Promoting late-fall establishment of tall fescue with artificial soil covers to minimise soil erosion

Frequently, turfgrass seedings have been sown in the late fall, which usually results in a poor vegetative stand and the possibility of soil erosion the following spring. This study evaluates the effects of a spun-bonded polyester soil cover placed over a late-fall seeding on subsequent seedling growth and overwintering. Clemfine, Mustang, Rebel, and Rebel II cultivars of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were sown on a silt loam soil in late fall (on 17 October in 1989 and 19 October in 1990) and allowed to grow with and without a soil cover until June. In the spring the temperature under the soil cover was greater than 2°C warmer than the uncovered soil from mid-April through May. Over the winter, leaf and root weights showed no detrimental effects from being under the cover. Individual cultivars grown under the cover produced 2 to 11 times greater leaf yields and 38 to 270% better stand establishment than those sown on the exposed soil. However, plant winter injury was observed under the soil cover in small soil depressions which accumulated water originating from thawing. All cultivars had similar amounts of growth under the cover. However, leaf yields for Rebel were 30-55% less than the other cultivars when grown under the cover and this was probably related to a low seed germination rate. The covers also promoted weed growth, which comprised from 34–65% of total leaf weights and was found to be negatively correlated (r = –0.66) to the yields of the sown grass. The soil cover was found to be beneficial to improving the success of seedling establishment of late seedings of tall fescue in cold areas.     

桂北锰矿废弃地主要植物种类调查及土壤重金属污染评价

采用样方法和实地勘查法调查了桂北荔浦锰矿区废弃地自然定居和人工种植的植物,并且对8个区的主要植物及其土壤重金属含量进行了分类、测试。并采用污染指数评价法对矿区废弃地土壤重金属的污染程度进行了评价。结果表明,白茅(Imperata cylindrica)、马唐(Digitaria sanguinalis)、飞蓬(Erigeron acer)、苍耳(Xanthium sibiricum)、耳草(Hedyotisauricularia)对重金属有较强的耐性,而且能适应废弃地的不良环境,可作为锰矿废弃地生态恢复的先锋植物;用3种不同的背景值对废弃地土壤重金属污染程度的评价结果是一致的,除Pb外,5种重金属元素单项污染指数均大于2,表示被污染,其中以Mn、Zn、Cd污染最为严重。锰矿废弃地人工复垦采用典型的农业恢复模式,以种植果树和经济作物为主,果实中Cr、Cd的含量均超过食品卫生限量标准,因此矿山恢复的早期不宜直接种植果树和食用经济作物。以上研究结果可为锰矿废弃地的生态恢复和植被重建提供科学依据。     

黄土高原植被破坏与重建过程中土壤侵蚀强度变化

运用137Cs示踪方法,通过采集不同利用方式的坡面土壤,研究了黄土高原典型丘陵区流域植被破坏与重建过程中土壤侵蚀强度的变化情况.研究结果表明:植被破坏耕垦后使137Cs遭受了大量流失,坡耕地耕垦时间越长,土壤侵蚀愈严重;植被恢复重建有效地减轻了侵蚀强度;通过比较刺槐林、果园及封禁自然恢复的撂荒地三种植被建造方式的土壤侵蚀模数,发现以封禁自然恢复的撂荒地土壤保持效果最好,其次是刺槐林,最差的是果园,其原因与果园的管理方式有关.立地条件不同的同种植被建造方式.土壤侵蚀强度差异较大,表现为峁坡阳坡此槐林地侵蚀模数远远大于谷坡阴坡刺槐林地.根据退耕时间不同的坡地土壤侵蚀强度的变化及流域土地利用类型的变化等方面对燕沟流域土壤侵蚀变化趋势作了进一步预测.     

Response of plant species to coal-mine soil materials

A two-year experiment was conducted on the Black Mesa Coal Mine near Kayenta, Arizona to investigate the growth and establishment of seven plant species in unmined soil (undisturbed soil) and coal-mine soil (spoils). Natural rainfall (20 cm/yr) and natural rainfull plus sprinkler irrigation (50 cm/yr) were the irrigation treatments applied to each soil material. Plant species grew better in unmined soil than in coal-mine soil. Supplemental irrigation water resulted in more plant growth than did natural rainfall alone in both soil materials; however, there were highly significant differences among species. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and all of the annual perennial grasses used, excluding Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides Ricker), produced effective ground cover on both soil materials when they received supplemental irrigation water. Fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens Pursh.) had low germination (emergence), seedling establishment, and stem production during the first year of growth; however, in the second year of growth, this species produced a dense ground cover on coal-mine soil with natural rainfall plus irrigation. In revegetating the Black Mesa Coal Mine, Harlan II barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and Super X wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) provided initial protective cover until adapted perennial species could be established for permanent stabilisation. The Black Mesa Research Study indicated that irrigation water during seedling establishment was essential for the effective stabilisation of coal-mine soils in a semiarid environment.     

Seasonal variations in plant species effects on soil N and P dynamics

It is well established that plant species influence ecosystem processes, but we have little ability to predict which vegetation changes will alter ecosystems, or how the effects of a given species might vary seasonally. We established monocultures of eight plant species in a California grassland in order to determine the plant traits that account for species impacts on nitrogen and phosphorus cycling. Plant species differed in their effects on net N mineralization and nitrification rates, and the patterns of species differences varied seasonally. Soil PO4- and microbial P were more strongly affected by slope position than by species. Although most studies focus on litter chemistry as the main determinant of plant species effects on nutrient cycling, this study showed that plant species affected biogeochemical cycling through many traits, including direct traits (litter chemistry and biomass, live-tissue chemistry and biomass) and indirect traits (plant modification of soil bioavailable C and soil microclimate). In fact, species significantly altered N and P cycling even without litter inputs. It became particularly critical to consider the effects of these multiple traits in order to account for seasonal changes in plant species effects on ecosystems. For example, species effects on potential rates of net N mineralization were most strongly influenced by soil bioavailable C in the fall and by litter chemistry in the winter and spring. Under field conditions, species effects on soil microclimate influenced rates of mineralization and nitrification, with species effects on soil temperature being critical in the fall and species effects on soil moisture being important in the dry spring. Overall, this study clearly demonstrated that in order to gain a mechanistic, predictive understanding of plant species effects on ecosystems, it is critical to look beyond plant litter chemistry and to incorporate the effects of multiple plant traits on ecosystems.     

土壤种子库植物种类组成与土壤采集地植被的关系

土壤种子库作为区域自然植被恢复的途径之一,在实际应用之前有许多课题需要研究,土壤种子库出芽植物组成与土壤采集地自然植被的关系就是一个需要弄清的问题。文章从土壤种子库的生态学意义出发,首次对森林表土作为城市自然植被恢复绿化手段的可能性进行了探讨。试验材料取自日本大阪府箕面市大阪国际文化公园都市建设地,选取面积为20m×20m的栓皮栎Quercusvariabilis群落,采集林下5cm厚森林表土;试验场地设在大阪府枚方市山田池公园的一隅荒地,共设置4个试验区,每个试验区7个试验处理,计28个试验小区。研究结果表明:土壤种子库植物种类组成与表土采集地的植被关联性较低,但与种子散布型关系密切;表土的不同铺撒厚度在木本植物出现的种类、出芽个体数、生存个体数等方面都表现出明显的差异性。     

Heavy metal accumulation and phytostabilization potential of dominant plant species growing on manganese mine tailings

Screening plants that are hypertolerant to and excluders of certain heavy metals plays a fundamental role in a remediation strategy for metalliferous mine tailings. A field survey of terrestrial higher plants growing on Mn mine tailings at Huayuan, Hunan Province, China was conducted to identify candidate species for application in phytostabilization of the tailings in this region. In total, 51 species belonging to 21 families were recorded and the 12 dominant plants were investigated for their potential in phytostabilization of heavy metals. Eight plant species, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Artemisia princeps, Bidens frondosa, Bidens pilosa, Cynodon dactylon, Digitaria sanguinalis, Erigeron canadensis, and Setaria plicata accumulated much lower concentrations of heavy metals in shoots and roots than the associated soils and bioconcen- tration factors （BFs） for Cd, Mn, Pb and Zn were all 〈 1, demonstrating a high tolerance to heavy metals and poor metals translocation ability. The field investigation also found that these species grew fast, accumulated biomass rapidly and developed a vegetation cover in a relatively short time. Therefore, they are good candidates for phytostabilization purposes and could be used as pioneer species in phytoremediation of Mn mine tailings in this region of South China.     

牧草植物篱对紫色土坡耕地水土流失及土壤肥力空间分布的影响

植物篱的水土保持效果已得到广泛的认可,并在世界很多地方推广.随着经济植物篱概念的提出,牧草已作为经济植物篱植物得到广泛应用.然而,到日前为止,牧草植物篱对坡耕地土壤肥力的影响规律研究却很少.利用长期定位小区试验,研究了苜蓿(Medicago saliva Linn.)和蓑草(Eulaliopsis lsinata(Retz.)C.E.Hubb.)植物篱对坡耕地土壤肥力的影响规律,旨在弄清牧草植物篱提高土壤肥力的作用与效果,不断完善植物篱技术.研究发现,坡耕地在建立牧草植物篱后,土壤粘粒在篱前富积,篱下加剧侵蚀,粘粒的富积与侵蚀沿等高线成水平带状分布;土壤有机质、N、P等主要营养元素出现与土壤颗粒相同的分布规律;对K来说,其分布不受植物篱的影响.表现出从坡上向坡下逐渐减少的分布特点.从土壤养分的绝对数量来看,P呈高度富积,而有机质和K则足高度耗竭.因此,坡耕地施肥时可以适当减少P的施用量,增加有机物和K的施用量.针对植物篱带对坡耕地肥力影响的特点,即篱前肥力升高,篱下肥力下降,在坡耕地管理上应特别加强篱下土壤带的培肥,以提高坡而整体生产能力.     

Soil and plant characteristics as determining factors in site selection for surface coal mine reclamation

Four vegetative associations occur on surface mines located in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. Seventeen different species of grasses and legumes and 30 different species of trees and shrubs were evaluated for their ability to become established and control erosion on surface mines. The amount of organic matter and soil moisture are the principle factors regulating the establishment of vegetative cover on surface mines. Those species possessing a fibrous root system are better able to adapt for erosion control than tap rooted species. Likewise, shrubs such as bristley locust (Robina hispida) and Silver Bush or Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) that will produce shoots when a root becomes exposed due to erosion are better adapted for erosion control than other species. The methods and species utilized during reclamation will determine, at least in part, the future use of the land and should establish conditions for natural succession to occur.This study was supported by funds from the National Geographical Society and the Office of Water Resources, U.S. Department of Interior.     

植物群落对铜尾矿废弃地土壤微生物量和酶活性的影响

以铜尾矿废弃地为对象,研究了铜尾矿废弃地上植物群落发展与表层尾矿微生物量C、N和脱氢酶、过氧化氢碱性磷酸酶和脲酶活性的变化,探讨了植物群落-微生物量C、N_土壤酶活性之间的相互关系.结果表明,随着植物群落的发展,铜尾矿废弃地表层尾矿微生物量和酶活性在不断增加;铜官山老尾矿废弃地白茅群落下表层尾矿(TBM)微生物量和酶活性与杨山冲尾矿废弃地及铜官山新尾矿废弃地表层尾矿微生物量和酶活性存在显著差异性(p<0.05).相关分析表明铜尾矿废弃地表层尾矿微生物量C、N与土壤有机质、总氮之间呈显著正相关(P<0.01);脱氧酶、碱性磷酸酶及脲酶与微生物量C、微生物量N、土壤有机质、总氮之问呈显著正相关(P<0.01),但过氧化氢酶与微生物量C、微生物量N、土壤有机质、总氮之间呈显著负相关(P<0.01).     

Heavy metal accumulation by plant species from a coal mining area in Orissa

An ecological survey was undertaken on metal contamination (Cu, Fe, Al, Cr) of vegetation (tree, shrub and herb) collected from the overburden soil of South Bolanda, Talcher, Orissa. Stem and leaf parts of the trees and shrubs, and whole plant of the herbs were analysed. Concentrations of metals were the maximum in leafy part of trees and shrub samples. Among the various heavy metals studied, Fe concentration in plant parts was the highest and Cu concentration was the lowest.     

Climate vs. soil factors in local adaptation of two common plant species

Evolutionary theory suggests that divergent natural selection in heterogeneous environments can result in locally adapted plant genotypes. To understand local adaptation it is important to study the ecological factors responsible for divergent selection. At a continental scale, variation in climate can be important while at a local scale soil properties could also play a role. We designed an experiment aimed to disentangle the role of climate and (abiotic and biotic) soil properties in local adaptation of two common plant species. A grass (Holcus lanatus) and a legume (Lotus corniculatus), as well as their local soils, were reciprocally transplanted between three sites across an Atlantic-Continental gradient in Europe and grown in common gardens in either their home soil or foreign soils. Growth and reproductive traits were measured over two growing seasons. In both species, we found significant environmental and genetic effects on most of the growth and reproductive traits and a significant interaction between the two environmental effects of soil and climate. The grass species showed significant home site advantage in most of the fitness components, which indicated adaptation to climate. We found no indication that the grass was adapted to local soil conditions. The legume showed a significant home soil advantage for number of fruits only and thus a weak indication of adaptation to soil and no adaptation to climate. Our results show that the importance of climate and soil factors as drivers of local adaptation is species-dependent. This could be related to differences in interactions between plant species and soil biota.     

Interactive effects of plant species diversity and elevated CO2 on soil biota and nutrient cycling

Terrestrial ecosystems consist of mutually dependent producer and decomposer subsystems, but not much is known on how their interactions are modified by plant diversity and elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Factorially manipulating grassland plant species diversity and atmospheric CO2 concentrations for five years, we tested whether high diversity or elevated CO2 sustain larger or more active soil communities, affect soil aggregation, water dynamics, or nutrient cycling, and whether plant diversity and elevated CO2 interact. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) pools, symbiotic N2 fixation, plant litter quality, soil moisture, soil physical structure, soil nematode, collembola and acari communities, soil microbial biomass and microflora community structure (phospholipid fatty acid [PLFA] profiles), soil enzyme activities, and rates of C fluxes to soils were measured. No increases in soil C fluxes or the biomass, number, or activity of soil organisms were detected at high plant diversity; soil H2O and aggregation remained unaltered. Elevated CO2 affected the ecosystem primarily by improving plant and soil water status by reducing leaf conductance, whereas changes in C cycling appeared to be of subordinate importance. Slowed-down soil drying cycles resulted in lower soil aggregation under elevated CO2. Collembola benefited from extra soil moisture under elevated CO2, whereas other faunal groups did not respond. Diversity effects and interactions with elevated CO2 may have been absent because soil responses were mainly driven by community-level processes such as rates of organic C input and water use; these drivers were not changed by plant diversity manipulations, possibly because our species diversity gradient did not extend below five species and because functional type composition remained unaltered. Our findings demonstrate that global change can affect soil aggregation, and we advocate that soil aggregation should be considered as a dynamic property that may respond to environmental changes and feed back on other ecosystem functions.     

陕北黄土高原陡坡耕地土壤侵蚀变异的空间格局

利用环境放射性核素137-Cs技术定量评价陕北黄土高原典型山坡地顺坡断面(240 m)土壤重新分布的空间变化及其影响因素.结果表明,黄土高原坡地土壤侵蚀率存在明显的空间格局,即山坡中、上部是土壤侵蚀最为严重的地带,土壤平均侵蚀速率高达82.8 t/(hm2(a)以上;山顶和坡脚侵蚀速率较小,土壤平均侵蚀速率分别为17.1 t/(hm2(a)及22.3 t/(hm2(a),而坡下部土壤侵蚀速率居中,土壤平均侵蚀速率为46.8 t/(hm2(a).坡度变化是影响该地区土壤侵蚀速率空间变化的主导因子.本研究结果对黄土高原坡地土壤侵蚀的预测预报和准确防治土壤流失具有重要价值.     

MOE法在土壤侵蚀危险评价中的应用

影响土壤侵蚀的因索很多,有自然因素(如地形、植被、土壤、降雨等)和人为因素,这些因素中既有量化指标如坡度、降雨等自然因素,也有土地利用、土壤母质等不可量化的指标.这些因素的共同作用,使得单纯在GIS下利用叠加的方法对土壤侵蚀潜在危险进行判别带来一定的困难(如人为因素的最化问题等).多标准评价法(Multi-Criteria Evaluation,MCE)可以将难以量化的指标进行量化处理,并综合考虑多种囚素埘口标的影响,通过加权线性合并及布尔叠加的方法,在众多因素或是相互矛盾的客观实际中确定一种折中的优化方案,来对目标作出客观的评价.主要介绍了多标准评价法的概念及其方法原理,并以江西兴国县为例,介绍了该方法在土壤侵蚀评价中的实现过程.在土壤侵蚀评价因子的选用上,先取了植被指数(LAI)、土地利用、坡度、土壤母质、高程、道路、降雨及人口密度八个因子,根据实际情况确定单个因子在不同指标水平下可能造成的潜在土壤侵蚀危险等级;然后将因子组成矩阵,通过两两比较,来判断各因子的权重;把权重与相应的因子图相乘得到带权重值因子的栅格图,这些栅格图再进行统一的标准化处理,最后将标准化处理的栅格图通过叠加生成潜在侵蚀危险分布图.结果表明,兴国县大部分是微度侵蚀危险地区,呈连片分布,中、低度侵蚀危险主要分布在平原及沟谷地带,呈零星态,二者呈相互交错.微度危险、低度危险及中度危险区域分别占兴国县总面积的37.9%、29.2%及30.4%.三者之和为97.5%,高侵蚀危险及极高侵蚀危险的面积只占2.5%,且呈零星分布.这与兴国县的土壤侵蚀分布现状基本一致,多标准评价法应用在土壤侵蚀危险评价上是切实可行的.     

增温对荒漠草原植物群落组成及物种多样性的影响

以短花针茅荒漠草原为研究对象,通过采用远红外线辐射器模拟增温的方法,探讨了增温对荒漠草原植物群落结构及生物量和物种多样性的影响。结果表明：由于远红外线辐射器的增温作用,在2012年整个生长季内,增温样地10、20、30 cm土壤平均温度与对照样地相比,平均增加了0.39、0.38、0.31℃;各土层土壤含水量较对照平均减少0.76%、0.73%、0.60%。受温度升高及土壤含水量减少的影响,模拟增温6个生长季后,与对照样地相比,群落的高度整体增加,密度、盖度、频度表现为部分物种增加和部分物种减少的趋势,冷蒿（Artemisia frigida）等物种的重要值下降,阿氏旋花（Convolvulus ammanii）等物种的重要值上升,但是增温没有明显改变植物群落的组成。同时,增温处理使荒漠草原禾草的盖度减少,杂类草的盖度增加,半灌木和一两年生植物分盖度未发生明显变化;增温使地上地下生物量出现了不同程度的减少,在0~30 cm土壤深度地下生物量分配中,增温样地0~10 cm分配比例（81.23%）小于对照（86.07%）,10~20 cm分配比例（11.55%）大于对照（9.16%）;20~30 cm 分配比例（7.22%）大于对照（4.77%）,增温使得地下生物量分配格局向深层转移。增温后,增温样地植物Shnnon-Winener指数降低,Pielou均匀度指数升高,温度升高使荒漠草原植物群落的均匀度增加,但并没有提高草地植物的物种多样性。     

Shrub and tree establishment on coal spoils in northern High Plains — USA

Trickle irrigation, during establishment, increased survival two fold for seven species of shrubs and trees planted on coal mine spoil in the semiarid area of northeastern Wyoming, USA. Increased survival of irrigated plants persisted for five years after initiation of this study, which included two growing and winter seasons after cessation of irrigation. Species included green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea), Siberian peashrub (Caragana arborescens), American plum (Prunus americana), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), and Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum).     

植物根系对土壤抗侵蚀能力的影响

植物根系增加土壤的抗侵蚀能力主要通过两种方式一是通过根系在土体中交错、穿插,网络固持土壤;二是通过改善土壤的物理性质,提高土壤自身的水力学性质,从而增强土体的抗侵蚀能力.植物根系能明显增强土壤的抗冲性、土壤的渗透性及土体的剪切强度等水力学性质.根系在提高土壤抗侵蚀能力、防止土壤侵蚀方面具有重要作用.     

铜尾矿区9种优势植物体内重金属和氮磷含量研究

以杨山冲铜尾矿废弃地人工覆土上生长的9种优势植物为研究对象,探讨不同植物对尾矿基质中重金属和氮磷的吸收特性以及与基质理化性质之间的关联。土壤样品采集时沿基质垂直方向分为4层：A层（覆土层0~5 cm）、B层（覆土层5~20 cm）、C层（尾砂层20~25 cm）、D层（尾砂层25~40 cm）,植物样品采集时草本植物分地上和地下2部分、木本植物分根、茎和叶3部分采集。结果表明：随着9种植物生长,A层和B层基质理化性质得到明显的改善。主要表现在A层中w（总氮）、w（氨氮）、w（硝氮）、w（有效磷）和w（有机质）显著高于C、D层（P〈0.05）,B层中w（有效态Cu）、w（有效态Zn）显著低于A、C、D层（P〈0.05）。9种优势植物对Cu、Pb、Zn的吸收和积累能力具有明显差异性,其中草本植物以根系积累为主,木本植物以叶片积累为主。草本植物对尾矿基质表现出较强的适应性和耐性,其中毛叶荩草（Arthraxon prionodes）根系中Cu、Pb、Zn的富集量均最大,耐性表现最突出,是较为理想的铜尾矿基质的修复物种。另外,本研究还发现,9种植物体内氮磷质量分数也各不相同,其中木本植物叶中氮磷质量分数均大于根、茎。木本植物体内w（总氮）与w（总磷）、w（Cu）、w（Zn）相关性较好,草本植物体内w（Cu）、w（Pb）、w（Zn）之间相关性较好,表明彼此之间存在一定的促进作用。     

红壤丘陵区LAI与土壤侵蚀分布特征的关系

叶面积指数(LAI)是常用的一个用于描述植被覆盖的方面指数,土壤侵蚀的分布又与植被的覆盖状况息息相关,这就意味着LAI与土壤侵蚀有一定的相关性,目前有关这二者的相关性研究还鲜有文献报道。基于这此,本研究首先利用2000年的遥感影像(TM)解释出该年度的土壤侵蚀强度图,再利用该遥感影像通过图像的代数运算得出该地区的NDVI栅格图,通过实测该县不同典型植被条件的LAI值,得出实测的LAI与图像NDVI值之间的函数关系式,由图像的代数运算把NDVI图转换成LAI图,即实现了遥感图像的实测LAI纠正。在GIS软件的帮助下,通过将LAI栅格图与土壤侵蚀强度图的空间叠加分析,得到不同LAI条件下的土壤侵蚀分布。结果表明,LAI与土壤侵蚀的分布表现为:大致以LAI=2为分界线,当LAI<2时,土壤侵蚀并未随LAI的增加而迅速减少,LAI>2时,土壤侵蚀的分布随植被指数的增加而减少,当LAI=2左右时,土壤侵蚀的面积最大。这种情况对于轻度、中度及强度土壤侵蚀的影响是类似的,都呈类正态分布的曲线形式,但在曲线的两侧土壤侵蚀类型是有本质区别的,在曲线的左侧土壤侵蚀类型的分布是中度和强度为主,而在曲线右侧则以轻度为主。表明LAI这个指标与土壤侵蚀有很好的相关性,可以用于土壤侵蚀方面的相关研究工作。