生态恢复对川西北沙化草地土壤活性有机碳的影响

为了解生态恢复对沙化草地土壤活性有机碳的影响,通过野外实地调查,选取了生态恢复分别为0,2,4,6,8a的区域作为研究对象,并结合土壤样品的采集和室内分析,研究了川西北沙化草地不同生态恢复年限土壤有机碳和活性有机碳组分含量及其变化特征。结果表明:生态恢复过程中沙化草地各土层土壤有机碳、溶解性有机碳、易氧化有机碳、微生物量碳含量均有不同程度增加,其中0-20cm土层变化最为明显,不同生态恢复年限土壤有机碳、溶解性有机碳、易氧化有机碳、微生物量碳含量均达到了极显著差异水平(P0.01)。生态恢复8a后沙化草地土壤有机碳、溶解性有机碳、易氧化有机碳、微生物量碳含量分别为6.14g/kg,55.43mg/kg,0.86g/kg,128.94mg/kg,均高于未生态恢复的沙化草地,且呈极显著差异(P0.01);20-40cm和40-60cm土层土壤有机碳、溶解性有机碳、易氧化有机碳、微生物量碳含量也呈现出逐步增加的特征,但其增加幅度及差异显著性均不及0-20cm土层。沙化草地植被盖度对土壤0-20cm土层响应更为明显,活性有机碳组分之间呈显著正相关关系(P0.05)。     

沙化对高寒草地土壤碳、氮、酶活性及细菌多样性的影响

高寒草地沙化是青藏高原生态安全的严峻威胁,研究沙化过程中土壤碳氮和微生物变化有助于揭示驱动高寒草地沙化演替的生物学机制。以川西北沙化高寒草地为研究对象,分析了未沙化、轻度沙化、中度沙化和重度沙化程度下土壤碳氮、酶活性以及细菌多样性的变化。结果表明:中度和重度沙化显著降低了土壤有机碳、溶解性有机碳、微生物量碳、全氮、可溶解性总氮、可溶解性有机氮、微生物量氮、硝态氮和铵态氮含量(P0.05),但轻度沙化下的土壤有机碳、微生物量碳、硝态氮和铵态氮含量没有显著变化;土壤β-葡萄糖苷酶、蔗糖酶、几丁质酶、脲酶和过氧化物酶活性通常随沙化的加剧而降低,下降速率最大的阶段出现在轻度沙化向中度沙化过渡的阶段;土壤细菌多样性随着沙化的加剧先增加后降低,最高细菌多样性出现在轻度沙化阶段,但不同沙化程度下土壤细菌群落结构并无显著差异。冗余分析表明,土壤碳、氮、酶活性与细菌多样性呈正相关关系;主成分分析表明,土壤有机碳、微生物量氮、过氧化物酶和几丁质酶对土壤优势菌的影响最大。因此,在轻度沙化阶段及时采取治理措施更能有效阻止土壤性质的恶化,在沙化土壤恢复过程中还需要关注少数菌群的重建作用。     

缙云山5种植被下土壤活性有机碳及碳库变化特征

为揭示重庆市缙云山不同植被下土壤活性有机碳及碳库分配特征，以该地区5种植被类型：阔叶林、针叶林、混交林、竹林和荒草地为研究对象，分析不同植被类型下各土壤层次中有机碳（Soil organic carbon, SOC）、微生物量碳(Microbial biomass carbon，MBC)、可溶性有机碳(Dissolved organic carbon，DOC)、易氧化有机碳(Readily oxidized organic carbon，ROC)含量及其土壤碳库的变化特征。结果表明：土壤有机碳和各活性有机碳组分含量及分配比例受到植被类型和土层深度的明显影响。土壤有机碳的平均含量在0~100 cm土层表现为竹林（16.74 g/kg）>阔叶林（12.62 g/kg）>草地(11.14 g/kg)>混交林（8.16 g/kg）>针叶林（5.98 g/kg），并随土层深度的增加而减小。竹林和阔叶林的微生物量碳和易氧化有机碳含量均明显高于混交林和针叶林，各植被在剖面上均表现出垂直递减规律，表现出明显的表聚效应。除草地，4种植被的土壤碳库管理指数随土层深度的加深而减小，均表现为表层(0~20 cm土层)最高。不同植被类型间，竹林的可溶性有机碳分配比例在各土壤层次均最小，整个土壤剖面均值仅为0.1%。由相关性分析可知，微生物量碳、易氧化有机碳、土壤总有机碳含量和土壤有机碳储量有着极其显著的相关性。因此，土壤微生物量碳和易氧化有机碳可以作为衡量亚缙云山森林不同植被土壤有机碳库变化的敏感性指标。     

三江源退化高寒草原土壤有机碳组分分布研究

在青海省三江源区选择了玛多县花石峡镇高寒草原典型样区,划分5种不同退化程度样地(原生植被UD、轻度退化LD、中度退化MD、重度退化HD、极度退化ED),10 cm等深度采集表土土壤样品,分析土壤有机碳和组分含量变化。结果表明,研究区内高寒草原土壤表土有机碳及组分含量随退化程度加剧和土层加深呈显著下降。与原生植被相比,轻度退化、中度退化、重度退化和极度退化下0~30 cm土层土壤有机碳含量分别平均降低了19.4%、44.4%、67.0%和79.7%,土壤轻组有机碳含量分别平均降低了14.4%、46.8%、68.9%和81.3%,土壤重组有机碳含量分别平均降低了21.1%、43.6%、66.4%和79.1%。轻组占有机碳含量的比例为20.45%~29.02%,重组占有机碳含量的比例为70.98%~79.55%,有机碳含量的分布主要集中在重组。总的来看,表层土壤有机碳及组分含量在生态系统退化下的变化最剧烈。随退化程度加剧,高寒草原土壤有机碳含量下降迅速,损失严重。保护高寒草地生态系统,对于三江源区畜牧业可持续发展和我国陆地生态系统碳库具有极重要的意义。     

川中丘陵区柏木低效林不同改造模式土壤有机碳特征

以川中丘陵区柏木低效林改造10年后的四种模式:纯杂交竹模式(Bambusa pervariabilis×Dendrocalamopsis daii)(CZ)、柏木(Cupressus funebris)+桤木(Alnus cremastogyne Burk.)+杂交竹模式(BZQ)、柏木+麻栎(Quercus acutissima Carruth)模式(BL)、柏木+杂交竹模式(BZ)为研究对象,纯柏(CB)为对照,对土壤有机碳含量和土壤活性有机碳不同组分含量及土壤理化性质进行了研究。结果表明:(1)土壤有机碳含量和土壤活性有机碳不同组分含量均随着土层深度的增加而下降。不同模式0~40 cm土层土壤有机碳含量和土壤易氧化碳、颗粒碳、微生物量碳和水溶性碳含量均为BZQCBBZBLCZ(P0.05),表明BZQ模式在提高土壤有机碳方面作用最明显。(2)相关分析表明,土壤有机碳含量和土壤易氧化碳、颗粒碳、微生物量碳和水溶性碳含量均呈极显著正相关(P0.01),土壤活性有机碳不同组分之间也正相关。(3)土壤湿度、全N、全P、全K、硝态氮、铵态氮和速效钾含量与土壤有机碳含量和土壤活性有机碳不同组分呈正相关,土壤温度与微生物量碳含量极显著正相关(P0.01),而与水溶性碳含量极显著负相关(P0.01)。     

生物质改良剂对川西北地区高寒草地沙化土壤有机碳特征的影响

川西北高寒草原特殊的地理环境、气候条件以及过度人为放牧导致草地沙化问题突出。为了探讨不同生物质改良剂对高寒草地沙化土壤有机碳特征的影响,采用随机区组试验设计方法,设置3种生物质改良剂[秸秆类(JG)、菌渣类(JZ)、生物炭类(SWT)], 2个施用水平(6 t·hm?2和18 t·hm?2),以空白处理(CK)为对照,研究高寒草地沙化土壤总有机碳、活性有机碳和呼吸特征的变化。结果表明:1)施用生物质改良剂显著提高了土壤有机碳(TOC)、微生物量碳(MBC)和易氧化有机碳(EOC)含量,且提高效果随改良剂施用量的增加而增强。与CK相比,JG、JZ、SWT处理0～10 cm TOC含量分别平均提高60.66%、39.22%、34.99%,且JG处理显著高于JZ和SWT处理; MBC含量在0～10 cm则表现为JZJGSWTCK,且处理间差异达显著水平; EOC含量表现为JG处理最高,在0～10 cm、10～20 cm土层处分别比对照提高108.82%、79.26%。2)不同生物质改良剂处理中, EOC/TOC表现为JGJZSWTCK,MBC/TOC表现为JZJGSWTCK,且不同处理间差异显著。3)施用不同改良剂均显著提高了土壤呼吸速率,且随改良剂施用量的增加,土壤呼吸速率显著增加。与CK相比,施用6 t·hm?2的JG、JZ、SWT的土壤呼吸速率平均提高103.42%、86.31%、18.83%, JZ和JG处理的土壤呼吸速率显著高于SWT和CK处理。相关性分析表明,土壤水分与土壤呼吸速率呈显著正相关关系, TOC、MBC以及EOC与土壤呼吸速率呈极显著正相关关系。4)施入不同改良剂均显著提高了土壤呼吸总量、土壤微生物呼吸总量和净生态系统生产力(NEP值),均表现出较强的碳汇潜力, JG处理的NEP值较JZ和SWT处理分别显著提高56.45%和122.12%,且各处理间差异显著,说明秸秆改良剂具有较高的碳汇强度。该研究可为川西北藏区补充完善高寒草地沙化土壤制定科学有效的土壤碳调控管理措施提供依据。     

毛竹林土壤有机碳及微生物量碳特征研究

通过对湖南会同林区集约经营毛竹林地土壤有机碳和微生物量碳进行测定,结果表明,毛竹林地土壤(0-60 cm)有机碳和微生物量碳含量平均值分别为1.727%和551.84 mg/kg,不同土壤层次有机碳和微生物量碳含量差异极显著,其中,0-20 cm土层有机碳含量平均值为2.607%,分别是20-40 cm和40-60 cm土层有机碳含量的1.67倍和2.57倍;0-20 cm土层的微生物量碳占土壤总微生物量碳的58.9%,分别是20-40 cm和40-60 cm土层的2.69倍和3.08倍。不同季节间土壤微生物量碳有明显变化规律,即土壤微生物量碳含量1-7月份呈上升的趋势,7月达到最大值,8-12月份呈逐渐下降趋势;不同季节间有机碳含量差异不显著。毛竹林地土壤表层土壤微生物量熵为1.118 6%,与40-60 cm土壤层相当,略高于20-40 cm土壤层,说明毛竹林不同土壤层次有机碳积累强度相当。     

免耕对不同麦玉轮作农田土壤碳组分及理化性质的影响

为探讨耕作及轮作方式对农田土壤理化性质和碳组分的影响,设置免耕、传统耕作2种耕作方式,以及小麦-玉米轮作、小麦/玉米间作、小麦-冬油菜-玉米轮作3种种植模式,共形成6个处理,研究结果表明:与传统耕作相比,免耕增加了0~5 cm、5~20 cm土层全氮、全磷、速效磷和含水量,而降低了的土壤pH和土壤容重。免耕小麦/玉米间作(NT.W1/NT.WM.1)处理的土壤容重、含水量、全氮、全磷含量高于NT.WRM3和NT.WM5处理,在不同土层间,土壤全氮、全磷和速效磷含量随着土层深度的增加而降低。土壤碳组分含量总体表现为免耕处理高于传统耕作处理,免耕处理0~5 cm土层土壤有机碳、颗粒有机碳、可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳含量较相应传统耕作分别增加了1.31%~36.57%、2.07%~35.22%、2.38%~4.78%、2.08%~11.68%,在5~20 cm土层,免耕处理土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量高于传统耕作。在不同免耕处理下,土壤有机碳,颗粒有机碳和微生物量碳含量在0~5 cm、5~20 cm土层总体表现为NT.WM5高于其他免耕处理,相关性分析表明,有机碳、微生物量碳和速效磷呈极显著正相关,容重和有机碳呈极显著负相关。综上所述,免耕小麦/玉米间作利于改善土壤理化性质,小麦-玉米轮作有利于提高土壤有机碳,颗粒有机碳和微生物量碳含量。     

黄土高原撂荒草地土壤碳库对两年增温增雨的响应

阐明暖湿的气候趋势下黄土高原土壤有机碳库不同活性组分和碳库稳定性的变化特征,对脆弱生态区碳库的可持续发展以及评估区域生态效益具有重要意义。以黄土丘陵区自然撂荒草地为研究对象,人工模拟增温和增雨,分析了在增温（W）、增雨（P50%）及其交互作用（WP50%）下植被群落变化特征、土壤有机碳库组分含量、碳库组分的分配比例以及碳库稳定性的变化特征。结果发现：（1）增雨显著增加了植被丰富度指数,而增温和增温增雨显著降低了植被丰富度指数。（2）增雨处理下土壤有机碳、酸解有机碳、易氧化有机碳、溶解性有机碳含量及分配比例在两个取样年均显著高于对照;增温增雨处理则进一步增加了土壤易氧化有机碳和微生物生物量碳含量以及分配比例。相关性分析表明,土壤有机碳与各个活性碳组分之间存在显著相关性。（3）增温增雨处理下土壤碳库活度、碳库活度指数以及碳库管理指数均高于其他处理。酸解有机碳和微生物生物量碳的敏感指数在气候变化处理下相对较高。综上所述,暖湿化的气候背景下黄土丘陵区撂荒草地土壤有机碳、有机碳活性组分含量和分配比例以及碳库稳定性显著提高,有助于碳库良性发展,酸解有机碳和微生物生物量碳可作为未来土壤有机碳变化的重...     

秸秆和菌渣改良剂对高寒沙地土壤有机碳库的影响

采用田间定位试验研究了秸秆颗粒(JG)和菌渣颗粒(JZ)改良剂(施用量分别为6,12,18,24 t/hm~2)对川西北高寒沙地土壤碳库的影响。结果表明:施用JG和JZ改良剂可显著提高沙化土壤有机碳含量、有机碳储量、活性碳、土壤微生物量碳、微生物熵和碳库管理指数,其中对土壤微生物量碳和微生物熵的提升效果最为显著。与CK相比,施用第2年JG处理土壤有机碳含量、有机碳储量、活性有机碳、碳库管理指数平均增加96.2%,100.0%,157.1%,169.4%,JZ处理平均增加69.2%,66.3%,85.7%,81.7%;而JG处理土壤微生物量碳、微生物熵分别较CK平均增加934.0%,433.0%,JZ处理平均增加956.2%,546.4%。JG改良剂对土壤有机碳库组分和碳库管理指数的提升效果优于JZ,而JZ改良剂更有利于提升土壤微生物量碳含量和土壤有机碳的周转速率。秸秆和菌渣改良剂均可增加沙化土壤有机碳库各组分含量,提高土壤有机碳周转速率和碳库管理指数,具有快速培肥沙化土壤的效果。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.