Ethyl acetate fraction of Sargassum pallidum extract attenuates particulate matter-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in keratinocytes and zebrafish

Objective:To evaluate the effect of the ethyl acetate fraction derived from Sargassum pallidum extract against particulate matter(PM)-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in HaCaT cells and zebrafish.Methods:HaCaT cells and zebrafish were used to evaluate the protective effects of the ethyl acetate fraction of Sargassum pallidum extract against PM-induced oxidative stress and inflammation.The production of nitric oxide(NO),intracellular ROS,prostaglandin E_(2)(PGE_(2)),and pro-inflammatory cytokines,and the expression levels of COX-2,iNOS,and NF-κB were evaluated in PM-induced HaCaT cells.Furthermore,the levels of ROS,NO,and lipid peroxidation were assessed in the PM-exposed zebrafish model.Results:The ethyl acetate fraction of Sargassum pallidum extract significantly decreased the production of NO,intracellular ROS,and PGE_(2) in PM-induced HaCaT cells.In addition,the fraction markedly suppressed the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibited the expression levels of COX-2,iNOS,and NF-κB.Furthermore,it displayed remarkable protective effects against PM-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress,represented by the reduction of NO,ROS,and lipid peroxidation in zebrafish.Conclusions:The ethyl acetate fraction of Sargassum pallidum extract exhibits a protective effect against PM-induced oxidative stress and inflammation both in vitro and in vivo and has the potential as a candidate for the development of pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical products.

The grain-size distribution of the suspended particulate matter in the Huanghe Estuary and its adjacent sea area in winter

The grain-size of suspended particulate matter （SPM） in the Huanghe Estuary and its adjacent sea area was investigated with an in situ laser particle size analyzer （LISST-100） in November 2006.The spatial distribution of the grain-size parameters was very complicated.The results show that （1） the mean particle size of SPM ranged from 3.00Φ to 6.41Φ,with an average value of 4.66Φ;（2） the frequency distribution patterns of the SPM grain-size showed three different types,which were mono-mode,dual-mode and tri-mode,respectively;（3） C-M chart suggested that the transportation-processes of the SPM not only included suspended mode,but also the bed load transportation mode.The bed load transportation mode mainly occurred at the bottom layer.The characteristics and space distribution of SPM grain-size might be mainly controlled by sediment discharge of the Huanghe River,hydrodynamics condition,surface sediment types,and biological process within the study area.

Effects of free iron oxyhydrates and soil organic matter on copper sorption-desorption behavior by size fractions of aggregates from two paddy soils

Effects of free iron oxyhydrates （Fed） and soil organic matter （SOM） on copper （Cu^2＋） sorption-desorption behavior by size fractions of aggregates from two typical paddy soils （Ferric-Accumulic Stagnic Anthrosol （Soil H） and Gleyic Stagnic Anthrosol （Soil W）） were investigated with and without treatments of dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate and of H2O2. The size fractions of aggregates were obtained from the undisturbed bulk topsoil using a low energy ultrasonic dispersion procedure. Experiments of equilibrium sorption and subsequent desorption were conducted at soil water ratio of 1：20, 25℃. For Soil H, Cu^2＋ sorption capacity of the DCB-treated size fractions was decreased by 5.9% for fine sand fraction, by 40.4% for coarse sand fraction, in comparison to 2.9% for the bnlk sample. However, Cu^2＋ sorption capacities of the H2O2-treated fractions were decreased by over 80% for the coarse sand fraction and by 15% for the clay-sized fraction in comparison to 88% for bulk soil. For Soil W, Cu^2＋ sorption capacity of the DCB-treated size fraction was decreased by 30% for the coarse sand fraction and by over 75% for silt sand fraction in comparison to 44.5% for the bulk sample. Cu^2＋ sorption capacities of the H2O2-treated fractions were decreased by only 2.0% for the coarse sand fraction and by 15% for the fine sand fraction in comparison to by 3.4% for bulk soil. However, Cu^2＋ desorption rates were increased much in H2O2-treated samples by over 80% except the clay-sized fraction （only 9.5%） for Soil H. While removal of SOM with H2O2 tendend to increase the desorption rate, DCB- and H2O2-treatments caused decrease in Cu^2＋ retention capacity of size fractions, Particularly, there hardly remained Cu^2＋ retention capacity by size fractions from Soil H after H2O2 treatment except for clay-sized fraction. These findings supported again the dominance of the coarse sand fraction in sorption of metals and the preference of absorbed metals bound to SOM in differently stabilized status among the size fractions. Thus, enrichment and turnover of SOM in paddy soils may have great effects on metal retention and chemical mobility in paddy soils.

Size Distributions and Elemental Compositions of Particulate Matter on Clear,Hazy and Foggy days in Beijing,China

Total suspended particulates （TSP） samples were collected using low pressure impactors （Andersen Series 20-800, USA） on typical clear, hazy and foggy days in Beijing in order to investigate the characteristics of size distributions and elemental compositions of particulate matter （PM） in different weather conditions. The concentrations of sixteen elements, including Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Ba, T1 and Pb were detected using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS）. The results showed that Ca, A1, Fe, Mg and Ba on foggy days were 2.0 2.6 times higher than on clear days, and 2.3-2.9 times higher than on hazy days. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, As, Se and Pb on foggy days were 163.5, 1186.7, 65.9, 32.0 and 708.2 ng m-3, respectively, in fine particles, and 68.1, 289.5, 19.8, 1.6 and 103.8 ng m-3, respectively, in coarse particles. This was 1.0~8.4 times higher and 1.4-7.4 times higher than on clear and hazy days, respectively. It is then shown that Mg, A1, Fe, Ca and Ba were mainly associated with coarse particles, peaking at 4.7~5.8 μm; that Cd, Se, Zn, As, T1 and Pb were most dominant in fine particles, peaking at 0.43-1.1 μm; and that Na, K, Ni, Cu and Mn had a multi-mode distribution, with peaks at 0.43-1.1 μm and 4.7-5.8 μm. The enrichment factors indicated that coal combustion along with vehicle and industry emissions may be the main sources of pollution elements.

The Dynamics of Organic Matter in Soil Size and Density Fractions Traced by Stable Carbon Isotopes

On the basis of different photosynthetic pathways, there is an obvious difference in {δ+{13}C} values between C-3 plants and C-4 plants. In terms of this characteristic, we analyzed the {δ+{13}C} values in different size and density fractions from two profile-soil samples either in farmland and forestlands near the Maolan Karst virgin forest, Southwest China, where there were developed C-3 plants previously and now are C-4 plants. Results showed that the δ+{13}C values of different size fractions in forestland soil are δ+{13}C-{coarse sand}<δ+{13}C-{fine sand}<δ+{13}C-{coarse silt}<δ+{13}C-{clay}<{δ+{13}C-{fine silt}}, and the δ+{13}C values of different size fractions in farmland soil are δ+{13}C-{coarse sand}>{δ+{13}C-{fine sand}}>δ+{13}C-{coarse silt}>δ+{13}C-{clay}>δ+{13}C-{fine silt}, indicating that soil organic matter is fresh in coarse sand and oldest in fine silt. The δ+{13}C values of different density fractions in forestland soil are δ+{13}C-{light}<δ+{13}C-{heavy}, and the {δ+{13}C} values of different density fractions in farmland soil are {δ+{13}C-{light}}>{δ+{13}C-{heavy}}, indicating that the soil organic matter is fresh in light fractions and old in heavy fractions .

Soil Aggregates, Organic Matter, and Labile C and N Fractions after 37 Years of N, P and K Applications to an Irrigated Subtropical Soil under Maize-Wheat Rotation

Abstract： Physical, chemical and biological soil properties in surface （0-5 cm） and subsurface soil （5-15 cm） were determined in a field experiment conducted with seven treatments consisted of different combinations of fertilizer N （0, 100 and 200 kg N ha^-1）, P （0, 22 and 44 kg P2O5 ha^-1） and K （0, 41 and 82 kg K2O ha^-1） applied both to summer-grown maize （Zea mays L.） and winter-grown wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） crops continuously for 37 years under irrigated subtropical conditions. Application of N, P and K significantly increased water stable aggregates and had profound effects in increasing the mean weight diameter as well as the formation of macro-aggregates, which were highest in both surface （81%） and subsurface （74%） soil layers with application of 100 kg N ＋ 22 kg P2O5 ＋ 41 kg K2O ha^-1 （N100P22K41）. The N100P22K41 treatment also enhanced total organic C （TOC） from 4.4 g kg^-1 in no-NPK control to 4.8 g kg^-1in surface layer and from 3.3 to 4.1 g kg1 in subsurface layer leading to the 20% higher TOC stocks in 0-15 cm soil. The labile C and N fractions such as water soluble C, particulate and light fraction organic matter, potentially mineralizable N and microbial biomass were also highest under the optimized balanced application of N100P22K41. Relatively higher increase in all labile fractions of C and N as proportion of TOC and total N, respectively suggested that these are potential indicators to reflect changes in management practices long before changes in TOC and TN are detectable. These results demonstrated that optimized balanced application of N, P and K is crucial for improving soil health ensuring long-term sustainability of farming systems in semiarid subtropical soils.

Threshold friction velocity influenced by soil particle size within the Columbia Plateau, northwestern United States

Wind erosion is a geomorphic process in arid and semi-arid areas and has substantial implications for regional climate and desertification.In the Columbia Plateau of northwestern United States,the emissions from fine particles of loessial soils often contribute to the exceedance of inhalable particulate matter(PM)with an aerodynamic diameter of 10μm or less(PM10)according to the air quality standards.However,little is known about the threshold friction velocity(TFV)for particles of different sizes that comprise these soils.In this study,soil samples of two representative soil types(Warden sandy loam and Ritzville silt loam)collected from the Columbia Plateau were sieved to seven particle size fractions,and an experiment was then conducted to determine the relationship between TFV and particle size fraction.The results revealed that soil particle size significantly affected the initiation of soil movement and TFV;TFV ranged 0.304-0.844 and 0.249-0.739 m/s for different particle size fractions of Ritzville silt loam and Warden sandy loam,respectively.PM10 and total suspended particulates(TSP)emissions from a bed of 63-90μm soil particles were markedly higher for Warden sandy loam than for Ritzville silt loam.Together with the lower TFV of Warden sandy loam,dust emissions from fine particles(<100μm in diameter)of Warden sandy loam thus may be a main contributor to dust in the region's atmosphere,since the PM10 emissions from the soil erosion surfaces and its ensuing suspension within the atmosphere constitute an essential process of soil erosion in the Columbia Plateau.Developing and implementing strategic land management practices on sandy loam soils is therefore necessary to control dust emissions in the Columbia Plateau.

Behavior of different phosphorus species in suspended particulate matter in the Changjiang estuary

Suspended particulate matter （SPM） collected in the Changjiang （Yangtze River） estuary in June 2006 was separated into five fractions via water elutriation： clay-very fme silt （〈8 μm）, fine silt （8-16 μm）, medium silt （16--32 μm）, coarse silt （32~53 μm） and sand （〉63 μm）. The SPM and fractionated particles were sequentially analyzed by a modified SEDEX sequential extraction method to obtain six species of phosphorus： exchangeable or loosely-sorbed P, organic P, Fe-bound P, authigenic P, detrital P and refractory P. The results indicated that all particulate phosphorus species except for detrital P were negatively correlated to particle size; a high detrital P content was found in coarse silt and very coarse silt. From the inside of the river mouth to the gate of the fiver mouth, organic P, Fe-bound P and refractory P in the suspended particles decreased and a higher amount of exchangeable P appeared around the gate of the fiver mouth. From the gate of the river mouth to the sea, exchangeable P and organic P in suspended panicles increased distinctly. The total particulate P flux into the estuary from the Changjiang River was about 45.45×10^8μmol/s during sampling. Of this, about 8.27×10^8μmol/s was associated with the ＂truly suspended＂ fraction. The bio-available particulate P flux was about 13.58×10^8μmol/s. Of this, about 4.24 ×10^8μmol/s w as transported by ＂truly suspended＂ particles.

南海北部内孤立波影响海域悬浮颗粒物特征变化研究

悬浮颗粒物在“源-汇”沉积体系中扮演着关键角色,而南海常见的动力现象—内孤立波,则被证实是影响悬浮颗粒物分布和沉积过程的重要因素。该项研究于2022年9月在吕宋海峡至东沙群岛海域开展,采用LISST-deep与CTD设备进行同步观测,以研究悬浮颗粒物的粒径及体积浓度分布。通过调查期内的卫星遥感数据,划定了内孤立波的影响范围,并结合海床基观测内孤立波影响悬浮颗粒物分布过程,从动力学的角度揭示了内孤立波对悬浮颗粒物在输运过程中特征变化的影响。研究发现:(1)在内孤立波的振幅深度区间(6~79 m)内,以较小粒径的悬浮颗粒物(15~25μm)分布为主,且越接近内孤立波的波谷深度,出现较小粒径悬浮颗粒物的频率越高。(2)悬浮颗粒物分布由内孤立波波峰线中心区域扩散到两侧,在中心为体积浓度低值区(≤91μL/L),而波峰线两侧区域与内孤立波传播路径远端区域为体积浓度高值区(≥500μL/L)。此外,研究进一步揭示了内孤立波通过改造作用使聚集状态的悬浮颗粒物被分解为粒径较小、组成单一的颗粒,通过控制作用改变悬浮颗粒物在波峰线不同位置、传播路径和振幅深度上的体积浓度分布,为理解南海源-汇沉积体系提供了重要的理论依据。

南京大气颗粒物化学组分的粒径分布和来源解析

大气颗粒物中化学组分的粒径分布与其来源、形成过程、环境及健康效应密切相关。而过去对不同季节颗粒物的粒径分布特征,以及不同来源对粗、细颗粒物的贡献的研究相对较少。于2022年12月(冬季)和2023年8月(夏季)在南京采集了大气分粒径颗粒物样品,分析了粗颗粒物(PM_(2.1-10))和细颗粒物(PM_(2.1))中碳质组分和主要水溶性无机离子的粒径分布和季节变化,运用正定矩阵因子分解模型(Positive Matrix Factorization,PMF)进行PM_(2.1-10)和PM_(2.1)的源解析。结果表明,在粒径分布特征上,冬夏两季有机碳(OC)、元素碳(EC)、水溶性有机碳(WSOC)的平均浓度呈双峰型分布。SO_(4)^(2-)和NO_(3)^(-)的季节平均浓度均为双峰型分布。NH_(4)^(+)主要分布在细颗粒物中,季节平均浓度呈单峰型分布,冬夏季均在0.43-0.65μm出现峰值。在季节变化上,颗粒物中除Na^(+)和SO_(4)^(2-)外的主要化学组分浓度均在冬季高于夏季。冬夏两季Ca^(2+)、Mg^(2+)主要集中在粗颗粒物中。根据PMF模型解析结果,南京大气颗粒物主要有4类来源贡献,即交通源、二次生成、生物质燃烧和扬尘源。PM_(2.1)主要来自二次生成和生物质燃烧源,冬夏季分别贡献了65.7%和61.0%,其中冬季生物质燃烧和二次硝酸盐的贡献占主导地位,而夏季主要来自二次硫酸盐的贡献。冬季PM_(2.1-10)主要来自交通源(41.8%),夏季则主要来自生物质燃烧和硝酸盐的二次生成贡献(43.9%)。研究探讨了大气颗粒物的化学组分的粒径分布特征、季节差异及来源,可为制定有针对性的大气污染防控措施提供科学依据。

降雨强度对不同海拔侧柏叶片滞纳大气颗粒物量的影响

降雨可以有效清除植物叶片滞纳的大气颗粒物,但降雨强度对不同海拔植物叶面滞尘量的影响研究较缺乏。以九龙山不同海拔侧柏人工林为研究对象,采用传统方法测定不同强度降雨前后植物叶片滞纳大气颗粒物的量,进而研究降水强度对不同海拔侧柏叶片滞纳水溶/非水溶性颗粒物的影响。研究结果表明,中雨(17.5 mm)对不同海拔侧柏叶片滞纳颗粒物的去除效果强于小雨(3.2 mm);中雨后,侧柏叶片滞纳颗粒物的阈值为(0.4248±0.0104)g·m^(-2),且与海拔、降雨前叶面滞纳颗粒物的量无关;小雨后,不同海拔侧柏叶面非水溶性颗粒物存在明显的小粒径聚集为大粒径现象;在低、中海拔地区,中雨主要影响侧柏叶面大粒径颗粒物的量,而高海拔地区主要影响小粒径颗粒物的量;降雨对非水溶性大粒径颗粒物的影响大于水溶性颗粒物;小雨会增加不同海拔侧柏叶片大粒径水溶/非水溶性颗粒物的百分比,中雨会使低、高海拔侧柏叶片大粒径水溶性颗粒物和高海拔大粒径非水溶性颗粒物的百分比增加,而其他海拔侧柏叶片大粒径水溶/非水溶性颗粒物的百分比下降。

含表面活性剂溶液的雾化特性及对细颗粒物的强化去除效果

喷雾技术在气体净化、粉尘控制、化学合成等领域应用广泛,其中液滴尺寸控制及提高喷雾均匀性是该技术面临的挑战。为此,本文拟利用表面活性剂对水雾的雾化特性进行调控,以提高喷雾均匀性,并进一步探究其对细颗粒物去除的促进作用。本文采用实验研究,首先对三种不同性质表面活性剂(十二烷基苯磺酸钠、十六烷基三甲基溴化铵、吐温80)溶液的雾化特性进行了分析,探究了表面活性剂的种类和浓度对于雾化特性的影响。结果表明,与去离子水相比,表面活性剂的加入可以显著提升喷雾的均匀性,喷雾总体粒径减小,并且非离子型表面活性剂吐温80雾化形成的小液滴数量占比最高。当表面活性剂溶液浓度达到临界胶束浓度(CMC)时,三种类型表面活性剂溶液的液滴数达到峰值,以此作为最佳雾化浓度。此外,通过喷雾去除细颗粒物实验表明,含表面活性剂溶液喷雾可以加快细颗粒物去除速率。

重量法测定闽粤藏地区的香品燃烧产生颗粒物的粒径分布特征

燃烧产生粒径小于10μm的颗粒物对人体健康存在威胁,因此对不同地区香品燃烧产生颗粒物的粒径分布研究具有重要性。通过对滤膜、样品质量和采样时间的优化选择,采用重量法建立了香品燃烧后产生颗粒物9个粒径段的采集方法。方法检出限为0.0276mg/m^(3),测定下限为0.1105mg/m^(3),相对标准偏差在2.46%~12.26%之间。通过对闽粤藏三个地区9种香品燃烧产生的颗粒物分析,结果表明:(1)9种香品燃烧产生的颗粒物粒径分布特征较为一致,均呈单峰分布,主要集中在0.65~1.1μm和0.43~0.65μm的范围内;(2)PM_(1.1)/PM_(2.1)>70%,PM_(2.1)/PM_(10)>90%;(3)PM_(1.1)、PM_(2.1)、PM_(10)的排放因子分别为10.597~29.251mg/g、11.741~39.568mg/g、12.439~43.467mg/g。

机动车制动颗粒物测试技术研究综述

非尾气颗粒物排放已超过车辆尾气颗粒物排放,但限制非尾气排放的法规仍不完善。本文综述了机动车制动颗粒物排放的试验方法和粒径分布特征。制动磨损颗粒物的测试方法主要包括销盘法、惯性制动台架法、底盘测功机法和实际道路法。研究发现,受制动摩擦片材质、制动运行特征、制动力、温度、路况和测试工况等多种因素影响,制动颗粒物的粒径分布没有典型的统一特征,具有单峰、双峰和多峰等多种粒径分布形态。

基于粒径分布的机动车尾气颗粒物排放检测方法

常规的机动车尾气颗粒物排放检测方法使用NDIR红外气体传感器采集颗粒物排放信息,易受动态变化尾气浓度影响,导致检测的尾气颗粒物排放浓度与实际排放浓度偏差较高,因此需要基于粒径分布设计一种全新的机动车尾气颗粒物排放检测方法。即计算各微粒的质量浓度,基于粒径分布提取了尾气颗粒物排放特征,再根据经典PID控制算法,构建了Lug Down尾气颗粒物排放检测模型,从而完成了尾气颗粒物排放检测。实验结果表明,设计的尾气颗粒物排放粒径分布检测方法检测的尾气颗粒物排放浓度与实际排放浓度较拟合,证明设计的检测方法的检测效果较好,有一定的应用价值,为提高大气空气质量作出了一定的贡献。

林场不同树种选育对PM_(2.5)大气颗粒物的调控研究

为了降低PM_(2.5)大气颗粒物含量,研究林场不同树种选育对PM_(2.5)大气颗粒物的调控效果。文章采集某区域6种园林植物叶表面空气微粒、叶中元素的组成、含量以及再悬浮速率,并对植物叶片滞尘能力测定方法进行优化,构建空气质量浓度与气象要素关系调控模型。通过检测不同样本叶片蜡质层对颗粒物的截留能力、滞尘粒度分布曲线的变化趋势、以及叶片滞留尘埃的平均颗粒大小,通过拟合计算获取不同树种选育对PM_(2.5)大气颗粒物的调控效果。单叶面积小且叶表粗糙的林场植物可以更好地对PM_(2.5)大气颗粒物进行调控。

Molecular composition and structure of organic matter in density fractions of soils amended with corn straw for five years

Corn straw is an important source of carbon(C),and when applied to soil,it alters the accumulation and distribution of organic C.However,the mechanistic pathways by which newly added C is stored and stabilized in soil remain a subject of interest and debate among scholars.In this study,we investigated the chemistry of organic matter in different density fractions of Haplic Cambisol(sandy clay loam)in a field experiment with corn straw at8900 kg ha^(-1)year^(-1)under no tillage(NT),minimum tillage(MT),and conventional tillage(CT).After five years of corn(Zea mays L.)monocropping,soils were collected from the 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths and processed to obtain the organic matter in light fraction(LFOM),occluded particulate(oPOM),and heavy fraction(HFOM)in the order.The results showed that compared with conventional tillage without corn straw return(CT0),corn straw return(i.e.,NT,MT,and CT)increased soil organic C content by 11.55%-16.58%.Thermogravimetric and Fourier transform infrared analyses demonstrated that the HFOM was characterized by a greater proportion of easily biodegradable substances,which may be due to the deposition of microbially processed materials on the surface of soil minerals.The LFOM and o POM were distinguished by greater phenolic,aromatic C,and thermally stable compounds.Compared with CT0,the NT and MT fields showed higher abundances of hydrophobic,aliphatic,and thermally unstable organic compounds,which increased soil C content and stability in the HFOM.Therefore,NT and MT may be ideal practices to increase soil organic C content.

Size distribution and source of heavy metals in particulate matter on the lead and zinc smelting affected area

In order to understand the size distribution and the main kind of heavy metals in particulate matter on the lead and zinc smelting affected area, particulate matter （PM） and the source samples were collected in Zhuzhou, Hunan Province from December 2011 to January 2012 and the results were discussed and interpreted. Atmospheric particles were collected with different sizes by a cascade impactor. The concentrations of heavy metals in atmospheric particles of different sizes, collected from the air and from factories, were measured using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry （ICP-MS）. The results indicated that the average concentration of PM, chromium （Cr）, arsenic （As）, cadmium （Cd） and lead （Pb） in PM was 177.3 ± 33.2 μg/m^3, 37.3 ± 8.8 ng/m^3, 17.3 ± 8.1 ng/m^3, 4.8 ± 3.1 ng/m^3 and 141.6 ± 49.1 ng/m^3, respectively. The size distribution of PM displayed a bimodal distribution; the maximum PM size distribution was at 1.1-2.1 μm, followed by 9-10 μm. The size distribution of As, cd and Pb in PM was similar to the distribution of the PM mass, with peaks observed at the range of 1.1-2.1 μm and 9-10 μm ranges while for Cr, only a single-mode at 4.7-5.8 μm was observed. PM （64.7%, As （72.5%）, cd （72.2%） and Pb （75.8%） were associated with the fine mode below 2.1 μm, respectively, while Cr （46.6%） was associated with the coarse mode. The size distribution characteristics, enrichment factor, correlation coefficient values, source information and the analysis of source samples showed that As, Cd and Pb in PM were the typical heavy metal in lead and zinc smelting affected areas, which originated mainly from lead and zinc smelting sources.

Long-Term Effect of No-Tillage on Soil Organic Carbon Fractions in a Continuous Maize Cropping System of Northeast China

Increasing evidence has shown that conservation tillage is an effective agricultural practice to increase carbon （C） sequestration in soils. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying the responses of soil organic carbon （SOC） to tillage regimes, physical fractionation techniques were employed to evaluate the effect of long-term no-tillage （NT） on soil aggregation and SOC fractions. Results showed that NT increased the concentration of total SOC by 18.1% compared with conventional tillage （CT） under a long-term maize （Zea mays L.） cropping system in Northeast China. The proportion of soil large macroaggregates （〉 2 000 μm） was higher in NT than that in CT, while small macroaggregates （250-2 000μm） showed an opposite trend. Therefore, the total proportion of macroaggregates （〉 2 000 and 250-2 000μm） was not affected by tillage management. However, C concentrations of macroaggregates on a whole soil basis were higher under NT relative to CT, indicating that both the amount of aggregation and aggregate turnover affected C stabilization. Carbon concentrations of intra-aggregate particulate organic matter associated with microaggregates （iPOM-m） and microaggregates occluded within macroaggregates （iPOM-mM） in NT were 1.6 and 1.8 times greater than those in CT, respectively. Carbon proportions of iPOM-n and iPOM-mM in the total SOC increased from 5.4% and 6.3% in CT to 7.2% and 9.7% in NT, respectively. Furthermore, the difference in the microaggregate protected C （i. e., iPOM-m and iPOM-mM） between NT and CT could explain 45.4% of the difference in the whole SOC. The above results indicate that NT stimulates C accumulation within microaggregates which then are further acted upon in the soil to form macroaggregates. The shift of SOC within microaggregates is beneficial for long-term C sequestration in soil. We also corroborate that the microaggregate protected C is useful as a pool for assessing the impact of tillage management on SOC storage.

Effect of fire intensity on active organic and total soil carbon in a Larix gmelinii forest in the Daxing'anling Mountains,Northeastern China

Studying contents and seasonal dynamics of active organic carbon in the soil is an important method for revealing the turnover and regulation mechanism of soil carbon pool. Through 3 years of field sampling and lab analysis, we studied the seasonal variations, content differences, and interrelationships of total organic carbon （TOC）, light fraction organic carbon （LFOC）, and particulate organic carbon （POC） of the soil in the forest areas burned with different fire intensities in the Daxing＇anling Mountains. The mean TOC content in the low-intensity burned area was greater than that in the unburned area, moderate-intensity, and high-intensity burned areas in June and November （P 〈 0.05）. LFOC and POC in the low-intensity burned area were greater than that in either moderate-intensity or high-intensity burned areas, with significant differences in LFOC in September and November （P 〈 0.05）. A significant difference in LFOC between the unburned and burned areas was only found in July （P 〈 0.05）. However, the differences in POC between the unburned and burned areas were not significant in all the whole seasons （P 〉 0.05）. Soil LFOC and POC varied significantly with the seasons （P 〈 0.05） in the Daxing＇anling Mountains. Significant linear relationships were observed between soil TOC, LFOC, and POC, which were positively correlated with soil nitrogen and negatively correlated with soil temperature in the Daxing＇anling Mountains.