[Effects of Straw Returning with Lime on SOC and Carbon Pool Management in Acidic Paddy Soil].

Soil acidification and low SOC are the main limiting factors in acidic paddy soils. Straw returning with lime is an effective measure to alleviate soil acidification and improve soil fertility; however, its interaction effects on SOC and carbon pool management are still unclear. To investigate the impact of straw returning with lime on the organic carbon pool of acidic paddy soil, field experiments were conducted on acidic paddy soil in Baiyun District and Huiyang District of Guangdong Province. The changes in soil total organic carbon (TOC), water-soluble organic carbon (DOC), active organic carbon (LOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), carbon pool index (CPI), stable organic carbon (IOC), carbon pool activity (L), carbon pool activity index (CPAI), and carbon pool management index (CPMI) were analyzed under three treatments (CK, conventional fertilization; RS, straw returning+conventional fertilization; RS+L straw returning with lime+conventional fertilization). The results demonstrated that compared with that in CK, the TOC, LOC, POC, and MBC in the RS+L treatment were significantly increased by 10.24%-17.79%, 34.49%-44.37%, 19.27%-23.59%, and 33.36%-43.26%, respectively (P<0.05). Compared with that in CK, the RS+L treatment significantly increased the DOC content during the early growth stage (15-45 days after transplanting) of rice (P<0.05) but had no significant influence on the DOC content during the late growth stage of rice. Compared with that in RS, the TOC, LOC, POC, and MBC in the RS+L treatment were increased by 2.15%-6.95%, 1.17%-17.90%, 4.27%-8.65%, and 12.99%-14.53%, respectively. Compared with that in CK, the RS+L treatment significantly increased IOC and CPI by 8.32%-15.57% and 14.00%-20.00%, respectively (P<0.05). Compared with that in the CK treatment, the RS treatment significantly increased CPI by 14.00%-18.00% (P<0.05). No significant differences in L, CPAI, or CPMI were detected among the different treatments. The soil pH in the RS+L treatment was significantly higher than that in the CK treatment (P<0.05). No significant differences in rice yield were detected among the different treatments. Principal component analysis demonstrated that rice yield was primarily correlated with DOC, LOC, CPAI, and CPMI but its contribution to SOC and carbon pool management index was low. Principal component analysis also indicated that straw returning with lime could improve soil pH and nutrient contents of acidic paddy soil, driving the formation and accumulation of organic carbon fraction such as MBC and POC, thus boosting the increase in SOC. In conclusion, straw returning with lime is beneficial to the accumulation of MBC, POC, LOC, and IOC in acidic paddy soil to improve the content and stability of soil total organic carbon, which is an effective way to improve the carbon sequestration of acidic paddy soil.

[Effects of Early Rice Straw Returning with Reducing Potassium Fertilizer on Late Rice Yield and Soil Fertility].

Rice straw is an important organic fertilizer in the region for double-cropping rice in South China. To reveal the effects of early rice returning with reducing potassium fertilizer on the yield of late rice and soil fertility, field experiments were carried out in Baiyun and Huiyang district in Guangdong province. The biomass, K content, and yield of late rice and the soil fertility properties, such as soil available potassium, soil organic carbon, bacterial diversity, and bacterial community structure were analyzed under three treatments (CK, conventional fertilization; RS, straw returning with conventional fertilization; RS-K, straw returning with reducing 20% potassium fertilizer). The results showed no significant differences in the biomass and yield of late rice between the RS-K treatment and CK treatment. Compared with that in CK, the RS treatment significantly increased the K contents of rice by 3.97% (Baiyun) and 6.91% (Huiyang). The K contents of late rice under the RS-K treatment were significantly lower than that under the CK treatment during the early growth period in rice, but there was no significant difference between them during the late growth period. Compared with that in CK, the soil available K in the RS treatment increased by 13.90% (Baiyun) and 21.67% (Huiyang) (P<0.05), and the soil available K in the RS-K treatment also increased by 3.56% (Baiyun) and 4.23% (Huiyang). Compared with that in the CK treatment, the soil dissolved organic carbon increased significantly in the RS and RS-K treatments (P<0.05). Compared with that in CK, the straw returning treatments (RS and RS-K) significantly improved the Chao1 and Shannon indexes of soil bacteria (P<0.05). Straw returning treatments (RS and RS-K) increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Nitrospirae compared with that in CK, whereas they decreased the relative abundance of Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Redundancy analysis showed that the soil bacterial community was mainly influenced by soil organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, available P, and available K. In summary, early rice returning could increase soil available K and K content in late rice. Early rice straw returning with reducing potassium fertilizer had no negative impacts on the growth and yield of late rice and could also improve soil organic carbon and the diversity of soil bacteria. Therefore, early rice straw returning with reducing potassium fertilizer can guarantee the grain yield of late rice and improve soil fertility.

Comparative effectiveness of Se translocation between low-Se and high-Se rice cultivars under Se fertilization.

The production of natural selenium (Se)-rich food by using a high-Se crop cultivar is beneficial to human health and environmental safety; however, the underlying mechanism of different Se-accumulation ability between high- and low-Se rice cultivars remains unclear. A low-grain-Se cultivar and high-grain-Se cultivar of rice were used as test materials, and two levels of Se (0 and 0.5 mg kg-1) were arranged in a randomized design containing twelve replicates. The dynamic changes of shoot Se concentration and accumulation, xylem sap Se concentration, shoot and grain Se distribution, Se transporters genes (OsPT2, Sultr1;2, NRT1.1B) expression of the high- and low-Se rice cultivars were determined. The shoot Se concentration and accumulation of the high-Se rice showed a greater degree of reduction than those of the low-Se rice during grain filling stage, indicating that leaves of high-Se rice served as a Se source and supplied more Se for the growth centre grain. The expression levels of OsPT2, NRT1.1B and Sultr1;2 in the high-Se rice cultivar were significantly higher than those in the low-Se rice cultivar, which indicated that the high-Se rice cultivar possessed better transport carriers. The distribution of Se in grain of the high-Se rice cultivar was more uniform, whereas the low-Se cultivar tended to accumulate Se in embryo end. The stronger reutilization of Se from shoots to grains promoted by increased transporters genes expression and optimized grain storage space may explain how the high-Se rice cultivar is able to accumulate more Se in grain.

Evolution of microbial community diversity and enzymatic activity during composting.

The composting of organic material is dependent on microbial activity. However, the dynamics of the microbial community during the composting process remain obscure. Here, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rDNA amplicons in a chicken manure-based compost was applied to characterize the components of the microbial community during the composting process. In addition, the activity of key microbial enzymes was monitored. Arcobacter spp. and Marinospirillum spp. were the dominant species prior to composting, whereas Thermotogae spp. became more strongly represented as the composting process proceeded. Bacillus and Cohnella spp. were featured at various phases. Correlation analysis showed that the diversity of the microbial community was positively correlated with the compost pH, its total nitrogen level, its carbon-to-nitrogen ratio and the activity of protease, and negatively correlated with its organic carbon content and seed germination indices.

[Screening of two straw-cellulose degrading actinomycetes].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to screen microorganisms that could degrade rice straw. METHODS: We used selective medium to screen strains and determined straw fracture tension strength, weight loss, lignocellulose decomposition rate and extracellular enzyme activity as re-screening methods after 10 days shake flask culture. RESULTS: We isolated two antinomycetes (A3 and A6), the highest cellulose enzyme activity of holoenzyme, beta3-Glucosidase, endonuclease and exonclease for A3 were 12.84, 6.23, 24.56 and 14.00 U/mL, and for A6 12.85, 6.53, 17.80 and 18.80 U/mL. The hemicelluloses enzyme activity was 83.05 for A3 and 52.98 U/mL for A6. Both strains belonged to Streptomyces. With 10 days' treatment, inoculated straws showed a decrease of straw fracture tension strength by 62.67% (A3) and 66.67% (A6), while weight loss of straw was 31.50% (A3) and 35.83% (A6). A3's decomposition rate of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin was 38.73% , 33.16% and 20.68% , and 47.69% , 28.64% and 22.59% for A6. CONCLUSION: Antinomycetes A3 and A6 could degrad cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin.

The addition of modified attapulgite reduces the emission of nitrous oxide and ammonia from aerobically composted chicken manure.

UNLABELLED: The acceleration of the composting process and the improvement of compost quality have been explored by evaluating the efficacy of various additives, inoculating with specific microorganisms and the application of various biosurfactants. The magnesium-aluminum silicate attapulgite is a low-cost potential composting additive, but its effects on aerobic composting are unknown. This study investigated the effects of attapulgite application on compost production and quality during the aerobic composting of chicken manure. Addition of attapulgite significantly increased the temperature (p < 0.05) while it reduced compost total organic carbon (TOC) and seed germination indices (GIs) throughout the process. Its addition enhanced nitrate concentrations, promoted organic matter degradation, increased seed germination indices, and accelerated the composting process. Interestingly, attapulgite addition did not increase the population of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. These results suggest that attapulgite is a good additive for the composting industry. IMPLICATIONS: We investigated the addition of two forms of attapulgite during aerobic composting of chicken manure to determine their effects under strict composting environmental parameter control. Our results provides primary evidence that attapulgite may have potential for application in the composting industry. All treatments showed no increase within the first 15 days. However, emissions increased for all treatments within 15-45 days, reaching approximately 6300, 2000, and 4000 mg/m2 from the control, artifactitious attapulgite, and raw attapulgite treatments, respectively.

Improved composting of poultry feces via supplementation with ammonia oxidizing archaea.

Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) play an important role in the oxidation of ammonia. However, the participation of AOA in the composting process has not been established. The addition of AOA to a compost mix was able to speed up both the onset of the hyperthermic phase and the composting time. The composition of the microflora and the relative abundance were determined by using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitative real-time PCR, based on the presence of the archaeal amoA genes. The amplicon profiles allowed some of the major AOA species present in the final compost to be identified, and their relative abundance to be estimated from their amplification intensity. The lower pH during the lower temperature phase of compost served to enhance the nitrogen content of the final compost. The addition of AOA resulted in the expanding diversity of microflora species than that of the natural colonization.

[Screening and identification of hemicellulose degrading microorganisms in acid soil].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to screen hemicellulose degrading microorganisms. METHODS: The methods used to screen the effective strains included hydrolysis spot diameter measurement of hemicellulose plate and extracellular enzyme activity. The methods used to identify the strains included culture characteristics, morphological, physiological-biochemical characteristics and molecular biological methods. RESULTS: We isolated 4 actinomycetes (NA9, NA10, NA12 and NA13), 2 fungi (NF1 and NF7) with hemicellulose degrading ability and no antagonistic effect among them. The hemicellulose degrading activity of 4 actinomyces (NA9, NA10, NA12 and NA13) was 217.6, 229.8, 221.1 and 211.8 U/mL. The hemicellulose degrading activity of 2 fungi (NF1 and NF7) was 217.7 and 244.2 U/mL. The hemicellulose degrading activity of complex microbial system was 299.0 U/mL. NA9, NA10, NA12 and NA13 were Streptomyces costaricanus; NF1 was Aspergillus candidus and NF7 was Tarlaromyces flavus. CONCLUSION: the 4 actinomyces and 2 fungi screened have high hemicelluloses enzyme activity. These strains have good application value and more research value.

Preparation of a modified flue gas desulphurization residue and its effect on pot sorghum growth and acidic soil amelioration.

A modified flue gas desulphurization residue (MFGDR) was prepared and its effects on sorghum growth and acidic soil amelioration were evaluated in this paper. The MFGDR was prepared by calcining a mixture of dry/semi-dry flue gas desulphurization (FGD) residue from a coal-fired power plant, sorted potash feldspar and/or limestone powder. The available nutrients from the MFGDR were determined with 4.91 wt% K(+), 1.15 wt% Mg(2+), 22.4 wt% Ca(2+), 7.01 wt% Si(4+) and 2.07 wt% SO(4)(2-)-S in 0.1 mol L(-1) citric acid solution. Its pH value was held at 9.60 displaying slightly alkaline. The results of sorghum pot growth in both red and crimson acidic soil for 30 days indicated that adding the MFGDR at a dosage of 2 g kg(-1) in total soil weight would increase the growth rate of biomass by 24.3-149% (wet weight basis) and 47.3-157% (dry weight), the stem length and thickness increase by 5.75-22.1% and 4.76-30.9% in contrast with CK treatment for two test cuttings, respectively. The effect on sorghum growth was attributed to the increase of available nutrients, the enhancement of soil pH value and the reduction of aluminum toxicity in acidic soil due to the addition of the MFGDR. The experimental results also suggested that the MFGDR could be effectively used to ameliorate the acidic soil which is widely distributed throughout the southern China.

Effects of sulphur and Thiobacillus thioparus on cow manure aerobic composting.

A simulated aerobic composting experiment was used to explore the effects of sulphur and Thiobacillus thioparus during six manure composting treatments. The addition of sulphur led to a decrease of the pH level within the range 6-6.3, which was lower than the control treatment (CK). The concentration of ammonium nitrogen in T1 (0.25% sulphur), T2 (0.5% sulphur), T3 (0.25% sulphur + T. thioparus) and T4 (0.5% sulphur + T. thioparus) were much higher than the ammonium N in CK. The results indicated that addition of sulphur could increase the concentration of ammonium N and reduce loss of nitrogen. However, excess sulphur had a negative effect on temperature and GI. Addition of T. thioparus could increase concentration of available S, alleviate these negative influences and reduce compost biological toxicity.

Effects of alkyl polyglycoside (APG) on composting of agricultural wastes.

Composting is the biological degradation and transformation of organic materials under controlled conditions to promote aerobic decomposition. To find effective ways to accelerate composting and improve compost quality, numerous methods including additive addition, inoculation of microorganisms, and the use of biosurfactants have been explored. Studies have shown that biosurfactant addition provides more favorable conditions for microorganism growth, thereby accelerating the composting process. However, biosurfactants have limited applications because they are expensive and their use in composting and microbial fertilizers is prohibited. Meanwhile, alkyl polyglycoside (APG) is considered a "green" surfactant. This study aims to determine whether APG addition into a compost reaction vessel during 28-day composting can enhance the organic matter degradation and composting process of dairy manure. Samples were periodically taken from different reactor depths at 0, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. pH levels, electrical conductivity (EC), ammonium and nitrate nitrogen, seed germination indices, and microbial population were determined. Organic matter and total nitrogen were also measured. Compared with the untreated control, the sample with APG exhibited slightly increased microbial populations, such as bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes. APG addition increased temperatures without substantially affecting compost pH and EC throughout the process. After 28 days, APG addition increased nitrate nitrogen concentrations, promoted matter degradation, and increased seed germination indices. The results of this study suggest that the addition of APG provides more favorable conditions for microorganism growth, slightly enhancing organic matter decomposition and accelerating the composting process, improving the compost quality to a certain extent.

[Effects of microbial agent inoculation on bacterial community diversity in the process of pig manure composting].

PCR-DGGE method was adopted to study the effects of inoculating exogenous microbial agent on the bacterial community diversity in the process of fresh pig manure high-temperature aerobic composting. Exogenous microbial agent inoculation promoted the composting process, with the high-temperature period being advanced by 2 days than that of non-inoculation. DGGE pattern analysis showed that during composting, the dominant bacteria changed significantly, with the Shannon-Wiener index of bacterial community at different composting periods varied obviously. The sequencing of DGGE-distinguished bands showed that Clostridium stercorarium subsp. thermolacticum sp. was the dominant group in the whole composting process. Uncultured bacteria Bacillus coagulans sp. and Clostridium thermocellum sp. became the main groups on the 10th and 16th day after microbial agent inoculation, while uncultured Firmicutes sp. and delta proteobacterium became the dominant groups on the 5th and 16th days in the treatment non-inoculation, respectively. Un-dominant group Ureibacillus thermosphaericu sp. and uncultured Silvimonas sp. appeared in the late period of well rotted composting, while uncultured soil bacteria mainly appeared in the initial and high-temperature periods. UPGMC cluster analysis showed that exogenous microbial agent inoculation obviously affected the bacterial community structure in different composting periods, and the main component analysis of DGGE patterns in composting process showed that the bacterial community was mainly affected by the exogenous microbial agent inoculation.

[Effects of slow/controlled release fertilizers on the growth and nutrient use efficiency of pepper].

Pot trails were conducted from 2003 to 2005 to study the effects of slow/controlled release fertilizers on the growth and nutrient use efficiency of pepper. The results indicated that in comparison with conventional splitting fertilization (T1), basal application of polymer-coated controlled release fertilizer (T2) enhanced the single fruit mass and vitamin C concentration, improved the root activity, and increased the fruit yield by 8.4%, but no significant effect was observed on the dissoluble sugar concentration in fruit. NH4MgPO4-coated controlled release fertilizer (T3) increased the dissoluble sugar concentration by 5.67%, but had less effect on single fruit mass and vitamin C concentration. Under the application of T3, the root system had a vigorous growth at early stages but became infirm at later stages, resulting in a lower yield. Comparing with T1, the application of 3 slow release fertilizers increased the dissoluble sugar concentration in fruit, enhanced the root activity, but had less effect on the yield. All test slow/controlled release fertilizers increased the use efficiency of N, P, and K significantly, with an exception for T2 which increased the use efficiency of N and K but decreased that of P. It was demonstrated that an appropriate application of slow/controlled release fertilizers could enhance pepper' s root activity and improve nutrient use efficiency.

[Nutrient use efficiency and yield-increasing effect of single basal application of rice specific controlled release fertilizer].

A series of pot and field experiments and field demonstrations showed that in comparing with the commonly used specific-fertilizers containing same amounts of nutrients, single basal application of rice-specific controlled release fertilizer could increase the use efficiency of N and P by 12.2% - 22.7% and 7.0% - 35.0%, respectively in pot experiment, and the use efficiency of N by 17.1% in field experiment. In 167 field demonstrations successively conducted for 3 years in various rice production areas of Guangdong Province, single basal application of the fertilizer saved the application rate of N and P by 22.1% and 21.8%, respectively, and increased the yield by 8.2%, compared with normal split fertilization.