鼎湖山森林土壤活性碳及惰性碳沿海拔梯度的变化

对鼎湖山3个不同海拔高度下的沟谷雨林(LA)、低地常绿阔叶林(MA)和山地常绿阔叶林(UA)的土壤活性碳库和惰性碳库进行了研究。结果表明:(1)土壤总碳库仅在30—45 cm土层中存在显著差异且碳库大小随着海拔的增加而增加。(2)土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)碳库在0—15 cm是LA和MA显著大于UA,在30—45 cm是MA和UA显著高于LA,在45—60 cm土层中MA最大。水溶性碳(WSOC)和颗粒碳(POC)碳库均不随海拔高度而改变。WSOC碳库占总碳库的百分比仅在30—45cm土层中存在差异且大小顺序为:LAUAMA,POC碳库占总碳库的百分比仅在土层15—30 cm上存在显著差异且MA比值最大。易氧化性碳(ROC)碳库及占总碳库百分比都是在表层土壤(0—15 cm)中产生显著变化,且UA极显著地大于LA和MA。(3)惰性碳(RC)碳库仅在深层土壤中存在显著差异且MA中RC碳库最大,UA次之,LA最小。RC碳库占总碳库比值仅在表层土壤0—15 cm存在显著差异且UA最大。表层土壤中ROC碳库和RC碳库占总碳库百分比的增加是导致中高海拔森林土壤总碳库最大的主要原因。(4)不同海拔高度上森林土壤理化性质与土壤碳库组成存在显著相关,土壤理化性质的改变是引起不同海拔高度森林土壤碳库组成变化的重要原因。     

桂西北喀斯特峰丛洼地不同植被恢复方式下土壤有机碳组分变化特征

植被恢复被认为是提升退化区域土壤有机碳（SOC）固持的有效措施。然而,喀斯特脆弱生态系统植被人工恢复和自然恢复模式下SOC不同组分变化特征、稳定性和固持能力的研究还较缺乏。以典型喀斯特峰丛洼地为研究区,以耕地为对照,以恢复15年的人工恢复（人工林）和自然恢复（耕地撂荒后植被自然演替为灌丛）为研究对象,分析不同植被恢复模式下SOC、颗粒态有机碳（POC）、矿质结合态有机碳（MOC）、易氧化态有机碳（ROC）、惰性碳指数（RI）和SOC相对固持能力（SCS_capacity）变化特征。结果发现：（1）人工林和灌丛SOC、POC和ROC含量显著高于耕地,且灌丛POC和ROC含量显著高于人工林,MOC则在三者之间差异不显著;（2）与耕地相比,人工林和灌丛RI显著下降,但SCS_capacity差异不显著。研究表明,桂西北喀斯特峰丛洼地植被恢复15年后主要提升土壤活性碳组分,且自然恢复比人工恢复更有利于于提升土壤活性碳组分;然而,耕地退耕后短期内土壤碳稳定性并未增加,强调植被恢复后避免再次毁林开荒对于维持土壤碳固持的必要性。     

模拟升温和放牧对高寒草甸土壤有机碳氮组分和微生物生物量的影响

土壤活性、惰性有机质库和微生物生物量在数量和分配上的变化是陆地生态系统土壤有机质贮存和动态变化的决定性因素。采用OTCs(Open top chambers)升温以及刈割+粪便归还的方法,对青藏高原东部高寒草甸土壤有机碳氮组分和微生物生物量对气候变暖和放牧的响应进行了研究。结果表明,模拟升温在短期内显著降低土壤活性有机碳Ⅰ、活性有机氮Ⅰ和惰性有机碳的含量,而由于粪便归还作用,放牧明显增加土壤活性有机碳、氮Ⅰ的含量。模拟升温和放牧对有机碳、氮组分的作用效应相互抵消,两者共同作用下有机碳、氮组分仅略有降低。单一的模拟升温或放牧没有显著改变微生物生物量碳,但是两者共同作用却能够大大增加微生物生物量碳。放牧和取样时间存在着明显的交互作用,放牧效应随时间递减。本研究表明,气候变暖对放牧草甸有机碳、氮组分影响不大;放牧过程中的牲畜粪便归还作用不容忽视。     

Effects of external nitrogen additions on soil organic carbon dynamics and the mechanism

What would be the impact of external nitrogen additions on soil carbon, an issue still under debating, as reported experimental results were either positive, negtive or neutral. Several factors may be related to these seemingly controversial results: differences in ecosystem types and soil properties, soil carbon detection methods, soil depths, and contents of soil labile and recalcitrant carbon that affect the responses to nitrogen additions, all could cause discrepancies and variations in carbon sequestration. The several processes that contribute to enhance soil organic carbon storage include increasing litter input, decresing soil carbon output, particularly, by supressed decomposition of recalcitrant carbon, promoting soil humifiction and formation of recalcitrant carbon storage. However, there are still many uncertainties associated with these issues. To improve our understanding, the research about carbon in deep soil layers, dissolved organic carbon leaching and accumulation, and the effect of labile and recalcitrant soil C ratios on N addition responses, should be further investigated in the future studies.     

Nitrogen increases soil organic carbon accrual and alters its functionality

Nitrogen (N) availability has been considered as a critical factor for the cycling and storage of soil organic carbon (SOC), but effects of N enrichment on the SOC pool appear highly variable. Given the complex nature of the SOC pool, recent frameworks suggest that separating this pool into different functional components, for example, particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), is of great importance for understanding and predicting SOC dynamics. Importantly, little is known about how these N-induced changes in SOC components (e.g., changes in the ratios among these fractions) would affect the functionality of the SOC pool, given the differences in nutrient density, resistance to disturbance, and turnover time between POC and MAOC pool. Here, we conducted a global meta-analysis of 803 paired observations from 98 published studies to assess the effect of N addition on these SOC components, and the ratios among these fractions. We found that N addition, on average, significantly increased POC and MAOC pools by 16.4% and 3.7%, respectively. In contrast, both the ratios of MAOC to SOC and MAOC to POC were remarkably decreased by N enrichment (4.1% and 10.1%, respectively). Increases in the POC pool were positively correlated with changes in aboveground plant biomass and with hydrolytic enzymes. However, the positive responses of MAOC to N enrichment were correlated with increases in microbial biomass. Our results suggest that although reactive N deposition could facilitate soil C sequestration to some extent, it might decrease the nutrient density, turnover time, and resistance to disturbance of the SOC pool. Our study provides mechanistic insights into the effects of N enrichment on the SOC pool and its functionality at global scale, which is pivotal for understanding soil C dynamics especially in future scenarios with more frequent and severe perturbations.     

土壤有机碳对外源氮添加的响应及其机制

土壤有机碳库是陆地生态系统碳库的重要组成, 在全球碳循环中发挥着重要的作用。受元素化学计量平衡调控作用, 氮输入的增加将会对土壤有机碳库产生重要影响。然而, 目前关于陆地生态系统碳库对氮添加的响应主要集中在植被碳库, 对土壤碳库研究较少, 且研究结论争议较大, 尤其对其响应机制缺少系统梳理。该文作者通过对已有文献进行梳理, 认为生态系统类型、土壤碳变化的检测方法、土壤深度, 以及土壤稳定性碳和易变碳含量的差异可能是造成当前研究土壤碳汇增量(每克氮输入所增加的碳)差异的重要原因。氮添加条件下土壤有机碳的积累机制可能包括3个方面: 1)氮添加增加了凋落物输入, 促进了碳积累; 2)氮添加减少土壤碳输出, 尤其是抑制了稳定性碳的分解; 3)促进土壤腐殖质及稳定性碳的形成。此外, 该文结合当前研究中存在的不足, 提出今后需加强对深层土壤碳、土壤可溶性有机碳的淋溶及吸附, 以及不同土壤碳组分对氮添加的响应研究, 并通过改进检测方法减少氮添加条件下碳储量的测量误差。     

Mycorrhizal responses to nitrogen fertilization in boreal ecosystems: potential consequences for soil carbon storage

Mycorrhizal fungi can contribute to soil carbon sequestration by immobilizing carbon in living fungal tissues and by producing recalcitrant compounds that remain in the soil following fungal senescence. We hypothesized that nitrogen (N) fertilization would decrease these carbon stocks, because plants should reduce investment of carbon in mycorrhizal fungi when N availability is high. We measured the abundance of two major groups of mycorrhizal fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, in the top 10 cm of soil in control and N-fertilized plots within three Alaskan boreal ecosystems that represented different recovery stages following severe fire. Pools of mycorrhizal carbon included root-associated AM and ECM structures; soil-associated AM hyphae; and glomalin, a glycoprotein produced by AM fungi. Total mycorrhizal carbon pools decreased by approximately 50 g C m⁻² in the youngest site under N fertilization, and this reduction was driven mostly by glomalin. Total mycorrhizal carbon did not change significantly in the other sites. Root-associated AM structures were more abundant under N fertilization across all sites, and root-associated ECM structures increased marginally significantly. We found no significant N effects on AM hyphae. Carbon sequestered within living mycorrhizal structures (0.051–0.21 g m⁻²) was modest compared with that of glomalin (33–203 g m⁻²). We conclude that our hypothesis was only supported in relation to glomalin stocks within one of the three study sites. As N effects on glomalin were inconsistent among sites, an understanding of the mechanisms underlying this variation would improve our ability to predict ecosystem feedbacks to global change.     

Evidence that Soil Carbon Pool Determines Susceptibility of Semi-Natural Ecosystems to Elevated Nitrogen Leaching

Deposition of reactive nitrogen (N) compounds has the potential to cause severe damage to sensitive soils and waters, but the process of ‘nitrogen saturation’ is difficult to demonstrate or predict. This study compares outputs from a simple carbon–nitrogen model with observations of (1) regional- and catchment-scale relationships between surface water nitrate and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), as an indicator of catchment carbon (C) pool; (2) inter-regional variations in soil C/N ratios; and (3) plot scale soil and leachate response to long-term N additions, for a range of UK moorlands. Results suggest that the simple model applied can effectively reproduce observed patterns, and that organic soil C stores provide a critical control on catchment susceptibility to enhanced N leaching, leading to high spatial variability in the extent and severity of current damage within regions of relatively uniform deposition. Results also support the hypothesis that the N richness of organic soils, expressed as C/N ratio, provides an effective indicator of soil susceptibility to enhanced N leaching. The extent to which current C/N is influenced by N deposition, as opposed to factors such as climate and vegetation type, cannot be unequivocally determined on the basis of spatial data. However, N addition experiments at moorland sites have shown a reduction in organic soil C/N. A full understanding of the mechanisms of N-enrichment of soils and waters is essential to the assessment of current sensitivity to, and prediction of future damage from, globally increasing reactive nitrogen deposition.     

The carbon-quality temperature hypothesis: Fact or artefact?

Climate warming can reduce global soil carbon stocks by enhancing microbial decomposition. However, the magnitude of this loss remains uncertain because the temperature sensitivity of the decomposition of the major fraction of soil carbon, namely resistant carbon, is not fully known. It is now believed that the resistance of soil carbon mostly depends on microbial accessibility of soil carbon with physical protection being the primary control of the decomposition of protected carbon, which is insensitive to temperature changes. However, it is still unclear whether the temperature sensitivity of the decomposition of unprotected carbon, for example, carbon that is not protected by the soil mineral matrix, may depend on the chemical recalcitrance of carbon compounds. In particular, the carbon-quality temperature (CQT) hypothesis asserts that recalcitrant low-quality carbon is more temperature-sensitive to decomposition than labile high-quality carbon. If the hypothesis is correct, climate warming could amplify the loss of unprotected, but chemically recalcitrant, carbon and the resultant CO₂ release from soils to the atmosphere. Previous research has supported this hypothesis based on reported negative relationships between temperature sensitivity and carbon quality, defined as the decomposition rate at a reference temperature. Here we show that negative relationships can arise simply from the arbitrary choice of reference temperature, inherently invalidating those tests. To avoid this artefact, we defined the carbon quality of different compounds as their uncatalysed reaction rates in the absence of enzymes. Taking the uncatalysed rate as the carbon quality index, we found that the CQT hypothesis is not supported for enzyme-catalysed reactions, which showed no relationship between carbon quality and temperature sensitivity. The lack of correlation in enzyme-catalysed reactions implies similar temperature sensitivity for microbial decomposition of soil carbon, regardless of its quality, thereby allaying concerns of acceleration of warming-induced decomposition of recalcitrant carbon.     

林冠氮添加和林下植被去除对杉木林土壤有机碳组分的影响

为探讨氮添加和林下植被管理对杉木人工林土壤有机碳组分的影响,以福建沙县官庄国有林场杉木人工林为对象,设置对照（CK）、林冠氮添加（CN）、林下植被去除（UR）、林冠氮添加和林下植被去除（CNUR）4个处理的野外控制实验,研究林冠氮添加和林下植被去除对土壤总有机碳、惰性有机碳、易氧化有机碳、颗粒有机碳、微生物生物量碳和水溶性有机碳的影响。结果表明：5年CN添加处理显著降低易氧化有机碳（10—20 cm）和微生物生物量碳（20—40 cm）含量,增加表层土壤颗粒有机碳占总有机碳的比例。UR处理对土壤有机碳组分的作用不显著,而CNUR处理显著降低表层土壤水溶性有机碳含量及其比例。土壤各有机碳组分均与土壤含水量、可溶性有机氮、微生物生物量氮和铵态氮呈显著正相关。研究表明,土壤活性有机碳比惰性有机碳对林冠氮添加（5年）的响应更敏感,且表现为中下层土壤响应大于表层土壤,短期氮添加能促进土壤活性有机碳的分解,而林下植被去除在短时间内可能通过改变土壤含水量和可利用氮减缓有机碳的分解与转化,从而补偿由于氮添加引起的土壤活性有机碳下降,未来需要通过长期氮添加实验进一步研究土壤有机碳动态变化的响应机制。     

Evidence for key enzymatic controls on metabolism of Arctic river organic matter

Permafrost thaw in the Arctic driven by climate change is mobilizing ancient terrigenous organic carbon (OC) into fluvial networks. Understanding the controls on metabolism of this OC is imperative for assessing its role with respect to climate feedbacks. In this study, we examined the effect of inorganic nutrient supply and dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition on aquatic extracellular enzyme activities (EEAs) in waters draining the Kolyma River Basin (Siberia), including permafrost‐derived OC. Reducing the phenolic content of the DOM pool resulted in dramatic increases in hydrolase EEAs (e.g., phosphatase activity increased >28‐fold) supporting the idea that high concentrations of polyphenolic compounds in DOM (e.g., plant structural tissues) inhibit enzyme synthesis or activity, limiting OC degradation. EEAs were significantly more responsive to inorganic nutrient additions only after phenolic inhibition was experimentally removed. In controlled mixtures of modern OC and thawed permafrost endmember OC sources, respiration rates per unit dissolved OC were 1.3–1.6 times higher in waters containing ancient carbon, suggesting that permafrost‐derived OC was more available for microbial mineralization. In addition, waters containing ancient permafrost‐derived OC supported elevated phosphatase and glucosidase activities. Based on these combined results, we propose that both composition and nutrient availability regulate DOM metabolism in Arctic aquatic ecosystems. Our empirical findings are incorporated into a mechanistic conceptual model highlighting two key enzymatic processes in the mineralization of riverine OM: (i) the role of phenol oxidase activity in reducing inhibitory phenolic compounds and (ii) the role of phosphatase in mobilizing organic P. Permafrost‐derived DOM degradation was less constrained by this initial ‘phenolic‐OM’ inhibition; thus, informing reports of high biological availability of ancient, permafrost‐derived DOM with clear ramifications for its metabolism in fluvial networks and feedbacks to climate.     

Differences in temperature, organic carbon and oxygen consumption among lowland streams

1. Temperature, organic carbon and oxygen consumption were measured over a year at 13 sites in four lowlands streams within the same region in North Zealand, Denmark with the objectives of determining: (i) spatial and seasonal differences between open streams, forest streams and streams with or without lakes, (ii) factors influencing the temperature dependence of oxygen consumption rate, (iii) consequences of higher temperature and organic content in lake outlets on oxygen consumption rate, and (iv) possible consequences of forecasted global warming on degradation of organic matter. 2. High concentrations of easily degradable dissolved (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were found in open streams downstream of plankton‐rich lakes, while high concentrations of recalcitrant DOC were found in a forest brook draining a forest swamp. Concentrations of predominantly recalcitrant POC and DOC were low in a groundwater‐fed forest spring. Overall, DOC concentration was two to 18 times higher than POC concentrations. 3. Oxygen consumption rate at 20 °C was higher during summer than winter, higher in open than shaded streams and higher in lake outlets than inlets. Rate was closely related to concentrations of chlorophyll and POC but not to DOC. The ratio of oxygen consumption rate to total organic concentrations (DOC + POC), serving as a measure of organic degradability, was highest downstream of lakes, intermediate in open streams and lowest in forest streams. 4. Temperature coefficients describing the exponential increase of oxygen consumption rate between 4 and 20 °C averaged 0.121 °C^?1 (Q₁₀ of 3.35) in 70 measurements and showed no significant variations between seasons and stream sites or correlations with ambient temperature and organic content. 5. Oxygen consumption rate was enhanced downstream of lakes during summer because of higher temperature and, more significantly, greater concentrations of degradable organic carbon. Oxygen consumption rates were up to seven times higher in the stream with three impoundments than in a neighbouring unshaded stream and 21 times higher than in the groundwater‐fed forest spring. 6. A regional climate model has calculated a dramatic 4–5 °C rise in air temperature over Denmark by 2070–2100. If this is realised, unshaded streams are estimated to become 2–3 °C warmer in summer and winter and 5–7 °C warmer in spring and, thereby, increase oxygen consumption rates at ambient temperature by 30–40% and 80–130%, respectively. Faster consumption of organic matter and dissolved oxygen downstream of point sources should increase the likelihood of oxygen stress of the stream biota and lead to the export of less organic matter but more mineralised nutrients to the coastal waters.     

The Ratios of Carbon,Nitrogen, and Phosphorus in a Wetland Coastal Ecosystem of Southern India

The fertility of the coastal and estuarine waters is of great concern because of its influence on the productivity of these waters. Seasonal variations in the distribution of organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus in the sediments of Kuttanad Waters, a part of the tropical Cochin Estuary on the south west coast of India, are examined to identify the contribution of sediments to the fertility of the aquatic systems. The adjoining region has considerable agricultural activity. The fresh water zones had higher quantities of silt and clay whereas the estuarine zone was more sandy. Organic carbon, total phosphorus and total nitrogen were higher in the fresh water zones and lower in the estuarine zones. Total phosphorus and organic carbon showed the lowest values during monsoon periods. No significant trends were observed in the seasonal distributions of total nitrogen. Ratios of C/N, C/P and N/P, and the phosphorus and nitrogen content indicate significant modification in the character of the organic matter. Substantial amounts of the organic matter can contribute to reducing conditions and modify diagenetic processes.     

Different types of nitrogen deposition show variable effects on the soil carbon cycle process of temperate forests

Nitrogen (N) deposition significantly affects the soil carbon (C) cycle process of forests. However, the influence of different types of N on it still remained unclear. In this work, ammonium nitrate was selected as an inorganic N (IN) source, while urea and glycine were chosen as organic N (ON) sources. Different ratios of IN to ON (1 : 4, 2 : 3, 3 : 2, 4 : 1, and 5 : 0) were mixed with equal total amounts and then used to fertilize temperate forest soils for 2 years. Results showed that IN deposition inhibited soil C cycle processes, such as soil respiration, soil organic C decomposition, and enzymatic activities, and induced the accumulation of recalcitrant organic C. By contrast, ON deposition promoted these processes. Addition of ON also resulted in accelerated transformation of recalcitrant compounds into labile compounds and increased CO₂ efflux. Meanwhile, greater ON deposition may convert C sequestration in forest soils into C source. These results indicated the importance of the IN to ON ratio in controlling the soil C cycle, which can consequently change the ecological effect of N deposition.     

Heterotrophic microbial communities use ancient carbon following glacial retreat

When glaciers retreat they expose barren substrates that become colonized by organisms, beginning the process of primary succession. Recent studies reveal that heterotrophic microbial communities occur in newly exposed glacial substrates before autotrophic succession begins. This raises questions about how heterotrophic microbial communities function in the absence of carbon inputs from autotrophs. We measured patterns of soil organic matter development and changes in microbial community composition and carbon use along a 150-year chronosequence of a retreating glacier in the Austrian Alps. We found that soil microbial communities of recently deglaciated terrain differed markedly from those of later successional stages, being of lower biomass and higher abundance of bacteria relative to fungi. Moreover, we found that these initial microbial communities used ancient and recalcitrant carbon as an energy source, along with modern carbon. Only after more than 50 years of organic matter accumulation did the soil microbial community change to one supported primarily by modern carbon, most likely from recent plant production. Our findings suggest the existence of an initial stage of heterotrophic microbial community development that precedes autotrophic community assembly and is sustained, in part, by ancient carbon.     

Temporal variability of particulate organic carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus in the Northern Adriatic Sea

The particulate organic carbon (POC), nitrogen (PN) and phosphorus (PP) vertical distribution along the water column and temporal variability in coastal and offshore waters of the Northern Adriatic Sea were related to the hydrodynamic conditions and biological processes. Fresh water inputs from the Po and Adige rivers enhance primary production, resulting in high POC, PN and PP concentrations at the surface. In offshore waters, POC and PN concentrations were about 3–4 times less than in the coastal waters, while PP were up to 10 times lower, highlighting a marked phosphorus depletion. In the bottom layer, the POC content decreases due to the strong density gradients which separate bottom waters with prevailing degradation processes. Short term 48 h-variability of POC, PN and PP in the coastal waters was determined to a great extent by variations in the spreading of river plumes at the surface and by nepheloid layers and resuspension processes in the bottom waters. The particulate matter in the Adriatic offshore waters is extremely depleted as regards particulate phosphorus and is characterised by C_org:P and N:P ratios higher than the Redfield ratio.     

Dissolved organic matter in small streams along a gradient from discontinuous to continuous permafrost

The Yenisei river passes every type of permafrost regime, from south to north, being characterized by increasing continuity of the permafrost and by decreasing thickness of the active layer. We used that situation to test the hypothesis that amounts and properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in small streams draining forested catchments respond to different permafrost regimes. Water samples were taken from eight tributaries along the Yenisei between 67°30′N and 65°49′N latitude. The samples were analysed for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) and DOM was characterized by its chemical composition (XAD‐8 fractionation, sugars, lignin phenols, amino acids, protein, UV and fluorescence spectroscopy), and its biodegradability. Most properties of the tributary waters varied depending on latitude. The higher the latitude, the higher were DOC, DON and the proportion of the hydrophobic fraction of DOC. The contribution of hexoses and pentoses to DOC were higher in southern tributaries; on the other hand, phenolic compounds were more abundant in northern tributaries. Mineralizable DOC ranged between 4% and 28% of total DOC. DOM in northern tributaries was significantly (P<0.05) less biodegradable than that in southern tributaries reflecting the differences in the chemical properties of DOM. Our results suggest that the differences in DOM properties are mainly attributed to differences of permafrost regime, affecting depth of active layer, soil organic matter accumulation and vegetation. Soil organic matter and vegetation determine the amount and composition of DOM produced in the catchments while the depth of the active layer likely controls the quantity and quality of DOM exported to streams. Sorptive interactions of DOM with the soil mineral phase typically increase with depth. The results imply that a northern shift of discontinuous permafrost likely will change in the long term the input of DOM into the Yenisei and thus probably into the Kara Sea.     

Chemical composition of forest floor and consequences for nutrient availability after wildfire and harvesting in the boreal forest

In boreal forests of eastern Canada, wildfire has gradually been replaced by clearcut harvesting as the most extensive form of disturbance. Such a shift in disturbance may influence the chemical properties of the forest floor and its capacity to cycle and supply nutrients, with possible implications for forest productivity. We compared the effects of stem-only harvesting (SOH), whole-tree harvesting (WTH) and wildfire on the chemical composition of forest floor organic matter and nutrient availability for plants, 15–20 years after disturbance in boreal coniferous stands in Quebec (Canada). The forest floor on plots of wildfire origin was significantly enriched in aromatic forms of C with low solubility, whereas the forest floor from SOH and WTH plots was enriched with more soluble and labile C compounds. The forest floor of wildfire plots was also characterized by higher N concentration, but its high C:N and high concentration of ¹⁵N suggest that its N content could be recalcitrant and have a slow turnover rate. Total and exchangeable K were associated with easily degradable organic structures, whereas total and exchangeable Ca and Mg were positively correlated with the more recalcitrant forms of C. We suggest that the bulk of Ca and Mg cycling in the soil–plant system is inherited from the influx of exchangeable cations in the forest floor following disturbance. The buildup of Ca and Mg exchangeable reserves should be greater with wildfire than with harvesting, due to the sudden pulse of cation-rich ash and to the deposition of charred materials with high exchange capacity. This raises uncertainties about the long-term availability of Ca and Mg for plant uptake on harvested sites. In contrast, K availability should not be compromised by either harvesting or wildfire since it could be recycled rapidly through vegetation, litter and labile organic compounds.     

Export of DOC from forested catchments on the Precambrian Shield of Central Ontario: Clues from 13C and 14C

Export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from forested catchmentsis governed by competing processes of production, decomposition, sorptionand flushing. To examine the sources of DOC, carbon isotopes (¹⁴Cand ¹³C) were analyzed in DOC from surface waters, groundwatersand soils in a small forested catchment on the Canadian Shield in centralOntario. A significant fraction (greater than 50%) of DOCin major inflows to the lake is composed of carbon incorporated into organicmatter, solubilized and flushed into the stream within the last 40 years. Incontrast, ¹⁴C in groundwater DOC was old indicating extensiverecycling of forest floor derived organic carbon in the soil column beforeelution to groundwater in the lower B and C soil horizons. A small uplandbasin had a wide range in ¹⁴C from old groundwater values atbaseflow under dry basin conditions to relatively modern values during highflow or wetter antecedent conditions. Wetlands export mainly recently fixedcarbon with little seasonal range. DOC in streams entering the small lakemay be composed of two pools; an older recalcitrant pool delivered bygroundwater and a young labile pool derived from recent organic matter.The relative proportion of these two pools changes seasonally due thechanges in the water flowpaths and organic carbon dynamics. Althoughchanges in local climate (temperature and/or precipitation) may alterthe relative proportions of the old and young pools, the older pool islikely to be more refractory to sedimentation and decomposition in thelake setting. Delivery of older pool DOC from the catchment andsusceptibility of this older pool to photochemical decomposition mayconsequently be important in governing the minimum DOC concentrationlimit in lakes.     

江西官山常绿阔叶林土壤有机碳组分沿海拔的变化

对江西官山国家级自然保护区不同海拔(400、600、800、1000、1200 m)常绿阔叶林土壤总有机碳、惰性有机碳和活性有机碳进行分析,研究土壤有机碳的海拔分布特征。结果表明: 土壤总有机碳、惰性有机碳及活性有机碳含量在土壤表层最高,随土层加深而逐渐下降。随海拔升高,土壤总有机碳、惰性有机碳、易氧化有机碳、微生物生物量碳及0～20 cm土层土壤颗粒有机碳含量均出现先增后降的趋势, 且在海拔1000 m达到峰值,而土壤水溶性有机碳及20～40 cm土层土壤颗粒有机碳含量无明显变化。在0～10 cm土层,土壤惰性有机碳占总有机碳的比例在海拔800和1200 m显著高于海拔400和1000 m,而土壤活性有机碳占总有机碳的比例在海拔400 m最高;土壤惰性有机碳和活性有机碳占总有机碳的比例在10～40 cm土层随海拔的增加均呈先增加后降低的趋势,峰值分别在1000和600 m处。各组分有机碳与土壤湿度、微生物生物量氮、可溶性有机氮均呈显著正相关,而且活性有机碳与铵态氮呈显著正相关。海拔显著影响常绿阔叶林土壤有机碳组分的分布,惰性有机碳、易氧化有机碳和微生物生物量碳对海拔变化的响应更敏感。高海拔土壤惰性有机碳和活性有机碳在水分和氮素充足条件下易发生分解与转化,降低土壤碳库的稳定性。在全球气温持续升高背景下,要加强高海拔地区森林土壤有机碳的动态变化研究。