金沙江干热河谷典型林草地植物根系对土壤优先流的影响

为了明确土壤优先流形态特征以及植物根系对其形成的影响,以金沙江干热河谷元谋县苴那小流域典型植被类型银合欢人工林地和扭黄茅荒草地为研究对象,基于染色示踪法并结合Photoshop CS5和Image-Pro Plus 6.0图像处理技术,分析了2种植被下的土壤优先流形态特征和分布特征,并探究了植物根系对其的影响。结果表明: 林地和荒草地的土壤优先流染色面积具有明显差异,林地染色面积比总体随土壤深度的增加而减小,但部分地方表现出增大现象;荒草地染色面积比随土壤深度增加呈单调递减,林地优先流发生程度高于荒草地。根系对优先流的形成具有重要影响,根径0≤d≤5 mm和d>10 mm范围内,林地根长密度随着土层深度的增加呈单调递减趋势,5 mm<d≤10 mm根系根长密度在30～40 cm土层出现较大波动;荒草地各级根系根长密度均与土壤深度呈负相关关系。林地染色面积比与3 mm<d≤5 mm根径范围内的根长密度呈极显著相关,荒草地染色面积比与d≤3 mm范围的根长密度呈极显著相关;2种地类染色面积比均与1 mm<d≤3 mm范围的根重密度及d≤1 mm的根表面积呈极显著相关,与d>5 mm根径的根长密度、根重密度、根表面积的相关性不显著。研究区2种地类的土壤优先流染色面积总体变化趋势为随土壤深度的增加而减小,植物根系与土壤优先流的形成关系密切,其中,细根能显著促进土壤优先流的形成,粗根对优先流的形成具有局限性。     

荒漠绿洲湿地土壤优先流与水分入渗特征

地表水分、溶质和污染物以土壤优先流的形式下渗到深层土壤或地下水中,将导致土壤养分流失与地下水污染等问题。因此,土壤优先流研究将为干旱区荒漠绿洲湿地水分运移与盐分积累过程提供理论依据。以荒漠绿洲湿地为研究区,选取柽柳灌丛、盐碱草地和杨树林,以道路为对照,采用室外染色示踪法对湿地土壤优先流特征与水分入渗进行研究。结果表明:不同植被类型土壤优先流入渗深度存在显著差异,其柽柳灌丛和盐碱草地几乎是杨树林和道的2倍;染色面积比随深度的增加而波动下降,0—20 cm土层染色面积比占总染色面积的54.42%—89.27%;染色路径宽度以20—250 mm和250 mm为主;优先流类型以高相互作用混合流和非均质指流为主。在荒漠绿洲湿地,砾石促进土壤优先流发生,增加了侧向流;同时,粗根的减少抑制了优先流的发生;此外,土壤盐分通过影响土壤大孔隙分布而影响水分入渗过程。因此,荒漠绿洲湿地土壤优先流与水分入渗差异是土壤质地、根系分布与盐分离子共同作用的结果。     

保护地蔗田对土壤优先流与根系生物量及产量品质的影响

为探明保护性耕作对蔗田土壤及甘蔗生长的影响,该研究设置2种耕作方式(常规耕作、粉垄耕作)与2种施肥水平(减量施肥20%、常规施肥),并于甘蔗苗期后在甘蔗行间近根部覆盖豆科秸秆,以第二年宿根蔗为研究对象,采用染色示踪法测定秸秆覆盖下蔗田土壤优先流特征,同时测定分析甘蔗株高、茎围、地下根系生物量、产量及品质等重要农艺性状。结果表明:(1)粉垄耕作方式下蔗田土壤优先流发生速度快且活跃,添加秸秆覆盖降低了土壤优先流发生程度,增加了土壤水分在10～25 cm土层的横向运移能力,在一定程度上提高了土壤蓄水能力。(2)粉垄保护性耕作在秸秆覆盖下提高了甘蔗根系生物量和产量,秸秆覆盖下粉垄免耕宿根蔗根系生物量提高了8.97%～25.54%,并且减量施肥处理中秸秆覆盖宿根蔗伸长期地下根系生物量显著高于无秸秆覆盖,秸秆覆盖下甘蔗株高提高了4.2%～13.1%; 在减量施肥处理中,粉垄耕作添加秸秆覆盖甘蔗产量提高了16.27%,并且添加秸秆覆盖较常规施肥中无秸秆覆盖,产量提高了5.95%。(3)粉垄保护性耕作利于提高甘蔗品质,对比无秸秆覆盖处理,粉垄耕作下秸秆覆盖后显著提高了甘蔗蔗汁视纯度,并且宿根蔗纤维分、蔗汁锤度、转光度和蔗糖分均有提升。综上认为,免耕秸秆覆盖可作为粉垄红壤坡耕地蔗田保护性生产调控方式。     

贡嘎山暗针叶林土壤优先流形成因素的初步研究

该研究以长江上游贡嘎山暗针叶林生态系统的降雨过程、地被物层、根系层及土壤层的生长发育特点和水分运动状况为基础,利用自制实验仪器,在研究区域开展室内土柱实验,与野外实地示踪影像分析及树种根系调查相结合,针对研究区域土壤包气带根系层中水分快速运动的优先流形成的内外影响因子展开研究工作。研究结果表明研究区域土壤松散和多孔,土壤的孔隙度较大,大部分降雨为低强度、低雨量级和长历时,并具有较厚的地被物层和丰富的根系层,这些诱发因素存在,使研究区域——贡嘎山高山生态系统具有优先流形成的条件,降雨不会对土壤造成击溅作用,水分运移沿着土壤孔隙或植物根孔等处开辟优先路径,在地被物层及土壤层形成一个水流通道,随着长历时的降雨的继续,水分及其所携带的溶质继续沿着此路径向下运移。     

青杨人工林根系生物量、表面积和根长密度变化

在植物生长季节,采用钻取土芯法对秦岭北坡50年生青杨人工林根径≤2 mm和2～5 mm根系的生物量、表面积和根长密度进行测定.结果表明：在青杨人工林根系(＜5 mm)中,根径≤2 mm根系占总生物量的77.8%,2～5 mm根系仅占22.2%;根径≤2 mm根系表面积和根长密度占根系总量的97%以上,而根径2～5 mm根系不足3%.随着土层的加深,根径≤2 mm根系生物量、表面积和根长密度数量减少,根径2～5 mm根系生物量、表面积和根长密度最小值均分布在20～30 cm土层.≤2 mm根系生物量、表面积和根长密度与土壤有机质、有效氮呈极显著相关,而根径2～5 mm根系的相关性不显著.     

黄河三角洲刺槐群落土壤优先流及养分分布特征

黄河三角洲湿地面临严重的水资源短缺、湿地退化、土壤盐碱化等问题,湿地土壤干旱缺水,土壤收缩产生裂隙等优先流路径,在小尺度上改变湿地内部以及湿地板块之间水文连通性,小尺度水文效应往往制约大尺度水文连通性,基于当前社会对湿地修复的迫切需求,从小尺度对水文连通研究有必要加以重视。然而,目前的研究多集中在大尺度水文连通的阐述,为进一步明确黄河三角洲湿地小尺度水文连通和养分随优先流路径运移分布情况,以此区域典型刺槐群落为研究对象,基于室外染色示踪实验和室内图像处理技术,分析土壤优先流形态和分布特征,并探究优先流和土壤养分含量之间的关系。结果表明：（1）刺槐群落染色面积比随土壤深度变化主要包括2个阶段,第一阶段：优先流和基质流相互影响作用显著,第二阶段：优先流和基质流相互作用不显著,优先流强度逐渐增强,明显存在指流现象,极少部分管流现象。（2）刺槐群落染色面积比、基质流深度和百分之五十染色深度的数值较大,优先流区染色面积比较小,基质流深度发生在土壤深10-15 cm区间,该类型植被群落水流均匀入渗深度较大,优先流和基质流相互作用程度大,水文连通性较高。（3）优先流区土壤有机碳、有机质、全氮、全磷和有效磷含量值均高于基质流区;（4）土壤优先流区染色面积比与5种养分指标均呈负相关关系,有机碳、有机质和有效磷含量受优先流路径影响显著。（5）土壤中有机碳、有机质和有效磷含量在一定程度上可以衡量土壤优先流发育水平。研究结果可为黄河三角洲湿地生态系统保护和管理提供参考。     

典型黑土耕地土壤优先流环绕特征

以典型黑土耕地土壤为研究对象,采用双环入渗仪和染色示踪技术相结合的方法,通过对图片的判读,测定与分析了染色宽度、横纵剖面染色百分比和田间最大染色深度,以研究典型黑土耕地土壤的水分运移形式及其分布特征.结果表明:在0～15cm土层范围内,水分的运移以基质流为主;15～20cm范围内,有侧向入渗发生,平均染色宽度和染色百分比均在此层达到最大值,分别为23cm和20.73%;20～67cm范围内,水分的运移则以大孔隙流为主,优先路径主要是裂缝和大孔隙,其中,20～35cm范围内的大量裂缝使优先流表现出明显的环绕特征;而在40～67cm范围内,优先路径的形成则以连通性良好的大孔隙为主.由于裂缝和大孔隙2种优先路径的存在,使水分在土壤中的运移速度增加了4.5倍,这不仅可能造成水分损失,而且可能加速农药迁移造成地下水污染.建议在黑土区土壤的耕作和经营过程中,应当减少和消除这些优先路径.     

干湿交替对红河干旱河谷区土壤优先流形成特征的影响

为明确干旱河谷气候区干湿交替作用对土壤优先流形成的影响,本研究以红河干旱河谷区的荒草地为对象,通过模拟干湿交替的方法,基于染色示踪和水分穿透曲线试验并利用图像处理技术,对比分析模拟前后土壤优先流特征的差异性规律。结果表明: 模拟干湿交替条件下基质流发生区在0~10 cm土层,染色深度高达35 cm,其优先路径的水平宽度仅为3～10 cm,且染色面积曲线波动小。模拟干湿交替条件导致土壤稳定出流速率、大孔隙数量和大孔隙率明显增加,在0~20 cm土层,实施干湿交替后的土壤稳定出流速率较非干湿交替条件高约0.27 cm³·s^-1,染色区的大孔隙数量增加约1.4倍,大孔隙率则高13.4%。大孔隙数量与稳定出流速率呈极显著正相关,模拟干湿交替后大孔隙数量从大到小依次为: 0.6～0.8 mm＞0.8～1.0 mm＞1.0～1.5 mm＞1.5～2.0 mm＞2.0～3.7 mm,非干湿交替条件下为: 0.8～1.0 mm＞0.6～0.8 mm＞1.0～1.5 mm＞2.0～3.7 mm＞1.5～2.0 mm。各孔径范围的大孔隙数量与染色面积比呈极显著相关关系,经过模拟干湿交替处理后,其相关性增大,且影响优先流发生的主导因素由孔径1.5～2.0 mm的大孔隙数量变为孔径0.8～1.0 mm的大孔隙数量。干湿交替作用会通过影响大孔隙特征进而导致土壤更易发生优先流且程度增强。     

宁夏荒漠草原不同林龄人工柠条林地土壤优先流研究

土壤优先流作为土壤中常见的水分流动方式,会造成土壤水分流失、地下水污染及坡面土体稳定性降低等问题。以位于宁夏盐池县的典型荒漠草原为研究区域,通过土壤水分入渗染色法、CT扫描法、图像处理技术相结合的分析方式,选取人工营造9、14、24、35年的柠条灌丛林地,以空白草地作为对照,探究不同恢复年限人工柠条林土壤优先流特征及其与土壤大孔隙与根系的关系。结果表明：(1)不同林龄柠条林地土壤优先流特征及大孔隙度具有显著差异,表现为随着种植年份的增加,土壤大孔隙度逐渐升高,土壤入渗染色深度随之加深,同时染色面积比随着柠条林林龄的增加而增大。(2)土壤基质流深度表现为随着种植年份的增加而增大,人工柠条林地的土壤优先流程度显著高于草地。(3)随着人工柠条林龄的增加,土壤根系数量增加,而灌丛生长发育过程中的根系活动使得灌丛林地土壤具有更多迂曲度低、连通性强的大孔隙,这些大孔隙是导致土壤水分优先迁移的主要因素。因此,植物根系和土壤大孔隙变化是影响荒漠草原人工柠条恢复过程中土壤水分分布的关键因素,合理配置人工林以改善根系及土壤结构特征,或可有效提高荒漠草原地区的土壤水分利用效率。     

晋西黄土区土地利用对降雨入渗产流模式和优先流分布的影响试验研究

黄土高原退耕还林(草)工程显著改变了河川径流过程,但其作用机制尚不明晰。选取晋西黄土区4种典型下垫面(20年和30年刺槐人工林地、草地、休耕地)分别开展连续3场模拟降雨试验,观测坡面入渗产流过程,并结合染色示踪和图像处理软件技术,分析土地利用类型对坡面降雨入渗产流模式和优先流分布的影响。结果表明：(1)累积入渗量和优先流发育程度均表现为刺槐林地>草地>休耕地,刺槐林地优先流对总入渗的贡献是草地和休耕地的2.5—4.5倍,但优先流贡献均不超过10%,仍以基质流入渗为主。(2)4种用地类型降雨入渗主要补给地表60—70cm土层,前期降雨均匀增加表层土壤含水率,而后期降雨补给深层土壤水分的空间变异性显著增强。(3)刺槐林地产流量及径流系数均显著小于草地和休耕地,且前期含水量对20年刺槐林地的影响较小,而显著影响草地和休耕地径流系数。(4)直径d<1mm的细根显著促进降雨入渗和优先流发育,而d>5mm的粗根与入渗量和基质流量呈显著负相关。较高的土壤初始含水率、容重和粘粒含量会抑制入渗和优先流的发生。研究说明不同土地利用类型将改变降雨入渗产流过程及土壤水运动形式。     

Impact of roots on ground water quality

Preferential flow is perhaps the major chemical transport process influencing the rapid and typically unexpected movement of agricultural chemicals to ground water. Plant roots are a major contributor to preferential flow mechanics as they form spatial voids which can be used as preferential flow pathways. Chemical transport of atrazine, deethylatrazine, and bromide solutions concentrations under tilled and no-tilled corn fields was evaluated below the active root zone. Additionally, the impact of roots on flow pathways was visualized using a soluble dye (Brilliant Blue FCF). Pictures of the dye-stained pattern were subsequently digitized to determine the cross-sectional area used for transport as a function of depth. Bromide transit times through the field soils were not influenced by tillage practice, whereas atrazine transport was strongly influenced by tillage practice. Under no-till field conditions, atrazine was rarely detected but deethylatrazine concentrations were greater than those observed under tilled field conditions. Visual observation indicated that the dye under no-tillage was more predominant in the corn row, indicative of transport through void root channels. No-tillage practices may decrease the likelihood of ground water contamination through leaching due to the formation of stable root channels where an organic carbon source and microbial population are preferentially located to degrade pesticides.     

Root effects on soil water and hydraulic properties

Plants can affect soil moisture and the soil hydraulic properties both directly by root water uptake and indirectly by modifying the soil structure. Furthermore, water in plant roots is mostly neglected when studying soil hydraulic properties. In this contribution, we analyze effects of the moisture content inside roots as compared to bulk soil moisture contents and speculate on implications of non-capillary-bound root water for determination of soil moisture and calibration of soil hydraulic properties. In a field crop of maize (Zea mays) of 75 cm row spacing, we sampled the total soil volumes of 0.7 m × 0.4 m and 0.3 m deep plots at the time of tasseling. For each of the 84 soil cubes of 10 cm edge length, root mass and length as well as moisture content and soil bulk density were determined. Roots were separated in 3 size classes for which a mean root porosity of 0.82 was obtained from the relation between root dry mass density and root bulk density using pycnometers. The spatially distributed fractions of root water contents were compared with those of the water in capillary pores of the soil matrix. Water inside roots was mostly below 2–5% of total soil water content; however, locally near the plant rows it was up to 20%. The results suggest that soil moisture in roots should be separately considered. Upon drying, the relation between the soil and root water may change towards water remaining in roots. Relations depend especially on soil water retention properties, growth stages, and root distributions. Gravimetric soil water content measurement could be misleading and TDR probes providing an integrated signal are difficult to interpret. Root effects should be more intensively studied for improved field soil water balance calculations. Presented at the International Conference on Bioclimatology and Natural Hazards, Pol’ana nad Detvou, Slovakia, 17–20 September 2007.     

Growth and morphology of eucalypt seedling-roots, in relation to soil strength arising from compaction

Information on the response of root growth and morphology to soil strength is useful for testing suitability of existing and new tillage methods and/or for selecting plants suitable for a specific site with or without tillage. Although there is extensive published information on the root growth-soil strength relationships for annual agricultural plants, such information is scarce for woody, perennial tree species. The purpose of this study is to examine growth and morphology of the root systems of 17-day-old eucalypt seedlings with respect to variation in soil strength. Soil strength in this study was varied by compaction of a well-aggregated clay soil to bulk densities of 0.7–1.0 Mg m^-3 whilst maintaining adequate water availability and aeration for plant growth. Lengths and tip-diameters of primary and lateral roots were measured on the excavated root systems of seedlings.With increase in bulk density and also soil strength (expressed as penetrometer resistance), total length of primary and lateral roots decreased. There were 71 and 31% reduction in the lengths of primary and lateral roots respectively with an increase in penetrometer resistance from 0.4 to 4.2 MPa. This indicated primary roots to be more sensitive to high soil strength than the lateral roots. Average length of lateral roots and diameters of both primary and lateral root tips increased with an increase in soil strength as well. There was greater abundance of lateral roots (no. of lateral roots per unit length of primary root) and root hairs with increased soil strength. The observed root behaviour to variable soil strength is discussed in the context of compensatory growth of roots and overall growth of plants.     

Spatial root distribution of apricot trees in different soil tillage practices

Root and soil water distribution was studied in a mature drip-irrigated apricot (Prunus armeniaca L. cv. Búlida) orchard with different soil tillage practices, in a loamy textured soil with a 7% slope, located in Murcia (SE Spain). Three treatments were applied between tree rows:control (no-tillage), whereby, following the common practice in the area, weeds were cut back to ground level by a blade attached to a tractor; perforated treatment, where the soil surface was mechanically perforated with an adapted-plough; and mini-catchment treatment, consisting of mini-catchments with low banks manually raised perpendicular to the line of emitters. Almost all of the apricot root system was located in the first 0.75 m of soil depth, with 91% in the first 0.50 m. More than 75% of the roots corresponded to thin roots, with a diameter less than 0.2 mm. Both tillage treatments decreased runoff compared with the control treatment, while the mini-catchment treatment showed the highest change in soil water content after rainfall events. The mini-catchment treatment was performed in an attempt to reduce the rainwater running down the slope, leaving the accumulated water near plant roots, an effect which was responsible for the higher root length density (RLD) values found in this treatment. In addition, roots were distributed over a wider area, providing higher RLD values up to 1 m from the emitter, meaning that a higher soil volume was explored. For these reasons, the mini-catchment treatment was seen to be the most beneficial soil tillage treatment for optimising water use in semiarid conditions.     

The distribution and abundance of wheat roots in a dense,structured subsoil – implications for water uptake

We analysed the abundance, spatial distribution and soil contact of wheat roots in dense, structured subsoil to determine whether incomplete extraction of subsoil water was due to root system limitations. Intact soil cores were collected to 1.6 m below wheat crops at maturity on a red Kandosol in southern Australia. Wheat roots, remnant roots, soil pores and root–soil contact were quantified at fresh breaks in the soil cores. In surface soil layers (<0.6 m) 30–40% of roots were clumped within pores and cracks in the soil, increasing to 85–100% in the subsoil (>0.6 m), where 44% of roots were in pores with at least three other roots. Most pores contained no roots, with occupancy declining from 20% in surface layers to 5% in subsoil. Wheat roots clumped into pores contacted the surrounding soil via numerous root hairs, whereas roots in cracks were appressed to the soil surface and had very few root hairs. Calculations assuming good root–soil contact indicated that root density was sufficient to extract available subsoil water, suggesting that uptake is constrained at the root–soil interface. To increase extraction of subsoil water, genetic targets could include increasing root–soil contact with denser root hairs, and increasing root proliferation to utilize existing soil pores.