Anti-HA tag antibody [Biotin]

Using remote sensing technology, this study evaluates changes in mountain grassland ecosystem service values (ESVs) and the factors driving them. Degraded grasslands in Urumqi city, northwest China, reached 1.22x10(5) ha in 2000. However, the grassland degradation rate decreased by 387 ha annually from 2000 to 2015. Total grassland ESVs decreased unpredictably with an annual reduction of USD$1.64x10(7). Ecological losses were mainly caused by degradation of mountain desert grassland, mountain desert steppe-type rangeland, and mountain meadow and mountain steppe-type rangeland. Among individual ESVs, grasslands contributed more to regulating and supporting services, while grassland provisioning and cultural services were relatively low, comprising 0. 7 and 0.5% of the total ESV respectively. The mean Moran's I value was 0.869 for grassland ESVs (from 1994 to 2015), and exhibited high spatial autocorrelation. A driving factor analysis indicated that grassland degradation is continuing as a consequence of meteorological factors and overgrazing. Controlling grazing intensity has a positive impact on growth of grassland ESVs.

There is an increased interest in the use of soil-biodegradable plastic mulch due to limited disposal options for conventional polyethylene mulch. However, information about the impact of continuous use of soil-biodegradable plastic mulch on the environment is limited. Here, we show the effects on soil and groundwater quality from the use of soil-biodegradable plastic mulches for crop production for four consecutive seasons. Two soil-biodegradable plastic mulch products were assessed at two locations (Knoxville, TN and Mount Vernon, WA) having different climates (humid subtropical and cool Mediterranean), with cellulosic-paper mulch, poly-ethylene mulch, and no-mulch included as control treatments. Soil physical, chemical, and biological properties were first assessed in the spring of 2015 (prior to any field operations), and then a few days after harvest in the fall of 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Water samples were collected in the fall of 2018 from lysimeters installed at 55-cm depth and analyzed for nutrient composition. Compared to the no-mulch treatment, the soil-biodegradable plastic mulches and polyethylene mulch increased the soil aggregate stability (by 6-16%) and water infiltration rate (by 10-12%) by protecting the soil surface from disturbance. Residual nitrate and nitrite under the plastic mulch after harvest were lower than under no-mulch (by 4.1 kg ha(-1) to 7.3 kg ha(-1)) due to increased yield and associated enhanced nutrient uptake. However, plastic mulching, especially the polyethylene mulch, reduced soil microbial activity, measured as burst CO2-C by 6 g kg(-1 )day(-1) to 54 kg(-1) day(-1), but had no effect on extractable organic carbon concentrations nor specific extracellular enzyme activity rates. Within the fouryear period, the soil-biodegradable plastic mulches had overall positive effects on soil and groundwater quality, except for reduced burst microbial respiration, which was more pronounced in Mount Vernon.