Diversified manufacturing processes and multiple mineral sources:Features of Warring States bronze vessels excavated from Chutai Cemetery M1,Anhui Province

Northern Anhui was an important region for diverse bronze culture convergence and extensive metal resource circulation in the Pre-Qin Period.In this paper,metallographic microstructure analysis,chemical composition analysis,and lead isotope ratio analysis were conducted on 12 samples of 6 Warring States Period(476–221 BCE)bronze vessels excavated from Chutai Cemetery M1,Fuyang,Anhui Province,revealing the integrated application of diversified manufacturing processes,such as casting,forging,cold working,and welding and multiple metal minerals.The analytical results showed that 2 Ding vessels(鼎)were made by casting,and 2 He vessels(盒)and 2 Dui vessels(敦)were made by forging followed by cold working.These two types of bronze vessels made by different manufacturing processes have significantly distinct alloy ratios and mineral sources,among which the Cu and Sn contents of the 2 cast bronze vessels are lower and the Pb content is higher,while the Cu and Sn contents of the 4 forged bronze vessels are higher and the Pb content is lower.The lead minerals of the two types of bronze vessels might come from Western Henan and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River,respectively.In addition,the 3 pieces of solder used to weld bronze vessels were all made of pure Sn,their metal minerals should come from the densely distributed area of tin ore in Southern China,and Sn solders were mainly discovered in the Chu culture area during the Eastern Zhou Period.

The Effects of Three Mineral Nitrogen Sources and Zinc on Maize and Wheat Straw Decomposition and Soil Organic Carbon

The incorporation of straw in cultivated ifelds can potentially improve soil quality and crop yield. However, the presence of recalcitrant carbon compounds in straw slow its decomposition rate. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different nitrogen sources, with and without the application of zinc, on straw decomposition and soil quality. Soils were treated with three different nitrogen sources, with and without zinc： urea （CO（NH2）2）, ammonium sulfate （（NH4）2SO4）, and ammonium chloride （NH4Cl）. The combined treatments were as follows：maize （M） and wheat （W） straw incorporated into urea-, ammonium sulfate-, or ammonium chloride-treated soil （U, S, and C, respectively） with and without zinc （Z） （MU, MUZ, WU, WUZ;MS, MSZ, WS, WSZ;MC, MCZ, WC, WCZ, respectively）;straw with zinc only （MZ, WZ）;straw with untreated soil （MS, WS）;and soil-only or control conditions （NT）. The experiment consisted of 17 treatments with four replications. Each pot contained 150 g soil and 1.125 g straw, had a moisture content of 80%of the ifeld capacity, and was incubated for 53 days at 25°C. The rates of CO2-C emission, cumulative CO2-C evolution, total CO2 production in the soils of different treatments were measured to infer decomposition rates. The total organic carbon （TOC）, labile organic carbon （LOC）, and soil microbial biomass in the soils of different treatments were measured to infer soil quality. All results were signiifcantly different （P〈0.05） with the exception of the labile organic carbon （LOC）. The maize and wheat straw showed different patterns in CO2 evolution rates. For both straw types, Zn had a synergic effect with U, but an antagonistic effect with the other N sources as determined by the total CO2 produced. The MUZ treatment showed the highest decomposition rate and cumulative CO2 concentration （1 120.29 mg/pot）, whereas the WACZ treatment had the lowest cumulative CO2 concentration （1 040.57 mg/pot）. The addition of NH4Cl resulted in the highest total organic carbon （TOC） concentration （11.59 mg kg-1）. The incorporation of wheat straw resulted in higher microbial biomass accumulation in soils relative to that of the maize straw application. The results demonstrate that mineral N sources can affect the ability of microorganisms to decompose straw, as well as the soil carbon concentrations.

Cattle Feed Resource,Water Sources and Housing System in the Central Rift Valley of Oromia Regional State,Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Adami Tulu Jidokombolcha(ATJK),Bora,Dodola,Shala and Negele-Arsi districts with objective to assess main cattle feed resources,water sources and housing systems.A pre-tested,semi-structured questionnaire was used to conduct survey.About 240 respondents were identified using random sampling techniques.Collected data was analyzed by SPSS statistical software(Ver.24).Study result indicates that household in average had three hectares of land and allocated about two hectares of land for crop cultivation.Most respondents reported that cattle herding is not common during dry season while it is common during wet season.Survey result indicate that natural pasture,weed and maize tiller and stored crop residues are main feed resources in wet season while crop after math,crop residue and fodder trees are main resources during dry season.Brackish,local mineral and common salt are mineral sources for cattle in study areas.Lake,river and boreholes are important water sources in dry season where as ponds and rivers are main water sources during wet season for their cattle.The observed cattle watering frequency is mainly once a day.Housing system practiced in the study areas is mainly Kraal.The information generated from this study on land size per household,cattle herding system,feed resources,mineral sources,water sources,water utilization and housing type can be used as a baseline for any livestock development programs in those and similar areas.