植物多样性对模拟人工湿地氮去除及氧化亚氮排放的影响

为理解人工湿地处理高氮废水时植物多样性对生态系统功能的影响,本研究进行模拟人工湿地微宇宙实验。选取灯心草(Juncus effusus)、羊蹄(Rumex japonicus)和!草(Phalaris arundinacea) 3种常见植物,配置3个单种和1个3种混种处理,在污水停留中期(第4天)和末期(第8天)测定微宇宙N_2O排放、水中氮浓度等参数。结果表明:混种系统N_2O排放在中期显著低于单种均值,在末期与单种无显著差异;单种系统N_2O排放在中期显著高于末期,而混种系统在两个时期无显著差异;混种系统氮去除率在中期低于单种系统均值,在末期与单种系统无显著差异;!草单种系统氮去除率在中期显著高于羊蹄、灯心草单种及混种系统,但在末期与其他系统无显著差异。在保持氮去除率的情况下,混种系统的N_2O排放通量低于单种系统均值。     

模拟人工湿地中植物多样性对铵态氮去除的影响

为了研究植物多样性对人工湿地生态系统的氮去除功能和硝化作用的影响,在模拟人工湿地中配置了单种和4种植物混种2个处理,并以铵态氮为唯一入水氮源负荷。结果表明:混种系统出水中的无机氮浓度显著低于单种系统(分别为3.41和7.20mg·L-1,P<0.05),铵态氮浓度也显著低于单种系统(分别为1.35和4.11mg·L-1,P<0.05);而出水硝铵浓度比(NO3-∶NH4+=1.55)则高于(P<0.05)单种系统(0.80),说明多样性增强了系统的硝化作用;混种系统基质的无机氮存留量(1455mg·m-2)低于(P<0.05)单种(2235mg·m-2),说明混种系统中可能存在资源的互补利用;根据物质平衡法推算出混种系统中植物总的氮吸收量对无机氮去除的贡献率(48%)大于(P<0.05)单种(31%),植物的可移除部分(地上)对无机氮移除的贡献率也呈现此规律(混种和单种分别为33%和20%,P<0.05);基质氮存留在2种系统中的贡献率则与植物吸收规律相反(混种和单种分别为5%和9%,P<0.05);混种系统中的反硝化作用、氨挥发和微生物的氮固持等对氮去除的贡献率低于单种系统。     

人工湿地植物种类和多样性对氧化亚氮释放及功能基因丰度的影响

为了解人工湿地处理中碳/氮水平的废水时植物种类及多样性对系统氧化亚氮释放及功能基因丰度的影响,本研究构建了实验尺度的垂直流人工湿地微宇宙实验系统.选取芦苇(Phragmites australis)、千屈菜(Lythrum salicaria)和海寿花(Pontederia cordata)3种人工湿地常用、景观效果好的植物,在系统中配置了3个单种处理和1个三物种混种处理.结果表明:芦苇、千屈菜与海寿花混种系统的氧化亚氮释放强度(24597.0 μg N2O·m-2·d^-1)高于三物种单种系统的平均值(11744.8 μg N2O·m^-2·d^-1)(P<0.001),同氧化亚氮释放一样,混种系统的amoA基因绝对丰度(6.33× 10^7 copies·g^-1 soil)和nirS基因绝对丰度(1.92× 106 copies·g^-1 soil)也高于三物种单种系统的平均值(5.70×10^7和1.58×10^6 copies·g^-1 soil).此外,混种系统的出水硝态氮浓度低于三物种单种系统的平均值(P<0.05),但出水硝态氮浓度、微生物量和植物生物量在单混种系统间无显著差异(P>0.05).3个单种系统间的氧化亚氮释放强度、amoA基因绝对丰度、nirS基因绝对丰度、出水铵态氮浓度、微生物量和植物生物量存在显著差异(P<0.01),但出水硝态氮无显著差异(P>0.05).通过植物种类和丰富度对各指标变异的解释度发现,植物种类和丰富度分别解释变异的比率存在一定差异,总体上,植物丰富度对氧化亚氮释放、amoA基因绝对丰度和nirS基因绝对丰度的影响大于植物种类,植物种类对出水硝态氮浓度的影响大于植物丰富度.     

植物物种丰富度对水培微宇宙中硝态氮去除的影响

在沙基质的人工湿地中植物多样性能够提高污水去除效果,但无基质水生系统中植物多样性对除氮效应的影响还未知.本研究在45个水培微宇宙(53 cm×37.5 cm×18.5cm)中配置了4个物种丰富度梯度(1、2、3和4),并定期供给硝氮为唯一氮形态的模拟污水,氮载荷率为548.5 gN· m-2 ·a-1.结果表明:物种丰富度对出水中氮去除有显著效应,4个种系统出水总无机氮浓度(54.3 mg·L-1)明显低于单种系统(129.0 mg·L-1);物种丰富度显著提高群落生物量,4个种微宇宙系统群落总生物量为1621.6 g·m-2,高于单种群落的1032.7 g·m-2.水培微宇宙的氮平均移除速率为466.8 g N·m-2·a-1,不低于已有报道的全尺度人工湿地的去除能力,同时,4个种的系统比单种系统约高13％,因而可以通过物种多样性配置提高人工湿地效能.     

植物多样性对人工湿地微宇宙甲烷排放的影响

为了研究人工湿地处理污水过程中减少甲烷(CH_4)排放的可能性,本研究利用细砂基质微宇宙系统控制实验,分析了植物物种丰富度和物种特性对系统甲烷排放、氮去除及相关功能的影响。实验选择喜湿植物羊蹄(Rumex japonicus)、水芹(Oenanthe javanica)和虉草(Phalaris arundinacea)3个种,设置每个种的单种及3个种混种处理,以细砂(粒径为0.25~1 mm)作为栽培基质,供给模拟污水。结果表明:物种丰富度增加了CH_4排放(P0.05),但没有超排放效应;物种丰富度对氮去除无显著影响(P0.05);物种特性是CH_4排放和氮去除的主要驱动者,其作用超过了物种丰富度;虉草单种系统的CH_4排放量最低,且氮去除能力最高(P0.05)。本实验表明,选择合适的单种(虉草)系统比提高物种丰富度更利于CH_4减排和执行人工湿地氮去除功能。结果可为人工湿地物种选择及多样性配置提供参考。     

模拟人工湿地中植物多样性配置对硝态氮去除的影响

为检验植物多样性对人工湿地脱氮功能的影响,在模拟人工湿地试验系统中设置了植物单种和混种处理并定期供给氮形态仅为硝态氮的模拟污水。结果表明:混种系统的出水硝态氮浓度显著低于单种(P<0.05);混种与单种系统在基质氮含量和植物氮积累量上无统计差异;质量平衡分析表明混种促进系统反硝化强度;菩提子单种系统中的硝态氮移除能力显著高于香蒲、芦苇和菖蒲单种系统,后3种硝态氮移除能力则无显著差异。本研究可为人工湿地选择高效物种、多样性配置以提高氮去除率提供依据。     

人工湿地植物种类及多样性对甲烷释放及功能基因丰度的影响

为了研究人工湿地处理中碳/氮水平的废水时植物种类及多样性对系统甲烷释放及功能基因丰度的影响,我们构建了实验尺度的人工湿地微宇宙实验系统。选取千屈菜(Lythrum salicaria L.)和海寿花(Pontederia cordata L.)2种人工湿地常用、景观效果好的植物,在系统中配置了单种处理和两物种混种处理。结果表明:千屈菜与海寿花混种系统的甲烷释放强度(8.78 mg CH_4 m~(-2) d~(-1))高于两物种单种系统的平均值(6.97 mg CH_4 m~(-2) d~(-1))(P0.001),同甲烷释放一样,混种系统的mcrA基因绝对丰度(977541.6 copies/g dw soil)也高于两物种单种系统的平均值(585146.8 copies/g dw soil),但混种系统的pmoA基因绝对丰度(326956.6 copies/g dw soil)低于两物种单种系统的平均值(1043616.0 copies/g dw soil)(P0.001)。此外,混种系统的微生物量、植物生物量高于两物种单种系统的平均值(P0.01),但出水铵态氮浓度低于两物种单种系统的平均值(P0.05),出水总有机碳浓度和硝态氮浓度在单混种系统间无显著差异(P0.05)。千屈菜单种系统和海寿花单种系统间的甲烷释放强度、pmoA基因绝对丰度、微生物量、植物生物量和出水铵态氮浓度存在显著差异(P0.05),但mcrA基因绝对丰度、出水总有机碳和硝态氮浓度无显著差异(P0.05)。为了达到人工湿地的高净化效率,需要将千屈菜与海寿花混合种植,但混合种植强化甲烷释放。通过植物种类和丰富度对各指标变异的解释度(ω~2)分析发现,植物种类对甲烷释放、pmoA基因绝对丰度、出水铵态氮的影响大于植物丰富度,但对mcrA基因绝对丰度的影响小于植物丰富度。     

施氮对桉树人工林生长季土壤温室气体通量的影响

施肥是维持短期轮伐人工林生产量的重要手段,为了提高肥料利用效率,缓释氮肥逐渐成为广泛采用的氮肥种类。评估缓释肥施用对人工林生长季土壤温室气体通量的影响对于全面评估人工林施肥的环境效应具有重要意义。以我国南方广泛种植的桉树林为对象,采用野外控制实验研究了4种施氮处理(对照CK:0 kg/hm2;低氮L:84.2 kg/hm2;中氮M:166.8 kg/hm2;高氮H:333.7 kg/hm2)对土壤-大气界面3种温室气体(CO2、N2O和CH4)通量的影响,结果表明:(1)4种施氮水平下CO2排放通量、N2O排放通量和CH4吸收通量分别为276.84—342.84 mg m-2h-1、17.64—375.34μg m-2h-1和29.65—39.70μg m-2h-1;施氮显著促进了N2O的排放(P0.01),高氮处理显著增加CO2排放和显著减少CH4吸收(P0.05),且CO2排放通量与CH4吸收通量随着施氮量的增加分别呈现增加和减少的趋势;(2)生长季CO2和N2O排放呈现显著正相关(P0.01),CO2排放和CH4吸收呈现显著负相关(P0.05),N2O排放和CH4吸收呈现显著负相关(P0.01);(3)土壤温度和土壤水分是影响CO2、N2O排放通量和CH4吸收通量的主要环境因素。结果表明:施用缓释肥显著增加了桉树林生长季土壤N2O排放量,且高氮处理还显著促进CO2排放和显著抑制CH4吸收,上述研究结果可为人工林缓释肥对土壤温室气体通量评估提供参数。     

施氮对桉树人工林生长季和非生长季土壤温室气体通量的影响

森林在调控温室气体排放方面有重要作用,随着人工林的迅速发展,其温室气体通量和对施肥的响应逐渐引起广泛关注。为了解施氮对桉树人工林生长季和非生长季土壤温室气体通量的影响,在广西东门林场尾巨桉人工林样地设置低(84.2 kg N·hm-2)、中(166.8 kg N·hm-2)、高(333.7 kg N·hm-2)3个施氮水平和不施氮对照,采用静态箱-气相色谱法监测土壤CO2、N2O和CH4通量。结果表明:(1)不同施氮处理的桉树人工林土壤CO2、CH4和N2O年均排放通量分别为214~271 mg CO2·m-2·h-1、-47~-37 kg CH4·m-2·h-1和16~203 kg N2O·m-2·h-1;土壤CO2排放通量在生长季高于非生长季,CH4和N2O通量未表现出明显季节变化。(2)施氮显著增加了土壤CO2和N2O年均排放通量,其促进效应主要集中在生长季(施氮后的4个月,即6—9月),且随时间增加,效应减弱。(3)施氮显著降低了土壤CH4年均吸收通量。因此,在维持桉树人工林生产力的基础上,结合季节变化,合理调控施氮量将有助于减少桉树林土壤温室气体排放。     

玉渡山水库生长季温室气体排放特征及其影响因素

为了探讨温带水库温室气体排放规律,采用静态箱-色谱分析法,研究了温带地区库龄10年内的北京玉渡山水库生长季3种温室气体CO2、CH4及N2O排放特征,及其影响因子。结果表明:样地类型、测定月份与样地类型交互作用对3种温室气体通量影响极显著,5月消落带CO2通量(664.31mg·m-2·h-1)达到最大,显著高于入库口和浅水区;8月消落带CH4通量(0.87mg·m-2·h-1)及N2O通量(3.05mg·m-2·h-1)最大;8月,切除消落带样地地上植物后,3种温室气体通量均有所降低。CO2通量与地下5cm地温、氧化还原电位和水体总氮显著正相关,与地上生物量和水体pH显著负相关;CH4通量与地表温度、地上生物量、水体pH呈显著相关,与水体总氮和水体铵态氮显著负相关;N2O通量与水体总氮含量显著相关,与水体pH显著负相关。采取平均估值法初步推测,在生长季,水库消落带、入库口及浅水区CO2排放量依次为15960、2160、-70kg·hm-2;CH4排放量依次20.04、-7.05、14.8kg·hm-2;N2O排放量依次83.42、3.79、-1.54kg·hm-2;表明消落带3种温室气体的排放量均较高,为玉渡山水库3种温室气体排放的重点区域。     

A parametric distribution for the fraction of outdoor soil in indoor dust

For a chemical that does not have a source inside a house, the ratio of its dust concentration indoors to its soil concentration outdoors is equal to the fraction of house dust that is composed of soil. To estimate the fraction of soil in house dust, we compiled ratios of the concentrations of a chemical in dust and soil from the scientific literature. We find that a lognormal distribution fits the data extremely well. This distribution is suitable for use in public health risk assessments for single‐family homes in temperate climates.     

黄土和风沙土藓结皮土壤呼吸对模拟降雨的响应

生物结皮土壤呼吸是干旱和半干旱生态系统碳循环的重要组成部分,但目前其对降雨的响应规律尚不明确。针对黄土高原黄土和风沙土上发育的藓结皮,分别进行2、4、6、10、20、30、40 mm的模拟降雨,并使用便携式土壤碳通量分析仪测定雨前和雨后藓结皮的呼吸速率,对比分析降雨量对藓结皮呼吸速率的影响;同时,在40 mm降雨后的0—24 h连续测定藓结皮的呼吸速率变化,分析藓结皮呼吸速率随雨后历时的变化规律。结果显示,7种降雨量后两种土壤上藓结皮的呼吸速率均显著升高,黄土上藓结皮呼吸速度的增幅为2.89—6.38倍,风沙土上藓结皮呼吸速率的增幅为0.73—4.38倍。0—6 mm降雨中,两种土壤上藓结皮的呼吸速率均随降雨量增加而迅速升高,二者成显著线性正相关关系;6—40 mm降雨中,黄土上藓结皮的呼吸速率随降雨量增加而缓慢升高,但风沙土上藓结皮的呼吸速率随降雨量增加而快速降低。两种土壤上藓结皮的呼吸速率随雨后历时表现出相似的变化规律,即雨后迅速升高、之后逐渐降低,并在24 h左右回归到雨前水平;但黄土上藓结皮的呼吸速率在雨后即刻达到峰值,而风沙土上藓结皮的呼吸速率在雨后30 min左右方达到峰值。黄土上藓结皮的呼吸速率一致高于风沙土上的藓结皮,前者在不同降雨量和雨后历时中平均比后者高150.0%和59.6%。此外,藓结皮呼吸速率与表层土壤含水量存有显著相关关系,在含水量较低(小于约4%)时二者显著正相关,在含水量较高(大于约4%)时二者对于黄土上藓结皮为正相关、对于风沙土上藓结皮为负相关。研究表明,黄土高原藓结皮土壤呼吸对降雨响应快速而直接,但其响应规律对于黄土和风沙土上的藓结皮是不同的,总体而言黄土上藓结皮对降雨的响应更为持久有效。     

恩诺沙星残留对土壤微生物功能的影响

研究了恩诺沙星残留对土壤呼吸作用、纤维分解作用、氨化作用、硝化作用的影响 ,结果表明 ,相对较低浓度恩诺沙星残留(0 .0 1μg/ g土 ,0 .1μg/ g土 )刺激土壤呼吸作用 ,相对较高浓度恩诺沙星残留 (1μg/ g土 )对土壤呼吸作用产生抑制 ,药物作用活性维持期为 6 d;恩诺沙星残留对土壤纤维分解作用影响较不明显 ;较低浓度恩诺沙星残留 (0 .0 1μg/ g土 ,0 .1μg/ g土 )对土壤氨化作用有刺激作用 ,而较高浓度恩诺沙星残留 (1μg/ g土 ,10μg/ g土 )则会对其起抑制作用 ,药物作用活性期为 9d;不同浓度恩诺沙星对土壤硝化作用影响极其显著 ,当恩诺沙星浓度达到 1μg/ ml时 ,在 3～ 9d内 ,对土壤硝化作用有一定抑制作用。当恩诺沙星浓度达到 10μg/ ml时 ,强烈抑制了土壤硝化作用 ,直到本试验结束时 ,其抑制作用未见减弱。结果表明恩诺沙星残留影响了土壤微生物这些功能 ,因而可能影响到土壤特性和土壤中一些生态过程     

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.     

Various Applications of Soil Contaminant Database Developed for the Central Artery/Tunnel Project

One of the largest environmental assessment programs in the United States was initiated in the early 1990s to determine the chemical characteristics of soil located within the planned alignment for the Central Artery (I-93) / Tunnel (I-90) (CA/T) Project in Boston, Massachusetts. The primary purpose of the program was to support management of the handling and disposal of over 17 million cubic yards of soil to be excavated during construction of the CA/T Project. As part of this work, more than 8,000 soil samples were collected from more than 2,600 soil borings and analyzed for a range of chemical contaminants, including volatile organic compounds, acid/base neutral compounds, total petroleum hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and heavy metals. The soils encountered during the investigations exhibited properties influenced by numerous anthropogenic activities. These activities, such as vehicular emissions, historic industrial/manufacturing operations, and waterfront filling with both building rubble and dredge spoils from Boston Harbor, resulted in soils primarily contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons and metals. As a result of this program, an extensive database of the chemical constituents present in urban soils in downtown Boston was developed. These results were primarily used to delineate the limits of contaminated areas affecting the planned construction. In addition, the database has been used by the Project to support various soil management activities, as well as by the regulatory community in developing guidelines and criteria governing the management of contaminated soils in Massachusetts. This paper focuses on the various applications of this database throughout the course of the Project, and with the additional aim of stimulating potential future applications by both the regulatory and scientific communities.     

渭北旱塬苹果园土壤紧实化现状及成因

本研究通过分析渭北旱塬苹果园土壤的紧实化现状及其诱导因素,找出影响当地苹果园健康发展的土壤退化隐性因素,为果园科学管理提供理论依据.分别选取种植年限＜10年(4～6年)、10～ 20年(14～16年)和＞20年(24～ 26年)的苹果园各4个,分析0～60 cm土层土壤容重和紧实度随土层深度的变化规律,探明果园土壤内部...     

不同地表覆盖方式对苹果园土壤性状及果树生长和产量的影响

以黄土高原9年生红富士果园生态系统为对象,研究不同地表覆盖模式（清耕、生草覆盖、地膜覆盖、秸秆覆盖和砂石覆盖）对果园土壤性状及果树生长和产量的影响.结果表明：生草覆盖土壤水分剖面分异最低,砂石覆盖土壤水分剖面分异最高;砂石覆盖提高了根层水分含量,有利于果树对水分的利用.不同地表覆盖模式土壤热量状况变化显著,处理间差异明显,极端最高温度下降,但地膜覆盖处理夏季地温超过果树根系生长的上限温度,对果树根系生长和生理功能发挥不利.除地膜覆盖外,其他地表覆盖模式均能提高土壤CO₂释放速率,其中生草覆盖的效果最为显著.不同地表覆盖模式对果树枝条类型比例及产量影响较大,砂石覆盖处理的中短枝比例和果实产量最高;生草覆盖处理的果实产量最低.因子分析结果表明,对于黄土高原沟壑区盛果期果园,砂石覆盖处理是较为适宜的地表覆盖模式.     

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.     

不同施肥处理对红壤性水稻土微团聚体有机碳汇的影响

在田间定位试验区 ,研究了不同施肥处理对表层红壤性水稻土微团聚体组成以及土壤有机碳在各级微团聚体中分布和赋存的影响。结果表明 ,红壤性水稻土中 0 .0 2～ 0 .0 5 mm微团聚体所占比例最大 ,达 4 0 % ;其次是 0 .0 0 2～ 0 .0 2 mm和 0 .0 5～0 .1mm的微团聚体 ;>0 .2 mm微团聚体占的比例最小。长期施用无机肥 (NPK)、有机肥 (猪粪 紫云英绿肥 ) (OM)、无机肥与有机肥配施 (NPKM) ,能显著增加 0 .0 0 2～ 0 .0 2 mm微团聚体的含量而降低 <0 .0 0 2 m m微团聚体的含量。土壤有机碳含量与0 .0 0 2～ 0 .0 2 mm微团聚体含量之间呈显著正相关关系 ;而与 <0 .0 0 2 mm微团聚体含量呈显著负相关关系。各级微团聚体有机碳含量从高到低顺序为 :>0 .2 mm,0 .1～ 0 .2 mm,<0 .0 0 2 m m,0 .0 5～ 0 .1m m,0 .0 0 2～ 0 .0 2 mm,0 .0 2～ 0 .0 5 m m。 OM、NPKM处理能显著增加 >0 .0 0 2 mm各级微团聚体有机碳的赋存量 ,新增加的有机碳主要向微团聚体 0 .1～ 0 .0 5 m m,0 .0 5～ 0 .0 2 mm和 0 .0 2～ 0 .0 0 2 mm富集 ,它们是土壤有机碳的主要载体。 3种施肥处理对提高土壤有机碳赋存效果高低顺序为 :NPKM>OM>NPK。     

Soil Erosion Impact on Agronomic Productivity and Environment Quality

Soil erosion is a global issue because of its severe adverse economic and environmental impacts. Economic impacts on productivity may be due to direct effects on crops/plants on-site and off-site, and environmental consequences are primarily off-site due either to pollution of natural waters or adverse effects on air quality due to dust and emissions of radiatively active gases. Off-site economic effects of erosion are related to the damage to civil structure, siltation of water ways and reservoirs, and additional costs involved in water treatment. There are numerous reports regarding the on-site effects of erosion on productivity. However, a vast majority of these are from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe, and only a few from soils of the tropics and subtropics. On-site effects of erosion on agronomic productivity are assessed with a wide range of methods, which can be broadly grouped into three categories: agronomic/soil quality evaluation, economic assessment, and knowledge surveys. Agronomic methods involve greenhouse and field experiments to assess erosion-induced changes in soil quality in relation to productivity. A widely used technique is to establish field plots on the same soil series but with different severity of past erosion. Different erosional phases must be located on the same landscape position. Impact of past erosion on productivity can also be assessed by relating plant growth to the depth of a root-restrictive horizon. Impact of current erosion rate on productivity can be assessed using field runoff plots or paired watersheds, and that of future erosion using topsoil removal and addition technique. Economic evaluation of the on-site impact involves assessment of the losses of plant available water and nutrients and other additional inputs needed due to erosion. Knowledge surveys are conducted as a qualitative substitute for locations where quantitative data are not available. Results obtained from these different techniques are not comparable, and there is a need to standardize the methods and develop scaling procedures to extrapolate the data from plot or soil level to regional and global scale. There is also a need to assess on-site impact of erosion in relation to soil loss tolerance, soil life, soil resilience or ease of restoration, and soil management options for sustainable use of soil and water resources. Restoration of degraded soils is a high global priority. If about 1.5×10⁹?ha of soils in the world prone to erosion can be managed to effectively control soil erosion, it would improve air and water quality, sequester C in the pedosphere at the rate of about 1.5?Pg/year, and increase food production. The risks of global annual loss of food production due to accelerated erosion may be as high as 190×10⁶?Mg of cereals, 6×10⁶?Mg of soybeans, 3×10⁶?Mg of pulses, and 73×10⁶?Mg of roots and tubers. The actual loss may depend on weather conditions during the growing season, farming systems, soil management, and soil ameliorative input used. Erosion-caused losses of food production are most severe in Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and elsewhere in the tropics rather than in other regions.