The effects of short-term, long-term, and reapplication of biochar on the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil.

Biochar, a cost-effective amendment, has been reported to play pivotal roles in improving soil fertility and immobilizing soil pollutants due to its well-developed porous structure and tunable functionality. However, the properties of biochar and soils can vary inconsistently after field application. This may affect the remediation of biochar on heavy metal (HM)-contaminated soil being altered.

Association between antiplatelet medication and cerebral microbleeds in stroke-free population.

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) may increase the risk of future intracerebral hemorrhage and ischemic stroke. However, It is unclear whether antiplatelet medication is associated with CMBs. This study aimed to investigate the association between antiplatelet medication and CMBs in a community-based stroke-free population.

Detailed characterization of Phellodendron chinense Schneid and its application in the corrosion inhibition of carbon steel in acidic media.

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of the effective corrosion protection of carbon steel in 1 M HCl solution by Phellodendron chinense Schneid (PCS) bark extract. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and liquid chromatography tandem multi-stage mass spectrometry (LC-MS) were employed for the extract characterization. The properties of PCS as a corrosion inhibitor were evaluated by electrochemical and gravimetric experiments.

[Assessment of soil nutrient status in urban green space of main cities in Hubei Province, China].

According to the topography of the cities in Hubei Province, soil samples were collected from the urban green space in two mountainous cities (Enshi and Shiyan), three hilly cities (Jing-men, Xiangfan and Yichang), and five plain cities (Wuhan, Xiaogan, Xianning, Jingzhou, Suizhou and Huangshi). Within each city, subsoil samples were taken in accordance with four different types of land use, including park, residential, institutional (school, hospital and government, etc.), and roadside.

Soil nutrient assessment for urban ecosystems in Hubei, China.

Recent urban landscape vegetation surveys conducted in many cities in China identified numerous plant nutrient deficiencies, especially in newly developed cities. Soil nutrients and soil nutrient management in the cities of Hubei province have not received adequate attention to date. The aims of this study were to characterize the available nutrients of urban soils from nine cities in Hubei province, China, and to assess how soil nutrient status is related to land use type and topography.

Growing season carbon dioxide exchange in flooded non-mulching and non-flooded mulching cotton.

There is much interest in the role that agricultural practices might play in sequestering carbon to help offset rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. However, limited information exists regarding the potential for increased carbon sequestration of different management strategies. The objective of this study was to quantify and contrast carbon dioxide exchange in traditional non-mulching with flooding irrigation (TF) and plastic film mulching with drip irrigation (PM) cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.

[Effects of drip irrigation with plastic mulching on the net primary productivity, soil heterotrophic respiration, and net CO2 exchange flux of cotton field ecosystem in Xinjiang, Northwest China].

In April-October, 2009, a field experiment was conducted to study the effects of drip irrigation with plastic mulching (MD) on the net primary productivity (NPP), soil heterotrophic respiration (Rh) , and net CO2 exchange flux (NEF(CO2)) of cotton field ecosystem in Xinjiang, taking the traditional flood irrigation with no mulching (NF) as the control. With the increasing time, the NPP, Rh, and NEF(CO2) in treatments MD and NF all presented a trend of increasing first and decreased then. As compared with NF, MD increased the aboveground and belowground biomass and the NPP of cotton, and decreased the Rh.

Effects of exogenous putrescine on gas-exchange characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence of NaCl-stressed cucumber seedlings.

The effects of 10 mM putrescine (Put) treated by spraying on leaves on growth, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic gas-exchange characteristics, and chlorophyll fluorescence were investigated by growing cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L. cv. ChangChun mici) using hydroponics with or without 65 mM NaCl as a salt stress.