Isolating the effect of soil properties on agricultural soil greenhouse gas emissions under controlled conditions

Agricultural soils are important sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Soil properties and environmental factors have complex interactions which influence the dynamics of these GHG fluxes. Four arable and five grassland soils which represent the range of soil textures and climatic conditions of the main agricultural areas in the UK were incubated at two different moisture contents (50 or 80% water holding capacity) and with or without inorganic fertiliser application (70 kg N ha⁻¹ ammonium nitrate) over 22 days. Emissions of N₂O, CO₂ and CH₄ were measured twice per week by headspace gas sampling, and cumulative fluxes were calculated. Multiple regression modelling was carried out to determine which factors (soil mineral N, organic carbon and total nitrogen contents, C:N ratios, clay contents and pH) that best explained the variation in GHG fluxes. Clay, mineral N and soil C contents were found to be the most important explanatory variables controlling GHG fluxes in this study. However, none of the measured variables explained a significant amount of variation in CO₂ fluxes from the arable soils. The results were generally consistent with previously published work. However, N₂O emissions from the two Scottish soils were substantially more sensitive to inorganic N fertiliser application at 80% water holding capacity than the other soils, with the N₂O emissions being up to 107 times higher than the other studied soils.     

福建省典型茶园土壤硒含量及其影响因素研究

采集了福建省60份典型茶园表层土壤(0~20 cm),测定了土壤全硒和有效硒含量,分析了土壤类型、植茶年限和海拔对土壤硒及有效硒含量的影响,并探讨其受土壤理化性质的影响。结果表明,福建省茶园土壤全硒含量范围为0.22~2.20 mg·kg^-1,均值为0.73 mg·kg^-1,有86.67%的茶园土壤硒含量达到富硒土壤标准(>0.4 mg·kg^-1);茶园土壤有效硒含量为5.21~448.86 μg·kg^-1,均值为62.98 μg·kg^-1;土壤硒活化率为1.10%~31.64%,均值为8.76%,硒有效程度较低。砂砾岩和凝灰岩发育的茶园土壤硒和有效硒含量较高,紫色砂岩和河流冲积物发育的茶园土壤硒含量较低;山地草甸土茶园土壤全硒和有效硒含量最高,潮砂土和水稻土硒含量较低;成龄茶园和老茶园土壤全硒和有效硒含量较高,新垦茶园硒含量较低;中高海拔地区茶园土壤全硒及有效硒含量较高,低海拔地区茶园土壤硒含量较低。相关分析表明,茶园土壤硒及有效性主要受土壤有机质和全氮的影响,pH对有机质含量较低的红壤茶园和幼龄茶园有显著影响,有效磷对成龄茶园和中高海拔茶园有显著影响。总体而言,该区域茶园富硒土壤为发展天然富硒茶提供了物源保证,但硒有效程度不高,应针对不同类型茶园采取相应栽培措施(增施有机肥、改良剂和钙镁磷肥)来提高土壤有效硒。     

黑土长缓坡地形与横垄对土壤有机碳空间分异的交互作用

横坡垄作对坡耕地土壤有机碳（soil organic carbon,SOC）流失有一定的阻控作用,但黑土区特有长而缓的地形与横垄对坡耕地SOC空间分异会产生交互作用,而这种交互作用引发的SOC流失风险没引起足够的重视。该研究以典型黑土区黑龙江省黑河市北安分局红星农场为研究区域,2022年在横坡垄作与顺坡水线方向上共布设25个采样点,采用地理探测器模型、单因素方差分析（one-way ANOVA）和Pearson相关性分析,探讨土壤有机碳的空间分异及其交互作用。结果表明,横坡垄作方向上垄沟土壤有机碳含量从坡顶到水线呈现逐渐增大的变化趋势;在垄台从坡顶到水线呈现先增大后减小的变化趋势。顺坡水线方向,土壤有机碳含量在垄沟呈现从上坡到下坡增大的变化趋势;在垄台呈现先增大后减小的变化趋势。由于断垄产生水线,顺坡土壤有机碳含量上坡与下坡仍有显著差异（P＜0.05）。Pearson相关性分析表明, 有机碳与可蚀性K因子呈显著负相关（垄沟和垄台相关系数分别为–0.228和–0.238,P＜0.05）,与碳循环相关的β-葡萄糖苷酶和微生物生物量碳在垄沟呈极显著正相关（相关系数为0.398和0.676,P<0.01）。地理探测器分析表明,顺坡水线对土壤有机碳空间分异的影响最大,其对垄沟和垄台SOC的解释力分别达到61%和52%以上;顺坡水线与其他因子的交互作用共同增强了对土壤有机碳的解释力,尤其是顺坡水线与高程的交互作用最为明显。黑土区坡耕地土壤有机碳空间分异主要受顺坡水线与高程的交互作用,横坡垄作虽然能够拦截径流,但由于长缓坡地形影响产生的断垄会加剧土壤侵蚀诱发的有机碳流失。因此,黑土坡耕地治理需要同时考虑横垄与地形的共同影响,从而实现防蚀的优化效果。     

Tillage Effects on Crop Yield and Physicochemical Properties of Sodic Soils

Tillage modifies soil structure and has been suggested as a practice to improve physical, hydrological and chemical properties of compacted soils. But little is known about effect of long‐term tillage on physicochemical soil properties and crop yield on sodic soils in India. Our objective was to investigate the effect of different tillage regimes on crop yield (wheat and paddy rice) and physicochemical properties of sodic soils. Two sodic sites under conventional tillage for 5 (5‐YT; 5‐year tillage) and 9 (9‐YT; 9‐year tillage) years were selected for this study. Changes in crop yield and physicochemical soil properties were compared with a control, sodic land without any till history, that is, 0‐year tillage/untilled (0‐YT). Five replicated samples at 0‐ to 10‐cm and 10‐ to 20‐cm soils depths were analysed from each site. In the top, 0‐ to 10‐cm soil depth 5‐YT and 9‐YT sites had higher particle density (Pd), porosity, water holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity, organic carbon, total nitrogen (N_t), available nitrogen (N_avail), phosphorus (P_avail) and exchangeable calcium (Exch. Ca⁺⁺) than 0‐YT, whereas bulk density (Bd), C : N ratio and CaCO₃ were significantly lower. Bd, pH, EC and CaCO₃ increased significantly with depth in all the lands, whereas Pd, porosity, water holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity, organic carbon, N_t, N_avail, P_avail and Exch. Ca⁺⁺ decreased. We conclude that continuous tillage and cropping can be useful for physical and chemical restoration of sodic soils. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The dehesa: an agrosilvopastoral system of the Mediterranean region with special reference to the Sierra Morena area of Spain

A multidisciplinary team undertook a six-year investigation on the agro-ecological and socio-economic aspects of the dehesa system in the Sierra Norte area, a part of the Sierra Morena of the Sevilla Province, Western Andalusia, Spain. This paper summarizes its findings on the various agro-ecological features of the system and evaluates the system's functional aspects vis-a-vis the trends and developments in land use in the region over the past few centuries. The synergistic effects of tree cover on understorey grassland vegetation is discussed in terms of soil fertility build-up and favourable micro-climatic and hydrological features, and the potential use of this information in future research and development programmes to improve the dehesa system in the Mediterranean region is outlined.     

Effect of soil air volume change on CH4 consumption in brown forest soil

The relationship between soil air volume and CH₄ consumption in brown forest soils was investigated. The CH₄ consumption was negatively affected when the soil air volume decreased in experiments carried out bothin situ and in the laboratory. A strong dependence of the CH₄ consumption on the soil air volume was found in the laboratory experiment. These results indicate the possibility that the soil air volume is the primary rate-limiting factor for the CH₄ consumption in forest soil. Thus our work suggests that the other factors by which CH₄ consumption might be affected should be examined under the same air volume condition in the soil. To obtain accurate data, we need to be careful not to change the air volume by trampling or disturbing during the measurement of the natural methane fluxin situ.     

Agroforestry in the management of sloping lands in Asia and the Pacific

Steeply sloping lands are widespread in the tropics. An estimated 500 million people practice subsistence agriculture in these marginal areas. Continued population growth has led to the intensified cultivation of large areas of the sloping lands, exacerbating the problem of soil erosion. Although research shows that alley cropping and other contour agroforestry systems can stabilize the sloping lands, these systems have not been widely adopted by farmers. The Framework for Evaluating Sustainable Land Management (FESLM) has been tested in sloping land areas in the Philippines. Sustainable land management must be productive, stable, viable, and acceptable to farmers, while protecting soil and water resources. Farms on which contour hedgerow intercropping has been adopted meet the multifaceted requirements of FESLM, whereas the farmers' current practice does not. Appropriate land management measures for particular locations depend on a complex suite of social, economic, and biophysical factors, and need to be developed in participation with farmers. The role of agroforestry in sustainable management of sloping lands is the subject of networks coordinated by the International Board for Soil Research and Management (IBSRAM) in seven countries in Asia (ASIALAND) and four countries in the Pacific (PACIFICLAND). We review selected outcomes from a wealth of network data. From these results the following conclusions about the sustainability of various agroforestry systems for sloping lands can be drawn: • In the Pacific, soil loss from sloping lands due to water erosion under farmers' current practices is episodic, unpredictable, and possibly not severe; • Agroforestry systems that utilize legume shrubs, fruit trees, coffee (Coffea spp.) or rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) provide useful economic returns, but are not an essential component in terms of soil protection because grass or pineapple (Ananas comosus) planted on the contour are equally effective in reducing erosion; • Agricultural intensification will lead to nutrient mining, reduction of aboveground biomass, declining yields, and less soil protection unless external sources of nutrients are used; • nitrogen can be effectively supplied using legumes; • Cash derived from hedgerow trees and/or shrubs may providean incentive for their adoption by farmers, as well as funds to purchase external inputs such as fertilizers; • Labor may be a major constraint to the adoption of complex agroforestry systems. We also discuss the information management systems required to effectively manage and utilize the extensive sets of experimental and indigenous data being accumulated. We believe such information systems can facilitate technology transfer across and between regions, and improve the efficiency of research into agroforestry and other land-management approaches. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Forage potential of eight woody species: intake and growth rates of local young goats in the highland region of Rwanda

Eight woody fodder species adapted to the highlands of Rwanda were evaluated in terms of dry matter intake in one experiment. Animals were offered a daily diet comprising 4.0 of fresh matter of Setaria splendida grass supplemented with or without one of the eight fodder species tested. In all cases, total daily feed intake was increased by the addition of woody fodder. Daily intake of the woody fodder was high for Acacia koaia, Mimosa scabrella and Acacia koa at 43.7, 42.6 and 41.9 g/kg BW^0.75, respectively. The dry matter intake of the other five species (Alnus acuminata, Chamaecytisus palmensis, Hagenia abyssinica, Acacia mearnsii and Acacia melanoxylon) ranged from 18.9 to 30.1 g/kg BW^0.75 per day. In another experiment, a basic daily diet of 4.0 kg of fodder (in fresh weight) was given to each animal. This ratio comprised S. splendida supplemented with M. scabrella and incorporated at 0 (control), 45% and 66% (fresh weight basis) of the total daily diet. Improved weight gain was obtained when setaria was supplemented with M. scabrella with daily weight gain of 31, 47 and 51 g/animal for 0, 45 and 66% M. scabrella, respectively.     

Soil carbon distribution and quality in a montane rangeland-forest mosaic in northern Utah

Relatively little is known about soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics in montane ecosystems of the semi-arid western U.S. or the stability of current SOC pools under future climate change scenarios. We measured the distribution and quality of SOC in a mosaic of rangeland-forest vegetation types that occurs under similar climatic conditions on non-calcareous soils at Utah State University's T.W. Daniel Experimental Forest in northern Utah: the forest types were aspen [Populus tremuloides] and conifer (mixture of fir [Abies lasiocarpa] and spruce [Picea engelmannii]); the rangeland types were sagebrush steppe [Artemisia tridentata], grass-forb meadow, and a meadow-conifer ecotone. Total SOC was calculated from OC concentrations, estimates of bulk density by texture and rock-free soil volume in five pedons. The SOC quality was expressed in terms of leaching potential and decomposability. Amount and aromaticity of water-soluble organic carbon (DOC) was determined by water extraction and specific ultra violet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA) of leached DOC. Decomposability of SOC and DOC was derived from laboratory incubation of soil samples and water extracts, respectively.

Although there was little difference in total SOC between soils sampled under different vegetation types, vertical distribution, and quality of SOC appeared to be influenced by vegetation. Forest soils had a distinct O horizon and higher SOC concentration in near-surface mineral horizons that declined sharply with depth. Rangeland soils lacked O horizons and SOC concentration declined more gradually. Quality of SOC under rangelands was more uniform with depth and SOC was less soluble and less decomposable (i.e., more stable) than under forests. However, DOC in grass-forb meadow soils was less aromatic and more bioavailable, likely promoting C retention through cycling. The SOC in forest soils was notably more leachable and decomposable, especially near the soil surface, with stability increasing with soil depth. Across the entire dataset, there was a weak inverse relationship between the decomposability and the aromaticity of DOC. Our data indicate that despite similar SOC pools, vegetation type may affect SOC retention capacity under future climate projections by influencing potential SOC losses via leaching and decomposition.     

干旱区绿洲土壤中Cd、Pb、Zn、Ni复合污染对芹菜的影响及其富集迁移规律

通过盆栽试验和室内分析初步研究了干旱区绿洲土壤中Cd、Pb、Zn、Ni复合污染对芹菜生长的影响及重金属在芹菜体内的富集迁移规律。结果表明:随着外源重金属添加量的增加,芹菜的生长受到明显抑制。根据多元回归分析和偏相关分析,芹菜地上部和根部吸收Pb量分别与外源添加Pb、Zn、Ni量和Cd、Pb、Zn、Ni量达到极显著相关,其中土壤Zn含量的增加极显著的降低了芹菜地上部和根部对Pb的吸收。芹菜地上部及根部对Cd、Pb、Zn、Ni四种元素的富集系数大小顺序均为:Cd>Zn>Ni>Pb,且根部对四种重金属元素的富集能力显著大于地上部。Cd在芹菜中的平均迁移能力最强,Zn、Ni次之,Pb的迁移能力最弱。