Mineral Composition of Perennial Vegetation of Shrub Patches in Northeastern Patagonia

This study was conducted to (1) quantify the mineral composition of litter, new leaves, and stems of two plant species (Atriplex lampa and Prosopis alpataco) in shrub patches, occurring with common abundance in the northeastern Patagonian region, and (2) determine the spatial and temporal variabilities of the mineral elements. There were 240 vegetal samples collected from six different sites, all within about 15 km. The essential nature of 15 mineral elements for litter and plant parts was analyzed. Composition varied significantly for P, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cu, Zn, Mo, and B between species; N between seasons; and S, Al, Fe, Mn, and Cd among sites. Also Na, K, and B showed secondary variations derived from a seasonal effect, as did P, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, and Mo, but associated with secondary differences among sites.     

Decomposition of a Native Shrub,Piliostigma reticulatum,Litter in Soils of Semiarid Senegal

Developing effective management strategies that restore degraded soils requires an evaluation of the quality of the litter residues. This study relates the chemical composition of the biomass components to the decomposition rates for Piliostigma reticulatum (DC.) Hochst., a native shrub, under field and laboratory conditions. The rates were determined by mass loss. The changes in the specific surface area of the residue in relation to mass loss ranged from 15 X 10 -5 to 45 X 10 -5 which was similar to crop residues in other studies. At field conditions, P. reticulatum mass loss was higher (80% of the initial mass lost over eight months) than that under controlled conditions (50%). Such fast decomposition of residues offers the potential for farmers to stop burning these residues because high amounts of residues will not likely accumulate and cause interference with tillage and planting operations. Further studies are needed on the role of soil fauna on decomposition, mineralization of nutrients from these residues, and the potential for incorporating residues into the system without burning.     

短花针茅荒漠草原斑块尺度物种多样性及其共存格局

阐明斑块尺度上物种共存格局,对于深入认识荒漠草原破碎化草地生物多样性的维持机理具有重要意义。按斑块的土壤生境退化程度,选取短花针茅荒漠草原3类典型群落斑块为研究对象,对比分析不同斑块的物种构成、多样性及物种间的共存关系格局。结果表明：① 斑块A属单优种短花针茅（Stipa breviflora）群落;斑块B为短花针茅+草木樨状黄耆（Astragalus melilotoides）群落;斑块C为苦豆子（Sophora alopecuroides）+老瓜头（Cynanchum komarovii）+猪毛蒿（Artemisia scoparia）群落。② 群落结构中斑块A和斑块B多样性相近,均高于无短花针茅生长的斑块C。③ 基于零模型的分析结果显示,物种共存格局的复杂性和强度为：斑块A>斑块B>斑块C,且下降趋势明显,斑块A存在的16组显著物种对中有4组为显著竞争关系,而斑块C中的物种对减少到7组,且仅存在猪毛蒿与苦豆子组显著竞争物种对。结论：表明未沙化的土壤生境斑块是荒漠草原破碎化草地生物多样性维持的一个重要前提,土壤生境的退化显著降低了斑块内部群落组织的复杂性和物种间相互作用的强度,不利于群落的自我维持。     

Effects of exotic and endogenous shrubs on understory vegetation and soil nutrients in the south of Tunisia

This study was conducted in southern Tunisia in the growing seasons of 2013 and 2014, and aimed to compare the effects of exotic and endogenous shrub species(Haloxylon persicum and Retama raetam, respectively) on understory vegetation and soil nutrients. For each shrub species, the canopied sub-habitat(under the shrub crown) and un-canopied sub-habitat(in open grassland area) were distinguished. The concentrations of soil nutrients(organic matter, total nitrogen and extractable phosphorus) were found to be significantly higher(P<0.05) under R. raetam canopy than under H. persicum canopy and in open area. The result also showed that the presence of shrubs improved all the values of understory vegetation parameters(floristic composition, density, total plant cover and dry matter) and all these values were significantly higher under endogenous species canopy than under exotic species canopy. These results highlighted the positive effect of endogenous shrubs on understory vegetation and soil nutrients compared to the exotic ones in the Saharan areas of Tunisia.     

新疆野生樱桃李天然林土壤种子库特征

采取野外调查、网筛分选和温室萌发相结合的方法,对新疆霍城县大西沟山区野生樱桃李天然林的土壤种子库物种组成、密度和生活史型、垂直空间分布、物种多样性及其与地上植被间关系进行了研究。结果表明：① 试验鉴定出的幼苗共有48种,隶属于19科,且一年生植物多达20种（41.7%）,地下芽植物为15种（31.3%）;② 种子库中种子的数量自上而下呈先增加后减少的特征,有超过90%的种子分布在距地表5 cm以上的表层土壤及枯枝落叶层中,近90%的樱桃李种子分布在距地表2 cm以上的表层土壤及枯落层中;③ 土壤种子库中草本层物种的Margalef指数、Shannon-Wiener指数均为最高,其次为乔木层和灌木层,种子库物种多样性主要受草本层丰富度的影响;④ 野生樱桃李天然林土壤种子库与地上植被的相似性系数为0.315,表明地上植被对土壤种子库的贡献较大。但是,由于过度放牧,使得种子库的物种多样性在垂直空间上的分布规律受到干扰。     

黄土高原油松林林下物种多样性的多尺度格局

通过加性分配方法,在小样方、样方以及样地3个尺度上研究了黄土高原油松林林下物种多样性的格局,揭示了空间尺度在物种多样性评价中的重要性。结果表明：大尺度（样地尺度）决定物种丰富度格局,物种丰富度随尺度的增加而增加,在样地尺度上的β多样性贡献最大;Shannon多样性指数与物种丰富度呈现出截然相反的格局,小尺度（小样方尺度）决定Shannon多样性格局,其最大贡献来自于小样方尺度上的α多样性。扩散限制和环境筛选都是油松林群落构建的重要过程,二者相互作用,共同决定了其林下的多样性格局。     

Impact of Fire on Soil Nitrogen Forms in Central Semiarid Argentina

Burning effects on soil N are particularly important in the Caldenal region of Argentina because N is likely to be limited and is easily lost by volatilization during fire. Burning may cause an initial increase in the mineral N content of the surface soil and, perhaps more important, can reduce the proportion of N in hydrolyzable (that is, more mineralizable) forms. The modification in soil N fractions by fire is directly related to the degree of soil heating and to the proportion and amount of N fractions remaining in the ash. This research was aimed at studying the effects of a controlled burn on total N, inorganic (NO3 and NH4+) and organic (amino acids, ammonium, hexosamines) N forms, as well as hydrolyzable and nonhydrolyzable N compounds of top soils of the southern Caldenal. Soil samples were taken from beneath the canopy of shrubs and from the areas with herbaceous cover, before and after burning. In order to show that a greater proportion of N added to regularly burned soils will result in lower levels of mineralizable N, differences in the changes of the various pools of plant tissue N upon burning at different ignition tem peratures are also reported. The initial unburned top soils had no significant differences in total, inorganic, and organic N form concentrations between shrub and herbaceous vegetation-covered soil. Burning did not affect the net content of total N in soil under woody vegetation, but in the grassland soil a decrease of total N concentration was observed. Nitrate concentration increased and NH4+ concentration decreased in both shrub and grassland soils after burning. Controlled burning caused losses of amino acid and ammonium organic N forms from the soil under grass plants and gains of hexosamine N in both shrub-and herbaceous-coveredsoils. There was an observed tendency to increase the relative proportions of non hydrolyzable N forms in both the shrub and grassland soils after burning. Inorganic and organic N form concentrations were similar in initial shrub litter and grass, but litter had higher concentrations of total and nonhydrolyzable N than those of grass. Shrub litter ash obtained after muffling at 300 C contained higher NH4+-N, aminoacid N, ammonium N, and total and nonhydrolyzable N concentrations than those from grass. An increase of 100 C in the ignition temperature produced clear ashes, rich in mineral N with little concentration of total N and C. The organic N forms affected most by the ignition temperature increase were amino acid N and ammonium N, respectively, particularly in woody litter. The most striking feature was the constituent increase in the percentages of nonhydrolyzable N forms of the vegetation covers on passing from initial to 300 C to 400 C, particularly for the litter and its ashes. These results suggest that the soil mineralizable N pool may be reduced by frequent burning or by more severe burning than observed presently in the Caldenal region.     

土壤中氮营养斑研究进展

由于自然和人为因素,营养斑(nutrient patch)在土壤中是普遍存在的。从70年代以来,国外就通过各种模拟方式对土壤中营养斑进行了大量的研究,尤其以对氮营养斑研究居多。研究表明:氮营养斑对新生根系的繁殖影响较为明显,但不同植物反应不一样,影响机理还不很清楚。营养斑也是生物活性较强、种群数量较多区域,在养分循环体系中起着特殊作用。营养斑对土壤的理化性质和生物性质可能有很大的影响,但这方面的研究很欠缺。本文主要对土壤中氮营养班的研究进展做一综述。     

Effet des matières organiques ajoutées au sol sur l'adsorption des herbicides. Influence de la composition des matières organiques

Effect of orgunic matter added to soil on the adsrption of herhicides. Inffneuce of the composition of the organic matter By preliminary fractionation of two organic substrates (a wheat straw and a crushed lucerne hay) we tried to evaluate the adsorption capacity of their constituents (water-soluble and lipidic substances, hemicelluloses, cellulose and lignin) in soil. Terbutryne and diuron have different affinities with the constituents of the substrates. Lignin is more adsorbent than the other constituents. With regard to adsorption, isolated constitucents form heterogeneous and interacting classes. Consequently it is difficult to define the absorption capacity of non-decomposed organic materials on the basis of their composition. Mineralization, by modifying the composition, the variations in adsorptive power of carbon residues resulting from decomposition of the substrates in the soil.     

毛乌素沙地天然臭柏灌丛地的土壤特性

采用样方调查法对毛乌素沙地天然臭柏灌丛地土壤特性调查结果表明 :臭柏灌丛地土壤水分、有机质、全氮、速效钾和碱解氮等养分资源分布具有空间异质性。在臭柏灌丛地(覆盖度 70 %～ 85 % ) 0～ 5 cm的土层 ,聚集了较多的中细粒子 ( 0 .2 5～ 0 .0 2 cm) ,平均含量为68.9% ,比油蒿覆盖区 (覆盖度 40 %～ 5 5 % )高 9% ,并随土层深度的加深 ,其含量降低。水分、有机质、全氮、速效钾和碱解氮等养分含量的分布 ,存在明显的“沃岛”现象。在 0～ 1 0 0 cm的土层范围内 ,臭柏灌丛地 60 %以上的土样含水率为 1 %～ 2 % ,变异系数高达 1 1 3%。土层深度 <2 0 cm时 ,臭柏灌丛土壤含水率由灌丛内向灌丛外逐渐减少 ,当土层 >2 0 cm时 ,则正好相反。70 %的土样速效磷含量 <2 mg/kg,除速效磷之外 ,土壤中的有机质、全氮、速效钾、碱解氮等在臭柏灌丛下 0～ 2 0 cm的土层内相对富集。在 0～ 1 0 0 cm的土层内 ,有机质的变异系数为 96.3% ,全氮为 1 0 1 .4% ,碱解氮为 80 .6% ,速效钾为 88.4%。臭柏灌丛地土壤特性的空间异质性 ,是生物和物理过程共同作用的结果。     

高寒草甸不同类型草地土壤机械组成及肥力比较

研究了青藏高原高寒草甸不同类型草地土壤机械组成和土壤养分变化特征,并用相关分析探讨了土壤理化特征、土壤机械组成对不同草地类型群落物种组成、生物量变化的响应。结果表明:不同草地类型土壤机械组成分布大致是矮嵩草草甸:粉粒>细砂粒>粘粒>粗砂粒;高山嵩草草甸:细砂粒>粉粒>粘粒>粗砂粒;藏嵩草沼泽化草甸:细砂粒>粉粒>粘粒>粗砂粒;金露梅灌丛:粉粒>粘粒≥细砂粒>粗砂粒。矮嵩草草甸、高山嵩草草甸为粉砂质粘壤土,藏嵩草沼泽化草甸为壤土,金露梅灌丛为壤质粘土。矮嵩草草甸、高山嵩草草甸和金露梅灌丛土壤颗粒分布相对比较均匀(除藏嵩草沼泽化草甸外),主要集中在<0.5mm的范围内,土壤粘粒含量普遍大于20%。土壤全量养分和速效养分以及土壤物理特征均影响着高寒草甸不同草地类型土壤质量和土壤结构。土壤结构和养分状况是判断高寒草甸生态系统生态功能维持的关键指标之一。     

新疆准噶尔盆地东部波斑鸨夏季栖息地选择

1999～ 2 0 0 1年 6～ 7月 ,利用粪便示踪和野外直接观察法对准噶尔盆地东部波斑鸨 (Chlamydotisundula tamacqueenii)夏季栖息地进行了采样研究。结果表明 :波斑鸨夏季栖息地地势平坦 ,视野开阔 ,沙质土和粘土上旱生和盐生荒漠植被广泛分布 ,植被稀疏、低矮 ,并镶嵌有相对较高的灌丛块 ;影响波斑鸨夏季栖息地选择的环境因子是植物种数、植被密度和植被盖度 ;栖息地内的植被盖度、植被密度、草本植物种数、角果藜密度和距邻近灌丛块距离都显著低于对照地内的相应成分。     

Seed rain and soil seed bank compensatory roles on Nassella tenuis (Phil.) Barkworth seedling recruitment in ungrazed and grazed sites

In semi-arid lands, vegetation is distributed in shrub patches immersed in a less vegetated interpatch matrix. Grazing affects perennial grass seed bank through a decrease in seed rain and an increase in seed predation and soil compaction. Nevertheless, some species with anchorage mechanisms in their seeds might overcome this, such as Nassella tenuis (Phil.) Barkworth. This is an important species in grazing paddocks because it has an intermediate palatability and its relatively tolerant to grazing. These characteristics allow N. tenuis to increase its abundance in grazed sites. Our objective was to assess how grazing affects the key palatable species from seeds to seedlings: i.e., seed rain, soil seed bank, and seedling recruitment in different microsites along a windward-leeward transect across shrub canopy. We hypothesized that: (1) the negative effects of grazing on N. tenuis fructification are reflected in its seed rain, soil seed bank, and seedling recruitment, especially in interpatches; (2) Nassella tenuis seed rain reduction, soil compaction by cattle in grazed sites, and removal of seeds by wind decrease its soil seed bank, especially in microsites exposed to the predominant wind; and (3) the decrease in N. tenuis soil seed bank and cover increase in annual species in grazed sites have negative effects on its seedling recruitment, especially in microsites exposed to predominant wind. We placed seed traps, collected soil samples, and monitored seedling recruitment in different locations around shrub canopy to address our hypotheses. Also, we established a manipulative experiment in which we sow N. tenuis seeds and followed its recruitment in different microsites. We compared the seed rain, soil seed bank, natural seedling recruitment, and sown seeds recruitment of N. tenuis between grazed and ungrazed sites. We analyzed differences between microsites along a windward-leeward transect across shrubs patches. Seed rain and soil seed bank had the same density in patches and interpatches both in ungrazed and grazed sites. But seed rain was higher, and soil seed bank was lower in ungrazed sites than in grazed sites. Almost all under-canopy microsites showed greater soil seed bank abundance and natural seedling recruitment in ungrazed sites. Sown seeds recruitment was the same between grazed and ungrazed sites, but it showed protective effects of shrubs in leeward microsites under grazed sites. As a conclusion, seed rain and soil seed bank are complementary under grazed sites.     

The Caldenal ecosystem: Effects of a prescribed burning on soil chemical properties

Before and after a prescribed burning, the upper 2.5 cm of soil in patches of forage, nonforage, and shrub vegetation were sampled. Then, bulk density, gravimetric moisture, pH in water, available phosphorus, exchangeable cations, cationic exchange capacity, total nitrogen, total, particulate, and mineral organic carbon contents were determined. Maximum temperature ranges reached over the ground during burning were measured and the highest values were registered in shrubs. Results showed that total, particulate, and mineral organic carbon and total nitrogen contents and percent base saturation increased in all soils after burning, without detecting differential effects between vegetation patches. After burning, available phosphorus content increased both for forage and shrub patches. A Na⁺ content decrease was observed for all soils in the different patches while Mg²⁺ content increased. No changes in the other analyzed variables were observed. Prescribed burning, as studied in the present work, might improve the Caldenal soils’ chemical fertility, mainly due to an increase in labile organic matter and some nutrients essential for plant growth.     

Defining the habitat niche of Alopecurus myosuroides at the field scale

The distribution of Alopecurus myosuroides (black‐grass) in fields is patchy. The locations of these patches can be influenced by the environment. This presents an opportunity for precision management through patch spraying. We surveyed five fields on various types of soil using a nested sampling design and recorded both A. myosuroides seedlings in autumn and seed heads in summer. We also measured soil properties at those sampling locations. We found that the patches of seed heads within a field were smaller than the seedling patches, suggesting that techniques for patch spraying based on maps of heads in the previous season could be inherently risky. We also found that the location of A. myosuroides patches within fields can be predicted through their relationship with environmental properties and that these relations are consistent across fields on different soil types. This improved understanding of the relations between soil properties and A. myosuroides seedlings could allow farmers to use pre‐existing or suitably supplemented soil maps already in use for the precision application of fertilisers as a starting point in the creation of herbicide application maps.     

Carbon inputs regulate the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration in temperate forests

Litter and root activities may alter the temperature sensitivity(Q₁₀) of soil respiration. However,existing studies have not provided a comprehensive understanding of the effects of litter and root carbon inputs on the Q₁₀ of soil respiration in different seasons. In this study, we used the trench method under in situ conditions to measure the total soil respiration(Rtotal), litter-removed soil respiration(Rno-litter),root-removed soil respiration(Rno-root), and the decompo...     

Grazing and heat stress protection of native grass by a sand-fixing shrub in the arid lands of northern China

Shrub species are used in restoration projects on dryland for their facilitation effects, which include environmental improvements and protection from herbivore feeding. Facilitation effects on forage grasses are potentially important in improving grazing capacity on rangelands. However, the morphology-dependent performance of benefactor plants in facilitating forage species growth and supplementation under moderate grazing intensity remains unclear. Here, our main purpose was to measure facilitation performance in terms of the survival of a native forage grass, Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. (Gramineae)., in accordance with the growth conditions of a sand-fixing benefactor shrub, Caragana microphylla Lam., in the Hulun Buir Grassland, northern China. Six study sites with patches of A. cristatum and C. microphylla were established at the foot of fixed sand dunes. At each site, five quadrats were set in places where C. microphylla coverage was 100% and A. cristatum grew among the shrubs (shrub quadrats), and another five were set where A. cristatum grew alone without C. microphylla (grass quadrats). We measured the morphological traits of C. microphylla and A. cristatum in all 60 quadrats, along with the soil water content and soil temperature. The data were compared between the shrub and grass quadrats by generalized linear mixed-effect models to assess the shrub's facilitation effects. We also used such models to elucidate the relationship between the average height of C. microphylla and the morphological traits of A. cristatum in the shrub quadrats. The maximum height, average grazed height, and the number of seed heads of A. cristatum were greater in the shrub quadrats than in the grass quadrats. The soil surface temperature was lower in the shrub quadrats. The maximum height and seed head number of A. cristatum were positively associated with the average height of C. microphylla. These results suggest that the grazing impact and heat stress were smaller in shrub quadrats than in grass quadrats, and that the degree of this protective effect depended on the shrub height. The shrub canopy seemed to reduce the increase in soil temperature and keep the grass vigorous. Livestock likely avoided grazing grasses in the C. microphylla patches because of the shrub's spiny leaves; only the upper parts of the grass stems (including the seed heads) protruding from the shrub canopy were grazed. The sand-fixing shrub thus moderates the grazing impact and soil temperature, and contributes to vegetation restoration and grazing system sustainability.     

乌拉特荒漠草原群落物种多样性和生物量关系对放牧强度的响应

以内蒙古乌拉特荒漠草原灌丛和草本植物群落为对象,研究这2种植物群落的物种组成、物种多样性及其与地上生物量关系对不同放牧处理(对照、中牧、重牧)的响应。结果表明:①随着放牧强度的增加,灌丛群落中红砂(Reaumuria songarica)和碱韭(Allium polyrhizum)的优势度增大,沙生针茅(Stipa glareosa)的优势度减小;重牧降低草本群落中沙生针茅的优势度,增加了蒙古韭(Allium mongolicum)和碱韭的优势度。②不同放牧处理显著降低了灌丛和草本群落的盖度、高度以及灌丛群落的密度,消除了灌丛和草本群落之间盖度的差异(P> 0. 05)。中牧降低灌丛群落的Pielou均匀度指数,重牧降低灌丛群落的物种丰富度,灌丛和草本群落的其他多样性指数在放牧处理之间无显著差异(P> 0. 05)。除物种丰富度外,其他多样性指数在灌丛和草本群落之间差异显著(P <0. 05)。③不同放牧处理降低了灌丛和草本群落的地上生物量和凋落物量,导致灌丛和草本群落之间地上生物量的显著差异(P <0. 05)。④地上生物量与Simpson优势度指数负相关,与Shannon-Wienner多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数正相关;放牧处理下地上生物量与密度、物种丰富度正相关。放牧处理改变了荒漠草原植物群落组成、结构和功能,进而改变了群落结构和功能的重要关系。     

Dependency of litter decomposition on litter quality,climate change,and grassland type in the alpine grassland of Tianshan Mountains,Northwest China

Litter decomposition is an important component of the nutrient recycling process and is highly sensitive to climate change. However, the impacts of warming and increased precipitation on litter decomposition have not been well studied, especially in the alpine grassland of Tianshan Mountains. We conducted a manipulative warming and increased precipitation experiment combined with different grassland types to examine the impact of litter quality and climate change on the litter decomposition rate based on three dominant species (Astragalus mongholicus, Potentilla anserina, and Festuca ovina) in Tianshan Mountains from 2019 to 2021. The results of this study indicated there were significant differences in litter quality, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content. In addition, litter quality exerted significant effects on litter decomposition, and the litter decomposition rate varied in different grassland types. Increased precipitation significantly accelerated the litter decomposition of P. anserina; however, it had no significant effect on the litter decomposition of A. mongholicus and F. ovina. However, warming consistently decreased the litter decomposition rate, with the strongest impact on the litter decomposition of F. ovina. There was a significant interaction between increased precipitation and litter type, but there was no significant interaction between warming and litter type. These results indicated that warming and increased precipitation significantly influenced litter decomposition; however, the strength was dependent on litter quality. In addition, soil water content played a crucial role in regulating litter decomposition in different grassland types. Moreover, we found that the litter decomposition rate exhibited a hump-shaped or linear response to the increase of soil water content. Our study emphasizes that ongoing climate change significantly altered litter decomposition in the alpine grassland, which is of great significance for understanding the nutrient supply and turnover of litter.     

干旱生境下3种植物叶凋落物分解动态特征

以塔里木盆地胡杨、多枝柽柳、胀果甘草为研究对象,应用凋落袋法,研究叶凋落物分解动态,揭示3种植物叶凋落物在干旱生境下分解动态特征,结果表明:①经过810d分解,胡杨、胀果甘草叶凋落物质量残留率分别为48.93%、38.07%,经630d分解多枝柽柳叶凋落物质量残留率为69.55%,分解时间对胡杨、胀果干草、多枝柽柳叶凋落物残留率均有极显著影响,处理(林窗、林下)对胡杨、胀果干草叶凋落物残留率有显著影响、极显著影响。②处理对3种植物叶凋落物分解系数有显著影响(P<0.05),且分解系数(k)表现为k林窗>k林下,k胀果甘草>k胡杨>k多枝柽柳,经810d分解胡杨、胀果甘草叶凋落物t0.95分别为9.159.48a、6.757.03a,经630d分解多枝柽柳叶凋落物t0.95为13.8215.05a。③受植物种类的影响,分解时间、处理对C、N、P元素释放进程影响不同。3种植物C元素都表现出释放-富积-释放的变化过程,多枝柽柳、胀果甘草叶凋落物N元素在观测期内表现出释放-富积的过程,而胡杨林下则表现出富积-释放-富积的规律,观测期内P元素释放过程与N元素表现出相似的变化规律。④叶凋落物分解系数k值与分解时间、残留量、全氮、全磷、木质素、木质素比氮呈极显著相关(P<0.01),土壤湿度、全碳、C/N均与k林窗、k林下存在极显著差异。干旱区微生境(林下、林窗)的变化对叶凋落物分解有显著影响,凋落物质量与土壤湿度对凋落物分解起主导作用。