Fire as a Soil-Forming Factor

In the span of a human generation, fire can, in theory, impact all the land covered by vegetation. Its occurrence has many important direct and indirect effects on soil, some of which are long-lasting or even permanent. As a consequence, fire must be considered a soil-forming factor, on par with the others traditionally recognized, namely: parent material, topography, time, climate, living beings not endowed with the power of reason, and humans.     

Carbon Sequestration Function of Check-Dams: A Case Study of the Loess Plateau in China

Check-dams are the most common structures for controlling soil erosion in the Loess Plateau. However, the effect of check-dams on carbon sequestration, along with sediment transport and deposition, has not been assessed over large areas. In this study, we evaluated the carbon sequestration function of check-dams in the Loess Plateau. The results indicate that there were approximately 11 000 check-dams distributed in the Loess Plateau, with an estimate of the amount of sediment of 21 × 10⁹ m³ and a soil organic carbon storage amount of 0.945 Pg. Our study reveals that check-dams in the Loess Plateau not only conserve soil and water but also sequester carbon.     

甲苯对UASB反应器中溶解性微生物产物的影响

以乙酸钠为外加碳源,考察了UASB反应器内甲苯对可溶性微生物产物（SMP）的影响。实验结果表明：低质量浓度（20~70 mg/L）的甲苯对微生物有刺激作用,使得污泥增殖速率变小,SMP的质量浓度也逐渐减少,经过一段时间的驯化后,系统COD和TOC的去除率分别达到93%和94%以上,下降趋势较小;较高质量浓度（70~200 mg/L）的甲苯对微生物有抑制作用,污泥活性下降,反应器运行状况开始恶化,SMP的质量浓度也逐渐增大,经过一段时间的驯化后,系统COD和TOC的去除率分别维持在81%和83%以上;当甲苯质量浓度超过200 mg/L时,表现为污泥活性严重下降,对COD的去除效果极差。     

生物阴极式碳纸隔膜微生物燃料电池的反硝化和产电性能

为了探讨生物阴极式廉价隔膜微生物燃料电池(microbial fuel cell,MFC)的基本性能,首先以生物反硝化作用为基础构建了生物阴极MFC,并进一步以涂布聚四氟乙烯(PTFE)的廉价碳纸代替昂贵的质子交换膜(PEM)构建碳纸隔膜生物阴极式MFC。研究结果显示,对于生物阴极式MFC,阴极室中最适宜反硝化细菌生长的NO-3-N浓度为99.2 mg/L,此时输出电压最高可达0.11 V,1 h内NO-3-N的去除率达到80.0%,COD去除率为62.8%;以涂PTFE的碳纸代替PEM的生物阴极式MFC与有PEM的MFC最高输出电压基本一致(均达到0.22 V,外阻500Ω),但碳纸隔膜MFC的产电更稳定。结果验证了廉价隔膜生物阴极式MFC的可行性,并为其应用于污水脱氮奠定基础。     

直接投菌法在城市重污染河流治理中的应用研究

在无截污和清除内源的情况下,对深圳市甘坑河采用梅花式接种法将本源微生物菌剂分两次直接接入河流水体及底泥中。结果表明,第1次接种后的4 d内各项水质指标都不稳定,4 d后,悬浮物、COD、TP和NH3-N等浓度下降,水质明显改善;但从第8天开始,COD、NH3-N和TP的去除率同时下降,本源微生物的处理效率开始降低,需进行第2次接种;第2次接种后,DO浓度提升至2.0 mg/L以上,COD、TP和NH3-N的去除率分别保持在40%、30%和40%以上。结果表明,直接投菌法在城市重污染河道治理中可以初步消除河道的黑臭现象,修复水质。     

Reduced Downward Mobility of Metolachlor and Metribuzin from Surfactant-Modified Clays

The study aims to prepare the organoclay complexes of metolachlor and metribuzin so as to reduce their downward mobility in soil profile. The organoclays were preadsorbed with phenyltrimethylammonium (PTMA) (50% of cation exchange capacity [CEC]) and hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) (100% of CEC). Four metolachlor formulations, two for each organoclay, were prepared having 1% and 2% load of herbicide and were called PTMA-Metol-1%, PTMA-Metol-2%, HDTMA-Metol-1% and HDTMA-Metol-2%. Two metribuzin formulations were prepared and were called PTMA-Metri-1% and HDTMA-Metri-1%. Soil column leaching experiment showed that compared to their commercially available formulations, organoclay complexes were effective in reducing the downward mobility of both herbicides. Organoclay complexes of metolachlor and metribuzin prepared using PTMA-Montmorillonite performed better than the HDTMA-Montmorillonite complexes.     

Comparison of Microbial Pyrene and Benzo[a]Pyrene Mineralization in Liquid Medium,Soil Slurry,and Soil

The microbial degradation of ¹⁴C-pyrene and ¹⁴C-benzo[a]pyrene by a bacterial mixed culture was studied within a mixture of the PAHs phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene as sole carbon source in the different culture systems: (i) liquid medium, (ii) soil slurry (surface and grinding influence), and (iii) soil. The fate of these two labeled compounds was followed in these systems with an emphasis on mineralization to carbon dioxide, extractability, and adsorption to humic materials and formation of unextractable residual. Mineralization showed the most obvious differences: soil slurries achieved the best results both concerning the extent of mineralization and the time required. The highest extent of pyrene mineralization (54% within 21 days) was observed in soil slurries; in liquid media, pyrene mineralization was slower, but reached approximately the same extent (54% in 150 days); in soils, mineralization reached only 36% of added pyrene after 160 days. Benzo[a]pyrene was mineralized in a mixture of PAHs in soil slurries to an extent of 34% within 70 days, whereas mineralization in liquid medium and soil occurred in the range of 5% (70 days). Mineralization of benzo[a]pyrene in sand slurries was lower compared to soil slurries (19% in sand slurries vs. 32% in soil slurries within 50 days).     

Effects of glyphosate and foliar amendments on activity of microorganisms in the soybean rhizosphere

A field study was conducted to determine the effects of glyphosate on microbial activity in the rhizosphere of glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean and to evaluate interactions with foliar amendments. Glyphosate at 0.84 kg ae ha^{? 1} was applied GR soybean at the V4–V5 development stages. Check treatments included a conventional herbicide tank mix (2003 study only) and no herbicides (hand-weeded). Ten days after herbicide application, a commercially available biostimulant and a urea solution (21.0% N) were applied to soybean foliage at 33.5 mL ha^{? 1} and 9.2 kg ha^{? 1}, respectively. Soil and plant samples were taken 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days after herbicide application then assayed for enzyme and respiration activities. Soil respiration and enzyme activity increased with glyphosate and foliar amendment applications during the 2002 growing season; however, similar increases were not observed in 2003. Contrasting cumulative rainfall between 2002 and 2003 likely accounted for differences in soil microbial activities. Increases in soil microbial activity in 2002 suggest that adequate soil water and glyphosate application acted together to increase microbial activity. Our study suggests that general soil microbial properties including those involving C and N transformations are not sensitive enough to detect effects of glyphosate on rhizosphere microbial activity. Measurements of soil-plant-microbe relationships including specific microbial groups (i.e., root-associated Fusarium spp.) are likely better indicators of impacts of glyphosate on soil microbial ecology.     

Determination of Fungicide Kresoxim-Methyl Residues in Cucumber and Soil by Capillary Gas Chromatography with Nitrogen-Phosphorus Detection

The method of residue analysis of kresoxim-methyl and its dissipation rate in cucumber and soil in a greenhouse were studied. Residues of kresoxim-methyl were extracted from cucumber and soil matrices with acetone, purified by liquid-liquid extraction and Florisil cartridges, and then determined by GC with NP-detector. The limit of detection was estimated to be 9× 10^?12 g, and the minimum determination concentration of kresoxim-methyl in the samples was 0.005 mg kg^?1. The average recoveries ranged from 89.4 to 100.2% with a coefficient variation between 2.4 and 8.9%. Dissipation study showed that the half-lives of kresoxim-methyl in cucumber were approximately 6.5 days at both the recommended and double the recommended dosage. Half-lives for both the treatments were approximately 8 days in soil. The present study revealed that the residues in cucumber were below the MRL (0.05 mg kg^?1, fixed by EU) after 7 days for both treatments.     

The effects of residual tetracycline on soil enzymatic activities and plant growth

A pot trial was carried out to investigate the adverse effects of tetracycline (TC) on soil microbial communities, microbial activities, and the growth of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L). The results showed that the presence of TC significantly disturbed the structure of microbial communities and inhibited soil microbial activities in terms of urease, acid phosphatase and dehydrogenase (p < 0.05). Plant biomass was adversely influenced by TC, especially the roots with a reduction of 40% when compared with the control. Furthermore, TC decreased the assimilation of phosphorus by the plant although the concentration of phosphorus was increased by 20% due to decreased plant biomass. TC seemed to increase the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (by 20%) in soil. The findings implied that the agricultural use of animal manure or fishpond sediment containing considerable amounts of antibiotics may give rise to ecological risks.