Soil degradation processes and plant colonization in abandoned terraced fields overlying pumice tuffs

The state of soil degradation/regeneration in abandoned agricultural terraced fields over pumiceous tuffs has been assessed in this paper. In an initial stage, the relationships between soil types, surface microfeatures as indicators of soil degradation, physicochemical properties, plant colonization and vegetation structure were studied by means of multivariate statistical analyses (PCA, DCA, CCA and TWINSPAN®). Aerial photographs interpretation, DEMs and field surveys allowed us to identify 47 different environments for abandoned fields along 7 altitudinal transects (33 abandoned field terraces). In each study site, an inventory of the existing plant species and of morphological surface microfeatures were also made, by the line‐intercept method. Plant colonization in the field plots studied relates to the variation of soils properties according to a climatic altitudinal gradient. The soil properties most closely related to the abandonment age (decrease of soil salinity and clay content, and increase of soil alkalinity and total organic C and N), have contributed to the growth of plant communities with a high degree of climacity. The protection degree offered to the soils by the different vegetation types as a function of their structure and life‐forms strongly determines the occurrence of the different soil surface microfeatures as indicators of soil degradation or recovery. The acceleration of the early stages of succession by active planting of seeds from shrub species in the lower and upper areas, followed by reforestation in the latter ones, may be the best improvement practices to achieve an effective ecological recovery of the fields and simultaneously to attenuate soil degradation. The reassuming of agriculture may be desirable in those fields placed in middle heights, provided they show the best soil and climate conditions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

生产建设项目弃渣(土)场水土流失特征与防治措施

生产建设项目弃渣场种类繁多,弃渣成分、结构复杂,各类弃渣场的侵蚀形式、机制不尽相同,不易实施适宜的水土保持措施,致使弃渣场水土流失十分严重。通过介绍弃渣场存在的各类土壤侵蚀型式、归纳土壤侵蚀类型、分析岩土侵蚀特点,指出影响弃渣场土壤侵蚀的主要因素有排弃方式、组成物质、坡面以及堆积时间等。结合保证弃渣场安全稳定、恢复土地生产力的弃渣场水土流失防治目标,分析现有水土保持措施特点,提出健全弃渣场水土流失防治措施体系的建议,为弃渣场的水土流失防治提供科学依据。     

黄土丘陵区撂荒地土壤抗冲性及相关理化性质

为了评价农地撂荒对土壤抗侵蚀性的影响,该文以黄土丘陵区自然撂荒地为研究对象,应用时空互代法,通过原状土冲刷试验对不同撂荒阶段(0~43 a)的坡地土壤抗冲性进行了研究.结果表明:与对照(阶段Ⅰ)相比,随着撂荒年限的增加,表层(0~15 cm)和中层(>15~30 cm)土壤容重显著降低,而下层(>30~50 cm)土壤容重变化较小(约下降0.5%).土壤团聚体和抗剪强度(黏聚力C和内摩察角φ)在3个土层中均呈显著增加趋势,而土壤崩解速率在3个土层中均呈下降趋势,与表层相比,中层和下层土壤崩解速率减小幅度更大(约4.2和1.8倍).土壤抗冲性随着撂荒年限的增大在表层呈先增加后稳定的趋势,在中层呈稳定增加而下层无显著变化,与对照相比,中层和下层土壤抗冲系数分别平均增大76.9%和30.7%.土壤团聚体和根系密度在3个土层中均是影响土壤抗冲性的关键因子.研究结果从土壤抗侵蚀性的角度为退耕还林工程的生态功能评价提供理论依据.     

天然降雨条件下3种土壤坡面的侵蚀过程及颗粒组成

选取南方红壤侵蚀区3种典型的侵蚀土壤坡面和3场具有代表性的天然降雨,在同等试验条件下对其产流产沙规律及降雨前后坡面土壤颗粒组成进行对比。结果表明：在相同的侵蚀条件下,3种土壤的径流量表现为紫色土〉花岗岩红壤〉第四纪红黏土;产沙量表现为花岗岩红壤〉紫色土〉第四纪红黏土;通过降雨前后3种土壤表面的颗粒组成比较发现,3种土壤表面颗粒均有粗化的趋势。大量细颗粒的流失,是造成土壤退化乃至生态恶化的重要原因。     

Natural regeneration of degraded soils and site changes on abandoned agricultural terraces in Mediterranean Spain

Abandonment of degraded and marginal agricultural land is a widespread phenomenon in Spain and other Mediterranean countries. To study soil development and site dynamics, a comparative investigation of field groups representing different ages of abandonment was realized in the Meastrazgo region of the Mediterranean province of Castellón. Analysis of soil samples for organic carbon and total nitrogen content and pH showed that a sufficient regeneration of organic matter is accomplished after 20 years of fallow. Contrary to this there is no build-up of ‘available’ phosphorus after abandonment. A fixation of phosphorus in unavailable forms in the first fallow years seems evident, and there is no re-enrichment through solution or mineralization of organically bound P thereafter. The vegetation of the fallow fields develops after passing through a low-cover therophyte stage within 10–20 years to nanophanerophyte-dominated \underline matorral (shrubs), in the best case within 40–50 years to a stone oak juniper association. Under intensive cattle grazing, grasslands rich in hemicryptophytes evolved. Rates of soil erosion estimated through application of the Universal Soil Loss Equation are of medium to low intensity and range between 2·2 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in the first fallow years and 0·6 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ after establishment of vegetation cover. Under grassland erosion is negligible unless vegetative cover is destroyed through treading. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

降雨类型对褐土横垄坡面土壤侵蚀过程的影响

雨型是影响土壤侵蚀过程的重要因子之一,而影响效应与耕作措施密切相关。目前,雨型对横垄坡面土壤侵蚀过程的影响机制尚不清楚。该文以褐土横垄坡面为研究对象,设计了平均雨强和降雨量相同的4种雨型(增加、减弱、增加-减弱和减弱-增加型),采用可同时调节垄向和坡面坡度的土槽进行模拟降雨,研究各个雨型下不同侵蚀阶段的产流产沙特征。结果表明:雨型间的径流量和侵蚀量在细沟间和细沟侵蚀阶段均差异显著,且差异在细沟阶段体现的更为明显。雨型间径流量的大小顺序为增加-减弱型减弱型减弱-增加型增加型,侵蚀量则为增加-减弱型减弱-增加型减弱型增加型。给定雨强下(30、60或90 mm/h),径流量、径流贡献率和侵蚀量贡献率均随降雨过程中雨强发生时序的延迟而增加,而单位径流侵蚀量呈相反趋势;雨型间给定雨强同一发生时序下的径流量和侵蚀量及其它们对总径流量和总侵蚀量的贡献率均差异显著。4种雨型下,幂函数均能很好的描述细沟间和细沟侵蚀阶段内产沙率与径流率间的关系,且方程中的指数均低于2,但雨型间幂函数方程中的指数存在明显差异。以上研究结果有助于深入理解褐土垄作系统下的土壤侵蚀机理,并为横坡垄作的合理利用提供科学指导。     

土粒表面电场对土壤团聚体破碎及溅蚀的影响

团聚体是土壤结构的基本单元,其稳定性是评估土壤抗侵蚀能力的重要指标。土壤团聚体破碎是降雨溅蚀发生的关键一步。土粒表面电场对团聚体稳定性具有重要影响,必然也会深刻影响降雨溅蚀过程。该文以黄土母质发育的黄绵土和塿土为研究对象,采用不同浓度的电解质溶液定量调控土粒表面电场,研究不同电场强度对团聚体破碎及溅蚀的影响。结果发现:1)随电解质浓度的降低,土粒表面电位升高,表面电场增大,黄绵土和塿土团聚体平均重量直径减小,团聚体稳定性降低,降雨溅蚀量增大。2)电解质浓度小于10-2mol/L,黄绵土和塿土表面电位绝对值分别高于202.0和231.6 mV,此时团聚体稳定性和溅蚀量变化不明显,表明表面电位202.0和231.6 mV分别是影响黄绵土和塿土团聚体稳定性及溅蚀的关键电位。3)随着土粒表面电场的减弱,团聚体破碎后释放的<0.15 mm微团聚体含量减小,>0.25 mm大团聚体含量增加,团聚体倾向于破碎为更大粒级的团聚体。4)电场作用下团聚体的破碎特征对降雨溅蚀具有重要的影响,溅蚀量与团聚体破碎释放的<0.15 mm微团聚体含量呈显著正相关,与>0.25 mm大团聚体含...     

Land abandonment,landscape evolution,and soil erosion in a Spanish Mediterranean mountain region: The case of Camero Viejo

The Spanish Mediterranean mountains have played an important social and economic role for many centuries. However, since the 1950s these regions have been considered of little economic interest, and this has led to the abandonment of villages, reduced productive activity, and significant changes in the landscape. In the last 50 years the Camero Viejo region (Iberian System, northeast Spain) has been subject to these changes, and was selected as our study area. Landscape evolution and soil erosion, as a result of agricultural abandonment, were studied using different analysis techniques: photointerpretation, geographic information systems and rainfall simulation. The results showed that a large proportion of previously cultivated land has been subject to plant recolonization processes. From 1956 to 2001, woodlands area increased from 10·1 per cent to 37 per cent, and scrubland increased from 42 per cent to 60 per cent. Changes in landscape structure in the same period suggest that the Camero Viejo is in a transitional stage from a highly humanized landscape to a more natural landscape. Although plant cover expansion is evident on most Camero Viejo hillslopes, in some terraced areas erosion processes are active. The generalized abandonment of agricultural terraces has favored the collapse of the stone walls of the terraces, with sliding of the soil. Surface runoff on abandoned terraces is also important. These erosion processes are related to the hydrological functioning of slopes following abandonment, neglect, and in some areas the intensification of grazing. Terrace destruction has a negative impact on the landscape and represents the loss of fertile soils. Landscape diversity should be preserved as an essential element of the economic potential of the Camero Viejo. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biochemical properties of range and forest soils in Mediterranean mountain environments

Biochemical properties are at present considered to be the best indicators for assessing soil quality, but their use is limited by the lack of available data, at least for certain ecosystems. In an attempt to offset this lack of data, the present study provides information on different biochemical properties of soils from Sierra Nevada and Sierra María (southern Spain), covering a range of altitudes between 1,000 and 3,000 m. In general, the values of the properties analyzed were similar to those of other mountain soils, although the values of basal respiration were particularly low, possibly due to the low levels of humidity at the time of sampling. The biochemical properties were closely correlated with each other, as observed in soils from other type of environments. Altitude had a clear effect on the biochemical properties because of its effect on climate and vegetation. At both sites, the soil samples showing the most homogenous pattern of biochemical properties (seen through star diagrams) were those corresponding to intermediate altitudes.     

滨海废弃盐田复垦区土壤盐分和有机质的空间变异特征

为了揭示废弃盐田复垦区棉田土壤盐分和有机质的时空变化特征,该文利用棉花关键生长节点的土壤采样数据,采用经典统计学和地统计学相结合的方法,对土壤盐分和有机质的空间分布特征进行分析。结果表明:研究区不同时期不同深度的土壤含盐量和有机质含量变幅较大,二者的变异强度均为中等;随着时间的变化土壤含盐量和有机质含量均呈现下降的趋势,各层土壤含盐量与有机质含量相关性程度不高。研究区土壤含盐量与有机质含量均具有中等强度的空间自相关性。Kriging插值结果表明土壤有机质呈条带状分布,苗期和花期土壤有机质含量由西向东逐渐增加,花铃期土壤有机质含量以东北部含量最低,收获期有机质含量高值区主要集中在西北部和东南部。土壤含盐量的三维空间分布在不同时期不同深度具有相似性,其空间分布特征总体较为接近;苗期和花期土壤含盐量高值区出现在东南部方向;花铃期和收获期土壤含盐量空间分布比较散乱,呈斑块状分布。研究结果为莱州湾南岸盐田复垦区的盐渍土科学改良、合理利用及农业可持续发展提供技术支持。     

The use of urban organic wastes in the control of erosion in a semiarid Mediterranean soil

Abstract. A two year field experiment was carried out in a semiarid Mediterranean area in order to evaluate, the effect on soil erosion of adding different urban organic wastes: a stabilized municipal waste (compost), an unstabilized municipal waste, and an aerobic sewage sludge. All the treatments significantly reduced soil erosion, compared to the control soil. The soil amended with compost was the most effective treatment, reducing soil loss by 94% and runoff by 54%.     

Effects of fire and torrential rainfall on erosion in a Mediterranean gorse community

Wildland fires and torrential rainfall are important factors affecting Mediterranean nature and human society. In this paper, we investigate their combined impact on a fire‐prone vegetation community at the east coast of Spain. Our results show that shrub cover provides an effective control of erosion even under simulated extreme rainfall events. After fire, soil erosion increased noticeably; however, the amount of sediment produced varied greatly, which can be explained by variations in fire severity. The quantity of litter debris after the fire plays a decisive role in controlling the erosion that follows. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

雨强和坡度对红壤坡耕地地表径流及壤中流的影响

地表径流和壤中流是坡面重要水文过程,雨强和坡度是影响坡面地表径流和壤中流产流主要因素。为研究降雨强度和地表坡度对坡耕地地表径流和壤中流的影响,该文采用人工模拟降雨试验法,在长3.0 m、宽1.5 m、深0.5 m土槽,设计4个不同坡度(5°、10°、15°、20°)和3个不同雨强(30、60、90 mm/h)对红壤坡耕地地表径流及壤中流产流过程进行模拟试验。结果表明:1)壤中流开始产流时间滞后于地表径流,降雨强度从30到90 mm/h,地表径流、壤中流产流开始时间均随雨强增大而减小,壤中流比地表产流开始滞后时间随着雨强增大先增大后趋于稳定;2)地表径流强度随雨强增大而增大,壤中流初始径流强度随雨强增大而增大,不同雨强下壤中流径流峰值相近;3)地表径流和壤中流产流过程曲线有明显差异,地表径流产流过程线先增大后趋于稳定,壤中流产流过程线呈抛物线型即先增大后减小;4)从5°到20°,地表产流开始时间随坡度增大而减小,壤中流产流开始时间随坡度增大先减小后增大;5)从5°到20°,地表径流强度先增大后减小,10°为转折坡度,壤中流产流峰值随坡度增大而减小,并且随着坡度增大达到壤中流峰值时间不断减小。     

麦茬深松地表土壤风蚀试验研究

以内蒙古自治区武川县上秃乡保护性耕作农田地表土壤为研究对象,利用移动式风蚀风洞对麦茬深松农田地表进行土壤抗风蚀效果测试研究.研究结果表明,麦茬深松农田地表相对传统耕作地表可降低近地表风蚀土壤量,对土壤输沙影响显著.该研究可为防治农田土壤风蚀提供理论依据     

Black soil degradation by rainfall erosion in Jilin,China

Black soils, originally characterized by a deep, dark A‐horizon, are widespread in the Northeast Plain of China and have been one of the most fertile agricultural resources in the country. However, more than a half‐century of intensified management degraded its productivity, mainly with the loss of the dark‐coloured A‐horizon by rainfall erosion. Using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), the rainfall erosion losses of black soils in YuShu and DeHui counties of Jilin Province were estimated. The rate of loss of thickness of the A‐horizon of black soils and the time over which the A‐horizons of some black soils in the region might be lost were evaluated. The results showed that about 4–45 t ha⁻¹ topsoil could have been lost each year under corn (Zea mays L.) production. Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr) production would double the losses. Soil losses were directly related to soil type, tillage practices and crop grain yields. The thickness of the A‐horizon of black soils in the region decreased at rates of 0ċ5–4ċ5 mm yr⁻¹, depending on soil type and management practices. Corn production may have resulted in an annual loss of 8ċ3 million tonnes of topsoil from black soils alone in Jilin Province; soybean production could have greatly increased this loss. Traditional intensified farming can accelerate the degradation of black soils; conservation tillage has great potential to prevent rainfall erosion losses for the same soils. Accordingly, to preserve and restore the productivity of black soils, conservation tillage is appropriate and should be adopted in Jilin. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance of soil and water conservation practices in the erosion evolution process,runoff dynamics and surface roughness

Soil and water conservation practices are used widely to prevent soil erosion and protect soil and water resources, which is significant for ecological restoration and food security. However, rill evolution processes, erosion and deposition characteristics and critical hydrodynamic parameters need more research. In order to investigate the effect of soil and water conservation practices on soil erosion dynamics, simulated rainfall experiments were undertaken in a laboratory on 15° loess slopes with engineering measures (fish-scale pits, FSPs), tillage measures (artificial digging, AD; contour ploughing, CP) and bare slope (CK). The results showed that: (1) during rill erosion, hillslopes with FSPs, CP and AD were more likely to develop wide and shallow rills, while a bare slope (CK) was more likely to develop narrow and deep rills. At the end of the experiment (cumulative rainfall was about 150 mm), headward retreat erosion dominated the AD slope (maximum rill length: 3.27 m), side-wall expansion erosion dominated the CP slope (maximum rill width: 0.522 m) and bed incision erosion dominated the CK (maximum rill depth: 0.09 m); (2) soil and water conservation practices reduced surface erosion and sediment transport and runoff velocity. However, the positive effects disappeared when rainfall amounts exceeded 82.5, 105 and 127.5 mm for FSPs, CP and AD, respectively; (3) for runoff kinetic energy and runoff shear strength of 3 J and 1.5 N/m², respectively, soil and water conservation measures had greater anti-erosion abilities than CK; (4) as rainfall duration increased, surface roughness, runoff rate and sediment concentration increased on the CK and FSP treatments, but decreased on the CP and AD treatments. This study has important implications for managing different soil and water conservation measures based on rainfall conditions and offers a deeper understanding of soil erosion processes.     

不同降雨强度下黄土区冻土坡面产流产沙过程及水沙关系

为了明确降雨对冻土坡面侵蚀的作用机理,探讨冻土和未冻土在不同水力条件下侵蚀之间的差异。通过室内模拟降雨试验,采用3种降雨强度(0.6,0.9,1.2 mm/min)对比定量研究冻土坡面和未冻土坡面产流产沙过程及水沙关系。结果表明:在0.9、1.2 mm/min雨强下,冻土坡面的产流时间相对对照坡面提前了18.7,6.4 min。冻土坡面径流量、侵蚀量均远大于对照坡面,在0.9,1.2 mm/min雨强下径流量分别是对照坡面的1.16,1.19倍,侵蚀量分别是对照坡面的10.40,6.40倍。随着降雨进行,坡面产生不同程度的细沟,其中,冻土坡面相比对照坡面细沟出现时间分别缩短了18 min,22 min,且冻土坡面细沟侵蚀量占总侵蚀量的79%～92%,此比例大于同雨强下的对照坡面。两种坡面的累计径流量与累计产沙量之间满足y=kx+b的线性关系,在细沟间侵蚀阶段,冻土坡面的k值是对照坡面的8.48～9.02倍,而在细沟侵蚀阶段,则为对照的3.68～7.50倍。研究结果表明细沟侵蚀是冻土坡面土壤侵蚀率增大的主要原因,而冻结层的阻水作用是导致坡面上细沟出现时间提前的最重要因素。该研究可以为完善土壤侵蚀机理研究提供一定的参考价值。     

室内模拟降雨条件下土壤水分入渗及再分布试验

降雨入渗对城市绿化、防洪排涝、农业生产等方面有着重要的意义。采用室内模拟降雨,使用时域反射仪采集相关数据,从土壤含水率变化特征和湿润锋运移特点等方面,研究了在垂向一维条件下不同雨强降雨对水分入渗的影响,探讨在降雨条件下土壤水分的再分布情况,从而确定试验所用砂壤土保水性最优土层范围。结果表明：降雨结束后,土壤水分的再分布主要受土水势控制,随着时间的延长,蒸发作用逐渐占据主导地位;试验所用砂壤土的最佳保水性土层深度为20～35 cm,可为植物的选栽提供参考。     

Relationships between rock fragment cover and soil hydrological response in a Mediterranean environment

Rock fragments are a key factor for determining erosion rates, particularly in arid and semiarid environments where vegetation cover is very low. However, the effect of rock fragments in non-cultivated bare soils is still not well understood. Currently, there is a need for quantitative information on the effects of rock fragments on hydrological soil processes, in order to improve soil erosion models. The main objective of the present research was to study the influence of rock fragment cover on run-off and interrill soil erosion under simulated rainfall in Mediterranean bare soils in south-western Spain. Thirty-six rainfall simulation experiments were carried out at an intensity of 26.8 mm h⁻¹ over 60 min under three different classes of rock fragment cover (<50%, 50–60% and >60%). Ponding and run-off flow were delayed in soils with high rock fragment cover. In addition, sediment yield and soil erosion rates were higher in soils with a low rock fragment cover. The relationship between soil loss rate and rock fragment cover was described by an exponential function. After this first set of experiments, rock fragments were removed from sites with the highest cover (>60%) and the rainfall simulation experiments were repeated. The steady-state run-off rate and soil loss increased significantly, showing that run-off and soil erosion were partly conditioned by rock fragment cover. These results have significant implications for erosion modelling and soil conservation practices in areas with the same climate and soil characteristics.     

降雨侵蚀因子和植被类型及覆盖度对坡耕地土壤侵蚀的影响

为探讨降雨和植被对辽西褐土区农耕坡地土壤侵蚀的影响,2006-2010年采用坡面径流小区观测法研究了天然降雨条件下降雨侵蚀因子、植被覆盖度、植被类型对坡耕地地表径流量、土壤侵蚀量的影响。设5°和10°两个坡度水平,以甘薯和谷子为供试作物,2006-2007年对照区为天然荒草地,2008-2010年为裸坡地。结果表明,甘薯地径流量和侵蚀量与降雨量(R)、最大30 min雨强(I_(30))、R×I(平均雨强)、R×I_(30)正相关显著(P0.05);裸坡地径流量与R、R×I_(30)正相关显著(P0.05),侵蚀量与I_(30)、R×I_(30)正相关显著(P0.05),与降雨量相关不显著(P0.05)。甘薯地和裸坡地的径流量和侵蚀量与平均降雨强度正相关均不显著(P0.05)。回归分析表明,降雨量主要影响径流量,最大30 min雨强主要影响侵蚀量。中、高雨强下,侵蚀量与径流量显著正相关(P0.01)。甘薯地径流量和侵蚀量与植被覆盖度呈显著负指数关系(P0.05)。5°坡耕地,不同植被类型侵蚀量为甘薯地荒草地谷子地;10°坡耕地,荒草地侵蚀量总体最少。多元回归分析表明,对土壤侵蚀的影响为地表径流降雨侵蚀力(R×I_(30))植被覆盖度。通过连续5 a坡面径流小区观测,初步探明降雨和植被对辽西褐土区农耕坡地土壤侵蚀的影响,可为该区坡耕地土壤侵蚀的有效防治提供一定的理论依据和技术支撑。