Impact of living mulch on soil C:N:P stoichiometry in orchards across China: A meta-analysis examining climatic, edaphic, and biotic dependency

The use of living mulch in orchards is a widely accepted management strategy for improving soil quality and enhancing tree productivity.Although the effects of living mulch on soil organic carbon(C)and nutrients have been previously investigated,changes in the stoichiometric ratios of C,soil total nitrogen(N),and soil total phosphorous(P)under different climatic,edaphic,and biotic conditions are currently unknown.These factors are important indicators of elemental balance associated with ecological interactions.In order to examine the effects of living mulch in orchards on soil C:N:P stoichiometry under different conditions,a meta-analysis was undertaken.The results showed that in general,living mulch significantly(P<0.05)increased C:P and N:P ratio,while the impact on C:N ratio was not significant,a result that was related to the coupled increase of C and N.Phosphorous limitation occurred shortly after the addition of living mulch;after four years this effect receded.In contrast,an increase in C occurred simultaneously with N increase at all stages.Specifically,the treatment effect was context-dependent.The living mulch did not change soil stoichiometry in orchards with old trees(>10 years),an occurrence which may be related to changes in the amount of fungi.Grass life history also had a significant influence on the treatment effect on soil stoichiometry,while N-fixing characteristics did not.The treatment effect was significant in areas with moderate mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation,which might be related to the litter ratio of grass and trees.Effects on stoichiometric ratios were significant in the top soil layer(0–20 cm),in contrast to the deep soil layers.Therefore,grass species and management practices,such as fertilization,should be selected according to the specific soil and climatic conditions of the management area.     

Impact of human dwellings on the distribution of the exotic Argentine ant: a case study in the Doñana National Park, Spain

The invasive Argentine ant Linepithema humile was found in close perimeters to inhabited houses situated in various habitat types in Doñana National Park (Southern Spain). We suggest that the Argentine ant is found in these sites largely due to passive importation by man, but from there may have the potential to spread into surrounding favourable natural habitats. Ant species richness and diversity around houses was similar to that in natural habitats, except in the cases where the Argentine ant dominated, where a considerable lower ant species diversity and richness was observed. The species composition of ants in the immediate vicinity of houses was very different from that of the surrounding natural habitats, although the species composition between houses was very similar, regardless of the type of surrounding natural habitat. Ant species around houses were typically generalists, opportunists or open habitat specialists. Many of these species are considered dominant in that they are characterised by having large nests, aggressive behaviour and mass recruitment in response to attack. However, these species are displaced by the Argentine ant when introduced. Not all ant species show the same responses to invasions by the Argentine ant, and some species, such as Cardiocondyla batesii, Oxyopomyrmex saulcyi or Cataglyphis floricola, may be able to persist for a period following an invasion of the Argentine ant. These species are characterised by small nests and submissive behaviour, and may survive by avoiding conflict with the invasive species.     

六盘山半湿润区坡面华北落叶松林冠层截留的时空变化及空间尺度效应

冠层截留是森林蒸散的重要组成部分,其定量描述一直是生态水文学研究的热点问题之一,相关观测研究多是在固定样地的空间尺度上进行的。林冠截留量除在样地上受降水、气象条件和冠层结构及生长过程的动态影响外,还在坡面上受植被生长和冠层结构的坡位差异而有很大空间变化和尺度效应,需对此深入理解和精细刻画,从而为实现从样地观测结果上推到坡面的尺度转换并基于此准确评价森林水文影响来提供科学依据。在六盘山香水河小流域,选择一个水平坡长425.1m的华北落叶松人工林典型坡面,并均匀划分为空间连续的16个样地。于2015年5—10月,测定了森林冠层结构(特别是叶面积指数,LAI)的坡位差异和动态变化,并同步观测了林外降雨和林内穿透雨及树干茎流,依此计算得到每次降雨事件的冠层截留量。以离坡顶水平距离(水平坡长)为尺度标量,分析林冠截留量沿坡面的时空变化规律及影响因素。结果表明,林冠截留量存在沿坡变化和坡面空间尺度效应,且月份变化明显。在整个生长季,林冠截留量沿坡变化总体表现为随水平坡长增加先升高,在坡面中部达最大,之后逐渐降低,以每100m水平坡长的变化量表示的坡面尺度效应为+5.62mm/100m(坡段0~316.6m)和-2.37mm/100m(坡段316.6~425.1m);在5月,林冠截留量沿坡变化总体表现为随坡长增加而逐渐降低,坡面尺度效应为-0.26mm/100m(0~425.1m),在6—8月,林冠截留量沿坡变化总体趋势均和整个生长季相同,6月份坡面尺度效应为+1.28mm/100m(0~261.1m)和-1.78mm/100m(261.1~425.1m),7月为+0.92mm/100m(0~267.6m)和-0.88mm/100m(267.6~425.1m),8月份为+1.28mm/100m(0~211.2m)和-0.34mm/100m(211.2~425.1m);在9月、10月,林冠截留量沿坡变化表现为随坡长增加逐渐升高,坡面尺度效应分别为+2.38mm/100m和+0.81mm/100m(0~425.1m)。林冠层叶面积指数的坡位差异及其季节变化是影响林冠截留时空变化的主导因素,各月林冠截留率均与叶面积指数呈显著正相关。可基于不同坡位样地的叶面积指数与其坡面均值的关系、叶面积指数与林冠截留量的关系以及不同坡位样地的叶面积指数测定值,上推估计林冠截留的坡面均值。     

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.     

Impacts of 22-year organic and inorganic N managements on soil organic C fractions in a maize field,northeast China

Impacts of 22-year organic and inorganic N managements on total organic carbon (TOC), water-soluble organic C (WSOC), microbial biomass C (MBC), particulate organic C (POC) and KMnO₄ oxidized organic C (KMnO₄-C) concentrations, C management index (CMI), and C storage in surface soil (0–20 cm) were investigated in a maize (Zea may L.) field experiment, Northeast China. The treatments included, CK: unfertilized control, M: organic manure (135 kg N ha^− 1 year^− 1), N: inorganic N fertilizer (135 kg N ha^− 1 year^− 1) and MN: combination of organic manure (67.5 kg N ha^− 1 year^− 1) and inorganic N fertilizer (67.5 kg N ha^− 1 year^− 1). TOC concentration and C storage were significantly increased under the M and MN treatments, but not under the inorganic N treatment. The organic treatments of M and MN were more effective in increasing WSOC, MBC, POC and KMnO₄-C concentrations and CMI than the N treatment. The M treatment was most effective for sequestrating SOC (10.6 Mg ha^− 1) and showed similar increase in degree of grain yield to the N and MN treatments, therefore it could be the best option for improving soil productivity and C storage in the maize cropping system.