锑和砷对固氮菌的毒性效应及其机制研究

锑作为一种具有毒性和致癌性的类金属,其不合理的开发造成了严重的生态环境污染,尤其是土壤中高浓度锑和砷污染导致了环境中多种营养元素的缺乏。其中,氮素的缺乏严重阻碍了环境的恢复。然而,固氮微生物不仅能为氮素匮乏环境提供稳定的氮素来源,而且其固氮潜能可以作为监测土壤金属污染的敏感指标。为此,该文通过乙炔还原法(ARA)微宇宙培养试验手段,研究了不同价态锑和砷(三价及五价)在不同质量浓度(100、200、500、1 000、2 500、5 000 mg·L^-1)水平下对棕色固氮菌固氮潜能的影响,同时进一步探究了土壤固氮菌群落固氮潜能对土壤中主要锑和砷价态[Sb(Ⅴ)和As(Ⅴ)]的响应机制。结果表明,锑和砷浓度与棕色固氮菌和土壤固氮微生物的固氮潜能均呈显著负相关,验证了以固氮微生物固氮潜能作为生物指示物的可行性。此外,Sb(Ⅴ)对土壤固氮微生物的毒性显著小于As(Ⅴ)。三价锑和砷污染对固氮菌固氮潜能的毒性高于五价[As(Ⅲ)>Sb(Ⅲ)>As(Ⅴ)>Sb(Ⅴ)],这可能是由于Sb(Ⅲ)和As(Ⅲ)对细胞的致裂性强于Sb(Ⅴ)和As(Ⅴ)。相较于Sb(Ⅴ)和As(Ⅴ)对于棕色固氮菌固氮潜能的抑制作用,其对土壤固氮菌群落的固氮潜能的影响相对较弱。这一差异可能是由于土壤复杂的理化性质以及微生物群落和功能多样性而导致的。     

耕地土壤铜、镉、锌形态及生物有效性研究

土壤重金属总量常被用来评估土壤质量安全,但是大量事实说明单纯用土壤重金属总量并不能完全说明土壤重金属的生物有效性及其环境风险。相对于国内外常用的Tessier的五态方法,欧共体标准物质局提出的三步提取法(BCR法),中国地质调查局地质连续提取法的七态标准少见报道。本研究选取河南平原耕地样品,采用中国地质调查局地质连续提取法(DD2005-03)进行耕地中重金属元素(Cu、Cd、Zn)的形态分布,结果表明:Cu、Zn主要以残渣态存在,其残渣态分别占全量的55.80%和67.35%。Cd以离子交换态为主,占全量的27.30%。Cu、Cd、Zn各态含量占全量比例的顺序是,Cu:残渣态弱有机结合交换态铁锰氧化态碳酸盐结合态强有机结合态水溶态离子交换态。Cd:离子交换态弱有机结合交换态强有机结合态残渣态碳酸盐结合态铁锰氧化态水溶态。Zn:残渣态铁锰氧化态弱有机盐结合态离子交换态强有机结合态碳酸盐态水溶态。从生物可利用性系数k来看,Cd主要以活动性较大的状态存在,很容易被作物吸收。     

湿解产物与堆肥在土壤中的稳定性和腐熟度比较分析

研究了不同培养阶段湿解产物与土壤混合物(HTS)的物质变化特征、稳定性和腐熟度,并与堆肥和土壤混合物(CS)及自然土壤进行了对比。结果表明:在培养过程中,所有HTS和CS的参数变化趋势相似,HTS的温度变化接近于CS的温度变化,稍高于自然土壤的温度,低于环境温度;pH值变化不大,基本稳定在7.6左右;在培养初期,水溶性有机碳比有机态氮w(WSC)/w(Norg)小于0.55,种子发芽系数(GI)高于80%;培养14d后,w(C)/w(N)降低至小于20,w(NH4 -N)/w(NO3--N)渐渐趋于稳定至小于0.16,GI基本高于100%;49d后,HTS的CO2释放率接近CS和自然土壤的CO2释放率;种子发芽系数的变化表明,湿解产物中含有更丰富的营养元素,可以促进植物根系的生长;相关性分析显示,w(WSC)/w(Norg)、w(NH4 -N)/w(NO3--N)和GI可以作为湿解产物腐熟度的评价指标。综合各项参数表明,湿解产物在土壤中会很快达到稳定,可以安全应用。     

Accumulation and translocation of heavy metals in soil and plants from fly ash contaminated area

The present investigation deals with the accumulation of heavy metals in fields contaminated with fly ash from a thermal power plant and subsequent uptake in different parts of naturally grown plants. Results revealed that in the contaminated site, the mean level of all the metals (Cd, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, Mn and Fe) in soil and different parts (root and shoots) of plant species were found to be significantly (p<0.01) higher than the uncontaminated site. The enrichment factor (EF) of these metals in contaminated soil was found to be in the sequence of Cd (2.33) > Fe (1.88) > Ni (1.58) > Pb (1.42) > Zn (1.31) > Mn (1.27) > Cr (1.11) > Cu (1.10). Whereas, enrichment factor of metals in root and shoot parts, were found to be in the order of Cd (7.56) > Fe (4.75) > Zn (2.79) > Ni (2.22) > Cu (1.69) > Mn (1.53) > Pb (1.31) > Cr (1.02) and Cd (6.06) approximately equal Fe (6.06) > Zn (2.65) > Ni (2.57) > Mn (2.19) > Cu (1.58) > Pb (1.37) > Cr (1.01) respectively. In contaminated site, translocation factor (TF) of metals from root to shoot was found to be in the order of Mn (1.38) > Fe (1.27) > Pb (1.03) > Ni (0.94) > Zn (0.85) > Cd (0.82) > Cr (0.73) and that of the metals Cd with Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe; Cr with Pb, Mn, Fe and Pb with Fe were found to be significantly correlated. The present findings provide us a clue for the selection of plant species, which show natural resistance against toxic metals and are efficient metal accumulators.     

Compost and sulfur affect the mobilization and phyto-availability of Cd and Ni to sorghum and barnyard grass in a spiked fluvial soil

Soil reclamation via additives can cause contradictory effects on the mobilization of toxic elements in soils under dry and wet conditions. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the impact of compost and sulfur in two rates (1.25 and 2.5%) on fractionation, mobilization, and phyto-availability of cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) to sorghum (dry soil) and barnyard grass (wet soil) in a fluvial soil spiked with 25 mg Cd or 200 mg Ni/kg soil. Compost decreased the solubility and mobilization of Cd (especially in dry soil) and Ni (in both soils). Sulfur increased the solubility of Cd (31% in dry soil—49% in wet soil) and Ni (4.6% in wet soil—8.7% in dry soil). Sulfur altered the carbonate fraction of Cd to the soluble fraction and the residual fraction of Cd and Ni to the non-residual fraction. Compost decreased Cd and increased Ni in sorghum, but enhanced Cd and degraded Ni in grass. Sulfur increased Cd and Ni in both plants, and the increasing rate of Cd was higher in grass than in sorghum, while Ni was higher in sorghum than in grass. These results suggest that compost can be used as an immobilizing agent for Cd in the dry soil and Ni in the wet soil; however, it might be used as mobilizing agent for Cd in the wet soil and Ni in the dry soil. Sulfur (with rate 2.5%) can be used for enhancing the phyto-extraction of Cd and Ni (especially Cd) from contaminated alkaline soils.     

Root biomass and carbon storage in oriental spruce and beech stands in Artvin, Turkey

In this study, influence of slope position (south-facing vs. north-facing), species type and sampling time on fine (0-2 mm), small (2-5 mm) and coarse (5-10 mm) root biomass and carbon storage of oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) and oriental beech (Fagus orientalis) were investigated. Mean total root biomass of oriental spruce was 20160 kg ha(-1) in south-facing slopes and 17140 kg ha(-1) in north-facing slopes. Mean total belowground C storage of oriental spruce was 7861 kg ha(-1) in south-facing slopes and 6840 kg ha(-1) in north-facing slopes. Similarly, biomass and C storage of oriental beech were 17190 and 6690 kg ha(-1) in south-facing slopes, and 13260 and 5200 kg ha(-1) in north-facing slopes, respectively. Oriental spruce had significantly higher fine root biomass than did oriental beech in south-facing slopes. Fine root biomass was significantly higher in fall than in spring in south-facing slopes.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in shrimp ponds and the measures for sustainable management

Six ponds of age 3 were selected 45 km north from Suzhou in the Tailake region, and research conducted on nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in P. vannanmei (Penaeus vannanme) ponds and M. nipponense (Macrobrachium nipponense) hatchery ponds under normal management. Two treatments each had three replications. The results confirmed that feed was the major path of nitrogen and phosphorus input, each accounted for 61.24% (193.81 kg ha(-1)) and 81.08% (45.20 kg ha(-1)) of the total nitrogen and phosphorus input for P. vannanme ponds; the values for M. nipponense ponds were 43.93% (86.31 kg ha(-1)) and 57.67% (14.61 kg ha(-1)), respectively. Water pumped into ponds contributed on average 83.57 kg ha(-1) nitrogen and 8.48 kg ha(-1) phosphorus for P. vannanmei ponds, and 87.48 kg ha(-1) nitrogen and 7.00 kg ha(-1) phosphorus for M. nipponense hatchery ponds. Shrimp harvest recovered 102.81 kg ha(-1) nitrogen (32.94% of the total nitrogen input) and 7.94 kg ha(-1) phosphorus (14.23% of the total phosphorus input) for P. vannanme ponds; and 43.94 kg ha(-1) nitrogen and 4.46 kg ha(-1) phosphorus for M. nipponense hatchery ponds. The sum of nitrogen losses through volatilization, denitrification and sedimentation was 173.62 and 122.39 kg ha(-1), 54.86% and 62.29% of the total nitrogen input for P. vannanme ponds and M. nipponense hatchery ponds, respectively. Sediment accumulated 41.46 and 14.63 kg ha(-1) phosphorus, 74.37% and 64.85% of the total phosphorus input for P. vannanm ponds and M. nipponense hatchery ponds. Draining and seeping caused 40.06 kg ha(-1) nitrogen (12.66% of total nitrogen input) and 6.36 kg ha(-1) phosphorus (11.40% of total phosphorus input) loss to the surrounding water from P. vannanme ponds in 114 days; 30.14 kg ha(-1) nitrogen (15.34% of the total input) and 4.45 kg ha(-1) phosphorus (17.57% of the total input) to channel water from M. nipponense hatchery ponds in 87 days, respectively. Countermeasures for sustainable pond management include improving feeds and feeding, sediment treatments, machine aerating, chemicals with no pollution, and integrated fish-shrimp cultivation. Management of water resources for pond and methods to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loading into surrounding water from drainage are elucidated.     

Coordination chemistry and the carcinogenicity and mutagenicity of chromium(VI)

Chromate is a known carcinogen, it is only in recent years that the molecular mechanisms by which this toxicity may be expressed have been investigated. The toxicity of chromate may be mediated by the reaction of chromium(VI) with glutathione (GSH) to generate relatively stable chromium(V) complexes and other more reactive intermediates. The conditions favouring the formation of such complexes have been studied. Reactive intermediates generated during the reduction of chromate by GSH include thionyl radicals and at least two relatively stable chromium(V) species (g -1.996 and g -.986). Mixtures of chromium(VI) and glutathione and a chromium(V) complex of glutathione, which we have isolated from the reaction (g = 1.996), are capable of causing strand breaks in bacteriophage PM2 DNA. In contrast a chromium(III) complex of GSSG, one of the final products of the reaction between GSH and chromium(VI), does not damage DNA in closed circle assays. These observations support the suggestion that reactive intermediates generated during the reduction of chromium(VI) provide one route by which the genotoxicity of chromate may be expressed.     

Competitive adsorption and desorption of copper and lead in some soil of North China

The competitive adsorption and desorption of Pb(II) and Cu(II) ions in the soil of three sites in North China were investigated using single and binary metal solutions with 0.01 mol·L^-1 CaCl₂ as background electrolyte. The desorption isotherms of Pb(II) and Cu(II) were similar to the adsorption isotherms, which can be fitted well by Freundlich equation (R₂>0.96). The soil in the three sites had greater sorption capacities for Pb(II) than Cu(II), which was affected strongly by the soil characteristics. In the binary metal solution containing 1∶1 molar ratio of Pb(II) and Cu(II), the total amount of Pb(II) and Cu(II) adsorption was affected by the simultaneous presence of the two metal ions, indicating the existence of adsorption competition between the two metal ions. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to investigate the interaction between soil and metal ions, and the results revealed that the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups in the soil were the main binding sites of metal ions.     

厌氧除磷同步脱氮及影响因素研究

采用鸡粪污泥为种泥,在厌氧混合连续流反应装置内进行厌氧还原磷产生磷化氧功能菌的富集,进行硝酸盐、硫酸盐、不同碳源和氮源条件下厌氧除磷效率的研究,并考察磷化氧的生成与硝酸、总磷、氨氮去除的关系.结果表明,(1)SO_4~(2-)-S适宜的投加量为26 mg·L~(-1),不投加NO_3~--N.水中含有氧化态的无机物在厌氧条件下与磷争夺[H]导致厌氧除磷的效率下降.(2)合适的碳源为葡萄糖1 000 mg·L~(-1),纤维素不适合作为碳源,合适的氮源为蛋白胨500 mg·L~(-1),水中含有的还原糖和有机氮源促进磷化氧的生成.(3)pH值控制在6.5～7.0的范围,最适宜的生长温度在35℃左右.(4)氨氮的去除率随着总磷的去除率而增加,在厌氧条件下可达到同时脱氮除磷的效果.磷的去除由厌氧除磷菌还原磷生成磷化氧完成,氨氮由生成氮气或生成蛋白质来去除.     

Accumulation, tolerance and impact of aluminium, copper and zinc on growth and nitrate reductase activity of Ceratophyllum demersum (Hornwort)

Ceratophyllum demersum (homwort) was subjected to toxic concentrations of Al (3 and 9 mg l(-1)), Zn (3 and 9 mg l(-1)) and Cu (2.5 and 7 mg l(-1)) in culture solutions for 15 days. The higher dose of Al enhanced the chlorophyll content significantly (p<0.05) in the first 6 days of treatment while other treatments caused marked reductions. Nitrate reductase activity (NRA) was significantly reduced (p<0.05) byAl, Cu and Zn toxicity and ceased completely in plants treated with Cu by the 6th day of treatment. Dry biomass and relative growth rate were reduced significantly (p<0.05) by metal treatment. Tolerance index of the plant was low for Cu (21.62 and 13.43% at low and high doses, respectively) and moderate for Zn (63.74 and 54.85%) and Al (72.83 and 68.79%). Accumulation ofAl, Zn and Cu was threefold at higher doses compared with the lower doses but the bioconcentration factors (BCF) were very low indicating that this plant is not a hyper accumulator of these metals.     

三氯乙烯和四氯乙烯的细胞毒性及氧化应激机制研究

采用离体细胞测试技术,研究三氯乙烯(TCE)、四氯乙烯(PCE)对中国仓鼠卵巢细胞(CHO)的细胞毒性作用。3-(4,5-二甲基噻唑-2)-2,5-二苯基四氮唑溴盐(MTT)试验结果显示三氯乙烯、四氯乙烯对CHO细胞的半数生长抑制浓度(IC_(50))分别为590 mg·L~(-1)、281 mg·L~(-1)。三氯乙烯、四氯乙烯暴露可导致CHO细胞膜损伤,并且诱导细胞活性氧的产生。经不同浓度的三氯乙烯、四氯乙烯作用24 h后,细胞内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性受到抑制;染毒浓度较低时细胞过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性呈激活势,染毒浓度过高CAT酶活性受到抑制。研究表明在体外培养条件下,氯乙烯类污染物诱导氧化应激可能是其产生细胞毒性的作用机制之一。     

亚热带和温带生态条件下水稻生长速率和产量的相关性研究

在亚热带生态环境下的云南省宾川县和温带环境下的韩国水原市,2002和2003年对中国和韩国筛选出的4个水稻（Oryza sativa）高产品种进行了生长速率和产量的相关性研究,结果表明：在亚热带和温带的两种生态条件下水稻品种的叶面积指数和收获指数相近,但亚热带生态条件下实际产量和生长速率分别比温带条件下高3．06t·hm^-2和7．09g·m^-2·d^-1,产量高50．75％和生长速率高58．22％,差异达极显著水平。在亚热带条件下,移栽到移栽后20d、孕穗到抽穗的生长速率的增加能极显著提高水稻产量,以移栽到移栽后20d的生长速率影响最大,抽穗后20d生长速率的增加能增加水稻产量,但不显著。在施肥比例,基肥：分蘖肥：孕穗肥：穗肥：O％：50％：30％：20％的氮肥施用方式和稀植（30cmx14cm）条件下获得该生态区的最高产量和最大生长速率,分别为9．26t·hm^-2、19．53g·m^-2·d^-1;在温带条件下,移栽到抽穗的生长速率的增加能显著提高水稻产量,以移栽后21d到孕穗的生长速率影响最大,抽穗后20d生长速率的增加反而减低水稻产量,但不显著,氮肥施用方式基肥：分蘖肥：孕穗肥：穗肥=50％：20％：30％：0％和密植（20cm×14cm）条件下获得该生态区的最高产量和最大生长速率,分别为6．31t·hm^-2、12．00g·m^-2·d^-1。     

Chromium in tannery industry effluent and its effect on plant metabolism and growth

Different dilution levels of tannery treated effluent and their corresponding concentration of chromium (Cr6+) were studied in a petridish culture experiment on seed germination and seedling growth in radish (Raphanus sativus L). The different concentrations of Cr6+ (2, 5 and 10 ppm) and treated tannery effluent (10, 25 and 50%) showed reduction in seedling growth and related enzymatic activities with increase in concentration of Cr6+ in treatments and effluent both. The low concentration of chromium (2 ppm) and effluent dilution (10%) showed significant growth reduction separately. At this concentration of chromium and effluent dilution chlorophyll content, amylase, catalase and protein contents remained unchanged while with increase in Cr6+ concentration (>2ppm) and effluent dilution (> 10%) in treatments showed growth inhibitory effects.     

镉与铜的分离与测定研究

设计出离子交换分离法分离与测定Cd2 和Cu2 的实验方案及实验步骤,摸索出分离与测定Cd2 和Cu2 的最佳实验条件.     

Inhibition of Amazon Deforestation and Fire by Parks and Indigenous Lands

Abstract:  Conservation scientists generally agree that many types of protected areas will be needed to protect tropical forests. But little is known of the comparative performance of inhabited and uninhabited reserves in slowing the most extreme form of forest disturbance: conversion to agriculture. We used satellite-based maps of land cover and fire occurrence in the Brazilian Amazon to compare the performance of large (>10,000 ha) uninhabited (parks) and inhabited (indigenous lands, extractive reserves, and national forests) reserves. Reserves significantly reduced both deforestation and fire. Deforestation was 1.7 (extractive reserves) to 20 (parks) times higher along the outside versus the inside of the reserve perimeters and fire occurrence was 4 (indigenous lands) to 9 (national forests) times higher. No strong difference in the inhibition of deforestation ( p = 0.11) or fire ( p = 0.34) was found between parks and indigenous lands. However, uninhabited reserves tended to be located away from areas of high deforestation and burning rates. In contrast, indigenous lands were often created in response to frontier expansion, and many prevented deforestation completely despite high rates of deforestation along their boundaries. The inhibitory effect of indigenous lands on deforestation was strong after centuries of contact with the national society and was not correlated with indigenous population density. Indigenous lands occupy one-fifth of the Brazilian Amazon—five times the area under protection in parks—and are currently the most important barrier to Amazon deforestation. As the protected-area network expands from 36% to 41% of the Brazilian Amazon over the coming years, the greatest challenge will be successful reserve implementation in high-risk areas of frontier expansion as indigenous lands are strengthened. This success will depend on a broad base of political support.     

Product identification and toxicity change during oxidation of methotrexate by ferrate and permanganate in water

• Oxidation of methotrexate by high-valent metal-oxo species was first explored. • Fe(VI) presented a higher reactivity to MTX than Mn(VII) at pH 8.0. • Ketonization and cleavage of peptide bond were two initial reaction pathways. • Products of MTX were not genotoxic, neurotoxic, or endocrine-disrupting chemicals. • The less biodegradable products exhibited developmental and acute/chronic toxicity. Accompanying an annual increase in cancer incidence, the global use of anticancer drugs has remarkably increased with their worldwide environmental prevalence and ecological risks. In this study, the oxidation of methotrexate (MTX), a typical anticancer drug with ubiquitous occurrence and multi-endpoint toxicity, by ferrate(VI) (Fe(VI)) and permanganate (Mn(VII))) was investigated in water. Fe(VI) exhibited a higher reactivity with MTX (93.34 M⁻¹ s⁻¹) than Mn(VII) (3.01 M⁻¹ s⁻¹) at pH 8.0. The introduction of Cu(II) and Fe(III) at 1.0 mM improved the removal efficiency of 5.0 μM MTX by 100.0 μM Fe(VI) from 80% to 95% and 100% after 4 min, respectively. Seven oxidized products (OPs) were identified during oxidative treatments, while OP-191 and OP-205 were characterized as specific products for Fe(VI) oxidation. Initial ketonization of the L-glutamic acid moiety and cleavage of the peptide bond of MTX were proposed. Additionally, a multi-endpoint toxicity evaluation indicated no genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, or endocrine-disrupting effects of MTX and its OPs. Particularly, serious developmental toxicity in zebrafish larvae was observed in the treated MTX solutions. Based on the acute and chronic aquatic toxicity prediction, OP-190, OP-192, OP-206, and OP-208 were deemed toxic or very toxic compared to harmful MTX. Furthermore, the reduced biodegradability index from 0.15 (MTX) to −0.5 to −0.2 (OP-192, OP-206, and OP-468) indicated the formation of lower biodegradable OPs. Overall, this study suggests that Fe(VI) and Mn(VII) oxidation are promising treatments for remediating anticancer drug-contaminated water. However, the environmental risks associated with these treatments should be considered in the evaluation of water safety.     

高温堆肥碳氮循环及腐殖质变化特征研究

堆肥化处理，是指依靠自然界广泛分布的细菌、放线菌、真菌等微生物，对有机物有控制地进行生物降解，使之转化为腐殖质的生物化学处理技术。作者采用畜禽粪便条垛式高温堆肥实验方法，研究了堆肥过程中碳氮循环及腐殖质变化特征。结果表明，堆肥过程中，碳素和氮素变化最大，表现为二者总量的减少，其中以碳素总量减少较多，氮素总量次之，从而导致碳氮质量分数比降低。腐殖酸总量、胡敏酸和富里酸总量均呈下降趋势，但腐殖酸占有机碳的比例以及胡敏酸与富里酸质量分数比却在提高，速效养分含量也在升高，表明堆肥过程是一个有机质数量减少、有机质质量提高的过程。     

Drainage affects tree growth and C and N dynamics in a minerotrophic peatland

The lowering of the water table resulting from peatland drainage may dramatically alter C and N cycling in peatland ecosystems, which contain one-third of the total terrestrial C. In this study, tree annual ring width and C (delta(13)C) and N (delta(15)N) isotope ratios in soil and plant tissues (tree foliage, growth rings, and understory foliage) in a black spruce-tamarack (Picea mariana-Larix laricina) mixed-wood forest were examined to study the effects of drainage on tree growth and C and N dynamics in a minerotrophic peatland in west-central Alberta, Canada. Drainage increased the delta(15)N of soil NH4+ from a range of +0.6% per hundred to +2.9% per hundred to a range of +4.6% per hundred to +7.0% per hundred most likely through increased nitrification following enhanced mineralization. Plant uptake of 15N-enriched NH4+ in the drained treatment resulted in higher plant delta15N (+0.8% per hundred to +1.8% per hundred in the drained plots and -3.9% per hundred to -5.4% per hundred in the undrained plots), and deposition of litterfall N enriched with 15N increased the delta15N of total soil N in the surface layer in the drained (+2.9% per hundred) as compared with that in the undrained plots (+0.6% per hundred). The effect of drainage on foliar delta(13)C was species-specific, i.e., only tamarack showed a considerably less negative foliar delta(13)C in the drained (-28.1% per hundred) than in the undrained plots (-29.1% per hundred), indicating improved water use efficiency (WUE) by drainage. Tree ring area increments were significantly increased following drainage, and delta(13)C and delta(15)N in tree growth rings of both species showed responses to drainage retrospectively. Tree-ring delta(13)C data suggested that drainage improved WUE of both species, with a greater and more prolonged response in tamarack than in black spruce. Our results indicate that drainage caused the studied minerotrophic peatland to become a more open ecosystem in terms of C and N cycling and loss. The effects of forested peatland drainage or drying on C and N balances deserve further research in order to better understand their roles in future global change.     

Drought induced changes in growth, leaf gas exchange and biomass production in Albizia lebbeck and Cassia siamea seedlings

Diurnal trends in net photosynthesis rate (P(N)), stomatal conductance (g(s)), water use efficiency (WUE) and biomass were compared in six-month-old seedlings of Albizia lebbeck and Cassia siamea, under different levels of drought stress. The potted plants were subjected to four varying drought treatment by withholding watering for 7 (D1), 14(D2) and 25 (D3) days. The fourth group (C) was watered daily and treated as unstressed (control). Species differed significantly (p < 0.001) in their physiological performance under varying stress conditions. Higher P(N) of 11.6 +/- 0.05 in control followed by 4.35 +/- 0.4 in D1 and 2.83 +/- 0.18 micromol m(-2) s(-1) in D2 was observed in A. lebbeck. A significant (p < 0.001) reduction in P(N) was observed in C. siamea (C 7.65 +/- 0.5 micromol m(-2) s(-1), D1, 2.56 +/- 0.33 micromol m(-2) s(-1) and D2, 1.4 +/- 0.01 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) at 9 hr. A positive correlation was seen between P(N) and g(s) (A. lebbeck, r2 = 0.84; C. siamea, r2 = 0.82). Higher WUE was observed in C. siamea (D2, 7.1 +/- 0.18 micromol m(-2) s(-1); D3, 8.39 +/- 0.11 micromol m(-2) s(-1)) than A. lebbeck, (control, 7.58 +/- 0.3 micromol m(-2) s(-1) and D3, 8.12 +/- 0.15 micromol m(-2) s(-1)). The chlorophyll and relative water content (RWC) was more in A. lebbeck than C. siamea. Maximum biomass was produced by A. lebbeckthan C. siamea. From the study, one could conclude that A. lebbeckis better than C. siamea in adopting suitable resource management strategy and be best suited for the plantation programs in the semi-arid dry lands.