Organic Matter Content Research Articles

Improving stormwater infiltration and retention in compacted urban soils at impervious/pervious surface disconnections with biochar

Urban development often results in compacted soils, impairing soil structure and reducing the infiltration and retention of stormwater runoff from impervious features. Biochar is a promising organic soil amendment to improve infiltration and retention of stormwater runoff. Soil at the disconnection between impervious and pervious surfaces represents a critical biochar application point for stormwater management from urban impervious features. This study tested the hypothesis that biochar would significantly improve water retention and transmission at four sites, where varying percentages (0%, 2%, and 4% w/w) of biochar were amended to soils between impervious pavement, and pervious grassed slopes. Field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) and easily drainable water storage capacity were monitored at these sites for five months (two sites) and 15 months (two sites). At the end of the monitoring periods, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of each site's soil were assessed to understand the impact of biochar on soil aggregation, which is critical for improved soil structure and water infiltration. Results indicated that the field Ksat, drainable water storage capacity, and plant available water content (AWC) were 7.1 ± 3.6 SE, 2.0 ± 0.3 SE, and 2.1 ± 0.3 SE times higher in soils amended with 4% biochar, respectively, compared to the undisturbed soil. Factor analysis elucidated that biochar amendment increased the organic matter content, aggregate mean weight diameter, organo-mineral content, and fungal hyphal length while decreasing the bulk density. Across the 12 biochar/soil combinations, the multiple linear regression models derived from factor analysis described the changes in Ksat and AWC reasonably well with R2 values of 0.51 and 0.71, respectively. Using soil and biochar properties measured before biochar addition, two recent models, developed from laboratory investigations, were found helpful as screening tools to predict biochar's effect on Ksat and AWC at the four field sites. Overall, the findings illustrate that biochar amendment to compacted urban soils can significantly improve soil structure and hydraulic function at impervious/pervious surface disconnections, and screening models help to predict biochar's effectiveness in this context.

Long-Term Straw Incorporation under Controlled Irrigation Improves Soil Quality of Paddy Field and Rice Yield in Northeast China

Long-Term Straw Incorporation under Controlled Irrigation Improves Soil Quality of Paddy Field and Rice Yield in Northeast China

Simulation and parameter determination of the net sorption of phenanthrene by sediment particles

The distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the ocean is affected by the sorption-desorption process of sediment particles. This process is determined by the concentration of PAHs in seawater, water temperature, and organic matter content of sediment particles. Quantitative relationships between the net sorption rates (=the difference of sorption and desorption rates) and these factors have not been established yet and used in PAH transport models. In this study, phenanthrene was chosen as the representative of PAHs. Three groups of experimental data were collected to address the dependence of the net sorption processes on the initial concentration, water temperature, and organic carbon content representing organic matter content. One-site and two-compartment mass-transfer models were tested to represent the experimental data using various parameters. The results showed that the two-compartment mass-transfer model performed better than the one-site mass-transfer model. The parameters of the two-compartment mass-transfer model include the sorption rate coefficients kafand kas (L g−1 min−1), and the desorption rate coefficients kdf and kds (min−1). The parameters at different temperatures and organic carbon contents were obtained by numerical simulations. Linear relationships were obtained between the parameters and water temperature, as well as organic carbon content. kaf, kas and kdf decreased linearly, while kds increased linearly with temperature. kaf, kas and kdf increased linearly, while kds decreased linearly with organic carbon content. The r2 values between the simulation results based on the relationships and the experimental results reached 0.96–0.99, which supports the application of the model to simulate sorption-desorption processes at different water temperatures and organic carbon contents in a realistic ocean.

EFFECT OF PROBIOTIC TREATMENT ON THE MICROBIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF UKRAINIAN TYPICAL BLACK SOIL

The search for novel substances that promote the establishment of a microbial community and facilitate optimal humification processes while increasing soil organic matter content offers an opportunity for land restoration. The objective of study was to determine the abundance of ecological and trophic groups of soil microorganisms and the intensity of microbiological processes when subjected to probiotic treatment at various concentrations and doses in typical black soil. The eco-trophic groups of soil microorganisms were identified by inoculating dilutions of soil suspensions onto selective nutrient media. The direction and intensity of soil microbiological processes were assessed using the mineralization-immobilization, oligotrophy, and pedotrophy indexes. The results demonstrate that probiotics has a positive impact on the microbiological activity of the soil, leading to an increase in the number of ecological and trophic groups of soil microorganisms during both spring and autumn seasons. Notably, a significant effect on the soil microorganism conditions was observed after 30 days of probiotic treatment. Probiotics exhibit a favorable influence on microbiological processes within the soil, fostering conducive conditions for the development of soil microorganisms and the formation of humus. The most effective concentration of probiotics for promoting the functionality of microbial communities in black soils is determined to be 10%, accompanied by a dose of 100 l ha-1. Consequently, the application of probiotic treatment at a concentration of 10% and a dose of 100 l/ha-1 holds the potential to enhance the biological state of the soil, restore soil microbial diversity, and serve as an environmentally safe fertilizer.

Hyperspectral estimation model of soil organic matter content based on principal gradient grey information

PurposeIn order to explore a new estimation approach of hyperspectral estimation, this paper aims to establish a hyperspectral estimation model of soil organic matter content with the principal gradient grey information based on the grey information theory.Design/methodology/approachFirstly, the estimation factors are selected by transforming the spectral data. The eigenvalue matrix of the modelling samples is converted into grey information matrix by using the method of increasing information and taking large, and the principal gradient grey information of modelling samples is calculated by using the method of pro-information interpolation and straight-line interpolation, respectively, and the hyperspectral estimation model of soil organic matter content is established. Then, the positive and inverse grey relational degree are used to identify the principal gradient information quantity of the test samples corresponding to the known patterns, and the cubic polynomial method is used to optimize the principal gradient information quantity for improving estimation accuracy. Finally, the established model is used to estimate the soil organic matter content of Zhangqiu and Jiyang District of Jinan City, Shandong Province.FindingsThe results show that the model has the higher estimation accuracy, among the average relative error of 23 test samples is 5.7524%, and the determination coefficient is 0.9002. Compared with the commonly used methods such as multiple linear regression, support vector machine and BP neural network, the hyperspectral estimation accuracy of soil organic matter content is significantly improved. The application example shows that the estimation model proposed in this paper is feasible and effective.Practical implicationsThe estimation model in this paper not only fully excavates and utilizes the internal grey information of known samples with “insufficient and incomplete information”, but also effectively overcomes the randomness and grey uncertainty in the spectral estimation. The research results not only enrich the grey system theory and methods, but also provide a new approach for hyperspectral estimation of soil properties such as soil organic matter content, water content and so on.Originality/valueThe paper succeeds in realizing both a new hyperspectral estimation model of soil organic matter content based on the principal gradient grey information and effectively dealing with the randomness and grey uncertainty in spectral estimation.

Improving grape fruit quality through soil conditioner: Insights from RNA-seq analysis of Cabernet Sauvignon roots.

The application of fertilizers and soil quality are crucial for grape fruit quality. However, the molecular data linking different fertilizer (or soil conditioner [SC]) treatments with grape fruit quality is still lacking. In this study, we investigated three soil treatments, namely inorganic fertilizer (NPK, 343.5 kg/hm2 urea [N ≥ 46%]; 166.5 kg/hm2 P2O5 [P2O5 ≥ 64%]; 318 kg/hm2 K2O [K2O ≥ 50%]), organic fertilizer (Org, 9 t/hm2 [organic matter content ≥ 35%, N + P2O5 + K2O ≥ 13%]), and SC (SC, 3 t/hm2 [humic acid ≥ 38.5%; C, 56.1%; H, 3.7%; N, 1.5%; O, 38%; S, 0.6%]), on 4-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines. Compared with the NPK- and Org-treated groups, the SC significantly improved the levels of soluble solids, tannins, anthocyanins, and total phenols in the grape berries, which are important biochemical indicators that affect wine quality. Furthermore, we conducted RNA-seq analysis on the grapevine roots from each of the three treatments and used weighted gene co-expression network analysis to identify five hub genes that were associated with the biochemical indicators of the grape berries. Furthermore, we validated the expression levels of three hub genes (ERF, JP, and SF3B) and five selected genes related to anthocyanin biosynthesis (UFGT1, UFGT2, UFGT3, GST, and AT) by using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Compared to the NPK and Org treatment groups, the SC treatment resulted in a significant increase in the transcription levels of three hub genes as well as VvUFGT1, VvUFGT3, VvGST, and VvAT. These results suggest that the SC can improve grape fruit quality by altering gene transcription patterns in grapevine roots and further influence the biochemical indices of grape fruits, particularly anthocyanin content. This study reveals that the application of SC can serve as an important measure for enhancing vineyard SC and elevating grape quality.

Does biochar combined with cover crops improve health and productivity of sandy, sloping, and semi‐arid soils?

AbstractBiochar may improve the health of environmentally sensitive soils (i.e., low C, sandy, sloping) especially if combined with cover crops (CCs), but research is scant. We assessed how wood biochar (836 g C kg−1) applied at 0, 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 Mg ha−1 to sandy, sloping, and semi‐arid soils with and without CCs affects soils and crop yields in the central US Great Plains for 3 years. We measured crop yields and CC biomass each year, and most soil properties in Years 1 and 3. Biochar did not interact with CCs, suggesting the combination was no better than biochar or CC alone. In the semi‐arid soil, crop and CC did not establish due to persistent droughts. Biochar benefits were highly site‐specific. Biochar improved some soil properties but only in the sandy and sloping soils and at the biochar application depth (0‐ to 15‐cm soil depth). The 50 Mg biochar ha−1 improved the soil's ability to sorb water (0.08 cm s−1/2). Also, in the sandy soil, it increased soil organic matter concentration (2.5 g kg−1), soil pH (0.65 units), and available water (0.07 m3 m−3) only in Year 1, suggesting a biochar benefit in sandy soils is short‐lived. In the sloping soil, >25 Mg biochar ha−1 reduced bulk density (0.16 Mg m−3) and increased soil mean weight diameter of water‐stable aggregates (0.58 mm), organic matter concentration (11.42 g kg−1), infiltration (9.35 cm), CC biomass production (0.27 Mg ha−1), and some microbial biomass groups. Biochar did not affect crop yields. Overall, >25 Mg biochar ha−1 improved properties in some soils without interacting with CCs.

Characterization of Soils in Coffee Productive Areas in the Provinces of Cocle and Veraguas-Republic of Panama

The objective of the work was to characterize the properties of the soils of coffee-producing farms in the provinces of Cocle and Veraguas that allow the preparation of regionalized fertilization cards according to the edaphoclimatic characteristics of each area. Planting robusta coffee is gaining greater interest among Panamanian farmers as an alternative for soil conservation. On 16 farms in the province of Coclé and 18 in Veraguas, samples were taken (0-20 cm) to understand their properties and initiate a sustainable fertilization program that contributes to improving productivity. Digital maps were created using the Q-Gis v.3.32.1 program and regionalized fertilization cards for each zone. The soils of the province of Coclé presented a high percentage of aluminum saturation, 88% with low porosity problems, average pH of 4.9, low levels of organic matter and phosphorus (100%), and 75% low in potassium. 56% low in calcium. Imbalances were found in the Ca/Mg and Ca + Mg/K ratios, which causes nutritional problems. In Veraguas soils, 22% presented a high percentage of aluminum saturation, 67% average acid pH, 94% low organic matter and phosphorus content, 89% low in potassium, medium and high levels of magnesium and calcium. A positive and statistically significant correlation was found between % clay, organic matter, pH, and calcium. It is expected that this soil characterization and regionalized fertilization cards will contribute to improving soil properties and achieving sustainable production. Fertilization recommendation cards have been prepared for these two provinces and they take into account this entire situation and physical problems found in the soils. Much emphasis is also placed on organic fertilization of plantations as a complement to traditional fertilization, seeking more balanced nutrition.

Assessment of Effects of Amended Bioremediation of Toxic Metal-polluted Soil using Organic Composites and Bacillus sp on Plant Growth Parameters

It has become pertinent to develop improved bioremediation techniques, to avert the deleterious effects of heavy metal pollution on agricultural productivity, and safety of its produce. In this study, cow dung, poultry wastes and their composites used as organic amendments were collected and processed, while Bacillus sp used as plant growth promoting rhizosphere was isolated and identified. Then 24 kg of fertile soil was polluted by introducing 20 mL of 0.1M lead acetate solution, before bagging 5 kg of polluted soil into ten perforated nylons. Soil sample was then analyzed before and after treatment. After mixing with Bacillus sp suspension, two of the pot experiments were amended with each of 0.5 kg cow dung only, 0.5 kg poultry wastes only and 1:1 ratio of their composites. Control samples were set up without amendment, and they were bioremediated for 25 days. Following germination of sown corn seedlings, heights of their shoots and number of leaves were monitored on day 4, weeks 2, 4 and 7, before harvesting for analysis together with soil samples. Results obtained revealed that seedlings grown on treated samples as well as properties of treatment of soil were generally better than those of control samples. Highest percentage increase in organic matter content of soil was recorded in treatment with mixture of cow dung only and Bacillus sp, with 9.28% and 7.63% increase at 33.75 mg/kg and 52.55 mg/kg of lead (Pb) pollution. Seedlings grown on samples treated with poultry wastes only, recorded the highest protein content of 161.25±5.5 mg/g, 104.99±4.95 mg/g and 79.75±3.2 mg/g protein contents, at 32.75 mg/kg, 42.02 mg/kg and 52.44 mg/kg levels of Pb pollution, respectively. The amendments also reduced bioaccumulation of Pb in corn seedlings, which was in the order; stem<leaf<root. Therefore, these amendments can be exploited for improved bioremediation of heavy metals.

Evolution of black shale sedimentary environment and its impact on organic matter content and mineral composition: a case study from Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation in Southern and Eastern Sichuan Basin

Due to global geological events and differences in regional sedimentary environments, marine shale reservoirs of Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation in Eastern and Southern Sichuan Basin exhibit significant heterogeneity in organic matter content and mineral composition. In order to reveal the influence of paleoenvironment evolution on reservoir heterogeneity, key geochemical indicators of elements were used to reconstruct the sedimentary environment of marine shale in Eastern and Southern Sichuan Basin. The influence mechanism of paleoenvironment on organic matter content and mineral components was also explored. The results indicate that the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation in the Southern and Eastern Sichuan Basin can be divided into two third-order sequences (Sq 1 and Sq 2). Each third-order sequence is divided into a transgressive system tract (TST) and a highstand system tract (HST). The average TOC content in the Eastern Sichuan Basin is the highest during the TST1 period with reaching 4.2%, while reached its maximum at 3.9% during the TST2 period in the Southern Sichuan Basin. Due to the influence of high paleo-productivity, the organic matter accumulation and quartz content in the eastern Sichuan region were higher than those in the southern Sichuan region from the TST1 to the middle TST2 period. However, the organic matter accumulation and quartz content in the late TST2 period were lower than those in the southern Sichuan region due to the dilution of terrestrial debris. During the HST2 period, due to the influence of higher paleo-productivity, clay adsorption and preservation condition, the TOC content in the eastern Sichuan region slightly increased in the early stage. At the same time, the marine shale in the southern Sichuan region has a high content of quartz minerals and a low content of clay minerals due to strong weathering intensity and input of coarse-grained debris (silt-size quartz).

Mapping soil trace metal distribution using remote sensing and multivariate analysis.

Trace metal soil contamination poses significant risks to human health and ecosystems, necessitating thorough investigation and management strategies. Researchers have increasingly utilized advanced techniques like remote sensing (RS), geographic information systems (GIS), geostatistical analysis, and multivariate analysis to address this issue. RS tools play a crucial role in collecting spectral data aiding in the analysis of trace metal distribution in soil. Spectroscopy offers an effective understanding of environmental contamination by analyzing trace metal distribution in soil. The spatial distribution of trace metals in soil has been a key focus of these studies, with factors influencing this distribution identified as soil type, pH levels, organic matter content, land use patterns, and concentrations of trace metals. While progress has been made, further research is needed to fully recognize the potential of integrated geospatial imaging spectroscopy and multivariate statistical analysis for assessing trace metal distribution in soils. Future directions include mapping multivariate results in GIS, identifying specific anthropogenic sources, analyzing temporal trends, and exploring alternative multivariate analysis tools. In conclusion, this review highlights the significance of integrated GIS and multivariate analysis in addressing trace metal contamination in soils, advocating for continued research to enhance assessment and management strategies.

Anthropogenic soil as an environmental material, as exemplified with improved growth of rice seedlings

Herein, the feasibility of artificial black soil (ABS) derived from hydrothermal humification-hydrothermal carbonization (HTH-HTC) for restructuration of weak soil was verified. This study breaks through the long history of soil formation and evolution, and obtains reconstructed anthropogenic soil (AS) system which only takes one month, for the further application of rice seedlings. HTH-HTC derived by-products are slightly acidic, which facilitates the effective nutrient uptake and prevention of wilt diseases for acid-loving rice seedlings. AS mainly consists of the inherent components retained from weak soil such as SiO2 and minerals, and exogenous components such as artificial humic substances and hydrochar, as introduced by hydrothermal humification processes. Results exhibit that AS has high contents of ammonium nitrogen, organic matter, organic carbon, and abundant porous structure for nutrient transport and water holding, especially, the community diversity and richness of microbial system gets the expected recovery and new beneficial bacteria (such as Caballeronia calidae) or fungi (such as Humicola) appear. Positive effects of AS on agronomic traits in rice seedlings are quantified. As a general result, this study supports the application of AS in sustainable agriculture, and provides a novel strategy to tackle the already-omnipresent land degradation by anthropogenic misuse and larger scale accidents.

Effects of water temperature on soil aggregate stability between soils developed from different parent materials in the subtropical hilly area of China

Water temperature has an important effect on soil aggregate stability. In this study, six soils derived from different parent materials in the hilly region of southern China were selected, and the mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), and soil erodibility (K value) were measured under different water temperature conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of water temperature on soil aggregate stability and erodibility. As the water temperature increased from 5 °C to 40 °C, the average content of >5 mm water-stable aggregates decreased by 57.13 %, while the average content of <0.25 mm water-stable aggregates increased by 214.41 %. The MWD and GMD of the six different parent soil types exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing water temperature. The trend of the K value was opposite to that of these values. The influence of water temperature on soil aggregate stability is mainly attributed to the thermal effect on the viscosity of soil water and the expansion of clay minerals. As the water temperature increases, the water viscosity coefficient, water density and water surface tension gradually decrease. Moreover, the response of soil aggregate stability and erosion resistance to water temperature varies with soil depth and parent material type. The topsoil exhibits greater sensitivity to water temperature than does the subsoil. Shale (SH) soils and quartz sandstone (QS) soils exhibited higher sensitivities, and Quaternary red clay (QRC) soils exhibited the lowest sensitivity to water temperature among the six soils. This difference is mainly attributed to differences in the contents of expansive clay minerals and organic matter. These results indicate that soil aggregate stability and erosion resistance decrease with increasing water temperature, which may be one reason for severe soil erosion under extremely high temperature and rainfall conditions in the southern red soil hilly region during summer.

236 The effects of replacing dried distiller’s grains with solubles with heat-treated soybean meal on nutrient intake and digestibility in forage-based diets

Abstract Cattle growth is calculated through dry matter intake, average daily gain and gain:feed measures that assume performance and digestibility are correlated. Hence, evaluating nutrient digestibility and flow provides additional explanations for subsequent growth performance. Therefore, five fistulated Jersey steers [Initial body weight (BW) = 288 ± 22 kg) fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas were utilized in a 4 × 5 row-column design to determine intake and total tract nutrient digestibility when replacing dried distiller’s grains plus solubles (DDGS) with heat-treated soybean meal (TSBM) in forage-based growing diets. The 56-d study contained 4 periods, each period lasting 14 d [9 d of adaptation and 5 d of collection (d 0 to 4)]. Dietary treatments partially replaced DDGS, included at 16% diet dry matter (DM), with TSBM at increasing inclusion levels of 0 (TSBM0), 4 (TSBM4), 8 (TSBM8), and 12% (TSBM12) DM. Basal diets contained 43.5% corn silage, 36.5% oat hay, and 4% meal supplement (DM). Chromic oxide was incorporated into the diet daily at 0.25% DM as a digesta marker. Steers were housed in individual tie stalls during the 5-d collection period. Treatment diets were fed daily at 0800 h with orts being weighed at 0730 h and subsampled on d 0 to d 4 each period. Fecal collection bags were harnessed to each steer from d 0 to d 4 to collect fecal weight and subsampled twice daily (0700 and 1900 h). Digestibility and feed intake were analyzed utilizing the MIXED procedure of SAS with treatment and period as fixed effects and animal as a random effect. There were no differences (P ≥ 0.14) in DM, organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), starch and nitrogen (N) intakes among treatments. Fecal DM, OM, NDF, starch, and N output resulted in no treatment effects (P ≥ 0.24). Subsequently, total tract apparent digestibility differences (P ≥ 0.32) were not detected for DM, OM, NDF, and starch content. However, N total tract apparent digestibility was significantly different (P &amp;lt; 0.03) with TSBM0 resulting in less N digestibility than TSBM12 (65.54% and 71.59%, respectively). Replacing a portion of DDGS with TSBM does not result in deleterious digestive effects in forage-based growing diets. As a result, the utilization of DDGS or TSBM as the primary protein source will depend on growth performance, feedstuff availability and economics.

Treatment and Desalination of Wastewater Generated After Steel Degreasing and Pickling in the Tunisian Galvanization Industry

A case study of galvanization wastewater treatment was carried out to preserve the environment and to suggest a solution to the Metal Galvanization of Poulina Group Holding MBG-Galva industry located in Tunisia for reducing effluent organic matter, heavy metals, and salt contents. The current industry had two baths of rinsing water after steel degreasing and pickling steps. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and pH of the first bath were very high compared to the second bath, which exhibits a low pH with high salinity and high heavy metals contents. Coagulation-flocculation and electrodialysis were examined as treatment processes for rinse water obtained after steel degreasing, while precipitation-oxidation and membrane distillation were combined for pickling rinse water treatment. Aluminum sulfate and sodium alginate were used, respectively, as coagulants and flocculents under optimal conditions determined through the Jar test. After the electrodialysis step, the removal rates were found to be 89.6% for conductivity, 93% for COD, 90 to 96% for salt content, and 82% to 99.5% for heavy metals. For the second effluent, the conductivity of wastewater was reduced by 97%, and heavy metals and COD were removed. The lab-scale experiment implementation proved that using the current process has a high impact on obtaining zero liquid reject in the manufactory, and reusing it in the same bath is an opportunity for water preservation. Solid waste characterized by X-rays showed that lead oxide and iron can be recovered from galvanization industry wastewater. Scaling the combined pretreatment and desalination system in a demonstration unit helps the galvanization industry reuse the water in the same industry and prevent environmental pollution.

Potassium fertilizer promotes the thin-shelled Tartary buckwheat yield by delaying senescence and promoting grain filling.

The application rate of potassium fertilizer is closely related to the yield of crops. Thin-shelled Tartary buckwheat is a new variety of Tartary buckwheat with the advantages of thin shell and easy shelling. However, little is known about application rate of potassium fertilizer on the yield formation of thin-shelled Tartary buckwheat. This study aimed to clarify the effect of potassium fertilizer on the growth and yield of thin-shelled Tartary buckwheat. A field experiment to investigate the characteristics was conducted across two years using thin-shelled Tartary buckwheat (Miku 18) with four potassium fertilizer applications including 0 (no potassium fertilizer, CK), 15 (low-concentration potassium fertilizer, LK), 30 (medium-concentration potassium fertilizer, MK), and 45 kg·ha-1 (high-concentration potassium fertilizer, HK). The maximum and average grain filling rates; starch synthase activity; superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities in leaves; root morphological indices and activities; available nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter content in rhizosphere soil; urease and alkaline phosphatase activities in rhizosphere soil; plant height, main stem node number, main stem branch number, leaf number; grain number per plant, grain weight per plant, and 100-grain weight increased first and then decreased with the increase in potassium fertilizer application rate and reached the maximum at MK treatment. The content of malondialdehyde was significantly lower in MK treatment than in other three treatments. The yields of thin-shelled Tartary buckwheat treated with LK, MK, and HK were 1.22, 1.37, and 1.07 times that of CK, respectively. In summary, an appropriate potassium fertilizer treatment (30kg·ha-1) can delay the senescence, promote the grain filling, and increase the grain weight and final yield of thin-shelled Tartary buckwheat. This treatment is recommended to be used in production to achieve high-yield cultivation of thin-shelled Tartary buckwheat.

Carbon and nutrient cycling responses to repeated application of biochar and NPK fertilizers depend on microenvironmental differences among hierarchical aggregate fractions

The conversion of bambara groundnut seed residues into biochar facilitated the bioavailability and retention of more nutrients (C, N, P, K and Mg) after repeated application of biochar. However, the mechanisms of microbially mediated biochar-C degradation and nutrient cycling responses to repeated biochar application, particularly in different hierarchical soil aggregates, are largely unknown. A 20-day incubation experiment was conducted on Ultisols from a 4-year cucumber field trial in Nsukka, Nigeria. The effects of repeated application of bambara seed residue biochar with or without NPK fertilizer on soil aggregate associated electrical conductivity (EC), basal respiration, microbial biomass, and soil enzyme activities were determined. The results showed that the concentration of organic matter in the bulk soils increased with biochar and NPK+biochar treatments. These treatments also increased the soil EC, cumulative CO2 respiration, microbial biomass C and N concentrations, and the activities of tyrosine-aminopeptidase and sulfatase enzymes, compared to the biochar treatment and the control soil. The NPK+biochar treatment contributed 35% more to β-cellobiosidase activity, but the biochar treatment resulted in 85% reduction in N-Acetyl-β-glucosaminidase activity, indicating microbial N mining. The NPK and NPK+biochar treatments accounted for a higher percentage of N-, C and N-, and S- cycle enzyme activities, although their composition was relatively higher with the latter treatment. The overall soil biochemical responses were significantly higher in the micro-aggregates (< 0.25mm) than in the macro-aggregates (≤ 4.75 - 0.25mm); least of all in the small macro-aggregates (0.25 - 1.00mm). Therefore, repeated application of biochar to N-deficient soils generally does not result in positive soil biochemical responses. However, repeated application of biochar together with NPK fertilizer modulates N limitation and optimizes microbial nutrient cycling processes, especially in micro-aggregates.

Characterizing stalagmite composition using hyperspectral imaging

Stalagmites offer nearly continuous records of past climate in continental settings at high temporal resolution. The climatic records preserved in stalagmites are commonly investigated by examining compositional characteristics such as mineralogy, organic content, and lamination patterns. These proxies provide valuable insights into the environmental conditions during stalagmite formation. However, the methods used to obtain information about these proxies are relatively destructive. This study uses hyperspectral imaging, a non-contact technique, to identify mineral composition, organic matter content, and laminations in stalagmites. It is the first wide spectrum imaging analysis in speleothem research, using both visible–near infrared and shortwave infrared wavelengths. Results obtained from hyperspectral imaging were compared by point spectral analysis using an ASD spectroradiometer and a grayscale profile along the growth axis of the stalagmite. Petrographic observation of thin sections and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses on selected stalagmite layers were performed to cross-validate the hyperspectral data. A travertine sample was also used to replicate the method on calcite. To automate mineral identification, a machine learning algorithm was developed to map spatial distribution and quantify relative proportions of minerals across the sample. Our findings are in good agreement with traditionally used methods of mineral identification, i.e. XRD and petrography, aiding in the interpretation of paleoclimate proxies, and offer a spatial guide for U–Th dating analyses. It also provides insight for future investigations of stalagmites using hyperspectral data and classification through machine learning algorithms.

Linking Dissolved Organic Matter Composition to Landscape Properties in Wetlands Across the United States of America

AbstractWetlands are integral to the global carbon cycle, serving as both a source and a sink for organic carbon. Their potential for carbon storage will likely change in the coming decades in response to higher temperatures and variable precipitation patterns. We characterized the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition from 12 different wetland sites across the USA spanning gradients in climate, landcover, sampling depth, and hydroperiod for comparison to DOM in other inland waters. Using absorption spectroscopy, parallel factor analysis modeling, and ultra‐high resolution mass spectroscopy, we identified differences in DOM sourcing and processing by geographic site. Wetland DOM composition was driven primarily by differences in landcover where forested sites contained greater aromatic and oxygenated DOM content compared to grassland/herbaceous sites which were more aliphatic and enriched in N and S molecular formulae. Furthermore, surface and porewater DOM was also influenced by properties such as soil type, organic matter content, and precipitation. Surface water DOM was relatively enriched in oxygenated higher molecular weight formulae representing HUPHigh O/C compounds than porewaters, whose DOM composition suggests abiotic sulfurization from dissolved inorganic sulfide. Finally, we identified a group of persistent molecular formulae (3,489) present across all sites and sampling depths (i.e., the signature of wetland DOM) that are likely important for riverine‐to‐coastal DOM transport. As anthropogenic disturbances continue to impact temperate wetlands, this study highlights drivers of DOM composition fundamental for understanding how wetland organic carbon will change, and thus its role in biogeochemical cycling.

Ultrafiltration of anaerobically digested sludge centrate as key process for a further nitrogen recovery process

In a wastewater treatment plant, the centrate generated in the dehydration process of the anaerobically digested sludge has a high potential for nutrients recovery because of its high nutrients concentration (specifically nitrogen and phosphorous). However, the high organic matter and solids content may make difficult its management. Membrane fouling is the most significant challenge limiting the application of membrane techniques for wastewater treatment. Results in this article highlight the potential of conventional filtration followed by ultrafiltration as pretreatment for further nutrients recovery using emerging membrane technologies (as membrane contactor, membrane distillation or forward osmosis). Thus, a conventional filtration (with 1, 5 and 60 μm filters) followed by an ultrafiltration process were tested. The UF membranes studied were two PES membranes (5kDa and 0.01 μm) and one PVDF membranes (100kDa). Results demonstrated that a conventional filtration with a cartridge filter of 60 μm and a subsequent UF process with a 0.01 μm RAY100 membrane (Orelis, France) achieved the best results in terms of the maximum organic matter (66% COD removal) and solids (over 97% suspended solids removal) separation, hardly varying nutrients concentration (13% NH4+ removal). Concerning membrane fouling, FESEM-EDX confirmed salt precipitation on the membrane surface, which has to be controlled to avoid loss of performance.