Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is crucial to carbon and nutrient biogeochemical cycling in the marine environment because it helps fuel heterotrophic microbial activity by providing substrates for degradation and remineralization. This study shows that substantial production of DOM in Texas estuaries can result from the solar radiation-enhanced dissolution (photodissolution) of particulate organic matter (POM). Experimental results showed that 0.4-6.6 mg C L⁻¹gsed⁻¹ of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and 0.03-0.93 mg N L⁻¹gsed⁻¹ of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) can be produced from irradiated sediment suspensions within 24 hours, and further that photodissolution may augment DOC and TDN loads in Texas estuarine waters by as much as 3-85% and 4-75%, respectively. Photodissolution can also enhance the optical thickness of the water column via the release of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), which may subsequently further enhance photochemical processes in surrounding waters. Photoproduced CDOM appears to be of relatively high molecular weight and dominantly exhibits humic-like fluorescence, suggesting that photodissolution primarily occurs for humic moieties. Photodissolution was also observed for sterilized sediment suspensions, indicating that photochemical degradation of POM is the primary pathway of DOM production during photodissolution, as opposed to microbial mediated degradation or stimulation of benthic primary production by benthic phytoplankton or algae. Environmental and mechanistic factors controlling the extent of photodissolution in Texas estuaries may include sediment desiccation, water organic content, and sediment characteristics (organic content and lability of POM). Desiccated-rewetted sediments suspended in artificial seawater under solar irradiation produced ~40% more DOC and TDN than wet sediments, indicating the sediment dry-wet cycle may alter the 3-D structure of sediment grain matrices and thus might be a major controlling factor of photodissolution in salt marsh systems. The organic content of water used in sediment suspensions did not significantly influence DOC or TDN photoproduction by itself, but the combined influence of water organic content and sediment dry-rewet event played a substantial role in controlling the extent of photodissolution. In contrast to the results in artificial seawater, wet sediments produced slightly more DOC ([Delta]DOC=0.10 mg C gsed⁻¹) and substantially more TDN ([Delta]TDN=0.14 mg N gsed⁻¹) than dry-rewetted sediments in organic-rich Nueces Marsh water during 24 hours of photoincubation. Photodissolution dominantly produced humic-like DOM even though biologically labile organic matter was available in sediments, indicating that photochemical reactions preferentially occur with humic-like rather than protein-like organic matter. DOC and TDN production during photodissolution was strongly proportional to the amount of POC in sediment suspensions. On average, 69.2 ± 11.0 mg C of DOC and 9 ± 3.1 mg N of TDN was produced from 1 g of organic carbon in sediment suspensions after 24 hours of photodissolution. / text

Investigating linkages between the compositions of suspended (seston) and benthic particulate matter is important to the understanding of organic matter (OM) cycling and nutrient retention in aquatic systems. We compared the quantity and quality of the truly suspended (TS) and settleable (SB) fractions of seston as well as benthic particulate matter in the tidal freshwater James River, Virginia. The mass of seston and OM was consistently higher in the TS fraction compared to the SB fraction. OM was preferentially retained in the TS fraction relative to seston. The proportional contribution of OM constituents (chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon and nitrogen) to the two fractions was consistent across observed concentrations whereas increases in seston concentration resulted in decreased proportions in the TS fraction. Benthic constituent reservoirs were large relative to the SB fraction but the higher proportion of OM in the SB fraction suggests that the settleable material was more labile.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a dinâmica e reatividade da matéria orgânica do solo (MOS) e substâncias húmicas (SH) em duas situações distintas, no que concerne ao manejo de solo, práticas agroflorestais e condições climáticas, avaliando o potencial de sequestro de C e mitigação de efeitos do aumento do efeito estufa. O estudo foi conduzido em dois campos experimentais, sendo o primeiro, instalado em Beltsville - Maryland, Estados Unidos, sob coordenação do Departamento de Agricultura norte-americano (USDA/ARS), composto por sistemas agrícolas convencionais com manejo mínimo (PC), plantio direto sem manejo (PD) e orgânicos com plantio direto (2, 3 e 6 anos, com adição de esterco aviário). O segundo campo experimental, instalado em Itatinga - São Paulo, Brasil, compreende área de reflorestamento de floresta de eucalipto, em duas fazendas (Entre Rios - ER - e Areona - AN) com perfis de solo diferentes (Latossolo e Neossolo quartzarênico, respectivamente) com e sem adição de biossólido. Para o primeiro campo foram coletadas amostras de solo até 30 cm em 5 incrementos, sendo realizado, em seguida, o fracionamento físico da MOS, em matéria orgânica particulada livre (MOPl) e oclusa (MOPo) para análises de espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (MIR) e pirólise acoplada a GC/MS (PY-GC/MS). Para o segundo campo experimental foram coletadas amostras de solo até 20 cm, seguindo de extração de SH para análises espectroscópicas. No campo experimental americano, observou-se maior teor de C nos sistemas de plantio direto, sobretudo nos sistemas orgânicos, em comparação ao sistema convencional (cerca de 24% de aumento). Os dados obtidos através da espectroscopia de MIR mostraram maiores graus de condensação e hidrofobicidade, influindo em maior humificação e resistência à atividade microbiana para as amostras nos sistemas orgânicos. Os resultados de PY-GC/MS foram analisados por testes não paramétricos de Kruskal-Wallis e Mann-Whitney, sendo observada a maior incidência de estruturas moleculares de caráter fenólico aromático em amostras de MOPo para os sistemas orgânicos considerados, e a maior ocorrência de núcleos condensados, oriundos de lignina e outras fontes, ligados a cadeias alifáticas em amostras de MOPl para os mesmos sistemas, em relação aos demais analisados em estudo. Os resultados obtidos para o campo experimental americano ilustrou maior impacto do manejo orgânico do solo, frente aos demais considerados, no que concerne ao potencial acumulo de carbono e incidência de estruturas mais condensadas e de maior recalcitrância. Os dados do segundo campo experimental, em áreas de reflorestamento de eucalipto no estado de São Paulo, demonstraram comportamentos distintos com maior teor de C e menor grau de humificação (cerca de 25 e 30%, respectivamente) para áreas submetidas à adição de biossólido para a fazenda Areona (AN), sendo observado perfil inverso para a fazenda Entre Rios (ER) (decréscimo de cerca de 20% para C e aumento de, aproximadamente, 100% no grau de humificação). Através dos dados obtidos através de espectroscopia de infravermelho, pôde-se observar maiores índices de condensação (grau de humificação), em ambas as fazendas, nas áreas sob adição de biossólido, ao passo que somente na fazenda ER foram observados maiores índices de hidrofobicidade (resistência à degradação microbiana) nestas mesmas áreas. Assim como nos resultados obtidos as amostras de solo intacto, foi observado maior grau de humificação para amostras de AH na fazenda ER, em áreas condicionadas com biossólido, ao passo que menor grau de humificação para as mesmas áreas na fazenda AN. Assim sendo, conforme mencionado, uma das áreas de reflorestamento tratada com biossólido mostrou aumento no teor de carbono no solo (em solo arenoso) e a outra mostrou decréscimo (solo com teor mediano de argila). As análises qualitativas, como determinação do grau de humificação da matéria orgânica em amostras de solos e substâncias húmicas, foram coerentes com o aumento ou decréscimo dos teores de carbono nos dois solos, dando consistência as observações das duas situações de campo analisadas. Dessa maneira, verificou-se o maior impacto da adição da aplicação de biossólido em Latossolos em relação à área de Neossolo quartzarênico. O entendimento e avaliação da resposta da matéria orgânica e seus constituintes húmicos frente a diferentes situações é de extrema importância para obtenção de sustentabilidade ambiental, no que concerne à mitigação de efeitos inerentes às mudanças climáticas globais. / The aim of the following study was to evaluate the dynamics and reactivity of soil organic matter (SOM) and humic substances (HS) in two different situations, regarding soil tillage, forestry practices and climate conditions, considering C sequestration potential and greenhouse effects mitigation. The study was conducted in two different field experiments, being the first one a long-term field trial project installed in Beltsville, Maryland - United States, coordinated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), comprising different soil tillage systems as it follows: chiesel till (CT), no till (NT) and 2, 3 and 6-year organic agriculture (with poultry manure addition). The second experimental field was installed in Itatinga, São Paulo - Brazil, comprising an eucalyptus forestry system being two farms (Entre Rios - ER, and Areona - AN), presenting different soil prolife (Oxisol and Quartzarenic Neosoil) and sewage sludge (SS) amended areas. For the first experimental field soil samples were collected to 30 cm depth in 5 increments, followed by SOM physical fractionation in occluded and free particulate organic matter (oPOM and fPOM, respectively) for mid infrared (MIR) spectroscopy and pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (PY-GC/MS) analysis. For the second experimental field, soil samples were collected to 20 cm depth, followed by HS extraction and spectroscopic analysis. The results for the first experimental field showed a C content increase (about 24%) for the organic systems, comparing to the others considered. Data obtained by MIR spectroscopy showed higher condensation and hydrophobicity degrees, resulting in higher humification and microbial decomposition resistance, for the organic systems samples. The results obtained by PY-GC/MS were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney non parametric tests and it was observed a higher incidence of phenolic and aromatic molecular structures in oPOM samples, and a higher occurrence of condensed structures, derived from lignin and other sources, bonded to aliphatic chains, in fPOM samples for the organic systems analyzed, comparing to the others systems considered. This way, the results obtained for the American experimental field showed a higher impact of organic tillage systems, regarding the soil carbon accumulation potential and the incidence of more condensed and recalcitrant structures. The results regarding the second experimental field showed an interesting behavior with C content increase and humification degree decrease in the SS amended areas (about 25 and 30%, respectively) for the Areona (AN) farm, nevertheless, being observed an inverse behavior for the Entre Rios (ER) farm samples (about 20% C content decrease and nearly 100% humification degree increase). From the infrared spectroscopy data it could be observed higher condensation degree (inferring higher humification degree) in the SS amended areas for both farms considered, however only for the ER samples it was noted a higher hydrophobicity degree (higher microbial decomposition resistance). The same way noted for the soil samples, it was observed higher humification degree for humic acids samples in the SS amended areas for the ER farm, while for the AN samples it was noted smaller humification degree for its respective SS amended area. This way, as mentioned before, one of the SS amended forestry areas showed an increase in the soil C content (in the quartzarenic neosoil) while the other one presented soil C content decrease (oxisoil, with about 20% clay content). The qualitative analysis, such as organic matter humification degree determination for soil and HS samples were coherent to the C content increase or decrease observed for both soil profiles, being consistent to the results obtained on the field experiment scenario. This way, the results for the Brazilian experimental field showed a higher impact of the sewage sludge application in the Oxisol area, comparing to the Quartzarenic Neosoil one. The understanding and evaluation about organic matter and humic constituents response regarding different field situations is extremely important to achieve environmental sustainability and climate change effects mitigation.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a dinâmica e reatividade da matéria orgânica do solo (MOS) e substâncias húmicas (SH) em duas situações distintas, no que concerne ao manejo de solo, práticas agroflorestais e condições climáticas, avaliando o potencial de sequestro de C e mitigação de efeitos do aumento do efeito estufa. O estudo foi conduzido em dois campos experimentais, sendo o primeiro, instalado em Beltsville - Maryland, Estados Unidos, sob coordenação do Departamento de Agricultura norte-americano (USDA/ARS), composto por sistemas agrícolas convencionais com manejo mínimo (PC), plantio direto sem manejo (PD) e orgânicos com plantio direto (2, 3 e 6 anos, com adição de esterco aviário). O segundo campo experimental, instalado em Itatinga - São Paulo, Brasil, compreende área de reflorestamento de floresta de eucalipto, em duas fazendas (Entre Rios - ER - e Areona - AN) com perfis de solo diferentes (Latossolo e Neossolo quartzarênico, respectivamente) com e sem adição de biossólido. Para o primeiro campo foram coletadas amostras de solo até 30 cm em 5 incrementos, sendo realizado, em seguida, o fracionamento físico da MOS, em matéria orgânica particulada livre (MOPl) e oclusa (MOPo) para análises de espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (MIR) e pirólise acoplada a GC/MS (PY-GC/MS). Para o segundo campo experimental foram coletadas amostras de solo até 20 cm, seguindo de extração de SH para análises espectroscópicas. No campo experimental americano, observou-se maior teor de C nos sistemas de plantio direto, sobretudo nos sistemas orgânicos, em comparação ao sistema convencional (cerca de 24% de aumento). Os dados obtidos através da espectroscopia de MIR mostraram maiores graus de condensação e hidrofobicidade, influindo em maior humificação e resistência à atividade microbiana para as amostras nos sistemas orgânicos. Os resultados de PY-GC/MS foram analisados por testes não paramétricos de Kruskal-Wallis e Mann-Whitney, sendo observada a maior incidência de estruturas moleculares de caráter fenólico aromático em amostras de MOPo para os sistemas orgânicos considerados, e a maior ocorrência de núcleos condensados, oriundos de lignina e outras fontes, ligados a cadeias alifáticas em amostras de MOPl para os mesmos sistemas, em relação aos demais analisados em estudo. Os resultados obtidos para o campo experimental americano ilustrou maior impacto do manejo orgânico do solo, frente aos demais considerados, no que concerne ao potencial acumulo de carbono e incidência de estruturas mais condensadas e de maior recalcitrância. Os dados do segundo campo experimental, em áreas de reflorestamento de eucalipto no estado de São Paulo, demonstraram comportamentos distintos com maior teor de C e menor grau de humificação (cerca de 25 e 30%, respectivamente) para áreas submetidas à adição de biossólido para a fazenda Areona (AN), sendo observado perfil inverso para a fazenda Entre Rios (ER) (decréscimo de cerca de 20% para C e aumento de, aproximadamente, 100% no grau de humificação). Através dos dados obtidos através de espectroscopia de infravermelho, pôde-se observar maiores índices de condensação (grau de humificação), em ambas as fazendas, nas áreas sob adição de biossólido, ao passo que somente na fazenda ER foram observados maiores índices de hidrofobicidade (resistência à degradação microbiana) nestas mesmas áreas. Assim como nos resultados obtidos as amostras de solo intacto, foi observado maior grau de humificação para amostras de AH na fazenda ER, em áreas condicionadas com biossólido, ao passo que menor grau de humificação para as mesmas áreas na fazenda AN. Assim sendo, conforme mencionado, uma das áreas de reflorestamento tratada com biossólido mostrou aumento no teor de carbono no solo (em solo arenoso) e a outra mostrou decréscimo (solo com teor mediano de argila). As análises qualitativas, como determinação do grau de humificação da matéria orgânica em amostras de solos e substâncias húmicas, foram coerentes com o aumento ou decréscimo dos teores de carbono nos dois solos, dando consistência as observações das duas situações de campo analisadas. Dessa maneira, verificou-se o maior impacto da adição da aplicação de biossólido em Latossolos em relação à área de Neossolo quartzarênico. O entendimento e avaliação da resposta da matéria orgânica e seus constituintes húmicos frente a diferentes situações é de extrema importância para obtenção de sustentabilidade ambiental, no que concerne à mitigação de efeitos inerentes às mudanças climáticas globais. / The aim of the following study was to evaluate the dynamics and reactivity of soil organic matter (SOM) and humic substances (HS) in two different situations, regarding soil tillage, forestry practices and climate conditions, considering C sequestration potential and greenhouse effects mitigation. The study was conducted in two different field experiments, being the first one a long-term field trial project installed in Beltsville, Maryland - United States, coordinated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), comprising different soil tillage systems as it follows: chiesel till (CT), no till (NT) and 2, 3 and 6-year organic agriculture (with poultry manure addition). The second experimental field was installed in Itatinga, São Paulo - Brazil, comprising an eucalyptus forestry system being two farms (Entre Rios - ER, and Areona - AN), presenting different soil prolife (Oxisol and Quartzarenic Neosoil) and sewage sludge (SS) amended areas. For the first experimental field soil samples were collected to 30 cm depth in 5 increments, followed by SOM physical fractionation in occluded and free particulate organic matter (oPOM and fPOM, respectively) for mid infrared (MIR) spectroscopy and pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (PY-GC/MS) analysis. For the second experimental field, soil samples were collected to 20 cm depth, followed by HS extraction and spectroscopic analysis. The results for the first experimental field showed a C content increase (about 24%) for the organic systems, comparing to the others considered. Data obtained by MIR spectroscopy showed higher condensation and hydrophobicity degrees, resulting in higher humification and microbial decomposition resistance, for the organic systems samples. The results obtained by PY-GC/MS were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney non parametric tests and it was observed a higher incidence of phenolic and aromatic molecular structures in oPOM samples, and a higher occurrence of condensed structures, derived from lignin and other sources, bonded to aliphatic chains, in fPOM samples for the organic systems analyzed, comparing to the others systems considered. This way, the results obtained for the American experimental field showed a higher impact of organic tillage systems, regarding the soil carbon accumulation potential and the incidence of more condensed and recalcitrant structures. The results regarding the second experimental field showed an interesting behavior with C content increase and humification degree decrease in the SS amended areas (about 25 and 30%, respectively) for the Areona (AN) farm, nevertheless, being observed an inverse behavior for the Entre Rios (ER) farm samples (about 20% C content decrease and nearly 100% humification degree increase). From the infrared spectroscopy data it could be observed higher condensation degree (inferring higher humification degree) in the SS amended areas for both farms considered, however only for the ER samples it was noted a higher hydrophobicity degree (higher microbial decomposition resistance). The same way noted for the soil samples, it was observed higher humification degree for humic acids samples in the SS amended areas for the ER farm, while for the AN samples it was noted smaller humification degree for its respective SS amended area. This way, as mentioned before, one of the SS amended forestry areas showed an increase in the soil C content (in the quartzarenic neosoil) while the other one presented soil C content decrease (oxisoil, with about 20% clay content). The qualitative analysis, such as organic matter humification degree determination for soil and HS samples were coherent to the C content increase or decrease observed for both soil profiles, being consistent to the results obtained on the field experiment scenario. This way, the results for the Brazilian experimental field showed a higher impact of the sewage sludge application in the Oxisol area, comparing to the Quartzarenic Neosoil one. The understanding and evaluation about organic matter and humic constituents response regarding different field situations is extremely important to achieve environmental sustainability and climate change effects mitigation.

Understanding the role of freshwater wetlands in the global carbon cycle has become more important as evidence of climate change grows. In this paper, we examine the burial and decomposition of particulate organic matter (POM) in a temperate, siliciclastic, seasonal wetland. High POM abundances are found in silt layers, while sand units preserve very little POM. The POM distribution with depth is compared to the biogeochemistry of sediment porewater with depth. POM acts as a driver for reduction reactions within the wetland soil. Porewater biogeochemistry and POM decomposition are controlled by seasonal changes in the level of the water table which cause seasonal shifts in the oxic/anoxic boundary. At the oxic/anoxic boundary, reoxidation of FeS minerals in the soil cause rapid POM decomposition at the average minimum water table level in the late summer and early fall. Variation in the minimum depth of the water table from year to year may account for fluctuating POM numbers in the upper silt layers. The results from this study can be used to predict seasonal water level fluctuations in ancient wetland and to explain recurrence horizons in peat.

This study investigates translocation of particulate carbon and nitrogen from burned and unburned catchments within New Mexico's Valles Caldera National Preserve following severe wildfire. My research questions are: (1) how much carbon and nitrogen is eroded from burned slopes and re-deposited in debris fans? and (2) how do these quantities compare to fluvial export of particulate carbon and nitrogen from nearby unburned catchments? Results indicate that the ~200 kg ha⁻¹ of nitrogen per depositional area on the debris fans represents ~50 to 100 years' worth of atmospheric inputs. In total, 124 times more carbon and 21 times more nitrogen were deposited on the two fans than was exported in particulate form from all three unburned catchments combined in water year 2012. My findings suggest that post-fire erosion may increase nitrogen loading to downslope environments, with the potential to alter the biogeochemical budgets of both aquatic and terrestrial systems.

Plant residues added to soil are a source of nutrients for plants and soil organisms and increase soil organic matter which has an important role in improving soil structure and fertility, hence maintaining soil quality for sustainable agriculture. In order to utilize plant residues for increasing soil organic matter more effectively, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms of plant residue decomposition. Soil organic matter decomposition is influenced by several factors such as plant residue quality, temperature, water availability, soil structure and soil texture, particularly clay content. The interaction of clay and decomposition of organic matter has been studied in the past. Nevertheless, many studies investigated this interaction in natural soil or under field conditions over long periods of time. Variation in environmental factors may influence the interaction of clay and decomposition of organic matter, thus in most previous studies their effect cannot be separated from the direct effect of clay on decomposition. To study the direct effect of clay on organic matter decomposition, four experiments with different objectives were carried out using isolated natural clay, under controlled conditions (e.g. temperature and organic matter input) and a short incubation period (approximately one month). All experiments were carried out using a sand matrix to which different clay types, clay fractions (natural or with iron oxide partially removed) or clay concentrations were added together with mature wheat straw (C/N 122 in most experiments, except Experiment 2 where the wheat straw had a C/N of 18) and a microbial inoculum. To investigate the effect of clay type, two clay types were added. They were isolated from Wiesenboden (W) and Red Brown Earth (RBE) soil. Clay types from both soils contained kaolinite and illite, but smectite only occurred in W clay. Iron oxide is thought to be important for the binding of organic matter to clay, therefore two clay fractions were used, the clay with native iron oxide (natural clay) and clay from which iron oxide was partially removed by citrate-dithionite-bicarbonate treatment (citrate-dithionite clay, CD clay). The following parameters were measured: pH, water loss, respiration rate, microbial community structure using phospholipid fatty acid analysis and, in some experiments, particulate organic matter. In all experiments, the water content of the substrate mixes was adjusted only at the start; water loss was greatest in the control and decreased with increasing clay content. The aim of the first experiment was to study the effect of the concentration of W clay on decomposition of wheat residues. Respiration (i.e. decomposition of the wheat straw) was affected by clay in two ways (i) decreased decomposition, thus protection of organic matter, in the initial phase at all concentrations (5, 10, 20 and 40%) and throughout the incubation period at ≤ 20% clay, and (ii) greater water retention at higher clay concentration particularly 40% clay that allowed maintenance of higher respiration rates towards the end of incubation. Generally, clay concentration had an effect on microbial community structure but not on microbial biomass. The effect of clay concentration was also investigated in the second experiment, but using RBE clay and a narrower range of concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20% clay) than in the first experiment with W clay. The wheat residue used in this experiment had a lower C/N ratio compared to the other three experiments (C/N 18 compared to 122). In contrast to the first experiment, cumulative respiration of the clay treatments was greater than that of control throughout the incubation, thus clay increased rather than decreased decomposition. This may be due to the properties of the wheat residue used in this experiment which contained more water-soluble compounds, the diffusion of which would be enhanced in treatments with clay compared to the control due to their higher water availability. However, considering only the treatments with added clay, cumulative respiration followed the same pattern as in the first experiment, with highest cumulative respiration at 20% clay. In general, microbial community structure, microbial biomass and microbial groups (i.e. bacterial and fungal fatty acids) were affected by the presence of clay and sampling time, but there was no clear relationship between these factors and the richness and diversity of the microbial community. The aim of the third experiment was to determine the effect of clay concentration (5 and 40% of W clay) and fraction (natural or citrate-dithionite clay) on decomposition of wheat straw and microbial community structure. Clay fraction and concentration strongly affected the respiration rate and microbial community structure as well as microbial biomass but not the concentration of particulate organic matter (POM). Compared to the control, partial removal of iron oxide strongly increased decomposition at both concentrations whereas clay with iron oxides reduced the decomposition. Microbial community structure was affected by clay fractions, particularly at 40% clay. The aim of the fourth experiment was to determine the effect of clay fraction (natural and citrate-dithionite clay) and clay type (W clay or RBE clay) at 5% clay on decomposition of wheat straw and microbial community structure. Clay type and the partial removal of iron oxide had a significant effect on the decomposition rate but did not affect POM concentration. As in the third experiment, partial removal of iron oxide increased respiration rate, the effect was less pronounced in RBE clay than in W clay. Clay type and fraction strongly affected microbial community structure. In conclusion, the experiments showed that native clay generally reduces organic matter decomposition by binding and occlusion. The importance of iron oxide for the protective effect of clay on organic matter decomposition was shown by the fact that partial removal of iron oxide strongly increased decomposition rate compared to the native clay. The two clay types differed in their effect. The W clay containing smectite protects organic matter to a greater extent than RBE clay with predominantly illite and kaolinite due to its higher surface area and CEC that lead to binding and or occlusion. The results also showed that although clay reduces organic matter decomposition under optimal water availability, this effect can be reversed as the substrates dry out because the greater water retention of substrates with clay concentrations > 10% compared to the pure sand matrix allows maintenance of a greater microbial activity. Clay type, fraction and concentration affected microbial community structure via their effect on organic matter and water availability. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1521949 / Thesis (M.Ag.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environment Science, 2010

Long term management plans for restoration of natural flow conditions through the Everglades increase the importance of understanding potential nutrient impacts of increased freshwater delivery on coastal biogeochemistry. The present study sought to increase understanding of the coastal marine system of South Florida under modern conditions and through the anthropogenic changes in the last century, on scales ranging from individual nutrient cycle processes to seasonal patterns in organic material (OM) under varying hydrodynamic regime, to century scale analysis of sedimentary records. In all applications, carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic compositions of OM were examined as natural recorders of change and nutrient cycling in the coastal system. High spatial and temporal variability in stable isotopic compositions were observed on all time scales. During a transient phytoplankton bloom, ä15N values suggested nitrogen fixation as a nutrient source supporting enhanced productivity. Seasonally, particulate organic material (POM) from ten sites along the Florida Reef Tract and in Florida Bay demonstrated variable fluctuations dependent on hydrodynamic setting. Three separate intra-annual patterns were observed, yet statistical differences were observed between groupings of Florida Bay and Atlantic Ocean sites. The POM ä15N values ranged on a quarterly basis by 7‰, while ä13C varied by 22‰. From a sediment history perspective, four cores collected from Florida Bay further demonstrated the spatial and temporal variability of the system in isotopic composition of bulk OM over time. Source inputs of OM varied with location, with terrestrial inputs dominating proximal to Everglades freshwater discharge, seagrasses dominating in open estuary cores, and a marine mixture of phytoplankton and seagrass in a core from the boundary zone between Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Significant shifts in OM geochemistry were observed coincident with anthropogenic events of the 20th century, including railroad and road construction in the Florida Keys and Everglades, and also the extensive drainage changes in Everglades hydrology. The sediment record also preserved evidence of the major hurricanes of the last century, with excursions in geochemical composition coincident with Category 4-5 storms.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第18476号 / 農博第2076号 / 新制||農||1025(附属図書館) / 学位論文||H26||N4860(農学部図書室) / 31354 / 京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻 / (主査)教授 舟川 晋也, 教授 縄田 栄治, 教授 間藤 徹 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Agricultural Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Land application of biosolids has been demonstrated to improve nutrient availability (mainly N and P) and improve organic matter in soils, but the effects of biosolids on C sequestration and N cycling in the Mid-Atlantic region is not well understood. The objectives were: 1) to investigate soil C sequestration at sites with a long-term history of biosolids either in repeated application or single large application; 2) to characterize and compare soil C chemistry using advanced 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and C (1s) near edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopic techniques; and 3) to compare biosolids types and tillage practices on short-term N availability in the Coastal Plain soils. Biosolids led to C accumulation in the soil surface (< 15 cm) after long-time application in both Piedmont and Coastal Plain soils. The C saturation phenomenon occurred in Coastal Plain soils, thus additional soil C accumulation was not achieved by increasing C inputs from biosolids to the Coastal Plain. Soil organic C from profiles in the field sites was not different at depths below the plow layer (15-60 cm). The quantitative NMR analyses concluded that O-alkyl C was the dominant form in the particulate organic matter (POM), followed by aromatic C, alkyl C, COO/N-C=O, aromatic C-O, OCH3 / NCH and ketones and aldehydes. The aliphatic C and aromatic C were enriched but the O-alkyl C was decreased in the biosolids-amended soils. The changes indicated that the biosolids-derived soil C was more decomposed and, thus, more stable than the control. The NEXAFS spectra showed that O-alkyl C was the dominant form in the POM extracted from biosolids-amended soils, followed by aromatic C, alkyl C, carboxylic C and phenolic C groups. These results were similar to those from NMR analysis. The regression and correlation analyses of C functional groups in the POM between NEXAFS and NMR indicated that both techniques had good sensitivity for the characterization of C from biosolids-amended soils. To evaluate short-term biosolids N availability, a three-year field study to investigate the effects of lime-stabilized (LS) and anaerobically digested (AD) biosolids on N availability in a corn-soybean rotation under conventional tillage and no-tillage practices was set up in 2009-2011. Results showed that both LS and AD biosolids increased spring soil nitrate N, plant tissue N at silking, post-season corn stalk nitrate N, grain yield, and soil total N by the end of the growing season. The same factors used to calculate plant available N for incorporated biosolids can be used on biosolids applied to no-till systems in coarse-textured soils. All these results indicated that the application of biosolids affects the long-term quantification and qualification of soil organic C and also improve short-term N availability in the Mid-Atlantic region. / Ph. D.