Effects of different tillage and straw retention practices on soil aggregates and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils of the northwestern China

Soil tillage and straw retention in dryland areas may affect the soil aggregates and the distribution of total organic carbon. The aims of this study were to establish how different tillage and straw retention practices affect the soil aggregates and soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in the aggregate fractions based on a long-term (approximately 15 years) field experimentin the semi-arid western Loess Plateau, northwestern China. The experiment included four soil treatments, i.e., conventional tillage with straw removed (T), conventional tillage with straw incorporated (TS), no tillage with straw removed (NT) and no tillage with straw retention (NTS), which were arranged in a complete randomized block design. The wet-sieving method was used to separate four size fractions of aggregates, namely, large macroaggregates (LA, >2000 μm), small macroaggregates (SA, 250-2000 μm), microaggregates (MA, 53-250 μm), and silt and clay (SC, <53 μm). Compared to the conventional tillage practices (including T and TS treatments), the percentages of the macroaggregate fractions (LA and SA) under the conservation tillage practices (including NT and NTS treatments) were increased by 41.2%-56.6%, with the NTS treatment having the greatest effect. For soil layers of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-30 cm, values of the mean weight diameter (MWD) under the TS and NTS treatments were 10.68%, 13.83% and 17.65%, respectively. They were 18.45%, 19.15% and 14.12% higher than those under the T treatment, respectively. The maximum contents of the aggregate-associated SOC and TN were detected in the SA fraction, with the greatest effect being observed for the NTS treatment. The SOC and TN contents were significantly higher under the NTS and TS treatments than under the T treatment. Also, the increases in SOC and TN levels were much higher in the straw-retention plots than in the straw-removed plots. The macroaggregates (including LA and SA fractions) were the major pools for SOC and TN, regardless of tillage practices, storing 3.25-6.81 g C/kg soil and 0.34-0.62 g N/kg soil. Based on the above results, we recommend the NTS treatment as the best option to boost soil aggregates and to reinforce carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils in the semi-arid western Loess Plateau of northwestern China.     

Effects of long-term fertilization on oxidizable organic carbon fractions on the Loess Plateau,China

The effects of long-term fertilization on pools of soil organic carbon(SOC)have been well studied,but limited information is available on the oxidizable organic carbon(OOC)fractions,especially for the Loess Plateau in China.We evaluated the effects of a 15-year fertilization on the OOC fractions(F1,F2,F3 and F4)in the 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil layers in flat farmland under nine treatments(N(nitrogen,urea),P(phosphorus,monocalcium phosphate),M(organic fertilizer,composted sheep manure),N+P(NP),M+N(MN),M+P(MP),M+N+P(MNP),CK(control,no fertilizer)and bare land(BL,no crops or fertilizer)).SOC content increased more markedly in the treatment containing manure than in those with inorganic fertilizers alone.F1,F2,F4 and F3 accounted for 47%,27%,18% and 8% of total organic carbon,respectively.F1 was a more sensitive index than the other C fractions in the sensitivity index(SI)analysis.F1 and F2 were highly correlated with total nitrogen(TN)and available nitrogen(AN),F3 was negatively correlated with p H and F4 was correlated with TN.A cluster analysis showed that the treatments containing manure formed one group,and the other treatments formed another group,which indicated the different effects of fertilization on soil properties.Long-term fertilization with inorganic fertilizer increased the F4 fraction while manure fertilizer not only increased labile fractions(F1)in a short time,but also increased passive fraction(F4)over a longer term.The mixed fertilizer mainly affected F3 fraction.The study demonstrated that manure fertilizer was recommended to use in the farmland on the Loess Plateau for the long-term sustainability of agriculture.     

Hierarchical responses of soil organic and inorganic carbon dynamics to soil acidification in a dryland agroecosystem,China

Soil acidification is a major global issue of sustainable development for ecosystems. The increasing soil acidity induced by excessive nitrogen(N) fertilization in farmlands has profoundly impacted the soil carbon dynamics. However, the way in which changes in soil p H regulating the soil carbon dynamics in a deep soil profile is still not well elucidated. In this study, through a 12-year field N fertilization experiment with three N fertilizer treatments(0, 120, and 240 kg N/(hm~2·a)) in a dryland agroecosystem of China, we explored the soil p H changes over a soil profile up to a depth of 200 cm and determined the responses of soil organic carbon(SOC) and soil inorganic carbon(SIC) to the changed soil p H. Using a generalized additive model, we identified the soil depth intervals with the most powerful statistical relationships between changes in soil p H and soil carbon dynamics. Hierarchical responses of SOC and SIC dynamics to soil acidification were found. The results indicate that the changes in soil p H explained the SOC dynamics well by using a non-linear relationship at the soil depth of 0–80 cm(P=0.006), whereas the changes in soil p H were significantly linearly correlated with SIC dynamics at the 100–180 cm soil depth(P=0.015). After a long-term N fertilization in the experimental field, the soil p H value decreased in all three N fertilizer treatments. Furthermore, the declines in soil p H in the deep soil layer(100–200 cm) were significantly greater(P=0.035) than those in the upper soil layer(0–80 cm). These results indicate that soil acidification in the upper soil layer can transfer excess protons to the deep soil layer, and subsequently, the structural heterogeneous responses of SOC and SIC to soil acidification were identified because of different buffer capacities for the SOC and SIC. To better estimate the effects of soil acidification on soil carbon dynamics, we suggest that future investigations for soil acidification should be extended to a deeper soil depth, e.g., 200 cm.     

Effects of long-term cultivation practices and nitrogen fertilization rates on carbon stock in a calcareous soil on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Soil organic carbon(SOC) and soil inorganic carbon(SIC) are important C pools in the Loess Plateau of Northwest China, however, variations of SOC and SIC stocks under different cultivation practices and nitrogen(N) fertilization rates are not clear in this area. A long-term field experiment started in June 2003 was conducted to investigate the SOC and SIC stocks in a calcareous soil of the Chinese Loess Plateau under four cultivation practices, i.e., fallow(FA), conventional cultivation(CC), straw mulch(SM), and plastic film-mulched ridge and straw-mulched furrow(RF), in combination with three N fertilization rates, i.e., 0(N0), 120(N120), and 240(N240) kg N/hm~2. Results indicate that the crop straw addition treatments(SM and RF) increased the contents of soil microbial biomass C(SMBC) and SOC, and the SOC stock increased by 10.1%–13.3% at the upper 20 cm soil depth in comparison to the 8-year fallow(FA) treatment. Meanwhile, SIC stock significantly increased by 19% at the entire tested soil depth range(0–100 cm) under all crop cultivation practices in comparison to that of soil exposed to the long-term fallow treatment, particularly at the upper 60 cm soil depth. Furthermore, moderate N fertilizer application(120 kg N/hm~2) increased SOC stock at the upper 40 cm soil depth, whereas SIC stock decreased as the N fertilization rate increased. We conclude that the combined application of crop organic residues and moderate N fertilization rate could facilitate the sequestrations of SOC and SIC in the calcareous soil.     

氮添加对天山高寒草原土壤酶活性和酶化学计量特征的影响

为探究氮添加对高寒草原生态系统土壤酶活性的影响,于2018年在中国科学院巴音布鲁克草原生态系统研究站,选择4个氮添加水平(对照,N0,0 kg·hm^-2·a^-1;低氮,N1,10 kg·hm^-2·a^-1;中氮,N3,30 kg·hm^-2·a^-1;高氮,N9,90 kg·hm^-2·a^-1),开展土壤酶活性对氮添加响应的研究,分析土壤酶活性对氮添加的响应特点,土壤酶化学计量比以及土壤酶活性与土壤环境因子的关系。结果表明:与对照相比,氮添加在N3水平显著增加β-1,4葡萄糖苷酶(βG)、β-D-纤维二糖水解酶(CBH)和β-1,4木糖苷酶(βX)酶活性(P<0.05),N1和N3水平显著增加碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性(P<0.05),N3水平显著降低多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性(P<0.05),氮添加对亮氨酸氨基肽酶(LAP)活性影响不显著,N3水平下显著增加N-乙酰-β-D氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)活性(P<0.05)。相关分析表明,8种土壤酶活性均与土壤有机碳(SOC、NAG除外)和总磷(TP)显著相关,与土壤总氮(TN)不相关。研究区土壤酶活性C∶N∶P化学计量比为1∶1∶1.2,与全球生态系统的土壤酶活性C∶N∶P的比值1∶1∶1相偏离,表明该研究区土壤微生物生长受磷素限制。冗余分析(RDA)进一步揭示出土壤有机碳和土壤全磷含量是影响土壤酶活性的主要因子。     

Long-term cultivation and landscape position effects on aggregate size and organic carbon fractionation on surface soil properties in semi-arid region of Iran

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of long-term cultivation and landscape position on organic carbon content and soil aggregation. Sampling sites were determined based upon land use at the end of 50 years soil use and management, cultivated/annual wheat cropping and grazed pasture, and landscape position in Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiary province, southwest Iran. Soil samples were collected from the 0–5 cm and 5–15 cm depths in two adjacent fields that have the same slope and aspect. The soil was silty clay at the summit and footslope positions, and was a silty clay loam at the backslope. Wet-sieving analysis and aggregate-size fractionation methods were used to separate the samples into three aggregate fractions (i.e., 2–4.75, 0.25–2, and 0.053–0.25 mm). The treatments were arranged in a factorial design. Land use significantly affected the water-stable aggregate fractions, so that the wet soil stability of the macroaggregates (i.e., 2–4.75 mm) was higher in the pasture, whereas it was greater for the meso-aggregates (i.e., 0.25–2 mm) in the cultivated soils. Cultivation decreased both the wet-aggregate stability and percent of macroaggregates whereas long-term pasture enhanced aggregation. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content within aggregates and primary particles was also significantly influenced by landscape position, land use, and the depth of sampling. The SOC content was higher in clay than those in silt and sand contents. The SOC content decreased as depth increased in all fractions. In general, the highest and lowest wet-stable aggregates were observed on the footslope and backslope positions, respectively.     

Changes in soil organic carbon and nitrogen after 26 years of farmland management on the Loess Plateau of China

Soil carbon(C) and nitrogen(N) play a crucial role in determining the soil and environmental quality. In this study, we investigated the effects of 26 years(from 1984 to 2010) of farmland management on soil organic carbon(SOC) and soil N in abandoned, wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) non-fertilized, wheat fertilized(mineral fertilizer and organic manure) and alfalfa(Medicago Sativa L.) non-fertilized treatments in a semi-arid region of the Loess Plateau, China. Our results showed that SOC and soil total N contents in the 0–20 cm soil layer increased by 4.29(24.4%) and 1.39 Mg/hm2(100%), respectively, after the conversion of farmland to alfalfa land. Compared to the wheat non-fertilized treatment, SOC and soil total N contents in the 0–20 cm soil layer increased by 4.64(26.4%) and 1.18 Mg/hm2(85.5%), respectively, in the wheat fertilized treatment. In addition, we found that the extents of changes in SOC, soil total N and mineral N depended on soil depth were greater in the upper soil layer(0–30 cm) than in the deeper soil layer(30–100 cm) in the alfalfa land or fertilizer-applied wheat land. Fertilizer applied to winter wheat could increase the accumulation rates of SOC and soil total N. SOC concentration had a significant positive correlation with soil total N concentration. Therefore, this study suggested that farmland management, e.g. the conversion of farmland to alfalfa forage land and fertilizer application, could promote the sequestrations of C and N in soils in semi-arid regions.     

氮添加对天山高寒草原土壤酶活性和酶化学计量特征的影响

为探究氮添加对高寒草原生态系统土壤酶活性的影响,于2018年在中国科学院巴音布鲁克草原生态系统研究站,选择4个氮添加水平（对照,N0,0 kg·hm^-2·a^-1;低氮,N1,10 kg·hm-2·a^-1;中氮,N3,30 kg·hm^-2·a^-1;高氮,N9,90 kg·hm^-2·a^-1）,开展土壤酶活性对氮添加响应的研究,分析土壤酶活性对氮添加的响应特点,土壤酶化学计量比以及土壤酶活性与土壤环境因子的关系。结果表明：与对照相比,氮添加在N3水平显著增加β-1,4葡萄糖苷酶（βG）、β-D-纤维二糖水解酶（CBH）和β-1,4木糖苷酶（βX）酶活性（P < 0.05）,N1和N3水平显著增加碱性磷酸酶（AKP）活性（P < 0.05）,N3水平显著降低多酚氧化酶（PPO）活性（P < 0.05）,氮添加对亮氨酸氨基肽酶（LAP）活性影响不显著,N3水平下显著增加N-乙酰-β-D氨基葡萄糖苷酶（NAG）活性（P < 0.05）。相关分析表明,8种土壤酶活性均与土壤有机碳（SOC、NAG除外）和总磷（TP）显著相关,与土壤总氮（TN）不相关。研究区土壤酶活性C∶N∶P化学计量比为1∶1∶1.2,与全球生态系统的土壤酶活性C∶N∶P的比值1∶1∶1相偏离,表明该研究区土壤微生物生长受磷素限制。冗余分析（RDA）进一步揭示出土壤有机碳和土壤全磷含量是影响土壤酶活性的主要因子。     

陕西省眉县猕猴桃园土壤碳氮磷生态化学计量学特征

以眉县猕猴桃园土壤为研究对象,对土壤pH值、含水率、有机碳(SOC)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)的分布及其生态化学计量学特征进行研究。结果表明:研究区域猕猴桃园土壤含水率、pH值、SOC、TN和TP含量均存在显著性差异,分别处于1.12%~3.46%、7.12~8.40、4.22~13.90 g·kg~(-1)、0.77~1.84 g·kg~(-1)和0.73~2.45 g·kg~(-1)之间,均值分别为2.73%、7.83、7.66 g·kg~(-1)、1.20 g·kg~(-1)和1.40 g·kg~(-1),其表现C、N元素相对匮乏,而P元素相对丰富;其次,不同区域及不同品种园区土壤中C、N和P的生态化学计量学特征均存在显著性差异,C/N、C/P和N/P的变异系数分别为28.30%、35.71%和21.15%,变化范围分别为3.06~11.99、2.68~10.90和0.48~1.41,均值分别为6.57、5.91和0.90,均低于全国平均水平;相关分析表明,在0.05水平上,pH值与C/P呈显著正相关性;在0.01水平上,pH值与TN、pH值与TP、TN与C/N、TN与C/P、TP与C/N、TP与C/P、TP与N/P呈显著的负相关性,pH值与C/N、SOC与C/N、SOC与C/P、TN与TP、C/N与C/P及C/P与N/P呈显著正相关性。     

Seeding and Mulching Treatments as Conservation Measures of Two Burned Soils in the Central Ebro Valley,NE Spain

The effectiveness of seeding introduced species, with or without straw mulching, was tested as a measure of post-fire erosion control in gypsiferous (Xeric Haplogypsid) and calcareous soils (Xeric Torriorthent) in Central Ebro Valley (NE-Spain). Paired control, seeding, and combined seeding and mulching plots were established in four replicated plots for each soil tested. Seeding rate was 30 g m -2 and straw mulch was applied at 100 g m -2 in each plot. Plant projective cover (total and specific), plant biomass, bare soil cover and sediment yield were determined over a 2-year period. During the first year of sampling, species introduced by seeding increased plant cover (about 30%) without significant differences observed between soils. Plant cover was similar in seeding-only and seeding-mulching treatments, although the latter treatment significantly enhanced plant weight. During the second year these differences disappeared because species introduced by seeding practically did not survive. So, the introduced herbs did not interfere with native plants. Bare soil cover remained significantly lower in treated plots than on the control plots for both soils during both years of sampling. In the second year, the reduction of bare soil was attributed to both the straw mulch and litter from the seeding species. Soil protection was significantly higher in calcareous soils than in gypsiferous soils which is related to their physical and chemical properties. Cumulative sediment yield decreased significantly over time with both treatments on both soils. Soil losses from control plots were three times higher than seeding plots and 3.3 times higher than from seeding and mulching plots in gypsiferous soils. Soil losses from control plots were two times higher than from seeding plots and 2.7 times higher than the combined seeding and mulching plots in the calcareous soils. Cumulative soil loss was higher from the gypsiferous soils than from the calcareous soils due to the lower plant cover.     

Aggregate binding agents improve soil aggregate stability in Robinia pseudoacacia forests along a climatic gradient on the Loess Plateau,China

The distribution of binding agents(i.e.,soil organic carbon(SOC)and glomalin-related soil protein(GRSP))in soil aggregates was influenced by many factors,such as plant characteristics and soil properties.However,how these factors affect binding agents and soil aggregate stability along a climatic gradient remained unclear.We selected the Robinia pseudoacacia L.forests from semi-arid to semi-humid of the Loess Plateau,China to analyze the plant biomass,soil physical-chemical properties,SOC and GRSP distribution in different sized soil aggregates.We found that from semi-arid to semi-humid forests:(1)the proportion of macro-aggregates(>0.250 mm)significantly increased(P<0.05),whereas those of micro-aggregates(0.250–0.053 mm)and fine materials(<0.053 mm)decreased and soil aggregate stability was increased;(2)the contents of SOC and GRSP in macro-aggregates and micro-aggregates significantly increased,and those in fine materials decreased;(3)the contribution of SOC to soil aggregate stability was greater than those of total GRSP and easily extractable GRSP;(4)soil properties had greater influence on binding agents than plant biomass;and(5)soil aggregate stability was enhanced by increasing the contents of SOC and GRSP in macro-aggregates and soil property was the important part during this process.Climate change from semi-arid to semi-humid forests is important factor for soil structure formation because of its positive effect on soil aggregates.     

Adaptation of soil solarization to the integrated management of soilborne pests of tomato under humid conditions

ABSTRACT Soil solarization was shown to be cost effective, compatible with other pest management tactics, readily integrated into standard production systems, and a valid alternative to preplant fumigation with methyl bromide under the tested conditions. Solarization using clear, photoselective, or gas-impermeable plastic was evaluated in combination with metham sodium, 1,3-dichloropropene + chloropicrin, methyl bromide + chloropicrin, pebulate, or cabbage residue. Strip solarization, applied to 20-cm-high, 0.9-m-wide beds, was conducted to achieve compatibility with standard production practices and resulted in soil temperatures 2 to 4 degrees C above those temperatures resulting when using conventional flatbed solarization. Soil temperatures were 1 to 2 degrees C higher at the edges of the raised beds, eliminating any border effects associated with solarization. Following a 40- to 55-day solarization period, the plastic was painted white and used as a production mulch for a subsequent tomato crop. The incidence of Southern blight and the density of Paratrichodorus minor and Criconemella spp. were lower (P < 0.05) in solarized plots. No differences (P < 0.05) in the incidence of Fusarium wilt and the density of nutsedge and Helicotylenchus spp. were observed between plots receiving solarization and plots fumigated with a mixture of methyl bromide + chloropicrin. The severity of root galling was lower (P < 0.05) when soil solarization was combined with 1,3-dichloropropene + chloropicrin (16.2 + 3.4 g/m(2)) and a gas-impermeable film. The incidence of bacterial wilt was not affected by soil treatments. Marketable yields in plots using various combinations of soil solarization and other tactics were similar (P < 0.05) to yields obtained in plots fumigated with methyl bromide + chloropicrin. The results were validated in several large scale field experiments conducted by commercial growers.     

Cultivation legacies in soils after rehabilitation seeding in the Great Basin,USA

Integration of knowledge regarding impacts of historical cultivation on soils for restoration planning is limited even though these legacies can affect land productivity and future land uses for decades. Old fields are often actively transformed through restoration, afforestation, or rehabilitation seeding. Rehabilitation seeding with the introduced perennial grass crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) was employed on approximately 2 million hectares in the western United States, including old fields in the Great Basin desert region. Seeding continues to be the primary treatment in restoration today, yet a minimal amount is known regarding how the underlying cultivation legacies affect these soils over the long term. We studied sites where rehabilitation seedings overlapped old fields and adjacent noncultivated land to compare soil properties including soil texture, pH, soil organic carbon (SOC), nitrogen (N), and C:N ratios. Because these sites were identical in all aspects except former cultivation, our approach allowed us to test the hypothesis that cultivation legacies can be detected in the soil today and explore which soil properties most strongly reflect cultivation legacies using discriminant and principal components analyses. Discriminant analysis separated soils between the two land-use conditions with 95% confidence at all four sites. Of the six soil properties, SOC, N, and C:N ratios were most important for distinguishing the cultivation legacies at three sites, whereas soil pH was most important in one site. These results show that soils remain altered in these formerly cultivated sites even after being reseeded, suggesting that future productivity and management will also be affected.     

沙漠化逆转过程中不同粒组颗粒养分与全土养分的关系

通过野外采样和实验室分析,利用空间变化代替时间变化的手段,研究了宁夏盐池县多年围封区沙漠化逆转过程中不同粒组颗粒养分与全土养分的关系。结果表明：随着沙漠化程度的减小,中粗砂、极细砂和黏粉粒组分中有机碳和氮、磷、钾的含量及全土中有机碳和氮、磷、钾的含量均呈逐渐增大的趋势;相关分析表明,不同粒组颗粒养分与全土养分呈极显著正相关,沙漠化逆转过程中全土有机碳和氮、磷、钾养分的固存效应是与不同粒径颗粒结合的有机碳和氮、磷、钾养分共同作用的结果。通径分析表明,不同粒组颗粒养分对全土中各养分指标的影响程度和重要性不同,与粒径较大的中粗砂和极细砂结合的非保护性颗粒养分对全土养分的影响较显著。     

Sorghum-cowpea Intercropping: An Effective Technique Against Runoff and Soil Erosion in the Sahel (Saria,Burkina Faso)

In the Central Plateau of Burkina Faso, runoff on bare soil amounts to 40% of annual rainfall and soil losses reach 4 to 8 Mg ha-¹ a-¹, despite slopes of under 3%. Several studies have shown that mulching the soil surface can reduce runoff by over 60%. However, the scarcity of straw and the incompatibility of mulching with mechanical soil preparation have prevented the large-scale adoption of the technique. The study conducted in Saria village where annual rainfall is 800 mm,set out to evaluate the efficacy of sorghum-cowpea intercropping in reducing runoff and erosion. The study design comprised five plots set up so as to recover runoff and transported solids, on a Ferric lixisol with a slope of 0.7%. Three years results showed that sorghum-cowpea intercropping reduces runoff by 20-30% compared to a sorghum monoculture and by 45-55% compared to a cowpea monoculture. Soil loss is also reduced with intercropping by at least a half compared to sorghumand cowpea monoculture. Moreover, it transpired that sorghum-cowpea intercropping is also beneficial in agricultural production terms, since the grain yield of the intercropped plots was double that obtained with sorghumor cowpea monocultures. The better crop production can be an asset for the widespread use of this technique in the country. An evaluation of the advantages of the legume in terms of nitrogen supplies to the cereal (N 2 symbiotic fixation) and of added soil OM will be useful in improving the cost-effectiveness of such a technique.     

Manipulated precipitation regulated carbon and phosphorus limitations of microbial metabolisms in a temperate grassland on the Loess Plateau,China

Manipulated precipitation patterns can profoundly influence the metabolism of soil microorganisms. However, the responses of soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient turnover to microbial metabolic limitation under changing precipitation conditions remain unclear in semi-arid ecosystems. This study measured the potential activities of enzymes associated with carbon (C: β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) and β-D-cellobiosidase (CBH)), nitrogen (N: β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) and L-leucine aminopeptidase (LAP)) and phosphorus (P: alkaline phosphatase (AP)) acquisition, to quantify soil microbial metabolic limitations using enzymatic stoichiometry, and then identify the implications for soil microbial metabolic limitations and carbon use efficiency (CUE) under decreased precipitation by 50% (DP) and increased precipitation by 50% (IP) in a temperate grassland. The results showed that soil C and P were the major elements limiting soil microbial metabolism in temperate grasslands. There was a strong positive dependence between microbial C and P limitations under manipulated precipitation. Microbial metabolism limitation was promoted by DP treatment but reversed by IP treatment. Moreover, CUE was inhibited by DP treatment but promoted by IP treatment. Soil microbial metabolism limitation was mainly regulated by soil moisture and soil C, N, and P stoichiometry, followed by available nutrients (i.e., NO- 3, NH+ 4, and dissolved organic C) and microbial biomass (i.e., MBC and MBN). Overall, these findings highlight the potential role of changing precipitation in regulating ecosystem C turnover by limiting microbial metabolism and CUE in temperate grassland ecosystems.     

Accumulation of soil organic carbon during natural restoration of desertified grassland in China’s Horqin Sandy Land

China's Horqin Sandy Land,a formerly lush grassland,has experienced extensive desertification that caused considerable carbon(C) losses from the plant-soil system.Natural restoration through grazing exclusion is a widely suggested option to sequester C and to restore degraded land.In a desertified grassland,we investigated the C accumulation in the total and light fractions of the soil organic matter from 2005 to 2013 during natural restoration.To a depth of 20 cm,the light fraction organic carbon(LFOC) storage increased by 221 g C/m2(84%) and the total soil organic carbon(SOC) storage increased by 435 g C/m2(55%).The light fraction dry matter content represented a small proportion of the total soil mass(ranging from 0.74% in 2005 to 1.39% in 2013),but the proportion of total SOC storage accounted for by LFOC was remarkable(ranging from 33% to 40%).The C sequestration averaged 28 g C/(m2·a) for LFOC and 54 g C/(m2·a) for total SOC.The total SOC was strongly and significantly positively linearly related to the light fraction dry matter content and the proportions of fine sand and silt+clay.The light fraction organic matter played a major role in total SOC sequestration.Our results suggest that grazing exclusion can restore desertified grassland and has a high potential for sequestering SOC in the semiarid Horqin Sandy Land.     

不同覆盖方式对旱作农田土壤碳氮含量及玉米产量的影响

设置垄膜沟播(R)、平作全覆膜(P)和平作秸秆覆盖(S)3种不同覆盖栽培模式,以传统平作(CK)为对照,通过3 a大田定位试验,研究不同覆盖方式对农田土壤碳氮及其组分变化、玉米干物质积累和籽粒产量的影响。结果表明:连续覆盖3 a后,R和P处理土壤有机碳和全氮含量及储量均呈逐渐下降趋势,而S处理则呈上升趋势且每年的增幅逐渐增大;各处理0～40 cm土层土壤有机碳储量均表现为S>R>P>CK,全氮储量表现为S>CK>R>P,S处理有机碳和全氮储量分别较CK提高3.4%和7.5%;与CK相比,R和P处理可提高土壤碳氮比,在0～20 cm土层平均分别提高7.9%和9.6%(P<0.05),而S处理0～20 cm土层土壤碳氮比平均降低了9.9%(P<0.05);各覆膜处理(R和P)均较CK显著降低了0～40 cm土层土壤可溶性有机碳(DOC)和土壤可溶性有机氮(DON)含量,而S处理较CK处理0～60 cm土层DOC和DON含量2 a平均均提高6.2%;各处理收获期硝态氮含量在0～100 cm剖面中的垂直分布与CK无明显差异;各处理土壤铵态氮含量均...     

Spatial pattern of soil organic carbon in desert grasslands of the diluvial-alluvial plains of northern Qilian Mountains

The soil properties in arid ecosystems are important determinants of vegetation distribution patterns.Soil organic carbon(SOC)content,which is closely related to soil types and the holding capacities of soil water and nutrients,exhibits complex variability in arid desert grasslands;thus,it is essentially an impact factor for the distribution pattern of desert grasslands.In the present study,an investigation was conducted to estimate the spatial pattern of SOC content in desert grasslands and the association with environmental factors in the diluvial-alluvial plains of northern Qilian Mountains.The results showed that the mean values of SOC ranged from 2.76 to 5.80 g/kg in the soil profiles,and decreased with soil depths.The coefficients of variation(CV)of the SOC were high(ranging from 48.83%to 94.67%),which indicated a strong spatial variability.SOC in the desert grasslands of the study region presented a regular spatial distribution,which increased gradually from the northwest to the southeast.The SOC distribution had a pattern linked to elevation,which may be related to the gradient of climate conditions.Soil type and plant community significantly affected the SOC.The SOC had a significant positive relationship with soil moisture(P<0.05);whereas,it had a more significant negative relationship with the soil bulk density(BD)(P<0.01).However,a number of the variations in the SOC could be explained not by the environmental factors involved in this analysis,but rather other factors(such as grazing activity and landscape).The results provide important references for soil carbon storage estimation in this study region.In addition,the SOC association with environmental variables also provides a basis for a sustainable use of the limited grassland resources in the diluvial-alluvial plains of northern Qilian Mountains.     

Crop yields and soil organic carbon dynamics in a long-term fertilization experiment in an extremely arid region of northern Xinjiang,China

A long-term fertilization experiment was set up in northern Xinjiang, China to evaluate the dynamics of crop production and soil organic carbon(SOC) from 1990 to 2012 with seven fertilization treatments. The seven treatments included an unfertilized control(CK) and six different combinations of phosphorus(P), potassium(K), nitrogen(N), straw(S) and animal manure(M). The balanced fertilization treatments had significantly(P0.05) higher average yields than the unbalanced ones. The treatment with 2/3 N from potassium sulfate(NPK) and 1/3 N from farmyard manure(NPKM) had a higher average yield than the other treatments. The average yields(over the 23 years) in the treatments of NPK, and urea, calcium superphosphate(NP) did not differ significantly(P0.05) but were higher than that in the treatment with urea and potassium sulfate(NK; P0.05). The results also show that the highest increases in SOC(P0.05) occurred in NPKM with a potential increase of 1.2 t C/(hm~2·a). The increase in SOC was only 0.31, 0.30 and 0.12 t C/(hm~2·a) for NPKS(9/10 N from NPK and 1/10 N from straw), NPK and NP, respectively; and the SOC in the NP, NK and CK treatments were approaching equilibrium and so did not rise or fall significantly over the 23-year experiment. A complete NPK plus manure fertilization program is recommended for this extremely arid region to maximize both yields and carbon sequestration.