The Warrumbungle Post‐Fire Recovery Project—raising the profile of soils

The impacts of a wildfire and subsequent rainfall event in 2013 in the Warrumbungle National Park in New South Wales, Australia were examined in a project designed to provide information on post‐fire recovery expectations and options to land managers. A coherent suite of sub‐projects was implemented, including soil mapping, and studies on soil organic carbon (SOC) and nitrogen (N), erosion rates, groundcover recovery and stream responses. It was found that the loss of SOC and N increased with fire severity, with the greatest losses from severely burnt sandstone ridges. Approximately 2.4 million t of SOC and ~74,000 t of N were lost from soil to a depth of 10 cm across the 56,290 ha affected. Soil loss from slopes during the subsequent rainfall event was modelled up to 25 t ha^?1, compared to a long‐term mean annual soil loss of 1.06 t ha^?1 year^?1. Groundcover averages generally increased after the fire until spring 2015, by which time rates of soil loss returned to near pre‐fire levels. Streams were filled with sand to bank full levels after the fire and rainfall. Rainfall events in 2015–2016 shifted creek systems into a major erosive phase, with incision through the post‐fire sandy bedload deposits, an erosive phase likely related to loss of topsoils over much of the catchment. The effectiveness of the research was secured by a close engagement with park managers in issue identification and a communications programme. Management outcomes flowing from the research included installation of erosion control works, redesign of access and monitoring of key mass movement hazard areas.     

Straw mulching with fertilizer nitrogen: An approach for improving crop yield,soil nutrients and enzyme activities

Field experiments were conducted to study soil properties, soil enzymes activities, water use efficiency (WUE) and crop productivity after six years of soya bean straw mulching in the semi‐arid conditions of China. The experiment included four treatments: CK (Control), N (240 kg N ha^‐1), H (soya bean straw mulching at half rate 700 kg ha^‐1 with 240 kg N ha^‐1) and F (soya bean straw mulching at full rate 1,400 kg ha^‐1 with 240 kg N ha^‐1). Soil organic carbon (SOC), soil labile organic carbon (LOC), soil available N (AN), available P (AP) and enzyme activities were analysed after wheat harvesting in 2016 and 2017. Results show that straw amounts had positive effects on the soil fertility indices being higher for treatment F. The SOC, LOC, AN, AP and enzyme activities (i.e. saccharase, urease and alkaline phosphatase) were in the order of F > H > N > CK. High wheat grain yield and WUE were observed for F treatment. A total of six years mulching along with 240 kg ha^‐1 nitrogen fertilizer application is sufficient for wheat yield stability and improving soil properties except urease activities in the semi‐arid condition of China. However, the straw mulching amount should be further studied with minimum nitrogen fertilizer for an environment‐friendly and effective approach for improving the soil biological properties with adequate crop production on a sustainable basis in the semi‐arid region of China.     

Variations of SOC and MBC observed in an incubated brown loam soil managed under different tillage systems for 12 years

To assess changes in organic carbon pools, an incubation experiment was conducted under different temperatures and field moisture capacity (FMC) on a brown loam soil from three tillage practices used for 12 years: no‐till (NT), subsoiling (ST) and conventional tillage (CT). Total microbial respiration was measured for incubated soil with and without the input of straw. Results indicated that soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) under ST, NT and CT was higher in soil with straw input than that without, while the microbial quotient (MQ or MBC: SOC) and metabolic quotient (qCO₂) content under CT followed the opposite trend. Lower temperature, lower moisture and with straw input contributed to the increases in SOC concentration, especially under NT and ST systems. The SOC concentrations under ST, with temperatures of 30 and 35°C after incubation at 55% FMC, were greater than those under CT by 28.4% and 30.6%, respectively. The increase in MBC was highest at 35°C for 55%, 65% and 75% FMC; in soil under ST, MBC was greater than that under CT by 199.3%, 50.7% and 23.8%, respectively. At 30°C, the lower qCO₂ was obtained in soil incubated under NT and ST. The highest MQ among three tillage practices was measured under ST at 55% FMC, NT at 65% FMC and CT at 75% FMC with straw input. These data indicate the benefits of enhancing the MQ; the low FMC was beneficial to ST treatment. Under higher temperature and drought stress conditions, the adaptive capacity of ST and NT is better than that of CT.     

岩溶山地植被恢复中碳酸盐岩红土入渗特征及其影响因素

退耕还林还草工程实施后岩溶山地林草植被结构明显改善,研究植被恢复中碳酸盐岩红土入渗特征对岩溶生态恢复有重要意义。采用盘式入渗法在不同植被覆盖(荒草、灌草丛和乔木)下分别测定不同负压水头(-0.5,-3,-6,-15 cm)的水分入渗特征,计算不同负压下非饱和导水率、土壤孔隙分布常数、各孔隙级别对水流的贡献率,明确不同植被覆盖碳酸盐岩红土入渗特性差异。结果表明:不同水头条件下荒草、灌草丛和乔木地的土壤稳渗率均随负水头增大而递增,且碳酸盐岩红土入渗达到稳渗状态所需时间较长(约120 min),在低水头下荒草地土壤稳渗率最大(0.17 mm/min),而在高水头下乔木地最大(9.17 mm/min);荒草、灌草丛和乔木地土壤饱和导水率K_s差异极显著(P0.01),乔木地土壤饱和导水率达到最大(4.62 mm/min),而K_3、K_6、K_(15)和Gardner α差异不显著,碳酸盐岩红土饱和导水率K_s仅受土壤有机质含量和土壤电导率控制;乔木地土壤大孔隙数量及其占比显著大于灌草丛与荒草地(P0.05),碳酸盐岩红土导水性能主要受土壤大孔隙对水流的作用控制(70%)。研究结果可为西南岩溶山地生态恢复和水资源承载力分析提供数据支撑和理论依据。     

不同林龄杉木人工林土壤团聚体及其有机碳变化特征

土壤团聚体作为土壤结构性状的重要指标,对土壤孔隙、持水、保水等状况都有重要影响;土壤团聚体有机碳除了反映土壤固碳状况外,还与团聚体的稳定性能密切相关,研究森林土壤团聚体及其有机碳状况,旨在为合理利用土壤、提高人工林水源涵养功能提供依据。为此,以福建省洋口国有林场不同林龄杉木人工林(幼龄林、中龄林、成熟林)土壤为研究对象,通过野外调查、采样和室内分析,研究不同林龄杉木人工林土壤团聚体及其有机碳变化特征。结果表明:不同林龄杉木人工林对土壤团聚体及其有机碳具有重要影响,成熟林土壤大团聚体含量、团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)、团聚体有机碳含量及贡献率均分别大于幼龄林、中龄林;不同林龄的土壤水稳性团聚体均以大团聚体(粒径0.25 mm)为主,占59.57%～80.97%,粒径0.053 mm的仅占0.80%;土壤团聚体有机碳贡献率也以大团聚为主,其中以2～0.25 mm粒级贡献率最高,达58.43%;另外,土壤有机碳含量与团聚体MWD呈显著正相关,且具有明显的垂直变化特征,即随土层加深而下降。因此,土壤有机碳对团聚体稳定性具有积极作用,不同林龄土壤团聚体稳定性及有机碳变化规律为成熟林幼龄林中龄林。     

有机肥配施保水剂对紫色土水分入渗及氮素淋溶的影响

以有机肥、保水剂(聚丙烯酰胺PAM、高分子吸水树脂SAP和沃特)为供试材料,通过室内土柱模拟试验,研究有机肥配施保水剂对紫色黏土水分入渗及氮素淋溶的影响。结果表明:有机肥配施保水剂可有效增加土壤的保水保肥能力,是控制土壤水分和养分淋失的有效措施。单施有机肥和有机肥配施保水剂均降低了湿润锋运移深度和入渗速率。与对照相比,单施有机肥和有机肥配施保水剂处理的湿润锋运移深度降低了33.33%～46.49%,入渗速率降低了22.73%～31.82%,累计淋溶液体积降低了1.25%～6.78%。施用有机肥有一定增肥保肥能力,但随淋洗次数增加保肥能力逐渐降低,与对照相比,在持续淋溶条件下单施有机肥的硝态氮和全氮累计损失率分别升高了12.00%,17.51%。有机肥配施保水剂可有效减少氮素淋失量,降低氮素淋失率,提高土壤保肥能力。与施用有机肥相比,有机肥配施保水剂硝态氮损失率降低了35.49%～78.46%,全氮损失率降低了35.53%～71.85%,其中有机肥配施PAM处理保水保肥效果最好。     

亚热带红壤区不同土地利用方式下的土壤剖面水流特征

以江西省鹰潭市的典型旱地、稻田和林地为研究对象,采用野外亮蓝染色示踪试验结合室内图像处理的方法,量化了各样地土壤剖面染色特征参数,明确了水流类型的剖面分布规律,并揭示了土壤理化性质对水流特征的影响机制。结果表明:染色面积比(SAR)随着土层深度的增加急剧降低,0—60 cm土层的平均SAR表现为稻田(28.16%)高于旱地(21.95%)和林地(18.64%),SAR差异主要体现在5—25 cm土层;染色路径数(SPN)随着土层深度的增加先增加后减小,整个剖面的平均SPN为稻田最多(20条),旱地其次(12条),林地最少(9条)。各样地0—20 cm土层染色路径宽度(SPW)均以1—10 cm为主,水流类型从上至下依次为均质流、非均质指流和高相互作用大孔隙流;对于20 cm以下土层,旱地和稻田的SPW以1 cm为主,水流类型分别以低相互作用大孔隙流和混合作用大孔隙流为主,林地以1—10 cm的SPW为主,主要水流类型为高相互作用大孔隙流。有机质含量、根系密度和土壤机械组成等性质影响了土壤的孔隙特征,进而影响了土壤的饱和导水率和水流特征。为提高红壤区的水分利用效率、减少水土流失,可以通过破除旱地犁底层、减少稻田干湿交替下的裂隙发育,以及增加林地植被多样性等多种方式实现。     

液态有机肥对酚酸胁迫下马铃薯生长发育和土壤酶活性影响

为明确液态有机肥对土壤酚酸导致马铃薯的连作障碍的缓解效应,采用盆栽试验,将阿魏酸与香草酸等量混合后按不同浓度(0,50,100,150 mg/kg)施加于马铃薯基质土壤中,模拟马铃薯连作分泌的有机酸自毒物质,并施加不同浓度梯度液态有机肥(0,225,450,675 kg/hm^2),探讨酚酸胁迫下液态有机肥对马铃薯生长发育以及土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明:单一施加外源酚酸对马铃薯株高、茎粗、叶面积以及干物质量皆有不同程度的抑制作用,随酚酸浓度增加,土壤中脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、蔗糖酶活性相对对照分别降低2.74%~10.95%,11.11%~20.55%,5.29%~12.96%,过氧化氢酶、多酚氧化酶活性升高,FDA水解酶活性表现为低促进高抑制。施加液态有机肥后提高了马铃薯株高、茎粗、叶面积以及干物质量,土壤酶活性均有提高,脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶、多酚氧化酶、FDA水解酶活性相对对照处理最高分别提高了10.80%,21.40%,18.20%,29.60%,37.69%,12.31%,但是液态有机肥浓度过高降低了其对磷酸酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶的提升效果,抑制了FDA水解酶活性。因此合理施加液态有机肥可以促进马铃薯生长发育,提高土壤酶活性,增强马铃薯的抗逆性,从而缓解酚酸对马铃薯的胁迫作用。     

蚯蚓粪对土壤团聚体组成和入渗过程水分运移的影响

通过室内土壤团聚体组成分析试验和土柱一维垂直入渗试验,探究蚯蚓粪对土壤团聚体组成、抗水蚀稳定性以及入渗过程中水分运移特性的影响。结果表明:(1)蚯蚓粪可以有效降低土壤容重,增加0.25~2 mm粒级大团聚体的数量,分形维数D从2.84减小至2.65,减小了6.69%,显著提高了土壤团聚体抗水蚀稳定性;(2)施加比例为1/20时,可以显著增加湿润锋的运移距离,而后随着施加比例的增大,湿润锋距离有不同程度的减小,但均大于未施加蚯蚓粪的处理,且各处理下的湿润锋运移距离与入渗时间的关系均可用幂函数描述;(3)蚯蚓粪比例的增大可以显著提高累积入渗量和稳定阶段的入渗速率,当施加比例为1/3时,累积入渗量较对照组增大48.74%;其中Kostiakov-Lewis模型对入渗过程的模拟准确度最高,也更接近实测值。     

土壤孔隙结构与土壤微环境和有机碳周转关系的研究进展

土壤结构是土壤功能的基础,不仅影响土壤养分的供应、水分的保持及渗透、气体的交换等过程,还为土壤微生物提供了物理生境,并调控土壤有机碳的周转这一关键过程。土壤的孔隙特征能够直接、真实地反映土壤结构的好坏;用土壤的孔隙特征作为试验指标能更好地反映土壤结构对这些过程的调节作用。在此基础上,将高度异质性的土壤孔隙结构同土壤微环境的变化和土壤有机碳的周转过程进行定量分析,对深入了解土壤结构在土壤生态系统中的功能至关重要。因此,着重从土壤孔隙结构对土壤微环境的影响及其与有机碳的关系两方面展开,剖析土壤孔隙结构调控作用下的土壤微环境响应过程,阐述土壤孔隙结构对土壤有机碳周转产生的直接、间接影响,强调土壤孔隙结构在调节土壤有机碳周转进程中的重要作用,并对土壤孔隙结构在调节土壤有机碳周转、植物残体分解及其与微生物协调作用机制等方面研究提出展望。