The influence of plants grown under elevated CO2 and N fertilization on soil nitrogen dynamics

We investigated the effects of spring barley growth on nitrogen (N) transformations and rhizosphere microbial processes in a controlled system under elevated carbon dioxide (CO₂) at two levels of N fertilization (applied with ¹⁵N labelling). After 25 d, elevated CO₂ (twice ambient) increased plant growth (dry weight, DW) by 141% at low‐N fertilization and by 60% at high‐N fertilization, but its positive effect on the root‐to‐shoot ratio was only significant at low‐N input. As a result of this plant response, elevated CO₂ caused a greater soil CO₂ efflux, rhizosphere soil DW, and soil microbial biomass under N‐limiting conditions than under high N availability. Elevated CO₂ also caused a significant (P < 0.001) increase in the N recovered by the plant from both the labelled (N_f) and unlabelled (N_s + N_uf) N pools. The dynamics of N in the system as affected by elevated CO₂ were driven principally by mineralization–immobilization turnover, with little loss by denitrification. Under N‐limiting conditions, there is evidence to suggest enhanced nutrient release from soil organic matter (SOM) pools—a process which could be defined as priming. The results of our experiment did not indicate a direct plant‐mediated effect of elevated CO₂ on nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes or denitrification activity.     

林火干扰对大兴安岭主要林分类型地上生物量预测的影响模拟研究

林火干扰是北方森林最主要的自然干扰之一,对北方森林地上生物量影响是一个长期的过程。因此,在预测地上生物量动态变化时需要考虑林火的影响。运用空间直观景观模型LANDIS PRO,模拟大兴安岭林区林火对不同树种地上生物量预测的影响。选取研究区5种主要树种林分(兴安落叶松、樟子松、云杉、白桦和山杨),以无干扰情景为参考预案,在验证模型模拟结果的基础上,模拟林火在短期(0—50a)、中期(50—150a)和长期(150—300a)对地上生物量的定量化影响,及其对不同立地类型地上生物量的动态变化。结果表明:(1)基于森林调查数据参数化的2000年森林景观模拟结果能够较好地代表2000年真实森林景观,模拟的2010年森林林分密度和胸高断面积与2010年森林调查数据无显著性差异(P0.05),当前林火干扰机制模拟结果能够较好地与样地调查数据匹配,说明林火模拟能够代表当前研究区林火发生情况;(2)与无干扰预案相比,整个模拟时期内景观水平上林火减少了1.7—5.9 t/hm2地上生物量;(3)与无干扰预案相比,林火预案下主要树种生物量在短期、中期和长期变化显著(P0.05);(4)在不同模拟时期,林火显著地改变了地上生物量空间分布,其中以亚高山区地上生物量降低最为明显。研究可为长期森林管理以及森林可持续发展提供参考。     

Root exudate cocktails: the link between plant diversity and soil microorganisms?

Higher plant diversity is often associated with higher soil microbial biomass and diversity, which is assumed to be partly due to elevated root exudate diversity. However, there is little experimental evidence that diversity of root exudates shapes soil microbial communities. We tested whether higher root exudate diversity enhances soil microbial biomass and diversity in a plant diversity gradient, thereby negating significant plant diversity effects on soil microbial properties. We set up plant monocultures and two‐ and three‐species mixtures in microcosms using functionally dissimilar plants and soil of a grassland biodiversity experiment in Germany. Artificial exudate cocktails were added by combining the most common sugars, organic acids, and amino acids found in root exudates. We applied four different exudate cocktails: two exudate diversity levels (low‐ and high‐diversity) and two nutrient‐enriched levels (carbon‐ and nitrogen‐enriched), and a control with water only. Soil microorganisms were more carbon‐ than nitrogen‐limited. Cultivation‐independent fingerprinting analysis revealed significantly different soil microbial communities among exudate diversity treatments. Most notably and according to our hypothesis, adding diverse exudate cocktails negated the significant plant diversity effect on soil microbial properties. Our findings provide the first experimental evidence that root exudate diversity is a crucial link between plant diversity and soil microorganisms.     

耕作措施对土壤水热特性和微生物生物量碳的影响

通过山西寿阳设置的8a田间定位试验,比较了全量秸秆还田、免耕覆盖和常规耕作3种耕作措施下土壤含水量、温度及土壤微生物生物量碳变化.结果表明:免耕覆盖与全量还田处理显著提高土壤含水量,与常规耕作相比表层土壤体积含水量在玉米苗期、拔节期、灌浆期和成熟期分别高出18％、22％、29％、21％和3％、10％、12％、13％,具有保水保墒的作用.在苗期不同耕作措施对土壤温度的影响达到显著水平,5 cm处免耕覆盖、全量还田与常规耕作处理土壤温度依次为:18.12、18.76和19.44℃,免耕覆盖和全量还田处理平均温度比常规耕作分别低1.32℃和0.69℃.土壤微生物量碳在整个生育期动态变化是首先迅速上升在玉米生育高峰期(拔节期)达到最高峰,然后开始下降,成熟期趋于平缓.免耕覆盖与全量还田处理下玉米各生育期土壤表层微生物量碳显著高于常规耕作,在苗期、拔节期、灌浆期和成熟期分别比常规耕作高出70％、40％、85％和30％和10％、20％、15％和15％.土壤微生物量碳与土壤温度和土壤含水量相关和极相关.     

科尔沁沙地植被生产力对模拟增加降水和氮沉降的响应

采用随机区组设计,利用降水收集装置和地表施氮处理,模拟降水和氮沉降增加对科尔沁沙地典型小叶锦鸡儿群落植被生产力的影响.结果表明:降水量增加1/7,植被平均高度增加不明显,植被生物量增加了17.6%;降水量增加2/7,植被平均高度增加了23%,植被生物量增加了31.8%;模拟氮沉降处理的一年处理结果对植被生物量增加不明显;降水是影响沙地植被生产力的关键因素,植被生产力对降水量增加响应迅速,短期的氮沉降对植被生产力的影响不显著.     

三峡库区不同林龄人工橘林土壤异养呼吸及其温度敏感性

土壤异养呼吸是土壤碳库净输出的主要途径, 其对气候变暖的响应已引起国内外学者的广泛关注。对森林生态系统来说, 林龄是影响生态系统碳平衡的一个重要因素。柑橘作为三峡库区第一大支柱产业, 种植面积极广, 对维持该区域的生态平衡起着巨大的调节作用。该文以三峡库区宜昌市郊区种植年限不同的3个橘林土壤为研究对象, 采用室内培养法, 研究在不同温度条件下, 不同林龄土壤的异养呼吸及其温度敏感系数的差异, 探讨该区域生态系统对未来气候变化的潜在响应。结果显示, 随着种植年限的增加, 橘林土壤pH值减小, 有机质和全氮含量显著增加, 土壤微生物生物量碳呈下降趋势。无论在低温、常温还是高温条件下, 林龄较小的橘树土壤异养呼吸及其累积释放量较低。与其他研究相比, 该区域人工橘林土壤异养呼吸的温度敏感系数Q₁₀值相对较低(1.45-1.69), 且随着培养时间的变化而变化。随着种植年限的增加, 人工橘林土壤异养呼吸的温度敏感性逐渐降低, 表明在未来全球气候变暖条件下, 幼龄人工橘林要比成熟林对温度的反应敏感。     

大球盖菇产胞外多糖液体优化培养条件初探

以菌丝生物量及胞外多糖(exopolysaccharides,EPS)含量为指标对大球盖菇产胞外多糖液体培养基组成和发酵条件进行了优化。结果表明,最适碳源是麦芽糖,最适氮源是酵母膏,正交试验确定最佳培养基组成为马铃薯150 g/L,麦芽糖20 g/L,酵母膏1 g/L,KH2PO41 g/L,MgSO4.7H2O 2.5 g/L。最佳发酵条件为28℃,摇床转速160 r/min,起始pH值6.5,装液量100 mL/250 mL、接种量10%,发酵时间6 d。在此条件下,大球盖菇菌丝生物量及EPS含量分别比对照增加了31.8%和51.6%。     

筇竹构件生物量积累分配特征及其与土壤物理性质的关系

以大关县3种土层深度0-40 cm、0-80 cm和0-120 cm的天然筇竹林为研究对象,在个体水平上研究了竹子构件生物量分配特征及其与土壤物理性质的相关关系,以期为筇竹林适宜立地条件选择、适地适竹及定向培育提供的理论指导。结果表明:(1)同一土层深度,土壤含水量、最大持水量、毛管持水量、毛管孔隙度和总孔隙度均呈现出随土层增加而增加的趋势,而土壤容重和非毛管孔隙度则呈现出随土层增加而减少的趋势,且薄土层和厚土层各土壤物理因子差异显著(P＜0.05)。(2)随着土层厚度的增加,筇竹总生物量以及构件秆、枝、叶、蔸、鞭和根生物量表现出增加的趋势,且不同土层厚度差异显著(P＜0.05)。(3)随着土层厚度的增加,筇竹构件枝、叶、蔸、鞭、根生物量分配相应增加,秆生物量分配则相应减少,但各处理间差异并不显著(P＞0.05)。(4)土壤物理因子对筇竹构件生物量分配有着显著影响(P＜0.05),单一土壤物理因子对筇竹构件生物量分配特征的重要性大小排序为土壤含水量＞总孔隙度＞最大持水量＞容重＞毛管孔隙度＞毛管持水量＞非毛管孔隙度。结论:土壤物理因子沿土层厚度的变化对筇竹构件生物量分配产生了重要影响,在土壤物理性质较差的生境中,筇竹会优先将生物量分配给秆,并通过减少叶生物量来响应水分缺失的不利环境,这对筇竹林立地条件选择有指导意义,即筇竹宜选择较深厚土层经营,以促进生物量积累和种群生长。     

Quantifying climate–growth relationships at the stand level in a mature mixed‐species conifer forest

A range of environmental factors regulate tree growth; however, climate is generally thought to most strongly influence year‐to‐year variability in growth. Numerous dendrochronological (tree‐ring) studies have identified climate factors that influence year‐to‐year variability in growth for given tree species and location. However, traditional dendrochronology methods have limitations that prevent them from adequately assessing stand‐level (as opposed to species‐level) growth. We argue that stand‐level growth analyses provide a more meaningful assessment of forest response to climate fluctuations, as well as the management options that may be employed to sustain forest productivity. Working in a mature, mixed‐species stand at the Howland Research Forest of central Maine, USA, we used two alternatives to traditional dendrochronological analyses by (1) selecting trees for coring using a stratified (by size and species), random sampling method that ensures a representative sample of the stand, and (2) converting ring widths to biomass increments, which once summed, produced a representation of stand‐level growth, while maintaining species identities or canopy position if needed. We then tested the relative influence of seasonal climate variables on year‐to‐year variability in the biomass increment using generalized least squares regression, while accounting for temporal autocorrelation. Our results indicate that stand‐level growth responded most strongly to previous summer and current spring climate variables, resulting from a combination of individualistic climate responses occurring at the species‐ and canopy‐position level. Our climate models were better fit to stand‐level biomass increment than to species‐level or canopy‐position summaries. The relative growth responses (i.e., percent change) predicted from the most influential climate variables indicate stand‐level growth varies less from to year‐to‐year than species‐level or canopy‐position growth responses. By assessing stand‐level growth response to climate, we provide an alternative perspective on climate–growth relationships of forests, improving our understanding of forest growth dynamics under a fluctuating climate.     

亚热带6个典型树种吸收细根寿命与形态属性格局

根周转是地下生态过程的主要驱动力, 根属性指征了物种生态策略, 根寿命与属性是理解生态系统碳氮循环和群落多样性的关键。目前对亚热带常绿阔叶林根周转等生态过程的直接观测资料缺乏。该研究对中亚热带江西樟树试验林场6个树种吸收细根动态进行了2年观测, 获取了2.8万张微根管照片, 分析了吸收细根寿命年际和季节变化特征及其与根形态属性的关系。结果显示: 1)亚热带6个树种间吸收细根寿命变异为4.6倍, 变异系数可达73%。中值寿命排序为: 红豆杉(Taxus wallichiana)(426天) >复羽叶栾树( Koelreuteria bipinnata)(155天) >竹柏( Nageia nagi)(145天) >樟( Cinnamomum camphora)(126天) >东京樱花( Cerasus yedoensis)(93天) >深山含笑( Michelia maudiae)(92天); 2)树木吸收细根寿命年际、季节变异较大, 可能是适应伏秋旱、雨热不同期、年际变化大的亚热带季风气候的结果; 3)吸收细根寿命与直径呈显著正相关关系, 与比根长呈显著负相关关系, 表明根的构建成本可以在一定程度上预测寿命。这些结果为预测亚热带地下生态过程、揭示亚热带常绿阔叶林碳氮循环、物种共存机制提供依据。