不同护坡草本植物的根系分布特征及其对土壤抗剪强度的影响

为明确用于三峡库区植被构建的边坡植物物种根系特征与土壤抗剪强度之间的关系,该文以裸地为对照,应用WinRHIZO(Pro.2004c)根系分析系统对香根草(Vetiveria zizanioides(Lin.) Nash)、百喜草(Paspalum notatum Flugge)、狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon(L) Pers.)和紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)4种护坡草本的根系特征进行定量分析.研究发现:香根草的根长密度和根表面积密度显著大于其他草本;各草本类型的根长密度、根表面积密度及根重密度均随着土壤深度的增加递减,但随深度的增加,不同草本类型的差异逐步缩小;不同草本类型土壤内摩擦角φ和粘聚力c大小均为:香根草>百喜草>紫花苜蓿>狗牙根>裸地,且随土层深度的增加而降低;随着根长密度、根表面积密度的增大,土壤内摩擦角φ呈显著的对数增长,土壤粘聚力c呈显著的线性增长,且与直径D≤5 mm不同径级的根系特征之间存在明显的相关性.结果表明:相对于裸地而言,4种草本均能显著增强土壤内摩擦角φ和粘聚力c,且根系对土壤内摩擦角φ的提高程度大于土壤粘聚力c;根长密度和根表面积密度,尤其是直径D≤5 mm径级的根长密度和根表面积密度能很好的表征土壤的抗剪强度,可作为评估土壤抗剪强度的重要参数.     

山西土石山区3种草本植物根拉拨特性

为了解山西省土石山区固土护坡草本植物根系拉拔特性,筛选拉拔力优势草本植物物种进行水土流失防治,通过开展根系原位拉拔力学试验,研究了3种典型草本植物香根草（Vetiveria zizanioides L.）、百喜草（Paspalum notatum Flugge）、黑麦草（Lolium perenne L.）根系拉拔力随根径和土层深度的变化规律。结果显示:3种草本植物根系拉拔力随着根径的增大而增加,且拉拔力与根径之间满足幂函数关系;整体上,根系拉拔力从大到小顺序表现为香根草 > 黑麦草 > 百喜草,而且三者之间差异显著;但在D≤0.4 mm和D>0.4 mm两个根径组下,黑麦草均表现出较好的拉拔力性能。在0—10 cm,10—20 cm两个土层间,香根草和百喜草两种植物根系拉拔力性能相似,而黑麦草单根拉拔力在表层土壤发挥效果优于下层土壤。从单根拉拔力方面出发,黑麦草在3种植物中可优先考虑用于固持浅表层土壤。试验探究了草本植物单根在不同根径组下和土层深度下的抗拔性能,研究结果可为山西省土石山区水土保持植物措施草本植物物种选择提供理论依据。     

三峡水库消落带4种草本根系抗拉特性及根系粘聚力

为明确三峡水库消落带典型草本植物根系抗拉特性并评价其固土能力,在三峡腹地忠县石宝镇消落带选取牛鞭草(Hemarthria altissima(L.f.)R.Br.)、扁穗牛鞭草(Hemarthria compressa(L.f.)R.Br.)、双穗雀稗(Paspalum paspaloides(Michx.)Scribn.)和自然恢复草本狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon(L.)Pers.),采用WinRhizo Pro.2009c根系分析系统分析了4种典型草本植物根系在土壤剖面的分布,利用拉力测试仪测定了4种草本根系的抗拉力并计算其抗拉强度,用Wu氏模型估算了根系对土壤粘聚力的增强值。结果表明,4种草地的根系大部分都分布在0—5cm土层中,根长密度(RLD)和根面积比(RAR)均沿土壤深度呈幂函数递减分布。4种消落带草本根系的平均抗拉力次序为狗牙根(5.86N)牛鞭草(5.55N)扁穗牛鞭草(5.50N)双穗雀稗(4.14N)。同样,狗牙根(62.26 MPa)平均抗拉强度最大,扁穗牛鞭草(51.29 MPa)和牛鞭草(50.66 MPa)次之,双穗雀稗(48.81 MPa)最小。4种草本根系都可以显著地增加土壤粘聚力,扁穗牛鞭草、牛鞭草、双穗雀稗、狗牙根最大增强值(表层0—5cm)分别为21.09,22.47,19.51,15.40kPa,平均增加黏聚力值分别为4.90,4.69,4.42,3.12kPa。说明4种草本植物的根系均具备较好的固土潜能,其中扁穗牛鞭草和牛鞭草根系的固土能力最强,双穗雀稗次之,狗牙根最弱。研究结果可以为三峡水库消落带的植被恢复和水土保持工程提供一定依据,并适当的推广到其他水库或湖泊消落带。     

植被混凝土基材2种草本植物根-土复合体直剪试验研究

通过在植被混凝土基材上对狗牙根和紫花苜蓿2种有代表性的草本植物进行样地种植和室内直剪试验,分析植被混凝土基材上不同深度根-土复合体抗剪强度的分布规律,对比基材空白样地相应深度的抗剪强度,证实和量化了草本植物根系增强土壤抗剪切强度的作用。试验表明:根-土复合体在0-10cm土层内摩擦角变化不明显,粘聚力随深度先增大后减小;与基材空白样样地相比,根-土复合体内摩擦角变化不大,粘聚力变化显著,狗牙根粘聚力最大增幅为129.4%,紫花苜蓿粘聚力最大增幅为77%;狗牙根根-土复合体抗剪强度比同期生长的紫花苜蓿根-土复合体的抗剪强度高。     

土石山区护坡草本植物根系抗拉力学特性

为了解山西省土石山区护坡植物的根系抗拉力学特性,对比选择最适宜的水土保持物种.对其边坡上黑麦草(Lolium perenne L.)、香根草(Vetiveria zizanioides L.)、百喜草(Paspalum notatum Flugge)3种护坡植物的根系开展抗拉力学试验,研究3种植物根系最大抗拉力、极限抗拉强度以及弹性模量随直径及根长大小变化的规律.研究结果显示:根长一定时,3种植物的最大抗拉力随直径的增加而增加,单根极限抗拉强度随根系直径的增大而减小;而直径一定时,根系最大抗拉力和极限抗拉强度随根系长度的增大而减小;弹性模量值随着根径和根长增大呈下降的趋势.3种植物根系平均最大抗拉力关系为:香根草(16.258 N)＞黑麦草(11.734N)＞百喜草(4.891 N);平均极限抗拉强度关系为:百喜草(116.226 MPa)＞黑麦草(50.839 MPa)＞香根草(49.650MPa);平均弹性模量分别为:百喜草(20.392 MPa/mm)＞香根草(3.257 MPa/mm)＞黑麦草(3.245 MPa/mm).结果表明这3种植物中百喜草根系的固土能力最好,在选择最为适宜的水土保持物种时可优先考虑.研究结果可为土石山区水土保持研究提供一定的科学依据.     

水库消落带典型草本植物根系对土壤抗冲性能的影响

为明确水库消落带典型草本植物根系对土壤抵抗径流侵蚀性能的影响,以裸地为对照,通过原状土冲刷试验研究了狗牙根、扁穗牛鞭草和苍耳3种草地0—20cm土层的土壤抗冲性能,并探讨了不同草本植物的根系特征及其对土壤抗冲性能的影响。结果表明:(1)3种草本植物根系均集中分布在0—10cm土层,扁穗牛鞭草的根重密度、根长密度、根表面积密度和根体积密度均显著高于狗牙根和苍耳(P<0.05)。(2)冲刷过程中各土样的径流含沙量均是先急剧降低后趋于稳定,放水冲刷0~3min含沙量较高且快速降低,3~6min缓慢降低,6~10min趋于平稳。与对照相比,不同草地在10min冲刷过程中均可有效减少径流含沙量,其中0—10cm土层的径流含沙量大小表现为对照>狗牙根>苍耳>扁穗牛鞭草,10—20cm土层则表现为对照>狗牙根>扁穗牛鞭草>苍耳。(3)冲刷过程中各土样的土壤抗冲指数均为先缓慢增大后迅速增大,抗冲指数在0~3min内较小且缓慢增大,3~6min时逐渐增大,6min后迅速增大。与对照相比,不同草本植物根系均可有效增加土壤抗冲指数,其中各草地0—10cm土层的抗冲指数与对照相比有显著差异,扁穗牛鞭草草地土壤抗冲指数最大,是对照的2.15倍,其次为苍耳、狗牙根草地,分别为对照的1.60,1.43倍;10—20cm土层扁穗牛鞭草和苍耳草地的土壤抗冲指数与对照相比仍具有显著差异,而狗牙根草地则差异不显著。(4)草本植物根系对土壤抗冲性能的增强效应主要发生在0—10cm土层,扁穗牛鞭草根系对土壤抗冲性能的增强效应最大,其次是苍耳,狗牙根最小。土壤抗冲性能的提高与根系分布、形态指标等密切相关,D≤1.5mm径级根系根表面积密度和根体积密度是影响土壤抗冲指数的关键因子。     

三峡库区几种耐水淹植物根系特征与土壤抗水蚀增强效应

为明确用于三峡库区消落区植被构建的岸生植物物种根系特征与土壤抗水蚀之间的关系,对狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon(L)Pers.)、空心莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides(Mart)Griseb)、荻(Triarrhena saccharifloraNakai)、牛鞭草(Hemarthria compressa(L.f.)R.Br.)、香附子(Cyperus rotundusL.)、野古草(Arundinella anomala Steud.)等6种耐水淹植物根系进行了研究。利用根钻(Eijkelkamp agrisearch equipmentmodel 15.01)在野外直接取样的方法,获取了含有目标物种根系的土柱试验样品,采用改进的抗崩解装置测量土壤的水蚀速率,计算了这6种植物根系对土壤的抗水蚀增强系数,并使用根系分析系统(WinRHIZO Pro.2004c)对根系特征进行了分析。研究发现,空心莲子草、荻、香附子和狗牙根的根冠比均值较大,野古草、荻具有较大的根长密度和根表面积密度;含有根系的土壤水蚀速率显著低于对照,空心莲子草、荻、野古草的土壤抗水蚀增强系数显著高于其他3个物种;根长密度、根表面积密度均与土壤抗水蚀增强系数之间呈极显著的线性关系;根系径级中D≤2 mm的根系与土壤抗水蚀关系最为密切,土壤抗水蚀增强系数与D≤2 mm根系的根长密度和根表积密度均呈显著的线性关系,相关系数随着径级的增加而减小。结果表明,6物种均能显著增强土壤的抗水蚀能力,空心莲子草、荻、野古草的增强作用最为明显;根长密度、根表面积密度能很好地表征土壤的抗水蚀能力,尤其是D≤2 mm或D≤0.5 mm根系的根长密度和根表积密度,可以作为表征土壤抗水蚀能力的最重要参数。     

三峡库区4种库岸边坡的植被根系固土效应研究

选择三峡库区无植被、草丛、灌丛及林木覆盖的4种边坡,测量了土壤表层（0—15 cm）的抗冲和抗蚀增强值,并以10 cm为单位分层获取了土壤表层（0—50 cm）的根长密度、根系生物量、土壤含水量、田间持水量、抗剪强度等指标。结果表明:（1）灌丛边坡的抗冲与抗蚀增强值均最大,显著高于草丛和林木边坡;灌丛边坡的抗剪强度值较大,裸地在10—20 cm的土层急骤增大,然后随土层深度逐渐减小,林地在最深层有着最大值。（2）3种有植被覆盖边坡的根系均集中在30 cm的表层,根长密度随着土层深度而减小;草丛和灌丛的根生物量在各层间变化不明显,林木根生物量随土层加深而迅速减小;（3）裸地的土壤含水量随着土层深度而急剧增加,林木则呈相反趋势,草丛和灌丛的变化较为平缓;灌丛的田间持水量在各层间基本保持一致,草丛和林木随着土层的加深而降低,裸地的表层田间持水量较大;（4）灌丛边坡的土体最稳定,各指标在土壤各层间较为稳定,林木和草丛边坡也有一定的稳定性,无植被覆盖的边坡稳定性最差。     

大青山主要植被类型土壤物理特性的研究

对大青山5种主要植被类型土壤物理特性进行了研究.结果表明,在0-10 cm土层范围内,土壤石砾含量(粒级≥1 mm)、土壤容重均随土层深度增加而增加;土壤总孔隙度、田间持水量和最大持水量均随土层深度增加而减小.除辽东栎一虎榛子混交林外,乔木林地土壤石砾含量、土壤容重较灌木林地小,土壤总孔隙度、田间持水量和最大持水量较灌木林地大.土壤饱和导水率平均值排序为:虎榛子灌丛林＞山杨天然林＞白桦天然林＞油松人工林＞辽东栎-虎榛子混交林.0-60 cm土层饱和蓄水量山杨天然林最大达3 550.36 t/hm~2,辽东栎一虎榛子混交林和虎榛子灌丛林较小,分别为2 319.85 t/hm~2和2 271.87 t/hm~2.     

不同生长年限紫花苜蓿草地土壤团聚体有机碳分布特征

对黄土高原地区不同生长年限紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)草地土壤团聚体0~40 cm土层的分布及其有机碳含量特征进行研究。结果表明:土壤总有机碳随着生长年限的增加而呈先增加后减小的趋势,各年限0~10 cm土壤有机碳含量均最高,呈表聚现象。不同生长年限紫花苜蓿湿筛处理下土壤团聚体均以0.106 mm粒级团聚体为主,约为40%~90%,随土层深度增加而减小;0.25 mm粒级团聚体在4年时含量最高,并随生长年限的增加呈先增加后减小的趋势。不同年限紫花苜蓿土壤团聚体有机碳以0.106 mm粒级团聚体含量最高,随粒级的减小而增加;不同年限紫花苜蓿土壤20~40 cm团聚体有机碳含量高于0~20 cm土层,并随生长年限增加呈先增加后减小的趋势。     

Soil Erodibility and Physicochemical Properties of Collapsing Gully Alluvial Fans in Southern China

In southern China, collapsing gully erosion produces massive deposits of sediment on the plough layer of alluvial fan farmland, leading to reduced nutrients, increased erodibility, and even desertification. The aim of this study was to investigate soil erodibility (the factor K in the universal Soil Loss Equation, USLE) and physicochemical properties of the alluvial fans of the most severe collapsing gully erosion areas (Hubei, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong provinces) in southern China. The soils of the collapsing gully alluvial fans had a higher bulk density, but a lower total porosity, saturated water content, and silt and clay fractions than the control (CK) soils from the farmland without desertification. Soil quality gradually decreased from fan edge to fanhead. Significant decreases were found in soil pH, organic matter, cation exchange capacity, and total potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, resulting in a gradual decrease in soil nutrients from the fanedge to the fanhead. Soil erodibility was greatest in the fanhead, and soil erodibility K values of the alluvial fans were 53.71%, 66.28%, 67.53%, and 71.68 % greater than that in those of the CK soils of Hubei, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong, respectively, indicating a significant correlation between the soil erodibility K values and physicochemical properties, particularly sand fraction and organic matter content. The results provide new insights into the relationship between soil physicochemical properties and erodibility of alluvial fans, and suggest that improving soil structure might increase soil fertility in the collapsing gully alluvial fan farmland.     

Bodengefüge gegen Verdichtungen schützen – Lösungsansätze für den Schutz landwirtschaftlich genutzter Böden

Protecting soil structure against compaction—proposed solutions to safeguard agricultural soils To safeguard the ecological soil functions and the functions linked to human activities, measures against harmful changes to the soil are required, in line with the precautionary principle. The German Federal Soil Protection Act sets obligations for precaution in agricultural land use and, if harmful changes to the soil are foreseeable, measures for averting a danger. The results of a research project of the Federal Environmental Agency show that it is possible to describe an impairment of the soil structure, using methods of soil analysis. But this as a sole information would not qualify for the identification of harmful changes to the soil in the context of the Soil Protection Act, which requires an assessment of the severity of disruption of soil functions and the respective subject of protection. This would make additional soil investigations on site mandatory. Approaches in agricultural engineering and soil physics have introduced procedures to preserve the soil structure, in accordance with the precautionary principle. But these procedures have different goals and different ranges of application and hence offer partial solutions to safeguard against soil compaction. The assessment model of “trafficability by measuring the rut depth” provides information about the compaction status of the soil under applied conditions for farming gear, without providing detailed information about affected soil layers. The soil‐physical model of classifying soils into “risk classes for harmful soil compaction” focuses on the relationship between topsoil compaction and crop yields. The soil‐physical models “precompression stress” and “loading ratio” provide information for the assessment of subsoil compaction and a prognosis of a possible impairment of the soil structure at the water content of field capacity. It is necessary to validate the individual models with additional regional data about soil structure before a final assessment of the prognoses is made.     

Soil health – What should the doctor order?

The concept of soil health has been extensively reviewed in the scientific literature, but there is only patchy and inconsistent information available to farmers and growers who are concerned about the declining condition of their soils and are looking for appropriate test methods and management interventions to help reverse it. Although there are well‐established laboratory methods for soil chemical analysis, and a range of laboratory and field methods for measuring soil physical properties, only now are methods starting to emerge for soil biological analysis. This study provides an overview of the methods that are currently available commercially (or are close to commercialization) for farmers and growers in the UK. We examine the science underpinning the methods, the value of the information provided and how farmers and advisors can use results from such assessments for informed decision‐making in relation to soil management.     

金沙江干热峡谷中退化的土壤生态系统生物学特征初探

Distribution characteristics of soil animals,microorganisms and enzymatic activity were studied in the dry red soil and Vertisol ecosystems with different degradation degrees in the Yuanmou dry hot valley of the Jinsha River,China.Results showed that Hymenoptera,Araneae and Collembola were the dominant groups of soil animals in the polts studied.The numbers of groups and individuals and density of soil animals in the dry red soil series were higher than those in the Vertisol series,and the numbers of individuals and density of soil animals decreased with the degree of soil degradation.Bacteria dominated microbiococnosis not only in the dry red soils but also in the Vertisols.Microbial numbers of the dry red soil series were higher than those of Vertisol series,and decreased with the degree of soil degradation.The activities of catalase,invertase,urease and alkaline phosphatase declined with the degradation degree and showed a significant decline with depth in the profiles of both the dry red soils and the Vertisols,but activities of polyphenol oxidase and acid and neutral phosphatase showed the same tendencies only in the Vertisols.It was concluded that the characteristics of soil animals,microorganisms and enzymatic activity could be used as the bio-indicators to show the degradation degree of the dry red soils and Vertisols.Correlation among these soil bio-indicators was highly significant.     

长期化肥有机替代对黑土颜色及腐殖物质的影响

基于30年长期定位试验,通过测定黑土光谱反射率和不同腐殖质组分含量,探究了不同施肥对黑土土壤腐殖质含量、土壤颜色及二者之间的关系。试验设置5个处理:(1)休耕(Fallow);(2)不施肥处理(CK);(3)单施化肥(NPK);(4)有机肥部分替代化肥(NPKM);(5)秸秆部分替代化肥处理(NPKS)。结果表明:与NPK处理相比,Fallow、NPKS、NPKM分别显著提高49.7%,74.3%,27.0%的土壤有机碳含量(p<0.05)。NPKM处理中胡敏酸(HA)含量最高为3.9 g/kg,随后依次为CK、NPKS、NPK、Fallow。NPKM、NPKS和Fallow处理中土壤富里酸(FA)含量为2.2~2.3 g/kg,显著高于NPK和CK。NPKM处理中胡敏素(HM)含量为18.6 g/kg,显著高于其他处理(p<0.05)。不同处理间土壤光谱反射率由高到低依次为NPK>Fallow、CK>NPKS>NPKM,与CK处理相比,NPK土壤光谱反射率在平均提高6.5%,NPKS和NPKM则分别降低11.1%和15.1%。根据线性相关分析结果,黑土土壤光谱反射率与土壤HAHM均呈显著负相关关系(p<0.01),相关系数(r)分别为-0.858,-0.681。综合上述结果,长期有机物料投入可以显著提高黑土腐殖物质含量,降低黑土光谱反射率,使黑土颜色加深,而长期化肥施入则使黑土光谱反射率提高,出现"褪色"现象,有机粪肥在黑土中对土壤有机质和腐殖质含量的提升效果优于秸秆。     

土壤孔隙结构与土壤微环境和有机碳周转关系的研究进展

土壤结构是土壤功能的基础,不仅影响土壤养分的供应、水分的保持及渗透、气体的交换等过程,还为土壤微生物提供了物理生境,并调控土壤有机碳的周转这一关键过程。土壤的孔隙特征能够直接、真实地反映土壤结构的好坏;用土壤的孔隙特征作为试验指标能更好地反映土壤结构对这些过程的调节作用。在此基础上,将高度异质性的土壤孔隙结构同土壤微环境的变化和土壤有机碳的周转过程进行定量分析,对深入了解土壤结构在土壤生态系统中的功能至关重要。因此,着重从土壤孔隙结构对土壤微环境的影响及其与有机碳的关系两方面展开,剖析土壤孔隙结构调控作用下的土壤微环境响应过程,阐述土壤孔隙结构对土壤有机碳周转产生的直接、间接影响,强调土壤孔隙结构在调节土壤有机碳周转进程中的重要作用,并对土壤孔隙结构在调节土壤有机碳周转、植物残体分解及其与微生物协调作用机制等方面研究提出展望。     

设施栽培下原状土与扰动土水分特性的试验研究

以四川省双流县设施栽培土壤为研究对象,对其原状土与扰动土的土壤水分特征曲线、水分物理性质和比水容量等项目进行了研究。结果表明,扰动土水分特征曲线总体变化趋势与原状土较为一致。在低吸力阶段,相同吸力条件下扰动土含水量高于原状土,在高吸力阶段两者差异较小。扰动土毛管孔隙度、总孔度和凋萎含水量在剖面上的总体变化趋势与原状土较为一致。扰动土不同土层田间持水量和有效水含量差异较小,原状土的田间持水量和有效水含量均随土层加深而减少。在低吸力阶段,相同吸力条件下扰动土比水容量远高于原状土,但随土壤水吸力增加,扰动土比水容量变化趋势逐渐与原状土一致。     

植物苗期根系抗侵蚀特性试验研究——以构树和顶坛花椒为例

植物的固土抗蚀作用大小与其根系密切相关,而根系特征决定了根的固土抗蚀作用的发挥,本文以相同基质下构树和顶坛花椒不同特征的根系为研究对象.通过研究根系特征与土壤抗冲性、抗蚀性、抗拉性、紧实度的关系,结果表明,苗期根系能强化土壤抗冲性,构树苗、顶坛花椒苗根系强化值大小分别为78.01>77.71;根系可提高土壤抗蚀性,其抗蚀性强弱为.构树苗>顶坛花椒苗>对照,构树、顶坛花椒、对照试验的土壤水稳性指数分别为4.36,3.16,1.67;不同树种根系对土壤的固结能力不同,构树苗生长下的土壤抗拉能力为214.92 N,明显大于顶坛花椒苗生长下的土壤154.87 N;土壤紧实度大小为构树苗>顶坛花椒苗.并采用加权综合指数法综合评价了苗期不同特征植物根系的固土能力强弱,得出构树苗综合指数为1.058.而顶坛花椒苗为0.902.即构树苗的固土能力强于顶坛花椒,以期为今后的水土保持工作提供一定的理论依据.     

土壤润湿性受土壤特性及土地使用的影响

Depth distribution of soil wettability and its correlations with vegetation type, soil texture, and pH were investigated under various land use (cropland, grassland, and forestland) and soil management systems. Wettability was evaluated by contact angle with the Wilhelmy plate method. Water repellency was likely to be present under permanently vegetated land, but less common on tilled agricultural land. It was mostly prevalent in the topsoil, especially in coarse-textured soils, and decreased in the subsoil. However, the depth dependency of wettability could not be derived from the investigated wide range of soils. The correlation and multiple regression analysis revealed that the wettability in repellent soils was affected more by soil organic carbon (SOC) than by soil texture and pH, whereas in wettable soils, soil texture and pH were more effective than SOC. Furthermore, the quality of SOC seemed to be more important in determining wettability than its quantity, as proofed by stronger hydrophobicity under coniferous than under deciduous forestland. Soil management had a minor effect on wettability if conventional and conservation tillage or different grazing intensities were considered.     

Relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and changes in soil gas diffusivity in a field experiment with biochar and lime

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from arable soil while maintaining productivity is a major challenge for agriculture. Biochar is known to reduce N₂O emissions from soil, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study examined the impact of green waste biochar (20 Mg ha^?1) and lime (CaCO₃; 2 Mg ha^?1) application on soil gas transport properties and related changes in these to soil N₂O and CO₂ emissions measured using automated chambers in a field experiment cropped with maize. In situ soil water content monitoring was combined with laboratory measurements of relative soil gas diffusion coefficient (D_p/D₀) at different matric potentials, to determine changes in D_p/D₀ over time. Cumulative N₂O emissions were similar in the control and lime treatment, but much lower in the biochar treatment. Cumulative CO₂ emissions decreased in the order: lime treatment > biochar treatment > control soil. When N₂O emissions were not driven by excess N supply shortly after fertilisation, they were associated with D_p/D₀ changes, whereby decreases in D_p/D₀ corresponded to N₂O emissions peaks. No distinct pattern was observed between CO₂ emissions and D_p/D₀. Cumulative N₂O emissions were positively related to number of days with D_p/D₀ < 0.02, a critical limit for soil aeration. These results indicate that improved soil gas diffusivity, and hence improved soil aeration, may explain the effect of biochar in reducing N₂O emissions. They also suggest that knowledge of D_p/D₀ changes may be key to explaining N₂O emissions.