Soil evolution along an alluvial-loess transect in the Herat Plain,western Afghanistan

Afghanistan is located in the Eurasian loess belt, however, there is little information on the soils in the area. Loess has covered the Herat Plain in western Herat City, Afghanistan. Despite the diversity of landform and parent material, there is no information on the soil and landform evolution in this area. The objectives of this study were to identify the soils along a transect of different landforms in the Herat Plain and determine the role of geomorphic processes on the soil and landform e...     

Aggregate binding agents improve soil aggregate stability in Robinia pseudoacacia forests along a climatic gradient on the Loess Plateau,China

The distribution of binding agents(i.e.,soil organic carbon(SOC)and glomalin-related soil protein(GRSP))in soil aggregates was influenced by many factors,such as plant characteristics and soil properties.However,how these factors affect binding agents and soil aggregate stability along a climatic gradient remained unclear.We selected the Robinia pseudoacacia L.forests from semi-arid to semi-humid of the Loess Plateau,China to analyze the plant biomass,soil physical-chemical properties,SOC and GRSP distribution in different sized soil aggregates.We found that from semi-arid to semi-humid forests:(1)the proportion of macro-aggregates(>0.250 mm)significantly increased(P<0.05),whereas those of micro-aggregates(0.250–0.053 mm)and fine materials(<0.053 mm)decreased and soil aggregate stability was increased;(2)the contents of SOC and GRSP in macro-aggregates and micro-aggregates significantly increased,and those in fine materials decreased;(3)the contribution of SOC to soil aggregate stability was greater than those of total GRSP and easily extractable GRSP;(4)soil properties had greater influence on binding agents than plant biomass;and(5)soil aggregate stability was enhanced by increasing the contents of SOC and GRSP in macro-aggregates and soil property was the important part during this process.Climate change from semi-arid to semi-humid forests is important factor for soil structure formation because of its positive effect on soil aggregates.     

Tectonic geomorphological characteristics for evolution of the Manas Lake

Owing to global climatic changes and human activities,the lakes have changed dramatically in the Junggar Basin of Xinjiang in recent 50 years. Based on the remote sensing images from Beijing Satellite No.1 in 2006 together with the measured topographical data in 1999 and other data since the 1950s,this paper analyzes mainly the features of landforms around the Manas Lake and the changes of feeding sources of the lake. The results are as follows:(1) Tectonic movement brought about the fundamental geomorphological basis for lacustrine evolution,and the Manas Lake is one of small lakes broken up from the Old Manas Lake due to tectonic movement and drought climate; the Manas Lake had existed before the Manas River flowed into it in 1915. The geomorphologic evidences for evolution of the Manas Lake include:(a) Diluvial fans and old channels at the north of the lake indicate that the rivers originating from the north mountains of the Junggar Basin had fed the Old Manas Lake and now still feed the lake as seasonal rivers; (b) The Old Manas Lake was fed by many rivers originating from the mountains,except for the Manas River,from the evidence of small lakes around the Manas Lake,old channels,alluvial fans,etc.; (c) The elevations of the alluvial and diluvial fans are near to the 280 m a.s.l. and all of the small lakes and lacustrine plains are within the range of the 280 m a.s.l.,which may prove that the elevation of the Old Manas Lake was about 280 m a.s.l.; (d) Core analysis of the Manas Lake area also indicates that the Manas Lake has existed since Late Pleistocene epoch. (2) Analysis on the feeding relations between the lakes and the lacustrine evolution shows that human activities are one of main driving forces of the lacustrine evolution in recent 50 years,and it is the precondition of restoring and maintaining the lacutrine wetlands in the study area to satisfy the feeding of the Baiyang and Manas rivers to the Manas Lake.     

Effects of different tillage and straw retention practices on soil aggregates and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils of the northwestern China

Soil tillage and straw retention in dryland areas may affect the soil aggregates and the distribution of total organic carbon. The aims of this study were to establish how different tillage and straw retention practices affect the soil aggregates and soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in the aggregate fractions based on a long-term (approximately 15 years) field experimentin the semi-arid western Loess Plateau, northwestern China. The experiment included four soil treatments, i.e., conventional tillage with straw removed (T), conventional tillage with straw incorporated (TS), no tillage with straw removed (NT) and no tillage with straw retention (NTS), which were arranged in a complete randomized block design. The wet-sieving method was used to separate four size fractions of aggregates, namely, large macroaggregates (LA, >2000 μm), small macroaggregates (SA, 250-2000 μm), microaggregates (MA, 53-250 μm), and silt and clay (SC, <53 μm). Compared to the conventional tillage practices (including T and TS treatments), the percentages of the macroaggregate fractions (LA and SA) under the conservation tillage practices (including NT and NTS treatments) were increased by 41.2%-56.6%, with the NTS treatment having the greatest effect. For soil layers of 0-5, 5-10 and 10-30 cm, values of the mean weight diameter (MWD) under the TS and NTS treatments were 10.68%, 13.83% and 17.65%, respectively. They were 18.45%, 19.15% and 14.12% higher than those under the T treatment, respectively. The maximum contents of the aggregate-associated SOC and TN were detected in the SA fraction, with the greatest effect being observed for the NTS treatment. The SOC and TN contents were significantly higher under the NTS and TS treatments than under the T treatment. Also, the increases in SOC and TN levels were much higher in the straw-retention plots than in the straw-removed plots. The macroaggregates (including LA and SA fractions) were the major pools for SOC and TN, regardless of tillage practices, storing 3.25-6.81 g C/kg soil and 0.34-0.62 g N/kg soil. Based on the above results, we recommend the NTS treatment as the best option to boost soil aggregates and to reinforce carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils in the semi-arid western Loess Plateau of northwestern China.     

Changes in soil organic carbon and nitrogen after 26 years of farmland management on the Loess Plateau of China

Soil carbon(C) and nitrogen(N) play a crucial role in determining the soil and environmental quality. In this study, we investigated the effects of 26 years(from 1984 to 2010) of farmland management on soil organic carbon(SOC) and soil N in abandoned, wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) non-fertilized, wheat fertilized(mineral fertilizer and organic manure) and alfalfa(Medicago Sativa L.) non-fertilized treatments in a semi-arid region of the Loess Plateau, China. Our results showed that SOC and soil total N contents in the 0–20 cm soil layer increased by 4.29(24.4%) and 1.39 Mg/hm2(100%), respectively, after the conversion of farmland to alfalfa land. Compared to the wheat non-fertilized treatment, SOC and soil total N contents in the 0–20 cm soil layer increased by 4.64(26.4%) and 1.18 Mg/hm2(85.5%), respectively, in the wheat fertilized treatment. In addition, we found that the extents of changes in SOC, soil total N and mineral N depended on soil depth were greater in the upper soil layer(0–30 cm) than in the deeper soil layer(30–100 cm) in the alfalfa land or fertilizer-applied wheat land. Fertilizer applied to winter wheat could increase the accumulation rates of SOC and soil total N. SOC concentration had a significant positive correlation with soil total N concentration. Therefore, this study suggested that farmland management, e.g. the conversion of farmland to alfalfa forage land and fertilizer application, could promote the sequestrations of C and N in soils in semi-arid regions.     

Lithic soils in the semi-arid region of Brazil: edaphic characterization and susceptibility to erosion

Soils(Leptosols or Epileptic Regosols)with lithic contact at a depth of 50 cm occupy almost 20%of the Brazilian semi-arid region.These lithic soils are susceptible to erosion due to faster saturation of water-holding capacity during rainfall,which accelerates the beginning of runoff.However,erosion traits of lithic soils in the semi-arid region of Brazil are less studied.The aim of this study was to characterize the soil and landscape attributes in areas with Neossolos Litólicos(Entisols)in the Caatinga biome to identify region of high susceptibility to erosion.Results showed that the soils were characterized by a sandy texture,soil structure with poor development and low content of organic carbon.These attributes increase susceptibility to erosion and reduce water storage capacity,especially in the states of Cearáand Sergipe.In these states,the content of rock fragments in the soil reaches 790 g/kg.High contents of silt and fine sand,high silt/clay ratio,predominance of Leptosols and strong rainfall erosivity were observed in Piauíand northwestern Ceará.A very high degree of water erosion was observed in the states of Pernambuco and Paraíba.Despite the low degree of erosion observed in the state of Bahia,it is highly susceptible to erosion due to the predominance of very shallow soils,rugged relief and high values of rainfall erosivity.Lower vulnerability was observed in the state of Alagoas because of its more smoothed relief,greater effective soil depth,thicker A horizon of soil and lower rainfall erosivity.In general,the characteristics that intensify the susceptibility to erosion in the Caatinga biome are those soil structures with poor development or without aggregation,low contents of organic carbon,high contents of silt and fine sand,high values of silt/clay ratio and rugged relief in some regions.This study collected information contributing to a better characterization of soils with lithic contact in the semi-arid region of Brazil.In addition,regions with a higher susceptibility to erosion were identified,revealing insights that could help develop strategies for environmental risk mitigation.     

新疆玛纳斯河流域棉田土壤有机碳含量时空分异规律

玛河流域棉田土壤有机碳的空间分异与连作棉田土壤有机碳变化的研究结果表明:由南至北在纬度梯度上有机碳总量随土壤粘粒含量的降低,砂粒含量的增大而呈下降趋势。HU-C和FA-C的变化趋势与总有机碳变化相近,HA-C在冲积扇缘有最大值,冲积平原下降,干三角洲呈增加趋势。H/F和Kos随纬度呈增长趋势。棉田土壤有机碳总量在秸秆还田技术下随连作年限的增加而提高,但主要增加了HU-C。H/F随连作年限呈下降趋势,在连作8年之后变为1。Kos在连作1~9年呈下降趋势,随后开始增长,8~9年是连作棉田土壤有机碳质量衰退的警戒值。     

新疆玛纳斯湖演化的地貌特征

在北京一号卫星遥感影像的支持下,利用最新实测精度达到1 m分辨率的地形等高线数据、野外测量数据,结合20世纪50年代野外实地调查资料等前人研究成果,对玛纳斯湖演化的构造地貌特征及补给来源等进行了详细分析。结果表明:①构造运动奠定了玛纳斯湖及周围湖泊演化的基本地貌特征,玛纳斯湖是古玛纳斯湖在3次区域性构造运动和气候因素作用下解体后分离出的几个小湖泊之一,早在1915年玛纳斯河改道之前就已经存在,并不是游移湖。玛纳斯湖北部的洪积扇与古河道、多斯他浪岗冲积扇等表明,除接受玛纳斯河补给外,很多发源于准噶尔盆地南、北部山区河流都曾补给过古玛纳斯湖;这些冲、洪积扇的扇缘位置、玛纳斯湖和艾里克湖北部的两级阶地,玛纳斯河的三角洲平原及各湖泊都在海拔280 m的范围内,表明古玛纳斯湖的范围可能在海拔280 m的高程范围内;湖区钻孔取样分析等相关研究也表明,自晚更新世以来,该区域一直为湖泊环境。②各湖泊的补给关系分析及湖泊演化过程表明,人类活动是近半个世纪以来湖泊演化的主要驱动力,保证白杨河、玛纳斯河这两条补给河流的入湖水量,是该地区湖泊湿地得到恢复和维持的前提。     

Adsorption and degradation of four acidic herbicides in soils from southern Spain

BACKGROUND: Pesticide degradation and adsorption in soils are key processes determining whether pesticide use will have any impact on environmental quality. Pesticide degradation in soil generally results in a reduction in toxicity, but some pesticides have breakdown products that are more toxic than the parent compound. Adsorption to soil particles ensures that herbicide is retained in the place where its biological activity is expressed and also determines potential for transportation away from the site of action. Degradation and adsorption are complex processes, and shortcomings in understanding them still restrict the ability to predict the fate and behaviour of ionisable pesticides. This paper reports the sorption and degradation behaviour of four acidic pesticides in five soils from southern Spain. Results are used to investigate the influence of soil and pesticide properties on adsorption and degradation as well as the potential link between the two processes. RESULTS: Adsorption and degradation of four acidic pesticides were measured in four soils from Spain characterised by small organic matter (OM) contents (0.3-1.0%) and varying clay contents (3-66%). In general, sorption increased in the order dicamba < metsulfuron-methyl < 2,4-D < flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium. Both OM and clay content were found to be important in determining adsorption, but relative differences in clay content between soils were much larger than those in OM content, and therefore clay content was the main property determining the extent of herbicide adsorption for these soils. pH was negatively correlated with adsorption for all compounds apart from metsulfuron-methyl. A clear positive correlation was observed for degradation rate with clay and OM content (P < 0.01), and a negative correlation was observed with pH (P < 0.01). The exception was metsulfuron-methyl, for which degradation was found to be significantly correlated only with soil bioactivity (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both OM and clay content were found to be important in determining adsorption, but relative differences in clay content between soils were much larger than those in OM content, and therefore clay content was the main property determining the extent of herbicide adsorption for soils of this type. pH was negatively correlated with adsorption for all compounds apart from metsulfuron-methyl. The contrasting behaviour shown for these four acidic pesticides indicates that chemical degradation in soil is more difficult to predict than adsorption. Most of the variables measured were interrelated, and different behaviours were observed even for compounds from the same chemical class and with similar structures.     

Land cover changes and the effects of cultivation on soil properties in Shelihu wetland,Horqin Sandy Land,Northern China

Land cover change plays an essential role in the alternation of soils properties.By field investigation and applying satellite images,land cover information in the Shelihu wetland was carried out in an area of 2,819 hm 2 in 1985,1995,2000,2005,2010 and 2011,respectively,in Horqin Sandy Land.A total of 57 soil sampling sites across Shelihu were chosen in wet meadow(CL0),cropland(CL) and sandy land(SL) according to the spatial characteristics of water body change.Soil texture,organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN) and total phosphorus(TP) contents,electrical conductivity(EC) and pH were measured at the soil depths of 0-10,10-20 and 20-40 cm to examine the influence of agricultural conversion and continuous cultivation on soil properties.The results showed that the study area was covered by water body in 1985,which gradually declined afterwards and then reclaimed rapidly at a mean annual rate of 132.1 hm 2 /a from wet meadow to cropland since 1995.In 2011,water body was drained and the area was occupied by 10.8% of CL0,76.9% of CL and 12.3% of SL.Large amounts of SOC,TN and TP were accumulated in the above depths in CL0.Soil in CL0 also had higher EC and silt and clay fractions,lower pH than in SL and CL.Soil in SL was seriously degraded with lower contents of SOC,TN and TP than in CL and CL0.SOC,TN content and EC in CL decreased with the increase of cultivation age,while pH showed a reverse trend with significance at plough horizon.The agricultural conversion in Shelihu was driven by the comprehensive factors of precipitation reduction,economic development and intense competitions for irrigation water.Continuous cultivation in this process is not sustainable because of SOC degradation and nutrient content reduction.The key point is that conventional tillage and removal of residuals induced further land degradation.Wetland reclamation for immediate economic interests led to greater costs in the long-term environmental restoration in Horqin Sandy Land.     

玛纳斯河流域绿洲农田土壤盐分反演及空间分布特征

土壤盐分的准确监测是干旱、半干旱地区农业可持续发展的前提,气候变化、不合理灌溉等因素使土壤盐渍化问题逐渐显现.文中以新疆玛纳斯河流域为例,采用多光谱遥感影像和野外实测土壤盐分数据相结合的方法,选取对土壤盐渍化影响较大的归一化差异水体指数及其它具有代表性的多光谱遥感指数与土壤盐分构建反演模型,探讨研究区内土壤盐渍化的空间...     

Sorption-desorption of flucarbazone and propoxycarbazone and their benzenesulfonamide and triazolinone metabolites in two soils

Sorption-desorption interactions of pesticides with soil determine the availability of pesticides in soil for transport, plant uptake and microbial degradation. These interactions are affected by the physical and chemical properties of the pesticide and soil and, for some pesticides, their residence time in the soil. While sorption-desorption of many herbicides has been characterised, very little work in this area has been done on herbicide metabolites. The objective of this study was to characterise sorption-desorption of two sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinone herbicides, flucarbazone and propoxycarbazone, and their benzenesulfonamide and triazolinone metabolites in two soils with different physical and chemical properties. K(f) values for all four chemicals were greater in clay loam soil, which had higher organic carbon and clay contents than loamy sand. K(f-oc) ranged from 29 to 119 for the herbicides and from 42 to 84 for the metabolites. Desorption was hysteretic in every case. Lower desorption in the more sorptive system might indicate that hysteresis can be attributed to irreversible binding of the molecules to soil surfaces. These data show the importance of characterisation of both sorption and desorption of herbicide residues in soil, particularly in the case of prediction of herbicide residue transport. In this case, potential transport of sulfonylaminocarbonyltriazolinone herbicide metabolites would be overpredicted if parent chemical soil sorption values were used to predict transport.     

不同荒漠生态系统下有机碳和微生物碳的分布特征

基于新疆古尔班通古特沙漠南缘原始盐生旱生荒漠的3种建群灌木琵琶柴(Reaumuria soongori-ca)、多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)和梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)生态系统下土壤剖面实测数据,分析了土壤有机碳(SOC)和土壤微生物量碳(Mc)的垂直分布特征及其与土壤理化因子的关系。结果表明:3个生态系统类型之间土壤剖面SOC分布状况和含量不存在显著差别,但每个生态系统土壤剖面土层之间存在显著差别。各生态系统土壤上层均存在着一定厚度的SOC富集层,中部(10～30cm)SOC含量迅速下降,下部有机碳含量低而稳定。Mc分布与含量与SOC存在相似的规律。Mc对90cm以上的土壤碳循环起着重要的作用,而对深层次的碳库影响不大,不会对全球变化做出响应,但意义更重要,它们可以更长期保留于土壤中而不释放回大气圈。     

Effects of Caragana microphylla plantations on organic carbon sequestration in total and labile soil organic carbon fractions in the Horqin Sandy Land,northern China

Afforestation is conducive to soil carbon(C) sequestration in semi-arid regions. However, little is known about the effects of afforestation on sequestrations of total and labile soil organic carbon(SOC) fractions in semi-arid sandy lands. In the present study, we examined the effects of Caragana microphylla Lam. plantations with different ages(12-and 25-year-old) on sequestrations of total SOC as well as labile SOC fractions such as light fraction organic carbon(LFOC) and microbial biomass carbon(MBC). The analyzed samples were taken from soil depths of 0–5 and 5–15 cm under two shrub-related scenarios: under shrubs and between shrubs with moving sand dunes as control sites in the Horqin Sandy Land of northern China. The results showed that the concentrations and storages of total SOC at soil depths of 0–5 and 5–15 cm were higher in 12-and 25-year-old C. microphylla plantations than in moving sand dunes(i.e., control sites), with the highest value observed under shrubs in 25-year-old C. microphylla plantations. Furthermore, the concentrations and storages of LFOC and MBC showed similar patterns with those of total SOC at the same soil depth. The 12-year-old C. microphylla plantations had higher percentages of LFOC concentration to SOC concentration and MBC concentration to SOC concentration than the 25-year-old C. microphylla plantations and moving sand dunes at both soil depths. A significant positive correlation existed among SOC, LFOC, and MBC, implying that restoring the total and labile SOC fractions is possible by afforestation with C. microphylla shrubs in the Horqin Sandy Land. At soil depth of 0–15 cm, the accumulation rate of total SOC under shrubs was higher in young C. microphylla plantations(18.53 g C/(m~2·a); 0–12 years) than in old C. microphylla plantations(16.24 g C/(m~2·a); 12–25 years), and the accumulation rates of LFOC and MBC under shrubs and between shrubs were also higher in young C. microphylla plantations than in old C. microphylla plantations. It can be concluded that the establishment of C. microphylla in the Horqin Sandy Land may be a good mitigation strategy for SOC sequestration in the surface soils.     

Adsorption-desorption behaviour of flufenacet in five different soils of India

Adsorption-desorption of the herbicide flufenacet (FOE 5043) has been studied in five soils from different locations in India (Delhi, Ranchi, Nagpur, Kerala and Assam) varying in their physicochemical properties. The organic matter (OM) content varied from 0.072 to 0.864%, clay content from 2.5 to 43.7% and pH from 4.45 to 8.35. The adsorption studies were carried out using a batch equilibration technique. Ten grams of soil were equilibrated with 20 ml of aqueous 0.01 M CaCl2 solution containing different concentrations (0-30 mg litre-1) of flufenacet. After equilibration, an aliquot of supernatant was taken out for analysis. During desorption, the amount withdrawn for analysis was replenished with fresh 0.01 M CaCl2 solution and further equilibrated. Desorption studies were carried out with the 30 mg litre-1 concentration of flufenacet only. The adsorption studies revealed that there was moderate to high adsorption of flufenacet considering the comparatively low organic carbon content in the five test soils. Average Kd values ranged from 0.77 to 4.52 and Freundlich KF values from 0.76 to 4.39. The highest adsorption was observed in Kerala soil (OM 0.786%; clay 25%; pH 4.45) followed by Ranchi, Nagpur and Delhi soils, and the lowest in Assam soil (OM 0.553%; clay 2.5%; pH 6.87). The trend in adsorption could be attributed to the chemical nature of flufenacet and the physicochemical properties of the soil such as pH, OM and clay contents. OM and clay contents were positively correlated whereas pH was negatively correlated. Soils having low pH, high OM and high clay contents showed higher adsorption. Desorption studies revealed that there was a hysteresis effect in all the soils. Hysteresis coefficient values (ratio of n(ad) and n(des)) varied from 0.09 to 0.45. The study implies that, because of its moderate to high adsorption, flufenacet is likely to persist in soil for some time. However, the possibility of its movement by leaching or surface run off is less.     

Long-term cultivation and landscape position effects on aggregate size and organic carbon fractionation on surface soil properties in semi-arid region of Iran

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of long-term cultivation and landscape position on organic carbon content and soil aggregation. Sampling sites were determined based upon land use at the end of 50 years soil use and management, cultivated/annual wheat cropping and grazed pasture, and landscape position in Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiary province, southwest Iran. Soil samples were collected from the 0–5 cm and 5–15 cm depths in two adjacent fields that have the same slope and aspect. The soil was silty clay at the summit and footslope positions, and was a silty clay loam at the backslope. Wet-sieving analysis and aggregate-size fractionation methods were used to separate the samples into three aggregate fractions (i.e., 2–4.75, 0.25–2, and 0.053–0.25 mm). The treatments were arranged in a factorial design. Land use significantly affected the water-stable aggregate fractions, so that the wet soil stability of the macroaggregates (i.e., 2–4.75 mm) was higher in the pasture, whereas it was greater for the meso-aggregates (i.e., 0.25–2 mm) in the cultivated soils. Cultivation decreased both the wet-aggregate stability and percent of macroaggregates whereas long-term pasture enhanced aggregation. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content within aggregates and primary particles was also significantly influenced by landscape position, land use, and the depth of sampling. The SOC content was higher in clay than those in silt and sand contents. The SOC content decreased as depth increased in all fractions. In general, the highest and lowest wet-stable aggregates were observed on the footslope and backslope positions, respectively.     

Natural vegetation restoration of Liaodong oak (Quercus liaotungensis Koidz.) forests rapidly increased the content and ratio of inert carbon in soil macroaggregates

The lack of clarity of how natural vegetation restoration influences soil organic carbon (SOC) content and SOC components in soil aggregate fractions limits the understanding of SOC sequestration and turnover in forest ecosystems. The aim of this study was to explore how natural vegetation restoration affects the SOC content and ratio of SOC components in soil macroaggregates (>250 μm), microaggregates (53-250 μm), and silt and clay (<53 μm) fractions in 30-, 60-, 90- and 120-year-old Liaodong oak (Quercus liaotungensis Koidz.) forests, Shaanxi, China in 2015. And the associated effects of biomasses of leaf litter and different sizes of roots (0-0.5, 0.5-1.0, 1.0-2.0 and >2.0 mm diameter) on SOC components were studied too. Results showed that the contents of high activated carbon (HAC), activated carbon (AC) and inert carbon (IC) in the macroaggregates, microaggregates and silt and clay fractions increased with restoration ages. Moreover, IC content in the microaggregates in topsoil (0-20 cm) rapidly increased; peaking in the 90-year-old restored forest, and was 5.74 times higher than AC content. In deep soil (20-80 cm), IC content was 3.58 times that of AC content. Biomasses of 0.5-1.0 mm diameter roots and leaf litter affected the content of aggregate fractions in topsoil, while the biomass of >2.0 mm diameter roots affected the content of aggregate fractions in deep soil. Across the soil profiles, macroaggregates had the highest capacity for HAC sequestration. The effects of restoration ages on soil aggregate fractions and SOC content were less in deep soil than in topsoil. In conclusion, natural vegetation restoration of Liaodong oak forests improved the contents of SOC, especially IC within topsoil and deep soil. The influence of IC on aggregate stability was greater than the other SOC components, and the aggregate stability was significantly affected by the biomasses of litter, 0.5-1.0 mm diameter roots in topsoil and >2.0 mm diameter roots in deep soil. Natural vegetation restoration of Liaodong oak forests promoted SOC sequestration by soil macroaggregates.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ameliorate the chemical properties and enzyme activities of rhizosphere soil in reclaimed mining subsidence in northwestern China

In semi-arid region of northwestern China, underground mining subsidence often results in decreased vegetation coverage, impoverishment of soil fertility and water stress. In addition, the physical-chemical and biological properties of soil also change, resulting in more susceptible to degradation. In particular, subsidence causes disturbance of the symbioses of plant and microbe that can play a beneficial role in the establishment of vegetation communities in degraded ecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of revegetation with exotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) inoculum on the chemical and biological properties of soil over time in mining subsidence areas. Soils were sampled at a depth up to 30 cm in the adjacent rhizosphere of Amorpha fruticose Linn. from five reclaimed vegetation communities in northwestern China. In August 2015, a field trial was set up with five historical revegetation experiments established in 2008(7-year), 2011(4-year), 2012(3-year), 2013(2-year) and 2014(1-year), respectively. Each reclamation experiment included two treatments, i.e., revegetation with exotic AMF inoculum(AMF) and non-AMF inoculum(the control). Root mycorrhizal colonization, glomalin-related soil protein(GRSP), soil organic carbon(SOC), soil nutrients, and enzyme activities were also assessed. The results showed that mycorrhizal colonization of inoculated plants increased by 33.3%–163.0% compared to that of non-inoculated plants(P<0.05). Revegetation with exotic AMF inoculum also significantly improved total GRSR(T-GRSP) and easily extracted GRSP(EE-GRSP) concentrations compared to control, besides the T-GRSP in 1-year experiment and the EE-GRSP in 2-year experiment. A significant increase in SOC content was only observed in 7-year AMF reclaimed soils compared to non-AMF reclaimed soils. Soil total N(TN), Olsen phosphorus(P) and available potassium(K) were significantly higher in inoculated soil after 1–7 years of reclamation(except for individual cases), and increased with reclamation time(besides soil Olsen P). The exotic AMF inoculum markedly increased the average soil invertase, catalase, urease and alkaline phosphatase by 23.8%, 21.3%, 18.8% and 8.6%, respectively(P<0.01), compared with the control. Root mycorrhizal colonization was positively correlated with soil parameters(SOC, TN and soil available K) and soil enzyme activities(soil invertase, catalase, urease and alkaline phosphatase) in both AMF and non-AMF reclaimed soils(P<0.05), excluding availableK in non-AMF reclaimed soils. T-GRSP(P<0.01) and EE-GRSP(P<0.05) were significantly correlated with the majority of edaphic factors, except for soil Olsen P. The positive correlation between root mycorrhizal colonization and available K was observed in AMF reclaimed soils, indicating that the AMF reclaimed soil with a high root mycorrhizal colonization could potentially accumulate available K in soils. Our findings concluded that revegetation with exotic AMF inoculum influenced soil nutrient availability and enzyme activities in the semi-arid ecosystem, suggesting that inoculating AMF can be an effective method to improve soil fertility and support restoration of vegetation communities under poor conditions like soil nutrient deficiency and drought.     

Correlation of soil properties and fruit size of Callgonum mongolicum and related species

Correlations of soil properties and fruit size of Calligonum mongolicum Turcz.and related species were analyzed.The results showed that the particle size characteristics of soils for growing Calligonum mongolicum and related species were similar,and the soils belonged to sandyones.The organic matter contents of soils were low (averaging 1.772 to 3.054 g/kg),and the total salt content of soils was low too (averaging 0.471 g/kg).The pH values indicated that the soils were alkaline,varying from pH 7.65 to 10.25.The results of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster showed that 9 habitats could be divided into 6 types according to salt contents and pH values.Fruit sizes of different populations and the soil properties had significant linear correlations (P<0.000).It was concluded that the differences in fruit sizes among the populations of Calligonum mongolicum and related species were related to soil variability,especially the nutrient contents of soils,and fruit size can not be considered as a taxonomic index of Calligonum mongolicum and related species.     

祁连山及河西走廊西段土壤和土地适宜性特征

以我国祁连山和河西走廊西段的土壤为研究对象 ,应用遥感资料以及野外实地调查取样的方法 ,将研究区的土壤母质划分为残积、坡积、洪积、冲积、红土、冰渍、湖积 7类 ;该区土壤的分布具有明显的垂直地带性和经向分布规律 ,土壤类型从祁连山区到酒泉盆地形成高山寒漠土、高山草甸土、亚高山草甸土、栗钙土、亚高山草原土、风沙土、棕漠土、潮土、灌漠土、盐土、沼泽土等 13个土类和 32个亚土类 ,并研究了不同土壤类型的空间分布规律及基本特征 ;结合该区土地利用的现状 ,提出了该区土地适宜性评价的原则和方法 ,将该区土地适宜性划分为宜农、宜林和宜牧 3种类型 ;对不同适宜性土地的等级及分布等特征进行了评价 ,并对该区土地资源特征以及存在的问题进行了探讨。