Different responses of soil respiration and its components to nitrogen and phosphorus addition in a subtropical secondary forest

Background:Nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)deposition have largely affected soil respiration(Rs)in forest ecosystems.However,few studies have explored how N and P individually or in combination to influence Rs and its components(autotrophic respiration,Ra;heterotrophic respiration,Rh),especially in highly P-limited subtropical forests.To address this question,we conducted a field manipulation experiment with N and/or P addition in a 50-year-old subtropical secondary forest.Results:We found that N addition on average reduced Rs,Ra,and Rh by 15.2%,15%,and 11.7%,respectively during 2-year field study.P addition had an inconsistent effect on Ra,with Ra increasing by 50.5%in the first year but reducing by 26.6%in the second year.Moreover,P addition on average decreased Rh by 8.9%–30.9%and Rs by 6.7%–15.6%across 2 years.In contrast,N and P co-addition on average increased Rs,Ra,and Rh by 1.9%,7.9%,and 2.1%during the experimental period.Though Rs and Rh were significantly correlated with soil temperature,their temperature sensitivities were not significantly changed by fertilization.Ra was predominantly regulated by soil nitrogen availability(NH4+and NO3−),soil dissolved organic carbon(DOC),and enzyme activities,while the variation in Rh was mainly attributable to changes in soil microbial community composition and soilβ-D-Cellubiosidase(CB)andβ-Xylosidase(XYL)activities.Conclusion:Our findings highlight the contrasting responses of Rs and its components to N or P addition against N and P co-addition,which should be differentially considered in biogeochemical models in order to improve prediction of forest carbon dynamics in the context of N and P enrichment in terrestrial ecosystems.

Modern Sedimentation of Phosphorus and Its Microbial Decomposition and Concentration: An Example from Dianchi Lake, Yunnan, China

Dianchi Lake is one of the lakes with the richest phosphorus source in the world, in which the P2O5 content in the bottom sediments reaches averagely 0.51 wt % and maximally 1.92%. Studies indicate that this: extremely P-rich state is attributed mainly to the large volume (as high as hundred thousands of tons) of phosphatic matter coming into the lake as many rivers feeding the lake pass through a vast area of phosphate-mining districts, which then undergo weathering and particularly some human activities, including waste water discharge. When phosphatic matter enters the lake, its grained parts are firstly decomposed by phosphorus-decomposing bacteria, and finally accumulated in some geographically special parts of the lake, such as a bay area where water flow is much more slower than elsewhere in the lake. With the involvement of phosphorus-concentrating bacteria, the accumulated phosphates in the bottom sludge ultimately form phosphate minerals through deep-burial diagenesis.

Formation of Phosphorous Surface Inverse Segregation in Twin-Roll Cast Strips of Low-Carbon Steels

The formation of phosphorous surface inverse segregation （SIS） in twin-roll cast strips of low-carbon steels was studied. High phosphorous strips were fabricated by using a pilot twin-roll strip caster and a melt/substrate contacting apparatus, respectively. Solidification structures of strips were observed and analyzed, and phosphorus distributions along longitudinal sections of strips were investigated and discussed. The results showed that solidification structures of all strips were columnar grains, either integrated or coarse in the strip made by the melt/substrate contacting apparatus or damaged in some degree in cast strips; and that during cast strip solidification, enrichment of phosphorus occurred between columnar grains, and the average phosphorus concentration near the surface in the strip with 0.15% of phosphorus was measured to be about 0.27% which was obviously higher than that in the bulk.

Environmental stress and eutrophication in freshwater wetlands: evidence from carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in cattail (Typha domingensis Pers.)

Background:Florida’s Everglades is a vast freshwater peatland that has been impacted by the alterations of hydrological pattern and water quality which led to changes in plant species composition and biodiversity.In this study,carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes(δ13C andδ15N)in cattail(Typha domingensis)are evaluated as indicators of environmental changes in the Everglades wetlands along nutrient and hydrological gradients represented by reference sites with total phosphorus(TP)<10μg L−1,transition sites with TP≥10μg L−1<20μg L−1 and impacted sites with TP≥20μg L−1 which differed in hydrology or habitats(marsh and canal).Results:Cattailδ13C values decreased significantly from reference(–24.1‰),transition(–26.8‰)to the impacted sites(–28.2‰).In contrast,δ15N values increased significantly from reference(–5.2‰),transition(2.4‰)to the impacted site(5.9‰).In response to a poor hydrological condition,cattail in marsh area displayed 13C enrichment(–26.0‰)and 15N depletion(0.2‰).By contrast,cattail grown in the canal sites with favorable hydropattern displayed 13C depletion(–27.6‰)and 15N enrichment(5.9‰)from the canal sites with more favorable hydrological condition.Conclusions:The different patterns for the changes inδ13C andδ15N in cattail suggested that increased nutrients led to increased stomatal conductance and 13C fractionation during carbon uptake and decreased 15N fractionation with increasing nitrogen demand while poor hydrological condition coupled with low nutrients led to reduced plant growth indicated by higherδ13C and lowerδ15N values.Findings from this study suggested thatδ13C in emerged macrophytes such as cattail can be used as an indicator for environmental stress whileδ15N is a robust indicator for wetland eutrophication.