Objective Soil organic carbon (SOC) in deeper soils may be more protected by mineral particles than SOC in shallower soils; thus, the vertical SOC distribution is closely related to the overall SOC stability. This study aimed to verify the relationship between the solubility temperature dependence of water extractable SOC fractions and their vertical distribution characteristics. Methods Soil samples

Purpose The geochemistry of rare earth elements (REEs, La to Lu) in suspended sediments (SS) is generally controlled by weathering processes and the water environment. Although the concentrations and fractionations of REEs in SS have been reported in the Zhujiang River, China, their variations and controlling factors have not been researched. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify the REE

Purpose Biochars have potential to reduce soil acidity and Al3+ toxicity, and increase the availability of soil nutrients. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of biochars and their raw feedstocks in amelioration of soil acidity. Materials and methods Ten ameliorants comprising of five biochars (pyrolyzed at 550°C) and their corresponding feedstocks (wheat chaff, canola stubble, vetch hay

Purpose The influence of slope gradient on interrill erosion processes is a key scientific problem in the decision-making process regarding soil erosion control in Loess Plateau. The relationship of time to runoff (RT), flow velocity (V), runoff rate (RR) and interrill erosion rate (IER) with slope gradient was investigated to derive accurate experimental model to evaluate and quantify the influence

Purpose The availability of potentially toxic elements in the soil is important to evaluate the risk they pose for humans and the broader environment. Implementation of environmental laws, especially in developing countries, makes it necessary to establish background concentrations for contaminants in soil. Methods Soil samples from Aridisols, Entisols, and Vertisols in the northern Nile Delta, Egypt

Purpose Methionine is a redox-sensitive sulfur-containing amino acid and can be oxidized to sulfur compounds, including sulfoxide and other volatile sulfur compounds participating in the entire sulfur cycle. However, further definition of the kinetics and transformation pathways of methionine mediated by manganese oxide under environmental conditions is required. This study aimed to clarify the transformation

Purpose Dissimilatory nitrate (NO3−) reduction to ammonium (DNRA) is a significant nitrogen (N) transformation process in estuarine ecosystem. The objectives of this study were to clarify the key biotic and abiotic factors influencing DNRA potential rates in Xiamen Bay. Methods We characterized DNRA, anammox, and denitrification rates through 15 N isotope tracer experiments. Then quantitative real-time

Purpose Continuous cropping of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.) causes soil degradation, accumulating Ralstonia solanacearum that induce Ralstonia wilt notably in plastic shed soils. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a crucial role in protecting hosts against such soil-borne pathogens, but comprehensive understanding of the soil–plant defense systems upon mycorrhization is not clear yet, especially

Purpose Phosphorus (P) and silicon (Si) mobility and their interactions in soils are sensitive to soil pH. Although Si fertilizer application has been reported to efficiently increase P availability in soils, the responses of Si mobility and availability to soil P enrichment are not well understood. Materials and methods This study investigated the effects of P addition and artificial soil acidification

Purpose Applying carbon-rich materials, such as those resulting from pyrolysis (biochar) or composting (compost), to the agro-ecosystems has been proven to improve soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and reduce CO2 emissions. However, it is not clear how earthworms drive changes in soil C sequestration and mineralization under biochar/compost incorporation. Materials and methods A 288-day microcosm experiment

Purpose Exploring how organic amendments influence carbon sequestration by affecting particulate organic carbon (POC) and determining the optimum amendment for protecting and restoring mollisol and increasing yields. Methods Differences of POC properties and maize yields in 3-year soils amended with organic material of different origins were studied. POC was separated by a wet sieving method, and the

Purpose The straw generated from crops significantly affects the soil microbial community when returned to the soil. However, the effects of different application times of straw return treatment on the microbial community remain unknown. Materials and methods Soil samples were collected from different depths (0–30 cm) at different straw return times (every year return (E0y), every 2 years (E1y), and

Purpose Soil aggregate stability associates closely with many environmental and agricultural problems. Some studies using the model aggregates find that soil internal forces exert an important impact on soil aggregate stability. However, the effect of soil internal forces on the stability of natural soil aggregates during vegetation restoration has been little studied. Methods Five different succession

Purpose The spatial distribution and potential ecological risks of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as Sb, As, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cr in sediment samples from the Qingfeng River were evaluated. This study aims to reveal the current status of sediment quality in the Qingfeng River and provide a scientific basis for its remediation and further comprehensive management. Materials and methods Descriptive

Purpose The present study was performed to investigate the effects of the interaction of fulvic acid (FA) with different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer (N) on soil phosphorus availability and transformation in a salt-affected soil and to obtain the direct and indirect relationships between inorganic phosphorus (Pi) fractions and Olsen-P. Materials and methods An incubation experiment was conducted

Purpose The present study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative electro-bio-chemical approach, in the phytoremediation of multi-elements polluted soil. Methods A 3×4 factorial greenhouse trial was conducted with four levels of amendments (without amendment, chemical amendment, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), biological amendment (Thiobacillus), and both) and three levels of electrical

Purpose Nitrogen is widely used in agricultural production, including in arsenic-contaminated soil. However, there is a lack of systematic studies on the arsenic (As) dynamics in soil porewater–root surface–rice system after applying different nitrogen fertilizers to As-contaminated soil. Materials and methods Three treatments (CK, Nitrate-N, and Ammonium-N) were applied before rice planting to investigate

Purpose Soil moisture plays an important factor to impact runoff and the slope stability, but how vegetation affects the soil moisture variability of slope stability is poorly understood. In order to compare the stability of different shrub slopes under the effect of soil moisture, four types of shrubs (Periploca sepium, Lespedeza bicolor, Ziziphus jujuba, and Punica granatum) are selected for ecological

Purpose To study the possible adverse impacts of urbanization on the accumulation of heavy metals in cultivated soils. Materials and methods Five hundred thirty-one topsoil samples in the farmland of the peripheral areas of western Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, Southeast China, were collected. The contents of heavy metal elements, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn, and crustal stable trace elements

Purpose This study aimed to assess the effects of spent Flammulina velutipes substrate (SFS) amendment on microbial properties of cucumber continuous cropping soil. Materials and methods A laboratory microcosm experiment was designed with four treatments: fresh SFS (F-SFS), sterilized SFS (S-SFS), mineral NPK fertilizer (NPK) and control (CK). Soil chemical properties, microbial biomass carbon (MBC)

Purpose Loess landscapes are highly susceptible to soil erosion, which affects soil stability and productivity. Erosion is non-linear in time and space and determines whether soils form or degrade. While the spatial variability of erosion is often assessed by either modelling or on-site measurements, temporal trends over decades to millennia are very often lacking. In this study, we determined long-

Purpose Compared with deep oligotrophic waters, the distribution and geochemical processes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in shallow eutrophic waters are more complicated. The fourth largest freshwater lake in China (Lake Hongze) was taken as an example to study distribution, sources, bioaccumulation, and air–water exchange of PAHs in shallow eutrophic waters. Materials and methods Eighty

Purpose Paulownia is the fastest-growing timber species all over the world which depended on exogenous nutrient input and scattered in the subtropical region of China. Practical experience proved that balanced fertilization can provide a rational nutrition supply for Paulownia cultivation by affecting soil microorganisms. However, there have been no rigorous studies on the effects of fertilization

Purpose Mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg) are easily released from sediments to overlying water and cause secondary contamination. In general, Hg concentrations are low in natural aquatic environments, but Hg toxicity is high. Therefore, it is important to assess the mobility and release risks of Hg and MeHg from surface sediment using in situ high-resolution sampling techniques. Methods The profile

Purpose Instability of slope surface is a critical concern in Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering. MICP (Microbial-Induced Carbonate Precipitation), an innovative bio-cementation technique, has attracted the attention for slope surface protection. In this work, MICP was investigated to evaluate its durability under the exposure of acid rain and to advance the understanding on long-term performance

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-021-02986-z

Purpose The underground mining of coal leads to land subsidence and changes agricultural land into a water-logged area. This study aims to examine the relationship between coal mining subsidence and crop failure in plains with a high underground water table. Methods The Dongtan Coal Mine in Jining City of Shandong Province in China was selected as an example. Samples were gathered at gradient intervals

Purpose Riverine floodplain soils are important reservoirs of organic carbon (OC) in terrestrial ecosystems because of their high biomass productivity and OC input via flood events. Substantial knowledge of the riverine floodplain soil OC distribution and its impacting variables are significant for predicting carbon sequestration and emission. This study aimed at (1) predicting SOC in riverine floodplain

Purpose This research presents experimental results of dredged lakebed sediment-stabilised with ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and fly ash (FA) for use as pavement materials in road infrastructure. The work also proposed empirical correlations for the strength and stiffness parameters of chemically stabilised dredged sediments intended for pavement engineering. Materials and methods The dredged sediment

Purpose We evaluated the role of water levels and plant-associated effects on the composition of bacterial communities and the soil organic matter (SOM) composition in wetland ecosystem. Materials and methods Soil (0–15 cm) associated with Phragmites communis, Triarrhena lutarioriparia, Carex cinerascens, and Zizania latifolia was sampled in different water levels (as proxied by sampling time) to analyze

Purpose Sewage sludge land application is strongly recommended to improve soil quality and fertility despite the presence of pollutants, pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes. This study aimed to assess the fertilization value of low and recommended by law sewage sludge dose (15 t ha−1). Materials and methods In a 540-day field study, the effect of sewage sludge on the soil physicochemical and

Purpose The effective removal of internal pollution is of great importance for lake management and eutrophication control in shallow lakes. A new technology for collecting internal pollution was tested in a shallow lake. Methods The surface sediments of shallow lakes have a low density and flow easily. Under the disturbance of wind-induced waves, such sediments will resuspend and enter the water body

Purpose The objectives of this study were to explore the effects of bulking agent and nutrients on the pore characteristics, remediation efficiency, and biotoxicity of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. Furthermore, the correlation among the three characteristic indices was studied. Methods Three pilot-scale biopiles were constructed to treat aged petroleum-contaminated soil. Micro-CT was applied

Purpose Thaw slumps are widely distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) due to global warming and engineering constructions. However, an understanding of the effect of thaw slumps on the 3-D soil macropore networks is lacking. In this study, we aimed to quantify the responses of soil macropore structure to thaw slumps in QTP. Materials and methods Three stages were selected according to the intensities

Purpose This work aimed to (i) investigate the effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on controlling the release of phosphorus from sediment and (ii) interpret the phosphorus migration and transformation mechanism in the Al-PHOSLOCK thin-layer capping system. Methods A 35-day laboratory dynamic simulation experiment was conducted by applying the Al-PHOSLOCK thin-layer capping to evaluate the effect

Purpose In this study, 1-year decomposition experiments were conducted to measure the litter carbon decomposition dynamics in saltmarsh and to determine the changes in the chemical structure of litter carbon during the litter decomposition process. Methods Litterbags containing a mixture of Spartina alterniflora litter and burned sediment were buried at four S. alterniflora saltmarshes and one S. alterniflora–Suaeda

Purpose Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the key elements leading to eutrophication, and it is important to jointly control N and P release from sediments into the water column. Methods Different mixed materials including P sorbent, natural organic carbon (C), and an oxidizing agent were applied in a 1-year pilot-scale experiment. Results The addition of iron-rich (IR) clay and Phoslock agent promoted

Purpose The analysis of n-alkanes in palaeoenvironmental studies of peatlands is mainly limited to ombrogenous peatlands which are a rare feature in the environment. Using n-alkane and plant macrofossil analysis, we have tracked changes in the environment in the valley of a large Central European river. We tested the possibilities for applying such studies to low-moor bogs which are the most commonly

Purpose The occurrence of harmful algae blooms has been increasing in large lakes worldwide. The mechanism of heavy metals mobilization in sediments during algae blooms is not well understood. As a major pollutant in the sediments of Taihu Lake, cobalt (Co) has been selected to study heavy metal mobilization during algae blooms. Materials and methods Rhizon and HR-Peeper sampling techniques have been

Purpose One of the most significant problems in eutrophic lakes is the presence of algal blooms, which may affect phosphorus (P) inactivation agents (PIAs) in the control of P release from sediment. Therefore, in this study, lanthanum/aluminium co-modified thermally treated calcium-rich attapulgite (LA@TCAP) is used to analyse the influence and mechanisms of algal blooms on P inactivation effect to

Purpose The study aimed to determine the interactive effect of temperature with nutrients on maize residues decomposition in soil. Materials and methods We conducted an incubation of 87 days by applying maize straw (δ13C value of −11.2‰) to soil (δ13C value of −26.3‰) with low (N0), medium (NM), and high (NH) level of nutrients addition, at two temperature levels of 5 °C (T-L) and 25 °C (T-H). We measured

Purpose Currently, effective methods to eliminate nitrate in wastewater with a low C/N ratio are urgently needed. Considering that sediment is the main nitrogen removal carrier in lakes and that woodchip is an excellent carbon source, this study was undertaken under an integrated system of these two substances to explore the process and efficiency of the denitrification involved. Material and methods

Purpose The runoff and sediment load of the Yellow River have changed greatly in recent decades and therefore it is important to understand the drivers of such changes. In the assessment of water and soil erosion, multiple questions can only be addressed given a better understanding of the past. Materials and methods In this study, taking the He-Long section of the Middle Yellow River as the research

Purpose Sediment connectivity is an emerging term that explains the connected transfer of sediment from all sources within a watershed to its outlet. Validation and further development of this concept require considerable supporting data. This research aims to investigate the relationship between the connectivity index (IC) and specific sediment yield (SSY) of catchments with similar erosion potentials

Purpose Visible-near-infrared spectroscopy (VIRS) is one of the most promising alternative techniques for soil organic matter (SOM) due to its direct response. In this study, partial least squares regression (PLSR), support vector machine (SVM), artificial neural networks (ANNs), and Cubist combined with VIRS were utilized to develop the calibration model and evaluate the ability of machine learning

Purpose Although hypolimnetic anoxia is a common occurrence in deep lakes and reservoirs, understanding the processes of oxygen depletion in water columns and sediment is challenging. This study investigates oxygen depletion in both the hypolimnion and sediments in a stratified reservoir. The areal hypolimnetic oxygen demand (AHOD) and sediment oxygen demand (SOD) were evaluated to determine key factors

Purpose The release of endogenous phosphorus from sediments leads to the eutrophication of water bodies. Bacteria in sediments play a vital role in phosphorus cycling. A high hydrostatic pressure can alter the microecology and affect bacterial functions at the water–sediment interface. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression patterns of functional genes in bacteria associated with phosphorus

Purpose The adsorption of organic matter and phosphate on minerals is a common natural process that has an important impact on the migration and burial of carbon and phosphorus. Previous studies have focused mainly on the influence of organic matter on the adsorption of phosphate. Yet, the influence of phosphate on the adsorption of different pools of organic matter is not well understood. This study

Purpose We investigated S. alterniflora saltmarshes in 10 regions to distinguish the major sources of soil organic carbon (SOC) and provide data for SOC content in Chinese coastal wetlands under exotic invasion. Methods We collected soil and plant samples. We analyzed the soil properties for SOC content, recalcitrant organic carbon (RC), labile organic carbon (LC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus

Purpose To realize the high-precision measurement of available nitrogen in coco-peat substrate, the influences of near-infrared (NIR) spectral data of different spectral resolution and band ranges on the model detection performances were studied. Materials and methods A flame NIR spectrometer and an ANTARIS FT-NIR spectrometer were used to acquire spectral data of short-wave near-infrared (SW-NIR)

Purpose The recently identified nosZII gene plays a key role in mitigating nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, and emergent macrophytes along lakeshores are areas of significant N2O emissions. The rhizosphere microenvironments of emergent macrophytes provide habitats that can potentially influence the abundance and composition of nosZII-containing microorganisms and, therefore, N2O emissions. Methods Here

Purpose Sustained inputs of nitrogen and/or phosphorus from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to aquatic environments lead to an increased risk of eutrophication. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relative proportions of biotic and abiotic processes in the uptake of phosphorus by streambed sediments and their response to exogenous carbon (sodium acetate) concentration gradients, as well

Purpose The aims of the study were to investigate the interaction between fractions of organic matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in bottom sediments and to use mussels as passive biomonitors and consensus-based sediment quality guidelines for ecological risk assessment in sediments. Methods Bottom sediment samples were taken from 46 points located in the Rożnów reservoir (Poland).

Purpose Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) play a vital in plant growth, and their stoichiometric ratios (RCN, RCP, RNP, and RCNP) are important indicators of the elemental balance in the soil ecosystem. However, the effects of land-use change (from natural forest to high-intensity orchards) on dynamics of SOC, TN, TP, and their stoichiometric ratios along the

Purpose Soil organic carbon (SOC), especially the stable SOC, have the important ecological function in the carbon cycle. As a typical stable SOC, soil phytolith-occluded organic carbon (PhytOC) is one of the important mechanisms of long-term soil carbon sink in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the distribution characteristics, accumulation law, and cycle process of soil PhytOC in fragile karst ecosystems

Purpose Soil fertility plays a key role in citrus productivity. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the effects of soil amendments on soil fertility and citrus productivity and estimate carbon fractions’ suitability, which response to soil fertility and citrus productivity. Methods A field experiment in a citrus orchard was conducted containing five treatments: local habit fertilization (LF), special

Purpose Seasonal hypoxia in water bodies can increase levels of reduced chemical species in the hypolimnion as they are released from anoxic bottom sediments. Water-lifting aeration (WLA) is a technology known to solve this problem by elevating near-sediment dissolved oxygen (DO) and increasing mixing in the water column in a canyon reservoir with deep water (>20 m). The influence of WLA in reservoirs

Purposes Establishing accurate geochemical baselines by normalization procedures (NP) is important for distinguishing contaminated soils from the uncontaminated ones. In the areas with intensive anthropogenic influences, geochemical baselines are easily affected by the contaminated soils. The commonly used least squares method is not robust enough because it is sensitive to outliers, resulting in distorted