Drying and rewetting effects on C and N mineralization and microbial activity in surface and subsurface California grassland soils

Rewetting a dry soil has long been known to cause a burst of respiration (the “Birch Effect”). Hypothesized mechanisms for this involve: (1) release of cellular materials as a result of the rapid increase in water potential stress and (2) stimulating C-supply to microbes via physical processes. The balance of these factors is still not well understood, particularly in the contexts of multiple dry/wet cycles and of how resource and stress patterns vary through the soil profile. We evaluated the effects of multiple dry/wet cycles on surface and subsurface soils from a California annual grassland. Treatments included 4, 6, and 12 cycles that varied the length of the drying period between rewetting events. Respiration was monitored after each wetting event while extractable C and N, microbial biomass, and microbial activity were assayed initially, after the first rewetting event, and at the end of the experiment. Initially, microbial biomass and activity (respiration, dehydrogenase, and N mineralization) in subsurface soils were ca. 10% and 20% of surface soil levels. After multiple cycles, however, subsurface soil microbial biomass and activity were enhanced by up to 8-fold, even in comparison to the constantly moist treatment. By comparison, surface soil microbial biomass and activity were either moderately (i.e. 1.5 times increase) or not affected by wetting and drying. Drying and rewetting led to a cascade of responses (soluble C release, biomass growth, and enhanced activity) that mobilized and metabolized otherwise unavailable soil carbon, particularly in subsurface soils.     

低水势下土壤水分磁滞现象研究

Knowledge of the soil water characteristic curve is fundamental for understanding unsaturated soils. The objective of this work was to find scanning hysteresis loops of two fine textured soils at water potentials below wilting point. This was done by equilibration over NaCl solutions with water potentials of -6.6 to -18.8 MPa at 25 ℃. When cycled repeatedly through a series of potentials in the range noted previously both soils exhibited a hysteresis effect. The experimental differences in water content between the drying and wetting soils at the same water potential were much too large to be accounted for by failure to allow sufficient time to attain equilibrium as predicted by the exponential decay model. The wetting versus drying differences were relatively small, however, at only 4 mg g^-1 or less in absolute terms and about 3% of the mean of wetting and drying, in relative terms. Hysteresis should be a consideration when modeling biological and physical soil processes at water contents below the wilting point, where small differences in water content result in large potential energy changes.     

Structural collapse and strength of some Australian soils in relation to hard setting: II. Tensile strength of collapsed aggregates

The strength of soils is related to structural stability. Aggregate structure which collapses on wetting may set to a hard, consolidated layer on drying (hard setting). This process may be moderated by suction wetting and possibly by application of calcium, but the mechanism of moderation is not clear. We investigated the collapse-strength relationship and the mechanism by which wetting method and calcium act to reduce strength in hard setting and non-hard setting soils. Indirect tensile strength of aggregate beds that had been wetted with water or 10mM CaCI₂ by rapid flooding or at a suction of 200 mm, was measured after draining to various suctions and drying at 40°C. The greater the volume strain during wetting and draining, the greater the tensile strength. Beds that were suction wetted, either with water or calcium solution, showed minimal collapse and did not develop high strength on drying. Water-flooded beds had the greatest dry strength while beds flooded with calcium solution developed significantly lower strength. The critical factor determining tensile strength of the beds appeared to be the presence of large (>75 μm diameter) pores. The greater the volume strain on wetting, the smaller the proportion of larger pores and the greater the tensile strength on drying. Flood wetting caused more loss of large pores and closer packing of particles. Wetting with calcium solution did not affect the degree of collapse compared with that of water alone but did produce beds with larger pores than when wetted with water. Consequently the strength of the calcium-wetted beds was lower.     

水平微润灌湿润体HYDRUS-2D模拟及其影响因素分析

为探索土壤质地、初始含水率、压力水头和埋深对水平微润灌土壤湿润体特性的影响机理,利用试验数据验证了水平微润灌HYDRUS-2 D模拟结果的可靠性,模拟值与实测值非常吻合。在此基础上,模拟研究了3种土壤质地(砂壤土、壤土、粉壤土)以及壤土中不同初始含水率(0.085、0.106、0.130 cm~3/cm~3)、压力水头(0.6、1.2、1.8 m)和埋深(20、30、40 cm)条件下土壤湿润体动态变化规律。结果表明:土壤湿润锋运移距离皆符合垂直向下水平方向垂直向上的规律,湿润体在形状上差异不大,土壤含水率等值线均为近似"同心圆";土壤质地对湿润体特性有显著影响,土壤质地越黏重,湿润锋运移速率越慢,湿润体体积越小,土壤含水率等值线越密集,其"圆心"越靠近微润管,灌水结束时,壤土和砂壤土湿润体体积分别是粉壤土的1.3倍和2.5倍;在确定的土壤质地条件下,初始含水率和压力水头对湿润体特性有较大影响,湿润锋运移距离及湿润体体积均随土壤初始含水率、压力水头的增大而增大,初始含水率为0.106和0.130 cm~3/cm~3的湿润体体积分别是0.085 cm~3/cm~3的1.2倍和1.5倍,压力水头为1.2和1.8 m的湿润体体积分别是0.6 m的1.6倍和2.2倍;微润管埋深对湿润体分布位置有显著影响,埋深较浅时,湿润锋容易到达地表,埋深较深时,土壤湿润体随埋深下移而同步下移。     

Infiltration Variability in Agricultural Soil Aggregates Caused by Air Slaking

This article reports on variation in infiltration rates of soil aggregates as a result of phenomenon known as air slaking. Air slaking is caused by the compression and subsequent escape of air captured inside soil aggregates during water saturation. Although it has been generally assumed that it occurs mostly when dry aggregates are rapidly wetted, the measurements used for this paper have proved that it takes place even if the wetting is gradual, not just immediate. It is a phenomenon that contributes to an infiltration variability of soils. In measuring the course of water flow through the soil, several small aggregates of five agricultural soils were exposed to distilled water at zero tension in order to characterize their hydraulic properties. Infiltration curves obtained for these aggregates demonstrate the effect of entrapped air on the increase and decrease of infiltration rates. The measurements were performed under various moisture conditions of the A-horizon aggregates using a simple device.     

Mechanical properties of metastable glacial till before and after water‐induced compaction

The mechanical properties of metastable soils have been approached from different backgrounds by civil engineers and soil scientists, with the main focus being on water‐induced self‐compaction rates. This study was conducted to determine the rebound‐recompression properties of metastable soil before and after wetting and to study the effect of water‐induced compaction on the mechanical stability depending on the overburden pressure. Rebound and recompression properties were measured with oedometer tests using sieved sandy loam, taken from a nonweathered Saalian glacial till layer, as the metastable test soil. The mechanical stability (preconsolidation load) of the dry and wetted soil was derived mathematically from recompression data after the test soil was unloaded. Void‐ratio changes during unloading and reloading were on a low level (Δe = 0.03). Rebound and recompression rates of the dry samples increased with load, whereas the void‐ratio change was twofold higher during recompression. Rebound rates of the wetted samples tended to decrease with load, while the recompression rates remained constant. Preconsolidation load calculated for the dry samples overestimated the simulated overburden pressure, whereas the wetted samples showed a high congruence. In both cases, the point of greatest curvature estimated in the earlier step of deviation gave values that were more realistic to the loads from which the unloading started. Our results indicate that both dry compaction and water‐induced compaction induce primarily plastic deformation. Furthermore, we found that in both the dry and wetted state the mechanical stability of the soil reflecting the overburden pressure remained constant.     

斥水红黏土的增湿强度特性研究

在红黏土中加入十八胺使其由亲水变为斥水,分别对亲水和斥水土进行不同容重下增湿和不增湿直剪试验,通过试验对不增湿条件下红黏土由亲水变为斥水后的抗剪强度变化规律及增湿对亲水和斥水红黏土抗剪强度的影响展开研究.试验结果表明:不增湿条件下,亲水土壤变为斥水后其强度会降低,且随着正应力的增大斥水土壤抗剪强度降低越明显;增湿对亲水...     

Effects of compaction on soil surface water repellency

Water repellency can reduce the infiltration capacity of soils over timescales similar to those of precipitation events. Compaction can also reduce infiltration capacity by decreasing soil hydraulic conductivity, but the effect of compaction on soil water repellency is unknown. This study explores the effect of compaction on the wettability of water repellent soil. Three air‐dry (water content ～4 g 100 g^?1) silt loam samples of contrasting wettability (non‐repellent, strongly and severely water repellent) were homogenized and subjected to various pressures in the range 0–1570 kPa in an odeometer for 24 h. Following removal, sample surface water repellency was reassessed using the water drop penetration time method and surface roughness using white light interferometry. An increase in compaction pressure caused a significant reduction in soil surface water repellency, which in turn increases the soil's initial infiltration capacity. The difference in surface roughness of soils compacted at the lowest and highest pressures was significant (at P > 0.2) suggesting an increase in the contact area between sessile water drops and soil surfaces was providing increased opportunities for surface wetting mechanisms to proceed. This suggests that compaction of a water repellent soil may lead to an increased rate of surface wetting, which is a precursor to successful infiltration of water into bulk soil. Although there may be a reduction in soil conductivity upon compaction, the more rapid initiation of infiltration may, in some circumstances, lead to an overall increase in the proportion of rain or irrigation water infiltrating water repellent soil, rather than contributing to surface run‐off or evaporation.     

Microbial biomass dynamics and soil wettability as affected by the intensity and frequency of wetting and drying during straw decomposition

Water repellency is influenced by soil management and biological process. We carried out a 60‐day laboratory incubation experiment to evaluate the effects of straw amendment, together with the intensity and frequency of wetting and drying (W/D), on microbial processes and water repellency. One W/D cycle consisted of 1.5‐day wetting at −0.03 kPa from the soil core bottom and different drying lengths in a temperature‐controlled laboratory, resulting in different drying intensities. At a regular interval, soil respiration rate (SRR) on drying and wetting, soil microbial biomass C and N (SMB‐C and N), and soil water repellency (SWR) after the wetting were measured simultaneously. Rice straw amendment had a greater effect on SRR, but smaller influences on SMB and SMB‐C : N than W/D frequency and drying intensity. The first W/D caused the largest decrease in soil respiration and the soil respiration recovered partly in the subsequent W/D cycles. The increase in SMB and SMB‐C : N as well as metabolic quotient with W/D frequency and intensity suggested a shift of microbial community from bacterial dominance to fungal dominance. SWR was significantly related to SMB‐C (R²= 0.689, P < 0.001). However, this study was limited to these indirect measurements. Direct measurements of fungal biomass and microbial community are needed in the future. The results suggest that rice straw amendment in dry season may increase C sequestration due to reduced decomposition and stabilize soil structure due to the enhancement of microbial induced water repellency.     

垄沟灌溉对土壤水分布与湿润体特征的影响

The ridge-furrow tillage combined with furrow irrigation is being more widely applied and has been shown to be effective in the Loess Plateau of China. Accurate characterization of water infiltration behavior under ridge-furrow irrigation could provide guidelines and criteria for future irrigation system design and operation. Our objective was to investigate soil water behavior during ponding infiltration in a cross-sectional ridge-furrow configuration. Soil water movement within three different soil textures was tested by tracking the spatial and temporal soil water content (SWC) variations in a soil chamber. The two-dimensional transient flow initially transferred rapidly, but gradually decreased with elapsed infiltration time, approaching a stable flow after 90 min. A technical parameter equation incorporating the Philip equation was developed using the water balance method to accurately predict total applied water volume (TAWV). The wetting patterns moved outward in an elliptical shape. The wetted lateral and downward distances fitted using equations accounted for capillary and gravitational driving forces in variably wetted soil media. Increasing initial SWC resulted in an increase in wetted soil volume, which can also be caused by decreasing bulk density in a homogeneous soil. Higher water level produced greater wetted lateral distance and more irrigation uniformity. The wetted lateral distance was almost identical to the wetted depth in silty clay loam soil; hence ridge-furrow irrigation should be implemented in such finer-textured soils. The wetted soil volume differed markedly among different soil textures (hydraulic properties), demonstrating that these properties can largely determine soil water spreading patterns and distribution.     

Soil respiration in a chihuahuan desert rangeland

Soil respiration of a desert soil was measured at the New Mexico State University Ranch in Southern New Mexico. Respiration rates were highest during late July and August after summer rains. Soil respiration data were used to estimate soil organic matter turnover which was 54 yr using summer data and 20 yr using both summer and winter data. The long turnover estimate for summer measurements resulted from temperatures above optimum in June and July. Diurnal soil respiration was also measured after a simulated 2.54 cm rain event. For both wetted and dry soils, temperature controlled the patterns of soil respiration with an optimum of near 41°C. Activation energy values decreased from 84.91 to 39.5 kJ mol^?1 when the soil was wetted. A light-dark container method was tested as a possible means of estimating algal uptake of CO₂, however, the method was not feasible for desert soils.     

Characterization of the water soluble soil organic pool following the rewetting of dry soil in a drought-prone tallgrass prairie

To better understand the nature of the C flush that follows the rewetting of dry soil, we chemically characterized the water soluble pools following rewetting of soil dried to several different water potentials. To assess the impact that historical soil water status has on the size of the rewetting labile soluble pool, a laboratory water stress gradient was applied to soils that were collected from drought-prone and irrigated tallgrass prairie soils. In the laboratory, soils were either incubated at −33 kPa or dried steadily over a 0.6, 1, 2, or 3 day period to −1.5, −4, −15, and −45 MPa respectively. On the 4th day, samples were wetted back to −33 kPa and immediately assayed for soluble, microbial, or respiratory pools of carbon. After extraction, samples were also assayed using NMR, GC-MS, and LC-MS to assess carbohydrate, amino acid, osmolyte and sugar pools. The greater the degree of drying before rewetting was associated with greater concentrations of microbial, soluble and respiratory pools of carbon, increasing by 50, 400 and 250%, respectively, in the most water stressed compared to continuously moist soil. Compared to drought-prone soils, the amount of soluble C released as a result of rewetting was 30 to 50% greater in soils that were irrigated for 11 years. The pool of organics was not completely characterized and only small amounts of TBDMS and TMS derived compounds accounting for 2-4% of the soluble C pool were detected. In contrast, oligosaccharides constituted approximately 20-25% of the sample C. Our results suggest that the flush of C following wetting of a dry soil is not dominated by common microbial osmolytes (e.g. proline, glycine betaine, ectoine, glycerol, mannitol, trehalose). In light of this finding more research is needed to better understand the adaptations that microbial communities utilize to respond to the rewetting of dried soil.     

The extent of drying influences the flush of respiration after rewetting in non-saline and saline soils

Drying and rewetting are common events in soils during summer, particularly in Mediterranean climate where soil microbes may be further challenged by salinity. Previous studies in non-saline soils have shown that rewetting induces a flush of soil respiration, but little is known about how the extent of drying affects the size of the respiration flush or how drying and rewetting affects soil respiration in saline soils. Five sandy loam soils, ranging in electrical conductivity of the saturated soil extract (ECe) from 2 to 48 dS m⁻¹ (EC2, EC9, EC19, EC33 and EC48), were kept at soil water content optimal for respiration or dried for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days (referred to 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D and 5D) and maintained at the achieved water content for 4 days. Then the soils were rewet to optimal water content and incubated moist for 5 days. Water potential decreased with increasing drying time; in the 5D treatment, the water potential ranged between −15 and −30 MPa, with the lowest potentials in soil EC33. In moist and dry conditions, respiration rates per unit soil organic C (SOC) were highest in soil EC19. Respiration rates decreased with increasing time of drying; when expressed relative to constantly moist soil, the decline was similar in all soils. Rewetting of soils only induced a flush of respiration compared to constantly moist soil when the soils were dried for 3 or more days. The flush in respiration was greatest in 5D and smallest in 3D, and greater in EC2 than in the saline soils. Cumulative respiration per unit SOC was highest in soil EC19 and lowest in soil EC2 Cumulative respiration decreased with increasing time of drying, but in a given soil, the relationship between water potential during the dry phase and cumulative respiration at the end of the experiment was weaker than that between respiration rate during drying and water potential. In conclusion, rewetting induced a flush in respiration only if the water potential of the soils was previously decreased at least 3-fold compared to the constantly moist soil. Hence, only marked increases in water potential induce a flush in respiration upon rewetting. The smaller flush in respiration upon rewetting of saline soils suggests that these soils may be less prone to lose C when exposed to drying and rewetting compared to non-saline soils.     

Release and consumption of nitrogen by snail feces in Negev Desert soils

Snail grazing and feces production have been shown to be major components of the nitrogen (N) budget of Negev Desert ecosystems. However, the movement of N from feces into soil N cycling processes has not been studied. In this study, we measured immediate N release from different types of snail feces following wetting of dry desert soils, and characterized potential net N mineralization and nitrification and soil respiration over a 12-day incubation under laboratory conditions. The dynamics of morganic N exhibited two distinct phases during the 12-day incubation: (1) immediate release of inorganic N following wetting of the soil and (2) decline of inorganic N from day 1 today 12 of the incubation. The immediate pulse of N release from this one wetting event (6–25 mg N m^-2) was larger than annual atmospheric inputs of N to Negev Desert ecosystems (<2 mg N m^-2); however, from 50 to 80% of the N released upon wetting was consumed by the end of the incubation. There were differences in inorganic N release and respiration from feces from different kinds of snails, and from feces from the same species of snail fed different plants. The results suggest that while snail feces contribute significant amounts of plant available N to Negev ecosystems, plants must compete with other sinks for this N.     

Biodegradation kinetics of monosaccharides and their contribution to basal respiration in tropical forest soils

Low molecular weight (LMW) organic compounds in soil solution are easily biodegradable and could fuel respiration by soil microorganisms. Our main aim was to study the mineralization kinetics of monosaccharides using ¹⁴C-radiolabelled glucose. Based on these data and the soil solution concentrations of monosaccharides, we evaluated the contribution of monosaccharides to basal respiration for a variety of tropical forest soils. Further, the factors controlling the mineralization kinetics of monosaccharides were examined by comparing tropical and temperate forest soils. Monosaccharides comprised on average 5.2 to 47.7% of dissolved organic carbon in soil solution. Their kinetic parameters (V _max and K_M ), which were described by a single Michaelis-Menten equation, varied widely from 11 to 152?nmol?g^?1?h^?1 and 198 to 1294?µmol?L^?1 for tropical soils, and from 182 to 400?nmol?g^?1?h^?1 and 1277 to 3150?µmol?L^?1 for temperate soils, respectively. The values of V _max increased with increasing microbial biomass-C in tropical and temperate soils, while the K_M values had no correlations with soil biological or physicochemical properties. The positive correlation between V _max values and microbial biomass-C indicates that microbial biomass-C is an essential factor to regulate the V _max values in tropical and temperate forest soils. The biodegradation kinetics of monosaccharides indicate that the microbial capacity of monosaccharide mineralization far exceeds its rate at soil solution concentration. Monosaccharides in soil solution are rapidly mineralized, and their mean residence times in this study were very short (0.4–1.9?h) in tropical forests. The rates of monosaccharide mineralization at actual soil solution concentrations made up 22–118% of basal respiration. Probably because of the rapid and continuous production and consumption of monosaccharides, monosaccharide mineralization is shown to be a dominant fraction of basal respiration in tropical forest soils, as well as in temperate and boreal forest soils.     

岷江上游干旱河谷旱地土壤斥水性特征初步研究

土壤斥水性是土壤颗粒不易被水滴浸润的现象,对土壤水分特征曲线、土壤溶质运移、土壤优先流、土壤导水率以及地表径流和土壤侵蚀等具有重要影响。研究结果表明,3月份岷江上游干旱河谷0-5cm土层具斥水性的土壤在空间上的分布概率约为34%,其中强度斥水性土壤分布比例为5%;在时间分布上,土壤斥水性主要表现在7月,轻度以下斥水性概率为91%,强度以上斥水性概率为58%;从各粒级土壤斥水性的研究结果来看,斥水性与土壤粒级呈显著负相关,粒级越小,土壤斥水性越高。因此,岷江上游干旱河谷旱地土壤斥水性具有明显的时空分布差异,并且粒级越小土壤斥水性越强,7月份土壤表层的土壤斥水性强度与分布比例高。这可能是导致干旱河谷严重水土流失、土壤砂砾化的一个重要原因。     

Phases of denitrification following oxygen depletion in soil

The short-term response of soil denitrification to reduced aeration was studied using the acetylene inhibition method for the assay of denitrification. Two distinct phases of denitrification rate were observed. An initial constant rate, termed phase I, was not decreased by chloramphenicol, was increased slightly or not at all by organic carbon amendment, and lasted for 1–3 h. Phase I was attributed to the activity of pre-existing denitrifying enzymes in the soil microflora. Following phase I the denitrification rate increased; chloramphenicol inhibited this increase. In soils without organic-C amendment a second linear phase, termed phase II, was attained after 4–8 h of anaerobic incubation. The linearity of this phase was attributed to the full derepression of denitrifying enzyme synthesis by the indigenous population and to the lack of significant growth of denitrifiers. Phase I rate was dependent on the initial or in situ aeration state of the soil sample; phase II was not. Therefore, phase I may be more directly related to field denitrification rates.Denitrification rate changes following water saturation of soils in aerobic atmospheres were also examined. Rates were greatly increased by wetting but only after a lag of several hours. Our interpretation is that following wetting of natural soils, anaerobic or partially anaerobic conditions are established by respiration and reduced O₂ diffusion rate; this first eliminates O₂ inhibition then derepresses the synthesis of denitrifying enzymes. Although denitrifying enzymes are apparently present even in relatively dry soils, their activity is low until O₂ inhibition is eliminated. From this evidence we reason that most N is lost from soils during brief periods beginning a few hours after irrigation or a rainfall.     

Structural collapse and strength of some Australian soils in relation to hard setting: I. Structural collapse on wetting and draining

The surface structure of many Australian red and red-brown earths frequently collapses (slakes) when dry, disturbed aggregates are wetted by rain or irrigation. The resulting fine matrix sets, on drying, to a strong, cohesive layer of up to 200 mm thick (hard setting). We investigated the mechanism of collapse and the extent to which the structure of aggregate beds Iron hard setting and non-hard setting soils collapsed when wetted by quick flooding or slowly with water at a suction of 200 mm, then drained in sequential steps of increasing suction and finally dried at 40°C. After flood wetting, but before draining, no collapse was observed due to the small effective stress prevalent in the flooded beds. After suction wetting, some collapse was measured owing to the effective stress (approximately 1.4 kPa) from the applied suction. On draining, flood-wetted beds collapsed extensively (volume strain >0.20), largely due to the disappearance of large pores (>75 μm diameter). Suction-wetted beds collapsed less (volume strain <0.16) and retained more large pores. Hard setting soils collapsed more following both flood and suction wetting (volume strain >0.20 and 0.10, respectively), while non-hard setting soils did not collapse as extensively (volume strain <0.16 and 0.09, respectively). Results indicate that the mechanism causing collapse was independent of wetting method and involved two steps: (i) slaking of aggregates on wetting, and (ii) collapse of the aggregate bed on draining as a result of development of effective stress within the beds.     

Carbon and nitrogen mineralization of added particulate and macroorganic matter

Particulate organic matter (POM) is more sensitive than total SOM to changes in management practices and, accordingly, may indicate changes in soil quality. A soil incubation study was conducted to determine the effects of added POM (75 to 250 μm size fraction), or macroorganic matter (MOM, 250 to 2000 μm size fraction) on C and N mineralization and microbial C and N content. A 1 kg composite made from 16 predominantly silt loam soils was amended with 10 g of POM, MOM or MOM ground to a reduced size of 75 to 250 μm (GMOM). The MOM amendment equaled 4.55-fold and POM equaled 1.60-fold of total MOM and POM found in the composite soil. Carbon mineralization of MOM and POM after 8 weeks was approximately 9 and 4%, respectively of the total MOM and POM-C added. Reducing the size of MOM to 75 to 250 μm did not affect mineralization. Nitrogen mineralization was slightly greater in the amended soils after 8 weeks and equaled 5 to 6% of the MOM or POM-total N added. Contribution of POM to total mineralized N from soil organic matter (SOM) in the composite soil was proportional to the POM content in SOM or approximately 12%. Amended soils had 25 to 42% more biomass-C than the control soil 2 weeks after amendment application. After 8 weeks, the amended soils contained about 32% more biomass-C. This increase in biomass-C at 8 weeks accounted for approximately 2% of the added C. At 8 weeks, microbial biomass-N in GMOM-, MOM- and POM-amended soils was about 56, 46 and 14% higher, respectively, than in the control soil. These increases were approximately 8% of the MOM-N added and 2% of the POM-N added. Increases in POM resulted in increases in soil respiration and microbial biomass-C and N, which also are suggested indicators of soil quality. Therefore, POM may be a suitable soil quality indicator that provides similar information as soil respiration or microbial biomass determinations.     

浑水含沙率对膜孔灌肥液入渗土壤水氮运移特性的影响

为研究浑水膜孔灌条件下含沙率对膜孔灌肥液入渗土壤水氮运移特性的影响,通过室内膜孔入渗试验,设5个含沙率水平(0、3%、6%、9%、12%),观测累积入渗量、湿润锋运移距离、湿润体内水分以及NO-3-N和NH4+-N运移变化特性。结果表明:浑水含沙率越大,湿润锋运移距离越小,相同入渗历时内湿润体体积和高含水率区域越小,湿润体内同一位置处土壤含水率越小。单位膜孔面积累积入渗量与入渗时间符合Kostiakov模型(R2>0.9,P<0.01);随着浑水含沙率的逐渐增大,入渗系数逐渐减小,而入渗指数基本不变。垂直湿润锋运移距离和减渗率均与入渗时间呈极显著的幂函数关系,含沙率对减渗率的影响主要是通过对减渗系数的影响来实现。湿润体土壤NO-3-N和NH4+-N含量随着浑水含沙率的增大而减小,且在膜孔中心附近区域其含量均较高。土壤NO-3-N主要集中分布在湿润半径10 cm范围内,湿润体水平方向及膜孔垂向土壤NO-3-N含量均随着距膜孔中心距离的增加而降低;而土壤NH4+-N主要集中分布在湿润半径5 cm范围内,湿润半径5~10 cm范围内的土壤NH4+-N含量随着土壤深度的增加而降低。研究结果可为进一步深入研究浑水膜孔灌肥液入渗提供理论依据。