Short-term effect of cultivation and crop rotation systems on soil quality indicators in a coastal newly reclaimed farming area

Purpose

Soil quality (SQ), a measure of the sustainability of land use and soil management practices, can be assessed by indicators including soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Our primary objectives were to investigate the influence of consecutive cultivation and different crop rotation systems on individual SQ indicators and to examine the impact of rotation systems on SQ using soil quality index (SQI) model.

Materials and methods

A site-specific selection of 17 potential SQ indicators representing soil chemical and physical attributes (0–10 cm) and groundwater features on 60 sampling locations and 10 representative soil profiles was chosen in a typical coastal newly reclaimed farmland of north Jiangsu Province, China. Using ANOVA analysis, the crop rotation effect was analyzed by comparing SQ indicators between rice/rape rotation soil and cotton/barley rotation soil. An overall SQI was calculated to examine whether plant biomass indices exactly responded to the SQI value.

Results and discussion

Results indicated that cultivation had significant effect on some soil profile characteristics, including SOM, SOCD, AP, CEC, AK, EC_e, and I _f. Crop rotation systems also had significant influence on some SQ indicators. Compared with cotton/barley rotation soil, rice/rape rotation soil was characterized by higher organic matter, undifferentiated nutrient storage and salinity/alkalinity, lower water accommodation and infiltration, and adverse groundwater conditions. Cotton/barley rotation had higher SQI values over rice/rape rotation (0.523 vs. 0.422). SQ indicators of SAR_e, EC_e, and WT_g contributed the most to the overall SQI value for each rotation system. Plant biomass indices significantly correlated with the SQI values for both rotation systems, suggesting that the SQI values essentially reflected the status of SQ.

Conclusions

Such results allowed us to conclude that cotton/barley rotation system contributed more to the improvement of SQ than rice/rape rotation system in coastal farming area. Also, we suggested SOCD, AK, ρ _b, WT_g, and EC_g as the minimum data set for SQ assessment, as they had potential in discriminating the effect of rotation systems on SQ between the rotation systems used here.     

Assessment of soil quality monitoring indicators under long term rice cultivation in hot arid Ghaggar-flood plains of India

ABSTRACT

The evaluation of soil quality is essential in monitoring the long term effects of rice cultivation. Present study investigated the effects of long term rice cultivation on soil properties and organic C pools and identified indicators for monitoring soil quality in Ghaggar-flood plains of hot arid India. Soil samples were collected from fields with 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 years of rice cultivation. The study revealed that electrical conductivity (EC) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) increased after 30–40 years of rice cultivation. Available nutrients increased with increasing years of rice cultivation. The organic carbon pools namely, total organic carbon (TOC), Walkley Black carbon (WBC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were increased above 50% in 20 and above years of rice cultivation. The TOC and POC were increased by 40.6 to 132.4% and 31.7% to 104.8% in 10 to 40 years of rice cultivation. Cation exchange capacity, WBC, ESP and CaCO₃ could serve as soil monitoring indicators of long term rice cultivation in arid region. The findings clearly indicated that long term rice cultivation could aggravate soil salinity and have negative impact on soil quality in arid environment.     

Soil‐quality‐index model for assessing the impact of groundwater on soil in an intensively farmed coastal area of E China

Soil quality is important in measuring sustainable land‐use and soil‐management practices. It is usually assessed by evaluating important physical, chemical, and biological soil properties. For this study, a site‐specific 22 variables representing pertinent soil (0–10 cm) and groundwater properties were selected as potential soil‐quality indicators in a coastal salt‐affected farmland of E China. To investigate the role of groundwater in soil‐quality assessment, we designed two sets of minimum data sets (MDSs). Minimum data set 1 (MDS1) had inputs of the 19 soil chemical and physical properties whereas MDS2 was based on the 22 soil and groundwater properties. Using principal‐component analysis, discriminant analysis, and soil‐quality‐index (SQI) model, we demonstrated the procedures of MDS selection, indicator normalization, and integration of MDS into SQI value for soils used for the two cropping systems. Results indicated selection of SOCD, AK, and ρ_b as MDS1 indicators but MDS2 indicators included SOM, SOCD, Cl, Na, WT_g, and EC_g. These were found to be the most effective discriminators between the two cropping systems. Available K (AK) made greatest contribution to SQI using MDS1 indicators, however, WT_g, EC_g, and Cl were the greatest contributors to the SQI for MDS2. Contribution of SOCD to SQI was severely inhibited in cotton–barley rotation system while EC_g and WT_g contributions to SQI were inhibited in rice–rape rotation system. In general, cotton–barley rotation system had a better soil quality over rice–rape rotation system as the former had higher SQI values than the latter for both MDSs. Crop parameters did also exhibit significant relationship with the SQI values using MDS2 but it was not significant for MDS1. Our results suggest that in addition to soil chemical, physical, and biological indicators, groundwater properties particularly the WT_g and EC_g are also important for assessing soil quality in an intensively farmed coastal area.     

Long‐term effects of fertilizer and manure applications on soil quality and yields in a sub‐humid tropical rice‐rice system

Widespread yield stagnation and productivity declines in the rice–rice cropping system have been reported and many of the associated issues are related to soil quality. A long‐term experimental study was initiated in 1969 to assess the impact of continuous cultivation of rice as a single crop grown in wet as well as dry seasons using varying levels of chemical fertilizer and manure applications on soil quality indicators (physical, chemical and biological), a sustainable yield index (SYI) and a soil quality index (SQI). The treatments comprised chemical fertilizers and farmyard manure (FYM) either alone or in combination viz. control, N, NP, NK, NPK, FYM, N+FYM, NP+FYM, NK+FYM and NPK+FYM, laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Soil samples were collected after the wet season rice harvest in 2010 and were analysed for physical, chemical and biological indicators of soil quality. A SYI based on long‐term yield data and SQI using principal component analysis (PCA) and nonlinear scoring functions were calculated. Application of NPK fertilizers in combination with FYM significantly increased the average grain yield of rice in both wet and dry seasons and enhanced the sustainability of the system compared to the control and plots in receipt of fertilizers. The SYI for the control was higher in the wet season than in the dry one, whereas the reverse was true for NPK+FYM treatment. The value of the dimensionless SQI varied from 1.46 in the control plot to 3.78 in the NPK+FYM one. A greater SYI and SQI in the NPK+FYM treatment demonstrated the importance of using a chemical fertilizer in combination with FYM. For the six soil quality indicators selected as a minimum data set (MDS), the contribution of DTPA‐Zn, available‐N and soil organic carbon to the SQI was substantial ranging from 59.4 to 85.7 per cent in NPK+FYM and control plots, respectively. Thus, these soil parameters could be used to monitor soil quality in a subhumid tropical rice–rice system.     

Soil Quality Changes Resulting from Long-Term Fertilizer Application Under Intensive Cropping System in Alluvial Soils

Soil quality is one of the most important factors which reveal the soil–environment functionality for identifying whether soil quality is improving, remain constant, or declining. This paper evaluated change in soil quality after 40 years of chemical fertilizer use and continuous cultivation of multiple crops (jute–rice–wheat) on alluvial soils. The concepts of relative soil quality index (RSQI) and Cumulative Rating Index (CRI) were used in the evaluation. It was observed that soil of class III reduced to class II after 20 years and to class I after 40 years of fertilizer application with manure, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK_100+FYM). There was a strong correlation between SQI and CRI (r = 0.82**) which showed more promising effects on soil sustainability. Significant positive relationship between ?RSQI and crop yield of jute (r = 0.89**) and wheat (r = 0.90**) was found. However, rice yield declined up to 44% of its initial yield (r = 0.20).     

基于产量的稻田肥力质量评价及障碍因子区划——以进贤县为例

土壤肥力质量评价及土壤肥力障碍因子分析,对于区域土壤利用和改良、指导农业生产结构布局具有重要意义。以江西省进贤县为研究区,通过水稻遥感解译测产,结合主成分分析进行土壤质量评价;采用综合指数法表征土壤肥力质量水平,分析该区域低肥力质量区域主要障碍因素,并进行障碍因子区划。结果表明,该地区土壤肥力质量评价的最小数据集(MDS)指标包括:有机质、阳离子交换量(CEC)、全钾(TK)、交换性钙(Ex.Ca)、容重、粉黏比;土壤质量综合指数与水稻产量相关系数达到0.73(p0.01),以当地水稻平均产量7.215 t hm~(-2)确定土壤质量综合指数阈值为0.65。分析得出,该地区影响土壤肥力的主要障碍包括有机质含量低和容重较大反映的低熟化度障碍、中量元素缺乏反映的酸化障碍、全钾含量低和高粉黏比反映的结构障碍等。根据障碍因素将研究区域划分为三大障碍区:东南部丘陵区主要障碍因子为酸化和土壤结构障碍;中西部低岗平原主要为土壤酸化障碍;北部滨湖区主要障碍为水稻土熟化程度低。通过对不同区域施行针对性改良措施有益于提高土壤肥力。     

黄土高原丘陵区坡改梯后的土壤质量效应

采用时空互代法,以黄土丘陵区纸坊沟流域不同年限梯田为研究对象,选取坡耕地为对照,分析了坡耕地改造梯田后,土壤物理、化学和生物学性质的演变过程.结果表明,黄土丘陵区坡耕通过工程措施改造为梯田当年,在土壤扰动和水土流失双重作用下,土壤物理、化学和生物学质量呈现不同程度下降或没有显著变化.随着改造年限的延长,土壤质量显著提高...     

我国东部水蚀区坡耕地土壤质量现状分析

土壤质量是土地生产力的基础,为探讨我国东部水蚀区坡耕地土壤质量现状,笔者采集36个样点表层0 ～20 cm土样,测定28项土壤理化指标,利用主成分分析法确定表征土壤质量的关键指标,根据指标隶属度与权重采用加权连乘法计算各采样点的土壤质量指数.结果表明:1)速效磷的变异系数最大,微团聚体体积分数的变异系数最小,绝大部分指标属于中等强度变异,土壤物理指标的变异系数明显小于土壤化学指标.2)黏粒体积分数、粉粒体积分数、微团聚体体积分数、有机质、pH值、Cd、Cr是表征土壤质量的关键指标,Cr隶属度最高,而pH值隶属度最低,Cd隶属度在二级水蚀分区间差异显著.3)36个采样点的土壤质量指数均值为0.64 ±0.16指数,6个二级水蚀分区间不存在显著差异.36个采样点土壤质量指数属较低、中等、较高和高等级的比例分别为8.33％、38.89％、36.11％、16.67％.总体而言,我国水蚀区坡耕地的土壤质量整体状况良好,但仍需要加强对土壤质量偏低地区的培肥改良.本研究对认识和维系我国东部水蚀区坡耕地土壤质量、分等定级与区划,合理开发利用坡耕地土地资源具有重要意义.     

中国东北农田土壤质量评价的最小数据集选择

Soil quality assessment provides a tool for agriculture managers and policy makers to gain a better understanding of how various agricultural systems afect soil resources.Soil quality of Hailun County,a typical soybean (Glycine max L.Merill) growing area located in Northeast China,was evaluated using soil quality index(SQI)methods.Each SQI was computed using a minimum data set(MDS) selected using principal components analysis(PCA)as a data reduction technique.Eight MDS indicators were selected from 20 physical and chemical soil measurements.The MDS accounted for 74.9% of the total variance in the total data set(TDS).The SQI values for 88 soil samples were evaluated with linear scoring techniques and various weight methods.The results showed that SQI values correlated well with soybean yield (r=0.658**) when indicators in MDS were weighted by the regression coefcient computed for each yield and index.Stepwise regression between yield and principal components (PCs) indicated that available boron(AvB),available phosphorus (AvP),available potassium (AvK),available iron (AvFe) and texture were the main factors limiting soybean yield.The method used to select an MDS could not only appropriately assess soil quality but also be used as a powerful tool for soil nutrient diagnosis at the regional level.     

Soil quality effects of tillage and residue under rice–wheat cropping on a Vertisol in India

Soil quality in rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping systems is governed primarily by the tillage practices used to fulfill the contrasting soil physical and hydrological requirements of the two crops. The objective of this study was to develop a soil quality index (SQI) based on bulk density (BD), penetration resistance (PR), water stable aggregates (WSA) and soil organic matter (OM) to evaluate this important cropping system on a Vertisol in India. Regression analysis between crop yield and SQI values for various tillage and crop residue management treatments indicated SQI values of 0.84–0.92, 0.88–0.93 and 0.86–0.92 were optimum for rice, wheat and the combined system (rice + wheat), respectively. The maximum yields for rice and wheat were 5806 and 1825 kg ha⁻¹ occurred at SQI values of 0.85 and 0.99, respectively. Using zero tillage (ZT) for wheat had a positive effect on soil quality regardless of the treatments used for rice. Regression analyses to predict sustainability of the various tillage and crop residue treatments showed that as puddling intensity for rice increased, sustainability without returning crop residues decreased from 6 to 1 years. When residue was returned, the time for sustainable productivity increased from 6 to 15 years for direct seeded rice, 5 to 11 years with low-intensity puddling (P₁) and 1 to 8 years for high-intensity (P₂) puddling. For sustainability and productivity, the best practice for this or similar Vertisols in India would be direct seeding of rice with conventional tillage and residues returned.     

Soil quality indices for evaluation of long‐term land use and soil management practices in semi‐arid sub‐tropical India

Land use changes and soil management can potentially alter soil quality. A study was conducted to assess the long‐term (>20 years) effects of perennial trees (PT), vegetable crops (VC), rice–wheat (RW) system, sewage‐irrigated fields (SF), maize–wheat (MW) system and uncultivated soils (US) on soil quality. Soil physical quality parameters were significantly affected only in the SF system when compared with the US soil, particularly for bulk density (BD 1·51 Mg m⁻³ in SF vs. 1·34 in US). Among chemical parameters, electrical conductivity was high in SF, and soil nutrients (N, P, K, S, Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn) were well above the critical limits of deficiency in all the systems. Soil parameters were integrated into soil quality indices (SQIs) by unscreened transformation and principal component analysis (PCA). SQI observed under each system were compared with the US to assess the degree of degradation. Mean SQI differences showed that PT (+16·02 per cent), VC (+4·80 per cent), RW (+10·04 per cent), and MW (+11·30 per cent) are aggrading, whereas SF (−2·06 per cent) is degrading with respect to the reference soil (US). Adoption of MW system proved to be better than traditional RW; and in general agricultural crops have a significant advantage than VC, in terms of maintaining soil quality. Sewage irrigation is not a sustainable practice and long‐term use may degrade the soil. Among the SQIs, PCA with nonlinear scoring function (NLSF) based SQI was effective in judging land degradation due to soil quality changes as affected by long‐term land use and soil management practices. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Profile carbon and nutrient levels and management effect on soil quality indicators in the Mardi watershed of Nepal

Abstract

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrient stocks in the soil profile (0–80 cm) in four dominant land uses [forest, upland maize and millet (Bari), irrigated rice (Khet), and grazed systems)] and 0–15 cm depth along elevation gradient 1000 to 3000 m, and aspects in the Mardi watershed were measured. Soil properties at 0–15 cm depth were also measured in undisturbed forest, forest with free grazed system, managed forest, and grassland to compare the soil quality index (SQI) of topsoils. The SOC and nutrient concentration decreased with increasing profile depth. The SOC and N contents in the 0–15 cm depth of forest soils were significantly greater than the corresponding depth in upland maize and millet, irrigated rice, and grazed systems. On the other hand, available P and K concentrations at the same depth were significantly greater in upland maize and millet compared to irrigated rice, grazed system, and forest land uses. The SOC and N stocks (0–15 cm) increased from agricultural land at the valley bottom at about 1000 m above mean sea level (a.s.l.) (24 and 3 Mg ha^?1) compared to undisturbed forest (74 and 5.9 Mg ha^?1) at 2600 m a.s.l, demonstrating the effects of cover and elevation. Both SOC and N stocks decreased sharply in grassland (54 and 4.5 Mg ha^?1) at elevations of 2600 to 2800 m a.s.l. compared with undisturbed forest. Above 2800 m a.s.l. the cover type changed from grass to coniferous forest, and the SOC and N stocks steadily increased at the summit level (3200 m a.s.l.) to 65 and 6.9 Mg ha^?1, respectively. Slope and aspect significantly affected SOC with the northwest aspect having significantly higher concentrations (46 g kg^?1) than other aspects. Similarly, SOC concentration at the lowest slope position (39 g kg^?1) was significantly higher than the middle or upper positions (25 and 13 g kg^?1). Integrated soil quality index (SQI) values varied from 0.17 to 0.69 for different land uses, being highest for undisturbed forest and lowest for irrigated rice. The SQI demonstrated the degradation status of land uses in the following ascending order: irrigated rice?>?grazed system?>?forest with free grazing?>?upland maize and millet?>?managed forest?>?grass land?>?undisturbed forest. The irrigated rice, grazed system, upland maize and millet, and freely grazed forestlands need immediate attention to minimize further deterioration of soil quality in these land uses.     

Assessing and monitoring the soil quality of forested and agricultural areas using soil-quality indices and digital soil-mapping in a semi-arid environment

In recent decades, the conversion of forest to agricultural land has been a major worldwide concern and a cause of environmental and soil-quality degradation. In this study, soil-quality indices (SQIs) were applied using several soil properties to determine the effects of land use on soil quality in a 206.50 km² area in Kurdistan Province, Iran. The Weighted Additive Soil Quality Index (SQI_w) was calculated using two scoring methods and two soil indicator selection approaches. Nine soil-quality indicators/variables were measured for 124 soil samples (0–30 cm depth). Calculated SQIs were digitally mapped with a random forest (RF) model using auxiliary data. The RF model was the best predictor of the SQI computed using the total dataset (TDS) and linear score function (SQI_w-TDS-linear). Soil quality was better estimated using non-linear scoring (r² = 0.82) than with linear scoring (r² = 0.73). The mean values of all SQIs were significantly greater in forestland than cropland. It is clear that soil quality is considerably reduced by deforestation, and that best management practices that maintain soil quality and reduce erosion must be developed for the soils of this region if they are to remain productive.     

Changes in soil organic carbon stocks and soil quality: land-use system effects in northern Ethiopia

Abstract

In Tigray, Ethiopia, land degradation is a dominant environmental problem and hence the regional government has undertaken restoration measures on degraded soils since 1991. The present study was aimed to assess the impact of land uses and soil management practices on soil properties, and consequently on soil quality of degraded soils. The catchments selected were Maileba and Gum Selassa, and land uses included cultivated (CL), grazing (GL), plantation (PA) and area exclosure (AE). Replicated soil samples were collected from topsoil and profiles of four land-use types in both catchments. Soils in area exclosure showed higher soil organic carbon (SOC), total N and extractable K than grazing land, cultivated land and plantation area mainly at 0–40 cm soil depth. Estimated soil organic carbon stock at Maileba in 0–40 cm depth varied between 54 to 74 Mg C ha^?1, being lowest in cultivated land and highest in area exclosure, and the soil organic carbon stock in area exclosure represents 63% of total carbon stock stored in the profile. Soil organic carbon stock (0–40 cm) at Gum Selassa ranged between 33 to 38 Mg C ha^?1, being higher in cultivated land and lower in plantation area. Soil quality index (SQI) of area exclosure (0.794) at Maileba and cultivated land (0.721) at Gum Selassa scored highest among all land uses, and the order was area exclosure>grazing land>plantation area>cultivated land at Maileba and cultivated land>grazing land>plantation area at Gum Selassa, highlighting the effectiveness of area exclosure in restoring soil quality of degraded soils.     

基于最小数据集的青藏公路沿线土壤质量评价

为明确青藏公路沿线土地土壤质量的基本特征,通过采集沿线3种不同土地利用类型(农地、草地和沙地)的土壤样品,采用主成分分析法(PCA,Principal Component Analysis)筛选最小数据集(MDS,Minimum Data Set)指标,并构建土壤质量指数(SQI,Soil Quality Index)定量评价其土壤质量。结果表明:(1)相较于农地和草地,沙地的土壤肥力较为贫瘠,其土壤有机质、全氮和有效磷的土壤肥力等级均为6级。9个土壤指标均为中低度敏感指标,沙地土壤黏粒和粉粒含量具有更强的空间分异性。(2)沿线土壤质量评价最小数据集由全钾、全磷、有机质、黏粒和粉粒组成,最小数据集能够较好地替代全数据集进行土壤质量评价(p<0.01)。(3)沿线农地的土壤质量指数SQI(0.535±0.043)高于草地SQI(0.499±0.044)和沙地SQI(0.449±0.066)。该研究发现沿线农地土壤质量为中等水平,沿线草地和沿线沙地土壤质量处于较低水平,土壤有机质是影响青藏公沿线土壤质量的主要因素。     

A preliminary watershed scale soil quality assessment in north central Iowa, USA

Soil quality assessment has been recognized as an important step toward understanding the long-term effects of conservation practices within agricultural watersheds. Our objective was to assess soil quality within the South Fork watershed of the Iowa River using various indicators and assessment approaches. Soil samples were collected during 2003 and 2004 from 29 areas of 32 ha (80 acres) each along two transects traversing the watershed. Soil pH, Mehlich III extractable P, K, Ca and Mg, electrical conductivity (EC), total organic carbon (TOC), and total N (TN) were measured. The Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) was used to compute a soil quality index (SQI), while soil loss, the soil tillage intensity rating (STIR), N-leaching potential, and soil conditioning index (SCI) were determined for each sampling area using the 2003 version of the Revised Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE2). Overall, there were no soil fertility limitations within the watershed based on an average pH of 6.96 and extractable P and K levels of 36 and 162 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Soil loss, STIR, N-leaching, and SCI averaged 1.13 Mg ha⁻¹, 68, 3, and 0.4, respectively. The SMAF analysis indicated soils within the watershed were functioning at 87% of their full potential. The lowest indicator score was associated with TOC (0.60) because the average value was only 28.4 g kg⁻¹. The SCI and SQI indices were positively correlated although since it used measured data, the SMAF appears to provide more information about the effects of management practices within the watershed. Soils in upper landscape positions had lower TOC and C:N ratios indicating an increased risks for both erosion and for nitrate leaching. Management of soils on hilltops may be the most effective way to minimize N and P losses within the watershed.     

Describing soil quality with aggregate index for Msange irrigation scheme of Tanzania

Soil quality is an important and integral aspect of soil health which is defined as the continued capacity of the soil to function as a living system within the ecosystem and land use boundaries. It refers to the capacity of soil to supply nutrients, maintain suitable biotic habitat and resist degradation. This study focuses on describing the soil quality through aggregate index termed as Soil Quality Index (SQI ). The assessment of soil quality involves physical and chemical soil parameters along with the local climatic conditions and the experts’ opinion. The proposed aggregation method utilizes three scoring functions; ‘more is better’, ‘less is better’ and ‘optimum’ for which the score is interpreted either as very low, low, medium, high or very high. The methodology has been applied to Msange irrigation scheme which falls under semi‐arid climate conditions of Tanzania. The results show that the average SQI in the Msange irrigation scheme is 0.565 for the silt loam soil and can be classified as medium quality. In order to improve the soil quality and hence the land productivity, one should improve the organic matter contents, available water and nutrients availability to the soil. It is hoped that this study will be a baseline study on soil quality evaluation for effective agricultural practices.     

Aggregate-associated soil organic carbon and total nitrogen following amendment of puddled and sawah-managed rice soils in southeastern Nigeria

Puddling during sawah rice cultivation destabilizes the soil structure. The re-formation of soil water-stable aggregates (WSA) following puddling and amendments, and their associated organic carbon (SOC) and total N were studied at Akaeze and Ikwo in south-eastern Nigeria. The amendments, which were randomized in triplicate, include control, NPK fertilizer, poultry dropping, rice husk powder and rice husk ashes (RHA). Soil samples from 0 to 15 cm depth were taken from the field after 2 years of cultivation. Most of the SOC were found in the very fine aggregates. There was no consistent trend in the treatment effects. However, the NPK-amended soils showed the lowest values of WSA > 2 mm in both locations, whereas the poultry dropping-amended soils showed the least and the highest mean-weight diameter (MWD) values at Akaeze and Ikwo, respectively. The SOC of the whole soil in Akaeze correlated positively with MWD (r = 0.92*). Irrespective of location, SOC in soils and WSA > 2.00 mm correlated positively with MWD (r = 0.56*; 0.65*, respectively) while SOC in WSA 0.50–0.25 mm accounted for low MWD values. More carbon was sequestered at Akaeze than at Ikwo, with the RHA-amended soils being the highest at both locations.     

基于最小数据集的吉林省黑土耕层土壤质量评价

黑土作为吉林中部平原粮食主产区主要土壤类型,其质量的优劣直接影响区域生态安全和农业可持续发展。该研究以吉林省典型黑土耕层土壤作为研究对象,采集1 401个土壤样本,测定8项土壤理化指标及玉米产量。采用最小数据集法筛选评价指标,对于黑土耕层土壤进行质量评价,并综合土壤质量指数和产量提出评价指标的适宜范围。结果表明:吉林省黑土耕层土壤质量评价最小数据集由耕层容重、有机质、速效磷、pH构成,由全量数据集(Total Data Set,TDS)、重要数据集(ImportantDataSet,IDS)和最小数据集(MinimumDataSet,MDS)分别计算的土壤质量指数之间存在显著正相关关系,R~2分别为0.716、0.771,表明MDS可以替代TDS对黑土耕层土壤质量进行评价。黑土玉米种植区耕层土壤质量指数分布在0.22～0.75之间,均值为0.53,呈现东部高西部低的趋势。土壤质量指数随产量先增加后降低。黑土耕层保持较高土壤质量及产量的评价指标适宜范围分别为:容重为1.23～1.43 g/cm3,酸碱度(pH值)为4.74～6.96,有机质为33.14～35.81 g/kg,有效磷为122.46～136.06 mg/kg。该研究结果可为吉林省黑土耕层土壤质量诊断、提高黑土肥力及选择适合农田管理措施提供理论及参数支撑。     

Reclamation of desert land to continuous cotton cropping affects soil properties and microbial communities in the desert-oasis ecotone of Xinjiang,China

Purpose

A large area of desert land in the desert-oasis ecotone in northwestern China is being reclaimed for continuous cotton production for several decades. However, little is known about the possible effect of reclamation and long-term monocultural cotton cultivation on soil properties and microbial communities in the desert-oasis ecotone area.

Materials and methods

Soil samples were collected from the 0–20-cm mineral soil from croplands that had been continuously planted cotton for 5, 25, and 50 years after reclamation, as well as a desert land (t?=?0, before reclamation, used as the control). Soil physical and chemical properties, enzyme activities, and bacterial and fungal community diversities were determined.

Results and discussion

Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and enzyme activities increased up to 25 years after reclamation, and further monocultural cotton cropping was not beneficial to improve soil quality. Soil urease, alkaline phosphatase, and sucrase activities increased by 121~205%, 100~167%, and 206~719% in croplands as compared with the desert land, respectively, after reclamation with the highest value at 25 years of cotton cultivation. Bacterial richness and diversity increased from desert land to the 5-year-old cropland and then remained stable after 5 years of cotton cropping, and soil fungal richness and diversity were not affected by reclamation and cropping years.

Conclusions

Crop rotation or fallow should be considered to maintain or improve soil quality over the long-term monocultural cropping.