Purpose

Remediate metal contamination is a fundamental step prior to reclaim oil sands tailing ponds, and copper (Cu(II)) is the most abundant metal in the tailings water or oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). Biochars produced at four pyrolysis conditions were evaluated for sorption of Cu(II) in synthetic OSPW to explore different biochar potentials in removing Cu(II) from the contaminated water.

Materials and methods

Pine sawdust biochars pyrolyzed at 300 and 550 °C with and without steam activation were investigated by batch sorption experiments. Isotherm and kinetic studies were conducted to compare the sorption capacities of the four biochars and to examine potential mechanisms involved.

Results and discussion

For all the biochars, Langmuir and pseudo-second order models were the best-fit for isotherm and kinetic studies, respectively. According to the Langmuir parameters, the maximum adsorption capacities of the biochars produced at 550 °C were around 2.5 mg Cu(II)?g^?1, which were 30-folds higher than those produced at 300 °C. However, steam activation did not cause any significant difference in the biochars’ sorption performance. The kinetic study suggested that chemisorption involving valence forces was the limiting factor of the sorption. In addition, ion exchange and precipitation were likely the primary mechanisms for Cu(II) sorption which outweigh complexation with functional groups on the biochars’ surface.

Conclusions

Pine sawdust biochar produced at 550 °C without steam activation could be utilized as a sustainable and cost-effective material to remove Cu(II) from the OSPW.

Purpose

The increasing reuse of wastewater for irrigation introduces surfactants and antibiotics into the environment. How these two kinds of compounds interact with regard to their sorption processes in soil is not clear.

Materials and methods

We performed batch experiments to investigate the sorption of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) and its effect on sorption of sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin in irrigated and non-irrigated soils with different organic matter (OM) contents.

Results and discussion

LAS sorption was non-linear in the presence of the antibiotics, and as general trend, it increased with rising OM content of soils. Free LAS was also removed from solution by complexation with Ca²⁺. Dissolved organic compounds released from soils with OM contents ≥18.4 g kg^?1 further reduced LAS sorption. Sorption of sulfamethoxazole was reduced by LAS sorption only in one soil with a small OM content of 9.5 g kg^?1.

Conclusions

The strong sorption of ciprofloxacin is not affected by LAS. Sulfamethoxazole sorption only competes with LAS sorption in organic matter-poor soils. Accumulation of organic matter in soils, for example due to long-term wastewater irrigation, provides extra sorption capacity for LAS and sulfamethoxazole so that competition for sorption sites is reduced.

Purpose

The combination of analytical chemistry and simulation methods provides more complete information about biochars.

Materials and methods

The biochars prepared by pyrolysis of the crop straw at 300 and 500 °C were investigated by elemental analysis, pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) and solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry to build the 2D structural models of biochars. The most stable and balanced 3D conformations were gained by optimizing in the optimized potential for liquid simulation (OPLS) force field of molecular mechanic and molecular dynamic simulation of HyperChem® software.

Results and discussion

There were few O-containing and N-containing compounds in biochars. According to the results of Py-GC-MS, 41 and 28 pyrolysis products were identified for the building of the conceptual models of 300 and 500 °C biochars. Solid-state ¹³C NMR data also demonstrated that there were very high values of unsaturated C in biochars. The agreement between elemental concentration and chemical functional groups of two simulated models and experimental biochars was successfully achieved. Quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) properties were calculated and indicated the correlation of molecular structures with properties such as surface area, volume, polarizability, refractivity, and hydration energy.

Conclusions

The conceptual structural models of corn straw biochars produced at 300 and 500 °C were C₇₈H₆₈N₂O₂₅ and C₅₉H₂₉NO₁₀, respectively. The simulation results showed that the 3D structure of the 300 °C biochar with ?4 charges and the nonprotonated 3D structure of the 500 °C biochar were the most stable. Deprotonation reaction is an endothermic process.

Purpose

Remediation of metal contaminated soil with biochar is attracting extensive interest in recent years. Understanding the significance of variable biochar properties and soil types helps elucidating the meticulous roles of biochar in immobilizing/mobilizing metals/metalloids in contaminated soils.

Materials and methods

Six biochars were produced from widely available agricultural wastes (i.e., soybean stover, peanut shells and pine needles) at two pyrolysis temperatures of 300 and 700 °C, respectively. The Pb-, Cu-, and Sb-contaminated shooting range soils and Pb-, Zn-, and As-contaminated agricultural soils were amended with the produced biochars. The mobility of metals/metalloids was assessed by the standard batch leaching test, principal component analysis and speciation modeling.

Results and discussion

The changes in soil properties were correlated to feedstock types and pyrolysis temperatures of biochars based on the principal component analysis. Biochars produced at 300 °C were more efficient in decreasing Pb and Cu mobility (>93 %) in alkaline shooting range soil via surface complexation with carboxyl groups and Fe-/Al-minerals of biochars as well as metal-phosphates precipitation. By contrast, biochars produced at 700 °C outperformed their counterparts in decreasing Pb and Zn mobility (100 %) in acidic agricultural soil by metal-hydroxides precipitation due to biochar-induced pH increase. However, Sb and As mobility in both soils was unfavorably increased by biochar amendment, possibly due to the enhanced electrostatic repulsion and competition with phosphate.

Conclusions

It is noteworthy that the application of biochars is not equally effective in immobilizing metals or mobilizing metalloids in different soils. We should apply biochar to multi-metal contaminated soil with great caution and tailor biochar production for achieving desired outcome and avoiding adverse impact on soil ecosystem.

Purpose

We evaluated the ameliorative effects of crop straw biochars either alone or in combination with nitrate fertilizer on soil acidity and maize growth.

Materials and methods

Low energy-consuming biochars were prepared from canola and peanut straws at 400 °C for 2 h. Incubation experiment was conducted to determine application rate of biochars. Afterward, maize crop was grown in pots for 85 days to investigate the effects of 1 % biochars combined with nitrate fertilizer on soil pH, exchangeable acidity, and maize growth in an Ultisol collected from Guangdong Province, China.

Results and discussion

Application of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 % either canola straw biochar (CSB) or peanut straw biochar (PSB) increased soil pH by 0.15, 0.27, 0.34, and 0.30, 0.58, 0.83 U, respectively, after 65-day incubation. Soil pH was increased by 0.49, 0.72, 0.78, and 0.88 U when 1 % CSB or PSB was applied in combination with 100 and 200 mg N/kg of nitrate, respectively, after maize harvest in greenhouse pot experiment. These low-cost biochars when applied alone or in combination with nitrate not only reduced soil exchangeable acidity, but also increased Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, and base saturation degree of the soil. A total of 49.91 and 80.58 % decreases in exchangeable acidity were observed when 1 % CSB and PSB were incubated with the soil for 65 days, compared to pot experiment where 71.35, 78.64, 80.2, and 81.77 % reductions of exchangeable acidity were observed when 1 % CSB and PSB were applied in combination with 100 and 200 mg N/kg of nitrate, respectively. The higher contents of base cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺) in biochars also influenced the plant growth. The higher biomass in CSB-treated pots was attributed to the higher K content compared to PSB. The higher percent reduction in exchangeable Al³⁺ by applying 1 % CSB combined with 200 mg N/kg of nitrate consistently produced maximum biomass (129.65 g/pot) compared to 100 mg N/kg of nitrate and 1 % PSB combined with 100 and 200 mg N/kg of nitrate. The exchangeable Al³⁺ mainly responsible for exchangeable acidity was decreased with the application of biochars and nitrate fertilizer. A highly significant negative relationship was observed between soil exchangeable Al³⁺ and plant biomass (r ²?=?0.88, P?<?0.05).

Conclusions

The biochars in combination with nitrate fertilizer are cost-effective options to effectively reduce soil acidity and improve crop growth on sustainable basis.

Purpose

Sulfonamides are widely used for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections, hard-degraded contaminants distributed in the environment if they are discharged into the soil and water. Biochar could probably influence the geochemical behavior of ionized antibiotics in the soils.

Materials and methods

To determine the sorption/desorption of three representative sulfonamides (SAs) in soils amended with biochar, we investigated the effects of water pH, Cu²⁺, and dissolved humic acid on the sorption of sulfamethoxazole (SMX), sulfamethazine (SMZ), and sulfadiazine (SD) onto two different soil samples (S1 pH?=?5.13 and S2 pH?=?7.33) amended with wheat straw-derived biochar (size 0.5～0.6 mm).

Results and discussion

Batch experiments showed that the sorption/desorption isotherms of SAs on soil with/without biochar followed the Freundlich model. The biochar had a strong adsorption potential for SMX, SMZ, and SD both in S1 and S2 at low water pH. Except for SMX, the presence of Cu²⁺ inhibited the sorption of SMZ and SD through competing hydrophobic adsorption region in soils. HA suppressed the sorption of three sulfonamides in soil S2 by electrostatic repulsion under alkaline condition. The soil leaching column experiments showed the SA transport in soils, and S1 and S2 amended with biochar (0.5 and 1.0 wt%) brought about 12–20 % increase in SMX, SMZ, and SD retention compared to the untreated soil.

Conclusions

The results indicated that the presence of biochar effectively mitigated the mobility of ionized antibiotics such as SMX, SMZ, and SD in soils, which helps us reconsider the potential risk of antibiotics in the environment.

Purpose

Phosphorus is an essential element that at high concentrations generates eutrophication of aquatic systems. In this study, we used batch and continuous tests to evaluate the efficiency of a Technosol to retain the phosphorus present (as phosphate) in aqueous samples.

Materials and methods

Phosphate sorption on Technosol was studied through batch and continuous experiments. Sorption kinetics and isotherms were investigated at different phosphate loadings and pH. In batch tests, we have determined how the presence of different anions (bicarbonate, sulphate, chloride, chromate and molybdate) affected phosphate retention. In continuous flow systems, phosphate immobilization was assessed as a function of flow rate, pH and Technosol concentration. Finally, the potential reutilization of the column was evaluated using consecutive sorption-desorption cycles.

Results and discussion

Phosphate sorption follows a pseudo-second-order kinetics model and a Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum sorption capacity ranged from 7.1 to 18.5 mg g^?1, with larger values obtained at the highest pH. The main mechanisms involved in the sorption process were precipitation (as Ca-P minerals) and surface adsorption. In the column experiments, we observed a sorption reduction from 6.19?±?0.06 to 2.37?±?0.06 mg g^?1 as the flow rate increased from 1.5 to 5.0 mL min^?1. In addition, the retention capacity decreased by 14% when the height of the reactive layer was halved. Finally, the retention capacity of the Technosol spolic silandic recovered well after several sorption-desorption cycles, reaching 40% of the original value after first and second cycles.

Conclusions

The material effectively retained phosphate in batch and continuous flow systems. The Technosol spolic silandic is considered an efficient sorbent to remove the excess of phosphate from the soil solution and the aqueous system. This material may be a useful tool to mitigate or minimize two important environmental problems: eutrophication and the scarcity of natural sources of phosphate. The Technosol can thus be recycled as a phosphate-rich amendment and the leachates can be used to produce liquid fertilizer.

Purpose

Sorption of heavy metals on soil components plays an important role in reducing their mobility and bioavailability. Organic matter is an important sorbent of heavy metals in soil. Crop residues which are important sources of soil organic matter will undergo decomposition after addition to the soil. However, few studies reported the effect of organic matter decomposition on heavy metal sorption. This study aimed to investigate the effect of straw decomposition on the sorption of Cu.

Materials and methods

Rice straw was decomposed in aerobic conditions for 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Solid organic matter in decomposed rice straw was collected and marked OM-1, OM-3, OM-6, and OM-12, respectively. Sorption isotherms and kinetics of Cu on solid organic matter were studied by batch experiments. The sorption of Cu was calculated by the difference between the amount of Cu added initially and that remained in the supernatant. Sorption thermodynamics of Cu were studied by isothermal titration calorimetry technique. Potential mechanisms of Cu sorption were analyzed by combining the information from sorption thermodynamics, desorption experiments, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy observations. All sorption experiments were carried out at pH 5.0.

Results and discussion

The maximum sorption of Cu was 165.8, 170.5, 186.6, and 226.9 mmol kg^?1, and the rate constant of Cu sorption was 0.80, 0.58, 0.50, and 0.32 kg mmol^?1 h^?1 on OM-1, OM-3, OM-6, and OM-12, respectively, indicating that the maximum sorption of Cu increased while sorption rate of Cu decreased with increasing the duration of straw decomposition from 1 to 12 months. The negative values of Gibbs free energy change and positive values of enthalpy change and entropy change revealed that Cu sorption was spontaneous, endothermic in nature, and the randomness was increased during sorption. Carboxyl and hydroxyl in solid organic matter were involved in Cu sorption. The percentage of Cu desorbed by NH₄Ac from OM-1, OM-3, OM-6, and OM-12 was 45.0, 43.5, 42.8, and 37.8 %, respectively.

Conclusions

In the current study, the decomposition of straw promoted the sorption capacity but reduced the sorption rate of Cu on solid organic matter. Copper sorption was an endothermic and spontaneous process. The formation of inner-sphere complexes was the main mechanism of Cu sorption, and its role in Cu sorption tended to increase with increasing the duration of straw decomposition. The information will facilitate the understanding of the contamination and remediation of heavy metal in cropland.

Purpose

Quarrying activities in areas with serpentinized rocks may have a negative impact on plant growth. Quarry soils generally offer hostile environments for plant growth due to their low-nutrient availability, low organic matter, and high-trace metal content.

Materials and methods

In order to determine the factors that can limit plant revegetation, this study was carried out in two serpentine quarries in Galicia (NW Spain): one abandoned in 1999 and the other still active.

Results and discussion

The results show that in soils developed in the abandoned quarry, the limitations for revegetation were: moderate alkaline pH (7.87–8.05), strong Ca/Mg (<1) imbalance, low N (<0.42 mg kg^?1) and P (<2 mg kg^?1) content, and high total heavy-metal content (Co 76–147 mg kg^?1; Cr 1370–2600 mg kg^?1; and Ni 1340–2040 mg kg^?1). The limitations were much less intense in the soils developed in the substratum in the active quarry, which were incipient soils poorly developed and permanently affected by the quarrying activity.

Conclusions

Restoration work should be geared toward establishing a stable diverse vegetation cover, including serpentinophile species, which would provide the necessary modifications to correct nutritive imbalances and improve soil quality.

Purpose

Copper (Cu) contamination has been increasing in land ecosystems. Biochars (BCs) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are known to bind metals, and metallophyte can remove metals from soils. Will BC in combination with AMF contain the Cu uptake by a metallophyte growing in a metal-contaminated soil? The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of BCs on the Cu immobilization and over soil microbial communities in a metal-contaminated soil in the presence of AMF and metallophyte.

Materials and methods

Two BCs were produced from chicken manure (CMB) and oat hull (OHB). A Cu-contaminated sandy soil (338 mg kg^?1) was incubated with CMB and OHB (0, 1, and 5 % w/w) for 2 weeks. Metallophyte Oenothera picensis was grown in pots (500 mL) containing the incubated soils in a controlled greenhouse for 6 months. A number of analyses were conducted after the harvest. These include plant biomass weight, microbial basal respiration, and dehydrogenase activity (DHA), AMF root colonization, spore number, and glomalin production; changes in fungal and bacterial communities, Cu fractions in soil phases, and Cu uptake in plant tissues.

Results and discussion

The BCs increased the soil pH, decreased easily exchangeable fraction of Cu, and increased organic matter and residual fraction of Cu. The BCs provided favorable habitat for microorganisms, thereby increasing basal respiration. The CMB increased DHA by ～62 and ～574 %, respectively, for the low and high doses. Similarly, the OHB increased soil microbial activity by ～68 and ～72 %, respectively, for the low and high doses. AMF root colonization, spore number, and total glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) production increased by ～3, ～2, and ～3 times, respectively, in soils treated with 1 % OHB. Despite being a metalophyte, O. picensis could not uptake Cu efficiently. Root and shoot Cu concentrations decreased or changed insignificantly in most BC treatments.

Conclusions

The results show that the BCs decreased bioavailable Cu, decreased Cu uptake by O. picensis, improved habitat for microorganisms, and enhanced plant growth in Cu-contaminated soil. This suggests that biochars may be utilized to remediate Cu-contaminated soils.

Purpose

A simple and highly efficient economic method for the analysis of 11 antibacterial drugs including two tetracyclines, three quinolones, four sulfonamides, chloramphenicol and tylosin, in livestock manure, was developed using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Materials and methods

The analytes were successively extracted by EDTA-McIlvaine solution and organic solvent mixture. The extracts were degreased with n-hexane and cleaned through SPE on a hydrophile-lipophile balance (HLB) cartridge. All compounds were determined on a C18 reverse phase column with gradient elution.

Results and discussion

Recoveries calculated from spiked samples of animal manures ranged from 62.65 to 99.16 % for 11 antibiotics with relative standard deviations of less than 10.0 %. Limits of detection ranged from 0.1 to 1.9 μg kg^?1, and limits of quantification ranged from 0.3 to 5.9 μg kg^?1.

Conclusions

The results show that SPE-HPLC is an inexpensive and practical method for rapid detection of multiple antibiotics in animal manure.

Purpose

The key factors influencing pH buffering capacity of acid soils from tropical and subtropical regions, and effects of soil evolution and incorporation of biochars on pH buffering capacity were investigated to develop suitable methods to increase pH buffering capacity of acid soils.

Materials and methods

A total of 24 acid soils collected from southern China were used. The pH buffering capacity was determined using acid–base titration. The values of pH buffering capacity were obtained from the slope of titration curves of acid or alkali additions plotted against pH in the pH range 4.0–7.0. Two biochars were prepared from straws of peanut and canola using a low temperature pyrolysis method. After incubation of three acid soils, pH buffering capacity was then determined.

Results and discussion

pH buffering capacity had a range of 9.1–32.1 mmol kg^–1 pH^–1 for 18 acid soils from tropical and subtropical regions of China. The pH buffering capacity was highly correlated (R ²?=?0.707) with soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) measured with ammonium acetate method at pH 7.0 and decreased with soil evolution due to the decreased CEC. Incorporation of biochars at rates equivalent to 72 and 120 t ha^?1 increased soil pH buffering capacity due to the CEC contained in the biochars. Incorporation of peanut straw char which itself contained more CEC and alkalinity induced more increase in soil CEC, and thus greater increase in pH buffering capacity compared with canola straw char. At 5% of peanut straw char added, soil CEC increased by 80.2%, 51.3%, and 82.8% for Ultisol from Liuzhou, Oxisol from Chengmai and Ultisol from Kunlun, respectively, and by 19.8%, 19.6%, and 32.8% with 5% of canola straw char added, respectively; and correspondingly for these soils, the pH buffering capacity increased by 73.6%, 92.0%, and 123.2% with peanut straw char added; and by 31.3%, 25.6%, and 52.3% with canola straw char added, respectively. Protonation/deprotonation of oxygen-containing functional groups of biochars was the main mechanism for the increase of pH buffering capacity of acid soils with the incorporation of biochars.

Conclusions

CEC was a key factor determining pH buffering capacity of acid soils from tropical and subtropical regions of China. Decreased CEC and content of 2:1-type clay minerals during evolution of tropical soils led to decreased pH buffering capacity. Incorporation of biochars generated from crop straws did not only ameliorate soil acidity, but also increased soil pH buffering capacity.

Purpose

The nature of dissolved organic matter (DOM) strongly influences heavy metal sorption onto soil. However, the constituents and structures of DOM change continuously as DOM is subjected to microbial decomposition and photodegradation at natural field scales. Thus, this study was designed to explore the effects of chemical changes of DOM on heavy metal sorption onto farmland soil in natural degradation.

Materials and methods

Fresh DOM (FDOM) and degraded DOM (DDOM) both were extracted from the straw of maize which was extensively planted in Loess Plateau, China. The characteristics of DOM were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis, excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra, UV-visible spectra (UV-vis), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and molecular weight analysis. Farmland loess soil in Loess Plateau and heavy metal Cu(II) which can easily form a complex with DOM in soil were employed to investigate the effects of DOM dynamic changes on Cu(II) sorption onto loess through batch tests.

Results and discussion

Compared with FDOM, DDOM changed significantly in composition including oxygen content, functional group species, aromatic properties, and molecular weight distribution. Oxygen content, aromaticity, and low-molecular-weight fraction (<3 kDa) decreased while aromatic substitution and high-molecular-weight fraction (>10 kDa) increased for DDOM. For these changes, the effects of FDOM and DDOM on heavy metal Cu(II) sorption onto loess were significantly different due to DOM-Cu(II) binding ability varied with FDOM degradation. FDOM promoted Cu(II) sorption onto loess at Cu(II) concentration below 400 mg l^?1 while inhibited above 400 mg l^?1, but DDOM always showed inhibition effects on Cu(II) sorption onto loess. Moreover, both the promotion and inhibition effects depended mainly on the initial concentrations and pH values of FDOM and DDOM.

Conclusions

The results of the present study demonstrate that chemical characteristics of FDOM and DDOM are greatly diverse in components, functional group species, molecular weight distribution, etc. although they are from the same source. The apparent differences can explain their distinct effects on copper sorption onto loess soil. Hence, future researches are supposed to focus on the dynamic changes of DOMs when evaluating their influence on heavy metals environmental behaviors under actual conditions.

Purpose

The purpose was to develop a netbag technique suitable for burying biochar in a compost or composting medium, followed by its collection in a clean state (i.e., free of compost debris) without loss or damage, for physicochemical analyses. Collection in a clean state is required to ensure that the analytical data of various biochars are representative and comparable. Five criteria were identified to evaluate the suitability of netbag.

Materials and methods

A small netbag (3.5?×?3.5 cm) was developed using nylon fabric (30-μm mesh) to contain ～1 g of biochar. A production system was developed to make 15 netbags per batch. Unlike commonly used litterbags, polypropylene was used to seal netbags. Two experiments were conducted in which three biochars, made from macadamia nutshell, hardwood shaving, and chicken litter, were co-composted with chicken manure and sawdust and also incubated with a chicken litter-based commercial compost. Biochars were added at the rates of 5 or 10 % in the co-composting and 10 or 20 % in the incubation experiments. The biochar-containing netbags were buried in the co-composting and incubation mediums for 133 days. Various physicochemical analyses were conducted with netbag-biochars and their compost mediums.

Results and discussion

The netbags collected after both experiments showed no visible sign of degradation. The weight of netbag-biochars from co-composting and incubation systems did not reduce significantly over the experimental period, thereby indicating no loss of biochar. No visible evidence of entry of solid particles from compost medium was found on the netbag-biochars. Pretests indicated that the netbag and biochars absorbed pore solution from the medium. Findings showed that elements translocated between the netbag-biochar and compost medium. A colony of coccus bacteria was found on the surface of composted chicken litter biochar, denoting probable entry of bacteria from compost medium. Unlike conventional litterbags, the netbags were suitable for burying and extracting biochar in compost/composting mediums due to smaller size, smaller mesh, and strong sealing with polypropylene.

Conclusions

The netbags addressed all the five criteria. Therefore, it was concluded that, in the co-compost or incubated-compost medium, the biochar retained in the netbag and the biochar mixed with the medium were exposed to a similar bio-oxidative environment, and netbag-biochar represents the biochar in the medium. This means that these netbags can be used as a convenient means to examine the effects of the composting process or incubation in compost on biochar.

Purpose

Soil macropores play a principal role in water infiltration but they are highly variable. The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the temporal change in macropores of an Ultisol as affected by land use and slope position and (2) to analyze contribution of macropores to water infiltration.

Materials and methods

Water infiltration was measured at upper and lower slopes in citrus orchard and watermelon field once every 2 months for 1 year using tension infiltrometers at a successive pressure head from ?12, ?6, ?3, to 0 hPa.

Results and discussion

Hydraulic conductivity (K) was significantly affected by land use and slope position except at 0 hPa pressure head, showing a significant temporal variation. Effective macroporosity, derived from the increment of hydraulic conductivity between ?3 and 0 hPa, showed a significant temporal variation. Such temporal variation was land use (P?<?0.05) and slope position (P?<?0.001) dependent. Despite of low proportion in total soil volume (averaged 3.5 cm³ m^?3), the macropores contributed 47 % of water flux on average. The macroporosity was more stable and higher in the citrus orchard (2.43 cm³ m^?3, coefficient of variance (CV)?=?75 %) than in the watermelon field (1.72 cm³ m^?3, CV?=?117 %) and contributed more to infiltration in the citrus orchard (60 %, CV?=?16 %) than in the watermelon field (33 %, CV?=?43 %) as well, because tillage was operated only in the watermelon field.

Conclusions

No-tillage increased water conducting macropores but did not increase hydraulic conductivity irrespective of slope position.

Purpose

Occlusion of carbon in phytoliths is an important biogeochemical carbon sequestration mechanism and plays a significant role in the global biogeochemical carbon cycle and atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration regulation at a millennial scale. However, few studies have focused on the storage of phytolith and phytolith-occluded carbon (PhytOC) in subtropical forest soils.

Materials and methods

Soil profiles with 100-cm depth were sampled from subtropical bamboo forest, fir forest, and chestnut forest in China to investigate the variation of phytoliths and PhytOC storage in the soil profiles based on amass-balance assessment.

Results and discussion

The storage of phytoliths in the top 100 cm of the bamboo forest soil (198.13?±?25.08 t ha^?1) was much higher than that in the fir forest (146.76?±?4.53 t ha^?1) and chestnut forest (170.87?±?9.59 t ha^?1). Similarly, the storage of PhytOC in the bamboo forest soil (3.91?±?0.64 t ha^?1) was much higher than that in the fir forest soil (1.18?±?0.22 t ha^?1) and chestnut forest soil (2.67?±?0.23 t ha^?1). The PhytOC percentage in the soil organic carbon pool increased with soil depth and was the highest (4.29 %) in the bamboo forest soil. Our study demonstrated that PhytOC in soil was significantly influenced by forest type and the bamboo forest ecosystem contributed more significantly to phytolith carbon sequestration than other forest ecosystems.

Conclusions

Different forest types have a significant influence on the soil PhytOC storage. Optimization of bamboo afforestation/reforestation in future forest management plans may significantly enhance the biogeochemical carbon sink in the following centuries.

Purpose

A better understanding of the role of grassland systems in producing and storing phytolith-occluded carbon (PhytOC) will provide crucial information in addressing global climate change caused by a rapid increase in the atmospheric CO₂ concentration.

Materials and methods

Soil samples of typical steppe, meadow steppe, and meadow in Inner Mongolia, China, were taken at 0–10-, 10–20-, 20–40-, and 40–60-cm depths in July and August of 2015. The soil phytoliths were isolated by heavy liquid (ZnBr₂), and the soil PhytOC was determined by the traditional potassium dichromate method.

Results and discussion

The results of our study showed that the storage of soil phytoliths was significantly higher in the meadow (33.44 ± 0.91 t ha^?1) cf. meadow steppe (26.8 ± 0.98 t ha^?1) and typical steppe (21.19 ± 4.91 t ha^?1), which were not different. The soil PhytOC storage was significantly different among grassland types, being: meadow (0.39 ± 0.01 t ha^?1) > meadow steppe (0.29 ± 0.02 t ha^?1) > typical steppe (0.23 ± 0.02 t ha^?1). PhytOC storage in typical steppe soil within the 0–60-cm soil layer is the lowest and that in meadow soils is the highest. The grassland type and the soil condition play significant roles in accumulation of phytoliths and PhytOC in different grassland soils. We suggest that the aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) is important in soil phytolith accumulation and PhytOC content.

Conclusions

Phytolith and PhytOC storages in grassland soil are influenced by factors such as grass type, local climate and soil conditions, and management practices. Management practices to increase grass biomass production can significantly enhance phytolith C sequestration.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to better understand how both the content and flux of soil carbon respond to forest succession and anthropogenic management practices in forests in subtropical China.

Materials and methods

We assembled from the literature information on soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil respiration (Rs) covering the forest successional chronosequence from pioneer masson pine (Pinus massoniana) forest (MPF) to medium broadleaf and needleleaf mixed forest (BNMF) and the climax evergreen broadleaf forest (EBF), along with the two major forest plantation types found in subtropical China, Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) forest (CFF) and Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) forest (MBF).

Results and discussion

Both SOC and Rs increased along the forest successional gradient with the climax EBF having both the highest SOC content of 33.1?±?4.9 g C kg^?1(mean?±?standard error) and the highest Rs rate of 46.8?±?3.0 t CO₂?ha^?1 year^?1. It can be inferred that when EBF is converted to any of the other forest types, especially to MPF or CFF, both SOC content and Rs are likely to decline. Stand age did not significantly impact the SOC content or Rs rate in either types of plantation.

Conclusions

Forest succession generally increases SOC content and Rs, and the conversion of natural forests to plantations decreases SOC content and Rs in subtropical China.

Purpose

A reclaimed tidal land along the shore has poor soil properties such as high exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and electrical conductivity (EC) due to excess sodium (Na) content. Therefore, Na content should be decreased to improve the land productivity, and for this, gypsum has been widely used. The objective of this study was to determine the changes in ESP and EC of the gypsum-treated reclaimed tidal soil in a field scale.

Materials and methods

For this, gypsum was applied to Daeho reclaimed tidal land (500 ha) in Korea for 5 years (2006 to 2010). The Daeho reclaimed tidal land has been used as reclaimed paddy fields since 1993. The application rate of gypsum was calculated based on exchangeable calcium (Ca) contents and soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) to maintain 60 % exchangeable calcium percentage (ECP) of CEC in soil and the average amount treated was 1570 kg ha^?1 year^?1. The changes in ESP and EC were monitored from 2006 to 2010, and 2013.

Results and discussion

The ESP dropped from 80 % in 2006 to 34 % in 2013. The EC of the soil was decreased by 73 %, from 11.5 dS m^?1 in 2006 to 3.1 dS m^?1 in 2013. Eventually, it was estimated that the ESP will be lowered below 15 % in 2023 with continuous treatment of gypsum according to ECP calculation, and EC will be declined to reach at 0.5 dS m^?1 in 2035, the average EC level of Korean rice paddy.

Conclusions

This field scale study evidenced that gypsum application effectively improves the soil properties of reclaimed tidal soil by decreasing ESP and EC.

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of combination of alkyl polyglucoside (APG) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) on improving the efficiency of phytoremediation for pyrene and lead (Pb) co-contaminated soil by Scirpus triqueter.

Materials and methods

Seedlings of S. triqueter with a similar size and biomass (3 g/pot) were grown on 2-month aged soil contaminated with 184.5 mg kg^?1of pyrene and 454.3 mg kg^?1 of Pb at pH?=?8.3. After growth for 10 days, different doses of APG and NTA were added into the soil. After 60 days, the height of plants, Pb concentrations in plants, and pyrene amounts in soil were determined.

Results and discussion

Combined application of NTA and APG with lower dosage (1 + 1 g kg^?1 soil and 1 + 2 g kg^?1 soil) had no notable negative influence on the growth of S. triqueter. Moreover, significant synergy on Pb accumulation in S. triqueter was achieved with APG and NTA combined application. Besides, the dissipation of pyrene from soil after 60-day planting was increased in APG and NTA treatments when compared with the control treatments. Application of APG alone or combined with NTA had greater effect on enhancing dissipation of pyrene from soil than NTA alone.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the remediation of Pb and pyrene co-contaminated soil by S. triqueter can be enhanced by combined application of APG and NTA. Long-term evaluation of this strategy is needed in co-contaminated field sites.