Carbon and nitrogen stocks and their mineralization potentials are higher under organic than conventional farming practices in Japanese Andosols

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at understanding whether and how long-term organic rice farming affects soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks and their mineralization potentials in submerged rice paddies in Tochigi, Japan. An incubation experiment was carried out to assess the impacts of internal nutrient cycling after organic farming (OF) for 4–5 years (4OF), 8–9 years (8OF), and 12 years (12OF), compared with a conventional rice field (CF). Soil samples were collected at 0–15 cm and 15–20 cm in flooded rice fields after harvest in October 2013. pH and bulk density at 0–15 cm were significantly lower in 12OF fields than in CF fields (by 0.22 unit pH and 17.5%, respectively). Compared with CF, 12OF fields showed significant differences in soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN), but 4OF and 8OF fields did not. In 8OF fields, the C decomposition (Co) and N mineralization (No) potentials were significantly higher (by 34.0% and 35.6%, respectively, at 0–15 cm, and by 67.1% and 24.5% at 15–20 cm) than in CF fields. Similarly, in 8OF fields at 0–15 cm, the Co:SOC and No:TN ratios were 19.8% and 23.2% higher, respectively, than in CF fields. Co, No, Co:SOC, and No:TN in 12OF fields were higher than those in CF fields, demonstrating the effects of prolonged organic rice farming. Additionally, in 12OF fields, C and N stocks were significantly higher (by 15.5% and 17.2%, respectively, at 0–15 cm, and by 4.8% and 12.1% at 15–20 cm) than in CF fields. Our findings suggest that long-term organic rice farming increases soil C and N stocks as well as C and N mineralization in Japanese Andosols.     

Ammonium nitrogen in soil solution and seed nitrogen affect the percentage of establishment of rice plants in submerged soil

The effect of ammonium nitrogen concentration in soil solution on the establishment of rice plants was examined. The increase of the concentration decreased the percentage of establishment of seeds sown in submerged soil, although most of seeds sown on submerged soil became established. Therefore, the increase of ammonium nitrogen concentration in soil solution may impair the establishment of seeds sown in submerged soil, which would occur presumably because the increase delays the spear growth and emergence without the decline of soil redox potential. Several seed lots with various nitrogen contents were obtained from rice plants grown under various conditions. The percentage of establishment of low-nitrogen seeds sown in submerged soil was much lower than that of high-nitrogen seeds, especially in soils whose solution contained a large amount of ammonium nitrogen. However, the difference in the percentage of establishment between high- and low-nitrogen seeds sown on submerged soil was much smaller. Therefore, the increase of seed nitrogen content may improve the percentage of establishment of seeds sown in submerged soil, presumably because the increase accelerates the spear growth and emergence. Consequently, for direct sowing in submerged soil, ammonium nitrogen concentration in soil solution should remain low because ammonium nitrogen exerts an adverse effect on seedling establishment, and vigorous seeds with a high nitrogen content should be sown because seed nitrogen exerts a beneficial effect on seedling establishment.     

Characterization of the surface properties of cellulosic fibers in fibrous and ground forms by IGC and contact angle measurements

Surface properties of fibrous and ground cotton and linen were investigated by inverse gas chromatography (IGC) and the contact angle with different liquids was also measured on fabrics composed of both fibers. Results proved that dispersion component of surface tension (γ _s ^d ) determined by IGC depends not only on the surface energy, but also on several factors influencing the adsorbability of probe molecules on the cellulosic substrates. For cotton samples, the trapping of n-alkanes among waxy molecules in the outer layer of fibers can be presumed. This effect results in larger γ _s ^d for cotton fibers than for linen in spite of the higher wettability of the linen fabrics. Besides the surface energy and trapping effects, the grinding also influences the γ _s ^d values. Specific enthalpy of adsorption (ΔH _A ^ab ) of polar probes could be determined on all linen samples, but only on the ground cotton sample. Lewis acid-base character calculated for linen and ground cotton samples depends on the same effects as the γ _s ^d does. The similar ΔH _A ^ab values of chloroform (acidic) and THF (basic) measured on each of the samples support the conclusion that the surface character is amphoteric, which is also proved by the high ΔH _A ^ab values of the amphoteric ethyl acetate and acetone probes.     

Two-decadal trends in aboveground litterfall and net primary production in self-thinning Pinus banksiana stands in Wood Buffalo National Park,NWT, Canada

We estimated the aboveground net primary production (ANPP) in five self-thinning jack pine (Pinus banksiana) stands in Wood Buffalo National Park, NWT, Canada. The stands (11 to ca.175 years old) were selected to examine the relationship between stand density and tree size and its effect on carbon dynamics. Aboveground litterfall was collected from each stand from 1997 to 2012. Stand biomass was estimated by measuring tree size every 5 years and estimating the individual mass using allometric relationships. ANPP was then estimated by summing the litterfall mass, dead stem mass increment and stand biomass increment. We determined the proportional contribution of each organ to the total litter and the seasonal pattern of needle litterfall. There was a lower turnover rate of aboveground biomass in older stands than younger stands. The ANPP increased in the youngest stand (<30 years old) showed a decreasing trend in stands >50 years old. The maximum ANPP was estimated to be ca. 500?g m^?2 year^?1 in dry matter, which was found in 30–50 year-old stands.     

In memoriam Zum Tode von Prof. Dr. Martin Schwartz

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Protocol: a highly sensitive RT-PCR method for detection and quantification of microRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs with a critical role in development and environmental responses. Efficient and reliable detection of miRNAs is an essential step towards understanding their roles in specific cells and tissues. However, gel-based assays currently used to detect miRNAs are very limited in terms of throughput, sensitivity and specificity. Here we provide protocols for detection and quantification of miRNAs by RT-PCR. We describe an end-point and real-time looped RT-PCR procedure and demonstrate detection of miRNAs from as little as 20 pg of plant tissue total RNA and from total RNA isolated from as little as 0.1 μl of phloem sap. In addition, we have developed an alternative real-time PCR assay that can further improve specificity when detecting low abundant miRNAs. Using this assay, we have demonstrated that miRNAs are differentially expressed in the phloem sap and the surrounding vascular tissue. This method enables fast, sensitive and specific miRNA expression profiling and is suitable for facilitation of high-throughput detection and quantification of miRNA expression.