Perspectives of the Fritz-Scheffer Awardee 2021: Profile- to ecosystem-scale perspectives on soil organic matter formation as demonstrated by woody debris in forest dynamics

Soil organic matter (SOM) forms along a continuum from individual particles, pores, and aggregates to litter–soil profiles and larger ecosystems such as forests. However, forest management of SOM stocks and the carbon therein requires knowledge on which processes and factors at which scales determine SOM formation from forest biomass. As evident from woody debris at the profile scale, SOM forms through additions, transformations, translocations, and removals of litter by soil organisms and environmental components. Yet SOM stocks only increase if litter additions-to-removals are out of steady state or enter a new steady state that ignores older litter. Both happen through disturbance and self-selecting feedback processes in ecosystems consisting of autotrophs, heterotrophs, and their physical environment. One such positive feedback process is litter-SOM transformation by heterotrophs that releases nutrients that promote plant productivity and thus litter input. Stocks of litter-SOM, heterotrophs, nutrients, and plants thus exhibit Lotka–Volterra dynamics (i.e., predator–prey interactions) and only increase when attractor states (i.e., steady series or sets of states) change due to disturbance. Evidence of evolving feedback processes and disturbance in SOM would help identify limits, potentials, and precariousness of ecosystems in light of global change, but remains to be found.     

大兴安岭林区落叶松林地不同发育阶段土壤肥力演变与评价

 以大兴安岭林区不同发育阶段兴安落叶松人工林和天然次生林为研究对象,采用野外调查和定量分析相结合的方法,对林地土壤有机质、土壤腐殖质组成、土壤酸度指标及其主要养分含量的变化进行测定和分析。利用主成分分析的方法,以各主成分特征贡献率为权重,加权计算各林地土壤肥力综合指标值。结果表明:随着林龄的增长,不同发育阶段落叶松人工林土壤酸度总体呈现升高的趋势,土壤有酸化的迹象;全磷和速效钾呈现降低的趋势;有机质、水解氮、胡敏酸和胡敏素含量在近熟林略有升高,但总体呈现降低的趋势。土壤肥力评价结果为:天然林>幼龄林>近熟林>中龄林>成熟林,即随着林龄的增长,土壤肥力迅速下降,其主要原因是林地凋落物分解缓慢。因此,建议通过适度提高林地抚育强度,调整群落结构,增加林地光照,诱导天然阔叶树种进入,形成针阔混交林的调控措施,调节落叶松人工纯林凋落物分解与积累的矛盾,以维持地力平衡和提高林地生产力。     

Increased Levels of Aluminium in Forest Soils: Effects on the Stores of Soil Organic Carbon

Acid atmospheric deposition results in increased levels of mobile aluminium (Al) in forest soils. Laboratory studies suggest that increased binding of Al to soil organic matter (SOM) in the forest floor results in decreased mobility of organic matter in soil water, viz. lower concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Other laboratory studies indicate decreased decomposition rates of SOM as a result of Al binding. So far, little field evidence supporting these effects of Al on the lability of SOM have been reported. Here we present a field manipulation experiment in mature Norway spruce forest in Norway, where the content of Al in soil and soil water was increased. Increased Al in the forest floor caused a pronounced decrease in the leaching of DOC. Simultaneously, the decomposition rate of SOM decreased by 30% to 40%. This suggests that elevated Al in the forest floor stimulates accumulation of SOM. In a companion paper we present the effect of increased Al on forest vitality.     

Organic matter stabilization in a Xanthic Ferralsol of the central Amazon as affected by single trees: chemical characterization of density,aggregate, and particle size fractions

Not only the amount of organic carbon in soil is important for soil organic matter (SOM) stability, but also its physical and chemical properties. The appropriate technique for the assessment of SOM dynamics can vary between soil types, and information about this is lacking for Ferralsols of the central Amazon basin. First, this work identified SOM pools which are sensitive to land-use changes on the terra firme in the central Amazon. In a second step, the effects of single trees on SOM properties were evaluated in a mixed tree crop plantation in comparison to secondary and primary forest sites. Thus, the processes of organic matter stabilization could be studied in the highly aggregated soils. A combination of aggregate and density fractionation was found to be most suitable for physical SOM characterization. The particulate organic matter (POM, density less than 1.6 Mg m⁻³) varied by one order of magnitude between sites and could be used as a sensitive indicator of land-use changes. Aggregate stability was not related to SOM contents or bulk SOM properties. The incorporation of plant material into stable SOM, however, was enhanced by aggregation. Among aggregate separates, the fraction, 0.25–0.5 mm, showed single-tree effects the most. SOM replenishment was higher under tree species with low quality litter, i.e. high C-to-N and polyphenol-to-N ratios. High quality litter from a leguminous ground cover, however, showed low soil nitrogen and carbon replenishment but increased nitrogen concentrations in light fractions. Litter with a high quality may improve soil nitrogen availability but not amounts of total SOM, which could only be shown for low quality litter. The results indicate the importance of aggregation and POM dynamics for SOM stabilization in the studied Xanthic Ferralsols of the central Amazon basin.     

Use of mathematical models for assessing the pool and dynamics of carbon in forest soils

The contribution of forest soils to the total carbon budget and to the emission of greenhouse gases is an important problem involved in many international programs, including the Kyoto Protocol. Direct measurements of the carbon pool in forest soils and its changes are slow and expensive; therefore, mathematical models are proposed in different countries for describing the dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM). The models differ in complexity and consider different processes of SOM mineralization and humification. The input parameters include model coefficients (these are usually the rates of decomposition and humification of different SOM compartments) and the initial values for different SOM pools. The coefficients can be estimated in special laboratory and field experiments, but the characteristics of the initial values for different SOM pools are usually absent. In this case, some assumptions about the character of SOM accumulation, which depends on forest vegetation, are used. The most realistic is the use of databases on the pools of carbon and other elements related to the types of forest or habitat conditions, including the primarily water regime and soil fertility. Under some suppositions, the agreement conditions between the main parameters of the SOM and forest vegetation can be formulated to assess the initial SOM pools in the forest litter and mineral horizons of the soil. An example of assessing the prediction of forest soil dynamics in Leningrad oblast was considered.     

Application of the methods of thermal analysis for the assessment of organic matter in postpyrogenic soils

Experimental data on the effect of surface fires on the organic matter transformation in the gray-humus soils of pine forests were obtained in the southwestern part of the Baikal region. The application of methods of thermal analysis (such as differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry) made it possible to obtain qualitative and quantitative information about the decomposition (oxidation) of the components of the soil organic matter upon their heating. It was found that the organic matter content in the soils subjected to fires of high intensity decreased by 1.9 times in comparison with the control. In the litter horizons of the undisturbed soils, thermolabile components (mostly, oligo- and polysaccharides) comprised 61% of the organic matter, and the portion of thermostable components (aromatic compounds) was 39%. A significant decrease in the content of thermolabile components and an increase in the content of thermostable components (up to 62%) were observed in the organic matter of the postpyrogenic forest litter as a result of the charcoal formation during the fire.     

人工杉木林地有机物和养分库的退化与调控

研究表明,人工杉木林地土壤有机物和养分库严重退化,地表枯枝落叶层中干和各种养分的贮量与阔叶林和混交林比较明显下降,土壤中有机质,全Ｎ量和碱解Ｎ含量的剖面分布也表现出相同的趋势。传统的炼山造林使杉木林地枯枝落叶和养分库是呈突变形式 经,林份组成单一,凋落物数量和养分含和也是杉木林土壤有机物和归库退化的重要因素。通过改进林木更新方式和改善林份组成很大程度上控制人工林有机物和养分库的退化。     

Land use change and soil nutrient transformations in the Los Haitises region of the Dominican Republic

We characterized soil cation, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) transformations within a variety of land use types in the karst region of the northeastern Dominican Republic. We examined a range of soil pools and fluxes during the wet and dry seasons in undisturbed forest, regenerating forest and active agricultural sites within and directly adjacent to Los Haitises National Park. Soil moisture, soil organic matter (SOM), soil cations, leaf litter C and pH were significantly greater in regenerating forest sites than agricultural sites, while bulk density was greater in active agricultural sites. Potential denitrification, microbial biomass C and N, and microbial respiration g⁻¹ dry soil were significantly greater in the regenerating forest sites than in the active agricultural sites. However, net mineralization, net nitrification, microbial biomass C, and microbial respiration were all significantly greater in the agricultural sites on g⁻¹ SOM basis. These results suggest that land use is indirectly affecting microbial activity and C storage through its effect on SOM quality and quantity. While agriculture can significantly decrease soil fertility, it appears that the trend can begin to rapidly reverse with the abandonment of agriculture and the subsequent regeneration of forest. The regenerating forest soils were taken out of agricultural use only 5-7 years before our study and already have soil properties and processes similar to an undisturbed old forest site. Compared to undisturbed mogote forest sites, regenerating sites had smaller amounts of SOM and microbial biomass N, as well as lower rates of microbial respiration, mineralization and nitrification g⁻¹ SOM. Initial recovery of soil pools and processes appeared to be rapid, but additional research must be done to address the long-term rate of recovery in these forest stands.     

Spatial-temporal dynamics of organic carbon in soddy-podzolic soils of postagrogenic biogeocenoses

The organic carbon content in developed soddy-podzolic soils increased during the overgrowing of abandoned plowland with meadow and forest vegetation. The highest carbon content was recorded at the stage of 40–50-year-old forest, which was related to the largest input of organic matter into the soil and the intense litter decomposition during this period. A decrease in the soil carbon content was observed during the development of forest vegetation on the long-term hayfields in place of the former croplands, because the humus content in the lower part of the old-arable horizon decreased significantly. The spatial variability in the distribution of organic carbon in the soils increased with the development of forest biogeocenoses.     

NaOH‐extractable organic matter of andic soils from Galicia (NW Spain) under different land use regimes: a pyrolysis GC/MS study

The objective of this study was to determine to what extent the attenuation or loss of andic soil properties caused by land use change – from forest (FOR, average C content 118.2 ± 23.7 g kg^?1) to agricultural land (AGR, average C content 55.7 ± 16.7 g kg^?1) use – is reflected in soil organic matter (SOM) at the molecular level. For this, NaOH‐extractable SOM of A horizons from 17 soils developed on amphibolitic parent material in NW Spain was studied by pyrolysis gas chromatography spectrometry (Py‐GC/MS). We also included two buried andic A horizons (PAL, 2200 cal yr BP in age) on the same parent material, as a reference for the molecular composition of SOM from soils without recent litter additions. Organic matter of PAL soils had a composition largely different from that of superficial soils (FOR and AGR), with an important relative contribution of microbial polysaccharides and N‐compounds, and an absence of compounds that characterize fresh plant litter (e.g. lignins). In the superficial soils, the relative contribution of lignin‐derived compounds was greater in AGR than in FOR soils. Differences were also observed in the relative contribution of aliphatic compounds, FOR soils being enriched in this type of components compared with AGR soils. The results indicated that land use change from FOR to AGR, which was accompanied by a decrease in total SOM, resulted in an enrichment in primary SOM. The smaller relative abundance of primary SOM derivatives in andic FOR soils indicates that these compounds were quickly degraded in Andisols.     

低温季节西南亚高山森林土壤轻组分有机碳动态

轻组分有机碳(LFOC)易受短期土地利用方式和环境变化的影响而被用作土壤有机碳短期环境效应的特征指标。通过西南亚高山均质化土壤在不同覆盖情形(裸土除雪BNS、裸土覆雪BS、凋落物除雪LNS、凋落物覆雪Control)下低温季节原位培养,对0~10 cm和10~20 cm深度LFOC影响的动态分析,结果发现:西南亚高山土壤LFOC平均占该土层总有机碳比例为15.5%;经过一个低温季节,不同处理下的LFOC比例变幅介于13.6%~21.1%;土壤0~10 cm和10~20 cm的LFOC在低温季节波动剧烈且含量高,甚至高于生长季节初期和末期,显示亚高山森林土壤碳动态在低温季节仍然极活跃;0~10 cm土壤中在低温季节凋落物覆雪处理土壤LFOC最低,而其余3个处理裸土除雪、裸土覆雪、凋落物除雪处理下LFOC含量和波动幅度均高于凋落物覆雪处理,表明土壤表面的凋落物和积雪覆盖及其组合显著影响0~10 cm土壤LFOC动态和含量;10~20cm土层LFOC时间动态也存在处理效应,显示地表覆盖同样影响下层土壤的LFOC过程;效应分析显示凋落物、积雪、采样时间、土壤深度及其交互作用对土壤LFOC含量的主效应和交互作用达到显著水平,特别是凋落物和积雪同时存在时抑制土壤LFOC形成而有助于维持土壤有机碳的稳定,而凋落物和/或积雪的消失均导致低温季节土壤LFOC升高。因此,在西南亚高山低温季节地表凋落物和积雪覆盖及其组合变化,将会影响亚高山森林土壤碳的库容量和稳定性。     

Soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics in Lumbricus terrestris. L. middens in four arable, a pasture, and a forest ecosystems

Lumbricus terrestris' middens contain large concentrations of organic material and have been characterized as microenvironments distinct from the surrounding soil. The direct and indirect consequences of midden formation on nutrient cycling dynamics and organic matter pools in various ecosystem types have not received much consideration. Therefore, we focused on the differences in C and N dynamics between midden and bulk soil samples in four corn (Zea mays L.) agroecosystems, a rotational pasture and a deciduous forest, in June, July and August of 1996, in Ohio, USA. Paired earthworm midden and bulk soil samples were analyzed for mineral N (NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N), dissolved organic N, microbial biomass N (MBN) and carbohydrate C (CarbC). Additionally, coarse litter, fine litter, particulate organic matter, and soil organic matter fractions were separated and analyzed for total C, total N and C:N ratios. Mineral and dissolved N levels were higher in the midden soil relative to those in the bulk soil for all ecosystem types, except for only NO₃^--N levels in two highly fertilized agroecosystems and in the pasture. MBN, CarbC, and total C and N levels for all organic fractions were significantly greater in the earthworm midden samples relative to these in the bulk samples across all ecosystem types. The plan defined by principal component analysis clearly separated two main groups: (1) includes the forest, the pasture and the less fertilized cornfields and the midden effect is to increase slightly the organic matter content and strongly the inorganic N content, and (2) includes the heavily fertilized agroecosystems and the midden effect is also to increase the organic matter content but to decrease the inorganic N content. We concluded that L. terrestris' middens significantly raised overall soil C and N levels relative to the bulk soil, in a variety of ecosystem types, and, given the abundance of earthworm middens, these macrosites should receive important attention when evaluating nutrient cycling processes at the systems level.     

Carbon isotopes of water‐extractable organic carbon in a depth profile of forest soil imply a dynamic relationship with soil carbon

Although considerable research has been conducted on the importance of recent litter compared with older soil organic matter as sources of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in forest soils, a more thorough evaluation of this mechanism is necessary. We studied water‐extractable organic carbon (WEOC) in a soil profile under a cool‐temperate beech forest by analysing the isotopic composition (¹³C and ¹⁴C) of WEOC and its fractions after separation on a DAX‐8 resin. With depth, WEOC became more enriched in ¹³C, which reflects the increasing proportion of the hydrophilic, isotopically heavier fraction. The ¹⁴C content in WEOC and its fractions decreased with depth, paralleling the ¹⁴C trend in soil organic matter (SOM). These results indicate a dynamic equilibrium of WEOC and soil organic carbon. The dominant process maintaining the WEOC pool in the mineral soil appears to be the microbial release of water‐soluble compounds from the SOM, which alters in time‐scales of decades to centuries.     

两种施肥处理下不同有机质含量农田黑土微生物群落结构PLFA分析

土壤有机质含量和施肥是影响黑土微生物群落结构的重要因素,但是受气候影响,很难单独明确有机质含量或施肥对土壤微生物群落的影响。本研究利用黑土生产力长期定位试验,将有机质含量不同的5个黑土(SOM1.7、SOM3、SOM5、SOM6、SOM11)置于相同气候条件下,通过分析磷脂脂肪酸,系统地研究了施肥与有机质含量对农田黑土微生物群落结构的影响。研究结果表明,5个有机质含量农田黑土中,土壤磷脂脂肪酸总量为10.6~31.5 nmol·g^-1,细菌磷脂脂肪酸含量为6.23~18.4 nmol·g^-1,真菌磷脂脂肪酸总量为1.78~4.57 nmol·g^-1。土壤有机质含量升高和施肥会显著提高土壤中总微生物量、细菌生物量和真菌生物量,但施肥和有机质含量对真菌/细菌比值无显著影响。非度量多维尺度分析(NMDS)分析表明,有机质含量和施肥是导致微生物群落结构差异的重要因素,但施肥可能会遮蔽有机质含量对微生物群落的影响。     

基于高光谱的三江源区土壤有机质含量反演

土壤有机质（SOM）是指土壤中各种含碳有机化合物的总称，其动态变化不仅影响农业生态系统的稳定，而且与大气圈和生物圈的碳循环密切相关，对土壤有机碳的大规模快速监测和碳储量核算具有重要意义。本研究于2017年、2018年7月在三江源区野外采集了145个土壤样品，检测了土壤光谱信息。然后将原始光谱反射率数据及其不同数据变换形式下的光谱分别与土壤有机质（SOM）含量进行相关分析，并选取了特征波段，此外利用偏最小二乘回归（PLSR）、支持向量机（SVM）和随机森林（RF）模型对三江源区SOM含量进行建模估算。结果表明，不同深度土壤有机质含量差异明显，且呈逐层下降趋势。而三种建模方法的检验精度分别为:RF > SVM > PLSR，其中RF和一阶微分（FD）组合模拟最好（建模集和验证集的R2、RMSE分别为0.9678、8.9132和0.7841、20.9787）。对于三江源土壤有机质含量反演，不同模型的最佳数据变换方法不同。本研究成果能为后续的高光谱遥感反演提供理论支撑，从而实现三江源区土壤有机质含量的快速检测和实时动态监测。     

Differences in chemical composition of soil organic matter in natural ecosystems from different climatic regions - A pyrolysis-GC/MS study

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a key factor in ecosystem dynamics. A better understanding of the global relationship between environmental characteristics, ecosystems and SOM chemistry is vital in order to assess its specific influence on carbon cycles. This study compared the composition of extracted SOM in 18 topsoil samples taken under tundra, taiga, steppe, temperate forest and tropical forest using pyrolysis-GC/MS. Results indicate that SOM from cold climates (tundra, taiga) still resembles the composition of litter, evidenced by high quantities of levosugars and long alkanes relative to N-compounds and a clear odd-over-even dominance of the longer alkanes. Under temperate conditions, increased microbial degradation generally results in a more altered SOM chemistry. SOM formed under temperate coniferous forests shows an accumulation of aromatic and aliphatic moieties, probably induced by substrate limitations. Tropical SOM was characterized by an SOM composition rich in N-compounds and low in lignins, without any accumulation of recalcitrant fractions (i.e. aliphatic and aromatic compounds). Lignin composition moreover varies according to vegetation type. Results were validated against 13 new samples. The humic signature of topsoil organic matter formed under different biomes indicates a dominating effect of (i) SOM input composition related to vegetation, and (ii) SOM breakdown reflecting both climate and input quality. No evidence was found for a chemically stabilized SOM fraction under favorable decomposition conditions (temperate or warm climate with broadleaved vegetation).     

潮土区土壤有机质含量的趋势演变研究——以禹城市为例

通过分析山东省禹城市100个采样点1980年和2003年耕层土壤的有机质含量,研究了土壤有机质的时空变异特征,探讨了潮土区有机质含量的变化,形成了研究区1980年和2003年有机质含量空间分布图及1980~2003年有机质含量的空间变化图。分析了研究区有机质含量增加的原因。研究结果表明,该市目前土壤有机质含量平均为14.68g kg-1,比1980年的6.0g kg-1增加了8.68 g kg-1,年均提高0.38g kg-1。土壤表层含盐量的降低为土壤养分含量提高提供了条件。     

引入时相信息的耕地土壤有机质遥感反演模型

土壤有机质(soil organic matter,SOM)是土壤质量评价的重要指标。监测SOM含量及其空间分布对土壤利用与保护、土壤有机碳库估算等具有重要意义。该文以松嫩平原典型区为研究区,采集4种主要土壤类型样本共147个,获取裸土期多时相MODIS地表反射率8 d合成产品,以单期、多期影像所构建光谱指数作为输入量,构建包含含水量变化与有机质含量信息的多光谱指数,建立SOM线性回归遥感反演模型,揭示SOM空间分布规律。结果表明:由于土壤含水量空间差异随时间变化,基于单期影像构建的模型主要输入量发生规律性改变,其中年积日137 d裸土条件最好,反演模型最优;比值光谱指数R61与SOM显著相关,而和含水量相关性极小,适于作为反演模型输入量;基于多期影像构建的模型引入时相信息后,精度与稳定性较单期影像模型显著提高,其中基于年积日137、105 d两期影像光谱指数所建立的多元线性模型最优;松嫩平原SOM呈现由东北向西南递减趋势。     

Effects of organic matter removal, soil compaction, and vegetation control on Collembolan populations

Collembola can be among the most numerous meso-invertebrates in the forest floor and, through their interaction with primary decomposers in the decomposition food web, may affect litter decomposition and consequently site productivity. This study was conducted to determine whether Collembolan abundance could be impacted by organic matter removal, compaction, and vegetation control on a loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantation. Monthly soil and litter samples were taken over 2 years and the fauna extracted from them using modified Tulgren funnels. Organic matter removal and vegetation control generally caused a significant decrease in Collembolan populations, while compaction did not significantly affect Collembolan populations. These results indicate that habitat was the primary influence on population abundance in this experiment, possibly via its influence on desiccation. Sensitivity of collembolan populations to habitat changes caused by organic matter removal indicates a potential effect on long-term site productivity.     

东北黑土有机质组分与结构的研究进展

在全球气候变化背景下研究土壤有机质的转化过程对于评价陆地生态系统碳截获潜力具有重要意义,而土壤有机质的循环特征及其稳定性与土壤有机质的组成和结构密切相关.东北黑土区是我国重要的商品粮基地,近年来,黑土有机质含量呈显著下降趋势,造成黑土肥力和质量的严重退化.本文通过文献资料的整理,总结了不同农田管理措施下黑土土壤有机质的消长动态、组分变化以及结构特征的研究现状,并探讨了研究中存在的问题.开垦和耕作导致土壤有机质总量、活性组分以及腐殖物质含量的显著降低,而平衡施用化肥和有机肥是维持和提升土壤有机质数量和质量的有效途径,长期有机无机配施使土壤有机质结构趋于简单化,有利于土壤肥力的保持.黑土有机质组分化学结构变化的驱动机制是值得人们长期探索的问题.