Diurnal and spatial variations of soil NOx fluxes in the northern steppe of China

NO_x emissions from biogenic sources in soils play a significant role in the gaseous loss of soil nitrogen and consequent changes in tropospheric chemistry. In order to investigate the characteristics of NO_x fluxes and factors influencing these fluxes in degraded sandy grasslands in northern China, diurnal and spatial variations of NO_x fluxes were measured in situ. A dynamic flux chamber method was used at eight sites with various vegetation coverages and soil types in the northern steppe of China in the summer season of 2010. Fluxes of NO_x from soils with plant covers were generally higher than those in the corresponding bare vegetation-free soils, indicating that the canopy plays an important role in the exchange of NO_x between soil and air. The fluxes of NO_x increased in the daytime, and decreased during the nighttime, with peak emissions occurring between 12:00 and 14:00. The results of multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the diurnal variation of NO_x fluxes was positively correlated with soil temperature (P < 0.05) and negatively with soil moisture content (P < 0.05). Based on measurement over a season, the overall variation in NO_x flux was lower than that of soil nitrogen contents, suggesting that the gaseous loss of N fromthe grasslands of northern China was not a significant contributor to the high C/N in the northern steppe of China. The concentration of NO_x emitted from soils in the region did not exceed the 1-hr National Ambient Air Quality Standard (0.25 mg/m³).     

The integrated project AquaTerra of the EU sixth framework lays foundations for better understanding of river-sediment-soil-groundwater systems

The integrated project "AquaTerra" with the full title "integrated modeling of the river-sediment-soil-groundwater system; advanced tools for the management of catchment areas and river basins in the context of global change" is among the first environmental projects within the sixth Framework Program of the European Union. Commencing in June 2004, it brought together a multidisciplinary team of 45 partner organizations from 12 EU countries, Romania, Switzerland, Serbia and Montenegro. AquaTerra is an ambitious project with the primary objective of laying the foundations for a better understanding of the behavior of environmental pollutants and their fluxes in the soil-sediment-water system with respect to climate and land use changes. The project performs research as well as modeling on river-sediment-soil-groundwater systems through quantification of deposition, sorption and turnover rates and the development of numerical models to reveal fluxes and trends in soil and sediment functioning. Scales ranging from the laboratory to river basins are addressed with the potential to provide improved river basin management, enhanced soil and groundwater monitoring as well as the early identification and forecasting of impacts on water quantity and quality. Study areas are the catchments of the Ebro, Meuse, Elbe and Danube Rivers and the Brévilles Spring. Here we outline the general structure of the project and the activities conducted within eleven existing sub-projects of AquaTerra.     

不同施肥方式对东北旱田黑土nirK和nirS型反硝化细菌群落结构的影响及黑土保护建议

反硝化过程是土壤氮素循环的重要过程之一,与土壤氮肥损失和温室气体排放紧密相关。通过分析不同施肥方式对东北旱田黑土nirK型和nirS型反硝化细菌群落结构的影响及其与N₂O排放的关系,证实黑土中nirK型比nirS型反硝化细菌多样性丰富,且更易受土壤理化性质的影响。施入化肥会降低东北旱田黑土反硝化细菌多样性、N₂O释放量和土壤养分含量,而有机肥的施入虽然可提高土壤养分含量,但是也会显著增加土壤反硝化作用,存在潜在的负面环境效应。因此对黑土地的保护要积极推行种养结合,建立可循环农业体系;适当配施有机肥料,调节黑土微生物活力;大力完善相关制度,营造科学管理新规范,从而构建我国黑土保护的立体格局。     

Enhancing anoxic denitrification of low C/N ratio wastewater with novel ZVI composite carriers

External organic carbon sources are needed to provide electron donors for the denitrification of wastewater with a low COD/NO₃^--N（C/N） ratio, increasing the treatment cost. The economic strategy is to enhance the bioactivity and/or biodiversity of denitrifiers to efficiently utilize organic substances in wastewater. In this study, novel zero-valent iron（ZVI） composite carriers were prepared and implemented in a suspended carrier biofilm reactor to enhance the bioactivity an...     

Year-round observation of atmospheric inorganic aerosols in urban Beijing: Size distribution, source analysis, and reduction mechanism

To investigate particle characteristics and find an effective measure to control severe particle pollution, year-round observation of size-segregated inorganic aerosols was conducted in Beijing from January to December, 2016. The sampled atmospheric particles all presented bimodal size distribution at four pollution levels (clear, slight pollution, moderate pollution and severe pollution), and peak values appeared at the size range of 0.7-2.1 μm and >9.0 μm, respectively. As dominant particle compositions, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, and NH₄⁺ in four pollution levels all showed significant peaks in fine mode, especially at the size range of 1.1-2.1 μm. Secondary inorganic aerosols accounted for about 67.6% (36.3% (secondary sulfates) + 31.3% (secondary nitrates)) of the total sources of fine particles in urban Beijing. Severe pollution of fine particles was mainly caused by the air masses transported from nearby western and southern areas, which are industrial and densely populated region, respectively. Sensitivity tests further revealed that the control measures focusing on ammonium emission reduction was the most effective for particle pollution mitigation, and fine particles all showed nonlinear responses after reducing ammonium, nitrate, and sulfate concentrations, with the fitting curves of y = -120.8x - 306.1x² + 290.2x³, y = -43.5x - 67.8x², and y = -25.8x - 110.4x² + 7.6x³, respectively (y and x present fine particle mass variation (μg/m³) and concentration reduction ratio (CRR)/100 (dimensionless)). Overall, our study presents useful information for understanding the characteristics of atmospheric inorganic aerosols in urban Beijing, as well as offers policy makers with effective measure for mitigating particle pollution.     

长江河口潮区界溶解态无机氮磷的通量

利用长江河口潮区界大通站的水质资料探讨了溶解态无机氮、磷浓度和通量的变化。结果表明：NO3^-,NH4^ ,DIN的浓度随季节变化不明显，而NO2^-,PO4^3-的浓度是枯季较高、洪季较低：1963－1984年间，NO3^-,NO2^-,NH4^ 、DIN和PO4^3-的年平均浓度分别为17．1、0．43、7．1、24．7、0．19μmol/L，平均通量分别为33．1、0．51、3．67、10．5和0．54kg/s，平均年通量分别为104.44,1.61,11.56,33.1和1.70万t；溶解态无机氮、磷的通量由于受到流量的影响而在年内分配不均匀，其中NO3^-,NO^-,NH4^ DIN和PO4^3-在洪季的通量分别为全年的72．9％，58．1％、69．2％、71％和68．3％；NO3^-,NO2^-，DIN年通量的总变化趋势是稳步上升，且与氮肥使用量成高度显著的正线性相关。1998年，NO3^-,NO2^-,NH4^ 和PO4^3-的年通量分别为477．3，1．356、3．097和2．296万t。     

设施农业土壤磷素累积迁移转化及影响因素

为了科学合理施用磷肥,减小对设施农业环境带来的污染风险,以北京市大兴区设施农业集中区为研究对象,通过对不同种植年限设施农业剖面土壤(0～100 cm)磷素含量的测定分析,探究磷素累积与迁移转化特征.结果表明,设施农业表层土壤全磷和有效磷含量变化范围大,显著高于周边粮田土壤,主要跟不同种植年限农户的施磷量相关,随着土层深度的增加,全磷和有效磷含量逐渐减小,呈现表聚特征,其中土壤ω(全磷)范围在0.38～2.58 g·kg^-1,ω(有效磷)范围在1.60～256.00 mg·kg^-1.随着种植年限的增加,土壤全磷和有效磷含量呈现先增加后减小的趋势,在15 a左右达到峰值,随后逐渐减少,趋于稳定,总体处于较高水平.无机磷主要集中在设施农业表层土壤,其中Ca-P占无机磷的比例最大,达到了98.38%,Ca₁₀-P是最主要的Ca-P形态,含量占Ca-P的78.70%,Ca₂-P占比最小,仅占9.50%.不同形态无机磷含量呈现表层土壤富集,向下减少的垂直分布特征;不同土层深度,不同形态无机磷占全磷比例变化存在差...     

秸秆还田下氮肥用量对玉米产量及土壤无机氮的影响

研究连续2年秸秆还田下氮肥用量对玉米产量、氮肥利用率及土壤硝态氮的影响,结果表明,玉米产量随着施氮量的增加逐渐增加,施氮量达到216 kg·hm^-2时,产量最高,施氮量超过216 kg·hm^-2时产量有降低的趋势。相同施氮处理玉米产量年际变化明显,2010年较2009年产量提高0.69％~4.75％。氮肥利用率、氮肥农学利用率和氮收获指数随着秸秆还田年限的增加,均有不同程度的增加。2年0~100 cm土层土壤硝态氮含量均以施氮240 kg·hm^-2最高,且有向土壤深层迁移的趋势,对浅层地下水构成潜在的威胁。与施氮240 kg·hm^-2相比,施氮168、192 kg·hm^-2和216 kg·hm^-2处理0~100 cm土壤无机氮残留量2年平均减少39.87％、35.84％和29.38％。相同施氮处理,0~100 cm土壤无机氮累积量2010年较2009年略有降低。综合考虑玉米产量、氮肥利用率与生态环境效益,该地区最适施氮量200 kg·hm^-2左右。     

Effect of environmental forcing on the fate of nutrients, dissolved organic matter and heavy metals released by a coastal wastewater pipeline

Discharges of nutrients, urea, dissolved organic matter and heavy metals by a sewage underwater pipeline are analysed in comparison to environmental conditions in a shallow coastal zone. Variable thermo-haline stratifications of the water column and currents in upper (2.62-34.97 cm s^-1) and deeper (0.83-10.91 cm s^-1) layers drive vertical diffusion and lateral transport of wastewaters. Loads of reactive phosphorus (0.13 tons d^-1) and ammonium (1.62 tons d^-1) by the pipeline are not negligible compared to the major river loads in the gulf. High concentrations of urea (≤11.51 μmol N dm^-3) were found in the area of wastewater release. Ammonium uptake (6.14-534 nmol N dm^-3 h^-1) strongly exceeded nitrate uptake (0.19-138 nmol N dm^-3 h^-1), indicating that discharges of ammonium by the pipeline are actively assimilated by plankton community even at low levels of light. Distribution of Zn (≤27.7 ppb), Cu (≤25.6 ppb), Cd (≤0.80 ppb) and Pb (≤13.5 ppb) in the water column and the measurement of their complex-forming capacity in seawater did not indicate a persistent perturbation of the pelagic environment due to heavy metals.     

Effect of land management on soil microbial N supply to crop N uptake in a dry tropical cropland in Tanzania

In Sub-Saharan Africa, conservation of available soil N during early crop growth, when N loss by leaching generally occurs, is important to improve crop productivity. In a dry tropical cropland in Tanzania, we assessed the potential role of soil microbes as a temporal N sink-source to conserve the available soil N until later crop growth, which generally requires substantial crop N uptake. We evaluated the effect of land management [i.e., no input, plant residue application before planting (P plot) with or without fertilizer application, fertilizer application alone, and non-cultivated plots] on the relationship between soil N pool [microbial biomass N (MBN) and inorganic N] and crop N uptake throughout the ∼120-d crop growth period in two consecutive years. In the P plot, MBN clearly increased (∼14.6-29.6 kg N ha⁻¹) early in the crop growth period in both years because of immobilization of potentially leachable N, and it conserved a larger soil N pool (∼10.5-21.2 kg N ha⁻¹) than in the control plot. Especially in one year in which N leaching was critical, increased MBN maintained a larger soil N pool in the P plot throughout the experimental period, and a delay of increased MB C:N ratio and a substantial decrease in MBN was observed, indicating better soil microbial N supply for crop N uptake during later crop growth. Therefore, plant residue application before planting should enhance the role of soil microbes as a temporal N sink-source, leading to the conservation of potentially leachable N until later phase of crop growth, especially in years in which N leaching is relatively severe. Although further studies are necessary, our results suggest that plant residue application before planting is a promising option to achieve better N synchronization.