Variation characteristics of nitrogen concentrations through forest hydrologic subcycles in various forests across mainland China.

Increased anthropogenic nitrogen emissions and more severe environmental issues (e.g. air pollution, soil acidification, and plant nutrient imbalances) are striking forest ecosystems. Data on NH4+ and NO3- concentrations in throughfall and stemflow were collected to estimate variation characteristics of nitrogen concentrations through forest hydrological processes across China. A typical study was carried out in the three forest types in the Jinyun Mountain region of Chongqing, from May to October 2012. Nitrogen concentrations in throughfall and stemflow are higher than those in atmospheric precipitation. DIN concentrations in atmospheric precipitation, throughfall, and stemflow, across China and in the Jinyun Mountain region, were 2.18 and 1.51, 3.19 and 3.88, and 5.14 and 3.92 mg N L(-1), respectively. NH4+ concentration was higher than NO3- concentration, suggesting NH4+ is the dominant nitrogen component in China. Additionally, across China, a linear relationship existed between DIN and NH4+, and between DIN and NO3- in atmospheric precipitation. DIN concentrations in throughfall and stemflow changed with the observed changes in precipitation, and DIN concentrations in precipitation positively correlated with those in throughfall and in stemflow were also observed. Moreover, average DIN concentrations in throughfall and stemflow varied in different forest types, resulting from differences in forest canopy structures and tree species characteristics. In the Jinyun Mountain region, both throughfall and stemflow DIN concentrations were the highest in the mixed broadleaved/coniferous forest, followed by evergreen broadleaved forest, and the lowest in moso bamboo forest. Monthly variations of NH4+ and NO3- concentrations, in throughfall and stemflow, were observed in the Jinyun Mountain region.

Se-O Bond Is Unique to High Se Enriched Sweet Potato Stem Protein with Better Antioxidant Ability.

Sweet potato plants were treated with selenium (Se). Spraying Se on the sweet potato leaves was an effective Se enrichment method and proteins were extracted from the sweet potato stem. The structural characteristics of the protein were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) detected more signals from the Se-enriched sweet potato stem protein (SSP), and the number of forms of Se chemical bonds gradually increased with increasing Se content, such as the Se-O bond in high Se-enriched SSP, indicating altered secondary structures.Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) indicated more Se atoms in the Se-enriched SSPs (SSSPs). The DSC results revealed that Se enrichment enhanced the thermal stability of the samples. Moreover, selenomethionine (SeMet), selenocystine (SeCys2), and methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys) were determined to be the main Se forms in the SSSPs. Furthermore, the SSSPs showed relatively higher superoxide anion radical and DPPH radical scavenging activities than the blank, which indicates that SSSPs can be used as antioxidants. By recovering the proteins, the agricultural by-product-sweet potato stem can be further utilized, and the obtained Se-enriched proteins may contribute to human health.

Quantifying components of soil respiration and their response to abiotic factors in two typical subtropical forest stands, southwest China.

Separating the components of soil respiration and understanding the roles of abiotic factors at a temporal scale among different forest types are critical issues in forest ecosystem carbon cycling. This study quantified the proportions of autotrophic (RA) and heterotrophic (RH) in total soil (RT) respiration using trenching and litter removal. Field studies were conducted in two typical subtropical forest stands (broadleaf and needle leaf mixed forest; bamboo forest) at Jinyun Mountain, near the Three Georges Reservoir in southwest China, during the growing season (Apr.-Sep.) from 2010 to 2012. The effects of air temperature (AT), soil temperature (ST) and soil moisture (SM) at 6 cm depth, solar radiation (SR), pH on components of soil respiration were analyzed. Results show that: 1) SR, AT, and ST exhibited a similar temporal trend. The observed abiotic factors showed slight interannual variability for the two forest stands. 2) The contributions of RH and RA to RT for broadleaf and needle leaf mixed forest were 73.25% and 26.75%, respectively, while those for bamboo forest were 89.02% and 10.98%, respectively; soil respiration peaked from June to July. In both stands, CO2 released from the decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM), the strongest contributor to RT, accounted for over 63% of RH. 3) AT and ST were significantly positively correlated with RT and its components (p<0.05), and were major factors affecting soil respiration. 4) Components of soil respiration were significantly different between two forest stands (p<0.05), indicating that vegetation types played a role in soil respiration and its components.

[Rainfall process and nitrogen input in three typical forests of Jinyun Mountain].

Evergreen broad-leaved forest (EBF), bamboo forest (BF) and mixed conifer and broadleaved forest (MF) were selected as objects of study on Jinyun Mountain from May to October 2012. The main contents were to analyze the rainfall process and nitrogen input of atmospheric rainfall, throughfall and stemflow. The results showed that: (1) During the research period, the total precipitation was 564. 88 mm, and throughfall of EBF, BF and MF were 74.0%, 85.0% and 71.6% of rainfall, respectively, and stemflow were EBF (1.9%), BF(10.3%) and MF (1.6%), respectively. The relationship between throughfall, stemflow and atmospheric rainfall could be described by a significant linear equation (P < 0.05), and both throughfall rate and stemflow rate had an obvious logarithmic function relationship with atmospheric rainfall (P < 0.05). (2) The concentration of NO3(-) and NH4(+) of throughfall and stemflow were higher than those of atmospheric rainfall, of which the three typical forests ranked as MF > EBF > BF. The total inorganic nitrogen input of throughfall and stemflow were EBF (14.93 kg x hm(-2)), BF (15.31 kg x hm(-2)) and MF (18.93 kg x hm(-2)), respectively. (3) There was a significant linear relationship between inorganic nitrogen input and throughfall, stemflow for three typical forest stands (P < 0.05).