青藏高原高寒草甸夏季植被特征及对模拟增温的短期响应

以青藏高原高寒草甸为研究对象,研究了草甸植被夏季生长动态特征;同时采用红外辐射器模拟增温的方法,探讨了草甸植被对增温的短期(1a)响应.结果表明:(1)高寒草甸夏季植被高度与地下生物量、总生物量相关性不显著,盖度与二者相关性极显著;高度对地上生物量影响较大(R=0.892,P＜0.01),盖度对地下生物量(R=0.883,P＜0.01)和总生物量(R=0.888,P＜0.01)影响较大.(2)高寒草甸夏季植被地上部分和地下部分表现出不同的生长模式,地上部分近似等速生长(幂指数为1.011),地下部分则表现为异速生长(幂指数为0.459),但整体呈现异速生长(幂指数为0.473).(3)高寒草甸夏季植被地上生物量(P＜0.05)在6月份较地下生物量(P＞0.05)对环境更为敏感,且一年之后地上-地下生物量均呈减小趋势,这与空气温度、土壤温度和土壤水分的显著减小密切相关.(4)红外辐射器在高寒草甸的增温度效果较好,空气、地表、土壤温度都随增温幅度增强而增加;短期增温对高寒植被有正效应(T0-T1),而温度持续升高则对植被产生负效应(T1-T2);各植被指标的方差分析都未达到显著水平,表明短期增温对该植被影响不显著.     

西藏那曲地区高寒草甸不同放牧方式下土壤微生物群落结构特征

以不同放牧方式下那曲高寒草甸为研究对象,通过比较土壤化学性质和土壤磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)研究土壤微生物群落结构的变化.结果表明： 土壤化学性质(总有机碳、全磷和硝态氮含量)和微生物生物量碳总体表现为休牧7年>自由放牧>禁牧;除真菌细菌比外,土壤PLFA总值、细菌PLFA值、真菌PLFA值、革兰氏阴性菌和革兰氏阳性菌PLFA值均表现为休牧7年>禁牧5年>自由放牧>禁牧7和9年.主成分分析(PCA)表明：第1主成分(PC1=74.6%)主要由单烯脂肪酸、多烯脂肪酸、支链饱和脂肪酸组成;第2主成分(PC2=13.2%)主要由直链脂肪酸和部分单烯脂肪酸组成.土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)和PLFA总值之间有较好的相关性.与禁牧方式相比,休牧最适宜于那曲高寒草甸健康稳定,轻度放牧也有利于高寒草甸的稳定.     

不同强度牦牛放牧对青藏高原高寒草地土壤和植物生物量的影响

放牧作为家畜饲养方式之一,是草地最简单、有效的利用方式,放牧中的家畜对草地生态系统的影响是全球畜牧生态学研究的焦点。过度放牧导致草地退化严重,虽然在青藏高原地区已有较多放牧对草地影响的研究,但探究连续4年放牧对高寒草地生态系统影响的定位实验却鲜见报道。本研究在青藏高原东缘选取典型高寒草地,使用高原特有且分布最广的牦牛作为大型草食放牧家畜,设置了4个牦牛放牧强度（禁牧：无放牧、轻牧：1头/hm²、中牧：2头/hm²和重牧：3头/hm²）以研究其对高寒草地土壤和植物功能的影响。开展4年试验后的结果表明：放牧条件下土壤含水率显著增加;而土壤容重、全磷和有机质含量对放牧强度均无显著性响应;土壤全氮和pH的响应主要在表层0-20 cm,其中全氮为轻牧和重牧处理分别显著高于中牧,中牧处理下的土壤pH为显著高于轻牧;土壤全钾含量在禁牧处理中显著高于放牧处理;而土壤有效氮和速效钾均为中牧处理显著高于禁牧;放牧可以显著降低植物地上生物量。牦牛放牧强度显著影响土壤含水率、有效养分和植物地上生物量,而对其它土壤理化性质影响较弱。本研究结果揭示放牧对高寒草地土壤理化性质和植物地上生物量的影响,为青藏高原高寒草甸生态系统保护、可持续管理和合理放牧率提供理论依据。     

青藏高原高山嵩草高寒草甸不同退化阶段植物群落与土壤养分

选取西藏自治区拉萨市当雄县4块不同退化程度的高山嵩草高寒草甸,采用空间序列代替时间演替的方法,研究不同退化阶段高寒草甸的土壤理化性质和植物群落特征以及二者之间的相关关系。结果表明: 不同退化阶段高寒草甸的土壤有机碳、全氮、速效磷、速效钾、铵态氮、硝态氮和含水量均随土壤退化程度加剧呈降低的趋势,而pH值呈现升高的趋势。中度退化草甸的植物群落高度、丰富度指数、多样性指数、均匀度指数最大。群落盖度、总生物量均为未退化草甸最大、重度退化草甸最小。随着草甸退化程度加剧,莎草科生物量及比例下降,豆科和杂类草生物量及比例增加,禾本科生物量及比例先增加后减小;草甸植物群落地上生物量与土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷含量和土壤含水量呈显著正相关,与土壤pH值呈显著负相关。随着草甸植被的退化,土壤退化加重,最终表现为草地生产力显著下降。     

不同退化阶段高寒草甸土壤化学计量特征

为了阐明不同退化阶段高寒草甸土壤的化学计量特征,沿着高寒草甸退化的梯度选取了原生嵩草草甸、轻度退化草甸和严重沙化草甸,测定了高寒草甸退化过程中不同深度土壤的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾含量。结果表明:随着高寒草甸的退化,0～100cm土壤的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾含量以及碳氮比、碳磷比、碳钾比、氮磷比、氮钾比和磷钾比均呈降低趋势,且土壤有机碳对高寒草甸退化的敏感性最高,全氮、全磷和全钾的敏感性依次降低,表层20cm的土壤有机碳和全氮可作为表征高寒草甸退化程度最敏感的土壤养分指标。另外,随着草甸的退化,土壤的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾含量及其化学计量比的垂直分布明显不同:随着土壤深度的增加,原生嵩草草甸和轻度退化草甸的土壤有机碳、全氮和全磷含量以及碳氮比、碳磷比、碳钾比、氮磷比、氮钾比和磷钾比在0～40cm范围内锐减,在40cm以下缓慢降低并趋于稳定;而沙化草甸土壤的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾及其化学计量比随着土壤深度的增加保持不变。     

藏香猪翻拱型放牧对不同类型高寒草甸植物特征的影响及土壤环境驱动力

生态系统脆弱的高寒草甸是生态学研究的热点。藏香猪翻拱土壤并取食地下草根层,是藏族自治区一种特有的放牧类型,关于该放牧类型对藏区高寒草甸的影响尚缺乏研究。以滇西北高原国际重要湿地——纳帕海流域的典型高寒草甸为对象,研究了不同高寒草甸类型(陆生草甸与沼泽化草甸)中的植物群落结构特征对藏香猪翻拱型放牧的响应。结果表明,翻拱型放牧显著降低了植被盖度(63.5%)、地上生物量(84.6%)与地下生物量(97.4%),并促进植物生物量向地上部分的再分配。翻拱型放牧下随着植被盖度与生物量降低,植物竞争强度减小,植株高度与空间利用率提高。然而,不同草甸类型中的植物群落结构对翻拱型放牧表现出差异响应。陆生草甸上的群落组成基本未变,而沼泽化草甸上的优势植物华扁穗草(Blysmus sinocompyessus)向1年生水生植物水蓼(Polygonum hydropiper)演替。土壤含水率是导致植物响应差异的关键驱动力。综上,藏香猪翻拱型放牧对植物生物量及盖度等特征均产生不利影响,导致高寒草甸生物量积累锐减,而植物群落结构的变化是放牧干扰与土壤水分、空间竞争协同作用的结果,反映出植物在不同环境中对放牧干扰的差异化响应。研究区域环境特征与放牧干扰的耦合关系,可以为藏香猪放牧作用下的高寒草地植物多样性保护及恢复提供理论依据。     

不同草地类型对三江源区草地土壤养分的影响

对三江源区原生高寒草甸草原、退化高寒草甸草原、退化高寒草原和人工草地4种不同草地类型中,草地土壤养分的含量进行了测定,结果表明;高寒草甸草原随着退化程度的加重,全氮、有效氮、全磷、有效磷、有效钾均在土壤表层含量降低,中下层土壤含量升高。原生高寒草甸草原全氮、全磷、有效磷含量在中层土壤含量升高,而有效氮、有效钾含量随着土层加深逐渐降低。退化高寒草原全氮、全磷含量随土层加深变化较不明显,有效氮在中层土壤含量较多随后急剧下降,有效磷和有效钾随土层加深逐渐减少。人工草地各种土壤养分均呈现随土层逐步下降的态势,总体来看,人工草地在表层土壤的各种养分含量远远大于原生和退化草地,土壤速效养分受退化程度影响较大,其变化幅度明显高于全量养分,表层土壤养分受退化影响的程度较深层土壤大。     

青藏高原高寒草甸植物群落生物量对氮、磷添加的响应

青藏高原正经历着明显的温暖化过程, 由此引起的土壤温度的升高促进了土壤中微生物的活性, 同时青藏高原东缘地区大气氮沉降十分明显, 并呈逐年增加的趋势, 这些环境变化均促使土壤中可利用营养元素增加, 因此深入了解青藏高原高寒草甸植物生物量对可利用营养元素增加的响应, 是准确预测未来全球变化背景下青藏高原高寒草甸碳循环过程的重要基础。该研究基于在青藏高原高寒草甸连续4年(2009-2012年)氮、磷添加后对不同功能群植物地上生物量、群落地上和地下生物量的测定, 探讨高寒草甸生态系统碳输入对氮、磷添加的响应。结果表明: (1)氮、磷添加均极显著增加了禾草的地上绝对生物量及其在群落总生物量中所占的比例, 同时均显著降低了杂类草在群落总生物量中的比例, 此外磷添加极显著降低了莎草地上绝对生物量及其在群落总生物量中所占的比例。(2)氮、磷添加均显著促进了青藏高原高寒草甸的地上生物量增加, 分别增加了24%和52%。(3)氮添加对高寒草甸地下生物量无显著影响, 而磷添加后地下生物量有增加的趋势。(4)氮添加对高寒草甸植物总生物量无显著影响, 而磷添加后植物总生物量显著增加。研究表明, 氮、磷添加可缓解青藏高原高寒草甸植物生长的营养限制, 促进植物地上部分的生长, 然而高寒草甸植物的生长极有可能更受土壤中可利用磷含量的限制。     

植被与土壤特征对青藏高原不同程度退化草地的响应

高寒草地作为青藏高原高寒生态系统的重要组分之一,其退化已严重影响到高原的可持续发展和草地恢复重建。搜集了2004—2022年间关于青藏高原高寒草地退化的64篇研究结果,包含土壤有机碳、生物量和多样性指数等16个指标的1403组数据,运用meta分析解析了草地退化对土壤理化性质、植被生产力和物种多样性的影响,并对重度退化草地的土壤理化性质和植物生物量进行线性回归分析。结果表明：随着草地退化的加剧,土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、有效氮、有效磷、有效钾、土壤含水量、地上生物量、地下生物量和植被高度显著下降;土壤容重显著上升;土壤pH、全钾在各个退化阶段没有明显差异;Shannon多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数和Margalef丰富度指数整体呈下降趋势。土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、有效氮、有效磷、有效钾和土壤含水量与地上生物量、地下生物量存在显著的正相关;土壤容重与地上生物量、地下生物量呈显著的负相关;土壤pH与地上生物量、地下生物量呈负相关。因此,青藏高原高寒草地退化通过改变土壤理化性质而改变地上群落多样性和生物量,为阐明植被与土壤特征对草地退化的响应机制以及高寒退化草地的恢复提供了科学依据。     

放牧高寒嵩草草地不同演替阶段土壤酶活性及养分演变特征

以高寒草地演替序列禾草-矮嵩草群落、矮嵩草群落、加厚期小嵩草群落、开裂期小嵩草群落和杂类草-黑土型次生裸地为对象,研究多稳态放牧高寒草地土壤酶活性演变及其与养分的关联性.结果表明:随退化演替推进,植被盖度和地上生物量依次降低,而地下生物量在加厚期和开裂期小嵩草群落达到高峰.土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶、纤维素酶、碱性磷酸酶和芳基硫酸酯酶活性在土壤表层(0~10 cm)高于亚表层(10~20 cm),而几丁质酶相反;纤维素酶、碱性磷酸酶和芳基硫酸酯酶在禾草-矮嵩草群落最高,杂类草-黑土型次生裸地最低,加厚期小嵩草群落略有升高;几丁质酶在中间3个阶段均显示较高活性;脲酶和蔗糖酶在后期杂类草-黑土型次生裸地阶段明显升高.土壤水分、铵态氮、碱解氮、全氮、全碳和有机碳随退化演替依次递减,但硝态氮和速效磷在后期两阶段回升.除几丁质酶外,其他酶均与速效磷、铵态氮、碱解氮、全碳和有机碳呈正相关,与pH呈负相关;纤维素酶、碱性磷酸酶和芳基硫酸酯酶还与土壤水分和全氮呈正相关;影响土壤酶活性的主控因子为速效磷和铵态氮.高寒草地土壤酶受放牧退化演替影响呈现不同演变趋势,酶活性与土壤养分存在相互协同作用,但重度退化的极端环境也可能会激发与氮、碳养分转化相关的土壤酶活性.     

不同放牧强度草原休牧后土壤养分和植物群落变化特征

在内蒙古典型草原,对不同放牧率草地休牧3a后的土壤养分空间异质性和植物群落的数量变化特征进行了研究,结果表明：不同放牧率草地休牧3a后,由于维持土壤养分或植被空间格局的匀质化条件消失,土壤养分的空间异质性呈不同程度的增大趋势,随机性因素所占比例增加,其中土壤有机碳、全氮、无机氮、有效磷和有效硫的空间异质性均以0．00羊/hm^2区最大,4．00羊／hm^2区（中牧区）最小,其它样地不同土壤养分指标表现不同的变化特征;群落生物量和群落盖度均表现增加趋势,但群落盖度增加不显著（P〉0．05）,与1998年相比,群落生物量除对照区外均达到了显著性差异（P〈0．05）,与1．33羊／hm^2、4．00羊／hm^2和6．67羊／hm^2相比,O．00羊／hm^2优势植物出现多样化特征;群落的灌丛化与牧压和恢复演替的时间序列高度相关,牧压越小,恢复演替的时间序列越大,群落灌丛化的趋势越明显;1年生植物、羊草、克氏针茅、木地肤、冷蒿（除6．67羊／hm^2）和扁蓿豆（除O．00羊／hm^2）均表现增加趋势,星毛委陵菜则均表现降低趋势;植物群落的生物量、群落高度、群落盖度和群落物种多样性与土壤养分分布均表现一致的正相关关系,但只有植物群落生物量和群落高度与土壤有机碳、全氮、无机氮、土壤有效磷和有效硫相关显著（P〈0．05）。     

高寒草甸生态系统磷素循环

试验在中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统定位站进行了实验样地设置在冬春草场上,应用分室模型,将高寒草甸生态系统分为大气,土壤,植物,食草动物４个分室,主要讨论了磷素在各分室内的贮量,流动方向,流通数量及其系统磷素的供需状况,高寒草旬生态系统磷素的循环过程中,大气分室通过降水输入土壤磷量为０．３６ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２．ａ植物从土壤库摄取速效磷７．０６ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２．ａ这些磷素一部分（０．５７ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２．ａ     

An evaluation of government‐recommended stocking systems for sustaining pastoral businesses and ecosystems of the Alpine Meadows of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau

China introduced the “Retire Livestock and Restore Grassland” policy in 2003. It was strengthened in 2011 by additional funding for on‐farm structures. On the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP), fences were erected, livestock excluded from degraded areas, rotational stocking introduced, nighttime shelters were built, forages grown, and seed sown. However, the effectiveness of these actions and their value to Tibetan herders has been questioned. We conducted a sheep stocking experiment for 5 years in an Alpine Meadow region of the QTP to evaluate stocking options recommended by Government. Cold and warm season stocking each at three rates (0, 8, and 16 sheep/ha) and continuous stocking at 0 and 4 sheep/ha were compared. We measured live weights of sheep, plant species richness and evenness, root biomass and carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents of the 0–10 cm of soil. We found that resting grassland from stocking during the warm season for later cold season stocking significantly reduced plant species richness and evenness and root biomass but not soil C, N, and P. During cold season stocking, live weights of sheep declined whether at a stocking rate of 8 or 16 per ha. In contrast, sheep continuously stocked on grassland at 4 per ha gained weight throughout both the warm and cold seasons and plant species richness and evenness were maintained. Warm season stocking at 8 and 16 sheep/ha increased plant species richness and root biomass but reduced plant species evenness. Resting these alpine grasslands from stocking in the warm season has adverse consequences for plant conservation. Fencing from stocking in the warm season is not justified by this study; all grassland should be judiciously stocked during the warm season to maintain plant species richness. Neither resting nor stocking during the cold season appears to have any adverse consequences but sheltering and in‐door feeding of sheep during the cold season may be more profitable than cold season stocking with use of open nighttime yards.     

Intraspecific adoption and foster feeding of fledglings in the North Island robin

We sampled soils and vegetation within and outside two sheep and rabbit exclosures, fenced in 1979, on steep sunny and shady slopes at 770 m altitude on seasonally-dry pastoral steeplands. The vegetation of sunny aspects was characterised by higher floristic diversity, annual species, and low plant cover. Here the exotic grass Anthoxanthum odoratum dominated on grazed treatments, and the exotic forb Hieracium pilosella on ungrazed. Shady aspects supported fewer, and almost entirely perennial, species. Here Hieracium pilosella dominated grazed treatments, but co-dominated with the exotic forb H. praealtum and the native grass Festuca novae-zelandiae on ungrazed treatments. There was 43% more biomass in exclosures (P < 0.01). Most of the biomass difference (4285 kg/ha) was from greater root mass (2400 kg/ha). 1385 kg/ha of the difference was from herbage and the remainder (500 kg/ha) from litter. Exclosures had 50 to 100% more Ca, Mg, K and P in the biomass (P < 0.05), but the effect on soils was limited to significantly higher concentrations of total N (P < 0.05) and exchangeable Mg (P < 0.01) in 0-7.5 cm soils. We conclude that stopping grazing for 16 years on seasonally-dry steeplands results in greater plant cover, approximately double the biomass of standing vegetation, greater biomass in roots, and more biomass nutrients relative to grazed areas. However, it does not favour native species and has little effect on soil nutrients or soil carbon. Stopping grazing alone therefore cannot be regarded as a comprehensive short- or medium-term vegetation or soil rehabilitation option.     

Biomass and nutrient allocation strategies in a desert ecosystem in the Hexi Corridor,northwest China

The allocation of biomass and nutrients in plants is a crucial factor in understanding the process of plant structures and dynamics to different environmental conditions. In this study, we present a comprehensive scaling analysis of data from a desert ecosystem to determine biomass and nutrient (carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P)) allocation strategies of desert plants from 40 sites in the Hexi Corridor. We found that the biomass and levels of C, N, and P storage were higher in shoots than in roots. Roots biomass and nutrient storage were concentrated at a soil depth of 0–30 cm. Scaling relationships of biomass, C storage, and P storage between shoots and roots were isometric, but that of N storage was allometric. Results of a redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that soil nutrient densities were the primary factors influencing biomass and nutrient allocation, accounting for 94.5% of the explained proportion. However, mean annual precipitation was the primary factor influencing the roots biomass/shoots biomass (R/S) ratio. Furthermore, Pearson’s correlations and regression analyses demonstrated that although the biomass and nutrients that associated with functional traits primarily depended on soil conditions, mean annual precipitation and mean annual temperature had greater effects on roots biomass and nutrient storage.     

Vegetation and soil responses to livestock grazing in Central Asian grasslands: a review of Chinese literature

Grasslands in northern China and the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau are particularly important to both ecosystem functioning and pastoral livelihoods. Although there are numerous degradation studies on the effect of livestock grazing across the region, they are largely only published in Chinese, and most focus on single sites. Based on case studies from 100 sites, covering a mean annual precipitation gradient of 95–744 mm, we present a comprehensive, internationally accessible review on the impact of livestock grazing on vegetation and soils. We compared ungrazed or slightly grazed sites with moderately and heavily grazed sites by evaluating changes in two indicator groups: vegetation (plant species richness, vegetation cover, aboveground biomass, belowground biomass and root/shoot ratio) and soil (pH, bulk density, organic C, total N, total P and available P). Most indicators declined with intensified grazing, while soil pH, bulk density and belowground biomass increased. Available P showed no clear response. Variables within indicator groups were mostly linearly correlated at a given grazing intensity. Relative grazing effects on different indicators varied along specific abiotic gradients. Grazing responses of plant species richness, aboveground biomass, soil bulk density, total N and available P interacted with precipitation patterns, while grazing effects on belowground biomass were influenced by temperature. Elevation had impact on grazing responses of aboveground biomass and soil organic carbon. Complex grazing effects reflect both methodological inconsistency and ecological complexity. Further assessments should consider specific characteristics of different indicators in the context of the local environment.     

Impacts of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) invasion on dry matter and carbon and nitrogen stocks in a broad‐leaved secondary forest located in Kyoto,western Japan

In western and central Japan, the expansion of exotic moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel ex J. Houz.) populations into neighboring vegetation has become a serious problem. Although the effects of bamboo invasion on biodiversity have been well studied, shifts in nutrient stocks and cycling, which are fundamental for ecosystem functioning, are not fully understood. To explore the effects of P. pubescens invasion on ecosystem functions we examined above‐ and below‐ground dry matter and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks in a pure broad‐leaved tree stand, a pure bamboo stand, and two tree–bamboo mixed stands with different vegetation mix ratios in the secondary forest of Kyoto, western Japan. In the process of invasion, bamboo shoots offset broad‐leaved tree deaths; thus, no clear trend was apparent in total above‐ or below‐ground biomass or in plant C and N stocks during invasion. However, the ratio of above‐ground to below‐ground biomass (T/R ratio at the stand level) decreased with increasing bamboo dominance, especially in the early stages of invasion. This shift indicates that rapid bamboo rhizomatous growth is a main driver of substantial changes in stand structure. We also detected rises in the C/N ratio of forest‐floor organic matter during bamboo invasion. Thus major impacts of P. pubescens invasion into broad‐leaved forests include not only early shifts in biomass allocation, but also changes in the distribution pattern of C and N stored in plants and soil.     

Carbon sequestration and soil restoration potential of grazing lands under exclosure management in a semi‐arid environment of northern Ethiopia

Exclosures are used to regenerate native vegetation as a way to reduce soil erosion, increase rain water infiltration and provide fodder and woody biomass in degraded grazing lands. Therefore, this study assessed the impact of grazing exclosure on carbon sequestration and soil nutrients under 5 and 10 years of grazing exclosures and freely grazed areas in Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Carbon stocks and soil nutrients increased with increasing grazing exclusion. However, open grazing lands and 5 years of grazing exclosure did not differ in above‐ and belowground carbon stocks. Moreover, 10 years of grazing exclosure had a higher (p < 0.01) grass, herb and litter carbon stocks compared to 5 years exclosure and open grazing lands. The total carbon stock was higher for 10 years exclosure (75.65 t C ha^‐1) than the 5 years exclosure (55.06 t C ha^‐1) and in open grazing areas (51.98 t C ha^‐1). Grazing lands closed for 10 years had a higher SOC, organic matter, total N, available P, and exchangeable K + and Na + compared to 5 year's exclosure and open grazing lands. Therefore, establishment of grazing exclosures had a positive effect in restoring degraded grazing lands, thus improving carbon sequestration potentials and soil nutrients.     

Causes of increased nutrient concentrations in post-fire regrowth in an East African savanna

The aim of the present study was to investigate the causes of increased macronutrient concentrations in above-ground post-fire regrowth in an East African savanna (Northern Tanzania). Experiments were set up to discriminate between the following possible causes: (1) increased soil nutrient supply after fire, (2) relocation of nutrients from the roots to the new shoots, (3) rejuvenation and related changes in plant tissue composition and (4) changes in nutrient uptake in relation to above-ground carbon gains. N, P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations in post-burn graminoid vegetation were compared with clipped and with unburned, control vegetation during the post-burn growth season. One month after burning and clipping, nutrient concentrations in live grass shoots in the burned and clipped treatments were significantly higher than in the control. This effect, however, declined in the course of the season and, except for Ca, disappeared three months after onset of the treatments. There were no significant differences in live grass shoot nutrient concentrations between burned and clipped treatments which suggests that the increased nutrient concentration in post-fire regrowth is not due to increased soil nutrient supply via ash deposition. The relatively low input of nutrients through ash deposition, compared to the amount of nutrients released through mineralisation during the first month after burning and to the total nutrient pools, supports this suggestion. There was no difference between burned and unburned vegetation in total root biomass and root nutrient concentrations. Relocation of nutrients from the roots to the new shoots did not, therefore, appear to be a cause of higher post-fire shoot nutrient concentrations. The present study shows that in this relatively nutrient-rich savanna, the increased nutrient concentration in above-ground post-fire regrowth is primarily due to increased leaf:stem ratios, rejuvenation of plant material and the distribution of a similar amount of nutrients over less above-ground biomass. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus mineralization in soils from semi-arid highlands of central Mexico amended with tannery sludge

Tannery sludge contains valuable nutrients and could be used as a fertilizer to pioneering vegetation in heavily eroded soils of the semi-arid highlands of central Mexico. Soil collected under and outside the canopy of mesquite (Prosopis laeviginata), huizache (Acacia tortuoso) and catclaw (Mimosa biuncifera), and cultivated with maize (Zea mays) and beans (Phaesolus vulgaris) was amended with 1.5 g tannery sludge kg-1 soil or 210 kg dry sludge ha-1 or left unamended. Amended and unamended soils were incubated aerobically for 70 days at 22 +/- 2 degrees C and CO2 production, available P, and inorganic N concentrations were monitored. The CO2 production rate, total C and P, available P, biomass C and P were larger under the canopy of the vegetation than outside of the canopy. The soils were depleted of N as more than 50 mg N kg-1 soil could not be accounted for in the first days of the incubation. Nitrification showed a lag, which lasted 28 days, and concentration of available P remained constant or increased slightly. Application of tannery sludge to soil increased CO2 production with 6.5 mg CO2 kg-1 soil d-1 and inorganic N with 30 mg N kg-1 soil after 70 days, but available P did not increase. Application of tannery sludge increased C and N mineralization and could thus provide valuable nutrients to a pioneer vegetation. Although no inhibitory effects on the biological functioning of the soil were found, further investigation into possible long-term environmental effects are necessary.