Complexed organic matter controls soil physical properties

It is shown that, for mineral soils, it is not the total amount of organic carbon (or organic matter) that controls soil physical behaviour but the amount of complexed organic carbon (COC). We assume that this complex is formed by the association of unit mass (i.e. 1 g) of organic carbon with n grams of clay. Analysis of data from two French and two Polish databases shows that, for these soils, n = 10. A consequence of this is that in soils with small contents of organic carbon (OC), such as arable soils, COC is proportional to OC. However, in soils with large contents of organic carbon, such as pasture soils, COC is proportional to the clay content. This explains why we find that soil bulk density is significantly correlated with OC in French arable soils but with the clay content in French pasture soils. The use of COC instead of OC enables the arable and pasture soils to be considered on the same scale.

Water retention data were fitted to a double-exponential equation which allows both the matrix and structural porosities to be estimated. It is shown that in soils with low contents of organic carbon, the carbon content is positively correlated with the matrix porosity. In contrast, in soils with high contents of organic carbon, the matrix porosity is constant at its maximum value and the structural porosity is not significantly correlated with either the total organic carbon or the non-complexed organic carbon (NCOC). It is suggested that the complexed organic carbon can be considered as being sequestered. The soil clay content can similarly be partitioned between clay that is complexed with organic carbon and clay that is not complexed. It is shown that non-complexed clay is more easily dispersed in water than clay that is complexed with organic carbon. These findings indicate how improved pedo-transfer functions for the prediction of soil physical properties may be produced. Such functions need to use the values of complexed and non-complexed organic carbon and clay which must be determined by algorithms. The values produced by the algorithms may then be used in the improved pedo-transfer functions.     

Soil organic matter composition and soil lightness

Relationships between soil lightness, soil organic matter (SOM) composition, content of organic C, CaCO₃, and texture were studied using 42 top‐soil horizons from different soil types located in southern Germany. SOM composition was determined by CPMAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, soil color was measured by diffuse‐reflectance spectrophotometry and given in the CIE L*a*b* color coordination system (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage, 1978). Multiple‐regression analysis showed, that soil lightness of top‐soil horizons is principally determined by OC concentration, but CaCO₃ and soil texture are also major variables. Soil lightness decreased with increasing OC content. Carbonate content had an important effect on soil lightness even at low concentrations due to its lightening property. Regressions between soil lightness and organic C content were strongly linear, when the soils were differentiated according to texture and CaCO₃ content. The aryl‐C content was the only SOM component which correlated significantly with soil lightness (r_S = –0.87). In the linear regressions carried out on the different soil groups, soil aryl‐C content was a more significant predictor for soil lightness than total OC content.     

南方花岗岩红壤典型区土壤有机质的空间变异特征

 通过野外实地调查与室内试验,以长汀县为研究区,在GIS的支持下,运用地统计学方法分析南方花岗岩红壤典型区表层土壤有机质的空间变异特征。结果表明:研究区土壤有机质质量分数总体水平中等并具有中等的空间相关性,平均为2.73%;变异系数为72.73%,属中等变异;由空间自相关部分引起的空间变异性程度较大,C0/(C0+C)值为47.13%,变程为21.48km;在空间分布上呈现四周高中间低的分布特征,在中部地区形成连片的低值区,西部有机质质量分数整体较高,存在最高值。研究成果可为南方花岗岩红壤侵蚀退化地的生态恢复与重建提供参考。     

Relation of soil organic matter concentration to climate and altitude in zonal soils of China

With a total of 886 data sets distributed in different regions of China, the relation of soil organic matter (SOM) concentration to climate and altitude was investigated. These data sets were obtained from the 2nd National Soil Survey of China that was completed in early 1980s. According to climate gradient and vegetation community succession, six geographical regions, including eastern, southern, northern, northeastern, northwestern and southwestern China, were divided to identify the key factors regulating surface SOM concentration in different geographical regions. Correlation analysis indicates that surface SOM concentration is in general negatively correlated with annual mean temperature (T) and positively correlated with annual mean precipitation (P) and altitude (H). A further investigation suggested that multiple regression models with different combination of T, P and H could explain 41.5%–56.2% of the variability in surface SOM concentration for different geographical regions, while the driving variables are different. Variables of T and P determined surface SOM concentration in northern, northeastern and northwestern China. In eastern and southern China, variables of P and H are key factors regulating surface SOM concentration. Surface SOM concentration in southwestern China is determined by a linear combination of T, P and H.     

天津滨海地区盐碱土季节动态变化

天津滨海地区位于渤海的西海岸带,属于黄淮海的一部分,受太平洋季风气候影响,雨量在年内和年际分配极度不均,呈现明显的春旱夏涝、涝后又旱以及旱年、涝年的现象,致使土壤中水盐运行频繁,积盐和脱盐交替发生,与此同时受海潮和海水型地下水的双重影响,滨海地区土壤具有盐分重、养分含量低等特点[1-4]。土壤盐碱化已经严重影响农林业,尤其是种植业生产的持续发展,并对人体健康和生态环境造成现实和潜在的危害[5-6]。为了探索天津滨海地区土壤中各种离子季节动态变化规律,作者从2007年起,对天津滨海地区林场的不同植被地区、不同土壤剖面进行动态监测,探讨各种离子季节变化规律,为改善天津滨海地区周边生态环境,指导天津     

Soil organic matter and its lignin component in surface horizons of salt-affected soils of the Argentinian Pampa

Salt-affected soils differ in their chemical properties to all other soils. Sodicity and salinity may affect the soil organic matter component of these soils. In a field experiment, we investigated organic matter decomposition in nonsaline nonsodic Aquic Argiudoll, a nonsaline sodic Typic Natraquoll, nonsaline nonsodic Petrocalcic Paleudoll and a saline sodic Typic Natralboll in the Pampa Deprimida, Argentina. The objectives were to identify the degree of stabilization of organic matter by association with mineral particles in these soils and to follow in particular the fate of lignin in these soils. We measured organic carbon, total nitrogen and the extent of lignin alteration with soil depth and in various particle size fractions. The salt-affected soils contained much less organic carbon and nitrogen in their mollic epipedons than the nonsaline nonsodic soils, and bioturbation into deeper layers was restrained. In the salt-affected soils most of the organic matter was in sand-sized particles. Retarded degradation of plant residues was indicated by the pattern of lignin-derived phenols, suggesting less alteration of lignin in the salt-affected soils than in the nonsaline nonsodic soils. We suggest that this results from the effects of high pH, high sodicity, and high salinity on the microorganisms and their enzymatic activities. The high pH and high concentrations of monovalent cations decreased formation of solid organo-mineral complexes. We conclude that in the salt-affected soils oxidatively altered organic compounds are susceptible to losses in dissolved or colloidal forms, because these compounds are not stabilized against leaching and mineralization by chemical bonding to soil minerals.     

Spatial variability and potential controls of soil organic matter in the Eastern Dongting Lake Plain in southern China

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Information related to spatial distribution and dominants of soil organic matter (SOM) is critical for evaluating soil quality and assessing the carbon...     

改性塿土对土壤有机污染物苯酚运移的阻滞模拟

为了防止和控制污染物在土壤中纵向迁移,保护地下水免受污染。该研究通过饱水土柱运移试验,用非反应性离子Cl-探求土柱参数弥散系数,并运用平均孔隙水流速和弥散系数求算反应性溶质苯酚的运移参数阻滞系数,探究十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(cetyltrimethylammonium bromide,CTMAB)改性土和原土对苯酚运移的阻滞效应,以及改性比例、pH值、离子强度等因素对苯酚在土柱中运移的影响。结果表明:以CTMAB改性黏化层塿土,显著增强了土壤对苯酚运移的阻滞能力。改性土对苯酚运移的阻滞能力随着改性比例的增加而增强,苯酚在100%改性土中运移的阻滞系数值是在原土中的26.06倍;pH值在6.0~8.0变化时,对苯酚在改性土中运移的阻滞作用影响不大;当离子强度在0.001~0.1 mol/L范围内,随着离子强度的增加,原土和改性土对苯酚运移的阻滞能力均减弱,原土对苯酚的阻滞系数由0.56降至0.37,100%改性土由17.57降至8.71。以100%改性比例制备的改性土在中性环境,离子强度为0.001 mol/L环境中对苯酚的阻滞效果最好。     

河套灌区典型示范区土壤盐分和有机质空间变异特征

为探明河套灌区盐渍化土壤盐分和有机质含量分布规律,选取巴彦淖尔市五原县盐渍化土壤典型区域作为研究区,采用区域土壤信息定点监测,选取 149个采样点,获得各土层土壤样本,并结合经典统计学、地统计学、空间插值等方法,研究盐渍化土壤盐分和有机质含量空间变异特征。结果表明:随着土层深度的增加,土壤有机质含量与土壤盐分含量的相关性逐渐增加,在深层土壤间盐分对有机质含量的影响大于表层,且在 40～ 60 cm影响最显著。研究区各层土壤盐分的最优半方差函数模型为球状模型,土壤有机质的最优半方差函数模型为高斯模型。规模化盐碱地改良后,0～ 20、20～ 40、40～ 60 cm土壤盐分结构比(表示随机因素引起的空间变异占系统总变异的比例)上升 2.35、6.72、1.94个百分点,0～ 20、20～ 40 cm土壤有机质结构比分别上升 3.54、3.93个百分点,土壤盐分和有机质结构比整体较改良前呈上升趋势,结构性增强,空间相关性增强,垂直方向上土壤盐分变异性强于有机质变异性。改良期内土壤盐分含量平均降幅为 0.574g/kg,土壤有机质含量平均增幅为 0.195 g/kg,耕层土壤盐渍化程度减弱,各层土壤有机质含量增加,作物生长安全区增大,研究区土壤环境显著改善。土壤盐分高值区(>6 g/kg)多位于地下水浅埋区的中部和东南部区域,改良后,研究区中部土壤盐分集聚特征仍十分显著,存在盐渍化加剧的风险,仍是盐碱地改良防治重点的区域。     

Fractional dissolution in studying the affinity of organic matter to mineral soil components

It was shown that the fractional dissolution of organic soil components based on elution from a column using an cluent with continuously increasing dissolving power can be used for characterizing the affinity of soil organic matter to mineral soil components. The affinity was estimated from spatial hindrances to the solubilization of macromolecules. The main factors determining the fractional dissolution dynamics of organic matter in the humus profiles of forest-steppe chernozems are the presence of organic residues and texture.     

Soil organic matter stratification ratio as an indicator of soil quality

Soil quality is a concept based on the premise that management can deteriorate, stabilize, or improve soil ecosystem functions. It is hypothesized that the degree of stratification of soil organic C and N pools with soil depth, expressed as a ratio, could indicate soil quality or soil ecosystem functioning, because surface organic matter is essential to erosion control, water infiltration, and conservation of nutrients. Stratification ratios allow a wide diversity of soils to be compared on the same assessment scale because of an internal normalization procedure that accounts for inherent soil differences. Stratification ratios of soil organic C were 1.1, 1.2 and 1.9 under conventional tillage (CT) and 3.4, 2.0 and 2.1 under no tillage (NT) in Georgia, Texas, and Alberta/British Columbia, respectively. The difference in stratification ratio between conventional and NT within an environment was inversely proportional to the standing stock of soil organic C to a depth of 15–20 cm across environments. Greater stratification of soil C and N pools with the adoption of conservation tillage under inherently low soil organic matter conditions (i.e., warmer climatic regime or coarse-textured soil) suggests that standing stock of soil organic matter alone is a poor indication of soil quality. Stratification of biologically active soil C and N pools (i.e., soil microbial biomass and potential activity) were equally or more sensitive to tillage, cropping intensity, and soil textural variables than stratification of total C and N. High stratification ratios of soil C and N pools could be good indicators of dynamic soil quality, independent of soil type and climatic regime, because ratios >2 would be uncommon under degraded conditions.     

Practices sustaining soil organic matter and rice yield in a tropical monsoon region

ABSTRACT

Sandy soils are usually dominant in tropical monsoon regions, due to the high weathering potential associated with high temperatures and precipitation. The organic matter content of sandy soils is low due to low clay content and high microbial activity. Therefore, soil management practices that alter the soil organic carbon (SOC) content may be important for the sustainable management of crop yields. Thus, the present study investigates the distribution of rice yield and SOC content under different land management practices and analyzes the relationship between rice yield and SOC with pertinent management practices (manure and fertilizer applications). The soil horizons from 0- to 40-cm depths were collected in each layer to measure SOC and soil properties at 64 sites. At each sampling site, farmers were given questionnaires and the record book for the standards for good agricultural practices of farm owners were gathered to assimilate information on rice yield and their practices during 2010–2014. The mean rice yield of the whole crop year and SOC were 2.93 Mg ha^?1 and 47.09 Mg C ha^?1, respectively, in the irrigated areas, and were 2.38 Mg ha^?1 and 32.08 Mg C ha^?1 in the rain-fed areas. Significantly higher values were obtained in the irrigated areas (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between rice yield and SOC in both the irrigated areas (R² = 0.72, p < 0.01) and the rain-fed areas (R² = 0.85, p < 0.01); however, the slopes of these regression equations were significantly different. In both irrigated and rain-fed areas, manure should be applied every year, with an optimal application rate of N, P, and K fertilizers being selected. The combination of manure, fertilizer, and increasing irrigation facilities the maintenance of SOC levels and substantially increases rice yields.     

东北黑土有机质组分与结构的研究进展

在全球气候变化背景下研究土壤有机质的转化过程对于评价陆地生态系统碳截获潜力具有重要意义,而土壤有机质的循环特征及其稳定性与土壤有机质的组成和结构密切相关.东北黑土区是我国重要的商品粮基地,近年来,黑土有机质含量呈显著下降趋势,造成黑土肥力和质量的严重退化.本文通过文献资料的整理,总结了不同农田管理措施下黑土土壤有机质的消长动态、组分变化以及结构特征的研究现状,并探讨了研究中存在的问题.开垦和耕作导致土壤有机质总量、活性组分以及腐殖物质含量的显著降低,而平衡施用化肥和有机肥是维持和提升土壤有机质数量和质量的有效途径,长期有机无机配施使土壤有机质结构趋于简单化,有利于土壤肥力的保持.黑土有机质组分化学结构变化的驱动机制是值得人们长期探索的问题.     

Soil organic matter stabilization in acidic forest soils is preferential and soil type-specific

Minerals with large specific surface areas promote the stabilization of soil organic matter (SOM). We analysed three acidic soils (dystric, skeletic Leptic Cambisol; dystric, laxic Leptic Cambisol; skeletic Leptic Entic Podzol) under Norway spruce (Picea abies) forest with different mineral compositions to determine the effects of soil type on carbon (C) stabilization in soil. The relationship between the amount and chemical composition of soil organic matter (SOM), clay content, oxalate‐extractable Fe and Al (Fe_o; Al_o), and dithionite‐extractable Fe (Fe_d) before and after treatment with 10% hydrofluoric acid (HF) in topsoil and subsoil horizons was analysed. Radiocarbon age, ¹³C CPMAS NMR spectra, lignin phenol content and neutral sugar content in the soils before and after HF‐treatment were determined and compared for bulk soil samples and particle size separates. Changes in the chemical composition of SOM after HF‐treatment were small for the A‐horizons. In contrast, for B‐horizons, HF‐soluble (mineral‐associated) and HF‐resistant (non‐mineral‐associated) SOM showed systematic differences in functional C groups. The non‐mineral associated SOM in the B‐horizons was significantly depleted in microbially‐derived sugars, and the contribution of O/N‐alkyl C to total organic C was less after HF‐treatment. The radiocarbon age of the mineral‐associated SOM was younger than that of the HF‐resistant SOM in subsoil horizons with small amounts of oxalate‐extractable Al and Fe. However, in horizons with large amounts of oxalate‐extractable Al and Fe the HF‐soluble SOM was considerably older than the HF‐resistant SOM. In acid subsoils a specific fraction of the organic C pool (O/N‐alkyl C; microbially‐derived sugars) is preferentially stabilized by association with Fe and Al minerals. Stabilization of SOM with the mineral matrix in soils with large amounts of oxalate‐extractable Al_o and Fe_o results in a particularly stable and relatively old C pool, which is potentially stable for thousands of years.     

Driving forces of soil organic matter change in Jiangsu Province of China

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a key property determining soil functions and a major form of carbon stored in soil. Understanding the spatial and temporal variability of SOM and the driving forces responsible for spatial and temporal changes is important to assess regional soil quality and carbon sequestration potential and, particularly, to establish better practices for land use and management. We evaluated the spatio‐temporal change in SOM content from 1979–1982 to 2006 and its driving forces in Jiangsu Province, East China, using geostatistics. The results showed that mean SOM content increased from 16.60 ± 8.50 to 18.31 ± 8.32 g/kg over a 26‐yr period. The maps of SOM generated by ordinary kriging represented the increasing trend from north to south across the province in the two periods. The level of SOM in 1979–1982 affected the pattern of change: the SOM increasing in areas initially with a small content while decreasing in areas having a large content. The map of SOM change showed that the rate of increase decreased from north to south within the province. Increased fertilizer application promoted crop production with more residual biomass being retained in the soil, which resulted in increased SOM content. Land use changes to paddy, upland or forest improved SOM content, whereas abandoning land reduced SOM content.     

Soil quality assessment based on soil organic matter pools under long-term tillage systems and following tillage conversion in a semi-humid region

A field study was conducted to assess the long-term effects of no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT), and the short-term effects following tillage conversion from CT to NT (NT_n) and from NT to CT (CT_n) on soil quality (SQ) indicators in a semi-humid climate. First, plots of a long-term tillage experiment on a Luvic Phaeozem initiated in 1986 were split into two subplots in 2012, yielding four treatments: NT, CT, NT_n and CT_n. In 2015, composite soil samples were collected from each treatment and from a natural site (Ref) at depths 0–5, 5–10, 10–20 and 0–20 cm. Several indicators were determined: soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (SON); particulate organic C (POM-C) and N (POM-N); potential N mineralization (PMN) and soil respiration (R_s). Moreover, bulk density was determined in long-term tillage systems. Different ratios between indicators were calculated, with emphasis on its function in the agroecosystem, that is functional indicators. Significant differences in SOC, SON and PMN were found between CT and NT at most depths. In contrast, 3 years after tillage conversion, only a part of the SQ indicators studied were modified mainly at the 0–10 cm depth. The functional indicators showed differences between tillage systems in the long-term and after short-term tillage conversion depending on the depth; however, the PMN/SON ratio demonstrated differences at all depths. Under these conditions, this ratio-related to easily mineralizable N fraction proved to be a promising indicator for assessing SQ under contrasting tillage systems regardless of the sampling depth.     

Stabilization of organic matter in soil lysimeters

Using stationary soil lysimeters it was demonstrated that the type of phytocenose determines the processes of stabilization of organic matter and the type of litter reflects the transformation of organic matter. The maximum quantity of large aggregates at the lowest concentrations of carbon is detected in the upper horizons of soils under fallow conditions as compared to those under other communities. The maximum possible loss of carbon, as estimated by the intensity of respiration, is observed in the soils under mixed plantings, while the least was observed for agricultural lands.