[Effects of Different Plantation Type on the Abundance and Diversity of Soil Microbes in Subtropical Red Soils].

Soil microbe plays an important role in carbon cycling, however, the effect of land use on soil microbe remain unclear. In present study, soil samples were collected from a long-term field experiment (Pantang Agroecosystem) in subtropical China (established in 1989), including paddy-rice (PR), upland-crop (UC), and paddy rice-upland crop rotation (PU) on soil bacterial (bacteria and Archaea) community structures. The effects of long-term different land uses were determined using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) and quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) of the 16S rRNA gene. The abundance of soil microbial 16S rRNA genes ranged from 2.5 x 10(9)-1.5 x 10(10) copies x g(-1) dry soil. Compared with the PR, UP and UC led to a significant reduction in 16S rRNA genes abundance (P < 0.05). The soil microbial communities were dominated by bacteria such as Proteobacteria (76 and 90 and 327 bp; relative abundance of 47% - 53%) and Chloroflexi (65 bp; relative abundance of 10% - 12%). RDA statistical analyses demonstrated that there were significant differences in the microbial community composition in PR, UC, and PU treated soils. Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen content were the most highly statistically significant factors which positively influenced the soil microbial population. Taken together, our findings prove the long-term different land uses significantly influence the microbial diversity and community structure. The rice planting is an effective way of sustainable utilization of subtropical red soil, and it is more advantageous to the accumulation of soil organic matter, soil fertility and microbial diversity.

[Effects of Different Modifier Concentrations on Lead-Zinc Tolerance, Subcellular Distribution and Chemical Forms for Four Kinds of Woody Plants].

Four kinds of lead-zinc tolerant woody plants: Nerium oleander, Koelreuteria paniculata, Paulownia and Boehmeria were used as materials to estimate their enrichment and transferable capacity of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) and analyze the subcellular distribution and chemical speciation of Zn and Ph in different parts of plants, under different modifier concentrations (CK group: 100% lead-zinc slag plus a small amount of phosphate fertilizer, improved one: 85% of lead-zinc slag ± 10% peat ± 5% bacterial manure plus a small amount of phosphate fertilizer, improved two: 75% lead-zinc slag ± 20% peat ± 5% bacterial manure ± a small amount of phosphate). Results showed that: (1) The content of Pb, Zn in matrix after planting four kinds of plants was lower than before, no significant difference between improved one and improved two of Nerium oleander and Boehmeria was found, but improved two was better than improved one of Paulownia, while improved one was better than improved two of Koelreuteria paniculata; Four plants had relatively low aboveground enrichment coefficient of Pb and Zn, but had a high transfer coefficient, showed that the appropriate modifier concentration was able to improve the Pb and Zn enrichment and transfer ability of plants. (2) In subcellular distribution, most of Pb and Zn were distributed in plant cell wall components and soluble components while the distribution in cell organelles such as mitochondria, chloroplasts and nucleus component were less. Compared with CK group, two improved group made soluble components of the cell walls of Pb fixation and retention of zinc role in the enhancement. (3) As for the chemical forms of Pb and Zn in plants, the main chemical forms of Pb were hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride and ethanol extractable forms, while other chemical form contents were few, the main chemical forms of Zn were different based on plant type. Compared with CK group, the proportion of the active Pb chemical form in different plant parts decreased in two improved groups, while the proportion of strong activity chemical forms increased; two improved groups led strong activity Zn chemical form of root increased, while strong activity Zn chemical form of aboveground decreased.

[Selection and purification potential evaluation of woody plant in vertical flow constructed wetlands in the subtropical area].

In order to solve the problem that wetland herbaceous plants tend to die during winter in subtropics areas, selection and purification potential evaluation experiments were carried out by introducing into the constructed wetlands 16 species of woody wetland plants. Cluster analysis was performed by including the morphological characteristics, physiological characteristics, as well as nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation of the woody wetland plants. The results indicated that there were significant differences among the tested woody plants in their survival rate, height increase, root length increase and vigor, Chlorophyll content, Superoxide dismutase, Malonaldehyde, Proline, Peroxidase, biomass, average concentration and accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorus. Based on the established evaluation system, the tested plants were clustered into 3 groups. The plants in the 1st group possessing high purification potentials are Nerium oleander and Hibiscus syriacus. Those in the 2nd group possessing moderate purification potentials are Trachycarpus fortune, Llex latifolia Thunb., Gardenia jasminoides, Serissa foetida and Ilex crenatacv Convexa. And those in the 3rd group with low purification potentials are Jasminum udiflorum, Hedera helix, Ligustrum vicaryi, Ligustrum lucidum, Buxus sempervives, Murraya paniculata, Osmanthus fragrans, Mahoniafortune and Photinia serrulata.

[Analysis of microorganism species diversity in plant intercropping models in a wetland system constructed for treatment of municipal sewage].

The selective culture method and PCR-DGGE technology were applied to analyze the number and the biodiversity of microorganism species in cells with plant intercropping models and without plants in different seasons in a wetland system constructed for treatment of municipal sewage. The results showed that the numbers of microorganisms were considerably larger in the cells with plant intercropping models than those without plants, while the number of microorganisms was apparently larger in summer than that in winter in all treatments. Along the three-sequenced treatment cells with plant intercropping models a "low-high-low" changing trend in the numbers of microorganisms in summer. The UPGMA cluster analysis showed that the treatments in the same season were clustered in the same branch except for a few samples in winter and the biodiversity index was consistently higher in summer than that in winter. Five different sequences (DF1-DF5) were obtained through BLAST analysis and retrieval. The closest known origin groups were located as Escherichia coli, Citrobacter sp., Proteus sp., Klebsiella oxytoca, and Burkholderia sp. respectively. The BLASTX comparison test showed that DF1 closely related to the activities of the Mycobacterium bacillus and the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, DF2 functioned as a conservative potential ATP binding protein, DF3 related to the activities of the Bacillus cereus spore, DF4 was involved in catabolism metabolism of microorganism and DF5 played an important role in decomposition of organic matters.

[Selection of winter plant species for wetlands constructed as sewage treatment systems and evaluation of their wastewater purification potentials].

In order to establish an evaluation system for selection of winter wetland plants possessing high wastewater purification potentials in subtropics areas, designed sewage treatment experiments were carried out by introducing into the constructed wetlands 25 species of winter wetland plants. Cluster analysis was performed by including harmful environment-resistant enzyme and substrate enzyme activities into the commonly applied plant screening and assessment indexes system. The obtained results indicated that there were significant differences among the tested winter plants in their root length and vigor, leaf malonaldehyde (MDA), biomass, average nitrogen and phosphorus concentration and uptake, and urease and phosphoric acid enzyme activities in the root areas. Based on the established evaluation system, the tested plants were clustered into 3 groups. The plants in the 1st group possessing high purification potentials are Oenanthe javanica, Brassicacapestris, Juncus effusu, Saxifragaceae, Iris pseudoacorus, Osmanthus fragrans and Iris ensata; those in the 2nd group possessing moderate purification potentials are Brassica oleracea var acephala, Calendula officinalis, Aucuba japonica, Ligustrum lucidu, Beta vulgaris, Rhododendron simsii and Ilex latifolia; and those in the 3rd group with low purification potentials are Brassica oleracea var acephala, Calistephus chinensis, Rosa chinensis, Antirrhinums, Liriope palatyphylla, Zephyranthes candida, Fatshedera lizei, Petunia hybrida, Ilex quihoui, Dianthus caryophyllus and Loropetalum chinensis.

[Construction of a landscaping-type wetland system for wastewater treatment construction of a landscaping-type wetland system for wastewater treatment and analysis of plant denitrifying effect].

A pilot landscaping-type wetland system for wastewater treatment was constructed by introduction of 15 selected ornamental plant species (including 4 terrestrial plant species). The pilot system consists of 2 sequenced treatment units and 12 sub-units, i.e., a primary treatment unit with 4 parallel cells and a secondary treatment unit with 8 subsurface flow cells. Designed experiments were conducted in the established system to investigate the characteristics of nitrogen accumulation in different plants and the contribution of plant nitrogen uptake to total nitrogen removal of the constructed wetland system. The result shows that the direct contribution by plant uptake to the total nitrogen removal is low, ca. 1%-3% within the nitrogen concentration range 37.5-55.6 mg/L in the influent. Plant uptake does not fully reflect the important role of the plant species in the constructed wetland system for wastewater treatment as the function of the plant should include further its interaction with microorganisms and wetland fillers by enhancing microbial activities and filler adsorption capacities. The plant denitrifying effect, defined as the difference in nitrogen removal rates between units with and without plants, has been used to represent the contribution in nitrogen removal due to presence of plant in the system. The plant denitrifying effect thus includes both the plant nitrogen uptake and the interaction effect of plant with microorganisms and wetland fillers, the later being found to account for more than 80% of the total nitrogen removal in the established treatment system.

Ion adsorption components in liquid/solid systems.

Experiments on Zn2+ and Cd2+ adsorptions on vermiculite in aqueous solutions were conducted to investigate the widely observed adsorbent concentration effect on the traditionally defined adsorption isotherm in the adsorbate range 25-500 mg/L and adsorbent range 10-150 g/L. The results showed that the equilibrium ion adsorption density did not correspond to a unique equilibrium ion concentration in liquid phase. Three adsorbate/adsorbent ratios, the equilibrium adsorption density, the ratio of equilibrium adsorbate concentration in liquid phase to adsorbent concentration, and the ratio of initial adsorbate concentration to adsorbent concentration, were found to be related with unique values in the tested range. Based on the assumption that the equilibrium state of a liquid/solid adsorption system is determined by four mutually related components: adsorbate in liquid phase, adsorbate in solid phase, uncovered adsorption site and covered adsorption site, and that the equilibrium chemical potentials of these components should be equalized, a new model was presented for describing ion adsorption isotherm in liquid/solid systems. The proposed model fit well the experimental data obtained from the examined samples.