Changes in air pollutants during the COVID-19 lockdown in Beijing:Insights from a machine-learning technique and implications for future control policy

基于2015–2020年北京35个环境空气站和20个气象站观测资料,应用机器学习方法(随机森林算法)分离了气象条件和源排放对大气污染物浓度的影响.结果发现,为应对疫情采取的隔离措施使北京2020年春节期间大气污染物浓度降低了35.1%–51.8%;其中,背景站氮氧化物和一氧化碳浓度的降幅最大,超过了以往报道较多的交通站点.同时,2020年春节期间的气象条件不利于污染物扩散,导致多次霾污染事件发生.为进一步改善北京空气质量,未来需要优化减排策略.

Effects of different organic fertilizers on nitrous oxide and methane emissions from double-cropping rice fields

Rice fields are a major source of greenhouse gases,such as nitrous oxide (N_(2)O) and methane (CH_(4)).Organic fertilizers may potentially replace inorganic fertilizers to meet the nitrogen requirement for rice growth;however,the simultaneous effects of organic fertilizers on N_(2)O and CH_(4)emissions and crop yield in paddy fields remain poorly understood and quantified.In this study,experimental plots were established in conventional double-cropping paddy fields in the Pearl River Delta,China,including an unfertilized control and five fertilizer treatments with fresh organic fertilizer (FOF),successively composted organic fertilizer (SOF),chemically composted organic fertilizer (COF),COF supplemented with inorganic fertilizer (COIF),and chemical fertilizers (CFs)(TFOF,TSOF,TCOF,TCOIF,and TCF,respectively).Paddy field soils behaved simultaneously as an N_(2)O sink (cumulative N_(2)O emission:-196 to-381 g N ha^(-1)) and as a CH_(4)source (cumulative CH_(4)emission:719 to 2 178 kg ha^(-1)).Compared to CFs,the effects of organic fertilizers on N_(2)O emission were not significant.In contrast,total annual CH_(4)emission increased by 157%,132%,125%,and 37%in TFOF,TCOF,TSOF,and TCOIF,respectively,compared to TCF.In TCOIF,rice yield was maintained,while CH_(4)emission was not significantly increased from the paddy fields characterized by a prolonged flood period.An important next step is to extend these field-based measurements to larger rice cultivation areas to quantify the regional and national-scale impacts on greenhouse gas emissions and to help determine the optimum practice for fertilizer use.

Effects of organic fertilizers produced using different techniques on rice grain yield and ammonia volatilization in double-cropping rice fields

Ammonia(NH_(3)) volatilization from rice fields contributes to poor air quality and indicates low nitrogen use efficiency. Although organic fertilizers can meet the nitrogen requirement for rice growth, the simultaneous effects of organic fertilizers on NH_(3) volatilization and rice yield in paddy fields are poorly understood and quantified. To address this gap in our knowledge, experimental field plots were established in a conventional double-cropping paddy field in the Pearl River Delta region, southern China. Five fertilizer treatments were used besides the control with no fertilizer: fresh organic fertilizer, successively composted organic fertilizer, chemically composted organic fertilizer, mixture of chemically composted organic fertilizer with inorganic fertilizer, and chemical fertilizer. Ammonia volatilization was measured using a batch-type airflow enclosure method. No significant differences in grain yield were observed among organic and chemical fertilizer treatments. However, compared with chemical fertilizer, chemically composted organic fertilizer and successively composted organic fertilizer significantly decreased total NH_(3) volatilization by 70% and 68%, respectively. The ammonium-nitrogen concentration in field surface water correlated strongly(P < 0.01) and positively with NH_(3) volatilization across fertilization treatments. Our findings demonstrate that chemically composted organic fertilizer can sustain rice yield while reducing NH_(3) volatilization. An important future step is to promote these field measurements to similar rice cultivation areas to quantify the regional-and national-scale impact on air quality and nitrogen deposition in sensitive areas, and to design and implement better fertilizer management practices.