Temporal and environmental factors drive community structure and function of methanotrophs in volcanic forest soils

Methanotrophs,organisms that obtain oxygen by oxidizing methane,are recognized as the only known biological sink for atmospheric CH_4,and forest soil methanotrophs play crucial roles in mitigating global warming.The succession patterns of methanotrophic communities and functions in Wudalianchi volcano forest soils could provide a basis for the study of evolutionary mechanisms between soil microorganisms,the environment,and carbon cycling of temperate forest ecosystems under climate change.In this study,the characteristics and drivers of methanotrophic community structure and function of two volcanic soils at different stages of development are analyzed,including an old volcano and a new volcano,which most recently erupted 300 years and 17-19×10^(5)years ago,respectively,and a non-volcano hills as control,based on space for time substitution and Miseq sequencing and bioinformation technology.The results showed that CH_(4) fluxes were significantly higher in old-stage volcano forest soils than new-stage forest soils and non-volcano forest soils.There were significant differences in the community composition and diversity of soil methanotrophs from different volcano forest soils.Methylococcus was the dominant genus in all soil samples.Additionally,the relative abundance of Methylococcus,along with Clonothrix,Methyloglobulus,Methylomagum,Methylomonas and Methylosarcina,were the important genera responsible for the differences in methanotrophic community structure in different volcano forest soils.The relative abundance of methanotroph belonging toγ-proteobacteria was significantly higher than that belonging toα-proteobacteria(P<0.05).Chao1,Shannon and Simpson indices of soil methanotrophic community were significantly lower in new-stage volcanos and were significantly affected by bulk density,total porosity,p H,nitrate,dissolved organic carbon and dissolved organic nitrogen.There were significant differences in community structure between new-stage and old-stage volcanoes.Bulk density and p H are important soil properties contributing to the divergence of methanotrophs community structure,and changes in soil properties due to soil development time are important factors driving differences in methanotrophs communities in Wudalianchi volcanic soils.

An economic and efficient method for further purification of crude DNA extracted from forest soils

To obtain pure DNA directly from some complex forest soils are still very difficulty at present,though many methods even commercial kits have been attempted.This paper reports an economic and efficient method for further purifying crude DNA extracted from forest soils with two steps.First,the crude DNA was dissolved using the extraction buffer,which removed the debris by chloroform-isoamyl alcohol,and then reprecipitated the DNA by isopropanol;second,the recovered DNA was further purified with silica spin column.Results show that 82-91% of the humic acids was removed by step one.The remaining humic acids could be completely effaced through the second step.The recovered DNA following this protocol was quite pure and ready for sensitive conventional PCR reactions.This is an economic,efficient,and timesaving method.Moreover,crude DNA extracted by other methods can be also further purified with this new way.

Effects of Exogenous Organic Acids on Phosphorus Availability of Dark Brown Forest Soils and Phosphorus Absorption and Accumulation of Larix olgensis Seedlings with Nutrient Deficiency

Different proportions of A1 and B horizons dark brown forest soils （A1∶B=1∶2） were utilized to set the soil nutrient deficient conditions, and Larix olgensis seedlings were cultivated. By simulating organic acids concentrations in forest litter leachates of northeast China, the effects and mechanism of different concentrations of organic acid solutions on phosphorus （P） availability of dark brown forest soils and P absorption of Larix olgensis seedlings with nutrient deficiency were studied. The results showed that, compared with A1 horizon soils, available P contents of mixed soils in A1 and B horizons decreased, and P accumulation and efficiency of P uptake in root and leaves of Larix olgensis seedlings also decreased, but efficiency of P utilization increased. After treatments of exogenous organic acids, available P contents of mixed soils increased and the impact sequence of different organic acids were succinic acid 〉 citric acid 〉 oxalic acid; the concentration of 5.0 mmol/L had the best function, and the best effect of organic acids was at 20 d. Organic acids also increased P accumulation and efficiency of P uptake in roots and leaves of Larix olgensis seedlings, but decreased efficiency of P utilization. The impact strength of organic acids on P accumulation and efficiency of P uptake varied with treatment time, type and concentration of organic acids. The results of 20 d and 30 d in roots were higher than those of 10 d, however, the results of 10 d and 20 d in leaves were higher than those of 30 d, thus, at the earlier stage of organic acids treatments, more P absorbed were transferred to leaves, and at the later stage, more P would be accumulated in roots. The concentration of 10.0 mmol/L had the best function, and the impact sequence of different organic acids was succinic acid 〉 citric acid 〉 oxalic acid. Therefore, organic acids might contribute to P absorption and accumulation by Larix olgensis seedlings, final y increasing the adaptability and endurance of Larix olgensis seedlings to nutrient deficient soils.

Effects of long-term elevated CO_2 on N_2-fixing,denitrifying and nitrifying enzyme activities in forest soils under Pinus sylvestriformis in Changbai Mountain

A study was conducted to determine the effects of elevated CO2 on soil N process at Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province, northeastern China （42°24＂N, 128°06＂E, and 738 m elevation）. A randomized complete block design of ambient and elevated CO2 was established in an open-top chamber facility in the spring of 1999. Changpai Scotch pine （Pinus sylvestris var. sylvestriformis seeds were sowed in May, 1999 and CO2 fumigation treatments began after seeds germination. In each year, the exposure started at the end of April and stopped at the end of October. Soil samples were collected in June and August 2006 and in June 2007, and soil nitrifying, denitrifying and N2-fixing enzyme activities were measured. Results show that soil nitrifying enzyme activities （NEA） in the 5-10 cm soil layer were significantly increased at elevated CO2 by 30.3% in June 2006, by 30.9% in August 2006 and by 11.3% in June 2007. Soil denitrifying enzyme activities （DEA） were significantly decreased by elevated CO2 treatment in June 2006 （P 〈 0.012） and August 2006 （P 〈 0.005） samplings in our study; no significant difference was detected in June 2007, and no significant changes in N2-fixing enzyme activity were found. This study suggests that elevated CO2 can alter soil nitrifying enzyme and denitrifying enzyme activities.

Effect of Simulated Acid Rain on Potential Carbon and Nitrogen Mineralization in Forest Soils

Acid rain is a serious environmental problem worldwide. In this study, a pot experiment using forest soils planted with the seedlings of four woody species was performed with weekly treatments of pH 4.40, 4.00, 3.52, and 3.05 simulated acid rain (SAR) for 42 months compared to a control of pH 5.00 lake water. The cumulative amounts of C and N mineralization in the five treated soils were determined after incubation at 25 ℃ for 65 d to examine the effects of SAR treatments. For all five treatments, cumulative CO2-C production ranged from 20.24 to 27.81 mg kg-1 dry soil, net production of available N from 17.37 to 48.95 mg kg-1 dry soil, and net production of NO-3 -N from 9.09 to 46.23 mg kg-1 dry soil. SAR treatments generally enhanced the emission of CO2-C from the soils; however, SAR with pH 3.05 inhibited the emission. SAR treatments decreased the net production of available N and NO3-N. The cumulative CH4 and N2O productions from the soils increased with increasing amount of simulated acid rain. The cumulative CO2-C production and the net production of available N of the soil under Acmena acuminatissima were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than those under Schima superba and Cryptocarya concinna. The mineralization of soil organic C was related to the contents of soil organic C and N, but was not related to soil pH. However, the overall effect of acid rain on the storage of soil organic matter and the cycling of important nutrients depended on the amount of acid deposition and the types of forests.

Quantification of 3D macropore networks in forest soils in Touzhai valley(Yunnan,China)using X-ray computed tomography and image analysis

The three dimensional （3D） geometry of soil macropores largely controls preferential flow, which is a significant infiltrating mechanism for rainfall in forest soils and affects slope stability. However, detailed studies on the 3D geometry of macropore networks in forest soils are rare. The intense rainfall-triggered potentially unstable slopes were threatening the villages at the downstream of Touzhai valley （Yunnan, China）. We visualized and quantified the 3D macropore networks in undisturbed soil columns （Histosols） taken from a forest hillslope in Touzhai valley, and compared them with those in agricultural soils （corn and soybean in USA; barley, fodder beet and red fescue in Denmark） and grassland soils in USA. We took two large undisturbed soil columns （250 mm^25o mmxsoo mm）, and scanned the soil columns at in-situ soil water content conditions using X-ray computed tomography at a voxel resolution of 0.945 × 0.945 × 1.500o mm^3. After reconstruction and visualization, we quantified the characteristics of macropore networks. In the studied forest soils, the main types of maeropores were root channels, inter-aggregate voids, maeropores without knowing origin, root-soil interfaee and stone-soil interface. While maeropore networks tend to be more eomplex, larger, deeper and longer. The forest soils have high maeroporosity, total maeropore wall area density, node density, and large maeropore volume, hydraulie radius, mean maeropore length, angle, and low tortuosity. The findings suggest that maeropore networks in the forest soils have high inter- connectivity, vertical continuity, linearity and less vertically oriented.

Soluble organic nitrogen in forest soils of northeast China

Soluble organic nitrogen （SON） is recognized as a sensitive indicator of soil nitrogen status. The present work was conducted in the temperate forests of northeast China where soils are typically characterized by high organic matter and high organic nitrogen content, and soil sampling was made in early spring just after the freeze-thaw period. The water extracted SON pools in the organic layer of forest soils were measured within the range from 156.0 mg·kg^-1 to 292.6 mg·kg^-1, a similar magnitude of salt solution extracted SON pools reported in literatures. However, the water soluble SON pools in 0-15 cm mineral soils in present study were much higher （3-10 times） than any other reports, ranging from 58.6 mg·kg^-1 to 125.2 mg·kg^-1. Water soluble SON varied markedly among the soils under different forests and at different sites. The SON in water extracts were positively and significantly correlated to soil organic matter and total nitrogen contents, but negatively correlated to microbial biomass nitrogen （MBN）. The reasons of the abnormally large SON pools and the negative correlations between SON and MBN in the 0-15cm mineral soils in this study were specially discussed.

Study on Variation in ^(15)N Natural Abundance. Ⅰ. Characteristics of Variation in ^(25)N Natural Abundance of Forest Soils

INTRODUCTION A lot 0fwork has been done on the variation of natural ^(15)N abundance in soils andtheir N components (Chen et al., 1964). However, these reports mostly concerned thegeochemical mean of natural ^(15)N abundance, and only a little work has been done on thecharacteristics of variation of the natural ^(15)N abundance in different ecosystems and itsrelationship with the properties and conditions of soil, which is the aim of our recent re-

Nitrification and denitrification as sources of gaseous nitrogen emission from different forest soils in Changbai Mountain

The contributions of nitrification and denitrification to N2O and N2 emissions from four forest soils on northern slop of Changbai Mountain were measured with acetylene inhibition methods. In incubation experiments, 0.06% and 3% C2H2 were used to inhibit nitrification and denitrification in these soils, respectively. Both nitrification and denitification existed in these soils except tundra soil, where only denitrification was found. The annually averaged rates of nitrification and denitrification in mountain dark brown forest soil were much higher than that in other three soils. In mountain brown coniferous soil, contributions of different processes to gaseous nitrogen emissions were Denitrification N2O>nitrification N2O>Denitrification N2. The same sequence exists in mountain soddy soil as that in the mountain brown coniferous soil. The sequence in mountain tundra soil was Denitrification N2O>Denitrification N2.

Effect of Rock Fragments on Tracer Transport in Broadleaved and Coniferous Forest Soils: Column Study

This study investigated the effect of rock fragments on tracer transport in broadleaved and coniferous forest soils from the 0 - 100 cm depth of Gongga Mountain in eastern margin of Qinghai Tibetan Plateau. Using repacked soil columns (20 cm in height and 10 cm in diameter) with different rock fragments contents (0%, 5%, and 15% in v/v), breakthrough curves of bromide (as non-reactive tracer) were obtained under saturated condition. A two-region model was applied and the parameters were estimated by inverse modeling. Results show that with increasing rock fragment content the dispersivity (λ) generally increased while the mobile-immobile partition coefficient (β) and the mass transfer coefficient (ω) decreased. The presence of rock fragments led to an increase in the fraction of immobile domain as well as soil tortuosity. A plausible explanation is that the soil beneath the rock fragments behaved as immobile domain and soil-rock interfaces could serve as preferential flow paths.

Deadwood affects the soil organic matter fractions and enzyme activity of soils in altitude gradient of temperate forests

The main objective of our study has been to determine the role of deadwood in the shaping of the amount of soil organic matter fractions in mountain forest soils.For this purpose,a climosequence approach comprising north(N)and south(S)exposure along the altitudinal gradient(600,800,1000 and 1200 m a.s.l.)was set up.By comparing the properties of decomposing deadwood and those of the soils located directly beneath the decaying wood we drew conclusions about the role of deadwood in the shaping of soil organic matter fractions and soil carbon storage in different climate conditions.The basic properties,enzymatic activity and fractions of soil organic matter(SOM)were determined in deadwood and affected directly by the components released from decaying wood.Heavily decomposed deadwood impacts soil organic matter stabilization more strongly than the less decayed deadwood and the light fraction of SOM is more sensitive to deadwood effects than the heavy fraction regardless of the location in the altitude gradient.Increase in SOM mineral-associated fraction C content is more pronounced in soils under the influence of deadwood located in lower locations of warmer exposure.Nutrients released from decaying wood stimulate the enzymatic activity of soils that are within the range of deadwood influence.

Quantification and depth distribution analysis of carbon to nitrogen ratio in forest soils using reflectance spectroscopy

Forest soils have large contents of carbon(C)and total nitrogen(TN),which have significant spatial variability laterally across landscapes and vertically with depth due to decomposition,erosion and leaching.Therefore,the ratio of C to TN contents(C∶N),a crucial indicator of soil quality and health,is also different depending on soil horizon.These attributes can cost-effectively and rapidly be estimated using visible-near infrared-shortwave infrared(VNIR-SWIR)spectroscopy.Nevertheless,the effect of different soil layers,particularly over large scales of highly heterogeneous forest soils,on the perfor-mance of the technique has rarely been attempted.This study evaluated the potential of VNIR-SWIR spectroscopy in quantification and variability analysis of C∶N in soils from different organic and min-eral layers of forested sites of the Czech Republic.At each site,we collected samples from the litter(L),fragmented(F)and humus(H)organic layers,and from the A_(1)(depth of 2-10 cm)and A_(2)(depth of 10-40 cm)mineral layers providing a total of 2505 samples.Support vector machine regression(SVMR)was used to train the prediction models of the selected attributes at each individual soil layer and the merged layer(profile).We further produced the spatial distribution maps of C∶N as the target attribute at each soil layer.Results showed that the prediction accuracy based on the profile spectral data was adequate for all attributes.Moreover,F was the most accurately predicted layer,regardless of the soil attribute.C∶N models and maps in the organic layers performed well although in mineral layers,models were poor and maps were reliable only in areas with low and moderate C∶N.On the other hand,the study indicated that reflectance spectra could efficiently predict and map organic layers of the forested sites.Although,in mineral layers,high values of C∶N(≥50)were not detectable in the map created based on the reflectance spectra.In general,the study suggests that VNIR-SWIR spectroscopy has the feasibility of modelling and mapping C∶N in soil organic horizons based on national spectral data in the forests of the Czech Republic.

The potential for an old-growth forest to store carbon in the topsoil:A case study at Sasso Fratino,Italy

There is considerable interest devoted to oldgrowth forests and their capacity to store carbon(C)in biomass and soil.Inventories of C stocks in old-growth forests are carried out worldwide,although there is a lack of information on their actual potential for C sequestration.To further understand this,soil organic carbon(SOC)was measured in one of Italy's best-preserved old-growth forests,the Sasso Fratino Integral Nature Reserve.This reserve is on the World Heritage List along with other ancient beech forests of Europe,and it is virtually untouched due to the steepness of the terrain,even before legal constraints were imposed.Although the sandstone-derived soils are often shallow,they are rich in organic matter.However,no quantification had been carried out.By systematically sampling the topsoil across the forest,we accurately determined the average amount of SOC(62.0±16.9 Mg ha^(–1))and nitrogen(4.0±1.2 Mg ha^(–1))in the top 20 cm.Using the CENTURY model,future dynamics of SOC stocks were predicted to 2050 according to two climate scenarios,A1F1 and B2,the first of high concern and the second more optimistic.The model projected an increase of 0.2 and 0.3 Mg ha^(–1)a^(–1)by 2030 under the A1F1 and B2 scenarios,respectively,suggesting that the topsoil in old-growth forests does not reach equilibrium but continues accumulating SOC.However,from 2030 to 2050,a decline in SOC accumulation is predicted,indicating SOC net loss at high altitudes under the worst-case scenario.This study confirms that soils in oldgrowth forests play a significant role in carbon sequestration.It also suggests that climate change may affect the potential of these forests to store SOC not only in the long term but also in the coming years.

Evaluation of Soil Fertility Quality and Environmental Driving Factors in Different Soil Types of Artificial Forests

The aim was to clarify the environmental driving factors of soil fertility indicators in artificial forests of Guangxi and comprehensively evaluate the soil fertility level.By collecting data on the current status of soil in artificial forests,the spatial distribution of major soil fertility indicators was analyzed,and the distribution map of the fertility index of artificial forests in the entire region and the comprehensive fertility index of artificial forests of different soil types were obtained.Canonical correspondence analysis method was used to analyze soil fertility indicators and environmental factors,and the environmental driving factors of soil fertility indicators for artificial forests of the main soil types in Guangxi were obtained.The results showed that over 90%of the soil fertility index of artificial forests in the entire region was between 0.20 and 0.50.The order of soil fertility index of different soil types of artificial forests from high to low was yellow brown soil>yellow red soil>yellow soil>red soil>limestone soil>latosolic red soil>laterite.In artificial forests of latosolic red soil,the correlation between soil alkaline nitrogen and organic matter,annual average temperature was high,while the correlation between soil available phosphorus and organic matter,pH was high,and the correlation between soil available potassium and environmental factors such as slope,altitude,rainfall,accumulated temperature,and slope aspect was high.In artificial forests of red soil,the correlation between soil alkaline nitrogen and slope,altitude was high,while the correlation between soil available phosphorus and accumulated temperature,rainfall was high,and the correlation between soil available potassium and pH was high.In artificial forests of limestone soil,there was a high correlation between soil alkaline nitrogen and slope,organic matter,a high correlation between soil available phosphorus and accumulated temperature,rainfall,and a high correlation between soil available potassium and pH.

Effects of the type of forest alteration on gross nitrogen mineralization in soils of southern India

Change in land-use practices can result in major shifts in the cycling of various elements,particularly nitrogen(N),which is prone to anthropogenic perturbations.For quantifying these shifts,accurate measurements of rates of biogeochemical transformations of N are needed.We used the(^(15)N) isotope dilution technique to understand the effects of the types of forest alteration on(N) transformation rates by comparing gross N mineralization and ammonium(NH_(4)^(+)) consumption rates in soils of a managed forest,an unmanaged forest,and a rubber plantation in Kerala,India.Overall,nitrate(NO_3~-) dominated soils of the managed and unmanaged forests,whereas soils in the rubber plantation showed relatively higher NH_(4)^(+) concentration.Total N(TN) and total organic carbon(TOC) concentrations were the highest under the rubber canopy(TN:1.49±0.02 mg N g^(-1);TOC:7.96±0.86 mg C g^(-1)).In soils of all three forest types,gross N mineralization rates were higher compared to NH_(4)^(+) consumption rates.Despite high TN and TOC concentrations,the rates of gross N mineralization and NH_(4)^(+) consumption were considerably lower in the rubber plantation(mineralization:1.08±0.08 mg N kg^(-1)d^(-1);consumption:0.85±0.09 mg N kg^(-1) d^(-)) compared to the managed(mineralization:3.71±0.35 mg N kg^(-1) d^(-1);consumption:2.20±1.41 mg N kg^(-1) d^(-1)) and unmanaged(mineralization:2.20±1.07 mg N kg^(-1) d^(-1);consumption:1.39±0.27 mg N kg^(-1) d^(-1)) forests.The lower NH_(4)^(+) consumption rates in the rubber plantation led to significantly higher(p<0.05) residence time of NH_(4)^(+)(~4 days) compared to the managed and unmanaged forests(<2 days),possibly contributing to acidification of rubber soils(pH~4.8).These results together suggest that replacement of naturally grown forests with a mono-cropped plantation such as rubber negatively impact rates of N transformation processes in tropical soils and imply that change in tree species composition of naturally grown forests can adversely affect soil microbial activity.We recommend intercropping these plantations with commercial crops to maintain soil microbial diversity and biogeochemical cycling for sustainable forest management.

Profile distribution and seasonal dynamics of water-extractable carbohydrate in soils under mixed broad-leaved Korean pine forest on Changbai Mountain

Carbohydrate represents an important part of the soil labile organic carbon pool. Water soluble carbohydrate drives the C cycle in forest soil by affecting microbial activity and hot water extractable car- bohydrate is thought related to soil carbon sequestration due to the asso- ciation with soil aggregation. In a temperate forest region of northeast China, Changbai Mountain, we investigated the abundance, spatial dis- tribution, and seasonal dynamics of cool and hot-water extractable car- bohydrate in soils under mixed broad-leaved Korean pine forest. The concentrations of cool-water extractable carbohydrate （CWECH） in three soil layers （0-5, 5-10, 10-20 cm） ranged from 4.1 to 193.3 g.kg-1 dry soil, decreasing rapidly with soil depth. On an annual average, the CWECH concentrations in soils at depths of 5-10 and 10-20 cm were 54.2% and 24.0%, respectively, of that in the 0-5 cm soil layer. CWECH showed distinct seasonal dynamics with the highest concentrations in early spring, lowest in summer, and increasing concentrations in autumn. Hot-water extractable carbohydrate （HWECH） concentrations in three soil layers ranged from 121.4 to 2026.2 g.kgq dry soil, which were about one order of magnitude higher than CWECH. The abundance of HWECH was even more profile-dependent than CWECH, and decreased more rapidly with soil depth. On an annual average, the HWECH concentration in soils 10-20 cm deep was about one order of magnitude lower than that in the top 0-5 cm soil. The seasonality of HWECH roughly tracked that of CWECH but with seasonal fluctuations of smaller amplitude. The car- bohydrate concentrations in cool/hot water extracts of soil were positively correlated with UV254 and UV2s0 of the same solution, which has implications for predicting the leaching loss of water soluble organic carbon.

Effect of vegetation type, wetting intensity, and nitrogen supply on external carbon stimulated heterotrophic respiration and microbial biomass carbon in forest soils

By using packed soil-core incubation experiments, we have studied stimulating effects of addition of external carbon （C） （glu- cose, 6.4 g C m 2） on heterotrophic respiration and microbial biomass C of a mature broadleaf and Korean pine mixed forest （BKPF） and an adjacent white birch forest （WBF） soil under different wetting intensities （55% and 80% WFPS, water-filled pore space） and nitrogen （N） supply （NH4C1 and KNO3, 4.5 g N m-e） conditions. The results showed that for the control, the cumulative carbon dioxide （CO2） flux from WBF soil during the 15-day incubation ranged from 5.44 to 5.82 g CO2-C m-2, which was significantly larger than that from BKPF soil （2.86 to 3.36 g CO2-C m 2）. With increasing wetting intensity, the cumulative CO2 flux from the control was decreased for the WBF soil, whereas an increase in the CO2 flux was observed in the BKPF soil （P 〈 0.05）. The addition of NH4C1 or KNO3 alone significantly reduced the cumulative CO2 fluxes by 9.2%-21.6 % from the two soils, especially from WBF soil at low wetting intensity. The addition of glucose alone significantly increased soil heterotrophic respiration, microbial biomass C （MBC）, and microbial metabolic quotient. The glucose-induced cumulative CO2 fluxes and soil MBC during the incubation ranged from 8.7 to 11.7 g CO2-C m-2 and from 7.4 to 23.9 g C m-2, which are larger than the dose of added C. Hence, the addition of external carbon can increase the decomposition of soil native organic C. The glucose-induced average and maximum rates of CO2 fluxes during the incubation were significantly in- fluenced by wetting intensity （WI） and vegetation type （VT）, and by WIxVT, NH4ClxVT and WIxVTxNH4C1 （P〈0.05）. The addition of NH4C1, instead of KNO3, significantly decreased the glucose-induced MBC of WBF soil （P〈0.05）, whereas adding NH4C1 and KNO3 both significantly increased the glucose-induced MBC of BKPF soil at high moisture （P〈0.05）. According to the differences in soil labile C pools, MBC and CO2 fluxes in the presence and absence of glucose, it can be concluded that the stimulating effects of glucose on soil heterotrophic respiration and MBC under temperate forests were dependent on vegetation type, soil moisture, and amount and type of the N added.

Cattle manure biochar and earthworm interactively affected CO_(2)and N_(2)O emissions in agricultural and forest soils:Observation of a distinct difference

The application of manure-derived biochar offers an alternative to avoid the direct application of manure to soil causing greenhouse gas emission.Soil fauna,especially earthworms,can markedly stimulate carbon dioxide(CO_(2))and nitrous oxide(N_(2)O)emissions from soil.This study therefore investigated the effect of cattle manure biochar(added at rates of 0,2%,or 10%,coded as BC0,BC2 and BC10,respectively)application,with or without earthworm Aporrectodea turgida,on emissions of CO_(2) and N_(2)O and changes of physic-chemical properties of agricultural and forest soils in a laboratory incubation experiment.The BC10 treatment significantly enhanced cumulative CO_(2) emissions by 27.9%relative to the untreated control in the agricultural soil.On the contrary,the BC2 and BC10 treatments significantly reduced cumulative CO_(2) emissions by 16.3%–61.1%and N_(2)O emissions by 92.9%–95.1%compared to the untreated control in the forest soil.The addition of earthworm alone significantly enhanced the cumulative CO_(2) and N_(2)O fluxes in agricultural and forest soils.Cumulative CO_(2) and N_(2)O fluxes were significantly increased when BC2 and BC10 were applied with earthworm in the agricultural soil,but were significantly reduced when BC10 was applied with earthworm in the forest soil.Our study demonstrated that biochar application interacted with earthworm to affect CO_(2) and N_(2)O emissions,which were also dependent on the soil type involved.Our study suggests that manure biochar application rate and use of earthworm need to be carefully studied for specific soil types to maximize the climate change mitigation potential of such management practices.

N_2O emissions from forest and grassland soils in northern China

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Advances of study on atmospheric methane oxidation (consumption) in forest soil

Next to CO2, methane (CH4) is the second important contributor to global warming in the atmosphere and global atmospheric CH4 budget depends on both CH4 sources and sinks. Unsaturated soil is known as a unique sink for atmospheric CH4 in terrestrial ecosystem. Many comparison studies proved that forest soil had the biggest capacity of oxidizing atmospheric CH4 in various unsaturated soils. However, up to now, there is not an overall review in the aspect of atmospheric CH4 oxidation (consumption) in forest soil. This paper analyzed advances of studies on the mechanism of atmospheric CH4 oxidation, and re-lated natural factors (Soil physical and chemical characters, temperature and moisture, ambient main greenhouse gases con-centrations, tree species, and forest fire) and anthropogenic factors (forest clear-cutting and thinning, fertilization, exogenous aluminum salts and atmospheric deposition, adding biocides, and switch of forest land use) in forest soils. It was believed that CH4 consumption rate by forest soil was limited by diffusion and sensitive to changes in water status and temperature of soil. CH4 oxidation was also particularly sensitive to soil C/N, Ambient CO2, CH4 and N2O concentrations, tree species and forest fire. In most cases, anthropogenic disturbances will decrease atmospheric CH4 oxidation, thus resulting in the elevating of atmos-pheric CH4. Finally, the author pointed out that our knowledge of atmospheric CH4 oxidation (consumption) in forest soil was insufficient. In order to evaluate the contribution of forest soils to atmospheric CH4 oxidation and the role of forest played in the process of global environmental change, and to forecast the trends of global warming exactly, more researchers need to studies further on CH4 oxidation in various forest soils of different areas.