Changes in soil properties and erodibility of gully heads induced by vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau,China

Soil erosion on the Loess Plateau of China is effectively controlled due to the implementation of several ecological restoration projects that improve soil properties and reduce soil erodibility. However, few studies have examined the effects of vegetation restoration on soil properties and erodibility of gully head in the gully regions of the Loess Plateau. The objectives of this study were to quantify the effects of vegetation restoration on soil properties and erodibility in this region. Specifically, a control site in a slope cropland and 9 sites in 3 restored land-use types(5 sites in grassland, 3 in woodland and 1 in shrubland) in the Nanxiaohegou watershed of a typical gully region on the Loess Plateau were selected, and soil and root samples were collected to assess soil properties and root characteristics. Soil erodibility factor was calculated by the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator method. Our results revealed that vegetation restoration increased soil sand content, soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, organic matter content and mean weight diameter of water-stable aggregate but decreased soil silt and clay contents and soil disintegration rate. A significant difference in soil erodibility was observed among different vegetation restoration patterns or land-use types. Compared with cropland, soil erodibility decreased in the restored lands by 3.99% to 21.43%. The restoration patterns of Cleistogenes caespitosa K. and Artemisia sacrorum L. in the grassland showed the lowest soil erodibility and can be considered as the optimal vegetation restoration pattern for improving soil anti-erodibility of the gully heads. Additionally, the negative linear change in soil erodibility for grassland with restoration time was faster than those of woodland and shrubland. Soil erodibility was significantly correlated with soil particle size distribution, soil disintegration rate, soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, water-stable aggregate stability, organic matter content and root characteristics(including root average diameter, root length density, root surface density and root biomass density), but it showed no association with soil bulk density and soil total porosity. These findings indicate that although vegetation destruction is a short-term process, returning the soil erodibility of cropland to the level of grassland, woodland and shrubland is a long-term process(8–50 years).     

Revegetation with artificial plants improves topsoil hydrological properties but intensifies deep-soil drying in northern Loess Plateau,China

Knowledge about the effects of vegetation types on soil properties and on water dynamics in the soil profile is critical for revegetation strategies in water-scarce regions, especially the choice of vegetation type and human management measures. We focused on the analysis of the effects of vegetation type on soil hydrological properties and soil moisture variation in the 0–400 cm soil layer based on a long-term(2004―2016) experimental data in the northern Loess Plateau region, China. Soil bulk density(BD), saturated soil hydraulic conductivity(Ks), field capacity(FC) and soil organic carbon(SOC) in 2016, as well as the volumetric soil moisture content during 2004–2016, were measured in four vegetation types, i.e., shrubland(korshinsk peashrub), artificial grassland(alfalfa), fallow land and cropland(millet or potato). Compared with cropland, revegetation with peashrub and alfalfa significantly decreased BD and increased Ks, FC, and SOC in the 0–40 cm soil layer, and fallow land significantly increased FC and SOC in the 0–10 cm soil layer. Soil water storage(SWS) significantly declined in shrubland and grassland in the 40–400 cm soil layer, causing severe soil drought in the deep soil layers. The study suggested that converting cropland to grassland(alfalfa) and shrubland(peashrub) improved soil-hydrological properties, but worsened water conditions in the deep soil profile. However, natural restoration did not intensify deep-soil drying. The results imply that natural restoration could be better than revegetation with peashrub and alfalfa in terms of good soil hydrological processes in the semi-arid Loess Plateau region.     

Effect of Pisha sandstone on water infiltration of different soils on the Chinese Loess Plateau

The infiltration of water into soil is one of the most important soil physical properties that affect soil erosion and the eco-environment, especially in the Pisha sandstone area on the Chinese Loess Plateau. We studied the one-dimensional vertical infiltration of water in three experimental soils, created by mixing Pisha sandstone with sandy soil, irrigation-silted soil, and loessial soil, at mass ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, and 1:5. Our objective was to compare water infiltration in the experimental soils and to evaluate the effect of Pisha sandstone on water infiltration. We assessed the effect by measuring soil bulk density(BD), porosity, cumulative infiltration, infiltration rate and saturated hydraulic conductivity(Ks). The results showed that Pisha sandstone decreased the infiltration rate and saturated hydraulic conductivity in the three experimental soils. Cumulative infiltration over time was well described by the Philip equation. Sandy soil mixed with the Pisha sandstone at a ratio of 1:3 had the best water-holding capacity. The results provided experimental evidence for the movement of soil water and a technical support for the reconstruction and reclamation of mining soils in the Pisha sandstone area.     

Effect of Pisha sandstone on water infiltration in different soils on the Chinese Loess Plateau

The infiltration of water into soil is one of the most important soil physical properties that affect soil erosion and the eco-environment, especially in the Pisha sandstone area on the Chinese Loess Plateau. We studied the one-dimensional vertical infiltration of water in three experimental soils, created by mixing Pisha sandstone with sandy soil, irrigation-silted soil, and loessial soil, at mass ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, and 1:5. Our objective was to compare water infiltration in the experimental soils and to evaluate the effect of Pisha sandstone on water infiltration. We assessed the effect by measuring soil bulk density (BD), porosity, cumulative infiltration, infiltration rate and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks). The results showed that Pisha sandstone decreased the infiltration rate and saturated hydraulic conductivity in the three experimental soils. Cumulative infiltration over time was well described by the Philip equation. Sandy soil mixed with the Pisha sandstone at a ratio of 1:3 had the best water-holding capacity. The results provided experimental evidence for the movement of soil water and a technical support for the reconstruction and reclamation of mining soils in the Pisha sandstone area.     

黄土高原藓结皮覆盖土壤导水性能和水流特征

生物结皮具有特殊的水文物理性质,为探究其对土壤水分渗透性和水流特征的影响,以黄土高原风沙土和黄绵土上3种典型地表覆盖类型(裸地、藓结皮、藓结皮-草本植物混合)为对象,采用环刀法和染色示踪法对其导水性质与水流特征进行探究。结果表明:藓结皮对2种土壤类型0~5 cm土层土壤理化性质影响较大,与裸地相比土壤容重降低了9.85%~10.00%,土壤黏粒含量增加了1.01~1.29倍,表层有机质含量提高了2.73~3.02倍;藓结皮使0~5 cm土层土壤饱和导水率降低了61.32%~88.89%,而在5~10 cm土层饱和导水率则有明显上升。另外,由于草本植物的影响,藓结皮-草本植物0~5 cm土层与藓结皮土壤相比土壤饱和导水率提高了1.32~6.43倍;黄绵土藓结皮与藓结皮-草本植物的染色面积比均高于裸地,且水分下渗深度增加了10 cm,而风沙土藓结皮与风沙土裸地的染色面积比差异不明显。综上所述,藓结皮和藓结皮-草本植物的存在改变了表层土壤水分渗透性以及水流运动特征和水分下渗深度,影响着黄土高原土壤水分保持和生态恢复。     

红砂植被盖度对土壤不同形态碳、氮及细菌多样性的影响

以自然恢复的红砂群落为研究对象,探讨黄土高原红砂植被不同盖度对土壤不同形态碳、氮及细菌多样性的影响,为该地区的人工生态恢复措施提供理论支撑.在兰州市南北两山植被恢复技术研究与示范基地,按照5级盖度分类法设置红砂植被盖度梯度,重点对土壤养分碳氮、微生物量碳氮和细菌多样性开展研究.结果表明:随着植被恢复,土壤有机碳 (SOC)和全氮(TN)、土壤微生物碳 (MBC)和微生物氮(MBN)逐渐提高,并且增加比较快 ,但是当总盖度达到48.73%之后,增加比较缓慢,而且增加的差异不显著.相同的植被盖度对土壤有机碳、全氮和土壤微生物碳、氮的影响趋于一致.土壤细菌多样性随植被盖度有所增加,在植被盖度达到48.73%后多样性维持在彼此接近的水平,尽管微生物多样性群落结构有差异 .在植被稀疏、物种多样性较低的干旱坡地,红砂植被盖度增加明显改善了土壤生态功能, 但是片面追求植被盖度的增加,对土壤特性改善有限.     

土壤侵蚀对土壤理化性质及土壤微生物的影响

通过对黄土丘陵沟壑区侵蚀环境下4种典型坡面上坡顶、坡肩、坡背、坡脚和坡趾5个不同地形部位¹³⁷Cs的含量、土壤理化性质及土壤微生物指标的测定和分析。结果表明:用来表征土壤侵蚀程度的¹³⁷Cs含量与土壤有机碳、全氮、土壤容重、电导率、土壤微生物功能多样性及细菌菌群之间均存在显著的回归关系,土壤有机碳、全氮及土壤容重随着¹³⁷Cs含量的增加呈增加趋势,土壤电导率、土壤微生物功能多样性呈下降趋势,而土壤细菌呈先下降后增加的趋势。土壤侵蚀过程能够直接影响土壤养分在坡面上的空间分布及土壤结构,通过影响土壤性质,改变土壤微生物群落的生长环境和营养物质的含量,从而影响土壤微生物的生长。     

黄土坡面土壤性质随退耕时间的动态变化研究

退耕还林还草是控制水土流失和防治土壤退化的关键措施,黄土高原退耕还林还草从试验到推广已有几十年历史。该文通过对黄土高原地区退耕区的实地调查,测定不同地区不同退耕年限植被恢复区表层土壤的理化性质,分析黄土坡面土壤理化性质随退耕时间的动态变化规律。结果表明:随着退耕植被恢复时间的增长,土壤物理结构将日趋改善,土壤养分含量水平将逐渐的提高,并主要集中在植被恢复10~20年期间,20年后,尤其是30年后,土壤理化性质较为稳定,而且,植被维护的好坏往往影响其稳定性。同时,水热条件较好的安塞地区土壤理化性质随退耕时间的改善程度更明显,而水热条件较差的皇甫川流域土壤理化性质随植被类型和植被恢复程度的影响更为显著。结果可为退耕的环境影响评价预测以及土地利用的调控提供科学依据。     

保护性耕作对黄土高原旱地表土容重和水分入渗的影响

通过在陇中黄土高原半干旱区进行保护性耕作的定位研究,探讨了保护性耕作对土壤容重以及渗透性能的影响。结果表明:与传统耕作(T)、免耕无覆盖(NT)、传统耕作结合秸秆还田(TS)相比,试验的前2～3a免耕覆盖(NTS)使得土壤容重增大,而后保持稳定状态不再持续增加。通过对渗吸率、宏观毛管长度、有效孔径以及饱和导水率等指标的比较发现,免耕覆盖(NTS)对土壤的渗透性能有显著的改善作用。     

Spatial variability of soil water content and related factors across the Hexi Corridor of China

Soil water content(SWC) is a key factor limiting ecosystem sustainability in arid and semi-arid areas of the Hexi Corridor of China, which is characterized by an ecological environment that is vulnerable to climate change. However, there is a knowledge gap regarding the large-scale spatial distribution of SWC in this region. The specific objectives of this study were to determine the spatial distribution patterns of SWC across the Hexi Corridor and identify the factors responsible for spatial variation of SWC at a regional scale. This study collected and analyzed SWC in the 0–100 cm soil profile from 109 field sampling sites(farmland, grassland and forestland) across the Hexi Corridor in 2017. We selected 17 factors, including land use, topography(latitude, longitude, elevation, slope gradient, and slope aspect), soil properties(soil clay content, soil silt content, soil bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, field capacity, and soil organic carbon content), climate factors(mean annual precipitation, potential evaporation, and aridity index), plant characteristic(vegetation coverage) and planting pattern(irrigation or rain-fed), as possible environmental variables to analyze their effects on SWC. The results showed that SWC was 0.083(±0.067) g/g in the 0–100 cm soil profile and decreased in the order of farmland, grassland and forestland. The SWC in the upper soil layers(0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm) had obvious difference when the mean annual precipitation differed by 200 mm. The SWC decreased from southeast to northwest following the same pattern as precipitation, and had a moderate to strong spatial dependence in a large effective range(75–378 km). The SWC showed a similar distribution and had no significant difference between soil layers in the 0–100 cm soil profile. The principal component analysis showed that the mean annual precipitation, geographical position(longitude and latitude) and soil properties(soil bulk density and soil clay content) were the main factors dominating the variance of environmental variables. A stepwise linear regression equation showed that plant characteristic(vegetation coverage) and soil properties(soil organic carbon content, field capacity and soil clay content) were the optimal factors to predict the variation of SWC. Soil clay content could be better to explain the SWC variation in the deeper soil layers compared with the other factors.     

黄土高原丘陵沟壑区不同土地利用的土壤养分特征

以黄土高原丘陵沟壑区第3副区典型流域为研究区,采用实地调查、土壤采样分析和数理统计相结合的方法,基于33个样点的土壤养分数据,研究了林地、草地、果园、梯田、坡耕地5种土地利用的土壤养分特征。结果表明：土地利用方式对黄土高原丘陵沟壑区典型流域土壤有机质、全N和速效P含量的影响达到显著水平,对其他养分指标影响不明显。土壤有机质和全N含量从高到低依次为：林地＞坡耕地≈梯田＞果园＞草地,林地明显高于其他土地利用类型,而草地土壤养分最差。速效P含量从高到低依次为：果园、坡耕地、梯田、林地和草地,农业耕作植被下的速效P含量明显高于自然生态植被。研究表明：梯田作为传统的水土保持措施,在研究区具有良好的土壤保肥作用,而分布于陡坡的草地,养分保持效果在5种土地利用中最差。     

荒漠结皮对土壤水分状况的影响

本研究针对鄂尔多斯沙地生物结皮进行调查 ,利用人工喷水模拟降雨分析结皮对土壤入渗性能的影响。研究表明 :生物结皮能显著地降低土壤水分的入渗速率。在去掉结皮时 ,表层下 5 cm处的土壤含水量在 1 0分钟时即开始显著增加 ,而有结皮时 ,此处的含水量则在 1 5分钟时才开始显著增加。利用圆盘入渗仪测定有结皮和无结皮条件下的土壤饱和导水率表明 :固定沙丘间地有生物结皮的土壤饱和导水率范围是 :2 9.1 0 - 82 .2 1 mm/ h;半固定沙丘有微弱结皮时饱和导水率为 1 43.5 4 - 2 30 .2 5 ;去掉结皮后土壤的饱和导水率可显著上升数倍 ,无结皮的流沙的饱和导水率最高。     

不同保护性耕作措施对黄土高原旱作农田土壤物理结构的影响

选取黄土高原半干旱区连续4年进行保护性耕作的玉米样地,定位试验,研究了不同耕作方式对耕层土壤理化性质的影响。结果表明:免耕秸秆覆盖(NTS)可显著降低0~5 cm表层土壤容重,传统耕作秸秆粉粹还田(TS)和NTS处理可显著降低5~10 cm、10~30 cm土层的土壤容重;NTS处理可显著增大0~5 cm表层土壤孔隙度,TS和NTS处理可显著提高5~10 cm1、0~30 cm土层的土壤孔隙度;NTS处理可显著降低各层土壤的坚实度,其它处理对表层0~5 cm无显著影响,免耕无秸秆覆盖(NT)处理显著增加了5 cm以下的土壤坚实度;NTS处理0~5 cm表层土壤水分入渗率显著加强,而NT处理则显著减弱;土壤水稳性大团聚体含量均为:NTSNTTS传统耕作(T)。本试验中NT处理对土壤结构的改良效应不明显,NTS处理对于黄土高原土壤结构改良效果最佳。     

压砂地土壤导水特性空间格局及影响因子

采用10 m×10 m网格布点的方式对宁夏压砂田0~10 cm和10~20 cm深度下土壤饱和导水率(Ks)及其相关因素的空间变异规律进行研究。经典统计结果表明:2个采样深度下土壤容重、总孔隙度和毛管孔隙度表现为弱变异,饱和含水量和土壤有机质含量表现为中等变异;0~10 cm深度下K_s表现为中等变异,10~20 cm深度下K_s表现为强变异;10~20 cm深度下土壤各种性质的平均值均大于0~10 cm深度。Pearson相关性分析可知,影响K_s的主要因素是毛管孔隙度,其次为容重、总孔隙度、饱和含水量和有机质含量。地统计结果表明,0~10 cm深度下K_s表现为纯块金效应,主要受随机性因素的影响,10~20 cm深度下K_s主要受结构性因素的影响;在2个采样深度下容重主要受随机因素的影响。从空间分布图可以看出,2个采样深度下K_s和容重存在高度的负相关关系,与饱和含水量、总孔隙度和毛管孔隙度存在高度的正相关关系。     

Seasonal dynamics of soil water content in the typical vegetation and its response to precipitation in a semi-arid area of Chinese Loess Plateau

Soil water content is a key limiting factor for vegetation growth in the semi-arid area of Chinese Loess Plateau and precipitation is the main source of soil water content in this area. To further understand the impact of vegetation types and environmental factors such as precipitation on soil water content, we continuously monitored the seasonal dynamics in soil water content in four plots (natural grassland, Caragana korshinskii, Armeniaca sibirica and Pinus tabulaeformis) in Chinese Loess Plateau. The results show that the amplitude of soil water content fluctuation decreases with an increase in soil depth, showing obvious seasonal variations. Soil water content of artificial vegetation was found to be significantly lower than that of natural grassland, and most precipitation events have difficulty replenishing soil water content below a depth of 40 cm. Spring and autumn are the key seasons for replenishment of soil water by precipitation. Changes in soil water content are affected by precipitation, vegetation types, soil evaporation and other factors. The interception effect of vegetation on precipitation and the demand for water consumption by transpiration are the key factors affecting the efficiency of soil water replenishment by precipitation in this area. Due to artificial vegetation plantation in this area, soil will face a water deficit crisis in the future.     

Impact of large-scale vegetation restoration project on summer land surface temperature on the Loess Plateau,China

A large-scale afforestation project has been carried out since 1999 in the Loess Plateau of China. However, vegetation-induced changes in land surface temperature (LST) through the changing land surface energy balance have not been well documented. Using satellite measurements, this study quantified the contribution of vegetation restoration to the changes in summer LST and analyzed the effects of different vegetation restoration patterns on LST during both daytime and nighttime. The results show that the average daytime LST decreased by 4.3°C in the vegetation restoration area while the average nighttime LST increased by 1.4°C. The contributions of the vegetation restoration project to the changes in daytime LST and nighttime LST are 58% and 60%, respectively, which are far greater than the impact of climate change. The vegetation restoration pattern of cropland (CR) converting into artificial forest (AF) has a cooling effect during daytime and a warming effect at nighttime, while the conversion of CR to grassland has an opposite effect compared with the conversion of CR to AF. Our results indicate that increasing evapotranspiration caused by the vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau is the controlling factor of daytime LST change, while the nighttime LST change is affected by soil humidity and air humidity.     

Attribution analysis based on Budyko hypothesis for land evapotranspiration change in the Loess Plateau,China

Land evapotranspiration (ET) is an important process connecting soil, vegetation and the atmosphere, especially in regions that experience shortage in precipitation. Since 1999, the implementation of a large-scale vegetation restoration project has significantly improved the ecological environment of the Loess Plateau in China. However, the quantitative assessment of the contribution of vegetation restoration projects to long-term ET is still in its infancy. In this study, we investigated changes in land ET and associated driving factors from 1982to 2014 in the Loess Plateau using Budyko-based partial differential methods. Overall, annual ET slightly increased by 0.28 mm/a and there were no large fluctuations after project implementation. An attribution analysis showed that precipitation was the driving factor of inter-annual variability of land ET throughout the study period; the average impacts of precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and vegetation restoration on ET change were 61.5%, 11.5% and 26.9%, respectively. These results provide an improved understanding of the relationship between vegetation condition change and climate variation on terrestrial ET in the study area and can support future decision-making regarding water resource availability.     

Effects of fencing on vegetation and soil restoration in a degraded alkaline grassland in northeast China

In order to restore a degraded alkaline grassland, the local government implemented a large restoration project using fences in Changling county, Jilin province, China, in 2000. Grazing was excluded from the protected area, whereas the grazed area was continuously grazed at 8.5 dry sheep equivalent（DSE）/hm2. In the current research, soil and plant samples were taken from grazed and fenced areas to examine changes in vegetation and soil properties in 2005, 2006 and 2008. Results showed that vegetation characteristics and soil properties improved significantly in the fenced area compared with the grazed area. In the protected area the vegetation cover, height and above- and belowground biomass increased significantly. Soil pH, electrical conductivity and bulk density decreased significantly, but soil organic carbon and total nitrogen concentration increased greatly in the protected area. By comparing the vegetation and soil characteristics with pre-degraded grassland, we found that vegetation can recover 6 years after fencing, and soil pH can be restored 8 years after fencing. However, the restoration of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations needed 16, 30 and 19 years, respectively. It is recommended that the stocking rate should be reduced to 1/3 of the current carrying capacity, or that a grazing regime of 1-year of grazing followed by a 2-year rest is adopted to sustain the current status of vegetation and soil resources. However, if N fertilizer is applied, the rest period could be shortened, depending on the rate of application.     

Dynamics of ecosystem carbon stocks during vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau of China

In the last few decades, the Loess Plateau had experienced an extensive vegetation restoration to reduce soil erosion and to improve the degraded ecosystems. However, the dynamics of ecosystem carbon stocks with vegetation restoration in this region are poorly understood. This study examined the changes of carbon stocks in mineral soil(0–100 cm), plant biomass and the ecosystem(plant and soil) following vegetation restoration with different models and ages. Our results indicated that cultivated land returned to native vegetation(natural restoration) or artificial forest increased ecosystem carbon sequestration. Tree plantation sequestered more carbon than natural vegetation succession over decades scale due to the rapid increase in biomass carbon pool. Restoration ages had different effects on the dynamics of biomass and soil carbon stocks. Biomass carbon stocks increased with vegetation restoration age, while the dynamics of soil carbon stocks were affected by sampling depth. Ecosystem carbon stocks consistently increased after tree plantation regardless of the soil depth; but an initial decrease and then increase trend was observed in natural restoration chronosequences with the soil sampling depth of 0–100 cm. Moreover, there was a time lag of about 15–30 years between biomass production and soil carbon sequestration in 0–100 cm, which indicated a long-term effect of vegetation restoration on deeper soil carbon sequestration.     

吴起县退耕还林后主要植被类型土壤质量评价

为明确吴起县退耕还林后形成的主要植被类型土壤质量状况,文中以吴起县王洼子典型退耕植被作为研究对象,对比分析不同植被类型土壤理化性质差异,并综合主成分分析法、敏感性以及相关性分析法,建立了研究区土壤质量评价指标最小数据集.结果表明:1)不同植被类型间土壤物理、化学性质差异显著(P＜ 0.05);山桃×沙棘混交林在土壤孔隙...