Application of structural equation modeling for assessing relationships between organic carbon and soil properties in semiarid Mediterranean region

Restoration of atmospheric carbon in soils has principal many good effects. Arid lands cover more than 40 % of the global earth area, but only stock 16 % from the global carbon stock. It seems to be a suitable solution for this environmental issue, but still all variables controlling organic carbon in such kinds of soil, was ignored. This study aims to develop two models of organic carbon under clayey and sandy soils in semi-arid Mediterranean zones basing on physical and chemical soil properties. For establishing both models, structural equation modeling was used. For modeling organic carbon, two Tunisian soil databases composed from clayey and sandy soils made respectively, of 450 and 602 soil horizons were used. Using the two databases for all properties, the principal component analysis shows two components for clayey soil; (i) chemical properties and bulk density and (ii) physical properties. For the sandy soil it reveals two components; (i) chemical properties and (ii) physical properties. According to the derived components for each soil category, two models have been built. Structural equation modeling results show that clayey model has proved that organic carbon was controlled by chemical properties and bulk density more than physical properties and sandy model has proved that organic carbon was controlled by chemical properties more than physical properties. The root mean square errors of approximation were 0.079 and 0.050 for the clayey and sandy models, respectively. Then these two models were validated with two other databases from Tunisian dryland soils.     

Wetland soil organic matter composition in a Mediterranean semiarid wetland (Las Tablas de Daimiel, Central Spain): Insight into different carbon sequestration pathways

Wetland soils from a Mediterranean semiarid wetland (Las Tablas de Daimiel, Central Spain) were studied to characterize the organic matter (OM) and determine its origin and transformation. Cross polarization magic angle spinning (CPMAS) ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mathematical molecular mixing allowed analysis of the organic fraction in terms of six generic components (carbohydrate, protein, lignin, lipid, char and “carbonyl”). Las Tablas is an active carbon sink, with total organic carbon (TOC) content independent of soil OM quality; the TOC content of the upper sediment is 10.0 ± 7.8%. The inorganic carbon content is also high (5.4 ± 3.3%) and is associated mainly with OM of aliphatic character. The OM composition is variable; samples predominantly aliphatic (carbohydrate, lipid and protein) are characteristic of the northern sector, whereas predominantly aromatic samples are typical of the southern Tablas. A strong negative relationship between protein content and lignin content was found, interpreted as a consequence of different proportions of vascular vs. non-vascular (mostly charophyte) litter input. The effect of perturbation is apparent in the extended presence of char, particularly abundant in fire-prone areas. OM quantity and quality do not seem to depend on hydrology (although seasonal flooding is associated with lower TOC wetland soils) or soil characteristics. Dominant vegetation and fire are the main drivers of OM content and composition. Structural carbohydrate, protein and lipid (>60% of total organic fraction) dominate. Widespread anaerobic conditions and the recent character of the sediments could explain the preservation of different fractions of the original detritus composition (due to different vegetation and presence of microbes).     

Application of sugar foam to red soils in a semiarid Mediterranean environment

The study described here involved evaluating the effects that the application of one by-product (sugar foam waste) has upon red soils in the region of La Mancha (Central Spain). In view of the fact that this is a location where this type of soil abounds, this technique has been a common practice for many years. The principal goal was to investigate the impact of this approach on some of the soil properties and, secondly, on its level of fertility. As a result, this represents an investigation into the effects that this type of waste has on some soil quality parameters. The results showed that, after the addition of by-products over 25 years, sugar foam waste is of agricultural interest mainly due to the increase in organic matter concentration (about 2%) and, to a lesser extent, by increases in calcium carbonate (more than 30%) and P (four times more). The soil pH was also found to increase slightly (1.4), while the electrical conductivity almost did not change. The properties associated with these pedological qualities therefore had a positive effect by improving nutrient availability. As a result, foams arising from sugar industries have a positive effect on soil quality and the application of such foams to soils is beneficial since the need to dispose this residue is also removed.     

Spatial distribution of soil organic carbon and its influencing factors at different soil depths in a semiarid region of China

Studying spatial variability of soil organic carbon (SOC) is crucial for understanding the largest active carbon pool in terrestrial ecosystems. The main objectives ofves of this study were (1) to analyze the spatial pattern of SOC at different depths and (2) to define the soil properties affecting the spatial patterns of SOC at different depths. A total of 910 soil samples were collected at different locations and soil layers in a semiarid zone (3800 km²) of northeastern China. A geostatistical approach was used to predict and map SOC at different depths while the soil properties affecting the spatial patterns of SOC were analyzed by using canonical correspondence analysis. As expected, SOC content decreased gradually with depth and such a SOC decrease depended on soil type, which resulted the main factor affecting horizontal and vertical distributions of SOC content. Slope and bulk density exhibited a negative correlation with SOC content, whereas vegetation index, soil moisture content, elevation, and aspect showed a positive correlation. Sensitivity of SOC to influencing factors differed with increasing soil depth. SOC was significantly correlated with vegetation and bulk density on topsoil, while soil moisture and aspect played an important role in controlling SOC with increasing depth.     

Some observations on the stable carbon isotope composition of dissolved and particulate organic carbon in the marine environment

δ¹³C_PDB compositions for 39 samples of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from the Gulf of Mexico-Caribbean Sea-Atlantic Ocean system, the South Pacific and Ross Sea are reported. Deep water values are similar with a mean of ?21.8%. attesting to the homogeneity of the oceanic DOC pool. In Antarctic waters, a 5%. difference between DOC and particulate organic carbon (POC), with POC having values similar to modern plankton (δ¹³C_PDB approx ?27%.) supports the idea of the transient nature of POC as compared to DOC.Total, lipid, acid hydrolyzed, amino acid and residue fractions of POC are about 5, 3, 7, 5 and 3%. respectively, more negative in 2000 m water as compared to surface water samples from the Gulf of Mexico.     

The Variation of Soil Organic Matter in a Forest-Cultivation Sequence Traced by Stable Carbon Isotopes

On the basis of different photosynthetic pathways.there is an obvious difference in δ^13C values between C3 and C4 plants,In terms of this characteristic,we analyzed the organic carbon content (forestlands:1.81%-16.00%;farmland:0.45%-2.22%) and δ^13C values(forestlands:-23.86‰--27.12‰;farmland:-19.66‰--23.26‰)of three profile-soil samples either in farmland or in forestland near the Maolan Karst virgin forest,where there were developed plant C3 plants previously and now are C4 plants.Results showed that the deforestation has accelerated the decomposition rate of soil organic matter and reduced the proportion of active components in soil organic matter and thus soil fertility.     

Effects of precipitation pulses on water and carbon dioxide fluxes in two semiarid ecosystems: measurement and modeling

Modeling of soil?Cwater, ?Cheat and ?Ccarbon (C) fluxes provides an important tool for predicting mass and energy transfers based on a hydraulic-, thermal- and C-mass balance approach. Model predictions were evaluated using measured data from two water-limited study sites, one pasture and one supporting an alfalfa crop, to indentify differences between these ecosystems. Soil water content, temperature, and evapotranspiration (ET) data were used to validate soil water dynamics components of a process-based numerical model. Soil surface CO₂ efflux estimates (i.e., fluxes from soil respiration) were also made to estimate soil CO₂ emissions. The results show that the Hydrus-1D numerical model can be parameterized to simulate the soil hydrodynamics and CO₂ fluxes measured at both locations. Rainfall and irrigation events triggering increases in plant root and microbial respiration rates were simulated to recreate observed pulsed CO₂ fluxes. There were distinct differences in ET and soil CO₂ effluxes between the ecosystems and watering events significantly modified the fluxes. Differences in potential evapotranspiration and soil texture could help explain these discrepancies. The results demonstrate that numerical modeling can be a useful tool for estimating soil surface fluxes in calibrated ecosystems when micrometeorological methods may not be suitable.     

Studies on soil organic carbon of density-isolated fractions and water-stable aggregates under different types of land use on black soils

The experiment was conducted to determine the organic carbon concentrations of black soils by using density fractionation and wet-sieving of aggregates into five size fractions. Soil samples （0-20 cm layer） were collected from the following experiment sites （National Field Research Station of Agro-ecosystem in Hailun, Northeast of China）： （1） grassland （GL）, formerly cropped, and but fallowed in 1985 with Leymus chinesis as the dominant species; （2） bareland （BL）, like grassland, fallowed in 1985, but grasses were eliminated periodically during the plant growth stages; （3） cropland, three treatments in a long-term site experiment established in 1993 were selected, including no fertilizer applied （NF）, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers applied （NP）, and NP fertilizer amended with organic materials （NPOM）. The results showed that the total organic carbon （TOC） concentrations within five experiment sites differed significantly at P〈0.01. The natural ecosystem subjected to human disturbance or transferred into cropland resulted in loss of TOC, however, TOC concentrations increased significantly with chemical fertilizer plus organic manure incorporated into cropland. The OC concentrations in the free light fraction （free-LF） and heavy fraction （HF） had significant correlations with those of TOC in the whole soil at P〈0.01, which indicated that the accumulation of free-LF and HF was very important for the net increase in the TOC. In GL more than 90% of the aggregate separates was larger than 0.25 mm, in which aggregates larger than 2 mm accounted for 44%, as a result of physical enmeshing of fine roots.     

The dynamics of organic matter in soil size and density fractions traced by stable carbon isotopes

1IntroductionSoilorganicmatter (SOM)isakeysourceofnutrientsforplantgrowth ,itisessentialforthemaintenanceofsoilstructureanditcontributestotheabilityofsoiltoretainnutrientsandwater.AnimprovedunderstandingofSOMdynamicsiscentraltothedevelopmentofmoreenvironmentallysoundandsustainablepracticesofagriculturalmanagement (Collinsetal.,2 0 0 0 ) .Avarietyofcon ceptualmethodshavebeenusedtodescribetheprocessesofSOMaccumulationandturnover (Jen kinsonandRayner,1 977;Duxburyetal.1 989;Partonetal.,1 99…     

石漠化地区土地利用方式对土壤团聚体稳定性及有机碳的影响

以典型高原山地喀斯特石漠化6种土地利用方式土壤为研究对象,探讨不同生态恢复条件下,坡耕地转变为林地、草地及林草套种地后对表层土壤结构稳定性及其有机碳含量的影响。结果表明：在坡耕地实施石漠化治理措施,造林种草后,>0.25 mm团聚体含量显著增加,以人工林、次生林居多,坡耕地较少。在干湿筛处理下,采用平均质量直径（MWD）、几何平均直径（GMD）、分形维数（D）、>0.25 mm团聚体含量等指标来表征的团聚体稳定性显示,人工林和次生林土壤团聚体稳定性较强,坡耕地和林草套种地土壤团聚体稳定性较弱。总体上不同土地利用方式均以小粒级团聚体有机碳含量最高,>5 mm和2~5 mm水稳性团聚体有机碳对土壤有机碳的贡献率最大（除农耕地）;土壤大团聚体对土壤有机碳的固定起主要作用。石漠化坡耕地退耕还林种草有利于促进土壤表层土壤结构的稳定及有机碳的积累。     

冻融交替对砒砂岩与沙复配土壤团粒结构的影响

为研究冻融交替对砒砂岩与沙复配土壤团粒结构的影响,采用室内模拟冻融实验方法,研究了不同冻融周期和黏粒含量对复配土壤团粒结构的影响.结果表明:冻融周期、黏粒含量及二者的交互作用对复配土壤各级团粒结构组成均具有显著或极显著的影响.复配土壤黏粒含量越高,团粒结构的稳定性越高;在冻融作用下,随着复配土壤中沙比例的增大,大团粒结构含量总体呈降低趋势,降低速率先减小后增大,且砒砂岩与沙比例为1:1时大团粒结构降低的速率最小.结果说明冻融交替作用降低了土壤团粒结构的稳定性,将较大颗粒团粒结构崩解破碎成小粒级颗粒,更易于砒砂岩和沙复配成土.     

喀斯特石漠化治理措施对土壤颗粒有机碳与团聚体有机碳的影响

文章以耕地为对照,分析不同石漠化治理措施（花椒林和次生林）对土壤0~20 cm土层有机碳(SOC)、颗粒有机碳(POC)、矿物结合有机碳(MOC)和团聚体有机碳的影响,探讨POC、MOC与SOC、团聚体有机碳的关系。结果表明：与耕地相比,花椒林和次生林均不同程度提高SOC、POC、MOC和团聚体有机碳含量。0~10 cm土层次生林SOC含量和各粒径团聚体有机碳含量均显著高于耕地和花椒林,在10~20 cm土层无显著差异;0~20 cm土层花椒林和次生林土壤POC含量显著高于耕地,MOC无显著差异。POC/SOC范围为20.38%~45.27%,花椒林和次生林显著高于耕地。相反,MOC/SOC为耕地显著高于花椒林和次生林 。退耕为花椒林和次生林后,SOC含量的增加主要以POC含量增加为主。次生林和花椒林>2 mm粒径对SOC贡献率显著高于耕地,但0.25~2 mm粒径、0.053~0.25 mm粒径和 < 0.053 mm粒径对SOC贡献率显著低于耕地。其相关分析表明：POC、MOC与SOC、团聚体有机碳的关系均呈正相关,表现为次生林 > 花椒林 > 耕地。退耕恢复为花椒林和次生林后,SOC、POC和MOC增加量与团聚体有机碳增加量显著相关,其以次生林的相关性较强。石漠化治理措施改变SOC物理组分及其组成以及它们之间的关系,从而促进有机碳的积累。     

Dynamics of soil organic carbon following land-use change: insights from stable C-isotope analysis in black soil of Northeast China

Intensive soil tillage is a significant factor in soil organic matter decline in cultivated soils. Both cultivation abandonment and foregoing tillage have been encouraged in the past 30 years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and soil erosion. However, the dynamic processes of soil organic carbon (SOC) in areas of either continuous cultivation or abandonment remain unclear and inconsistent. Our aims were to assess and model the dynamic processes of SOC under continuous tillage and after cultivation abandonment in the black soil of Northeast China. Soil profiles were collected of cultivated or abandoned land with cultivation history of 0–100 years. An isotope mass balance equation was used to calculate the proportion of SOC derived from corn debris (C₄) and from natural vegetation (C₃) to deduce the dynamic process. Approximately 40% of SOC in the natural surface soil (0–10 cm) was eroded in the first 5 years of cultivation, increasing to about 75% within 40 years, before a slow recovery. C₄ above 30 cm soil depth increased by 4.5%–5% or 0.11–0.12 g·kg^?1 on average per year under continuous cultivation, while it decreased by approximately 0.34% annually in the surface soil after cultivation abandonment. The increase in the percentage of C₄ was fitted to a linear equation with given intercepts in the upper 30 cm of soil in cultivated land. A significant relationship between the change of C₄ and time was found only in the surface soil after abandonment of cultivation. These results demonstrate the loss and accumulation of corn-derived SOC in surface black soil of Northeast China under continuous tillage or cultivation abandonment.     

The distribution and stable carbon isotopic composition of dissolved organic carbon in estuaries

The distributions of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the natural carbon isotope ratio of DOC (DO¹³C) in estuaries reflect the predominant sources and sinks of organic matter from both allochthonous and autochthonous origins. The traditional view is that DOC in land-margin ecosystems reflects mainly the mixing of land-derived and oceanic DOC. However, this view is not consistent with the bulk of our data from a survey of DOC and DO¹³C distributions in estuaries on the East and Gulf coasts of the USA. While it is accurate that the DOC in estuaries includes material derived from land and from the ocean, the distributions of DOC and DO¹³C in several estuaries reflect additional DOC inputs from estuarine phytoplankton and tidal marshes. Even when DOC concentrations were distributed conservatively, the isotopic composition of the DOC revealed the existence of a dynamic cycle of DOC input and removal in some systems.     

陕西省府谷哈镇水环境及土壤环境现状研究

在进行"陕西省陕北石炭—二叠纪煤田府谷矿区马家梁-房子坪勘查区普查"项目的地质及水工环1:2. 5万地质填图中,对府谷哈镇周围部分井、泉、水库及土壤进行了采样分析,采集水样共10件,其中水质简分析4件、水质环境分析4件、水质全分析2件,采集土壤样品4件。分析结果发现该区水质多属CO32-·HCO3-·SO42--Na+·Ca2+·Mg2+型,又根据Cl-、SO42-、Mg2+、Na+之间的关系计算得出,主要为重碳酸钠型和硫酸钠型水,矿化度介于138～1145 mg/L之间,平均约580. 43 mg/L,水质中重金属铅、镉及挥发酚、pH超标。土壤分析结果显示区内的汞含量基本都超标;土污染1、4的镉元素含量超标;土污染1的镉、汞、砷、铅、锌值与其他样品相比,都表现为高值超出标准值,说明贺家梁-范家梁一带土污染较为严重。     

半干旱岩溶区土壤次生碳酸盐比例及对岩溶碳汇计算的影响

定量评价半干旱岩溶区土壤次生碳酸盐比例和来源有助于认识土壤系统影响岩溶作用的机理。选取山西晋中盆地西南,吕梁山东侧的半干旱岩溶区马跑神泉小流域为研究对象,通过对林地、退耕地、灌丛地土壤剖面进行分层取样并测定碳酸盐含量及其δ13C、CO2浓度及其δ13C值,分析其随深度的变化规律和控制因素;并结合研究区碳酸盐岩的δ13C值计算3个剖面各层土壤次生碳酸盐所占比例。研究结果表明:3个土壤剖面的碳酸盐含量、CO2浓度在0~50 cm土层随深度增加而增加,在50~70 cm土层随深度增加而减少;土壤碳酸盐δ13C值、δ13CCO2值在0~50 cm土层随深度增加而偏负,在50~70 cm土层随深度增加而偏重;土壤碳酸盐含量及其δ13C值主要受次生碳酸盐比例控制,而土壤CO2及其δ13CCO2值在上层主要受大气CO2和土壤有机质分解生成的CO2共同影响,下层还受土-岩界面岩溶作用过程制约;退耕地、林地、灌丛剖面次生碳酸盐所占比例的均值分别为52%、42%和32%,证实北方半干旱岩溶区土壤中存在原生碳酸盐向次生碳酸盐转化过程。      

Urban expanding pattern and soil organic, inorganic carbon distribution in Shanghai, China

Soil carbon stock changes induced by land-use change play an essential role in the global greenhouse effect and carbon circulation. This paper studies the urban expanding patterns and spatial characteristics of soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil inorganic carbon (SIC) distribution and evolution during the urbanization process of Shanghai, China, based on the data of the regional geochemical survey. Urbanization process in Shanghai, China, has been quickening greatly since the 1980s. The urban area expanded from 193.08 km² in 1980 to 1,570.52 km² in 2005, or up from 3.05 to 24.77% in the past 25 years, and the urban expansion circled the central city region according to the RS images acquired in the periods of 1980, 2000 and 2005. The urban topsoil is slightly enriched with SOC and SIC, which shows obvious spatial variability. By comparison of SOC and SIC distribution in the central urban area, urbanized area during 1980–2000, 2000–2005 and the suburban area, the SOC obviously accumulates in the central urban area, while SOC density in the urbanized area decreases; similarly, the SIC obviously accumulates in central urban area; furthermore, the SIC density increases with urban land use duration extending and urban ecosystem evolving. This paper provides the characteristics of SOC and SIC distribution and evolution during the course of urbanization, which may be useful for assessing the impact of land use and urban development on SOC and SIC pools in urban ecosystem.     

Effects of thermal maturation on stable organic carbon isotopes as determined by hydrous pyrolysis of Woodford Shale

Acquiring crude oils that have been expelled from the same rock unit at different levels of thermal maturation is currently not feasible in the natural system. This prevents direct correlation of compositional changes between the organic matter retained in a source rock and its expelled crude oil at different levels of thermal maturation. Alleviation of this deficiency in studying the natural system requires the use of laboratory experiments. Natural generation of petroleum from amorphous type-II kerogen in the Woodford Shale may be simulated by hydrous pyrolysis, which involves heating crushed rock in contact with water at subcritical temperatures (<374°C). Four distinct stages of petroleum generation are observed from this type of pyrolysis; (1) pre-oil generation, (2) incipient-oil generation, (3) primary-oil generation, and (4) post-oil generation.The effects of thermal maturation on the δ¹³C values of kerogen, bitumen, and expelled oil-like pyrolysate from the Woodford Shale have been studied through these four stages of petroleum generation. Similar to the natural system, the kerogens isolated from the pyrolyzed rock showed no significant change in δ¹³C. This suggests that the δ¹³C value of kerogens may be useful in kerogen typing and oil-to-source rock correlations. δ¹³C values of bitumens extracted from the pyrolyzed rock showed an initial decrease during the incipient-oil generation stage, followed by depletion during the primary- and post-oil generation stages. This reversal is not favorable for geochemical correlation or maturity evaluation. Saturated and polar components of the bitumen show the greatest δ¹³C variations with increasing thermal maturation. The difference between the δ¹³C of these two components gives a unidirectional trend that serves as a general indicator of thermal maturation and is referred to as the bitumen isotope index (BII).δ¹³C values of the expelled pyrolysates show a unidirectional increase with increasing thermal maturation. The constancy and similarity of δ¹³C values of the aromatic components in the expelled pyrolysates and bitumens, with increasing thermal maturation, encourages their use in oil-to-oil and oil-to-source rock correlations. Isotopic type-curves for expelled pyrolysates indicate that they may be useful in oil-to- oil correlations, but have a limited use in oil-to-source rock correlations.     

安徽滁州地区土壤有机碳储量分布特征研究

利用多目标区域土壤地球化学调查取得的土壤地球化学数据及安徽省第二次土壤普查数据对滁州地区土壤有机碳储量分布特征、有机碳密度及有机碳储量时空变化规律等问题进行了研究.结果表明滁州地区近30年间土壤有机碳储量减少了8.39 Mt.区内大部分地区土壤碳储量表现出“碳源”效应,仅局部地区呈现出“碳汇”效应.滁州地区0~0.2 m表层土层有机碳储量为53.74 Mt,有机碳密度平均为3.42kg/m2,略低于全国平均水平.滁州地区0~1.8 m表层土层中,72%的土壤有机碳储量赋存于0~1.0 m土壤中.通过对滁州地区不同统计单元的中层土壤有机碳储量及密度的分析,系统查明了土壤有机碳的分布特征,为土壤碳循环研究提供了参考依据.