Biomass and nitrogen dynamics in an irrigated hybrid poplar plantation

A 3-year study measured the effects of ground cover treatments and N fertilization on biomass and nitrogen dynamics in an irridiated hybrid poplar (Populus deltoides Bartr. X P. trichocarpa Torr. and Gray, clone NC-9922) plantation in northern Wisconsin, U.S.A. Annually fertilized (112 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) and unfertilized plots were maintained weed free (bare soil), allowed to revegetate with native weeds, or seeded to birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.). Biomass and N in trees and ground-cover vegetation were sampled before and after each growing season.Trees in bare-soil plots responded to fertilization primarily in the third growing season, but total biomass of 3-year-old trees was not increased by annual fertilization. In plots with a ground cover,fertilization increased tree growth but cover crop treatment had no effect. Ground cover biomass peaked during the second growing season, but declined thereafter, primarily due to reductions in below-ground biomass. Estimated recovery of fertilizer N was low in bare soil plots after 3 years, with 2% in the ‘perennial’ portion of the trees and 13% in the leaf litter. In contrast, recovery in the cover crop plots was 44%–51% in years 2–4. During that period, both biomass and N pool dominance shifted from primarily cover crop to primarily trees. The ground cover appeared to reduce tree growth in years 1–3, but total tree biomass after 4 years was greater in fertilized plots with ground cover (22.7 Mg/ha) than in fertilized bare soil plots (16.7 Mg/ha). Biomass production in fertilized trefoil plots in the fourth year (15.1 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹, excluding leaves) exceeds that of local forests by 50%, and may be comparable to corn productivity in the area.     

Effects of biochar and litter on carbon and nitrogen mineralization and soil microbial community structure in a China fir plantation

To investigate the effects of biochar addition(1 or 3%)to the soil of a China fir plantation with or without litter,we conducted a 90-day incubation experiment.We also studied the C and N dynamics and the microbial community structure of the soil.In soil without litter,the application of biochar at a rate of 3%significantly decreased CO2 emissions,while addition of 1%biochar had no effect.Biochar application did not affect the net N mineralization rate but significantly reduced the NH4?concentration after 90 days.In litter-enriched soil,biochar application had no significant effect on total CO2 emissions;however,application of 3%biochar significantly reduced the net N mineralization rate.Biochar application to soil with or without litter immediately reduced the dissolved organic carbon(DOC)concentration independent of the application rate,which was primarily due to sorption of DOC by the biochar.Phospholipid fatty acid analysis demonstrated that both concentrations of added biochar to soil(with or without litter)altered the soil microbial community structure at the end of incubation,although the effect of biochar was not as strong as the effect of time or litter application.The effect of biochar addition alone on microbial community structure was inconsistent over time.Litter added to soil significantly increased fungi and reduced Gram-positive bacteria.In the presence of litter,biochar applied at both 1%and 3%significantly increased(p<0.05)the proportion of actinomycete only at day 90.Our results indicate biochar as a potentially effective measure for C sequestration in the test soil of a China fir plantation,even in the presence of litter.     

Soil nitrogen mineralization under a Eucalyptus plantation and a natural Acacia forest in Senegal

In-vitro and in-situ N mineralization were studied in a natural Acacia seyal stand and in a Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantation in Senegal.Mineralizable N, measured by 20 days in-vitro incubations, averaged 40–50 ppm in Acacia soil and 11–14 ppm in Eucalyptus soil, and reached 3.5 and 2.3%, respectively, of total N. The coarse light fractions (>0.2 mm) of Eucalyptus soil organic matter did not produce any mineral N; about 80% of the mineral N was supplied by the organo-mineral fraction, as against 30–50% in Acacia soil.In-situ mineralization was related to precipitation, and ranged from 18 to 40 ppm over 4 weeks during the rainy season in the Acacia stand where 7–10% of total N was mineralized each year. Under Eucalyptus, N mineralization reached only 10 ppm over 3 weeks in the beginning of the rainy season and then decreased sharply. It was assumed that this decrease was related to a depressive effect of herbaceous root growth, the possible processes of which are discussed.     

间伐对杨树人工林凋落物及养分归还量的影响

为了了解间伐对杨树大径材生长的影响,按人工林不同间伐方式和强度设计了4种间伐处理,分别为对照、30％强度的下层伐(下层30％)、50％强度的下层伐(下层50％)、50％强度的机械伐(机械50％),探讨了不同间伐处理对杨树人工林凋落物及其养分归还量的影响.结果表明,不同间伐强度显著影响林分凋落物及其养分归还量,凋落物及养分归还量均随间伐强度的增大而降低;凋落物中5种营养元素含量及归还量大小为Ca＞K＞N＞Mg＞P;4种处理的凋落物及养分归还月动态变化趋势均为8-11月最多,分别占年归还总量的76.48％ ～79.68％和80.35％～90.46％.该研究结果为杨树人工林的林分结构调控提供参考.     

沼液施肥对杨树林地土壤微生物量碳氮的影响

沼液是沼气发酵过后的液体残留物,是一种优质的有机肥料。研究了不同沼液施肥对杨树林地土壤微生物量碳氮的影响。结果表明:施用沼液可以提高土壤微生物量碳、氮的含量,微生物量碳、氮含量增加范围分别为4.29%~61.62%和6.08%~76.10%,土壤微生物量碳氮含量随沼液施用量增加逐渐提高。土壤微生物量碳氮呈正相关。土壤微生物量碳氮比随沼液施用量增加逐渐下降,其变化范围为9.92~10.81,土壤微生物量碳氮比与微生物量碳、氮含量负相关。     

Effects of mulching materials on nitrogen mineralization,nitrogen availability and poplar growth on degraded agricultural soil

Nitrogen (N) is usually the most limiting nutrient in degraded agricultural soils and affects the growth and ecological function of poplar (Populus spp.) plantations. We hypothesized that application of organic mulch would improve soil nitrogen availability and increase tree growth, while the quality of mulching materials would alter the supply of essential nutrients. In this study, poplar plantations were established in 2004 and two experiments were established in the field. The fresh above-ground biomass of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv.), oak (Quercus fabri Hance), Chinese coriaria (Coriaria nepalensis Wallich) and brackenfern (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn. var. latiusculum (Desv.) Underw. ex Heller) in the current year was selected as mulching materials, and mulches were annually applied at the rate of 5.0 kg/m² in the N mineralization experiment and 20,000 kg/ha in growth and nutrient availability experiment. Additions of fresh biomass significantly improved annual net N-mineralization estimates and the mulching treatments increased the cumulative N mineralized over the incubation period by 22–30%. However, a significant difference in the cumulative N mineralized was not observed among the mulched treatments, even if the cumulative N mineralized in the treatment mulched with oak (QF) was 5.9, 3.3 and 2.2% greater than that of treatments with brackenfern (PA), Chinese coriaria (CN) and cogongrass (IC), respectively. Application of fresh biomass mulch markedly affected soil available N contents and growth performance of poplar plantations. The mulching treatments with QF, IC, PA and CN increased annual means of available N concentration by 39.0, 29.0, 29.6 and 39.7% respectively. At the end of the fifth growing season, the average height of poplar plantations in treatments mulched with QF, IC, PA and CN was 46.8, 14.9, 42.6 and 57.4% greater than that in Check (CK-no mulch), while mean DBH increased by 35.4, 12.5, 33.3 and 52.1%, respectively. Overall, the productivity was enhanced in mulched plots at the end of the third growing season. Compared with CK, the treatments mulched with QF, IC, PA and CN increased total biomass by 97.4, 96.4, 63.1 and 81.6%, respectively. Based on the results of this study, annual application of 20,000 kg/ha fresh woody biomass would be recommended for soil improvement in young poplar plantations growing on a degraded agricultural soil.     

杨树速生丰产林营造技术

从适地适树、细致整地、良种壮苗、适当大苗、合理稀植、抚育管理、林粮间作、适时施肥、灌水等方面论述了杨树速生丰产林营造技术。     

模拟氮沉降对杨树人工林土壤动物类群结构的影响

氮沉降过量会导致一系列严重的全球性生态问题,研究氮沉降对土壤动物群落结构的影响,对于明晰土壤动物群落受大气氮沉降加剧产生的响应机理有重要意义.通过模拟氮沉降试验,研究了不同氮沉降浓度下土壤动物群落特征的变化规律.试验结果表明：甲螨亚目（Oribatida）,前气门亚目（Prostigmata）,弹尾纲（Collembola）,寡毛纲（Oligocllaeta）,膜翅目（Hymenoptera）及盲蜘目（Opiliones）6个类群在不同龄级,不同氮沉降梯度下所占比例较高,为典型的优势类群;土壤动物类群丰富度及数量在不同氮沉降梯度下呈现先升后降的趋势;幼龄林土壤动物多样性指数普遍较高,且随氮沉降浓度的增加波动明显,老龄林与之相反;土壤甲螨随着氮沉降增加呈现先增后减的趋势,具有环境指示作用.     

Water-use efficiency of a poplar plantation in Northern China

The water-use efficiency (WUE) of an ecosystem—defined as the gross ecosystem production (GEP) divided by the evapotranspiration (ET)—is an important index for understanding the coupling of water and carbon and quantifying water–carbon trade-offs in forests. An open-path eddy covariance technique and a microclimate measurement system were deployed to investigate the WUE of a poplar plantation ecosystem in the Daxing District of Beijing, China, during the growing seasons in 2006, 2007, and 2008. We found that WUE values changed diurnally, peaking in early morning and showing a minimum between 2 pm and 3 pm. This pattern was regulated by photosynthetically active radiation, saturated vapor pressure deficit, and stomatal opening and closure. WUE had inter-daily variations but no substantial seasonal variation. The WUE decreased with increasing soil water content due to the higher sensitivity of ET than GEP to increased soil moisture. Under moist soil conditions (i.e., relative extractable water content >0.4), GEP was stable and WUE was generally low. These results suggest that the poplar plantation does not effectively use the available soil water for carbon uptake, and that soil moisture is lost to the atmosphere through ET.     

Comparison of manure compost and mineral fertilizer for hybrid poplar plantation establishment on boreal heavy clay soils

• Introduction   

Clay soils are typically rich in nutrients but are often compact and hard during summer increasing planting shock by limiting root development. Recycling farm manure in hybrid poplar plantations may offer additional benefits to mineral fertilizer as organic amendment can create better conditions for the early development of roots in addition to nutrient release.     

Effect of forest thinning on soil net nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in a Cryptomeria japonica plantation in Taiwan

We investigated the effect of forest thinning on soil nitrogen mineralization, nitrification and transformation in a Cryptomeria japonica plantation at high elevation to provide basic data for forest management. We chose four study plots for control, light, medium and heavy thinning treatment, and three sub-plots for buried bag studies at similar elevations in each treatment plot to measure the net N mineralization and nitrification rates in situ. The contents of soil inorganic N(ammonium and nitrate) were similar between treatments, but all varied with season, reaching maxima in September 2003 and 2004. The seasonal maximum net Nmin rates after four treatments were 0.182, 0.246, 0.303 and 0.560 mg·kg-1·d-1 in 2003, and 0.242,0.258,0.411 and 0.671 mg·kg-1·d-1in 2004, respectively. These estimates are approximate with the lower annual rates of N mineralization for this region. Forest thinning can enhance net N mineralization and microbial biomass carbon. The percentage of annual rates of Nmin for different levels of forest thinning compared with the control plot were 13.4%, 59.8% and 154.2% in 2003, and 0.1%, 58.8% and 157.7% in 2004 for light, medium, and heavy thinning, respectively. These differences were related to soil moisture, temperature, precipitation, and soil and vegetation types. Well-planned multi-site comparisons, both located within Taiwan and the East-Asia region, could greatly improve our knowledge of regional patterns in nitrogen cycling.     

Carbon and nitrogen dynamics in early stages of forest litter decomposition as affected by nitrogen addition

The effects of nitrogen(N) availability and tree species on the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen at early stage of decomposition of forest litter were studied in a 13-week laboratory incubation experiment.Fresh litter samples including needle litter(Pinus koraiensis) and two types of broadleaf litters(Quercus mongolica and Tilia amurensis) were collected from a broadleaf-korean pine mixed forest in the northern slope of Changbai Mountain(China).Different doses of N(equal to 0, 30 and 50 kg·ha-1yr-1, respecti...     

Litterfall, litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical natural oak forest and managed plantation in northeastern India

In northeastern India, subtropical forests are over-exploited for timber, fuel wood and common agricultural practice like shifting cultivation, which are responsible for the degradation of natural forest. In degraded areas, large-scale plantations of different species of Quercus have been raised since 1980 for the production of economic Tasar silk. Conversion of natural forest into plantation affects the process of nutrient cycling due to management practices. Thus, it would be of importance to study the litterfall, litter decomposition process and the factors regulating the rate of litter decay in these ecosystems to improve recommendations for their management and conservation. We recorded litterfall by using litter traps and decomposition of leaf litter by nylon net bag technique to understand the amount of organic matter and nutrient return and their release in soils of forest and plantation in Manipur, northeast India. Total litterfall was 419.9 g m⁻² year⁻¹ in plantation and 547.7 g m⁻² year⁻¹ in forest. Litter decomposition rate was faster at plantation site than the forest in the early stage of litter decomposition whereas the reverse was observed at later stages of decomposition. Stepwise regression analysis showed the significant role of relative humidity and mean temperature on mass loss rates in the forest. Relative humidity, maximum temperature, population of fungi and actinomycetes were the best predictor variables for mass loss rates in plantation. Nutrient retranslocation efficiency and the immobilization of N and P in forest litter were higher than plantation. This suggests that Q. serrata growing in natural ecosystem in oligotrophic condition adapted strong nutrient conservation mechanisms to compete with the other plant species for the meager soil nutrients. The same species in plantation loses these adaptive capabilities because of exogenous supply of nutrients and in the absence of intense competition with other plant species. Thus, the optimization of organic and chemical fertilizer input in plantation is recommended for maintaining the soil fertility level to produce quality leaf for silkworm by conserving essential nutrients in the system.     

沿海沙地吊丝竹林凋落物及养分动态研究

对沿海沙地吊丝竹林的凋落物及养分月动态特征进行连续观测分析,研究结果表明:竹林凋落物量月动态呈现双峰型模式,2个峰值分别出现在2004年10月和2005年4月,这2个月凋落物量占全年总量的26.90%;2005年1月和7月凋落物量较少,只占全年总量的8.92%。各营养元素在凋落物中组分平均值大小排列顺序为:N>K>P>Mg>Ca。凋落物N、P、K、Mg归还量月动态全年呈现出2个峰值期,分别出现在2004年10~11月和2005年4~5月;Ca只有单峰值期,出现在2004年10~11月。凋落物各营养元素归还量最大是N,年归还总量为58.32 kg.hm-2,最小是Ca,只有0.61 kg.hm-2。N、P、K、Mg、Ca在峰值期养分归还量分别占全年比例的48.44%、47.12%、50.48%、53.49%和36.30%。沿海沙地吊丝竹林凋落物年养分归还量为97.54 kg.hm-2。     

Spatiotemporal distribution of aboveground litter in a Cryptomeria japonica plantation

We assessed the vertical distribution of litter and its seasonal patterns in the canopy and on the forest floor (soil), as well as litterfall (the flux of litter from the canopy to the soil) in a 33-year-old plantation of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don). The masses of total litter, dead leaves, and dead branches in the canopy of C. japonica trees averaged 34.09, 19.53, and 14.56 t dry wt ha⁻¹, respectively, and were almost constant during the study period. The total masses of the annual litterfall were 4.17 and 5.88 t dry wt ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in the two consecutive years of the study. The mass of the soil litter averaged 7.95 t dry wt ha⁻¹ during the same period. All relationships between the mass of canopy litter and tree-size parameters (diameters at breast height and at the lowest living branch) were linear in a log-linear regression. Compared with the results for this plantation at a younger stage (16 years old), our results suggest that the total mass of dead leaves attached to each tree increases markedly with increasing age, but that the trajectory of this increase as a function of tree size may change from an exponential to a saturation curve with increasing stand age.     

不同栽培林龄和轮次的杨树人工林土壤理化性质

采用空间代替时间的方法,构建了不同栽培林龄和轮次的杨树人工林试验样地,测定了土壤主要物理化学性质.结果表明,不同栽培轮次土壤密度值表现为1轮11年生＞2轮9年生,随着林龄增加,土壤密度呈逐渐下降趋势,表现为2轮3年生＞2轮6年生＞2轮9年生,且各样地之间呈显著差异;土壤饱和持水量、毛管持水量、毛管孔隙度和总孔隙度在各样地之间的变化无明显差异,而土壤非毛管孔隙度的变化则呈显著差异,在不同林龄样地上呈极显著差异.试验结果还显示,表层0～10 cm土壤中各养分元素的含量都对应地高于10～ 30 cm土层的含量,而pH值则呈相反的变化趋势;在不同栽培轮次和林龄的杨树人工林样地上对应土层土壤养分元素无明显的变化规律.     

Carbon balance and soil carbon input in a poplar short rotation coppice plantation as affected by nitrogen and wood ash application

New Forests - The increasing importance of short rotation coppice (SRC) plantations for bioenergy production makes it crucial to evaluate their carbon (C) sink potential and to understand which...     

樟树与马尾松群落净土壤氮矿化速率的比较

2009年7月至8月,在湖南省植物园用树脂芯原位测定法,比较了樟树和马尾松群落土壤中无机氮含量及氮矿化速率。结果表明:培养前2种群落土壤中无机氮差异显著(P0.05),呈现马尾松樟树的规律,其中NH4+-N分别占群落土壤无机氮的98.2%和93.69%,是无机氮的主要存在形式;经过14、28和42 d的培养,樟树和马尾松群落土壤中NH4+-N和NO3--N含量均发生显著的变化(P0.01),NH4+-N的含量均呈现出先下降后上升的规律,NO3--N含量则表现出不同的规律,樟树群落为上升,马尾松群落为先下降后上升;樟树群落净氮矿化量为-(33.82±3.48)、-(16.81±5.90)和(29.14±4.41)mg.kg-1,马尾松群落为-(59.93±3.48)、-33.17和-13.11 mg.kg-1。     

Mineral nitrogen dynamics following soil compaction and cultivation during hoop pine plantation establishment

The effects of soil compaction and cultivation on soil mineral N dynamics were investigated through an 18-month, in situ N mineralisation experiment during the inter-rotation and early establishment period of a second rotation (2R) hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex A. Cunn) plantation in southeast Queensland, Australia. Treatments were 0, 1 and 16 passes of a fully laden forwarder (gross weight, 40.2 Mg) and cultivation by disc plough (zero cultivation and cultivation). Nitrate N was the dominant form of mineral N throughout the 18-month sampling period in both non-cultivated and cultivated soils, varying between 10 and 40 kg ha⁻¹ whilst ammonium N remained <10 kg ha⁻¹. Compaction had no significant effect on N mineralisation or nitrification. However, the remediation of the effects of compaction on soil through the use of the disc plough had significant impacts on N mineralisation, nitrification and N leaching. On a seasonal basis, the mean net N mineralisation increased from around 30 to 53 kg ha⁻¹, nitrification from 28 to 43 kg ha⁻¹ and nitrate N leaching from around 10 to 73 kg ha⁻¹ following cultivation.     

Root order-dependent seasonal dynamics in the carbon and nitrogen chemistry of poplar fine roots

Fine roots play an important role in above- and belowground carbon (C) allocation in forest ecosystems. However, few studies have focused on the seasonal dynamics of fine roots with different branching orders. The objective of this study is to provide insight to the seasonal heterogeneity in roots of different orders within root hierarchies of poplar trees under different soil conditions. Three plots were established in high (plantation A) and low (plantation B) soil nutrient conditions. Fine roots were sampled in each of four seasons throughout one year. All sampled roots were classified into one to five groups depending on their branching order, and the dry biomass of living roots and the concentrations of C, nitrogen (N) and total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) were examined. Low order (first- to second-order) roots demonstrated more significant seasonal dynamics than high order roots, and the biomass of first-order fine roots was positively influenced by soil temperature and moisture while the biomass of second-order fine roots was negatively affected by soil nutrient conditions. The different responses of fine roots to environmental fluctuations implied a high division of root function, even within low order roots. The C and N chemistry of poplar fine roots also differed significantly with branching order; element concentrations were lower in low order roots. Principal component analysis indicated that root order explained 98.2% of the variation in fine root chemistry. Moreover, the first-order roots in plantation A had greater C but less TNC concentrations than those in plantation B, suggesting that C allocation in low order roots may be more responsive to soil nutrient conditions. The allocation of C and N also exhibited significant seasonal dynamics (p < 0.05); the TNC concentration was highest in winter, whereas C:N ratios were significantly lower in the summer and fall in each order of fine roots (p < 0.05). All these results suggest that branching order may be related to root growth and photoassimilate allocation, which should receive greater attention in future studies on C and N fluxes in forest ecosystems.