Microtopography may affect the distribution of forests through its effect on rain redistribution and soil water distribution on the semi-arid Loess Plateau,China.In this study,we investigated the characteristics of mi...Microtopography may affect the distribution of forests through its effect on rain redistribution and soil water distribution on the semi-arid Loess Plateau,China.In this study,we investigated the characteristics of microtopography on two shady slopes（slope A,5 hm2,uniform slope;slope B,5 hm2,microtopography slope） and surveyed the height,the diameter at breast height and the location（x,y coordinates） of all selected individual trees（Robinia pseudoacacia Linn.,Pyrus betulifolia Bunge,Populus hopeiensis Hu ＆ Chow,Armeniaca sibirica Lam.,Populus simonii Carr.and Ulmus pumila Linn.） on slope A and slope B in the watersheds of Wuqi county,Shaanxi province.Subsequently,the effects of microtopography on the spatial pattern of forest stands were analyzed using Ripley＇s K（r） function.The results showed that：（1） The maximal aggregation radiuses of the tree species on the uniform slope（slope A） were larger than 40 m,whereas those of the tree species on the microtopography slope（slope B） were smaller than 30 m.（2） On slope B,the spatial association of R.pseudoacacia with P.betulifolia,A.sibirica,P.simonii and U.pumila varied from being strongly negative to positive at microtopography scales.The spatial association of Populus hopeiensis Hu ＆ Chow with U.pumila also varied from being strongly negative to positive at microtopography scales.However,there was no spatial association between P.betulifolia and P.hopeiensis,P.betulifolia and A.sibirica,P.betulifolia and P.simonii,P.betulifolia and U.pumila,P.hopeiensis and A.sibirica,P.hopeiensis and P.simonii,A.sibirica and P.simonii,A.sibirica and U.pumila,and P.simonii and U.pumila.On slope A,the spatial association between tree species were strongly negative.The results suggest that microtopography may shape tree distribution patterns on the semi-arid Loess Plateau.展开更多
Tillage management that minimizes the frequency and intensity of soil disturbance can increase soil carbon(C)and nitrogen(N)sequestration and improve the resilience of dryland cropping systems,yet the impact of occasi...Tillage management that minimizes the frequency and intensity of soil disturbance can increase soil carbon(C)and nitrogen(N)sequestration and improve the resilience of dryland cropping systems,yet the impact of occasional disturbance on soil aggregate formation and the soil organic carbon(SOC)storage within aggregates has not been studied well.We evaluated the effect of four tillage management practices on soil dry aggregate size distribution,aggregate-protected C and N,mineral-associated organic matter carbon(MAOM-C),particulate organic matter carbon(POM-C),and corn(Zea mays L.)and sorghum(Sorghum bicolor(L.)Moench)yields in a semi-arid dryland cropping system.Treatments included conventional tillage(CT),strip-tillage(ST),no-tillage(NT),and occasional tillage(OT)management in a corn-sorghum rotation.Soil macro-aggregates were 51-54%greater under ST,NT,and OT,while small and micro-aggregates were greater in CT.Conventional tillage reduced soil aggregate-associated C by 28-31%in macro-aggregates and 47-53%in small aggregates at 26 months(M)sampling compared to ST,NT,and OT.In clay+silt fraction,CT had 14-16%,21-26%,and 36-43%less SOC at 7,14,and 26M samplings,respectively,than ST,NT,and OT.Aggregate associated N was generally similar under ST,NT,and OT,which was greater on average than CT.Soil MOAM-C and POM-C under ST,NT,and OT were generally greater than respective SOC fractions under CT at 19 and 26 M after OT implementation.Corn and sorghum yields were similar among tillage systems in 2020,but greater under ST,NT,and OT than CT in 2021.Our results suggest that while frequent intensive tillage can lower SOC and N storage,a single stubble mulch occasional tillage after several years of NT does not lead to soil C and N losses and soil structural instability in semi-arid drylands.展开更多
基金financially supported by China National Scientific and Technical Innovation Research Project for 12~(th) Five Year Plan (2011BAD38B0601)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41472313)the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2011DM012,ZR2014DL002)
文摘Microtopography may affect the distribution of forests through its effect on rain redistribution and soil water distribution on the semi-arid Loess Plateau,China.In this study,we investigated the characteristics of microtopography on two shady slopes（slope A,5 hm2,uniform slope;slope B,5 hm2,microtopography slope） and surveyed the height,the diameter at breast height and the location（x,y coordinates） of all selected individual trees（Robinia pseudoacacia Linn.,Pyrus betulifolia Bunge,Populus hopeiensis Hu ＆ Chow,Armeniaca sibirica Lam.,Populus simonii Carr.and Ulmus pumila Linn.） on slope A and slope B in the watersheds of Wuqi county,Shaanxi province.Subsequently,the effects of microtopography on the spatial pattern of forest stands were analyzed using Ripley＇s K（r） function.The results showed that：（1） The maximal aggregation radiuses of the tree species on the uniform slope（slope A） were larger than 40 m,whereas those of the tree species on the microtopography slope（slope B） were smaller than 30 m.（2） On slope B,the spatial association of R.pseudoacacia with P.betulifolia,A.sibirica,P.simonii and U.pumila varied from being strongly negative to positive at microtopography scales.The spatial association of Populus hopeiensis Hu ＆ Chow with U.pumila also varied from being strongly negative to positive at microtopography scales.However,there was no spatial association between P.betulifolia and P.hopeiensis,P.betulifolia and A.sibirica,P.betulifolia and P.simonii,P.betulifolia and U.pumila,P.hopeiensis and A.sibirica,P.hopeiensis and P.simonii,A.sibirica and P.simonii,A.sibirica and U.pumila,and P.simonii and U.pumila.On slope A,the spatial association between tree species were strongly negative.The results suggest that microtopography may shape tree distribution patterns on the semi-arid Loess Plateau.
基金This research was funded by project No.GR0006188 of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service,New Mexico.The study plots were established with funding from the New Mexico State University Agricultural Experiment Station.
文摘Tillage management that minimizes the frequency and intensity of soil disturbance can increase soil carbon(C)and nitrogen(N)sequestration and improve the resilience of dryland cropping systems,yet the impact of occasional disturbance on soil aggregate formation and the soil organic carbon(SOC)storage within aggregates has not been studied well.We evaluated the effect of four tillage management practices on soil dry aggregate size distribution,aggregate-protected C and N,mineral-associated organic matter carbon(MAOM-C),particulate organic matter carbon(POM-C),and corn(Zea mays L.)and sorghum(Sorghum bicolor(L.)Moench)yields in a semi-arid dryland cropping system.Treatments included conventional tillage(CT),strip-tillage(ST),no-tillage(NT),and occasional tillage(OT)management in a corn-sorghum rotation.Soil macro-aggregates were 51-54%greater under ST,NT,and OT,while small and micro-aggregates were greater in CT.Conventional tillage reduced soil aggregate-associated C by 28-31%in macro-aggregates and 47-53%in small aggregates at 26 months(M)sampling compared to ST,NT,and OT.In clay+silt fraction,CT had 14-16%,21-26%,and 36-43%less SOC at 7,14,and 26M samplings,respectively,than ST,NT,and OT.Aggregate associated N was generally similar under ST,NT,and OT,which was greater on average than CT.Soil MOAM-C and POM-C under ST,NT,and OT were generally greater than respective SOC fractions under CT at 19 and 26 M after OT implementation.Corn and sorghum yields were similar among tillage systems in 2020,but greater under ST,NT,and OT than CT in 2021.Our results suggest that while frequent intensive tillage can lower SOC and N storage,a single stubble mulch occasional tillage after several years of NT does not lead to soil C and N losses and soil structural instability in semi-arid drylands.
