Alkalinity effects of different tree litters incubated in an acid soil of N.S.W., Australia

The impact of trees on processes involved in soil acidification is not clearly understood. This study has measured the cation and anion composition of leaf litter from 28 tree species including both indigenous species and those exotic to Australia, which varied widely in composition. The excess cation content was calculated and shown to be highly correlated with ash alkalinity, determined by ashing and titration. Calcium (Ca) was the dominant cation in these samples and was highly correlated with ash alkalinity. Four rates of ground litter samples were incubated with an acid soil and after eight weeks soil pH and extractable cations were determined. The pH was strongly influenced by the addition of litter, and the increase in pH was linearly related to the amount of ash alkalinity added. Extractable Ca in the soil was highly correlated with Ca added in the litter. A second property of litter measured was the ability of water extracts from the material to complex aluminium (Al). This was assessed by reacting leaf litter extract with Al solution under standardised conditions and measuring the uncomplexed (monomeric) Al using the 8-hydroxyquinoline 15 sec reaction. Species varied markedly in complexing ability. Using the two properties, complexing ability and ash alkalinity, a framework is developed in which the effects of different species on nutrient cycling and podzolisation processes in relation to soil acidification are discussed, and predictions compared with available evidence from field studies. This index for assessing the potential impact of the removal/addition plant material could be used to predict the long- term consequences of cut and carry agroforestry systems on soil chemical properties. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Exchangeable Ca,Mg, and K of rock fragments and fine earth from sandstone and siltstone derived soils and their availability to grass

Rock fragments (particles > 2 mm) are usually considered chemically inert for plant growth. In this paper, the potential fertility in terms of exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K of rock fragments from sandstone and siltstone derived soils from northern Apennines (Italy) is reported and contrasted with that of the fine earth (particles < 2 mm). The results show that rock fragments are a source of Ca, Mg, and K. When expressed on a volume basis, the abundance of these exchangeable nutrients sometimes may equal or surpass that of the fine earth. The plant uptake of Mg and K has been demonstrated in growth experiments with Agrostis under controlled conditions.     

喀斯特山区不同生态恢复模式土壤盐基离子的交换及分布特征

为了解喀斯特山区生态恢复模式对土壤盐基离子的交换及分布特征的影响,以喀斯特山区典型黄色石灰土为对象,研究了耕地、草地、林草间作地、退耕还草地生态恢复模式下土壤阳离子交换量(CEC)和盐基离子的分布规律。结果表明:该区土壤CEC为26.52～44.90 cmol/kg,且基本随土层深度的增加逐渐减小;各土壤层次阳离子交换量均表现为退耕还草地显著低于其他生态恢复模式(P0.05);在0—10,10—20 cm土层中林草间作地的CEC最高。交换性盐基离子的含量呈现出Ca~(2+)Mg~(2+)K~+Na~+的规律,且以Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)为主(占TEB的比例平均为91.92%,6.04%),K~+、Na~+所占TEB比例较低(平均为1.03%,1.01%);盐基离子中交换性K~+、Na~+、Mg~(2+)含量具有表聚性,基本随土层深度的增加而逐渐下降;不同生态恢复模式下,退耕还草地各盐基离子含量显著低于林草间作地、耕地和草地(P0.05),但各盐基离子含量随土层深度不同存在较大差异。土壤交换性盐基总量(TEB)在剖面层次上的分布规律不明显,不同生态恢复模式土壤TEB大小顺序随着土层深度的加深有所不同,在0—10,10—20 cm土层和40—60 cm(母岩)层均表现为草地最高,退耕还草地最低。土壤盐基饱和度(BS)为42.58%～65.02%,且随土层深度的增加逐渐增大,各土壤层次BS均表现为草地耕地林草间作地退耕还草地;相关分析表明,CEC、盐基离子含量与有机质、全氮和碱解氮均呈极显著正相关。冗余分析表明,土壤理化因子仅能解释45.3%的阳离子交换作用变化,土壤阳离子交换作用变化除了受土壤基本理化因子的影响外,还受其他因素的影响。总体而言,退耕还草地在供肥保肥和缓冲能力上显著低于其他恢复模式,土壤供肥保肥和缓冲性能在恢复初期退耕还草阶段有所下降,但随着生态恢复的进程会逐渐得到改善。     

Relative role of soil nutrients vs. carbon availability on soil carbon mineralization in grassland receiving long-term N addition

High nitrogen (N) input often induces soil carbon (C) limitation, eutrophication of macronutrients, deficiency of base cations, and accumulation of toxic micronutrients. These changes are perceived to be critical factors in regulating soil C mineralization. Previous studies primarily focused on the individual effects of C, macronutrients, exchangeable base cations, and micronutrients on soil C mineralization. However, the relative importance of those factors in regulating soil C mineralization, especially in N-enriched ecosystems, remains unclear. To disentangle the relative contributions of aforementioned factors, lime and/or glucose were added to soils that were collected from a field experiment with historical N addition (6 years) at seven rates (0–50 g N m⁻² year⁻¹) in a grassland ecosystem. Lime and glucose were added to improve the soil C and key nutrient conditions. The responses of soil C mineralization rate to changes in soil C and macronutrients (N and P), exchangeable base cations (K⁺, Na⁺ and Mg²⁺), and micronutrients (Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺) were examined. We found that lime addition decreased soil micronutrients, while glucose addition improved the soil available P and exchangeable base cations, especially at high historical N addition rates. The soil C mineralization was weakly associated with changes in soil nutrients, including the availability of N, P, exchangeable base cations, and micronutrients, which were conventionally and previously considered as the vital drivers of soil C mineralization. However, soil C mineralization strongly increased with glucose-induced enhancement of C availability and the subsequent enhancement of microbial biomass under increasing N addition rates. Based on the Structural Equation Model, the standardized total effects of C, macronutrients (N and P), base cations and micronutrients on soil C mineralization were 0.86, − 0.29, 0.15 and − 0.08, respectively. Findings from this study demonstrated that the N-induced significant changes in soil nutrients (e.g., eutrophication of N and P, base cations deficiency and accumulation of toxic macronutrients) mediated soil C mineralization, with C availability being the most critical driver for C mineralization in N-enriched soil. This study provides insight into the mechanistic understanding of the relationship between N input and terrestrial C cycling.     

重庆渝东北植烟区土壤交换性钙镁与土壤属性的关联特性研究

为明确重庆渝东北植烟区土壤中交换性钙、镁养分状况与土壤属性的关联特性，为烟区养分管理提供参考依据，利用GPS定位技术在渝东北植烟区采集了1 092个代表性土壤样品，对巫溪、巫山、奉节、万州、涪陵和丰都6个区县植烟土壤交换性钙和交换性镁含量分析，同时与其他土壤属性进行关联分析。结果表明：重庆渝东北植烟土壤交换性钙、镁含量丰富，其平均值分别为10.85 cmol/kg和1.79 cmol/kg，但也存在缺乏现象，且区域分布不均衡。总体来看，土壤交换性钙缺乏(<6 cmol/kg)占比28.30%，土壤交换性镁缺乏(<1.0 cmol/kg)占比42.75%。涪陵县与丰都县的土壤交换性钙、镁缺乏最严重，占比分别为40.00%和55.00%。丰都县与万州区土壤交换性钙、镁含量最适宜烤烟种植，占比分别为42.00%和36.61%。母质是影响土壤交换性钙、镁含量的重要因素，二叠系泥灰岩发育形成的土壤交换性钙、镁含量较高，侏罗纪紫色砂岩含量最低。植烟土壤pH、阳离子交换量与交换性钙、镁存在显著正相关关系，而土壤交换性酸总量与二者呈显著负相关，交换性钙镁缺乏是引起烟田酸化的主要原因。1～2...