Uncertainties in up-scaling N2O flux from field to 1°×1° scale: A case study for Inner Mongolian grasslands in China

Since N₂O emissions cannot be measured easily at large scales, global emission estimates inevitably involve problems with scaling. To date, up-scaling processes depend highly on the models and database. Because of the limitation in resolution of the databases, which provide input parameters to drive the model's regional simulations, the uncertainties generated from the up-scaling processes must be quantified. In this paper, the uncertainties in up-scaling N₂O emissions from the field scale (∼1 km²) to 1°×1° scale (∼10,000 km²) were quantified in a case study from the Xilin River basin of Inner Mongolia, China. A revised process-based DNDC model was applied in the study for quantifying N₂O fluxes with a high-resolution (1 km²) soil database constructed with remote sensing data and GIS technique. The results showed that the uncertainties coming from spatial scaling effect is 63.6%, and from the partitioning of sensitive model parameter (SOC) is 86.4%. We found that inclusion of spatial heterogeneity of soil factors resulted in lower regional N₂O emission estimates. Utilization of the spatial structural information based on soil type was more effective for reducing the spatial scaling effect in comparison with the variability information calculated from Monte Carlo method.     

Using a modified DNDC model to estimate N2O fluxes from semi-arid grassland in China

Field measurement results showed that approximately 40% of the annual N₂O losses occurred during the non-growing season and confirmed the importance of spring and autumn periods for assessment of total N₂O losses from semi-arid temperate grassland in China. In the previous study, we found that the 7.2 version of Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model had significantly lower estimates of N₂O losses in spring and autumn time. In this study, three modifications, which mainly focus on the nitrification sub-model, the impact of soil frost and snow cover on gas production and emission, had been made to the model code. Based on field measurement, we concluded that modified version of DNDC model is more suitable for estimating the magnitude and seasonal trends of N₂O losses from this region on a plot scale. By extrapolating the field data with our modified model, we estimated that the annual N₂O emission rates for natural temperate grasslands of northern China is ca. 0.056T_g N₂O-N y⁻¹, i.e. ca. 40% lower than the estimate based only on field measurements (ca. 0.092T_g N₂O-N y⁻¹).     

Foraging pits of the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) as small-scale patches in a semi-arid Australian box woodland

Many animals create disturbances on the soil surface while constructing habitat and resting sites, or foraging for food. This soil disturbance, which is sometimes known as biopedturbation, is a major contributor to landscape patchiness in arid and semi-arid environments. In the semi-arid woodlands of eastern Australia, the Short-Beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) creates a mosaic of foraging pits close to the canopies of large trees. The effects of pits on physical, chemical and biological properties of soils were compared at seven sites, each with two levels of disturbance (foraging pit vs. surface) and two canopy locations (under the canopy, in the open) associated with two tree species (Eucalyptus intertexta, Alectryon oleifolius). Foraging pits trapped twice the mass of litter compared with adjacent non-pit surfaces, and there was more litter under the tree canopies than in the open. Pits contained more bark and leaf material, and larger pits tended to trap more litter. Soil electrical conductivity levels were lower in the pits, and although there were greater concentrations of soil nutrients under the canopy, the concentrations of total carbon, nitrogen and sulphur were lower in the pits compared with the surface. Changes in litter mass did not explain differences in soil carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus. Soil in the pit was moister and more porous, and surface temperatures below the litter in the pits about 2 °C lower than at the surface. Respiration was about 30% greater in the pits, and both the early (sorptivity) and late (steady-state infiltration) stages of infiltration were significantly greater in the pits. Soil micro-arthropods were more abundant in the pits, which supported a different complement of taxa, but a similar diversity, to non-pit surfaces. Our results indicate that echidna foraging pits act as substantial resource traps. Given their extensive distribution in semi-arid woodlands, and their marked influence on soil biogeochemistry, echidnas should be seen as important ecosystem engineers in woodland critical for the maintenance of small-scale patchiness and, therefore, the efficient functioning of arid and semi-arid ecosystems.     

Tillage effects on water storage during fallow, and on barley root growth and yield in two contrasting soils of the semi-arid Segarra region in Spain

In semi-arid areas under rainfed agriculture water is the most limiting factor of crop production. To investigate the best way to perform fallow and its effect on soil water content (SWC) and root growth in a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) crop after fallow, an experiment was conducted on two soils in La Segarra, a semi-arid area in the Ebro Valley (Spain). Fallow was a traditional system used in these areas to capture out-of-season rainfall to supplement that of the growing period, usually lasting 16 months, from July to October of the next year. Soil A was a loamy fine Fluventic Xerochrept (Haplic Calcisol, FAO) of 120 cm depth and Soil B was a loamy Lithic Xeric Torriorthent (Calcaric Regosol, FAO) of only 30 cm depth. The experiment was continued for four fallow-crop cycles in Soil A and for two in Soil B. In Soil A, three tillage systems were compared: subsoil tillage (ST), minimum tillage (MT) and no-tillage (NT). In Soil B, only MT and NT were compared. In the fields cropped to barley, SWC and root length density (LV) were measured at important developmental stages during the season, lasting from October to June. In the fallow fields SWC was also monitored. Here, evaporation (EV), water storage (WS) and water storage efficiency (WSE) were calculated using a simplified balance approach. The fallow period was split in two 8-month sub-periods: July–February (infiltration) and March–October evaporation (EV). In Soil A, values of WSE were in the range 10–18% in 1992–1993, 1993–1994 and 1994–1995 fallow, but fell to 3% in 1995–1996. Among tillage systems, NT showed significantly greater WSE in the July–February sub-period of 1992–1993 and 1993–1994 fallow, but significantly lower WSE in the March–October sub-period, due to greater EV under NT. Consequently, no differences in total WSE were found between tillage systems. In Soil B, WSE was low, about 3–7%, and there were no difference between tillage systems. During the crop period, the differences in SWC and LV between tillage systems were small. Regarding yields, the best tillage system depended on the year. NT is potentially the best system for executing fallow, but residues of the preceding crop must be left spread over the soil.     

不同生态类型春小麦品种的水分敏感性研究

在旱作条件下对不同生态类型春小麦品种在拔节孕穗期补充灌水 4 0 mm和 1 2 0 m m,研究了不同品种的光合速率、生物学产量、籽粒产量 ,分析了不同品种的水分敏感性。结果表明 ,水地品种高原 6 0 2、甘麦 6 30、7931对水分敏感 ,水旱兼用品种 8347、80 - 1 4 2 1中等敏感 ,旱地品种 98SN1 4 6对水分不敏感 ;敏感性品种补灌 4 0 mm后干物质水分利用效率、籽粒水分利用效率都明显高于补灌 1 2 0 mm和不补灌的处理 ;中等敏感品种不补灌处理的干物质水分利用效率、籽粒水分利用效率高于补灌处理 ;不敏感品种补灌与不补灌处理的干物质水分利用效率差异不大 ,而籽粒水分利用效率不补灌处理高于补灌处理     

冀西北风沙半干旱区农田土壤水分动态分析

根据土壤水分定位观测结果,结合当地气候条件、作物生长过程和土壤物理性状等因子,对河北坝上不同土壤类型的土壤水分动态季节性垂直变化,以及土壤水分与降雨的关系进行了分析,得出了该区旱坡地、滩地土壤水分季节性变化规律,可概括为失墒期、耗墒期、补墒期、缓慢失墒期四个时期,并且提出了该区提高农田水分利用率的几项主要措施。     

施肥对半干旱地区小麦产量、NO3——N累积和水分平衡的影响

 依据长武站长期田间试验（1984～2001年）的结果，分析了不同施肥措施条件下小麦产量、氮肥利用率、土壤水分的变化及其相互间的关系。结果表明，对照、有机肥（M）、氮肥（N）、氮磷肥（NP）、氮肥＋有机肥（NM）和氮磷肥＋有机肥（NPM）处理冬小麦的17年平均产量依次为1.5、2.6、2.0、3.3、3.4和4.0 t·ha-1；冬小麦地上部17年累计吸收的氮量依次为509.0、854.6、781.9、1 199.8、1 067.5和1 430.9 kg·ha-1；2001年0～300 cm土层NO3--N储量依次为52.2、113.1、1 064.8、254.5、535.4和512.1 kg·ha-1，N处理的NO3--N分布于0～300 cm土层，NP、NM、NPM处理的NO3--N主要分布于0～180 cm土层。收获期0～300 cm土层多年平均水分含量为CK＞N＞M＞NP＞NPM。播种期NP、NPM处理200～300 cm土层水分出现亏缺。施肥是黄土旱塬区土壤生产力提高、土壤深层水分亏缺和土壤NO3--N累积的驱动力。     

黄土高原半干旱区饲用燕麦种质表型性状遗传多样性分析及综合评价

通过遗传种质的多样性评估,可以指导育种中优异互补亲本的选择,进而提高优异基因的积累叠加和新品种培育的效率,为促进饲用燕麦品种选育提供基础依据。本研究选用45份来自国内外的饲用燕麦种质,通过对20个表型性状的遗传多样性分析,结合二维排序综合评价优异种质资源,结果表明:供试种质材料表型性状遗传多样性丰富,遗传基础广泛;单株粒重的遗传多样性指数(3.86)最高,单株粒数变异系数高达36.98%,所有表型性状均表现出了丰富的变异;主成分分析将10个表型性状转化成可以代表原有指标83.735%信息量的4个主成分,构建出以4个主成分因子为参数的定量评价函数模型,并通过二维排序筛选出Z4(青引1号)、Z5(Bauntebue)、Z6(定燕2号)、Z7(定引1号)、Z12(Jerry)、Z21(Marion)、Z22(Trophy)、Z32(Loevile)等8个因子协调最好的优异种质材料;系统聚类将供试种质划分为3大类群,第Ⅰ、Ⅲ类群可作为选育高产、抗病、抗倒品种的优良亲本,第Ⅱ类群包涵种质地理来源丰富,可作为选育多目标性状的优良亲本。     

气候暖干化对半干旱区马铃薯水分利用效率的影响

基于1988~2013年黄土高原半干旱区马铃薯栽培定位试验,结合试验区域气象站1957~2013年气候要素观测资料,开展气候暖干化对黄土高原半干旱区马铃薯水分利用效率的影响研究。结果表明,1957~2013年试验区降水量呈下降趋势,气候倾向率为-10.219 mm(10a)~(-1);20世纪60年代降水量偏多,90年代降水量最少,降水量减少最多的季节为秋季。气温呈显著上升趋势,气候倾向率为0.228℃(10a)~(-1),20世纪80年代之后气温明显上升。试验区马铃薯水分利用效率呈显著下降趋势,气候倾向率为-25.602 kg hm~(-2)mm-1(10a)~(-1)。马铃薯水分利用率与6月上、中旬气温、7月上旬气温、8月下旬气温呈显著负相关,气温增高导致产量下降,水分利用效率降低。水分利用率与6月上旬降水量和9月中旬日照时数呈显著正相关。气候暖干对马铃薯发育和产量形成的负效应增加,马铃薯产量形成的不确定性因素也呈增加趋势。     

油松和侧柏无纺布容器苗雨季移植试验

[目的]研究埋土前取下无纺布容器袋对油松和侧柏苗木生长的影响。[方法]以苗龄为2.5年的油松、侧柏无纺布容器苗为试验材料,雨季移植时分为埋土前取下无纺布容器袋(去袋苗)和保留无纺布容器袋(带袋苗)2个处理,移植1年后,调查移植苗成活率,成活苗木株高、地径、高生长量。[结果]经χ2检验,去袋苗与带袋苗成活率差异不显著;经方差显著性F检验,去袋苗和带袋苗2个正态总体株高方差差异显著,地径方差差异极显著,高生长方差差异不显著;经t检验,去袋苗和带袋苗株高、地径、高生长量平均值差异不显著。[结论]在雨季移植埋土前取下无纺布容器袋对半干旱地区油松、侧柏苗木成活和前期生长无不良影响。