Organic matter turnover in a sagebrush steppe landscape

Laboratory incubations of¹⁵N-amended soils from a sagebrush steppe in south-central Wyoming indicate that nutrient turnover and availability have complex patterns across the landscape and between microsites. Total and available N and P and microbial C and N were highest in topographic depressions characterized by tall shrub communities. Net and gross N mineralization rates and respiration were also highest in these areas, but microbial efficiencies expressing growth relative to respiration cost were highest in soils of exposed ridgetop sites (prostrate shrub communities). Similar patterns occurred between shrub and intershrub soils, with greater nutrient availability under shrubs, but lower microbial efficiencies under shrubs than between. Surface soils had higher soil nutrient pools and N mineralization rates than subsurface soils, but N and C turnover and microbial efficiencies were lower in those surface soils. All soils decreased in respiration, mineralization, and immobilization rates during the 30-day incubation period, apparently approaching a steady-state substrate use. Soil microbial activity of the high organic matter accumulation areas was apparently more limited by labile substrate.     

Spatial variability of soil nutrients and microbiological properties after the establishment of leguminous shrub Caragana microphylla Lam. plantation on sand dune in the Horqin Sandy Land of Northeast China

The objective of this study is to determine the spatial variability of nutrients, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities of soil due to the establishment of shrub plantation on moving sandy dunes, as part of an effort to understand the microenvironmental factors that control the soil microbiological properties. Caragana microphylla Lam., an indigenous leguminous shrub, is the dominant plant species used to control desertification in the semi-arid Horqin Sandy Land of Northeast China. In a 26-year-old C. microphylla plantation, soil samples were collected from three soil depths (0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, and 10-20 cm), three slope positions (windward slope, top slope, and leeward slope), and two microsites (under shrubs and between shrubs). The results showed significant differences in soil EC, nutrient content (except for total K), microbial biomass C and N, and the activities of dehydrogenase, urease, and protease at different slopes, soil depths, and microsites. Significant differences in pH at different microsites and slopes, soil moisture and polyphenol oxidase activity at different soil depths and slopes, and activities of phosphomonoesterase and nitrate reductase at different soil depths were also observed. The soil nutrient contents and microbiological activities were greater in the surface soil layer and decreased with the increase of soil depth. Soil organic C, total N, total P, available P and K, microbial biomass C and N, and the activities of enzymes tested (except for protease) under shrubs were higher than those in between shrubs. Furthermore, significant correlations among soil organic C, microbial biomass C and N, the activities of phosphomonoesterase, dehydrogenase, urease, protease, and nitrate reductase were observed, and correlations were also found among EC, total N, total P, available P and K, enzyme (except for polyphenol oxidase) activities, and microbial biomass C and N contents. These results suggest that microenvironmental factors (slope, soil depth and microsite) have significant influences on the spatial distribution of soil nutrients and microbiological properties when the C. microphylla sand-fixing plantation is established in the moving sand dunes in the Horqin Sandy Land.     

The Effect of Phosphorus Availability on Decomposition Dynamics in a Seasonal Lowland Amazonian Forest

Once the weathering of parent material ceases to supply significant inputs of phosphorus (P), vegetation depends largely on the decomposition of litter and soil organic matter and the associated mineralization of organic P forms to provide an adequate supply of this essential nutrient. At the same time, the decomposition of litter is often characterized by the immobilization of nutrients, suggesting that nutrient availability is a limiting factor for this process. Immobilization temporally decouples nutrient mineralization from decomposition and may play an important role in nutrient retention in low-nutrient ecosystems. In this study, we used a common substrate to study the effects of native soil P availability as well as artificially elevated P availability on litter decomposition rates in a lowland Amazonian rain forest on highly weathered soils. Although both available and total soil P pools varied almost three fold across treatments, there was no significant difference in decomposition rates among treatments. Decomposition was rapid in all treatments, with approximately 50% of the mass lost over the 11-month study period. Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) remaining and C:N ratios were the most effective predictors of amount of mass remaining at each time point in all treatments. Fertilized treatments showed significant amounts of P immobilization (P < 0.001). By the final collection point, the remaining litter contained a quantity equivalent to two-thirds of the initial P and N, even though only half of the original mass remained. In these soils, immobilization of nutrients in the microbial biomass, late in the decomposition process, effectively prevents the loss of essential nutrients through leaching or occlusion in the mineral soil.     

Elevated CO2 increases microbial carbon substrate use and nitrogen cycling in Mojave Desert soils

Identifying soil microbial responses to anthropogenically driven environmental changes is critically important as concerns intensify over the potential degradation of ecosystem function. We assessed the effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ on microbial carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in Mojave Desert soils using extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs), community‐level physiological profiles (CLPPs), and gross N transformation rates. Soils were collected from unvegetated interspaces between plants and under the dominant shrub (Larrea tridentata) during the 2004–2005 growing season, an above‐average rainfall year. Because most measured variables responded strongly to soil water availability, all significant effects of soil water content were used as covariates to remove potential confounding effects of water availability on microbial responses to experimental treatment effects of cover type, CO₂, and sampling date. Microbial C and N activities were lower in interspace soils compared with soils under Larrea, and responses to date and CO₂ treatments were cover specific. Over the growing season, EEAs involved in cellulose (cellobiohydrolase) and orthophosphate (alkaline phosphatase) degradation decreased under ambient CO₂, but increased under elevated CO₂. Microbial C use and substrate use diversity in CLPPs decreased over time, and elevated CO₂ positively affected both. Elevated CO₂ also altered microbial C use patterns, suggesting changes in the quantity and/or quality of soil C inputs. In contrast, microbial biomass N was higher in interspace soils than soils under Larrea, and was lower in soils exposed to elevated CO₂. Gross rates of NH₄⁺ transformations increased over the growing season, and late‐season NH₄⁺ fluxes were negatively affected by elevated CO₂. Gross NO₃⁻ fluxes decreased over time, with early season interspace soils positively affected by elevated CO₂. General increases in microbial activities under elevated CO₂ are likely attributable to greater microbial biomass in interspace soils, and to increased microbial turnover rates and/or metabolic levels rather than pool size in soils under Larrea. Because soil water content and plant cover type dominates microbial C and N responses to CO₂, the ability of desert landscapes to mitigate or intensify the impacts of global change will ultimately depend on how changes in precipitation and increasing atmospheric CO₂ shift the spatial distribution of Mojave Desert plant communities.     

Controls over nitric oxide and ammonia emissions from Mojave Desert soils

Emissions of reactive N compounds produced during terrestrial N cycling can be an important N loss pathway from ecosystems. Most measurements of this process focus on NO and N(2)O efflux; however, in alkaline soils such as those in the Mojave Desert, NH(3) production can be an important component of N gas loss. We investigated patterns of NO and NH(3) emissions in the Mojave Desert and identified seasonal changes in temperature, precipitation and spatial heterogeneity in soil nutrients as primary controllers of soil efflux. Across all seasons, NH(3) dominated reactive N gas emissions with fluxes ranging from 0.9 to 10 ng N m(-2) s(-1) as compared to NO fluxes of 0.08-1.9 ng N m(-2) s(-1). Fluxes were higher in April and July than in October; however, a fall precipitation event yielded large increases in both NO and NH(3) efflux. To explore the mechanisms driving field observations, we combined NO and NH(3) soil flux measurements with laboratory manipulations of temperature, water and nutrient conditions. These experiments showed a large transient NH(3) pulse (~70-100 ng N m(-2) s(-1)) following water addition, presumably driven by an increase in soil NH(4) (+) concentrations. This was followed by an increase in NO production, with maximum NO flux rates of 34 ng N m(-2) s(-1). Our study suggests that immediately following water addition NH(3) volatilization proceeds at high rates due to the absence of microbial competition for NH(4) (+); during this period N gas loss is insensitive to changes in temperature and soil nutrients. Subsequently, NO emission increases and rates of both NO and NH(3) emission are sensitive to temperature and nutrient constraints on microbial activity. Addition of labile C reduces gaseous N losses, presumably by increasing microbial immobilization, whereas addition of NO(3) (-) stimulates NO and NH(3) efflux.     

盐碱地柽柳“盐岛”和“肥岛”效应及其碳氮磷生态化学计量学特征

为了探讨“盐岛”和“肥岛”效应影响下盐碱土的养分特征,对黄河三角洲盐碱地柽柳植株周围不同土层的pH值、电导率和碳氮磷含量及其生态化学计量学特征进行了研究.结果表明: 土壤pH和电导率均随土层的加深而升高,0～20 cm土层土壤电导率随离植株距离的增加而降低,全磷含量则升高.20～40 cm土层土壤有机碳、全氮、N/P和C/P随离柽柳植株距离的增加而降低,C/N则升高.随着土层的加深,有机碳和全氮均呈降低趋势,而全磷则先降低后升高.土壤pH与电导率呈显著正相关,且二者与土壤碳氮磷及其生态化学计量比之间均呈显著负相关.     

长期施肥对土壤养分库的影响

扼要地概述了国内外近年来关于长期施肥条件下土壤养分库的动态与平衡方面的研究成果。主要介绍并讨论了土壤氮、磷、钾养分全量及有效量的动态变化 ,土壤有机碳含量的动态变化 ;铵态氮、氨基酸态氮、氨基糖态氮、酸解未知态氮、非水解残渣氮及微生物体氮在土壤氮库中的动态变化 ;Ca2 P、Ca8 P、Al P、Fe P、闭蓄态磷 ,活性有机磷、中度活性有机磷、中稳性有机磷、高稳性有机磷及微生物体磷在土壤磷库中的动态变化 ;土壤碳库中松结态腐殖质、稳结态腐殖质、紧结态腐殖质以及富里酸和胡敏酸的动态变化 ;长期施肥对土壤有机无机复合状况的影响 ;农田土壤养分库的养分循环与养分平衡。还指出了当前土壤养分库研究面临的一些问题 ,并提出了今后研究的几个热点内容     

湘西南喀斯特地区灌丛生态系统植物和土壤养分特征

以湖南省邵阳县轻度、中度(弃耕地)和重度石漠化的灌丛生态系统为研究对象,采集3种不同石漠化程度的灌丛植物样品以及0～15、15～30、30～45 cm 3个土层土壤,研究土壤、植被养分的分配格局及相互关系.结果表明:土壤有机碳、全N含量在不同土层中差异显著,且其含量均随土层深度增加而减少,而全P、全K、全Ca、全Mg含量在各土层间无显著差异;3种石漠化程度灌丛土壤全N、全P、全Ca、全Mg含量差异显著,且中度石漠化样地土壤有机碳、全N和全P含量相对较高.轻度和重度石漠化土壤各元素含量排序均为有机碳>全K>全Ca>全Mg>全N>全P,而中度石漠化样地土壤各元素含量排序为有机碳>全K>全Ca>全N>全Mg>全P;3种石漠化程度植物各养分含量由高到低依次为Ca>N>K>Mg>P,且植物N、P含量和土壤全N、全P含量均呈显著正相关.土壤养分状况与植物生长密切相关,根据不同石漠化程度土壤养分状况,应该采用封山育林与人工造林相结合以及针对性施肥的方法来治理石漠化.     

Nutrient availability and leaching in an archaeological Anthrosol and a Ferralsol of the Central Amazon basin: fertilizer,manure and charcoal amendments

Soil fertility and leaching losses of nutrients were compared between a Fimic Anthrosol and a Xanthic Ferralsol from Central Amazônia. The Anthrosol was a relict soil from pre-Columbian settlements with high organic C containing large proportions of black carbon. It was further tested whether charcoal additions among other organic and inorganic applications could produce similarly fertile soils as these archaeological Anthrosols. In the first experiment, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) was planted in pots, while in the second experiment lysimeters were used to quantify water and nutrient leaching from soil cropped to rice (Oryza sativa L.). The Anthrosol showed significantly higher P, Ca, Mn, and Zn availability than the Ferralsol increasing biomass production of both cowpea and rice by 38–45% without fertilization (P<0.05). The soil N contents were also higher in the Anthrosol but the wide C-to-N ratios due to high soil C contents led to immobilization of N. Despite the generally high nutrient availability, nutrient leaching was minimal in the Anthrosol, providing an explanation for their sustainable fertility. However, when inorganic nutrients were applied to the Anthrosol, nutrient leaching exceeded the one found in the fertilized Ferralsol. Charcoal additions significantly increased plant growth and nutrition. While N availability in the Ferralsol decreased similar to the Anthrosol, uptake of P, K, Ca, Zn, and Cu by the plants increased with higher charcoal additions. Leaching of applied fertilizer N was significantly reduced by charcoal, and Ca and Mg leaching was delayed. In both the Ferralsol with added charcoal and the Anthrosol, nutrient availability was elevated with the exception of N while nutrient leaching was comparatively low.     

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地人工植被及土壤CNP的化学计量特征

生态化学计量学是研究生态过程和生态作用中化学元素平衡的科学。极端环境中进行植物叶片与土壤中营养元素含量及变化研究,对于揭示植物对营养元素的需要和当地土壤的养分供给能力,以及植物对环境的适应与反馈能力具有十分重要的意义。以塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地塔中植物园生长良好的25种人工植被及其生境为研究对象,运用方差分析、相关分析综合研究植物叶片及土壤的化学计量特征及其相互关系。结果显示:塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地25种人工植被叶片C、N、P的平均含量分别为(386.7±46.6)、(24.7±8.1)和(1.8±0.78) mg/g;叶片C:N、C:P及 N:P分别为(17.5±6.7)、(249.2±102.8)、(15.0±5.6)。其中豆科植物N含量极显著高于非豆科植物(P<0.001)。不同生活型植物的C、N、P含量均存在显著差异,C、N、P含量在3种生活型的大小顺序为草本>灌木>乔木。C:N和N:P在不同生活型植物间不存在显著差异(P>0.05),而乔木和灌木的C:P显著高于草本植物(P< 0.05)。相关分析表明植物的叶片C:N、C:P都与相应的N、P含量呈现极显著负相关性(P<0.001),而叶片N含量与P含量的变化并不相关(P> 0.05)。土壤C、N、P养分元素含量远低于全国的平均水平,尤其是N含量(<0.2 mg/g);土壤C与N存在着极显著的正相关关系(P<0.01),而C与P、N与P间的相关性并不显著(P>0.05)。以上研究结果表明,受极端环境的限制,塔克拉玛干沙漠人工植被植物对养分元素的利用效率显著低于全国陆地植物的平均水平,不同科和不同生活型功能群植物对环境的适应能力显著不同,表现出显著的养分适应策略差异性。     

Soil–litter mixing and microbial activity mediate decomposition and soil aggregate formation in a sandy shrub-invaded Chihuahuan Desert grassland

Drylands account globally for 30% of terrestrial net primary production and 20% of soil organic carbon. Present ecosystem models under predict litter decay in drylands, limiting assessments of biogeochemical cycling at multiple scales. Overlooked decomposition drivers, such as soil–litter mixing (SLM), may account for part of this model-measurement disconnect. We documented SLM and decomposition in relation to the formation of soil-microbial films and microbial extracellular enzyme activity (EEA) in the North American Chihuahuan Desert by placing mesh bags containing shrub (Prosopis glandulosa) foliar litter on the soil surface within contrasting vegetation microsites. Mass loss (in terms of k, the decay constant) was best described by the degree of SLM and soil-microbial film cover. EEA was greatest during periods of rapid litter decomposition and associated SLM. Soil-microbial film cover on litter surfaces increased over time and was greater in bare ground microsites (50% litter surface area covered) compared to shrub and grass microsites (37 and 33% covered, respectively). Soil aggregates that formed in association with decomposing leaf material had organic C and N concentrations 1.5–2× that of local surface soils. Micrographs of soil aggregates revealed a strong biotic component in their structure, suggesting that microbial decomposition facilitates aggregate formation and their C and N content. Decomposition drivers in arid lands fall into two major categories, abiotic and biotic, and it is challenging to ascertain their relative importance. The temporal synchrony between surface litter mass loss, EEA, biotic film development, and aggregate formation observed in this study supports the hypothesis that SLM enhances decomposition on detached litter by promoting conditions favorable for microbial processes. Inclusion of interactions between SLM and biological drivers will improve the ability of ecosystem models to predict decomposition rates and dynamics in drylands.     

Microbial biomass C,N and P in two arctic soils and responses to addition of NPK fertilizer and sugar: implications for plant nutrient uptake

The soil microbial carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) pools were quantified in the organic horizon of soils from an arctic/alpine low-altitude heath and a high-altitude fellfield by the fumigation-extraction method before and after factorial addition of sugar, NPK fertilizer and benomyl, a fungicide. In unamended soil, microbial C, N and P made up 3.3–3.6%, 6.1–7.3% and 34.7% of the total soil C, N and P content, respectively. The inorganic extractable N pool was below 0.1% and the inorganic extractable P content slightly less than 1% of the total soil pool sizes. Benomyl addition in spring and summer did not affect microbial C or nutrient content analysed in the autumn. Sugar amendments increased microbial C by 15 and 37% in the two soils, respectively, but did not affect the microbial nutrient content, whereas inorganic N and P either declined significantly or tended to decline. The increased microbial C indicates that the microbial biomass also increased but without a proportional enhancement of N and P uptake. NPK addition did not affect the amount of microbial C but almost doubled the microbial N pool and more than doubled the P pool. A separate study has shown that CO₂ evolution increased by more than 50% after sugar amendment and by about 30% after NPK and NK additions to one of the soils. Hence, the microbial biomass did not increase in response to NPK addition, but the microbes immobilized large amounts of the added nutrients and, judging by the increased CO₂ evolution, their activity increased. We conclude: (1) that microbial biomass production in these soils is stimulated by labile carbon and that the microbial activity is stimulated by both labile C and by nutrients (N); (2) that the microbial biomass is a strong sink for nutrients and that the microbial community probably can withdraw substantial amounts of nutrients from the inorganic, plant-available pool, at least periodically; (3) that temporary declines in microbial populations are likely to release a flush of inorganic nutrients to the soil, particularly P of which the microbial biomass contained more than one third of the total soil pool; and (4) that the mobilization-immobilization cycles of nutrients coupled to the population dynamics of soil organisms can be a significant regulating factor for the nutrient supply to the primary producers, which are usually strongly nutrient-limited in arctic ecosystems.     

Altered N,P and C dynamics with absence of fire in Eucalyptus forests affected by premature decline

Absence of fire is increasingly recognized as an important driver of soil nutrient budgets in Eucalyptus forest, especially in forests affected by premature Eucalyptus decline, due to the effects of soil nutrient accumulation on nutrient balances and forest community dynamics. In this study, we present a dataset of soil and foliar nutrient analyses, and vegetation measurements from a fire chronosequence survey in native E. delegatensis forest. Measured indices include total soil and extractable soil nitrogen (N), or phosphorus (P), soil organic carbon (C), soil acid‐phosphatase (PME) activity, foliar N and foliar P, and understorey and overstorey vegetation canopy height. We show that in some cases indices are strongly linked to time since fire (2–46 years). Time since fire correlated positively with foliar N, total and extractable soil N, soil organic C, and also soil PME activity; the latter an indicator of biotic P demand. Differences in the strength of these relationships were apparent between two geology types, with stronger relationships on the potentially less‐fertile geology. The strong positive correlation with time since fire and understorey canopy height reflected increasing shrub biomass and thickening of the shrub layer. The strong positive correlation for soil or foliar N, but not P, with time since fire, indicates that P does not increase relative to N over time. P may, therefore, become limiting to growth in this plant community. Similarly, the significantly higher concentrations of soil N but not P, also found in both older and long‐unburnt forest stands (>100 years since management), may exacerbate a situation of soil nutrient limitation over several decades. A characteristic feature of long unmanaged stands is a developing tea tree (Leptospermum sp.) understorey, which may benefit from elevated soil N availability and increasing organic C accumulation with prolonged fire absence. This increased shrub biomass would outcompete Eucalyptus for resources, including soil nutrients and water.     

青海森林生态系统中灌木层和土壤生态化学计量特征

灌木层作为森林生态系统的重要组成部分, 了解其生态化学计量特征将有助于揭示森林生态系统物质周转和养分循环等生态功能。该研究选取青海省7种主要优势林分——白桦(Betula platyphylla)林、毛白杨(Populus tomentosa)林、红桦(Betula albosinensis)林、青扦(Picea wilsonii)林、山杨(Populus davidiana)林、圆柏(Sabina chinensis)林、云杉(Picea asperata)林为研究对象, 采用野外取样和室内实验分析相结合的方法, 研究了不同林分林下灌木层不同器官(叶、枝干、根)及其表层(0-10 cm)土壤的碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及其相关性。结果表明: 7种林分间灌木(叶、枝干、根) P含量、C:P均没有明显差异性; 山杨林、圆柏林、云杉林的林下灌木(叶、枝干、根) N含量、N:P高于白桦林、毛白杨林、红桦林和青扦林, C:N则相反。圆柏林的林下灌木生长受P限制, 其余6种林分的林下灌木生长受N限制。7种林分间土壤有机碳(SOC)和总氮(TN)含量呈现出明显差异性, 而总磷(TP)含量则差异不明显。相关性分析表明, 林下灌木(叶、枝干、根) N含量、C:N、N:P与土壤TN含量、C:N、N:P呈极显著相关性, 而P含量、C:P与土壤TP含量呈显著相关性。冗余分析表明, 林下灌木层植被C、N、P含量及生态化学计量特征受到土壤化学计量特征及各环境因子的共同影响, 其中土壤C:N、海拔、年平均气温、年降水量为主要影响因子。     

乌兰布和沙漠典型灌木群落土壤化学计量特征

乌兰布和沙漠不同典型灌木群落类型对荒漠土壤质量的改善具有重要的作用,而土壤碳、氮、磷生态化学计量比是体现生态系统变化过程的重要依据。研究不同灌木植被类型对土壤碳、氮、磷含量及其生态化学计量学特征的影响,对于深入认识乌兰布和沙漠典型灌木植被生长与修复对土壤质量的改良,准确评价植被生态环境效益具有重要的现实意义。在乌兰布和沙漠8个主要建群种天然植被类型灌木林地内设置10 m×10 m的标准样方进行调查,在灌丛边缘（东、南、西、北四个方向）进行土壤分层采样,取样深度分别为0-20、20-40、40-60、60-80、80-100 cm,共5层。将相同层次土壤样品充分混合,经四分法取样,风干,过0.15 mm筛用于土壤C、N、P含量的测量,分析不同灌木类型各土层碳、氮、磷含量及其生态化学计量比的垂直分布特征,探寻各指标间的相关关系。结果表明：乌兰布和沙漠地区8种天然灌木林土壤有机C、全N、全P含量整体水平不高,分别为2.45、0.26、0.28 g/kg,均低于全国水平。由C、N、P含量的相关性分析可知三者间呈显著正相关（P < 0.05）,且C、N元素含量变化几乎同步,但P元素含量变化滞后于二者。各灌木类型表层（0-20cm）土壤C、N、P含量均较高,各灌木类型土壤有机C、全N含量随着土壤深度的增加呈下降趋势,而不同灌木类型土壤全P含量从上至下分布规律不同,且土层对P含量无显著差异（P > 0.05）。8种典型灌木群落土壤整体C：N、C：P、N：P值（9.41、8.70、0.93）低于全国水平,各灌木类型土壤N：P和C：P随土壤深度而递减,但不同灌木类型土壤C：N随土层深度的变化规律不同。乌兰布和沙漠典型灌木群落土壤碳、氮、磷化学计量特征值均低于全国水平,各灌木类型土壤C、N、N：P和C：P随土壤深度而递减,但不同灌木类型土壤P、C：N随土层深度的变化规律不同。有机C、全N、全P与其化学计量比之间具有非线性耦合关系。C：N和P含量具有较高的稳定性（CV=22.45%和24.39%）,C：P和N：P比值是研究区限制性养分判断的重要指标。     

Nutrient addition retards decomposition and C immobilization in two wet grasslands

Eutrophication is one of the biggest environmental problems facing wetlands. However, its effect on soil functioning is not yet well understood. We tested the hypothesis that increased nutrient loading into wet grassland ecosystems accelerates soil C and N cycles and decreases microbial immobilization of C and N. Experimental sites were established on two wet grasslands, with either mineral or peaty soils, and fertilized by NPK fertilizer for 3 years. Soils were analyzed for soluble and microbial C and N contents and their transformations, profile of phospholipid fatty acids and number of nirK denitrifiers. Fertilization affected C more than N transformations. Opposite to what was predicted, decomposition was retarded, the soil C cycle was based more on labile C compounds, and the soil was more susceptible to C losses in fertilized versus unfertilized treatments in both soils. Fertilization resulted in lower microbial biomass C and microbial C immobilization and also decreased the activity of lignin-degrading enzymes. Shifts in the composition of the microbial communities led to decreased (1) decomposition of complex organic compounds and (2) immobilization of transformed C. Net nitrification and microbial N immobilization tended to increase in fertilized treatments indicating an acceleration of soil N cycling and losses, but only in the more vulnerable organic soil.     

不同林窗马尾松凋落叶与土壤养分变化研究

以现有42年生的马尾松（Pinus massoniana）人工纯林,经过采伐形成4种不同大小有效面积的林窗（100、400、900和1 600 m²）为研究对象,以未经采伐的42年生马尾松人工纯林为对照样地,采用凋落叶分解袋法,研究不同大小有效面积林窗对马尾松凋落叶、土壤C、N、P及化学计量比和养分损失率的影响。研究结果表明：（1）不同大小有效面积林窗下的马尾松凋落叶、土壤C、N、P含量及养分损失率除土壤P含量和马尾松凋落叶P养分损失率外,均存在显著差异。随着林窗有效面积G1~G4的增大,马尾松凋落叶C、N、P含量均呈降低趋势,三者均在G3林窗体现出较小值。马尾松凋落叶C、N、P养分损失率、土壤C、N、P养分含量多呈抛物线趋势,且均在G2或G3林窗体现出最大值。（2）不同大小有效面积林窗下的马尾松凋落叶、土壤C/N/P均存在显著差异。随着林窗有效面积G1~G4的增大,马尾松人工林土壤C/N/P基本呈抛物线变化趋势,土壤C/N在G3林窗出现最大值,土壤C/P、N/P均在G2林窗体现出最大值;土壤C/N、C/P、N/P变异系数分别为13.31%、16.51%、17.21%。马尾松凋落叶C/N、C/P均在G3体现出最小值。（3）马尾松凋落叶C、N含量与土壤C、C/N/P及环境因子的相关性较强,P含量与它们的相关性较弱;C/N与土壤P、C/N/P及环境因子的相关性较强,C/P、N/P与土壤C/P及环境因子的相关性较强;C、N养分损失率与土壤C、C/N、C/P及环境因子的相关性较强,P养分损失率与土壤C、N、P含量及其化学计量比和环境因子的相关性较弱。土壤C、N、P含量及其化学计量比与环境因子的相关性较强。     

古尔班通古特沙漠西南缘柽柳沙包的土壤化学计量特征

柽柳沙包作为沙漠地区一种特殊的生物地貌景观,在维持区域生态环境稳定中发挥着极为重要的作用。以古尔班通古特沙漠西南缘的典型柽柳沙包为研究对象,通过对土壤含水量、pH值、电导率、粒径及土壤有机碳（SOC）、总氮（TN）、总磷（TP）含量的分析,探讨了古尔班通古特沙漠柽柳沙包中土壤C、N、P的化学计量特征、垂直变化规律及影响因素。结果表明：（1）随着土层深度增加,SOC和TN均呈先升高后降低的变化,且C、N在表层土壤含量最高,具有"肥岛效应";总磷（TP）含量总体变化幅度较小,呈弱变异。随着土层深度增加,土壤C/N呈先降低后升高再降低的变化,C/P和N/P呈先降低后升高的变化。（2）与全球及中国平均值相比,古尔班通古特沙漠柽柳沙包土壤C、N、P、C/N、C/P及N/P均相对较低,而C/N相对较高,土壤养分缺乏程度表现为N > C > P。土壤养分元素及化学计量比多呈显著的线性关系,且土壤化学计量比在0-200 cm层主要受C、N的制约,在200-500 cm层不仅受C、N的制约,也受P的限制。（3）土壤C、N、P化学计量特征在0-200 cm层主要受降水、温度及蒸发等气候因素的影响,而在200-500 cm层易受土壤含水量的影响;此外,粘、粉、沙粒含量在整个土壤剖面中对土壤C、N、P化学计量特征也具有明显的影响。     

碳氮添加对草地土壤有机碳氮磷含量及相关酶活性的影响

草地土壤有机碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)等养分含量和酶活性对草地生态系统能量和养分的保持和供应具有重要作用.氮沉降对草地生态系统土壤有机养分及酶活性产生影响的结果不一致性,碳的同步添加是否会缓解氮沉降造成的负面影响仍不清楚,需要深入探讨.本研究以在内蒙古呼伦贝尔草原开展的碳(葡萄糖)、氮(尿素)添加试验样地为依托(始于2014年5月),探讨碳、氮添加对草地土壤C、N、P含量及相关酶活性的影响及其机制.试验分别设N₀(对照)、N₂₅(施氮25 kg·hm^-2·a^-1)、N₅₀(50 kg·hm^-2·a^-1)、N₁₀₀(100 kg·hm^-2·a^-1)、N₂₀₀(200 kg·hm^-2·a^-1)共5个N添加主处理,C₀(对照)、C₂₅₀(施碳250 kg·hm^-2·a^-1)、C₅₀₀(500 kg·hm^-2·a^-1)3个碳添加副处理,试验样品采于2016年8月.结果表明:高氮添加显著抑制脱氢酶(DHA)和β-1,4-N-乙酰氨基葡糖苷酶(NAG)活性,与对照相比,其活性分别降低22.3%和12.5%;而氮添加对土壤有机N含量无显著影响,使有机C和有机P含量分别减少6.6%和14.5%.高碳添加缓解了土壤微生物的碳限制,使得脱氢酶(DHA)、β-葡糖苷酶(BG)活性及土壤有机N、有机P含量分别增加15.1%、12.2%、1.9%、2.6%.研究表明,长期过量氮输入抑制土壤微生物活性,造成土壤有机C、有机P的减少,而碳添加提高了微生物及酶活性,使土壤有机N、P含量增加.碳氮耦合添加对草地土壤有机C、N、P的持续供应具有重要意义.     

Clumped and isolated trees influence soil nutrient levels in an Australian temperate box woodland

Isolated paddock trees are a common feature of agri-pastoral landscapes in south-eastern Australia. We assessed the impact of trees on soil nutrients by examining (1) changes in soil nutrients under clumped and isolated (living and dead) trees at four microsites corresponding with increasing distance from the trunk (trunk, mid-canopy, drip line, open), and (2) changes with depth under trees growing in clearly-defined clumps. We detected significantly greater concentrations of organic C, and total N and S under trees growing in clumps compared with either isolated living or dead trees. Levels of soluble Ca²⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺, pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and available P declined with increasing distance from the trees, but there were no significant trends for organic C, or total N and S. The concentration of most nutrients declined with depth, particularly at microsites close to the trunk, while pH increased with depth. We believe that differences in chemistry were largely driven by greater inputs of organic matter under the trees. This study reinforces the view that trees, whether scattered or in clumps, are important for soil nutrient conservation in agri-pastoral landscapes.