亚热带侵蚀红壤区植被恢复过程中土壤团聚体化学计量特征

植被恢复过程中侵蚀退化地区土壤团聚体碳氮磷及其化学计量特征是反映土壤团聚体对养分固持能力以及土壤生物地球化学循环的关键环节,也是定量评价退化地植被恢复效应的重要途径。为深入了解侵蚀红壤植被恢复过程中土壤团聚体碳、氮、磷含量分配格局及其化学计量特征,以典型红壤侵蚀区福建省长汀县河田镇5个不同植被恢复年限的样地(分别为5a、10a、15a、30a、80a)以及1个未治理地(恢复0a)为对照坡地作为研究对象,测定0~20cm和20~40cm土层不同粒径团聚体有机碳、全氮、全磷含量,并分析土壤与不同粒径团聚体养分化学计量特征。结果表明:(1)植被恢复过程中,团聚体有机碳、全氮和全磷含量变化范围分别为2.06~27.71 g·kg~(-1)、0.54~2.12g·kg~(-1)和0.034~0.189g·kg~(-1),团聚体C︰N、C︰P、N︰P变化范围分别为3.06~13.05、21.4~185.6、5.62~18.20。(2)随植被恢复年限增加,各粒级团聚体有机碳、全氮和全磷含量及其C:N总体上显著增加,均表现为表土层(0~20 cm)高于底土层(20~40 cm),团聚体C︰P、N︰P随植被恢复年限增加表现为升高→降低→升高趋势,团聚体C︰P随土层加深而降低,团聚体N︰P在土层间无明显变化。(3)除恢复0 a外,团聚体有机碳,全氮、全磷和团聚体C︰N、C︰P随粒径减小总体上呈增加趋势,N︰P在各粒径间无显著差异。(4)土壤与团聚体中有机碳、全氮和全磷含量之间以及团聚体有机碳、全氮与团聚体C︰N之间均呈极显著正相关;团聚体有机碳与团聚体C︰P呈极显著正相关;团聚体全磷与团聚体N︰P呈极显著负相关。植被恢复降低土壤侵蚀,明显增加各粒径团聚体有机碳、全氮和全磷含量,提高团聚体碳氮"汇"功能,且在植被恢复过程中,团聚体中P元素成为退化生态系统恢复的限制性元素。     

黄土高原不同年限刺槐土壤化学计量特征分析

通过对陕北黄土高原4种不同年限(10,15,25,40年)刺槐林地0—200cm土壤的采集与分析,研究不同刺槐种植时间对土壤营养元素及化学计量比的影响。在每个林龄的林地内设3个小区,每个小区采用随机采样法选取3个采样点分层采集土壤样品,进行土壤碳、氮、磷、钾测定,计算化学计量比。结果表明:(1)有机碳和全氮、全钾含量随刺槐年限增加呈基本增大的趋势,全磷随刺槐年限的增长变化不大;有机碳、全氮和全磷呈极显著的正相关关系;(2)在0—200cm土层,有机碳、全氮空间分布基本一致,随土层深度增加均呈先减少后趋于稳定的变化趋势;全磷在整个空间中的分布较为均匀,其空间变异性低于有机碳和全氮;全钾含量高于碳氮磷含量,且随土壤深度变化不大;(3)土壤C∶N比,C∶P比,N∶P比和C∶N∶P比均随刺槐年限的增长呈先降低后升高的趋势,都在15年处有最低值;(4)土壤C∶N比随土层深度在一定范围波动,C∶P和N∶P比均随土层深度的增加呈先减少后趋于稳定的变化趋势。     

亚热带2种针叶林土壤碳氮磷储量及化学计量比对混交的响应

针叶林混交阔叶树是改善土壤肥力、增强林地养分循环的重要措施,而混交效应受到针叶树种自身特性的影响,马尾松(Pinus massoniana)和湿地松(P.elliottii)是亚热带地区广泛种植的针叶树种,但目前2种针叶林对阔叶树混交的响应特征还不清楚。选取马尾松、湿地松纯林以及木荷(Schima superba)补植后形成的马尾松—木荷和湿地松—木荷混交林为研究对象,采集剖面土壤样品,测定土壤容重、有机碳(OC)、全氮(TN)和全磷(TP)含量,计算碳氮磷储量及化学计量特征,比较不同森林类型间的异同。混交阔叶树显著增加了马尾松林0—60cm各土层OC含量,而湿地松纯林与其混交林间OC含量无显著差异。同时,混交增加了2种针叶林土壤TN含量。马尾松林混交后0—60cm土层碳储量显著增加95.8%,而混交阔叶树对湿地松林土壤碳储量无显著影响。混交阔叶树后马尾松和湿地松林0—60cm土壤总氮储量分别增加了15.8%和28.4%,但混交对土壤磷储量无显著影响。混交显著增加了马尾松林0—40cm各土层C/N,而降低了湿地松林0—10cm土层C/N。混交阔叶树后马尾松林0—20cm土层C/P和0—10cm土层N/P显著增加,而混交仅增加湿地林0—10cm土层N/P。混交阔叶树增加了针叶林土壤氮储量,但对磷储量无显著影响,同时混交改变了土壤碳氮磷生态化学计量特征。与湿地松林相比,马尾松林土壤养分含量、储量及其化学计量特征对混交的响应更敏感。     

黄土高原不同封育年限草地土壤与植物根系的生态化学计量特征

黄土高原特别是干草原地区植被演替的研究比较薄弱。当前植物生态化学计量学的研究主要集中在植物叶片方面,对根系的研究较少。选取宁夏云雾山草原植被不同封育年限的土壤和植物样品,以生态化学计量学原理为基础,测定并分析了土壤与根系的碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)及其生态化学计量比与相互关系。结果表明:(1)随着封育年限的增加,土壤容重逐渐减小,土壤有机碳和全氮变异性较大,全磷变异性较小,且封育初期土壤有机碳和全氮含量先降后升,至封育20、30年,保持相对平稳。0~20 cm土层土壤的碳氮比(C∶N)、碳磷比(C∶P)、氮磷比(N∶P)分别为9.04~9.63、19.62~32.27、2.14~3.37,20~40 cm土层土壤的分别为8.68~9.22、15.74~26.32、1.80~3.03。土壤有机碳与全氮、全磷之间存在极显著的正相关。(2)植物根系C、N、P含量变化范围分别为357.6~381.4 g kg-1、7.35~8.18 g kg-1、0.54~0.70 g kg-1;根系中的C元素含量随封育年限的增加逐渐升高,N、P元素含量均小于全球平均值。根系C∶N随着封育年限的增加变异性较大,C∶P、N∶P随着封育年限的增加变异性较小。(3)植物根系的C∶N∶P化学计量特征受土壤的影响调控大于其自身,且土壤磷含量对植物根系C∶N∶P生态化学计量特征影响的显著性(p0.01)大于土壤氮含量(p0.05)。此外,该地区封禁后,草地生产力易受到土壤N含量的限制。     

严重侵蚀退化马尾松林地植被恢复土壤养分的制约性因子

[目的]揭示马尾松(Pinus massoniana)林地植被恢复的土壤养分制约性因子,为严重侵蚀退化马尾松林地植被恢复提供理论依据。[方法]通过在福建省长汀县河田镇花岗岩风化红壤区,植被恢复差异较大的4种马尾松样地的0—5,5—20,20—40cm的土壤养分试验分析。[结果](1)恢复较差的马尾松林地的有机质、全氮、全磷、速效磷、全钾、速效钾含量均较低,土壤保肥能力差,养分易随土壤侵蚀而流失。(2)所有样地的有机质、全氮、全磷、速效磷,速效钾含量变化规律基本上为:恢复较差恢复中等恢复较好恢复好。(3)有机质、全氮、全磷、速效磷,速效钾极显著正相关(p0.01),且在第1主成分上的载荷分别为0.921,0.931,0.974,0.906,0.874。(4)4种恢复样地土壤表层全钾差异不显著,其他层土壤规律不明显,植被恢复好的样地的pH值最小,但是马尾松林下植被生长良好。[结论]有机质、全氮、全磷、速效磷、速效钾植是马尾松林地植被恢复主要制约因子,全钾、pH值不是马尾松林地植被恢复制约性因子。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区不同植物群落的土壤养分及其化学计量特征

[目的]对黄土丘陵沟壑区不同群落土壤养分及化学计量进行研究,为该区的植被恢复提供一定的理论依据。[方法]测定土壤的有机碳、全氮、全磷含量,计算C∶N,C∶P,N∶P,进行差异显著性检验。[结果]研究区土壤有机碳和全氮含量属于6级,全磷含量属于4级,均为养分含量较低的级别;0—10cm土层土壤养分含量大于10—20cm土层;不同群落之间P含量差异不显著,柠条群落的C,N含量最高,铁杆蒿群落的C,N含量最低;柠条群落C∶N与其他群落(铁杆蒿群落除外)差异不显著,C∶N保持相对稳定;铁杆蒿群落和刺槐群落的C∶P较低,土壤P的有效性较高。[结论]不同群落的生物量和盖度等特征不同,导致土壤养分有所差异;不同群落对土壤C,N,P的补充和吸收利用能力不同,导致化学计量特征有所不同。     

宁南山区不同年限撂荒梯田土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征

为了探究不同年限撂荒梯田对土壤碳氮磷含量及其化学计量特征的影响,为宁南山区撂荒梯田的管理利用和植被恢复提供科学依据。选择宁南山区彭阳中庄示范区不同年限撂荒梯田(2,5,15,17,20 a)为研究对象,通过野外采样与室内测定相结合的方法,对研究区5个不同年限撂荒梯田0—60 cm土壤样品中的C,N,P元素含量及其化学计量比特征进行了分析。结果表明:在0—60 cm土层,不同年限撂荒梯田的土壤C,N分布规律一致,均随土层深度的增加而减小,表层0—10 cm出现了富集现象,且随着撂荒年限增加呈先降低后升高的趋势,其他4层呈波动式下降趋势,土壤全磷含量分布比较均匀。土壤C∶N随着不同撂荒年限的增加呈波动式升高趋势,撂荒20年0—40 cm土层土壤C∶N最高,并与其他各年呈显著性变化(p0.05)。土壤C∶P和N∶P均表现为在表层0—10 cm随着撂荒年限的增加,总体呈现出先降低后升高的趋势,其他各层总体呈现下降的趋势。土壤C∶P和N∶P随土层增加呈减小趋势。土壤C∶N与全N和土壤C含量相关性不显著。土壤C∶P与土壤C含量呈极显著的正相关,与全磷含量呈显著的正相关。土壤N∶P与土壤全N含量呈极显著的正相关,与全磷含量呈显著的正相关。通过上述分析,总体反映出撂荒梯田土壤碳氮磷及其化学计量比受到不同年限和土层深度的双重影响,农地弃耕撂荒演替对土壤肥力有一定程度的改善。     

毛乌素沙地樟子松林植物-土壤生态化学计量特征演变关系

[目的]探究沙漠化土地植被恢复过程的植物与土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量特征的演变关系，可以深入认知樟子松固沙林植被恢复的机制。[方法]以榆林毛乌素沙地的半固定沙地为对照，分析了恢复25～56 a樟子松林下的物种多样性、樟子松植物组织(叶片、枯落物、细根)与土壤的C,N,P含量及其化学计量动态变化特征与交互作用。[结果](1)樟子松植物组织C,N,P平均含量表现为：叶片>枯落物>细根，碳氮磷化学计量比为：枯落物>细根>叶片。(2)与半固定沙地相比，植被恢复后樟子松植物组织和土壤中的C,N,P含量显著变化。从恢复25 a到56 a,枯落物和土壤C含量分别显著增加了14.9%和61.5%,N含量分别显著增加了55.0%和52.4%。(3)随着恢复年限增加，枯落物和细根的C∶N以及叶片和细根C∶P,N∶P均显著降低，叶片C∶N及枯落物C∶P,N∶P显著增加。(4)枯落物与土壤C含量，细根与土壤N,P含量及植物组织与土壤间C∶P均呈显著正相关关系。(5)植被恢复年限通过影响枯落物生物量和林下植被根量间接影响土壤C,N,P含量，且总效应最大。[结论]榆林沙区樟子...     

乔灌草治理年限对红壤区土壤养分的影响

以退化红壤区4个不同治理年限的乔灌草混交治理措施的马尾松林地和未被治理的严重侵蚀退化马尾松林地为研究对象,研究不同治理年限的乔灌草治理措施对土壤养分特征的影响。研究表明:(1)土壤有机质、全N、全P含量变化范围分别为0.81~28.10g/kg,0.18~1.15g/kg,0.03~0.18g/kg,均随治理年限的增加呈上升趋势,增速规律为先快后慢;土壤全K含量变化范围为0.92~4.65g/kg,治理13年后全K含量最高在40—60cm土层,增速规律为先慢后快。(2)土壤养分与治理年限相关性分析显示,土壤有机质含量、全N含量与治理年限存在显著相关关系(P0.05),土壤全P含量与治理年限存在极显著相关关系(P0.01),土壤全K含量与治理年限没有相关性。研究认为,乔灌草混交治理措施下的马尾松林地土壤养分含量与治理年限具有相关性,可为生态治理与恢复提供科学依据。     

鄂尔多斯高原不同年限弃耕农田土壤养分特征

植物群落演替和土壤养分变化相互影响,探讨弃耕农田演替过程中土壤养分的变化,对理解植物群落的演替过程十分必要。以鄂尔多斯高原不同年限弃耕农田(软梁农田弃耕年限为1、6、10、15和20年,硬梁农田弃耕年限为3、6、10、15和20年)为对象,分析弃耕演替过程中土壤养分的变化特征。结果表明:对于软梁弃耕农田,除土壤全碳质量分数和全钾质量分数变化存在一定程度波动外,随弃耕年限增加,土壤全氮质量分数和全磷质量分数基本呈增加趋势;随土层深度增加,土壤全氮质量分数和全磷质量分数基本呈下降趋势。对于硬梁弃耕农田,随弃耕年限增加,土壤养分质量分数变化趋势较为复杂,土壤全碳质量分数总体呈先增加后减小趋势;0~10 cm土层土壤全氮质量分数先减小后增加,其他土层先增加后减小;10~30 cm土层土壤全磷质量分数先增加后减小,其他土层先减小后增加;0~10 cm土层土壤全钾质量分数先增加后减小,其他土层减小。随着土层深度的增加,弃耕20年和自然植被的土壤全碳质量分数减小,其他弃耕年限的土壤全氮质量分数增加;弃耕6年的土壤全氮质量分数呈波动变化,其他弃耕年限的土壤全氮质量分数下降;弃耕10年和自然植被的土壤全磷质量分数先减小后增加,其他弃耕年限的土壤全磷质量分数下降;土壤全钾质量分数变化规律不明显。随弃耕年限增加,在软梁与硬梁弃耕农田中,土壤C/N均呈先减小后增加再减小的趋势。随着土层深度增加,软梁弃耕农田的土壤C/N在自然植被中呈下降趋势,在其他弃耕年限下呈增加趋势;硬梁弃耕农田的土壤C/N呈增加趋势。在弃耕演替过程中,弃耕年限与土壤深度对土壤养分质量分数存在显著影响,表层土壤养分质量分数较高。该研究可为鄂尔多斯高原弃耕农田的植被恢复提供科学依据。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

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

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

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

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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