Temporal changes in soil carbon and nitrogen in west African multistrata agroforestry systems: a chronosequence of pools and fluxes

The conversion of forests to agroecosystems or agroforests comes with many changes in biological and chemical processes. Agroforestry, a tree based agroecosystem, has shown promise with respect to enhanced system nutrient accumulation after land conversion as compared to sole cropping systems. Previous research on tropical agroforestry systems has revealed increases in soil organic matter and total organic nitrogen in the short term. However, research is lacking on long-term system level sustainability of nutrient cycles and storage, specifically in traditional multi-strata agroforestry systems, as data on both the scope and duration of nutrient instability are inconclusive and often conflicting. This study, conducted in Ghana, West Africa, focused on carbon and nitrogen dynamics in a twenty-five year chronosequence of cacao (Theobroma cacao Linn.) plantations. Three treatments were selected as on-farm research sites: 2, 15 and 25-year-old plantations. Soil carbon (C, to a depth of 15 cm) varied between treatments (2 years: 22.6 Mg C ha⁻¹; 15 years: 17.6 Mg C ha⁻¹; 25 years: 18.2 Mg C ha⁻¹) with a significant difference between the 2- and 15- and the 2- and 25-year-old treatments (p < 0.05). Total soil nitrogen in the top 15 cm varied between 1.09 and 1.25 Mg N ha⁻¹ but no significant differences were noted between treatments. Soil nitrification rates and litter fall increased significantly with treatment age. However, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and soil temperature showed a significant decrease with age. No difference was found between decay rates of litter at each treatment age. By 25 years, system carbon sequestration rates were 3 Mg C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, although results suggest that even by 15 years, system-level attributes were progressing towards those of a natural system.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizas and performance of Polylepis australis trees in relation to livestock density

Polylepis australis trees endemic to Argentina dominate the canopy of subtropical high altitude forests. Here, livestock rearing is the main economic activity and is suspect of the low performance of P. australis trees through direct and indirect effects which could include the reduction in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and their benefit to trees. To elucidate the role of AMF, we compare plant performance indicators, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization and AMF communities in 20 trees distributed in two areas of central Argentina which differed in livestock grazing intensity. The area with high livestock density presented more soil degradation and trees with a lower overall plant performance than the area with reduced livestock density. The AM colonization values of P. australis were considerably higher than reported for other tree species and the area with high livestock density had a lower proportion of arbuscules and higher proportion of hyphae, while vesicles and AM colonization – all structure considered together – did not differ between areas. Overall AMF spore number and of most species when considered separately was significantly higher in the area with high livestock density, suggesting a high tolerance and adaptation of AMF to livestock. We conclude that a reduction in livestock improves the performance of P. australis, that this improvement could be mediated by an increase in the proportion of arbuscules, but there does not appear to be any limitation in AM colonization or AMF spore number which could otherwise be limiting forest restoration.     

紫花苜蓿蓄水保土功能与经济效益分析

研究了退耕还林地种植的一年生紫花苜蓿蓄水保土功能并进行了经济效益分析。结果表明：在退耕还林地上种植紫花苜蓿可显著改善土壤的物理性状，增加土壤孔隙度，减少土壤容重，防止水土流失.减少土壤侵蚀作用十分显著。其茎叶持水率可达自身重量的34.3％，其根系大部分分布在0～30cm土层内。生物量为5.892t/hm^2，年产干草30.0～37.5t/hm^2，直接经济效益达18000～22500元/hm^2。其生态效益与经济效益均十分显著。     

Variations in soil chemical properties and microbial biomass in artificial gaps in silver fir stands

Changes in soil chemical and microbiological parameters in small (185 m²) and medium (410 m²) gaps, created in mature silver fir (Abies alba Mill) stands (mean height 30 m) in the Calabrian Apennines (Southern Italy), were studied over 2 years. Medium gaps had high soil temperature and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance and low soil moisture. Within small gaps we detected a greater amount of organic matter, with respect to under canopy cover sites and medium gaps. Moreover, a different trend of the organic matter between small and medium gaps was observed. In the medium gaps, with respect to under canopy cover sites and small gaps, we found a relatively low content of organic matter, associated to a lower amount of humic acid, which suggested that the organic substrate undergoes a mineralization rather than a humification process. An opposite trend was observed in small gaps, where the increase of organic matter content, associated to an increase of humic acid and microbial biomass, suggested a better humification process. Moreover, in small gaps the highest level of urease and the greatest fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis were observed. The different trend of organic matter observed in small and medium gaps may be related to changes in the environmental conditions. PAR transmittance, significantly higher in medium gaps, contributed to increase soil temperature and decrease soil moisture, affecting soil microbial populations and organic matter trend. These results suggest that the creation of small gaps represents the silvicultural practice with minor environmental impact.     

Influence of nursery soil amendments on water relations,root architectural development,and field performance of Douglas-fir transplants

This experiment evaluated the influence of manure, peat, and vermiculite incorporated at low and high rates (0.0118 and 0.0236 m³/m²) and under two soil moisture regimes on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedling (1+0 for 1+1) xylem water potential (_xylem), whole-plant growth, root architectural development, and subsequent field performance under fertilized and non-fertilized conditions. Trends in soil moisture retention were observed (high manure > high peat > control) but there were no differences in _xylem. Root length in the wetter soil moisture experiment was initially (three months) greatest for seedlings in high vermiculite and least in high manure but there were no differences among treatments at lifting (eight months). Mean height was greatest for seedlings grown in vermiculite and peat (wetter nursery experiment) after two field seasons. Field fertilization (35 g/seedling) with controlled-release fertilizer in the planting hole stimulated height growth initially, but decreased height and diameter growth during the second growing season. Dramatic improvements associated with the use of nursery soil amendments were not realized, but the failure to identify negative effects, a potential reduction in disease incidence, and improvement of nursery soil physical and chemical properties may justify their use.     

黄土丘陵区主要人工林水保及其土壤水分生态效益研究

通过研究表明，不同类型植被减少径流和泥沙的功效不同，东坡不同类型植被小区径流深由大到小的顺序为：荒坡＞沙棘（平茬）＞沙棘＋小叶杨＞农地；北坡为：油松＞油松＋沙棘＞沙棘林；东坡产沙量由大到小的顺序为：农地＞荒坡＞沙棘（平茬）＞沙棘＋小叶杨，北坡为：油松＞油松＋沙棘＞沙棘。不同类型植被在生长季的土壤水分平均值均很低，其中对土壤水分利用强度由大到小分别为柠条＞沙棘＞刺槐，100cm以下土层，不同类型林地土壤均存在利用性干层。     

Growth and nutritional responses of bareroot Jeffrey pine on a Sierra Nevada surface mine to minisite applications of fertilizer and lime

The effects of two controlled release fertilizers, Forestcote 22-4-6 + Minors and Dry Site 21-6-2 + Minors, and also dolomitic lime, on growth and nutrition of bareroot Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.) were investigated. Forestcote, which consists of loose prills, and Dry Site, consisting of prepackaged prills, were administered with two rates, while a single liming rate was used. An acidic Sierra Nevada surface mine provided the study site, and all amendments were applied at outplanting to the backfill of augered planting holes. Without impacting survival, both fertilizer formulations enhanced seedling growth, particularly at a 16 g rather than an 8 g application rate, although Forestcote was marginally more effective in this regard. In contrast, liming at a 27 g rate induced severe mortality and offset much of the growth gains resulting from fertilization. Improvements in N and P nutrition, as revealed by foliar analysis, probably accounted for much of the growth stimulation exhibited by fertilized seedlings, but reductions in the uptake of potentially phytotoxic trace elements such as Mn and Al and increases in base cation/metallic element ratios likely also contributed. The high application rate was generally preeminent in eliciting these nutritional responses. Liming induced little alteration of seedling nutrition. Impaired water relations may have caused the unfavorable responses to this treatment.     

Effects of light and microsite conditions on tree size of 6-year-old Cryptomeria japonica planted in a group selection opening

We examined the extent to which direct and indirect measures of light and microsite conditions could explain variation in tree height and diameter at the base of 6-year-old Cryptomeria japonica trees planted in a group selection opening of about 0.32 ha on a steep slope at Shiiba, Miyazaki Prefecture, southern Japan. We first used the gap light index (GLI) and soil thickness (ST) as directly measured indices. For an indirect measure of light, we used a between-cohort competition index (BCI) estimated from the position and total height of residual trees. For indirect measures of microsite, we examined topographic indices (slope, plan and profile curvature, average slope gradient, and relative elevation) derived from digital elevation models (DEMs) with different resolutions ranging from 2 to 10 m. The multiple linear regression using GLI and ST explained about 45% of variation in tree size, while simple regression using only GLI explained about 35%. The contribution of ST was about half of GLI. The multiple regressions using BCI and the topographic indices did not explain any more variation than using BCI alone (R ² of about 0.26). We conclude that microsite conditions with shallower soil and steeper slope have negative effects on tree growth in group selection openings, although the relative importance is smaller than light conditions. More comprehensive studies considering several openings with more heterogeneous topography including different species are needed to generalize our growth prediction using the indirect measures, which are useful for practical forest management.     

Spatial pattern of soil carbon and nutrient storage at the alpine tundra ecosystem of Changbai Mountain,China

气候变化对土壤碳和养分的影响越来越受到生态学家的关注,尤其是对高山冻原生态系统的影响。本研究目的是长白山高山冻原系统土壤碳和养分的空间异质性。结果表明:不同土层深度的土壤碳在Meadow alpine tundra vegetation (MA)中显著地高于其他植被类型(p<0.05);在每一植被类型中,表层(010 cm)碳含量显著地高于1020 cm的土层;土壤氮的分布格局是氮素在表层和1020 cm土层变化规律相似;不同土层深度的土壤磷在Lithic alpine tundra vegetation (LA) 中显著地低于其他植被类型(p<0.05);土壤钾浓度在Felsenmeer alpine tundra vegetation (FA) 和LA中显著地高于其他植被类型,但在每一植被类型中土壤钾浓度随土壤深度没有明显的变化;不同深度土壤硫在MA中显著地高度其他植被类型;对每一植被类型而言,C: N, C: P, C: K 和C: S随土壤深度增加而降低。除了在SA的表层外,表层的土壤C: N高于1020 cm的土层。在长白山高山冻原系统中,随植被类型的变化,土壤碳和养分储量有着显著的空间异质性。参29表3图1。     

江西大岗山连栽杉木人工林土壤性质的变化

系统研究了江西大岗山连栽杉木人工林土壤性质变化状况。结果表明：1、2代杉木人工林土壤物理性质相比，不论幼龄林还是中龄林，1代林均明显好于2代林；比较土壤酶活性，各林分也表现出相似的规律，即1代林土壤酶活性较高；而比较两代林土壤化学性质则发现，在幼龄林发育阶段各土壤因于指标变化规律不明显，土壤有机质、土壤氮素等指标反而为2代林较高；但各林分发育至中龄林阶段后则有了较强的规律性，除土壤有效铁和有效铜外，其它所有指标均为2代林较低。