桂西北喀斯特峰丛洼地表层土壤养分时空分异特征

本文运用传统统计方法研究了典型喀斯特峰丛洼地4个植被演替阶段(草地、灌木林、次生林、原生林)表层(0—15 cm)土壤养分的空间分异特征,并分析其成因。结果表明：(1)不同植被演替阶段土壤养分（有机碳、全氮、碳氮比、全磷、全钾、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾）及pH值有明显差异（P<0.05）;除全钾外,其他养分含量均随植被正向演替而增加。(2)地貌部位对养分含量的影响不尽一致：各植被演替阶段的磷、钾及原生林的碳氮均符合养分的“洼积效应”,只有受人为干扰较强的草地、灌木林、次生林的碳氮养分存在随坡位升高而增加的现象。通过本研究得知,植被演替对养分积累具有积极作用;磷素（速效磷3.55—11.41 mg/kg）、钾素（速效钾64.05—105.75 mg/kg）是该区域的养分限制性因子;该区域养分的“倒置现象”并不普遍存在。     

植被类型与坡位对喀斯特土壤氮转化速率的影响

土壤氮素转化对于植物氮素营养具有重要作用,尤其是对于受氮素限制的喀斯特退化生态系统。选取植被恢复过程中4种典型喀斯特植被类型(草丛、灌丛、次生林、原生林)和3个坡位(上、中、下坡位)表层土壤(0—15cm)为对象,利用室内培养的方法,研究不同植被类型和坡位下土壤氮素养分与氮转化速率(氮净矿化率、净硝化率和净氨化率)的特征及其影响因素。结果表明,植被类型对土壤硝态氮含量、无机氮含量、氮净矿化率、净硝化率和净氨化率均有显著影响(P0.01),即随着植被的正向演替(草丛—灌丛—次生林—原生林),土壤硝态氮含量、无机氮含量、土壤氮净矿化速率和净硝化速率整体上呈增加趋势,而坡位以及坡位与植被类型的交互作用对上述土壤氮素指标无显著影响(P0.05)。冗余分析结果表明凋落物氮含量、凋落物C∶N比和硝态氮含量对土壤氮转化速率有显著影响,其中凋落物氮含量是影响土壤氮转化速率的主要因子(F=35.634,P=0.002)。可见,尽管坡位影响喀斯特水土再分配过程,但植被类型决定的凋落物质量(如凋落物氮含量等)对喀斯特土壤氮素转化速率的作用更为重要。因此,在喀斯特退化生态系统植被恢复初期,应注重植被群落的优化配置(如引入豆科植物)和土壤质量的改善(如降低土壤C∶N),促进土壤氮素转化及氮素的有效供给。     

桂西北喀斯特森林植物-凋落物-土壤生态化学计量特征

探明我国西南喀斯特生态脆弱区植被恢复重建背景下, 森林植物、凋落物与土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量特征有助于深入地认识喀斯特森林生态系统养分循环规律和系统稳定机制。该文选取桂西北典型喀斯特地区域3个原生林群落和3个自然恢复28年的次生林群落, 研究其“植物-凋落物-土壤”连续体的C、N、P化学计量学特征及其内在关联。结果表明: 1)圆果化香树(Platycarya longipes)、伞花木(Eurycorymbus cavaleriei)和青檀(Pteroceltis tatarinowii)以及圆叶乌桕(Sapium rotundifolium)、八角枫(Alangium chinense)和黄荆(Vitex negundo) 6种植物的C、N、P平均含量分别为427.5、21.2、1.2 mg·g^-1; 凋落物C、N、P平均含量分别为396.2、12.7、0.9 mg·g^-1, 而表层土壤(0-10 cm) C、N、P平均含量分别为92.0、6.35和1.5 mg·g^-1。2)原生林N再吸收率(平均值为42.7%)高于次生林(平均值为36.5%), P再吸收率(20.4%)显著低于次生林(32.3%) (p < 0.05); 6个森林群落N的再吸收率均大于P的再吸收率。3)不同群落凋落物的C:N值差异不显著, 原生林植物的C:N值小于次生林、土壤C:N显著大于次生林; 原生林土壤C:P与次生林无显著差异, 植物与凋落物C:P小于次生林; 原生林凋落物与土壤N:P值小于次生林, 植物N:P比平均值均为17.4。4)研究区典型森林群落植物中N和P含量呈显著的正相关关系, 植物C:N与N:P、C:P与N:P比值均无明显相关关系; 经过对数变换后的土壤C:N与N:P呈显著负相关关系, 凋落物的C:P与N:P值呈极显著正相关关系。研究结果可为我国西南典型喀斯特脆弱生态区的生态功能恢复与植被重建提供科学依据。     

贵州喀斯特山区不同植被下土壤C、N、P含量和空间异质性

西南喀斯特地区是中国四大生态脆弱地区之一,为了解喀斯特生态环境下植被演替对土壤养分循环的影响,选取贵州中部喀斯特地区由乔木林、灌木林和灌草丛等不同植被类型下的土壤为研究对象,采用样块法采集了表层土壤样品,测定C、N、P全量及有效态含量,分析了这些元素的空间异质性特点.结果表明,各养分元素无论全量和有效态含量均在乔木林下最高,灌木林下有机碳及N、P全量的下降并不显著,但养分有效态含量显著下降,而灌草丛下土壤养分无论是全量还是有效态含量均较灌木林下显著降低下降;土壤养分空间异质性在灌木林下最高,土壤全磷素特别是速效磷的空间异质性高于有机碳和N.这显示,不仅是土壤养分含量,而且土壤养分的空间异质性都随植被演替而改变.这种变化中,土壤养分有效态较全量更为剧烈.植物类型和结构变化下凋落物返还及土壤生物化学转化环节的变化可能是引起喀斯特生态系统退化下土壤养分库降低而空间异质化提高的主要原因,这最终也会影响土壤养分在生态系统内的循环和分布.     

喀斯特不同植被恢复阶段土壤有机酸季节变化与有效氮磷的关系

植物分泌有机酸在提高土壤养分有效性方面起到重要作用。为了解喀斯特地区不同植被恢复阶段土壤有机酸含量季节性变化与氮磷有效性的关系,在灌木林和原生林各选择3种优势植物,测定雨季和旱季两个季节根际土和非根际土的有机酸含量、碳氮磷含量和比值、有效性氮磷含量及微生物生物量碳。结果表明:原生林植物根际土的草酸含量高于灌木林,而苹果酸和乙酸含量则低于灌木林;根际土草酸含量均高于非根际土; 2个植被根际土和非根际土的草酸含量在雨季高于旱季,而苹果酸和乙酸含量则低于旱季;土壤草酸含量与有机碳、全氮、全磷和N∶P值呈显著正相关,与C∶N呈显著负相关;土壤有效氮和有效磷与草酸和微生物生物量碳呈显著正相关。上述结果表明,植物分泌有机酸的季节性变化与土壤养分状态和自身养分需求相关,而有机酸耦合微生物对养分有效性的提高具有积极的作用。因此,根际土的有机酸季节变化可能是喀斯特生态系统中植物适应土壤养分限制的一种重要机制。     

喀斯特不同植被恢复阶段土壤有机酸季节变化与有效氮磷的关系

植物分泌有机酸在提高土壤养分有效性方面起到重要作用。为了解喀斯特地区不同植被恢复阶段土壤有机酸含量季节性变化与氮磷有效性的关系,在灌木林和原生林各选择3种优势植物,测定雨季和旱季两个季节根际土和非根际土的有机酸含量、碳氮磷含量和比值、有效性氮磷含量及微生物生物量碳。结果表明:原生林植物根际土的草酸含量高于灌木林,而苹果酸和乙酸含量则低于灌木林;根际土草酸含量均高于非根际土; 2个植被根际土和非根际土的草酸含量在雨季高于旱季,而苹果酸和乙酸含量则低于旱季;土壤草酸含量与有机碳、全氮、全磷和N∶P值呈显著正相关,与C∶N呈显著负相关;土壤有效氮和有效磷与草酸和微生物生物量碳呈显著正相关。上述结果表明,植物分泌有机酸的季节性变化与土壤养分状态和自身养分需求相关,而有机酸耦合微生物对养分有效性的提高具有积极的作用。因此,根际土的有机酸季节变化可能是喀斯特生态系统中植物适应土壤养分限制的一种重要机制。     

典型喀斯特峰丛洼地植被群落凋落物C∶N∶P生态化学计量特征

为了解典型喀斯特峰丛洼地植被群落凋落物养分空间分异以及其生态化学计量特征,分析了4个不同演替阶段植被凋落物现存量、C、N、P含量及C、N、P元素比值关系在不同坡位间的差异。结果表明:(1)不同演替阶段群落凋落物现存量和C、N、P含量、N ∶ P值随植被正向演替而升高;C ∶ N值和C ∶ P值随植被正向演替而下降。(2)凋落物C含量、C ∶ N值、C ∶ P值和N ∶ P值在不同坡位表现为上坡位较高、下坡位较低;P含量的变化规律与之相反,N含量则没呈现很明显的规律性(P<0.05)。典范对应分析(CCA)结果表明演替阶段和坡位对凋落物积累、养分分布和存储影响最大,坡度、坡向和裸岩率也有较大影响。(3)N ∶ P值是制约凋落物分解和养分循环的重要因素。凋落物在P素较低的情况下具有较高的N及木质素含量(即较高的N ∶ P值),分解速率较低,较低的N ∶ P值使凋落物更易分解。N素在3个坡位的不显著差异以及P素的显著差异反映了P含量波动对喀斯特峰丛洼地植被凋落物N ∶ P值和分解速率变化的影响。推测下坡位及幼龄林群落由于具有较低的N ∶ P值,其凋落物分解速率相对较快,养分的存储量较少。因此,上坡位、成熟林群落的凋落物有利于积累养分。     

不同土地利用方式下喀斯特峰丛洼地土壤微生物群落特征

基于对喀斯特峰丛洼地6种土地利用类型(坡耕地、草丛、灌丛、人工林、次生林、原生林)的土壤微生物、养分、矿物质和植被4组变量35个指标的调查分析,研究了不同土地利用方式下土壤微生物种群数量、微生物生物量C、N、P及其分形特征,以及土壤微生物与植被、土壤养分、矿物质的关系.结果表明:不同土地利用方式下喀斯特峰丛洼地的土壤微生物种群数量及组成不同.微生物种群数量均以原生林和坡耕地最高,人工林最低;3种森林土壤的细菌比率较大,坡耕地、草丛、灌丛的放线菌比率较大,真菌的比率均很小;土壤微生物生物量C、N、P的含量均很高,其中原生林最高;土壤微生物生物量碳与土壤微生物种群数量具有良好的分形关系,而土壤微生物生物量氮、磷与种群数量不存在分形关系;土壤微生物与植被、土壤养分、土壤矿物质显著相关,其中土壤微生物生物量碳与乔木层的Shannon指数、土壤速效氮、Fe₂O₃、CaO含量显著相关.     

桂西北喀斯特峰丛洼地不同植被演替阶段的土壤脲酶活性

以桂西北喀斯特峰丛洼地不同演替阶段植被群落为研究对象,采用空间代替时间序列的方法,选取立地条件基本相似的草地、乔灌林和次生林3种次生演替植被,并以原生林为对照,通过野外调查取样和室内分析,探讨植被不同演替阶段土壤脲酶活性的变化特征及其与土壤理化性质的关系。结果发现,(1)不同植被演替阶段的土壤脲酶活性存在显著差异,草地最高(0.462 mg · g^-1 · d^-1),次生林次之(0.410 mg · g^-1 · d^-1),灌木林再次(0.371 mg · g^-1 · d^-1),原生林最低(0.194 mg · g^-1 · d^-1);(2)在喀斯特区域,土壤脲酶活性与全钾、粘粒含量、容重、碳氮比(C/N)、碱解氮占全氮的比例(AN/TN)呈正相关(P<0.01),与其他指标,如有机碳、全氮、碱解氮、微生物碳、微生物氮等均呈极显著负相关(P<0.01);(3)与脲酶活性关系密切的理化性质有全氮、碱解氮、微生物量、粘粒含量及C/N、AN/TN等。并不是所有区域的土壤脲酶活性都与SOC、TN、AN、微生物量呈正相关,当土壤养分较高,即土壤中的氮量不再是作物生长的限制因子时,脲酶活性有可能与之呈负相关。     

桂西北喀斯特区原生林与次生林凋落叶降解和养分释放

凋落叶降解及养分释放研究对喀斯特生态脆弱区森林生态系统的恢复与重建具有重要指导意义。本文选取桂西北喀斯特区3种原生林与3种次生林进行比较,研究其凋落叶降解与降解过程中的营养元素释放规律以及降解速率的影响因子。结果表明,原生林凋落叶的降解速率略大于次生林。C、N、K元素在前180天释放速率较快,随后趋于稳定。次生林凋落叶总P含量在降解初始阶段呈净积累,随后净释放,而原生林的凋落叶在降解360天后仍呈现P素净积累。相关分析表明,凋落叶降解速率与凋落叶初始总N、木质素含量及木质素:N比值呈负相关,与C:N比呈正相关。综合比较发现,次生林圆叶乌桕(Sapium rotundifolium Hemsl)凋落叶的降解速率与养分释放速率较快,是喀斯特退化土地及植被恢复过程中潜在的优势种和建群种。     

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.     

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     

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。     

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.