Assessing soil quality in a riparian buffer by testing organic matter fractions in central Iowa, USA

A multispecies riparian buffer strip (MRB) was established along Bear Creek in central Iowa by the Agroecology Issues Team at Iowa State University (ISU) in order to assess the ability of the MRB to positively impact soil erosion and process non-point source pollutants to improve water quality. Soil organic matter (SOM), and especially biologically-active soil organic matter, is considered to be an important soil quality indicator variable because of it has relationship to critical soil functions like erodibility and the capacity of the soil to act as an environmental buffer. The objectives of this study were to examine trends in SOM C accrual and to quantify intra-seasonal changes in SOM C and particulate organic matter (POM) C for each vegetation zone of a MRBS seven years after establishment on previously cultivated or heavily grazed soil. Total SOM C and POM C in soil under perennial vegetation (poplar, switchgrass and cool season grass) were significantly higher than under cropped soil. Total POM C changed within vegetation type over the four month study period, whereas total SOM C did not. After six growing seasons, SOM C increased 8.5% under poplar grown in association with cool season grass, and 8.6% under switchgrass. The results are very promising and suggest that changes in SOM C can occur in a relatively short time after the establishment of perennial vegetation in a MRB. These changes should increase the ability of MRB soil to process non-point source pollutants. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Alley cropping in the moist savanna of West-Africa: III. Soil organic matter fractionation and soil productivity

In cropping systems with limited amounts of external inputs, the soil organic matter pool (SOM) may contribute significantly to plant nutrition. The impact of organic inputs on total SOM and particulate organic matter (POM) N contents as affected by soil type and the relationships between sources of N and maize N uptake were assessed for a set of alley cropping trials in the West- African moist savanna. The trials were established in Niaouli (Bénin Republic), in Glidji, Amoutchou, and Sarakawa (Togo), and in Bouaké and Ferkessédougou (Côte d‘ Ivoire). The total soil N content, averaged over all treatments and years, varied between 324 and 1140 mg N kg?1 soil. The POM-N content varied between 50 and 160 mg N kg?1 soil. The average proportion of soil N belonging to the POM pool ranged between 9% and 29%. This was significantly related to the annual N inputs from maize stover and prunings, when averaged over the different alley cropping treatments. The trial ‘age‘ also appeared to be related to the impact of the different treatments on the POM-N content. The Ferkessédougou soil contained a relatively higher proportion of total soil N in the POM pool because of its relatively high silt and clay content, compared to the other sites. The relative change in POM-N content between 1996 and the initial sampling was about twice the relative change in total soil N content. This suggests that N incorporated in the POM is relatively labile, compared to N incorporated in the other SOM fractions. Maize N uptake was related to the amount of add pruning-N (partial r2 of 27%), the rainfall during the growing season (partial r2 of 17%), the POM-N content (partial r2 of 14%), and to a lesser degree to the POM N concentration (partial r2 of 5%), the fertilizer N addition rate (partial r2 of 3%), and the silt and clay content of the soil (partial r2 of 3%). The POM-N content was shown to be influenced by organic matter additions and soil characteristics and to contribute significantly to maize N supply. This pool may be an important indicator for the soil fertility status of savanna soils.     

Dynamics of soil carbon in a beechwood chronosequence forest

Accurate estimates of forest soil organic matter (OM) are now crucial to predictions of global C cycling. This work addresses soil C stocks and dynamics throughout a managed beechwood chronosequence (28–197 years old, Normandy, France). Throughout this rotation, we investigated the variation patterns of (i) C stocks in soil and humic epipedon, (ii) macro-morphological characteristics of humic epipedon, and (iii) mass, C content and C-to-N ratio in physical fractions of humic epipedon. The fractions isolated were large debris (>2000 μm), coarse particular OM (cPOM, 200–2000 μm), fine particular OM (fPOM, 50–200 μm) and the mineral associated OM (MaOM, <50 μm).     

生态有机肥对土壤特性和大果榉生长的影响

通过田间试验,研究了不施肥处理(CK)、风干鸡粪(CM)、有机无机复合肥(OIC)和生态有机肥(BIO)处理对定植大果榉土壤碱解氮和有机质含量,土壤微生物量碳氮含量以及大果榉地上部生长指标(株高、胸径和叶面积)增长率的影响。结果表明：与CK相比CM、OIC和BIO处理均增加了土壤碱解氮和有机质含量,显著提高土壤微生物量碳、氮的含量,其中BIO处理的土壤微生物量碳氮含量最高;与CM和OIC处理相比,BIO处理初期土壤碱解氮含量相对较低,而有机质含量在整个观测期均表现出较高水平;各施肥处理均显著提高了大果榉株高、胸径和叶面积增长率,其中BIO和OIC处理效果较好。     

沙棘根际土壤有机质特征及转化酶活性的初步研究

文章对沙棘根际和非根际的有机质特征和转化酶活性进行了初步的比较研究。结果表明，沙棘根际土壤有机质和活性有机质含量、可浸提腐殖酸及胡敏酸和富里酸含量、胡敏酸E4／E6比值都高于非根际土壤。根际土壤转化酶活性是非根际土壤的1．73倍。说明根际是树木和土壤相互作用最直接的区域，根际效应是树木改良土壤的重要机理。     

Influence of soil organic matter contents on soil water characteristics of forests on east slope of Gongga Mountain

By testing soil organic matter （SOM） contents, soil water contents （SWC） within low suctions, and saturated infiltration rates of samples taken from east slope of Gongga Mountain of China, the enhancive effects of SOM contents on SWC within low suctions and saturated infiltration rates were quantified. The simulated functions might be applied on regional experience forest-hydrology model. The improving function of protecting forest floor and increasing SOM contents on forest ecosystem hydrological effects were also embodied.     

亚热带地区杉木人工林和阔叶林土壤活性有机质研究(英文)

土壤活性有机质对土壤养分如氮、磷、硫的生物化学循环具有作用,其含量和质量影响土壤的初级生产力。本试验在中国科学院会同森林生态实验站通过对第一代、第二代杉木纯林和地带性阔叶林土壤活性有机质组分的对比研究,发现杉木纯林土壤活性有机质的含量低于地带性阔叶林。第一代杉木纯林易氧化有机碳、微生物生物量碳、水溶性有机碳和水溶性碳水化合物的含量分别比第二代杉木纯林高35.9%、13.7%、87.8%和50.9%,比地带性阔叶林的低15.8%、47.3%、38.1%和30.2%。在调查的三种林地内,土壤微生物生物量碳和水溶性有机碳含量下降幅度较大,其次为水溶性碳水化合物,而易氧化有机碳的变化最小。同时,杉木纯林土壤养分等理化性质也比地带性阔叶林低。这表明在杉木纯林取代地带性阔叶林以及杉木纯林连栽后林地的土壤肥力降低。图3 表2参26。     

喀斯特洼地土壤有机碳分布特征及影响因素

为揭示沉积在洼地不同位置土壤有机碳含量的分布特征和相关影响因素,以西南喀斯特典型小流域内洼地底部、落水洞不同部位土壤为研究对象,采集0~150 cm土壤剖面的土样,测定相关理化性质指标,分析土壤有机碳含量随空间位置的变化特征,并探讨土壤有机碳含量与理化性质的相关性。结果表明:落水洞、洼地底部土壤有机碳含量与土壤有机碳储量均为表层最高,呈表聚化现象;落水洞、洼地底部土壤有机碳含量与全氮含量均呈显著正相关,而与土壤含水率相关性不显著(P>0.05);落水洞土壤有机碳含量平均值大于洼地底部土壤有机碳含量平均值,土壤有机碳含量与土壤容重、总孔隙度分别呈极显著负相关、极显著正相关(P<0.01),与土壤pH值相关性不显著,表明落水洞土壤有机碳含量变化主要受土壤容重、总孔隙度等物理性质影响显著;洼地底部土壤有机碳含量变异系数大于落水洞土壤有机碳含量变异系数,土壤有机碳含量与土壤pH值呈显著的负相关关系(P<0.05),与土壤容重、总孔隙度相关性不显著,表明洼地底部土壤有机碳含量的分布特征主要受土壤pH值的影响。     

白桦天然次生林土壤有机碳的空间分布特征

为了了解冀北地区白桦天然次生林土壤有机碳的分布特征,以承德市围场县、丰宁县和张家口赤城县白桦天然次生林为研究对象,对其土壤有机碳含量进行了测定分析。结果表明:4个地区的白桦天然次生林各层土壤有机碳含量由高到低顺序依次为赤城县黑龙山、围场县孟滦、丰宁县四岔口、围场县燕格柏,其0~10cm的土壤有机碳含量依次为108.07g/kg、65.61g/kg、52.33g/kg和30.04g/kg;土壤有机碳含量有随海拔升高而上升的趋势;各地区白桦天然次生林的土壤有机碳含量都以表层最高,随着土层深度的增加,土壤有机碳含量呈现逐渐降低的趋势,且随深度的增加,土壤碳含量下降速度逐渐趋缓。     

Bioamelioration of a sodic soil by silvopastoral systems in northwestern India

In sodic soils, excessive amounts of salts have an adverse effect on soil biological activity and stability of soil organic matter. The study analyzes the role of silvopastoral systems to improve soil organic matter and microbial activity with a view for effective management of soil fertility. The silvopastoral systems for the present study (located at Saraswati Reserved Forest, Kurukshetra; 29°4′ to 30°15′ N and 75°15′ to 77°16prime; E) are characterized by tree species of Acacia nilotica, Dalbergia sissoo and Prosopis juliflora along with grass species of Desmostachya bipinnata and Sporobolus marginatus. Soil microbial biomass carbon was measured using the fumigation extraction technique and nitrogen mineralization rates using aerobic incubation method. The microbial biomass carbon in the soils of D. bipinnata and S. marginatus treatments were low. In silvopastoral systems, microbial biomass carbon increased due to increase in the carbon content in the soil – plant system. A significant relationship was found between microbial biomass carbon and plant biomass carbon (r = 0.83) as well as the flux of carbon in net primary productivity (r = 0.92). Nitrogen mineralization rates were found greater in silvopastoral systems compared to 'grass-only' system. Soil organic matter was linearly related to microbial biomass carbon, soil N and nitrogen mineralization rates (r = 0.95 to 0.98, p < 0.01). On the basis of improvement in soil organic matter, enlarged soil microbial biomass pool and greater soil N availability in the tree + grass systems, agroforestry could be adopted for improving the fertility of highly sodic soil. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Residue management of a planted fallow on an acid soil in Cameroon: crop yields and soil organic matter fractions

A fallow management trial was initiated in March 1990 in Yaounde, Cameroon, with the objective of identifying an efficient method of managing residue derived from a planted fallow of Cajanus cajan. Ten months after establishment, the shrubs were slashed and residues were treated in one of the following ways: burnt, incorporated in the soil, mulched on soil surface or removed. Following that, maize and groundnut were planted. Soil organic matter was fractionated after the residue treatments, and elementary partial budgeting was conducted. After three cycles of fallow and cropping seasons, maize yield was similar, about 3 t ha^-1, in all plots except in the residue-removed plots, where it was 1.4 t ha^-1. Yield trend of groundnut was also similar. The residue management method did not affect either the nature of fractions or the total content of soil organic matter. The highest net return, US$5945 ha^-1 year^-1, was obtained from the residue incorporated treatment, whereas the highest return to labour, US$11 per manday^-1 was associated with burning of residues. In areas such as the forest zone of Cameroon where labour is a major constraint and climatic conditions allow vigorous vegetation growth, burning appears to be the best method of residues management, at least in the short run. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

小浪底库区群落演替过程中土壤机械组成及碳库变化研究

本文采用空间代替时间的方法,通过对黄河小浪底库区不同恢复阶段土壤机械组成及碳库变化分析,结果表明:(1)各植被恢复阶段,土壤风化度上层高于下层;从裸地到乔木阶段,土壤风化度逐渐增大,土壤的发育逐渐成熟,从草本到乔木阶段,随着进展演替,对土壤的形成及发育作用依次升高;(2)各植被恢复阶段,土壤有机碳含量及碳密度随着土层深度增加而减少;随着进展演替,土壤有机碳含量及碳密度逐渐增加。相关分析表明,土壤粘粒与有机碳含量呈显著正相关关系。     

Growth characteristics of multipurpose tree species,crop productivity and soil properties in agroforestry systems under subtropical humid climate in India

Multipurpose tree species （MPTs） were studied in an agroforestry arboretum under subtropical humid climate in Northeast India. Out of 12 MPTs planted under agroforestry systems, Acacia auriculiformis in spacing of 2 m × 2 m （2500 stems·hm^-2） could have the potentiality to meet the timber/fuelwood requirement due to its high wood production of 635 m^3·hm^-2 with mean annual increment （MAI） of 2.54×10^-2 m^3.treel.a^-1 in a short rotation period of 10 years. Thus, A. auriculiformis is a short rotation forest tree species suitable to grow in subtropical humid climate. On the other hand, at 16 years of age, Eucalyptus hybrid and Michelia champaca in spacing of 3 m × 3 m （1111 stems.hm^2） produced appreciably high timber volume of 315 m^3.hm^-2 and 165 m^3.hm^-2 with MAI of 1.77×10^-2 m^3.tree^-1·a^-1 and 0.92×10.2 m^3.tree^-1.a^-1, respectively. At 16 years of age, Gmelina arborea produced a timber volume of 147 m^3.hm^-2 with MAI of 1.47×10^-2 m^3.tree^-1.a^-1 followed by Samania saman （140 m^3.hm^-2）, Albizziaprocera （113 m^3·hm^-2） and Tectona grandis （79 m3.hm^-2） with MAI of 1.40, 1.13 and 0.78 × 10^-2 m^3 .tree^-1a^-1, respectively in 4 m × 4 m spacing （625 stems.hm^-2）. Gliricidia maculata and Leucaena leucocephala could be used as live fences around the farm boundary to supply their N-rich leaves for mulch as well as manure to crops. In agroforestry arboretum, direct seeded upland rice （Oryza sativa - variety, AR-11）, groundnut （Arachis hypogaea - variety, JL-24） and sesamum （Sesamum indicum - variety, B-67） were grown during the initial period upto 8 years of tree establishment. Under other MPTs, there was a reduction in crop productivity as compared to open space. After 8 years of tree establishment, horti-silvi and silvi-pastoral systems were developed and pineapple （Ananas comosus - variety Queen）, turmeric （Curcuma longa -variety RCT -1） and cowpea （Vigna sinensis - variety Pusa Barsati） as forage crop were raised. The productivity of p     

印地安潮湿亚热带的多种用途树种的生长特性以及农林系统中作物产量和土壤特性(英文)

在印地安具有亚热带潮湿气候特点的东北地区,本文对几种多种用途的树种进行研究。选择12种多用途树种种植在农林系统中,耳果相思(Acacia auriculiformis),种植间距为2m×2m(2500 个·hm-2),有很大的生长潜力。在 10 年期的短期轮伐中,每年有很高的产量(635 m3·hm-2),平均每年增涨量为 2.54×102 m3·tree-1·a-1,可以满足薪碳材的需要。所以,耳果相思(Acacia auriculiformis)是一种短期轮伐树种,适合种植在潮湿亚热带气候地区。另一方面,16年树龄的桉树(Eucalyptus hybrid)和黄兰(Michelia champaca) 种植间距为3m×3m (1111个·hm-2),分别有较高的生长量(315 m3·hm-2和165 m3·hm-2),平均每年每棵树增长量分别为1.77×10-2 m3和0.92 × 10-2 m3。16年树龄的印度石梓(Gmelina arborea) 木材产量为147 m3·hm-2,每年每树的增长量是 1.47×10-2 m3。其次为 Samania saman(140 m3·hm-2)和柚木(Tectona grandis (79 m3·hm-2)),平均每年每树的增长量分别是 1.40,1.13和0.78×10-2 m3。毒鼠豆属植物(Gliricidia maculate) 和银合欢(Leucaena leucocephala) 可以用作农厂的围栏并提供农作物的肥料。在植物园,种植树木的最初 8 年间,可以种植高地水稻(Oryza sativa–variety, AR-11), 落地花生(Arachis hypogaea–variety, JL-24)和胡麻(Sesamum indicum–variety,B-67)。由于林下郁闭度太大,在耳果相思(Acacia auriculiformis)林下的农作物产量不高,与空旷地的农作物比较产量有所降低。树木种植 8 年后,种植草料作物如,凤梨、姜黄、豇豆,它们的产量在印楝(Azadirachta indica)林下很高。高产量的农作物和园艺植物与具有高产量多种用途树种一起种植构成了有发展前景的农林系统,并改变土壤特性,改善土壤酸度,提高土壤有机质,降低土壤腐蚀度,提高土壤含水量。     

The effects of poplar (P. trichocarpa × deltoides) on soil biological properties in a silvoarable system

A silvoarable experimental site in Buckinghamshire, England combined rows of poplar trees with an arable rotation. Soil properties were investigated using soil carbon and the bodysize of invertebrates. Four years after establishment, the soil within and 1 m from the tree rows has significantly higher soil organic matter and invertebrate populations. These effects do not extend far beyond the crown diameter.     

Phosphorus fractions of fertiliser-derived P in an allophanic soil under Pinus radiata seedlings grown with broom and ryegrass

Changes in phosphorus (P) fractions in a P deficient allophanic soil under P. radiata seedlings grown with broom (Cytisus scoparius L.) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in pots were studied 14 months after the application of triple superphosphate at the rates of 0, 50, and 100 μg·g⁻¹, to determine the fate of fertiliser-derived P in the rhizosphere soils. Application of P fertiliser increased NaOH-P_i, NaOH-P_o, and H₂SO₄-P_i concentrations in the soil, but decreased the residual-P concentration. The resin-P_i concentration, which is extremely low in this soil (1 to 3 μg·g⁻¹), remained the same. The majority of the added fertiliser P was however recovered in the NaOH-P_i fraction (40%–49%). This is due to the high P fixation in this soil (92%). The second highest P recovery was in NaOH-P_o fraction (7%–19%). Under P deficient condition or addition at the rate of 0 μg·g⁻¹, the NaOH-P_i concentration in the radiata rhizosphere soil was lower than that in the bulk soil and broom and grass rhizosphere soils. This may be due to higher oxalate production by the roots and mycorrhiza under P deficient conditions which released some of the P fixed to the soils in the rhizosphere, which needs to be tested in future studies. Foundation project: This work was supported by Centre for Sustainable Forest Management at Forest Research Institute, New Zealand.     

不同配比施肥对华北花岗片麻岩山地土壤促成的作用

华北花岗片麻岩山区土壤严重退化,恶劣的土壤环境是该地区植被恢复的限制性因子.利用不同配比的化肥对试验区内土壤进行促成技术研究,结果表明:各种配比的肥料间,对土壤有机质和营养元素的影响(以全P释放量为例),以NPK1和NPK2处理效果最好,其分别提高风化速率29.68%和31.21%;对土壤粒径的影响(以<1 mm粒径土壤重量百分比为例),同样以NPK1和NPK2处理效果最好,其分别提高风化速率30.50%和24.81%.综上分析可以说明,各种配比的化肥对土壤促成起到了一定的作用,试验区内土壤正朝成熟土壤方向演化.     

Comparison of organic matter dynamics in soil between Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) forest and adjacent Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) forest established on flatland

In order to clarify the effects of tree species on organic matter dynamics in soil, we investigated the amount of forest floor material, leaf litter decomposition rate, soil chemical characteristics, soil respiration rate and cellulose decomposition rate in a Japanese cedar forest (cedar plot) and an adjacent Japanese red pine forest (pine plot) established on a flatland. The amount of forest floor material in the cedar plot was 34.5 Mg ha⁻¹ which was greater than that in the pine plot. Because the leaf litter decomposition rate was higher in the pine plot than in the cedar plot, it is likely that the difference in the amount of forest floor material between the plots is caused by the difference in the leaf litter decomposition rate. The C concentrations of soil in the cedar plot were 1.2–2.1 times higher than those in the pine plot. Soil pH(H₂O)s in the cedar plot were significantly higher than those in the pine plot. The soil respiration rates and the rates of mineralized C in the cedar plot byin vitro incubation were higher than those in the pine plot. From this result, it is assumed that soil organic matter in the cedar plot was decomposed relatively faster compared with the pine plot. Furthermore, microbial activities, which were reflected as cellulose decomposition rates in the cedar plot, were higher than those in the pine plot. A part of this paper was presented at the 109th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Forestry Society (1998).     

Effects of selective logging on tree diversity and some soil characteristics in a tropical forest in southwest Ghana

We investigated the effects of selective logging disturbances on tree diversity and soil characteristics in the Bia Conservation Area in southwest Ghana.The study was conducted in unlogged,29-35 years post-logged and swamp forests using ten 25 m×25 m plots.In total,we identified 310 individual trees belonging to 87 species.Mean ShannonWeiner index was highest in the post-logged forest but there were no significant differences in tree density,dominance,or DBH size class distributions between these forests.Soil physical properties such as pH and bulk density up to 30 cm depth were similar in the two of forests In terms of soil nutrient status,available P,exchangeable K and total N contents were all similar in the unlogged and post-logged forests.Our findings suggest that the effects of logging on tree diversity are comparatively long-term,in contrast to its short-term effects on some top soil physical and chemical characteristics.     

Assessment of sugar maple tree growth in relation to the partitioning of elements in xylem along a soil acidity gradient

Partitioning of elements in tree xylem is being increasingly studied, as it suggests that elements are potentially mobile within the xylem long after their uptake. A recent study revealed that only the most mobile xylem fraction (water-soluble) of base cations (calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], and potassium [K]) increased at higher soil acidity, while the two mobile fractions (water- and acid-soluble) of acidic metals—potentially phytotoxic aluminium (Al), cadmium (Cd) and manganese (Mn)—were significantly enhanced on very acid soils. The current paper presents an investigation of soil-wood chemistry relationships with basal area tree growth. It was hypothesized that the growth of sugar maple would be reduced by low base cation and high acidic metal concentrations in the xylem mobile fractions. Sugar maple trees (n = 55) from six watersheds in southern Quebec, Canada were analysed by sequential chemical extractions for the water-soluble, acid-soluble and residual fractions of base cations (Ca, K, Mg) and acidic metals (Al, Cd, Mn) in xylem. Generally, tree growth was positively correlated to concentrations of base cations in wood (ρ = 0.27-0.50) and soil (ρ = 0.41-0.67), and negatively correlated to concentrations of acidic metals in wood (ρ = −0.33 to −0.52) and soil (ρ = −0.67). However, these relations differed depending on the element fraction considered. Water- and acid-soluble xylem concentrations of base cations and Al were among the best predictors of growth trends (R² = 0.46-0.51). The relationship between acidic metals and tree growth is further discussed.