Life cycle of pollen grains in mormoder humus forms of young acid forest soils: a micromorphological approach

Horizons of humus profiles contain pollen and spores. The palynological information of pollen spectra of terrestrial humus forms must be validated by micropedological knowledge of the processes of infiltration, incorporation, conservation, transport and decay of pollen grains in the soil system. This study presents the results of combined palynological and micromorphological analyses of two mormoder humus forms, sampled in the Forestry Gieten, The Netherlands. The aim of this study was to establish the distribution pattern and life cycle of pollen grains in mormoders. The first step of this cycle of pollen grains in the humus profile is eolian deposition on the soil surface. The second step is incorporation of the grains in organic aggregates in the upper part of the F horizon. In ‘acid’ mormoders, grains are embedded by ageing small excrements of micro-arthropods and incorporated in the resulting organic aggregates. In ‘mild’ mormoders, the same process is observable, but additional pollen grains are also directly incorporated (and slightly transported) in medium excrements of small earthworm. The third step in the cycle is release by microbial attack of the aggregates in the lower part of the F horizon and the H and Ah horizons. The fourth step is re-incorporation of the released grains in organic aggregates of ageing small sized excrements of micro-arthropods, which consume decaying root tissue. Not re-incorporated grains will finally mineralise by microbial consumption. Mineralising of released pollen grains is the main process in the mineral AE horizon. Based on knowledge of the distribution pattern and life cycle of pollen grains in mormoders, pollen diagrams can be used for the reconstruction of the forest development.     

STONE PAVEMENTS IN SOILS OF CAERNARVONSHIRE, NORTH WALES

In Caernarvonshire, North Wales, some soil profiles contain a concentration of stones as a layer, a single stone thick, which separates lower horizons of glacial drift from upper colluvial horizons. These layers, stone pavements, are believed to have formed as lag deposits (erosion pavements) on eroded drift surfaces which were then covered by colluvium. The formation and burial of the pavements may be attributed to periglacial and solifluction processes in the Late Glacial period. Local preservation of stone pavements suggests more widespread distribution of soils in which horizon differentiation results in part from depositional rather than pedological processes.     

Land use dynamics derived from colluvial deposits and bogs in the Black Forest,Germany

The Black Forest is considered to be a rather unfavorable area, having a short vegetation period, low mean annual temperatures, high precipitation, and a pronounced relief. These conditions do not favor agricultural land use and thus it is widely accepted that people only began using the land intensively during the Middle Ages. In this integrated study 17 soil profiles, two peat bogs and a database of archaeological finds were used to reconstruct past land use impacts on the environment. AMS–¹⁴C datings of charcoals, luminescence datings of colluvial deposits, archaeological finds and pollen records indicate land use already during the Neolithic. This pre‐medieval land use might be related to seasonal settlements dominated by pastoralism and the use of wood or bedrock to build settlements and infrastructure or as energy supply. There is new evidence of human activity dating back to the Bronze and Iron Age, which is a discrepancy to the absence of archaeological finds in the direct vicinity of the studied sites. With the beginning of the Middle Ages land use practices changed, most likely with the expansion and intensification of agricultural land use, which coincides with the increasing use of natural resources in the Black Forest. Hence, the main phases of colluvial deposition date to the Middle Ages and Modern Times. Increased contents of As, Cr, Cu, Pb, or Zn in medieval colluvial deposits might indicate smelting or mining, even though there are no known archeological sites pointing to such activities nearby. Whereas the pattern of colluvial deposition in the southeastern Black Forest points to distinct, but local land use in pre‐medieval times and to intensified and widespread land use since the Middle Ages, thick and multi‐layered colluvial deposits indicate intensive land use in the neighboring Baar region since the Neolithic. The different land use patterns of these two regions originate from the rather favorable conditions for agriculture in terms of soils, climate, and topography in the Baar region compared to the unfavorable conditions in the Black Forest.     

花岗岩崩岗崩积体颗粒组成及分形特征

崩岗崩积体土质疏松,抗侵蚀能力弱,其颗粒组成及分形维数有其自身的特性。采用激光粒度分布仪对花岗岩崩岗崩积体及崩壁土样的颗粒进行测定,对其土壤颗粒组成及分形特征进行比较分析。结果如下:崩积体土壤以砾石、砂粒、粉粒含量为主,黏粒含量极低,土壤质地主要为砾石土;崩积体各层次土壤颗粒分形维数均值为2.61～2.70,分形维数值较低,反映了其细颗粒损失情况;黏粒含量是影响土壤颗粒分形维数的主要因素;崩壁土体的颗粒分形维数大小能够表征土壤的理化特征,而崩积体土壤颗粒分形维数无法真实反映崩积体的理化性质。     

Die Schwarzerden Nordostdeutschlands und ihre Stellung in der holozänen Landschaftsentwicklung

Phaeozems of northeastern Germany and their position in holocene landscape development A typical soil association of NE-German young moraine area (Uckermark-region) including Phaeozems and colluvial deposits (Cumulic Anthrosols) was described macromorphologically using a trench profile and investigated by chemical standard analyses, humic compound analysis, pollen analysis and ¹⁴C-radiocarbon dating. Results are discussed in view of pedogenesis of Phaeozems. Conclusions were made concerning the holocene premedieval landscape development. A key position for reconstructing palaeoecological environmental conditions is held by “Black colluvium”. The “Black colluvium” is the relocated humous horizon of former Chernozems influenced by syn- and postsedimentary processes. The specific character of holocene landscape development and pedogenesis of the Uckermark-region is connected with the special natural conditions and history of land-use.     

Assessing parent material uniformity of a red and black soil complex in the landscapes

The distribution of red and black soil (Xeralfs–Xerolls) associations in the Monarto area (South Australia) is complex and their genesis either being derived from a uniform parent material or a lithologic discontinuity is not known. The objectives of this study were (i) to assess Zr- and Ti-bearing grains as minerals resistant to chemical weathering prior to employing Zr and Ti in determining parent material uniformity, and (ii) to confirm whether pedological processes or a lithologic discontinuity may be responsible for the textural contrast within the red and black soil profiles. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) were used to study chemical weathering and elemental composition of surfaces of Zr- and Ti-bearing grains. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis was used to determine elemental concentrations in various soil fractions. Results showed that Zr-bearing grains consisted of only zircon having smooth clean surfaces, which are characteristic of a mineral resistant to chemical weathering. EDAX spectra confirmed that Zr was a specific element to represent zircon, suggesting its reliability to be used in assessing parent material uniformity. On the other hand, Ti derived not only from minerals (rutile/anatase) resistant but also from minerals (ilmenite/pseudorutile, biotite) susceptible to chemical weathering. This limited the usefulness of Ti as an index mineral for soil development studies. Except for Zr:Ti ratio, all other indicators of parent material uniformity, i.e., depth distribution curves of Zr and Y in various fractions and Y:Zr ratio showed no considerable inflection and variation with depth in a Xeralf (red soil). This indicated the Xeralf derived from a uniform parent material (mica schists), thereby texture contrast within a profile is due to pedological processes. On the other hand, depth distribution curves showed clear inflection and variation in Xerolls (black soils), indicating soils developed from lithologic discontinuities, so different trends in particle size fractions between 0–48 cm for MA5 and 0–59 cm for MA3 profiles compared to the underlying layers are due to parent material differences and not pedogenesis. The presence of complex red and black soil association in the landscape is attributed to the difference in parent materials, where the red soil developed from mica schist and the black soils from calcareous deposits.     

Chronology of plaggic deposits; palynology,radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence dating of the Posteles (NE-Netherlands)

Plaggic agriculture was the dominant land use system on Pleistocene sandy soils in Northwest Europe before the introduction of chemical fertilizers. In the today's landscape plaggic deposits are still recognizable as characteristic soils and landforms, related to this historical land use system. They are also important constituents of the soil archives in Northwest Europe. In preliminary studies of plaggic anthrosols, the reconstruction of the development of the plaggic deposits was based on palynological and historical data and radiocarbon dates. Disagreement appeared between palaeopedological and historical explanation of the evolution of plaggic anthrosols. Application of OSL dating improves the knowledge of chronology of plaggic deposits. The soil organic matrix, including pollen grains, consists of a complex mix of compounds of different ages and sources. Pollen diagrams of plaggic anthrosols show a palynological registration of the Late Holocene landscape evolution, but the palynological signal is not consequently correlated with the age of the plaggic sediments. An older soil organic matrix is suspended in the voids of a younger mineral soil skeleton.     

Holocene sediment budgets for upland catchments: The problem of soilscape model and data availability

This study presents a Holocene sediment budget for the upland catchment of the Speyerbach in the Palatinate Forest, southwestern Germany. The influences of both, data availability and the choice of an appropriate soilscape model on the sediment budget calculations are investigated. For budget calculations the spatial distribution of soils was derived from the soil map 1:50,000. Thickness values of soil truncation and colluvial burial were extracted from two soil data sets with varying information content. Data processing contained a disaggregation of the soil map with the help of land use data. In order to model the sediment budget a reference soil thickness (a so-called soilscape model), which represents the initial conditions is necessary. As upland soils are developed in periglacial solifluction sheets, the main solifluction sheet (MSS, “Hauptlage”) showing a constant thickness and being affected by soil forming processes was chosen.     

土壤中有机复合污染物微生物组转化机制与调控原理：进展与展望

实际污染土壤中有机污染物通常以复合污染状态存在,有机复合污染物的微生物降解过程及其作用机制显得更为复杂。土壤微生物类群多样,具有丰富的功能多样性。而有机复合污染物的降解通常由微生物组操控,通过微生物群落代谢网络完成污染物的去除。近年来,研究者逐渐关注有机复合污染土壤中微生物群落适应机制-微生物组转化过程-合成微生物组设计-原位微生物组修复等方面的研究,对认知污染土壤治理和修复具有重要的科学意义。本文以具有代谢协同性及功能互补性的微生物组为切入点,系统阐述土壤中有机复合污染物的微生物组转化机制与调控原理等,探讨微生物组在复合污染土壤绿色可持续原位生物修复中的发展前景。     

Soil cover pattern on the northern macroslope of the Tsagan-Daban Ridge in the Transbaikal region

Regularities of soil distribution in the basin of the Vorovka River on the northern macroslope of the Tsagan-Daban Ridge are discussed, and the grouping of soil cover patterns in this area is suggested. Dissected middle-mountain areas covered by taiga forests are characterized by a combination of predominate soddy podburs with small homogeneous areas of podburs and lithozems. Within the piedmont part of the basin, components of soil combinations are different. The major areas are occupied by sandy soils under dry grassy pine forests; poorly developed soils are formed on recent alluvial and colluvial deposits in the depressions and hollows.     

Soil catenas to estimate ages of movements on normal fault scarps, with an example from the Wasatch fault zone, Utah, USA

Trenches excavated across fault scarps on a 13 ka delta surface at Brigham City, Utah, USA, document four types of soil-catena phenomena. First, the relict summit soil is eroded at the scarp crest, and its components incorporated into the accumulating colluvial wedge at the scarp base. Second, the pre-faulting soil weakens laterally as it is traced scarpward beneath the colluvial wedge from a relict position beyond the scarp toe. Third, soils developed on individual colluvial wedges and on the underlying, pre-faulting surface merge downslope to form a cumulative soil profile at the scarp toeslope. Fourth, soil horizons thicken downslope, probably due to the combined affect of more available moisture, water infiltration, and sediment accumulation.Two soil catenas were used to evaluate the applicability of a continuity approach to paleoearthquake dating, by which percentages of total development time represented by each soil at a fault scarp footslope could be estimated. The continuity approach sets total soil development at the scarp footslope, including any buried pre-faulting soil plus the sum development of all colluvial wedge soils corrected by a slope factor (F), equal to total soil development at the scarp summit. Soil development was characterized by Profile Development Index (PDI) and pedogenic clay parameters, using facies models to estimate parent material values for genetically-different colluvial units, and recognizing inherited soil components in colluvial wedges as parent material properties. The F slope factor, used to correct colluvial wedge soils for development attributable to slope position rather than age, was checked by using a nearby fluvial scarp as an independent control. Our soil data, when compared to independent age estimates, imply that rates of soil development have not been constant over the last 13 ka at Brigham City, but rather were considerably higher than average between 13 ka and 8.3 ka. Higher rates are probably due to a relatively high influx of eolian dust during the late Pleistocene to early Holocene following the lowering of Lake Bonneville, a large paleolake in the western USA. These variable rates of soil development preclude using the continuity approach for paleoearthquake dating at Brigham City. However, promising results showing that generally consistent F factors can be calculated for fault and fluvial scarps leave open the possibility that in areas where soil development rates have been relatively constant over the time period in question, the continuity approach may be a broadly applicable method for paleoearthquake dating.     

The depiction of soil profiles since the late 1700s

Artists have depicted soils in paintings since medieval times, and most landscape and soil paintings were made in the eighteenth century. The systematic study of soils started later and soil science was dominated by agricultural chemistry for most of the nineteenth century. Since the late 1800s soil profile drawings, paintings and photographs have been depicted in hundreds of textbooks. This paper traces the depiction of soil profiles in the scientific literature from the late 1700. The first soil profile depictions were simple diagrams illustrating different layers and soil processes. Photographs started to appear in textbooks at the end of the nineteenth century. In the 1950s, several books contained water paintings and from the 1970s onwards textbooks had colour photographs. Soil profile depictions were merely used to illustrate different orders in a classification system. Since the 1990s, efforts have been made to depict the soil profile in 3D. The overall trends and pattern found in this analysis not only reflect the technical ability to depict soils (e.g. camera, printing techniques) but also reflect the state of knowledge on the key properties and processes that have formed a soil.     

Heavy metals in the slope deposits of loess areas of the Lublin Upland (E Poland)

The concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) has been analyzed in Holocene slope deposits of the loess agricultural area in the Eastern Poland. Five profiles were examined. In general, low concentrations of the examined metals were determined, on average 50% of the samples exceeded the designated regional, geochemical background. The average concentrations were: cadmium < 0.5 ppm, copper up to 15, and lead up to 20 and zinc up to 70 ppm, showing a vertical diversity in the profile. Higher heavy metal concentrations in Holocene deposits are related to soil formation or accumulation of organic matter. The direct influence of human factors was most visible in recent deposits. It includes the modification of the development conditions of soil-forming processes as well as the influence on the character of the colluvial deposits. Taking into account the ¹⁴C datings as well as the archeological and historical data the age and rate of sedimentation of deposits have been calculated. The average rate of the colluvia deposition varied from 1.3 to 7.3 mm/year depending on their age and the character of sedimentation.     

多场次降雨对崩岗崩积体细沟侵蚀的影响

崩积体是崩岗的重要组成部分,因土质疏松,极易被侵蚀。细沟侵蚀特征是探讨崩积体侵蚀机制的重要内容。采用人工模拟降雨试验,研究多场次降雨条件（1.00、1.67、2.33 mm/min分别降3次雨）对崩积体30°坡面（5m×1 m）细沟侵蚀产沙过程及发育形态特征的影响。结果表明：1）1.00 mm/min降雨强度条件下,3次降雨的后期产沙过程趋于一致,而1.67和2.33 mm/min降雨强度条件下,前2次降雨后期产沙过程趋于一致,但第3次降雨后期产沙率急剧增大;2）各降雨强度条件下,沟头溯源作用、细沟平均宽度及深度随着降雨场次的增加而增加;3）不同降雨强度条件下的细沟特征存在差异,1.00和1.67 mm/min降雨强度时,随着降雨场次的增加,坡面的细沟数及细沟密度增加,宽深比减小,但在2.33 mm/min降雨强度条件下的结果恰好相反;4）各降雨强度条件下细沟侵蚀量及其增加幅度均增大,细沟侵蚀愈剧烈。     

A soil catena on schist in northwestern California

Soil characteristics in a small steepland watershed underlain by schist in a rainy, tectonically active area in northwestern California show close associations with drainage-basin position and slope characteristics. Five soil-topography units based on these associations are defined in the study watershed. Spatial relationships of soil series, and patterns of soil development as indicated by B-horizon clay content and redness, reflect interactions between pedogenesis and erosion. General soil-topography patterns include: (1) decreases in soil-development moving from low-order to higher-order stream vallyes; and (2) more developed soils on north-facing as opposed to south-facing slopes. Decreases in soil-profile development moving from slopes near low-order streams to slopes near higher-order streams approximately correlate with increases in gradient, vertical relief, and drainage density, and reflect a more vigorous stripping of regolith by erosion on the slopes near the higher-order streams. The larger percentage of area covered by the more developed soils on north-facing as opposed to south-facing slopes appears to reflect a contrast in the way dominant erosional processes interact with pedogenic processes.Roadcuts on middle and upper slopes show soil discontinuities indicative of disturbance by block slides or slumps or both. Roadcuts on lower slopes show disrupted soils in small bedrock hollows that could have been created by rapid, shallow landslides or by the pulled-up root wads of toppled trees. Soil-profile characteristics and soil-topography patterns in the study area demonstrate that both erosional and pedogenic processes need to be considered when interpreting characteristics of hillslope soils.     

Phosphorus solubilization in the rhizosphere and its possible importance to determine phosphate plant availability in soil. A review with main emphasis on German results

Limited fertilization adapted to plant demand is of high economical and ecological relevance. This requires a reliable analysis of plant available P, based on knowledge of phosphorus dynamics in soils and P mobilization by plants. On chernozem-like soils, as well as under dry conditions, the double-lactate (DL) phosphate extraction methods apparently do not adequately reflect the P uptake ability of plants. This paper summarizes rhizosphere processes that affect P availability partly by reference of selected own experiments. Root exudates increased the double-lactate (DL) extractable P amount of soils in sterile and non sterile cultures. Microbial colonisation increased both the exudate amount and the specific ability of exudates to solubilize P. In spite of rapid exudate turnover, DL-P solubility was increased. Sugars released from P-deficient plants increased the P solubilizing ability of a bacterial strain (Enterobacter radicincitans), perhaps by changing bacterial acid production. Root exudates solubilized more P from soil than lactate extracts did. An investigation of physiological processes in the rhizosphere could contribute to a better understanding of nutrient availability and perhaps lead to the development of extraction methods that better reflect the availability of soil phosphorus to plants. Connecting field experiments with basic studies offers the opportunity to better understand plant nutritional processes to realize an effective and sustainable agriculture.     

Periglacial cover-beds on the Swiss Plateau: indicators of soil, climate and landscape evolution during the Late Quaternary

Soils and the stratification of their parent materials were studied on the central Swiss Plateau. This area is characterized by glacial deposits varying from Late Glacial to pre-Würmian in age. Soils of all studied sites are developed within colluvial layers, the so-called cover-beds. In relation to the underlying deposits, we find a regular spatial distribution of cover-bed types. A surficial layer (Upper Layer) with relatively constant thickness (around 50 cm independent of relief position) covers Pleistocene sediments of any age. Therefore, it was formed mainly by cryoturbation/solifluction after the final glacier retreat from the Swiss Plateau (Younger Dryas or Oldest Dryas age). Layers that originate mainly from aeolian processes (Intermediate Layers) are restricted to areas outside the recessional moraines of the Berne-Stade (BS). Hence, they were formed merely up to the late Pleniglacial. They frequently consist of two distinct layers. Outside the glaciation of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), cover-beds in places overlie pre-LGM palaeosol relics (probably of Eemian age or even older). These are preserved even on higher relief positions, indicating that periglacial erosion during the Pleniglacial was only marginal. The palaeosol relics also occur on till of the so-called Older Wangen-Stade, which is commonly believed to represent the LGM, whereas we consider it to be older at least partly. Eventually, the distribution of soil types and their ecological characteristics are influenced considerably by cover-beds. As these beds reflect distinct phases of the Pleistocene, colluvial sediments provide a major tool for linking modern landscape characteristics to the Late Quaternary climate evolution.     

Decomposition in soil and chemical characteristics of pollen

The input to soils made by pollen and its subsequent mineralization has rarely been investigated from a soil microbiological point of view even though the small but significant quantities of C and N in pollen may make an important contribution to nutrient cycling. The relative resistance to decomposition of pollen exines (outer layers) has led to much of the focus of pollen in soil being on its preservation for archaeological and palaeo‐ecological purposes. We have examined aspects of the chemical composition and decomposition of pollen from birch (Betula alba) and maize (Zea mays) in soil. The relatively large N contents, small C‐to‐N ratios and large water‐soluble contents of pollen from both species indicated that they would be readily mineralized in soil. When added to soil and incubated at 16°C an amount of C equivalent to 22–26% of the added pollen C was lost as CO₂ within 22 days, with the Z. mays pollen decomposing faster. For B. alba pollen, the water‐soluble fraction decomposed faster than the whole pollen and the insoluble fraction decomposed more slowly over 22 days. By contrast, there were no significant differences in the decomposition rates of the different fractions from Z. mays pollen. Solid‐state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) revealed no gross chemical differences between the pollen of these two species, with strong resonances in the alkyl‐ and methyl‐C region (0–45 p.p.m.) indicative of aliphatic compounds, the O‐alkyl‐C (60–90 p.p.m.) and the acetal‐ and ketal‐C region (90–110 p.p.m.) indicative of polysaccharides, and the carbonyl‐C region indicative of peptides and carboxylic acids. In addition, both pollens gave a small but distinct resonance at 55 p.p.m. attributed to N‐alkyl‐C. The resonances attributed to polysaccharides were lost completely or substantially reduced after decomposition.     

Development of the concept of the ecological functions of the soil cover and other geospheres

The concept of the ecological functions of soils and geospheres is discussed, and soil functions in biogeocenoses and in society-nature systems are analyzed. The major ecological functions of the interrelated surface spheres of the Earth are specified. Urgent problems of the further development of the theory of ecological functions of soils and geospheres are discussed. It is argued that the study of ecological soil functions is particularly important in the context of the soil conservation policy. The system of soil conservation and preservation of pedodiversity is one of the key issues in nature management. Considerable attention has been paid to this problem in Russia. A series of Red Data soil books for the particular regions of Russia and for the entire country have been published in the recent decades.