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Background and aims Plant litter decomposition figures importantly in the cycling of C and N pools in terrestrial ecosystems. We investigated how C and N fluxes changed during the decomposition of leaf litters and how those processes respond to different precipitation regimes.Methods We using dual isotope tracing and in situ decomposition methods, and investigated differences of leaf and soil C, N, δ13C and δ15N in northwest China.Results δ15N and δ13C were 3604‰ and 56‰ for Robinia pseudoacacia (Leguminosae) and 8115‰ and 452‰ for Populus ningshanica (Salicaceae) leaf litters. Through decomposition, δ13C decreased in all litters, and the δ15N of leguminous increased while non-leguminous litter decreased. In surface soil, the fractions of litter-derived C (20%) and N (14%) from leguminous were higher than non-leguminous litters after 16 months. C and N concentrations of both litters and soil were always coupled during decomposition, and the responses of N to C changes in soil were reduced by litter cover. Increased precipitation enhanced the litters’ C and N coupling. The 600-mm precipitation treatment most benefited litter C transformation to SOC, and drought conditions promoted the transformation of legume litter N to soil TN, but inhibited non-legume litter N. Conclusions C and N changes are always coupled in soil and litters. After 16 months, the proportion of C and N in soil from legumes was higher than non-legumes. Reduced precipitation can promote legumes N into soil. Our results provide a scientific basis for accurately predicting the C and N cycles in terrestrial ecosystems.

Crude oil may block soil pores, affect soil water repellency, and change soil water movement. In this study, soil column simulation was used to study the effects of different crude oil pollution levels (0, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 4%) on the water infiltration processes in loessial soil and aeolian sandy soil. The results showed that soil wetting front speed and infiltration rate of those two soils decreased with increasing crude oil content. The time needed for wetting front reaching the bottom of the soil column was the longest under 4% crude oil polluted soil, which was 4 times and 48 times longer than that of no crude oil polluted soil for loessial soil and aeolian sandy soil, respectively. The cumulative infiltration of loessial soil decreased with increasing crude oil content, while it increased to the max and then decreased as the crude oil content increased in aeolian sandy soil. The cumulative infiltration curves of aeolian sandy soil with high crude oil contents (2% and 4%) presented "up-tail" phenomenon. Kostiakov infiltration model and Philip infiltration model could better fit the infiltration process than Green-Ampt model for loessial soil with different crude oil content. However, the two models could only well fit the infiltration process for aeolian sandy soil with low crude oil content (0, 0.5%, 1%). Crude oil pollution could significantly affect soil water infiltration process, especiall in aeolian sandy soil.原油进入土壤后会堵塞土壤孔隙,影响土壤斥水性,改变土壤水分运动状况。本研究利用土柱模拟的方法,研究了不同原油污染程度(0、0.5%、1%、2%、4%)对黄绵土和风沙土水分入渗过程的影响。结果表明: 随着原油含量的增加,两种土壤湿润锋的推进速度和入渗速率均减小,土壤原油污染程度为4%时湿润锋运移到土柱底部的所需时间最长,污染程度为0时湿润锋运移到土柱底部的所需时间最短,黄绵土湿润锋达到土柱底部所需最长时间是最短时间的5倍,风沙土最长时间是最短时间的48倍;当湿润锋运移到土柱底部时,黄绵土的累积入渗量随原油含量的增加而减小,而风沙土的累积入渗量先增大后减小;在高浓度(2%、4%)原油处理下,风沙土的累积入渗量曲线出现“翘尾”现象。Kostiakov入渗模型和Philip入渗模型比Green-Ampt模型能更好地模拟不同原油处理下的黄绵土土壤水分入渗过程,但对风沙土而言,两种模型对低浓度(0、0.5%、1%)原油处理的土壤水分入渗过程拟合较好。原油污染能够显著影响土壤水分入渗过程,且对风沙土的影响更大。.

Soil nitrogen and phosphorus influence physical, chemical, and biological processes in soil, therefore, clarifying their contents and spatial patterns is of great significance for soil resource management and utilization. The spatial patterns of soil total nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (TP) and the influencing factors in Jungar Banner were studied using classical statistical and geostatistical methods. The results showed that soil TN and TP contents decreased with soil depth, and the weighted mean values of TN and TP were 0.29 g·kg

Selecting optimal revegetation patterns, i.e., patterns that are more effective for soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) accumulation, is particularly important for mine land reclamation. However, there have been few evaluations of the effects of different revegetation patterns on the SOC and TN in reclaimed mine soils on the Loess Plateau, China. In this study, the SOC and TN stocks were investigated at reclaimed mine sites (RMSs), including artificially revegetated sites (ARSs) (arbors (Ar), bushes (Bu), arbor-bush mixtures (AB), and grasslands (Gr)) and a natural recovery site (NRS), as well as at undisturbed native sites (UNSs). Overall, the SOC and TN stocks in the RMSs were lower than those in the UNSs over 10–13 years after reclamation. The SOC stocks in the RMSs and UNSs only differed in the top 0–20 cm of the soil (p p −2) > AB (2.88 kg m−2) ≥ Bu (2.72 kg m−2), and the TN stocks exhibited a similar trend. These results suggest that grasslands were more favorable than woodlands for SOC and TN accumulation in this arid area. Thus, in terms of the accumulation of SOC and TN, grassland planting is recommended as a revegetation pattern for areas with reclaimed mine soils.

In order to utilize the waste biomass resources efficiently, two raw materials of sawdust and apple branch were selected to produce biochars at 450℃ by oxygen-limited pyrolysis, and the adsorptions of Cu

Biological soil crusts (BSCs), which cover 35% of the continents and exceed 70% of the living cover in parts of region, play important ecological roles in the evolution of soil-water-plant systems in arid and semiarid areas. Since the 1980s, studies of BSCs have become hot topics in physical geography. By reviewing the last 30 years of study reports, the present paper proposes the following future research focus: (1) Understanding the function of BSCs in carbon and nitrogen fixation in the micro-scale (block), monitoring its distribution patterns in the macro-scale (region) by remote sensing technology and geographic information systems, and evaluate the role of carbon and nitrogen fixation in the whole ecological system. The response of BSCs to global climate change should also be evaluated. (2) Studying techniques for the artificial fast cultivation or restoration of BSCs, and implementing engineering propagation and application of artificial BSCs, and determining the appropriate parameters for environmental criteria, including light, temperature, soil water moisture, and fertilizer, among others. Artificial cultivation and rapid propagation techniques could present significant perspectives for engineering applications.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of biochar addition on the emission of greenhouse gases from farmland soil in semi-arid region. Through an in-situ experiments, the influence of sawdust biochar(J) and locust tree skin biochar (H) at three doses (1%, 3%, and 5% of quality percentage) on C2, CH4 and N2O emissions were studied within the six months in the south of Ningxiaprovince. The results indicated that soil CO2 emission flux was slightly increased with the addition doses for both biochars, and the averaged CO2 emission flux for sawdust and locust tree skin biochar was enhanced by 1. 89% and 3. 34% compared to the control, but the difference between treatments was not statistically significant. The soil CH4 emission was decreased with the increasing of biochar doses, by 1. 17%, 2. 55%, 4. 32% for J1, J3, J5 and 2. 35%, 5. 83%, 7. 32% for H1, H3, H5, respectively. However, the difference was statistically significant only for J5, H3 and H5 treatments (P0. 05). Across addition doses, there was no apparent effect on soil N2O emission. Our study indicated that the biochar has no significant influence on soil CO2 and N2O emissions within six months in semi-arid region and can significantly influence soil CH4 emissions (P0. 05). As for biochar type, the locust tree skin biochar is significantly better than the sawdust biochar in terms of restraining CH4 emission(P = 0. 048).

Two new highly oxygenated fasciculol-type lanostane derivatives, fasciculols H and I (1 and 2, resp.), together with five known compounds, 3-7, were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the Chinese toxic mushroom Naematoloma fasciculare. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including 2D-NMR (HMBC, HSQC, NOESY, (1)H,(1)H-COSY). Compounds 5-7 were identified for the first time in this mushroom. Compounds 1, 3, 4, and 5 were evaluated for inhibitory activity against human glioma cell line U87 and nuclear factor-κB.

From the culture of an endophyte Chaetomium globosum found in Ginkgo biloba, twelve metabolites, including three diketopiperazines, two cytochalasins, two sterols, two simple phenolic compounds, one complex aromatic compound, a nonprotein amino acid and a linear triterpene were isolated. Of them, eight compounds are first reported for the genus Chaetomium. Gliotoxin (8) has good antifungal activity against plant pathogenic fungi.► Twelve compounds were isolated from an endophyte C. globosum harboring inside G. biloba leaves. ► Eight compounds are new for the genus Chaetomium. ► Gliotoxin (8) possessed good antifungal activity against some phytopathogenic fungi.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) has great impacts on global warming, land degradation and food security. Classic statistical and geostatistical methods were used to characterize and compare the spatial heterogeneity of SOC and related factors, such as topography, soil type and land use, in the Liudaogou watershed on the Loess Plateau of North China. SOC concentrations followed a log-normal distribution with an arithmetic and geometric means of 23.4 and 21.3 g kg(-1), respectively, were moderately variable (CV = 75.9%), and demonstrated a moderate spatial dependence according to the nugget ratio (34.7%). The experimental variogram of SOC was best-fitted by a spherical model, after the spatial outliers had been detected and subsequently eliminated. Lower SOC concentrations were associated with higher elevations. Warp soils and farmland had the highest SOC concentrations, while aeolian sand soil and shrublands had the lowest SOC values. The geostatistical characteristics of SOC for the different soil and land use types were different. These patterns were closely related to the spatial structure of topography, and soil and land use types.

A new competitive adsorption isothermal model (CAIM) was developed for the coexistent and competitive binding of heavy metals to the soil surface. This model extended the earlier adsorption isothermal models by considering more than one kind of ion adsorption on the soil surface. It was compared with the Langmuir model using different conditions, and it was found that CAIM, which was suitable for competitive ion adsorption at the soil solid-liquid surface, had more advantages than the Langmuir model. The new competitive adsorption isothermal model was used to fit the data of heavy metal (Zn and Cd) competitive adsorption by a yellow soil at two temperatures. The results showed that CAIM was appropriate for the competitive adsorption of heavy metals on the soil surface at different temperatures. The fitted parameters of CAIM had explicit physical meaning. The model allowed for the calculation of the standard molar Gibbs free energy change, the standard molar enthalpy change, and the standard molar entropy change of the competitive adsorption of the heavy metals, Zn and Cd, by the yellow soil at two temperatures using the thermodynamic equilibrium constants.

A new (2:1) complex of (−)-13aS-tetrahydroberberine [(−)-13aS-THB] with (+)-2,3-di(p-toluyl) tartaric acid (DTTA), i.e. 5,8,13,13a-tetrahydro-9,10-dimethoxy-2,3-methylenedioxy-6H dibenzo[a,g] quinolizine·2,3-di(p-toluyl) tartaric acid [2C20H20NO4·C20H18O8], as well as its optical active component (−)-THB, has been obtained from the resolution process of (±)-THB in methanol. The structures of this complex and an enantiomer (−)-13aS-THB have been characterized by CD, IR and NMR spectroscopy as well as by X-ray single crystal diffraction.

Taking the loess soils with bulk density 1.2 g cm(-3), 1.3 g cm(-3), and 1.4 g cm(-3) from Ansai, Shaanxi Province as test objects, a pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of different amendment amount of soil stabilizer (EN-1 stabilizer) on the growth and root activity of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Within the range of the bulk densities, the leaf chlorophyll content, root activity, root/shoot ratio, root biomass, and plant biomass of L. perenne all decreased with increasing soil bulk density, and were higher under the amendment of EN-1 stabilizer, as compared with the control. With increasing amendment amount of EN-1 stabilizer, the leaf chlorophyll content, root activity, root/shoot ratio, root biomass, and plant biomass had a trend of increased first and decreased then. Soil bulk density and stabilizer amendment amount had significant interactive effect on the root biomass and plant biomass. Overall, the values of the test indices were the highest under 1.3 g cm(-3) soil bulk density and 0.15% EN-1 stabilizer amendment amount.

Two alkaloids, D-calycanthine (1) and L-folicanthine (2), were isolated from the active MeOH extract of the seeds of Chimonanthus praecox LINK. The structures of the two compounds were established by (1)H- and (13)C-NMR, and MS (FAB, ESI) analyses. In the in vitro tests, compounds 1 and 2 showed significant inhibitory activities against five plant pathogenic fungi Exserohilum turcicum, Bipolaris maydis, Alternaria solani, Sclerotinia sderotiorum, and Fusarium oxysportium, among which B. maydis was found to be the most susceptible to 1 with an EC(50) value of 29.3 microg/ml, followed by S. sderotiorum to 2 with an EC(50) value of 61.2 microg/ml. To our knowledge, this is the first report of isolation and LC/MS/MS identification as well as of antifungal properties of these alkaloids from the seeds of this plant.

To understand the profile variability of soil properties of check dam and its possibility of engineering control over non-point source pollution, we used classical statistics to characterize the profile change of soil properties of a 5.20 m depth soil profile in the typical check dam on the Loess Plateau. The roles of check dam as organic carbon storage and available nutrients storage were discussed. The results showed that: 1) The bulk density and sand content of dam-head were lower than dam-tail, while, soil water content, silt, loam, organic carbon, available P, NO3(-) -N and NH4+ -N were higher than dam-tail. The bulk density for both dam-head and dam-tail showed weak variability while other properties showed moderate variability. All variables followed a normal distribution except sand in dam-head and soil moisture in dam-tail. 2) The change pattern of soil moisture on the soil profile for both dam-head and dam-tail was saw-tooth type. The change trends of soil organic carbon, available P and NH4+ -N were comparable to that of soil moisture. 3) The correlations among soil water content, organic carbon, bulk density, silt, loam, sand, available P, NO3(-) -N and NH4+ -N were significant (p0.05) except the relationship between bulk density and NO3(-) -N, NH4+ -N and relationship between available P and NH4+ -N in dam-tail. The positive or negative correlation of soil properties both in dam-head and dam-tail were coincident. 4) The check dam can be an important carbon storage on the Loess Plateau, and the organic carbon storage in dam-head was higher than dam-tail. The storage of organic carbon in 400-520 cm depth was the biggest for dam-head, in 0-100 cm depths for dam-tail. 5) The check dam is an enrichment sink of available nutrients. The storage of available P, NO3(-) -N and NH4+ -N in dam-head were higher than dam-tail, and the range of storage was: NH4+ -Navailable PNO3(-) -N. The coefficient of enrichment for NH4+ -N and NO3(-) -N were 1.132 and 1.956, respectively. 6) As the sink of soil nutrients, check dam has an important theoretical value for region carbon balance, ecological environment reconstruction and the effective control over non-point source pollution.

In a simulated rainfall experiment, the microstructure, bulk density, and shear strength of black soil were determined to study the development process of crust during rainfall, and the effects of the crust on soil infiltration. The results showed that with the process of rainfall, surface soil layer became compact, soil shear strength and bulk density increased, and infiltration decreased. In a period of 120 minutes rainfall, a stable crust layer in 3-4 mm thickness formed, whose bulk density increased by 14.13% and porosity decreased by 6.45%. The removal of raindrop beat weakened the development of crust, with soil porosity decreased by 3.27%, bulk density increased by 7.11%, and accumulated infiltration increased by 41.1%. The black soil in Northeast China had a stable soil structure, and raindrop beat was the dominant factor resulting in the development of crust. During the process of rainfall, no obvious eluviation was observed.

Objective of this study was to understand the spatial pattern of soil properties and topographic factors and their relationships in a small watershed. We used classical statistical coupling with geo-statistical theory to characterize and compare the spatial variability of soil mineral N and topographic factors in the wind-water erosion crisscross region on the Loess Plateau. The results show that: 1) The nitrate's variable extent is strong while other properties are moderate variability, and the impacts of soil types, land uses on variable extent are significant. 2) All properties have different spatial dependence extent in the study area. Ammonium and elevation are strong spatial dependence while nitrate, slope gradient and slope aspect are moderate spatial dependence. 3) The analysis results of fractal dimension and spatial heterogeneity proportion are coherent, and the decreased sequence is: nitrate (1.9826)slope aspect (1.9767)slope angle (1.9420)ammonium (1.8791)elevation (1.7461). 4) In 0 degrees C/90 degrees C, 45 degrees C/135 degrees C aspects, nitrate is isotropy while elevation is anisotropy, and others are weak anisotropy. 5) Ammonium and elevation have strong spatial autocorrelation while nitrate has not. There exist extremely notable positive correlations between nitrate and ammonium, slope gradient and aspect, and the negative correlations between ammonium, slope aspect and elevation, which indicate that the distribution of ammonium and slope gradient have elevation gradients.