Constructed wetlands with free water surface for treatment of aquaculture effluents

The aim of the study was to determine the reduction of the overall environmental load (in terms of organic and nutrient load) in effluents of a flow‐through trout farm. Effluents of a flow‐through system for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) production passed through constructed wetlands with free water surface. Removal of nutrients was determined in three wetlands of 350 m² each at hydraulic residence times (HRTs) of 3.5, 5.5 and 11 h. The areal load of total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) varied in terms of HRTs from 12.3–36.8 g m^?2 day^?1, 21.7–65.2 g m^?2 day^?1, 0.23–0.70 g m^?2 day^?1, and 1.46–4.37 g m^?2 day^?1. Values for reduction of suspended solids, COD, TP, and TN were 67–72%, 30–31%, 41–53% ,and 19–30%, respectively. Significantly lower nutrient concentrations in the effluent among the wetlands were only found for nitrogen parameters: TN and ammonia concentrations were lower in the wetlands with a HRT of 5.5 h (0.89 mg L^?1, 0.11 mg L^?1) and 11 h (0.81 mg L^?1, 0.11 mg L^?1) compared with the one with 3.5 h (0.96 mg L^?1, 0.16 mg L^?1).     

Changes in methane oxidation activity and methanotrophic community composition in saline alkaline soils

The soil of the former Lake Texcoco is a saline alkaline environment where anthropogenic drainage in some areas has reduced salt content and pH. Potential methane (CH₄) consumption rates were measured in three soils of the former Lake Texcoco with different electrolytic conductivity (EC) and pH, i.e. Tex-S1 a >18 years drained soil (EC 0.7 dS m^?1, pH 8.5), Tex-S2 drained for ~10 years (EC 9.0 dS m^?1, pH 10.3) and the undrained Tex-S3 (EC 84.8 dS m^?1, pH 10.3). An arable soil from Alcholoya (EC 0.7 dS m^?1, pH 6.7), located nearby Lake Texcoco was used as control. Methane oxidation in the soil Tex-S1 (lowest EC and pH) was similar to that in the arable soil from Alcholoya (32.5 and 34.7 mg CH₄ kg^?1 dry soil day^?1, respectively). Meanwhile, in soils Tex-S2 and Tex-S3, the potential CH₄ oxidation rates were only 15.0 and 12.8 mg CH₄ kg^?1 dry soil day^?1, respectively. Differences in CH₄ oxidation were also related to changes in the methane-oxidizing communities in these soils. Sequence analysis of pmoA gene showed that soils differed in the identity and number of methanotrophic phylotypes. The Alcholoya soil and Tex-S1 contained phylotypes grouped within the upland soil cluster gamma and the Jasper Ridge, California JR-2 clade. In soil Tex-S3, a phylotype related to Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum was detected.     

Changes in some soil properties induced by re-conversion of cropland into grassland in the semiarid steppe zone of Inner Mongolia, China

Aims

“Grain for Green Program” (GGP), i.e., re-conversion of cropland into forest or grassland, initiated by Chinese government has a profound impact on mitigating environmental degradation. The objectives of this study were to assess the changes of some soil properties during the processes of re-conversion from cropland to grassland over time in the semiarid steppe region of north China.

Methods

Two sites with different ages of re-conversion were selected for measurements of organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (TP), bulk density (BD) and grain size distribution. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was determined by the constant hydraulic head method and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity by disc infiltrometer at tensions of 30, 60 and 150 mm. Soil water content was measured using the gravimetric method. Wetting front depths in the soil after rainfall were also recorded at the study sites.

Results

Natural grasslands had higher belowground biomass than re-converted grasslands. Re-converted grasslands had lower SOM and TN at depths of 0–20 cm and higher saturated hydraulic conductivity at depths of 0–10 cm than natural grassland. The natural grassland soils had higher soil water contents in the surface soil (0–20 cm) and lower soil water contents at deeper depths than re-converted grassland soils. Soil aggregate stability reached the natural steppe level 12 years after re-conversion.

Conclusions

The recovery of soil properties after GGP appeared to be slow, and these properties did not return to natural grassland status before cultivation after 12 years of re-conversion.     

连栽桉树人工林土壤大孔隙特征及其对饱和导水率的影响

速生人工林多代连栽容易导致土地水源涵养能力下降。土壤大孔隙以优先流的形式补充地下水,是定量研究土壤水分运动的重要指标。以连栽1-4代桉树人工纯林为研究对象（记录为Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ）,采用水分穿透曲线法,绘制水分穿透曲线,结合Poiseulle方程计算出大孔隙数量、半径及饱和导水率等指标,对土壤大孔隙特征及其对饱和导水率的影响进行研究。结果表明：（1）桉树人工林土壤的出流速率总体表现先匀速增加后趋于稳定,稳定出流速率总体表现为I > II > III > IV。（2）大孔隙半径范围在0.3-1.5 mm,主要集中于0.4-0.6 mm,随土层深度增加显著减小（P<0.05）。大孔隙数量范围在3.56×10⁴-4.81×10⁵个/m²。随着连栽代次的增加,大孔隙孔径范围变小,同一孔径范围的大孔隙数量减少。土壤容重与大孔隙特征呈极显著负相关关系;有机质含量与大孔隙特征呈极显著正相关关系。（3）各样地土壤饱和导水率范围在0.41-4.50 mm/min,并随着连栽代次增加而降低。将大孔隙的总数量、平均体积与土壤饱和导水率进行线性拟合,拟合方程为：y=ax+b=,（R²>0.66）。综上,随着桉树人工林连栽代次的增加,土壤大孔隙孔径范围缩小、同等半径的大孔隙数量减少,饱和导水率降低,土壤入渗及导水性能减弱,容易造成水土流失。     

The role of vegetation in the water budget of the Usangu wetlands, Tanzania

The Usangu wetlands were severely degraded over the last twenty years by cattle and the shortage of water due to rice irrigation upstream. The eastern Usangu wetlands that were previously perennial dried out in 2000 and 2002 in the dry season. Following the removal of cattle in 2006 from the eastern Usangu wetlands, perennial wetlands has re-established itself and in 2011 the vegetation had recovered and covered about 95?% of the wetted surface mainly as floating vegetation. These wetlands are the source of water of the Great Ruaha River and the volume of water entering the river has nearly doubled after cattle removal. We suggest that this may be due to the shading effect of the floating vegetation reducing the loss of water through net evaporation to about 0.5?cm?day^?1 as opposed to about 1?cm?day^?1 for open water evaporation in this tropical climate. This suggests the important role of the biology in controlling the water budget. By contrast cattle and rice farms have not been removed from the western Usangu wetlands, located upstream, where the wetlands are now reduced to small areas fringing the rivers. We suggest that the western Usangu wetlands should also be restored in order to further increase flows in the Great Ruaha River. At the same time water governance in the catchments and irrigation areas upstream of Usangu wetlands is also urgently required because present water yields are insufficient to meet the hydroelectric needs of Tanzania, the water users all along the river, as well as the important coastal wetlands associated with the Rufiji Delta during a drought year.     

Initial soil C and land‐use history determine soil C sequestration under perennial bioenergy crops

In the UK and other temperate regions, short rotation coppice (SRC) and Miscanthus x giganteus (Miscanthus) are two of the leading ‘second‐generation’ bioenergy crops. Grown specifically as a low‐carbon (C) fossil fuel replacement, calculations of the climate mitigation provided by these bioenergy crops rely on accurate data. There are concerns that uncertainty about impacts on soil C stocks of transitions from current agricultural land use to these bioenergy crops could lead to either an under‐ or overestimate of their climate mitigation potential. Here, for locations across mainland Great Britain (GB), a paired‐site approach and a combination of 30‐cm‐ and 1‐m‐deep soil sampling were used to quantify impacts of bioenergy land‐use transitions on soil C stocks in 41 commercial land‐use transitions; 12 arable to SRC, 9 grasslands to SRC, 11 arable to Miscanthus and 9 grasslands to Miscanthus. Mean soil C stocks were lower under both bioenergy crops than under the grassland controls but only significant at 0–30 cm. Mean soil C stocks at 0–30 cm were 33.55 ± 7.52 Mg C ha^?1 and 26.83 ± 8.08 Mg C ha^?1 lower under SRC (P = 0.004) and Miscanthus plantations (P = 0.001), respectively. Differences between bioenergy crops and arable controls were not significant in either the 30‐cm or 1‐m soil cores and smaller than for transitions from grassland. No correlation was detected between change in soil C stock and bioenergy crop age (time since establishment) or soil texture. Change in soil C stock was, however, negatively correlated with the soil C stock in the original land use. We suggest, therefore, that selection of sites for bioenergy crop establishment with lower soil C stocks, most often under arable land use, is the most likely to result in increased soil C stocks.     

Soil seed-bank composition reveals the land-use history of calcareous grasslands

We compared soil seed banks and vegetation of recent (established on abandoned arable fields) and ancient (continuously managed as pastures at least since 1830) calcareous grasslands if there is any impact of former arable field use. The study was carried out in two regions of Southern Germany with well-preserved dry grassland vegetation: the western Jurassic mountains (Kaltes Feld) and the climatically drier eastern part of Southern Germany (Kallmünz).Total number of species in the seed bank was similar in both regions, but species composition partly differed, reflecting phytogeographical differences between the regions. The total number of emerged seedlings showed a large disparity (5457 compared to 2523 seedlings/m² in Kaltes Feld and Kallmünz, respectively).Though there were differences in seed bank composition and size, we found a uniform pattern of plant traits (affiliation to phytosociological groups, Raunkiaer plant life-forms and seed longevity), which depended on the age of the grassland.The main conclusion is that seed banks in contemporary calcareous grasslands still reflect the history of former land use – in this case arable cultivation, even though it occurred a long time ago (up to 150 years). Indicators of former arable fields are germinable seeds of weeds which have persisted in the soil to the present. By contrast, weedy species are completely absent from the seed banks of ancient grasslands. Soil seed banks of recent grasslands may be of substantial conservation importance because they may store seeds of rare and endangered weed species such as Kickxia spuria, Silene noctiflora and Stachys annua, the majority of which have already gone extinct from the current vegetation of the study sites.     

Land-use change and water losses: the case of grassland afforestation across a soil textural gradient in central Argentina

Vegetation changes, particularly those involving transitions between tree‐ and grass‐dominated covers, often modify evaporative water losses as a result of plant‐mediated shifts in moisture access and demand. Massive afforestation of native grasslands, particularly important in the Southern Hemisphere, may have strong yet poorly quantified effects on the hydrological cycle. We explored water use patterns in Eucalyptus grandis plantations and the native humid grasslands that they replace in Central Argentina. In order to uncover the interactive effects that land cover type, soil texture and climate variability may have on evaporative water losses and water use efficiency, we estimated daily evapotranspiration (ET) in 117 tree plantations and grasslands plots across a soil textural gradient (clay‐textured Vertisols to sandy‐textured Entisols) using radiometric information from seven Landsat scenes, existing timber productions records, and ¹³C measurements in tree stems. Tree plantations had cooler surface temperatures (?5°C on average) and evaporated more water (+80% on average) than grasslands at all times and across all sites. Absolute ET differences between grasslands and plantations ranged from ～0.6 to 2 mm day^?1 and annual up‐scaling suggested values of ～630 and ～1150 mm yr^?1 for each vegetation type, respectively. The temporal variability of ET was significantly lower in plantations compared with grasslands (coefficient of variation 36% vs. 49%). Daily ET increased as the water balance became more positive (accumulated balance for previous 18 days) with a saturation response in grassland vs. a continuous linear increase in plantations, suggesting lower ecophysiological limits to water loss in tree canopies compared with the native vegetation. Plantation ET was more strongly affected by soil texture than grassland ET and peaked in coarse textured sites followed by medium and fine textured sites. Timber productivity as well as ¹³C concentration in stems peaked in medium textured sites, indicating lower water use efficiency on extreme textures and suggesting that water limitation was not responsible for productivity declines towards finer and coarser soils. Our study highlighted the key role that vegetation type plays on evapotranspiration and, therefore, in the hydrological cycle. Considering that tree plantations may continue their expansion over grasslands, problematic changes in water management and, perhaps, in local climate can develop from the higher evaporative water losses of tree plantations.     

Controls on Litter Decomposition of Emergent Macrophyte in Dongting Lake Wetlands

Both litter composition and site environment are important factors influencing litter decomposition, but their relative roles in driving spatial variation in litter decomposition among wetlands remain unclear. The responses of mass loss and nutrient dynamics to site environment and litter source were investigated in Carex brevicuspis leaves from the Dongting Lake wetlands, China, using reciprocal transplants of litterbags. Litters originating from lower elevation (24–25 m; flooded for 180–200 days every year) and higher elevation (27–28 m; flooded for 60–90 days every year) sites were incubated simultaneously at lower and higher sites at three locations for 1 year. The remaining litter mass, N, P, and lignin contents were analyzed during decomposition. Initial N and P contents were richer in litters from lower sites than those from higher ones. The decomposition rate was higher for the litters originating from lower sites (0.0030 day^?1) than those from higher ones (0.0025 day^?1) and higher at lower sites (0.0031 day^?1) than at higher sites (0.0024 day^?1). Litters from lower sites displayed greater N and P mineralization than those from higher sites, whereas only P dynamics were affected by site elevation. The variation in litter decomposition rate among the different litter source groups was twice that among the different site elevation groups. These data indicate that, in wetlands ecosystems, litter composition plays a more important role in the speed of litter decomposition than site environment (here represented by site elevation).     

Soil organic carbon and root distribution in a temperate arable agroforestry system

Aim

To determine, for arable land in a temperate area, the effect of tree establishment and intercropping treatments, on the distribution of roots and soil organic carbon to a depth of 1.5 m.

Methods

A poplar (Populus sp.) silvoarable agroforestry experiment including arable controls was established on arable land in lowland England in 1992. The trees were intercropped with an arable rotation or bare fallow for the first 11 years, thereafter grass was allowed to establish. Coarse and fine root distributions (to depths of up to 1.5 m and up to 5 m from the trees) were measured in 1996, 2003, and 2011. The amount and type of soil carbon to 1.5 m depth was also measured in 2011.

Results

The trees, initially surrounded by arable crops rather than fallow, had a deeper coarse root distribution with less lateral expansion. In 2011, the combined length of tree and understorey vegetation roots was greater in the agroforestry treatments than the control, at depths below 0.9 m. Between 0 and 1.5 m depth, the fine root carbon in the agroforestry treatment (2.56 t ha^-1) was 79% greater than that in the control (1.43 t ha^?1). Although the soil organic carbon in the top 0.6 m under the trees (161 t C ha^?1) was greater than in the control (142 t C ha^?1), a tendency for smaller soil carbon levels beneath the trees at lower depths, meant that there was no overall tree effect when a 1.5 m soil depth was considered. From a limited sample, there was no tree effect on the proportion of recalcitrant soil organic carbon.

Conclusions

The observed decline in soil carbon beneath the trees at soil depths greater than 60 cm, if observed elsewhere, has important implication for assessments of the role of afforestation and agroforestry in sequestering carbon.     

Climate and vegetation controls on boreal zone energy exchange

The boreal forest, one of the world's larger biomes, is distinct from other biomes because it experiences a short growing season and extremely cold winter temperatures. Despite its size and impact on the earth's climate system, measurements of mass and energy exchange have been rare until the past five years. This paper overviews results of recent and comprehensive field studies conducted in Canada, Siberia and Scandinavia on energy exchanges between boreal forests and the atmosphere. How the boreal biosphere and atmosphere interact to affect the interception of solar energy and how solar energy is used to evaporate water and heat the air and soil is examined in detail. Specifically, we analyse the magnitudes, temporal and spatial patterns and controls of solar energy, moisture and sensible heat fluxes across the land–atmosphere interface. We interpret and synthesize field data with the aid of a soil–vegetation–atmosphere transfer model, which considers the coupling of the energy and carbon fluxes and nutrient status. Low precipitation and low temperatures limit growth of many boreal forests. These factors restrict photosynthetic capacity and lower root hydraulic conductivity and stomatal conductance of the inhabitant forests. In such circumstances, these factors interact to form a canopy that has a low leaf area index and exerts a significant resistance to evaporation. Conifer forests, growing on upland soils, for example, evaporate at rates between 25 and 75% of equilibrium evaporation and lose less than 2.5 mm day^?1 of water. The open nature of many boreal conifer forest stands causes a disproportionate amount of energy exchange to occur at the soil surface. The climatic and physiological factors that yield relatively low rates of evaporation over conifer stands also cause high rates of sensible heat exchange and the diurnal development of deep planetary boundary layers. In contrast, evaporation from broad‐leaved aspen stands and fen/wetlands approach equilibrium evaporation rates and lose up to 6 mm day^?1.     

Decrease in Hydraulic Conductivity of a Paddy Field using Biocalcification in situ

The hydraulic conductivity of a paddy field (Anthraquic Dystrustept), a silty clay soil containing more than 29% (w/w) of gravel, in Nagoya University Farm was reduced by in situ treatment of subsurface soil using bentonite and biocalcification (microbial calcium carbonate precipitation) through the addition of CaCl₂, urea, and corn steep liquor (CSL). The treatment decreased the hydraulic conductivity of the field from an average of 10^?3 cm/s to a range of 10^?5 to 10^?7 cm/s during 69 days, with reducing the proportion of pores of subsurface soil larger than 75 µm in diameter. The biocalcification effect was observed at 10-cm thickness from the treated subsurface. Laboratory soil core experiments demonstrated that the decrease in the hydraulic conductivity was not attributed to the effect of bentonite but mainly to the effect of biocalcification. The addition of CSL enhanced the urease activity of soil required for biocalcification, even at 4°C, as indicated by a decrease in urease activation energy temperature sensitivity. These experimental results agreed with the gradual decrease in hydraulic conductivity observed in the field when the average daily temperature was 7°C (days 24–69). It was suggested that the biocalcification is a potential technique to reduce the hydraulic conductivity of paddy field.     

A hydrological tracer study of water uptake depth in a Scots pine forest under two different water regimes

Little is known about the vertical distribution of water uptake by trees under different water supply regimes, the subject of this study, conducted in a Scots pine stand on sandy loam in northern Sweden. The objective was to determine the water uptake distribution in pines under two different water regimes, desiccation (no precipitation) and irrigation (2?mm day^?1 in July and 1?mm day^?1 in August), and to relate the uptake to water content, root and soil texture distributions. The natural ¹⁸O gradient in soil water was exploited, in combination with two added tracers, ²H at 10?cm and ³H at 20?cm depth. Extraction of xylem sap and water from the soil profile then enabled evaluation of relative water uptake from four different soil depths (humus layer, 0–10, 10–25 and 25–55?cm) in each of two 50-m² plots per treatment. In addition, water content, root biomass and soil texture were determined. There were differences in vertical water uptake distribution between treatments. In July, the pines at the irrigated and desiccated plots took up 50% and 30%, respectively, of their water from the upper layers, down to 25?cm depth. In August, the pines on the irrigated plots took up a greater proportion of their water from layers below 25?cm deep than they did in July. In a linear regression, the mean hydraulic conductivity for each mineral soil horizon explained a large part of the variation in relative water uptake. No systematic variation in the residual water uptake correlated to the root distribution. It was therefore concluded that the distribution of water uptake by the pines at Åheden was not a function of root density in the mineral soil, but was largely determined by the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity.     

Practical method based on saturated hydraulic conductivity used to assess clogging in subsurface flow constructed wetlands

This paper presents a simple method for evaluating the degree of clogging of subsurface flow constructed wetlands based on saturated hydraulic conductivity measurements. The method was applied to two full-scale wetlands located inside the wastewater treatment plants of two small villages (2000 PE) in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. In addition, to gain an insight into the mechanisms that lead to clogging, other measurements and analyses were carried out including the quantification of accumulated solids and belowground plant biomass. X-ray diffraction analyses were carried out to evaluate the mineral composition of accumulated sludge and granular medium. Hydraulic conductivity measurements and samples for solids analyses were taken along two transects that spanned the length of each wetland. Patterns for hydraulic conductivity were the same in both wetlands: very low values from the inlet zone to the middle (<20 m/d), clearly higher from the middle to 4/5 of the length (600–800 m/d), and lower very near the outlet (40–70 m/d). These results indicate that the first half of the length of both wetlands is highly clogged. Total solids (TS) were generally higher near the inlet than the outlet (TS_inlet = 3–15 kg/m²; TS_outlet = 1–9 kg/m²). Belowground plant biomass values were variable and did not show a clear pattern. In both wetlands the mineral fraction of the solids represented more than 75% of TS in most of the samples. X-ray diffraction analyses showed that the mineral composition of the solids coincided with that of the granular medium (mostly calcite and quartz). The proposed method based on hydraulic conductivity measurements is straightforward to use, does not require costly devices and allows to successfully evaluate the degree of clogging.     

Carbon dioxide and methane emissions from interfluvial wetlands in the upper Negro River basin, Brazil

Extensive interfluvial wetlands occur in the upper Negro River basin (Brazil) and contain a mosaic of vegetation dominated by emergent grasses and sedges with patches of shrubs and palms. To characterize the release of carbon dioxide and methane from these habitats, diffusive and ebullitive emissions and transport through plant aerenchyma were measured monthly during 2005 in permanently and seasonally flooded areas. CO₂ emissions averaged 2193 mg C m^?2 day^?1. Methane was consumed in unflooded environments and emitted in flooded environments with average values of ?4.8 and 60 mg C m^?2 day^?1, respectively. Bubbles were emitted primarily during falling water periods when hydrostatic pressure at the sediment?Cwater interface declined. CO₂ and CH₄ emissions increased when dissolved O₂ decreased and vegetation was more abundant. Total area and seasonally varying flooded areas for two wetlands, located north and south of the Negro River, were determined through analysis of synthetic aperture radar and optical remotely sensed data. The combined areas of these two wetlands (3000 km²) emitted 1147 Gg C year^?1 as CO₂ and 31 Gg C year^?1 as CH₄. If these rates are extrapolated to the area occupied by hydromorphic soils in the upper Negro basin, 63 Tg C year^?1 of CO₂ and 1.7 Tg C year^?1 as CH₄ are estimated as the regional evasion to the atmosphere.     

Soil physical properties in relation to rice yield and water consumption under flooded and unflooded conditions

Summary Four paddy soils from Thailand were included in this investigation. The soils are described as marine alluvial, fresh water alluvial, hydromorphic alluvial and hydromorphic non-calcareous brown soil. The hydraulic conductivity of water saturated soil was determined on puddled samples, and soil moisture retention curves were recorded for unpuddled samples. In a pot experiment rice variety RD-1 was grown on the soils under flooded and unflooded conditions. For the soils studied a negative relationship was found between the hydraulic conductivity and the ability of the soil to retain water against a given suction. The grain yield was higher under flooded conditions, while among the various soils studied in this experiment grain yield increased with decreasing water content in the suction range studied and increasing hydraulic conductivity of the soils. Better root development facilitated by more favourable physical conditions in highly permeable soils could be the possible reason for the yield increase.     

Connecting carbon and nitrogen storage in rural wetland soil to groundwater abstraction for urban water supply

We investigated whether groundwater abstraction for urban water supply diminishes the storage of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and organic matter in the soil of rural wetlands. Wetland soil organic matter (SOM) benefits air and water quality by sequestering large masses of C and N. Yet, the accumulation of wetland SOM depends on soil inundation, so we hypothesized that groundwater abstraction would diminish stocks of SOM, C, and N in wetland soils. Predictions of this hypothesis were tested in two types of subtropical, depressional‐basin wetland: forested swamps and herbaceous‐vegetation marshes. In west‐central Florida, >650 ML groundwater day^?1 are abstracted for use primarily in the Tampa Bay metropolis. At higher abstraction volumes, water tables were lower and wetlands had shorter hydroperiods (less time inundated). In turn, wetlands with shorter hydroperiods had 50–60% less SOM, C, and N per kg soil. In swamps, SOM loss caused soil bulk density to double, so areal soil C and N storage per m² through 30.5 cm depth was diminished by 25–30% in short‐hydroperiod swamps. In herbaceous‐vegetation marshes, short hydroperiods caused a sharper decline in N than in C. Soil organic matter, C, and N pools were not correlated with soil texture or with wetland draining‐reflooding frequency. Many years of shortened hydroperiod were probably required to diminish soil organic matter, C, and N pools by the magnitudes we observed. This diminution might have occurred decades ago, but could be maintained contemporarily by the failure each year of chronically drained soils to retain new organic matter inputs. In sum, our study attributes the contraction of hydroperiod and loss of soil organic matter, C, and N from rural wetlands to groundwater abstraction performed largely for urban water supply, revealing teleconnections between rural ecosystem change and urban resource demand.     

极端降雨下黄土高原草被沟坡浅层滑坡特征及其对产流产沙的影响

植被恢复作为黄土高原防治水土流失的重要措施,但极端降雨诱发的浅层滑坡在植被恢复的沟坡上频繁发生,影响流域的产流产沙过程。基于野外原位模拟降雨试验,在60 mm/h降雨强度下,研究草被沟坡浅层滑坡发生特征及其发生前后的产流产沙差异。结果表明：（1）极端降雨所诱发的草被沟坡上的浅层滑坡深度为14-36 cm,与自然强降雨所导致的浅层滑坡深度相贴合,均是低于50 cm。（2）植被根系与土壤容重、孔隙度等土壤性质显著相关（P<0.05）,致使滑坡面上、下层土壤物理性质差异显著（P<0.05）。由于土壤性质的差异,在极端降雨下滑坡面上层土壤水分更快达到饱和（饱和度>90%）,导致浅层滑坡的发生。（3）草被坡面浅层滑坡后的径流与产沙均显著增大（P<0.05）。三个小区的平均径流率在滑坡后增大了4.0-13.1倍,其平均含沙量和产沙率在滑坡后分别增大了9.9-54.9倍和70-841倍。研究结果有助于加深了解植被沟坡的侵蚀产沙机理,并为浅层滑坡防治提供科学依据。     

Dissolved carbon leaching from soil is a crucial component of the net ecosystem carbon balance

Estimates of carbon leaching losses from different land use systems are few and their contribution to the net ecosystem carbon balance is uncertain. We investigated leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and dissolved methane (CH₄), at forests, grasslands, and croplands across Europe. Biogenic contributions to DIC were estimated by means of its δ¹³C signature. Leaching of biogenic DIC was 8.3±4.9 g m^?2 yr^?1 for forests, 24.1±7.2 g m^?2 yr^?1 for grasslands, and 14.6±4.8 g m^?2 yr^?1 for croplands. DOC leaching equalled 3.5±1.3 g m^?2 yr^?1 for forests, 5.3±2.0 g m^?2 yr^?1 for grasslands, and 4.1±1.3 g m^?2 yr^?1 for croplands. The average flux of total biogenic carbon across land use systems was 19.4±4.0 g C m^?2 yr^?1. Production of DOC in topsoils was positively related to their C/N ratio and DOC retention in subsoils was inversely related to the ratio of organic carbon to iron plus aluminium (hydr)oxides. Partial pressures of CO₂ in soil air and soil pH determined DIC concentrations and fluxes, but soil solutions were often supersaturated with DIC relative to soil air CO₂. Leaching losses of biogenic carbon (DOC plus biogenic DIC) from grasslands equalled 5–98% (median: 22%) of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) plus carbon inputs with fertilization minus carbon removal with harvest. Carbon leaching increased the net losses from cropland soils by 24–105% (median: 25%). For the majority of forest sites, leaching hardly affected actual net ecosystem carbon balances because of the small solubility of CO₂ in acidic forest soil solutions and large NEE. Leaching of CH₄ proved to be insignificant compared with other fluxes of carbon. Overall, our results show that leaching losses are particularly important for the carbon balance of agricultural systems.     

Organic Fertilization and Sufficient Nutrient Status in Prehistoric Agriculture? – Indications from Multi-Proxy Analyses of Archaeological Topsoil Relicts

Neolithic and Bronze Age topsoil relicts revealed enhanced extractable phosphorus (P) and plant available inorganic P fractions, thus raising the question whether there was targeted soil amelioration in prehistoric times. This study aimed (i) at assessing the overall nutrient status and the soil organic matter content of these arable topsoil relicts, and (ii) at tracing ancient soil fertilizing practices by respective stable isotope and biomarker analyses. Prehistoric arable topsoils were preserved in archaeological pit fillings, whereas adjacent subsoils served as controls. One Early Weichselian humic zone represented the soil status before the introduction of agriculture. Recent topsoils served as an additional reference. The applied multi-proxy approach comprised total P and micronutrient contents, stable N isotope ratios, amino acid, steroid, and black carbon analyses as well as soil color measurements. Total contents of P and selected micronutrients (I, Cu, Mn, Mo, Se, Zn) of the arable soil relicts were above the limits for which nutrient deficiencies could be assumed. All pit fillings exhibited elevated δ¹⁵N values close to those of recent topsoils (δ¹⁵N>6 to 7‰), giving first hints for prehistoric organic N-input. Ancient legume cultivation as a potential source for N input could not be verified by means of amino acid analysis. In contrast, bile acids as markers for faecal input exhibited larger concentrations in the pit fillings compared with the reference and control soils indicating faeces (i.e. manure) input to Neolithic arable topsoils. Also black carbon contents were elevated, amounting up to 38% of soil organic carbon, therewith explaining the dark soil color in the pit fillings and pointing to inputs of burned biomass. The combination of different geochemical analyses revealed a sufficient nutrient status of prehistoric arable soils, as well as signs of amelioration (inputs of organic material like charcoal and faeces-containing manure).