The impact of nitrogen deposition on acid grasslands in the Atlantic region of Europe

A survey of 153 acid grasslands from the Atlantic biogeographic region of Europe indicates that chronic nitrogen deposition is changing plant species composition and soil and plant-tissue chemistry. Across the deposition gradient (2-44 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) grass richness as a proportion of total species richness increased whereas forb richness decreased. Soil C:N ratio increased, but soil extractable nitrate and ammonium concentrations did not show any relationship with nitrogen deposition. The above-ground tissue nitrogen contents of three plant species were examined: Agrostis capillaris (grass), Galium saxatile (forb) and Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus (bryophyte). The tissue nitrogen content of neither vascular plant species showed any relationship with nitrogen deposition, but there was a weak positive relationship between R. squarrosus nitrogen content and nitrogen deposition. None of the species showed strong relationships between above-ground tissue N:P or C:N and nitrogen deposition, indicating that they are not good indicators of deposition rate.     

Nitrogen deposition effects on Mediterranean-type ecosystems: an ecological assessment

We review the ecological consequences of N deposition on the five Mediterranean regions of the world. Seasonality of precipitation and fires regulate the N cycle in these water-limited ecosystems, where dry N deposition dominates. Nitrogen accumulation in soils and on plant surfaces results in peaks of availability with the first winter rains. Decoupling between N flushes and plant demand promotes losses via leaching and gas emissions. Differences in P availability may control the response to N inputs and susceptibility to exotic plant invasion. Invasive grasses accumulate as fuel during the dry season, altering fire regimes. California and the Mediterranean Basin are the most threatened by N deposition; however, there is limited evidence for N deposition impacts outside of California. Consequently, more research is needed to determine critical loads for each region and vegetation type based on the most sensitive elements, such as changes in lichen species composition and N cycling.     

Impacts of atmospheric pollution on the plant communities of British acid grasslands

Air pollutants are recognised as important agents of ecosystem change but few studies consider the effects of multiple pollutants and their interactions. Here we use ordination, constrained cluster analysis and indicator value analyses to identify potential environmental controls on species composition, ecological groupings and indicator species in a gradient study of UK acid grasslands. The community composition of these grasslands is related to climate, grazing, ozone exposure and nitrogen deposition, with evidence for an interaction between the ecological impacts of base cation and nitrogen deposition. Ozone is a key agent in species compositional change but is not associated with a reduction in species richness or diversity indices, showing the subtly different drivers on these two aspects of ecosystem degradation. Our results demonstrate the effects of multiple interacting pollutants, which may collectively have a greater impact than any individual agent.     

Mechanisms of purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) encroachment in dry heathland ecosystems with chronic nitrogen inputs

We analysed growth strategies (biomass allocation, nutrient sequestration and allocation) of heather (Calluna vulgaris) and purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) seedlings in monocultures and mixtures in relation to N, P, and N + P fertilisation in a greenhouse experiment in order to simulate a heath’s pioneer phase under high airborne nitrogen (N) loads. N fertilisation increased the total biomass of both species in monocultures. In mixtures, M. caerulea sequestered about 65% of the N applied, while C. vulgaris suffered from N shortage (halving of the total biomass). Thus, in mixtures only M. caerulea will benefit from airborne N loads, and competition will become increasingly asymmetric with increasing N availability. Our results demonstrate that the heath’s pioneer phase is the crucial tipping point at which the competitive vigour of M. caerulea (high belowground allocation, efficient use of belowground resources, shortened reproductive cycles) induces a shift to dominance of grasses under increased N availability.     

不同氮磷比对多年生水生植物生长特性影响的研究

从氮、磷等植物生长的环境因子出发,研究了高低氮磷营养水平下,不同氮／磷比例的富营养化水体对聚草（Myriophyllum spicatum）、黄花水龙（Jussiaea stipulacea Ohwi）、喜旱莲子草（Alternanthera philoxeroides）生长特性的影响。结果表明,聚草在氮磷比2：1时生物量最大,且生物量在高浓度水平处理明显大于低浓度水平处理（P〈0．01）;黄花水龙在氮磷比10：1～20：1时生物量最大,高低浓度水平处理问生物量无显著性差异;喜旱莲子草在较高氮磷比20：l～40：1时生物量最大,高浓度水平处理时生物量显著性高于低浓度水平处理（P〈0．05）。在低浓度水平处理时,氮为黄花水龙和喜旱莲子草生长的主要限制因子,磷为聚草生长的主要限制因子,且喜早莲子草叶绿素增长期较其他处理提前,而黄花水龙的叶绿素变化在高低营养水平下差异不显著。营养盐水平对聚草茎长和生物量的影响较对黄花水龙和喜旱莲子草的影响明显。     

曝气强度对同时硝化反硝化（SND）脱氮过程中N2O排放的影响

为了控制污水脱氮中N2O排放,在不同曝气强度下研究了好氧硝化段同时硝化反硝化（SND）系统的N2O排放特性,并采用PCR—DGGE技术分析微生物群落特征。结果发现,随着曝气强度的增强,系统总氮去除率下降,但脱氮中N2O—N所占比例则上升,实验中从低到高3个曝气强度下,总氮去除率分别为80．01％、65．28％和58．62％,脱氮中N2O—N所占的比例为1．89％、7．84％和9．20％。PCR—DGGE分析显示,和低曝气强度下相比中、高曝气强度下系统微生物群落发生明显变化,但中曝气强度和高曝气强度下系统微生物群落表现出较高相似性。这表明,不同曝气强度下系统N2O排放受到氮素转化和微生物群落变化的影响。适宜曝气强度不仅提高总氮去除率,还可有效控制N2O排放。     

低C/N比污水生物脱氮所需外加碳源量的确定

利用中试规模实验装置,探讨了现有活性污泥工艺改造成间歇曝气生物脱氮工艺的实践中,碳氮比(C/N)对废水生物脱氮效率、脱氮反应速度的影响,分析了脱氮容量,确定了所需外加碳源量.      

盐度对污水硝化过程中N_2O产量的影响

采用调节盐度(7.5 g/L)和未调节盐度(0.1 g/L)实际生活污水驯化的活性污泥,分别考察了其相应硝化过程中N2O的产量和转化率.结果表明,盐度7.5 g/L生活污水硝化过程中N2O产量是未调节盐度N2O产量的2.85倍.考察其他盐度下污水硝化过程中N2O产量与转化率的结果表明,盐度从7.5 g/L降低到5.0、2.5 g/L后,N2O产量变化不大,但系统比氨氧化速率随着盐度的下降有所增加;当盐度从7.5 g/L急剧增加到10 g/L后,硝化过程中N2O产量和转化率均有大幅升高,产量达到7.5 g/L时的2.2倍,比氨氧化速率大幅下降.因此处理含盐污水时,应尽量避免盐度的过高波动,防止污水硝化过程中N2O产量和转化率大幅地升高.     

用离子交换树脂柱法观测长春市大气氮沉降

为了解城市环境中大气氮沉降的特点,于2008年9月—2009年9月,使用离子交换树脂柱法对长春市大气氮沉降进行了观测. 结果表明:观测期间,长春市大气硝态氮沉降量月均值为5.33 mg/m2>/sup>,亚硝态氮沉降量月均值为1.67 mg/m2>/sup>. 大气硝态氮和亚硝态氮沉降量有明显的局部分异特点,沉降量大的地点主要分布在交通干线和热电厂周边地区,显示了大气硝态氮的点源和线源特征. 大气氨氮沉降量月均值为3.10 mg/m2>/sup>; 各观测点间大气氨氮沉降量变化明显小于硝态氮和亚硝态氮,显示了大气氨氮的面源特征.      

四川盆地紫色丘陵区不同种植模式下氮流失特征

氮素流失是农业面源污染的重要来源.为了解四川盆地紫色丘陵区不同种植模式下氮的流失特征,以四川盆地紫色丘陵区4种典型耕作模式紫云英-水稻(M1)、空地-大豆-空地(M2)、空地-生姜(M3)、空地-玉米+红薯(M4)等为研究对象,研究了4种模式从2008年12月到2009年8月共8次有效降雨中氮通过地表径流和渗透水的流失特征.研究期间,4种模式下氮流失量随着降雨量的增加而增加,总氮流失量表现为:M3((30.388±2.86)kg·hm-2)M4((17.118±1.677)kg·hm-2)M2((10.987±1.108)kg·hm-2)M1((6.090±1.051)kg·hm-2).相对于其它模式,M4模式下地表径流量和渗透水量在研究期间均最大,但M3模式下氮通过地表径流和渗透水的流失量最大.另外,非生长季节4个模式下氮流失量相对较低且各模式间差别较小,生长季节4个模式间可溶性氮和总氮通过地表径流和渗透水流失量均表现为M3M4M2M1.4种种植模式下氮通过地表径流和渗透水的流失形态均以硝态氮为主.渗透水中铵态氮和可溶性总氮占总氮的比例高于地表径流.这些结果为该区区域合理选择耕作模式、优化耕作方式、加强管理以控制区域农业面源污染提供了一定的基础数据.