Robinia pseudoacacia leaves improve soil physical and chemical properties

The role of the leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia L., which is widely distributed in the arid lands, on improving soil physical and chemical properties was analyzed at various incubation periods. The incubated soils added with 0, 25, 50 and 75 g Robinia pseudoacacia leaves were tested after consecutive incubation intervals of 6, 8 and 10 months and the different soil parameters were measured. The results showed the increases in organic matter (OM), extractable K, cation exchange capacity (CEC), aggregate stability and water holding capacity, but the decreases in pH value and bulk density after 6 months’ incubation. The gradual decrease in change rates of soil properties indicated less microbial population and organic residual mineralization under acidic conditions, which were resulted from fast decomposition of leaves after the first 6 months incubation. The increases in soil organic matter content, extractable K, CEC, aggregate stability and water holding capacity and the decreases in soil pH and bulk density provide favorable conditions for crop’s growth.     

Revegetation with artificial plants improves topsoil hydrological properties but intensifies deep-soil drying in northern Loess Plateau,China

Knowledge about the effects of vegetation types on soil properties and on water dynamics in the soil profile is critical for revegetation strategies in water-scarce regions, especially the choice of vegetation type and human management measures. We focused on the analysis of the effects of vegetation type on soil hydrological properties and soil moisture variation in the 0–400 cm soil layer based on a long-term(2004―2016) experimental data in the northern Loess Plateau region, China. Soil bulk density(BD), saturated soil hydraulic conductivity(Ks), field capacity(FC) and soil organic carbon(SOC) in 2016, as well as the volumetric soil moisture content during 2004–2016, were measured in four vegetation types, i.e., shrubland(korshinsk peashrub), artificial grassland(alfalfa), fallow land and cropland(millet or potato). Compared with cropland, revegetation with peashrub and alfalfa significantly decreased BD and increased Ks, FC, and SOC in the 0–40 cm soil layer, and fallow land significantly increased FC and SOC in the 0–10 cm soil layer. Soil water storage(SWS) significantly declined in shrubland and grassland in the 40–400 cm soil layer, causing severe soil drought in the deep soil layers. The study suggested that converting cropland to grassland(alfalfa) and shrubland(peashrub) improved soil-hydrological properties, but worsened water conditions in the deep soil profile. However, natural restoration did not intensify deep-soil drying. The results imply that natural restoration could be better than revegetation with peashrub and alfalfa in terms of good soil hydrological processes in the semi-arid Loess Plateau region.     

Changes in soil properties and erodibility of gully heads induced by vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau,China

Soil erosion on the Loess Plateau of China is effectively controlled due to the implementation of several ecological restoration projects that improve soil properties and reduce soil erodibility. However, few studies have examined the effects of vegetation restoration on soil properties and erodibility of gully head in the gully regions of the Loess Plateau. The objectives of this study were to quantify the effects of vegetation restoration on soil properties and erodibility in this region. Specifically, a control site in a slope cropland and 9 sites in 3 restored land-use types(5 sites in grassland, 3 in woodland and 1 in shrubland) in the Nanxiaohegou watershed of a typical gully region on the Loess Plateau were selected, and soil and root samples were collected to assess soil properties and root characteristics. Soil erodibility factor was calculated by the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator method. Our results revealed that vegetation restoration increased soil sand content, soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, organic matter content and mean weight diameter of water-stable aggregate but decreased soil silt and clay contents and soil disintegration rate. A significant difference in soil erodibility was observed among different vegetation restoration patterns or land-use types. Compared with cropland, soil erodibility decreased in the restored lands by 3.99% to 21.43%. The restoration patterns of Cleistogenes caespitosa K. and Artemisia sacrorum L. in the grassland showed the lowest soil erodibility and can be considered as the optimal vegetation restoration pattern for improving soil anti-erodibility of the gully heads. Additionally, the negative linear change in soil erodibility for grassland with restoration time was faster than those of woodland and shrubland. Soil erodibility was significantly correlated with soil particle size distribution, soil disintegration rate, soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, water-stable aggregate stability, organic matter content and root characteristics(including root average diameter, root length density, root surface density and root biomass density), but it showed no association with soil bulk density and soil total porosity. These findings indicate that although vegetation destruction is a short-term process, returning the soil erodibility of cropland to the level of grassland, woodland and shrubland is a long-term process(8–50 years).     

Long-Term Crop Rotation Effects on Organic Carbon,Nitrogen, and Phosphorus in Haplustoll Soil Fractions

Soil organic matter (SOM) or carbon (SOC) consists of a number of fractions (which can be separated by granulometric wet sieving) having different properties among them. Information on fraction nutrient distribution and long-term crop rotations is lacking for semiarid environments. The objective of this research was to study the agronomic effects on soil OC, N, and P fractions. The humified OC was the largest and least variable fraction of the SOC. Soil under continuous mixed pasture had higher OC contents than under annually tilled treatments. Similarly, soil total nitrogen under the cropped treatments decreased from 1.7 g N kg-¹ in noncultivated soils (reference plots) to 1.0, 0.7 an 0.7 g N kg-¹ under mixed pasture, pasture-crop, and wheat-crop respectively, in the fine soil fraction. The reference plots also showed significantly lower levels of organic phosphorus (P o ) in comparison to the other treatment (from 67.1 w g P o g-¹ to greater than 100 w g P o g-¹ in the fine fraction of the treatments and years). The noncultivated soil showed larger values of P o and inorganic P in the large-size granulometric fraction (0.1-2 mm) than in the soil fine fraction (0-01 mm). However, the rotation treatments had greater concentrations of P in the fine fraction. The P o from the coarse fraction appears to be the most labile and sensitive fraction to tillage and environmental conditions, and may be closely related to P availability.     

莫索湾垦区荒漠化土地物理特性研究

荒漠化是通过一种或多种营力过程造成的土地退化过程。本文选取莫索湾垦区风力作用和物理作用所造成的沙质荒漠化,泥质荒漠化和碱化土地为样品,通过土壤的机械组成分析,土壤饱和含水率,容重和田间持水量,以及入渗率的测试,定量地研究了土壤在荒漠化过程中物理性质的变化。     

Spatial heterogeneity of soil water content in the reversion process of desertification in arid areas

Sandy soils in arid,rain-fed environments have low and limited water content,which is a principal factor limiting vegetation development,and a key constraint controlling the structure and functions of the ecological systems in arid areas.The spatial heterogeneity of soil water content is a major soil property,and a focus of soil science and hydrology.On the southern edge of the Tengger Desert,sample plots were selected from mobile sand dunes in desertified lands that had been enclosed for 5,15 and 25 years,respectively.This study explored the dynamic and spatial heterogeneity of soil water content in these different layers of soil that were also in the reversion process of desertification.The results showed that the soil water content of the mobile sand dunes was highest when in the initial stages of the reversion process of desertification,while the soil water content in the 0-20 cm,20-40 cm and 40-60 cm layers of soil was 1.769%,3.011%,and 2.967% respectively,presenting a restoring tendency after 25 years of enclosure.There were significant differences,as a whole,in the soil water content among different restoration stages and different soil layers,respectively.Changes in soil water content,in different soil layers,at different restoration stages,exhibited exponential or spherical patterns.The spatial distribution of soil water content exhibited a mosaic patch pattern with obvious spatial heterogeneity.The ratio of the heterogeneity of spatial autocorrelation to gross spatial heterogeneity was greater than 50%.The gross spatial heterogeneity of the 0-20 cm layer of soil improved gradually,while those of the 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm layers improved initially,then weakened in the reversion process of desertification.This study revealed that restoration with sand-binding vegetation reduced soil water content,and increased its spatial heterogeneity in arid areas.However,after 25 years of vegetation-soil system restoration,the soil water content started to increase and its spatial heterogeneity started to weaken.These results will further benefit the understanding of the ecological mechanism between soil water and sand-binding vegetation.     

北方农牧交错带沙地生物结皮研究

为了解我国北方农牧交错带生物结皮的生态意义,本文以宁夏盐池为例,采用样线调查法进行结皮及植被调查,并在有结皮和无结皮覆盖两种情况下进行入渗试验。研究表明:北方半干旱区生物结皮对植物生长存在先促进、后抑制的过程。在风蚀环境条件和不稳定的土壤条件下,生物结皮的出现可创造适合植物生长的微环境,为植物的生长提供了条件。方差分析显示有结皮时的植被盖度明显高于无结皮覆盖的植被盖度。当环境条件改善时,结皮开始抑制植物的生长,两者存在一种显著的线性负相关关系。研究区从封育边缘到核心,结皮盖度为核心>边缘,植被盖度正好相反,两者的相关系数高达-0.920;生物结皮对入渗具有明显的阻碍作用,结皮盖度与入渗深度之间呈线性负相关,相关系数为-0.765,说明结皮的存在使土壤水分呈现浅层化趋势。     

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.     

白杨河-艾里克湖湿地土壤理化性质的空间分布特征

通过对白杨河—艾里克湖湿地土壤理化性状的研究,包括土壤颗粒组成、水分含量、盐分、pH值和养分等的空间分布特征。结果表明:大范围分布的土壤主要由细砂和粉砂组成,少数由粗砂粒组成;土壤水分的空间分布特征反映了白杨河河谷沿线局部干旱的现象;在艾里克湖周边发育着盐土和盐渍化土,对植物生长发育有明显的胁迫作用;土壤有机质、全N和全P总体贫乏,全K含量较高,并且有机质和水分的相关性较好,不同植被下土壤有机质含量和含水量的相关系数也不尽相同,但总体反映出干旱区湿地水在土壤有机质分解中的关键作用。     

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。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区退耕植被恢复地土壤水稳性团聚体的变化特征

以黄土高原典型丘陵沟壑区—吴旗县为例,研究了退耕地不同植被恢复年限、不同植被类型和不同恢复方式下的土壤水稳性团聚体含量的变化。结果表明,>0.25mm土壤水稳性团聚体含量,在0～60cm土层随着退耕地恢复年限的延长而不断增加,乔木地相对较高,草地相对较低,灌木地介于两者之间。自然恢复方式>自然 人工恢复方式>人工恢复方式,坡耕地的团粒含量最低;在0～20cm土层,恢复前期土壤水稳性团聚体含量增幅较大,后期增幅较小,而40～60cm土层的变化规律则相反。对同一种植被类型,>5mm的土壤水稳性团聚体含量从0～20cm到40～60cm土层均呈下降趋势,并且在较浅土层灌木地的降幅相对较大,在较深土层乔木地的降幅相对较大。人为干预使得土壤水稳性团聚体从大粒径向小粒径转化,这种转化在较深土层表现的较明显。可见,在退耕地植被恢复中,具有较长恢复年限的乔木地,土壤的抗蚀性较强;自然 人工的恢复方式既缩短了植被恢复时间,也提高了土壤水稳性团聚体含量,从而改善了土壤结构。     

重庆市不同类型植烟土壤肥力状况研究

对重庆市不同类型植烟土壤取样217个（石灰岩土土样20个,黄壤土样133个,黄棕壤土样34个,紫色土土样18个,黑色石灰土土样12个）,研究不同类型植烟土壤肥力状况。经测定分析得出：重庆烟区土壤大多呈酸性,有机质含量较高,与农户施用有机肥有关。大量元素中全氮含量较高,速效氮含量适中;钙、镁、硫等中量元素和铁、锰、铜、钼、锌等微量元素含量丰富,较适合烤烟生长。根据分析结果提出了控氮,适当补磷和硼,增钾,普遍增氯禁硫的原则以改良土壤质量。     

作物种类对根际土壤中丁草胺降解的影响

研究了根际和非根际土壤中除草剂丁草胺的降解。结果表明,棉花、水稻、小麦和玉米的种植明显促进丁草胺的降解,15 mg/kg丁草胺的降解半衰期缩短26.6%~57.2%,这种促进作用与作物种类有关,玉米、小麦、水稻、棉花依次增强。50 mg/kg丁草胺的降解有所受抑制,但作物种植仍显示良好的促进作用。作物根际丁草胺降解菌的测定结果显示,根际土壤中丁草胺降解菌的数量大于非根际土壤,作物种植对丁草胺降解的促进作用源于根际丰富的降解菌。     

Soil exchangeable base cations along a chronosequence of Caragana microphylla plantation in a semi-arid sandy land,China

As a pioneer leguminous shrub species for vegetation re-establishment,Caragana microphylla is widely distributed in the semi-fixed and fixed sandy lands of the Horqin region,North China.C.microphylla plantations modify organic carbon(SOC),nitrogen(N) and phosphorus dynamics,bulk density and water-holding capacity,and biological activities in soils,but little is known with regard to soil exchange properties.Variation in soil exchangeable base cations was examined under C.microphylla plantations with an age sequence of 0,5,10,and 22 years in the Horqin Sandy Land,and at the depth of 0-10,10-20,and 20-30 cm,respectively.C.microphylla has been planted on the non-vegetated sand dunes with similar physical-chemical soil properties.The results showed that exchangeable calcium(Ca),magnesium(Mg),and potassium(K),and cation exchange capacity(CEC) were significantly increased,and Ca saturation tended to decrease,while Mg and K saturations were increased with the plantation years.No difference was observed for exchangeable sodium(Na) neither with plantation years nor at soil depths.Of all the base cations and soil layers,exchangeable K at the depth of 0-10 cm accumulated most quickly,and it increased by 1.76,3.16,and 4.25 times,respectively after C.microphylla was planted for 5,10,and 22 years.Exchangeable Ca,Mg,and K,and CEC were significantly(P<0.001) and positively correlated with SOC,total N,pH,and electrical conductivity(EC).Soil pH and SOC are regarded as the main factors influencing the variation in exchangeable cations,and the preferential absorption of cations by plants and different leaching rates of base cations that modify cation saturations under C.microphylla plantation.It is concluded that as a nitrogen-fixation species,C.microphylla plantation is beneficial to increasing exchangeable base cations and CEC in soils,and therefore can improve soil fertility and create favorable microenvironments for plants and creatures in the semi-arid sandy land ecosystems.     

黄土丘陵沟壑区退耕地人工林的土壤环境效应

根据延安、安塞和吴旗退耕20年以上人工林地、自然恢复草地和坡耕地的调查与分析资料,分析了人工林相对于坡耕地、自然恢复草地、次生林的土壤环境效应,包括土壤有机质的积累、土壤氮磷钾素的变化、土壤水分效应和水稳性团聚体的特征。结果表明:人工林可明显地提高土壤有机质、全氮、有效氮和速效钾的含量,特别是0~20cm土层,但这些土壤肥力指标仍处于低或中等水平;同时人工林地土壤的水稳性团聚体含量较高,增强了土壤的抗侵蚀能力;但人工林对土壤水分的消耗却远远大于坡耕地和自然恢复的草地,在安塞和吴旗表现得更为明显。综合分析结果和黄土丘陵沟壑区特殊的自然环境特征,认为在黄土高原丘陵沟壑区,退耕地的植被恢复宜采取先封禁牧,然后补种部分适宜的牧草、灌木和乔木,逐步实现良好的乔灌草植被结构特征和其生态环境功能。     

基于LB法不同植被类型下土壤团聚体水稳性研究

土壤团聚体与土壤侵蚀和径流密切相关,本试验用Le Bissonnais法中的快速处理测定黄土丘陵区纸坊沟流域土壤水稳性团聚体含量,计算团聚体平均质量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)和质量分形维数(D),比较几种水稳性团聚体指标之间的相关性,确定植被类型对土壤水稳性团聚体含量的影响。结果表明,大于0.2 mm的土壤团聚体含量在1978年油松林地的0~5 cm层最大,为54.95%,在1990年刺槐林地和荒地的20~40 cm层最小,为3.20%;MWD(mm)和GMD(mm)在1978年油松林地的0~5 cm层最大,分别为1.66和0.46,在荒地的20~40cm层最小,分别为0.09和0.05;表层(0~5 cm)土壤D在2.71~2.84之间,表下层在2.74~2.91之间。土壤有机质与D,MWD,GMD和0.2 mm显著相关,表明增加土壤有机质含量有利于土壤团聚体形成和水稳定性提高。D,MWD,GMD和0.2 mm都可用于表征土壤团聚体水稳定性,作为土壤抗侵蚀性指标。     

Influences of landform as a confounding variable on SOM-NDVI association in semiarid Ordos Plateau

Soil organic matter(SOM) plays an important role in maintaining vegetation cover and thus mitigating land erosion of fragile terrestrial ecosystems such as in the Northern Ordos Plateau of China(NOPC).However,little information is available on whether and how SOM varies spatially as an intrinsic characteristic of landform in NOPC.The objective of this study was to examine the spatial associations of SOM with landform and vegetation cover.The study was conducted in a 23,000-km2 area within NOPC because this area has landforms of mobile dunes(MD),flat dunes(FD),grassy sandy land(GSL),flat sandy bedrocks(FSB),and swamps and salt lakes(SW),which are typical landforms in semiarid ecosystems.SOM was determined using a standard laboratory analysis method for 5 cm topsoil samples collected at 72 locations across the study area.In addition,the 250 m Multitemporal Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS) imageries taken in the period from August 2006 to August 2010 were used to extract Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI) which in turn was used as the surrogate of vegetation cover.Classic and geostatistical methods were used to compare SOM concentration across different landforms.The results indicated that an area with a greater value for NDVI(i.e.better vegetation cover) tended to have a higher SOM concentration regardless of the landform types.However,the association between SOM and NDVI varied from one landform to another.The SW and GSL had a highest SOM concentration,while MD had a lowest concentration.For the study area as a whole and the FD,GSL,and MD,SOM was found to be the sole function of NDVI,whereas,for the FSB,SOM was influenced by several intrinsic variables,namely ground surface altitude,slope,and aspect,as well as NDVI.SOM for the SW landform was found to be a function of NDVI.Furthermore,SOM and NDVI exhibited a consistent spatial pattern of increasing from north to south and from west to east.The highest SOM concentration of 3.5% occurred along an east-westward belt,which is adjacent to water pathways,in the mid part of the study area.     

黄土高原丘陵沟壑区放牧林草地土壤团聚体性质研究

通过放牧试验的方法,研究土壤团聚体含量和破坏率,以探讨不同放牧强度、不同放牧畜种、不同放牧植被类型条件下表土的团聚体(＞ 0.25 mm)含量和破坏率.结果表明:放牧强度对土壤性质有影响,重度放牧下土壤团聚体含量最小;从畜牧羊种选择来看,绵羊相对于山羊来说对土壤结构破坏较小,土壤中团聚体含量较高;对于不同植被类型,放牧...     

Effect of Pisha sandstone on water infiltration in different soils on the Chinese Loess Plateau

The infiltration of water into soil is one of the most important soil physical properties that affect soil erosion and the eco-environment, especially in the Pisha sandstone area on the Chinese Loess Plateau. We studied the one-dimensional vertical infiltration of water in three experimental soils, created by mixing Pisha sandstone with sandy soil, irrigation-silted soil, and loessial soil, at mass ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, and 1:5. Our objective was to compare water infiltration in the experimental soils and to evaluate the effect of Pisha sandstone on water infiltration. We assessed the effect by measuring soil bulk density (BD), porosity, cumulative infiltration, infiltration rate and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks). The results showed that Pisha sandstone decreased the infiltration rate and saturated hydraulic conductivity in the three experimental soils. Cumulative infiltration over time was well described by the Philip equation. Sandy soil mixed with the Pisha sandstone at a ratio of 1:3 had the best water-holding capacity. The results provided experimental evidence for the movement of soil water and a technical support for the reconstruction and reclamation of mining soils in the Pisha sandstone area.     

Changes in aggregate-associated organic carbon and nitrogen after 27 years of fertilization in a dryland alfalfa grassland on the Loess Plateau of China

Changes in the distribution of soil aggregate sizes and concentrations of aggregate-associated organic carbon(OC) and nitrogen(N) in response to the fertilization of grasslands are not well understood. Understanding these changes is essential to the sustainable development of artificial grasslands. For understanding these changes, we collected soil samples at 0–20 and 20–40 cm depths from a semi-arid artificial alfalfa grassland after 27 years of applications of phosphorus(P) and nitrogen+phosphorus+manure(NPM) fertilizers on the Loess Plateau of China. The distribution of aggregate sizes and the concentrations and stocks of OC and N in total soils were determined. The results showed that NPM treatment significantly increased the proportions of 2.0 mm and 2.0–0.25 mm size fractions, the mean geometric diameter(MGD) and the mean weight diameter(MWD) in the 0–20 cm layer. Phosphorous fertilizer significantly increased the proportion of 2.0 mm size fractions, the MGD and the MWD in the 0–20 cm layer. Long-term application of fertilization(P and NPM) resulted in the accumulation of OC and N in soil aggregates. The largest changes in aggregate-associated OC and N in the 0–20 cm layer were found at the NPM treatment, whereas the largest changes in the 20–40 cm layer were found at the P treatment. The results suggest that long-term fertilization in the grassland leads to the accumulation of OC and N in the coarse size fractions and the redistribution of OC and N from fine size fractions to coarse size fractions.