青藏高原若尔盖沼泽潜在CH4氧化与生成的分布特征

 该实验采集若尔盖草本沼泽3种生境（洼地、草坪、微丘草地）中的4个层位（0～5、5～15、15～30、30～50 cm）的土壤样品,在实验室培养条件下,测定潜在CH4氧化与生成,分析其分布特征。草坪泥炭层与矿质层分明,两层都表现出显著的CH4氧化能力,与高、低亲合力CH4 氧化菌跟随     

荒漠草原典型植物群落土壤活性有机碳组分特征及其与酶活性的关系

以宁夏荒漠草原典型植物柠条(Caragana korshinskii)、沙蒿(Artemisia ordosica)、短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)和蒙古冰草(Agropyron mongolicum)群落为研究对象,分析不同植物群落不同土层深度(0~5、5~10和10~15cm)土壤活性有机碳组分土壤微生物量碳(MBC)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)和易氧化有机碳(EOC)特征及其与土壤酶(蔗糖酶、脲酶、碱性磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶)活性之间的关系。结果表明:(1)4种典型植物群落土壤SOC、MBC、EOC含量均随土层深度的增加而减少,且表层(0~5cm)土壤显著高于亚表层(5~10cm)和深层(10~15cm)土壤(P0.05),而土壤DOC含量随土层深度的增加呈先增加后减少的趋势。在同一土层深度,灌木(柠条和沙蒿)群落土壤活性有机碳组分含量高于禾本科植物(短花针茅和蒙古冰草)。(2)4种典型植物群落土壤酶(蔗糖酶、脲酶、磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶)活性整体上随土层深度的增加而降低,局部土层深度表现出波动性;同一土层不同植被群落土壤酶活性未表现出一定的变化规律。(3)4种典型群落土壤活性有机碳各组分除DOC外,其余均与SOC呈显著正相关关系,与土壤酶活性、微生物量熵以及有机碳活度具有一定的相关关系,表明土壤活性有机碳不仅依赖于总有机碳,也与土壤酶活性密切相关。     

间伐对华北落叶松人工林土壤活性有机碳含量及酶活性的影响

本研究以太岳山华北落叶松人工林为对象,研究间伐对土壤活性有机碳及相关土壤酶活性的影响.结果表明: 随着土壤深度的增加,土壤活性有机碳含量、土壤氮含量和酶活性降低;同一土层中,中度间伐下土壤碳、氮养分含量显著增加.在0～10 cm土层,轻度间伐处理下蔗糖酶和过氧化物酶活性显著增加,中度间伐处理下多酚氧化酶和脲酶活性显著增加;在10～50 cm土层,轻度间伐处理下蔗糖酶和脲酶活性降低,中度间伐处理下纤维素酶活性显著降低;冗余分析显示,溶解性有机碳在0～10和20～30 cm土层是影响土壤酶活性的主要因素;在10～20 cm土层中,土壤有机碳是影响多酚氧化酶和蔗糖酶的主要因素;在30～40 cm土层,微生物生物量氮主要影响多酚氧化酶、过氧化物酶和脲酶活性,土壤全磷和易氧化有机碳对40～50 cm土层土壤酶活性起着重要的作用.间伐对华北落叶松人工林土壤活性有机碳含量和土壤酶活性有显著影响,中度间伐处理下土壤养分含量总体最高,土壤pH、含水率、有机质含量等化学性质优于其他几种处理,能较好地改善林下植被、枯落物及养分循环过程.因此,建议对落叶松人工林进行适度密度调整(1404～1422 trees·hm^-2),以促进碳、氮养分在土壤中的固存.     

不饱和土壤CH4的吸收与氧化

不饱和土壤是已知唯一的 CH4 生物壑。综述了不饱和土壤 CH4 的吸收、氧化过程及其影响因素。不饱和土壤中 CH4 氧化的临界浓度低 ,因而甲烷氧化菌可氧化大气 CH4 并将其当作唯一的碳源和能源。土壤 CH4 吸收率与土壤湿度通常呈负相关关系。土壤湿度过高 ,大气 CH4 和 O2 向土壤中扩散受阻 ;或土壤湿度过低引起水分胁迫均导致甲烷氧化菌活性下降。NH 4对土壤中 CH4 氧化的抑制作用可归结为 NH3和 CH4 在甲烷单氧酶水平上的竞争、由氧化作用向硝化作用的转移以及 NH 4氧化生成的 NO- 2 的毒性。NH 4对 CH4 氧化的抑制作用与土壤有效氮含量成正比。各类氮肥对 CH4 氧化抑制作用 :化肥 >有机肥 ;铵态氮肥 >尿素。 NO- 3对 CH4 氧化没有抑制效应。阳离子代换量 (CEC)高的土壤 NH 4对 CH4 氧化的抑制作用轻。 CH4 氧化菌对大气 CH4 的高亲和力及 CH4 氧化所需较低的活化能导致其温度系数 Q1 0 较小。地温较低时 ,土壤氧化 CH4 的能力随温度升高而升高。当地温高于 CH4 氧化的最佳温度时 ,CH4 氧化菌难以与硝化细菌及其它微生物竞争利用土壤空气中的 O2 ,导致其活性降低。甲烷氧化菌对 p H值变化不敏感。团粒结构较好的壤土可保护 CH4 氧化菌免受干扰。未受干扰的森林土壤 CH4 氧化率的峰值一般出现在亚表     

不同土层深度配施缓释/普通尿素对土壤氮素和酶活性及玉米产量的影响

通过2017—2018两年田间试验,研究了不同土层深度配施缓释(PCU)/普通尿素(PU)对0～30 cm土层土壤无机氮含量、酶活性和玉米产量的影响。试验设置不施氮肥(CK)、普通尿素一次施肥(PU₁,5～10 cm土层)、普通尿素传统两次施肥(PU₂,5～10 cm土层,60%种肥+40%追肥)、普通尿素一次分层施肥(PU₃,5～10 cm土层20%N+15～20 cm土层30%N+25～30 cm土层50%N)、不同土层深度缓释/普通尿素配施[PCU₁～PCU₄,均为5～10 cm土层20%N(普通尿素)+15～20 cm土层30%N(配施)+25～30 cm土层50%N(配施),其中PCU₁～PCU₄的15～20和25～30 cm土层PCU:PU分别为3:7、3:7,5:5、5:5, 3:7、5:5, 5:5、3:7]共8个处理。结果表明: 与CK相比,PU₁能够满足玉米生育前期对0～10 cm土层氮素的需求,PU₂和PU₃能够满足玉米发育前期对10～30 cm土层氮素的需求,不同土层深度配施缓释/普通尿素能够满足玉米整个生育时期对氮素的需求。与PU₁～PU₃相比,不同土层深度配施缓释/普通尿素可显著增加灌浆期和成熟期10～20和20～30 cm土层NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N、碱解氮含量和脲酶、蛋白酶活性。与PU₃相比,不同土层深度配施缓释/普通尿素处理2017和2018年玉米产量分别提高2.3%～24.6%和1.3%～16.5%,PCU₄产量最高,分别达13899和12439 kg·hm^-2。因此,不同土层深度配施缓释/普通尿素既能满足玉米生育前期对氮素的需求,也能提高生育后期10～30 cm土层土壤无机氮含量和酶活性,促进玉米生长,增加玉米产量,其中PCU₄处理施肥方式最佳。     

大气CO2浓度增高对麦田土壤硝化和反硝化细菌的影响

硝化和反硝化细菌是土壤中与氮转化有关的微生物菌群 ,大气CO2 浓度升高可能对它们的数量产生影响。位于中国无锡的稻 麦轮作农田生态系统FACE平台 2 0 0 1年 6月开始运行。本试验在 2 0 0 3年小麦生长季研究了土壤 (0～ 5cm和 5～ 10cm土层 )中硝化和反硝化细菌在大气CO2 浓度升高条件下的变化。试验采用最大可能法 (MPN)计这两种微生物菌群的数量。结果表明 ,0～ 5cm土层硝化菌数拔节期和成熟期FACE低于对照 ,而孕穗期FACE高于对照 ,5～ 10cm土层硝化菌数越冬期与成熟期FACE低于对照 ,大气CO2 浓度升高使得麦田土壤硝化细菌数目减少。 0～ 5cm土层各个生长期反硝化菌数FACE与对照均没有明显差异 ,5～ 10cm土层反硝化菌数拔节期FACE低于对照 ,大气CO2 浓度升高对麦田土壤反硝化菌的影响不大。     

古尔班通古特沙漠土壤酶活性和微生物量氮对模拟氮沉降的响应

本文以新疆古尔班通古特沙漠为研究区,原位设定0 (N0)、0.5 (N0.5)、1.0 (N1)、3.0 (N3)、6.0 (N6)和24.0 (N24) g N m?2 a-1 6个模拟施氮浓度,研究氮沉降对土壤酶活性和微生物量N的影响。结果表明：不同浓度的氮增加未改变土壤酶活性和微生物量N原有的垂直分布格局,0 ~ 5 cm土层土壤多酚氧化酶和过氧化物酶活性分别比5 ~ 10 cm土层低11.5 ~ 29.1%和1.4 ~ 14.2%,而该土层的蔗糖酶、脲酶、碱性磷酸酶活性和微生物量N则分别比5 ~ 10 cm土层高4.3 ~ 98.1%、45.3 ~ 119.0%、76.1 ~ 138.1%和77.5 ~ 162.3%。氮增加后,0 ~ 5 cm土层的土壤酶活性和微生物量N比5 ~ 10 cm土层受影响更大。低氮和中氮(N0.5～N3)增加对0 ~ 5 cm土层氧化酶活性影响较小,各处理间差异不显著;高氮(N6,N24)对该层氧化酶活性有明显抑制作用。与对照相比,N24处理下土壤多酚氧化物活性和过氧化物酶活性分别降低了22.4%和12.1%;5 ~ 10 cm土层氧化酶活性对氮增加响应不敏感,各施氮量之间差异不显著;两层土壤的蔗糖酶和碱性磷酸酶活性随氮的增加具有先增加再减少的趋势,而两层土壤的脲酶活性和土壤微生物量N随着施氮量增加分别降低和增加;随着土壤酶活性变化,土壤有效氮和微生物量N增加,有效磷先增加后减少。这些响应表明,氮增加可以改变该荒漠土壤系统的土壤酶活性和微生物量并影响土壤相关营养元素循环。     

有机肥连续施用对土壤剖面有机碳分布的影响及其与重金属的关系

应用大田定位试验方法,研究了连续4年施用不同类型有机肥后,土壤剖面中有机碳和易氧化有机碳的分布特征,并与相应的重金属含量进行了相关性分析。结果表明:连续4年施用不同类型有机肥后,土壤剖面中有机碳、易氧化有机碳主要累积在0～15 cm土层,其含量随土层深度的增加而降低。施用高量鸡粪时,有机碳可迁移到15～30 cm土层,易氧化有机碳可迁移到60～90 cm土层;施用猪粪和污泥时,有机碳均未发生明显的迁移现象,但高施用量处理下易氧化有机碳可迁移至60～90 cm土层。施用猪粪和污泥后,土壤剖面各层中易氧化有机碳占总有机碳的比例显著增加,且均高于施用鸡粪。施用不同有机肥后土壤剖面中有机碳、易氧化有机碳分布和Cu、Zn、Cd具有显著正相关。     

短期围栏封育对荒漠草原沙化灰钙土有机碳组分及物理稳定性的影响

以宁夏盐池县荒漠草原5年围栏封育草地(围栏内)和自由放牧草地(围栏外)为对象,分析0～ 40 cm土层土壤有机碳、易氧化有机碳和颗粒有机碳含量以及土壤粒径组成,研究围栏封育早期沙化灰钙土有机碳组分及物理稳定性的变化规律.结果表明:围栏内外土壤有机碳含量和颗粒组成差异不显著;围栏内外0～40 cm土层土壤有机碳含量平均为3.25g·kg-1,沙粒、粉粒、黏粒的相对比重平均为72％、16％、12％,土壤物理稳定性指数为1.30％～1.31％.土壤活性有机碳的显著变化集中在10～20 cm土层,围栏内易氧化有机碳含量达0.80 g·kg-1,显著高于围栏外的0.62 g·kg-1,围栏内颗粒有机碳的分配比例为50.9％,显著高于围栏外的31.7％.随土层深度的增加,围栏内0～ 40 cm土壤质地由沙性土向沙壤土转变,各层间土质差异显著,易氧化有机碳含量逐渐升高;而围栏外土壤质地的垂直变化相对平缓,基本为沙性土质.退化荒漠草原短期围栏封育条件下,沙化灰钙土土壤有机碳尚处于一个消耗与积累的平衡阶段,土壤质地状况相对稳定,土壤物理稳定性变化较小.10～20 cm土层土壤活性有机碳含量及其相对分配比例可作为围栏封育早期土壤质量变化的指示指标.     

耕作方式对黑土硬度和容重的影响

以吉林省德惠市8年黑土田间定位试验的小区土壤为研究对象,对不同耕作方式下土壤硬度和容重进行研究.结果表明:免耕增加了土壤硬度,主要表现在2.5 ～17.5 cm土层;在玉米连作和玉米-大豆轮作下,苗眼处免耕处理的最大土壤硬度分别为2816和1931 kPa,秋翻处理下分别为2660和2051 kPa,对作物生长均没有限制作用;秋翻处理的土壤硬度曲线随垄形而变化,免耕处理的土壤硬度曲线起伏较小.与秋翻相比,免耕显著增加了5～20 cm土层的土壤容重.5 ～ 30 cm土层的土壤容重在免耕处理下变化幅度较小,在秋翻处理下随土壤深度的增加逐渐增大.土壤容重与土壤硬度之间相关性不显著.     

Oxidation and Assimilation of Atmospheric Methane by Soil Methane Oxidizers

The metabolism of atmospheric methane in a forest soil was studied by radiotracer techniques. Maximum (sup14)CH(inf4) oxidation (163.5 pmol of C cm(sup-3) h(sup-1)) and (sup14)C assimilation (50.3 pmol of C cm(sup-3) h(sup-1)) occurred at the A(inf2) horizon located 15 to 18 cm below the soil surface. At this depth, 31 to 43% of the atmospheric methane oxidized was assimilated into microbial biomass; the remaining methane was recovered as (sup14)CO(inf2). Methane-derived carbon was incorporated into all major cell macromolecules by the soil microorganisms (50% as proteins, 19% as nucleic acids and polysaccharides, and 5% as lipids). The percentage of methane assimilated (carbon conversion efficiency) remained constant at temperatures between 5 and 20(deg)C, followed by a decrease at 30(deg)C. The carbon conversion efficiency did not increase at methane concentrations between 1.7 and 1,000 ppm. In contrast, the overall methane oxidation activity increased at elevated methane concentrations, with an apparent K(infm) of 21 ppm (31 nM CH(inf4)) and a V(infmax) of 188 pmol of CH(inf4) cm(sup-3) h(sup-1). Methane oxidizers from soil depths with maximum methanotrophic activity respired approximately 1 to 3% of the assimilated methane-derived carbon per day. This apparent endogenous respiration did not change significantly in the absence of methane. Similarly, the potential for oxidation of atmospheric methane was relatively insensitive to methane starvation. Soil samples from depths above and below the zone with maximum atmospheric methane oxidation activity showed a dramatic increase in the turnover of the methane assimilated (>20 times increase). Physical disturbance such as sieving or mixing of soil samples decreased methane oxidation and assimilation by 50 to 58% but did not alter the carbon conversion efficiency. Ammonia addition (0.1 or 1.0 (mu)mol g [fresh weight](sup-1)) decreased both methane oxidation and carbon conversion efficiency. This resulted in a dramatic decrease in methane assimilation (85 to 99%). In addition, ammonia-treated soil showed up to 10 times greater turnover of the assimilated methane-derived carbon (relative to untreated soil). The results suggest a potential for microbial growth on atmospheric methane. However, growth was regulated strongly by soil parameters other than the methane concentration. The pattern observed for metabolism of atmospheric methane in soils was not consistent with the physiology of known methanotrophic bacteria.     

Mechanistic Analysis of Ammonium Inhibition of Atmospheric Methane Consumption in Forest Soils

Methane consumption by forest soil was studied in situ and in vitro with respect to responses to nitrogen additions at atmospheric and elevated methane concentrations. Methane concentrations in intact soil decreased continuously from atmospheric levels at the surface to 0.5 ppm at a depth of 14 cm. The consumption rate of atmospheric methane in soils, however, was highest in the 4- to 8-cm depth interval (2.9 nmol per g of dry soil per day), with much lower activities below and above this zone. In contrast, extractable ammonium and nitrate concentrations were highest in the surface layer (0 to 2 cm; 22 and 1.6 μmol per g of dry soil, respectively), as was potential ammonium-oxidizing activity (19 nmol per g of dry soil per day). The difference in zonation between ammonium oxidation and methane consumption suggested that ammonia-oxidizing bacteria did not contribute significantly to atmospheric methane consumption. Exogenous ammonium inhibited methane consumption in situ and in vitro, but the pattern of inhibition did not conform to expectations based on simple competition between ammonia and methane for methane monooxygenase. The extent of ammonium inhibition increased with increasing methane concentration. Inhibition by a single ammonium addition remained constant over a period of 39 days. In addition, nitrite, the end product of methanotrophic ammonia oxidation, was a more effective inhibitor of methane consumption than ammonium. Factors that stimulated ammonium oxidation in soil, e.g., elevated methane concentrations and the availability of cosubstrates such as formate, methanol, or β-hydroxybutyrate, enhanced ammonium inhibition of methane oxidation, probably as a result of enhanced nitrite production.     

Spatial distribution of methane-oxidizing activity in a flooded rice soil

In a study on spatial distribution of methane oxidation in an unplanted flooded field, methane-oxidizing activity, analysed in soil samples under laboratory conditions, decreased with increasing depth (25 cm and beyond). In a flooded field planted to rice, rates of methane oxidation followed the order : rhizosphere (collected from roots at 10-20 cm depth) > surface soil at (0-1 cm) > subsurface soil at 10-20 cm depth, diagonally 10-15 cm away from the centre of hill. Application of ammonium sulfate and, to a lesser extent, urea to surface, rhizosphere and subsurface soil samples from flooded field planted to rice effected a distinct inhibition of methane oxidation. Nitrification inhibitors (thiourea, sodium thiosulfate and dicyandiamide) were also effective in inhibiting methane oxidation. Both surface and rhizosphere soil samples harbored higher populations of methane-oxidizing bacteria than the subsurface soil. Inhibition of methane oxidation in surface and rhizosphere soil samples concomitant with the suppression of autotrophic ammonium oxidizers by nitrification inhibitors implicates an active involvement of autotrophic ammonium oxidizers in methane oxidation.     

The effect of soil acidification on atmospheric methane uptake by a Maine forest soil(1)

Soil from the zone of maximal methanotrophic activity (approximately 5-8 cm depth) in a mixed coniferous-hardwood forest consumed atmospheric methane over a wide pH range (3.5-7.5) with a broad optimum between 4.8 and 6.0. Methane uptake at native soil pH values (4.4-4.8) was only slightly less rapid than rates at optimal pH values. Addition of mineral acids to intact soil cores in pulsed applications decreased atmospheric methane consumption. The extent of inhibition varied with the type, concentration and volume of acid added: nitric acid was more inhibitory than sulfuric acid at an equivalent soil pH, and methane uptake decreased with increasing volumes and concentrations of added acid. Although ammonium chloride at 1 μmol g fresh weight (gfw) soil(-1) inhibited methane uptake, the extent of inhibition did not vary significantly with decreasing soil pH below values of 4.4.     

Detection of Methane Oxidizing Bacteria in Forest Soil by Monooxygenase PCR Amplification

Abstract Atmospheric methane oxidation by a spruce forest soil from Norway at 15°C was found to be maximal at a depth of ca 7 cm. Examination of the kinetics of this methane oxidation revealed an apparent Km of 403.1 nM and a Vmax of 2.2 nmol g^-1 dry weight soil h^-1. The low apparent Km suggested the presence of active methane oxidizing bacteria with a high affinity for methane. DNA was extracted from the 5–10 cm horizon, purified, and subjected to PCR amplification with primers directed toward the monooxygenase genes pmoA and amoA, which are essential for methane oxidation. Hybridization analysis of the clone library subsequently constructed revealed that 49% of the 76 cloned PCR fragments were putative methanotroph pmoA sequences and 16% were putative ammonium oxidizing nitrifier amoA sequences. Sequencing of 28 clones identified three major groups showing homology to pmoA from Methylococcus capsulatus, #-subdivision ammonia-oxidizers (amoA), and a new group of monooxygenase pmoA/amoA sequences.     

Methane production in rice soil is inhibited by cyanobacteria

The present study was aimed at understanding the role of cyanobacteria and Azolla in methane production and oxidation in laboratory simulation experiments using soil samples from rice fields. All the seven cyanobacterial strains tested effected a significant decrease in the headspace concentration of methane in flooded soil, incubated under light. Synechocystis sp. was the most effective in retarding methane concentration by 10-20 fold over that in controls without cyanobacteria. The decrease in the headspace concentration of methane was negligible in nonsterile soil samples, inoculated with Synechocystis sp. and then incubated under dark. Moist soil cores (0-5 cm depth), collected from rice fields that had been treated with urea in combination with a cyanobacterial mixture, Azolla microphylla, or cyanobacterial mixture plus A. microphylla, effected distinctly more rapid decrease in the headspace concentration of methane added at 200 microl(-1) than did the soil cores from plots treated with urea alone (30, 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha(-1)), irrespective of the rate of chemical nitrogen applied to rice fields. Besides, soil cores from plots treated with urea alone at 60, 90 and 120 kg N ha(-1) oxidised methane more rapidly than did the core samples from plots treated with urea alone at 30kg N ha(-1). Cyanobacteria and A. microphylla, applied to flood water, appear to play a major role in mitigation of methane emission from rice fields-through enhanced methane oxidation.     

亚热带两种森林土壤担子菌漆酶基因多样性比较

漆酶是降解森林凋落物中木质素的关键酶之一,直接影响着森林生态系统碳循环过程.运用TA克隆、测序技术,研究了两种亚热带森林(原生常绿落叶阔叶混交林和人工马尾松林)凋落物层(O层)和土壤表层(A层,0～20 cm)降解木质素的担子菌漆酶基因多样性.结果表明:同一土壤层位,原生林土壤中担子菌漆酶基因多样性和种群丰富度高于马尾松林;同一森林生态系统,原生林土壤O层中担子菌漆酶基因多样性和种群丰富度略高于土壤A层,而马尾松林则O层明显低于A层;两森林土壤具有相同含漆酶基因的担子菌优势种群,且大部分优势种群与伞菌目小菇属或侧耳属有较高的氨基酸相似性;与原生林土壤A层和马尾松林土壤O层相比,原生林土壤O层和马尾松林土壤A层中含漆酶基因的担子菌种群分布相对均匀;马尾松林O层与A层之间漆酶基因核苷酸序列的相似性较原生林土壤O层与A层之间的高.表明植被和土壤层位显著影响漆酶基因多样性和群落结构,而植被和土壤层位引起的担子菌可利用底物和土壤pH值的差异可能直接驱动这种影响.     

元江干热河谷林地内外潜在蒸散发量的变化及其驱动因素

蒸散发对把握气候变化、理解区域生态保护具有重要意义。本文利用主成分分析及皮尔逊双侧相关检验的方法研究元江干热河谷林地内外潜在蒸散发量(PET)的变化及其驱动因素,并根据分析结果对林地内外蒸散发的发生过程进行解读。通过对2015—2018年日PET的研究发现:林内PET比林外低0.86 mm·d^-1;林地内外PET呈周期式减小,林外的减小趋势更大。2015—2018年及对应年份旱雨季的林地内外干旱指数显示,元江的干旱程度在研究时间段内有所缓解,林内干旱指数较林外更低。林内日PET的驱动因素依次是气温(Ta)、地面净辐射(Rn)、5 cm土壤热通量;林外日PET的驱动因素依次是Ta、5 cm土壤温度、Rn。林内蒸散发的发生层按蒸散发的剧烈程度所划分的层次性较清晰,剧烈层位于稀树灌丛林型的中上层,蒸散发的剧烈程度由中上层向下依次减弱;林外蒸散发的发生层层次性较混合,剧烈层位于近地面空气与土壤交汇层。     

Vertical root distribution in relation to soil properties in New Jersey Pinelands forests

Vertical distribution of root density (length per unit soil volume) and abundance (length per unit ground surface area) to a depth of 1.5 m or to the depth of the water table and their relationships with soil properties and tree basal area were examined in 36 soil profiles of pine-oak and oak-pine forests of the New Jersey Pinelands. Soil morphology were almost uniform within the forest type and characterized by the presence of high coarse fragment contents in the C horizon in oak-pine uplands; by the spodic B horizon and water table in the C horizon in pine-oak lowlands; by the sandy soil throughout the profile in pine-oak uplands; and by the firm argillic B horizon in pine-oak plains. Root density decreased from ranges of 44423–133369 m m^-3 in the 0–5 cm depth in all the forest types to 1900–5593 m m^-3 in the 100–150 cm depth in all the forest types except in pine-oak lowlands. Total profile root density and abundance was in the order: oak-pine uplands>pine-oak lowlands>pine-oak uplands>pine-oak plains. Root density correlated positively with organic C, total N, water soluble P, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, Al, Fe, and cation exchange capacity, and negatively with bulk density, coarse fraction content, and pH, whereas root abundance correlated positively with organic C, total N, water soluble P, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, and Fe, and negatively with bulk density. No correlation existed between root density and abundance with tree basal area. Higher root density in the E horizon of oak-pine uplands as compared to the other forest types was associated with high nutrient content; higher root density in the C horizon of pine-oak lowlands was associated with a shallow water table beneath the horizon; and lower root densities in the B and C horizons of pine-oak plains were associated with the presence of a firm clay layer in the B horizon.     

Experimental soil warming effects on CO2 and CH4 flux from a low elevation spruce–fir forest soil in Maine, USA

The effect of soil warming on CO₂ and CH₄ flux from a spruce–fir forest soil was evaluated at the Howland Integrated Forest Study site in Maine, USA from 1993 to 1995. Elevated soil temperatures (～5 °C) were maintained during the snow-free season (May – November) in replicated 15 × 15-m plots using electric cables buried 1–2 cm below the soil surface; replicated unheated plots served as the control. CO₂ evolution from the soil surface and soil air CO₂ concentrations both showed clear seasonal trends and significant (P < 0.0001) positive exponential relationships with soil temperature. Soil warming caused a 25–40% increase in CO₂ flux from the heated plots compared to the controls. No significant differences were observed between heated and control plot soil air CO₂ concentrations which we attribute to rapid equilibration with the atmosphere in the O horizon and minimal treatment effects in the B horizon. Methane fluxes were highly variable and showed no consistent trends with treatment.