The Effect of Rainfall on Aquatic Nitrogen and Phosphorus in a Semi-Humid Area Catchment, Northern China.

The impact of rainfall on water quality may be more important in semi-arid regions, where rainfall is concentrated over a couple of months. To explore the impact of rainfall changes on water quality, e.g., nitrogen (TN) and phosphorous (TP), the diversion from Luan River to Tianjin Watershed in the northern semi-humid area was selected as the study area. TN and TP concentrations in rivers and the Yuqiao Reservoir during the three-year high-flow season (2019-2021) were analyzed. The response relationship and influencing factors among the watershed's biogeochemical process, rainfall, and water quality were clarified. The results showed that rainfall in the high flow season mainly controlled the river flow. The concentration of TN and TP in the inflow rivers is regulated by rainfall/flow, while the concentration of TN and TP in the water diversion river has different variation characteristics in the water diversion period and other periods. The lowest annual concentrations of TN and TP were observed in the normal year, while the highest annual concentration was observed in the wet year, indicating that the hydrological process drove the nutrient transport in the watershed. For the tributaries, the Li River catchment contributed a large amount of N and P to the aquatic environment. For the reservoir, the extreme TN concentrations were the same as the tributaries, while the extremes of TP concentrations decreased from the dry year to wet year, which was in contrast to the tributaries. The spatial variation of TN and TP concentrations in the reservoir showed that the concentration decreased following the flow direction from the river estuary to the reservoir outlet. Considering climate change, with the increase of rainfall in North China in the future, the TN and TP transport fluxes in the watershed may continue to increase, leading to the nitrogen and phosphorus load of the downstream reservoir. To ensure the impact of the increase of potential N and P output fluxes in the watershed on the water quality of the reservoir area, it is necessary to strengthen the effective prevention and control of non-point source pollution in the watershed.

Root and nitrate-N distribution and optimization of N input in winter wheat.

Scientific management of nitrogen (N) fertilizer has a significant effect on yield while also reducing the environmental risks. In this study, we conducted field experiments over three years at two different sites (Zhengzhou and Shangshui) in Henan Province, China, using different N application rates (0, 90,180, 270, and 360 kg ha-1) to determine the relationships between soil N supply and N demand in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Optimal N input was then determined. Both sites showed the same trend. Namely, aboveground N uptake and soil nitrate N (NO3--N) increased with increasing N, while NO3--N decreased with increasing soil depth, gradually moving downwards with growth. A significant correlation (p < 0.001) between increasing aboveground N uptake and increasing NO3--N was also observed under N application, with the best relationships occurring in the 20-60 cm layer during jointing-anthesis (R2 = 0.402-0.431) and the 20-80 cm layer at maturity (R2 = 0.474). Root weight density showed the same spatial-temporal characteristics as NO3--N, following a unimodal trend with increasing N, and peaking at 90 kg ha-1. The root weight density was mainly distributed in the 0-60 cm layer (above 80%), with the 20-60 cm layer accounting for 30% of the total root system. In this layer, the root weight density was also significantly positively correlated with aboveground N uptake. Wheat yield reached saturation under high N (>270 kg ha-1), with a sharp decrease in N use efficiency (NUE) and linear increase in residual NO3--N. To balance yield and the risk of environmental pollution in the experimental area, an N application rate of 180-270 kg ha-1 is recommended under sufficient irrigation, thereby supporting a well-developed root system while ensuring balance between N supply and demand.

Remotely Estimating Aerial N Uptake in Winter Wheat Using Red-Edge Area Index From Multi-Angular Hyperspectral Data.

Remote sensing techniques can be efficient for non-destructive, rapid detection of wheat nitrogen (N) nutrient status. In the paper, we examined the relationships of canopy multi-angular data with aerial N uptake of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) across different growing seasons, locations, years, wheat varieties, and N application rates. Seventeen vegetation indices (VIs) selected from the literature were measured for the stability in estimating aerial N uptake of wheat under 13 view zenith angles (VZAs) in the solar principal plane (SPP). In total, the back-scatter angles showed better VI behavior than the forward-scatter angles. The correlation coefficient of VIs with aerial N uptake increased with decreasing VZAs. The best linear relationship was integrated with the optimized common indices DIDA and DDn to examine dynamic changes in aerial N uptake; this led to coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.769 and 0.760 at the -10° viewing angle. Our novel area index, designed the modified right-side peak area index (mRPA), was developed in accordance with exploration of the spectral area calculation and red-edge feature using the equation: mRPA = (R760/R600)1/2 × (R760-R718). Investigating the predictive accuracy of mRPA for aerial N uptake across VZAs demonstrated that the best performance was at -10° [R2 = 0.804, p < 0.001, root mean square error (RMSE) = 3.615] and that the effect was relatively similar between -20° to +10° (R2 = 0.782, p < 0.001, RMSE = 3.805). This leads us to construct a simple model under wide-angle combinations so as to improve the field operation simplicity and applicability. Fitting independent datasets to the models resulted in relative error (RE, %) values of 12.6, 14.1, and 14.9% between estimated and measured aerial N uptake for mRPA, DIDA, and DDn across the range of -20° to +10°, respectively, further confirming the superior test performance of the mRPA index. These results illustrate that the novel index mRPA represents a more accurate assessment of plant N status, which is beneficial for guiding N management in winter wheat.

[Influence of sulfur on the bioavailability of arsenic uptake by rice (Oryza. sativa L. ) and its speciation in soil ].

Pot experiments using exogenous arsenic-polluted paddy soils were carried out to investigate the influence of different forms of sulfur fertilizers (sulfur and gypsum) on As uptake by rice and its chemical speciation. Soil solution pH value ranged 7. 38-7. 45 in different growth period of rice, and the pH value of AsS0 and AsS1 treatments was higher than that of AsS2 treatment. Variation of Eh value in soil solution was about 200 mV and the Eh of AsS0 was higher than those of AsS1 and AsS2 treatments. From dry matter weight of root and stem and grain of rice, S-fertilizer applied by sulfur and gypsum could improve the amounts of dry matter in rice, while the effects of sulfur treatments and gypsum treatments were not significant. Concentrations of Fe and Mn in iron-manganese plaque on rice roots were 10-30 g.kg-1 and 0.1-1.3 g.kg-1, respectively. Contents of Fe-Mn plaque were mainly different in the tiller stage. Elemental S treatment could more greatly promote the formation of Fe-Mn plaque of rice root than gypsum treatment. Concentrations of As adsorbed by rice roots surface plaque were 583-719 mg.kg-' in tiller stage, 466-621 mg.kg-1 in boot stage, and 310-384 mg kg-1 in flower and matur stage. And it was consistent with the thickness of Fe-Mn plaque on rice root surface. Concentrations of As uptake in roots and stem and leaf and grain were significantly reduced by the application of S fertilizer, and it may be related to the amount of As adsorbed by Fe-Mn plaque at boot stage. According to chemical speciation of soil arsenic, As of non-specific and specific adsorption was most active, and their amounts of As adsorbed in AsS, treatment were significantly lower by 2.85 mg kg-~' than that in AsS2 treatment in tiller stage, and was 0.77 mg.kg- higher than that in AsS2 treatment in the flower stage. Perhaps soil arsenic was easily dissolved in the soil solution and the bioavailability of AsS, treatment was better than that of AsS, treatment.

[Effect of sulfur on the species of Fe and As under redox condition in paddy soil].

Redox conditions of the polluted paddy soil with exogenous As were simulated by redox reaction apparatus after flowing N2 and O2 applied with different forms of inorganic sulfur(CK-S0, elemental sulfur-S1 and sulfate-S2). Results showed that redox potential (Eh) was about -100 - -200 mV and the pH 7.0-8.0 and the pe + pH 4-7 in soil solution when flowed N2, and Eh about 200 mV and the pH 6.5-7.5 and pe + pH 9-12 when continuously flowed O2. Concentrations of the dissolved Fe in soil solution were in 1.2-1.6 mg x L(-1) either flowed N2 or O2, and the order of Fe concentrations was AsS0 treatment > AsS1 treatment > AsS2 treatment. Amounts of soil Fe oxide by HCl extraction from different treatments were 5 g · kg(-1) lower than the original soil [(21.4 ± 0.3) g · kg(-1)] when flowed N2, and it was in favor of the transformation of crystal Fe into amorphous iron and Fe2+. Activity of Fe oxides from different treatments increased comparing to that of the original soil (46. 8%), and the order of activity of Fe oxides was AsS2 treatment (49.4%) < AsS1 treatment (60%). Fe2+ in solution and FeS were oxidized into Fe3+, and hydrolysis of Fe3+ was produced into Fe(OH)3 precipitation when flowed O2. It increased the contents of acid-soluble and crystal Fe oxide, and the order of activity of Fe oxides was AsS1 (41.2%) treatment > AsS2 (36.1%) treatment. Concentrations of As in soil solution were in the order of AsS0 [(1.13 ± 0.04) mg · L(-1)] > AsS1 [(0.89 ± 0.01) mg L(- 1)] > AsS2 [ (0.77 ± 0.04 )mg · L(-1)] when flowed N2 and was AsS1 [(0.77 ± 0.01) mg · L(-1)] > AsS0 [(0.20 ± 0.09 ) mg · L(-1)] > AsS2 [(0.09 ± 0.01) mg · L(-1)] when flowed O2. The proportions of arsenic fractions followed the order of the residual phases (34.9%-41.4%) ≈ specifically-sorbed (37.4%-39.5%) > well-crystallized hydrous oxides of Fe/Mn (23.3%-25.6%) > non-specifically sorbed (2.4%-3.3%) > amorphous hydrous oxides of Fe/Mn (0.5%-0.8%) when flowed N2, and was the residual phases (30.8%-39.3%) specifically-sorbed (30.3%-34.7%) > well-crystallized hydrous oxides of Fe/Mn (26.0%-28.7%) > amorphous hydrous oxides of Fe/Mn (9.3%-10.7%) > non-specifically sorbed (0.5%-1.6%) when flowed O2. Arsenic from amorphous hydrous oxides of Fe/Mn raised about 9% by flowing O2 than by flowing N2. This could be the effect of the aging amorphous Fe/Mn on the transformation of As, and the increased activity of iron oxide under reducing conditions and enhanced mobility of Arsenic. Elemental surfer system could increase mobility of arsenic more than sulfate system which may decrease degree of activity of iron oxide.

[Effects of combined application of biogas slurry and chemical fertilizer on winter wheat rhizosphere soil microorganisms and enzyme activities].

This paper studied the effects of combined application of biogas slurry and chemical fertilizer under same N application rate on the quantities of bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi as well as the activities of urease, protease and catalase in winter wheat rhizosphere soil. With the growth of winter wheat, the quantities of test microorganisms and the activities of urease and catalase showed a trend of increasing after an initial decrease, while the protease activity showed an S-type change. Combined application of biogas slurry and chemical fertilizer increased the quantities of test microorganisms significantly, and improved the activities of soil urease and protease. Applying 50% biogas slurry N as basal plus 50% chemical N as topdressing and applying 25% biogas slurry N as basal plus 75% chemical N as topdressing had the best effect, while applying single conventional urea or biogas slurry had the worst effect. At all growth stages, the activity of soil catalase was the highest in treatments 25% biogas slurry N as basal plus 75% chemical N as topdressing and single biogas slurry, but had greater differences in other treatments among the growth stages. The results suggested that proper biogas slurry application combined with chemical fertilization could increase the microbial quantity and enzyme activities in winter wheat rhizosphere soil.

[Effects of nitrogen fertilization on population dynamics and yield of high-yielding wheat and on alteration of soil nitrogen].

Taking wheat varieties Yumai 49-198 (multi-spike phenotype) and Lankao Aizao 8 (large-spike phenotype) as test materials, field experiments were conducted at Wenxian and Lankao sites of Henan Province to study the effects of nitrogen fertilization on their population dynamics and yield and on the alteration of soil nitrogen. Five nitrogen application rates, i. e., 0, 90, 180, 270, and 360 N kg x hm(-2) were installed. The population amount of the two test varieties were all increased after emergence, reached the highest at jointing stage, and decreased afterwards. As for Yumai 49-198, its population amount had no significant differences at wintering and turning-green stages among the five nitrogen application rates and two experimental sites, but differed significantly after jointing stage with the nitrogen application rates. For Lankao Aizao 8, its population amount had no significant differences among the nitrogen application rates during whole growth period. The grain yield of the two varieties increased with the increase of nitrogen fertilization rate, but excessive nitrogen fertilization decreased the grain yield. Yumai 49-198 had the highest yield at 270 N kg x hm(-2), being 9523 and 9867 kg x hm(-2) at Wenxian and Lanako sites, respectively, while Lankao Aizao 8 had the highest yield at 180 N kg x hm(-2), being 9258 and 9832 kg x hm(-2) at Wenxian and Lanako sites, respectively. With the increase of nitrogen fertilization rate, soil nitrate N concentration and apparent nitrogen loss increased. At Wenxian and Lankao sites, the apparent soil nitrogen loss for Yumai 49-198 was 32.56% - 51.84% and - 16.7% - 42.6% of fertilized nitrogen, and that for Lankao Aizao 8 was 18.58% - 52.94% and - 11.5% - 45.8% of fertilized nitrogen, respectively. Considering the yield and environmental effect comprehensively, the nitrate N concentration in 0-90 cm soil layer in our case should not be exceeded 120 - 140 kg x hm(-2), and the maximal nitrogen application rate should not be exceeded 180 kg x hm(-2).

[Effects of ecological factors on the dough extensograph parameters of different winter wheat cultivars].

In 2000-2001 and 2001-2002, six representative winter wheat cultivars Yumai 34, Gaomai 8901, Yumai 49, Yumai 70, Luoyang 8716, and Yumai 50 were consecutively grown at five locations (Xinyang, Zhumadian, Xuchang, Wuzhi, and Tangyin) with latitudes varying from 32 degrees N to 36 degrees N in Henan Province, aimed to understand the relationships of winter wheat dough extensograph parameters with genetic and ecological factors. The dough extensograph parameters were more affected by genetic factors than by ecological factors. Cultivars Yumai 34 and Gaomai 8901 had significantly higher maximum resistance and extension area than the other four test cultivars, and significant differences in the dough extensograph parameters were observed between the cultivars grown in the south region (Xinyang and Zhumadian) and in the north region (Wuzhi and Tangyin) of the Province. The change patterns of dough extensograph parameters with latitude differed in 2000-2001 and in 2001-2002, and the effects of climatic factors on the dough extensograph parameters varied with year. In 2001-2002, the precipitation at the stage from grain-filling to maturing affected the dough extensograph parameters significantly. Our results suggested that in order to improve the dough extensograph parameters of winter wheat, local meteorological conditions should be taken into full consideration in the soil water management at late-maturing stage.

[Effects of latitude on grain's protein components of winter wheat cultivars].

Six representative winter wheat cultivars were planted at five locations with the latitude varied from 32 degrees N to 36 degrees N in Henan Province to study the effects of latitude on their grain's protein components. The results showed that with increasing latitude, the contents of albumin and gliadin decreased, while glutenin content, glutenin/gliadin ratio, sum of protein components, and grain yield increased. The grain's albumin content of test cultivars at Xinyang, gliadin content at Zhumadian and Xuchang, and glutenin content and glutenin/gliadin ratio at Wuzhi and Tangyin were higher than those at other locations. The average air temperature, total sunlight hours, and precipitation in May had close relations with the grain' s protein components of test winter wheat cultivars at different locations. In order to improve wheat grain quality, suitable cultivars should be chosen to match the local ecological conditions, and, management practices for improving photosynthesis and extending grain-filling period should be performed in May.

[Effects of water-nitrogen interaction on the contents and components of protein and starch in wheat grains].

With wheat cultivars Yumai 34 (strong-gluten wheat) and Yumai 50 (weak-gluten wheat) as test materials, a field experiment was conducted to study the effects of three irrigation treatments (irrigation at jointing stage, at jointing and grain-filling stages, and at jointing, grain-filling, and pre-maturing stages), three nitrogen application rates (0, 150, and 270 kg x hm(-2)), and their combinations on the contents and components of protein and starch in wheat grains. The results showed that for strong-gluten wheat cultivar Yumai 34, applying 270 kg x hm(-2) of N increased the total content of protein and the contents of albumin, gliadin and glutelin, and enhanced the glutelin/gliadin ratio. This application rate of nitrogen also increased the total content of starch and the content of amylopectin, and decreased the amylose/amylopetin ratio. For weak-gluten wheat cultivar Yumai 50, applying 150 kg x hm(-2) of N increased the contents of albumin and gliadin, and decreased the contents of globulin and glutelin and the glutelin/gliadin ratio. The amylopectin and starch contents also increased when the N application rate was 150 kg x hm(-2). Non-N fertilization or applying 270 kg x hm(-2) of N decreased the accumulation of protein and starch, and resulted in a decrease of grain yield. Among the irrigation treatments, irrigation at jointing and grain-filling stages promoted the accumulation of protein and starch in grains and increased the grain yield, while the other two treatments were unbeneficial to the accumulation of protein and starch and decreased the grain yield. Applying 270 kg x hm(-2) and 150 kg x hm(-2) of N combined with irrigation at jointing and grain-filling stages was the ideal management regime for the high yield and good quality of strong- and weak-gluten wheat cultivars, respectively.

[Key enzymes in starch synthesis in plants].

Starch, the most common form of stored carbon in plants, is both the major food source for mankind and important raw material for many industries. It is composed of two types of alpha-1,4-linked glucan polymer: essentially unbranched amylose and regularly branched amylopectin, and synthesized in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic organs. Starch is synthesized via four committed enzyme steps: ADP-Glc pyrophosphorylase, which synthesizes sugar nucleotide precursors; starch synthase, which extends the alpha-1,4-linked glucan chains using ADP-Glc; starch-branching enzymes, which introduce alpha-1,6 branch points to form amylopectin; and starch debranching enzymes, which hydrolyze alpha-1,6 branches in glucans. In this paper, recent advances in biochemical characterizations and gene engineering concerning these enzymes were reviewed, and the achievements in gene engineering involved in manipulation of starch amount and quality were also cited.