Examining the coupling of carbon and nitrogen cycles in Appalachian streams: the role of dissolved organic nitrogen

Although regional and global models of nitrogen (N) cycling typically focus on nitrate, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) is the dominant form of nitrogen export from many watersheds and thus the dominant form of dissolved N in many streams. Our understanding of the processes controlling DON export from temperate forests is poor. In pristine systems, where biological N limitation is common, N contained in recalcitrant organic matter (OM) can dominate watershed N losses. This recalcitrant OM often has moderately constrained carbon:nitrogen (C:N) molar ratios (approximately 25-55) and therefore, greater DON losses should be observed in sites where there is greater total dissolved organic carbon (DOC) loss. In regions where anthropogenic N pollution is high, it has been suggested that increased inorganic N availability can reduce biological demand for organic N and therefore increase watershed DON losses. This would result in a positive correlation between inorganic and organic N concentrations across sites with varying N availability. In four repeated synoptic surveys of stream water chemistry from forested watersheds along an N loading gradient in the southern Appalachians, we found surprisingly little correlation between DON and DOC concentrations. Further, we found that DON concentrations were always significantly correlated with watershed N loading and stream water [NO3-] but that the direction of this relationship was negative in three of the four surveys. The C:N molar ratio of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in streams draining watersheds with high N deposition was very high relative to other freshwaters. This finding, together with results from bioavailability assays in which we directly manipulated C and N availabilities, suggests that heterotrophic demand for labile C can increase as a result of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) loading, and that heterotrophs can preferentially remove N-rich molecules from DOM. These results are inconsistent with the two prevailing hypotheses that dominate interpretations of watershed DON loss. Therefore, we propose a new hypothesis, the indirect carbon control hypothesis, which recognizes that heterotrophic demand for N-rich DOM can keep stream water DON concentrations low when N is not limiting and heterotrophic demand for labile C is high.     

Nitrogen saturation in stream ecosystems

The concept of nitrogen (N) saturation has organized the assessment of N loading in terrestrial ecosystems. Here we extend the concept to lotic ecosystems by coupling Michaelis-Menten kinetics and nutrient spiraling. We propose a series of saturation response types, which may be used to characterize the proximity of streams to N saturation. We conducted a series of short-term N releases using a tracer (15NO3-N) to measure uptake. Experiments were conducted in streams spanning a gradient of background N concentration. Uptake increased in four of six streams as NO3-N was incrementally elevated, indicating that these streams were not saturated. Uptake generally corresponded to Michaelis-Menten kinetics but deviated from the model in two streams where some other growth-critical factor may have been limiting. Proximity to saturation was correlated to background N concentration but was better predicted by the ratio of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) to soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), suggesting phosphorus limitation in several high-N streams. Uptake velocity, a reflection of uptake efficiency, declined nonlinearly with increasing N amendment in all streams. At the same time, uptake velocity was highest in the low-N streams. Our conceptual model of N transport, uptake, and uptake efficiency suggests that, while streams may be active sites of N uptake on the landscape, N saturation contributes to nonlinear changes in stream N dynamics that correspond to decreased uptake efficiency.     

Pretreatment for dissolved organic nitrogen testing by gas stripping

ABSTRACT

Total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), including dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), is of significant importance in aquatic systems due to its roles in numerous environmental processes, such as nutrients for agriculture activities, sources for lake and estuary eutrophication, and one of the major factors contributing to disinfection byproduct formation. The distribution and impact of DIN on these processes are relatively well-understood; however, information on DON is extremely limited, as there is no direct method for its quantification. DON is conventionally determined by subtracting DIN from TDN. However, significant errors may be introduced if DIN is the predominant species in samples with high concentrations of TDN. In order to deal with this challenge, pretreatment method for nitrogen gas stripping was investigated using 56 water samples collected from various ecosystems. The results indicated that after nitrogen gas stripping pretreatment, removal % of ammonia nitrogen (NH₃–N) was more than 87.5%, and the ratios of removal of NH₃–N/removal of TDN (β) were over 86.5% for most of 56 samples with high [NH₃–N], indicating a high efficiency for removal of NH₃–N, and that NH₃–N was the predominant nitrogen species removed for the samples with high [NH₃–N]. Therefore, nitrogen gas stripping is an appropriate pretreatment method for DON testing when NH₃–N is the dominant inorganic nitrogen species.     

15N-Nitrate signature in low-order streams: effects of land cover and agricultural practices.

Many studies have shown that intensive agricultural practices significantly increase the nitrogen concentration of stream surface waters, but it remains difficult to identify, quantify, and differentiate between terrestrial and in-stream sources or sinks of nitrogen, and rates of transformation. In this study we used the delta15N-NO3 signature in a watershed dominated by agriculture as an integrating marker to trace (1) the effects of the land cover and agricultural practices on stream-water N concentration in the upstream area of the hydrographic network, (2) influence of the in-stream processes on the NO3-N loads at the reach scale (100 m and 1000 m long), and (3) changes in delta15N-NO3 signature with increasing stream order (from first to third order). This study suggests that land cover and fertilization practices were the major determinants of delta15N-NO3 signature in first-order streams. NO3-N loads and delta15N-NO3 signature increased with fertilization intensity. Small changes in delta15N-NO3 signature and minor inputs of groundwater were observed along both types of reaches, suggesting the NO3-N load was slightly influenced by in-stream processes. The variability of NO3-N concentrations and delta15N signature decreased with increasing stream order, and the delta15N signature was positively correlated with watershed areas devoted to crops, supporting a dominant effect of agriculture compared to the effect of in-stream N processing. Consequently, land cover and fertilization practices are integrated in the natural isotopic signal at the third-order stream scale. The GIS analysis of the land cover coupled with natural-abundance isotope signature (delta15N) represents a potential tool to evaluate the effects of agricultural practices in rural catchments and the consequences of future changes in management policies at the regional scale.     

Land use change and nitrogen enrichment of a Rocky Mountain watershed.

Headwater ecosystems may have a limited threshold for retaining and removing nutrients delivered by certain types of land use. Nitrogen enrichment was studied in a Rocky Mountain watershed undergoing rapid expansion of population and residential development. Study sites were located along a 30-km transect from the headwaters of the Blue River to Lake Dillon, a major source of drinking water for Denver, Colorado. Ground water in residential areas with septic systems showed high concentrations of nitrate-N (4.96 +/- 1.22 mg/L, mean +/- SE), and approximately 40% of wells contained nitrate with delta15N values in the range of wastewater. Concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in tributaries with residential development peaked during spring snowmelt as concentrations of DIN declined to below detection limits in undeveloped tributaries. Annual export of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) was considerably lower in residential streams, suggesting a change in forms of N with development. The seasonal delta15N of algae in residential streams was intermediate between baseline values from undeveloped streams and stream algae grown on wastewater. Between 19% and 23% of the annual N export from developed tributaries was derived from septic systems, as estimated from the delta15N of algae. This range was similar to the amount of N export above background determined independently from mass-balance estimates. From a watershed perspective, total loading of N to the Blue River catchment from septic and municipal wastewater (2 kg x ha(-1) x yr(-1)) is currently less than the amount from background atmospheric sources (3 kg x ha(-1) x yr(-1)). Nonetheless, nitrate-N concentrations exceeded limits for safe drinking water in some groundwater wells (10 mg/L), residential streams showed elevated seasonal patterns of nitrate-N concentration and ratios of DIN to total dissolved phosphorus, and seasonal minimum concentrations of nitrate-N in Lake Dillon have increased exponentially to 80 microg/L over the last decade from an initial value near zero. Results suggest that isotopic ratios in autotrophs can be used to detect and quantify increases in N enrichment associated with land use change. The biotic capacity of headwater ecosystems to assimilate increases in inorganic N from residential development may be insufficient to prevent nitrogen enrichment over considerable distances and multiple aquatic ecosystems downstream.     

淡水水体溶解有机氮对有毒藻种的生物有效性

溶解有机氮(Dissolved organic nitrogen,DON)是多数天然水体中溶解氮的主要组成部分。天然水体DON是许多微生命体包括有毒藻种的氮营养源,在供水安全以及水体富营养化等方面的生态环境效应不容忽视。文章系统地介绍了淡水水体DON含量与来源、生物有效性与估算方法,以及对有毒藻种生长的影响。DON的来源是影响水体中DON含量动态特征的关键因素。DON来源包括陆地径流,植物碎屑,土壤淋溶液,沉积物释放,大气沉降,藻类、大型植物、细菌与细胞死亡或自我分解,微型及大型浮游动物捕食和排泄、分泌物释放等。研究表明约有12%～72%的DON可迅速被生物所利用,具显著差异,究其原因可能是其来源组成、化学本质(分子质量与极性)、测试生物组成、是否有细菌作用等因素造成的。不同藻种具有不同氮源利用能力,DON对藻类生长具有直接或间接的作用,并可能影响藻类群落结构(有毒藻类成为优势种)。考虑到水环境保护与饮用水安全供水的重要性,未来研究应重视淡水水体DON生物有效性与其化学本质的揭示,尤其是对有毒藻种。     

淡水水体溶解有机氮对有毒藻种的生物有效性

溶解有机氮（Dissolved organic nitrogen,DON）是多数天然水体中溶解氮的主要组成部分。天然水体DON是许多微生命体包括有毒藻种的氮营养源,在供水安全以及水体富营养化等方面的生态环境效应不容忽视。文章系统地介绍了淡水水体DON含量与来源、生物有效性与估算方法,以及对有毒藻种生长的影响。DON的来源是影响水体中DON含量动态特征的关键因素。DON来源包括陆地径流,植物碎屑,土壤淋溶液,沉积物释放,大气沉降,藻类、大型植物、细菌与细胞死亡或自我分解,微型及大型浮游动物捕食和排泄、分泌物释放等。研究表明约有12％～72％的DON可迅速被生物所利用,具显著差异,究其原因可能是其来源组成、化学本质（分子质量与极性）、测试生物组成、是否有细菌作用等因素造成的。不同藻种具有不同氮源利用能力,DON对藻类生长具有直接或间接的作用,并可能影响藻类群落结构（有毒藻类成为优势种）。考虑到水环境保护与饮用水安全供水的重要性,未来研究应重视淡水水体DON生物有效性与其化学本质的揭示,尤其是对有毒藻种。     

Nitrogen export from an agriculture watershed in the Taihu Lake area, China

Temporal changes in nitrogen concentrations and stream discharge, as well as sediment and nitrogen losses from erosion plots with different land uses, were studied in an agricultural watershed in the Taihu Lake area in eastern China. The highest overland runoff loads and nitrogen losses were measured under the upland at a convergent footslope. Much higher runoff, sediment and nitrogen losses were observed under upland cropping and vegetable fields than that under chestnut orchard and bamboo forest. Sediment associated nitrogen losses accounted for 8-43.5% of total nitrogen export via overland runoff. N lost in dissolved inorganic nitrogen forms (NO(3-)-N + NH4+-N) accounted for less than 50% of total water associated nitrogen export. Agricultural practices and weather-driven fluctuation in discharge were main reasons for the temporal variations in nutrient losses via stream discharge. Significant correlation between the total nitrogen concentration and stream discharge load was observed. Simple regression models could give satisfactory results for prediction of the total nitrogen concentrations in stream water and can be used for better quantifying nitrogen losses from arable land. Nitrogen losses from the studied watershed via stream discharge during rice season in the year 2002 were estimated to be 10.5 kg N/ha using these simple models.     

热带滨海区不同土地利用背景下土壤溶解性有机氮的组成与粒径分布特征

溶解态有机氮(DON)是土壤中活跃的氮库,其生态环境行为与它的化学组成和粒径分布密切相关。为评估热带滨海区不同土地利用方式对不同粒径中土壤溶解性有机氮组成特征的影响,从水稻田、橡胶园、菜园和果园采集土壤样品,通过一系列微滤和超滤(0.7,0.45,0.2,0.1μm,100,10,1 kDa)对土壤溶解性有机氮分级,并使用连续流动分析仪、三维荧光光谱和红外光谱研究了滤液中溶解态有机氮、无机氮的含量及荧光组分和有机官能团特征。结果表明,4种土地利用背景下土壤DON值的范围为5.25-10.88 mg·kg^-1,其大小顺序为水稻>菜园>果树>橡胶,且DON与溶解性总氮(DTN)的比值范围为26.08%-67.11%,其中橡胶土最高,水稻土最低;不同粒径下4种土地利用类型土壤DON主要集中在<100 kDa的粒径中,其值范围为4.85-9.48 mg·kg^-1,占全量的85.89%-92.41%。三维荧光光谱(3D-EEMs)及平行因子分析表明,4种土地利用背景下土壤DON含有两种类腐殖质组分及一种类蛋白质组分,且以类腐殖质组分为主,占比54.00%-77.67%;类蛋白组分对土地利用变化敏感,且随着粒径的减小,类蛋白组分占比增加,在<1 kDa组分中比例最高。红外光谱结果表明,4种土地利用背景下土壤DON主要在6个位置有相似的吸收峰,包含3410 cm^-1、1636 cm^-1、1402 cm^-1、1138-1035 cm^-1、673 cm^-1、602 cm^-1,不同土地利用背景下各吸收峰的透光度不同,强度最大的吸收来自游离的胺类N-H伸缩振动;水稻、菜园土壤DON芳香物质含量较高,结构较复杂。了解DON的组成与粒径分布对土地利用的响应,对进一步研究其生态环境行为具有重要意义。     

水稻不同时期吸收的氮素的行为

为研究水稻不同时期吸收的氮素在其体内的行为，作者利用^15NH^4＋和^15NO3^-双标记，对Indica水稻亚种（品种Hinohikari）进行水培，在分蘖期、幼穗分化期、开花期施用，将培养液卢州）20mg／L的NH4NO3换成相同质量浓度的^15TH4NO3或NH4^15NO3；部分水稻在一周后收获，其他分别在分蘖期、幼穗分化期、开花期、成熟期收获。植株分成根系、地上部的底部、地上部的顶部、旗叶和穗部，对各自的全氮、^15N进行测定，计算植物的总吸收量。从施用量、植株总吸收量以及三部分总和的植株氮残存量的比较来研究氮素在两种水稻亚种中的行为。研究结果表明，各个时期的^15NH4NO3或NH4^15NO3处理下水稻的N吸收总量上没有差别，但1周后收获的^15NH4-N处理的水稻中^15N的含量比^15NO3-N要高得多，直到成熟期收获的水稻都有同样的结果，这意味着各个时期吸收的NH4-N和NO3-N有着不同的损失量，吸收的NO3-N比NH4-N要损失得多。水稻叶片的氮素损失可能以N2O和NH3的形式。不同氮肥形态的处理下转移到穗部的氮素的量和来源也不相同，在NH4^15NO3的处理中穗部的^15N主要来自地上部的底部，而在^15NH4NO3的处理中穗部的^15N主要来自分蘖期吸收的^15N，少量来自成熟期并且^15N主要来自植株的各个部分。     

土壤矿质氮和可矿化氮对当季作物的贡献

从土壤矿质氮-硝态氮和铵态氮、土壤可矿化氮3个指标研究了土壤剖面不同层次有效氮对作物吸氮的贡献.结果表明,不同指标反映土壤供氮能力状况不一.土壤硝态氮和土壤可矿化氮与作物吸氮有较好的相关关系,而土壤铵态氮与作物吸氮关系不密切.在深度120cm之上的土层的土壤可矿化氮对作物吸氮有较大的贡献.在考虑土壤供氮能力时,建议应该考虑120cm深层以上的土壤.     

Heating induced changes in mineral nitrogen and organic carbon in relation with temperature and time

Heating effects on carbon and mineral nitrogen contents of soils within different land use types were investigated in this study. With this intention we collected soil samples from 3 different land use types which are abandoned agricultural lands (AAL), shrub land (SL) and Oak forest land (OFL) and are in neighborhood with each other. The sampling was made at mid-summer to provide a better correspondence between factual buming conditions as well. Soils are slightly acidic (pH between 4.60-5.72) and sandy, sandy loamy textured. At the study site the vegetation type is pasture at AAL, Cystus and Rubus sp. dominated shrubs at SL and mixture of Oak species such as Quercus petrea, Q. robur Q. cerris and Q. frainetto at OFL. The results we found revealed that heating temperature has more remarkable effect on C losses and soil NH4+-N re-mineralization and losses of NH4+-N. Besides we could not detect remarkable differences between total N and NO3- amounts. Heating time created significant differences between NH4+-N amounts for different land use types where SL soils showed significant difference for all temperature levels. Heating soils at 100 degreesC created only slight differences at C and NH4+-N budgets but heating at 200 degreesC caused to striking results at NH4+-N budgets and heating at 350 degreesC led to only slight increase at NH4+-N budget. As the temperature increased the C loss also increased linearly.     

Nitrogen Export from an Agriculture Watershed in the Taihu Lake Area, China

Temporal changes in nitrogen concentrations and stream discharge, as well as sediment and nitrogen losses from erosion plots with different land uses, were studied in an agricultural watershed in the Taihu Lake area in eastern China. The highest overland runoff loads and nitrogen losses were measured under the upland at a convergent footslope. Much higher runoff, sediment and nitrogen losses were observed under upland cropping and vegetable fields than that under chestnut orchard and bamboo forest. Sediment associated nitrogen losses accounted for 8–43.5% of total nitrogen export via overland runoff. N lost in dissolved inorganic nitrogen forms (NO ₃ ^– -N + NH ₄ ⁺ -N) accounted for less than 50% of total water associated nitrogen export. Agricultural practices and weather-driven fluctuation in discharge were main reasons for the temporal variations in nutrient losses via stream discharge. Significant correlation between the total nitrogen concentration and stream discharge load was observed. Simple regression models could give satisfactory results for prediction of the total nitrogen concentrations in stream water and can be used for better quantifying nitrogen losses from arable land. Nitrogen losses from the studied watershed via stream discharge during rice season in the year 2002 were estimated to be 10.5 kg N/ha using these simple models.     

Early responses of soil ammonium and nitrate nitrogen to forest gap harvesting of a Pinus massoniana plantation in the upper reaches of Yangtze River北大核心CSCD

To understand the short-term effects of forest gap by human harvesting on soil available nutrient in Pinus massoniana plantations, the variations of soil ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) concentrations in the gap center and gap edge during growing season were observed in seven gaps of different size (Gl: 100 m2; G2:225 m2; G3:400 m2; G4:625 m2; G5:900 m2; G6:1225 m2; G7:1600 m2) and pure understory of a 39-year-old masson pine plantation in a hilly area of the upper reaches of Yangtze River. The results showed that in the early stage of gap formation, the gap size had significant effect on NH4+-N, the season changes on NP3--N, and the interaction effect of gap size and seasonal variation on NH4+-N and NO3--N. The difference of NH4+-N and NO3--N between the gap center and gap edge was not significant. (I) The NH4+-N content was 4.30-11.99 mg kg-1, and NO3--N content was 2.57-10.81 mg kg-1. There was no obvious difference in NH4+-N and N03--N among gaps of different size in early or late growing seasons, when both increased first and decreased afterwards in the middle of growing season. The gaps of 100∼400 m2 area had a higher content of available nitrogen. (2) The seasonal dynamic differed between NH4+-N and NO3--N, with the former lower in middle growing season whereas the latter higher in the middle growing season but lower in the end of growing season. The soil NH4+-N was higher than NO3- -N in the early and late periods, but lower in the middle period. (3) The soil NH4+-N and NO3--N in parts of gaps were lower than understory in the early and late growing season. (4) Correlation analyses showed that NH4+-N had significant positive correlation with microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), and NO3--N with soil temperature, MBN and organic matter. But the impact of soil water content on available nitrogen was not significant. These results suggested that soil temperature and microbial activity variation caused by gap harvesting are the main factors affecting soil available nitrogen content of Pinus massoniana plantations.     

秸秆与氮肥配施对辽西旱区土壤酶活性与土壤养分的影响

通过田间试验研究了玉米（Zea mays L.）秸秆与氮肥配施对耕层土壤酶活性及土壤养分的影响。试验设4个秸秆还田量水平,2个施氮量水平。结果表明：在秸秆配施氮肥条件下,耕层土壤中性磷酸酶、脲酶、转化酶和过氧化氢酶活性以及有机质和全氮质量分数均表现为随着玉米秸秆还田量的增加而提高,而硝态氮（3NO-N）和铵态氮（＋4NH-N）质量分数则表现为随着玉米秸秆还田量的增加而减少,4种土壤酶活性与土壤有机质和全氮质量分数均呈显著正相关,与土壤硝态氮和铵态氮质量分数则呈显著负相关。玉米秸秆还田量9 000 kg.hm-2配施氮肥量420 kg.hm-2是辽西风沙半干旱区效果较好的技术措施。     

Nitrogen dynamics in an Australian semiarid grassland soil

We conducted a four-week laboratory incubation of soil from a Themeda triandra Forsskal grassland to clarify mechanisms of nitrogen (N) cycling processes in relation to carbon (C) and N availability in a hot, semiarid environment. Variation in soil C and N availability was achieved by collecting soil from either under tussocks or the bare soil between tussocks, and by amending soil with Themeda litter. We measured N cycling by monitoring: dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), ammonium (NH4+), and nitrate (NO3-) contents, gross rates of N mineralization and microbial re-mineralization, NH4+ and NO3- immobilization, and autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification. We monitored C availability by measuring cumulative soil respiration and dissolved organic C (DOC). Litter-amended soil had cumulative respiration that was eightfold greater than non-amended soil (2000 compared with 250 microg C/g soil) and almost twice the DOC content (54 compared with 28 microg C/g soil). However, litter-amended soils had only half as much DON accumulation as non-amended soils (9 compared with 17 microg N/g soil) and lower gross N rates (1-4 compared with 13-26 microg N x [g soil](-1) x d(-1)) and NO3- accumulation (0.5 compared with 22 microg N/g soil). Unamended soil from under tussocks had almost twice the soil respiration as soil from between tussocks (300 compared with 175 microg C/g soil), and greater DOC content (33 compared with 24 microg C/g soil). However, unamended soil from under tussocks had lower gross N rates (3-20 compared with 17-31 microg N x [g soil](-1) d(-1)) and NO3- accumulation (18 compared with 25 microg N/g soil) relative to soil from between tussocks. We conclude that N cycling in this grassland is mediated by both C and N limitations that arise from the patchiness of tussocks and seasonal variability in Themeda litterfall. Heterotrophic nitrification rate explained >50% of total nitrification, but this percentage was not affected by proximity to tussocks or litter amendment. A conceptual model that considers DON as central to N cycling processes provided a useful initial framework to explain results of our study. However, to fully explain N cycling in this semiarid grassland soil, the production of NO3- from organic N sources must be included in this model.     

Light-mediated thresholds in stream-water nutrient composition in a river network

The elemental composition of solutes transported by rivers reflects combined influences of surrounding watersheds and transformations within stream networks, yet comparatively little is known about downstream changes in effects of watershed loading vs. in-channel processes. In the forested watershed of a river under a mediterranean hydrologic regime, we examined the influence of longitudinal changes in environmental conditions on water-column nutrient composition during summer base flow across a network of sites ranging from strongly heterotrophic headwater streams to larger, more autotrophic sites downstream. Small streams (0.1-10 km2 watershed area) had longitudinally similar nutrient concentration and composition with low (approximately 2) dissolved nitrogen (N) to phosphorus (P) ratios. Abrupt deviations from this pattern were observed in larger streams with watershed areas > 100 km2 where insolation and algal abundance and production rapidly increased. Downstream, phosphorus and silica concentrations decreased by > 50% compared to headwater streams, and dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen increased by approximately 3-6 times. Decreasing dissolved P and increasing dissolved N raised stream-water N:P to 46 at the most downstream sites, suggesting a transition from N limitation in headwaters to potential P limitation in larger channels. We hypothesize that these changes were mediated by increasing algal photosynthesis and N fixation by benthic algal assemblages, which, in response to increasing light availability, strongly altered stream-water nutrient concentration and stoichiometry in larger streams and rivers.     

Application of a 15N tracer method to the study of dissolved organic nitrogen uptake during spring and summer in Chesapeake Bay

The dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) pool in marine waters contains a diverse mixture of compounds. It is therefore difficult to accurately estimate planktonic uptake of DON using the limited number of radiolabeled compounds commercially available. We describe a method to estimate DON uptake rates using ¹⁵N-labeled DON recently released from phytoplankton. To make ¹⁵N-labeled DON, we incubated surface water with ¹⁵NH ₄ ⁺ and then isolated the DON, including any recently released DO¹⁵N, with ion retardation resin. This DON was then added to a freshly collected water sample from the same environment to quantify the rate of DON uptake. The technique was applied to investigate rates of DON uptake relative to inorganic nitrogen in the mesohaline Chesapeake Bay during May 1990 and August 1991. The May experiment took place after the spring bloom, and rates of DON uptake [ranging from 0.31 to 0.53 g-atom (g-at) Nl^-1 h^-1] often exceeded rates of NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ^- uptake combined. The rates of DON uptake at this time were higher than estimated bacterial productivity and were not correlated with bacterial abundance or bacterial productivity. They were, however, correlated with rates of NO ₃ ^- uptake. In May, we estimate that only 7 to 32% of DON uptake was a result of urea utilization. In contrast, in August, when regenerated nutrients predominate in Chesapeake Bay, rates of DON uptake (ranging from 0.14 to 0.51 g-atom Nl^-1 h^-1) were an average of 50% of the observed rates of NH ₄ ⁺ uptake. Consistent with the May experiment, rates of DON uptake were not correlated with bacterial production. A sizable fraction of DON uptake, however, appeared to be due to urea utilization; rates of urea uptake, measured independently, were equivalent to an average of 74% of the measured rates of DON uptake. These findings suggest that, during both periods of study, at least a fraction of the measured DON uptake may have been due to utilization by phytoplankton.     

沿淮麦区大气无机态氮质量浓度的观测研究

2010年6月6日至6月16日,运用采样器TH-110B和TH-150C收集了地处沿淮麦区3个观测点的气体（NH3和NO2）和气溶胶样品,初步探讨了小麦收获期大气气态氮和颗粒态氮质量浓度的特征。结果表明：气态氮质量浓度以NO2最高,其时均质量浓度和日均质量浓度分别为0.57～0.64 mg.m-3和0.29～0.63 mg·m-3,且均超标（0.24和0.12 mg·m-3）;颗粒态氮质量浓度以NH4＋-N最高（4.12～78.28μg·m-3）,占总氮的47.00%～71.19%。此外,农业活动如收割,可增加大气气溶胶及无机态氮的质量浓度。     

地下水中铵态氮的迁移转化过程

铵态氮进入地下水的主要途径是土壤淋失,通过室内土柱淋滤实验研究铵态氮在土壤中的迁移转化过程,测定不同时间和不同深度土壤中铵态氮及其转化物硝态氮和亚硝态氮的浓度变化,分析了影响铵态氮迁移转化的因素。实验表明：在土壤饱和、持续淋滤条件下,土柱中随采样深度的增加,铵态氮穿透时间延长,依次滞后;通过硝化能力分析,土柱上层发生了轻微的硝化反应,土柱底部发生了反硝化反应,导致硝态氮的浓度衰减。研究认为在铵态氮的迁移转化过程中,当入渗铵态氮浓度较低时,影响铵态氮迁移转化的显著因素是土壤对铵态氮的吸附;当入渗铵态氮浓度较大时,影响铵态氮迁移转化的显著因素是生物作用导致的铵态氮的硝化,以及土壤的渗透系数、弥散度等因素。