Effect of growth and subsequent decomposition of blue-green algae on the transformation of iron and manganese in submerged soils

N₂-fixing blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria), besides enriching soils with N and organic carbon, may modify a number of chemical and electro-chemical properties of the soils resulting in a change in availability of some micronutrient elements. Keeping this in view, an experiment was conducted to study the effects of growth and subsequent decomposition of blue-green algae on changes in the different forms of Fe and Mn in four soils under submerged condition. A mixed algal culture containing Anabaena, Nostoc, Cylindrospermum, and Tolypothrix was used as inoculum. It was allowed to grow for 2 months, after which the soils were sequentially extracted with (i) M NH₄OAc (pH 7.0), (ii) M K₄P₂O₇, (iii) 0.1 M NH₂OH.HCl (pH 2.0), (iv) 0.2 M (NH₄)₂C₂O₄ (pH 3.0) and (v) 0.1 M ascorbic acid to obtain water-soluble plus exchangeable, organically bound, easily reducible, amorphous oxides-and crystalline oxides-bound forms of Fe and Mn, respectively, both during the growth as well as the subsequent in-situ decomposition of the algal biomass in soils. Iron and Mn in the extracts were estimated by atomic absorption spectrophotometry.The results showed that growth of blue-green algae in submerged rice soils caused a decrease in the NH₄OAc-extractable forms of Fe and Mn with concomitant increases in all the other four determined forms of the elements. Such decreases and/or increases in different forms of Fe and Mn in soils were explained as being due to release of O₂, addition of organic matter and liberation of extracellular organic compounds by the blue-green algae during their growth. The decomposition of algal biomass resulted in an increase in the NH₄OAc-, K₄P₂O₇- and (NH₄)₂C₂O₄-extractable forms of Fe and Mn with a simultaneous decrease in the NH₂OH · HCl- and ascorbic acid-extractable forms. Development of strong reducing conditions and formation of organic acids with chelating properties were suggested as being the cause of the above changes. The implication of these changes in the forms of Fe and Mn for the Fe and Mn nutrition of rice plants were discussed.     

How Physical Disturbance and Nitrogen Addition Affect the Soil Carbon Decomposition?

The decomposition of soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a critical role in regulating atmospheric CO₂ concentrations and climate dynamics. However, the mechanisms and factors controlling SOC decomposition are still not fully understood. Here, we conducted a 60 days incubation experiment to test the effects of physical disturbance and nitrogen (N) addition on SOC decomposition. N addition increased the concentration of NO₃^- by 51% in the soil, but had little effect on the concentration of NH₄⁺. N addition inhibited SOC decomposition, but such an effect differed between disturbed and undisturbed soils. In disturbed and undisturbed soils, application of N decreased SOC decomposition by 37% and 15%, respectively. One possible explanation is that extra N input suppressed microbial N mining and/or increased the stability of soil organic matter by promoting the formation of soil aggregates and incorporating part of the inorganic N into organic matter, and consequently decreased microbial mineralization of soil organic matter. Physical disturbance intensified the inhibition of N on SOC decomposition, likely because physical disturbance allowed the added N to be better exposed to soil microbes and consequently increased the availability of added N. We conclude that physical disturbance and N play important roles in modulating the stability of SOC.     

土壤湿度水平和湿—干循环对硝酸钙盐积累土壤锰锰释放的影响

在[Ca(NO3)2]盐处理土壤中,研究了两种湿度水平（200,400g.kg^-1)和湿－干循环对土壤Mn释放的影响,结果表明,土壤水分状况影响土壤Mn的有效性,湿度大时,易还原态Mn转化为水溶态,交换态Mn;盐分对易还原态Mn的转化有一定影响,NO3-能缓冲土壤Eh的下降,有抑制易还原态Mn转化的作用,连续的湿干循环能使土壤2价Mn(水溶态Mn,交换态Mn)浓度降低,而a(NO3)2盐能增加Mn的不溶性,这在Mn含量低的土训上,最终将导致Mn的缺乏。     

土壤湿度水平和湿-干循环对硝酸钙盐积累土壤锰释放的影响

在[Ca(NO₃)²]盐处理土壤中,研究了两种湿度水平(200、400g·kg^-1)和湿干循环对土壤Mn释放的影响.结果表明,土壤水分状况影响土壤Mn的有效性,湿度大时,易还原态Mn转化为水溶态、交换态Mn;盐分对易还原态Mn的转化有一定影响,NO₃^-能缓冲土壤Eh的下降,有抑制易还原态Mn转化的作用.连续的湿干循环能使土壤2价Mn(水溶态Mn、交换态Mn)浓度降低,而Ca(NO₃)²盐能增加Mn的不溶性.这在Mn含量低的土壤上,最终将导致Mn的缺乏.     

Effects of Plant Residue and Salinity on Fractions of Cadmium and Lead in Three Soils

Bioavailability and mobility of heavy metals (HMs) in soils are determined by their partitioning between solution and solid-phase and their further redistribution among solid-phase components. A study was undertaken to determine the effects of organic matter (OM) and salinity on cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) distribution among soil fractions. Three agricultural soils were treated with 20 mg Cd/kg as Cd (NO₃)₂·4H₂O, 150 mg Pb/kg as Pb (NO₃)₂, 20 g/kg alfalfa powder, and 50 mmol/kg of NaCl, and then incubated at 60% water holding capacity (60% WHC) and constant temperature (25°C) for 12 weeks. Various fractions of Cd and Pb were extracted from the soils after 2 and 12 w of incubation using a sequential extraction technique. Results showed that in the early stage of incubation (2 w), added Pb were found mainly in the specifically sorbed (SS) and amorphous Fe oxides (AFeO) fractions and added Cd found in SS and Mn oxides (MnO) fractions. Addition of 2% OM decreased the exchangeable (EXC) Pb fraction almost in all soils, whereas it had a different effect on the EXC Cd fraction depending on soil pH. Addition of NaCl increased the EXC Cd fraction in two soils, but it did not alter Pb fractions. At the end of the incubation period, Pb decreased in the EXC and MnO fractions except in the neutral soil and Cd decreased mainly in the SS fraction.     

Spatially Confined MnO2 Nanostructure Enabling Consecutive Reversible Charge Transfer from Mn(IV) to Mn(II) in a Mixed Pseudocapacitor‐Battery Electrode

Mn oxides are highly important electrode materials for aqueous electrochemical energy storage devices, including batteries and supercapacitors. Although MnO₂ is a promising pseudocapacitor material because of its outstanding rate and capacity performance, its electrochemical instability in aqueous electrolyte prevents its use at low electrochemical potential. Here, the possibility of stabilizing MnO₂ electrode using SiO₂‐confined nanostructure is demonstrated. Remarkably, an exceptionally good electrochemical stability under large negative polarization in aqueous (Li₂SO₄) electrolyte, usually unattainable for MnO₂‐based electrode, is achieved. Even more interestingly, this MnO₂–SiO₂ nanostructured composite exhibits unique mixed pseudocapacitance‐battery behaviors involving consecutive reversible charge transfer from Mn(IV) to Mn(II), which enable simultaneous high‐capacity and high‐rate characteristics, via different charge‐transfer kinetic mechanisms. This suggests a strategy to design and stabilize electrochemical materials that are comprised of intrinsically unstable but high‐performing component materials.     

Influence of organic matter on the availability of certain elements to barley seedlings grown by a modified neubauer method

Summary The influence of organic matter on the availability of 17 elements (Na, K, Cs¹³⁷, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, N, P, B, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Mo, Al, and Si) to barley seedlings grown by a modified Neubauer technique was determined. Three different soils that were treated with dry ground mustard spinach leaves (1 g/100 g soil) and incubated for various lengths of time (0, 1, 2, 5, 9, 13, and 17 weeks) in moist condition before cropping were used for this study.The addition of organic matter to the soils increased the plant yields. The average N and K concentrations were consistently increased in the plants grown in soils with added organic matter. The average concentration of B, P, Na, Mg, Sr, Ba, and Si were almost consistently decreased in the plants. The average contents of Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ca, and Al varied with the soil types and precropping incubation time. The average Cs¹³⁷ contents of the plants were reduced considerably by the addition of organic matter to the soils. The reduction of Cs¹³⁷ contents ranged from 29 to 75 per cent, depending on the pre-cropping incubation time and soil type. The main factors causing this reduction were considered to be microbial immobilization, ion antagonism by K, carbohydrate dilution, and the state of decomposition and the kind of organic matter added to the soils.     

Transformations in plant-available forms of iron and manganese as influenced by manuring and cropping under irrigation

Summary Vertisols from field plots fertilized continuously with P, K, FYM alone and in combination at the rate of 60 kg P₂O₅, 30 kg K₂O and 1.5 ton FYM per ha were tested for different forms of Fe and Mn as a consequence of continuous cropping with sorghum and wheat. The transformations that occurred in different forms of plant-available iron were greater than those of Mn. Exchangeable and easily reducible Fe contents were markedly influenced by treatments. In manganese, transformations of easily reducible to exchangeable forms were conspicuous.     

土壤有机质和外源有机物对甲烷产生的影响

对土壤有机质含量及组分、外源有机物和根系分泌对甲烷产生的影响作了综述。土壤产甲烷量和甲烷排放量随有机质含量增加而提高,与土壤中易矿化有机碳或沸水浸提有机碳含量呈显著相关。外源有机碳加入促进了土壤排放甲,刺激效果与外源有机碳的用量和组成有关。还原力强的有机物如纤维素和半纤维素较还原力弱的有机物如类脂和多糖能够产生更多的甲烷。甲醇、甲基化氨基酸等无其它微生物竞争利用的有机物能被产甲烷菌更多地转化成甲烷。植物根系分泌物也促进甲烷的产生,促进作用大小与植物种类及分泌物的数量和质量有关。外源有机物通过3种方式促进土壤甲烷产生;提高土壤的甲烷底物供应量,降低土壤氧化还原电位,刺激土壤原有有机碳的转化。     

Decomposition of Organic Carbon in Fine Soil Particles Is Likely More Sensitive to Warming than in Coarse Particles: An Incubation Study with Temperate Grassland and Forest Soils in Northern China

It is widely recognized that global warming promotes soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition, and soils thus emit more CO₂ into the atmosphere because of the warming; however, the response of SOC decomposition to this warming in different soil textures is unclear. This lack of knowledge limits our projection of SOC turnover and CO₂ emission from soils after future warming. To investigate the CO₂ emission from soils with different textures, we conducted a 107-day incubation experiment. The soils were sampled from temperate forest and grassland in northern China. The incubation was conducted over three short-term cycles of changing temperature from 5°C to 30°C, with an interval of 5°C. Our results indicated that CO₂ emissions from sand (>50 µm), silt (2–50 µm), and clay (<2 µm) particles increased exponentially with increasing temperature. The sand fractions emitted more CO₂ (CO₂-C per unit fraction-C) than the silt and clay fractions in both forest and grassland soils. The temperature sensitivity of the CO₂ emission from soil particles, which is expressed as Q₁₀, decreased in the order clay>silt>sand. Our study also found that nitrogen availability in the soil facilitated the temperature dependence of SOC decomposition. A further analysis of the incubation data indicated a power-law decrease of Q₁₀ with increasing temperature. Our results suggested that the decomposition of organic carbon in fine-textured soils that are rich in clay or silt could be more sensitive to warming than those in coarse sandy soils and that SOC might be more vulnerable in boreal and temperate regions than in subtropical and tropical regions under future warming.     

Biogeochemistry of terrestrial soils as influenced by short-term flooding

Many terrestrial soils in the US Midwest are temporally flooded during the spring. The effects of short-term flooding on biogeochemical processes that occur in these soils are not fully understood and are the subject of this study. To evaluate these processes we investigated the redox-induced changes in the soil solution for three-cultivated and three-uncultivated/forest soils with different organic matter concentrations. The soils were flooded for 1, 3, 7, and 14-days under anoxic conditions in a biogeochemical reactor. Samples were analyzed for Eh; pH; NO₃ ^?; NH₄ ⁺; total dissolved Mn and Fe; soluble P; dissolved organic and inorganic carbon (DOC–DIC); and evolved CO₂. We found strongly contrasting responses of the terrestrial soils to flooding. Reducing conditions were established quickly in the uncultivated and more slowly in the cultivated soils. Concomitant changes in pH were higher for the uncultivated soils. The uncultivated soils showed a higher increase in the amount of NH₄ ⁺, P, Fe, Mn than the cultivated soils over the 14-day incubation. The total amount of carbon decomposed was much greater for the uncultivated soils with approximately 900 μg C (CO₂ + DOC + DIC) decomposed per gram of soil compared to a total decomposition of 240 μg C g _soil ^?1 for the cultivated soils indicating differences in the type of carbon decomposed. The rapid onset of reducing conditions for the uncultivated soils is attributed to a reactive carbon component that is either absent or occluded in the cultivated soils. This study demonstrates that the biogeochemically-induced changes in carbon dynamics in terrestrial soils are strongly influenced by short-term flooding and the history of soil management.     

Stoichiometrical regulation of soil organic matter decomposition and its temperature sensitivity

The decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM) can be described by a set of kinetic principles, environmental constraints, and substrate supply. Here, we hypothesized that SOM decomposition rates (R) and its temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) would increase steadily with the N:C ratios of added substrates by alleviating N limitation on microbial growth. We tested this hypothesis by investigating SOM decomposition in both grassland and forest soils after addition of substrates with a range of N:C ratios. The results showed that Michaelis–Menten equations well fit the response of R to the N:C ratio variations of added substrates, and their coefficients of determination (R²) ranged from 0.65 to 0.89 (P < 0.01). Moreover, the maximal R, Q₁₀, and cumulative C emission of SOM decomposition increased exponentially with the N:C ratios of added substrates, and were controlled interactively by incubation temperature and the N:C ratios of the added substrates. We demonstrated that SOM decomposition rate and temperature sensitivity were exponentially correlated to substrate stoichiometry (N:C ratio) in both grassland and forest soils. Therefore, these correlations should be incorporated into the models for the prediction of SOM decomposition rate under warmer climatic scenarios.     

Immobilization,mineralization and the availability of the fertilizer nitrogen during the decomposition of the organic matters applied to the soil

Summary Immobilization and mineralization of the tracer nitrogen (K¹⁵NO₃) applied to the soil together with several organic matters during their decomposition was investigated in incubation experiments.After incubation for three months at 30°C, the decomposition rates of rice straw, hardwood bark, sawdust, softwood bark and peat moss were 41, 15, 7, 5, and 5%, respectively. After incubation for three months at 30°C, 100 and 80% of the fertilizer nitrogen were immobilized in the treatment with 2.0% of rice straw and sawdust carbon, respectively. These resulted in the lowered uptake of the fertilizer nitrogen by plants. In case of peat moss and barks, the amount of fertilizer nitrogen which transformed to the organic nitrogen fractions was quite small and the plant uptake of the nitrogen was hardly affected. Remineralization of the immobilized nitrogen was clearly observed after 2 months' incubation in case where rice straw carbon was added to the extent of 0.5 and 1.0%, but it was not observed in case where other organic matter carbon was added.The data showed that peat moss and barks were highly resistant to the action of microorganisms. As a results the immobilization process of the fertilizer nitrogen incubated with these organic matter was quite slow.     

Bacterial dissimilatory MnO2 reduction at extremely haloalkaline conditions

A possibility of dissimilatory MnO₂ reduction at extremely high salt and pH was studied in sediments from hypersaline alkaline lakes in Kulunda Steppe (Altai, Russia). Experiments with anaerobic sediment slurries demonstrated a relatively rapid reduction of colloidal MnO₂ in the presence of acetate and formate as electron donor at in situ conditions (i.e., pH 10 and a salt content from 0.6 to 4 M total Na⁺). All reduced Mn at these conditions remained in the solid phase. A single, stable enrichment culture was obtained from the slurries consistently reducing MnO₂ at pH 10 and 0.6 M total Na⁺ with formate. A pure culture of a haloalkaliphilic Mn-reducing bacterium obtained from the positive enrichment was phylogenetically closely related to the anaerobic haloalkaliphilic Bacillus arseniciselenatis isolated from Mono Lake (CA, USA). Bacillus sp. strain AMnr1 was obligately anaerobic, able to grow either by glucose fermentation, or respiring few nonfermentable substrates by using MnO₂ as the electron acceptor. Optimal growth by dissimilatory MnO₂ reduction was achieved with glycerol as electron donor at pH 9.5–10 and salt content between 0.4 and 0.8 M total Na⁺.     

Forms of manganese as influenced by organic matter and iron oxide

Summary Organic matter has been found to be closely associated with the retention of manganese in an exchangeable form. The destruction of organic matter or its addition decrease or increase the exchangeable form of manganese respectively.The removal of iron and Fe₂O₃ addition greatly affect the retention of manganese. An increase in Fe₂O₃ addition increases the retained, reducible and fixed forms (R, r and F values) of manganese in soils.     

Minireview: The Potential of Enhanced Manganese Redox Cycling for Sediment Oxidation

Both natural and anthropogenic processes are responsible for excessive organic loading of submerged soils, with detrimental environmental consequences. The often insufficient natural attenuation can be enhanced by exploiting microbial manganese cycles. This review describes how an anoxic oxidation of organic matter with concomitant reduction of MnO ₂ can link up with a reoxidation of the resulting, soluble Mn(II) in oxic layers. The potentially attainable oxidation rates through these natural cycles are of the same order as the organic carbon accumulation rates. The microbiology and physiology of the responsible organisms are discussed, as well as examples of naturally occurring manganese cycles and the possibility to engineer this natural phenomenon.     

Atomic Structure of Li2MnO3 after Partial Delithiation and Re‐Lithiation

Li₂MnO₃ is the parent compound of the well‐studied Li‐rich Mn‐based cathode materials xLi₂MnO₃·(1‐x)LiMO₂ for high‐energy‐density Li‐ion batteries. Li₂MnO₃ has a very high theoretical capacity of 458 mA h g^?1 for extracting 2 Li. However, the delithiation and lithiation behaviors and the corresponding structure evolution mechanism in both Li₂MnO₃ and Li‐rich Mn‐based cathode materials are still not very clear. In this research, the atomic structures of Li₂MnO₃ before and after partial delithiation and re‐lithiation are observed with spherical aberration‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). All atoms in Li₂MnO₃ can be visualized directly in annular bright‐field images. It is confirmed accordingly that the lithium can be extracted from the LiMn₂ planes and some manganese atoms can migrate into the Li layer after electrochemical delithiation. In addition, the manganese atoms can move reversibly in the (001) plane when ca. 18.6% lithium is extracted and 12.4% lithium is re‐inserted. LiMnO₂ domains are also observed in some areas in Li_1.63MnO₃ at the first cycle. As for the position and occupancy of oxygen, no significant difference is found between Li_1.63MnO₃ and Li₂MnO₃.     

Decomposition and sorption characterization of plant cuticles in soil

The sorption of organic compounds by plant cuticular matter has been extensively investigated; however, little has been studied regarding the effect of plant cuticle degradation on their role in the sorption of organic compounds in soils. The sorption of phenanthrene was studied in soil samples which had been incubated for up to 9 months with three different types of plant cuticle isolated from tomato fruits, pepper fruits and citrus leaves. The main change in the diffuse reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (DRIFT) spectra during incubation of the cuticles was related to cutin decomposition. The peaks assigned to methyl and ethyl vibration and C=O vibration in ester links decreased with decomposition. In general, with all samples, the phenanthrene sorption coefficients calculated for the whole incubated soils (K _d) decreased with incubation time. In contrast, the carbon-normalized K _d values (K _oc) did not exhibit a similar trend for the different cuticles during incubation. The origin of the cuticle also affected the linearity of the sorption isotherms. With the tomato and citrus cuticle samples, the Freundlich N values were close to unity and were stable throughout incubation. However with the green pepper cuticle, the N values exhibited a significant decrease (from 0.98 to 0.70). This study demonstrates that the structural composition of the plant cuticle affects its biodegradability and therefore its ability to sorb organic compounds in soils. Of the residues originating from plant cuticular matter in soils, the cutan biopolymer and lignin-derived structures appear to play a dominant role in sorption as decomposition progresses. Responsible Editor: Alfonso Escudero.     

Effect of different levels of water salinity on the decomposition of organic manures in a brackish water fish pond soil

Effects of different water salinity levels on the decomposition of the two organic manures cowdung and poultry manure were studied under laboratory condition. Application of the manures increased the free CO₂ content and decreased D.O. levels of water. pH values of soil and water declined slightly on addition of the manures. The amount of nitrogen, released from the organic manures to water and soil phases, increased gradually with the period of incubation but decreased with increase in water salinity levels. NH₄ ⁺ was found to occur in comparatively higher amount than NO₃ ^–, due to prevailing anaerobic environmental conditions. The amount of added organic carbon remaining in the soil decreased gradually as the decomposition proceeded, but recorded slightly higher values with increase in water salinity levels.The results showed that the rates of decomposition of added organic manures were comparatively lower under higher water salinity levels and hence indicated that use of well decomposed manures might be more suitable for use under such water salinities in brackish water fish ponds.This work formed a part of a thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy to Bidhan Chandra Agricultural University, West Bengal in 1978This work formed a part of a thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy to Bidhan Chandra Agricultural University, West Bengal in 1978     

The effect of manganese-oxidizing bacteria and pH on the availability of manganous ions and manganese oxides to oats in nutrient solutions

Summary The uptake of Mn from manganous ions (Mn-ions) and pyrolusite (MnO₂) by three week-old oat plants (Avena sativa L.) grown in nutrient solutions controlled at pH values between 6 and 8, was almost completely inhibited by suspensions of Mn- oxidizing bacteria over a three day uptake period.Grey speck symptoms of Mn deficiency developed in oats grown for 10 days with Mn bacteria in a nutrient solution that had received 1 ppm Mn ions and was controlled at pH 6.3. Rape plants (Brassica napus L.) absorbed appreciable amounts of Mn from treatments similar to those that inhibited Mn uptake by oats.Treatments which decreased or prevented biological oxidation of Mn ions favoured the uptake of Mn by oats from Mn ions, MnO₂ and bacterial Mn-oxide. Acid conditions (pH 5.0) always increased Mn uptake. This was due in part to inhibition of bacterial oxidation and to an increase in the ability of the plants to obtain Mn from Mn oxides.Uptake of Mn is explained on the basis of the rates of two opposing processes; the rate of release of Mn from oxides and the rate of biological oxidation of Mn ions. The results are discussed in relation to the availability of Mn in soils.