The effect of ultrasound on the stability of mesoaggregates (60–2,000 μm)

A standardized ultrasonic dispersion is presented with reference to soil structure. It is suggested that the parameters of aggregate stability can be expressed by the input of ultrasound energy which causes a soil-dependent process of aggregate dispersion. Preliminary results for soils of different land use and parent materials show that, for the soils examined, the stability of mesoaggregates (60–2,000 μm) lowers in the sequence forest > grassland > wasteland >arable land and limestone > basalt > loess > glacial till. Close correlations were also found to the content of carbon and clay.     

The influence of input data quality in determining areas suitable for crop growth at the global scale – a comparative analysis of two soil and climate datasets

The assessment of biophysical crop suitability requires datasets on soil and climate. In this study, we investigated the differences in topsoil properties for the dominant soil mapping units between two global soil datasets. We compared the ISRIC World Soil Information Center’s World Inventory of Soil Emissions Potential 5 by 5 arc min Soil Map of the World (ISRIC‐WISE 5by5 SMW ) with the Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD) in 0.5 arc min. We also incorporated annual mean temperature and mean precipitation from two global climate datasets that were the WorldClim measurement‐based climate dataset and the Kiel Climate Model (KCM) modelled results of global climate from 1960 to 1990. We then applied a fuzzy logic approach using different combinations and resolutions of the datasets to determine the effects on the extent and distribution of suitable areas for 15 crops. We only used the spatially dominant soil class in the mapping units in the soil databases (resampled to the same resolution of 5 arc min), and we found that the estimates of topsoil properties (0–20 cm in ISRIC‐WISE and 0–30 cm in HWSD) of the seven analysed parameters were up to 40% lower in most of the HWSD than in the ISRIC‐WISE 5by5 SMW. Results from the KCM are 0.1 °C (1%) lower in mean global annual temperature and 20% higher in average global annual precipitation compared with the WorldClim data. The HWSD‐based runs resulted in 10% less crop‐suitable land than the ISRIC‐WISE 5by5 SMW‐based results. The KCM simulations predicted 1% less crop‐suitable land than the WorldClim model. Despite generalizations, our results demonstrate that discrepancies in crop suitable areas are largely due to the differences in the soil databases rather than to climate.     

Tropical alluvial forest fragmentation in the eastern lowlands of Colombia (1939–1997)

Alluvial forests are under high pressure from human activities because of their value as agricultural, wildlife, timber and recreational land. Despite this, spatial patterns of alluvial forest deforestation are not well known. We studied forest alterations in a 2800 ha alluvial ecosystem using aerial photographs. During the study period (1939–1997), forests with canopy heights greater than 15 m (high canopy mature forest; HCM forest) decreased by 70·4 per cent while forests with canopy heights less than 15 m (low canopy mature forest; LCM forest) forests decreased by 51 per cent, producing a highly fragmented landscape. Factors responsible for forest change included human activities and river dynamics. Although most of the deforestation was related to human disturbance, almost 27 per cent of forest losses were due to channel migration of the Meta River. HCM forests were the most affected land cover since they are easily accessed, viable for logging and occurred on fertile soils, which are valuable for agriculture. LCM forests were less affected since their soil fertilities and inundation regimes were unfavourable to human uses, and thus, less prone to anthropogenic disturbances. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ecological Performance of the Restored South East New Territories (SENT) Landfill in Hong Kong (2000–2012)

South East New Territories (SENT) landfill (Phase I) was saturated with wastes and capped with a cover system to prevent rainfall infiltration and gas emission and to support plant growth. Subsequently, a revegetation program was conducted in 1997. Line transects were used for monitoring (i) the restored area (AT), (ii) the area adjacent to AT (BT) and (iii) the area outside AT, which served as control (CT). Flora and fauna diversities, plant performance (chlorophyll florescent and stomatal resistance of Acacia confusa) and soil properties were monitored during 2000–2012. There were 28, 24 and 23 plant species, and 61, 39 and 61 animal species found at AT, BT and CT during the past 13 years, respectively. The total number of plants recorded at AT fluctuated considerably, and was more stable at BT, especially CT. The results of similarity analyses showed that the plant community at AT were significantly different (P < 0·01) from those at BT and CT, whereas no difference was noted among fauna communities at different sites. Soil properties, including pH, bulk density, moisture content, total organic content, organic matter, total Fe and total Zn were significantly different (P < 0·05) among sites. The decreasing trend of soil pH in all sites indicated that regional soil acidification may have occurred. Soil moisture content and stomatal resistance of A. confusa were negatively correlated, which showed that AT was more subjected to drought than BT and CT. Plants in restored area were more sensitive to the changes in environmental conditions compared with those of control site. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The vegetation cover dynamics (1982–2006) in different erosion regions of the Yellow River Basin,China

Vegetation significantly influences human health in the Yellow River basin and the plant cover is vulnerable to people. Typical types of erosion in the Yellow River basin include that caused by water, wind and freeze–thaw. In this paper, vegetation cover change from 1982 to 2006 was studied for a number of different erosion regions. The Global Inventory Monitoring and Modeling Studies Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GIMMS NDVI) data were employed, while climatic data were also used for analysis of other influencing factors. It was shown that: (1) generally the vegetation cover in different erosion regions displayed similar increasing trends; (2) spatially the vegetation cover was highest in the water erosion region, the second highest was in the freeze–thaw region and the lowest in the wind erosion region; and (3) vegetation cover in the Yellow River basin is influenced by climate factors, especially by temperature. In water erosion regions, the temporal change of vegetation cover seemed complicated by comprehensive climatic and human influences. In wind erosion regions, the vegetation cover had close relations to precipitation. In freeze–thaw erosion regions, the vegetation cover was primarily altered by temperature. In all the three erosion regions, significant change of the vegetation cover occurred from 2000 just after the ‘Grain for Green’ (GFG) programme was implemented throughout China. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of soil and biosolids type,and microbial immobilisation on nitrogen availability in biosolids‐amended agricultural soils – implications for fertiliser recommendations

Soil microbial biomass interactions influencing the mineralisation of N in biosolids‐amended agricultural soil were investigated under field conditions in two soil types, a silty clay and a sandy silt loam, with contrasting organic matter contents. Soil treatments included: dewatered raw sludge (DRAW); dewatered and thermally dried, mesophilic anaerobically digested biosolids (DMAD and TDMAD, respectively); lime‐treated unstabilised sludge cake (LC); and NH₄Cl as a mineral salt control for measuring nitrification kinetics. Soil mineral N and microbial biomass N (MBN) concentrations were determined over 90 days following soil amendment. Despite its lower total and mineral N contents, TDMAD had a larger mineralisable pool of N than DMAD, and was an effective rapid release N source. Increased rates of mineralisation and nitrification of biosolids‐N were observed in the silty clay soil with larger organic matter content, implying increased microbial turnover of N in this soil type compared with the sandy silt loam, but no significant difference in microbial immobilisation of biosolids‐N was observed between the two soil types. Thus, despite initial differences observed in the rates of N mineralisation, the overall extent of N release for the different biosolids tested was similar in both soil types. Therefore, the results suggest that fertiliser guidelines probably do not need to consider the effect of soil type on the release of mineral N for crop uptake from different biosolids products applied to temperate agricultural soils.     

Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Organic Carbon Stocks in Mediterranean Soils (1956–2007)

During the last few decades, land use changes have largely affected the global warming process through emissions of CO₂. However, C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems could contribute to the decrease of atmospheric CO₂ rates. Although Mediterranean areas show a high potential for C sequestration, only a few studies have been carried out in these systems. In this study, we propose a methodology to assess the impact of land use and land cover change dynamics on soil organic C stocks at different depths. Soil C sequestration rates are provided for different land cover changes and soil types in Andalusia (southern Spain). Our research is based on the analysis of detailed soil databases containing data from 1357 soil profiles, the Soil Map of Andalusia and the Land Use and Land Cover Map of Andalusia. Land use and land cover changes between 1956 and 2007 implied soil organic C losses in all soil groups, resulting in a total loss of 16·8 Tg (approximately 0·33 Tg y⁻¹). Afforestation increased soil organic C mostly in the topsoil, and forest contributed to sequestration of 8·62 Mg ha⁻¹ of soil organic C (25·4 per cent). Deforestation processes implied important C losses, particularly in Cambisols, Luvisols and Vertisols. The information generated in this study will be a useful basis for designing management strategies for stabilizing the increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations by preservation of C stocks and C sequestration. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of the soil conditioner ‘Agri-SC' on splash detachment and aggregate stability

The influence of the soil conditioner ‘Agri-SC' on splash detachment and water-stable aggregation of an erodible clay Vertisol from Oahu, HI, was assessed. Laboratory rainfall simulation was used to assess splash detachment from soil treated with 0 (untreated control), 0.3, 3.0, 30, and 300 l ha⁻¹ of Agri-SC. Results indicated that the quantity of sediment splashed was significantly lower for Agri-SC application rates of 0.3 and 3.0 l ha⁻¹ (rates are equivalent to 1 and 10 times the manufacturer's recommended rates, respectively), than for the control, or for Agri-SC applied at 30 and 300 l ha⁻¹ (100 and 1000×, respectively). A second experiment was designed to test the influence of Agri-SC on water-stable aggregation of the Vertisol. Aggregates were subjected to rapid immersion in solution, shaken and washed through a series of sieves. Data indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in geometric mean aggregate diameter between the untreated and treated aggregates. The effect of the active ingredient, ammonium laureth sulfate (an anionic surface active agent) on splash and erodibility are discussed. These preliminary results indicate that further testing of Agri-SC is warranted on a variety of soils with different textures and mineralogies.     

Assessment of the soil phosphorus–mobilization potential by microbial reduction using the Fe(III)‐reduction test

The mobility of soil P is greatly influenced by the redox potential (Eh), which depends on the reducing activity of soil microorganisms. Standard extraction methods for the determination of the mobile soil P disregard the P mobilization caused by the influence of microorganisms on Eh, while P test methods that include soil microbial activities are lacking. Thus, the Fe(III)‐reduction test was investigated for its suitability to determine the P fraction that is mobilized in soil under reducing conditions (P_Red). In this test, the soil‐microbial reducing activity is measured from the microbial Fe(III) reduction combining a bioassay with 7 d incubation and a chemical extraction using 1M KCl. After the incubation, Eh in 26 different soil samples ranged from –282 to –123 mV. The concentration of P_Red in the soil samples ranged from concentrations below the limit of detection to 84.9 mg kg^–1 and was on average of all soil samples by a factor of 2.4 to 18 smaller than the P fractions determined by standard soil P–extraction methods. As standard agronomic and environmental P extractants, respectively, water (P_H2O), dithionite citrate bicarbonate (P_Dith), ammonium oxalate (P_Ox), ammonium lactate (P_AL), double lactate (P_DL), and sodium bicarbonate (P_Olsen) were selected. The P_Red fraction was not correlated with P_AL, P_DL, P_olsen, and the degree of P saturation, but with P_H2O (r = 0.43*), P_Dith (r = 0.60***), and P_Ox (r = 0.61***). Furthermore, P_Red depended on the concentration of amorphous Fe oxides (Fe_Ox, r = 0.53**) and was closely correlated with the concentration of microbially reduced Fe (Fe_Red, r = 0.94***). This indicated the influence of the Fe(III)‐reducing activity of soil microorganisms on P mobilization. In subsoils, low in Fe(III)‐reducing activity, no P was released by the Fe(III)‐reduction test, which was in contrast to the results from the other chemical extraction methods. Additional alterations of the microbial activity by inhibiting and activating amendments, respectively, clearly affected the microbial Fe(III)‐reducing activity and the associated release of P_Red. Thus, P_Red, determined by the Fe(III)‐reduction test, might be termed as the fraction that is potentially released from soil by microbial reduction.     

羊栖菜粉对水溶液中Cu2+的吸附效果

以羊栖菜粉为吸附剂,研究羊栖菜粉对水溶液中Cu²⁺的吸附特性及吸附机理,考察羊栖菜对重金属铜的吸附能力,以扩展羊栖菜的综合利用范围。采用控制变量法考察pH值、吸附剂浓度、金属离子初始浓度和离子强度等环境因素对水溶液中Cu²⁺去除效果的影响,通过模拟吸附动力学和热力学试验考察羊栖菜粉对Cu²⁺的吸附特性,并采用SEM、FTIR等方法初步分析了羊栖菜粉对Cu²⁺的吸附机理。结果表明,在吸附温度35℃、初始浓度50 mg·L^-1、吸附剂浓度1 g·L^-1条件下,羊栖菜粉对Cu²⁺的去除率可达89.27%。当吸附时间为10 min时,Cu²⁺去除率达总去除率的90%以上;当吸附时间为60 min时,基本达到吸附平衡。羊栖菜粉吸附Cu²⁺的动力学数据符合准二级动力学模型,相关系数均在0.999 0以上。Langmuir可以很好地拟合热力学试验得到的平衡数据,理论最大吸附容量为71.17 mg·g^-1。羊栖菜粉对Cu²⁺的吸附有多种反应参与,参与络合反应的官能团主要有-OH、-NH、-COO^-。羊栖菜粉对Cu²⁺的去除率较高,吸附性能良好,可通过解吸实现吸附剂的再生。     

The influence of freeze–thaw cycles and soil moisture on aggregate stability of three soils in Norway

Winter conditions with seasonally frozen soils may have profound effects on soil structure and erodibility, and consequently for runoff and erosion. Such effects on aggregate stability are poorly documented for Nordic winter conditions. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of variable freeze–thaw cycles and soil moisture conditions on aggregate stability of three soils (silt, structured clay loam—clay A and levelled silty clay loam—clay B), which are representative of two erosion prone areas in southeastern Norway. A second purpose was to compare aggregate stabilities measured by the Norwegian standard procedure (rainfall simulator) and the more widely used wet-sieving procedure. Surface soil was sampled in autumn. Field moist soil was sieved into the fraction 1–4 mm and packed into cylinders. The water content of the soil was adjusted, corresponding to matric potentials of − 0.75, − 2 and − 10 kPa. The soil cores were insulated and covered, and subjected to 0, 1, 3 or 6 freeze–thaw cycles: freezing at − 15 °C for 24 h and thawing at 9 °C for 48 h. Aggregate stability was measured in a rainfall simulator (all soils) and a wet-sieving apparatus (silt and clay B). The rainfall stability of silt was found to be significantly lower than of clay A and clay B. Clay A and clay B had similar rainfall stabilities, even though it was expected that the artificially levelled clay B would have lower stability. Freezing and thawing decreased the rainfall stability of all soils, but the effect was more severe on the silt soil. There was no evident effect of water content on the stability, probably due to experimental limitations. The same effects were observed for wet-sieved soil, but the wet-sieving resulted in less aggregate breakdown than the rainfall simulator. Rainfall impact seemed to be more detrimental than wet-sieving on more unstable soil, that is, on silt soil and soil subjected to many freeze–thaw cycles. Such conditions are expected to occur frequently during field conditions in unstable winters.     

Adsorption of glycerophosphate on goethite (α‐FeOOH): A macroscopic and infrared spectroscopic study

Adsorption, desorption, and precipitation reactions at environmental interfaces govern the bioavailability, mobility, and fate of organic phosphates in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Glycerophosphate (GP) is a common environmental organic phosphate, however, surface adsorption reactions of GP on soil minerals have not been well understood. The adsorption characteristics of GP on goethite were studied using batch adsorption experiments, zeta (ζ) potential measurements, and in situ attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR). GP exhibited fast initial adsorption kinetics on goethite, followed by a slow adsorption. The maximum adsorption densities of GP on goethite were 2.00, 1.95, and 1.44 μmol m^?2 at pH 3, 5, and 7, respectively. Batch experiments showed decreased adsorption of GP with increasing pH from 3 to 10. Zeta potential measurements showed a remarkable decrease in the goethite isoelectric point upon GP adsorption (from 9.2 to 5.5), suggesting the formation of inner‐sphere surface complexes. In addition, the ATR‐FTIR spectra of GP sorbed on goethite were different from those of free GP at various pH values. These results suggested that GP was bound to goethite through the phosphate group by forming inner‐sphere surface complexes.     

The influence of plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria on growth and enzyme activities in wheat and spinach plants

A pot experiment in a greenhouse was conducted in order to investigate the effect of different N₂‐fixing, phytohormone‐producing, and P‐solubilizing bacterial species on wheat and spinach growth and enzyme activities. Growth parameters and the activities of four enzymes, glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD; EC 1.1.1.49), 6‐phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD; EC 1.1.1.44), glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.8.1.7), and glutathione S‐transferase (GST; EC 2.5.1.18) were determined in the leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum L., Konya) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), noninoculated and inoculated with nine plant growth–promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR: Bacillus cereus RC18, Bacillus licheniformis RC08, Bacillus megaterium RC07, Bacillus subtilis RC11, Bacillus OSU‐142, Bacillus M‐13, Pseudomonas putida RC06, Paenibacillus polymyxa RC05 and RC14). Among the strains used in the present study, six PGPR exhibited nitrogenase activity and four were efficient in phosphate solubilization; all bacterial strains were efficient in indole acetic acid (IAA) production and significantly increased growth of wheat and spinach. Inoculation with PGPR increased wheat shoot fresh weight by 16.2%–53.8% and spinach shoot fresh weight by 2.2%–53.4% over control. PGPR inoculation gave leaf area increases by 6.0%–47.0% in wheat and 5.3%–49.3% in spinach. Inoculation increased plant height by 2.2%–24.6% and 1.9%–36.8% in wheat and spinach, respectively. A close relationship between plant growth and enzyme activities such as G6PD, 6PGD, GR, and GST was demonstrated. Plant‐growth response was variable and dependent on the inoculant strain, enzyme activity, plant species, and growth parameter evaluated. In particular, the N₂‐fixing bacterial strains RC05, RC06, RC14, and OSU‐142 and the P‐solubilizing strains RC07 and RC08 have great potential in being formulated and used as biofertilizers.     

Erratum to “Soybean yield as affected by crop rotations, deep tillage and irrigation layout on a hardsetting Alfisol”: [Soil & Tillage Research 44 (1997) 151–164]

The hardsetting surface of many Alfisols in Australia is a limiting factor in crop production. Better soil management systems are required to improve productivity. This study reports the effects of several untested management systems, involving the combined effects of tillage (deep ripping, deep mouldboard ploughing and disc ploughing), irrigation layout (permanent beds, border ditch) and crop rotation treatments (single cropping, double cropping and pasture), on soil structure and the production of irrigated soybeans [Glycine max (L) Merr.] on a hardsetting Alfisol. It was conducted under a system of controlled traffic near Trangie, NSW, Australia. The double cropping and pasture treatments increased total water entry, soil organic carbon and soybean leaf water potential. Consequently, soybean yield was increased by as much as 58%. The retention of cereal and pasture stubble increased total water entry by slowing the rate of irrigation water advance, reducing the potential for slaking and increasing the number of continuous vertical macropores. The increases in soil water were associated with a reduction in soil strength; a key limiting factor in crop growth on hardsetting Alfisols. Deep tillage or the use of permanent beds did not affect soybean yields under the conditions reported in this paper, although the combination of disc ploughing and furrow irrigation was successful.     

The influence of precipitation pulses on soil respiration - Assessing the “Birch effect” by stable carbon isotopes

Sudden pulse-like events of rapidly increasing CO₂-efflux occur in soils under seasonally dry climates in response to rewetting after drought. These occurrences, termed “Birch effect”, can have a marked influence on the ecosystem carbon balance. Current hypotheses indicate that the “Birch” pulse is caused by rapidly increased respiration and mineralization rates in response to changing moisture conditions but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Here, we present data from an experimental field study using straight-forward stable isotope methodology to gather new insights into the processes induced by rewetting of dried soils and evaluate current hypotheses for the “Birch“-CO₂-pulse. Two irrigation experiments were conducted on bare soil, root-free soil and intact vegetation during May and August 2005 in a semi-arid Mediterranean holm oak forest in southern Portugal. We continuously monitored CO₂-fluxes along with their isotopic compositions before, during and after the irrigation. δ¹³C signatures of the first CO₂-efflux burst, occurring immediately after rewetting, fit the hypothesis that the “Birch” pulse is caused by the rapid mineralization of either dead microbial biomass or osmoregulatory substances released by soil microorganisms in response to hypo-osmotic stress in order to avoid cell lyses. The response of soil CO₂-efflux to rewetting was smaller under mild (May) than under severe drought (August) and isotopic compositions indicated a larger contribution of anaplerotic carbon uptake with increasing soil desiccation. Both length and severity of drought periods probably play a key role for the microbial response to the rewetting of soils and thus for ecosystem carbon sequestration.     

The cost of soil erosion in vineyard fields in the Penedès–Anoia Region (NE Spain)

On-site and off-site environmental impacts of runoff and erosion are usually stressed in order to bring to the public's attention the importance and implications of soil erosion. However, few studies are aimed at calculating the economic implications of erosion, this being the message that farmers and/or policy makers understand best. In this current work we estimated the cost of erosion in vineyards in the Penedès–Anoia region (NE Spain), in which high intensity rain storms (> 80–100 mm h^− 1) are frequent. Modern plantations in the region consist of trained vines, usually planted perpendicular to the maximum slope direction. Broadbase terraces are interspersed between vine rows to intercept surface runoff and convey it out of the field. Part of the sediment generated above these terraces is deposited in them and other parts are either deposited beyond the boundaries of the fields or are exported to the main drainage network. High intensity rainfall produces heavy soil losses (up to 207 Mg ha^− 1 computed in an extreme event in June 2000, which had a maximum intensity in 30-min periods of up to 170 mm h^− 1). To estimate the cost of erosion in vineyard fields of this region, two important aspects were considered. These were a) the cost incurred by the maintenance of the broadbase terraces, drainage channels and filling of ephemeral gullies and b) the cost incurred by the loss of fertilisers (mainly N and P) caused by erosion. According to farmers' records, the former was estimated at 7.5 tractor-hour ha^− 1 year^− 1 (as average), which comprises 5.4% of the income from grape sales. Regarding N and P losses, nutrients exported by runoff were 14.9 kg ha^− 1 N and 11.5 kg ha^− 1 of P, which, if compared to the annual intakes, represent 6% and 26.1% of the N and P respectively. In economic terms, the replacement value of the N and P lost represents 2.4% for N or 1.2% for P of the annual income from the sale of the grapes.