Changes In Dissolved Organic Carbon Research Articles

Influence of changeable hydro‐meteorological conditions on dissolved organic carbon and bacterioplankton abundance in a hypertrophic reservoir and downstream river

AbstractThe variability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and bacterioplankton abundance (BA) in a lowland humic reservoir and downstream river were studied in an attempt to find out whether meteorological and hydrological parameters influenced the studied factors during drier and wetter conditions. The study was carried out in two consecutive years (from June to October) that significantly differed in precipitation and hydrological parameters. Despite the observed consistently high values of DOC concentration in the studied waters (on average >20 mg l−1), DOC concentration range and dynamics differed significantly between the two compared periods; in the period of 20% lower accumulated precipitation, concentrations of DOC on all the analysed sites were 30% lower, on average. The observed hydrological changes caused by meteorological differences between the two studied periods significantly influenced DOC concentration, both in the dam and the downstream river. BA was much less variable and less dependent on meteorological factors; however, our study demonstrated that hydrological conditions exerted an important influence on DOC concentration, mostly in river. The other finding is the greater influence of hydrological conditions on BA in the reservoir than in the river, regardless of the period. No evident relations between DOC concentration and BA were observed. Water quality, together with hydrology, influences both DOC and BA changes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

三江平原不同湿地类型土壤活性有机碳组分及含量差异

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 三江平原不同湿地类型土壤活性有机碳组分及含量差异 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201405060894 作者: 作者单位: 中国科学院东北地理与农业生态研究所,河南南阳师范学院生命科学与技术学院,中国科学院东北地理与农业生态研究所,中国科学院东北地理与农业生态研究所 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 中国科学院战略性先导科技专项课题(XDA05050508);国家自然科学基金项目(31100320,41171047)联合资助 Compositions and contents of active organic carbon in different wetland soils in Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China Author: Affiliation: Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences,Department of Life Science and Technology, Nanyang Normal University, Henan province,Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences,Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:土壤活性有机碳对土壤干扰的反应较快,是土壤有机碳早期变化的敏感性指标。近50年来,三江平原湿地土壤有机碳库受农事活动影响较大。为了探讨不同湿地类型土壤活性有机碳主要组分土壤可溶性有机碳(Dissolved organic carbon, DOC)、微生物量碳(Microbial biomass carbon, MBC)和易氧化有机碳(Easily oxidized organic carbon, EOC)的分布差异及主要影响因子,选择了三江平原洪河自然保护区4种典型的湿地类型(小叶章+沼柳湿地、小叶章湿地、毛苔草湿地和芦苇湿地)为研究对象。分析了不同湿地类型土壤可溶性有机碳,微生物量碳和易氧化有机碳在0-30 cm土层内的分布特征和分配比例及其与有机碳、土壤养分和酶活性指标(蔗糖酶、纤维素酶和过氧化氢酶)之间的相关关系。结果表明:(1) 4种湿地类型土壤DOC、MBC和EOC含量均随土层深度的增加而减少。不同湿地类型之间土壤活性有机碳含量在0-30 cm土层内存在显著性差异(P < 0.05),相对于长期淹水的毛苔草湿地和芦苇湿地而言,未淹水的小叶章+沼柳湿地和小叶章湿地具有较高的DOC,MBC和EOC含量。(2) 土壤DOC、MBC和EOC占有机碳比例分别为0.27%-0.63%,1.27%-5.94%和19.63%-41.25%。土壤DOC所占比例呈先增后减的变化趋势,最大的比例均出现在10-20 cm。MBC所占比例在土壤剖面上则未表现出一致的变化规律,而EOC所占比例则随土层深度的增加而逐渐减少。(3) 土壤DOC占SOC比例以小叶章湿地最高,MBC和EOC占SOC的比例则以小叶章+沼柳湿地最高。而长期淹水的毛苔草湿地和芦苇湿地则具有更低的DOC,MBC和EOC比例。(4) 综合分析表明,4种湿地类型土壤DOC, MBC 和EOC两两之间存在极显著相关性关系,它们除了与碳氮比相关性不显著外,与土壤有机碳,全氮,全磷养分和酶活性指标间相关性均达到极显著水平,尤其是与有机碳和全氮的相关性系数更高,此外DOC与纤维素酶,MBC与过氧化氢酶相关性更大。由此可见,土壤碳氮磷养分和酶活性是影响土壤活性有机碳组分分布的重要因素。 Abstract:Soil active organic carbon (AOC) fractions are good indicators of soil carbon stock change because of their rapid response to soil disturbances in natural ecosystems. Agricultural activities in the last 50 years have greatly influenced the soil organic carbon (SOC) of natural wetlands on Sanjiang Plain, China. The main objective of this study was to assess differences in the distribution of soil AOC fractions, including dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and easily oxidized organic carbon (EOC), and the main influencing factors in four different types of wetlands in the Honghe National Natural Reserve of Sanjiang Plain. The contents and allocation ratios of soil DOC, MBC, and EOC were investigated at three soil depths (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm) in four types of wetlands: (1) a mixed Calamagrostis angustifolia and Salix brachypoda wetland (CSW), (2) a C. angustifolia wetland (CAW), (3) a Carex lasiocarpa wetland (CLW), and (4) a Phragmites australis wetland (PAW). The relationships among the three soil AOC fractions and soil nutrient contents (SOC, total nitrogen [TN], total phosphorus [TP]) and enzyme activity (sucrase, cellulase, and catalase) were also analyzed. The results showed that DOC, MBC, and EOC content gradually decreased with increasing soil depth in the 0-30 cm soil layer of all four wetlands. However, significant differences (P < 0.05) were noted for the soil AOC fractions among the four wetlands. The DOC, MBC, and EOC content was significantly higher in non-flooding CSW and CAW compared to long-term flooding CLW and PAW. In the four wetlands, the ratios of soil DOC, MBC, and EOC to SOC content at the three soil depths ranged from 0.27% to 0.63%, 1.27% to 5.94%, and 19.63% to 41.25%, respectively. In addition, the trend in the changes of soil DOC to SOC ratios initially increased, followed by a decrease along the soil profiles, with peak values being documented for the 10-20 cm soil layer. No specific trend was noted for MBC to SOC ratios, but EOC to SOC ratios decreased with soil depth. The highest DOC to SOC ratio was obtained for CAW, whereas the highest MBC and EOC to SOC ratios were obtained for CSW. In contrast, lower DOC, MBC, and EOC to SOC ratios were observed in the long-term flooding CLW and PAW. Furthermore, positive correlations were observed among DOC, MBC, and EOC in all four wetlands. Our results showed that DOC, MBC, and EOC content was strongly correlated with SOC, TN, and TP content as well as with the enzyme activity indicators in the four wetland soils, but no significant correlation was noted for the C/N ratio. A higher correlation coefficient was observed between these three AOC fractions with SOC and TN content. Furthermore, highly significant relationships were observed between DOC content and cellulase activity, as well as between MBC content and catalase activity. In conclusion, the soil AOC fractions were mainly influenced by soil nutrient content (SOC, TN, and TP) and enzyme activity, which are associated with the C cycle. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

Effects of light and autochthonous carbon additions on microbial turnover of allochthonous organic carbon and community composition.

The fate of allochthonous dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in aquatic systems is primarily controlled by the turnover of heterotrophic bacteria. However, the roles that abiotic and biotic factors such as light and DOC release by aquatic primary producers play in the microbial decomposition of allochthonous DOC is not well understood. We therefore tested if light and autochthonous DOC additions would increase allochthonous DOC decomposition rates and change bacterial growth efficiencies and community composition (BCC). We established continuous growth cultures with different inocula of natural bacterial communities and alder leaf leachates (DOCleaf) with and without light exposure before amendment. Furthermore, we incubated DOCleaf together with autochthonous DOC from lysed phytoplankton cultures (DOCphyto). Our results revealed that pretreatments of DOCleaf with light resulted in a doubling of bacterial growth efficiency (BGE), whereas additions of DOCphyto or combined additions of DOCphyto and light had no effect on BGE. The change in BGE was not accompanied by shifts in the phylogenetic structure of the BCC, but BCC was influenced by the DOC source. Our results highlight that a doubling of BGE is not necessarily accompanied by a shift in BCC and that BCC is more strongly affected by resource properties.

The migration and transformation of dissolved organic matter during the freezing processes of water

This study investigated the partitioning behavior of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in liquid and ice phases, as well as the changes in the optical properties and chlorine reactivity of DOM during the freezing processes of water. DOM was rejected from the ice phase and accumulated in the remaining liquid phase during water freezing. Moreover, the decrease in freezing temperature, as well as the increase in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration of feed water, caused an increase in DOM captured in the ice phase. The ultraviolet-absorbing compounds, trihalomethane precursors, as well as fulvic acid- and humic acid-like fluorescent materials, were more liable to be to be rejected from the ice phase and were more easily retained in the unfrozen liquid phase during water freezing, as compared with organics (on average) that comprise DOC. In addition, it was also found a higher accumulation of these organics in the unfrozen liquid phase during water freezing at higher temperature. The freeze/thaw processes altered the quantity, optical properties, and chlorine reactivity of DOM. The decrease in ultraviolet light at 254nm as well as the production of aromatic protein- and soluble microbial byproduct-like fluorescent materials in DOM due to freeze/thaw were consistently observed. On the other hand, the changes in DOC, trihalomethane formation potential, and fulvic acid- and humic acid-like fluorescence caused by freeze/thaw varied significantly between samples.

Responses of soil carbon and nitrogen to successive land use conversion in seasonally frozen zones

Policy-oriented successive land use conversion intensively occurred in seasonally frozen zones of China during the past five decades. However, responses of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) to land use conversion under cold temperate climates are not fully understood. The objective was to characterize C and N variations following a succession of forest, dryland and paddy. Soil cores were collected for 6 layers with a 10 cm increment from three adjacent chronosequences to determine concentrations of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and alkaline hydrolysable nitrogen (HN). Analysis of variance with multivariate general linear model was operated on data sets. Significant losses of SOC and TN storages subject to land use conversion were merely confined within 0 – 10 cm layer, decreasing by 16 % and 38 % for forest to dryland and by 23 % and 43 % for forest to paddy, respectively. Cultivation also influenced SOC and TN stocks at 20 – 40 cm depth for dryland and 20 – 60 cm depth for paddy with increases by 38 Mg C ha−1 and 2.8 Mg N ha−1 for forest to dryland, and by 56 Mg C ha−1 and 4.1 Mg N ha−1 for forest to paddy, respectively. Successive land use conversion from forest to cropland affected C and N levels in deeper layers, demonstrating the high potentials of subsoil in sequestrating C and N. The extents of cultivation-induced SOC and TN redistribution along soil profile varied among different agricultural systems. DOC and HN changes interpreted SOC and TN changes with land use, presenting high involvements of soluble compartments in SOC and TN variations. The net variation in SOC/TN ratio effectively indicated C and N changes when dryland was converted to paddy.

Temporal trends in organic carbon content in the main Swiss rivers, 1974–2010

Increases in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations have often been reported in rivers and lakes of the Northern Hemisphere over the last few decades. High-quality organic carbon (OC) concentration data have been used to study the change in DOC and total (TOC) organic carbon concentrations in the main rivers of Switzerland (Rhône, Rhine, Thur and Aar) between 1974 and 2010. These rivers are characterized by high discharge regimes (due to their Alpine origin) and by running in populated areas. Small long term trends (a general statistically significant decrease in TOC and a less clear increase in DOC concentrations), on the order of 1% of mean OC concentration per year, have been observed. An upward trend before 1999 reversed direction to a more marked downward trend from 1999 to 2010. Of the potential causes of OC temporal variation analysed (water temperature, dissolved reactive phosphorus and river discharge), only discharge explains a significant, albeit still small, part of TOC variability (8–31%), while accounting for barely 2.5% of DOC variability. Estimated anthropogenic TOC and DOC loads (treated sewage) to the rivers could account for a maximum of 4–20% of the temporal trends. Such low predictability is a good example of the limitations faced when studying causality and drivers behind small variations in complex systems. River export of OC from Switzerland has decreased significantly over the period. Since about 5.5% of estimated NEP of Switzerland is exported by the rivers, riverine OC fluxes should be taken into account in a detailed carbon budget of the country.

Precipitation and net ecosystem exchange are the most important drivers of DOC flux in upland boreal catchments

According to recent studies, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in rivers throughout the boreal zone are increasing. However, the mechanistic explanation of this phenomenon is not yet well known. We studied how the short and long-term changes in precipitation, soil temperature, soil water content, and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) are reflected to DOC concentrations and runoff DOC fluxes in two small forested upland catchments in Southern Finland. We used continuous eddy covariance measurements above the forest and runoff flow measurements from the catchment areas conducted over a 15 year long time period to study the correlation between NEE, gross photosynthetic production, total ecosystem respiration, litter production, and runoff DOC. In addition, we looked for the most important environmental variables in explaining the interannual changes in runoff DOC by using multiple linear regression. Finally, we studied the temporal connection between runoff DOC concentrations, precipitation, soil water content, and NEE by using wavelet coherence analysis technique. Our results indicate that the DOC concentrations have increased over the last 15 years. The DOC flux was to a large extent determined by the amount of precipitation, but the previous year's NEE and litter production had also a small but significant effect on runoff DOC fluxes.

Long-term changes in acidity and DOC in throughfall and soil water in Finnish forests.

The main objective of this study was to examine if any detectable trends in dissolved organic carbon (DOC), sulphate (SO4-S) concentrations and acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) in throughfall (TF) and soil water (SW) could be found during 1990-2010 and to relate them to recent changes in decreased acid deposition. The study was conducted in seven boreal coniferous forest sites: four of which are managed and three unmanaged forests sites. Generally, temporal trend showed a significant decrease in SO4-S concentrations in bulk precipitation (BP), TF and SW. At some of the sites, there was an increasing tendency in BP and TF in the DOC concentrations. This feature coincides with decreasing SO4-S concentration, indicating that SO4-S may be an important driver of DOC release from the canopy. However, a slightly increased temperature, larger senescing needle mass and consequently increased decaying activity in the canopy may partly explain the increasing trend in DOC. In SW, no consistent DOC trend was seen. At some sites, the decreased base cation concentrations mostly account for the decrease in the ANC values in SW and TF.

Dynamics of dissolved organic carbon in eutrophic Lake Taihu and its tributaries and their implications for bacterial abundance during autumn and winter

Surface water samples of Lake Taihu and its tributaries were collected from September 2012 to February 2013 to investigate the effects of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) dynamics on bacterial abundance. DOC concentrations, stable carbon isotope values (δ13CDOC), dissolved carbohydrates, and specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA254) were analyzed along with several environmental factors: water temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), chlorophyll a, and bacterial abundance. The highest DOC concentrations were observed in January 2013 at all sampling sites except at lake center. DOC concentrations decreased along both transects from the tributaries to the lake center in January 2013. In addition, the evidence from the positive correlation between DOC and EC in Lake Taihu suggests the input of river water into the lake. The variation in DOC concentration can be explained by temperature-dependent bacterial utilization of organic compounds. The δ13CDOC values ranged from −26.9‰ to −23.4‰ in Lake Taihu and its tributaries, suggesting an influence of autochthonous sources and microbial utilization. There was no significant relationship between the ratio of total dissolved carbohydrates to dissolved organic carbon (TCHO/DOC) and bacterial abundance, indicating a complex bacterial metabolic effect on carbohydrates. The spectroscopic character of DOC shifted toward less humic material from autumn to winter and correlated positively with bacterial abundance, suggesting that humic substances might serve as a substrate for bacteria in Lake Taihu and its tributaries. These results demonstrate that DOC may originate from autochthonous and allochthonous sources and that the quantity and quality of DOC changes considerably during autumn and winter, with important effects on bacterial abundance.

Changes in Soil Dissolved Organic Carbon Affect Reconstructed History and Projected Future Trends in Surface Water Acidification

Preindustrial (1850s) and future (2060) streamwater chemistry of an anthropogenically acidified small catchment was estimated using the MAGIC model for three different scenarios for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and sources. The highest modeled pH = 5.7 for 1850s as well as for 2060 (pH = 4.4) was simulated given the assumption that streamwater DOC concentration was constant at the 1993 level. A scenario accounting for an increase of DOC as an inverse function of ionic strength (IS) of soilwater and streamwater resulted in much lower preindustrial (pH = 4.9) and future recovery to (pH = 4.1) if the stream riparian zone was assumed to be the only DOC source. If upland soilwater (where significant DOC increase was observed at −5 and −15 cm) was also included, DOC was partly neutralized within the soil and higher preindustrial pH = 5.3 and future pH = 4.2 were estimated. The observed DOC stream flux was 2–4 times higher than the potential carbon production of the riparian zone, implying that this is unlikely to be the sole DOC source. Modeling based on the assumption that stream DOC changes are solely attributable to changes in the riparian zone appears likely to underestimate preindustrial pH.

Photo- and bio-reactivity patterns of dissolved organic matter from biomass and soil leachates and surface waters in a subtropical wetland

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) measurements and optical properties were applied to assess the photo- and bio-reactivity of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from different sources, including biomass leaching, soil leaching and surface waters in a subtropical wetland ecosystem. Samples were exposed to light and/or dark incubated through controlled laboratory experiments. Changes in DOC, ultraviolet (UV-Vis) visible absorbance, and excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence combined with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) were performed to assess sample degradation. Degradation experiments showed that while significant amounts of DOC were consumed during bio-incubation for biomass leachates, a higher degree of bio-recalcitrance for soil leachate and particularly surface waters was displayed. Photo- and bio-humification transformations were suggested for sawgrass, mangrove, and seagrass leachates, as compared to substantial photo-degradation and very little to almost no change after bio-incubation for the other samples. During photo-degradation in most cases the EEM-PARAFAC components displayed photo-decay as compared to a few cases which featured photo-production. In contrast during bio-incubation most EEM-PARAFAC components proved to be mostly bio-refractory although some increases and decreases in abundance were also observed. Furthermore, the sequential photo- followed by bio-degradation showed, with some exceptions, a “priming effect” of light exposure on the bio-degradation of DOM, and the combination of these two processes resulted in a DOM composition more similar to that of the natural surface water for the different sub-environments. In addition, for leachate samples there was a general enrichment of one of the EEM-PARAFAC humic-like component (Ex/Em: <260(305)/416 nm) during photo-degradation and an enrichment of a microbial humc-like component (Ex/Em: <260(325)/406 nm and of a tryptophan-like component (Ex/Em: 300/342 nm) during the bio-degradation process. This study exemplifies the effectiveness of optical property and EEM-PARAFAC in the assessment of DOM reactivity and highlights the importance of the coupling of photo- and bio-degradation processes in DOM degradation.

Identifying the role of environmental drivers in organic carbon export from a forested peat catchment

Carbon export in streams draining peat catchments represents a potential loss of carbon from long-term stores to downstream aquatic systems and ultimately, through mineralisation, to the atmosphere. There is now a large body of evidence that dissolved organic carbon (DOC) export has increased significantly in recent decades at many sites, although there is still debate about the drivers of this increase. In this study, DOC export and particulate organic carbon (POC) export were quantified from a forested peatland catchment in the west of Ireland over two years at a fine temporal resolution. The principle drivers of change in stream DOC and POC concentrations were investigated using a general additive modelling (GAM) approach. The study period included drought conditions in the early summer of 2010 and clearfelling of some commercial forestry in early 2011. The results indicated that annual loads of 9.5tDOCkm2year−1 and 6.2tPOCkm2year−1 were exported from the catchment in 2010. This combined annual load of 15.7tCkm2year−1 would represent between 0.01% and 0.02% of typical estimates for peat soil carbon storage in the region. Soil temperature, river discharge and drought explained 59.7% the deviance in DOC concentrations, while soil temperature, river discharge, and rainfall were the significant drivers of variation in POC concentrations, explaining 58.3% of deviance. Although clearfelling was not a significant factor in either model, large spikes in POC export occurred in 2011 after the first forestry clearance. The results illustrate the complexity of the interactions between climate and land management in driving stream water carbon export. They also highlight the sensitivity of peatland carbon stores to changes in temperature and precipitation, which are projected to be more extreme and variable under future climate scenarios.

Downstream changes in DOC: Inferring contributions in the face of model uncertainties

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a central constituent of surface waters which control its characteristic color and chemistry. While the sources and controls of headwater stream DOC can be mechanistically linked to the dominant landscape types being drained, much remains unknown about the downstream controls at larger spatial scales. As DOC is transported from the headwaters to catchment outlets, the fate of stream DOC is largely dependent on the interaction of varying catchment processes. In this study, we investigated the main mechanisms regulating stream DOC in a mesoscale catchment. A landscape-mixing model was used to test the role of landscapes in determining stream concentrations. The quantity of DOC lost to in-stream processes was calculated using bacterial respiration and photooxidation rates. We investigated whether there was a change in water pathways using a mass balance model and comparison of hydrology between a headwater catchment and the entire catchment. A Monte Carlo approach was used to test robustness of the model assumptions and results to uncertainty in the process parameterizations. The results indicated that during high- and intermediate-flow conditions, DOC concentrations were regulated by the contributing upstream landscape types. During base flow, the connectivity between the mesoscale river and the upstream landscape reduced resulting in large residuals in the landscape model which could not be explained by the in-stream processes. Both the mass balance model and a specific runoff comparison between upstream/downstream sites independently indicated large input of deep groundwater during base flow. Deep groundwater was important for diluting stream DOC concentrations during base flow. Key Points Landscape types determine stream chemistry during high and intermediate flows Deep groundwater has large influences on stream chemistry during baseflow DOC lost to instream processes were small

Dissolved organic carbon in water fluxes of Eucalyptus grandis plantations in northeastern Entre Ríos Province, Argentina

Water fluxes in tree plantations and other ecosystems carry dissolved organic carbon (DOC) provided by atmospheric inputs, autotrophic and heterotrophic metabolisms and from the lysis of dead material. These compounds may be colorless or provide a yellow-to-brown color to water and may also absorb visible light due to the presence of chromophores in the chemical structure. Concentration and composition of DOC and DOC annual flux in water pathways of a Eucalyptus grandis plantation were studied in Entre Rios, Argentina. Samples of bulk precipitation, throughfall, stemflow, litter lixiviation, surface runoff and water table were analyzed for DOC concentration and color (optical density). Regression analyses for DOC concentration vs water fluxes intensity and for DOC concentration vs color were done. A DOC circulation model was calculated using available information on water budgets fluxes. Results showed that molecular features, values and range of DOC concentrations varied among fluxes, which may be explained by factors and processes influencing water gains and losses and by composition and availability of organic matter that may be dissolved in water in contact with biomass, necromass, soil and subsoil. Regression parameters from DOC concentration vs optical density were useful for DOC chemical composition analyses and interpretation of DOC changes. Annual circulation of DOC (in kg ha-1 year-1) showed that atmospheric contribution is low (ca. 30), aboveground biomass lixiviation is about 3-4 times the atmospheric input (126.7 to 101.4), and inputs to mineral soil (374.4 to 348.0) came mainly (74 to 78 %) from litter lixiviation.

Pyrolysis temperature-dependent release of dissolved organic carbon from plant, manure, and biorefinery wastes

Limited information is available to understand the chemical structure of biochar's labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fraction that will alter soil organic carbon (SOC) composition. This study utilized the high sensitivity of fluorescence excitation–emission (EEM) spectrophotometry to understand the structural changes in biochar-derived DOC as a function of (1) chemical property of feedstock and (2) pyrolysis temperature (350–800°C). Regardless of feedstock (almond shell, broiler litter, lignin, cottonseed hull, and pecan shell), low temperature (350–400°C) pyrolysis shifted EEM of hot water (80°C for 16h) extracts toward longer emission wavelengths, higher aromaticity regions. Five component parallel factor (PARAFAC) modeling of EEM afforded: (C1) (poly)phenolic pyrolysis products and other water-soluble aromatic structures similar to fulvic-like SOC; (C2–C3) aromatic structures similar to humic-like SOC having low water solubility that decomposed above 350°C; (C4) carboxyl and other transient thermochemical conversion intermediates that decomposed above 500°C; and (C5) thermally stable DOC fraction of lignin-rich biomass (pecan shell and lignin). Relative contribution of fulvic-like component exceeded that of humic-like components, and increased as a function of pyrolysis temperature. The C4 showed disproportionately high contributions to 500°C broiler litter and cottonseed hull biochars. The carboxyl-enriched DOC of biochars pyrolyzed at 350–500°C can have diverse environmental consequences, including the mobilization of heavy metals.

Increases in Dissolved Organic Carbon Accelerate Loss of Toxic Al in Adirondack Lakes Recovering from Acidification

Increasing pH and decreasing Al in surface waters recovering from acidification have been accompanied by increasing concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and associated organic acids that partially offset pH increases and complicate assessments of recovery from acidification. To better understand the processes of recovery, monthly chemistry from 42 lakes in the Adirondack region, NY, collected from 1994 to 2011, were used to (1) evaluate long-term changes in DOC and associated strongly acidic organic acids and (2) use the base-cation surplus (BCS) as a chemical index to assess the effects of increasing DOC concentrations on the Al chemistry of these lakes. Over the study period, the BCS increased (p < 0.01) and concentrations of toxic inorganic monomeric Al (IMAl) decreased (p < 0.01). The decreases in IMAl were greater than expected from the increases in the BCS. Higher DOC concentrations that increased organic complexation of Al resulted in a decrease in the IMAl fraction of total monomeric Al from 57% in 1994 to 23% in 2011. Increasing DOC concentrations have accelerated recovery in terms of decreasing toxic Al beyond that directly accomplished by reducing atmospheric deposition of strong mineral acids.

Quantifying the Effects of Green Waste Compost Application, Water Content and Nitrogen Fertilization on Nitrous Oxide Emissions in 10 Agricultural Soils

Common management practices, such as the application of green waste compost, soil moisture manipulation, and nitrogen fertilization, affect nitrous oxide (NO) emissions from agricultural soils. To expand our understanding of how soils interact with these controls, we studied their effects in 10 agricultural soils. Application of compost slightly increased NO emissions in soils with low initial levels of inorganic N and low background emission. For soils in which compost caused a decrease in emission, this decrease was larger than any of the observed increases in the other soils. The five most important factors driving emission across all soils, in order of increasing importance, were native dissolved organic carbon (DOC), treatment-induced change in DOC, native inorganic N, change in pH, and soil iron (Fe). Notable was the prominence of Fe as a regulator of NO emission. In general, compost is a viable amendment, considering the agronomic benefits it provides against the risk of producing a small increase in NO emissions. However, if soil properties and conditions are taken into account, management can recognize the potential effect of compost and thereby reduce NO emissions from susceptible soils, particularly by avoiding application of compost under wet conditions and together with ammonium fertilizer.

The rate of loss of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) through a catchment

Given observed trends in the concentration of DOC in surface waters in the northern hemisphere the degradation of DOC to CO2 could represent a major and increasing source of greenhouse gas to the atmosphere. However, studies of DOC turnover in rivers have been predominantly based upon mass balance studies and empirical studies have focused upon lakes and estuaries which have far longer residence times than would be the case for transit via rivers. The study measured DOC loss in unfiltered river water samples across an 818 km2 catchment every month for a year and considered total loss, photo and aphotic degradation as well as the rates of each process. The study found: Rate of total DOC change in daylight varied from loss of 30.1 mg C/l/day to an increase of 3.5 mg C/l/day: the average loss was 73% over 10 days. Rate of change due to photic processes varied from decrease of 19.4 mg C/l/day to an increase of 6 mg C/l/day, i.e. net photo-induced production was possible. Activation energy of the degradation was estimated as 2.6 ± 1.2 kJ/g C. The apparent quantum yield varied from 9.6 to −1.7 mmol C/mol photons. Coupling models of total loss of DOC with estimates of in-stream residence times showed that annual loss rates of DOC across the 818 km2 catchment would be between 48% and 69%, in line with estimates from mass balance studies, implying that in-stream DOC degradation represents a large, indirect source of CO2 emissions from peats and other organic soils. Annual rate of removal was increasing in line with increasing loss of DOC at source, implying that observed DOC trends are leading to increased CO2 emissions.

Impact of tributary DOM and nutrient inputs on the nearshore ecology of a large, oligotrophic lake (Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, Canada)

Two adjacent bays in a large oligotrophic lake (Georgian Bay, Lake Huron) were compared to determine how the inputs from relatively pristine, but moderately humic, tributaries may influence phytoplankton, nutrients and system metabolism. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations decreased from 4 to 5 gC m−3 at inner sites to 2 gC m−3 or less at outer sites. The concentration gradient from inner to outer was greater in the bay with a major tributary, and optical properties (intensity and slope of light absorption spectrum) showed there was a loss of material with allochthonous characteristics along the gradient. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) and total phosphorus (TP) were also higher at inner (2–4 mg Chl a m−3 and 8–12 mgP m−3, respectively) than outer sites (≤1 mg Chl a m−3 and 4–5 mgP m−3). Chl a and TP, as well as particulate nutrient ratios (C:P, C:N, N:P), indicated significant eutrophication at inner sites, especially in the bay with the tributary, and there was a strong positive Chl a-phosphorus relationship. The stable oxygen isotope ratio (18O:16O) of dissolved oxygen indicated greater influence of biological oxygen fluxes at inner sites (where ratios were 2–3 ppt below atmospheric equilibrium) than at outer sites (where ratios were within 0.5 ppt of equilibrium). Community photosynthesis:respiration ratios inferred from 18O:16O varied positively with Chl a and inorganic nutrients, but negatively with DOC. Altered loading of allochthonous organic matter can be expected under changing climate and development scenarios and will have significant influence on optical properties and system metabolism through changes in DOC in this coastal system. The effects will nonetheless be strongly modulated by any accompanying change in inorganic nutrients.

DIEL CHANGES OF DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER IN STREAMS OF VARYING WATERSHED LAND USE

ABSTRACTWe examined diel changes in dissolved organic matter (DOM) under summer low‐flow conditions for six streams selected across a gradient of agricultural land use intensity (21%–73% cropland). Trends in concentration [dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration] and optical properties of DOM showed a high degree of synchrony. During a 24‐h period, DOC changed by between 2.9 and 4.3 mg L−1. For all sites, the highest DOC was observed during dark periods and the lowest concentration during light periods. DOM sampled during daylight hours was more complex (humic) as determined using specific absorbance. DOM source, measured using fluorescence spectroscopy, usually varied during the 24‐h period, but few similarities in temporal fluorescence trends were identified between sites. Human landscape alterations appear to have little direct influence on the temporal nature of diel DOM dynamics in our study region. However, our results indicate that landscape characteristics are likely more broadly important in defining the magnitude temporal change in DOC. Woodland areas were negatively correlated with early afternoon DOC (r2 = 0.89, p = 0.005), positively correlated with diel percent change in DOC (r2 = 0.87, p = 0.007) and positively with diel change in discharge (r2 = 0.64, p = 0.054). Together, these results indicate the likely influence of differing riparian transpiration rates and changing subsurface inputs on DOC loading. Reduced DOC and discharge rates during daylight hours resulted in a mean underestimation of DOC export rate by 61% for early afternoon versus early morning sampling. Variation in the dominant source of DOM entering theses streams was strongly related to agricultural land use, and DOM in high cropland streams was more microbially derived. In addition, high cropland streams also exhibited the lowest minimum dissolved oxygen concentrations, a pattern related to high rates of productivity at these sites. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.