Changes in Transformation of Soil Organic C and Functional Diversity of Soil Microbial Community Under Different Land Uses

Changes in soil biological and biochemical properties under different land uses in the subtropical region of China were investigated in order to develop rational cultivation and fertilization management. A small watershed of subtropical region of China was selected for this study. Land uses covered paddy fields, vegetable farming, fruit trees, upland crops, bamboo stands, and forestry. Soil biological and biochemical properties included soil organic C and nutrient contents, mineralization of soil organic C, and soil microbial biomass and community functional diversity. Soil organic C and total N contents, microbial biomass C and N, and respiration intensity under different land uses were changed in the following order： paddy fields （and vegetable farming） 〉 bamboo stands 〉 fruit trccs （and upland）. The top surface （0-15 cm） paddy fields （and vegetable farming） were 76.4 and 80.8% higher in soil organic C and total N contents than fruit trees （and upland） soils, respectively. Subsurface paddy soils （15-30 cm） were 59.8 and 67.3% higher in organic C and total N than upland soils, respectively. Soil microbial C, N and respiration intensity in paddy soils （0-15 cm） were 6.36, 3.63 and 3.20 times those in fruit tree （and upland） soils respectively. Soil microbial metabolic quotient was in the order： fruit trees （and upland） 〉 forestry 〉 paddy fields. Metabolic quotient in paddy soils was only 47.7% of that in fruit tree （and upland） soils. Rates of soil organic C mineralization during incubation changed in the order： paddy fields 〉 bamboo stands 〉 fruit trees （and upland） and soil bacteria population： paddy fields 〉 fruit trees （and upland） 〉 forestry. No significant difference was found for fungi and actinomycetes populations. BIOLOG analysis indicated a changing order of paddy fields 〉 fruit trees （and upland） 〉 forestry in values of the average well cell development （AWCD） and functional diversity indexes of microbial community. Results also showed that the conversion from paddy fields to vegetable farming for 5 years resulted in a dramatic increase in soil available phosphorus content while insignificant changes in soil organic C and total N content due to a large inputs of phosphate fertilizers. This conversion caused 53, 41.5, and 41.3% decreases in soil microbial biomass C, N, and respiration intensity, respectively, while 23.6% increase in metabolic quotient and a decrease in soil organic C mineralization rate. Moreover, soil bacteria and actinomycetes populations were increased slightly, while fungi population increased dramatically. Functional diversity indexes of soil microbial community decreased significantly. It was concluded that land uses in the subtropical region of China strongly affected soil biological and biochemical properties. Soil organic C and nutrient contents, mineralization of organic C and functional diversity of microbial community in paddy fields were higher than those in upland and forestry. Overuse of chemical fertilizers in paddy fields with high fertility might degrade soil biological properties and biochemical function, resulting in deterioration of soil biological quality.

Transformation of Straw 14 C in Ultisol and Vertisol *1

Laboratory incubation was conducted to investigate transformation of straw 14 C in Ultisol and Vertisol under aerobic condition for 112 d at 30 oC. Dried and ground 14 C labeled rice and maize straws were mixed with the soils at the rate of 2.5 g kg -1 . Decomposition of the straw C and native soil C both revealed two stages, being faster during the initial days, and slower thereafter. About 37.33%～48.80% of the straw C and 4.22%～6.83% of the native soil C decomposed by the end of the incubation. The kinds of the straws only slightly influenced the rates of their decomposition in soils, however, some retardation was found in Ultisol at the initial decomposition stage due to its lower pH. Positive priming effects were observed in the soils applied with straw, and the rate of priming effect ranged from 7.23% to 13.80%. Net losses of native soil C were found under such incubation conditions, except Ultisol with rice straw. Soil biomass C and 14 C decreased gradually with incubation time, and seemed to be consistent with the decomposition patterns of straw C and native soil C. The ratio of biomass 12 C to biomass 14 C ranged from 1.35 to 3.37. Soil biomass C occupied 1.17%～2.32% of the total soil organic C, and the proportion of biomass 14 C to the residual 14 C varied from 7.3% to 14.3%.

Elevated atmospheric CO_(2) impact on carbon and nitrogen transformations and microbial community in replicated wetland

Background:Elevated atmospheric CO_(2) has direct and indirect influences on ecosystem processes.The impact of elevated atmospheric CO_(2) concentration on carbon and nitrogen transformations,together with the microbial community,was evaluated with water hyacinth(Eichhornia crassipes)in an open-top chamber replicated wetland.The responses of nitrogen and carbon pools in water and wetland soil,and microbial community abundance were studied under ambient CO_(2) and elevated CO_(2)(ambient+200μL L^(−1)).Results:Total biomass for the whole plant under elevated CO_(2) increased by an average of 8%(p=0.022).Wetlands,with water hyacinth,showed a significant increase in total carbon and total organic carbon in water by 7%(p=0.001)and 21%(p=0.001),respectively,under elevated CO_(2) compared to that of ambient CO_(2).Increase in dissolved carbon in water correlates with the presence of wetland plants since the water hyacinth can directly exchange CO_(2) from the atmosphere to water by the upper epidermis of leaves.Also,the enrichment CO_(2) showed an increase in total carbon and total organic carbon concentration in wetland soil by 3%(p=0.344)and 6%(p=0.008),respectively.The total nitrogen content in water increased by 26%(p=0.0001),while total nitrogen in wetland soil pool under CO_(2) enrichment decreased by 9%(p=0.011)due to increased soil microbial community abundance,extracted by phospholipid fatty acids,which was 25%larger in amount than that of the ambient treatment.Conclusion:The study revealed that the elevated CO_(2) would affect the carbon and nitrogen transformations in wetland plant,water,and soil pool and increase soil microbial community abundance.

Characterizations of Dynamic Strain-induced Transformation in Low Carbon Steel

Dynamic strain-induced transformation of the low carbon steel Q（235） at 770℃ and 850℃ leads to fine ferrite grains. The microstructure characterization and mechanism of the fine ferrite grain were studied by scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM） and electron backscattered diffraction （EBSD） technique. The results show that strain-induced microstructure is the mixed microstructure of ferrite and pearlite, with cementite randomly distributed on ferrite grain boundaries and the grains interiors. EBSD images of grain boundaries demonstrate that high angle grain boundaries （HAGBs） are dominant in both of the deformation induced microstructures occurring below and above A（e3） , with only a few low angle grain boundaries （LAGBs） existing in the grain interiors. It implies that the dynamic strain-induced transformation （DSIT） happens above and below A（e3） temperature and has the same phase transition mechanisms. The refinement of ferrite is the cooperative effect of DSIT and continuous dynamic recrystallization （CDRX） of ferrite. Besides, DSIT is deemed as an incomplete carbon diffusion phase transition through the analysis of microstructure and the previous simulated results. The strengths of the Q（235） steel with refined ferrite and pearlite structure get doubled than the initial state without treated by DSIT and the residual stress in the refined structure is partly responsible for the ductility loss.

Effect of dissolved niobium on eutectoid transformation behavior

The effect of dissolved niobium on the eutectoid transformation behavior in near-eutectoid high-carbon steels has been studied.Dissolved niobium is important in the eutectoid transformation behavior.It increases the eutectoid carbon content significantly（by^0.0477% per 0.00001% dissolved niobium）,increases the hardenability of steel markedly,yields finer,more uniform,polygonal proeutectoid ferrite,induces a transition in morphology of eutectoid cementite from lamellar to somewhat spheroidal,and increases the misorientation angle of pearlite colonies from being focused near 0°to near 60°.

Cooperative effect from cation and anion of pyridine-containing anion-based ionic liquids for catalysing CO_2 transformation at ambient conditions

Pyridine-containing anion-based ionic liquids(PA-ILs) with two kinds of interaction sites to bind CO_2, e.g., [P4444][2-OP], were found to be highly efficient for catalysing the cycloaddition reactions of atmospheric CO_2 with epoxides at room temperature under metal-and halogen-free conditions, producing a series of cyclic carbonates in high yields. It was demonstrated that the cooperative interaction from two interaction sites in the anions of PA-ILs activated CO_2, while the cation activated the epoxides substrates via coordination to the central P+ unit, thus resulting in the high activity of the IL catalysts.

Lewis base-CO2 adducts as organocatalysts for CO2 transformation

In the recent decade, the development and application of organocatalysis for CO_2 transformation into useful chemicals have attracted much attention. Among these organocatalysts, Lewis base-CO_2 adducts(LB-CO_2) were found to be more efficient.The used Lewis base has great effect on the catalytic activity of its CO_2 adduct. This review reports the recent progress in LB-CO_2 adducts catalyzed the cyclization of CO_2 with epoxides or aziridines to afford cyclic carbonates or oxazolidinones,the carboxylation of CO_2 with propargylic alcohols to α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates, and the reduction of CO_2 to methanol,formamides and methylamines, with the focus on the catalytic mechanism.

Correlation of isothermal bainite transformation and austenite stability in quenching and partitioning steels

The possible decomposition of metastable austenite during the partitioning process in the high end quenching and partitioning （Q＆P） steels is somewhat neglected by most researchers. The effects of primary martensite and alloying elements including manganese, cobalt and aluminum on the isothermal decomposition of austenite during typical Q＆P process were studied by dilatometry. The transformation kinetics was studied systematically and resulting microstruc tures were discussed in details. The results suggested that the primary martensite decreased the incubation period of isothermal decomposition by accelerating the nucleation process owing to dislocations especially on phase and grain boundaries. This effect can be eliminated by a flash heating which recovered dislocations. Co addition significantly promoted the bainite transformation during partitioning while A1 and Mn suppressed the isothermal bainite transformation. The bainite transformation played an important role in carbon distribution during partitioning, and hence the amount and stability of austenite upon final quenching. The bainite transformation during partitioning is an important factor in optimizing the microstructure in Q＆P steels.

Ruthenium-promoted reductive transformation of CO2

The reductive transformation of CO_2 to energy related products including formic acid, CO, formamide, methanol and methylamine could be a promising option to supply renewable energy. In this aspect, ruthenium has found wide application in hydrogenation of various carbonyl groups, and has successfully been applied to reductive transformation of CO_2 with high catalytic efficiency and excellent selectivity. In addition, ruthenium complexes have also served as effective photosensitizers for CO_2 photoreduction.Classified by reductive products, this review summarizes and updates advances in the Ru-catalyzed reduction of CO_2 along with catalyst development on the basis of mechanistic understanding at a molecular level.

Defect Recognition in Thermosonic Imaging

This work is aimed at developing an effective method for defect recognition in thermosonic imaging.The heat mechanism of thermosonic imaging is introduced,and the problem for defect recognition is discussed.For this purpose,defect existing in the inner wall of a metal pipeline specimen and defects embedded in a carbon fiber reinforced plastic（CFRP） laminate are tested.The experimental data are processed by pulse phase thermography（PPT） method to show the phase images at different frequencies,and the characteristic of phase angle vs frequency curve of thermal anomalies and sound area is analyzed.A binary image,which is based on the characteristic value of defects,is obtained by a new recognition algorithm to show the defects.Results demonstrate good defect recognition performance for thermosonic imaging,and the reliability of this technique can be improved by the method.