Effects of biochar addition on dynamics of soil respiration and temperature sensitivity in a Phyllostachys edulis forest

Aims Recent studies have shown that artificial addition of biochar is an effective way to mitigate atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. However, it is still unclear how biochar addition influences soil respiration in Phyllostachys edulis forests of subtropical China. Our objectives were to examine the effects of biochar addition on the dynamics of soil respiration, soil temperature, soil moisture, and the cumulative soil carbon emission, and to determine the relationships of soil respiration with soil temperature and moisture.Methods We conducted a two-year biochar addition experiment in a subtropical P. edulis forest from 2014.05 to 2016.04. The study site is located in the Miaoshanwu Nature Reserve in Fuyang district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, in southern China. The biochar addition treatments included: control (CK, no biochar addition), low rate of biochar addition (LB, 5 t·hm^-2), medium rate of biochar addition (MB, 10 t·hm^-2), and high rate of biochar addition (HB, 20 t·hm^-2). Soil respiration was measured by using a LI-8100 soil CO₂ efflux system.Important findings Soil respiration was significantly reduced by biochar addition, and exhibited an apparent seasonal pattern, with the maximum occurring in June or July (except LB in one of the replicated stand) and the minimum in January or February. There were significant differences in soil respiration between the CK and the treatments. Annual mean soil respiration rate in the CK, LB, MB and HB were 3.32, 2.66, 3.04 and 3.24 μmol·m^-2·s^-1, respectively. Compared with CK, soil respiration rate was 2.33%-54.72% lower in the LB, 1.28%-44.21% lower in the MB, and 0.09%-39.22% lower in the HB. The soil moisture content was increased by 0.97%-75.58% in LB, 0.87%-48.18% in MB, and 0.68%-74.73% in HB, respectively, compared with CK. Soil respiration exhibited a significant exponential relationship with soil temperature and a significant linear relationship with combination of soil temperature and moisture at the depth of 5 cm; no significant relationship was found between soil respiration and soil moisture alone. The temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) value was reduced in LB and HB. Annual accumulative soil carbon emission in the LB, MB and HB was reduced by 7.98%-35.09%, 1.48%-20.63%, and -4.71%-7.68%, respectively. Biochar addition significantly reduced soil carbon emission and soil temperature sensitivity, highlighting its role in mitigating climate change.     

土壤碳氮比对平邑甜茶幼苗生长和碳氮分配的影响

为探讨土壤碳氮比(C:N)对苹果(Malus pumila)植株生长和碳氮分配特性的影响, 采用碳氮双标记示踪技术, 以二年生平邑甜茶(Malus hupehensis)幼苗为试验材料, 研究了6个不同土壤C:N处理(T1-T6分别为4.70、9.78、14.70、19.96、25.60和28.83)下平邑甜茶的生长状况和氮素吸收、利用分配以及碳水化合物的运转特性。结果表明, 随着土壤C:N的逐渐增大, 平邑甜茶幼苗根系干重逐渐增加, 而株高、茎粗、地上部干重和植株总干重呈先增加后降低的趋势, 以T4处理最大。土壤C:N显著影响了平邑甜茶幼苗的 ¹⁵N利用率, 从T1到T4处理, 植株的 ¹⁵N利用率逐渐升高, T4处理(18.46%)是T1处理(10.65%)的1.73倍; 随着土壤C:N的进一步增加, 植株的 ¹⁵N利用率逐渐降低, T5和T6处理分别比T4处理降低了1.59%和2.58%。土壤C:N较低的T1和T2处理, 平邑甜茶幼苗各器官从肥料中吸收分配到的 ¹⁵N量对该器官全氮量的贡献率(Ndff)大小顺序为根>叶>茎, 随着土壤C:N的进一步增大, 叶片的Ndff均为最大, 其次是根, 茎最少。随着土壤C:N的增大, 叶片 ¹⁵N分配率逐渐升高, ¹³C分配率逐渐降低; 而根系 ¹⁵N分配率逐渐降低, ¹³C分配率逐渐升高。综合考虑植株生长和氮素利用状况, 本试验条件下适宜平邑甜茶生长的土壤C:N为21-23。     

Effects of Spartina alterniflora invasion on soil organic carbon composition of mangrove wetland in Zhangjiang River Estuary

红树林对全球气候变化敏感, 近年来不少区域又受互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)入侵的影响, 土壤碳库组成发生显著变化, 然而鲜有从有机碳官能团特征角度出发的关于两群落的研究。为了解在红树林群落与互花米草群落下土壤碳库及其有机碳官能团的特征差异, 在福建省云霄县漳江口红树林自然保护区湿地内由内陆到海岸方向选取3条样带, 每条样带依次选取3个样地: 红树林群落(MC)、秋茄(Kandelia obovata)-互花米草过渡带(TC)和互花米草群落(SC), 每个样地选取3个呈品字形分布的采样点, 分5层采集0-100 cm土壤样品, 分析土壤中的总有机碳(TOC)、颗粒有机碳(POC)以及可溶性有机碳(DOC)特征, 并利用核磁共振波谱法测定表层0-15 cm与深层75-100 cm土壤总有机碳官能团特征, 以空间换时间法研究入侵前后土壤碳库变化特征。结果表明: (1)从MC群落到SC群落, 土壤有机碳库显著减小, 各样地总有机碳与颗粒有机碳含量表现为MC > TC > SC, 并随着土层深度增加而减少, DOC含量没有表现出明显的变化趋势。(2)各植被类型土壤有机碳以烷基碳与烷氧碳为主, 其次是芳香碳与羰基碳, N-烷氧碳与酚基碳含量最少, 其中表层0-15 cm土壤从红树林群落到互花米草群落, 烷基碳与烷氧碳含量呈现增加趋势但不显著, 芳香碳与酚基碳含量显著减少, 其余有机碳组分含量无显著差异。在深层75-100 cm随着植被类型的改变, 土壤有机碳组成结构均无显著差异。(3)在0-15 cm土层, 烷基碳/烷氧碳含量表现为: SC > MC > TC; 芳香度表现为SC最小, MC与TC无显著差异; 疏水碳/亲水碳无显著差异; 脂族碳/芳香碳表现为SC显著大于其他两种植被类型, MC与TC无显著差异。在75-100 cm土层, 各比值无显著差异。综上所述, 红树林群落碳储量显著高于互花米草群落, 受植被的影响, 互花米草群落表层土壤有机碳分解程度显著高于红树林群落, 而红树林群落的土壤有机碳分子结构要比互花米草群落更复杂, 以维持其土壤有机碳的稳定性。因此, 互花米草入侵红树林后可能会加快有机碳的分解, 最终稳定在相对简单的分子结构, 降低土壤碳储量。     

Duration of mulching caused variable pools of labile organic carbon in a Phyllostachys edulis plantation

Aims Soil total organic carbon and labile organic carbon are important indicators in evaluating soil quality. Mulching is widely applied to promote the emergence of bamboo shoot in winter time through stand management. Yet the consequences of mulching on soil quality in Phyllostachys edulis have not been well studied. We aim at the quantitative effect of mulching duration on soil quality in P. edulis stands.
Methods Several P. edulis stands located in Huangyan District of Taizhou, Zhejiang Province of China, had been applied with mulching for 1-2 years and were used in this study to assess the mulching effects. We also selected stands without mulching treatment as the reference sites (or control, CK) for comparisons.||||Important findings Total soil organic carbon (TOC), light fraction organic matter (LFOM), and easily-oxidized carbon (EOC) contents at stands with 1-year and 2-year mulching treatments were significantly increased compared with those at the CK sites. The 1-year mulching increased TOC, LFOM and EOC by 11.2%-74.2%, 31.7%-196.9% and 5.0%-79.6%, respectively, than those of CK sites, while by 22.2%-90.8%, 36.7%-238.5%, and 21.9%-97.5% with 2-year treatment. However, the contents of water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) changed insignificantly. Among the indicators, we found that WSOC:TOC in CK was higher than that with the mulching treatments, while EOC:TOC with 1-year treatment was higher than that with 2-year treatment, and EOC:TOC with 2-year treatment was higher than that of CK. Additionally, WSOC, EOC, and LFOM at all three treatments showed high correlations with TOC, with a higher correlation coefficient of WSOC with TOC of 0- 30 cm soil layers in CK than those with mulching treatments. The correlation coefficient of EOC and LFOM with TOC was the highest at the 2-year mulching sites. More importantly, TOC, WSOC, EOC, and LFOM were significantly (p < 0.05), or extremely significantly (p < 0.01), correlated with soil nutrient content, including total N, hydrolysis N, available P, available K, exchangeable Ca, and exchangeable Mg in all treatments. In sum, it appeared that mulching in short term can increase the contents of TOC, soil labile organic carbons and soil nutrients in bamboo soils, yielding an improved soil quality and thus can be promoted as a plausible practice for the sustainable management of P. edulis stands.     

13C脉冲标记揭示放牧对高寒草甸同化碳分配的影响

放牧是人类对草地进行利用的重要方式之一, 放牧影响草地生态系统的结构和功能, 改变植物光合碳(C)分配, 进而改变土壤有机碳的储存。青藏高原的高寒草甸是世界上海拔最高的草地生态系统, 寒冷季节长等独特的环境特点使其具有高的土壤有机碳含量。为了揭示长期轻度放牧对植物光合碳分配及植物光合碳在各库之间运移的影响, 基于在青藏高原矮嵩草草甸开展的长期冬季轻度放牧和围栏封育实验, 利用 ¹³C示踪方法揭示了放牧对光合碳在植物地上、地下组织的分配以及光合碳在植物、土壤各碳库中的运移和滞留。研究结果发现, 在 ¹³C标记之后第30天, 冬季轻度放牧样地的植物地上部分内 ¹³C约占开始时 ¹³C含量的32%, 根和土壤中的 ¹³C约占22%, 植物地上部分呼吸中的 ¹³C量约占30%。在放牧和围封这两个不同处理中, 土壤中光合碳的滞留以及光合碳随土壤呼吸释放的速率存在显著差异。长期冬季轻度放牧促使植物将更多的光合碳输入到根和土壤碳库中。与围栏封育处理相比较, 放牧处理下的 ¹³C从植物地上部分输入到地下的速率较快, 通过土壤呼吸释放的速率也快, 而植物地上部分和植物地上部分呼吸中 ¹³C的量较低。另外, 高寒矮嵩草草甸土壤C储量在冬季轻度放牧和围栏封育处理下没有显著差异。我们的研究表明, 尽管冬季轻度放牧改变了植物光合碳分配在地上和地下碳库中的分配, 但是没有显著影响土壤碳库储量。     

Spatial variation and controlling factors of temperature sensitivity of soil respiration in forest ecosystems across China

土壤呼吸的温度敏感性(Q₁₀)是陆地碳循环与气候系统间相互作用的关键参数。尽管已有大量关于不同类型森林Q₁₀季节和年际变化规律的研究, 但是对Q₁₀在区域尺度的空间变异特征及其影响因素仍认识不足, 已有结果缺乏一致结论。该研究通过整合已发表论文, 构建了中国森林生态系统年尺度Q₁₀数据集, 共包含399条记录、5种森林类型(落叶阔叶林(DBF)、落叶针叶林(DNF)、常绿阔叶林(EBF)、常绿针叶林(ENF)、混交林(MF))。分析了不同森林类型Q₁₀的空间变异特征及其与地理、气候和土壤因素的关系。结果显示, 1) Q₁₀介于1.09到6.24之间, 平均值(±标准误差)为2.37 (± 0.04), 且在不同森林类型之间无显著差异; 2)当考虑所有森林类型时, Q₁₀随纬度、海拔、土壤有机碳含量(SOC)和土壤全氮含量(TN)的增加而增大, 随经度、年平均气温(MAT)、平均年降水量(MAP)的增加而减小。气候(MAT、MAP)和土壤(SOC、TN)因素间存在相互作用, 共同解释了33%的Q₁₀空间变异, 其中MAT和SOC是Q₁₀空间变异的主要驱动因素; 3)不同类型森林Q₁₀对气候和土壤因素的响应存在差异。在DNF中Q₁₀随MAP的增加而减小, 而其他类型森林中Q₁₀与MAP无显著相关性; 在EBF、DBF、ENF中Q₁₀随TN的增加而增大, 但Q₁₀对TN的敏感性在EBF中最高, 在ENF中最低。这些结果表明, 尽管Q₁₀有一定的集中分布趋势, 但仍有较大范围的空间变异, 在进行碳收支估算时应注意尺度问题。Q₁₀的主要驱动因素和Q₁₀对环境因素的响应随森林类型而变化, 在气候变化情景下, 不同森林类型间Q₁₀可能发生分异。因此, 未来的碳循环-气候模型还应考虑不同类型森林碳循环关键参数对气候变化的响应差异。     

中国寒温带不同林龄白桦林碳储量及分配特征

为了解中国寒温带地区不同林龄白桦林生态系统碳储量及固碳能力, 在样地调查基础上, 以大兴安岭地区25、40与61年白桦(Betula platyphylla)林生态系统为研究对象, 对其乔木层、林下地被物层(灌木层、草本层、凋落物层)、土壤层(0-100 cm)碳储量与分配特征进行调查研究。结果表明白桦林乔木层各器官碳含量在440.7-506.7 g·kg ^-1之间, 各器官碳含量随着林龄的增长而降低; 灌木层、草本层碳含量随林龄的增加呈先降后升的变化趋势; 凋落物层碳含量随林龄增加而降低; 土壤层(0-100 cm)碳含量随林龄增加而显著升高, 随着土层深度的增加而降低。白桦林生态系统各层次碳储量均随林龄的增加而明显升高。25、40与61年白桦林乔木层碳储量分别为11.9、19.1和34.2 t·hm ^-2, 各器官碳储量大小顺序表现为树干>树根>树枝>树叶, 树干碳储量分配比例随林龄增加而升高。25、40与61年白桦林生态系统碳储量分别为77.4、180.9和271.4 t·hm ^-2, 其中土壤层占生态系统总碳储量的81.6%、87.7%和85.9%, 是白桦林生态系统的主要碳库。随林龄增加, 白桦林年净生产力(2.0-4.4 t·hm ^-2·a ^-1)、年净固碳量(1.0-2.1 t·hm ^-2·a ^-1)均出现增长, 老龄白桦林仍具有较强的碳汇作用。     

Fine root production of Pinus massoniana plantation and Castanopsis carlesii plantation at different successional stages in subtropical China

AimsOur objectives were to determine differences in fine root production, its relationships with environmental factors, and its diameter- and depth-related distribution patterns between plantations of two subtropical tree species differing in successional stages. MethodsPlantation forests of an early-successional species, Pinus massoniana, and a late-successional species, Castanopsis carlesii, in Sanming, Fujian Province, were selected. Fine root production was monitored for two years using minirhizotrons methods. At the same time, environmental factors including monthly air temperature, monthly precipitation, soil temperature, and soil water content were determined.Important findings 1) During the two years, there was significant difference in annual fine root length production between these two forests, with annual production of P. massoniana plantation nearly four times that of C. carlesii plantation. Fine root length production under both forests showed significant monthly dynamics and maximized in summer, a season when most of fine roots were born. 2) Roots of 0-0.3 mm in diameter accounted for the largest proportion of total fine root length production. Fine roots were concentrated mostly at the 0-10 cm soil depth in P. massoniana plantation, but happened mostly at the 30-40 cm soil depth in the C. carlesii plantation. 3) Partial correlation analysis suggested that, monthly fine root production of both forests was significantly correlated with both air temperature and soil temperature, while it had no significant correlation with either rainfall or soil water content. Linear regression analysis illustrated that monthly fine root production was more correlated with air temperature and soil temperature in the P. massoniana plantation than in the C. carlesii plantation. It was concluded that fine root production in the early-successional P. massoniana plantation was not only much higher in amount, but also more sensitive to temperature, than that in the late-successional C. carlesii plantation.     

Water-use process of two desert shrubs along a precipitation gradient in Horqin Sandy Land

Aims The determination of the source of plant water is an important research on the plant-water relationship in arid and semiarid regions and helps to understand the adaptation strategy of desert species to the dry environment. Plant water use pattern affects plant community composition and ecosystem water budget. This study aims to investigate the water use patterns of Caragana microphylla and Artemisia halodendron, two typical shrub species, under altered rainfall conditions in Horqin Sandy Land. Methods Water treatments include ambient rainfall (natural rainfall), 50% increase in rainfall (enhanced rainfall) and 50% decrease in rainfall (reduced rainfall) by artificially intercepting and redistributing natural rainfall. Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios (δD and δ¹⁸O) were measured for xylem water, rainfall, and soil water in different soil layers (0-120 cm depth). The possible ranges of potential water sources used by C. microphylla and A. halodendron were calculated using the IsoSource model. Important findings 1) Alteration of ambient rainfall mainly affected the soil water condition in the shallow soil (0-30 cm). Increase in rainfall significantly increased the above- and below-ground biomass, and δ¹⁸O values of soil water declined with soil depth. 2) Under the enhanced rainfall treatment, A. halodendron mainly used the soil water in the shallow soil (0-40 cm) and C. microphylla was able to extract water from multiple soil layers. Under the reduced rainfall treatment, both species increasingly relied on extracting water from deeper soil layers, 60-80 cm for A. halodendron and 60-120 cm for C. microphylla. 3) For the natural rainfall treatment, in the wet season, the upper soil water was recharged by rainfall, C. microphylla and A. halodendron extract the shallow soil water (0-60 cm). However, in the dry season, soil water content was dramatically reduced, and main water sources for C. microphylla shifted from topsoil to deeper soil, and A. halodendron can use multiple layers of soil water. In summary, A. halodendron is more capable of exploring deeper soil moisture under reduced rainfall in comparison with C. microphylla, and is likely to be more adaptive to this water-limiting desert environment.     

Effects of plant interspecific interaction and warming on soil microbial community in root zone soil of two dominant tree species in the subalpine coniferous forest in southwestern China

温度与植物种类是生态系统土壤微生物群落组成与结构的重要影响因子。气候变暖背景下, 不同树种及树种互作对土壤微生物群落产生的影响仍不清楚。该文以西南亚高山针叶林主要建群种粗枝云杉(Picea asperata)和岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)为研究对象, 采用红外加热器模拟增温, 通过不同种植方式(云杉、冷杉单种和二者混种, 以及裸地对照), 研究不同物种及增温对土壤微生物磷脂脂肪酸(PLFAs)含量与群落结构的影响。结果表明: (1)无论增温与否, 与裸地相比, 云杉与冷杉单种均显著增加了土壤微生物群落主要类群及总PLFAs含量, 而混种仅在非增温条件下增加了微生物群落PLFAs含量; 另一方面, 增温显著促进了裸地真菌(F)和云杉根区革兰氏阴性菌(GN)的生长, 但对冷杉与冷杉-云杉混种小区微生物群落具有显著的抑制作用。(2)主成分分析(PCA)表明, 非增温条件下, 植物种植对土壤微生物群落组成的影响更为明显。非增温情况下云杉、冷杉单种和混种均对微生物群落结构有显著影响, 显著降低了土壤革兰氏阳性菌/阴性菌(GP/GN), 增加了土壤真菌细菌比(F/B)(64.29%-35.71%), 而增温时, 仅冷杉单种对GP/GN和F/B有显著影响。(3) PLFAs含量与土壤碳含量显著正相关, 微生物群落结构(F/B)则与土壤pH及无机氮含量有显著相关关系。以上结果说明, 在非增温情况下, 无论单种还是混种均有利于土壤微生物生长, 但在增温情况下混种对微生物群落PLFAs含量无显著影响, 两个物种对微生物群落结构的影响在增温条件下也有减弱的趋势。     

西南地区草地群落灌木植物盖度对生态系统碳库的影响

中国西南地区草地主要为暖性及热性草丛、灌草丛, 约占全国草地面积的1/10, 分析灌木植物盖度与草地碳库及其构成的关系对于准确评估尚处于次生演替阶段的南方草地碳储量具有重要意义。该研究基于野外实地调查, 将西南地区不同地貌类型的41个代表性草地样地依据灌木植物盖度划分为3种类型: 无灌木植物草地群落(灌木植物盖度为0)、低灌木植物盖度草地群落(灌木植物盖度0-10%)和高灌木植物盖度草地群落(灌木植物盖度10%-30%), 测定了群落地上、地下生物量和凋落物生物量以及植物和土壤碳含量, 计算碳密度。结果表明: 随着草地群落灌木植物盖度增大, 生态系统植被碳密度从0.304 kg·m ^-2增加到1.574 kg·m ^-2, 其中根系和凋落物碳库也呈增长趋势; 土壤碳密度从7.215 kg·m ^-2增加到9.735 kg·m ^-2, 生态系统碳密度从7.519 kg·m ^-2增加到11.309 kg·m ^-2。草地碳库构成中, 低灌木植物盖度草地群落的土壤碳库占生态系统碳库比例最小。草地群落灌木植物盖度增加改变了草地生态系统碳库构成并导致生态系统碳库增加, 建议在估算草地生态系统碳库时, 需要统筹考虑并兼顾南方地区草地群落灌木植物盖度变化。     

Ecosystem carbon stock and within-system distribution in successional Fagus lucida forests in Mt. Yueliang,Guizhou, China

林龄对森林生态系统碳储量及其在不同碳组分(植被、木质残体、凋落物和土壤)中的分配有着重要影响。亚热带森林在陆地生态系统碳循环中起着重要作用, 水青冈属(Fagus)植物是我国亚热带广泛分布的重要树种, 而有关水青冈林碳储量随林龄变化的研究在我国鲜有报道。该研究选取贵州月亮山3个演替阶段(林龄分别为33年、82年和208年)的亮叶水青冈(Fagus lucida)林为研究对象, 对其生态系统全组分的碳储量及其分配格局进行了调查与估算。研究发现, 随林龄增加, 亮叶水青冈林生态系统碳储量显著增加, 33年、82年和208年林分别为(186.9 ± 46.0)、(265.8 ± 82.3)和(515.1 ± 176.4) Mg·hm ^-2, 且生态系统碳储量的增加主要由植被碳储量(占比由32%增长至79%)贡献。凋落物与木质残体碳储量随林龄增加亦呈增加趋势, 但二者占生态系统碳储量的比例很小(<1%)。而不同林龄土壤碳储量无显著差异, 其占比由33年林的67%降至208年林的20%。这些结果验证了林龄对森林生态系统各组分碳储量及其分配的重要影响, 同时指出干扰和土地利用历史等对森林植物残体和土壤碳积累的重要作用。     

Functional diversity of soil microorganisms in Casuarina equisetifolia woodlands of different stand ages in Hainan Island

为研究不同林龄木麻黄(Casuarina equisetifolia)林地土壤微生物功能多样性的动态变化, 通过Biolog系统对海口市桂林洋开发区滨海不同林龄(幼龄林(林龄5-8年)、中龄林(林龄15-20年)和成熟林(林龄30年及以上))的木麻黄林地土壤微生物的功能多样性进行了分析。结果表明: (1)对照裸地和成熟林林地土壤微生物对所使用的Biolog-ECO微孔板中的31种碳源的利用率和对这31种碳源的各分类碳源的利用率高于中龄林与幼龄林林地; (2) Shannon-Wiener指数(H′), McIntosh、Simpson多样性指数随着林龄增大而增大, 不同林龄林地间的H′差异显著, 幼龄林和中龄林的McIntosh、Simpson多样性指数无显著差异; (3)主成分分析结果表明, 在主成分分离中起分异作用的主要碳源为单糖和氨基酸。林地土壤微生物群落多样性随着林龄增加而增高, 这可能是林分凋落物、植物根系分泌的次生代谢物、土壤养分、林地土壤特异性微生物等共同作用的结果。     

Carbon storage,spatial distribution and the influence factors in Tianshan forests

Aims
Accurate estimation of carbon density and storage is among the key challenges in evaluating ecosystem carbon sink potentials for reducing atmospheric CO₂ concentration. It is also important for developing future conservation strategies and sustainable practices. Our objectives were to estimate the ecosystem carbon density and storage of Picea schrenkiana forests in Tianshan region of Xinjiang, and to analyze the spatial distribution and influencing factors.
Methods
Based on field measurements, the forest resource inventories, and laboratory analyses, we studied the carbon storage, its spatial distribution, and the potential influencing factors in Picea schrenkiana forest of Tianshan. Field surveys of 70 sites, with 800 m² (28.3 m × 28.3 m) for plot size, was conducted in 2011 for quantifying arbor biomass (leaf, branch, trunk and root), grass and litterfall biomass, soil bulk density, and other laboratory analyses of vegetation carbon content, soil organic carbon content, etc.
Important findings
The carbon content of the leaf, branch, trunk and root of Picea schrenkiana is varied from 46.56% to 52.22%. The vegetation carbon content of arbor and the herbatious/litterfall layer was 49% and 42%, respectively. The forest biomass of Picea schrenkiana was 187.98 Mg·hm^-2, with 98.93% found in the arbor layer. The biomass in all layers was in the order of trunk (109.81 Mg·hm^-2) > root (39.79 Mg·hm^-2) > branch (23.62 Mg·hm^-2) > leaf (12.76 Mg·hm^-2). From the age-group point of view, the highest and the lowest biomass was found at the mature forest (228.74 Mg·hm^-2) and young forest (146.77 Mg·hm^-2), respectively. The carbon density and storage were 544.57 Mg·hm^-2 and 290.84 Tg C, with vegetation portion of 92.57 Mg·hm^-2 and 53.14 Tg C, and soil portion of 452.00 Mg·hm^-2 and 237.70 Tg C, respectively. The spatial distribution of carbon density and storage appeared higher in the western areas than those in the eastern regions. In the western Tianshan Mountains (e.g., Ili district), carbon density was the highest, whereas the central Tianshan Mountains (e.g., Manas County, Fukang City, Qitai County) also had high carbon density. In the eastern Tianshan Mountains (e.g., Hami City), it was low. This distribution seemed consistent with the changes in environmental conditions. The primary causes of carbon density difference might be a combined effects of multiple environmental factors such as terrain, precipitation, temperature, and soil.     

Carbon density characteristics of sparse Ulmus pumila forest and Populus simonii plantation in Onqin Daga Sandy Land and their relationships with stand age

Aims
Sparse Ulmus pumila forest is an intrazonal vegetation in Onqin Daga Sandy Land, while Populus simonii has been widely planted for windbreak and sand dune stabilization in the same region. Our objective was to compare the differences in carbon (C) density of these two forests and their relationships with stand age.
Methods
We measured the C content of tree organs (leaf, twig, stem, and root), herb layers (above ground vegetation and below ground root) and soil layers (up to 100 cm) in sparse Ulmus pumila forests and Populus simonii plantations of different stand ages, and then computed C density and their proportions in total ecosystem carbon density. In addition, we illustrated the variation in carbon density-stand age relationship for tree layer, soil layer and whole ecosystem. We finally estimated the C sequestration rates for these two forests by the space-for-time substitution approach.
Important findings
The average C contents of tree layer and soil layer for sparse Ulmus pumila forests were lower than those for Populus simonii plantations. The total C density of sparse Ulmus pumila forests was half of that of Populus simonii plantations. The carbon density of soil and tree layers accounted for more than 98% of ecosystem C density in the two forests. Irrespective of forest type, the C density ratios of soil to vegetation decreased with stand age. This ratio was 1.66 for sparse Ulmus pumila forests and 1.87 for Populus simonii plantations when they were over-matured. The C density of tree layer, soil layer, and total ecosystem in both forests increased along forest development. There were significantly positive correlations between tree layer’s C density and stand age in both forests and between the total ecosystem C density of sparse Ulmus pumila forests and stand age. The C sequestration rate of tree layer was 5-fold higher in Populus simonii plantation than in sparse Ulmus pumila forest. The ecosystem-level C sequestration rate was 0.81 Mg C·hm^-2·a^-1 for sparse Ulmus pumila forest and 5.35 Mg C·hm^-2·a^-1 for Populus simonii plantation. These findings have implications for C stock estimation of sandy land forest ecosystems and policy-making of ecological restoration and C sink enhancement in the studied area.     

Seasonal dynamics of active soil organic carbon in four subtropical forests in Southern China

Aims The objective of this paper was to quantify the seasonal variation of active soil organic carbon in the subtropical forests for better understanding of the underline mechanisms in controlling soil organic carbon storage and dynamics in natural and restored forests in the region. Methods The study was conducted in a one-hectare permanent plot at Dashanchong Forest Park in Changsha County, Hunan Province, China. Four types of subtropical forests were selected as our study sites: (1) Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation, (2) Pinus massoniana-Lithocarpus glaber mixed forest, (3) Choerospondias axillaries deciduous broad-leaved forest, and (4) L. glaber-Cyclobalanopsis glauca evergreen broad-leaved forest. The soil samples were taken from 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths within each of the forests from December 2011 to September 2012. Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), mineralized organic carbon (MOC), readily oxidized carbon (ROC), and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were analyzed for their seasonal changes. Important findings There existed a considerable seasonal variations of soil MBC, MOC, ROC, DOC among the forests, with a similar patterns of active organic carbon fraction. Soil MBC, MOC and ROC were significantly higher in the summer and the autumn than those in the spring and winter, while soil DOC was higher in the spring, summer and winter than that in the autumn. The seasonal variations of different active organic carbon fractions appeared different within the same forest type. Significantly-positive correlations were found between soil MBC, MOC, ROC, DOC and soil moisture content, soil organic carbon (SOC), total N, hydrolysis N, total P (except for MBC, MOC and ROC in Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation), available P, but not between soil MBC, MOC, ROC, DOC concentrations and soil pH, total K and available K. The results indicated that the differences of exogenous carbon devotion, physicochemical properties were responsible for the significant differences of soil active organic carbon, and the growth rhythm of tree species, soil moisture content, the availability of nutrient (SOC, N and P), and the sources of soil active organic carbon fractions made a major contribution to seasonal variations of soil active organic carbon. Soil MBC, MOC, ROC, and DOC could be used as sensitivity indexes to assess the dynamics of soil C, N and P.     

纳帕海高原湿地不同干扰强度下土壤真菌的分布格局

将无干扰的原生沼泽作为对照, 运用比较法研究了纳帕海高原湿地不同干扰强度下形成的湿地利用类型, 即沼泽(无干扰)、沼泽化草甸(轻度干扰)、草甸(中度干扰)和垦后湿地(重度干扰) 4个湿地利用类型的碳氮含量及其分布格局, 揭示干扰对纳帕海不同湿地利用类型碳氮及土壤真菌分布的影响。研究表明: (1) 4个湿地利用类型上下层土壤有机质(SOM)、全氮(TN)、碳氮比(C:N)和pH值均有显著的差异性(p < 0.01), 并且随着干扰强度的增大, SOM和TN含量逐渐减少。(2)土壤真菌经PDA培养基培养后计数, 在同一湿地类型上层的真菌数量大于下层, 随着干扰强度的增加, 真菌的数量逐渐增加。相关性分析表明: 真菌的数量与pH值、SOM和TN呈极显著负相关, 与C:N呈显著正相关。(3)系统发育研究表明: 纳帕海湿地分布有土壤真菌Ascomycota、Basidiomycota和Zygomycota, 其中Ascomycota是优势类群, 在高原湿地土壤碳氮分解等物质循环过程中Ascomycota处于主导地位。     

Soil carbon storage and its determinants in the forests of Shaanxi Province,China

Aims The bank of soil carbon of forests plays an important role in the global carbon cycle. Our aim is to understand the characteristics of soil carbon storage and its determinants in the forests in Shaanxi Province.Methods The data of forest inventory in 2009 and resampling in 2011 were used to analyze the characteristics of soil carbon storage and its determinants in the forest soil in Shaanxi Province.Important findings The soil carbon storage in the forests in Shaanxi Province was 579.68 Tg. Soil carbon storage of Softwood and Hardwood forests were the highest among all forest types, accounting for 36.35% of the whole province forest soil carbon storage. The forest soil carbon storage was 4.15 times greater in the natural forest (467.17 Tg) than that in the plantations. The young and middle-aged forests were the main contributors to the total carbon storage across all age groups, accounting for about 57.30% of the total forest soil carbon storage. The average soil carbon density of forests in Shaanxi Province was 90.68 t∙hm^-2, in which the soil carbon density of Betula forests was the highest (141.74 t∙hm^-2). Soil carbon density of different forest types were gradually decreased with soil depth. In addition, it was highest in middle-aged forest. Soil carbon density was higher in the natural forest ecosystems than that in the plantations within the each age group, indicating natural forest ecosystems have higher capacity of carbon sequestration. Differences in the spatial patterns between carbon storage and density indicated that carbon storage was related to forest coverage. The soil carbon density and storage of forests in Yulin were the lowest across the province. This suggests that, in order to enhance the regional carbon sequestration capacity in this region, we need to appropriately strengthen artificial afforestation activities and manage them scientifically and rationally. The soil carbon density of forests in Shaanxi Province decreased with the increase of longitude, latitude, and annual temperature, but increased with the increase of altitude and annual rainfall. This study provides data basis for provincial estimation of forest soil carbon bank in China.     

Current forest carbon stocks and carbon sequestration potential in Anhui Province,China

Aims
This study was conducted to investigate carbon stocks in forest ecosystems of different stand ages in Anhui Province, and to identify the carbon sequestration potential of climax forests controlled by the natural environment conditions.
Methods
Data were collected based on field investigations and simulations were made with the BIOME4 carbon cycle model.
Important findings
Currently, the total forest carbon stocks in Anhui Province amounts to 714.5 Tg C: 402.1 Tg C in vegetation and 312.4 Tg C in soil. Generally, both the total and vegetation carbon density exhibit an increasing trend with the natural growth of forest stands. Soil carbon density increases from young to near mature forests, and then gradually decreases thereafter. Young and middle-aged forests account for 75% of the total forest area in Anhui Province, with potentially an additional 125.4 Tg C to be gained after the young and middle-aged forests reach near mature stage. Results of BIOME4 simulations show that potentially an additional 245.7 Tg C, including 153.7 Tg C in vegetation and 92 Tg C in soil, could be gained if the current forests are transformed into climax forest ecosystems in Anhui Province.     

Short-term nitrogen fertilization decreased root and microbial respiration in a young Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation

Aims As the primary pathway for CO₂ emission from terrestrial ecosystems to the atmosphere, soil respiration is estimated to be 80 Pg C·a^-1 to 100 Pg C·a^-1, equivalent to 10 fold of fossil fuel emissions. As an important management practice in plantation forests, fertilization does not only increase primary production but also affects soil respiration. To investigate how nitrogen (N) fertilization affects total soil, root and microbial respiration, a N fertilization experiment was conducted in a five-year-old Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation in Huitong, Hunan Province, located in the subtropical region. MethodsOne year after fertilization, soil respiration was monitored monthly by LI-8100 from July 2013 to June 2014. Soil temperature and water content (0-5 cm soil depth) were also measured simultaneously. Available soil nutrients, fine root biomass and microbial communities were analyzed in June 2013. Important findings Total soil, root and microbial respiration rates were 22.7%, 19.6%, and 23.5% lower in the fertilized plots than in the unfertilized plots, respectively. The temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) of soil respiration ranged from 1.81 to 2.04, and the Q₁₀ value of microbial respiration decreased from 2.04 in the unfertilized plots to 1.84 in the fertilized plots. However, neither the Q₁₀ value nor the patterns of total soil respiration were affected by N fertilization. In the two-factor model, soil temperature and moisture accounted for 69.9%-79.7% of the seasonal variations in soil respiration. These results suggest that N fertilization reduces the response of soil organic carbon decomposition to temperature change and may contribute to the increase of soil carbon storage under global warming in subtropical plantations.