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Review of relationships between soil aggregates, microorganisms and soil organic matter in salt-affected soil
DONG Xinliang, WANG Jintao, TIAN Liu, LOU Boyuan, ZHANG Xuejia, LIU Tong, LIU Xiaojing, SUN Hongyong
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220752
Abstract(174) HTML(72) PDF(50)
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Soil organic matter is a fundamental aspect of cultivated land quality, which not only promotes the formation of soil aggregates but also provides nutrients for plants and microorganisms. The formation and decomposition of soil organic matter are inseparable from the participation of microorganisms. Soil aggregates not only provide a habitat for microorganisms but also provide physical protection for organic matter. In soils with high salt content, the accumulation and decomposition of organic matter become more complex. Therefore, this paper summarized soil salinization and its deleterious effects, analyzed the impact of soil salt on soil aggregate structure and microbial characteristics, and described the characteristics and accumulation rules of organic matter in saline-alkali soil. Additionally, the research progress on the impact of soil salt on soil organic matter was summarized to reveal the potential mechanism of carbon sequestration in salt-affected soils. Previous studies have shown that the organic matter content in salt-affected soil is low, the aggregate structure is poor, and the microbial activity is low. Poor soil structure leads to the exposure of soil organic matter and facilitates greater decomposition, and the low amount of exogenous organic matter input leads to difficulty in the accumulation of soil organic matter. It can be seen that salt-affected soil is a potential carbon pool, and appropriate measures can significantly increase the organic matter content of salt-affected soil. On this basis, future research directions for organic matter accumulation in salt-affected soil were proposed: 1) the response of soil aggregate structure and soil microorganisms in the process of organic matter partitioning under different salt environments; 2) the response of soil aggregate structure and soil microorganisms in the process of organic matter accumulation under the addition of exogenous organic materials; and 3) the productivity characteristics of salt-affected soil after the increase in soil organic matter. The above research clarifies the turnover mechanism of organic matter in saline-alkali soil, provides a theoretical basis for “carbon sequestration” of saline-alkali land, and provides targeted measures to improve the quality of saline-alkali farmland and promotes the green sustainable development of saline-alkali land.
Discussion on the agricultural efficient utilization of saline-alkali land resources
LIU Xiaojing, GUO Kai, FENG Xiaohui, SUN Hongyong
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220967
Abstract(9) HTML(5) PDF(1)
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Currently, there are about 9.9×107 hm2 of salt-affected soils in China, in which the modern saline soil is about 3.7×107 hm2. As an important reserved cropland resources, the comprehensive utilization of saline-alkali soils play very important role for ensuring national food security. After decades of research and practice, China has formed complete technical systems in the improvement of saline-alkali land, in which the hydraulic engineering measures combined with salt leaching by fresh water irrigation and drainage systems have played a key role in the reclamation of saline-alkali soils. However, due to the shortage of water resources and climatic conditions, most of the saline-alkali land in China has not been developed and utilized. In recent years, with the development of social economy and the progress of science and technology, people have gradually realized that saline-alkali land is an integral part of the natural ecosystem, in which the saline resources including saline soils, saline water and salt-tolerant organisms etc. have played important roles in diversified food production, ecological conservation and human life. In order to promote the high-quality development of agriculture in saline-alkali areas, it is necessary to strengthen the studies on the theories and technologies of efficient utilization of saline resources and to develop the relevant industry of saline-alkali land resources utilization. This paper analyzed current situation and the problems existing in the reclamation of saline-alkali soils, and discussed the utilization of halophytes and saline water resources, the efficient improvement of salt-affected soils by fertile root zone construction, the production of high-quality agricultural products in saline-alkali soils, the space utilization of saline lands by developing facility agriculture, and the development of grass and animal husbandry in saline-alkali land. This paper will provide reference for the efficient utilization of saline-alkali land resources.
Effects of returning gramineous green manure to cotton field on soil carbon and nitrogen in saline alkali soil
WANG Jingkuan, GAO Fengshu, ZHANG Kaiyue, LI Shuai, LIU Xinwei
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220221
Abstract(126) HTML(91) PDF(26)
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To explore the effect of gramineous green manure on soil carbon and nitrogen contents in saline alkali cotton fields, two low-temperature- and saline alkali-tolerant gramineous green manures, ryegrass ‘Dongmu 70’ and barley ‘Zhudamai No.4’ were selected for in situ returning experiments from 2018 to 2019. Three treatments were set up: winter fallow farmland-cotton (T1), ryegrass-cotton (T2), and barley-cotton (T3). The contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), soil total nitrogen (TN), soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), and soil microbial biomass nitrogen (SMBN) were measured in different treatments at different periods (15, 50, 110, and 180 d) after returning green manure to field. The soil microbial quotient (SMQ) and ratio of soil microbial biomass carbon to nitrogen (SMBC/SMBN) were calculated. The results showed that both T2 and T3 significantly increased the contents of SOC and TN, and reached maximum values of 9.50 g∙kg−1 and 798.84 mg∙kg−1 (T2) and 9.91g∙kg−1 and 759.34 mg∙kg−1 (T3) at 180 d after returning green manure, respectively, and they were significantly higher than those of T1 treatment by 29.60% and 27.85% (T2) and 35.20% and 25.13% (T3), respectively. The variation dynamics of SMBC and SMBN contents in T2 and T3 were basically similar throughout the returning period, indicating a trend of stable growth in the early stage and significantly higher contents than those in T1, and a decrease in the latter stage and slightly lower contents than those in T1 at 110 d. The maximum values of SMBC and SMBN were 217.84 mg∙kg−1 and 34.51 mg∙kg−1 for T2, and 212.88 mg∙kg−1 and 33.43 mg∙kg−1 for T3 at 50 d and were higher than T1 by 81.46% and 47.76%, and 77.33% and 43.13%, respectively. In addition, the contents of SMBC and SMBN at different periods after returning to the field demonstrated that T2 was higher than T3. The change trend in SMQ in different treatments was consistent with that of SMBC. The two green manure treatments showed higher SMQ except for 110 d. T2 reached a maximum value of 2.82% at 15 d, while T3 reached a maximum value of 2.98% at 50 d. The SMBC/SMBN values of each treatment varied from 4 to 7; therefore, the microbial community in the soil was concluded to be mainly bacteria after returning the green manure to the field. T2 and T3 showed higher SMBC/SMBN values compared with T1, except at 110 d. In conclusion, the planting and return to the field of gramineous green manure in winter fallow farmland in saline alkali soil can significantly improve soil carbon and nitrogen contents in cotton fields, ameliorate the composition of soil microbial communities, improve the effect of soil microbial carbon sequestration, and provide nutrients for the growth of subsequent crops. The research results have guiding significance for the rational utilization of winter fallow farmlands in saline-alkali soils.
Exogenous hydrogen sulfide modulates metabolic responses of sugar and phenolic acid in naked oat leaves under saline-alkali stress
LIU Jianxin, LIU Ruirui, LIU Xiuli, JIA Haiyan, BU Ting, LI Na
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220649
Abstract(21) HTML(7) PDF(0)
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In order to clarify the regulatory effect of hydrogen sulfide signaling on the plant metabolome under saline-alkali stress and to reveal its mechanism of enhancing plant saline-alkali tolerance, a pot experiment was conducted with naked oat (Avena nude) as the material. Four treatments were applied to potted naked oat plants in a 2 × 2 factorial combination, including 0 or 3.00 g·kg−1 saline-alkali (molar ratio of NaCl∶Na2SO4∶Na2CO3∶NaHCO3 at 12∶8∶1∶9) added to the potting soil and spraying with distilled water or 50 µmol·L−1 sodium hydrosulfide (a hydrogen sulfide donor) on leaves at the heading stage. The effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on glycolytic metabolite levels, redox balance, and phenolic acid content in leaves and on the yield traits of naked oats under the four treatments were investigated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technology combined with orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. Under non-saline-alkali conditions, sodium hydrosulfide application did not have a significant effect on the ratios of (reduced glutathione)/(oxidized glutathione) and (reduced coenzyme Ⅱ)/(oxidized coenzyme Ⅱ), adenosine triphosphate content in leaves, and yield traits of naked oats; however, the levels of citrate, succinate, and 6-phosphogluconolactone were significantly upregulated and those of glucose-6-phosphate, pyruvate, lactate, α-ketoglutaric acid, glutamate, asparagine, erythrose-4-phosphate, and sedoheptulose-7-phosphate were significantly downregulated in the leaves. Saline-alkali stress significantly reduced the levels of glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate, fructose-1,6-diphosphate, 3-phosphate glyceraldehydes, 3-phosphoglyceric acid, pyruvate, lactate, α-ketoglutaric acid, glutamate, glutamine, asparagine, erythrose-4-phosphate, sedoheptulose-7-phosphate, ribose-5-phosphate, reduced glutathione, oxidized glutathione, reduced coenzyme Ⅱ, and oxidized coenzyme Ⅱ in the leaves of naked oats; whereas the ratio of reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione was increased significantly. Spraying with sodium hydrosulfide significantly increased the levels of glucose, fructose-6-phosphate, 3-phosphoglyceric acid, lactate, α-ketoglutaric acid, fumarate, malate, glutamine, 6-phosphogluconolactone, and sedoheptulose-7-phosphate in the leaves of naked oats under saline-alkali stress, and significantly decreased the asparagine content. The levels of trans-cinnamic acid and syringaldehyde in the leaves of naked oats under non-saline-alkali conditions were significantly decreased by spraying with sodium hydrosulfide. Saline-alkali stress significantly reduced the content of trans-cinnamic acid in the leaves of naked oats, and markedly increased the levels of benzoic acid, p-hydroxycinnamic acid, and trans-ferulic acid. Spraying with sodium hydrosulfide significantly increased the levels of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and vanillin in the leaves of naked oats under saline-alkali stress, and remarkably decreased the levels of salicylic acid and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxycinnamic acid.There was no significant increase in spike number, spike boll number, thousand-grain weight, and biological yield of naked oats under saline-alkali stress as a result of spraying with sodium hydrosulfide; however, sodium hydrosulfide significantly alleviated the decrease in spike grain number and grain yield induced by saline-alkali stress. These results indicate that exogenous hydrogen sulfide participates in the regulation of sugar catabolism and phenolic acid levels in naked oats, which can enhance the saline-alkali tolerance of naked oats. The increasing effect of exogenous hydrogen sulfide on organic acid levels in the sugar decomposition pathway and the unique regulatory effect on phenolic acids may play an important role in enhancing the saline-alkali tolerance of naked oats.
Effect of planting and returning Vicia villosa on soil active organic carbon and yield of subsequent maize in coastal saline soils
LI Kexin, WANG Guangmei, ZHANG Xiaodong, ZHANG Haibo, SHI Yiming, JI Zengcheng, ZHOU Zhiyong
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220759
Abstract(34) HTML(18) PDF(2)
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Fallow in the winter-spring season is becoming a common practice in the Yellow River Delta region, influenced by heavy soil salinization, scarce available water in spring, and reduced precipitation induced by climate change. However, fallow in winter can cause ecological problems such as soil erosion and secondary salinization, which will inevitably lead to environmental degradation once large areas of crop land being fallow. This study investigated the influence of planting and returning Vicia villosa (V. villosa treatment) in the winter-spring season on soil physicochemical properties, especially on active organic carbon and yield of subsequent maize crops compared to fallow, to provide a reference for the application of cover crops in improving saline-alkali land productivity in the Yellow River Delta. The field experiments were conducted from September 2020 to October 2021. For the V. villosa treatment, V. villosa was sown in September 2020 and returned to the soil as green manure during its blooming period in May 2021, and maize was sown in July 2021. For the fallow treatment, the experimental area remained fallow before maize sowing, and maize was sown on the same day under the same cultivation management as for the V. villosa treatment. The results showed that during the growing period of V. villosa, the soil electrical conductivity (EC) decreased, and the readily oxidizable organic carbon content (ROC) increased. When V. villosa was returned to the soil, soil pH decreased, and soil nutrients and active organic carbon contents improved significantly compared with fallow. During the entire experimental period, the average pH of the V. villosa treatment decreased by 0.12, and the average contents of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), organic carbon (SOC), ROC, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and ROC/SOC of the V. villosa treatment increased by 15.1%, 5.5%, 6.3%, 99.1%, 8.2%, and 89.9%, respectively, compared with those of fallow treatment. However, the average EC values for the two treatments were approximately equal. Compared to the fallow treatment, the V. villosa treatment significantly increased the subsequent maize straw biomass, grain yield, and total aboveground biomass by 25.3%, 15.9%, and 21.4%, respectively, indicating a better yield improvement effect. Principal component analysis showed that maize yield was positively correlated with soil TN, SOC, DOC, and ROC, but negatively correlated with pH and EC. EC and soil organic carbon components were strongly correlated before the return of V. villosa. However, TN had the greatest influence on soil organic carbon components in each maize growing period after V. villosa return, followed by pH. The content of each organic carbon component increased with increasing TN content and decreasing pH. This study indicates that planting and returning V. villosa in the winter and spring seasons could increase soil active organic carbon content by increasing soil TN and decreasing pH, which comprehensively enhanced maize yield. Overall, in the Yellow River Delta, the introduction of V. villosa as a cover crop has prominent advantages in soil amelioration and yield improvement of subsequent crops when compared to fallow in the winter-spring season, which could be considered as the optimal planting pattern for the comprehensive utilization of saline-alkali land.
Regulation of fulvic acid on tomato yield and quality under saline water irrigation
CHEN Pei, WANG Jintao, DONG Xinliang, TIAN Liu, ZHANG Xuejia, LIU Xiaojing, SUN Hongyong
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220178
Abstract(161) HTML(66) PDF(23)
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In view of the problem that the lack of freshwater resources restricts crop growth in saline-alkali areas around Bohai Sea, the regulation effect of fulvic acid on the yield and quality of tomato under saline water irrigation was studied according to the regional salt water resource endowment. In this study, the integrated water and fertilizer test method for substrate cultivation was adopted, and three fulvic acid concentrations were set: 0 mg·L−1, 450 mg·L−1, and 900 mg·L−1; five saltwater concentrations : 1 g·L−1, 3 g·L−1, 5 g·L−1, 7 g·L−1, 9 g·L−1, a total of 15 treatments. The results showed that compared with no fulvic acid addition, fulvic acid addition had obvious yield-increasing effects on tomatoes under different saline water concentrations. The yields of 450 and 900 mg·L−1 fulvic acid were increased by 6.14%−21.08% and 12.83%−34.63%, respectively. With the increase of salt water concentration, tomato fruit weight, fruit number per plant, water consumption, yield water use efficiency, vitamin C and lycopene content per fruit dry matter decreased significantly, and fruit reducing sugar increased first and then decreased. Under saline water irrigation, the application of 450 and 900 mg·L−1 fulvic acid could increase tomato single fruit weight, fruit number per plant, water consumption, yield water use efficiency, Vitamin C, lycopene and reducing sugar content per fruit dry matter. With the increase of fulvic acid concentration, proline content and K+/Na+ in tomato leaves increased significantly, while MDA and Na+ decreased significantly. The yield and water consumption per plant were positively correlated with K+/Na+, and negatively correlated with proline, malondialdehyde and Na+; Vitamin C and lycopene in tomato fruit were significantly positively correlated with K+/Na+, and negatively correlated with malondialdehyde and Na+; There was a significant negative correlation between reducing sugar and malondialdehyde and Na+. The above results showed that fulvic acid could alleviate the inhibition of salt water irrigation on tomato yield, and also promote the yield water use efficiency, Vitamin C, lycopene and reducing sugar content of dry matter per unit fruit. It could alleviate salt stress mainly by promoting the accumulation of organic osmotic adjustment substance proline, increasing K+/Na+ and reducing the production of membrane lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde.
Effects of biochar and conditioner on pioneer crops planted in coastal barren severe saline-alkali soil
YANG Lilin, TANG Shuda, ZHU Xiangmei, HOU Jianwei
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220799
Abstract(24) HTML(10) PDF(4)
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Mechanisms that assist in reclaiming the coastal barren severe salt-affected soils in arid and semi-arid regions when treated with soil amendments have not been well characterized. Aiming at biological improvement, development, and utilization of barren severe saline-alkali soils, a field experiment was conducted to apply biochar and soil conditioner for pioneer crops planted in the coastal barren severe saline-alkali area of the North China Low Plain. Six treatments included single or combined application of two-level biochar rates (0 and 1.25 kg∙m2) and three-level soil conditioner rates (0, 0.83, and 1.66 kg∙m2) at the start of the experiment. Biochar significantly inhibited younger plant growth at the early stage of oil sunflower but had no marked impact on grown-up plants during the later stage, and grain quantity and yield. Meanwhile, biochar increased N and P contents in stems, leaves, and shells, the K content in stems, shells, and kernels of oil sunflowers, and promoted the transfer of K and Ca from leaves to kernels. However, biochar impeded Mg uptake and decreased the Mg content of stems and sunflower discs but had no significant effect on Na uptake by oil sunflowers. Soil conditioner significantly increased the growth of stems, leaves, and discs, and improved the grain yield. In addition, it promoted P transfer to the kernel. At an application rate of 1.66 kg∙m2, the soil conditioner promoted the transfer of N to the kernel preferentially and significantly improved the Ca content of stems, leaves, and discs, while increasing the Mg content of stems. Co-application of biochar and soil conditioner weakened the negative impact of biochar on plant growth, increasing uptake of N, P, K, and Ca, and facilitating transferring N, P, and K to the kernel, whereas reducing Na and Mg uptake for oil sunflower. Oil sunflowers, other than cotton, as a pioneer crop, are more suitable for planting in coastal barren, severely saline-alkali areas. The results from this preliminary study show that the co-application of biochar and soil conditioner provides an alternative method of waste recovery, converting straw resources into a value-added product, development, and bio-reclamation for coastal barren severely salt-affected soils, and the option of salt-tolerant pioneer crops that are adaptive to coastal areas.
Effect of underground brackish water depth on soil water-salt distribution and water consumption of winter wheat
ZHANG Xuejia, WANG Jintao, DONG Xinliang, TIAN Liu, LOU Boyuan, LIU Xiaojing, SUN Hongyong
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220882
Abstract(17) HTML(9) PDF(3)
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Production of winter wheat in the low plains around the Bohai Sea faces the constraint of freshwater resource shortage, and the efficient and safe use of the relatively abundant shallow brackish water resources is of great importance for sustainable agricultural development. Soil column simulation experiments were conducted at the Nanpi Ecological Agricultural Experiment Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2021–2022. Four treatments, including no groundwater but freshwater (487.5 mm) irrigation treatment (CK) and underground brackish water depths of 0.5 m (GW1), 1.0 m (GW2), and 1.5 m (GW3) with 20 mm freshwater irrigation were applied, with three replications for each treatment. This experiment investigated the characteristics of soil water, salinity content, and water use in winter wheat. The results showed that the distribution of soil water and salt in the surface soil (0–10 cm) gradually decreased with increasing groundwater depth. Compared with the CK treatment, the surface soil water content of the GW1 treatment significantly increased by 30.9% and that of the GW3 treatment significantly decreased by 79.3%, whereas there was no significant difference for the GW2 treatment. Compared with the CK treatment, the salinity of surface soil in the GW1 and GW2 treatments significantly increased by 3.4 g·kg−1 and 2.0 g·kg−1, respectively, whereas there was no significant difference in the GW3 treatment. Salt in the GW1 and GW2 treatments mainly accumulated in the surface soil, whereas that in the GW3 treatment was low and mainly accumulated at a depth of 30–50 cm. The evapotranspiration of winter wheat significantly decreased with increasing groundwater depth. The evapotranspiration of winter wheat significantly increased by 50.2% and 20.3% under the GW1 and GW2 treatments, respectively, compared to CK, and there was no significant difference between the GW3 and CK treatments. The grain yield of the GW3 treatment was the highest, which was significantly increased by 38.04% compared with that of the CK treatment. The highest values for water use efficiency at the biomass and yield levels in the GW3 treatment were significantly higher than those in the CK treatment by 26.7% and 40.1%, respectively. The above results show that 1.5 m is the upper limit of the suitable groundwater depth for winter wheat growth in underground brackish water shallow burial areas when the mass concentration of brackish water is 3 g·L−1 and groundwater depth is 0.5–1.5 m. Under these conditions, the surface salinity and crop evapotranspiration were the lowest, and the yield and water use efficiency were the best.
Effects of subsurface organic ameliorant combined with film mulching on saline soil organic and inorganic carbon in Hetao Irrigation District
SONG Jiashen, ZHANG Hongyuan, CHANG Fangdi, YU Ru, ZHANG Xia, WANG Weini, SU Wei, LI Yuyi
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220749
Abstract(22) HTML(3) PDF(2)
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Soil organic carbon (SOC) and inorganic carbon (SIC) are important carbon pools involved in the global carbon cycle. Subsurface (10−30 cm) organic ameliorant (OM) combined with film mulching (PM) is an effective measure to optimize the physical structure and regulate water and salt movement of saline soil in arid areas. However, the distribution of SOC and SIC in the 0–60 cm soil layer and their relationship with soil physicochemical properties remain unclear. This study was based on a 6-year micro-field experiment of saline soil at the Yichang Experiment Station, which is located in the Hetao irrigation area of Inner Mongolia. Four treatments were set: conventional control (CK), OM, PM, and OM+PM. The levels of SOC, SIC, total carbon (TC), and soil physicochemical property indexes (soil moisture, salinity, pH, and total nitrogen) in the 0−60 cm (0−20 cm, 20−40 cm, and 40−60 cm) soil layer after the harvest of Helianthus annuus during 2019–2020 were measured, and the variation characteristics and influencing factors of TC, SOC, and SIC were analyzed. The results showed that the TC content in the 0−60 cm soil layer and SOC in the 0−40 cm soil layer were mainly affected by OM treatment compared with PM treatment (P<0.01). The SIC content in the 0−40 cm soil layer was affected by OM treatment (P<0.001), PM treatment (P<0.05, except for the 20−40 cm soil layer in 2019), and their interaction (P<0.001); however, the 40−60 cm soil layer was mainly affected by OM treatment (P<0.05). Compared to CK and PM treatments, OM and OM+PM treatments significantly increased SOC content in the 0−40 cm (0−20 cm and 20−40 cm) soil layer by 31.9%−195.6% (P<0.05), and significantly increased SOC content in the 40−60 cm soil layer by 33.7%−49.4% (P<0.05) only in 2020, but significantly decreased SIC content in the 0−40 cm (0−20 cm and 20−40 cm) by 9.9%−35.0% (P<0.05). Based on the changes in SOC and SIC, compared with CK treatment, OM+PM treatment significantly increased TC content in the 20−60 cm (20−40 cm and 40−60 cm) soil layer in 2019 by 10.4%−39.4% (P<0.05), and the TC content of the 0−20 cm layer in 2020 was significantly increased by 13.0% (P<0.05). The regression analysis results further indicated that the dominant factor of the total carbon pool changed from SIC to SOC with the OM+PM treatment. The results of redundancy analysis showed that soil physicochemical properties were the main factors affecting soil TC, SOC, and SIC (explaining 60.7%−91.9% of the variation), and total nitrogen and pH were the main factors affecting soil TC, SOC, and SIC in the 0−40 cm layer, whereas soil TC, SOC, and SIC in the 40−60 cm layer were mainly affected by salinity and pH. Correlation analysis showed that changes in SOC and SIC were completely opposite. Soil organic carbon was positively correlated with total nitrogen and negatively correlated with salinity and pH (P<0.01). Soil inorganic carbon was negatively correlated with total nitrogen and positively correlated with pH (P<0.01). Therefore, OM combined with PM (OM+PM) could compensate for the loss of SIC and realize carbon accumulation by increasing SOC, which is an effective strategy to increase the carbon sequestration potential of saline soil in this region.
Growth characteristics and soil respiration rates with different coverages of Suaeda salsa at coastal beaches
LI Yongtao, WANG Zhenmeng, WEI Haixia, ZHOU Jian, WANG Lili, ZHANG Jun, LYU Xingjun, YANG Qingshan, WANG Yuanbo
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220727
Abstract(45) HTML(17) PDF(2)
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Coastal beaches are one of the most important components of coastal wetlands. Studies on vegetation growth characteristics and soil respiration in coastal beaches are essential for evaluation of the ecological and environmental functions of coastal wetlands. In the present study, differences in vegetation growth, root distribution, and soil respiration rate of Suaeda salsa with four coverage types (bare flat and low-coverage, medium-coverage, and high-coverage) were determined to explore the impact of vegetation coverage on the growth characteristics of S. salsa and soil respiration rates at the coastal beach of the Yellow River Delta. Significant differences were observed in the soil physicochemical properties and vegetation growth of S. salsa on coastal beaches with different coverages. Soil salt content and bulk density were lower in various coverage areas than those in bare flats, whereas soil porosity and nutrients contents were greater than those in bare flats. The growth indices of S. salsa, such as biomass, plant height, and branch number, were positively correlated with vegetation coverage (P<0.05), indicating better growth in soils with higher vegetation coverage. The underground S. salsa biomass in saline land was mainly distributed in the 0–20 cm soil layer, showing a shallow distribution pattern. Roots with a 2–5 cm diameter were dominant components, accounting for 72.53%, 59.72%, and 39.30% of the underground biomass in the low-, medium-, and high-coverage areas, respectively. The root length, surface area, tip number, branch number, and cross number of fine roots increased with coverage, and the differences in these indices between the different coverage areas were significant (P<0.05). Soil respiration rates were low, at 0.26–1.01 μmol∙m2∙s1, owing to the low soil organic carbon content and microbial activity in the study area. Soil respiration rates were significantly affected by vegetation coverage and showed an increasing order of value with coverage (high-coverage area > medium-coverage area > low-coverage area > bare area). Soil respiration rate was measured as an evident daily change as a low-high-low single peak curve, with the maximum value appearing at 12:00 in the low-coverage and bare areas and at 14:00 in the high- and medium-coverage areas. S. salsa growth indicators were significantly negatively correlated with soil salt content, demonstrating that soil salt was the main limiting factor for vegetation growth in coastal wetlands. However, the soil salt content was affected by vegetation coverage. Soil respiration rate was highly and positively correlated with plant growth indicators. We concluded that soil physicochemical properties, vegetation growth of S. salsa, and soil respiration rate were significantly affected by vegetation coverage on the coastal beach of the Yellow River Delta. High vegetation coverage improves soil properties and vegetation growth, further promoting ecological restoration in coastal wetland areas. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the vegetation and ecological restoration of coastal beaches in the Yellow River Delta. However, long-term field observations are recommended to determine the permanent effects of vegetation coverage on vegetation growth characteristics and soil respiration on coastal beaches.
Effects of saline water irrigation on soil quality and crop production: a review
SUN Hongyong, ZHANG Xuejia, TIAN Liu, LOU Boyuan, LIU Tong, WANG Jintao, DONG Xinliang, GUO Kai, LIU Xiaojing
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220899
Abstract(34) HTML(23) PDF(9)
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Fresh water is a basic natural and important strategic resource. Most salt-affected soils are distributed in arid and semi-arid areas, and a shortage of freshwater resources is the most important limiting factor for sustainable agricultural development. However, the relatively rich saline water, land, solar, and thermal resources in saline-alkali areas provide sustainable regional agriculture development potential. To address challenges of soil quality decline and crop yield reduction induced by saline water irrigation, this study summarizes the factors affecting the safe utilization of saline water and the impact mechanism of saline water irrigation on soil hydraulic characteristics, soil physicochemical properties, crop growth, grain yield, and quality. First, freshwater, brackish water, and saline water classifications were as previously described. Factors affecting the safe utilization of saline water include saline water quality, irrigation amount, irrigation methods, and the groundwater table. Second, saline water irrigation has negative effects on soil quality, which increases the salinity of the surface soil, destroys the soil structure, and further affects the soil hydraulic characteristics, water infiltration, and salt distribution, affecting greenhouse gas emissions. Third, crops grow slowly and die because of the lower photosynthetic rate after saline water irrigation. However, most of the treatments irrigated using saline water improved the grain yield compared with the rainfed treatment and improved the grain quality under optimal salinity water. Furthermore, based on field experiments, most crops have optimal saline water thresholds. Finally, we analyzed the regulatory effects of agricultural practices such as organic fertilizer application, straw mulching, tillage, saline water irrigation schedules, cropping systems, and salt-tolerant crop planting. In the future, to ensure food and water security, it is necessary to conduct the mechanism process and technology research, and develop model to demonstrate the effects of saline water deficit irrigation and water-fertilizer-salt comprehensive regulation on the change in soil quality after saline water irrigation, and the effects of saline water precision irrigation on crop production and the ecosystem, which will provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the sustainable development of agriculture in water-deficient and saline areas.
Progress of research on the improvement of saline-sodic soil using acidic substances
MIAO Yue, YANG Fan, WANG Zhichun, SHAO Xiwen, GENG Yanqiu
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220675
Abstract(80) HTML(31) PDF(8)
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As a reserve land resource in China, saline-sodic soil has great utilization potential; if properly developed and utilized, it will produce great benefits. Chemical methods are important for improving saline-sodic soils. In the early days, calcium-containing preparations, such as gypsum and phosphogypsum, were used to replace the exchangeable sodium adsorbed on soil colloids by adding exogenous calcium. However, saline-sodic soils are rich in calcium carbonate. Acid substances, as one of the chemical amendments, can be hydrolyzed to produce hydrogen ions. This reduces the pH of saline soil, which is conducive to dissolving calcium carbonate in soil and providing calcium sources for replacing exchangeable sodium in soil; thus reducing the addition of exogenous calcium materials and reducing the improvement cost. Based on a comprehensive analysis of domestic and foreign studies on the physical properties, saline properties, nutrient utilization, and crop yield of saline-sodic soil, this paper summarized the improvement mechanism and practice of the application of acid substances to saline-sodic soil, and forecasted its future development trend to provide a reference for saline-sodic soil management and agricultural utilization.
Effects of different salt and alkali stress on absorption, transportation, and metabolism of nutrient elements in cotton
LU Xiaoyu, GUO Jiaxin, TAO Yifan, YE Yang, GUI Chenghao, GUO Huijuan, MIN Wei
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220581
Abstract(74) HTML(57) PDF(9)
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There are many types of saline-alkali land in Xinjiang, and salt accumulation is a serious problem. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the effects of different saline-alkali stresses on the absorption, transportation, and metabolism of cotton nutrients and to reveal the tolerance mechanism of cotton to different salt and alkali stresses to provide a theoretical basis for cotton cultivation on different types of saline-alkali land in Xinjiang. Four treatments were used in this study: control (CK), NaCl stress (CS), Na­2SO4 stress (SS), and alkali (NaHCO3+Na2CO3) stress (AS). The effects of different salt and alkali stresses on the content and metabolism of nutrient elements in cotton roots and leaves were explored using ionomics and metabonomics. Compared with CK, the total biomass of CS, SS, and AS treatments decreased significantly (P<0.05) by 51.7%, 47.8%, and 52.3%, respectively. Compared with CK, CS treatment significantly (P<0.05) increased the content of N in leaves and the content of P in roots; significantly (P<0.05) decreased the contents of P, K, Ca, Mg, and S in leaves; the contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S in stems; the content of N, Ca, and Mg in roots. Under AS treatment, the contents of P, K, Ca, Mg and S in leaves; the contents of N, P, Ca, Mg and S in stems; and the contents of N, P and S in roots significantly (P<0.05) decreased, while Mg content in roots significantly (P<0.05) increased over the CK treatment. Seven differential metabolic pathways were screened from cotton leaves and roots under the CS treatment; 16 and 29 differential metabolic pathways were screened from cotton leaves and roots under the SS treatment; and eight and 18 differential metabolic pathways were screened from cotton leaves and roots under the AS treatment. NaCl stress inhibited the transport of P, Ca, Mg, S, and N uptake in cotton but promoted the transport of N and K; NaCl stress had relatively little effect on metabolism, only the accumulation of amino acids and organic acids. Na2SO4 stress did not significantly inhibit the absorption and transport of N and K but promoted the absorption of Mg and S. However, it inhibited the absorption and transport of Ca and Mg in cotton. Na2SO4 stress had a significant impact on metabolism. The significant accumulation of S incotton promotes the metabolism of amino acids, and the enhancement of amino acid metabolism also indirectly promotes the intensity of other metabolic pathways, making cotton more tolerant to Na2SO4. Alkali (NaHCO3+Na2CO3) stress inhibited N and S uptake and P, K, Ca, Mg, and S transport but increased Mg uptake, which significantly changed the metabolism of organic acids in cotton, enhanced the metabolism of organic acids in roots, significantly accumulated organic acids, and significantly accumulated linoleic acid in leaves.
Time variation characteristics of agricultural green development indexes in Lishu County,Jilin Province
HOU Xiangcheng, LI Han, WANG Yin, FENG Guozhong, LIU Yajun, LI Xiaoyu, GAO Qiang
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220189
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As an advanced agricultural production county in China, Lishu County in Jilin Province has always been at the forefront of green agricultural development; this study took it as a typical case. Through the established indicators system of Chinese agricultural green development, combined with the nutrient flows in food chain, environment and resources use (NUFER) model, it analyzed the characteristics and change rules of agricultural green development indicators in terms of social economy, food production, and ecological environment, from 1994 to 2019, in Lishu County. The driving and restricting factors of county agricultural green development in Jilin Province were further explored. The results showed that the overall level of agricultural green development in Lishu County has improved steadily from 1994 to 2019, with the number proportion of indicators of grade I and grade II decreasing from 47% to 23%, and the number proportion of indicators of grade III and grade IV increasing from 22% to 47%. In terms of social economy, the per capita comprehensive agricultural input and the per capita disposable income of rural residents have increased annually, and the per capita protein intake and the proportion of animal protein production have also improved, both reaching a grade IV level. Although the power of agricultural mechanization has shown an increasing trend, it is still at level I and needs to be improved. In terms of food production, the energy consumption per unit agricultural output value and the fertilizer phosphorus absorption utilization in farmland have been at level IV for many years; however, the comprehensive nitrogen use efficiency of livestock and poultry nitrogen has always been at a low level. The input of pesticides and fertilizer nitrogen reached level III in 2019; however, it did not increase continuously during the process, which was greatly affected by the years. In terms of the ecological environment, nitrogen emissions, nitrogen surplus, and environmental losses per unit cultivated land area due to nitrogen inputs all showed an improving trend from 1994 to 2019. However, the comprehensive utilization rate of livestock manure and the livestock and poultry carrying capacity per unit area was still at grade I, which meant that the development of the livestock industry still faces great challenges in Lishu County. Above all, the underutilization of resources, the environmental pollution, and ecological damage was caused by a single plantation structure, low yield of high-quality agricultural products, high input of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, and unstable numbers of livestock. It is therefore urgent to develop and utilize black land resources reasonably, to vigorously promote testing soil for formulated fertilization, improve conservational tillage and other excellent agricultural technologies, solve the contradiction between supply and demand of high-quality agricultural products, reduce damage to the ecological environment, and comprehensively promote the green development of agriculture in Jilin Province.
Effects of salt stress on physiological characteristics and yield of different salt-tolerant wheat varieties
TAO Rongrong, LU Yu, YU Qi, MA Quan, DING Yonggang, QIAN Jin, DING Jinfeng, LI Chunyan, ZHU Xinkai, GUO Wenshan, ZHU Min
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220164
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Soil salinity is a global issue that affects wheat production, and it is of great interest to improve the production efficiency of wheat in saline fields. A comprehensive understanding of salt-tolerance mechanisms and the selection of reliable screening indices are crucial for breeding salt-tolerant wheat cultivars. Previous studies have reported the performance of wheat under salt stress and controlled experimental conditions, such as potted plants, seawater (saltwater) irrigation, hydroponics, and salt ponds, but could not simulate the actual production environment in the field and reflect the law of crop growth in a natural state. How salinity stress affects wheat yield, and the physiological indicators that contribute to yield formation under saline field conditions are not yet to be established. Five spring wheat varieties with significant differences in salt tolerance (salt-tolerant varieties: ‘NM21’ ‘YM20’ ‘YFM4’; salt-sensitive varieties: ‘YM23’ ‘AN1124’) screened in a previous experiment were grown at two sites with significantly different soil salinity, namely: non-saline (control, soil salinity before sowing was 0.770±0.062 g∙kg−1) and saline (soil salinity before sowing was 3.294±0.198 g∙kg−1) fields, in Dafeng, Jiangsu, China. The yield and its components, post-anthesis chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence Fv/Fm, malondialdehyde content, and proline content were measured. The results showed that the leaf area index, dry matter accumulation, and tillers number decreased significantly in saline field. Moreover, compared with the control, wheat yield in saline field decreased significantly and was only 26.2% of the control. The number of spikes, kernels per spike, and 1000-grain weight also decreased significantly. The number of spikes, which decreased by 60.7%, was the main constraint on yield production, followed by the 1000-grain weight, which also decreased. Salt stress also caused a significant decrease in chlorophyll relative content (SPAD value) and chlorophyll fluorescence Fv/Fm but significantly increased the malondialdehyde and proline contents; the range of change differed among varieties. Salt-tolerant varieties had a lower decrease in chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence Fv/Fm and a lower increase in malondialdehyde content but a higher increase in proline content, therefore, there was a lower decrease in yield. Correlation analysis was carried out for the physiological characteristics at the flowering stage, yield, and its constituent factors in wheat with different salt tolerances. The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between chlorophyll fluorescence Fv/Fm and the number of spikes, 1000-grain weight, and yield, and SPAD value was positively correlated with dry matter accumulation. A significant positive correlation was observed between dry matter accumulation and the number of spikes, 1000-grain weight, and yield, indicating that salt stress inhibits photosynthesis in wheat by reducing chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence Fv/Fm, reducing the production of photosynthetic products, consequently resulting in a final yield reduction. Hence, in field identification, SPAD value and chlorophyll fluorescence Fv/Fm at the flowering stage can be used as fast and reliable indices for salt tolerance in wheat. Furthermore, ‘YM20’ had the lowest yield reduction rate and better overall performance, making it suitable for planting in Dafeng saline land.
Activation of phosphorus pools in red soil by maize and soybean intercropping and its response to phosphorus fertilizer
SU Lizhen, ZHAO Hongmin, HOU Xianfeng, CHEN Yuan, XIAO Jingxiu, ZHENG Yi, TANG Li
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220345
Abstract(75) HTML(35) PDF(13)
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Phosphorus limits the growth of crops and is easily fixated to red soil; however, reasonable intercropping can promote phosphorus absorption and reduce phosphorus fixation. Studying the effects of maize and soybean intercropping on phosphorus transformation and mobilization in red soil in the southwestern drylands under different phosphorus application levels is of great significance. Based on four consecutive years of field positioning experiments, two planting modes — maize and soybean intercropping and maize monocropping — were set; four phosphorus application levels — no phosphate fertilizer (P0), 60 kg∙hm2 of P2O5 (P60), 90 kg∙hm2 of P2O5 (P90), and 120 kg∙hm2 of P2O5 (P120) — were also implemented. The effects of maize and soybean intercropping on phosphorus fractions in maize rhizosphere soil and the response of soil phosphorus to the phosphorus gradient were studied using modified Hedley phosphorus classification method. The contribution of different phosphorus fractions to the soil phosphorus activation coefficient (PAC) was investigated using a random forest model. Maize and soybean intercropping increased the available phosphorus content and phosphorus availability in red soil under phosphorus fertilization. Compared with maize monocropping, at P0 level, the available phosphorus content of the intercropping maize rhizosphere soil increased significantly by 70.4% (P<0.01). Maize and soybean intercropping greatly promoted the mobilization of phosphorus in red soil and conversion to the active phosphorus pool. At P0 and P90 levels, the soil PAC of intercropping was significantly increased by 87.4% (P<0.05) and 34.6% (P<0.01), respectively, compared with that of monocropping. Intercropping also increased the proportion of active phosphorus pool to total phosphorus by 15.1% averagely. Among them, the Resin-P content in the inorganic active phosphorus component at the P120 level was significantly increased by 53.7% (P<0.05), compared with in monocropping. Furthermore, the NaHCO3-Po (organic P extracted by sodium bicarbonate) content in the organic active phosphorus pool was significantly increased by 117.0% and 25.6%, at the P0 and P120 levels, respectively (P<0.05). Intercropping reduced the proportion of stable phosphorus pool in red soil by 1.1% of the total phosphorus. At P90 level, the content of Conc.HCl-Pi (inorganic P extracted from concentrated hydrochloric acid) in the stable phosphorus pool was significantly decreased by 40.2% (P<0.01) compared with maize monocropping. The random forest model showed that soil inorganic phosphorus was the main determinant of PAC, and the mean square error of PAC increased by 14.7% when the predicted value of water-soluble inorganic phosphorus (Resin-Pi) was removed. Maize and soybean intercropping significantly increased the available phosphorus content and PAC in maize rhizosphere soil, increased the proportion of active phosphorus pool and moderately stable phosphorus pool, and decreased the proportion of stable phosphorus pool in maize rhizosphere soil. The mobilization effect of maize and soybean intercropping on the phosphorus pool was significant at low and medium phosphorus levels, but not at high phosphorus level, while soil inorganic phosphorus components had a greater effect on PAC. The results showed that maize and soybean intercropping promoted the mobilization of phosphorus and the conversion of phosphorus to the active phosphorus pool in red soil, especially under conditions of medium and low phosphorus application. However, the effect of the intercropping of maize and soybean on the mobilization of phosphorus in red soil was not obvious under the condition of high phosphorus application.
Differences in soil microbial community and function between healthy and clubroot diseased plants of Chinese cabbage
ZHANG Zhihao, DENG Yishu, NIE Qiang, XIE Guoling, WU Liutong, DI Xueyan, SHI Hao, FU Kejian, ZHANG Jilai, LIN Chun, ZHANG Naiming, SU Youbo
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220498
Abstract(79) HTML(60) PDF(11)
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Clubroot disease severely restricts the development of the cruciferous vegetables industry. Changes in soil microbial diversity and composition are not only closely related to cruciferous crop clubroot disease but are also crucial to soil health, sustainable development of agricultural production systems, and human health. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the differences in microbial community structure between clubroot and bulk soil. Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology was used to sequence bacterial 16S rDNA and fungal ITS genes in the bulk soil of healthy (H) and clubroot infected (D) Chinese cabbage. The results were compared with relevant databases after quality control. The physical and chemical properties of the bulk soil were determined, and the differences in the microbial community structure and composition between samples were analyzed. The relationship between soil physical and chemical properties, soil microbial community, and clubroot disease was discussed, and the function of bacteria and fungi in the samples was predicted. The results showed that: 1) the evenness and diversity of the bacterial community in the bulk soil of healthy Chinese cabbage plants were higher than those in the bulk soil of healthy Chinese cabbage plants. The richness, evenness, and diversity of fungal communities in the bulk soil of Chinese cabbage plants with clubroot disease was higher than those in the bulk soil of healthy Chinese cabbage plants, indicating that clubroot disease greatly influenced the composition of the soil fungal community. 2) Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, and Gemmatimonadetes were the dominant phyla of bacteria in soil samples. Bacillus, Gaiella, Defluviicoccus, Clostridium, and Nocardioides were the dominant genera of bacteria in the soil samples. The dominant fungal phyla in the bulk soil were Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota, and Olpidiomycota. The main fungal genera identified were Gibberella, Mortierella, Thielavia, and Basipetospora. 3) Metabolism, environmental information processing, cellular processes, and organic systems are four types of bacterial functions with significant differences in bulk soil bacterial communities between healthy and diseased plants;the functional abundances of Gibberella, Thielavia, Kernia, and Fusarium in bulk soil fungal communities of diseased plants were higher than those of healthy plants. 4) Principal coordinate analysis showed that the bacterial and fungal community structures in the bulk soil of healthy and diseased plants were significantly different. Redundant analysis showed that pH, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, available potassium, and cation exchange capacity were the main factors influencing microbial community changes in bulk soil. This study provides a new basis for the study of rhizosphere microbial flora of cruciferous crops and provides the possibility for the study of the method of controlling clubroot by beneficial synthetic bacteria-mediated pathogenic bacteria, as well as a way to alleviate soil degradation and rebuild healthy soil.
Effects of earthworm mucus and straw charcoal on heavy metals during domestic sludge co-composting
HUAN Huihui, CHU Zhaoxia, WANG Xingming, FAN Tingyu, DONG Zhongbing, ZHEN Quan, ZHANG Jiamei, DAI Bibo
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220253
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Heavy metals restrict the reuse of municipal sludge. To passivate the activity of heavy metals, reduce sludge toxicity, and create new value, 2 kg of sludge was composted with 40 mL earthworm mucus and 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% straw charcoal, to investigate changes in the heavy metal mobility in sewage sludge. The results showed that, compared with the control sludge compost (CK), the pH increased by 1.42% (P<0.05) and the total nitrogen and total phosphorus decreased by 7.87% and 14.18%, respectively (P<0.05), after the addition of the mucus to the sludge. After adding both the mucus and straw charcoal to the sludge compost, the sludge gradually became alkaline; furthermore, its electrical conductivity value increased by 5.71%−9.58% (P<0.05), and organic matter content increased by 7.71%−24.60% (P<0.05). Although this enriched the content of soluble ions and available organic matter in the compost, the total nitrogen and potassium contents decreased by 19.10%–30.95% and 7.87%–14.31%, respectively, resulting in the loss of plant nutrients. By adding mucus to the sludge compost, different total heavy metal contents showed different declining trends; these included Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Pb, which decreased by 3.59%, 7.03%, 10.93%, 8.39%, and 5.11% (P<0.05, except Ni), compared to the CK treatment group. The more active forms of Ni, Zn, and Pb were transformed into an unavailable residue form that was difficult to degrade; therefore, the proportion of residual forms increased by 61.81%, 120.19%, and 72.51%, respectively, compared with the CK treatment. When the mucus and different proportions of straw charcoal were added to the sludge, the total heavy metal contents decreased further. The total amount of Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni, and Zn decreased by 37.18%, 67.36%, 6.07%, 59.59%, and 31.82%, respectively, in the mucus plus 8% straw charcoal treatment group (P<0.05). The Ni and Pb associated with the carbonate, Pb associated with iron-manganese, and exchangeable Zn were gradually shifted to the residue form, so that the available contents of Ni, Pb, and Zn were significantly decreased by 28.08%, 42.00%, and 28.31%, respectively, in the mucus plus 8% straw charcoal treatment group, which passivated Ni, Zn, and Pb in the composted sludge. In contrast, organic form of Cu was converted into exchangeable and residual forms. Its available content was increased by 89.82 % (P<0.05) in the mucus plus 8% straw charcoal treatment group, and Cu was activated in the sludge during composting. In the analysis of the effect of mucus and different ratios of straw charcoal on the availability of heavy metals after composting, it was found that the correlation coefficients of straw charcoal addition with the available forms of heavy metals Cu, Zn, Pb, and Ni reached significant levels of 0.906, −0.909, −0.847, and −0.639 (P<0.05), respectively, while the correlation coefficients with Cd were lower. Finally, based on the principal component analysis and stepwise regression equations, mucus in combination with straw charcoal influenced the pH of the sludge compost, affecting the mobility of Ni, Zn, Pb, and Cu. Therefore, mucus plus 8% straw charcoal is an effective approach for treating the heavy metals in the sludge.
Effects of optimized fertilization on yield, nutrient balance, and eco-environmental benefits in wheat-maize rotation system
YANG Huimin, YANG Yunma, HUANG Shaohui, YANG Wenfang, XING Suli, YANG Junfang, JIA Liangliang
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220606
Abstract(157) HTML(56) PDF(35)
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The wheat-maize rotation system in the North China Plain is the main planting pattern that plays a key role in ensuring food security in China. An 8-year positioning experiment with a randomized block design was performed, comprising three treatments: no-fertilizer application control (CK), optimized fertilizer (OPT), and farmers’ practices (FP). The experiments analyzed the effects of OPT and FP on the yield, nutrient balance, greenhouse gas emissions, and economic benefits of the wheat-maize rotation system. The results showed that the yields of OPT increased by 4.3%, 5.3%, and 4.8% compared to FP in wheat, maize, and year-round rotation, respectively. Accordingly, the partial factor productivity of N increased by 39.1%, 31.7%, and 35.9%, respectively. The partial factor productivity of P increased by 39.1%, 40.4%, and 39.8%, respectively. The partial factor productivity of K was reduced by 47.8%, 47.3%, and 47.6%, respectively. The greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by 21.7%, 21.1%, and 21.4%, respectively. The greenhouse gas emission intensity was reduced by 27.0%, 27.5%, and 27.3%. Net profits increased by 11.2%, 11.4%, and 11.3%, respectively. Agronomy costs were reduced by 3.7%, 2.1%, and 3.1%, respectively. The environmental costs were reduced by 28.4%, 17.3%, and 22.1%, respectively. Compared with the FP treatment, the year-round OPT treatment reduced the surplus of nitrogen by decrement of 105 kg·hm−2, i.e., 46.3%. The surplus phosphorus was reduced by 48 kg·hm−2 i.e., 53.3%. The surplus of K of OPT and FP was 59 kg·hm−2 and −1 kg·hm−2, respectively. OPT met the requirements of crop growth better than FP. At the end of 8 years of wheat-maize rotation, the soil organic matter content in OPT treatment increased by 5.3% compared to that in FP. Compared to that of FP, available K increased and P reduced by 12.3% and 27.8%, respectively. In conclusion, compared with FP treatment, OPT treatment has the advantages of high yield, high profit, and environmental friendliness. Therefore, this study provides a scientific basis for the efficient and green product.
Spatiotemporal variation of dry-wet climate during wheat growing seasons from 1961 to 2020 in China
MA Xueqing, HE Huayun, ZHAO Jinyuan, FANG Tong, ZHANG Jianzhen, PAN Xuebiao, PAN Zhihua, WANG Jing, HU Qi
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220371
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As the intensity of climate change increases, global warming continues to affect the hydrological cycle and precipitation characteristics. Changes occur at various locations owing to interregional differences in the intensity and distribution of precipitation and evapotranspiration. To determine the dry-wet climate distribution during the wheat growing season in wheat planting regions of China and the changes that have occurred over the past 60 years, we analyzed the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of China’s dry-wet climate over the inter-annual and inter-decadal periods from 1961 to 2020 (P1: 1961–1990; P2: 1991–2020). To explore how dry-wet climate changes, a series of dry-wet indices, such as effective precipitation, crop water demand, and water surplus and deficiency (difference between effective precipitation and crop water demand) were used. A Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index was used in this study for drought risk assessment in cropping regions. In this study, 524 meteorological stations with 60-year data records of China’s wheat planting regions were selected and divided into ten wheat planting regions. These regions are as follows. Spring wheat: Northeast China Spring Wheat Region, NES; Northern Inner Mongolia Spring Wheat Region, NIMS; Northwest China Spring Wheat Region, NWS; Northern Xinjiang Spring Wheat Region, NXJS. Winter wheat: Northern China Winter Wheat Region, NW; North China Plain Winter Wheat Region, NCW; Middle-Lower Reach of Yangtze River Winter Wheat Region, MLYRW; Southwest China Winter Wheat Region, SWS; South China Winter Wheat Region, SCW; Xinjiang Winter Wheat Region, XJW. The results showed that precipitation exceeded the crop water requirements during the wheat growing season in the SCW, SWW, and MLYRW regions over the past 60 years. Other regions experienced water deficits during wheat the growing season, with XJW (443 mm) and NXJS (495 mm) exhibiting the highest water deficit values. Estimates of effective precipitation, crop water demand, water surplus and deficit for the national wheat growing season ranged from 2.0–1320.0, 156.0–832.0, and 828.0–1081.0 mm, respectively. Both values showed a clear zonal distribution from southeast to northwest. In this study, drought frequency was calculated as 35.2%–59.6% for the national wheat growing season; it was more than 50.0% in the spring wheat regions and MLYRW regions. The frequencies of mild, moderate, and severe droughts during the wheat growing seasons were 18.7%–46.0%, 0–21.5%, and 1.7%–11.6%, respectively. The analysis showed that during the wheat growing season, effective precipitation volatility increased from 1961 to 2020, and crop water demand decreased and then increased again. The NCW and NW regions exhibited a drying climate, while the other regions showed a wetting climate trend. Further analysis revealed interregional differences in the climatic mechanisms of the wet-dry crisis in wheat planting regions. In NES, NIMS, NXJS, and XJW regions, effective precipitation increased and crop water demand decreased. Meanwhile, in MLYRW, effective precipitation and crop water demand increased, but the increase in precipitation was higher than that in crop water demand. Interdecadal variability in effective precipitation indicated a modest rising tendency; crop water demand declined in the P1 period and grew in the P2 period, whereas water surplus and deficit increased in the P1 period and decreased in the P2 period, respectively. This study makes an essential contribution to the research on the proper response of agriculture to climate change by showing the temporal and spatial variations of the dry-wet climate in China’s wheat regions.
Estimation and spatio-temporal characteristics of winter wheat evapotranspiration in Henan Province based on NPP VIIRS data and SEBS model
LI Ying, CHEN Huailiang, LIANG Chen, SU Wei, HE Tian
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220422
Abstract(86) HTML(42) PDF(8)
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Crop evapotranspiration (ET), a key variable in water and heat exchange in agricultural fields, is of great significance for understanding the dynamics of soil moisture changes in agricultural fields, monitoring and predicting crop drought conditions, and guiding scientific irrigation. This study combined the Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) model to estimate ET of winter wheat in Henan Province during the critical growth period from 2016 to 2018 using the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiation Suite (VIIRS) data of the Sumi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite. Experimental accuracies were compared between VIIRS ET and the other three ET products (estimated by Penman-Monteith formula, P-M ET; estimated with MODIS data, MODIS ET; and macro-weighing lysimeter-measured ET, Real ET), and the spatial and temporal variation characteristics of ET in winter wheat area of Henan Province were analyzed. The results showed that comparing the VIIRS ET estimated by our proposed method with the P-M ET, the total average relative deviation was 10.1%, and VIIRS ET exhibited high consistency with P-M ET. The measured ET of the macro-weighing lysimeter was used to verify accuracy, and the root mean square error (RMSE) of the calculated VIIRS ET was 0.203 mm·d–1. The verification results showed that the NPP VIIRS data are suitable for ET inversion. The determination coefficients of linear regression analysis of VIIRS ET and MODIS ET were 0.804, 0.734, and 0.802 for the April 17th in 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. The three years RMSE of VIIRS ET based on MODIS ET were 0.222 mm·d–1, 0.158 mm·d–1, and 0.211 mm·d–1, respectively. This shows that there is good consistency between VIIRS ET and MODIS ET, and that VIIRS data can be used as an effective supplement and substitute. The ET spatial distribution was generally higher in the middle and southeast and gradually decreased to the northwest and southwest. The spatial variation characteristics of ET corresponded well with that of irrigation conditions. According to the time characteristics of farmland ET during the key growth period of winter wheat in the study area, the average daily ET in the regeneration stage was the lowest, and then it increased gradually, reached a maximum at the heading stage, and began to decrease at the filling stage. The temporal and spatial characteristics of winter wheat field ET in Henan Province were closely related to the local field management mode. The accurate estimation of winter wheat field ET can provide a scientific basis for the design of irrigation management systems. This is important for the management, distribution, and efficient utilization of agricultural water resources.
Inhibiting effect of biological fumigation of mustard against Phytophthora nicotianae
SUN Di, HE Yilin, SHEN Danyu, DOU Daolong, TIAN Yue’e
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220519
Abstract(71) HTML(67) PDF(5)
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Tobacco black shank caused by Phytophthora nicotianae is an important and destructive soil-borne disease affecting tobacco production in China. Biofumigation is a method to suppress or kill harmful organisms in the soil using volatile bioactive substances produced by plants, such as those of Cruciferae or Compositae, during decomposition. Brassica species are important biological fumigants. ‘Dilong 1’ (DL1) mustard was cultivated by our collaborator at Nanjing Agricultural University as Brassica juncea variety with high glucosinolates content, high biomass, high adaptability, and good fumigation effects. To explore a safe and environmentally friendly green method for the prevention and control of tobacco black shank disease, the inhibitory effect of fumigation with DL1 mustard on P. nicotianae was analyzed in this study through a series of petri dish inocubation experiments. The mycelial growth rate method was used to determine the effect of DL1 fumigation on mycelial growth of P. nicotiana. The fumigation effects on sporangium formation, zoospore release, spore germination, germ tube elongation, and oospore formation of P. nicotiana were also determined. The effects of DL1 fumigation on cell membrane permeability of P. nicotiana were determined by changes in electrical conductivity and malondialdehyde content. The change in the pathogenicity of P. nicotiana after fumigation was determined using the in vitro leaf method. The results showed that fumigation of fresh matter of DL1 mustard could significantly inhibit the mycelial growth of P. nicotiana. The EC50 (concentration for 50% of maximal effect) value was 0.36 g, EC75 (concentration for 75% of maximal effect) value was 0.499 g, and minimum inhibitory dose (MIC) was 0.500 g. The inhibitory effect was dose-dependent on the amount of fresh material in DL1 mustard. The amount of 0.3 g fresh DL1 mustard significantly inhibited sporangium formation and zoospore release of P. nicotiana, and the amount of 0.5 g could inhibit sporangium formation and zoospore release of P. nicotiana by 72.8% and 86.6%, respectively. When the amount of fresh DL1 mustard was increased to 0.7 g, sporangium formation of P. nicotiana was completely inhibited. The amount of 0.3 g and 0.4 g of fresh DL1 mustard could completely inhibit zoospore germination and germ tube elongation of P. nicotiana, respectively. Fumigation of DL1 could reduce the formation of oospores of P. nicotiana in a dose-dependent manner, and 0.7 g fresh DL1 mustard could completely inhibit the oospore formation of P. nicotianae. After fumigation, the permeability of the mycelium membrane of P. nicotianae increased, and membrane lipid peroxidation was induced. After 150 min of fumigation, the electrical conductivity of P. nicotiana was 2.2 times that of the control, and the malondialdehyde content was 8.0 times that of the control. The fumigation treatment weakened the pathogenicity of P. nicotianae, and the area of the disease spot decreased by 88.9% compared to that of the control. In this study, fumigation of DL1 mustard on the growth and development of P. nicotianae, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and pathogenicity changes indicated that it had a good inhibition and killing effect on P. nicotianae, and the fumigation effect had a dose-dependent effect on the amount of fresh DL1 mustard. This provided a theoretical basis for the use of DL1 mustard to control tobacco black shanks and other soil-borne diseases in production.
Determination of water price and estimation of water savings and emission reduction in groundwater irrigation areas-A case study of Nanpi County, Hebei Province
WANG Xiqin, JIANG Zhiqiang, ZHANG Xinyue
 doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220579
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A comprehensive reform of agricultural water prices is required to study and propose a reasonable water price adjustment scheme. The method regarding the determination of water price and the estimation of water savings and pollutant emission reduction in groundwater irrigation areas were proposed, and the current irrigation water use and current water price were calculated by using the method of “converting electricity into the water.” The double logarithm model was used to establish the price elasticity function of irrigation water demand. The ideal water price was calculated using the residual value method, and the pollutant emission reduction from water savings was calculated using the farmland pollution logistics loss model. Taking Nanpi County of Hebei Province as an example, the results showed that the current water prices of wheat and corn are 0.44 ¥∙m−3 and 0.48 ¥∙m−3, respectively. The water price elasticity coefficients of wheat and corn are −0.47 and −0.71, respectively. The actual water prices of wheat and corn corresponding to the irrigation quota are 0.52 ¥∙m−3 and 0.77 ¥∙m−3, respectively, and the ideal water prices are 0.84 ¥∙m−3 and 1.01 ¥∙m−3, respectively. As per the recommended scheme, the theoretical water price accounts for less than 15% of the total cost, the increased range for water price of wheat and corn is 0.08 ¥∙m−3 and 0.29 ¥∙m−3, respectively; and the water-saving potential is 235.05 m3∙hm−2, 682.80 m3∙hm−2. The nutrient emission reduction of ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus are 5.2−19.2 g∙hm−2, 52.7−195.4 g∙hm−2, and 4.6−16.9 g∙hm−2 for maize; and 18.5−27.6 g∙hm−2, 189.1−281.2 g∙hm−2, and 16.3−24.3 g∙hm−2 for corn, respectively. As the comprehensive reform of agricultural water prices is a systematic project, it needs the support of relevant supporting policies. This study suggests the adoption of water-saving technology, land transfer, large-scale operation, and irrigation quota management systems to promote comprehensive reform of agricultural water prices through relevant incentive policies.
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Special Issue for Agricultural Carbon Emissions and Carbon Sequestration Capacity
Review on measurement of agricultural carbon emission in China
HU Yonghao, ZHANG Kunyang, HU Nanyan, WU Laping
2023, 31(2): 163-176.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220777
Abstract(292) HTML(48) PDF(107)
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Accurate measurement of carbon emissions is crucial for achieving dual-carbon goals. Agricultural carbon emissions are affected by various crop types, production methods, geographical locations, and other factors. Therefore, although scholars have attempted to measure China’s agricultural carbon emissions from different perspectives, a consistent and effective conclusion regarding the estimation method, sample selection, and calculation results does not exist. First, this study introduces the main accounting methods for agricultural carbon emissions, including the emission factor method, model simulation method, and field measurement method. Second, it segregates agricultural carbon emission accounting methods from the existing four aspects: input and output, production process, carbon sequestration, and carbon footprint. Third, the accounting results for agricultural carbon emissions are summarized. Finally, the limitations of the existing research are analyzed, and a prospect for agricultural carbon emission accounting is specified. This study discovered shortcomings in the existing research, including the omission of emission sources, inappropriate use of emission factors, and excessive concentration perspectives at the macro level. Future research can be continued from the following aspects: constructing a scientific and comprehensive agricultural carbon emission accounting system, improving emission factors, and strengthening micro-level research on farmers.
Research progress of greenhouse gas emissions and sequestration of the Chinese food system
JIN Xinpeng, BAI Zhaohai, MA Lin
2023, 31(2): 177-193.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220025
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Studies on the country’s food system and greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting are still lacking in China. Most of previous studies have focused on crop and livestock production, which are hard to meet the demands of both GHG reduction and sequestration, against the backdrop of the “carbon peak and neutrality” policy. In this study, we proposed a food system GHG accounting framework that covers land use, land use change, and forests (LULUCF); agricultural production; and post-production food supply sectors. Through literatures review, collecting emission data, and reverse-calculating emission factors, we analyzed the differences in accounting methods and the uncertainties of emission parameters for various GHG emission (or sequestration) segments in the Chinese food system. Results showed that the coefficients of variables (CVs) of the emission or storage parameters of manure and crop straw application, pesticides and film production, food processing, food retail and wholesale, and grassland sinks were above 35%. Our suggestions for future studies are as follows: 1) in the agricultural production sector: refine emission factors of agricultural activities, harmonize different energy use accounting methods (e.g., final energy consumption accounting and process-based accounting methods), and reinforce research on energy consumption of agricultural input manufacturing enterprises; 2) in the LULUCF sector: establish the land use classification dedicated to global change research, identify the land use processes associated with the food system, and cross-check the field measure-based accounting method and the process-based accounting method; 3) in the post-production food supply sector: clarify the accounting scopes of each stage and select the environmental input-output life cycle assessment method, the process-based life cycle assessment method, or the final energy consumption accounting method. This study could further provide scientific basis for GHG reduction in food systems.
Using soil organic carbon isotope composition analysis to elucidate the carbon cycle of agroecosystems
LI Fadong, LI Zhaoxin, QIAO Yunfeng, LIU Shanbao, TIAN Chao, ZHU Nong, HIRWA Hubert, MEASHO Simon
2023, 31(2): 194-205.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20230029
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Soil organic carbon is one of the most abundant and longest stored ecosystem carbon pools on the Earth’s surface. Improving soil organic carbon stability and enhancing soil carbon sink capacity have become a key scientific issue for sustainable strategies of carbon management in terrestrial ecosystems. There is an international consensus that agroecosystems are playing an increasingly important role in carbon sequestration and in the process of achieving carbon neutrality. Farmland management practices could disturb soil carbon cycle processes, and the carbon sink of agroecosystems can be enhanced by effective management practices. Currently, domestic studies have focused on the effects of tillage practices, fertilizer and irrigation levels, and straw incorporation on farm productivity, carbon sequestration rate, and greenhouse gas emissions; but the mechanisms of organic carbon stability in response to different farmland management practices and the relationship with soil carbon emissions have not been clearly understood. 13C isotope technology is a powerful tool for studying soil carbon cycling processes in agroecosystems. By measuring the isotopic abundance of different organic carbon components in soil carbon emissions, soil respiration components and sources can be accurately distinguished, which can better reveal the response mechanism of soil organic carbon stability to farmland management practices and provide a scientific basis for enhancing soil carbon sink effects and sustainable agricultural development. Most previous studies have focused on simulations and small-scale, short-term monitoring, with large discrepancies between results, which may overestimate or underestimate the actual values. Therefore, multi-point, long-term, and real-time in situ monitoring combined with 13C isotope technology should be adopted in future research on the soil carbon cycle to understand real-time decomposition of soil CO2 emissions in agroecosystems, which can better reveal the mechanism of soil organic carbon stability.
Development measures of the fertilizer industry under the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals: Analysis of carbon emission reduction and existing problems from 2011 to 2020
LI Hua, LI Xiuying, WANG Lei, LI Yuyi, WANG Jing
2023, 31(2): 206-213.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220528
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Carbon peaking and carbon neutrality have become common goals in global development. Fertilizers play a dual role in carbon emissions. They not only emit carbon due to energy consumption but also reduce carbon emissions by improving the carbon sequestration capacity of crops. Fertilizers will continue to play an irreplaceable role in food and agricultural production for the near future. Appropriate fertilizer products and scientific applications can support carbon emission reduction. This study used data published by the FAO, the National Bureau of Statistics, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, and other websites to analyze the current situation of carbon emission reduction in China’s fertilizer industry. It identified the existing problems and discussed the development measures of the fertilizer industry under the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, in the hope of providing a reference for the low-carbon development of the fertilizer industry. The results showed that China’s fertilizer industry had made remarkable progress in reducing carbon emissions from 2011 to 2020. Following an increase, the production and application of chemical fertilizers decreased, which made the largest contribution to emissions reduction from agriculture. The output of N, P2O5, and K2O in China decreased from the highest level of 7.43×107 t in 2015 to 5.50×107 t in 2020, a decline of 26.05%. The amount of chemical fertilizer application decreased by 12.82% from the highest 6.02×107 t in 2015 to 5.25×107 t in 2020. The carbon emissions from chemical fertilizers in China decreased from 3.35×108 t CO2 eq in 2015 to 2.74×108 t CO2 eq in 2020, dropping 18.21%. The output of organic fertilizers was on the rise, which was conducive to carbon sequestration and emission reduction. In 2020, the output of organic fertilizers reached 1.56×107 t, up by 29.46% over the 2015 level. Owing to the rapid extension of scientific fertilization technologies, the utilization rate of chemical fertilizers for three major grain crops, namely rice, corn, and wheat, had increased yearly to 40.20% in 2020, up by 5 percentage points over 2015. However, the fertilizer industry in China faced problems, including higher application amounts, low absorption, insufficient innovation, market disorder, unscientific fertilization, inadequate organic fertilizers, and weak legislation and supervision. To achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, China’s fertilizer industry should strive toward the following five aspects: developing new types of fertilizers, promoting science-based technologies for energy-efficient use of fertilizers, improving comprehensive utilization of agricultural wastes, strengthening legislation and supervision of the fertilizer industry, and enhancing publicity and training in scientific low-carbon fertilization.
Research on green agricultural development under the dual-carbon goal: review and perspectives
ZHANG Kangjie, YU Fawen
2023, 31(2): 214-225.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220888
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The dual-carbon (Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality) goal initiates new requirements for agricultural green development, especially the green transformation of agricultural production methods, which is particularly urgent. Based on the analysis of the connotation and principles of agricultural green development, this study explored the current situation and future development focus of agricultural green development using the literature induction method. Furthermore, the research progress of agricultural green development was systematically sorted into four system levels, namely: production, industry, operation, and policy. Finally, the research status of agricultural green development under the dual-carbon goal was reviewed, and its future research trend was investigated. The study showed that the research on agricultural green development mainly focuses on basic theories, indicator measurements, development statuses, production systems, and supporting policies. However, research on the connotation and extension, as well as the system innovation of agricultural green development under the dual-carbon goal, is relatively weak. In the future, research on agricultural green development under the dual-carbon goal should focus on scientifically defining the new connotation of agricultural green development, comprehensively expounding the relationship between dual-carbon goals and agricultural green development, and constructing an evaluation index system for agricultural green development with localized Chinese characteristics. On this basis, the dilemma of agricultural green development should be diagnosed from the perspective of the entire agricultural industry chain, and future development focus should be determined against the dual-carbon target. In particular, we should explore the direction of multi-dimensional innovation; deeply integrate digital empowerment, subject cultivation, market guidance, organization guidance, and other innovative elements; and accelerate the innovation of the agricultural green development system under the dual-carbon goal from the four abovementioned aspects to provide a scientific basis and theoretical support for agricultural green development and comprehensively promote the rural revitalization strategy.
Effects of agricultural technical efficiency on agricultural carbon emission: Based on spatial spillover effect and threshold effect analysis
YAN Guangyao, CHEN Weihong, QIAN Haihui
2023, 31(2): 226-240.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220571
Abstract(161) HTML(46) PDF(31)
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Global warming, caused by the greenhouse effect, has triggered numerous unprecedented extreme weather events globally. Agricultural technology is the fundamental force that promotes the development of the agricultural industry. Studying the impact mechanism of agricultural technology on agricultural carbon emissions will help transform traditional agriculture into ecological, green, and low-carbon modern agriculture, and it is of great significance to the realization of carbon neutrality and carbon peaks. This study used panel data from 31 provinces and cities in China from 2001 to 2020. First, the stochastic frontier model was used to extend existing research from a broad and narrow sense of agricultural technical progress to agricultural technical efficiency. The total agricultural carbon emissions and intensity of agricultural carbon emissions were then calculated and compared. Finally, we constructed the spatial Dubin model and the threshold model with agricultural technical efficiency as the threshold variable, which revealed the spatial effect and non-linear relationship between agricultural technical efficiency and agricultural carbon emissions. The results showed that the total and intensity of agricultural carbon emissions had decreased in recent years. Central China had more agricultural carbon emissions than eastern and western China, and eastern China had a higher technical efficiency of agriculture and a lower carbon emission intensity of agriculture than central and western China. Agricultural carbon emission intensity and technical efficiency had spatial autocorrelation and agglomeration characteristics, and high-high clustering and low-low clustering are the main factors among the provinces. Agricultural carbon emission intensity had a positive spatial spillover effect on itself, but agricultural technical efficiency had a negative spatial spillover effect, which was conducive to the overall reduction of agricultural carbon emissions. Additionally, urbanization, human capital level, and per capita cultivated land area also had negative effects on agricultural carbon emission intensity, but the level of agricultural economic development and the degree of agricultural disaster had positive effects. There was a double threshold effect between agricultural technical efficiency and agricultural carbon emission intensity, which meant that when agricultural technical efficiency reached the “inflection point”, its impact on agricultural carbon emission intensity became negative, and after the level of agricultural technical efficiency was further improved, its influence weakened due to the diminishing marginal effect. Most existing research began with a broad or narrow definition of technological progress, but this study used technical efficiency as the research object after the decomposing technological progress in a broad sense, which further validated the indisputable and decisive role of technological progress in agricultural energy conservation and emission reduction. This study provides a theoretical and policy basis for exploring the path to achieving the “double carbon” goal.
Impact of structural transformation, technological progress choice on agricultural carbon shadow price: An empirical analysis based on BP technology and a mediating effect model
XU Biaowen, WANG Haiping, SHEN Zhiyang
2023, 31(2): 241-252.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220492
Abstract(173) HTML(78) PDF(23)
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The effective implementation of emission reduction strategies through economic structural transformation and technological progress has become an inevitable choice for achieving low-carbon economic and social transformation and development in China. Considering that the disposability assumption of the shadow price calculation method is inconsistent with the realistic theory in the existing literature, a new calculation method for the carbon shadow price based on the data envelopment analysis (DEA) framework modeling and satisfying the principles of economic theory and material conservation was applied, in which the expected output production sub-technology and the undesired output production sub-technology are linked according to the generation relationship of pollutants. Improved By-production technology was used to accurately measure the agricultural carbon shadow price in 31 provinces from 1997 to 2020, and kernel density was used to analyze the dynamic evolution characteristics of agricultural carbon shadow prices. A feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) model was used to examine the impact of structural transformation and technological progress choices on the shadow price of agricultural carbon emissions. The results showed that: 1) the shadow price of agricultural carbon price showed an increasing trend, which was 7759.69 ¥∙t−1 in the east region, 4192.35 ¥∙t−1 in the central region, and 3997.51 ¥∙t−1 in the west region, and the rising rates decreased in that order. 2) Kernel density analysis revealed that the kernel density value of the agricultural carbon shadow price had an increasing trend. The kernel density curve in the east region was right-shifted, in the central region left-right shifted with increasing regional differences, and in the west region it was downward and widened. 3) The overall regression analysis showed that the shadow price of agricultural carbon was significantly increased by structural transformation and labor-saving technological progress but that this increase was inhibited by capital deepening. Meanwhile, the level of economic development, the scale of agricultural operations, urbanization, and the level of opening up all played important roles in the agricultural carbon shadow price. 4) The regional regression analysis results highlighted that the influencing factors of agricultural carbon shadow prices differed in different regions. Structural transformation significantly increased the carbon shadow price in the east region but significantly inhibited it in the west region. Labor-saving technological progress reduced the carbon shadow price in the east region while significantly increasing it in the west region. Therefore, it is necessary to promote the transformation of the industrial structure, formulate differentiated green and coordinated development policies, and establish an agricultural carbon emissions trading market to promote low-carbon, green, and high-quality agricultural development.
Carbon budget and driving factors in marine fisheries in Liaoning Province, China
LI Yuan, LI Tianhui, LIANG Jinshui, LI Faxiang, LIU Changfa
2023, 31(2): 253-264.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220542
Abstract(131) HTML(52) PDF(24)
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Marine fisheries are valuable oceanic carbon sinks that store and sequester carbon. They act as both “carbon sources” and “carbon sinks”, and this is particularly important to achieve the established carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals. The amount of carbon sequestered by fisheries and its economic value in Liaoning Province from 2006 to 2020 were calculated based on the China Fisheries Statistical Yearbook, the Calculation Reference of Oil Consumption for Oil Price Subsidy of Domestic Fishing Vessels, and the China Statistical Yearbook. Then, a cubic exponential smoothing method was applied to a time-series forecasting model to predict the same parameters for 2021–2030, and the factors controlling the amount and economic value of carbon sequestered in fisheries in Liaoning Province were examined using gray correlation analysis. The results showed that 1) the surplus of income and expenditure for carbon sequestration in marine fisheries in the region decreased each year from 2006 to 2020, and the deficit is predicted to intensify in 2021–2030. 2) The maximum surplus of carbon (sequestration minus emissions) was 256.36×104 tons and the maximum deficit was 29.99×104 tons, with an average of 116.66×104 tons per year. 3) The total amount of carbon sequestered by shellfish and algae was 241.67×104 tons, 83% of which was attributed to the aquaculture industry, with little change. 4) The average amount of carbon emissions form marine fishing was 164.52×104 tons per year, almost 50% of which was attributed to trawling. The amount of carbon sequestered from marine fishing could not compensate for carbon emissions after 2017. 5) The total economic value of sequestered carbon of marine fisheries of Liaoning Province was 27.423 billion Yuan, with an annual average of 1.828 billion Yuan. 6) The total amount and economic value of carbon sequestered in marine fisheries continued to decline and were positively correlated. 7) The amount of sequestered carbon was also positively correlated with fishing yields, shellfish production, and macroalgal culture. The amount and economic value of carbon sequestered in marine fisheries in Liaoning Province were significantly influenced by national policies, fishing yield, number of employees, area of shellfish and macroalgal aquaculture sites, and the total power of fishing vessels (which determined the vessels’ carbon emissions). To protect marine biodiversity and promote the sustainable development of marine fisheries in the area, it is recommended to integrate multiple aquaculture systems, reduce high-energy-consuming fishing operations, and strengthen the monitoring of highly polluting fishing vessels.
Evaluation of agricultural carbon emissions in Xinjiang and analysis of driving factors based on machine learning algorithms
DENG Lu, YUAN Shengbo, BAI Ping, LI Huifang
2023, 31(2): 265-279.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220501
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Agriculturl carbon emissions are the second-largest source of carbon in the world. Therefore, clarifying the patterns of agricultural carbon emissions is crucial for achieving carbon peaks and neutrality. To explore the law of agricultural carbon emissions in Xinjiang and promote agricultural carbon emission reduction, agricultural carbon emissions in Xinjiang were measured based on carbon emission coefficients published according to the carbon emission links generated in the process of agricultural production. Furthermore, spatial correlation models, such as the Moran and learned index structure for spatial data (LISA) indices, were used to measure the spatial clustering patterns of agricultural carbon emissions in Xinjiang. A random forest machine learning model was then used to quantitatively analyze the factors influencing the efficiency of agricultural carbon emissions. The results indicated that: 1) agricultural carbon emissions grew slowly from 2010 to 2019, from 292.24×04 t to 379.69×104 t, with an average annual growth rate of 3.33%. 2) Applications of chemical fertilizers and agricultural films were the main sources of agricultural carbon emissions in Xinjiang, accounting for 58.06% and 39.03%, respectively. 3) Xinjiang’s agricultural carbon emission efficiency increased steadily, with a faster growth from 2010 to 2013 and a slower growth from 2014 to 2019. The main distribution range of carbon emissions efficiency increased from less than 50 ¥∙t−1 to 50–100 ¥∙t−1. 4) The agricultural output values in the high-high agglomeration areas of Xinjiang with high agricultural carbon emission efficiency were relatively low because of the low material input. In contrast, the agricultural output values in the low-low agglomeration areas were relatively high, however, where the level of technology and management was low, and the material input was extremely high. The efficiency of agricultural carbon emissions in Xinjiang has room for improvement. 5) Overall agricultural carbon emission efficiency was higher in the southern region with lower precipitation, whereas the northern region with higher precipitation exhibited moderate emissions. Precipitation may indirectly affect agricultural carbon emission efficiency by affecting the level of agricultural development and production technology. 6) Carbon emission efficiency decreased sharply with increased agricultural scale when the agricultural scale was between 0.12 and 2.02 hm2 per person. Moreover, the influence on agricultural carbon emissions efficiency decreased when the agricultural scale exceeded 2.02 hm2 per person. There was a significant negative effect on agricultural carbon emission efficiency when cultivated land was between 120 and 17 220 hm2. In contrast, its’ effect on agricultural carbon emission efficiency was more moderate when cultivated land was larger than 17 220 hm2. Rural economic development level had a positive effect on carbon emission efficiency. Furthermore, carbon emission efficiency exhibited a “U” shaped pattern as a function of agricultural electrification degree. Comprehensively considering the two aspects of improving agricultural output value and agricultural carbon emission efficiency, the degree of agricultural scale and the scale of arable land should be further improved to increase agricultural output value, and the level of rural economic development and the degree of agricultural electrification should be further improved to increase the efficiency of agricultural carbon emissions.
Effects of gypsum application on grain yield and methane emissions in rice paddies: a global meta-analysis
MENG Yi, LIAO Ping, WEI Haiyan, GAO Hui, DAI Qigen, ZHANG Hongcheng
2023, 31(2): 280-289.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220428
Abstract(108) HTML(43) PDF(39)
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Gypsum is a widely recommended soil amendment for rice paddies, but a meta-analysis of the responses of rice yield and greenhouse gas emissions to gypsum application has less been reported. In this study, a global meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the effects of gypsum application on rice yield and greenhouse gas emissions. The dataset was collected from 74 studies involving 382 pairs of rice yield observations, 39 pairs of methane emission observations, 10 pairs of nitrous oxide emission observations, 10 pairs of area-scaled global warming potential (GWP) observations, and 10 pairs of yield-scaled global warming potential (GHGI) observations, where the absence of gypsum acted as the control and the application of gypsum acted as the treatment. Based on a meta-analysis, the effects of gypsum application on rice yield and paddy CH4 emissions were examined under different gypsum application measures (type and application rate), soil properties (pH, organic carbon content, and texture), and field management methods (N rate, irrigation regime, rice type, and experiment type). Overall, gypsum application significantly increased rice yield (+58%) and reduced CH4 emissions (−47%), GWP (−22%), and GHGI (−31%), but did not affect N2O emissions relative to those without gypsum application. The magnitude of the increase in rice yield and reduction in CH4 emissions of desulfurization gypsum was significantly higher than that of gypsum and phosphogypsum. Applying gypsum increased rice yield at gypsum rates ≥ 2 t·hm−2, while no significant effects were observed at gypsum rates < 2 t·hm−2. The magnitude of the increase in gypsum application-induced rice yield increased with increasing soil pH. The gypsum rate and soil pH showed a positive interactive effect, whereby the increase in rice yield increased with the gypsum rate in the initial soils with pH ≥ 8.5 but remained stable at soil pH < 8.5. Gypsum application induced a reduction in CH4 emissions with increasing gypsum application rate. Our results indicate that gypsum application could increase rice yield and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, providing a theoretical basis for evaluating the effects of gypsum application on high rice yield and mitigating global warming.
Study on ammonia reduction technology by manure surface acidification in animal housing
LIU Juan, WANG Xuan, CAO Yubo, BAI Zhaohai, MA Lin
2023, 31(2): 290-299.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220538
Abstract(116) HTML(57) PDF(21)
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Animal housing plays an important role in NH3 emissions from livestock, and in situ technology for NH3 mitigation is lacking in China. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore an efficient, economic, and practical technology to reduce NH3 emissions from in situ animal housing. Here, we determined the effects of sulfuric acid and silage leachate at different doses on NH3 emissions in a simulated experiment to select the best acidification conditions that could be applied to in situ NH3 reduction technology in animal housing. We then designed and equipped a set of NH3 mitigation technologies (an acid spraying device) in sheep housing and applied the selected acidification conditions to explore the effect of NH3 mitigation technology on NH3 emissions from the perspective of NH3 reduction efficiency and economy. The results showed that sulfuric acid and silage leachate can reduce NH3 emissions efficiently. The NH3 reduction rates were 39.1% (P<0.05) for sulfuric acid and 42.7% (P<0.05) for silage leachate, respectively, when the spraying dose was 0.03 g·m−2, but it only worked within 8 h. Because sulfuric acid is difficult to obtain on the market and atomizing silage leachate is challenging, lactic acid, the main component of silage leachate, was used as an acidifier in in situ housing. When spraying lactic acid at the dose of 0.03 g·m−2 (0.01 mol·L−1) three times per day (8:00, 16:00, 0:00) by using an acid spraying device, NH3 reduction efficiency was the highest (55.6%, P<0.01); NH3 concentrations in the daytime were reduced by 67.0% (P<0.01) (3 m height) and 72.0% (P<0.01) (0 m height), respectively, when acid was sprayed once per day at 8:00, but there was no influence on NH3 concentration at night. When the acidification frequency was two times per day at 8:00 and 16:00, NH3 concentration could be reduced throughout the day, and there was a more efficient reduction in the daytime with 72.0% (P<0.01) (3 m height) and 56.5% (P<0.01) (0 m height) than that in nighttime with 32.1% (P<0.01) and 25.8% (P<0.01) at 3 m and 0 m height, respectively. As for the cost of NH3 reduction, spraying acid twice per day was the lowest at 147 ¥·kg−1(NH3), and the cost for three- and one-time acidification was 165 ¥·kg−1(NH3) and 211 ¥·kg−1(NH3), respectively. Infrastructure was the largest cost, accounting for approximately 80% of all costs. This study provides a feasible and efficient NH3 reduction technology for in situ animal housing, but there is a need to improve the equipment cost for the wide promotion and application of this technology.
Multi-scenario land use change and its impact on carbon storage based on coupled Plus-Invest model
LUO Shuqi, HU Xiaomeng, SUN Yuan, YAN Cai, ZHANG Xin
2023, 31(2): 300-314.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220520
Abstract(204) HTML(92) PDF(41)
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Land use/cover change (LUCC) is an important cause of carbon storage change in terrestrial ecosystems. Land use change is often constrained by policy, which affects carbon stock changes. To forecast the LUCC of Xi’an in 2030 under the guidance of the policy, and analyze its impact on carbon storage is of great significance for Xi’an policy-making, land use structure adjustment, and the realization of the “double carbon” goal. Based on the land use data (LULC) of 2000, 2010, and 2020, this study selected 11 driving factors and established three development scenarios of business as usual (Q1), ecological protection (Q2), and town development (Q3), respectively, according to the Xi’an “14th Five-Year Plan” policy planning. The PLUS model was used to predict and analyze the spatial distribution pattern of land use in Xi’an in 2030, and the InVEST model was coupled to evaluate the carbon storage of Xi’an in different development scenarios and analyze the change in carbon storage. The results show that: 1) the PLUS model has strong applicability in Xi’an City. The overall accuracy of the model was 0.93 and the Kappa coefficient was 0.89. 2) From 2000 to 2020, the areas of construction lands, grasslands and water bodies in Xi’an increased, while the areas of arable land, woodland, and wetland decreased. From the perspective of the transfer direction, arable land was mainly converted to construction land. 3) Q1 continued with the previous development pattern. In 2030, the quantity of ecological land, such as woodlands and water bodies, under Q2 increased compared with that in 2020, and the construction land areas under Q3 increased by 10.42%. 4) LUCC was the main reason for changes in ecosystem carbon storage. The total carbon storage under Q1 in 2030 decreased by 373.28 t compared with that in 2020, indicating that a continuation of the previous development mode would reduce the total carbon storage. Under Q2 in 2030, carbon storage increased by 564.73 t from 2020, which explains certain ecological protection measures to protect forest land, wetland, and increase the amount of cultivated land. This would also limit the transfer of ecological lands with high carbon density, such as cultivated land, into low carbon density land for construction purposes, potentially slowing the increasing trend of carbon reserves in terrestrial ecosystems. Under Q3, with the acceleration of urbanization, the scale of construction land has expanded, and a large number of urban areas occupy ecological and cultivated lands, which greatly reduces carbon storage. The results show that the major reason for the loss of carbon storage is the large expansion of construction land and the encroachment of ecological and arable land. The implementation of scientific and reasonable ecological protection measures can solve the carbon storage decline problem caused by economic development.
Long-term fertilization effects on soil aggregates organic carbon sequestration and distribution in a yellow-mud paddy soil
WANG Fei, LI Qinghua, HE Chunmei, WANG Ke, YOU Yanling, HUANG Yibin
2023, 31(2): 315-324.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220307
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Abstract:
Agricultural management practices affect carbon sequestration in agricultural soils. This study was performed in southern China to investigate the effects of different fertilizations on soil aggregate organic carbon sequestration and distribution over time in yellow-mud paddy. There were four treatments: no fertilizer (CK), application of chemical fertilizer (NPK), combined application of chemical fertilizer and cattle manure (NPKM), and combined application of chemical fertilizer and straw (NPKS). After 36 years of the experiments (1983 to 2020), the soil samples were collected after rice harvest to analyze soil aggregate, organic carbon sequestration, and distribution. The results showed that macro-aggregates (>2 mm) and medium aggregates (0.25−2 mm) were major components of the bulk soil. Compared to CK, NPKM and NPKS significantly increased the proportions of macro-aggregates by 22.0% and 15.5%, respectively, but greatly decreased the proportions of medium aggregates (0.25−2 mm) by 14.3% and 10.2%, respectively (P<0.05). Application of fertilizer resulted in a significant increase in the organic carbon content of the bulk soil, ranging from 16.9% to 43.9%, compared with the CK treatment. The average organic carbon content of the macro-aggregates was 1.3–1.6 times that of the other aggregates. The organic carbon content of macro-aggregates (>2 mm), medium aggregates (0.25−2 mm), and silt and clay (<0.053 mm) was higher under NPKM than under CK. Furthermore, NPKS increased the organic carbon content of macro-aggregates (>2 mm) compared to CK. The macro-aggregate organic carbon content accounted for 44.5%−63.8% of the total soil organic carbon. Compared with CK, NPKM and NPKS treatments significantly enhanced macro-aggregate organic carbon sequestration by 25.0% and 19.3%, respectively; but decreased the organic carbon sequestration of medium aggregates (0.25−2 mm), micro-aggregates (0.053–0.25 mm), and silt and clay (<0.053 mm). For the macro-aggregates, the light fraction of organic carbon (LF-C) and mineral-associated organic matter (mSOC) were the major parts, and the proportions of mSOC accounted for 50.7%−57.7% of the macro-aggregates. Compared with CK, the content of LF-C increased by 20.7%−32.3% in the fertilization treatments, respectively, and the contribution of LF-C to total soil organic carbon was most significantly increased by 8.9% and 9.4% under the NPKM and NPKS treatments (P<0.05), respectively. For the medium aggregates, the organic carbon content of the fine fraction organic carbon was significantly higher under NPKM treatment than under other treatments (P<0.05); other sub-fractions was not affected by the application of fertilizer. The coarse fraction of organic carbon (CF-C) and mSOC were the major components of the organic carbon in medium aggregates. NPKM and NPKS significantly decreased the sequestration of LF-C, CF-C, and mSOC in medium aggregates compared with the NPK and CK treatments (P<0.05). The organic carbon content of the bulk soil was found to be significantly correlated with rice yield and organic input (P<0.01). Both macro-aggregate organic carbon content and LF-C content showed a significant positive correlation with rice yield (P<0.01). They were also significantly positively correlated with the organic carbon input (P<0.01). Overall, the combined application of chemical fertilizer with cattle mature or straw could increase the proportions and content of organic carbon of macro-aggregates, thus promoting the contribution of total soil organic carbon, especially with the application of cattle manure. Additionally, the combined application of chemical fertilizer and straw was beneficial in promoting macro-aggregate LF-C content and the contribution of total soil organic carbon. The organic carbon content and fractions of active carbon in macro-aggregates are closely related to the productivity of yellow-mud paddy soil. The results provide methods for fertilization management of yellow-mud paddy soil in southern China.
Effects of increased atmospheric CO2 concentration and temperature on carbon and nitrogen metabolism in maize at the grain filling stage
WANG Jiao, LI Ping, ZONG Yuzheng, ZHANG Dongsheng, SHI Xinrui, YANG Jing, HAO Xingyu
2023, 31(2): 325-335.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220395
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Abstract:
Future climate change will bring considerable challenges to agricultural production and food security. Presently, research on the effects of elevated CO2 concentration and increased temperature on crops is mostly focused on C3 crops, while research on C4 crops is rare. Maize is the most widely planted C4 crop in the world, it is of great significance to explore the response of maize to elevated CO2 concentration, increased temperature, and their combination to assess the impacts of future climate change on C4 crops. The maize variety ‘Xianyu-335’ was used. Four treatments were set up in controlled chambers: CK (CO2 concentration 400 μmol·mol−1, ambient temperature), EC (CO2 concentration 600 μmol·mol−1, ambient temperature), ET (CO2 concentration 400 μmol·mol−1, 2 ℃ higher than ambient temperature), and ECT (CO2 concentration 600 μmol·mol−1, 2 ℃ higher than ambient temperature). The related indices of photosynthetic physiology, glucose metabolism, and nitrogen metabolism of maize leaves were measured at the grain-filling stage, and the biomass of maize was measured after ripening. The results showed that: 1) under elevated CO2 concentrations, the chlorophyll content, sucrose content, net photosynthetic rate, sucrose synthase activity, pyruvate kinase activity, and α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase activity in leaves were significantly increased (P<0.05), while glutamate synthase activity was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Additionally, aboveground biomass and spike mass were significantly increased by 35.8% and 170.2%, respectively (P<0.05). 2) At increased temperatures, the net photosynthetic rate, and activities of sucrose synthase and pyruvate kinase of leaves were significantly increased (P<0.05), while α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and glutamate synthase activities were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the above-ground biomass and the biomasses of leaf, stem, and spike were significantly decreased by 37.0%, 28.7%, 32.3%, and 62.2%, respectively (P<0.05). 3) Under the combination of elevated CO2 concentration and increased temperature, the net photosynthetic rate and pyruvate kinase activity of leaves were significantly increased (P<0.05), whereas the chlorophyll content, and activities of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase and glutamate synthase were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the leaf biomass was significantly decreased by 23.4% (P<0.05). In conclusion, elevated CO2 concentration could alleviate the negative impact of increased temperatures on maize biomass by increasing photosynthesis and the activity of enzymes related to glucose metabolism and photosynthetic metabolites. Under elevated CO2, increased temperature, or their combination, nitrogen metabolism in maize is inhibited; thus, leaves are subjected to nitrogen stress, which harms maize quality.
Response of deep soil CO2 concentration to precipitation events in semi-arid areas
WANG Xiaolu, ZHANG Ning, HE Gaohang, LIN Xiaohua, CHEN Yan, WANG Rui, GUO Shengli
2023, 31(2): 336-344.   doi: 10.12357/cjea.20220586
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Abstract:
In arid and semi-arid areas, soil moisture strongly influences the balance between respiration and diffusion, altering soil CO2 concentration and surface flux. Numerous studies have focused on the relationship between surface soil CO2 flux changes and rainfall events. Subsoil carbon constitutes a large fraction of the total carbon stock, but it is unclear how rainfall events influence subsoil CO2 concentration dynamics. We continuously monitored CO2 concentrations at 10, 50, and 100 cm in the soil profile from 2019 to 2021, and analyzed the various responses of subsoil CO2 concentration to rainfall events. In this study, soil temperature showed apparent seasonal characteristics. As the air temperature changed, the soil temperature of different depths also changed from 100 cm < 50 cm < 10 cm to 10 cm < 50 cm < 100 cm. The soil moisture content of different layers was in the order of 10 cm < 100 cm < 50 cm, and a significant fluctuation was found at 10 cm. The soil CO2 concentration gradually increased with the increase of the depth in the order of 10 cm < 50 cm < 100 cm, with mean values of 0.66×104, 0.87×104, and 1.04×104 μmol∙mol−1, respectively. On sunny days, the soil CO2 concentrations at 10, 50, and 100 cm showed apparent diurnal variations and could be expressed as a single-peak curve. However, rainfall events significantly affected the change trends of CO2 concentrations. Approximately 78% of the rainfall events quickly altered the soil CO2 concentration in 10 cm layer. When the rainfall amount was exceeded 25 mm, the CO2 concentration at 50 and 100 cm decreased after 91 and 121 hours. When the soil moisture status changed from drying to wetting phases under rainfall events, > 25 mm precipitation promoted an increase in soil CO2 concentration at 10 cm by 30% which then began to decrease. The soil CO2 concentrations at 50 and 100 cm decreased by 16.3% and 10.9%, respectively, with an increase in soil moisture. In arid and semi-arid areas, rainfall negatively affects the changes in soil CO2 concentration at 10 cm depth under lower soil moisture content. This is because the decrease in gas diffusivity led to an increase in CO2 concentration. Soil CO2 concentrations at 50 and 100 cm depths decreased under rainfall events, although the soil moisture was higher than the field capacity. This was caused by the high soil moisture content, which inhibited microbial respiration. The responses of soil CO2 concentration at different depths to rainfall differed and largely depended on the soil moisture content.

Editor-in-chief:LIU Changming

Competent Authorities:Chinese Academy of Sciences

Sponsored by:Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; China Ecological Economics Society

Organizer:Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

ISSN 2096-6237
CN 13-1432/S
  • Chinese core periodicals
  • Core Chinese Sci-Tech Periodicals
  • China's Top Science and Technology Periodicals
  • Covered by Chinese Science Citation Database (CSCD)
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