Soil properties and soil water conditions in the yangjuangou catchment of the chinese loess plateau

Soil properties and soil water conditions were assessed for different land use (forest, arable land, grassland) on a silty Calcaric Regosol in the Yangjuangou Catchment of the Chinese Loess Plateau. The loess here is unimodal, poorly sorted with abundant coarse silt, has very low dry bulk density (1.11?–?1.38?g cm^???3) and little organic carbon content (1.6?–?3.7?g kg^???1). The soils are hydrophilic, have high porosity (0.5?–?0.55 cm^3?cm^???3), unsaturated hydraulic conductivity, and plant available water content (0.34?–?0.4 cm^3?cm^???3). Soil properties are quite uniform in space. Land use had no significant effects on soil properties and soil water conditions.     

南方花岗岩红壤区不同土地利用类型坡地产流与侵蚀产沙研究

基于自然坡面径流小区,分析了南方花岗岩红壤区5种典型土地利用下坡面地表径流与侵蚀产沙规律.结果表明,不同地类地表径流与侵蚀产沙分异规律明显.裸露荒地、坡耕地、早地和疏林地的地表径流分别是典型林分林地的1 354.9%,1 099.9%,712.3%和285.4%;不同地类土壤侵蚀强度排序为裸露荒地＞坡耕地＞旱地＞疏林地＞典型林分林地,说明植被能较好地调蓄地表径流和减少侵蚀产沙.在不同降雨强度和雨型条件下,不同土地利用的坡面产流与侵蚀产沙也表现出显著的差异.裸露荒地、坡耕地、旱地、疏林地是研究区主要的侵蚀产沙地类.基于径流小区次降雨条件下径流和侵蚀产沙观测资料,建立了不同地类坡面径流与侵蚀产沙的回归方程.     

Compaction of sandy forest soils by forwarder operations

Soil compaction by repeated passes of a loaded forwarder (a log-carrying vehicle with a gross weight of 26 tonnes) was measured on 2 coarse-textured soils in pine plantations under wet conditions. On soil that was previously undisturbed, the depth of wheel ruts increased linearly with the logarithm of the number of passes, up to 19 cm for 27 passes. On old tracks, which had been used previously only for thinning operations, new ruts were formed to a depth of 5 cm.Penetrometer resistance increased 2–3 fold in the previously undisturbed soil, but decreases in resistance were measured on the old tracks, where the initial values exceeded 5 MPa. Changes in the physical properties of the soil occurred to a depth of at least 70 cm. Soil bulk density increased under all tracks and reached about the same final value on the old tracks and on the initially undisturbed soil. A moderate decrease in saturated hydraulic conductivity and an increase in water retention at 10 kPa was measured.The compacted soil is likely to be restrictive to root growth. The possibility of reducing soil compaction by reducing ground pressure from the machine was assessed on the basis of laboratory measurements of soil strength and compressibility. It is argued from the results that the use of wider, low-pressure tyres would be beneficial on these unusual compactible sands, but this would have to be evaluated in further field trials.     

稻草覆盖对红壤旱坡地水力性质及水分状况的影响

为探明红壤旱坡地应用稻草覆盖的雨季和旱季保水作用,在湖北省咸宁市第四纪红色黏土母质发育的红壤8°坡地上开展田间试验,以不覆盖为对照,研究稻草覆盖对红壤的持水性、水分有效性、供水性、导水性、含水量及储水量的影响。结果表明:稻草覆盖改善了土壤的持水性和水分有效性,覆盖当年土壤田间持水量、凋萎系数和有效水容量分别比对照提高6.0%、7.3%和4.4%;稻草覆盖显著减缓了雨季红壤表层饱和导水率的下降幅度,尤其是大雨期间保护地表饱和导水性的作用更明显,102.8 mm的降雨结束之后,稻草覆盖的土壤平均饱和导水率是对照的2.7倍;稻草覆盖对土壤的供水性及非饱和导水性的影响表现为低吸力段增强,高吸力段减弱;土壤储水量在集中降雨阶段的上升幅度和在降雨间歇期的下降幅度都表现为稻草覆盖对照。总体上,土壤储水量均表现为稻草覆盖对照;稻草覆盖增加雨季土壤储水量主要通过增加入渗,而增加旱季土壤储水量主要通过减少蒸散发;稻草覆盖增加雨季土壤储水量的作用有限,且保水作用雨季旱季。因此,稻草覆盖在红壤旱坡地上的雨季和旱季的保水途径、特点及作用大小都不同。     

Combined effects of soil texture and machine operating trail gradient on changes in forest soil physical properties during ground-based skidding

Wood extraction by heavy machinery has always been associated with soil disturbance in mountain forests,and the degree of soil degradation is influenced by several factors,including site and soil characteristics,soil moisture,type of equipment used,and number of machine passes.The effects of ground-based skidding operations on the physical properties of soils with different texture were evaluated at different levels of traffic frequency and trail gradient at two sites in an Iranian temperate forest.The treatments included combinations of three different traffic frequencies(3,8,and 14 passes of a rubber-tired cable skidder),three levels of trail gradient(10%,10%–20%,and20%) and two soil texture classes,clay loam(Site 1) and sandy loam(Site 2).The average gravimetric soil moisture at the time of skidding was 23%(Site 1) and 20%(Site 2).The average dry bulk density and total porosity of the undisturbed soil(control) were0.71 g cm~(-3) and 73.3% at Site 1(clay loam) and 0.86 g cm~(-3)and 59.1% at Site 2(sandy loam),respectively.At site 1(fine-textured soil),rutting began after three passes of the skidder,whereas at site 2(coarse-textured soil),rutting occurred only after eight passes.Independent of the traffic frequency and trail gradient,machine impact on the fine-textured soil caused greater increases in bulk density and rut depth compared to that on the coarse-textured soil.After three skidder passes and independent from trail gradients,dry bulk density at Site 1 increased by 54.8% compared to that of the undisturbed control,and the increase was 45.5% at Site 2.Therefore,medium to fine-textured soils are more susceptible to compaction than coarse-textured soils.Such soils,especially when moist,should be protected using brush mats created from harvesting residues during the forest processing phase.     

A simulation model of the water uptake of a beech forest: testing variations in root biomass and distribution

A validated mathematical model was used to simulate the effects of roots biomass and distribution on the water uptake of a 120-year old beech (Fagus silvatica L.) stand located at Solling (West Germany). The modell was based on the soil-water movement equation including an extraction term to account for the water uptake of the root system. This extraction term varies with the meteorological conditions, root density and soil water potential. Root biomass values considered were: 500 kg. ha^?-1, 1000 kg. ha^?-1, 2000 kg. ha^?-1, 4000kg. ha^?-1 and 6000 kg. ha^?-1. For each of these values, five different distributions were tested. These ranged between a soil profile 0.40m deep with high root concentration to a 1.00m soil profile with idealized uniform root distribution. The model was run under two different rainfall conditions: i) an uncommon dry year (1971), (ii) a hypothetical normal year without a dry period. The model showed the fundamental importance of the root distribution under the given meteorological conditions. This was more evident when the root biomass was low and medium. A good root distribution throughout the profile allowed the forest to overcome long dry periods. With the maximum root biomass value the distribution had no effect on the forest water uptake.     

Effects of eucalyptus and coniferous plantations on soil properties in Gambo District,southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Plantation establishment using exotic species on disturbed cultivated and undisturbed primary forest soils is common in Gambo district, southern Ethiopia, but their effects on soil properties are not fully known. This study investigated the effects of plantation species on major soil physical and chemical properties and further evaluated the soil quality under different land uses. Soil samples in triplicates, collected under different plantations, were analysed for their physical and chemical properties. Based on these soil properties, an integrated soil quality index was determined. The soil bulk density (BD) varied from 0.72 to 0.80 cm^?3 in plantations established on primary forest land and natural forest and from 0.86 to 1.14 g cm^?3 in those plantations established on cultivated soils. Also significantly lower pore volume and infiltration rate were observed under plantations established on cultivated lands than those on primary forest soils. Higher water volume (% at ?1500 kPa matric potential) was obtained in soils under Juniperus procera and natural forest compared with that under the rest of the plantations investigated. The concentration of soil organic carbon (SOC) varied from 3.4 to 10.2%, N from 0.3 to 1.0% and Av.P from 1.5 to 7.0% in soils under plantations and natural forest. Exchangeable cations generally showed a decreasing trend with depth in all land use types with minor exceptions. The concentrations of exchangeable Ca⁺² varied from 6.5 to 22.7 cmol kg^?1 and were significantly higher under Juniperus procera than under Eucalyptus species. The soil under plantations on previously cultivated lands showed soil quality index below 0.5 (the baseline value), while those established on undisturbed forest soil were generally above that value. The study results suggest that selecting species such as Juniperus procera and prolonging the harvesting period would improve and maintain the quality of soil properties.     

Determination of Mn and Pb in atmospheric deposition at a remote coastal site

The electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometric determination of Mn and Pb in wet, dry and total deposition collected at American Samoa is hindered by interferences due to the dilute sea-spray matrix. Matrix modification procedures permit direct analysis below 1 ng ml^?1 for each trace metal. The median monthly deposition of Mn is 5.8, 5.0, and 10.0 ng cm^?2, and for Pb 9.5, 1.4, and 10.6 ng cm^?2 for wet, dry and total collections, respectively. Preliminary data suggest effective sampling using these methods at this remote site.     

Acid Deposition and Acidification of Soil and Water in the Tie Shan Ping Area, Chongqing, China

Chongqing is among the heaviest polluted cities in China. Combustion of coal with relatively high sulfur content causes high sulfur emission and deposition in the area. Effects on soils and waters of the acid deposition in the Chongqing area have been studied in the field at a forested site outside the city. Deposition chemistry and fluxes, soil and soil water chemistry as well as surface water chemistry are presented for the period 1996–1998. There are some stress symptoms at the forest in the area and severe forest damage has been reported at Nanshan, closer to Chongqing center. Monitoring of the acidification situation in the area must be followed closely as impacts may be expected if the deposition is not reduced in the future. The deposition of sulfur, H⁺ as well as calcium at the site is high. Wet deposition of sulfur is estimated to 4.7 – 5.7 g S m^?2 yr^?1 during the three years sampled; dry deposition is probably of similar size. Annual volume-weighted pH in bulk deposition was 4.0 – 4.2 and the calcium wet deposition flux was 2.6 – 3.6 g Ca²⁺ m^?2. There are considerable seasonal variations in the concentrations, related to the seasonal variations in precipitation amount (dry winter, wet summer). The soils at the site are acid with median base saturation of 12% and 8% in the topsoil and subsoil, respectively. In soil water, aluminum concentrations are typically in the range 3–8 mg L^?1. However, due to the high base cation deposition, the Al/(Ca²⁺+Mg²⁺) molar ratio is below unity in most samples, indicating little damage of forest due to aluminum in soil water.     

Effect of biochar application rate on soil physical and hydraulic properties of a sandy loam

Biochar is used as a soil amendment for improving soil quality and enhancing carbon sequestration. In this study, a loamy sand soil was amended at different rates (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% v/v) of biochar, and its physical and hydraulic properties were analyzed, including particle density, bulk density, porosity, infiltration, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and volumetric water content. The wilting rate of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) grown in soil amended with various levels of biochar was evaluated on a scale of 0–10. Statistical analyses were conducted using linear regression. The results showed that bulk density decreased linearly (R² = 0.997) from 1.325 to 0.363 g cm^?3 while the particle density decreased (R² = 0.915) from 2.65 to 1.60 g cm^?3 with increased biochar amendment, with porosity increasing (R² = 0.994) from 0.500 to 0.773 cm³ cm^?3. The mean volumetric water content ranged from 3.90 to 14.00 cm³ cm^?3, while the wilting rate of tomato ranged from 4.67 to 9.50, respectively, for the non-amended soil and 100% biochar-amended soil. These results strongly suggest positive improvement of soil physical and hydraulic properties following addition of biochar amendment.     

Soil compaction effects on soil bulk density and penetration resistance and growth of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

The weight of the tractor is not the only factor affecting soil compaction. Soil-management practices, such as the use of fertilizers and pesticides, also affect soil properties through an increased number of overriding. The aim of the current study was to investigate compaction effects on soil physical properties, such as dry bulk density and penetration resistance, and the growth of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) as a monoculture. The five-year experiment was conducted on the Estonian University of Life Sciences’ research field at Eerika, near Tartu in 2001–2005. The soil of the experimental site is sandy loam Stagnic Luvisol. The treatments included were no compaction, one pass, three passes, and six passes. All passes were track-by-track. Measurements of soil and plant were made in the earing phase of barley and measurements of yield in the maturity phase of barley. The compaction treatment was conducted using an MTZ-82 tractor (total weight 4.84 Mg). Neither fertilizers nor herbicides were used. 5 years after compaction distinguishable subsoil and topsoil compaction was detected. Soil deformation increases with the number of passes; in the case of six passes soil bulk density increased by 0.15 Mg m^?3 and penetration resistance by 3 MPa. However, there were no significant differences in the soil bulk density and penetration resistance between treatments compacted with one and three passes. The effect of compaction on soil bulk density was higher when the soil was compacted under wet conditions. Compaction decreased the quantity of barley shoots, their phytomass, and grain yield by more than 80%. In the second year of the experiment the dry weight of above ground biomass decreased by almost three times and shoots’ density by 1.5 times, compared with the first year results. In the third year of the experiment the biomass, plant density, and grain yield of barley were stabilized and no further decreases were detected in the following two experimental years. The results from the experiment revealed that even a low weight tractor can induce subsoil compaction and a high decrease of plant productivity by repeated passes over time.     

Impact of profile water status on nitrogen use pattern of dry land barley under varying nitrogen levels

A field trial was carried out during 1993–94 and 1994–95 winter seasons on Udic Ustochrept to evaluate the performance of dryland barley under varying profile moisture status and nitrogen levels. Three levels of initial moisture status of the root zone profile were: wet (100% field capacity), moderately wet (50% field capacity) and dry (rainfed) as the main treatment. The sub treatments were 0, 40, 60 and 80 kg N ha^?1. During 15 to 60 days after sowing (DAS) availability of soil nitrogen and its uptake by the crop attained the highest values under wet regime. However, at 105 and 130 DAS dry moisture regime resulted in maximum values of both available soil nitrogen and plant nitrogen contents. In the same tune biomass production attained the higher values under wet regime as compared to the dry regime during 15 to 60 DAS and the trend was reverse at 105 DAS. Grain yield attained the highest value under dry regime followed by wet and moderately wet regimes. Irrespective of the profile moisture status both productivity and nitrogen use efficiency enhanced with the increase in nitrogen doses from 0 to 80 kg ha^?1. Role of nitrogen was more pronounced under wet regime.     

Early detection of the effects of compaction in forested soils: evidence from selective extraction techniques

Purpose

Soil compaction resulting from mechanisation of forest operations reduces air permeability and hydraulic conductivity of soil and can result in the development of hydromorphic and/or anoxic conditions. These hydromorphic conditions can affect physico-chemical properties of the soils. However, early detection of these effects on mineralogical portion of soils is methodologically difficult.

Materials and methods

To analyse the effects of soil compaction on iron minerals in loamy Luvisol, three compacted and three non-compacted soil profiles up to the depth of 50 cm were collected from an artificially deforested and compacted soils after 2 years of treatment. Soil was compacted with the help of 25 Mg wheeler’s load to increase the dry bulk density of soil from 1.21?±?0.05 to 1.45?±?0.1 g cm^?3. Soil samples were analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and were treated by citrate bicarbonate (CB) and dithionite citrate bicarbonate (DCB) under controlled conditions. Major and minor elements (Fe, Al, Mg, Si and Mn) were analysed by ICP-AES in the CB and DCB extracts.

Results and discussion

It was found that X-ray diffraction is not an enough sensitive method to detect the quick mineralogical changes due to soil compaction. Results obtained from CB-DCB extractions showed that soil compaction resulted in larger CB and smaller DCB extractable elements as compared to non-compacted soil. Labile Fe was found 30 % of total Fe oxides in compacted soil against 10–14 % in non-compacted soils. Compaction thus resulted in Fe transfer from non-labile to labile oxides (s.l.). Results showed that soil compaction leads to the reduction of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺. The effects of hydromorphic conditions due to soil compaction were observed up to the depth of 35 cm in forest soil profile. Furthermore, a close association of Al with Fe oxides was observed in the soil samples, while Mn and Si were mainly released from other sources, Mg showing an intermediate behaviour.

Conclusions

Hydromorphic conditions owing to soil compaction affect the mobility and crystallisation process of iron mineral. CB-DCB selective extraction technique, in contrast to XRD technique, can be effectively used to examine the possible effects of soil compaction on iron minerals.

     

Prediction of long‐term sustainability of constructed urban soil: impact of high amounts of organic matter on soil physical properties and water transfer

Sustainability of urban soils lies in their ability to facilitate water and air permeabilities. Exogenous organic matter has been shown to have a positive impact on these properties. Under urban conditions, a large one‐time input of an organic amendment was made to the reconstituted soil. Two organic materials, green‐waste compost (gw) or cocompost from sewage sludge and wood chips (sw), were mixed with sandy loam soil (40% v/v) and placed in 600‐L containers. Containers received a 29‐cm thick layer of sandy loam soil–organic matter mix over a 28‐cm thick layer without organic amendment. Volumetric water content, dry bulk density, hydraulic conductivity at saturation and water retention were measured over 5 yrs in the soils and values for the mixes and a control compared. After this time, dry bulk density was greater (1.54 g/cm³) in control than in gw or sw soils (1.31 and 1.11 g/cm³, respectively), whereas hydraulic conductivity at saturation was smaller (4 × 10^?7 m/s) than in gw (3.4 × 10^?6) or sw (3.7 × 10^?6 m/s). HYDRUS 1D water balance model indicated that below 27 cm depth in the control after 5 yrs, there was a high degree of anoxia, lasting >200 days per year, compared with <40 days in gw and sw. Amplification of the risk of anoxia below 27 cm depth after 10 yrs was 323, 151 and 100 days in the control, gw and sw, respectively. Organic matter amendment could support sustainable urban soils for ten years after soil reconstitution.     

坡面不同土地利用类型土壤抗剪强度影响因素分析

通过野外调查与室内试验相结合的方法,选取不同坡度(10°,15°,20°)的针阔混交林、灌木林、园地、坡耕地、荒地5种土地利用类型,观测土壤抗剪强度指标、含水率、容重、干密度、总孔隙度、有机质、土壤团聚体MWD值(干筛和湿筛),运用模糊贴近度法和逐步回归分析法分析影响不同土地利用类型土壤抗剪强度的因素。结果表明:相同土地利用类型土壤黏聚力随着坡度的增加先增大后减小;在针阔混交林中,团聚体湿筛MWD值与土壤黏聚力的贴近度最大,在荒地中则是有机质,而在其他3个土地利用类型中,容重与干密度对土壤黏聚力的贴近度较大;在针阔混交林、灌木林、荒地中,4种贴近度计算影响其土壤内摩擦角较大的因素为总孔隙度,而容重和干密度是影响园地和坡耕地土壤内摩擦角的重要因子;在针阔混交林中,建立基于干密度和容重的土壤抗剪强度方程(R2=0.865);在坡耕地中,建立基于干密度、容重和团聚体干筛MWD值的土壤抗剪强度预测模型(R2=0.964);在灌木林、园地、荒地中,对土壤抗剪强度影响显著的因子分别为干密度、团聚体干筛MWD值、容重。     

A seasonal behavior of surface soil moisture condition in a reclaimed tropical peatland

Soil moisture condition is essential to regulate the release of soil carbon from a drained peatland since aerobic microbial activities can be encouraged through oxygen supply associated with dewatering the soil layer while they may be discouraged under too dry conditions. Aiming to characterize the soil moisture condition in a reclaimed tropical peatland, we monitored the volumetric water content at 5?cm depth (θ _5?cm), groundwater level (GWL) and rainfall for 20 months from March 2010 to November 2011 in an oil palm field in Nakhon-Si-Thammarat, Thailand. We also measured the soil water retention curve and the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (k) for a series of matric potential (h) to simulate the moisture condition monitored in the field by using the Buckingham-Darcy's flux law. During the dry season in 2010, the θ _5?cm consistently stayed lower than 0.35?m³?m^–3 with the GWL lower than a depth of 30?cm. In the transition from the dry season to the rainy season in 2010, the GWL rose to the land surface with peaks and dips across the time for about one month with the θ _5?cm increasing toward saturation. During the rainy season where the GWL stayed near or above the land surface, the θ _5?cm remained the field-saturated value of 0.58?m³?m^–3 on average, less than the laboratory-saturated value of 0.63?m³?m^–3, suggesting the development of a significant amount of entrapped air-phase. Hysteretic behavior in the measured θ _5?cm–GWL relation also supported that the top soil layer refuses to absorb water in wetting processes. The simulated θ _5?cm based on the measured k(h) and soil water retention curves demonstrated that the ease with which the top soil dries during a dry season was due mainly to the low k(h) value in the dried condition, while the slope of the θ(h) curve was so moderate that the soil layer could retain moisture for maintaining liquid water supply to the surface from the dropped GWL. Sensitivity analyses while varying the magnitude of both k(h) and evaporation rate (E) suggested that the k(h) function was more deterministic than the value of E in making the land surface easily dried. As the GWL stayed lower than 30?cm in depth for a total of 187 days out of the year monitored, while surface-ponding conditions took place for 120 days of the year, it was concluded that either the extremely dried condition or the saturated-moisture condition had dominantly occurred in the study site through a year and, thus, there may only be a limited time when soil organic matter near the land surface is in favorable moisture conditions for aerobic decomposition.     

Soil properties in organic olive groves compared with that in natural areas in a mountainous landscape in southern Spain

This study evaluates soil properties in organically managed olive groves and natural zones in a mountainous area of Andalusia, Spain. Two soil types (Eutric Regosol and Eutric Cambisol) and the most common soil management methods (tillage and two intensities of grazing) were studied. Both soil types in the groves had values not much lower than those in the natural areas. Average (±SE) values in the groves were 1.58 ± 0.71% for organic carbon, 323 ± 98 g kg^?1 for macroaggregate stability, 1.11 ± 0.16 g cm^?3 for bulk density, 3.5 ± 1.6 mm h^?1 for saturated hydraulic conductivity and 1209 ± 716 mg CO₂ kg^?1 for soil respiration. Overall, these values tended to be lower in the tilled compared with that in the grazed groves. The average phosphorus soil content (5.83 ± 5.22 mg kg^?1) was low for olive production and within adequate ranges for N (0.12 ± 0.05%) and K (142 ± 81 mg kg^?1). Soil erosion was high in the tilled groves (35.5 ± 18.2 t ha^?1 year^?1) with soil loss correlating with indicators of soil degradation such as organic carbon content and water stable macroaggregates. In the grazed groves, soil loss was moderate with no clear indications of soil degradation. Overall, there was significant farm‐to‐farm variability within the same soil and land management systems. Olive production had a moderate effect on soil degradation compared with natural areas and olive cultivation could be sustained in future if cover crop soil management replaced tillage, especially in the most sloping areas.     

Ausfilterung von Schwefelverbindungen aus der Luft durch einen Buchenbestand

Filtering of Sulfur compounds from air by beech forest In a mature beech (Fagus silvatica) forest the amounts of sulfate-S per ha and year in open land precipitation, throughfall, stem flow and seepage in 100 cm soil depth have been measured from 1969 to 1976. From the fluxes measured quantitative data on plant leaching and dry deposition in the form of plant filtering are derived. Dry deposition amounts to 26kg S · ha^?1 · y^?1 and is of the same size as wet deposition (24 kg). The leaching of sulfate takes place only in autumn and amounts to ca. 3 kg S. The acid soil in the range of Al-buffering increases its sulfate storage annually by ca. 17 kg S/ha.     

Diffusion of cattle manure solution through a wet porous stratum with reaction

A process governing the transport rate of cattle manure as measured by their COD (chemical oxygen demand) through a wet porous stratum is investigated under simulated conditions. A mathematical model of the system is presented. The model simulates diffusion and biological reaction processes taking place simultaneously in the system. Experimental observations have been made to determine the diffusion coefficient and the biological reaction rate constant of the cattle manure solution. Values of approximately 6.76 × 10^?6 cm² s^?1 for the diffusion coefficient and 3.05 × 10^?2 day^?1 for the reaction rate constant at the temperature of 25 ± 2°C were obtained. For the system with known diffusion coefficient and reaction rate constant, the analytical expressions obtained here can be used to approximately evaluate or predict the rates that animal wastes, under conditions similar to those in this study, will contaminate surface water, soil or ground water.     

Fluxes and production pathways of nitrous oxide in different types of tropical forest soils in Thailand

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from the soil surface of five different forest types in Thailand were measured using the closed chamber method. Soil samples were also taken to study the N₂O production pathways. The monthly average emissions (±SD, n?=?12) of N₂O from dry evergreen forest (DEF), hill evergreen forest (HEF), moist evergreen forest (MEF), mixed deciduous forest (MDF) and acacia reforestation (ARF) were 13.0?±?8.2, 5.7?±?7.1, 1.2?±?12.1, 7.3?±?8.5 and 16.7?±?9.2?µg N m^?2 h^?1, respectively. Large seasonal variations in fluxes were observed. Emission was relatively higher during the wet season than during the dry season, indicating that soil moisture and denitrification were probably the main controlling factors. Net N₂O uptake was also observed occasionally. Laboratory studies were conducted to further investigate the influence of moisture and the N₂O production pathways. Production rates at 30% water holding capacity (WHC) were 3.9?±?0.2, 0.5?±?0.06 and 0.87?±?0.01?ng N₂O-nitrogen (N) g-dw^?1day^?1 in DEF, HEF and MEF respectively. At 60% WHC, N₂O production rates in DEF, HEF and MEF soils increased by factors of 68, 9 and 502, respectively. Denitrification was found to be the main N₂O production pathway in these soils except in MEF.