Original humus forms in a semi-deciduous tropical forest in Guadeloupe

Humus profiles underneath the canopy of dominant tree species in two secondary semi-evergreen forest sites in Grande-Terre (Guadeloupe) were analysed with a micromorphological method. In the vertisol of a tree plantation, the humus formed was rather similar under all tree species being an eumull and essentially due to the activity of the endoanecic earthworm Polypheretima elongata. In a natural secondary forest located on a steep slope and associated with a rendzina soil (without endoanecic earthworms), the humus forms were described at lower, mid- and upper slope. In this forest, two particular humus forms were observed. At the middle slope, underneath the canopy of Pisonia subcordata L. that produces nitrogen-rich litter, a calcareous amphimull, characterised by an OH horizon made of millipede faecal pellets, was formed. In the upper slope, underneath the canopy of Bursera simaruba (L.) Sarg. that produces a litter rich in resins and aromatic compounds that are poorly consumed by soil animals, a dysmull with a thick root mat (OFRh horizon) developed. Other humus forms were intermediate. The formation of these humus forms is discussed.     

黄土高原典型区域土壤腐殖酸组分剖面分布特征

黄土高原作为典型的气候敏感带和生态环境脆弱区,诸多因素影响着这个区域的土壤有机碳及其组分的分布特征。本文以黄土高原典型区域土壤剖面 0—200 cm土样为对象,分析了土壤腐殖酸、胡敏酸（HA）和富里酸（FA）含量随地理位置及土层深度的分布特征,并进一步探讨了土壤腐殖酸、HA和FA与全氮含量及土壤颗粒组成的关系。结果表明,黄土高原主要类型土壤腐殖酸、HA和FA含量均较低,且存在明显地理位置和土层分异性：从南到北同层次土壤腐殖酸、HA和FA含量均显著降低,同一区域随土层深度增加各组分含量均表现为在 0—40 cm土层明显下降, 40—120 cm土层稍有下降,120 cm土层以下基本稳定;土壤腐殖酸占有机碳比例变化范围为26.6%—54.7%,相对较小,且在整个剖面变化幅度不大,从南向北土壤腐殖酸占有机碳比例有增加趋势;土垫旱耕人为土在 0—40 cm、 40—120 cm和 120—200 cm土层中HA占腐殖酸比例分别为39.8%、49.0%和53.5%,HA/FA分别为0.66、0.96和1.15,黄土正常新成土在以上土层中HA占腐殖酸比例分别为26.3%、33.9%和42.3%,HA/FA分别为0.36、0.51和0.73,干润砂质新成土在以上土层中HA占腐殖酸比例分别为13.4%、37.1%和45.2%,HA/FA分别为0.16、0.59和0.82,说明黄土高原南北主要类型土壤腐殖酸品质总体较差,均属富里酸型土壤,且从南到北腐殖酸品质逐渐下降;土壤腐殖酸、HA和FA均与全氮含量呈极显著线性相关（P<0.01）,土壤有机碳、腐殖酸及HA含量与粘粒及砂粒百分含量亦呈高度线性相关（P<0.01）。     

Humus Form Development during Forest Restoration in Exclosures of the Tigray Highlands, Northern Ethiopia

Forest restoration in protected exclosures has become a common practice to fight land degradation in the highlands of northern Ethiopia. Insights into ecosystem processes governing restoration in these formerly degraded areas are gained through the study of humus forms and factors influencing humus formation during vegetation recovery. Humus forms of 135 sample plots located in different land use types were morphologically described. The subsequent classification into six humus form types was based on principal component analysis and cluster analysis. Where areas are closed for a longer time, humus profiles are commonly more developed and higher organic matter accumulation is noticed as well as increased nutrient stocks. The combined effects of seasonal drought conditions and low fresh litter quality account for an overall slow decomposition, which explains the high importance of litter input for organic matter accumulation. Based on a correlation analysis, vegetation cover, litter production, litter quality, soil nutrient content, soil moisture, and topography were identified as important factors influencing humus formation. It is inferred that humus formation leads to improvements in soil fertility and structure, microclimate development, and soil protection and therefore forms part of the restoration processes taking place in exclosures.     

Humus profiles of Siberian soils under different forming conditions

Humus profiles of Siberia soils under different conditions and models of soil formation are considered in the paper. It is shown that the humus profiles of soils formed in the regions of displacement of landscape and soil borders and developed according to the polygenetic model as well as the soils of synlithogenous type of pedogenesis have a complicated structure. Simple structure of the humus profile characterizes soils developing within the framework of a simple (ideal, normal) model of soil formation.     

Maintenance and Impacts of an Inoculated mer/luc-Tagged Pseudomonas fluorescens on Microbial Communities in Birch Rhizospheres Developed on Humus and Peat

Antagonistic bacteria represent promising biocontrol agents for improving forest production in seedling nurseries or forest soils. The fate of an introduced mer/luc-tagged antagonistic Pseudomonas fluorescens 31K3 was monitored in the rhizosphere of silver birch (Betula pendula) seedlings grown in microcosms containing forest humus or nursery peat. The inoculated strain (10(8) cfu g(-1) soil) was unable to establish in significant numbers in either soil type and turned nonculturable in humus. Detection in both soils was possible only via luminescence of enrichment cultures 80 days post-inoculation. Despite low P. fluorescens survival, inoculation had a positive effect on seedling growth. Limited impact of inoculation on the indigenous microbial communities was identified following analyses of respiration and denitrification potential, community-level physiological profiles and molecular fingerprinting of fungi and eubacteria, and Pseudomonas community structures. The minor changes observed in the indigenous microbial communities, including mycorrhiza development, were not consistent between humus and peat growth substrates. It was concluded that the rhizosphere-related microbial communities developed in both of these highly organic soil systems are highly buffered against introduction of foreign bacteria.     

Change in the main components of the destruction link of biological cycle in the series of plain soils of the Great Lakes Depression in West Mongolia

The paper studies transformation of the main components of the destruction link of biological cycle in the catena series of soil in the Great Lakes Depression in West Mongolia. It shows that when the lakes dry the soil series experiences the changes in stores of biomass of soil microorganisms, number and species composition of oribatid mites.     

立地条件对寿竹生长的影响

通过对重庆市梁平县寿竹林16个样地进行抽样调查,探讨了坡度等7个立地因子对寿竹平均胸径、平均枝下高、平均秆高和平均壁厚生长的影响。结果表明:(1)坡位、海拔和物种多样性对寿竹生长影响最大;坡度、土层厚度和腐殖质厚度对其生长也有一定影响,而坡向影响不明显;(2)造林地应选择在海拔800m以下的平缓坡地,800m以上海拔、陡坡和斜坡均不适合寿竹生长;(3)坡位中的上坡不适合寿竹生长,造林地宜选择中、下坡;(4)土层不能太薄,适当加厚处理有利于寿竹生长;林地内应保持一定厚度的腐殖质层;(5)对于竹林下灌木和杂草不宜勤于拔除,以维持利于寿竹生长的生态环境;(6)寿竹对光照要求不高,在阴坡和阳坡的生长情况差异不大。     

A comparative study of soil formation in primary stands of Scots pine (planted) and poplar (natural) on calcareous dune sands in the Netherlands

Initial soil formation under primary stands of Scots pine (planted) and European black poplar (natural) on calcareous dune sands was studied, paying particular attention to the humus forms and their spatial variability. The stands studied are both about 80 years old and are situated, at close distance, in the coastal dunes near Wassenaar (the Netherlands).Under Scots pine, soils with a mor-type humus form were observed, exhibiting slight podzolisation. Soil variability is rather slight and soil development is comparable to that under primary Scots pine stands on non-calcareous inland drift sands. Under poplar, mull-type humus forms occur which tend towards moder and exhibit a markedly stronger litter decomposition and bioturbation. In contrast to the soils under pine, soil variability is considerable. Results from chemical analyses of two representative soil profiles are in conformance with these trends.It is concluded that the observed trends in soil formation are in line with those described in the literature, and that a period of 80 years is sufficient for a strong vegetation related divergence in soil properties. Soil variability within the stands probably results from redistribution of litter by wind and/or gravity and will be rather site-dependent.     

Effects of Pinus sylvestris root growth and mycorrhizosphere development on bacterial carbon source utilization and hydrocarbon oxidation in forest and petroleum-contaminated soils

The hypothesis that Pinus sylvestris L. root and mycorrhizosphere development positively influences bacterial community-linked carbon source utilization, and drives a concomitant reduction in mineral oil levels in a petroleum hydrocarbon- (PHC-) contaminated soil was confirmed in a forest ecosystem-based phytoremediation simulation. Seedlings were grown for 9 months in large petri dish microcosms containing either forest humus or humus amended with cores of PHC-contaminated soil. Except for increased root biomass in the humus/PHC treatment, there were no other significant treatment-related differences in plant growth and needle C and N status. Total cell and culturable bacterial (CFU) densities significantly increased in both rhizospheres and mycorrhizospheres that actively developed in the humus and PHC-contaminated soil. Mycorrhizospheres (mycorrhizas and extramatrical mycelium) supported the highest numbers of bacteria. Multivariate analyses of bacterial community carbon source utilization profiles (Biolog GN microplate) from different rhizosphere, mycorrhizosphere, and bulk soil compartments, involving principal component and correspondence analysis, highlighted three main niche-related groupings. The respective clusters identified contained bacterial communities from (i) unplanted bulk soils, (ii) planted bulk PHC and rhizospheres in PHC-contaminated soils, and (iii) planted bulk humus and rhizosphere/mycorrhizosphere-influenced humus, and mycorrhizosphere-influenced PHC contaminated soil. Correspondence analysis allowed further identification of amino acid preferences and increased carboxylic/organic acid preferences in rhizosphere and mycorrhizosphere compartments. Decreased levels of mineral oil (non-polar hydrocarbons) were detected in the PHC-contaminated soil colonized by pine roots and mycorrhizal fungi. These data further support our view that mycorrhizosphere development and function plays a central role in controlling associated bacterial communities and their degradative activities in lignin-rich forest humus and PHC-contaminated soils.     

内蒙半干旱低山区不同纯林土壤腐殖质分异特征及其与其他生物化学性质的关系

纯林土壤腐殖质含量及其构成是否会因枯落叶组成的单一性和单优群落环境的特殊性而发生分异变化是关系到森林可持续经营的关键问题.本文以内蒙半干旱低山区的6种典型纯林为研究对象,研究了不同树种纯林土壤腐殖质分异特征及其与其他生物化学性质的关系.结果表明：云杉和白桦林地土壤的腐殖质含量、缩合程度和稳定性均较高,其次为小叶杨和落叶松林地,再次为白榆林地,而油松林地土壤的腐殖质含量和缩合程度均最低、稳定性最差.土壤微生物生物量和磷酸酶活性与腐殖质各组分的积累及其稳定性存在相互促进作用;过氧化氢酶和脱氢酶活性则与土壤腐殖质存在相互抑制作用,且脱氢酶活性的提高可能破坏腐殖质的稳定性.速效N含量与腐殖质积累及其稳定性呈正相关,而全量Cu、Fe、Zn含量与腐殖质呈负相关,全Cu、Fe的增加可能会破坏腐殖质的稳定性.纯林环境及其枯落叶性质的特殊性是造成腐殖质分异的重要原因,混交改造或增加林下植被是改善土壤腐殖质构成的根本措施.     

Relations of soil properties to topography and vegetation in a subtropical rain forest in southern Taiwan

Soil chemical properties for a subtropical rain forest in the Nanjenshan Reserve, southern Taiwan, were examined to determine soil-landscape and soil-vegetation relationships. Soil sampling sites were separated into four groups based on landscape features and exposure to the prevailing northeasterly monsoon winds. Corresponding vegetation types were delimited along the first DCA axis. The forest showed a drastic change both in structure and floristic composition along the wind-stress gradient. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that both topographic variables and vegetation types were needed to explain the variation in soil data. Soil properties that differed significantly among landforms were pH, available N, CEC, exchangeable Al, K, Ca and Mg. Levels of pH, exchangeable Ca and Mg increased in a downslope direction, and exchangeable Al tended to be higher in the upper slope soils. These trends pointed to the importance of slope processes in redistribution of soil minerals. The main differences in soil properties attributed to the influence of the occupying vegetation were apparently aspect dependent. The contents of available N, exchangeable K, and CEC in the 0–40 cm depth of soils under windward low-stature (mostly sclerophyllous) forest were consistently lower compared to those under the leeward forest. For a given catena, however, soil variability associated with vegetation differences seemed to be confounded by the slope processes.     

Post-fire functioning of Eastern Cisbaikalian forest ecosystems

The post-fire dynamics of Eastern Cisbaikalian forest ecosystems is analyzed. Forest productivity is shown to be reduced by litter and humus ground fires. The study characterizes understory and soil changes after fires of various severities and remoteness.     

稻田免耕和稻草还田对土壤腐殖质和微生物活性的影响

为了阐明免耕和稻草还田土壤固碳机制,研究了无稻草还田免耕（NT）、无稻草还田常耕（CT）、稻草还田免耕（NTS）和稻草还田常耕（CTS）对水稻不同生育期不同土层（0—5,5—12,12—20cm）土壤腐殖质形态、含量及微生物活性的影响。结果表明,免耕（NT和NTS）处理显著增加0—5 cm土层土壤游离松结态、联结态和稳紧结态腐殖质含量和游离松结态腐殖质占总腐殖质的比例,且免耕对土壤各结合态腐殖质含量的影响程度有随生育期的推后而增加的趋势;5—12cm和12—20cm土层土壤各结合态腐殖质含量和0—20cm各土层微生物活性有减少趋势;在水稻分蘖期免耕对微生物活性影响很弱,在水稻拔节—灌浆期免耕处理显著降低5—12 cm土层土壤微生物活性,相反,免耕却增加水稻成熟期0—5 cm土层的微生物活性;另一方面,稻草还田（CTS和NTS）显著提高土壤各结合态腐殖质含量,尤其是0—5 cm土层、游离松结态腐殖质及水稻生育后期;CTS处理显著增加分蘖期—孕穗期0—20 cm土层的呼吸强度,而稻草还田显著增加孕穗期—成熟期0—5cm土层的纤维素分解强度。可见,通过增加土壤腐殖质含量和各结合态腐殖质含量并改变微生物活性免耕有利于表土层碳的固定作用,而免耕与稻草还田相结合更有利于土壤碳的积累。     

Geomorphic principles of terrain organization and vegetation gradients

Abstract. Moisture and nutrient gradients consistently explain much of the variation in plant species composition and abundance, but these gradients are not spatially explicit and only reveal species responses to resource levels. This study links these abstract gradients to quantitative, spatial models of hill‐slope assembly. A gradient analysis in the mixed‐wood boreal forest demonstrates that patterns of upland vegetation distribution are correlated to soil moisture and nutrient gradients. Variation in species abundance with time since the last fire is removed from the gradient analysis in order to avoid confounding the physical environment gradients. The physical‐environment gradients are related to qualitative positions on the hill slope i.e. crest, mid‐slope, bottom‐slope. However, hill‐slope shape can be quantitatively described and compared by fitting allometric equations to the slope profiles. Using these equations, we show that hill‐slope profiles on similar surficial materials have similar parameters, despite coming from widely separated locations. We then quantitatively link the moisture and nutrient gradients to the equations. Moisture and nutrients significantly increase as distance down‐slope from the ridgeline increases. Corresponding vegetation composition changes too. These relationships characterize the general pattern of vegetation change down most hill slopes in the area. Since hill slopes are a universal feature of all landscapes, these principles may characterize landscape scale spatial patterns of vegetation in many environments.     

Soil humic compounds and microbial communities in six spruce forests as function of parent material, slope aspect and stand age

The influences on soil chemical and microbial properties of parent material, north south aspect and time measured as stand age were investigated in six spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) forests located in the alpine range of Northern Italy. Soil samples from A horizons were analysed for humic substances and in parallel Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis (ARDRA) community profiles and microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen content were determined. Chemical data were analyzed by canonical discriminant analysis while the ARDRA fingerprints were ordered in clusters using image analysis software. The geologic parent material was the most determining factor and the aspect-dependent microclimate features also played a distinct role in defining both soil chemistry and microbial community composition; in contrast the composition of the deeper humus layers (OH, A) was stable and similar within a spruce forest cycle time. Most important variables in the construction of the discriminating models resulted soil pH, Dissolved Organic Carbon content and Dissolved Organic Matter phenolic compounds. Bacterial communities appeared to be shaped first and foremost by the substratum, secondly by mountain slope orientation, and thirdly by forest stage, thus confirming the CDA model.     

Consequences of liming and gypsum top-dressing on nitrogen and carbon dynamics in acid forest soils with different humus forms

The aim of this study was to understand the effects of lime and gypsum on nitrogen and carbon turnover of the soil. A pot experiment was conducted in parallel with a field experiment which was set up in 1989 in a declining forest of the French Ardennes. A dystric cambisol, associated with a moder and mull humus separately, was used to study changes in the soil chemistry as a result of added lime and gypsum top-dressing.The lime was applied to the surface of an acid mull humus of an oak (Quercus petraea) stand and of a moder humus of a spruce (Picea abies) stand. A quantity of 2.8 t ha^-1 equivalent CaO was supplied as CaCO₃, CaCO₃+MgO and CaSO₄.2H₂O. The experiment was installed in an open-air nursery for 20 months, during which the organic carbon and nitrogen in the solution were analysed monthly. They were analysed in the solid phase after 20 months. At the end of this period the changes in the soil and leachate depended mainly on the type of the material added.The leachate was enriched with nitrogen from the third month of the experiment under lime treatments and in the control. The same pattern was found under the two humus types but the magnitude was higher in soil with a mull humus. The nitrogen was mostly leached as NO₃ ^--N in the carbonate treatments and in the control, whereas it was predominantly NH₄ ⁺-N under gypsum. The NO₃ ^--N was 50% higher than NH₄ ⁺-N in the control and CaCO₃, CaCO₃+MgO treatments. In the CaSO₄ treatment this phenomenon was reversed. The leaching of organic carbon was greater under gypsum than under the other treatments whatever the humus.In the solid phase of the soil (organic layers) the organic carbon and nitrogen concentration decreased significantly after liming, especially in the mull humus. Consequently it induced a decrease in C:N ratio of about 18% with respect to the control.     

Anthropogenic N Deposition Increases Soil C Storage by Decreasing the Extent of Litter Decay: Analysis of Field Observations with an Ecosystem Model

Recent meta-analyses of experimental studies simulating increased anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition in forests reveal greater soil carbon (C) storage under elevated levels of atmospheric N deposition. However, these effects have not yet been included in ecosystem-scale models of soil C and N cycling and it is unclear whether increased soil C storage results from slower decomposition rates or a reduced extent of decomposition (for example, an increase in the amount of litter entering slowly decaying humus pools). To test these alternatives, we conducted a meta-analysis of litter decomposition data. We then used the results from our meta-analysis to model C and N cycling in four sugar maple forests in Michigan using an ecosystem process model (TRACE). We compared model results testing our alternative hypotheses to field data on soil C storage from a 17-year N deposition experiment. Using data from published litter decomposition studies in forests, we determined that, on average, exogenous N inputs decreased lignin decomposition rates by 30% and increased cellulose decomposition by 9%. In the same set of litter decomposition studies increased exogenous N availability increased the amount of litter entering slowly decaying humus pools in a manner significantly related to the lignocellulose index of decaying litter. Incorporating changes to decomposition rates in TRACE did not accurately reproduce greater soil C storage observed in our field study with experimentally elevated N deposition. However, when changes in the extent of decomposition were incorporated in TRACE, the model produced increased soil C storage by increasing the amount of litter entering the humus pool and accurately represented C storage in plant and soil pools under experimental N deposition. Our modeling results and meta-analysis indicate that the extent of litter decay as humus is formed, rather than slower rates of litter decay, is likely responsible for the accumulation of organic matter, and hence soil C storage, under experimental N deposition. This effect should be incorporated in regional to global-scale models simulating the C balance of forest ecosystems in regions receiving elevated N deposition.     

黄土高原马栏林区植物群落的多元分析与环境解释

应用双向指示种分析(TW IN SPAN)及除趋势对应分析(DCA)对黄土高原马栏林区40个植物群落样地资料进行了多元分析——数量分类和排序,并结合群落排序值与环境参数的回归分析给出各群落类型的定量环境解释,探讨了该区植物群落的基本类型、生态梯度及其与环境因子的定量关系.结果表明:在大尺度范围内,决定马栏林区植物群落宏观分布格局的主导因子是坡向和坡位;小尺度范围内,决定该区植物群落类型和分布的主导因子是枯枝落叶层厚度、土壤腐殖质厚度、土壤全磷、速效磷含量及土壤的pH值.     

Soil reproduction in steppe ecosystems of different ages

Features of the development of steppe chernozems were established based on the study of soils of different age groups at archaeological sites. Differences in the formation of phytomass and morphological maturity of the soil profile in the recovery of different age successions were shown. A regional model of the humus horizon steppe soil over time allowed us to estimate the time interval at which the processes of humus accumulation and morphological maturity of the soil profile are relatively at equilibrium, viz., 1700–1900 years.     

Effects of tree species composition on within‐forest distribution of understorey species

Question: Do tree species, with different litter qualities, affect the within‐forest distribution of forest understorey species on intermediate to base‐rich soils? Since habitat loss and fragmentation have caused ancient forest species to decline, those species are the main focus of this study. Location: Three ancient forests, along a soil gradient from acidification‐sensitive to base‐rich, were studied: Limbrichterbosch and Savelsbos in The Netherlands and Holtkrat in Denmark. Methods: Canopy and soil surveys along transects generated data for Redundancy Analysis on tree – humus relationships. We analysed the distribution of forest plant species with Canonical Correspondence Analysis. The explanatory factors were soil characteristics (pH, organic matter, loam content and thickness of the humus layers), external crown projection, ground water and canopy data. We further analysed the relationship between forest species and humus characteristics with Spearman correlations. Results: Tree species have a significant impact on humus characteristics through the nature of their litter. Humus characteristics significantly explain the distribution of forest understorey species. The pH of the first 25 cm mineral soil and the thickness of the F‐ (fermentation) layer are the primary factors affecting the distribution of ancient forest species. Conclusion: This study indicates that the species composition of the forest canopy affects the distribution of forest understorey species. Ancient forest species are more abundant and frequent underneath trees with base‐rich litter. On acidification‐sensitive soils these relationships were stronger than on more base‐rich, loamy soils.