滇池流域不同土地利用方式土壤磷解吸研究

滇池富营养化严重,非点源磷污染对滇池有重要影响。溶解态磷一旦冲入湖中容易被水生植物利用,所以土壤中溶解态磷的输出值得专门研究。本文选取滇池流域不同土地利用类型的17样点,测定了样点土壤中全磷、速效磷、溶解性总磷和溶解性磷酸盐的含量,并进行了静态土壤磷解吸试验,以了解土壤磷的析出特征。结果表明,滇池流域土壤全磷含量为0.137～2.935 g.kg 1(不包括磷矿区的上蒜林地和上蒜坝平地),速效磷含量在0.311～96.238 mg.kg 1之间,不同土地利用方式下土壤全磷、速效磷含量均依次为湖滨废弃大棚>大棚>坝平地>坡地>林地;土壤溶解性总磷含量为0.66～9.52 mg.kg 1,不同土地利用方式的土壤溶解性总磷含量为湖滨废弃大棚>大棚>坡地>坝平地>林地;土壤溶解性磷酸盐含量较低。相关分析表明,土壤溶解性全磷含量与土壤全磷含量存在明显的正线性关系,溶解性磷酸盐含量与溶解性总磷含量线性正相关。溶解性磷酸盐在溶解性总磷中占20%～95%,说明溶解性磷酸盐是溶解性总磷的重要组成部分。结果表明,滇池流域土壤磷的溶出水平由土壤全磷含量所决定,而大量施肥不利于湖泊富营养化控制。研究结果还表明,磷的静态溶出过程在0.5～1 h能达到平衡,说明在地下水或地表径流的输移过程中有足够多时间达到溶解平衡,析出最大量。     

黄河三角洲土地利用对土壤氮素及其转化的影响

以黄河三角洲垦利县轻度盐渍化土壤为研究对象,选取菜地、果园、粮田和新淤未利用地共4种土地利用类型,通过实地采样分析,探讨了土地利用对土壤氮素及其转化的影响。结果表明,全氮含量在0—20 cm土壤中以粮田最高,平均含量为1.42 g/kg,其次是果园、菜地和新淤未利用地土壤,其平均含量分别为1.17,0.97和0.57 g/kg,而20—40 cm土壤中,菜地全氮平均含量为0.86 g/kg,明显高于其它3种用地土壤;硝态氮在菜地0—20 cm土壤中的平均含量为27.25 mg/kg,远高于果园、粮田和新淤未利用地土壤,铵态氮在4种用地类型土壤中含量范围为2.65~4.09 mg/kg,不同用地类型间差异不大,二者在20—40cm土壤中的变化规律与0—20 cm基本相同;通过铵态氮、硝态氮与全氮的相关分析,表明菜地土壤中有效氮含量主要与外源氮素的补充有关,果园和粮田土壤中的有效氮与土壤全氮关系密切而受环境变化情况较小,新淤未利用地土壤氮素反映了研究区土壤氮素及其转化的初始状况。     

Kinetics of phosphorus release from calcareous soils under different land use in Iran

The rate of phosporus (P) release from soils can significantly influence P fertility of soils. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of land‐use types on the kinetics of P release under different management practices and the relationship between kinetic parameters and soil physical and chemical properties from calcareous soils. The kinetics of P release in 0.01 M CaCl₂ was studied in surface samples of 30 calcareous soils planted to garlic, garden, pasture, potato, vegetables, and wheat. Trend in P‐release kinetics was similar between land‐use types. Significantly different quantities of P were released under different land use. The maximum amount (average of five soils) (46.4 mg kg^–1) of P was released in soil under potato and the minimum amount (10.4 mg kg^–1) under pasture. The kinetics of P release from soils can be described as an initial rapid rate followed by a slower rate. Different models were used to describe P release. In general, parabolic diffusion and power equation were found to be appropriate for modeling P release. The P‐release rate for the soils was estimated by parabolic equation for the studied land‐use types. The constant b was lower for pasture and wheat than for garlic and potato. The relationship between the rate of P release with Olsen‐P was linear, while it was curved with respect to the CaCl₂‐P, indicating that release of P was diffusion‐controlled. When the kinetic parameters of models were regressed on soil properties, CaCl₂‐P and CaCO₃ appeared to be the most important soil properties influencing P‐release rates in these soils.     

不同土地利用方式土壤对铜、镉离子的吸附解吸特征

采用一次平衡法对Cu²⁺、Cd²⁺在城市及城郊农田、林地、草地3种土地利用方式土壤中的吸附解吸过程进行比较研究, 结果表明: Cu²⁺、Cd²⁺在3种土地利用方式土壤中的吸附量均随平衡液浓度的增加而增大, Cu²⁺、Cd²⁺在农田土壤上的吸附量均高于林地和草地土壤。分别用Langmuir和Freunlich两种等温吸附方程对吸附过程进行拟合, 3种土壤对Cu²⁺的吸附过程运用Langmuir方程拟合效果好, 而对Cd²⁺的吸附过程运用Freunlich方程拟合效果更好。Cu²⁺在3种土壤的解吸量大小顺序为农田>林地>草地, Cd²⁺在3种土壤的解吸量大小顺序为农田>草地>林地。两种离子在3种土壤中的动态吸附是个快速反应的过程, 随时间延长, 吸附反应趋于平衡。运用双常数函数方程和Elovich方程能较好地拟合重金属在土壤上的吸附动力学过程。Cu²⁺、Cd²⁺的吸附与土壤黏粒含量、有机质含量、CEC和pH均有关。     

Impact of land use on soil organic carbon stocks in the humid tropics of NE Tanzania

The conversion of tropical forests to agricultural land use is considered as a major cause for a decline in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. However, the extent and impact of different land uses on SOC stock development is highly uncertain, especially for tropical Africa due to a lack of reliable data. Interactions of SOC with the soil mineral phase can modify the susceptibility of SOC to become mineralized. Pedogenic Fe‐, Al‐oxides and clay potentially affect SOC stabilization in highly weathered soils typically found in the humid tropics. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of different land uses on SOC stock on such soils. For that purpose, 10 pedologically similar, deeply weathered acidic soils (Acrisols, Alisols) in the Eastern Usambara Mountains (Amani Nature Reserve, NE Tanzania) under contrasting land use were sampled to a depth of 100 cm. The calculated mean SOC stocks were 17.5 kg C m^?2, 16.8 kg C m^?2, 16.9 kg C m^?2, and 20.0 kg C m^?2 for the four forests, two tea plantations, three croplands, and one homegarden, respectively. A significant difference in mean SOC stock of 1.3 kg C m^?2 was detected between forest and cropland land use for the 0–10 cm depth increment. No further significant impacts of land use on SOC stocks were observed. All soils have a clearly clay‐dominated texture. They are characterized by high content of pedogenic oxides with 29 to 47 g kg^?1 measured for the topsoils and 36 to 65 g kg^?1 for the subsoils. No positive significant relationship was found between SOC and clay content. Statistically significant positive relationships existed between oxalate‐extractable Fe, Al, and SOC content for cropland soils only. Compared to data published in literature the SOC stocks determined in our study were generally high independent of the established land use. It appears that efficient SOC stabilization mechanisms are counteracting the higher disturbance regime under agricultural land use in these highly weathered tropical soils.     

Soil organic carbon in density fractions of tropical soils under forest – pasture – secondary forest land use changes

Our knowledge of effects of land use changes and soil types on the storage and stability of different soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions in the tropics is limited. We analysed the effect of land use (natural forest, pasture, secondary forest) on SOC storage (depth 0–0.1 m) in density fractions of soils developed on marine Tertiary sediments and on volcanic ashes in the humid tropics of northwest Ecuador. The origin of organic carbon stored in free light (< 1.6 g cm^?3) fractions, and in two light fractions (LF) occluded within aggregates of different stability, was determined by means of δ¹³C natural abundance. Light occluded organic matter was isolated in a first step after aggregate disruption by shaking aggregates with glass pearls (occluded I LF) and in a subsequent step by manual destruction of the most stable microaggregates that survived the first step (occluded II LF). SOC storage in LFs was greater in volcanic ash soils (7.6 ± 0.6 Mg C ha^?1) than in sedimentary soils (4.3 ± 0.3 Mg C ha^?1). The contribution of the LFs to SOC storage was greater in natural forest (19.2 ± 1.2%) and secondary forest (16.6 ± 1.0%) than in pasture soils (12.8 ± 1.0%), independent of soil parent material. The amount of SOC stored in the occluded I LF material increased with increasing silt + clay content (sedimentary soils, r = 0.73; volcanic ash soils, r = 0.58) and aggregation (sedimentary soils, r = 0.52; volcanic ash soils, r = 0.45). SOC associated with occluded I LF, had the smallest proportion of new, pasture‐derived carbon, indicating the stabilizing effect of aggregation. Fast turnover of the occluded II LF material, which was separated from highly stable microaggregates, strongly suggested that this fraction is important in the initial process of aggregate formation. No pasture‐derived carbon could be detected in any density fractions of volcanic ash soils under secondary forest, indicating fast turnover of these fractions in tropical volcanic ash soils.     

不同土地利用方式下第四纪古红土有机碳分布特征研究

以不同土地利用方式下（疏林荒草地、荒草地、林地和耕地）第四纪古红土和埋藏第四纪古红土剖面为研究对象,测定古红土各发生层全土及各粒级团聚体的有机碳含量,比较不同土地利用方式下第四纪古红土剖面及团聚体的有机碳分布特征。结果表明:（1）埋藏古红土有机碳含量较低,随深度分布均一,各粒级团聚体内有机碳含量随团聚体粒径减小而降低;（2）埋藏古红土出露地表后,由于受到人为活动影响,表层全土有机碳及各粒级团聚体有机碳含量均增加,呈现林地 > 耕地 > 疏林荒草地 > 荒草地 > 埋藏古红土的特征,其中,林地显著高于其他土地利用方式,说明林地是古红土分布区的一种较合理的土地利用方式;（3）耕地0 ~ 10 cm土层粒径 > 1 mm和 < 0.25 mm团聚体的有机碳含量均随团聚体粒径减小而逐渐增加,1 ~ 0.25 mm团聚体有机碳含量随团聚体粒径减小逐渐降低。其余土地利用方式下古红土均呈现 > 0.25 mm团聚体的有机碳含量随着团聚体粒径减小而逐渐降低,< 0.25 mm团聚体的有机碳含量随团聚体粒径减小而逐渐增加。     

Influence of former agricultural land use on net nitrate production in forest soils

Except where nitrate is added to the soil artificially, nitrate is leached from forest soils only if it is produced. Although the factors influencing nitrification have been widely studied, nitrification activity still cannot be simply predicted from ecosystem characteristics. In France, about half of the present forest area was agricultural in 1850. Previous work suggested that former cultivation could be a major factor influencing nitrogen availability in forest soils. Using laboratory incubations, we compared the net production of ammonium and nitrate in soils from formerly manured lands planted with conifers 70–100 years ago with that in soils of surrounding ancient coniferous forests. Net nitrate production, available P content, and natural abundance of nitrogen 15, δ¹⁵N, were greater in soils from formerly manured plots than other land, whereas the C:N ratio of the soil was less. The difference in net nitrate production between previously manured sites and adjacent ancient forests was related to differences in δ¹⁵N values in the soil but not evidently to other soil properties. Because soil δ¹⁵N increases with the intensity of organic manuring, these results suggest that nitrification in forest soils depends on previous manurial practices under agriculture. In this context, the soil δ¹⁵N might be used as an indicator of both previous agricultural land use and potential nitrification. Because a significant proportion of West European forests grow on previously cultivated soils, past land use should be taken into account when evaluating the risks of nitrate leaching from forests.     

Impacts of land use and salinization on soil inorganic and organic carbon in the middle-lower Yellow River Delta

Soil inorganic carbon (SIC) is an important reservoir of carbon (C) in arid, semi-arid, and semi-humid regions. However, knowledge is incomplete on the dynamics of SIC and its relationship with soil organic C (SOC) under different land use types in the semi-humid region, particularly in coastal zones impacted by soil salinization. We collected 170 soil samples from 34 profiles across various land use types (maize-wheat, cotton, paddy, and reed) in the middle-lower Yellow River Delta (YRD), China. We measured soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), water-soluble salts, and SOC and SIC contents. Our results showed significant differences in both SOC and SIC among land use types. The dry cropland (maize-wheat and cotton) soils had significantly higher SOC and SIC densities (4.71 and 15.46 kg C m^-2, respectively) than the paddy soils (3.28 and 14.09 kg C m^-2, respectively) in the 0–100 cm layer. Compared with paddy soils, reed soils contained significantly higher SOC (4.68 kg C m^-2) and similar SIC (15.02 kg C m^-2) densities. There was a significant positive correlation between SOC and SIC densities over a 0–100 cm soil depth in dry cropland soils, but a negative relationship in the paddy soils. On average, SOC and SIC densities under maize-wheat cropping were 15% and 4% lower, respectively, in the salt-affected soils in the middle-lower YRD than the upper YRD. This study indicated that land use types had great influences on both SOC and SIC and their relationship, and salinization had adverse effect on soil C storage in the YRD.     

13C and 15N natural abundances of urban soils and herbaceous vegetation in Karlsruhe, Germany

We undertook what we believe to be a unique survey of the natural abundances of ¹³C and ¹⁵N in urban soils and plants in Karlsruhe (Germany), a European city of average size. We found broad patterns of these abundances in both soils and plants, which reflected geology and land use. In contrast with studies on smaller areas (showing the direct effect of human activities), our study first determined the extent to which the abundances correlated with land use or underlying geology and then assessed how we could further test such relationships. The spatial pattern of δ¹³C in surface soil correlated with that of the underlying parent material; construction activities superimposed a secondary signal. Maize cultivation was a source of less negative soil δ¹³C, whereas the C₃ vegetation is a source of more negative soil δ¹³C. There was a footprint of less negative plant δ¹³C in the industrial and port areas; plant δ¹³C downwind of the city was less negative than upwind, which might relate to atmospheric pollution from the port area or to differences in soil properties. There was no significant effect of wind direction or geology on soil or plant δ¹⁵N, which was correlated mainly with land use. The largest soil δ¹⁵N was under agriculture and the smallest under woodland. The abundance of ¹⁵N in inner-urban soil and plants was intermediate between those of agriculture and forests. This study represents a major advance in the use of stable isotope geochemistry in understanding urban environments.     

Effects of eucalyptus and coniferous plantations on soil properties in Gambo District,southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Plantation establishment using exotic species on disturbed cultivated and undisturbed primary forest soils is common in Gambo district, southern Ethiopia, but their effects on soil properties are not fully known. This study investigated the effects of plantation species on major soil physical and chemical properties and further evaluated the soil quality under different land uses. Soil samples in triplicates, collected under different plantations, were analysed for their physical and chemical properties. Based on these soil properties, an integrated soil quality index was determined. The soil bulk density (BD) varied from 0.72 to 0.80 cm^?3 in plantations established on primary forest land and natural forest and from 0.86 to 1.14 g cm^?3 in those plantations established on cultivated soils. Also significantly lower pore volume and infiltration rate were observed under plantations established on cultivated lands than those on primary forest soils. Higher water volume (% at ?1500 kPa matric potential) was obtained in soils under Juniperus procera and natural forest compared with that under the rest of the plantations investigated. The concentration of soil organic carbon (SOC) varied from 3.4 to 10.2%, N from 0.3 to 1.0% and Av.P from 1.5 to 7.0% in soils under plantations and natural forest. Exchangeable cations generally showed a decreasing trend with depth in all land use types with minor exceptions. The concentrations of exchangeable Ca⁺² varied from 6.5 to 22.7 cmol kg^?1 and were significantly higher under Juniperus procera than under Eucalyptus species. The soil under plantations on previously cultivated lands showed soil quality index below 0.5 (the baseline value), while those established on undisturbed forest soil were generally above that value. The study results suggest that selecting species such as Juniperus procera and prolonging the harvesting period would improve and maintain the quality of soil properties.     

SOIL ORGANIC CARBON STOCK AND FRACTIONS IN RELATION TO LAND USE AND SOIL DEPTH IN THE DEGRADED SHIWALIKS HILLS OF LOWER HIMALAYAS

The proportional differences in soil organic carbon (SOC) and its fractions under different land uses are of significance for understanding the process of aggregation and soil carbon sequestration mechanisms. A study was conducted in a mixed vegetation cover watershed with forest, grass, cultivated and eroded lands in the degraded Shiwaliks of the lower Himalayas to assess land‐use effects on profile SOC distribution and storage and to quantify the SOC fractions in water‐stable aggregates (WSA) and bulk soils. The soil samples were collected from eroded, cultivated, forest and grassland soils for the analysis of SOC fractions and aggregate stability. The SOC in eroded surface soils was lower than in less disturbed grassland, cultivated and forest soils. The surface and subsurface soils of grassland and forest lands differentially contributed to the total profile carbon stock. The SOC stock in the 1.05‐m soil profile was highest (83.5 Mg ha⁻¹) under forest and lowest (55.6 Mg ha⁻¹) in eroded lands. The SOC stock in the surface (0–15 cm) soil constituted 6.95, 27.6, 27 and 42.4 per cent of the total stock in the 1.05‐m profile of eroded, cultivated, forest and grassland soils, respectively. The forest soils were found to sequester 22.4 Mg ha⁻¹ more SOC than the cultivated soils as measured in the 1.05‐m soil profiles. The differences in aggregate SOC content among the land uses were more conspicuous in bigger water‐stable macro‐aggregates (WSA > 2 mm) than in water‐stable micro‐aggregates (WSA < 0.25 mm). The SOC in micro‐aggregates (WSA < 0.25 mm) was found to be less vulnerable to changes in land use. The hot water soluble and labile carbon fractions were higher in the bulk soils of grasslands than in the individual aggregates, whereas particulate organic carbon was higher in the aggregates than in bulk soils. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Organic matter in density fractions of water-stable aggregates in silty soils: Effect of land use

The location of soil organic matter (SOM) within the soil matrix is considered a major factor determining its turnover, but quantitative information about the effects of land cover and land use on the distribution of SOM at the soil aggregate level is rare. We analyzed the effect of land cover/land use (spruce forest, grassland, wheat and maize) on the distribution of free particulate organic matter (POM) with a density <1.6 g cm⁻³ (free POM_<1.6), occluded particulate organic matter with densities <1.6 g cm⁻³ (occluded POM_<1.6) and 1.6-2.0 g cm⁻³ (occluded POM_1.6-2.0) and mineral-associated SOM (>2.0 g cm⁻³) in size classes of slaking-resistant aggregates (53-250, 250-1000, 1000-2000, >2000 μm) and in the sieve fraction <53 μm from silty soils by applying a combined aggregate size and density fractionation procedure. We also determined the turnover time of soil organic carbon (SOC) fractions at the aggregate level in the soil of the maize site using the ¹³C/¹²C isotope ratio. SOM contents were higher in the grassland soil aggregates than in those of the arable soils mainly because of greater contents of mineral-associated SOM. The contribution of occluded POM to total SOC in the A horizon aggregates was greater in the spruce soil (23-44%) than in the grassland (11%) and arable soils (19%). The mass and carbon content of both the free and occluded POM fractions were greater in the forest soil than in the grassland and arable soils. In all soils, the C/N ratios of soil fractions within each aggregate size class decreased in the following order: free POM_<1.6>occluded POM_<1.6-2.0>mineral-associated SOM. The mean age of SOC associated with the <53 μm mineral fraction of water-stable aggregates in the Ap horizon of the maize site varied between 63 and 69 yr in aggregates >250 μm, 76 yr in the 53-250 μm aggregate class, and 102 yr in the sieve fraction <53 μm. The mean age of SOC in the occluded POM increased with decreasing aggregate size from 20 to 30 yr in aggregates >1000 μm to 66 yr in aggregates <53 μm. Free POM had the most rapid rates of C-turnover, with residence times ranging from 10 yr in the fraction >2000 μm to 42 yr in the fraction 53-250 μm. Results indicated that SOM in slaking-resistant aggregates was not a homogeneous pool, but consisted of size/density fractions exhibiting different composition and stability. The properties of these fractions were influenced by the aggregate size. Land cover/land use were important factors controlling the amount and composition of SOM fractions at the aggregate level.     

N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O production pathways relate to land use type in acidic soils in subtropical China

Purpose

Agricultural practises impact soil properties and N transformation rate, and have a greater effect on N₂O production pathways in agricultural soils compared with natural woodland soils. However, whether agricultural land use affects N₂O production pathways in acidic soils in subtropical regions remains unknown.

Materials and methods

In this study, we collected natural woodland soil (WD) and three types of agricultural soils, namely upland agricultural (UA), tea plantation (TP) and bamboo plantation (BP) soils. We performed paired ¹⁵N-tracing experiment to investigate the effects of land use types on N₂O production pathways in acidic soils in subtropical regions in China.

Results and discussion

The results revealed that heterotrophic nitrification is the dominant pathway of N₂O production in WD, accounting for 44.6 % of N₂O emissions, whereas heterotrophic nitrification contributed less than 2.7 % in all three agricultural soils, due to a lower organic C content and soil C/N ratio. In contrast, denitrification dominated N₂O production in agricultural soils, accounting for 54.5, 72.8 and 77.1 % in UA, TP and BP, respectively. Nitrate (NO₃ ^?) predominantly affected the contribution from denitrification in soils under different land use types. Autotrophic nitrification increased after the conversion of woodland to agricultural lands, peaking at 42.8 % in UA compared with only 21.5 % in WD, and was positively correlated with soil pH. Our data suggest that pH plays a great role in controlling N₂O emissions through autotrophic nitrification following conversion of woodland to agricultural lands.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate the variability in N₂O production pathways in soils of different land use types. Soil pH, the quantity and quality of organic C and NO₃ ^? content primarily determined N₂O emissions. These results will likely assist modelling and mitigation of N₂O emissions from different land use types in subtropical acidic soils in China and elsewhere.

     

Genetic diversity of bacterial β-glucosidase-encoding genes as a function of soil management

This study is the first approach to evaluate the diversity of bacterial β-glucosidase-encoding gene sequences, aiming to identify the main environmental factors structuring bacterial β-glucosidase genetic diversity in semiarid soils. Two agricultural management systems, soils under spontaneous cover vegetation vs. noncovered herbicide-treated soils, were tested. The weed biomass generated in the former was estimated around 2,600 kg?ha^?1?year^?1, whereas leaves and root exudates from olive trees were the only input of C biomass in the latter. Dendrograms generated from polymerase chain reaction–denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles of bacterial β-glucosidase-encoding genes revealed two clusters determined by soil treatment and sharing <20 % similarity. The sequences of a total of 59 DNA fragments, representing 39 operational taxonomic units, were successfully determined. The Proteobacteria phylum clearly dominated all the soil samples, but representatives of Chloroflexi, Deinococci, Actinobacteria, Thermotogae, and Firmicutes class were also detected. Management strategies favoring the presence of spontaneous vegetation determined a higher genetic diversity of β-glucosidase-encoding genes of soil bacteria. However, since there is little information of β-glucosidase gene sequences available in databases, it is difficult to establish particular relationships between bacterial networks for C degradation and land use. Results from canonical correspondence analysis indicated that bacterial metabolic networks for oligomeric C substrates utilization were affected by the physicochemical properties of the soil; the uppermost 10 cm of covered soil clustered together and were positively correlated with some chemical properties related to soil fertility, whereas less influence of soil texture was observed for the deeper layers of bare soils.     

土壤对铜的吸附-解吸特征及对土地利用的响应

用吸附平衡法研究黄河三角洲地区土壤对Cu2+的吸附和解吸特征,对比了农田和未利用地土壤吸附与解吸能力的差异,并分析了差异形成的原因。结果表明,土壤对Cu2+的吸附量随着平衡液Cu2+质量浓度的增加而增加,其吸附作用可用Langmuir,Temkin和Freundlich方程来拟合,以Langmuir方程拟合结果最佳。根据Langmuir方程计算出的两种土壤最大吸附量分别为3 961mg/kg和3 521mg/kg,农田土壤对Cu2+的吸附能力强于未利用地土壤;土壤Cu2+的解吸量远远小于土壤对Cu2+的吸附量,与农田土壤相比,未利用地土壤Cu2+的解吸有滞后现象;农田土壤和未利用地土壤Cu2+的解吸率变化范围分别为0.1%～0.35%和0.15%～1.8%,农田土壤的解吸率明显低于未利用地土壤。综合分析认为,两种土壤吸附—解吸特征的差异与农田土壤具有较高的有机质含量,从而在土壤胶体表面形成较多的吸附位点有关。     

Soil carbon stocks along an altitudinal gradient in different land-use categories in Lesser Himalayan foothills of Kashmir

The carbon sequestration potential of soils plays an important role in mitigating the effect of climate change, because soils serve as sinks for atmospheric carbon. The present study was conducted to estimate the carbon stocks and their variation with altitudinal gradient in the Lesser Himalayan foothills of Kashmir. The carbon stocks were estimated in different land use categories, namely: closed canopy forests, open forests, disturbed forests, and agricultural lands within the altitudinal range from 900 to 2500 m. The soil carbon content was determined by the Walkley–Black titration method. The average soil carbon stock was found to be 2.59 kg m^–2. The average soil carbon stocks in closed canopy forests, open forests, and disturbed forests were 3.39, 2.06, and 2.86 kg m^–2, respectively. The average soil carbon stock in the agricultural soils was 2.03 kg m^–2. The carbon stocks showed a significant decreasing trend with the altitudinal gradient with maximum values of 4.13 kg m^–2 at 900–1200 m a.s.l. and minimum value of 1.55 kg m^–2 at 2100^–2400 m a.s.l. The agricultural soil showed the least carbon content values indicating negative impacts of soil plowing, overgrazing, and soil degradation. Lower carbon values at higher altitudes attest to the immature character of forest stands, as well as to degradation due to immense fuel wood extraction, timber extraction, and harsh climatic conditions. The study indicates that immediate attention is required for the conservation of rapidly declining carbon stocks in agricultural soils, as well as in the soils of higher altitudes.     

Assessment and prediction of changes in the reserves of organic carbon in abandoned soils of European Russia in 1990–2020

Experimental studies and the analysis of published data have shown that carbon reserves in soils generally increase upon soil exclusion from agricultural use. The rate of carbon accumulation in the abandoned soils depends on the soil type, the time elapsed since the soil abandoning (the restoration period), and the thickness of the layer for which the rate of carbon accumulation is determined. For the upper 20-cm-thick layer, it varies from 66 to 175 g C/m² per year in dependence on the type of soil and averages 111 g C/m² per year. The highest rate is typical of the first 10–15 years of soil restoration. According to our calculations, the carbon sequestration in the upper 20-cm-thick layer of Russian soils due to changes in land use was 184–673 Mt C in 1990–2005 and may reach 282–1030 Mt C by 2020.     

Pedotransfer functions for the pool size of slowly mineralizable organic N in sandy arable soils

The major aim of this study was to evaluate how the pool size of slowly mineralizable, ‘old’ soil organic N can be derived from more easily accessible soil and site information via pedotransfer functions (PTF). Besides modeling, this pool size might be of great importance for the identification of soils with high mineralization potential in drinking‐water catchments. From long‐term laboratory incubations (ca. 200 days) at 35 °C, the pool sizes of easily mineralizable organic N (N_fast), mainly in fresh residues, and slowly mineralizable, ‘old’ soil organic N (N_slow) as well as their first‐order rate coefficients were obtained. 90 sandy arable soils from NW Germany served to derive PTFs for N_slow that were evaluated using another 20 soils from the same region. Information on former land‐use and soil type was obtained from topographical, historical, and soil maps (partly from 1780). Pool size N_slow very strongly depends on soil type and former land‐use. Mean pool sizes of N_slow were much lower in old arable lowland (105 mg N kg^–1) than upland soils (175 mg N kg^–1) possibly due to lower clay contents. Within lowlands, mean pool sizes in former grassland soils (245 mg N kg^–1) were 2 to 3 times larger than in old arable soils due to accumulation of mineralizable N. In contrast, mean pool sizes of N_slow were lowest in recently cleared, former heath‐ and woodland (31 mg N kg^–1) as a result of the input of hardly decomposable organic matter. Neither N nor C in the light fraction (density < 1.8 g cm^–3) was adequate to derive pool size N_slow in the studied soils (r² < 0.03). Instead, N_slow can be accurately (r² = 0.55 – 0.83) derived from one or two basic soil characteristics (e.g. organic C, total N, C : N, mineral fraction < 20 μm), provided that sites were grouped by former land‐use. Field mineralization from N_slow during winter (independent data set) can be predicted as well on the basis of N_slow‐values calculated from PTFs that were derived after grouping the soils by former land‐use (r² = 0.51***). In contrast, using the PTF without soil grouping strongly reduced the reliability (r² = 0.16).     

Soil carbon sequestration in China through agricultural intensification,and restoration of degraded and desertified ecosystems

The industrial emission of carbon (C) in China in 2000 was about 1 Pg yr⁻¹, which may surpass that of the United States (1ċ84 Pg C) by 2020. China's large land area, similar in size to that of the United States, comprises 124 Mha of cropland, 400 Mha of grazing land and 134 Mha of forestland. Terrestrial C pool of China comprises about 35–60 Pg in the forest and 120–186 Pg in soils. Soil degradation is a major issue affecting 145 Mha by different degradative processes, of which 126 Mha are prone to accelerated soil erosion. Total annual loss by erosion is estimated at 5ċ5 Pg of soil and 15ċ9 Tg of soil organic carbon (SOC). Erosion‐induced emission of C into the atmosphere may be 32–64 Tg yr⁻¹. The SOC pool progressively declined from the 1930s to 1980s in soils of northern China and slightly increased in those of southern China because of change in land use. Management practices that lead to depletion of the SOC stock are cultivation of upland soils, negative nutrient balance in cropland, residue removal, and soil degradation by accelerated soil erosion and salinization and the like. Agricultural practices that enhance the SOC stock include conversion of upland to rice paddies, integrated nutrient management based on liberal use of biosolids and compost, crop rotations that return large quantities of biomass, and conservation‐effective systems. Adoption of recommended management practices can increase SOC concentration in puddled soil, red soil, loess soils, and salt‐affected soils. In addition, soil restoration has a potential to sequester SOC. Total potential of soil C sequestration in China is 105–198 Tg C yr⁻¹ of SOC and 7–138 Tg C yr⁻¹ for soil inorganic carbon (SIC). The accumulative potential of soil C sequestration of 11 Pg at an average rate of 224 Tg yr⁻¹ may be realized by 2050. Soil C sequestration potential can offset about 20 per cent of the annual industrial emissions in China. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.