Narrow distribution of cyanophage psbA genes observed in two paddy waters of Northeast China by an incubation experiment

Dear Editor,Cyanophages are viruses that infect cyanobacteria.They play an important role in shaping the genetic and functional diversity of themselves and their hosts through genetic exchange and shuffling（Lindell et al.,2005;Singh et al.,2012）.

Bioturbation Effects of Benthic Fish on the Phosphorus Dynamic in Overlying Water of Paddy Field

[Objective]The research aimed to investigate the bioturbation effects of benthic fish Misgurnus anguillicaudatus on phosphorus dynamic in overlying water of paddy field,as well as to explore the bioturbation mechanism.[Method]Based on simulation experiment,the phosphorus contents in overlying water were analyzed comparatively with and without Misgurnus anguillicaudatus by the using of ion chromatography and spectrophotometry.[Result]The concentrations of total phosphorus(TP),dissolved total phosphorus(DTP)and particular phosphorus(PP)in bioturbation group had no significant differences with those in control group in initial stage of experiment,and became significantly higher than control group in middle and late stages of experiment(P<0.05). The PP/TP ratios in bioturbation group were bigger than those in control group,the increase of TP concentration in bioturbation group was mainly due to the increase of PP. The ratios of dissolved inorganic phosphorus(DIP) to DTP (DIP/DTP) were significantly bigger than those in control group in middle and late stages of experiment(P<0.05).[Conclusion]The benthic fish had bioturbation effects on phosphorus in overlying water of paddy field,which increased the available phosphorus for rice growth.

Methane emissions from rice fields under continuous straw return in the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River

A three-year experiment was conducted in the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China to study the influence of continuous wheat straw return during the rice season and continuous rice straw return in wheat on methane （CH 4 ） emissions from rice fields in which, the rice-wheat rotation system is the most dominant planting pattern. The field experiment was initiated in October 2009 and has continued since the wheat-growing season of that year. The analyses for the present study were conducted in the second （2011） and third （2012） rice growing seasons. Four treatments, namely, the continuous return of wheat straw and rice straw in every season （WR）, of rice straw but no wheat straw return （R）, of wheat straw but no rice straw return （W） and a control with no straw return （CK）, were laid out in a randomized split-plot design. The total seasonal CH 4 emissions ranged from 107.4 to 491.7 kg/ha （2011） and 160.3 to 909.6 kg/ha （2012）. The increase in CH 4 emissions for treatments WR and W were 289% and 230% in the second year and 185% and 225% in the third year, respectively, in relation to CK. We observed less methane emissions in the treatment R than in CK by 14%-43%, but not statistically significant. Treatment R could increase rice productivity while no more CH 4 emission occurs. The difference in the total CH 4 emissions mainly related to a difference in the methane flux rate during the first 30-35 days after transplant in the rice growing season, which was caused by the amount of dissolved oxygen in paddy water and the amount of reducible soil materials.