Assessment of Canopy Structure, Light Interception, and Light-use Efficiency of First Year Regrowth of Shrub Willow (Salix sp.)

According to the light-use efficiency model, differential biomass production among willow varieties may be attributed either to differences in the amount of light intercepted, the efficiency with which the intercepted light is converted to aboveground biomass, or both. In this study, variation in aboveground biomass production (AGBP) was analyzed in relation to fraction of incoming radiation intercepted (IPAR_F) and light-use efficiency (LUE) for five willow varieties. The plants were grown in a short-rotation woody crop (SRWC) system and were in their first year of regrowth on a 5 year old root system. The study was conducted during a two-month period (June 15th–August 15th, 2001) when growing conditions were deemed most favorable. The objectives were: (1) to assess the relative importance of IPAR_F in explaining variation in AGBP, and (2) to identify the key drivers of variation in LUE from a suite of measured leaf and canopy-level traits. Aboveground biomass production varied nearly three-fold among genotypes (3.55–10.02 Mg ha^?1), while LUE spanned a two-fold range (1.21–2.52 g MJ^?1). At peak leaf area index (LAI), IPAR_F ranged from 66%–92%. Nonetheless, both IPAR_F and LUE contributed to AGBP. An additive model combining photosynthesis on leaf area basis (A_area), leaf mass per unit area (LMA), and light extinction coefficient (k) produced the most compelling predictors of LUE. In a post-coppice willow crop, the ability to maximize IPAR_F and LUE early in the growing season is advantageous for maximizing biomass production.     

The effects of light intensity on the growth of Japanese Gambierdiscus spp. (Dinophyceae)

Marine toxic dinoflagellates of the genus Gambierdiscus are the causative agents of ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP), a form of seafood poisoning that is widespread in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions worldwide. The distributions of Gambierdiscus australes, Gambierdiscus scabrosus and two phylotypes of Gambierdiscus spp. type 2 and type 3 have been reported for the waters surrounding the main island of Japan. To explore the bloom dynamics and the vertical distribution of these Japanese species and phylotypes of Gambierdiscus, the effects of light intensity on their growth were tested, using a photoirradiation-culture system. The relationship between the observed growth rates and light intensity conditions for the four species/phylotypes were formulated at R > 0.92 (p < 0.01) using regression analysis and photosynthesis-light intensity (P-L) model. Based on this equation, the optimum light intensity (L_max) and the semi-optimum light intensity range (L_s-opt) that resulted in the maximum growth rate (μ_max) and ≥80% μ _max values of the four species/phylotypes, respectively, were as follows: (1) the L_max and L_s-opt of G. australes were 208 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ and 91–422 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively; (2) those of G. scabrosus were 252 and 120–421 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively; (3) those of Gambierdiscus sp. type 2 were 192 and 75–430 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively; and (4) those of Gambierdiscus sp. type 3 were ≥427 and 73–427 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively. All four Gambierdiscus species/phylotypes required approximately 10 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ to maintain growth. The light intensities in coastal waters at a site in Tosa Bay were measured vertically at 1 m intervals once per season. The relationships between the observed light intensity and depth were formulated using Beer’s Law. Based on these equations, the range of the attenuation coefficients at Tosa Bay site was determined to be 0.058–0.119 m⁻¹. The values 1700 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹, 500 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹, and 200 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ were substituted into the equations to estimate the vertical profiles of light intensity at sunny midday, cloudy midday and rainy midday, respectively. Based on the regression equations coupled with the empirically determined attenuation coefficients for each of the four seasons, the ranges of the projected depths of L_max and L_s-opt for the four Gambierdiscus species/phylotypes under sunny midday conditions, cloudy midday conditions, and rainy midday conditions were 12–38 m and 12–54 m, 1–16 m and 1–33 m, and 0 m and 0–16 m, respectively. These results suggest that light intensity plays an important role in the bloom dynamics and vertical distribution of Gambierdiscus species/phylotypes in Japanese coastal waters.     

Temporal and spatial variability in nitrogen uptake kinetics during harmful dinoflagellate blooms in the East China Sea

Temporal and spatial variability in the kinetic parameters of uptake of nitrate (NO₃⁻), ammonium (NH₄⁺), urea, and glycine was measured during dinoflagellate blooms in Changjiang River estuary and East China Sea coast, 2005. Karenia mikimotoi was the dominant species in the early stage of the blooms and was succeeded by Prorocentrum donghaiense. The uptake of nitrogen (N) was determined using ¹⁵N tracer techniques. The results of comparison kinetic parameters with ambient nutrients confirmed that different N forms were preferentially taken up during different stages of the bloom. NO₃⁻ (V_max 0.044 h⁻¹; K_s 60.8 μM-N) was an important N source before it was depleted. NH₄⁺ (V_max 0.049 h⁻¹; K_s 2.15 μM-N) was generally the preferred N. Between the 2 organic N sources, urea was more preferred when K. mikimotoi dominated the bloom (V_max 0.020 h⁻¹; K_s 1.35 μM-N) and glycine, considered as a dominant amino acid, was more preferred when P. donghaiense dominated the bloom (V_max 0.025 h⁻¹; K_s 1.76 μM-N). The change of N uptake preference by the bloom-forming algae was also related to the variation in ambient N concentrations.     

Forming nanoparticles of α-amylase and embedding them into solid surfaces

In the current work nanoparticles (NPs) of α-amylase were generated in an aqueous solution using high-intensity ultrasound, and were subsequently immobilized on polyethylene (PE) films, or polycarbonate (PC) plates, or on microscope glass slides. The α-amylase NPs coated on the solid surfaces have been characterized by ESEM, TEM, FTIR, XPS and AFM. The substrates immobilized with α-amylase were used for hydrolyzing soluble potato starch to maltose. The amount of enzyme introduced in the substrates, leaching properties, and the catalytic activity of the immobilized enzyme were compared. The catalytic activity of the amylase deposited on the three solid surfaces was compared to that of the same amount of free enzyme at different pHs and temperatures. α-Amylase coated on PE showed the best catalytic activity in all the examined parameters when compared to native amylase, especially at high temperatures. When immobilized on glass, α-amylase showed better activity than the native enzyme over all pH and temperature values studied. However, the immobilization on PC did not improve the enzyme activity at any pH and any temperature compared to the free amylase. The kinetic parameters, K_m and V_max were also calculated. The amylase coated PE showed the most favorable kinetic parameters (K_m = 5 g L⁻¹ and V_max = 5E−07 mol mL⁻¹ min⁻¹). In contrast, the anchored enzyme-PC exhibited unfavorable kinetic parameters (K_m = 16 g L⁻¹, V_max = 4.2E−07 mol mL⁻¹ min⁻¹). The corresponding values for amylase-glass were K_m = 7 g L⁻¹, V_max = 1.8E−07 mol mL⁻¹ min⁻¹, relative to those obtained for the free enzyme (K_m = 6.6 g L⁻¹, V_max = 3.3E−07 mol mL⁻¹ min⁻¹).     

A comparative study of the use of inorganic carbon resources by Chara aspera and Potamogeton pectinatus

We studied the potential role of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in determining vegetation dominance of Potamogeton pectinatus L. and Chara aspera Deth. ex Willd. by monitoring the seasonal dynamics of DIC in a shallow lake and comparing the use of DIC of the two species. The HCO₃⁻-concentration in summer dropped from 2.5 to <0.5 mM with seasonally increasing Chara biomass, whereas outside the vegetation concentrations remained at 2.5 mM. Inside Potamogeton spp. vegetation DIC decreased from 2.5 to ca. 0.75 mM HCO₃⁻. A growth experiment showed ash-free biomass for P. pectinatus was nearly two times as high as for C. aspera at 3 mM HCO₃⁻, but almost two times lower at 0.5 mM than at 3.0. In a separate experiment, P. pectinatus precultured at a relatively low HCO₃⁻-level had a lower net photosynthetic rate (P_max, 0.1 mmol O₂ g⁻¹ DW h⁻¹) than C. aspera (P_max, 0.1 mmol O₂ g⁻¹ DW h⁻¹) over the range of HCO₃⁻-concentrations tested (P_max, 0.14 mmol O₂ g⁻¹ DW h⁻¹). In response to CO₂ no significant differences between the compensation points (P. pectinatus, 28 mM; C. aspera 66 mM), were observed, but the photosynthetic rate increased faster than for C. aspera than for P. pectinatus. Under field conditions, the use of CO₂ is not important since inside vegetation CO₂-concentrations were below 10 μM, and thus, not available for photosynthesis of either species during the main part of the growth season. It is suggested that C. aspera may be a better competitor for HCO₃⁻ than P. pectinatus in conditions with a low HCO₃⁻ supply. As HCO₃⁻ is a strong limiting factor for growth inside the vegetation and probably the only carbon source available, the superior ability of C. aspera to use HCO₃⁻ may be an important factor explaining its present dominance in Veluwemeer.     

Locomotion at –1.0°C: burst swimming performance of five species of Antarctic fish

We investigated the burst swimming performance of five species of Antarctic fish at −1.0°C. The species studied belonged to the suborder, Notothenioidei, and from the families, Nototheniidae and Bathydraconidae. Swimming performance of the fish was assessed over the initial 300 ms of a startle response using surgically attached miniature accelerometers. Escape responses in all fish consisted of a C-type fast start; consisting of an initial pronounced bending of the body into a C-shape, followed by one or more complete tail-beats and an un-powered glide. We found significant differences in the swimming performance of the five species of fish examined, with average maximum swimming velocities (U_max) ranging from 0.91 to 1.39 m s⁻¹ and maximum accelerations (A_max) ranging from 10.6 to 15.6 m s⁻². The cryopelagic species, Pagothenia borchgrevinki, produced the fastest escape response, reaching a U_max and A_max of 1.39 m s⁻¹ and 15.6 m s⁻², respectively. We also compared the body shapes of each fish species with their measures of maximum burst performance. The dragonfish, Gymnodraco acuticeps, from the family Bathdraconidae, did not conform to the pattern observed for the other four fish species belonging to the family Nototheniidae. However, we found a negative relationship between buoyancy of the fish species and burst swimming performance.     

Inhibition kinetics of a commercial mixed culture by ammonium sulfate

The inhibitory effect of ammonium sulfate on a commercial mixed culture, used in biological waste-water treatment was studied under aerobic batch conditions. Several mathematical models of enzyme and growth kinetics including a death factor were analyzed through nonlinear regression to find the best fit to corresponding data of inhibition. The best fit model was found to be the generalized Monod type with a death factor having the biokinetic parameters; μ_max 0.681 h⁻¹, K_s 0.224 g dm⁻³, K_i 56240 g dm⁻³, K 0.055 g dm⁻³ and k_d 0.052 h⁻¹ to represent the experimental data accurately. The low saturation coefficient value along with high maximum specific growth rate and inhibition coefficient denotes the competitive characteristics of commercial mixed cultures in the biological treatment of high ammonium polluted waste waters.     

Nitrate and phosphate uptake kinetics of the harmful diatom Coscinodiscus wailesii,a causative organism in the bleaching of aquacultured Porphyra thalli

The large diatom Coscinodiscus wailesii is one of the problematic species which indirectly cause bleaching damage to “Nori” (Porphyra thalli) cultivation through competitive utilization of nutrients during its bloom. In the present study, we experimentally investigated the nitrate (N) and phosphate (P) uptake kinetics of C. wailesii, Harima-Nada strain. Maximum uptake rates (ρ_max), obtained by short-term experiments, were 58.3 and 95.5 pmol cell⁻¹ h⁻¹ for nitrate and 41.9 and 59.1 pmol cell⁻¹ h⁻¹ for phosphate at 9 and 20 °C, respectively. The half saturation constants for uptake (K_s) were 2.91 and 5.08 μM N and 5.62 and 6.67 μM P at 9 and 20 °C, respectively. The ρ_max values of C. wailesii, much higher than those of other marine phytoplankton species, suggest that C. wailesii is able to take up large amounts of nutrients from the water column. On the other hand, V_max/K_s (V_max; V_max = ρ_max/Q₀, Q₀; minimum cell quota) values of C. wailesii, which is a better measure to evaluate the competitive ability for nutrient uptake, were low in dominant diatom species. This parameter indicates that C. wailesii is disadvantaged compared to other diatom species in competing for nutrients, and the decreasing nutrient concentrations from winter to spring is an important factor limiting C. wailesii blooming in early spring.     

Impacts of monoculture cropland to alley cropping agroforestry conversion on soil N2O emissions

Monoculture croplands are a major source of global anthropogenic emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to ozone depletion. Agroforestry has the potential to reduce N₂O emissions. Presently, there is no systematic comparison of soil N₂O emissions between cropland agroforestry and monoculture systems in Central Europe. We investigated the effects of converting the monoculture cropland system into the alley cropping agroforestry system on soil N₂O fluxes at three sites (each site has paired agroforestry and monoculture) in Germany, where agroforestry combined crop rows and poplar short-rotation coppice (SRC). We measured soil N₂O fluxes monthly over 2 years (March 2018–January 2020) using static vented chambers. Annual soil N₂O emissions from agroforestry ranged from 0.21 to 2.73 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, whereas monoculture N₂O emissions ranged from 0.34 to 3.00 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. During the rotation of corn crop, with high fertilization rates, agroforestry reduced soil N₂O emissions by 9% to 56% compared to monocultures. This was mainly caused by low soil N₂O emissions from the unfertilized agroforestry tree rows. Soil N₂O fluxes were predominantly controlled by soil mineral N in both agroforestry and monoculture systems. Our findings suggest that optimized fertilizer input will further enhance the potential of agroforestry for mitigating N₂O emissions.     

Effect of different dietary energy level intakes on efficiency of estrus synchronization and fertility in Mashona goat does

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of three dietary energy levels: 0.27 (low level: LL); 0.53 (medium level: ML), and 1.06 (high level: HL) MJ ME kg⁻¹ W^0.75 on estrus synchronization and fertility in Mashona goat does. Forty-five multiparous Mashona goat does of average bodyweight 19.9±2.5 kg were randomly allocated in equal numbers to the three dietary energy levels. The diets were made from a complete feed ration providing 9.83 MJ ME kg⁻¹ DM and 15.5% CP kg⁻¹ DM. Does were fed initially during a 60-day pre-synchronization period, and blood samples were collected twice a week for the determination of plasma progesterone concentrations to ascertain ovarian activity. Intramuscular injections of cloprostenol (100 μg each) were administered 11 days apart. Immediately after the second injection of cloprostenol, three fertile bucks were introduced to the does and were left with the does for 21 days. The does were maintained on their dietary treatments throughout gestation except for those does in the LL treatment. Pregnancy was diagnosed 90 days post-mating using an ultrasound scanner. After pregnancy diagnosis, does on the LL treatment were randomly allocated to ML (n=7) and HL (n=8) treatments. During the pre-synchronization period, does on the LL treatment lost 12.3% whereas those on ML and HL treatments gained 2.1 and 28.8% of their initial bodymasses, respectively. The proportion of does exhibiting overt estrus within 96 h after the last cloprostenol injection was significantly lower (P<0.05) for does on the LL treatment (60%) than for those on ML (93%) or HL (100%) treatments, respectively. However, based on plasma progesterone concentrations, the percentage of does on the LL treatment that exhibited ovarian cycles was numerically lower than that of does that were bred (40 versus 73%). Conception, fecundity and twinning rates were significantly lower (P<0.05) on the LL treatment than on the ML and HL treatments. These results indicate that feeding Mashona goat does 0.27 MJ ME kg⁻¹ W^0.75 compared to 0.53 and 1.06 MJ ME kg⁻¹ W^0.75 reduces the expression of estrus, conception, fecundity and twinning rates, and that feeding 0.53 MJ ME kg⁻¹ W^0.75 suffices for optimum reproduction. In addition, the results suggest that cloprostenol administration may induce ovarian cycles in reproductively quiescent does on dietary energy restriction.     

Purification and characterization of cyanogenic β-glucosidase from wild apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.)

β-Glucosidase catalyzes the sequential breakdown of cyanogenic glycosides in cyanogenic plants. The β-glucosidase from Prunus armeniaca L. was purified to 8-fold, and 20% yield was obtained, with a specific activity of 281 U/mg protein. The enzyme showed maximum activity in 0.15 M sodium citrate buffer, pH 6, at 35 °C with p-nitrophenylglucopyranoside as substrate. The β-glucosidase from wild apricot was used successfully for the saccharification of cellobiose into D-glucose. This enzyme has a V_max of 131.6 μmol min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ protein, K_m of 0.158 mM, K_cat of 144.8 s⁻¹, K_cat/K_m of 917.4 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹, and K_m/V_max of 0.0012 mM min mg μmole⁻¹, using cellobiose as substrate. The half-life, deactivation rate coefficient, and activation energy of this β-glucosidase were 12.76 h, 1.509 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹, and 37.55 kJ/mol, respectively. These results showed that P. armeniaca is a potential source of β-glucosidase, with high affinity and catalytic capability for the saccharification of cellulosic material.     

Calibration of Terra/MODIS gross primary production over an irrigated cropland on the North China Plain and an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau

This paper evaluated the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) gross primary production (GPP) product (MOD17) by using estimated GPP from eddy‐covariance flux measurements over an irrigated winter wheat and maize double‐cropping field on the North China Plain in 2003–2004, and an alpine meadow on the Tibetan Plateau in 2002–2003. The mean annual GPP from MOD17 accounted for 1/2–2/3 of the surface estimated mean annual GPP for the alpine meadow, but only about 1/5–1/3 for the cropland. This underestimation was partly attributed to low estimates of leaf area index by a MODIS product (MOD15) because it is used to calculate absorbed photosynthetically active radiation in the MOD17 algorithm. The main reason is that the parameter maximum light use efficiency (ε_max) in the MOD17 algorithm was underestimated for the two biomes, especially for the cropland. Contrasted to the default, ε_max was optimized using surface measurements. The optimized ε_max for winter wheat, maize and meadow was 1.18, 1.81 and 0.73 g C/MJ, respectively. By using the surface measurements and optimized ε_max , the MOD17 algorithm significantly improved the accuracy of GPP estimates. The optimum MOD17 algorithm explained about 82%, 68%, and 79% of GPP variance for winter wheat, maize, and meadow, respectively. These results suggest that it is necessary to adjust the MOD17 parameters for the estimation of cropland and meadow GPP, particularly over cropland.     

The potential of the satellite derived green chlorophyll index for estimating midday light use efficiency in maize, coniferous forest and grassland

Light use efficiency (LUE) is an important variable in carbon cycle and climate change research. We present an investigation of remotely estimating midday LUE using the green chlorophyll index (CI_green) derived from the cloud-free Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images in maize, coniferous forest and grassland. Similar temporal patterns are observed in both canopy chlorophyll content and midday LUE which indicates that the chlorophyll content in the maize canopy servers as a proxy of midday LUE (R² = 0.736, p < 0.001). Therefore, the CI_green, tested as a good indicator of canopy chlorophyll content (R² = 0.840, p < 0.001), has been demonstrated to be a reliable candidate in providing reasonable estimates of midday LUE with determination coefficient R² equals to 0.820 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.002 mol CO₂ per mol incident photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Further validation of the prediction model derived from the maize site demonstrates that the CI_green has potential to be applied in the coniferous forest and grassland ecosystems with RMSE of 0.005 and 0.004 mol CO₂ mol⁻¹ PPFD, respectively. A comparison analysis between different vegetation types is included and these results could be helpful in the development of future LUE and terrestrial models.     

Partitioning net carbon dioxide fluxes into photosynthesis and respiration using neural networks

The eddy covariance (EC) technique is used to measure the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO₂ between ecosystems and the atmosphere, offering a unique opportunity to study ecosystem responses to climate change. NEE is the difference between the total CO₂ release due to all respiration processes (RECO), and the gross carbon uptake by photosynthesis (GPP). These two gross CO₂ fluxes are derived from EC measurements by applying partitioning methods that rely on physiologically based functional relationships with a limited number of environmental drivers. However, the partitioning methods applied in the global FLUXNET network of EC observations do not account for the multiple co‐acting factors that modulate GPP and RECO flux dynamics. To overcome this limitation, we developed a hybrid data‐driven approach based on combined neural networks (NN_C‐part). NN_C‐part incorporates process knowledge by introducing a photosynthetic response based on the light‐use efficiency (LUE) concept, and uses a comprehensive dataset of soil and micrometeorological variables as fluxes drivers. We applied the method to 36 sites from the FLUXNET2015 dataset and found a high consistency in the results with those derived from other standard partitioning methods for both GPP (R² > .94) and RECO (R² > .8). High consistency was also found for (a) the diurnal and seasonal patterns of fluxes and (b) the ecosystem functional responses. NN_C‐part performed more realistic than the traditional methods for predicting additional patterns of gross CO₂ fluxes, such as: (a) the GPP response to VPD, (b) direct effects of air temperature on GPP dynamics, (c) hysteresis in the diel cycle of gross CO₂ fluxes, (d) the sensitivity of LUE to the diffuse to direct radiation ratio, and (e) the post rain respiration pulse after a long dry period. In conclusion, NN_C‐part is a valid data‐driven approach to provide GPP and RECO estimates and complementary to the existing partitioning methods.     

盐胁迫对二色补血草光合生理生态特性的影响

以黄河三角洲贝壳堤岛贝壳沙为基质,及该岛上生长的优势草本植物二色补血草幼苗为材料,用不同浓度的NaCl溶液(0,50,100,200,300mmol/L)模拟盐胁迫处理30d,探讨二色补血草光合生理生态特性对盐胁迫的响应特征。结果表明:二色补血草对盐胁迫和光合有效辐射(PAR)具有较强的适应能力,在盐浓度为50～100mmol/L条件下,其净光合速率(Pn)、瞬时水分利用效率(WUE)、表观光能利用效率(LUE)、羧化效率(CE)、光饱和点(LSP)、表观量子效率(AQY)均达到最高值,光补偿点(LCP)最低,表明其在此盐分范围内,利用光的能力较强,光照生态幅最宽。当盐分浓度为300mmol/L时,其Pn、WUE、LUE、CE、LSP和AQY显著下降,LCP升高,Pn、Tr、Gs、WUE、LUE、CE对PAR的响应曲线与对照差异较大,即高盐胁迫加重了二色补血草对光的敏感性;WUE、LUE、CE的最优PAR和盐分范围存在一定的差异,低PAR下有利于光能的利用,中PAR下有利于水分的利用,高PAR下有利于CO2的利用;WUE对盐分的适应范围最大,CE其次,LUE最小。     

The effects of NH4+ and NO3− on growth,resource allocation and nitrogen uptake kinetics of Phragmites australis and Glyceria maxima

The effects of NH₄⁺ or NO₃⁻ on growth, resource allocation and nitrogen (N) uptake kinetics of two common helophytes Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel and Glyceria maxima (Hartm.) Holmb. were studied in semi steady-state hydroponic cultures. At a steady-state nitrogen availability of 34 μM the growth rate of Phragmites was not affected by the N form (mean RGR = 35.4 mg g⁻¹ d⁻¹), whereas the growth rate of Glyceria was 16% higher in NH₄⁺-N cultures than in NO₃⁻-N cultures (mean = 66.7 and 57.4 mg g⁻¹ d⁻¹ of NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ treated plants, respectively). Phragmites and Glyceria had higher S/R ratio in NH₄⁺ cultures than in NO₃⁻ cultures, 123.5 and 129.7%, respectively.Species differed in the nitrogen utilisation. In Glyceria, the relative tissue N content was higher than in Phragmites and was increased in NH₄⁺ treated plants by 16%. The tissue NH₄⁺ concentration (mean = 1.6 μmol g fresh wt⁻¹) was not affected by N treatment, whereas NO₃⁻ contents were higher in NO₃⁻ (mean = 1.5 μmol g fresh wt⁻¹) than in NH₄⁺ (mean = 0.4 μmol g fresh wt⁻¹) treated plants. In Phragmites, NH₄⁺ (mean = 1.6 μmol g fresh wt⁻¹) and NO₃⁻ (mean = 0.2 μmol g fresh wt⁻¹) contents were not affected by the N regime. Species did not differ in NH₄⁺ (mean = 56.5 μmol g⁻¹ root dry wt h⁻¹) and NO₃⁻ (mean = 34.5 μmol g⁻¹ root dry wt h⁻¹) maximum uptake rates (V_max), and V_max for NH₄⁺ uptake was not affected by N treatment. The uptake rate of NO₃⁻ was low in NH₄⁺ treated plants, and an induction phase for NO₃⁻ was observed in NH₄⁺ treated Phragmites but not in Glyceria. Phragmites had low K_m (mean = 4.5 μM) and high affinity (10.3 l g⁻¹ root dry wt h⁻¹) for both ions compared to Glyceria (K_m = 6.3 μM, affinity = 8.0 l g⁻¹ root dry wt h⁻¹). The results showed different plasticity of Phragmites and Glyceria toward N source. The positive response to NH₄⁺-N source may participates in the observed success of Glyceria at NH₄⁺ rich sites, although other factors have to be considered. Higher plasticity of Phragmites toward low nutrient availability may favour this species at oligotrophic sites.     

Cyanide hydratase from Aspergillus niger K10: Overproduction in Escherichia coli,purification, characterization and use in continuous cyanide degradation

A cyanide hydratase from Aspergillus niger K10 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Apart from HCN, it transformed some nitriles, preferentially 2-cyanopyridine and fumaronitrile. V_max and K_m for HCN were ca. 6.8 mmol min⁻¹ mg⁻¹ protein and 109 mM, respectively. V_max for fumaronitrile and 2-cyanopyridine was two to three orders of magnitude lower than for HCN (ca. 18.8 and 10.3 μmol min⁻¹ mg⁻¹, respectively) but K_m was also lower (ca. 14.7 and 3.7 mM, respectively). Both cyanide hydratase and nitrilase activities were abolished in truncated enzyme variants missing 18–34 C-terminal aa residues. The enzyme exhibited the highest activity at 45 °C and pH 8–9; it was unstable at over 35 °C and at below pH 5.5. The operational stability of the whole-cell catalyst was examined in continuous stirred membrane reactors with 70-mL working volume. The catalyst exhibited a half-life of 5.6 h at 28 °C. A reactor loaded with an excess of the catalyst was used to degrade 25 mM KCN. A conversion rate of over 80% was maintained for 3 days.     

Effect of NH4+/NO3− availability on nitrate reductase activity and nitrogen accumulation in wetland helophytes Phragmites australis and Glyceria maxima

The effect of NH₄⁺/NO₃⁻ availability on nitrate reductase (NR) activity in Phragmites australis and Glyceria maxima was studied in sand and water cultures with the goal to characterise the relationship between NR activity and NO₃⁻ availability in the rhizosphere and to describe the extent to which NH₄⁺ suppresses the utilization of NO₃⁻ in wetland plants.The NR activity data showed that both wetland helophytes are able to utilize NO₃⁻. This finding was further supported by sufficient growth observed under the strict NO₃⁻ nutrition. The distribution of NR activity within plant tissues differed between species. Phragmites was proved to be preferential leaf NO₃⁻ reducer with high NR activity in leaves (NR_max > 6.5 μmol NO₂⁻ g dry wt⁻¹ h⁻¹) under all N treatments, and therefore Phragmites seems to be good indicator of NO₃⁻ availability in flooded sediment. In the case of Glyceria the contribution of roots to plant NO₃⁻ reduction was higher, especially in sand culture. Glyceria also tended to accumulate NO₃⁻ in non-reduced form, showing generally lower leaf NR activity levels. Thus, the NR activity does not necessarily correspond with plant ability to take up NO₃⁻ and grow under NO₃⁻-N source. Moreover, the species differed significantly in the content of compounds interfering with NR activity estimation. Glyceria, but not Phragmites, contained cyanogenic glycosides releasing cyanide, the potent NR inhibitor. It clearly shows that the use of NR activity as a marker of NO₃⁻ utilization in individual plant species is impossible without the precise method optimisation.     

No general soil carbon sequestration under Central European short rotation coppices

Wood from short rotation coppices (SRCs) is discussed as bioenergy feedstock with good climate mitigation potential inter alia because soil organic carbon (SOC) might be sequestered by a land-use change (LUC) from cropland to SRC. To test if SOC is generally enhanced by SRC over the long term, we selected the oldest Central European SRC plantations for this study. Following the paired plot approach soils of the 21 SRCs were sampled to 80 cm depth and SOC stocks, C/N ratios, pH and bulk densities were compared to those of adjacent croplands or grasslands. There was no general trend to SOC stock change by SRC establishment on cropland or grassland, but differences were very site specific. The depth distribution of SOC did change. Compared to cropland soils, the SOC density in 0–10 cm was significantly higher under SRC (17 ± 2 in cropland and 21 ± 2 kg C m⁻³ in SRC). Under SRC established on grassland SOC density in 0–10 cm was significantly lower than under grassland. The change rates of total SOC stocks by LUC from cropland to SRC ranged from −1.3 to 1.4 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ and −0.6 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ to +0.1 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for LUC from grassland to SRC, respectively. The accumulation of organic carbon in the litter layer was low (0.14 ± 0.08 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). SOC stocks of both cropland and SRC soils were correlated with the clay content. No correlation could be detected between SOC stock change and soil texture or other abiotic factors. In summary, we found no evidence of any general SOC stock change when cropland is converted to SRC and the identification of the factors determining whether carbon may be sequestered under SRC remains a major challenge.     

Energy budgeting and emergy synthesis of rainfed maize–wheat rotation system with different soil amendment applications

Soil is a non-renewable resource and its preservation is essential for food security, ecosystem services and our sustainable future. Simultaneously, it is a major challenge to substitute non-renewable fossil based resources with renewable resources to reduce environmental load. In order to check soil erosion vis-a-vis degradation of sloppy lands of rainfed maize–wheat rotation system, fertilization with organic manure supplemented with inorganic fertilizers is required. In order to address these issues, substitution of 50% NPK through four organic manures viz. farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), poultry manure (PM) and in situ green manuring (GM) of sunnhemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) were evaluated against 100% NPK through inorganic fertilizers and through FYM for energy budgeting and emergy synthesis during 2009–2014. Integrated use of FYM along with 50% NPK fertilizers could maintain the highest energy ratio (7.3), human energy profitability (142.4), energy productivity (0.22 kg MJ⁻¹), and energy profitability (6.3 MJ ha⁻¹) over other treatments. However, GM and inorganic fertilizers on equal NPK basis maintained the highest energy intensiveness (24.61 MJ US $⁻¹) and exhibited higher emergy yield ratio (2.66) and lower emergy investment ratio (0.60) and environmental loading ratio (3.74) which resulted into higher environmental sustainability index (0.71) over other treatments. Fertilization with organic manure (FYM) alone could not compete with other fertilized options to energy budgeting and emergy synthesis except specific energy. The study demonstrated that innovative integrated nutrient management of chemical fertilizers and organic manures particularly FYM for energy budgeting and GM for emergy synthesis may be considered as feasible and environment-friendly options for soil conservation, thereby benefiting a 50% saving on costly chemical fertilizers in non-OPEC countries which import most of its phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.