美国新墨西哥州卡皮林火山土壤性质的空间变异性

Non-agricultural lands are surveyed sparsely in general. Meanwhile, soils in these areas usually exhibit strong spatial variability which requires more samples for producing acceptable estimates. Capulin Volcano National Monument, as a typical sparsely-surveyed area, was chosen to assess spatial variability of a variety of soil properties, and furthermore, to investigate its implications for sampling design. One hundred and forty one composited soil samples were collected across the Monument and the surrounding areas. Soil properties including pH, organic matter content, extractable elements such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu), as well as sand, silt, and clay percentages were analyzed for each sample. Semivariograms of all properties were constructed, standardized, and compared to estimate the spatial variability of the soil properties in the area. Based on the similarity among standardized semivariograms, we found that the semivariograms could be generalized for physical and chemical properties, respectively. The generalized semivariogram for physical properties had a much greater sill value (2.635) and effective range (7 500 m) than that for chemical properties. Optimal sampling density (OSD), which is derived from the generalized semivariogram and defines the relationship between sampling density and expected error percentage, was proposed to represent, interpret, and compare soil spatial variability and to provide guidance for sample scheme design. OSDs showed that chemical properties exhibit a stronger local spatial variability than soil texture parameters, implying more samples or analysis are required to achieve a similar level of precision.     

结合多等级代表性采样和模糊隶属度的区域土壤制图方法

High-resolution and detailed regional soil spatial distribution information is increasingly needed for ecological modeling and land resource management. For areas with no point data, regional soil mapping includes two steps: soil sampling and soil mapping. Because sampling over a large area is costly, efficient sampling strategies are required. A multi-grade representative sampling strategy, which designs a small number of representative samples with different representative grades to depict soil spatial variations at different scales,could be a potentially efficient sampling strategy for regional soil mapping. Additionally, a suitable soil mapping approach is needed to map regional soil variations based on a small number of samples. In this study, the multi-grade representative sampling strategy was applied and a fuzzy membership-weighted soil mapping approach was developed to map soil sand percentage and soil organic carbon(SOC) at 0–20 and 20–40 cm depths in a study area of 5 900 km2 in Anhui Province of China. First, geographical sub-areas were delineated using a parent lithology data layer. Next, fuzzy c-means clustering was applied to two climate and four terrain variables in each stratum. The clustering results(environmental cluster chains) were used to locate representative samples. Evaluations based on an independent validation sample set showed that the addition of samples with lower representativeness generally led to a decrease of root mean square error(RMSE). The declining rates of RMSE with the addition of samples slowed down for 20–40 cm depth, but fluctuated for 0–20 cm depth. The predicted SOC maps based on the representative samples exhibited higher accuracy, especially for soil depth 20–40 cm, as compared to those based on legacy soil data. Multi-grade representative sampling could be an effective sampling strategy at a regional scale. This sampling strategy, combined with the fuzzy membership-based mapping approach, could be an optional effective framework for regional soil property mapping. A more detailed and accurate soil parent material map and the addition of environmental variables representing human activities would improve mapping accuracy.     

沙漠系统中豆类作物根际附近区域土壤微生物群落研究

The aim of the current study was to gain a better understanding of the changes in soil microbial biomass and basal respiration dynamics in the vicinity of the bean caper （Zygophyllura duraosura） perennial desert shrub and the inter-shrub sites. Microbial biomasses as well as basal respiration were found to be significantly greater in the soil samples taken beneath the Z. duraosura shrubs than from the inter-shrub sampling sites, with no differences between the two sampling layers （0-10 and 10-20 cm） throughout the study period. However, seasonal changes were observed due to autumn dew formation, which significantly affected microbial biomass and basal respiration in the upper-layer inter-shrub locations. The calculated metabolic coefficient （qCO2） revealed significant differences between the two sampling sites as well as between the two soil layers, elucidating the abiotic effect between the sites throughout the study period. The substrate availability index was found to significantly demonstrate the differences between the two sites, elucidating the significant contribution of Z. duraosura in food source availability and in moderating harsh abiotic components. The importance of basal microbial parameters and the derived indices as tools demonstrated the importance and need for basic knowledge in understanding plant-soil interactions determined by an unpredictable and harsh desert environment.     

田间尺度下测定土壤有效K、P的采样方法

Field nutrient distribution maps obtained from the sutdy on soil variations within fields are the basis of precision agriculture,The quality of these maps for maagement depends on the accuracy of the predicted values,which depends on the initial sampling.to Produce reliable predictions efficently the minimal sampling size and combination should be decided firstly,which could avoid the misspent funds for field sampling work.A 7.9 hectare silage field close to the Agricultural Research Institute at Hillaborough,Northern Irealnd,was selected for the study,Soil samples were collected from the field at 25m intervals in a rectangular grid to provide a database of selected soil propoerties.Different data combinations were subsequently abstracted from this database for comparison purposes,and ordinary krging used to produce interpolated soil maps.These prediced data groups were compared using least significant difference(LSD) test method.The results showed that the 62 sampling sizes of triangle arrangement for soil available K were sufficient to reach the required accuracy.The triangular sample combination proved to be superior to a rectangular one of similar sample size.     

稻米和土壤微量元素的空间变异

Consumption of rice is the main source of micronutrients to human in Asia. A paddy field with unknown anthropogenic contamination in Deqing County, Zhejiang Province, China was selected to characterize the spatial variability and distribution of micronutrients in rice grain and soil. A total of 96 paired soil and rice grain samples were collected at harvest. The micronutrients in the soil samples were extracted by diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA). The mean micronutrient concentrations in rice grain were 3.85 μg Cu g-1, 11.6 μg Fe g-1, 39.7 μg Mn g-1, and 26.0 μg Zn g-1. The mean concentrations were 2.54 μg g-1 for DTPA-Cu, 133.5 μg g-1 for DTPA-Fe, 30.6 μg g-1 for DTPA-Mn, and 0.84 μg g-1 for DTPA-Zn. Semivariograms showed that measured micronutrients in rice grain were moderately dependent, with a range distance of about 110 m. The concentrations of the DTPA-extractable micronutrients all displayed strong spatial dependency, with a range distance of about 60 m. There was some resemblance of spatial structure between soil pH and the grain Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn. By analogy, similar spatial variation was observed between soil organic matter (SOM) and DTPA-extractable micronutrients in the soil. Kriging estimated maps of the attributes showed the spatial distributions of the variables in the field, which is beneficial for better understanding the spatial variation of micronutrients and for potentially refining agricultural management practices at a field scale.     

中国东南地区两土链土壤中土壤性质和水稻产量的空间变异研究

In the light of an increasing demand for staple food, especially rice, in southeast China, investigations on the specific site potential expressed as the relationship between soil and crop yield parameters gain increasing importance. Soil texture and several soil chemical parameters as well as plant properties such as crop height, biomass and grain yield were investigated along two terraced catenas with contrasting soil textures cropped with wet rice. We were aiming at identifying correlative relationships between soil and crop properties. Data were analyzed both statistically and geostatistically on the basis of semivariograms. Statistical analysis indicated a significant influence of the relief position on the spatial distribution of soil texture, total carbon and total nitrogen contents. Significant correlations were found for the catena located in a sandstone area （Catena A） between rice yield and silt as well as total nitrogen content. Corresponding relationships were not detectable for paddy fields that developed from Quaternary clays （Catena B）. As suggested by the nugget to sill ratio, spatial variability of soil texture, total carbon and nitrogen was mainly controlled by intrinsic factors, which might be attributed to the erosional transport of fine soil constituents, indicating the importance of the relief position and slope in soil development even in landscapes that are terraced. The crop parameters exhibited short ranges of influence and about one third of their variability was unexplained. Comparable ranges Of selected crop and soil parameters, found only for Catena A, are indicative of close spatial interactions between rice yield and soil features. Our findings show that especially in sandstone-dominated areas, a site-specific management can contribute to an environmentally safe rice production increase.     

利用地统计学研究土壤有机质空间分布：评估意大利中部地区土地退化的重要指标

Soil organic matter (SOM) content is one of the main factors to be considered in the evaluation of soil health and fertility. As timing, human and monetary resources often limit the amount of available data, geostatistical techniques provide a valid scientific approach to cope with spatial variability, to interpolate existing data and to predict values at unsampled locations for accurate SOM status survey. Using geostatistical and geographic information system (GIS) approaches, the spatial variability of some physical and chemical soil parameters was investigated under Mediterranean climatic condition in the Abruzzo region of central Italy, where soil erosion processes accelerated by human induced factors are the main causes of soil degradation associated with low SOM content. Experimental semivariograms were established to determine the spatial dependence of the soil variables under investigation. The results of 250 soil sampling point data were interpolated by means of ordinary kriging coupled with a GIS to produce contour maps distribution of soil texture, SOM content related to texture, and C/N ratio. The resulting spatial interpolation of the dataset highlighted a low content of SOM in relation with soil texture in most of the surveyed area (87%) and an optimal C/N ratio for only half of the investigated surface area. Spatial location of degraded area and the assessment of its magnitude can provide decision makers with an accurate support to design appropriate soil conservation strategies and then facilitate a regional planning of agri-environmental measures in the framework of the European Common Agricultural Policy.     

利用方式和土壤肥力对土壤团聚体和养分的影响

The size distribution of water-stable aggregates and the variability of organic C, N and P contents over aggregate size fractions were studied for orchard, upland, paddy, and grassland soils with high, medium, and low fertility levels. The results showed that > 5 mm aggregates in the cultivated upland and paddy soils were 44.0% and 32.0%, respectively, less than those in the un-tilled orchard soil. Organic C and soil N in different size aggregate fractions in orchard soil with high fertility were significantly higher than those of other land uses. However, the contents of soil P in different size aggregates were significantly greater in the paddy soil as compared to the other land uses. Soil organic C, N and P contents were higher in larger aggregates than those in smaller ones. The amount of water-stable aggregates was positively correlated to their contribution to soil organic C, N and P. For orchard and grassland soils, the > 5 mm aggregates made the greatest contribution to soil nutrients, while for upland soil, the 0.25-0.053 mm aggregates contributed the most to soil nutrients. Therefore, the land use with minimum disturbance was beneficial for the formation of a better soil structure. The dominant soil aggregates in different land use types determined the distribution of soil nutrients. Utilization efficiency of soil P could be improved by converting other land uses to the paddy soil.     

内蒙古荒漠化草地土壤碳、氮养分及土壤呼吸的空间异质性研究

There is a limited knowledge of spatial heterogeneity in soil nutrients and soil respiration in the semi-arid and arid grasslands of China. This study investigated the spatial differences in soil nutrients and soil respiration among three desertified grasslands and within two shrub-dominated communities on the Ordos Plateau of Inner Mongolia, China in 2006. Both soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) were significantly different (P < 0.01) among the three desertified grasslands along a degradation gradient. Within the two shrub-dominated communities, the SOC and TN contents decreased with increasing distance from the main stems of the shrub, and this “fertile island” effect was most pronounced in the surface soil. The total soil respirations during the growing season were 131.26, 95.95, and 118.66 g C m-2, respectively, for the steppe, shrub, and shrub-perennial grass communities. The coefficient of variability of soil respiration was the highest in the shrub community and lowest in the steppe community. CO2 effluxes from the soil under the canopy of shrub were significantly higher than those from the soil covered with biological crusts and the bare soil in the interplant spaces in the shrub community. However, soil respiration beneath the shrubs was not different from that of the soil in the inter-shrub of the shrub-perennial grass community. This is probably due to the smaller shrub size. In the two shrub-dominated communities, spatial variability in soil respiration was found to depend on soil water content and C:N ratio.     

液体培养研究不同土壤中硝化活性

A red soil, a fluvo-aquic soil and a permeable paddy soil were used in a long-term investigation to study changes in nitrification with treatments: 1) soil incubation, 2) liquid incubation inoculated with soil samples, and 3) liquid incubation inoculated with ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) from the soils. There were significant differences (P < 0.001) in nitrification rates among the three soils when measured for 28 days by adding (NH4)2SO4 at the rate of 154 mg N kg-1 dry soil to fresh soil. However, the amounts of nitrifying bacteria in the three soils were not related to soil nitrification capacity. When the soil samples or the isolates of AOB enriched from the corresponding soil were incubated in liquid with pH 5.8, 7.0 and 8.0 buffers and 10 mmol L-1 ammonium nitrogen, there were no significant nitrification differences in the same soil type at each pH. The ability to oxidize ammonia through AOB from different types of soils in a homogeneous culture medium was similar, and the soil nitrification capacity could reflect the inherent properties of a soil. Altering the culture medium pH of individual soil type also showed that acidification of an alkaline fluvo-aquic soil decreased nitrification capacity, whereas alkalinization of the acidic red soil and permeable paddy soil increased their nitrification. For a better insight into factors influencing soil nitrification processes, soil properties including texture and clay composition should be considered.     

Soil carbon and nutrient pools, microbial properties and gross nitrogen transformations in adjacent natural forest and hoop pine plantations of subtropical Australia

Background, Aims, and Scope  An improved understanding of important soil carbon (C) and nutrient pools as well as microbial activities in forest ecosystems is required for developing effective forest management regimes underpinning forest productivity and sustainability. Forest types and management practices can have significant impacts on soil C and nutrient pools as well as biological properties in forest ecosystems. Soil C and nutrient pools were assessed for adjacent natural forest (NF), first rotation (1R) (50-year-old), and second rotation (2R) (1-year-old) hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii Ait. ex D. Don) plantations in southeast Queensland of subtropical Australia. Materials and Methods  Five transects spaced 3 m apart with 9 sampling points along each transect were selected (9.6 m × 12.0 m each site), with 45 soil cores (7.5 cm in diameter) collected and separated into 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths. These soils were analysed for total C, total nitrogen (N), C (δ¹³C) and N (δ¹⁵N) isotope composition. The 0–10 cm soils were analysed for pH, CEC, exchangeable cations, total P and total K, and assayed for microbial biomass C and N, respiration, metabolic quotient, potential mineralizable N (PMN), gross N mineralization (M) and immobilization (I). Results  Total C and N in 0–10 cm soils were higher under NF and 1R plantation than under 2R plantation, while they were highest in 10–20 cm soils under NF, followed by the 1R and then 2R plantation. δ¹³C was lower under NF than under the plantations, while δ¹⁵N was higher under NF than under the plantations. Total P was the highest under NF, followed by the 1R and then 2R plantation, while total K was higher under the 2R plantation. No significant differences were detected for pH, CEC, exchangeable cations, microbial C and N, respiration and metabolic quotient among the 3 sites. PMN and M were higher under NF, while I was the highest under the 2R plantation, followed by the NF and then 1R plantation. Discussion  Soil total C and N in 0–10 cm depth were significantly lower under 2R hoop pine plantation than those under NF and 1R hoop pine plantation. There were significant reductions in soil total C and N from NF to 1R and from 1R to 2R hoop pine plantations in 10–20 cm depth. This highlights potential N deficiency in the 2R hoop pine plantations, and application of N fertilizers may be required to improve the productivity of 2R hoop pine plantations. There were no significant differences in other soil chemical and physical properties in 0–10 cm depth among the 3 sites under NF, 1R and 2R hoop pine plantations, except for soil total P and K. Soil microbial biomass C, CO₂ respiration and metabolic quotient did not differ among the 3 sites assessed, perhaps mainly due to these biological variables being too sensitive to variations in soil chemical and physical properties and thereby being associated with a larger variability in the soil biological properties. However, soil potential mineralizable N, gross N mineralization and immobilization were rather sensitive to the conversion of NF to hoop pine plantation and forest management practices. Conclusions  Total C and N in the top 20 cm soil were highest under NF, followed by 1R and then 2R hoop pine plantations, indicating that N deficiency may become a growth-limiting factor in the 2R hoop pine plantations and subsequent rotations of hoop pine plantation. The sample size for soil δ¹³C seems to be much smaller than those for soil total C and N as well as δ¹⁵N. The significant reductions in soil total P from NF to 1R and then from 1R to 2R hoop pine plantations highlight that P deficiency might become another growth-limiting factor in the second and subsequent rotations of hoop pine plantations. Soil microbial properties may be associated with large spatial variations due to these biological properties being too sensitive to the variations in soil chemical and physical properties in these forest ecosystems. Recommendations and Perspectives  Soil potential mineralizable N, gross N mineralization and immobilization were useful indices of soil N availability in response to forest types and management practices. The sampling size for soil δ¹³C was much smaller than the other soil chemical and biological properties due to the different patterns of spatial variation in these soil properties.     

Soil microbial biomass, activity and community composition in adjacent native and plantation forests of subtropical Australia

Purpose

Soil nitrogen (N) availability is a critical determinant of plantation productivity in subtropical Australia and is influenced by the soil microbial community. The size, structure and function of the soil microbial community can be impacted by land-use change and residue management. The objectives of this study were to examine the impact of land-use change from (1) native forest (NF) to first rotation (1R) hoop pine plantation and (2) 1R hoop pine plantation to second rotation (2R) hoop pine plantation on the soil microbial community. The impact of residue management on the soil microbial community was also investigated in the 2R forest, where soil microbial parameters were measured in tree rows (2R-T) and windrows (2R-W). In addition, relationships between soil microbial parameters and soil N parameters were investigated.

Materials and methods

Each of the four treatments (NF, 1R, 2R-T and 2R-W) had five 24-m² replicate plots from which 15 soil cores were collected and bulked at three depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–30 cm). Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and N (MBN) and soil respiration were measured on field moist soils. In addition, carbon (C) source utilisation patterns were assessed using the whole soil MicroResp? technique (Campbell et al. 2003).

Results and discussion

Results indicate that the land-use change from NF to 1R hoop pine plantation significantly reduced MBC, respiration rate, soil total C and total N. Furthermore, the land-use change appeared to have a significant impact on the soil microbial community composition measured using MicroResp? profiles. Land-use change from 1R to 2R hoop pine plantation resulted in a decline in total C and MBN and a shift in microbial community composition. When compared to the 2R-T soils, the 2R-W soils tended to have a greater microbial biomass and respiration rate. Residue management also influenced the microbial community composition measured in the MicroResp? profiles.

Conclusions

Results indicate that land-use change had a significant impact on the soil microbial community, which was likely to be related to shifts in the quality and quantity of organic inputs associated with the change in land use. This may have significant implications for the long-term productivity of the soil resource. Further studies are required to confirm a difference in microbial community composition associated with residue management. In addition, long-term experiments in subtropical Australia are necessary to verify the results of this snapshot study and to improve our understanding of the impact of single-species plantation forestry and residue management on the soil microbial community, soil N dynamics and ultimately the long-term sustainability of the soil resource.     

Effect of Overlying Windrowed Harvest Residues on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen in Hoop Pine Plantations of Subtropical Australia (6 pp)

Background, Aim and Scope   Harvest residues were formed into windrows to prevent nitrogen (N) losses through volatilisation and erosion that occurred following pile and burn operations in hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii Aiton ex A. Cunn.) plantations of subtropical Australia. We selected second rotation (2R) hoop pine sites where the windrows (10-15 m apart) had been formed 1, 2 and 3 years prior to sampling in order to examine soil carbon (C) and N in the areas beneath and between the windrows. Materials and Methods: We used conventional chemical methods, anaerobic incubation assay, 13C and 15N natural abundance analyses and, solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Results: Percent mineralisable N (PCMN) was the only parameter in the underneath windrow position at the Year 1 site that did not show a significant difference to the rest of the positions along the transect. However, positions adjacent to windrows did have significantly greater PCMN at the Year 1 site than other positions along the transect. PCMN, total N and total C were significantly greater underneath the windrows at the Year 3 site, whilst d13C was significantly more negative in the underneath windrow positions. Discussion: PCMN was the most sensitive biological indicator of the changes occurring in the soil due to decomposition of the windrows, with the beneath-windrow position having a significantly higher PCMN than the inter-windrow position (p<0.001) at the Year 3 site. Isotopic natural abundance for both 13C and 15N was able to detect the influx of labile materials from new residues. Solid-state 13C NMR was able to detect inputs of labile C from the windrows at the Year 1 site, whilst the increase in aromatic C at the Year 3 site was indicative of the more advanced stages of windrow decomposition. Conclusions: Decomposition of windrowed residues had a beneficial effect on soil N and C pools. However, the effect remained localised after 3 years, indicating that trees needed to be planted close to the windrows to gain any benefit from residue decomposition Recommendations and Perspectives: The use of windrows allows a clear planting area and provides a good barrier against soil erosion. However, trees can only gain access to the nutrients from the decomposing residues if they are planted close to the windrows. Limiting the width of the cleared areas to allow for only 2 planting rows will give the maximum benefit to the developing trees.     

Soluble organic nitrogen pools in adjacent native and plantation forests of subtropical Australia

Soil soluble organic nitrogen (SON) can play an important role in soil nitrogen (N) cycling in forest ecosystems. This study examined the effect of land-use change from a native forest (NF) to a first rotation (1R) and subsequent second rotation (2R) hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii) plantation on soil SON pools. The impact of residue management on SON pools was also investigated in the 2R forest, where SON was measured in tree rows (2R-T) and windrows (2R-W). Various extraction techniques were used to measure SON pool size in the 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm layers of soil. The results showed that land-use change had a significant impact on soil SON pools. In the 0-10 cm layer, 3.2-8.7, 14-23, 20-28, 60-160 and 127-340 mg SON kg⁻¹ were extracted by water, 0.5 M K₂SO₄, 2 M KCl, hot water and hot 2 M KCl, respectively. The size of the SON pools and the potential production of SON (PPSON) were generally highest in the NF soil and lowest in the 2R-T soil, and in all forest types decreased with soil depth. The larger SON pools in the NF soil coincided with lower soil, litter and root C:N ratios, suggesting that the difference in the size of SON pools between the NF and 1R soil may be related to differences in the quality of organic matter input under the different forest ecosystems. Differences in the size of SON pools between the 1R soil and the 2R soils and between the 2R-T soil and the 2R-W soil may be related to the quantity of organic matter input and time since disturbance. Significant relationships were found between the SON extracted by 0.5 M K₂SO₄ (SON_ps) and 2 M KCl (SON_KCl), and also among the SON extracted by hot 2 M KCl (SON_hKCl), hot water (SON_hw) and water (SON_w), suggesting that the organic N released by these groups of extracts may be at least partly from similar pools.     

Responses of soil dissolved organic matter to long-term plantations of three coniferous tree species

Tree species have significant effects on the availability and dynamics of soil organic matter. In the present study, the pool sizes of soil dissolved organic matter (DOM), potential mineralizable N (PMN) and bio-available carbon (C) (measured as cumulative CO₂ evolution over 63 days) were compared in soils under three coniferous species — 73 year old slash (Pinus elliottii), hoop (Araucaria cunninghamii) and kauri (Agathis robusta) pines. Results have shown that dissolved organic N (DON) in hot water extracts was 1.5–1.7 times lower in soils under slash pine than under hoop and kauri pines, while soil dissolved organic C (DOC) in hot water extracts tended to be higher under slash pine than hoop and kauri pines but this was not statistically significant. This has led to the higher DOC:DON ratio in soils under slash pine (32) than under hoop and kauri pines (17). Soil DOC and DON in 2 M KCl extracts were not significantly different among the three tree species. The DOC:DON ratio (hot water extracts) was positively and significantly correlated with soil C:N (R² = 0.886, P < 0.01) and surface litter C:N ratios (R² = 0.768, P < 0.01), indicating that DOM was mainly derived from litter materials and soil organic matter through dissolution and decomposition. Soil pH was lower under slash pine (4.5) than under hoop (6.0) and kauri (6.2) pines, and negatively correlated with soil total C, C:N ratio, DOC and DOC:DON ratio (hot water extracts), indicating the soil acidity under slash pine favored the accumulation of soil C. Moreover, the amounts of dissolved inorganic N, PMN and bio-available C were also significantly lower in soils under slash pine than under hoop and kauri pines. It is concluded that changes in the quantity and quality of surface litters and soil pH induced by different tree species largely determined the size and quality of soil DOM, and plantations of hoop and kauri pine trees may be better in maintaining long-term soil N fertility than slash pine plantations.     

Variabilität der Sulfatsorption in einem Gley-Podsol aus Sand unter Kiefernforst

Variability of sulfate sorption in a sandy Gleyic Podzol under a pine stand In acid forest soils sulfate can be stored by sorption processes. We studied the vertical heterogeneity and the horizontal variability of sulfate sorption in a sandy forest soil under a pine stand. Disturbed soil samples were taken from the horizons of a Gleyic Podzol (vertical heterogeneity). From a 120-m transect, 25 soil samples were taken from depth increment 35—50 cm and 65—80 cm at 5-m intervals by means of a hand auger (horizontal variability). In batch experiments, sulfate sorption isotherms were measured for all profile and transect samples. The Freundlich equation is suitable to describe the individual isotherms. The sulfate sorption isotherms show considerable differences in the horizons of the profile, systematic relations between the isotherm parameters and soil properties are not obvious. In order to quantify the spatial variability of the sulfate sorption isotherms, a scaling technique is used. The spatial distribution of scale factors for depth 35—50 cm along the transect reveals a periodicity of about 17 m length. The same recurrent pattern is also identified in the spatial distribution of the cumulative sulfate deposition by canopy throughfall along the transect, and in the spatial distribution of contents of iron and aluminium oxides soluble in oxalic acid at depth level 35—50 cm. This does, however, not refer to organic carbon content and pH at this depth. From these results it is concluded that in this soil at depth 35—50 cm oxide contents are related to the amount of sulfate deposition by throughfall. In spatial ranges with high sulfate and thus acid deposition, oxide contents of the soil are decreased by accelerated podzolization, and therefore, also the sulfate sorption of the soil is low in these ranges. The period length of this recurrent pattern of about 17 m is probably only an apparent period length that results from aliasing, because a very probably real periodicity of 3—4 m length, related to the canopy edge distribution of the pine trees along the transect, is sampled at an interval of 5 m. In the subsoil (65—80 cm depth) such relations could not be detected.     

氮肥种类和施用量对南洋杉苗期的影响

Nitrogenous fertilisers are under consideration for promoting the growth of nursery-reared hoop pine （Araucaria cunninghamii Alton ex A. Cunn） seedlings in the establishment phase of second rotation （2R） plantations. Using ^15N- labelled fertilisers, we investigated the effect of different forms （ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and urea） and rates of application （0, 150 and 300 mg N kg^-1 dried soil） of fertilisers on the growth, ^15N recovery and carbon isotope composition （δ^13C） of hoop pine seedlings in a 12-month glasshouse trial in southeast Queensland, Australia. The ^15N-labelled fertilisers were applied to nursery-reared hoop pine seedlings, which were then grown in pots, containing ca. 1.2 kg dried soil, under well watered conditions for 12 months. Four seedlings from each treatment were harvested at 4-month intervals, divided into roots, stem and foliage, with a further subdivision for new and old foliage, and then analysed for ^15N, total N, δ^13C and total C. There was no significant response in the seedling growth to the form or rate of application of nitrogen （N） fertiliser within the 12-month period, indicating that the seedlings did not experience N deficiency when grown on second rotation hoop pine soils. While the combined ^15N recovery from soil and plant remained at around 70% throughout the experiment, the proportion of ^15N recovered from the plants increasing steadily over time. Nitrate containing fertilisers at 150 mg N kg^-1 soil gradually increased seedling foliage δ^13C over the 12-month period, indicating an increase in seedling water use efficiency.     

Peanut residues supply minimal plant-available nitrogen on a major soil series in the USA peanut basin

Field observations have shown that a substantial portion of peanut leaves abscise in windrows during pod curing, leading to an uneven distribution of leaves and stems when intact residues are spread during harvest. Possible differences in nitrogen (N) mineralization rates between peanut leaf and stem residues may lead to spatial and temporal variability in available N during subsequent crops. The objective of this study was to quantify N mineralization in soil amended with different peanut residue components under simulated conventional and conservation tillage practices. A 252-day microlysimeter incubation was conducted in which peanut leaves, stems and a 1:1 mixture of leaves:stems from three varieties were incorporated or placed on the soil surface to simulate conventional or conservation tillage, respectively. Soils were periodically leached to assess N mineralization compared with a soil-only control. Nitrogen mineralization was only affected by residue component. Averaged over variety and residue placement, soil amended with leaves mineralized 10% more N relative to the control or soil containing stems. It was estimated that leaves supplied 25 kg N ha⁻¹ over 252 days at 0–15 cm soil depth, which would likely be insufficient to induce a yield response by a subsequent crop. This study suggests that uneven distribution of peanut leaf and stem residues following harvest causes only minor spatial and temporal variability in available N during subsequent crop growth. These results support the growing body of evidence indicating that peanut residue N contributions to subsequent crops are negligible in the peanut basin of the south-eastern USA.     

Modeling soil respiration based on carbon, nitrogen, and root mass across diverse Great Lake forests

The variability in the net ecosystem exchange of carbon (NEE) is a major source of uncertainty in quantifying global carbon budget and atmospheric CO₂. Soil respiration, which is a large component of NEE, could be strongly influential to NEE variability. Vegetation type, landscape position, and site history can influence soil properties and therefore drive the microbial and root production of soil CO₂. This study measured soil respiration and soil chemical, biological and physical properties on various types of temperate forest stands in Northern Wisconsin (USA), which included ash elm, aspen, northern hardwood, red pine forest types, clear-cuts, and wetland edges. Soil respiration at each of the 19 locations was measured six times during 1 year from early June to mid-November. These data were combined with two additional data sets from the same landscape that represent two smaller spatial scales. Large spatial variation of soil respiration occurred within and among each forest type, which appeared to be from differences in soil moisture, root mass and the ratio of soil carbon to soil nitrogen (C:N). A soil climate driven model was developed that contained quadratic functions for root mass and the ratio of soil carbon to soil nitrogen. The data from the large range of forest types and site conditions indicated that the range of root mass and C:N on the landscape was also large, and that trends between C:N, root mass, and soil respiration were not linear as previously reported, but rather curvilinear. It should be noted this function appeared to level off and decline at C:N larger than 25, approximately the value where microbial nitrogen immobilization limits free soil nitrogen. Weak but significant relationships between soil water and soil C:N, and between soil C:N and root mass were observed indicating an interrelatedness of (1) topographically induced hydrologic patterns and soil chemistry, and (2) soil chemistry and root production. Future models of soil respiration should address multiple spatial and temporal factors as well as their co-dependence.     

黄土高原北部生长季土壤氮素矿化对植被和地形的响应

氮素矿化是陆地生态系统氮循环的重要过程,对氮素有效性有着重要影响。本文在黄土高原北部六道沟小流域选取退耕年限相近的油松和柠条坡地,用原位培养法测定生长季节(4—10月)不同坡位冠层下和冠层外0~10 cm和10~20 cm土层土壤氮素矿化速率,以确定该区氮素矿化的季节动态特征和主要影响因素。结果表明,研究区生长季土壤矿质氮以铵态氮为主,其含量在0~10 cm和10~20 cm土层分别占矿质氮总量的61%和70%,并随生长季的推移而升高。油松林上坡位和中坡位土壤铵态氮显著高于下坡位土壤,柠条林不同坡位铵态氮差异不显著。土壤硝态氮和矿质氮不受坡位的影响,但与林型和采样位置有关,冠层下硝态氮在油松林与冠层外相近,在柠条林则高于冠层外。生长季土壤氮素矿化在0~10 cm土层由硝化作用引起,在10~20 cm土层则由硝化和铵化作用共同引起。铵化速率在生长季初期较高,中期较低,并受坡位、林型和采样位置的影响。土壤硝化和矿化速率在油松林不受采样位置影响,但是在柠条林则以冠层下较高。硝化和矿化速率在冠层下以下坡位土壤最高,在冠层外则以下坡位土壤最低。柠条林促进了冠层下土壤氮素的硝化和矿化过程,有利于矿质氮的积累;油松林对矿质氮和氮素矿化的影响不受采样位置影响。