The variability in total and extractable soil phosphorus under a grazed pasture

A comparison of the total soil phosphorus (P) and extractable soil P between 224 samples of topsoil from an area of ~27 m² within a grazed, established grass/clover sward has been made. The values of total soil P displayed an approximately normal distribution around a mean concentration of 1264 mg P kg-1 and were positively correlated to acetic-acid-extractable P which accounted for <2% of the total soil P. The amount of total water-extractable P was much smaller (~0.4% of total soil P) and was not significantly correlated with either the concentration of total soil P or acetic-acid-extractable P. A variable proportion (from less than 5 to 60%) of the total water-extractable P was present in a non-molybdate-reactive form, and there was no apparent relationship between these molybdate-reactive and molybdate-unreactive forms. All variograms showed a positive intercept on the ordinate. For acetic-acid-extractable P, the greatest proportion of variance was attributable to the molybdate-reactive P fraction, while it was equally proportioned between molybdate-reactive and -unreactive P forms in water extracts. The greatest variance usually occurred at the maximum sampling distance (18 m). However, even at the smallest distance (11 cm) the variability in total acetic-extractable P was 2.35 mg P kg-1 and water-extractable P was 0.45 mg P kg-1. Therefore the roots of individual plants within the studied pasture may encounter considerable variability in the concentration of available phosphorus. The potential variability of phosphorus found between rooting zones of different individual plants was greater than that likely to be encountered within the area exploited by any one individual root system.     

Plant availability of applied and native boron in soils with diverse properties

Laboratory and greenhouse research was conducted to study effects of soil properties on the availability of native and applied B in 14 Virginia soils. Boron absorption could be described by the Langmuir equation in 12 of the 14 soils, and maximum B adsorption (Vmax) in these 12 soils ranged from 3.3 to 26.5 mg kg⁻¹. A multiple regression equation, −19.3+3.51 pH+0.048 clay content, accounted for 89.6% of the variation in Vmax for the 12 soils. Curvilinear relationships (α=0.01) occurred between B in corn (Zea mays L.) tissue from native B and hot-water soluble B, mannitol exchangeable B, and NH₄-acetate and Mehlich III extractable B. Among these four procedures, mannitol exchangeable B correlated most closely (r=0.923) with B in corn tissue from native B. From 0.4 to 13.5% of the applied B was absorbed by corn plants and translocated to shoots. Curvilinear relationships (α=0.01) occurred between B in corn tissue from applied B and soil clay content, NH₄-oxalate extractable Al and Fe, and acidified NH₂OH·HCl extractable Mn. It is evident from these relationships that soil clay and oxyhydroxides of Al, Fe, and Mn have an affinity to adsorb B in somewhat unavailable forms.     

Spatial distribution of extractable organohalogens in northern pink shrimp in the North Atlantic

Extractable organohalogens (EOX) are organic compounds that contain chlorine, bromine and/or iodine, which can be separated from the matrix by liquid/liquid or liquid/solid extraction. A combination of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and solvent extraction methods has been developed for the determination of EOX from the shrimpPandalus borealis. Levels of EOX were evaluated for spatial trends for shrimp caught in several areas off the Labrador coast, off the coast of Nova Scotia, and off the coast of Maine. Muscle contained 1.09–6.05 Μg EOCl/g tissue and 105–498 Μg extractable organochlorine (EOCl)/g lipid; 0.0607–0.288 Μg extractable organobromine (EOB)r/g tissue and 4.74-10.5 Μg EOBr/g lipid; and 0.014–0.048 Μg extractable organoiodine (EOI)/g tissue and 1.03–1.76 Μg EOI/g lipid, respectively. The levels of EOC1 in roe were 1.60–12.34 Μg/g tissue and 39.0-146 Μg/g lipid. In roe, the EOBr levels were 0.707–1.03 Μg/g tissue and 6.96–13.5 Μg/g lipid; and EOI levels were 0.123–0.349 Μg/g tissue and 1.42–4.11 Μg/g lipid. The EOCl, EOBr, and EOI levels in roe increased noticeably from north to south along the coast of Labrador. Samples taken from the coast of Maine and from Canso Hole were typically higher in EOCl levels than those taken from Labrador. The results for EOBr and EOI were in the same range as those from Labrador.     

Effects of biological soil crusts on profile distribution of soil water,organic carbon and total nitrogen in Mu Us Sandland,China

Aims Biological soil crusts (BSCs) can affect soil properties including water dynamics and cycling of soil carbon and nitrogen in dryland ecosystems. Previous research has mostly focused on effects of BSCs on soil water distribution or carbon and nitrogen fixation in the surface soil layer. Thus, little is known about effects of BSCs on properties throughout the soil profile. In the current study, we assessed the effects of BSCs on the distribution of soil water content (SW), soil organic carbon content (SOC) and soil total nitrogen content (STN) throughout the soil profile as well as the influence of water conditions on the effects of BSCs.Methods In a field investigation in Mu Us Sandland, North China, soil samples were taken from plots with and without BSCs on 13 and 28 September 2006, respectively. On the two sampling dates, average soil gravimetric water content was 3.83% (±1.29%) and 5.08% (±0.89%), respectively, which were regarded as low and high water conditions. Soil samples were collected every 5 cm to a depth of 60 cm, and SW, SOC and STN were measured in the laboratory.Important findings (i) BSCs affected profile distribution of SW, SOC and STN. In addition, water conditions within the plots significantly modified BSCs' effects on the profile distribution of SW, but marginally affected the effects on SOC and STN. (ii) Under high water conditions, SW in the surface soil layer (0–10 cm) was higher in soils with BSCs compared to those without BSCs, while the opposite was true in the deep soil layer (30–55 cm). (iii) Under low water conditions, SW was lower with BSCs compared with no BSCs in near-surface (5–20 cm) and deep (25–40 cm) soil layers. (iv) BSCs affected SOC and STN only in the surface soil layer (0–5 cm) and were modified by plot water conditions.     

Plant uptake of sulphur as related to changes in the HI-reducible and total sulphur fractions in soil

Although considerable progress has been made in relating extractable soil S to plant S availability, most of these studies determined the extractable soil S at the beginning of the experiment to use as an index of soil S status. This bears little or no relationship to the S taken up by plants during the entire growing season. The present study investigates the changes in extractable soil S with time and relates these to changes in plant S uptake. Six soils with different long-term fertiliser histories (0, 21, 42 kg of S as superphosphate ha^–1 applied since 1952) and animal camping treatments (camp and non-camp) were used in two pot systems (with and without plants). Carrier-free ³⁵SO₄–S was added to the soils, to provide the information on the transformations of recently added S between the different extractable S forms in soils and whether these transformations could predict plant-available S. The soils were pre-conditioned and then transferred to the glasshouse, where one set of pots were planted with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) while the other set was left uncropped. Periodic plant harvests and soil samplings at four weekly intervals were conducted over a period of 20 weeks to determine plant S uptake and amounts of extractable soil S and ³⁵S forms using five extractants. Same extractions of soil S and ³⁵S were conducted for the initial soils. Results showed that HI-reducible and total soil S extracted by CaCl₂, KH₂PO₄ and by KCl at 40°C were utilised significantly by plants but not those extracted by NaHCO₃ and NaOH extractants. However, after the 8th week, plants continued to take up S even though levels of S extracted from the soil by CaCl₂, KH₂PO₄ and by KCl at 40°C remained low and unchanged. These results suggest that soil S taken up by plants after the 8th week period originated directly from the mineralisation of soil organic S from S pools other than those present in the extractable soil S forms. Similar results were shown by ³⁵S data, thereby confirming the complexity of determining plant S availability based on soil S extraction methods.     

土壤微生物总活性研究方法进展

微生物总活性是指在某一时段内微生物所有生命活动的总和,它直接决定着微生物行使生理、生态功能的能力,是微生物学研究的热点,也是难点。迄今为止,还没有建立直接测定微生物总活性的方法,只能用一些相关指标来间接反映它。目前常用的指标主要包括微生物的呼吸速率、生长速率以及胞内RNA含量等。与其它一些基质和环境相比,测定土壤中的微生物总活性更为困难。通过总结研究土壤微生物总活性常用的3种方法,在简略概括传统的土壤微生物呼吸测定法的基础上,详细介绍了放射性同位素标记法和RNA直接表征法的原理和操作流程,整理归纳了一些重要应用案例,比较分析了不同方法的优缺点,以期为选择研究土壤微生物总活性的适宜方法提供依据。     

放牧和刈割对内蒙古典型草原土壤可提取碳和氮的影响

依托内蒙古典型草原的长期野外放牧控制试验,探讨了放牧和刈割对土壤有机碳、全氮、可提取碳和氮、微生物生物量碳和氮的影响.结果表明: 放牧使可提取有机碳降低11.4%～37.1%,而刈割使可提取有机碳升高5.8%.放牧和刈割分别使可提取氮升高10%～340%和10%～240%.放牧强度不高于6.0 sheep·hm^-2的条件下有利于维持甚至增加微生物生物量碳,而重度放牧(7.5和9.0 sheep·hm^-2)则减少微生物生物量碳.刈割处理下微生物生物量碳和氮分别升高31.0%和9.8%.通径分析表明,放牧处理下微生物生物量碳的主要影响因素是有机碳、可提取全氮和全氮,其中直接影响因素是有机碳和可提取全氮;微生物生物量氮的主要影响因素是土壤pH、可提取有机碳、有机碳和可提取全氮,其中直接影响因素是有机碳和可提取全氮.刈割及轻度和中度放牧有利于维持或改善土壤功能,重度放牧将引起土壤退化.     

Speciation and dynamics of phosphorus in some organically amended soils of southwestern Nigeria

Availability of soil phosphorus (P) is a function of its dynamics and can be improved by using organic amendments. Experiments were carried out to determine the effect of poultry manure (PM) on soil P fractions and bioavailability to soybean (Glycine max). Soils from ten farmers’ fields in Southwest Nigeria, were used for incubation and pot experiments. Treatments were five rates of PM (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 t ha^?1). Triplicate units in incubation and pot experiments were arranged in Completely Randomised Design. Soybean was grown for three consecutive growth cycles of seven weeks each and soil samples were analysed for Saloid P, Al-P, Fe-P, Ca-P, occluded P, reductant soluble P, and residual P. Results indicated that Fe-P was the dominant active inorganic P in the soils while residual P was the dominant inactive inorganic-P in most of the soils. In the pot experiment, application of poultry manure significantly increased organic P in the soils in the first growth cycle, but decreased slightly in second growth cycle. Highest and lowest (P ≤ 0.05) organic P values were observed in soil samples from Ayetoro and Odeda, respectively. In the pot experiment, application of PM reduced P fixation and occluded P fraction in the soils. There was general increase in available P in most of the soils considered despite increase or decrease in other forms of P. Poultry manure reduced the fixation of P and release of occluded phosphorus. Generally, Poultry manure significantly improved soil P fractions and plant P tissue concentrations.     

区县域尺度土壤全氮的空间分布格局分析

以赤峰市敖汉旗为研究对象,以实测数据为基础,采用地统计学与典范对应分析相结合的方法研究县域尺度土壤全氮的空间分布格局及其影响因素。结果表明:0—100 cm深度土壤全氮含量在0.43—0.68 g/kg范围变化,土壤全氮平均含量随着土壤深度的增加而降低,其水平分布均呈现为南高北低的分布特征,低值区集中呈片状分布在研究区的东北部,高值区呈岛状分散于研究区的南部区域。各层土壤全氮均属于中等强度的空间相关性,随着土壤深度的增加,随机因素对全氮空间变异的影响作用逐渐减弱,其空间最大自相关距离也随着土壤深度的增加而逐渐减小。各环境因素对土壤全氮含量的影响程度由高到低表现为海拔>NDVI>粘粒含量>土壤容重>坡度,土壤粘粒和NDVI与表层土壤的相关性更高,海拔对60 cm以下土壤全氮的影响更加显著。     

筑坝蓄水对高原湿地拉市海土壤有机质和全氮分布格局的影响

筑坝扩容导致湿地面积增加。基于筑坝前后变化,沿淹水梯度采集土壤,了解高原湿地拉市海有机质和全氮分布的现状,比较筑坝蓄水前后有机质和全氮的差异性。结果表明:筑坝蓄水后淹水区土壤有机质和全氮均比未淹水土壤有所增加,同时随着淹水强度的加强,有机质和全氮含量都表现为先增加后减少的趋势;就同一淹水梯度而言,受人为干扰较严重的土壤(弃耕地土壤)有机质和全氮含量显著低于干扰较小的土壤(草甸土壤)。方差分析表明,有机质和全氮含量在干湿交替的季节性淹水区差异不显著(P0.05),在常年淹水区则差异显著(P0.05)。相关性分析表明,研究区域内淹水强度与土壤有机质和全氮呈显著正相关,有机质与全氮呈显著正相关,全氮、有机质与碳氮比也呈显著正相关(P0.01)。研究结果为科学评估筑坝蓄水对湿地生态系统的影响,为高原湿地生态系统的保护管理提供了科学依据。     

长白山北坡森林土壤汞的含量和形态分布

分别于2009年4月和9月对长白山北坡的土壤样品进行了采集,研究北方森林地区不同海拔土壤样品中的总汞和甲基汞的分布情况.长白山土壤THg和MeHg含量分别为0.08～0.73 mg·kg-1和0.05～0.56 μg·kg-1,库存量分别为97 kg·km-2和128 g·km-2,高于吉林省背景值,MeHg的最高含量...     

Spatial heterogeneity distribution of soil total nitrogen and total phosphorus in the Yaoxiang watershed in a hilly area of northern China based on geographic information system and geostatistics

Soil total nitrogen (STN) and total phosphorus (STP) are important indicators of soil nutrients and the important indexes of soil fertility and soil quality evaluation. Using geographic information system (GIS) and geostatistics, the spatial heterogeneity distribution of STN and STP in the Yaoxiang watershed in a hilly area of northern China was studied. The results showed that: (1) The STN and STP contents showed a declining trend with the increase in soil depth; the variation coefficients (C_v) of STN and STP in the 0‐ to 10‐cm soil layer (42.25% and 14.77%, respectively) were higher than in the 10‐ to 30‐cm soil layer (28.77% and 11.60%, respectively). Moreover, the C_v of STN was higher than that of STP. (2) The maximum C₀/(C₀ + C₁) of STN and STP in the soil layers was less than 25%, this indicated that a strong spatial distribution autocorrelation existed for STN and STP; and the STP showed higher intensity and more stable variation than the STN. (3) From the correlation analysis, we concluded that the topographic indexes such as elevation and slope direction all influenced the spatial distribution of STN and STP (correlation coefficients were 0.688 and 0.518, respectively). (4) The overall distribution of STN and STP in the Yaoxiang watershed decreased from the northwest to the southeast. This variation trend was similar to the watershed DEM trend and was significantly influenced by vegetation and topographic factors. These results revealed the spatial heterogeneity distribution of STN and STP, and addressed the influences of forest vegetation coverage, elevation, and other topographic factors on the spatial distribution of STN and STP at the watershed scale.     

不同制图尺度及土壤数据对土壤全磷储量估算的影响

准确计算农田土壤磷储量对农业可持续发展和面源污染治理具有重要意义,但以往的磷储量研究并没有考虑不同土壤数据源和制图尺度造成的估算误差.本文以江苏北部29个县(市)约393×10⁴ hm²旱地为例,分析了我国《县级土种志》、《地级市土种志》、《省级土种志》和《中国土种志》中记录土壤剖面资料分别建立的1∶5万、1∶25万、1∶50万、1∶100万、1∶400万和1∶1000万数据库对土壤全磷储量估算的影响.结果表明: 与数据最详细、记录有983个土壤剖面的《县级土种志》1∶5万尺度全磷密度和储量相比,其他不同土壤数据源建立的各个尺度土壤数据库估算的全磷密度和储量相对偏差分别在4.8%～48.9%和1.6%～48.4%.大部分《县级土种志》和《地级市土种志》土壤数据源建立的不同尺度全磷密度与《县级土种志》1∶5万尺度之间存在极显著或显著差异,《省级土种志》和《中国土种志》土壤数据源建立的不同尺度全磷密度与《县级土种志》1∶5万尺度之间均存在极显著差异,说明在旱地磷储量估算的研究中,选择适宜的制图尺度和土壤数据源是非常必要的.     

湿地土壤全氮和全磷含量高光谱模型研究

氮磷是湿地生态系统土壤中的重要营养元素,其对湿地植被生长、湿地生态系统生产力、区域富营养化变化、湿地环境生态净化功能等具有重要的影响作用。研究氮磷营养物质在湿地土壤中的分布变化特征,对湿地生态系统评估、恢复和管理具有重要的意义。以中国高纬度地区面积最大的滨海芦苇湿地——盘锦湿地为研究区,采用不同建模方法(再抽样多元逐步回归模型bootstrap SMLR和再抽样偏最小二乘回归模型bootstrap PLSR)和光谱变换技术(包络线去除CR、光谱一阶微分FD和光谱倒数的对数LR),分别建立了湿地土壤全氮和全磷含量的估算模型。基于湿地土壤实测光谱,模拟高光谱Hyperion数据和多光谱TM数据,在此基础上进行湿地土壤营养元素含量估算。对比所建反演模型的估算精度,探讨高光谱遥感技术对湿地土壤营养元素组分的估算能力和适用性。研究结果表明:bootstrap PLSR相比于bootstrap SMLR建模方法,其对研究区湿地土壤全氮和全磷含量的估算获得了较高精度;对盘锦湿地土壤全氮含量的估算,最高估算精度产生于CR光谱变换技术结合bootstrap PLSR建模;对湿地土壤全磷含量的估算,最高估算精度产生于原光谱数据结合bootstrap PLSR建模;模拟高光谱数据Hyperion对湿地土壤全氮和全磷含量的估算精度均高于模拟多光谱数据TM,模拟Hyperion的估算精度更接近于实测光谱的估算精度。     

西藏地区土壤表层和全剖面背景有机碳库及其空间分布

根据西藏2607个土壤剖面资料和1：200万土壤图的数字化处理,按地区以制图单元土壤亚类为基础估算土壤有机碳密度（SOCD）和储量（SOCR）,并探讨其空间分布特征.结果表明：（1）西藏地区的SOCD平均为7.48 kg m^-2,并随土壤类型而变化,以山地铁铝土最高（29.2 kg m^-2）,其后依次是山地淋溶土（16.6 kg m^-2）、高山草甸型土壤（12.2 kg m^-2）、山地半淋溶土（9.2kgm^-2）、高山草原型土壤（3.7kg m^-2）等,而以寒冻土（1.6kg m^-2）和高山荒漠土（1.3kg m^-2）为最低.同时土壤表层（0～20cm）的SOCD平均为4.27 kg m^-2,占全剖面总量的57﹪,反映西藏地区土壤有机碳库（SOCP）对环境变化具有较高的敏感性.（2）西藏SOCD具有独特的水平地带分布,即自藏东南向西北逐次降低,由此可大体分为高（Ⅰ）、中（Ⅱ）、低（Ⅲ）、极低（Ⅳ）4个碳密度带,其平均SOCD分别为21、10、4、＜2 kg m^-2;各带SOCD又有不同的垂直分布,总趋势是由复杂到简单,但均以最高位置的寒冻土极低碳密度为终点.（3）西藏SOCR总计为8.23 Pg,占全国SOCR总量的9.14﹪.各地SOCR分布极不平衡：就各碳密度带的SOCR相对比例（占西藏全区总量﹪）而言,Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ带分别为25﹪、50﹪、22﹪、3﹪,其中Ⅰ、Ⅱ带合计的土壤面积仅占45﹪,而SOCR却占75﹪,因而是西藏SOCP的主体;而反映土壤储碳能力的丰度指数（R）则分别为2.82、1.37、0.53、0.23.就各地区的SOCR而言,以那曲地区最大（2.19Pg）,拉萨地区最小（0.31Pg）;而R值则是林芝＞山南＞拉萨＞昌都＞日喀则＞那曲＞阿里.这些结果将为全球变化研究与区域环境评价提供有力的支撑.     

松嫩平原玉米带农田土壤氮密度时空格局

基于1980年吉林省第二次全国土壤普查剖面资料和2003—2006年的实测数据,估算了松嫩平原玉米带不同土壤类型农田表层(0—20 cm)土壤氮密度和储量,分析了该地区土壤氮密度的25a时空变化特征及其原因。结果表明,两个时期松嫩平原玉米带农田土壤氮密度的空间分布格局基本一致,中部高、边缘低,平均土壤氮密度变化不大,均为0.31 kg/m2,但25 a间不同土壤类型和土地利用方式的土壤氮密度变化趋势存在差异,暗棕壤、水稻土和沼泽土的氮密度上升,其它类型土壤的氮密度不变或下降,旱田的氮密度不变,水田的氮密度明显下降,25 a间研究区内的农田土壤总氮储量每年减少7.6×105kg。25 a间土壤氮密度的变化与1980年的初始值负相关,土壤氮密度的新稳定状态值为0.32 kg/m2。如保持1980年的土地利用方式和栽培耕作措施不变,该地区农田土壤总固氮潜力为5.18×106kg/a。但实际上,与固氮潜力相比,2005年该区农田土壤总氮储量偏低了1.20×108kg。因此,今后该区应多注重肥料的合理施用,加强农田管理,尤其是旱田改水田的管理。     

1940—2002年长江中下游平原乡村景观区域中耕地类型及其土壤氮磷储量的变化

过去60a间,长江中下游平原乡村景观区域中土地利用覆被类型,特别是耕地类型发生了显著地转变,并对其土壤全氮和全磷产生了明显地影响。通过选取区域代表性样方、研究耕地类型的小尺度转化、土壤取样和收集1965年前土壤全氮、全磷历史数据,采用尺度推绎和蒙特卡洛不确定性分析方法,评价了1940-2002年长江中下游平原人口密集的乡村景观区域中耕地类型及其土壤全氮、全磷储量的变化。结果表明:近60a来,在86×103km2的区域中有47%的面积发生了变化,其中33%的面积是耕地类型转化。耕地面积减少18.6%(-16.0×103km2),其中稻田面积减少21.5%(-18.5×103km2),种植木本作物的旱地面积减少1.7%(-1.5×103km2);而种植木本作物和种植1年生作物的水浇地的面积分别增加了3.5%(3.0×103km2)和2.0%(1.7×103km2)。尽管稻田面积大幅减少,但其仍是区域中面积最大的土地利用覆被类型。1940-2002年,有98%的可能性区域耕地0-30cm土壤全氮储量净减少,而其0-30cm土壤全磷储量则无明显变化。区域耕地土壤全氮储量明显减少(-7.2Tg N),主要受稻田土壤全氮储量显著减少(-8.0Tg N)的影响,而稻田面积大幅减少是导致稻田土壤全氮储量减少的主要原因。与此同时,种植木本作物的旱地的土壤全氮储量减少了0.7Tg N;而种植木本作物和种植1年生作物的水浇地分别增加1.3和0.7Tg N。区域耕地土壤全磷储量变化不明显,主要受稻田土壤全磷储量无明显变化的影响。尽管稻田面积大幅减少,但由于稻田土壤全磷密度增加了29%(其净增加的可能性为76%);加之稻田土壤全磷密度变异较大,所以稻田土壤全磷储量并没有明显减少,其净减少的可能性仅为64%。与此同时,有75%的可能性种植木本作物的旱地的土壤全磷储量净减少,但仅减少了0.3Tg P;而种植木本作物的水浇地和种植1年生作物的水浇地土壤全磷都有少量增加,分别为0.7和0.4Tg P。通过选取区域代表性样方、研究耕地类型的小尺度转化、土壤取样和收集土壤历史数据、结合尺度推绎和蒙特卡洛不确定性分析方法,能够揭示1940-2002年长江中下游平原人口密集的乡村景观区域中耕地类型及其土壤全氮和全磷储量的变化。     

Effects of litter incorporation and nitrogen fertilization on the contents of extractable aluminium in the rhizosphere soil of tea plant (Camallia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze)

The effects of litter incorporation and nitrogen application on the properties of rhizosphere and bulk soils of tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) were examined in a pot experiment. Total of 8 treatments included four levels of tea litter additions at 0, 4.9, 9.8, and 24.5 g kg^–1 in combination with two N levels (154.6 mg kg^–1 and without). After 18 months of growth the rhizosphere soil was collected by removing the soil adhering to plant roots and other soil was referred to as bulk soil. The dry matter productions of tea plants were significantly increased by N fertilization and litter incorporation. The effect of litter was time-depending and significantly decreased the content of exchangeable Al (Al_ex, by 1 mol L^–1 KCl) and Al saturation at 9 months after litter incorporation whereas soil pH was not affected, although the litter contained high Al content. After 18 months, the contents of extractable Al by dilute CaCl₂, CuCl₂ + KCl, NH₄OAC, ammonium oxalate and sodium citrate (Al_CaCl2, Al_Cu/KCl, Al_NH4OAC, Al_Oxal, and Al_Cit respectively) and Al_ex, were not affected by litter application, except that of Al_CaCl2 in the rhizosphere soil which was decreased following litter additions. Nitrogen fertilization with NH₄ ⁺ (urea and (NH₄)₂SO₄) significantly reduced soil pH, the contents of exchangeable Ca, K, Mg and base saturation while raised extractable Al levels (Al_CaCl2, Al_Cu/KCl, Al_NH4OAC, and Al_ex). In the rhizosphere soils exchangeable K accumulated in all treatments while exchangeable Ca and Mg depleted in treatments without litter application. The depletions of Ca and Mg were no longer observed following litter incorporation. This change of distribution gradients in rhizosphere was possibly due to the increase of nutrient supplies from litter decomposition and/or preferable root growth in soil microsites rich in organic matter. Lower pH and higher extractable Al (Al_CaCl2, Al_ex, and Al_NH4OAC) in the rhizosphere soils, regardless of N and litter treatments, were distinct and consistent in all treatments. Such enrichments of extractable Al in the rhizosphere soil might be of importance for tea plants capable of taking up large amounts of Al.     

Protein accumulation and distribution in floodplain soils and river foam

Many processes contribute to nutrient transfer from terrestrial to aquatic systems, but in most cases the contribution of particular organisms is unknown. In this study, we explore how a Bradford‐reactive soil protein (BRSP) produced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi may provide nutrients to river ecosystems. Along a floodplain in Montana, we extracted BRSP from soils and related the protein concentrations to the age of soil surfaces. We identified BRSP in surface soils, as well as to a depth of 1.4 m, and found that the protein accumulates through time. We also detected BRSP in foam from five rivers in the western United States. Experiments were conducted that demonstrate that the protein may be leached or washed from soils and become a constituent of foam when mixed into turbulent water. We propose that terrestrially derived soil protein may enter rivers via erosion and leaching and serve as a nutrient source for aquatic organisms.