Re-defining tillage erosion: quantifying intensity–direction relationships for complex terrain

Abstract. Current tillage erosion models account for the influence of tillage direction in the magnitude of the soil (tillage) transport coefficient. It is argued here that this is counter-intuitive and causes significant problems in modelling tillage erosion in areas of complex terrain. This article examines whether a re-modelling of tillage erosion is possible that separates tillage direction (an interaction with the landform) from the soil transport coefficient (a measure of tillage intensity representing the combination of implement erosivity and soil erodibility). Experimental data for mouldboard ploughing upslope, downslope and cross-slope at Coombe Barton Farm, Devon are examined. Integration of data for all directions into a single relationship, which relates translocation in the direction of tillage to slope in the direction of tillage and translocation perpendicular to tillage to slope perpendicular to tillage, is not possible using previously published methods of analysis. However, when total translocation distance is regressed against the tangent of the slope at 45° to the tillage direction (bisecting the tillage direction and the direction of overturning) it is found that a single relationship can be used to describe tillage in all three directions. Therefore, this relationship is used to determine a single value of the soil transport coefficient ( k _fTa) for constant soil and implement conditions but different tillage directions. This redefinition of tillage is important both for true estimation of tillage erosion severity, the adirectional coefficient being 40% larger than the directional coefficient, and for modelling of tillage erosion in complex terrain. These improvements are vital when tillage erosion simulation is used to direct soil conservation strategies.     

Spatial pattern analysis of pre- and post-hurricane forest canopy structure in North Carolina,USA

Existing spatial patterns of a forest are in part a product of its disturbance history. Using laser altimetry and field measures of canopy top height to represent pre- and post-hurricane canopy topography, respectively, we measured changes in spatial patterns of stand structure of a United States southern mixed coniferous-deciduous for est. Autocorrelative and fractal properties were measured in this opportunistic study to quantify changes in canopy architecture along twelve, 190-250 m transects that were subjected to moderate to high levels of wind disturbance. Prior to the hurricane, canopy heights were autocorrelated at scales <40 m with an average fractal dimension of 1.71. After the disturbance, autocorrelation disappeared; the average fractal dimension rose to 1.94. This shift towards spatial randomness illustrates part of the cyclical nature of ecosystem development. It shows how a catastrophic collapse of biomass accumulation corresponds to a decrease in ecosystem organization across a landscape. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

基于GIS技术的小型水库规划方法

在小流域治理中，为了提高水库规划的精确度和速度，提出了基于GIS技术来实现小型水库规划的方法。主要是基于GIS技术的库客曲线的制作方法；小型水库规划的可视化。在GIS中，真实地形在计算机中的表达用数字高程模型(DEM)表示，水库规划的三维可视化环境的实现需利用0penGL技术。     

Temporal and spatial dynamics of mineral levels of forage,soil and cattle blood serum in two semi-arid savannas of South Africa

In this study, we examined temporal and spatial dynamics of minerals of forage, soil and cattle serum in two savannas (valley and plain) of South Africa. The aims were to explore the relationships between ecosystem components, and plan communal grazing and fodder flow for sustainable livestock production. In each area, grazing sites near, at intermediate distance from (middle) and far from homesteads were selected. In the valley land, site interacted with season to influence local variations (P<0.05) of soil calcium and microelements. In the plain lands, local variations occurred for soil phosphorus and magnesium. At the large scale, most macro-minerals showed differences between the valley and plain lands. In the valley areas, forage calcium differed (P<0.05) locally in the dry season, whereas in the plain areas, potassium and phosphorus showed local variations (P<0.05) in the wet season. Seasonal variations of most forage elements were significant within each local site of both study areas. All forages were deficient in phosphorus and copper. Cattle serum from the valley area had low iron concentrations. The study concluded that biotic and abiotic factors may influence the distribution of soil and forage elements, but their effects may vary between the two areas. Rangeland improvement and supplementation strategies are suggested to sustain animal production.     

A model of arctic tundra vegetation derived from topographic gradients

We present a topographically-derived vegetation model (TVM) that predicts the landscape patterns of arctic vegetation types in the foothills of the Brooks Range in northern Alaska. In the Arctic there is a strong relationship between water and plant structure and function and TVM is based on the relationships between vegetation types and slope (tan ) and discharge (), two independent variables that can be easily derived from digital terrain data. Both slope and discharge relate to hydrological similarity within a landscape: slope determines the gravitational hydrological gradient and hence influences flow velocity, whereas discharge patterns are computed based on upslope area and quantify lateral flow amount. TVM was developed and parameterized based on vegetation data from a small 2.2 km² watershed and its application was tested in a larger 22km² region. For the watershed, TVM performed quite well, having a high spatial resolution and a goodness-of-fit ranging from 71–78&percnt;, depending on the functions used. For the larger region, the strength of the vegetation types predictions drops somewhat to between 56–59&percnt;. We discuss the various sources of error and limitations of the model for purposes of extrapolation.     

Spatial variability and change in soil organic carbon stocks in response to recovery following land abandonment and erosion in mountainous drylands

This research investigates the impact of human activities on carbon (C) dynamics in a mountainous and semi‐arid environment. Despite the low C status of drylands, soil organic carbon (SOC) is the largest C pool in these systems and therefore may offer significant C sequestration potential in systems recovering from degradation. Nevertheless, quantification of this potential is limited by lack of knowledge concerning the magnitude of and controls on regional SOC stocks. Therefore, this study aimed to (i) investigate the variability of soil organic carbon in relation to recovery period and key soil and topographical variables, and (ii) quantify the effects of recovery period following abandonment on SOC stocks. Soil profiles were sampled in the Sierra de los Filabres (southeast Spain) in different land units along geomorphic and degradation gradients. SOC contents were modelled using recovery period and soil and topographical variables. Sample depth, topographic position, altitude, recovery period and stone content were identified as the main factors for predicting SOC concentrations. SOC stocks in 1 m depth of soil varied between 3.16 and 76.44 t/ha. Recovery period (years since abandonment), topographic position and altitude were used to predict and map SOC stocks in the top 0.2 m. The results show that C accumulates rapidly during the first 10–50 yr following abandonment; thereafter, the stocks evolve towards a steady‐state level. The erosion zones in the study area demonstrate greater potential to increase their SOC stocks when abandoned. Deposition zones have greater SOC values, although their C accumulation rate is lower compared with erosional landscapes in the first 10–50 yr following abandonment. Therefore, full understanding of the C sequestration potential of land use change in areas of complex topography requires knowledge of spatial variability in soil properties and in particular SOC.     

乌海市平沟煤矸石山小地形土壤养分分析

文章以乌海市平沟煤矸石山上平台和边坡两种不同小地形上的土壤为研究对象,通过野外调查取样和室内分析化验,研究煤矸石山两种小地形对土壤养分的恢复情况。结果表明,土壤有机质、全N、碱解N含量在两种不同小地形上表现为边坡>平台,土壤P素、K素含量表现为平台>边坡,总体而言,边坡上土壤养分恢复效果比平台好。平台和边坡上土壤养分含量在不同土层深度中均表现为:0~20 cm层>20~40 cm层。通过参考土壤养分分级与丰缺度标准,目前土壤养分丰缺度主要呈现出缺或极缺状态。     

黔中水利枢纽工程区植被覆盖变化及其对地形与地貌的响应

为了探究喀斯特山区重大水利枢纽工程区的植被覆盖变化及其与对地形地貌的响应,助力区域石漠化治理和大型调水工程的科学实施及可持续发展,以贵州省黔中水利枢纽为例,采用像元二分模型,选取MODIS-NDVI数据对研究区2001—2020年植被覆盖度进行计算,并以分级数据为基础,运用植被覆盖变化类型的提取模型和分布指数,探究了植被覆盖变化的分异特征及其对地形与地貌的响应。结果表明:(1)研究区的植被覆盖度以高和较高为主,20年来,植被覆盖面积持续上升,年均增长率为0.46%,植被覆盖情况总体较好;(2)植被覆盖变化以改善型和稳定型为主,28个区(县)中,白云区、观山湖区、修文县的植被退化面积超过了植被改善面积,有生态退化风险,需加强生态保护;(3)从地貌上看,非喀区植被覆盖改善比纯喀和亚喀区显著;(4)从地形上看,随着高程和坡度上升,植被覆盖退化型分布优势降低,稳定型占优; 从坡向变化看,平地植被覆盖退化显著,其余区域不明显。因此,黔中水利枢纽植被覆盖的优势范围和变化类型具有显著的空间分异特征。     

木材锯切表面粗糙度二维分析与三维分析对比

使用传统的二维轮廓测定方法,测量木材锯切表面粗糙度准确度不高。利用三维表面轮廓成像技术测定木材锯切表面粗糙度,可获得较为准确的检测值和更真实的锯切表面微观形貌。     

Relationship between Oil Palm Yield and Soil Fertility as Affected by Topography in an Indonesian Plantation

Abstract

Typically, Indonesian oil palm plantations rest on rolling topography. There is limited information on how topography affects soil fertility and oil palm yields. A study was conducted to evaluate these relationships in a commercial oil palm plantation located in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Two sites with differing past management history and fertility regimes were each partitioned into three topographic positions. At each topographic position, yields were recorded at 10‐day intervals over a period of 2 years. Leaf and soil samples were collected from corresponding points spaced at 36.4 m (x direction) and 8.7 m (y direction) using a systematic scheme. Leaf analysis was performed to quantify nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca), and soil analysis was carried out to determine pH, organic carbon (C), extractable P, exchangeable K, Mg, and Ca, effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC), and texture. The collected data were subjected to exploratory, univariate, and bivariate analyses, as well as analysis of variance. Empirical production functions based on measured variables were defined for each topographic position. Results showed that average yields at both study sites varied with topographic position. At site 1 (Sungai Pelepah Estate), the sideslope and the summit consistently gave higher yields than the toeslope. At site 2 (Sri Gunung Estate), a yield gradient was observed with the highest yield occurring at the toeslope and the lowest yield from the summit. Soil fertility varied across topographic positions at both sites. The measured leaf/soil variables showed varying levels of optimality/sufficiency across topographic positions. In most cases, leaf and soil variables showed comparable performance as yield predictors. Validation of the calibrated models showed reasonable accuracy for the toeslope of site 1 and all three positions at site 2.