Changes in Soil Aggregate,Carbon, and Nitrogen Storages Following the Conversion of Cropland to Alfalfa Forage Land in the Marginal Oasis of Northwest China

Maintenance of soil organic carbon (SOC) is important for sustainable use of soil resources due to the multiple effects of SOC on soil nutrient status and soil structural stability. The objective of this study was to identify the changes in soil aggregate distribution and stability, SOC, and nitrogen (N) concentrations after cropland was converted to perennial alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. Algonguin) grassland for 6 years in the marginal oasis of the middle of Hexi Corridor region, northwest China. Significant changes in the size distribution of dry-sieving aggregates and water-stable aggregates, SOC, and N concentrations occurred after the conversion from crop to alfalfa. SOC and N stocks increased by 20.2% and 18.5%, respectively, and the estimated C and N sequestration rates were 0.4 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 0.04 Mg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ following the conversion. The large aggregate (>5 mm) was the most abundant dry aggregate size fraction in both crop and alfalfa soils, and significant difference in the distribution of dry aggregates between the two land use types occurred only in the >5 mm aggregate fraction. The percentage of water-stable macroaggregates (>2, 2–0.25 mm) and aggregate stability (mean weight diameter of water-stable aggregates, WMWD) were significantly higher in alfalfa soils than in crop soils. There was a significant linear relationship between total SOC concentration and aggregate parameters (mean weight diameter) for alfalfa soils, indicating that aggregate stability was closely associated with increased SOC concentration following the conversion of crops to alfalfa. The SOC and N concentrations and the C/N ratio were greatest in the >2 mm water-stable aggregates and the smallest in the 0.25–0.05 mm aggregates in crop and alfalfa soils. For the same aggregate, SOC and N concentrations in aggregate fractions increased with increasing total SOC and N concentrations. The result showed that the conversion of annual crops to alfalfa in the marginal land with coarse-texture soils can significantly increase SOC and N stocks, and improve soil structure.     

Recent Land Cover History and Nutrient Retention in Riparian Wetlands

Wetland ecosystems are profoundly affected by altered nutrient and sediment loads received from anthropogenic activity in their surrounding watersheds. Our objective was to compare a gradient of agricultural and urban land cover history during the period from 1949 to 1997, with plant and soil nutrient concentrations in, and sediment deposition to, riparian wetlands in a rapidly urbanizing landscape. We observed that recent agricultural land cover was associated with increases in Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) concentrations in a native wetland plant species. Conversely, recent urban land cover appeared to alter receiving wetland environmental conditions by increasing the relative availability of P versus N, as reflected in an invasive, but not a native, plant species. In addition, increases in surface soil Fe content suggests recent inputs of terrestrial sediments associated specifically with increasing urban land cover. The observed correlation between urban land cover and riparian wetland plant tissue and surface soil nutrient concentrations and sediment deposition, suggest that urbanization specifically enhances the suitability of riparian wetland habitats for the invasive species Japanese stiltgrass [Microstegium vimenium (Trinius) A. Camus].     

Simulation of Nitrogen Dynamics in Soil Using Infocrop Model

Nitrogen is the most widely used fertilizer nutrient, and it is a universally deficient nutrient too, which often severely restricts the growth and yield of crops. To improve N fertilizer management, soil–plant system models can be applied to simulate adequate N supply for both, optimal crop growth and minimal N losses. The likely impact of climate change on the cereal production is of paramount importance in the planning strategies to meet the future growing needs on sustainable grounds. In this scenario models are the effective tools to foresee the probable impacts and for choosing appropriate land use options. The study reported in this thesis, employs field experiments and use of simulation tools to understand the dynamics of soil N balance and relate growth and yield of rice under varying nitrogen inputs. The InfoCrop model was used in this study, which was calibrated with the historic data sets, and subsequently validated with the field experiment conducted at IARI Farm, New Delhi. Simulated results matched well with the observed values in terms of growth and yield of rice and seasonal nitrogen uptake. The components of soil nitrogen balance differed among varying nitrogen level treatments, which was also captured by use of InfoCrop. The model was then taken to climate change impact analysis. The results clearly revealed that when temperature increased, the soil N losses, like denitrification, volatilization, N2O emission increased, whereas grain and biomass yields decreased. The further scope of the study is to validate the study in contrasting agroenvironments.     

总氮浓度对3种沉水植物生长的影响

在1/40 Hoagland营养液的基础上,采用NH4NO3为氮源,设定了2、4、8、16 mg·L-1 4个不同总氮浓度的培养液,以洗净的长江河沙为栽培基质,分别对3种我国湖泊中常见的沉水植物马来眼子菜(Potamogetonmalaianus)、苦草(Vallisneria natans)和黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)进行了为期45d的水培试验,研究了水体中不同总氮浓度对3种沉水植物分枝数、根长、株高、鲜重等生长指标的影响,以期为富营养化水体中沉水植被的恢复与先锋物种的选择提供科学依据.结果表明,试验结束时不同处理的马来眼子菜的各项生长指标均显著增加,苦草没有产生新的分枝,黑藻的根长没有显著的增加;不同处理的3种沉水植物的鲜重在试验结束时均有显著增加,其增加的顺序表现为马来眼子菜＞苦草＞黑藻的趋势;植物株高和鲜重的净积累随处理浓度的升高而显著增加,根系的净伸长则随处理浓度的升高而显著降低.由于马来眼子菜所有的生长指标均表现出比苦草和黑藻有显著的生长优势,因此,在符合本试验条件的水体沉水植被的恢复过程中可以作为先锋植物.     

降雨径流时农田沟渠水体中氮、磷迁移转化规律研究

为有效阻控降雨条件下农田土壤流失氮、磷通过沟渠进入水体,通过对降雨时农田排水沟渠系统中总氮、总磷的测定和分析,研究降雨径流下沟渠系统水体中氮、磷的迁移转化规律和时空分布.结果表明,农田排水沟渠系统本身不太稳定,在外界条件(降雨)的作用下可以引起一系列的变化,同时农田排水沟渠系统又具有抗冲击可修复能力,可以使氮、磷的各项转化作用恢复.该特征使得总氮、总磷在沿程迁移过程中表现出一定的变化规律:总氮浓度沿程呈3次多项式曲线变化,总磷浓度整体呈指数递减变化;同时各断面的总氮、总磷自身转化也有其降解规律,总氮和总磷浓度随时间均呈3次多项式曲线变化.     

氮对镉胁迫下东南景天根系形态及镉积累的影响

通过水培试验,研究了供氮(尿素)对镉胁迫下两种生态型东南景天根系形态及镉积累的影响.实验结果表明,当供氮水平为4～16 mmol/L时,能明显促进东南景天的根系生长;当供氮水平为32～64 mmol/L时,与对照相比,东南景天的根系长度、根系表面积和根系体积等指标明显受到抑制.不同供氮水平对两种生态型东南景天0＜D≤0.2 mm的根系生长影响最大,而对D＞0.2 mm的根系影响较小.不同供氮水平下,两种生态型东南景天均以0＜D≤0.4 mm的根系为主,其中根系长度、根系表面积和根系体积分别占总根系长度、总根系表面积和总根系体积的66.3%～81.2%、68.5%～80.3%和62.1%～79.8%.氮素对东南景天的镉积累有一定的促进作用,随着氮素用量的增加,镉积累逐渐升高,与根系形态不同的是,镉积累量在供氮水平为32 mmol/L 时达到最大.适当提高营养液氮素用量有利于提高东南景天的各项根系形态指标和镉积累量.     

五箱一体化脱氮除磷工艺在示范工程中的应用

五箱一体化工艺是东南大学开发的新型脱氮除磷工艺.示范工程运行表明,该工艺具有自动化程度高、投资少、占地小和运行费用低等优点,并具有良好的脱氮除磷效果.出水水质满足《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(GB 18918-2002)的一级A标准,氮、磷的去除率分别可达70%和90%左右.示范工程的成功运行为该工艺的推广应用奠定了基础.     

Precise regulation of acid pretreatment for red mud SCR catalyst: Targeting on optimizing the acidity and reducibility

• The optimum SCR activity was realized by tuning the acid pretreatment. • Optimized catalysts showed NO_x conversion above 90%. • The NH₃ and NO adsorption capacity of Al-O₃-Fe is stronger than Fe-O₃-Fe. • The formation of almandine consumes Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺ and weakens their interaction. Red mud (RM), as an alkaline waste, was recently proved to be a promising substitute for the SCR catalyst. Dealkalization could improve the acidity and reducibility of red mud, which were critical for SCR reaction. However, the dealkalization effect depended on the reaction between acid solution and red mud. In this study, we realized the directional control of the chemical state of active sites through tuning the acid pretreatment (dealkalization) process. The pretreatment endpoint was controlled at pH values of 3–5 with diluted nitric acid. When the pH values of red mud were 3 and 5 (CRM-3 and CRM-5), activated catalysts showed NO_x conversion above 90% at 275°C–475°C. The high initial reaction rate, Ce³⁺/(Ce³⁺ + Ce⁴⁺) ratio, and surface acidity accounted for the excellent SCR performance of CRM-5 catalyst. Meanwhile, more Fe³⁺ on the CRM-3 surface improved the NH₃ adsorption. There was a strong interaction between Al and Fe in both CRM-5 and CRM-3 catalysts. DFT results showed that the adsorption capacity of the Al-O₃-Fe for NH₃ and NO is stronger than that of Fe-O₃-Fe, which enhanced the NO_x conversion of the catalyst. However, the almandine was formed in CRM-4, consumed part of Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺, and the interaction between Al and Fe was weakened. Also, deposited almandine on the catalyst surface covered the active sites, thus leading to lower NH₃-SCR activity.     

A comparison of on-site nutrient and energy recycling technologies in algal oil production

Research on biofuel production pathways from algae continues because among other potential advantages they avoid key consequential effects of terrestrial oil crops, such as competition for cropland. However, the economics, energetic balance, and climate change emissions from algal biofuels pathways do not always show great potential, due in part to high fertilizer demand. Nutrient recycling from algal biomass residue is likely to be essential for reducing the environmental impacts and cost associated with algae-derived fuels. After a review of available technologies, anaerobic digestion (AD) and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) were selected and compared on their nutrient recycling and energy recovery potential for lipid-extracted algal biomass using the microalgae strain Scenedesmus dimorphus. For 1 kg (dry weight) of algae cultivated in an open raceway pond, 40.7 g N and 3.8 g P can be recycled through AD, while 26.0 g N and 6.8 g P can be recycled through HTL. In terms of energy production, 2.49 MJ heat and 2.61 MJ electricity are generated from AD biogas combustion to meet production system demands, while 3.30 MJ heat and 0.95 MJ electricity from HTL products are generated and used within the production system.Assuming recycled nutrient products from AD or HTL technologies displace demand for synthetic fertilizers, and energy products displace natural gas and electricity, the life cycle greenhouse gas reduction achieved by adding AD to the simulated algal oil production system is between 622 and 808 g carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e)/kg biomass depending on substitution assumptions, while the life cycle GHG reduction achieved by HTL is between 513 and 535 g CO₂e/kg biomass depending on substitution assumptions. Based on the effectiveness of nutrient recycling and energy recovery, as well as technology maturity, AD appears to perform better than HTL as a nutrient and energy recycling technology in algae oil production systems.