Influence of erosion on soil microbial biomass,abundance and community diversity

This study aimed to determine microbial biomass carbon and microbial abundance immediately after, and two years after, forest soil erosion, so as to estimate the degree of damage, including the rate of recovery of microorganisms, in each area. It also aimed to determine the community diversity, and to establish relationships between microbial biomass, microbial abundance and the physico‐chemical properties of the soil. Three different study areas in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, were used. One undisturbed area and two eroded areas (one immediately after and one two years after erosion). The analysis of variance showed a highly significant difference in microbial biomass carbon and abundance between the study areas. The undisturbed area showed the highest value, followed by the area eroded two years ago, then lastly the area studied immediately after the erosion. The biomass carbon was highly correlated with gram positive bacteria with r² = 0·983, p < 0·01. The biomass carbon and microbial population were shown to be significantly correlated to the soil's physico‐chemical properties, such as pH, moisture content, water‐holding capacity and CN ratio. However, CN ratio proved to be closely correlated to biomass carbon with r² = −0·978, p < 0·01, to Gram‐positive bacteria with r² = −0·977, p < 0·01, to Gram‐negative bacteria with r² = −0·989, p < 0·01 and to fungi with r² = −0·977, p < 0·01. The undisturbed area showed a highly diverse community in both of the restriction enzymes used, followed by the area affected by erosion two years ago, then the area immediately after erosion. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling Landscape‐scale Erosion Potential Related to Vehicle Disturbances Along the USA–Mexico Border

Decades of intensive off‐road vehicle use for border security, immigration, smuggling, recreation, and military training along the USA–Mexico border have prompted concerns about long‐term human impacts on sensitive desert ecosystems. To help managers identify areas susceptible to soil erosion from anthropogenic activities, we developed a series of erosion potential models based on factors from the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). To better express the vulnerability of soils to human disturbances, we refined two factors whose categorical and spatial representations limit the application of the USLE for non‐agricultural landscapes: the C‐factor (vegetation cover) and the P‐factor (support practice/management). A soil compaction index (P‐factor) was calculated as the difference in saturated hydrologic conductivity (K_s) between disturbed and undisturbed soils, which was then scaled up to maps of vehicle disturbances digitized from aerial photography. The C‐factor was improved using a satellite‐based vegetation index, which was better correlated with estimated ground cover (r² = 0·77) than data derived from land cover (r² = 0·06). We identified 9,780 km of unauthorized off‐road tracks in the 2,800‐km² study area. Maps of these disturbances, when integrated with soil compaction data using the USLE, provided landscape‐scale information on areas vulnerable to erosion from both natural processes and human activities and are detailed enough for adaptive management and restoration planning. The models revealed erosion potential hotspots adjacent to the border and within areas managed as critical habitat for the threatened flat‐tailed horned lizard and endangered Sonoran pronghorn. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SE—Structures and Environment: Diurnal Variation in Ammonia,Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapour Emission from an Uninsulated,Deep Litter Building for Growing/Finishing Pigs

In an uninsulated livestock building with natural ventilation, the air temperature and airflow show a large variation according to the daily variations in weather and season. The objective of this investigation was to determine the diurnal variation in the emission of NH₃, CO₂ and moisture from an uninsulated building with a deep litter system for growing/finishing pigs and to investigate the influence of air temperature and airflow rate on the NH₃ emission. The investigations were carried out in an uninsulated experimental building with 125 growing/finishing pigs in deep litter pens. The building was 12 m wide and 20 m long (240 m²), naturally ventilated but also equipped with exhaust fans. The NH₃ concentration, the CO₂ concentration, the outside and inside air temperature, the outside and inside relative humidity and the animal activity were measured continuously during 6 days at a constant airflow rate of 146 m³ m⁻² h⁻¹. During six nights the effect of airflow rate on the NH₃ emission was investigated by changing the airflow rate in steps from 26 to 165 m³ m⁻² h⁻¹. The measurements were carried out between day 16 and day 46 from the beginning of the growing period. The NH₃ emission from an uninsulated, deep litter building for growing/finishing pigs showed a clear diurnal variation. During the 6 days with constant airflow rate the emission varied from 6 to 247% of the mean, with the minimum around 6.00 a.m. and the maximum around 5.00 p.m. The daily mean of NH₃ emission increased from 0·23 to 0·65 gh⁻ per pig (day 16–day 43). The diurnal variation of NH₃ emission was correlated to the inside air temperature (correlation coefficient r_s=0·86–0·91) and the animal activity (r_s=0·69–0·83). The increase of NH₃ emission with the air temperature followed an exponential pattern. The relative NH₃ emission flux increased from 0·2 to 2·0 between the air temperatures −2 to 14°C inside the building. An increase in airflow rate through the building from 26 to 165 m³ m⁻²h⁻¹ increased the relative NH₃ emission flux from 0·4 to 1·4. The CO₂ emission during the 6 days at constant airflow rate had a daily mean between 81 and 120 gh⁻¹ per pig with a diurnal variation from 61 to 249% of the mean. The CO₂ emission was correlated to the inside air temperature (r_s=0·42–0·83) and animal activity (r_s=0·67–0·85). The daily mean of water vapour emission increased during the same days between 146 and 408 gh⁻¹ per pig and varied from 18 to 269% of the mean. The water vapour emission was correlated to the inside air temperature (r_s=0·53–0·97), animal activity (r_s=0·57–0·85) and the water absorption capacity of the inlet air (r_s=0·27–0·94). The diurnal variations in NH₃, CO₂ and water vapour emission were correlated to each other.     

CARBON FIXATION OF CYANOBACTERIAL–ALGAL CRUSTS AFTER DESERT FIXATION AND ITS IMPLICATION TO SOIL ORGANIC CARBON ACCUMULATION IN DESERT

Enhanced carbon fixation in soil crusts may facilitate the restoration of damaged ecosystems, but this requires greater knowledge of carbon fixation patterns and mechanisms. We measured the net photosynthetic rate (P_n) and estimated annual carbon fixation (ACF) in cyanobacterial–algal crusts after desert fixation in the Tengger Desert, northwestern China. The accumulated carbon fixation since the establishment of a restoration site was also calculated. In addition, stepwise regression analysis was used to study the relation between P_n and ACF and the physicochemical properties of crusts. Results showed that P_n was significantly higher at a more established 51‐year‐old restoration site (1·57 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) than at a younger 15‐year‐old site (0·92 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹). The ACF also increased significantly with restoration time, but in two temporal phases, a slower ACF phase between 15 and 26 years of restoration (0·28–0·7 gC m⁻² y⁻¹) and a high ACF phase after 43–51 years of restoration (3·3 gC m⁻² y⁻¹). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that P_n was significantly correlated with chlorophyll a and crust cover, whereas ACF was only correlated with crust cover. Accumulated carbon fixation increased from 2·9 gC m⁻² after 15 years to 35·4 gC m⁻² at 51 years following establishment of the restoration site. The accumulated carbon fixation was positively correlated with soil organic carbon content. This study demonstrated that carbon fixation by cyanobacterial–algal crusts increased progressively after desert fixation. Artificial measures, like the establishment of these restoration zones, can facilitate the colonization and development of biological soil crusts and are an effective biological tool for desert soil restoration. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Carbon Life Cycle Assessment for Prairie as a Crop in Reclaimed Mine Land

A life cycle assessment with carbon (C) as the reference unit was used to balance the benefits of land preparation practices of establishing tall‐grass prairies as a crop for reclaimed mine land with reduced environmental damage. Land preparation and management practices included disking with sub‐soiling (DK‐S), disking only (DK), no tillage (NT), and no tillage with grazing (NT‐G). To evaluate the C balance and energy use of each of the land preparations, an index of sustainability (I_s = C_O/C_I, Where: C_O is the sum of all outputs and C_I is the sum of all inputs) was used to assess temporal changes in C. Of the four land preparation and management practices, DK had the highest I_s at 8·53. This was due to it having the least degradation of soil organic carbon (SOC) during land‐use change (−730 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) and second highest aboveground biomass production (9,881 kg ha⁻¹). The highest aboveground biomass production occurred with NT (11,130 kg ha⁻¹), although SOC losses were similar to DK‐S, which on average was 2,899 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹. The I_s values for NT and DK‐S were 2·50 and 1·44, respectively. Grazing from bison reduced the aboveground biomass to 8,971 kg ha⁻¹ compared with NT with no grazing, although stocking density was low enough that I_s was still 1·94. This study has shown that converting from cool‐season forage grasses to tall‐grass prairie results in a significant net sink for atmospheric CO₂ 3 years after establishment in reclaimed mine land, because of high biomass yields compensating for SOC losses from land‐use change. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SOIL CO2 FLUX IN GRASSLAND,AFFORESTED LAND AND RECLAIMED COALMINE OVERBURDEN DUMPS: A CASE STUDY

The aim of this study was to measure the in situ soil CO₂ flux from grassland, afforested land and reclaimed coalmine overburden dumps by using the automated soil CO₂ flux system (LICOR‐8100® infrared gas analyzer, LICOR Inc., Lincoln, NE). The highest soil CO₂ flux was observed in natural grassland (11·16 µmol CO₂ m⁻²s⁻¹), whereas the flux was reduced by 38 and 59 per cent in mowed site and at 15‐cm depth, respectively. The flux from afforested area was found 5·70 µmol CO₂ m⁻²s⁻¹, which is 50 per cent lower than natural grassland. In the reclaimed coalmine overburden dumps, the average flux under tree plantation was found to be lowest in winter and summer (0·89–1·12 µmol CO₂ m⁻²s⁻¹) and highest during late monsoon (3–3·5 µmol CO₂ m⁻²s⁻¹). During late monsoon, the moisture content was found to be higher (6–7·5 per cent), which leads to higher microbial activity and decomposition. In the same area under grass cover, soil CO₂ flux was found to be higher (8·94 µmol CO₂ m⁻²s⁻¹) compared with tree plantation areas because of higher root respiration and microbial activity. The rate of CO₂ flux was found to be determined predominantly by soil moisture and soil temperature. Our study indicates that the forest ecosystem plays a crucial role in combating global warming than grassland; however, to reduce CO₂ flux from grassland, mowing is necessary. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Threshold wind velocity as an index of soil susceptibility to wind erosion under variable climatic conditions

Wind erosion starts when the threshold wind velocity (µ_t) is exceeded. We evaluated the sensitivity of µ_t to determine the wind erosion susceptibility of soils under variable climatic conditions. Three years field data were used to calculate µ_t by means of the equation µ_t = ū ‐ σ Φ⁻¹ (γ), where ū is the mean wind speed (m s⁻¹), σ the ū standard deviation (m s⁻¹), γ the saltation activity and Φ the standard normal distribution function of γ. Saltation activity was measured with a piezoelectric sensor (Sensit). Results showed that ū of the whole studied period (3·41 m s⁻¹) was lower than µ_t (7·53 m s⁻¹), therefore, wind erosion was produced mainly by wind gusts. The µ_t values ordered in the sequence: Winter (6·10 m s⁻¹) < Spring (8·22 m s⁻¹) = Summer (8·28 m s⁻¹) < Autumn (26·48 m s⁻¹). Higher µ_t values were related to higher air humidity and lower wind speeds and temperatures. The µ_t values did not agree with the erosion amounts of each season, which ordered as follows: Summer (12·88 t ha⁻¹) > Spring (3·11 t ha⁻¹) = Winter (0·17 t ha⁻¹) = Autumn (no erosion). Low µ_t and erosion amounts of Winter were produced by a scarce number of gusts during eroding storms. We concluded that µ_t is useful as an index of soil susceptibility to wind erosion of different climatic periods. The use of a unique µ_t value in wind erosion prediction models can lead to erroneous wind erosion calculations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of Mehlich 3 reagent as a multielement extractant in mine soils

The usefulness of Mehlich 3 (M3) reagent was evaluated as a method to extract numerous elements from coalmine soils in As Pontes (Spain) showing a wide range of physicochemical properties. Critical levels (deficiency and/or toxicity) were established for plant available elements extracted by this reagent. The M3 method was compared to 1M NH₄Cl, Olsen, acid oxalate, and DTPA methods as extractants for exchangeable Ca, Mg and K, available P, non-crystalline aluminium, and available heavy metals, respectively. The M3 method correlated significantly to NH₄Cl for Ca, Mg and K (r=0·76, 0·84 and 0·87, respectively), to Olsen P (r=0·77) and to oxalate Al (r=0·77). Significant correlations were found between Fe, Cu, Zn and Cd extracted by M3 and DTPA; for Mn, Ni, Co and Pb different relationship between methods were obtained for acid and alkaline samples, so that critical levels were established for M3 metals as a function of soil pH. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Erodibility in relation to water‐dispersible clay for some soils of eastern Nigeria

Water dispersible clay (WDC) can influence soil erosion by water. Therefore, in highly erodible soils such as the ones in eastern Nigeria, there is a need to monitor the clay dispersion characteristics to direct and modify soil conservation strategies. Twenty‐five soil samples (0–20 cm in depth) varying in texture, chemical properties and mineralogy were collected from various locations in central eastern Nigeria. The objective was to determine the WDC of the soils and relate this to selected soil physical and chemical attributes. The soils were analysed for their total clay (TC), water‐dispersible clay (WDC), clay dispersion ratio (CDR), dispersion ratio (DR), dithionite extractable iron (Fed), soil organic matter (SOM), exchangeable cations, exhangeable sodium percentage (ESP) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). Total clay contents of the soil varied from 80–560 g kg⁻¹. The USLE erodibility K ranges from 0·02 to 0·1 Mg h MJ⁻¹ mm and WEPP K fall between 1·2 × 10⁻⁶–1·7 × 10⁻⁶ kg s m⁻⁴. The RUSLE erodibility K correlated significantly with CDR and DR (r = 0·44; 0·39). Also, a positive significant correlation (r = 0·71) existed between WEPP K and RUSLE K. Soils with high clay dispersion ratio (CDR) are highly erodibile and positively correlates (p < 0·51) with Fed, CEC and SOM. Also, DR positively correlates with Mg²⁺ and SOM and negatively correlate with ESP and SAR. Principal component analysis showed that SAR, Na⁺ and percent base saturation play significant role in the clay dispersion of these soils. The implication of this result is that these elements may pose potential problem to these soils if not properly managed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

黄土丘陵区紫丁香叶片气体交换参数的日变化及光响应

 在半干旱黄土丘陵沟壑区,应用英国PPS公司生产的CIRAS2型光合作用系统,测定不同土壤水分下4年生紫丁香(SyringaoblataLindl.)叶片气体交换参数的日变化和光响应特性。结果表明:丁香光合速率、蒸腾速率、叶片水分利用效率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度等气体交换参数,对土壤水分和光合有效辐射的变化,具有明显的阈值响应。有利于丁香光合作用和水分有效利用的适宜土壤质量含水量范围在15%～19.5%之间,土壤相对含水量为58.8%～76.6%;适宜的光合有效辐射强度范围在600～1000μmol/(m2·s)之间。在此土壤质量含水量和光合有效辐射强度范围内,丁香的光合作用和生长过程不会发生较大的水分胁迫和强光胁迫,也不会发生蒸腾速率过高造成的无效蒸腾耗水,因而能获得较高的光合速率和叶片水分利用率。维持丁香正常生理和生长过程所需的最低土壤质量含水量在11.6%(土壤相对含水量为45.7%)左右,相应的最高光合有效辐射强度在800μmol/(m2 ·s)左右,土壤质量含水量降低或光合有效辐射强度升高,会导致严重水分胁迫和。     

Effects of Land Management on Different Forms of Soil Carbon in Olive Groves in Mediterranean Areas

This study analyses soil organic carbon (SOC) and hot‐water extractable carbon, both measures of soil quality, under different land management—(i) conventional tillage (CT); (ii) CT plus the addition of oil mill waste alperujo (A); (iii) CT plus the addition of oil mill waste olive leaves (L); (iv) no tillage with chipped pruned branches (NT₁); and (v) no tillage with chipped pruned branches and weeds (NT₂)—in a typical Mediterranean agricultural area: the olive groves of Andalusia, southern Spain. SOC values in CT, A, NT₁ and NT₂ decreased with depth, but in NT₂, the surface horizon (0–5 cm) had higher values than the other treatments, 47% more than the average values in the other three soils. In L, SOC also decreased with depth, although there was an increase of 88·5% from the first (0–10 cm) to the second horizon (10–16 cm). Total SOC stock values were very similar under A (101·9 Mg ha⁻¹), CT (101·7 Mg ha⁻¹), NT₁ (105·8 Mg ha⁻¹) and NT₂ (111·3 Mg ha⁻¹, if we consider the same depth of the others). However, SOC under L was significantly higher (p < 0·05) at 250·2 Mg ha⁻¹. Hot‐water extractable carbon decreased with depth in A, CT and NT₁. NT₂ and L followed the same pattern as the other management types but with a higher value in the surface horizon (2·3 and 4·9 mg g⁻¹, respectively). Overall, our results indicate that application of oil mill waste olive leaves under CT (L) is a good management practice to improve SOC and reduce waste. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reclamation and salt leaching efficiency for tile drained saline‐sodic soil using marginal quality water for irrigating rice and wheat crops

Due to increased population and urbanization, freshwater demand for domestic purposes has increased resulting in a smaller proportion for irrigation of crops. We carried out a 3‐year field experiment in the Indus Plains of Pakistan on salt‐affected soil (EC_e 15·67–23·96 dS m⁻¹, pH_s 8·35–8·93, SAR 70–120, infiltration rate 0·72–0·78 cm h⁻¹, ρ _b 1·70–1·80 Mg m⁻³) having tile drainage in place. The 3‐year cropping sequence consisted of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops in rotation. These crops were irrigated with groundwater having electrical conductivity (EC) 2·7 dS m⁻¹, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) 8·0 (mmol L⁻¹)^1/2 and residual sodium carbonate (RSC) 1·3 mmol_c L⁻¹. Treatments were: (1) irrigation with brackish water without amendment (control); (2) Sesbania (Sesbania aculeata) green manure each year before rice (SM); (3) applied gypsum at 100 per cent soil gypsum requirement (SGR) and (4) applied gypsum as in treatment 3 plus sesbania green manure each year (GSM). A decrease in soil salinity and sodicity and favourable infiltration rate and bulk density over pre‐experiment levels are recorded. GSM resulted in the largest decrease in soil salinity and sodicity. There was a positive relationship between crop yield and economic benefits and improvement in soil physical and chemical properties. On the basis of six crops, the greatest net benefit was obtained from GSM. Based on this long‐term study, combined use of gypsum at 100 per cent soil gypsum requirement along with sesbania each year is recommended for soil amelioration and crop production. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reduction of Cr(VI) by soil humic acids

The rate of hexavalent chromium reduction by a soil humic acid (SHA) was investigated in aqueous solutions where concentrations of Cr(VI), H⁺, and SHA were independently varied. Rate experiments were done with a large excess of SHA over Cr(VI). Rates of reduction depend strongly on [H⁺], increasing with decreasing pH. Typical Cr(VI)-SHA reactions display a nonlinear reduction of Cr(VI) with time that cannot be modelled with simple first- or second-order rate equations. An empirical rate equation is developed for Cr(VI)-soil humic acid reactions over a range of experimental conditions. The model is in part based on a reactive continuum concept developed for soil fulvic acids. The rate equation describing Cr(VI) reduction by SHA is: R= -(k₀+k[H⁺]^1/2)[HCrO₄^?]^1/2X_e^?1, where k₀ is (8·3 ± 1·2) × 10^?12, s^?1k is (2·04 ± 0·05) × 10^?9 l^1/2 mol^?1/2 s^?1, and X_e is the equivalent fraction of SHA oxidized. The rate equation adequately models Cr(VI) reduction in an experiment with [Cr(VI)]₀ four times greater than the maximum concentration used in its derivation. Cr(VI) reduction at pH 3 by two other SHAs can also be modelled using the rate equation. The difference between the rate coefficients for the humic acid and the fulvic acid from the same soil was greater than the difference in the rate coefficients for humic acids from different soils.     

Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity of Soil Available Nitrogen During Crop Growth Stages on Mollisol Slopes of Northeast China

Spatiotemporal heterogeneity of soil available nitrogen (AN) (sum of NO₃⁻–N and NH₄⁺–N) is the essential basis for soil management and highly correlates to crop yield. Both geostatistical and traditional analyses were used to describe the spatiotemporal distribution of AN in the 0–20‐cm soil depth on typical Mollisol slopes (S1 and S2) in Northeast China. The concentration of NO₃⁻–N dynamics at slope positions was typically opposite to NH₄⁺–N. The peak values of AN typically moved from the summit of the slope to the bottom from spring to autumn and were mainly influenced by the content of NO₃⁻–N (S1, 7·9–18·9 mg kg⁻¹; S2, 1·2–103·6 mg kg⁻¹), both of NO₃⁻–N (S1, 3·9–8·3 mg kg⁻¹; S2, 2·2–28·0 mg kg⁻¹) and NH₄⁺–N (S1, 21·4–30·5 mg kg⁻¹; S2, 2·1–23·3 mg kg⁻¹), and NH₄⁺–N (S1, 10·5–28·9 mg kg⁻¹; S2, 5·0–39·0 mg kg⁻¹) in the seedling stage, vegetative growth stage, and reproductive growth stage, respectively. The spatial autocorrelation of AN was strong and was mainly influenced by structural factors during crop growth stages. This was mainly determined by soil erosion–deposition (SED) and soil temperature–moisture (STM) in the seedling stage; this was also mainly influenced by SED, STM, crop type, and crop growth in the vegetative growth stage and by early STM and early SED in the reproductive growth stage. Generally, the content of AN, NO₃⁻–N, and NH₄⁺–N on the whole slope was mainly determined by the early SED and local fertilizer application, while their spatiotemporal heterogeneity, especially the evenness, was mainly changed by SED, STM, crop growth, and crop types on the slope scale. In order to increase more crop yields, additional N fertilizer application on both the summit and the bottom during the vegetative growth stage and conservation tillage systems or additional soil amendments on the back slopes was necessary. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface Disturbance and Erosion by Pigs: A Medium Term Assessment for the Monsoonal Tropics

Introduced pigs (Sus scrofa ) are recognised as having significant environmental impacts. Here, we quantify the effect of feral pigs in a catchment (undisturbed by Europeans) in the monsoonal tropics of northern Australia. Field data collected over a 5‐year period showed that the areal extent of pig disturbance ranged from 0·3 to 3·3% of the survey area (average 1·2%, σ = 0·9%). Mass of exhumed material was considerable and ranged from 4·3 to 36·0 Mg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ (average 10·9 Mg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹). The excavations produce surface roughness which acts as sediment traps. Over the 5‐year study period, there was no evidence to suggest that pigs produce any rill or gully erosion. There does not appear to be any relationship between rainfall amount and area disturbed or volume of material exhumed. However, a significant positive relationship was observed between number of disturbances and rainfall. The location of any disturbance appears to be random and has no relationship with topography or geomorphic attributes such as slope, upslope contributing area or wetness indices derived from a high‐resolution digital elevation model of the site. While pigs are disturbingly relatively large volumes of soil, there is no clear evidence to support any increase in local erosion and soil structural change may be occurring slowly and only be observable over the long term. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

单宁酸对不同pH茶园土壤中活性铝形态分布的影响

采集云南省普洱市和江西省南昌县两地典型的茶园土壤,通过添加HCl和Ca(OH)2调节土壤pH,研究不同pH(3.0、3.5、4.0、4.5)茶园土壤添加0.4 mmol·kg 1、2.0 mmol·kg 1、4.0 mmol·kg 1、8.0 mmol·kg 1、12.0 mmol·kg 1单宁酸后,活性铝形态交换态铝(Al3+)、单聚体羟基铝[Al(OH)2+、Al(OH)+2]、酸溶无机铝[Al(OH)03]和腐殖酸铝[Al-HA]的分布特征。结果表明:单宁酸添加量为0~0.4 mmol·kg 1和0~2.0 mmol·kg 1时,江西南昌和云南普洱茶园土壤中交换态铝随土壤pH的增加呈明显下降趋势,而羟基态铝、酸溶无机铝和腐殖酸铝呈逐渐上升趋势;当单宁酸浓度增至2.0 mmol·kg 1以上时,随土壤pH的增加,单宁酸对活性铝释放的抑制作用增强,各形态活性铝含量都较低,且不同pH处理土壤间的差异不显著。0~20 cm土层土壤与20~40 cm土层土壤变化规律大致相似,总体上看,下层土壤活性铝总量高于上层。云南普洱茶园土壤活性铝总量明显高于江西南昌的茶园土壤。相关分析表明,0~20 cm土层土壤中,pH与羟基态铝、腐殖酸铝、土壤酸碱缓冲容量(pHBC)呈正相关(r=0.796,P0.01;r=0.960,P0.01;r=0.852,P0.01);pHBC与交换态铝、羟基态铝呈负相关(r=0.904,P0.01;r=0.645,P0.05),而与腐殖酸铝呈正相关(r=0.795,P0.01)。同时,单宁酸加入浓度为0~0.4 mmol·kg 1时,土壤pH明显上升,之后随着单宁酸加入浓度的增加土壤pH持续下降,土壤pH(YpH)与单宁浓度(CDN)在此阶段基本符合方程:YpH=0.04CDN+3.82(R2=0.95,P0.01)的线性变化趋势,在单宁酸浓度达到8.0~12.0 mmol·kg 1时,土壤pH基本不再变化。     

Salt-tolerant forage cultivation on a saline-sodic field for biomass production and soil reclamation

Chemical reclamation of sodic and saline-sodic soils has become cost-intensive. Cultivation of plants tolerant of salinity and sodicity may mobilize the CaCO₃ present in saline-sodic soils instead of using a chemical approach. Four forage plant species, sesbania (Sesbania aculeata), kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca), millet rice (Echinochloa colona) and finger millet (Eleusine coracana), were planted in a calcareous saline-sodic field (EC_e = 9·6–11·0 dS m⁻¹, SAR = 59·4–72·4). Other treatments included gypsum (equivalent to 100 per cent of the gypsum requirement of the 15 cm soil layer) and a control (no gypsum or crop). The crops were grown for 5 months. The performance of the treatments in terms of soil amelioration was in the order: Sesbania aculeata ≅ gypsum > Leptochloa fusca > Echinochloa colona > Elusine coracana > control. Biomass production by the plant species was found to be directly proportional to their reclamation efficiency. Sesbania aculeata produced 32·3 Mg forage ha⁻¹, followed by Leptochloa fusca (24·6 Mg ha⁻¹), Echinochloa colona (22·6 Mg ha⁻¹) and Eleusine coracana (5·4 Mg ha⁻¹). Sesbania aculeata emerged as the most suitable biotic material for cultivation on salt-affected soils to produce good-quality forage, and to reduce soil salination and sodication processes.     

Experimental Warming Aggravates Degradation‐Induced Topsoil Drought in Alpine Meadows of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Climatic warming is presumed to cause topsoil drought by increasing evapotranspiration and water infiltration, and by progressively inducing land degradation in alpine meadows of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. However, how soil moisture and temperature patterns of degraded alpine meadows respond to climate warming remains unclear. A 6‐year continuous warming experiment was carried out in both degraded and undegraded alpine meadows in the source region of the Yangtze River. The goal was to identify the effects of climatic warming and land degradation on soil moisture (θ ), soil surface temperature (T _sfc ), and soil temperature (T _s ). In the present study, land degradation significantly reduced θ by 4·5–6·1% at a depth of 0–100 cm (p  < 0·001) and increased the annual mean T _sfc by 0·8 °C. Warming with an infrared heater (radiation output of 150 W m⁻²) significantly increased the annual mean T _sfc by 2·5 °C (p  < 0·001) and significantly increased θ by 4·7% at a depth of 40–60 cm. Experimental warming in degraded land reversed the positive effects of the infrared heater and caused the yearly average θ to decrease significantly by 3·7–8·1% at a depth of 0–100 cm. Our research reveals that land degradation caused a significant water deficit near the soil surface. Experimental warming aggravated topsoil drought caused by land degradation, intensified the magnitude of degradation, and caused a positive feedback in the degraded alpine meadow ecosystem. Therefore, an immediate need exists to restore degraded alpine meadow grasslands in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau in anticipation of a warmer future. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physical properties of some intensively cultivated soils of Ireland amended with spent mushroom compost

In this paper, spent mushroom compost (SMC), a by‐product of the mushroom industry, is proposed as a suitable organic amendment for soil structure restoration. A 4‐month incubation pot trial was conducted in which fresh and composted SMC was amended at three different rates (50, 100 and 200 t ha⁻¹) to a range of structurally degraded tillage soils (n = 10). Soil OC content and aggregate stability as determined by the three disrupting tests of the Le Bissonnais method (fast‐wetting, slow‐wetting and mechanical breakdown) were investigated. Applications of 50, 100 and 200 t ha⁻¹ fresh SMC increased the OC content by 2·71 per cent, 2·69 per cent and 2·49 per cent respectively, while amendments of composted SMC increased the OC content by 3·28 per cent, 2·94 per cent and 2·87 per cent for each application rate, respectively. The effect of SMC on aggregate stability was generally positive and statistically significant in most soils. However, in soils 3 and 4 an application rate of 200 t ha⁻¹ SMC decreased the aggregate stability, on average, by 15 per cent, in comparison to the control, for the fast‐wetting test. Aggregate stability was strongly controlled by the inherent OC content of the study soils; that is, the OC content prior to SMC addition. A positive correlation coefficient was also evident for the dithionite‐extractable iron, most pronounced for slow‐wetting and mechanical breakdown treatments (r = 0·844 and r = 0·817 respectively). It is clear from this research that SMC amendments have the capacity to improve soil structural stability. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Relationships among dust outbreaks, vegetation cover, and surface soil water content on the Loess Plateau of China, 1999–2000

We analyzed relationships among dust outbreaks, Normalized Difference Vegetation Indices (NDVI), and surface soil water content (0 to 2 cm depth) on the Loess Plateau, a significant dust source area of East Asia. World Surface Data for wind speed and current weather, coarse-resolution data for NDVI, and a three-layer soil model for surface soil water content were used. The threshold NDVI for preventing dust outbreaks was about 0.2 when the wind speed ranged from 7 to 8 m s^− 1. This threshold NDVI corresponds to a vegetation cover of 18%. The threshold ratio of surface soil water content to the field capacity (θ_r) was about 0.2. Conditions facilitating dust outbreaks on the Loess Plateau are when NDVI is less than 0.2 with wind speed  7 m s^− 1 and θ_r < 0.2, and when NDVI is greater than 0.2 with wind speed  9 m s^− 1 and θ_r < 0.2.