Partial organic fertilizer substitution promotes soil multifunctionality by increasing microbial community diversity and complexity

Partial substitution of synthetic nitrogen(N)with organic fertilizers(PSOF)is of great significance in improving soil ecosystem functions in systems that have deteriorated due to the excessive application of chemical N fertilizer.However,existing studies typically focus on individual soil functions,neglecting the fact that multiple functions occur simultaneously.It remains unclear how PSOF influences multiple soil functions and whether these impacts are related to soil microbial communities.Here,we examined the impacts of partial substitutions(25%–50%)of chemical N fertilizer with organic form(pig manure or municipal sludge)in a vegetable field on soil multifunctionality,by measuring a range of soil functions involving primary production(vegetable yield and quality),nutrient cycling(soil enzyme activities,ammonia volatilization,N leaching,and N runoff),and climate regulation(soil organic carbon sequestration and nitrous oxide emission).We observed that PSOF improved soil multifunctionality,with a 50%substitution of chemical N fertilizer with pig manure being the best management practice;the result was strongly related to the diversities and network complexities of bacteria and fungi.Random forest analysis further revealed that soil multifunctionality was best explained by the bacterial-fungal network complexity,followed by available phosphorus level and bacterial diversity.The PSOF also shifted the composition of bacterial and fungal communities,with increased relative abundances of dominant bacteria phyla,such as Bacteroidetes,Gemmatimonadetes,and Myxococcota,and fungal phyla,such as Basidiomycota and Olpidiomycota.The observed increases in soil multifunctionality were consistent with significant increases in the relative abundances of keystone taxa such as Blastocladiomycota,Chaetomiaceae,and Nocardiopsaceae.Together,these findings indicate that PSOF can enhance interactions within and among microbial communities and that such practices have the potential to improve soil ecosystem multifunctionality and contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture.

Estimating rice paddy areas in China using multi-temporal cloud-free normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) imagery based on change detection

The spatial pattern of rice paddies is an essential parameter used for studies of greenhouse gas emissions,agricultural resource management,and environmental monitoring.On large spatial scales,previous studies have usually mapped rice paddies using a single vegetation index product based on a traditional classification method,or a combined analysis of various vegetation and water indices derived from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer(MODIS)satellite data.However,different indices increase the computational cost and constrain the satellite data sources,and traditional classification methods(e.g.,maximum likelihood classification)may be time-consuming and difficult to carry out over a large area like China.In this study,we designed an auto-thresholding and single vegetation index(normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI))-based procedure to estimate the spatial distribution of rice paddies in China.The MOD09Q1 product,which was available at MODIS’s highest spatial resolution(250 m),was taken as the input source.An auto-threshold function was also introduced into the change detection process to distinguish rice paddies from other croplands.Our MODIS-derived maps were validated with ground surveys and then compared with China national statistical data of rice paddy areas.The results indicated that the best classification result was achieved for plain regions,and that the accuracy declined for hilly regions,where the complex landscape could lead to an underestimation of the rice paddy area.A comparison between the modeled results and other analyses using 500-m MODIS data suggests that rice paddies may be identified routinely using a single vegetation index with finer resolution on large spatial scales.

IMPROVING NITROGEN SAFETY IN CHINA: NITROGEN FLOWS, POLLUTION AND CONTROL

The impacts of nitrogen on environmental quality,greenhouse gas balances,ecosystem and biodiversity in China are of great concern given the magnitude of demand for food and energy.Comprehensive summaries of historic N flows and their critical threats and sustainable management are urgently needed.This paper initially reviews the historical trends of N flows in China and identifies the critical threats of N loss.Subsequently,it describes some recent success stories of N management,and finally indicates barriers to N pollution control.This review highlights three key points.Firstly,a steady increase of N input in China has led to a series of environmental problems via leaching and runoff,ammonia emissions and denitrification.Secondly,although great efforts to improve N management and N safety in China,further quantifications of N flows and analysis of their underlying mechanisms are needed to improve the understanding of the N cycle and pollution control.Finally,it proposes that the best available technologies combined with regulatory plans,laws,projects and policies should be implemented to overcome current barriers in N control and achieve a balance between the sustainable use of N resources and environmental conservation in China.