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.     

Natural vegetation restoration of Liaodong oak (Quercus liaotungensis Koidz.) forests rapidly increased the content and ratio of inert carbon in soil macroaggregates

The lack of clarity of how natural vegetation restoration influences soil organic carbon (SOC) content and SOC components in soil aggregate fractions limits the understanding of SOC sequestration and turnover in forest ecosystems. The aim of this study was to explore how natural vegetation restoration affects the SOC content and ratio of SOC components in soil macroaggregates (>250 μm), microaggregates (53-250 μm), and silt and clay (<53 μm) fractions in 30-, 60-, 90- and 120-year-old Liaodong oak (Quercus liaotungensis Koidz.) forests, Shaanxi, China in 2015. And the associated effects of biomasses of leaf litter and different sizes of roots (0-0.5, 0.5-1.0, 1.0-2.0 and >2.0 mm diameter) on SOC components were studied too. Results showed that the contents of high activated carbon (HAC), activated carbon (AC) and inert carbon (IC) in the macroaggregates, microaggregates and silt and clay fractions increased with restoration ages. Moreover, IC content in the microaggregates in topsoil (0-20 cm) rapidly increased; peaking in the 90-year-old restored forest, and was 5.74 times higher than AC content. In deep soil (20-80 cm), IC content was 3.58 times that of AC content. Biomasses of 0.5-1.0 mm diameter roots and leaf litter affected the content of aggregate fractions in topsoil, while the biomass of >2.0 mm diameter roots affected the content of aggregate fractions in deep soil. Across the soil profiles, macroaggregates had the highest capacity for HAC sequestration. The effects of restoration ages on soil aggregate fractions and SOC content were less in deep soil than in topsoil. In conclusion, natural vegetation restoration of Liaodong oak forests improved the contents of SOC, especially IC within topsoil and deep soil. The influence of IC on aggregate stability was greater than the other SOC components, and the aggregate stability was significantly affected by the biomasses of litter, 0.5-1.0 mm diameter roots in topsoil and >2.0 mm diameter roots in deep soil. Natural vegetation restoration of Liaodong oak forests promoted SOC sequestration by soil macroaggregates.     

耕作方式对黑钙土主要肥力特征及玉米产量的影响

为揭示不同耕作方式对黑钙土主要肥力特征及玉米产量的影响,田间试验设置了旋耕(RT)、深松(ST)、免耕(NT)、深翻(DP)和深翻秸秆还田(DPS)等5种耕作方式,分析了玉米不同生长时期0～60 cm土层土壤容重、水稳性团聚体等物理指标,氮、钾、有机质等化学指标及玉米产量。结果表明,与RT处理相比,NT和ST处理土壤容重平均增加4.7%和3.8%,DP和DPS处理分别降低3.4%和2.6%;NT处理的田间持水量比RT降低2.7%,ST与RT相近,而DP和DPS处理分别比RT增加8.6%和7.0%,二者都显著高于RT(P0.05);土壤大团粒结构(0.25 mm)含量表现为苗期DP处理最高,抽雄期DPS最高、DP次之,整体来看,平均含量以DPS最高;除抽雄期NT含量较高外,DPS和DP是有机质含量整体较高的处理,说明翻耕的过程有利于土壤有机质含量的提升;从土壤全氮的比较来看,不同处理下差别不大,但碱解氮含量以RT最高,其他处理降低了6.8%～12.9%;与RT处理相比,ST和DPS处理玉米产量降低了7.4%和3.3%,NT、DP分别增加2.3%和7.8%。综合来看,虽然NT处理有一定的提升土壤结构和有机质的潜力,但改变效果不大,DP和DPS处理具有较好的土壤肥力特征,其中DP是兼具土壤肥力和增产效果的耕作方式。     

耕作方式对旱地麦田土壤团聚体及其碳氮组分分布的影响

为明确蓄水保墒耕作方式下旱地麦田土壤团聚体稳定性、有机碳及碳组分和全氮及氮组分在不同粒径团聚体组分中的分布特征,深入了解不同耕作方式下土壤碳氮固持机制,以连续3 a(2017—2020年)实施不同耕作方式(免耕、深松、深翻)后冬小麦收获期0～20 cm土壤为研究对象,采用湿筛法测算土壤团聚体的构成与稳定性(R_0.25,>0.25 mm团聚体含量;MWD,平均重量直径;GMD,几何平均直径),并测定各粒径团聚体有机碳(SOC)和碳组分(重组有机碳,HFOC;轻组有机碳,LFOC;易氧化有机碳,EOC;可溶性有机碳,DOC;颗粒有机碳,POC)含量、全氮(TN)和氮组分(硝态氮,NO^-₃-N;铵态氮,NH⁺₄-N;可溶性有机氮,SON)含量,分析了碳氮组分的相关关系。结果显示：(1)免耕和深松处理>2 mm团聚体土壤比例较深翻处理分别提高8.8%和22.1%,免耕有利于增加<0.053 mm粉黏粒比例,较深松和深翻处理分别提高46.4%和27.7%。深松处理较深翻...     

不同耕作方式对黑土农田土壤水分及 利用效率的影响

在土壤耕作长期定位试验的基础上,研究了免耕秸秆覆盖(NT)和少耕(RT)对东北黑土区农田土壤水分及利用效率、玉米产量及特性的影响。结果表明:在作物生长季3种耕作措施土壤剖面含水量整体上呈先降低后增加的变化趋势,各时期20～40 cm土层含水量均较低。免耕可显著提高0～90 cm土层土壤含水量,90 cm土层以下三种措施土壤含水量差异逐渐降低,到190 cm土层差异不明显。土体储水量主要受降雨及不同耕作措施的影响,在干旱的春季以及降水量较少的秋季土体储水量较低,表现为:免耕>传统>少耕,而在降水量较大时土体储水量相应增加,表现为:少耕>免耕>传统。3种耕作措施下玉米叶面积指数变化趋势一致,总体表现为:传统>少耕>免耕,其中传统和少耕最高分别比免耕高0.22和0.26。在生长季少耕蒸散量最高。传统耕作玉米籽粒产量和水分利用效率分别较免耕和少耕高30%和17%,29%和11%,籽粒产量均存在显著性差异(P<0.05),表现为:传统>少耕>免耕,所以对于玉米而言,在该区不适宜实施免耕秸秆覆盖和少耕这两种保护性耕作体系。     

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.     

耕作方式对黑土耕层孔隙分布和水分特征的影响

为探索耕作方式对黑土孔隙度分布和土壤水分特征的影响,以2010年吉林省德惠市中层黑土上进行了9年的田间定位试验小区土壤为研究对象,对免耕和秋翻两种耕作处理下耕层土壤孔隙度和土壤水分特征曲线进行分析。结果表明不同耕作处理对黑土孔隙度影响较大。与秋翻相比,免耕减小了土壤总孔隙度,增大了0～5cm和20～30cm10%～16%的>100μm大孔隙,减小了耕层5～20cm的100～30μm次大孔隙,两种处理不同深度的中孔隙和微孔隙数量相近。不同耕作方式对土壤水分特征的影响存在较大差异,免耕0～5cm和20～30cm的持水能力高于秋翻,而5～20cm表现出相反的变化趋势。实施免耕后,改变了土壤孔隙分布和持水性能,对土壤通气透水和作物根系发育具有重要作用。     

保护性耕作下黑土水热动态研究

通过连续监测东北典型黑土耕作长期定位试验下的土壤含水量和温度,研究了保护性耕作措施下农田黑土水热动态规律。结果表明:免耕秸秆覆盖(NTS)可显著提高0~50 cm土层水分含量,其中免耕在0~20 cm土层平均土壤体积含水量最高值分别比少耕(RT)和传统(CT)高3%~10%,尤其是可提高作物播种期表层土壤含水量。0~10 cm土层深度范围内RT土壤温度均高于NTS和CT,其中5 cm土层土壤温度日平均最高值较NTS和CT分别高3.04℃和5.27℃。三种耕作措施下的水热动态表明,少耕是我国东北旱作黑土区最佳的保护性耕作措施。     

耕作方式对灌耕灰钙土耕层物理性质和玉米产量的影响

为探讨不同耕作措施对甘肃引黄灌区灰钙土土壤物理性状和玉米产量的影响,于2014—2017年在连续翻耕8 a的玉米田设置翻耕（CT）、旋耕（RT）、深松（ST）、免耕（NT）等4个单一耕作处理和翻耕-免耕（CT-NT）、深松-免耕（ST-NT）等2个轮耕处理。结果表明：RT处理0～10 cm和10～20 cm土层容重4个年度均是最低,与CT处理相比,第4年（2017）显著降低了8.70%和5.56%（P<0.05）;ST、NT、CT-NT、ST-NT处理20～30 cm和30～40 cm土层土壤容重随年份呈降低趋势,与CT处理相比,第4年（2017）显著下降了4.38%、3.16%、9.25%、7.54%和11.11%、5.56%、6.00%、11.11%;CT和RT处理显著降低了0～20 cm土层孔隙度,与CT相比,ST、CT-NT、ST-NT处理20～30 cm和30～40 cm土层土壤孔隙度在第4年（2017）显著增加了4.42%、9.60%、7.78%和14.18%、7.51%、14.18%;不同耕作处理均可降低0～45 cm土层土壤紧实度,与试验前（2014）相比,ST和...     

Corn straw return can increase labile soil organic carbon fractions and improve water-stable aggregates in Haplic Cambisol

Corn straw return to the field is a vital agronomic practice for increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) and its labile fractions, as well as soil aggregates and organic carbon (OC) associated with water-stable aggregates (WSA). Moreover, the labile SOC fractions play an important role in OC turnover and sequestration. The aims of this study were to determine how different corn straw returning modes affect the contents of labile SOC fractions and OC associated with WSA. Corn straw was returned in the following depths: (1) on undisturbed soil surface (NTS), (2) in the 0-10 cm soil depth (MTS), (3) in the 0-20 cm soil depth (CTS), and (4) no corn straw applied (CK). After five years (2014-2018), soil was sampled in the 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths to measure the water-extractable organic C (WEOC), permanganate oxidizable C (KMnO₄-C), light fraction organic C (LFOC), and WSA fractions. The results showed that compared with CK, corn straw amended soils (NTS, MTS and CTS) increased SOC content by 11.55%-16.58%, WEOC by 41.38%-51.42%, KMnO₄-C and LFOC by 29.84%-34.09% and 56.68%-65.36% in the 0-40 cm soil depth. The LFOC and KMnO₄-C were proved to be the most sensitive fractions to different corn straw returning modes. Compared with CK, soils amended with corn straw increased mean weight diameter by 24.24%-40.48% in the 0-20 cm soil depth. The NTS and MTS preserved more than 60.00% of OC in macro-aggregates compared with CK. No significant difference was found in corn yield across all corn straw returning modes throughout the study period, indicating that adoption of NTS and MTS would increase SOC content and improve soil structure, and would not decline crop production.     

绿肥填闲种植对旱作冬小麦农田土壤团聚体有机碳含量的影响

依托黄土塬区4 a绿肥填闲种植田间定位试验,开展不同填闲作物对土壤团聚体组成及各组分有机碳在团聚体中分布影响的研究,为阐明填闲种植措施下土壤有机碳库的物理保护机制提供依据。试验设置4个处理,即冬小麦夏闲期种植长武怀豆(SB)、苏丹草(SG)、怀豆/苏丹草混播(Mix)和裸地休闲(CK)。利用干筛法将全土筛分为>5 mm、2～5 mm、0.25～2 mm和<0.25 mm等4个粒级,分别测定土壤和各粒级团聚体中有机碳和颗粒有机碳含量,进而计算团聚体平均重量直径及有机碳贡献率。结果表明：绿肥种植对土壤团聚体分布有显著影响,各绿肥处理均有利于0～10 cm土层土壤团聚体的形成,但对亚表层土壤团聚结构影响较小。与CK相比,在0～40 cm各土层,SB、SG和Mix处理均显著提高土壤有机碳含量、颗粒有机碳含量及团聚体平均重量直径,提高幅度分别为7.9%、8.0%和7.9%,其中SB更有利于表层土壤有机碳的固存,且土壤有机碳和颗粒有机碳含量之间呈显著正相关关系,这两者与团聚体平均重量直径之间均呈显著负相关关系。不同处理下土壤团聚体各有机碳组分含量存在差异,与CK相比,SB和Mix均显著...     

不同耕作措施对麦—豆轮作条件下土壤有机碳库与微生物商的影响

以长期定位试验为基础,对麦-豆轮作次序下不同耕作措施间的土壤有机碳、易氧化碳以及微生物生物量碳进行了测定,计算了土壤微生物商在各个序列中变化并对土壤各级有机碳库进行了相关分析.结果表明:两种轮作次序下传统耕作结合秸秆还田、免耕不覆盖、免耕秸秆覆盖与传统耕作不覆盖相比更有利于土壤有机碳库含量的提高,同时各处理表层有机碳含量明显高于其它层次并且随着土层的增加而递减.相关分析结果显示,土壤活性有机碳较大程度上依赖土壤有机碳的含量,同时也说明易氧化碳与微生物都在一定程度上表征了土壤中活性较高部分的有机碳含量.不同耕作处理的土壤微生物商均表现为NTS、NT、TS处理大于T处理,和不同耕作处理下土壤总有机碳含量的变化趋势一致.相较于其它处理免耕秸秆覆盖的土壤微生物商在各个序列中变化最明显,说明免耕秸秆覆盖对土壤有机碳含量的增加和土壤有机质的累积的贡献最大.     

渭北旱塬区秸秆覆盖还田对土壤团聚体特征的影响

为了研究不同秸秆覆盖还田量对半湿润易旱区土壤团聚体分布状况和稳定性特征的影响,在渭北旱塬设置三种覆盖还田量(SM1:13 500 kg/hm2、SM2:9 000 kg/hm2、SM3:4 500 kg/hm2),以不覆盖为对照进行定位试验,研究了秸秆覆盖还田对土壤容重、土壤有机碳、土壤团聚体数量、大小及分形维数的影响。结果表明,秸秆覆盖还田后,土壤容重随秸秆覆盖还田量的增加而减小,0~20 cm土层土壤容重较对照降低了2.00%~5.28%(P>0.05);土壤总有机碳含量随着土层深度的增加而递减,在0~20 cm土层,土壤总有机碳含量较对照显著提高10.82%~23.93%。10~30 cm土层,SM2处理下>0.25mm机械稳定性团聚体含量、平均重量直径(MWD)和几何平均直径(GMD)均高于SM1、SM3,各处理间差异不显著;在0~40 cm土层,各处理>0.25 mm土壤水稳性团聚体、MWD和GMD较CK均有不同程度提高,但差异不显著。各处理均可提高0~30 cm土层土壤团聚体稳定性,其中SM2团聚体分形维数D最小,其次为SM1、SM3。可见,秸秆覆盖还田可促进土壤团聚体的形成,提高团聚体的稳定性,以SM2覆盖还田的效果最佳。     

连续14年保护性耕作对土壤总有机碳和轻组有机碳的影响

依托于2001年布设在陇中黄土高原半干旱雨养农业区的保护性耕作定位试验,于2014年测定了5种保护性耕作(免耕+秸秆覆盖NTS、免耕NT、传统耕作+秸秆翻埋TS、传统耕作+地膜覆盖TP和免耕+地膜覆盖NTP)和传统耕作T处理下小麦-豌豆双序列轮作中表层土壤(0~5、5~10、10~30 cm)总有机碳(SOC)和轻组有机碳(LFOC)在作物生育期前后的变化。结果表明:土壤总有机碳和轻组有机碳在土壤剖面上均随着土层深度的增加而降低;相比传统耕作T,NTS和TS处理能显著提高0~30 cm土层中SOC、LFOC的含量,在作物播种前较T分别提高了19.51%、64.58%和13.36%、42.08%,在收获后分别提高了28.00%、85.37%和18.61%、77.82%,而SOC、LFOC含量NT和TP处理与T处理间差异不显著;从作物播种前至收获后,各处理下0~30 cm土层SOC含量均有减小趋势,其中NTS和TS处理变化量最小,NT和TP处理加大了作物生育期间SOC和LFOC的消耗;LFOC可以灵敏地反应出土壤有机碳的变化。因此,在该区推行以免耕、秸秆覆盖为主的保护性耕作措施更有利于碳的积累和土壤质量的改善,促进该区农业的可持续发展。     

Contents of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in water-stable aggregates in abandoned agricultural lands in an arid ecosystem of Northwest China

Soil organic matter content in water-stable aggregates(WSA) in the arid ecosystems(abandoned agricultural lands especially) of China is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the WSA sizes and stability, and soil organic carbon(OC) and nitrogen(N) contents in agricultural lands with abandonment ages of 0, 3, 12, 20, 30 and 40 years, respectively, in the Minqin Oasis of Northwest China. The total soil OC and N contents at depths of 0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm in abandoned agricultural lands were compared to those in cultivated land(the control). Agricultural land abandonment significantly(P0.05) influenced the distribution of MWD(mean weight diameter), and OC and N contents. There were significant increases in MWD and the proportion of macroaggregates(sizes 0.25 mm) as the age of agricultural land abandonment increased. The effect of abandonment ages of agricultural lands on MWD was determined by the changes of OC and N accumulation in WSA sizes 2 mm. The total OC and N contents presented a stratification phenomenon across soil depths in this arid ecosystem. That is, both of them decreased significantly at depths of 0–20 and 40–60 cm while increased at the depth of 20–40 cm. The WSA sizes 0.053 mm had the highest soil OC and N contents(accounting for 51.41%–55.59% and 42.61%–48.94% of their total, respectively). Soil OC and N contents in microaggregates(sizes 0.053–0.25 mm) were the dominant factors that influenced the variations of total OC and N contents in abandoned agricultural lands. The results of this study suggested that agricultural land abandonment may result in the recovery of WSA stability and the shifting of soil organic matter from the silt+clay(0.053 mm) and microaggregate fractions to the macroaggregate fractions. However, agricultural land abandonment did not increase total soil OC and N contents in the short-term.     

豫西旱坡地长期定位保护性耕作研究——Ⅱ.连年免耕和深松覆盖对麦田土壤温度的影响

通过田间长期定位试验,采用温度记录仪全年连续观察0、5、10、30 cm深度土壤温度的系统数据,研究分析豫西旱作区坡耕地保护性耕作土壤温度效应。结果表明:与传统耕作比,(1)0~30 cm平均土壤温度周年的变化,深松覆盖和免耕覆盖具有稳定地温的效果。1~12月免耕覆盖和深松覆盖较高,6~9月份明显偏低。(2)深松覆盖和免耕覆盖土壤表层温度表现出"高温时降温,低温是增温"的效果。随着土层的加深,这种效果减弱。15cm土层,免耕覆盖和深松覆盖从冬小麦播种至拔节,表现低温效应;深松覆盖在夏休闲高温期呈现出增温现象。(3)免耕覆盖和深松覆盖对冬小麦生长发育前期有抑制作用,地上部表现为株高降低,分蘖和主茎叶龄减少,地下部表现为次生根数减少,耕层(0~20 cm)根重减轻,干物质积累速度缓慢。拔节后,两种保护性耕作处理下的冬小麦生长发育加快,至抽穗期除分蘖外,其余各项指标逐渐赶上并超过传统耕作。     

不同保护性耕作措施对黄土高原旱作农田土壤物理结构的影响

选取黄土高原半干旱区连续4年进行保护性耕作的玉米样地,定位试验,研究了不同耕作方式对耕层土壤理化性质的影响。结果表明:免耕秸秆覆盖(NTS)可显著降低0~5 cm表层土壤容重,传统耕作秸秆粉粹还田(TS)和NTS处理可显著降低5~10 cm、10~30 cm土层的土壤容重;NTS处理可显著增大0~5 cm表层土壤孔隙度,TS和NTS处理可显著提高5~10 cm1、0~30 cm土层的土壤孔隙度;NTS处理可显著降低各层土壤的坚实度,其它处理对表层0~5 cm无显著影响,免耕无秸秆覆盖(NT)处理显著增加了5 cm以下的土壤坚实度;NTS处理0~5 cm表层土壤水分入渗率显著加强,而NT处理则显著减弱;土壤水稳性大团聚体含量均为:NTSNTTS传统耕作(T)。本试验中NT处理对土壤结构的改良效应不明显,NTS处理对于黄土高原土壤结构改良效果最佳。     

农田冬季覆盖作物对土壤有机碳含量和主作物产量的影响

从冬闲覆盖作物对土壤有机碳的固定及覆盖作物对主作物产量的影响等方面对国内外有关覆盖作物环境改良机理的最新研究结果进行了总结分析。认为,长期轮作覆盖作物可以增加土壤有机碳,提高微生物的活性,而且对主作物的产量提高有不同程度的促进作用。     

长期施肥对绿洲农田土壤有机碳和无机碳的影响

以中国科学院阜康荒漠生态站的绿洲农田养分循环长期定位试验（始于1990年）为研究平台,研究了无施肥处理（CK）、单施化肥处理（NPK）、有机/无机配施处理（NPKM）和秸秆还田处理（NPKS）下,土壤无机碳(SIC)和有机碳(SOC)在剖面和各施肥年限的含量变化特征及其影响。结果表明：施肥、剖面层次和施肥年限对SOC与SIC含量变化影响显著(P<0.01)。在各施肥处理中,与CK相比,NPK、NPKM和NPKS的SOC与SIC含量明显增加(P<0.05）,并且有机/无机肥配施模式下的SIC含量显著高于单施化肥模式;在剖面层次间,SIC含量从0～20 cm 的9.12 g/kg 增加到40～60 cm 的9.94 g/kg,而SOC变化趋势与之相反。表明合理施肥能够增加土壤表层有机碳含量,有机/无机配施会使耕层以下土壤无机碳增加。     

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.