Effects of potato–grain rotations on soil erosion, carbon dynamics and properties of rangeland sandy soils

The potential for wind erosion in South Central Colorado is greatest in the spring, especially after harvesting of crops such as potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) that leave small amounts of crop residue in the surface after harvest. Therefore it is important to implement best management practices that reduce potential wind erosion and that we understand how cropping systems are impacting soil erosion, carbon dynamics, and properties of rangeland sandy soils. We evaluate the effects of cropping systems on soil physical and chemical properties of rangeland sandy soils. The cropping system included a small grain–potato rotation. An uncultivated rangeland site and three fields that two decades ago were converted from rangeland into cultivated center-pivot-irrigation-sprinkler fields were also sampled. Plant and soil samples were collected in the rangeland area and the three adjacent cultivated sites. The soils at these sites were classified as a Gunbarrel loamy sand (Mixed, frigid Typic Psammaquent). We found that for the rangeland site, soil where brush species were growing exhibited C sequestration and increases in soil organic matter (SOM) while the bare soil areas of the rangeland are losing significant amounts of fine particles, nutrients and soil organic carbon (SOM-C) mainly due to wind erosion. When we compared the cultivated sites to the uncultivated rangeland, we found that the SOM-C and soil organic matter nitrogen (SOM-N) increased with increases in crop residue returned into the soils. Our results showed that even with potato crops, which are high intensity cultivated cropping systems, we can maintain the SOM-C with a rotation of two small grain crops (all residue incorporated) and one potato crop, or potentially increase the average SOM-C with a rotation of four small grain crops (all residue incorporated) and one potato crop. Erosion losses of fine silt and clay particles were reduced with the inclusion of small grains. Small grains have the potential to contribute to the conservation of SOM and/or sequester SOM-C and SOM-N for these rangeland systems that have very low C content and that are also losing C from their bare soils areas (40%). Cultivation of these rangelands using rotations with at least two small grain crops can reduce erosion and maintain SOM-C and increasing the number of small grain crops grown successfully in rotation above two will potentially contribute to C and N sequestration as SOM and to the sequestration of macro- and micro-nutrients.     

Effects of postfire seeding and fertilizing on hillslope erosion in north-central Washington,USA

After the 1998 North 25 Fire in the Wenatchee National Forest, eight study sites were established on steep, severely burned hillslopes to examine the effectiveness of postfire seeding and fertilizing treatments in increasing cover to reduce hillslope erosion, and to measure the nutrient content of the eroded sediment. At each site, four 4 by 9 m plots were located with four randomly applied treatments: seed (winter wheat, Triticum estivum) at 34 kg ha^− 1, fertilizer (75% ammonium nitrate and 25% ammonium sulfate) at 31 kg ha^− 1, seed and fertilizer, and untreated control. Sediment fences were installed at the base of each plot to measure erosion rates and sample the eroded sediments. In addition, precipitation amounts and intensities, surface cover, canopy cover, and nutrient concentrations in the eroded sediments were measured for four years after the fire. Total precipitation was below average during the four-year study period, and most erosion occurred during short duration, moderate intensity summer rainfall events. The overall first year mean erosion rate was 16 Mg ha^− 1 yr^− 1, and this decreased significantly in the second year to 0.66 Mg ha^− 1 yr^− 1. There were no significant differences in erosion rates between treatments. In the first year, the seeded winter wheat provided 4.5% canopy cover, about a fourth of the total canopy cover, on the seeded plots; however, the total canopy cover on the seeded plots did not differ from the unseeded plots. The below average precipitation in the spring after seeding may have affected the winter wheat survival rate. In the fourth year of the study, the mean canopy cover in the fertilization treatment plots was 74%, and this was greater than the 55% mean canopy cover in the unfertilized plots (p = 0.04); however, there was no accompanying reduction in erosion rate for either the seeding or fertilization treatments. Revegetation by naturally occurring species was apparently not impacted by seeding during the four years of this study. The pH of the sediment as well as the concentrations of NO₃–N, NH₄–N, and K was not affected by seeding or fertilizing. The nutrient loads in the eroded sediment were minimal, with most of the nutrient loss occurring in the first postfire year. These results confirm that seeding success is highly dependent on rainfall intensity, amounts, and timing, and that soil nutrients lost in eroded sediments are unlikely to impair the site productivity.     

沪蓉西高速公路弃土场渣体侵蚀特征——以宜(昌)至长(阳)段为例

随着我国高速公路的迅速发展，由此形成的水土流失已成为突出的环境问题。为探讨高速公路建设期间弃土场渣体侵蚀规律，在沪蓉西高速公路宜长段Ⅰ标区弃土场布设观测小区进行定位观测和分析研究。结果表明：（1）降雨量与弃土场渣体侵蚀量呈显著的正相关关系。在不考虑影响坡面渣体侵蚀其它因素前提下，随降雨量的增大，渣体侵蚀量逐渐加大。（2）研究区堆渣体沟蚀发生严重，局部坡面渣体侵蚀量高达92848t／km^2。调查发现沟深下切深度基本在40cm以内，受坡面汇水面积影响，从坡上到坡脚，堆渣侵蚀量逐渐加大。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区不同退耕类型径流、侵蚀效应及其时间变化特征

在自然降水条件下,连续14年对半干旱黄土丘陵沟壑区坡耕地及其4种退耕类型径流、侵蚀进行观测实验。结果表明:坡耕地退耕显著减少地表径流和土壤侵蚀,退耕类型之间径流量和侵蚀量存在显著差异,其大小次序为:农耕坡地>牧草地>乔木林地>自然草地>灌木林地。地表径流和侵蚀具有明显的季节分布特征,减流、减沙效应主要发生于7月和8月。牧草地累积减流、减沙效应随年度增加逐步下降,乔木林地的累积减流效应逐渐下降而减沙效应则逐步增加,灌木林地累积减流、减沙效应持续提高,自然草地则为先增长后降低的过程。14年观测结果表明:累积减流、减沙效应次序为:灌木林地>自然草地>乔木林地>牧草地。牧草地和乔木林地在短期具有较好的减流、减沙效应,而灌木林地和自然草地具有较好稳定持久的水土保持功能。     

Tillage and the environment in sub-tropical Australia—Tradeoffs and challenges

Tillage is defined here in a broad sense, including disturbance of the soil and crop residues, wheel traffic and sowing opportunities. In sub-tropical, semi-arid cropping areas in Australia, tillage systems have evolved from intensively tilled bare fallow systems, with high soil losses, to reduced and no tillage systems. In recent years, the use of controlled traffic has also increased. These conservation tillage systems are successful in reducing water erosion of soil and sediment-bound chemicals. Control of runoff of dissolved nutrients and weakly sorbed chemicals is less certain. Adoption of new practices appears to have been related to practical and economic considerations, and proved to be more profitable after a considerable period of research and development. However there are still challenges. One challenge is to ensure that systems that reduce soil erosion, which may involve greater use of chemicals, do not degrade water quality in streams. Another challenge is to ensure that systems that improve water entry do not increase drainage below the crop root zone, which would increase the risk of salinity. Better understanding of how tillage practices influence soil hydrology, runoff and erosion processes should lead to better tillage systems and enable better management of risks to water quality and soil health. Finally, the need to determine the effectiveness of in-field management practices in achieving stream water quality targets in large, multi-land use catchments will challenge our current knowledge base and the tools available.     

中亚热带沟谷森林及经济植物资源科学考察研究

2007--2009年间,我们分别科学考察了中亚热带典型区系湖南省雪峰山脉和武陵山脉的沟谷森林,在剖析了沟谷地带的地形地貌,土壤和气候等自然特点的基础上,摸清了沟谷地带森林和经济植物资源,同时提出了沟谷森林自然生态环境的保护,通过这一科学考察,为人们认识和了解中亚热带沟谷森林植被与生境提供了科学依据,对中亚热带沟谷森林植被的保护和经济植物的开发利用具有重要意义。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区土壤资源利用及其保护的研究──以耀县树林村林场土壤资源评价为例

该文通过黄土丘陵沟壑区耀县树林村林场的土壤调查和分析，以土种为单元进行了土壤分类。用等化指数和与积的平均百分数评价了土壤质量。结合土壤质量以及与水土保持相关的土地利用现状，提出了协调生态环境及改善和发展经济的土地利用对策。     

宜兴茶园土壤侵蚀及生态影响

茶园是苏南丘陵坡地的一种典型利用方式 ,其上发生的土壤侵蚀及产生的生态影响不容忽视。而要测度土壤侵蚀 ,137Cs示踪法是目前使用较多的一种有用工具 ,但要用此法 ,需找到研究区的137Cs背景值 ,并建立合适的估算模型。本文在对宜兴茶园研究时 ,确定了这里的137Cs背景值为 2 2 0 0Bqm- 2 ,并建立了估算耕作土壤的较合理的模型h =Hc× (Cref-Ct) /(Cref-Cin)。在此基础上衡量了研究对象的土壤侵蚀量 ;并进一步探讨了由此引发的生态影响 ,包括土层减薄、土壤质地改变和养分流失这样的直接影响 ,以及与之相应的一些间接影响 ,如能耗增加、水体富营养化及土地适宜性变化等 ;并且 ,还采用等值侵蚀模数这个指标 ,在与其他地区尤其是黄土和红壤区比较中揭示了苏南地区土壤侵蚀的生态危害的严重性     

柳枝稷的生长发育与土壤水分特征

1992-1998年中国科学院安塞水土保持综合试验站在山地、川地引种10份原产美国的柳枝稷（Panicum virgatum）材料，经过7a测定，数据表明柳枝稷在3～5a生长高峰期对土壤水分需求最大，产量最高。从土壤水分含量的变化来看，柳枝稷草地在80-200cm土层已经形成土壤干层，而且在经过生长季节降雨和休闲期的雨雪水分补充不能够补偿，这主要是维持较大的生产力造成。柳枝稷在半干旱黄土丘陵区有较强的适应性，这对当地人工草地建造、天然草地改良具有重要意义。通过对柳枝稷驯化栽培的人工草地在黄土丘陵半干旱地区立地条件下生产力与土壤水分特征的比较，以揭示柳枝稷的生态适应性对其地上生物量形成规律的影响，为该地区合理利用牧草资源、提高草地的生产能力提供依据与参考。