Artificial root exudates and soil organic carbon mineralization in a degraded sandy grassland in northern China

Plant root exudates contain various organic and inorganic components that include glucose, citric and oxalic acid. These components affect rhizosphere microbial and microfaunal activities, but the mechanisms are not fully known. Studies concerned from degraded grassland ecosystems with low soil carbon（C） contents are rare, in spite of the global distribution of grasslands in need of restoration. All these have a high potential for carbon sequestration, with a reduced carbon content due to overutilization. An exudate component that rapidly decomposes will increase soil respiration and CO2 emission, while a component that reduces decomposition of native soil carbon can reduce CO2 emission and actually help sequestering carbon in soil. Therefore, to investigate root exudate effects on rhizosphere activity, citric acid, glucose and oxalic acid（0.6 g C/kg dry soil） were added to soils from three biotopes（grassland, fixed dune and mobile dune） located in Naiman, Horqin Sandy Land, Inner Mongolia, China） and subjected to a 24-day incubation experiment together with a control. The soils were also analyzed for general soil properties. The results show that total respiration without exudate addition was highest in grassland soil, intermediate in fixed dune and lowest in mobile dune soil. However, the proportion of native soil carbon mineralized was highest in mobile dune soil, reflecting the low C/N ratio found there. The exudate effects on CO2-C emissions and other variables differed somewhat between biotopes, but total respiration（including that from the added substrates） was significantly increased in all combinations compared with the control, except for oxalic acid addition to mobile dune soil, which reduced CO2-C emissions from native soil carbon. A small but statistically significant increase in pH by the exudate additions in grassland and fixed dune soil was observed, but there was a major decrease from acid additions to mobile dune soil. In contrast, electrical conductivity decreased in grassland and fixed dune soil and increased in mobile dune. Thus, discrete components of root exudates affected soil environmental conditions differently, and responses to root exudates in soils with low carbon contents can differ from those in normal soils. The results indicate a potential for, e.g., acid root exudates to decrease decomposition rate of soil organic matter in low carbon soils, which is of interest for both soil restoration and carbon sequestration.

Characteristics of high arsenic groundwater in Hetao Basin,Inner Mongolia,northern China

It is well known that the Hetao Basin is one of the most seriously arsenic-affected groundwater areas in China. In order to understand the characteristics of high arsenic （As） groundwater in the Basin, a brief overview of arsenic in groundwater follows. High arsenic in the Basin commonly occurs in shallow groundwater and the total arsenic concentrations range from 0.58 to 572 μg/L （average 99.73 μg/L）, exceeding the maximum mandated value of 10 μg/L for drinking water in China; As（III） is the predominant species. The regional distribution pattern of arsenic in the groundwater increases from south/southeast to north/northwest. Hangjinhouqi and Wuyuan counties are considered as the most seriously affected areas, with high incidences of endemic arsenicosie diseases in the Hetao Basin. High groundwater arsenic correlates with the increase of well depth. Previous studies proposed that groundwater arsenic in the Basin is mainly originated from desorption of some natural solid materials in the sediments, under reducing condition. Generally, reducing condition is believed to be the primary factor for arsenic releasing from the sediment to groundwater in the region. Under inorganic Or bacterial processes, Fe2O3 changes to FeS and arsenic adsorbed to Fe（OH）3 dissolves into groundwater, and As（V） is re- duced to As（W）. Besides, reducing environments, groundwater hydraulic gradients, organic matter, pH, evapotranspiration, and soil texture are presumed to be the predominant factors that control arsenic mobilization.

Accumulation and potential sources of heavy metals in soils of the Hetao area,Inner Mongolia,China

Soil contamination by heavy metals is a problem in agricultural irrigation systems.To assess the accumulation and sources of heavy metals in the Yongji irrigation district of the Hetao area,Inner Mongolia,China,195 soil samples from 39 sites(0–100 cm)were collected,and Zn,Cu,Pb,Cr,and Cd concentrations were analyzed.The mean concentrations were 107.17,32.48,12.31,53.53,and 0.22 mg kg-1,respectively,with no significant differences between soil depths(P>0.05).Concentrations of Zn,Cu,and Cd were higher than the background levels,with moderate accumulation;the contamination factor(CF)values were 1.9,1.7,and 1.9,respectively,and the geoaccumulation index(Igeo)was>0.Concentrations of Pb and Cr were lower than,or close to,the background levels(CF<1,Igeo<0),indicating that they originated from a natural source.The monomial potential ecological risk index(Eri)for Zn,Cu,Pb,and Cr was low;Eri for Cd was 55.73,implying a moderate risk.The grade of potential ecological risk index of the five heavy metals(RI)was low,declining from south to north.The studied soils were contaminated with Zn,Cu,and Cd;principal component(PC)analysis implicated the enrichment of Cd and partial Cu(high loading in PC 2)was related to agricultural activities;Zn and partial Cu,closely associated with PC 3,may have originated from irrigation water from the Yellow River.Future agricultural development should focus on fertilizer and pesticide application and the quality of irrigation water.