Disease prevention, biodiversity, productivity improvement and ecological considerations are all factors that contribute to increasing interest in mixed plantations. The objective of this study was to evaluate early g...Disease prevention, biodiversity, productivity improvement and ecological considerations are all factors that contribute to increasing interest in mixed plantations. The objective of this study was to evaluate early growth and productivity of two hybrid poplar clones, P. balsamifera x trichocarpa (PBT) and P. maximowiczii x balsamifera (PMB), one improved family of Norway spruce (Picea glauca (PA)) and one improved family of white spruce (Picea abies (PG)) growing under different spacings in monocultures and mixed plots. The plantations were established in 2003 in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, Canada, in a split plot design with spacing as the whole plot factor (1 × 1 m, 3 × 3 m and 5 × 5 m) and mixture treatments as subplot factor (pure: PBT, PMB, PA and PG, and 1:1 mixture PBT:PA, PBT:PG, PMB:PA and PMB:PG). Results showed a beneficial effect of the hybrid poplar-spruce mixture on diameter growth for hybrid poplar clones, but not for the 5 × 5 m spacing because of the relatively young age of the plantations. Diameter growth of the spruces decreased in mixed plantings in the 1 × 1 m, while their height growth increased, resulting in similar aboveground biomass per tree across treatments. Because of the large size differences between spruces and poplars, aboveground biomass in the mixed plantings was generally less than that in pure poplar plots. Leaf nitrogen concentration for the two spruce families and hybrid poplar clone PMB was greater in mixed plots than in monocultures, while leaf nitrogen concentration of clone PBT was similar among mixture treatments. Because of its faster growth rate and greater soil resources demands, clone PMB was the only one showing an increase in leaf N with increased spacing between trees. Fine roots density was greater for both hybrid poplars than spruces. The vertical distribution of fine roots was insensitive to mixture treatment.展开更多
Eucalyptus plantations are increasing in Brazil, frequently replacing pastures, but there is still scarce information about its capacity to maintain the fauna of neighbor forest remnants. In this study, we compared de...Eucalyptus plantations are increasing in Brazil, frequently replacing pastures, but there is still scarce information about its capacity to maintain the fauna of neighbor forest remnants. In this study, we compared descriptors of the communities of leaf litter organisms (lizards, anurans, myriapods, arachnids, orthopterans, coleopterans, and ants) between a large remnant of primary Atlantic Forest and an adjacent eucalyptus monoculture (phase 1). Then, we compared the same descriptors for leaf litter lizards and anurans, Euglossini bees, and frugivorous butterflies among the largest remnant, small remnants at intermediate regeneration stage, and eucalyptus monocultures that were not adjacent to the largest remnant (phase 2). Monocultures were sampled immediately before logging. In phase 1, we detected significant differences in structure between the forest and the monoculture in six out of seven communities sampled. Ca. 81% of the species of the landscape were recorded in the forest, but only 54% of these were found also in the monoculture. In phase 2, the structure of two out of four forest communities was significantly different from the structure of small remnants and monocultures. On average, 76% of the species found in the whole landscape were sampled in the forest. Out of this subset, on average 74% of the species were also sampled in small remnants and 68% in monocultures. Findings of the present study point out a moderate capacity of eucalyptus monocultures to harbor species of the forest fauna even when fully grown but highlights the opportunity that they might offer for increasing connectivity in anthropogenic forest landscapes depending on their management.展开更多
Aims Very little is known about the performance of non-agricultural plant species in monocultures,even though nearly all agricultural species have experienced the transition from multi-species environments to dense mo...Aims Very little is known about the performance of non-agricultural plant species in monocultures,even though nearly all agricultural species have experienced the transition from multi-species environments to dense monospecific stands during the breeding process.In the light of recent work that highlighted the possibility that the weedy species Arabidopsis thaliana can offer novel insight into crop breeding,we aimed to test the effect of sowing density on group and individual performance in different photoperiod environments in A.thaliana.Methods We studied the performance of A.thaliana Cvi-0 ecotype.The choice of Cvi-0 was based on a preliminary experiment in which plants of Cvi-0 ecotype exhibited high competitive performance.Sowing densities used were 17.6,8.8,4.4,2.2 and 1.1 cm^(2) per plant and photoperiod environments 12 or 16 h of day light.Important Findings In this experiment,populations attained constant total seed yield for all densities.Some interaction effect occurred,as at high sowing density and at longer day length plants produced heavier seeds,whereas at shorter day length seed weight was negatively related to plant density.These results shed light on different strategies that annual plants can adopt when they face intense intraspecific competition,and could help to offer new perspectives for breeding crops with enhanced group performance.展开更多
The sensitivity of soil respiration(R_(s))to temperature(Q_(10))is a key parameter for benchmarking the carbon(C)cycle and climate feedbacks in the context of global warming.However,previous studies on the factors tha...The sensitivity of soil respiration(R_(s))to temperature(Q_(10))is a key parameter for benchmarking the carbon(C)cycle and climate feedbacks in the context of global warming.However,previous studies on the factors that drive forest soil Q_(10) have focused mostly on abiotic factors,such as climate and soil,while the role of biotic factors has been less examined.Here,we compiled a global dataset of 766 soil Q_(10) values and 17 matched biotic and abiotic factors to explore the factors that drive the variability of global forest soil Q_(10) using a random forest(RF)model.Our findings showed that soil Q_(10) increased with microbial biomass carbon(MBC),which was the most important predictor.Additionally,soil Q_(10) was positively correlated with leaf phosphorus content(LPC)but was negatively correlated with leaf N:P,indicating that plant ecological stoichiometry might be a factor that explained soil Q_(10) variability.All abiotic factors,including climate,soil properties,and elevation,had great predictive power and were significantly related to soil Q_(10).By comparing the soil Q_(10) in multispecies forests and monocultures,we found that Q_(10) in the mixed needle-leaved and broad-leaved forests(NF&BF)was lower than in monocultures.Our study revealed that,in addition to abiotic factors,biotic factors were also strong predictors of forest soil Q_(10),which can deepen our understanding of soil respiration in response to global warming and provide insights for improving carbon cycle models.展开更多
Coarse woody debris(CWD) plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity in forest ecosystems by supporting habitat complexity and influencing soil properties.This study investigates the effects of CWD on gastropod d...Coarse woody debris(CWD) plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity in forest ecosystems by supporting habitat complexity and influencing soil properties.This study investigates the effects of CWD on gastropod diversity within managed spruce(Picea abies) forests in the Czech Republic,comparing results to nearby nature reserves(NRs).Gastropod species richness and composition were evaluated at both plot(50 m×50 m) and mesohabitat scales across gradients of CWD and beech(Fagus sylvatica) tree representation.Our results indicate significantly reduced species richness in managed forests(median 7 species per plot) compared to NRs(median15 species),attributed to lower soil pH,calcium availability,and moisture due to the dominance of spruce and the limited availability of CWD.Species richness was positively influenced by CWD volume,with two amounts identified:a minimum of 4 m^(3)·ha^(-1) to prevent significant biodiversity loss and 20 m^(3)·ha^(-1)to support sensitive and dendrophile species.At the within-plot scale,CWD was the species richest mesohabitat,playing a particularly important role in acidic and nutrient-poor environments.Furthermore,beech basal area positively correlated with species richness,mitigating the negative impact of spruce.The findings highlight the critical need for changes in forest management,including increased retention of CWD and integration of deciduous trees,to support biodiversity in intensively managed forests.These measures are particularly urgent given the susceptibility of spruce monocultures to climate change and pest outbreaks.Gastropods,as sessile indicators of environmental change,may serve as effective umbrella species for conservation efforts targeting forest soil biodiversity.展开更多
Western Liaoning Province is characterized by huge areas of lowly-efficient Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) pure plantations. How to transform these plantations has become an increasingly significant manageme...Western Liaoning Province is characterized by huge areas of lowly-efficient Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) pure plantations. How to transform these plantations has become an increasingly significant management problem. In this study, the authors summarized the approaches, which are based on close-to-nature silvicultural system, to transform the pure pine plantations. Native broadleaved trees were planted in three methods: 1) after strip clearcutting, 2) after patch clearcutting; 3) on the open forestland and the forest edge. The transformation targets and the selection of tree species were expatiated in this paper. The key techniques and their application conditions for each method were analyzed and discussed. Through investigation and contrastive analysis, the assessment was made to the stands transformed by strip method. Results showed that the mixed stands at 16 years after transformation had an obvious layered structure and the species richness of understorey vegetation increased by 23.5%–52.9%. Soil enzyme activities of urease, phosphatase and sucrase increased by 6%–142%, 46%–99% and 31%–200%, respetively. Moreover, the transformed stands could effectively control the occurrence of pine caterpillars in plantations. Consequently the transformations enhanced the function of soil and water conservation. Keywords Pinus tabulaeformis - Monoculture - Transformation - Principles and methods - Assessment CLC number S791.254 - S727.22 Document code A Foundation item: This research was supported by grants from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX3-SW-418), National Natural Science Foundation of China (30100144), and National Key Technologies R & D Program of China (96-007-01-06).Biography: ZENG De-hui (1965-), male, Ph.D. professor in the Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P. R. ChinaResponsible editor: Zhu Hong展开更多
Long-term continuous cropping of soybean (Glycine max), spring wheat (Triticum aesativum) and maize (Zea mays) is widely practiced by local farmers in northeast China. A field experiment (started in 1991) was ...Long-term continuous cropping of soybean (Glycine max), spring wheat (Triticum aesativum) and maize (Zea mays) is widely practiced by local farmers in northeast China. A field experiment (started in 1991) was used to investigate the differences in soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions under continuous cropping of the three major crops and to evaluate the relationships between CO2 fluxes and soil temperature and moisture for Mollisols in northeast China. Soil CO2 emissions were measured using a closed-chamber method during the growing season in 2011. No remarkable differences in soil organic carbon were found among the cropping systems (P〉0.05). However, significant differences in CO2 emissions from soils were observed among the three cropping systems (P〈0.05). Over the course of the entire growing season, cumulative soil CO2 emissions under different cropping systems were in the following order: continuous maize ((829±10) g CO2 m2)〉continuous wheat ((629±22) g CO2 m^2)〉continuous soybean ((474±30) g CO2 m-2). Soil temperature explained 42-65% of the seasonal variations in soil CO2 flux, with a Q10 between 1.63 and 2.31; water-filled pore space explained 25-47% of the seasonal variations in soil CO2 flux. A multiple regression model including both soil temperature (T, ~C) and water-filled pore space (W, %), log(])=a+bT log(W), was established, accounting for 51-66% of the seasonal variations in soil CO2 flux. The results suggest that soil CO2 emissions and their Q10 values under a continuous cropping system largely depend on crop types in Mollisols of Northeast China.展开更多
[Objective] The aim was to explore the soil properties change in the process of field crops into greenhouse vegetables and their possible adverse effects on the environment.[Method] Fertilization,irrigation,crop growt...[Objective] The aim was to explore the soil properties change in the process of field crops into greenhouse vegetables and their possible adverse effects on the environment.[Method] Fertilization,irrigation,crop growth conditions and soil quality changes in the major cropping systems(greenhouse monoculture,greenhouse rotation and open field rotation)in Chongming Island,Shanghai were investigated from 2007 to 2009.[Result] Different cropping systems significantly affected soil quality.Soil organic carbon,mineral nitrogen,available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium content increased in greenhouse cultivation compared to open field rotation due to excessive application of irrigation and fertilizers.Soil pH values decreased by 0.6 and 0.4 in the greenhouse monoculture and greenhouse rotation,respectively,while did not significantly change in open field rotation.Meanwhile,greenhouse cultivation significantly increased soil EC,and NO-3 and Cl-contents,which showed an increasing trend with the planting years increase.However,the salt content changes were not significant in open field rotation.[Conclusion] High cropping index,excessive fertilizer input and inappropriate fertilization and irrigation resulted in greenhouse soil quality degradation due to weak farmer's skill and local extension services.展开更多
Conversion of natural forests into pure plantation forests is a common management practice in subtropical China.To evaluate the effects of forest conversion on soil fertility, microbe numbers and enzyme activities in ...Conversion of natural forests into pure plantation forests is a common management practice in subtropical China.To evaluate the effects of forest conversion on soil fertility, microbe numbers and enzyme activities in topsoils (0-10 cm)were quantified in two 33-year-old monoculture plantations of Castanopsis kawakamii Hayata (CK) and Cunninghamia lanceolata Lamb. (Chinese fir) (CF), and compared to a neighboring relict natural C. kawakamii forest (NF), in Sanming,Fujian. Five soil samples were collected once each in January, April, July, September and November in 2000 in each forest for laboratory analysis. Over the sampling year, there were significant differences for bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes between forests and between seasons (P < 0.05). The largest bacteria and fungi populations were in NF, while CF contained the greatest number of actinomycetes. There were also significant differences (P < 0.05) with microbial respiration for forests and seasons. Additionally, compared with NF, urease and acid phosphatase were significantly lower (P < 0.05)in CK and CF. Also, the correlations of soil hydrolysable N and available P to soil microbial and enzymatic activities were highly significant (P < 0.01). Thus, to alter the traditional Chinese fir monoculture so as to mimic the natural forest conditions, managing mixed stands of Chinese fir and broadleaf trees or conducting crop rotation of conifers and broadleaf trees as well as minimizing forest disturbances like clear-cutting, slash burning and soil preparing, could be utilized.展开更多
The study was to determine the long-term effects of subtropical monoculture and rotational cropping systems and fertilization on soil enzyme activities and soil C, N, and P levels. Cropping systems included continuous...The study was to determine the long-term effects of subtropical monoculture and rotational cropping systems and fertilization on soil enzyme activities and soil C, N, and P levels. Cropping systems included continuous sorghum(Sorghum bicolor L.), cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.), corn(Zea mays L.), and cotton/sorghum rotations after 26 years of treatment imposition. Soil under continuous sorghum and continuous corn had 15% and 11%, respectively, greater C concentrations than soil under continuous cotton.Organic C was 10% higher at 0–7.5 cm than at 7.5–15 cm. Total N followed similar trends with soil depth as organic C. Continuous sorghum had 19% higher total N than other crop species and rotations. With fertilization, continuous cotton had the highest total P at 0–7.5 cm and sorghum had the highest at 7.5–15 cm. Soil total P was 14% higher at 0–7.5 than at 7.5–15 cm, and fertilization increased 15% total P compared to unfertilized soil. Arylsulfatase, alkaline phosphatase, and β-d-glucosidase activity were the highest for sorghum and the lowest for cotton. Rotation increased enzyme activities compared to continuous cotton but not for continuous sorghum. Of all crop species and rotations, continuous cotton generally showed the lowest levels of organic matter and enzyme activities after 26 years. Fertilization significantly increased the yields for all cropping systems, but rotation had no significant effect on either sorghum or cotton lint yield compared to each crop grown in monoculture. Long-term cropping did not increase soil organic matter levels beyond short-term gains, indicating the difficulty in promoting C sequestration in subtropical soils.展开更多
Soil properties were investigated in sites where three succeeding generationsof Chinese fir (Gunning-hamia lanceolata, (Lambert) Hooker) in Nanping, Fujian, China, werecultivated in order to show the impact of a repea...Soil properties were investigated in sites where three succeeding generationsof Chinese fir (Gunning-hamia lanceolata, (Lambert) Hooker) in Nanping, Fujian, China, werecultivated in order to show the impact of a repeated monoculture on site productivity. Compared withthe first generation (FG) stand the soil structure deteriorated in the second generation (SG) andthe third generation (TG) stands. For instance, the destruction rate of the peds increased by 55%-115% in the SG and the TG stands compared to the FG stand. Soil nutrient storage and nutrientavailability also decreased in the SG and the TG stands. For surface soils of 0-20 cm, the organicmatter content, total N and P, and available N and P decreased by 3%-20% relative to those in the FGstand. For many soil parameters, the differences between the FG stand and the SG and the TG standswere statistically significant (LSD test, P < 0.05). Furthermore, with each succeeding generation ofChinese fir, the total number of soil microbes declined, the soil enzyme activity weakened, and thesoil biological activity decreased. In order to maintain sustainable site productivity, newsilvicultural practices need to be developed for management of Chinese fir plantations.展开更多
Continuous monoculture problems, or replanting diseases, are one of the key factors affecting productivity and quality of Chinese medicinal plants. The underlying mechanism is still being explored. Most of the studies...Continuous monoculture problems, or replanting diseases, are one of the key factors affecting productivity and quality of Chinese medicinal plants. The underlying mechanism is still being explored. Most of the studies on continuous monoculture ofRehmannia glutinosa L. are focused on plant nutritional physiology, root exudate, and its autotoxieity. However, the changes in the diversity of microflora in the rhizosphere mediated by the continuous monoculture pattern have been remained unknown. In this study, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) technique was used for fingerprinting fungal diversity in the rhizosphere soil sampled from the fields ofR. glutinosa monocultured for 1 and 2 yr. The results showed that the structure of fungal community in consecutively moncultured rhizosphere soil was different from that in control soil (no cropping soil), and varied with the consecutive monoeulture years (1 and 2 yr). The comprehensive evaluation index (D) of fungal community estimated by principal component analysis of fragment number, peak area, Shannon-Weiner index, and Margalef index was higher in 1 yr monoculture soil than that in 2 yr monoculture soil, suggesting that consecutive monoculture of R. glutinosa could be a causative agent to decrease the diversity of fungal community in the rhizosphere soil.展开更多
A field microplot experiment was conducted in the red soil hilly region of South China to evaluate plant phosphorus (P)uptake under soybean and citrus monoculture and the soybean-citrus intercropping system using the ...A field microplot experiment was conducted in the red soil hilly region of South China to evaluate plant phosphorus (P)uptake under soybean and citrus monoculture and the soybean-citrus intercropping system using the 32P tracer technique.P fertilizer was applied at three depths(15,35,and 55 cm).The experimental results showed that the planting pattern and 32P application depth significantly affected the characteristics of P uptake by soybean and citrus.Under the soybean-citrus intercropping system,considerable competition was observed when the 32P fertilizer was applied to the topsoil(15 cm);therefore,the 32P recovery rate declined by 41.5%and 14.7%for soybean and citrus,and 32P supplying amount of topsoil to soybean and citrus decreased by 346.8 and 148.1 mg plot-1,respectively,compared to those under the monoculture.However,32P recovery of soybean was promoted when 32P fertilizer was applied to the deeper soil layers (35 and 55 cm)under soybean-citrus intercropping.Under the soybean monoculture,32P fertilizer could hardly be used by soybean when 32P fertilizer was applied at the 55 cm depth or below,with the recovery rate being less than 0.1%;it was up to 0.253%by soybean under intercropping.The higher P recovery of soybean under soybean-citrus intercropping when P was applied in the deeper soil layers was because part of the P nutrient that the citrus absorbed from the deeper soil layers could be released into the topsoil and then it could be used by the soybean.展开更多
A mini-plot field experiment was conducted on a loamy clay Oxisol to compare and evaluate P absorption and transfer in plant organs and P movement in soil profile at three P application depths under the soybean-citrus...A mini-plot field experiment was conducted on a loamy clay Oxisol to compare and evaluate P absorption and transfer in plant organs and P movement in soil profile at three P application depths under the soybean-citrus intercropping versus the monoculture using a ^32p tracer technique. Total P absorption (Pt) by soybean and P accumulation (Pa) in soybean organs decreased significantly (P 〈 0.05) under the intercropping in contrast to the monoculture. With intercropping, when ^32p was applied in topsoil (15 cm soil layer), total ^32p absorption (^32pt) in soybeans was significantly lower (P 〈 0.05), but when ^32p was applied to deeper soil layers (35 or 55 cm soil layer), ^32pt in soybeans was significantly greater (P 〈 0.05). The percentage of P in leaves to total P (Pa/Pt) and 32p in leaves to total ^32p (^32pa/^32pt) for soybean were ≥ 25% and those of root ≥ 12%. When P was applied ia topsoil and 55 cm soil layer, no significant differences were found between intercropping and monoculture for Pt of citrus. The P absorbed by citrus was transferred rapidly to the growing organs of aboveground during the experiment, and the speed of transferring to the growing organs slowed when P was applied to the deeper soil layers. In intercropping, P mobility was heightened in the soil profile, and P in deeper soil layers moved up to topsoil more rapidly.展开更多
The traditional rice-fish farming system is selected as a "globally important agricultural heritage system" (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),an...The traditional rice-fish farming system is selected as a "globally important agricultural heritage system" (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),and Global Environment Facility (GEF),etc.In Zhejiang Province of China,where the pilot site for this GIAHS farming system is located,we compared the use of traditional rice varieties in rice-fish co-culture and rice monoculture.Further,we determined how traditional rice varieties were performed in this rice-fish system.Only 19% of the farmers who practiced rice monoculture planted traditional varieties while 52% of farmers who practiced rice-fish co-culture planted traditional varieties.Traditional varieties represented 13% of the total land cultivated under rice in the rice-fish system but only 2% in the rice monoculture system.In the rice-fish system,yield was lower for traditional rice varieties than hybrid varieties but application of fertilizers and pesticides was also lower.In a field experiment in the rice-fish system without pesticides,rice planthopper numbers and sheath blight incidence were lower from three traditional varieties than one hybrid variety;yields were 8 to 32% lower from the traditional varieties than the hybrid.Our results showed that traditional rice varieties can be preserved through conserving GIAHS rice-fish co-culture.Our study also indicated that traditional rice varieties can survive in the rice-fish system because these varieties are helpful to the whole system and beneficial to the farmers.展开更多
Traditional agricultural systems have contributed to food and livelihood security. Rice-crab coculture (RC) is an important eco-agricultural process in rice production in northern China. Recognizing the soil fertili...Traditional agricultural systems have contributed to food and livelihood security. Rice-crab coculture (RC) is an important eco-agricultural process in rice production in northern China. Recognizing the soil fertility in RC may help develop novel sustainable agriculture. Soil carbohydrates are important factors in determining soil fertility in different culture modes. In this study, soil carbohydrates were analyzed under three different culture modes including rice monoculture (RM), conventional rice-crab coculture (CRC) and organic rice-crab coculture (ORC). Results showed that the contents of soil organic carbon and carbohydrates were significantly higher in the ORC than those in RM. The increasing effect was greater with increased organic manure. Similar tendency was found in CRC, but the overall effect was less pronounced compared with ORC. Carbohydrates were more Sensitive to RC mode and manure amendment than soil organic carbon. Compare to RM, the (Gal+Man)/(Ara+Xyl) ratio decreased in all the RC modes, indicating a relative enrichment in plant-derived carbohydrates due to the input of crab feed and manure. While the increasing (Gal+Man)/(Ara+Xyl) ratio in ORC modes with increased organic manure suggested that crab activity and metabolism induced microbially derived carbohydrates accumulation. The lower GluN/MurA ratio in ORC indicated an enhancement of bacteria contribution to SOM turnover in a short term. The findings reveal that the ORC mode could improve the quantity and composition of soil carbohydrates, effectively, to ensure a sustainable use of paddy soil.展开更多
Planting grass and legume mixtures on improved grasslands has the potential advantage of realizing both higher yields and lower environmental pollution by optimizing the balance between applied N fertilizer and the na...Planting grass and legume mixtures on improved grasslands has the potential advantage of realizing both higher yields and lower environmental pollution by optimizing the balance between applied N fertilizer and the natural process of legume biological nitrogen fixation. However, the optimal level of N fertilization for grass-legume mixtures, to obtain the highest yield, quality, and contribution of N2 fixation, varies with species. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to study the temporal dynamics of N2 fixation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grown alone and in mixture with smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) in response to the addition of fertilizer N. Three levels of N (0, 75, and 150 kg ha-1) were examined using 15N-labeled urea to evaluate N2 fixation via the 15N isotope dilution method. Treatments were designated NO (0.001 g per pot), N75 (1.07 g per pot) and N150 (2.14 g per pot). Alfalfa grown alone did not benefit from the addition of fertilizer N; dry matter was not significantly increased. In contrast, dry weight and N content of smooth bromegrass grown alone was increased significantly by N application. When grown as a mixture, smooth bromegrass biomass was increased significantly by N application, resulted in a decrease in alfalfa biomass. In addition, individual alfalfa plant dry weight (shoots+roots) was significantly lower in the mixture than when grown alone at all N levels. Smooth bromegrass shoot and root dry weight were significantly higher when grown with alfalfa than when grown alone, regardless of N application level. When grown alone, alfalfa's N2 fixation was reduced with N fertilization (R2=0.9376,P=0.0057). When grown in a mixture with smooth bromegrass, with 75 kg ha-1 of N fertilizer, the percentage of atmospheric N2 fixation contribution to total N in alfalfa (%Ndfa) had a maximum of 84.07 and 83.05% in the 2nd and 3rd harvests, respectively. Total 3-harvest %Ndfa was higher when alfalfa was grown in a mixture than when grown alone (shoots: |t|=3.39, P=0.0096; root: |t|=3.57, P=0.0073). We believe this was due to smooth bromegrass being better able to absorb available soil N (due to its fibrous root system), resulting inlower soil N availability and allowing alfalfa to develop an effective N2 fixing symbiosis prior to the 1st harvest. Once soil N levels were depleted, alfalfa was able to fix N2, resulting in the majority of its tissue N being derived from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in the 2nd and 3rd harvests. When grown in a mixture, with added N, alfalfa established an effective symbiosis earlier than when grown alone; in monoculture BNF did not contribute a significant portion of plant N in the N75 and N150 treatments, whereas in the mixture, BNF contributed 17.90 and 16.28% for these treatments respectively. Alfalfa has a higher BNF efficiency when grown in a mixture, initiating BNF earlier, and having higher N2 fixation due to less inhibition by soil-available N. For the greatest N-use-efficiency and sustainable production, grass-legume mixtures are recommended for imDrovino orasslands, usino a moderate amount of N fertilizer (75 kq N ha-l) to provide optimum benefits.展开更多
The amount of carbon returned through litterfall and its seasonal pattern were studied in a natural forest of Castanopsis kawakamii (NF) and adjacent monoculture plantations of C. kawakamii (CK) and Chinese fir (Cunni...The amount of carbon returned through litterfall and its seasonal pattern were studied in a natural forest of Castanopsis kawakamii (NF) and adjacent monoculture plantations of C. kawakamii (CK) and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) (CF) in Sanming, Fujian Province, China. Mean annual carbon return through total litterfall over 3 years (from 1999 to 2001) was 5.097 t穐m2 in the NF, 4.337 t穐m2 in the CK and 2.502 t穐m2 in the CF respectively. Of the total carbon return in the three forests, leaf contribution accounted for 58.96%, 68.53% and 56.12% and twig 24.41%, 22.34% and 26.18%, respectively. The seasonal patterns of carbon return from total litterfall and leaf-litter were quite similar among the three forests. A peak of carbon input from litterfall in the NF and the CK occurred in spring except for the highest annual C return through branch litter of the NF in summer, while the CF showed the maximum C return in summer. The results of this study demonstrate that the natural forest has a greater C return through litterfall than monoculture plantations, which is beneficial to the increase of soil organic matter storage and the maintenance of soil fertility.展开更多
Replantation of degraded forest using rapidgrowth trees can play a significant role in global carbon budget by storing large quantities of carbon in live biomass,forest floor,and soil organic matter.We assessed the po...Replantation of degraded forest using rapidgrowth trees can play a significant role in global carbon budget by storing large quantities of carbon in live biomass,forest floor,and soil organic matter.We assessed the potential of 20-year old stands of three rapid-growth tree species,including Alnus subcordata,Populus deltoides and Taxodium distichum,for carbon(C) storage at ecosystem level.In September 2013,48 replicate plots(16 m × 16 m) in 8 stands of three plantations were established.36 trees were felled down and fresh biomass of different components was weighed in the field.Biomass equations were fitted using data based on the 36 felled trees.The biomass of understory vegetation and litter were measured by harvesting all the components.The C fraction of understory,litter,and soil were measured.The ecosystem C storage was as follows: A.subcordata(626.5 Mg ha) [ P.deltoides(542.9Mg ha) [ T.distichum(486.8 Mg ha)(P \ 0.001),of which78.1–87.4% was in the soil.P.deltoides plantation reached the highest tree biomass(206.6 Mg ha),followed by A.subcordata(134.5 Mg ha) and T.distichum(123.3 Mg ha).The highest soil C was stored in theplantation of A.subcordata(555.5 Mg ha).The C storage and sequestration of the plantations after 20 years were considerable(25–30 Mg hayear) and broadleaves species had higher potential.Native species had a higher soil C storage while the potential of introduced species for live biomass production was higher.展开更多
Forest soil carbon (C) is an important compo- nent of the global C cycle. However, the mechanism by which tree species influence soil organic C (SOC) pool composition and mineralization is poorly understood. To un...Forest soil carbon (C) is an important compo- nent of the global C cycle. However, the mechanism by which tree species influence soil organic C (SOC) pool composition and mineralization is poorly understood. To understand the effect of tree species on soil C cycling, we assessed total, labile, and recalcitrant SOC pools, SOC chemical composition by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and SOC mineralization in four monoculture plantations. Labile and recalcitrant SOC pools in surface (0-10 cm) and deep (40-60 cm) soils in the four forests contained similar content. In contrast, these SOC pools exhibited differences in the subsurface soil (from 10 to 20 cm and from 20 to 40 cm). The alkyl C and O-alkyl C intensities of SOC were higher in Schima superba and Michelia macclurei forests than in Cunninghamia lanceolata and Pinus massoniana forests. In surface soil, S. superba and M. macclurei forests exhibited higher SOC mineralization rates than did P. massoniana and C.lanceolata forests. The slope of the straight line between C60 and labile SOC was steeper than that between C60 and total SOC. Our results suggest that roots affected the composition of SOC pools. Labile SOC pools also affected SOC mineralization to a greater extent than total SOC pools.展开更多
基金funded by Canada Economic Development,Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Fauna (MRNF)the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada through a Collaborative and Research Development grant to ADthe Program on Energy Research and Development of Natural Resources Canada
文摘Disease prevention, biodiversity, productivity improvement and ecological considerations are all factors that contribute to increasing interest in mixed plantations. The objective of this study was to evaluate early growth and productivity of two hybrid poplar clones, P. balsamifera x trichocarpa (PBT) and P. maximowiczii x balsamifera (PMB), one improved family of Norway spruce (Picea glauca (PA)) and one improved family of white spruce (Picea abies (PG)) growing under different spacings in monocultures and mixed plots. The plantations were established in 2003 in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Quebec, Canada, in a split plot design with spacing as the whole plot factor (1 × 1 m, 3 × 3 m and 5 × 5 m) and mixture treatments as subplot factor (pure: PBT, PMB, PA and PG, and 1:1 mixture PBT:PA, PBT:PG, PMB:PA and PMB:PG). Results showed a beneficial effect of the hybrid poplar-spruce mixture on diameter growth for hybrid poplar clones, but not for the 5 × 5 m spacing because of the relatively young age of the plantations. Diameter growth of the spruces decreased in mixed plantings in the 1 × 1 m, while their height growth increased, resulting in similar aboveground biomass per tree across treatments. Because of the large size differences between spruces and poplars, aboveground biomass in the mixed plantings was generally less than that in pure poplar plots. Leaf nitrogen concentration for the two spruce families and hybrid poplar clone PMB was greater in mixed plots than in monocultures, while leaf nitrogen concentration of clone PBT was similar among mixture treatments. Because of its faster growth rate and greater soil resources demands, clone PMB was the only one showing an increase in leaf N with increased spacing between trees. Fine roots density was greater for both hybrid poplars than spruces. The vertical distribution of fine roots was insensitive to mixture treatment.
文摘Eucalyptus plantations are increasing in Brazil, frequently replacing pastures, but there is still scarce information about its capacity to maintain the fauna of neighbor forest remnants. In this study, we compared descriptors of the communities of leaf litter organisms (lizards, anurans, myriapods, arachnids, orthopterans, coleopterans, and ants) between a large remnant of primary Atlantic Forest and an adjacent eucalyptus monoculture (phase 1). Then, we compared the same descriptors for leaf litter lizards and anurans, Euglossini bees, and frugivorous butterflies among the largest remnant, small remnants at intermediate regeneration stage, and eucalyptus monocultures that were not adjacent to the largest remnant (phase 2). Monocultures were sampled immediately before logging. In phase 1, we detected significant differences in structure between the forest and the monoculture in six out of seven communities sampled. Ca. 81% of the species of the landscape were recorded in the forest, but only 54% of these were found also in the monoculture. In phase 2, the structure of two out of four forest communities was significantly different from the structure of small remnants and monocultures. On average, 76% of the species found in the whole landscape were sampled in the forest. Out of this subset, on average 74% of the species were also sampled in small remnants and 68% in monocultures. Findings of the present study point out a moderate capacity of eucalyptus monocultures to harbor species of the forest fauna even when fully grown but highlights the opportunity that they might offer for increasing connectivity in anthropogenic forest landscapes depending on their management.
基金supported by Eesti Teadusagentuur[IUT 20-31]European Regional Development Fund[EcolChange TK 131].
文摘Aims Very little is known about the performance of non-agricultural plant species in monocultures,even though nearly all agricultural species have experienced the transition from multi-species environments to dense monospecific stands during the breeding process.In the light of recent work that highlighted the possibility that the weedy species Arabidopsis thaliana can offer novel insight into crop breeding,we aimed to test the effect of sowing density on group and individual performance in different photoperiod environments in A.thaliana.Methods We studied the performance of A.thaliana Cvi-0 ecotype.The choice of Cvi-0 was based on a preliminary experiment in which plants of Cvi-0 ecotype exhibited high competitive performance.Sowing densities used were 17.6,8.8,4.4,2.2 and 1.1 cm^(2) per plant and photoperiod environments 12 or 16 h of day light.Important Findings In this experiment,populations attained constant total seed yield for all densities.Some interaction effect occurred,as at high sowing density and at longer day length plants produced heavier seeds,whereas at shorter day length seed weight was negatively related to plant density.These results shed light on different strategies that annual plants can adopt when they face intense intraspecific competition,and could help to offer new perspectives for breeding crops with enhanced group performance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31988102)the Key Research Program of Frontier Sciences,CAS(No.QYZDY-SSW-SMC011).
文摘The sensitivity of soil respiration(R_(s))to temperature(Q_(10))is a key parameter for benchmarking the carbon(C)cycle and climate feedbacks in the context of global warming.However,previous studies on the factors that drive forest soil Q_(10) have focused mostly on abiotic factors,such as climate and soil,while the role of biotic factors has been less examined.Here,we compiled a global dataset of 766 soil Q_(10) values and 17 matched biotic and abiotic factors to explore the factors that drive the variability of global forest soil Q_(10) using a random forest(RF)model.Our findings showed that soil Q_(10) increased with microbial biomass carbon(MBC),which was the most important predictor.Additionally,soil Q_(10) was positively correlated with leaf phosphorus content(LPC)but was negatively correlated with leaf N:P,indicating that plant ecological stoichiometry might be a factor that explained soil Q_(10) variability.All abiotic factors,including climate,soil properties,and elevation,had great predictive power and were significantly related to soil Q_(10).By comparing the soil Q_(10) in multispecies forests and monocultures,we found that Q_(10) in the mixed needle-leaved and broad-leaved forests(NF&BF)was lower than in monocultures.Our study revealed that,in addition to abiotic factors,biotic factors were also strong predictors of forest soil Q_(10),which can deepen our understanding of soil respiration in response to global warming and provide insights for improving carbon cycle models.
基金fnancially supported by the Czech Science Foundation(P504/23-05132S)by the Masaryk University Institutional Grant for Doctoral Students(MUNI/A/1667/2024).
文摘Coarse woody debris(CWD) plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity in forest ecosystems by supporting habitat complexity and influencing soil properties.This study investigates the effects of CWD on gastropod diversity within managed spruce(Picea abies) forests in the Czech Republic,comparing results to nearby nature reserves(NRs).Gastropod species richness and composition were evaluated at both plot(50 m×50 m) and mesohabitat scales across gradients of CWD and beech(Fagus sylvatica) tree representation.Our results indicate significantly reduced species richness in managed forests(median 7 species per plot) compared to NRs(median15 species),attributed to lower soil pH,calcium availability,and moisture due to the dominance of spruce and the limited availability of CWD.Species richness was positively influenced by CWD volume,with two amounts identified:a minimum of 4 m^(3)·ha^(-1) to prevent significant biodiversity loss and 20 m^(3)·ha^(-1)to support sensitive and dendrophile species.At the within-plot scale,CWD was the species richest mesohabitat,playing a particularly important role in acidic and nutrient-poor environments.Furthermore,beech basal area positively correlated with species richness,mitigating the negative impact of spruce.The findings highlight the critical need for changes in forest management,including increased retention of CWD and integration of deciduous trees,to support biodiversity in intensively managed forests.These measures are particularly urgent given the susceptibility of spruce monocultures to climate change and pest outbreaks.Gastropods,as sessile indicators of environmental change,may serve as effective umbrella species for conservation efforts targeting forest soil biodiversity.
基金This research was supported by grants from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX3-SW-418) National Natural Science Founda-tion of China (30100144)and National Key Technologies R & D
文摘Western Liaoning Province is characterized by huge areas of lowly-efficient Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) pure plantations. How to transform these plantations has become an increasingly significant management problem. In this study, the authors summarized the approaches, which are based on close-to-nature silvicultural system, to transform the pure pine plantations. Native broadleaved trees were planted in three methods: 1) after strip clearcutting, 2) after patch clearcutting; 3) on the open forestland and the forest edge. The transformation targets and the selection of tree species were expatiated in this paper. The key techniques and their application conditions for each method were analyzed and discussed. Through investigation and contrastive analysis, the assessment was made to the stands transformed by strip method. Results showed that the mixed stands at 16 years after transformation had an obvious layered structure and the species richness of understorey vegetation increased by 23.5%–52.9%. Soil enzyme activities of urease, phosphatase and sucrase increased by 6%–142%, 46%–99% and 31%–200%, respetively. Moreover, the transformed stands could effectively control the occurrence of pine caterpillars in plantations. Consequently the transformations enhanced the function of soil and water conservation. Keywords Pinus tabulaeformis - Monoculture - Transformation - Principles and methods - Assessment CLC number S791.254 - S727.22 Document code A Foundation item: This research was supported by grants from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX3-SW-418), National Natural Science Foundation of China (30100144), and National Key Technologies R & D Program of China (96-007-01-06).Biography: ZENG De-hui (1965-), male, Ph.D. professor in the Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P. R. ChinaResponsible editor: Zhu Hong
基金supported by the Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZZD-EW-TZ-16-02)the Foundation for Young Talents of the Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (DLSYQ13001)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41101283)
文摘Long-term continuous cropping of soybean (Glycine max), spring wheat (Triticum aesativum) and maize (Zea mays) is widely practiced by local farmers in northeast China. A field experiment (started in 1991) was used to investigate the differences in soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions under continuous cropping of the three major crops and to evaluate the relationships between CO2 fluxes and soil temperature and moisture for Mollisols in northeast China. Soil CO2 emissions were measured using a closed-chamber method during the growing season in 2011. No remarkable differences in soil organic carbon were found among the cropping systems (P〉0.05). However, significant differences in CO2 emissions from soils were observed among the three cropping systems (P〈0.05). Over the course of the entire growing season, cumulative soil CO2 emissions under different cropping systems were in the following order: continuous maize ((829±10) g CO2 m2)〉continuous wheat ((629±22) g CO2 m^2)〉continuous soybean ((474±30) g CO2 m-2). Soil temperature explained 42-65% of the seasonal variations in soil CO2 flux, with a Q10 between 1.63 and 2.31; water-filled pore space explained 25-47% of the seasonal variations in soil CO2 flux. A multiple regression model including both soil temperature (T, ~C) and water-filled pore space (W, %), log(])=a+bT log(W), was established, accounting for 51-66% of the seasonal variations in soil CO2 flux. The results suggest that soil CO2 emissions and their Q10 values under a continuous cropping system largely depend on crop types in Mollisols of Northeast China.
基金Supported by Shanghai Scientific and Technologic Research Programs(07DZ19604)Key Discipline "Olericulture" of Shanghai(B209)Scientific Research Starting Project of Xiangfan University~~
文摘[Objective] The aim was to explore the soil properties change in the process of field crops into greenhouse vegetables and their possible adverse effects on the environment.[Method] Fertilization,irrigation,crop growth conditions and soil quality changes in the major cropping systems(greenhouse monoculture,greenhouse rotation and open field rotation)in Chongming Island,Shanghai were investigated from 2007 to 2009.[Result] Different cropping systems significantly affected soil quality.Soil organic carbon,mineral nitrogen,available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium content increased in greenhouse cultivation compared to open field rotation due to excessive application of irrigation and fertilizers.Soil pH values decreased by 0.6 and 0.4 in the greenhouse monoculture and greenhouse rotation,respectively,while did not significantly change in open field rotation.Meanwhile,greenhouse cultivation significantly increased soil EC,and NO-3 and Cl-contents,which showed an increasing trend with the planting years increase.However,the salt content changes were not significant in open field rotation.[Conclusion] High cropping index,excessive fertilizer input and inappropriate fertilization and irrigation resulted in greenhouse soil quality degradation due to weak farmer's skill and local extension services.
基金the Basic Research Program of Fujian Province (No. 2000-F-004).
文摘Conversion of natural forests into pure plantation forests is a common management practice in subtropical China.To evaluate the effects of forest conversion on soil fertility, microbe numbers and enzyme activities in topsoils (0-10 cm)were quantified in two 33-year-old monoculture plantations of Castanopsis kawakamii Hayata (CK) and Cunninghamia lanceolata Lamb. (Chinese fir) (CF), and compared to a neighboring relict natural C. kawakamii forest (NF), in Sanming,Fujian. Five soil samples were collected once each in January, April, July, September and November in 2000 in each forest for laboratory analysis. Over the sampling year, there were significant differences for bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes between forests and between seasons (P < 0.05). The largest bacteria and fungi populations were in NF, while CF contained the greatest number of actinomycetes. There were also significant differences (P < 0.05) with microbial respiration for forests and seasons. Additionally, compared with NF, urease and acid phosphatase were significantly lower (P < 0.05)in CK and CF. Also, the correlations of soil hydrolysable N and available P to soil microbial and enzymatic activities were highly significant (P < 0.01). Thus, to alter the traditional Chinese fir monoculture so as to mimic the natural forest conditions, managing mixed stands of Chinese fir and broadleaf trees or conducting crop rotation of conifers and broadleaf trees as well as minimizing forest disturbances like clear-cutting, slash burning and soil preparing, could be utilized.
文摘The study was to determine the long-term effects of subtropical monoculture and rotational cropping systems and fertilization on soil enzyme activities and soil C, N, and P levels. Cropping systems included continuous sorghum(Sorghum bicolor L.), cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.), corn(Zea mays L.), and cotton/sorghum rotations after 26 years of treatment imposition. Soil under continuous sorghum and continuous corn had 15% and 11%, respectively, greater C concentrations than soil under continuous cotton.Organic C was 10% higher at 0–7.5 cm than at 7.5–15 cm. Total N followed similar trends with soil depth as organic C. Continuous sorghum had 19% higher total N than other crop species and rotations. With fertilization, continuous cotton had the highest total P at 0–7.5 cm and sorghum had the highest at 7.5–15 cm. Soil total P was 14% higher at 0–7.5 than at 7.5–15 cm, and fertilization increased 15% total P compared to unfertilized soil. Arylsulfatase, alkaline phosphatase, and β-d-glucosidase activity were the highest for sorghum and the lowest for cotton. Rotation increased enzyme activities compared to continuous cotton but not for continuous sorghum. Of all crop species and rotations, continuous cotton generally showed the lowest levels of organic matter and enzyme activities after 26 years. Fertilization significantly increased the yields for all cropping systems, but rotation had no significant effect on either sorghum or cotton lint yield compared to each crop grown in monoculture. Long-term cropping did not increase soil organic matter levels beyond short-term gains, indicating the difficulty in promoting C sequestration in subtropical soils.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30170770).
文摘Soil properties were investigated in sites where three succeeding generationsof Chinese fir (Gunning-hamia lanceolata, (Lambert) Hooker) in Nanping, Fujian, China, werecultivated in order to show the impact of a repeated monoculture on site productivity. Compared withthe first generation (FG) stand the soil structure deteriorated in the second generation (SG) andthe third generation (TG) stands. For instance, the destruction rate of the peds increased by 55%-115% in the SG and the TG stands compared to the FG stand. Soil nutrient storage and nutrientavailability also decreased in the SG and the TG stands. For surface soils of 0-20 cm, the organicmatter content, total N and P, and available N and P decreased by 3%-20% relative to those in the FGstand. For many soil parameters, the differences between the FG stand and the SG and the TG standswere statistically significant (LSD test, P < 0.05). Furthermore, with each succeeding generation ofChinese fir, the total number of soil microbes declined, the soil enzyme activity weakened, and thesoil biological activity decreased. In order to maintain sustainable site productivity, newsilvicultural practices need to be developed for management of Chinese fir plantations.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30772729, 30671201, and81072983)the Key Technologies R&D Programof China during the 11th Five-Year Plan period(2006BAI09B03 and 2006BAI06A12-06)
文摘Continuous monoculture problems, or replanting diseases, are one of the key factors affecting productivity and quality of Chinese medicinal plants. The underlying mechanism is still being explored. Most of the studies on continuous monoculture ofRehmannia glutinosa L. are focused on plant nutritional physiology, root exudate, and its autotoxieity. However, the changes in the diversity of microflora in the rhizosphere mediated by the continuous monoculture pattern have been remained unknown. In this study, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) technique was used for fingerprinting fungal diversity in the rhizosphere soil sampled from the fields ofR. glutinosa monocultured for 1 and 2 yr. The results showed that the structure of fungal community in consecutively moncultured rhizosphere soil was different from that in control soil (no cropping soil), and varied with the consecutive monoeulture years (1 and 2 yr). The comprehensive evaluation index (D) of fungal community estimated by principal component analysis of fragment number, peak area, Shannon-Weiner index, and Margalef index was higher in 1 yr monoculture soil than that in 2 yr monoculture soil, suggesting that consecutive monoculture of R. glutinosa could be a causative agent to decrease the diversity of fungal community in the rhizosphere soil.
基金Project supported by the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.KZCX2-407)the Knowledge Innovation Program of Hunan Agricultural University(No.04YJ10)
文摘A field microplot experiment was conducted in the red soil hilly region of South China to evaluate plant phosphorus (P)uptake under soybean and citrus monoculture and the soybean-citrus intercropping system using the 32P tracer technique.P fertilizer was applied at three depths(15,35,and 55 cm).The experimental results showed that the planting pattern and 32P application depth significantly affected the characteristics of P uptake by soybean and citrus.Under the soybean-citrus intercropping system,considerable competition was observed when the 32P fertilizer was applied to the topsoil(15 cm);therefore,the 32P recovery rate declined by 41.5%and 14.7%for soybean and citrus,and 32P supplying amount of topsoil to soybean and citrus decreased by 346.8 and 148.1 mg plot-1,respectively,compared to those under the monoculture.However,32P recovery of soybean was promoted when 32P fertilizer was applied to the deeper soil layers (35 and 55 cm)under soybean-citrus intercropping.Under the soybean monoculture,32P fertilizer could hardly be used by soybean when 32P fertilizer was applied at the 55 cm depth or below,with the recovery rate being less than 0.1%;it was up to 0.253%by soybean under intercropping.The higher P recovery of soybean under soybean-citrus intercropping when P was applied in the deeper soil layers was because part of the P nutrient that the citrus absorbed from the deeper soil layers could be released into the topsoil and then it could be used by the soybean.
基金Project supported by the Knowledge Innovation Programme of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-407).
文摘A mini-plot field experiment was conducted on a loamy clay Oxisol to compare and evaluate P absorption and transfer in plant organs and P movement in soil profile at three P application depths under the soybean-citrus intercropping versus the monoculture using a ^32p tracer technique. Total P absorption (Pt) by soybean and P accumulation (Pa) in soybean organs decreased significantly (P 〈 0.05) under the intercropping in contrast to the monoculture. With intercropping, when ^32p was applied in topsoil (15 cm soil layer), total ^32p absorption (^32pt) in soybeans was significantly lower (P 〈 0.05), but when ^32p was applied to deeper soil layers (35 or 55 cm soil layer), ^32pt in soybeans was significantly greater (P 〈 0.05). The percentage of P in leaves to total P (Pa/Pt) and 32p in leaves to total ^32p (^32pa/^32pt) for soybean were ≥ 25% and those of root ≥ 12%. When P was applied ia topsoil and 55 cm soil layer, no significant differences were found between intercropping and monoculture for Pt of citrus. The P absorbed by citrus was transferred rapidly to the growing organs of aboveground during the experiment, and the speed of transferring to the growing organs slowed when P was applied to the deeper soil layers. In intercropping, P mobility was heightened in the soil profile, and P in deeper soil layers moved up to topsoil more rapidly.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (2011CB100406)the Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province,China(2008C12064)+2 种基金the Ministry of Environment Protection of China (201090020)the Wenzhou Bureau of Science and Technology of Zhejiang Province,China(N20080024)the Key Laboratory of Non-Point Sources Pollution Control,Ministry of Agriculture of China (KYJD09021)
文摘The traditional rice-fish farming system is selected as a "globally important agricultural heritage system" (GIAHS) by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),and Global Environment Facility (GEF),etc.In Zhejiang Province of China,where the pilot site for this GIAHS farming system is located,we compared the use of traditional rice varieties in rice-fish co-culture and rice monoculture.Further,we determined how traditional rice varieties were performed in this rice-fish system.Only 19% of the farmers who practiced rice monoculture planted traditional varieties while 52% of farmers who practiced rice-fish co-culture planted traditional varieties.Traditional varieties represented 13% of the total land cultivated under rice in the rice-fish system but only 2% in the rice monoculture system.In the rice-fish system,yield was lower for traditional rice varieties than hybrid varieties but application of fertilizers and pesticides was also lower.In a field experiment in the rice-fish system without pesticides,rice planthopper numbers and sheath blight incidence were lower from three traditional varieties than one hybrid variety;yields were 8 to 32% lower from the traditional varieties than the hybrid.Our results showed that traditional rice varieties can be preserved through conserving GIAHS rice-fish co-culture.Our study also indicated that traditional rice varieties can survive in the rice-fish system because these varieties are helpful to the whole system and beneficial to the farmers.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41101274 and 41101275)
文摘Traditional agricultural systems have contributed to food and livelihood security. Rice-crab coculture (RC) is an important eco-agricultural process in rice production in northern China. Recognizing the soil fertility in RC may help develop novel sustainable agriculture. Soil carbohydrates are important factors in determining soil fertility in different culture modes. In this study, soil carbohydrates were analyzed under three different culture modes including rice monoculture (RM), conventional rice-crab coculture (CRC) and organic rice-crab coculture (ORC). Results showed that the contents of soil organic carbon and carbohydrates were significantly higher in the ORC than those in RM. The increasing effect was greater with increased organic manure. Similar tendency was found in CRC, but the overall effect was less pronounced compared with ORC. Carbohydrates were more Sensitive to RC mode and manure amendment than soil organic carbon. Compare to RM, the (Gal+Man)/(Ara+Xyl) ratio decreased in all the RC modes, indicating a relative enrichment in plant-derived carbohydrates due to the input of crab feed and manure. While the increasing (Gal+Man)/(Ara+Xyl) ratio in ORC modes with increased organic manure suggested that crab activity and metabolism induced microbially derived carbohydrates accumulation. The lower GluN/MurA ratio in ORC indicated an enhancement of bacteria contribution to SOM turnover in a short term. The findings reveal that the ORC mode could improve the quantity and composition of soil carbohydrates, effectively, to ensure a sustainable use of paddy soil.
基金supported by the China Forage and Grass Research System (CARS-35)the National Key Technology R&D Program of China (2011BAD17B01)
文摘Planting grass and legume mixtures on improved grasslands has the potential advantage of realizing both higher yields and lower environmental pollution by optimizing the balance between applied N fertilizer and the natural process of legume biological nitrogen fixation. However, the optimal level of N fertilization for grass-legume mixtures, to obtain the highest yield, quality, and contribution of N2 fixation, varies with species. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to study the temporal dynamics of N2 fixation of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) grown alone and in mixture with smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) in response to the addition of fertilizer N. Three levels of N (0, 75, and 150 kg ha-1) were examined using 15N-labeled urea to evaluate N2 fixation via the 15N isotope dilution method. Treatments were designated NO (0.001 g per pot), N75 (1.07 g per pot) and N150 (2.14 g per pot). Alfalfa grown alone did not benefit from the addition of fertilizer N; dry matter was not significantly increased. In contrast, dry weight and N content of smooth bromegrass grown alone was increased significantly by N application. When grown as a mixture, smooth bromegrass biomass was increased significantly by N application, resulted in a decrease in alfalfa biomass. In addition, individual alfalfa plant dry weight (shoots+roots) was significantly lower in the mixture than when grown alone at all N levels. Smooth bromegrass shoot and root dry weight were significantly higher when grown with alfalfa than when grown alone, regardless of N application level. When grown alone, alfalfa's N2 fixation was reduced with N fertilization (R2=0.9376,P=0.0057). When grown in a mixture with smooth bromegrass, with 75 kg ha-1 of N fertilizer, the percentage of atmospheric N2 fixation contribution to total N in alfalfa (%Ndfa) had a maximum of 84.07 and 83.05% in the 2nd and 3rd harvests, respectively. Total 3-harvest %Ndfa was higher when alfalfa was grown in a mixture than when grown alone (shoots: |t|=3.39, P=0.0096; root: |t|=3.57, P=0.0073). We believe this was due to smooth bromegrass being better able to absorb available soil N (due to its fibrous root system), resulting inlower soil N availability and allowing alfalfa to develop an effective N2 fixing symbiosis prior to the 1st harvest. Once soil N levels were depleted, alfalfa was able to fix N2, resulting in the majority of its tissue N being derived from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in the 2nd and 3rd harvests. When grown in a mixture, with added N, alfalfa established an effective symbiosis earlier than when grown alone; in monoculture BNF did not contribute a significant portion of plant N in the N75 and N150 treatments, whereas in the mixture, BNF contributed 17.90 and 16.28% for these treatments respectively. Alfalfa has a higher BNF efficiency when grown in a mixture, initiating BNF earlier, and having higher N2 fixation due to less inhibition by soil-available N. For the greatest N-use-efficiency and sustainable production, grass-legume mixtures are recommended for imDrovino orasslands, usino a moderate amount of N fertilizer (75 kq N ha-l) to provide optimum benefits.
基金Supported by the Teaching and Research Award Program of MOE P.R.C. (TRAPOYT) and the Key Basic Research Project of Fujian Province (2000F004)
文摘The amount of carbon returned through litterfall and its seasonal pattern were studied in a natural forest of Castanopsis kawakamii (NF) and adjacent monoculture plantations of C. kawakamii (CK) and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) (CF) in Sanming, Fujian Province, China. Mean annual carbon return through total litterfall over 3 years (from 1999 to 2001) was 5.097 t穐m2 in the NF, 4.337 t穐m2 in the CK and 2.502 t穐m2 in the CF respectively. Of the total carbon return in the three forests, leaf contribution accounted for 58.96%, 68.53% and 56.12% and twig 24.41%, 22.34% and 26.18%, respectively. The seasonal patterns of carbon return from total litterfall and leaf-litter were quite similar among the three forests. A peak of carbon input from litterfall in the NF and the CK occurred in spring except for the highest annual C return through branch litter of the NF in summer, while the CF showed the maximum C return in summer. The results of this study demonstrate that the natural forest has a greater C return through litterfall than monoculture plantations, which is beneficial to the increase of soil organic matter storage and the maintenance of soil fertility.
基金supported by Tarbiat Modares University(TMU)of Iran
文摘Replantation of degraded forest using rapidgrowth trees can play a significant role in global carbon budget by storing large quantities of carbon in live biomass,forest floor,and soil organic matter.We assessed the potential of 20-year old stands of three rapid-growth tree species,including Alnus subcordata,Populus deltoides and Taxodium distichum,for carbon(C) storage at ecosystem level.In September 2013,48 replicate plots(16 m × 16 m) in 8 stands of three plantations were established.36 trees were felled down and fresh biomass of different components was weighed in the field.Biomass equations were fitted using data based on the 36 felled trees.The biomass of understory vegetation and litter were measured by harvesting all the components.The C fraction of understory,litter,and soil were measured.The ecosystem C storage was as follows: A.subcordata(626.5 Mg ha) [ P.deltoides(542.9Mg ha) [ T.distichum(486.8 Mg ha)(P \ 0.001),of which78.1–87.4% was in the soil.P.deltoides plantation reached the highest tree biomass(206.6 Mg ha),followed by A.subcordata(134.5 Mg ha) and T.distichum(123.3 Mg ha).The highest soil C was stored in theplantation of A.subcordata(555.5 Mg ha).The C storage and sequestration of the plantations after 20 years were considerable(25–30 Mg hayear) and broadleaves species had higher potential.Native species had a higher soil C storage while the potential of introduced species for live biomass production was higher.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31570466)the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant no.2012CB416905)
文摘Forest soil carbon (C) is an important compo- nent of the global C cycle. However, the mechanism by which tree species influence soil organic C (SOC) pool composition and mineralization is poorly understood. To understand the effect of tree species on soil C cycling, we assessed total, labile, and recalcitrant SOC pools, SOC chemical composition by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and SOC mineralization in four monoculture plantations. Labile and recalcitrant SOC pools in surface (0-10 cm) and deep (40-60 cm) soils in the four forests contained similar content. In contrast, these SOC pools exhibited differences in the subsurface soil (from 10 to 20 cm and from 20 to 40 cm). The alkyl C and O-alkyl C intensities of SOC were higher in Schima superba and Michelia macclurei forests than in Cunninghamia lanceolata and Pinus massoniana forests. In surface soil, S. superba and M. macclurei forests exhibited higher SOC mineralization rates than did P. massoniana and C.lanceolata forests. The slope of the straight line between C60 and labile SOC was steeper than that between C60 and total SOC. Our results suggest that roots affected the composition of SOC pools. Labile SOC pools also affected SOC mineralization to a greater extent than total SOC pools.