Response of plant,litter,and soil C:N:P stoichiometry to growth stages in Quercus secondary forests on the Loess Plateau,China

Ecological stoichiometry is an important indicator of biogeochemical cycles and nutrient limitations in terrestrial ecosystems.However,little is known about the response of ecological stoichiometry to plant growth.In this study,carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P)concentrations were evaluated in plant tissues(trees,shrubs,and herbs),litter,and soil of young(≤40-year-old),middle-aged(41–60-year-old),near-mature(61–80-year-old),and mature(81–120-year-old)Quercus secondary forests on the Loess Plateau,China.Vegetation composition,plant biomass,and C stock were determined to illustrate their interaction with stoichiometry.Only tree biomass C signifi cantly increased with stand development.Leaf N and trunk P concentrationsgenerally increased,but branch P decreased with growth stage.Fine roots had the highest C and P concentrations at the middle-aged stage.In contrast,shrubs,herbs,litter,and soil C:N:P stoichiometry did not change signifi cantly during stand development.Leaf N and P were positively correlated with soil C,N,P,and their ratios.However,there was no signifi cant correlation between litter and leaves in terms of C:N:P stoichiometry.A redundancy analysis showed that soil N best explained leaf N and P variance,and tree biomass and C stock were related to biotic factors such as tree age and shrub biomass.Hierarchical partitioning analysis indicated that,compared with soil or litter variables,stand age only accounted for a relatively small proportion of leaf C,N,and P variation.Thus,secondary Quercus ecosystems might have inherent ability to maintain sensitive responses of metabolically active organs to environmental factors during stand aging.The results of this work help to elucidate the biogeochemical cycling of secondary forest ecosystems in tree development,provide novel insights into the adaptation strategies of plants in diff erent organs and growth stages,and could be used to guide fertilization programs and optimize forest structure.

Carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry in Pinus tabulaeformis forest ecosystems in warm temperate Shanxi Province,north China

Although carbon(C), nitrogen(N), and phosphorous(P) stoichiometric ratios are considered good indicators of nutrient excess/limitation and thus of ecosystem health, few reports have discussed the trends and the reciprocal effects of C:N:P stoichiometry in plant–litter–soil systems. The present study analyzed C:N:P ratios in four age groups of Chinese pine, Pinus tabulaeformis Carr., forests in Shanxi Province, China: plantation young forests(AY,<20 year-old); plantation middle-aged forests(AM, 21–30 year-old); natural young forests(NY,<30 year-old); and natural middle-aged forests(NM,31–50 year-old). The average C:N:P ratios calculated for tree, shrub, and herbaceous leaves, litter, and soil(0–100 cm) were generally higher in NY followed by NM,AM, and AY. C:N and C:P ratios were higher in litter than in leaves and soils, and reached higher values in the litter and leaves of young forests than in middle-aged forests;however, C:N and C:P ratios were higher in soils of middle-aged forests than in young forests. N:P ratios were higher in leaves than in litter and soils regardless of stand age; the consistent N:P<14 values found in all forests indicated N limitations. With plant leaves, C:P ratios were highest in trees, followed by herbs and shrubs, indicating a higher efficiency in tree leaf formation. C:N ratios decreased with increasing soil depth, whereas there was no trend for C:P and N:P ratios. C:N:P stoichiometry of forest foliage did not exhibit a consistent variation according to stand age. Research on the relationships between N:P, and P, N nutrient limits and the characteristics of vegetation nutrient adaptation need to be continued.

Degradation induces changes in the soil C:N:P stoichiometry of alpine steppe on the Tibetan Plateau

Due to the Tibetan Plateau’s unique high altitude and low temperature climate conditions,the region’s alpine steppe ecosystem is highly fragile and is suffering from severe degradation under the stress of increasing population,overgrazing,and climate change.The soil stoichiometry,a crucial part of ecological stoichiometry,provides a fundamental approach for understanding ecosystem processes by examining the relative proportions and balance of the three elements.Understanding the impact of degradation on the soil stoichiometry is vital for conservation and management in the alpine steppe on the Tibetan Plateau.This study aims to examine the response of soil stoichiometry to degradation and explore the underlying biotic and abiotic mechanisms in the alpine steppe.We conducted a field survey in a sequent degraded alpine steppe with seven levels inNorthern Tibet.The plant species,aboveground biomass,and physical and chemical soil properties such as the moisture content,temperature,pH,compactness,total carbon(C),total nitrogen(N),and total phosphorus(P)were measured and recorded.The results showed that the contents of soil C/N,C/P,and N/P consistently decreased along intensifying degradation gradients.Using regression analysis and a structural equation model(SEM),we found that the C/N,C/P,and N/P ratios were positively affected by the soil compactness,soil moisture content and species richness of graminoids but negatively affected by soil pH and the proportion of aboveground biomass of forbs.The soil temperature had a negative effect on the C/N ratio but showed positive effect on the C/P and N/P ratios.The current study shows that degradation-induced changes in abiotic and biotic conditions such as soil warming and drying,which accelerated the soil organic carbon mineralization,as well as the increase in the proportion of forbs,whichwere difficult to decompose and input less organic carbon into soil,resulted in the decreases in soil C/N,C/P,and N/P contents to a great extent.Our results provide a sound basis for sustainable conservation and management of the alpine steppe.

Shrub modulates the stoichiometry of moss and soil in desert ecosystems, China

Desert mosses, which are important stabilizers in desert ecosystems, are distributed patchily under and between shrubs. Mosses differ from vascular plants in the ways they take up nutrients. Clarifying their distribution with ecological stoichiometry may be useful in explaining their mechanisms of living in different microhabitats. In this study, Syntrichia caninervis, the dominant moss species of moss crusts in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China, was selected to examine the study of stoichiometric characteristics in three microhabitats(under living shrubs, under dead shrubs and in exposed ground). The stoichiometry and enzyme activity of rhizosphere soil were analyzed. The plant function in the above-ground and below-ground parts of S. caninervis is significantly different, so the stoichiometry of the above-ground and below-ground parts might also be different. Results showed that carbon(C), nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) contents in the below-ground parts of S. caninervis were significantly lower than those in the above-ground parts. The highest N and P contents of the two parts were found under living shrubs and the lowest under dead shrubs. The C contents of the two parts did not differ significantly among the three microhabitats. In contrast, the ratios of C:N and C:P in the below-ground parts were higher than those in the above-ground parts in all microhabitats, with significant differences in the microhabitats of exposed ground and under living shrubs. There was an increasing trend in soil organic carbon(SOC), soil total nitrogen(STN), soil available phosphorous(SAP), and C:P and N:P ratios from exposed ground to under living shrubs and to under dead shrubs. No significant differences were found in soil total phosphorous(STP) and soil available nitrogen(SAN), or in ratios of C:N and SAN:SAP. Higher soil urease(SUE) and soil nitrate reductase(SNR) activities were found in soil under dead shrubs, while higher soil sucrase(STC) and soil β-glucosidase(SBG) activities were respectively found in exposed ground and under living shrubs. Soil alkaline phosphatase(AKP) activity reached its lowest value under dead shrubs, and there was no significant difference between the microhabitats of exposed ground and under living shrubs. Results indicated that the photosynthesis-related C of S. caninervis remained stable under the three microhabitats while N and P were mediated by the microhabitats. The growth strategy of S. caninervis varied in different microhabitats because of the different energy cycles and nutrient balances. The changes of stoichiometry in soil were not mirrored in the moss. We conclude that microhabitat could change the growth strategy of moss and nutrients cycling of moss patches.

Impact of vegetation succession on leaf-litter-soil C:N:P stoichiometry and their intrinsic relationship in the Ziwuling Area of China’s Loess Plateau

Long-term natural vegetation succession plays a substantial role in the accumulation and distribution of plant and soil C:N:P stoichiometry.However,how plant and soil C:N:P relationships or ratios change along with successional stages over a century in the severely eroded areas remain unclear.These were measured over a 100-year natural succession in five successional stages from annual grasses to climax forests.The results show that natural succession had significant effects on carbon(C),nitrogen(N)and phosphorous(P)concentrations in leaf-litter-soil and their ratios in severely eroded areas.Nitrogen concentrations and N:P ratios in leaf and litter increased from annual grasses to the shrub stage and then decreased in the late successional forest stages.Leaf P levels decreased from annual grasses to shrub stages and did not significantly change during late successional stages.Litter P concentration decreased in the early successional stages and increased during late successional stages,with no overall significant change.Soil C and N concentrations and C:N,C:P and N:P ratios increased with successional stages.Soil C and N concentrations decreased with the increasing soil depth.Both were significantly different between any successional stages and controls(cropland)in the upper 10 cm and 10–20 cm soil layers.Leaf N:P ratios may be used to indicate nutrient limitations and this study suggests that plant growth during the grass stages was limited by N,during the shrub stage,by P,and during the forest stages,by both of N and P.In addition,there were close correlations between litter and leaf C:N:P ratios,soil and litter C and N levels,and C:P and N:P ratios.These results show that long-term natural vegetation succession is effective in restoring degraded soil properties and improving soil fertility,and provide insights into C:N:P relationships of leaf,litter and soil influenced by vegetation succession stage.

Ecological stoichiometry and biomass response of Agropyron michnoi Roshev.under simulated N deposition in a sandy grassland,China

Sandy grassland in northern China is a fragile ecosystem with poor soil fertility.Exploring how plant species regulate growth and nutrient absorption under the background of nitrogen(N)deposition is crucial for the management of the sandy grassland ecosystem.We carried out a field experiment with six N levels in the Hulunbuir Sandy Land of China from 2014 to 2016 and explored the Agropyron michnoi Roshev.responses of both aboveground and belowground biomasses and carbon(C),N and phosphorus(P)concentrations in the plant tissues and soil.With increasing N addition,both aboveground and belowground biomasses and C,N and P concentrations in the plant tissues increased and exhibited a single-peak curve.C:N and C:P ratios of the plant tissues first decreased but then increased,while the trend for N:P ratio was opposite.The peak values of aboveground biomass,belowground biomass and C concentration in the plant tissues occurred at the level of 20 g N/(m2•a),while those of N and P concentrations in the plant tissues occurred at the level of 15 g N/(m2•a).The maximum growth percentages of aboveground and belowground biomasses were 324.2%and 75.9%,respectively,and the root to shoot ratio(RSR)decreased with the addition of N.N and P concentrations in the plant tissues were ranked in the order of leaves>roots>stems,while C concentration was ranked as roots>leaves>stems.The increase in N concentration in the plant tissues was the largest(from 34%to 162%),followed by the increase in P(from 10%to 33%)and C(from 8%to 24%)concentrations.The aboveground biomass was positively and linearly correlated with leaf C,N and P,and soil C and N concentrations,while the belowground biomass was positively and linearly correlated with leaf N and soil C concentrations.These results showed that the accumulation of N and P in the leaves caused the increase in the aboveground biomass,while the accumulation of leaf N resulted in the increase in the belowground biomass.N deposition can alter the allocation of C,N and P stoichiometry in the plant tissues and has a high potential for increasing plant biomass,which is conducive to the restoration of sandy grassland.

Solar radiation effects on leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry of Chinese fir across subtropical China

Background:Solar radiation(SR)plays critical roles in plant physiological processes and ecosystems functions.However,the exploration of SR influences on the biogeochemical cycles of forest ecosystems is still in a slow progress,and has important implications for the understanding of plant adaption strategy under future environmental changes.Herein,this research was aimed to explore the influences of SR on plant nutrient characteristics,and provided theoretical basis for introducing SR into the establishment of biochemical models of forest ecosystems in the future researches.Methods:We measured leaf nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)stoichiometry in 19 Chinese fir plantations across subtropical China by a field investigation.The direct and indirect effects of SR,including global radiation(Global R),direct radiation(Direct R)and diffuse radiation(Diffuse R)on the leaf N and P stoichiometry were investigated.Results:The linear regression analysis showed that leaf N concentration had no association with SR,while leaf P concentration and N:P ratio were negatively and positively related to SR,respectively.Partial least squares path model(PLS-PM)demonstrated that SR(e.g.Direct R and Diffuse R),as a latent variable,exhibited direct correlations with leaf N and P stoichiometry as well as the indirect correlation mediated by soil P content.The direct associations(path coefficient=−0.518)were markedly greater than indirect associations(path coefficient=−0.087).The covariance-based structural equation modeling(CB-SEM)indicated that SR had direct effects on leaf P concentration(path coefficient=−0.481),and weak effects on leaf N concentration.The high SR level elevated two temperature indexes(mean annual temperature,MAT;≥10°C annual accumulated temperature,≥10℃ AAT)and one hydrological index(mean annual evapotranspiration,MAE),but lowered the soil P content.MAT,MAE and soil P content could affect the leaf P concentration,which cause the indirect effect of SR on leaf P concentration(path coefficient=0.004).Soil N content had positive effect on the leaf N concentration,which was positively and negatively regulated by MAP and≥10℃ AAT,respectively.Conclusions:These results confirmed that SR had negatively direct and indirect impacts on plant nutrient status of Chinese fir based on a regional investigation,and the direct associations were greater than the indirect associations.Such findings shed light on the guideline of taking SR into account for the establishment of global biogeochemical models of forest ecosystems in the future studies.

Changes in ecological stoichiometry and nutrient resorption in Castanopsis hystrix plantations along an urbanization gradient in the lower subtropics

The stoichiometry of carbon,nitrogen and phosphorous in plants can reflect the interactions between plants and their environment.The interplay between plant nutrients,climatic factors,and soil properties and the underlying regulatory mechanisms are pillars of ecology but remain underexplored.In this study of plant C-N-P stoichiometry and nutrient resorption in Castanopsis hystrix groves in three cities(Guangzhou,Zhongshan,and Lechang)that represent an urban-rural gradient in Guangdong Province,South China,we explored potential relationships among NO_(2) concentrations,diameter at breast height(DBH),and resident human population.Mean annual temperature,mean annual precipitation,insolation duration per year,and the human resident population differed significantly among the three cities.Soil C-N-P was always highest in suburban Lechang,and the concentration of NO_(2) was highest in urban Guanghzou(55.33±0.67μg m^(-3))and positively correlated with the resident population and leaf N:P.Our findings suggest that C-N-P stoichiometry of C.hystrix was better explained by NO_(2)than by soil C-N-P stoichiometry and that nutrient resorption was better explained by leaf nutrients and DBH than by NO_(2) and soil stoichiometry.Our study supports the hypothesis that rapid urbanization influences NO_(2) concentrations and microclimate,which may jointly change the stoichiometry of plant nutrients in the forest ecosystems.

Spatial patterns of leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry across southeast to central Tibet

Leaf N and P stoichiometry in terrestrial ecosystems has been widely investigated in recent years owing to the importance of these elements in improving the predicted vegetation responses to global changes.The vertical distribution of leaf N and P stoichiometry has attracted increasing attention because of the dramatic changes in environmental factors at regional scales.However,the characteristics of leaf N and P stoichiometry in the southeast Qinghai–Tibet plateau(SET)are not clear,although this area is sensitive to global change.Here,we analyzed the leaf N and P concentrations in dominant plant species on natural altitudinal gradients on the Duoxiongla(DXL),Sejila(SJL),Mila(ML),and Gangbala(GBL)mountains across the SET all the way to central Tibet.Our results showed that the leaf N concentrations were comparable among the regions,whereas the leaf P concentrations dramatically decreased from SET to central Tibet(CT).The leaf N concentrations were 23.6,21.3,20.8,and 22.4 g kg^(-1),and the leaf P concentrations were 2.40,2.49,1.94,and 1.59 g kg^(-1) on the SJL,DXL,ML and GBL mountains,respectively.The leaf N/P ratios on the DXL,SJL,ML,and GBL mountains were 8.81,10.3,11.2,and 14.2,respectively.Considering the increasing trend of the leaf N/P ratio from southeast Qinghai–Tibet plateau to central Tibet,N limitation might widely exist in well vegetated ecosystems in the Qinghai–Tibet plateau.

Total Maximum Allocated Loads on Stoichiometry of Nitrogen and Identification of Critical Form in Jiaozhou Bay, China

Total pollutant load control management for total dissolved nitrogen(TDN) is an urgent task required to gain a good water quality status in Jiaozhou Bay(JZB), China. In this paper, the stoichiometry of multiform TDN on land-ocean interactions associated with marine biogeochemical reaction(LOIMBR) was studied by modeling the load-response relationship based on a three-dimensional water quality model of nitrogen in JZB. The results showed that the stoichiometry on LOIMBR of dissolved organic nitrogen(DON), NO3-N and NH4-N was 3:1:1, with one-third of the contribution on the concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN) in JZB for the land-based DON loads to DIN loads. Based on the stoichiometric relationship of nitrogen forms, the total maximum allocated load(TMAL) of equivalent TDN(ETDN) was approximately 5300 t a^-1 in JZB, equivalent to the TMAL of 5700, 5800 and 15600 t a^-1 for NH4-N, NO3-N and DON, respectively. According to the loads of ETDN, there were four outfalls overloaded in JZB in 2015, which lie in the head of the bay. In the four overloaded outfalls, besides NO3-N, NH4-N was the critical nitrogen control form for Moshui River, while DON for Dagu River and Haibo River. The results of numerical experiments further showed that JZB will achieve good water quality after 7 years by implementation of the 'different emission reduction' based on TMAL of ETDN, which is significantly better than 'equal percent removal'.

Decomposition dynamics and ecological stoichiometry of Quercus acutissima and Pinus densiflora litter in the Grain to Green Program Area of northern China

Litter decomposition and ecological stoichiometry of nutrient release is an important part of material cycling and energy flow in forest ecosystems.In a study of the ecological stoichiometry and nutrient release during litter decomposition in a pine–oak forest ecosystem of the Grain to Green Program(GTGP)area of northern China,a typical pine and oak species(PDS:Pinus densiflora Sieb.,QAC:Quercus acutissima Carr.)were selected in the Taiyi Mountain study area.The ecological stoichiometry characteristics of carbon(C),nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)and litter decomposition dynamics were studied by field sampling and quantitative analyses.The results showed the following.(1)The decomposition dynamics of both litters was slow-fast-slow.The most important climatic factor affecting the litter decomposition rate from May to October was precipitation and temperature from November to April of the following year.(2)Throughout the 300-day study,in both litters,C of the two litters was released,N first accumulated and was then released,and P exhibited a release-accumulate-release pattern.(3)C:P was significantly higher than C:N and N:P(p<0.05);the C:N of PSD litter was higher than that of QAC(p<0.05),but the N:P of QAC litter was higher than that of PSD litter(p<0.05).The C:N of both litters was very high in the study area,indicating that the nutrient release ability during litter decomposition in the two typical pine–oak forest ecosystems was relatively weak;therefore,more attention should be paid to nitrogen-fixing species and mixed forests in the GTGP area of northern China.

Patterns and driving factors of leaf C,N,and P stoichiometry in two forest types with different stand ages in a mid-subtropical zone

Background:Carbon(C),nitrogen(N),and phosphorus(P)stoichiometry is a key indicator of nutrient utilization in plants,and C/N/P ratios are related to the life histories and adaptation strategies of tree species.However,no consensus has been reached on how leaf stoichiometric characteristics are affected by forest type and stand ages.The relationships between leaf stoichiometry and geographical,meteorological,and soil factors also remain poorly understood.Methods:Leaf and soil were sampled from forest stands of different age groups(young,middle-aged,near-mature,and mature)in two forest types(Chinese fir(Cunninghamia lanceolata)forests and evergreen broadleaved forests).The relationships between leaf C,N,and P stoichiometric parameters and geographical,meteorological,and soil factors were analysed by using redundancy analysis(RDA)and stepwise linear regression analysis.Results:Leaf C concentrations peaked in the near-mature stands with increasing age irrespective of forest type.Leaf N and P concentrations fluctuated with a rising trend in Chinese fir forests,while decreased first and increased later from young to mature phases in natural evergreen broadleaved forests.Chinese fir forests were primarily limited by N and P,while natural evergreen broadleaved forests were more susceptible to P limitation.Leaf C,N,and P stoichiometric characteristics in Chinese fir forests were mainly affected by the soil total P concentration(SP),longitude(LNG),growing season precipitation(GSP)and mean temperature in July(JUT).The leaf C concentration was mainly affected by GSP and JUT;leaf N and P concentrations were both positively correlated with LNG;and leaf P was positively correlated with SP.In evergreen broadleaved forests,however,leaf stoichiometric parameters displayed significant correlations with latitude(LAT)and mean annual precipitation(MAP).Conclusions:Leaf stoichiometry differed among forest stands of different age groups and forest types.Leaf C,N,and P stoichiometry was primarily explained by the combinations of SP,LNG,GSP and JUT in Chinese fir forests.LAT and MAP were the main controlling factors affecting the variations in the leaf C,N,and P status in natural evergreen broadleaved forests,which supports the temperature-plant physiological hypothesis.These findings improve the understanding of the distribution patterns and driving mechanisms of leaf stoichiometry linked with stand age and forest type.

Elevated CO_(2) increases shoot growth but not root growth and C:N:P stoichiometry of Suaeda aralocaspica plants

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the eco-physiological responses,in terms of growth and C:N:P stoichiometry of plants cultured from dimorphic seeds of a single-cell C4 annual Suaeda aralocaspica(Bunge)Freitag and Schütze under elevated CO_(2).A climatic chamber experiment was conducted to examine the effects of ambient(720μg/L)and CO_(2)-enriched(1440μg/L)treatments on these responses in S.aralocaspica at vegetative and reproductive stages in 2012.Result showed that elevated CO_(2) significantly increased shoot dry weight,but decreased N:P ratio at both growth stages.Plants grown from dimorphic seeds did not exhibit significant differences in growth and C:N:P stoichiometric characteristics.The transition from vegetation to reproductive stage significantly increased shoot:root ratio,N and P contents,but decreased C:N,C:P and N:P ratios,and did not affect shoot dry weight.Moreover,our results indicate that the changes in N:P and C:N ratios between ambient and elevated CO_(2) are mainly caused by the decrease of N content under elevated CO_(2).These results provide an insight into nutritional metabolism of single-cell C4 plants under climate change.

Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Stoichiometry in Cascade Ponds in an Agricultural Small Watershed and Their Influencing Factors

Ecological stoichiometry of nitrogen and phosphorus is an important indicator to characterize the nitrogen and phosphorus trophic status in aquatic ecosystems. The study of the spatio-temporal patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry is beneficial to the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution management in pond ecosystems. In this study, 18 groups (36 in total) of typical cascade ponds were selected as long-term observations to investigate the spatial distribution patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus component ratios (ratio of total nitrogen to phosphorus: TN:TP, ratio of dissolved nitrogen to phosphorus: TDN:TDP, ratio of particulate nitrogen to phosphorus: PN:PP) in water bodies in the tropical agricultural watershed of Jinjing. The results showed that the average values of TN:TP and TDN:TDP in the upstream ponds were 26.4 and 53.4, respectively, and were more than those in the downstream (22.95 and 48.1, respectively). In contrast, the PN:PP (13.78) in the upstream was significantly lower than that of the downstream (30.39). Furthermore, the factors of rainfall, agricultural land use and fish farming influenced the spatio-temporal variability of the N:P ratios. The ratios of TN:TP and TDN:TDP were higher in the wet season and lower in the dry season. Agricultural land use and fish farming reduced the ratios of the above three nitrogen and phosphorus components in cascade ponds in the study area. Our results show that strengthening agricultural land pollution control and aquaculture management could help to improve water quality of pond ecosystems in the study area.

Kinetics and Stoichiometry of the Reduction of Hydrogen Peroxide by an Aminocarboxylactocobaltate(II) Complex in Aqueous Medium

The kinetics and stoichiometry of the reduction of H2O2 by an aminocaboxylactocobaltate(II) complex (hereafter[CoHEDTAOH2]-) in aqueous medium have been studied under the following conditions: T = 29℃ ± 1℃, Ionic Strength, I = 0.50 mol dm-3 (NaClO4), [H+] = 1 × 10-3 mol dm-3. The ratio from the stoichiometric study conforms to the equation 2[CoHEDTAOH2]- + H2O2 + 2H+ → 2 [CoHEDTAOH2] + 2H2O. The rate of reaction varied linearly to the first power of the concentrations of the reductant and oxidant and displayed inverse dependence on acid concentration. The plot of acid dependent rate constant versus [H+]-1 was linear with zero intercept. The [CoHEDTAOH2]- - H2O2 reaction was insensitive to the change in ionic strength of the medium suggesting interaction of charged and uncharged species at the activated complex. The Michaelis-Menten plot of was linear without intercept which suggested absence of intermediate complex. Evidences in this paper showed that the reaction occurred through the outer-sphere mechanism.

Fibonacci Stoichiometry and Superb Performance of Nb16W5O55 and Related Super-Battery Materials

In this contribution, two important crystallographic concepts for the formation of a series of block structures associated with channeling have been compared: chemical twinning and crystallographic shear. Twin planes respectively shear planes besides formed channels serve as a sink for charge carriers or, when the oxidation state of metal ions can be reduced, as a reservoir for intercalated lithium. In this way, Wadsley-Roth shear phases such as niobium tungsten oxide exhibit channels for ultra-fast lithium-ion diffusion. They are in focus as anode material for super-batteries, superb in terms of energy respectively power density, charging time, cycle life and safety. It should be noted that the transition metal to oxygen ratio TM/O = 21/55 of the title compound is a Fibonacci number quotient. Also, the crystal lattice can be traced back to Fibonacci geometry. When replacing only 0.0213 tungsten atoms in the formula with less expensive titanium, a TM/O ratio of 0.381966 =ϕ2 can be adapted besides an average valence electron concentration of 2⋅ϕ-2, where represents the most irrational number of the golden mean. The additional disorder caused by even such small titanium replacement and accompanied oxygen vacancies could fasten up the already high lithium diffusion further. Ultrasonic treatment may be applied besides thermal cycling to prepare phase-pure of the highest electrochemical performance. A replacement of oxygen by some fluorine atoms is an obvious synthesis possibility, but the higher binding energy expected between lithium and fluorine in contrast to oxygen may rather hinder than promote lithium diffusion.

Synthesis and mechanical and elevated temperature tribological properties of a novel high-entropy(TiVNbMoW)C_(4.375) with carbon stoichiometry deviation

High-entropy carbides are a nascent group of ceramics that are promising for high-temperature applications due to the combination of good stability,high hardness(H),high strength,and superior creep resistance that they display.Due to high melting points and low lattice diffusion coefficients,however,the high-entropy carbides are usually difficult to consolidate to a nearly full density.To cope with this challenge,herein,binary carbides including TiC,V_(8)C_(7),NbC,Mo_(2)C,and WC with different carbon stoichiometry were used to prepare dense high-entropy(TiVNbMoW)C_(4.375),and the influence of carbon vacancy on formation ability and mechanical properties of carbon-deficient high-entropy(TiVNbMoW)C_(4.375) were investigated.Intriguingly,although the starting binary carbides have different crystal structures and carbon stoichiometry,the as-prepared high-entropy material showed a rock-salt structure with a relatively high density(98.1%)and good mechanical properties with hardness of 19.4±0.4 GPa and fracture toughness(KIC)of 4.02 MPa·m^(1/2).More importantly,the high-entropy(TiVNbMoW)C_(4.375) exhibited low coefficient of friction(COF)at room temperature(RT)and 800℃.Wear rate(W)gradually increased with the temperature rising,which were attributed to the formation of low-hardness oxidation films at high temperatures to aggravate wear.At 800℃,lubricating films formed from sufficient oxidation products of V_(2)O_(5) and MoO_(3) effectively improved tribological behavior of the high-entropy(TiVNbMoW)C_(4.375).Wear mechanisms were mainly abrasive wear resulting from grain pullout and brittle fracture as well as oxidation wear generated from high-temperature reactions.These results are useful as valuable guidance and reference to the synthesis of high-entropy ceramics(HECs)for sliding parts under high-temperature serving conditions.

Microbial enzymatic stoichiometry and the acquisition of C, N,and P in soils under different land-use types in Braziliansemiarid

This study hypothesized that different land-use affect the microbial enzymatic stoichiometry and C-,N-,and P-acquisition in Brazilian semiarid soils.Thus,the enzymesβ-glucosidase(C-acquiring enzyme),urease(N-acquiring enzyme),and acid phosphatase(P-acquiring enzyme)were assessed in soil samples collected at 0−5 and 5−10 cm depth from a tropical dry forest,a protected area with Angico,a protected area with Ipê,scrub area,and an agricultural area with maize.The values of C-,N-,and P-acquiring enzymes were used to calculate the enzymatic C:N,C:P,and N:P ratios.The values of C:P and N:P ratios were higher at 0−5 cm depth,while no significant variation,between soil depth,was observed for C:N ratio.The values of C-and N-acquiring enzymes were higher at 0−5 cm in tropical dry forest areas and Angico forest,respectively.In all land use types,the values of vectors L and A were higher than 1°and 45°,respectively.This study showed that both land-use and soil depth influence the enzymatic stoichiometry,showing higher values of C-and N-acquiring enzymes in native and protected forests at soil surface.

The effect of abiotic stresses on plant C:N:P homeostasis and their mitigation by silicon

In crop plants, various environmental stresses affect the balance of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus(C:N:P), leading to biochemical and physiological alterations and reductions in yield. Silicon(Si) is a beneficial element that alleviates plant stress. Most studies involving silicon have focused on physiological responses, such as improvements in photosynthetic processes, water use efficiency, and antioxidant defense systems. But recent research suggests that stressed plants facing either limited or excessive resources(water, light, nutrients, and toxic elements), strategically employ Si to maintain C:N:P homeostasis, thereby minimizing biomass losses. Understanding the role of Si in mitigating the impact of abiotic stresses on plants by regulating C:N:P homeostasis holds great potential for advancing sustainable agricultural practices in crop production. This review presents recent advances in characterizing the influence of environmental stresses on C:N:P homeostasis, as well as the role of Si in preserving C:N:P equilibrium and attenuating biological damage associated with abiotic stress. It underscores the beneficial effects of Si in sustaining C:N:P homeostasis and increasing yield via improved nutritional efficiency and stress mitigation.

C:N:P stoichiometry and nutrient limitation of the soil microbial biomass in a grazed grassland site under experimental P limitation or exces

Introduction:The availability of essential nutrients,such as nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P),can feedback on soil carbon(C)and the soil microbial biomass.Natural cycles can be supplemented by agricultural fertiliser addition,and we determined whether the stoichiometry and nutrient limitation of the microbial biomass could be affected by an unbalanced nutrient supply.Methods:Samples were taken from a long-term trial(in effect since 1968)with annual applications of 0,15 and 30 kg P ha^(−1) with constant N and potassium.Soil and microbial biomass CNP contents were measured and nutrient limitation assessed by substrate-induced respiration.Linear regression and discriminant analyses were used to identify the variables explaining nutrient limitation.Results:Soil and biomass CNP increased with increasing P fertiliser,and there was a significant,positive,correlation between microbial biomass P and biomass C,apart from at the highest level of P fertilisation when the microbial biomass was over-saturated with P.The molar ratios of C:N:P in the microbial biomass remained constant(homeostatic)despite large changes in the soil nutrient ratios.Microbial growth was generally limited by C and N,except in soil with no added P when C and P were the main limiting nutrients.C,N and P,however,did not explain all the growth limitation on the soils with no added P.Conclusions:Increased soil C and N were probably due to increased net primary production.Our results confirm that C:N:P ratios within the microbial biomass were constrained(i.e.homeostatic)under near optimum soil conditions.Soils with no added P were characterised by strong microbial P limitation and soils under high P by over-saturation of microorganisms with P.Relative changes in biomass C:P can be indicative of nutrient limitation within a site.