Aggregates stability and water erosion in Andosols of the Canary Islands

The aim of this paper is to assess the mechanisms of water erosion in andic soils using two tests, which in a certain way simulate the two principal mechanisms of aggregate destruction in the process of water erosion—water dispersion and raindrops impact—and compare them with the aggregation observed in material dettached by inter‐rill erosion (sediments) in experimental plots with natural rain. In accordance with the obtained results, the erosive process in these soils seems to come about through a picking off of surface material of larger aggregates, due to the impact of raindrops. The intensity of pull off and fragment size from larger aggregates depends on the kinetic energy of the drops (rain intensity), but the size generally ranges between 0ċ2 and 0ċ5 mm. Therefore inter‐rill erosion initially proceeds by a washing down of smaller aggregates (<0ċ5 mm) (of less bulk density than larger aggregates 0ċ4 Mg m⁻³ against 0ċ9 Mg m⁻³), enriching the soil in larger sized aggregates which, on being fragmented by picking off of raindrops, supply new material for washing down by inter‐rill erosion. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Assessment of soil degradation in the Canary Islands (Spain)

In the Canary Islands a number of factors, both natural and induced by human activity, act on the fragile ecosystems and agricultural land to cause increasing problems with desertification and progressive degradation of soil productivity. the results of an assessment of soil degradation in the Canary Islands, The processes, causes and impacts, are presented in this paper. Although several processes and factors contribute to soil degradation in the Canary Islands, two have been found to exert a greater qualitative influence: (a) accelerated erosion (water and aeolian); (b) salinization-sodification (natural and induced by agricultural use). Approximately 40 per cent of the Canary Islands' land is undergoing rapid erosion. the factors involved May, be grouped into: natural erosion—torrential rainfall, sparse vegetation, high soil erodibility, rugged relief; and erosion due to human activities—unsuitable management of arable soils on the steep slopes, overgrazing and deforestation. About 60 per cent of the surface of the archipelago, including areas given over to intensive agriculture, is affected by salinization.The main factors responsible are: natural—an arid climate and a regime of oceanic winds; and human activities—overexploitation of the aquifers, irrigation with water having a high salt and/or sodium content, intensive monoculture, and excessive and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers and other agrochemicals.     

红壤缓坡地径流与土壤可蚀性对土壤有机碳流失的影响

探明坡面径流和土壤可蚀性对土壤有机碳流失的影响,对于研究土壤有机碳固定和区域碳循环有重要作用。该文通过野外径流小区模拟降雨试验研究不同雨强(30~100 mm/h)和耕作条件下(翻耕和免耕)土壤有机碳流失过程及其与坡面径流和土壤可蚀性的关系。结果表明,坡面产流过程对泥沙态有机碳流失过程具有明显影响,除大雨强条件下泥沙态有机碳流失速率在10~30 min呈现短时间峰值外,各径流小区泥沙态有机碳流失过程与坡面产流过程总体变化趋势基本一致,均表现为产流开始后,其流失率随降雨历时延长而增加,而后逐步趋于平稳,但坡面产流过程对径流有机碳流失过程无明显影响;坡面径流率大小影响土壤有机碳流失,坡面径流率变化能解释80%土壤有机碳流失的变化,坡面径流率与土壤有机碳流失呈线性正相关关系,且坡面径流率对泥沙态有机碳流失的影响比其对径流有机碳流失的影响更明显;土壤可蚀性对土壤有机碳流失的影响是非线性的,且土壤可蚀性指标越大,土壤有机碳流失率越大,但土壤可蚀性对土壤有机碳流失的影响存在有限性。坡面径流和土壤可蚀性是土壤有机碳流失的重要影响因素。     

Altering soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in intensively tilled two-year rotations

Information is needed on the ability of different crop management factors to maintain or increase soil C and N pools, especially in intensively tilled short crop rotations. Soil samples from field experiments in Maine were used to assess the effect of cover crop, green manure (GM) crop, and intermittent or annual amendment on soil C and N pools. These field experiments, of 6–13 years duration, were all characterized by a 2-year rotation with either sweet corn ( Zea mays L.) or potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.), and primary tillage each year. Total, particulate organic matter (POM), and soil microbial biomass (SMB)-C and -N pools were assessed for each experiment. Total C and N stocks were not affected by red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) cover crop or legume GM, but were increased by 25–53% via a single application of papermill sludge or an annual manure and/or compost amendment. With the exception of continuous potato production which dramatically reduced the SMB-C and SMB-N concentration, SMB-C and -N were minimally affected by changes in cropping sequence, but were quite sensitive to amendments, even those that were primarily C. POM-C and -N, associated with the coarse mineral fraction (53–2,000 µm), were more responsive to management factors compared to total C and N in soil. The change in soil C fractions was a linear function of increasing C supply, across all experiments and treatments. Within these intensively tilled, 2-year crop rotations, substantial C and N inputs from amendments are needed to significantly alter soil C and N pools, although cropping sequence changes can influence more labile pools responsible for nutrient cycling.     

Effects of grazing on soil physical properties and soil erodibility in semiarid grassland of the Northern Loess Plateau (China)

Grazing animals provide a livelihood for farmers, but they may also produce adverse environmental effects. We investigated whether grazing leads to deterioration of soil physical properties that subsequently increases topsoil erodibility. We sampled three sites (an ungrazed grassland, a continuously grazed grassland, and a track trampled by stock) on the northern Loess Plateau of China. The bulk density, water content, proportion of stable aggregates, infiltration rate, and resistance to scouring were determined for each soil sample. The results showed that the track had the highest soil bulk density and the lowest soil water content, proportion of stable aggregates, infiltration rate, and ability to resist scouring. The ungrazed plots had the best results for these parameters, in terms of reduced erosion. Soil bulk density and the proportion of stable aggregates differed significantly with depth beneath the track. However, the effect of depth on water content, infiltration rate, and the soil resistance to scouring was not significant at any sampling site. The ability of the soil to resist scouring was negatively correlated with the soil's bulk density and positively correlated with the soil's water content, infiltration rate, and proportion of stable aggregates. Thus, soil physical properties played an important role in determining soil erodibility. Grazing and trampling by livestock therefore appear to cause deterioration of soil physical properties and to increase soil erodibility.     

Organic carbon and nitrogen stocks in reed meadow soils converted to alfalfa fields

Soil organic carbon and nitrogen are key elements of sustainable agriculture. Converting forest land and grassland to arable land is known to decrease the content of soil organic carbon (SOC), whereas converting land under annual crops into perennial grasslands has the potential to increase organic C and N sequestration, an assumption tested in this study. Compared to the levels in reed meadows, SOC and total nitrogen (TN) stocks in the top layer of 2489 Mg soil ha⁻¹ (about 0–15 cm depth) significantly increased 3 years after the conversion, despite a slight decrease numerically in the first year following the conversion. And the mass of light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), total extractable carbon (TEC), humic acid carbon (HAC), and fulvic acid carbon (FAC) stocks all decreased significantly in the first year in the top layer but recovered after 3 years. In the deeper layer of 2549 Mg soil ha⁻¹ (about 15–30 cm depth), however, the levels of SOC and heavy fraction organic carbon (HFOC) stocks began increasing from the first year itself. During the period of 1–10 years after the conversion, the degree of humification rate (HR) for the deeper layer were consistent, averaging 30%, whereas the same parameters in the top layer stabilized after 3 years at 33%. After 10 years of conversion, the soil recorded higher levels of SOC and TN stocks, used as indicators in this study, than those that had prevailed in the reed meadows, demonstrating the positive combined effects of the conversion on the retention of atmospheric C-CO₂ in the soil. This study suggests that proper management of alfalfa fields can maintain or even improve chemical and physical quality of converted reed meadows soils.     

典型黑土区农田土壤碳库及其影响因子显著性变化特征研究

明确不同时期农田土壤碳库及其显著影响因子对农田土壤固碳具有重要意义。基于北安和克东地区20世纪80年代初全国第二次土壤普查资料,2010年测土配方施肥数据和实际补充采集样品分析数据,利用土壤类型GIS连接法研究土壤有机碳库及密度时空变化特征,并采用方差分析检验不同时期土壤有机碳密度空间变异的影响因子及其显著性差异。结果表明,研究区沟谷和低洼平地农田土壤有机碳密度及下降速率均高于漫岗高平原,表层和剖面的碳库年均下降速率为-0.14 t hm-2a-1和-0.13 t hm-2a-1,碳库储量呈现显著下降趋势。1980年农田表层土壤有机碳密度的显著性影响因子为土壤类型(亚类)、海拔、pH和全磷;2010年影响因子中土壤类型(亚类)和pH依然显著,海拔和全磷不再显著,坡度成为新的显著性影响因子。     

Carbon and nitrogen stocks and their mineralization potentials are higher under organic than conventional farming practices in Japanese Andosols

ABSTRACT

This study aimed at understanding whether and how long-term organic rice farming affects soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks and their mineralization potentials in submerged rice paddies in Tochigi, Japan. An incubation experiment was carried out to assess the impacts of internal nutrient cycling after organic farming (OF) for 4–5 years (4OF), 8–9 years (8OF), and 12 years (12OF), compared with a conventional rice field (CF). Soil samples were collected at 0–15 cm and 15–20 cm in flooded rice fields after harvest in October 2013. pH and bulk density at 0–15 cm were significantly lower in 12OF fields than in CF fields (by 0.22 unit pH and 17.5%, respectively). Compared with CF, 12OF fields showed significant differences in soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN), but 4OF and 8OF fields did not. In 8OF fields, the C decomposition (Co) and N mineralization (No) potentials were significantly higher (by 34.0% and 35.6%, respectively, at 0–15 cm, and by 67.1% and 24.5% at 15–20 cm) than in CF fields. Similarly, in 8OF fields at 0–15 cm, the Co:SOC and No:TN ratios were 19.8% and 23.2% higher, respectively, than in CF fields. Co, No, Co:SOC, and No:TN in 12OF fields were higher than those in CF fields, demonstrating the effects of prolonged organic rice farming. Additionally, in 12OF fields, C and N stocks were significantly higher (by 15.5% and 17.2%, respectively, at 0–15 cm, and by 4.8% and 12.1% at 15–20 cm) than in CF fields. Our findings suggest that long-term organic rice farming increases soil C and N stocks as well as C and N mineralization in Japanese Andosols.     

Plant resource conservation planning in protected natural areas: an example from the Canary Islands, Spain

An approach to an overall management planning for the conservation of endangered species within protected natural areas is presented, based mainly on the development of methods for the diagnosis of the conservation status and the identification of critical life cycle stages (phenophases) of target species. This model includes other aspects inherent in the overall planning of a protected area so as to match its technical, human and economic resources in terms of research and conservation. We provide examples of some island endemics that are included in the “Recovery Plans for the Endangered Plants in the Canary Islands National Parks”. The use of demography and genetics is particularly emphasised. We propose reintroductions as one of the most important tools for the management and conservation of endangered plants and the use of “system dynamics” tools as an alternative to traditional population matrix analysis. We provide examples of the application of system dynamics to population dynamics studies and to the design of management actions.     

Andosols and soils with andic properties in the German soil taxonomy

The presence of soils with andic properties on German territory has been suspected for decades and there are numerous reports of sites where they may potentially occur. Andic properties, however, are not adequately represented by the German soil‐classification system. The German taxonomic category “Lockerbraunerde” has not been revised or reconciled with international taxonomic categories since the year 1957, when it was initially proposed. With this review, we show that there are true Andosols of both the silandic (allophane‐containing) and the aluandic (Al‐Humus‐dominated) type in Germany and that their properties differ substantially from other soils which merely exhibit low bulk density. By (1) comparing soil carbon storage between some German Andosols, Chernozems, and nonandic Cambisols with particularly low bulk density and (2) elucidation of the differential pedogenetic pathways leading to Andosol formation, we further demonstrate that Andosols are important objects of study in research issues of contemporary interest. We propose that appropriate measures be taken to lay the foundations for the protection and conservation of these soils, because they are valuable as archives of natural history and provide opportunities to study unique soil processes.     

Effect of reduced tillage on weeds and soil organisms in winter wheat and summer maize cropping on Humic Andosols in Central Japan

Although reduced tillage (RT) may preserve soil biota and improve the productivity and sustainability of arable lands in temperate regions, the extension of RT is limited by difficulties in controlling weeds. We studied the effect of RT without herbicide application on weed communities and soil biota in a 1-year 2-crop rotation system with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) on Andosols in Japan. RT of the surface 3 cm and conventional moldboard plowing (CT) were conducted before seeding twice per year. For the first 3 years, from autumn 1997 to spring 2000, one field was managed with RT and another with CT. For the second 3 years, from autumn 2000 to spring 2003, RT and CT were conducted in two replicated plots in each field. Weed communities and soil biota were studied in the last 2 years. Dominant weed species in winter wheat cropping were Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) in 2002 and common vetch (Vicia angustifolia L.) in 2003, and their biomass was high where RT or CT was continuously conducted. Switching of tillage methods, from RT to CT or vice versa, reduced the biomass of winter weeds. In summer maize cropping, several annual and perennial weed species tended to increase under RT in the second 3 years. However, redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), the most dominant weed in 2002 and 2003, responded to tillage inconsistently and its biomass was not always increased by RT. Species diversity of winter weeds was decreased by CT conducted in the first 3 years, and that of summer weeds was decreased by CT conducted in the second 3 years. The seedbank in the 0–10-cm soil layer under recent RT was large (7200–16 300 seeds m⁻²) compared with that under CT (2900–7300 seeds m⁻²). The microbial substrate-induced respiration (SIR) and the population densities of nematodes and mites were higher under RT in the second 3 years and were not affected by previous tillage practices. Both were highly correlated with soil total nitrogen. The positive effect of RT on these soil organisms was primarily attributable to the accumulation of organic matter in soil, but not to plant cover as a result of incomplete weed control by RT. Occasional adoption of RT in current CT systems may be effective at enriching soil organisms with little risk of weed infestation.     

Effects of 'Agri-SC' soil conditioner on soil structure and erodibility: some further observations

Abstract. In field and laboratory experiments the conditioner‘Agri-SC’has shown improvements in the structure of loamy sand soils in east Shropshire, UK. It resulted in statistically significant decreases in soil bulk density values and increases in soil porosity and aggregate stability. Further experiments are in progress on both loamy sand and silt loam soils.     

黑碳添加对土壤有机碳矿化的影响

通过室内培养试验,向土壤中分别添加不同温度制备的黑碳,热解温度分别为350℃(T350)、600℃(T600)和850℃(T850),研究了黑碳添加对土壤有机碳矿化的影响。结果表明,不同温度条件制备的黑碳在15℃和25℃培养条件下,土壤CO2释放速率总的趋势是前期分解速率快,后期缓慢。在整个培养过程中(112天),随着培养时间的延长,土壤CO2释放速率下降趋势逐渐降低,CO2释放速率相对值的大小随着培养温度的的升高而增大。在不同温度培养条件下,添加黑碳后土壤CO2-C累计量均是T350>T600>T850,T350土壤CO2-C累计量最高分别为415.26 mg/kg和733.82 mg/kg。添加不同黑碳后,土壤有机碳矿化增加率存在极显著差异(p<0.01),表明不同温度制备的黑碳对土壤有机碳矿化的影响显著。     

长期施肥对黄壤有机碳平衡及玉米产量的影响

基于长期定位试验,以黔中典型黄壤为研究对象,采用单因素方差分析、可持续性指数、稳定性指数等方法对长期定位试验获取的数据进行分析和比较,以探讨长期不同施肥处理对黄壤有机碳含量、有机碳平衡量、玉米产量稳定性、可持续性及其相互关系的影响。结果表明:(1)与施化肥和对照处理相比,施有机肥处理土壤有机碳含量明显升高,按大小排序依次为:MMNPK1/2M+1/2NPK1/4M+3/4NPK;(2)施有机肥处理黄壤有机碳平衡量为正值,且随有机肥施用量增加而增加,相反,施化肥和对照处理均为负值,大小依次为:MNPK、M1/2M+1/2NPK1/4M+3/4NPKNPKNKNPN、CKPK,各处理差异显著;(3)有机肥与化肥配施、有机肥单施及氮磷钾化肥协调施用更有利于提高玉米产量,排序为:MNPK1/4M+3/4NPK、1/2M+1/2NPKNPK、MNPNK、PK、NCK;(4)适量有机肥与化肥配施可提高玉米产量稳定性和可持续性(可持续性指数0.6,变异系数0.3),其中,1/4M+3/4NPK处理玉米产量稳定性和持续性最好;(5)玉米年产量与黄壤有机碳平衡量相关度较高,而玉米可持续性、稳定性则主要受有机碳含量影响。综上,有机肥与化肥配施有利于黄壤有机碳含量提升、玉米维持高产稳产。按适量"减肥"原则,以25%有机肥配施75%氮磷钾化肥效果最佳。     

Quantifying terrestrial carbon stocks: examining the spatial variation in two upland areas in the UK and a comparison to mapped estimates of soil carbon

Intensive field surveys were undertaken in two upland catchments in the UK, Plynlimon in mid-Wales and Glensaugh in North East Scotland. The survey was to examine the spatial variation across the area and to assess the accuracy of the database underpinning the soil carbon map for the UK. In each area three 1-km² squares were sampled on a 200-m grid, with samples taken from both the organic and mineral horizons. Carbon stock was estimated, from the sample data, for each 1-km² square and compared with values from the UK database for that square. The results showed large differences between some squares, particularly for Plynlimon. In this area, the overall discrepancy between field and database values was 45%, compared with 8% for Glensaugh. Various sources of uncertainty were examined, including bulk density, organic horizon depth, and the proportion of different soil types within a square. The value for bulk density, assumed to determine carbon stock, had a significant effect on the estimates. In both catchments the organic layer showed a gradual decrease in bulk density with depth, resulting in a large proportion of the carbon being stored in the top part of the profile. The soil types, mapped during the survey, also showed large differences from those previously identified for each 1-km² square. This would have a considerable effect on the estimates of carbon stock within the UK database. It highlights that caution needs to be used when interpreting the UK soil map at this spatial scale.     

土壤团聚体中有机碳研究进展

增加土壤有机碳有助于农业可持续发展, 同时对缓解温室气体增加造成的全球气候变暖等具有重要意义。土壤团聚体是土壤的重要组成部分, 影响土壤的各种物理化学性质。土壤团聚体和有机碳是不可分割的, 前者是后者存在的场所, 后者是前者存在的胶结物质。本文在综合各方面研究的基础上, 阐述了土壤团聚体和有机碳的依存关系, 影响团聚体固碳的几大因素, 团聚体对有机碳的物理保护机制以及目前应用比较广泛的团聚体内有机碳的研究方法, 为以后的研究提供理论和方法上的支持。     

Changes of soil organic carbon and its fractions in relation to soil physical properties in a long-term fertilized paddy

Soil organic carbon (SOC) has an important role in improving soil quality and sustainable production. A long-term fertilization study was conducted to investigate changes in SOC and its relation to soil physical properties in a rice paddy soil. The paddy soils analyzed were subjected to different fertilization practices: continuous application of inorganic fertilizers (NPK, N–P–K = 120–34.9–66.7 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ during 1967–1972 and 150–43.7–83.3 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ from 1973 to 2007), straw based compost (Compost, 10 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹), a combination of NPK + Compost, and no fertilization (control). Soil physical properties were investigated at rice harvesting stage in the 41st year for analyzing the relationship with SOC fraction. Continuous compost application increased the total SOC concentration in plough layers and improved soil physical properties. In contrast, inorganic or no fertilization markedly decreased SOC concentration resulting to a deterioration of soil physical health. Most of the SOC was the organo-mineral fraction (<0.053 mm size), accounting for over 70% of total SOC. Macro-aggregate SOC fraction (2–0.25 mm size), which is used as an indicator of soil quality rather than total SOC, covered 8–17% of total SOC. These two SOC fractions accumulated with the same tendency as the total SOC changes. Comparatively, micro-aggregate SOC (0.25–0.053 mm size), which has high correlation with physical properties, significantly decreased with time, irrespective of the inorganic fertilizers or compost application, but the mechanism of decrease is not clear. Conclusively, compost increased total SOC content and effective SOC fraction, thereby improving soil physical properties and sustaining production.     

黑土农田土壤有机碳演变研究进展

在我国, 由于国家粮食安全的需要, 关注黑土、研究黑土的人越来越多, 尤其是黑土可持续利用及其与环境的关系已成为当今研究的热点问题。黑土研究领域中最活跃的部分是黑土农田土壤有机质(碳)的研究。基于此, 本文依据有关文献资料, 简述了我国黑土的分布、黑土开垦历史、农田土壤有机碳的演变及其在农业上的贡献, 系统分析了国内外农田土壤碳研究的方法及其进展, 指出了开展我国黑土农田土壤碳演变及其预测研究的现实意义及其潜在价值, 建议未来应侧重黑土农田土壤有机碳的变化与调控方面的研究, 即在黑土农田土壤有机碳的定向培育技术、指标体系和量化表征评估方法、预测模型等方面有所突破, 最终形成黑土农田土壤有机碳保护和利用的理论和方法。     

Variability of soil physical quality and erodibility in a water-eroded cropland

Physical degradation of the soil increases its susceptibility to erosion by water action. However, relatively few studies have evaluated the opposite, i.e., the impact of water erosion on soil erodibility. This study was conducted in a corn field in Ohio. Some sites within the field have experienced water-induced soil erosion following heavy rainstorms. Physical characteristics of the soil were compared between eroded (ER) and un-eroded sites (UN). Compared with ER, the soil in UN had lower penetration resistance (4.87 vs. 4.53 MPa), bulk density (1.45 vs. 1.33 Mg m^?3), and sand content (17.4 vs. 14.2%), and higher shear strength (80.1 vs. 125.3 KPa), hydraulic conductivity (3.0 vs. 3.4 cm h^?1), intrinsic permeability (31.9 vs. 36.4 × 10^?10 cm²), and contents of soil organic carbon (36.1 vs. 32.1 g kg^?1), total nitrogen (3.3 vs. 3.1 g kg^?1), clay (25.2 vs. 24.2%), silt (60.5 vs. 58.4%), and very fine sand (3.4 vs. 1.1%). Also Munsell's variables differed between ER and UN (1.24 vs. 0.54 for hue, 4.59 vs. 4.35 for value, and 1.99 vs. 1.79 for chroma, respectively). The erodibility factor (K) was lower in UN than in ER (0.00327 vs. 0.00354 Mg ha h ha^?1 MJ^?1 mm^?1, respectively). Hence, it is suggested the ER sites within the corn field agroecosystem are more susceptible to accelerated erosion as compared with UN sites.