Restoring Properties of Artificially Degraded Ultisols and Oxisols and the Effect on Crop Yields under Tropical Conditions

Upland agriculture in Indonesia mainly relies on Ultisols and Oxisols, which have serious problems resulting from severe erosion and low organic‐matter content. The objectives of the study were (i) to assess the effect of long‐term rehabilitation techniques on soil organic carbon (SOC) and maize yields of a desurfaced Ultisol and (ii) to assess the effect of short‐term rehabilitation techniques on desurfaced Oxisol properties and soybean yields. A 7‐year field experiment was conducted on artificially desurfaced Ultisol grown with maize (Zea mays L.). The results showed that rehabilitation techniques using cattle manure, rice straw mulch or Mucuna sp. mulch were successful in restoring SOC content of degraded Ultisol to its initial natural state. All sources of organic‐matter rehabilitations significantly increased maize yields on an Ultisol. Rehabilitations of degraded Oxisol under glasshouse conditions using phosphorus (P) fertilizer, organic matter, basic slag, and lime could increase cation exchange capacity (CEC) and nutrient availability and suppress Al toxicity. At the same time, soybean yields increased 11–14, 2–10, 1–5, and 1–3 times, respectively.     

Available N and P,Microbial Activity,and Biomass in Saline Sandy and Clayey Soils Amended with Residues of Wheat and Alfalfa

Salt accumulation has a negative effect on microorganisms, but plant residues may enhance the microbial activity and biomass. An experiment was conducted over 50 days to evaluate the effect of wheat and alfalfa residues on microbial activity and biomass and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability in sandy and clayey soils at different salinity levels. Equivalent amounts of calcium (Ca⁺²) and sodium (Na⁺) salts were added to both soils. Values of electrical conductivity (EC_1:5), denoted S1, S2, and S3 in each soil, were 0.16, 1.10 and 1.98 dS m^?1 in the sand and 0.19, 0.82 and 1.75 dS m^?1 in the clay. Residues of wheat and alfalfa were added at 2% (w/w). Cumulative respiration and microbial biomass decreased with increasing salinity, but with residue addition they increased with a greater rate in amended sandy soil than in clay soil, with a more pronounced effect for alfalfa than for wheat residue. After 10 days, with wheat residue available N values were 113, 86, and 71 μg in the clay and 144, 114, and 94 μg g^?1 soil in the sand in S1, S2, and S3, respectively. Relative to wheat residue, alfalfa residue increased N availability by 9, 13, and 19% and 22, 24, and 24% in the clay and in the sand in S1, S2, and S3, respectively. Compared to the control, in the clay P availability increased by 33, 57, and 100% with wheat residue and by 58, 128, and 175% with alfalfa residue, whereas in the sand it increased by 92, 45, and 40% with wheat residue and by 130, 145, and 280% with alfalfa residue in S1, S2, and S3, respectively. Availability of N and P increased from day 10 to day 50 in both soils, but with different magnitudes. Residue addition can increase microbial activity and nutrient availability in saline soils, particularly in coarser textured soils.     

Seeding and mulching + seeding effects on post‐fire runoff,soil erosion and species diversity in Galicia (NW Spain)

The effects of two different soil rehabilitation treatments on runoff, infiltration, erosion and species diversity were evaluated in a shrubland area in Galicia (NW Spain) after an experimental fire by means of rainfall simulations. The treatments compared were: seeding, seeding + mulching and control (untreated). Rainfall simulations were conducted 9 months after fire and the application of soil rehabilitation treatments. A rainfall rate of 67 mm h⁻¹ was applied for 30 min to each runoff plot. Seeding significantly increased plant species richness in the treated plots relative to the control plots, although it had no effect on diversity or evenness. Rehabilitation treatments did not significantly increase soil cover or affect runoff and infiltration. Soil losses were low in all cases, varying from 75·6 kg ha⁻¹ in the seeded + mulched plots to 212·1 kg ha⁻¹ in the untreated plots. However, there were no significant differences in sediment yields between treatments. The percentage of bare soil appeared to be a critical variable in controlling runoff and erosion. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The onsite cost of gully erosion and cost‐benefit of gully rehabilitation: A case study in Ethiopia

Gully erosion often indicates extreme land degradation. In the highlands of Ethiopia, wide and deep gullies are common features, significantly affecting land used for agriculture. However, little action is being taken to address the problem. Where rehabilitation actions in Ethiopia are taking place, they are rarely studied by financially quantifying their costs and benefits. Therefore, this study developed methods of quantifying gully erosion costs and rehabilitation costs and benefits by considering the soil components of four model rehabilitated gullies in Ethiopia. Data were obtained from a physical survey supported by secondary information from relevant agricultural offices. Quantification was achieved by monetizing gully erosion cost through yield loss and gully rehabilitation calculations according to expenditure, while rehabilitation benefits were obtained by monetizing estimated deposited soil nutrients using fertilizer prices. Cost‐benefit values show that investment in gully rehabilitation can be an economically viable proposition in some instances. Stakeholders involved in gully rehabilitation should continue to invest in appropriate techniques of gully rehabilitation and management to ensure continued benefits from rehabilitated gullies and use of surrounding farmlands. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

生态修复对防治水土流失的作用探讨

指出生态修复是成效显著的水土流失治理措施之一,体现了人与自然和谐共处的理念。在实施过程中要处理好依靠大自然力量和依靠人工治理的关系,小流域综合治理与大面积封育保护的关系,封与育、用的关系,以及生态、生产与生活之间的关系。     

管道防腐层大修案例分析及大修选段原则

通过案例分析并结合现场经验,制定了管道防腐层大修选段的系列原则,即管道防腐层外观的完整与否并不能作为防腐层技术状况的判定依据。在回填土壤的应力作用下,管道在3∶00~9∶00时钟位置的石油沥青防腐层容易出现剥离并屏蔽阴极保护,导致管体腐蚀。中等精度的漏磁检测器所给出的管道内检测结果作为管道防腐层选段大修的依据具有较高的置信度。     

陕北地区退耕还林十年植被恢复变化分析——以子长县为例

以2000年和2010年ETM+遥感数据为数据源,借助ArcGIS和ERDAS软件平台对子长县退耕还林以来的植被覆盖度﹑土地利用变化及生态环境质量进行了定量分析,结果表明:2000—2010年植被覆盖度由劣等和差等向中等和良等转变,其中良等盖度面积比例由2010年的2.30%增加到51.30%;主要植被类型中林地面积增长幅度最大,增长面积占土地总面积的23.73%;退耕还林十年间子长县整体生态环境质量得到改善,生态环境质量指数上升0.052 8。     

红壤侵蚀地生态修复后水源涵养功能研究

在江西省泰和县老虎山小流域内采用5种模式进行人工森林重建,即设置强烈干扰马尾松林分(模式A)、封育马尾松林分(模式B)、竹节沟马尾松林分(模式C)、种草竹节沟马尾松林分(模式D)、竹节沟湿地松林分(模式E)5种林分,对其林冠层和林下植被层截留、凋落物层持水量以及林地土壤层渗透及贮水性能进行了研究。结果表明:模式E的林冠层及林下植被层截留量最大,模式A最小;模式D的凋落物层持水量最大,其次是模式C,模式B和E相等,为最小;模式B土壤渗透性能最好,其次为模式D,模式E的初渗速率最小,模式A的稳渗速率最小;土壤贮水性能以模式D最大,其次为模式B,模式E最差。试验表明选择适宜的生态修复模式,保护和改良土壤结构,提高土壤层涵蓄水分的能力和土壤渗透性,是提高红壤严重侵蚀地水土保持林水源涵养功能的关键。     

The effect of land management on carbon and nitrogen status in plants and soils of alpine meadows on the Tibetan plateau

Large‐scale grassland rehabilitation has been carried out on the severely degraded lands of the Tibetan plateau. The grasslands created provide a useful model for evaluating the recovery of ecosystem properties. The purposes of this research were: (1) to examine the relative influence of various rehabilitation practices on carbon and nitrogen in plants and soils in early secondary succession; and (2) to evaluate the degree to which severely degraded grassland altered plant and soil properties relative to the non‐disturbed native community. The results showed: (1) The aboveground tissue C and N content in the control were 105·97 g m⁻² and 3·356 g m⁻², respectively. The aboveground tissue C content in the mixed seed treatment, the single seed treatment, the natural recovery treatment and the severely degraded treatment was 137 per cent, 98 per cent, 49 per cent and 38 per cent, respectively, of that in the control. The corresponding aboveground tissue N content was 109 per cent, 84 per cent, 60 per cent and 47 per cent, respectively, of that in the control. (2) Root C and N content in 0–20 cm depths of the control had an average 1606 g m⁻² and 30·36 g m⁻², respectively. Root C and N content in the rehabilitation treatments were in the range of 26–36 per cent and 35–53 per cent, while those in the severely degraded treatment were only 17 per cent and 26 per cent of that in the control. (3) In the control the average soil C and N content at 0–20 cm was 11 307 g m⁻² and 846 g m⁻², respectively. Soil C content in the uppermost 20 cm in the seeded treatments, the natural recovery treatment and the severely degraded treatment was 67 per cent, 73 per cent and 57 per cent, respectively, while soil N content in the uppermost 20 cm was 72 per cent, 82 per cent and 79 per cent, respectively, of that in the control. The severely degraded land was a major C source. Restoring the severely degraded lands to perennial vegetation was an alternative approach to sequestering C in former degraded systems. N was a limiting factor in seeding grassland. It is necessary for sustainable utilization of seeding grassland to supply extra N fertilizer to the soil or to add legume species into the seed mix. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

丽江市退耕还林工程造林树种选择评析

介绍了丽江市退耕还林工程实施的基本情况和树种选择的详细情况,分析了工程所选择树种的结构及分布,对所选树种的造林成效进行了评价,分析指出了存在的问题,提出了丽江市退耕还林工程树种选择的相关建议,推荐了一些适合在丽江退耕还林工程中选用的树种.