Effects of returning paddy field to wetland on composition and stability of soil aggregates in the Yellow River Delta.

The composition and stability of soil aggregates are important indicators for measuring soil quality, which would be affected by land use changes. Taking wetlands with different returning years (2 and 15 years) in the Yellow River Delta as the research object, paddy fields and natural wetlands as control, we analyzed the changes in soil physicochemical properties and soil aggregate composition. The results showed that soil water content, total organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon and total phosphorus of the returning soil (0-40 cm) showed an overall increasing trend with returning period, while soil pH and bulk density was in adverse. There was no significant change in clay content, electrical conductivity, and total nitrogen content. The contents of macro-aggregates and micro-aggregates showed overall increasing and decreasing trend with returning period, respectively. The stability of aggregates in the topsoil (0-10 cm) increased with returning years. Geometric mean diameter and mean weight diameter increased by 8.9% and 40.4% in the 15th year of returning, respectively, while the mass proportion of >2.5 mm fraction decreased by 10.5%. There was no effect of returning on aggregates in subsoil (10-40 cm). Our results indicated that returning paddy field to wetland in the Yellow River Delta would play a positive role in improving soil structure and aggregate stability.

[Research progress on Rhododendron molle in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA), as a chronic autoimmune disease, has a high incidence and disability rate, causing significant suffering to patients. Due to its complex pathogenesis, it has not been fully elucidated to date, and its treatment remains a challenging problem in the medical field. Although western medicine treatment options have certain efficacy, they require prolonged use and are expensive. Additionally, they carry risks of multiple infections and adverse reactions like malignancies. The Chinese herbal medicine Rhododendron molle is commonly used in folk medicine for its properties of dispelling wind, removing dampness, calming nerves, and alleviating pain in the treatment of diseases like rheumatic bone diseases. In recent years, modern clinical and pharmacological studies have shown that the diterpenoids in R. molle are effective components, exhibiting immune-regulatory, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. This makes it a promising candidate for treating RA with a broad range of potential applications. However, R. molle has certain toxic properties that hinder its clinical application and lead to the wastage of its resources. This study reviewed recent research progress on the mechanism of R. molle in preventing and treating RA, focusing on its chemical components, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and summarized the adverse reactions associated with R. molle, aiming to offer new ideas for finding natural remedies for RA and methods to reduce toxicity while enhancing the effectiveness of R. molle. The study seeks to clarify the safety and efficacy of R. molle and its extracts, providing a theoretical basis for its application prospects and further promoting the development and utilization of R. molle resources.

[Effects of Water-salt Environment on Freshwater Wetland Soil C, N, and P Ecological Stoichiometric Characteristics in the Yellow River Estuary Wetland].

Carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are important nutrients, and their ecological stoichiometric characteristics can reflect the quality and fertility capacity of soil, which is critical to understanding the stable mechanisms of estuarine wetland ecosystems. Under global changes, the increase in salinity and flooding caused by sea level rise will lead to changes in biogeochemical processes in estuarine wetlands, which is expected to affect the ecological stoichiometric characteristics of soil C, N, and P and ultimately interfere with the stability of wetland ecosystems. However, it remains unclear how the C, N, and P ecological stoichiometric characteristics respond to the water-salt environment in estuarine wetlands. We differentiated changes in the C, N, and P ecological stoichiometric characteristics through an ex-situ culture experiment for 23 months in the Yellow River Estuary Wetland. The five sites with distinct tidal hydrology were selected to manipulate translocation of soil cores from the freshwater marsh to high-, middle-, and low-tidal flats in June 2019. The results showed that soil water content (SWC); electrical conductivity (EC); and C, N, and P ecological stoichiometric characteristics of freshwater marsh soil significantly changed after translocation for 23 months. SWC decreased on the high- and middle-tidal flats (P<0.05) and increased on the low-tidal flat (P<0.05). EC increased to different degrees on all three tidal flats (P<0.05). Soil total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) were significantly lower on the high-tidal flat (P<0.05), whereas total phosphorus (TP) was significantly lower on the middle- and high-tidal flats (P<0.05). C:N was decreased on the high- and middle-tidal flats (P<0.05); C:P and N:P were lower on the high-tidal flat; and all C, N, and P ecological stoichiometric characteristics showed no change on the low-tidal flat (P>0.05). Pearson's analysis showed that the ecological stoichiometric characteristics of C, N, and P were related to some properties of soil over the culture sites. The PLS-SEM model showed that the water-salt environment had different effects on soil C:N, C:P, and N:P through the main pathways of negative effects on soil TOC and TP. The results suggest that sea level rise may impact the C, N, and P ecological stoichiometric characteristics in freshwater marsh soil, resulting in some possible changes in the nutrient cycles of estuarine wetlands.

[Spatial Distribution and Eco-stoichiometric Characteristics of Soil Nutrient Elements Under Different Vegetation Types in the Yellow River Delta Wetland].

To clarify the distribution characteristics and the ecological stoichiometric characteristics of nutrient elements in soils under different vegetation types, four typical natural wetlands, i.e., Phragmites australis wetland, Tamarix chinensis wetland, Suaeda salsa wetland, and Tidal flat wetland, as well as Gossypium spp. fields that were reclaimed from natural wetlands, were selected as study sites in the Yellow River Delta, and comparisons between the agricultural reclamation land and natural wetlands were conducted. The results showed that the soil total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in the natural wetlands were as follows:P. australis wetland and T. chinensis wetland>S. salsa wetland>Tidal flat, and the contents of TOC and TN were significantly negatively related to electrical conductivity (EC) and pH values (P<0.05). The contents of TOC, TN, and total phosphorus (TP) in Gossypium spp. fields were significantly higher than those in natural wetlands (P<0.05), especially the contents of nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) in Gossypium spp. fields, which were 9.4-11.4 times that of natural wetlands. However, no significant correlations between TOC, TN, and TP and EC and pH values (P>0.05) were observed in Gossypium spp. fields. The results of correlation analysis showed that the C/N of natural wetlands were mainly controlled by the contents of TN (P<0.05), and the C/N of the Gossypium spp. fields were significantly lower than those of natural wetlands (P<0.05). The soil C/P and N/P of natural wetlands and Gossypium spp. fields in the Yellow River Delta were low, and the variation trends were consistent with those of soil TOC and TN. Comparative analysis revealed, on the whole, that there were significantly different soil nutrient element contents, C/N, C/P, and N/P in Gossypium spp. fields compared to those of natural wetlands (P<0.05). The process of reclamation could significantly change the spatial distribution of nutrient elements in wetlands. Our results should be of importance in revealing the biogeochemical process of soil nutrient elements in coastal wetland and the influence of agricultural reclamation activities on the differentiation of soil nutrient elements.

[C:N:P stoichiometry in plants and soils of Phragmites australis wetland under different water-salt habitats]. / 不同水盐生境下芦苇湿地植被及土壤碳氮磷生态化学计量特征.

We examined the effects of channel diversion of Yellow River on the content and stoichiometry of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the organs of reeds (stem, leaf, rhizome and fibrous root) and soils in three typical Phragmites australis communities in the Yellow River Delta, including P. australis community in the former Yellow River course abandoned in 1996, P. australis community on the new Yellow River course and the P. australis communities on the intertidal area (far from the abandoned and current channel but affected by the tides). The results showed that foliar C, N and P contents of P. australis were highest in the communities of abandoned Yellow River course. Leaf N, stem C and rhizome P contents were highest in the communities of new Yellow River course. Leaf N and stem C and P contents were highest in the communities of intertidal area. The average leaf C (409.48 g·kg-1) and P (1.09 g·kg-1) contents in the three habitats were lower than national and global average levels, while leaf N content (21.71 g·kg-1) was higher than that of national and global average levels. The mean leaf N:P (20.22) was higher than 16 and the mean soil N:P (0.87) was lower than 14, indicating that the P. australis growth in the three habitats was limited by P. Correlation analysis showed that EC was one of the main factors affecting C:N:P stoichiometry in P. australis. In general, the C and P reserves in P. australis in the study area were low, and N reserve was high. The soil organic carbon content was low, the soil C reserves were large, while the N and P were relatively scarce.

[Effect of environmental and biotic factors on net ecosystem CO2 exchange over a coastal wetland in the Yellow River Delta.] / çŽ¯å¢ƒå’Œç”Ÿç‰©å› å­å¯¹é»„æ²³ä¸‰è§’æ´²æ»¨æµ·æ¹¿åœ°å‡€ç”Ÿæ€ç³»ç»ŸCO2交换的影响.

Using the eddy covariance technique, we measured the net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) and its environmental and biotic factors over a coastal wetland in the Yellow River Delta to investigate the diurnal and seasonal variation in NEE and quantify the effect of environmental and biotic factors on NEE. The results showed that the diurnal change of NEE showed a distinct U-shaped curve during the growing season, but not with substantial variation in its amplitude during the non-growing season. During the growing season, the wetland acted as a significant net sink for CO2, while it became carbon source during the non-growing season. On the scale of a whole year, the wetland functioned as a strong carbon sink of -247 g C·m-2. Daytime NEE was mainly dominated by photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Apparent quantum yield (α) and daytime respiration of ecosystem (Reco,d) reached maximum in August, while maximum photosynthesis rate (Amax) reached its maximum in July. Nighttime NEE had an exponential relationship with air temperature (Ta). The mean value of temperature sensibility coefficient (Q10) was 2.5, and it was positively related to soil water content (SWC). During the non-growing season, NEE was negatively correlated with net radiation (Rn), but not with other environmental factors significantly. However, during the growing season NEE was significantly correlated with Rn, Ta, soil temperature at 10 cm depth (Ts 10) and leaf area index (LAI), but not with aboveground biomass (AGB). Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that Rn and LAI explained 52% of the variation in NEE during the growing season.

[Distribution characteristics of soil organic carbon and its composition in Suaeda salsa wetland in the Yellow River delta].

Applying the method of physical fractionation, distribution characteristics of soil organic carbon and its composition in Suaeda salsa wetland in the Yellow River delta were studied. The results showed that the heavy fraction organic carbon was the dominant component of soil organic carbon in the studied region. There was a significantly positive relationship between the content of heavy fraction organic carbon, particulate organic carbon and total soil organic carbon. The ranges of soil light fraction organic carbon ratio and content were 0.008% - 0.15% and 0.10-0.40 g x kg(-1), respectively, and the range of particulate organic carbon ratio was 8.83% - 30.58%, indicating that the non-protection component of soil organic carbon was low and the carbon pool was relatively stable in Suaeda salsa wetland of the Yellow River delta.

[Net ecosystem CO2 exchange and its environmental regulation mechanisms in a reed wetland in the Yellow River Delta of China during the growth season].

By using eddy covariance technique, this paper measured the net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) in a reed (Phragmites australis) wetland in the Yellow River Delta of China during the growth season of 2011, and investigated the variation patterns of the NEE and related affecting factors. The average diurnal variation of the NEE in different months showed a U-type curve, with the maximum net CO2 uptake rate and release rate being (0.44 +/- 0.03) and (0.16 +/- 0.01) mg CO2 x m(-2) x s(-1), respectively. The NEE, ecosystem respiration (R(eco)), and gross primary productivity (GPP) were all higher in vigorous growth season (from July to September) and lower in early growth season (from May to June) and late growth season (from October to November). Both R(eco) and NEE reached their maximum values in August, while GPP reached its peak value in July. During the growth season, the ecosystem CO2 exchange was mainly dominated by photosynthetic active radiation (PAR), soil temperature (T(s)), and soil water content (SWC). There was a rectangular hyperbolic relationship between the daytime NEE and PAR. The nighttime ecosystem respiration (R(eco,n)) was exponentially correlated with the T(s) at 5 cm depth, and the temperature sensitivity of the ecosystem respiration (Q10) was 2.30. SWC and T(s) were the main factors affecting the R(eco,n). During the entire growth season, the reed wetland ecosystem in the Yellow River delta was an obvious carbon sink, with the total net carbon sequestration being 780.95 g CO2 x m(-2).

[Evolution process and related driving mechanisms of Yellow River Delta since the diversion of Yellow River].

Based on the 23 sheets of remote sensing images from 1976 to 2009, in combining with the water and sediment data from Lijin station and the annual precipitation data of Yellow River Basin from 1976 to 2008, this paper quantitatively analyzed the features of water and sediment discharge from Yellow River, and the evolution process of Yellow River Delta and related driving mechanisms. In 1976-2008, the annual runoff and the annual sediment discharge into sea changed largely and frequently, but overall, presented a decreasing trend. Since the course of the Yellow River changed its direction to Qingshui channel in 1976, the Delta coastline and area were generally in a silting-up state. The evolution process of the Delta could be approximately divided into three stages, i.e., 1976-1985, 1986-1995, and 1996-2009, and the increasing rate of the Delta decreased with the stages. The coastline and area of the Delta were significantly exponentially correlated to the sediment accumulated at Lijin station, and the inter-annual variation of the precipitation of the Yellow River Basin had a strong correlation with that of the sediment at Lijin station, suggesting that the annual variation of the precipitation in Yellow River Basin was the main factor affecting the runoff and sediment discharge into sea.

[Effects of water-salt stresses on seedling growth and activities of antioxidative enzyme of Suaeda salsa in coastal wetlands of the Yellow River Delta].

The halophyte Suaeda salsa is the pioneer plant and is used for the degraded coastal wetland in Yellow River Delta. The water-salt stress is the most important factor for ecological restoration to degraded coastal wetland. To understand the adaptive mechanism of Suaeda salsa to water-salt stresses, the induced effects of different groundwater table depths (0, -10, -20, -30 cm) and salt stress (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%) on seedlings of Suaeda salsa plant were characterized by the growth parameters of plant height, branch number and biomass of different organs and biological indices of leaf chlorophyll content, the activities of SOD, CAT, the leaf content of MDA and protein. The results showed the significantly (p < 0.001) decreased height of the seedlings from -30 cm to 0 cm of groundwater table depth, together with the decreased the number of branches, the biomass of leaf, shoot and root. The highest total biomass of single plant was (1.09 +/- 0.15) g under the condition of -30 cm water table depth and 0% salt stress. However, the combination of 0 cm water table depth and 3% NaCl resulted in the biomass of (0.23 +/- 0.01) g, which was ca. 21% compared with the highest biomass. Similarly, the contents of leaf chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid were the highest under the condition of -30 cm water table depth and 0% salt stress and lowest under the condition of 0 cm water table depth combined with 3% NaCl. The activities of SOD, CAT were increased significantly (p < 0.05) depending on the increase of salt stress. At 0 cm water table depth, the activities of SOD were 55.00 U/mg with 0% NaCl and 151.58 U/mg with 3% NaCl, respectively. The activities of SOD were decreased when the water table depth increased. However, the activities of CAT achieved the highest level at -30 cm water table depth. At 0 and -10 cm water table depth, the MDA content increased with the increase of salt stress. The MDA content was 0.26 mmol/g at -30 cm water table depth with 3% NaCl, which was approx. 28%-40% of the MDA contents compared with that caused by other salt stresses. These results demonstrated that Suaeda salsa plant could change its morphological characteristics, biomass allocation, and the activities of antioxidative enzymes to adapt severe environment.

[Spatial distribution characteristics of organic carbon in the soil-plant systems in the Yellow River estuary tidal flat wetland].

Well-understand the organic carbon status in the Yellow River delta is the most important for studying the biogeochemical processes of the muddy-sandy coastal wetland and ecological restoration. The spatial distribution characteristics and its impact factors of organic carbon in the plant-soil systems of new-born tidal flat wetland in the Yellow River estuary were studied. The results showed that the difference of plant organic carbon content in different plant communities were not obvious, however significant difference of the plant organic carbon density was observed. Moreover, the M-shaped spatial distribution of the plant organic carbon density, which was similar to the plant biomass, was found in the study. The organic carbon contents in top soils were varied from 0.75 to 8.35 g x kg(-1), which was much lower than that in the typical freshwater marsh wetlands ecosystem. The spatial distribution trend of soil organic carbon density was similar to the soil organic carbon. The correlation analysis showed that soil organic carbon density was negatively correlated with pH, and positively correlated with TN, C/N and salinity. However, the correlations of plant organic carbon density with the soil organic carbon density, TN, C/N, pH and salinity were not significant.

[Seasonal changes of potassium, calcium and magnesium contents and accumulation in Calamagrostis angustifolia in Sanjiang Plain].

From May to October 2004, the seasonal changes of K, Ca, and Mg contents and accumulation in Calamagrostis angustifolia, the dominant species in the typical meadow and marsh meadow communities of Sanjiang Plain, were studied. There was a greater difference in the seasonal changes of K, Ca, and Mg contents in different parts of typical meadow C. angustifolia (TMC) and marsh meadow C. angustifolia (MMC). The K content in aboveground parts of the two communities had an overall decreasing trend, according with linear model K = A + B(t), the Ca content had a smaller change in stem but an overall increasing trend in leaf and vagina, being accorded with parabola model Ca = A +B1t + B2t2 and exponential growth model Ca = Aexp(t/B1) + B2, respectively, while the Mg content had the greatest change in stem but changed relatively smoothly in leaf and vagina. The differences of K, Ca, and Mg contents in different parts of TMC and MMC were obvious. The K content in aboveground parts of TMC was generally higher than that of MMC, while the Ca and Mg contents in the root and vagina of MMC were higher than those of TMC. The K, Ca, and Mg storage and accumulation in different parts of TMC and MMC also differed. Root had the greatest K, Ca, and Mg storage, occupying 63.82 +/- 23.19%, 78.68 +/- 15.44%, and 76.48 +/- 19.06% of the total storage in TMC and 85.23 +/- 9.20%, 93.51 +/- 3.46%, and 92.39 +/- 3.22% in MMC, respectively. The aboveground parts of TMC had a higher storage of K, Ca and Mg than those of MMC, while the root was in adverse. Such a difference was mainly due to ecological characteristics of C. angustifolia and its habitat conditions.

[Nitrogen accumulation and allocation in Calamagrostis angusifolia in different plant communities of Sanjiang Plain].

From May to October in 2004, the characteristics of nitrogen (N) accumulation and allocation in Calamagrostis angustifolia, the dominant species in the typical meadow and marsh meadow communities of Sanjiang Plain, were studied. The results showed that the total nitrogen (TN) content in the aboveground organs and litters of typical meadow C. angustifolia (TMC) and marsh meadow C. angustifolia (MMC) decreased during growth season, which could be described by exponential decay model (TN = Aexp (-t/B1) + B2, R2 > or = 0.94). The TN content in TMC and MMC roots fluctuated greatly, and a significant N accumulation period (15-30 d) was observed before the coming of growth midseason. The N accumulation amount and rate of different organs and litters had obvious seasonal changes, and their values of the aboveground organs were much higher for TMC than for MMC, while the values of the roots were in adverse. The N allocation ratio of different parts of TMC and MMC also had significant differences. Root was the important N storage, and the root N allocation ratio of TMC and MMC was (59.38 +/- 12.86)% and (84.58 +/- 3.38)%, respectively. Among the aboveground parts, leaf had the highest N allocation ratio, being (24.28 +/- 12.09)% for TMC and (8.18 +/- 3.32)% for MMC. The change patterns of the N allocation ratio of aboveground and underground parts were just in adverse, which reflected the osculation contact in N supplement aspect. The annual N absorption amount and maximum standing crop of TMC and MMC were 23.02, 36.30 g x m(-2), and 28.18, 51.43 g x m(-2), respectively. The N absorption coefficient and utilization coefficient of TMC were much higher than those of MMC (0.017 and 0.634 relative to 0.015 and 0.548, respectively), illustrating that TMC had higher capability of N absorption and utilization than MMC.

[Effects of simulated wetland water change on the decomposition and nitrogen dynamics of Calamagrostis angustifolia litter].

From May 2005 to September 2006, the potential effects of wetland water change on the decomposition and nitrogen (N) dynamics of the typical meadow Calamagrostis angustifolia (TMC) and marsh meadow C. angustifolia (MMC) litters were studied by litterbag technique in the typical depressional wetland in the Sanjiang Plain. In this study, the natural water gradient in the depressional wetland was applied to simulate the changes of wetland water conditions, and six decomposition sub-zones were laid in turn in the six communities, Carex pseudocuraica (PF), Carex lasiocarpa (MG), Carex meyeriana (WL), Marsh meadow C. angustifolia (XII), Typical meadow C. angustfolia (XI), and Island forest (DZL), along the water gradient. The results show that water condition has significant effects on the decomposition of litters. If the hydrous environment is formed in C. angustfolia wetland due to the change of precipitation pattern in the future, the litter weightless rates of TMC and MMC will increase 4.33%-16.76% and 24.84%-53.97%, the decomposition rates will increase 10.51%-32.73% and 77.85%-93.92%, and the 95% decomposition time will decrease 0.72-1.85 a and 3.67-4.05 a, respectively. The changes of N contents and N accumulation indices of TMC and MMC litters are relatively consistent, but the change patterns indifferent sub-zones are different. In general, the N in litters in DZL, XI, WL, MG and PF sub-zones show the alternant change characteristics of release and accumulation, but the release process is predominated. In contrast with that, the N in litters in XII sub-zone show release at all times. The C/N ratios have important regulation functions to the changes of N in litters in decomposition process. The estimation results show that the N standing crops of TMC and MMC litters are 12.75 g x m(-2) and 8.29 g x m(-2), and the N annual returning amounts are larger than 1.95 g x (m2 x a)(-1) and 2.25 g x (m2 x a)(-1), respectively. The studies of affecting factors indicate that temperature has promotion effects on the relative decomposition rates of litters, while water condition has restraint effects on them. Further analysis shows that the relative decomposition rates, to some extent, depend on the substrate quality of litters if the nutrient status of decomposition environment does not change greatly. In reverse, if the nutrient status of decomposition environment changes greatly, the relative decomposition rates, to some extent, depend on the supply status of nutrient in decomposition environment.

Element cycling in the dominant plant community in the Alpine tundra zone of Changbai Mountains, China.

Element cycling in the dominant plant communities including Rh. aureum, Rh. redowskianum and Vaccinium uliginosum in the Alpine tundra zone of Changbai Mountains in northeast China was studied. The results indicate that the amount of elements from litter decomposition was less than that of the plant uptake from soil, but that from plant uptake was higher than that in soil with mineralization process released. On the other hand, in the open system including precipitation input and soil leaching output, because of great number of elements from precipitation into the open system, the element cycling(except N, P) in the Alpine tundra ecosystem was in a dynamic balance. In this study, it was also found that different organ of plants had significant difference in accumulating elements. Ca, Mg, P and N were accumulated more obviously in leaves, while Fe was in roots. The degree of concentration of elements in different tissues of the same organ of the plants also was different, a higher concentration of Ca, Mg, P and N in mesophyll than in nerve but Fe was in a reversed order. The phenomenon indicates (1) a variety of biochemical functions of different elements, (2) the elements in mesophyll were with a shorter turnover period than those in nerve or fibre, but higher utilization rate for plant. Therefore, this study implies the significance of keeping element dynamic balance in the alpine tundra ecosystem of Changbai Mountains.