黄土高原沟壑区王东沟小流域土壤有机碳空间分布

地貌和土地利用是影响土壤有机碳(Soil organic carbon,SOC)空间变异的重要因素。以黄土高原沟壑区王东沟小流域(8.3 km2)为对象,在考虑地貌单元和土地利用影响的基础上,采集0—20cm样品448个,0—200cm样品33个。研究了地貌单元(塬面、塬坡和沟道)和土地利用方式对SOC含量的影响。结果表明,地貌单元和土地利用对小流域表层和深层SOC的含量分布影响都有显著差异。0—20cm土层的SOC含量,沟道塬面塬坡;塬面表层SOC含量的变化平缓;塬坡和沟道SOC变异大于塬面。0—200cm土层SOC三地貌单元差异达极显著水平(P99.9%),塬面SOC含量最高(5.37g kg-1),塬坡(3.06 gkg-1)最低。不同地貌单元条件下土地利用方式对表层和剖面SOC含量分布的影响也存在明显差异。塬面区,人工草地SOC含量亦明显高于农田和果园,但仅40cm以上土层SOC达到显著差异。在塬坡上,不同土地利用类型间,发生显著差异深度达到140cm。沟道内,林草两种土地利用类型间的SOC含量无显著差异。在估算该地区SOC密度和储量时,需要充分考虑地貌单元和土地利用方式的影响。     

黄土高原小流域土壤pH、阳离子交换量和有机质分布特征

通过野外调查采样和室内分析,研究了黄土高原小流域土壤pH、阳离子交换量（cation exchange capacity,CEC）和有机质的分布特征及其与土地利用方式、地形条件和土壤类型的关系.结果表明：黄土高原小流域土壤pH、CEC和有机质分别介于7.7～8.6、11.9～28.7 cmol·kg^-1和3.0～27.9 g·kg^-1,分别服从正态分布、对数正态分布和负二项分布.3种土壤性质随地形、土地利用方式和土壤类型的不同差异很大.不同土地利用方式下,土壤有机质和CEC以林地、草地和农田较高,果园较低;pH则以林地较低,其他利用方式较高;不同地形条件下,3种土壤性质均呈塬面和坡地大于沟道和梯田的趋势;不同类型土壤中,有机质和CEC以黑垆土和红土较高,pH则以黄绵土较高.整体上,土壤有机质和CEC呈现出相似的变化趋势,而pH的分布特征则与之相反.     

Distribution of soil organic C, N and P in three adjacent land use patterns in the northern Loess Plateau, China

The northern Loess Plateau is an important cropping-pastoral ecotone and wind–water erosion crisscross region in China, but the distribution of soil organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in different land uses across this vulnerable ecoregion is not well understood. This study was carried out to determine the distribution patterns of soil organic C, N and P in native grassland and in two woody lands (Chinese Pine land and Korshinsk Peashrub land) that were established on the native grassland 28 years ago. In the north part of the Loess Plateau, the concentrations of soil organic C, N and P were lower than in the southern Loess Plateau either across or within the land use patterns. The concentrations and stocks of organic C and total N were significantly decreased in Chinese Pine and Korshinsk Peashrub lands compared with those in native grassland in the surface 0–40 cm soil layer, where more than 70% of the roots were distributed. The decreases in organic C in 0–40 cm soil layers were 2.6 and 3.0 Mg C ha^?1 (26.3 and 27.7%) by Chinese Pine and Korshrinsk Peashrub, while those of total N were 0.6 and 0.4 Mg N ha^?1 (31.5 and 17.2%), respectively, compared with native grassland. Both concentration and stock of total P varied only slightly with land use. The findings suggested that the conversion of natural grass into Chinese Pine and Korshinsk Peashrub resulted in decreased soil organic C and total N in the surface 0 to 40 cm soil layer of the northern Loess Plateau. Our results further indicated that a combination of low temperatures, little precipitation and large soil degradation impede increasing C and N stocks by afforestation, and the afforestation on grassland should be viewed very critically in such areas.     

水土流失治理措施对小流域土壤有机碳和全氮的影响

明确综合治理条件下小流域土壤有机碳(Soil organic carbon,SOC)和全氮(Total nitrogen,TN)的空间分布特征及其影响因素,对科学评价水土流失区土壤固碳潜力具有重要意义。以黄土高原丘陵沟壑区典型小流域(砖窑沟流域)为对象,基于流域内3种典型地貌类型(梁峁坡、沟坡、沟谷)和3种典型水土流失治理措施(水平梯田、林地和草地措施,坡耕地为对照),采集土壤样品737个,研究地貌类型和水土流失治理措施对小流域SOC和TN变化的影响。结果表明,同一地貌类型上,水平梯田、林地和草地措施的SOC和TN(0—10 cm土层)含量均显著高于坡耕地(P<0.1)。梁峁坡上,水平梯田、林地和草地措施条件下的SOC和TN含量较坡耕地依次提高了18%和24%、70%和59%、25%和21%;沟坡上,林地和草地措施的SOC和TN较坡耕地依次提高了76%和54%、25%和27%。同一治理措施在不同地貌类型间对0—10 cm土层SOC和TN的影响存在显著差异(P<0.1)。水平梯田条件下,沟谷的SOC和TN含量比峁坡提高了46%和43%;林地措施条件下,沟坡的SOC和TN含量比峁坡提高了18%和6%;草地措施条件下,沟坡的SOC和TN含量比峁坡提高了14%和18%。0—100 cm土层的SOC或TN在不同地貌类型或不同治理措施间的差异与土壤水分含量(Soil moisture,SM)的变化趋势基本一致,并且SOC或TN与SM呈指数关系y=aebx(y为SOC或TN,x为SM)。     

黄土高原小流域不同地形下土壤有机碳分布特征

研究了黄土高原小流域尺度塬面、坡地、沟道和梯田4种地形条件下土壤有机碳总量和活性组分的分布、储量及碳库管理指数的差异.结果表明,小流域土壤有机碳和不同活性有机碳的变异系数介于32％-70％之间,表现出中到高度的变异特征.4种地形下各组分有机碳含量和储量以塬面土壤最高,沟道土壤最低,并随土层深度的增加而降低,降低程度随有机碳活性增强而增加.以塬面土壤为对照所获得的碳库管理指数可灵敏指示有机碳对地形条件的响应特征,中活性有机碳库管理指数的指示效果最好.研究结果可部分解释黄土高原土壤有机碳地带性分布特征.     

黄土高原丘陵沟壑区典型小流域水土流失治理模式

黄土高原是我国水土流失最为严重的区域,几十年的水土流失治理工作成果显著。当前生态文明建设已是我国国家战略之一,对黄土高原水土流失治理模式现状进行系统总结十分必要。对水土流失治理措施体系和流域土地利用情况系统分析,整理和总结了黄土高原6个典型流域的治理模式,包括治沟造地、防蚀固沙、生态农业发展、三大体系、梯田开发和水资源高效利用等6种模式。对比各治理模式发现,小流域综合治理模式是以环境治理为手段,从而达到改善人类生存和发展空间的终极目的,措施技术体系构建上体现了从坡面到沟道、工程措施植物措施相结合的特征;但不同的生态环境现状和社会经济条件下,治理模式有不同的表现形式。基于小流域水土流失治理模式的相似性和差异性,从自然地理条件和社会经济发展需求两方面探讨了流域水土流失治理模式,提出黄土高原水土流失治理模式形成机制框架,以期对当前黄土高原水土流失治理、黄河流域生态保护与高质量发展提供参考。     

Long‐term effects of vegetational restoration on soil microbial communities on the Loess Plateau of China

Soil microbial communities are important indicators for evaluating the effectiveness of vegetational restoration. The ability of soil microbial communities to recover under six types of restoration was examined using Biolog, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA), and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Soil samples were collected from eroded loessial soils that had been restored for 30 years on the Loess Plateau with natural grass, black locust, korshinsk peashrub, Chinese pine, and mixed forest of Chinese pine‐indigo and black locust‐indigo. Part of sloped farmland that had not been restored represented pre‐restoration conditions. An 80‐year‐old forest of Chinese arborvitae represented the end point of restoration. Soils that were originally farmed but have been under restoration treatments for the past 30 years had significantly higher average well‐color development, total PLFAs, bacterial PLFAs, fungal PLFAs, and Shannon indices of catabolic diversity, structural diversity, and bacterial phylogenetic diversity. These indicators, though, were lower than those for the native forest. Principal component analysis significantly separated the sloped farmland, Chinese arborvitae, and the six types of restoration. Redundancy analysis indicated that pH, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus were the most important environment factors in affecting soil functional diversity, and C/N ratio and available nutrients were the main properties in determining microbial community structure. Vegetational restoration substantially increased microbial biomass and microbial physiological activity, and shifted microbial community structure, but the community structures and compositions did not recover to the status of the natural forest during the early stage (<30 years) of vegetational restoration.     

Why does oriental arborvitae grow better when mixed with black locust: Insight on nutrient cycling?

To identify why tree growth differs by afforestation type is a matter of prime concern in forestry. A study was conducted to determine why oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) grows better in the presence of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) than in monoculture. Different types of stands (i.e., monocultures and mixture of black locust and oriental arborvitae, and native grassland as a control) were selected in the Loess Plateau, China. The height and diameter at breast height of each tree species were measured, and soil, shoot, and root samples were sampled. The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) attributes, shoot and root nutrient status, height and diameter of black locust were not influenced by the presence of oriental arborvitae. For oriental arborvitae, however, growing in mixture increased height and diameter and reduced shoot Mn, Ca, and Mg contents, AM fungal spore density, and colonization rate. Major changes in soil properties also occurred, primarily in soil water, NO₃‐N, and available K levels and in soil enzyme activity. The increase in soil water, N, and K availability in the presence of black locust stimulated oriental arborvitae growth, and black locust in the mixed stand seems to suppress the development of AM symbiosis in oriental arborvitae roots, especially the production of AM fungal spores and vesicles, through improving soil water and N levels, thus freeing up carbon to fuel plant growth. Overall, the presence of black locust favored oriental arborvitae growth directly by improving soil water and fertility and indirectly by repressing AM symbiosis in oriental arborvitae roots.     

Land Suitability Assessment on a Watershed of Loess Plateau Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process

In order to reduce soil erosion and desertification, the Sloping Land Conversion Program has been conducted in China for more than 15 years, and large areas of farmland have been converted to forest and grassland. However, this large-scale vegetation-restoration project has faced some key problems (e.g. soil drying) that have limited the successful development of the current ecological-recovery policy. Therefore, it is necessary to know about the land use, vegetation, and soil, and their inter-relationships in order to identify the suitability of vegetation restoration. This study was conducted at the watershed level in the ecologically vulnerable region of the Loess Plateau, to evaluate the land suitability using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The results showed that (1) the area unsuitable for crops accounted for 73.3% of the watershed, and the main factors restricting cropland development were soil physical properties and soil nutrients; (2) the area suitable for grassland was about 86.7% of the watershed, with the remaining 13.3% being unsuitable; (3) an area of 3.95 km², accounting for 66.7% of the watershed, was unsuitable for forest. Overall, the grassland was found to be the most suitable land-use to support the aims of the Sloping Land Conversion Program in the Liudaogou watershed. Under the constraints of soil water shortage and nutrient deficits, crops and forests were considered to be inappropriate land uses in the study area, especially on sloping land. When selecting species for re-vegetation, non-native grass species with high water requirements should be avoided so as to guarantee the sustainable development of grassland and effective ecological functioning. Our study provides local land managers and farmers with valuable information about the inappropriateness of growing trees in the study area along with some information on species selection for planting in the semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau.     

黄土丘陵区植被类型对土壤微生物量碳氮磷的影响

选择黄土丘陵区延河流域4种典型植被类型下的土壤为研究对象,测定了土壤微生物量碳、氮、磷和相关基本理化性质。结果表明,在此流域的典型天然草地、人工灌木林、人工乔木林和农地中土壤微生物量碳(MBC)的含量范围分别为315.15-400.89、246.56-321.25、267.76-347.05和118.96-245.14 mg/kg,土壤微生物量氮(MBN)的含量范围分别为35.87-47.63、27.63-42.89、24.66-36.20和15.64-22.56 mg/kg,土壤微生物量磷(MBP)的含量范围分别为14.14-22.96、12.89-19.75、11.54-14.40和7.23-11.59 mg/kg;土壤微生物量总体呈现出天然草地最高、人工乔、灌木林次之,且均显著高于农地的趋势,表明退耕还林还草对土壤微生物生物量有明显的促进作用。不同植被类型下,土壤微生物量碳氮比和碳磷比的变化范围分别为7.49-10.87和16.27-24.11,土壤微生物量碳、氮、磷占土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)百分比的范围分别为2.70%-4.85%、2.56%-4.45%、2.08%-5.34%。其中天然草地、人工灌木林和农地土壤的微生物量碳氮比、碳磷比均显著小于人工乔木林(P < 0.05); MBC/SOC在不同植被类型下的差异不显著,MBN/TN和MBP/TP均呈现出天然草地>人工灌木林>人工乔木林和农地的趋势,且差异显著(P < 0.05)。微生物量碳、氮、磷与土壤有机碳、全氮和土壤含水率呈现极显著或显著相关性,与土壤pH值呈现出不同程度的负相关性,表明植被类型对这些与土壤微生物量紧密相关的理化性质也有显著影响。     

黄土高原植被自然恢复和人工造林对土壤碳氮储量的影响

土地利用方式变化能对土壤碳氮储量产生重要影响.为了探讨不同土地利用方式对土壤碳氮的影响,研究了黄土高原子午岭林区自退耕还林(草)工程实施以来(15年)自然恢复草地和人工油松林地0～100 cm土层土壤碳氮储量、碳氮比以及根系生物量的差异.结果表明:自然恢复草地和人工油松林地土壤有机碳均表现出表聚效应,自然恢复草地0～20 cm土层土壤有机碳储量显著低于人工油松林,而其他土层差异均不显著.人工油松林0～100 cm土层土壤总碳储量为117.94 Mg·hm^-2,比自然恢复草地增加28.4%.两种植被类型土壤全氮储量在各土层间差异均不显著,但自然恢复草地0～100 cm土层土壤全氮总储量为7.69 Mg·hm^-2,比人工油松林高17.7%.自然恢复草地和人工油松林土壤铵态氮储量在各土层间差异均显著,自然恢复草地铵态氮储量显著高于人工油松林,且随土层增加表现为先增后降的趋势.而自然恢复草地和人工油松林土壤硝态氮储量只在0～20 cm土层差异显著,且自然恢复草地高于人工油松林.自然恢复草地和人工油松林土壤碳氮比表现为0～20 cm土层差异不显著,随土层的加深表现为人工油松林碳氮比显著高于自然恢复草地,且差异逐渐增大.自然恢复草地和人工油松林土壤碳氮储量与根系生物量均呈显著正相关.因此,自然恢复草地土壤有利于氮储量的积累,人工油松林土壤有利于土壤碳储量的增加,且根系是影响土壤碳氮储量分布的重要因子.     

黄土高原水土流失治理现状、问题及对策

黄土高原位于黄河中游地区,是世界上水土流失最为严重的区域之一;黄土高原水土流失治理问题历来受到国家高度关注,涌现了种类多样的水土流失治理模式,目前还缺乏对黄土高原区域尺度水土流失治理模式的总结和整理。本文总结和整理了建国以来黄土高原主要的四类水土流失治理模式,生物措施模式主要由退耕还林、荒山造林和封山育林工程组成,工程措施模式包括修建梯田和淤地坝,以及近期涌现的治沟造地工程;小流域综合治理模式主要体现在坡面、沟道系统整治,生物和工程措施相结合的特点,区域综合整理模式则强调对生态系统进行整体保护、系统修复和综合治理,达到生态、社会、经济可持续发展。基于黄土高原水土流失治理模式存在的问题,提出了黄土高原水土流失治理模式调整和优化建议,以期对黄土高原生态恢复建设和水土流失科学治理提供科学依据。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区集水区尺度土地利用格局变化的水土流失效应

以陕北杏河集水区1985和1995年两期土地利用数据为基础,结合水文、DEM数据,定性分析了土地利用格局变化条件下的水土流失效应,其中采用双累积曲线法来界定土地利用格局基本没有变化的时间段,用C值在坡度、距河流距离上的分布来表征土地利用格局,用不同时期降雨量／径流量、降雨侵蚀力／输沙率相对增加的比例来表征水土流失效应。研究结果表明：(1)1981～2000年,土地利用格局变化剧烈的年份为1990～1991年,可以用1985、1995年两期数据分别代表20世纪80年代和90年代的土地利用;(2)从20世纪80年代到90年代,杏河集水区的C值有明显的增加趋势,在较陡坡度和距河流距离较近处,C值增加的幅度相对较大;(3)土地利用格局变化明显改变了降雨量-径流量、降雨侵蚀力-输沙率的关系,出现了从20世纪80年代到90年代,虽然降雨量／降雨侵蚀力在整体上呈现明显下降的趋势,但是水土流失量,却表现出同比增加的现象,而且这种增加在不同月份也有差异。用本文中的方法来表征土地利用格局和水土流失效应,其结果具有较好的比配性,可以用来定性分析土地利用格局与水土流失的关系。但是,由于水土流失效应的表征方法没有考虑降雨的空间变异特征,该方法尚不适于雨量站点比较密集、降雨空间变异较大的区域。此外,在进一步的研究中,还需要注意遥感数据解译的准确性、C值精度、土地条件的变化等问题。     

黄土高原半干旱和半湿润地区刺槐林地生物量与土壤干燥化效应的模拟

 黄土高原人工刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)林地深层土壤干燥化现象普遍发生, 日益严峻地威胁着人工植被建设成效。分析和比较半干旱和半湿润地区刺槐林地生物量演变趋势、深层土壤干燥化发生规律和区域分布特征差异, 能够为黄土高原因地制宜地营造刺槐林提供科学依据。在WinEPIC模型气象、土壤和作物参数数据库组建与模拟精度验证的基础上, 应用WinEPIC模型模拟研究了1957–2001年黄土高原半湿润地区洛川和长武、半干旱地区延安和固原等地1–45年生刺槐林地生物量演变规律和深层土壤干燥化效应。结果表明: 洛川、长武、延安和固原的刺槐林地连年净生产力模拟值在5–8年生时达到最大值后, 随着降水量年际波动呈现出明显的波动性降低趋势, 其平均值分别为5.33 × 10³、4.56 × 10³、4.03 × 10³和3.35 ×10³ kg·hm^–2·a^–1; 1–7年生刺槐林地年耗水量高于同期年降水量, 导致林地0–10 m土层土壤强烈干燥化, 洛川、长武、延安和固原刺槐林地年均土壤干燥化速率分别为164.3、165.7、187.1和190.0 mm·a^–1, 8–45年生刺槐林地有效含水量在0–250 mm的较低水平上随降水量变化而波动; 1–9年生刺槐林地0–10 m土层土壤湿度剖面分布变化剧烈, 土壤湿度逐年降低且土壤干层逐年加厚, 7–9年生时土壤干层厚度已经超过10 m, 8–45年生刺槐林地2–10 m土层土壤湿度保持相对稳定的干燥化状态; 洛川和长武刺槐林地水分生产力较高且相对稳定, 刺槐林地生长期可以超过45年; 而延安和固原刺槐林地水分生产力较低且稳定性差, 刺槐林稳定生长期不超过40年。     

Climate and Land Use Controls on Soil Organic Carbon in the Loess Plateau Region of China

The Loess Plateau of China has the highest soil erosion rate in the world where billion tons of soil is annually washed into Yellow River. In recent decades this region has experienced significant climate change and policy-driven land conversion. However, it has not yet been well investigated how these changes in climate and land use have affected soil organic carbon (SOC) storage on the Loess Plateau. By using the Dynamic Land Ecosystem Model (DLEM), we quantified the effects of climate and land use on SOC storage on the Loess Plateau in the context of multiple environmental factors during the period of 1961–2005. Our results show that SOC storage increased by 0.27 Pg C on the Loess Plateau as a result of multiple environmental factors during the study period. About 55% (0.14 Pg C) of the SOC increase was caused by land conversion from cropland to grassland/forest owing to the government efforts to reduce soil erosion and improve the ecological conditions in the region. Historical climate change reduced SOC by 0.05 Pg C (approximately 19% of the total change) primarily due to a significant climate warming and a slight reduction in precipitation. Our results imply that the implementation of “Grain for Green” policy may effectively enhance regional soil carbon storage and hence starve off further soil erosion on the Loess Plateau.     

Assessment of the Soil Organic Carbon Sink in a Project for the Conversion of Farmland to Forestland: A Case Study in Zichang County,Shaanxi, China

The conversion of farmland to forestland not only changes the ecological environment but also enriches the soil with organic matter and affects the global carbon cycle. This paper reviews the influence of land use changes on the soil organic carbon sink to determine whether the Chinese “Grain-for-Green” (conversion of farmland to forestland) project increased the rate of SOC content during its implementation between 1999 and 2010 in the hilly and gully areas of the Loess Plateau in north-central China. The carbon sink was quantified, and the effects of the main species were assessed. The carbon sink increased from 2.26×10⁶ kg in 1999 to 8.32×10⁶ kg in 2010 with the sustainable growth of the converted areas. The black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) soil increased SOC content in the top soil (0–100 cm) in the initial 7-yr period, while the sequestration occurred later (>7 yr) in the 100–120 cm layer after the “Grain-for-Green” project was implemented. The carbon sink function measured for the afforested land provides evidence that the Grain-for-Green project has successfully excavated the carbon sink potential of the Shaanxi province and served as an important milestone for establishing an effective organic carbon management program.     

黄土区六种植物凋落物与不同形态氮素对土壤微生物量碳氮含量的影响

黄土高原丘陵沟壑区进行的以退耕还林还草为主的生态环境建设,使得进入土壤生态系统有机物的种类及数量发生变化,其对土壤微生物量碳、氮的影响是值得关注的问题。采用室内培养法研究了采自该区6种不同植物凋落物（碳氮比在15.1-50.7之间）及其与不同形态氮素（NH+4-N及NO-3-N）配合对土壤微生物量碳、氮及矿质态氮含量的影响。结果表明,加入不同凋落物均显著提高了土壤微生物量碳、氮含量,其中加入柠条、沙打旺等碳氮比低的凋落物在培养的一段时期内土壤微生物量碳、氮均高于碳氮比高的凋落物（刺槐、沙柳和长芒草）。在加入凋落物再施用NH+4或NO-3,也提高了土壤微生物量碳、氮含量,其中铵态氮处理土壤微生物量碳、氮含量的增加达显著水平,说明微生物更易利用铵态氮。加入C/N高的凋落物后土壤中的矿质氮发生固持,矿质态氮固持量与凋落物的C/N比呈显著的正相关关系。建议在黄土高原丘陵沟壑区植被恢复过程中,有必要考虑不同植物凋落物的碳、氮养分含量及转化特性,以协调土壤碳、氮转化过程。     

黄土区小流域植被类型对沟坡地土壤水分循环的影响

沟坡作为黄土丘陵区小流域水土流失最为活跃的区域,探究不同下垫面植被类型下的土壤水分循环特征对于沟坡地植被恢复具有重要意义。基于氢氧同位素示踪技术,通过野外水样采集和室内同位素分析旨在揭示植被类型对沟坡地土壤水分循环的影响机制。结果表明:(1)各水体氢氧同位素均遵循:降水刺槐林地土壤水草地土壤水地表水地下水,降水的变异系数最大,地表水和地下水的变异系数较小。(2)草地土壤水主要以降水补给为主,所占比例为59.12%,刺槐林地土壤水则以深层土壤水的上升补给为主,所占比例为60.97%。短阵性暴雨条件下,草地土壤水运移速率较刺槐林地高约1 cm/d,且主要发生在0—50 cm土层。(3)土壤水的垂向运移为地下水的主要补给形式,草地土壤水对地下水的补给比例为51.64%,约比刺槐林地高0.52%。表明植被类型对土壤水分循环特征具有一定的影响,刺槐林对深层土壤水分利用强度较大,可能加剧深层土壤干层化,而草地更有利于降水入渗以及地下水补给,该研究可为小流域沟坡的生态修复和综合治理提供科学依据。     

How afforestation affects the water cycle in drylands: A process‐based comparative analysis

The world's largest afforestation programs implemented by China made a great contribution to the global “greening up.” These programs have received worldwide attention due to its contribution toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, emerging studies have suggested that these campaigns, when not properly implemented, resulted in unintended ecological and water security concerns at the regional scale. While mounting evidence shows that afforestation causes substantial reduction in water yield at the watershed scale, process‐based studies on how forest plantations alter the partitioning of rainwater and affect water balance components in natural vegetation are still lacking at the plot scale. This lack of science‐based data prevents a comprehensive understanding of forest‐related ecosystem services such as soil conservation and water supply under climate change. The present study represents the first “Paired Plot” study of the water balance of afforestation on the Loess Plateau. We investigate the effects of forest structure and environmental factors on the full water cycle in a typical multilayer plantation forest composed of black locust, one of the most popular tree species for plantations worldwide. We measure the ecohydrological components of a black locust versus natural grassland on adjacent sites. The startling finding of this study is that, contrary to the general belief, the understory—instead of the overstory—was the main water consumer in this plantation. Moreover, there is a strict physiological regulation of forest transpiration. In contrast to grassland, annual seepage under the forest was minor in years with an average rainfall. We conclude that global long‐term greening efforts in drylands require careful ecohydrologic evaluation so that green and blue water trade‐offs are properly addressed. This is especially important for reforestation‐based watershed land management, that aims at carbon sequestration in mitigating climate change while maintaining regional water security, to be effective on a large scale.     

黄土丘陵区两种主要退耕还林树种生态系统碳储量和固碳潜力

黄土丘陵区是中华文明的起源地,而原有植被却遭受严重破坏。因此,自20世纪70年代末开始的三北防护林工程、退耕还林工程和天然林保护工程等大型生态恢复工程,在本区均有大面积分布。这些工程已经对生态恢复起到重要作用,并将对全球碳素循环起到积极作用。以黄土丘陵区的主要造林树种--油松(Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.)和刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia L.)为研究对象,共设置样方28个,测定森林乔木、灌木、草本生物量及凋落物碳储量;钻取并分析土样516份,获得土壤有机碳储量。结合文献数据和农田碳储量数据,建立0-86年生油松林和0-56年生刺槐纯林生态系统碳储量-林龄序列;在此基础上分析造林对生态系统碳储量和固碳潜力的影响。结果表明,造林后的油松林和刺槐林生态系统的植被、凋落物及土壤碳储量逐渐增加;在没有人为干扰的情况下,19、27、36、86年生油松林生态系统碳储量分别为70.76、143.43、167.30、271.23-332.26 Mg/hm²;8、17、39年生刺槐林生态系统碳储量分别为80.37、94.08、140.77 Mg/hm²。受间伐干扰、45\,52年生油松林生态系统碳储量分别为136.42\,168.56 Mg/hm²,相对于没有人为干扰的油松林,其植被碳储量明显下降,而土壤碳储量保持稳定甚至升高。受乱砍滥伐干扰的71年生油松林和56年生刺槐林的生态系统碳储量分别为118.87\,76.99 Mg/hm²,相对于没有人为干扰的森林,其植被碳储量和土壤碳储量均呈明显下降趋势。种植油松林之后的86a时间内,其生态系统固碳潜力为211.61-272.64 Mg/hm²;而种植刺槐林、在39a时间内的生态系统固碳潜力为81.15 Mg/hm²。