De-Hui Zeng

Effects of different remediation treatments on crude oil contaminated saline soil

Remediation of the petroleum contaminated soil is essential to maintain the sustainable development of soil ecosystem. Bioremediation using microorganisms and plants is a promising method for the degradation of crude oil contaminants. The effects of different remediation treatments, including nitrogen addition, Suaeda salsa planting, and arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) fungi inoculation individually or combined, on crude oil contaminated saline soil were assessed using a microcosm experiment. The results showed that different remediation treatments significantly affected the physicochemical properties, oil contaminant degradation and bacterial community structure of the oil contaminated saline soil. Nitrogen addition stimulated the degradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon significantly at the initial 30d of remediation. Coupling of different remediation techniques was more effective in degrading crude oil contaminants. Applications of nitrogen, AM fungi and their combination enhanced the phytoremediation efficiency of S. salsa significantly. The main bacterial community composition in the crude oil contaminated saline soil shifted with the remediation processes. γ-Proteobacteria, β-Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the pioneer oil-degraders at the initial stage, and Firmicutes were considered to be able to degrade the recalcitrant components at the later stage.

Small-Scale Spatial Variability of Soil Nutrients and Vegetation Properties in Semi-Arid Northern China

ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted at Kezuohouqi County, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, which was located on the southeastern edge of the Horqin Sandy Land, to study the spatial variability of soil nutrients for a small-scale, nutrient-poor, sandy site in a semi-arid region of northern China; to investigate whether or not there were “islands of fertility” at the experimental site; and to determine the key nutrient elements that sustained ecosystem stability. Results obtained from geostatistical analysis indicated that the spatial distribution pattern of soil total nitrogen (STN) was far different from those of soil organic matter (SOM), total phosphorus (STP), and total potassium (STK). Compared to SOM, STP, and STK, STN had a lower structural heterogeneity ratio and a longer range, while other elements were all similar. In addition, STN had an isotropic spatial structure, whereas the others had an anisotropic spatial structure. The spatial structure patterns of herbage species, cover, and height also differed, indicating that spatial variability was subjected to different ecological factors. Differences in the spatial variability patterns among soil nutrients and vegetation properties showed that soil nutrients for a small-scale were not the primary limiting factors that influenced herbage spatial distribution patterns. Incorporating spatial distribution patterns of tree species, namely, Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv. and shrub Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. in a research plot and using fractal dimension, SOM, STP, and STK were shown to contribute to the “islands of fertility” phenomenon, however STN was not, possibly meaning that nitrogen was a key limiting element. Therefore, during restoration of similar ecosystems more attention should be given to soil nitrogen.

Effect of Land Cover Change on Soil Phosphorus Fractions in Southeastern Horqin Sandy Land, Northern China

In the past 50 years, large areas of the Horqin sandy land were afforested to prevent desertification. Although the afforestation policy appears successful, many people now doubt whether it is suitable to plant trees with high density on the poor soils in semiarid regions. Little is known about the impacts of afforestation on the sandy soil properties, although the evaluation of these impacts is fundamental to judge the rationality of afforestation policy. Soil phosphorus (P) fractions, acid phosphomonoesterase activities, and other soil chemical properties were compared among five adjoining typical ecosystems on poor sandy soils in southeastern Horqin sandy land. The ecosystems studied are natural elm savanna, degraded grassland, Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) plantation, Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis) plantation, and mixed plantation of Mongolian pine and poplar (Populus simonii). The results showed that organic P dominated soil P (47%-65%) was the principal source of available P. The degradation of elm savanna to grassland significantly reduced soil pH and resulted in an overall reduction in soil fertility, although slightly increased labile inorganic P. Grassland afforestation had no significant influence on soil pH, organic carbon, and total N but significantly reduced total P. Impacts of grassland afforestation on soil P fractions depended on tree species. Natural elm savanna had higher soil P conserving ability than artificial plantations. Therefore, with the aim of developing a sustainable ecosystem, we suggested that vegetations with low nutrient demand (particularly P) and efficient nutrient cycling would be more suitable for ecosystem restoration in the semiarid region.

Increased precipitation induces a positive plant-soil feedback in a semi-arid grassland

Background and AimsGiven that plant growth is often water limited in drylands, it has been proposed that water seems to influence productivity by altering physiological/metabolic responses and nutrient availability in short term. It is unclear, however, whether water mediates a positive plant-soil feedback and whether the feedback drives variations in plant productivity.MethodsA 4-year field experiment was performed to examine the effects of water and nitrogen (N) addition on nutrient concentrations in soil and plant, nutrient resorption and potential return, in a temperate grassland in northern China.ResultsWater addition enhanced plant N and phosphorus (P) concentrations but reduced plant N and P resorption efficiency, leading to the increased potential N and P return to soil via litterfall. Enhanced nutrient potential return likely contributed to an increase of plant productivity in the following year. These “fertilization effects” caused by water addition were similar to those by N addition.ConclusionsOur study suggests that the positive plant-soil feedback induced by increased precipitation may have a role in water-induced increases in productivity, and highlights the “fertilization effect” of water addition in a semiarid grassland in short term.

Responses of plant nutrient resorption to phosphorus addition in freshwater marsh of Northeast China

Anthropogenic activities have increased phosphorus (P) inputs to most aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. However, the relationship between plant nutrient resorption and P availability is still unclear, and much less is known about the underlying mechanisms. Here, we used a multi-level P addition experiment (0, 1.2, 4.8, and 9.6 g P m−2 year−1) to assess the effect of P enrichment on nutrient resorption at plant organ, species, and community levels in a freshwater marsh of Northeast China. The response of nutrient resorption to P addition generally did not vary with addition rates. Moreover, nutrient resorption exhibited similar responses to P addition across the three hierarchical levels. Specifically, P addition decreased nitrogen (N) resorption proficiency, P resorption efficiency and proficiency, but did not impact N resorption efficiency. In addition, P resorption efficiency and proficiency were linearly related to the ratio of inorganic P to organic P and organic P fraction in mature plant organs, respectively. Our findings suggest that the allocation pattern of plant P between inorganic and organic P fractions is an underlying mechanism controlling P resorption processes, and that P enrichment could strongly influence plant-mediated biogeochemical cycles through altered nutrient resorption in the freshwater wetlands of Northeast China.

Soil Inorganic Nitrogen and Microbial Biomass Carbon and Nitrogen Under Pine Plantations in Zhanggutai Sandy Soil

The dynamics of soil inorganic nitrogen (NH4+-N and NO3--N) and microbial biomass carbon (C-mic) and nitrogen (N-mic) under 30-year-old fenced Pinus sylvestris L. var. mongolica, Litvin (SF), unfenced P. sylvestris L. var. mongolica Litvin (SUF), and unfenced Pinus densiflora Siebold et Zucc. (DUF) plantations in the Zhanggutai sandy soil of China were studied during Apr. to Oct. 2004 by the in situ closed-top core incubation method. All mentioned C and N indices in each stand type fluctuated over time. The ranges of inorganic N, C-mic, and N-mic contents in the three stand types were 0.7-2.6, 40.0-128.9, and 5.4-15.2 mu g g(-1), respectively. The average contents of soil NH4+-N and C-mic under the three 30-year-old pine plantations were not different. However, soil NO3--N and total inorganic N contents decreased in the order of SUF >= SF >= DUF, the N-mic content was in the order of SF = SUF > DUF, and the C-mic:N-mic ratio was3 in the order of SUF = DUF > SF. Seasonal variations were observed in soil inorganic N, microbial biomass, and plant growth. These seasonal variations had certain correlations with microbe and plant N use in the soil, and their competition for NH4+-N was mostly regulated by soil N availability. The influence of tree species on inorganic N and N-mic were mainly because of differences in litter quality. Lack of grazing decreased the C-mic:N-mic ratio owing to decreased carbon output and increased the ability of soil to supply N. The soil N supply under the P. sylvestris var. mongolica plantation was lower than under the P. densiflora plantation.

Litter decomposition of a pine plantation is affected by species evenness and soil nitrogen availability

Background and aimsLitter decomposition is a key process controlling flows of energy and nutrients in ecosystems. Altered biodiversity and nutrient availability may affect litter decomposition. However, little is known about the response of litter decomposition to co-occurring changes in species evenness and soil nutrient availability.MethodsWe used a microcosm experiment to evaluate the simultaneous effects of species evenness (two levels), identity of the dominant species (three species) and soil N availability (control and N addition) on litter decomposition in a Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) plantation in Northeast China. Mongolian pine needles and senesced aboveground materials of two dominant understory species (Setaria viridis and Artemisia scoparia) were used for incubation.ResultsLitter evenness, dominant species identity and N addition significantly affected species interaction and litter decomposition. Higher level of species evenness increased the decomposition rate of litter mixtures and decreased the incidence of antagonistic effects. A. scoparia-dominated litter mixtures decomposed faster than P. sylvestris var. mongolica- and S. viridis-dominated litter mixtures. Notably, N addition increased decomposition rate of both single-species litters and litter mixtures, and meanwhile altered the incidence and direction of non-additive effects during decomposition of litter mixtures. The presence of understory species litters stimulated the decomposition rate of pine litters irrespective of N addition, whereas the presence of pine litters suppressed the mass loss of A. scoparia litters. Moreover, N addition weakened the promoting effects of understory species litters on decomposition of pine litters.ConclusionsPine litter retarded the decomposition of understory species litters whereas its own decomposition was accelerated in mixtures. Nitrogen addition and understory species evenness altered species interaction through species-specific responses in litter mixtures and thus affected litter decomposition in Mongolian pine forests, which could produce a potential influence on ecosystem C budget and nutrient cycling.

Changes in labile soil organic matter fractions following land use change from monocropping to poplar-based agroforestry systems in a semiarid region of Northeast China

Labile fractions of soil organic matter (SOM) respond rapidly to land management practices and can be used as a sensitive indicator of changes in SOM. However, there is little information about the effect of agroforestry practices on labile SOM fractions in semiarid regions of China. In order to test the effects of land use change from monocropping to agroforestry systems on labile SOM fractions, we investigated soil microbial biomass C (MBC) and N, particulate organic matter C (POMC) and N (POMN), as well as total organic C (TOC) and total N (TN) in the 0- to 15-cm and the 15- to 30-cm layers in 4-year-old poplar-based agroforestry systems and adjoining monocropping systems with two different soil textures (sandy loam and sandy clay loam) in a semiarid region of Northeast China. Our results showed that poplar-based agroforestry practices affected soil MBC, POMC, and POMN, albeit there was no significant difference in TOC and TN. Agroforestry practices increased MBC, POMC, and POMN in sandy clay loam soils. However, in sandy loam soils, agroforestry practices only increased MBC and even decreased POMC and POMN at the 0- to 15-cm layer. Our results suggest that labile SOM fractions respond sensitively to poplar-based agroforestry practices and can provide early information about the changes in SOM in semiarid regions of Northeast China and highlight that the effects of agroforestry practices on labile SOM fractions vary with soil texture.

Responses of biomass to the addition of water, nitrogen and phosphorus in Keerqin sandy grassland, Inner Mongolia, China

The effects of water, nitrogen and phosphorus on productivity of sandy grassland were investigated with a fully factorial experiment to find out the main factors limiting natural restoration of grassland productivity in the southeastern Keerqin sandy land. In total, eight treatments were designed as water addition (W), nitrogen fertilizer addition (N), phosphorus fertilizer addition (P), water + nitrogen fertilizer addition (WN), water + phosphorus fertilizer addition (WP), nitrogen fertilizer + phosphorus fertilizer addition (NP), water + nitrogen fertilizer + phosphorus fertilizer addition (WNP) and control (CK). Each treatment was replicated six times and randomly assigned to 48 plots (4 m × 4 m) that were separated by a 2-m buffer. Results show that restoration of productivity is only limited by nitrogen factor for sandy grassland of Keerqin sandy land and not limited by water and phosphorus. Relative to CK plots, the biomass and the aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) of all the plots added with nitrogen fertilizer were significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) in 2005 growing season. Grass root mass is dominant in underground biomass. The present study possibly underestimates net primary productivity of grassland in northern China, due to limitation of underground biomass measurements.

Mixing Effects of Understory Plant Litter on Decomposition and Nutrient Release of Tree Litter in Two Plantations in Northeast China

Understory vegetation plays a crucial role in carbon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems; however, it is not clear how understory species affect tree litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics. In this study, we examined the impacts of understory litter on the decomposition and nutrient release of tree litter both in a pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) and a poplar (Populus × xiaozhuanica) plantation in Northeast China. Leaf litter of tree species, and senesced aboveground materials from two dominant understory species, Artemisia scoparia and Setaria viridis in the pine stand and Elymus villifer and A. sieversiana in the poplar stand, were collected. Mass loss and N and P fluxes of single-species litter and three-species mixtures in each of the two forests were quantified. Data from single-species litterbags were used to generate predicted mass loss and N and P fluxes for the mixed-species litterbags. In the mixture from the pine stand, the observed mass loss and N release did not differ from the predicted value, whereas the observed P release was greater than the predicted value. However, the presence of understory litter decelerated the mass loss and did not affect N and P releases from the pine litter. In the poplar stand, litter mixture presented a positive non-additive effect on litter mass loss and P release, but an addition effect on N release. The presence of understory species accelerated only N release of poplar litter. Moreover, the responses of mass loss and N and P releases of understory litter in the mixtures varied with species in both pine and poplar plantations. Our results suggest that the effects of understory species on tree litter decomposition vary with tree species, and also highlight the importance of understory species in litter decomposition and nutrient cycles in forest ecosystems.