Assessment of soil structure repair due to wetting and drying cycles through 2D tomographic image analysis

Soil structure is very important in agriculture since it affects soil and plant root attributes, such as root system distribution, soil water and nutrient transport, and heat transfer. Degraded soil structures may be repaired by wetting and drying cycles due to changes in the soil pore system. Gamma-ray computed tomography (CT) was used as a tool to evaluate the effect of wetting/drying cycles on soil structure repair, using samples collected in aluminum cylinders. A first-generation tomograph with an ²⁴¹Am source and a 7.62 cm × 7.62 cm NaI(Tl) scintillation crystal detector coupled to a photomultiplier tube were employed. Image analysis and tomographic unit profiles showed that CT can provide an insight into sample structure in order to evaluate repairs and so improves the use of this tool in relation to the judgement of the quality of measured soil physical properties.     

Soil microbial biomass and activity response to repeated drying-rewetting cycles along a soil fertility gradient modified by long-term fertilization management practices

The effects of repeated drying-rewetting (DRW) cycles on the microbial biomass and activity in soils taken from long-term field experiment plots with different fertilization (FERT) management practice histories were studied. We investigated the hypothesis that soil response to DRW cycles differs with soil fertility gradient modified by FERT management practices. The soils were incubated for 51 days, after exposure to either nine or three DRW cycles, or remaining at constant moisture content (CMC) at field capacity. We found that both DRW and FERT significantly affected soil properties including NH₄-N, NO₃-N, dissolved organic C (DOC), microbial biomass C (Cmic), basal soil respiration rate (BSR), urease activity (URE) and dehydrogenase activity (DHD). Except for NH₄-N and BSR, variation in the properties was largely explained by FERT, followed by DRW, and then their interaction. Irrespective of the soils' FERT treatment, repeated DRW cycles significantly raised the DOC and Cmic levels compared with CMC, and the DRW cycles also resulted in a significant decline in BSR and URE and increase in DHD, probably because the organisms were better-adapted to the drying and rewetting stresses. The variations in soil biological properties caused by DRW cycles showed a significantly negative relationship with the soil organic C content measured prior to the start of the DRW experiments, suggesting that soils with higher fertility are better able to maintain their original biological functions (i.e., have a higher functional stability) in response to DRW cycles.     

茶粉/聚丙烯复合材料加速老化性能

为高值化利用茶产业剩余物资源,拓宽木塑复合材料中植物纤维来源,以废弃茶梗(tea stalk,TS)为有机填料,与聚丙烯(Polypropylene,PP)制备了TS/PP复合材料;同时为研究其户外应用和老化机制,考察了冻融循环老化对TS/PP复合材料力学性能、材色及热性能的影响,并用傅里叶红外光谱(Fourier transform infrared spectrum,FTIR)、扫描电镜(scanning electronic microscopy,SEM)等分析了复合材料的化学结构、表面形貌及老化机制。结果表明:在经历12次冻融循环老化后,复合材料的弯曲强度、缺口冲击强度、弯曲模量及硬度值保留率分别为28.9%、40.1%、34.5%和86.5%,复合材料的亮度变化值(△L*)、红绿轴色品指数变化值(△a*)、黄蓝轴色品指数变化值(△b*)及色差值△E分别为16.41、2.80、9.03和18.93;复合材料维卡软化点(vicat softing point,VSP)下降了2.9℃,茶粉组分的最快热降解温度降低了4℃;茶粉中木素苯环结构红外吸收峰强度减弱甚至消失,表明在冻融循环老化中茶粉中木素成分发生了降解。SEM显示随冻融循环次数增加,TS/PP复合材料表面裂纹数量增多,裂纹深度和宽度增大,甚至出现交叉裂纹。该研究结果可为进一步探索茶塑复合材料制备及老化规律,提供试验数据和理论参考。     

Aggregate stability and microbial community dynamics under drying-wetting cycles in a silt loam soil

Aggregate stability often exhibits a large inter-annual and seasonal variability which occurs regardless of residue treatments and is often larger than the differences between soils or cropping systems. Variations in soil moisture and seasonal stimulation of microbial activity are frequently cited as the major causes. The goal of this paper was to evaluate the effects of drying-rewetting cycles on aggregate stability and on its main microbially mediated agents from a mechanistic point of view. The 3-5 mm aggregates of a silty soil were incubated at 20 °C for 63 days with the following treatments and their combinations: (i) with or without straw input and (ii) with or without exposure to four dry-wet cycles. Microbial activity was followed by measuring the soil respiration. We estimated the microbial agents of aggregate stability measuring hot-water extractable carbohydrate-C, microbial biomass carbon and ergosterol content. We measured the water drop penetration time to estimate the hydrophobicity and aggregate stability according to Le Bissonnais [1996. Aggregate stability and assessment of soil crustability and erodibility: I. Theory and methodology. European Journal of Soil Science 47, 425-437] to distinguish three breakdown mechanisms: slaking, mechanical breakdown and microcracking. The addition of straw stimulated microbial activity and increased the resistance to the three tests of aggregate stability, enhancing the internal cohesion and hydrophobicity of aggregates. All the estimated microbial agents of aggregate stability responded positively to the addition of organic matter and were highly correlated with aggregate stability. Fungal biomass correlated better with aggregate stability than total microbial biomass did, showing the prominent role of fungi by its triple contribution: physical entanglement, production of extracellular polysaccharides and of hydrophobic substances. Dry-wet cycles had less impact on aggregate stability than the addition of straw, but their effects were more pronounced when microbial activity was stimulated demonstrating a positive interaction.     

黑河中游农田荒漠过渡带土壤冻融过程中水热动态

以黑河中游典型农田荒漠过渡带为例,对过渡带3种景观单元冻融期土壤水热动态进行了野外定位监测。结果表明:(1)土壤温度随气温剧烈变化,变幅随土壤深度的增加而减小,3种景观单元土壤温度变幅由剧烈到平缓的顺序为:荒漠农田防护林,并依次形成60,100和80cm深的冻土层;(2)受土壤性质和地表覆盖的影响,冻融过程中,农田、防护林土壤含水量变化明显,且农田土壤水分含量4月初达到最大值,而荒漠土壤含水量则基本保持不变;(3)土壤水分变化滞后于土壤温度的变化,防护林土壤水和温度变化较农田缓慢;(4)浅层地下水位在冻结期下降,融化期回升,且回升速率大于下降速率。冻融过程可有效减小土壤水分的蒸发和渗漏,冻后聚墒明显,利于下层土壤水分的保持,对于来年植物生长具有一定的意义。     

土壤-作物-大气系统水热碳氮过程耦合模型构建

定量描述农田生态系统中土壤水分动态、碳氮循环过程和作物生长发育规律,对水氮资源高效利用、作物生产决策和环境保护具有十分重要的意义。该文在总结前人研究成果的基础上,引用了联合国粮食及农业组织的气象模块、荷兰的PS123作物模型和丹麦的Daisy模型的碳氮循环模块;借鉴了RZWQM和Hydrus-1D的水分溶质运移模块的相关理论,并在其基础上进行了修改与完善,构建了土壤-作物-大气系统水热碳氮耦合模拟模型WHCNS(soil water heat carbon and nitrogen simulation)。该模型以天为步长,考虑了气象条件、作物生物学特性和田间管理驱动。土壤水分入渗和再分布过程分别采用Green-Ampt模型和Richards方程来描述。土壤氮素运移使用对流-弥散方程来描述,源汇项中考虑碳氮循环的各个过程(有机质矿化、生物固持、尿素水解、氨挥发、硝化、反硝化和作物吸收等),在根系吸水吸氮源汇项中引入了补偿性吸收机制。有机质模块完全来自Daisy模型,将有机质库划分为3个快库和3个慢库。利用改进的荷兰PS123模型实现了作物生长发育进程、干物质生产、干物质分配及作物产量的模拟,通过水氮胁迫校准因子来实现水氮限制下作物产量的模拟。最后应用华北地区(山东泰安)冬小麦-夏玉米轮作体系2 a的田间观测数据对该模型进行了校验。结果表明,剖面土壤水分和硝态氮浓度、叶面积指数、作物产量与实测值均吻合良好,模拟误差均在合理范围之内,特别是对产量的模拟较好,均方根误差为206~319 kg/hm2,相关系数为0.90,模型效率值均大于0.75,一致性指数值均大于0.9。WHCNS模型能够较好地模拟土壤水分动态、氮素运移及去向、作物生长发育等过程,表明该模型适用于中国华北地区高度集约化的农田生产系统。     

Impacts of ski-development on ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) at Cairn Gorm, Scotland

This paper reports adverse impacts on numbers and breeding success of ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) in 1967-1996 at a ski area in the Cairngorms massif, where ptarmigan normally show 10-year population cycles. An influx of carrion crows (Corvus corone), generalist predators, followed the development. On the most developed area near the main car park, ptarmigan occurred at high density but then lost nests to frequent crows, reared abnormally few broods, died flying into ski-lift wires and declined until none bred for many summers. On a nearby higher area with fewer wires, ptarmigan lost nests to frequent crows and reared abnormally few broods, but seldom died on wires. Adult numbers declined and then became unusually steady for over two decades, with no significant cycle. On a third area further from the car park, ptarmigan lost fewer nests to the less frequent crows but bred more poorly than in the massif’s centre, and showed cycles of lower amplitude than there. On a fourth area yet further away, with few or no crows, ptarmigan bred as well as in the massif’s centre and showed cycles of the same amplitude as there.     

Water-dispersible clay after wetting and drying cycles in four Brazilian oxisols

Widespread intensive land use in the seasonal tropics can damage the physical stability of aggregates. Similar damage can be expected from wetting and drying cycles causing aggregate fragmentation and, consequently, leading to an increase in their specific area and exposure of internal electric charges. Thus, we hypothetised that the influence of wetting and drying cycles is dependent on the mineralogical composition of oxisols (latosols) and it is higher in soils with low aggregate stability. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to test this hypothesis in highly weathered soils from Brazil, all with variable-charge clays and highly stable aggregates. Wetting and drying cycles were defined from the quantity of water available between field capacity and the permanent wilting point. Soil columns were submitted to 0, 2, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 wetting and drying cycles. After each number of wetting and drying defined physical and chemical properties were determined. Statistical analysis, such as simple and multiple linear regression and Pearson's correlation were performed, showing significantly correlated WDC contents with wetting and drying cycles. The obtained results led to the conclusion that there was a close interdependence among mineralogical composition, aggregate stability and WDC influenced by wetting and drying cycles. Soils of reduced aggregate stability like kaolinitcs made them more susceptible to the action of wetting and drying on the WDC. Changes in the WDC with wetting and drying cycles showed correlated with eletrochemical properties.     

Soil N transformations after application of 15N‐labeled biomass in incubation experiments with repeated soil drying and rewetting

The effects of repeated soil drying and rewetting on microbial biomass N (N_bio) and mineral N (N_min) were measured in incubation experiments simulating typical moisture and temperature conditions for soils from temperate climates in the post‐harvest period. After application of in vitro ¹⁵N‐labeled fungal biomass to a silty loam, one set of soils was exposed to two drying‐rewetting cycles (treatment DR; 14 days to decrease soil moisture to 20 % water‐holding capacity (WHC) and subsequently 7 days at 60 % WHC). A control set (treatment CM) was kept at constant moisture conditions (60 % WHC) throughout the incubation. N_bio and N_min as well as the ¹⁵N enrichment of these N pools were measured immediately after addition of ¹⁵N‐labeled biomass (day 0) and after each change in soil moisture (day 14, 21, 35, 42). Drying and rewetting (DR) resulted in higher N_min levels compared to CM towards the end of the incubation. Considerable amounts of N_bio were susceptible to mineralization as a result of soil drying (i.e., drying enhanced the turnover of N_bio), and significantly lower N_bio values were found for DR at the end of each drying period. Immediately after biomass incorporation into the soil (day 0), 22 % of the applied ¹⁵N was found in the N_min pool. Some of this ¹⁵N_min must have been derived from dead cells of the applied microbial biomass as only about 80 % of the microbes in the biomass suspension were viable, and only 52 % of the ¹⁵N_bio was extractable (using the fumigation‐extraction method). The increase in ¹⁵N_min was higher than for unlabeled N_min, indicating that added labeled biomass was mineralized with a higher rate than native biomass during the first drying period. Overall, the effect of drying and rewetting on soil N turnover was more pronounced for treatment DR compared to CM during the second drying‐rewetting cycle, resulting in a higher flush of mineralization and lower microbial biomass N levels.     

华北平原典型井灌区农田水循环过程研究回顾

本文回顾了中国科学院栾城农业生态系统试验站在农田水分循环和水量转化方面的研究工作和进展。目前, 对于冬小麦-夏玉米农田的蒸散耗水量及其结构(植物蒸腾和土壤蒸发)有较详细的研究结果。全年总蒸散量多年平均870 mm, 每年亏缺的350 mm 左右需要靠提取地下水保证; 同位素分析结果显示土壤蒸发的深度在地表下20 cm 处, 而植物蒸腾耗水也主要是利用0~40 cm 土层的土壤水分。对于土壤深层渗漏量和地下水接受垂直补给的问题, 不同研究结果间仍然存在较大差异, 尚需更精细的试验来确定。对于区域水量平衡和地下水资源可持续性的评价和管理, 目前急需重点开展区域蒸散量的精确估算和模拟研究, 以及不同土地利用和不同农业种植方式的水量平衡与水分转化过程研究。