Lignite-steel slag constructed wetland with multi-functionality and effluent reuse.

Constructed wetlands (CWs) are widely used to treat wastewater, while innovative studies are needed to support resource conservation, enhance multi-functionality, and improve the effectiveness of effluent usage. This study assessed the potential of CW's multiple functions by combining low-rank coal (lignite) and industrial waste (steel slag) in different configurations as CW substrates. The results of scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and metagenomic sequencing showed that the experimental treatment with lignite and steel slag mixtures had the highest multi-functionality, including efficient nutrient removal and carbon sequestration, as well as hydroponic crop production. Lignite and steel slag were mixed to form lignite-steel slag particle clusters, where Ca2+ dissolved on the surface of steel slag was combined with PO43- in wastewater to form Ca3(PO4)2 precipitation for phosphorus removal. A biofilm grew on the surface of lignite in this cluster, and OH- released from steel slag promoted lignite to release fulvic acid, which provided a carbon source for heterotrophic microorganisms and promoted denitrification. Moreover, fulvic acid enhanced carbon sequestration in CWs by increasing the biomass of Phragmites australis. The effluent from lignite-steel slag CW increased cherry tomato yield and quality while saving N and P applications. These results provide new ideas for the "green" and economic development of CW technology.

Dissimilatory iron reduction contributes to anaerobic mineralization of sediment in a shallow transboundary lake.

Dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR) coupled with carbon cycling is increasingly being recognized as an influential process in freshwater wetland soils and sediments. The role of DIR in organic matter (OM) mineralization, however, is still largely unknown in lake sediment environments. In this study, we clarified rates and pathways of OM mineralization in two shallow lakes with seasonal hydrological connectivity and different eutrophic situations. We found that in comparison with the domination of DIR (55%) for OM mineralization in Lake Xiaoxingkai, the contribution of methanogenesis was much higher (68%) in its connected lake (Lake Xingkai). The differences in rates and pathways of sediment OM mineralization between the two lakes were attributed to higher concentrations of carbonate associated iron oxides (Fecarb) in Lake Xiaoxingkai compared to Lake Xingkai (P = 0.002), due to better deposition mixing, more contributions of terrigenous detrital materials, and higher OM content in Lake Xiaoxingkai. Results of structural equation modeling showed that Fecarb and total iron content (TFe) regulated 25% of DIR in Lake Xiaoxingkai and 76% in Lake Xingkai, accompanied by a negative effect of TFe on methanogenesis in Lake Xingkai. The relative abundance and diversity of Fe-reducing bacteria were significantly different between the two lakes, and showed a weak effect on sediment OM mineralization. Our findings emphasize the role of iron minerals and geochemical characterizations in regulating rates and pathways of OM mineralization, and deepen the understanding of carbon cycling in lake sediments.

Wetland soil organic carbon balance is reversed by old carbon and iron oxide additions.

Iron (Fe) oxides can stabilize organic carbon (OC) through adsorption and co-precipitation, while microbial Fe reduction can disrupt Fe-bound OC (Fe-OC) and further increase OC mineralization. The net effects of OC preservation and mineralization mediated by Fe oxides are still unclear, especially for old carbon (formed from plant litters over millions of years) and crystalline Fe oxides. Accelerating the recovery of wetland carbon sinks is critical for mitigating climate change and achieving carbon neutrality. Quantifying the net effect of Fe-mediated OC mineralization and preservation is vital for understanding the role of crystalline Fe oxides in carbon cycling and promoting the recovery of soil carbon sinks. Here, we explored the OC balances mediated by hematite (Hem) and lignite addition (Lig) to freshwater wetland (FW, rich in C and Fe) and saline-alkaline wetland (SW, poor in C and Fe) soil slurries, incubated under anaerobic conditions. Results showed that Lig caused net OC accumulation (FW: 5.9 ± 3.6 mg g-1; SW: 8.3 ± 3.2 mg g-1), while Hem caused dramatic OC loss, particularly in the FW soils. Hem inhibited microbial Fe(III) reduction by decreasing the relative abundance of Fe respiration reducers, while substantially enhancing OC mineralization through the shift in the microbial community structure of FW soils. Lig resulted in carbon emission, but its contribution to preservation by the formation of Fe-OC was far higher than that which caused OC loss. We concluded that crystalline Fe oxide addition solely favored the increase of OC mineralization by adjusting the microbial community structure, while old carbon enriched with an aromatic and alkyl promoted Fe-OC formation and further increased OC persistence. Our findings could be employed for wetland restoration, particularly for the recovery of soil carbon sinks.

Geographical Distribution of Iron Redox Cycling Bacterial Community in Peatlands: Distinct Assemble Mechanism Across Environmental Gradient.

Microbial-mediated iron (Fe) oxidation and reduction greatly contribute to the biogeochemistry and mineralogy of ecosystems. However, knowledge regarding the composition and distribution patterns of iron redox cycling bacteria in peatlands remains limited. Here, using high-throughput sequencing, we compared biogeographic patterns and assemblies of the iron redox cycling bacterial community between soil and water samples obtained from different types of peatland across four regions in Northeast China. A total of 48 phylotypes were identified as potential iron redox bacteria, which had greater than 97% similarity with Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) and Fe(III)-reducing bacteria (FeRB). Among them, Rhodoferax, Clostridium, Geothrix, Sideroxydans, Geobacter, Desulfovibrio, and Leptothrix could be used as bioindicators in peatlands for characterizing different hydrological conditions and nutrient demands. Across all samples, bacterial communities associated with iron redox cycling were mainly affected by pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and Fe2+. Distance-decay relationship (DDR) analysis indicated that iron redox cycling bacterial communities in soil, but not in water, were highly correlated with geographic distance. Additionally, null model analysis revealed that stochastic processes substituted deterministic processes from minerotrophic fens to ombrotrophic bogs in soils, whereas deterministic processes were dominant in water. Overall, these observations suggest that bacteria involved in iron redox cycling are widespread in diverse habitats and exhibit distinct patterns of distribution and community assembly mechanisms between soil and water in peatlands.

[Effects of Canalization on the Iron Deposition in Sanjiang Plain].

Canalization is the representative process and landscape of wetland reclamation. A typical ditch system of four levels near the Honghe National Nature Reserve in Sanjiang Plain was selected. Deposition plates were set on the sediments along the ditch level and the remained natural wetland nearby was quantitatively sampled for two years as the control. The deposition fluxes, total iron concentration, iron oxides and their components, as well as biogenic elements in the sediments collected by deposition plates were measured. The results showed that the litter, mud/sand and total deposition fluxes showed no significant differences between different ditch levels, with the means of (57.00 ± 16.90) g x (m2 x a)(-1), (3 997.57 ± 798.98) g x (m2 x a)(-1) and (4054.57 ± 792.91) g x (m2 x a)(-1), respectively. The litter flux decreased with the increase of ditch level, and the flux in the natural wetland [ (120.26 ± 19.42) g x (m2 x a)(-1) ] was significantly greater than that of the ditches. The mud/sand [ (35.41 ± 11.15 ) g x (m2 x a)(-1)] and total deposition fluxes [ (155.67 ± 20.75) g x ( m2 x a](-1) ] were significantly smaller than those of the ditches. There were no significant differences in the total iron between different ditches and natural wetland, while the free iron oxide content in the ditch sediments was significantly lower than that of natural wetland sediment. Except for the main ditch, the amorphous and complex iron oxides in the other ditch and natural wetland sediments showed no significant differences. The free degree of the iron oxide in ditch sediments was 60.2% of that in the natural wetland, while the differences in the complex degree and the activated degree were insignificant. The differences in the total organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus were insignificant, and all were smaller than those of the natural wetland, with the percentages of 14.6%, 31.6% and 41.0%, respectively. It could be concluded that the effects of canalization on iron and biogenic elements were significant. Consequently, rational agricultural water managements are strongly recommended to avoid the potential environmental and ecological risks caused by canalization in Sanjiang Plain.

[Waterborne iron migration by groundwater irrigation pumping in a typical irrigation district of Sanjiang Plain].

The iron concentration in groundwater, iron's seasonal migration from groundwater to sun-basked pools, paddy fields and drainage canals, and its distribution in the sediments/soils were observed in the Jiansanjiang Branch Bureau, Heilongjiang Agricultural Cultivation Bureau. The results suggested that the total iron mass concentration of the studied area was (1.73 +/- 0.41) mg x L(-1), ranging from 0.01 to 11.4 mg x L(-1), with the variation coefficient of 1.29%. The annual iron input mass from groundwater to paddy fields and other surface water bodies was 4 976.40 t in 2010, according to the rice planting area and rating irrigation volume. Dissolved Fe2+, Fe3+ and iron, as well as the total iron (dissolved and particle) had seasonal variation, with greater values presented in June and July. These waterborne irons in paddy field waters were greater than those in sun-basked pools and drainage canals. Obvious enrichment effect was observed in sun-basked pools and paddy fields, with their total iron mass concentrations were 6.17 and 21.65 times greater than that in groundwater. Either the total iron or iron oxides in sun-baked pool sediments were greater than that in paddy field soils, field canal and main canal sediments. The differences of the total iron and iron oxides in paddy field soils, field canal and main canal sediments were not significantly different. Considerable irons were precipitated within sun-basked pools and paddy fields during the transfer from groundwater to surface water, with a part of irons exporting into canals through drainage and then precipitated there. Not only the change of total iron mass, but the transformation of iron chemical speciation was observed during the transfer, which was affected by paddy irrigation management directly. The long-term irrigation pumping could cause the substantial enrichment of iron in paddy soils and canal sediments, resulting in the increase of potential pollution risk.

[Dynamic change of dissolved iron in wetland soil solutions responding to freeze-thaw cycles].

The effects of five freeze-thaw cycles on the dynamic change of dissolved iron in three typical wetland soils (humus marsh soil in Carex lasiocarpa community, meadow marsh soil in Cares meyeriarna community, and meadow albic soil in Calamagrostis angustifolia community)of Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China, was analyzed through in-situ soil column simulation. One freeze-thaw cycle was conducted as freezing at -10 degrees C for 1 d and then thawing at 5 degrees C for 7 d. The thermostatically incubated soils at 5 degrees C were controls. The results showed that most pH and Eh values increased after the first freeze-thaw cycle, and then decreased after the subsequent cycles. 84.4% of the pH values of freeze-thaw treated soils were smaller than that of control, while 82.2% of the Eh values of freeze-thaw treated soils were greater than that of control. Most of the dissolved iron in all soil solutions were Fe3+ ions and colloids, and the reduction of these Fe3+ species were inhibited. The concentrations of Fe2, Fe3+, and total dissolved iron (TFe) of the freeze-thaw treated soils were all smaller than that of controls, with the means of (0.62 +/- 0.08) mg x L(-1) and (1.25 +/- 0.16) mg x L(-1), respectively. The variation trends of pH, Eh, and dissolved iron in the humus marsh soil were significantly different from that in the meadow albic soil. The trends in the meadow marsh soil, as the transitional soil type, were more similar to the meadow albic soil for pH, while more similar to the humus marsh soil for Eh and dissolved iron. Among the three soils, the difference between freeze-thaw treated columns and controls of the second layer were all smaller than that of the third and fourth layer, which indicated that the effect of freeze-thaw cycles were more significant for the upper annular wetland soil layers than the lower layers.

[Spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of soil iron in the annular wetland under different water regime].

The effect of water regime on the spatial distribution of total iron and the seasonal variation of dissolved iron in a typical annular wetland of Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China, was analyzed through in situ sampling of soils and soil solutions. The results showed that the average level of total iron of the wetland soil (0-60 cm) was (2.54 +/- 0.73) x 10(4) mg x kg(-1), which decreased gradually from the Calamagrostis angustifolia community in the edge of the annular wetland [(2.91 +/- 0.51) x 10(4) mg x kg(-1)], to the C. meyeriana community [(2.60 +/- 0.35) x 10(4) mg x kg(-1)], the C. lasiocarpa community [(2.48 +/- 0.31) x 10(4) mg x kg(-1)], and the of C. pseudocuraica community [(2.17 +/- 0.31) x 10(4) mg x kg(-1)] in the centre of the annular wetland. The iron solubility of perennial flooding soil was higher than seasonal flooding soil. The gross dissolved iron increased from soil thawing in the late spring [(0.35 +/- 0.086) mg x L(-1)] to freezing in the late autumn [(12.67 +/- 2.92) mg x L(-1)], because the soil iron was activated by continuous submergence. The reduced degree as shown by Fe3+/Fe2+ increased with the increment of water depth or flooding duration. Significant and extremely significant correlations were observed between dissolved Fe3+ or Fe2+ and pH, TOC, TN and PO4(3-), which suggested that the distribution of iron was influenced by the soil physical and chemical properties, and coupled with the transfer and transformation of C, N, and P elements.

[Distribution of sediment iron of the ditch system in Sanjiang Plain, northeast China].

The iron distribution of the multi-level ditch system (hair canal-field canal-lateral canal-branch canal-main canal) was studied through total iron determination of the sediments (0-60 cm). The results showed that the mean concentration was (3.02 +/- 0.10) x 10(4) mg x kg(-1). Extremely significant difference was obseved between different ditch level (F = 6.261, p << 0.001), and the highest and the lowest concentration were present in the farmland lateral canal (3.71 x 10(4) mg x kg(-1)) and wetland canal (2.43 x 10(4) mg x kg(-1)), respectively. The difference of different sediment layers was not significant (F = 0.093, p = 0.693), while the iron concentrations of 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm sediments were 51.96% and 62.22% higher than that of the natural wetland soil nearby, respectively. Iron can transfer with the runoff in a certain extent, but it was not cumulated along the ditch system with the largest cumulation location at the third level. The runoff containing iron decreased gradully because of the wetland protection and climate change nowadays. The horizontal transfer of iron along the ditch system indicated the timing and intensity of iron loss in the past since the canals were dredged.

[Characteristics of the wetland soil iron under different ages of reclamation].

The temporal-spatial trends of soil total iron concentration (Fet), free degree (Fed/Fet), activation degree (Feo/Fed) and complex degree (Fep/Fed) of soil iron oxides after reclamation were studied in Sanjiang Plain Wetlands. The result suggests that Fet in the upper tillage layers (0 - 20 cm) are influenced by reclamation more significantly than that in the lower ones (20 - 100 cm), and so does the early ages (0 - 1 years) than the late ages (1 - 25 years). Fet is negatively correlated with organic matter extremely significantly (R = - 0.62), while that with total phosphorus and pH are not significant. Fet of soil layer I (0 - 10 cm) increases obviously during the first 7 years after reclamation, and tends to become stable after 13 years, while those ages of soil layer II (10 - 20 cm) are 8 years and 15 years respectively. Soil layer I shows shorter responding time and better regularity than layer II. Fed/Fet increases rapidly after reclamation, decreases later and then increases again. Feo/Fed indicates exponential decrease with the reclamation ages as well as Fep/Fed. Feo/Fed of layer I decreases radically during the first 4 years after reclamation and tends to become stable after 13 years, while that of layer II decreases dramatically within the first year and keeps stable henceforth. The counterparts of Fep/Fed are 6 years, 14 years, and 2 years respectively. With the fitted experimental equations of Fet, Feo/Fed, and Fep/Fed, the ages of reclamation can be deduced reversely, which indicates the implication of iron on the shifts of soil environment.