A parametric distribution for the fraction of outdoor soil in indoor dust

For a chemical that does not have a source inside a house, the ratio of its dust concentration indoors to its soil concentration outdoors is equal to the fraction of house dust that is composed of soil. To estimate the fraction of soil in house dust, we compiled ratios of the concentrations of a chemical in dust and soil from the scientific literature. We find that a lognormal distribution fits the data extremely well. This distribution is suitable for use in public health risk assessments for single‐family homes in temperate climates.     

Concept,Components, and Strategies of Soil Health in Agroecosystems

The terms ''''soil health'''' or ''''soil quality'''' as applied to agroecosystems refer to the ability of soil to support and sustain crop growth while maintaining environmental quality. High-quality soils have the following characteristics: (i) a sufficient, but not excess, supply of nutrients; (ii) good structure (tilth); (iii) sufficient depth for rooting and drainage; (iv) good internal drainage; (v) low populations of plant disease and parasitic organisms; (vi) high populations of organisms that promote plant growth; (vii) low weed pressure; (viii) no chemicals that might harm the plant; (ix) resistance to being degraded; and (x) resilience following an episode of degradation. Management intended to improve soil health involves creatively combining a number of practices that enhance the soil''s biological, chemical, and physical suitability for crop production. The most important general strategy is to add plentiful quantities of organic matter—including crop and cover crop residues, manures, and composts. Other important strategies include better crop rotations, reducing tillage and keeping the soil surface covered with living and dead residue, reducing compaction by decreasing heavy equipment traffic, and using best nutrient management practices. Practices that enhance soil quality frequently reduce plant pest pressures.     

Possible role of soil microorganisms in aggregation in soils

In many soils, roots and fungal hyphae, especially those of vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi, stabilize macroaggregates (>250 μm diameter); organic residues, bacteria, polysaccharides and inorganic materials stabilize microaggregates (<250 μm). This review discusses the factors (including other organisms) which affect VAM hyphae and their extracellular polysaccharides in soil, and the subsequent effect on stability of aggregates. The review also discusses the possible role of other organisms, including ectomycorrhizal fungi, in the stability of soil, and suggests future research.     

新疆玛纳斯流域非农业种植地盐碱性空间变异特征

土壤盐渍化是导致干旱区土地退化的主要原因之一,也是影响干旱区可持续发展和环境改善的基本问题。充分挖掘不同分类体系下盐渍土空间变异性可以为实施开垦或恢复生态措施提供科学依据。以干旱区开垦近50a的玛纳斯流域为研究区,在不同分类体系下,以土壤盐度,p H值,离子类型为指标,分析该区域非农业种植地(弃耕地,盐碱地,裸地,沙地)盐渍土类型的空间分布特征。结果表明:(1)研究区68%的样本属于非盐渍化,不同类型的盐渍土主要以链状分布于泉水溢出带-冲积平原-干三角洲地带,由南向北,区域整体盐分大致遵循先升高后降低再升高趋势,半方差函数分析土壤盐分呈现弱变异,说明这种分布情况是受随机(人为)因素的影响;而p H整体由南向北递增,传统统计学和地统计学的分析结果都表明土壤碱化呈现中等变异,受结构(自然)因素和随机(人为)因素的共同影响。表层土壤除在溢出带为氯化物型盐渍土外,其他地区自南向北由硫酸-氯化物型逐渐变为氯化-硫酸盐型和硫酸盐土、苏打盐土,离子的半方差函数拟合模型结果均是弱变异和中等变异,与美国盐度实验室分类体系的变异性结果相同,此类分布特征也是结构因素和随机因素共同作用的结果。(2)分析五种典型地貌的盐渍土分布,方差分析结果表明,5种地貌类型均呈现盐分表聚特征,碱化度则由南向北递增;其中盐碱特征最为显著的是泉水溢出带。泉水溢出带的盐土垂直方向的变化趋势为由表层至深层,盐土类型由硫酸-氯化物盐土变为氯化盐土;冲积平原和干三角洲样点处全剖面为氯化物-硫酸盐土,冲积洪积扇和沙漠地区则包含所有阴离子盐土类型。对玛纳斯流域盐渍土特性的空间异质性进行分析,可以为下一步有针对性地治理与改善土壤盐渍化提供科学依据。     

渭北旱塬苹果园土壤紧实化现状及成因

本研究通过分析渭北旱塬苹果园土壤的紧实化现状及其诱导因素,找出影响当地苹果园健康发展的土壤退化隐性因素,为果园科学管理提供理论依据。分别选取种植年限＜10年(4～6年)、10～20年(14～16年)和＞20年(24～26年)的苹果园各4个,分析0～60 cm土层土壤容重和紧实度随土层深度的变化规律,探明果园土壤内部紧实化发生的部位和退化程度,同时,通过分析土壤团聚体数量及其稳定性、土壤黏粒和有机质含量,揭示引起渭北果园土壤内部紧实化的原因。结果表明: 渭北果园0～60 cm土层土壤容重和紧实度均随植果年限和土层深度的增加而显著增大。以20 cm土层为界,渭北各园龄段苹果园土壤具有明显的“上松下实”变异特征,20 cm以上土层上述各指标基本满足苹果树的正常生长需求,20 cm以下土层土壤则已超出了苹果树健康生长的阈值。造成渭北苹果园亚表层以下土壤紧实化的原因主要是土壤团聚作用差、有机质含量低,加之植果期间人为扰动少,土壤中分散的黏粒会向下层移动。此外,随着植果年限的增加,土壤紧实化过程更加明显。     

川西卧龙岷江冷杉林土壤有机碳组分与氮素关系随海拔梯度的变化特征

土壤碳氮沿海拔梯度变化及其耦合关系是山地生态系统碳氮循环研究的重要内容。为分析不同土层土壤有机碳,土壤全氮及有机碳活性组分在海拔梯度上的分布规律及相互之间的耦合关系,选取亚高山物种岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)原始林为研究对象,以卧龙邓生野牛沟岷江冷杉原始林2920—3700 m的样地调查数据为基础,分析不同土层土壤碳氮及活性组分沿海拔的变化规律,总结土壤有机碳稳定性沿海拔主要规律,从土壤有机碳活性组分和碳氮关系的角度揭示其对土壤有机碳沿海拔变化的影响。结果表明:1)腐殖质层土壤有机碳(SOC)随海拔升高逐渐增加,与温度显著负相关,轻组有机碳(LFOC)及颗粒态有机碳(POC)随海拔上升均表现先增加后降低的趋势,土壤全氮(TN)随海拔变化不显著,但林线处LOFC、POC和TN均显著增加;0—10 cm土壤有机碳及全氮则表现为双峰特征,峰值分别在3089 m和3260 m处,与年均温度无显著关系。2)LFOC及POC在腐殖质层和0—10 cm土层中所占比例较大,是表征土壤有机碳含量沿海拔变化规律的主要活性组分,腐殖质层LFOC/SOC和POC/SOC随海拔上升逐渐增高,0—10 cm层则逐渐降低,暗示腐殖质层有机碳稳定性沿海拔逐渐降低,0—10 cm有机碳稳定性逐渐升高。3)SOC与TN显著正相关,SOC是影响TN的主要因子,但腐殖质层TN与有机碳活性组分无显著相关关系。4)土壤C/N和微生物量C/N在3177 m大于25:1,是引起土壤有机碳含量显著降低的主要因素。     

黄土高原四种人工植物群落土壤呼吸季节变化及其影响因子

以黄土高原侧柏、柠条、沙棘和油松人工植物群落为对象,土壤呼吸日动态和季节变化及其与环境因子之间的关系,结果表明:4种植物群落土壤呼吸速率具有典型的日变化和季节变化模式, 4种群落中,以侧柏6月土壤呼吸日变幅最大,沙棘6月土壤呼吸日变幅最小,大部分群落不同月份最大土壤呼吸与最小土壤呼吸倍数在1.1～1.6之间.4种群落中,以柠条土壤呼吸季节变幅最大,侧柏最小,最大土壤呼吸与最小土壤呼吸的倍数为1.5～2.2倍之间.同一植物类型土壤呼吸具有明显的季节变化特征,其具体变化趋势因植物类型而异.4种植物群落土壤呼吸速率与土壤和大气温度以及土壤含水量的关系在不同季节表现为不同的关系,其中侧柏和柠条土壤呼吸与土壤温度均呈乘幂关系,与大气温度为指数关系.沙棘土壤呼吸与土壤温度和大气温度均为乘幂关系,油松土壤呼吸与土壤温度和大气温度均为线性关系.这表明土壤呼吸与土壤和大气温度之间的关系及其紧密程度因植被类型而异.综合分析表明,同一气候区相同环境因子对不同植物群落土壤呼吸的影响作用不同,且因其自身具有明显的季节变化,从而导致对土壤呼吸的调控作用也具有明显的季节变异模式.     

Soil CO2 efflux in a tropical forest in the central Amazon

This study investigated the spatial and temporal variation in soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) efflux and its relationship with soil temperature, soil moisture and rainfall in a forest near Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. The mean rate of efflux was 6.45±0.25 SE μmol CO₂ m^?2s^?1 at 25.6±0.22 SE°C (5 cm depth) ranging from 4.35 to 9.76 μmol CO₂ m^?2s^?1; diel changes in efflux were correlated with soil temperature (r²=0.60). However, the efflux response to the diel cycle in temperature was not always a clear exponential function. During period of low soil water content, temperature in deeper layers had a better relationship with CO₂ efflux than with the temperature nearer the soil surface. Soil water content may limit CO₂ production during the drying‐down period that appeared to be an important factor controlling the efflux rate (r²=0.39). On the other hand, during the rewetting period microbial activity may be the main controlling factor, which may quickly induce very high rates of efflux. The CO₂ flux chamber was adapted to mimic the effects of rainfall on soil CO₂ efflux and the results showed that efflux rates reduced 30% immediately after a rainfall event. Measurements of the CO₂ concentration gradient in the soil profile showed a buildup in the concentration of CO₂ after rain on the top soil. This higher CO₂ concentration developed shortly after rainfall when the soil pores in the upper layers were filled with water, which created a barrier for gas exchange between the soil and the atmosphere.     

黄土和风沙土藓结皮土壤呼吸对模拟降雨的响应

生物结皮土壤呼吸是干旱和半干旱生态系统碳循环的重要组成部分,但目前其对降雨的响应规律尚不明确。针对黄土高原黄土和风沙土上发育的藓结皮,分别进行2、4、6、10、20、30、40 mm的模拟降雨,并使用便携式土壤碳通量分析仪测定雨前和雨后藓结皮的呼吸速率,对比分析降雨量对藓结皮呼吸速率的影响;同时,在40 mm降雨后的0—24 h连续测定藓结皮的呼吸速率变化,分析藓结皮呼吸速率随雨后历时的变化规律。结果显示,7种降雨量后两种土壤上藓结皮的呼吸速率均显著升高,黄土上藓结皮呼吸速度的增幅为2.89—6.38倍,风沙土上藓结皮呼吸速率的增幅为0.73—4.38倍。0—6 mm降雨中,两种土壤上藓结皮的呼吸速率均随降雨量增加而迅速升高,二者成显著线性正相关关系;6—40 mm降雨中,黄土上藓结皮的呼吸速率随降雨量增加而缓慢升高,但风沙土上藓结皮的呼吸速率随降雨量增加而快速降低。两种土壤上藓结皮的呼吸速率随雨后历时表现出相似的变化规律,即雨后迅速升高、之后逐渐降低,并在24 h左右回归到雨前水平;但黄土上藓结皮的呼吸速率在雨后即刻达到峰值,而风沙土上藓结皮的呼吸速率在雨后30 min左右方达到峰值。黄土上藓结皮的呼吸速率一致高于风沙土上的藓结皮,前者在不同降雨量和雨后历时中平均比后者高150.0%和59.6%。此外,藓结皮呼吸速率与表层土壤含水量存有显著相关关系,在含水量较低(小于约4%)时二者显著正相关,在含水量较高(大于约4%)时二者对于黄土上藓结皮为正相关、对于风沙土上藓结皮为负相关。研究表明,黄土高原藓结皮土壤呼吸对降雨响应快速而直接,但其响应规律对于黄土和风沙土上的藓结皮是不同的,总体而言黄土上藓结皮对降雨的响应更为持久有效。     

Mycorrhizal Interactions in Sustainable Agriculture

Abstract

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi are an intimate link between the roots of most crop plants and soils, thereby affecting the development of host plants and host soils. The role of VAM fungi in improving plant nutrition and their interactions with other soil biota have been investigated with reference to host plant growth, but little is known about how these interactions affect soil structure. The impact of cultural practices and the particular role that VAM fungi play in improving soil structure are discussed in the context of sustainable farming.