Urease inhibitor reduces N losses and improves plant-bioavailability of urea applied in fine particle and granular forms under field conditions

A field lysimeter/mini plot experiment was established in a silt loam soil near Lincoln, New Zealand, to investigate the effectiveness of urea fertilizer in fine particle application (FPA), with or without the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT - “Agrotain”), in decreasing nitrogen (N) losses and improving N uptake efficiency. The five treatments were: control (no N) and ¹⁵N-labelled urea, with or without NBPT, applied to lysimeters or mini plots (unlabelled urea), either in granular form to the soil surface or in FPA form (through a spray) at a rate equivalent to 100 kg N ha⁻¹. Gaseous emissions of ammonia (NH₃) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), nitrate (NO₃⁻) leaching, herbage dry-matter (DM) production, N-response efficiency, total N uptake and total recovery of applied ¹⁵N in the plant and soil varied with urea application method and with addition of NBPT. Urea with NBPT, applied in granular or FPA form, was more effective than in application without NBPT: N₂O emissions were reduced by 7-12%, NH₃ emissions by 65-69% and NO₃⁻ leaching losses by 36-55% compared with granular urea. Urea alone and with NBPT, applied in FPA form increased herbage DM production by 27% and 38%, respectively. The N response efficiency increased from 10 kg DM kg⁻¹ of applied N with granular urea to 19 kg DM kg⁻¹ with FPA urea and to 23 kg DM kg⁻¹ with FPA urea plus NBPT. Urea applied in FPA form resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) higher ¹⁵N recovery in the shoots compared with granular treatments and this was improved further when urea in FPA form was applied with NBPT. These results suggest that applying urea with NBPT in FPA form has potential as a management tool in mitigating N losses, improving N-response efficiency and increasing herbage DM production in intensive grassland systems.     

利用第二缺氧段硝酸盐氮浓度作为MUCT工艺运行控制参数

以模拟生活污水为对象考察了第二缺氧段硝酸盐氮质量浓度(SNO-3)作为MUCT工艺运行控制参数的可行性.将进水COD质量浓度恒定为(290±10)mg.L-1,TN质量浓度恒定为(55±0.5)mg.L-1,TP质量浓度恒定为(7.0±0.5)mg.L-1,改变第二缺氧段硝酸盐氮质量浓度以比较各段出水TN和TP质量浓度.结果表明,SNO-3值显著影响着出水TN和TP质量浓度,控制内循环回流量维持SNO-3为2.5 mg.L-1,可实现MUCT工艺的最优控制.利用各段硝酸盐氮和TP平均质量浓度进行的物料平衡计算结果表明SNO-3是影响厌氧段释磷量、第一缺氧段和第二缺氧段硝酸盐氮反应量、第二缺氧段吸磷量的重要参数.     

Elevated atmospheric CO2 and drought effects on leaf gas exchange properties of barley

Atmospheric CO₂ concentration (C_a) is rising, predicted to cause global warming, and alter precipitation patterns. During 1994, spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Alexis) was grown in a strip-split-plot experimental design to determine the effects that the main plot C_a treatments [A: Ambient at 370 μmol (CO₂) mol⁻¹; E: Enriched with free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) at ∼550 μmol (CO₂) mol⁻¹] had on several gas exchange properties of fully expanded sunlit primary leaves. The interacting strip-split-plot irrigation treatments were Dry or Wet [50% (D) or 100% (W) replacement of potential evapotranspiration] at ample nitrogen (261 kg N ha⁻¹) and phosphorous (29 kg P ha⁻¹) fertility. Elevated C_a facilitated drought avoidance by reducing stomatal conductance (g_s) by 34% that conserved water and enabled stomata to remain open for a longer period into a drought. This resulted in a 28% reduction in drought-induced midafternoon depression in net assimilation rate (A). Elevated C_a increased A by 37% under Dry and 23% under Wet. Any reduction in A under Wet conditions occurred because of nonstomatal limitations, whereas under Dry it occurred because of stomatal limitations. Elevated C_a increased the diurnal integral of A (A′) that resulted in an increase in the seasonal-long integral of A′ (A″) for barley leaves by 12% (P = 0.14) under both Dry and Wet - 650, 730, 905 and 1020 ± 65 g (C) m⁻² y⁻¹ for AD, ED, AW and EW treatments, respectively. Elevated C_a increased season-long average dry weight (DW_S; crown, shoots) by 14% (P = 0.02), whereas deficit irrigation reduced DW_S by 7% (P = 0.06), although these values may have been affected by a short but severe pea aphid [Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)] infestation. Hence, an elevated-C_a-based improvement in gas exchange properties enhanced growth of a barley crop.     

Potential ammonia emission from flag leaves of paddy rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Koshihikari)

The present study aimed to investigate the potential ammonia (NH₃) emission from flag leaves of paddy rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Koshihikari). The study was conducted at a paddy field in central Japan that was designed as a free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) facility for paddy rice. A dynamic chamber method was used to measure the potential NH₃ emissions. The air concentrations of NH₃ at two heights (2 and 6 m from the ground surface) were measured using a filter-pack method, and the exchange fluxes of NH₃ of the whole paddy field were calculated using a gradient method. The flag leaves showed potential NH₃ emissions of 25-38 ng N cm⁻² h⁻¹ in the daytime from the heading to the maturity stages, and they showed potentials of approximately 22 ng N cm⁻² h⁻¹, even in the nighttime, at the heading and mid-ripening stages. The exchange fluxes of NH₃ of the whole paddy field in the daytime were net emissions of 0.9-3.9 g N ha⁻¹ h⁻¹ whereas the exchange fluxes of NH₃ in the nighttime were approximately zero.     

Drinking water treatment using a submerged internal-circulation membrane coagulation reactor coupled with permanganate oxidation

A submerged internal circulating membrane coagulation reactor(MCR) was used to treat surface water to produce drinking water. Polyaluminum chloride(PACl) was used as coagulant,and a hydrophilic polyvinylidene fluoride(PVDF) submerged hollow fiber microfiltration membrane was employed. The influences of trans-membrane pressure(TMP), zeta potential(ZP) of the suspended particles in raw water, and KMnO_4 dosing on water flux and the removal of turbidity and organic matter were systematically investigated. Continuous bench-scale experiments showed that the permeate quality of the MCR satisfied the requirement for a centralized water supply, according to the Standards for Drinking Water Quality of China(GB 5749-2006), as evaluated by turbidity(1 NTU) and total organic carbon(TOC)(5 mg/L)measurements. Besides water flux, the removal of turbidity, TOC and dissolved organic carbon(DOC) in the raw water also increased with increasing TMP in the range of 0.01–0.05 MPa. High ZP induced by PACl, such as 5–9 mV, led to an increase in the number of fine and total particles in the MCR, and consequently caused serious membrane fouling and high permeate turbidity.However, the removal of TOC and DOC increased with increasing ZP. A slightly positive ZP, such as 1–2 mV, corresponding to charge neutralization coagulation, was favorable for membrane fouling control. Moreover, dosing with KMnO_4 could further improve the removal of turbidity and DOC, thereby mitigating membrane fouling. The results are helpful for the application of the MCR in producing drinking water and also beneficial to the research and application of other coagulation and membrane separation hybrid processes.     

Enhanced photoelectrocatalytic degradation of ammonia by in situ photoelectrogenerated active chlorine on TiO2 nanotube electrodes

TiO_2 nanotube(Ti NT) electrodes anodized in fluorinated organic solutions were successfully prepared on Ti sheets. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction(XRD) were performed to characterize the TiNT electrodes. The linear voltammetry results under irradiation showed that the TiNT electrode annealed at 450°C presented the highest photoelectrochemical activity. By combining photocatalytic with electrochemical process, a significantly synergetic effect on ammonia degradation was observed with Na_2SO_4 as supporting electrolyte at pH 10.7. Furthermore, the photoelectrocatalytic efficiency on the ammonia degradation was greatly enhanced in presence of chloride ions without the limitation of pH. The degradation rate was improved by 14.8 times reaching 4.98 × 10~(-2) min~(-1) at pH 10.7 and a faster degradation rate of 6.34 × 10~(-2) min~(-1)was obtained at pH 3.01. The in situ photoelectrocatalytic generated active chlorine was proposed to be responsible for the improved efficiency. On the other hand, an enhanced degradation of ammonia using TiNT electrode fabricated in fluorinated organic solution was also confirmed compared to TiNT electrode anodized in fluorinated water solution and TiO_2 film electrode fabricated by sol–gel method. Finally, the effect of chloride concentration was also discussed.     

Synthesis,crystal structure,photodegradation kinetics and photocatalytic activity of novel photocatalyst ZnBiYO4

ZnBiYO₄ was synthesized by a solid-state reaction method for the first time. The structural and photocatalytic properties of ZnBiYO₄ were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance. ZnBiYO₄ crystallized with a tetragonal spinel structure with space group I41/A. The lattice parameters for ZnBiYO₄ were a = b = 11.176479 Å and c = 10.014323 Å. The band gap of ZnBiYO₄ was estimated to be 1.58 eV. The photocatalytic activity of ZnBiYO₄ was assessed by photodegradation of methyl orange under visible light irradiation. The results showed that ZnBiYO₄ had higher catalytic activity compared with N-doped TiO₂ under the same experimental conditions using visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange with ZnBiYO₄ or N-doped TiO₂ as catalyst followed first-order reaction kinetics, and the first-order rate constant was 0.01575 and 0.00416 min^− 1 for ZnBiYO₄ and N-doped TiO₂, respectively. After visible light irradiation for 220 min with ZnBiYO₄ as catalyst, complete removal and mineralization of methyl orange were observed. The reduction of total organic carbon, formation of inorganic products, SO₄^2 − and NO₃⁻, and evolution of CO₂ revealed the continuous mineralization of methyl orange during the photocatalytic process. The intermediate products were identified using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The ZnBiYO₄/(visible light) photocatalysis system was found to be suitable for textile industry wastewater treatment and could be used to solve other environmental chemical pollution problems.     

黄土高塬沟壑区不同坡位和植被下的土壤硝态氮特征研究

地形和植被会改变水分在土壤中的运移,进而影响土壤中硝态氮(NO_3~--N)的分布,并可能导致对水体污染的差异.在黄土高塬沟壑区黑河流域选取3个样点,采集刺槐林和草地在不同坡位(上、中和下坡位)的6 m深土样,分析了坡位和植被对NO_3~--N迁移的影响,并初步评估了其对地表水及地下水污染的潜在风险.不同坡位及植被条件下,土壤中硝态氮均没有出现累积,在表层土壤达到最大值后逐渐减小.2种植被下NO_3~--N达到稳定时的深度约为200 cm,稳定浓度均为下坡位上坡位中坡位,但在同一坡位的稳定浓度均有草地高于刺槐林的特点,说明坡位及植被覆盖类型均会影响NO_3~--N在土壤中的分布.整个流域地表水NO-3含量枯水期及汛期分别为(6.90±2.10)mg·L~(-1)和(5.84±2.86)mg·L~(-1),而坡地表层土壤(0~20 cm)中可移动态NO_3~-为(29.55±6.59)mg·L~(-1),明显大于地表水中的浓度,很有可能随径流流失造成地表水氮素污染.地下水枯水期和汛期的NO_3~-含量分别为(24.61±23.72)mg·L~(-1)和(15.70±10.78)mg·L~(-1),而坡地深层土壤(200 cm)中NO-3为(0.78±0.16)mg·L~(-1),由于浓度较低,对地下水造成污染的可能性较小.     

硝化液回流比对ABR-MBR工艺反硝化除磷效能的影响

基于ABR工艺与MBR工艺的耦合联动,以低C/N比生活污水为研究对象,构建生物相分离、液相循环和功能联动的ABR-MBR新型组合工艺,以实现稳定、高效、节能的多功能生物除污(去碳-脱氮-除磷)为目标,通过优化水力停留时间(HRT)以获得ABR优质碳源提供与MBR短程硝化实现的最佳组合,并进行了硝化液回流比为100%、200%、300%和400%时对反硝化除磷的影响研究.ABR-MBR耦合工艺在不同条件下的运行研究结果表明,将溶解氧(DO)维持在低浓度(0.3~1.0 mg·L-1)下及HRT维持在较短(HRTMBR=3 h)情况下在MBR中实现了短程硝化,亚硝酸盐积累率达到60%以上;随着硝化液回流比的增大,ABR中反硝化除磷效能先升高后下降,以300%时反硝化除磷效果为最佳,此时亦处于MBR短程硝化阶段,实现了短程反硝化除磷(主要以NO-2作为电子受体的反硝化除磷),且短程反硝化除磷在系统除磷中占据了主导作用.     

Enhanced dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol by recoverable Ni/Fe–Fe3O4 nanocomposites

Ni/Fe-Fe_3O_4 nanocomposites were synthesized for dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol(2,4-DCP). The effects of the Ni content in Ni/Fe-Fe_3O_4 nanocomposites, solution pH, and common dissolved ions on the dechlorination efficiency were investigated, in addition to the reusability of the nanocomposites. The results showed that increasing content of Ni in Ni/Fe–Fe_3O_4 nanocomposites, from 1 to 5 wt.%, greatly increased the dechlorination efficiency; the Ni/Fe–Fe_3O_4 nanocomposites had much higher dechlorination efficiency than bare Ni/Fe nanoparticles. Ni content of 5 wt.% and initial p H below 6.0 was found to be the optimal conditions for the catalytic dechlorination of 2,4-DCP. Both 2,4-DCP and the intermediate product 2-chlorophenol(2-CP) were completely removed, and the concentration of the final product phenol was close to the theoretical phenol production from complete dechlorination of 20 mg/L of 2,4-DCP, after 3 hr reaction at initial p H value of 6.0,3 g/L Ni/Fe-Fe_3O_4 , 5 wt.% Ni content in the composite, and temperature of 22℃. 2,4-DCP dechlorination was enhanced by Cl-and inhibited by NO3-and SO_4~(2-). The nanocomposites were easily separated from the solution by an applied magnetic field. When the catalyst was reused, the removal efficiency of 2,4-DCP was almost 100% for the first seven uses, and gradually decreased to 75% in cycles 8–10. Therefore, the Ni/Fe–Fe_3O_4 nanocomposites can be considered as a potentially effective tool for remediation of pollution by 2,4-DCP.     

污水氮浓度和NH4+/NO3-比对粉绿狐尾藻去氮能力和植物体氮组分的影响

采用溶液培养法,设置3个氮浓度20、100、200 mg·L-1和3个NH_4~+/NO_3~-比1∶0、0.5∶0.5、0∶1,研究污水氮浓度和NH_4~+/NO_3~-比对粉绿狐尾藻去氮能力和植物体氮组分的影响.结果表明,粉绿狐尾藻的生物量在第1周增长最快,其中氮浓度20 mg·L-1、100 mg·L-1时,生物量以NH_4~+/NO_3~-=1∶0处理最大;氮浓度200 mg·L-1时,以NH_4~+/NO_3~-=0.5∶0.5处理最大.粉绿狐尾藻在第1周对总氮、铵态氮和硝态氮去除速率最高,且随氮浓度升高而增加;氮浓度20 mg·L-1时,铵态氮和硝态氮的去除率无显著差异,氮浓度100 mg·L-1、200 mg·L-1时硝态氮的去除率高于铵态氮.粉绿狐尾藻氮积累量及对水体和底泥氮去除的贡献率均随氮浓度升高而增加,其氮含量和积累量均以第1周增长最快,氮浓度20 mg·L-1时氮积累贡献率以NH_4~+/NO_3~-=0∶1最大,氮浓度100 mg·L-1、200 mg·L-1时以NH_4~+/NO_3~-=0.5∶0.5最大.粉绿狐尾藻体内蛋白质、氨基态氮和硝态氮的含量均随氮浓度的升高而增加,且蛋白质氨基态氮硝态氮;NH_4~+/NO_3~-为1∶0和0.5∶0.5时蛋白质含量较高,NH_4~+/NO_3~-=1∶0时氨基态氮含量最高,NH_4~+/NO_3~-=0∶1时硝态氮含量最高.由此说明,在试验范围内,粉绿狐尾藻的去氮能力随污水氮浓度升高而提高,可以用于高氮浓度污水修复;粉绿狐尾藻喜铵态氮,但在100 mg·L-1以上的高氮浓度下以硝铵等比时生长和去除氮能力最强;粉绿狐尾藻体内氮组分受硝铵比调节,蛋白氮比例最高,铵态氮和硝态氮则分别随污水NH+4和NO-3比升高而提高.     

河流沉积物中有机磷提取剂(NaOH-EDTA)提取比例与机制研究

选择海河流域高磷污染河流滏阳新河沉积物为研究对象,利用液相31P核磁共振(31P-NMR)技术优化了沉积物中有机磷提取剂NaOH和EDTA的配比,探讨了提取剂对总磷(TP)、有机磷(P o)及金属离子的提取机制.结果表明,不同配比的NaOH和EDTA提取液提取同一沉积物,所提取的TP和P o的量差异较大,但P o的提取量均高于NaOH单独提取,主要原因为EDTA与Fe、Al等离子的结合促进了无机磷(P i)和P o的释放;TP在1.00 mol·L-1NaOH+75 mmol·L-1EDTA配比的提取液中获得最大提取量,为3.88 mg·g-1,P o在0.25 mol·L-1NaOH+50 mmol·L-1EDTA配比的提取液中提取量最大,为0.24mg·g-1;相同浓度NaOH提取液中金属离子Fe、Mn、Ca、Mg、Al提取量随EDTA浓度增大呈升高趋势,主要是通过螯合作用、金属离子与OH-形成化合物实现.其中,Fe、Mn、Ca提取浓度与提取液pH呈显著负相关(P<0.01),说明其与OH-形成沉淀化合物;Al离子由于既可以与OH-生成可溶性的偏铝酸盐又可以被EDTA螯合形成可溶性络合物,因此其浓度随提取液pH升高呈指数增长趋势(P<0.01);NaOH与EDTA混合提取剂核磁共振图谱优于NaOH提取液,在本研究中均可以检测到膦酸盐、正磷酸盐、磷酸单酯、磷脂、DNA和焦磷酸盐.综合考虑:对北方河流富含Fe和Al的河流沉积物,0.25mol·L-1NaOH与50 mmol·L-1EDTA可以作为理想的沉积物有机磷提取剂.     

Anoxic phosphorus removal in a pilot scale anaerobic-anoxic oxidation ditch process

The anaerobic-anoxic oxidation ditch (A²/O OD) process is popularly used to eliminate nutrients from domestic wastewater. In order to identify the existence of denitrifying phosphorus removing bacteria (DPB), evaluate the contribution of DPB to biological nutrient removal, and enhance the denitrifying phosphorus removal in the A²/O OD process, a pilot-scale A²/O OD plant (375 L) was conducted. At the same time batch tests using sequence batch reactors (12 L and 4 L) were operated to reveal the significance of anoxic phosphorus removal. The results indicated that: The average removal efficiency of COD, NH₄⁺, PO₄³⁻, and TN were 88.2%, 92.6%, 87.8%, and 73.1%, respectively, when the steady state of the pilotscale A²/O OD plant was reached during 31–73 d, demonstrating a good denitrifying phosphorus removal performance. Phosphorus uptake took place in the anoxic zone by poly-phosphorus accumulating organisms NO₂⁻ could be used as electron receptors in denitrifying phosphorus removal, and the phosphorus uptake rate with NO₂⁻ as the electron receptor was higher than that with NO₃⁻ when the initial concentration of either NO₂⁻ or NO₃⁻ was 40 mg/L.     

Relationship between nutrients and plankton biomass in the turbidity maximum zone of the Pearl River Estuary

Nutrients, dissolved and particulate organic carbon and plankton (bacterio-, phyto- and zoo-) were compared in the turbidity maximum zone (TMZ) and adjacent areas (non-TMZ) in the Pearl River estuary. Our results showed that high levels of suspended substances had marked effect on dynamics of nutrients and plankton in the TMZ. Based on the cluster analysis of total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations, all stations were divided into two groups, TMZ with average TSS of 171 mg/L and non-TMZ of 45 mg/L. Suspended substances adsorbed PO₄^3 − and dissolved organic carbon, resulting in higher particulate phosphorus and organic carbon (POC) and lower PO₄^3 − and DOC in the TMZ, compared to the non-TMZ. However, suspended substances had limited effect on nitrogenous nutrients. Phytoplankton growth was light-limited due to high concentrations of suspended substances in the TMZ and a peak of phytoplankton abundance appeared in the non-TMZ. In contrast, the highest bacterial abundance occurred in the TMZ, which was likely partly responsible for low DOC levels. Two peaks of zooplankton abundance observed in the TMZ and non-TMZ in the Pearl River estuary were primarily supported by bacteria and phytoplankton, respectively. Our finding implied that high levels of suspended solids in the TMZ affect the trophic balance.     

Effect of elevated tropospheric ozone on methane and nitrous oxide emission from rice soil in north India

Physiological changes in crop plants in response to the elevated tropospheric ozone (O₃) may alter N and C cycles in soil. This may also affect the atmosphere-biosphere exchange of radiatively important greenhouse gases (GHGs), e.g. methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) from soil. A study was carried out during July to November of 2007 and 2008 in the experimental farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to assess the effects of elevated tropospheric ozone on methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice (Oryza sativa L.) soil. Rice crop was grown in open top chambers (OTC) under elevated ozone (EO), non-filtered air (NF), charcoal filtered air (CF) and ambient air (AA). Seasonal mean concentrations of O₃ were 4.3 ± 0.9, 26.2 ± 1.9, 59.1 ± 4.2 and 27.5 ± 2.3 ppb during year 2007 and 5.9 ± 1.1, 37.2 ± 2.5, 69.7 ± 3.9 and 39.2 ± 1.8 ppb during year 2008 for treatments CF, NF, EO and AA, respectively. Cumulative seasonal CH₄ emission reduced by 29.7% and 40.4% under the elevated ozone (EO) compared to the non-filtered air (NF), whereas the emission increased by 21.5% and 16.7% in the charcoal filtered air (CF) in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Cumulative seasonal emission of N₂O ranged from 47.8 mg m⁻² in elevated ozone to 54.6 mg m⁻² in charcoal filtered air in 2007 and from 46.4 to 62.1 mg m⁻² in 2008. Elevated ozone reduced grain yield by 11.3% and 12.4% in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Global warming potential (GWP) per unit of rice yield was the least under elevated ozone levels. Dissolved organic C content of soil was lowest under the elevated ozone treatment. Decrease in availability of substrate i.e., dissolved organic C under elevated ozone resulted in a decline in GHG emissions. Filtration of ozone from ambient air increased grain yield and growth parameters of rice and emission of GHGs.     

氨氮在饮用水生物滤池内的去除机制

为探讨饮用水生物滤池对NH4+-N的去除机制,测定生物滤池进出水中NH4+-N、NO2--N、NO3--N、高锰酸盐指数、总磷、单质氮(N2)、温度和溶解氧(dissolved oxygen,DO)等指标,并采集生物滤池不同层高(0、10、20、40、60 cm)活性炭生物填料,应用分子生物学技术,对样品中的细菌种群进行研究.结果表明,根据进水NH4+-N浓度分为3个阶段,第一、二和三阶段都发生了"氮亏损"现象(出水无机氮之和小于进水无机氮之和),氮亏损的量(出水无机氮之和与进水无机氮之和的差值)分别为0.94、0.32和0.15 mg.L-1.氮亏损的量与进水中NH4+-N浓度有很好的正相关性,但与进水中高锰酸盐指数浓度没有线性关系.第一阶段水中N2的平均浓度随着生物滤池填料层高呈上升趋势,进水中N2平均浓度是14.04 mg.L-1,出水N2平均浓度为14.67 mg.L-1.测序结果显示活性炭上生物膜中氨氧化细菌(ammonia-oxidizing bacteria,AOB)全部归为3个常见属:Nitrosococcus、Nitrosomonas和Nitrosospira.当生物滤池进水NH4+-N浓度较高时,生物滤池中发生的"氮亏损"现象是由AOB的作用.     

Role of secondary aerosols in haze formation in summer in the Megacity Beijing

A field experiment from 18 August to 8 September 2006 in Beijing, China, was carried out. A hazy day was defined as visibility < l0 km and RH (relative humidity) < 90%. Four haze episodes, which accounted for ~ 60% of the time during the whole campaign, were characterized by increases of SNA (sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium) and SOA (secondary organic aerosol) concentrations. The average values with standard deviation of SO₄^2 −, NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺ and SOA were 49.8 (± 31.6), 31.4 (± 22.3), 25.8 (± 16.6) and 8.9 (± 4.1) μg/m³, respectively, during the haze episodes, which were 4.3, 3.4, 4.1, and 1.7 times those in the non-haze days. The SO₄^2 −, NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺, and SOA accounted for 15.8%, 8.8%, 7.3%, and 6.0% of the total mass concentration of PM₁₀ during the non-haze days. The respective contributions of SNA species to PM₁₀ rose to about 27.2%, 15.9%, and 13.9% during the haze days, while the contributions of SOA maintained the same level with a slight decrease to about 4.9%. The observed mass concentrations of SNA and SOA increased with the increase of PM₁₀ mass concentration, however, the rate of increase of SNA was much faster than that of the SOA. The SOR (sulfur oxidation ratio) and NOR (nitrogen oxidation ratio) increased from non-haze days to hazy days, and increased with the increase of RH. High concentrations of aerosols and water vapor favored the conversion of SO₂ to SO₄^2 − and NO₂ to NO₃⁻, which accelerated the accumulation of the aerosols and resulted in the formation of haze in Beijing.     

Effect of orchard age on soil nitrogen transformation in subtropical China and implications

A better understanding of nitrogen transformation in soils could reveal the capacity for biological inorganic N supply and improve the efficiency of N fertilizers. In this study, a ¹⁵N tracing study was carried out to investigate the effects of converting woodland to orchard, and orchard age on the gross rates of N transformation occurring simultaneously in subtropical soils in Eastern China. The results showed that inorganic N supply rate was remained constant with soil organic C and N contents increased after converting woodland into citrus orchard and with increasing orchard age. This phenomenon was most probably due to the increase in the turnover time of recalcitrant organic-N, which increased with decreasing soil pH along with increasing orchard age significantly. The amoA gene copy numbers of both archaeal and bacterial were stimulated by orchard planting and increased with increasing orchard age. The nitrification capacity (defined as the ratio of gross rate of nitrification to total gross rate of mineralization) increased following the Michaelis–Menten equation, sharply in the first 10 years after woodland conversion to orchard, and increased continuously but much more slowly till 30 years. Due to the increase in nitrification capacity and unchanged NO₃⁻ consumption, the dominance of ammonium in inorganic N in woodland soil was shifted to nitrate dominance in orchard soils. These results indicated that the risk of NO₃⁻ loss was expected to increase and the amount of N needed from fertilizers for fruit growth did not change although soil organic N accumulated with orchard age.     

两种微藻胞外分泌物与NO2-、NO3-对2，4-D光解的影响

在模拟太阳光照射下,利用旋转式光化学反应装置,研究了海水小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)和新月菱形藻(Nitzschia closterium)的胞外分泌物(EOM),以及分别在NO-2或(和)NO-3共存条件下对2,4-二氯苯氧乙酸(2,4-D)光解的影响.实验结果表明,2,4-D在海水小球藻和新月菱形藻EOM及分别在NO-2、NO-3共存下的光解过程均符合准一级动力学反应.研究发现,2,4-D的光解速率随海水小球藻和新月菱形藻EOM浓度的增加而减小,表明这两种微藻EOM可抑制海水中2,4-D的光解.当在微藻EOM溶液中分别加入不同浓度的NO-2或NO-3后,微藻EOM对2,4-D光解的抑制作用减弱,且随着NO-2和NO-3浓度的增加,2,4-D光解速率明显增加.特别是当微藻EOM与NO-2或NO-3三者共存时,可进一步促进2,4-D的光解.     

三峡库区澎溪河底泥及消落区土壤磷的形态及吸附特性研究

沉积物是自然水域的重要生态组成部分,是形成湖泊、水库富营养化的关键因素之一.为研究三峡库区澎溪河流域沉积物中磷的赋存形态特征及迁移转化规律,采用连续提取法对澎溪河底泥3个断面及消落区3种土壤类型中磷赋存形态进行分析,并通过等温吸附实验研究了磷的吸附规律,确定了零净吸附磷浓度(EPC0).结果表明,澎溪河底泥中的总磷含量在0.80～1.45 g·kg-1之间,赋存形态以无机磷为主,其中钙结合磷和蓄闭态磷比例在80%以上,铁铝结合磷含量较低,该流域底泥受自然岩石状态及沉积环境的影响较大,而人为活动对其影响较小;消落区土壤总磷含量在0.65～1.16 g·kg-1之间,磷的赋存形态也以无机磷为主,冲积土和紫色土也以钙结合态磷和蓄闭态磷为主,水稻土中则以蓄闭态磷含量最高.澎溪河高阳、黄石和双江3个断面底泥的EPC0分别为0.08、0.13和0.11 mg·L-1,消落区冲积土、紫色土和水稻土的EPC0分别为0.08、0.09和0.04 mg·L-1.EPC0值与沉积物中总磷、pH、Ca-P、黏粒含量呈正相关性,其中与pH和Ca-P相关性显著.根据澎溪河上覆水中磷浓度的季节变化,初步判定底泥及消落区土壤在夏秋季节为磷的"汇",在冬春季节则成为其"源".EPC0高于水体富营养化临界值,底泥及消落区土壤中磷的释放依然是不可忽视的潜在问题.