典型喀斯特高基岩出露坡地表层土壤有机碳空间异质性及其储量估算方法

本研究基于详尽、系统的土壤采样调查,研究了喀斯特高基岩出露坡地典型样地(100 m×100 m)内表层土壤(0~15 cm)有机碳(SOC)含量的空间异质性特征,并以土壤斑块加和法为基准,探讨了传统空间插值方法和基于岩石出露率、土深校正的空间插值方法在喀斯特高基岩出露地区土壤表层有机碳储量估算中的适用性。结果表明,研究区SOC和容重均值分别为75.5 g·kg-1和0.8 g·cm-3,变异系数分别为30.6%与47.3%,皆呈现中等变异;SOC半变异函数的最优拟和模型为指数模型,块金值和基台值分别为260.8与521.7,变程为52.5 m,其半变异函数分别在滞后距0~15.2 m与34.7~54.2 m范围内呈现明显的各向异性,说明在该尺度范围内微地貌与地形显著影响SOC的空间分布;利用土壤斑块加和法估算的样地表层SOC储量和碳密度分别为983.8 kg和0.1 kg·m-2,利用传统空间插值方法估算的表层SOC储量和碳密度分别为86 264.0 kg和8.6 kg·m-2,利用基于岩石出露率、土深校正的空间插值方法估算的表层SOC储量和碳密度分别为2 712.8 kg和0.3 kg·m-2。其中传统空间插值方法大大高估了喀斯特地区表层SOC储量和碳密度值,用该方法估算的SOC储量为该区SOC实际储量的87.7倍,其误估率为8 668.4%。说明传统地统计学方法不适合估算喀斯特高基岩出露坡地表层SOC储量及碳密度。而基于岩石出露率、土深校正的空间插值方法大大降低了估算喀斯特高基岩出露坡地表层SOC储量和碳密度的误差,为该区SOC实际储量及碳密度的2.7倍。说明校正后的地统计方法在估算该区高基岩出露坡地表层SOC储量时具有一定的适用性。以上研究表明,地统计方法是表示该区SOC空间分布的有效手段,但由于传统地统计方法难以精确拟合高基岩出露坡地土壤斑块的空间分布、微地貌特征、岩石出露率以及土层深度等信息,在估算同类坡地SOC储量和碳密度时必须修正估算公式以接近实际值。     

黄土丘陵半干旱区人工柠条林土壤固碳特征及其影响因素

为了探讨黄土丘陵区不同生长年限的人工柠条林地土壤有机碳含量的变化特征及其影响因素,更好地阐明黄土丘陵区柠条林土壤的固碳机理,本文采用时空替代法,以撂荒2 a的坡耕地为对照,对黄土丘陵半干旱区不同林龄(10 a、17 a、26 a、34 a、40 a、50 a)人工柠条林地土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(STN)、全磷(STP)及柠条林的根系生物量和枯落物现存量进行了分析。结果表明:1)在0~60 cm的土层剖面上,0~20 cm土层SOC含量明显高于其他土层,并随土层深度的增加逐层递减,其中柠条林地0~20 cm土层SOC含量变化幅度为2.68~11.44 g·kg-1,而40~60 cm土层SOC含量仅在1.64~2.73 g·kg-1波动;与对照相比,随林龄增加柠条林地0~60 cm土层平均SOC含量先减小后增加最后趋于平稳:10 a和17 a柠条林SOC含量比对照显著降低了34.5%和26.9%,26 a柠条林的SOC含量显著升高,其值是对照的1.43倍,40 a和50 a柠条林SOC含量处于积累与消耗相对稳定的状态。2)对SOC含量与STN、STP含量及根系生物量和枯落物现存量进行相关性分析表明,SOC含量与STN含量、根系生物量及枯落物现存量之间存在极显著线性相关,但与STP含量相关性不明显,说明土壤中氮含量的增加能明显提高土壤的固碳能力,而根系生物量和枯落物现存量的多少能够决定土壤的固碳水平。     

A State‐Space Analysis of Soil Organic Carbon in China's Loess Plateau

An accurate estimation of soil organic carbon (SOC) is important for the evaluation and management of carbon (C) flux in terrestrial ecosystems. However, there is little work on the spatial variability of SOC in deep soils and its driving factors. Thus, the objective of the study was to derive the primary factors dominating the spatial distribution of SOC in different soil layers with the use of the autoregressive state‐space approach. The concentration of SOC was measured to the depth of 500 cm (n  = 86) along a south–north transect of China's Loess Plateau. The mean SOC of the 500‐cm soil profile generally decreased from south to north following the decreasing rainfall gradient. Based on the investigated factors, the state‐space model was able to capture 90.3–99.9% of the spatial variability of SOC in the various soil layers. According to the coefficients in the optimal state‐space model for each soil layer, climatic factors such as precipitation and temperature had a dominant control over the spatial distribution of SOC at shallow depths. However, both climatic and edaphic (e.g. soil texture) factors, and to a small extent land use, influenced the spatial behavior of SOC at the 40–200 cm soil depth. For soil layers below 200 cm, the importance of land use was revealed, and the spatial characteristics of SOC were together driven by land use, climatic and edaphic factors. This is critical for the management of soil C flux in deep soils and the C stock and cycle in terrestrial ecosystems. Table SI. Basic properties of soils and climate and elevation under three land uses along the south–north transect on the Loess Plateau (mean ± standard deviation). Note that SWC is gravimetric soil water content. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial variability of soil organic carbon stock in an olive orchard at catchment scale in Southern Spain

Orchards have a high potential for carbon sequestration. However, little research is available on the spatial variability at catchment scale and on the difference between the tree area and the lanes. We analyzed theik spatial variability of soil organic carbon stock, SOC_stock at 90 cm depth in an 8-ha catchment in Southern Spain with olives on a vertic soil. Results showed higher soil organic carbon concentration, SOC, in the tree area as compared to the lane up to 60 cm depth, but its impact on SOC_stock was negligible since it was compensated by the higher soil bulk density in the lane. SOC at different depths was correlated with that in the top 0–5 cm. The overall SOC_stock of the orchard was 4.14 kg m⁻², ranging between 1.8 and 6.0 kg m⁻². This SOC_stock is in the mid-lower range of values reported for olive orchards, measured at smaller scale, and similar to those other intensive field crops and agroforestry under comparable rainfall conditions. The spatial variability in SOC_stock was correlated to several geomorphological variables: elevation, cumulative upstream area, topographic wetness index, sediment transport index, and tillage erosion. Differences in SOC and SOC_stock are driven by the sediment redistribution downslope, mainly by tillage erosion, and higher soil water availability in lower areas allowing higher biomass production. These topographic indexes and the correlation between SOC in the topsoil and SOC_stock up to 90 cm should be further explored in other typology of olive orchards for facilitating the mapping of SOC_stock.     

Spatial patterns,storages and sources of black carbon in soils from the catchment of Qinghai Lake,China

Black carbon (BC), composed of char and soot, is an important component of soil organic carbon (SOC), and these materials are potentially important for the global carbon cycle and global climate. A thermal‐optical reflectance method was used to determine the spatial patterns of SOC, BC, char and soot in nine soil types collected from 152 sites in the Qinghai Lake catchment. All of the analytes showed large spatial variability: SOC, BC and char were most abundant in bog soils and least abundant in aeolian soils, while soot concentrations in alpine frost desert and in aeolian soils were about half of those in the other soils. The average BC concentration in the 0–20‐cm soil layers was 1.3 g kg^?1, and BC amounted to 5.6% of the SOC. Char, SOC and BC all decreased with soil depth, but soot showed little variation. The proportions of BC to SOC and char to BC showed contrasting trends in four soil profiles; the former increased and the latter decreased with depth. The quantity of SOC sequestered in topsoils of the catchment area was estimated to be 191 Tg; BC accounted for approximately 4.8% of this, and char made up approximately 85% of the total BC stock. The burning of animal dung for domestic cooking apparently was an important source of soil BC: combustion of other biofuels and fossil fuels was the other main source.     

Response of soil properties and C dynamics to land-use change in the west of Loess Plateau

Land-use change (LUC) is widely considered a major factor that affects soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. The impacts of four LUC types on soil properties, SOC, particulate organic carbon (POC) and labile organic carbon (LOC) at the 0–100 cm depth were examined in the west of Loess Plateau, northwest China. Bulk density at the 20–40 cm depth increased significantly after native grassland conversion to cropland, while artificial grassland establishment and abandonment on former cropland caused reverse change. Soil water content in the profile increased 60–230% after cultivation and decreased 32–49% after abandonment (p < 0.01). The particle size distribution also showed a response to LUC. Only artificial grassland establishment caused an SOC sink of 32% at the 0–10 cm depth as well as two labile fractions. SOC tended to increase after cultivation and after abandonment, with 6% and 20% at soil surface, respectively. There were increasing trends in POC and LOC. After afforestation on former native grassland, SOC tended to decrease (23%) at the 0–10 cm depth while POC and LOC tended to increase (33% and 6%, respectively). Principal component analysis was successful in separating LUC through soil property parameters. Carbon sequestration is largely ascribed to increased below-ground production and tillage elimination after perennial alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plantation. Irrigation and fertilization activities contribute to SOC accumulation after cultivation to some extent. The self-restoration dynamic depending on time since abandonment is important to SOC change. A lower proportion of stabilized carbon results in a slow rate of SOC accumulation after afforestation. It is necessary to investigate the long-term dynamic after LUC.     

Examining soil organic carbon in the mountainous peat swamps of the Zoigê Plateau in China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Mountainous peatlands are one of the most important terrestrial ecosystems for carbon storage and play an important role in the global carbon cycle. An insight into the carbon cycle of peat swamps located in mountainous regions can be obtained by studying the distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its relationships with environmental factors. This study focused on the development conditions of peat swamps in the Gahai wetlands, located on the Zoigê Plateau, China, with four different altitudinal gradients as experimental sample sites. The distribution of SOC and its relationship with environmental factors were analysed through vegetation surveys and a generalized additive model (GAM). The results show that with increasing altitude, soil temperature decreased while the soil pH and bulk density initially decreased then increased. On the contrary, the topographic wetness index (TWI), SOC content, above-ground biomass and litter count initially increased then decreased. The SOC content of the 0–30 cm soil layer was in the range 226–330 g·kg⁻¹ (coefficient of variation (CV) = 21.4%), and the 30–60 cm layer was 178–257 g·kg⁻¹ (CV = 17.5%) and was significantly correlated (p < .05) with above-ground biomass and litter count. Meanwhile, the SOC content in the 60–90 cm soil layer was in the range 132–167 g·kg⁻¹ (CV = 9.2%) with a significant correlation (p < .05) with soil temperature, pH, bulk density and topographic moisture index. The study showed that the SOC content exhibited more pronounced spatial patterns with increasing altitude, with the peak value in the shallow soil layer appearing in lower elevation areas compared with the deep soil layer. The level of variation changed from medium to low, reflecting the stable mechanism for maintaining SOC within the heterogeneous peat swamp environment.     

Organic carbon and total nitrogen variability in permafrost-affected soils in a forest tundra ecotone

Soils of the high latitudes are expected to respond sensitively to climate change, but still little is known about carbon and nitrogen variability in them. We investigated the 0.44‐km² Little Grawijka Creek catchment of the forest tundra ecotone (northern Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russian Federation) in order (i) to relate the active‐layer thickness to controlling environmental factors, (ii) to quantify soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (NT) stocks, and (iii) to assess their variability with respect to different landscape units. The catchment was mapped on a 50 × 50 m grid for topography, dominant tree and ground vegetation, organic‐layer and moss‐layer thickness, and active‐layer thickness. At each grid point, bulk density, and SOC and NT concentrations were determined for depth increments. At three selected plots, 2‐m deep soil cores were taken and analysed for SOC, NT and ¹⁴C. A shallow active layer was found in intact raised bogs at plateaux situations and in mineral soils of north‐northeast (NNE) aspect. Good drainage and greater solar insolation on the south‐southwest (SSW) slopes are reflected in deeper active layers or lack of permafrost. Organic carbon stocks to a soil depth of 90 cm varied between 5 and 95 kg m^–2. The greatest stocks were found in the intact raised bogs and on the NNE slopes. Canonical correspondence analysis indicates the dominant role of active‐layer thickness for SOC and NT storage. The 2‐m soil cores suggest that permafrost soils store about the same amount of SOC from 90 to 200 cm as in the upper 90 cm. Most of this deep SOC pool was formed in the mid‐Holocene (organic soils) and the late Pleistocene (mineral soils). Our results showed that even within a small catchment of the forest tundra, active‐layer thickness and, hence, SOC and NT storage vary greatly within the landscape mosaic. This has to be taken into account when using upscaling methods such as remote sensing for assessing SOC and NT storage and cycling at a regional to continental level.     

江西省耕地土壤有机碳空间变异的主控因素研究

准确地获取省域尺度下土壤有机碳空间变异的主控因素对土壤碳调控以及全球环境保护具有重要意义。本文基于江西省2012年测土配方施肥项目采集的16 582个耕地表层(0~20 cm)土壤样点数据,探讨江西省耕地表层土壤有机碳空间变异的主控因素。运用普通克里格法、单因素方差分析与回归分析方法对比地形因子、耕地利用方式、成土母质、土壤类型、灌溉能力和秸秆还田方式对江西省土壤有机碳空间分布的影响。结果表明:(1)江西省土壤有机碳含量在5.22~40.31 g/kg之间,平均值为17.90 g/kg,变异系数为31.01%,呈中等程度的变异性。(2)经半方差分析,土壤有机碳的变程为30.6 km,空间自相关范围较小;块金效应值为12.49%,表明土壤有机碳空间变异受结构性因素影响大于随机性因素。(3)在空间分布上,高值区主要分布在萍乡市、新余市、南昌市、抚州市与景德镇市。(4)回归分析与单因素方差分析结果表明,地形因子、灌溉能力、成土母质、耕地利用方式、土壤类型和秸秆还田方式对土壤有机碳空间变异影响均显著(P0.05),但影响程度不一。秸秆还田方式对土壤有机碳空间变异的独立解释能力最高,为38.9%,是江西耕地表层土壤有机碳空间变异的主控因素。     

Vertical distribution of charcoal in a sandy soil: evidence from DRIFT spectra and field emission scanning electron microscopy

This study uses diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier Transform (DRIFT) spectrometry and field emission scanning electron microscopy to investigate the vertical distribution of charcoal in a sandy soil from SE Australia. The soil was sampled to bedrock (120 cm) at varying depths and bulk samples were fractionated into three particle‐sizes: macro‐ (2000–200 µm), micro‐ (200–60 µm) and mineral‐associated organic matter (MAOM, < 60 µm). Charcoal was isolated from 0–30 and 30–60‐cm depths. Soil charcoal was detected by using a DRIFT band centred at 1590 cm^?1 and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive spectroscopy. Charcoal content as a proportion of soil organic carbon (SOC) was estimated with linear regressions of cumulative DRIFT bands. At 0–30 cm, charcoal content as a portion of SOC did not differ significantly between particle‐size fractions, constituting 5–26% of SOC. At a depth of 30–60 cm, charcoal constituted 19–39% of SOC in the fractions. At 60–100 cm, charcoal was only detectable in the mid‐sized fraction, where it constituted about 17% of SOC. These results support our previous hypothesis of charcoal enrichment in the micro‐fraction inducing a greater SOC stability in this fraction as inferred from radiocarbon ages (Hobley et al., 2013). Our findings indicate that DRIFT spectra can be used to detect the presence and amount of charcoal in soil, which may prove to be a simple and low‐cost alternative to more laborious and costly detection methods.     

气候和土壤质地对土壤有机碳影响的区域差异研究

The agricultural soil carbon pool plays an important role in mitigating greenhouse gas emission ana unaerstanamg the son orgamc carbon-climate-soil texture relationship is of great significance for estimating cropland soil carbon pool responses to climate change. Using data from 900 soil profiles, obtained from the Second National Soil Survey of China, we investigated the soil organic carbon （SOC） depth distribution in relation to climate and soil texture under various climate regimes of the cold northeast region （NER） and the warmer Huang-Huai-Hai region （HHHR） of China. The results demonstrated that the SOC content was higher in NER than in HHHR. For both regions, the SOC content at all soil depths had significant negative relationships with mean annual temperature （MAT）, but was related to mean annual precipitation （MAP） just at the surface 0-20 cm. The climate effect on SOC content was more pronounced in NER than in HHHR. Regional differences in the effect of soil texture on SOC content were not found. However, the dominant texture factors were different. The effect of sand content on SOC was more pronounced than that of clay content in NER. Conversely, the effect of clay on SOC was more pronounced than sand in HHHR. Climate and soil texture jointly explained the greatest SOC variability of 49.0% （0-20 cm） and 33.5% （20-30 cm） in NER and HHHR, respectively. Moreover, regional differences occurred in the importance of climate vs. soil texture in explaining SOC variability. In NER, the SOC content of the shallow layers （0-30 cm） was mainly determined by climate factor, specifically MAT, but the SOC content of the deeper soil layers （30-100 cm） was more affected by texture factor, specifically sand content. In HHHR, all the SOC variability in all soil layers was predominantly best explained by clay content. Therefore, when temperature was colder, the climate effect became stronger and this trend was restricted by soil depth. The regional differences and soil depth influence underscored the importance of explicitly considering them in modeling long-term soil responses to climate change and predicting potential soil carbon sequestration.     

Soil Organic Carbon Accumulation in Abandoned Croplands on the Loess Plateau

The Grain to Green Program in China which began in 1999 led to the conversion of 0.64 million ha of cropland to grassland on steep sloping landscapes. However, the pattern of natural vegetation succession following cropland has not been well represented in previous regional syntheses of land use change effects on soil organic carbon (SOC). A chronosequence study focusing on the vegetation succession and soil carbon stocks was conducted in the center of the Loess Plateau. The chronosequence included fields of 0, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15 and 25 years of self‐restoration after cropland abandonment, as well as a natural grassland reference. Plant coverage, species richness and plant biomass increased significantly with time of cropland abandonment. Over time, the species composition more nearly resembled a natural grasslands community. Cropland abandonment replenished SOC stocks by 3.6 kg C m⁻² during the 25‐year self‐restoration, but the SOC accumulation was restricted to the upper soil profiles (0–60 cm). SOC accumulation rate was 88 g C m⁻² y⁻¹ in 0–30 cm and 55 g C m⁻² y⁻¹ in 30–60 cm soil depth, respectively. These carbon stocks were still significantly lower than those found in the natural grassland soil. Our results suggest that the recovery of plant communities and SOC stocks appears to be slow in this semiarid environment without revegetation effort along with appropriate field management, although the post‐agricultural soils have a high potential for carbon sequestration. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于GIS的亚热带典型地区土壤有机碳空间分布预测

Spatial distribution of organic carbon in soils is difficult to estimate because of inherent spatial variability and insufficient data. A soil-landscape model for a region, based on 151 samples for parent material and topographic factors, was established using a GIS spatial analysis technique and a digital elevation model (DEM) to reveal spatial distribution characteristics of soil organic carbon (SOC). Correlations between organic carbon and topographic factors were analyzed and a regression model was established to predict SOC content. Results for surface soils (0-20 cm) showed that the average SOC content was 12.8 g kg^-1, with the SOC content between 6 and 12 g kg^-1 occupying the largest area and SOC over 24 g kg^-1 the smallest. Also, soils derived from phyllite were the highest in the SOC content and area, while soils developed on purple shale the lowest. Although parent material, elevation, and slope exposure were all significant topographic variables (P < 0.01), slope exposure had the highest correlation to SOC content (r = 0.66). Using a multiple regression model (R² = 0.611) and DEM (with a 30 m × 30 m grid), spatial distribution of SOC could be forecasted.     

四川省仁寿县土壤有机碳空间分布特征及其主控因素

准确地获取区域尺度内土壤有机碳含量信息对土壤碳调控及全球环境变化具有重要意义。本研究基于野外实地采集的555个表层(0~20 cm)土样,探讨四川省仁寿县土壤有机碳空间分布特征及其主控因素。运用方差分析和回归分析对比了成土母质、土壤类型和土地利用方式对仁寿县土壤有机碳空间分布的影响。结果表明:研究区表层土壤有机碳含量为3.36~37.10 g·kg-1,平均13.46 g·kg-1,变异系数为48.87%,属中等强度的空间变异性。块金效应C0/(C0+C)为66.7%,空间分布受结构性因素和随机性因素的共同影响,总体呈现北高南低的趋势。土地利用方式和土壤类型对土壤有机碳的影响极显著(P0.01),而成土母质的影响不明显(P=0.256)。土类能够独立解释23.7%的土壤有机碳空间变异;亚类和土类的解释能力接近,分别为27.0%和27.1%,土壤亚类可作为探讨该区域土壤有机碳空间变化的最小土壤分级单元。土地利用方式能独立解释53.0%的土壤有机碳空间变异,远大于土壤类型,是研究区土壤有机碳空间分布的主控因素。     

干旱荒漠区人工梭梭林土壤碳氮磷密度与生态化学计量特征

为了阐明人工梭梭林土壤碳氮磷密度及其生态化学计量特征演变规律,以吉兰泰荒漠区不同林龄(3,6,11,16年)人工梭梭林为研究对象,分析0—20,20—40,40—60 cm土层土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)密度和生态化学计量特征。结果表明:(1)4种林龄人工梭梭林0—60 cm土层SOC、TN含量及其密度随林龄增加而升高,而TP含量及其密度随林龄增加而降低。其中,3,6年梭梭林SOC、TN含量及其密度随土层深度增加而升高,TP含量及其密度则与之相反;11,16年梭梭林SOC、TN、TP含量及其密度随土层深度增加而降低。(2)4种林龄梭梭林土壤C∶N、C∶P、N∶P分别为2.24~9.21,1.59~7.05,0.56~0.81,均属于中等变异水平,且变异系数随林龄和土层深度增加逐渐减小,说明土壤C∶N、C∶P、[JP]N∶P趋于平稳状态。(3)林龄、土层深度及其交互作用显著影响SOC含量、SOC密度、C∶N、C∶P,对TN含量、TP含量、TN密度、TP密度、N∶P无显著影响。(4)土壤孔隙度(STP)与SOC密度呈显著正相关关系(P＜0.05),说明土壤孔隙度增加有助于SOC密度增加,提高土壤肥力。在干旱荒漠区建植梭梭林有利于提高土壤肥力,改善干旱荒漠区土壤环境。     

Impacts of farmland conversion to apple (Malus domestica) orchard on soil organic carbon stocks and enzyme activities in a semiarid loess region

Land‐use change often affects the sizes of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and the activities of soil enzymes. Responses of relevant soil quality indices caused by farmland conversion to orchard are largely unknown in the semiarid loess regions. This study was conducted at orchard sites, which have been under very intensive cultivation, to evaluate the impacts of farmland conversion to apple (Malus domestica) orchard on SOC stocks and soil enzyme activities in the semiarid loess region of Weibei, Shaanxi province, China. The spatial and temporal changes in a variety of soil quality indices were measured for the 0–100 cm soil profile in apple orchards of three age groups (< 10 y, juvenile; 10–15 y, mature; > 15 y, over‐mature) and adjacent farmlands (control). After farmland conversion, total SOC (TOC) content and density and soil alkaline phosphatase activity significantly decreased, while soil catalase activity increased for the 0–100 cm soil profile. The labile SOC (LOC) content, its proportion to TOC content, and carbon management index (CMI, changes in the total content and lability of SOC) significantly increased in the 0–40 cm soil layer, whereas soil urease and invertase activities only increased in the 0–20 cm layer (P < 0.05). With increasing age of apple orchards, SOC stocks significantly increased after 10 y, being more than 10% larger in mature and over mature orchards than in adjacent farmlands. The LOC content and CMI value also had an increasing trend, while soil enzyme activities showed different response patterns. There were significant correlations between soil enzyme activities, SOC fractions, and CMI value (P < 0.05). We concluded that farmland conversion to apple orchard affected soil quality by reducing SOC stocks in the soil profile and changing SOC content as well as soil enzyme activities at various depth intervals. Long‐term apple cultivation was effective to restore SOC stocks, although it took over a decade to rebuild a new increasing trend after farmland conversion.     

Grassland soil organic carbon and the effects of irrigated cropping in Alberta,Canada

High heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) in grasslands causes uncertainty in estimating its content and storage. In this study, we investigated the spatial distribution of SOC content and storage in the prairies of southern Alberta, Canada, and how it is affected by land use such as irrigated cropping and other environmental conditions such as cattle grazing, slope landscape position and dominant plant species. The mean SOC content was determined to be 11.5 g kg^–1 (range: 8.9 to 22.4 g kg^–1) in the 0–10 cm layer and 6.8 g kg^–1 (range: 4.0 to 13.3 g kg^–1) in the 10–30 cm layer; mean SOC storage was 1.59 kg C m^–2 (range: 1.23 to 2.78 kg C m^–2) in the 0–10 cm layer and 2.07 kg C m^–2 (range: 1.21 to 3.62 kg C m^–2) in the 10–30 cm layer. The SOC content was significantly affected by slope position in both the 0–10 and 10–30 cm layers, in the following order: bottom >middle > top position. Moreover, SOC storage was higher in sites dominated by shrubs than graminoid/forb communities. Thus, SOC content and storage had distinctly clustered spatial patterns throughout the study area and were significant differences between the 0–10 and 10–30 cm soil layers. Prior land-use change from arid grassland to irrigated cropland increased SOC content and storage in bulk soils.     

Prediction of soil depth using environmental variables in an anthropogenic landscape, a case study in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India

Soil (regolith) depth is a crucial input for modeling earth surface phenomena. However, most studies ignore its spatial variability. Techniques that map the spatial variability of soil depth are of three types: (1) physically-based; (2) empirico-statistical from environmental correlates; and (3) interpolation from point observations. In an anthropogenic landscape, soil depth does not depend primarily on natural processes, making it difficult to apply a physically-based approach. The present study compares empirico-statistical methods with geostatistical methods for predicting soil depth in such a landscape: Aruvikkal catchment (9.5 km²) in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India. Regression kriging applied on blocks of 20 m by 20 m using the environmental covariates elevation, slope, aspect, curvature, wetness index, land use and distance from streams, proved to be the best predictor of soil depth. This model explains 52% of the variability of soil depth in the catchment; with a prediction variance of 0.05 to 0.19. A Gaussian simulation was attempted for a more realistic visualization of the depth, as opposed to the smooth kriging prediction. The most important explanatory variable of soil depth in this landscape is land use, as expected from the strong human intervention.     

Erfassung der Variabilität von Bodenmerkmalen in einem Blindversuch auf Fahlerde mittels Methoden der räumlichen Statistik

Variability of soil parameters in a uniformity trial on a Luvisol evaluated by means of spatial statistics The relationships between soil parameters and indicators of soil genesis were investigated in a uniformity trial on Luvisol by means of classical and spatial statistics. The following properties were investigated in the topsoil (0–30 cm) and subsoil (31–40 cm): content of total carbon (C_t), content of clay plus fine silt (FAT), concentrations of available potassium (K) and phosphorus (P), and pH values. The depth loamy Bt horizon and microrelief were considered as indicators of soil genesis. Smoothing of the raw data by means of block kriging eliminated the small scale variability of all parameters. In this way, the rank correlation coefficients between soil parameters increased by factor 2 and were to 0.52 for C_t–FAT; 0.69 for C_t–K, and 0.55 for C_t–P in the top soil. The maps for smoothed data allowed a much better visual analysis of spatial distribution of investigated properties compared to the raw data. The significant correlations as well as the similarity of maps and variograms suggested that the spatial variability of FAT, C_t, K, and P in the top soil was determined by the same factors. The depth of the loamy Bt horizon and the relief were the most important factors defining the distribution of the investigated soil parameters. The rank correlation coefficients of the smoothed and detrended relief with the soil parameters amount to –0.63, –0.77, –0.71, and –0.57 for FAT, C_t, K, and P, respectively.     

黄土高原沟壑区小流域土壤有机碳空间变异

通过对砖窑沟流域不同地貌部位62个点的取样分析,运用地统计学方法研究了流域土壤有机碳的空间变异性特征,初步探讨了影响空间变异的复杂因素。结果表明:流域内土壤有机碳非常低,存在土壤养分贫瘠化现象。各层土壤有机碳含量的变异为中等程度,该变异主要是由空间自相关部分引起的。同层次内,沟坝地土壤有机碳含量比梁峁地高。垂直剖面上,土壤有机碳含量随深度增加而减少,表层含量值明显高于下部各层,60cm以上含量值随深度增加递减迅速,60cm以下含量值变化不大。不同地貌部位剖面土壤有机碳含量的变幅是:在80cm以上,沟坝地明显大于梁峁地;80cm以下,二者大体相当。土壤有机碳含量在空间上的分异主要受土壤动植物在土体中的分布、土壤含水量、水土流失及人类生产活动等因素的影响。