[Effects of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Addition on Soil Nutrient Content and Stoichiometry in Desert Grassland].

In order to discuss the response of soil nutrient content, stoichiometric ratio, and dynamic nutrient balance to the addition of multiple restrictive nutrients, the correlation between available nutrients and total nutrients in soil, as well as the indication of soil total and available stoichiometric characteristics, were studied in a desert grassland subjected to 4 years of nutrient addition treatments. The Ningxia desert grassland was used as the research object to carry out nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) addition experiments. The experiment included four treatments:control (CK), N addition[10 g·(m2·a)-1], P addition[10 g·(m2·a)-1], and NP co-addition (10 g·(m2·a)-1 N+10 g·(m2·a)-1 P). The results showed that:① in the fourth year of nutrient addition, soil total nitrogen (TN) content was significantly increased. The N:P ratio was significantly increased by N addition, and soil organic carbon (SOC) content was significantly increased by P addition and NP co-addition. In the third and fourth years of nutrient addition, the soil available N:P ratio (AN:AP) was significantly increased by N addition; N addition and NP co-addition significantly increased the content of ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) but significantly reduced the soil available C:N ratio. P addition and NP co-addition significantly increased total phosphorus (TP) and soil available phosphorus (AP), whereas it significantly reduced the soil total and available C:P and N:P ratios. ② The interaction between N addition and P addition had a combined effect on NH4+-N, AP, available C:N, and AN:AP ratio of desert grassland. ③ The soil C:N ratio was relatively stable in desert grassland, soil N:P ratio was mainly limited by soil TP content, and the soil available C:P and AN:AP ratios were mainly limited by soil AP content. ④ There were cumulative effects of N and P additions on soil N, SOC, and inorganic nitrogen. N limitation in desert grassland was alleviated by N addition, whereas it was aggravated by P addition and NP co-addition. The variation coefficients of soil available stoichiometric characteristics were higher than that of soil total stoichiometric characteristics. Soil available stoichiometry was more sensitive to N and P addition than soil total stoichiometry in desert grassland, which could better reflect the effects of N and P addition on soil ecological stoichiometry and as a rapid indicator of soil nutrient status in desert grassland.

Protopanaxtriol protects against 3-nitropropionic acid-induced oxidative stress in a rat model of Huntington's disease.

AIM: Protopanaxtriol (Ppt) is extracted from Panax ginseng Mayer. In the present study, we investigated whether Ppt could protect against 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP)-induced oxidative stress in a rat model of Huntington's disease (HD) and explored the mechanisms of action. METHODS: Male SD rats were treated with 3-NP (20 mg/kg on d 1, and 15 mg/kg on d 2-5, ip). The rats received Ppt (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, po) daily prior to 3-NP administration. Nimodipine (12 mg/kg, po) or N-acetyl cysteine (NAC, 100 mg/kg, po) was used as positive control drugs. The body weight and behavior were monitored within 5 d. Then the animals were sacrificed, neuronal damage in striatum was estimated using Nissl staining. Hsp70 expression was detected with immunohistochemistry. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was measured using dihydroethidium (DHE) staining. The levels of components in the Nrf2 pathway were measured with immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS: 3-NP resulted in a marked reduction in the body weight and locomotion activity accompanied by progressive striatal dysfunction. In striatum, 3-NP caused ROS generation mainly in neurons rather than in astrocytes and induced Hsp70 expression. Administration of Ppt significantly alleviated 3-NP-induced changes of body weight and behavior, decreased ROS production and restored antioxidant enzymes activities in striatum. Moreover, Ppt directly scavenged free radicals, increased Nrf2 entering nucleus, and the expression of its downstream products heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and NAD(P)H quinone oxidase 1 (NQO1) in striatum. Similar effects were obtained with the positive control drugs nimodipine or NAC. CONCLUSION: Ppt exerts a protective action against 3-NP-induced oxidative stress in the rat model of HD, which is associated with its anti-oxidant activity.

[Nitrogen Fraction Distributions and Impacts on Soil Nitrogen Mineralization in Different Vegetation Restorations of Karst Rocky Desertification].

In order to illuminate the impact on soil nitrogen accumulation and supply in karst rocky desertification area, the distribution characteristics of soil nitrogen pool for each class of soil aggregates and the relationship between aggregates nitrogen pool and soil nitrogen mineralization were analyzed in this study. The results showed that the content of total nitrogen, light fraction nitrogen, available nitrogen and mineral nitrogen in soil aggregates had an increasing tendency along with the descending of aggregate-size, and the highest content was occurred in < 0. 25 mm. The content of nitrogen fractions for all aggregate-classes followed in the order of abandoned land < grass land < brush land < brush-arbor land < arbor land in different sample plots. Artificial forest lands had more effects on the improvement of the soil nitrogen than honeysuckle land. In this study it also showed the nitrogen stockpiling quantity of each aggregate-size class was differed in all aggregate-size classes, in which the content of nitrogen fraction in 5-10 mm and 2-5 mm classes of soil aggregate-size were the highest. And it meant that soil nutrient mainly was stored in large size aggregates. Large size aggregates were significant to the storage of soil nutrient. For each class of soil aggregate-size, the contribution of the nitrogen stockpiling quantity of 0. 25-1 mm class to soil net nitrogen mineralization quantity was the biggest, and following >5mm and 2-5 mm classes, and the others were the smallest. With the positive vegetation succession, the weight percentage of > 5 mm aggregate-size classes was improved and the nitrogen storage of macro-aggregates also was increased. Accordingly, the capacity of soil supply mineral nitrogen and storage organic nitrogen were intensified.

[Morphology of soil iron oxides and its correlation with soil-forming process and forming conditions in a karst mountain].

The quantity and morphology of iron oxides are indicators of soil forming-process and forming conditions. In order to analyze the connection between soil iron oxides and soil forming conditions and degenerative process of karst ecosystem, we have chosen 14 soil profiles on the top and middle section of Jinfo Mountain, a typical karst slope in Chongqing, China. Morphology and contents of soil iron oxides were studied by using chemical selective extraction techniques. We draw conclusions: 1) total iron (Fe(t)) is mainly controlled by parent material and lithology. Significant difference of Fe(t) content exists between soils in Top Mountain (51.49 g x kg(-1), mean value from 5 profiles) and soils at the middle sector of North Slope (86.29 g x kg(-1), mean value of 9 profiles); 2) the results show low concentration of F(d) (29.16 g x kg(-1)) and low ratio of Fe(d) to Fe(t)(35.40%) in soil clay under conditions of high elevation and low temperature on Top Mountain. In contrast, the results indicate advanced weathering and soil-forming process at middle slope sites due to high temperature; this is supported by high mean values of Fe(d) (43.92 g x kg(-1)) and ratio of Fe(d)/Fe(t) in clay (60.41%); 3) long humid climatic setting and large numbers of soil organic matter on top of the mountain result in high activation degrees (F(o)/Fe(d)) and high complexation degrees (Fe(p)/Fe(d)); mean values of them are 73.51%, 17.21% respectively, which are higher than that of soils at middle slope sites (13.06%, 0.41%); 4) after degradation or deforestation of secondary forestland (pines massoniana among bushes) at middle section of the hillslope, soil free iron oxides (Fe(d)) and total iron oxides (Fe(t)) decrease as well as soil organic carbon and clay, because of progressively increasing of soil erosion. Average contents of Fe(t) and Fe(d) in clay from 2 shrub profiles are 98.25 g x kg(-1), 50.81 g x kg(-1) respectively. However, the four tillage soils we have studied reveal lower values of Fe(t) (84.52 g x kg(-1)) and Fe(d) in clay (47.86 g x kg(-1)). Soil iron oxides are reliable indicators to estimate degeneration of karst ecosystem and karst rock desertification.