放牧对荒漠灌丛草地土壤团聚体组成及其稳定性的影响

以内蒙古阿拉善盟荒漠草地为研究对象,分析了不同放牧强度对土壤理化性质、团聚体组成、养分含量及其稳定性的影响。结果表明:与轻度放牧相比,重度放牧使0~5 cm、5~10 cm和10~20 cm土层土壤有机C和全N含量显著降低,土壤容重显著增加;各土层中土壤团聚体以0.053~0.25 mm粒径为主,放牧强度的增加造成土壤团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)和几何平均直径(GMD)值降低,分形维数(D)值升高,土壤团聚体结构遭受破坏,稳定性降低,导致土壤团聚体由大粒径团聚体(0.25~2 mm)向小粒径团聚体(0.053~0.25 mm、<0.053 mm)转变;重度放牧使土壤团聚体的C/N值升高,造成有效养分难以释放,植物所需养分亏缺。说明重度放牧是造成阿拉善盟荒漠草地退化的重要因素。     

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

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

耕作方式对旱地麦田土壤团聚体及其碳氮组分分布的影响

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

Long-term cultivation and landscape position effects on aggregate size and organic carbon fractionation on surface soil properties in semi-arid region of Iran

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of long-term cultivation and landscape position on organic carbon content and soil aggregation. Sampling sites were determined based upon land use at the end of 50 years soil use and management, cultivated/annual wheat cropping and grazed pasture, and landscape position in Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiary province, southwest Iran. Soil samples were collected from the 0–5 cm and 5–15 cm depths in two adjacent fields that have the same slope and aspect. The soil was silty clay at the summit and footslope positions, and was a silty clay loam at the backslope. Wet-sieving analysis and aggregate-size fractionation methods were used to separate the samples into three aggregate fractions (i.e., 2–4.75, 0.25–2, and 0.053–0.25 mm). The treatments were arranged in a factorial design. Land use significantly affected the water-stable aggregate fractions, so that the wet soil stability of the macroaggregates (i.e., 2–4.75 mm) was higher in the pasture, whereas it was greater for the meso-aggregates (i.e., 0.25–2 mm) in the cultivated soils. Cultivation decreased both the wet-aggregate stability and percent of macroaggregates whereas long-term pasture enhanced aggregation. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content within aggregates and primary particles was also significantly influenced by landscape position, land use, and the depth of sampling. The SOC content was higher in clay than those in silt and sand contents. The SOC content decreased as depth increased in all fractions. In general, the highest and lowest wet-stable aggregates were observed on the footslope and backslope positions, respectively.     

Effects of different tillage and straw retention practices on soil aggregates and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils of the northwestern China

Soil tillage and straw retention in dryland areas may affect the soil aggregates and the distribution of total organic carbon. The aims of this study were to establish how different tillage and straw retention practices affect the soil aggregates and soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in the aggregate fractions based on a long-term (approximately 15 years) field experimentin the semi-arid western Loess Plateau, northwestern China. The experiment included four soil treatments, i.e., conventional tillage with straw removed (T), conventional tillage with straw incorporated (TS), no tillage with straw removed (NT) and no tillage with straw retention (NTS), which were arranged in a complete randomized block design. The wet-sieving method was used to separate four size fractions of aggregates, namely, large macroaggregates (LA, >2000 μm), small macroaggregates (SA, 250-2000 μm), microaggregates (MA, 53-250 μm), and silt and clay (SC, <53 μm). Compared to the conventional tillage practices (including T and TS treatments), the percentages of the macroaggregate fractions (LA and SA) under the conservation tillage practices (including NT and NTS treatments) were increased by 41.2%-56.6%, with the NTS treatment having the greatest effect. For soil layers of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-30 cm, values of the mean weight diameter (MWD) under the TS and NTS treatments were 10.68%, 13.83% and 17.65%, respectively. They were 18.45%, 19.15% and 14.12% higher than those under the T treatment, respectively. The maximum contents of the aggregate-associated SOC and TN were detected in the SA fraction, with the greatest effect being observed for the NTS treatment. The SOC and TN contents were significantly higher under the NTS and TS treatments than under the T treatment. Also, the increases in SOC and TN levels were much higher in the straw-retention plots than in the straw-removed plots. The macroaggregates (including LA and SA fractions) were the major pools for SOC and TN, regardless of tillage practices, storing 3.25-6.81 g C/kg soil and 0.34-0.62 g N/kg soil. Based on the above results, we recommend the NTS treatment as the best option to boost soil aggregates and to reinforce carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils in the semi-arid western Loess Plateau of northwestern China.     

秸秆还田量对陇中旱作麦田土壤团聚体稳定性和有机碳含量的影响

为探明秸秆还田后土壤团聚体与有机碳的变化特征和作用机制,依托2019年布设于甘肃省定西市李家堡镇的不同秸秆还田试验,设置两种秸秆类型：小麦秸秆和玉米秸秆,秸秆还田量分别为：0（CK）、3 500（低量）、7 000（中量）、14 000 kg·hm^-2（高量）,研究了秸秆还田对陇中黄土高原旱作农田土壤团聚体稳定性和有机碳的影响。结果表明：土壤机械稳定性团聚体以>0.25 mm团聚体为主,且随土层加深粒径逐渐增大,水稳性团聚体均与之相反;秸秆还田较不还田处理的机械稳定性和水稳性<0.25 mm粒级团聚体含量分别降低了3.53%～21.74%和2.73%～8.95%,土壤机械稳定性和水稳性团聚体平均重量直径MWD、几何平均直径GMD的提升幅度最大分别达到16.29%、30.12%和20.93%、12.12%,团聚体破碎率PAD降低了2.53%～13.23%,在中量秸秆还田时效果最好,且玉米秸秆比小麦秸秆效果更明显。秸秆还田提升了土壤有机碳含量,且在表层土壤秸秆还田量越高,对土壤有机碳的提升效果越显著,其中玉米秸秆高量还田处理的土壤有机碳含量较CK显著提高了...     

绿肥填闲种植对旱作冬小麦农田土壤团聚体有机碳含量的影响

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

Fractal features of soil profiles under different land use patterns on the Loess Plateau,China

Fractal theory is becoming an increasingly useful tool to describe soil structure dynamics for a better understanding of the performance of soil systems. Changes in land use patterns significantly affect soil physical, chemical and biological properties. However, limited information is available on the fractal characteristics of deep soil layers under different land use patterns. In this study, the fractal dimensions of particle size distribution(PSD) and micro-aggregates in the 0–500 cm soil profile and soil anti-erodibility in the 0–10 cm soil profile for 10 typical land use patterns were investigated in the Zhifanggou Watershed on the Loess Plateau, China. The 10 typical land use patterns were: slope cropland, two terraced croplands, check-dam cropland, woodland, two shrublands, orchard, artificial and natural grasslands. The results showed that the fractal dimensions of PSD and micro-aggregates were all significantly influenced by soil depths, land use patterns and their interaction. The plantations of shrubland, woodland and natural grassland increased the amount of larger micro-aggregates, and decreased the fractal dimensions of micro-aggregates in the 0–40 cm soil profile. And they also improved the aggregate state and aggregate degree and decreased dispersion rate in the 0–10 cm soil profile. The results indicated that fractal theory can be used to characterize soil structure under different land use patterns and fractal dimensions of micro-aggregates were more effective in this regard. The natural grassland may be the best choice for improving soil structure in the study area.     

覆盖方式对旱作小麦田土壤团聚体有机碳的影响

依托中国科学院长武黄土高原农业生态实验站的长期覆盖试验,分析研究秸秆覆盖和地膜覆盖对黄土高原旱作冬小麦田土壤团聚体分布和团聚体有机碳的影响,共包括4种处理:无覆盖(CK)、全年9 000 kg·hm~(-2)秸秆覆盖(M_(9000))、全年4 500 kg·hm~(-2)秸秆覆盖(M_(4500))和全年地膜覆盖(PM)。结果表明:(1)与CK处理相比,M_(9000)处理土壤总有机碳含量提高8.1%(P0.05),M_(4500)和PM处理较CK处理无显著差异。(2)M_(9000)、M_(4500)处理0.25 mm团聚体含量较CK处理分别提高6.6%、4.1%,PM处理降低1.7%。(3)与CK处理相比,M_(9000)处理平均重量直径(MWD)值提高9.2%,PM处理降低14.8%;M_(9000)处理几何平均直径(GMD)提高13.0%,PM处理降低15.7%(P0.05)。(4)土壤总有机碳与0.25 mm团聚体含量、MWD和GMD值呈显著正相关。(5)各处理中,5 mm和0.25 mm团聚体中有机碳含量较高;M_(9000)处理可不同程度地提高各级别团聚体中有机碳的含量,PM处理作用不明显;土壤有机碳主要储存在机械稳定性大团聚体中,且5 mm团聚体对总有机碳的贡献率最大,M_(9000)、M_(4500)处理可提高0.25 mm团聚体有机碳的贡献率。(6)各处理土壤总有机碳与5 mm和0.25 mm机械稳定性团聚体中有机碳呈极显著正相关。因此,长期秸秆覆盖不仅可以提升团聚体水平和稳定性,还可增加团聚体中有机碳含量,有利于土壤有机碳的固定。该区全年9 000 kg·hm~(-2)秸秆覆盖处理效果最好。     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ameliorate the chemical properties and enzyme activities of rhizosphere soil in reclaimed mining subsidence in northwestern China

In semi-arid region of northwestern China, underground mining subsidence often results in decreased vegetation coverage, impoverishment of soil fertility and water stress. In addition, the physical-chemical and biological properties of soil also change, resulting in more susceptible to degradation. In particular, subsidence causes disturbance of the symbioses of plant and microbe that can play a beneficial role in the establishment of vegetation communities in degraded ecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of revegetation with exotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) inoculum on the chemical and biological properties of soil over time in mining subsidence areas. Soils were sampled at a depth up to 30 cm in the adjacent rhizosphere of Amorpha fruticose Linn. from five reclaimed vegetation communities in northwestern China. In August 2015, a field trial was set up with five historical revegetation experiments established in 2008(7-year), 2011(4-year), 2012(3-year), 2013(2-year) and 2014(1-year), respectively. Each reclamation experiment included two treatments, i.e., revegetation with exotic AMF inoculum(AMF) and non-AMF inoculum(the control). Root mycorrhizal colonization, glomalin-related soil protein(GRSP), soil organic carbon(SOC), soil nutrients, and enzyme activities were also assessed. The results showed that mycorrhizal colonization of inoculated plants increased by 33.3%–163.0% compared to that of non-inoculated plants(P<0.05). Revegetation with exotic AMF inoculum also significantly improved total GRSR(T-GRSP) and easily extracted GRSP(EE-GRSP) concentrations compared to control, besides the T-GRSP in 1-year experiment and the EE-GRSP in 2-year experiment. A significant increase in SOC content was only observed in 7-year AMF reclaimed soils compared to non-AMF reclaimed soils. Soil total N(TN), Olsen phosphorus(P) and available potassium(K) were significantly higher in inoculated soil after 1–7 years of reclamation(except for individual cases), and increased with reclamation time(besides soil Olsen P). The exotic AMF inoculum markedly increased the average soil invertase, catalase, urease and alkaline phosphatase by 23.8%, 21.3%, 18.8% and 8.6%, respectively(P<0.01), compared with the control. Root mycorrhizal colonization was positively correlated with soil parameters(SOC, TN and soil available K) and soil enzyme activities(soil invertase, catalase, urease and alkaline phosphatase) in both AMF and non-AMF reclaimed soils(P<0.05), excluding availableK in non-AMF reclaimed soils. T-GRSP(P<0.01) and EE-GRSP(P<0.05) were significantly correlated with the majority of edaphic factors, except for soil Olsen P. The positive correlation between root mycorrhizal colonization and available K was observed in AMF reclaimed soils, indicating that the AMF reclaimed soil with a high root mycorrhizal colonization could potentially accumulate available K in soils. Our findings concluded that revegetation with exotic AMF inoculum influenced soil nutrient availability and enzyme activities in the semi-arid ecosystem, suggesting that inoculating AMF can be an effective method to improve soil fertility and support restoration of vegetation communities under poor conditions like soil nutrient deficiency and drought.     

生物炭对塿土持水能力的影响

通过连续6年定位试验，探究较长时间施用生物炭对土壤保水作用的影响，以期为塿土区水土保持和土壤改良提供理论参考。田间试验于2011年开始，设4个生物炭施用梯度：对照，不施生物炭（B0）；5 t·hm^-2（B5）；10 t·hm^-2（B10）；20 t·hm^-2（B20）。在2017年测定了土壤含水量、土壤基础理化性质和水分累积蒸发量等。结果表明：生物炭能够显著减小土壤容重、增加土壤孔隙度、饱和含水量和田间持水量，且随着生物炭施入量的增加，各指标变化幅度也增大，B20与B0处理相比，土壤容重减少了8.28%，毛管孔隙度增加了20.17%，饱和含水量与田间持水量分别增加了22.17%和14.86%；生物炭显著增加了土壤团聚体稳定性，B20与B0处理相比，土壤水稳性团聚体含量增加了19.00%，团聚体破坏率和不稳定团粒指数分别降低了11.34%和9.61%；生物炭还可有效抑制土壤水分的蒸发，B10和B20处理的土壤累积蒸发量分别比B0处理减少了7.45%和10.18%。结合逐步回归分析与通径分析发现，生物炭对土壤结构的改良是其促进土壤持水能力的主要原因。土壤孔隙度和有机碳含量是影响土壤饱和含水量的主要因子，影响土壤毛管持水量的主要因子为有机碳含量和土壤毛管孔隙度，而毛管孔隙度与水稳性团聚体含量则解释了绝大部分土壤田间持水量的变化。研究表明生物炭施用可以显著改良土壤结构，提升塿土持水性能，增加干旱半干旱地区土壤的蓄水保墒能力。     

Cultivation effects on soil texture and fertility in an arid desert region of northwestern China

In arid desert regions of northwestern China, reclamation and subsequent irrigated cultivation have become effective ways to prevent desertification, expand arable croplands, and develop sustainable agricultural production. Improvement in soil texture and fertility is crucial to high soil quality and stable crop yield. However, knowledge on the long-term effects of the conversion of desert lands into arable croplands is very limited. To address this problem, we conducted this study in an arid desert region of northwestern China to understand the changes in soil physical-chemical properties after 0, 2, 5, 10, 17, and 24 years of cultivation. Our results showed that silt and clay contents at the 17-year-old sites increased 17.5 and 152.3 folds, respectively, compared with that at the 0-year-old sites. The soil aggregate size fraction and its stability exhibited an exponential growth trend with increasing cultivation ages, but no significant change was found for the proportion of soil macroaggregates (>5.00 mm) during the 17 years of cultivation. The soil organic carbon (SOC) content at the 24-year-old sites was 6.86 g/kg and increased 8.8 folds compared with that at the 0-year-old sites. The total (or available) nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents showed significant increasing trends and reached higher values after 17 (or 24) years of cultivation. Changes in soil physical-chemical properties successively experienced slow, rapid, and stable development stages, but some key properties (such as soil aggregate stability and SOC) were still too low to meet the sustainable agricultural production. The results of this long-term study indicated that reasonable agricultural management, such as expanding no-tillage land area, returning straw to the fields, applying organic fertilizer, reducing chemical fertilizer application, and carrying out soil testing for formula fertilization, is urgently needed in arid desert regions.     

阜新露天煤矿排土场边坡土壤团聚体稳定性及分形特征

露天煤矿排土场边坡水土流失严重。以阜新露天煤矿排土场为对象,探究不同坡位、坡向和恢复年限间土壤团聚体稳定性及分形维数的差异,为排土场边坡生态恢复提供理论依据。选取自然恢复5 a和10 a排土场边坡,分析坡上、坡中和坡下以及阴坡与阳坡间土壤团聚体的平均质量直径(MMD)、几何平均直径(GMD)、分形维数(D)和破坏率(PAD)的差异及其影响因素。结果表明:恢复5 a阴坡及恢复5 a和10 a阳坡土壤团聚体的MMD和GMD从坡上到坡下逐渐增加,D和PAD逐渐减小。MMD和GMD阴坡大于阳坡,D和PAD阴坡小于阳坡。恢复5 a与10 a边坡团聚体的MMD、GMD、D和PAD差异均不显著。与对照裸地相比,坡上团聚体稳定性下降,坡中和坡下略有增加。排土场边坡土壤团聚体的D与MMD、GMD和>0.25 mm团聚体含量呈显著负相关,与PAD呈显著正相关。机械稳定性团聚体的D与含水量呈显著负相关,水稳性团聚体的D与有机质含量呈显著负相关。说明土壤结构和稳定性表现为阴坡好于阳坡,坡下优于坡上,应对不同坡位和坡向采取不同的恢复措施。     

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

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

土壤团聚体形成的研究进展

土壤团聚体是土壤结构的基本单位,它的形成与稳定是自然过程与人类活动的综合结果,即受生物与非生物因素如土地利用方式改变、耕作和种植制度等多种因素的影响。由于团聚体的形成原因及土壤环境条件不同,不同粒级的团聚体在土壤肥力上表现出不同的性质和特征。     

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

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

关中农田土壤物理状态与分析

针对关中农田土壤通气、透水能力下降,抗不良环境能力减弱,生产成本逐年递增的实际问题,以关中11个县区农田土壤为研究对象,以土壤耕作层厚度、容重及团聚体特征为指标,开展了现代利用强度及土壤管理模式下农田土壤物理状态及其退化特征研究。结果表明:关中地区土壤发生学层次厚度尽管很厚,但受下层土体紧实化的影响,农田土壤耕作层普遍浅薄,疏松良好的土壤耕作层厚度变化在5~21 cm。调查范围内耕作层厚度在20 cm左右的仅占18%,10~15 cm之间的占64%,10 cm占18%左右。关中地区农田0~20 cm耕层土壤容重变化在1.04~1.34 g·cm~(-3),平均容重为1.21 g·cm~(-3),属于良好物理状态;而20~40 cm土壤容重变化在1.46~1.70 g·cm~(-3)之间,平均容重为1.58 g·cm~(-3),属于很紧实土壤状态。约36%的农田在20~40 cm处容重达到或超过了1.60 g·cm~(-3)的极限容重值。用干、湿筛技术测定的土壤团聚体的组成,关中农田1~5 mm的"(质量)优势团聚体"、团聚体的几何均重直径(GMD)、标准化平均当量直径(NMWD)以及土壤结构系数(Kctp)均显示,耕作层土壤团聚状态处于良好级别,其下层64%的土壤团聚状态较差,关中农田土壤团聚体水稳定性差,各地土壤团聚体状态以及稳定性差别明显。结论:关中地区农田土壤耕层变浅薄,是因为20~40 cm土层紧实化程度增大和犁底层上移与变厚所致;20~40土壤容重已经增大到极限值;0~20 cm土壤团聚体状态良好,但稳定性不强是引起其下层土壤紧实化的重要原因。关中农田土壤亚表层紧实化问题普遍,有愈加严重的发展态势。从空间上紧实化土层具有很强的隐蔽性,难以被人们所觉察,属于隐型土壤物理退化特征,不可小觑。     

Determining the spatial distribution of soil properties using the environmental covariates and multivariate statistical analysis: a case study in semi-arid regions of Iran

Natural soil-forming factors such as landforms, parent materials or biota lead to high variability in soil properties. However, there is not enough research quantifying which environmental factor(s) can be the most relevant to predicting soil properties at the catchment scale in semi-arid areas. Thus, this research aims to investigate the ability of multivariate statistical analyses to distinguish which soil properties follow a clear spatial pattern conditioned by specific environmental characteristics in a semi-arid region of Iran. To achieve this goal, we digitized parent materials and landforms by recent orthophotography. Also, we extracted ten topographical attributes and five remote sensing variables from a digital elevation model (DEM) and the Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM), respectively. These factors were contrasted for 334 soil samples (depth of 0-30 cm). Cluster analysis and soil maps reveal that Cluster 1 comprises of limestones, massive limestones and mixed deposits of conglomerates with low soil organic carbon (SOC) and clay contents, and Cluster 2 is composed of soils that originated from quaternary and early quaternary parent materials such as terraces, alluvial fans, lake deposits, and marls or conglomerates that register the highest SOC content and the lowest sand and silt contents. Further, it is confirmed that soils with the highest SOC and clay contents are located in wetlands, lagoons, alluvial fans and piedmonts, while soils with the lowest SOC and clay contents are located in dissected alluvial fans, eroded hills, rock outcrops and steep hills. The results of principal component analysis using the remote sensing data and topographical attributes identify five main components, which explain 73.3% of the total variability of soil properties. Environmental factors such as hillslope morphology and all of the remote sensing variables can largely explain SOC variability, but no significant correlation is found for soil texture and calcium carbonate equivalent contents. Therefore, we conclude that SOC can be considered as the best-predicted soil property in semi-arid regions.     

秸秆还田与长期连作棉田土壤水稳性团聚体特征

以棉花长期连作定点试验田为研究对象,研究秸秆还田对长期棉花连作土壤水稳性团聚体及有机碳分布的影响。试验设长期连作5、10、20 a和30 a的秸秆还田小区及长期棉花连作5、10 a和20 a无秸秆还田小区,共计7个处理,每个处理3个重复。结果显示:无秸秆还田条件下,随着连作年限的增加,土壤1~0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量和团聚体中有机碳含量逐渐降低,0.053 mm水稳性团聚体含量逐渐增加;而秸秆还田可以显著提高长期连作棉田土壤中1~0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量、团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)值及团聚体中有机碳含量;秸秆还田条件下随着连作年限的增加,土壤1~0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量逐渐增加,0.053mm水稳性团聚体含量逐渐降低,且对0~30 cm耕作层土壤影响较大;与无秸秆还田相比,秸秆还田长期连作棉田,随着连作年限的增加,团聚体分形维数(D)逐渐降低,而无秸秆还田分形维数(D)逐渐增加,团聚体分形维数表现为随土层加深而增大,最后在20~30 cm处趋于稳定。说明秸秆还田显著提高长期连作棉田水稳性团聚体的稳定性,对改善土壤结构、提升土壤的肥力具有积极作用,能够缓解长期连作对土壤物理性状产生的不利影响。     

Phenotypic plasticity of Artemisia ordosica seedlings in response to different levels of calcium carbonate in soil

Plant phenotypic plasticity is a common feature that is crucial for explaining interspecific competition, dynamics and biological evolution of plant communities. In this study, we tested the effects of soil CaCO_3(calcium carbonate) on the phenotypic plasticity of a psammophyte, Artemisia ordosica, an important plant species on sandy lands in arid and semi-arid areas of China, by performing pot experiments under different CaCO_3 contents with a two-factor randomized block design and two orthogonal designs. We analyzed the growth responses(including plant height, root length, shoot-leaf biomass and root biomass) of A. ordosica seedlings to different soil CaCO_3 contents. The results revealed that, with a greater soil CaCO_3 content, A. ordosica seedlings gradually grew more slowly, with their relative growth rates of plant height, root length, shoot-leaf biomass and root biomass all decreasing significantly. Root N/P ratios showed significant negative correlations with the relative growth rates of plant height, shoot-leaf biomass and root length of A. ordosica seedlings; however, the relative growth rate of root length increased significantly with the root P concentration increased, showing a positive correlation. These results demonstrate that soil CaCO_3 reduces the local P availability in soil, which produces a non-adaptive phenotypic plasticity to A. ordosica seedlings. This study should prove useful for planning and promoting the restoration of damaged/degraded vegetation in arid and semi-arid areas of China.