黄土高原丘陵沟壑区土地利用方式对土壤团聚体特征的影响

为研究黄土高原丘陵沟壑区复垦土地在不同利用方式下对土壤团聚体的影响,以陕西延安南泥湾沟壑区退化耕地整治复垦后,5种不同的土地利用方式,分别为林地(F处理),水稻(R处理),玉米(M处理)、蔬菜(V处理)及荒地(CK处理)。测定分析干筛法和湿筛法0—40cm土层土壤0.25mm团聚体分布、平均重量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)、团聚体破坏率(PAD)和分形维数(D)。结果表明:(1)各处理在0—40cm各土层土壤团聚体数量及大小均显著优于CK处理,各处理干筛下0—40cm土层0.25mm团聚体含量(DR0.25)和湿筛下该团聚体含量(WR0.25)随着土壤土层深度的增加呈现相反的趋势;(2)干筛法和湿筛法0—40cm土层各处理土壤平均重量直径(MWD)和几何平均直径(GMD)的平均值大小顺序均呈现F处理R处理M处理V处理CK处理,F处理和R处理对增加土壤团聚体较其它处理效果显著;(3)湿筛法分析表明,各处理土壤团聚体破坏率(PAD)在0—40cm土层内均表现出近似"Z"字形趋势,各处理显著低于CK;(4)各处理的分形维数(D)在0—40cm土层平均值大小顺序为F处理R处理M处理V处理CK处理。土壤分形维数(D)与干筛法和湿筛法下0—40cm土层0.25mm团聚体含量之间存在良好的线性关系,分别为R2=0.73和R2=0.80。林地和水稻田利用方式可有效提高土壤团聚体数量和质量,增加土壤稳定性和改善土壤结构。     

不同土地利用方式土壤团聚体组成及几种团聚体稳定性指标的比较

为分析比较不同土地利用方式以及种植年限土壤团聚体质量,获得较灵敏的团聚体状况指标与研究方法,揭示人为活动对土壤质量的作用与影响,以关中地区不同种植年限的菜园土壤和果园土壤为研究对象,经干筛法测定团聚体的组成状况后分别用平均质量直径（MWD）、几何均重直径（GMD）、分形维数D以及矩法参数为指标,分析菜园土壤和果园土壤在系列时间的振动筛分过程中团聚体组成变异特征,结果表明：用MWD和GMD作为团聚状况指标,只有在适宜的振动筛分时间范围内才能基本反映各种性状土壤的团聚水平差异;用分形维数作为指标,表征各类土壤的团聚水平的可信性值得商榷;用矩法的理论和其中的偏倚系数Cs能够较为灵敏地表征各类土壤的团聚水平。同时,研究发现菜园土壤和果园土壤的团聚化水平均有随着种植年限的增加有先提高后降低的趋势。研究得出了矩法的偏倚系数能够更清楚地区分各土壤之间的团聚水平,为评价土壤团聚水平提供更为灵敏的指标。     

优化施肥方式对黄土高原新增耕地土壤有机质含量和团聚体特性的影响

[目的] 研究优化施肥对黄土高原地区新增耕地土壤质量和作物产量的影响,为新增耕地土壤建立合理的优化施肥处理和区域新造土地的健康可持续发展提供理论依据。[方法] 通过盆栽种植试验,评估有机肥处理（OF）、有机肥配施化肥处理（NP）、常规施肥处理（CF）对新增耕地土壤团聚体数量、结构稳定性、有机质含量和玉米产量的改良效应。[结果] CF处理下新整治耕地土壤有机质含量最低为7.08 g/kg,土壤水稳性大团聚含量低,结构稳定性差。与CF处理相比,优化施肥方式下的OF和NP处理显著提高了新增耕地土壤有机质含量和玉米产量（p<0.05）,>0.25 mm粒级大团聚体含量和团聚体稳定性显著提升,其中OF处理对新整治耕地土壤团聚体数量和稳定性的改善效果最佳。在0—10 cm土层,OF和NP处理下土壤有机质含量分别为12.67,11.79 g/kg,比CF处理分别提高了46.2%和36.1%。OF处理下水稳性团聚体MWD,GMD,R_0.25值分别比CF处理高了62.5%,21.4%和148.3%,分形维数比CF处理降低了1.7%;NP处理下水稳性团聚体MWD,GMD,R_0.25值分别比CF处理高了18.8%,3.6%和40.9%,分形维数比CF处理降低了0.4%。在10—20 cm土层,OF和NP处理下土壤有机质含量、团聚体数量和结构稳定性也得到一定的提升。土壤有机质含量与团聚体平均重量直径（MWD）、几何平均直径（GMD）呈显著正相关关系（p<0.001）。[结论] 优化施肥是有利于提升新整治耕地土壤结构稳定性、保肥特性和土地生产力的有效措施。     

Soil structure changes due to different land-use practices in the central Zagruos region,Iran

In this study, the effect of land-use treatments and the feasibility of fractal dimension to quantify soil aggregate stability were investigated in the central Zagrous, Iran. For this purpose, the non-linear fractal dimension (D_nl), linear fractal dimension (D_l) and the mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates were compared. Soil samples from three sites with four adjacent land-use types, namely: forest area (F), cultivated lands adjacent to forest (CAF), pasture (P) and cultivated lands adjacent to pasture (CAP) were collected. Results showed that soils under cultivated lands had higher bulk density (BD) (1.30–1.38 Mg m^?3) compared to the adjacent soils under forest (1.19 Mg m^?3) and pasture (1.21 Mg m^?3). In the 0–15 cm layer, soil organic matter (SOM) content in the cultivated plots were respectively 30% and 31% lower compared to the forest and pasture soils. The lowest CVs belonged to D_nl (5–8%) demonstrating that D_nl was more accurate than D_l (8–14%) and MWD (30–53%) methods. CAP had the largest value of D_nl, while P had the smallest value of D_nl. Difference of D_nl between forest and pasture was not significant, whereas both of them significantly differed from CAF and CAP. D_l did not differ significantly between forest and CAF. There were significant differences between forest and pasture for the measured MWD. Both fractal dimensions had negative correlation with MWD, SOM, hydraulic conductivity (HC) and macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) and positive correlation with BD and total porosity (TP).     

Mycorrhizal function on soil aggregate stability in root zone and root-free hyphae zone of trifoliate orange

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) influence soil aggregate stability through their hyphae, roots, and glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP); however, the individual effect of these factors is difficult to distinguish. Pots separated by a 37-μm mesh bag buried in the middle of each pot was used to establish root zone (root + hyphae) and hyphae zone (roots free), where the Poncirus trifoliata seedlings were colonized by Funneliformis mosseae or Paraglomus occultum in root zone. AMF inoculation significantly increased shoot, root, and plant’s total biomass, soil organic carbon, GRSP fractions, 2–4 and 1–2 mm size water-stable aggregates, and mean weight diameter (MWD) in root or hyphae zone. Within root zone, root colonization and biomass presented stronger relationship with MWD than GRSP fractions. While, within hyphae zone, total of GRSP fraction was significantly correlated with MWD. The study, suggested further that root biomass and colonization were the main mechanisms in root zone for improving aggregate stability, whereas total of GRSP fractions was of paramount importance in hyphae zone. Mycorrhizal effect on aggregate stability was observed to be contrastingly different between root zone and hyphae zone.     

山地丘陵区不同土地利用方式对空心村整治还田土壤团聚体特征的影响

以探明不同土地利用方式对土壤团聚体的影响为目的,为提高山地丘陵区空心村整治还田土壤稳定性及生产性能提供科学依据。在陕西澄县山地丘陵区空心村整治还田后,设置5种不同的土地利用方式,开展为期1年的种植试验,分别为玉米(C处理)、小麦(W处理)、蔬菜(V处理)、药材(M处理)及对照(未种:CK处理)。测定分析干筛法和湿筛法0—40cm土层土壤团聚体分布、平均质量直径(WMD)、几何平均直径(GMD)、团聚体破坏率(PAD)、不稳定团粒数(ELT)和分形维数(D)。结果表明:(1)各处理在0—40cm各土层土壤团聚体数量及大小均显著优于CK处理,各处理干筛下0—40cm土层0.25mm团聚体含量(DR0.25)和湿筛下该含量(WR0.25)随着土壤土层深度的增加呈现相反的趋势;(2)干筛法和湿筛法0—40cm土层各处理土壤平均重量直径(MWD)平均值和几何平均直径(GMD)平均值大小顺序均呈现W处理C处理M处理V处理CK处理,C处理有助于增加表层土壤大团聚体含量,W处理则有助于增加下层土壤大团聚体含量;(3)湿筛法分析表明,各处理土壤团聚体破坏率(PAD)和不稳定团粒指数(ELT)在0—40cm土层内均表现出近似"Z"字形趋势,各处理显著低于CK;(4)各处理的分形维数(D)在0—40cm土层平均值大小顺序为C处理W处理M处理V处理CK处理。土壤分形维数(D)与干筛法和湿筛法下0—40cm土层0.25mm团聚体含量之间存在良好的线性关系,分别为R2=0.74和R2=0.67。空心村整治还田后种植玉米和小麦有利于提高0—40cm土层大团聚体含量,增加土层稳定性,改善土壤结构。     

Aggregate-associated soil organic carbon and total nitrogen following amendment of puddled and sawah-managed rice soils in southeastern Nigeria

Puddling during sawah rice cultivation destabilizes the soil structure. The re-formation of soil water-stable aggregates (WSA) following puddling and amendments, and their associated organic carbon (SOC) and total N were studied at Akaeze and Ikwo in south-eastern Nigeria. The amendments, which were randomized in triplicate, include control, NPK fertilizer, poultry dropping, rice husk powder and rice husk ashes (RHA). Soil samples from 0 to 15 cm depth were taken from the field after 2 years of cultivation. Most of the SOC were found in the very fine aggregates. There was no consistent trend in the treatment effects. However, the NPK-amended soils showed the lowest values of WSA > 2 mm in both locations, whereas the poultry dropping-amended soils showed the least and the highest mean-weight diameter (MWD) values at Akaeze and Ikwo, respectively. The SOC of the whole soil in Akaeze correlated positively with MWD (r = 0.92*). Irrespective of location, SOC in soils and WSA > 2.00 mm correlated positively with MWD (r = 0.56*; 0.65*, respectively) while SOC in WSA 0.50–0.25 mm accounted for low MWD values. More carbon was sequestered at Akaeze than at Ikwo, with the RHA-amended soils being the highest at both locations.     

Rangeland Use Change to Agriculture Has Different Effects on Soil Organic Matter Fractions Depending on the Type of Cultivation

The agricultural use of natural ecosystem is increasing in the Middle East because of population growth in the most countries. The type of cultivation could affect the content of soil organic matter in the rangeland use changes into agriculture. Therefore, we compared soil organic matter fractions of semi‐arid rangelands with agricultural lands (wheat‐land, pea‐land and orchard) where have been changed from semi‐arid rangelands to agriculture 15 years before. The results showed that in general, total and particulate organic matter (TOM and POM) and total nitrogen (TN) were highest in the rangeland compared with the three‐agricultural lands in intact soil, macro‐aggregates and micro‐aggregates (p < 0·05). Nevertheless, TOM content in orchard (1·45%) was higher than the two other land uses, and there was no significant difference of TN between natural rangeland and orchard in intact soil. The highest values of POM were obtained in the rangeland (0·23%) and orchard (0·22%), and the lowest value of POM was obtained in the pea‐land (0·14%) and wheat‐land (0·08%) in macro‐aggregates. In micro‐aggregates, TOM, POM and TN were highest in the rangeland (1·77%, 0·23% and 0·19%, respectively) and showed similar pattern in the three‐agricultural lands. We discussed that compared with pea‐land and wheat‐land, orchard was received less negative impact on soil qualitative parameters in land use changes projects from rangeland into agriculture. We conclude that orchard could be a better option in rangeland use changes into agriculture compared with the other cultivations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of combined organic manure and mineral fertilization on soil aggregation and aggregate-associated organic carbon in two agricultural soils

Abstract

The effect of organic manure and inorganic fertilizer on soil aggregate size distribution and stability, and associated carbon (C) within aggregates varies greatly in previous studies because of the differences in soil conditions, cropping systems, and management practices. This study was conducted as two field fertilization experiments, with different cropping systems, under a subtropical climate in China. The two field experiment sites were located in Jinhua (established in April 2011) in the Jinqu basin in Zhejiang province and Jintan (established in October 2010) in the low-middle Yangtze River plain in Jiangsu province. Both experiments consisted of four treatments, including unfertilized (CK), mineral fertilizer nitrogen (N)–phosphorus (P)–potassium (K) (NPK), NPK plus straw (NPK?+?SR), and NPK plus cattle manure (NPK?+?FYM) or half NPK plus cattle manure (1/2NPK?+?FYM). Water stable aggregate size classes (>5, 2–5, 1–2, 0.5–1, 0.25–0.5, and <0.25?mm) and associated soil organic C (SOC) at 0–15?cm depth were measured. The mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), and water stable aggregates (WSA)?>?0.25?mm were also determined. The results showed that aggregate-size distribution varied with soil types. Combined application of NPK and organic matter (straw residue or cattle manure), unlike the CK and NPK treatments, significantly increased the WSA >0.25?mm, MWD, and GMD, while obviously reducing the proportion of <0.25?mm aggregates. However, no differences in WSA >0.25?mm, MWD, GMD, and associated C were observed between CK and NPK at both sites. The addition of FYM to the NPK treatment yielded the highest SOC contents in bulk soil, and showed significantly higher associations of C within all size aggregates at both sites. In contrast, NPK?+?SR significantly increased SOC within aggregate classes (2–5?mm, 0.5–1?mm, 0.25–0.5?mm, and <0.25?mm) at Jinhua and (>5?mm and 1–2?mm) at Jintan compared to the CK and NPK treatments. Overall, the combined application of FYM and mineral NPK was the best sustainable management practice for the improvement of aggregate stability and SOC sequestration.     

大桥水库消落带不同水位高程柳树林地土壤团聚体组成与分形特征

为研究植被恢复对水库消落带土壤团聚体组成及稳定性的影响,利用干筛和湿筛法,测定了大桥水库消落带不同水位高程下柳树林地土壤团聚体组成分布,并基于分形理论分析了土壤团聚体分形特征。结果表明:(1)消落带柳树林地土壤0.25 mm非水稳定性团聚体和水稳性团聚体分别为73.13%～93.69%和47.62%～82.06%,较对照无植被样地土壤均有所增加,但两者差异不明显;消落带土壤大团聚体含量随水位高程升高而降低,随土层深度增加而减少,但在不同水位高程和不同土层间均无显著性差异(p0.05)。(2)消落带柳树林地土壤水稳性团聚体分形维数(D)为2.51～2.82,平均值为2.67,低于对照的2.75;土壤水稳性团聚体分形维数(D)在不同水位高程和不同土层间均无显著性差异(p0.05),整体呈现出随水位高程升高而降低的趋势,且0—10 cm土层D值低于10—20 cm土层。(3)消落带柳树林地土壤MWD、GMD平均值分别为0.81,0.24 mm,高于对照的0.71,0.15 mm,柳树林地土壤团聚体稳定性高于对照;土壤团聚体稳定性在消落带内部具有一定空间差异,MWD与GMD均表现为高水位(2 016～2 019 m)中水位(2 010～2 013 m)低水位(2 007 m),且0—10 cm土层MWD与GMD大于10—20 cm土层的,但不同水位高程和不同土层间均无显著性差异(p0.05)。综上,大桥水库消落带植被恢复对土壤团粒结构有一定程度改善,且随淹水深度的增加,消落带柳树林地土壤团聚体稳定性降低。     

喀斯特石漠化地区土地利用方式对土壤团聚体稳定性及其有机碳分布特征的影响

分析石漠化地区三种常见的土地利用方式（撂荒地,AL;玉米地,CF;果树地,FD）对土壤团聚体稳定性及有机碳分布的影响,为喀斯特石漠化地区地力提升提供理论依据。采集同一区域不同土地利用方式土壤样品,采用干筛法和湿筛法进行团聚体分级,对比分析不同土地利用方式下土壤养分含量及土壤团聚体的粒径分布、结构稳定性、有机碳的分布特征。结果表明,FD各土壤养分均高于AL和CF,其中FD的土壤有机碳含量分别较AL和CF显著提高25.45%和21.86%,全氮含量显著提高22.42%和19.76%。FD > 5 mm机械性和水稳性团聚体组成均显著高于AL和CF,< 0.25 mm的水稳性团聚体组成则显著低于AL和CF。不同土地利用方式 > 0.25 mm团聚体组成（R_0.25）、平均重量直径（MWD）和几何平均直径（GMD）均表现为FD > AL > CF,团聚体破坏率（PAD）和不稳定团粒指数（E_LT）则表现出相反趋势。FD不同粒径团聚体有机碳含量分别较AL和CF提高了4.39% ~ 36.69%和8.11% ~ 27.51%,且 > 5 mm粒径团聚体有机碳对土壤有机碳的贡献率分别较AL和CF显著提高了6.03%和9.64%,而 < 0.25 mm粒径团聚体有机碳对土壤有机碳的贡献率则显著降低了46.02%和57.42%。相关分析表明土壤有机碳含量与MWD、GMD、R_0.25 呈显著正相关,土壤有机碳含量是影响土壤团聚体稳定性最重要的土壤养分指标。在喀斯特石漠化较严重地区,采取退耕还林可提高土壤养分和改善土壤团粒结构,促进喀斯特石漠化生态环境的改善。     

不同土地利用方式对岷江流域土壤团聚体稳定性及有机碳的影响

采用湿筛法测量了岷江流域不同土地利用方式下不同土层（0—10,10—20,20—30 cm）土壤大团聚体（> 2 mm）、中间团聚体（0.25~2 mm）、微团聚体（53 μm~0.25 mm）以及粉+黏团聚体（<53 μm）的质量分数及各粒径团聚体中的有机碳含量,并探讨了各粒径土壤团聚体的有机碳储量。结果表明,土地利用方式对土壤团聚体稳定性及其有机碳具有重要影响;土壤养分均呈现出一致性规律,大致表现为撂荒地 > 次生林 > 人工林 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地,土壤全磷差异并不显著（p>0.05）;林地的开垦行为会导致大团聚体的破碎化,灌草丛及坡耕地>0.25 mm的大团聚体含量较林地低,土壤结构趋于恶化;而坡耕地闲置为撂荒地后,则会促使粉+黏团聚体向粒径大的微团聚体及中间团聚体转化,使土壤结构趋于改善,在0—30 cm土层内,灌草丛及坡耕地土壤颗粒的MWD（平均质量直径）和GMD（几何平均直径）值均显著低于林地和撂荒地（p<0.05）,坡耕地撂荒后,MWD和GMD值均显著升高（p<0.05）,表明林地开垦为坡耕地导致土壤团聚体的稳定性降低,而坡耕地弃耕撂荒会增强团聚体的稳定性,提高土壤抵抗外力破坏的能力。不同土地利用方式下各粒径土壤团聚体有机碳含量均随土层深度的增加而降低。在0—30 cm土层深度内,不同土地利用方式下各粒径土壤团聚体有机碳储量表现为:大团聚体有机碳储量为林地 > 撂荒地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地,中间团聚体有机碳储量为撂荒地 > 林地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地,微团聚体有机碳储量为撂荒地 > 林地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地;粉+黏团聚体有机碳储量为撂荒地 > 林地 > 灌草丛 > 坡耕地。各粒径土壤团聚体内有机碳储量均为林地和撂荒地高于果园和坡耕地,表明将林地开垦为坡耕地后,将导致各团聚体组分内有机碳的损失,而坡耕地撂荒则有助于土壤有机碳的恢复和截存;林地和撂荒地土壤有机碳主要蓄积在中间团聚体内,而坡耕地则主要蓄积在粉+黏团聚体内,表明在土地利用变化过程中,粒径较大的团聚体有机碳不稳定,更容易发生变化。     

广东省赤红壤区土壤团聚体有机碳和铁氧化物特征及稳定性

通过野外采样和室内分析相结合,以广东省赤红壤区花岗岩(G)、第四纪红土(Q)和砂页岩(S)母质发育的林地(FL)、水田(PF)和旱地(UL)土壤为研究对象,分析了土壤团聚体有机碳及其组分和不同形态铁氧化物含量,探究了其对土壤团聚体稳定性的影响及贡献.结果显示:(1)3种母质发育的3种利用方式土壤团聚体均以>0.25 m...     

生物质炭和秸秆长期还田对红壤团聚体和有机碳的影响

要 ：秸秆还田和施用生物炭是提高土壤有机碳含量和改良土壤团聚体结构的有效方法,但长期施用生物炭与秸秆还田改良土壤的效率研究仍然缺乏比较。本研究针对中亚热带典型的旱地红壤,基于等碳量不同碳源投入的5年野外定位试验,研究秸秆还田、秸秆-猪粪配施和生物炭还田对红壤团聚体组成、稳定性和有机碳分布的影响,为建立红壤地力快速提升的有机培肥措施提供科学依据。本试验共设置对照、单施化肥、秸秆还田、秸秆-猪粪配施和生物炭还田五个处理,采用干筛和湿筛法分析了连续施用不同碳源5年后对土壤团聚体组成、稳定性和有机碳分布的影响。研究表明,施用等碳量的不同有机碳源5年后显著增加了土壤有机碳含量,其增幅顺序为：生物炭还田>秸秆-猪粪配施>秸秆还田。干筛法分析结果表明：与单施化肥处理相比,秸秆-猪粪配施和生物炭还田处理显著增加>0.25 mm机械稳定性团聚体含量(R_0.25)、平均重量直径(mean weight diameter, MWD)和几何平均直径(geometric mean diameter, GMD);秸秆还田和生物炭还田处理显著增加了0.25-2 mm团聚体对土壤有机碳的贡献率。湿筛法分析结果表明：与单施化肥处理相比,秸秆还田和秸秆-猪粪配施处理显著增加R_0.25、MWD和GMD,但生物炭还田处理和单施化肥处理相比差异不显著;秸秆还田和秸秆-猪粪配施处理显著降低团聚体破坏率(PAD),生物炭还田处理显著增加了PAD;秸秆配施猪粪处理和秸秆还田处理显著增加了>2mm团聚体对土壤有机碳的贡献率。总体上,秸秆配施猪粪协同提高团聚体有机质含量和团聚体稳定性的作用比秸秆还田和生物炭还田要强。     

生物炭与氮肥配施改善土壤团聚体结构提高红枣产量

探讨花生壳生物炭配施氮肥对华北平原枣区土壤机械稳定性和水稳性团聚体的分布、稳定性及红枣产量的影响,阐明土壤和枣树对生物炭与氮肥培肥效果的响应,为枣区土壤结构改良和合理培肥制度建立科学依据。通过3 a(2013—2015)田间定位试验,设置生物炭用量4个水平(0,2.5,5和10 t/hm2)、氮肥用量3个水平(300,450和600 kg/hm2),利用干、湿筛法得到不同粒级的土壤团聚体含量。结果表明:与对照相比,生物炭与氮肥配施对机械稳定性团聚体的平均质量直径(MWD,mean weight diameter)、几何平均直径(geometric mean diameter,GMD)和0.25 mm大团聚体质量分数无显著影响,但0.25 mm水稳性大团聚体含量则显著提高20.7%,水稳性团聚体的MWD和GMD较对照分别显著增加29.2%和27.2%。同时,各配施处理降低了土壤团聚体破坏率,最大降幅为27.1%。与对照相比,中、高用量的生物炭与氮肥配施显著提高土壤有机碳含量,且有机碳含量与MWD和GMD均达到了显著水平(P0.05)。生物炭施入土壤1 a后,随试验时间的推移,与氮肥的培肥效果越来越明显,红枣产量呈上升趋势。综合分析认为,生物炭与氮肥配施对枣区土壤水稳性大团聚体的形成、土壤结构及稳定性提升效果显著,有利于缓解枣区土壤质量退化问题和提高红枣产量。     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Distribution of carbon,nitrogen, carbohydrate and calcium carbonate in aggregates of histosols in Shahrekord,Iran

Soil organic matter and its components play a key role in the stabilization of soil aggregates. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), hot-water extractable (HWE) and dilute acid extractable (DAE) carbohydrates and CaCO₃ in water-stable aggregates in histosols of Shahrekord, Iran. Additionally, correlations between aggregate stability (mean weight diameter (MWD) values) and mentioned characters were also examined. Results showed that at all depths in all 18 profiles, larger aggregates contained more OC, TN and carbohydrate content than the smaller aggregates, whilst CaCO₃ had the opposite trend. OC, TN and carbohydrate fractions followed a consistent similar trend by aggregate size. The positive correlation between OC and TN within the aggregates was considerable. OC, TN, carbohydrate fractions and MWD significantly (P < 0.01) decreased with depth. Average concentration of CaCO₃ was almost the same in aggregates <4 mm at all depths. We observed very low values of ratios HWE:OC and DAE:OC in the study site. OC, TN and carbohydrate fractions each gave highly or very highly significant correlations with aggregate stability. We obtained significant, but weak negative correlation of CaCO₃ with aggregate stability (P = 0.05; r = ?0.23), implying that CaCO₃ is a disaggregating agent in these histosols.     

Soil aggregate stability and aggregate-associated organic carbon under different land use or land cover types

Soil aggregate stability (SAS) is an indicator for soil condition and is greatly influenced by land use or land cover (LULC) type and other soil and environmental attributes. This study investigated the soil aggregate-size distribution, SAS, aggregate-associated organic carbon (AAOC) and the relative importance of factors affecting SAS and AAOC. Based on conditioned Latin hypercube sampling, soil aggregate samples were collected from the “A” horizon and wet sieved into large macroaggregates (>2.0 mm), small macroaggregates (0.25–2.0 mm), microaggregates (0.053–0.25 mm) and mineral fraction (<0.053 mm). The large macroaggregates accounted for 86% to 93% of the total aggregates under all LULC types except under dry land (64%) and paddy land (35%). The SAS under different LULC decreased in the order fir > shrubland > natural grassland > orchard > blue pine > broadleaf > mixed conifer > dry land > paddy land. The AAOC of the large macroaggregates constituted for 76%–90% of the total AAOC under all LULC types except under dry land (65%) and paddy land (38%). While SAS was largely influenced by the AAOC of small macroaggregates, microaggregates and large macroaggregates and LULC type, the AAOC of different aggregate fractions was mostly affected by LULC type, altitude and slope. SAS did not exhibit any significant relationship with the AAOC of different aggregate fractions under the natural LULC types but showed a strong relationship under the agricultural land indicating that AAOC is more critical for SAS under the agricultural land than under the natural LULC.     

Cropping diversity with rice influences soil aggregate formation and nutrient storage under different tillage systems

Background : The soils under continuous rice monocropping are currently facing a serious threat of accelerated soil and environmental quality degradation. Aims : Examining the impact of tillage and cropping diversity on soil aggregate stability and associated nutrients in a sub‐tropical rice ecosystem. Methods : A split‐plot experiment with tillage (minimum, MT vs. conventional, CT) as a main plot and cropping diversity [mustard (Brassica napus)–rice (Oryza sativa)–rice (M–R–R), wheat (Triticum aestivum)–rice–rice (W–R–R), and lentil (Lens esculenta)–rice–rice (L–R–R)] as a sub‐plot was repeated for four years. Soil aggregate properties were measured using wet sieving techniques. Soil organic carbon (SOC) and nutrients were measured in different aggregate size groups as well as in the bulk soil samples. Results : Results show that all the aggregate size groups were similar in both MT and CT, except in 0.85–0.30 mm. Likewise, cropping diversities increased soil aggregation, being higher aggregate size of < 0.053 mm in M–R–R relative to the W–R–R and L–R–R, where the latter two were alike. By contrast, > 2 mm aggregates were higher in L–R–R than in M–R–R and W–R–R, where the latter two were similar. The MT increased aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD) by 14% in W–R–R, and by 29% in L–R–R. Soil organic carbon (SOC), total N (TN), and available P were higher in MT than in CT, while it was alike for exchangeable K and available S. While W–R–R had a higher aggregate‐associated SOC, available P, and available S, L–R–R had a higher TN, and M–R–R had a higher exchangeable K. While SOC, TN, and exchangeable K accumulated more in the > 0.85 mm size aggregates, the available P, in contrast, accumulated more in < 0.85 mm size aggregates. Conclusion : Wheat–rice–rice diversity, coupled with minimum tillage, has a higher potential for soil fertility sustenance and crop productivity through better nutrient protection.     

Rain Use Efficiency,Primary Production and Rainfall Relationships in Desert Rangelands of Tunisia

Desert rangelands are characterised by low and highly variable rainfall regime, low forage production and high heterogeneity in the distribution of natural resources. This study was carried out in the desert rangelands of Tunisia to evaluate the response of different rangelands to annual rainfall in terms of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) and rain use efficiency over a 10‐year period (2003–2012). In general, ANPP values were relatively low (123 kg DM ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) but would tend to increase with increasing annual rainfall for all rangeland types. The highest value of ANPP was observed from Stipagrostis pungens and Hammada shmittiana communities (sandy‐soil) during the wet year 2011. In contrast, rain use efficiency tends to decline with the highest annual rainfall and varies among rangeland types and with an average of 1·9 kg DM ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ y⁻¹. Rain use efficiency tended to be higher during dry years and lower during wet years and tended to be higher on S. pungens and H. shmittiana (sandy‐soils) and lower on Helianthemum kahiricum (loamy soils). Therefore, understanding how rainfall affects productivity in rangelands is critical for predicting the impact of land degradation on the functioning of these ecosystems. It can be used to explain production decline associated with desertification as well as to assess rangeland conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

香蕉茎秆及其生物炭对珠江三角洲土壤团聚体特征的影响

为了探究施用香蕉茎秆(蕉秆)及其制备的生物炭对珠江三角洲农田土壤肥力的影响,本文通过土壤培养和盆栽试验,研究了施用0.5%、1.0%和2.0%蕉秆和水稻秸秆(稻秆)及其生物炭后,土壤中不同粒级水稳性团聚体的组成,并采用团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)、分形维数(D)和平均重量比表面积(MWSSA)等评价团聚体的稳定性。结果表明:1)珠江三角洲农田土壤水稳定性团聚体以0.25 mm微团聚体为主,占团聚体比例29.80%～52.52%;1～0.5mm团聚体次之,占18.19%～20.08%。2)施用1.0%、2.0%蕉秆和2.0%稻秆显著增加0.25 mm土壤团聚体总量,并显著提高土壤团聚体水稳定性;与不施用有机物料对照相比,团聚体MWD分别增加45.60%、62.37%和65.50%,GMD分别增加43.45%、55.34%和60.66%,D分别降低2.23%、2.32%和2.78%, MWSSA分别降低18.14%、20.09%和23.01%。3)MWD、GMD与 5mm、5～2 mm和2～1 mm团聚体所占比例呈极显著或显著正相关,与0.25 mm微团聚体所占比例呈极显著负相关; D、MWSSA与0.25 mm微团聚体所占比例呈极显著正相关,与5 mm、5～2 mm和2～1 mm团聚体所占比例呈极显著或显著负相关。4)综合主成分和差异显著性分析结果表明,施用2.0%和1.0%蕉秆提高土壤团聚体稳定性效果佳,均与施用2.0%稻秆没有显著差异,而施用蕉秆生物炭和稻秆生物炭短期内不能提高土壤团聚体稳定性。研究结果可为蕉秆废弃物资源化利用、提高土壤肥力提供参考依据。