The influence of soil texture on the soil water dynamics and vegetation structure of a shortgrass steppe ecosystem

We analyzed soil water data from three sites with different soil textures in the shortgrass steppe of northeastern Colorado, USA. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between the occurrence of plant functional types and the effect of soil texture on soil water availability. Soil water availability was greatest in the upper soil layers at all three sites, but the loamy sand site had significantly greater soil water availability than the sandy clay loam and sandy clay sites in wetter years at depths below 60 cm. Calculations of proportional water availability by layer using both field data and fifty-year soil water model simulations, showed that the sandy clay loam and sandy clay soils on average had greater water availability in layers 30 cm and above, but that the loamy sand had the greatest water availability in layers beneath this, particularly at 105 cm. This observation can be linked to the occurrence of a fine textured subsoil at this site. The textural pattern in the loamy sand profile effectively creates two water resources: a shallow pool accessible to all plants; and a deep pool accessible only to deep-rooted plants. This is offered as an explanation for the co-dominance of the two main plant functional types at the loamy sand site. At the other two sites, shallow-rooted shortgrass vegetation dominated, being more consistent with the general pattern for the area. Thus the patterns of vegetation structure at the three sites were consistent with the hypothesis. Aboveground net primary production data for the three sites, along with transpiration estimates from the model simulations, indicated that the additional water availability in the coarse textured soil was associated with higher overall plant productivity.Nomenclature: Taxonomic nomenclature follows R. L. McGregor & T. M. Barkley (1986) Flora of the Great Plains. Great Plains Flora Association. University Press of Kansas, Lawrence.     

Associations between vegetation patterns and soil texture in the shortgrass steppe

A recent conceptual model of controls on vegetation structure in semiarid regions includes the hypothesis that the balance between the dominance of woody and herbaceous species is partly controlled by soil texture. The model predicts that the dominance of woody plants is associated with coarse textured soils, and that ecotones between woody and herbaceous plant functional types are associated with soil textural changes. We analyzed vegetation and soil data (from US Soil Conservation Service maps) for an area of shortgrass steppe in Northern Weld County, Colorado, in a canonical correlation procedure to test the hypothesis at a regional scale. In support of the model, we found significant correlations between (a) a canonical vegetation variable correlated with C₃ grass biomass and shrub biomass, and a canonical soil variable correlated with sandy topsoils, and (b) a canonical vegetation variable correlated with succulent biomass, and a canonical soil variable correlated with clay soils. Relatively sharp transitions between shrub- and grass-dominated vegetation types occur in a number of areas in the shortgrass steppe of northeastern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming, and we selected four sites to test the above hypothesis at a local scale. We gathered data on vegetation cover and soil texture from transects (50 m long) positioned across the transition zones from grassland to shrubland. We conducted a further canonical correlation analysis of the vegetation and soil data to test for the relationships between vegetation structure and soil texture, and a performed regression analyses on individual site data to describe site-specific relationships between vegetation and soil texture variables. Vegetation structure along the transects, at the level of plant functional types, was similar at all four sites. The transition from grassland to shrubland encompassed a change from a C₄ grass/half-shrub complex to a shrub/C₃ grass/succulent complex. At two of the sites these transitions were associated with a change to coarser-textured soils in the shrubland zone. Within the context of the shortgrass steppe, our overall findings support the predictions of the conceptual at a regional scale, but indicate that soil texture is only one factor that can influence vegetation structure at the local scale.     

荒漠区包气带土壤物理特征及其对地下水毛管上升影响的模拟

以巴丹吉林沙漠边缘荒漠区域为研究对象,选取两种典型的沙丘土壤剖面(沙壤土和砂土混合,均一砂土)进行土壤物理特征分析,并在此基础上模拟了不同土壤因素对毛管水上升过程的影响,探讨毛管水上升变化与土壤物理性质的关系,试图揭示地下水-毛管水-土壤水之间的相互作用过程.结果表明:研究区地下水毛管上升主要受土壤容重和土壤黏粒含量的影响,并且毛管水上升高度在地下潜水层以上为沙壤土的剖面中能够达到152 cm;地下潜水层以上为砂土的剖面中为120 cm.砂土中毛管水补给区域各土层水分分布更为均匀,并且从潜水面至地面方向土壤含水量呈递减趋势,沙壤土中毛管水补给区域土壤水分变异较大.借助Hydrus-3D模型能够较好模拟多因子影响下的土壤毛管水运动过程.潜水面以上土壤结构变化显著影响毛管水上升和剖面水分分布状况,但毛管水上升是否受季节性蒸发变化的影响以及毛管水与植物需水的关系有待进一步探究.     

科尔沁沙地不同地形小叶锦鸡儿灌丛土壤水分动态

根据科尔沁沙地广泛分布的小叶锦鸡儿灌丛的植被调查和土壤水分监测数据,分析了沙地人工固沙灌丛的土壤水分时空动态和土壤储水量变化,并应用水量平衡法测定了灌丛蒸散发.结果表明:丘间地的土壤水分条件最好,丘中次之,丘上最低;灌丛区的土壤水分含量随深度增加而增加,在生长季内不会发生水分胁迫.灌丛区土壤水分与降雨过程高度相关,深层(50～180 cm)土壤水分同降雨的相关性高于表层(0～50 cm)土壤,并且深层土壤水分的变异也大于表层.整个生长期内,小叶锦鸡儿灌丛土壤储水量增加,土壤水分处于积累中,估算蒸散量占同期降雨量的64%以上.     

Effect of Soil Texture on the Distribution and Infectivity of Neoaplectana carpocapsae (Nematoda: Steinernematidae)

The vertical migration of N. carpocapsae infective juveniles applied to the soil surface or introduced 14 cm below the soil surface was studied in four different soil types (pure silica sand, coarse sandy loam, silty clay loam, and clay). The percentage of juveniles able to migrate and infect wax moth pupae placed in the soil decreased as the percentage of clay and silt increased. Most nematodes placed on the soil surface remained within 2 cm of the surface, but some penetrated to a depth of 10 cm in pure silica sand and coarse sandy loam to infect pupae. Some pupae at the same depth were also infected with nematodes in silty clay loam soil. In pure silica sand and coarse sandy loam, nematodes introduced 14 cm below the soil surface were able to infect wax moth pupae located between 4 and 24 cm. Movement was least in clay soil and limited in silty clay loam. Nematodes showed a tendency to disperse upwards from the point of application. In all cases the number of migrating nematodes was greatest when wax moth pupae were present.     

Effect of Soil Texture on the Distribution and Infectivity of Neoaplectana glaseri (Nematoda: Steinernematidae)

The vertical migration of infective juveniles of Neoaplectana glaseri applied to the soil surface or introduced 16 cm below the soil surface was studied in pure silica sand, coarse sandy loam, silty clay loam, and clay. The number of juveniles that migrated and infected wax moth pupae placed in the soil decreased as the proportion of clay and silt increased. The majority of nematodes moved downwards 2-6 cm from the surface, but some penetrated to a depth of 14 cm in pure silica sand and coarse sandy loam. In pure silica sand and coarse sandy loam, nematodes introduced 16 cm below the soil surface were able to infect wax moth pupae located at depths of 0-4 cm and 28-32 cm. Nematodes showed a greater tendency to disperse downwards from the point of application. Movement of the nematode was least in clay soil and limited in silty clay loam soil. The number of migrating nematodes was greatest when wax moth pupae were present.     

Soil composition affects the nesting behavior of blue-tailed bee-eaters (Merops philippinus) on Kinmen Island

The blue-tailed bee-eater (Merops philippinus) is a summer migrant that breeds on Kinmen Island, located off the west coast of Taiwan, about 5 km from the southern coast of mainland China. The aim of this study was to investigate why blue-tailed bee-eaters build their nests in sandy loam and sandy clay loam, but not in clay loam. Soil chemical and physical properties, and mineralogical composition were measured for the different soil types. Clay loam had a significantly lower pH, Na, and base saturation than did sandy loam or sandy clay loam. Clay loam had a significantly higher N, cation-exchange capacity (CEC), K, and free iron (Fe_d) and aluminum oxide (Al_d) contents than the other soil types. Clay loam had significantly lower sand and higher clay content, and higher bulk density and penetration resistance than the other soil types. The correlation coefficients (r ²) between penetration resistance and Fe_d, Al_d, and clay contents were 0.997, 0.848, and 0.779, respectively. Soil strength and compaction are important criteria for bee-eaters nesting-site selection. The lower pH of clay loam would enhance the exchangeable Al and acidity, further increasing the soil aggregation. Thus, it might prevent the bee-eaters from excavating nesting burrows.     

绿洲边缘夹粘沙丘持水特性

夹粘沙丘是指剖面中分布有一层红褐色粘化层的沙丘,其夹粘层埋藏深度常在120—500cm左右,厚度在40—100cm之间,粘粉粒含量达到90%以上。夹粘沙丘人工梭梭固沙植被郁闭度在0.5以上,明显高于相同水热条件下的植被生产力,这可能与夹粘层通过改变土壤持水性及水分状况,从而提高了土壤水分承载力有关。以河西走廊绿洲边缘夹粘沙丘为研究对象,在测定0—8.0m剖面土壤物理性质和土壤水分特征曲线的基础上,计算了土壤孔隙分布和持水特性,研究了剖面中土壤持水性的变化规律及其影响因素。结果表明:(1)夹粘层土壤含水量最高,上覆沙土土壤含水量最少且随深度增加而增加,下伏沙土受地下水毛管作用影响水分含量较高;(2)土壤机械组成决定了不同土层的持水特性,土壤中粘粉粒含量越高,田间持水量和饱和含水量就越大,夹粘层的土壤持水性远高于沙土层;(3)夹粘层是沙丘土壤水分暂时贮存的重要土层,可以为植被提供深层土壤水分,这对绿洲边缘人工固沙植被的生存和繁衍有重要影响,而土壤持水性和毛管作用的强弱决定了夹粘层对沙丘水分调节能力的强弱。本研究为深入理解绿洲边缘雨养固沙植被斑块状分布的机理提供了一定的理论依据。     

Soil Texture and Cultivar Effects on Rice (Oryza sativa,L.) Grain Yield,Yield Components and Water Productivity in Three Water Regimes

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of water regime/soil condition (continuous flooding, saturated, and aerobic), cultivar (‘Cocodrie’ and ‘Rondo’), and soil texture (clay and sandy loam) on rice grain yield, yield components and water productivity using a greenhouse trial. Rice grain yield was significantly affected by soil texture and the interaction between water regime and cultivar. Significantly higher yield was obtained in continuous flooding than in aerobic and saturated soil conditions but the latter treatments were comparable to each other. For Rondo, its grain yield has decreased with soil water regimes in the order of continuous flooding, saturated and aerobic treatments. The rice grain yield in clay soil was 46% higher than in sandy loam soil averaged across cultivar and water regime. Compared to aerobic condition, saturated and continuous flooding treatments had greater panicle numbers. In addition, panicle number in clay soil was 25% higher than in sandy loam soil. The spikelet number of Cocodrie was 29% greater than that of Rondo, indicating that rice cultivar had greater effect on spikelet number than soil type and water management. Water productivity was significantly affected by the interaction of water regime and cultivar. Compared to sandy loam soil, clay soil was 25% higher in water productivity. Our results indicated that cultivar selection and soil texture are important factors in deciding what water management option to practice.     

Managing Semi-Arid Rangelands for Carbon Storage: Grazing and Woody Encroachment Effects on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen

High grazing intensity and wide-spread woody encroachment may strongly alter soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools. However, the direction and quantity of these changes have rarely been quantified in East African savanna ecosystem. As shifts in soil C and N pools might further potentially influence climate change mitigation, we quantified and compared soil organic carbon (SOC) and total soil nitrogen (TSN) content in enclosures and communal grazing lands across varying woody cover i.e. woody encroachment levels. Estimated mean SOC and TSN stocks at 0–40 cm depth varied across grazing regimes and among woody encroachment levels. The open grazing land at the heavily encroached site on sandy loam soil contained the least SOC (30 ± 2.1 Mg ha^-1) and TSN (5 ± 0.57 Mg ha^-1) while the enclosure at the least encroached site on sandy clay soil had the greatest mean SOC (81.0 ± 10.6 Mg ha^-1) and TSN (9.2 ± 1.48 Mg ha^-1). Soil OC and TSN did not differ with grazing exclusion at heavily encroached sites, but were twice as high inside enclosure compared to open grazing soils at low encroached sites. Mean SOC and TSN in soils of 0–20 cm depth were up to 120% higher than that of the 21–40 cm soil layer. Soil OC was positively related to TSN, cation exchange capacity (CEC), but negatively related to sand content. Our results show that soil OC and TSN stocks are affected by grazing, but the magnitude is largely influenced by woody encroachment and soil texture. We suggest that improving the herbaceous layer cover through a reduction in grazing and woody encroachment restriction are the key strategies for reducing SOC and TSN losses and, hence, for climate change mitigation in semi-arid rangelands.     

Effect of long-term application of animal manure on physical properties of three soils

Surface soil samples to 15 cm depth were taken from replicated plots in an ongoing long-term field experiment involving application of animal manure on three soils in Virginia. The sampled plots had received either no manure or the equivalent of 289,000 kg ha^–1 of manure as dry weight. The manure was applied annually at the beginning of each spring for 15 years from 1978 through 1992. The plots were cropped similarly since 1978. Soil textures were a fine sandy loam at Holland in the Atlantic Coastal Plain region, a silt loam at Blacksburg in the Appalachian region, and a clay loam at Orange in the Piedmont region of Virginia. The following measurements were made on subsamples: liquid and plastic limits, wet aggregate stability, aggregate size distribution, dispersible clay percentage, water retention at 0. 03, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 MPa tension, and modulus of rupture of moulded briquettes at a water content corresponding to 0.1 MPa tension. Organic matter content by the Walkley-Black method was significantly higher in the manure-treated soils at all three locations. Increases were 3% for the sandy loam and 25% for the silt loam and clay loam. From these values it was estimated that at least 95% of the total applied manure had been degraded over the 15 years. Results showed that the liquid and plastic limits for all three soils were higher (p<0.05) for the manure-treated samples. However, the differences in the limits were only 2 to 3%. The modulus of rupture values were lowered by addition of the animal manure. Decreases (p<0.05) occurred for the silt loam and clay loam samples. The wet aggregate stability increased and the dispersible clay decreased in the manure-treated soils. Increases (p<0.05) in wet aggregate stability occurred for the sandy loam and silt loam samples. Decreases (p<0.05) in dispersible clay were measured for the sandy loam and clay loam samples. Water retention was consistently, but only slightly, increased by manure addition. The increases, in the order of sample texture, were clay loam > sandy loam silt loam. Increases tended to be higher at the lower values of tension. Manure addition consistently increased the weight percentages of aggregates passing a given mesh size. Increases, in order of sample texture, were silt loam > clay loam > sandy loam. In their entirety, these results show that the manure produced measurable changes in the soil physical properties. The magnitude of the changes, in most cases, were small and depended on the soil texture. Given the high total amount of manure applied, the results indicate that manure-induced physical changes in the soil were small and evidently did not accumulate over time. Rapid microbial degradation of the manure could be responsible for the lack of marked changes in the soil physical properties.     

Transport of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts through vegetated buffer strips and estimated filtration efficiency

Vegetated buffer strips were evaluated for their ability to remove waterborne Cryptosporidium parvum from surface and shallow subsurface flow during simulated rainfall rates of 15 or 40 mm/h for 4 h. Log(10) reductions for spiked C. parvum oocysts ranged from 1.0 to 3.1 per m of vegetated buffer, with buffers set at 5 to 20% slope, 85 to 99% fescue cover, soil textures of either silty clay (19:47:34 sand-silt-clay), loam (45:37:18), or sandy loam (70:25:5), and bulk densities of between 0.6 to 1.7 g/cm(3). Vegetated buffers constructed with sandy loam or higher soil bulk densities were less effective at removing waterborne C. parvum (1- to 2-log(10) reduction/m) compared to buffers constructed with silty clay or loam or at lower bulk densities (2- to 3-log(10) reduction/m). The effect of slope on filtration efficiency was conditional on soil texture and soil bulk density. Based on these results, a vegetated buffer strip comprised of similar soils at a slope of or=3 m should function to remove >or=99.9% of C. parvum oocysts from agricultural runoff generated during events involving mild to moderate precipitation.     

Feeding inhibition and mortality in Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) after exposure to imidacloprid-treated soils

Feeding inhibition and mortality of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) exposed to sand, sandy loam, loam, and silty clay loam soils treated with several concentrations of imidacloprid were studied using bioassay techniques under laboratory conditions. Termite workers stopped feeding after exposure to treated soils. Differences in feeding reduction varied among the soil types. Based on the magnitude of the F-statistics, the effect of imidacloprid on the reduction of termite feeding was greatest in sand followed by sandy loam, loam, and silty clay loam soils. Soil properties such as organic matter content, silt and clay proportions, pH, and cation exchange capacity were suggested to affect the bioavailability of imidacloprid. Similar soil effects on mortality were observed in termites continuously exposed to treated soil for 21 d. In three of four soils tested, susceptibility to imidacloprid was not affected by the source of the termites tested.     

Fine root dynamics and trace gas fluxes in two lowland tropical forest soils

Fine root dynamics have the potential to contribute significantly to ecosystem‐scale biogeochemical cycling, including the production and emission of greenhouse gases. This is particularly true in tropical forests which are often characterized as having large fine root biomass and rapid rates of root production and decomposition. We examined patterns in fine root dynamics on two soil types in a lowland moist Amazonian forest, and determined the effect of root decay on rates of C and N trace gas fluxes. Root production averaged 229 (±35) and 153 (±27) g m^?2 yr^?1 for years 1 and 2 of the study, respectively, and did not vary significantly with soil texture. Root decay was sensitive to soil texture with faster rates in the clay soil (k=?0.96 year^?1) than in the sandy loam soil (k=?0.61 year^?1), leading to greater standing stocks of dead roots in the sandy loam. Rates of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions were significantly greater in the clay soil (13±1 ng N cm^?2 h^?1) than in the sandy loam (1.4±0.2 ng N cm^?2 h^?1). Root mortality and decay following trenching doubled rates of N₂O emissions in the clay and tripled them in sandy loam over a 1‐year period. Trenching also increased nitric oxide fluxes, which were greater in the sandy loam than in the clay. We used trenching (clay only) and a mass balance approach to estimate the root contribution to soil respiration. In clay soil root respiration was 264–380 g C m^?2 yr^?1, accounting for 24% to 35% of the total soil CO₂ efflux. Estimates were similar using both approaches. In sandy loam, root respiration rates were slightly higher and more variable (521±206 g C m² yr^?1) and contributed 35% of the total soil respiration. Our results show that soil heterotrophs strongly dominate soil respiration in this forest, regardless of soil texture. Our results also suggest that fine root mortality and decomposition associated with disturbance and land‐use change can contribute significantly to increased rates of nitrogen trace gas emissions.     

不同冬小麦品种在3种质地土壤中氮代谢特征及利用效率分析

为明确不同土壤质地条件下不同品种冬小麦(Triticum aestivum)的氮代谢和利用特征, 筛选与土壤质地相适宜的高产和氮高效利用的优质小麦品种, 采用大田试验的方法, 在同一生态类型区砂土、壤土和黏土3种质地土壤上, 以当地生产上大面积应用的强筋小麦‘郑麦366’ (‘ZM366’)和中筋小麦‘矮抗58’ (‘AK58’)、‘周麦22’ (‘ZM22’)为材料, 系统地研究了土壤质地对不同冬小麦品种主要生育时期叶片氨同化关键酶谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性、游离氨基酸含量、花前和花后不同器官氮素积累和分配、氮素再分配等氮代谢过程及产量、品质和氮素利用效率等的影响。结果表明: 在这3种土壤质地上, 不同品种冬小麦旗叶GS活性和游离氨基酸含量均呈倒“V”型变化特征。各品种小麦旗叶GS活性、游离氨基酸含量大小及达到最大值的时期不一样, 砂土条件下峰值早于壤土10天左右出现, 且在5月22日已检测不到GS活性和游离氨基酸含量。花前和花后小麦地上部及各器官氮积累量(NA)、氮再分配量(NR)、成熟期籽粒产量和氮素当季利用率(NUE)均以壤土上为最高。氮素转运率(NRE)、花前再分配氮素对籽粒氮素的贡献率(NRC)、氮素生理效率(NPE)、氮收获指数(NHI)以砂土上为最高。其中, 砂土上NRC达82.46%-95.84%, 是花后的7倍左右; 壤土和黏土条件下花后吸收的氮素在籽粒氮素的积累中占有较大的比例, 贡献率分别为36.6%和29.2%。同一土壤质地上3个品种比较, 在砂土上, GS活性、游离氨基酸含量、籽粒产量、蛋白质含量及NUE和NPE以‘郑麦366’最高, 而壤土上以‘矮抗58’最高, 黏土上则以‘周麦22’最高。因此, 在生产上应培育和选择与土壤质地相适应的小麦品种, 砂土地种植‘郑麦366’, 壤土条件下种植‘矮抗58’, 黏土条件下种植‘周麦22’, 可以在获得较高产量和品质的同时, 提高氮素利用效率。     

Mangrove rehabilitation on Carey Island,Malaysia: an evaluation of replanting techniques and sediment properties

We assess the suitability of conventional replanting techniques of Rhizophora mucronata and the relationship with soil properties, and compare the differences between rehabilitation and non-rehabilitation sites, on Carey Island, Malaysia. The average survival rate of planted seedlings at the rehabilitation site was 46% in the first six months, gradually reducing to complete mortality after one year, while no survival was recorded at the non-rehabilitation site from the beginning. Over the short period, survival of the clumped planting technique yielded the highest survival rate (75%) compared with random (33%) and uniform (30%) techniques; with a height increment of 2.48?±?1.87?cm/month, diameter increment of 0.49?±?0.81?mm/month, leaf increment of 2.05?±?2.80 and chlorophyll content of 32.08?±?5.80 SPAD (= Soil Plant Analysis Development values). Fifteen new recruits of Avicennia spp. with a 60% survival rate were recorded in the rehabilitation site at the end of the study. Soil texture changed significantly at the rehabilitation site from sandy loam (clay, 2.85%; silt 33.93%; sand, 63.21%) to silty loam (clay, 1.88%; silt 60.74%; sand, 37.38%). Soil nutrients: carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) were significantly higher in the top 40?cm at the rehabilitation site while phosphorus (P) was lower. We argue that nutrient differences between the rehabilitation and non-rehabilitation sites affected the health of both planted and wild seedlings and ultimately the success of the rehabilitation effort. As the soil condition improves at the rehabilitation site, natural recruitment would be the best available option in this restoration process.     

Development of microtopography in a semi-arid grassland: Effects of disturbance size and soil texture

Our objective was to evaluate effects of disturbance size and soil texture on the development of microtopography for a shortgrass plant community in north central Colorado USA. Disturbances, defined as the death of individual plants, were created in 1984 and 1985 to evaluate development through time of the small-scale pattern of perennial bunchgrasses and bare soil openings that characterize this semiarid grassland. Disturbed plots of three sizes (50, 100, 150 cm-diameter) comparable in size to naturally-occurring disturbances were produced by killing plants at two sites differing in soil texture (sandy loam, clay loam). Disturbed plots were not manipulated after being created. In 1993, a laser surveying instrument was used to measure heights of crowns of individual plants of the dominant species, the perennial bunchgrass Bouteloua gracilis ([H.B.K.] Lag. ex Griffiths), and bare soil openings between plants for two locations: within each disturbance and in the surrounding undisturbed landscape.Differences between crown heights of plants and bare soil openings were comparable for both the undisturbed landscape and inside disturbances indicating that small-scale microtopography had recovered within nine years after disturbance occurred. However, complete recovery to the undisturbed state had not occurred since crown heights of plants relative to bare soil openings were significantly less on disturbed than undisturbed locations. Differences in height between plant crowns and bare soil openings on disturbed plots increased as disturbance size increased, indicating greater soil redistribution with increasing plot size. Larger differences in height were also found on plots on the fine- than the coarse-textured soil, indicating the importance of soil particle size and plant cover type to the development of microtopography. Differences in height between microsites on disturbed plots were positively related to total plant cover and negatively related to cover of B. gracilis indicating the importance of this species to reducing erosion on disturbed areas.In this semiarid grassland, patterns in microtopography were heterogeneous, likely as a result of the small-scale redistribution of soil between bare soil openings and B. gracilis plants through time. Our results indicate that this redistribution of soil is affected by disturbance size, soil texture, and patchy plant cover. The major effect of small-scale disturbances on patterns in microtopography of the shortgrass steppe are causing plant death and exposing soil to erosional and depositional processes.     

中国水土流失敏感性分布规律及其区划研究

以水土流失通用方程为理论基础,利用我国已有的水土流失研究成果及地貌、土壤和植被分布图,分析了降水、土壤质地、地形坡度增长和地表覆盖因子对我国水土流失敏感性的影响及其形成的区域差异。在综合评价我国水土流失敏感性区域差异基础上,提出了中国水土流失敏感性区划方案。     

Host-parasite Interactions of Pratylenchus scribneri on Selected Crop Plants

Greenhouse tests were conducted to determine the effects of soil temperature and texture on development of Pratylenchus scribneri and the pathogenicity and reproductive rates of this nematode on selected crop plants. In a sandy loam soil, greatest numbers of P. scribneri were found at 30 and 35 C on sudangrass and sugarbeet, respectively. In a silty clay loam, the nematode reproduced best at 35 C on sugarbeet. Higher populations of P. scribneri were found in the sandy loam than silty clay loam soil at corresponding temperatures. In a pathogenicity test, top and root growth of sudangrass and barley were suppressed by the nematode, whereas no significant growth inhibition was found on wheat and alfalfa. Tests with other vegetable and field crops indicated wide variance in nematode reproduction.     

A comparison of fine root distribution and water consumption of mature Caragana korshinkii Kom grown in two soils in a semiarid region, China

Water is a key limiting factor for vegetation restoration in the semi-arid areas of China. Caragana korshinkii Kom is a shrub that is widely planted in this region to control soil erosion and land desertification. The objective of this study was to investigate the fine root distribution of mature C. korshinkii and its water consumption, when grown in either silt loam or sandy soils, in order to understand differences between the water cycles of two such soils found in the transition zone between fertile loess hills and desert of the Northern Loess Plateau. Fine root distributions were measured using the trench-profile method. Soil water dynamics were monitored with a neutron probe during two growing seasons. The results showed that fine root area density (FRAD) declined with increasing soil depth in both soils, with 70.7% and 96.6% of the total fine roots being concentrated in the upper 1-m layer of the silt loam and sandy soils, respectively. Water consumption by C. korshinkii in the silt loam was close to that in the sandy soil. Most water consumption in both soil types was from the upper 1-m layer. Little variation in plant available water (PAW) occurred in the 3–6 m soil layer during the whole study period. However, in this layer, the PAW was significantly lower in the silt loam soil than in the sandy soil. Total actual evapotranspiration (ET_a) was slightly higher from the sandy soil plots than from those of the silt loam soil during both growing seasons. Our study indicated that mature C. korshinkii effectively uses about the same amount of water from either the silt loam or sandy soils, but that more soil water at depth was extracted from silt loam soil than from sandy soil.