Decomposition of organic matter and nutrient mineralisation in wood ant (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Formica rufa</Emphasis> group) mounds in boreal coniferous forests of different age

Wood ants (Formica rufa group) are dominating ecosystem elements of the boreal region due to their wide and abundant occurrence. They collect and concentrate organic material from the surrounding forest floor by building large above-ground mounds. These mounds have higher temperature and lower water content than the surrounding forest floor. We studied how these peculiar environmental conditions affected mass loss and carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) mineralisation of organic matter in boreal Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.)-dominated mixed forest stands of four different age classes (5-, 30-, 60-, and 100-year-old) situated in eastern Finland using the litter bag technique. Norway spruce needle litter was incubated in inhabited and abandoned wood ant mounds as well as on the surrounding forest floor. We expected decomposition to be extremely slow due to the dryness of the mounds. Mass losses inside inhabited mounds were lower compared to the surrounding forest floor (on average 30 vs 50% after 2 years) but not as low as we expected, which might be a result of ant and microbial activity in the mounds. Decomposition in the abandoned mounds proceeded similarly as on the forest floor. Nutrient mineralisation proceeded more slowly in the ant mounds than on the surrounding forest floor. Mineralisation occurred for all studied nutrients in the ant mounds, except for N, which net amount remained stable during the years of the experiment. When wood ant mounds are abandoned and their porous and dry structure is no longer maintained by the ants, their decomposition is accelerated, and nutrients may be available for uptake by plants, although the nutrient mineralisation seems still to remain lower compared to the surrounding forest floor. However, eventually the mound material will be decomposed and nutrients mineralised, thus providing a nutrient hot spot increasing the heterogeneity of forest floor nutrient availability.     

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.     

The role of hydropedologic vegetation zones in greenhouse gas emissions for agricultural wetland landscapes

Net greenhouse gas (GHG) source strength for agricultural wetland ecosystems in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) is currently unknown. In particular, information is lacking to constrain spatial variability associated with GHG emissions (CH₄, CO₂, and N₂O). GHG fluxes typically vary with edaphic, hydrologic, biologic, and climatic factors. In the PPR, characteristic wetland plant communities integrate hydropedologic factors and may explain some variability associated with trace gas fluxes at ecosystem and landscape scales. We addressed this question for replicate wetland basins located in central North Dakota stratified by hydropedologic vegetation zone on Jul 12 and Aug 3, 2003. Data were collected at the soil-atmosphere interface for six plant zones: deep marsh, shallow marsh, wet meadow, low prairie, pasture, and cropland. Controlling for soil moisture and temperature, CH₄ fluxes varied significantly with zone (p < 0.05). Highest CH₄ emissions were found near the water in the deep marsh (277,800 μg m^− 2 d^− 1 CH₄), which declined with distance from water to − 730 μg m^− 2 d^− 1 CH₄ in the pasture. Carbon dioxide fluxes also varied significantly with zone. Nitrous oxide variability was greater within zones than between zones, with no significant effects of zone, moisture, or temperature. Data were extrapolated for a 205.6 km² landscape using a previously developed synoptic classification for PPR plant communities. For this landscape, we found croplands contributed the greatest proportion to the net GHG source strength on Jul 12 (45,700 kg d^− 1 GHG-C equivalents) while deep marsh zones contributed the greatest proportion on Aug 3 (26,145 kg d^− 1 GHG-C equivalents). This was driven by a 30-fold reduction in cropland N₂O–N emissions between dates. The overall landscape average for each date, weighted by zone, was 462.4 kg km^− 2 d^− 1 GHG-C equivalents on Jul 12 and 314.3 kg km^− 2 d^− 1 GHG-C equivalents on Aug 3. Results suggest GHG fluxes vary with hydropedologic soil zone, particularly for CH₄, and provide initial estimates of net GHG emissions for heterogeneous agricultural wetland landscapes.     

Evaluation of soil quality parameters in a tropical paddy soil amended with rice residues and tree litters

Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to study the effects of applications of rice residue and Pongamia pinnata and Azadirachta indica leaf litters on biochemical properties (extraction yield of humus, composition of humus, microbial biomass carbon, activities of urease and acid phosphatase) of a lowland rice soil under flooded conditions. Bulk soil sample collected from the Mandya paddy fields was used for the green house trials and the laboratory incubation studies. The organic materials were added at three rates – zero, 25.0 g carbon kg⁻¹ (2.5% C) and 50.0 g carbon kg⁻¹ dry soil (5.0% C). Results showed that tree leaf litter and rice residue at 5.0% C rate decreased instantaneous decay constant (k), there by retarded the rate of C mineralization. Carbon contents of HA increased with the rate of C added. Study of delta–log K values and C contents of humic acids revealed that greatest molecular weight of HA was in the pongamia litter treatment, followed by neem litter and rice residue. Grain and straw yields of rice crop in the pot culture study were statistically correlated to the soil quality parameters. Neem and pongamia tree litter incorporation at 2.5% C could be considered for improving soil health and crop yields of rice under flooded conditions; however, application at higher rates significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lowered total dry matter production in rice, despite favorable soil health parameters such as humic yields, microbial biomass – C content and acid phosphatase and urease activity. Among different soil health parameters, microbial quotient was found to be more sensitive indicator of decline in soil quality.     

The effect of petrocalcic horizons on the content and distribution of organic carbon in a Mediterranean semiarid landscape

Petrocalcic horizons are frequent in soils of semiarid landscapes. A survey of SIC and SOC contents made in Southern Spain in a pilot area with well defined geomorphological surfaces showed that topsoils overlying petrocalcic horizons are almost twice as rich in SOC as soil of similar depth without petrocalcic horizons. This could be due to impedance to root penetration, changes in redox potential and soil water availability caused by the presence of indurated crust. Soil age, on the contrary, seems not be an essential factor, since only a short time is required to reach a steady state in SOC in comparison to the time span available for soil formation on the different geomorphic surfaces.     

减氮条件下高产水稻品种的产量形成和氮素利用特征

为探索通过品种改良实现在减少施氮的条件下维持水稻高产的可行性,明确减氮高产品种特征,本研究于2015-2016年在较当地高产高效栽培减氮三分之一(施氮量120 kg·hm^-2)的条件下,以粤晶丝苗2号为对照,分析了晶两优华占、盛泰优722、丰田优553、五优308、粤晶丝苗2号、4HD005、川优丝苗、恒丰优7011、国优9113、云氮4号、9311A/R672、荃香优6号、华润2号、五山丝苗、天优华占、深优513、两优336、春两优油占、盛泰优018、聚两优751共20个水稻品种的产量及其构成、分蘖动态、物质生产、源库特性和氮素吸收利用。结果表明,参试水稻品种间产量差异显著(P<0.01),2015年和2016年分别为4.99~7.18 t·hm^-2和6.22~7.73 t·hm^-2;产量较对照高10%以上的品种为2015年的晶两优华占、盛泰优722、丰田优553、五优308、恒丰优7011、国优9113、9311A/R672和荃香优6号,以及2016年的晶两优华占、盛泰优722、丰田优553、天优华占、深优513和聚两优751,其中晶两优华占(两年)、国优9113、荃香优6号、深优513和聚两优751的产量均超过7.00 t·hm^-2,且较对照高20%以上,表明通过品种改良实现减氮高产是可行的。在减氮条件下,水稻产量与总生物量、库容量均呈显著正相关,而与产量构成因子、单位面积茎蘖数、不同阶段物质积累量及叶源大小均无显著相关性。减氮条件下,高产水稻品种的总吸氮量不高,但其氮素籽粒生产效率较高,表明生物量大、库容量大、氮素籽粒生产效率高是减氮高产水稻品种的重要特征。本研究结果为减氮高产水稻品种的选育提供了参考依据。     

长期施肥对水稻土碳氮矿化与团聚体稳定性的影响

水稻土有机碳、氮矿化过程对水稻土质量和作物养分吸收具有重要的作用,但是它们对施肥措施的响应及其与土壤结构之间的关系尚不清楚。本研究基于红壤性水稻土长期施肥定位试验,分析了不施肥(CK)、施用常量化肥(NPK)、2倍化肥(NPK2)和常量化肥配施有机肥(NPKOM)等处理下水稻土碳氮矿化特征,并研究了其与土壤团聚体稳定性的关系。结果表明NPKOM处理显著提高了土壤有机碳和全氮含量(P0.05),而单施化肥处理(NPK2和NPK)则同CK处理没有显著差异。土壤有机碳矿化速率、累积矿化量和矿化率均为NPKOMNPK2NPKCK处理,其中NPKOM处理显著高于其他处理(P0.05),而后3个处理间没有显著差异。土壤氮矿化速率、累积矿化量和矿化率同土壤碳矿化的规律一致,NPKOM、NPK2和NPK处理累积矿化氮量较CK处理分别提高110.0%、29.4%和8.8%,矿化率分别提高110.8%、25.6%和13.0%。单施化肥处理(NPK和NPK2)的平均质量直径(MWD)分别降低了17.1%和15.5%,而NPKOM处理则增加了19.4%。相关分析表明,土壤碳氮矿化主要取决于土壤有机碳氮含量,而与土壤团聚体水稳定性无直接关系。在今后研究中,应重点分析土壤孔隙结构与有机碳氮周转的关系。     

Evaluating Emissions of Nitrous Oxide from Cropland Soils Under Different Rotations in Mato Grosso, Brazil: A Scenario Simulation Study

Expansion of cropland involves immense land use changes, and the resulting intensified management practices have a strong influence on the functioning of the underlying soil. For instance, increased application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is known to enhance fluxes of nitrous oxide (N₂O) from the soil to the atmosphere. The emission factor (EF) proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assumes a linear relationship between added N and N₂O-N fluxes, but it does not account for environmental factors, such as soil properties or climate. Due to the high spatial and temporal variability of N₂O-N fluxes, mechanistic models are preferable in terms of extrapolation to larger scales. In this study, we evaluated simulated N₂O-N fluxes from soils under agricultural use in the Brazilian state, Mato Grosso, using the CANDY (Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics) model. A control tool was developed in order to enable the simulation of 1 650 scenarios covering different sites (soil + climate) and management regimes (crop rotation + amount of applied fertilizer + sowing and harvesting dates). Results suggested that the sites had a very strong influence on calculated emissions, which is not accounted for by static EF. Furthermore, most fertilizer-induced N₂O-N fluxes derived from the scenario simulations were best described by a non-linear function. For sounder budgeting on the federal and national scale, there is still a strong need for long-term observations of continuous crop rotations and spatial distribution of soil types and their specific characteristics. The presented results provide a valuable starting point for developing further scenario simulations and adapting experimental campaigns for N₂O emission study.     

湖北省区域碳排放强度和森林碳汇差异分析

核算湖北省各州市碳排放强度与森林碳汇,分析区域能源消耗与碳吸收现状,并采用聚类分析方法将各州市按其地区差异划分为4个类别。结果表明,湖北省大部分地区碳排放强度超过0.5t/万元GDP,其中黄石地区碳排放强度最高,随州地区最低;湖北省各地区森林碳汇差异较大,森林碳汇的总体分布格局为鄂西北>鄂东>鄂中;天门、仙桃、荆州、武汉、随州市属于低碳排放强度—低森林碳汇地区,潜江、荆门、鄂州市属于高碳排放强度—低森林碳汇地区,宜昌、黄石、咸宁、孝感、襄阳市和恩施州属于高碳排放强度—高森林碳汇地区,黄冈、神农架、十堰市属于低碳排放强度—高森林碳汇地区。提出加强造林与森林经营工作,加大木质产品与可再生能源的开发,完善碳汇交易市场等建议。     

超级稻强源活库优米栽培技术在兴宁水稻生产上的应用

强源活库优米栽培技术近些年在兴宁市水稻生产中应用效果明显。从培育壮苗、移栽、移栽后管理、病虫害防治等方面简单总结了强源活库优米栽培技术,并简单分析了该技术在兴宁市水稻生产中的应用效果,为该技术的进一步推广提供参考。