Microbial activity related to N cycling in the rhizosphere of maize stressed by heavy metals

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to compare differences in potential activities of ammonification, nitrification and denitrification in rhizosphere and bulk soil in a heavy-metal-stressed system. Exchangeable fractions of Cd, Cu and Cr were all higher in the rhizosphere of maize than in bulk soil. Results showed that the mineralization of N in soil was stimulated by low concentration of Cd.Addition of Cd at low levels stimulated the ammonifying and nitrifying activity in soil, while inhibitory influences were shown at high levels.Nitrifying bacteria was proved to be the most sensitive one, whilst the effect on denitrifying bacteria was very limited. Comparing Cd, Cu and Cr(Ⅵ) at 20 mg/kg soil, Cd was the most effective inhibitor of ammonification and denitrification, while Cr(Ⅵ) had the strongest influence on nitrifying activity. Root exudates played important roles on the different exchangeable metal fractions and bacterial activities between rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere. Nitrate was the main form of mineral N in soil, as well as the main form of N absorbed by plants, but the formation and relative absorption of ammonium were promoted in response to high Cd exposure.     

Accelerated degradation of a variety of aromatic compounds by Spirodela polyrrhiza-bacterial associations and contribution of root exudates released from S. polyrrhiza

Removal experiments of phenol,aniline,2,4-dichlorophenol,nonylphenol and bisphenol A(BPA) using Spirodela polyrrhizabacterial associations revealed that all compounds but BPA underwent accelerated removal.The mechanisms differed depending on the substrates.It was found that S.polyrrhiza has a great ability to release phenolic compound-rich root exudates,and the exudates seem to stimulate bacterial degradation of a variety of aromatic compounds.     

镉胁迫对续断菊Sonchus asper L.Hill.根系分泌物的影响

通过盆栽试验,研究了不同Cd质量分数（0、50、100、200 mg.kg-1）对续断菊Sonchus asper L.Hill.根系分泌总有机酸、游离氨基酸、可溶性糖的影响,旨在探明根系分泌物对续断菊超积累Cd的影响。结果表明：Cd胁迫下续断菊根系分泌总有机酸、游离氨基酸和可溶性糖的质量浓度显著增加,同时,总有机酸、可溶性糖和游离氨基酸又促进了植株对Cd的吸收。随着Cd处理质量分数的增加,续断菊地上部和根部镉质量分数显著增加,90 d时续断菊地上部镉质量分数与可溶性糖、游离氨基酸的质量浓度呈极显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.999（P〈0.01）和0.995（P〈0.01）,根部镉质量分数与可溶性糖、游离氨基酸的质量浓度也呈显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.998（P〈0.01）和0.987（P〈0.05）;Cd对续断菊根系可溶性糖的分泌、游离氨基酸的合成有刺激作用,根系分泌的可溶性糖和游离氨基酸可能在续断菊累积镉的过程中有重要作用。     

Enhanced nitrogen deposition exacerbates the negative effect of increasing background ozone in Dactylis glomerata, but not Ranunculus acris

The combined impacts of simulated increased nitrogen (N) deposition (75 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and increasing background ozone (O₃) were studied using two mesotrophic grassland species (Dactylis glomerata and Ranunculus acris) in solardomes, by means of eight O₃ treatments ranging from 15.5 ppb to 92.7 ppb (24 h average mean). A-C_i curves were constructed for each species to gauge effects on photosynthetic efficiency and capacity, and effects on biomass partitioning were determined after 14 weeks. Increasing the background concentration of O₃ reduced the healthy above ground and root biomass of both species, and increased senesced biomass. N fertilisation increased biomass production in D. glomerata, and a significantly greater than additive effect of O₃ and N on root biomass was evident. In contrast, R. acris biomass was not affected by high N. The study shows the combined effects of these pollutants have differential implications for carbon allocation patterns in common grassland species.     

Assisted phytoremediation of mixed metal(loid)-polluted pyrite waste: effects of foliar and substrate IBA application on fodder radish

Exogenous application of plant-growth promoting substances may potentially improve phytoremediation of metal-polluted substrates by increasing shoot and root growth. In a pot-based study, fodder radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. oleiformis Pers.) was grown in As-Zn-Cu-Co-Pb-contaminated pyrite waste, and treated with indolebutyric acid (IBA) either by foliar spraying (10 mg L⁻¹), or by direct application of IBA to the substrate (0.1 and 1 mg kg⁻¹) in association, or not, with foliar spraying. With the exception of foliar spraying, IBA reduced above-ground biomass, whilst direct application of IBA to the substrate surface reduced root biomass (−59%). Trace element concentrations were generally increased, but removals (mg per plant) greatly reduced with IBA application, together with greater metal leaching from the substrate. It is concluded that, in our case, IBA had a negative effect on plant growth and phytoextraction of trace elements, possibly due to unsuitable root indoleacetic acid concentration following soil IBA application, the direct chelating effect of IBA and the low microbial activity in the pyrite waste affecting its breakdown.     

The nitrate leached below maize root zone is available for deep-rooted wheat in winter wheat-summer maize rotation in the North China Plain

In winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-summer maize (Zea mays L.) rotation system in the North China Plain, maize roots do not extend beyond 1.2 m in the vertical soil profile, but wheat roots can reach up to 2.0 m. Increases in soil nitrate content at maize harvest and significant reductions after winter wheat harvest were observed in the 1.4-2.0 m depth under field conditions. The recovery of 15N isotope (calcium nitrate) from various (1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 m) soil depths showed that deep-rooting winter wheat could use soil nitrate up to the 2.0 m depth. This accounted partially, for the reduced nitrate in the 1.4-2.0 m depth of the soil after harvest of wheat in the rotation system.     

Allocation plasticity and plant-metal partitioning: meta-analytical perspectives in phytoremediation

In this meta-analysis of plant growth and metal uptake parameters, we selected 19 studies of heavy metal (HM) phytoremediation to evaluate trends of allocation plasticity and plant-metal partitioning in roots relative to shoots. We calculated indexes of biomass allocation and metal distribution for numerous metals and plant species among four families of interest for phytoremediation purposes (e.g. Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, and Solanaceae). We determined that plants shift their biomass and distribute metals more to roots than shoots possibly to circumvent the challenges of increasing soil-HM conditions. Although this shift is viewed as a stress-avoidance strategy complementing intrinsic stress-tolerance, our findings indicate that plants express different levels of allocation plasticity and metal partitioning depending on their overall growth strategy and status as ‘fast-grower’ or ‘slow-grower’ species. Accordingly, we propose a conceptual model of allocation plasticity and plant-metal partitioning comparing ‘fast-grower’ and ‘slow-grower’ strategies and outlining applications for remediation practices.     

Effects and mechanisms of the combined pollution of lanthanum and acid rain on the root phenotype of soybean seedlings

Rare earth pollution and acid rain pollution are both important environmental issues worldwide. In regions which simultaneously occur, the combined pollution of rare earth and acid rain becomes a new environmental issue, and the relevant research is rarely reported. Accordingly, we investigated the combined effects and mechanisms of lanthanum ion (La³⁺) and acid rain on the root phenotype of soybean seedlings. The combined pollution of low-concentration La³⁺ and acid rain exerted deleterious effects on the phenotype and growth of roots, which were aggravated by the combined pollution of high-concentration La³⁺ and acid rain. The deleterious effects of the combined pollution were stronger than those of single La³⁺ or acid rain pollution. These stronger deleterious effects on the root phenotype and growth of roots were due to the increased disturbance of absorption and utilization of mineral nutrients in roots.     

Lysimeter Soil Retriever (LSR)—An Application of a New Technique for Retrieving Soils from Lysimeters

In Europe more than 2,500 lysimeters operated by research institutes and industry (Lanthaler 2005). Originally lysimeters were built for investigations of soil water and solutes, nutrient leaching and pesticide degradation (see e.g. Winton and Weber 1996). Currently lysimeters additionally used as a tool for investigations on biological processes, and structural changes of plants, including root distribution, and enzyme activities etc. (see e.g. Dizer et al. 2002; Schloter et al. 2005).