红松阔叶混交林凋落叶、土壤动物、土壤的微量元素含量

对小兴安岭凉水国家自然保护区红松阔叶混交林的凋落叶、土壤动物、土壤中微量元素含量进行了分析.结果表明, 3种微量元素在凋落叶、土壤动物和土壤中含量排序均为Mn＞Zn＞Cu.不同环境组分中的微量元素含量不同.其中,Mn的含量为土壤＞凋落叶＞土壤动物;Zn的含量为土壤动物＞凋落叶、土壤;Cu的含量为土壤动物＞土壤＞凋落叶.阔叶凋落叶中微量元素变化幅度大于针叶凋落叶.不同土壤动物对不同元素的富集能力不同,蚯蚓体内Mn含量最高,蜈蚣体内Zn含量最高,而马陆体内Cu含量最高.土壤动物体内微量元素的含量均与环境本底值、凋落物分解速度、土壤动物食性以及对微量元素的选择性吸收和富集作用等有关.3种微量元素在土壤中的含量均是土壤层(5～20 cm)大于腐殖质层(0～5 cm),不同土层中微量元素的动态变化不同.     

森林凋落物与大型土壤动物相关关系的研究

以针阔混交林及落叶阔叶林为例,探讨了森林凋落物与大型土壤动物的相关关系。研究表明,森林凋落物中大型土壤动物的个体数依林型、凋落物厚度、凋落物量不同而异,凋落物的分解程度影响大型土壤动物的种类、数量分布,凋落物中矿质元素含量与大型土壤动物体内矿质元素含量相关较好,凋落物中微量元素含量与大型土壤动物体内微量元素含量明显不相关。本研究为揭示大型土壤动物在凋落物分解中的作用,进而为森林的经营和保护提供科学依据。     

陆地生态系统中马陆的生态功能

马陆是陆地生态系统中物种多样性极高的大型土壤无脊椎动物类群。作为营腐生动物, 马陆在陆地生态系统中具有不可替代的重要功能。通过大量取食及随后的肠道过程, 马陆在很大程度上决定着陆地生态系统凋落物的破碎、转化和分解过程, 从而驱动碳和关键养分元素的循环周转。然而, 目前对马陆生态功能的研究还非常有限, 远远落后于其他土壤动物类群(如蚯蚓等)。本文初步总结了马陆的生态功能: (1)通过破碎、取食凋落物来加速凋落物的分解。马陆偏好取食半分解的凋落物, 其同化效率受到凋落物来源、温度和凋落物中微生物含量的影响。(2)主要通过取食和排泄等活动影响养分循环。但对于马陆如何影响土壤碳循环, 存在两种不同的观点: 一是马陆粪球的分解速率比凋落物更快, 加速了碳的循环; 二是马陆粪球更难分解, 有助于碳的固存和稳定。马陆破碎凋落物后, 凋落物释放氮素进入土壤。此外, 马陆的活动也影响土壤磷的循环, 提高土壤中有效磷的含量。(3)调控微生物特性, 与蚯蚓也有互作关系。通过以上三个方面的总结, 展望了未来马陆的主要研究方向, 以期引起更多思考和研究。     

不同林龄杉木人工林植物-凋落叶-土壤C、N、P化学计量特征及互作关系

以贵州8年、16年、28年生杉木人工林为研究对象,分析植物-凋落叶-土壤的C、N、P化学计量特征及其内在联系,探讨林龄对杉木人工林生态化学计量的影响,为杉木人工林可持续经营提供参考。结果表明:(1)杉木人工林植物-凋落叶-土壤均呈高C低N、P元素格局,两两组分间差异显著(P0.05);成熟叶C/N(38.58)、C/P(376.67)偏低,其养分利用效率较低;与成熟叶相比,凋落叶N、P偏低,C/N、C/P偏高;土壤C/P、N/P偏低,C/N较高,说明土壤P素分解较快而N保存较好,反映了凋落叶分解不利。(2)成熟叶C、P以及根、凋落叶、土壤的C、N、P、C/N、C/P、N/P均受林龄的显著影响;从8年到28年,C、N、P含量在植物体呈先增后减趋势,而在土壤中相反,呈先减后增趋势,但在凋落物中C、P显著减小,且C/P,N/P显著增加,反映杉木林早期对养分需求旺盛,随年龄增大需求减小,凋落物分解受制于P素,加剧中幼期杉木生态系统养分供需矛盾。(3)成熟叶与凋落叶N、C/N、N/P之间显著正相关,凋落叶养分源自成熟叶;成熟叶重吸收率P(0.518—0.645)N(0.292—0.488),即对P的利用效率高于N。凋落叶与土壤C、C/N之间显著负相关,表明土壤C、N来源于凋落叶分解,但凋落叶分解缓慢,导致大量元素滞留于凋落叶,土壤损耗元素得不到补给,两者间养分循环缓慢。土壤与根C、P、C/N、C/P、N/P之间均显著正相关,土壤与成熟叶的C、N、P均不相关,表明土壤养分是杉木生长养分的主要来源,但土壤C、N、P含量对成熟叶C、N、P含量影响不大。     

温带红松阔叶混交林凋落叶与主要大型土壤动物热值的季节变化

对温带红松阔叶混交林不同种类凋落叶、混合凋落叶和主要大型土壤动物的干质量热值及季节变化规律进行了研究.结果表明：不同种类凋落叶和3种大型土壤动物的干质量热值不同,且其季节变化规律存在一定的差异.红松凋落叶的干质量热值平均值最高(19.71 kJ·g^-1),枫桦(18.22 kJ·g^-1)、紫椴(18.13 kJ·g^-1)、混合凋落叶(17.91 kJ·g^-1)居中,水曲柳(16.94 kJ·g^-1)和色木槭(16.25 kJ·g^-1)最低.红松和色木槭凋落叶干质量热值随凋落叶分解进行呈逐渐降低趋势,水曲柳凋落叶干质量热值季节变化较小,而紫椴、枫桦和混合凋落叶干质量热值次年有上升的趋势.大型土壤动物中,蜈蚣(22.07 kJ·g^-1)的干质量热值最高,蚯蚓(16.72 kJ·g^-1) 次之,马陆(13.28 kJ·g^-1)最低.蚯蚓和马陆干质量热值的季节变化规律一致,蜈蚣干质量热值的季节变化规律则有所不同.凋落叶和3种大型土壤动物干质量热值的季节变化之间没有明显的相关性.     

森林土壤动物对凋落物早期分解及养分释放的影响

采用野外缩微实验方法,研究了会同林区常绿阔叶林和杉木人工林土壤动物对凋落物早期分解的影响。结果表明:孔径为2mm的网筒内试验土壤和凋落物中大型土壤动物的类群数和多度均明显少于孔径为4mm的网筒;排除大型土壤动物后,常绿阔叶林中凋落物C、K、Ca、Mg养分浓度显著增加,杉木林中凋落物Mg浓度显著增加,2个样地中的凋落物失重率以及凋落物C、P、Ca、Mg等养分元素的释放率均极显著降低(P0.01);大型土壤动物对不同元素释放率的影响不同,2个样地中对凋落物Ca、Mg元素释放率的影响均较大,杉木人工林中对N和K释放率的影响较小,常绿阔叶林中对P释放率的影响最小。     

神农架常绿落叶阔叶混交林凋落物养分特征

凋落物是联结陆地生态系统植物与土壤养分的重要媒介,了解凋落物养分特征有助于理解陆地生态系统物质循环的机理。该研究于2015年收集了神农架地区常绿落叶阔叶混交林的新鲜凋落物及现存凋落物,测定其不同器官中大量元素(C、N、P、K、Ca、Mg)的含量,据此分析其养分含量、养分归还量、养分储量及化学计量比的特征。结果发现:该常绿落叶阔叶混交林新鲜凋落物的C、K养分含量显著高于现存凋落物,N、P、Ca、Mg养分含量显著低于现存凋落物;其凋落物大量元素的养分归还量及养分储量大小顺序均为C Ca N Mg K P,分别为1569.84、52.44、34.82、6.24、5.24、1.30 kg hm~(-2) a~(-1)及1835.29、87.87、51.17、12.12、3.90、1.95 kg hm~(-2) a~(-1);其新鲜凋落物及现存凋落物的C∶N∶P分别为1307.33∶27.73∶1及976.48∶26.77∶1,新鲜凋落物的C∶N、C∶P显著高于现存凋落物,N∶P无显著区别。研究表明,新鲜凋落物与现存凋落物养分含量之间的差异与不同元素在分解过程中的可淋溶性及生物固持等因素有关。该地区常绿落叶阔叶混交林凋落物养分归还量及养分储量相对于亚热带阔叶林平均水平较低;且显著低于喀斯特地区同类型森林,主要与其凋落物产量、降水量及植被类型有关。该森林生态系统新鲜凋落叶与中国及全球范围内阔叶树种凋落叶相比C∶N较低,C∶P、N∶P较高,这可能是由于该地区N沉降及P限制现象较为严重所致。     

元谋干热河谷燥红土和变性土上植物叶片的元素含量及其重吸收效率

采用盆栽试验,研究元谋干热河谷燥红土和变性土上生长的植物叶片以及凋落叶营养元素含量,并分析养分重吸收效率对土壤类型与物种互作的响应.结果表明: 土壤类型对叶片N、P、Ca、Mg、Cu、Zn、Fe、N∶P以及凋落叶N、P、Mn、N∶P均有显著影响;燥红土植物叶片与凋落叶N、Mn含量和N∶P显著高于变性土,而燥红土植物叶片P、Ca、Mg、Fe、Cu、Zn和凋落叶P含量显著低于变性土.燥红土植物叶片N含量较变性土高34.8%,而P含量低40.0%;在叶片凋落时,N、P、K表现为重吸收,而其他元素呈富集状态.燥红土凋落叶Ca、Mg、Mn富集系数显著高于变性土.物种仅对叶片N含量有显著影响,物种与土壤交互作用对植物叶片和凋落叶元素含量影响不显著,表明各土壤类型对不同物种元素含量的影响方式较为一致.土壤类型对植物元素含量的影响可进一步作用于干热河谷植物凋落物分解、植物-土壤的养分反馈以及生物地球化学循环.     

大气CO2升高和蚯蚓活动对土壤C、N的影响

以加倍CO2浓度（750μmol/mol）处理和正常CO2浓度（370μmol/mol）生长下的棉花凋落叶为试验材料,以威廉腔蚓Metaphire guillemi（Michaelsen,1895）和不同的CO2浓度（750μmol/mol和370μmol/mol）为作用因子,分析了蚯蚓、CO2浓度通过叶片分解对土壤C、N含量的影响。结果表明：接种蚯蚓和加入凋落叶的联合作用对有机C有显著提高作用。接种蚯蚓对土壤全N含量影响不显著,但CO2浓度升高和蚯蚓联合作用对土壤全N含量有显著影响。CO2、叶片、蚯蚓3因子联合作用对土壤C、N含量有显著提高作用,且与蚯蚓和叶片联合作用对土壤C、N含量的影响相比,其效果更显著。结果显示,CO2浓度的升高通过改变植物凋落物C含量及其营养成分,影响了其潜在的降解有效性,同时大气CO2浓度的升高影响凋落物在蚯蚓体内降解过程,从而对凋落物的有效降解产生显著影响,最终改变土壤C、N含量。     

土壤动物对川西亚高山和高山森林凋落叶第一年不同分解时期N和P元素动态的影响

土壤动物对高寒森林凋落物养分元素动态具有重要影响, 但这种影响受控于凋落物质量及环境条件。为了解土壤动物对高寒森林凋落物不同分解时期凋落物中N和P元素动态的影响, 采用凋落物分解袋的方法, 于凋落物第一年分解的不同时期, 即冻结前期、冻结期、融化期、生长季节初期、生长季节中期和生长季节末期, 研究了3.00和0.04 mm孔径凋落物袋中川西亚高山和高山森林的代表性植物——康定柳(Salix paraplesia)、方枝柏(Sabina saltuaria)、红桦(Betula albosinensis)和岷江冷杉(Abies fargesii var. faxoniana)凋落物中的N和P元素动态特征。结果表明: 康定柳和红桦凋落物中的N元素呈现出释放—富集—释放的模式, 方枝柏、岷江冷杉凋落物中的N元素则表现为释放—富集模式; 凋落物P元素总体表现为释放模式, 但4种植物凋落物均在生长季节中期具有明显的富集过程; 从凋落物分解的第一年来看, 土壤动物明显促进了4种植物凋落物N的释放, 而抑制了P的释放; 不同时期土壤动物对凋落物中N和P释放量的影响存在显著差异, 且分别与正积温呈极显著正相关和极显著负相关关系; 相对于阔叶植物凋落物, 土壤动物对针叶植物凋落物中N和P元素动态的影响更为显著。这些结果为深入了解高寒森林生态系统土壤动物与凋落物分解等物质循环过程的相互联系具有重要意义。     

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.     

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。     

晋西北不同土地管理方式对土壤碳氮、酶活性及微生物的影响

晋西北丘陵区受干旱大风气候以及人为活动的影响,土壤肥力较低,土壤质量退化严重,不同的土地利用和管理方式,因植被覆被、人为活动等不同,对土壤质量产生影响不同。为了更好地了解晋西北地区不同土地管理方式对土壤质量的影响,于山西省北部忻州市五寨县,研究不同管理方式对土壤肥力、土壤酶活性、微生物群落结构及多样性的影响,以及微生物与土壤环境因子的关系,为晋西北地区土地管理和生态建设提供参考。研究中设置4种土地管理方式:苜蓿样地(MX)、免耕样地(MG)、翻耕样地(FG)和荒地(HD),采用野外采集土壤样品、室内测定和分析的研究方法,其中土壤pH值利用电位法测定,土壤有机碳(OC)采用重铬酸钾氧化-分光光度法测定;土壤硝态氮、铵态氮利用全自动间断化学分析仪测定,其原理为紫外分光光度和靛酚蓝比色法。土壤过氧化氢酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶和磷酸酶活性分别采用KMnO_4滴定法、3,5-二硝基水杨酸法、苯酚钠-次氯酸钠比色法、磷酸苯二钠比色法测定,采用高通量测序测定土壤细菌和真菌的群落组成,利用统计分析软件SPSS和Canoco以及QIIME、USEARCH和Uclust生物信息软件分析不同土地管理方式对土壤质量的影响。结果表明,不同土地管理方式对土壤化学性质、土壤酶活性、细菌和真菌的群落结构及多样性均有影响。苜蓿和免耕2种土地管理方式可显著提高表层土壤养分并增加土壤酶活性;4种土地管理方式共有9个细菌门和11个真菌门,细菌相对丰度较大的为变形菌门、放线菌门和酸杆菌门,真菌的子囊菌门相对丰度最大;苜蓿和免耕样地土壤细菌和真菌群落丰富度和多样性都较高,荒地土壤细菌和真菌群落丰富度较低,但多样性较高;RDA分析结果表明,土壤pH、NH~+_4-N和NO~-_3-N含量和过氧化氢酶活性对细菌群落影响较大,pH、有机碳含量、蔗糖酶、脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性对真菌群落影响最大。苜蓿和免耕2种土地管理方式能够提高土壤质量,是晋西北地区较为适宜的管理措施。     

Effects of soil physics,chemistry, and microbiology on soil carbon sequestration in infertile red soils after long-term cultivation of perennial grasses

Determining the effect of perennial energy crop (PEC) cultivation on soil organic carbon (SOC) in marginal land soil is vital for carbon neutrality and bioeconomy development. However, a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of the response of SOC content to different PECs and its underlying drivers is still lacking. We used soil data collected from infertile red topsoil (0–20 cm) after 10 years of cultivation with Miscanthus (MS), Panicum virgatum (SG), and Saccharum arundinaceum (SA) to explore the changes in SOC stock induced by PEC. The roles of physical, chemical, and microbiological factors driving the increase in the SOC stock were investigated. Results revealed that SA and MS enhanced SOC stock by 87.97% and 27.52% relative to the uncultivated control. Conversely, PEC increased the percentage of soil mega-aggregates, geometric mean diameters, soil chelate iron (Fe), and aluminum (Al) oxides, and reduced soil acidity for the infertile red soils. In addition, fungal richness and diversity for PEC soils were enhanced compared to the unplanted soil. It is possible that PEC cultivation reduced the relative abundance of copiotrophic fungi but increased the relative abundance of oligotrophic fungi. Furthermore, variance partitioning analysis revealed that chemical and microbiological factors accounted for 80.54% of the total variation for the SOC stock. The partial least squares path model showed that PEC cultivation enhanced soil carbon (C) stock via soil deacidification and increased soil bacterial function. In conclusion, this study confirms the SOC sequestration potential of PEC cultivation in marginal land and the underlying mechanism driving SOC stock. The main positive factors controlling soil C sequestration included “pH,” while the negative factors were “bacterial community,” “fungal community,” and “bacterial function.” Our research may help encourage and support decision-makers of wasted marginal land conversion to PEC cultivation.     

西宁南山4种灌木根际和非根际土壤微生物、酶活性和养分特征

西宁南山区植被退化情况严重,人工造林植被恢复被看作是最有效的恢复手段,其中选择合适造林树种尤为关键。选择人工种植的唐古特白刺Nitraria tangutorum、柠条Caragana korshinskii、西北小蘗Berberis vernae和短叶锦鸡儿Caragana brevifolia共4种灌木树种造林试验区为研究对象,通过测定根际和非根际土壤微生物数量、酶活性及养分含量,综合比较种植4种灌木树种根际和非根际土壤肥力差异,科学评价其对土壤的改善效果。研究表明:(1)土壤微生物数量和酶活性总体呈现出根际高于非根际的规律,仅放线菌数量和脲酶活性出现了根际低于非根际现象。(2)土壤养分方面,4种灌木根际土壤和非根际土壤p H值、全N、全P、全K含量差异不显著,有机质、有效P、速效K含量均呈现出根际非根际,而碱解N则是根际非根际。(3)土壤酶活性与土壤微生物数量相关性不显著,土壤有机质含量与土壤细菌、真菌数量呈极显著正相关,有效P含量与土壤细菌、真菌和放线菌数量呈极显著正相关,速效K含量与过氧化氢酶、酸性磷酸酶活性呈显著正相关,全N、碱解N含量均与脲酶活性呈显著正相关。(4)从土壤肥力综合水平来看,根际非根际,其中根际土壤中西北小蘗柠条短叶锦鸡儿唐古特白刺,研究结果表明西北小蘗和柠条能大幅提高土壤肥力,改良土壤效果较好。     

A rapid,cost-effective procedure for the extraction of microbial DNA from soil

Here we describe a DNA extraction method that is based on a simple, rapid polyvinylpolypyrrolidone–calcium chloride precipitation to release microorganisms from the soil combined with lysozyme–proteinase–SDS lysis of the microbial community. The extracted DNA is of high quality and allows direct detection of specific genes by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as well as cloning of indigenous microbial DNA. This method facilitates the extraction of 36 500-mg soil samples simultaneously in a 2-h period by one person. The procedure is safe, inexpensive, and does not require specialized equipment or generate hazardous wastes.     

萘对川西亚高山森林土壤呼吸、养分和酶活性的影响

萘作为土壤动物化学抑制剂已在土壤动物生态功能的研究中广泛使用,但其非目标效应使其应用仍存在很大的不确定性.为了了解在亚高山森林土壤应用萘抑制土壤动物群落是否存在非目标效应,以青藏高原东缘的川西亚高山森林土壤为研究对象,采用微缩试验研究了萘对土壤呼吸速率、养分含量和酶活性的短期影响.结果表明: 萘处理显著抑制了培养0～10 d的土壤呼吸速率,随后(24～52 d)表现出明显的促进作用.萘处理显著影响了土壤铵态氮和硝态氮含量的动态变化,萘处理铵态氮和硝态氮含量分别以培养的3和17 d最高,对照则以培养的45 d和结束时的52 d最高.萘处理土壤可溶性碳含量在培养3 d急剧增加后迅速降低,对照则略有升高后降低,而萘处理和对照的可溶性氮含量均表现为先升高后降低.萘处理和对照的土壤酶活性均具相似的动态规律,两者的脲酶、硝酸还原酶和亚硝酸还原酶活性分别在培养45、38和10 d至最高.萘处理和采样时间的交互作用显著影响了土壤呼吸速率,以及土壤铵态氮、硝态氮和可溶性氮含量,但对可溶性碳含量、蔗糖酶、硝酸还原酶和亚硝酸还原酶活性的影响不显著.萘作为驱虫剂的非目标效应可能在短期内对川西亚高山森林土壤的氮循环过程产生强烈的影响.     

Influence of large termitaria on soil characteristics, soil water regime, and tree leaf shedding pattern in a West African savanna

Termitaria are major sites of functional heterogeneity in tropical ecosystems, through their strong influence on soil characteristics, in particular soil physico-chemical properties and water status. These factors have important consequences on nutrient availability for plants, plant spatial distribution, and vegetation dynamics. However, comprehensive information about the influence of termite-rehandled soil on soil water regime is lacking. In a humid shrubby savanna, we characterized the spatial variations in soil texture, soil structure and maximum soil water content available for plants (AWC max) induced by a large termite mound, at three deepths (0–0.10, 0.20–0.30 and 0.50–0.60 m). In addition, during a three month period at the end of the rainy season, soil water potential was surveyed by matrix sensors located on the termite mound and in the surrounding soil at the same depths and for the 80–90 cm layer. Concurrently, the leaf shedding patterns of two coexisting deciduous shrub species exhibiting contrasted soil water uptake patterns were compared for individuals located on termite mounds and in undisturbed control areas. For all the soil layers studied, clay and silt contents were higher for the mound soil. Total soil clods porosity was higher on the mound than in control areas, particularly in the 0.20-0.60 m layer, and mound soil exhibited a high shrinking/swelling capacity. AWC_max of the 0-0.60 m soil layer was substantially higher on the termite mound (112 mm) than in the surroundings (84 mm). Furthermore, during the beginning of the dry season, soil water potential measured in situ for the 0.20-0.90 m soil layer was higher on the mound than in the control soil. In contrast, soil water potential of the 0-0.10 m soil layer was similar on the mound and in the control soil. In the middle of the dry season, the leaf shedding pattern of Crossopteryx febrifuga shrubs (which have limited access to soil layers below 0.60 m) located on mounds was less pronounced than that of individuals located on control soil. In contrast, the leaf shedding pattern of the shrub Cussonia barteri (which has a good access to deep soil layers) was not influenced by the termite mound. We conclude that in this savanna ecosystem, termite mounds appear as peculiar sites which exhibit improved soil water availability for plants in upper soil layers, and significantly influence aspects of plant function. Implications of these results for understanding and modelling savanna function and dynamics, and particularly competitive interactions between plant species, are discussed.     

Restoration,soil organisms,and soil processes: emerging approaches

Better understanding of the connection between aboveground plant communities and belowground soil organisms and processes has led to an explosion in recent research on the applications of this link to the field of ecological restoration. Research is only beginning to have the capacity to link soil organisms and specific ecosystem functions. Establishing general ecological principles of the role microbial communities have during ecological restoration is also still in its infancy. As such, the literature is at a critical point to generate a Special Feature that brings together novel approaches of linking soil and restoration to promote more regular inclusion and consideration of soil organisms and soil‐based processes in ecological restoration. In this special feature, we bring together nine research articles from different ecosystems that study the relationship between restoration activities, soil microbial communities, and soil properties. From these research articles, we describe two primary themes: (1) research on the impacts of ecosystem‐specific restoration activities on soil organisms and processes and (2) research testing methods of soil manipulation to improve restoration outcomes. We hope to inspire readers and restoration practitioners to consider soil microbes and soil processes in their research, restoration projects, and world views.     

The Adsorption Properties of Agricultural and Forest Soils Towards Heavy Metal Ions (Ni,Cu, Zn,and Cd)

Adsorption of Cu, Cd, Ni, and Zn in single and multi-metal solutions by agricultural and forest soils was investigated in batch sorption experiments. The results showed significant differences in sorption capacities of the studied soils. The selectivity order was as follows: agricultural soil? top forest soil > bottom forest soil. The adsorption sequence Cu > Zn > Ni > Cd was established for the agricultural and bottom forest soil, while the order for the top forest soil was Cu > Ni > Zn > Cd. The experimental isotherms for the metal sorption were described satisfactorily by the Freundlich and Langmuir models. The competitive adsorption experiment indicated a reduction in the amount of metals adsorbed by the soils from the multi-metal solution compared to the single metal solution. Properties of the soils, such as pH, content of clay and organic matter, exchangeable bases and hydrolytic acidity, showed a significant influence on adsorption capacities of the studied soils.