内蒙古荒漠化草地土壤碳、氮养分及土壤呼吸的空间异质性研究

There is a limited knowledge of spatial heterogeneity in soil nutrients and soil respiration in the semi-arid and arid grasslands of China. This study investigated the spatial differences in soil nutrients and soil respiration among three desertified grasslands and within two shrub-dominated communities on the Ordos Plateau of Inner Mongolia, China in 2006. Both soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) were significantly different (P < 0.01) among the three desertified grasslands along a degradation gradient. Within the two shrub-dominated communities, the SOC and TN contents decreased with increasing distance from the main stems of the shrub, and this “fertile island” effect was most pronounced in the surface soil. The total soil respirations during the growing season were 131.26, 95.95, and 118.66 g C m-2, respectively, for the steppe, shrub, and shrub-perennial grass communities. The coefficient of variability of soil respiration was the highest in the shrub community and lowest in the steppe community. CO2 effluxes from the soil under the canopy of shrub were significantly higher than those from the soil covered with biological crusts and the bare soil in the interplant spaces in the shrub community. However, soil respiration beneath the shrubs was not different from that of the soil in the inter-shrub of the shrub-perennial grass community. This is probably due to the smaller shrub size. In the two shrub-dominated communities, spatial variability in soil respiration was found to depend on soil water content and C:N ratio.     

Factors affecting phosphate sorption along a Mediterranean, dolomitic soil and vegetation chronosequence

Phosphate sorption by calcareous soils has been studied mainly on heavily fertilized agricultural soils and soils with calcite as the main carbonate mineral. We examined factors affecting phosphate adsorption in the soils of a semi-arid, mediterranean, dolomitic, soil and vegetation chrono-sequence in southeastern Spain. The youngest soils are highly eroded, Sandy Regosols (Typic Xerorthents) under gorse-scrubland vegetation. These have small P sorption capacities, large Mg-Ca carbonate contents but small amounts of Fe and Al oxides. Small total P (HNO₃/HClO₄ digestion) concentrations (30–130 μg P g^?1), of which up to 90% is Ca-bound (HCl-extractable), are typical of these young soils. P sorption markedly increased when Ca²⁺ was added to the solution. The fractionation of previously sorbed P indicates that the fate of most of this extra-sorbed P is the labile-P fraction sorbed on to (carbonate) surfaces and the apatite-like fraction (NaHCO₃-extractable and HCl-extractable fractions). At the other extreme, older more-intensively weathered, sandy-clay-loam rendzinas (Entic Haploxerolls), supporting dense mature garrigue, have a much greater P adsorption capacity and larger clay and Fe and Al oxide concentrations. They have more total P (ca 400 μg P g^?1), much of it in occluded form (residual fraction). These soils show no significant differences in P sorption whether or not CaCl₂ was used as a background electrolyte. Considering the overall variations within the chronosequence, dithionite extractable Fe and Al are the properties best correlated with P sorption. This support the general finding that crystalline Fe-oxides (e.g. goethite and haematite) appear to be the most important P-sorbing component for soils in the Mediterranean region, rather than amorphous Fe-oxides (e.g. ferrihydrite) as is reported for more mesic areas. Stepwise multiple regression and fractionation data, however, suggest that, provided the soil solution is rich in Ca²⁺, carbonate may also be a significant contributing factor to P sorption, especially in the youngest of these dolomitic soils.     

Partitioning soil respiration in a temperate desert steppe in Inner Mongolia using exponential regression method

Accurately partitioning soil respiration into autotrophic and heterotrophic components is important for understanding how ecosystem carbon budgets will respond to climate change. Usually, heterotrophic respiration can be estimated by a linear relationship between soil respiration and root biomass. In this study, however, we found that an exponential relationship was more appropriate than a linear relationship for relating soil respiration to root biomass in a temperate desert steppe in Inner Mongolia, China.     

内蒙农牧交错带地区土地利用方式和施肥对土壤碳库的影响

内蒙武川是我国典型的内蒙农牧交错带地区,土地利用方式转变和施肥是影响该地区农业生产和土壤碳储量的重要人类活动。选取内蒙武川地区,针对不同土地利用方式(耕地、退耕还林/还草)和施肥措施(化肥、有机肥)的长期定位试验土壤,分析土壤有机碳(SOC)、土壤无机碳(SIC)和全氮(TN)含量和储量,结合13C和15N稳定同位素方法,研究土地利用方式和施肥措施对于该地区土壤碳氮转化的影响规律。研究表明,退耕还灌/还草后,SOC储量较耕地均有显著提高(提高幅度0.60~0.98 Mg hm-2 a-1),SIC储量也增加或保持相同水平(柠条地除外)。相比不施肥处理,施用有机肥能显著增加SOC(1.08~1.19 Mg hm-2 a-1),施化肥处理则会降低SIC(0.06~0.16 Mg hm-2 a-1),且主要影响次生碳酸盐。施肥SIC中原生碳酸盐比例(0~23%)低于自然土壤(3%~29%)。施肥措施对于土壤碳氮的转化强度远大于土地利用方式的改变。对于内蒙等干旱半干旱地区土壤,土地利用和施肥措施对于土壤有机和无机碳的影响应该在区域固碳管理中给予全面考虑。     

内蒙古草原植被覆盖度时空格局变化及驱动因素分析

植被覆盖度（Fractional Vegetation Cover,FVC）是定量反映植被生长状况的重要参数,对水土保持、防风固沙等生态系统功能具有重要影响,多被用于监测植被长时间序列变化特征。为系统分析近20年内蒙古草原及不同类型植被FVC时空格局变化及其驱动因素,该研究基于MOD13Q1产品,首先采用像元二分模型反演构建2001-2020年内蒙古草原逐年FVC数据集,随后利用Sen + Mann-Kendall趋势分析探究内蒙古草原植被时空分布与变化特征,最后通过相关性分析和地理探测器方法分析内蒙古草原FVC对气候因子和社会经济因子的响应机制。结果表明：内蒙古草原FVC呈\     

Phosphorus enrichment helps increase soil carbon mineralization in vegetation along an urban-to-rural gradient,Nanchang, China

We used four vegetation types located along an urban–suburban–rural gradient in Nanchang, China to study how the deposition of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the urban area affected soil carbon (C) cycling. We found that total P, nitrate (NO₃⁻–N), available P, and the abundances of culturable bacteria, actinobacteria, and nitrifying bacteria in soils, collected to 15 cm depth in August of 2008, decreased along the urban-to-rural gradient (P < 0.05); the C/P and N/P ratios, ammonium (NH₄⁺–N), and culturable fungi abundance showed the reverse trends; whereas soil organic C, total N, C/N, mineral N, and the activities of sucrase and neutraland acid phosphatase showed no pattern with gradient and vegetation type. Compared to suburban and rural sites, total and available P in soil increased 168% and 131%, 47% and 139%, respectively in urban sites. The cumulative amount of CO₂ emission per gram of soil (C_min, incubated from 2 to 43 days) varied little along the urban-to-rural gradient, but showed positive correlations with organic C, total N, total P, nitrate, mineral N concentrations, C/N, bacteria and actinobacteria abundances, sucrase and acid phosphatase activities. In contrast, the cumulative amount of CO₂ produced per gram organic C (C_min/OC) within the incubation period was influenced by gradient, vegetation type, and their interaction, and values were about 35% greater in the urban than in suburban and rural sites. The relationship between elevated C_min/OC in urban vegetations and the enrichment of P in organic matter (P/C ratio) suggests that P coming from urban household waste can degrade the stability of organic C in urban soils.     

放牧强度对中国内蒙古草原土壤水分状况与通量的影响

In the past few decades,the increase in grazing intensity has led to soil degradation and desertification in Inner Mongolia grassland,China,due to population growth and shift in the socio-economic system.Two sites with different grazing intensities,continuous grazing site(CG) with 1.2 sheep ha 1 year 1 and heavy grazing site(HG) with 2.0 sheep ha 1 year 1,were investigated at the Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station(43 37 50 N,116 42 18 E) situated in the northern China to i) characterize the temporal distribution of soil water content along soil profile;and ii) quantify the water fluxes as affected by grazing intensity.Soil water content was monitored by time domain reflectometry(TDR) probes.Soil water retention curves were determined by pressure membrane extractor,furthermore processed by RETC(RETention Curve) software.Soil matric potential,plant available water and water flux were calculated using these data.Both sites showed an identical seasonal soil water dynamics within four defined hydraulic periods:1) wetting transition coincided with a dramatic water increase due to snow and frozen soil thawing from March to April;2) wet summer,rainfall in accordance with plant growth from May to September;3) drying transition,a decrease of soil water from October to November due to rainfall limit;and 4) dry winter,freezing from December to next February.Heavy grazing largely reduced soil water content by 43%-48% and plant available water by 46%-61% as compared to the CG site.During growing season net water flux was nearly similar between HG(242 mm) and CG(223 mm) sites between 5 and 20 cm depths.However,between 20 and 40 cm depths,the upward flux was more pronounced at HG site than at CG site,indicating that water was depleted by root uptake at HG site but stored at CG site.In semi-arid grassland ecosystem,grazing intensity can affect soil water regime and flux,particularly in the growing season.     

Changes in soil properties following shrub encroachment in the semiarid Inner Mongolian grasslands of China

ABSTRACT

Shrub encroachment is very common in the semiarid regions of China. However, surprisingly little research has been conducted to evaluate the effects of shrubs on soil properties in these regions compared with other regions in the world. Three sites, one without shrub (state 1), one with 13% shrub coverage (state 2), and the third one with 40% shrub coverage (state 3) in the semiarid Inner Mongolian grasslands were selected to investigate the effects of the shrub Caragana microphylla Lam on soil properties. Soil samples were collected from three sites to evaluate the changes of bulk density (BD), grain size distribution, aggregate stability, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and soil water content (SWC) with the development of shrub encroachment. The results showed that BD and soil sand declined, and silt, aggregate >2 mm and the mean weight diameter (MWD) rose from state 1 to state 3, especially in 20–60 cm depths. With the shrub encroachment, the content of SOC and TN increased, and especially, the increase trends were more obvious in the deeper soil than in the surface soil. SWC increased with the development of shrub encroachment at 20–60 cm depths. Greater and deeper water infiltration existed after heavy rainfall in states 2 and 3, suggesting that macropore ?ow appeared in shrub encroachment sites. All these results indicated that shrub encroachment improved soil physicochemical properties, particularly in deep soil.     

内蒙古典型草原区退耕方式对植物群落特征与土壤特性的影响

退耕后不恰当的植被建设会严重影响植物群落演替及土壤性质.本文以内蒙古太仆寺旗境内典型草原为研究区,以天然草地为对照,研究退耕后自然恢复与人工种草2种退耕方式对植物群落特征及土壤性状的影响,揭示不同退耕方式的生态恢复效应.通过样方法调查不同退耕方式草地的盖度、生物量和多样性特征,并对土壤密度、机械组成及养分含量等进行了室内测定分析.结果表明:1)植物群落多样性、盖度、地上及地下生物量均表现为人工种草＜自然恢复＜天然草地,且相比于人工种草,自然恢复草地的物种组成与天然草地更为相似;2)不同退耕方式影响下土壤性质的差异主要集中在表层0～10 cm;3)在表层0～ 10 cm,土壤密度及砂粒含量表现为人工种草＞自然恢复＞天然草地,而土壤黏粒、有机质(SOM)及全氮(TN)含量则表现为人工种草＜自然恢复＜天然草地.以上结果说明,在内蒙太仆寺旗退耕后采用自然恢复方式比人工种草更有助于改善土壤理化性质、建立稳定的植被系统.经过12年的恢复,退耕草地(人工种草与自然恢复草地)仍未恢复到天然草地的水平.     

Responses of soil enzyme activity and microbial community compositions to nitrogen addition in bulk and microaggregate soil in the temperate steppe of Inner Mongolia

In order to explore the responses of soil enzyme activities and microbial community compositions to long-term nitrogen (N) addition in both bulk soil and microaggregate of chestnut soil, we conducted a 7-year urea addition experiment with N treatments at 6 levels (0, 56, 112, 224, 392 and 560 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1) in a temperate steppe of Inner Mongolia in China. Soil properties and the activities of four enzymes involved in carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycling were measured in both bulk soil and microaggregate, and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were measured in bulk soil. The results indicated that: 1) in bulk soil, N addition significantly decreased β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activities at the treatment amounts of 224, 392 and 560 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1, and obviously suppressed β-1,4-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG) activity at the treatment amount of 560 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1. N addition enhanced total PLFAs (totPLFAs) and bacterial PLFAs (bacPLFAs) at the treatment amounts of 392 and 560 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1, respectively, but fungal PLFAs showed no response to N addition. The activities of BG, NAG and LAP were positively correlated with soil pH, but negatively correlated with the concentration of NH ₄⁺-N; 2) in microaggregate (53–250 μm), the activities of BG, NAG and AP showed no response to increased addition of N, but the significantly decreased LAP activity was observed at the treatment amount of 392 kg N ha^–1 yr^–1. These results suggested that enzyme activities were more sensitive to N addition than PLFA biomarkers in soil, and LAP activity in microaggregate may be a good indicator for evaluating N cycle response to long-term N addition.     

Grazing‐induced alterations of soil hydraulic properties and functions in Inner Mongolia,PR China

Increasing grazing intensities of sheep and goats can lead to an increasing degradation of grasslands. We investigated four plots of different grazing intensities (heavily grazed, winter‐grazed, ungrazed since 1999, and ungrazed since 1979) in Inner Mongolia, PR China, in order to study the effects of trampling‐induced mechanical stresses on soil hydraulic properties. Soil water transport and effective evapotranspiration under “heavily grazed” and “ungrazed since 1979” were modeled using the HYDRUS‐1D model. Model calibration was conducted using data collected from field studies. The field data indicate that grazing decreases soil C content and hydrophobicity. Pore volume is reduced, and water‐retention characteristics are modified, the saturated hydraulic conductivity decreases, and its anisotropy (vertical vs. horizontal conductivity) is influenced. Modeling results revealed higher evapotranspiration on the ungrazed site (ungrazed since 1979) compared to the grazed site (heavily grazed) due to wetter soil conditions, more dense vegetation, litter cover, and decreased runoff and drainage, respectively. Grazing modified the partitioning of evapotranspiration with lower transpiration and higher evaporation at the grazed site owing to reduced root water uptake due to reduced evaporation and a patchy soil cover.     

水盐交互作用对河套灌区土壤光谱特征的影响

为探究土壤水盐交互作用对Sentinel-2卫星光谱特征的影响,该研究以内蒙古河套灌区沙壕渠灌域为研究区域,分别在2018年和2019年的4—5月共采集280个裸土期表层土壤样本,测定其土壤含水率和含盐量,并获取同步的Sentinel-2卫星遥感数据,构建基于土壤水盐-反射率原理的土壤光谱特征理论模型,在此基础上结合土壤水盐交互作用构建水盐交互模型,并比较2种模型对土壤光谱的模拟效果,分析土壤水盐交互作用对土壤光谱估算的影响。结果表明:1)土壤水盐交互作用对光谱的影响因波段类型和水盐含量的不同而有所不同。在可见光范围上影响相对较弱,其作用范围为-0.11～0.29;在近红外和短波红外范围上影响相对较强,其作用范围为-0.35～0.61;当水分或盐分中某个含量较高时对光谱影响较弱,在水盐含量程度相似时影响较强。2)与土壤光谱特征理论模型相比,水盐交互模型能明显地改善土壤光谱的模拟效果,能将模拟相关系数由0.14～0.44提升到0.29～0.59,均方根误差由0.032～0.082降低到0.029～0.068。该研究结果揭示了盐分和水分对光谱特征的干扰过程,为土壤盐分的估算提供策略与方法,...     

Spatial variability of topsoils and vegetation in a grazed steppe ecosystem in Inner Mongolia (PR China)

It is not clear from the literature how the spatial distribution of topsoil and vegetation properties is affected by grazing cessation. Thus, the objective of this study was to elucidate if long‐term grazing exclosure increases spatial heterogeneity of topsoil and vegetation properties in a steppe ecosystem in NE China. Variograms and crossvariograms were calculated for bulk density, organic carbon (OC), total N, and total S concentration, δ¹³C, pH, Ah horizon thickness, vegetation cover, and aboveground biomass. Five sites with different grazing intensities (ungrazed since 1979, ungrazed since 1999, winter grazing, continuously grazed, heavily grazed) were sampled with two different grid sizes, allowing the exploration of scale effects. Small grids (15 m spacing, 5 m nested sampling) exhibited a different spatial structure compared to large grids (50 m spacing, 10 m nested sampling). Spatial distribution in small grids changed with grazing intensity. Generally, heterogeneity of topsoil properties increased with decreasing grazing intensity from a homogeneous to a patchy distribution. We attribute this to vegetation recovery/succession and deposition of windblown material in ungrazed areas. The plot ungrazed since 1999 showed different spatial dependencies than continuously and heavily grazed plots, but has not yet reached the high variability of the plot which was ungrazed since 1979. Large grid sampling did not detect small‐scale variability or grazing impacts, but showed spatial dependencies that were attributed to topography or soil erosion/deposition. Low OC concentration and low Ah thickness were associated with hilltop and shoulder positions, resulting in lower OC stocks at these topographic units.     

Exclosure on CT-measured soil macropore characteristics in the Inner Mongolia grassland of northern China

Purpose

Grassland exclosure is a widely-used option to prevent from grazing in degraded grasslands for restoration. However, the influence of exclosure on soil macropore of grassland remain scarce. The objective of this study was to quantify the pore architecture of grassland soils under exclosure.

Materials and methods

Two treatments, 9E (grassland enclosed for 9 years) and 5E (grassland enclosed for 5 years), were designed, with grazing as a control in the experiment. Nine soil columns (0–50 cm deep) were taken at the three sites with three replicates. At each site, three soil columns were from the grassland, and cores were scanned with a Philips Brilliance ICT Medical Scanner. Numbers of macropores, macroporosity, network density, length density, and node density within the 50-cm soil profile were interpreted from X-ray computed tomography to analyze soil pore architecture.

Results and discussion

The results indicated that exclosure significantly influenced CT-measured soil macroporosity in the Inner Mongolia grassland of northern China. Soils under enclosed grassland had greater macroporosity, length density, total volume, and node density than that of under freely grazed grassland. Macroporosity increased as the enclosure age increased. For soils under enclosed grassland, macropores were concentrated at 0–300-mm soil layers, and macropores were mainly present at 0–100-mm soil depth under freely grazed grassland. The large number of macropores found in soil under enclosed grassland can be attributed to greater root development.

Conclusions

Exclosure increases soil macroporosity and improve soil structure.

     

Effects of desertification on soil and crop growth properties in Horqin sandy cropland of Inner Mongolia, north China

Wind erosion and accumulated sand are recognized as the primary forms of cropland desertification in the arid and semiarid region, Inner Mongolia. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the effects of wind erosion and accumulated sand on soil properties and crop growth properties in this region. A field experiment was conducted from 2001 to 2002 on desertified cropland with gradients of wind erosion and accumulated sand to investigate changes in soil and crop growth properties resulting from desertification in the Horqin sandy land. Results indicated that the soil environment degraded significantly and crop growth and biomass were seriously restrained by wind erosion. In the severely eroded cropland, soil clay, organic matter, total N and P, available N and P, average soil moisture decreased by 59.6%, 71.2%, 67.4%, 31.4%, 64.5%, 38.8% and 51.8%, respectively. Erosion increased soil pH from 8.66 to 8.92; delayed plant life cycle by 6 days, decreased plant height and diameter by 15.5% and 29.1%, and decreased above and below ground biomass and seed yield by 87.3%, 47.9% and 96.5%, respectively. Effects of a little accumulated sand were fewer on soil properties and crop growth and seed yield compared to wind erosion, severe accumulated sand effects on the cropland remain to be studied further. The results of correlation analysis showed that crop biomass and seed production were significantly correlated to organic matter, total N, pH and soil moisture under circumstance of worsened soil environment. In the windy and sandy region in Inner Mongolia, some measures to control cropland erosion should be introduced including construction of windbreak, stubble cultivation, increased organic fertilizer and spring irrigation.     

Effect of grazing on wind driven carbon and nitrogen ratios in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia

Wind erosion and dust storms are common phenomena in the semi-arid Xilingele grassland (Inner Mongolia) and contribute considerably to matter balances. Dust emission and dust deposition affect particles of the silt and clay fraction and the organic matter predominantly, the carriers for nutrients in soils. Based on wind erosion measurements in spring 2005 and 2006 the organic carbon and total nitrogen contents of dust were analyzed to determine the contribution of wind erosion processes on C- and N-ratios to the grasslands.     

13C/12C Ratios of soil organic matter as indicators of vegetation changes in the congo

The ¹³C/¹²C ratios were determined for the organic matter of all horizons of a podzol profile and of the A₁ horizons of some ferrallitic soils, in some grass shoots and in a fossil root fragment from the B_2h horizon of the podzol. The isotope ratio in the organic matter of the A₁ horizon of the podzol matches those in grass shoots from the present savanna vegetation. The ratios in the lower horizons match those of organic matter in the A₁ horizons of soils under forest and that of the fossil root fragment in the B_2h horizon. The ratios thus demonstrate that the humus enrichment of the B_2h horizon of the podzol occurred while it was under forest vegetation and that the present grass vegetation did not take part in the podzolization process. The differences also indicate that savanna replaced forest vegetation after the profile had been formed.     

Effects of desertification on soil organic C and N content in sandy farmland and grassland of Inner Mongolia

Desertification is one of the most serious types of land degradation. A field experiment was conducted during 2002 and 2003 in Horqin Sand Land, China to investigate changes in soil C and N contents in relation to land desertification. Four primary results were derived from this work. First, land desertification characterized by wind erosion resulted in a significant decrease in soil fine particles (clay + silt) with a corresponding increase in sand content. In comparison to non-desertified land, soil fine particle content decreased by up to 89.2%, and sand content increased by up to 47.2%, in the severely desertified land. Second, the organic C and total N in soil were mainly associated with the soil fine particles, and decreased significantly with desertification development. Organic C decreased by 29.2% and total N by 31.5% in the severely desertified land compared to the non-desertified land. Third, the decrease in organic C and N content was greater in desertified grassland than in desertified farmland. Fourth, the changes in organic C and total N content had a significant positive correlation with the soil fine particle content (P < 0.01) and a significant negative correlation with coarse sand content (P < 0.01), indicating that land desertification by wind erosion is mediated through a loss of soil fine particles, with a resultant decrease in soil organic C and total N.     

Influences of continuous grazing and livestock exclusion on soil properties in a degraded sandy grassland, Inner Mongolia, northern China

Overgrazing is one of the main causes of desertification in the semiarid Horqin sandy grassland of northern China. Excluding grazing livestock is considered as an alternative to restore vegetation in degraded sandy grassland in this region. However, few data are available concerning the impacts of continuous grazing and livestock exclusion on soil properties. In this paper, characteristics of vegetation and soil properties under continuous grazing and exclusion of livestock for 5 and 10 years were examined in representative degraded sandy grassland. Continuous grazing resulted in a considerable decrease in ground cover, which accelerates soil erosion by wind, leading to a further coarseness in surface soil, loss of soil organic C and N, and a decrease in soil biological properties. The grassland under continuous grazing is in the stage of very strong degradation. Excluding livestock grazing enhances vegetation recovery, litter accumulation, and development of annual and perennial grasses. Soil organic C and total N concentrations, soil biological properties including some enzyme activities and basal soil respiration improved following 10-year exclusion of livestock, suggesting that degradation of the grassland is being reversed. The results suggest that excluding grazing livestock on the desertified sandy grassland in the erosion-prone Horqin region has a great potential to restore soil fertility, sequester soil organic carbon and improve biological activity. Soil restoration is a slow process although the vegetation can recover rapidly after removal of livestock. A viable option for sandy grassland management should be to adopt proper exclosure in a rotation grazing system in the initial stage of grassland degradation.