Study on Soil Nutrient Fertility of Cultivated Land in Laos

[Objectives] This study was conducted to explore the differences in soil nutrient contents of cultivated land in different regions of Laos,and to provide a basis for soil nutrient management and scientific fertilization in Laos. [Methods] By collecting 166 samples of the 0-20 cm cultivated soil layer from farmland in the farming areas of Luang Namtha Province in the northern part of Laos and Vientiane Province in the middle of the country,the contents of soil organic matter,total nitrogen,available phosphorus,available potassium,available calcium and available magnesium were analyzed,so as to evaluate the current status of soil nutrient fertility and explore the differences in soil nutrient contents of regional cultivated land. [Results] The soil organic matter was relatively abundant,the total nitrogen and available potassium contents were at the lower-middle level,and the available phosphorus,available calcium and available magnesium were insufficient or extremely insufficient. The soil nutrient contents of cultivated land were different in different regions. [Conclusions] It is suggested that lime or other alkaline fertilizers should be applied on the farmland with acid soil,and nitrogen,phosphorus,and potassium fertilizers should be added at the same time to improve soil nutrient fertility.

Differences of Soil Nutrient Contents under Different Land Use Patterns in Niyang River Basin

[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the variation characteristics of soil nutrient contents under different land use patterns in the middle and upper reaches of the Niyang River in Tibet.[Methods]With the cultivated land,grass land and forest land in the middle and upper reaches of the Niyang River as the research objects,216 soil samples were collected in layers(0-10,10-20,20-30 cm)by the standard sampling method,and the soil total nitrogen,alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen,total potassium,available potassium,total phosphorus,available phosphorus and organic matter were determined.[Results]The contents of soil organic matter,total nitrogen and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen in the middle and upper reaches of Niyang River in Tibet ranked as forest land>grass land>cultivated land,and there were significant differences between the three(P<0.05).The total potassium contents of grass land and forest land were not much different,and the contents of available potassium exhibited an order of forest land>grass land>cultivated land.The distribution of soil total nutrients and available nutrients under different land use patterns showed a certain degree of surface aggregation.The contents of total nutrients and available nutrients in the soil at the 0-10 cm depth were significantly higher than those at 10-20 and 20-30 cm,and there were significant differences between the three(P<0.05).The average content of alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen was the largest in forest soil and the smallest in cultivated land under the three land use patterns in the study area.The average content of soil available phosphorus in cultivated land(19.47 mg/kg)was significantly higher than those in grass land(5.73 mg/kg)and forest land(5.19 mg/kg).The above results indicate that long-term vegetation restoration can improve the soil quality of the middle and upper reaches of the Niyang River.[Conclusions]The results of this study research provide basic support for improving the soil effect in the area.

Effects of Different Oligosaccharides on Performance and Availability of Nutrients in Broilers

One hundred and forty-four Avin broilers (1 d of age) were randomly divided into six groups, with three replicates of eight birds each to study on the effects of different oligosaccharides on performance and availability of nutrients in broilers. The control group(Group I)was fed with corn-soybean meal as basal diet, and the trial groups (Group II, III, IV,V and VI) were fed with basal diet plus 0.1% Manoligosaccharides(MOS), 0.3% Soybean-Oligosaccharides(SBOS), 0.3% Fructo-oligosaccharides(FOS), 0.3% α-Glucooligosaccharides(α-GOS) and 50 mg·L-1 Chlortetracycline(CTC), respectively. The results showed that the supplementation of oligosaccharides slightly improved daily gain and feed intake. SBOS supplementation improved, but MOS and α-GOS significantly decreased availability of energy. Oligosaccharides supplementation improved availability of energy, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and iron, and significantly increased cholesterol content of fecal, and did not affect on availability of protein and cholesterol contents in serum and muscle. Availability of phosphorus of broilers fed with FOS was much higher than that with α-GOS. SBOS supplementation remarkably increased availability of iron.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improved plant growth and nutrient acquisition of desert ephemeral Plantago minuta under variable soil water conditions

Desert ephemeral plants play an important role in desert ecosystem.Soil water availability is considered as the major restrictive factor limiting the growth of ephemeral plants.Moreover,arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi（AM fungi） are widely reported to improve the growth of desert ephemerals.The present study aimed to test the hypothesis of that AM fungi could alleviate drought stress of desert ephemeral Plantago minuta,and AM fungal functions reduced with the improvement of soil water content.A pot experiment was carried out with three levels of soil water contents（4.5%,9.0%,and 15.8%（w/w））,and three AM inoculation treatments（Glomus mosseae,Glomus etunicatum and non-inoculation）.The results indicate that mycorrhizal colonization rate decreased with the increase of soil water availability.Inoculation improved plant growth and N,P and K acquisition in both shoots and roots regardless water treatments.When comparing the two fungi,plants inoculated with G.mosseae performed better than those inoculated with G.etunicatum in terms of plant growth and nutrient acquisition.These results showed that ameliorative soil water did not suppress arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal functions in improving growth and nutrient acquisition of desert ephemeral Plantago minuta.

Using vibrational infrared biomolecular spectroscopy to detect heat-induced changes of molecular structure in relation to nutrient availability of prairie whole oat grains on a molecular basis

Background： To our knowledge, there is little study on the interaction between nutrient availability and molecular structure changes induced by different processing methods in dairy cattle. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of heat processing methods on interaction between nutrient availability and molecular structure in terms of functional groups that are related to protein and starch inherent structure of oat grains with two continued years and three replication of each year.Method： The oat grains were kept as raw（control） or heated in an air-draft oven（dry roasting： DO） at 120 °C for 60 min and under microwave irradiation（MIO） for 6 min. The molecular structure features were revealed by vibrational infrared molecular spectroscopy.Results： The results showed that rumen degradability of dry matter, protein and starch was significantly lower（P 〈0.05） for MIO compared to control and DO treatments. A higher protein α-helix to β-sheet and a lower amide I to starch area ratio were observed for MIO compared to DO and/or raw treatment. A negative correlation（-0.99, P 〈 0.01）was observed between α-helix or amide I to starch area ratio and dry matter. A positive correlation（0.99, P 〈 0.01） was found between protein β-sheet and crude protein.Conclusion： The results reveal that oat grains are more sensitive to microwave irradiation than dry heating in terms of protein and starch molecular profile and nutrient availability in ruminants.

Decomposition and Mineralization Effect of Various Sources of Pig Manure on Water Quality and Nutrients Availability for Agro-Fish System in Benin

In spite of the relevance of current studies on the importance of organic fertilizers such as animal manure in improving the health of ecosystems, little is known about the biochemical mechanisms affecting the availability of nutrients released from the organic fertilizer in water. A litter bag study during 6 weeks was carried out in pots containing 25 liters of water with 15 g of pig dejections as organic fertilizers. The experimental design was a completely randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of dejections of pigs nourished with: recommended diet composition T1, partially improved diet with Azolla filiculoides T2, improved diet with Azolla filiculoides T3, improved diet with cereal bran T4. A control treatment without dejection (T0) was considered in the study for comparison purpose. Four pigs per type of diet were considered leading to 16 white landrace pigs of six months age followed for dejection collections. Strong release of nutrients for better yield for agro-fish system was obtained in the manure T1 with ??(10.85 ± 0.00) mg/L;?( 0.011 ± 0.00) mg/L;?(2.13 ± 0.07) mg/L and K+ (10.76 ± 0.57) mg/L;Ca2+ (2.92 ± 0.11) mg/L and Mg2+ (2.53 ± 0.00) mg/L followed by manure T3 and T4 with high N content. The relatively low ratio C/N (14.25) for T1 and (15.84) for T3 induced more nutrients releasing. This study showed an important N loss probably due to microorganism activities which fluctuate nutrient availability. Also significant correlations were noted between the nutrient dynamics in water and physicochemical parameters showing the effect of abiotic factors on organic matter decomposition and mineralization which depend on microbial activities in water and pig manure composition.

Soil pH Dynamics and Nitrogen Transformations Under Long-Term Chemical Fertilization in Four Typical Chinese Croplands

Long-term fertilization experiment provides the platform for understanding the proton budgets in nitrogen transformations of agricultural ecosystems. We analyzed the historical （1990-2005） observations on four agricultural long-term experiments in China （Changping, Chongqing, Gongzhuling and Qiyang） under four different fertilizations, i.e., no-fertilizer （control）, sole chemical nitrogen fertilizer （FN）, sole chemical phosphorous and potassium fertilizers （FPK） and chemical nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium fertilizers （FNPK）. The significant decline in topsoil pH was caused not only by chemical N fertilization （0.29 and 0.89？pH at Gongzhuling and Qiyang, respectively） but also by chemical PK fertilization （0.59？pH at Gongzhuling）. The enhancement of available nutrients in the topsoil due to long-term direct nutrients supply with chemical fertilizers was in the descending order of available P （168-599%）〉available K （16-189%）〉available N （9-33%）. The relative rate of soil pH decline was lower under long-term judicious chemical fertilization （-0.036-0.034 ？pH yr-1） than that under long-term sole N or PK fertilization （0.016-0.086 ？pH yr-1）. Long-term judicious chemical fertilization with N, P and K elements decreases the nutritional limitation to normal crop growth, under which more N output was distributed in biomass removal rather than the loss via nitrate leaching. We concluded that the N distribution percentage of nitrate leaching to biomass removal might be a suitable indicator to the sensitivity of agricultural ecosystems to acid inputs.

A review of the effects of forest fire on soil properties

Forest fires are key ecosystem modifiers affecting the biological,chemical,and physical attributes of forest soils.The extent of soil disturbance by fire is largely dependent on fire intensity,duration and recurrence,fuel load,and soil characteristics.The impact on soil properties is intricate,yielding different results based on these factors.This paper reviews research investigating the effects of wildfire and prescribed fire on the biological and physico-chemical attributes of forest soils and provides a summary of current knowledge associated with the benefits and disadvantages of such fires.Low-intensity fires with ash deposition on soil surfaces cause changes in soil chemistry,including increase in available nutrients and pH.High intensity fires are noted for the complete combustion of organic matter and result in severe negative impacts on forest soils.High intensity fires result in nutrient volatilization,the break down in soil aggregate stability,an increase soil bulk density,an increase in the hydrophobicity of soil particles leading to decreased water infiltration with increased erosion and destroy soil biota.High soil heating(> 120℃) from high-intensity forest fires is detrimental to the soil ecosystem,especially its physical and biological properties.In this regard,the use of prescribed burning as a management tool to reduce the fuel load is highly recommended due to its low intensity and limited soil heating.Furthermore,the use of prescribed fires to manage fuel loads is critically needed in the light of current global warming as it will help prevent increased wildfire incidences.This review provides information on the impact of forest fires on soil properties,a key feature in the maintenance of healthy ecosystems.In addition,the review should prompt comprehensive soil and forest management regimes to limit soil disturbance and restore fire-disturbed soil ecosystems.

N and P resorption in a pioneer shrub(Artemisia halodendron) inhabiting severely desertified lands of Northern China

Nutrient resorption is an important conservation mechanism for plants to overcome nutrient limitation in the less fertile area of desertifled land. In the semi-arid Horqin Sandy Land of Northern China, the shrub Artemisia ha/odendron usually colonizes into the bare ground of severely desertified land as a pioneer species. It is, therefore, expected that A. ha/odendron will be less dependent on current nutrient uptake through efficient and proficient re- sorption of nutrients. In this study, we found that averaged nitrogen （N） and phosphorus （P） concentrations in se- nesced leaves significantly varied from 12.3 and 1.2 mg/g in the shifting sand dune to 15.9 and 1.9 mg/g in the fixed sand dune, respectively, suggesting that foliar N and P resorption of A. ha/odendron were more proficient in the shifting sand dune. In particular, positive relationships between nutrient concentrations in senesced leaves and soil nutrient availability indicate that A. ha/odendron in infertile habitats is more likely to manage with a low level of nu- trients in senesced leaves, giving this species an advantage in infertile soil. Moreover, foliar N- and P-resorption efficiencies and proficiencies showed limited inter-annual variability although annual precipitation varied greatly among 2007-2009. However, N and P resorption of A. ha/oc/endron were not more efficient and proficient than those previously reported for other shrubs, indicating that the pioneer shrub in sand dune environments does not rely more heavily than other plants on the process of resorption to conserve nutrients. Incomplete resorption of nutrients in A. halodendron suggests that senesced-leaf fall would return litter with high quality to the soil, and thereby would indirectly improve soil nutrient availability. The restoration of desertified land, therefore, may be ac- celerated after A. halodendron pioneers into shifting sand dunes.

Variation of soil enzyme activity and microbial biomass in poplar plantations of different genotypes and stem spacings

To improve the productivity of poplar planta- tions, a field experiment of split-plot design with four tree spacings and three poplar clones was established, and four soil enzyme activities and microbial biomass were monitored in the trial. Soil enzyme activities, in most cases, were significantly higher in topsoil （0-10 cm） than in lower horizons （10-20 cm）. Soil cellulase, catalase and protease activities during the growing season were higher than during the non-growing season, while invertase activity followed the opposite trend. Soil invertase, cellulase and catalase activities varied by poplar clone but soil protease activity did not. Cellulase and protease activities in the plantation at 5 × 5 m spacing were significantly higher than in the other spacings. The highest catalase activity was recorded at 6 × 6 m spacing. At the same planting density, invertase activity was greater in square spacings than in rectangular spacings. Soil microbial biomass was also significantly affected by seedling spacing and poplar clone. The mean soil MBC was significantly lower in topsoil than in the lower horizon, while MBN showed the opposite pattern. Significantly positive correlations were observed among soil cellulase, protease and catalase activities （p 〈0.01）, whereas soil invertase activity was negatively and significantly correlated with cellulase, protease and catalase activities （p 〈 0.01）. Soil microbial biomass and enzyme activities were not correlated except for a significantly negative correlation between soil MBC and catalase activities. Variations in soil enzyme activity and microbial biomass in different poplar plantations suggest that genotype and planting spacing should be considered when modeling soil nutrient dynamics and managing for long-term site productivity.

Antioxidant compounds and minerals in tomatoes by Trichodermaenriched biofertilizer and their relationship with the soil environments

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Trichoderma-enriched biofertilizer（BioF/compost）on antioxidants and minerals in ripe tomatoes and soil health improvements in terms of nutrient availability and microbial populations.The study was comprised of six treatments：control（zero input）;recommended doses of NPK（135.5,45.6 and 22.9 kg ha^-1,respectively）;100%BioF/compost;75%BioF/compost＋25%N;50%BioF/compost＋50%N;and 25%BioF/compost＋75%N.The recommended doses of P and K were used in the last three treatments.It was found that the application of 100%BioF/compost enhanced plant growth,leaf greenness,and produced 12.9%higher yield compared to the recommended doses of NPK and other treatments.Mineral contents（P,K,Ca,Mg,Cu,Fe,Mn and Zn）in tomato roots,shoots and fruits and antioxidant compounds,i.e.,ascorbic acid,β-carotine,and lycopene were increased significantly in fruits fertilized with100%BioF/compost.The high efficiency of Trichoderma compost might be the result of its potential of nutrient solubilization and harboring soil microorganisms.Collectively,BioF/compost increased soil fertility and favored growth of microbes in the rhizosphere which ultimately contributed to higher yield,antioxidant,and mineral concentrations in tomatoes.Thus,Trichoderma-enriched biofertilizer may reduce application of chemical fertilizers and therefore,can be considered as a noble practice in sustainable agriculture.

Board-invited review: Sensitivity and responses of functional groups to feed processing methods on a molecular basis

In complex feed structures, there exist main chemical functional groups which are associated with nutrient utilization and availability and functionality. Each functional group has unique molecular structure therefore produce unique molecular vibration spectral profile. Feed processing has been used to improve nutrient utilization for many years. However, to date, there was little study on processing-induced changes of feed intrinsic structure and functional groups on a molecular basis within intact tissue. This is because limited research technique is available to study inherent structure on a molecular basis. Recently bioanalytical techniques： such as Synchrotron Infrared Microspectroscopy as well as Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform molecular spectroscopy have been developed. These techniques enable to detect molecular structure change within intact tissues. These techniques can prevent destruction or alteration of the intrinsic protein structures during processing for analysis. However, these techniques have not been used in animal feed and nutrition research. The objective of this review was show that with the advanced technique, sensitivity and responses of functional groups to feed processing on a molecular basis could be detected in my research team. These functional groups are highly associated with nutrient utilization in animals.

Impact of MgCl₂Modified Biochar on Phosphorus and Nitrogen Fractions in Coastal Saline Soil

Biochar application is claimed to improve nutrient availability in many problem soils;however, pristine biochars are often reported to produce inconsistent results. Therefore, appropriate biochar modification techniques are required to retain soil nutrients at an optimum level. To increase Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) availability in coastal saline soil, two slow pyrolyzed biochars viz domestic organic waste (DWB) and farmyard manure (FMB) were modified with MgCl2. Ten different treatments comprising the biochars (pristine and modified) with and without the recommended fertilizer were applied (2% w/w) to the soil and incubated for ninety days. The soils were analyzed for pH, EC, available , and different phosphorus fractions sequentially extracted by NH4Cl, NaHCO3, NaOH, and HCl. During the incubation period, biochar treatments increased all phosphorus and nitrogen fractions than the control and recommended fertilizer treatment. The application of FMB significantly (p < 0.05) increased NH4Cl, NaHCO3, and NaOH extractable P fractions from DWB, while HCl soluble fraction was enhanced (p > 0.05) by DWB. The increased Al and/or Fe bound phosphate after 60 days of incubation had significant correlations to decreasing soil pH and NaHCO3-P, indicating reduced availability with time. Further Mg modification slightly increased P availability only after 60 days of incubation. The modification also improved both nitrogen fractions but significantly (p < 0.05) increased the NO3-N content which could be the result of electrostatic attraction between Mg2+ and ions. Overall, Mg-modified biochar may retain both phosphates and nitrates in soil. However, the magnitude of retention will vary depending on biochar type, nutrient species, and aging in soil.

Leaf nutrient dynamics and nutrient resorption:a comparison between larch plantations and adjacent secondary forests in Northeast China

Aims Conversion of secondary forests to pure larch plantations is a common management practice driven by the increasing demand for timber production in Northeast China,resulting in a reduction in soil nutrient availability after a certain number of years following conversion.Nutrient resorption prior to leaf senescence was related to soil fertility,an important nutrient conservation strategy for plants,being especially significant in nutrient-poor habitats.However,the seasonal dynamics of leaf nutrients and nutrient resorption in response to secondary forest conversion to larch plantations is not well understood.Methods A comparative experiment between larch plantations(Larix spp.)and adjacent secondary forests(dominant tree species including Quercus mongolica,Acer mono,Juglans mandshurica and Fraxinus rhynchophylla)was conducted.We examined the variations in leaf nutrient(macronutrients:N,P,K,Ca and Mg;micronutrients:Cu and Zn)concentrations of these tree species during the growing season from May to October in 2013.Nutrient resorption efficiency and proficiency were compared between Larix spp.and the broadleaved species in the secondary forests.Important Findings Results show that the seasonal variation of nutrient concentrations in leaves generally exhibited two trends,one was a downward trend for N,P,K,Cu and Zn,and another was an upward trend for Ca and Mg.The variations in foliar nutrient concentrations were mainly controlled by the developmental stage of leaves rather than by tree species.Resorption of the observed seven elements varied among the five tree species during leaf senescence.Nutrient resorption efficiency varied 6–75%of N,P,K,Mg,Cu and Zn,while Ca was not retranslocated in the senescing leaves of all species,and Mg was not retranslocated in Larix spp.Generally,Larix spp.tended to be more efficient and proficient(higher than 6–30%and 2–271%of nutrient resorption efficiency and resorption proficiency,respectively)in resorbing nutrients than the broadleaved species in the secondary forests,indicating that larch plantations had higher leaf nutrient resorption and thus nutrient use efficiency.Compared with Larix spp.,more nutrients would remain in the leaf litter of the secondary forests,indicating an advantage of secondary forests in sustaining soil fertility.In contrast,the larch plantation would reuse internal nutrients rather than lose nutrients with litter fall and thus produce a positive feedback to soil nutrient availability.In summary,our results suggest that conversion from secondary forests to pure larch plantations would alter nutrient cycling through a plantmediated pathway.

Inoculation and co-inoculation of alfalfa seedlings with root growth promoting microorganisms(Piriformospora indica,Glomus intraradices and Sinorhizobium meliloti) affect molecular structures,nutrient profiles and availability of hay for ruminants

Inoculation of alfalfa seedlings with root growth promoting microorganisms under semi-arid climate condition may improve biomass production and nutritive value.The current study aimed to investigate the effect of inoculation of alfalfa seedlings with Piriformospora indica(Pi) and co-inoculating Pi with Glomus intraradices(Gi+Pi) or Sinorhizobium meliloti(Sm+Pi) on hay yield,chemical composition,molecular structures by Fourier transformed infrared(FTIR) spectroscopy,in situ ruminal degradability and in vitro gas production.Seedlings were grown in experimental pots in a greenhouse until first cut and then transferred outside and cut a further 4 times.Biomass yield was similar across the treatments.Acid detergent fiber(ADF) concentration was higher in Pi than in control hay,and ADF decreased further with co-inoculation(P < 0.05).The ether extract(EE) concentration was lower for Pi and Gi+Pi compared with control hay,and control,Pi and Gi+Pi hays had lower EE concentration compared with Sm+Pi(P < 0.05).The FTIR spectroscopic vibration peak height ratio related to proteins(amide1+amide 2): total carbohydrate ratio was lower for the inoculation treatments compared with control hay(P < 0.05).In situ ruminal degradability of dry matter and organic matter were higher for hay of inoculated and co-inoculated seedlings than for control hay(P < 0.05).In conclusion,hay of alfalfa seedlings inoculated and co-inoculated with root growth promoting microorganisms had improved nutritional value compared with hay from non-treated alfalfa seedlings,and co-inoculation was the most effective,however,changes were relatively minor.

How silicon fertilizer improves nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient availability in paddy soil?

In order to reveal the mechanism of silicon(Si)fertilizer in improving nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)nutrient availability in paddy soil,we designed a series of soil culture experiments by combining application of varying Si fertilizer concentrations with fixed N and P fertilizer concentrations.Following the recommendations of fertilizer manufacturers and local farmers,we applied Si in concentrations of 0,5.2,10.4,15.6,and 20.8μg/kg.At each concentration of added Si,the availability of soil N and P nutrients,soil microbial activity,numbers of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and P-decomposing bacteria which means that the organic P is decomposed into inorganic nutrients which can be absorbed and utilized by plants,and urease and phosphatase activity first increased,and then decreased,as Si was added to the soil.These indicators reached their highest levels with a Si application rate of 15.6μg/kg,showing values respectively 19.78%,105.09%,8.34%,73.12%,130.36%,28.12%,and 20.15%higher than those of the controls.Appropriate Si application(10.4 to 15.6µg/kg)could significantly increase the richness of the soil microbial community involved in cycling of N and P nutrients in the soil.When the Si application rate was 15.6μg/kg,parameters for characterizing microbial abundance such as sequence numbers,operational taxonomic unit(OTU)number,and correlation indices of microbial community richness such as Chao1 index,the adaptive coherence estimator(ACE)index,Shannon index,and Simpson index all reached maximum values,with amounts increased by 14.46%,10.01%,23.80%,30.54%,0.18%,and 2.64%,respectively,compared with the control group.There is also a good correlation between N and P mineralization and addition of Si fertilizer.The correlation coefficients between the ratio of available P/total P(AP/TP)and the number of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria,AP/TP and acid phosphatase activity(AcPA),AP/TP and the Shannon index,the ratio of available N/total amount of N(AN/TN)and the number of ammoniated bacteria,and AN/TN and AcPA were 0.9290,0.9508,0.9202,0.9140,and 0.9366,respectively.In summary,these results revealed that enhancement of soil microbial community structure diversity and soil microbial activity by appropriate application of Si is the key ecological mechanism by which application of Si fertilizer improves N and P nutrient availability.

Nutrient alterations following biochar application to a Cd-contaminated solution and soil

Biochars,when applied to contaminated solutions or soils,may sequester potentially toxic elements while releasing neces-sary plant nutrients.This purpose of this study focused on quantifying both phenomenon following wheat straw(Triticum aestivum L.)biochar application(0,5,and 15%by wt)to a Cd containing solution and a Cd-contaminated paddy soil using 240-day laboratory batch experiments.Following both experiments,solid phases were analyzed for elemental associations using a combination of wet chemical sequential extractions and synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy(XAS).When wheat straw biochar was applied at 15%to Cd containing solutions,Cd and Zn concentrations decreased to below detection in some instances,Ca and Mg concentrations increased by up to 290%,and solution pH increased as compared to the 5%biochar application rate.Similar responses were observed when biochar was added to the Cd-contaminated paddy soil,suggesting that this particular biochar has the ability to sequester potentially toxic elements while releasing necessary plant nutrients to the soil solution.When significant,positive correlations existed between nutrient release over time,while negative correlations were present between biochar application rate,potentially toxic element sorption and pH.The latter suggests that potentially toxic elements were sorbed by a combination of organic functional groups or mineral precipitation based on whether pH was above or below~7.In support of this contention,the wet chemical sequential extraction procedure in conjunction with previously observed Cd or current Zn XAS showed that biochar application promoted the formation of layered double hydroxides,sorption to(oxy)hydroxides,and organically bound to biochar as Zn species.As a multi-functional material,biochar appears to play an important role in sequestering Cd while releasing essential plant nutrients.These findings suggest that biochar may be a‘win-win’for improving environmental quality in potentially toxic element contaminated agroecosystems.

Variability and limits of nitrogen and phosphorus resorption during foliar senescence

Foliar nutrient resorption(NuR)plays a key role in ecosystem functioning and plant nutrient economy.Most of this recycling occurs during the senescence of leaves and is actively addressed by cells.Here,we discuss the importance of cell biochemistry,physiology,and subcellular anatomy to condition the outcome of NuR at the cellular level and to explain the existence of limits to NuR.Nutrients are transferred from the leaf in simple metabolites that can be loaded into the phloem.Proteolysis is the main mechanism for mobilization of N,whereas P mobilization requires the involvement of different catabolic pathways,making the dynamics of P in leaves more variable than those of N before,during,and after foliar senescence.The biochemistry and fate of organelles during senescence impose constraints that limit NuR.The efficiency of NuR decreases,especially in evergreen species,as soil fertility increases,which is attributed to the relative costs of nutrient acquisition from soil decreasing with increasing soil nutrient availability,while the energetic costs of NuR from senescing leaves remain constant.NuR is genetically determined,with substantial interspecific variability,and is environmentally regulated in space and time,with nutrient availability being a key driver of intraspecific variability in NuR.

The influence of hydrochar from biogas digestate on soil improvement and plant growth aspects

Hydrochar(HC),produced by hydrothermal carbonization,offers technical advantages over biochar(BC)produced by pyrolysis,and is suitable for soil amelioration,carbon sequestration,and enhanced plant growth.BC grain size has been shown to influence nutrient retention,microbial colonization and aggregate formation;however,similar research for HC is lacking.Pot trials were conducted to investigate the influence of HC grain size[coarse(6.3-2 mm),medium(2-0.63 mm)and fine(<0.63 mm)],produced from biogas digestate,for soil improvement in three soils:loamy Chernozem,sandy Podzol,and clayey Gleysol,at a 5%HC application rate(w/w).All soils including two controls(with and without plants)were analysed for water holding capacity(WHC),cation exchange capacity(CEC),wet aggregate stability,pH,plant available nutrients(PO_(4)-P,K and N_(min))and germination and biomass success using standard laboratory and statistical methods.Soil pH showed a compensatory shift toward the HC pH(7.2)in all soils over the course of the study.For example,the pH of the medium grained HC treatment for the Chernozem decreased from 7.9 to 7.2 and increased in the Podzol and Gleysol from 5.9 to 6.1 and 4.9 to 5.5,respectively.The nutrient-rich HC(2034±38.3 mg kg^(−1) PO_(4)-P and 2612.5±268.7 mg kg^(−1) K content)provided only a short-term supply of nutrients,due to the relatively easily mineralized fraction of HC,which allowed for quick nutrient release.The pH and PO_(4)-P effects were most pronounced in the fine grained HC treatments,with a~87%,~308%and~2500%increase in PO_(4)-P content in the Chernozem,Podzol and Gleysol,respectively,compared to the controls at the beginning of the study.The same trend was observed for the K and NH_(4)^(+)content in the fine and medium grained HC treatments in all soils.No seed germination inhibition of Chinese cabbage was observed,with average germina-tion rates>50%in all soils.An effect on NO_(3)^(−)content was indeterminable,while there was little to no effect on biomass production,WHC,CEC and aggregate stability.In conclusion,the application of 5%fine grained HC significantly influenced the nutrient content over a short-term.However,the application rate was insufficient to substantially improve plant growth,nor to sustain a longer-term nutrients supply,regardless of grain size.

Metabolic recoding of epigenetics in cancer

Dysregulation of metabolism allows tumor cells to generate needed building blocks as well as to modulate epigenetic marks to support cancer initiation and progression.Cancer-induced metabolic changes alter the epigenetic landscape,especially modifications on histones and DNA,thereby promoting malignant transformation,adaptation to inadequate nutrition,and metastasis.Recent advances in cancer metabolism shed light on how aberrations in metabolites and metabolic enzymes modify epigenetic programs.The metabolism-induced recoding of epigenetics in cancer depends strongly on nutrient availability for tumor cells.In this review,we focus on metabolic remodeling of epigenetics in cancer and examine potential mechanisms by which cancer cells integrate nutritional inputs into epigenetic modification.