ESTIMATION OF SOIL MOISTURE WITH API ALGORITHMS AND MICROWAVE EMISSION1

Large area soil moisture estimations are required to describe input to cloud prediction models, rainfall distribution models, and global crop yield models. Satellite mounted microwave sensor systems that as yet can only detect moisture at the surface have been suggested as a means of acquiring large area estimates. Relations previously discovered between microwave emission at the 1.55 cm wavelength and surface moisture as represented by an antecedent precipitation index were used to provide a pseudo infiltration estimation. Infiltration estimates based on surface wetness on a daily basis were then used to calculate the soil moisture in the surface 0–23 cm of the soil by use of a modified antecedent precipitation index. Reasonably good results were obtained (R²= 0.7162) when predicted soil moisture for the surface 23 cm was compared to measured moisture. Where the technique was modified to use only an estimate of surface moisture each three days an R² value of 0.7116 resulted for the same data set. Correlations between predicted and actual soil moisture fall off rapidly for repeat observations more than three days apart. The algorithms developed in this study may be used over relatively flat agricultural lands to provide improved estimates of soil moisture to a depth greater than the depth of penetration for the sensor.     

Interspecific and intraspecific identification of Dendrobium based on the psbAtrnH intergenic region sequences and the 5S rRNA gene spacer sequences北大核心CSCD

This research aimed to investigate the interspecific and intraspecific identification of Dendrobium by using the multi-locus method so as to provide a molecular basis for Dendrobium identification through the combination of chloroplast psbA-trnH intergenic region sequences and ribosome 5S rRNA gene spacer sequences. PCR direct sequencing was applied to detect the chloroplast psbA-trnH intergenic region sequences as well as the ribosome 5S rRNA gene spacer sequences of 12 Dendrobium species, while the psbA-trnH intergenic region sequences of Dendrobium denneanum dq-2 variety and dq- 5line were cloned and sequenced for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyzing. The sequences were analyzed by the software Sequencher4.14, Bioedit7.0, MEGA5.2 and Dansp5.0; the interspecific and intraspecific Kimara-2-Parameter(K2P) distances were also calculated. The phylogenetic tree (using Neighbor joining method) was constructed with Bulbophyllum odoratissimum and Bletilla striata as outgroup. The results showed an average length of chloroplast psbA-trnH gene sequences in Dendrobium as 742.3 bp, with 72 variable sites, including 33 information sites; the average length of the ribosome 5S rRNA gene spacer sequences in Dendrobium was 336.4 bp, with 213 variable sites including 139 information sites. Using psbAtrnH intergenic region sequences in combination with ribosome 5S rRNA gene spacer sequences can not only identify D. denneanum, D. hancockil, D. thysiflorum, D. devonianum, D. moniliforme, D. chrysotoxum, D. officinale, D. heterocarpum and D. nobile, but also differentiate D. officinale from different geographical populations, and distinguish the dq-2 variety and dq 5line with SNP in the multi locus of D. denneanum.     

Ozone concentrations, flux and potential effect on yield during wheat growth in the Northwest-Shandong Plain of China

Ozone (O₃) concentration and flux (F_o) were measured using the eddy covariance technique over a wheat field in the Northwest-Shandong Plain of China. The O₃-induced wheat yield loss was estimated by utilizing O₃ exposure-response models. The results showed that: (1) During the growing season (7 March to 7 June, 2012), the minimum (16.1 ppbV) and maximum (53.3 ppbV) mean O₃ concentrations occurred at approximately 6:30 and 16:00, respectively. The mean and maximum of all measured O₃ concentrations were 31.3 and 128.4 ppbV, respectively. The variation of O₃ concentration was mainly affected by solar radiation and temperature. (2) The mean diurnal variation of deposition velocity (V_d) can be divided into four phases, and the maximum occurred at noon (12:00). Averaged V_d during daytime (6:00–18:00) and nighttime (18:00–6:00) were 0.42 and 0.14 cm/sec, respectively. The maximum of measured V_d was about 1.5 cm/sec. The magnitude of V_d was influenced by the wheat growing stage, and its variation was significantly correlated with both global radiation and friction velocity. (3) The maximum mean F_o appeared at 14:00, and the maximum measured F_o was − 33.5 nmol/(m²·sec). Averaged F_o during daytime and nighttime were − 6.9 and − 1.5 nmol/(m²·sec), respectively. (4) Using O₃ exposure-response functions obtained from the USA, Europe, and China, the O₃-induced wheat yield reduction in the district was estimated as 12.9% on average (5.5%–23.3%). Large uncertainties were related to the statistical methods and environmental conditions involved in deriving the exposure-response functions.     

Cloning and expression analysis of geosmin synthase gene from Aphanizomenon gracile北大核心CSCD

Geosmin is a secondary metabolite responsible for earthy odors. The occurrence of geosmin has great impact on the quality of water environment. The gene essential for geosmin biosynthesis have been identified in several species. But little is known about the mechanism of geosmin synthesis in Aphanizomenon gracile. This study attempted to clone the gene involved in geosmin biosynthesis of Aphanizomenon gracile a nd a nalyze t he geosmin production u nder d ifferent e nvironments. T he high-efficiency thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR (hiTAIL-PCR) was used to amplify the full-length of geosmin synthase gene from Aphanizomenon gracile (WH-1). Real time PCR (RT-PCR) was applied to quantify the geosmin production in different light and temperature. As a result, geo, a geosmin synthase gene from Aphanizomenon gracile (WH-1) was cloned by hiTAIL-PCR. The full-length open reading frame (ORF) of geo was 2 262 bp, coding for a protein of 753 amino acids. Meanwhile, WH-1 was treated with different environment conditions and mRNA expression levels of geo were quantified by RT-PCR. It was found that low temperature (15 °C), high light intensity (35 μmol m-2 s-1) and continuous light illumination were beneficial to the expression of geo. The successful amplification of geosmin synthase gene verified that hiTAIL-PCR is an effective and simple procedure of low cost. The result provides fundamental knowledge on the monitoring and prevention for odorants.     

Magnesium-rich minerals in sediment and suspended particulates of South Florida water bodies: implications for turbidity

Fine sediments in shallow water bodies such as Lake Okeechobee are prone to resuspension. Predominantly inorganic "mud" sediment that covers approximately 670 km2 of the lake has been recognized as a persistent source of turbidity. The objective of this study was to determine if mineral components of sediments in Lake Okeechobee and water conveyances of the northern Everglades also occur as suspended sediment and hence constitute a potential abiotic contributor to turbidity. Sediment samples were collected from nine stations within the lake and eight locations north of Water Conservation Area 2A in the Everglades. Water samples were also collected at selected locations. The silt and clay mineralogy of sediment and suspended particles was determined using X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, scanning-electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray elemental microanalysis, and high-resolution transmission-electron microscopy. Clay fractions of the lake sediment contained the Mg silicate minerals sepiolite and palygorskite, along with smectite, dolomite, calcite, and kaolinite. Sediment silt fractions were dominated by carbonates and/or quartz, with smaller amounts of Ca phosphates and sepiolite. Mineralogy of the mud sediment was similar to that reported for geologic phosphate deposits. This suggests that the mud sediment might have accumulated by stream transport of minerals from these deposits. Suspended solids and mud-sediment mineralogy were similar, except that smectite was more abundant in suspended solids. Everglade samples also contained Mg-rich minerals. The small size, low density, and fibrous or platy nature of the prevalent mud sediment minerals make them an abiotic, hydrodynamically sensitive source of persistent turbidity in a shallow lake. Mitigation efforts focused exclusively on P-induced biogeochemical processes do not address the origin or effects of these minerals. Ecological management issues such as turbidity control, P retention, geologic P input, and suitability of dredging are related to mud-sediment properties and provenance.     

Response to environmental flows in the lower Tarim River, Xinjiang, China: ground water

In China's west since the 1950s large-scale ecosystem degeneration has occurred through water diversions for agricultural purposes. Since 2000, 1038 x 10(6) m(3) of water have been released into the Tarim River with the result that water reached the terminal Taitema Lake for the first time in 30 years. This environmental flow raised water-table levels along 350 km of the river. To assess the response of the water-table, a comparison "pristine" site is compared with downstream monitored sites. The results show huge changes in water-table levels. The study verifies that the water-table is extremely responsive to environmental flows, that strong internal similarities exist along the length of the river, and that the effect on the water-table and hence likely riparian vegetation recovery can be tentatively predicted. The actual impacts of the restoration strategy are less than those originally expected politically, socially and within the scientific community. We make recommendations on more effective release strategies.     

Comparative studies on the concentration of rare earth elements and heavy metals in the atmospheric particulate matter in Beijing, China, and in Delft, The Netherlands

Atmospheric particulate matter (APM) was collected at three sampling sites in Beijing, China, from February to June 1998. The concentrations of rare earth elements (REE) and cobalt (Co), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the APM were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results obtained in Beijing, China, were compared to that obtained in Delft, the Netherlands, in 1997. The influence of coal combustion was considered. The results demonstrated that the content of APM, the concentrations of REE and Co, Zn, Cd, Pb in the APM in Beijing, China, were higher than that in Delft, the Netherlands. From the ratios of La to Ce, and La to Sm, which may be used as tracers for the origin of the REE, it is concluded that the origins of REE in China differ from those in the Netherlands.     

Location and migration of cations in Cu(2+)-adsorbed montmorillonite

Locations of Cu2+ ion in Cu(2+)-adsorbed montmorillonite have been studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), supplemented by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). In the EPR spectra of Cu(2+)-adsorbed montmorillonite, three signals, corresponding to Cu2+ ion, have been simultaneously recorded. Some Cu2+ ions seemed to replace the original interlayer metal cations and some entered into the hexagonal cavities. A small fraction of Cu2+ ions penetrated into the octahedral vacancies. There were two ways for the adsorption of Cu2+ ion by montmorillonite--exchangeable and specific. On heating, the hydrated Cu2+ ion in the interlayer loses the coordinating water and then enters into the hexagonal cavities. When the heating temperature further increased, dehydroxylation occurs, which facilitates Cu2+ ion in the hexagonal cavities to penetrate into the octahedral vacancies.