Soil particle-size composition and coastal erosion and accretion study in Soc Trang mangrove forests

Coastal erosion results in loss of land, which impacts the economy, coastal residents and settlement plans, especially in the context of rising sea levels caused by climate change. Studying soil particle-size fractions in mangrove forests will help provide a better understanding of the relationship between soil proportions and coastal processes as well as the role of mangrove forests to support coastal planning and management. Soil samples were collected at 26 sampling plots at depths of 10 cm and 40 cm in the Cu Lao Dung (CLD), Long Phu (LP) and Vinh Chau (VC) mangrove forests in Viet Nam’s Soc Trang Province. The soil proportions based on six different particle-sizes (<0.074 mm, 0.074–0.1 mm, 0.1–0.25 mm, 0.25–0.5 mm, 0.5–1.0 mm, and >1.0 mm) were measured using a dry sieving method. Analysis showed that soil particle-sizes ranging between 0.074 and 0.5 mm made up 75–95 % of the soil sample weight at both depths. The high standard deviation values of soil proportions of each given particle-size among sampling plots indicated the soil proportions by particle-size varied widely across the sampling plots. Cluster analysis found similar pattern of soil particle-size proportions for samples collected in CLD and VC, and different pattern of soil particle-size proportions in samples collected at LP, which is more impacted by the Mekong River flow and has a thin mangrove forest belt.?Non-metric dimension scaling (NMDS) analysis showed that sampling plots across the landward sites of the three mangrove forest areas were distributed in the nearby locations (Stress?=?0.11). This indicated that soil proportions of particle-sizes of samples collected from areas of the natural forest composed of different species were more similar. Such similarities were not found, however, in samples collected from middle and seaward plots dominated by single-species plantations.     

Vertical infiltration of fuel oil hydrocarbons in an agricultural soil

The influence of rainfall, air temperature and soil moisture on the vertical mobility in the soil of fuel oil hydrocarbons (HC) was investigated in a field experiment. A controlled spreading of fuel oil (nC10‐nC25) was performed at a rate of 5 L HCm^‐2 on an agricultural soil in summer and in winter. Concentration, chemical composition of HC and soil moisture were regularly determined at different soil depths between 0 and 140 cm, 1 h, 3, 8and 15 days (d) after the spreading of oil. Sorption of hydrocarbons onto the organo‐mineral matrix of the soil was studied in laboratory experiments. The results showed that in summer, with an air temperature of 24°C and without water leaching in the soil profile, 65% of the initial HC remained trapped in the 0–140 cm soil layer, about 20% of the HC volatilized and around 15% migrated deeper. A vertical selective migration of the lightest (nC10‐nC15) HC (naphthas) was shown lSd after the spreading of fuel oil. Naphthas progressively reached the 120–140 cm soil layers whereas the heavy fractions of oil (nC17‐nC25) migrated and concentrated in the 0–60 cm soil layers. In winter, when soil was regularly watered by rainfalls and at low air temperatures, only 47% of the initial HC remained in the 0–140 cm profile after 15 d. A fast vertical infiltration of naphthas occurred within the first 3 d. After 15 d, all HC were detected in the same relative amounts as in the initial oil in the whole profile. Volatilization was negligible in winter and an increase in the migration of total oil at depth in the soil profile was shown. As inferred from the laboratory experiments, the high soil moisture led to the decrease in HC sorption on the organo‐mineral matter of the soil.     

太岳山油松人工林土壤呼吸对抚育强度的响应

为了解不同抚育强度下土壤呼吸速率的差异及土壤温湿度对土壤呼吸速率的影响,利用LI-8100土壤CO2排放通量全自动测量系统测定山西太岳山油松人工林不同强度抚育后土壤呼吸速率,同时测量土壤表层10 cm处的温度和湿度.4块油松人工林样地的抚育强度分别为20%、30%、40%和50%,对4块抚育样地及1块对照样地进行3种处理:切根去凋、去凋和对照.结果表明:切根去凋处理条件下抚育样地与对照样地土壤呼吸速率无显著差异(P>0.05);去凋处理条件下抚育样地与对照样地土壤呼吸速率呈显著差异(P<0.01),抚育强度为20%、30%和40%样地6、7月的土壤呼吸速率显著高于对照样地(P<0.01);对照处理条件下,抚育样地与对照样地土壤呼吸速率呈显著差异(P<0.01),抚育强度为30%和40%样地6、7、8月的土壤呼吸速率显著高于对照样地(P<0.01).土壤温度和湿度与土壤呼吸速率显著相关(P<0.01),且共同解释了土壤呼吸速率变化的30%～74%,是影响土壤呼吸速率变化的重要环境因子.     

Deep-sea caging of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis: Potential application in ecotoxicological studies

We experimented with caging the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) at various depths for 69 d to measure basic physiological parameters, histological response and bio-accumulation of contaminants in a deep-sea contaminated area. In preliminary experiments, we demonstrated, under artificial pressure conditions, the ability of mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis to tolerate rapid immersion (at a speed of up to 120 m min^?1). In situ experiments were performed using submerged lines enabling mussels to be maintained at depths ranging of 40–1550 m with survival rates ranging from 80 to 38%, respectively. No significant differences in condition indexes were observed between treated and control specimens. However, histological observations demonstrated a clear reduction in thickness of the digestive epithelium with increasing depth exposure. By determining the contaminants in caged mussels, we found the following values for chromium accumulation: 27.4 μg g^?1 dry weight at 580 m depth and 9.8 μg g^?1 dry weight at 1550 m. Selected stations were located downstream of an industrial effluent at 420 m. The biological and environmental consequences of deep-sea contamination demonstrate the suitability of caged mussels for monitoring contaminant accumulation.     

O3浓度升高对麦田土壤碳、氮含量和酶活性的影响

近地层O₃作为全球最重要的大气污染物之一,其对作物的生长发育、土壤酶活性、土壤碳、氮的影响机制已成为人们关注的重要问题。采用开顶式气室(OTCs)法模拟研究O₃浓度升高对冬小麦土壤碳、氮含量和酶活性的影响。结果表明,O₃浓度升高导致麦田0~10 cm和10~20 cm土层的全碳(TC)和全氮(TN)含量呈现出下降的趋势。O₃浓度升高对土壤酶活性也有影响。在冬小麦灌浆期,O₃胁迫可促进土壤脱氢酶活性提高。当O₃浓度为120 nL·L^-1时,0~10 cm、10~20 cm和20~40 cm土层的脱氢酶活性分别比对照处理提高59.4%、51.5%和22.2%。O₃胁迫对土壤转化酶活性的影响随着冬小麦生长期和土壤采样深度的不同而发生变化。在冬小麦拔节期,O₃处理对不同土层脲酶活性的影响没有达到显著差异水平,但是在灌浆期,20~40 cm土层的脲酶活性随着O₃浓度的增加而提高,在120 nL·L^-1浓度O₃处理下脲酶活性比对照处理提高24.6%。在O₃胁迫条件下土壤转化酶活性与土壤全碳含量、土壤脲酶活性与土壤全氮含量均呈现出显著的正相关关系。     

Preliminary assessment of surface soil lead concentrations in Melbourne,Australia

Urban soils in many cities have been found to be contaminated with lead from past usage of leaded petrol, deteriorating lead-based exterior paints and industrial sources. Currently, the spatial distribution of soil lead concentrations in the Melbourne metropolitan area is unknown. The objective of this study was to perform a preliminary assessment of the spatial distributions of the surface soil lead (Pb) concentrations in the Melbourne metropolitan area, Australia. Fifty-eight surface soil samples were collected at a depth of 0–2 cm along three linear transects oriented across the Melbourne metropolitan area. Surface soil samples were also collected at a higher density in five Melbourne suburbs. Soil cores (0–50 cm) were collected in four locations, soil transects were collected at intervals with distance away from the roadway (0–50 m) in two inner city parks, and one control soil sample was collected in a rural setting. The median soil Pb concentration of the soil transect samples was 173 mg/kg (range 32–710 mg/kg), and the median soil Pb concentration of the five suburbs was 69 mg/kg (range 9–1750 mg/kg). The suburb of Footscray had the highest soil Pb concentration with a median soil Pb concentration of 192 mg/kg (range 40–1750 mg/kg). Soil Pb concentrations were generally higher nearest the centre of the Melbourne metropolitan area and in the west of Melbourne and lower in the outer suburbs to the east and north of the city centre. Soil Pb concentrations decreased with distance from roadways in the two transects taken from urban parks, and soil lead decreased with depth in the four soil cores. The soil Pb concentrations in the Melbourne metropolitan area appear to be lower than soil lead concentrations observed in inner city areas of Sydney New South Wales (NSW) and Newcastle NSW. The spatial extent of the soil Pb hazard remains undefined in portions of the Melbourne metropolitan area.     

Aluminium in tea plantations: mobility in soils and plants, and the influence of nitrogen fertilization

The levels of extractable aluminum (Al) in soils of tea plantations, Al concentrations in tea leaves and the impact of nitrogen fertilization on these two parameters were investigated. In addition, the properties of soils from tea plantations were compared to those from soils of adjacent non-tea fields to evaluate the effect of land use conversion (from non-tea soils to tea soils). Exchangeable Al (extracted in 1 mol l⁻¹ KCl) ranged from 0.03 to 7.32 cmol_c kg⁻¹ in 94 tea fields and decreased rapidly with increasing soil pH. In comparison with non-tea soils, tea soils had a significantly lower pH and exchangeable Mg²⁺ concentration but higher organic matter contents and exchangeable K⁺ concentration. Contents of extractable Al were not different (P > 0.05) between these two soils. The concentrations of Al in mature tea leaves correlated significantly with exchangeable Al in soil samples taken at a depth of 20–40 cm and with exchangeable Al saturations in soil sampled at␣depths of 0–20 and 20–40 cm. In the pot experiment, nitrogen fertilization significantly increased extractable Al levels but decreased soil pH and the levels of exchangeable base cations. Nevertheless, the levels of Al in mature leaves and young shoots were significantly reduced by the application of large amounts of N fertilizer.     

Soil enzyme activities and their indication for fertility of urban forest soil

To reveal the biological characteristics of urban forest soil and the effects of soil enzyme on soil fertility as well as the correlation between physicochemical properties and enzyme activities, 44 urban forest soil profiles in Nanjing were investigated. Basic soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities were analyzed in the laboratory. Hydrogen peroxidase, dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and cellulase were determined by potassium permanganate titration, TTC (C₁₉H₁₅N₄·Cl) colorimetry, phenyl phosphate dinatrium colorimetry, and anthrone colorimetry, respectively. The result showed that soil pH, organic carbon (C), and total nitrogen (N) had great effects on hydrogen peroxidase, dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase activities in 0–20 cm thick soil. However, pH only had great effect on hydrogen peroxidase, dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase activities in 20–40 cm thick soil. Hydrogen peroxidase, dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase were important biological indicators for the fertility of urban forest soil. Both in 0–20 cmand 20–40 cmsoil, soil enzyme system (hydrogen peroxidase, dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and cellulase) had a close relationship with a combination of physicochemical indicators (pH, organic C, total N, available K, available P, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and microbial biomass carbon (C_mic)). The more soil enzyme activities there were, the higher the fertility of urban forest soil.     

Isotopic evidences for microbiologically mediated and direct C input to soil compounds from three different leaf litters during their decomposition

We show the potentiality of coupling together different compound-specific isotopic analyses in a laboratory experiment, where ¹³C-depleted leaf litter was incubated on a ¹³C-enriched soil. The aim of our study was to identify the soil compounds where the C derived from three different litter species is retained. Three ¹³C-depleted leaf litter (Liquidambar styraciflua L., Cercis canadensis L. and Pinus taeda L., δ¹³C_vsPDB ≈ ?43‰), differing in their degradability, were incubated on a C4 soil (δ¹³C_vsPDB ≈ ?18‰) under laboratory-controlled conditions for 8 months. At harvest, compound-specific isotope analyses were performed on different classes of soil compounds [i.e. phospholipids fatty acids (PLFAs), n-alkanes and soil pyrolysis products]. Linoleic acid (PLFA 18:2ω6,9) was found to be very depleted in ¹³C (δ¹³C_vsPDB ≈ from ?38 to ?42‰) compared to all other PLFAs (δ¹³C_vsPDB ≈ from ?14 to ?35‰). Because of this, fungi were identified as the first among microbes to use the litter as source of C. Among n-alkanes, long-chain (C27–C31) n-alkanes were the only to have a depleted δ¹³C. This is an indication that not all of the C derived from litter in the soil was transformed by microbes. The depletion in ¹³C was also found in different classes of pyrolysis products, suggesting that the litter-derived C is incorporated in less or more chemically stable compounds, even only after 8 months decomposition.     

Soil effects of six different two-species litter mixtures that include Ulmus pumila

The tree species that contribute to decomposed leaf litter can have important effects on soil properties and thus nutrient cycling and interactions between tree species. We examined ground leaf litter and soil mixtures consisting of leaves from Ulmus pumila (Up) combined individually with leaves from one of six other species: Betula platyphylla (Bp), Quercus liaotungensis (Ql), Salix matsudana (Sm), Hippophae rhamnoides (Hr), Caragana microphylla (Cm), and Amorpha fruticosa (Af). The soil–litter mixtures were incubated for 120 days to analyse the effects of their decomposition on soil properties and to determine the interactions between the different types of litter within each mixture. The decomposed litter mixtures were composed of Up combined with Sm- or Hr-improved soil fertility relative to the pure Up mixture, but the decomposed litter mixtures were composed of Up combined with Cm-, Af-, or Ql-diminished soil properties. Three leaf mixture treatments, namely Up?×?Bp, Up?×?Sm, and Up?×?Hr, exhibited synergistic effects on soil properties (i.e. soil properties exceeding the predicted values); however, three other treatments, namely Up?×?Ql, Up?×?Cm, and Up?×?Af, exhibited antagonistic effects (i.e. properties below the predicted values). Therefore, litter from Bp, Sm, or Hr should be mixed with Up to improve soil fertility and production in plantations.     

坡位对马尾松林下土壤理化性质、酶活性及微生物特性影响

以我国南方花岗岩区退化马尾松林地土壤为研究对象,通过典型样地调查方法研究不同坡位（坡上、坡中,坡底）马尾松对土壤理化性质、酶活性和微生物学性质的影响。结果表明,0～20和20～40 cm土层土壤w（有机质）、w（全氮）、w（碱解氮）和w（速效钾）坡位间差异均显著（p〈0.05）,其中w（有机质）和w（全氮）均表现为坡底〉坡中〉坡上;而w（全磷）和w（全钾）位间差异不显著;3坡位中坡底土壤w（粘粒）较高容重较小。土壤酶活性坡位间差异不显著,可能受林分密度影响较大。两土层微生物生物量碳氮与土壤呼吸强度均为坡底最大,且与有机质和全氮相关性分别达显著（p〈0.05）和极显著（p〈0.01）正相关,但在微生物对碳利用效率、有机碳氮累积程度等方面坡位间差异不显著。所以,对养分瘠薄且易受侵蚀的花岗岩红壤区域,马尾松作为恢复植被须谨慎选择。     

Crop growth,soil water and nitrogen balance simulation on three experimental field plots using the Opus model—A case study

Over a period of 5 years, the agro-ecosystem model Opus was used to simulate soil water and nitrogen balance as well as crop growth for three experimental field plots. At these plots, different agricultural management practices were applied. The data set obtained from these plots consists of automatically recorded time series of daily volumetric soil water contents measured by TRIME-probes as well as daily pressure heads measured by tensiometer. Aboveground total biomass, yield, nitrogen-uptake by crops as well as nitrate contents in the soil were measured at 6–10 sample times per year. The objective of this study was an evaluation of the accuracy of Opus regarding the simulation of crop growth, soil water and nitrogen balance. The simulations of soil water contents and pressure heads correspond with the commonly measured trends in soil depths shallower than 60 cm. In depths deeper than 60 cm, some differences between measured and simulated soil water contents as well as pressure heads could be observed. Nitrate contents in the root zone and the aboveground total biomass were simulated satisfactorily. In contrast to that, simulated and observed yields show greater discrepancies. This indicates the need of a site specific calibration of crop growth parameters within the Opus model.     

Impact of natural and calcined starfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Asterina pectinifera</Emphasis>) on the stabilization of Pb,Zn and As in contaminated agricultural soil

Metal stabilization using soil amendments is an extensively applied, economically viable and environmentally friendly remediation technique. The stabilization of Pb, Zn and As in contaminated soils was evaluated using natural starfish (NSF) and calcined starfish (CSF) wastes at different application rates (0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 wt%). An incubation study was conducted over 14 months, and the efficiency of stabilization for Pb, Zn and As in soil was evaluated by the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test. The TCLP-extractable Pb was reduced by 76.3–100 and 91.2–100 % in soil treated with NSF and CSF, respectively. The TCLP-extractable Zn was also reduced by 89.8–100 and 93.2–100 % in soil treated with NSF and CSF, respectively. These reductions could be associated with the increased metal adsorption and the formation of insoluble metal precipitates due to increased soil pH following application of the amendments. However, the TCLP-extractable As was increased in the soil treated with NSF, possibly due to the competitive adsorption of phosphorous. In contrast, the TCLP-extractable As in the 10 % CSF treatment was not detectable because insoluble Ca–As compounds might be formed at high pH values. Thermodynamic modeling by visual MINTEQ predicted the formation of ettringite (Ca₆Al₂(SO₄)₃(OH)₁₂·26H₂O) and portlandite (Ca(OH)₂) in the 10 % CSF-treated soil, while SEM–EDS analysis confirmed the needle-like structure of ettringite in which Pb was incorporated and stabilized in the 10 % CSF treatment.     

土壤有机碳初始积累过程及深度分异研究

土壤有机碳（SOC）循环及周转规律是土壤碳汇研究的一个基本理论,然而当前对SOC的初始积累过程及其深度分异机制并不明确。以安塞纸坊沟刺槐林为实验地,对20、40、60 cm 3个深度,均匀添加枯落物碎屑的土壤培养坑分3、7和11月进行1年期的培养和观测。结果表明：20和40 cm深度7月SOC、活性有机碳（POC）及总氮（TN）值最高,11月各指标含量回落,可溶性有机碳（DOC）和可溶性有机氮（DON）呈相反变化趋势。培养过程中各指标出现深度分异：与20 cm不同,在60 cm深度,SOC随培养过程而递减,POC及全氮递增,而DOC在7月出现高值。各指标相关分析表明,随深度增加,SOC与DOC、DOC与全N相关程度增强。SOC在初始积累过程中先增后减,体现出自我调节机制的存在。DOC在浅层和深层表现出异源特点,培养坑60 cm深度SOC来源出现多元化,枯落物腐解产物影响程度减弱。     

Response of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) to heavy metals contamination in soils with different organic fertilisations

The response of green roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) to Cu/Pb contamination and manure application in soil was investigated using pot experiments. Subsamples of a mineral soil were treated with increasing doses (0–500 mg kg^?1) of Cu/Pb only and/or amended (at 10% w/w) with poultry or swine manure. Roselle plants were grown, monitored for changes in growth rate and post-harvest aboveground dry biomass and tissue Cu/Pb concentrations were determined. The plants were typically greenish with linear growth profiles at all metal doses, indicating some level of tolerance. Dry biomass yields decreased as metal dose increased. Poultry manure enhanced roselle biomass yields better than swine manure. Tissue Cu/Pb concentrations increased linearly as metal doses increased in unamended soils; whereas nonlinear responses were observed in manure-amended soils. Soil-to-plant transfer factors, T _f (%) indicated that Cu (13≤T _f (% )≤60) was more phytoavailable to roselle than Pb (11≤T _f (% )≤20). Tissue metal concentrations were modelled from soil pH, organic matter, plant available and pseudototal metal; but the models appeared more reliable with plant available metal as a covariate than with pseudototal metal content. These observations may become useful whenever phytoextraction is the remedial option for soils moderately contaminated by toxic metals.     

Mobility and adsorption of the triketone herbicide mesotrione in the soil of corn crops

The triketone herbicide mesotrione has been applied pre‐emergence at the dose of 150 g a.i. ha^?1 on corn fields grown within the same period of time at different sites on clay, loam, sandy loam or sandy soils. During the crops and one month after the corn harvest, the mobility of mesotrione has been measured in the 0–20 cm surface soil layer, soil samples being taken in the 0–2,2–4,4–6,6–8, 8–10, 10–15 and 15–20 cm surface soil layers. During the first month after the treatment, mesotrione remained in the 0–2 cm surface soil layer. Thereafter, mesotrione was at a higher concentration in a 2 cm‐thick soil layer which progressively moved down in the clay, loam and sandy loam soils. In the sand soil, mesotrione moved down as a uniform diffusion, its concentration being similar in all the 2 cm‐thick layers of the 0–10 cm soil surface layer. Low mesotrione residues (6–10 ug kg^?1 dry soil) attained the 10–15 cm layer faster in the clay and sand soils than in the loam and sandy loam soils. Mesotrione was not detected in the 15–20 cm soil layer of the loam and sandy loam soils, but well in the sand and clay soils. In the soils of the corn crops mesotrione thus mainly remained in the 0–10 cm surface soil layer. This low mobility and depth of penetration conjugated to the rate of mesotrione soil degradation explain why there was no movement of mesotrione toward the deeper soil layers. The adsorption of mesotrione was greatest on the soils recently treated with organic fertilizers, and having a loam or sandy loam texture. The adsorption coefficients explained the lower mobility and the greatest persistence of mesotrione in these soils.     

Vallisneria natans decomposition rates and associated macroinvertebrates,microbes and microalgae along a vertical depth gradient in an urban lake (Nanhu Lake,China)

Knowledge on aquatic macrophyte decomposition has well developed, yet the decomposition and associated biotic factors along a vertical gradient in waters remain less examined. Here, we used Vallianeria natans leaves to investigate the decomposition rate and associated decomposers and microalgae at different vertical depths, by placing V. natans leaves into litterbags (0.5 and 5?mm meshes) and incubating them at the air–water interface (AW), sediment-water (SW) interface, and 10?cm (B10) or 20?cm (B20) burial in sediment over 60 days in a littoral zone of lake. Decomposition rates decreased with increased depths in each mesh size, with significant differences among and between AW (0.028?d^?1), SW (0.022?d^?1), B10 (0.014?d^?1) and B20 (0.011?d^?1) treatments in 0.5?mm litterbags and no significant difference between B10 (0.027?d^?1) and B20 (0.025?d^?1) in 5?mm litterbags. The average contribution of macroinvertebrates to biomass loss was highest in B20 (44.66%), lowest in AW (22.66%) and midst in both SW (25.35%) and B10 (38.78%), and was much less than that of both microbes and microalgae at each location. We show the importance of macroinvertebrates, microbes and microalgae in mediating macrophyte decomposition rate in response to different vertical locations in freshwaters.     

Temperature effects on the toxicity of four trace metals to adult spotted Babylonia snails (Babylonia areolata)

A study was conducted to determine the median lethal toxicity of four heavy metals on the marine gastropod Babylonia areolata. Median lethal toxicity tests were conducted to observe the sensitivity of this gastropod to metals and how variations in temperature might affect toxicity of test elements. Four heavy metals were used in the study. It was observed that the 96-hr LC₅₀ (in mg/L) for the different metals was found to be nickel (Ni) 33.53 (35.22–28.43), copper (Cu) 44.59 (46.43–41.53), cadmium (Cd) 21.53 (23.43–18.37), and zinc (Zn) 27.34 (28.81–24.24) at room temperature 24 °C. With temperature as a variable, median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) values were observed to increase from 22.41 mg/L at 10 °C to 27.34 mg/L at 28 °C and reduce to 18.43 mg/L at 30 °C and a further rise in toxicity was observed at 35 °C where LC₅₀ value was 12.7 mg/L as seen in the case of Zn. It was also observed that at 40 °C thermal and chemical toxicity overlapped as 100% mortality was observed in controls. This trend was noted in all metals for Babylonia areolata indicating that temperature played an important role in determining LC₅₀ values of toxicants.     

粤北亚热带山地森林土壤有机碳沿海拔梯度的变化

选择位于南岭国家级自然保护区的广东第一峰——石坑崆,从海拔300 m起到山顶部1 900 m范围,每隔100 m高程设置1条10 m×120 m的样带,共17条样带,研究土壤有机碳含量沿海拔梯度的变化规律及其与植被类型和凋落物层厚度的关系。结果表明,0～20 cm和>20～40 cm土层有机碳含量均随海拔梯度变化呈极显著差异(P<0.001),并随林分类型不同而呈高度显著差异(P<0.01),土壤有机碳含量总体上呈随海拔上升而升高的变化趋势。凋落物层厚度仅对0～20 cm土层有机碳含量有显著影响(P<0.05)。可见,海拔梯度变化是影响土壤有机碳含量的综合和主导因素,而最表层土壤有机碳含量还易受林分因子的影响,这些因子反映了土地利用变化及自然保护历史。该研究结果提示,减少人类活动的干扰和保持林地适合的凋落物层厚度有助于增加森林生态系统的碳储量。     

Association between plant species diversity and edaphic factors in the lower reaches of the Heihe River,northwestern China

The lower reaches of the Heihe River, in northwestern China, is characterised by unique local edaphic conditions that have influenced the development of local desert riparian forests. This study examines the variations in spatial variation patterns to reveal the relationships between plant species diversity and soil moisture/salinity/texture gradients at different soil depths, providing insights into the management and restoration of vegetation in ecosystems in the study area. The species–environmental relationships are investigated by redundancy analysis based on the plant species diversity matrix and the edaphic gradient matrix. A survey of 61 sampling plots identified 37 plant species in the study area. The distribution pattern of the plant species diversity are mainly affected by soil moisture, soil salinity, and soil texture at different soil depths. These edaphic factors are able to explain 98.47% of the total variation in the analysed vegetation dataset. Soil moisture, salinity, and texture content vary in terms of both the soil depths and the vegetation types in the study area. The plant community Class IV, xeric shrub, has the lowest soil water content among different vegetation types. The surface soil salinity differs for different plants and follows the order: Sophora alopecurides?>?Tamarix chinensis?>?Populus euphratica.