土地质量评估与监测: 土壤科学面临的新挑战

Sustainable land management (SLM)is the key to harmonizing environmetal and ecolgical concerns of society with the economic realities of producing adequate food and fiber of high quality and ensuring a absi minimal quality of life.The aim of SLM is to maintain the integrity of the biophysical land resource base,but it can only be realized if land users understand the impacts of land management options on their lands but also on other off-site areas and can optimize the socioeconomic and environmetal benefits of their choice.To Facilitate this,the Contribution of soil suvery organizations would be through the assessment and monitoring of land quality.Land quality is a measure of the ability of land to perfor specific functions and is derived by an integration of soil survey information with other environmental,and if necessary,socioeconomic information.The desired reliability influences the operational scale of the assessment,Such an assessment would assist in:1) locating homologous areas for research sites or for transferring technologies;2) providing the geographic basis for systems analysis(e.g.modeling);3) serving as a basis for local,natinal and global resource assessment and monitoring;4) providing an ecosystem context for land use,assessments of temporal and spatial variability,and impact of human interventions;5)serving as a framework for more detailed assessment for all levels of interest;and 6) evaluating global issues such as food security,impacts of climate change,biodiversity montoring,and addressing desertification.Based on an evaluation of the progress made in soil resource inventories and considering the demands of the environment focused world,the paper considers the need for counteries to mount such a program.The authors believe that this is the next demand of soil science and that we can fulfill our soical contract by periodically providing such information on the state of a nation‘s land resource.     

巴西塞拉都(Cerrado)地区氧化土土壤紧实性评估研究

The Cerrado region of Brazil, one of the fastest-growing agricultural areas in the world, is undergoing very rapid mechanization; this development is good for the country’s economy but may also snowball into substantial loss of agricultural land and other environmental degradation if the soil susceptibility and vulnerability to compaction is not well understood. In this study we explored different techniques for estimating soil intrinsic abilities to withstand applied pressure using the prevalent Oxisols of the Cerrado region under native vegetation. Undisturbed samples were collected from three sites within the region and subjected to 1) compressibility test: 2) manual penetration resistance test; 3) automated penetration resistance test; and 4) packing density analysis. The four methods produced analogous results. Our results showed the significant influence of soil structure on the inherent strength and compaction susceptibility of the soils. We also established the association of soil structure with the mineralogy of the soil. It is noteworthy that the packing density which was developed from very simple and easily obtained parameters could give a picture of the tendency of the soil to compact. Thus, this approach would be useful in developing compaction susceptibility maps for the region. It could be concluded that most of the Oxisols in the Cerrado region would support mechanized agricultural production very successfully. However, there is need for careful management of the mechanization process to avert degradation. The management techniques should include conservationist practices such as no till in order to maintain as much as possible the favorable structure and drainage of these very old soils.     

Contrasted Impact of Land Abandonment on Soil Erosion in Mediterranean Agriculture Fields

Abandonment of agricultural land results in on-and off-site consequences for the ecosystem. In this study, 105 rainfall simulations were carried out in agriculture lands of the Mediterranean belt in Spain(vineyards in Málaga, almond orchards in Murcia, and orange and olive orchards in Valencia) and in paired abandoned lands to assess the impact of land abandonment on soil and water losses. After abandonment, soil detachment decreased drastically in the olive and orange orchards, while vineyards did not show any difference and almond orchards registered higher erosion rates after the abandonment. Terraced orchards of oranges and olives recovered a dense vegetation cover after the abandonment, while the sloping terrain of almond orchards and vineyards enhanced the development of crusts and rills and a negligible vegetation cover resulted in high erosion rates. The contrasted responses to land abandonment in Mediterranean agricultural lands suggest that land abandonment should be programmed and managed with soil erosion control strategies for some years to avoid land degradation.     

中国海南岛香蕉种植潜力的鉴定

Land use alternatives are sought to boost agricultural income and productivity in Hainan Island,China.Regional differences exist in crop limitations,such as typhoon risk,low temperatures,poor soil fertility,and drought.In this study a crop zonation was made for a range of crops,among which is banana,as a way to:1) establish areas for potential expansion for banana,and 2) identifylimitations and options for crop and land management.A spatial soil and terrain database of Hainan Island(1:250000) was linked to the automated land evaluation system(ALES).The qualitative models were verified by comparing suitability maps with actual land use.Theresults may support policy formulation on issues such as alternatives to current land use,assessment of best management practices,and the need for fertilizer programmes.     

坡面过程、块体移动和土壤侵蚀研究进展

Soil erosion and land degradation are global problems and pose major issues in many countries.Both soil erosion and mass movement are two forms of land degradation and humans play important roles in these geomorphological processes.This paper reviews slope processes associated with mass movement and soil erosion and contributory factors,including physical and human agents.Acting together,these cause diverse geomorphological features.Slope processes are illustrated by reference to case studies from Brazil and UK.The causes and impacts of erosion are discussed,along with appropriate remedial bioengineering methods and the potential of the measures to prevent these types of environmental degradation.Although there are several agents of erosion,water is the most important one.Cultivation can promote soil erosion,due to ploughing and harvesting,which moves soil down slopes.Soil erosion and mass movement data would inform the viability of soil conservation practices.Integrated management of drainage basins offers a promising way forward for effective soil conservation and soil remedial bioengineering in Brazil and UK.     

澳大利亚、中国和泰国的热带地区的土壤化学退化的量化及修复

Soil and land degradation in the tropics can be identified and described in terms of physical,chemical,and biological changes from its pristine state brought about by natural and anthropogenic influences.A characteristic of these ecosystems is their capacity to recycle nutrients through soil organic matter(SOM). Following disturbance through changed land management.SOM is rapidly mineralized and there is a cor responding decline in fertility and the variable charge component of the cation exchange capacity.As these ecosystems are strongly dependent on SOM for their functionality,changed land use can have irreversible impacts on the productivity of these systems.The paper focuses on quantifying chemical degradation throughbenchmaking using data from paried sites in tropical China and Thailand using surface charge finger printing.Using values taken from the fingerprint of an undistubed soil,an index of chemical degradation from ideality was calculated.Various management stratgeies that attempt to reverse degradative trends or improve poor quality soils in their natural condition are discussed.such as the ddition of natural clays and silicated materials.Results are present to whow the effect of each of the aforementional strategies on surface charge characteristics and associated increases in plant productivity.     

耕作、残茬及施肥管理对土壤有机质动态变化影响的情景分析

Based on data from 10-year field experiments on residue/fertilizer management in the dryland farming region of northern China, Century model was used to simulate the site-specific ecosystem dynamics through adjustment of the model＇s parameters, and the applicability of the model to propose soil organic carbon （SOC） management temporally and spatially, in cases such as of tillage/residue/fertilization management options, was identified v/a scenario analysis.Results between simulations and actual measurements were in close agreement when appropriate applications of stover,manure and inorganic fertilizer were combined. Simulations of extreme C/N ratios with added organic materials tended to underestimate the measured effects. Scenarios of changed tillage methods, residue practices and fertilization options showed potential to maintain and enhance SOC in the long run, while increasing inorganic N slowed down the SOC turnover rate but did not create a net C sink without any organic C input. The Century model simulation showed a good relationship between annual C inputs to the soil and the rate of C sequestration in the top 20 cm layer and provided quantitative estimations of changes in parameters crucial for sustainable land use and management. Conservation tillage practices for sustainable land use should be integrated with residue management and appreciable organic and inorganic fertilizer application, adapted according to the local residue resource, soil fertility and production conditions. At least 50% residue return into the soil was needed annually for maintenance of SOC balance, and manure amendment was important for enhancement of SOC in small crop-livestock systems in which crop residue land application was limited.     

控制中国非点源污染的生物经济学战略

While non-point pollution from agriculture has become an increasingly serious problem in China, some progress has been made in studying the causal biophysical processes. However, few studies have assessed the economic consequences of non-point pollution in China or the policy options that could be employed to combat it. In this work a sustainable strategy to control non-point pollution from crop production, which involved taxing excessive inputs of irrigation water and fertilizer, was proposed. The approach taken to assess these measures combined biophysical and economic models,having a trade-off between economic returns and an improved environment. A proven and practical spatially referenced water and nutrient management model was used to determine the quantities of excessive irrigation water and fertilizer for specific soil and land use. Also, a set of indicators were proposed for evaluating the effects of agricultural economic output and agricultural practices on the environment.     

斯洛伐克农田土壤环境学指标的研究

The soil environmental index(SEI),which is a four digit code system,represents relatively homogenous spatial unit with specific soil capacity to provide ecological or non-production functions.This work aimed to present information on rating and economic evaluation of SEI,which is a spatial identifier used for expressing heterogeneity of Slovak agricultural soil to support analysis of soil ecological functions.In this study,SEI index expressed the capacity of soil to accumulate water,immobilise the risk elements and substances and transform risk substances(organic pollutants).Partial evaluations of soil capacity to provide above mentioned functions were used to derive final SEI values.Within the agricultural soils of Slovakia there were 493 combinations of soil environmental index.Each index was expressed through rating(point)value and economic value.Average value of Slovak agricultural land to provide selected ecological soil functions was 55.3 points,which corresponded to 35.946 billionper agricultural land or approximately 1.42per square meter.Spatial identification of SEI codes and relevant database were developed in vector form via geographical information systems of Soil Science and Conservation Research Institute,Bratislava.In addition to using the national soil database system,a strategy was presented for evaluating and pricing of soil ecological function,and the development of an soil environmental index.Assessment and evaluation of vitally important soil functions expressed by SEI can significantly contribute to planning and protection of the soil,and can regulate indiscriminate anthropic interventions in land use decisions.     

环境与人为因子对水稻土有机质变化的影响——以长江中下游平原为例

Changes in soil organic matter (SOM) can affect food security,soil and water conservation,and climate change.However,the drivers of changes in SOM in paddy soils of China are not fully understood because the effects of agricultural management and environmental factors are studied separately.Soil,climate,terrain,and agricultural management data from 6 counties selected based on representative soil types and cropping systems in China were used in correlation analysis,analysis of variance,and cforest modeling to analyze the drivers of changes in SOM in paddy soils in the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Plain from 1980 to 2011.The aims of this study were to identify the main factors driving the changes in SOM and to quantitatively evaluate their individual impacts.Results showed that the paddy SOM stock in the study area increased by 12.5％ at an average rate of 0.023 kg m-2 year-1 over the 31-year study period.As a result of long-term rice planting,agricultural management practices had a greater influence than soil properties,climate,and terrain.Among the major drivers,straw incorporation,the most influential driver,together with fertilization and tillage practices,significantly increased the accumulation of SOM,while an increase in temperature significantly influenced SOM decomposition.Therefore,to confront the challenge of rising temperatures,it is important to strengthen the positive effects of agricultural management.Rational fertilizer use for stabilizing grain production and crop straw incorporation are promising measures for potential carbon sequestration in this region.     

Soil information for agricultural decision making: a New Zealand perspective

Understanding of the soil resource is pivotal to our ability to use, manage and modify soils effectively and responsibly. Yet those who make the most decisions concerning soil use and management – farmers and landholders – rarely have access to reliable soil information at scales suitable for farm decision making. By default, many rely on limited local soil knowledge when making decisions that determine farm performance and environmental impact. Providing detailed nationwide soil information that is appropriate for farm decision making is feasible, as demonstrated by the achievements of several European countries and the USA. For New Zealand, a stratified programme at scales of 1:10 000 for versatile land; 1:25 000 for other agricultural land; and 1:50 000 for non‐domesticated land, would cost NZD $280 million, or NZD $11.2 million per year if spread over the useful life of the information. This investment is small relative to the economic value of agriculture, and necessary if New Zealand is to make meaningful advances in reducing current agri‐environmental trends.     

盐碱地土壤酶活性研究进展和展望

盐碱地是农业生产重要的后备土地资源,同时土壤盐渍化是灌溉农业生产过程中首要考虑的问题之一。近年来,越来越多的研究开始关注盐碱地改良利用过程中包括土壤生物学性质在内的土壤整体环境质量的改善。其中,土壤酶是土壤生物活动的产物,其活性水平是土壤环境质量的良好生物学指标,可以用来评价土壤退化程度及管理措施的效果和可持续性。本文总结说明了盐渍化土壤酶活性状况及盐碱胁迫机理,并对盐碱地改良利用过程中土壤酶活性的研究现状进行了综述。最后从存在问题和关注热点出发,提出了下一步的研究重点。     

Knowing the land: soil and land resource evaluation and indigenous knowledge

Abstract. Scientific land and soil resource surveys have had only limited impacts locally on development and extension practice in the tropics. They are thought to have little relevance for subsistence farmers. Their failure to accommodate local social and cultural priorities is a factor. Soil scientists have, until recently, given little attention to others' understanding of soil or 'ethnopedology'. The incorporation of indigenous soil and land resource knowledge has recently been advocated to improve their relevance. But a common error is uncritically to impose a western scientific model, which may distort understanding. The ill-informed, decontextualised knowledge that results may even promote negative interventions. This paper criticises the narrow idea of 'indigenous technical knowledge', citing evidence from Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh and Indonesia. While we find farmers consistently use some of the same information as scientists to assess soils, their definitions of soils and land types are often at odds. Scientists identify classes by a range of technically assessed properties, whereas farmers may not. Their more holistic approach also accounts in part for the disjunction, frequently incorporating exotic social and cultural aspects. The wider use of indigenous soil notions in agrotechnology transfer may be limited too by some of their intrinsic characteristics, inclined to be location specific, and culturally relative.     

A GIS based approach to modelling the effects of land-use change on soil erosion in New Zealand

Abstract. The problem of soil erosion is particularly evident in New Zealand, given the combination of coarse-textured soils, steep relief, high rainfall, and intensification of agriculture. A study was undertaken to assess the effects of land use change on soil erosion and sediment transport for the Ngongotaha catchment in New Zealand's North Island, using a GIS based decision support and modelling system. Model simulations considered the effect of increased catchment area under deer farming and forestry on the amount of sediment delivered to the catchment outlet, averaged over a period of six years. The simulations predicted that sediment loss from land under deer farming was considerably greater than from land under other livestock or forestry. Further model simulations testing best management practices demonstrated that sediment yield could be halved if deer farming was restricted to slopes under 20%.     

National Soil Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture (ENASAS): A new systemic approach in Mexico

The National Soil Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture (ENASAS) arises in response to the increasing need to organize, coordinate and strengthen the implementation of actions oriented to the sustainable management of Mexico's agricultural soils. The measures recommended in this paper allow the conservation and maintenance of soils' essential functions for agriculture, food security and population well-being. The health and quality of agricultural soils are under constant pressure from several factors, mainly anthropogenic. One of ENASAS's objectives is to identify and stop the causes involved in land degradation processes using a systemic approach. From this perspective, the participation of various actors in sustainable soil management allows the integration of different systems, practices, techniques and knowledge that promotes awareness among the entire population about the importance of soil resources. On the other hand, given current limitations on the availability of information necessary to support decision-making and evaluate the result of the actions implemented, ENASAS promotes the generation of tools that provide reliable and updated data regarding Mexico's agricultural soils. In the same sense, this strategy encourages the development of scientific and technological research and the transfer of knowledge that meets the needs of farmers, particularly those who carry out their activities on a smaller scale. This perspective describes ENASAS as a multi-institutional initiative that will support sustainable soil management practices across the country's agricultural systems of Mexico and contribute to the adaptation and mitigation of global environmental change.     

Impacts of historical land use changes on erosion and agricultural soil properties in the Kali Basin at Lake Balaton, Hungary

Historical land use changes may have significant impact on erosion and agricultural soil properties, including soil degradation by acidification, nutrient leaching and organic matter depletion. The Kali Basin study area, a small catchment of high landscape value located in a national park at Lake Balaton, Hungary, with its historical agricultural records, together with the available unique historical land use data for the last 200 years, provides an opportunity to study and model impacts of historical land use changes on erosion and agricultural soil properties. Comparison of long-term land uses with present soil degradation indicator parameters showed that permanent arable land use has led to degradation of both the physical and chemical properties of soils in the Kali Basin. Application of the SEDEM/WATEM distributed erosion and sediment transport model showed that, despite the low overall sediment export from the catchment, land use changes introduced by property ownership and agricultural changes have decreased average soil erosion in the catchment but increased relative sediment export to Lake Balaton. This is due to changes in the land cover pattern that allow more sediment transported to the river system. The overall conclusion of this study is that besides the size and area proportion of land use types, land use pattern seems to be equally important in soil erosion and degradation processes, thus land use pattern is a key factor for landscape planning and development in the Kali Basin. A relationship between the sociological and agro-ecological reasons for the recorded land use changes is also shown in this study.     

Soil fertility affected by land use history,relief position,and parent material under a tropical climate in NW-Vietnam

In Vietnam as much as half of the total land area is already degraded by soil erosion and nutrient depletion. In particular, degradation due to deforestation is increasingly affecting mountainous areas in north-western Vietnam. The necessity to safeguard the farmers' livelihoods requires sustainable resource management, which firstly requires a qualitative and quantitative evaluation of resources. The objectives of the present study were to (1) identify the dominant soil types and their vulnerability using elicitation of local soil knowledge, (2) characterise the physical and chemical properties of the soils and (3) link them to the relief position and land use in order to (4) initiate sustainable soil use based on recommendations deduced from objectives (1) to (3). These objectives were achieved also by the elicitation of local knowledge. The final aim of the study was to initiate sustainable soil use based on recommendations for sustainable land use scenarios. The Chieng Khoi commune in Son La province of northern Vietnam was chosen as representative for other erosion-prone Southeast Asian sloping areas. In a participatory approach, combining local and scientific knowledge, sixteen sites were selected, representative for distinct relief positions, parent material (sand stone and silt stone), land use history, and erosion hazard. Chemical (e.g. content of organic matter, nitrogen, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, and plant available phosphorous) and physical properties (e.g. air capacity, plant available water) were used to estimate soil fertility. The predominant reference soil groups in the study area are Alisols and Luvisols, with a high diversity in respect to soil fertility. These soils are locally named ‘red soil’ and ‘black soil’, respectively. Although the main physical processes are erosion and selective sedimentation, farmers tend to underestimate their impact and causes, whereas soil quality was well-evaluated. Soils with high fertility were found on less eroded upper parts of hills and at sites, where agricultural use started only recently. Once degraded by cultivation practices, soils derived from sandstone did not recover even after more than 50 years of fallow. As a result of unsustainable land use, soils on middle and lower slopes are often affected by severe soil erosion, whereas foot slope soils suffer from accumulation of eroded infertile subsoil material as well as stagnic conditions. This study showed that unsustainable land use at upslope landscape positions has a severe impact on downslope areas. The elicitation of local knowledge facilitated the identification of such hot spots, allowing the implementation of spatially targeted conservation measures.     

Impacts of historical land use changes on erosion and agricultural soil properties in the Kali Basin at Lake Balaton,Hungary

Historical land use changes may have significant impact on erosion and agricultural soil properties, including soil degradation by acidification, nutrient leaching and organic matter depletion. The Kali Basin study area, a small catchment of high landscape value located in a national park at Lake Balaton, Hungary, with its historical agricultural records, together with the available unique historical land use data for the last 200 years, provides an opportunity to study and model impacts of historical land use changes on erosion and agricultural soil properties. Comparison of long-term land uses with present soil degradation indicator parameters showed that permanent arable land use has led to degradation of both the physical and chemical properties of soils in the Kali Basin. Application of the SEDEM/WATEM distributed erosion and sediment transport model showed that, despite the low overall sediment export from the catchment, land use changes introduced by property ownership and agricultural changes have decreased average soil erosion in the catchment but increased relative sediment export to Lake Balaton. This is due to changes in the land cover pattern that allow more sediment transported to the river system. The overall conclusion of this study is that besides the size and area proportion of land use types, land use pattern seems to be equally important in soil erosion and degradation processes, thus land use pattern is a key factor for landscape planning and development in the Kali Basin. A relationship between the sociological and agro-ecological reasons for the recorded land use changes is also shown in this study.     

Influence of three different land management practices on soil mite (Arachnida: Acari) densities in relation to a natural soil

Intensification of agricultural practices is leading to an increased rate of severe soil degradation in the central area of Argentina, with large areas being converted to arable lands. The application of different management practices to soil impacts edaphic mite populations by altering the organic inputs and by influencing the soil microhabitat. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the influence of three different land management practices on soil mite density in temperate agroecosystems of Córdoba, Argentina, in comparison with a natural soil. Standard abiotic soil properties were also analyzed. Six samples per plot and per sampling date were taken at bimonthly intervals from August 1999 to June 2001. A gradient of increasing soil degradation was evident in physical, chemical and physicochemical soil properties from natural to agricultural plots. Total mite density decreased as soil cultivation increased. However, different responses to land management were observed when comparing the different suborders of mites. Oribatida and Mesostigmata were more sensitive to the agricultural practices than Prostigmata and Astigmata. Densities of the last two suborders seemed to be unaffected by soil cultivation in some periods. Oribatida, Mesostigmata and pooled mite density showed a hump-backed relationship with management intensity, with a maximum in the cattle management. It is concluded that the influence of soil cultivation on soil mites as a whole was negative, with more intensively managed systems tending to reduce mite density, although different suborders were differentially affected by agricultural intensification. We suggest that the reduction of total mite, Oribatida and Mesostigmata densities in the high-input managements is mainly explained by the perturbations produced by conventional agricultural practices and by environmental soil conditions present in the intensively managed sites that were unfavorable for these groups of mites. The implication of the changes reported in mite abundances on soil processes is discussed.