter content. We reason that AVA, climate, and topography each affect soil microbial communities through their suite of impacts on soil properties. The identification of distinctive soil microbial communities associated with a given AVA lends support to the idea that soil microbial communities form a key in linking wine terroir back to the biotic components of the soil environment, suggesting that the relationship between soil microbial communities and wine terroir should be examined further.