Does carbon limitation reduce nitrogen retention in soil?

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Artificial soils made from waste materials offer an alternative to imported natural topsoils, notably in large-scale groundwork and reclamation projects. Benefits...     

Granulation of anammox microorganisms for autotrophic nitrogen removal from wastewater

Excessive discharge of nutrients in waters induces pollution such as such as eutrophication. Conventional methods to treat waters are expensive. Alternatively, anaerobic ammonium oxidation, termed “anammox”, has been recently developped with benefits such as low sludge production, 50% less aeration demand, no external carbon supply, 60% less power consumption, and 90% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. However, anammox is limited by long start-up periods due to the low growth rate of anammox bacteria. This issue can be solved by complete retention of biomass by reactor modification or by formation of anammox granules. This article reviews the mechanisms of anammox granulation and biogranulation models. We present factors involved in the granulation processes such as hydrodynamic shear force, extracellular polymeric substances, hydraulic retention time, seed sludge and bioreactors. We also discuss the interaction of proteins and polysaccharides in anammox granules.     

Increased nitrogen availability influences predator–prey interactions by altering host-plant quality

Little is known about how plant nutritional and defensive qualities interact to influence predator–prey interactions. To address this need, we provided the neo-tropical milkweed, Asclepias curassavica, with two levels of nitrogen availability and examined how altered host-plant quality influenced the responses of a specialist aphid, Aphis nerii, and a coccinellid predator, Harmonia axyridis. Aphis nerii uses A. curassavica for multiple resources, including nutrition and sequestration of cardenolides for defense against natural enemies. Increased nitrogen availability improved A. curassavica quality by decreasing carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratios and cardenolide concentrations, resulting in A. nerii that also had lower C:N ratios and cardenolide concentrations. Aphis nerii population growth was higher on plants with high nitrogen availability, compared with aphids on plants with low nitrogen availability. In no-choice feeding trials, Harmonia axyridis consumed more high C:N ratio aphids, suggesting a potential compensatory response to reduced aphid nutritional quality. Additionally, H. axyridis were able to consume more low-quality aphids at the expense of increasing exposure to increased cardenolide concentrations, suggesting that interactions between H. axyridis and A. nerii may be strongly influenced by prey nutritional quality. This work highlights the need to consider how variation in plant quality influences herbivore nutritional and defensive quality when examining mechanisms that influence predator–prey interactions.     

Essential amino acid synthesis and nitrogen recycling in an alga–invertebrate symbiosis

When aseptically-cultured sea anemones, Aiptasia pulchella, were incubated with ¹⁴C-labelled glucose, aspartate and glutamate, radioactivity was incorporated into animal protein. Radioactivity was recovered from all amino acids in the protein hydrolysates of A. pulchella bearing the symbiotic alga Symbiodinium sp., and from all but seven of the amino acids in A. pulchella experimentally deprived of their algae. These data suggest that these seven amino acids (histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, tyrosine and valine) may be synthesized by the symbiotic algae and translocated to the sea anemone's tissues; and that methionine and threonine, two amino acids traditionally considered as dietary essentials for animals, are synthesized by A. pulchella. Essential amino acid translocation from the symbiotic algae to the animal host is a core element in symbiotic nitrogen-recycling. Its nutritional value to the animal host is considered in the context of the amino acid biosynthetic capacity of the host. Received: 26 October 1998 / Accepted: 28 June 1999     

Effectiveness of emergent and submergent aquatic plants in mitigating a nitrogen–permethrin mixture

Hydraulically connected wetland microcosms (～50?L) in series were used to test the effectiveness of varying combinations of two common aquatic vascular plants, parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) and cattail (Typha latifolia), for mitigating contamination from a mixture of nitrogen (ammonium nitrate) and permethrin. The upstream series included Myriophyllum only (M) and Typha only (T) while the combination upstream effluent into downstream series included Myriophyllum into Myriophyllum (M?+?M) and Typha into Myriophyllum (T?+?M). During flow, M into M?+?M more efficiently mitigated nitrogen than T into T?+?M. Post-flow, nitrogen removal efficiency was greater for T versus M and M?+?M versus T?+?M. Mean aqueous dissipation half-lives (t_1/2) of NH₄-N and NO₃-N were more rapid in T than M treatments. Ammonium and nitrate t_1/2 was highly correlated with aquatic plant above-ground shoot biomass. Permethrin mitigation efficiencies and t_1/2 were not significantly affected by plant species either singly or in combination. Trans-permethrin t_1/2 was moderately correlated with plant biomass, but not cis-permethrin t_1/2. Results of this study indicate differences in aquatic plant species and flow path influence nitrogen removal but not permethrin. However, plant species appears less important than overall plant biomass in ascertaining aquatic plant effectiveness in mitigating a nitrogen–permethrin mixture.     

Niche complementarity for nitrogen: an explanation for the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relationship?

The relationship between plant diversity and productivity has largely been attributed to niche complementarity, assuming that plant species are complementary in their resource use. In this context, we conducted an 15N field study in three different grasslands, testing complementarity nitrogen (N) uptake patterns in terms of space, time, and chemical form as well as N strategies such as soil N use, symbiotic N fixation, or internal N recycling for different plant species. The relative contribution of different spatial, temporal, and chemical soil N pools to total soil N uptake of plants varied significantly among the investigated plant species, within and across functional groups. This suggests that plants occupy distinct niches with respect to their relative N uptake. However, when the absolute N uptake from the different soil N pools was analyzed, no spatial, temporal, or chemical variability was detected, but plants, and in particular functional groups, differed significantly with respect to their total soil N uptake irrespective of treatment. Consequently, our data suggest that absolute N exploitation on the ecosystem level is determined by species or functional group identity and thus by community composition rather than by complementary biodiversity effects. Across functional groups, total N uptake from the soil was negatively correlated with leaf N concentrations, suggesting that these functional groups follow different N use strategies to meet their N demands. While our findings give no evidence for a biodiversity effect on the quantitative exploitation of different soil N pools, there is evidence for different and complementary N strategies and thus a potentially beneficial effect of functional group diversity on ecosystem functioning.     

Stoichiometric characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus in Chimonobambusa utilis leaves at different elevations北大核心CSCD

海拔对植物养分元素的分配和生存策略的权衡具有重要影响.为了解金佛山方竹(Chimonobambusa utilis)叶片氮、磷养分对海拔梯度的响应,以四川盆地南缘3个海拔(1 400 m、1 600 m和1 800 m)金佛山方竹纯林为研究对象,建立12个典型样地,对生长季节叶片氮、磷含量和土壤养分含量、温度、含水量等进行定量研究和相关性分析.结果表明:(1)随海拔的升高,叶片氮含量呈上升趋势,叶片磷含量呈下降趋势,叶片氮磷比呈上升趋势;各海拔叶片氮磷比均大于16,表明金佛山方竹生长可能受到磷限制.(2)冗余分析表明,叶片氮含量和氮磷比与土壤温度、含水量和速效磷含量呈负相关,与土壤速效氮含量呈正相关;叶片磷含量与土壤全氮和速效氮含量呈负相关,与其余环境因子呈正相关;土壤温度、速效氮、全氮、含水量和速效磷含量对叶片氮、磷化学计量特征整体影响显著,变量解释度分别为72.10%、7.90%、8.80%、2.50%和1.20%.(3)相对重要性分析表明,土壤温度和速效氮含量是叶片氮含量变异的主导因子,土壤温度、速效磷和全氮含量是叶片磷含量变异的主导因子,土壤温度、速效磷含量和速效氮含量是叶片氮磷比变异的主导因子.上述研究结果说明,海拔引起的土壤温度和养分供应的差异调节着金佛山方竹叶片的氮、磷化学计量特征.(图4表3参49)     

Are rivers just big streams? A pulse method to quantify nitrogen demand in a large river

Given recent focus on large rivers as conduits for excess nutrients to coastal zones, their role in processing and retaining nutrients has been overlooked and understudied. Empirical measurements of nutrient uptake in large rivers are lacking, despite a substantial body of knowledge on nutrient transport and removal in smaller streams. Researchers interested in nutrient transport by rivers (discharge >10000 L/s) are left to extrapolate riverine nutrient demand using a modeling framework or a mass balance approach. To begin to fill this knowledge gap, we present data using a pulse method to measure inorganic nitrogen. (N) transport and removal in the Upper Snake River, Wyoming, USA (seventh order, discharge 12000 L/s). We found that the Upper Snake had surprisingly high biotic demand relative to smaller streams in the same river network for both ammonium (NH4+) and nitrate (NO3-). Placed in the context of a meta-analysis of previously published nutrient uptake studies, these data suggest that large rivers may have similar biotic demand for N as smaller tributaries. We also found that demand for different forms of inorganic N (NH4+ vs. NO3-) scaled differently with stream size. Data from rivers like the Upper Snake and larger are essential for effective water quality management at the scale of river networks. Empirical measurements of solute dynamics in large rivers are needed to understand the role of whole river networks (as opposed to stream reaches) in patterns of nutrient export at regional and continental scales.     

Seasonal variation of nitrogen and phosphorus in Xiaojiang River—A tributary of the Three Gorges Reservoir

A yearlong monitoring program in the backwater area of Xiaojiang River (XBA) was launched in order to investigate the eutrophication of backwater areas in tributaries of the Yangtze River in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in China, starting after the impoundment water level of the TGR reached 156 m. From March 2007 to March 2008, the average concentration of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were (1553±484) μg·L^?1 and (62±31) μg·L^?1, respectively. The mean value of chlorophyll was (9.07±0.91) μg·L^?1. The trophic level of XBA was meso-eutrophic, while the general nutrient limitation was phosphorus. The results indicated that XBA has a strong ability to purify itself and has non-point source pollution from terrestrial runoff. The variation of TN/TP ratio was caused by a variation in TN rather than in TP when TN/TP < 22. N-fixation from cyanobacteria occurred and became an important process in overcoming the nitrogen deficit under a low TN/TP ratio. When TN/TP ? 22, the variation of TP affected the TN/TP ratio more significantly than TN. The increase of TP in XBA was caused mainly by particulate phosphorus, which could originate from a non-point source as adsorptive inorganic forms after heavy rainfall and surface runoff. An increase in the river’s flow could also contribute to an unstable environment for the growth of phytoplankton.     

Effects of long-term nitrogen addition and precipitation changes on CH4 flux in an alpine steppe北大核心CSCD

土壤是甲烷(CH4)重要的源和汇.氮沉降和降水格局变化正在急剧改变土壤碳循环,进而可能对土壤CH4通量造成深刻影响.高寒生态系统是巨大的碳库,对氮沉降和降水变化十分敏感.然而,目前多数研究集中在短期实验上,缺乏对长期氮沉降和降水变化背景下CH4通量的响应及其调控因素的认识.以青藏高原高寒草原为研究对象,在2013年搭建模拟氮沉降和降水格局改变实验平台.基于静态箱–气相色谱法测定2020年生长季(5-10月)土壤CH4通量.结果显示,高寒草原土壤呈CH4的汇.氮添加没有显著改变生长季和植物生长高峰CH4通量.然而,降水变化显著改变了生长季和植物生长高峰CH4通量,其中降水增加(+50%降水)降低了CH4的吸收(分别为–16%和–45%),降水减少(–50%降水)增强了CH4的吸收(分别为+73%和+33%).进一步研究发现,与植物属性和功能基因丰度相比,土壤环境因子主导了CH4通量变化(解释率>90%).其中CH4通量与土壤含水量和温度显著正相关,与土壤pH显著负相关.综上所述,在未来全球变化情景下,降水格局改变更能调节青藏高原高寒草原CH4通量的变化.(图6表1参37)     

Distribution of nitrogen species in groundwater aquifers of an industrial area in alluvial Indo-Gangetic Plains—a case study

The groundwater samples collected from the shallow and deep groundwater aquifers of an industrial area of the Kanpur city (Uttar Pradesh, India) were analyzed for the concentration levels and distribution pattern of nitrogenous species, such as nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N), nitrite-nitrogen (NO₂-N), ammonical-nitrogen (NH₄-N), organic-nitrogen (Org-N) and total Kjeldahl-nitrogen (TKN) to identify the possible contamination source. Geo-statistical approach was adopted to determine the distribution and extent of the contaminant plume. In the groundwater aquifers NO₃-N, NO₂-N, NH₄-N, TKN, Org-N and Total-N ranged from 0.10 to 64.10, BDL (below detection limit)-6.57, BDL-39.00, 7.84–202.16, 1.39–198.97 and 8.89–219.43 mg l⁻¹, respectively. About 42% and 26% of the groundwater samples of the shallow and deep groundwater aquifers, respectively, exceeded the BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) guideline value of 10 mg l⁻¹ for NO₃-N and may pose serious health hazards to the people of the area. The results of the study revealed that the groundwater aquifers of the study area are highly contaminated with the nitrate and indicates point source pollution of nitrate in the study area.     

Effects of soil warming and nitrogen deposition on leaf and soil stoichiometric characteristics of Cunninghamia lanceolata saplings北大核心CSCD

Warming and nitrogen deposition directly or indirectly affect the plant-soil element cycle under global change. To examine the effects of warming and nitrogen deposition on leaf and soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) contents, and their stoichiometric ratios in Cunninghamia lanceolata saplings, four types of treatments were assigned: control (CT), warming (W, + 4 ºC), nitrogen deposition (N, 40 kg ha-1 a-1), and warming + nitrogen deposition (WN) treatments. The results showed that: (1) compared with CT, W treatment significantly decreased leaf P content by 54.54% and increased leaf C/P and N/P by 85.26% and 83.39%, respectively; WN treatment significantly decreased leaf C content and P content by 1.99% and 51.03%, respectively, but increased the leaf C/P by 68.01% with no significant differences in leaf N content among treatments. The leaf N/P ratio of each treatment was less than 10, but that of the W and WN treatments were closer to 10 than that of the CT treatment. Meanwhile, W and WN treatments significantly increased tree height. (2) No significant differences were observed in soil total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) contents among treatments. Compared with CT, W treatment significantly decreased soil C/N by 4.09%, while neither W nor WN treatment affected soil C/P and N/P. W treatment increased the available soil content compared to CT treatment. (3) The correlation analysis showed that leaf N content was significantly negatively correlated with soil C/N in the CT treatment; in the W treatment leaf N content and N/P were significantly positively correlated with soil TN and TP content, respectively. Leaf N content was significantly negatively correlated with soil TC and TN in the N treatment, and leaf contents had no significant correlation with soil C, N, and P contents or their stoichiometric characteristics in the WN treatment. This study showed that N limitation still exists in C. lanceolata saplings. Warming and the interaction between warming and nitrogen deposition could alleviate N limitation and promote the growth of C. lanceolata. © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.     

Seasonal dynamics of labile soil nitrogen from four plantations at the western edge of the Sichuan Basin北大核心CSCD

The objective of this study was to investigate the soil nitrogen components of four native artificial plantations at the western edge of the Sichuan Basin. Soil samples from two layers (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm) were collected from 4 plantations (Cryptomeria fortunei, Michelia wilsonii, Phoebe zhennan, and Quercus acutissima) during March, June, September, and December 2015 at the western edge of Sichuan Basin, to perform a comparative analysis on seasonal dynamics. Soil ammonium, nitrate, microbial biomass nitrogen, and environmental factors were synchronously monitored. The results showed that soil inorganic nitrogen was mainly the result of nitrate. The components of labile soil nitrogen showed significant seasonal dynamics. Soil ammonium during the growing season (June and September) was higher than that during the non-growing season (March and December), but soil nitrate, microbial biomass nitrogen, and inorganic nitrogen showed the opposite pattern. Labile nitrogen components in the 0-20 cm layer were generally higher than those in the 20-40 cm layer. Labile soil nitrogen was significantly affected by forest type, which was dependent on season and soil layer. In general, there were significant correlations between the soil nitrogen pools and labile soil nitrogen and the environmental factors, including soil temperature, water content, and monthly rainfall. In conclusion, the variation of labile soil nitrogen was influenced more by season than forest type or soil layer. Compared to the biological effects of tree species, the environmental factors had a stronger effect on labile soil nitrogen. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Soil surface nitrogen losses from agriculture in India: A regional inventory within agroecological zones (2000–2001)

We present soil surface nitrogen (N) budgets for the agricultural sector of India, calculated as inputs minus outputs over 21 agroecological zones (AEZ), for 2000–2001. Nearly 35.4 Tg N was input from different sources, with output from harvested crops of about 21.2 Tg N. Soil surface N balance for agricultural lands showed a surplus of about 14.4 Tg. Livestock manure constituted 44% of total inputs, followed by 32.5% from inorganic fertilizer, 11.9% from atmospheric deposition and 11.6% from N fixation. Though the N balance was negative in some states, due to aggregation of states in agroecological regions, all regions showed surplus N loads, with a range of about 19–110 kg/ha. The lowest loads were found for AEZ 17 in the Eastern Himalaya, with 19 kg/ha surplus, and the highest surplus N load in AEZ 7 with 111 kg/ha in Deccan plateau and the Eastern Ghats. Temporal trends in fertilizer consumption from 1950–2000 for India suggested a massive increase of ～47-fold, whereas production of major crops, rice, wheat and maize, increased nearly ～4.0-, 10- and 6-fold, respectively. Fertilizer consumption patterns were highly concentrated in Tamilnadu (204.6 kg/ha), Haryana (132.0 kg/ha) and Punjab (148.6 kg/ha). The paper addresses the role of agricultural intensification and its implications for water quality in agroecological regions of India.     

Evolution of soil fertility and nitrogen/phosphorus leaching risk in protected agriculture of the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau北大核心CSCD

Understanding changes in soil fertility and soil environmental risks in protected agriculture with high irrigation and fertilizer inputs are of great significance for ecological protection. In this study, soil samples in the plow layer were collected from greenhouses >100 acres in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau after different durations of planting time (either ≤ 3, 3-5, 5-10, or 10-20 years) to assess the changing pattern of soil fertility indicators and the potential leaching risk of nitrogen and phosphorus. The results showed that soil organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in protected agriculture were 17.1 and 1.3 g/kg, respectively, which suggests moderate content levels. Meanwhile, soil alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (Olsen-P), and available potassium (AK) contents were 160.9, 72.0, and 191.2 mg/kg, respectively, which suggests abundant content levels. As the number of planting years increased, the contents of soil OM, TN, AN, and Olsen-P increased significantly, especially after 10 years, with 41.6%, 44.2%, 26.5%, and 67.4% increases, respectively, compared to ≤ 3 years. As seen, Olsen-P had the most marked increase. In contrast, soil AK and pH decreased with planting years, and soil AK after 5 years decreased by 32% compared to ≤ 3 years. Moreover, the soil pH value in 3-5 years decreased by 2.3% compared to that of ≤ 3 years. The leaching risk of soil nitrogen and phosphorus was intensified after 10-20 years, and the probability of leaching was 0.74 and 0.84, respectively. This study indicated that, in protected agriculture, soil OM, AN, and Olsen-P contents improved, accompanied by a high risk of N and P loss, and AK and soil pH values decreased. It is recommended that the input of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers should be controlled, and the input of potassium fertilizer should be increased for more than 10 years of facility cultivation. This study provides a scientific basis for the rational fertilization of agricultural facilities. The findings indicate that after facility planting for 10-20 years, soil organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus significantly increased, yet the leaching risk of nitrogen and phosphorus increased as well, suggesting that the input of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer should be controlled. After 3-5 years of planting, soil AK and pH values decreased significantly, implicating that potassium and organic fertilizer should be supplemented in a timely manner. © 2022 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Removal of nitrogen and phosphorus by eight strains of microalgae and their growth characteristics in Penaeus vannamei sewage北大核心CSCD

Microalgae are the most important primary productive forces in shrimp aquaculture systems. Microalgae not only provide oxygen and natural food for aquaculture objects, but they also absorb nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to reduce water eutrophication. However, there are great differences in N and P absorption among different strains of microalgae. To maintain the sustainable development of shrimp aquaculture, the growth performances of eight microalgal strains in Penaeus vannamei sewage and N and P removal rates were investigated under laboratory conditions. The results indicated that the eight microalgal strains could reduce the N and P content in P. vannamei sewage to some extent. Microcystis aeruginosa, Chlamydomonas sp., and Chlorella pyrenoidosa grew very well, with average growth rates of 0.309 3, 0.246 9, and 0.215 5, respectively. There were significant differences in the removal efficiency among the different strains. The removal rates of total N by M. aeruginosa, Chlamydomonas sp., and C. pyrenoidosa were 74%, 69%, and 60%, respectively, at the end of the experiment, which were higher than the other species. M. aeruginosa and Chlamydomonas sp. had better total P removal efficiency than those of the other microalgal strains and removal rates were greater than 60%, and the second highest total P removal efficiency was by C. pyrenoidosa. Different types of microalgal strains had different absorption rates of different morphological nitrogen. M. aeruginosa and Chlamydomonas sp. had the highest nitrate nitrogen removal rate (approximately 70%). Chlamydomonas sp. had a fast and persistent removal rate of ammonia nitrogen, with the removal rate being as high as 100%. The removal efficiency of M. aeruginosa and C. pyrenoidosa were a little slower, and those of Scenedesmus obliquus, Synedra sp., and Navicula graciloides were the slowest. After 16 d, the removal rate reached more than 90%. Cryptomonas obovate and C. pyrenoidosa displayed the best removal rate of nitrite nitrogen, and the removal rate reached 80% on day 8, and the removal rate of C. obovata was more persistent. These results can provide scientific reference for the orientation and use of microalgae to remove pollutants in tailings water from shrimp aquaculture systems. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Effects of different mowing frequencies on soil carbon and nitrogen changes in leymus chinensis steppe of Hulun Buir北大核心CSCD

Mowing is the main management of Hulun Buir grasslands in Inner Mongolia; therefore, understanding the changes of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and carbon sequestration under different mowing frequencies will provide an important scientific basis for grassland carbon sink management in Inner Mongolia. Three treatment plots were devised in the study area, including enclosed sample (Y), mowing every other year (2G), and mowing once a year (1G), where SOC, TN content and storage were investigated. The results showed that with increased mowing frequency, the SOC and TN content showed a decreasing trend in the 0-30 cm depth soil layer. The SOC and TN content were different in each soil layer, which decreased gradually with increasing soil depth in Y and 2G plots, whereas increased gradually in 1G plots. The soil carbon storage was significantly correlated with the soil nitrogen storage, and both showed a significant linear decrease with increased mowing frequency, which showed as carbon and nitrogen loss. In 2G plots, the soil carbon storage decreased by 17.1% and soil nitrogen storage decreased by 20.8%. In 1G plots, the soil carbon storage decreased by 21.6% and soil nitrogen storage decreased by 29.3%. The results showed that the change of soil carbon and nitrogen was sensitive to mowing frequency for the Hulun Buir grassland. It is possible to reduce the loss of carbon and nitrogen by reasonably controlling mowing frequency, and the sustainable use of grassland could be achieved with appropriate fertilization. Keywords. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Effects of warming on leaf non-structural carbohydrates and carbon and nitrogen isotopes of Cunninghamia lanceolata saplings during different seasons北大核心CSCD

To reveal the response of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) and carbon and nitrogen isotopes in plant leaves to global warming, we conducted soil warming experiments in the Fujian Sanming Forest Ecosystem and Global Change National Observation and Research Station of China. We designed two treatments: control (CT) and warming (W; cable heating, +4 ℃). Heating cables were installed 20 cm from each other at a depth of 10 cm and were heated in March 2016. In this study, Cunninghamia lanceolata saplings were used to analyze seasonal changes in leaf non-structural carbohydrates, and carbon and nitrogen isotopes. The results showed that (1) warming significantly reduced the soluble sugar, starch, and NSC content of leaves in spring but without any significant difference during other seasons. (2) Leaf δ13C increased significantly in spring and winter after warming, whereas leaf δ15N did not change significantly. (3) No significant correlation was observed between leaf δ13C, δ15N, or NSC content during the warming treatment, but a negative correlation was observed between leaf δ15N, δ13C, and sugar to starch ratio. A positive correlation between leaf δ15N and starch content was identified. In summary, when temperature increases, plants adjust the NSC content during different seasons for osmotic regulation, change the characteristics of the nutrient cycle, and alter the plant water and nutrient use strategies to maintain plant growth. In the future, we should further study the seasonal variation characteristics of NSC content and isotopes and the relationship between NSC content and the carbon and nitrogen cycles in plants under the context of long-term warming. © 2022 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Activity of nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase, 5′-nucleotidase,and adenosine deaminase in cattle fed on pastures treated with different nitrogen fertilizers

The aim of this study was to evaluate nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase, 5′-nucleotidase, and adenosine deaminase activities in cattle fed on cuttings from pastures fertilized with urea compared to animals fed on cuttings from organically fertilized or from non-fertilized pastures. Blood samples were collected up to 9 h after feeding, and nitrite and enzyme activities were evaluated. The animals feeding on urea-fertilized pasture suffered subclinical intoxication. Serum nitrite levels increased by about 50% and adenosine deaminase activity increased almost sixfold 4 and 6 h after feeding on urea-fertilized pasture, and adenosine deaminase in platelets almost doubled 6 and 9 h after feeding. In platelets, nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase activity with adenosine triphosphate as substrate increased 2, 4, 6 and 9 h after feeding while nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase with adenosine diphosphate as substrate and 5′-nucleotidase activities increased only 9 h after feeding. Increased activities of these enzymes may be implicated in the pathophysiology of subclinical intoxication since they are involved in many biochemical functions.