Bio-char Sequestration in Terrestrial Ecosystems – A Review

The application of bio-char (charcoal or biomass-derived black carbon (C)) to soil is proposed as a novel approach to establish a significant, long-term, sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide in terrestrial ecosystems. Apart from positive effects in both reducing emissions and increasing the sequestration of greenhouse gases, the production of bio-char and its application to soil will deliver immediate benefits through improved soil fertility and increased crop production. Conversion of biomass C to bio-char C leads to sequestration of about 50% of the initial C compared to the low amounts retained after burning (3%) and biological decomposition (< 10–20% after 5–10 years), therefore yielding more stable soil C than burning or direct land application of biomass. This efficiency of C conversion of biomass to bio-char is highly dependent on the type of feedstock, but is not significantly affected by the pyrolysis temperature (within 350–500 ^∘C common for pyrolysis). Existing slash-and-burn systems cause significant degradation of soil and release of greenhouse gases and opportunies may exist to enhance this system by conversion to slash-and-char systems. Our global analysis revealed that up to 12% of the total anthropogenic C emissions by land use change (0.21 Pg C) can be off-set annually in soil, if slash-and-burn is replaced by slash-and-char. Agricultural and forestry wastes such as forest residues, mill residues, field crop residues, or urban wastes add a conservatively estimated 0.16 Pg C yr⁻¹. Biofuel production using modern biomass can produce a bio-char by-product through pyrolysis which results in 30.6 kg C sequestration for each GJ of energy produced. Using published projections of the use of renewable fuels in the year 2100, bio-char sequestration could amount to 5.5–9.5 Pg C yr⁻¹ if this demand for energy was met through pyrolysis, which would exceed current emissions from fossil fuels (5.4 Pg C yr⁻¹). Bio-char soil management systems can deliver tradable C emissions reduction, and C sequestered is easily accountable, and verifiable.     

Quantification and valuation of ecosystem services in diverse production systems for informed decision-making

The empirical evidence of decline in ecosystem services (ES) over the last century has reinforced the call for ES quantification, monitoring and valuation. Usually, only provisioning ES are marketable and accounted for, whereas regulating, supporting and cultural ES are typically non-marketable and overlooked in connection with land-use or management decisions. The objective of this study was to quantify and value total ES (marketable and non-marketable) of diverse production systems and management intensities in Denmark to provide a basis for decisions based on economic values. The production systems were conventional wheat (Cwheat), a combined food and energy (CFE) production system and beech forest. Marketable (provisioning ES) and non-marketable ES (supporting, regulating and cultural) ES were quantified by dedicated on-site field measurements supplemented by literature data. The value of total ES was highest in CFE (US$ 3142 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) followed by Cwheat (US$ 2767 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and beech forest (US$ 2328 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). As the production system shifted from Cwheat - CFE–beech, the marketable ES share decreased from 88% to 75% in CFE and 55% in beech whereas the non-marketable ES share increased to 12%, 25% and 45% of total ES in Cwheat, CFE and beech respectively, demonstrating production system and management effects on ES values. Total ES valuation, disintegrated into marketable and non-marketable share is a potential way forward to value ES and ‘tune’ our production systems for enhanced ES provision. Such monetary valuation can be used by policy makers and land managers as a tool to assess ES value and monitor the sustained flow of ES. The application of ES-based valuation for land management can enhance ES provision for maintaining the productive capacity of the land without depending on the external fossil-based fertilizer and chemical input.     

Net Ecosystem Production of Boreal Larch Ecosystems on the Yenisei Transect

The study was carried out in the Turukhansk Research Station of Yenisei Transect (65^°46^′N, 89^°25^′E). Larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.) is the dominant overstory tree species. The research has been conducted on four permanent test plots in same-age mature (110-year old) and overmature (380-year old) post-fire larch stands of green moss and lichen groups of forest type. Carbon cycle parameters were assessed based on a biometric method. Quantitative analysis of carbon pools and fluxes shows that net ecosystem production of north taiga larch stands averages 32% of net primary production. Sink of atmospheric CO₂ makes 1.22 and 0.74 t C ha^{− 1} year^{− 1} for mature and overmature green moss larch stands, and 0.65 and 0.35 t C ha^{− 1} year^{− 1} for lichen type. Net carbon sink in the tree layer make up 9% of net primary production carbon, ground vegetation – 15%, and dead plant residues accumulation – 8% of atmospheric carbon uptake via photosynthesis.     

Assessing the potential for greenhouse gas mitigation in intensively managed annual cropping systems at the regional scale

We predicted changes in yields and direct net soil greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes from converting conventional to alternative management practices across one of the world's most productive agricultural regions, the Central Valley of California, using the DAYCENT model. Alternative practices included conservation tillage, winter cover cropping, manure application, a 25% reduction in N fertilizer input and combinations of these. Alternative practices were evaluated for all unique combinations of crop rotation, climate, and soil types for the period 1997-2006. The crops included were alfalfa, corn, cotton, melon, safflower, sunflower, tomato, and wheat. Our predictions indicate that, adopting alternative management practices would decrease yields up to 5%. Changes in modeled SOC and net soil GHG fluxes corresponded to values reported in the literature. Average potential reductions of net soil GHG fluxes with alternative practices ranged from −0.7 to −3.3 Mg CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in the Sacramento Valley and −0.5 to −2.5 Mg CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for the San Joaquin Valley. While adopting a single alternative practice led to modest net soil GHG flux reductions (on average −1 Mg CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), combining two or more of these practices led to greater decreases in net soil GHG fluxes of up to −3 Mg CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. At the regional scale, the combination of winter cover cropping with manure application was particularly efficient in reducing GHG emissions. However, GHG mitigation potentials were mostly non-permanent because 60-80% of the decreases in net soil GHG fluxes were attributed to increases in SOC, except for the reduced fertilizer input practice, where reductions were mainly attributed to decreased N₂O emissions. In conclusion, there are long-term GHG mitigation potentials within agriculture, but spatial and temporal aggregation will be necessary to reduce uncertainties around GHG emission reductions and the delivery risk of the associated C credits.     

Transformation of Organic Matter of the Larch Forest Soils in the Northern Taiga of Nizhne-Tungusskoe Plateau, Central Siberia

The evaluation of biospheric role of the boreal forests in the accumulation of carbon is connected with the evaluation of organic matter (OM) pool in soils. The research sites were larch forests, they are situated on Nizhne-Tungusskoe Plateau. Larch forests of feather-moss and lichen types (110 and 380 years old) were formed on 'ochric podbur' soils. Litter stocks are 3.5–4.5 kg m^{− 2} with thickness 10–25 cm. Cryomezomorphic northern taiga soils contains 38–73 t (carbon) ha^{− 1}. Pool of fast mineralized OM has average value 38.1 t (carbon) ha^{− 1}, including 20.5 and 6.4 t (Carbon) ha^{− 1} of labile compounds on surface and in the soil, and 11.2 t (carbon) ha^{− 1} of mobile OM. Microbial mass reaches 1.78–3.47 t (carbon) ha^{− 1}, its proportion is 3.6–4.9% of the total OM carbon. Zoomass of feather-moss larch forest is 0.20–0.61 * 10^{− 2}, in lichen larch forest −0.01–0.07 * 10^{− 2} t (carbon) ha^{− 1}. A pool of resistant to biological decomposition and bonded to mineral soil matrix OM is 17.7 t (carbon) ha^{− 1} and it varies from 18.6 to 29.0 in feather-moss larch forest, and from 6.4 to 17.0 t (carbon) ha^{− 1} in lichen larch forest. Two-years field experiment has been performed to determine transformation rates of various plant litter fractions and to clarify the role of soil biota in these processes. The results showed participation of all biota groups in the decomposition of plant residues caused weight loss of larch-needles and root mortmass. Isolation of organic matter from all-size invertebrate groups leads to some decrease of decomposition activity.     

Rates of accumulation of cadmium and uranium in a New Zealand hill farm soil as a result of long-term use of phosphate fertilizer

In New Zealand, phosphate (P) fertilisers used in agriculture are the main sources of the potentially toxic elements cadmium (Cd) and uranium (U), which occur as unwanted contaminants. New Zealand is developing draft soil guideline values (SGV) for maximum concentrations of Cd. To assess when soils under pasture for sheep production might reach a particular SGV, we analysed archived soil samples from a 23 yr P fertiliser trial. The pasture sites were at Whatawhata, North Island, New Zealand, and had received P fertiliser at the rates of 0, 30, 50 and 100 kg P ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. From 1983 to 1989, P was applied as single superphosphate, from 1989 to 2006, P was applied as triple superphosphate. Soils from replicate paddocks were sampled annually to a depth of 75 mm on easy (10-20°) and steep (30-40°) slope classes. Total P, Cd and U were analysed by ICP-MS after acid digestion. Data were analysed by fitting trend lines using linear mixed models for two slope classes and for two sampling periods 1983-1989 and 1989-2006 when the soil sampling method and fertiliser type had been changed.The changes in total P, Cd and U were directly related to the type and amount of P fertiliser applied, the control treatment showed no significant change in P, Cd or U. At 50 and 100 kg P ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ there were generally linear increases in total P and total U, and the same trend line applied to both time periods, but the rate of increase in P was greater on the easy slope class. For Cd, a “broken stick” model was needed to explain the data. Pre-1989, Cd increased in the 50 and 100 kg P ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ treatment (0.036-0.045 mg kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively): post 1988 the rate of increase declined markedly on those two treatments (0.005-0.015 mg kg⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively), and declined absolutely in the 30 kg P ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ treatments. The maximum content of Cd was in the 100 kg P ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ treatment which reached 0.931 mg Cd kg⁻¹ on the easy slope. For U there were steady linear increases for the 30, 50 and 100 kg P ha⁻¹ treatments, and no significant difference between the steep and easy slopes, nor the two sampling periods, the maximum concentration obtained was 2.80 mg U kg⁻¹ on the 100 kg P ha⁻¹ treatment. The results suggest that at rates of P fertiliser likely to be applied to hill farms (<50 kg P ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), and using P fertiliser with low Cd content, then the Cd concentration in this soil will never reach a SGV of 1 mg kg⁻¹.     

Estimating net primary production and annual plant carbon inputs, and modelling future changes in soil carbon stocks in arable farmlands of northern Japan

Soil C sequestration in croplands is deemed to be one of the most promising greenhouse gas mitigation options for Japan's agriculture. In this context, changes in soil C stocks in northern Japan's arable farming area over the period of 1971-2010, specifically in the region's typical Andosol (volcanic ash-derived) and non-Andosol soils, were simulated using soil-type-specific versions of the Rothamsted carbon model (RothC). The models were then used to predict the effects, over the period of 2011-2050, of three potential management scenarios: (i) baseline: maintenance of present crop residue returns and green manure crops, as well as composted cattle manure C inputs (24-34 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ applied on 3-55% of arable land according to crop), (ii) cattle manure: all arable fields receive 20 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ of composted cattle manure, increased C inputs from crop residues and present C inputs from green manure are assumed, and (iii) minimum input: all above-ground crop residues removed, no green manure crop, no cattle manure applied. Above- and below-ground residue biomass C inputs contributed by 8 major crops, and oats employed as a green manure crop, were drawn from yield statistics recorded at the township level and crop-specific allometric relationships (e.g. ratio of above-ground residue biomass to harvested biomass on a dry weight basis). Estimated crop net primary production (NPP) ranged from 1.60 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for adzuki bean to 8.75 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for silage corn. For the whole region (143 × 10³ ha), overall NPP was estimated at 952 ± 60 Gg C yr⁻¹ (6.66 ± 0.42 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Plant C inputs to the soil also varied widely amongst the crops, ranging from 0.50 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for potato to 3.26 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for winter wheat. Annual plant C inputs to the soil were estimated at 360 ± 45 Gg C yr⁻¹ (2.52 ± 0.32 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), representing 38% of the cropland NPP. The RothC simulations suggest that the region's soil C stock (0-30 cm horizon), across all soils, has decreased from 13.96 Tg C (107.5 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) in 1970 to 12.46 Tg C (96.0 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) in 2010. For the baseline, cattle manure and minimum input scenarios, soil C stocks of 12.13, 13.27 and 9.82 Tg C, respectively, were projected for 2050. Over the period of 2011-2050, compared to the baseline scenario, soil C was sequestered (+0.219 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) by enhanced cattle manure application, but was lost (−0.445 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) under the minimum input scenario. The effect of variations of input data (monthly mean temperature, monthly precipitation, plant C inputs and cattle manure C inputs) on the uncertainty of model outputs for each scenario was assessed using a Monte Carlo approach. Taking into account the uncertainty (standard deviation as % of the mean) for the model's outputs for 2050 (5.1-6.1%), it is clear that the minimum input scenario would lead to a rapid decrease in soil C stocks for arable farmlands in northern Japan.     

林地转型耕地对东北丘陵区白浆土cbbL细菌群落丰度和结构的影响

土壤固碳细菌的CO_2同化作用能够将CO_2转化成有机质,是土壤碳循环的重要过程,然而对土地利用方式转变下土壤固碳细菌群落丰度和结构变化的了解却非常有限.在此,采用q PCR和高通量测序技术研究了东北丘陵区林地转型耕地后白浆土cbb L细菌群落丰度和结构变化,并探讨了土壤理化因子在群落丰度和结构变化中的作用.结果表明,耕地土壤细菌的cbb L基因丰度为2. 57×108copies·g~(-1),显著低于林地土壤的7. 30×108copies·g~(-1),但林地与耕地间cbb L/16S r RNA基因拷贝数比无显著差异.与林地相比,耕地土壤cbb L细菌群落的Shannon和Chao1指数显著降低,而Simpson指数显著升高.系统发育树分析和主坐标分析(principal co-ordinates analysis,PCo A)均表明林地转型耕地改变了土壤cbb L细菌群落组成.Pearson相关分析表明,cbb L基因丰度和Shannon指数均与pH极显著正相关,而与AP和NO_3-显著负相关,证明了施肥导致的土壤pH和速效养分改变是造成土壤cbb L细菌群落丰度和多样性变化的主要原因.典范对应分析(canonical correspondence analysis,CCA)显示,pH、NO_3-、AP和NH_4+与土壤cbb L细菌群落结构变化显著相关.综上所述,了解土壤cbb L细菌群落对土地利用方式转变的响应及其微生物学机制将为加强我国东北丘陵区白浆土的可持续利用及生态环境重建提供新的见解.     

Soil fertility dynamics in runoff-capture agriculture, Canary Islands, Spain

In the extremely arid (∼150 mm yr⁻¹) eastern Canary Islands of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Graciosa, agriculture has been sustained for decades by a traditional runoff-capture (RC) farming system known as “gavias”. Although the main goal of these systems is to increase water supply for crops, making unnecessary conventional irrigation, a secondary and equally important factor is that this system allows for sustainable agricultural production without addition of chemical or organic fertilizers. A field study was conducted to assess the impact of long-term agriculture (>50 yr) on soil fertility and to evaluate key factors affecting the nutrient sustainability of RC agricultural production. Soil fertility and nutrient dynamics were studied through chemical characterization of the arable layer (0-25 cm) of RC agricultural plots, adjacent natural soils (control) not affected by runoff and cultivation, and sediments contributed by a series of RC events. Results showed that RC soils have enhanced fertility status, particularly because they are less affected by salinity and sodicity (mean electrical conductivity = 1.8 dS m⁻¹ vs. 51.0 dS m⁻¹ in control soils; mean exchangeable sodium percentage = 11.1% vs. 30.6% in control soils), and have higher water and nutrient holding capacities (mean clay plus silt contents ≈87% vs. 69% in control soils). In general, sediments transported with the runoff and deposited in RC plots (average sediment yield ≈ 46 ton ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), contain sufficient nutrients to prevent a progressive reduction of essential plant nutrients below natural levels in spite of nutrient uptake and removal by the harvested crop. Average additions of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium with the runoff sediments were 33.6, 35.3 and 48.8 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively. Results of this study show how a crop production system can be sustained in the long term by natural hydrological and biogeochemical catchment processes. This system maintains a nutrient balance that is not based on energy-intensive inputs of fertilizers, but is integrated in natural nutrient cycling processes, unlike other tropical farming agroecosystems.     

Global warming potential of emissions from rice paddies in Northeastern China

In this study, paddy fields in Jilin province which are flooded parcel of arable lands used for growing rice (Oryza sativa Linn.) were selected as the object. Long-term exploitation of paddy fields led to variations of soil organic carbon (SOC) and green house gases (GHGs) emissions which might contribute to global warming. In order to calculate the amount of global warming potentials (GWPs) of emissions from ricepaddies and find the correlations among rice yield, SOC storage and GWP, DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) model was used to simulate SOC densities and fluxes of main GHGs emitted from paddy fields. After verification, simulation results were used to calculate SOC storages and 100-year GWPs from 1949 to 2009. Results indicated that SOC densities in depths of 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm all kept increasing. Average methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes were 278.55 kg carbon (kgC) ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ and 2.22 kg nitrogen (kgN) ha⁻¹ a⁻¹. The SOC storage (0–30 cm) had increased from 3.96 × 10⁹kgC in 1949 to 47.85 × 10⁹kgC in 2009. In addition, GWP emission was increasing exponentially in the past 61 years, from 0.16 × 10⁶ Mg carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂-equivalents) to 66.36 × 10⁶ Mg CO₂-equivalents. Both SOC storage and GWP presented obviously linear relation to rice yields. Overall, the research suggested that long-term rice yields could be used to estimate the SOC storage and GWP variations.     

A Simulation of Temporal and Spatial Variations in Carbon at Landscape Level: A Case Study for Lake Abitibi Model Forest in Ontario,Canada

Using a case study of the Lake Abitibi Model Forest (LAMF), this study aims to assess the temporal and spatial variability in carbon storage during 1990–2000, and to present a comprehensive estimation of the carbon budget for LAMF's ecosystems. As well, it provided the information needed by local forest managers to develop ecological and carbon-based indicators and monitor the sustainability of forest ecosystems. Temporal and spatial carbon dynamics were simulated at the landscape level using ecosystem model TRIPLEX1.0 and Geographical Information System (GIS). The simulated net primary productivity (NPP) and carbon storage in forest biomass and soil were compared with field data and results from other studies for Canada's boreal forests. The results show that simulated NPP ranged from 3.26 to 3.34 tC ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in the 1990s and was consistent with the range measured during the Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Studies (BOREAS) in central Canada. Modeled NPP was also compared with the estimation from remote sensing data. The density of total above-and belowground biomass was 125.3, 111.8, and 106.5 tC ha⁻¹ for black spruce, trembling aspen, and jack pine in the LAMF ecosystem, respectively. The total carbon density of forested land was estimated at 154.4 tC ha⁻¹ with the proportion of 4:6 for total biomass and soil. The analysis of net carbon balance of ecosystem suggested that the LAMF forest ecosystem was acting as a carbon sink with an allowable harvest in the 1990s.     

Adsorption of fluoride on clay minerals and their mechanisms using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

This research investigates the adsorption mechanisms of fluoride (F) on four clay minerals (kaolinite, montmorillonite, chlorite, and illite) under different F⁻ concentrations and reaction times by probing their fluoride superficial layer binding energies and element compositions using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). At high F⁻ concentrations (C ₀ = 5–1000 mg·L⁻¹), the amount of F⁻ adsorbed (Q _F), amount of hydroxide released by clay minerals, solution F⁻ concentration, and the pH increase with increasing C ₀. The increases are remarkable at C ₀>50 mg·L⁻¹. The QF increases significantly by continuously modifying the pH level. At C ₀<5–100 mg·L⁻¹, clay minerals adsorb H⁺ to protonate aluminum-bound surface-active hydroxyl sites in the superficial layers and induce F⁻ binding. As the C ₀ increases, F⁻, along with other cations, is adsorbed to form a quasi-cryolite structure. At C ₀>100 mg·L⁻¹, new minerals precipitate and the product depends on the critical Al³⁺ concentration. At [Al³⁺]>10^−11.94 mol·L⁻¹, cryolite forms, while at [Al³⁺]<10^−11.94 mol·L⁻¹, AlF₃ is formed. At low C ₀ (0.3–1.5 mg·L⁻¹), proton transfer occurs, and the F⁻ adsorption capabilities of the clay minerals increase with time.     

Reconnecting crop and cattle farming to reduce nitrogen losses to river water of an intensive agricultural catchment (Seine basin,France): past,present and future

Nitrate and pesticide contamination of surface and groundwater has become a major problem in intensive farming regions in Europe, with nitrate concentrations reaching values above the standard defined in 2000 by the European Water Framework Directive. In the Seine basin, a major issue is the closure and abandonment of drinking-water wells, which force water managers and drinking-water producers to explore solutions for water resource protection. Organic farming has appeared as a credible alternative to conventional farming, and this study explores the potential of organic farming to reconcile agricultural production and water quality. On the basis of agricultural statistics, survey questionnaires and experimental data, the nitrogen soil surface balance (N-SSB) has been established at the scale of a small 104-km² catchment (The Orgeval sub-basin), representative of the intensive cash crop farming in the Seine basin. The N-surplus for arable land in specialized organic cash crop systems has been found to be half that of current conventional systems (15 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ versus 30 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively). The N-yield in organic systems is 21% lower than in conventional systems, but total fertilization (mostly symbiotic N fixation) is also 26% lower. Whereas 2–3 years of forage legume (e.g., alfalfa) as a starter crop of the typical 7- to 10-year diversified rotation builds up N soil fertility and helps prevent weeds without pesticides, the existence of an outlet for this fodder production is a limiting factor for the economic sustainability and the environmental benefits of these farming systems. Therefore, we explored the possibility of a reconnection of livestock and crop farming systems in the Orgeval catchment, a traditional dairy farming and Brie cheese production region. We calculated the N-SSB for this type of a reconnected livestock and cropping system and found a value very close to the specialized organic cash crop system with full utilization of fodder production, leading to profitable animal production, essentially as milk in this farm design. This reconnected system is compared with the estimated situation in 1955 before separation of plant and livestock production. Furthermore, the N-SSB values were converted into infiltrating sub-root concentrations and used as a boundary condition to a biogeochemical model. Organic cropping and organic reconnected livestock cropping systems result in a 50% reduction of surface water nitrate concentrations, a surface water quality 20% better than that reconstructed for 1955, with an overall higher protein production.     

High-field 1H T1 and T2 NMR relaxation time measurements of H2O in homeopathic preparations of quartz, sulfur, and copper sulfate

Quantitative meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials investigating the specific therapeutic efficacy of homeopathic remedies yielded statistically significant differences compared to placebo. Since the remedies used contained mostly only very low concentrations of pharmacologically active compounds, these effects cannot be accounted for within the framework of current pharmacology. Theories to explain clinical effects of homeopathic remedies are partially based upon changes in diluent structure. To investigate the latter, we measured for the first time high-field (600/500 MHz) ¹H T₁ and T₂ nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation times of H₂O in homeopathic preparations with concurrent contamination control by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Homeopathic preparations of quartz (10c–30c, n = 21, corresponding to iterative dilutions of 100⁻¹⁰–100⁻³⁰), sulfur (13x–30x, n = 18, 10⁻¹³–10⁻³⁰), and copper sulfate (11c–30c, n = 20, 100⁻¹¹–100⁻³⁰) were compared to n = 10 independent controls each (analogously agitated dilution medium) in randomized and blinded experiments. In none of the samples, the concentration of any element analyzed by ICP-MS exceeded 10 ppb. In the first measurement series (600 MHz), there was a significant increase in T₁ for all samples as a function of time, and there were no significant differences between homeopathic potencies and controls. In the second measurement series (500 MHz) 1 year after preparation, we observed statistically significant increased T₁ relaxation times for homeopathic sulfur preparations compared to controls. Fifteen out of 18 correlations between sample triplicates were higher for controls than for homeopathic preparations. No conclusive explanation for these phenomena can be given at present. Possible hypotheses involve differential leaching from the measurement vessel walls or a change in water molecule dynamics, i.e., in rotational correlation time and/or diffusion. Homeopathic preparations thus may exhibit specific physicochemical properties that need to be determined in detail in future investigations. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Global and regional potential for bioenergy from agricultural and forestry residue biomass

As co-products, agricultural and forestry residues represent a potential low cost, low carbon, source for bioenergy. A method is developed for estimating the maximum sustainable amount of energy potentially available from agricultural and forestry residues by converting crop production statistics into associated residue, while allocating some of this resource to remain on the field to mitigate erosion and maintain soil nutrients. Currently, we estimate that the world produces residue biomass that could be sustainably harvested and converted into nearly 50 EJ yr⁻¹ of energy. The top three countries where this resource is estimated to be most abundant are currently net energy importers: China, the United States (US), and India. The global potential from residue biomass is estimated to increase to approximately 50–100 EJ yr⁻¹ by mid- to late- century, depending on physical assumptions such as of future crop yields and the amount of residue sustainably harvestable. The future market for biomass residues was simulated using the Object-Oriented Energy, Climate, and Technology Systems Mini Climate Assessment Model (O^bjECTS MiniCAM). Utilization of residue biomass as an energy source is projected for the next century under different climate policy scenarios. Total global use of residue biomass is estimated to be 20–100 EJ yr⁻¹ by mid- to late- century, depending on the presence of a climate policy and the economics of harvesting, aggregating, and transporting residue. Much of this potential is in developing regions of the world, including China, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and India.     

黄河河南段水体中正构烷烃的分布特征与来源解析

本研究于2010年8月采集黄河河南段26个表层水及悬浮颗粒物样品,采用气相色谱-质谱联用仪(GC-MS)测定22种正构烷烃(C_(14)~C_(36))的含量,分析其组成特征,并利用特征参数解析其来源.结果表明,黄河河南段水相中正构烷烃浓度为521~5 843 ng·L~(-1),平均浓度为1 409 ng·L~(-1),组成特征以C_(25)为主峰碳的高碳单峰型.悬浮颗粒相中正构烷烃浓度范围为463~11 142 ng·L~(-1),平均浓度为1 951 ng·L~(-1),组成特征表现为双峰型,C_(25)为主峰碳的高碳烃占优势,同时存在低碳峰.多特征参数OEP、CPI、%Wax C_n以及TAR表明,黄河河南段水相及悬浮颗粒物中正构烷烃主要来源于化石燃料的燃烧,同时存在陆生植物来源.     

华北区域大气中羰基化合物体积分数水平及化学反应活性

为了解华北区域光化学污染特征,于2018年5月至2019年4月在石家庄和兴隆地区利用2,4-二硝基苯肼（DNPH）对空气中的羰基化合物进行采样,并利用高效液相色谱对采集样品进行分析,以了解该区域羰基化合物的组成、体积分数、来源、·OH损耗速率和臭氧生成潜势.本研究共测定了13种含羰基的挥发性有机物,其中体积分数最高的3种物质为丙酮、甲醛和乙醛[石家庄地区：（6.46±5.25）×10^-9、（3.76±2.29）×10^-9和（2.65±1.74）×10^-9;兴隆地区：（1.85±1.27）×10^-9、（1.29±1.02）×10^-9和（0.72±0.48）×10^-9];C1/C2和C2/C3值表明石家庄地区工业化水平较高,受机动车尾气和化石燃料燃烧等人为排放影响较明显;兴隆地区采样点处于背景区域,受自然源影响较大;石家庄地区对L_·OH贡献最大的3种物质分别为乙醛（1.77 s^-1）、甲醛（1.57 s^-1）和丁醛（0.42 s^-1）;兴隆地区对L_·OH贡献最大的3种物质为分别为甲醛（0.53 s^-1）、乙醛（0.47 s^-1）和丁醛（0.12 s^-1）;对O₃生成贡献最大的羰基化合物物种为甲醛和乙醛[石家庄地区：34.61×10^-9（以O₃计,下同）和16.73×10^-9;兴隆地区：11.77×10^-9和4.47×10^-9],且甲醛的最大臭氧生成潜势估算（OFP）远高于乙醛.     

高盐高碱环境下硝化反硝化过程及N2O产生特征

采用稳定运行在高盐高碱环境厌氧/好氧/缺氧(A_n/O/A)模式下的序批式生物膜反应器(SBBR),考察在不同碳氮比(C/N)条件下,硝化反硝化过程及N_2O产生特征.结果表明,在C/N为5、2和对照组(C/N=0)时,总氮去除率分别为(98. 17±0. 42)%、(65. 78±2. 47)%和(44. 08±0. 27)%; N_2O的产生量分别为(32. 07±2. 03)、(21. 81±0. 85)和(17. 32±0. 95) mg·L~(-1); N_2O转化率(N_2O产生量在去除总氮中的比例)分别为(29. 75±0. 93)%、(30. 04±2. 17)%和(41. 69±0. 80)%.高盐高碱条件下,亚硝酸盐氧化菌(NOB)受到很强的抑制作用,硝化过程基本停留在亚硝酸盐阶段.由于高盐高碱环境对N_2O还原酶活性的抑制,使得异养反硝化过程产生了大量N_2O,随着碳氮比的增大,有更多的碳源用于反硝化过程,因而总氮去除率和N_2O产生量均随之增加.随着碳氮比的增大,N_2O转化率随之降低,这可能是由于异养反硝化过程氮素还原酶对电子的竞争所形成的,碳氮比越高,电子竞争越弱.高通量测序表明:在SBBR中,氨氧化细菌(AOB)被富集,而几乎不存在NOB;优势异养反硝化菌属主要是Thauera、Azoarcus和Gemmobacter.     

OLR对ABR沿程格室甲烷发酵特征的影响

为高效处理玉米淀粉生产废水,启动并持续运行了一个四格室厌氧折流板反应器（ABR）,通过分阶段提升进水COD的方法,探讨了有机负荷率（OLR）对ABR运行效能的影响,并采用间歇培养方式考察了OLR对沿程格室中不同营养类型产甲烷菌群活性的影响.结果表明,在OLR分阶段从2.7提高到8.0 kg·m^-3·d^-1的过程中,ABR前两个格室（C1和C2）始终呈现出典型的产酸发酵特征,其污泥的有机挥发酸（VFAs）比产率为0.54~0.76 kg·kg^-1·d^-1（以每天每千克MLVSS产出的1千克有机挥发酸计,下同）,而后两个格室（C3和C4）则表现出典型的产甲烷特征,其污泥的比产甲烷速率达98 L·kg^-1·d^-1（以每天每千克MLVSS产出的1升甲烷计,下同）以上.活性污泥产甲烷活性测试结果表明,当OLR为2.7~8.0 kg·m^-3·d^-1时,C3中的氢营养型产甲烷菌群保持了较高的产甲烷活性,其最大甲烷产量（P_max）和最大比产甲烷速率分别达到了20.4 mL和16.5 mL·g^-1·h^-1（以每小时每克MLVSS产出的1毫升甲烷计,下同）以上.乙酸营养型产甲烷菌群的累计甲烷产量由大到小依次为：C3 > C4 > C1 > C2.经过144 h的培养后,C3中乙酸营养型产甲烷菌群的累计甲烷产量为15.1~15.2 mL,最大比产甲烷速率为10.0~10.8 mL·g^-1·h^-1.     

A lake classification concept for a more accurate global estimate of the dissolved inorganic carbon export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters

The magnitude of lateral dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters strongly influences the estimate of the global terrestrial carbon dioxide (CO₂) sink. At present, no reliable number of this export is available, and the few studies estimating the lateral DIC export assume that all lakes on Earth function similarly. However, lakes can function along a continuum from passive carbon transporters (passive open channels) to highly active carbon transformers with efficient in-lake CO₂ production and loss. We developed and applied a conceptual model to demonstrate how the assumed function of lakes in carbon cycling can affect calculations of the global lateral DIC export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters. Using global data on in-lake CO₂ production by mineralization as well as CO₂ loss by emission, primary production, and carbonate precipitation in lakes, we estimated that the global lateral DIC export can lie within the range of \( {0.70}_{-0.31}^{+0.27} \) to \( {1.52}_{-0.90}^{+1.09} \) Pg C yr^?1 depending on the assumed function of lakes. Thus, the considered lake function has a large effect on the calculated lateral DIC export from terrestrial ecosystems to inland waters. We conclude that more robust estimates of CO₂ sinks and sources will require the classification of lakes into their predominant function. This functional lake classification concept becomes particularly important for the estimation of future CO₂ sinks and sources, since in-lake carbon transformation is predicted to be altered with climate change.