A parametric distribution for the fraction of outdoor soil in indoor dust

For a chemical that does not have a source inside a house, the ratio of its dust concentration indoors to its soil concentration outdoors is equal to the fraction of house dust that is composed of soil. To estimate the fraction of soil in house dust, we compiled ratios of the concentrations of a chemical in dust and soil from the scientific literature. We find that a lognormal distribution fits the data extremely well. This distribution is suitable for use in public health risk assessments for single‐family homes in temperate climates.     

渭北旱塬苹果园土壤紧实化现状及成因

本研究通过分析渭北旱塬苹果园土壤的紧实化现状及其诱导因素,找出影响当地苹果园健康发展的土壤退化隐性因素,为果园科学管理提供理论依据。分别选取种植年限＜10年(4～6年)、10～20年(14～16年)和＞20年(24～26年)的苹果园各4个,分析0～60 cm土层土壤容重和紧实度随土层深度的变化规律,探明果园土壤内部紧实化发生的部位和退化程度,同时,通过分析土壤团聚体数量及其稳定性、土壤黏粒和有机质含量,揭示引起渭北果园土壤内部紧实化的原因。结果表明: 渭北果园0～60 cm土层土壤容重和紧实度均随植果年限和土层深度的增加而显著增大。以20 cm土层为界,渭北各园龄段苹果园土壤具有明显的“上松下实”变异特征,20 cm以上土层上述各指标基本满足苹果树的正常生长需求,20 cm以下土层土壤则已超出了苹果树健康生长的阈值。造成渭北苹果园亚表层以下土壤紧实化的原因主要是土壤团聚作用差、有机质含量低,加之植果期间人为扰动少,土壤中分散的黏粒会向下层移动。此外,随着植果年限的增加,土壤紧实化过程更加明显。     

黄土和风沙土藓结皮土壤呼吸对模拟降雨的响应

生物结皮土壤呼吸是干旱和半干旱生态系统碳循环的重要组成部分,但目前其对降雨的响应规律尚不明确。针对黄土高原黄土和风沙土上发育的藓结皮,分别进行2、4、6、10、20、30、40 mm的模拟降雨,并使用便携式土壤碳通量分析仪测定雨前和雨后藓结皮的呼吸速率,对比分析降雨量对藓结皮呼吸速率的影响;同时,在40 mm降雨后的0—24 h连续测定藓结皮的呼吸速率变化,分析藓结皮呼吸速率随雨后历时的变化规律。结果显示,7种降雨量后两种土壤上藓结皮的呼吸速率均显著升高,黄土上藓结皮呼吸速度的增幅为2.89—6.38倍,风沙土上藓结皮呼吸速率的增幅为0.73—4.38倍。0—6 mm降雨中,两种土壤上藓结皮的呼吸速率均随降雨量增加而迅速升高,二者成显著线性正相关关系;6—40 mm降雨中,黄土上藓结皮的呼吸速率随降雨量增加而缓慢升高,但风沙土上藓结皮的呼吸速率随降雨量增加而快速降低。两种土壤上藓结皮的呼吸速率随雨后历时表现出相似的变化规律,即雨后迅速升高、之后逐渐降低,并在24 h左右回归到雨前水平;但黄土上藓结皮的呼吸速率在雨后即刻达到峰值,而风沙土上藓结皮的呼吸速率在雨后30 min左右方达到峰值。黄土上藓结皮的呼吸速率一致高于风沙土上的藓结皮,前者在不同降雨量和雨后历时中平均比后者高150.0%和59.6%。此外,藓结皮呼吸速率与表层土壤含水量存有显著相关关系,在含水量较低(小于约4%)时二者显著正相关,在含水量较高(大于约4%)时二者对于黄土上藓结皮为正相关、对于风沙土上藓结皮为负相关。研究表明,黄土高原藓结皮土壤呼吸对降雨响应快速而直接,但其响应规律对于黄土和风沙土上的藓结皮是不同的,总体而言黄土上藓结皮对降雨的响应更为持久有效。     

Various Applications of Soil Contaminant Database Developed for the Central Artery/Tunnel Project

One of the largest environmental assessment programs in the United States was initiated in the early 1990s to determine the chemical characteristics of soil located within the planned alignment for the Central Artery (I-93) / Tunnel (I-90) (CA/T) Project in Boston, Massachusetts. The primary purpose of the program was to support management of the handling and disposal of over 17 million cubic yards of soil to be excavated during construction of the CA/T Project. As part of this work, more than 8,000 soil samples were collected from more than 2,600 soil borings and analyzed for a range of chemical contaminants, including volatile organic compounds, acid/base neutral compounds, total petroleum hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and heavy metals. The soils encountered during the investigations exhibited properties influenced by numerous anthropogenic activities. These activities, such as vehicular emissions, historic industrial/manufacturing operations, and waterfront filling with both building rubble and dredge spoils from Boston Harbor, resulted in soils primarily contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons and metals. As a result of this program, an extensive database of the chemical constituents present in urban soils in downtown Boston was developed. These results were primarily used to delineate the limits of contaminated areas affecting the planned construction. In addition, the database has been used by the Project to support various soil management activities, as well as by the regulatory community in developing guidelines and criteria governing the management of contaminated soils in Massachusetts. This paper focuses on the various applications of this database throughout the course of the Project, and with the additional aim of stimulating potential future applications by both the regulatory and scientific communities.     

恩诺沙星残留对土壤微生物功能的影响

研究了恩诺沙星残留对土壤呼吸作用、纤维分解作用、氨化作用、硝化作用的影响 ,结果表明 ,相对较低浓度恩诺沙星残留(0 .0 1μg/ g土 ,0 .1μg/ g土 )刺激土壤呼吸作用 ,相对较高浓度恩诺沙星残留 (1μg/ g土 )对土壤呼吸作用产生抑制 ,药物作用活性维持期为 6 d;恩诺沙星残留对土壤纤维分解作用影响较不明显 ;较低浓度恩诺沙星残留 (0 .0 1μg/ g土 ,0 .1μg/ g土 )对土壤氨化作用有刺激作用 ,而较高浓度恩诺沙星残留 (1μg/ g土 ,10μg/ g土 )则会对其起抑制作用 ,药物作用活性期为 9d;不同浓度恩诺沙星对土壤硝化作用影响极其显著 ,当恩诺沙星浓度达到 1μg/ ml时 ,在 3～ 9d内 ,对土壤硝化作用有一定抑制作用。当恩诺沙星浓度达到 10μg/ ml时 ,强烈抑制了土壤硝化作用 ,直到本试验结束时 ,其抑制作用未见减弱。结果表明恩诺沙星残留影响了土壤微生物这些功能 ,因而可能影响到土壤特性和土壤中一些生态过程     

Concept,Components, and Strategies of Soil Health in Agroecosystems

The terms ''''soil health'''' or ''''soil quality'''' as applied to agroecosystems refer to the ability of soil to support and sustain crop growth while maintaining environmental quality. High-quality soils have the following characteristics: (i) a sufficient, but not excess, supply of nutrients; (ii) good structure (tilth); (iii) sufficient depth for rooting and drainage; (iv) good internal drainage; (v) low populations of plant disease and parasitic organisms; (vi) high populations of organisms that promote plant growth; (vii) low weed pressure; (viii) no chemicals that might harm the plant; (ix) resistance to being degraded; and (x) resilience following an episode of degradation. Management intended to improve soil health involves creatively combining a number of practices that enhance the soil''s biological, chemical, and physical suitability for crop production. The most important general strategy is to add plentiful quantities of organic matter—including crop and cover crop residues, manures, and composts. Other important strategies include better crop rotations, reducing tillage and keeping the soil surface covered with living and dead residue, reducing compaction by decreasing heavy equipment traffic, and using best nutrient management practices. Practices that enhance soil quality frequently reduce plant pest pressures.     

不同地表覆盖方式对苹果园土壤性状及果树生长和产量的影响

以黄土高原9年生红富士果园生态系统为对象,研究不同地表覆盖模式(清耕、生草覆盖、地膜覆盖、秸秆覆盖和砂石覆盖)对果园土壤性状及果树生长和产量的影响.结果表明:生草覆盖土壤水分剖面分异最低,砂石覆盖土壤水分剖面分异最高;砂石覆盖提高了根层水分含量,有利于果树对水分的利用.不同地表覆盖模式土壤热量状况变化显著,处理间差异明显,极端最高温度下降,但地膜覆盖处理夏季地温超过果树根系生长的上限温度,对果树根系生长和生理功能发挥不利.除地膜覆盖外,其他地表覆盖模式均能提高土壤CO2释放速率,其中生草覆盖的效果最为显著.不同地表覆盖模式对果树枝条类型比例及产量影响较大,砂石覆盖处理的中短枝比例和果实产量最高;生草覆盖处理的果实产量最低.因子分析结果表明,对于黄土高原沟壑区盛果期果园,砂石覆盖处理是较为适宜的地表覆盖模式.     

A rapid,cost-effective procedure for the extraction of microbial DNA from soil

Here we describe a DNA extraction method that is based on a simple, rapid polyvinylpolypyrrolidone–calcium chloride precipitation to release microorganisms from the soil combined with lysozyme–proteinase–SDS lysis of the microbial community. The extracted DNA is of high quality and allows direct detection of specific genes by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as well as cloning of indigenous microbial DNA. This method facilitates the extraction of 36 500-mg soil samples simultaneously in a 2-h period by one person. The procedure is safe, inexpensive, and does not require specialized equipment or generate hazardous wastes.     

Trajectories of change: riparian vegetation and soil conditions following livestock removal and replanting

Riparian zones provide critically important ecological functions, including the interception of nutrients and sediments before they enter waterways. Consequently, riparian zones, and the vegetation they support, are often considered as an important ‘final buffer’ between waterways and adjacent land. In agricultural ecosystems, riparian zones are therefore increasingly recognized as an important component of strategies aimed at minimizing the flow of nutrients and sediments into waterways. Accordingly, riparian zones are increasingly afforded protection and are targeted for restoration. Here we present results of a study in which we aimed to identify patterns of change in soil and vegetation properties in riparian zones, under different management regimes, adjacent to tributary streams in one of south‐eastern Australia's main agricultural regions. We compared riparia that were heavily impacted by agricultural activities, were in remnant condition or had undergone some restoration activities and were thus in a transitional state. There was an increase in plant cover and soil C concentration between impacted through to remnant sites, with transitional sites intermediate, suggesting that improvements in soil conditions were becoming evident following restoration activities. In our assessment of soil physicochemical properties we investigated the relationships between riparian condition and soil properties, taking into account the influence of adjacent land use on these relationships. Importantly, the concentrations of NO₃^‐ and plant available P in riparian surface soils were more or less influenced by concentrations in the adjacent land depending upon riparian condition. This will, in turn, have consequences for nutrient inputs into streams. This study emphasizes that riparian zones need to be managed within their wider landscape context. Furthermore, the results of this study will inform efforts seeking to minimize impacts of agricultural activities on waterways, through the conservation and/or restoration of riparian ecosystems.     

土壤微生物资源管理、应用技术与学科展望

土壤中蕴藏着高度的微生物多样性,在陆地生态系统中发挥着非常重要的功能,加强对土壤微生物资源的综合管理与开发应用是提升生态系统稳定性与生产力及农产品质量的重要途径。首先,土壤微生物多样性具有全球性的重大意义,有待完善对土壤微生物的检测与监测技术研究,进而实现土壤微生物多样性与土壤功能的耦合以及对土壤质量的评定;其次,土壤微生物作为一种宝贵的生产资料和可持续资源,要加强其在土壤肥力强化与保育、土壤障碍消减与调节、土壤污染控制与修复等3个领域的应用研究。最后,未来土壤微生物学发展将会形成土壤微生物系统学、土壤微生物过程学与土壤微生物功能学3个子学科,要建立土壤微生物种质资源库与遗传信息库,推进土壤微生物生理代谢过程、生物化学过程及生态行为过程的研究,联结土壤微生物与土壤功能的关系,并从土壤中的功能微生物出发对环境变化作出积极响应和主动调控。此外,原创性方法的建立与应用是限制土壤微生物学发展的技术瓶颈,联合生物地理学与生物信息学破译重要基因的特定生态功能,并将其应用到生态模型以及生态系统未知领域的研究中去,是土壤微生物学面临的挑战。