Mitigation of N_(2)O emissions in water-saving paddy fields:Evaluating organic fertilizer substitution and microbial mechanisms

Water-saving irrigation strategies can successfully alleviate methane emissions from rice fields,but significantly stimulate nitrous oxide(N_(2)O)emissions because of variations in soil oxygen level and redox potential.However,the relationship linking soil N_(2)O emissions to nitrogen functional genes during various fertilization treatments in water-saving paddy fields has rarely been investigated.Furthermore,the mitigation potential of organic fertilizer substitution on N_(2)O emissions and the microbial mechanism in rice fields must be further elucidated.Our study examined how soil N_(2)O emissions were affected by related functional microorganisms(ammonia-oxidizing archaea(AOA),ammonia-oxidizing bacteria(AOB),nirS,nirK and nosZ)to various fertilization treatments in a rice field in southeast China over two years.In this study,three fertilization regimes were applied to rice cultivation:a no nitrogen(N)(Control),an inorganic N(Ni),and an inorganic N with partial N substitution with organic manure(N_(i)+N_(o)).Over two rice-growing seasons,cumulative N_(2)O emissions averaged 0.47,4.62 and 4.08 kg ha^(−1)for the Control,Ni and N_(i)+N_(o)treatments,respectively.In comparison to the Ni treatment,the N_(i)+N_(o)fertilization regime considerably reduced soil N_(2)O emissions by 11.6%while maintaining rice yield,with a lower N_(2)O emission factor(EF)from fertilizer N of 0.95%.Nitrogen fertilization considerably raised the AOB,nirS,nirK and nosZ gene abundances,in comparison to the Control treatment.Moreover,the substitution of organic manure for inorganic N fertilizer significantly decreased AOB and nirS gene abundances and increased nosZ gene abundance.The AOB responded to N fertilization more sensitively than the AOA.Total N_(2)O emissions significantly correlated positively with AOB and nirS gene abundances while having a negative correlation with nosZ gene abundance and the nosZ/nirS ratio across N-fertilized plots.In summary,we conclude that organic manure substitution for inorganic N fertilizer decreased soil N_(2)O emissions primarily by changing the soil NO_(3)^(−)-N,pH and DOC levels,thus inhibiting the activities of ammonia oxidation in nitrification and nitrite reduction in denitrification,and strengthening N_(2)O reduction in denitrification from water-saving rice paddies.

Road to full bioconversion of biowaste to biochemicals centering on chain elongation: A mini review

Production of biochemicals from waste streams has been attracting increasing worldwide interest to achieve climate protection goals.Chain elongation(CE)for production of mediumchain carboxylic acids(MCCAs,especially caproate,enanthate and caprylate)from diverse biowaste has emerged as a potential economic and environmental technology for a sustainable society.The present mini review summarizes the research utilizing various synthetic or real waste-derived substrates available for MCCA production.Additionally,the microbial characteristics of the CE process are surveyed and discussed.Considering that a large proportion of recalcitrantly biodegradable biowaste and residues cannot be further utilized by CE systems and remain to be treated and disposed,we propose here a loop concept of bioconversion of biowaste to MCCAs making full use of the biowaste with zero emission.This could make possible an alternative technology for synthesis of value-added products from a wide range of biowaste,or even non-biodegradable waste(such as,plastics and rubbers).Meanwhile,the remaining scientific questions,unsolved problems,application potential and possible developments for this technology are discussed.