Seasonal Losses of Surface Litter in Northern Great Plains Mixed-Grass Prairies

Surface litter protects rangeland soils against wind and water erosion and provides food and nesting materials for wildlife and insects. However, the ability of grassland systems to provide these services depends on the little studied topic of seasonal surface litter decomposition. Seasonal and annual surface litter decomposition rates were determined between 2014 and 2015 in central and western South Dakota at three mixed-grass prairie locations. Residue bags containing surface litter were placed in the field in late fall (1 November) of 2014 and removed after the winter (1 April), spring (1 July), and summer + fall seasons (1 November) of 2015. The litter was analyzed for total C, total N, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Average winter temperatures ranged from −5^oC to −15^oC, while summer temperatures ranged from 10^oC to 35^oC. Litter decomposition was lowest during the winter (0.57−0.86 g [kg × day]⁻¹) and greatest during the summer + fall (2.12−2.69 g [kg × day]⁻¹). Over the entire season, 40.8−62% of the surface litter decomposed. Winter litter decomposition was positively correlated with air temperature (r = 0.62, P < 0.01) and snow depth (r = 0.61, P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with C/N ratio (r = −0.65, P < 0.01), ADF (r = −0.35, P < 0.05), and ADL (r = −0.25, P < 0.05) concentrations. These findings indicate that winter decomposition cannot be ignored and that winter surface litter decomposition increases with snow depth.     

Mitigation of N2O emissions from grassland by nitrification inhibitor and Actilith F2 applied with fertilizer and cattle slurry

Abstract. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is involved in both ozone destruction and global warming. In agricultural soils it is produced by nitrification and denitrification mainly after fertilization. Nitrification inhibitors have been proposed as one of the management tools for the reduction of the potential hazards of fertilizer-derived N₂O. Addition of nitrification inhibitors to fertilizers maintains soil N in ammonium form, thereby gaseous N losses by nitrification and denitrification are less likely to occur and there is increased N utilization by the sward. We present a study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) and of the slurry additive Actilith F2 on N₂O emissions following application of calcium ammonium nitrate or cattle slurry to a mixed clover/ryegrass sward in the Basque Country. The results indicate that large differences in N₂O emission occur depending on fertilizer type and the presence or absence of a nitrification inhibitor. There is considerable scope for immediate reduction of emissions by applying DCD with calcium ammonium nitrate or cattle slurry. DCD, applied at 25 kg ha^–1, reduced the amount of N lost as N₂O by 60% and 42% when applied with cattle slurry and calcium ammonium nitrate, respectively. Actilith F2 did not reduce N₂O emissions and it produced a long lasting mineralization of previously immobilized added N.     

湖南省土地荒漠化和沙化监测布局与监测方法

我省土地荒漠化和沙化监测主要包括3个荒漠化监测站和5个沙化监测站，布设监测样地28个。确定了采集监测区域内气象、土壤、水文、生物等方面的信息和方法。     

荒漠化能量与水平衡监测系统的应用

利用卫星遥感技术进行宏观监测是我国荒漠化监测的重要手段,它具有高效经济的特点。本文阐述了中荷合作项目中荒漠化能量与水平衡监测系统的技术方法及主要应用。     

西藏沙化动态及其原区

西藏自治区是我国沙化最严重的地区之一。2004年调查结果表明，西藏沙化面积为216842．7km^2其中重度以上的沙化面积占总沙化面积的91．53％；沙化类型以戈壁占绝对优势：草地、未利用地是主要的沙化土地利用类型。全区沙化总体上呈恶化趋势，沙化土地面积增加，沙化程度加剧，但拉萨、山南等地沙化土地有所减少。西藏土地沙化变化是受自然因素与人为因素共同作用的结果。     

河北坝上地区可持续发展的创新思路

坝上地区可持续发展应充分考虑我国经济发展的现状和其所处的大北京地区的重要区位,以全球变化为背景,以持续发展理论为先导,大胆更新观念,形成一套创新制度:建设“人控环境”,实施“大范围搞生态重建,小区域搞集约生产”制度;城市化与产业化相结合,采取“鼓励农业人口转化为非农业人口,以产业化带动城市化”的积极的城市化制度;沙漠化防治与治贫治愚相结合,采取“治愚-治沙-产权-受益”制度;确立产权制度和相应利益分配机制,对口支援与生态效益转移收费制度;生物技术与工程技术相结合,制定鼓励科技创新制度。     

东北西部沙地近20年地下水变化动态及其成因分析

本文以奈曼旗为例，分析研究了我国东北西部沙地1979-1997年地下水位时空变化规律及其与降水量和沙漠化的关系。结果表明：（1）沙地多年平均地下水位为2.19m，其中农区为2.85m，牧区1.16m;(2)地下水位是1981-1983年最低为2.49-2.56m,1991-1992年最高为1.90-1.92m，1997年为2.22m，高于1979年的2.41m；（3）该区季节最高水位主要发生于春季（3-5月），发生频率占50.1% ,最低水位主要发生于冬季（12-2月），发生频率为41.2%，平均4月最高为2.07m，10月最低为2.23m;(4)地下水位的年际变化动态和降水量密切相关，但有滞后1-2年的现象；（5）地下水位空间分布上的差异与土地沙漠化及土地利用方式密切相关，沙漠化土地主要用于放牧，由于人为利用少和蒸散少，有利于地下水抬升；（6）由于耕地面积占总土地面积比例低，水浇地和粮食产量的增加尚未对地下水位造成严重影响。     

盐池半荒漠风沙区土地沙漠化发生发展规律的研究

本文耐盐池半荒漠风沙区土地沙漠化发生发展规律进行了探讨，主要分析了在土地沙漠化的过程中土壤和植被的变化过程及其成因。     

景观生态学原理与方法在荒漠化研究中应用的理论分析

荒漠化发生发展的过程实际上是指在自然和人为因素的作用下，生态系统结构遭受破坏、功能过程受阻和演变发生异化的过程，其防治的根本措施是恢复和重建健康的生态系统。所以，景观生态学理念在荒漠化的研究和防治中有着重要的意义。本文从荒漠化与生态系统结构、功能变化、荒漠化与生物多样性、荒漠化生态系统的物质循环和能量流动以及荒漠化生态系统的稳定性等方面论述了景观生态学理念在荒漠化研究中应用的可行性，并重点分析了景观生态学关于景观格局变化的评价指标与荒漠化土地动态变化之间的关系。