Changes in CO2 flux for different recovery processes of desertification in the alpine meadows of Northwest Sichuan北大核心CSCD

Desertification has emerged as a serious threat to the alpine meadows of Northwest Sichuan in recent decades. Artificial vegetation had certain effects on desertification recovery, while how the CO2 flux changed and its reasons are still unclear. During the growing season in 2016 (i.e., from July to September), we selected the desertified alpine meadows with different recovery degrees, including the early stage of restoration, the middle stage of restoration, the late stage of restoration, and control (the unrecovered desertification meadow) as four transects. CO2 flux was measured by the instrument LI-8100, and the microenvironment factors that affected CO2 flux changes were analyzed. The results showed that the carbon sequestration function of desertified alpine meadows gradually increased with the degree of recovery. Net ecosystem exchange (NEE) were -1.61, -3.55, and -4.38 μmol m-2 s-1 in the early, mid-term, and late transects, respectively, and the most dramatic changes occurred from the early stage to mid-term stage, increasing by 120.50%. Both ecosystem respiration (ER) and soil respiration (SR) were enhanced significantly with restoration (P < 0.05). In mid or late July, NEE, ER, and SR reached their maximum values, and thereafter, the indicators varied to near zero (P < 0.05). During the whole growing season, the daily dynamic in CO2 flux for the control alpine meadow was mild and retained the trend of continuous release all day, but that in the desertified alpine meadow was a single peak pattern. Moreover, with restoration process, the peak of CO2 flux increased and reached a peak in the late stage of the recovery process. The regression analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between CO2 flux and vegetation coverage, aboveground biomass, and soil moisture (0-5 cm) (P < 0.01), and a weak correlation with 0-5-cm soil temperature (P < 0.01). This indicates that topsoil moisture (5 cm) is a more significant factor for CO2 flux than topsoil temperature during the growing season in the restoration of desertified alpine meadows in Northwest Sichuan. In general, the vegetation recovery significantly improved the carbon-sequestration ability of the desertified alpine meadows during the growing season in Northwest Sichuan, and at the middle stage of restoration, the carbon-sequestration ability improved significantly due to vegetation restoration and increase in topsoil (0-5 cm) moisture. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Seasonal and interannual variation of soil respiration in four vegetation types in the loess hilly region北大核心CSCD

Soit carbon (C) stock is the largest C pool in terrestrial ecosystems, and the emission of CO2 through soil respiration contributes to the majority of soil C expenditure and atmospheric C. Soil respiration is also one of the major processes controlling the C budget of terrestrial ecosystems. A slight change in soil CO2 emission might cause drastic variations in global C balance. Therefore, it is of great significance to investigate the characteristics of soil respiration of soils growing different types of vegetation over a long period, and determine its relationship with variables such as soil temperature and moisture. The rate of soil respiration was measured each month in the growing seasons (from April to October) of 2011, 2013, and 2014 using the Li-8100 CO2 flux measurement system in the central Loess Plateau. Four types of vegetation (Quercus liaotungensis, Platycladus orientalis, Robinia pseudoacacia, and a natural shrub) were chosen for the periodical measurements. A permanent sample plot was established for each type of vegetation, and five polyvinyl chloride (PVC) collars were placed in each plot for the measurements. The temperature and water content of the soil in the upper 12 cm near the collar were measured using a digital soil temperature probe and a TDR 200 soil moisture meter at the same time when the soil respiration was measured. The soil respiration rates were fitted to the soil temperature and moisture with an exponential function, power function, linear function, and an equation combining the two variables. The results showed that: (1) the seasonal variation in the rates of soil respiration in the soils growing the four types of vegetation were almost the same, and were lower in the earlier period and then increased to high levels in the middle and later periods; (2) the rates of soil respiration in the same month varied with the type of vegetation grown, and were in the descending order: Q. liaotungensis > P. orientalis > shrub > R. pseudoacacia; (3) the average values of the rates of soil respiration in 2011, 2013, and 2014 were 2.77, 3.48, and 5.08 μmol m-2 s-1, respectively. The variation in soil respiration was higher across the three years than the variation for the types of vegetation grown; and (4) the rate of soil respiration was positively correlated to soil temperature and moisture for all the types of vegetation. A better fit was obtained by using the equation that included both the variables, soil temperature and moisture, than by an equation that included a single factor. Our results suggested that both seasonal and inter-annual variations of soil respiration occurred in the soils growing the four types of vegetation in the region. The temperature and water content of soils are the major regulating factors, and soil respiration in the Loess Plateau is more greatly affected by environment factors than by the type of vegetation. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Effects of stand density on understory species diversity and soil anti-scourability of Cupressus funebris plantation in Yunding Mountain,Sichuan, China北大核心CSCD

To protect the ecosystem of barren mountains, massive Cupressus funebris plantations were allowed in hilly areas of the central Sichuan Basin in the late 1980s. In recent years, Cupressus funebris plantations have faced problems such as biodiversity decline and soil erosion. To study the effects of different forest densities on understory species diversity and soil anti-scourability of Cupressus funebris plantations in Yunding Mountain, a typical sampling method was used to investigate the five different forest densities (1 100, 950, 800, 650, and 500 trees/hm2) and to analyze the correlation between the species diversity index, soil anti-scourability, and root index. In total, 176 species from 128 genera and 69 families were recorded in this area. The number of species in the herb layer was higher than that in the shrub layer. The species diversity index of the shrub layer first increased and then decreased with the decrease in stand density; and the species richness index D and Shannon–Wiener diversity index H showed peak values at a density of 650 trees/hm2. The species richness index D, Shannon–Wiener diversity index H, and Simpson dominance index H’ in the herb layer showed a bimodal trend of increasing, then decreasing, increasing again, and finally decreasing with the decrease in stand density; and the peak values were found at the densities of 650 and 950 trees/hm2. When soil anti-scourability decreased with stand density, it showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing, reaching a peak at a density of 650 trees/hm2. The positive correlation between the species richness index and soil anti-scourability was evident. Thus, 650 trees/hm2 is relatively more conducive to the stability of species diversity and soil anti-scourability in cypress plantations. © 2022 Authors. All rights reserved.     

Temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of sunshine duration over Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from 1961 to 2020北大核心CSCD

Based on observation data of daily sunshine duration from 1961 to 2020 at 175 meteorological observation stations over Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its surrounding areas, spatial transformation analysis, climate trend analysis and M-K mutation test were used to analyze the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of the seasonal and annual sunshine duration in the region in the last 60 years. The results show that (1) annual average sunshine duration was 2 323 h, the maximum was 3 487 h in Gaer, Tibet, and the minimum was 771 h in Ya'an, Sichuan. The high-value areas were mostly located in western Tibet, northern Qinghai, western Gansu, and Xinjiang, and the low-value areas were mostly located in Nyingchi in Tibet, the mountainous area on the western edge of the Sichuan Basin, and northwestern Yunnan. The highest sunshine duration was recorded in winter (631 h), and the lowest was recorded in autumn (555 h) among the four seasons. (2) The average decrease in annual sunshine duration was 10.27 h/10 a. The largest rates of decrease were mainly in Gannan of Gansu and Ganzi of Sichuan, with the largest rate of decrease of 130 h/10 a. The areas with large rates of increase were mainly in Hotan area of Xinjiang, Liangshan of Sichuan and Lhasa of Tibet, with the largest increase of 61 h/10 a. Among the four seasons, spring exhibited an upward trend, and the remainder exhibited a downward trend. (3) Before 2017, the annual sunshine duration increased but declined after 2017. Spring sunshine duration had the largest number of mutation years, and the earliest mutation time was 1963. Winter had the fewest number of mutation years and the latest mutation time occurred in 2015. In summary, the annual and seasonal sunshine duration of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau vary greatly in space, but with the general characteristics of more sunshine in the northwest and less in the southeast, and sunshine hours were mainly decreasing, with 2017 as a mutation point of annual sunshine duration. Most areas of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have great potential for photosynthetic production and are suitable for the development of light-loving plants and high-density planting. Shade-loving or shade-tolerant plants, including tea, are suitable for development in remote mountainous areas with low sunshine values in the western part of the basin, including Ya’an, Sichuan, and other areas, such as Medog, Tibet. © 2022 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Quantity and activity of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria and their contribution to ammonia oxidation in farmland soil of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau北大核心CSCD

Ammonia oxidation, the first and rate-limiting step of nitrification, is mainly performed by ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). However, the activities of AOA and AOB in soil and their relative contribution to ammonia oxidation are unclear, and whether there is a significant correlation between the quantity of AOA and AOB and the ammonia oxidation rate is also controversial. In this study, quantitative PCR combined with acetylene (C2H2) and 1-octyne inhibition methods were used to determine the quantity and activity of AOA and AOB in wheat, highland barley, and oilseed rape soils in Nyingchi, Lhatse, Sangzhuzi, and Sangri counties on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The results showed that the quantity of AOB ((2.34 ± 0.84) ×105 - (2.65 ± 1.07) ×106 copies g-1 dry soil) was significantly higher than that of AOA ((0.20 ± 0.10) ×104 - (4.02 ± 0.39) ×104 copies g-1 dry soil) in all the soil samples. Soil pH was the key factor affecting the quantity of AOB, and the total phosphorus and ammonium nitrogen in soil were the key factors affecting the quantity of AOA. The rates of ammonia oxidation in the farmland soils of Lhatse (2.42 ± 0.73 mg kg-1 d-1) and Sangzhuzi (3.24 ± 1.15 mg kg-1 d-1) were significantly higher than those in the soils of Nyingchi (1.17 ± 0.43 mg kg-1 d-1) and Sangri counties (0.88 ± 0.57 mg kg-1 d-1). The rates of ammonia oxidation in the farmland soils of Lhatse and Sangzhuzi were dominated by AOB, while those in the farmland soils of Nyingchi and Sangri counties were dominated by AOA. For crops, the ammonia oxidation rates of wheat and oilseed rape soils in all four regions were significantly higher than those of highland barley soil, whereas the activity of AOA and AOB was not influenced by crops. The ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus was the key factor influencing AOA activity, whereas soil pH and total carbon were the main factors influencing AOB activity. Additionally, the quantities of AOA and AOB were not significantly correlated with the total ammonia oxidation rates and AOA and AOB activity. Overall, our study suggests that both AOA and AOB play important roles in ammonia oxidation in farmland soils of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Moreover, it is unreliable to predict the activity of AOA and AOB and their relative contribution to ammonia oxidation directly based on their number of amoA genes, and the activity of AOA and AOB should be directly and accurately measured. These results are important for understanding ammonia nitrogen removal processes, slowing nitrate loss, and reducing the emission of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide in the farmland ecosystem of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. © 2022 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Modeling agricultural non-point source pollution in a high-precipitation coastal area of China

Non-point source （NPS） pollution simulation in the high-precipitation coastal areas of China is difficult because varying annual typhoon incidence leads to highly contrasting rainfall patterns in dry years and wet years. An IMPULSE （Integrated Model of Non-point Sources Pollution Processes） based NPS model of the Changtan Reservoir watershed, which is a typical high-precipitation coastal area in China, was established based on the analysis of point and NPS pollution data, a digital elevation model, and data on land-use, soil, meteorology, economy, and agricultural management practice. Pre-processed pre-rain- fall soil moisture levels were introduced during the simulation to model the effects of typhoons on hydrology. Rainfall events were simulated sequentially through the year and the model was calibrated and verified using hydrological and water quality data. Accuracy of the simulated rainfall runoff and water quality in the Changtan watershed was found to be acceptable. The study showed that the NPS modeling system could be applied to the simulation and prediction ofNPS loadings in the Changtan Reservoir watershed.     

Relationship between herbaceous community distribution and soil environmental factors in the riparian zone of the Baiyangdian River Basin北大核心CSCD

Riparian zone vegetation is an important part of the riparian ecosystem and plays an important role in the riparian zone functioning. Herbs, which are one of the main types of riparian vegetation, are extremely sensitive to environmental changes and human activities and have become a hot spot of riparian vegetation research. In this study, the herbaceous communities of four representative rivers (Xiaoyi, Baohe, Fuhe, and Baigouyin River) entering Baiyangdian Lake in China were researched. The herbaceous species in their riparian zones were systematically investigated using the sample plot method. The Shannon-Wiener diversity (H’), Pielou evenness (J), and Patrick richness (R) indices were estimated to examine the species composition and diversity of the herb communities, following which redundancy analysis (RDA) was conducted. The relationship between species diversity, distribution patterns of herbaceous plant communities, and soil environmental factors in the riparian zone of the four rivers is discussed. (1) Eighty-three species of herbaceous plants belonging to 66 genera and 27 families in the riparian zone entering Baiyangdian Lake. Most herbaceous plants, including Poaceae, Compositae, and Chenopodiaceae, were weeds or associated plants. Riparian vegetation was greatly affected by human disturbance. (2) All the three estimated indices of the Xiaoyi, Baigouyin, and Fuhe rivers were better than those of the Baohe River. (3) The vegetation coverage and species diversity of riparian herbaceous communities were positively correlated with soil organic matter and water content but negatively correlated with pH, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. Therefore, these communities are conducive to the restoration of vegetation and the stability of biodiversity in the riparian core area to reduce the disturbance of human activities and increase humidity. © 2022 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Evolution of soil fertility and nitrogen/phosphorus leaching risk in protected agriculture of the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau北大核心CSCD

Understanding changes in soil fertility and soil environmental risks in protected agriculture with high irrigation and fertilizer inputs are of great significance for ecological protection. In this study, soil samples in the plow layer were collected from greenhouses >100 acres in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau after different durations of planting time (either ≤ 3, 3-5, 5-10, or 10-20 years) to assess the changing pattern of soil fertility indicators and the potential leaching risk of nitrogen and phosphorus. The results showed that soil organic matter (OM) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in protected agriculture were 17.1 and 1.3 g/kg, respectively, which suggests moderate content levels. Meanwhile, soil alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (Olsen-P), and available potassium (AK) contents were 160.9, 72.0, and 191.2 mg/kg, respectively, which suggests abundant content levels. As the number of planting years increased, the contents of soil OM, TN, AN, and Olsen-P increased significantly, especially after 10 years, with 41.6%, 44.2%, 26.5%, and 67.4% increases, respectively, compared to ≤ 3 years. As seen, Olsen-P had the most marked increase. In contrast, soil AK and pH decreased with planting years, and soil AK after 5 years decreased by 32% compared to ≤ 3 years. Moreover, the soil pH value in 3-5 years decreased by 2.3% compared to that of ≤ 3 years. The leaching risk of soil nitrogen and phosphorus was intensified after 10-20 years, and the probability of leaching was 0.74 and 0.84, respectively. This study indicated that, in protected agriculture, soil OM, AN, and Olsen-P contents improved, accompanied by a high risk of N and P loss, and AK and soil pH values decreased. It is recommended that the input of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers should be controlled, and the input of potassium fertilizer should be increased for more than 10 years of facility cultivation. This study provides a scientific basis for the rational fertilization of agricultural facilities. The findings indicate that after facility planting for 10-20 years, soil organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus significantly increased, yet the leaching risk of nitrogen and phosphorus increased as well, suggesting that the input of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer should be controlled. After 3-5 years of planting, soil AK and pH values decreased significantly, implicating that potassium and organic fertilizer should be supplemented in a timely manner. © 2022 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Photosynthetic characteristics and reproductive strategies of Polygonum viviparum at different altitudes in the Qilian Mountains北大核心CSCD

Polygonum viviparum, which reproduces sexually and asexually, is widely distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and its reproduction strategies are very sensitive to changes in the environment. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of altitude on the photosynthetic characteristics and reproductive strategies of P. viviparum. This study was conducted to investigate the responses of photosynthetic, vegetative, and reproductive traits of P. viviparum populations along six altitudinal gradients in the eastern part of the Qilian Mountains in China. Our results indicated that, with increasing altitude, the net photosynthetic rate of P. viviparum showed an increasing trend, reaching its maximum value (14.39 μmol m–2 s–1) at 3 700 m above sea level. The transpiration rate showed an increasing trend, followed by a decreasing trend, and the intercellular CO2 concentration did not differ significantly between altitudes. With increasing altitude, the plant height and leaf area of P. viviparum showed a downward trend, the aboveground and underground biomass decreased, and the specific leaf area initially decreased and then increased. However, the leaf greenness index showed an upward trend, and the number of stomata in the upper and lower epidermis of leaves initially increased and then decreased. With increasing altitude, the proportion of inflorescence length per plant (the ratio of inflorescence length to plant height), the proportion of bulbil length per inflorescence (the ratio of bulbil length to inflorescence height), and the proportion of the number of bulbils per inflorescence (the ratio of the number of bulbils to the total number of flowers and bulbils) showed an increasing trend. Air temperature and light intensity are the major environmental factors affecting the photosynthetic characteristics and functional traits of P. viviparum. Thus, P. viviparum is exposed to more environmental stresses and obtains less energy when altitude increases, but it adapts to the harsh alpine environment by increasing the photosynthetic capability per unit area. With increasing altitude, P. viviparum populations may be sustained by investing less energy in vegetation and more in reproduction, especially asexual reproduction. © 2022 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Total phosphorus concentrations in surface water of typical agro- and forest ecosystems in China, 2004–2010

The concentrations of total phosphorus （TP） from 83 surface water sampling sites in 29 of the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network （CERN） monitored ecosystems, representing typical agro- and forest ecosystems, were assessed using monitoring data collected between 2004 and 2010 from still and flowing surface water. Results showed that, TP concentrations were significantly higher in agro-ecosystems than those in forest ecosystems both for still and flowing surface water. For agro- ecosystems, TP concentrations in the southern area were significantly higher than those in the northern and north- western areas for both still and flowing surface water, however no distinct spatial pattern was observed for forest ecosystems. In general, the median values of TP within agro- and forest ecosystems did not exceed the Class V guideline for still （0.2mg.L-1） or flowing （0.4mg.L-1） surface water, however, surface water at some agro- ecosystem sampling sites was frequently polluted by TE Elevated concentrations were mainly found in still surface water at the Changshu, Fukang, Linze and Naiman monitored ecosystems, where exceedance （〉 0.2 mg.L-1） frequencies varied from 43% to 78%. For flowing water, elevated TP concentrations were found at the Hailun, Changshu and Shapotou monitored ecosystems, where exceedance （〉 0.4 mg. L-1） frequencies varied from 29% to 100%. Irrational fertilization, frequent irrigation and livestock manure input might be the main contributors of high TP concentrations in these areas, and reduced fertilizer applications, improvements in irrigation practices and centralized treatment of animal waste are necessary to control P loss in these TP vulnerable zones.     

Removal of non-point pollutants from bridge runoff by a hydrocyclone using natural water head

A hydrocyclone using natural water head provided by bridge was operated for the treatment of stormwater runoff. The hydrocyclone was automatically controlled using electronic valve which is connected to a pressure meter. Normally the hydrocyclone was open during dry days, but it was closed after the capture of the first flush. The results indicated that the average pressure and the flow rate were directly affected by the rainfall intensity. The pressure head was more than 2 m when the rainfall intensity was above 5mm·h^-1. The percentage volume of underflow with high solids concentration decreased as the pressure and flow rate increased, but the percentage volume of overflow with almost no solids showed the opposite behavior. The total suspended solids （TSS） concentration ratio between the overflow and inflow （TSSover/TSSin） decreased as a function of the operational pressure, while the corresponding ratio of underflow to inflow （TSSunaer/TSSi,） increased. The TSS separation efficiency was evaluated based on a mass balance. It ranged from 25% to 99% with the pressure head ranging from 1.4 to 9.7 m, and it was proportional to pressure and flow rate. Normally, the efficiency was more than 50% when the pressure was higher than 2 m. The analysis of the water budget indicated that around 13% of the total runoff was captured by the hydrocyclone as a first flush, and this runoff was separated as underflow and overflow with the respective percentage volumes of 29% and 71%. The pollutants budget was also examined based on a mass balance. The results showed that the percentage of TSS, chemical oxygen demand （COD）, total nitrogen （TN）, and total phosphorus （TP） in underflow were 73%, 59%, 7.6%, and 49%, respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that the hydrocyclone worked well. It separated the first flush as solids-concentrated underflow and solids-absent overflow, and effectively reduced the runoff volume needing further treatment. Finally, four types of optional post treatment design are presented and compared.     

Evaluation of soil microbial toxicity of waste foundry sand for soil-related reuse

The relationship between the chemical con- taminants and soil microbial toxicity of waste foundry sand （WFS） was investigated. Five different types of WFS from typical ferrous, aluminum, and steel foundries in China were examined for total metals, leachable metals, and organic contaminants. The soil microbial toxicity of each WFS was evaluated by measuring the dehydrogenase activity （DHA） of a blended soil and WFS mixture and then comparing it to that of unblended soil. The results show that the five WFSs had very different compositions of metal and organic contaminants and thus exhibited very different levels of soil microbial inhibition when blended with soil. For a given WFS blended with soil in the range of 10wt.%-50wt.% WFS, the DHA decreased almost linearly with increased blending ratio. Furthermore, for a given blending ratio, the WFSs with higher concentrations of metal and organic contaminants exhibited greater microbial toxicity. Correlation analysis shows that the relationship between ecotoxicity and metal and organic contaminants of WFSs can be described by an empirical logarithmic linear model. This model may be used to control WFS blending ratios in soil-related applications based on chemical analysis results to prevent significant inhibition of soil microbial activity.     

Abundance and distribution of ammonia-oxidizing archaea in Tibetan and Yunnan plateau agricultural soils of China

As low oxygen and high ultraviolet （UV） exposure might significantly affect the microbial existence in plateau, it could lead to a specialized microbial community. To determine the abundance and distribution of ammonia-oxidizing archaea （AOA） in agricultural soil of plateau, seven soil samples were collected respectively from farmlands in Tibet and Yunnan cultivating the wheat, highland-barley, and colza, which are located at altitudes of 3200-3800 m above sea level. Quantitative PCR （q-PCR） and clone library targeting on amoA gene were used to quantify the abundances of AOA and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria （AOB）, and characterize the community structures of AOA in the samples. The number of AOA cells （9.34 × 10^7-2.32× 10^8 g^-1 soil） was 3.86-21.84 times greater than that of AOB cells （6.91 × 10^6-1.24 × 10^8 g^-1 soil） in most of the samples, except a soil sample cultivating highland- barley with an AOA/AOB ratio of 0.90. Based Kendall＇s correlation coefficient, no remarkable correlation between AOA abundance and the environmental factor was observed. Additionally, the diversities of AOA community were affected by total nitrogen and organic matter concentration in soils, suggesting that AOA was probably sensitive to several environmental factors, and could adjust its community structure to adapt to the environmental variation while maintaining its abundance.     

Spatiotemporal patterns and other impacting factors on wheat production of Tibet,China北大核心CSCD

Wheat is the second-largest food crop in Tibet, China. Along with economic development, the pattern of wheat production in Tibet has changed dramatically, potentially affecting the balance of grain supply and demand, as well as food security. A clear understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns and other factors affecting wheat production can provide a necessary basis for the scientific management and efficient production of wheat. Based on the wheat yield from 1990 to 2020 in 74 county-level units of Tibet, this study analyzed the spatial and temporal change patterns of Tibetan wheat production and its impacting factors using the Gini coefficient, center of gravity move method, advantage index, exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA), and geographically weighted regression model (GWR). Results showed that: (1) the total wheat production in Tibet rose from 1990 to 1999, fluctuated, and then decreased from 1999 to 2020. The production areas are mainly concentrated in the southern Tibetan Valley and counties in the Three Rivers region of eastern Tibet. (2) The spatial distribution and agglomeration pattern of wheat in Tibet is relatively stable, and the production center shows a slight fluctuation trend from west to east during the 1990-2020 time period. (3) Based on the comprehensive advantage index (CAI), Tibet’s wheat production in advantaged areas, slightly advantaged areas, slightly disadvantaged areas, and disadvantaged areas accounted for 13.5%, 8.1%, 9.5%, and 40.5% of the total production, respectively; indicating that the regional distribution of CAI exhibits spatial agglomeration rather than sporadic distribution. The patterns are HH (high-high), LH (low-high), and random; 29 hot spots are mainly distributed in Lhasa, Shannan, and Nyingchi, while the cold spots are mainly distributed in Xigazê and Ngari; and (4) the impacting factors on Tibet’s wheat production mainly include effective irrigation areas and agricultural mechanization level as positive factors, and regional gross agricultural product as the main negative factor. In addition, rainfall, other grain output, livestock inventory at the end of the year, and the number of non-primary industries also have an impact on wheat production. Wheat planting area in Tibet has been declining in recent years, thus exhibiting a significant pattern of spatial agglomeration. The three dominant factors affecting the emerging spatiotemporal pattern of wheat production in Tibet are the irrigation condition, mechanization, and local economic development levels. Based on the above conclusions, the study suggests building a high-yield wheat area consistent with local conditions by strictly protecting arable land, improving irrigation conditions, and increasing machinery investment. Depending on the counties of high-yield areas, Tibetan farmers and herders should cultivate the bases of wheat production and build a wheat base for local wheat consumption. © 2022 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Soil physi-chemical properties,biomass and nutrient contents of forest litter in mixed plantations of Eucalyptus grandis and three tree species北大核心CSCD

In the present study, we compared the soil physical and chemical properties, biomass of forest litter and nutrient contents in three-and-half-year plantations of E. grandis mixed with Toona ciliate, Alnus formosana, Sassafras tzumu. The results indicated that mixing T. ciliate and A. formosana with E. grandis mitigated soil acidification. In E. grandis × S. tzumu plantations, the soil bulk density decreased, but the moisture capacity and porosity increased. The mixed plantations of E. grandis × S. tzumu significantly increased the soil total C, N, P and K content, by 64.7%, 41.9%, 28.6% and 7.7%, respectively. The mixed plantations of E. grandis × A. formosana also significantly increased the soil total C, N and P content, by 15.2%, 27.9% and 47.6%, respectively. Compared with the pure plantations, the mixed plantations had significantly lower soil hydrolysis N and higher available P content. Only the E. grandis × A. formosana plantations had higher soil available K content. Compared with that in pure plantations, the biomass of branch litter and leaf litter was significantly higher in E. grandis × A. formosana plantations but significantly lower in E. grandis × A. formosana and E. grandis × A. formosana plantations; the biomass of leaf litter and total biomass of litter of E. grandis × S. tzumu were 9.8% and 9.3% respectively lower. The litter C content in three kinds of mixed forest was significantly lower and the litter N content was significantly higher than that in the pure plantations. Only the mixed plantations of E. grandis × A. formosana plantations would increase the content of litter P. The mixed plantations of E. grandis × S. tzumu would increase the content of litter K. In general, S. tzumu is the optimal tree species to mix with E. grandis, followed by A. formosana, but T. ciliate is unsuitble for mixed plantation with E. grandis.     

Effects of planting density on the microclimate of rice population with different panicle-types and its yield components北大核心CSCD

Split-plot field experiments, with variety as the main plot, were designed to analyze the microclimate and character of R498 (curved panicle) and R499 (erect panicle) varieties of rice during the full heading day and on the 20th day after full heading. The planting densities assigned to the subplots were 0.23 m (line spacing) × 0.12 m (hole spacing), 0.27 m × 0.14 m, 0.33 m × 0.17 m, 0.38 m × 0.20 m, and 0.40 m × 0.21 m. The results showed that for all the planting densities, the maximum temperature of R499 increased by 1.52 ℃ on an average during the full heading stage, but decreased by 0.66 ℃ on the 20th day after full heading, in comparison to those of R498. The mean daily light intensities of R498 and R499 in sparse planting (0.38 m × 0.20 m, 0.40 m × 0.21 m) were higher than those of other planting density treatments during the full heading stage, being 43.56% and 16.22% higher, respectively, than that of the lowest daily light intensity. The daily light intensity of R498 was hindered by close planting (0.23 m × 0.12 m, 0.27 m × 0.14 m) while that of R499 was inhibited by sparse planting on the 20th day after the full heading stage. The rates of decrease of vertical light intensity of R498 and R499 in sparse planting were the highest among all the planting density treatments, their rates of decrease being 97.96% and 92.56%, respectively, during the full heading stage, and 94.81% and 91.10%, respectively, on the 20th day after the full heading stage. When the planting density was decreased, the variability of plant height, tiller number, and panicle curvature were greater for R499 than those of R498. The rates of incidence of sheath blight for R498 and R499 in the planting specification of 0.38 m × 0.20 m were 66.67% and 68.89%, respectively, which was the most serious among all the planting density treatments. On increasing the effective spike number and panicle weight, both R498 and R499 produced the highest yields with the planting specification of 0.27 m × 0.14 m, among all the planting density treatments. Even when the density was excessively reduced, the value of yield components did not increase any further. Thus, it is better to plant rice with curved panicles (R498) in a reasonable planting density (neither too close nor too sparse), and to plant rice with erect panicles in a reasonably close planting density. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Changes in major factors affecting the ecosystem health of the Weihe River in Shaanxi Province, China

Maintenance of the ecosystem health of a river is of great importance for local sustainable development. On the basis of both qualitative and quantitative analysis of the influence of natural variations and human activities on the ecosystem function of the Weihe River, the changes in major factors affecting its ecosystem health are deter- mined, which include： 1） Deficiency of environment flow： since the 1960s, the incoming stream flow shows an obvious decreasing tendency. Even in the low flow period, 80% of the water in the stream is impounded by dams for agriculture irrigation in the Baoji district. As a result, the water flow maintained in the stream for environmental use is very limited. 2） Deterioration of water quality： the concentrations of typical pollutants like Chemical Oxygen Demand （COD） and NH3-N are higher than their maximum values of the Chinese environmental quality standard. Very few fish species can survive in the River. 3） Deformation of water channels： the continuous channel sedimentation has resulted in the decrease in stream gradient, shrinkage of riverbed and the decline in the capability for flood discharge. 4） Loss of riparian vegetation： most riparian land has been occupied by urban construction activities, which have caused the loss of riparian vegetation and biodiversity and further weakened flood control and water purification functions.     

Variation characteristics of thermal resources in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in recent 50 years北大核心CSCD

To provide scientific support for the rational development and utilization of thermal resources and avoid climate risks, the distribution of thermal resources in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the context of climate change was analyzed in this study. Based on meteorological data from 1961 to 2020 at 149 stations in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the changes in thermal resources over the past 50 years were analyzed using inclination rate analysis and Mann-Kendall inspection, combined with JAVA and Python programming. The results showed that: (1) the annual average temperature in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau shows an obvious warming trend, and the temperature increases greatly after the 1990s, with the climate tendency rate from 1961 to 2020 reaching 0.298 ℃/10 a. (2) The accumulated temperature and lasting days steadily above 0 ℃, 5 ℃ and 10 ℃ increased significantly, and the accumulated temperature increases were not entirely determined by the duration of the lasting days. (3) The beginning dates of accumulated temperature steadily above 0 ℃, 5 ℃, and 10 ℃ were generally advanced, while the deadlines were delayed, and the trend of early start dates was stronger than that of deadlines. In conclusion, this study shows that, in the context of global warming, thermal resources in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have undergone substantial changes, which will play an important role in the introduction and extension of crops. © 2022 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Role of biologic components in a novel floating-bed combining Ipomoea aquatic,Corbicula fluminea and biofilm carrier media

A novel floating-bed incorporated with water spinach （Ipomoea aquatica）, Asiatic clam （Corbicula fluminea）, and carrier media supported biofilm was developed for eutrophic water purification. The contribu- tions of each biologic component to the removals of total nitrogen （TN）, total phosphorus （TP） and Chl.a were examined. The nutrient removals due to the direct uptake by either water spinach or Asiatic clam were less than 10%, suggesting a negligible role of biologic assimilation and leaving the biofilm as the indispensable biologic compo- nent in the floating-bed. Chl.a was reduced mainly by Asiatic clams via filter-feeding. Meanwhile, the digestion and excretion of Asiatic clams benefited the proliferation of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria, resulting in the improvement of TN removal. In summary, the synergetic effects of water spinach, Asiatic clams and biofilms would promote the eutrophic water treatment performance of floating-bed in comparison with the conventional floating- bed with vegetation as the single biologic component.     

Impacts of de-icing salt pollution on urban road greenspace: a case study of Beijing

De-icing salt contamination of urban soil and greenspace has been a common issue of concern in many countries for years. In the 2009/2010 winter, Beijing experienced a contamination accident resulting from the overuse of deicing salt, reported as almost 30000 tons, which severely damaged urban vegetation alongside roadways. The methods of sampling and rating for both soil contamination and response of the plant populations were developed to rapidly assess this emergency environmental event. Results showed that the shrubs were more severely damaged than the arbors in terms of both degree and extent, as almost all of the surveyed shrubs were severely damaged from the salt contamination, while only about 1/4 of the recorded arbors were rated as ＂severely injured＂ according to the integral plant injury index. The rating of the injury level showed that the trees like Pinus bungeana, Sophora japonica, and the shrubs like Euonymus japonicus, Sabina vulgaris showed less tolerance to de-icing salt pollution. The patterns of vegetation damage demonstrated that the ever-green shrubs alongside roads and the deciduous arbors in the center of roads were most vulnerable to the salt damage.