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4. Sorption to Biochar Impacts β-Glucosidase and Phosphatase Enzyme Activities

Author

Foster, Erika J., Fogle, Emily Joyce, and Francesca Cotrufo, M.

Subjects
agricultural_sciences_agronomy, food and beverages, complex mixtures
Abstract

Extracellular enzymes catalyze biogeochemical reactions in soil, cycling carbon and nutrients in agricultural systems. Enzymes respond quickly to soil management, including organic amendment inputs, such as biochar, a charcoal-like solid byproduct of bioenergy production. In a previous agricultural field trial, a pine biochar amendment caused an approximately 40% decrease in the enzyme activities of β-glucosidase (BG) and phosphatase (PHOS). The large surface area of the pine biochar has the potential to sorb nutrients and other organic molecules. To test if sorption caused decreased enzyme activity, we used a laboratory assay to quantify the activity of two sorbed enzymes: BG and acid PHOS, involved in the cycling of carbon and phosphorous. The enzymes were incubated with three solid phases: (1) the high surface area pine biochar, (2) the agricultural soil, and (3) a low surface area grass biochar, for an additional comparison. We quantified the sorbed enzymes at pH 6, 7, and 8, using a Bradford protein assay, and measured the immobilized enzyme activities via high-throughput fluorometric analysis. After sorption onto pine biochar, detectable BG and PHOS activity levels dropped by over 95% relative to the soil, supporting direct sorption as one mechanism that reduces enzyme activity in biochar amended soil. This laboratory assay demonstrated that sorption could account for the lack of priming of native soil organic matter and changes in soil phosphorous cycling after pine biochar addition.

Published
2018

5. Continental-scale measurements of soil pyrogenic carbon in Europe

Author

Pressler, Yamina, Boot, Claudia M., Abiven, Samuel, Lugato, Emanuele, and Francesca Cotrufo, M.

Abstract

Pyrogenic carbon (PyC), the product of incomplete biomass combustion, is a key component of soil organic carbon (SOC) because it can persist in soils for centuries to millennia. Quantifying PyC across large spatial scales remains a significant challenge in constraining the global carbon cycle. We measured PyC in topsoils across Europe using molecular marker (benzene polycarboxylic acids, BPCA) and spectroscopic techniques (Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy, DRIFTS). We developed a calibration between BPCA and DRIFTS, but the calibration was less reliable (Y -variance explained=0.62) than previous reports due to low soil PyC content and heterogeneity of soil matrices. Thus, we performed multiple regressions to identify drivers of PyC distribution using only the measured BPCA data. PyC content varied widely among soils, contributing 0–24% of SOC. Organic carbon was the strongest predictor of soil PyC content, but mean annual temperature, clay, and cation exchange capacity also emerged as predictors. PyC contributes a smaller proportion of SOC in European soils compared to other geographic regions. Comparing soil PyC measurements to PyC production rates in high latitude and Mediterranean regions suggests that transport, degradation, and recombustion are important mechanisms regulating soil PyC accumulation.

Published
2021
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6. Trasparenza e protocollo di Kyoto: risposta a Mollicone e Federici

Author

Valentini, R., Miglietta, F., Scarascia Mugnozza, G., Corona, P., Marco Marchetti, Magnani, F., Peressotti, A., Francesca Cotrufo, M., Castaldi, S., Ciccioli, P., Gianelle, D., Vannini, A., Valentini R., Miglietta F., Scarascia Mugnozza G., Corona P., Marchetti M., Magnani F., Peressotti A., Cotrufo M.F., Castaldi S., Ciccioli P., Gianelle D., and Vannini A.

Subjects
CICLO DEL CARBONIO, INVENTARI FORESTALI, PROTOCOLLO DI KYOTO, FORESTE
Abstract

La nota critica di Mollicone e Federici riguardante il progetto CarboItaly induce intanto ad una prima riflessione: il pericolo esposto dagli Autori - ovvero ingenerare confusione, poca trasparenza e non “fare sistema” - è esattamente quanto essi stessi rischiano di determinare con la loro lettera, soprattutto se non si distinguono chiaramente responsabilità, risultati attesi, ruoli istituzionali e finalità della ricerca scientifica.

Published
2007

7. Naphthalene addition to soil surfaces: A feasible method to reduce soil micro-arthropods with negligible direct effects on soil C dynamics

Author

Francesca Cotrufo, M., primary, Soong, Jennifer, additional, Vandegehuchte, Martijn L., additional, Nguyen, Trung, additional, Denef, Karolien, additional, Ashley Shaw, E., additional, Sylvain, Zachary A., additional, de Tomasel, Cecilia Milano, additional, Nielsen, Uffe N., additional, and Wall, Diana H., additional

Published
2014
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8. A question of litter quality

Author

Norby, Richard J. and Francesca Cotrufo, M.

Subjects
Biotic communities -- Research, Crops and nitrogen -- Observations, Environmental issues, Science and technology, Zoology and wildlife conservation
Abstract

A meeting of plant physiologists, ecologists and soil scientists examined the hypothesis that the changed chemistry of dead leaves, grown in an environment high in CO2, will mean that there will be a decline in the decomposition rate. It was concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support such a hypothesis. However other potential feedbacks on nitrogen availability are still important and there is still a need to distinguish the processes controlling decomposition in Co2-enriched ecosystems.

Published
1998

10. Elevated CO2 increases tree-level intrinsic water use efficiency: insights from carbon and oxygen isotope analyses in tree rings across three forest FACE sites.

Author

Battipaglia, Giovanna, Saurer, Matthias, Cherubini, Paolo, Calfapietra, Carlo, McCarthy, Heather R., Norby, Richard J., and Francesca Cotrufo, M.

Subjects
WATER use, DENDROCHRONOLOGY, TREE-rings, CARBON isotopes, SWEETGUM
Abstract

Elevated CO2 increases intrinsic water use efficiency ( WUE i) of forests, but the magnitude of this effect and its interaction with climate is still poorly understood., We combined tree ring analysis with isotope measurements at three Free Air CO2 Enrichment ( FACE, POP- EUROFACE, in Italy; Duke FACE in North Carolina and ORNL in Tennessee, USA) sites, to cover the entire life of the trees. We used δ13C to assess carbon isotope discrimination and changes in water-use efficiency, while direct CO2 effects on stomatal conductance were explored using δ18O as a proxy., Across all the sites, elevated CO2 increased 13C-derived water-use efficiency on average by 73% for Liquidambar styraciflua, 77% for Pinus taeda and 75% for Populus sp., but through different ecophysiological mechanisms., Our findings provide a robust means of predicting water-use efficiency responses from a variety of tree species exposed to variable environmental conditions over time, and species-specific relationships that can help modelling elevated CO2 and climate impacts on forest productivity, carbon and water balances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2013
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11. Elevated CO₂ increases tree-level intrinsic water use efficiency: insights from carbon and oxygen isotope analyses in tree rings across three forest FACE sites.

Author

Battipaglia G, Saurer M, Cherubini P, Calfapietra C, McCarthy HR, Norby RJ, and Francesca Cotrufo M

Subjects
Carbon Isotopes, Climate, Italy, North Carolina, Oxygen Isotopes, Partial Pressure, Photosynthesis drug effects, Plant Stomata drug effects, Plant Stomata physiology, Regression Analysis, Tennessee, Time Factors, Air analysis, Carbon Dioxide pharmacology, Trees drug effects, Trees physiology, Water metabolism
Abstract

Elevated CO₂ increases intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE(i) ) of forests, but the magnitude of this effect and its interaction with climate is still poorly understood. We combined tree ring analysis with isotope measurements at three Free Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE, POP-EUROFACE, in Italy; Duke FACE in North Carolina and ORNL in Tennessee, USA) sites, to cover the entire life of the trees. We used δ¹³C to assess carbon isotope discrimination and changes in water-use efficiency, while direct CO₂ effects on stomatal conductance were explored using δ¹⁸O as a proxy. Across all the sites, elevated CO₂ increased ¹³C-derived water-use efficiency on average by 73% for Liquidambar styraciflua, 77% for Pinus taeda and 75% for Populus sp., but through different ecophysiological mechanisms. Our findings provide a robust means of predicting water-use efficiency responses from a variety of tree species exposed to variable environmental conditions over time, and species-specific relationships that can help modelling elevated CO₂ and climate impacts on forest productivity, carbon and water balances., (© 2012 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2012 New Phytologist Trust.)

Published
2013
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