Effect of land use on forest floor and soil of a Quercus suber L. forest in Gallura (Sardinia,Italy)

In order to determine the effect of land use on forest floor and soil, two adjacent sites with different land use were investigated in Gallura (northern Sardinia, Italy). One site is a Quercus suber L. forest mainly used for cork production and the other is an open Quercus suber L. forest where livestock is put out to graze. In each site one soil profile was studied to characterize the mineral soil, and five humus profiles were opened along a vegetation transect, were studied to characterize the forest floor. Samples of L, F and H horizons of the forest floor and of the A mineral horizons were collected and analysed for each profile. In the site mainly used for cork production well‐developed ectorganic (L, F and H) horizons are always present, with a total thickness ranging from 5·2 to 9·5 cm. Humus profile is of the Moder type, while mineral soils have an A–C profile, generally 50 cm deep. Organic matter content in the forest floor ranges from 1·76–3·72 kg m⁻² and nutrients content in the mineral soil is high. In the site used chiefly for grazing the ectorganic horizons are very poorly developed, with a total thickness ranging from 1–3 cm, except for some islands under the Quercus suber L. canopy where the total thickness may reach 5·3 cm. Humus profile is of the Mull type, but the used classification system seems not appropriate when the tree density is below a critical limit. Mineral soils have an A–C profile 20–25 cm deep. The organic matter content in the forest floor ranges from 0·45 to 1·84 kg m⁻², while nutrient content in the mineral soil maintains at high level, even higher than in the former case for C, N and Ca, probably in relation with higher supply of cattle excreta. Sheet erosion is evident in the site. It is concluded that cork production will maintain a sustainable forest floor development in cork–oak forest ecosystem, whereas cattle grazing, fires and ploughing in cork–oak forests may be considered to trigger off severe soil degradation processes. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

丘陵区土地整理对土壤理化性状的影响

该文以莱芜市里辛土地整理项目为例,采用野外采样和室内分析相结合的方法,研究了丘陵区土地整理对土壤理化性状的影响。研究结果表明,土地整理对土壤物理性状影响极显著或显著;对土壤化学性状影响不显著;各土壤理化性状的变异系数,除土壤体积质量增加、土壤黏粒稍有增加外,其他均下降,整理后土壤理化性状更均匀。土壤理化性状变化原因主要是整理中注重物理措施、忽视土壤培肥,施工不规范及国家有关标准不具体等造成。今后应重视土壤培肥,规范施工,完善有关土地整理标准、明确各项土壤理化性状指标等,以确保土壤质量提高。     

土壤调理剂对土壤理化性质及甘蓝生理特性的影响

试验研究了土壤调理剂对土壤结构性质和甘蓝根系活力、光合指标的影响.结果表明,施用调理剂后,处理两次、处理一次分别使20 cm和30 cm土层的容重下降7.3%、1.9%和4.6%、1.3%,孔隙度分别提高9.3%、2.8%和5.9%、1.9%;与对照相比,处理两次后的阳离子交换量在0～27 cm、27～45 cm土层分别增加5.7%和10.9%;甘蓝的根系活力,处理与对照相比达到1%的显著差异水平;改变了Pn的光合日变化曲线,提高了甘蓝对光强的适应能力,光合能力加强.     

有机无机垃圾复混肥对土壤理化性质与小麦产量的影响

试验研究有机无机垃圾复混肥对土壤理化性质与小麦产量的影响结果表明,与不施肥处理相比,有机无机垃圾复混肥处理0~20cm土层土壤容重降低0.04g/cm3,总孔隙度增加1.51%,>0.25mm团粒结构增加5.10%,自然含水量增加71.68g/kg,贮水量增加153.50m3/hm2,阳离子交换量增加7.03cmol/kg,土壤有机质、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾分别增加1.77g/kg、20.51mg/kg、2.95mg/kg、11.10mg/kg,pH值降低0.07。小麦穗数、穗粒数、千粒重、产量分别增加17万穗/hm2、8.73粒、7.24g、1.53t/hm2,增产率达31.23%。并对土壤重金属Hg、Cd、Cr、Pb富集有明显减缓趋势,且经LSR检验不同处理间差异显著性达显著和极显著水平。     

水稻连续免耕抛栽对土壤理化和生物学性状的影响

于2005~2007年在双季稻田以翻耕处理为对照,研究了水稻连续免耕抛栽对土壤理化和生物学性质的影响。结果表明,稻田免耕1年(2季),有利于土壤物理性状的改善,随着免耕时间(3年6季)的延长,土壤物理性质变差。但免耕2年后,采用紫云英和稻草还田能降低免耕稻田的土壤容重,提高总孔隙度和非毛管孔隙度。免耕有利于土壤养分在表层土壤富集。土壤中三大类微生物总量免耕处理小于翻耕处理,免耕土壤细菌的数量增加,而放线菌和真菌的数量减少。土壤中脲酶活性增加,而过氧化氢酶和过氧化物酶的活性均降低。脲酶、过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶的活性均与土壤有机质、全氮含量呈极显著相关,而过氧化物酶活性则与土壤全氮和速效钾含量呈极显著相关。该结果有水稻免耕抛秧栽培技术的推广应用的参考意义。     

5种土壤调理剂对大蒜田土壤理化性质和大蒜产量的影响

试验研究了两个不同用量的5种土壤调理剂(麦饭石、牡蛎壳、蒙脱石、硅钙矿和有机肥)对土壤理化性质和大蒜产量的影响。结果表明,5种调理剂均能降低土壤容重,提高土壤孔隙度:施用前期麦饭石处理的土壤容重显著降低,后期则蒙脱石处理土壤容重降低明显。在大蒜生长前期,施用高量牡蛎壳、蒙脱石和有机肥均显著提高了土壤碱解氮含量;蒙脱石显著降低了土壤速效磷含量,高量有机肥则明显增加了土壤速效磷含量;麦饭石、蒙脱石、硅钙矿和有机肥均能显著提高土壤速效钾含量,牡蛎壳对土壤速效钾含量影响不大。蒙脱石、硅钙矿和有机肥在大蒜生长前期均显著提高了土壤有机质含量,后期则只有高量有机肥比对照有显著增加。麦饭石、蒙脱石和有机肥3种土壤调理剂对土壤pH值有降低作用,而牡蛎壳和硅钙矿两种土壤调理剂对土壤pH值有增加作用。土壤调理剂对大蒜叶枯病有一定减轻作用。5种调理剂与对照相比均有一定增产功效,但只有蒙脱石和高量有机肥增产效果显著。     

Effects of sewage sludge and copper enrichment on both soil mesofauna community and decomposition of oak leaves (Quercus suber) in a mesocosm

A laboratory mesocosm experiment was performed to study the effects of copper-enriched sewage sludge application on a mesofauna community. For 12 weeks, characteristics and changes in this defined and artificial mesofauna community structure were monitored as well as the dynamics of leaf litter decomposition. The mesofauna community comprised six species of Collembola (Folsomia fimetaria, Isotomurus prasinus, Lepidocyrtus cyaneus, Mesaphorura macrochaeta, Parisotoma notabilis, Protaphorura armata), two species of acari Oribatida (Achipteria coleoptrata, Adoristes sp.), one species of acari Gamasida (Hypoaspis aculeifer) and one species of enchytraeid (Enchytraeus crypticus). Three treatments included the addition of 22 g dry weight (DW) sludge spiked with 0, 200 and 1,000 mg Cu kg^?1 DW sludge in each mesocosm, and one treatment had 66 g DW sludge spiked with 1,000 mg Cu kg^?1 DW sludge added in each mesocosm. Copper, complexed with sludge due to a favourable pH, had no effect on community and litter parameters when added to low amount of sludge. In contrast, tripling the sludge dose in addition to a high dose of Cu changed in time the sludge and leaf chemical composition as well as mesofauna community structure. Responses of the mesofauna to this treatment differed between species. The abundance of species such as I. prasinus, L. cyaneus, M. macrochaeta and P. notabilis decreased, whereas the abundance of H. aculeifer increased and became dominant.     

低效林改造对土壤理化性质及水源涵养功能的影响

 通过调查分析广西苍梧县低效马尾松、湿地松纯林经采取异龄混交荷木、大叶栎等阔叶树种的改造措施后土壤理化性状及水源涵养功能,表明:1)低效林改造后,林地土壤养分含量得到提高,土壤物理性状得到改善;2)林地土壤水分状况和渗透性能得到显著提高;3)与低效马尾松纯林（2166 t/hm2）和湿地松纯林（2 075 t/hm2）相比,马尾松+荷木、湿地松+荷木和湿地松+大叶栎林地土壤蓄水量显著提高,分别达到2 543、2506和2 483 t/hm2;4)0～20 cm土层土壤理化性状改善幅度大于20～40 cm土层。低效林混交荷木、大叶栎后,改造效果明显,是低效林改造措施之一。     

水旱轮作制下连续秸秆覆盖对土壤理化性质和作物产量的影响

采用田间定位试验研究方法,于2008～2010连续3年研究了水旱轮作制下连续秸秆覆盖对土壤理化性质和作物产量的影响。结果表明,连续秸秆覆盖显著降低了土壤表层（05cm）容重,提高了05cm和515cm土层土壤含水量。同时连续秸秆覆盖还田还可以显著提高025cm土层土壤有机质、碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾含量。秸秆覆盖对表层（05cm）土壤养分状况的效应更明显。秸秆连续覆盖5季后,05cm土层土壤速效钾含量的增幅（7.64%～15.33%）速效磷（7.52%～10.03%）碱解氮（7.30%～8.74%）有机质（6.08%～7.53%）。秸秆覆盖还田后,可以提高作物产量。其中旱季作物（小麦、油菜）的增产效应要高于水季作物（水稻）,并且随着秸秆还田年限和用量的增加,作物的增产幅度也随之提高。起主要作用的产量构成因素是小麦、水稻的有效穗数以及油菜单株角果数和每角粒数。     

不同改良剂对滨海盐渍土土壤理化性质和小麦生长的影响

【目的】盐分胁迫是滨海盐渍土上粮食产量提高的主要障碍因子之一。研究不同功能性改良物料对消除和减轻这一障碍因子的作用,为改良盐渍化土壤和提高作物产量提供理论依据。【方法】以小麦品种‘青麦 6 号’为供试材料,在滨海盐渍土上进行田间试验,设置 7 个处理为空白对照（CK）、含钙物料的磷石膏（PG）和脱硫石膏（FGD）、调酸物料的硫酸亚铁（FS）、含碳材料的牛粪（M）以及含碳和调酸物料的腐植酸（HA）和糠醛渣（FRs）,分析比较不同改良剂对滨海盐渍化土壤理化性质以及对小麦生长发育的影响。【结果】施加改良剂降低了土壤表层 (0—20 cm) 的 pH 值,作为酸性材料的腐植酸、糠醛渣和硫酸亚铁效果明显,土壤的 pH 值较对照分别降低了 0.10、0.11 和 0.11;施改良剂降低了土壤的交换性钠离子含量和钠的吸附比 (sodium adsorption ratio, 简称 SAR),磷石膏和脱硫石膏提供充足的钙离子用于置换土壤中交换性钠离子,明显降低了不同土层中的交换性钠离子含量和 SAR 值,0—20 cm、20—40 cm 和 40—60 cm 土层中,磷石膏和脱硫石膏对土壤交换性钠离子含量和 SAR 值的降低效果明显,其中施加磷石膏分别较对照降低了 15.5% 和 18.3% (0—20 cm)、28.2% 和 28.6% (20—40 cm)、36.5% 和 36.5% (40—60 cm),施加脱硫石膏分别较对照降低了 24.9% 和 27.9% (0—20 cm)、27.6% 和 26.3% (20—40 cm)、24.5% 和 25.0% (40—60 cm);施加改良剂增加了小麦成熟期的穗数,其中磷石膏、脱硫石膏和糠醛渣改良效果显著,分别较对照增加 27.6%、24.5% 和 18.6%,并分别提高小麦的产量 26.7%、17.8% 和 17.8%。【结论】 酸性物料的糠醛渣、腐植酸和硫酸亚铁,可以明显降低土壤 pH 值和增加小麦苗期的茎蘖数量,综合考虑改良剂对土壤 pH、Na+ 含量、SAR 值和小麦群体数量的影响,含碳的调酸物料的糠醛渣效果较好;含钙物料的磷石膏和脱硫石膏,可以显著降低土壤 Na+ 含量以及 SAR 值,增加小麦成熟期穗数,提高小麦产量均具有显著的效果,磷石膏效果最佳。     

冬种绿肥和稻草全量还田对单季稻田土壤理化性质的影响

采用田间定位试验,研究了冬闲期种植绿肥和稻草全量还田对江汉平原单季稻田土壤理化性质和水稻产量的影响。试验设置稻草不还田水稻不施肥(CK)、稻草不还田单施化肥(NPK)、稻草原位焚烧还田+化肥(RSB+NPK)、稻草全量还田+化肥(RSM+NPK)、稻草不还田单独种植绿肥+化肥(GM+NPK)以及稻草全量还田+种植绿肥+化肥(RSM+GM+NPK),共6个处理。结果表明,与不还田的CK及NPK处理相比,RSM+NPK、GM+NPK和RSM+GM+NPK处理模式均有利于改善土壤物理性状和提高耕层土壤养分及有机质含量,其中多以RSM+GM+NPK处理增幅最大。RSB+NPK处理较CK处理显著提高土壤pH值、土壤有效磷和速效钾含量,但对土壤有机质、全氮和碱解氮含量影响不大。GM+NPK处理与RSM+GM+NPK处理稻谷产量近似,分别较NPK处理显著增加6.9%~11.7%和6.0%~13.4%,3年平均增加9.1%和8.7%,而RSM+NPK和RSB+NPK处理的稻谷产量3年里与NPK处理无显著差异。综合考虑,在江汉平原单季稻作条件下,以冬闲期稻草条带覆盖还田与种植绿肥配合还田为宜,可以改善土壤理化性质,显著提高水稻产量。     

不同覆盖绿肥养分特性及其对橡胶园土壤理化性质的影响

为明确不同覆盖绿肥的养分特性,阐明其对云南开割橡胶园土壤理化性状的影响,采用田间试验结合室内分析,研究了10种豆科绿肥的养分特性与积累量,探讨了不同豆科绿肥覆盖对橡胶园土壤理化性质的影响作用。结果表明,10种供试豆科绿肥均富含氮,N含量范围为19.68～32.42g/kg,平均25.38 g/kg。灌木、亚灌木绿肥的干物质积累量高于草本和藤本绿肥,草本和藤本绿肥的氮、磷、钾含量则高于灌木、亚灌木绿肥。为取得最佳的覆盖效果,筛选绿肥时应考虑灌木、亚灌木与草本、藤本相结合。绿肥覆盖后胶园土壤有机质、全氮、速效磷、速效钾较对照均有不同程度的提高,分别提高了0.71～2.99g/kg、0.01～0.16 g/kg、7.13～29.95mg/kg、14.81～38.82mg/kg;而土壤碱解氮含量和pH值变化不明显。绿肥覆盖对胶园土壤物理性状有一定的改善,但效果不明显。综合比较10种绿肥的养分特性和对土壤理化性状的影响,结合田间观测结果,初步筛选出距瓣豆、卵叶山蚂蝗、白花灰叶豆3种绿肥对云南山地胶园土壤肥力有一定的提升和维持作用,为云南开割胶园覆盖绿肥的筛选提供了理论依据。     

Effects of substrate sterilization,fungicide treatment,and mycorrhization helper bacteria on ectomycorrhizal formation of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) inoculated with Laccaria laccata in two peat bare-root nurseries

Summary Pedunculate oak seedlings (Quercus robur) inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria lacata were grown for 1 year on fertilized sphagnum peat in two nurseries. Three factors affecting microbial populations in the substrate were studied, fungicide treatment of the seeds, peat disinfection before sowing (methyl bromide or steam pasteurization), and inoculation with mycorrhization helper bacteria. Treatment of acorns with Iprodione had no depressive effect on mycorrhiza formation. Both disinfection techniques were equivalent, stimulating or depressing mycorrhiza formation depending on the initial microflora in the peat. The introduction of two previously selected mycorrhization helper bacteria (one Pseudomonas fluorescens and one unidentified fluorescent pseudomonad), isolated from L. laccata sporocarps associated with Douglas fir—L. laccata ectomycorrhizas in other nurseries, significantly increased the mycorrhizal rate from 30 to 53% of the short roots. The implications of these results for the controlled mycorrhization of planting stocks and the specificity of mycorrhization helper bacteria are discussed.     

单色绿光环境对孵化中种蛋蛋壳理化特性的影响

蛋壳是鸡胚发育过程中与外界环境进行气体和热量交换的重要媒介,其结构、形态等因素均为影响鸡胚发育的重要因素。单色绿光照射可缩短种蛋孵化时间,促进出雏、提高种蛋孵化率。有鉴于此,该研究针对单色绿光调控孵化过程中的种蛋蛋壳色度、蛋壳结构、色素含量及元素含量等因素进行监测,从种蛋蛋壳特性变化的角度探究单色绿光在种蛋孵化过程中促进雏鸡出雏的机制。结果表明,与传统黑暗孵化环境相比较,孵化过程单色绿光形成的光环境促使蛋壳对孵化环境产生适应性响应,蛋壳表面亮度显著降低（P<0.01）,抑制了蛋壳中绿色色素-胆绿素的分解（P<0.01）。且单色绿光有助于鸡胚吸收利用蛋壳中的Ca元素,显著促进孵化过程中蛋壳表面孔隙面积的风化增大（P<0.000 1）,提高蛋壳的通透性及散热效果,利于出雏期间雏鸡出壳,有助于促进出雏并降低孵化死亡率。该研究阐析了单色绿光孵化过程中种蛋蛋壳特性的变化,为单色绿光促进种蛋出雏及其在孵化产业的应用奠定了一定的理论基础。     

植物篱对石灰土坡耕地理化性质及磷素流失的影响

在三峡库区香溪河流域典型石灰土坡耕地通过修建标准径流小区,设置栀子花(灌木)和黑麦草(草本)植物篱,研究不同类型植物篱对石灰土坡耕地耕层土壤理化性质及磷素流失特征的影响。结果表明:植物篱系统可有效的增加土壤耕层细颗粒含量和减小土壤容重,从而改善土壤分形特征,增强土壤疏通性及含水量,达到增大石灰土坡耕地土壤抗蚀性指数和防治土壤养分流失的目的;2种类型植物篱在不同深度耕层、植物篱带内和带间对石灰土坡耕地理化性质及磷素流失的影响表现出一定的差异性,但总体上差异不显著;土壤耕层黏粒含量与土壤中Ca_8-P、Al-P、Fe-P、O-P和Ca_(10)-P的含量均达到了极显著正相关(r=0.772,0.805,0.603,0.682,0.738),土壤容重与土壤黏粒含量存在显著的负相关关系(r=-0.648),表明植物篱系统是通过对土壤黏粒的有效阻滞和富集,从而减小石灰性土壤容重和磷素的流失,实现改善石灰土坡耕地土壤理化性质和防治农业面源污染的效果。     

脯氨酸及KCl替代食盐对海鲈鱼品质影响的研究

为研究脯氨酸及KCl对海鲈鱼品质的影响,本试验用不同腌制组分(NaCl、NaCl+脯氨酸、NaCl+KCl、NaCl+KCl+脯氨酸)在4℃条件下干腌海鲈鱼,分别在腌制18 h、腌制36 h(结束)、风干3 h、风干6 h取样,测定海鲈鱼的pH值、色差、水分含量、含盐量、硫代巴比妥酸(TBA)值,同时进行质构、微观结构和感官评价。结果表明,随着处理时间的延长,不同处理腌制海鲈鱼pH值均呈现先下降后上升的趋势,含水量始终呈下降趋势,而含盐量则呈现上升趋势,用NaCl+脯氨酸腌制海鲈鱼后测得的TBA值最低,为1.415 7mg·kg^-1。通过透射电镜观察,添加脯氨酸使鱼肉组织更紧密,能更好地溶解肌球蛋白。使用NaCl+KCl+脯氨酸的减盐配方结合干腌法对海鲈鱼进行腌制,制得的海鲈鱼硬度和咀嚼性较高,并且能够有效抑制脂肪氧化,使肌球蛋白更好的凝集,得到风味及品质更好的产品。本研究结果为海鲈鱼的工业化腌制生产提供了技术支撑。     

钾硅钙微孔矿物肥对褐潮土水稻生长及土壤性状的影响

盆栽试验设置不施肥、常规施肥、常规施肥+钾硅钙微孔矿物肥4 g·盆^-1、常规施肥+钾硅钙微孔矿物肥8 g·盆^-1、常规施肥+钾硅钙微孔矿物肥12 g·盆^-1 5 个处理, 研究了自主研制的钾硅钙微孔矿物肥对褐潮土水稻生长、产量及土壤理化性状的影响。结果表明: 与常规施肥相比, 加施钾硅钙微孔矿物肥后土壤容重降低0.04 g·cm^-3, 土壤孔隙度增加1.8%, 土壤有效硅、有效钾含量分别提高9.4~27.0 mg·kg^-1 和10.6~39.7mg·kg^-1, 土壤pH 提高0.1 个单位。在水稻生长方面, 加施矿物肥可提高叶片叶绿素含量, 旗叶面积最高增加4.8 cm², 有效穗数增加2.3~5.0 穗·盆^-1, 千粒重提高0.1~1.9 g, 水稻平均增产幅度达13.6%。加施钾硅钙微孔矿物肥后氮、磷、钾肥利用率分别提高0.6%~7.5%、0.1%~1.5%和8.5%~13.5%。基于产量分析, 褐潮土钾硅钙微孔矿物肥的最佳施用量为4 g·盆^-1(相当于450 kg·hm^-2)。     

秸秆还田对砂姜黑土理化性质与锰、锌、铜有效性的影响

采用田间试验与实验室培育试验研究作物秸秆还田对砂姜黑土理化性质及Cu、Zn、Mn有效性的影响,结果表明,秸秆还田可降低土壤容重,增大土壤总孔隙度,特别是毛管孔隙度显著增加。土壤中胡敏酸和富里酸含量显著增加,胡敏酸含量的增加对提高土壤有机质活性和改善土壤肥力具有良好效应。与单施化肥比较,秸秆配施化肥土壤中交换态锰、锌、铜含量分别增加11%、21%和41%,有机结合态锰、铜分别增加19%和103%。培育试验表明,加入粉碎的作物秸秆培育90d后,土壤中有效锰、有效铜含量分别增加21%和27%。     

The influence of chemical soil factors on the development of VA mycorrhizas of ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) and sycamore(Acer pseudoplatanus L.) in pot experiments

The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate effects of soil acidity on the formation of mycorrhizas in ash and sycamore, and (2) to elucidate if mycorrhization can improve the acquisition of Ca, Mg, and P by these tree species. Soil substrates with different Ca, Mg, and Al saturation were used in pot experiments with mycorrhizal ash and sycamore seedlings and various Ca and Mg fertilization treatments. The development of vesicular‐arbuscular‐mycorrhizas (VAM) in both species was considerably affected by the chemical soil properties and by the nutritional status of the plants. Mycorrhizal fungi developed well only in plants growing on basalt‐derived, Ca and Mg rich loam and in substrates fertilized with Ca and Mg carbonate. In these substrates, the pH value, Ca and Mg supply and growth of the plants were optimal. The mycorrhizas degenerated in an acid loam derived from phyllite, in tertiary sand and in all treatments receiving Ca and Mg sulfate. Ash and sycamore suffered from Ca and Mg (P) deficiency, and partly from Al antagonism against Ca and Mg uptake (sycamore) or Al toxicity (ash). The symbiosis between fungi and the plants was disrupted since the tree species and the VAM fungi (from fertile nursery soils) did not adapt to the acidic experimental soil substrates with high Al activity. Consequently, the fungi lost their function of supporting the plants by improved nutrient uptake and the plants likely did not produce enough organic substances for the fungi. In addition, N fertilization possibly suppressed the development of VA mycorrhizas and inhibited new colonization in acid substrates.     

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.