Soil acidity and aluminium toxicity as affected by surface liming and cover oat residues under a no-till system

A 3-year field trial examined in a long-term no-till system the effects of surface-applied lime and cover black oat ( Avena strigosa Schreb) residues on soil chemical attributes, root growth and grain yield of corn ( Zea mays L.) and soybean ( Glycine max L. Merrill) on a loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Hapludox in Paraná State, Brazil. The treatments consisted of dolomitic lime broadcast on the soil surface at 0 or 12 t/ha, with and without cover of black oat residues. Corn and soybeans were grown without rainfall limitation. Applying lime on the surface improved soil acidity and decreased aluminium (Al) toxicity to a 10-cm depth 1 year after application. Surface liming increased pH and the content of exchangeable Ca²⁺ to a 20-cm depth, and decreased Al toxicity to a 40- to 60-cm depth, 3 years after application, indicating that the surface-applied lime moved deeper. Cover black oat residues did not favour the mobility of surface-applied lime to alleviate subsoil acidity and an increase in the Al³⁺ saturation level at the soil surface was found in unlimed plots with black oat residues. Root growth and grain yields of corn and soybean were not influenced by surface liming with or without cover black oat residue. Despite the soil acidity level, root length of corn and soybean ranged from 55 to 60% at 0- to 10-cm depth. The results suggest that Al toxicity is low in no-till systems during cropping seasons with adequate and well-distributed rainfall, but this effect is not related to the presence of cover oat residues.     

Soil organic matter distribution as influenced by enchytraeid and earthworm activity

Loam and sandy soils, and the earthworm casts produced with ¹⁴C-labelled plant material in both soils, were incubated in airtight glass vessels with and without enchytraeids to evaluate the effects of soil fauna on the distribution and fragmentation of organic matter. After 1, 3, and 6 weeks, the amount of C mineralised was determined in soils and earthworm casts, and the soil was fractionated into particulate organic matter (POM), the most active pool of soil organic matter, after complete physical dispersion in water. The percentage weight of fine fractions (0-50 µm) was 67.4% in the loam soil. Sand (coarse, i.e. 150-2,000 µm and fine 50-150 µm) represented 87.2% of total weight in sandy soil, while the percentages of C (PC) were 23.2% in coarse POM (2,000-150 µm) and 11.9% in fine POM (150-50 µm). These percentages were higher than those in loam soil, i.e. 3.4% (coarse POM) and 5.4% (fine POM). The PC in coarse POM (9.50%) and fine POM (16.4%) remained higher in casts from sandy soil than in casts from loam soil (4.7% in coarse and 14.3% in fine POM). The highest percentages of ¹⁴C-labelled leaves were found in fine fractions, 55.9% in casts from loam soil and 48.8% in casts from sandy soil. The C mineralisation of the added plant material was higher in casts from the sandy soil (20.3%) than from the loam soil (13.5%). Enchytraeids enhanced C mineralisation in the bulk sandy soil, but did not affect the mineralisation of added plant material in either soil. The main enchytraeid effect was enhancement of the humification process in the bulk sandy soil, the casts from this soil, and the bulk loam soil.     

Soil aggregate stability and organic matter as affected by land-use change in central Iran

This study aimed to evaluate the soil aggregate stability and selected soil quality indicators in various land uses in a semiarid region in central Iran. Random soil sampling was used to collect soil samples from surface (0–5 cm) and subsurface (5–25 cm) soil layers in rangelands of different condition classes, dry farmland and abandoned land. The aggregate size distribution indices including mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD) and median diameter (D₅₀) of water-stable aggregates in the collected soil samples were measured. Our findings showed that percent of macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) of the surface and subsurface layers in rangelands of different condition classes were significantly higher than dry farmlands and abandoned lands (P < 0.05). Results showed that the trend of changes in soil organic matter was similar to soil aggregate stability in different land uses in both soil layers as follows: rangeland with good condition > rangeland with poor condition > abandoned land > dry farmlands. The structural stability indices (i.e. MWD, GMD and D₅₀) of rangelands with good condition were significantly greater than other land uses (P < 0.05). This highlights the importance of maintaining native rangeland to prevent organic matter loss, structure deterioration and soil erosion.     

Soil organic matter quality as influenced by tillage,lime, and phosphorus

In Eastern Canada, cereal yields are often restricted by soil acidity and low fertility. Continuous cereal production can also lead to soil structural degradation. The addition of lime and fertilizers and the adoption of conversation tillage practices are proposed solutions which may have a positive impact on soil quality. The objective of the present work was to assess the impact of 3 years of different tillage practices and P additions, and of a single lime addition on organic C and total N, microbial biomass C, and on N mineralization at the surface layer (0–7.5 cm) of a Courval sandy clay loam (Humic Gleysol). The easily mineralizable N, total amount of N mineralized in 22.1 weeks, the rate of N mineralization, and microbial biomass C were significantly greater in the minimum tillage than in the moldboard plow treatment. Chisel plow treatment showed intermediate values. The ratios of potentially mineralizable N and of easily mineralizable to total soil N were also significantly larger under minimum tillage and chisel plowing than under moldboard plowing. The lime and P treatments had no significant effect on the measured soil quality parameters. The total amount of N mineralized per unit of biomass C decreased as the tillage intensity increased, suggesting a decrease in the efficiency of the biomass in transforming organic N into potentially plant-available forms and thus a loss in soil organic matter quality. The results of this study indicate that conservation tillage practices such as rototilling and chisel plowing are efficient ways of maintaining soil organic matter quality when old pastures are brought back into cultivation.     

不同覆盖材料及旱作方式土壤团聚体和有机碳含量的变化

【目的】研究秸秆和地膜覆盖旱作冬小麦田土壤团聚体分布规律及与有机碳的关系,为探讨覆盖方式对土壤团聚作用的影响,优化黄土高原旱作农田耕作措施提供理论依据。【方法】冬小麦覆盖试验开始于2008年,试验设计4个处理:冬小麦种植期间无覆盖对照(CK)、全年覆盖秸秆9000 kg/hm~2(M1)、全年覆盖秸秆4500 kg/hm~2(M2)和全年地膜覆盖(PM)。利用干筛法和湿筛法筛分了2014年收获期0-10 cm和10 20 cm土层中5 mm、5~2 mm、2~1 mm、1~0.5 mm、0.5~0.25 mm和0.25 mm粒级的团聚体,计算团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)和几何平均直径(GMD),并分析了覆盖方式对土壤总有机碳的影响及其与土壤团聚体的关系。【结果】1)秸秆覆盖显著提高了0-10 cm土层0.25 mm土壤机械稳定性团聚体含量m1和M2处理较CK处理分别提高了5.1%和2.0%;秸秆和地膜覆盖均可提高10-20 cm土层0.25 mm机械稳定性团聚体含量,M1、M2和PM处理较CK处理分别提高了7.6%、4.3%和3.1%。2)秸秆覆盖有利于0-10 cm土层0.25 mm水稳性团聚体的形成M1和M2处理较CK处理分别提高了6.8%和5.0%PM处理与CK处理无显著差异;覆盖处理对10-20 cm土层水稳性团聚体影响不显著。3)秸秆和地膜覆盖均有利于0-10 cm土层土壤团聚体稳定性的提高,M1、M2和PM处理平均重量直径值较CK处理分别提高47.8%、24.7%和24.6%几何平均直径值分别提高了48.9%、34.8%和31.6%。4)秸秆覆盖有利于提高土壤有机碳含量在0-10 cm土层M1和M2处理较CK处理有机碳含量分别提高了11.9%和6.3%在10 20 cm土层分别提高4.2%和4.5%,地膜覆盖对土壤有机碳的积累无促进作用。在0-10 cm土层土壤有机碳含量与0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量呈显著正相关。【结论】秸秆覆盖处理可提高土壤大团聚体含量提高团聚体的水稳性,改善土壤结构,同时可增加土壤有机碳含量提高土壤肥力,且覆盖量越大效果越明显。地膜覆盖对土壤结构的改良也有一定作用但,效果较秸秆覆盖处理差。覆盖秸秆9000 kg/hm~2处理优于其他处理,可以作为黄土高原旱作农田合理的耕作模式应用到农业生产中。     

Soil hydraulic properties influenced by corn stover removal from no-till corn in Ohio

Corn (Zea mays L.) stover removal for biofuel production and other uses may alter soil hydraulic properties, but site-specific information needed to determine the threshold levels of removal for the U.S. Corn Belt region is limited. This study quantified impacts of systematic removal of corn stover on soil hydraulic parameters after 1 year of stover management under no-till (NT) systems. These measurements were made on three soils in Ohio including Rayne silt loam (fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludult) at Coshocton, Hoytville clay loam (fine, illitic, mesic Mollic Epiaqualfs) at Hoytville, and Celina silt loam (fine, mixed, active, mesic Aquic Hapludalfs) at South Charleston. Interrelationships among soil properties and saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) predictions were also assessed. Earthworm middens, K_sat, bulk density (ρ_b), soil water retention (SWR), pore-size distribution, and air permeability (k_a) were determined for six stover treatments. Stover treatments consisted of removing 0 (T100), 25 (T75), 50 (T50), 75 (T25), 100 (T0) and adding 100 (T200)% of corn stover corresponding to 0, 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, 5.00, and 10.00 Mg ha⁻¹ of stover, respectively. Stover removal reduced the number of middens, K_sat, SWR, and k_a, and increased ρ_b at all sites (P < 0.01). Compared to normal stover treatment (T100), complete stover removal (T0) reduced earthworm middens 6-fold at Coshocton and about 14-fold at Hoytville and Charleston. Geometric mean K_sat decreased from 3.1 to 0.1 mm h⁻¹ at Coshocton, 4.2 to 0.3 mm h⁻¹ at Hoytville, and 4.2 to 0.6 mm h⁻¹ at Charleston while soil ρ_b increased about 12% in the 0–10-cm depth at Coshocton and Hoytville from T100 to T0. The SWR for T0 was about 70% of that for T100 and 58% of that for T200 at 0 to −6 kPa suctions across sites. The log k_a for T200, T100, and T75 significantly exceeded that under T50, T25, and T0 at Coshocton and Charleston. Differences in the number of middens, ρ_b, SWR, K_sat, and k_a between T100 and T200 were not generally significant although the T200 retained slightly more water for the 0 to −100 kPa at Charleston and had higher k_a at Hoytville compared to T100. Measured parameters were strongly correlated, and k_a was a strong K_sat predictor. Stover harvesting induces rapid changes in soil hydraulic properties and earthworm activity, but further monitoring is needed to ascertain the threshold levels of stover removal for soil-specific conditions.     

Co-accumulation of microbial residues and particulate organic matter in the surface layer of a no-till Oxisol under different crops

In the absence of significant mechanical disturbance such as under permanent no-till (NT), crop type should be a prominent factor controlling soil organic C (SOC) pools. Microbial cell residues have been shown to be influenced by plant species and are believed to contribute significantly to soil organic matter formation. We performed a study to investigate the co-accumulation of microbial cell wall residues (glucosamine, GlcN and muramic acid, MurN) and organic C (total and particle-size fractions) in the surface layer (0- to 5-cm depth) of an Oxisol after 7 yr under NT, as affected by different crop types. SOC content associated with pigeon pea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] was 20% and 18% higher than that with corn (Zea mays L.) or sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), respectively. The highest particulate organic C (POC) content in soil was also found under pigeon pea, which showed values 54, 46, and 48% higher than under corn, sunflower, and oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. oleiformis Pers.), respectively. Changes in POC explained most of the variation in SOC. The positive impact of pigeon pea on POC and SOC was attributed to rapid decomposition of its residues, due to their low C/N ratio, followed by selective preservation of lignin-rich particulate organic matter. The accrual of POC was closely associated with the accumulation of fungal and bacterial cell wall residues. This may be due to preferential feeding of fungi and bacteria on recently deposited plant-derived C sources present in the form of particulate organic matter. This observation is consistent with a recent model suggesting that microbial residues play a greater role in the formation of SOC than previously considered. We emphasize that this effect was mediated by the accumulation of POC and influenced by crop type.     

Soil organic matter pools in a volcanic-ash soil under fallow or cultivation with applied chicken manure

Frequent applications of chicken manure to a volcanic-ash soil resulted in an increased crop yield several years after the applications ceased. Improved nutrient cycling through the soil organic matter (SOM) was thought be the cause of this. An area that for several years had been under either unimproved fallow or continuous bean-maize intercropping (with chicken manure application) was planted with maize intercropped with the legume Arachis pintoi. Soil samples were fractionated into several sizes of aggregates and incubated for 6 weeks in intact form and after crushing the aggregates. Between 1.2 and 3.1% of the C in any aggregate size class exited in easily decomposable (i.e. not physically or chemically protected) form. Less than 0.8% of the macroaggregate C was physically protected by the aggregate structure. More than 97% of the C in any aggregate size class can be considered resistant. The large-or small-macroaggregate-protected SOM (i.e. in aggregates > 2000 μm and 250–2000 μm, respectively). once made available, was more easily decomposed than the unprotected SOM. The large SOM content (45.8–57.3 g C kg^?1) but yet limited mineralizability indicates that mechanisms other than soil macroaggregation are important for protecting SOM in this soil. Binding of organic molecules onto allophane minerals is likely to be such a mechanism. The larger yield and nutrient uptake by the maize in the former bean-maize plots compared with the former fallow plots could not be explained by differences in SOM decomposition. We think that the frequent application of chicken manure to the former bean-maize plots increased the available phosphorus in these strongly P-sorbing soils by increasing the cycling of organic-P or by blocking some of the P-reactive sites. This, however, needs to be further investigated.     

Chemical stabilization of organic carbon pools in particle size fractions in no-till and meadow soils

The knowledge about the relevance of physical and chemical fractionation methods to soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilization mechanisms is fragmentary but needed to manage the SOC pool. Therefore, our objective was to compare the C contents of the particle size fractions coarse and fine sand, silt, and clay of the two uppermost horizons of a soil under three different management systems (meadow; no-till corn, NT; no-till corn with manure, NTm). The mineral composition was dominated by silt (48–60%). However, coarse sand and clay showed the highest enrichment of C compared to the bulk soil. In spite of an enrichment factor below 1, the high proportion of silt made this fraction the main C store. In the upper 30 cm, this fraction amounted to 27.1 Mg C ha⁻¹ in NTm and progressively less in NT (15.5 Mg C ha⁻¹), and meadow (14.9 Mg C ha⁻¹), representing 44%, 39%, and 39% of the total SOC pool, respectively. The C in the isolated particle size fractions was further investigated by an oxidizing treatment with Na₂S₂O₈ and a treatment with HF to solubilize the mineral phases. The pools of oxidizable C were comparable among particle size fractions and pedons, as indicated by Na₂S₂O₈ treatment. The pools of C preferentially associated with soil minerals were also comparable among pedons, as indicated by HF treatment. However, NTm stored the largest pool (12.6 Mg ha⁻¹) of mineral-associated C in 0–30 cm depth. The silt-associated and mineral-bound SOC pool in NTm was greater compared to NT due to increased organic matter (OM) input. Thus, the silt particle size fraction at the North Appalachian Experimental Watershed (NAEW) has the potential for SOC sequestration by stabilizing OM inputs. Mineralogical and molecular level analyses on a larger set of fractions obtained from entire rooted soil profiles are required, however, to compare the SOC sequestration capacity of the land uses.     

Soil organic matter,microbial properties,and aggregate stability under annual and perennial pastures

The use of annually sown pastures to provide winter forage is common in dairy farming in many regions of the world. Loss of organic matter and soil structural stability due to annual tillage under this management may be contributing to soil degradation. The comparative effects of annual ryegrass pastures (conventionally tilled and resown each year), permanent kikuyu pastures and undisturbed native vegetation on soil organic matter content, microbial size and activity, and aggregate stability were investigated on commercial dairy farms in the Tsitsikamma region of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. In comparison with soils under sparse, native grassy vegetation, those under both annual ryegrass and permanent kikuyu pasture had higher soil organic matter content on the very sandy soils of the eastern end of the region. By contrast, in the higher rainfall, western side, where the native vegetation was coastal forest, there was a loss of organic matter under both types of pasture. Nonetheless, soil organic C, K₂SO₄-extractable C, microbial biomass C, basal respiration, arginine ammonification and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis rates and aggregate stability were less under annual than permanent pastures at all the sites. These results reflect the degrading effect of annual tillage on soil organic matter and the positive effect of grazed permanent pasture on soil microbial activity and aggregation. Soil organic C, microbial biomass C, K₂SO₄-extractable C, basal respiration and aggregate stability were significantly correlated with each other. The metabolic quotient and percentage of organic C present as microbial biomass C were generally poorly correlated with other measured properties but negatively correlated with one another. It was concluded that annual pasture involving conventional tillage results in a substantial loss of soil organic matter, soil microbial activity and soil physical condition under dairy pastures and that a system that avoids tillage needs to be developed.     

Carbon and nitrogen in operationally defined soil organic matter pools

Humic substances [humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA), and insoluble humin], particulate organic matter (POM), and glomalin comprise the majority (ca 75%) of operationally defined extractable soil organic matter (SOM). The purpose of this work was to compare amounts of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in HA, FA, POM, and glomalin pools in six undisturbed soils. POM, glomalin, HA, and FA in POM, and glomalin, HA, and FA in POM-free soil were extracted in the following sequence: (1) POM fraction separation from the soil, (2) glomalin extraction from the POM fraction and POM-free soil, and (3) co-extraction of HA and FA from the POM fraction and POM-free soil. Only trace amounts of HA and FA were present in the POM fraction, while POM-associated glomalin (POM-glomalin) and POM alone contributed 2 and 12%, respectively, of the total C in the soil. Mean combined weights for chemically extracted pools from POM and from POM-free soil were 9.92 g glomalin, 1.12 g HA, and 0.88 g FA kg⁻¹ soil. Total protein and C, N, and H concentrations showed that glomalin and HA were, for the most part, separate pools, although protein was detected in HA extracts. Even though percentage carbon was higher in HA than in glomalin, glomalin was a larger (almost nine times) operationally defined pool of soil organic C. Glomalin was also the largest pool of soil N of all the pools isolated, but all pools combined only contained 31% of the total N in the soil.     

Soil organic carbon pools and composition in a wetland complex invaded by reed canary grass

Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) invasion is prevalent in wetlands and riparian fringes, and due to differences in vegetative growth and residue quality relative to native species, P. arundinacea invasion could result in measurable effect on soil organic carbon (SOC) pools and composition. To examine these questions, plant biomass and soil samples were collected from areas invaded by P. arundinacea and areas colonized either by a native sedge Scirpus cyperinus or a mixed assemblage of 22 native species in a south-central Indiana (USA) wetland. Plant biomass composition (C, N, cellulose, lignin, and phenolics), total and water-extractable SOC pools were determined. S. cyperinus biomass contained (g kg⁻¹ biomass) significantly (P < 0.05) more lignin (142.5 vs 72), phenolics (29.2 vs 11.2), and cellulose (260.5 vs 164.8) than P. arundinacea biomass. These constituents were also more abundant in mixed native plant material than in P. arundinacea biomass. Decomposition of plant biomass was related to residue composition with P. arundinacea shoot biomass decomposing 1.6 times faster than S. cyperinus material. SOC pools (Mg C ha⁻¹, 0–30 cm) were larger under P. arundinacea (28.3) than under either S. cyperinus (23.9) or the mixed native species (21.8). Thus, the greater recalcitrance of native plant biomass did not translate into larger SOC pools. Furthermore, water-extractable organic C, N, and carbohydrates were significantly higher in the surface layer of soils supporting P. arundinacea than in native species. These results therefore indicate a clear effect of P. arundinacea invasion on the cycling and composition of soil organic matter at the study site.     

Soil organic matter, microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a tropical agroforestry system

 The effects of growing trees in combination with field crops on soil organic matter, microbial biomass C, basal respiration and dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activities were studied in soils under a 12-year-old Dalbergia sissoo (a N₂-fixing tree) plantation intercropped with a wheat (Triticum aestivum) – cowpea (Vigna sinensis) cropping sequence. The inputs of organic matter through D. sissoo leaf litter increased and crop roots decreased with the increase in tree density. Higher organic C and total N, microbial biomass C, basal soil respiration and activities of dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase were observed in treatments with tree-crop combination than in the treatment without trees. Soil organic matter, microbial biomass C and soil enzyme activities increased with the decrease in the spacing of the D. sissoo plantation. The results indicate that adoption of the agroforestry practices led to an improved organic matter status of the soil, which is also reflected in the increased nutrient pool and microbial activities necessary for long-term productivity of the soil. However, tree spacing should be properly maintained to minimize the effects of shading on the intercrops. Received: 21 February 1997     

Effect of tillage and liming on organic matter composition in a Rhodic Ferralsol from Southern Brazil

The effects of tillage and liming on degradation of organic matter of a Rhodic Ferralsol were investigated. Samples were taken from a tillage experiment and from a trial with different levels of lime application. Organic matter was separated into the fractions of undecomposed organic matter and humic substances by density fractionation. Chemical composition of the humic substances was determined by Kononova's fractionation method. Other chemical parameters measured were total organic C, pH, exchangeable cations, and the physical property determined was aggregate stability. Tillage, and to a lesser degree, liming, substantially decreased organic matter content when compared to samples taken from a virgin forest. The proportion of humic acids C (HC) varied most, so that the ratio of fulvic acids C (FC) to HC increased from 2.5 (virgin forest), to 3.4 (lime treatments and no-tillage) and to 5.8 (conventional tillage). Content of FC was affected by pH, while no distinct factors were found to influence HC content. Aggregate stability was best related to content of HC, confirming the importance of this fraction of organic matter for aggregation. It was concluded that especially excessive tillage greatly affects soil fertility because organic matter is decomposed to a great extent. However, a further need for research seems necessary to clarify interactions conclusively between changes of pH, adsorption of humic substances and other chemical properties in the entire profile of Ferralsols.     

Labile pools of organic matter and microbial biomass in the surface soils under shifting cultivation in northern Thailand

In order to analyze the N mineralization process under shifting cultivation in northern Thailand, labile pools of soil organic matter were studied, which were considered to be the factors contributing to the N mineralization process. Organic C, (organic + NH₄ ⁺)-N, and hexose-C were extracted from fresh soils in the surface 0–5 cm layers with a 0.5 M K₂S₀. solution at 110°C in an autoclave (fraction A) or at room temperature with a reciprocal shaker (fraction B), and analyzed as labile pools of organic matter. In the traditional shifting cultivation system, the content of organic C in fraction A in the fallow fields for 8 to 15 y was 3,710 mg kg^-1 while that in the fallow fields for 1 y and 3 to 5 y was 2,640 and 2,600 mg kg^-1, respectively. A high correlation was observed between the contents of the labile pool in fraction A and total soil organic matter. The ratio of the pool in fraction A to total soil organic matter apparently remained constant through the input-output balance in the pool. The content of the labile pool in fraction B was the highest among the fields cultivated for 1 y after the slash and burn practice and it decreased in the course of the fallow period. The content of organic C was 548 mg kg^-1 in the fields cultivated for 1 y and 235 mg kg^-1 in the fallow fields for 8-15 y, respectively. There was a reverse relation between the contents of the pool in fraction B and microbial biomass. Therefore, the origin of the pool in fraction B was attributed to the microbial debris associated mainly with a decrease in the soil moisture content in the dry season. On the other hand, in the relatively intensive cultivation system, there was no significant difference in the contents of the labile pools both in fractions A and B among the land use stages, suggesting that the preservation mechanism of these pools, which was observed in the traditional cultivation system, did not operate well in the intensive system. In alternative farming systems in future, it will be essential to apply organic materials to soils to supply organic matter and to maintain the microbial biomass.     

Soil development on restored opencast coal sites with particular reference to organic matter and aggregate stability

Abstract. Organic indices and aggregate stability were measured in soils of similar texture on two restored opencast coal sites and on adjacent, undisturbed land in South Wales, UK. The aim was to assess rates of soil change over time, to relate these changes to conditions in undisturbed land and to evaluate organic-aggregation relationships across these range of soils. Several management factors were included in the comparisons.
Organic matter accumulated at the surface (0–7.5 cm) of restored soils, contents being greater than undisturbed soils after 21 years. However, this increase in total organic matter did not result in proportionate increases in carbohydrates and microbial biomass, nor did aggregate stability increase to the degree expected. Between 7.5 and 15 cm depth, rates of change were slower. Microbial metabolic quotient and respiration relative to total soil C were highest in recently (9 years) restored soils, intermediate in 21 year old restored soils and least for undisturbed soils.
Sewage (100t/ha) applied at reinstatement improved clay stability but had little effect on other parameters when measured 9 years later. Drainage of soils restored in 1972 reduced total organic content but its influence on other organic indices was more complex. Carbohydrate contents had the closest association with aggregate stability and microbial biomass.
Although the productivity of restored land may recover more quickly, findings suggest that rehabilitation of normal soil processes following surface mining may take much longer than the normal five year aftercare period.     

Soil quality assessment based on soil organic matter pools under long-term tillage systems and following tillage conversion in a semi-humid region

A field study was conducted to assess the long-term effects of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT), and the short-term effects following tillage conversion from CT to NT (NT_n) and from NT to CT (CT_n) on soil quality (SQ) indicators in a semi-humid climate. First, plots of a long-term tillage experiment on a Luvic Phaeozem initiated in 1986 were split into two subplots in 2012, yielding four treatments: NT, CT, NT_n and CT_n. In 2015, composite soil samples were collected from each treatment and from a natural site (Ref) at depths 0–5, 5–10, 10–20 and 0–20 cm. Several indicators were determined: soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON); particulate organic C (POM-C) and N (POM-N); potential N mineralization (PMN) and soil respiration (R_s). Moreover, bulk density was determined in long-term tillage systems. Different ratios between indicators were calculated, with emphasis on its function in the agroecosystem, that is functional indicators. Significant differences in SOC, SON and PMN were found between CT and NT at most depths. In contrast, 3 years after tillage conversion, only a part of the SQ indicators studied were modified mainly at the 0–10 cm depth. The functional indicators showed differences between tillage systems in the long-term and after short-term tillage conversion depending on the depth; however, the PMN/SON ratio demonstrated differences at all depths. Under these conditions, this ratio-related to easily mineralizable N fraction proved to be a promising indicator for assessing SQ under contrasting tillage systems regardless of the sampling depth.     

基于决策树模型的土壤有机质制图

Based on a case study of Longyou County, Zhejiang Province, the decision tree, a data mining method, was used to analyze the relationships between soil organic matter (SOM) and other environmental and satellite sensing spatial data.The decision tree associated SOM content with some extensive easily observable landscape attributes, such as landform,geology, land use, and remote sensing images, thus transforming the SOM-related information into a clear, quantitative,landscape factor-associated regular system. This system could be used to predict continuous SOM spatial distribution.By analyzing factors such as elevation, geological unit, soil type, land use, remotely sensed data, upslope contributing area, slope, aspect, planform curvature, and profile curvature, the decision tree could predict distribution of soil organic matter levels. Among these factors, elevation, land use, aspect, soil type, the first principle component of bitemporal Landsat TM, and upslope contributing area were considered the most important variables for predicting SOM. Results of the prediction between SOM content and landscape types sorted by the decision tree showed a close relationship with an accuracy of 81.1%.     

Soil organic matter maps by nuclear magnetic resonance

Preliminary studies are reported on a soil and a litter fraction which have the aim of exploring the potential of two-dimensional ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the analysis of soil organic matter structure. It has been shown that contour plots can be obtained in which one co-ordinate gives chemical shift information and the other the magnitude of the dipolar interaction. For aromatic and oxygenated aliphatic carbon, the latter parameter is a measure of the degree of protonation. Hence the method is useful for distinguishing between soils containing highly substituted and condensed aromatic structures and those with protonated aromatic carbon. Likewise, it is possible to distinguish between soils containing dioxygenated carbon which is. protonated (e.g. ketal).     

Soil‐aggregate formation as influenced by clay content and organic‐matter amendment

Naturally occurring wetting‐and‐drying cycles often enhance aggregation and give rise to a stable soil structure. In comparatively dry regions, such as large areas of Australia, organic‐matter (OM) contents in topsoils of arable land are usually small. Therefore, the effects of wetting and drying are almost solely reliant on the clay content. To investigate the relations between wetting‐and‐drying cycles, aggregation, clay content, and OM in the Australian environment, an experiment was set up to determine the relative influence of both clay content (23%, 31%, 34%, and 38%) and OM amendments of barley straw (equivalent to 3.1 t ha^–1, 6.2 t ha^–1, and 12.4 t ha^–1) on the development of water‐stable aggregates in agricultural soil. The aggregate stability of each of the sixteen composite soils was determined after one, three, and six wet/dry cycles and subsequent fast and slow prewetting and was then compared to the aggregate stabilities of all other composite soils. While a single wet/dry cycle initiated soil structural evolution in all composite soils, enhancing macroaggregation, the incorporation of barley straw was most effective for the development of water‐stable aggregates in those soils with 34% and 38% clay. Repeated wetting‐and‐drying events revealed that soil aggregation is primarily based on the clay content of the soil, but that large straw additions also tend to enhance soil aggregation. Relative to untreated soil, straw additions equivalent to 3.1 t ha^–1 and 12.4 t ha^–1 increased soil aggregation by about 100% and 250%, respectively, after three wet/dry cycles and fast prewetting, but were of less influence with subsequent wet/dry cycles. Straw additions were even more effective in aggregating soil when combined with slow prewetting; after three wet/dry cycles, the mean weight diameters of aggregates were increased by 70% and 140% with the same OM additions and by 160% and 290% after six wet/dry cycles, compared to samples without organic amendments. We suggest that in arable soils poor in OM and with a field texture grade of clay loam or finer, the addition of straw, which is often available from preceding crops, may be useful for improving aggregation. For a satisfactory degree of aggregate stability and an improved soil structural form, we found that straw additions of at least 6.2 t ha^–1 were required. However, rapid wetting of straw‐amended soil will disrupt newly formed aggregates, and straw has only a limited ability to sustain structural improvement.