Land preparation and vegetation type jointly determine soil conditions after long-term land stabilization measures in a typical hilly catchment,Loess Plateau of China

Purpose

Land preparation (e.g., leveled ditches, leveled benches, adversely graded tableland, and fish-scale pits) is one of the most effective ecological engineering practices to reduce water erosion in the Loess Plateau, China. Land preparation greatly affects soil physicochemical properties. This study investigated the influence of different land preparation techniques during vegetation restoration on soil conditions, which remained poorly understood to date.

Materials and methods

Soil samples were collected from depths of 0–10, 10–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80, and 80–100 cm, in the typical hilly watershed of Dingxi City, Loess Plateau. Soil bulk density (BD), soil organic matter (SOM), and total nitrogen (TN) were determined for different land preparations and vegetation type combinations. Fractal theory was used to analyze soil particle size distribution (PSD).

Results and discussion

(1) The effect of land preparation on soil properties and PSD varied with soil depth. For each land preparation category, SOM and TN values showed a significant difference between the top soil layer and the underlying soil depths. (2) The fractal dimension of PSD showed a significant positive correlation with clay and silt content, but a significant negative correlation with sand content. (3) The 20 cm soil layer was a boundary that distinguished the explanatory factors, with land preparation and vegetation type as the controlling factors in the 0–20- and 20–100-cm soil layers, respectively.

Conclusions

Land preparation and vegetation type significantly influenced soil properties, with 20 cm soil depth being the boundary for these two factors. This study provided a foundation for developing techniques for vegetation restoration in water-limited ecosystems.

     

Relationship between intensity of phosphatase activity and physico-chemical properties in woodland soils

The relationships between intensity of phosphatase activity and soil properties at two depths in some Lake District woodland soils have been examined. Significant relationships were found with soil organic matter, moisture, clay + silt, total nitrogen, isotopically-exchangeable phosphorus, extractable magnesium contents and soil pH. When data from all soils, both 0–5 and 10–15 cm depths, were pooled 66% of the total variation in intensity of phosphatase activity could be accounted for by these soil properties.However, covariance analysis showed that regressions between intensity of phosphatase activity and soil properties differed with soil depth, soil type, season, vegetation type and underlying rock type. When the effects of these interactions were taken into account, up to 99% of the variation in the intensity of phosphatase activity could be accounted for. The relative importance of these interactive factors appeared to be rock type = vegetation type > soil type = season > soil depth.The effects of the soil properties and the interacting factors on the intensity of phosphatase activity in these woodland soils are discussed.     

Effect of Continuous Monocropping of Tomato on Soil Microorganism and Microbial Biomass Carbon

Soil microorganisms play an important role in recycling and transformation of nutrients. Soil microbiological parameters and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) have been suggested as possible indicators of soil quality. Soil microorganisms and MBC in different continuous cropping soils were investigated. Results showed that bacterial population was the highest, followed by actinomycetes, and fungi were the lowest at 0–30 cm soil depth. The amount of soil microorganisms decreased with increasing soil depth (0–10 > 10–20 > 20–30 cm). Soil microbial ratios at different depths proved to be responsive to time (year) variations in continuous monocropping tomato, except those at 0–10 to 10–20 cm depth for fungi and 10–20 to 20–30 cm depth for bacteria. Soil MBC for 12 years of continuous cropping was significantly lower than those for 5, 8, and 10 years (P < 0.05). Continuous cropping years, soil depth, and the interaction of these two parameters significantly influenced soil fungal, bacterial, and actinomycetes populations and MBC. Bacterial population at the 0–10 cm soil layer was a sensitive indicator of continuous cropping of tomato. Soil fungal count increased with increasing monocropping time within 5–8 years.     

Soil restorative effects of mulching on aggregation and carbon sequestration in a Miamian soil in central Ohio

Soils play a key role in the global carbon cycle, and can be a source or a sink of atmospheric carbon (C). Thus, the effect of land use and management on soil C dynamics needs to be quantified. This study was conducted to assess: (1) the role of aggregation in enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) and total soil nitrogen (TSN) concentrations for different mulch rates, (2) the association of SOC and TSN with different particle size fractions, and (3) the temporal changes in the SOC concentration within aggregate and particle size fractions with duration of mulching. Two experiments were initiated, one each in 1989 and 1996, on a Crosby silt loam (Aeric Ochraqualf or Stagnic Luvisol) in central Ohio. Mulch treatments were 0, 8, and 16 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ without crop cultivation. Soil samples from 0–5 cm and 5–10 cm depths were obtained in November 2000; 4 and 11 years after initiating the experiments. Mulch rate significantly increased SOC and TSN concentrations in the 0–5 cm soil layer only. The variation in the SOC concentration attributed to the mulch rate was 41 per cent after 4 years of mulching and 52 per cent after 11 years of mulching. There were also differences in SOC and TSN concentrations among large aggregate size fractions, up to 2 mm size after 4 years and up to 0ċ5 mm after 11 years of mulching. There were also differences in SOC and TSN concentrations among particle size fractions. Variation in the SOC concentration in relation to particle size was attributed to clay by 45–51 per cent, silt by 34–36 per cent, and to sand fraction by 15–19 per cent. Bulk of the TSN (62–67 per cent) was associated with clay fraction and the rest was equally distributed between silt and sand fractions. The enrichment of SOC and TSN concentrations in the clay fraction increased with depth. The C:N ratio was not affected by the mulch rate, but differed significantly among particle size fractions; being in the order of sand >silt >clay. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of Soil Management on Organic Carbon Content and Aggregate Stability

Abstract

Soil cultivation influences organic carbon storage and soil structures. To evaluate the impact of different soil‐management practices on soil organic carbon (SOC) pools and aggregate stability in black soils, SOC in whole soil, various size aggregates, and density‐separated fractions from three long‐term experiments (20 years) was examined. The three soil‐management systems were grassland (GL), bare land (BL), and croplands. The croplands had two treatments: nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer application (NP) and NP together with organic manure (NPM). The SOC in the 0‐ to 10‐cm layer decreased in the order NPM>GL>NP>BL and also declined with the soil depth. The SOC of GL increased by 9.7% as compared to NP after 20 years of natural vegetation restoration. The SOC of NPM increased by 11% over NP after 13 years of organic manure application. The percentages of water‐stable aggregate (>0.25 mm) (WSA_>0.25mm) decreased in the order GL>BL>NPM>NP in the top 0‐ to 20‐cm horizon. WSA_>2mm, the most important fraction for carbon (C) storage in GL and NPM, accounted for 33 and 45% of the whole soil for GL in the depths of 0–10 and 10–20 cm, respectively, and 25 and 18% for NPM in the same soil layers. A significant positive correlation was found between the C stored in WSA_>2mm and total SOC (r=0.81, P<0.05) and between the mean weight diameters (MWD) of aggregates and total SOC (r=0.78, P<0.05). Water‐stable aggregate_0.25–2mm was the largest fraction of WSA_>0.25mm, ranging from 54 to 72% for the 0‐ to 10‐cm layer and 46 to 71% for the 10‐ to 20‐cm layer; thus these aggregates would play a major role in soil sustainability as well as the resistance to soil erosion. The organic carbon (OC) of heavy fraction (HF) accounted for 94–99% of the OC in the WSA_0.25–2mm, whereas free particulate organic matter (fPOM) and occluded particulate organic matter (oPOM) contributed a minor fraction of the OC in the WSA_0.25–2mm, suggesting that C sequestration in HF could enhance the stability of aggregates and C pools in black soil.     

Soil Moisture Variations with Land Use along the Precipitation Gradient in the North–South Transect of the Loess Plateau

Knowledge of soil moisture spatial variation with land use along the precipitation gradient is necessary to improve land management and guide restoration practice in the water‐limited Chinese Loess Plateau. This study selected 45 sampling points at 11 sites across the north–south transect of the Loess Plateau based on the precipitation gradient and land use. Results showed that the vertical profiles of soil moisture revealed large variations with the precipitation gradient changing, especially in the surface layer (0–100 cm). Significant linear correlation existed between the average soil moisture of the profile and the mean annual precipitation (MAP) for each land use type (p < 0·05). Hereinto, the soil moisture under the grassland was affected more greatly by precipitation. The soil moisture under each land use commonly revealed the trend as farmland > grassland > shrubland > woodland, while it might be higher under the woodland than the shrubland in the surface layer in regions with MAP <500 mm. The soil moisture of woodland or shrubland at the selected points was below or approximate to the permanent wilting point in regions with MAP <520 mm. Covariance analysis confirmed the effects of land use and MAP on the soil moisture in depth of 100–300 cm, and it showed land use did not pose significant effects in the surface layer. In addition, our study indicated that it is necessary to reconsider and re‐evaluate the current vegetation restoration strategy in the perspective of vegetation sustainability and soil water availability, in which woodland and shrubland were selected on a large scale in the arid and semi‐arid regions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Soil phosphorus of stable fraction differentially associate with carbon in the tropical forest and savanna of eastern Cameroon

ABSTRACT

The forest–savanna transition zone, which contains nutrient-poor soils (Oxisols), is found throughout central Africa. To evaluate the effect of deforestation on soil phosphorus dynamics, which regulate the plant growth in this area, we quantified the relationship between phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) in different fractions and compared their relationship to forest and savanna (deforested vegetation) in eastern Cameroon. We analyzed the P, C, and nitrogen (N) contents of soil using the physical fractionation method (0.25–2.0 mm as macro-particulate organic matter [M-POM]; 0.053–0.25 mm as micro-POM; and <0.053 mm as Clay+silt) in different land management (young and old forests and annual and perennial grass savannas at 100-cm soil depth). We found larger soil P stock in forests (4.7–4.9 Mg P ha^?1) than that in savannas (3.4–4.0 Mg P ha^?1), though soil C and N stocks were similar between the vegetation. We also observed lower soil P stock in the active fraction (M-POM) with its higher C:P and lower C:N ratio in forest surface layer (0–10 cm), indicating that forests have lower available soil P. By using the regression analysis, we found a clear relationship between P and C in the stable fraction (Clay+silt) of the upper layer (0–40 cm) for each land management, and the coefficient of the regression was clearly different between the forest and savanna. It indicates that a more chemically complex organic P form of the stable fraction exists in forest soil than in savanna soil. These results indicate that the deforestation (savannazation) affect the active and stable P dynamics and it should cause the lower soil P stock of the upper layer in savanna than in forest.     

红壤丘陵区坡地土壤颗粒组成的空间分布特征研究

通过分析红壤丘陵区农田坡面14个0~100 cm剖面的土壤颗粒组成,结合研究区土壤侵蚀等相关资料,拟阐明坡面尺度土壤砂粒、粉粒和黏粒含量的空间分布特征,揭示自然条件下土壤颗粒组成在水平和垂直方向上的分布规律。结果表明:坡面尺度土壤砂粒、粉粒和黏粒均呈现出中等的空间异质性,变异系数分别介于17.6%~23.2%、10.7%~15.8%和13.5%~17.0%。由于粗颗粒的沉积,花生地和橘园地均表现出坡下的砂粒含量显著高于坡上和坡中(P0.05),黏粒含量坡下显著低于其他坡位(P0.05);由于黏粒更容易随入渗过程向深层运动,两种植被类型均表现出土壤砂粒含量随深度增加而降低(P0.05)、黏粒含量随深度增加而增加的趋势(P0.05)。无论在水平方向还是垂直方向上,粉粒含量均无明显变化规律(P0.05)。砂粒含量随坡位和土壤深度的变化程度均大于粉粒和黏粒。植被类型及相应的耕作制度影响土壤颗粒的分布,土壤砂粒在水平方向上的运动在花生地表现得强于橘园地;橘园地土壤黏粒含量在垂直方向上的迁移速率大于花生地,而对粉粒含量的分布规律影响不大。     

Assessment of Horizantal and Vertical Variabilities of Soil Quality using Multivariate Statistics and Geostatistical Methods

The aim of this study is to examine the horizantal and vertical spatial changes of soil quality (SQ) in rice-cultivated soils located on the Bafra Deltaic Plain—one of the most important alluvial deltaic plains and production centers of Turkey. The study examines these spacial changes by calculating the soil quality index (SQI) for soils 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm deep. For SQI calculations, seventeen potential physicochemical SQ indicators of eighty-three soil samples were assessed. Quality indicators to be used in these calculations were selected by considering the clay content, correlation relationship, and principal components analysis (PCA) of potential quality indicators. Clay, silt, sand, electrical conductivity (EC), exchangeable calcium (Ca_exc), and exchangeable magnesium (Mg_exc) were selected as quality indicators, and silt was found to be the most important quality indicator for both soil depths. The SQ of researched soils changed from low to high for both soil depths.     

考虑地表粗糙度改进水云模型反演西班牙农田地表土壤含水率

土壤含水率是农业、环境、气象等领域进行建模的重要参数。该研究将微波遥感与光学遥感相结合,利用Sentinel-1数据交叉极化比及变换土壤调节植被指数对地表粗糙度进行估计,构建了一种改进的水云模型(modifiedwatercloud model, MWCM)。分析将NDVI、NDWI和NDWI1725,2200等植被指数作为植被冠层含水率时,水云模型(water cloud model,WCM)及MWCM农田地表土壤含水率的反演精度。结果表明:从总体精度上来看,MWCM的反演精度优于WCM。在不同植被覆盖度情况下:当植被覆盖度为中、低程度(NDVI0.5),MWCM具有较高的反演精度;在较高的植被覆盖度情况下(NDVI≥0.5),WCM与MWCM的反演精度较为接近。MWCM可有效的建立微波后向散射系数与地表土壤水分的关系,提高土壤含水率反演精度,为各种地表覆盖类型的土壤含水率反演提供研究思路及理论支持。     

Mulching effects on phosphorus and sulfur concentrations in a Miamian soil in central Ohio,USA

In addition to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and sulfur (S) elements are also essential to conversion of biomass carbon into soil humus. Therefore, soil analyses were done on two long‐term mulching experiments initiated in 1989 and 1996 on a Crosby silt loam (Aeric Ochraqualf or Stagnic Luvisol) soil in central Ohio to assess P and S dynamics in soil for different rates of mulching. Mulch treatments were 0, 8 and 16 Mg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ without any crop cultivation. Our objectives were to assess: (i) the effect of different mulch rates on P and S concentrations, and soil organic carbon sequestration; (ii) association of available and total P and S with different particle size fractions; and (iii) temporal changes in available and total P and total S concentrations within aggregate and particle size fractions with duration of mulching. Soil samples from 0 to 5 and 5 to 10 cm depths were obtained in November 2000. Mulch rate significantly increased Bray‐P in 0 to 5 and 5 to 10 cm depths but had no significant effect on total P after 4 years of mulching. Total P concentration in the 5 to 10 cm layer increased significantly with mulch application after 11 years, but the total S concentration was not affected. Total P in aggregates>2 mm size at 5 to 10 cm depth was significantly higher than whole soil after 11 years of mulching. More than 50 per cent of the total P was associated with clay fraction, and P concentration increased with duration of mulching. The enrichment factor for total P was in the order: clay>sand>silt. Total S concentration in aggregates increased with increase in aggregate size for both depths, and was in the order: clay>sand>silt. The clay fraction accounted for 48 per cent of total S after 4 years of mulching and 50 per cent after 11 years of mulching. The enrichment factor of S in clay and sand fractions increased with duration of mulching and with depth for clay, and decreased for sand. The C:P and C:S ratios decreased both with duration of mulching and particle size. Availability of P and S is essential for humification of carbon input in crop residue mulch. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

红壤丘陵区不同植被类型土壤颗粒分形与水分物理特征

为探明红壤丘陵区不同植被对土壤分形结构及水分物理特征的改良作用与机制,运用土壤分形学和水文物理学原理与方法,以南方红壤丘陵区福建省长汀县为例,研究经济林、针阔混交林、乔灌混交林及针叶林4种植被类型土壤颗粒组成、分形维数、水分物理参数及其相关性。结果表明:1)红壤丘陵区不同植被类型土壤中以粗砂粒质量含量最高,细砂粒和石砾质量含量次之,粉黏粒质量含量较低,与裸地相比,不同植被类型具有显著提高土壤细砂砾和粉黏粒质量含量的作用,并且混交林作用程度高于纯林;2)红壤丘陵区不同植被类型具有降低土壤密度、增加土壤孔隙度的功能,针阔混交林、乔灌混交林、针叶林、经济林土壤的饱和蓄水量分别是裸地的1.20、1.16、1.14和1.10倍,表土层(0～20 cm)贮水能力好于表下土层(20～40 cm);3)土壤颗粒分形维数与土壤粉黏粒、总孔隙度、饱和蓄水量、孔隙比呈极显著正相关,与石砾质量含量、土壤密度呈极显著负相关,红壤丘陵区4种植被类型土壤均为不均匀性良好的土壤,以混交林土壤粒径分布结构较好,尤其是以针阔混交林的最好,其次是纯林的,针叶林好于经济林,表土层(0～20 cm)大于20～40 cm土层。     

Redistribution of Different Organic Carbon Fractions in the Soil Profile of a Typical Chinese Mollisol with Land-Use Change

Soil organic carbon (SOC) content depends significantly upon changes in land use and vegetation cover. This study aimed to examine the redistribution of whole soil OC, water-soluble OC (WSOC), and different density-separated OC fractions in soil profiles of 0–100 cm under different land uses and to elaborate the mechanism of C sequestration in response to the land use change. The land use types include maize plots with or without chemical fertilizer application (i.e., Maize-nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) and Maize-NF plots), plots with vegetation removed (No Vegetation), plots with grass (Grass), and alfalfa plant (Alfalfa). These plots used to be maize cropping system with NPK fertilizer for many years before 2003. Significant difference in SOC content generally occurred in soil layers of 0–40 cm among the different plots after 11 years of land-use change. Long-term continuous maize planting decreased SOC content; the significant SOC decrease occurred in Maize plot in the range of 9.3–23.4% for different soil layers compared with the initial soil sampled in 2003. In addition, SOC in Maize plot decreased by 3.6% and 8.5% at top two soil layers, respectively, in comparison with No Vegetation plot. The similar reduction of OC was observed in heavy OC fractions. The calculated sensitivity index for OC decreased in the order of light fraction > water-soluble fraction > the whole soil > heavy fraction. Therefore, the young and labile carbon fractions are much sensitive to land use change relative to the old and recalcitrant carbon fractions. This study indicated that land use changes led to a redistribution of SOC in soil profile, particularly at top soil layers, and conversion from arable land to natural grass cover or nitrogen-fixation plant cultivation such as alfalfa led to the enrichment of SOC at different depths of soil profile.     

南方典型红壤区旱地与水田土壤酸度的剖面差异性

为探明红壤区不同耕地利用类型下土壤酸度的剖面变化特征及其主要影响因素,选取江西省余江县和湖南省祁阳县的典型水田、旱地两种耕地利用类型下、第四纪红色黏土母质发育的红壤,分5层(0～20、20～40、40～60、60～80和80～100 cm)测定土壤pH、交换性铝、交换态盐基阳离子及有机质含量等指标,分析剖面酸度特征及其相互关系。结果表明：土壤pH均随土层深度的增加呈增加趋势,不同耕地利用类型下以水田剖面p H较高,范围为5.80～6.43,旱地剖面p H较低,范围为4.68～5.41。土壤交换性铝含量以水田含量较低,范围为0.16～1.56 cmol/kg,旱地的含量较高,范围为4.22～7.02 cmol/kg,水田的交换性铝含量随土层深度的增加呈降低趋势,旱地则呈现相反的变化趋势。0～20 cm土层的交换性铝与有机质含量呈显著负相关,40～100 cm土层的交换性铝与交换态盐基阳离子含量呈显著负相关。耕地利用类型是影响土壤酸度的主要因素之一,旱地土壤酸度强于水田。增加耕层土壤有机质含量可能是减缓酸化、降低交换性铝含量的策略之一。     

Impact of conservation tillage and organic farming on the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are strongly affected by land use intensity and soil type. The impact of tillage practices on AMF communities is still poorly understood, especially in organic farming systems. Our objective was to investigate the impact of soil cultivation on AMF communities in organically managed clay soils of a long-term field experiment located in the Sissle valley (Frick, Switzerland) where two different tillage (reduced and conventional mouldboard plough tillage) and two different types of fertilization (farmyard manure & slurry, or slurry only) have been applied since 2002. In addition, a permanent grassland and two conventionally managed croplands situated in the neighborhood of the experiment were analyzed as controls. Four different soil depths were studied including top-soils (0–10 and 10–20 cm) of different cultivation regimes and undisturbed sub-soils (20–30 and 30–40 cm). The fungi were directly isolated from field soil samples, and additionally spores were periodically collected from long-term trap culture (microcosm) systems. In total, >50,000 AMF spores were identified on the species level, and 53 AMF species were found, with 38 species in the permanent grassland, 33 each in the two reduced till organic farming systems, 28–33 in the regularly plowed organic farming systems, and 28–33 in the non-organic conventional farming systems. AMF spore density and species richness increased in the top-soils under reduced tillage as compared to the ploughed plots. In 10–20 cm also the Shannon–Weaver AMF diversity index was higher under reduced tillage than in the ploughed plots. Our study demonstrates that AMF communities in clay soils were affected by land use type, farming system, tillage as well as fertilization strategy and varying with soil depth. Several AMF indicator species especially for different land use types and tillage strategies were identified from the large data set.     

丹江中游典型小流域土壤颗粒及分形特征

在丹江鹦鹉沟小流域,利用网格状取样和典型样地取样相结合的方法,进行土样采集,共计采样点268个,研究土壤颗粒组成和分形特征,以及与土壤全氮之间的相互关系。结果表明：土壤粉黏粒质量分数随土壤深度的增加而增大,不同土层下土壤粉黏粒质量分数平均值均表现为农地〉林地〉草地。经ANOVA分析,不同土地利用在10—40cm土层的粉黏粒质量分数存在显著差异（P〈0．05）。不同植被类型间土壤颗粒分形维数亦存在显著差异（P〈0．05）,10～20cm土层的土壤颗粒分形维数更能代表不同土地利用的差异。土壤颗粒分形维数与坡度呈显著负相关（P〈0．05）,与坡向和海拔无显著相关性。土壤全氮质量分数在0～20cm土层与中粗砂粒质量分数呈极显著正相关（P〈0．01）,土壤颗粒分形维数和土壤全氮质量分数在20～60cm土层均与土壤粉黏粒质量分数呈极显著正相关（P〈0．01）。鹦鹉沟流域0～10cm土层的土壤粉黏粒储量为13．28万t,不同土地利用下0～10cm土层每m2土壤粉黏粒储量表现为农地〉林地〉草地,分别为74．71kg／m2、71．54kg／m2和70．23kg／m2。     

Spatial Variability of Soil Organic Matter and Cation Exchange Capacity in an Oxisol under Different Land Uses

ABSTRACT

Soil properties may exhibit large spatial variability. Frequently this variability is auto-correlated at a certain scale. In addition to soil-forming factors, soil management, land cover, and agricultural system may affect the spatial variability of agricultural soils. Soil organic matter (OM) is an important soil property contributing toward soil fertility and a key attribute in assessing soil quality. Increasing soil OM increases cation exchange capacity (CEC) and enhances soil fertility. We analyzed the impact of land use on the spatial variability of OM and CEC in a tropical soil, an Oxisol, within São Paulo state, Brazil. Land uses were prairie, maize, and mango. Soil samples were taken at 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths at 84 points within 1-ha plots, i.e., 100 m × 100 m. Statistical variability was higher for soil OM than for CEC. The mango plot contained the highest soil OM, whereas prairie the lowest. Also, soil OM and CEC were significantly related at all land use treatments and depths studied. All soil OM data sets and most of the CEC data sets (with two exceptions) exhibited spatial dependence. When spatial variability was present, the semivariograms showed a nugget effect plus a spherical or an exponential structure. Patterns of soil OM and CEC spatial variability (i.e., model type, ranges of spatial dependence, and nugget effects) were different between land uses and soil depths. In general, CEC exhibited a lower spatial autocorrelation and a weaker spatial structure than soil OM. Moreover, soil OM displayed a higher autocorrelation and was more strongly structured at the 0–10 cm depth than at the 10–20 cm depth. Interpolation by kriging or inverse distance weighting (IDW) allowed to illustrate how the spatial variability of soil OM and CEC differed due to land cover and sampling depth. Modeling and mapping the spatial distribution of soil OM and CEC provided a framework for spatially implicit comparisons of these soil properties, which may be useful for practical applications.     

Carbon sequestration in secondary pasture soils: a chronosequence study in the South African Highveld

Soil restoration is a means of combating desertification in semi‐arid and arid parts of the world. There, vast areas of the cropped soil degrade, particularly because of the loss of organic matter. One approach to reverse this loss is the conversion of cropland into permanent grassland for use as pasture. This study was designed to evaluate how fast and to what degree degraded cropland may re‐sequester soil organic carbon (SOC) when converted into permanent secondary pasture. Topsoil samples (0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm) were taken from chronosequences of secondary pastures (1 to 31 years old) at three agro‐ecosystems in the semi‐arid Highveld of South Africa. Long‐term croplands and primary grassland used as pastures served as the controls. In bulk soil samples (<2 mm) and their clay (<2 µm), silt (2–20 µm), fine sand (20–250 µm) and coarse sand (250–2000 µm) fractions, the contents of carbon (C) and nitrogen were determined. In all three agro‐ecosystems, using a mono‐exponential model, the SOC stocks increased exponentially until a maximum was reached 10–95 years after land conversion. This gain in SOC was clearly pronounced for the top 0–5 cm of soil, but hardly detectable at 10–20‐cm depth. The sand fractions recovered organic C more rapidly but less completely than did the finer size separates. Overall, between 9.0 and 15.3 t of SOC were sequestered in the 0–20 cm of surface soil by this land conversion. Thus, the SOC recovery in the secondary pastures resulted in SOC stocks that were 29.6–93.9% greater than those in the arable land. Yet, in no agro‐ecosystem, at any soil depth, nor in any soil fraction, did the measured SOC content reach that of the primary grassland. In part this can be attributed to a slightly finer texture of the primary grassland that had not lost silt through wind erosion or had never been used as arable land because of slightly elevated clay contents. Overall it appears, however, that previous losses of SOM cannot easily be rectified, suggesting that the native primary grassland soils are only partially resilient to land‐use change.     

Partial least squares regression (PLSR) associated with spectral response to predict soil attributes in transitional lithologies

New techniques and improvements are required to quantify soil’s chemical and physical properties on production environment, reducing environmental impacts and minimizing soil analysis time. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility to estimate the content of silt, sand, clay, total iron and organic matter in soils formed by different lithologies in Parana State, Brazil, using VIS-NIR spectrum associated with Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR). 200 soil samples were collected in an area formed by Lixisols, Cambisols, Ferralsols, Arenosols and Nitisols in a depths of 0–0.2 and 0.2–0.8 m. Spectral readings were obtained in laboratory by FieldSpec 3 JR sensor. The spectral curves of the samples were correlated to the attributes through PLSR. The results obtained for sand in prediction were better when compared to the other attributes, presenting R² = 0.90, r = 0.95 and RPD = 2.3. Clay and total iron presented satisfactory results, mainly for RPD values, which were above 2.4. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the PLSR technique associated with the spectral response of the soils, was able to estimate sand, clay and total iron with accuracy in a region formed by reworked materials, derived from several lithologies.     

Zinc sorption–desorption by sand,silt and clay fractions in calcareous soils of Iran

Zinc sorption–desorption by sand, silt and clay fractions of six representative calcareous soils of Iran were measured. Sand, silt and clay particles were fractionated after dispersion of soils with an ultrasonic probe. Zinc sorption analysis was performed by adding eight rates of Zn from 6 to 120 μmol g^?1. For the desorption experiment, samples retained after the measurement of Zn sorption were resuspended sequentially in 0.01 M NaNO₃ solution and shaken for 24 h. Results indicated that Zn sorption by soil fractions increased in the order clay > silt > sand, and correlated negatively with CaCO₃ content and positively with cation exchange capacity (CEC) and smectite content. Results indicated that for all fractions, the Langmuir equation described the sorption rates fairly well. In contrast to sorption, Zn desorption from soil fractions increased in the order sand > silt > clay, and correlated positively with CaCO₃ content, CEC and smectite content. Results showed that parabolic diffusion and two constant equations adequately described the reaction rates of Zn desorption. In general, for all soils studied, the coarser the particle size, the less Zn sorption and more Zn desorption, and this reflects much higher risk of Zn leaching into groundwater or plant uptake in contaminated soils.