Does biochar contribute to close nutrient cycles of tree plantations on degraded Ultisols in the Ecuadorian Amazonia?

The use of biochar is expected to improve soil fertility and close nutrient cycles in degraded strongly weathered tropical soils. We, therefore, hypothesized that biochar amendment to tree plantations (a) increases nutrient fluxes with litterfall alone and with mineral fertilizer plus lime and (b) reduces N losses reflected by lower δ¹⁵N values of litterfall and soils than in unamended controls. We grew the native leguminous Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Ducke) Barneby and the exotic Gmelina arborea Roxb at two sites. We used a replicated full factorial split–split plot design of amendment of mineral fertilizer plus lime, 3 and 6 t ha⁻¹ biochar, and a control. We collected litterfall biweekly (2012–2013) and topsoil samples (0–0.25 m) in 2009 before tree planting, in 2011 and 2013. Fertilizer plus lime increased the mean annual concentrations of P, Ca and Zn in litterfall but decreased that of Mn. At the same time, fertilizer plus lime increased the annual fluxes of nutrients, Na and Al with litterfall. During the dry season, biochar decreased the N concentration in litterfall and the K flux with litterfall. During the rainy season, biochar increased the concentrations of Ca and Zn in litterfall and their fluxes with litterfall. Biochar did not influence the δ¹⁵N values of soil and litterfall after 51 months of tree growth. Fertilizer plus lime decreased the δ¹⁵N values of soil, because of the lower δ¹⁵N value of the used urea (−0.30‰) than the soil (4.5‰–7.8‰). Moreover, fertilizer plus lime increased the δ¹⁵N values of litterfall, possibly because of enhanced ¹⁴N leaching from the N-rich canopies. The amendment of up to 6 t ha⁻¹ biochar did not contribute to close nutrient cycles.     

Preliminary evaluation of the effects of a 1:1 inspiratory-to-expiratory ratio in anesthetized and ventilated horses

ObjectiveTo describe some cardiorespiratory effects of an inspiratory-to-expiratory (IE) ratio of 1:1 compared with 1:3 in ventilated horses in dorsal recumbency.Study designRandomized crossover experimental study.AnimalsA total of eight anesthetized horses, with 444 (330–485) kg body weight [median (range)].MethodsHorses were ventilated in dorsal recumbency with a tidal volume of 15 mL kg^–1 and a respiratory rate of 8 breaths minute^–1, and IE ratios of 1:1 (IE1:1) and 1:3 (IE1:3) in random order, each for 25 minutes after applying a recruitment maneuver. Spirometry, arterial blood gases and dobutamine requirements were recorded in all horses during each treatment. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) data were recorded in four horses and used to generate functional EIT variables including regional ventilation delay index (RVD), a measure of speed of lung inflation, and end-expiratory lung impedance (EELI), an indicator of functional residual capacity (FRC). Results were assessed with linear and generalized linear mixed models.ResultsCompared with treatment IE1:3, horses ventilated with treatment IE1:1 had higher mean airway pressures and respiratory system compliance (p < 0.014), while peak, end-inspiratory and driving airway pressures were lower (p < 0.001). No differences in arterial oxygenation or dobutamine requirements were observed. PaCO₂ was lower in treatment IE1:1 (p = 0.039). Treatment IE1:1 resulted in lower RVD (p < 0.002) and higher EELI (p = 0.023) than treatment IE1:3.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThese results suggest that IE1:1 improved respiratory system mechanics and alveolar ventilation compared with IE1:3, whereas oxygenation and dobutamine requirements were unchanged, although differences were small. In the four horses where EIT was evaluated, IE1:1 led to a faster inflation rate of the lung, possibly the result of increased FRC. The clinical relevance of these findings needs to be further investigated.     

芽胞杆菌与嘧菌酯协同应用对葡萄叶部微生物群落及霜霉菌线粒体功能的影响

为明确生防菌剂枯草芽胞杆菌Bacillus subtilis HMB20428与化学杀菌剂嘧菌酯协同应用对葡萄霜霉菌Plasmopara viticola的抑制机制,结合生物学测定与显微表型观察方法分析其对葡萄霜霉病菌及活孢子囊的抑制作用,采用高通量测序技术分析其对葡萄叶部微生物种群多样性的影响,通过测定生理生化指标研究其对葡萄霜霉菌线粒体功能的作用。结果显示,枯草芽胞杆菌HMB20428与嘧菌酯协同应用对葡萄霜霉病菌的抑制作用显著,对活孢子囊的抑制率为99.05%;两者协同应用对微生物细菌种群有显著影响,枯草芽胞杆菌的优势占位作用明显;但对微生物真菌种群无显著影响;两者协同应用造成葡萄霜霉菌线粒体膜通透性转运孔开放度增加至90.59%,对跨膜电位的抑制率为94.29%,呼吸链酶复合物Ⅰ～Ⅴ的活性分别显著下降56.39%、22.47%、47.90%、60.52%和90.91%,说明葡萄霜霉菌线粒体膜在受到明显损伤和出现代谢功能障碍的同时,呼吸链酶活性明显被抑制,从而导致葡萄霜霉菌的能量代谢和生长受阻。表明枯草芽胞杆菌HMB20428与嘧菌酯协同应用时主要通过促进枯草芽胞杆菌竞争占位和增...