Jihong Liu Clarke
Research Professor/Coordinator for China Relations
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Thiago Inagaki Junbin Zhao Claire Douheret Pierre-Adrien Rivier Jihong Liu Clarke Nicholas ClarkeAbstract
Earthworms enhance compost mineralization, improving its fertilizer value and soil quality (biological activity, structure). However, they often increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, particularly nitrous oxide (N₂O), via nitrogen mineralization. Combining biochar with compost may mitigate these emissions while further boosting soil benefits alongside earthworm activity. We present preliminary results from a soil incubation (2 months) experiment testing this synergy. Using a Norwegian loam Cambisol, a 2x2x2 factorial design (four replicates) assessed the presence/absence of earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris - 10 adults/jar), compost (manure/food waste - 60 Mg ha⁻¹ equivalent), and rice-straw biochar (700°C pyrolyzed - 20 Mg ha⁻¹ equivalent). We hypothesized that earthworm and compost addition may present synergistic effects in improving N mineralization with consequent enhanced GHG emissions. We expect that biochar may counteract these emissions and potentially present positive effects for soil quality. The goal was to develop a biochar-compost-earthworm system creating a fertilizer with higher nutrient availability and lower GHG emissions. In the first week of the incubation, we found that higher CO2 and N2O productions were associated with the presence of compost. Earthworms could further enhance the carbon decomposition but appeared to mitigate CH4 production. Further analysis will be carried out with a focus on GHG emissions (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O) and nitrogen mineralization dynamics.
Abstract
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are key long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in fish nutrition, but their differential effects on Atlantic salmon under unpredictable chronic stress (UCS) remain unclear. This study compared hepatic responses to DHA- and EPA-rich diets under unstressed and UCS conditions. Atlantic salmon post-smolts were fed a low-EPA+DHA, DHA-rich, or EPA-rich diet for 10 weeks, followed by 3 weeks of UCS. Liver transcriptomes were analyzed by RNA sequencing, and selected genes were validated by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Growth did not differ among dietary groups. Under unstressed conditions, the DHA-rich diet induced more differentially expressed genes than the EPA-rich diet (67 vs. 29) and affected pathways related to fatty acid metabolism, autophagy, cholesterol homeostasis, and antioxidant defense. After UCS, the EPA-rich diet induced a broader hepatic transcriptional response than the DHA-rich diet (205 vs. 57 differentially expressed genes), with only 12 genes shared between the two comparisons. Both diets affected fatty acid- and steroid-biosynthesis-related pathways, while gene-level responses were diet-specific. These findings reveal distinct, stress-dependent hepatic responses to dietary DHA and EPA and may inform future optimization of their nutritional provision in Atlantic salmon production.
Division of Environment and Natural Resources
Conservation of Biodiversity in China in the light of Climate Change
Climate change is becoming an increasingly important pressure on biodiversity, which adds to the burden of other drivers of loss of biodiversity causing negative effects on ecosystems and species
Division of Environment and Natural Resources
Sinograin III: Smart agricultural technology and waste-made biochar for food security, reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, and bio-and circular economy
The Sinograin III project’s overall objective is to contribute to the UN SDGs by widely implementing precision agriculture technologies and application of “waste-to-value” biochar products to achieve sustainable food production with minimized GHG emission, improve soil fertility and promote green growth/zero waste in modern agriculture in China.
Division of Environment and Natural Resources
SiNorAMR
Full title: Collaborative and Knowledge-building Project Collaborative Project Systematic detection and mitigation of antimicrobial resistance in soil environment and animal health contributing to human health (SiNorAMR)