永定河沿河沙地杨树人工林生态系统呼吸特征

杨树是世界上广泛采用的人工造林树种之一,也是中国人工林面积最大的树种。研究杨树人工林生态系统呼吸(Re)及其分量土壤呼吸(Rs)的时间动态格局以及强度特征,分析两者对环境因子的响应是提高人工林生态系统净生产力和促进固碳减排等人工林经营管理中考虑的首要问题。采用开路式涡度相关系统、Licor-8150土壤呼吸测定系统以及小气候测定系统连续测定了位于北京大兴区永定河沿河沙地杨树人工林的生态系统呼吸、土壤呼吸和小气候特征。研究结果表明:(1)2007-2009年该生态系统的Re年总量分别为946.68、863.58、817.30gCm^-2a^-1,其中Rs年总量分别为642.11、629.29,609.05gCm^-2a^-1, Rs年总量约占Re年总量的70%;(2)Re和Rs月总量一般在7或者8月份达到最大值,Rs的变化趋势与土壤5cm温度(Ts5)相一致;(3)Ts5是Re和Rs两者的显著影响因子,但Re与空气相对湿度(RH)的相关性最显著。此外,Rs更容易受到Ts5和0-20cm土壤平均体积含水量(vwc)两者耦合效应的限制。     

Patterns and Drivers of Soil Respiration under Long-Term Citrus reticulate in Southern China

Soil respiration (Rs) is a major source of carbon emission in terrestrial ecosystems. Despite the fact that the influence of land use practice on Rs has been widely studied, the patterns and drivers on Rs of Citrus reticulata cultivation, a worldwide land use practice are unclear. In this current study, we investigated the influence of long-term cultivation of Citrus reticulata (CO) and of CO intercropped with soybean (CB) on soil nutrients, water availability, and Rs in southern China. Results indicated that after 21 years of cultivation, CO and CB significantly increased total soil carbon (TC), total soil nitrogen (TN), and soil organic matter (OM) at 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm, both at upslope and downslope compared with bare soil (CK). However, soil moisture (SM), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) decreased under CB. In addition, no significant variation was found in soil pH between CK, CO, and CB. Across incubation time (56 days), Rs decreased exponentially with incubation time and CB showed the highest Rs rate irrespective of soil depth or topography. Linear regression further showed TC and TN as the two major factors influencing Rs upslope, while DOC was the dominant factor in regulating Rs downslope. These findings demonstrated that long-term cultivation of citrus significantly changed soil nutrients, water availability, and Rs rate.     

Contribution of root respiration to total soil respiration in a Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) artificial forest

Soil respiration was measured for 2 years in an artificial gap and in an undisturbed area in a Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) forest to estimate the contribution of root respiration to total soil respiration. Measurement plots were set up at the center of the gap, the edge of the gap, the edge of the surrounding stand and within the stand. Using a small gap (2.5 m × 2.5 m) enabled us to maintain the same soil temperature and soil moisture as found in the stand. Seasonal fluctuations in soil respiration, increasing in summer and decreasing in winter, corresponded to changes in the soil surface temperature. Soil respiration in the gap site did not differ significantly from those in the stand in the first year of gap formation. However, in the second year, the minimum CO₂ flux was observed at the center of the gap and the maximum at the edge of the surrounding stand. Assuming that the differences between soil respiration in the center of the gap and that in the stand were equal to the root respiration, the root respiration rate was calculated from the relationship between the root respiration rates (Rr) and the soil surface temperature (Ts) by Ln(Rr) = 0.07Ts + 3.48. The average contribution of root respiration to total soil respiration, as estimated from the soil surface temperature in the stand by using the above equation, was 49%. After taking root decomposition into consideration, the contribution of root respiration to soil respiration increased from 49 to 57%.     

荒漠草原区柠条固沙人工林地表草本植被季节变化特征

研究荒漠草原人工林固沙区地表草本植被季节变化特征及其和柠条林龄的关系,对于分析柠条人工林地表草本植物的季节适应性和制订合理的人工林管理措施均具有重要的科学意义。选择6、15、24年生和36年生柠条人工林为研究对象,通过调查每个样地5月、8月和10月地表草本植物密度、物种数、盖度和高度,分析了荒漠草原区柠条人工固沙林生长过程中地表草本植被季节变化特征及其影响因素。结果表明,地表草本植物物种数在柠条林龄6和15a时受季节改变的影响较小,在24a之后受到季节变化的显著影响(P0.05)。地表草本植物密度在柠条林龄6a时受季节改变的影响较小,但在15a之后季节变化显著影响地表草本植物个体数分布(P0.05),而且在10月具有最多的地表草本植物个体数。地表草本植被盖度和高度均受到季节变化的显著影响(P0.05),而受林龄的影响较小;不同年龄林地地表草本植被盖度和高度均表现为10月和8月较高,5月较低。研究表明,荒漠草原柠条人工林固沙区,柠条林发育生长和灌木形态的改变不仅影响土壤营养条件,而且还可以调控由于季节改变而引起的土壤温湿度变化,柠条林龄和季节更替二者交互作用,共同影响地表草本植被的季节变化特征。     

Below-canopy CO2 flux and its environmental response characteristics in a coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest in Dinghushan, China

Accurate estimation of below-canopy CO₂ flux (Fcb) in typical forest ecosystems is of great importance to validate terrestrial carbon balance models. Continuous eddy covariance measurements of Fcb were conducted in a coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest located in Dinghushan Nature Reserve of South China. Using year-round data, Fcb dynamics and its environmental response were analyzed, and the results mainly showed that: (1) Fcb decreased during daytime which indicated that the understory of the forest continued photosynthesis throughout the year; however, understory and soil acted as CO₂ source as a whole. (2) Using soil temperature (Ts) as a dependent variable, all of Van’t Hoff equation, Arrhenius equation and Lloyd-Taylor equation can explain a considerable variation of Fcb. Among those three equations Lloyd-Taylor equation is the best to reflect the relationship between soil respiration and temperature for its ability in revealing the variation of Q₁₀ with temperature. (3) Fcb derived from Lloyd-Taylor equation is utterly determined by Ts, while Fcb derived from the multiplicative model is driven by Ts and soil moisture (Ms). The multiplicative model can reflect the synthetic effect of Ts and Ms; therefore it explains more Fcb variations than Lloyd-Taylor equation does. (4)Fcb derived from the multiplicative model was higher than that from Lloyd-Taylor equation when Ms was relatively high; on the contrary, Fcb derived from the multiplicative model was lower than that from Lloyd-Taylor equation when Ms was low, indicating that Ms might be a main factor affecting Fcb when the ecosystem is stressed by low-moisture. (5) Annual Fcb of the forest in 2003 was estimated as (787.4±296.8) gCm^-2a^-1, which was 17% lower than soil respiration measured by statistic chamber method. CO₂ flux measured by eddy covariance is often underestimated, and further study therefore calls for emphasis on methods quantifying Fcb components of respiration of soil, as well as respiration and photosynthesis of understory vegetations.     

Carbon and nitrogen storage in an age-sequence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus densiflora</Emphasis> stands in Korea

The carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage capabilities of Pinus densiflora in six different stand ages (10, 27, 30, 32, 44, and 71 years old) were investigated in Korea. Thirty sample trees were destructively harvested and 12 were excavated. Samples from the above and belowground tree components, coarse woody debris (CWD), forest floor, and mineral soil (0–30 cm) were collected. Tree biomass was highest in the 71-year-old stand (202.8 t ha⁻¹) and lowest in the 10-year-old stand (18.4 t ha⁻¹). C and N storage in the mineral soil was higher in the 71-year-old stand than in the other stands, mainly due to higher soil C and N concentrations. Consequently, the total ecosystem C and N storage (tree+forest floor+CWD+soil) was positively correlated with stand age: increasing from a minimum in the 10 year old stand (18.8 t C ha⁻¹ and 1.3 t N ha⁻¹) to a maximum in the 71-year-old stand (201.4 t C ha⁻¹ and 8.5 t N ha⁻¹). The total ecosystem C storage showed a similar sigmoidal pattern to that of tree C storage as a function of the age-sequence, while N storage in the CWD, forest floor and mineral soil showed no significant temporal trends. Our results provide important insights that will increase our understanding of C and N storage in P. densiflora stands and our ability to predict changes according to stand age in the region.     

华西雨屏区不同林龄柳杉人工林土壤磷组分特征

磷是限制陆地生态系统生产力的关键养分因子。当前尚不了解不同土壤磷组分随柳杉林龄增长如何变化,及其与土壤微生物群落的关系。以华西雨屏区不同林龄（7年生幼龄林、13年生中龄林、24年生近熟林、33年生成熟林,53年生过熟林）柳杉（Cryptomeria japonica var. sinensis）人工林为研究对象,采用Hedley磷素分级方法、磷脂脂肪酸分析法（PLFA）来探究不同林龄柳杉人工林土壤磷组分的分布模式及影响因子。结果表明：不同林龄和土壤深度土壤磷各组分含量差异显著。随林龄增加,可溶性磷和磷灰石含量逐渐减少,残余态磷含量逐渐增加,其余磷组分含量先增加后降低。除可溶性磷、浓盐酸提取态无机磷和残余态磷组分外,其余土壤磷组分含量表现为上层（0-15 cm）高于下层（15-30 cm）。偏门特尔检验表明,微生物群落与土壤磷组分之间存在显著关联。回归分析发现,碳与有机磷比值和酸性磷酸酶活性呈正相关。冗余分析显示,pH、土壤有机碳、土壤含水量,全氮和土壤容重是影响土壤磷组分变化的主导因子。研究显示,造林初期的土壤磷组分快速积累,在中龄林阶段达到最大值,随着柳杉人工林林龄的增加,土壤中磷的限制逐渐加强,土壤磷组分含量在成熟林之后逐渐下降。这些结果可为为柳杉人工林的培育及可持续经营管理提供科学依据。     

Cloning and characterization of a novel fold-type I branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus sp. CKU-1

We successfully cloned a novel branched-chain amino acid aminotransferase (Ts-BcAT; EC 2.6.1.42) gene from the Thermococcus sp. CKU-1 genome and expressed it in the soluble fraction of Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3) cells. Ts-BcAT is a homodimer with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 92 kDa. The primary structure of Ts-BcAT showed high homology with the fold-type I, subgroup I aminotransferases, but showed little homology with BcATs known to date, i.e., those of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium, which belong to the fold-type IV, subgroup III aminotransferases. The maximum enzyme activity of Ts-BcAT was detected at 95 °C, and Ts-BcAT did not lose any enzyme activity, even after incubation at 90 °C for 5 h. Ts-BcAT was active in the pH range from 4.0 to 11.0, the optimum pH was 9.5, and the enzyme was stable between pH 6 and 7. The exceptionally low pK _a of the nitrogen atom in the Lys258 ε-amino group in the internal aldimine bond of Ts-BcAT was determined to be 5.52 ± 0.05. Ts-BcAT used 21 natural and unnatural amino acids as a substrate in the overall transamination reaction. l-Leucine and other aliphatic amino acids are efficient substrates, while polar amino acids except glutamate were weak substrates. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Ts-BcAT is a novel fold-type I, subgroup I branched-chain aminotransferase.     

Extracellular vesicles from Trichinella spiralis: Proteomic analysis and protective immunity

Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been proposed to play a key role in regulating the host immune responses. In this study, we provided the first investigation of EVs proteomics released by T. spiralis muscle larvae (ML). T. spiralis ML EVs (Ts-ML-EVs) were successfully isolated and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and western blotting. Using liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) analysis, we identified 753 proteins in the Ts-ML-EVs proteome and annotated by gene ontology (GO). These proteins were enriched in different categories by GO, kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) and domain analysis. GO enrichment analysis indicated association of protein deglutathionylation, lysosomal lumen and serine-type endopeptidase inhibitor activity with proteins which may be helpful during parasite-host interaction. Moreover, KEGG enrichment analysis revealed involvement of Ts-ML-EVs proteins in other glycan degradation, complement and coagulation cascades, proteasome and various metabolism pathways. In addition, BALB/c mice were immunized by subcutaneous injection of purified Ts-ML-EVs. Ts-ML-EVs group demonstrated a 23.4% reduction in adult worms and a 43.7% reduction in ML after parasite challenge. Cellular and humoral immune responses induced by Ts-ML-EVs were detected, including the levels of specific antibodies (IgG, IgM, IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a) as well as cytokines (IL-12, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10) in serum. The results showed that Ts-ML-EVs could induce a Th1/Th2 mixed immune response with Th2 predominant. This study revealed a potential role of Ts-ML-EVs in T. spiralis biology, particularly in the interaction with host. This work provided a critical step to against T. spiralis infection based on Ts-ML-EVs.     

Effect of Caragana tibetica nebkhas on sand entrapment and fertile islands in steppe�Cdesert ecotones on the Inner Mongolia Plateau, China

Phytogenic mounds (nebkhas) formed by shrubs are a common phenomenon in arid and semi-arid areas and play important roles in preventing soil erosion and nutrient loss. One feature of nebkhas is the development of fertile islands. We investigated whether fertile islands were present inside and underneath Caragana tibetica-formed nebkhas in the northwest portion of the Ordos on the Inner Mongolia Plateau, China, and if such a fertile island effect increased with the age of the nebkhas. We also analyzed the spatial heterogeneity of the soil properties and quantified the amount of sand trapped by C. tibetica. The morphometric characteristics of C. tibetica nebkhas were investigated in a 4.5 ha area. Soil samples were collected inside, underneath and outside of the nebkhas and the soil organic matter (SOM), total phosphorus (TP), soil moisture (SM) and soil texture were determined. The SOM, TP and SM inside and underneath nebkhas at later stages of growth were higher than those at smaller, younger growth stages, which in turn were higher than those outside the nebkhhas. Inside the nebkhas at the establishment and early growth stages, SOM and TP first increased and then decreased with increasing soil depth, but SM steadily increased. The amount of sand trapped by C. tibetica per unit area was 0.0313 m³m^?2. Nebkhas of C. tibetica primarily accumulated fine sand, which accounted for 74% of the soil, and is significantly higher than that outside the nebkhas. Caragana tibetica significantly increased sand entrapment, and fertile islands are formed inside and underneath C. tibetica nebkhas.     

Soil Microbial Community Structure and Metabolic Activity of Pinus elliottii Plantations across Different Stand Ages in a Subtropical Area

Soil microbes play an essential role in the forest ecosystem as an active component. This study examined the hypothesis that soil microbial community structure and metabolic activity would vary with the increasing stand ages in long-term pure plantations of Pinus elliottii. The phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) combined with community level physiological profiles (CLPP) method was used to assess these characteristics in the rhizospheric soils of P. elliottii. We found that the soil microbial communities were significantly different among different stand ages of P. elliottii plantations. The PLFA analysis indicated that the bacterial biomass was higher than the actinomycic and fungal biomass in all stand ages. However, the bacterial biomass decreased with the increasing stand ages, while the fungal biomass increased. The four maximum biomarker concentrations in rhizospheric soils of P. elliottii for all stand ages were 18:1ω9c, 16:1ω7c, 18:3ω6c (6,9,12) and cy19:0, representing measures of fungal and gram negative bacterial biomass. In addition, CLPP analysis revealed that the utilization rate of amino acids, polymers, phenolic acids, and carbohydrates of soil microbial community gradually decreased with increasing stand ages, though this pattern was not observed for carboxylic acids and amines. Microbial community diversity, as determined by the Simpson index, Shannon-Wiener index, Richness index and McIntosh index, significantly decreased as stand age increased. Overall, both the PLFA and CLPP illustrated that the long-term pure plantation pattern exacerbated the microecological imbalance previously described in the rhizospheric soils of P. elliottii, and markedly decreased the soil microbial community diversity and metabolic activity. Based on the correlation analysis, we concluded that the soil nutrient and C/N ratio most significantly contributed to the variation of soil microbial community structure and metabolic activity in different stand ages of P. elliottii plantations.     

The effect of dense understory dwarf bamboo (Sasa senanensis) on soil respiration before and after clearcutting of cool temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest

To evaluate the effect of understory dwarf bamboo (Sasa senanensis) on soil respiration in forest ecosystems, we compared soil respiration rates between four deciduous broad-leaved forest sites representing two levels of understory Sasa (with and without) and two levels of forest stand age (50-year-old stand and 1-year-old stand after clearcut). The understory Sasa enhances the soil respiration rate both before and after the clearcutting of deciduous broad-leaved forest. The Sasa sites had larger total belowground biomass compared with the non-Sasa sites, which could be attributed to Sasa presence. Our results also suggest that clearcutting decreases temperature-normalized soil respiration rates (R ₁₅) and temperature sensitivity (Q ₁₀) in both Sasa and non-Sasa ecosystems. Clearcutting significantly reduced the fine root biomass of trees and Sasa. The fine roots of trees and Sasa had high specific respiration rates compared with larger roots and rhizomes at Sasa and non-Sasa sites, respectively. Therefore, we hypothesize that the loss of fine roots after clearcutting is responsible for the reduction in soil respiration rate. A comparison with other studies revealed a positive linear relationship between total (tree and Sasa) fine root biomass and R ₁₅, suggesting that fine root biomass controls soil respiration at the landscape scale. The Q ₁₀ value is also likely to be related to fine root biomass, although the relationship was not significant. We conclude that understory Sasa increases belowground biomass, especially fine roots, and the spatial variation in soil respiration at the landscape scale.     

Effects of Forest Age on Soil Autotrophic and Heterotrophic Respiration Differ between Evergreen and Deciduous Forests

We examined the effects of forest stand age on soil respiration (SR) including the heterotrophic respiration (HR) and autotrophic respiration (AR) of two forest types. We measured soil respiration and partitioned the HR and AR components across three age classes ∼15, ∼25, and ∼35-year-old Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica (Mongolia pine) and Larix principis-rupprechtii (larch) in a forest-steppe ecotone, northern China (June 2006 to October 2009). We analyzed the relationship between seasonal dynamics of SR, HR, AR and soil temperature (ST), soil water content (SWC) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI, a plant greenness and net primary productivity indicator). Our results showed that ST and SWC were driving factors for the seasonal dynamics of SR rather than plant greenness, irrespective of stand age and forest type. For ∼15-year-old stands, the seasonal dynamics of both AR and HR were dependent on ST. Higher Q₁₀ of HR compared with AR occurred in larch. However, in Mongolia pine a similar Q₁₀ occurred between HR and AR. With stand age, Q₁₀ of both HR and AR increased in larch. For Mongolia pine, Q₁₀ of HR increased with stand age, but AR showed no significant relationship with ST. As stand age increased, HR was correlated with SWC in Mongolia pine, but for larch AR correlated with SWC. The dependence of AR on NDVI occurred in ∼35-year-old Mongolia pine. Our study demonstrated the importance of separating autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration components of SR when stimulating the response of soil carbon efflux to environmental changes. When estimating the response of autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration to environmental changes, the effect of forest type on age-related trends is required.     

Different responses of soil respiration and its components to nitrogen addition among biomes: a meta‐analysis

Anthropogenic activities have increased nitrogen (N) deposition by threefold to fivefold over the last century, which may considerably affect soil respiration (Rs). Although numerous individual studies and a few meta‐analyses have been conducted, it remains controversial as to how N addition affects Rs and its components [i.e., autotrophic (Ra) and heterotrophic respiration (Rh)]. To reconcile the difference, we conducted a comprehensive meta‐analysis of 295 published studies to examine the responses of Rs and its components to N addition in terrestrial ecosystems. We also assessed variations in their responses in relation to ecosystem types, environmental conditions, and experimental duration (DUR). Our results show that N addition significantly increased Rs by 2.0% across all biomes but decreased by 1.44% in forests and increased by 7.84% and 12.4% in grasslands and croplands, respectively (P < 0.05). The differences may largely result from diverse responses of Ra to N addition among biomes with more stimulation of Ra in croplands and grasslands compared with no significant change in forests. Rh exhibited a similar negative response to N addition among biomes except that in croplands, tropical and boreal forests. Methods of partitioning Rs did not induce significant differences in the responses of Ra or Rh to N addition, except that Ra from root exclusion and component integration methods exhibited the opposite responses in temperate forests. The response ratios (RR) of Rs to N addition were positively correlated with mean annual temperature (MAT), with being more significant when MAT was less than 15 °C, but negatively with DUR. In addition, the responses of Rs and its components to N addition largely resulted from the changes in root and microbial biomass and soil C content as indicated by correlation analysis. The response patterns of Rs to N addition as revealed in this study can be benchmarks for future modeling and experimental studies.     

六种温带森林类型凋落物量长期动态及其环境驱动

阐明凋落物动态及其环境控制机制,可以为森林生态系统生产力及碳汇功能的维持提供重要的数据支持和理论依据。以长白山系余脉张广才岭西坡林龄相近但立地条件不同的4种天然次生林（即硬阔叶林、杨桦林、杂木林和蒙古栎林）和2种人工林（落叶松人工林和红松人工林）为研究对象,对其地上凋落物产量及其组分以及相关环境因子进行了14年（2008-2021年）的连续测定,旨在揭示森林凋落物量及其组分的时空变化（林型间和年际变异）及其环境驱动机制。结果表明：6种森林类型的凋落总量（TL）无显著差异,波动范围为500.5-556.1 g m^-2 a^-1;但其叶凋落量（LL）、繁殖组织凋落量（RT）和其他组织凋落量（OT）均存在显著差异,波动范围依次分别为333.9-391.8 g m^-2 a^-1、8.43-69.93 g m^-2 a^-1和93.4-185.9 g m^-2 a^-1。6种森林类型的TL均存在显著的年际变化;其中LL和OT年际变化的显著性因森林类型而不同,而RT的年际变化不显著。除落叶松人工林外,其余5种森林类型的LL与生长季平均气温、日最低气温均值、土壤10 cm深度处的平均温度、最低温度（Ts_min）和土壤5 cm含水量（Ms）均呈显著正相关。杂木林、硬阔叶林和红松人工林的RT与Ms呈显著负相关;杂木林、杨桦林和硬阔叶林的OT与Ts_min呈显著负相关。样地水平的LL与土壤10 cm处含水量存在显著的正相关关系,而RT和OT则与其呈现显著负相关关系。这些结果表明林龄相似的温带森林地上凋落物总量有趋同趋势,但其通过改变组分分配格局来适应立地条件的变化;土壤湿度和温度变化会引起凋落物量的年际变化,但不同森林类型的凋落物量对环境波动的敏感性不同。     

Age-related changes in litter inputs explain annual trends in soil CO2 effluxes over a full Eucalyptus rotation after afforestation of a tropical savannah

Land use changes such as savannah afforestation with eucalypts impact the soil carbon (C) balance, therefore affecting soil CO₂ efflux (F _s ), a major flux in the global C cycle. We tested the hypothesis that F _s increases with stand age after afforestation, due to an increasing input of fresh organic matter to the forest floor. In a Eucalyptus plantation established on coastal savannahs in Congo, bimonthly measurements of F _s were carried out for 1 year on three adjacent stands aged 0.9, 4.4 and 13.7 years and presenting similar growth patterns. Litterfall and litter accumulation on the forest floor were quantified over a chronosequence. Equations were derived to estimate the contribution of litter decomposition to F _s throughout the rotation. Litterfall increased with stand age after savannah afforestation. F _s , that was strongly correlated on a seasonal basis with soil water content (SWC) in all stands, decreased between ages 0.9 year and 4.4 years due to savannah residue depletion, and increased between ages 4.4 years and 13.7 years, mainly because of an increasing amount of decomposing eucalypt litter. The aboveground litter layer therefore appeared as a major source of CO₂, whose contribution to F _s in old stands was estimated to be about four times higher than that of the eucalypt-derived soil organic C pool. The high litter contribution to F _s in older stands might explain why 13.7 years-old stand F _s was limited by moisture all year round whereas SWC did not limit F _s for large parts of the year in the youngest stands.     

Fine root dynamics and soil carbon accretion under thinned and un-thinned Cupressus lusitanica stands in, Southern Ethiopia

Background and aims

Forest management activities influences stand nutrient budgets, belowground carbon allocation and storage in the soil. A field experiment was carried out in Southern Ethiopia to investigate the effect of thinning on fine root dynamics and associated soil carbon accretion of 6-year old C. lusitanica stands.

Methods

Fine roots (≤2 mm in diameter) were sampled seasonally to a depth of 40 cm using sequential root coring method. Fine root biomass and necromass, vertical distribution, seasonal dynamics, annual turnover and soil carbon accretion were quantified.

Results

Fine root biomass and necromass showed vertical and temporal variations. More than 70 % of the fine root mass was concentrated in the top 20 cm soil depth. Fine root biomass showed significant seasonal variation with peaks at the end of the major rainy season and short rainy season. Thinning significantly increased fine root necromass, annual fine root production and turnover. Mean annual soil carbon accretion, through fine root necromass, in the thinned stand was 63 % higher than that in the un-thinned stand.

Conclusions

The temporal dynamics in fine roots is driven by the seasonality in precipitation. Thinning of C. lusitanica plantation would increase soil C accretion considerably through increased fine root necromass and turnover.     

Extreme rainfall and snowfall alter responses of soil respiration to nitrogen fertilization: a 3‐year field experiment

Extreme precipitation is predicted to be more frequent and intense accompanying global warming and may have profound impacts on soil respiration (Rs) and its components, that is, autotrophic (Ra) and heterotrophic (Rh) respiration. However, how natural extreme rainfall or snowfall events affect these fluxes are still lacking, especially under nitrogen (N) fertilization. In this study, extreme rainfall and snowfall events occurred during a 3‐year field experiment, allowing us to examine their effects on the response of Rs, Rh, and Ra to N supply. In normal rainfall years of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013, N fertilization significantly stimulated Rs by 23.9% and 10.9%, respectively. This stimulation was mainly due to the increase of Ra because of N‐induced increase in plant biomass. In the record wet year of 2013/2014, however, Rs was independent on N supply because of the inhibition effect of the extreme rainfall event. Compared with those in other years, Rh and Ra were reduced by 36.8% and 59.1%, respectively, which were likely related to the anoxic stress on soil microbes and decreased photosynthates supply. Although N supply did not affect annual Rh, the response ratio (RR) of Rh flux to N fertilization decreased firstly during growing season, increased in nongrowing season and peaked during spring thaw in each year. Nongrowing season Rs and Rh contributed 5.5–16.4% to their annual fluxes and were higher in 2012/2013 than other years due to the extreme snowfall inducing higher soil moisture during spring thaw. The RR of nongrowing season Rs and Rh decreased in years with extreme snowfall or rainfall compared to those in normal years. Overall, our results highlight the significant effects of extreme precipitation on responses of Rs and its components to N fertilization, which should be incorporated into models to improve the prediction of carbon‐climate feedbacks.     

六盘山典型森林伴随降水的总有机碳(TOC)通量变化特征

在六盘山香水河小流域,选择6种典型森林样地,测定了2011年生长季的大气降水、穿透水、干流、枯落物渗漏水和主根系层(0—30 cm深)土壤渗漏水的总有机碳(TOC)浓度及其相应的通量变化。结果表明,在降水转化为由穿透雨和干流组成的林下降水中,所有样地的TOC浓度都不同程度地增大;虽然林冠截持使林下降水减小,但因雨水淋洗和与林冠发生碳交换,各样地林下降水携带的生长季TOC通量(kg/hm2)(华北落叶松人工林132.28、华山松次生林106.56、油松人工林94.10、灌木林79.49、桦木林66.52、辽东栎次生林63.01)都比林外降水(53.17)不同程度地明显增大,整体看来,林冠的TOC淋出作用在针叶林很大,在阔叶林较弱。在6种森林样地的枯落物层渗漏水中,其TOC浓度彼此相差不大,平均为24.51 mg/L,高于林冠穿透水的TOC浓度;受枯落物截持部分降水及与枯落物TOC交换的影响,4个样地枯落物渗漏水的TOC通量(kg/hm2)(桦木次生林84.35、野李子灌丛129.35、辽东栎次生林79.21、油松人工林114.93)都比其林下降水TOC通量增加了,但华北落叶松人工林和华山松次生林的TOC通量分别降至90.76和104.90 kg/hm2。在测定的华北落叶松人工林和华山松次生林的主根系层(0—30 cm)土壤渗漏水中,TOC浓度均低于枯落物渗漏水;由于水量减小和与土壤发生碳交换,土壤渗漏水的TOC通量均显著低于枯落物渗漏水,两个林分样地分别降至43.04和66.33 kg/hm2。整体来看,林外降水携带的TOC输入通量在林地TOC输入中占有重要地位,林冠的TOC淋洗使其程度不同地增加TOC通量,枯落物层具有增加或减少TOC通量的作用,但主根系层土壤会显著减少TOC输出通量,所以是固定TOC的重要场所。