Abundance and Community Composition of Ammonia-Oxidizers in Paddy Soil at Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates

Ammonia oxidation, the first and rate-limiting step of nitrification, is carried out by both ammonia-oxidizing bacteria （AOB） and ammonia-oxidizing archaea （AOA）. However, the relative importance of AOB and AOA to nitrification in terrestrial ecosystems is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the nitrogen input amount on abundance and community composition of AOB and AOA in red paddy soil. Soil samples of 10-20 cm （root layer soil） and 0-5 cm （surface soil） depths were taken from a red paddy. Rice in the paddy was fertilized with different rates of N as urea of N1 （75 kg N ha＂ yr-1）, N2 （150 kg N ha~ yrl）, N3 （225 kg N ha1 yrl） and CK （without fertilizers） in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Abundance and community composition of ammonia oxidizers was analyzed by real-time PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis （DGGE） based on amoA （the unit A of ammonia monooxygenase） gene. Archaeal amoA copies in N3 and N2 were significantly （P〈0.05） higher than those in CK and N1 in root layer soil or in surface soil under tillering and heading stages of rice, while the enhancement in bacterial amoA gene copies with increasing of N fertilizer rates only took on in root layer soil. N availability and soil NO3--N content increased but soil NH4＋-N content didn＇t change with increasing of N fertilizer rates. Otherwise, the copy numbers of archaeal amoA gene were higher （P〈0.05） than those of bacterial amoA gene in root lary soil or in surface soil. Redundancy discriminate analysis based on DGGE bands showed that there were no obvious differs in composition of AOA or AOB communities in the field among different N fertilizer rates. Results of this study suggested that the abundance of ammonia-oxidizers had active response to N fertilizer rates and the response of AOA was more obvious than that of AOB. Similarity in the community composition of AOA or AOB among different N fertilizer rates indicate that the community composition of ammonia-oxidizers was relatively stable in the paddy soil at least in short term for three years.

Fabrication, characterization and response surface method optimization for quantum efficiency of fluorescent nitrogen-doped carbon dots obtained from carboxymethylcellulose of oil palms empty fruit bunch

Bio based nitrogen doped carbon dots(N-CDs)were obtained from empty fruit bunch carboxymethylcellulose and ethylenediamine(EDA)through one-pot hydrothermal carbonization route.The optimum as-formed NCDs were thoroughly characterized via Transmission electron microscopy(TEM),high-resolution TEM(HRTEM),Fourier transform infrared(FTIR),X-ray photoelectron spectra(XPS),UV–vis spectra(UV–Vis)and Fluorescence spectra(PL).Response surface methodology was statistically used to assess three independent variables that have major influence on the fluorescence quantum yield(QY),including temperature(230–270℃),time(2–6 h)and EDA mass(10%–23.3%).Based on analysis of variance(ANOVA)results,synthesis temperature was found to be the most influential factor on the QY,followed by time and EDA mass.Higher temperature,long synthesis time and high amount of EDA were satisfactorily enough for efficient carbonization conversion rate and obtaining highest QY of N-CDs.The obtained quadratic model(R^2=0.9991)shows a good correlation between the experimental data and predicted values.The optimum synthetic parameters are of 270℃temperature,6 h reaction time and 23.3%of EDA mass.The optimized as-made N-CDs exhibited blue photoluminescence with both excitation dependent/independent phenomena and high nitrogen content.The maximum emission intensity was 426 nm at a maximum excitation wavelength of 320 nm,with a QY of up to 22.9%.XPS and FTIR data confirmed the existence of polar containing groups,such as carbonyl,carboxyl,hydroxyl and amino groups over the surface of N-CDs whereas nitrogen species in the form of(pyridinic and graphitic-N)were introduced in the aromatic carbon domains,which imparts the hydrophilic and photostability of N-CDs.Taking into account the low-cost and sustainable production of N-CDs,this method considered a feasible route for converting low quality waste into value-added nanomaterials and utilizing for different functionalization processes and analytical applications.

Changes in the activities of key enzymes and the abundance of functional genes involved in nitrogen transformation in rice rhizosphere soil under different aerated conditions

Soil microorganisms play important roles in nitrogen transformation. The aim of this study was to characterize changes in the activity of nitrogen transformation enzymes and the abundance of nitrogen function genes in rhizosphere soil aerated using three different methods(continuous flooding(CF), continuous flooding and aeration(CFA), and alternate wetting and drying(AWD)). The abundances of amoA ammonia-oxidizing archaea(AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria(AOB), nirS, nirK, and nifH genes, and the activities of urease, protease, ammonia oxidase, nitrate reductase, and nitrite reductase were measured at the tillering(S1), heading(S2), and ripening(S3) stages. We analyzed the relationships of the aforementioned microbial activity indices, in addition to soil microbial biomass carbon(MBC) and soil microbial biomass nitrogen(MBN), with the concentration of soil nitrate and ammonium nitrogen. The abundance of nitrogen function genes and the activities of nitrogen invertase in rice rhizosphere soil were higher at S2 compared with S1 and S3 in all treatments. AWD and CFA increased the abundance of amoA and nifH genes, and the activities of urease, protease, and ammonia oxidase, and decreased the abundance of nirS and nirK genes and the activities of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase, with the effect of AWD being particularly strong. During the entire growth period, the mean abundances of the AOA amoA, AOB amoA, and nifH genes were 2.9, 5.8, and 3.0 higher in the AWD treatment than in the CF treatment, respectively, and the activities of urease, protease, and ammonia oxidase were 1.1, 0.5, and 0.7 higher in the AWD treatment than in the CF treatment, respectively. The abundances of the nirS and nirK genes, and the activities of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase were 73.6, 84.8, 10.3 and 36.5% lower in the AWD treatment than in the CF treatment, respectively. The abundances of the AOA amoA, AOB amoA, and nifH genes were significantly and positively correlated with the activities of urease, protease, and ammonia oxidase, and the abundances of the nirS and nirK genes were significantly positively correlated with the activities of nitrate reductase. All the above indicators were positively correlated with soil MBC and MBN. In sum, microbial activity related to nitrogen transformation in rice rhizosphere soil was highest at S2. Aeration can effectively increase the activity of most nitrogen-converting microorganisms and MBN, and thus promote soil nitrogen transformation.

FeTe_(2) as an earth-abundant metal telluride catalyst for electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation

Design of cost-effective,yet highly active electrocatalysts for nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)is of vital significance for sustainable electrochemical NH_(3) synthesis.Herein,we have demonstrated,from both computational and experimental perspectives,that FeTe_(2) can be an efficient and durable NRR catalyst.Theoretical computations unveil that FeTe_(2) possesses abundant surface-terminated and low-coordinate Fe sites that can activate the NRR with a low limiting potential(-0.84 V)and currently impede the competing hydrogen evolution reaction.As a proof-of-concept prototype,we synthesized FeTe_(2) nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide(FeTe_(2)/RGO),which exhibited a high NRR activity with the exceptional combination of NH_(3) yield(39.2 lg h^(-1) mg^(-1))and Faradaic efficiency(18.1%),thus demonstrating the feasibility of using FeTe_(2) and other earth-abundant metal tellurides for electrocatalytic N_(2) fixation.

Strategies to achieve effective nitrogen activation

Ammonia serves as a crucial chemical raw material and hydrogen energy carrier.Aqueous electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR),powered by renewable energy,has attracted tremendous interest during the past few years.Although some achievements have been revealed in aqueous NRR,significant challenges have also been identified.The activity and selectivity are fundamentally limited by nitrogen activation and competitive hydrogen evolution.This review focuses on the hurdles of nitrogen activation and delves into complementary strategies,including materials design and system optimization(reactor,electrolyte,and mediator).Then,it introduces advanced interdisciplinary technologies that have recently emerged for nitrogen activation using high-energy physics such as plasma and triboelectrification.With a better understanding of the corresponding reaction mechanisms in the coming years,these technologies have the potential to be extended in further applications.This review provides further insight into the reaction mechanisms of selectivity and stability of different reaction systems.We then recommend a rigorous and detailed protocol for investigating NRR performance and also highlight several potential research directions in this exciting field,coupling with advanced interdisciplinary applications,in situ/operando characterizations,and theoretical calculations.

超声监测结合BUN、UA水平预测PE并发FGR孕产妇不良结局价值

目的:探讨超声胎儿监测结合血尿素氮(BUN)和尿酸(UA)水平预测子痫前期(PE)并发胎儿生长受限(FGR)患者不良结局价值。方法:回顾性收集2020年1月-2023年5月本院就诊的PE患者,其中并发FGR 106例为观察组,未并发FGR患者106例为对照组,比较两组血BUN、UA水平,超声胎儿静脉导管收缩期峰值速度(PSV)、舒张期峰值速度(EDV)、平均时间最大血流速度(Vmax),统计新生儿及孕妇不良结局。结果:观察组血BUN(5.03±1.22mmol/L)、UA(435.54±52.13mmol/L)高于对照组(4.01±1.30 mmol/L、391.60±60.88 mmol/L),PSV(0.85±0.12cm/s)、EDV(0.78±0.11cm/s)、Vmax(0.81±0.13cm/s)低于对照组(0.89±0.11 cm/s、0.96±0.14 cm/s、0.98±0.12 cm/s),新生儿不良结局总发生率(67.9%)高于对照组(15.1%),孕妇不良妊娠结局总发生率(38.7%)高于对照组(20.8%);观察组发生新生儿不良结局患者血BUN、UA高于未发生新生儿不良结局患者,而超声胎儿静脉血流参数均低于未发生新生儿不良结局患者(均P<0.05)。血BUN、UA、PSV、EDV、Vmax及联合预测新生儿不良结局的曲线下面积分别为0.735、0.760、0.643、0.809、0.670和0.706,联合预测的灵敏性达到100.0%。结论:PE并发FGR患者BUN、UA水平异常升高,超声胎儿静脉血流参数异常降低,上述超声及血指标预测新生儿不良结局有一定临床指导价值。

Increased dependence on nitrogen-fixation of a native legume in competition with an invasive plant

Suppression of roots and/or their symbiotic microorganisms,such as mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia,is an effective way for alien plants to outcompete native plants.However,little is known about how invasive and native plants interact with the quantity and activity of nutrient-acquisition agents.Here a pot experiment was conducted with monoculture and mixed plantings of an invasive plant,Xanthium strumarium,and a common native legume,Glycine max.We measured traits related to root and nodule quantity and activity and mycorrhizal colonization.Compared to the monoculture,fine root quantity(biomass,surface area)and activity(root nitrogen(N)concentration,acid phosphatase activity)of G.max decreased in mixed plantings;nodule quantity(biomass)decreased by 45%,while nodule activity in Nfixing via rhizobium increased by 106%;mycorrhizal colonization was unaffected.Contribution of N fixation to leaf N content in G.max increased in the mixed plantings,and this increase was attributed to a decrease in the rhizosphere soil N of G.max in the mixed plantings.Increased root quantity and activity,along with a higher mycorrhizal association was observed in X.strumarium in the mixed compared to monoculture.Together,the invasive plant did not directly scavenge N from nodule-fixed N,but rather depleted the rhizosphere soil N of the legume,thereby stimulating the activity of N-fixation and increasing the dependence of the native legume on this N source.The quantity-activity framework holds promise for future studies on how native legumes respond to alien plant invasions.

ZmbZIP27 regulates nitrogen-mediated leaf angle by modulating lignin deposition in maize

In grain crops such as maize(Zea mays),leaf angle(LA)is a key agronomic trait affecting light interception and thus planting density and yield.Nitrogen(N)affects LA in plants,but we lack a good understanding of how N regulates LA.Here,we report that N deficiency enhanced lignin deposition in the ligular region of maize seedlings.In situ hybridization showed that the bZIP transcription factor gene ZmbZIP27 is mainly expressed in the phloem of maize vascular bundles.Under N-sufficient conditions,transgenic maize overexpressing ZmbZIP27 showed significantly smaller LA compared with wild type(WT).By contrast,zmbzip27_(ems)mutant showed larger LA under both N-deficient and N-sufficient conditions compared with WT.Overexpression of ZmbZIP27 enhanced lignin deposition in the ligular region of maize in the field.We further demonstrated that ZmbZIP27 could directly bind the promoters of the microRNA genes ZmMIR528a and ZmMIR528b and negatively regulate the expression levels of ZmmiR528.ZmmiR528 knockdown transgenic maize displayed erect architecture in the field by increasing lignin content in the ligular region of maize.Taken together,these results indicate that ZmbZIP27 regulates N-mediated LA size by regulating the expression of ZmmiR528 and modulating lignin deposition in maize.

Microfluidic-oriented synthesis of enriched iridium nanodots/carbon architecture for robust electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation

Electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(NRR)is considered as a promising candidate to achieve ammonia synthesis because of clean electric energy,moderate reaction condition,safe operating process and harmless by-products.However,the chemical inertness of nitrogen and poor activated capacity on catalyst surface usually produce low ammonia yield and faradic efficiency.Herein,the microfluidic technology is proposed to efficiently fabricate enriched iridium nanodots/carbon architecture.Owing to in-situ co-precipitation reaction and microfluidic manipulation,the iridium nanodots/carbon nanomaterials possess small average size,uniform dispersion,high conductivity and abundant active sites,producing good proton activation and rapid electrons transmission and moderate adsorption/desorption capacity.As a result,the as-prepared iridium nanodots/carbon nanomaterials realize large ammonia yield of 28.73 μg h^(-1) cm^(-2) and faradic efficiency of 9.14%in KOH solution.Moreover,the high ammonia yield of 11.21 μg h^(-1) cm^(-2) and faradic efficiency of 24.30%are also achieved in H_(2)SO_(4) solution.The microfluidic method provides a reference for large-scale fabrication of nano-sized catalyst materials,which may accelerate the progress of electrocatalytic NRR in industrialization field.

Regulation of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline and grain quality in early-season indica fragrant rice by nitrogen and silicon fertilization under different plantation methods

Fragrant rice has a high market value,and it is a popular rice type among consumers owing to its pleasant flavor.Plantation methods,nitrogen(N)fertilizers,and silicon(Si)fertilizers can affect the grain yield and fragrance of fragrant rice.However,the core commercial rice production attributes,namely the head rice yield(HRY)and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline(2-AP)content of fragrant rice,under various nitrogen and silicon(N-Si)fertilization levels and different plantation methods remain unknown.The field experiment in this study was performed in the early seasons of 2018 and 2019 with two popular indica fragrant rice cultivars(Yuxiangyouzhan and Xiangyaxiangzhan).They were grown under six N-Si fertilization treatments(combinations of two levels of Si fertilizer,0 kg Si ha^(−1)(Si0)and 150 kg Si ha^(−1)(Si1),and three levels of N fertilizer,0 kg N ha^(−1)(N0),150 kg N ha^(−1)(N1),and 220 kg N ha^(−1)(N2))and three plantation methods(artificial transplanting(AT),mechanical transplanting(MT),and mechanical direct-seeding(MD)).The results showed that the N-Si fertilization treatments and all the plantation methods significantly affected the HRY and 2-AP content and related parameters of the two different fragrant rice cultivars.Compared with the Si0N0 treatment,the N-Si fertilization treatments resulted in higher HRY and 2-AP contents.The rates of brown rice,milled rice,head rice,and chalky rice of the fragrant rice also improved with the N-Si fertilization treatments.The N-Si fertilization treatments increased the activities of N metabolism enzymes and the accumulation of N and Si in various parts of the fragrant rice,and affected their antioxidant response parameters.The key parameters for the HRY and 2-AP content were assessed by redundancy analysis.Furthermore,the structural equation model revealed that the Si and N accumulation levels indirectly affected the HRY by affecting the N metabolism enzyme activity,N use efficiency,and grain quality of fragrant rice.Moreover,high N and Si accumulation directly promoted the 2-AP content or affected the antioxidant response parameters and indirectly regulated 2-AP synthesis.The interactions of the MT method with the N-Si fertilization treatments varied in the fragrant rice cultivars in terms of the HRY and 2-AP content,whereas the MD method was beneficial to the 2-AP content in both fragrant rice cultivars under the N-Si fertilization treatments.

Natural Nitrogen-15 Abundance of Ammonium Nitrogen and Fixed Ammonium in Soils

The present article deals with the natural nitrogen-15 abundance of ammonium nitrogen and fixed ammonium in different soils. Variations in the natural 15N abundance of ammonium nitrogen mineralized in soils under anaerobic incubation condition were related to soil pH. The δ 15N of mineralizable N in acid soils was lower but that in neutral and calcareous soils was higher compared with the δ 15N of total N in the soils. A variation tendency was also found in the δ 15N of amino-acid N in the hydrolysates of soils. The natural 15N abundance of fixed ammonium was higher than that of total N in most surface soils and other soil horizons, indicating that the increase of δ 15N in the soil horizons beneath subsurface horizon of some forest soils and acid paddy soils was related to the higher δ 15N value of fixed ammonium in the soil.

Identification of the lysine and histidine transporter family in Camellia sinensis and the characterizations in nitrogen utilization

In plants,the lysine and histidine transporter(LHT)family represent a class of proteins that mediate the uptake,translocation,and utilization of amino acids.The tea plant(Camellia sinensis)is a perennial evergreen with a relatively high level of amino acids.However,systematic identification and molecular characterization of the LHT gene family has rarely been reported in tea plants.In this study,22 CsLHTs were identified from the‘Shuchazao’genome and classified into two groups.The modeled three-dimensional structure and the conserved domains presented a high similarity among the LHTs proteins.Moreover,it was predicted that a few genes were conserved through the analysis of the physiochemical characters,structures and cis-elements in promoters.The expression patterns in tea plants revealed that CsLHT7 was mainly expressed in the roots,and CsLHT4 and CsLHT11 exhibited relatively high expression in both the roots and leaves.Moreover,the expression of all three genes could be induced by organic nitrogen.Additionally,heterogeneous expression of CsLHT4,CsLHT7 and CsLHT11 in Arabidopsis thaliana decreased the aerial parts biomass compared with that in WT plants while significantly increased the rosette biomass only for CsLHT11transgenic plants versus WT plants.Overall,our results provide fundamental information about CsLHTs and potential genes in N utilization for further analysis in tea plants.

CHF患者CRP/Alb、PDGF、BUN/Cr水平变化及对预后的评估价值

目的 探讨慢性心力衰竭(CHF)患者C-反应蛋白与白蛋白比值(CRP/Alb)、血小板源性生长因子(PDGF)联合血尿素氮与肌酐比值(BUN/Cr)水平变化,并分析各指标预测心血管死亡和全因死亡的效能。方法 选取2020年1月至2022年3月收治的109例CHF患者,根据1年内心血管死亡和全因死亡情况分为死亡组(26例)和存活组(83例)。比较2组社会人口学资料和临床特征[美国纽约心脏病学会心功能分级(NYHA)、左心室射血分数、左心室舒张末期内径、左心室收缩末期内径、N-末端脑钠肽前体(NT-proBNP)、临床用药]、CRP/Alb、PDGF、BUN/Cr水平,分析CRP/Alb、PDGF、BUN/Cr水平的相关性,采用Cox回归分析CHF患者心血管死亡和全因死亡的相关影响因素,采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)分析预测价值,采用卡普兰-迈耶曲线(K-M)生存曲线分析不同CRP/Alb、PDGF、BUN/Cr水平患者的生存率。结果 死亡组NYHA心功能分级、左心室舒张末期内径、左心室收缩末期内径、NT-proBNP高于存活组,左心室射血分数低于存活组(P<0.05);死亡组CRP/Alb、PDGF、BUN/Cr高于存活组(P<0.05);CHF患者CRP/Alb与PDGF、BUN/Cr呈正相关,PDGF与BUN/Cr呈正相关(P<0.05);在校正了NYHA心功能分级等混杂因素后,CRP/Alb、PDGF、BUN/Cr仍是CHF患者心血管死亡和全因死亡的相关影响因素(P<0.05);CRP/Alb、PDGF、BUN/Cr预测心血管死亡和全因死亡的ROC下面积(AUC)分别为0.712、0.801、0.738,三者联合时的AUC为0.911(P<0.05);CRP/Alb、PDGF、BUN/Cr高水平患者生存率低于低水平患者(P<0.05)。结论 CRP/Alb、PDGF、BUN/Cr与CHF患者心血管死亡和全因死亡有关,联合检测可作为预测患者病情转归的一个方案,为临床评估预后、治疗等提供参考依据。

Composition Engineering Opens an Avenue Toward Efficient and Sustainable Nitrogen Fixation

In this work,we open an avenue toward rational design of potential efficient catalysts for sustainable ammonia synthesis through composition engineering strategy by exploiting the synergistic effects among the active sites as exemplified by diatomic metals anchored graphdiyne via the combination of hierarchical high-throughput screening,first-principles calculations,and molecular dynamics simulations.Totally 43 highly efficient catalysts feature ultralow onset potentials(|U_(onset)|≤0.40 V)with Rh-Hf and Rh-Ta showing negligible onset potentials of 0 and-0.04 V,respectively.Extremely high catalytic activities of Rh-Hf and Rh-Ta can be ascribed to the synergistic effects.When forming heteronuclears,the combinations of relatively weak(such as Rh)and relatively strong(such as Hf or Ta)components usually lead to the optimal strengths of adsorption Gibbs free energies of reaction intermediates.The origin can be ascribed to the mediate d-band centers of Rh-Hf and Rh-Ta,which lead to the optimal adsorption strengths of intermediates,thereby bringing the high catalytic activities.Our work provides a new and general strategy toward the architecture of highly efficient catalysts not only for electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction(eNRR)but also for other important reactions.We expect that our work will boost both experimental and theoretical efforts in this direction.

Nitrogen rhizodeposition from corn and soybean,and its contribution to the subsequent wheat crops

Nitrogen(N)is a key factor in the positive response of cereal crops that follow leguminous crops when compared to gramineous crops in rotations,with the nonrecyclable rhizosphere-derived N playing an important role.However,quantitative assessments of differences in the N derived from rhizodeposition(NdfR)between legumes and gramineous crops are lacking,and comparative studies on their contributions to the subsequent cereals are scarce.In this study,we conducted a meta-analysis of NdfR from leguminous and gramineous crops based on 34 observations published worldwide.In addition,pot experiments were conducted to study the differences in the NdfR amounts,distributions and subsequent effects of two major wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)-preceding crops,corn(Zea mays L.)and soybean(Glycine max L.),by the cotton wick-labelling method in the main wheat-producing areas of China.The meta-analysis results showed that the NdfR of legumes was significantly greater by 138.93%compared to gramineous crops.In our pot experiment,the NdfR values from corn and soybean were 502.32 and 944.12 mg/pot,respectively,and soybean was also significantly higher than corn,accounting for 76.91 and 84.15%of the total belowground nitrogen of the plants,respectively.Moreover,in different soil particle sizes,NdfR was mainly enriched in the large macro-aggregates(>2 mm),followed by the small macro-aggregates(2–0.25 mm).The amount and proportion of NdfR in the macro-aggregates(>0.25 mm)of soybean were 3.48 and 1.66 times higher than those of corn,respectively,indicating the high utilization potential of soybean NdfR.Regarding the N accumulation of subsequent wheat,the contribution of soybean NdfR to wheat was approximately 3 times that of corn,accounting for 8.37 and 4.04%of the total N uptake of wheat,respectively.In conclusion,soybean NdfR is superior to corn in terms of the quantity and distribution ratio of soil macro-aggregates.In future field production,legume NdfR should be included in the nitrogen pool that can be absorbed and utilized by subsequent crops,and the role and potential of leguminous plants as nitrogen source providers in crop rotation systems should be fully utilized.

An optimized strategy of nitrogen-split application based on the leaf positional differences in chlorophyll meter readings

Modern rice production faces the dual challenges of increasing grain yields while reducing inputs of chemical fertilizer.However,the disequilibrium between the nitrogen(N)supplement from the soil and the demand for N of plants is a serious obstacle to achieving these goals.Plant-based diagnosis can help farmers make better choices regarding the timing and amount of topdressing N fertilizer.Our objective was to evaluate a non-destructive assessment of rice N demands based on the relative SPAD value(RSPAD)due to leaf positional differences.In this study,two field experiments were conducted,including a field experiment of different N rates(Exp.I)and an experiment to evaluate the new strategy of nitrogen-split application based on RSPAD(Exp.II).The results showed that higher N inputs significantly increased grain yield in modern high yielding super rice,but at the expense of lower nitrogen use efficiency(NUE).The N nutrition index(NNI)can adequately differentiate situations of excessive,optimal,and insufficient N nutrition in rice,and the optimal N rate for modern high yielding rice is higher than conventional cultivars.The RSPAD is calculated as the SPAD value of the top fully expanded leaf vs.the value of the third leaf,which takes into account the non-uniform N distribution within a canopy.The RSPAD can be used as an indicator for higher yield and NUE,and guide better management of N fertilizer application.Furthermore,we developed a new strategy of nitrogen-split application based on RSPAD,in which the N rate was reduced by 18.7%,yield was increased by 1.7%,and the agronomic N use efficiency was increased by 27.8%,when compared with standard farmers'practices.This strategy of N fertilization shows great potential for ensuring high yielding and improving NUE at lower N inputs.

Tradeoffs of nitrogen investment between leaf resorption and photosynthesis across soil fertility in Quercus mongolica seedlings during the hardening period

The most important process before leaf senescence is nutrient resorption,which reduces nutrient loss and maximizes plant fitness during the subsequent growth period.However,plants must retain certain levels of nitrogen(N)in their leaves to maintain carbon assimilation during hardening.The objective of this study was to investigate the tradeoffs in N investment between leaf N resorption and N for photosynthesis in seedlings with increased soil fertility during the hardening period.A field experiment was conducted to determine if and how soil fertility treatments(17,34,or 68 mg N seedling−1)affected N resorption and allocation to the photosynthetic apparatus in Quercus mongolica leaves during the hardening period.Seedlings were sampled at T1(after terminal bud formation),T2(between terminal bud formation and end of the growing period),and T3(at the end of the growing period).Results showed that photosynthetic N content continued to rise in T2,while N resorption started from non-photosynthetic N.Leaf N allocation to the photosynthetic apparatus increased as soil fertility increased,delaying N resorption.Additionally,soil fertility significantly affected N partitioning among different photosynthetic components,maintaining or increasing photosynthetic traits during senescence.This study demonstrates a tradeoff in N investment between resorption and photosynthesis to maintain photosynthetic assimilation capacity during the hardening period,and that soil fertility impacts this balance.Q.mongolica leaves primarily resorbed N from the non-photosynthetic apparatus and invested it in the photosynthetic apparatus,whereas different photosynthetic N component allocations effectively improved this pattern.

Influence of nitrogen status on fermentation performances of non-Saccharomyces yeasts:a review

Nitrogen,one of the most crucial nutrients present in grapes and musts,plays a key role in yeast activities during alcoholic fermentation.Such influences are imposed on yeast growth and fermentation performances including the formation of secondary metabolites.Saccharomyces cerevisiae,the main yeast responsible for fermentation,has been studied extensively regarding nitrogen impacts.On the other hand,a similar study for non-Saccharomyces yeasts,whose contributions to winemaking have gradually been acknowledged,remains to be fully explored,with a few studies being reported.This review starts by discussing nitrogen impacts on non-Saccharomyces yeast growth and fermentation kinetics in different case scenarios,then proceeds to summarize the nitrogen preferences of individual yeast strains with regulation mechanisms elucidated by recent studies.Detailed discussions on the influences on the production of volatile compounds and proposed pathways therein are made,followed by future work suggested as the final section.In summarizing the nitrogen impacts on non-Saccharomyces yeasts throughout alcoholic fermentation,this review will be helpful in obtaining a more comprehensive view on these non-conventional wine yeasts in terms of nutrient requirements and corresponding volatile production.Research gaps will therefore be elucidated for future research.

Isotope constraints on seasonal dynamics of nitrogen in Zhanjiang Bay, a typical mariculture bay in South China

Eutrophication in coastal waters has been increasing remarkably,severely impacting the water quality in mariculture bays.In this study,we conducted multiple isotopic measurements on suspended particulate nitrogen(δ^(15)N-PN) and dissolved nitrate(δ^(15)N-NO_(3)^(-)and δ^(18)O-NO_(3)^(-)) in Zhanjiang Bay,a typical mariculture bay with a high level of eutrophication in South China,to investigate the changes in nitrogen sources and their cycling between the rainy and dry seasons.During the rainy season,the study found no significant relation between δ^(15)NPN and δ^(15)N-NO_(3)^(-)due to the impact of heavy rainfall and terrestrial erosion.In the upper bay,a slight nitrate loss and slightly higher δ_(15)N-NO_(3)^(-)and δ^(18)O-NO_(3)^(-)values were observed,attributed to intense physical sedimentwater interactions.Despite some fluctuations,nitrate concentrations in the lower bay mainly aligned with the theoretical mixing line during the rainy season,suggesting that nitrate was primarily influenced by terrestrial erosion and that nitrate isotopes resembled the source.Consequently,the isotopic values of nitrate can be used for source apportionment in the rainy season.The results indicated that soil nitrogen(36%) and manure and sewage(33%) were the predominant nitrogen sources contributing to nitrogen loads during this period.In contrast,the dry season saw a deficient ammonium concentration(<0.2 μmol/L) in the bay,due to nearly complete consumption by phytoplankton during the red tide period.Additionally,the significant loss of nitrate and simultaneous increase in the stable isotopes of dissolved and particulate nitrogen suggest a strong coupling of assimilation and mineralization during the dry season.More active biogeochemical processes during the dry season may be related to decreased runoff and increased water retention time.Overall,our study illustrated the major seasonal nitrogen sources and their dynamics in Zhanjiang B ay,providing valuable insights for formulating effective policies to mitigate eutrophication in mariculture bays.

Tracing nitrate sources in one of the world's largest eutrophicated bays(Hangzhou Bay):insights from nitrogen and oxygen isotopes

Eutrophication caused by inputs of excess nitrogen(N) has become a serious environmental problem in Hangzhou Bay(China),but the sources of this nitrogen are not well understood.In this study,the August 2019 distributions of salinity,nutrients [nitrate(NO_(3)^(-)),nitrite,ammonium,and phosphate],and the stable isotopic composition of NO_(3)^(-)(δ^(15)N and δ^(18)O) were used to investigate sources of dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN) to Hangzhou B ay.Spatial distributions of nitrate,salinity,and nitrate δ^(18)O indicate that the Qiantang River,the Changjiang River,and nearshore coastal waters may all contribute nitrate to the bay.Based on the isotopic compositions of nitrate in these potential source waters and conservative mixing of nitrate in our study area,we suggest that the NO_(3)^(- )in Hangzhou B ay was likely derived mainly from soils,synthetic N fertilizer,and manure and sewage.End-member modeling indicates that in the upper half of the bay,the Qiantang River was a very important DIN source,possibly contributing more than 50% of DIN in the bay head area.In the lower half of the bay,DIN was sourced mainly from strongly intruding coastal water.DIN coming directly from the Changjiang River made a relatively small contribution to Hangzhou Bay DIN in August 2019.