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Rice planting (RP) is significant to methane (CH4) emissions from paddy fields, but its effect on the relative contribution of the acetoclastic methanogenesis to total CH4 production (Fac) and the fraction of CH4 oxidized (Fox) is poorly understood. To quantify the responses of the Fac and Fox to RP, we investigated CH4 fluxes, CH4 production and oxidation potentials, dissolved CH4 concentrations, and their stable carbon isotopes in a flooded paddy soil. The mcrA and pmoA gene copies were also determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Compared with the unplanted soil (control, CK), the seasonal CH4 emissions from the planted soil were significantly enhanced, 13.6 times, resulting in large decreases in the CH4 concentrations in the soil solution. This indicated that much more CH4 was released into the atmosphere by the RP than was stored in the soils. Acetoclastic methanogenesis became more important from the tillering stage (TS) to the ripening stage (RS) for the CK, with Fac values increased from 17%–20% to 46%–55%. With RP, the Fac values were enhanced by 10%–20%, and it significantly increased the copy numbers of the mcrA gene at the four rice stages (TS, booting stage (BS), grain-filling stage (GS), and RS). Furthermore, the effect of the RP on the abundance of the mcrA gene was highly concurrent with the effect on the Fac values. At the TS, the Fox values at the soil-water interface were around 50%–75% for the CK, being 15%–20% lower than those of the RP in the rhizosphere. It increased to 65%–100% at the GS, but was reduced by 20%–30% after the RP. These differences might be because the copy numbers of the pmoA gene were significantly raised at the TS while lowered at the GS by the RP. This was further demonstrated by the strong correlations between the effect of the RP on the abundance of the pmoA gene and the effect on the Fox values. These findings suggest that RP markedly impacts on the abundances of the mcrA and pmoA genes, affecting the pathway of CH4 production and the fraction of CH4 oxidization, respectively.

The incorporation of straw with a microbial inoculant (a mixture of bacteria and fungi, designed to accelerate straw decomposition) is being increasingly adopted within the agricultural sector in China. However, its effects on N and C trace gas emissions remain unclear. We conducted a field experiment to investigate the effects of different straw incorporation methods (with and without microbial inoculant) in the wheat season on nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions from a wheat-rice rotation system in China. The treatments comprised N, P, and K fertilizers only (NPK), NPK plus rice straw (NPKS), NPKS plus Ruilaite microbial inoculant (NPKSR), and NPKS plus Jinkuizi microbial inoculant (NPKSJ). Rice straw incorporation before wheat sowing significantly decreased N2O emissions during the wheat season and stimulated N2O and CH4 emissions during the subsequent rice season. Compared with the NPKS treatment, the NPKSR and NPKSJ treatments decreased N2O emissions during the wheat season, but had no effect on N2O or CH4 emissions during the subsequent rice season. Annually, the two treatments were comparable regarding N2O emissions. Although the global warming potentials of the NPKSR and NPKSJ treatments were lower than that of the NPKS treatment during the wheat season, no significant differences were observed during the subsequent rice season, or over the entire rotation cycle. The annual greenhouse gas intensity was slightly lower in the NPKSR and NPKSJ treatments than in the NPKS treatment. Overall, these results suggest that the incorporation of rice straw with a microbial inoculant in the wheat season was the best strategy tested for managing straw resources within the wheat-rice rotation system.

Multivariate statistical analyses were used to assess the contents and distributions of trace elements in agricultural soils in Xinzhou of Shanxi Province, China, and to identify their sources. Samples with high levels of trace elements were concentrated in eastern Xinzhou, with contents declining from the east to west. Principal component and redundancy analyses revealed strong correlations among Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Se, V, and Zn contents, suggesting that these elements were derived from similar parent materials. There were also strong correlations between the contents of these elements and soil properties. Contents of Cd and Pb were significantly higher in the agricultural soil samples than in the background soil samples (P

Little is known about the stable carbon isotopes of methane (CH4) emitted (δ13CH4emitte4) from permanently flooded rice fields and double rice-cropping fields. The CH4 emission and corresponding δ13CH4emitte4 under various field managements (mulching, water regime, tillage, and nitrogen (N) fertilization) were simultaneously measured in three typical Chinese rice fields, a permanently flooded rice field in Ziyang City, Sichuan Province, Southwest China, a double-rice cropping field in Yingtan City, Jiangxi Province, Southeast China, and a rice-wheat rotation field in Jurong City, Jiangsu Province, East China, from 2010 to 2012. Results showed different seasonal variations of δ13CH4emitte4 among the three fields during the rice-growing season. The values of δ13CH4emitte4 were negatively correlated with corresponding CH4 emissions in seasonal variation and mean, indicating the importance of CH4 production, oxidation, and transport associated with isotopic fractionation effects to the δ13CH4emitte4. Seasonal variations of δ13CH4emitte4 were slightly impacted by mulching cultivation, tillage, and N application, but highly controlled by drainage. Meanwhile, tillage, N application, and especially mulching cultivation had important effects on seasonal mean CH4 emissions and corresponding δ13CH4emitte4, with low emissions accompanied by high values of δ13CH4emitte4. Seasonal mean values of δ13CH4emitte4 from the three fields were similar, mostly ranging from −60‰ to −50‰, which are well in agreement with previously published data. These demonstrated that seasonal variations of δ13CH4emitte4 mainly depended on the changes in CH4 emission from rice fields and further indicated the important effects of methanogenic pathways, CH4 oxidation, and CH4 transport associated with isotope fractionation effects influenced by field managements on δ13CH4emitte4.

A four-year (2008–2011) field study was implemented in a major rice-growing region of China to better understand the effect of urea and controlled release fertilier (CRF, thermoplastic resin-coated urea in this study) on CH4 emission from paddy fields. Over the four years, the average CH4 emission during the rice growing seasons was 76.9, 65.8 and 64.9 kg CH4 ha−1 in treatments CK (zero N), U (urea) and C (CRF), respectively. Urea and CRF significantly reduced CH4 emission by 14.4% and 15.6%, and increased average rice grain yield by 25.8% and 19.7% (P < 0.05), respectively, compared with treatment CK. Flooding duration would affect CRF's effect on CH4 emission from paddy fields. Under normal aeration conditions, CH4 emission tended to be 3.9%–15.2% lower in treatment C than in treatment U from 2009 to 2011, while it tended to be 4.2% higher under delayed aeration conditions in 2008. The findings suggest that mid-season aeration (MSA) starting on D30 (30 days after rice transplanting), just like the local practice, would optimize the CRF's effect on CH4 emission from rice fields in China. Over the four years, average rice yield did not differ between treatments U and C, and tended to be 5% lower in treatment C than in treatment U.

A comprehensive investigation of the levels, distribution patterns, and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in agricultural soils of the coal production area surrounding Xinzhou, China, was conducted, and the potential human health risks associated with the levels observed were addressed. A total of 247 samples collected from agricultural soils from the area were analyzed for sixteen PAHs, including highly carcinogenic isomers. The PAH concentrations had a range of n.d. to 782ngg(-1), with a mean value of 202ngg(-1). The two-three ring PAHs were the dominant species, making up 60 percent of total PAHs. Compared with the pollution levels and carcinogenic potential risks reported in other studies, the soil PAH concentrations in the study area were in the low to intermediate range. A positive matrix factorization model indicates that coal/biomass combustion, coal and oil combustion, and coke ovens are the primary PAH sources, accounting for 33 percent, 26 percent, and 24 percent of total PAHs, respectively. The benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (BaPeq) concentrations had a range of n.d. to 476ngg(-1) for PAH7c, with a mean value of 34ngg(-1). The BaPeq concentrations of PAH7c accounted for more than 99 percent of the ∑PAH16, which suggests that seven PAHs were major carcinogenic contributors of ∑PAH16. According to the Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines, only six of the soil samples had concentrations above the safe BaPeq value of 600ngg(-1); the elevated concentrations observed at these sites can be attributed to coal combustion and industrial activities. Exposure to these soils through direct contact probably poses a significant risk to human health as a result of the carcinogenic effects of PAHs.

CH 4 emission and the concentration of dissolved CH 4 in soil solution and floodwater in a rice field and their stable carbon isotopic signatures as affected by straw application were investigated in 2009 in a field experiment at Jurong, Jiangsu Province, China. Straw application increased CH 4 emission and CH 4 concentration in the soil solution and floodwater. A positive seasonal correlation was also observed in the variation between CH 4 flux and CH 4 concentration in soil solution. The seasonal total CH 4 emission (51.6 g CH 4 m −2 ) in Treatment WS (straw applied) was about 168% higher than that in Treatment CK (without straw). The emitted CH 4 and CH 4 in soil solution were initially relatively enriched, then depleted and finally enriched again in 13 C in both treatments, while CH 4 in floodwater became isotopically heavier. The carbon isotopic signature of emitted CH 4 and CH 4 in floodwater averaged around −62‰ and −45‰ for both treatments, respectively, and was not significantly influenced by the application of straw. However, straw application caused the CH 4 in soil solution to be significantly depleted in 13 C during the middle of the rice season, and the mean δ 13 C value was lower in WS (−57.5‰) than in CK (−49.9‰). Calculation from the isotopic data showed that straw application increased the fraction of CH 4 oxidized, causing no significant difference in the δ 13 C value of the emitted CH 4 between the two treatments.