保护性耕作对土壤交换性盐基组成的影响

以辽宁省彰武县保护性耕作示范推广基地土壤为研究对象,通过实地调查和取样分析,对比研究了传统犁耕和6年保护性耕作（免耕秸秆覆盖）条件下的土壤交换性盐基组成.结果表明：在15 cm土层内,保护性耕作土壤的交换性K、Ca、Mg含量和盐基总量（SEB）较传统犁耕均有不同程度增加,表明保护性耕作使土壤的保肥和缓冲能力增强.相关分析表明,这与土壤的有机质和粘粒含量的变化密切相关;保护性耕作土壤的K/SEB和Ca/Mg高于传统犁耕,而(Ca+Mg)/SEB、Ca/K和Mg/K低于传统犁耕,说明保护性耕作对土壤交换性盐基比例关系的影响以交换性Ca、K特别是K的相对富集为主要特征;保护性耕作提高了交换性K、Ca、Mg含量与SEB的分层比率(0～5 cm/5～15 cm和0～5 cm/15～30 cm),表明交换性盐基在耕层剖面的垂直变异性增强.     

不同林地恢复模式下露天煤矿排土场土壤有机碳分布特征

研究露天煤矿排土场6种不同林地植被恢复模式和撂荒地0～100 cm土层土壤有机碳(SOC)含量和储量的分布特征,分析其差异性及其影响因素.结果表明：不同林地0～10 cm土层SOC含量比撂荒地(1.92 g·kg^-1)显著提高23.8%～53.2%,10～20 cm土层比撂荒地(1.39 g·kg^-1)显著提高5.8%～70.4%,20 cm土层以下与撂荒地相比差异不大;各土层SOC含量随土层深度增加而逐渐减小,表层(0～20 cm)减小幅度大于深层(20～100 cm).不同林地SOC储量在表层明显高于深层,随土层深度增加而逐渐减小.0～100 cm土层林地SOC储量比撂荒地(17.52 t·hm^-2)提高18.1%～42.4%,其中,紫穗槐林地SOC储量最高,达24.95 t·hm^-2,明显高于其他林地类型,灌木林地SOC储量比乔木高12.4%.林地凋落物、细根生物量和土壤水分都与排土场SOC呈显著正相关.综上所述,不同人工林地恢复模式显著提高了排土场0～100 cm土层SOC,尤其对表层SOC提高效果明显,但排土场SOC与原地貌相比差距仍较大.从提高排土场SOC角度优先推荐紫穗槐为主要林地植被.     

晋西北黄土高原丘陵区不同土地利用方式下土壤碳氮储量

对晋西北黄土高原丘陵区杨树-小叶锦鸡儿人工林、小叶锦鸡儿人工灌丛、杨树人工林、撂荒地和农田5种土地利用方式下土壤碳氮储量进行研究.结果表明: 不同土地利用方式下土壤碳氮含量、碳氮密度和碳氮储量存在显著差异.5种土地利用方式0～20 cm表层土壤碳氮含量和碳氮密度均显著大于20～40 cm和40～60 cm土层.5种土地利用方式同一土层碳氮含量和碳氮密度大小为: 杨树-小叶锦鸡儿人工林>小叶锦鸡儿人工灌丛>杨树人工林>撂荒地>农田;0～60 cm土层土壤有机碳储量大小为:杨树-小-叶锦鸡儿人工林(30.09 t·hm^-2)>小叶锦鸡儿人工灌丛(24.78 t·hm^-2)>杨树人工林(24.14 t·hm^-2)>撂荒地(22.06 t·hm^-2)>农田(17.59 t·hm^-2);土壤氮储量与有机碳储量变化规律相似,杨树-小叶锦鸡儿人工林0～60 cm土层土壤氮储量(4.94 t·hm^-2)最高,其次是小叶锦鸡儿人工灌丛(3.53 t·hm^-2)、杨树人工林(3.51 t·hm^-2)和撂荒地(3.40 t·hm^-2),农田土壤氮储量(2.71 t·hm^-2)最低.杨树-小叶锦鸡儿人工林和小叶锦鸡儿人工灌丛是晋西北黄土高原丘陵区植被建设和生态恢复过程中较好的两种土地利用方式.     

不同土地利用方式对潮棕壤有机碳含量的影响

对潮棕壤不同土地利用方式下0~100 cm土体中土壤有机碳含量的剖面分布、有机碳储量及C/N进行了研究.结果表明:不同土地利用方式下土壤有机碳含量的剖面分布差异明显,林地、割草地、荒地及裸地各土层有机碳含量高于农田生态系统;不同土地利用方式下的土壤有机碳与全氮呈极显著的正相关;土壤C/N随剖面土层深度的增加呈下降趋势,林地土壤的C/N相对较高,割草地、荒地和裸地次之,农田生态系统的土壤C/N较低.在0~100cm深度土壤,荒地每年截获的土壤有机碳分别比农田不施肥、农田循环猪圈肥处理、农田化肥NPK处理、农田化肥NPK 循环猪圈肥处理高4.52、4.25、4.46和3.58 t.hm-2.说明荒地在增加土壤有机碳储量方面有很大潜力.     

茶园及相邻林地土壤N2O排放的垂直分布特征

对茶园及相邻林地土壤N2O排放的垂直分布特征进行研究.结果表明: 在0～100 cm土层,茶园和林地土壤全氮（TN）、N₂O排放速率及积累量均随着土层增加而减少,且茶园均值大于林地.土壤pH、TN、水溶性有机氮(WSON)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)、NO₃^--N及NH₄⁺-N含量随着土层增加总体呈下降趋势,茶园各土层TN、WSON、MBN、NO₃^--N及NH₄⁺-N含量显著大于林地,而不同土层pH值均小于林地.茶园和林地土壤N₂O排放速率与TN、MBN及NH₄⁺-N含量呈显著正相关,而与pH相关性不显著.茶园土壤N₂O排放速率与NO₃^--N含量的相关性显著,与WSON的相关性不显著,而在林地土壤中呈相反趋势.0~100 cm土层内茶园 WSON/SON和N₂O N/MBN平均值大于林地,而MBN/SON平均值小于林地.这表明茶园土壤氮库有较高的代谢效率,N₂O排放速率较高,不利于土壤氮库的储量积累,也不利于维持土壤质量和持续利用的潜力.     

茶园及相邻林地土壤N2O排放的垂直分布特征

对茶园及相邻林地土壤N2O排放的垂直分布特征进行研究.结果表明: 在0～100 cm土层,茶园和林地土壤全氮（TN）、N₂O排放速率及积累量均随着土层增加而减少,且茶园均值大于林地.土壤pH、TN、水溶性有机氮(WSON)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)、NO₃^--N及NH₄⁺-N含量随着土层增加总体呈下降趋势,茶园各土层TN、WSON、MBN、NO₃^--N及NH₄⁺-N含量显著大于林地,而不同土层pH值均小于林地.茶园和林地土壤N₂O排放速率与TN、MBN及NH₄⁺-N含量呈显著正相关,而与pH相关性不显著.茶园土壤N₂O排放速率与NO₃^--N含量的相关性显著,与WSON的相关性不显著,而在林地土壤中呈相反趋势.0~100 cm土层内茶园 WSON/SON和N₂O N/MBN平均值大于林地,而MBN/SON平均值小于林地.这表明茶园土壤氮库有较高的代谢效率,N₂O排放速率较高,不利于土壤氮库的储量积累,也不利于维持土壤质量和持续利用的潜力.     

阔叶和杉木人工林对土壤碳氮库的影响比较

通过比较我国亚热带地区19年生阔叶人工林和杉木人工林土壤碳氮储量,探讨树种对土壤碳氮库的影响.结果表明：阔叶人工林0～40 cm土层碳储量平均为99.41 Mg·hm^-2,比杉木人工林增加33.1%;土壤氮储量为6.18 Mg·hm^-2,比杉木人工林增加22.6%.阔叶人工林林地枯枝落叶层现存量、碳和氮储量分别是杉木人工林的1.60、1.49和1.52倍,两个树种的枯落叶生物量、碳和氮储量均有显著差异.枯枝落叶层碳氮比值与土壤碳、氮储量之间呈显著负相关.阔叶人工林细根生物量(0～80 cm)是杉木林的1.28倍,其中0～10 cm土壤层细根生物量占48.2%;阔叶人工林细根碳、氮储量均高于杉木人工林.在0～10 cm土层,细根碳储量与土壤碳储量具有显著正相关关系.阔叶树种比杉木的土壤有机碳储存能力更大.     

黄土高原植被自然恢复和人工造林对土壤碳氮储量的影响

土地利用方式变化能对土壤碳氮储量产生重要影响.为了探讨不同土地利用方式对土壤碳氮的影响,研究了黄土高原子午岭林区自退耕还林(草)工程实施以来(15年)自然恢复草地和人工油松林地0～100 cm土层土壤碳氮储量、碳氮比以及根系生物量的差异.结果表明:自然恢复草地和人工油松林地土壤有机碳均表现出表聚效应,自然恢复草地0～20 cm土层土壤有机碳储量显著低于人工油松林,而其他土层差异均不显著.人工油松林0～100 cm土层土壤总碳储量为117.94 Mg·hm^-2,比自然恢复草地增加28.4%.两种植被类型土壤全氮储量在各土层间差异均不显著,但自然恢复草地0～100 cm土层土壤全氮总储量为7.69 Mg·hm^-2,比人工油松林高17.7%.自然恢复草地和人工油松林土壤铵态氮储量在各土层间差异均显著,自然恢复草地铵态氮储量显著高于人工油松林,且随土层增加表现为先增后降的趋势.而自然恢复草地和人工油松林土壤硝态氮储量只在0～20 cm土层差异显著,且自然恢复草地高于人工油松林.自然恢复草地和人工油松林土壤碳氮比表现为0～20 cm土层差异不显著,随土层的加深表现为人工油松林碳氮比显著高于自然恢复草地,且差异逐渐增大.自然恢复草地和人工油松林土壤碳氮储量与根系生物量均呈显著正相关.因此,自然恢复草地土壤有利于氮储量的积累,人工油松林土壤有利于土壤碳储量的增加,且根系是影响土壤碳氮储量分布的重要因子.     

土地利用方式转变对赣中地区土壤活性有机碳的影响

选取江西省安福县15年撂荒地和3种林地(毛竹林人工林、木荷次生林、杉木人工林),研究土地利用方式改变对土壤有机碳库以及活性有机碳的影响.结果表明：不同样地的土壤总有机碳、微生物生物量碳、热水浸提有机碳和易氧化态碳均表现为毛竹人工林>杉木人工林>木荷次生林>撂荒地;与对照(撂荒地)相比,3种林地的土壤有机碳含量、碳储量及活性有机碳含量均随土壤深度增加而递减,表层富集现象明显;不同土壤活性有机碳的分配比例明显不同,其中,土壤易氧化态碳占总有机碳的比例最大,微生物生物量碳所占比例最小,土壤总有机碳、微生物生物量碳、热水浸提有机碳和易氧化态碳间的相关性均达到极显著水平.后三者表征了土壤中活性较高部分碳的含量,对土地利用方式的响应较敏感,可以作为评价赣中地区土壤质量和肥力的指标之一.     

土地利用方式对黑土剖面有机碳分布及碳储量的影响

以典型黑土区29年长期定位试验处理下的土壤为对象,研究了农田、裸地、自然草地和落叶松林地4种土地利用方式下土壤剖面(0~200 cm)有机碳及碳储量的分布特征.结果表明:不同土地利用方式下表层(0~10 cm)土壤有机碳含量差异最大,表现为草地>农田>林地>裸地.农田10~120 cm各土层有机碳含量均低于草地、林地和裸地.与农田相比,自然草地对土壤有机碳提升作用明显,其0~60 cm各层土壤有机碳含量均显著高于农田;裸地表层(0~10 cm)土壤有机碳含量显著低于农田;落叶松林地0~20 cm有机碳含量与农田相比无明显变化,但其20~140 cm土层有机碳含量均高于农田.土壤剖面有机碳含量与p H值、容重、粉粒和粘粒含量呈显著负相关,与全氮和砂粒含量呈显著正相关.农田0~200 cm剖面有机碳储量显著低于其他3种利用方式,分别比草地、裸地和林地低13.6%、11.4%和10.9%.农田黑土在增加碳储量及改善环境方面具有很大潜力.     

喀斯特地区不同土地利用方式对土壤有机碳、全氮以及微生物生物量碳和氮的影响

以广西环江大才为代表,选择亚热带典型喀斯特峰林谷地样区,通过对样区土壤进行密集采样和测定分析,研究了土地利用方式对土壤有机碳（O_C）和全氮（TN）含量及土壤微生物生物量碳（B_C）和氮（B_N）含量的影响.结果表明,3种土地利用方式下,土壤有机碳含量在稻田和林地中基本相同,而旱地显著低于稻田和林地.土壤全氮含量为稻田显著高于林地,而林地显著高于旱地.土壤微生物生物量碳含量为稻田显著高于林地,林地显著高于旱地.土壤微生物生物量氮含量在稻田和林地中基本相同,而旱地显著低于稻田和林地.旱地土壤pH值显著低于稻田和林地土壤.3种土地利用方式下,土壤微生物生物量碳与土壤有机碳、土壤微生物生物量氮与全氮含量之间均呈显著的正相关关系.土壤微生物生物量碳和氮含量可以作为评价喀斯特地区土壤质量和肥力的指标之一,对土地利用方式响应较为敏感.     

Soil properties and crop performance on a kaolinitic Alfisol after 15 years of fallow and continuous cultivation

A long-term field experiment was established on a kaolinitic Alfisol in Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1972. The land was cleared manually from secondary forest and used for (i) continuous no-till cropping with maize (Zea mays L.) and maize/cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) intercropping, (ii) planted fallow of guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.), leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala de Wit), and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan Millsp.), and (iii) natural bush regrowth in a randomized complete block design with three replications. At the end of 15 years, the fallow plots were cleared manually and cropped with maize for three years. The chemical and physical soil properties and crop performance of the newly-cleared plots were compared with those under 15 years of continuous cultivation. A total of 26 woody species were identified on the bush regrowth plots. Above-ground biomass accumulation of the bush plots was 157 Mg ha^-1 containing 1316 kg N ha^-1. Guinea grass, leucaena and natural bush regrowth plots had comparable organic C concentrations (approximately 20 g kg^-1) in the surface soil (0 to 10 cm) after 15 years. The organic C concentration in the surface soil under pigeon pea was the lowest (9.5 g kg^-1) among the four fallow treatments. Soil under 15 years of continuous no-till maize with and without residue mulch, respectively, contained approximately half (10 g kg^-1) and a quarter (5.7 g kg^-1) of the organic C under natural bush or guinea grass fallow. The levels of exchangeable Ca, K, Mg and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) were lower in the soils under continuous cultivation than in those under natural bush and planted fallow. Soil acidification occurred in soils under continuous cropping as depicted by the lower pH values and greater exchangeable Al and Mn concentrations compared to the fallow plots. Grain yield of maize (3 to 5 Mg ha^-1) without fertilizer application in the plots newly cleared from natural bush, guinea grass and leucaena fallow was comparable with that of continuous no-till maize with residue mulch and chemical fertilizer (N, P, K, Mg, Zn) applications. Among the four fallow treatments, maize grain and stover yields were the lowest in plots cleared from pigeon pea fallow.     

不同土地利用类型下土壤活性有机碳库的变化

分析了中国科学院沈阳生态试验站不同土地利用类型长期定位试验土壤0～40cm活性有机碳含量,结果表明:0～20cm土层内荒地土壤有机碳、易氧化碳、微生物生物量碳、溶解性有机碳和轻组有机碳含量高于割草地和裸地,而割草地颗粒有机碳含量略高于荒地;在20～40cm土层,割草地土壤有机碳、易氧化碳和颗粒有机碳含量较高,而荒地微生物量碳、溶解性有机碳和轻组有机碳含量较高。不同土地利用类型土壤活性有机碳含量均随着土层加深而递减。土壤微生物量碳、溶解性有机碳和轻组有机碳的分配比例为荒地>割草地>裸地,易氧化碳和颗粒有机碳的分配比例为割草地>荒地>裸地。土壤活性有机碳的分配比例随土层加深而下降,但溶解性有机碳的分配比例变化趋势相反。     

三峡库区不同土地利用方式下土壤氧化亚氮排放及其影响因素

采用静态箱-气相色谱法对菜地、旱地、林地、果园、水改旱土壤N₂O排放特征及其相关影响因子进行研究.结果表明：不同土地利用方式下土壤N₂O的排放通量在-21～435 μg·m^-2·h^-1之间变化,N₂O年排放总量为菜地>果园>旱地>水改旱>林地,分别为447.14、313.57、167.00、124.87和7.24 mg·m^-2.土壤N₂O排放通量呈现明显的季节性变化,以春夏季最高,秋季次之,冬季最低,并与对应的大气及土壤温度的变化趋势基本一致.N₂O排放通量与5 cm土壤温度及土壤硝态氮含量呈显著或极显著正相关,与土壤水分及土壤铵态氮含量无明显相关关系.     

Soil properties and C dynamics in abandoned and cultivated farmlands in a semi-arid ecosystem

Background and Aims

Land abandonment might be an alternative management for restoring soil conditions and C from prolonged cultivation and agricultural practices. In the present study, the influence of 18–22?years of land abandonment on soil properties, C dynamics and microbial biomass was evaluated in closely situated wheat and alfalfa farmlands, and abandoned lands on calcareous soils, Central Iran.

Methods

Soil properties of the 0–15 and 15–30?cm depths from abandoned lands were compared to those from conventionally cultivated lands (i.e., continuous wheat–fallow and alfalfa–wheat rotation) common in calcareous soils of Central Zagros Mountains.

Results

Soil bulk density in the 0–15 and 15–30?cm layers decreased significantly while total porosity increased significantly in abandoned lands. Generally, soil aggregate stability tended to increase within the abandoned fields owing to increased water-stable macro-aggregates. Soil organic C (OC) contents (g kg^?1) and pools (Mg ha^?1) in the 0–15?cm soil layer increased significantly in abandoned lands compared with cultivated lands, with no effect in the 15–30?cm soil layer after 18–22?years of land abandonment, suggesting the restoration of C is pronounced in the upper 0–15?cm soil depth . The total C accumulation in abandoned lands was 7.0?Mg?C?ha^?1 for the entire sampling depth (0–30?cm) over the 18–22?years of land abandonment, which was 26% greater relative to cultivated lands. Carbon mineralization (Cmin) followed a trend similar to organic C, whereas C turnover (Cmin/OC ratio) was slightly greater in wheat fields. However, soil microbial biomass C (MBC) did not vary considerably among the three land uses.

Conclusions

In brief, improvements, albeit slowly, in soil properties of the top layer with the cessation of cultivation indicated that land abandonment may result in enhanced soil C sequestration, and would maintain fertility and productivity of the farmlands of semi-arid climates.     

Nutrient stocks in managed and natural humid tropical fallows

Managed fallows which recover nutrients more rapidly than natural secondary vegetation may improve the performance of shifting agriculture systems operating under inadequately long fallow cycles. Our objective was to construct nutrient balances for the soil, vegetation, and litter compartments of six planted leguminous fallows and natural secondary vegetation during 53 months. The fallows were planted on a previously cultivated Ultisol (Acrisol) in the Peruvian Amazon and included:Centrosema macrocarpum (Centrosema),Pueraria phaseoloides (Pueraria),Stylosanthes guianensis (Stylosanthes),Desmodium ovalifolium (Desmodium),Cajanus cajan (Cajanus), andInga edulis (Inga). In addition, in the natural fallow treatment secondary vegetation was allowed to establish and grow naturally. Quantities of extractable P, K, Ca, and Mg, total N, and organic C in soil to a 45 cm depth, and macrouttrients in aboveground biomass, roots, and litter were estimated at fallow planting, at 8, 17, and 29 months afterward, and at fallow clearing (53 months). Total N stocks increased by 10% in the Stylosanthes, Desmodium, Pueraria, and Inga treatments, but changed little in the Cajanus, Centrosema and natural fallows. This difference was largely due to greater net increases in both soil and vegetation compartments in the former group of treatments. In the Inga, Desmodium, and natural fallows, total stocks of P and K at 53 months were about 40% to 80% greater and 12% greater, respectively, than initial values, but Ca and Mg stocks were reduced by 25% to 40%. In the other treatments, there was generally little change in P stocks, but large (30% to 60%) reductions in K, Ca, and Mg during the course of the fallow. Although there were net decreases of stocks of P, K, Ca, and Mg in soil in all treatments during the fallow, storage of P and K in vegetation and litter in the Inga, Desmodium, and natural fallows offset losses of these nutrients from soil. These treatments also tended to accumulate more Ca and Mg in biomass and litter than the other treatments. These results suggest that leguminous fallow vegetation that accumulates large amounts of biomass may increase N, P, and K stocks, but that incomplete recuperation of Ca and Mg may limit the sustainability of short-rotation fallow-based systems on acidic, infertile soils. ei]Section editor: G R Stewart     

红壤丘陵景观单元土壤有机碳和微生物生物量碳含量特征

为了探讨我国亚热带红壤丘陵区不同利用方式下土壤有机碳(SOC)和土壤微生物生物量碳(SMB-C)含量的特征,在湖南省桃源县选取典型样区,通过密集取样,分析了红壤丘陵景观单元内水田、旱地、林地、果园4种典型利用方式下表层土壤(0～20 cm)SOC和SMB-C含量.结果表明,典型红壤丘陵景观单元中SOC含量高低的顺序为水田(16.0 g·kg^-1)＞旱地(11.2 g·kg^-1) ＞果园(9.5 g·kg^-1)＞林地(8.4 g·kg^-1),SMB-C含量则为水田(830 mg·kg^-1)＞旱地(361 mg·kg^-1)＞林地(200 mg·kg^-1)＞果园(186 mg·kg^-1),且在不同利用方式下SOC与SMB-C均呈极显著正相关(P＜0.01),说明本研究区内各土地利用类型的土壤SMB-C含量变化可以敏感地指示SOC的动态.研究结果还表明,将我国亚热带红壤丘陵林地开垦为果园或耕地后,表层土壤 SOC含量不可能降低.     

Soil chemistry and plant distributions in rock habitats of southern Sweden

The vascular plant flora of open land on superficial bedrock in southem Sweden (northwards to 59°N) is described and related to soil chemical properties. including soil acidity (pH), exchangeable Al, Ca, Fe, Mn, Mg, and phosphate, as well as to soil solution pH and concentrations of Al, Ca and Mg, and to the contents of soil organic matter, soil depth and bedrock types (sandstone, gneiss, granites, various dark igneous rocks and limestones). About 120 localities with totally 652 sites (4 m²) have been examined. Experimental evidence for the toxicity of acid soils and mineral nutrient deficiency of neutral and alkaline soils is related to field data. Hydrogen and Al ion toxicity in acid soils and low phosphate solubility in neutral - alkaline soils are identified as major factors limiting the field distributions of rock habitat plants. Some species (e.g., Rumex acetosella and Sedum telephium ) were limited by phosphate also in acid soils. The relative importance of H and Al ion concentrations to plant performance under variously acid soil conditions is discussed, and strong evidence is given for a decisive influence of Al ion toxicity on species diversity at pH-KCI > 4.5. The importance of grazing and former land use is considered briefly and the floristic differences between the western and the eastern half of the study area are discussed originating from differences in general distribution patterns of species and soil chemical properties.     

不同耕作方式对稻田土壤动物、微生物及酶活性的影响研究

以长期定位试验为基本材料,研究了不同耕作方式对土壤动物、微生物及酶活性的影响．结果表明,0～20cm土壤层内大、中、小型土壤动物垄作免耕为14700个·m^-22,冬水免耕为10450个·m^-22水旱轮作为7950个·m^-22常规平作为6275个·m^-22,垄作免耕处理土壤动物的数量是常规平作的2．34倍．土壤微生物数量和土壤微生物生物量氮因季节而异,总体上是春秋多而夏季少,土壤酶活性表现出表层高,底层低．土壤微生物数量、土壤微生物生物量氮及土壤酶活性不同处理间仍是垄作免耕>水旱轮作>冬水免耕>常规平作,表明垄作免耕有利于改善稻田土壤生态环境。有利于土壤肥力的提高。     

Base cation biogeochemistry and weathering under oak and pine: a controlled long-term experiment

Large earthen-walled lysimeters at the San Dimas Experimental Forest in southern California present a unique opportunity to assess vegetation effects on biogeochemical processes and cation release by weathering in controlled soil-vegetation systems where archived samples of soil parent material are available for comparison. The lysimeters were filled in 1937 with homogenized fine sandy loam derived on site from the weathering of diorite, and planted in 1946 with scrub oak (Quercus dumosa) and Coulter pine (Pinus coulteri). Changes in base cation contents were measured in above-ground biomass, and total and exchangeable soil pools to a depth of 1 meter. All cations in the non-exchangeable soil pool decreased relative to the initial fill material, indicating release by weathering. Sodium and K were depleted from both exchangeable and non-exchangeable pools of the soils. Plant uptake of Na was minimal, whereas K storage in vegetation exceeded the loss from the exchangeable soil pool. In both soil-vegetation systems, but especially for oak, there was an increase in exchangeable Ca and Mg. For all base cations, storage in above-ground biomass was greater for oak, whereas losses by weathering from the non-exchangeable soil pool were greater under pine. Strong evidence supports biocycling as a controlling mechanism resulting in greater Ca and Mg release by weathering under pine. In addition, decreases in non-exchangeable Ca and Mg were strongly correlated to decrease in Si under oak, whereas no correlation was observed under pine. We conclude that weathering reactions or stoichiometry differed between vegetation types.Corresponding author