[Quantitative Comparison of Methods to Assess the Airborne Particulate Matter Retention Capacity of Leaves].

The objective of this study was to explore the differences of five methods for evaluating the PM retention capacity of leaves based on the same experimental materials and leaf area measurement method and to summarize the advantages and disadvantages of each method. In this study, four tree species (Pinus tabuliformis, Platycladus orientalis, Ginkgo biloba, and Platanus occidentalis), which are common in Beijing and have greatly different leaf characteristics, were selected as the research objects. The mass subtraction method (MS), the membrane filter method (MF), the aerosol regenerator method(AR), the scanning electron method (SEM), and the elution weighing method coupled with a particle size analysis based on ultrasonic cleaning (ultrasonic-EWPA) were used to evaluate the PM retention capabilities and characteristics of the leaves of the four tree species. The total time needed and the total cost were measured simultaneously during the evaluation process. The results showed that although the values of PM retention efficiency obtained by different methods were quite different, the ranks of the efficiency of four tree species obtained by different methods were the same or partially the same. Additionally, the results obtained by the methods with the same or similar principles were more overlapped (AR and SEM had the most overlapped results). In addition, 89% of the species ranks of the same index obtained by each method were P. orientalis > P. tabuliformis > P. occidentalis > G. biloba, and the remaining 11% were P. occidentalis > G. biloba > P. orientalis > P. tabuliformis. Among the five methods, ultrasonic-EWPA was the one with the largest number of indexes and the highest cost, and MS was the one with the least number of indexes and the lowest cost. The one that needed most time was MF, while the one that needed the least time was AR. ultrasonic-EWPA and SEM are high input and high output methods. That is to say, although they needed more time and cost, they can prove more information; however, MS was opposite, which resulted in less information but lower time and cost needed. So, it is suitable for roughly evaluating the total PM retention capacities of trees; MF had a medium amount of information, low cost, but required too much time, which needs to be weighed and balanced before selecting this method. The AR method had strict requirements for equipment and parameters and should be used with caution. The results of this study can provide a comprehensive and detailed scientific basis for researchers to choose specific methods in the future.

[Evaluation of nitrogen loss way in summer maize system under different fertilizer N managements].

The objective of this study was to investigate nitrogen (N) loss from soil-crop systems under different fertilizer N managements, and to provide some suggestions on optimizing fertilizer management practices. The experiment was carried in high yield production area of Huantai county in Shandong province in 2009. Four kinds of fertilizer N application practices were designed, including CK, farmer practice (FP), optimizing fertilizer application (OPT) and controlled release fertilizer (CRT) for studying the fate of N during the maize growth season in 2009. The water and nitrogen management model (WNMM) was used to simulate the dynamics of soil water and N fate. The results indicated that the ratio of nitrate leaching and NH3 volatilization accounting of fertilizer N ranged from 6% to 18% and 5% to 34%, and their means were 12.7% and 20.7%, respectively. The amount of N leaching under OPT was 14.5 kg x hm(-2), was the lowest in all treatments. The amount of NH3 volatilization under CRT was 7.6 kg x hm(-2), respectively, was the lowest in all treatments. The order of total N loss under four treatments followed as: FP > OPT > CRF approximately CK. Both OPT and CRT treatments are the best management practices considering their high grain yield, water and nitrogen use efficiencies, and environmental protection.

[Simulation of soil water dynamics in triploid Populus tomentosa root zone under subsurface drip irrigation].

Based on the observed data of triploid Populus tomentosa root distribution, a one-dimensional root water uptake model was proposed. Taking the root water uptake into account, the soil water dynamics in triploid P. tomentosa root zone under subsurface drip irrigation was simulated by using HYDRUS model, and the results were validated with field experiment. Besides, the HYDRUS model was used to study the effects of various irrigation technique parameters on soil wetting patterns. The RMAE for the simulated soil water content by the end of irrigation and approximately 24 h later was 7.8% and 6.0%, and the RMSE was 0.036 and 0.026 cm3 x cm(-3), respectively, illustrating that the HYDRUS model performed well in simulating the short-term soil water dynamics in triploid P. tomentosa root zone under drip irrigation, and the root water uptake model was reasonable. Comparing with 2 and 4 L x h(-1) of drip discharge and continuous irrigation, both the 1 L x h(-1) of drip discharge and the pulsed irrigation with water applied intermittently in 30 min periods could increase the volume of wetted soil and reduce deep percolation. It was concluded that the combination of 1 L x h(-1) of drip discharge and pulsed irrigation should be the first choice when applying drip irrigation to triploid P. tomentosa root zone at the experiment site.

[Heavy metals pollution and its stability assessment of sediments in flowing rivers around lake Taihu].

16 main inflow and outflow rivers around Lake Taihu were chosen as the research object, and the concentrations and distribution of four heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn) in the surface sediments of these river estuaries were detected. The pollution extent and stability were analyzed by using three-step sequential extraction method (BCR method). Aim of this study is to control heavy metal pollution of Lake Taihu and provide the basic information. Based on the results, the monitored river estuaries all had been contaminated by different degrees, and four heavy metals' concentrations all exceeded the threshold effect level (TEL) at most sampling sites. A distinct spatial heterogeneity was found in extracted fractions of these heavy metals distribution: northern rivers > southern rivers, inflow rivers > outflow rivers. The Stability Assessment Code (SAC) for different metals varied in the descending order of Cd, Zn, Pb and Cu. Compared with Pb and Cu, Cd and Zn had a higher second release potential and ecological risk.