氮添加量和施氮频率对温带半干旱草原土壤呼吸及组分的影响

日益加剧的氮沉降已经对陆地生态系统生产力和碳循环过程产生了显著影响。草原生态系统近90%的碳储存在土壤中, 明确土壤呼吸及其组分对氮添加的响应对评估大气氮沉降背景下草原生态系统碳平衡和土壤碳库稳定性是非常重要的。以往关于草原土壤呼吸对氮沉降响应的理解多是基于短期(<5年)和低频(每年1-2次)氮添加实验研究, 而关于长期氮添加和不同施氮频率对土壤呼吸及其组分的影响尚缺乏实验证据。该研究基于2008年建立在内蒙古半干旱草原的长期氮添加实验平台, 包括6个氮添加水平和2个施氮频率处理, 通过连续两年(2018-2019年)土壤呼吸及其组分的测定, 发现: 1)氮添加显著降低了土壤总呼吸速率(R_s), 且R_s下降程度随着氮添加量的增加而增强。土壤异养呼吸速率(R_h)的显著下降是R_s下降的主要原因。2)不同氮添加频率并未显著影响土壤呼吸及其组分对氮添加处理的响应。3)长期氮添加造成的土壤酸化降低了土壤微生物活性并改变了微生物群落结构(真菌/细菌比), 进而导致土壤呼吸及其异养组分呈现显著的负响应。以上结果表明, 长期(>10年)氮添加对土壤地下碳循环过程的抑制作用非常明显, 特别是异养呼吸组分的下降会降低土壤有机碳分解速率, 有助于土壤碳库稳定性的维持。同时, 随着氮添加处理时间的延长, 不同施氮频率影响效应的差异减弱, 表明目前长期的低频氮添加实验监测数据可以为评估自然生态系统对大气氮沉降的响应提供较为可靠的参考。     

氮沉降对长白山森林土壤团聚体内碳、氮含量的影响

氮沉降是影响陆地生态系统碳、氮循环的最重要因素之一.为了解土壤团聚体碳、氮组分对氮沉降的响应,本研究在长白山选取次生杨桦林(YHL)与原始阔叶红松林(HSL)两种林型进行为期6年的氮添加试验,采集土壤样品并分析氮沉降对不同粒径土壤团聚体中可溶性有机碳、氮(DOC和DON)、微生物生物量碳、氮(MBC和MBN)、颗粒有机碳、氮(POC和PON)的影响.结果表明: 除POC和PON外,两林分土壤团聚体碳、氮组分含量均随团聚体粒径的减小而增加;氮添加处理显著降低了HSL土壤团聚体中POC和PON含量,降幅分别达20.7%和22.6%,显著增加了DOC含量,增幅达11.6%;氮添加处理对YHL土壤团聚体的碳、氮组分均无显著影响,其中,对DOC和MBC的影响接近于显著(0.05＜P＜0.1).皮尔森相关分析结果表明,土壤团聚体中总碳或总氮与碳、氮活性组分之间有良好的相关性,其中,HSL土壤的POC与DOC之间呈极显著负相关(r=-0.503),DOC又与MBC呈显著正相关关系(r=0.462).氮添加处理降低阔叶红松林土壤团聚体中POC和PON含量、增加DOC含量的主要原因是其促进了微生物对POM的分解,进而导致DOC的释放.阔叶红松林土壤碳、氮库对氮沉降的响应比次生杨桦林更加敏感.     

草地群落多样性和生态系统碳氮循环对氮输入的非线性响应及其机制

理解草地生态系统结构和功能对氮富集的响应及其机制有助于准确评估大气氮沉降等外源氮输入的生态效应。全球范围内建立的多水平氮添加实验为认识草地生态系统结构和功能对氮输入的非线性响应机制提供了有效途径。为了反映学术界基于多水平氮添加控制实验取得的主要研究进展,该文综述了草地群落多样性和生态系统碳氮循环过程对外源氮输入的非线性响应特征及其驱动机制。按照目前的研究,氮输入会导致草地植物物种多样性、功能多样性以及土壤细菌多样性下降,但真菌多样性的变化并不明显。地上和地下生产力对氮输入的响应趋势存在差异:地上生产力沿氮添加梯度呈“先上升后饱和”的变化规律,而根系生产量和根冠比呈下降趋势,根系周转速率则呈“先上升后下降”的单峰格局。不同碳分解过程对氮输入的响应也不尽相同:凋落物分解速率沿氮添加梯度表现出“指数衰减、线性增加或无显著变化”的多元响应,而土壤呼吸和CH₄吸收速率与施氮量的关系则以“低氮促进、高氮抑制”的单峰趋势为主。类似地,不同土壤碳组分对氮输入的响应存在差异:氮添加总体会导致草地土壤碳库和颗粒态有机碳含量增加,而矿物结合态碳含量随施氮量呈“增加、不变或下降”的多元响...     

短期氮沉降改变毛竹林凋落物和土壤有机质化学组成

为了探究短期氮沉降对凋落物和土壤有机质化学组成的影响,以亚热带毛竹林为对象,于2020年7月—2022年1月设置氮沉降增加(施氮量50 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1)处理,利用热裂解气相色谱质谱联用(Py-GC/MS)技术,对毛竹林毛竹叶/根凋落物和土壤的有机质化学组分进行了分析。结果表明：与对照相比,短期氮沉降处理土壤有机质中酚类的相对含量显著增加了50.9%,而脂肪酸的相对含量显著减少了26.3%;叶凋落物中烷烯烃和木质素的相对含量显著增加了51.9%和33.5%,酚类和多糖的相对含量显著减少了52.2%和56.3%;根凋落物中多杂环芳香烃的相对含量显著减少了16.6%。土壤有机质中脂肪酸的相对含量与叶凋落物中多糖的相对含量呈显著正相关;土壤有机质中酚类的相对含量与叶凋落物中木质素的相对含量呈显著正相关,与多糖的相对含量呈显著负相关。短期氮沉降对毛竹林毛竹叶/根凋落物和土壤的总有机碳、总氮和碳氮比均无显著影响,但是会显著改变三者的有机质化学组成;另外,短期氮沉降下土壤有机质化学组成的变化受叶凋落物有机质化学组成的影响。     

增氮对青藏高原东缘典型高寒草甸土壤有机碳组成的影响

土壤有机碳动态是陆地生态系统碳平衡研究的关键环节,有关青藏高原高寒草甸土壤有机碳组成对大气氮沉降增加的响应研究至今尚未开展。基于中国科学院海北生态站的大气氮沉降模拟控制实验平台,于2010年5月、7月和9月中旬分别测定不同施氮处理下0—10cm、10—20cm、20—30cm土壤中粗颗粒态有机碳(CPOC)、细颗粒态有机碳(FPOC)和矿质结合有机碳(MOC)含量,研究不同施氮类型(NH4Cl,(NH4)2SO4和KNO3)和施氮水平(0、10、20、40 kgN.hm-.2a-1)对土壤POC和MOC含量以及POC/MOC比值的影响。结果表明:青藏高原高寒草甸土壤POC积聚在土壤表层,占总土壤有机碳(SOC)含量的64%以上,稳定性较差。施氮水平显著改变了土壤CPOC、FPOC和MOC含量,而施氮类型的影响不显著。不同月份土壤POC和MOC含量对增氮的响应不同,反映了SOC组分对增氮响应的时间异质性。在生长季中期,施氮倾向于增加表层土壤POC含量,而在生长季初期和末期恰好相反。土壤MOC对增氮的响应不敏感。另外,施氮显著降低生长季初期表层土壤POC/MOC比例,SOC稳定性增加。表明,青藏高原高寒草甸土壤有机碳活性组分较高,未来大气氮沉降增加短期内即可降低活性有机碳含量,相应地改变了其组成和稳定性。     

长期氮添加对草甸草原生态系统氮库的影响

大气氮沉降增加深刻影响生态系统物种多样性、生产力及其稳定性,研究草原生态系统N库如何响应不断增加的大气氮沉降至关重要。本研究在内蒙古额尔古纳草甸草原开展刈割和不同水平外源氮添加试验,设置6个氮添加水平: 0、2、5、10、20和50 g·m^-2·a^-1,同时设置刈割处理,分为刈割和不刈割2个水平。在连续处理的第7年,采集群落中优势植物地上部分、群落根、地表凋落物和0～100 cm分层土壤样品,测定N含量并计算N库储量。结果表明: 氮添加显著增加植物地上部分和凋落物N含量,以及羊草、植物群落和凋落物的N库及生态系统N库总量。刈割处理显著增加羊草叶片和凋落物N含量,降低羊草、植物群落和凋落物N库,但并不改变它们对氮添加的响应格局。此外,刈割和氮添加对植物群落N库存在显著的交互作用。在不刈割处理下,高水平氮添加使更多的氮储存在凋落物中等待分解,植物群落N库的饱和阈值出现在10 g·m^-2·a^-1;在刈割处理下,植物群落N库表现为随氮添加量增加而不断增加,并且在相同水平氮添加条件下刈割后进入到植物群落N库中的氮更多。刈割可以缓解氮沉降不断增加对生物多样性和生态系统稳定性造成的不利影响,并可以在一定程度上推迟氮沉降增加引起的生态系统氮饱和的发生。     

连续氮添加14年对温带典型草原土壤碳氮组分及物理结构的影响

全球氮沉降对生态系统造成了深远的影响,研究长时间氮沉降对草地生态系统土壤理化特征的影响有助于加强生态系统对氮沉降响应的长效机制的理解。通过连续14年长期施加N0（0 g N m^-2 a^-1）、N2（2 g N m^-2 a^-1）、N4（4 g N m^-2 a^-1）、N8（8 g N m^-2 a^-1）、N16（16 g N m^-2 a^-1）、N32（32 g N m^-2 a^-1）六种浓度尿素模拟氮沉降,并将土壤分成0-10、10-20和20-40 cm三个深度土层,研究温带草原生态系统土壤碳氮组分及物理结构对氮添加的响应及其相互关系,结果表明：（1）氮添加显著降低0-10 cm土壤酸碱度及土壤微生物量碳含量,N32相比N0分别下降了27.63%和58.40%（P<0.05）;各土层总有机碳和全氮含量对氮添加处理无显著响应,0-10 cm土层显著高于20-40 cm土层。（2）同一土层深度不同梯度氮添加处理显著增加土壤无机氮离子含量（P<0.05）,0-10 cm土层铵态氮含量N32相比N0增加了88.72%,20-40 cm土层硝态氮含量N32相比N0增加了19.55倍,土壤深度与氮添加对无机氮离子含量影响具有显著的交互效应。（3）同一土壤深度不同梯度氮添加处理土壤粒度分形维数及土壤团聚体差异不显著,相关分析表明土壤碳氮元素含量与土壤结构显著相关。土壤碳氮组分在适宜浓度氮添加的增加趋势说明氮添加在一定程度上可能促进土壤理化性质的改良,氮添加对土壤物理结构的影响还需要进一步的深入研究。     

不同水平氮添加对盐渍化草地土壤微生物特征的影响

氮是陆地生态系统生产力的主要限制性因素, 土壤微生物是土壤氮转化的主要驱动因子, 随着大气氮沉降的增加, 盐渍化草地土壤微生物对不同水平氮输入的响应尚不清晰。在山西右玉黄土高原草地生态系统定位观测研究站不同水平氮添加平台(0、1、2、4、8、16、24和32 g·m^-2·a^-1), 在实验处理的第4年(2020年)测定生长季(5-9月)氨氧化细菌(AOB)和氨氧化古菌(AOA)丰度, 土壤真菌和细菌组成, 以及土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、氮(MBN)含量, 探讨土壤微生物特征对不同氮输入水平的响应机制。研究表明: (1)在2020年生长季的5-9月, 由于土壤温度和水分的差异, 取样日期显著影响氨氧化微生物、细菌和真菌的数量及MBC、MBN含量。(2)氮添加仅显著影响AOB丰度, 对MBC、MBN含量及细菌和真菌丰度的影响均不显著。(3)氮添加对AOB丰度的影响与取样日期有关, 在生长季早期和高峰期(5-8月), 24和32 g·m^-2·a^-1氮添加显著提高AOB丰度, 在生长季后期(9月)氮添加对AOB丰度的影响不显著。(4)土壤阳离子浓度和土壤pH对AOB丰度的变异具有较高的解释度, 分别解释了土壤微生物特征变异的21.8%和17.2%。由于不同水平氮添加并未显著改变土壤阳离子浓度和土壤pH, 土壤MBC、MBN含量, 细菌和真菌的丰度对氮输入的响应不敏感, 仅在高氮处理显著提高了AOB的丰度, 说明高氮添加可能会促进盐渍化草地土壤氮的转化速率。     

氮添加对昆仑山高山草地土壤、微生物和植物生态化学计量特征的影响

全球范围内的氮沉降增加改变了生态系统氮(N)素循环过程,由此带来的生态学效应已成为当前研究的热点。以昆仑山高山草地生态系统2种优势植物黄花棘豆(Oxytropis ochrocephala)和针茅(Stipa capillata)为研究对象,开展人工氮肥添加试验,研究土壤-微生物-植物系统各组分生态化学计量特征对氮添加的响应特征。结果表明:①氮添加显著提高了土壤NH4^+-N和土壤NO3^--N含量(P<0.05),土壤全N、全磷(P)、速效P含量没有明显变化。②氮添加条件下针茅叶片N含量增加,P含量降低,而黄花棘豆N和P含量无明显变化。③土壤微生物量碳(MBC)和微生物量氮(MBN)随着施氮量的增加呈现出先增加后降低的趋势,当施氮量为6N·m^-2·y^-1时呈现出最高值。土壤NH4+-N含量与土壤微生物量N含量有显著的正相关关系(P<0.01)。综合分析表明,短期氮添加有利于土壤养分和微生物量的积累,促进植物和微生物养分吸收利用。2种优势植物的生态化学计量特征对氮沉降的响应不同,过量的氮输入将会造成植物生长受到P限制,氮沉降会改变昆仑山高山草地生态系统的生物地球化学循环过程。     

氮添加对中国陆地生态系统植物-土壤碳动态的影响

近年来,中国大气氮沉降水平不断增加,过量的活性氮输入深刻影响了我国陆地生态系统碳循环。虽然已有大量的研究报道了模拟氮添加实验对我国陆地生态系统碳动态的影响,但是由于复杂的地理条件和不同的施氮措施,关于植物和土壤碳库对氮添加的一般响应特征和机制仍存在广泛争议。因此,采用整合分析方法,收集整理了172篇已发表的中国野外氮添加试验结果,在全国尺度上探究氮添加对我国陆地生态系统植物和土壤碳动态的影响及其潜在机制。结果表明,氮添加显著促进了植物的碳储存,地上和地下生物量均显著增加,且地上生物量比地下生物量增加得多。同时,氮添加显著增加了凋落物质量,但对细根生物量没有显著影响。氮添加显著降低了植物叶片、凋落物和细根的碳氮比。总体上,氮添加显著增加了土壤有机碳含量并降低了土壤pH值,但对可溶性有机碳、微生物生物量碳和土壤呼吸的影响并不显著。在不同的地理条件下,土壤有机碳含量对氮添加的响应呈现增加、减少或不变的不同趋势。回归分析表明,地上生物量与土壤有机碳含量之间,以及微生物生物量碳与土壤有机碳含量之间呈负相关关系。虽然氮添加通过增加凋落物质量显著促进了植物碳输入,但同时也会通过刺激微生物降解来增加土...     

氮沉降增加情景下植物-土壤-微生物交互对自然生态系统土壤有机碳的调控研究进展

大气氮沉降增加倾向于促进受氮限制陆地生态系统地上生物量,但是对地下碳过程和土壤碳截存的影响结果迥异,导致陆地生态系统“氮促碳汇”的评估存在很大的不确定性。大气氮沉降输入直接影响微生物活性或间接影响底物质量,改变凋落物和土壤有机质(SOM)的分解速率和分解程度,进而影响土壤有机碳(SOC)的积累与损耗过程。过去相关研究主要集中在土壤碳转化过程和碳储量动态方面,缺乏植物-微生物-SOM交互作用的理解,对土壤碳截存调控的生物化学和微生物学机理尚不清楚。本文以地下碳循环过程为主线,分别综述了氮沉降增加对植物地下碳分配、SOC激发效应、微生物群落碳代谢过程的影响,深入分析SOM化学稳定性与微生物群落动态的关系。该领域研究的薄弱环节体现在:(1)增氮倾向于降低根系的生长和周转,对根际沉积碳分配(数量和格局)的影响及驱动因素不明确;(2)虽然认识到氮素有效性影响土壤激发效应的方向和强度,但是氧化态NO-3和还原态NH+4输入对有机质激发效应的差异性影响及潜在机理知之甚少;(3)微生物碳利用效率(CUE)是微生物群落碳代谢的关键表征,能够很好地解释土壤碳的积累与损耗过程;由于缺乏适宜的测定方法,难以准确量化土壤微生物的CUE及微生物生物量的周转时间;(4)增氮会抑制土壤真菌群落及其胞外酶活性,对细菌群落组成的影响尚未定论,有关SOM化学质量与土壤微生物群落活性、组成之间的耦合关系尚不清楚。未来研究应基于长期的氮添加控制实验平台,结合碳氧稳定性同位素示踪、有机质化学、分子生物学和宏基因组学等方法,深入分析植物同化碳的地下分配规律、微生物碳代谢和周转、有机质化学结构与功能微生物群落的耦合关系等关键环节。上述研究将有助于揭示植物-土壤-微生物交互作用对SOC动态的调控机制,完善陆地生态系统碳-氮耦合循环模型,有效降低区域陆地碳汇评估的不确定性,并可为陆地生态系统应对全球变化提供科学依据。     

Soil organic matter and litter chemistry response to experimental N deposition in northern temperate deciduous forest ecosystems

The effects of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition on organic matter decomposition vary with the biochemical characteristics of plant litter. At the ecosystem‐scale, net effects are difficult to predict because various soil organic matter (SOM) fractions may respond differentially. We investigated the relationship between SOM chemistry and microbial activity in three northern deciduous forest ecosystems that have been subjected to experimental N addition for 2 years. Extractable dissolved organic carbon (DOC), DOC aromaticity, C : N ratio, and functional group distribution, measured by Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), were analyzed for litter and SOM. The largest biochemical changes were found in the sugar maple–basswood (SMBW) and black oak–white oak (BOWO) ecosystems. SMBW litter from the N addition treatment had less aromaticity, higher C : N ratios, and lower saturated carbon, lower carbonyl carbon, and higher carboxylates than controls; BOWO litter showed opposite trends, except for carbonyl and carboxylate contents. Litter from the sugar maple–red oak (SMRO) ecosystem had a lower C : N ratio, but no change in DOC aromaticity. For SOM, the C : N ratio increased with N addition in SMBW and SMRO ecosystems, but decreased in BOWO; N addition did not affect the aromaticity of DOC extracted from mineral soil. All ecosystems showed increases in extractable DOC from both litter and soil in response to N treatment. The biochemical changes are consistent with the divergent microbial responses observed in these systems. Extracellular oxidative enzyme activity has declined in the BOWO and SMRO ecosystems while activity in the SMBW ecosystem, particularly in the litter horizon, has increased. In all systems, enzyme activities associated with the hydrolysis and oxidation of polysaccharides have increased. At the ecosystem scale, the biochemical characteristics of the dominant litter appear to modulate the effects of N deposition on organic matter dynamics.     

Long‐term changes in forest carbon under temperature and nitrogen amendments in a temperate northern hardwood forest

Currently, forests in the northeastern United States are net sinks of atmospheric carbon. Under future climate change scenarios, the combined effects of climate change and nitrogen deposition on soil decomposition, aboveground processes, and the forest carbon balance remain unclear. We applied carbon stock, flux, and isotope data from field studies at the Harvard forest, Massachusetts, to the ForCent model, which integrates above‐ and belowground processes. The model was able to represent decadal‐scale measurements in soil C stocks, mean residence times, fluxes, and responses to a warming and N addition experiment. The calibrated model then simulated the longer term impacts of warming and N deposition on the distribution of forest carbon stocks. For simulation to 2030, soil warming resulted in a loss of soil organic matter (SOM), decreased allocation to belowground biomass, and gain of aboveground carbon, primarily in large wood, with an overall small gain in total system carbon. Simulated nitrogen addition resulted in a small increase in belowground carbon pools, but a large increase in aboveground large wood pools, resulting in a substantial increase in total system carbon. Combined warming and nitrogen addition simulations showed a net gain in total system carbon, predominately in the aboveground carbon pools, but offset somewhat by losses in SOM. Hence, the impact of continuation of anthropogenic N deposition on the hardwood forests of the northeastern United States may exceed the impact of warming in terms of total ecosystem carbon stocks. However, it should be cautioned that these simulations do not include some climate‐related processes, different responses from changing tree species composition. Despite uncertainties, this effort is among the first to use decadal‐scale observations of soil carbon dynamics and results of multifactor manipulations to calibrate a model that can project integrated aboveground and belowground responses to nitrogen and climate changes for subsequent decades.     

Available soil nitrogen in relation to fractions of soil nitrogen and other soil properties

The available N of 27 soils from England and Wales was assessed from the amounts of N taken up over a 6-month period by perennial ryegrass grown in pots under uniform environmental conditions. Relationships between availability and the distribution of soil N amongst various fractions were then examined using multiple regression. The relationship: available soil N (mg kg^–1 dry soil)=(N_min×0.672)+(N_inc×0.840)+(N_mom×0.227)–5.12 was found to account for 91% of the variance in available soil N, where N_min=mineral N, N_inc=N mineralized on incubation and N_mom=N in macro-organic matter. The N mineralized on incubation appeared to be derived largely from sources other than the macro-organic matter because these two fractions were poorly correlated. When availability was expressed in terms of available organic N as % of soil organic N (N_ao) the closest relationship with other soil characteristics was: N_ao=[N_inc×(1.395–0.0347×CN_mom]+[N_mom×0.1416], where CN_mom=CN ratio of the macro-organic matter. This relationship accounted for 81% of the variance in the availability of the soil organic N.The conclusion that the macro-organic matter may contribute substantially to the available N was confirmed by a subsidiary experiment in which the macro-organic fraction was separated from about 20 kg of a grassland soil. The uptake of N by ryegrass was then assessed on two subsamples of this soil, one without the macro-organic matter and the other with this fraction returned: uptake was appreciably increased by the macro-organic matter.     

不同研究尺度下土壤有机质和全氮的空间变异特征

在北京郊区面积为1075km^2的中尺度（平谷区）以400m&#215;400m网格采样,共采集1076个样点,同时在平谷区内面积为28．8km^2的小尺度（马昌营镇）以100m&#215;100m网格采样,共采集171个样点,测定其耕层土壤有机质和全氮的含量。应用传统统计学和地统计学方法,对两个研究尺度下的数据进行了分析,结果表明：有机质和全氮的变异系数范围为0．31～0．40,均属中等变异强度,随着研究尺度的缩小,土壤全氮的变异系数减少。半方差函数分析结果表明,两个研究尺度下,有机质和全氮均在一定范围内存在空间相关关系,区级尺度有机质和全氮的空间相关距离较大,分别为88．2km和4．9km,镇级尺度有机质和全氮的变程较小,均为0．7km,它们的空间异质性均主要由结构性因素引起。采用Kriging最优内插法对未测点进行了估值,绘制了等值线图,两个研究尺度下的有机质和全氮含量受地形、土壤类型、土地利用方式、施肥等因素的影响,均表现出明显不同的分布规律。     

Litter type control on soil C and N stabilization dynamics in a temperate forest

While plant litters are the main source of soil organic matter (SOM) in forests, the controllers and pathways to stable SOM formation remain unclear. Here, we address how litter type (¹³C/¹⁵N‐labeled needles vs. fine roots) and placement‐depth (O vs. A horizon) affect in situ C and N dynamics in a temperate forest soil after 5 years. Litter type rather than placement‐depth controlled soil C and N retention after 5 years in situ, with belowground fine root inputs greatly enhancing soil C (x1.4) and N (x1.2) retention compared with aboveground needles. While the proportions of added needle and fine root‐derived C and N recovered into stable SOM fractions were similar, they followed different transformation pathways into stable SOM fractions: fine root transfer was slower than for needles, but proportionally more of the remaining needle‐derived C and N was transferred into stable SOM fractions. The stoichiometry of litter‐derived C vs. N within individual SOM fractions revealed the presence at least two pools of different turnover times (per SOM fraction) and emphasized the role of N‐rich compounds for long‐term persistence. Finally, a regression approach suggested that models may underestimate soil C retention from litter with fast decomposition rates.     

Effects of experimental nitrogen deposition on soil organic carbon storage in Southern California drylands

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is enriching soils with N across biomes. Soil N enrichment can increase plant productivity and affect microbial activity, thereby increasing soil organic carbon (SOC), but such responses vary across biomes. Drylands cover ~45% of Earth's land area and store ~33% of global SOC contained in the top 1 m of soil. Nitrogen fertilization could, therefore, disproportionately impact carbon (C) cycling, yet whether dryland SOC storage increases with N remains unclear. To understand how N enrichment may change SOC storage, we separated SOC into plant-derived, particulate organic C (POC), and largely microbially derived, mineral-associated organic C (MAOC) at four N deposition experimental sites in Southern California. Theory suggests that N enrichment increases the efficiency by which microbes build MAOC (C stabilization efficiency) if soil pH stays constant. But if soils acidify, a common response to N enrichment, then microbial biomass and enzymatic organic matter decay may decrease, increasing POC but not MAOC. We found that N enrichment had no effect on C fractions except for a decrease in MAOC at one site. Specifically, despite reported increases in plant biomass in three sites and decreases in microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activities in two sites that acidified, POC did not increase. Furthermore, microbial C use and stabilization efficiency increased in a non-acidified site, but without increasing MAOC. Instead, MAOC decreased by 16% at one of the sites that acidified, likely because it lost 47% of the exchangeable calcium (Ca) relative to controls. Indeed, MAOC was strongly and positively affected by Ca, which directly and, through its positive effect on microbial biomass, explained 58% of variation in MAOC. Long-term effects of N fertilization on dryland SOC storage appear abiotic in nature, such that drylands where Ca-stabilization of SOC is prevalent and soils acidify, are most at risk for significant C loss.     

Characterization of soil organic matter from a sandy soil in relation to management practice using FT-IR spectroscopy

Previous results from differently fertilized long-term field experiments on a sandy soil suggested that the chemical composition of soil organic matter (SOM) is affected by fertilization. The objective of this paper is to confirm this finding for a site with higher soil-clay contents. Four combinations of different fertilizer treatments at long-term field experiment located at a sandy loam were selected: liquid manure (LM), liquid manure+N (LM+N), straw+N (S+N) and mineral nitrogen only (N). Soil organic matter was extracted using sodium pyrophosphate solution at pH of 10 and hot water. The extracts were analyzed using Fourier-Transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicate that the composition of SOM from the hot water extracts did not show significant differences while the sodium pyrophosphate extracted SOM is affected by the type of fertilization. Soil samples fertilized with LM+N and S+N show the highest intensity of the carboxyl band. This can be explained by the fact that the combination of S+N fertilization with green manure leads to an enrichment of carboxyl groups in SOM. Differences between the band intensities of the treatments for the SOM samples are, however, not as distinct as for the sandy soil samples. This is possibly a result of the higher clay content and lower age of the long-term experiment at the sandy loam site. The intensity of the carboxyl band of the SOM is correlated with the cation exchange capacity of the soil samples. The composition of SOM may, in addition to the SOM content, be used for studying quantitative effects of different management practices or even land use changes on soil properties. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

北方农牧交错带温性盐碱化草地土壤碳组分对模拟增温的响应机制

中国北方农牧交错带温性盐碱化草地土壤有机碳库对全球气候变暖的响应趋势存在较大不确定性。作为温性盐碱性草地的典型分布区，山西右玉农牧交错带是探索相关研究的理想生境。基于山西农业大学野外观测研究站开顶式气室模拟增温实验平台，通过采集生长旺季土壤样品，探索温性盐碱化草地不同土层有机碳、氮组分对模拟增温的响应与适应机制。结果表明：(1)不同增温处理对土壤有机碳(C)、总氮(N)、颗粒性有机碳(POM-C)和氮(POM-N)、矿物结合态有机碳(MAOM-C)和氮(MAOM-N)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)和氮(DON),以及微生物量碳(MBC)和氮(MBN)等组分无显著影响，但显著降低了MAOM-C/MBC的比值；(2)除土壤可溶性有机碳和微生物量碳外，土壤碳、氮各组分均随土层深度加深而呈现递减趋势，土壤碳、氮各组分之间的比值，除MAOM-N/N和MBC/C外，均随土层深度的增加而呈现显著上升趋势；(3)增温对POM-N/MBN和MAOM-N/MBN的影响与土层深度存在明显的交互效应；(4)不同土层氮组分比值对增温的响应与禾草丰度、杂类草丰度、凋落物量、土壤pH值及土壤含水量等因素有关。其中，凋落物...     

Variation of soil carbon pools in Pinus sylvestris plantations of different ages in north China

Plantations play an important role in absorbing atmospheric CO₂ and plantation soil can serve as an important carbon (C) sink. However, the stocks and dynamics of soil C in differently aged plantation forests in north China remain uncertain. In this study, we measured soil inorganic carbon (SIC), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen content (STN), the light (LF) and heavy fractions (HF) of soil organic matter (SOM) to a depth of 1 m in 3 different ages (10-, 30-, 40-year-old) of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica (Mongolia pine) plantations in 2011 and 2012. Soil pH, texture and moisture were also measured to explore the causes of SOC dynamics for different stand ages. Our results showed that no significant difference in SIC content was observed at different soil depths. As forest age increases, SIC content as well as the C and N content in SOM, LF and HF initially rose and then decreased, while the LF in SOC initially decreased and then increased. Although the C:N ratio of SOC and HF did not significantly change, the C:N ratio of LF increased with depth. SOC dynamics at different stand ages were significantly correlated with soil moisture and clay content. Soil pH and moisture explained 58.63% of the overall variation of SOC at different depths. Moreover, the SOC increased during the early stage of afforestation, mostly because of the increase in recalcitrant C; however, the decrease of SOC with increasing stand age was also mainly affected by C loss in the recalcitrant C pool.