Synergistic Effects of Nitrogen Amendments and Ethylene on Atmospheric Methane Uptake under a Temperate Old-growth Forest

An increase in atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can promote soil acidification, which may increase the release of ethylene (C2H4) under forest floors. Unfortunately, knowledge of whether increasing N deposition and C2H4 releases have synergistic effects on soil methane (CH4) uptake is limited and certainly deserves to be examined. We conducted some field measurements and laboratory experiments to examine this issue. The addition of (NH4)2SO4 or NH4Cl at a rate of 45 kg N ha-1 yr-1 reduced the soil CH4 uptake under a temperate old-growth forest in northeast China, and there were synergistic effects of N amendments in the presence of C2H4 concentrations equal to atmospheric CH4 concentration on the soil CH4 uptake, particularly in the NH4Cl-treated plots. Effective concentrations of added C2H4 on the soil CH4 uptake were smaller in NH+4 -treated plots than in KNO3-treated plots. The concentration of ca 0.3 μl C2H4 L-1 in the headspace gases reduced by 20% soil atmospheric CH4 uptake in the NH4Cl-treated plots, and this concentration was easily produced in temperate forest topsoils under short-term anoxic conditions. Together with short-term stimulating effects of N amendments and soil acidification on C2H4 production from forest soils, our observations suggest that knowledge of synergistic effects of NH+4 , rather than NO3- , amendments and C2H4 on the in situ soil CH4 uptake is critical for understanding the role of atmospheric N deposition and cycling of C2H4 under forest floors in reducing global atmospheric CH4 uptake by forests. Synergistic functions of NH4+ -N deposition and C2H4 release due to soil acidification in reducing atmospheric CH4 uptake by forests are discussed.     

辽宁ⅠaB、ⅠaAB 混合型金刚石的发现及其生长结构特征

利用显微红外光谱区域扫描,在辽宁50号岩筒产出的金刚石中发现1粒ⅠaB、ⅠaAB混合型金刚石,且ⅠaB、ⅠaAB间存在明显的界线。DiamondView荧光图像观察显示,该粒金刚石呈不规则的同心圈层生长结构,并可分为两个生长阶段,生长结构特征能够与显微红外光谱分析获得的结果相互验证。样品氮、氢含量的规律及变化趋势分析结果表明,样品不同阶段生长环境变化大,且出现明显的生长停顿,也验证了金刚石由A中心逐渐向B中心的转化过程。该金刚石的发现对研究金刚石生长过程中地质环境的变化具有重要意义。     

基于DRAINMOD的农田地表径流氮素流失动态模拟

为了解水旱农田地表径流氮素流失机理及过程,于2008年6～9月在湖北省漳河灌区开展了田间试验,并利用DRAINMOD模型对其进行模拟。研究结果表明:水田地表径流铵态氮和硝态氮的流失率均高于旱地,水田地表径流以铵态氮为主,而旱地以硝态氮为主。水旱农田地表径流氮素流失模拟值与实测值都非常接近,水田地表径流硝态氮和铵态氮模拟的相对误差分别为8.35%和10.99%,旱地分别为5.45%和14.11%;水田硝态氮和铵态氮模拟的效率系数分别为0.961和0.974,旱地的分别为0.993和0.938,效果都很好。因此,利用DRAINMOD模型进行该地区农田氮素流失动态模拟是可行而有效的。     

污水生物脱氮除磷新工艺的研究

传统的生物脱氮除磷技术效率低下,导致氮、磷去除率不迭标,是造成水体的富营养化的主要原因.概述了传统生物脱氮除磷原理,分析了传统生物脱氮除磷工艺的不足,并介绍了反硝化除磷、同时硝化反硝化、短程硝化反硝化、厌氧氨氧化等几种生物脱氮除磷新技术的原理与典型工艺.最后对生物脱氮除磷技术的发展趋势进行了展望,指出经济、高效、低能耗...     

Nutrients in an oligotrophic boundary current: Evidence of a new role for the Leeuwin Current

New observations along the continental shelf of Western Australia provide a novel explanation for the established ∼60 years relationship between Leeuwin Current (LC) strength and greater winter nitrate concentrations at 32°S plus the inter-annual variation in the magnitude of the annual, shelf-scale, phytoplankton bloom. The potential source of dissolved nitrogen to support the annual shelf scale phytoplankton bloom was identified as thin layers of an unprecedented areal extent, nitrate concentration and shallow nature that were observed off the northwest of Australia. We propose that the dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in these layers enters the LC at depth and then enters the euphotic zone via by three mechanisms: instability that results in a warm core eddy, cooling that deepens the surface mixed layer and shallowing of the thin layer. During the onset of the annual phytoplankton bloom along the west coast of Australia from 22°S to 34°S the poleward flowing LC was clearly evident as a surface intensified ocean boundary current transporting warmer, lower-salinity, greater-silicate waters in a shallow mixed layer rapidly southward. Between 24 and 26°S the core of the LC was present as a 50–100 m deep layer over one or more thin layers, 15–50 m thick, with high nitrate and low dissolved oxygen (DO). These layers were of lower salinity, cooler water with markedly reduced DO, high nitrate concentrations and distinct nitrate:silicate (NO₃:Si(OH)₄) nutrient ratios. As the LC flowed south it cooled and deepened thereby entraining the thin layers of high nitrate water into the euphotic zone. The LC also formed large (greater than 100 km diameter) warm core eddies with a deep surface mixed layer that also entrained nitrate from these thin layers. In some locations as far south as 32°S the LC was still present with the thin layer of high nitrate intact but now within the euphotic zone. Thus, the available evidence suggests the LC arises under conditions that favour rapid and shallow nitrification. This nitrification fuels a shelf-scale bloom on a downwelling favourable coast. Depending upon the rate of nitrification the source of the particular organic matter may be local or delivered from the tropics via horizontal advection in a subsurface layer of the LC.     

北海珍珠养殖区与非养殖区海域水体氮含量的分布及其与环境因子的关系

根据2008年9月和2009年4月对广西北海海域珍珠养殖区和非养殖区水体各形态氮含量的调查资料,采用对比手法研究其氮循环特征及其与环境因子的关系.结果表明：研究海域水体各种形态氮含量无论在季节上还是区域上,均突出地体现了养殖生物的释放作用和陆源排污的影响作用.氮的含量变化随着区域和季节不同而显示出特有的规律.春季,正值珠贝插核期的养殖区水体中的氮含量较低,并在不同区域随生物链作用呈现出很好的规律性,各形态氮含量与环境因子之间呈相关的几率较高,其中DON含量与pH值以及DIN含量与SS和TOC含量之间的负相关性均达到了非常显著水平（p〈0.01）,但水环境是以耗氧过程影响为主.秋季,随着养殖珠贝进入养成期,在其摄食和排泄压力大幅度增加的同时,以主要存在形态出现的TN、DN、DON含量亦大幅度上升,但作为浮游植物直接吸收的DIN含量却在明显上升的情况下仍然远低于一类海水水质标准值,只有NH4-N含量与水温呈显著负相关（p〈0.05）,水环境却以增氧状态出现.而非养殖区水体的氮含量无论是春季还是秋季,只是从TN、PN、DN含量的分布上体现了与养殖区的一致性,其余形态氮含量的分布则多与养殖区的相反;各形态氮含量与环境因子之间的相关性则秋季较春季密切,尤其DN、NH4-N与SS含量的负相关性,DIN含量与pH值的正相关性非常显著（p〈0.01）.从春秋季整个海区氮含量的变化情况（春季TN、DN、DON、DIN含量的变化范围分别为10.66~16.96、6.82~12.85、4.43~11.63、0.69~2.81 mol/dm3,平均值分别为13.46、8.86、7.11、1.75 mol/dm3;秋季TN、DN、DON、DIN含量的变化范围分别为14.07~28.01、12.22~23.01、11.01~21.59、1.08~3.11 mol/dm3,平均值分别为20.54、17.00、15.34、1.65 mol/dm3）可见,研究海域无论养殖区还是非养殖区氮循环状况良好,生物链作用在其中起着重要的作用.这对于研究海域生态环境的可持续发展极为有利.     

Effects of ambient DIN:DIP ratio on the nitrogen uptake of harmful dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum and Prorocentrum donghaiense in turbidistat

The effects of varying nitrogen (N): phosphorus (P) ratios on the growth and N-uptake and assimilation of the harmful dinoflagellates Prorocentrum minimum and Prorocentrum donghaiense were examined in turbidistat culture experiments. Algal cultures were supplied with media containing PO34? in various concentrations to obtain a wide range of N:P ratios. Experiments to determine rates of N uptake and assimilation of different N sources (NO3?, NH4+, urea and glycine by P. minimum and NO3?, NH4+ by P. donghaiense) were conducted using 15N tracer techniques at each N:P ratio. The growth rates suggested nutrient limitation at both high and low N:P ratios relative to the Redfield ratio. On a diel basis, the growth of both species was regulated by the light-dark cycle, which may be a result of regulation of both light- dependent growth and light-independent nutrient uptake. Maximum growth rates of both species always occurred at the beginning of light phase. In P-rich medium (low N:P ratio), both species had higher N assimilation rates, suggesting N limitation. Low assimilation coefficients at high N:P ratios suggested P limitation of N uptake and assimilation. NO3? and NH4+ contributed more than 90% of the total N uptake of P. minimum. Reduced N sources were more quickly assimilated than NO3?. Highest average daily growth rates were recorded near an N:P ratio of 12 for both species. The N uptake rates of cultures at N:P ratios near Redfield ratio were more balanced with growth rates. The linkage between growth rates and N uptake/assimilation rates were conceptually described by the variation of cell N quota. The N:P ratios affect the N uptake and growth of Prorocentrum spp., and may regulate their bloom progression in eutrophic ecosystems.     

The importance of semi-arid natural mountain pastures for feed intake and recycling of nutrients by traditionally managed goats on the Arabian Peninsula

Goat husbandry in Oman’s Hajar Mountains supplies income and manure to farmers. An earlier analysis concluded that it uses purchased feeds inefficiently, but did not value the contribution of mountain pastures to goat nutrition and cropland fertilization. Therefore intake of pasture vegetation, cultivated forages and purchased feeds was determined in goats from three villages in spring and autumn 2005. Faecal excretion was quantified using TiO₂ and diet digestibility was calculated from faecal nitrogen (N).Organic matter (OM) intake varied from 71 to 107 g kg^−0.75 d⁻¹. Pasture vegetation supplied 45-71% of OM intake, and at least 28%, 33% and 42% of phosphorus (P), metabolizable energy (ME) and N intake. While ME intake just covered maintenance and locomotion requirements, N and P intake exceeded the animals’ requirements. Therefore faecal concentrations (g kg⁻¹ OM) of 26-36 g N and 4-8 g P were high, making goat dung a key element of sustainability for the local cropping systems.Since mountain pastures supply nutrients to goats and cropland, their long-term productivity is crucial. Feeding cultivated forages seemingly reduces intake on pasture, but a comprehensive evaluation of nutritional and economic implications of this strategy and possible alternatives is needed.