Characterization of Nitrogen Uptake Pattern in Malaysian Rice MR219 at Different Growth Stages Using ^(15)N Isotope

Nitrogen （N） use efficiency is usually less than 50%, and it remains a major problem in rice cultivation. Controlled release fertilizer （CRF） technology is one of the well-known efforts to overcome this problem. The efficiency of CRF, however, is very much dependent on the timing of nutrient release. This study was conducted to determine the precise time of N uptake by rice as a guideline to develop efficient CRF. Fertilizer N uptake by rice at different growth stages was investigated by using 15N isotopic technique. Rice was planted in pots, with 15N urea as N source at the rate of 120 kg/hm2. Potassium and phosphorus were applied at the same rate of 50 kg/hm2. Standard agronomic practices were employed throughout the growing periods. Rice plants were harvested every two weeks until maturation at the 14th week and analyzed for total N and 15N content. Nitrogen derived from fertilizer was calculated. Total N uptake in plants consistently increased until the 11th week. After that, it started to plateau and finally declined. Moreover, N utilization by rice plants peaked at 50%, which occurred during the 11th week after transplanting. N derived from fertilizer in rice plants were in the range of 18.7% to 40.0% in all plant tissues. The remaining N was derived from soil. Based on this study, N release from CRF should complete by the 11th week after planting to ensure the maximum fertilizer N uptake by rice plants. Efficient CRF should contribute to higher N derived from fertilizer which also resulted in a higher total N uptake by rice plants, increasing the potential of rice to produce higher yield while at the same time of reducina loss.

^(15)N Isotope Used for Study of Groundwater Nitrogen Pollution in Shijiazhuang City, China

Shijiazhuang City is the capital of Hebei province, China. Groundwater is the major water supply source for living and industry need of the city. Due to a rapid increase of population and development of industry and agriculture, a series of groundwater environmental problems are created. In the paper, the situation of groundwater pollution in Shijiazhuang city is reported. Based on the groundwater chemical data and ^(15)N measurement results both on groundwater and soils, the reason of groundwater nitra...

Nitrate isotope dynamics in the lower euphotic-upper mesopelagic zones of the western South China Sea

The dual isotopes(N and O)of nitrate were measured using a denitrifier bacterial method in the western South China Sea(WSCS)during September 2015 to elucidate key information during N transformation in the lower euphotic zone(LEZ)-upper mesopelagic zone(UMZ,down to 500 m in this study)continuum,which is a vital sub-environment for marine N cycle and sequestration of atmospheric CO_(2)as well.The N isotopic composition(δ^(15)N)of nitrate generally decreased from 500 m toward the base of the euphotic zone(∼100 m),reaching a value of∼4.6‰(vs.air N_(2))at the base of the LEZ,suggesting the imprint of remineralization(nitrification)of isotopically light N from atmospheric source.Theδ^(15)N andδ18O of nitrate only generally conform to a 1:1 line at 50 m and 75 m,suggesting that nitrate assimilation is a dominant process to shape nitrate isotope signature in this light-limited and relatively N-replete lower part of the euphotic zone.The fractionation factors of N and O isotopes during nitrate fractionation(15εASSIM,18εASSIM)using a steady-state model were estimated to be 4.0‰±0.3‰and 5.4‰±0.3‰,respectively.The occurrence of nitrification at the base of the LEZ and most of the UMZ is corroborated by the decoupling ofδ^(15)N and the oxygen isotopic composition(δ18O)of nitrate.Our results will provide insights for better understanding N cycle in the South China Sea from a perspective of present and past.

Investigation of Nitrite Production Pathway in Integrated Partial Denitrification/Anammox Process via Isotope Labelling Technique and the Relevant Microbial Communities

In this study,the nitrogen removal performance of partial denitrificaiton/anammox(PDA)process was investigated by using an UASB reactor.High total nitrogen(TN)removal efficiency(91.97%)was achieved at an influent nitrogen loading rate of 0.64 kg/(m3·d).Anammox bacteria did execute the function of converting nitrate to nitrite in PDA system according to ^(15)N isotope labeling experiments and the contribution was approximately 36.3%.Candidatus_Brocadia,Candidatus_Kuenenia and Thauera were functional strains for anammox and denitrification process,respectively.Thauera and Candidatus_Brocadia were more important for TN removal at high loading rates(0.64 kg/(m3·d)).This result can provide a theoretical and technical foundation for the application of the PDA process.

Application of ^15N Stable Isotope Labeling Technology in Sugarcane Nitrogen Research

Nitrogen is one of the essential nutrient elements for plant growth,which plays an important role in the growth and development of sugarcane. The whole growth cycle of sugarcane needs a large amount of nitrogen. Increasing the application of nitrogen can improve the yield of sugarcane,but it will also cause environmental pollution. Therefore,how to control or reduce the application of nitrogen fertilizer while continuously increasing sugarcane yield,reduce the increase of sugarcane production cost and environmental pollution caused by excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer has become an important scientific problem faced by sugarcane industry in China.^15N stable isotope labeling technology has been applied to many crops as a nitrogen research tool. In order to better understand the demand of nitrogen fertilizer in soil-cane system,this paper reviewed nitrogen allocation in plants,nitrogen loss,nitrogen recycling and endogenous nitrogen fixation of sugarcane based on^15N stable isotope labeling technology used in the nitrogen uptake and utilization,providing a theoretical basis for the improvement of sugarcane nitrogen use efficiency and the efficient nitrogen fertilizer management of sugarcane.

Absorption spectra and isotope shifts of the(2, 0),(3, 1), and(8, 5) bands of the A^2Π_u-X^2Σ_g^+ system of ^(15)N_2^+ in near infrared

The high-resolution absorption spectra of the （2,0）,（3,1）,and （8,5） bands of the A^2Π^u-X^2∑g^＋ system of ^15N2^＋ have been recorded by using velocity modulation spectroscopy technique in the near infrared region.The rotational constants of the X^2∑g^＋ and A^2Πu states of ^15N2^＋ were derived from the spectroscopic data.The isotope shifts of these bands of the A^2Πu-X^2∑g^＋ system of ^14N2^＋ and ^15N2^＋ were also analyzed and discussed.

Construction of Food Web Model for Liusha Bay-Based on Stable Isotope Analysis

To investigate the food web structure of Liusha Bay,the δ13C and δ15N values of various organisms collected in Liusha Bay were measured via stable isotope technique.Based on the calculated δ15N value,the correlation between stable isotope ratio and trophic level were established to predict the trophic levels of shrimps,crabs,cephalopods and fishes.By comparing the analysis results of stomach contents of 24 organisms,two methods gave a similar consistence in approximately 71% of organisms within a 0.5 trophic level.It is concluded that stable isotope technique could be an effective method for studying ocean food web trophic level.

Estimation of Biological Nitrogen Fixation Capacity by Sugarcane Using 15N

[ Objective] The study aimed to reveal the biological nitrogen fixation capacity by sugarcane from Brazil under the ecological conditions of Guangxi, and to provide reference for study on the biological nitrogen fixation capacity by sugarcane and related generalization and application. [ Method] The ^15N isotopic fertilizer was solely applied on plants of three sugarcane cultivars planted in greenhouse with no other fertilizer forms applied, meanwhile virus-free stem seedling was regarded as control, to measure their biological nitrogen fixation capacity using ^15N isotope. [ Result ] The nitrogen fixation rate of B8 from Brazil reached 26.91%, while Guitang 11 and RIC16 presented no or poor nitrogen fixation capacity. [ Conclusion] The sugarcane eultivar B8 from Brazil showed some nitrogen fixation capacity under the ecological conditions of Guangxi.

Fate of Nitrogen from Organic and Inorganic Sources in Rice-Wheat Rotation Cropping System

The lower availability of N is one of the most important limiting factors impeding crop yield enhancement among the various factors that affect crop yield under the multiple-cropping agroecosystem in China.In this study,the recovery of a single application of 15N-labeled fertilizer or residues in rice-wheat cropping system was determined,in order to provide theoretical foundation for the nitrogen management in sustainable agricultural production.A continuous trace experiment was conducted for 15N microplots by using randomized block design with four treatments and four replications（T1 = 15N-labeled fertilizer with crop residue incorporation,T2 = 15N-labeled residues,T3 = 14N fertilizer to generate unlabeled crop residue,and T4 = 15Nlabeled fertilizer without crop residue incorporation）.Our results showed that,on average,17.17 and 12.01% of crop N was derived from N fertilizer and 15N-labeled residues,respectively during the first growing season,suggesting that approximately 82.83 or 87.99% of crop N was derived directly from soil N pool.There was a larger difference in the 15N recovery pattern in crop when N was applied as fertilizer or residues,i.e.,most of crop N derived from N fertilizer was absorbed in the first growing season（92.04%）,and the relevant value was 38.03% when 15N-labeled residues were applied.This implied that most of N fertilizer was recovered in the present cropping season,while a longer residue effect will be found for 15N-labeled residues.Thus,the average recovery of N fertilizer and N residue in the soil after the first growing season was 33.46 and 85.64%,respectively.The recovery of applied N in soil when N was applied as residues was significantly higher than that when N was applied as fertilizer.There was a larger difference in the total 15N recovery in plant and soil when N was applied as fertilizer or residues.By the end of the fifth or sixth cropping season,the total 15N recovery in plant and soil when N was applied as fertilizer or residues were estimated at 64.38 and 79.11%,respectively.On the contrary,there was little difference between the practices of residue incorporation and residue removal following the N fertilizer application.N fertilizer appeared to be more readily available to crops than residue-N,and residue-N replenished soil N pool,especially N in soil organic matter,much more than N fertilizer after six growing seasons.Therefore,residue-N is a better source for sustaining N content of soil organic matter.Thus,one possible management practice is to use both organic and inorganic N sources simultaneously to improve the use efficiency of N while protecting the sustainability of soil.

Trace element geochemistry and stable isotopic(δ^(13)C andδ^(15)N)records of the Paleocene coals,Salt Range,Punjab,Pakistan

The Paleocene coals of the Salt Range in the Punjab Province of Pakistan have great economic potential;however,their trace element and stable isotopic characteristics have not been studied in detail except for a few sporadic samples.In this study,a total of 59 coal samples of which 14 are obtained from open cast mines have been investigated for elemental composition andδ^(13)C-δ^(15)N isotopic signatures.Average contents of trace elements such as Co,Cr,Cu,Pb,Sr,Th,U,V,and Zn are 7.4,41.7,11.2,12.5,90.2,4.0,1.9,128,and 31.1 mg/kg,respectively.These values,when compared with the World Coal Clarke values,were relatively higher in low-rank coals in comparison with Clarke values for brown coals.Likewise,As(20.4 mg/kg),Co(6.6 mg/kg),Cr(22.4 mg/kg),Cu(^(13).3 mg/kg),Pb(19.2 mg/kg),Sr(^(15)4.7 mg/kg),Th(2.5 mg/kg),V(47.8 mg/kg),and Zn(75.1 mg/kg)were significantly higher in the sub-bituminous to bituminous coals of the Salt Range.Mineralogical analysis,based on X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy,revealed that the studied samples contain illite,kaolinite calcite,gypsum,pyrite,and quartz.Elemental affinity with organic and inorganic phases of coals calculated by an indirect statistical approach indicated a positive association of ash content with Ag,Al,Co,Cr,Cs,Cu,Mn,P,Rb,Pb,Th,U,and V,suggesting the presence of inorganic components in studied coals.However,As,Fe,Sr,and Zn exhibit negative correlations that imply their association with the organic fraction.Theδ^(13)C andδ^(15)N isotopic range and average−24.94‰to−25.86‰(−25.41‰)and−2.77‰to 3.22‰(0.96‰),respectively,reflecting 3C type modern terrestrial vegetation were common in the palaeomires of studied coal seams.In addition,the trivial variations of 0.92‰and 0.45‰among^(13)C and^(15)N values can be attributed to water level fluctuations and plant assemblies.

N2 fixation rate and diazotroph community structure in the western tropical North Pacific Ocean

In the present study, we report N2 fixation rate(15N isotope tracer assay) and the diazotroph community structure(using the molecular method) in the western tropical North Pacific Ocean(WTNP)(13°–20°N, 120°–160°E). Our independent evidence on the basis of both in situ N2 fixation activity and diazotroph community structure showed the dominance of unicellular N2 fixation over majority of the WTNP surface waters during the sampling periods.Moreover, a shift in the diazotrophic composition from unicellular cyanobacteria group B-dominated to Trichodesmium spp.-dominated toward the western boundary current(Kuroshio) was also observed in 2013. We hypothesize that nutrient availability may have played a major role in regulating the biogeography of N2 fixation.In surface waters, volumetric N2 fixation rate(calculated by nitrogen) ranged between 0.6 and 2.6 nmol/(L·d) and averaged(1.2±0.5) nmol/(L·d), with <10 μm size fraction contributed predominantly(88%±6%) to the total rate between 135°E and 160°E. Depth-integrated N2 fixation rate over the upper 200 m ranged between 150 μmol/(m^2·d)and 480 μmol/(m^2·d)average(225±105) μmol/(m^2·d). N2 fixation can account for 6.2%±3.7% of the depthintegrated primary production, suggesting that N2 fixation is a significant N source sustaining new and export production in the WTNP. The role of N2 fixation in biogeochemical cycling in this climate change-vulnerable region calls for further investigations.

Tree-ring δ^(15)N of Qinghai spruce in the central Qilian Mountains of China:Is pre-treatment of wood samples necessary?

A knowledge of the tree-ring stable nitrogen isotope ratio(δ^(15)N)can deepen our understanding of forest ecosystem dynamics by indicating the long-term availability,cycling and sources of nitrogen(N).However,the radial mobility of N blurs the interannual variations in the long-term N records.Previous studies of the chemical extraction of tree rings before analysis had produced inconsistent results and it is still unclear whether it is necessary to pre-treat wood samples from specific tree species to remove soluble N compounds before determining theδ^(15)N values.We compared the effects of pre-treatment with organic solvents and hot ultrapure water on the N concentration andδ^(15)N of tree rings from endemic Qinghai spruce(Picea crassifolia)growing in the interior of the central Qilian Mountains,China,during the last 60 a.We assessed the effects of different preparation protocols on the removal of the labile N compounds and investigated the need to pre-treat wood samples before determining theδ^(15)N values of tree rings.Increasing trends of the tree-ring N concentration were consistently observed in both the extracted and unextracted wood samples.The total N removed by extraction with organic solvents was about 17.60%,with a significantly higher amount in the sapwood section(P<0.01).Theδ^(15)N values of tree rings decreased consistently from 1960 to 2019 in both the extracted and unextracted wood samples.Extraction with organic solvents increased theδ^(15)N values markedly by about 5.2‰and reduced the variations in theδ^(15)N series.However,extraction with hot ultrapure water had little effect,with only a slight decrease in theδ^(15)N values of about 0.5‰.Our results showed that the radial pattern in the inter-ring movement of N in Qinghai spruce was not minimized by extraction with either organic solvents or hot ultrapure water.It is unnecessary to conduct hot ultrapure water extraction for the wood samples from Qinghai spruce because of its negligible effect on the removal of the labile N.Theδ^(15)N variation trend of tree rings in the unextracted wood samples was not influenced by the heartwood-sapwood transition zone.We suggest that theδ^(15)N values of the unextracted wood samples of the climate-sensitive Qinghai spruce could be used to explore the ecophysiological dynamics while focusing on the long-term variations.

Spatial patterns nitrogen transfer models of ectomycorrhizal networks in a Mongolian scotch pine plantation

Ectomycorrhizal(EM)networks provide a variety of services to plants and ecosystems include nutrient uptake and transfer,seedling survival,internal cycling of nutrients,plant competition,and so on.To deeply their structure and function in ecosystems,we investigated the spatial patterns and nitrogen(N)transfer of EM networks usingN labelling technique in a Mongolian scotch pine(Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica Litv.)plantation in Northeastern China.In August 2011,four plots(20 × 20 m)were set up in the plantation.125 ml 5 at.%0.15 mol/LNHNOsolution was injected into soil at the center of each plot.Before and 2,6,30 and 215 days after theN application,needles(current year)of each pine were sampled along four 12 m sampling lines.Needle total N andN concentrations were analyzed.We observed needle N andN concentrations increased significantly over time afterN application,up to 31 and0.42%,respectively.There was no correlation between needle N concentration andN/N ratio(R2=0.40,n=5,P=0.156),while excess needle N concentration and excess needleN/N ratio were positively correlated across different time intervals(R~2=0.89,n=4,P\0.05),but deceased with time interval lengthening.NeedleN/N ratio increased with time,but it was not correlated with distance.NeedleN/N ratio was negative with distance before and 6th day and 30th day,positive with distance at 2nd day,but the trend was considerably weaker,their slop were close to zero.These results demonstrated that EM networks were ubiquitous and uniformly distributed in the Mongolian scotch pine plantation and a random network.We found N transfer efficiency was very high,absorbed N by EM network was transferred as wide as possible,we observed N uptake of plant had strong bias forN andN,namely N fractionation.Understanding the structure and function of EM networks in ecosystems may lead to a deeper understanding of ecological stability and evolution,and thus provide new theoretical approaches to improve conservation practices for the management of the Earth’s ecosystems.

Removal efficacy and mechanism of nitrogen and phosphorus by biological aluminum-based P-inactivation agent (BA-PIA)

In this study,aluminum-based P-inactivation agent(Al-PIA)was used as a high-efficiency microbial carrier,and the biological Al-PIA(BA-PIA)was prepared by artificial aeration.Laboratory static experiments were conducted to study the effect of BA-PIA on reducing nitrogen and phosphorus contents in water.Physicochemical characterization and isotope tracing method were applied to analyze the removal mechanism of nitrogen and phosphorus.High-throughput techniques were used to analyze the characteristic bacterial genus in the BA-PIA system.The nitrogen and phosphorus removal experiment was conducted for 30 days,and the removal rates of NH_(4)^(+)-N,TN and TP by BA-PIA were 81.87%,66.08%and 87.97%,respectively.The nitrogen removal pathways of BA-PIA were as follows:the nitrification reaction accounted for 59.0%(of which denitrification reaction accounted for 56.4%),microbial assimilation accounted for 18.1%,and the unreacted part accounted for 22.9%.The characteristic bacteria in the BA-PIA system were Streptomyces,Nocardioides,Saccharopolyspora,Nitrosomonas,and Marinobacter.The loading of microorganisms only changed the surface physical properties of Al-PIA(such as specific surface area,pore volume and pore size),without changing its surface chemical properties.The removal mechanism of nitrogen by BA-PIA is the conversion of NH_(4)^(+)-N into NO_(2)^(−)-N and NO_(3)^(−)-N by nitrifying bacteria,which are then reduced to nitrogen-containing gas by aerobic denitrifying bacteria.The phosphorus removal mechanism is that metal compounds(such as Al)on the surface of BA-PIA fix phosphorus through chemisorption processes,such as ligand exchange.Therefore,BA-PIA overcomes the deficiency of Al-PIA with only phosphorus removal ability,and has better application prospects.

Use of ^(15)N stable isotope to quantify nitrogen transfer between mycorrhizal plants

Aims Mycorrhizas(fungal roots)play vital roles in plant nutrient acquisition,performance and productivity in terrestrial ecosystems.Arbuscular mycorrhizas(AM)and ectomycorrhizas(EM)are mostly important since soil nutrients,including NH+4,NO
3 and phosphorus,are translocated from mycorrhizal fungi to plants.Individual species,genera and even families of plants could be interconnected by mycorrhizal mycelia to form common mycorrhizal networks(CMNs).The function of CMNs is to provide pathways for movement or transfer of nutrients from one plant to another.In the past four decades,both ^(15)N external labeling or enrichment(usually expressed as atom%)and ^(15)N naturally occurring abundance(d^(15)N,&)techniques have been employed to trace the direction and magnitude of N transfer between plants,with their own advantages and limitations.Important Findings The heavier stable isotope ^(15)N is discriminated against 14N during biochemical,biogeochemical and physiological processes,due to a greater atomic mass.In general,non-N2-fixing plants had greater d^(15)N values than N2-fixing(;0&)ones.Foliar d^(15)N often varied by 5 to 10&in the order:non-mycorrhizas/AMs>EMs>ericoid mycorrhizas.Differences in d^(15)N(&)or ^(15)N(atom%)values could thus provide N transfer information between plants.A range of between 0 to 80%of one-way N transfer had been observed from N2-fixing mycorrhizal to non-N2-fixing mycorrhizal plants,but generally less than or around 10%in the reverse direction.Plant-to-plant N transfer may provide practical implications for plant performance in N-limited habitats.Considering that N translocation or cycling is crucial,and the potential benefits of N transfer are great in both agricultural and natural ecosystems,more research is warranted on either oneway or two-way N transfers mediated by CMNs with different species and under field conditions.

N and O isotopes and the ore-forming mechanism of nitrate deposits in the Turpan-Hami Basin,Xinjiang,China

The recently discovered nitrate ore field in the Turpan-Hami Basin of western China represents an estimated resource of 2.5 billion tons, and is comparable in scale to the Atacama Desert super-scale nitrate deposit in Chile. The research on this area is rarely carried out, and the origin of the deposits remains uncertain. In this study, new methods were used to systematically analyze N and O isotopes in nitrate minerals collected from the Kumutage, Xiaocaohu, Wuzongbulak, Dawadi, Tuyugou, and Shaer ore deposits in the Turpan-Hami Basin. The data showed that the δ15NAir value ranges from 0.7‰ to 27.6‰, but mostly between 2‰ and 6‰, which was similar to atmospheric NO3-. The 18O was highly enriched with δ18OV-SMOW varying from 30.2‰ to 46.7‰. This differs from levels in deposits derived from microbial nitrogen fixation, but is similar to those in atmospheric nitrates. N and O isotopes data indicated that nitrate deposits in Turpan-Hami Basin must be the result of deposition of atmospheric nitrate particles. Although atmospheric nitrate particles are common, the nitrate deposits could form only under the condition of long-term extreme drought climate and very limited biological activity. This paper summarized the ore-forming mechanism of different types nitrate deposits based on their geological setting.

Low-lying states and isospin excitation in the Ge isotopes

The level structure of ^64-70Ge isotopes has been studied within the framework of the interacting boson model-3（IBM-3） . The symmetry character in the proton and neutron degrees of freedom of the energy levels has been investigated. The isospin excitation states（T 〉 Tz） have been assigned for the ^64Ge（N = Z） nucleus. Some intruder states in these nuclei have been suggested. The calculated energy levels and transition probabilities are in good agreement with recent experimental data. The study indicates that the Ge isotopes are in transition from γ-unstable to vibrational.

Combined application of biochar with fertilizer promotes nitrogen uptake in maize by increasing nitrogen retention in soil

Combined application of biochar with fertilizers has been used to increase soil fertility and crop yield.However,the coupling mechanisms through which biochar improves crop yield at field scale and the time span over which biochar affects carbon and nitrogen transformation and crop yield are still little known.In this study,a long-term field trial(2013-2019)was performed in brown soil planting maize.Six treatments were designed:CK-control;NPK-application of chemical fertilizers;C1PK-low biochar without nitrogen fertilizer;C1NPK,C_(2)NPK and C_(3)NPK-biochar at 1.5,3 and 6 t ha^(−1),respectively,combined with chemical fertilizers.Results showed that theδ^(15)N value in the topsoil of 0-20 cm layer in the C_(3)NPK treat-ment reached a peak of 291‰at the third year(2018),and demonstrated a peak of 402‰in the NPK treatment in the initial isotope trial in 2016.Synchronously,SOC was not affected until the third to fourth year after biochar addition,and resulted in a significant increase in total N of 2.4 kg N ha^(−1) in 2019 in C_(3)NPK treatment.During the entire experiment,the ^(15)N recovery rates of 74-80%were observed highest in the C_(2)NPK and C_(3)NPK treatments,resulting in an annual increase in yields significantly.The lowest subsoilδ^(15)N values ranged from 66‰to 107‰,and the ^(15)N residual rate would take 70 years for a complete decay to 0.001%in the C_(3)NPK.Our findings suggest that biochar compound fertilizers can increase C stability and N retention in soil and improve N uptake by maize,while the loss of N was minimized.Biochars,therefore,may have an important potential for improving the agroecosystem and ecological balance.

Lake geochemistry reveals marked environmental change in Southwest China during the Mid Miocene Climatic Optimum

The Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum （MMCO; 15-17 Ma） was one of the short-term climatic warm events that punctuated the Cenozoic long-term cooling trend. Because there are very few terrestrial records of this event, most of our understanding comes from marine cores. In this report, we first present new palaeomagnetic data that revises the dating of our 400 m-thick lacustrine section in Wenshan （Yunnan）, previously thought to be Late Mio- cene. These new data suggest an older age, ca. 15.2-16.5 Ma, coinciding with the MMCO. We measured δ13C on bulk organic matter （3 Corg）, total organic carbon （TOC）, total nitrogen （TN） and C/N ratios at a high sample resolution to： （1） reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental changes in the lake catchment area, and （2） infer mechanisms responsible for these changes. Our results show that all four geochemical parameters demonstrate that a strong environmental change occurred around the middle of the section, shortly after the C5Cn/C5Br geomagnetic reversal and the Early/Middle Miocene boundary at 15.97 Ma. We propose that the environmental shift may be due to a combination of a change in climate, which became cooler, together with a change in organic matter cycling within the lake. This study provides a new insight into the MMCO and demonstrates that although the MMCO was generally a warm event, it was also a time of climatic instability and abrupt environmental changes.

The effect of biochar on mycorrhizal fungi mediated nutrient uptake by coconut(Cocos nucifera L.)seedlings grown on a Sandy Regosol

Biochar amendment of soil may ameliorate inherently infertile soils,such as in the typical coconut(Cocos nucifera L.)growth areas along tropical coasts,where,moreover,temporary moisture stress commonly occurs.We conducted a pot experiment to evaluate the effects of biochar soil amendment(1%w/w)produced from Gliricidia sepium stems(BC-Gly)and rice husks(BC-RiH)on the growth of coconut seedlings and on N and P uptake mediated by mycorrhizae under wet or dry conditions in a Sandy Regosol.The pots were divided into root and hyphal zones by a nylon mesh,where 15N labelled N and P nutrients were only provided in the hyphal zone.Under wet conditions,biochar applica-tion did not affect plant growth,while under dry conditions,the BC-Gly increased root and plant growth similar to that under wet conditions.BC-Gly increased the acidic pH of the soil to a neutral level,and the microbial community shifted towards a higher fungal abundance.The P accumulated(Pacc)in roots was higher with BC-Gly and BC-RiH under dry and wet conditions,respectively.Pacc weakly correlated with the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF)in the hyphal zone.With BC-Gly roots showed lower N derived from fertilizer.We conclude that biochar application has no impact on crop growth under wet conditions,while under dry conditions,BC-Gly stimulates crop growth and P uptake,probably through liming induced P availability but also possibly by some enhancement of AMF growth.The shift in the fungal-oriented microbial community and reduced plant fertilizer N uptake suggested that BC-Gly acted as an additional N source.