淡水湿地不同围垦土壤非耕季节呼吸速率差异

选择何种湿地利用方式,使得土壤固碳能力及CO₂气体排放受到的影响最小,是合理利用湿地、减少温室气体排放的关键所在,湿地土壤呼吸不仅受环境条件的影响,还受土壤本身性状的影响。以皖江地区为研究区域,利用定位试验对天然湿地及不同围垦利用方式下土壤在非耕季节CO₂排放通量、大气温度及表层土壤温度进行测定,并对其土壤TOC含量进行分析。结果表明,CO₂排放通量:水稻田[700.70 mg/(m²·h)]> 旱地[433.80 mg/(m²·h)]> 天然湿地[302.66 mg/(m²·h)],天然湿地土壤TOC含量明显高于围垦旱地及水稻田(0-30 cm),说明天然湿地较围垦旱地和水稻田对大气中CO₂浓度贡献最小,能存储更多的碳。探讨了CO₂排放通量与温度的相关性,得出3种土壤类型CO₂排放通量与大气温度和表层土壤温度均呈正相关关系。     

煤粉尘添加量与温度对山西省两种土壤碳释放规律的影响

采用室内培养试验, 观测不同温度和不同煤粉尘用量条件下山西省电厂土和焦化厂土两种土壤的碳释放规律。结果表明, 室温(16~23 ℃)和25 ℃恒温下, 培养前期(4~9 d)土壤CO₂ 的释放量均为最大, 且25 ℃ 恒温培养土壤CO₂ 的释放量是室温条件下的2 倍左右。随煤粉尘添加量的增加, 土壤CO₂ 的释放量显著增加,且土壤活性有机质相应增加, 添加高量煤粉尘土壤CO₂ 的释放量最高达57.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1, 两种土壤活性有机碳的增幅为0.3~3.8 g·kg^-1。不同温度和不同煤粉尘用量条件下电厂土释放的CO₂ 均高于焦化厂土, 可能是电厂土含有较高的有机碳和较低的黏粒所致。由此可知, 温度是影响土壤有机碳分解的主要因素, 其次是添加煤粉尘的量, 土壤理化性质也是原因之一。本研究表明, 煤粉尘的降落一方面增加了土壤CO₂ 的释放, 另一方面增加了土壤碳库。     

坡面片蚀泥沙有机碳组分及13C同位素不均匀富集对水动力学参数的响应

[目的] 探究片蚀泥沙轻组有机碳(LF_OC)和重组有机碳(HF_OC)不均匀富集的水动力学和碳同位素特征,为正确理解水蚀作用下土壤有机碳库变化提供理论与技术支撑。[方法] 以陕西省咸阳市杨凌区土为研究对象,采用改进"三区"移动式变坡钢制土槽,结合人工模拟降雨技术,测定径流水动力学参数和泥沙各粒径团聚体有机碳组成及其δ¹³C值,并辅以棕壤侵蚀泥沙有机碳δ¹³C值和水力参数,验证土试验结果的准确性。[结果] ①雨强和坡度较小时,侵蚀泥沙LF_OC和HF_OC易发生富集,且相较黏粉粒和微团聚体,大团聚体LF_OC与HF_OC含量受雨强和坡度的影响更大; ②侵蚀泥沙黏粉粒中有机碳δ¹³C值与其有机碳活跃分数(λ)呈负相关,而其他粒径团聚体有机碳δ¹³C值与其λ呈显著正相关(p<0.05); ③流速与黏粉粒λ显著正相关(p<0.05),雷诺数与各粒径团聚体有机碳δ¹³C值均呈显著负相关(p<0.01),片蚀过程中流速越大,黏粉粒中LF_OC越易于优先输移,而紊流加剧则促进低δ¹³C值团聚体有机碳的优先输移; ④对于侵蚀泥沙黏粉粒,流速和雷诺数越大,其有机碳δ¹³C值越小,λ越大;对于微团聚体和大团聚体,雷诺数越小,其有机碳δ¹³C值与λ越大。[结论] 片蚀过程中轻重组有机碳流失与流速和雷诺数密切相关。并进一步验证了¹³C同位素对侵蚀泥沙有机碳示踪的有效性。     

土壤呼吸及其13C同位素测定方法的对比研究

为比较不同方法在土壤呼吸及其_¹³C同位素测定中的差异，我们应用几种常见的方法测定了不同有机质含量的水稻土壤在一定时间内的CO₂排放量及_¹³C-CO₂丰度，以期准确评估土壤呼吸及碳排放，并为相关研究提供参考。本实验采用了气相色谱仪法(GC-TCD)、稳定同位素比值质谱仪气体进样法(Gasbench-IRMS)、甲酚红显色法(MicroResp)、碱液吸收法四种方法测定土壤呼吸速率；Gasbench-IRMS法和碱液吸收法两种方式检测土壤呼吸的_¹³CO₂含量。结果表明,(1)两种仪器法(GC、IRMS)测定土壤呼吸速率的数值结果相近(基础呼吸)或趋势一致(诱导呼吸),且重复性好（标准差分别为0.011、0.010 mg C /kg/h）,准确度高；MicroResp法的测定结果与仪器测量值较为相近,但分辨率较低；碱液吸收法的测定结果较真实值偏高(当土壤有机质含量低时)或偏低(当土壤有机质含量高时)。(2)在测定CO₂中的_¹³C含量上,Gasbench-IRMS直接测定的结果误差小(δ_¹³C值的标准偏差为0.137‰),接近实际值,可以准确地反应出土壤微生物呼吸时对底物的利用状况。综上,仪器法较化学分析法(MicroResp、碱液吸收)更能准确测定土壤呼吸及其_¹³C同位素。     

不同铃重基因型棉花盛花期14C-同化物在“铃-叶系统”中的分配特征

以大铃、中铃和小铃3个不同铃重棉花基因型为材料,通过在盛花期测定棉株中部主茎和果枝叶面积及叶面积指数,并用¹⁴CO₂饲喂中部主茎叶,研究了¹⁴CO₂同化物在棉株不同层次"铃-叶系统"中的分配特征。结果表明,盛花期中部主茎和果枝单叶面积与铃重呈正相关。小铃基因型棉花群体盛花期叶面积指数最大;大铃基因型棉花蕾铃比中、小铃基因型表现出更强的库活性。主茎叶片产生的同化物除主要输送到对应的果枝外,还向上部、下部的库器官及主茎生长点输送;而流向其对应果枝的同化物,主要供应第一果节蕾铃。     

气候变化下基于DayCent的旱地玉米农田温室气体排放通量模拟

气候变化通过大气CO₂浓度、温度和降雨的改变,直接或间接影响农田温室气体排放,研究未来气候情景下农田温室气体排放对实现农业碳减排具有重要意义。为探究气候变化背景下农田温室气体排放特征,该研究在长期田间定位试验基础上,利用当前大气CO₂浓度与CO₂浓度升高条件下旱作玉米农田温室气体排放通量的田间观测数据,采用“试错法”对DayCent模型进行校验,并利用校验后的模型,根据第六次国际耦合模式比较计划（Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6,CMIP6）气候情景数据,预测未来SSP126与SSP245气候情景下旱地玉米农田温室气体排放通量。结果表明,DayCent模型对不同大气CO₂浓度下N₂O、CH₄和CO₂排放通量的模拟值与观测值高度一致,模拟效率（modeling efficiency,EF）分别为0.58～0.87、0.45～0.65和0.25～0.62,均方根误差（root mean square error,RMSE）分别为0.83～1.33、0.67～0.82和0.58～0.80 g/(hm²·d),决定系数（coefficient of determination,R²）分别为0.80～0.91、0.53～0.80和0.53～0.85。SSP126和SSP245气候情景下,在玉米单作种植模式下旱地农田N₂O和CO₂年排放量均呈现上升趋势,以2001—2020年农田温室气体排放通量为基准,到2060年N₂O年排放量分别增加22.8%和24.9%,CO₂年排放量分别增加6.7%和8.0%;旱地农田CH₄年吸收量呈下降趋势,两个气候情景下分别减少13.6%和13.4%。未来气候情景下旱地农田仍是温室气体排放源,优化氮肥管理和农田耕作措施对实现温室气体减排具有重要意义,模拟结果可以为制定农业适应气候变化对策提供基础数据支持。     

温度对贵州喀斯特黄色石灰土有机碳矿化、水稻秸秆激发效应和Q10的影响

为定量揭示温度和秸秆还田对贵州喀斯特黄色石灰土土壤有机碳矿化、激发效应和温度敏感性的影响。以贵州喀斯特地区典型黄色石灰土为研究对象,采用¹³C稳定性同位素标记的水稻秸秆和土壤培养试验研究了15,25,35 ℃培养温度下土壤原有有机碳矿化速率、累积矿化量、激发效应和温度系数Q₁₀对水稻秸秆输入和温度的响应。结果表明:15~35 ℃温度范围和0~60天培养时间内,贵州喀斯特黄色石灰土土壤有机碳、总有机碳、水稻秸秆有机碳和土壤原有有机碳矿化速率均培养1天达到峰值,培养1~30天土壤总有机碳、水稻秸秆有机碳和土壤原有有机碳矿化速率快速下降,30~60天逐渐趋于平缓。温度升高显著增加土壤有机碳、水稻秸秆输入土壤总有机碳、土壤原有有机碳和输入的水稻秸秆有机碳的矿化速率和累积矿化量。培养期间水稻秸秆对土壤有机碳矿化均产生显著正激发效应,且正激发效应随温度升高而强化。培养结束时15,25,35 ℃下其对土壤原有有机碳矿化速率激发效应表现为随温度升高激发效应升高、降低、升高和先升高后降低的温度响应规律,因表征方法不同而不同。15,25,35 ℃培养温度下水稻秸秆对土壤总有机碳矿化速率和累积矿化量的贡献率均随培养时间延长先减小后增大再减小,但2种表征方法和3个培养温度拐点发生时间不同;培养1天时水稻秸秆对土壤总有机碳矿化速率和累积矿化量的贡献率15,25 ℃基本相同且显著高于35 ℃,5天时25,35 ℃基本相当且显著大于15 ℃,其他时间均是25 ℃显著大于35 ℃和35 ℃显著大于15 ℃。15~25 ℃和25~35 ℃ 2个温度体系中水稻秸秆不输入石灰土土壤有机碳矿化速率温度敏感系数Q_10,V分别为1.01~2.60和1.39~3.12,Q_10,F分别为1.50~2.60和1.39~2.17;水稻秸秆输入石灰土土壤总有机碳矿化速率温度敏感系数Q_10,V分别为1.09~2.18和1.05~1.90,Q_10,F分别为1.09~1.73和1.05~1.49;水稻秸秆输入抑制土壤原有有机碳矿化的温度敏感性,水稻秸秆输入导致土壤原有有机碳矿化温度敏感性随温度升高而升高转变为总体上随温度升高而降低在一定程度上可缓冲全球变暖所致的CO₂排放增加。温度对土壤有机碳矿化温度敏感性的影响因表征温度敏感性指标和培养时间长短不同而不同,建立不同培养时间的矿化速率和累积矿化量温度敏感系数的温度函数可精确表征其对温度的响应。研究结果对贵州喀斯特农田土壤秸秆还田、土壤固碳减排、土壤有机碳管理和土壤有机碳库预测等提供参考和借鉴,对丰富土壤有机碳激发效应和温度系数Q₁₀的表征和深入理解具有重要意义。     

SO42-和Cl-对稻田土壤养分及其吸附解吸特性的影响

利用长期定位试验 ,比较了长期施用含SO₄^2-和Cl^- 化肥 22年后稻田土壤的 pH值、养分状况及其吸附解吸特性。结果表明 ,长期施用含SO₄^2-化肥 ,土壤有机质、速效氮和速效钾的含量较高 ,但全量氮磷钾的含量较低 ;长期施用含Cl^- 化肥 ,土壤全量氮磷钾和速效磷的含量较高 ,但pH值相对较低。长期施用含上述二种阴离子的化肥后 ,土壤对H₂PO₄^-的最大吸附量均较大 ,且在Cl^- 处理下土壤对H₂PO₄^-吸附的结合能较大 ,而SO₄^2-处理下土壤在同等吸附量时对H₂PO₄^-的解吸量相应较多。长期施用含SO₄^2-的化肥亦使土壤对钾素的供应强度较大 (ΔK0的绝对值较大 )、缓冲能力增强 (AR0值较高 ) ,而长期施用含Cl^- 的化肥时则与SO₄^2-相反     

空间电场对植物吸收CO2和生长速度的影响

为研究空间电场对植物吸收CO₂和生长速度的影响，首先采用同位素示踪法，分析了不同空间电场调控营养液栽培的番茄秧吸收CO₂气体和HCO^-₃阴离子的能力，证实了 ¹⁴C—HCO^-₃是一种受控于空间电场变化的阴离子，且空间电场强度的变化方向调控着 ¹⁴C—HCO^-₃阴离子流的流动方向。在此基础上以蕹菜(空心菜)为试验材料，采取空间电场与增施CO₂浓度的参数组合，做对比生长试验，通过红外线CO₂分析法揭示了空间电场的极性对植物吸收CO₂的速度有显著影响，且正向空间电场能显著促进植物对CO₂的吸收，并得到正向空间电场与足量的CO₂浓度相配合能大幅度提高温室蔬菜生长速度，使作物产量倍增的结论，为建立空间电场促进植物生长技术提供理论依据。     

水培条件下CO2与NH+4/NO-3配比对番茄幼苗生育的影响

升高CO₂浓度能够促进作物的光合作用，提高作物的生物量和产量，但关于CO₂与NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比及其交互作用对作物影响的研究较少，为探索番茄幼苗生长发育对CO₂浓度升高的响应是否对NH⁺₄/NO^-₃配比有较强的依赖关系，本试验在营养液栽培条件下，以番茄(Lycopersicun esculentum Mill)为试材，研究正常大气CO₂浓度(360 μL/L)和倍增CO₂浓度(720 μL/L)与不同NH⁺₄/NO^-₃配比的交互作用对番茄幼苗生长的影响。结果表明：CO₂浓度升高提高了低NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例处理中番茄叶片的光合速率和水分利用率，提高幅度随NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例的降低而增强，光合速率增强最大达55%。在同一CO₂浓度处理下净光合速率与水分利用率均随NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例的增加而显著降低。这说明CO₂浓度升高对番茄幼苗生长发育的促进作用随NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例的降低而提高，但并没有减弱全NH⁺₄-N处理中番茄幼苗的受毒害作用。综上所述，CO₂浓度升高能提高植物生产的节水能力和水分生产力；水培条件下，NO^-₃-N是最适合番茄幼苗生长发育的氮源，其它NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例对番茄幼苗的生长发育有一定的抑制作用，仅以NH⁺₄-N作氮源则番茄幼苗很难生长。     

Soil organic matter dynamics in grassland soils under elevated CO2: Insights from long-term incubations and stable isotopes

Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels generally stimulate carbon (C) uptake by plants, but the fate of this additional C largely remains unknown. This uncertainty is due in part to the difficulty in detecting small changes in soil carbon pools. We conducted a series of long-term (170-330 days) laboratory incubation experiments to examine changes in soil organic matter pool sizes and turnover rates in soil collected from an open-top chamber (OTC) elevated CO₂ study in Colorado shortgrass steppe. We measured concentration and isotopic composition of respired CO₂ and applied a two-pool exponential decay model to estimate pool sizes and turnover rates of active and slow C pools. The active and slow C pools of surface soils (5-10 cm depth) were increased by elevated CO₂, but turnover rates of these pools were not consistently altered. These findings indicate a potential for C accumulation in near-surface soil C pools under elevated CO₂. Stable isotopes provided evidence that elevated CO₂ did not alter the decomposition rate of new C inputs. Temporal variations in measured δ¹³C of respired CO₂ during incubation probably resulted mainly from the decomposition of changing mixtures of fresh residue and older organic matter. Lignin decomposition may have contributed to declining δ¹³C values late in the experiments. Isotopic dynamics during decomposition should be taken into account when interpreting δ¹³C measurements of soil respiration. Our study provides new understanding of soil C dynamics under elevated CO₂ through the use of stable C isotope measurements during microbial organic matter mineralization.     

Dynamics of labile and recalcitrant soil carbon pools in a sorghum free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) agroecosystem

Experimentation with dynamics of soil carbon pools as affected by elevated CO₂ can better define the ability of terrestrial ecosystems to sequester global carbon. In the present study, 6 N HCl hydrolysis and stable-carbon isotopic analysis (δ¹³C) were used to investigate labile and recalcitrant soil carbon pools and the translocation among these pools of sorghum residues isotopically labeled in the 1998-1999 Arizona Maricopa free air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiment, in which elevated CO₂ (FACE: 560 μmol mol⁻¹) and ambient CO₂ (Control: 360 μmol mol⁻¹) interact with water-adequate (wet) and water-deficient (dry) treatments. We found that on average 53% of the final soil organic carbon (SOC) in the FACE plot was in the recalcitrant carbon pool and 47% in the labile pool, whereas in the Control plot 46% and 54% of carbon were in recalcitrant and labile pools, respectively, indicating that elevated CO₂ transferred more SOC into the slow-decay carbon pool. Also, isotopic mixing models revealed that increased new sorghum residue input to the recalcitrant pool mainly accounts for this change, especially for the upper soil horizon (0-30 cm) where new carbon in recalcitrant soil pools of FACE wet and dry treatments was 1.7 and 2.8 times as large as that in respective Control recalcitrant pools. Similarly, old C in the recalcitrant pool under elevated CO₂ was higher than that under ambient CO₂, indicating that elevated CO₂ reduces the decay of the old C in recalcitrant pool. Mean residence time (MRT) of bulk soil carbon at the depth of 0-30 cm was significantly longer in FACE plot than Control plot by the averages of 12 and 13 yr under the dry and wet conditions, respectively. The MRT was positively correlated to the ratio of carbon content in the recalcitrant pool to total SOC and negatively correlated to the ratio of carbon content in the labile pool to total SOC. Influence of water alone on the bulk SOC or the labile and recalcitrant pools was not significant. However, water stress interacting with CO₂ enhanced the shift of the carbon from labile pool to recalcitrant pool. Our results imply that terrestrial agroecosystems may play a critical role in sequestrating atmospheric CO₂ and mitigating harmful CO₂ under future atmospheric conditions.     

陇东黄土高塬沟壑区土壤侵蚀的137Cs法研究

该文通过运用铯－１３７法对陇东黄土高塬沟壑区土壤侵蚀进行研究，定量地分析了塬、坡、沟各土地利用类型的侵蚀及产沙。结果表明，通过生物及工程措施治理后的沟谷其侵蚀量都大大减小，然而塬面侵蚀问题却相对突出，塬面侵蚀量不可忽视。     

甘肃省小陇山林区降雨型浅层滑坡汇水面积-坡度关系及其影响因素

沟头发生侵蚀的地形临界模型可有效预测侵蚀沟的形成条件,浅层滑坡失稳形成的洼地也是沟头形成的方式之一。为探究浅层滑坡临界起动模型的特点,以甘肃省天水市小陇山林区的降雨型浅层滑坡为研究对象,运用汇水面积-坡度关系,构建临界起动模型,与黄土高原典型侵蚀沟(浅沟、切沟)的临界起动模型进行对比分析,并探讨土地利用类型、植被类型和土壤质地对该模型的影响。结果表明:(1)浅层滑坡临界起动模型为S=3.50A_s^-0.34,其侵蚀阈值为3.50,大于黄土高原典型浅沟(0.96)和切沟(1.54)的侵蚀阈值。研究区浅层滑坡一般发生于土层较薄的陡坡地带,其平均坡度(S=1.26)大于浅沟(S=0.35)与切沟(S=0.46),单位汇水面积(A=89.08 m²/m)小于浅沟(A=920.93 m²/m)和切沟(A=1 129.82 m²/m)。(2)汇水面积与坡度平方的乘积(AS²)代表了沟头产生侵蚀的能量指标值。研究区浅层滑坡AS²值在269.1~5 703.2 m²,平均值为1 772.97 m²,黄土高原浅沟AS²值在4.74~892.66 m²,切沟在41~814 m²,启动能量值方面,浅沟<切沟<浅层滑坡。(3)土地利用类型、植被类型和土壤质地通过影响土壤的抗冲力、渗透性和黏粒含量,从而对浅层滑坡的起动难易程度产生影响。在不同的土地利用方式中,农地最易发生侵蚀,其次是林地。油松林附近浅层滑坡的抗侵蚀能力高于日本落叶松林。研究结果为探究浅层滑坡的起动条件提供理论依据。     

Rhizodeposition-induced decomposition increases N availability to wild and cultivated wheat genotypes under elevated CO2

Elevated CO₂ may increase nutrient availability in the rhizosphere by stimulating N release from recalcitrant soil organic matter (SOM) pools through enhanced rhizodeposition. We aimed to elucidate how CO₂-induced increases in rhizodeposition affect N release from recalcitrant SOM, and how wild versus cultivated genotypes of wheat mediated differential responses in soil N cycling under elevated CO₂. To quantify root-derived soil carbon (C) input and release of N from stable SOM pools, plants were grown for 1 month in microcosms, exposed to ¹³C labeling at ambient (392 μmol mol⁻¹) and elevated (792 μmol mol⁻¹) CO₂ concentrations, in soil containing ¹⁵N predominantly incorporated into recalcitrant SOM pools. Decomposition of stable soil C increased by 43%, root-derived soil C increased by 59%, and microbial-¹³C was enhanced by 50% under elevated compared to ambient CO₂. Concurrently, plant ¹⁵N uptake increased (+7%) under elevated CO₂ while ¹⁵N contents in the microbial biomass and mineral N pool decreased. Wild genotypes allocated more C to their roots, while cultivated genotypes allocated more C to their shoots under ambient and elevated CO₂. This led to increased stable C decomposition, but not to increased N acquisition for the wild genotypes. Data suggest that increased rhizodeposition under elevated CO₂ can stimulate mineralization of N from recalcitrant SOM pools and that contrasting C allocation patterns cannot fully explain plant mediated differential responses in soil N cycling to elevated CO₂.     

Effluxed CO2-C from sterilized and unsterilized treatments of a calcareous soil

Soil inorganic carbon (C) represents a substantial C pool in arid ecosystems, yet little data exist on the contribution of this pool to ecosystem C fluxes. A closed jar incubation study was carried out to test the hypothesis that CO₂-¹³C production and response to sterilization would differ in a calcareous (Mojave Desert) soil and a non-calcareous (Oklahoma Prairie) soil due to contributions of carbonate-derived CO₂. In addition to non-sterilized controls, soils were subjected to sterilization treatments (unbuffered HgCl₂ addition for Oklahoma soil and unbuffered HgCl₂ addition, buffered HgCl₂ addition, and autoclaving for Mojave Desert soil) to decrease biotic respiration and more readily measure abiotic CO₂ flux. Temperature and moisture treatments were also included with sterilization treatments in a factorial design.The rate of CO₂ production in both soils was significantly decreased (36-87%) by sterilization, but sterilization treatments differed in effectiveness. Sterilization had no significant effect on effluxed CO₂-¹³C values in the non-calcareous Oklahoma Prairie soil and autoclaved Mojave Desert soil as compared to their respective non-sterilized controls. However, sterilization significantly altered CO₂-¹³C values in Mojave Desert soil HgCl₂ sterilization treatments (both buffered and non-buffered). Plots of 1/CO₂ versus CO₂-δ¹³C (similar to Keeling plots) indicated that the source CO₂-δ¹³C value of the Oklahoma Prairie soil treatments was similar to the δ¹³C value of soil organic matter [(SOM); −17.76‰ VPDB] whereas the source for the (acidic) unbuffered-HgCl₂ sterilized Mojave Desert soil was similar to the δ¹³C value of carbonates (−0.93‰ VPDB). The source CO₂-δ¹³C value of non-sterilized and autoclaved (−18.4‰ VPDB) Mojave Desert soil treatments was intermediate between SOM (−21.43‰ VPDB) and carbonates and indicates up to 13% of total C efflux may be from abiotic sources in calcareous soils.     

C fractionation at the root-microorganisms-soil interface: A review and outlook for partitioning studies

Natural variations of the ¹³C/¹²C ratio have been frequently used over the last three decades to trace C sources and fluxes between plants, microorganisms, and soil. Many of these studies have used the natural-¹³C-labelling approach, i.e. natural δ¹³C variation after C₃-C₄ vegetation changes. In this review, we focus on ¹³C fractionation in main processes at the interface between roots, microorganisms, and soil: root respiration, microbial respiration, formation of dissolved organic carbon, as well as microbial uptake and utilization of soil organic matter (SOM). Based on literature data and our own studies, we estimated that, on average, the roots of C₃ and C₄ plants are ¹³C enriched compared to shoots by +1.2 ± 0.6‰ and +0.3 ± 0.4‰, respectively. The CO₂ released by root respiration was ¹³C depleted by about −2.1 ± 2.2‰ for C₃ plants and −1.3 ± 2.4‰ for C₄ plants compared to root tissue. However, only a very few studies investigated ¹³C fractionation by root respiration. This urgently calls for further research. In soils developed under C₃ vegetation, the microbial biomass was ¹³C enriched by +1.2 ± 2.6‰ and microbial CO₂ was also ¹³C enriched by +0.7 ± 2.8‰ compared to SOM. This discrimination pattern suggests preferential utilization of ¹³C-enriched substances by microorganisms, but a respiration of lighter compounds from this fraction. The δ¹³C signature of the microbial pool is composed of metabolically active and dormant microorganisms; the respired CO₂, however, derives mainly from active organisms. This discrepancy and the preferential substrate utilization explain the δ¹³C differences between microorganisms and CO₂ by an ‘apparent’ ¹³C discrimination. Preferential consumption of easily decomposable substrates and less negative δ¹³C values were common for substances with low C/N ratios. Preferential substrate utilization was more important for C₃ soils because, in C₄ soils, microbial respiration strictly followed kinetics, i.e. microorganisms incorporated heavier C (? = +1.1‰) and respired lighter C (? = −1.1‰) than SOM. Temperature and precipitation had no significant effect on the ¹³C fractionation in these processes in C₃ soils. Increasing temperature and decreasing precipitation led, however, to increasing δ¹³C of soil C pools.Based on these ¹³C fractionations we developed a number of consequences for C partitioning studies using ¹³C natural abundance. In the framework of standard isotope mixing models, we calculated CO₂ partitioning using the natural-¹³C-labelling approach at a vegetation change from C₃ to C₄ plants assuming a root-derived fraction between 0% and 100% to total soil CO₂. Disregarding any ¹³C fractionation processes, the calculated results deviated by up to 10% from the assumed fractions. Accounting for ¹³C fractionation in the standard deviations of the C₄ source and the mixing pool did not improve the exactness of the partitioning results; rather, it doubled the standard errors of the CO₂ pools. Including ¹³C fractionations directly into the mass balance equations reproduced the assumed CO₂ partitioning exactly. At the end, we therefore give recommendations on how to consider ¹³C fractionations in research on carbon flows between plants, microorganisms, and soil.     

Carbon dynamics in a temperate grassland soil after 9 years exposure to elevated CO2 (Swiss FACE)

Elevated pCO₂ increases the net primary production, C/N ratio, and C input to the soil and hence provides opportunities to sequester CO₂-C in soils to mitigate anthropogenic CO₂. The Swiss 9 y grassland FACE (free air carbon-dioxide enrichment) experiment enabled us to explore the potential of elevated pCO₂ (60 Pa), plant species (Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium repens L.) and nitrogen fertilization (140 and 540 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) on carbon sequestration and mineralization by a temperate grassland soil. Use of ¹³C in combination with respired CO₂ enabled the identification of the origins of active fractions of soil organic carbon. Elevated pCO₂ had no significant effect on total soil carbon, and total soil carbon was also independent of plant species and nitrogen fertilization. However, new (FACE-derived depleted ¹³C) input of carbon into the soil in the elevated pCO₂ treatments was dependent on nitrogen fertilization and plant species. New carbon input into the top 15 cm of soil from L. perennne high nitrogen (LPH), L. perenne low nitrogen (LPL) and T. repens low nitrogen (TRL) treatments during the 9 y elevated pCO₂ experiment was 9.3±2.0, 12.1±1.8 and 6.8±2.7 Mg C ha⁻¹, respectively. Fractions of FACE-derived carbon in less protected soil particles >53 μm in size were higher than in <53 μm particles. In addition, elevated pCO₂ increased CO₂ emission over the 118 d incubation by 55, 61 and 13% from undisturbed soil from LPH, LPL and TRL treatments, respectively; but only by 13, 36, and 18%, respectively, from disturbed soil (without roots). Higher input of new carbon led to increased decomposition of older soil organic matter (priming effect), which was driven by the quantity (mainly roots) of newly input carbon (L. perenne) as well as the quality of old soil carbon (e.g. higher recalcitrance in T. repens). Based on these results, the potential of well managed and established temperate grassland soils to sequester carbon under continued increasing concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ appears to be rather limited.     

Elevated CO2, but not defoliation, enhances N cycling and increases short-term soil N immobilization regardless of N addition in a semiarid grassland

Elevated CO₂ and defoliation effects on nitrogen (N) cycling in rangeland soils remain poorly understood. Here we tested whether effects of elevated CO₂ (720 μl L⁻¹) and defoliation (clipping to 2.5 cm height) on N cycling depended on soil N availability (addition of 1 vs. 11 g N m⁻²) in intact mesocosms extracted from a semiarid grassland. Mesocosms were kept inside growth chambers for one growing season, and the experiment was repeated the next year. We added ¹⁵N (1 g m⁻²) to all mesocosms at the start of the growing season. We measured total N and ¹⁵N in plant, soil inorganic, microbial and soil organic pools at different times of the growing season. We combined the plant, soil inorganic, and microbial N pools into one pool (PIM-N pool) to separate biotic + inorganic from abiotic N residing in soil organic matter (SOM). With the ¹⁵N measurements we were then able to calculate transfer rates of N from the active PIM-N pool into SOM (soil N immobilization) and vice versa (soil N mobilization) throughout the growing season. We observed significant interactive effects of elevated CO₂ with N addition and defoliation with N addition on soil N mobilization and immobilization. However, no interactive effects were observed for net transfer rates. Net N transfer from the PIM-N pool into SOM increased under elevated CO₂, but was unaffected by defoliation. Elevated CO₂ and defoliation effects on the net transfer of N into SOM may not depend on soil N availability in semiarid grasslands, but may depend on the balance of root litter production affecting soil N immobilization and root exudation affecting soil N mobilization. We observed no interactive effects of elevated CO₂ with defoliation. We conclude that elevated CO₂, but not defoliation, may limit plant productivity in the long-term through increased soil N immobilization.     

A preliminary assessment of the potential for using Pbex measurement to estimate soil redistribution rates on cultivated slopes in the Sichuan Hilly Basin of China

In order to assess its potential for estimating soil redistribution rates, the naturally occurring fallout radionuclide ²¹⁰Pb_ex has been used in parallel with ¹³⁷Cs, derived from the atmospheric testing of nuclear weapon testing in the 1950s to 1970s, to estimate rates of soil redistribution on a sloping field with traditional erosion control measures located near Jiajia Village, Jianyang County, in the Sichuan Hilly Basin of China. The local ²¹⁰Pb_ex reference inventory of 12,860 Bq m^− 2 is higher than those reported for many other areas of the world and may reflect the influence of cloudy weather in preventing ²¹⁰Pb released to the atmosphere across the local region moving up into the upper troposphere, where is would be more widely dispersed. The mean ²¹⁰Pb_ex and ¹³⁷Cs inventories measured in cores collected from the upper part of the field with an average slope of 10° were 8028 Bq m^− 2 and 993 Bq m^− 2, respectively, and the equivalent values for the lower part of the field, where the slopes are steeper (20°) were 11,388 Bq m^− 2 and 1299 Bq m^− 2. The pattern of post-fallout ²¹⁰Pb_ex and ¹³⁷Cs redistribution on the sloping field reflects not only the effects of water erosion and redistribution by tillage, but also the local traditional practice of “Tiaoshamiantu”, whereby sediment trapped in the ditches is returned to the fields by the farmer. The estimates of annual rates of soil loss provided by the ²¹⁰Pb_ex measurement are closely comparable with those derived from the ¹³⁷Cs measurements and are consistent with existing knowledge for the study area. The results obtained from this study confirm the potential for using ²¹⁰Pb_ex measurement to estimate soil erosion rates over medium-term timescale of 50–100 years. By combining the estimates of erosion rates provided by the ²¹⁰Pb_ex and ¹³⁷Cs measurements, the weighted mean net soil loss was estimated to be 48.7 t ha^− 1 year^− 1 from the upper subfield and 16.9 t ha^− 1 year^− 1 from the lower subfield. These rates are considerably lower than the erosion rates obtained from runoff plot measurements in the local area. It is suggested that the traditional erosion control practices and the practice of “Tiaoshamiantu” have a significant effect in reducing soil loss and conserving valuable cultivated soil on sloping fields in the Sichuan Hilly Basin.