Cultivation effects on temporal changes of organic carbon and aggregate stability in desert soils of Hexi Corridor region in China

Sustainable agricultural use of cultivated desert soils has become a concern in Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province of China, because loss of topsoil in dust storms has been recently intensified. We chose four desert sites to investigate the effects of cultivation (cropping) on (i) soil organic C and its size fractions and (ii) soil aggregate stability (as a measure of soil erodibility). These parameters are of vital importance for evaluating the sustainability of agricultural practices.

Total organic C as well as organic C fractions in soil (coarse organic C, 0.1–2 mm; young organic C, 0.05–0.1 mm; stable organic C, <0.05 mm) generally increased with the duration of the cultivation period from 0 (virgin soil, non-cultivated) to more than 30 years (p < 0.05). Compared to total organic C in virgin soils (2.3–3.5 g kg⁻¹ soil), significantly greater values were found after 10 to >20 years of cultivation (6.2–7.1 g kg⁻¹ soil). The increase in organic C in desert soils following prolonged cultivation was mainly the consequence of an increase in the coarse organic C. The increase in total organic C in soil was also dependent on clay content [total organic C = 0.96 + 0.249 clay content (%) + 0.05 cultivation year, R² = 0.48, n = 27, p < 0.001]. This indicates that clay protected soil organic C from mineralization, and also contributed to the increase in soil organic C as time of cultivation increased.

There was a significant positive correlation between aggregate stability and total organic C across all field sites. The water stability of aggregates was low (with water-stable aggregate percentage 4% of dry-sieved aggregates of size 1–5 mm). There was no consistent pattern of increase in the soil aggregate stability with time of cultivation at different locations, suggesting that desert soils might remain prone to wind erosion even after 50 years of cultivation. Alternative management options, such as retaining harvested crop residues on soil surface and excluding or minimizing tillage, may permit sustainable agricultural use of desert soils.     

河北省黑龙江地区旱地小麦生产限制因子分析

本文研究了1989-1993年不同降水年型(干旱、正常、湿润)条件下灌水和施肥对黑龙港地区旱作小麦产量的影响，结果表明，在正常和湿润年份，土壤贫瘠是限制产量的主要因子，施肥可以大幅度提高产量。但在干旱年份，土壤水分缺乏制约产量的增加，一次灌水可使产量翻一番，在灌一次水的基础上，每公顷施入100公斤氮和70公斤磷，产量则可以再翻一番。可见，增加肥料投入是旱作小麦产量提高的重要手段之一。     

Long‐term effects of fertilization on some soil properties under rainfed soybean‐wheat cropping in the Indian Himalayas

This study aims to examine the effects of long‐term fertilization and cropping on some chemical and microbiological properties of the soil in a 32 y old long‐term fertility experiment at Almora (Himalayan region, India) under rainfed soybean‐wheat rotation. Continuous annual application of recommended doses of chemical fertilizer and 10 Mg ha^–1 FYM on fresh‐weight basis (NPK + FYM) to soybean (Glycine max L.) sustained not only higher productivity of soybean and residual wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop, but also resulted in build‐up of total soil organic C (SOC), total soil N, P, and K. Concentration of SOC increased by 40% and 70% in the NPK + FYM–treated plots as compared to NPK (43.1 Mg C ha^–1) and unfertilized control plots (35.5 Mg C ha^–1), respectively. Average annual contribution of C input from soybean was 29% and that from wheat was 24% of the harvestable aboveground biomass yield. Annual gross C input and annual rate of total SOC enrichment from initial soil in the 0–15 cm layer were 4362 and 333 kg C ha^–1, respectively, for the plots under NPK + FYM. It was observed that the soils under the unfertilized control, NK and N + FYM treatments, suffered a net annual loss of 5.1, 5.2, and 15.8 kg P ha^–1, respectively, whereas the soils under NP, NPK, and NPK + FYM had net annual gains of 25.3, 18.8, and 16.4 kg P ha^–1, respectively. There was net negative K balance in all the treatments ranging from 6.9 kg ha^–1 y^–1 in NK to 82.4 kg ha^–1 y^–1 in N + FYM–treated plots. The application of NPK + FYM also recorded the highest levels of soil microbial‐biomass C, soil microbial‐biomass N, populations of viable and culturable soil microbes.     

青海省共和县土地沙化与土地覆盖变化遥感监测研究

以Landsat-TM、ETM＋遥感数据为信息源，对青海省共和县1987年至2002年的土地沙化和土地覆盖变化进行了监测．研究结果表明．应用TM、ETM＋等中分辨率遥感影像，对以县为单位的区域性土地沙化和土地覆盖变化进行监测是适宜的．监测精度可达90％以上；监测期内．研究区的沙化土地面积不断增加，沙化程度也迅速加深，说明沙化土地治理的效果不明显；由于草地围封面积的扩大，一、二类草地的面积显著增加，草场质量显著改善，但由于未封育草地的过牧仍很普遍，三类草地沙化仍很严重；国营农场的撤离和国家退耕还草工程的实施是农田和居民地面积减少的主要原因。     

青海大通退耕还林地林分水分生产力研究

 为了解青海东部黄土高原寒区退耕还林地人工林的水分生产力水平,2001—2003年对青海省大通县退耕还林的人工林进行了群落蒸散测算、标准地生物量调查和解析木分析,并研究了青杨灌木混交林、白桦紫果云杉混交林、华北落叶松纯林、紫果云杉纯林、白桦纯林等11种林分类型退耕还林人工林的林木水分生产力。结果表明:1)3 000株/hm2左右密度的林分是该区较为适宜的造林密度标准;2)在目前的技术经济水平条件下,2 1003333株/hm2密度的青杨灌木混交林成林、白桦纯林、紫果云杉纯林和白桦紫果云杉混交林水分生产效率居所有林分之首,其水分生产力指标可作为该地区常规造林技术条件下乔木成林的水分生产力标准;3)3000株/hm2左右密度的青杨灌木混交林、白桦紫果云杉混交林、紫果云杉纯林和白桦纯林成林的水分生产潜力基本达到了目前当地林木的最大生产能力。表明上述林分类型的造林模式可作为今后退耕还林工程和林业生态工程建设的发展方向。     

长武王东沟小流域土地利用变化及驱动力研究

对王东沟流域1994年和2002年的土地利用现状进行了分析,揭示了近几年来该区土地利用变化的主要类型及各种土地利用类型的空间格局变化特征。研究表明,该区土地利用方式以耕地、园地、林地为主,变化以耕地和园地为主,并且主要集中在塬面上。自然因素、比较经济效益和宏观政策是该区土地利用变化的主要驱动力。最后,从农业可持续发展角度,对试区土地利用提出了建议。     

南方红壤坡地不同利用模式的水土保持及生态效益研究

通过对15°红壤坡地11个利用模式10年土壤侵蚀研究,认为红壤坡地土地利用模式中林作系统水土保持效果优于农作系统。林作系统中水土保持效果以常绿阔叶林最好,次为混交林,毛竹林和针叶林。农作系统中顺坡植物篱种植、等高梯化种植、顺坡水平沟种植水土保持效果较好。研究认为红壤坡地土地利用模式应以林作为主,尽可能发展高效的经济林。而如发展农业种植,则以顺坡植物篱种植模式最佳,次为等高梯化种植模式。     

砂质潮土冬小麦对氮肥的利用与氮素平衡

分析了不同施肥时期对砂质潮土小麦产量、氮素吸收与利用、土壤残留与氮素损失的影响。结果表明 ,氮肥在一半做底肥的基础上 ,以拔节期追肥小麦产量最高。在返青期与孕穗期追肥之间 ,低氮肥用量情况下 ,以孕穗期追施小麦产量较高 ,而在高氮肥用量时二者没有差异。氮肥一半做追肥施用植株吸收氮量比氮肥全部做底肥显著提高 ,这种提高主要来自肥料氮。拔节期追肥利用率最高。小麦收获后土壤中肥料残留氮的 31 7%～ 66 8%分布在 0～ 40cm土层内 ,且随施肥时间的推迟 ,0～ 40cm土层内残留氮所占的比例增加 ,而底施和返青期追施的氮肥在下层残留的比例高于后期追肥 ,其在 80～ 1 0 0cm土层的累积量甚至超过了表层土壤残留量。但后期追肥氮素挥发损失严重。     

Regional Sediment Deficits in the Dutch Lowlands: Implications for Long-Term Land-Use Options (8 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope   Coastal and river plains are the surfaces of depositional systems, to which sediment input is a parameter of key-importance. Their habitation and economic development usually requires protection with dikes, quays, etc., which are effective in retaining floods but have the side effect of retarding sedimentation in their hinterlands. The flood-protected Dutch lowlands (so-called dike-ring areas) have been sediment-starved for up to about a millennium. In addition to this, peat decomposition and soil compaction, brought about by land drainage, have caused significant land subsidence. Sediment deficiency, defined as the combined effect of sediment-starvation and drainage-induced volume losses, has already been substantial in this area, and it is expected to become urgent in view of the forecasted effects of climate change (sea-level rise, intensified precipitation and run-off). We therefore explore this deficiency, compare it with natural (Holocene) and current human sediment inputs, and discuss it in terms of long-term land-use options. Materials and Methods: We use available 3D geological models to define natural sediment inputs to our study area. Recent progress in large-scale modelling of peat oxidation and compaction enables us to address volume loss associated with these processes. Human sediment inputs are based on published minerals statistics. All results are given as first-order approximations. Results: The current sediment deficit in the diked lowlands of the Netherlands is estimated at 136 ± 67 million m3/a. About 85% of this volume is the hypothetical amount of sediment required to keep up with sea-level rise, and 15% is the effect of land drainage (peat decomposition and compaction). The average Holocene sediment input to our study area (based on a total of 145 km3) is ~14 million m3/a, and the maximum (millennium-averaged) input ~26 million m3/a. Historical sediment deficiency has resulted in an unused sediment accommodation space of about 13.3 km3. Net human input of sediment material currently amounts to ~23 million m3/a. Discussion: As sedimentary processes in the Dutch lowlands have been retarded, the depositional system's natural resilience to sea-level rise is low, and all that is left to cope is human countermeasure. Preserving some sort of status quo with water management solutions may reach its limits in the foreseeable future. The most viable long-term solutions therefore seem a combination of allowing for more water in open country (anything from flood-buffer zones to open water) and raising lands that are to be built up (enabling their lasting protection). As to the latter, doubling or tripling the use of filling sand in a planned and sustained effort may resolve up to one half of the Dutch sediment deficiency problems in about a century. Conclusions: Conclusions, Recommendations and Perspectives. We conclude that sediment deficiency – past, present and future – challenges the sustainable habitation of the Dutch lowlands. In order to explore possible solutions, we recommend the development of long-term scenarios for the changing lowland physiography, that include the effects of Global Change, compensation measures, costs and benefits, and the implications for long-term land-use options. Recommendations and Perspectives: -