Do tillage and conversion of grassland to cropland always deplete soil organic carbon?

ABSTRACT

Conversion of grassland to cropland is widely reported to deplete soil organic carbon (SOC) largely due to tillage effects on the decomposition of SOC. However, most studies report on long-term changes in SOC following the conversion and little is known about the changes in the short term. Net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB) measures the difference between total C input (i.e., manure, above- and below-ground plant residues) and C loss through heterotrophic respiration (RH). However, most studies that report temporal SOC do not report other components of the NECB like RH, total C inputs and often do not include the cumulative annualized change of these components. This review evaluated the change in C input, RH, NECB and SOC after conversion of permanent/continuous grassland to cropland within 5 years after the conversion. We also reviewed and compared no-tillage and conventional tillage on SOC storage and accumulation. Total C input was higher in grassland than cropland largely due to high root biomass, as opposed to aboveground residue, and therefore grassland tended to have higher NECB. Despite higher NECB in grassland, the SOC stocks in cropland (cornfield) converted from grassland were greater than that in continuous grassland within first 2–3 years of conversion. The combination of manure C addition and tillage in cropland showed potential to maintain NECB and increase SOC. Within the continuous grassland C addition alone increased NECB but did not result in a corresponding increase in SOC. Residue retention and manure addition are recognized as good practices for increasing SOC, this study however, shows that combining them with occasional tillage, especially in managed grasslands, could increase the rate of SOC storage in soils.     

A novel combined recirculating treatment system for intensive marine aquaculture

This study established a pilot‐scale recirculating treatment system that coupled an ecological process with a biological process to achieve adequate water quality and to minimize the water consumption for intensive marine culture. The recirculating treatment system consisted of a settling cell, a biofilter tank, a bivalve tank and gravel beds. The toxic pollutants, threatening the growth of bivalves, were reduced by the settling cell and the biofilter tank, so that the polyculture of shrimp and bivalves could be achieved. The living bivalve tank could function well as a remover of remaining small suspended solids (SS), and other pollutants. As the SS was reduced to a very low level by bivalve tank before the water flowing into the gravel beds, the risk of clogging was prevented. The studies suggested that the system maintained high removal efficiencies of SS, ammonium nitrogen () and nitrite nitrogen () and could contribute to the increase in shrimp yield.     

Effect of cultivation time on soil heavy metal accumulation and bioavailability in Phyllostachys praecox stands

Phyllostachys praecox is a bamboo species cultivated for edible shoots under intensive management. However, the potential pollution risk of heavy metals in bamboo soils is not clear under the intensive management for a long term. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cultivation time on soil heavy metal accumulation and bioavailability in bamboo stands subjected to intensive management. Soil samples were collected from a chronosequence of bamboo stands which had been cultivated for 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 10 years in Lin''an, Zhejiang Province of China. Eight heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cd, As, and Hg) present in the soil were selected, and their potential pollution risk was evaluated by chemical speciation analysis. Possible heavy metal sources were explored using multivariate and cluster analysis. Our results showed that Zn, Cu, Hg, and Cd contents in the soil increased with the cultivation time, while Ni, Cr, Pb, and As levels were similar among all stands. Furthermore, the bioavailabilities of all analyzed heavy metals increased with the cultivation time. Multivariate and cluster analysis showed that sources of Ni, Cr, Pb, and As were likely lithogenic in origin, whereas input of Zn, Cu, Hg, and Cd was mainly due to cultivation practices. Current bamboo management strategies raised the potential risks of heavy metal pollution in bamboo shoots in the long term. Soil acidification in P. praecox stands induced by intensive cultivation should be controlled since it stimulated and improved the bioavailability of heavy metals. Appropriate management strategies should thus be adopted to ensure safe and sustainable production of bamboo shoots.     

渠堤化城镇河岸带的植被特征及其用地影响

渠堤化是干扰城镇河流的常见建设方式，掌握植物特征及对其产生显著影响的用地因素，对于优化渠化的城镇河岸植被带具有重要意义。采用样带全面调查的方法，对北京段已基本全线渠堤化潮白河河岸带植物进行调查，通过多重比较分析河岸带植物丰富度在不同空间位置的差异，并利用NMDS非约束排序拟合解译的周边缓冲区土地利用数据，探讨对渠堤化河岸带植物丰富度和种类分布产生显著影响的因素。结果表明:1）河岸带植物种类174种（乔、灌、草分别为52、29、90种），以草本为主；2）全线渠堤化城镇河流河岸带植物群落种类及丰富度均存在建成区和非建成区的显著差异，总体植物、乔木和灌木植物丰富度在建成区显著大于非建成区，但入侵植物沿渠堤化河岸带不存在空间位置的差异，入侵可能沿渠堤蔓延；3）周边缓冲区道路、其他不透水地表面积是城镇地区全线渠堤化河岸带植物丰富度的显著正相关影响因子，对主要观赏灌木和乔木种类分布存在积极影响，对原生灌木和草本种类分布存在消极影响，这种分布特征受人工干扰影响。     

Soil available potassium affected by rice straw incorporation and potassium fertilizer application under a rice–oilseed rape rotation system

Data from 147 field trials were collected to study the influence of straw incorporation on soil potassium (K) under an intensive rice–oilseed rape rotation system, while pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of rice straw incorporation on soil K availability. A significant correlation was observed between the soil available K and the relative yield (RRY) and the relative K uptake (RKU) of oilseed rape, with R² values ranging from 0.07 to 0.08 and from 0.10 to 0.11, respectively, when data were fitted to a logarithmic equation model. In approximately 30% of trials, RRY reached 90%, while soil test available K values were below the critical limit, indicating that soil K values at the time of sampling (within 1 week of rice harvest) underestimated the actual soil K supply capacity. The pot experiment results showed that soil available K was affected by straw incorporation and soil type in the fallow period. The NH₄OAc‐K and NaBPh₄‐K concentrations of soils increased at first, and then, plateaued after 28 days. Straw incorporation significantly influenced the critical soil K concentration, which is important for making accurate K fertilizer recommendation. These results suggested that straw K should be seriously considered in making K fertilizer recommendations. Extending the sampling time from 1 to 3 weeks after the harvesting of rice to stabilize the effects of straw incorporation may help achieve a more accurate evaluation of soil available K.     

Effects of agriculture,climate, and policy on NDVI change in a semi-arid river basin of the Chinese Loess Plateau

In 1999, the Grain for Green Project was implemented by the Chinese government. Since then, the vegetation of Zuli River Basin, a semi-arid river basin of the Chinese Loess Plateau, has been greatly changed. Clearly understanding the impact of natural and artificial factors on vegetation change is important for policy making and ecosystem management. In this study, spatio-temporal variations in vegetation cover in Chinese Zuli River Basin during 1999–2016 were investigated using Landsat normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data. Analyses of several indicators, including changes in NDVI in different slopes and land use changes and the relationships between climatic factors and NDVI change, were presented to quantitatively evaluate the effects of agriculture, climate, and policy on NDVI change. The NDVI in the Zuli River Basin increased during the study period, and the main contributors to this change were forest in 1999–2011, cropland, abandoned farmland, and grassland in 2009–2016, and land with slopes ≤ 15°. Land with slope > 15°, where the “Project” was implemented, slightly contributed to the increase in regional NDVI. In 1999–2011, the project (?98.16%) combined with climate change (?68.18%) showed negative effects on the increase in NDVI in the Zuli River Basin, but agriculture (22.28%) played a positive role in increasing this index. In 2009–2016 and 1999–2016, the project (38.45% and 35.25%, respectively), the project combined with climate change (49.83% and 46.30%, respectively), agriculture (18.61% and 23.30%, respectively), promoted increases in NDVI in the basin.     

Black polyethylene mulch improves growth of plantation-grown loblolly pine and yellow-poplar

The effects of mulching with perforated black plastic, in combination with fertilization and induced mycorrhizal symbioses, on the growth of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and yellow-poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) were studied in a plantation under intensive, short rotation management. Mulching effects on soil temperature were also examined in order to assess the potential influence of this treatment on temperature-dependent processes in soils affecting tree growth. Mulching significantly increased height and stem diameter growth of both species, attributable largely to improved water relations resulting from diminished soil surface evaporation and elimination of transpirational losses from competing vegetation. Mulching effects on soil temperature were insufficient to contribute substantially to the growth response exhibited by mulched trees. Multiple applications of urea-N promoted enhanced growth in both loblolly pine and yellow-poplar, an effect accentuated by mulching, but the field performance of trees inoculated in the nursery with selected mycorrhizal fungi was poor relative to that of the other treatments investigated.     

新疆早实核桃集约栽培模式的研究

本文基于新疆早实核桃集约栽培研究的 8年试验结果 :定植 (嫁接 )后第 8年平均株产核桃 9.67kg(最高株产达 2 0 .0 2kg) ,平均每 hm2产核桃 410 5 .3 5 kg(最高 hm2产核桃 5 5 2 2 .2 5 kg,660株 / hm2 ) ,间种产值 5 90 0 .5 5元 ,产值效益达 4695 4.0 5元 ;8年间平均每 hm2年产核桃 1115 .78kg,间种产值 9842 .85元 ,产值效益达 2 10 0 0 .6元。提出了适宜早实核桃集约栽培的品种、品种搭配、栽植密度 ,前期间作方式、间种作物 ,施肥浇水 ,幼树整形修剪及病虫害防治等一整套树体和田间管理技术措施 ,对新疆乃至全国早实核桃生产具有一定指导作用     

Tree growth and stand development of four Populus clones in large monoclonal plots

Four clones of Populus were planted in replicated monoclonal plots near Olympia, WA, to evaluate their suitability for use in short-rotation culture. All clones were easily established and had minimal problems from damaging agents during the first five years. Observed differences among clones in pattern and amount of growth appeared to be associated with differences in number and density of buds, sylleptic branching, and phenology. In addition, differences in drought tolerance and stockability may also have influenced clonal differences in annual growth and stand productivity. Individual tree growth was limited by the dense 1.0-m spacing, but the best-growing clones averaged 13 to 16 m tall, 7 to 9 cm in breast-high diameter (1.3 m), and produced stand basal areas exceeding 38 m²ha^-1at 8 years. Mortality was negligible for 7 years, after which various combined effects of competition, stem borer damage (Cryptorhyncus lapathi), and a severe windstorm caused mortality ranging from 18 to 36% in the three fastest growing clones.