Potassium influence on soil aggregate stability

Improving soil aggregate stability (SAS) is important for crop production and environmental protection. Here we aim to quantify the effects of potassium (K) on SAS and to examine SAS as a function of potassium adsorption ratio (PAR) and cation ratio of soil structural stability (CROSS). The soils were treated with the incremental K and analyzed for their aggregate stability, clay dispersion, PAR, and CROSS. The influence of K on SAS, therefore, was tested statistically and fitted functionally. The results showed that K decreased clay dispersion and improved SAS. Also, SAS as a function of PAR fit an inverse exponential regression. Based on the coefficients of determination (R²) of the obtained functions, SAS can be explained by PAR with the accuracy above 94%. Increasing CROSS according to K also caused higher SAS, implying that K is considered as a flocculating inducer for kaolinitic tropical soils.     

Quantifying aggregate stability of a clay soil under annual forage crops

This study explored the influence of 10 annual forage legumes belonging to the Lathyrus and Vicia genera on wet aggregate stability (WAS) and dispersion ratio (DR) indices of a clay soil. Five Lathyrus and five Vicia species were sown in autumn. Seed‐to‐seed and row‐to‐row distance was maintained at 5 cm and 20 cm, respectively. The experiment was planned in a randomized block design with three replications. After 90 d following seed harvest, soil cores were collected from two depths (0–15, 15–30 cm) in each plot and WAS and DR were determined. Annual forage legumes increased WAS of the soil but decreased the DR index. The WAS and DR values were affected at level of p < 0.001 by genus, species, and soil depth. Values of WAS and DR of the control plots without plant on the average were found to be 44.5% and 9.3% for 0–15 cm, and 41.2% and 10.1% for 15–30 cm, respectively. For 0–15 cm depth, the highest WAS (77.7%) and the lowest DR (6.4%) values were found in L. sphaericus L. (wild) plots. For 15–30 cm depth, the highest WAS value (62.6%) was obtained in L. annuus L. (wild) plots and the lowest DR value (6.7%) was in L. sativus L. (Gurbuz‐2001) plots.     

长期施肥对中国亚热带水稻土土壤稳定性和机械属性的影响

Wet stability, penetration resistance （PR）, and tensile strength （TS） of paddy soils under a fertilization experiment for 22 years were determined to elucidate the function of soil organic matter in paddy soil stabilization. The treatments included no fertilization （CK）, normal chemical fertilization （NPK）, double the NPK application rates （2NPK）, and NPK mixed with organic manure （NPK＋OM）. Compared with CK, Fertilization increased soil organic carbon （SOC） and soil porosity. The results of soil aggregate fragmentation degree （SAFD） showed that fast wetting by water was the key fragmentation mechanism. Among the treatments, the NPK＋OM treatment had the largest size of water-stable aggregates and greatest normal mean weight diameter （NMWD） （P ≤ 0.05）, but the lowest PR and TS in both cultivated horizon （Ap） and plow pan. The CK and 2NPK treatments were measured with PR 〉 2.0 MPa and friability index 〈 0.20, respectively, in the Ap horizon, suggesting that the soils was mechanically unfavourable to root growth and tillage. In the plow pan, the fertilization treatments had greater TS and PR than in CK. TS and PR of the tested soil aggregates were negatively correlated to SOC content and soil porosity. This study suggested that chemical fertilization could cause deterioration of mechanical properties while application of organic manure could improve soil stability and mechanical properties.     

耕作对土壤有机物和土壤团聚体稳定性的影响

Agricultural sustainability relates directly to maintaining or enhancing soil quality. Soil quality studies in Canada during the 1980‘s showed that loss of soil organic matter (SOM) and soil aggregate stability was standard features of non-sustainable land management in agroecosystems. In this study total soil organic carbon (SOC), particulate organic matter (POM), POM-C as a percentage of total SOC, and aggregate stability were determined for three cultivated fields and three adjacent grassland fields to assess the impact of conventional agricultural management on soil quality. POM was investigated using solid-state ^13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to determine any qualitative differences that may be attributed to cultivation. Results show a highly significant loss in total SOC, POM and aggregate stability in the cultivated fields as compared to the grassland fields and a significant loss of POM-C as a percentage of total SOC.Integrated results of the NMR spectra of the POM show a loss in carbohydrate-C and an increase in aromatic-C in the cultivated fields, which translates to a loss of biological lability in the organic matter. Conventional cultivation decreased the quantity and quality of SOM and caused a loss in aggregate stability resulting in an overall decline in soil quality.     

Ammonium nitrate as extractant for soil exchangeable cations,exchangeable acidity and aluminum

Abstract

NH₄NO₃ (1 M) has been used as an extractant for soil exchangeable cations, exchangeable acidity and aluminum. The results obtained using NH₄NO₃ were identical to those using KC1 and NH₄Cl as extractants for the purpose of evaluating soil chemical status. The NH₄NO₃ extraction has practical analytical advantages.     

生物炭碳固定于稳定性土壤团聚体中：土壤黏土矿物及其它土壤性质的作用

Aggregation and structure play key roles in water-holding capacity and stability of soils.In this study,the incorporation of carbon(C) from switchgrass biochar into stable aggregate size fractions was assessed in an Aridisol(from Colorado,USA) dominated by 2:1 clays and an Alfisol(from Virginia,USA) containing weathered mixed 1:1 and 2:1 mineralogy,to evaluate the effect of biochar addition on soil characteristics.The biochar was applied at 4 levels,0,25,50,and 100 g kg~(-1),to the soils grown with wheat in a growth chamber experiment.The changes in soil strength and water-holding capacity using water release curves were measured.In the Colorado soil,the proportion of soil occurring in large aggregates decreased,with concomitant increases in small size fractions.No changes in aggregate size fractions occurred in the Virginia soil.In the Colorado soil,C content increased from 3.3 to 16.8 g kg~(-1),whereas in the53 μm fraction C content increased from 5.7 to 22.6 g kg~(-1) with 100 g kg~(-1)biochar addition.In the Virginia soil,C content within aggregate size fractions increased for each size fraction,except the2 000 μm fraction.The greatest increase(from 6.2 to 22.0 g kg~(-1)) occurred in the 53–250 μm fraction.The results indicated that C was incorporated into larger aggregates in the Virginia soil,but remained largely unassociated to soil particles in the Colorado soil.Biochar addition had no significant effect on water-holding capacity or strength measurements.Adding biochar to more weathered soils with high native soil organic content may result in greater stabilization of incorporated C and result in less loss because of erosion and transport,compared with the soils dominated by 2:1 clays and low native soil organic content.     

土壤润湿性受土壤特性及土地使用的影响

Depth distribution of soil wettability and its correlations with vegetation type, soil texture, and pH were investigated under various land use (cropland, grassland, and forestland) and soil management systems. Wettability was evaluated by contact angle with the Wilhelmy plate method. Water repellency was likely to be present under permanently vegetated land, but less common on tilled agricultural land. It was mostly prevalent in the topsoil, especially in coarse-textured soils, and decreased in the subsoil. However, the depth dependency of wettability could not be derived from the investigated wide range of soils. The correlation and multiple regression analysis revealed that the wettability in repellent soils was affected more by soil organic carbon (SOC) than by soil texture and pH, whereas in wettable soils, soil texture and pH were more effective than SOC. Furthermore, the quality of SOC seemed to be more important in determining wettability than its quantity, as proofed by stronger hydrophobicity under coniferous than under deciduous forestland. Soil management had a minor effect on wettability if conventional and conservation tillage or different grazing intensities were considered.     

应用Le Bissonnais法研究黄土丘陵区土壤团聚体稳定性

 以黄土丘陵区森林草原过渡带燕沟流域植被自然恢复过程中6种植被类型为研究对象,应用LeBissonnais(LB)法测定了不同植被类型下土壤水稳性团聚体,对比分析了LB法3种处理的测定结果与传统湿筛法(Yoder)的差异性。结果表明:在LB法3种湿润处理下,快速湿润处理(FW)对土壤团聚体结构的破坏程度最大,处理后土壤水稳性团聚体以0.05～0.5mm为主;慢速湿润处理(SW)对团聚体的破坏程度最小,处理后土壤水稳性团聚体主要以>2mm团聚体为主;而预湿后扰动处理(WS)对团聚体的破坏程度介于FW和SW之间,处理后土壤团聚体粒径分布比较均匀。说明该区土壤团聚体破坏的主要机制是土壤孔隙中的气泡爆破产生的消散作用。退耕100a期间,植被群落由1年生草本(4a)—多年生灌草(16 a)—半灌木(29 a)—灌木(55 a)—乔木(100a)方向演替过程中,土壤水稳性团聚体由小粒径向大粒径方向转变,土壤结构趋于稳定。LB法3种处理中,FW处理与SW处理所测得>0.5mm团聚体含量和平均重量直径与土壤有机质和物理性黏粒之间存在显著的相关性,而WS处理未达到显著水平(P>0.05)。说明土壤有机质和物理性黏粒主要影响消散和黏粒膨胀引起的崩解作用,而对机械干扰引起的团聚体破坏无明显影响。LB法3种处理中,慢速湿润方法所获得土壤团聚体稳定性特征更接近湿筛法,适宜于黄土丘陵区植被恢复过程中土壤水稳性团聚体的测定。     

铵、钾同时存在时, 土壤对铵的优先吸附

The water stability of aggregates in various size classes separated from 18 samples of red soils under different managements, and the mechanisms responsible for the formation of water-stable soil aggregates were studied. The results showed that the water stability of soil aggregates declined with increasing size, especially for the low organic matter soils. Organic matter plays a key role in the formation of water-stable soil aggregates. The larger the soil aggregate size, the greater the impact of organic matter on the water stability of soil aggregates. Removal of organic matter markedly disintegrated the large water-stable aggregates (> 2.0 mm) and increased the small ones (< 0.25-0.5mm) to some extent, whereas removal of free iron(aluminium) oxides considerably destroyed aggregates of all sizes, especially the < 0.25-0.5 mm classes. The contents of organic matter in water-stable aggregates increased with aggregate sizes. It is concluded from this study that small water-stable aggregates (< 0.25-0.5 mm) were chiefly cemented by Fe and Al oxides whilst the large ones (> 2.0 mm) were mainly glued up by organic matter. Both free oxides and organic matter contribute to the formation and water stability of aggregates in red soils.     

湿润速度对土壤表面强度和土壤团聚体结构的影响

为揭示地表结皮形成的物理机制和防止结皮形成的措施提供理论支持,该文以中国3种典型的土壤（黄土、红壤和黑土）为研究对象,采用2 mm/h（慢速）,10 mm/h（中速）,50 mm/h（快速）3种湿润速度,研究无降雨条件下不同湿润速度对土壤表面强度和土壤团聚体结构的影响。结果表明：不同湿润速度对3种土壤的表面强度的影响程度由大到小为黄土,黑土,红壤;3种土壤中,红壤的团聚体稳定性最好,其次是黑土,黄土最差;除黄土和红壤各自慢速湿润与中速湿润对平均质量直径（MWD）的影响差异不显著,其余各种土壤不同湿润速度对MWD的影响差异均显著。     

Soil‐aggregate formation as influenced by clay content and organic‐matter amendment

Naturally occurring wetting‐and‐drying cycles often enhance aggregation and give rise to a stable soil structure. In comparatively dry regions, such as large areas of Australia, organic‐matter (OM) contents in topsoils of arable land are usually small. Therefore, the effects of wetting and drying are almost solely reliant on the clay content. To investigate the relations between wetting‐and‐drying cycles, aggregation, clay content, and OM in the Australian environment, an experiment was set up to determine the relative influence of both clay content (23%, 31%, 34%, and 38%) and OM amendments of barley straw (equivalent to 3.1 t ha^–1, 6.2 t ha^–1, and 12.4 t ha^–1) on the development of water‐stable aggregates in agricultural soil. The aggregate stability of each of the sixteen composite soils was determined after one, three, and six wet/dry cycles and subsequent fast and slow prewetting and was then compared to the aggregate stabilities of all other composite soils. While a single wet/dry cycle initiated soil structural evolution in all composite soils, enhancing macroaggregation, the incorporation of barley straw was most effective for the development of water‐stable aggregates in those soils with 34% and 38% clay. Repeated wetting‐and‐drying events revealed that soil aggregation is primarily based on the clay content of the soil, but that large straw additions also tend to enhance soil aggregation. Relative to untreated soil, straw additions equivalent to 3.1 t ha^–1 and 12.4 t ha^–1 increased soil aggregation by about 100% and 250%, respectively, after three wet/dry cycles and fast prewetting, but were of less influence with subsequent wet/dry cycles. Straw additions were even more effective in aggregating soil when combined with slow prewetting; after three wet/dry cycles, the mean weight diameters of aggregates were increased by 70% and 140% with the same OM additions and by 160% and 290% after six wet/dry cycles, compared to samples without organic amendments. We suggest that in arable soils poor in OM and with a field texture grade of clay loam or finer, the addition of straw, which is often available from preceding crops, may be useful for improving aggregation. For a satisfactory degree of aggregate stability and an improved soil structural form, we found that straw additions of at least 6.2 t ha^–1 were required. However, rapid wetting of straw‐amended soil will disrupt newly formed aggregates, and straw has only a limited ability to sustain structural improvement.     

Soil aggregation,aggregate stability,organic carbon and nitrogen in different soil aggregate fractions under forest and shrub vegetation on the Loess Plateau,China

Revegetation has been reported as one of the most effective counter measures to reduce soil and water erosion on the Loess plateau in China. Soil aggregate stability and the distribution of organic carbon and nitrogen in different aggregate fractions would be affected by different plant communities. The objectives of this study were to elucidate the effects of different plant communities on soil aggregate stability and the distribution of organic carbon and nitrogen in different aggregate fractions in order to prove that the different plant covers enhance soil aggregate stability.     

前期土壤含水率对红壤团聚体稳定性及溅蚀的影响

为了探究前期含水率对南方红壤团聚体稳定性及溅蚀的影响,选取泥质页岩和第四纪红黏土发育的4个典型红壤为研究对象,就5个前期含水率(3%、5%、10%、15%、20%)条件下3~5 mm团聚体水稳定性特征及其与溅蚀的关系进行了初步的探讨。结果表明,消散作用是团聚体破碎最有效的机制,土壤前期含水率越大,团聚体破碎程度越小。随着前期含水率的升高,泥质页岩发育的2种红壤水稳性团聚体平均质量直径(MWDwa)显著增大;第四纪红黏土发育的2种红壤水稳性团聚体平均质量直径(MWDwa)先增大后减小,拐点出现在含水率为15%条件下。泥质页岩发育2种红壤溅蚀量随前期含水率的升高显著减小;第四纪红黏土发育2种红壤溅蚀量随前期含水率的升高呈现先减小后增大的趋势,在含水率为15%时达到最小。团聚体水稳性较高的土样,溅蚀粒径分布呈双峰曲线分布,主要分布1~0.5和0.05 mm范围内,且前期含水率越高,0.05 mm溅蚀颗粒含量越大;而团聚体水稳定性较差的土样,除前期含水率为20%外,溅蚀粒径分布呈单峰曲线分布,主要分布在0.25~1mm。该结果为红壤区农业水土工程及机侵蚀机理研究提供一定的参考,对完善坡面水蚀模型具有一定的参考价值。     

横坡和顺坡耕作对紫色土土壤团聚体稳定性的影响

通过径流小区试验,分析探讨了紫色土横坡和顺坡两种耕作模式下表层(0~20 cm)土壤水稳性团聚体及有机碳含量的特征,为紫色土区坡耕地的有效改造和综合利用提供科学依据。试验结果表明,横坡耕作下土壤水稳性指数K值比顺坡耕作高38.99%,而土壤分散性D值为顺坡耕作的1.64倍,横坡耕作抗蚀性大于顺坡耕作。横坡耕作>0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量比顺坡耕作增加3.62%,>5 mm、5~3 mm、3~2 mm水稳性团聚体含量横坡耕作均高于顺坡耕作,横坡耕作显著提高>2 mm水稳性团聚体含量。横坡耕作下团聚体结构体破坏率较顺坡耕作减少3.05%,团聚体平均重量直径为顺坡耕作的1.39倍。2种耕作模式下0.5~2 mm团聚体有机碳含量均最高,>0.25 mm不同粒级团聚体有机碳含量百分数均随粒径的减小而减小,均在0.5~0.25 mm粒级下达到最小。横坡和顺坡耕作模式下2~1 mm团聚体有机碳含量无显著差异。横坡耕作较顺坡耕作能够显著增加紫色土>2 mm水稳性团聚体含量,且对有机碳的固持作用更好,有利于土壤结构的改善。     

Nitrogen release from different polymer-coated urea fertilizers in soil is affected by soil properties

The use of urea as nitrogen (N) fertilizer in agriculture needs to consider environmental, economic and resource conservation aspects because of low N-use efficiency (NUE). Polymer-coated urea (PCU) offers an effective way to improve the NUE of urea and to reduce its environmental trade-offs. However, we lack information on the impact of climate and soil properties on N release from PCU. Therefore, this study was performed to quantify the effects of soil texture, moisture and temperature on the release kinetics of N from PCU. We designed a test system for soil incubation experiments and investigated three fertilizers with different release patterns, five topsoils, three moisture levels and two temperatures over 48 days. We analysed the concentrations of inorganic N (${\mathrm{NH}}_4^{+}-\mathrm{N}$ and ${\mathrm{NO}}_3^{-}-\mathrm{N}$) in the soil and estimated N release rates using the unified Richards model. Soil texture did not change the N release patterns, but release rates varied significantly among the investigated soils. Changes in soil moisture for a given soil had no effect on N release from PCU and urea when fertilizers were incorporated into the soil at conditions supportive of crop growth. Lowering soil temperatures, however, decreased N release rates from PCU by 16%–49% but only in silt loam and not in sandy loam. We conclude that PCU improves the N residence time in soil, but predictions on N release from PCU must be adapted to the prevailing environmental conditions and cannot be generalized across differently textured soils.     

Biochars improve aggregate stability,water retention,and pore‐space properties of clayey soil

The influence of biochar amendments on the physical quality of a clayey soil (Vertisol) was evaluated by aggregate‐size distribution and stability, water retention, and pore‐space structure of biochar‐amended soils. Clayey soil was treated with three kinds of biochars (straw biochar, woodchips biochar, and wastewater‐sludge biochar) at the rate of 0, 20, 40, and 60 g biochar (kg soil)^–1 and incubated for 180 d in glasshouse. The application of straw biochar (SB) and wastewater‐sludge biochar (WSB) significantly enhanced the formation of 5–2 and 0.25–0.5 mm macroaggregates in the clayey soil relative to the control treatment, while the < 0.25‐cm microaggregate decreased with biochar additions. However, woodchips biochar (WCB) had no obvious effect on the formation of macroaggregate. The application of SB and WSB increased the mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric mean diameter (GMD) of clayey soil, implying that biochar increased the aggregate stability. They improved the aggregate stability through an enhanced resistance to slaking and increased interparticular cohesion. The SB‐amended soils exhibited significant increases in the available water contents of soils. The application of SB significantly increased pore volume in the macropore (> 75 μm) and mesopore (30–75 μm) ranges, which may be the result of the reorganization of pore‐size distribution and aggregation processes induced by the addition of biochar. Results indicated that biochar had the potential to improve the physical quality and pore‐space status of clayey soil. It is suggested that biochar may be considered as a soil amendment for improving poor physical characteristics of clayey soil.     

复种模式对豫西褐土团聚体稳定性及其碳、氮分布的影响

[目的]长期单一的玉米–小麦复种模式会引起土壤结构破坏、农田生产力下降.探究不同复种模式对农田土壤团聚体稳定性及其碳、氮分布的影响,为维持土壤结构稳定,实现农业可持续发展提供科学依据.[方法]定位试验在河南洛阳褐土上进行.设置冬小麦–夏玉米(T1)、冬小麦–夏花生(T2)、冬小麦–夏玉米||花生间作(2行玉米间作4行花...     

长期施用有机肥对旱地红壤团聚体结构与稳定性的影响

利用长期定位试验研究了红壤旱地团聚体结构及其稳定性。结果表明:与对照相比,各有机-无机配施处理均可不同程度地降低土壤容重并提高其孔隙度;增施有机肥后,土壤中大于5mm机械稳定性大团聚体增幅达2%～42%;各处理中大于0.25mm水稳性团聚体百分含量为:厩肥稻草绿肥还田对照。各有机肥处理中土壤中有机质、无定形氧化铁和无定形氧化铝含量较单施化肥处理分别增加了9%～54%、8.5%～21.7%和10.9%～26.8%。统计结果显示,0.25mm水稳性团聚体含量与土壤有机质含量成极显著正相关(p0.01);土壤团聚体破坏率与土壤有机质含量成极显著负相关(p0.01)。在单施化肥的基础上有机肥的施入不仅有利于红壤旱地土壤大团聚体的形成,还有利于改善土壤团聚体结构及其稳定性。     

Effect of biochar on soil structure and storage of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in the aggregate fractions of an Albic soil

ABSTRACT

Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of corn straw derived-biochar (700 °C) applied at 0 (control), 10 (B1), 20 (B2) and 30 t ha^?1 (B3) on water stable aggregate (WSA), mean weight diameter (MWD), total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in WSA fractions of Albic soil. Compared with control, WSA in > 2 mm fraction increased, by 40.8% and 51.5% (0–10 cm depth) in B1 and B3, respectively. B1, B2 and B3 (10–20 cm depth) increased by 55.2%, 69.6% and 62.4%, respectively. MWD increased by 34.4%, 21.6%, and 17.6% with B3 at 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm depths, respectively. TOC in the > 2 mm fraction increased by 28.6%, 22.1%, and 23.2% (0–10 cm depth) in B1, B2, and B3, respectively, TN in 2–0.5 mm fractions increased by 32.4%, 23.4% and 33.6% (0–10 cm depth); and in the 0.25–0.05 mm fractions increased by 14.8%, 19.8% and 18.7% (10–20 cm depth), in B1, B2 and B3, respectively. Our findings suggest biochar application at 30 t ha^?1 could improve structural stability and sequestration of TOC and TN in Albic soils.     

Soil aggregate stability and organic matter as affected by land-use change in central Iran

This study aimed to evaluate the soil aggregate stability and selected soil quality indicators in various land uses in a semiarid region in central Iran. Random soil sampling was used to collect soil samples from surface (0–5 cm) and subsurface (5–25 cm) soil layers in rangelands of different condition classes, dry farmland and abandoned land. The aggregate size distribution indices including mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD) and median diameter (D₅₀) of water-stable aggregates in the collected soil samples were measured. Our findings showed that percent of macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) of the surface and subsurface layers in rangelands of different condition classes were significantly higher than dry farmlands and abandoned lands (P < 0.05). Results showed that the trend of changes in soil organic matter was similar to soil aggregate stability in different land uses in both soil layers as follows: rangeland with good condition > rangeland with poor condition > abandoned land > dry farmlands. The structural stability indices (i.e. MWD, GMD and D₅₀) of rangelands with good condition were significantly greater than other land uses (P < 0.05). This highlights the importance of maintaining native rangeland to prevent organic matter loss, structure deterioration and soil erosion.