Impacts of slurry application methods and inhibitors on gaseous emissions and N2O pathways in meadow-cinnamon soil.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of mitigation practices (slurry application methods and inhibitors applications) on gas emissions and identify the soil N2O production pathways in cattle slurry applied soil using isotopocule mapping approach. First, we compared the NH3 and N2O emissions of cattle slurry applied soil in a summer maize field experiment in north China plain (NCP) with four treatments: control (CK, no fertilization), slurry application using surface (SA-S), slurry application using band application (BA-S), and chemical fertilizer application using band application (BA-C). Then, an incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the mitigation effect of nitrification inhibitors (dicyandiamide, DCD) and denitrification inhibitors (procyanidins, PC) and their combination (DCD + PC) on gaseous N emissions with slurry applied using incorporation (IA) or surface application (SA) methods. The results showed that the total gaseous N emissions (N2O-N and NH3-N) in field were in the order of SA-S (1534 mg m-2) > BA-S (338 mg m-2) > BA-C (128 mg m-2) > CK (55 mg m-2), and the dominant N loss contributor varied from NH3 in SA-S (∼89%) to N2O in BA-S (∼94%) and BA-C (∼88%). Moreover, the isotopocule mapping approach indicated that emitted N2O of the slurry applied soil in field appeared to have lower rN2O values and led to more N2O + N2 emissions at the initial fertilization period. The incubation experiment indicated that the N2O emissions of slurry-applied soil were significantly reduced by DCD (∼45%) and DCD + PC (∼67%) application in comparison with CK (p < 0.05), and the stronger contributions of bacterial denitrification/nitrifier denitrification to N2O production were revealed by the lower δ15NSP in N2O using the isotopocule mapping approach. In conclusion, in NCP the gaseous losses of the slurry applied field can be largely reduced by using incorporation method, and greater reduction could be achieved given the simultaneous application of nitrification/denitrification inhibitors.

[Effects of groundwater depth on functional traits of young Haloxylon ammodendron.] / 地下水埋深对幼龄梭梭功能性状的影响.

Groundwater is an important water source for phreatophytic shrubs in arid desert areas. In order to understand the impacts of groundwater depth on functional traits of phreatophytic shrubs, two groups of groundwater levels (2 and 3.5 m) were set up using lysimeter with automatic water replenishing instrument. We measured hydraulic traits, gas exchange characteristics, and root morphological parameters of young Haloxylon ammodendron during the growing season. The results showed that predawn assimilating branch water potential, osmotic potential at full turgor, and root length ratio of young H. ammodendron in the groundwater depth of 3.5 m were lower by 48.2%, 41.5% and 56.7% than that under groundwater depth of 2 m, respectively, while maximum net photosynthetic rate of late growing season, root volume, specific root length and specific root area of fine root were 75.7%, 41.0%, 273.7% and 67.7% higher, respectively. Midday water potential and water content of assimilating branch tended to decrease first in the early growing season and then increase in the late growing season. Root distribution of young H. ammodendron along soil profile showed a significant positive correlation between the average root diameter and soil depth, while the proportion of fine root surface area showed a significant negative correlation with soil depth at both groundwater levels. There was synergy of aboveground assimilating branch hydraulic traits and photosynthetic capacity with belowground root morphological traits in young H. ammodendron. Under the condition of increasing groundwater depth, young H. ammodendron adopted the ecological strategies of reducing predawn assimilating branch water potential and osmotic potential at full turgor, and increasing root diameter and length to enhance water deficit tolerance and expanding the area of water uptake to sustain their survival.