Terrain attributes, landform segmentation, and soil redistribution

The ¹³⁷Cs technique has greatly expanded our knowledge of the topography–soil redistribution relationship. For the technique to be useful in upscaling of process models and regional-scale conservation planning, we must be able to show that a consistent relationship exists between ¹³⁷Cs-derived soil redistribution rates and terrain attributes in a given region. In this paper, the association between ¹³⁷Cs-derived soil redistribution rates and quantitatively defined landform elements was examined at nine hummocky terrain sites in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. Shoulder (SH) elements with convex plan curvatures had the highest mean soil loss rates of 33 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, followed closely by other SH and backslope (BS) elements. The erosional behavior of level elements (i.e. those with gradients less than 3°) was highly dependent on the specific dispersal area (SDA) of the element—elements with high dispersal areas were dominantly erosional (mean soil loss of 14 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), whereas level elements with low dispersal areas were depositional (mean soil gain of 15 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Doubly concave footslope (FS) elements had mean soil gain of 10 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. The dispersion of values across the nine sites was much greater for the depositional units than the erosional units, indicating a complex relationship between deposition and terrain attributes in the depositional units. The results clearly indicate that regional-scale patterns of soil redistribution can be developed using the ¹³⁷Cs technique.     

Changes of soil organic carbon and its fractions in relation to soil physical properties in a long-term fertilized paddy

Soil organic carbon (SOC) has an important role in improving soil quality and sustainable production. A long-term fertilization study was conducted to investigate changes in SOC and its relation to soil physical properties in a rice paddy soil. The paddy soils analyzed were subjected to different fertilization practices: continuous application of inorganic fertilizers (NPK, N–P–K = 120–34.9–66.7 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ during 1967–1972 and 150–43.7–83.3 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ from 1973 to 2007), straw based compost (Compost, 10 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), a combination of NPK + Compost, and no fertilization (control). Soil physical properties were investigated at rice harvesting stage in the 41st year for analyzing the relationship with SOC fraction. Continuous compost application increased the total SOC concentration in plough layers and improved soil physical properties. In contrast, inorganic or no fertilization markedly decreased SOC concentration resulting to a deterioration of soil physical health. Most of the SOC was the organo-mineral fraction (<0.053 mm size), accounting for over 70% of total SOC. Macro-aggregate SOC fraction (2–0.25 mm size), which is used as an indicator of soil quality rather than total SOC, covered 8–17% of total SOC. These two SOC fractions accumulated with the same tendency as the total SOC changes. Comparatively, micro-aggregate SOC (0.25–0.053 mm size), which has high correlation with physical properties, significantly decreased with time, irrespective of the inorganic fertilizers or compost application, but the mechanism of decrease is not clear. Conclusively, compost increased total SOC content and effective SOC fraction, thereby improving soil physical properties and sustaining production.     

Soil-living parasitic Hymenoptera: comparison between a forest and an open landscape habitat

Community structures and local diversity patterns of parasitic Hymenoptera with soil and leaf litter hosts were studied in a German beech forest and a meadow. Hymenoptera appeared to be one of the most species-rich taxa associated with the soil. Eighty-eight species were found in the meadow (total density of 128 ind. m⁻² yr⁻¹) and 188 species (149 ind. m⁻² yr⁻¹) in the forest. The mean parasitism rates were above 60% for parasitoids of mycetophagous Diptera and between 7% and 26% for parasitoids of saprophagous Diptera. Species overlap between both habitats was higher than expected from a random sample model. Species common to both habitats were primarily parasitoids of predatory Coleoptera. High mean densities of these species support the hypothesis of a positive correlation between local abundance and range size.     

Carbon sequestration and relationship between carbon addition and storage under rainfed soybean–wheat rotation in a sandy loam soil of the Indian Himalayas

Soil organic matter (SOM) contributes to the productivity and physical properties of soils. Although crop productivity is sustained mainly through the application of organic manure in the Indian Himalayas, no information is available on the effects of long-term manure addition along with mineral fertilizers on C sequestration and the contribution of total C input towards soil organic C (SOC) storage. We analyzed results of a long-term experiment, initiated in 1973 on a sandy loam soil under rainfed conditions to determine the influence of different combinations of NPK fertilizer and fertilizer + farmyard manure (FYM) at 10 Mg ha⁻¹ on SOC content and its changes in the 0–45 cm soil depth. Concentration of SOC increased 40 and 70% in the NPK + FYM-treated plots as compared to NPK (43.1 Mg C ha⁻¹) and unfertilized control plots (35.5 Mg C ha⁻¹), respectively. Average annual contribution of C input from soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) was 29% and that from wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Emend. Flori and Paol) was 24% of the harvestable above-ground biomass yield. Annual gross C input and annual rate of total SOC enrichment were 4852 and 900 kg C ha⁻¹, respectively, for the plots under NPK + FYM. It was estimated that 19% of the gross C input contributed towards the increase in SOC content. C loss from native SOM during 30 years averaged 61 kg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. The estimated quantity of biomass C required to maintain equilibrium SOM content was 321 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. The total annual C input by the soybean–wheat rotation in the plots under unfertilized control was 890 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Thus, increase in SOC concentration under long-term (30 years) rainfed soybean–wheat cropping was due to the fact that annual C input by the system was higher than the required amount to maintaining equilibrium SOM content.     

Land-use impacts on surface runoff and soil detachment within agricultural sloping lands in Northern Vietnam

Two consecutive years of investigation on soil surface features, surface runoff and soil detachment within 1-m² microplots on 40% slope highlighted the effects of land-use change, vegetation cover and biological activity on the water pathways in Northern Vietnam. Three replicate plots were set up on each of five land-uses: cassava (CAS), grass fodder of Bracharia ruziziensis (BRA), a 3-year old fallow (FAL), tree stands of Acacia mangium and Venicia montana (FOR), and a fallow with regrowth of Eucalyptus regularly cut (EUC). The second year, two of the microplots under FAL and EUC were treated with herbicide (FALh, EUCh), one of them was burnt (FALh+b, EUCh+b). The highest yearly surface runoff coefficient of 16%, and soil detachment rate of 700 g m^− 2 yr^− 1 in average with a maximum of 1305 g m^− 2 yr^− 1 have been recorded under CAS. On FALh and FALh+b, runoff ratios were 8.7 and 13.5%, respectively and detachment rates were 86 and 389 g m^− 2. On FAL and BRA the yearly runoff ratio varied from 5.9 to 9.8% but the detachment rate was limited at 24 to 35 g m^− 2. FOR and EUC annual runoff was ≤ 3.1% and annual soil detachment ≤ 71 g m^− 2. These values were very low compared to the values reported on steep slopes in Laos within similar climate and vegetation cover.The runoff and detachment rates underlined the importance of rainfall intensities, soil physical properties, soil surface features, soil vegetation cover and biological activity. The annual surface runoff was highly correlated to the soil surface crusting. CAS and BRA plots were prone to crusting especially after weeding at the onset of the rainy season, when the soil surface was still uncovered. Soil bioturbation (earthworm casting activity) was the second factor that explains local variation of surface runoff and soil detachment. The continuous production of earthworms casts on soil surface, especially on FOR and EUC microplots, induced a marked surface roughness and reduced the surface runoff. The production of casts was very limited in FAL and completely absent in CAS microplots. So it is evident that our results confirm the deleterious effects of cassava on soil and water conservation.     

Influence of different land uses on soil nitrogen transformations after conversion from an Indian dry tropical forest

The effects of alternate land uses, such as grassland, cropland and mine spoil on mineral nitrogen (N), N-transformation rate and microbial biomass N (MBN) in dry tropical forest soils of India were studied. The mean annual mineral N in the forest, grassland, cropland and mine spoil ecosystems, respectively ranged from 15.24 to 19.58, 17.8 to 18.56, 16.49 to 19.85 and 10.52 to 13.44 µg g^− 1, net nitrification rate from 14.15 to 23.4, 10.11 to 11.38, 8.07 to 9.16, 10.52 to 13.44 µg g^− 1mo^− 1; net N-mineralization rate from 17.38 to 26.36, 13.99 to 15.41, 10.99 to 12.5, 5.43 to 7.68 µg g^− 1mo^− 1and and microbial biomass N from 41.25 to 58.87, 34.47 to 47.95, 27.88 to 30.43 and 22.95 to 25.26 µg g^− 1, respectively. The values were within the range reported by previous studies in different tropical environments. The mean annual net nitrification rates declined after conversion into grassland, cropland and mine spoil by 43, 54 and 78%, respectively, net N mineralization by 33, 46 and 70%, and microbial biomass N by 29%, 42% and 52%, respectively.The MBN was positively related to root biomass and total plant biomass, while microbial-N and inorganic N are reciprocally, while nitrification and N-mineralization are directly related to seasonal soil moisture and temperature. The microbial biomass N, nitrification and N-mineralization are negatively related to smaller fraction (< 0.1 mm) of the soil. Above- and below-ground biomass also have had their impact on microbial biomass N, and thereby N-mineralization. Thus, in dry tropical forests, land-use change affects remarkably the nitrogen transformation process in soil.     

Cesium and soil carbon in a small agricultural watershed

Scientific, political, and social interests have developed recently in the concept of using agricultural soils to sequester carbon. Studies supporting this concept indicate that soil erosion and subsequent redeposition of eroded soils in the same field may establish an ecosystem disequilibrium that promotes the buildup of carbon on agricultural landscapes. The problem is to determine the patterns of soil erosion and redeposition on the landscape and to relate these to soil carbon patterns. Radioactive ¹³⁷cesium (¹³⁷Cs) can be used to estimate soil erosion patterns and, more importantly, redeposition patterns at the field level. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between ¹³⁷Cs, soil erosion, and soil carbon patterns on a small agricultural watershed. Profiles of soils from an upland area and soils in an adjacent riparian system were collected in 5 cm increments and the concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs and carbon were determined. ¹³⁷Cs and carbon were uniformly mixed in the upper 15–20 cm of upland soils. ¹³⁷Cs (Bq g⁻¹) and carbon (%) in the upland soils were significantly correlated (r²=0.66). Carbon content of the 0–20 cm layer was higher (1.4±0.3%) in areas of soil deposition than carbon content (1.1±0.3%) in areas of soil erosion as determined by the ¹³⁷Cs technique. These data suggest that measurements of ¹³⁷Cs in the soils can be useful for understanding carbon distribution patterns in surface soil. Carbon content of the upland soils ranged from 0.5 to 1.9% with an average of 1.2±0.4% in the 0–20 cm layer while carbon below this upper tilled layer (20–30 cm) ranged from 0.2 to 1.5% with an average of 0.5±0.3%. Total carbon was 2.66 and 3.20 kg m⁻² in the upper 20 cm and upper 30 cm of the upland soils, respectively. Carbon content of the 0–20 cm layer in the riparian system ranged from 1.1 to 67.0% with an average 11.7±17.1%. Carbon content below 20 cm ranged from 1.8 to 79.3% with an average of 18.3±17.5%. Soil carbon in the upper 20 cm of the riparian profile was 10.1 and 15.0 kg m⁻² in the upper 30 cm of the riparian profiles. This is an increase of organic carbon by a factor of 3.8 and 4.7 for the upper 20 cm and upper 30 cm of the riparian profiles, respectively, when compared to the upland soil profiles.     

Reduced tillage effects on physical properties of silt loam soils growing root crops

In the scope of the increasing concern for soil conservation, reduced tillage (RT) agriculture is growing more important in today's agriculture in Western Europe. However, crop rotations often include beets and potatoes, crops that are generally assumed to be less suitable under RT agriculture because they result in a high disturbance of the soil at the formation of the ridges and at harvest. Therefore, the short- and long-term effect of RT agriculture on bulk density (BD), water retention curve (WRC), aggregate stability and field-saturated hydraulic conductivity of silt loam soils with crop rotations including root crops was evaluated. Ten fields at seven locations representing the important RT types, applied for a different number of years, and eight fields under conventional tillage (CT) agriculture with similar soil type and crop rotation were selected. At each location, BD of the 5–10 cm layer was mostly lower in the RT fields (1.42 ± 0.05 Mg m⁻³ [average with standard deviation]) compared to the CT fields (1.44 ± 0.09 Mg m⁻³) and the water content at saturation was mostly higher (0.394 ± 0.027 m³ m⁻³ and 0.382 ± 0.021 m³ m⁻³ for RT and CT fields, respectively). No differences in BD (1.53 ± 0.03 Mg m⁻³) or WRC could be found in the 25–30 cm soil layer when comparing the RT with the CT fields. The stability index of the 0–10 cm layer measured by ‘dry and wet sieving’ [De Leenheer, L., De Boodt, M., 1959. Determination of aggregate stability by the change in mean weight diameter. Mededelingen van landbouwhogeschool en de opzoekingstations van de staat te Gent 24, 290–300] was 40% higher under RT than CT agriculture. The mean weight diameter (MWD) [Le Bissonnais, Y., 1996. Aggregate stability and assessment of soil crustability and erodibility: I. Theory and methodology. Eur. J. Soil Sci. 47, 425–437] was significantly higher even after short-term RT compared to CT agriculture. The MWD after a heavy shower, a slow wetting of the soil and stirring the soil after prewetting was 19%, 38% and 34% higher for RT than CT fields, respectively. The field-saturated hydraulic conductivity tended to be higher under RT compared to the CT fields. Despite the high disturbance of the soil every 2 or 3 years of crop rotations including sugar beets or potatoes, RT agriculture had a positive effect on the investigated physical soil properties.     

The distribution of volatile isoprenoids in the soil horizons around Pinus halepensis trees

We measured the terpene concentration in pentane and water extracts from soil horizons (litter, organic, top and low mineral) and from roots growing in top and low mineral horizons on a distance gradient from Pinus halepensis L. trees growing alone on a grassland. Terpene concentrations in pentane were higher than in water extracts, although β-caryophyllene showed relatively high solubility in water. The litter and roots were important sources of terpenes in soil. Alpha-pinene dominated in roots growing in both “top” (A1) and “low” (B) mineral horizons (123 ± 36 μg g⁻¹ or 14 ± 5 mg m⁻²) and roots in low mineral horizon (270 ± 91 μg g⁻¹ or 7 ± 2 mg m⁻²). Beta-caryophyllene dominated in litter (1469 ± 331 μg g⁻¹ or 2004 ± 481 mg m⁻²). Terpene concentration in soil decreased with increasing distance to the trunk. This is likely to be related to changes in litter and roots type on the distance gradient from pine to grass and herbs. The relative contributions of all compounds, except α-pinene, were similar in the mineral soils and litter. This suggests that litter of P. halepensis is probably the main source of major terpene compounds. However, long-term emissions of α-pinene from P. halepensis roots might also contribute to α-pinene concentrations in rhizosphere soils.     

Soil carbon sequestration with continuous no-till management of grain cropping systems in the Virginia coastal plain

Carbon sequestration in agroecosystems represents a significant opportunity to offset a portion of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. Climatic conditions in the Virginia coastal plain and modern production practices make it possible for high annual photosynthetic CO₂ fixation. There is potential to sequester a substantial amount of C, and concomitantly improve soil quality, with the elimination of tillage for crop production in this region. The objectives of our research were to: (1) measure C sequestration rate with continuous no-till management of grain cropping systems of the Virginia middle coastal plain; (2) determine the influence of biosolids application history on C content and its interaction with tillage management; and (3) evaluate the impact of continuous no-till C stratification as an indicator of soil quality. Samples were collected from 63 sites in production fields using a rotation of corn (Zea mays L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)/soybean double-crop (Glysine max L.) across three soil series [Bojac (coarse-loamy, mixed, semiactive, thermic Typic Hapludults), Altavista (fine-loamy, mixed semiactive, thermic Aquic Hapludults), and Kempsville (fine-loamy, siliceous, subactive, thermic Typic Hapludults)] with a history of continuous no-till management ranging from 0 to 14 years. Thirty-two of the sites had a history of biosolids application. Five soil cores were collected at each site from 0–2.5, 2.5–7.5 and 7.5–15 cm and analyzed for bulk density and soil C. Bulk density in the 0–2.5 cm layer decreased and C stratification ratio (0–2.5 cm:7.5–15 cm) increased with increasing duration of continuous no-till due to the accumulation of organic matter at the soil surface. A history of biosolids application resulted in an increase of 4.19 ± 1.93 Mg C ha⁻¹ (0–15 cm). Continuous no-till resulted in the sequestration of 0.308 ± 0.280 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (0–15 cm). Our results provide quantitative validation of the C sequestration rate and improved soil quality with continuous no-till management in the region using on-farm observations.     

校正温度和盐度对单电容传感器的影响

Several newly developed capacitance sensors have simplified real-time determination of soil water content.Previous work has shown that salinity and temperature can affect these sensors,but relatively little has been done to correct these effects.The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of media temperature and salinity on the apparent water content measured with a single capacitance sensor (SCS),and to mitigate this effect using a temperature dependent scaled voltage technique under laboratory conditions.A column study was conducted containing two media:pure deionized water and quartz sand under varying water contents (0.05 to 0.30 cm³ cm^-3) and salinity (0 to 80 mmol L^-1).Media temperature was varied between 5 and 45℃ using an incubator.The SCS probes and thermocouples were placed in the middle of the columns and were logged at an interval of 1 minute.There was strong negative correlation between sensor reading and temperature of deionized water with a rate of -0.779 mV ℃^-1.Rates of SCS apparent output were 0.454 and 0.535 mV ℃^-1 for air in heating and cooling cycles,respectively.A similar positive correlation with temperature was observed in sand at different water contents.The SCS probe was less sensitive to temperature as salinity and water content increased.Using a temperature-corrected voltage calibration model,the effect of temperature was reduced by 98%.An analytical model for salinity correction was able to minimize the error as low as ± 2% over the salinity level tested.     

Effects of seedbed structure and water content at sowing on the development of soil surface crusting under rainfall

This study was carried out to observe the dynamics of crust formation on the soil surface under field conditions and analyse the effects of seedbed structure and water content on soil surface crusting. Seedbed sensitivity to crusting was also estimated in the laboratory by stability tests on aggregates. We observed 57 plots during the sowings of spring and autumn crops in fields in Northern France (Estrees-Mons, 50°N latitude, 3°E longitude). The soil is an Orthic Luvisol according to the FAO classification (0.17–0.25 g g⁻¹ clay and 0.02 g g⁻¹ organic matter on average). Visual assessments in situ were performed and photographs taken of crust stages on delimited areas, each 5 mm of cumulated rainfall since sowing. In 2004–2005, the seedbeds were characterised by their distribution of aggregate sizes and tests of aggregate stabilities of surface samples kept with their water content at sowing. A penetrometer was used to measure crust resistance and estimate its thickness. These data were analysed to detect the cumulative rainfall values needed for the initiation and development of the successive stages of crusts. A fully developed structural crust (stage F1) required 13, 22, 27 mm cumulated rainfall respectively for seedbeds with proportions of clods over 2 cm ranging from 0 to 0.15 (fine seedbed), 0.15 to 0.30 (medium seedbed), >0.30 g g⁻¹ (coarse seedbed). Aggregate stability measured on samples kept at sowing water content was low for soil with low water content (<0.17 g g⁻¹) but increased sharply for water contents over 0.17 g g⁻¹. Stage F1 was reached more rapidly (only 11 mm versus 19 mm cumulated rainfall) only for fine seedbeds with less than 0.15 g g⁻¹ of clods over 2 cm and with a low water content at sowing, The stage of 50% of soil surface covered with sedimentary crusts was reached for 85 mm for fine seedbed versus 120 mm for medium seedbed. The mean penetrometer resistance of dry crusts was 0.55 ± 0.43 MPa for stage F1 and 3.54 ± 0.83 MPa for a sedimentary stage; mean penetrometer resistance increased continuously with cumulated rainfall and was much lower for wet crusts. These quantitative data gathered under field conditions constitute the first step towards the prediction of soil surface crusting. The cumulative rainfalls were used in order to estimate the risk of occurrence of structural and sedimentary crusts forming during crop emergence with several types of seedbeds.     

Tillage and cropping sequence impacts on nitrogen cycling in dryland farming in eastern Montana, USA

Information on N cycling in dryland crops and soils as influenced by long-term tillage and cropping sequence is needed to quantify soil N sequestration, mineralization, and N balance to reduce N fertilization rate and N losses through soil processes. The 21-yr effects of the combinations of tillage and cropping sequences was evaluated on dryland crop grain and biomass (stems + leaves) N, soil surface residue N, soil N fractions, and N balance at the 0–20 cm depth in Dooley sandy loam (fine-loamy, mixed, frigid, Typic Argiboroll) in eastern Montana, USA. Treatments were no-tilled continuous spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (NTCW), spring-tilled continuous spring wheat (STCW), fall- and spring-tilled continuous spring wheat (FSTCW), fall- and spring-tilled spring wheat–barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) (1984–1999) followed by spring wheat–pea (Pisum sativum L.) (2000–2004) (FSTW-B/P), and spring-tilled spring wheat–fallow (STW-F). Nitrogen fractions were soil total N (STN), particulate organic N (PON), microbial biomass N (MBN), potential N mineralization (PNM), NH₄-N, and NO₃-N. Annualized crop grain and biomass N varied with treatments and years and mean grain and biomass N from 1984 to 2004 were 14.3–21.2 kg N ha⁻¹ greater in NTCW, STCW, FSTCW, and FSTW-B/P than in STW-F. Soil surface residue N was 9.1–15.2 kg N ha⁻¹ greater in other treatments than in STW-F in 2004. The STN at 0–20 cm was 0.39–0.96 Mg N ha⁻¹, PON 0.10–0.30 Mg N ha⁻¹, and PNM 4.6–9.4 kg N ha⁻¹ greater in other treatments than in STW-F. At 0–5 cm, STN, PON, and MBN were greater in STCW than in FSTW-B/P and STW-F. At 5–20 cm, STN and PON were greater in NTCW and STCW than in STW-F, PNM and MBN were greater in STCW than in NTCW and STW-F, and NO₃-N was greater in FSTW-B/P than in NTCW and FSTCW. Estimated N loss through leaching, volatilization, or denitrification at 0–20 cm depth increased with increasing tillage frequency or greater with fallow than with continuous cropping and ranged from 9 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in NTCW to 46 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in STW-F. Long-term no-till or spring till with continuous cropping increased dryland crop grain and biomass N, soil surface residue N, N storage, and potential N mineralization, and reduced N loss compared with the conventional system, such as STW-F, at the surface 20 cm layer. Greater tillage frequency, followed by pea inclusion in the last 5 out of 21 yr in FSTW-B/P, however, increased N availability at the subsurface layer in 2004.     

Increased microbial catabolic activity in diesel contaminated soil following addition of earthworms (Dendrobaena veneta) and compost

This study sought to assess the influence of compost and earthworms (Dendrobaena veneta) upon the level of hydrocarbon catabolism in petroleum contaminated forecourt soil (extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (EPH) 10 + 1.8 g kg⁻¹ and total 16 United States Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) 1.62 ± 0.5 g kg⁻¹). The catabolic activity of the indigenous microorganisms within uncombined materials (soil and compost) and within the combined treatments (soil plus compost; either with or without earthworms) was assessed by ¹⁴C-radiorespirometry (¹⁴C-hexadecane, ¹⁴C-toluene and ¹⁴C-phenanthrene). Maximum levels of catabolic activity were observed (at the end of the incubation period; 84 d) for all three compounds in the combined contaminated soil, compost and earthworm mixtures. Significant (p < 0.05) enhancement factors (relative to the soil only control) in catabolic activity in the combined treatments (soil:compost (1:0.5)) of 3.6 times, 1.5 times and 3.5 times were observed for ¹⁴C-hexadecane, ¹⁴C-phenanthrene and ¹⁴C-toluene, respectively; with maximum levels of catabolic activity for these substrates being 68.6 ± 1.7%, 37.9 ± 5.3% and 85.9 ± 1.3%.     

Interacting effects of temperature, soil moisture and plant biomass production on ecosystem respiration in a northern temperate grassland

Chamber measurements of total ecosystem respiration (TER) in a native Canadian grassland ecosystem were made during two study years with different precipitation. The growing season (April–September) precipitation during 2001 was less than one-half of the 30-year mean (1971–2000), while 2002 received almost double the normal growing season precipitation. As a consequence soil moisture remained higher in 2002 than 2001 during most of the growing season and peak aboveground biomass production (253.9 g m⁻²) in 2002 was 60% higher than in 2001. Maximum respiration rates were approximately 9 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in 2002 while only approximately 5 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in 2001. Large diurnal variation in TER, which occurred during times of peak biomass and adequate soil moisture, was primarily controlled by changes in temperature. The temperature sensitivity coefficient (Q₁₀) for ecosystem respiration was on average 1.83 ± 0.08, and it declined in association with reductions in soil moisture. Approximately 94% of the seasonal and interannual variation in R₁₀ (standardized rate of respiration at 10 °C) data was explained by the interaction of changes in soil moisture and aboveground biomass, which suggested that plant aboveground biomass was good proxy for accounting for variations in both autotrophic and heterotrophic capacity for respiration. Soil moisture was the dominant environmental factor that controlled seasonal and interannual variation in TER in this grassland, when variation in temperature was held constant. We compared respiration rates measured with chambers and that determined from nighttime eddy covariance (EC) measurements. Respiration rates measured by both techniques showed very similar seasonal patterns of variation in both years. When TER was integrated over the entire growing season period, the chamber method produced slightly higher values than the EC method by approximately 4.5% and 13.6% during 2001 and 2002, respectively, much less than the estimated uncertainty for both measurement techniques. The two methods for calculating respiration had only minor effects on the seasonal-integrated estimates of net ecosystem CO₂ exchange and ecosystem gross photosynthesis.     

A nonlinear 3D finite element analysis of the soil forces acting on a disk plow

This study aimed to compare predicted soil forces on a disk plow with measured forces within the tillage depth of clay (90 g kg⁻¹ sand, 210 g kg⁻¹ silt, 700 g kg⁻¹ clay) and sandy loam (770 g kg⁻¹ sand, 40 g kg⁻¹ silt, 190 g kg⁻¹ clay) soils. The model assumed the effects of both tilt angle and plowing speed. Two plowing speeds (4 and 10 km/h) at three tilt angles (15°, 20° and 25°) were compared and the draft, vertical, and side forces determined. A 3D nonlinear finite element model was used to predict the soil forces while a dynamometer was used to measure them on a disk plow in the field. An incremental method was used to deal with material nonlinearity and the Trapezoidal rule method was used to analyze the dynamic response of soil during tillage. Field tillage experiments were conducted to verify the results of the finite element model. It was found that increasing the tilt angle of the plow increased the draft and vertical forces and decreased the side force. Increasing plowing speed increased the draft and side forces and decreased the vertical force. Generally, the results from the finite element model were found to be compatible with the experimental results in clay soil, while in sandy loam the differences between predicted and measured data were probably due to problems of measuring soil mechanical characteristics in the triaxial test.     

Importance of biological processes in the sulfur budget of a northern hardwood ecosystem

Summary Total S, organic S and sulfate were measured in foliage, litter, roots, soil and solutions at a hardwood site within the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Sulfate as a percentage of total S was similar in foliage and litter (10%), but was greater in roots (30%). Sulfur constituents in the hardwood forest ecosystem were dominated by C-bonded S (60 g m^–2) and ester sulfate (16 g m^–2) which are formed by biological processes. Because sulfur mineralization (1.42 g m^–2 yr^–1) was greater than wet precipitation inputs (0.82 g m^–2 yr^–1), those factors that influence mineralization-immobilization processes are important in evaluating S cycling and sulfate fluxes in this ecosystem. Ester sulfate was formed within the forest floor by the soil biota and was leached to mineral horizons. Annual turnover of this pool was high (25%) within the mineral forest floor. Forest-floor C-bonded S was derived from root and above-ground litter, and substantial amounts were leached to mineral horizons. Calculated storage + outputs (1.64 g m^–2 yr^–1) was much greater than wet inputs (0.82 g m^–2 yr^–1).     

Hydrological pathway and source area of nutrient losses identified by a multi-scale monitoring in an agricultural catchment

The objectives of the study were to identify principal hydrological pathways and source areas of N and P losses by multi-scale monitoring and to estimate total nutrient losses from the catchment. An agricultural catchment with rain-fed agriculture and irrigated paddy fields in subtropical China was monitored with regularly sampling, together with intensive sampling during and after rain storms. Regular weekly sampling showed that the N concentrations in the overland flows from the upland and paddy fields were higher than those from the streams, but lower than those in the subsurface waters. The N concentration, on average, was 10.0 mg L^− 1 in the well and 1.7 mg L^− 1 in the spring water, the former was 10.2 times as high as that in the stream waters (1.0–1.5 mg L^− 1). Nitrogen and P in the overland flows originated dominantly in particulate forms from the uplands (over 70%) and in dissolved forms from the paddy fields. Inorganic N and P dominated in the streams and subsurface waters. The intensive sampling allowed us to establish flow-nutrient concentration relationships and to extrapolate nutrient losses during rainstorms without regular sampling. The extrapolation increased the estimated nutrient losses by about 30% to 50%. The average total nutrient losses within three water years were estimated as 21 kg N ha^− 1 yr^− 1 and 1 kg P ha^− 1 yr^− 1, accounting for 9.5% and 1.4% of chemical N and P fertilizers applied to the catchment after subtracting the nutrient inputs with irrigation and rainfall. The estimation showed that paddy fields were as important as the uplands in terms of nutrient losses. These results suggest that control of soil erosion and excessive irrigation could be effective to reduce nutrient export through overland flow and subsurface flow.     

PH—Postharvest Technology: Thermodynamics of Moisture Sorption in Sesame Seed

Experimental data on the sorption isotherms of sesame seed were used to determine the thermodynamic functions (heat of vaporisation, spreading pressure, net integral enthalpy and entropy). The heat of vaporisation decreased with increase in moisture content and approached the latent heat of pure water at moisture content between 18 and 21% dry basis. The spreading pressure increased with increase in water activity and was not significantly affected by temperature. Net integral enthalpy decreased with increase in moisture content, and became asymptotic as the moisture content of 12% was approached. Net integral entropy decreased with increase in moisture content to a minimum value of 0·138 J kg⁻¹K⁻¹ at moisture content of about 3·7%. It then increased with moisture content to a maximum of about 0·63 J kg⁻¹K⁻¹ at about 12% moisture content and thereafter, remained nearly constant.     

Effect of time of mulching on soil temperature and moisture regime and emergence, growth and yield of white yam in western Nigeria

Time of mulching can influence the growth environment and performance of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir). An on-farm trial was conducted during the 1988–1989 and 1989–1990 seasons (October–August) in Nigeria to determine the effect of time of mulching (October–February) on the hydrothermal regime and emergence, growth and tuber yield of white yam. Application of 12.5 mg ha⁻¹ of dry Eupatorium odoratum L. (Syn. Chromolaena odorata L.) mulch on top of the mounds significantly improved soil moisture content of the 15 cm surface layer by 50–120 g kg⁻¹ and decreased the maximum soil temperature by 2–7°C at 15 cm depth in the early growing season (March–April). The emergence and development of yam seedlings were significantly lower in unmulched plots than in mulch-treated plots. Mulching significantly increased tuber yield by about 10–15 mg ha⁻¹ season⁻¹. Plots mulched in October–December were more moist by 20–60 g kg⁻¹ and cooler by 1–3°C, and had 27–44% greater emergence than those mulched in January or February. The number of leaves per plant, vine diameter and leaf area index were also significantly greater in plots mulched in October–December than plots mulched in January or February. Consequently, shoot dry weight was about 28–36% greater in yam mulched in October–December than in yam mulched in February. However, the time of mulching had no effect on soil moisture of the surface layer at the beginning of the rainy season (April), on yam emergence in May and on tuber yield and yield components. Although time of mulching did not significantly affect tuber yield, the increase (10–15%) in the tuber yield of yam mulched in December–February compared to the yam mulched in October or November was considerable. It was concluded that yam planted in October, just before the rain stops, can be mulched in January or February without detrimental effect on emergence, growth and tuber yield.