Dry farming with soils under natural tephra cover in Lanzarote, Spain

Abstract. The volcanic island of Lanzarote (Canary Islands, Spain) is one of the most arid parts of the European Union. During the eruptions of 1730–36, a third of the island was covered with lava and pyroclastic material. In areas under basaltic tephra, an agrosystem has been developed that allows a form of dry farming that has become a key component of the local economy. This article illustrates the effectiveness of the layer of natural tephra mulch in conserving soil and water.     

Influence of land use changes on the soil temperature regime of Andosols on Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Soil temperature influences both soil formation processes and land use possibilities, and is a classification criterion in some systems. Vegetation cover is one of the factors that affects temperature. In this paper, we estimate the classes of soil temperature regimes, using Soil Taxonomy, for Andosols located in parts of the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, which are influenced by the trade winds. The study focuses on soils under three types of natural vegetation – cloud forest, tree‐heath woodland and pine forest – and adjacent plots where the vegetation has been replaced with, respectively, pine forest, herbaceous plants and cropping, and herbaceous plants. Temperature was measured monthly at 50‐cm depth for a period of 2–4 years at three sites, both in the natural vegetation plots and in the plots where the vegetation was modified. Under natural vegetation the soil temperature regimes are all ‘iso’ (difference < 6°C between summer and winter temperatures) and reflect tropical conditions. The switch to shorter vegetation, and particularly to use of the land for cropping, causes the soil temperature regime to change from iso to non‐iso.     

Experimental warming effects on the microbial community of a temperate mountain forest soil

Soil microbial communities mediate the decomposition of soil organic matter (SOM). The amount of carbon (C) that is respired leaves the soil as CO₂ (soil respiration) and causes one of the greatest fluxes in the global carbon cycle. How soil microbial communities will respond to global warming, however, is not well understood. To elucidate the effect of warming on the microbial community we analyzed soil from the soil warming experiment Achenkirch, Austria. Soil of a mature spruce forest was warmed by 4 °C during snow-free seasons since 2004. Repeated soil sampling from control and warmed plots took place from 2008 until 2010. We monitored microbial biomass C and nitrogen (N). Microbial community composition was assessed by phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA) and by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of ribosomal RNA genes. Microbial metabolic activity was estimated by soil respiration to biomass ratios and RNA to DNA ratios. Soil warming did not affect microbial biomass, nor did warming affect the abundances of most microbial groups. Warming significantly enhanced microbial metabolic activity in terms of soil respiration per amount of microbial biomass C. Microbial stress biomarkers were elevated in warmed plots. In summary, the 4 °C increase in soil temperature during the snow-free season had no influence on microbial community composition and biomass but strongly increased microbial metabolic activity and hence reduced carbon use efficiency.     

Soil Potassium Indices and Clay‐Sized Particles affecting Banana‐Wilt Expression Caused by Soil Fungus in Banana Plantation Development on Transported Volcanic Soils

Abstract

Relations among the expression of banana disease symptoms caused by the soil fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, soil potassium (K)–sodium (Na) properties [soluble K‐Na ratios (SK/SS), potential buffering capacity for K (KBC), potassium adsorption ratio (KAR)], and clay‐sized particles were evaluated in Sorribas plots from the Canary Islands. Soils were sampled in areas of Sorribas where banana plants show positive or negative wilting symptoms characteristic of Panama disease. The Bartoli method was used for soil dispersion (Na resin). This method was able to show a clear separation between diseased and disease‐free areas by the amount of clay‐sized particles. Results also show that the greatest SK/SS ratios and clay‐sized particles in soils from diseased areas could explain the increase of water‐stable aggregate mass in these soils and the release of available iron (Fe) to soil solution in diseased areas, at least in Sorribas cultivated soils under the arid climate conditions of the Canary Islands.     

Changes in net N mineralization rates and soil N and P pools in a pine forest wildfire chronosequence

The concern that climate change may increase fire frequency and intensity has recently heightened the interest in the effects of wildfires on ecosystem functioning. Although short-term fire effects on forest soils are well known, less information can be found on the long-term effects of wildfires on soil fertility. Our objective was to study the 17-year effect of wildfires on forest net mineralization rates and extractable inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations. We hypothesize that (1) burned forest stands should exhibit lower net mineralization rates than unburned ones; (2) these differences would be greatest during the growing season; (3) differences between soil variables might also be observed among plots from different years since the last fire; and (4) due to fire-resistant geochemical processes controlling P availability, this nutrient should recover faster than N. We used a wildfire chronosequence of natural and unmanaged Pinus canariensis forests in La Palma Island (Canary Islands). Soil samples were collected during winter and spring at 22 burned and unburned plots. We found significantly higher values for net N mineralization and extractable N pools in unburned plots. These differences were higher for the winter sampling date than for the spring sampling date. Unlike extractable N and N mineralization rates, extractable P levels of burned plots exhibited a gradual recovery over time after an initial decrease. These results demonstrate that P. canariensis forest soils showed low resilience after wildfires, especially for N, and that this disturbance might induce long-term changes in ecosystem functioning.     

Lead dietary intake in a Spanish population (Canary Islands)

For most people diet is the main route of exposure to trace metals, so information about dietary intake is also important to assess risks to human health for these elements. The purpose of this study was to determine the levels of Pb in the foods and drinks of highest consumption in the authors' our community to estimate daily intakes of Pb for each of the seven Canary Islands. Four hundred and twenty samples were analyzed using GFAAS. The total Pb intake of the Canarian population is 72.8 microg/day, 29.12% (for a person of 70 kg body weight) of the provisional tolerable weekly intake limit of 25 microg/kg fixed by the FAO/WHO. The island that presents the highest lead intake is La Gomera, followed by Lanzarote, Tenerife, and Gran Canaria islands. These four islands present a lead dietary intake over the mean Pb intake for the whole archipelago. The islands with lower Pb intakes are La Palma and Fuerteventura, with intakes under 70 microg/day. These results have also been compared with the values found for other national and international communities.     

桂西北岩溶山区峰丛洼地土壤水分动态变化初探

土壤水分是岩溶山区植被恢复和生态环境建设的关键性限制因素。在桂西北岩溶山区峰从洼地，分析了不同利用方式坡面、洼地土壤水分的动态变化规律，结果表明：坡面土壤水分（0～20cm）为中等变异，不同利用方式间具有一定的差异，自然灌丛、撂荒地土壤含水量较高，但板栗、木豆林地土壤含水量较低，且易受外界条件的干扰，其栽种早期应注意采取一定的蓄水保墒措施；与坡地相比，洼地受外界条件的干扰相对较小，土壤剖面含水量为增长型，其变化主要发生在表层，为中等变异；土壤水分沿坡面的分布规律较为复杂，在植被类型相对一致的条件下，坡位的影响相对较小。     

Limits to the bioindication potential of Collembola in environmental impact analysis: a case study of forest soil-liming and fertilization

We tested the suitability of the collembolan community as a bioindicator for assessing the effects of forest soil-liming and fertilization on the belowground decomposer community. Our investigation was based on a 5-year survey that took place in a German oak-hornbeam and spruce forest in which amelioration measures took place in 1988, 1994 and 1995, with chemical parameters and Collembola being sampled between 1993 and 1997. To address these questions, we applied new methods which have not yet, to our knowledge, been used in biomonitoring studies on forest soils. We used a time-lag analysis for the detection of directional change and a regression-tree induction to show the relationship between Collembola and soil factors. Soil parameters changed considerably after the onset of liming and fertilization. However, no change was detected in community composition over time, nor was there a relationship between Collembola and soil parameters that would make possible the development of a model with at least a moderate predictive success. Taking into account the effort invested in this study (5-year sampling period, identification of 35,000 Collembola, 99 species, 1,170 chemical analyses), we question the suitability of collembolan communities as a bioindicator for forest disturbance.     

Genetic variability of high molecular weight glutenin subunits in bread wheat from continental Portugal, Madeira and Canary Islands

The genetic variability of high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMWGS) composition at the Glu-1 loci in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was studied electrophoretically using the SDS–PAGE in 3,470 individuals representing 159 populations originated from the Canary Islands (Spain), the Archipelago of Madeira (Portugal) and the continental Portugal. A total of 25 alleles were detected, resulting in 69 different allele combinations. The geographical distribution of the high molecular weight glutenin alleles confirms historical data regarding circulation of wheat germplasm between the Iberian Peninsula and Madeira and between Madeira and the Canary Islands and vice versa.     

广西壮族自治区与福建省荔枝园土壤养分肥力现状研究

掌握土壤养分肥力,是制定施肥策略的基础。本研究采集了广西壮族自治区荔枝主产区果园土壤样本185个,福建省荔枝主产区果园土壤样本25个,分析了土壤有机质和N、P、K、Ca、Mg、S、Cu、Zn、B、Mo含量,评价荔枝果园土壤养分肥力现状。结果显示:广西和福建两省荔枝果园土壤有机质、碱解氮、速效钾、有效钙、有效镁、有效硼、有效钼含量均为低水平,广西荔枝果园有效磷和有效锌为中下,福建为中上,有效铜中等,有效硫含量较高。整体上两省荔枝园土壤养分肥力较低且不平衡。不同荔枝主产区土壤养分肥力状况差别很大,硼是广西荔枝园土壤最普遍缺乏的元素,镁、钼次之。而镁是福建荔枝园土壤最普遍缺乏的元素,硼、钙次之。     

基于最大似然法与矩法的黄土高原小流域土壤碳氮空间变异分析

以黄土高原寺底沟小流域为研究对象,根据不同土地利用方式采集46个样点的土壤样品,通过地统计方法对土壤有机碳和全氮的空间变异特征进行了分析。采用受限最大似然法(REML)和矩法(MOM)两种方法分别对变异函数进行了估计,通过交叉检验选择克里金预测效果较好的变异函数进行地统计插值。(1)与矩法(MOM)相比,在多数情况下受限最大似然法(REML)估计的变异函数进行克里金插值更加准确。(2)土层深度对土壤全氮空间变异影响较小,对土壤有机碳影响较大,表层土壤有机碳含量及变异程度明显高于下层土壤。(3)土地利用方式对土壤有机碳和全氮的空间分布有重要影响,灌木林和天然草地土壤有机碳和全氮水平最高,弃耕地其次,梯田、果园、人工草地最低,表明退耕还林对提高土壤碳氮水平有重要贡献。     

农田恢复措施对黑土母质发育的新成土壤团聚体微形态及孔隙结构的影响

土壤结构是土壤肥力的物质基础,水土流失等导致土壤结构退化成为威胁我国粮食安全的重要因素。本文利用8年田间定位试验,通过土壤切片技术,研究不同农田恢复措施(耕作和有机物料投入)对黑土母质发育的新成土壤团聚体微形态的影响,对理解成土过程和肥力快速恢复具有重要意义。结果表明:免耕土壤(自然、人工植被恢复)、不施肥耕作土壤和仅施化肥耕作土壤均为复合孔洞状微结构,主要孔隙形状均为面状或孔洞状,连通性及数量相当,土壤垒结和微结构类似;但土壤颗粒分布频度和均匀度及粗细粒质接触紧密度与耕作负相关,免耕土壤显著地高于耕作土壤(P0.05)。施肥耕作土壤中,施有机物料的土壤为海绵状微结构,施高量有机物料的土壤微结构发育最好,施低量有机物料的土壤微结构次之,不施有机物料土壤微结构最差;其土壤垒结和微结构发育特征与有机物料的投入正相关。     

洞庭湖泥沙沉积与土壤侵蚀

洞庭湖是一个吞吐型的过水湖泊,其泥沙沉积量大,1951～1983年累计沉积泥沙约48.07亿t,年平均沉积1.5亿t。泥沙沉积于汛期,多为长江冲积物。严重的泥沙淤积,反映出长江中上游地区土壤侵蚀十分强烈。泥沙沉积灾害发生在湖区,突出表现为洪涝、土壤潜育化和血吸虫感染。侵蚀灾害发生在山丘区,它导致土壤退化和滑坡、泥石流灾害加剧。加强长江上游水土流失重点防治和中上游防护林工程体系建设,提高人均产值,消除或减轻人口增长对生态环境造成的压力,可从根本上控制土壤侵蚀和泥沙沉积灾害。     

Genetic resource conservation of the endemic genus Argyranthemum Sch. Bip. (Asteraceae: Anthemideae) in the Macaronesian Islands

Germplasm from one or more populations of each taxon of the Macaronesian endemic genus Argyranthemum Sch. Bip. (Asteraceae: Anthemideae) was collected in the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Selvagens Islands and the Desertas Islands. A total of 253 germplasm samples was collected and they are conserved ex situ at the seed bank of Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria de Canarias (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain). Duplicates are held at the germplasm bank of Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos (Madrid, Spain). A preliminary account of the ecogeography of the genus based on field observation is provided. In situ conservation strategies are discussed, particularly with regard to the occurrence of hybridization within Argyranthemum.Abbreviations IUCN international Union for Conservation of Nature - CITA Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria de Canarias - ETSIA Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, Madrid     

Soil water availability in rainfed cultivation affects more than cultivar some nutraceutical components and the sensory profile of virgin olive oil

This research considered the varieties 'Frantoio' and 'Moraiolo' growing in rainfed olive trees (Olea europaea) and took place in Tuscany, central Italy. Soil moisture was monitored during the very meteorologically contrasting years 2002 and 2003 in two nearby olive groves. The plots had the same morphological and climatic conditions, but different soil types. Monocultivar oil samples were analyzed to determine fatty acids, minor polar compounds, and tocopherols content and were submitted to organoleptic analysis by a panel of trained tasters. The results highlighted that soil water regimen affects some nutraceutical components and the sensory evaluation of olive oil. Cultivar also affected yield components, polyphenols, and tocopherols content, but less than soil water availability. The plants on the soil inducing a relatively more intense and longer water deficit during summer (a Skeleti Calcaric Regosol) had an early ripening and gave the best results in terms of phenolic compounds and, consequently, antioxidant properties of the olive oil. The sensorial properties of the oil obtained from both cultivars on the Regosol were superior in both years of the trial.     

Soil education: A public need Developments in Germany since the mid 1990s

Soil is a public good that has important public functions. However, public knowledge about soils was rather scanty in Germany up until the mid 1990s. This article summarizes and comments on the developments that have taken place in Germany since then with regard to the four major dimensions of soil education—time, target groups, actors, and media. In summary, a wealth of initiatives was started (and has since vanished), leaving behind a number of remarkable results like internet and e‐learning sites, exhibitions, and science trails. Meanwhile, intellectual results have also become visible, with most citizens now being able to respond to questions on what soil and its functions are and how they are endangered. Progress is still lacking, however, in education—a minimum of soil science knowledge is still not sufficiently anchored in official school curricula, and institutions for this task are not in place. Finally, it is strongly urged to use the opportunity that soil protection has recently been on the agenda of the European Union in order to develop international perspectives for soil education, especially in the field of e‐learning.     

Mitigation of olive mill wastewater toxicity

The toxicity of olive mill wastewaters (OMW) is commonly attributed to monomeric phenols. OMW were treated in an aerated, stirred reactor containing agricultural soil, where the oxidative polymerization of phenols took place. In 24 h, OMW monomeric phenols decreased by >90%. This resulted in a corresponding reduction in phytotoxicity, as measured by germination tests with tomato and English cress seeds, and in microbial toxicity, as measured by lag phase duration in Bacillus cereus batch growth. Soil germination capability after irrigation with OMW was assessed in long-term pot experiments. The relative germination percentage of tomato was higher when the soil was irrigated with treated OMW rather than with untreated ones, although it was lower than the control (e.g., soil irrigated with distilled water). At longer incubation times, a complete recovery of the soil germination capability was achieved with treated, but not with untreated, OMW.     

中国南方富铁铝化土壤土系建立进展

土壤基层分类单元划分，特别是土系建设是土壤系统分类的基础，也能直接为农业生产提供更详细的科学指导。富铁铝化土壤（砖红壤、赤红壤和红壤）在我国南方广泛分布，为了解其在中国土壤系统分类中归属以及土系建设情况，本文综述了自2008年以来土系研究的相关成果，系统分析了富铁铝化土壤诊断层和诊断特性检索、高级分类单元归属以及基层分类单元建设现状，并展望了土系建设的发展方向：进一步细化土系划分和描述标准，加强新土系建设，加强新技术和新方法在土系建设中的应用，加大和扩展土系建设成果的运用，旨在为我国南方富铁铝化土壤系统分类研究提供参考。     

Marginal effects of silvicultural treatments on soil nutrients following harvest in a Chinese fir plantation

Despite the widespread recognition that silvicultural treatments (prescribed harvest residue burning, site preparation and replanting) applied following clearcutting may cause soil erosion and nutrient loss in Chinese fir ( Cunninghamia Lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) plantations, it is unclear which specific treatment leads to nutrient loss and whether an appropriate implementation of the treatments during the dry season could avert nutrient loss altogether. To address these two questions, nutrient changes in Alliti-Udic Ferrosols soils within a Chinese fir plantation located in Huitong County, Hunan Province, were investigated through the analysis of soil samples sequentially collected at depths of 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm before and after harvest with the residue material kept in place, a prescribed residue burning operation, site preparation and tree replanting initiative took place. Individual treatments significantly affected the soil pH value, organic matter and C and available N at depths of 0–15 cm, but did not significantly influence soil bulk density, total N and P contents and available P contents. The soil pH value decreased with successive application of the treatments. Soil organic C increased by way of the remaining residue after clearcutting, but declined after prescribed residue burning and ultimately returned to pre-harvest values after site preparation as a result of soil displacement and burning ash. Available N contents decreased significantly after clearcutting and residue burning, but the reduction was more or less offset after site preparation took place. Results after all silvicultural treatments were applied showed that no significant reduction in soil organic matter, C and N and P occurred to date in the Chinese fir plantation studied, suggesting that nutrient loss could be averted if the treatments were implemented during the dry season.     

The influence of chemical soil factors on the development of VA mycorrhizas of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and sycamore(Acer pseudoplatanus L.) in pot experiments

The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate effects of soil acidity on the formation of mycorrhizas in ash and sycamore, and (2) to elucidate if mycorrhization can improve the acquisition of Ca, Mg, and P by these tree species. Soil substrates with different Ca, Mg, and Al saturation were used in pot experiments with mycorrhizal ash and sycamore seedlings and various Ca and Mg fertilization treatments. The development of vesicular‐arbuscular‐mycorrhizas (VAM) in both species was considerably affected by the chemical soil properties and by the nutritional status of the plants. Mycorrhizal fungi developed well only in plants growing on basalt‐derived, Ca and Mg rich loam and in substrates fertilized with Ca and Mg carbonate. In these substrates, the pH value, Ca and Mg supply and growth of the plants were optimal. The mycorrhizas degenerated in an acid loam derived from phyllite, in tertiary sand and in all treatments receiving Ca and Mg sulfate. Ash and sycamore suffered from Ca and Mg (P) deficiency, and partly from Al antagonism against Ca and Mg uptake (sycamore) or Al toxicity (ash). The symbiosis between fungi and the plants was disrupted since the tree species and the VAM fungi (from fertile nursery soils) did not adapt to the acidic experimental soil substrates with high Al activity. Consequently, the fungi lost their function of supporting the plants by improved nutrient uptake and the plants likely did not produce enough organic substances for the fungi. In addition, N fertilization possibly suppressed the development of VA mycorrhizas and inhibited new colonization in acid substrates.