Clonal Plasticity in Response to Reciprocal Patchiness of Light and Nutrients in the Stoloniferous Herb Glechoma longituba L.

Interconnected ramets of clonal plants can functionally specialize in the uptake of resources from aboveground and/or underground sources. Ramet pairs of the clonal stoloniferous herb Glechoma Iongltuba L. were grown In spatially heterogeneous environments with complementary availability of light and nutrients. Plasticity with respect to root-shoot ratio, fitness-related traits （biomass, number of ramets and dry weight per ramet）, morphological traits （lamina area, root length） were experimentally examined. The aim was to understand the adaptation of G. Iongltuba to an environment with reciprocal patchiness of light and soil nutrients by plasticity In Its root-shoot ratio and clonal morphology. The results showed that the performance of ramets growing In patches with high light Intensity and low soil nutrients into the adjacent opposite patches was Increased in terms of fitness-related traits. However, the performance of those from patches with low light Intensity and high soil nutrients into the adjacent opposite patches was not changed. The root-shoot ratio and clonal morphology were plastic. Morphological traits such as lamina area and root length were altered In a way that enhanced the capture of light resources and soil nutrients. Apparent reciprocal resource transport between the ramets In an environment of reciprocal patchiness of resources can enhance the growth of ramets with complementary resource deficiencies.     

连作土灭菌对葡萄根际土壤微生物群落功能的影响

In order to explore the correlation between soil microbial community function and plant growth, using 30 year continuous cropping soil of grapevines as research object, we studied the effects of sterilization of continuous cropping soil at different temperatures on the growth of grapevines and the microbial community function of rhizosphere soil. The results showed that plant height and stem diameter of grapevines grown in continuous cropping soil were lower than those in the other treatments. With the increasing sterilization temperature, the plant height and stem dia meter of grapevines increased. The ratio of bacteria to fungi in rhizosphere soil increased with the increasing sterilization temperature. The activity of rhizosphere microbes using carbon source was in order of continuous cropping soil sterilized at 100 ℃ > non continuous cropping soil > continuous cropping soil sterilized at 60 ℃ > continuous cropping soil. The regression analysis showed that amino acid (carbon source) in Biolog ECO plate had a significant correlation with microbial metabolic activity of rhizosphere soil. PCA analysis showed that lysine in root exudate had a highest contribution to the variance of principal components in each treatment, and it may play an important role in the obstacle of continuous cropping of grapevines.     

Community biomass of abandoned farmland and its effects on soil nutrition in the Loess hilly region of Northern Shaanxi, China

In order to have a basic knowledge of revegetation, one needs to deepen his understanding of the interactive effects of vegetation and soil. In this article, aboveground biomass, soil nutrients and moisture of 36 old-fields with different abandonment ages (from 2 to 45 years after abandonment), aboveground biomass of 4 typical old-fields, and growth characteristics of 7 predominant old-field species were measured. Changing pace, trend and relationship of community aboveground biomass and soil nutrition during the secondary succession were evaluated; effects of soil nutrition on community aboveground biomass were analyzed using multivariable analysis and pathway analysis, and effects of aboveground biomass on soil nutrition were further discussed. The results show that: (1) Soil nutrients, including organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, active phosphorus and active potassium, have the same changing pace and trends as the aboveground biomass. In the process of secondary succession, both the soil nutrition and the community aboveground biomass decreased in the earlier abandonment stage of succession and then increased subsequently. (2) On the basis of the correlation of soil nutrients and abandonment ages, effects of vegetation on 0–20 cm organic matter, active phosphorus, 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm nitrate nitrogen nutrition are significant, while on the basis of the correlation of soil nutrition and aboveground biomass, no significant effects were observed. Hereinbefore, aboveground biomass accounts for only a part of vegetation-soil nutrition effects. The effects of biomass on organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, total potassium, nitrate nitrogen, active potassium and phosphorous are positive, whereas for ammonium nitrogen it is negative. (3) Abandonment ages, total nitrogen, total potassium, active potassium and soil moisture fluctuation have direct positive effects on the aboveground biomass of old-field communities; abandonment and soil moisture fluctuation have lager effects. Each ingredient of soil nutrition has relatively small effect, among which total nitrogen has larger effects than total and active potassium. The changes in aboveground biomass of old-field communities during succession are caused mainly by the changes in coverage and ecological characteristics of community species (the relatively larger direct effects of abandonment ages), and secondly by the soil moisture fluctuation (the relative smaller indirect effect of abandonment ages through soil moisture). (4) As a dependent variable, belowground biomass approaches power function of soil depth and declines in deeper layer. The root/shoot ratio of communities tends to increase in later succession stages, which also has an increasing tendency. These may influence the accumulation of biomass and decomposition of organic matter, and the vegetation-soil effects may be different.     

urce, biological community and soil functional stability dynamics at the soil–litter interface

The interface between decaying plant residues and soil is a focus for soil ecological processes because of resources from the residues diffusing into the soil, and microfauna that proliferate in the adjacent soil. Given that the recovery of soil function following disturbance depends on immigration, colonization and establishment of exotic organisms from adjacent un-disturbed habitats, and the availability of bio-available resources, we hypothesized that the soil–litter interface could contribute to soil functional stability. In laboratory pot trials, soil was separated into two parts by a mesh bag with the inner section amended, or not amended, with rice straw; an outer layer of unamended soil, adjacent to the litter (1.5 cm thick, either heated or not), provided a soil–litter interface. This enabled us to examine the dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), mineral nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), nematode assemblages and functional stability during 35 days incubation. Either 1 mm or 5 μm meshes were used, which allowed nematodes to migrate (SR1) or not (SR5) through the mesh to the soil–litter interface; thus also enabling us to evaluate the role of nematodes in soil functional stability. Higher DOC and MBC but lower mineral nitrogen concentrations were found at the soil–litter interface. Heating increased the availability of soil resources such as mineral nitrogen and DOC, but decreased the MBC and total nematode abundance in the soil. The soil–litter interface was characterized by a higher abundance of nematodes, particularly microbivores, regardless of mesh aperture or disturbance. The difference in nematode abundance between SR1 and SR5 indicated that nematode propagation, due to resource diffusion and nematode migration through the mesh, contributed to the changing numbers of microbivorous nematodes depending on incubation time. The soil functional stability was calculated as a relative change in the functioning of short-term barley decomposition. Soil functional resistance, defined as the instantaneous effect of disturbance on decomposition measured on the first day, was highest in the SR5 treatment. However, soil functional resilience, defined as the recovery of soil function over the whole incubation period (35d), was highest in the SR1 treatment, which is most probably attributed to the functioning of microbivorous nematodes. Our results suggest that small-scale spatial heterogeneity, due to organic residue decomposition, can help maintain soil functions following disturbance.     

Effects of simulated elevated concentration of atmospheric CO2 and temperature on soil enzyme activity in the subalpine fir forest

Little is known about the responses of the activities of soil enzymes that are related to mass cycle to simulated climate change. Therefore, 72 intact soil columns from the primary fir (Abies faxoniana Rehder & E. H. Wilson) forest were parked in environment-controlled chambers with the CK (outside ambient CO₂ concentration and temperature), EC (elevated concentration CO₂ with (347.1 ± 22.1) μmol·mol^?1), ET (elevated temperature with (2.4 ± 0.4)°C), and ECT (elevated CO₂ concentration with (352.8 ± 27.6) μmol·mol^?1 and temperature with (2.2 ± 0.5)°C) treatments, and the activities of invertase, urease, nitrate reductase and acid phosphatase, which are related to the cycles of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in mineral soil (MS) and organic layer (OL) were measured simultaneously to understand the responses of these enzymes to climate change. Significant monthly variations on the activities of the studied enzymes were found in both OL and MS with the highest enzyme activities in summer, which were of ecological significance for soil nutrient availability and tree nutrition in the subalpine forest ecosystem. Different monthly patterns of enzyme activities were attributed to enzyme sources and soil layer. EC treatment had influenced slightly on the activities of the studied enzymes resulting from the higher CO₂ concentration in soil atmosphere and no indirect effect from the EC owing to a lack of trees planted on soils. ET treatment increased enzyme activities in comparison with the CK treatment because ET was beneficial to microbial growth and propagation. The increments of the enzyme activities in OL were higher than those in MS, implying that OL is more sensitive to climate change. ECT treatment sharply increased enzyme activities in comparison with the EC and CK, but there was no significant difference between ET and ECT, which was also attributed to no indirect effect by EC treatment owing to trees not planted on soils, implying that the increment of enzyme activities resulted from the temperature effect. However, further studies on indirect effect and complex effect on soil enzyme activity caused by EC, ET and ECT are needed to understand the soil enzyme responses to the climate change.     

Soil salt and nutrient concentration in the rhizosphere of desert halophytes

North-West China is an arid region where halophyte plants are rich. Very little is known on the rhizospheric soil of the halophytes in this arid desert region. We conducted a rhizobag experiment on the desert Solonchak soil to investigate the salt and nutrient content in the rhizospheric soil of the desert halophytes. The total salt and the concentrations of 8 major kinds of salt ions increased in the rhizosphere of both succulent halophytes and salt secreting halophytes, but this increase was insignificant for salt-resisting halophytes. Accumulation of Cl^– and Na⁺ is the most significant among the 8 major kinds of salt ions. Accumulation of Cl^– was more significant than that of SO₄^2– in succulent halophytes and salt secreting halophytes. The Na⁺/K⁺, Na⁺/Ca²⁺ and Na⁺/Mg²⁺ ratios in the rhizosphere of all 7 kinds of halophytes were higher than those in the bulk soil. Total N increased significantly in the rhizosphere, but total P and total K decreased. However, the available N, P and K in the rhizosphere of the 7 kinds of halophytes except Phragmites communis Trin. behaved in such an opposite way that available N decreased but available P and available K increased. The ionic contents in the aboveground parts were higher than those in the underground parts of the 7 kinds of halophytes, in particular of both the succulent halophytes and the salt secreting halophytes. Accumulation of Cl^– and Na⁺ in the aboveground parts of the plants was the most significant among that of the 8 major kinds of salt ions.     

Effects of short-Term experimental warming on soil microbes in a typical alpine steppe北大核心CSCD

Aims Soil microbe plays key role in mediating terrestrial carbon cycles. It has been suggested that climate warming may affect the microbial community, which may accelerate carbon release and induce a positive feedback to soil climate warming. However, there is still controversy on how microbial community responds to experimental warming, especially in cold and drought environment. Methods We conducted an open top chambers (OTCs) experiment to explore the effects of warming on soil microbial community in an alpine steppe on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. During the maximum of the growing seasons (August) of 2015 and 2016, we monitored the biomass and structure of soil microbial community in warming and control plots using phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) as biomarkers. Important findings Short-Term warming treatment significantly increased the soil temperature by 1.6 and 1.6 C and decreased soil moisture by 3.4% and 2.4% (volume fraction) respectively, but did not alter either soil properties or normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) during the growing season (from May to October) in 2015 and 2016. During the maximum of growing seasons (August) of 2015 and 2016, the magnitude of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) were 749.0 and 844.3 mg·kg-1, microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) were 43.1 and 102.1 mg·kg-1, and the microbial biomass C:N ranged between 17.9 and 8.4. Moreover, all three showed no significant differences between warming and control treatments. The abundance of bacteria was the most in microbial community, while arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi was the least, and warming treatment did not alter the abundance of different microbial group and the microbial community structure. Nonetheless, our result revealed that warming-induced changes in MBC had significant positive correlation with changes in soil temperature and soil moisture. These patterns indicate that, microbial community in this alpine steppe may not respond substantially to future climate warming due to the limitation of soil drought. Therefore, estimation of microbial community response to climate change calls for consideration on the combined effect of warming and drought. © 2018 Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. All rights reserved.     

Soil and Rhizosphere Associated Fungi in Gray Mangroves(Avicennia marina) from the Red Sea—A Metagenomic Approach

Covering a quarter of the world's tropical coastlines and being one of the most threatened ecosystems, mangroves are among the major sources of terrestrial organic matter to oceans and harbor a wide microbial diversity. In order to protect, restore, and better understand these ecosystems, researchers have extensively studied their microbiology, yet few surveys have focused on their fungal communities. Our lack of knowledge is even more pronounced for specific fungal populations, such as the ones associated with the rhizosphere. Likewise, the Red Sea gray mangroves(Avicennia marina) remain poorly characterized, and understanding of their fungal communities still relies on cultivation-dependent methods. In this study, we analyzed metagenomic datasets from gray mangrove rhizosphere and bulk soil samples collected in the Red Sea coast, to obtain a snapshot of their fungal communities. Our data indicated that Ascomycota was the dominant phylum(76%–85%), while Basidiomycota was less abundant(14%–24%), yet present in higher numbers than usually reported for such environments. Fungal communities were more stable within the rhizosphere than within the bulk soil, both at class and genus level. This finding is consistent with the intrinsic patchiness in soil sediments and with the selection of specific microbial communities by plant roots. Our study indicates the presence of several species on this mycobiome that were not previously reported as mangrove-associated. In particular, we detected representatives of several commercially-used fungi, e.g., producers of secreted cellulases and anaerobic producers of cellulosomes. These results represent additional insights into the fungal community of the gray mangroves of the Red Sea, and show that they are significantly richer than previously reported.     

Effects of Biomimetic Surface Designs on Furrow Opener Performance

The effects of biomimetic designs of tine furrow opener surface on equivalent pressure and pressure in the direction ofmotion on opener surface against soil were studied by finite element method (FEM) simulation and the effects of these designson tool force and power requirements were examined experimentally.Geometrical structures of the cuticle surfaces of dungbeetle (Copris ochus Motschulsky) were examined by stereoscopy.The structures of the cuticle surfaces and Ultra High Mo-lecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) material were modeled on surface of tine furrow opener as biomimetic designs.Sevenfurrow openers were analyzed in ANSYS program (a FEM simulation software).The biomimetic furrow opener surfaces withUHMWPE structures were found to have lower equivalent pressure and pressure in the direction of motion as compared to theconventional surface and to the biomimetic surfaces with textured steel-35 structures.It was found that the tool force and powerwere increased with the cutting depth and operating speed and the biomimetic furrow opener with UHMWPE tubular sectionridges showed the lowest resistance and power requirement against soil..     

Effects of the long-term application of inorganic fertilizers on microbial community diversity in rice-planting red soil as studied by using PCR-DGGE

The effects of the long-term application of inorganic fertilizers on microbial community diversity were investigated in a rice-planting soil derived from quaternary red clay in the Ecological Experimental Station of Red Soil, Chinese Academy of Sciences. After 13 years' application of different inorganic fertilizers for double rice crops, the community structure of bacteria, archaea, actinomycetes and fungi in the soil changed greatly. The similarity of the SSU rDNA DGGE patterns of these four kinds of microorganisms between the soil without rice-planting and the soil with rice-planting reached only 33% and 66%, respectively. The microbial community structure among treatments with NP, PK and NPK types of P fertilizers were more similar; the similarity of the SSU rDNA DGGE patterns of the four kinds of microorganisms under these treatments reached a high range of 75%–81%. The microbial community structure between the treatment with N and K fertilizers (NK) and the treatment without inorganic fertilization (CK) with the treatments with P fertilizers differed greatly; the similarity of the SSU rDNA DGGE patterns of the four kinds of microorganisms under these treatments reached 69%–77% and 55%–77%, respectively. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for fertilizing and utilizing soil, protecting microbial diversity, and accomplishing the sustainable development of agroecology.     

Effects of the long-term application of inorganic fertilizers on microbial community diversity in rice-planting red soil as studied by using PCR-DGGE

The effects of the long-term application of inorganic fertilizers on microbial community diversity were investigated in a rice-planting soil derived from quaternary red clay in the Ecological Experimental Station of Red Soil, Chinese Academy of Sciences. After 13 years' application of different inorganic fertilizers for double rice crops, the community structure of bacteria, archaea, actinomycetes and fungi in the soil changed greatly. The similarity of the SSU rDNA DGGE patterns of these four kinds of microorganisms between the soil without rice-planting and the soil with rice-planting reached only 33% and 66%, respectively. The microbial community structure among treatments with NP, PK and NPK types of P fertilizers were more similar; the similarity of the SSU rDNA DGGE patterns of the four kinds of microorganisms under these treatments reached a high range of 75%–81%. The microbial community structure between the treatment with N and K fertilizers (NK) and the treatment without inorganic fertilization (CK) with the treatments with P fertilizers differed greatly; the similarity of the SSU rDNA DGGE patterns of the four kinds of microorganisms under these treatments reached 69%–77% and 55%–77%, respectively. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for fertilizing and utilizing soil, protecting microbial diversity, and accomplishing the sustainable development of agroecology.     

Changes in Carboxypeptidase A,Dipeptidase and Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>/K<Superscript>+</Superscript> ATPase Activities in the Intestine of Rats Orally Exposed to Different Doses of Cadmium

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of cadmium on some protein digestive and absorption enzymes in rats. Thirty-six rats were grouped into three groups of 12 animals each; one group received deionised water and acted as control. One group received 445 μM Cd and the last group received 890 μM Cd in their drinking water for a period of one month. The results obtained indicate that increasing the level of cadmium from 445 μM to 890 μM in the drinking water of the rats led to 29 and 23 increase in accumulated cadmium in the proximal and distal small intestine respectively. The body weight gain of rats exposed to 445 μM and 890 μMCd was decreased by about 24 and 43 respectively when compared with the control. The activities of carboxypeptidase A, dipeptidase and Na+/K+ ATPase were reduced in the mucosa of the proximal end of the small intestine of cadmium exposed rats. The reduction was dose dependent; with the 890 μM Cd exposed rats displaying the least activities. In the distal small intestine, the activities of these enzymes were restored in the 445 μM Cd exposed rats to levels that were not statistically different (P>0.05) from those observed in the controls. In the 890 μMCd exposed rats, dipeptidase activity improved by about 80 compared with the activity of the enzyme in the proximal small intestine. Likewise, Na+/K+ ATPase activity increased by about 125 compared with the observed level in the proximal small intestine. The study suggests that cadmium given to rats in drinking water compromise protein digestion and absorption of nutrients particularly in the proximal region of small intestine and could account for weight reduction associated with cadmium toxicity. Published online December 2004     

Effects of desertification on the C:N:P stoichiometry of soil,microbes, and extracellular enzymes in a desert grassland北大核心CSCD

Aims In order to discuss the underlying mechanism of desertification effect on the ecological stoichiometry of soil, microbes and extracellular enzymes, we studied the changes of soil, soil microbial and extracellular enzyme C:N:P stoichiometry during the desertification process in the desert grassland in Yanchi County, China. Methods The “space-for-time” method was used. Important findings The results demonstrated that: (1) Soil C, N, P contents and soil C:P, N:P significantly decreased, but soil C:N gradually increased with increasing desertification. (2) Soil microbial biomass C (MBC):soil microbial biomass P (MBP), soil microbial biomass N (MBN):MBP and soil β-1,4-glucosidase (BG):β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) gradually decreased, soil BG:alkaline phosphatase (AP) and NAG:AP basically showed an increasing trend with increasing desertification. (3) Desertification increased the soil microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE C : N and CUE C : P ) gradually, while soil microbial nitrogen use efficiency (NUE N : C ) and soil microbial phosphorus use efficiency (PUE P : C ) basically decreased. (4) Soil, soil microbial and soil extracellular enzyme C:N stoichiometry (C:N, MBC:MBN, BG:NAG) were significantly negatively correlated with the soil, soil microbial and extracellular enzyme N:P stoichiometry (N:P, MBN:MBP, NAG:AP), the soil and extracellular enzymes C:N (C:N, BG:NAG) were significantly positively correlated with the soil and extracellular enzymes C:P (C:P, BG:AP). Soil N:P was significantly positively correlated with the soil MBN:MBP, but was significantly negatively correlated with the soil NAG:AP. The analysis demonstrated that soil microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activity changed with soil nutrient during the desertification process in the desert grassland. The co-variation relationship between soil nutrient and C:N:P stoichiometry of microbial-extracellular enzyme provides a theoretical basis for understanding the underlying mechanism of C, N, P cycling in the soil-microbial system in desert grasslands. © 2018 Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. All Rights Reserved.     

Community biomass of abandoned farmland and its effects on soil nutrition in the Loess hilly region of Northern Shaanxi, China

In order to have a basic knowledge of revegetation, one needs to deepen his understanding of the interactive effects of vegetation and soil. In this article, aboveground biomass, soil nutrients and moisture of 36 old-fields with different abandonment ages (from 2 to 45 years after abandonment), aboveground biomass of 4 typical old-fields, and growth characteristics of 7 predominant old-field species were measured. Changing pace, trend and relationship of community aboveground biomass and soil nutrition during the secondary succession were evaluated; effects of soil nutrition on community aboveground biomass were analyzed using multivariable analysis and pathway analysis, and effects of aboveground biomass on soil nutrition were further discussed. The results show that: (1) Soil nutrients, including organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, active phosphorus and active potassium, have the same changing pace and trends as the aboveground biomass. In the process of secondary succession, both the soil nutrition and the community aboveground biomass decreased in the earlier abandonment stage of succession and then increased subsequently. (2) On the basis of the correlation of soil nutrients and abandonment ages, effects of vegetation on 0–20 cm organic matter, active phosphorus, 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm nitrate nitrogen nutrition are significant, while on the basis of the correlation of soil nutrition and aboveground biomass, no significant effects were observed. Hereinbefore, aboveground biomass accounts for only a part of vegetation-soil nutrition effects. The effects of biomass on organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, total potassium, nitrate nitrogen, active potassium and phosphorous are positive, whereas for ammonium nitrogen it is negative. (3) Abandonment ages, total nitrogen, total potassium, active potassium and soil moisture fluctuation have direct positive effects on the aboveground biomass of old-field communities; abandonment and soil moisture fluctuation have lager effects. Each ingredient of soil nutrition has relatively small effect, among which total nitrogen has larger effects than total and active potassium. The changes in aboveground biomass of old-field communities during succession are caused mainly by the changes in coverage and ecological characteristics of community species (the relatively larger direct effects of abandonment ages), and secondly by the soil moisture fluctuation (the relative smaller indirect effect of abandonment ages through soil moisture). (4) As a dependent variable, belowground biomass approaches power function of soil depth and declines in deeper layer. The root/shoot ratio of communities tends to increase in later succession stages, which also has an increasing tendency. These may influence the accumulation of biomass and decomposition of organic matter, and the vegetation-soil effects may be different.     

Clonal diversity of Clintonia udensis Trautv. et Mey. populations and its correlation with ecological factors

The clonal diversity of Clintonia udensis Trautv.et Mey.was detected by ISSR markers among 16 populations,and its correlation with ecological factors was analyzed as well in this work.Results showed that individuals(clonal ramets)per genotype were 1.12 and 1.149 at population and species levels,respectively,and that the 16 populations were all multiclonal.The detected genotypes were localized,without exception,within populations but demonstrated relatively high clonal differentiation among populations.The clonal diversity of the studied populations was high,with the average Simpson's index of 0.975,while the genets showed a clonal architecture of"guerilla".The population genetic diversities revealed by genet were consistent with those by ramet,further confirming their genetic differentiation among populations.And its genotype diversity within populations probably resulted largely from the frequent seedling regeneration and self-compatibility.In addition,the correlation analysis further revealed that,among the ecological factors,Simpson's index of C.udensis had a significant positive correlation(P<0.05)with pH values in the soil but not others.     

Modified micro suction cup/rhizobox approach for the in-situ detection of organic acids in rhizosphere soil solution

Root–soil interactions can strongly influence the soil solution chemistry in the rhizosphere. In the present study we propose a modification of the classical rhizobox/micro suction cup system to make it suitable for the collection and analysis of organic acids in the rhizosphere. In order to show the potential of the method, we tested the modified system with Lupinus albus L. as a model plant known to exude large amounts of citrate. The suction cups were installed through the transparent front plate of the rhizoboxes just after the emergence of cluster roots in order to allow optimal localized collection of soil solution. A small dead-volume allowed almost immediate stabilisation with formaldehyde of the sampled soil solutions in the collection container to prevent microbial degradation. The concentrations of organic acids were significantly larger in the rhizosphere soil solution of active cluster roots of Lupinus albus L. than in the bulk soil solution (about 400 μM of citrate versus <0.05 μM). We were able to follow the exudation process in-situ, which occurred during 2–3 days. Also the concentrations of other organic acids and inorganic anions differed between the bulk soil and the rhizosphere of cluster roots, normal roots, and nodules.     

Effects of slow-release urea fertilizers on urease activity,microbial biomass, and nematode communities in an aquic brown soil

A field experiment was carried out at the Shenyang Experimental Station of Ecology (CAS) in order to study the effects of slow-release urea fertilizers high polymer-coated urea (SRU1), SRU1 mixed with dicyandiamide DCD (SRU2), and SRU1 mixed with calcium carbide CaC2 (SRU3) on urease activity, microbial biomass C and N, and nematode communities in an aquic brown soil during the maize growth period. The results demonstrated that the application of slow-release urea fertilizers inhibits soil urease activity and increases the soil NH4+-N content. Soil available N increment could promote its immobilization by microorganisms. Determination of soil microbial biomass N indicated that a combined application of coated urea and nitrification inhibitors increased the soil active N pool. The population of predators/omnivores indicated that treatment with SRU2 could provide enough soil NH4+-N to promote maize growth and increased the food resource for the soil fauna compared with the other treatments.     

Responses of soil N2O emissions to experimental warming regulated by soil moisture in an alpine Steppe北大核心CSCD

Aims Nitrous oxide (N2O) is one of the most important greenhouse gases, which contributes a lot to global warming. However, considerable variations are observed in the responses of soil N2O emissions to experimental warming, and the underlying microbial processes remain unknown. Methods A warming experiment based on open-Top chambers (OTCs) was set up in a typical alpine steppe on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The static chamber combined gas chromatography method was applied to investigate soil N2O flux under control and warming treatments during the growing seasons in 2014 and 2015. Gene abundances of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) were quantified using quantitative real-Time PCR. Important findings Our results showed that the warming treatments increased soil temperature by 1.7 and 1.6 °C and decreased volumetric water content by 2.5% and 3.3% respectively during the growing season (May to October) in 2014 and 2015. However, there were no significant differences in other soil properties. Our results also revealed that, the magnitude of soil N2O emissions exhibited substantial variations between the two experi mental years, which were 3.23 and 1.47 μg·m-2·h-1 in 2014 and 2015, respectively, but no significant difference in N2O fluxes was observed between control and warming treatments. AOA and AOB abundances are 15.2 × 107 and 10.0 × 105 copies·g-1 in 2014, and 5.0 × 107 and 4.7 × 105 copies·g-1 in 2015, with no significant differences between control and warming treatments during the experimental period. Furthermore, warming-induced changes in N2O emissions had no significant relationship with the changes in soil temperature, but showed a significant positive correlation with the changes in soil moisture at seasonal scale. Overall, these results demonstrate that soil moisture regulates the responses of N2O emissions to experimental warming, highlighting the necessity to consider the warming-induced drying effect when estimating the magnitude of N2O emissions under future climate warming. © 2018 Editorial Office of Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology. All rights reserved.     

Nitrogen released from different plant residues of the Loess Plateau and their additions on contents of microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen in soil

An incubation method was used to investigate the nitrogen release characteristics from the residue of ten plant species which commonly grow in the northern part of the Loess Plateau. The effect of the residue on soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC) and soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN) was also determined. There were significant differences in the total N content and the C/N ratios among the different types of plant residue. The total N content of the residues ranged from 6.61 to 32.78 g kg^?1. The C/N ratio of the residue ranged from 14 to 65. There was an immediate increase in soil N after alfalfa, erect milkvetch, and korshinsk peashrub residue was added to the soil. In contrast, soil N decreased after elm, sea buckthorn, and wild peach residue was added to the soil. The soil N content remained relatively low for 14–34 days and then increased. This indicated that N immobilization occurred during the early portion of the incubation period when elm, sea buckthorn and wild peach residue was added to the soil. Soil N levels were low during the entire incubation period when simon poplar, locust, Stipa bungeana, and old world bluestem residue were added to the soil. The addition of plant residue significantly increased SMBC and SMBN in all treatments. The SMBC and SMBN values were greatest in treatments containing plant residue with high total N content and low C/N ratios. The C/N ratios of korshinsk peashrub, sea buckthorn, and wild peach residues were similar, but the amount of N released from these residues and the effects of the residue on SMBC and SMBN in soil were significantly different. This indicates that not only the C/N ratio but also the chemical composition of the plant residue affected decomposition. It is important to consider C and N release characteristics from plant residue in order to adjust the C and N balance of soil when revegetating degraded ecosystems.     

Influence of silver nitrate (ethylene inhibitor) on cucumber in vitro shoot regeneration

The effect of addition of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) on organogenesis of proximal and distal cotyledon and hypocotyl explants of five cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) cultivars was investigated. Distal cotyledon and hypocotyl were unresponsive while only poor shoot regeneration was observed in proximal cotyledon and hypocotyl explants of all cucumber cultivars. The addition of different concentrations of AgNO₃ (10, 30 and 50 μM) to the medium, however, induced shoot regeneration in distal cotyledon except Suyo Long cultivar and effectively increased shoot regeneration response as well as the number of shoots per explant in proximal cotyledon and hypocotyl of all cucumber cultivars. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.