Changes of soil particle size fraction along a chronosequence in sandy desertified land: a fundamental process for ecosystem succession and ecological restoration

Purpose

Soil is composed of particles of different sizes. A fraction of soil particles with different sizes has many vital effects on soil properties such as soil texture, soil porosity, and soil nutrient content. We intended to explore what change took place in soil particle distribution along the chronosequence of restoration and to address what implication this change has for ecosystem restoration.

Materials and methods

Six restoration ecosystem sites were selected to form a chronosequence in a sandy desertified region, northern China. We examined the relative content of soil particles with different sizes and established an index of enrichment ratio to reflect the change trend of soil particle size fraction.

Results and discussion

It was showed that soil substrate in this region is mainly composed of coarse sand (>0.25 mm) and fine sand (0.25–0.10 mm), the fraction of which are averagely 23.62 and 57.07 %, respectively. These characteristics make soil coarse, loose and erodible, and to be one of the reasons why sandy desertification was quickly developed in this region. In sandy desertification process, the grades of soil particles were air-classified. Fine sand was strongly enriched 1.36 times than average level, while very fine sand (0.10–0.05 mm) and silt and clay (<0.05 mm) were strongly diluted 0.14 and 0.22 times than average level, respectively. Along with the chronosequence of restoration, very fine sand and silt and clay were deposited and markedly enriched. This change in soil particle size fraction along the chronosequence has many fundamental roles for the subsequent restoration succession of sandy land ecosystem, such as promoting plant growth, strengthening soil anti-erodibility, leading to species replacement and community succession.

Conclusions

From this research, it could be concluded that the response of soil particle size fraction to ecological restoration in sandy desertified lands is ecologically valuable, demonstrating that a positive cycle between plant and soil was formed to strengthen the stability of soil-plant system, and the ecosystem has the ability of self-recovering or self-organizing.

     

Disturbance of biological soil crusts: impacts on potential wind erodibility of sandy desert soils in southeastern Utah

Friction threshold velocities (FTVs) were determined for biological soil crusts in different stages of recovery. Particles on the surface of crusts that had been relatively undisturbed for at least 20 years were found to have significantly higher FTVs than those that had been disturbed 5, 10 or 1 years previously (376, 87, and 46 cm sec⁻¹, respectively). FTV's for crust breakage was also much higher for undisturbed crusts when compared to the previously disturbed crusts (573, 148, and 88 cm sec⁻¹, respectively). All crusted surfaces were more stable than bare sand, which had an FTV of 16 cm sec⁻¹. Disturbance treatments were then applied to the three crustal classes. Disturbance significantly reduced the FTVs of all classes by 73–92 per cent. Comparing crustal FTVs with mean and high monthly wind speeds found in this region, it was observed that only crusts that had been undisturbed for approximately 20 years or more were able to protect soil surfaces from wind gusts expected on the average of once a month. Other crustal classes, as well as all disturbance treatments, had FTVs lower or equal to that of commonly occurring winds in this region. Because most of the crustal biomass occurs in the top 0·3 mm of soils, even slight soil loss can negatively influence stability and nutrient inputs to this ecosystem. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

黄土高原不同地貌类型区植被恢复潜力及其土地利用变化

黄土高原1999年开始的退耕还林（草）工程，对植被覆盖与土地利用结构产生了深刻影响，评估黄土高原未来植被恢复潜力、植树造林适宜区以及土地利用变化，对黄土高原生态保护和高质量发展具有重要意义。该研究基于北洛河流域2020年下垫面状况，借鉴"相似生境法"，对不同地貌类型区的未来恢复潜力、植树造林适宜区与土地利用变化进行了分析。结果表明：1）丘陵沟壑区目前平均植被盖度为61.9%，未来20~30 a仍有9.2%左右的上升空间，植被可恢复土地面积约占丘陵区的36.4%。土石山林区尚有11.5%的土地面积具有恢复余地，高塬沟壑区与阶地平原区植被盖度恢复余地很小。2）未来土地利用变化面积主要集中在丘陵沟壑区，与2020年相比，其耕地将减少47.4%，而林地与草地会增加0.7%与15.8%。土石山林区耕地将减少23.0%，林地与草地分别会增加0.2%与36.0%。3）基于"适地适树"原则下的情景模拟，高塬沟壑区与阶地平原区分别有279.16、233.73 km2面积可植树造林，而丘陵沟壑区大片可退耕土地适宜于自然恢复。结果表明，丘陵沟壑区仍是未来生态恢复重点关注区域，是黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展的热点区域。     

Use of the RothC model to estimate the carbon sequestration potential of organic matter application in Japanese arable soils

Abstract

We estimated the carbon (C) sequestration potential of organic matter application in Japanese arable soils at a country scale by applying the Rothamsted carbon (RothC) model at a 1-km resolution. After establishing the baseline soil organic carbon (SOC) content for 1990, a 25-year simulation was run for four management scenarios: A (minimum organic matter application), B (farmyard manure application), C (double cropping for paddy fields) and D (both B and C). The total SOC decreased during the simulation in all four scenarios because the C input in all four scenarios was lower than that required to maintain the baseline 1990 SOC level. Scenario A resulted in the greatest depletion, reflecting the effects of increased organic matter application in the other scenarios. The 25-year difference in SOC accumulation between scenario A and scenarios B, C and D was 32.3, 11.1 and 43.4?Mt?C, respectively. The annual SOC accumulation per unit area was similar to a previous estimate, and the 25-year averages were 0.30, 0.10 and 0.41?t?C?ha^?1?year^?1 for scenarios B, C and D, respectively. The system we developed in the present study, that is, linking the RothC model and soil spatial data, can be useful for estimating the potential C sequestration resulting from an increase in organic matter input to Japanese arable soils, although more feasible scenarios need to be developed to enable more realistic estimation.     

Use of the RothC model to estimate the carbon sequestration potential of organic matter application in Japanese arable soils

We estimated the carbon (C) sequestration potential of organic matter application in Japanese arable soils at a country scale by applying the Rothamsted carbon (RothC) model at a 1-km resolution. After establishing the baseline soil organic carbon (SOC) content for 1990, a 25-year simulation was run for four management scenarios: A (minimum organic matter application), B (farmyard manure application), C (double cropping for paddy fields) and D (both B and C). The total SOC decreased during the simulation in all four scenarios because the C input in all four scenarios was lower than that required to maintain the baseline 1990 SOC level. Scenario A resulted in the greatest depletion, reflecting the effects of increased organic matter application in the other scenarios. The 25-year difference in SOC accumulation between scenario A and scenarios B, C and D was 32.3, 11.1 and 43.4 Mt C, respectively. The annual SOC accumulation per unit area was similar to a previous estimate, and the 25-year averages were 0.30, 0.10 and 0.41 t C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ for scenarios B, C and D, respectively. The system we developed in the present study, that is, linking the RothC model and soil spatial data, can be useful for estimating the potential C sequestration resulting from an increase in organic matter input to Japanese arable soils, although more feasible scenarios need to be developed to enable more realistic estimation.     

Contribution of lignin and polysaccharides to the refractory carbon pool in C-depleted arable soils

We assessed the contribution of polysaccharides and lignin, major components of plant residues, to the refractory pool of soil organic carbon (SOC) in arable soils. Soil samples from two contrasting treatment types of European long-term agroecosystem experiments, i.e. conventionally managed (fertilized) and C-depleted plots, enriched in refractory compounds, were compared. Bulk samples from eight experimental sites and particle-size fractions of two of the sites were investigated. The CuO oxidation technique was used as a relative measure of lignin and its degree of structural alteration. The contents and composition of polysaccharides were determined following hydrolysis with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). For the bulk samples, the amount of lignin phenols declined more than the total OC in the course of C-depletion. The contribution of lignin phenols to total OC was thus lower in the C-depleted versus the fertilized plots. A greater lignin biodegradation was found in the bulk samples of the depleted plots compared with the fertilized plots. The analysis of size fractions revealed lower OC-normalized contents of lignin phenols and a higher degree of lignin alteration in fractions <63 μm of the depleted versus the fertilized plots. These findings indicate that lignin does not accumulate within the refractory C pool of arable soils. The refractory SOC pool shows a lower contribution of lignin as compared with more labile fractions of SOC. If lignin-derived carbon is present in the stable pool it has been extensively modified so that it can no longer be identified as phenolic CuO oxidation products. OC-normalized contents of polysaccharides (neutral sugars and galacturonic acid) were similar in bulk samples of the C-depleted and fertilized plots. The contrasting treatments showed similar polysaccharide contents especially in separates <6 μm. The separates <6 μm in the C-depleted plots retained between 50 and 100% of the polysaccharide amounts in the fertilized plots. The mass ratio of (galactose+mannose)-to-(arabinose+xylose) (GM/AX) was higher in bulk samples of the C-depleted versus the fertilized plots, indicating a higher relative contribution of microbial sugars. Within a particular soil, the fine separates were those with the highest GM/AX ratio. These results indicate that the refractory C pool has a similar proportion of polysaccharides as the labile C pool, but refractory polysaccharides are mainly associated with fine separates and show a dominant contribution of microbial sugars. Our results provide evidence that polysaccharides, mainly those of microbial origin, are stabilized over the long-term within fine separates of arable soils. In contrast, CuO lignin is associated mainly with the coarse fractions and does not contribute to the refractory C pool.     

Trace metals in the soils of Water Conservation Area of Florida Everglades: Considerations for ecosystem restoration

Purpose

Inorganic contaminants present a major challenge for the restoration of aquatic ecosystems. The objectives of this study were to determine the extent of trace metal contamination and investigate the influence of different plant communities on trace metal accumulation in the soils of the Florida Everglades.

Materials and methods

Soil samples (n?=?117) were collected from 0 to 10-cm depth using a stainless steel coring device from sites with three dominant plant communities—cattail, sawgrass, and slough—of Water Conservation Area-2A (43,281 ha) of Florida Everglades.

Results and discussion

The mean pH in soils collected from three plant communities was 6.75–6.82, whereas electrical conductivity was slightly greater in the sawgrass (0.69 dS m^?1) than cattail (0.58 dS m^?1) and slough (0.40 dS m^?1). Mean reduction–oxidation potential was greatest in cattail (?113 mV) than sawgrass (?85.3 mV) and slough (?48.3 mV) soils. Among 11 trace metals (As, B, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Zn) found in soil samples, Na had the greatest contents and was greater in cattail (2070 mg kg^?1) and sawgrass (1735 mg kg^?1) than slough (1297 mg kg^?1). Four trace metals (B, Cu, Mo, Ni) were significantly greater in cattail than sawgrass and slough. Whereas, Mn was significantly lower in cattail (31 mg kg^?1) than both sawgrass (84 mg kg^?1) and slough (51 mg kg^?1). Cattail also had significantly lower Cr (1.97 mg kg^?1) and Pb (10 mg kg^?1) than sawgrass (Cr 2.5 mg kg^?1; Pb 20.8 mg kg^?1). As (<6.9 mg kg^?1), Co (<1.3 mg kg^?1), and Zn (<17.2 mg kg^?1) were not significantly different among soils collected from three plant community-dominant sites. Contents of Cd and Se were below the method detection limits (Cd 0.01 mg L^?1; Se 0.2 mg L^?1) and are not reported.

Conclusions

None of the trace metals in the soils exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency sediment toxicity thresholds. Results from this study provided baseline concentrations of trace metals, which can be used to measure the success of restoration efforts in Florida Everglades.

     

Multiple-substrate enzyme assays: a useful approach for profiling enzyme activity in soils?

This study focuses on the applicability of multiple-substrate enzyme assays to simultaneously determine various soil enzyme activities within one assay. Mineral soils from agricultural field sites differing in soil properties and management were used to optimise substrate composition and concentration of 4-methylumbelliferone and 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin derivatives as model substrates. In contrast to conventional assays, enzyme activity was measured at soil pH since optimum pH is not more applicable using a multiple-substrate approach. Furthermore, enzyme activity was not calculated from the product formed but from substrate decrease. After incubation the added substrates were re-extracted, separated by high-performance liquid chromatography and quantified by UV-absorption at 320 nm. This approach allows simultaneous measurement of the activity of β-d-glucosidase, N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase, β-d-glucuronidase, β-d-xylosidase, phosphomonoesterase, sulfoesterase and leucine-aminopeptidase within one assay and with sufficient accuracy. However, incomplete re-extraction due to adsorption of substrates to the soil matrix was observed. In addition, certain competitive inhibition effects due to chemically similar substrates were found. Compared to conventional methods, no distinct differences in enzyme activity profile were detected, with both assays—conventional and multiple-substrate approach—leading to similar differentiation among the investigated soils. In conclusion, the multiple-substrate approach may serve as time-saving alternative to standard enzyme assays in mineral soils. Certainly, since the multiple-enzyme assay is conducted at soil pH, the procedure leads to reduced comparability of soils with contrasting pH values.     

Degradation and restoration of soils in the Moscow River floodplain for the last fifty years

During a short-term recent period (about 50 years), many floodplains of the Nonchernozemic zone were used as meadows, croplands for growing row crops, or they were abandoned. This was done to supply the populations of industrial cities with vegetables. In this case, the agrotechnical, ameliorative, and some other measures applied were often incompatible with the properties of the floodplain soils and caused their degradation. Among these measures was the elimination of grasses in the crop rotation, the monoculture of row crops, inadequate irrigation inducing systematic waterlogging, and the wide use of heavy agricultural machines. The consequences of using such technologies were investigated by the authors; on these soils, row crop were grown for 30 years and, for the next 20 years, the soils were left under fallow. Based on the data obtained, methods for the floodplain soils’ protection against degradation are proposed.     

Use of the nitrate electrode for determination of nitrates in soils

Abstract

A procedure for the rapid and accurate determination of water‐extractable soil nitrates is described. Use of this procedure resulted in quantitative recovery of nitrates added to soil. Reproducibility of results was high, with nitrate‐nitrogen in 40 soil samples determined on successive days differing by a maximum of 4 ppm with 33 determinations differing by 2 ppm or less. Comparison with a phenoldisulfonic acid method on 513 soil samples had a maximum difference of 7 ppm with a majority of determinations having a difference of 4 ppm or less.     

Response to salinity of three grain legumes for potential cultivation in arid areas

Abstract

The material balance of all the chemical species associated with the phosphate sorption reaction by two amorphous clays, silica-alumina gel and synthetic goethite was investigated adjusting the initial pH to 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, and 7.0. Phosphate sorption was found to decrease with increasing initial pH. During phosphate sorption, the equilibrium pH rose, adsorption of Cl^- decreased to a state of negative adsorption, adsorption of Na⁺ increased markedly, silicate was released, and Al in the solution was precipitated. With increasing initial pH, the amount of apparent released OH^- increased, the amount of Na⁺ adsorption increased, and the amount of released silicate decreased. The overall relationship of the material balance is explained in terms of the charge balance associated with phosphate sorption.     

Use of plants to evaluate the difference in available cadmium between soils

Abstract

A new method was proposed for assessing the difference in the capacity of soils to supply Cd to plants. The relation of tissue (tc) to soil (sc) Cd concentrations can be expressed as; log(tc) = α+βlog(sc), where α and β are the regression coefficients. When the same plant is grown on another soil, the equation will change to; log(tc) = α'+β'log(sc’). Based on both equations, the relationship between sc‘and sc becomes; log(sc’) = (α‐α')/β’ + (β/β') log(sc). Set p = (α‐α')/β’ and q = β/β’, then the difference of Cd availability between two soils can be evaluated according to the values of p and q. The p and q values were determined among four treatments in which radish was grown on a sand soil and a silty loam soil at two pH levels. The values showed that the Cd present in the sand soil (pH 5.6) and the metal in the silty loam soil (pH 7.5) were the most and least available, respectively. It was therefore considered that the parameters p and q could be used as criteria for selecting an ideal extractant capable of removing the actually available Cd from soils.     

Degradation and restoration of sandy soils under different agricultural land uses in northeast Thailand: a review

Conversion of natural forest to agricultural land use has significantly lowered the soil organic matter (SOM) content in sandy soils of northeast Thailand. This paper reviews the findings of comparative studies on contents of SOM pools (labile, i.e. microbial biomass and particulate organic matter—POM and stable, i.e. humic substance) and related soil aggregate formation, in natural forest plots and cultivated fields (monocrops of cassava, sugarcane and rice) in sites representative of northeast Thailand from the viewpoints of terrain (i.e. undulating), soils (sandy) and land use and discusses the restoration of SOM and fertility (nitrogen) in these degraded soils. Monocultural agriculture brings about the degradation of all SOM pools and associated soil aggregation as compared to the forest system because of decreased organic inputs and more frequent soil disturbance. The build‐up of SOM was achieved through the continuous recycling of organic residues produced within the system. Low‐quality residues contributed the largest SOM build‐up in whole and fractionated SOM pools, including POM and humic substance. However, to restore N fertility, high quality residues, (i.e. with low C/N ratios, lignin and polyphenols) were also needed. Timing of N release to meet crop demand was achieved by employing a mixture of high and low quality residues. Selection of appropriate residues for N sources was affected by environmental factors, notably soil moisture regimes, which differed in upland field and lowland paddy subsystems. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Depolarization of a platinum electrode in soils and its utilization for the measurement of redox potential

The platinum electrode was polarized by a current flowing through the electrode-soil solution interface, and then the change in electrode potential caused by soil constituents diffusing from the bulk soil to the electrode surface (depolarization) was monitored. The speed of depolarization was dependent on the kind and concentration of depolarizers, and was affected by some physical conditions of the soil. Within the time interval of 3–10 min the change in electrode potential with the logarithm of time followed a straight line, and the intersection point of the two lines after anodic polarization and cathodic polarization was taken as the equilibrium electrode potential, i.e. the Eh of the soil.     

高产生物能植物蓖麻作为铜污染土壤上潜在植物修复剂

Copper (Cu) contamination in the environment has been increased during the years with agricultural and industrial activities.Biotechnological approaches are needed for bioremediation in these areas. The aims of this study were i) to evaluate the phytoremediation capacity of the high-yielding bioenergy plant castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) in vineyard soils (Inceptisol and Mollisol) contaminated with Cu and a Cu mining waste; ii) to characterize the castor bean as a Cu phytoremediation plant; and iii) to evaluate the nutrient uptake by castor bean. Castor bean plants cultivated in soil with toxic levels of Cu for 57 d exhibited high phytomass production, a high tolerance index of roots’ fresh mass and shoots’ dry mass, a high level of Cu phytoaccumulation in the roots and also, a robust capacity for Cu phytostabilization. Furthermore, castor bean plants did not significantly deplete soil nutrients(such as N, P, and Mg) during cultivation. Plants cultivated in Inceptisol, Mollisol and Cu mining waste exhibited a strong potential for Cu phytoaccumulation, with values of 5 900, 3 052 and 2 805 g ha-1, respectively. In addition, the castor bean’s elevated phytomass production and strong growth in Cu-contaminated soils indicated a high level of Cu phytoaccumulation and a potential application in biofuels. These findings indicate that the castor bean is a efcient hyperaccumulator of Cu and a potential candidate plant for the phytoremediation of Cu-contaminated soil.     

Proposed assessment of the vulnerability of European soils to pollution using a soter shell approach

After recent unanticipated occurrences of environmental pollution caused by the time-delayed and sudden release of contaminants previously believed to be held firmly in soils, awareness has increased that the vulnerability of soils to chemical degradation needs to be assessed and mapped. Although some soils appear to be capable of receiving and holding chemical compounds while at the same time retaining their ecological functions, others are readily damaged. Procedures for identifying areas where vulnerable soils occur are presented, with special reference to the minimum soil data sets that would be required in a small scale study at the European level using geographical information systems. These data can readily be compiled, stored and processed with the relational database management system developed for SOTER, The 1:1 million world soil and terrain digital database project of the International Society of Soil Science, which is co-ordinated by the International Soil Reference and Information Centre. the proposed initial soil vulnerability programme would essentially serve to increase awareness about areas prone to chemical soil degradation, and will form the basis for implementing soil pollution assessment programmes at larger scales (1:1 M to 1:250 000). the latter national or regional programmes would include the identification of the major sources of soil pollution, and measurement of the accumulated load and the rate of loading according to uniform and standardized procedures, providing the conceptual basis for developing process based models to assess where particular types of soil degradation are likely to occur.     

Use of tween 20 as a substrate for assay of lipase activity in soils

Abstract

A method for assaying the soil lipase activity is described. It involves the titrimetric estimation of the amount of lauric acid released by the lipase activity when the soil is incubated with Tween 20 in the presence of toluene at 30°C for 18 h under agitation. The method is simple and precise and incubation without agitation is also possible. The method has been applied to six different kinds of soils. The lipase activity in the cultivated soils ranged from 22.5 to 75.5 mmol min^?1 g^?1 of dried soil. The K _m value for Tween 20 was 1.8 × 10^?4 m. The optimum pH was approximately 7.5. The hydrolysis of liveen 20 in soil was inhibited by glycerol which was the essential moiety of glyceride. The inhibition by glycerol was found to be competitive. These results indicate that Tween 20 is a potential substrate for the assay of the glyceride hydrolytic activity in soils.     

Stream types in Idaho: An approach to classification of streams in natural areas

Five types among small streams are described: ephemeral streams, spring streams, and three types among permanent streams. Key features used to designate stream type are order, gradient, pattern of flow, and substrate which are readily identifiable, nonvariable characteristics. Type designation is supported on an ecological basis by analysis of extensive collections of aquatic plants and invertebrates.     

An approach to the identification of potentially toxic concentrations of manganese in soils

Abstract. The tolerance of wheat plants to manganese is shown to depend on the magnesium concentration in shoot tissue, such that growth is a function of the ratio of the two ions Mg: Mn. This ratio in the plant (R_p) and in the soil solution (R_s) was related by the equation:
ln R_p= 1.45+0.31 ln R_s.
Values of R_p not limiting to growth need to be determined for different crops, but we conclude that corresponding values of R_s can be predicted using solution culture trials. They can then be used to identify remedial treatments in soils where manganese toxicity occurs. In the Eutric Cambisol examined, small amounts of calcium carbonate decreased manganese concentrations in the soil solution such that amounts of magnesium which could easily be applied to a field gave appropriate values of R_s for wheat.     

Quantitative approach to classification of gray forest soils in the Volga-Kama forest-steppe region

On the basis of factual data obtained by the Soil Science Department of the Privolzhskii Federal University and available from literary, virtual reference “images” of gray forest soils as distinguished in classification systems of 1977 and 2004 have been obtained with the use of the methods of multivariate statistics for the Volga-Kama forest-steppe region. Discriminant functions and have been obtained, and classification functions have been developed with the help of numerical methods to diagnose new representatives of gray forest soils. The virtual “images” of the soils can be used for the improvement of soil systematization and for solving various applied problems of land use.