The diversity and discontinuity of plant communities in the oasis–desert ecotone are largely shaped by variations in groundwater depth,yet the relationships between spatial distribution patterns and ecological niches...The diversity and discontinuity of plant communities in the oasis–desert ecotone are largely shaped by variations in groundwater depth,yet the relationships between spatial distribution patterns and ecological niches at a regional scale remain insufficiently understood.This study examined the oasis–desert ecotone in Qira County located in the Tarim Basin of China to investigate the spatial distribution of plant communities and groundwater depth as well as their relationships using an integrated approach that combined remote sensing techniques,field monitoring,and numerical modeling.The results showed that vegetation distribution exhibits marked spatial heterogeneity,with coverage ranked as follows:Tamarix ramosissima>Phragmites australis>Populus euphratica>Alhagi sparsifolia.Numerical simulations indicated that groundwater depths range from 2.00 to 65.00 m below the surface,with the system currently in equilibrium,sustaining an average annual recharge of 1.06×10^(8) m^(3) and an average annual discharge of 1.01×10^(8) m^(3).Groundwater depth strongly influences vegetation composition and structure:Phragmites australis dominates at average groundwater depth of 5.83 m,followed by Populus euphratica at average groundwater depth of 7.05 m.As groundwater depth increases,the community is initially predominated by Tamarix ramosissima(average groundwater depth of 8.35 m),then becomes a mixture of Tamarix ramosissima,Populus euphratica,and Karelinia caspia(average groundwater depth of 10.50 m),and finally transitions to Alhagi sparsifolia(average groundwater depth of 14.30 m).These findings highlight groundwater-dependent ecological thresholds that govern plant community composition and provide a scientific basis for biodiversity conservation,ecosystem stability,and vegetation restoration in the arid oasis–desert ecotone.展开更多
The agro-pastoral ecotone in northern China (APENC) is an ecologically fragile region with a variable climate and unbalanced socioeconomic development.Identifying the spatial range and transitional dynamics of the APE...The agro-pastoral ecotone in northern China (APENC) is an ecologically fragile region with a variable climate and unbalanced socioeconomic development.Identifying the spatial range and transitional dynamics of the APENC is crucial for understanding the delicate balance between regional ecology,the economy,and society.The human-Earth system provides a comprehensive research framework in which human activities and the natural environment are viewed as interdependent and dynamically interactive.Guided by the principles of human-Earth system science,in this study,the boundaries of the APENC are identified by integrating core parameters,including water,land,climate,ecology,and human factors.Raster-based spatial data analysis is employed to examine the spatial and temporal evolution of the APENC from 1990 to 2020.The APENC extends from northeast to southwest along the central axis of northern China,displaying trends of contraction and fragmentation over time,with its centre of gravity shifting closer to the Hu Huanyong Line.The peripheral areas exhibit heightened sensitivity to environmental and ecological changes,highlighting the region’s vulnerability to external pressures.In this study,management strategies grounded in sustainable development principles are proposed,a framework for integrating ecological changes with socioeconomic strategies is established,and actionable guidance for policymakers to promote sustainable development in this fragile and dynamic region is provided.展开更多
[Objectives] To analyze the dynamic changes of maximum vegetation coverage in Ili River Basin from 2006 to 2020,and to explore the vegetation change and its influencing factors in the forest-grassland ecotone of Ili r...[Objectives] To analyze the dynamic changes of maximum vegetation coverage in Ili River Basin from 2006 to 2020,and to explore the vegetation change and its influencing factors in the forest-grassland ecotone of Ili region.[Methods] The pixel dichotomy model was used to process the MODIS data and analyze the change of vegetation coverage in the Ili River Basin from 2006 to 2020.[Results] (i)The vegetation coverage in the Ili River Basin increases gradually from west to east,and fluctuates greatly between years.(ii)By monitoring the change rate of the maximum vegetation coverage,it is found that the vegetation coverage of the basin has experienced a process of first decline and then recovery in the past 15 years.(iii)In spatial distribution,vegetation coverage has improved in some regions,while it has deteriorated in others,which may be related to regional climate change and human activities.[Conclusions] The vegetation coverage in the Ili River Basin showed significant spatial and temporal differences during the study period,and its changes were affected by both natural and human factors.展开更多
Upon the current degradation situation of grassland in west Jilin Province,I analyzed the effects of natural factors and human activities on the degradation of grassland,and further purposefully put forward countermea...Upon the current degradation situation of grassland in west Jilin Province,I analyzed the effects of natural factors and human activities on the degradation of grassland,and further purposefully put forward countermeasures on the remediation and development of grassland.As a conclusion,scientifically utilizing and protecting the grassland resources could suppress grassland degradation,promoting the sustainable development of regional economy.展开更多
Sandy forest-steppe ecotone in Baiyinaobao Natural Reserve of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China is one of the special landscape types in forest-steppe vegetation zone in China. Vegetation landscape types, land...Sandy forest-steppe ecotone in Baiyinaobao Natural Reserve of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China is one of the special landscape types in forest-steppe vegetation zone in China. Vegetation landscape types, landscape patches, and patch size were measured by the field investigation, forest photograph, and airscape. The structure of landscape patches in sandy forest-steppe ecotone, including composition structure, and size structure, was studied and the dynamics and transformation of landscape patches were analyzed. The data obtained in this study could provide theoretical basis for the research on vegetation landscape in forest-steppe ecotones and other vegetation types.展开更多
By investigating the ecotone between Mount Tai Scenic Area and downtown area of Tai'an City,the characteristics of such an ecotone are analyzed,serious problems brought by the over-urbanization to local natural en...By investigating the ecotone between Mount Tai Scenic Area and downtown area of Tai'an City,the characteristics of such an ecotone are analyzed,serious problems brought by the over-urbanization to local natural environment,such as destruction of eco-environment,aggravated pollution and degradation of mountainous landscape resources are studied.Then countermeasures for the harmonious development of the ecotone are proposed to better promote the coordinated development of cities and mountainous scenic areas.展开更多
[Objective] The study was conducted to overview the farming-pastoral ecotone research progress in China.[Methods] Started from the influences on soil,precipitation and water conservation,climate and mulching of differ...[Objective] The study was conducted to overview the farming-pastoral ecotone research progress in China.[Methods] Started from the influences on soil,precipitation and water conservation,climate and mulching of different land use types,the paper summarized the current research situation on several hot issues and proposed suggestions for future study.[Results] Researches on farming-pastoral ectone in China have achieved great progress,but still require more deep and comprehensive studies.Suggestions：Current studies should focus on solutions for degradation of farmland and grassland;Conduct deeper analysis on the relatively weaker aspects in a multi-domain fusion type;Implement the study results on eco-environmental recovery,production improvement and other practical activities;Lift the research of ecotone to a national or even global level,and make them far more comprehensive.[Conclusion] Provide theoretical basis for ecological protection of farming-pastoral ecotone in our country.展开更多
Soil nitrogen pools (NP), denitrification (DN), gross nitrification (GN), N2O and CO2 flux rates with their responses to temperature increases were determined under five different land uses and managements in a subalp...Soil nitrogen pools (NP), denitrification (DN), gross nitrification (GN), N2O and CO2 flux rates with their responses to temperature increases were determined under five different land uses and managements in a subalpine forest-grassland ecotone of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Land uses consisted of 1) sparse woodland, 2) shrub-land, 3) natural pasture, 4)fenced pasture, and 5) tilled pasture mimicking a gradient degenerating ecosystem under grazing impacts. The NO3--N content was higher than the NH4+-N content. Comparing tilled pasture with fenced pasture showed that higher intensive management (tillage) led to a significant decrease of soil organic matter (SOM) (P ＜ 0.05) in the soils, which was in contrast to the significant increases (P ＜0.05) of DN, GN, N2O and CO2 flux rates. GN (excluding tilled pasture) and CO2 flux rates increased with a temperature rise, but DN and N2O flux rates normally reached their maximum values at 12-14 ℃ with tilled pasture (the highest management intensity) being very sensitive to temperature increases. There was a difference between net nitrification and GN, with GN being a betterindicator of soil nitrification.展开更多
Soil fauna have been receiving more and more attention because they play an important role in nutrient cycling.However,there is a lack of information on soil arthropods in the forest-steppe ecotone in the mountainous ...Soil fauna have been receiving more and more attention because they play an important role in nutrient cycling.However,there is a lack of information on soil arthropods in the forest-steppe ecotone in the mountainous region of northern Hebei,which makes it difficult to meet the need of protecting biodiversity in this area.Soil arthropod communities were investigated in the forest-steppe ecotone in northern Hebei province to provide basic information on changes in mountain soil fertility,which could promote the development of soil arthropod communities in mountain ecotones.From the preliminary identification,a total of 7994 individual soil arthropods were collected,which belonged to 25 groups,6 classes and 24 orders.Acarina,Hymenoptera and Collembola were the dominant groups in the ecotone.The number of Acarina was higher than Collembola,and this phenomenon was obviously different from other areas in the same climate zone.The increased abundance of rare groups in the Forest zone with the richer vegetation,higher arthropod abundance and more substantial litter depth,could be interpreted as a reaction to the suitable soil environment and food supply.And these rare groups were sensitive to environmental changes,which could be regarded as biotic indicators for evaluating soil quality.The analysis of community diversity showed that the abundance index (d),the Shannon-Wiener index (H'),the evenness index (J) and the density-group index (DG) were significantly higher in the forest zone,lower in the forest-steppe zone,and lowest in the meadow-steppe zone.Seasonal variations in community composition correlated with changes in average air temperature and precipitation in this ecotone.Groups and individuals of soil arthropod communities in the three zones were present in greater numbers in the middle of the rainy season than in the early or late periods of the rainy season as a whole.At the same time,seasonal changes in soil arthropod communities from different plots were also influenced by habitat condition.展开更多
The quantitative effect of climate change on fragile regions has been a hot topic in the field of responses to climate change. Previous studies have qualitatively documented the impacts of climate change on boundary s...The quantitative effect of climate change on fragile regions has been a hot topic in the field of responses to climate change. Previous studies have qualitatively documented the impacts of climate change on boundary shifts in the farming-pastoral ecotone （FPE）; however, the quantitative methods for detecting climate contributions remain relatively limited. Based on long-term data of meteorological stations and interpretations of land use since 1970, climate and land use boundaries of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s were delineated. To detect climate contributions to the FPE boundary shifts, we developed two quantitative methods to explore the spatial-temporal pattern of climate and land use boundary at the east-west （or south-north） （FishNet method） and transect directions （Digital Shoreline Analysis System, DSAS method）. The results indicated that significant differences were exhibited in climate boundaries, land use boundaries, as well as climate contributions in different regions during different periods. The northwest FPE had smaller variations, while the northeast FPE had greater shifts. In the northwest part of the southeast fringe of the Greater Hinggan Mountains and the Inner Mongolian Plateau, the shifts of climate boundaries were significantly related to the land use boundaries. The climate contributions at an east-west direction ranged from 10.7% to 44.4%, and those at a south-north direction varied from 4.7% to 55.9%. The majority of the results from the DSAS were consistent with those from the FishNet. The DSAS method is more accurate and suitable for precise detection at a small scale, whereas the FishNet method is simple to conduct statistical analysis rapidly and directly at a large scale. Our research will be helpful to adapt to climate change, to develop the productive potential, as well as to protect the environment of the FPE in northern China.展开更多
Within oasis-desert ecotone regions,the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)is an important parameter for evaluating the growth of vegetation.An accurate quantitative study between NDVI and environmental and a...Within oasis-desert ecotone regions,the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)is an important parameter for evaluating the growth of vegetation.An accurate quantitative study between NDVI and environmental and anthropogenic factors is critical for understand the driving factors of vegetation growth in oasis-desert ecotone.In 2016,four periods Landsat 8 OLI_TIRS images,relevant climatological parameters data(air temperature,air relative humidity,wind velocity and accumulated temperature),land cover type data and soil data were selected as proxies.In order to quantify the explanatory power for NDVI spatial and temporal distribution in the southern edge of Dunhuang City and northern side of the Mingsha Mountain,the geographical detector model was used to explain the potential influences of factors versus the spatial distribution of NDVI,and each explanatory variable's relative importance can be calculated.The factor detector results disclose that the spatial distribution of NDVI is primarily dominated by land cover type.The risk detector results show that,high NDVI region is located within woodland.The mean value of NDVI displays an increase and then decrease trend with air temperature increase.With the increase of wind velocity and decrease of air relative humidity,the NDVI value shows a decrease trend.The interactive q values between the two factors are higher than any q value of separated factors.Results also indicate that the strongest interactive effects of NDVI are different in distinct seasons.Consequently,anthropogenic activity is more important than environmental factors on NDVI in oasis-desert ecotone.We also demonstrate that air relative humidity rather than air temperature have played a greater role in NDVI spatial distribution.展开更多
Multi-temporal series of satellite SPOT-VEGETATION normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalized difference water index (NDWI) data from 1998 to 2007 were used for analyzing vegetation change of the eco...Multi-temporal series of satellite SPOT-VEGETATION normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalized difference water index (NDWI) data from 1998 to 2007 were used for analyzing vegetation change of the ecotone in the west of the Northeast China Plain. The yearly and monthly maximal values,anomalies and change rates of NDVI and NDWI were calculated to reveal the interannual and seasonal changes in vegetation cover and vegetation water content. Linear regression method was adopted to characterize the trends in vegetation change. The yearly maximal NDVI decreased from 0.41 in 1998 to 0.37 in 2007,implying the decreasing trend of vegetation activity. There was a significant decrease of maximal NDVI in spring and summer over the study period,while an increase trend was observed in autumn. The vegetation-improved regions and vegetation-degraded regions occupied 17.03% and 20.30% of the study area,respectively. The maximal NDWI over growing season dropped by 0.027 in 1998–2007,and about 15.15% of the study area showed a decreasing trend of water content. Vegetation water stress in autumn was better than that in spring. Vegetation cover and water content variations were sensitive to annual precipitation,autumn precipitation and summer temperature. The vegetation degradation trend in this ecotone might be induced by the warm-drying climate especially continuous spring and summer drought in the recent ten years.展开更多
Total and root-severed soil respiration rates for five plots set up 50 m apart in a Betula ermanii Cham.-dark coniferous forest ecotone on a north-facing slope of the Changbai Mountains, China, were measured to evalua...Total and root-severed soil respiration rates for five plots set up 50 m apart in a Betula ermanii Cham.-dark coniferous forest ecotone on a north-facing slope of the Changbai Mountains, China, were measured to evaluate the seasonal variations of soil respiration, to assess the effect of soil temperature and water content on soil respiration, and to estimate the relative contributions of root respiration to the total soil respiration. PVC cylinders in each of 5 forest types of a B. ermanii-dark coniferous forest ecotone were used to measure soil respirations both inside and outside of the cylinders. The contribution of roots to the total soil respiration rates ranged from 12.5% to 54.6%. The mean contribution of roots for the different plots varied with the season, increasing from 32.5% on June 26 to 36.6% on August 3 and to 41.8% on October 14. In addition, there existed a significant (P < 0.01) logarithmic relationship between total soil respiration rate and soil temperature at 5 cm soil depth. Also, a similar trend was observed for the soil respiration and soil water content at the surface (0-5 cm) during the same period of time.展开更多
The oasis-desert ecotone is a fragile ecological zone that is affected both by oasis and desert conditions. To understand the impact of the differences in wind power, and the influence of wind erosion and deposition o...The oasis-desert ecotone is a fragile ecological zone that is affected both by oasis and desert conditions. To understand the impact of the differences in wind power, and the influence of wind erosion and deposition on the ecotone, meteorological data and con- temporaneous wind erosion and deposition data were collected on the southern margin of Tarim Basin with serious sand-blown hazards. The wind velocity, average wind velocity, sand drift potential （DP）, resultant sand drift potential （RDP）, and sand transportation rate decrease significantly and successively across four landscape types with increasing vegetation coverage （VC）. Flat surfaces and areas of shifting sandy ground experience intense wind erosion with fast movement of mobile sand dunes; semi-fixed sand areas experience ex- tensive wind deposition but only slight wind erosion; and fixed sand areas experience only slight wind erosion and deposition. Volume of wind erosion on bare newly reclaimed farmland is up to 6.96 times that of bare shifting sandy ground. Wind erosion volume per unit area and VC follow an exponential function relationship in natural conditions, while wind deposition volume per unit area does not conform to any functions which has close relationship with vary topography and arrangement patterns of vegetation besides for VC. The results indicate that the volume of wind erosion has a close correlation with VC, and different types and distribution patterns of topog- raphy and vegetation also profoundly influence the wind deposition volume in the field, and underground water tables in different land- scape types control the plant community distribution. Keywords： wind erosion; wind deposition; oasis-desert ecotone; vegetation coverage （VC）; topography; Cele County展开更多
Environmental heterogeneity significantly affects the structure of ecological communities.Exploring vegetation distribution and its relationship with environmental factors is essential to understanding the abiotic mec...Environmental heterogeneity significantly affects the structure of ecological communities.Exploring vegetation distribution and its relationship with environmental factors is essential to understanding the abiotic mechanism(s)driving vegetation succession,especially in the ecologically fragile areas.In this study,based on the quantitative analysis of plant community and environmental factors in 68 plots at 10 different transects in the Minqin oasis-desert ecotone(ODE)of northwestern China,we investigated desert vegetation distribution and species-environment relationships using multivariate analysis.Two-way indicator species analysis(TWINSPAN),detrended correspondence analysis(DCA),and canonical correspondence analysis(CCA)methods were used.A total of 28 species,belonging to 27 genera in 8 families,were identified.Chenopodiaceae,Zygophyllaceae,Gramineae,and Leguminosae were the largest families.Annual and perennial herbs accounted for 28.60%of the total number of plants,while shrubs(42.90%)were the most dominant.Nitraria tangutorum was the constructive species of the desert plant community.We divided the 68 plots surveyed in this study into 7 community types,according to the results of TWINSPAN.The distribution of these 7 communities in the DCA ordination graph showed that species with a similar ecotype were clustered together.Results of CCA indicated that groundwater was the dominant factor influencing vegetation distribution,while distance between plot and oasis(Dis)and soil electrical conductivity(EC)were the local second-order factors.Our study suggests that optimizing the utilization of groundwater in oases is key to controlling the degradation of desert vegetation.The favorable topographic conditions of sand dunes should be fully utilized for vegetal dune stabilization,and the influence of soil salinity on the selection of afforestation tree species should be considered.展开更多
Haloxylon ammodendron, a typical desert shrub with C4 pathway of photosynthesis, possessing a strong ability to adapt to an extreme drought environment, has a rapid growth rate in sandy lands and is widely used in san...Haloxylon ammodendron, a typical desert shrub with C4 pathway of photosynthesis, possessing a strong ability to adapt to an extreme drought environment, has a rapid growth rate in sandy lands and is widely used in sand-fixing shelter-forest systems in oasis-desert ecotones. To assess the effects of H. ammodendron plantation on the soil, we measured soil properties and herbaceous characteristics along a nearly 40-year chronosequence after H. ammodendron was planted in shifting sand dunes in an oasis-desert ecotone. Results showed that silt and clay fractions increased significantly in the topsoil. The accumulation rates of soil organic carbon （SOC）, total nitrogen （TN） and total phosphorus （TP） were faster in the early stages （0-9 years） and slower in the late stages （9-39 years）. The soil pH and electrical conductivity （EC） were higher than those in the non-vegetation dunes. Moreover, the soil properties in the topsoil （0-5 cm） showed larger variation scope than those in the deeper soil layers （5-20 cm）. The significant relationships of the soil silt＋clay content with the chemical properties mainly appeared in the topsoil. The wind erosion susceptibility of the soil, evaluated by erodible fraction （EF）, decreased significantly with increasing H. ammodendron plantation age. Additionally, the annual pioneer herb, Agriophyllum squarrosum, was gradually substituted by the annual salt-tolerant herb, Bassia dasyphylla, with increasing plantation age. These results showed beneficial effects of H. ammodendron plantation on improving soil conditions. However, the dynamics of the herbaceous species also reminded us that the long- term effects of H. ammodendron plantation, especially on changes in vegetation composition, still need further evaluation.展开更多
With global climate change, the agricultural light-temperature potential productivity in the agro-pastoral ecotone has increased. This offers a good opportunity to develop agriculture in the agro-pastoral ecotone. How...With global climate change, the agricultural light-temperature potential productivity in the agro-pastoral ecotone has increased. This offers a good opportunity to develop agriculture in the agro-pastoral ecotone. However, the agro-pastoral ecotone is also an ecologically fragile area in which land degradation challenges agricultural development. As population grows and the need for food increases, the land carrying capacity of the agro-pastoral ecotone becomes insufficient, and the human–land relationship is not harmonious. Such conditions have limited the agricultural and rural development in the ecotone. The paper demonstrates how land engineering may improve land quality and support agricultural development in the ecotone based on studies at a research station established in 2015 in Yulin,Shaanxi Province, China. The studies target three factors: soil improvement, crop selection,and field management. The results show that:(1) The highest yield of crops planted on improved land is close to or even higher than that achieved under previous crop growth conditions. For instance, the corn yields can exceed 25%.(2) The potatoes grown on the improved land yield the highest gross income, reaching 67,200 yuan/ha. By way of land engineering,input costs can be balanced in 3–5 years.(3) As a result of land engineering, some villages in Yulin City have realized sustainable agricultural and even rural development, and promotion of this model will support the sustainable development of agriculture in the agro-pastoral ecotone.展开更多
Vertical and temporal distributions of N and P in soil solution in aquatic-terrestrial ecotone （ATE） of Taihu Lake were investigated, and the relations among N, P, ORP （oxidation reduction potential）, TOC, root sy...Vertical and temporal distributions of N and P in soil solution in aquatic-terrestrial ecotone （ATE） of Taihu Lake were investigated, and the relations among N, P, ORP （oxidation reduction potential）, TOC, root system biomass and microorganism were studied. As a whole, significant declines in TN, NO3^--N, DON （dissolved organic nitrogen） and TP concentration in soil solution have occurred with increase of the depth, and reached their minima at 60 cm depth, except for NH4^＋-N, which increased with depth. The concentration of TP increased gradually from spring to winter in the topsoil, the maximum 0.08 mg/L presented in the winter while the minimum 0.03 mg/L in spring. In the deeper layer, the concentration value of TP fluctuated little. As for the NO3^--N, its seasonal variation was significant at 20 cm depth, its concentration increased gradually from spring to autumn, and decreased markedly in winter. Vertical and temporal distribution of DON is contrary to that of NO3^--N. The results also show that the variation of N and P in the percolate between adjacent layers is obviously different. The vertical variation ofTN, TP, NO3^--N, NH4^＋-N and DON is significant, of which the variation coefficient of NO3^--N along the depth reaches 100.23%, the highest; while the variation coefficient of DON is 41.14%, the smallest. The results of correlation analysis show that the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus correlate significantly with TOC, ORP, root biomass and counts of nitrifying bacteria. Most nutrients altered much from 20 to 40 cm along the depth. However, DON changed more between 60 and 80 cm. Results show that soil of 0-60 cm depth is active rhizoplane, with strong capability to remove the nitrogen and phosphorus in ATE. It may suggest that there exists the optimum ecological efficiency in the depth of above 60 cm in reed wetland. This will be very significant for ecological restoration and reestablishment.展开更多
Land use change significantly influences soil properties. There is little information available on the long-term effects of post-reclamation from grassland to cropland on soil properties. We compared soil carbon （C）...Land use change significantly influences soil properties. There is little information available on the long-term effects of post-reclamation from grassland to cropland on soil properties. We compared soil carbon （C） and nitrogen （N） storage and related soil properties in a 50-year cultivation chronosequence of grassland in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia. Field surveys on land use changes during the period of 1955-2002 were conducted to build a chronosequence of cropland of different ages since the conversion from grassland. The results showed that soil C and N storage, soil texture, and soil nutrient contents varied with land use types and cropland ages （P〈0.01）. In the 0-30 cm soil layer, the soil organic carbon （SOC） density was significantly lower in the crop- lands （3.28 kg C/m2 for C50 soil） than in the grasslands （6.32 kg C/m2）. After 5, 10, 15, 20, 35, and 50 years of crop planting （years since the onset of cultivation）, the SOC losses were 17%, 12%, 19%, 47%, 46%, and 48%, respec- tively, compared with the grasslands. The soil total nitrogen （TN） density of the grasslands was 65 g N/m2, and TN density of the cropland soil was 35 g N/m2 after 50 years of crop planting. Both the SOC and TN densities could be quantitatively determined by a negative exponential function of cropland age （P〈0.0001, R2=0.8528; P〈0.0001, R2=0.9637）. The dissolved organic carbon （DOC） content, pH value were decreased; and the soil bulk density and soil available potassium （AK） content, clay content, and sand content were increased since the conversion of grassland into cropland during the 50-year period. Our results show soil nutrients were higher in grassland than in cropland. The conversion of grasslands to croplands induced a loss of soil C storage and changes of related soil properties. The reclamation time of cultivated soil （cropland age） had significant effects on soil properties in the study area.展开更多
基金financially supported by the Tianchi Talents Program of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(E5358525,2025–2026)the Major Science and Technology Special Project of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(2024A03009-4)+4 种基金the Third Xinjiang Scientific Expedition Program(2022xjkk010402)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022FY202305-06)the Tianshan Talents Program of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(2022TSYCJU0002)the Outstanding Member of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(20192024–2026).
文摘The diversity and discontinuity of plant communities in the oasis–desert ecotone are largely shaped by variations in groundwater depth,yet the relationships between spatial distribution patterns and ecological niches at a regional scale remain insufficiently understood.This study examined the oasis–desert ecotone in Qira County located in the Tarim Basin of China to investigate the spatial distribution of plant communities and groundwater depth as well as their relationships using an integrated approach that combined remote sensing techniques,field monitoring,and numerical modeling.The results showed that vegetation distribution exhibits marked spatial heterogeneity,with coverage ranked as follows:Tamarix ramosissima>Phragmites australis>Populus euphratica>Alhagi sparsifolia.Numerical simulations indicated that groundwater depths range from 2.00 to 65.00 m below the surface,with the system currently in equilibrium,sustaining an average annual recharge of 1.06×10^(8) m^(3) and an average annual discharge of 1.01×10^(8) m^(3).Groundwater depth strongly influences vegetation composition and structure:Phragmites australis dominates at average groundwater depth of 5.83 m,followed by Populus euphratica at average groundwater depth of 7.05 m.As groundwater depth increases,the community is initially predominated by Tamarix ramosissima(average groundwater depth of 8.35 m),then becomes a mixture of Tamarix ramosissima,Populus euphratica,and Karelinia caspia(average groundwater depth of 10.50 m),and finally transitions to Alhagi sparsifolia(average groundwater depth of 14.30 m).These findings highlight groundwater-dependent ecological thresholds that govern plant community composition and provide a scientific basis for biodiversity conservation,ecosystem stability,and vegetation restoration in the arid oasis–desert ecotone.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.42293271,No.42401321,No.42371210Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,CHD,No.300102354101。
文摘The agro-pastoral ecotone in northern China (APENC) is an ecologically fragile region with a variable climate and unbalanced socioeconomic development.Identifying the spatial range and transitional dynamics of the APENC is crucial for understanding the delicate balance between regional ecology,the economy,and society.The human-Earth system provides a comprehensive research framework in which human activities and the natural environment are viewed as interdependent and dynamically interactive.Guided by the principles of human-Earth system science,in this study,the boundaries of the APENC are identified by integrating core parameters,including water,land,climate,ecology,and human factors.Raster-based spatial data analysis is employed to examine the spatial and temporal evolution of the APENC from 1990 to 2020.The APENC extends from northeast to southwest along the central axis of northern China,displaying trends of contraction and fragmentation over time,with its centre of gravity shifting closer to the Hu Huanyong Line.The peripheral areas exhibit heightened sensitivity to environmental and ecological changes,highlighting the region’s vulnerability to external pressures.In this study,management strategies grounded in sustainable development principles are proposed,a framework for integrating ecological changes with socioeconomic strategies is established,and actionable guidance for policymakers to promote sustainable development in this fragile and dynamic region is provided.
基金General Program of Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(2022D01A275)Project of Inner Mongolia M-Grass Ecology and Environment(Group)Co.,Ltd.(2022-NFGA-004).
文摘[Objectives] To analyze the dynamic changes of maximum vegetation coverage in Ili River Basin from 2006 to 2020,and to explore the vegetation change and its influencing factors in the forest-grassland ecotone of Ili region.[Methods] The pixel dichotomy model was used to process the MODIS data and analyze the change of vegetation coverage in the Ili River Basin from 2006 to 2020.[Results] (i)The vegetation coverage in the Ili River Basin increases gradually from west to east,and fluctuates greatly between years.(ii)By monitoring the change rate of the maximum vegetation coverage,it is found that the vegetation coverage of the basin has experienced a process of first decline and then recovery in the past 15 years.(iii)In spatial distribution,vegetation coverage has improved in some regions,while it has deteriorated in others,which may be related to regional climate change and human activities.[Conclusions] The vegetation coverage in the Ili River Basin showed significant spatial and temporal differences during the study period,and its changes were affected by both natural and human factors.
基金Supported by Scientific Research Starting Foundation for Youth Scholars of Jilin Agricultural University(2007050)~~
文摘Upon the current degradation situation of grassland in west Jilin Province,I analyzed the effects of natural factors and human activities on the degradation of grassland,and further purposefully put forward countermeasures on the remediation and development of grassland.As a conclusion,scientifically utilizing and protecting the grassland resources could suppress grassland degradation,promoting the sustainable development of regional economy.
基金The paper is supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China (grant numbers: 39900019, and 30070129).
文摘Sandy forest-steppe ecotone in Baiyinaobao Natural Reserve of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China is one of the special landscape types in forest-steppe vegetation zone in China. Vegetation landscape types, landscape patches, and patch size were measured by the field investigation, forest photograph, and airscape. The structure of landscape patches in sandy forest-steppe ecotone, including composition structure, and size structure, was studied and the dynamics and transformation of landscape patches were analyzed. The data obtained in this study could provide theoretical basis for the research on vegetation landscape in forest-steppe ecotones and other vegetation types.
基金Sponsored by Tai'an Municipal Scientific and Technological Development Project (20085002)~~
文摘By investigating the ecotone between Mount Tai Scenic Area and downtown area of Tai'an City,the characteristics of such an ecotone are analyzed,serious problems brought by the over-urbanization to local natural environment,such as destruction of eco-environment,aggravated pollution and degradation of mountainous landscape resources are studied.Then countermeasures for the harmonious development of the ecotone are proposed to better promote the coordinated development of cities and mountainous scenic areas.
基金Supported by PhD Special Fund of Double Support Plan,Sichuan Agricultural University(00370401)~~
文摘[Objective] The study was conducted to overview the farming-pastoral ecotone research progress in China.[Methods] Started from the influences on soil,precipitation and water conservation,climate and mulching of different land use types,the paper summarized the current research situation on several hot issues and proposed suggestions for future study.[Results] Researches on farming-pastoral ectone in China have achieved great progress,but still require more deep and comprehensive studies.Suggestions：Current studies should focus on solutions for degradation of farmland and grassland;Conduct deeper analysis on the relatively weaker aspects in a multi-domain fusion type;Implement the study results on eco-environmental recovery,production improvement and other practical activities;Lift the research of ecotone to a national or even global level,and make them far more comprehensive.[Conclusion] Provide theoretical basis for ecological protection of farming-pastoral ecotone in our country.
文摘Soil nitrogen pools (NP), denitrification (DN), gross nitrification (GN), N2O and CO2 flux rates with their responses to temperature increases were determined under five different land uses and managements in a subalpine forest-grassland ecotone of the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Land uses consisted of 1) sparse woodland, 2) shrub-land, 3) natural pasture, 4)fenced pasture, and 5) tilled pasture mimicking a gradient degenerating ecosystem under grazing impacts. The NO3--N content was higher than the NH4+-N content. Comparing tilled pasture with fenced pasture showed that higher intensive management (tillage) led to a significant decrease of soil organic matter (SOM) (P ＜ 0.05) in the soils, which was in contrast to the significant increases (P ＜0.05) of DN, GN, N2O and CO2 flux rates. GN (excluding tilled pasture) and CO2 flux rates increased with a temperature rise, but DN and N2O flux rates normally reached their maximum values at 12-14 ℃ with tilled pasture (the highest management intensity) being very sensitive to temperature increases. There was a difference between net nitrification and GN, with GN being a betterindicator of soil nitrification.
基金supported by funds from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30070626)Knowledge Innovation Program of CAS (KSCX2-YW-N-46-11)
文摘Soil fauna have been receiving more and more attention because they play an important role in nutrient cycling.However,there is a lack of information on soil arthropods in the forest-steppe ecotone in the mountainous region of northern Hebei,which makes it difficult to meet the need of protecting biodiversity in this area.Soil arthropod communities were investigated in the forest-steppe ecotone in northern Hebei province to provide basic information on changes in mountain soil fertility,which could promote the development of soil arthropod communities in mountain ecotones.From the preliminary identification,a total of 7994 individual soil arthropods were collected,which belonged to 25 groups,6 classes and 24 orders.Acarina,Hymenoptera and Collembola were the dominant groups in the ecotone.The number of Acarina was higher than Collembola,and this phenomenon was obviously different from other areas in the same climate zone.The increased abundance of rare groups in the Forest zone with the richer vegetation,higher arthropod abundance and more substantial litter depth,could be interpreted as a reaction to the suitable soil environment and food supply.And these rare groups were sensitive to environmental changes,which could be regarded as biotic indicators for evaluating soil quality.The analysis of community diversity showed that the abundance index (d),the Shannon-Wiener index (H'),the evenness index (J) and the density-group index (DG) were significantly higher in the forest zone,lower in the forest-steppe zone,and lowest in the meadow-steppe zone.Seasonal variations in community composition correlated with changes in average air temperature and precipitation in this ecotone.Groups and individuals of soil arthropod communities in the three zones were present in greater numbers in the middle of the rainy season than in the early or late periods of the rainy season as a whole.At the same time,seasonal changes in soil arthropod communities from different plots were also influenced by habitat condition.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41401113, No.41371002 Foundation of Excellent Young Talents of IGSNRR, CAS, No.2016RC201+2 种基金 The Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, No.OFSLRSS201622 The Key Project of Physical Geography of Hebei Province China Scholarship Council
文摘The quantitative effect of climate change on fragile regions has been a hot topic in the field of responses to climate change. Previous studies have qualitatively documented the impacts of climate change on boundary shifts in the farming-pastoral ecotone （FPE）; however, the quantitative methods for detecting climate contributions remain relatively limited. Based on long-term data of meteorological stations and interpretations of land use since 1970, climate and land use boundaries of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s were delineated. To detect climate contributions to the FPE boundary shifts, we developed two quantitative methods to explore the spatial-temporal pattern of climate and land use boundary at the east-west （or south-north） （FishNet method） and transect directions （Digital Shoreline Analysis System, DSAS method）. The results indicated that significant differences were exhibited in climate boundaries, land use boundaries, as well as climate contributions in different regions during different periods. The northwest FPE had smaller variations, while the northeast FPE had greater shifts. In the northwest part of the southeast fringe of the Greater Hinggan Mountains and the Inner Mongolian Plateau, the shifts of climate boundaries were significantly related to the land use boundaries. The climate contributions at an east-west direction ranged from 10.7% to 44.4%, and those at a south-north direction varied from 4.7% to 55.9%. The majority of the results from the DSAS were consistent with those from the FishNet. The DSAS method is more accurate and suitable for precise detection at a small scale, whereas the FishNet method is simple to conduct statistical analysis rapidly and directly at a large scale. Our research will be helpful to adapt to climate change, to develop the productive potential, as well as to protect the environment of the FPE in northern China.
基金supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(41871016)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFC0504801)
文摘Within oasis-desert ecotone regions,the normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)is an important parameter for evaluating the growth of vegetation.An accurate quantitative study between NDVI and environmental and anthropogenic factors is critical for understand the driving factors of vegetation growth in oasis-desert ecotone.In 2016,four periods Landsat 8 OLI_TIRS images,relevant climatological parameters data(air temperature,air relative humidity,wind velocity and accumulated temperature),land cover type data and soil data were selected as proxies.In order to quantify the explanatory power for NDVI spatial and temporal distribution in the southern edge of Dunhuang City and northern side of the Mingsha Mountain,the geographical detector model was used to explain the potential influences of factors versus the spatial distribution of NDVI,and each explanatory variable's relative importance can be calculated.The factor detector results disclose that the spatial distribution of NDVI is primarily dominated by land cover type.The risk detector results show that,high NDVI region is located within woodland.The mean value of NDVI displays an increase and then decrease trend with air temperature increase.With the increase of wind velocity and decrease of air relative humidity,the NDVI value shows a decrease trend.The interactive q values between the two factors are higher than any q value of separated factors.Results also indicate that the strongest interactive effects of NDVI are different in distinct seasons.Consequently,anthropogenic activity is more important than environmental factors on NDVI in oasis-desert ecotone.We also demonstrate that air relative humidity rather than air temperature have played a greater role in NDVI spatial distribution.
基金Under the auspices of Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2009CB426305)National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30370267) "Eleventh Five-year" Science and Technology In-novation Platform Foster Program of Northeast Normal University (No. 106111065202)
文摘Multi-temporal series of satellite SPOT-VEGETATION normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalized difference water index (NDWI) data from 1998 to 2007 were used for analyzing vegetation change of the ecotone in the west of the Northeast China Plain. The yearly and monthly maximal values,anomalies and change rates of NDVI and NDWI were calculated to reveal the interannual and seasonal changes in vegetation cover and vegetation water content. Linear regression method was adopted to characterize the trends in vegetation change. The yearly maximal NDVI decreased from 0.41 in 1998 to 0.37 in 2007,implying the decreasing trend of vegetation activity. There was a significant decrease of maximal NDVI in spring and summer over the study period,while an increase trend was observed in autumn. The vegetation-improved regions and vegetation-degraded regions occupied 17.03% and 20.30% of the study area,respectively. The maximal NDWI over growing season dropped by 0.027 in 1998–2007,and about 15.15% of the study area showed a decreasing trend of water content. Vegetation water stress in autumn was better than that in spring. Vegetation cover and water content variations were sensitive to annual precipitation,autumn precipitation and summer temperature. The vegetation degradation trend in this ecotone might be induced by the warm-drying climate especially continuous spring and summer drought in the recent ten years.
基金Project supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX1-SW-01) and theNational Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30070158).
文摘Total and root-severed soil respiration rates for five plots set up 50 m apart in a Betula ermanii Cham.-dark coniferous forest ecotone on a north-facing slope of the Changbai Mountains, China, were measured to evaluate the seasonal variations of soil respiration, to assess the effect of soil temperature and water content on soil respiration, and to estimate the relative contributions of root respiration to the total soil respiration. PVC cylinders in each of 5 forest types of a B. ermanii-dark coniferous forest ecotone were used to measure soil respirations both inside and outside of the cylinders. The contribution of roots to the total soil respiration rates ranged from 12.5% to 54.6%. The mean contribution of roots for the different plots varied with the season, increasing from 32.5% on June 26 to 36.6% on August 3 and to 41.8% on October 14. In addition, there existed a significant (P < 0.01) logarithmic relationship between total soil respiration rate and soil temperature at 5 cm soil depth. Also, a similar trend was observed for the soil respiration and soil water content at the surface (0-5 cm) during the same period of time.
基金Under the auspices of Special Major Science and Technology Projects in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(No.201130106-1)Public Sector(Meteorology)Research Project(No.GYHY201106025)Doctoral Station Supporting Foundation for Geography of Xinjiang Normal University and Open Project of Xinjiang Lake Environment and Resources Key Laboratory of Arid Zone(No.XJDX0909-2013-08)
文摘The oasis-desert ecotone is a fragile ecological zone that is affected both by oasis and desert conditions. To understand the impact of the differences in wind power, and the influence of wind erosion and deposition on the ecotone, meteorological data and con- temporaneous wind erosion and deposition data were collected on the southern margin of Tarim Basin with serious sand-blown hazards. The wind velocity, average wind velocity, sand drift potential （DP）, resultant sand drift potential （RDP）, and sand transportation rate decrease significantly and successively across four landscape types with increasing vegetation coverage （VC）. Flat surfaces and areas of shifting sandy ground experience intense wind erosion with fast movement of mobile sand dunes; semi-fixed sand areas experience ex- tensive wind deposition but only slight wind erosion; and fixed sand areas experience only slight wind erosion and deposition. Volume of wind erosion on bare newly reclaimed farmland is up to 6.96 times that of bare shifting sandy ground. Wind erosion volume per unit area and VC follow an exponential function relationship in natural conditions, while wind deposition volume per unit area does not conform to any functions which has close relationship with vary topography and arrangement patterns of vegetation besides for VC. The results indicate that the volume of wind erosion has a close correlation with VC, and different types and distribution patterns of topog- raphy and vegetation also profoundly influence the wind deposition volume in the field, and underground water tables in different land- scape types control the plant community distribution. Keywords： wind erosion; wind deposition; oasis-desert ecotone; vegetation coverage （VC）; topography; Cele County
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(SQ2016YFHZ20617-03,2018YFC0507102-05)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41661008,41761051,41761006,41661064,31560128,41801102)
文摘Environmental heterogeneity significantly affects the structure of ecological communities.Exploring vegetation distribution and its relationship with environmental factors is essential to understanding the abiotic mechanism(s)driving vegetation succession,especially in the ecologically fragile areas.In this study,based on the quantitative analysis of plant community and environmental factors in 68 plots at 10 different transects in the Minqin oasis-desert ecotone(ODE)of northwestern China,we investigated desert vegetation distribution and species-environment relationships using multivariate analysis.Two-way indicator species analysis(TWINSPAN),detrended correspondence analysis(DCA),and canonical correspondence analysis(CCA)methods were used.A total of 28 species,belonging to 27 genera in 8 families,were identified.Chenopodiaceae,Zygophyllaceae,Gramineae,and Leguminosae were the largest families.Annual and perennial herbs accounted for 28.60%of the total number of plants,while shrubs(42.90%)were the most dominant.Nitraria tangutorum was the constructive species of the desert plant community.We divided the 68 plots surveyed in this study into 7 community types,according to the results of TWINSPAN.The distribution of these 7 communities in the DCA ordination graph showed that species with a similar ecotype were clustered together.Results of CCA indicated that groundwater was the dominant factor influencing vegetation distribution,while distance between plot and oasis(Dis)and soil electrical conductivity(EC)were the local second-order factors.Our study suggests that optimizing the utilization of groundwater in oases is key to controlling the degradation of desert vegetation.The favorable topographic conditions of sand dunes should be fully utilized for vegetal dune stabilization,and the influence of soil salinity on the selection of afforestation tree species should be considered.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41401337)
文摘Haloxylon ammodendron, a typical desert shrub with C4 pathway of photosynthesis, possessing a strong ability to adapt to an extreme drought environment, has a rapid growth rate in sandy lands and is widely used in sand-fixing shelter-forest systems in oasis-desert ecotones. To assess the effects of H. ammodendron plantation on the soil, we measured soil properties and herbaceous characteristics along a nearly 40-year chronosequence after H. ammodendron was planted in shifting sand dunes in an oasis-desert ecotone. Results showed that silt and clay fractions increased significantly in the topsoil. The accumulation rates of soil organic carbon （SOC）, total nitrogen （TN） and total phosphorus （TP） were faster in the early stages （0-9 years） and slower in the late stages （9-39 years）. The soil pH and electrical conductivity （EC） were higher than those in the non-vegetation dunes. Moreover, the soil properties in the topsoil （0-5 cm） showed larger variation scope than those in the deeper soil layers （5-20 cm）. The significant relationships of the soil silt＋clay content with the chemical properties mainly appeared in the topsoil. The wind erosion susceptibility of the soil, evaluated by erodible fraction （EF）, decreased significantly with increasing H. ammodendron plantation age. Additionally, the annual pioneer herb, Agriophyllum squarrosum, was gradually substituted by the annual salt-tolerant herb, Bassia dasyphylla, with increasing plantation age. These results showed beneficial effects of H. ammodendron plantation on improving soil conditions. However, the dynamics of the herbaceous species also reminded us that the long- term effects of H. ammodendron plantation, especially on changes in vegetation composition, still need further evaluation.
基金National Key Research and Development Program of China,No.2017YFC0504705National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.41771191,No.41471143
文摘With global climate change, the agricultural light-temperature potential productivity in the agro-pastoral ecotone has increased. This offers a good opportunity to develop agriculture in the agro-pastoral ecotone. However, the agro-pastoral ecotone is also an ecologically fragile area in which land degradation challenges agricultural development. As population grows and the need for food increases, the land carrying capacity of the agro-pastoral ecotone becomes insufficient, and the human–land relationship is not harmonious. Such conditions have limited the agricultural and rural development in the ecotone. The paper demonstrates how land engineering may improve land quality and support agricultural development in the ecotone based on studies at a research station established in 2015 in Yulin,Shaanxi Province, China. The studies target three factors: soil improvement, crop selection,and field management. The results show that:(1) The highest yield of crops planted on improved land is close to or even higher than that achieved under previous crop growth conditions. For instance, the corn yields can exceed 25%.(2) The potatoes grown on the improved land yield the highest gross income, reaching 67,200 yuan/ha. By way of land engineering,input costs can be balanced in 3–5 years.(3) As a result of land engineering, some villages in Yulin City have realized sustainable agricultural and even rural development, and promotion of this model will support the sustainable development of agriculture in the agro-pastoral ecotone.
基金Project supported by the Hi-Tech Research and Development Program (863) of China(No.2002AA601013).
文摘Vertical and temporal distributions of N and P in soil solution in aquatic-terrestrial ecotone （ATE） of Taihu Lake were investigated, and the relations among N, P, ORP （oxidation reduction potential）, TOC, root system biomass and microorganism were studied. As a whole, significant declines in TN, NO3^--N, DON （dissolved organic nitrogen） and TP concentration in soil solution have occurred with increase of the depth, and reached their minima at 60 cm depth, except for NH4^＋-N, which increased with depth. The concentration of TP increased gradually from spring to winter in the topsoil, the maximum 0.08 mg/L presented in the winter while the minimum 0.03 mg/L in spring. In the deeper layer, the concentration value of TP fluctuated little. As for the NO3^--N, its seasonal variation was significant at 20 cm depth, its concentration increased gradually from spring to autumn, and decreased markedly in winter. Vertical and temporal distribution of DON is contrary to that of NO3^--N. The results also show that the variation of N and P in the percolate between adjacent layers is obviously different. The vertical variation ofTN, TP, NO3^--N, NH4^＋-N and DON is significant, of which the variation coefficient of NO3^--N along the depth reaches 100.23%, the highest; while the variation coefficient of DON is 41.14%, the smallest. The results of correlation analysis show that the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus correlate significantly with TOC, ORP, root biomass and counts of nitrifying bacteria. Most nutrients altered much from 20 to 40 cm along the depth. However, DON changed more between 60 and 80 cm. Results show that soil of 0-60 cm depth is active rhizoplane, with strong capability to remove the nitrogen and phosphorus in ATE. It may suggest that there exists the optimum ecological efficiency in the depth of above 60 cm in reed wetland. This will be very significant for ecological restoration and reestablishment.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41165010)the State Key Basic Research and Development Plan of China(2007CB106806)the State Key Laboratory Fund of Institute of Atmospheric Physics,Chinese Academy of Sciences(LAPC-KF-2008-03)
文摘Land use change significantly influences soil properties. There is little information available on the long-term effects of post-reclamation from grassland to cropland on soil properties. We compared soil carbon （C） and nitrogen （N） storage and related soil properties in a 50-year cultivation chronosequence of grassland in the agro-pastoral ecotone of Inner Mongolia. Field surveys on land use changes during the period of 1955-2002 were conducted to build a chronosequence of cropland of different ages since the conversion from grassland. The results showed that soil C and N storage, soil texture, and soil nutrient contents varied with land use types and cropland ages （P〈0.01）. In the 0-30 cm soil layer, the soil organic carbon （SOC） density was significantly lower in the crop- lands （3.28 kg C/m2 for C50 soil） than in the grasslands （6.32 kg C/m2）. After 5, 10, 15, 20, 35, and 50 years of crop planting （years since the onset of cultivation）, the SOC losses were 17%, 12%, 19%, 47%, 46%, and 48%, respec- tively, compared with the grasslands. The soil total nitrogen （TN） density of the grasslands was 65 g N/m2, and TN density of the cropland soil was 35 g N/m2 after 50 years of crop planting. Both the SOC and TN densities could be quantitatively determined by a negative exponential function of cropland age （P〈0.0001, R2=0.8528; P〈0.0001, R2=0.9637）. The dissolved organic carbon （DOC） content, pH value were decreased; and the soil bulk density and soil available potassium （AK） content, clay content, and sand content were increased since the conversion of grassland into cropland during the 50-year period. Our results show soil nutrients were higher in grassland than in cropland. The conversion of grasslands to croplands induced a loss of soil C storage and changes of related soil properties. The reclamation time of cultivated soil （cropland age） had significant effects on soil properties in the study area.
