Total organic carbon concentrations in ecosystem solutions of a remote tropical montane forest respond to global environmental change

The response of organic carbon (C) concentrations in ecosystem solutions to environmental change affects the release of dissolved organic matter (DOM) from forests to surface and groundwaters. We determined the total organic C (TOC) concentrations (filtered 25°C, decreasing soil moisture, and rising nitrogen (N) deposition from the atmosphere during the study period. In rainfall, throughfall, mineral soil solutions (at the 0.15‐ and 0.30‐m depths), and streamflow, TOC concentrations and fluxes decreased significantly from 1998 to 2013, while they increased in stemflow. TOC/DON ratios decreased significantly in rainfall, throughfall, soil solution at the 0.15‐m depth, and streamflow. Based on Δ14C values, the TOC in rainfall and mineral soil solutions was 1 year old and that of litter leachate was 10 years old. The pH in litter leachate decreased with time, that in mineral soil solutions increased, while those in the other ecosystem solutions did not change. Thus, reduced TOC solubility because of lower pH values cannot explain the negative trends in TOC concentrations in most ecosystem solutions. The increasing TOC concentrations and EC in stemflow pointed at an increased leaching of TOC and other ions from the bark. Our results suggest an accelerated degradation of DOM, particularly of young DOM, associated with the production of N‐rich compounds simultaneously to changing climatic conditions and increasing N availability. Thus, environmental change increased the CO$_{2}$ release to the atmosphere but reduced DOM export to surface and groundwater

Etude des transferts élémentaires et mécanismes biogéochimiques dans le continuum sol-plante-vin par l'utilisation de traceurs isotopiques et biochimiques

In western Europe, soil is of primordial importance for wine making. Soil qualities are often discussed and an influence on wine flavor is frequently inferred. However, evidence for a role of soil chemistry on wine composition and taste is scarce, but mineral nutrition of grapevine plants is one possible way of influence. This thesis approaches the complex question of elemental cycling between soil and plant through the use of geochemical tracers in vineyard environments. A combination of traditional tracers such as elemental ratios and mass balances as well as innovative tools such as Cu isotope analysis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) are used on different observation scales. The influence of soil type on wine elemental composition was investigated using over 200 wine samples from France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Results of chemical analysis were then statistically linked to environmental conditions. At this scale, elemental contents of wine vary depending on soil type (calcareous or not), meteorological conditions, and wine making practice. To determine which soil properties can influence the chemical composition of grapevine plants, two vineyard plots on contrasted soils in Soave (Italy) were examined. Soil forming mechanisms were studied along two catenas and subsequently linked to elemental composition of grapevine plants and biochemical markers of plant health. Even though soil morphology was different, complex soil forming processes led to similar geochemical properties of soils. Differences in plant chemical compositions between soil types are small compared to inter-individual and inter-annual variability. However the use of Sr isotopic ratios allows the determination of the pedological origin of plants. In a next step, the fate of Cu pesticides in vineyard soils was studied. Cu-based pesticides have been used for almost 150 years in European vineyards and Cu accumulates in soils, so that the fate of Cu and its ecotoxicological implications are of growing importance. Therefore, Cu mobility in vineyard soils and transfer to grapevine plants were investigated using stable Cu-isotope ratios and EPR-measurements. Isotope ratios of Cu-based fungicides vary largely between products, covering Cu isotope ratios in soils reported in literature and thus making source tracing impossible. However, Cu isotope ratios are useful for tracing biogeochemical mechanisms of Cu transport in soils. The vertical transport of Cu in different soil types was investigated in the Soave vineyard using a combination of mass balance calculations, kinetic extractions and δ65Cu-isotope ratios. Results suggest that Cu can be transported to depth even in carbonated environments. Besides it is shown that heavy organic-bound Cu is lost from carbonated soil columns likely caused by dissolution of Cu carbonates by organic matter. [...]Dans l'ouest de l'Europe, une grande importance est accordée à la composante sol dans l'élaboration des vins. La nutrition minérale est la principale voie par laquelle le sol peut avoir une influence sur la vigne et par conséquent sur le vin qui en est issu. Dès lors, ce travail de thèse appréhende la question plus large des transferts élémentaires entre le sol et la plante à travers de l'utilisation d'outils géochimiques en milieu viticole. Une combinaison de techniques impliquant des indicateurs classiques tels que les rapports élémentaires ou des bilans de masses ainsi que des traceurs plus innovants comme les rapports isotopiques du Cu et la résonance paramagnétique électronique (RPE) est utilisée. Dans un premier temps, l'influence du sol sur la composition élémentaire du vin a été étudiée dans plus que 200 vins provenant d'Allemagne, d'Espagne, de France, et d'Italie. A cette échelle, le type de sol (classé comme calcaire ou non-calcaire) et les conditions météorologiques apparaissent comme des critères discriminants. Par la suite, deux parcelles viticoles de Soave (Italie) aux sols contrastés ont été étudiées afin de d´déterminer l'influence du type du sol sur les vignes. Même si les sols présentent des propriétés pédologiques différentes, une pédogénèse complexe a induit des propriétés géochimiques similaires. Dans les vignes, les traceurs élémentaires et biochimiques montrent que la variabilité inter-annuelle et inter-individuelle est plus grande que la différence liée au sol lui-même. Néanmoins, il est possible de déterminer quel est le sol considéré par l'étude des rapports isotopiques du Sr. Parmi tous les nutriments et éléments toxiques généralement étudiés pour leur mobilité dans les sols, le cuivre a été suivi dans la dernière partie de cette thèse, essentiellement du fait de son épandage toujours massif comme fongicide en viticulture. En effet, les pesticides cupriques comme la bouillie bordelaise sont utilisés depuis environ 150 ans en viticulture. Le Cu s'accumule d`es lors dans les sols et les conséquences ´ecotoxicologiques en font un sujet de plus en plus sensible. Parmi les pesticides analysés dans notre étude, les rapports isotopiques du Cu varient autant entre les différents fongicides que dans les sols étudiés dans la littérature, rendant ainsi impossible l'utilisation de ces isotopes comme traceurs d'origine du Cu dans les sols. [...

Study of elemental transfers and biogeochemical mechanisms in the soil-plant-wine continuum using isotopic and biochemical tracers

Dans l'ouest de l'Europe, une grande importance est accordée à la composante sol dans l'élaboration des vins. La nutrition minérale est la principale voie par laquelle le sol peut avoir une influence sur la vigne et par conséquent sur le vin qui en est issu. Dès lors, ce travail de thèse appréhende la question plus large des transferts élémentaires entre le sol et la plante à travers de l'utilisation d'outils géochimiques en milieu viticole. Une combinaison de techniques impliquant des indicateurs classiques tels que les rapports élémentaires ou des bilans de masses ainsi que des traceurs plus innovants comme les rapports isotopiques du Cu et la résonance paramagnétique électronique (RPE) est utilisée. Dans un premier temps, l'influence du sol sur la composition élémentaire du vin a été étudiée dans plus que 200 vins provenant d'Allemagne, d'Espagne, de France, et d'Italie. A cette échelle, le type de sol (classé comme calcaire ou non-calcaire) et les conditions météorologiques apparaissent comme des critères discriminants. Par la suite, deux parcelles viticoles de Soave (Italie) aux sols contrastés ont été étudiées afin de d´déterminer l'influence du type du sol sur les vignes. Même si les sols présentent des propriétés pédologiques différentes, une pédogénèse complexe a induit des propriétés géochimiques similaires. Dans les vignes, les traceurs élémentaires et biochimiques montrent que la variabilité inter-annuelle et inter-individuelle est plus grande que la différence liée au sol lui-même. Néanmoins, il est possible de déterminer quel est le sol considéré par l'étude des rapports isotopiques du Sr. Parmi tous les nutriments et éléments toxiques généralement étudiés pour leur mobilité dans les sols, le cuivre a été suivi dans la dernière partie de cette thèse, essentiellement du fait de son épandage toujours massif comme fongicide en viticulture. En effet, les pesticides cupriques comme la bouillie bordelaise sont utilisés depuis environ 150 ans en viticulture. Le Cu s'accumule d`es lors dans les sols et les conséquences ´ecotoxicologiques en font un sujet de plus en plus sensible. Parmi les pesticides analysés dans notre étude, les rapports isotopiques du Cu varient autant entre les différents fongicides que dans les sols étudiés dans la littérature, rendant ainsi impossible l'utilisation de ces isotopes comme traceurs d'origine du Cu dans les sols. [...]In western Europe, soil is of primordial importance for wine making. Soil qualities are often discussed and an influence on wine flavor is frequently inferred. However, evidence for a role of soil chemistry on wine composition and taste is scarce, but mineral nutrition of grapevine plants is one possible way of influence. This thesis approaches the complex question of elemental cycling between soil and plant through the use of geochemical tracers in vineyard environments. A combination of traditional tracers such as elemental ratios and mass balances as well as innovative tools such as Cu isotope analysis and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) are used on different observation scales. The influence of soil type on wine elemental composition was investigated using over 200 wine samples from France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Results of chemical analysis were then statistically linked to environmental conditions. At this scale, elemental contents of wine vary depending on soil type (calcareous or not), meteorological conditions, and wine making practice. To determine which soil properties can influence the chemical composition of grapevine plants, two vineyard plots on contrasted soils in Soave (Italy) were examined. Soil forming mechanisms were studied along two catenas and subsequently linked to elemental composition of grapevine plants and biochemical markers of plant health. Even though soil morphology was different, complex soil forming processes led to similar geochemical properties of soils. Differences in plant chemical compositions between soil types are small compared to inter-individual and inter-annual variability. However the use of Sr isotopic ratios allows the determination of the pedological origin of plants. In a next step, the fate of Cu pesticides in vineyard soils was studied. Cu-based pesticides have been used for almost 150 years in European vineyards and Cu accumulates in soils, so that the fate of Cu and its ecotoxicological implications are of growing importance. Therefore, Cu mobility in vineyard soils and transfer to grapevine plants were investigated using stable Cu-isotope ratios and EPR-measurements. Isotope ratios of Cu-based fungicides vary largely between products, covering Cu isotope ratios in soils reported in literature and thus making source tracing impossible. However, Cu isotope ratios are useful for tracing biogeochemical mechanisms of Cu transport in soils. The vertical transport of Cu in different soil types was investigated in the Soave vineyard using a combination of mass balance calculations, kinetic extractions and δ65Cu-isotope ratios. Results suggest that Cu can be transported to depth even in carbonated environments. Besides it is shown that heavy organic-bound Cu is lost from carbonated soil columns likely caused by dissolution of Cu carbonates by organic matter. [...

Experimental evidence for the acceleration of slag hydration in blended cements by the addition of CaCl2

International audienceCements with high substitution rates of ground granulated blast furnace slags (GGBS) have the potential to significantly lower CO 2 emissions of concrete, but their early age strength is often below those of traditional OPC cements. One way of mitigating this drawback is to use accelerating admixtures. In this study, the effect of CaCl 2 additions on the hydration of blended cements was investigated by measuring compressive strength, porosity, heat release and propagation of ultrasound in blends containing 70 wt.% of GGBS. The onset of formation of aluminate phases was monitored using in-situ XRD. The effect of CaCl 2 on slag hydration was isolated by replacing GGBS by an inert quartz filler. Results showed that compressive strength values at one, two and seven days were increased by 50% by the CaCl 2 addition. The increases in compressive strength corresponded to a reduction in pore space. GGBS hydration contributed to the heat development, structuration and compressive strength of the blended cements from 15 hours. The addition of CaCl 2 led to an earlier onset of the GGBS reaction, at around 10 hours, and increased the rate of GGBS hydration during the first seven days. The time of onset of the GGBS contribution was also the moment when AFm precipitation started. In CaCl 2-containing blends, Cl was incorporated in AFm

Immobilization of molybdenum by alternative cementitious binders and synthetic C-S-H: An experimental and numerical study

International audienceExcavation operations during construction produce millions of tons of soil sometimes with high leachable molybdenum (Mo) contents, that can lead to risks for both human health and the environment. It is therefore necessary to immobilize the Mo in excavated soils to reduce pollution and lower the costs of soil disposal. This paper studies the immobilization of Mo by three cementitious binders. To this end, one Ordinary Portland cement (OPC), one binder composed of 90% ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and 10% OPC, and one supersulfated GGBS binder were spiked with sodium molybdate at six different Mo concentrations from 0.005 wt% to 10 wt% before curing. In addition, to gain mechanistic insights, the capacity of synthetic calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) to immobilize Mo was studied. This study was completed by thermodynamic modeling to predict the immobilization of Mo at low Mo concentrations (95%) by the coprecipitation of powellite. Thermodynamic modeling was in good agreement with measured values when the equilibrium constant of powellite was modified to LogK = −7.2. This suggested that powellite is less stable in cementitious environments than would be expected from thermodynamic databases. Moreover, modeling showed that, for a solution at equilibrium with portlandite or C-S-H, the Mo concentration is limited to 1.7 mg/L by powellite precipitation. In contrast, for a solution saturated with respect to ettringite, the threshold concentration for powellite precipitation is 6.5 mg/L

Stable Cu Isotope Ratios Show Changes in Cu Uptake and Transport Mechanisms in Vitis vinifera Due to High Cu Exposure

International audienceEven though copper (Cu) is an essential plant nutrient, it can become toxic under certain conditions. Toxic effects do not only depend on soil Cu content, but also on environmental and physiological factors, that are not well understood. In this study, the mechanisms of Cu bioavailability and the homeostasis of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tannat were investigated under controlled conditions, using stable Cu isotope analysis. We measured Cu concentrations and δ 65 Cu isotope ratios in soils, soil solutions, roots, and leaves of grapevine plants grown on six different vineyard soils, in a 16-week greenhouse experiment. The mobility of Cu in the soil solutions was controlled by the solubility of soil organic matter. No direct relationship between Cu contents in soils or soil solutions and Cu contents in roots could be established, indicating a partly homeostatic control of Cu uptake. Isotope fractionation between soil solutions and roots shifted from light to heavy with increasing Cu exposure, in line with a shift from active to passive uptake. Passive uptake appears to exceed active uptake for soil solution concentrations higher than 270 µg L −1. Isotope fractionation between roots and leaves was increasingly negative with increasing root Cu contents, even though the leaf Cu contents did not differ significantly. Our results suggest that Cu isotope analysis is a sensitive tool to monitor differences in Cu uptake and translocation pathways even before differences in tissue contents can be observed

New Insights on Cu Homeostasis in Vine Plants Through the Use of Cu Isotopes

International audienceIn this study we examine Cu content and isotopic ratios insoils, soil solutions and organs (i.e., roots and leaves) ofgrapevine plants (i.e., Vitis vinifera – cv. Tanat) grown in potexperiments in greenhouse. Six different soils from threewine-growing areas (i.e., Pessac-Leognan, France; SaintMont, France and Soave, Italy) were selected for their distinctCu pesticide input history and their pedologicalcharacteristics. We calculated Cu-isotope fractionationbetween soil and soil solution, and during Cu uptake andtransfer within the plants (i.e., from soil solution to roots andfrom roots to leaves) in order to better understand the effectof plant homeostasis on Cu behavior and isotope signature inthe soil-plant system

Stable Isotope Fractionation of Metals and Metalloids in Plants: A Review

This work critically reviews stable isotope fractionation of essential (B, Mg, K, Ca, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo), beneficial (Si), and non-essential (Cd, Tl) metals and metalloids in plants. The review (i) provides basic principles and methodologies for non-traditional isotope analyses, (ii) compiles isotope fractionation for uptake and translocation for each element and connects them to physiological processes, and (iii) interlinks knowledge from different elements to identify common and contrasting drivers of isotope fractionation. Different biological and physico-chemical processes drive isotope fractionation in plants. During uptake, Ca and Mg fractionate through root apoplast adsorption, Si through diffusion during membrane passage, Fe and Cu through reduction prior to membrane transport in strategy I plants, and Zn, Cu, and Cd through membrane transport. During translocation and utilization, isotopes fractionate through precipitation into insoluble forms, such as phytoliths (Si) or oxalate (Ca), structural binding to cell walls (Ca), and membrane transport and binding to soluble organic ligands (Zn, Cd). These processes can lead to similar (Cu, Fe) and opposing (Ca vs. Mg, Zn vs. Cd) isotope fractionation patterns of chemically similar elements in plants. Isotope fractionation in plants is influenced by biotic factors, such as phenological stages and plant genetics, as well as abiotic factors. Different nutrient supply induced shifts in isotope fractionation patterns for Mg, Cu, and Zn, suggesting that isotope process tracing can be used as a tool to detect and quantify different uptake pathways in response to abiotic stresses. However, the interpretation of isotope fractionation in plants is challenging because many isotope fractionation factors associated with specific processes are unknown and experiments are often exploratory. To overcome these limitations, fundamental geochemical research should expand the database of isotope fractionation factors and disentangle kinetic and equilibrium fractionation. In addition, plant growth studies should further shift toward hypothesis-driven experiments, for example, by integrating contrasting nutrient supplies, using established model plants, genetic approaches, and by combining isotope analyses with complementary speciation techniques. To fully exploit the potential of isotope process tracing in plants, the interdisciplinary expertise of plant and isotope geochemical scientists is required.ISSN:1664-462

Ability of the R3 test to evaluate differences in early age reactivity of 16 industrial ground granulated blast furnace slags (GGBS)

International audienceGround granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) is a glassy by-product of pig iron production and is commonly used in concrete industry to replace cement and thereby lower the carbon footprint of the material. Large variations in reactivity exist depending on the GGBS physical and chemical features. Here we investigate the ability of three rapid calorimetric methods to evaluate the reactivity of GGBS. On a set of 16 industrial GGBS, we show that 24 h heat release, using the R3-protocol, correlates well with 2d compressive strength of standard mortars using 75 wt% GGBS. The correlation of R3-test results (R2 = 0.87) is better than for traditional reactivity indices calculated from chemical composition. Furthermore, we present data on the repeatability of the test protocol and show that the R3-protocol is very sensitive to sample fineness. Finally, XRD patterns show that slight differences in phase assemblage exist between the most and least reactive GGBS

The influence of Al2O3, CaO, MgO and TiO2 content on the early-age reactivity of GGBS in blended cements, alkali-activated materials and supersulfated cements

International audienc