Greenhouse gas fluxes of typical northern subtropical forest soils: Impacts of land use change and reduced precipitation

Aims It is important to study the effects of land use change and reduced precipitation on greenhouse gas fluxes (CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O) of forest soils. Methods The fluxes of CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O and their responses to environmental factors of primary forest soil, secondary forest soil and artificial forest soil under a reduced precipitation regime were explored using the static chamber and gas chromatography methods during the period from January to December in 2014. Important findings Results indicate that CH₄ uptake of primary forest soil ((-44.43 ± 8.73) μg C·m^-2·h^-1) was significantly higher than that of the secondary forest soil ((-21.64 ± 4.86) μg C·m^-2·h^-1) and the artificial forest soil ((-10.52 ± 2.11) μg C·m^-2·h^-1). CH₄ uptake of the secondary forest soil ((-21.64 ± 4.86) μg C·m^-2·h^-1) was significantly higher than that of the artificial forest ((-10.52 ± 2.11) μg C·m^-2·h^-1). CO₂ emissions of the artificial forest soil ((106.53 ± 19.33) μg C·m^-2·h^-1) were significantly higher than that of the primary forest soil ((49.50 ± 8.16) μg C·m^-2·h^-1) and the secondary forest soil ((63.50 ± 5.35) μg C·m^-2·h^-1) (p < 0.01). N₂O emissions of the secondary forest soil ((1.91 ± 1.22) μg N·m^-2·h^-1) were higher than that of the primary forest soil ((1.40 ± 0.28) μg N·m^-2·h^-1) and the artificial forest soil ((1.01 ± 0.86) μg N·m^-2·h^-1). Reduced precipitation (-50%) had a significant inhibitory effect on CH₄ uptake of the artificial forest soil, while it enhanced CO₂ emissions of the primary forest soil and the secondary forest soil. Reduced precipitation had a significant inhibitory effect on CO₂ emissions of the artificial forest soil and N₂O emissions of the secondary forest (p < 0.01). Reduced precipitation promotes N₂O emissions of the primary forest soil and the artificial forest soil. CH₄ uptake of the primary forest and the secondary forest soil increased significantly with the increase of soil temperature under natural and reduced precipitation. CO₂ and N₂O emission fluxes of the primary forest soil, secondary forest soil and artificial forest soil were positively correlated with soil temperature (p < 0.05). Soil moisture inhibited CH₄ uptake of the secondary forest soil and the artificial forest soil (p < 0.05). CO₂ emissions of the primary forest soil were significantly positively correlated with soil moisture (p < 0.05). N₂O emissions of primary forest soil and secondary forest soil were significantly correlated with the nitrate nitrogen content (p < 0.05). It was implied that reduced precipitation and land use change would have significant effects on greenhouse gas emissions of subtropical forest soils.     

北亚热带地带性森林土壤温室气体通量对土地利用方式改变和降水减少的响应

弄清土地利用和降水变化对林地土壤主要温室气体(CO₂、CH₄和N₂O)排放通量变化的影响, 是准确评估森林土壤温室气体排放能力的重要基础。该研究以常绿落叶阔叶混交林原始林、桦木(Betula luminifera)次生林和马尾松(Pinus massoniana)人工林为对象, 采用静态箱-气相色谱法研究了3种土地利用方式(常绿落叶阔叶混交林原始林、桦木次生林和马尾松人工林)和降水减少处理状况下森林土壤CO₂、CH₄和N₂O通量排放特征, 并探讨了其环境驱动机制。研究结果表明: 原始林土壤CH₄吸收通量显著高于次生林和人工林, 次生林CH₄吸收通量显著高于人工林土壤。人工林土壤CO₂排放通量显著高于原始林和次生林土壤。次生林土壤N₂O排放通量高于原始林和人工林, 但三者间差异不显著。降水减半显著抑制了3种不同土地利用方式下林地土壤CH₄吸收通量; 降水减半处理对原始林和次生林土壤CO₂排放通量均具有显著的促进作用, 而对人工林土壤CO₂排放通量具有显著的抑制作用; 降水减半处理促进了原始林和人工林林地土壤N₂O排放而抑制了次生林林地土壤N₂O排放。原始林和次生林林地土壤CH₄吸收通量随土壤温度升高显著增加, CH₄吸收通量与土壤温度均呈显著相关关系; 原始林、次生林和人工林土壤CO₂和N₂O排放通量与土壤温度均呈显著正相关关系; 土壤湿度抑制了次生林和人工林土壤CH₄吸收通量, 其CH₄吸收通量随土壤湿度增加显著减少; 原始林土壤CO₂排放通量与土壤湿度呈显著正相关关系。自然状态下, 原始林土壤N₂O排放通量与土壤湿度呈显著正相关关系, 原始林和次生林土壤N₂O排放通量与硝态氮含量呈显著相关关系。研究结果表明全球气候变化(如降水变化)和土地利用方式的转变将对北亚热带森林林地土壤温室气体排放通量产生显著的影响。     

Characteristics of methane emission fluxes in the Zoigê Plateau wetland on microtopography

AimsThe Zoigê Plateau, as a very important wetland distribution region of China, was the major methane (CH₄) emission center of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The objective of this study is to study the effects of microtopographic changes on CH₄ emission fluxes from five plots across three marshes in the littoral zone of the Zoigê Plateau wetland.
Methods CH₄ emission fluxes were measured in five plots across three marshes in Zoigê Plateau wetland using the closed chamber method and Fast Greenhouse Gas Analyzer from May to October in 2014.
Important findings During the growing season, mean CH₄ emission fluxes from the permanently flooded hollow (P-hollow) and hummock (P-hummock) in the Zoigê Plateau wetland were 68.48 and 40.32 mg·m^-2·h^-1, while mean CH₄ emission fluxes from the seasonally flooded hollow (S-hollow) and hummock (S-hummock) were 2.38 and 0.63 mg·m^-2·h^-1. CH₄ emission fluxes from non-flooded lawn was 3.68 mg·m^-2·h^-1. Mean CH₄ emission fluxes from five plots across three sites was 23.10 mg·m^-2·h^-1, with a standard deviation of 30.28 mg·m^-2·h^-1 and the coefficient of variation was 131%. We also found that there was a significant and positive correlation between mean CH₄ emission fluxes and mean water table depth in the five plots across three sites (R² = 0.919, p < 0.01), indicating that water table depth was controlling the spatial variability of CH₄ emission fluxes from the Zoigê Plateau wetland on microtopography. CH₄ emission fluxes in the P-hollow, P-hummock, and S-hummock showed an obvious seasonal pattern, which was not observed in the lawn and S-hollow. However, CH₄ emission peaks were observed in all the plots during summer and/or autumn, which could be closely related to the water table depth, soil temperature, and the magnitude of litter mass. In addition, we found that the CH₄ emission flux in the P-hollow was much higher than the other four plots in the Zoigê Plateau wetland, suggesting that CH₄ in the P-hollow could be often transported to the surface by ebullition and CH₄ emission from the Zoigê Plateau wetland may be under estimated in the past.     

若尔盖高原湿地不同微地貌区甲烷排放通量特征

若尔盖高原是我国泥炭沼泽湿地的主要分布区、青藏高原的主要甲烷(CH₄)排放中心。为了研究湿地微地貌环境对高原湿地CH₄排放通量的影响, 2014年5-10月, 采用静态箱和快速温室气体分析仪原位测量若尔盖高原湖滨湿地3种泥炭沼泽5种微地貌环境下的CH₄排放通量特征。结果表明: (1)常年性淹水泥炭湿地洼地(P-hollow)和草丘(P-hummock)生长季平均CH₄排放通量为68.48和40.32 mg·m^-2·h^-1, 季节性淹水的泥炭湿地洼地(S-hollow)和草丘(S-hummock)平均CH₄排放通量为2.38和0.63 mg·m^-2·h^-1, 而无淹水平坦地(Lawn)平均CH₄排放通量为3.68 mg·m^-2·h^-1; (2)湿地5种微地貌区CH₄排放通量为(23.10 ± 30.28) mg·m^-2·h^-1 (平均值±标准偏差)), 变异系数为131%。分析显示这5种微地貌区CH₄排放通量的平均值与其水位深度平均值存在显著的线性正相关关系(R² = 0.919, p < 0.01), 表明水位深度是控制湿地微地貌区CH₄排放通量空间变化的主要因子; (3) P-hummock、P-hollow和S-hummock的CH₄排放通量存在显著的季节变化, Lawn和S-hollow无明显的季节性变化, 但5种微地貌区在夏季或秋季均观测到CH₄排放通量峰值, 其影响因子可能与水位深度、土壤温度和凋落物输入密切相关; (4) P-hollow可能时常发生冒泡式CH₄排放, 这可能导致过去低估了若尔盖高原湿地的CH₄排放量。     

喀斯特石漠化地区土壤温室气体的地气交换特征

利用密闭箱-气相色谱法于2006～2007年对黔中喀斯特地区土壤二氧化碳、氧化亚氮和甲烷的释放通量进行原位观测,研究我国南方喀斯特石漠化地区土壤温室气体地气交换特征.结果表明:喀斯特石漠化地区土壤是大气CO₂、N₂O的释放源,CH₄的吸收汇.土壤CO₂的释放通量介于450.8±50.8～1281.3±214.7 mg·m^-2·h^-1在之间,夏秋季节高于冬春季节;N₂O的释放通量介于-25.4±4.1～105.8±31.2μg·m^-2·h^-1之间,在夏季最高,在9月、11月和12月出现土壤对大气N₂O的吸收;全年CH₄交换通量介于-0.27±0.18～0.81±0.26 mg·m^-2·h^-1之间,随季节的变化不明显.气候条件对土壤CO₂和CH₄交换通量的影响较小,土壤水分对N₂O释放通量的影响效应在不同的季节不同.相关分析结果显示,土壤N₂O和CH₄地气交换通量受到土壤硝态氮含量的调控.     

Effects of nitrogen addition on soil respiration of Rhododendron simsii shrubland in the subtropical mountainous areas of China

Aims As the second largest C flux between the atmosphere and terrestrial ecosystems, soil respiration plays a vital role in regulating atmosphere CO₂ concentration. Therefore, understanding the response of soil respiration to the increasing nitrogen deposition is urgently needed for prediction of future climate change. However, it is still unclear how nitrogen deposition influences soil respiration of shrubland in subtropical China. Our objectives were to explore the effects of different levels of nitrogen fertilization on soil respiration, root biomass increment, and litter biomass, and to analyze the relationships between soil respiration and soil temperature and moisture.
Methods From January 2013 to September 2014, we conducted a short-term simulated nitrogen deposition experiment in the Rhododendron simsii shrubland of Dawei Mountain, located in Hunan Province, southern China. Four levels of nitrogen addition treatments (each level with three replicates) were established: control (CK, no nitrogen addition), low nitrogen addition (LN, 2 g·m^-2·a^-1), medium nitrogen addition (MN, 5 g·m^-2·a^-1) and high nitrogen addition (HN, 10 g·m^-2·a^-1). Soil respiration was measured by LI-8100 soil CO₂ efflux system. At the same time, we measured root biomass increment and litter biomass in each plot.
Important findings Soil respiration exhibited a strong seasonal pattern, with the highest rates found in summer and the lowest rates in winter. Annual accumulative soil respiration rate in the CK, LN, MN and HN was (2.37 ± 0.39), (2.79 ± 0.42), (2.26 ± 0.38) and (2.30 ± 0.36) kg CO₂·m^-2, respectively. Annual mean soil respiration rate in the CK, LN, MN and HN was (1.71 ± 0.28), (2.01 ± 0.30), (1.63 ± 0.27) and (1.66 ± 0.26) μmol CO₂·m^-2·s^-1, respectively, and it was 17.25% higher in the LN treatment compared with CK (p = 0.06). The root biomass increment was increased by LN, MN, and HN treatments by 18.36%, 36.49% and 61.63%, respectively, compared to CK. The litter biomass was increased by LN, MN, and HN treatments by 35.87%, 22.17% and 15.35%, respectively, compared with CK. Soil respiration exhibited a significant exponential relationship with soil temperature (p < 0.01, R² is 0.77 to 0.82) and a significant linear relationship with soil moisture at the depth of 5 cm (p < 0.05, R² is 0.10 to 0.15). The temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) value of CK, LN, MN and HN plots was 3.96, 3.60, 3.71 and 3.51, respectively. These results suggested that nitrogen addition promoted plant growth and decreased the temperature sensitivity of soil respiration. The increase of root biomass under N addition may be an important reason for the change of soil respiration in the study area.     

库布齐沙漠东部不同生物结皮发育阶段土壤温室气体通量

以流动沙地为对照,采用时空替代法分析库布齐沙漠东部固定沙地上不同发育阶段生物结皮藻类结皮和地衣结皮土壤温室气体通量特征及其与环境因子之间的关系,研究生物结皮发育对荒漠土壤温室气体通量的影响.结果表明: 荒漠土壤CO₂排放通量大小为地衣结皮(128.5 mg·m^-2·h^-1)>藻结皮(70.2 mg·m^-2·h^-1)>流动沙地(48.2 mg·m^-2·h^-1),CH₄吸收通量大小为地衣结皮(30.4 μg·m^-2·h^-1)>藻结皮(21.2 μg·m^-2·h^-1)>流动沙地(18.2 μg·m^-2·h^-1),N₂O排放通量大小为地衣结皮(6.6 μg·m^-2·h^-1)>藻结皮(5.4 μg·m^-2·h^-1)>流动沙地(2.5 μg·m^-2·h^-1).CO₂排放具有明显的季节变化,生长季显著大于非生长季;CH₄和N₂O季节变化差异不显著,前者生长季吸收大于非生长季,后者非生长季排放大于生长季.土壤有机碳和全氮含量、土壤微生物数量均是影响温室气体通量的重要因素,环境水热因子是影响土壤CO₂排放的关键因子,但CH₄和N₂O通量对水热因子的变化不敏感.随着植被恢复和生物结皮发育,荒漠土壤温室气体累积通量的不断增大导致其百年尺度的全球增温潜势亦显著提高,依次为地衣结皮(1135.7 g CO₂-e·m^-2·a^-1)>藻结皮(626.5 g CO₂-e·m^-2·a^-1) >流动沙地(422.7 g CO₂-e·m^-2·a^-1).     

广州地区晚稻田 CH4和N2O 的排放通量及其影响因素

用密闭箱法同时研究了广州地区晚稻田CH₄和N₂O的排放通量。结果表明,连续淹水、常规连作和水旱轮作等3种处理的CH₄平均排放通量分别为1.763、2.84和0.36mg·m^-2·h^-1,而N₂O的平均排放通量分别为6.74、11.69和55.07μgN₂O-N·m^-2·h^-1,表明稻田连续淹水显著增加CH₄的排放而降低N₂O的排放。水旱轮作降低CH₄排放而提高N₂O的排放,说明稻田CH₄和N₂O排放之间存在着消长关系。讨论了这2种温室气体排放的影响因素,并初步分析了它们对温室效应的相对贡献。     

Effects of nitrogen enrichment on root exudative carbon inputs in Sibiraea angustata shrubbery at the eastern fringe of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

Aims Understanding the responses of root exudative carbon (C) to increasing nitrogen deposition is important for predicting carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, fewer studies have investigated the dynamics of root exudation in shrubbery ecosystems compared to forests and grassland ecosystems. This objective of this study was to determine the effects of nitrogen fertilization on the rate and C flux of root exudates.Methods Three levels of nitrogen addition treatments were applied to a Sibiraea angustata shrubbery ecosystem situated at the eastern fringe of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, including N₀ (without nitrogen application), N₅ (nitrogen addition rate of 5 g·m^-2·a^-1), and N₁₀ (nitrogen addition rate of 10 g·m^-2·a^-1), respectively, in 5 m ´ 5 m plots. Root exudates were collected in June, August and October of 2015, using a modified culture-based cuvette system. Root biomass in each plot was measured with root core method.Important findings The rates of root exudates on biomass, length, and surface area basis all displayed apparent seasonal variations during the experimental period, with the magnitude ranked in the order of: August > June > October, consistent with changes in soil temperature at 5 cm depth. With increases in the nitrogen addition rate, the rate of root exudates on biomass, length, and area basis all trended lower. Compared with the control (N₀), the N₅ and N₁₀ treatments significantly reduced fine root biomass in the Sibiraea angustata shrubbery, by 23.36% and 33.84%, respectively. The decreasing root exudation and fine root biomass in response to nitrogen addition significantly decreased C flux of root exudates. Our results provide additional evidences toward a robust theoretical foundation for better understanding soil C-nutrient cycling process mediated by root exudation inputs in Alpine shrubbery ecosystems under various environmental changes.     

大兴安岭重度火烧迹地天然次生林土壤温室气体通量及其影响因子

为研究大兴安岭重度火烧迹地自然恢复后的林分土壤温室气体源汇强度及其影响因素,采用静态箱/气相色谱法,对生长季(6—9月)天然次生林土壤温室气体CO₂、CH₄、N₂O通量进行原位观测.结果表明: 1)生长季内天然次生林土壤为大气CO₂、N₂O的源,CH₄的汇,平均通量分别为575.81 mg·m^-2·h^-1、17.81 μg·m^-2·h^-1和-68.69 μg·m^-2·h^-1;CO₂与CH₄通量在生长季内表现出明显的双峰变化规律,N₂O通量则呈单峰变化,且均在8月达到观测期的最大值.2)土壤温度是影响该区天然次生林土壤温室气体通量的主控因子,土壤湿度和大气湿度在昼夜与季节尺度上与土壤温室气体通量的相关性不同.3)该区天然次生林9:00—12:00时段观测获得的土壤气体通量值经矫正后可代表当日气体通量.研究补充了大兴安岭火烧迹地森林生态系统温室气体通量数据,为该区土壤温室气体源汇的相关研究提供了依据.     

长白山北坡不同土壤N2O和CH4排放的初步研究

用箱法技术原位测定了长白山北坡不同土壤(苔原土、生草森林土、棕色针叶林土和暗棕色森林土)6-8月间的N₂O和CH₄排放。结果表明,这些土壤既是N₂O的源,又同时是CH₄的汇。N₂O通量变化于6.17-12.33μg·m^-2·h^-3之间(平均9.37μg·m^-2·h^-1),CH₄通量为-85.63—7.58μg·m^-2·h^-1(平均-41.45μg·m^-3·h^-1),并观察到在N₂O排放和CH₄吸收之间有着相互消长关系。实验室培养实验表明,最大反硝化作用活性存在于土壤上层(0-6cm);不同土壤的反硝化作用活性明显不同。山地暗棕色森林土的CH₄吸收作用也主要发生在土壤的上层(0-12cm).     

采伐对小兴安岭森林沼泽非生长季土壤温室气体排放的影响

中高纬度地区非生长季温室气体排放对生态系统碳、氮循环具有重要影响,但采伐干扰如何影响森林沼泽非生长季土壤温室气体排放尚不明确.本研究采用静态箱-气相色谱法,观测小兴安岭4种森林沼泽(毛赤杨沼泽、白桦沼泽、落叶松苔草沼泽、落叶松藓类沼泽)不同采伐方式下(对照、择伐45%、皆伐,试验处理已10年)非生长季土壤CO₂、CH₄、和N₂O通量及其相关环境因子(温度、湿度及碳氮含量等),分析采伐干扰对温带森林沼泽非生长季土壤温室气体排放的影响规律及主控因子.结果表明: 采伐干扰10年后,4种森林沼泽土壤CO₂、CH₄和N₂O非生长季平均通量分别在53.08～81.31 mg·m^-2·h^-1、0.09～3.07 mg·m^-2·h^-1和4.07～8.83 μg·m^-2·h^-1,其中,皆伐显著提高毛赤杨沼泽和落叶松藓类沼泽非生长季土壤CO₂、CH₄和N₂O排放量,择伐显著提高白桦沼泽、落叶松藓类沼泽及降低毛赤杨沼泽的CO₂排放量,且显著降低4种森林沼泽CH₄排放量及落叶松苔草沼泽的N₂O排放量;天然森林沼泽非生长季土壤CO₂排放受土壤温度、有机碳含量及C/N调控,CH₄受土壤温度、有机碳含量调控,N₂O受气温、土壤pH调控,采伐增加了CO₂排放与气温、土壤含水量及积雪深度的相关性,增加了CH₄排放与气温、土壤含水量、C/N的相关性,增加了N₂O排放与土壤全氮和C/N的相关性;温带天然森林沼泽非生长季土壤CO₂、CH₄和N₂O的年贡献率分别为33.2%～46.5%、6.3%～9.1%和61.5%～68.3%,皆伐提高了白桦沼泽和落叶松藓类沼泽CO₂年贡献率和除落叶松藓类沼泽外其他样地的N₂O年贡献率,择伐提高了落叶松苔草沼泽、落叶松藓类沼泽CO₂、CH₄和N₂O年贡献率,但降低了白桦沼泽3种气体年贡献率.温带天然森林沼泽非生长季土壤N₂O和CO₂的年贡献率相对较大,皆伐使两者年贡献率进一步提高,择伐却较大幅度提高了其CH₄的年贡献率.     

氮素添加对内蒙古草甸草原生态系统CO2交换的影响

氮沉降增加将影响草原生态系统固碳, 但如何影响草原生态系统CO₂交换目前为止还没有定论。同时, 不同类型和剂量氮素对生态系统CO₂交换影响的差异也不明确。选取内蒙古额尔古纳草甸草原, 开展了不同类型氮肥和不同剂量氮素添加条件下生态系统CO₂交换的野外测定。实验设置尿素和缓释尿素2种类型氮肥各5个剂量水平(0、5.0、10.0、20.0和50.0 g N·m^-2·a^-1)。结果显示, 生长季初期及中期降雨量低时, 氮素添加抑制生态系统CO₂交换; 而生长季末期降雨量较高时促进生态系统CO₂交换。随着氮素添加水平的提高, NEE和GEP均显著增加, 当氮素添加量达到10 g N·m^-2·a^-1时, NEE和GEP的响应趋于饱和。2种氮肥(尿素和缓释尿素)仅在施氮量为5 g N·m^-2·a^-1时, 缓释尿素对生态系统CO₂交换的促进作用显著大于尿素, 在其它添加剂量时差异不显著。研究结果表明: 氮素是该草甸草原生态系统的重要限制因子, 但氮沉降增加对生态系统CO₂交换的影响强烈地受降雨量与降雨季节分配的限制, 不同氮肥(尿素和缓释尿素)对生态系统CO₂交换作用存在差异。     

稻田CH4和N2O的排放及养萍和施肥的影响

用箱法对我国东北稻田CH₄和N₂O排放进行观测研究表明,东北稻田的CH₄排放通量比南方稻田小,平均日排放通量和生长季节排放总量分别为0.07和7.4g·m^-2.稻田淹水期几乎没有N₂O的净排放,但在非淹水期内却有大量N₂O排放(平均通量59μgN₂O·m^-2·h^-1).稻田养萍和施肥明显促进CH₄和N₂O排放。稻田CH₄和N₂O排放之间存在消长关系。制定稻田温室气体减排技术措施时应充分注意这一关系。     

科尔沁沙丘-草甸梯级生态系统土壤温室气体通量特征及其影响因素

采用静态箱-气相色谱法,对科尔沁半干旱地区典型的沙丘-草甸梯级生态系统中半流动沙丘和草甸湿地的温室气体(CO₂、CH₄、N₂O)通量进行了观测,分析了生长季温室气体的动态变化及其与环境影响因子的关系.结果表明: 生长季半流动沙丘和草甸湿地CH₄通量均整体表现为吸收,平均值分别为-52.7和-34.7 μg·m^-2·h^-1,介于-176.1～49.8 μg·m^-2·h^-1之间变化,8月22日半流动沙丘CH₄吸收值达到生长季最大值;8、9月降雨集中时段内草甸湿地CH₄通量表现为持续排放,与半流动沙丘呈明显差异.N₂O通量在7月21日达到生长季最大值,半流动沙丘N₂O通量的月均值表现为7月>8月>9月>6月>5月.土壤温湿度是影响CO₂和CH₄通量的关键因子,N₂O通量主要受土壤温度的影响.样地土壤温度敏感性(Q₁₀)表现为半流动沙丘(1.009)<草甸湿地(1.474),半流动沙丘土壤受到水分胁迫,导致其温室气体通量对土壤温度变化的敏感性明显低于草甸湿地.     

Sap flow characteristics and its responses to precipitation in Robinia pseudoacacia and Platycladus orientalis plantations

Aim In the loess hilly region, drought stress frequently occurs during the late spring and early summer as a result of insufficient water supply and asynchronous changes between temperature and precipitation. Our objective was to quantify the characteristics of water-consumption through transpirations and their responses to precipitation in the dominant plantations in this region. Methods Thermal dissipation probe (TDP) was used to measure the sap flow density (F_d) of Robinia pseudoacacia and Platycladus orientalis from April through October in 2009 in Ansai National Ecological Experimental Station. Environmental variables, including meteorological factors and soil water content, were simultaneously measured. Important findings The diurnal variation of F_d exhibited a single-peak curve during the growing season of R. pseudoacacia and P. orientalis. The maximum F_d was three times greater in R. pseudoacacia (0.12068 m³·m^-2·h^-1) than that in P. orientalis (0.03737 m³·m^-2·h^-1). Except in the rapid-growth season (July to August), the F_d of these two species during the post-precipitation period were significantly higher than that during the pre-precipitation period. The F_d of P. orientalis and R. pseudoacacia was well fitted with transpiration (VT), an integrated index calculated from both vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and solar radiation (R_s), using an exponential saturation function. Generally, F_d increased in response to rising VT, while these values tended to be stable when VT reached about 50 kPa (W·m^-2)^1/2. Furthermore, R. pseudoacacia showed more sensitive to precipitation (p < 0.001) than P. orientalis, according to different hydraulic conductance model coefficients (fitting parameter b) between pre- and post-precipitation periods. Therefore, R. pseudoacacia could be considered as a precipitation-sensitive species, while P. orientalisasa precipitation-insensitive species. Through analyzing the different responses of plantation species to precipitation in the loess hilly region, this study provides a scientific basis for the local plantation management from the aspect of tree water use during ecological restoration.     

Effects of nitrogen addition on photosynthetic characteristics of Leymus chinensis in the temperate grassland of Nei Mongol,China

Aims The increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition due to human activity and climate change greatly causes grassland ecosystems shifting from being naturally N-limited to N-eutrophic or N-saturated, and further affecting the growth of grass species. The aims of this study are: 1) to evaluate the effects of different N addition levels on morphology and photosynthetic characteristics of Leymus chinensis; 2) to determine the critical N level to facilitate L. chinensis growth.
Methods We conducted a different N addition levels experiment in dominant species in the temperate steppe of Nei Mongol. The aboveground biomass, morphological and leaf physiological traits, pigment contents, chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters and biochemical parameters of L. chinensis were investigated.
Important findings Our results showed that aboveground biomass first increased and then decreased with the increased N, having the highest values at the 10 g N·m^-2·a^?1 treatment, but the 25 g N·m^-2·a^?1 still significantly increased the aboveground biomass relative to 0 g N·m^-2·a^?1. Leymus chinensis accommodate low N situation through allocating less N to carboxylation system and decreasing leaf mass per area (LMA) in order to get more light energy. Moderate N addition captured more light energy through increasing total chlorophyll (Chl) contents and decreasing the ratio of Chl a/b. Moderate N addition increased LMA, carboxylation efficiency, maximum carboxylation rate (V_cmax), maximum electron transport rate (J_max) and decreased J_max/V_cmax, thus allocating more N to carboxylation system to enhance carboxylation capability. Moreover, the photochemical activity of PSII was increased through higher effective quantum yield of PSII photochemistry, electron transport rate and photochemical quenching coefficient. Excessive N addition had negative effects on physiological variables of L. chinensis due to lower carboxylation capability and photochemical activity of PSII, further leading to decreased net photosynthetic rate, whereas increased non-photochemical quenching coefficient and carotenoids played the role in the dissipation of excess excitation energy. Overall, moderate N addition facilitated the photosynthetic characteristics of dominant species, but excessive N addition inhibited photosynthetic characteristics. The most appropriate N addition for the growth of L. chinensis was 5-10 g N·m^-2·a^?1 in the temperate steppe of Nei Mongol, China.     

模拟增温对荒漠生物土壤结皮-土壤系统CO2、CH4和N2O通量的影响

目前, 有关增温条件下荒漠生物土壤结皮(BSCs)-土壤系统与大气之间主要温室气体(CO₂、CH₄和N₂O)通量变化的研究十分匮乏, 以致很难准确地评估荒漠生态系统温室气体通量对气候变暖的响应与反馈的方向和程度。该文选择腾格里沙漠东南缘天然植被区由藻类、藓类以及二者混生的3种类型的BSCs覆盖土壤为研究对象, 以开顶式生长室(OTC)为增温方式模拟全球变暖, 采用静态箱-气相色谱法探究了2012年7月至2013年6月增温和不增温处理下CO₂、CH₄和N₂O通量的变化特征。结果表明: 增温和结皮类型对CO₂、CH₄和N₂O通量没有显著影响。采样日期、结皮类型与采样日期, 以及增温与结皮类型和采样日期的互作显著影响CO₂和CH₄通量, 增温和采样日期互作显著影响CH₄通量。BSCs-土壤系统的CO₂、CH₄和N₂O年通量及其增温潜能在增温和不增温处理下的差异均不显著。CO₂通量与5 cm深度的土壤温度呈显著的指数正相关关系, 与10 cm深度的土壤湿度呈线性正相关关系; 藓类、混生结皮的CH₄通量与5 cm深度的土壤温度和10 cm深度的土壤湿度均呈显著的线性负相关关系; 3种结皮类型的N₂O通量与5 cm深度的土壤温度均无相关关系, 藓类结皮的N₂O通量与10 cm深度的土壤湿度呈显著的线性负相关关系。藓类结皮的CO₂和CH₄在增温和不增温两种处理下的通量差异与5 cm深度的土壤温度差异呈显著的负线性相关, 藻类结皮N₂O的通量差异与温度差异呈近似正相关关系(p = 0.051)。以上结果说明: 在全球变暖的背景下, 荒漠BSCs-土壤系统主要温室气体通量不会有明显的变化, 意味着荒漠生态系统温室气体的排放可能对气候变暖没有明显的 反馈。     

Responses of growth and litterfall production to nitrogen addition treatments from common shrublands in Mt. Dongling,Beijing, China

Aims The shrublands of northern China have poor soil and nitrogen (N) deposition has greatly increased the local soil available N for decades. Shrub growth is one of important components of C sequestration in shrublands and litterfall acts as a vital link between plants and soil. Both are key factors in nutrient and energy cycling of terrestrial ecosystems, which greatly affected by nitrogen (N) addition (adding N fertilizer to the surface soil directly). However, the effects and significance of N addition on C sequestration and litterfall in shrublands remain unclear. Thus, a study was designed to investigate how N deposition and related treatments affected shrublands growth related to C sequestration and litterfall production of Vitex negundo var. heterophylla and Spiraea salicifolia in Mt. Dongling region of China.
Methods A N enrichment experiment has been conducted for V. negundo var. heterophylla and S. salicifolia shrublands in Mt. Dongling, Beijing, including four N addition treatment levels (control (N₀, 0 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1), low N (N₁, 20 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1), medium N (N₂, 50 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1) and high N (N₃, 100 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)). Basal diameter and plant height of shrub were measured from 2012-2013 within all treatments, and allometric models for different species of shrub’s live branch, leaf and root biomass were developed based on independent variables of basal diameter and plant height, which will be used to calculate biomass increment of shrub layer. Litterfall (litterfall sometimes is named litter, referring to the collective name for all organic matter produced by the aboveground part of plants and returned to the surface, and mainly includes leaves, bark, dead twigs, flowers and fruits.) also was investigated from 2012-2013 within all treatments.
Important findings The results showed 1) mean basal diameter of shrubs in the V. negundo var. heterophylla and S. salicifolia shrublands were increased by 1.69%, 2.78%, 2.51%, 1.80% and 1.38%, 1.37%, 1.59%, 2.05% every year; 2) The height growth rate (the shrub height relative growth rate is defined with the percentage increase of plant height) of shrubs in the V. negundo var. heterophylla and S. salicifolia shrublands were 8.36%, 8.48%, 9.49%, 9.83% and 2.12%, 2.86%, 2.36%, 2.52% every year, respectively. Thee results indicated that N deposition stimulated growth of shrub layer both in V. negundo var. heterophylla and S. salicifolia shrublands, but did not reach statistical significance among all nitrogen treatments. The above-ground biomass increment of shrub layer in the V. negundo var. heterophylla and S. salicifolia shrublands were 0.19, 0.23, 0.14, 0.15 and 0.027, 0.025, 0.032, 0.041 t C·hm^-2·a^-1 respectively, which demonstrated that short-term N addition had no significant effects on the accumulation of C storage of the two shrublands. The litter production of the V. negundo var. heterophylla and S. salicifolia communities in 2013 were 135.7 and 129.6 g·m^-2 under natural conditions, respectively. Nitrogen addition promoted annual production of total litterfall and different components of litterfall to a certain extent, but did not reach statistical significance among all nitrogen treatments. Above results indicated that short-term fertilization, together with extremely low soil moisture content and other related factors, lead to inefficient use of soil available nitrogen and slow response of shrublands to N addition treatments.     

Temporal and spatial variation characteristics of China shrubland net primary production and its response to climate change from 2001 to 2013

Aims Net primary production (NPP) is the input to terrestrial ecosystem carbon pool. Climate and land use change affect NPP significantly. Shrublands occupy more than 20% of the terrestrial area of China, and their NPP is comparable to those of the forests. Our objective was to estimate China shrubland NPP from 2001 to 2013, and to analyze its variation and response to climate change.Methods We used a Carnegie-Ames-Stanford Approach (CASA) model to estimate the NPP of six shrubland types in China from 2001 to 2013. Furthermore, we used Theil-Sen slope combined with Mann-kendall test to analyze its spatial variation and a linear regression of one-variable model to analyze its inter- and intra-annual variation. Finally, a multi-factor linear regression model was used to analyze its response to climate change.Important findings We found the annual mean NPP of China shrubland was 281.82 g•m^-2•a^-1. The subtropical evergreen shrubland has the maximum NPP of 420.47 g•m^-2•a^-1, while the high cold desert shrubland has the minimum NPP of 52.65 g•m^-2•a^-1. The countrywide shrublands NPP increased at the rate of 1.23 g•m^-2•a^-1, the relative change rate was 5.99%. The temperate deciduous shrubland NPP increased the fastest with a speed of 3.05 g•m^-2•a^-1 and subalpine evergreen shrubland had a decreasing trend with a speed of -0.73 g•m^-2•a^-1. Moreover, the other four shrublands NPP had a growing trend, only subalpine deciduous shrubland NPP did not change significantly. The response of NPP to climate change of different seasons varies to different shrubland types. In general, the NPP variation was mainly affected by precipitation, and the spring warming also contributed to it. The increase of countrywide shrubland NPP may promote its contribution to the regional ecosystem function.