Variation in seedling growth of 11 perennial legumes in response to phosphorus supply

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major problem for Australian agriculture. Development of new perennial pasture legumes that acquire or use P more efficiently than the current major perennial pasture legume, lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), is urgent. A glasshouse experiment compared the response of ten perennial herbaceous legume species to a series of P supplies ranging from 0 to 384 µg g^?1 soil, with lucerne as the control. Under low-P conditions, several legumes produced more biomass than lucerne. Four species (Lotononis bainesii Baker, Kennedia prorepens F.Muell, K. prostrata R.Br, Bituminaria bituminosa (L.) C.H.Stirt) achieved maximum growth at 12 µg P g^?1 soil, while other species required 24 µg P g^?1. In most tested legumes, biomass production was reduced when P supply was ≥192 µg g^?1, due to P toxicity, while L. bainesii and K. prorepens showed reduced biomass when P was ≥24 µg g^?1 and K. prostrata at ≥48 µg P g^?1 soil. B. bituminosa and Glycine canescens F.J.Herm required less soil P to achieve 0.5 g dry mass than the other species did. Lucerne performed poorly with low P supply and our results suggest that some novel perennial legumes may perform better on low-P soils.     

Modulation of antioxidant enzymes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Juniperus procera</Emphasis> needles in relation to habitat environment and dieback incidence

Key message

Oxidative stress and the antioxidant enzymes’ activity are higher in damaged than in healthy Juniperus procera trees, in summer than in winter, and in dry than in wet condition.

Abstract

Many of the small stands of Juniperus procera in Saudi Arabia, confined mainly to Aseer Mountains in the southern part of the country, are suffering from branch dieback. As a part of the project on the structural and functional responses of healthy and dieback-affected trees to local environmental conditions of Al-Ghalab, Al-Yazeed, and Saodah locations, this study quantifies the oxidative stress generated and the consequent modulation of proline accumulation and antioxidant enzymes’ activity, as determined by chemical analysis of needle tissues from samples collected in summer and winter seasons. The level of TBARS, which indicated the extent of oxidative stress, was minimum (10.1 nM g^?1 f w) at Al-Ghalab and maximum (28.1 nM g^?1 f w) at Al-Yazeed, being relatively higher in summer than in winter. Healthy trees had a lower level of TBARS than those suffering from dieback. Proline content showed 147–54 µg g^?1 in healthy trees and 460–99 µg g^?1 f w in affected ones. Variation in the activity of superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and catalase was around 0.7–3.6, 0.01–0.09, 0.02–0.08, and 0.6–3.0 U mg^?1 min^?1, respectively, in healthy trees, whereas 2.3–6.1, 0.04–0.3, 0.04–0.3, and 2–5.8 U mg^?1 min^?1, respectively, in the dieback-affected trees of the different locations. Thus, the oxidative stress and the enzymatic stimulation were higher in damaged than in healthy trees and in summer than in winter season. Water-harvesting efforts at the collection sites showed ameliorative effects. Our observations suggest that J. procera tree can be made more tolerant toward stressful condition, and even the risk of dieback can be avoided or minimized by improving soil–water availability through adequate water-harvesting strategies in the drought-affected areas.

     

Dust mediated transfer of phosphorus to alpine lake ecosystems of the Wind River Range,Wyoming, USA

Alpine lakes receive a large fraction of their nutrients from atmospheric sources and are consequently sensitive to variations in both the amount and chemistry of atmospheric deposition. In this study we explored the spatial changes in lake water chemistry and biology along a gradient of dust deposition in the Wind River Range, Wyoming. Regional differences were explored using the variation in bulk deposition, lake water, sediment, and bedrock geochemistry and catchment characteristics. Dust deposition rates in the Southwestern region averaged 3.34 g m^?2 year^?1, approximately three times higher than deposition rates in the Northwestern region (average 1.06 g m^?2 year^?1). Dust-P deposition rates ranged from 87 µg P m² day^?1 in the Northwestern region to 276 µg P m² day^?1 in the Southwestern region. Subalpine and alpine lakes in the Southwestern region had greater total phosphorus (TP) concentrations (5–13 µg L^?1) and greater sediment phosphorus (SP) concentrations (2–5 mg g^?1) than similar lakes elsewhere in the region (1–8 µg L^?1 TP, 0.5–2 mg g^?1 SP). Lake phosphorus concentrations were related to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) across vegetation gradients, but related to the percent of bare rock, catchment area to lake area, and catchment steepness across dust deposition gradients. Modern phytoplankton and zooplankton biomasses were two orders of magnitude greater in the Southwest than in the Northwest, and alpine lakes in the Southwest had a unique diatom species assemblage with relatively higher concentrations of Asterionella formosa, Pseudostaurosira pseudoconstruens, and Pseudostaurosira brevistriata. These results suggests that catchment controls on P export to lakes (i.e. DOC) are overridden in dominantly bare rock basins where poor soils cannot effectively retain dust deposited P.     

Arsenic toxicity to rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Bangladesh

Natural contamination of groundwater with arsenic (As) occurs around the world but is most widespread in the river basin deltas of South and Southeast Asia. Shallow groundwater is extensively used in the Bengal basin for irrigation of rice in the dry winter season, leading to the possibility of As accumulation in soils, toxicity to rice and increased levels of As in rice grain and straw. The impact of As contaminated irrigation water on soil-As content and rice productivity was studied over two winter-season rice crops in the command area of a single tubewell in Faridpur district, Bangladesh. After 16–17 years of use of the tubewell, a spatially variable build up of As and other chemical constituents of the water (Fe, Mn and P) was observed over the command area, with soil-As levels ranging from about 10 to 70 mg kg^?1. A simple mass balance calculation using the current water As level of 0.13 mg As L^?1 suggested that 96% of the added arsenic was retained in the soil. When BRRI dhan 29 rice was grown in two successive years across this soil-As gradient, yield declined progressively from 7–9 to 2–3 t ha^?1 with increasing soil-As concentration. The average yield loss over the 8 ha command area was estimated to be 16%. Rice-straw As content increased with increasing soil-As concentration; however, the toxicity of As to rice resulted in reduced grain-As concentrations in one of the 2 years. The likelihood of As-induced yield reductions and As accumulation in straw and grain has implications to agricultural sustainability, food quality and food security in As-affected regions throughout South and Southeast Asia.     

Soil N and C trace gas fluxes and microbial soil N turnover in a sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) forest in Hungary

During two intensive field campaigns in summer and autumn 2004 nitrogen (N₂O, NO/NO₂) and carbon (CO₂, CH₄) trace gas exchange between soil and the atmosphere was measured in a sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) forest in Hungary. The climate can be described as continental temperate. Fluxes were measured with a fully automatic measuring system allowing for high temporal resolution. Mean N₂O emission rates were 1.5 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹ in summer and 3.4 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹ in autumn, respectively. Also mean NO emission rates were higher in autumn (8.4 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹) as compared to summer (6.0 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹). However, as NO₂ deposition rates continuously exceeded NO emission rates (−9.7 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹ in summer and −18.3 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹ in autumn), the forest soil always acted as a net NO _x sink. The mean value of CO₂ fluxes showed only little seasonal differences between summer (81.1 mg C m⁻² h⁻¹) and autumn (74.2 mg C m⁻² h⁻¹) measurements, likewise CH₄uptake (summer: −52.6 μg C m⁻² h⁻¹; autumn: −56.5 μg C m⁻² h⁻¹). In addition, the microbial soil processes net/gross N mineralization, net/gross nitrification and heterotrophic soil respiration as well as inorganic soil nitrogen concentrations and N₂O/CH₄ soil air concentrations in different soil depths were determined. The respiratory quotient (ΔCO_{2 resp} ΔO_{2 resp}⁻¹) for the uppermost mineral soil, which is needed for the calculation of gross nitrification via the Barometric Process Separation (BaPS) technique, was 0.8978 ± 0.008. The mean value of gross nitrification rates showed only little seasonal differences between summer (0.99 μg N kg⁻¹ SDW d⁻¹) and autumn measurements (0.89 μg N kg⁻¹ SDW d⁻¹). Gross rates of N mineralization were highest in the organic layer (20.1–137.9 μg N kg⁻¹ SDW d⁻¹) and significantly lower in the uppermost mineral layer (1.3–2.9 μg N kg⁻¹ SDW d⁻¹). Only for the organic layer seasonality in gross N mineralization rates could be demonstrated, with highest mean values in autumn, most likely caused by fresh litter decomposition. Gross mineralization rates of the organic layer were positively correlated with N₂O emissions and negatively correlated with CH₄ uptake, whereas soil CO₂ emissions were positively correlated with heterotrophic respiration in the uppermost mineral soil layer. The most important abiotic factor influencing C and N trace gas fluxes was soil moisture, while the influence of soil temperature on trace gas exchange rates was high only in autumn.     

Boron induced changes in biochemical constituents,enzymatic activities,and growth performance of wheat

The present study investigates how excess boron (B) affects and alters the biochemical constituents and enzymatic activities of wheat (Triticum aestivum var. ‘Raj 4037’), consequently leading to reduced plant growth and yield. Plants were raised in soils supplemented with various concentrations of B (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 µg B g^?1 soil). Biochemical constituents including soluble leaf protein contents, total phenol contents, soluble sugar contents, proline contents, enzymatic activities of peroxidase (POX), and nitrate reductase (NR) were analyzed. In addition, growth parameters namely shoot–root length, shoot–root fresh and dry weight, seed number and seed weight were analyzed to assess the impact of B toxicity. Results indicate that change in biochemical constituents were correlated with B treatments. Boron concentrations beyond 4 µg g^?1 significantly increased soluble leaf protein contents, total phenol contents, soluble sugar contents, and proline contents. The POX activity was found to be positively correlated with B treatments. B significantly affects nitrogen metabolism and nitrate accumulation which is reflected by the downregulation of NR activity at higher B concentrations. B induced changes in physiological parameters of the plant which subsequently led to the reduction in growth, biomass production, and yield attributes. Out of the various concentrations of B, 8 µg g^?1 was moderately toxic while 16 and 32 µg g^?1 generated high toxicity and induced B stress response to confer tolerance in wheat. Further, a possible mechanism of B toxicity response in wheat is suggested.     

Physicochemical and elemental contamination assessment in groundwater samples of Khairpur Mir's,Pakistan

Drinking water contaminated with arsenic poses serious threat to the human health. The present study was aimed for quality assessment of the groundwater of Khairpur Mir's in respect with arsenic and other elemental contamination like Fe, Cu, Co, and Ni. The presence of the trace elements in groundwater from different sources in the study area was measured by using atomic absorption spectroscopy. For arsenic analysis hydride generation technique (MHS-15) was used with detection limit of 0.02 µg l^?1. Elevated level of arsenic was observed in most of the samples as compared to recommended value of World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines (10 µg l^?1). However, levels of Fe, Cu, Co, and Ni in hand pump (HP) water samples was found in the range of 4–1610 µg l^?1, 0–556 µg l^?1, 0–230 µg l^?1, and 0–700 µg l^?1, respectively. Whereas in tube well (TW) water samples the observed values are 5–1620 µg l^?1, 0–50 µg l^?1, 4–110 µg l^?1, and 0–360 µg l^?1 for Fe, Cu, Co, and Ni, respectively. Significant difference was observed between TW and HP water samples. It was concluded that the level of arsenic found was very high up to 13 fold more than the WHO recommended limit in study area. While the levels of other elements was noted within the safe limit.     

Exogenous application of rutin and gallic acid regulate antioxidants and alleviate reactive oxygen generation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.

The effect of rutin and gallic acid on growth, phytochemical and defense gene activation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was investigated. The seeds of rice were primed with different concentrations of rutin and gallic acid (10–60 µg mL^?1) to explicate the effect on germination on water agar plates. Further, to study the effect of most effective concentrations of gallic acid (60 µg mL^?1) and rutin (50 µg mL^?1), greenhouse pot experiment was set up to determine the changes in growth, antioxidant and defense parameters. The results revealed more pronounced effect of gallic acid on total chlorophyll and carotenoids as well as on total flavonoid content and free radical scavenging activities. Gene expression analysis of OsWRKY71, PAL, CHS and LOX genes involved in strengthening the plant defense further validated the results obtained from the biochemical analysis. Microscopic analysis also confirmed reduction in total reactive oxygen species, free radicals like H₂O₂ and O₂ ^? by exogenous application of gallic acid and rutin. The data obtained thus suggest that both gallic acid and rutin can affect the growth and physiology of rice plants and therefore can be used to develop effective plant growth promoters and as substitute of biofertilizers for maximizing their use in field conditions.     

Effects of Groundwater Irrigation and Petroleum Exploiting on Soil Arsenic Levels

In order to evaluate the combined effects of drip irrigation and petroleum extraction activities on As contamination and distribution in local soils, a total of 141 soil and 30 groundwater (GW) samples from field sites drip-irrigated with GW in Kuitun, Xinjiang, China were collected and analyzed arsenic (As) levels. Soil As levels ranged from 6.74 to 23.10 mg·kg^?1. For the field irrigated with As-loaded GW for 0.5-10 years, As levels in soils increased by 0.50-9.10 mg·kg^?1 as compared with the control soils. As levels in all top-layer (0-10 cm in thickness) irrigated soils A (0-5 cm away from dripper) were found to be higher than those in top-layer irrigated soils B (5-10 cm away from dripper). It was estimated that As in agricultural soils increased by approximately 11～3789 g·yr^?1·ha^?1 under drip irrigating, most of which in top-layer soils covering the plant roots. The widely used drip irrigation system in Kuitun enhanced the ecological and human-health threats of As via affecting its spread into soils. Furthermore, the petroleum exploiting activity further promoted As levels in local soils. Within a distance of 10～1000 m away from petroleum exploiting sites, the soil As level decreases significantly with the distance.     

Ozone pollution influences soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration and aggregate composition in paddy soils

Background and aims

Much attention has focused on the effects of tropospheric ozone (O₃) on terrestrial ecosystems and plant growth. Since O₃ pollution is currently an issue in China and many parts of the world, understanding the effects of elevated O₃ on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sequestration is essential for efforts to predict C and N cycles in terrestrial ecosystems under predicted increases in O₃. Thus the main objective of this study was to determine whether an increases in atmospheric O₃ concentration influenced soil organic C (SOC) and N sequestration.

Methods

A free-air O₃ enrichment (O₃-FACE) experiment was started in 2007 and used continuous O₃ exposure from March to November each year during crop growth stage in a rice (Oryza sativa L.)—wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation field in the Jiangsu Province, China. We investigated differences in SOC and N and soil aggregate composition in both elevated and ambient O₃ conditions.

Results

Elevated atmospheric O₃ (18–80 nmol mol^?1 or 50 % above the ambient) decreased the SOC and N concentration in the 0–20 cm soil layer after 5 years. Elevated O₃ significantly decreased the SOC concentration by 17 % and 5.6 % in the 0–3 cm and the 10–20 cm layers, respectively. Elevated O₃ significantly decreased the N concentration by 8.2–27.8 % in three layers at the 20 cm depth. In addition, elevated O₃ influenced the formation and transformation of soil aggregates and the distribution of SOC and N in the aggregates across soil layer classes. Elevated O₃ significantly decreased the macro-sized aggregate fraction (16.8 %) and associated C and N (0.5 g kg^?1 and 0.32 g kg^?1, respectively), and significantly increased the silt+ clay-sized aggregate fraction (61 %) and associated C (1.7 g kg^?1) in the 0–3 cm layer. Elevated O₃ significantly decreased the macro-sized aggregate fraction (9.6 %) and associated C and N (1.4 g kg^?1 and 0.35 g kg^?1, respectively), and significantly increased the silt+ clay-sized aggregate fraction (41.8 %) and decreased the corresponding associated N (0.14 g kg^?1) in the 3–10 cm layer. Elevated O₃ did not significantly effect the formation and transformation of aggregates in the 10–20 cm layer, yet it did significantly increase the C concentration in the macro-sized fraction (1 g kg^?1) and decrease the N concentration in the macro- and micro-sized fractions (0.24 g kg^?1 and 0.16 g kg^?1, respectively).

Conclusion

Long-term exposure to elevated atmospheric O₃ negatively affected the physical structure of the soil and impaired soil C and N sequestration.     

Total arsenic concentrations and arsenic species present in naturally decomposing Ecklonia radiata tissues collected from various marine habitats

To investigate the release and degradation of arsenoribosides associated with the brown alga Ecklonia radiata, tissues were collected in various marine micro-habitats (water column, sand intertidal, and rock platform intertidal) to establish the importance of decomposition stage and the micro-habitat in which decomposition occurs on arsenoriboside degradation. Total arsenic concentrations in E. radiata tissues varied in a similar pattern across all three sampling locations (Lake Tabourie, Burrill Lake, and Ulladulla Harbour) with concentrations in live tissues (53–124 μg As g^?1 (dry mass)) greater than concentrations in tissues decomposing in the water column (28–90 μg As g^?1 (dry mass)), which were in turn higher than concentrations in tissues decomposing in intertidal environments (16–21 μg As g^?1 (dry mass)). Arsenoribosides, specifically sulfonate (SO₃-), phosphate (PO₄-), and glycerol (Gly-) accounted for all of the arsenic extracted from live E. radiata tissues. Arsenoribosides also accounted for 100 % of the extractable arsenic species in E. radiata tissues decomposing in the water column. The proportions of arsenic species in decomposing E. radiata tissue from intertidal environments varied with sampling location and therefore micro-habitat. In rock platform-based intertidal zones (Burrill Lake and Ulladulla harbour), considerable concentrations of unextractable arsenic (10–60 %) were present plus known arsenoriboside degradation products such as dimethylarsinoylethanol (DMAE), dimethylarsenate (DMA), and arsenate (As(V)). In sand/beach-based intertidal zones, however, the vast majority of arsenic (≈95 %) was unextractable with only small concentrations of arsenoribosides and As(V) present. This study demonstrates that the release and further degradation of arsenoribosides from E. radiata tissues occurs in a two-step process with arsenoribosides released via leaching, whilst E. radiata remains suspended within the water column. Arsenoribosides are then degraded to various intermediate arsenic species once E. radiata tissues settle on intertidal environments; however, the degree of degradation varies relative to whether decomposition occurs on rock platform or sand-based environments. These results illustrate the key role of marine micro-habitats in the degradation of arsenoribosides contained within marine macro-algae.     

Genotype and environment effects on rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain arsenic concentration in Bangladesh

Genetic analysis of 38 rice varieties released by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) identified 34 as indica, 2 as admixed between indica and aus, and 4 as belonging to the aromatic/Group V subpopulation. Indica varieties developed for the two major rice-growing seasons, the wet monsoon (aman) and the dry winter (boro), were not genetically differentiated. The Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model was used to assess the effect of genotype (G), environment (E) and genotype-environment interaction (GEI) on grain arsenic (As) concentration when these rice varieties were grown at ten BRRI research stations located across diverse agro-ecological zones in Bangladesh. G, E and GEI, significantly influenced grain As concentration in both seasons. Overall, E accounted for 69%–80%, G 9%–10% and GEI 10%–21% of the observed variability in grain As. One site, Satkhira had the highest mean grain As concentration and the largest interaction principle component analysis (IPCA) scores in both seasons, indicating maximum interaction with genotypes. Site effects were more pronounced in the boro than in the aman season. The soil level of poorly crystalline Fe-oxide (AOFe), the ratio of AOFe to associated As, soil phosphate extractable As and soil pH were important sub-components of E controlling rice grain As concentration. Irrespective of environment, the mean grain As concentration was significantly higher in the boro (0.290 mg As kg^?1) than in the aman (0.154 mg As kg^?1) season (p?<?0.0001), though the reasons for this are unclear. Based on mean grain As concentration and stability across environments, the variety BR3 is currently the best choice for the boro season, while BR 23 and BRRI dhan 38 are the best choices for the aman season. Popular varieties BR 11 (aman) and BRRI dhan 28 and 29 (boro) had grain As concentrations close to the mean value and were fairly stable across environments, while high-yielding, short-duration aman season varieties (BRRI dhan 32, 33 and 39) developed for intensified cropping had relatively high grain As concentrations. Results suggest that genetic approaches to reducing As in rice grain will require the introduction of novel genetic variation and must be accompanied by appropriate management strategies to reduce As availability and uptake by rice.     

Highly thermo–halo–alkali-stable β-1,4-endoxylanase from a novel polyextremophilic strain of Bacillus halodurans

A novel bacterial isolate, capable of producing extracellular highly thermostable, halo-alkali-stable and cellulase-free xylanase, was isolated from soil and identified as Bacillus halodurans TSPV1 by polyphasic approach. The Plackett–Burman design identified wheat bran, lactose, tryptone and NaCl as the factors that significantly affect xylanase production, and thus, these were optimized by response surface methodology. The data analysis suggested that optimum levels of wheat bran (15–20 g L^?1), lactose (1.0–1.5 g L^?1), tryptone (2–2.5 g L^?1) and NaCl (7.0–8.0 g L^?1) support 6.75-fold higher xylanase production than that in the un-optimized medium. The xylanase is optimally active at 90 °C and pH 10, and stable for 4 h at 90 °C (T _1/2 60 h) over a broad range of NaCl concentrations (0–29 %). This is the first report on the isolation of polyextremophilic B. halodurans strain that produces thermo-halo-alkali-stable xylanase in submerged fermentation. This enzyme efficiently saccharifies agro residues like wheat bran and corncobs. Fifty-six percent of hemicellulose of wheat bran could be hydrolyzed by xylanase (100 U g^?1 substrate) along with cellulase (22 U FPase and 50 U CMCase g^?1). The xylanase, being thermo-alkali stable and cellulase free, can find applications in pre-bleaching of paper pulps and hydrolysis of xylan in agricultural residues.     

Vertical distribution, biomass, production and turnover of fine roots along a topographical gradient in a sandy shrubland

In an artificial Salix gordejevii Chang et Skv. plantation of the Horqin sandy land, we investigated vertical distribution (in 0–100 cm depth), biomass (FRD), fine root production (FRP), fine root length density (FRLD) and turnover of fine roots (<2 mm diameter) at three sites (dune top, midslope and bottom of dune) along leeward slopes. Meanwhile, the correlation between FRP and soil available resources was analyzed. Our results indicate that more than 65% of total fine root biomass is distributed in 0–40 cm depth, and the patterns are different at three sites. The mean monthly FRD ranges from 227 to 324 g·m^?2, and they follows the order: dune top > midslope > bottom of dune. Ingrowth cores were harvested after 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 months of installation. At the first five sampling times, FRP and FRLD (0–40 cm) follows the same order with FRD along the topographical gradient, while FRP harvested after 8 months does not follow the same tendency, they are 348, 402 and 356 g·cm^?2 in dune top, midslope and bottom of dune, respectively. Fine root turnover ranges from 1.04–1.92 year^?1, and fine root turnover (20–40 cm) increases from dune top to bottom of dune along the topographical gradient. Correlation analysis between FRP and soil available resources indicates that only mean soil volumetric water content significantly correlates with annual FRP, which suggests that soil water content might be more crucial for shrub growth than fertility along the topographical gradient.     

Carbon sequestration in freshwater wetlands in Costa Rica and Botswana

Tropical wetlands are typically productive ecosystems that can introduce large amounts of carbon into the soil. However, high temperatures and seasonal water availability can hinder the ability of wetland soils to sequester carbon efficiently. We determined the carbon sequestration rate of 12 wetland communities in four different tropical wetlands—an isolated depressional wetland in a rainforest, and a slow flowing rainforest swamp, a riverine flow-through wetland with a marked wet and dry season, a seasonal floodplain of an inland delta—with the intention of finding conditions that favor soil carbon accumulation in tropical wetlands. Triplicate soil cores were extracted in these communities and analyzed for total carbon content to determine the wetland soil carbon pool. We found that the humid tropic wetlands had greater carbon content (P ≤ 0.05) than the tropical dry ones (96.5 and 34.8 g C kg^?1, respectively). While the dry tropic wetlands had similar sequestration rates (63 ± 10 g Cm^?2 y^?1 on average), the humid tropic ones differed significantly (P < 0.001), with high rates in a slow-flowing slough (306 ± 77 g Cm^?2 y^?1) and low rates in a tropical rain forest depressional wetland (84 ± 23 g Cm^?2 y^?1). The carbon accumulating in all of these wetlands was mostly organic (92–100%). These results suggest the importance of differentiating between types of wetland communities and their hydrology when estimating overall rates at which tropical wetlands sequester carbon, and the need to include tropical wetland carbon sequestration in global carbon budgets.     

Influx and efflux of arsenic in cotton fields irrigated with arsenic-contaminated groundwater

Abstract

Samples of rhizosphere soil, groundwater used for drip irrigation, and mature cotton plants were collected from farms at Kuitun, Xinjiang and analyzed for their arsenic (As) levels to account for the influx and efflux of arsenic in the field. The pH value and the soil-grain-size distribution were found to correlate with the different levels of arsenic accumulated by cotton plants and arable soil layers. The principal component analysis (PCA) indicates that the arsenic level in soil is influenced by the silt content and the arsenic level in groundwater, while the arsenic level in plant roots is affected mainly by the silt content and the arsenic level in soil. As estimated, about 64.6?±?2.7?μg of arsenic was extracted from soil by one cotton plant, and more than 44% of it was stored in husks. About 0.8-2.6 mg As/(m² yr) was extracted by plants from soil according to the average dry weight of the plant and the field planting density, while 2.4–28.0?mg As/(m² yr) entered the soil based on the irrigated groundwater volume and the arsenic level in groundwater. Taking account of the cotton residues left after harvest, up to 85.8% of arsenic in the plants returned to the soil. After calculation, about 0.7–2.2?mg As/(m² yr) returned to the soil, and thus the actual net arsenic input to the soil could reach 2.3–27.6?mg As/(m² yr). Because of an obvious rise of the soil arsenic level in Kuitun, Xinjiang, and certain preventive measures should be taken to prevent the propagation of arsenic in the agricultural field.     

Shrub Expansion of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alnus viridis</Emphasis> Drives Former Montane Grassland into Nitrogen Saturation

The N₂-fixing shrub Alnus viridis is currently encroaching on montane grasslands in the Alps as a result of reduced land management and complete abandonment. Alnus introduces large amounts of nitrogen (N) into these formerly N-poor grasslands and restricts the succession to montane forests. We studied pools and fluxes of N and the associated C pools in pastures (controls) and adjacent Alnus shrublands at two elevations (1650 versus 1950 m a.s.l.) in three valleys in the Swiss central Alps. The total N and C pools stored in 50-year-old Alnus shrubland did not exceed those in adjacent pastures with a total of approximately 610 g N m^?2 in phytomass plus soil (down to 30 cm) at both elevations. In Alnus stands, reduced soil N pools balanced the gain in phytomass N pools, a likely result of a faster turnover of soil N. The soil solution under Alnus was continuously enriched with nitrate, with a total N leaching of 0.79 g N m^?2 season^?1 (June–October) under 50-year-old stands at both elevations and the highest flux of 1.76 g N m^?2 season^?1 in 25-year-old shrubland at low elevation, clearly indicating an excess of available N in Alnus shrubland. In contrast, N leaching across all pastures was close to zero (0.08 g N m^?2) throughout the season. At the catchment scale, streamlet water showed increased nitrate concentrations with typical flushing peaks in spring and autumn, provided more than one fifth of the catchment area was covered by Alnus shrubs. We conclude that the expansion of Alnus rapidly converts centuries-old, N-poor grassland into N saturated shrubland, irrespective of elevation, and it reduces the C storage potential of the landscape because the Alnus dominance constrains re-establishment of a natural montane forest.     

Changes to the N cycle following bark beetle outbreaks in two contrasting conifer forest types

Outbreaks of Dendroctonus beetles are causing extensive mortality in conifer forests throughout North America. However, nitrogen (N) cycling impacts among forest types are not well known. We quantified beetle-induced changes in forest structure, soil temperature, and N cycling in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests of Greater Yellowstone (WY, USA), and compared them to published lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia) data. Five undisturbed stands were compared to five beetle-killed stands (4–5 years post-outbreak). We hypothesized greater N cycling responses in Douglas-fir due to higher overall N stocks. Undisturbed Douglas-fir stands had greater litter N pools, soil N, and net N mineralization than lodgepole pine. Several responses to disturbance were similar between forest types, including a pulse of N-enriched litter, doubling of soil N availability, 30–50 % increase in understory cover, and 20 % increase in foliar N concentration of unattacked trees. However, the response of some ecosystem properties notably varied by host forest type. Soil temperature was unaffected in Douglas-fir, but lowered in lodgepole pine. Fresh foliar %N was uncorrelated with net N mineralization in Douglas-fir, but positively correlated in lodgepole pine. Though soil ammonium and nitrate, net N mineralization, and net nitrification all doubled, they remained low in both forest types (<6 μg N g soil^?1 NH₄ ⁺or NO₃ ^?; <25 μg N g soil^?1 year^?1 net N mineralization; <8 μg N g soil^?1 year^?1 net nitrification). Results suggest that beetle disturbance affected litter and soil N cycling similarly in each forest type, despite substantial differences in pre-disturbance biogeochemistry. In contrast, soil temperature and soil N–foliar N linkages differed between host forest types. This result suggests that disturbance type may be a better predictor of litter and soil N responses than forest type due to similar disturbance mechanisms and disturbance legacies across both host–beetle systems.     

Root and shoot growth, seed composition, and yield components of no-till rainfed soybean under variable potassium

Spatial soil-K availability for no-till soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] has not been studied extensively. We characterize soybean growth- and yield-component and quantify root parameters as a function of soil depth in K-stratified soils with 1 M ammonium acetate extractable-K ranges 60–290 at 0–10 cm increment and 50–90 mg kg^?1 at the 10–20 cm increment. Shoots and roots (five depth increments to 50 cm) were collected during development and grain at harvest during 2 years. Soil K at or above the critical level (104 mg K kg^?1) increased early-season leaf area and root K-uptake rates early and late in reproductive development. Greater number of seeds plant^?1 increased yield for soils with K near the critical level. Soil-K above the critical level increased luxury K-uptake without improving yield, seed-K concentration and accumulation, or seed oil and protein concentration. Greater root length density (>41% of the total) in surface soil coupled with previous results showing greater water content throughout the season in surface soil compared to deeper layers illustrates K stratification caused by no-till may enhance soybean K-uptake.     

Antagonistic potential of native strain Streptomyces aurantiogriseus VSMGT1014 against sheath blight of rice disease

A total of 132 actinomycetes was isolated from different rice rhizosphere soils of Tamil Nadu, India, among which 57 showed antagonistic activity towards Rhizoctonia solani, which is sheath blight (ShB) pathogen of rice and other fungal pathogens such as Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium udum and Alternaria alternata with a variable zone of inhibition. Potential actinomycete strain VSMGT1014 was identified as Streptomyces aurantiogriseus VSMGT1014 based on the morphological, physiological, biochemical and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. The strain VSMGT1014 produced lytic enzymes, secondary metabolites, siderophore, volatile substance and indole acetic acid. Crude metabolites of VSMGT1014 showed activity against R. solani at 5 µg ml^?1; however, the prominent inhibition zone was observed from 40 to 100 µg ml^?1. Reduced lesion heights observed in culture, cells-free filtrate, crude metabolites and carbendazim on challenge with pathogen in the detached leaf assay. The high content screening test clearly indicated denucleation of R. solani at 5 µg ml^?1 treatment of crude metabolite and carbendazim respectively. The results conclude that strain VSMGT1014 was found to be a potential candidate for the control of ShB of rice as a bio fungicide.