Emission factors from different burning stages of agriculture wastes in Mexico

Open-air burning of agricultural wastes from crops like corn, rice, sorghum, sugar cane, and wheat is common practice in Mexico, which in spite limiting regulations, is the method to eliminate such wastes, to clear the land for further harvesting, to control grasses, weeds, insects, and pests, and to facilitate nutrient absorption. However, this practice generates air pollution and contributes to the greenhouse effect. Burning of straws derived from the said crops was emulated in a controlled combustion chamber, hence determining emission factors for particles, black carbon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitric oxide throughout the process, which comprised three apparent stages: pre-ignition, flaming, and smoldering. In all cases, maximum particle concentrations were observed during the flaming stage, although the maximum final contributions to the particle emission factors corresponded to the smoldering stage. The comparison between particle size distributions (from laser spectrometer) and black carbon (from an aethalometer) confirmed that finest particles were emitted mainly during the flaming stage. Carbon dioxide emissions were also highest during the flaming stage whereas those of carbon monoxide were highest during the smoldering stage. Comparing the emission factors for each straw type with their chemical analyses (elemental, proximate, and biochemical), some correlations were found between lignin content and particle emissions and either particle emissions or duration of the pre-ignition stage. High ash or lignin containing-straw slowed down the pre-ignition and flaming stages, thus favoring CO oxidation to CO₂.

     

混合水解对打捆麦秸水解产酸的影响

为研究混合水解对麦秸水解产酸的影响,以猪粪、厨余和蔬菜废物为原料,研究其分别与麦秸混合水解产酸的特性,分析了水解过程中pH值、COD、SCOD和VFAs的变化。结果表明,除麦秸＋蔬菜废物最佳出料时间为3～9d外,麦秸、麦秸＋厨余垃圾、麦秸＋猪粪水解液最佳出料时间均为3～7d,7d后水解液COD浓度下降;将蔬菜废物与麦秸混合水解,水解液pH值降低幅度最大,水解液中总有机酸浓度最高,pH值最低为5．31,有机酸浓度最高达6．46g／L,且水解液中SCOD浓度、SCOD／COD比值最大;添加猪粪明显促进了麦秸有机物的水解溶出,麦秸单位干物质水解率和产酸率较对照分别提高了43％～134％和50．53％,但对提高水解液SCOD浓度、SCOD／COD比、TVFA浓度、降低水解液pH值的效果不如蔬菜废物;添加厨余垃圾的效果介于猪粪和蔬菜废物之间。从促进麦秸水解产酸的角度,以添加猪粪的效果最好。     

Selenium fractions in organic matter from Se-rich soils and weathered stone coal in selenosis areas of China

A high degree of association between Selenium (Se) and organic matter has been demonstrated in natural environments, but Se fractions and speciation in organic matter is unclear. In this study, a method for quantifying organic matter associated with Se (OM-Se) was developed to investigate Se fractions in organic matter in Se-rich soils and weathered stone coal from Enshi, China, where Se poisoning of humans and livestock has been documented. Initially, Se was extracted using water and a phosphate buffer. Subsequently, OM-Se was extracted using NaOH, and then speciated into Se associated with fulvic acids (FA-Se) and humic acids (HA-Se). Both FA-Se and HA-Se were further speciated into the weakly bound and strongly bound fractions using a customized hydride generation reactor. The results show that FA-Se (1.91-479 mg kg⁻¹) is the predominant form of Se in all Se-rich soils and the weathered stone coal samples, accounting for more than 62% of OM-Se (3.07-484 mg kg⁻¹). Weakly bound FA-Se (1.33-450 mg kg⁻¹) was prevalent in the total FA-Se, while weakly bound HA-Se (0.62-26.2 mg kg⁻¹) was variable in the total HA-Se (1.15-32.5 mg kg⁻¹). These data indicate that OM-Se could play a significant source and sink role in the biogeochemical cycling of Se in the supergene environment. Weakly bound FA-Se seems to act as a potential source for bioavailable Se, whereas strongly bound HA-Se is a possible OM-Se sink which is not readily transformed into bioavailable Se.     

添加小麦秸秆对猪粪高温堆肥腐熟进程的影响

选用猪粪与小麦秸秆为堆肥原料进行高温好氧堆肥实验,研究添加小麦秸秆对猪粪高温好氧堆肥过程中堆体温度、pH值、种子发芽指数、碳氮比和养分等理化指标的影响,寻求猪粪高温堆肥时的最佳秸秆配比,旨在为猪粪快速资源化利用提供科学依据。结果表明,猪粪高温堆肥时添加小麦秸秆可以缩短进入高温发酵阶段的时间,减少氮素损失,加快C/N的降低速率,加速有毒有害物质分解。其中猪粪和小麦秸秆6∶4处理各层温度在2~5 d内上升至50℃,并持续37~46 d,在堆肥结束时,有机质和速效氮含量较堆肥初期下降幅度最小,分别为33.90%和23.76%,全氮、全磷、全钾、速效磷和速效钾含量较堆肥初期提高幅度最大,分别为13.34%、20.24%、53.19%、41.53%和16.57%。若以种子发芽指数80%作为堆肥腐熟的评价指标,猪粪和小麦秸秆6∶4配比堆肥的腐熟速度比纯猪粪快18 d,36 d即可腐熟。综合判断,实际应用中,猪粪与小麦秸秆按体积6∶4进行堆肥较为适宜。     

Inorganic arsenic and trace elements in Ghanaian grain staples

A total of 549 samples of rice, maize, wheat, sorghum and millet were obtained from markets in Ghana, the EU, US and Asia. Analysis of the samples, originating from 21 countries in 5 continents, helped to establish global mean trace element concentrations in grains; thus placing the Ghanaian data within a global context. Ghanaian rice was generally low in potentially toxic elements, but high in essential nutrient elements. Arsenic concentrations in rice from US (0.22 mg/kg) and Thailand (0.15 mg/kg) were higher than in Ghanaian rice (0.11 mg/kg). Percentage inorganic arsenic content of the latter (83%) was, however, higher than for US (42%) and Thai rice (67%). Total arsenic concentration in Ghanaian maize, sorghum and millet samples (0.01 mg/kg) was an order of magnitude lower than in Ghanaian rice, indicating that a shift from rice-centric to multigrain diets could help reduce health risks posed by dietary exposure to inorganic As.     

Application of different single extraction procedures for assessing the bioavailability of heavy metal(loid)s in soils from overlapped areas of farmland and coal resources

Heavy metal(loid) extraction from soils in overlapped areas of farmland and coal resources (OAFCR) is crucial in understanding heavy metal bioavailability in soil and the subsequent risks to crops and consumers. However, limited attention has been paid to the extraction procedure of heavy metal(loid)s in OAFCR soils in the research. This study therefore explored different single and mixed extraction procedures, such as acetic acid (HOAc), citric acid, ammonium bicarbonate-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (AB-DTPA), ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid + ammonium acetate (EDTA+NH₄OAc), and total digestion (HNO₃-HClO₄-HF) to determine the bioavailability of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn in OAFCR soil in Xuzhou, China. The results showed the metal(loid) extraction capacity from soil of the different procedures could be ranked as AB-DTPA > EDTA+NH₄OAc > HOA_C > citric acid. The transfer ability of heavy metal(loid)s from soil to wheat tissues and from wheat roots to aerial parts was analyzed by calculating the bioconcentration factor and transfer factor, respectively. Transfer factors of all metal(loid)s were < 1 except Cr whose transfer factor from root to shell and straw were > 1. It is suspected that foliar uptake plays a dominant role in Cr uptake. Correlation analysis between the bioavailability of heavy metal(loid)s in soil and uptake in respective wheat tissues was performed to recommend the best extraction procedures for different studies. The results show that AB-DTPA extraction is recommended for Cu uptake to wheat roots, straws, shells and grains, Zn uptake to roots, and Cd uptake to roots and straws.

     

Impact of a smelter closedown on metal contents of wheat cultivated in the neighbourhood

BACKGROUND: The contamination of soils by heavy metals engenders important environmental and sanitary problems in Northern France where a smelter has been located for more than one hundred of years. It has been one of the most important Pb production sites in Europe until its closedown in March 2003. Ore smelting process generated considerable atmospheric emissions of dust. Despite an active environmental strategy, these emissions were still significant in 2002 with up to 17 tonnes of Pb, 32 tonnes of Zn and 1 tonne of Cd. Over the years, the generated deposits have led to an important contamination of the surrounding soils. Previous studies have shown pollutant transfers to plants, which can induce a risk for human and animal health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the consequences of the smelter closedown on the Cd and Pb contents of wheat (grain and straw) cultivated in the area. METHODS: Paired topsoil and vegetable samples were taken at harvest time at various distances to the smelter. The sample sites were chosen in order to represent a large range of soil metal contamination. Sampling was realised on several wheat harvests between 1997 and 2003. 25 samples were collected before the smelter closedown and 15 after. All ears of about 1 m long of two rows were manually picked and threshed in the lab. Similarly, straw was harvested at the same time. Total metal contents in soil and wheat samples were quantified. RESULTS: A negative correlation between metal concentrations in soil and the distance to the smelter was shown. The wheat grain and straw showed significant Cd and Pb contents. The straw had higher metal contents than the grain. During the smelter activity, the grain contents were up to 0.8 mg kg(-1) DM of Cd and 8 mg kg(-1) DM of Pb. For the straw, maximum contents were 5 mg kg(-1) DM of Cd and 114 mg kg(-1) DM of Pb. After the smelter closedown, we observed a very large decrease of Pb in the grain (82%) and in the straw (91%). A smaller decrease was observed for Cd in grain. Despite this improvement, 80% of the studied samples remained non-acceptable for human consumption, according to the European legislation values, due to a high Cd content. DISCUSSION: Results highlighted a difference in metal accumulation in the plant organs as well as a difference in metal uptake. The approach pointed out the importance of atmospheric fallout in the wheat contamination pathways for Pb. The smelter closedown has lead to a decrease of the Pb content in wheat. It is interesting to relate this finding with the lead blood levels in children living close to the smelter. CONCLUSIONS: Those results have confirmed the importance of dust fallout in the plant contamination pathways. Before the closedown, Pb measured in the plant was principally originating from the smelter dust emissions. It raised the question of the sanitary risks for humans and animals living in the surrounding a of the smelter. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: In the literature, very few articles take the dust deposit as contamination pathways for crops into consideration. However, in highly contaminated sites, this pathway can be very important. Thus, it would be worthy studying the uptake of metal contaminants by plants through the foliar system.     

花卉秸秆为碳源的潜流人工湿地对硝氮的去除及其负效应

可用有机碳源不足是限制低碳高硝氮废水反硝化脱氮效能的关键因素。采用4种常见花卉（康乃馨、玫瑰、百合、紫罗兰）的废弃秸秆作为有机碳源投加至垂直布设于潜流人工湿地前端的穿孔管中,考察并对比各系统对低碳高硝氮废水的脱硝效能及其氮转化情况。结果表明,投加花卉秸秆显著增强了人工湿地的NO3--N去除效能,其中,康乃馨秸秆强化脱NO3--N效能最佳,实验期间平均去除率为51.8%和每批次去除量873.4 mg;玫瑰秸秆最差,平均去除率为31.1%和每批次去除量535.0 mg。NO3--N去除率均随运行时间的延长而逐渐下降。伴随NO3--N的去除,系统内产生了一定量的NO2--N和NH4+-N,其浓度均与NO3--N去除率呈显著正相关（p<0.05）。此外,花卉秸秆的投加使系统运行初期出水中的有机物含量偏高。以玫瑰秸秆为外加碳源产生的负效应最低。综合考虑碳源投加的正负效应,康乃馨秸秆为本实验条件下的最佳碳源,玫瑰秸秆则应增加投加量以达到更好的应用效果。     

人工湿地构筑根孔作用下土壤物质分布状况

嘉兴市石臼漾湿地应用人工构筑根孔技术,以玉米秸秆和油菜秸秆按比例混合埋植于土壤亚表层,作为湿地的基质/填料。在湿地运行一年半后,按照正交设计表,以埋植秸秆的种类(S)、填埋的土壤层次(L)、距离秸秆外环的远近(D)和秸秆周围土壤的表观颜色(C)作为实验因素,对秸秆周围养分物质浓度、土壤酶活性以及铁含量进行采样分析。实验结果显示:玉米秸秆和油菜秸秆腐烂较充分,分别形成较发达的粗根孔和细根孔;根孔周围土壤呈中度还原状态;粗根孔具有较强的优先流效应,其周围土壤具有较高的养分物质含量和较低的Fe2+/Fe3+比。粗根孔周围土壤具有较高的磷酸酶活性,而细根孔周围具有较高的β-葡糖苷酶活性和脲酶活性。综合比较,人工湿地构建初期,径级较大秸秆腐烂后形成的粗根孔发挥着更高的水分传导效率和更强的物质截留效应。     

Influence of type and amount of straw cover on weed emergence

This research was undertaken during 2003-2004 growing season to evaluate the effects of type [forage sorghum "hybrid Cober Exp" (Sorghum bicolor x Sorghum sudanense), forage millet (Pennisetum americanum "var. BN2"), finger millet (Eleusine coracana), and St Lucia grass (Brachiaria brizantha)] and amount of straw cover (5.5 and 3.0 t ha(-1)) upon the emergence of Bidens pilosa, Chamaesyce spp., Amaranthus spp., and Commelina benghalensis, under field conditions of the Brazilian Cerrado, in the region of Uberlandia--MG. The control consisted additional treatment lacking the straw cover. Emergence of weed depended on the type and amount of straw cover, as well as the weed species. The lowest number of B. pilosa seedlings was found in the presence of forage sorghum straw; Chamaesyce spp. in the lack of straw; Amaranthus spp. in the presence of higher amount of forage sorghum and forage millet, and lower amounts of forage millet and Finger Millet. All the types and amounts of straw reduced the emergency of C. benghalensis, except at the lowest level of St Lucia grass and the lack of straw.     

Trace elements in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from the eastern Mediterranean Sea: overview and evaluation

Concentrations of trace elements (Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe, and Se) in different organs and tissues (liver, kidney, muscle tissue, spleen, heart, lung, and fat tissue) of loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta from eastern Mediterranean Sea were determined. The highest levels of mercury and cadmium were found in liver (Hg: 0.43 microg g(-1) wet weight; Cd: 3.36 microg g(-1) wet weight) and kidney (Hg: 0.16 microg g(-1) wet weight; Cd: 8.35 microg g(-1) wet weight). For lead the overall concentrations were low and often below the limit of detection. Copper and selenium tended to be higher in liver than in other tissues and organs, while for zinc the concentrations were quite homogenous in the different organs and tissues, except fat tissue (64.7 microg g(-1) wet weight) which showed a higher accumulation of this element. For iron the greatest concentrations were observed in liver (409 microg g(-1) wet weight) and spleen (221 microg g(-1) wet weight).     

Thallium in French agrosystems-II. Concentration of thallium in field-grown rape and some other plant species

The aim of this study was to assess thallium (Tl) uptake into the aerial parts of selected crop species grown on French soils with high Tl content of pedogeochemical origin (0.3-40 mg Tl kg(-1) on a dry wt (DW) basis). Husked wheat and maize grains contained less than 4 microg Tl kg(-1) DW, but rape shoots accumulated Tl with a shoot-soil partition coefficient (PC) > 1, and rape seeds had PC > 3. Tl content of rape seed reached 33 mg Tl kg(-1) DW and higher concentrations in soil corresponded to increased concentrations in rape seeds. It is argued that parent material of the soil and pedogenesis have a considerable effect on Tl accumulation in rape seeds. These results show enhanced phytoavailability of Tl of pedogeochemical origin and prompt questions on the potential for food chain contamination by Tl in rape cattle cakes.     

High performance liquid chromatographic method for residue determination of sulfosulfuron

A method was developed for sulfosulfuron [(1-(2-ethylsulfonylimidazo [1,2-a] pyridin-3-ylsulfonyl)-3-(4,6-dimethoxy pyrimidin-2yl)] and its three major metabolites by HPLC utilizing photodiode array detector. The method makes use of Lichrosphere RP-8 column and acetonitrile:water:orthophosphoric acid (80:20:0.1 v/v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 ml min(-1). Using these condition sulfosulfuron, and compounds II, III and IV were resolved with distinct Rt of 2.088, 2.216, 2.302 and 2.476 minutes, respectively. Sulfosulfuron residues were analysed in soil, wheat grain and straw samples by extracting with a mixture of acetonitrile and 2 M ammonium carbonate (100 ml, 9:1, v/v) using horizontal shaker for soil and Soxhlet apparatus for wheat grain and straw samples. The extracts were cleaned up by partitioning with dichloromethane in case of soil and hexane followed by dichloromethane for plant samples. The percent recovery ranged between 71 to 75.2 for soil and 70.8 to 74.7 for plant samples. The limit of determination of sulfosulfuron was 0.25 microg g(-1).     

Potential of conservation agriculture modules for energy conservation and sustainability of rice-based production systems of Indo-Gangetic Plain region

Rice-based cropping systems are the most energy-intensive production systems in South Asia. Sustainability of the rice-based cropping systems is nowadays questioned with declining natural resource base, soil degradation, environmental pollution, and declining factor productivity. As a consequence, the search for energy and resource conservation agro-techniques is increasing for sustainable and cleaner production. Conservation agriculture (CA) practices have been recommended for resource conservation, soil health restoration and sustaining crop productivity. The present study aimed to assess the different CA modules in rice-based cropping systems for energy conservation, energy productivity, and to define energy-economic relations. A field experiment consisted of four different tillage-based crop establishment practices (puddled-transplanted rice followed by (fb) conventional-till maize/wheat (CTTPR-CT), non-puddled transplanted rice fb zero-till maize/wheat (NPTPR-ZT), zero-till transplanted rice fb zero-till maize/wheat (ZTTPR-ZT), zero-till direct-seeded rice fb zero-till maize/wheat (ZTDSR-ZT)), with two residue management treatments (residue removal, residue retention) in rice–wheat and rice–maize rotations were evaluated for energy budgeting and energy-economic relations. Conservation-tillage treatments (NPTPR-ZT, ZTTPR-ZT, and ZTDSR-ZT) reduced the energy requirements over conventional tillage treatments, with the greater reduction in ZTTPR-ZT and ZTDSR-ZT treatments. Savings of energy in conservation-tillage treatments were attributed to reduced energy use in land preparation (69–100%) and irrigation (23–27%), which consumed a large amount of fuel energy. Conservation-tillage treatments increased grain and straw/stover yields of crops, eventually increased the output energy (6–16%), net energy (14–26%), energy ratio (25–33%), and energy productivity (23–34%) as compared with CTTPR-CT. For these energy parameters, the treatment order was ZTDSR-ZT ≥ ZTTPR-ZT > NPTPR-ZT > CTTPR-CT (p < 0.05). Crop residue retention reduced net energy, energy ratio, and energy productivity when compared with residue removal. Our results of energy-economic relations favored the “conservative hypothesis,” which envisages that energy and monetary investments are not essentially the determinants of crop productivity. Thus, zero tillage-based crop establishments (ZTTPR-ZT, ZTDSR-ZT) in rice-based production systems could be the sustainable alternative to conventional tillage-based agriculture (CTTPR-CT) as they conserved non-renewable energy sources, reduced water requirement, and increased crop productivity.

     

不同镉污染农田土壤上秸秆和炭化秸秆分解动态及其对土壤镉的吸附特征

通过温室土壤培养实验,研究不同镉污染农田土壤上不同的作物秸秆和炭化作物秸秆还田后的分解动态和还田秸秆材料对污染土壤中镉的吸附特征,探讨秸秆和炭化秸秆还田做为重金属镉污染农田土壤修复剂的可行性。实验结果表明,还田的油菜秸秆和玉米秸秆在2种镉污染水稻土壤上6个月分解了43％-65％,秸秆炭化后还田则很稳定,2种镉污染土壤上还田6个月时累计分解量小于5％。2种镉污染土壤上还田的秸秆和炭化秸秆随还田时间延长镉含量逐渐增加。模拟镉污染土壤上,相同时期油菜秸秆中镉含量显著高于玉米秸秆,油菜秸秆炭中镉含量显著高于玉米秸秆炭。在镉污染土壤上,还田的玉米秸秆、油菜秸秆、玉米秸秆炭和油菜秸秆炭对土壤镉的净吸附量相近,均小于1．1μg／g。在模拟镉污染土壤上还田的油菜秸秆和油莱秸秆炭对土壤镉净吸附量最高分别达到2．74μg／g和7．03μg／g,分别是玉米秸秆和玉米秸秆炭的2倍,且显著高于其在镉污染土壤上的净吸附量,具有高的吸附能力。     

Evaluation of ozone exposure indices in exposure-response modeling

In exposure-response modeling, a major concern is the numerical definition of exposure in relating crop loss to O3, yet few indices have been considered. This paper addresses research in which plant growth was regressed for soybean, wheat, cotton, corn, and sorghum against 613 numerical exposure indices using the Box-Tidwell model. When the minimum sum of squared errors criterion was used, optimum performance was not attained for any single index; however, near optimum performances were achieved by two censored cumulative indices and from a class of indices called the generalized, phenologically weighted, cumulative impact indices (GPWCIs). The top-performing GPWCIs accumulated concentrations, used sigmoid weighting schemes emphasizing O3 concentrations of 0.06 ppm (118 microg m(-3)) or higher, and had phenological weighting schemes with greatest weight occurring 20 to 40 days prior to crop maturity. These findings indicate that (1) peak concentrations are important, but lower concentrations should be included in the calculations, (2) increased plant sensitivity occurs between flowering and maturity, and (3) plants respond to cumulative exposure impact.     

Climate Change and Population Growth in Timor Leste: Implications for Food Security

The climate in Timor Leste (East Timor) is predicted to become about 1.5 °C warmer and about 10 % wetter on average by 2050. By the same year, the population is expected to triple from 1 to 2.5–3 million. This article maps the predicted changes in temperature and rainfall and reviews the implications of climate change and population growth on agricultural systems. Improved cultivars of maize, rice, cassava, sweet potato and peanuts with high yield performance have been introduced, but these will need to be augmented in the future with better adapted cultivars and new crops, such as food and fodder legumes and new management practices. The requirements for fertilizers to boost yields and terracing and/or contour hedgerows to prevent soil erosion of steeply sloping terrain are discussed. Contour hedges can also be used for fodder for improved animal production to provide protein to reduce malnutrition.     

Concentration and dissipation of chlorantraniliprole and thiamethoxam residues in maize straw,maize, and soil

To study the dissipation rates and final residual levels of chlorantraniliprole and thiamethoxam in maize straw, maize, and soil, two independent field trials were conducted during the 2014 cropping season in Beijing and Anhui Provinces of China. A 40% wettable powder (20% chlorantraniliprole?+?20% thiamethoxam) was sprayed onto maize straw and soil at an application rate of 118 g of active ingredient per hectare (g a.i.ha^?1). The residual concentrations were determined by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The chlorantraniliprole half-lives in maize straw and soil were 9.0–10.8 and 9.5–21.7 days, respectively. The thiamethoxam half-lives in maize straw and soil were 8.4–9.8 and 4.3–11.7 days, respectively. The final residues of chlorantraniliprole and thiamethoxam in maize straw, maize, and soil were measured after the pesticides had been sprayed two and three times with an interval of 7 days using 1 and 1.5 times the recommended rate (72 g a.i. ha^?1 and 108 g a.i. ha^?1, respectively). Representative maize straw, maize, and soil samples were collected after the last treatment at pre-harvest intervals of 7, 14, and 28 days. The chlorantraniliprole residue was below 0.01 mg kg^?1 in maize, between 0.01 and 0.31 mg kg^?1 in maize straw, and between 0.03 and 1.91 mg kg^?1 in soil. The thiamethoxam residue concentrations in maize, maize straw, and soil were <0.01, <0.01, and 0.01–0.03 mg kg^?1, respectively. The final pesticide residues on maize were lower than the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.02 mg kg^?1 after a 14-day pre-harvest interval. Therefore, a dosage of 72 g a.i. ha^?1 was recommended, as it can be considered safe to human beings and animals.     

Synthetic fertilizer management for China's cereal crops has reduced N2O emissions since the early 2000s

China has implemented a soil testing and fertilizer recommendation (STFR) program to reduce the over-usage of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer on cereal crops since the late 1990 s. Using province scale datasets, we estimated an annual reduction rate of 2.5-5.1 kg N ha(-1) from 1998 to 2008 and improving grain yields, which were attributed to the balanced application of phosphate and potassium fertilization. Relative to the means for 1998-2000, the synthetic N fertilizer input and the corresponding N-induced N(2)O production in cereal crops were reduced by 22 ± 0.7 Tg N and 241 ± 4 Gg N(2)O-N in 2001-2008. Further investigation suggested that the N(2)O emission related to wheat and maize cultivation could be reduced by 32-43 Gg N(2)O-N per year in China (26%-41% of the emissions in 2008) if the STFR practice is implemented universally in the future.     

Influence of form and quantity of selenium on the development and survival of an insect herbivore

Even plants classified as 'nonaccumulators' can sequester concentrations of sodium selenate, sodium selenite, selenocystine and selenomethionine that can strongly influence insect development and survival. These forms of selenium (Se), tested in diet-incorporation bioassays, proved toxic to larvae of a generalist insect herbivore at relatively low levels. Sodium selenite was the most toxic form tested against Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), with an LC(50) of 9.14 microg g(-1) wet wt (21.11 microg g(-1) dry wt). Selenocystine was intermediate with an LC(50) of 15.2 microg g(-1) wet wt. The least toxic forms, sodium selenate and selenomethionine, had LC(50)s below 50 microg g(-1) dry wt, the upper level for tissues of plants classified as nonaccumulators. Ingestion of some forms of Se also affected growth and development. Increasing concentrations of sodium selenate and sodium selenite decreased pupal weight and added significantly to the time needed for development to the pupal and adult stages. The time required to complete the larval stage increased by over 25% and the time from egg to adult emergence was extended by 22% to nearly 30%. Selenocystine and selenomethionine did not significantly increase developmental times, even at concentrations that killed 90% or more of the test populations. Analyses of relative growth rate, relative growth index, and an analysis of covariance technique for measuring growth indicated that the form of Se affected growth rates, growth inhibition responses of the larvae, and toxicological effects. Thus, quantity and the form of Se accumulating in plants grown on Se-contaminated sites are likely to influence the population dynamics of insect herbivores. The implications of these results for the ecology of contaminated sites are discussed.