Tillage effects on soil degradation, soil resilience, soil quality, and sustainability

Soil degradation, decrease in soil's actual and potential productivity owing to land misuse, is a major threat to agricultural sustainability and environmental quality. The problem is particularly severe in the tropics and sub-tropics as a result of high demographic pressure, shortage of prime agricultural land, harsh environments, and resource poor farmers who presumably cannot afford science based recommended inputs. Tillage methods and soil surface management affect sustainable use of soil resources through their influence on soil stability, soil resilience, and soil quality. Soil stability refers to the susceptibility of soil to change under natural or anthropogenic perturbations. In comparison, soil resilience refers to soil's ability to restore its life support processes after being stressed. The term soil quality refers to the soil's capacity to perform its three principal functions e.g. economic productivity, environment regulation, and aesthetic and cultural values. There is a need to develop precise objective and quantitative indices of assessing these attributes of the soil. These indices can only be developed from the data obtained from well designed and properly implemented long-term soil management experiments conducted on major soils in principal ecoregions.     

Relationships between vegetation and soil and topography in a dry warm river valley,SW China

Understanding of the relationships between vegetation and soil and topography would be very important for ecosystem restoration and management efforts in the dry valleys of Himalayan region but how to clarify the complicated relationships and figure out key factors for practical purpose is a challenge. The main objective of this research was to propose a four-staged procedure by combining several multivariate statistical techniques to detect the relationships between vegetation and soil and topography, and thereby identify the key factors for the degraded ecosystem restoration and management. Forty-three plots (5 m × 5 m) were selected for the field survey of the vegetation, soil and topography variables in the dry warm river valley of the upper Minjiang River, Sichuan Province, China. Cluster analysis (CA) demonstrated that high plant diversity, cover and height were associated with good soil quality and favorable topographic positions with lower solar incident radiation, runoff and soil erosion potential. Correlation analysis (simple correlation analysis and canonical correlation analysis) and multiple linear stepwise regression analysis affirmed that plant diversity was mainly correlated with soil water content, and soil water content was mainly determined by soil texture (clay content). Soil clay content alone could explain about 70% of the total variance. Identifying the favorable topographic position and the distribution pattern of soil texture and its controlling mechanisms is thus very important for restoration practices. In the process of ecosystem restoration, we should promote the co-evolution of vegetation and soil, and follow the natural succession sequence. Some relevant conservation polices are also needed to reduce human disturbance on ecosystem.     

Consistent patterns of N distribution through soil profiles in diverse alpine and tundra ecosystems

We studied the vertical patterns of δ¹⁵nitrogen in total N and exchangeable NH₄⁺-N through soil profiles in diverse alpine and tundra ecosystems. Soil samples were analyzed from 11 sites located in three mountain areas: NW Caucasus (Russia), the Khibiny Mountains (NW Russia) and Abisko region (N Sweden). Despite differences in the profile patterns of organic matter, nitrogen accumulation and nitrogen availability, we found consistent patterns of ¹⁵N distribution through all studied soil profiles. The δ¹⁵N values of total N were in general about zero or positive in the surface horizon and increased with soil depth. In contrast with total N, the δ¹⁵N values of exchangeable NH₄⁺-N were in general about zero or negative in the surface horizons and decreased with soil depth. NH₄⁺-N was significantly ¹⁵N-depleted compared with total N in all mineral horizons, while in the surface organic horizons differences between isotopic composition of total N and NH₄⁺-N were mostly not significant. We do not know the exact mechanism responsible for ¹⁵N depletion of NH₄⁺-N with soil depth and further research needs to evaluate the contributions of natural processes (higher nitrification activity and biological immobilization of “lighter” NH₄⁺-N near the soil surface) or artifacts of methodological procedure (contribution of the ¹⁵N-enriched microbial N and dissolved organic N near the soil surface). Nevertheless, our finding gives a new possibility to interpret variability in foliar δ¹⁵N values of plant species with different rooting depth in alpine and tundra ecosystems, because plants with deeper root systems can probably consume “lighter” rather than “heavier” NH₄⁺-N.     

退化喀斯特植被恢复与土壤微生物特征的关系

The mechanism of vegetation restoration on degraded karst regions has been a research focus of soil science and ecology for the last decade.In an attempt to preferably interpret the soil microbiological characteristic variation associated with vegetation restoration and further to explore the role of soil microbiology in vegetation restoration mechanism of degraded karst regions,we measured microbial biomass C and basal respiration in soils during vegetation restoration in Zhenfeng County of southwestern Guizhou Province,China.The community level physiological profiles(CLPP) of the soil microbial community to were estimated determine if vegetation changes were accompanied by changes in functioning of soil microbial communities.The results showed that soil microbial biomass C and microbial quotient(microbial biomass C/organic C) tended to increase with vegetation restoration,being in the order arboreal community stage > shrubby community stage > herbaceous community stage > bare land stage.Similar trend was found in the change of basal respiration(BR).The metabolic quotient(the ratio of basal respiration to microbial biomass,qCO 2) decreased with vegetation restoration,and remained at a constantly low level in the arboreal community stage.Analyses of the CLPP data indicated that vegetation restoration tended to result in higher average well color development,substrate richness,and functional diversity.Average utilization of specific substrate guilds was highest in the arboreal community stage.Principle component analysis of the CLPP data further indicated that the arboreal community stage was distinctly different from the other three stages.In conclusion,vegetation restoration improved soil microbial biomass C,respiration,and utilization of carbon sources,and decreased qCO 2,thus creating better soil conditions,which in turn could promote the restoration of vegetation on degraded karst regions.     

The use of integrated soil microcosms to predict effects of pesticides on soil ecosystems

Most studies that aim at assessing the effects of pesticides on soil organisms or soil ecosystem processes are related to a single species of organism or soil process. Such individual studies are usually performed according to standard test guidelines, prepared by national or international authorities or approved test organizations and used in risk assessment. Over the last four years, with scientists from Germany and Russia, we have tested integrated soil microcosms, as model terrestrial ecosystems, to assess simultaneously the overall effects of a single pesticide, on a range of representative soil organisms, ecosystem processes, and environmental fate. This integrated approach takes account of interactions between organisms and processes which may influence the overall environmental impact and fate of a pesticide. Results from a detailed study of the environmental impact of the fungicide carbendazim are presented and some results on the impact of copper on soil systems are also reviewed. Some ecosystem structural parameters that were affected include: microbial activity, nematode communities, earthworm numbers and masses and plant growth. Some of the ecosystem processes affected include: nitrogen mineralization, and nutrient transformations.     

Evaluation of vegetation and soil characteristics during slope vegetation recovery procedure

为了加快建设工程损毁立地植被群落正向演替,探究土壤特性与植被生长效果的响应关系,选取北京市延庆县上辛庄水土保持科技示范园20个典型绿化护坡小区为评价单元,运用主成分分析及聚类分析法在求得各护坡小区综合评价得分的基础上,将20个护坡小区划分为3类。采用Margalef指数、Pielou指数、Simpson指数和Shannon-Wiener指数评价了3类护坡小区植被群落年际分异特征,并构建了5种模式的植被-土壤环境耦合度及其预测模型。结果表明：1）坡面植被恢复过程中以土质边坡为主的护坡小区植被恢复效果普遍优于岩质边坡组成的护坡小区。2）随着年份的增加,3类护坡小区物种多样性指数增大,变异系数减小,植被演替愈加剧烈。3）植被恢复5 a后,植被-土壤耦合协调程度不是十分理想,以土质边坡为主的护坡小区处于中级协调发展阶段,岩质边坡组成的护坡小区仅处于初级协调发展阶段。该研究可为建设工程损毁立地边坡植被恢复提供参考依据。     

坡面植被恢复过程中植被与土壤特征评价

为了加快建设工程损毁立地植被群落正向演替,探究土壤特性与植被生长效果的响应关系,选取北京市延庆县上辛庄水土保持科技示范园20个典型绿化护坡小区为评价单元,运用主成分分析及聚类分析法在求得各护坡小区综合评价得分的基础上,将20个护坡小区划分为3类。采用Margalef指数、Pielou指数、Simpson指数和Shannon-Wiener指数评价了3类护坡小区植被群落年际分异特征,并构建了5种模式的植被-土壤环境耦合度及其预测模型。结果表明:1)坡面植被恢复过程中以土质边坡为主的护坡小区植被恢复效果普遍优于岩质边坡组成的护坡小区。2)随着年份的增加,3类护坡小区物种多样性指数增大,变异系数减小,植被演替愈加剧烈。3)植被恢复5a后,植被-土壤耦合协调程度不是十分理想,以土质边坡为主的护坡小区处于中级协调发展阶段,岩质边坡组成的护坡小区仅处于初级协调发展阶段。该研究可为建设工程损毁立地边坡植被恢复提供参考依据。     

Relationships between biological and physico-chemical soil characteristics in a mediterranean agricultural area

Fourteen agricultural soils from various areas of Tuscany were characterized by a range of measurements indicative of soil biological activity. The objective of our research was to identify soil parameters suitable as indicators for evaluating their quality. In general, enzyme activities were found to vary widely, with the highest activity for each enzyme being distributed among only five of the 14 soils studied. The narrowest range (14-fold) in enzyme activities for the various soils was observed for catalase and the widest range (577-fold) for g -glucosidase. Biomass C and, among the measured enzyme activities, amylase, were well correlated with total organic carbon, total N, cation and anion exchange capacity. Positive correlations were found between the maximum water holding capacity and dehydrogenase, amylase, biomass C, FDA hydrolytic activity, the biological index of fertility and the enzyme activity number, so showing that soil moisture may play an important role in affecting soil biological characteristics. No significant correlations were observed among the soil enzymes themselves. The FDA hydrolytic activity appeared to be the index most related with the other biological characteristics tested in this study and, for this reason, can be considered the most effective index for putting in evidence relationships existing between the different biological characteristics in the soils investigated.     

Successful use of topsoil removal and soil amelioration to create heathland vegetation

We compared the effectiveness of topsoil removal and deep ploughing of an agriculturally improved grass field at creating suitable soil conditions for establishment of heathland vegetation. We then carried out a randomised replicated experiment involving combinations of topsoil removal, addition of heathland clippings and addition of Pteridium aquilinum litter and Pinus mulch to determine their effects on soil conditions and heathland establishment. The topsoil treatment had significantly lower concentrations of extractable P in its upper soil compared to the control plots. Both the topsoil removal and deep ploughing treatments had significantly higher pH in their upper soil compared to the control plots. Heathland vegetation established on all plots involving topsoil removal and addition of heathland clippings (with or without addition of P. aquilinum or Pinus mulch), despite soil pH in these plots being higher (5.9-6.8) than that generally recognised as being necessary for establishment of heathland vegetation.     

不同土壤水分冬小麦根、冠关系及其对叶片水分利用效率的影响

试验研究不同土壤水分冬小麦根、冠关系及其对叶片水分利用效率的影响结果表明,水分条件对根系与叶冠间干物质分配模式影响较小,而对根系功能与叶冠结构建成之间关系影响较大,水分胁迫抑制植株结构的建成,随作物由营养生长向生殖生长的过渡其根系功能发挥与叶冠结构建成之间矛盾愈加明显,拔节期复水有利于植株根系功能的增强和叶冠结构的改善。根冠比与叶片水分利用效率关系呈单峰倒“V”型曲线,水分多少可影响曲线的斜率和高低。根量达最大值前沿根冠比降低的方向,叶片水分利用效率增加;当根量达最大值时叶片水分利用效率也达最大值,此时根冠比为0 .1～0 .2。而抽穗期后沿根冠比降低的方向,其叶片水分利用效率也降低。     

土壤生物结皮在干旱半干旱地区退化生态系统恢复中的作用(英文)

 土壤生物结皮是由细菌、真菌、藻类、地衣和苔藓等形成的一种混合体,作为干旱半干旱地区生态系统的组成部分,它对生态系统镶嵌格局和生态过程有不可忽视的影响;同时,土壤生物结皮通过影响局部水分条件,可以起到稳定土壤表层、减少土壤侵蚀、增加土壤氮养分的作用:因此,土壤生物结皮能够为土壤表层提供一种天然保护的作用,对干旱半干旱地区退化生态系统的恢复具有非常重要的作用。     

Relationship between basal soil respiration and the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration and their key controlling factors across terrestrial ecosystems

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The purposes of this study are to characterize the relationship between basal soil respiration at 0 °C (R0) and the temperature sensitivity (Q10) of...     

黄土高原地区植被生态修复策略与对策

根据近年来黄土高原地区实施植被生态修复的经验和黄土高原生态安全考察成果,论述植被生态修复的特点和功能,提出植被生态修复的核心内涵是将人为促进群落演替的人力与天然群落演替的自然力结合起来,实现区域生态系统整体恢复与局部快速恢复相结合的有效途径。黄土高原植被生态修复的目标是：区域内植物群落物种多样性平均增加10％-15％;地带性植被的代表种盖度在群落中占到20％-25％;植被总覆盖度75％-85％;水土流失强度有显著性减少。目前植被生态修复的关键问题是有关基础理论研究和技术措施积累不足,方法简单,效益不高。未来应采取正确生态修复思路,尽快解决生态修复中关键技术理论;科学规划,在典型地区黄龙森林区和安塞森林草原区建立示范点,实施综合的植被生态修复措施,建立法律保障体系,为黄土高原植被生态修复奠定基础。     

不同土地管理措施对高寒嵩草草甸植被及土壤理化特征的影响

在青海玛沁地区,选择 4 种处于不同退化阶段以及 2 种人工处理的高寒草甸为研究对象,探讨不同放牧强度和人工干预措施下,植被特征、土壤营养元素和土壤物理性状的变化过程,为合理利用和提高草地生产力提供依据.结果表明:随着退化的加剧,高寒草甸的盖度、高度、地上生物量和种类呈下降趋势,可食性牧草逐渐让位于杂草;土壤 N、C 含量以及含水量逐渐降低,体积质量逐渐增大.与重度退化草甸相比,经人工干预处理后草甸的生物量、盖度、高度以及土壤营养元素和物理性状都有所增加提高.这些结果表明随着植被的退化演替,土壤退化越来越严重,土壤越来越贫瘠化.人工干预能够在一定程度上改善土壤物理特征,提高草地的生物量.     

利用地统计学研究土壤有机质空间分布：评估意大利中部地区土地退化的重要指标

Soil organic matter (SOM) content is one of the main factors to be considered in the evaluation of soil health and fertility. As timing, human and monetary resources often limit the amount of available data, geostatistical techniques provide a valid scientific approach to cope with spatial variability, to interpolate existing data and to predict values at unsampled locations for accurate SOM status survey. Using geostatistical and geographic information system (GIS) approaches, the spatial variability of some physical and chemical soil parameters was investigated under Mediterranean climatic condition in the Abruzzo region of central Italy, where soil erosion processes accelerated by human induced factors are the main causes of soil degradation associated with low SOM content. Experimental semivariograms were established to determine the spatial dependence of the soil variables under investigation. The results of 250 soil sampling point data were interpolated by means of ordinary kriging coupled with a GIS to produce contour maps distribution of soil texture, SOM content related to texture, and C/N ratio. The resulting spatial interpolation of the dataset highlighted a low content of SOM in relation with soil texture in most of the surveyed area (87%) and an optimal C/N ratio for only half of the investigated surface area. Spatial location of degraded area and the assessment of its magnitude can provide decision makers with an accurate support to design appropriate soil conservation strategies and then facilitate a regional planning of agri-environmental measures in the framework of the European Common Agricultural Policy.     

Interactions between soil development,vegetation and soil fauna during spontaneous succession in post mining sites

More than 50 parameters of vegetation, soil and soil fauna were studied in 27 non-reclaimed post mining sites of various age (1–41 years old) located near the town of Sokolov (Czech Republic). A clay alkaline substrate (pH 8.5) was dumped in heaps; its pH and contents of available calcium and sodium decreased during succession. Total carbon and nitrogen, available potassium and water-soluble phosphorus increased with increasing successional age. In early stages, i.e. before the establishment of a shrub layer, the topsoil was formed mainly from the dumped spoil material. In shrub-dominated sites (14–22 years old), the litter reserve on the soil surface was higher than annual litter production, and a thick fermentation layer developed below the litter layer indicating slow litter decomposition and soil mixing. In older plots (24 year old or older), a humus layer was formed and the thickness of the fermentation layer decreased. Microstructure analysis indicated that earthworm activity, namely the mixing of organic and mineral layers, played a principal role in humus layer formation. No group of soil fauna preferred early successional stages, but tardigrades, bacteriophagous and fungivorous nematodes, and microsaprophagous dipterans, were tolerant to these stages. The density of most fauna guilds increased in intermediate stages with thick fermentation layer. Pauropods and testate amoebae reached highest densities on these sites. Macrosaprophagous guilds of soil fauna, most important for litter decomposition and soil mixing, attained their highest density in the oldest sites. Two clearly separated clusters of sites were distinguished based on TWINSPAN classification of vegetation. The first cluster included sites 1–23 years old, dominated by ruderal plants. Sites 24–41 years old were grouped in the second cluster; forest and grassland species were more frequent here. The presence of humus layer was selected by a discriminant analysis as the strongest predictor to discriminate between these two clusters. All considered ecosystem components, i.e. soil, soil fauna, and vegetation, passed through substantial changes in about the 25th year of succession and their changes were mutually correlated.     

The use of tension infiltrometers to assess routes and rates of infiltration in a clay soil

This paper describes the design and operation of a simple tension infiltrometer which imposes pressure potentials at the soil surface (h_b) of –0.5, – 2 and –9 cm water, corresponding to equivalent diameters ( e _d) of the largest conducting pore of 6, 1.5 and 0.3 mm respectively. Infiltration measurements obtained in Evesham series clay soil were fitted to Philip's (1957) two-term infiltration equation. Results were interpreted using information on the number, type and size of conducting macropores obtained in a dye tracing experiment. Significantly larger values of effective hydraulic conductivity at h _b=–0.5 cm were attributed to the flow of water in large shrinkage cracks which constituted nearly 90% of the total conducting macroporosity. Measured fluxes at h _b=–9 cm were related to sorption and swelling in the clay matrix, since within the range of infiltration times considered ( t <0.5 h), the gravity or steady state component of infiltration was negligible. Rainfall intensity/duration data for a large number of storms at Silsoe were used to demonstrate that in dry soil nearly 70% of rainfall infiltrates in the clay matrix, and that the infiltration capacity of macropores of e _d≤1.5 mm is only rarely exceeded.     

Simultaneous determination of ethidimuron, methabenzthiazuron, and their two major degradation products in soil

An analytical method has been developed for the quantification of two herbicides (ethidimuron and methabenzthiazuron) and their two main soil derivatives. This method involves fluidized-bed extraction (FBE) prior to cleanup and analysis by reverse-phase liquid chromatography with UV detection at 282 nm. FBE conditions were established to provide efficient extraction without degradation of the four analytes. (14)C-labeled compounds were used for the optimization of extraction and purification steps and for the determination of related efficiencies. Extraction was optimal using a fexIKA extractor operating at 110 degrees C for three cycles (total time = 95 min) with 75 g of soil and 150 mL of a 60:40 v/v acetone/water mixture. Extracts were further purified on a 500 mg silica SPE cartridge. Separation was performed on a C18 Purosphere column (250 mm x 4 mm i.d.), at 0.8 mL min(-1) and 30 degrees C with an elution gradient made up of phosphoric acid aqueous solution (pH 2.2) and acetonitrile. Calibration curves were found to be linear in the 0.5-50 mg L(-1) concentration range. Besides freshly spiked soil samples, method validation included the analysis of samples with aged residues. Recovery values, determined from spiked samples, were close to 100%. Limits of detection ranged between 2 and 3 microg kg(-1) of dry soil and limits of quantification between 8 and 10 microg kg(-1) of dry soil. An attempt to improve these performances by using fluorescence detection following postcolumn derivatization by orthophthalaldehyde-mercaptoethanol reagent was unsuccessful.     

草场管理措施及退化程度对土壤养分含量变化的影响

以不同管理措施和不同退化梯度的高寒草地土壤为研究对象,分析了两个序列的高寒草地不同土壤层次(0～20cm、20～40cm、40～60cm)中各种养分分布特征并探讨了管理措施和草场退化对高寒草地土壤的影响。结果表明:天然放牧草地经过围栏和翻耕措施后,土壤有机质、全N、全P含量明显升高,土壤速效氮、磷含量也得到明显上升。在20～40cm和40～60cm土层土壤存在类似的变化规律,但由于土层加深,受地表植被的影响减弱,变化规律不明显。比较退化序列草地发现,在各层土壤中,有机质含量变化总趋势是:随草地退化程度的加重,有机质含量下降;同时,土壤有机质含量随深度增加而减少;在0～20cm土层,随着草地退化程度的加重,有机质含量依次下降32.6%和52.1%。土壤中全N、全P含量变化趋势与有机质变化基本一致,全K变化趋势不明显。中度、重度退化草地与轻度退化草地对比发现,速效氮含量分别下降15.1%和28.6%,速效磷含量分别下降25.4%和59.4%。利用围栏和翻耕措施可以恢复退化草地的植被,提高土壤养分含量。但翻耕后,土壤孔隙度和通透性增强,土壤的矿化作用和淋溶作用也增强,导致了有机质的矿化损失和NO3-N淋溶损失,减少了土壤中C的积累量。同时,翻耕会破坏高寒草地固有的生草层,使其下面的沙质基底成为草地沙化的主要物质来源。建议在川西北亚高山区的人工草地建设中慎重选择翻耕措施。