Contributions of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria to nitrification in Oregon forest soils

Ammonia oxidation, the first step of nitrification, is mediated by both ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB); however, the relative contributions of AOA and AOB to soil nitrification are not well understood. In this study we used 1-octyne to discriminate between AOA- and AOB-supported nitrification determined both in soil-water slurries and in unsaturated whole soil at field moisture. Soils were collected from stands of red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb. Franco) at three sites (Cascade Head, the H.J. Andrews, and McDonald Forest) on acidic soils (pH 3.9–5.7) in Oregon, USA. The abundances of AOA and AOB were measured using quantitative PCR by targeting the amoA gene, which encodes subunit A of ammonia monooxygenase. Total and AOA-specific (octyne-resistant) nitrification activities in soil slurries were significantly higher at Cascade Head (the most acidic soils, pH < 5) than at either the H.J. Andrews or McDonald Forest, and greater in red alder compared with Douglas-fir soils. The fraction of octyne-resistant nitrification varied among sites (21–74%) and was highest at Cascade Head than at the other two locations. Net nitrification rates of whole soil without NH₄⁺ amendment ranged from 0.4 to 3.3 mg N kg⁻¹ soil d⁻¹. Overall, net nitrification rates of whole soil were stimulated 2- to 8-fold by addition of 140 mg NH₄⁺-N kg⁻¹ soil; this was significant for red alder at Cascade Head and the H.J. Andrews. Red alder at Cascade Head was unique in that the majority of NH₄⁺-stimulated nitrifying activity was octyne-resistant (73%). At all other sites, NH₄⁺-stimulated nitrification was octyne-sensitive (68–90%). The octyne-sensitive activity—presumably AOB—was affected more by soil pH whereas the octyne-resistant (AOA) activity was more strongly related to N availability.     

Aggregate-related changes in network patterns of nematodes and ammonia oxidizers in an acidic soil

Nitrification plays a central role in global nitrogen cycle, which is affected by biological interaction between soil microfauna and microorganisms. However, the complexity of soil biotic communities made it difficult to reveal organizational principles of the community and the interactions among species. Here, we used the network analysis to decipher the interactions between nematodes and ammonia oxidizers within aggregate fractions under 10-year manure application, and examine their associations with soil variables and potential nitrification activity (PNA). Three aggregate fractions included large macroaggregates (>2000 μm, LA), small macroaggregates (250–2000 μm, SA), and inter-aggregate soil and space (<250 μm, IA). Aggregate factions showed a remarkable effect on association networks of nematodes and ammonia oxidizers. The average connectivity (avgK) and the number of edges in overall networks increased with increasing aggregate sizes, while the average geodesic distance (GD) followed the opposite trend. The LA network could be viewed as a better organized or a better operational soil food web with more functional interrelated members than the SA and IA networks. The modules related to PNA were significantly correlated and clustered together as meta-modules in networks of aggregate fractions. The role-shifts prevailed among the network members such as significant module memberships (MMs) and generalist/specialist operational taxonomic units (OTUs). A half of shared nodes were further identified as shared MMs, dominated by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) especially for Nitrosospira cluster 3a and 10. Soil pH could explain partly the shift of module hubs in different networks, while grazing by bacterivores might account for three exclusively connecters related to Nitrososphaera clusters 1.1. The strongly coupled modules correlated positively to pH and total carbon (TC), regardless of aggregate fractions. The network analysis approach provided new insights into potential importance of network interactions between nematodes and ammonia oxidizers in soil nitrogen cycling.     

Mechanisation of organic fertiliser spreading,choice of fertiliser and crop residue management as solutions for maize environmental impact mitigation

The environmental impact of crop production is mainly related to fossil fuels consumption and to fertilisers application. Emissions arising from the spreading of organic and mineral fertilisers are important contributors for impact categories such as eutrophication and acidification. The choice of the fertilisers and of the spreading techniques as well as the crop residues management can deeply affect the environmental impact related to crop cultivation.In this study, seven scenarios describing fertilising schemes characterised by different organic and mineral fertilisers and by different mechanisation were compared. The aim is to evaluate, using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method, how the environmental performances of grain maize production were affected by these different fertilisers schemes. The study was carried out considering a cradle to farm gate perspective and 1 t grain maize was selected as functional unit. Inventory data were collected on a farm located in Po Valley (Northern Italy) during year 2013 and were processed using the composite method recommended by the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD). The compared scenarios involved organic and mineral fertiliser distribution and were: pig slurry incorporation after >3 days after spreading (BS), fast pig slurry incorporation within 2 h from spreading (AS1), direct soil injection of pig slurry (AS2), pig slurry incorporation (after >3 days) with straw collection (AS3), digestate spreading instead of pig slurry (after >3 days) (AS4), only mineral fertilisers (i.e. urea and superphosphate) distribution (AS5) and only mineral fertilisers (i.e. calcium ammonium nitrate and superphosphate) distribution (AS6).The results were not univocal, since climate and soil conditions as well as physical and chemical fertiliser characteristics differently affected the environmental load, especially for particulate matter formation, terrestrial acidification and terrestrial eutrophication impact categories. AS1 and AS2 showed the most beneficial results for these impact categories (between ↙67% and ↙73% respect to worst scenario). AS6, on the opposite, showed the highest environmental impact for those impact categories mainly affected by energy and fossil fuel consumption (climate change, ozone depletion, human toxicity with carcinogenic effect, particulate matter, freshwater eutrophication, freshwater ecotoxicity and mineral, fossil and renewable resources depletion), categories on which AS3 and AS4 were the best solutions. AS3 was the most impacting for terrestrial acidification and eutrophicationA sensitivity analysis was carried out varying grain maize yield (mostly affected: marine eutrophication) and ammonia volatilisation losses due to organic fertilisers (mainly affected: terrestrial acidification and eutrophication).The achieved results can be useful for the development of ⬓spreading rules⬽ that drive the application of organic fertilisers in agricultural areas where there is an intense livestock activity.     

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。     

脲酶/硝化抑制剂配施氮肥对春玉米农田氨排放的影响

通过两年田间定位试验,探讨脲酶/硝化抑制剂配施氮肥在黑土区玉米体系中的氨减排及氮素增效效果。设置两种耕作模式(条耕和旋耕)和3种氮肥类型(常规尿素、添加脲酶抑制剂尿素、添加硝化抑制剂尿素)。结果表明,条耕产量和氮素利用率分别为8 631 kg/hm2和33.4%,明显低于旋耕;氨挥发总量为20.6 kg/hm2,明显高于旋耕。脲酶/硝化抑制剂配施氮肥的产量和氮素利用率分别为10 737 kg/hm2和46.0%,较常规尿素分别提高25.6%和23.6%;土壤氨挥发累积量为18.6 kg/hm2,明显低于常规尿素。抑制剂类型显著影响氨排放,添加脲酶抑制剂尿素低于添加硝化抑制剂尿素。相同氮素投入条件下,添加脲酶/硝化抑制剂尿素在土壤条耕和旋耕模式下均可实现增产增效及氨减排效果,且添加脲酶抑制剂尿素具有较好的氨减排效果。     

生物质灰渣与化肥混合对氨挥发的影响

采用室内恒温培养,碱液吸收法测定灰渣-化肥中氮的挥发量,研究了锯木灰、谷壳灰、玉米灰、水稻灰分别与不同化肥配比下,在一定时间内的氨挥发规律。结果表明:四种灰渣在N1、N2、N3水平下,随着时间的增加氨的挥发量和挥发率呈先增大后减小的趋势,各处理的峰值多出现在10~15 d的培养阶段;谷壳灰、玉米灰、水稻灰添加磷酸二氢钾能明显抑制混合物中氨的挥发,而锯木灰添加氯化钾、磷酸二氢钾均能抑制氨的挥发;在四种灰渣中,锯木灰处理的氨挥发率明显高于其他三种灰渣,特别是在N3水平下比同期的其他灰渣处理高5倍。Elovich方程和抛物线扩散方程均能较好拟合氨的挥发量随时间的变化,其相关系数均达到极显著水平。     

三峡库区农田氨挥发及其消减措施研究进展

从分析农田氨挥发的机理入手,在分析国内外氨挥发研究现状的背景下,综述了三峡库区农田氨挥发受气候、土壤理化性质、田间管理措施等因素的影响程度及其消减措施的研究进展,提出了应将农田氨挥发作为库区气态氮损失的研究重点,同时在研究方法、时空尺度、地域特殊影响因素,以及消减措施等方面进行更深入的探索。     

天津市农田氮肥施用氨排放量估算及分布特征分析

氮素是作物生长的必要营养元素,氮肥施用过程中,会导致氨的挥发,而氨是形成可吸入颗粒物的重要前体物,为了解天津市农田氮肥施用过程中氨的排放,为天津市空气污染治理提供技术支撑,通过获取天津市不同农作物的不同氮肥种类施用量,依据国家环保部推荐的排放因子法和天津市的年均温度,对天津市农田氮肥施用过程中氨的排放量进行了估算和时空分布特征分析。结果表明,2014年天津市农田氮肥施用氨排放量为17 999.91 t,排放强度为3.27 t·km-2;从氮肥种类上看,尿素是最大排放源,贡献率为83.13%,其次是碳铵(13.83%),其他氮肥占比为3.04%;从农作物类型上看,蔬菜是最大的排放源,贡献率为38.91%,其次是玉米(29.43%)和小麦(19.66%),其他作物占比为12.00%。氨的排放系数具有明显的时间特征:中午高,夜间低;8月份最高,1月份最低。在各区县中,武清区氨排放量最大,贡献率为27.06%;津南区氨排放量最小,贡献率为1.14%;另外,宝坻区和蓟县的氨排放量也较高,贡献率分别为20.71%、17.86%。氨具有较强的空间分布差异性,在有氮肥施用的农田排放较高,其他区域排放较低。因此在控制天津市农田氮肥施用氨排放中应加强对武清区、宝坻区、蓟县等区县6—8月份蔬菜种植过程中尿素的科学施用。农田氨的时空分布特征可为天津市空气污染的防治提供科学依据。     

Short-term population dynamics of ammonia oxidizing bacteria in an agricultural soil

Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) control the rate limiting step of nitrification, the conversion of ammonia (NH₄⁺) to nitrite (NO₂⁻). The AOB therefore have an important role to play in regulating soil nitrogen cycling. Tillage aerates the soil, stimulating rapid changes in soil N cycling and microbial communities. Here we report results of a study of the short term responses of AOB and net nitrification to simulated tillage and NH₄⁺ addition to soil. The intensively farmed vegetable soils of the Salinas Valley, California, provide the context for this study. These soils are cultivated frequently, receive large N fertilizer inputs and there are regional concerns about groundwater N concentrations. An understanding of N dynamics in these systems is therefore important. AOB population sizes were quantified using a real-time PCR approach. In a 15 day experiment AOB populations, increased rapidly following tillage and NH₄⁺ addition and persisted after the depletion of soil NH₄⁺. AOB population sizes increased to a similar degree, over a 1.5-day period, irrespective of the amount of NH₄⁺ supplied. These data suggest selection of an AOB community in this intensively farmed and C-limited soil, that rapidly uses NH₄⁺ that becomes available. These data also suggest that mineralization may play an especially important role in regulating AOB populations where NH₄⁺ pool sizes are very low. Methodological considerations in the study of soil AOB communities are also discussed.     

Influence of water potential on nitrification and structure of nitrifying bacterial communities in semiarid soils

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between soil water potential, nitrifier community structure and nitrification activity in semiarid soils. Soils were collected after a 5-month dry period (end of summer) and subsequently rewetted to specific water potentials and incubated for 7 days prior to analysis of nitrification activity and nitrifier community structure. The approach used in this study targeted a 491bp segment of the amoA gene which encodes the active site of the ammonia monooxygenase enzyme, which is the key enzyme for all aerobic ammonia oxidisers. amoA serves as a useful target for environmental studies since it is both specific and universal for all ammonia oxidisers and reflects the phylogeny of the ammonia oxidisers. Our results suggest that in semiarid soils water potential plays a key role in determining the structure of ammonia oxidising bacteria (AOB), and that additionally AOB community structure is correlated to potential nitrification rate in these soils.