耕作和覆盖对黄土高原果园土壤水分和温度的影响

研究了几种不同耕作方式（免耕、旋耕和翻耕）和覆盖措施（覆草、生草和覆膜）对黄土高原果园土壤水分和温度的影响.结果表明：5月不同耕作方式下0～1 m土层土壤水分差异极显著,表现为免耕（14.28%）>旋耕（14.13%）>翻耕（13.57%）,9月差异不明显;不同覆盖措施中,覆草处理的土壤水分最高,且与生草、覆膜、裸地处理间差异极显著;不同耕作方式和覆盖组合处理中以免耕覆草保水效果最好.不同覆盖处理白天土壤平均温度表现为覆膜>裸地>生草>覆草,土壤温度变幅表现为裸地>覆膜>生草>覆草.各覆盖处理的蓄水量与其土壤温度并不都呈负相关,而是由不同覆盖物的保水效果和保温性质共同决定.综上所述,黄土高原果园的保护性耕作体系应以免耕覆草为主.     

免耕对北方旱作玉米土壤水分及物理性质的影响

通过2006-2008年的田间试验,研究了北京地区免耕与传统翻耕条件下土壤水分的时空动态及其对土壤相关物理性质的影响.结果表明：研究期间,免耕和翻耕地0～100 cm土层的土壤贮水量随时间及降水变化的趋势一致,但免耕地的土壤贮水量在不同时刻以及不同降雨条件下均高于翻耕地,增幅在2.7%～30.3%,降雨相对充分条件下土壤贮水量的增量有所增加,但免耕在相对缺水的地区更值得推广;免耕地0～100 cm土层的平均土壤含水量明显高于传统翻耕,增幅在3.4%～12.8%,其中表层（0～20 cm）和底层（80～100 cm）的水分增量明显高于中间层次,最高增量可达22.2%;免耕覆盖的耕作方式可通过降低土壤容重、提高土壤孔隙度、促进土壤水稳性团聚体的形成等作用来提高土壤的保水能力和水分利用效率,进而促进作物增收.与对照相比,免耕3年后土壤水分利用率和春玉米产量分别较传统翻耕提高13.3%和16.4%.     

不同耕作措施对黄土高原旱地土壤呼吸的影响

在甘肃省定西市李家堡镇设置不同耕作措施试验,对春小麦、豌豆双序列轮作下的土壤呼吸及其对应时间的冠层温度、土壤水分进行了测定.结果表明：春小麦和豌豆在整个生育期内的土壤呼吸都表现出不同的变化趋势,春小麦地土壤呼吸在拔节前期、灌浆期和收后分别达到高峰期;豌豆地土壤呼吸在五叶期、吐丝期、开花结荚期和收后分别达到高峰期.免耕秸秆覆盖处理和传统耕作处理下春小麦地土壤呼吸日变化明显,免耕秸秆覆盖处理明显低于传统耕作处理;而豌豆地土壤呼吸日变化不明显.春小麦和豌豆冠层温度均与土壤呼吸呈显著线性相关,春小麦孕穗期相关性最高,灌浆期次之;豌豆开花结荚期相关性最高,分枝期次之.土壤含水量与土壤呼吸间存在极显著的凸型抛物线型相关,保护性耕作下的相关性都高于传统耕作,其中免耕秸秆覆盖处理的春小麦地和豌豆地土壤含水量与土壤呼吸的相关性在各层次土壤中均为最高,10～30 cm土壤含水量对春小麦地土壤呼吸的影响最大,5～10 cm土壤含水量对豌豆地土壤呼吸的影响最大.与传统耕作相比,免耕秸秆覆盖、免耕、传统耕作秸秆还田、传统耕作结合地膜覆盖、免耕结合地膜覆盖5种保护性耕作措施都能不同程度地降低土壤呼吸,其中免耕秸秆覆盖优势最明显.     

轮耕与施肥对渭北旱作玉米田土壤团聚体和有机碳含量的影响

2007—2012年在陕西合阳连作玉米田进行保护性轮耕与施肥长期定位试验,设置免耕/深松(NT-ST)、深松/翻耕(ST-CT)和翻耕/免耕(CT-NT)3种隔年交替轮耕处理和连续免耕(NT-NT)、连续深松(ST-ST)、连续翻耕(CT-CT)3种连耕处理及平衡施肥、低肥和常规施肥3种施肥处理,分析了0～40 cm土壤团聚体分布、平均质量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)、分形维数(D)及0～60 cm土壤有机碳(SOC)含量.结果表明: 随着耕作强度的增加,土壤团聚体总含量减小,稳定性降低,有机碳损失增大;连续免耕和轮耕增大了土壤团聚体MWD和GMD,减小分形维数,增加了粒径大于0.25 mm团聚体(R_0.25)和SOC含量.在相同施肥处理下,团聚体R_0.25表现为NT-NT>NT-ST>NT-CT>ST-ST>CT-ST>CT-CT;在相同耕作方式下,平衡施肥和低肥处理下土壤团聚体比常规施肥更稳定.通过对土壤团聚体分形维数进行数学拟合,干筛法和湿筛法所测土壤团聚体的分形维数分别为2.247～2.681和2.897～2.976. 0～30 cm土层土壤团聚体分形维数均表现为连续免耕和轮耕显著低于连续翻耕(CT-CT),随土层加深分形维数增大,在40 cm处趋于稳定.施肥对不同土层有机碳含量的影响差异显著(P<0.05),随土层加深有机碳含量呈递减趋势,平衡施肥处理下有机碳积累量较常规施肥增加了6.9%.土壤有机碳含量随团聚体粒径的增大而增加,0.25～2 mm粒径土壤团聚体含量对有机碳积累的影响达到显著水平(P<0.01),确定系数R²为0.848.     

免耕对农牧交错带农田休闲期土壤风蚀及其相关土壤理化性状的影响

以北方农牧交错带为研究对象,分析了免耕对农田土壤风蚀的影响,评价了不同耕作方式下与土壤风蚀相关的土壤物理、化学和生物学特性的差异。研究结果表明:翻耕农田土壤风蚀量是免耕地的3~8倍,翻耕地和免耕地的地表粗糙度分别为0.032和0.417;与翻耕地相比,免耕地表层0~10cm土壤粘粒和粉粒含量较多;免耕地土层0~5cm和5~10cm的土壤容重、坚实度和土壤水分都大于翻耕地,其中0~5cm、5~10cm和10~20cm土层土壤坚实度分别是翻耕地的4.7、2.8倍和3.8倍。经过3年的免耕,0~5cm土层土壤全氮、有机质、有效磷和有效钾含量均高于翻耕土壤,有效钾含量比翻耕地增加了77%。所有测定土层的土壤有机质含量免耕地均高于翻耕地,在0~5cm和5~10cm土层达到5%显著水平。免耕地表层0~10cm土壤微生物量碳是翻耕地的2.1倍。     

不同修复措施对黄河源退化高寒草甸植物群落与土壤养分的影响

为了揭示退化高寒草甸逆向转变的驱动因子,通过野外调查和室内分析相结合的方法探究了黄河源不同修复措施(施有机肥F、免耕补播N、施有机肥+免耕补播FN)处理高寒草甸植物群落特征、土壤理化性质和两者相关性的变化规律,阐明不同修复措施对黄河源退化高寒草甸植物群落与土壤养分的影响。结果表明：免耕补播显著增加草甸物种丰富度指数(P<0.05);施有机肥+免耕补播显著增加草甸植物盖度、总生物量、Shannon Wiener多样性指数和Pielous均匀度指数(P<0.05)。不同人工修复后草甸植物功能群地上、地下生物量变化趋势基本一致(除豆科)。和对照相比,莎草科,杂类草地上和地下生物量含量在N、FN处理分别降低83.04%、73.86%、30.43%、92.37%和96.51%、84.09%、85.68%、95.36%;禾本科地上和地下生物量含量在F、N和FN处理分别增加7.29%、23.45%、17.93%和6.04%、4.03%、10.52%;豆科地上生物量含量基本保持不变,地下生物量含量在F、N和FN处理分别降低24.43%、82.19%和42.61%。F显著增加土壤有机碳含量(...     

免耕套种与秸秆还田对农田生态环境及小麦生长的影响

1　引　　言免耕作为低耗持续农业生产和保护性耕作的一项重要手段,越来越受到国内外学者的重视.在国外,免耕最早是20世纪30年代为防治土壤风蚀而采取的措施,60年代得到迅速发展,且随着研究的不断深入,免耕的作用逐渐扩大[10,18].我国自70年代后期开始免耕的系统研究,在免耕和秸秆覆盖对土壤理化性质、微生物区系及生态环境的影响等方面都有不少报道[2,11,16,17,23].秸秆还田在提高土壤肥力,增加作物产量等方面已被许多研究所证实[3,5～8,12,13,19～21].随着社会和生产的发展,秸秆还田的方式,方法和数量都在不断变化,尤其是部分地区禁烧秸秆…     

不同耕作方式对旱作冬小麦旗叶衰老和籽粒产量的影响

在旱作条件下研究了一次深翻、免耕、深松和传统耕作4种耕作方式对冬小麦花后旗叶衰老、小麦籽粒产量及土壤水分和养分状况的影响.结果表明：免耕和深松提高了小麦旗叶SOD和POD活性及可溶性蛋白和叶绿素含量,降低了MDA和O₂^-·含量,延缓了小麦叶片的衰老进程;同时,免耕、深松在开花期和灌浆期0～40 cm土层土壤水分含量分别比传统耕作提高了4.13％、6.23％和5.50％、9.27％,土壤碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾含量均显著高于传统耕作.一次深翻0～40 cm土层土壤水分含量低于传统耕作,土壤养分含量高于传统耕作,但两处理间差异不显著.与传统耕作相比,免耕和深松花后干物质生产量分别提高4.34％和4.76％,花后干物质转运率分别提高15.56％和13.51％,产量分别提高10.22％和9.26%.免耕和深松为冬小麦花后生长发育提供了良好的环境,延缓了小麦叶片衰老,促进了花后干物质积累及干物质向籽粒的转运,从而使籽粒产量显著提高,是旱作麦区适宜的耕作方式.     

不同有机物覆盖对冷凉地区苹果园土壤水温环境及速效养分的影响

为了探究不同有机物覆盖对冷凉地区果园土壤理化性质的影响,在‘寒富’苹果园设置了杂草、稻草、玉米秸秆、粉碎枝条4个覆盖处理,对比分析了各处理果园土壤水分、养分等指标的变化.结果表明: 有机物覆盖增加了土壤含水量,以干旱季节最为明显;减缓了春季土壤温度上升速度,不利于果树前期生长,但降低了夏季土壤的最高温,提高了秋冬季土壤的最低温;提高了土壤的pH值,以玉米秸秆覆盖处理最为明显,减轻了土壤酸化,使土壤pH接近中性;不同程度提高了土壤有机质含量,以杂草覆盖处理最为明显.覆盖还增加了土壤碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾含量,但稻草覆盖处理碱解氮含量低于对照.     

保护性耕作对农田土壤水分和冬小麦产量的影响

保护性耕作是提高土壤蓄水保墒能力并增加作物产量的重要农艺措施之一.基于河南省长期定位试验2011-2016年数据,分析不同耕作措施(传统耕作、免耕和深松处理)对土壤水分、作物产量和水分利用效率的影响.结果表明: 2011-2016年免耕和深松耕作处理下冬小麦拔节期平均相对保墒率分别为7.3%和-0.68%,且免耕较传统耕作显著提高了冬小麦拔节期0～60 cm土壤贮水量.与传统耕作相比,免耕提高了冬小麦拔节期、扬花期、灌浆期和成熟期0～100 cm土壤平均含水量,而深松耕作并未明显提高冬小麦拔节期土壤平均含水量.此外,免耕较传统耕作能够显著提高冬小麦产量和水分利用效率,尤其在较干旱年份其增产效果更优.因此,免耕的蓄水保墒及增产效果在较干旱年份明显优于深松耕作.     

Response of soil CO2 efflux to water manipulation in a tallgrass prairie ecosystem

Although CO₂ efflux plays a critical role in carbon exchange between the biosphere and atmosphere, our understanding of its regulation by soil moisture is rather limited. This study was designed to examine the relationship between soil CO₂ efflux and soil moisture in a natural ecosystem by taking advantage of the historically long drought period from 29 July to 21 September 2000 in the southern Central Great Plain, USA. At the end of August when soil moisture content at the top 50 mm was reduced to less than 50 g kg^–1 gravimetrically, we applied 8 levels of water treatments (simulated to rainfall of 0, 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 mm) with three replicates to 24 plots in a Tallgrass Prairie ecosystem in Central Oklahoma, USA. In order to quantify root-free soil CO₂ efflux, we applied the same 8 levels of water treatments to 24 500-mm soil columns using soil from field adjacent to the experimental plots. We characterized dynamic patterns of soil moisture and soil CO₂ efflux over the experimental period of 21 days. Both soil moisture content and CO₂ efflux showed dramatic increases immediately after the water addition, followed by a gradual decline. The time courses in response to water treatments are well described by Y=Y₀+ate^–bt, where Y is either soil moisture or CO₂ efflux, t is time, Y ₀, a, and b are coefficients. Among the 8 water treatments, the maximal soil CO₂ efflux rate occurred at the 50 mm water level in the field and 100 mm in the root-free soil 1 day after the treatment. The maximal soil CO₂ efflux gradually shifted to higher water levels as the experiment continued. We found the relationship between soil CO₂ efflux and soil moisture using the data from the 21-day experiment was highly scattered, suggesting complex mechanisms determining soil CO₂ efflux by soil moisture.     

不同还田方式对砂质潮土理化性质及微生物的影响

为探索不同物料还田方式对中低产田砂质潮土的改良效果,在黄淮海平原麦玉轮作区典型砂质潮土上进行了连续6季的田间小区试验,设置全量秸秆翻耕还田(TS),秸秆等碳量的生物炭(TB)及半量秸秆半量生物炭配合翻耕还田(TSB),全量秸秆免耕覆盖还田(NTS)和半量秸秆半量生物炭配合免耕覆盖还田(NTSB),共5种还田方式。结果表明,与常规秸秆翻耕还田(TS)相比,生物炭翻耕还田(TB)显著降低土壤容重,增加玉米各个生育期土壤水分和p H值,有机质含量提升了16.4%,但TB处理的土壤大团聚体降低了21.2%和微生物数量降低了16.1%;翻耕秸秆配合生物炭还田(TSB)除了显著降低了大团聚体数量,对其余理化及微生物指标的影响均不显著;免耕模式下的秸秆还田(NTS)和秸秆生物炭配施(NTSB)分别在玉米生长的喇叭口期和收获期显著增加了土壤水分含量、耕层土壤的微生物数量和有效降低砂质潮土分形维数,对容重和有机质含量有一定的改善,其中NTSB有机质含量提升了14.9%和微生物数量增加了53.7%,对砂质潮土改良效果更好。总体来说,短期内用等碳量的生物炭替代秸秆翻耕还田更多的表现为物理的掺混效应,虽能有效提升土壤有机质含量,但不能有效改善砂质潮土的物理结构及生物性质,一半秸秆用生物炭替代还田对该类土壤的理化及微生物指标的改良效果也不显著,而免耕条件下秸秆配合生物碳还田效果最佳,可为砂质潮土的改良提供新的途径和理论依据。     

Influence of compaction from wheel traffic and tillage on arbuscular mycorrhizae infection and nutrient uptake by Zea mays

Interactive effects of seven years of compaction due to wheel traffic and tillage on root density, formation of arbuscular mycorrhizae, above-ground biomass, nutrient uptake and yield of corn (Zea mays L.) were measured on a coastal plain soil in eastern Alabama, USA. Tillage and soil compaction treatments initiated in 1987 were: 1) soil compaction from tractor traffic with conventional tillage (C,CT), 2) no soil compaction from tractor traffic with conventional tillage (NC,CT), 3) soil compaction from tractor traffic with no-tillage (C,NT), and, 4) no soil compaction from tractor traffic with no-tillage (NC,NT). The study was arranged as a split plot design with compaction from wheel traffic as main plots and tillage as subplots. The experiment had four replications. In May (49 days after planting) and June, (79 days after planting), root biomass and root biomass infected with arbuscular mycorrhizae was higher in treatments that received the NC,NT treatment than the other three treatments. In June and July (109 days after planting), corn plants that received C,CT treatment had less above-ground biomass, root biomass and root biomass infected with mycorrhizae than the other three treatments. Within compacted treatments, plants that received no-tillage had greater root biomass and root biomass infected with mycorrhizae in May and June than plants that received conventional tillage. Corn plants in no-tillage treatments had higher root biomass and root biomass infected with mycorrhizae than those in conventional tillage. After 7 years of treatment on a sandy Southeastern soil, the interactive effects of tillage and compaction from wheel traffic reduced root biomass and root biomass infected with mycorrhizae but did not affect plant nutrient concentration and yield. ei]J H Graham     

Decomposition in estuarine salt marshes: the effect of soil salinity and soil water content

The relation between decomposition rates and soil salinity and moisture conditions in tidal marshes of the Westerschelde estuary was investigated. In the first part of the study, these soil factors were experimentally manipulated in field plots which were either screened from rainwater or which received an additional weekly supply of freshwater from April to September 1989. These treatments had no clear effect on soil salinities and moisture conditions in a low marsh site. Decomposition rates of Spartina anglica leaves (kept in litterbags in the plots) also did not differ between treatments. In screened plots of a middle marsh site, decomposition rate of Elymus pycnanthus leaves decreased significantly. The effect of the experimental treatments on soil moisture content was variable, but comparatively high soil salinity values (up to 61.3) were consistently found in these plots. It is suggested that the elevated salinity levels induced the decrease in decomposition rate.In the second part of the study, cellulolytic decomposition, measured by loss of tensile strength of strips of cotton test cloth, was investigated in relation to a non-manipulated range of soil salinities (3.8–24.2), by exposing the strips in a series of tidal marshes along the salt gradient of the Westerschelde estuary. No correlation between decomposition rate and soil salinity was found. In addition, no relation was found between decomposition rate and soil water content. The results of both parts of this study lead us to the hypothesis that rate limitation of decomposition in estuarine tidal marsh soils is found at high soil salinities only.     

Variability of Organic Matter Inputs Affects Soil Moisture and Soil Biological Parameters in a European Detritus Manipulation Experiment

Over the last three decades, increased temperatures and reduced annual precipitation have resulted in significant changes in several Central European deciduous forests. These effects include changes in soil moisture content and detritus production. Within the framework of a detritus manipulation experiment carried out in an old-growth Quercetum petraea–cerris community, we examined how changes in detritus inputs affect soil moisture content and microbial activity within six treatments. CO₂ release and microbial enzyme activities are known to be highly sensitive to environmental factors such as soil moisture and detritus inputs. We applied three detritus removal (No Litter, No Roots and No Input) and two detritus addition (Double Litter and Double Wood) treatments. Although the plots received the same amount of precipitation, the various detritus inputs caused significant differences in soil moisture. Treatments excluding living roots had the highest moisture levels, while the treatment excluding only aboveground detritus inputs had the lowest. CO₂ release, arylsulphatase activity and saccharase activity showed significant seasonal differences with the highest values occurring in spring. Moisture content had a significant positive correlation with CO₂ release, and enzyme activities of the plots were affected by the quantity and quality of detritus inputs. Arylsulphatase activity showed the strongest correlation with soil moisture content (R?=?0.62 in the control plot) followed by CO₂ release (R?=?0.61) and finally saccharase activity (R?=?0.42). We observed that there was a remarkably weaker correlation between soil moisture content and the three parameters in the detritus removal treatments (R values between 0.56 and 0.13) than in the Control and detritus addition treatments (R values between 0.72 and 0.42). The correlation between the three parameters of interest and soil moisture content weakens considerably under drought conditions relative to the optimal moisture range of soil moisture content for microbial activity. If the amount of precipitation in the area continues to decrease as anticipated, then litter production and soil microbial activity may be reduced.     

黄土高原藓结皮土壤呼吸速率对降雨量变化的响应

全球气候变化加剧背景下,干旱和半干旱地区的降雨模式将进一步改变,其造成的土壤水分波动是引起土壤呼吸动态变化的重要因素,但生物结皮土壤呼吸响应降雨模式变化继而影响陆地生态系统碳源/汇功能的机制尚不明确。针对黄土高原风沙土发育的藓结皮,以自然降雨量为对照,分别进行幅度为10%、30%、50%的模拟增雨和减雨处理,并利用便携式土壤碳通量分析仪(LI-8100A)测定了模拟增减雨后的藓结皮土壤呼吸速率,对比分析了其对降雨量变化的响应及机制。结果表明：(1)整个实验周期(2018和2019)增雨和减雨分别显著提高(增幅分别为17.9%—48.2%和27.1%—54.2%)和降低了(降幅分别为1.8%—26.8%和5.2%—20.8%)土壤含水量,但对土壤温度的影响不显著;(2)增雨抑制了藓结皮土壤呼吸速率(降幅分别为7.8%—31.7%和14.7%—39.4%),且随梯度增大抑制作用越明显;减雨则取决于减雨梯度,减雨10%和30%会促进土壤呼吸速率(增幅分别为27.5%、9.6%和23.6%、9.7%)而减雨50%具有抑制作用(降幅分别为15.6%和18.5%)。不同实验周期和不同降雨处理间藓结...     

秸秆覆盖免耕土壤真菌群落结构与生态特征研究

不同耕作方法土壤真菌群落结构和生态特征分析表明,翻耕0－10cm土层土壤真菌群落含有29种真菌,其中以Chrysosporium merdarium为优势种;翻耕10－20cm土层含有17种真菌,以Sterile black A为优势种：翻耕20－30cm土层含有10种真菌,其中以Chaetomium bostrychodes为优势种,铁茬0－10cm含16种真菌,其中Sterile black A是优势种;铁茬10－20cm土层含有26种真菌,优势种为Sterile black A;铁茬20－30cm含有14种真菌,其中Chaetomium bostrychodes为优势种,免耕0－10cm土层由23种真菌构成,Trichoderma viride和T.koningii为优势种,免耕10－20cm土层由14个种类构成,Talaromyces trachyspermus为优势种,免耕20－30cm土壤由9种真菌组成,其中Talaromyces trachypermus为优势种,免耕土壤真菌群落的多样性和均匀度指数均较高,主成分分析表明,土壤耕作形成了特征性的真菌区系。     

耕作方式与施肥对陇东旱塬冬小麦-春玉米轮作农田土壤理化性质及产量的影响

以陇东黄土旱塬已进行7年的田间定位试验为基础,分析了免耕和传统耕作条件下5个施肥处理冬小麦收获期土壤水分、土壤容重（2011年）及土壤养分和产量（2005-2011年）变化,探讨了耕作方式和施肥对冬小麦-春玉米轮作农田土壤蓄水保墒效果及土壤肥力和产量的影响.结果表明： 2011年免耕条件下0～200 cm各土层土壤含水量、0～20 cm和20～40 cm土层土壤容重及土壤有机质、速效氮、速效磷含量均高于传统耕作.相同耕作条件下氮磷化肥与有机肥配施处理的土壤有机质、速效氮、速效磷含量高于其他施肥处理;不同耕作方式及施肥处理下速效钾呈逐年减少的趋势;传统翻耕处理的产量高于免耕,相同耕作条件下氮磷化肥与有机肥配施处理产量最高,不施肥对照产量最低.不同耕作方式和施肥处理的土壤蓄水保墒能力和肥力效应以免耕优于传统翻耕,产量以传统翻耕下有机无机肥配施处理最好.     

免耕高留茬抛秧对稻田土壤肥力和微生物群落的影响

通过大田试验,研究了不同秸秆还田和耕作方式（免耕+秸秆还田、免耕、常耕+秸秆还田、常耕）对稻田不同层次土壤肥力和主要微生物类群数量的影响.结果表明：上层土壤中,免耕+秸秆还田处理的有机质含量分别比免耕、常耕+秸秆还田和常耕处理高5.33、2.79和5.37 g·kg^-1;全氮、全磷、全钾、碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾含量也均以免耕+秸秆还田处理最高,免耕和常耕+秸秆还田处理次之,常耕处理最低.下层土壤中,各肥力指标以常耕+秸秆还田处理较高.秸秆还田各处理微生物类群数量较高,上层土壤以免耕+秸秆还田处理的细菌、真菌和放线菌数量最高,成熟期其纤维分解强度分别比常耕+秸秆还田、免耕和常耕处理高26.44%、79.01%和98.15%;下层土壤以常耕+秸秆还田处理的细菌、真菌和放线菌数量最高.免耕+秸秆还田处理的土壤养分和微生物呈表层富集特征.细菌、放线菌和纤维分解强度与土壤肥力各指标呈显著或极显著正相关关系.     

Prescribed Fire and Herbicide Effects on Soil Processes During Barrens Restoration

Prescribed fire has become a common tool of natural area managers for removal of non‐indigenous invasive species and maintenance of barrens plant communities. Certain non‐native species, such as tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), tolerate fire and may require additional removal treatments. We studied changes in soil N and C dynamics after prescribed fire and herbicide application in remnant barrens in west central Kentucky. The effects of a single spring burn post‐emergence herbicide, combined fire and herbicide treatments, and an unburned no‐herbicide control were compared on five replicate blocks. In fire‐plus‐herbicide plots, fescue averaged 8% at the end of the growing season compared with 46% fescue cover in control plots. The extent of bare soil increased from near 0 in control to 11% in burned plots and 25% in fire‐plus‐herbicide plots. Over the course of the growing season, fire had little effect on soil N pools or processes. Fire caused a decline in soil CO₂ flux in parallel to decreased soil moisture. When applied alone, herbicide increased plant‐available soil N slightly but had no effect on soil respiration, moisture, or temperature. Fire‐plus‐herbicide significantly increased plant‐available soil N and net N transformation rates; soil respiration declined by 33%. Removal of non‐native plants modified the chemical, physical, and biological soil conditions that control availability of plant nutrients and influence plant species performance and community composition.