Anaerobic digestion is a process that is widely used for the treatment of organic wastes. The digestate can be used as a soil amendment or crop fertiliser. The aims of our work were to evaluate 1) the physicochemical ...Anaerobic digestion is a process that is widely used for the treatment of organic wastes. The digestate can be used as a soil amendment or crop fertiliser. The aims of our work were to evaluate 1) the physicochemical composition and pathogen content in a digestate from poultry manure, according to international regulations, and 2) the effect of its soil application on the major chemical and biological soil properties and on the growth of Lactuca sativa. The experiment consisted of two groups of pots(with and without crop). Treatments applied to each group were as follows: low and high doses of digestate and inorganic fertiliser, and no application(control)(low dose: 70 kg nitrogen(N) ha^(-1) and 21 kg phosphorus(P) ha^(-1); high dose: 210 kg N ha^(-1) and 63 kg P ha^(-1)). Soil samples were taken 7 and 34 d(harvest) after treatment applications. Heavy metal and pathogen contents in the digestate were below the upper limit values. Despite the high pH and electrical conductivity values of the digestate, both soil parameters presented acceptable values for crop growth. Although there were no initial increases in total inorganic N and available P in soil with digestate application, an increase in the fresh weight of crop was observed with the high dose application. This is probably associated with the slow nutrient release from the digestate during the development of the crop. Changes in the microbial community were temporary and occurred at the initial sampling stage of the experiment.展开更多
Soil management technologies for climate change adaptation and mitigation are needed to increase and sustain food production in smallholder agriculture while sequestering inert carbon in the soil. In a field studies a...Soil management technologies for climate change adaptation and mitigation are needed to increase and sustain food production in smallholder agriculture while sequestering inert carbon in the soil. In a field studies at Crops Research Institute, Kwadaso-Kumasi Ghana, a control treatment, five inorganic fertilizer combinations （P30K60, N60P30K60, N120P30K60, NlsoP30K60 and N24oP3oK6o） and four biochar rates ＋ inorganic fertilizer （2 t/ha Biochar ＋ N60P30K60, 4 t/ha Biochar ＋ N60P30K60, 6 t/ha Biochar ＋ N6oP3oK6o and 8 t/ha Biochar ＋N6oP3oK6o） were assessed for their effect on soil moisture storage, soil available nitrogen and crop yield. The test crop was okra. Biochar amendments increased soil moisture storage by 14% relative to sole inorganic fertilizer applications. Biochar ＋ inorganic fertilizer relative to sole inorganic fertilizer increased soil available nitrate concentration by 85% at 0-15 cm soil depth but decreased soil ammonium-N by 71%. Compared to control, inorganic fertilizer （P3oK6o） resulted in more than 100% increase in okra fresh fruit yield. Addition of 60 kg N/ha to P3oK6o caused 23% decline in okra fresh fruit yield but showed 60% more okra fresh fruit yield than the control. Inorganic N rates of 120,180 kg N/ha and 240 kg N/ha combined with P3oK6o however caused a decline of 74% in okra fresh fruit yield. Biochar ＋ inorganic fertilizer increased okra fresh fruit yield by 100% compared to sole inorganic fertilizer. Biochar, an inert carbon, combined with inorganic fertilizer has tremendous potential to address food insecurity through soil moisture storage and soil N availability.展开更多
The application of straw and biochar is widely practiced for the improvement of soil fertility.However,its impact on microbial functional profiles,particularly with regard to paddy soils,is not well understood.The aim...The application of straw and biochar is widely practiced for the improvement of soil fertility.However,its impact on microbial functional profiles,particularly with regard to paddy soils,is not well understood.The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of microbial carbon use patterns in paddy soils amended with straw or straw-derived biochar in a 3-year field experiment in fallow soil and at various development stages of a rice crop(i.e.,tillering and blooming).We applied the community level physiological profiling approach,with 15 substrates(sugars,carboxylic and amino acids,and phenolic acid).In general,straw application resulted in the greatest microbial functional diversity owing to the greater number of available C sources than in control or biochar plots.Biochar amendment promoted the use of α-ketoglutaric acid,the mineralization of which was higher than that of any other substrate.Principal component analyses indicated that microbial functional diversity in the biochar-amended soil was separated from those of the straw-amended and control soils.Redundancy analyses revealed that soil organic carbon content was the most important factor regulating the pattern of microbial carbon utilization.Rhizodeposition and nutrient uptake by rice plants modulated microbial functions in paddy soils and stimulated the microbial use of N-rich substances,such as amino acids.Thus,our results demonstrated that the functional diversity of microorganisms in organic amended paddy soils is affected by both physicochemical properties of amendment and plant growth stage.展开更多
There is a need to simultaneously preserve evidence of interactions between the biological community and soil structural properties of a soil in as near an intact （natural） state as possible. Three dehydration techn...There is a need to simultaneously preserve evidence of interactions between the biological community and soil structural properties of a soil in as near an intact （natural） state as possible. Three dehydration techniques were implemented and assessed for their ability to minimise disruption of both biological and physical properties of the same arable soil sample. Dehydration techniques applied until samples were at constant weight were i） air-drying at 20℃ （AD）; ii） -80 ℃ freeze for 24 h, followed by freeze-drying （-80FD）; and iii） liquid nitrogen snap freeze, followed by freeze-drying （LNPD） and were compared to a moist control. Physical structure was determined and quantified in three dimensions using X-ray computed tomography and microbial phenotypic community composition was assessed using phospholipid fatty acid （PLPA） profiling. This study confirms that any form of dehydration, when preparing soil for simultaneous biological and physical analysis, will alter the soil physical properties, and cause some change in apparent community structure. Freeze-drying （both the LNFD and -80FD treatments） was found to minimise disruption （when compared to the moist control soil） to both the soil physical properties and the community structure and is a preferable technique to air-drying which markedly alters the size and character of the pore network, as well as the phenotypic profile. The LNFD was the preferred treatment over the -80FD treatment as samples show low variability between replicates and a fast turn-around time between samples. Therefore snap freezing in liquid nitrogen, followed by freeze drying is the most appropriate form of dehydration when two sets of data, both physical and biological, need to be preserved simultaneously from a soil core.展开更多
A methodology for studying soil polygenesis and lithological homogeneity of soil profiles is suggested. This methodology is particularly important for mountain soils, where the lithological heterogeneity of the soil p...A methodology for studying soil polygenesis and lithological homogeneity of soil profiles is suggested. This methodology is particularly important for mountain soils, where the lithological heterogeneity of the soil profiles created by denudation and accumulation processes is often observed. The methodology includes several stages： （a） the study of the lithological homogeneity/ heterogeneity of soil profiles by field and laboratory methods, （b） the stage-by-stage macro-, meso-, micro-, and submicromorphological analyses of soil profiles with additional use of the methods of neighboring sciences, and （e） the subdivision of soil features into the groups of recent and inherited （relict） features. In the latter group, the subgroups of lithorelict features inherited from the parent material and pedorelict features inherited from the previous stages of soil formation can be distinguished. Two major models of soil polygenesis are suggested. Simple models describe the soils, in which new features appear due to the changes in the environmental conditions in the course of soil evolution. Complex models describe the soils, in which such changes are combined with deposition of new portions of sediments onto the soil surface with the development of buried soil horizons （the synlithogenie pedogenesis）. The models of continuous and discontinuous synlithogenic pedogenesis can be further distinguished. It is argued that the micromorphological method applied to the studies on soil mierofabrics, microforms of soil humus, soil porosity, coatings, and various pedo- and lithorelict features yields valuable information on polygenetic soils.展开更多
There are interactions between phosphorus （P） and some micronutrients which can affect their availability if P is applied as a fertilizer in high concentrations. There are many mechanisms of interactions between P a...There are interactions between phosphorus （P） and some micronutrients which can affect their availability if P is applied as a fertilizer in high concentrations. There are many mechanisms of interactions between P and micronutrients and changes in pH values caused by phosphate fertilization is one of them. These interactions between nutrients might be more pronounced under a no-tillage system which produces stratification and accumulation of few mobile nutrients as P in the surface horizons due to the lack of soil removement. The objectives of this study were： （1） to evaluate the effect of P concentration on the availability ofCu, Zn, Fe and Mn in soil under no-tillage system; （2） to produce maps of nutrients availability and to analyze whether an interaction between nutrients spatial distribution exists. The study was carried out in Parana, province of Entre Rios, in a soil classified as Vertic Argiudol in two consecutive growing seasons （2006 and 2007）. A plot of 1 （one） hectare under no-tillage system with a double-cropped wheat-soybean rotation in sequence （soybean sowing after wheat harvest） was sampled by the grid methods. The results of this study suggest which tillage regime and phosphate fertilization increased P levels in superficial horizons and this produced a negative relationship between micronutrients and P. Regarding the nutrients map distributions, the negative interaction between P and micronutrients was clearly seen in the case ofFe_ Mn and Zn.展开更多
Continuous application of organic fertilizers can cause accumulation of organic phosphorus(P)in soil,especially in the lowmolecular-weight organic phosphorus(LMWOP)forms.This organic P pool represents a potentially im...Continuous application of organic fertilizers can cause accumulation of organic phosphorus(P)in soil,especially in the lowmolecular-weight organic phosphorus(LMWOP)forms.This organic P pool represents a potentially important source of P for both plants and microorganisms.To understand the effect of long-term fertilization(30 years)(P-rich soil)vs.fallowing(P-poor soil)on the bioavailability and fate of LMWOP in subtropical paddy soils,we determined the sorption and mineralization of 14 C-labeled adenosine,adenosine monophosphate(AMP),adenosine diphosphate(ADP),and adenosine triphosphate(ATP)in each soil.The contents of carbon,nitrogen,and P in the P-rich soil were more than two times greater than those in the P-poor soil.The mineralization rates of the LMWOP compounds were faster in the P-rich soil compared to the P-poor soil,and followed the order AMP>ADP>ATP.Using sterilized soil,all forms of adenosine-P were strongly sorbed to the solid phase and reached saturation in a short time,with the adsorbance increasing with the number of phosphate groups.We concluded that the mineralization of LMWOP compounds was repressed slightly by sorption to the solid phase,but only in the short term.Thus,LMWOP compounds serve as readily available sources of C for microorganisms,making P available for themselves as well as for the plants.However,P accumulation and the progressive saturation of the P sorption sites in highly fertile soils may increase the potential risk of P runoff.展开更多
Specific features of soil salinization in the Ekhiin-Gol oasis,one of the largest oasis in the Transaltai Gobi of Mongolia,were first studied in 1977.It was shown that recent hydromorphic solonchaks forming as a resul...Specific features of soil salinization in the Ekhiin-Gol oasis,one of the largest oasis in the Transaltai Gobi of Mongolia,were first studied in 1977.It was shown that recent hydromorphic solonchaks forming as a result of modern salt accumulation predominate in the soil cover of the oasis.A detailed map of soil salinization was compiled,and specific features of salinization in different soils of oases in the Gobi Desert were studied.In 2001,the soil survey of the oasis was repeated,which made it possible to trace the dynamics of soil salinization within a 25-year-long period.The comparison of the data on the soil salinization in the Ekhiin-Gol oasis obtained in 1977-1978 and 2001 has shown that the main part of the oasis area occupied by hydromorphic solonchaks has not undergone significant changes in the degree and character of soil salinization.The rise in the salinity of the oasis soils is most pronounced in the area of the initially(1977) nonsaline or slightly saline meadow and meadow swamp hydromorphic soils and in the area of the formerly irrigated and then abandoned lands.The rise in the degree of the soil salinization may be caused by both natural factors(a drop in the general water supply of the oasis) and natural-anthropogenic factors(a decrease in the discharge of the springs and a lower amount of water accumulated on the soil surface in the form of icings in the winter seasons).The secondary salinization of the irrigated lands is locally developed.It is probably related to saline rocks underlying the loesslike loam.These rocks become the source of soil salts as a result of irrigation.Secondary salinization is sometimes actively developed upon irrigation with saline water from deep wells within the irrigated lands.The tendency for an increase in the degree of soil salinization may also be related to the plant cover degradation as a result of overgrazing.It leads to the formation of barrens,which enhances the physical evaporation from the soil surface and may activate salinization processes in the oasis.展开更多
In intensively irrigated rice cultivation,plant-available silicon(Si)is a crucial nutrient for improving rice productivity.As a source of Si,calcium silicate(CaSiO3)was amended to evaluate the effect of silicate ferti...In intensively irrigated rice cultivation,plant-available silicon(Si)is a crucial nutrient for improving rice productivity.As a source of Si,calcium silicate(CaSiO3)was amended to evaluate the effect of silicate fertilizer on rice production,nitrogen(N)use efficiency,and greenhouse gas(GHG)emission under alternating wetting and drying in a pot experiment using a tropical soil from a paddy field of the International Rice Research Institute(IRRI)in the Philippines.Four levels of CaSiO3 amendment,0,112.7,224.5,and 445.8 kg ha^-1,with the recommended N rate were tested.The results showed that although CaSiO3amendment of 112.7 kg ha^-1resulted in higher rice straw,improved N use efficiency,and reduced N2O emission,there was no difference in grain yield among the four levels of CaSiO3 amendment owing to relatively lower harvest index.Moreover,CaSiO3 amendment showed a reverse trend between CH4 and N2O emissions as it reduced N2O emission while led to significantly increased CH4 emission and global warming potential.Thus,CaSiO3 amendment was a possible alternative to improve N use efficiency and increase rice straw biomass,but it needs to be reviewed in line with grain yield production and GHG emission.It is also imperative to test an optimal method of silicate fertilizer amendment in future research in order to compromise a negative impact in tropical soils.展开更多
In carbon global cycle, the relationship between the terrestrial ecosystem and the atmosphere where there are, among others, gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect, has become object of relevant scientific int...In carbon global cycle, the relationship between the terrestrial ecosystem and the atmosphere where there are, among others, gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect, has become object of relevant scientific interest. The content of organic matter in soil, expressed by its supplies as well as the organic matter degree of stability, are factors that can prevent the soil from acting as a drain and at the same time contribute for it to become a source of those gases. The variations in the way land is used in Brazil are factors responsible for the increase in emission of greenhouse effect gases. Based on these facts, this study was aimed to evaluate the CO2 and CH4 efflux using a gas retention chamber, and to associate these emissions to the organic carbon content in the soil. Two different areas were selected for the study, one in Tijuca Forest National Park, in a forest area, and the other at the Rio de Janeiro Federal Rural University campus. In the latter, the area was stratified in three sub areas according to the vegetation, use and water saturation degree. Samplings were performed during 8 months between 2013 and 2014.展开更多
Industrial and agricultural activities lead to the release of rare earth elements(REEs)in wastewater and aquatic ecosystems,and their accumulation in soils.However,the behavior of REEs in soils remains somewhat unclea...Industrial and agricultural activities lead to the release of rare earth elements(REEs)in wastewater and aquatic ecosystems,and their accumulation in soils.However,the behavior of REEs in soils remains somewhat unclear.In the present work the fractionation and fixation of REEs in soddy-podzolic and chernozem soils spiked with La,Ce,and Nd chlorides were studied using dynamic(continuous flow)extraction,which allows natural conditions to be mimicked and artefacts to be minimised.The eluents applied are aimed to dissolve exchangeable,specifically sorbed,bound to Mn oxides,bound to metal-organic complexes,and bound to amorphous and poorly ordered Fe/Al oxides fractions extractable by 0.05 mol/L Ca(NO_(3))2,0.43 mol/L CH_(3)COOH,0.1 mol/L NH_(2)OH·HCl,0.1 mol/L K_(4)P_(2)O_(7) at pH 11,and 0.1 mol/L(NH4)_(2)C_(2)O_(4) at pH 3.2,respectively.It is found that the fixations of added La,Ce,and Nd in the form of metal-organic complexes is predominant for both types of soils:35%-38%in soddy-podzolic soil and 50%-79%in chernozem.The fixation of added elements in the first three fractions(exchangeable,specifically sorbed,and bound to Mn oxides)is significant for soddy-podzolic soil(5%-25%).For chernozem,the relative contents of added Ce and Nd in these fractions are nearly negligible.Only the content of exchangeable La is notable,about 5%.Adding any of three elements(La,Ce,or Nd)at the level of100 mg/kg to an initial sample results in changing the fractionation and bioaccessibility of other REEs present in soil.Their contents increase in the first three fractions and decrease in fifth(oxalate extractable)fraction for both soddy-podzolic soil and chernozem.The main difference is the behavior of REEs in pyrophosphate extractable fraction.For soddy-podzolic soil,adding La,Ce,or Nd results in decreasing the contents of other REEs associated with organic matter.For chernozem,on the contrary,the contents of REEs in the form of metal-organic complexes slightly increase.These processes may be attributed to competitive binding of elements and soil properties;they must be taken into account when assessing the environmental risks of soil pollution with REEs.展开更多
Annual forage legumes are important components of livestock production systems in East Texas and the southeastern US. Forage legumes contribute nitrogen (N) to cropping systems through biological N fixation, and their...Annual forage legumes are important components of livestock production systems in East Texas and the southeastern US. Forage legumes contribute nitrogen (N) to cropping systems through biological N fixation, and their seasonal biomass production can be managed to complement forage grasses. Our research objectives were to evaluate both warm- and cool-season annual forage legumes as green manure for biomass, N content, ability to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil N, and impact on post season forage grass crops. Nine warm-season forage legumes (WSL) were spring planted and incorporated as green manure in the fall. Forage rye (Secale cereale L.) was planted following the incorporation of WSL treatments. Eight cool-season forage legumes (CSL) were fall planted in previously fallow plots and incorporated as green manure in late spring. Sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor x Sorghum bicolor var. sudanense) was planted over all treatments in early summer after forage rye harvest and incorporation of CSL treatments. Sorghum-sudangrass was harvested in June, August and September, and treatments were evaluated for dry matter and N concentration. Soil cores were taken from each plot, split into depths of 0 to 15, 15 to 30 and 30 to 60 cm, and soil C and N were measured using combustion analysis. Nylon mesh bags containing plant samples were buried at 15 cm and used to evaluate decomposition rate of above ground legume biomass, including change in C and N concentrations. Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. [Wilczek]) had the highest shoot biomass yield (6.24 t DM ha<sup>-1</sup>) and contributed the most total N (167 kg∙ha<sup>-1</sup>) and total C (3043 kg∙ha<sup>-1</sup>) of the WSL tested. Decomposition rate of WSL biomass was rapid in the first 10 weeks and very slow afterward. Winter pea (Pisum sativum L. spp. sativum), arrow leaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) were the most productive CSL in this trial. Austrian winter pea produced 8.41 t DM ha<sup>-1</sup> with a total N yield of 319 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> and total C production of 3835 kg C ha<sup>-1</sup>. The WSL treatments had only small effects on rye forage yield and N concentration, possibly due to mineralization of N from a large SOC pool already in place. The CSL treatments also had only minimal effects on sorghum-sudangrass forage production. Winter pea, arrow leaf and crimson clover were productive cool season legumes and could be useful as green manure crops. Mungbean and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) were highly productive warm season legumes but may include more production risk in green manure systems due to soil moisture competition.展开更多
A study was conducted to identify the causes of low crop yield on a large scale commercial farm in Zimbabwe. Soil and water samples were collected from fields （0-60 cm） and the dam used for irrigation, respectively....A study was conducted to identify the causes of low crop yield on a large scale commercial farm in Zimbabwe. Soil and water samples were collected from fields （0-60 cm） and the dam used for irrigation, respectively. Soil samples were analysed for soil fertility characteristics while the water was analysed for irrigation quality. The soils on the farm were heavy, ranging from sand loams to sand clays and fertile （〉 40 mg kgl N and 〉 20 mg kg1 available P） indicating high fertilizer utilization. It was also noted that 50% of the fields on the farm had soil pH below 5.0 despite having high basic cation （Ca = 10-18 meq% and Mg = 4-7 meq%）. A similar trend was observed down the soil profile （30-60 cm）. The soil also had extremely high concentration of iron （〉 200 ppm）, manganese （〉 400 ppm） and sulphate （〉 4000 ppm）. These findings suggest that the extreme acidity under these soils is the outcome of the exposure of pyrite to moisture and air by tillage of the land. The water used for irrigation was established to be medium saline and alkaline （pH 〉 7.6）. This pyrite induced acidity could not be neutralised by the water from the dam and the high exchangeable bases in the soil. Such problems can possibly be managed by growing tolerant crops. Soil testing on commercial farms is vital for identifying such problems in commercial farms in Zimbabwe.展开更多
A new quadrilateral finite element IQ4 is developed for the free vibration of carbon nanotube-reinforced composite(CNTRC)perforated plates with a central cutout.By enriching the membrane part and incorporating a proje...A new quadrilateral finite element IQ4 is developed for the free vibration of carbon nanotube-reinforced composite(CNTRC)perforated plates with a central cutout.By enriching the membrane part and incorporating a projected shear technique,the IQ4 element is proposed to address the known limitations of the standard Q4 element,such as shear locking and limited consistency in the coupling ofmembrane-bending components.The proposed element is formulated within the FSDT-based framework and assessed through benchmark tests to verify its convergence and accuracy.The governing equations are obtained via theweak formofHamilton’s principle.Particular attention is given to the influence of carbon nanotube volume fraction,distribution patterns,and boundary conditions on the fundamental frequency response of CNTRC plates with cutouts.In addition,a parametric study is conducted to assess the influence of cutout geometric configuration,shape,and size ratios on the vibrational response of the CNTRC plate.The numerical results demonstrate that the formulated IQ4 element provides stable and accurate estimations of natural frequencies,even in the presence of a cutout and the coupled effects of the non-uniform distribution of reinforcement through the plate thickness.The developed formulation is expected to contribute to the structural design and optimization of advanced lightweight systems,particularly in aerospace and mechanical engineering applications.展开更多
Micromorphology of solonetz species with special attention to natric horizon was studied in microcatenas at the Dzhanybek Research Station (northwestern Caspian Lowland). The solonetzic (natric) horizon is easily iden...Micromorphology of solonetz species with special attention to natric horizon was studied in microcatenas at the Dzhanybek Research Station (northwestern Caspian Lowland). The solonetzic (natric) horizon is easily identified, and it occurs at varying depths, which are the criteria for subdividing solonetzes into 4 species, namely, crusty, shallow, medium and deep. In this sequence, the depth of humus-accumulative horizons increases, and the upper boundary of salinity manifestations goes down. The following micromorphological features are assumed as typical for natric horizons: angular blocky microstructures with partially accommodated aggregates having sharp boundaries and narrow plane-like packing voids; b-fabric speckled in the aggregates' centers and monostriated at their peripheries merging into stress coatings; very few interpedal voids; organo-clay coatings; humusenriched infillings; no calcite and gypsum pedofeatures. A complete set of "natric" features was found only in the crusty solonetz; the shallow solonetz lacks only illuviation coatings, while the medium and deep species have several modifications of fabric elements: blocky aggregates have a rounded shape and are penetrated by biogenic channels favoring their further biogenic reworking; plant residues became more abundant and diverse, and blackened tissues occur; illuviation clay coatings evolved into papules; stress coatings gave birth to striated b- fabrics, thus maintaining a high plasma orientation. The thin sections of natric horizons made 50 and 20 years ago were examined to study the influence of environmental changes (increase in precipitation and rise of ground water table) on micropedofeatures. The following processes took place: (i) in the topsoil: humus accumulation and biogenic structurization; (ii) in the natric horizon-re-arrangement of clay coatings into micromass b-fabrics; and (iii) in the lower part of the natric horizon-development of pseudosand fabric, calcite and gypsum formation. The trends revealed are in good agreement with the environmental events.展开更多
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different vine cuttings and provide a fast method for production of high-quality sweet potato seedlings.With short vine type‘Ganshu No.2'as an experiment mat...This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different vine cuttings and provide a fast method for production of high-quality sweet potato seedlings.With short vine type‘Ganshu No.2'as an experiment material,biological characteristics of sweet potato seedlings were investigated by setting three vine sections( the ingle-node section,dual-node section and three-node top bud section) using three kinds of substrates( red soil,leaf mould and pond sludge).The results showed that the dual-node vine section plus leaf mould treatment sprouted earliest( 3 d) with the highest survival rate( 86.6%),root number( 9.2 roots) and the longest root length( 5.9 cm),compared with other treatments.Therefore,dual-node vine section plus leaf mould plug seedling raising has the characteristics of short sprouting time,high survival rate and low cost.The method could provide seedlings in a short period( 20 d),improves sweet potato propagation coefficient and is worth extending and applying.展开更多
文摘Anaerobic digestion is a process that is widely used for the treatment of organic wastes. The digestate can be used as a soil amendment or crop fertiliser. The aims of our work were to evaluate 1) the physicochemical composition and pathogen content in a digestate from poultry manure, according to international regulations, and 2) the effect of its soil application on the major chemical and biological soil properties and on the growth of Lactuca sativa. The experiment consisted of two groups of pots(with and without crop). Treatments applied to each group were as follows: low and high doses of digestate and inorganic fertiliser, and no application(control)(low dose: 70 kg nitrogen(N) ha^(-1) and 21 kg phosphorus(P) ha^(-1); high dose: 210 kg N ha^(-1) and 63 kg P ha^(-1)). Soil samples were taken 7 and 34 d(harvest) after treatment applications. Heavy metal and pathogen contents in the digestate were below the upper limit values. Despite the high pH and electrical conductivity values of the digestate, both soil parameters presented acceptable values for crop growth. Although there were no initial increases in total inorganic N and available P in soil with digestate application, an increase in the fresh weight of crop was observed with the high dose application. This is probably associated with the slow nutrient release from the digestate during the development of the crop. Changes in the microbial community were temporary and occurred at the initial sampling stage of the experiment.
文摘Soil management technologies for climate change adaptation and mitigation are needed to increase and sustain food production in smallholder agriculture while sequestering inert carbon in the soil. In a field studies at Crops Research Institute, Kwadaso-Kumasi Ghana, a control treatment, five inorganic fertilizer combinations （P30K60, N60P30K60, N120P30K60, NlsoP30K60 and N24oP3oK6o） and four biochar rates ＋ inorganic fertilizer （2 t/ha Biochar ＋ N60P30K60, 4 t/ha Biochar ＋ N60P30K60, 6 t/ha Biochar ＋ N6oP3oK6o and 8 t/ha Biochar ＋N6oP3oK6o） were assessed for their effect on soil moisture storage, soil available nitrogen and crop yield. The test crop was okra. Biochar amendments increased soil moisture storage by 14% relative to sole inorganic fertilizer applications. Biochar ＋ inorganic fertilizer relative to sole inorganic fertilizer increased soil available nitrate concentration by 85% at 0-15 cm soil depth but decreased soil ammonium-N by 71%. Compared to control, inorganic fertilizer （P3oK6o） resulted in more than 100% increase in okra fresh fruit yield. Addition of 60 kg N/ha to P3oK6o caused 23% decline in okra fresh fruit yield but showed 60% more okra fresh fruit yield than the control. Inorganic N rates of 120,180 kg N/ha and 240 kg N/ha combined with P3oK6o however caused a decline of 74% in okra fresh fruit yield. Biochar ＋ inorganic fertilizer increased okra fresh fruit yield by 100% compared to sole inorganic fertilizer. Biochar, an inert carbon, combined with inorganic fertilizer has tremendous potential to address food insecurity through soil moisture storage and soil N availability.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFE0101100)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41771334,41771337 and 31470629)+2 种基金the Youth Innovation Team Project of the Institute of Subtropical Agriculture,Chinese Academy of Sciences(2017QNCXTD_GTD)the Chinese Academy of Sciences Instrument Function Development Project,the Government Program of Competitive Growth of Kazan Federal University and by the “RUDN University program5–100”
文摘The application of straw and biochar is widely practiced for the improvement of soil fertility.However,its impact on microbial functional profiles,particularly with regard to paddy soils,is not well understood.The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of microbial carbon use patterns in paddy soils amended with straw or straw-derived biochar in a 3-year field experiment in fallow soil and at various development stages of a rice crop(i.e.,tillering and blooming).We applied the community level physiological profiling approach,with 15 substrates(sugars,carboxylic and amino acids,and phenolic acid).In general,straw application resulted in the greatest microbial functional diversity owing to the greater number of available C sources than in control or biochar plots.Biochar amendment promoted the use of α-ketoglutaric acid,the mineralization of which was higher than that of any other substrate.Principal component analyses indicated that microbial functional diversity in the biochar-amended soil was separated from those of the straw-amended and control soils.Redundancy analyses revealed that soil organic carbon content was the most important factor regulating the pattern of microbial carbon utilization.Rhizodeposition and nutrient uptake by rice plants modulated microbial functions in paddy soils and stimulated the microbial use of N-rich substances,such as amino acids.Thus,our results demonstrated that the functional diversity of microorganisms in organic amended paddy soils is affected by both physicochemical properties of amendment and plant growth stage.
文摘There is a need to simultaneously preserve evidence of interactions between the biological community and soil structural properties of a soil in as near an intact （natural） state as possible. Three dehydration techniques were implemented and assessed for their ability to minimise disruption of both biological and physical properties of the same arable soil sample. Dehydration techniques applied until samples were at constant weight were i） air-drying at 20℃ （AD）; ii） -80 ℃ freeze for 24 h, followed by freeze-drying （-80FD）; and iii） liquid nitrogen snap freeze, followed by freeze-drying （LNPD） and were compared to a moist control. Physical structure was determined and quantified in three dimensions using X-ray computed tomography and microbial phenotypic community composition was assessed using phospholipid fatty acid （PLPA） profiling. This study confirms that any form of dehydration, when preparing soil for simultaneous biological and physical analysis, will alter the soil physical properties, and cause some change in apparent community structure. Freeze-drying （both the LNFD and -80FD treatments） was found to minimise disruption （when compared to the moist control soil） to both the soil physical properties and the community structure and is a preferable technique to air-drying which markedly alters the size and character of the pore network, as well as the phenotypic profile. The LNFD was the preferred treatment over the -80FD treatment as samples show low variability between replicates and a fast turn-around time between samples. Therefore snap freezing in liquid nitrogen, followed by freeze drying is the most appropriate form of dehydration when two sets of data, both physical and biological, need to be preserved simultaneously from a soil core.
文摘A methodology for studying soil polygenesis and lithological homogeneity of soil profiles is suggested. This methodology is particularly important for mountain soils, where the lithological heterogeneity of the soil profiles created by denudation and accumulation processes is often observed. The methodology includes several stages： （a） the study of the lithological homogeneity/ heterogeneity of soil profiles by field and laboratory methods, （b） the stage-by-stage macro-, meso-, micro-, and submicromorphological analyses of soil profiles with additional use of the methods of neighboring sciences, and （e） the subdivision of soil features into the groups of recent and inherited （relict） features. In the latter group, the subgroups of lithorelict features inherited from the parent material and pedorelict features inherited from the previous stages of soil formation can be distinguished. Two major models of soil polygenesis are suggested. Simple models describe the soils, in which new features appear due to the changes in the environmental conditions in the course of soil evolution. Complex models describe the soils, in which such changes are combined with deposition of new portions of sediments onto the soil surface with the development of buried soil horizons （the synlithogenie pedogenesis）. The models of continuous and discontinuous synlithogenic pedogenesis can be further distinguished. It is argued that the micromorphological method applied to the studies on soil mierofabrics, microforms of soil humus, soil porosity, coatings, and various pedo- and lithorelict features yields valuable information on polygenetic soils.
文摘There are interactions between phosphorus （P） and some micronutrients which can affect their availability if P is applied as a fertilizer in high concentrations. There are many mechanisms of interactions between P and micronutrients and changes in pH values caused by phosphate fertilization is one of them. These interactions between nutrients might be more pronounced under a no-tillage system which produces stratification and accumulation of few mobile nutrients as P in the surface horizons due to the lack of soil removement. The objectives of this study were： （1） to evaluate the effect of P concentration on the availability ofCu, Zn, Fe and Mn in soil under no-tillage system; （2） to produce maps of nutrients availability and to analyze whether an interaction between nutrients spatial distribution exists. The study was carried out in Parana, province of Entre Rios, in a soil classified as Vertic Argiudol in two consecutive growing seasons （2006 and 2007）. A plot of 1 （one） hectare under no-tillage system with a double-cropped wheat-soybean rotation in sequence （soybean sowing after wheat harvest） was sampled by the grid methods. The results of this study suggest which tillage regime and phosphate fertilization increased P levels in superficial horizons and this produced a negative relationship between micronutrients and P. Regarding the nutrients map distributions, the negative interaction between P and micronutrients was clearly seen in the case ofFe_ Mn and Zn.
基金funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,China(2020JJ4563)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(4181101348)+2 种基金the Innovation Groups of Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province(2019JJ10003)the Chinese Academy of Sciences President’s International Fellowship Initiative to Anna Gunina(2019VCC0003)the Talented Young Scientist Program(TYSP)to Mostafa Zhran supported by the China Science and Technology Exchange Center(Egypt-19-004)。
文摘Continuous application of organic fertilizers can cause accumulation of organic phosphorus(P)in soil,especially in the lowmolecular-weight organic phosphorus(LMWOP)forms.This organic P pool represents a potentially important source of P for both plants and microorganisms.To understand the effect of long-term fertilization(30 years)(P-rich soil)vs.fallowing(P-poor soil)on the bioavailability and fate of LMWOP in subtropical paddy soils,we determined the sorption and mineralization of 14 C-labeled adenosine,adenosine monophosphate(AMP),adenosine diphosphate(ADP),and adenosine triphosphate(ATP)in each soil.The contents of carbon,nitrogen,and P in the P-rich soil were more than two times greater than those in the P-poor soil.The mineralization rates of the LMWOP compounds were faster in the P-rich soil compared to the P-poor soil,and followed the order AMP>ADP>ATP.Using sterilized soil,all forms of adenosine-P were strongly sorbed to the solid phase and reached saturation in a short time,with the adsorbance increasing with the number of phosphate groups.We concluded that the mineralization of LMWOP compounds was repressed slightly by sorption to the solid phase,but only in the short term.Thus,LMWOP compounds serve as readily available sources of C for microorganisms,making P available for themselves as well as for the plants.However,P accumulation and the progressive saturation of the P sorption sites in highly fertile soils may increase the potential risk of P runoff.
文摘Specific features of soil salinization in the Ekhiin-Gol oasis,one of the largest oasis in the Transaltai Gobi of Mongolia,were first studied in 1977.It was shown that recent hydromorphic solonchaks forming as a result of modern salt accumulation predominate in the soil cover of the oasis.A detailed map of soil salinization was compiled,and specific features of salinization in different soils of oases in the Gobi Desert were studied.In 2001,the soil survey of the oasis was repeated,which made it possible to trace the dynamics of soil salinization within a 25-year-long period.The comparison of the data on the soil salinization in the Ekhiin-Gol oasis obtained in 1977-1978 and 2001 has shown that the main part of the oasis area occupied by hydromorphic solonchaks has not undergone significant changes in the degree and character of soil salinization.The rise in the salinity of the oasis soils is most pronounced in the area of the initially(1977) nonsaline or slightly saline meadow and meadow swamp hydromorphic soils and in the area of the formerly irrigated and then abandoned lands.The rise in the degree of the soil salinization may be caused by both natural factors(a drop in the general water supply of the oasis) and natural-anthropogenic factors(a decrease in the discharge of the springs and a lower amount of water accumulated on the soil surface in the form of icings in the winter seasons).The secondary salinization of the irrigated lands is locally developed.It is probably related to saline rocks underlying the loesslike loam.These rocks become the source of soil salts as a result of irrigation.Secondary salinization is sometimes actively developed upon irrigation with saline water from deep wells within the irrigated lands.The tendency for an increase in the degree of soil salinization may also be related to the plant cover degradation as a result of overgrazing.It leads to the formation of barrens,which enhances the physical evaporation from the soil surface and may activate salinization processes in the oasis.
基金financially supported by the IRRI-Japan Collaborative Research Project funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan
文摘In intensively irrigated rice cultivation,plant-available silicon(Si)is a crucial nutrient for improving rice productivity.As a source of Si,calcium silicate(CaSiO3)was amended to evaluate the effect of silicate fertilizer on rice production,nitrogen(N)use efficiency,and greenhouse gas(GHG)emission under alternating wetting and drying in a pot experiment using a tropical soil from a paddy field of the International Rice Research Institute(IRRI)in the Philippines.Four levels of CaSiO3 amendment,0,112.7,224.5,and 445.8 kg ha^-1,with the recommended N rate were tested.The results showed that although CaSiO3amendment of 112.7 kg ha^-1resulted in higher rice straw,improved N use efficiency,and reduced N2O emission,there was no difference in grain yield among the four levels of CaSiO3 amendment owing to relatively lower harvest index.Moreover,CaSiO3 amendment showed a reverse trend between CH4 and N2O emissions as it reduced N2O emission while led to significantly increased CH4 emission and global warming potential.Thus,CaSiO3 amendment was a possible alternative to improve N use efficiency and increase rice straw biomass,but it needs to be reviewed in line with grain yield production and GHG emission.It is also imperative to test an optimal method of silicate fertilizer amendment in future research in order to compromise a negative impact in tropical soils.
文摘In carbon global cycle, the relationship between the terrestrial ecosystem and the atmosphere where there are, among others, gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect, has become object of relevant scientific interest. The content of organic matter in soil, expressed by its supplies as well as the organic matter degree of stability, are factors that can prevent the soil from acting as a drain and at the same time contribute for it to become a source of those gases. The variations in the way land is used in Brazil are factors responsible for the increase in emission of greenhouse effect gases. Based on these facts, this study was aimed to evaluate the CO2 and CH4 efflux using a gas retention chamber, and to associate these emissions to the organic carbon content in the soil. Two different areas were selected for the study, one in Tijuca Forest National Park, in a forest area, and the other at the Rio de Janeiro Federal Rural University campus. In the latter, the area was stratified in three sub areas according to the vegetation, use and water saturation degree. Samplings were performed during 8 months between 2013 and 2014.
基金Project supported by the Russian Science Foundation(16-13-10417)the Russian Foundation for Basic Research(19-05-50016)+1 种基金Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation(K1-2014-026,K2-2020-003)Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry,Russian Academy of Sciences(0116-2019-0010)。
文摘Industrial and agricultural activities lead to the release of rare earth elements(REEs)in wastewater and aquatic ecosystems,and their accumulation in soils.However,the behavior of REEs in soils remains somewhat unclear.In the present work the fractionation and fixation of REEs in soddy-podzolic and chernozem soils spiked with La,Ce,and Nd chlorides were studied using dynamic(continuous flow)extraction,which allows natural conditions to be mimicked and artefacts to be minimised.The eluents applied are aimed to dissolve exchangeable,specifically sorbed,bound to Mn oxides,bound to metal-organic complexes,and bound to amorphous and poorly ordered Fe/Al oxides fractions extractable by 0.05 mol/L Ca(NO_(3))2,0.43 mol/L CH_(3)COOH,0.1 mol/L NH_(2)OH·HCl,0.1 mol/L K_(4)P_(2)O_(7) at pH 11,and 0.1 mol/L(NH4)_(2)C_(2)O_(4) at pH 3.2,respectively.It is found that the fixations of added La,Ce,and Nd in the form of metal-organic complexes is predominant for both types of soils:35%-38%in soddy-podzolic soil and 50%-79%in chernozem.The fixation of added elements in the first three fractions(exchangeable,specifically sorbed,and bound to Mn oxides)is significant for soddy-podzolic soil(5%-25%).For chernozem,the relative contents of added Ce and Nd in these fractions are nearly negligible.Only the content of exchangeable La is notable,about 5%.Adding any of three elements(La,Ce,or Nd)at the level of100 mg/kg to an initial sample results in changing the fractionation and bioaccessibility of other REEs present in soil.Their contents increase in the first three fractions and decrease in fifth(oxalate extractable)fraction for both soddy-podzolic soil and chernozem.The main difference is the behavior of REEs in pyrophosphate extractable fraction.For soddy-podzolic soil,adding La,Ce,or Nd results in decreasing the contents of other REEs associated with organic matter.For chernozem,on the contrary,the contents of REEs in the form of metal-organic complexes slightly increase.These processes may be attributed to competitive binding of elements and soil properties;they must be taken into account when assessing the environmental risks of soil pollution with REEs.
文摘Annual forage legumes are important components of livestock production systems in East Texas and the southeastern US. Forage legumes contribute nitrogen (N) to cropping systems through biological N fixation, and their seasonal biomass production can be managed to complement forage grasses. Our research objectives were to evaluate both warm- and cool-season annual forage legumes as green manure for biomass, N content, ability to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil N, and impact on post season forage grass crops. Nine warm-season forage legumes (WSL) were spring planted and incorporated as green manure in the fall. Forage rye (Secale cereale L.) was planted following the incorporation of WSL treatments. Eight cool-season forage legumes (CSL) were fall planted in previously fallow plots and incorporated as green manure in late spring. Sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor x Sorghum bicolor var. sudanense) was planted over all treatments in early summer after forage rye harvest and incorporation of CSL treatments. Sorghum-sudangrass was harvested in June, August and September, and treatments were evaluated for dry matter and N concentration. Soil cores were taken from each plot, split into depths of 0 to 15, 15 to 30 and 30 to 60 cm, and soil C and N were measured using combustion analysis. Nylon mesh bags containing plant samples were buried at 15 cm and used to evaluate decomposition rate of above ground legume biomass, including change in C and N concentrations. Mungbean (Vigna radiata L. [Wilczek]) had the highest shoot biomass yield (6.24 t DM ha<sup>-1</sup>) and contributed the most total N (167 kg∙ha<sup>-1</sup>) and total C (3043 kg∙ha<sup>-1</sup>) of the WSL tested. Decomposition rate of WSL biomass was rapid in the first 10 weeks and very slow afterward. Winter pea (Pisum sativum L. spp. sativum), arrow leaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) were the most productive CSL in this trial. Austrian winter pea produced 8.41 t DM ha<sup>-1</sup> with a total N yield of 319 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> and total C production of 3835 kg C ha<sup>-1</sup>. The WSL treatments had only small effects on rye forage yield and N concentration, possibly due to mineralization of N from a large SOC pool already in place. The CSL treatments also had only minimal effects on sorghum-sudangrass forage production. Winter pea, arrow leaf and crimson clover were productive cool season legumes and could be useful as green manure crops. Mungbean and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) were highly productive warm season legumes but may include more production risk in green manure systems due to soil moisture competition.
文摘A study was conducted to identify the causes of low crop yield on a large scale commercial farm in Zimbabwe. Soil and water samples were collected from fields （0-60 cm） and the dam used for irrigation, respectively. Soil samples were analysed for soil fertility characteristics while the water was analysed for irrigation quality. The soils on the farm were heavy, ranging from sand loams to sand clays and fertile （〉 40 mg kgl N and 〉 20 mg kg1 available P） indicating high fertilizer utilization. It was also noted that 50% of the fields on the farm had soil pH below 5.0 despite having high basic cation （Ca = 10-18 meq% and Mg = 4-7 meq%）. A similar trend was observed down the soil profile （30-60 cm）. The soil also had extremely high concentration of iron （〉 200 ppm）, manganese （〉 400 ppm） and sulphate （〉 4000 ppm）. These findings suggest that the extreme acidity under these soils is the outcome of the exposure of pyrite to moisture and air by tillage of the land. The water used for irrigation was established to be medium saline and alkaline （pH 〉 7.6）. This pyrite induced acidity could not be neutralised by the water from the dam and the high exchangeable bases in the soil. Such problems can possibly be managed by growing tolerant crops. Soil testing on commercial farms is vital for identifying such problems in commercial farms in Zimbabwe.
文摘A new quadrilateral finite element IQ4 is developed for the free vibration of carbon nanotube-reinforced composite(CNTRC)perforated plates with a central cutout.By enriching the membrane part and incorporating a projected shear technique,the IQ4 element is proposed to address the known limitations of the standard Q4 element,such as shear locking and limited consistency in the coupling ofmembrane-bending components.The proposed element is formulated within the FSDT-based framework and assessed through benchmark tests to verify its convergence and accuracy.The governing equations are obtained via theweak formofHamilton’s principle.Particular attention is given to the influence of carbon nanotube volume fraction,distribution patterns,and boundary conditions on the fundamental frequency response of CNTRC plates with cutouts.In addition,a parametric study is conducted to assess the influence of cutout geometric configuration,shape,and size ratios on the vibrational response of the CNTRC plate.The numerical results demonstrate that the formulated IQ4 element provides stable and accurate estimations of natural frequencies,even in the presence of a cutout and the coupled effects of the non-uniform distribution of reinforcement through the plate thickness.The developed formulation is expected to contribute to the structural design and optimization of advanced lightweight systems,particularly in aerospace and mechanical engineering applications.
基金supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Studies (project 08-04-01333)
文摘Micromorphology of solonetz species with special attention to natric horizon was studied in microcatenas at the Dzhanybek Research Station (northwestern Caspian Lowland). The solonetzic (natric) horizon is easily identified, and it occurs at varying depths, which are the criteria for subdividing solonetzes into 4 species, namely, crusty, shallow, medium and deep. In this sequence, the depth of humus-accumulative horizons increases, and the upper boundary of salinity manifestations goes down. The following micromorphological features are assumed as typical for natric horizons: angular blocky microstructures with partially accommodated aggregates having sharp boundaries and narrow plane-like packing voids; b-fabric speckled in the aggregates' centers and monostriated at their peripheries merging into stress coatings; very few interpedal voids; organo-clay coatings; humusenriched infillings; no calcite and gypsum pedofeatures. A complete set of "natric" features was found only in the crusty solonetz; the shallow solonetz lacks only illuviation coatings, while the medium and deep species have several modifications of fabric elements: blocky aggregates have a rounded shape and are penetrated by biogenic channels favoring their further biogenic reworking; plant residues became more abundant and diverse, and blackened tissues occur; illuviation clay coatings evolved into papules; stress coatings gave birth to striated b- fabrics, thus maintaining a high plasma orientation. The thin sections of natric horizons made 50 and 20 years ago were examined to study the influence of environmental changes (increase in precipitation and rise of ground water table) on micropedofeatures. The following processes took place: (i) in the topsoil: humus accumulation and biogenic structurization; (ii) in the natric horizon-re-arrangement of clay coatings into micromass b-fabrics; and (iii) in the lower part of the natric horizon-development of pseudosand fabric, calcite and gypsum formation. The trends revealed are in good agreement with the environmental events.
基金Supported by Jiangxi Science and Technology Achievement Transformation and Extension Program(20161BBI90039)Jiangxi Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Collaborative Innovation(JXXTCX201704)
文摘This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different vine cuttings and provide a fast method for production of high-quality sweet potato seedlings.With short vine type‘Ganshu No.2'as an experiment material,biological characteristics of sweet potato seedlings were investigated by setting three vine sections( the ingle-node section,dual-node section and three-node top bud section) using three kinds of substrates( red soil,leaf mould and pond sludge).The results showed that the dual-node vine section plus leaf mould treatment sprouted earliest( 3 d) with the highest survival rate( 86.6%),root number( 9.2 roots) and the longest root length( 5.9 cm),compared with other treatments.Therefore,dual-node vine section plus leaf mould plug seedling raising has the characteristics of short sprouting time,high survival rate and low cost.The method could provide seedlings in a short period( 20 d),improves sweet potato propagation coefficient and is worth extending and applying.
