三峡水库消落区典型草本植物氮、磷养分计量特征

为明确消落区土壤养分对植物生长的影响,通过室内栽培试验,研究三峡库区秭归消落区土壤3种氮磷水平下4种草本植物—鬼针草(Bidens pilosa)、苍耳(Xanthium sibiricum)、水蓼(Polygonum hydropiper)、藜(Chenopodium album)长势及氮、磷计量特征.结果表明,消落区土壤中生长的植物氮含量为7.98~19.4 mg/g,磷含量为0.740~3.880 mg/g,氮磷比为3.48~13.70,判别植物生长受氮限制.外源氮磷的添加促进植物氮、磷含量明显升高,但氮磷比没有明显变化;外源氮磷添加解除植物受氮的限制作用.4种植物对消落区土壤低氮环境具有一定的适应能力.比较消落区土壤中4种植物长势,鬼针草生物量、相对生长率、根茎生物量比最高,氮磷养分丰富对鬼针草生长促进作用最明显,表明鬼针草更易于在氮、磷贫乏的三峡库区消落区形成优势群落.     

红壤小流域不同土地利用方式坡面下水塘底泥养分含量变化

以我国南方丘陵区红壤小流域为研究对象,对不同土地利用方式坡面下的4个水塘底泥中养分含量作了分层比较研究(0-5 cm,5-10 cm,10-15 cm,15-20 cm,20-25 cm,25-30 cm)．结果表明:4个水塘底泥养分含量差异明显,在0-15 cm泥层有机碳、全氮、速效氮和全磷含量以邻近村庄的水塘(简称C塘)底泥最高,其次为板栗园坡下的水塘(简称B塘),水稻田坡面下水塘(简称S塘)和花生地坡面下水塘(简称H塘)最低;在15-30 cm泥层,有机碳和速效氮含量以B塘最高,而全氮和全磷含量则以C塘最高;有效磷含量除C塘0-15 cm底泥外,其余均为痕量．表明土地利用方式对其坡面下水塘底泥养分含量影响明显．各水塘底泥养分随泥层加深均呈递减趋势,其中全氮和速效氮减幅以C塘最大,分别为36．0％和38．7％,有机碳和全磷减幅则以B塘最大,为29．4％和31．9％;各塘底泥养分含量的最大降幅主要在浅层底泥,水塘养分积累加速表明近年来农村面源污染加剧．传统农业耕作方式的改变是农村水体底泥养分含量增加的主要原因之一．     

洞庭湖湿地3种典型植物群落土壤酶活性特征

调查了洞庭湖湿地典型植物群落(短尖苔草(Carex brevicuspis)、南荻(Triarrhena sacchariflora)、辣蓼(Polygonumhy dropiper))洪水期前后(5、10月)两次表层土壤酶活性及土壤养分性状.结果表明:3种典型群落之间具有明显的土壤养分性状及土壤酶活差异.辣蓼群落具有相对较高的土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、速效磷含量,短尖苔草群落次之,而南荻群落的土壤养分含量最低.3种典型植物群落的土壤有机质、全氮、全磷含量均表现为5月高于10月,土壤速效磷、速效钾洪水期前后无显著差异.辣蓼群落的蔗糖酶活性明显高于其他2个群落;3个群落脲酶活性均表现为10月高于5月,南荻、辣蓼群落有显著差异.磷酸酶以南荻群落最高,短尖苔草群落5月显著高于10月,南荻群落则10月显著高于5月;短尖苔草、南荻群落过氧化氢酶活性显著高于辣蓼群落,短尖苔草群落5月与10月间有显著差异,其余2个群落无显著差异.相关分析表明:脲酶活性与土壤养分含量关系不密切;蔗糖酶活性与土壤有机质、全磷、全氮及速效磷素含量均呈显著正相关.总体上,洞庭湖典型湿地植物群落显示了较为明显的土壤理化状况以及土壤酶活差异;同时也显示了季节性差异.相对而言,辣蓼群落土壤具有较快的物质循环与转化代谢速率,对于氮、磷等污染物具有较高的转化作用,而短尖苔草、南荻群落低于辣蓼群落,这可能与二者较低的土壤有机质以及氮磷养分积累有关.     

梯级筑坝下小型山区河流水体碳氮磷的时空特征及富营养化风险

梯级筑坝对河流水环境演化的影响是国内外关注的热点.小型山区河流高密度梯级开发对水体生源要素的空间格局以及水环境演化的累积影响特征尚不清楚.以重庆市五布河为研究对象,对流域内8个“河流-水库-下泄水”交替系统中表层水体理化因子及碳（C）、氮（N）、磷（P）形态组成进行季节性监测,探讨了梯级筑坝对小型河流生源要素空间格局及水体富营养化风险影响的累积特征及驱动机制.结果表明：梯级水电开发对五布河流域水生生境和生源要素空间分配的影响具有潜在的累积效应,各库区水体碳氮磷浓度均呈逐级增加的空间规律;水库段的有机碳及不同形态的氮、磷浓度均高于入库河流,因此水体养分浓度呈现出河段尺度（即单个河流-水库-下泄水系统）和流域尺度（即上游至下游）耦合的空间变异模式.上游水库中溶解性氮、磷的再释放及下泄输移能够补给下游库区,加之下游水库泥沙对氮、磷的吸附-沉积作用的减弱,导致水体氮、磷总量及溶解性氮、磷的占比沿程增加,呈现梯级筑坝对水环境演化的累积影响.梯级筑坝影响下河流碳氮磷总量的相关性减弱,而溶解性养分间的相关性增强,形成了特殊的养分协同演化;水库群之间水力滞留时间的差异与水体碳氮磷浓度具有较好的线性关系,是影响流域养分分配的关键因素.五布河流域水体均为高富营养化风险,由于梯级筑坝下水体溶解性养分的逐级增加,下游水库水华风险更大;水力滞留时间与水体富营养化指数及叶绿素a浓度呈显著正向关,结合氮磷比特征的分析,本研究认为外源磷输入控制及水力滞留时间的调节是五布河梯级水库富营养化防控的有效途径.     

贵州草海湿地不同水位梯度土壤碳、氮、磷含量及其生态化学计量比分布特征

对贵州草海湿地4种水位梯度下(农田区、过渡区、浅水区和深水区)表层土壤(0~10 cm)碳、氮、磷含量及其生态化学计量比进行研究,以期揭示草海湿地不同水位梯度下土壤碳、氮、磷生态化学计量比的分布特征及其影响因素.结果表明:土壤总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)及总磷(TP)含量在不同水位梯度之间均差异显著,由过渡区至深水区,土壤TOC及TN含量均呈递增趋势,而TP含量呈先降低后增加的趋势;农田区土壤TN含量显著高于浅水区,但深水区土壤TP含量显著低于农田区.不同水位梯度土壤碳氮比(C/N)、碳磷比(C/P)和氮磷比(N/P)也存在显著差异,由过渡区至深水区,土壤C/P和N/P均呈递增趋势,而C/N呈先增加后降低的趋势;与过渡区相比,农田区土壤C/N、C/P和N/P总体偏低.相关性分析表明:土壤C/N、C/P和N/P的空间分布与土壤TOC、TN、含水量等理化性质有关.可见,草海湿地水位变化对土壤TOC、TN和TP含量以及C/N、C/P及N/P的空间分布具有显著影响,且水位升高有利于增强土壤碳、氮、磷的固存潜力.     

高寒草甸土壤组分碳氮含量及草甸退化对组分碳氮的影响

以青海省果洛州达日县原生高寒嵩草（Kobresia）草甸封育系统和重度退化草甸为对象,通过密度分组技术将每个土样分为2个组分：轻组和重组,分别分析每个组分的有机碳和全氮浓度,研究高寒原生嵩草草甸土壤密度组分碳氮数量和性质、检验高寒草甸退化对土壤轻组和重组中碳氮含量的相对影响程度;研究结果如下：（1）高寒嵩草草甸原生植被土壤表层重组和轻组的碳浓度分别为3.84%和28.63%,氮浓度分别为0.362%和1.192%,重组中C：N为10.60而轻组中的碳氮比为23.80;（2）从各组分中有机碳占全土有机碳的比例看,重组中的有机碳占明显优势;随土壤深度的增加,重组碳的比例由78.95%（0～10cm）上升到90.33%而轻组碳的比例由21.05%（0～10cm）下降到9.68%;（3）高寒草甸严重退化导致表层土总有机碳由47.47g·kg-1下降到17.63g·kg-1,其中重组碳含量由37.31g·kg-1下降到16.01g·kg-1,轻组碳含量由10.01g·kg-1下降到1.62g·kg-1,即按照土壤组分碳氮含量计算,重组碳流失了57%,轻组碳流失了84%;同时重组氮流失了43%,轻组氮流失了79%;（4）轻组中碳氮流失的主要原因不是由于草甸退化导致轻组本身碳氮浓度降低,而是由于土壤中轻组绝对数量降低导致的.重组中氮的流失远低于碳的流失,这可能暗示重组在保护氮的方式上与有机碳存在区别.     

不同水位和竞争模式对典型湿地植物生态化学计量特征的影响

以洞庭湖典型湿地植物辣蓼为目标植物,短尖苔草为邻近植物,通过控制实验研究不同水位(30、0和-30 cm)和竞争(无竞争、全部竞争、地上竞争和地下竞争)模式下目标植物生长及生态化学计量特征的变化.结果表明:水位处理显著影响不同竞争模式下的生物量积累,辣蓼生物量随水位增加显著降低;-30 cm水位无竞争模式下生物量最大,为10.84±1.52 g.在30 cm和0 cm水位梯度下,不同竞争模式下的生物量间无显著差异.但-30 cm水位下,地下竞争模式下的辣蓼生物量积累较全竞争模式和地上竞争模式下显著增多,说明非胁迫条件下,辣蓼和苔草的竞争以地上竞争为主.水位处理对辣蓼叶片、茎和根的氮、磷含量影响显著,30 cm水位下,叶片氮、磷含量显著高于其他水位下的含量.在-30cm水位下,叶片C∶N和C∶P显著高于其他水位下的比值,分别为48.08±3.85、590.3±43.4.相比于对照处理(无竞争),竞争作用下的辣蓼总氮含量降低,而C∶N值增加,N∶P值降低,这可能是因为竞争作用导致辣蓼对氮的吸收减少所致.     

水位对洞庭湖湿地4种典型沉水植物的影响

近年来,受全球变化及高强度人为干扰的影响,湿地退化严重(洞庭湖湿地枯水期提前、枯水期水位持续降低和浅水洼地减少),导致洞庭湖湿地沉水植物大面积消亡.深入研究洞庭湖低水位对沉水植物的生长影响,对指导沉水植物恢复有重要意义.以我国典型通江湖泊洞庭湖典型沉水植物为研究对象,模拟野外沉水植物主要分布区域浅水洼地水文环境,设置4个水位梯度(25、50、75、100 cm),探讨竹叶眼子菜(Potamogeton malaianus)、黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)、苦草(Vallisneria natans)和金鱼藻(Ceratophyllum demersum)的生长、生物量和生理活性对水位变化的响应.结果显示:(1)前期底质养分含量为:总氮0.09%、总磷0.09%、总钾3.04%、碱解氮20.87 mg/kg、速效磷10.7 mg/kg、速效钾326.67 mg/kg、硝态氮6.97 mg/kg、氨氮6.59 mg/kg、有机碳1.21%、有机质2.09%,2个月后,不同水位的底质养分含量有差异,100和75 cm水池的养分含量高于50和25 cm,氨氮、有机质和有机碳含量在25 cm水位的水池较高;(2)75 cm水位适合竹叶眼子菜和黑藻生长,100 cm水位适合苦草和金鱼藻生长;(3)100 cm水位有利于竹叶眼子菜的繁殖及生物量积累,75 cm水位有利于黑藻和金鱼藻的繁殖及生物量积累,50 cm水位有利于苦草的繁殖及生物量积累;(4)100 cm水位下的沉水植物酶活性强,75和50 cm水位下的沉水植物次之,25 cm水位下的最弱.以上结果表明,4种沉水植物的生长特征和生物量积累随水位变化,在水域生态恢复中应考虑将水位控制在50~100 cm之间,这样有利于促进种群生物量和水生生态系统的恢复.     

长江中下游浅水湖泊5种常见底栖动物碳、氮、磷化学计量特征

研究长江中下游地区浅水湖泊5种常见大型底栖动物(铜锈环棱螺、河蚬、苏氏尾鳃蚓、摇蚊属幼虫及中国长足摇蚊)碳、氮、磷化学计量特征,样品采集于多个不同营养水平湖泊.底栖动物碳、氮、磷元素含量的变化范围分别为31.6%~60.7%、5.2%~12.1%及0.41%~2.28%,碳氮比、碳磷比和氮磷比的变化范围分别为4.4~8.9、55~314及9.9~40.1,其中磷元素含量变化最大并是导致N∶P变化的主要原因.不同种类底栖动物元素组成具有显著差异,碳、氮、磷最高平均值分别出现在河蚬(48.4%)、苏氏尾鳃蚓(10.4%)及河蚬(1.09%).铜锈环棱螺(除氮磷比)和河蚬元素组成在不同营养水平湖泊间具有显著差异,重富营养湖泊太湖氮和磷含量最高.相关分析发现铜锈环棱螺及河蚬磷含量和氮磷比与营养状态指数显著相关,表明铜锈环棱螺和河蚬的碳、氮、磷化学计量特征并非保持严格的动态平衡.     

氮磷比对微囊藻与栅藻磷赋存及分配的影响

太湖水体氮浓度及氮磷比的改变可能影响藻类对磷元素的赋存及分配,进而影响水体总磷浓度. 为此,本研究选取常见蓝藻(群体微囊藻和单细胞微囊藻)和绿藻(斜生栅藻),设置低氮磷比(N ∶P=2)和高氮磷比(N ∶P=20)培养实验,分析藻体胞内磷(INT-P)和胞外磷(EPS-P)含量、形态及分布,探究氮磷比对藻体磷元素赋存及分配的影响. 结果表明：低氮磷比组斜生栅藻和群体微囊藻的藻体磷(CTP,即INT-P与EPS-P之和)显著增加,分别为高氮磷比组的2.7和1.4倍. 斜生栅藻和群体微囊藻EPS-P含量(约占CTP的80%)分别增加了3.1和0.48倍,而INT-P含量对氮磷比无明显响应. 低氮磷比组的斜生栅藻和群体微囊藻EPS含量分别增加了51.7% 和63.5%. 此外,微囊藻的CTP与EPS-P主要以可交换态活性磷存在,而INT-P主要以铁铝结合态磷存在. 本研究发现低氮磷比促进了藻类EPS分泌,导致EPS-P升高,显著增加了藻体颗粒态磷的含量. 这或许是近年来太湖水体总磷波动的原因之一.     

The soil nitrogen dynamics in an inland salt marsh as affected by various experimental water levels

An 87‐day incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of various water levels on the soil nitrogen content in an inland salt marsh of Xianghai, China. Soil samples were collected from depths in the range of 0 to 30 cm at 10‐cm intervals after 15, 54 and 87 days of incubation. The total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^?‐N) and ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺‐N) contents and the nitrogen activation coefficient (NAC) were measured to investigate the soil nitrogen dynamics under three inundation treatments (?5, 0 and 5 cm). The results showed that TN was generally accumulated in all soil layers and exhibited a peak value in subsurface soils at the ?5‐cm inundation level at the end of the incubation period, whereas no obvious changes were observed in the TN contents in the bottom soils at the three inundation levels. Compared with the initial contents in the soils, the NO₃^?‐N and NH₄⁺‐N contents were significantly reduced in all soil layers at the 0‐cm and the 5‐cm inundation levels at the end of the incubation period. In general, the available nitrogen content was higher in the surface soils compared with the deeper soils at all inundation levels. The NAC values exhibited a pronounced change in the subsurface soils at all inundation levels, decreasing significantly from 0.17 to 0.04 at the 5‐cm inundation level; however, a higher mean NAC value (0.126) was found over the incubation period at the 0‐cm inundation level compared with the 5‐cm and the ?5‐cm inundation levels. Nitrogen was released from plants into the soil under all inundation treatments over the incubation period. The soil organic matter exerted positive loadings on the TN and NO₃^?‐N contents and negative loadings on the NH₄⁺‐N content at all inundation levels, and the water content generally exhibited a negative relationship with all forms of nitrogen. Additionally, the total phosphorus content exhibited a positive correlation with the TN and NO₃^?‐N contents. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Response of soil aggregate disintegration to the different content of organic carbon and its fractions during splash erosion

Aggregate disintegration is a critical process in soil splash erosion. However, the effect of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its fractions on soil aggregates disintegration is still not clear. In this study, five soils with similar clay contents and different contents of SOC have been used. The effects of slaking and mechanical striking on splash erosion were distinguished by using deionized water and 95% ethanol as raindrops. The simulated rainfall experiments were carried out in four heights (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 m). The result indicated that the soil aggregate stability increased with the increases of SOC and light fraction organic carbon (LFOC). The relative slaking and the mechanical striking index increased with the decreases of SOC and LFOC. The reduction of macroaggregates in eroded soil gradually decreased with the increase of SOC and LFOC, especially in alcohol test. The amount of macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) in deionized water tests were significantly less than that in alcohol tests under the same rainfall heights. The contribution of slaking to splash erosion increased with the decrease of heavy fractions organic carbon. The contribution of mechanical striking was dominant when the rainfall kinetic energy increased to a range of threshold between 9 J m⁻² mm⁻¹ and 12 m⁻² mm⁻¹. This study could provide the scientific basis for deeply understanding the mechanism of soil aggregates disintegration and splash erosion.     

Effects of rainfall intensity and compaction on water transport from opencast coal mine soils: An experimental study

The use of heavy machinery during opencast coal mining can result in soil compaction. Severe soil compaction has a negative impact on the transport of water and gas in the soil. In addition, rainfall intensity has traditionally been related to soil surface sealing affecting water transport. To assess the effects of rainfall intensity and compaction on water infiltration and surface runoff in an opencast coal mining area, the disturbed soils from the Antaibao opencast mine in Shanxi Province, China, were collected. Four soil columns with different bulk densities (i.e., 1.4 g cm^-3, 1.5 g cm^-3, 1.6 g cm^-3, and 1.7 g cm^-3) were designed, and each column received water five times at rainfall intensities of 23.12, 28.91, 38.54, 57.81, and 115.62 mm hr^-1. The total volume of runoff, the time to start runoff, and the volumetric water contents at the depths of 5 cm, 15 cm, 25 cm, 35 cm, 45 cm, 55 cm, and 65 cm were measured. Under the same soil bulk density, high rainfall intensity reduced infiltration, increased surface runoff, and decreased the magnitude of change in the volumetric water contents at different depths. Under the same rainfall intensity, the soil column with a high bulk density showed relatively low water infiltration. Treatments 3 (1.6 g cm^-3) and 4 (1.7 g cm^-3) had very small changes in volumetric water contents of the profiles even under a lower rainfall intensity. Severe soil compaction was highly prone to surface runoff after rainfall. Engineering and revegetation measures are available to improve compacted soil quality in dumps. Our results provide a theoretical basis for the management of land reclamation in opencast coal mine areas.     

Soil sealing and soil water content under no‐tillage and conventional tillage in irrigated corn: Effects on grain yield

The main objective of this research was to analyse the effect of soil management on soil sealing and on soil water content under contrasting tillage practices and its influence on corn yield. The experimental research was carried out in a field cultivated with irrigated corn differentiated into three zones representing a gradient of soil texture (Z1, Z2, and Z3, i.e., increasingly coarser). Two plots under different soil management practices (conventional intensive tillage, CT, and no‐tillage, NT) were selected in each zone. The susceptibility to sealing of each soil and the steady infiltration rates were evaluated in the laboratory subjecting the soils to rainfall simulation applied at an intensity of 25 mm h^?1. In addition, soil porosity under each treatment was quantified. Soil water content (0–90 cm depth) was determined gravimetrically at the beginning and the end of the growing cycle and at the surface (0–5 cm) during three growing seasons and continuously at two depths (5–15 and 50–60 cm) during the last growing cycle. Soil water content was simulated using the SIMPEL model, which was calibrated for the experimental conditions. Corn yield and above‐ground biomass were also analysed. Significant differences in soil sealing among zones, with decreasing soil sealing for coarser textures, and treatments were observed with infiltration rates that were near twice in NT than in CT, being the effect of soil cover significant in the reduction of soil detachment and soil losses. NT showed higher soil water content than CT, especially in the surface layers. Above‐ground biomass production was smaller in CT than in NT, and in the areas with higher sealing susceptibility was 30% to 45% smaller than in other zones, reaching the smallest values in Z1. A similar reduction in corn yield was observed between treatments being smaller in CT than in NT. No‐tillage has been confirmed as an effective technique that benefits soil physical properties as well as crop yields in relation to CT, being its impact greater in soils susceptible to sealing.     

Geostatistics of near-surface moisture in bare cultivated organic soils

The aim of this study was to characterise fine scale patterns of organic soil moisture content in the top 5 cm by means of semi-variogram modelling. Soil moisture content was observed along a transect on 2 occasions, early in the 1999 growing season to avoid any influences originating from vegetation and cultural practices. Soil moisture values were found to be normally distributed and were not significantly correlated with the soil organic matter content. Many similarities were depicted between the exponential semi-variograms characteristics of this study and another one in mineral soils, reported in the literature, except for the much higher sills associated with organic soils. Of particular interest were similar correlation lengths, indicating that a correlation range of the order of 100 m should be expected for mineral soils and for the level of moisture and organic matter contents found in this study.     

Contamination characteristics of heavy metals in wetland soils along a tidal ditch of the Yellow River Estuary, China

Surface soils (0–20 cm) were collected from along a tidal ditch of the Yellow River Estuary in August of 2007. Samples were subjected to a total digestion technique before they were analyzed for total concentrations of As, Cr, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, P and S in order to investigate heavy metal contamination levels in wetland soils nearby the tidal ditches and their main sources. Results showed that the mean concentrations of these heavy metals except for As and Cd were lower than the Class I criteria. Nearly all sampling sites showed lower contamination levels for As and Cd, while no contamination levels for other heavy metals. Cr, Cu, and Ni mainly originated from parent rocks, and Pb and As might originate from tidal seawater and oil field pollution, respectively; while Cd and Zn mainly originated from parent rocks and tidal seawater. Most of heavy metals showed significant correlations with total concentrations of P and S, however, no significant correlations were observed between them and soil pH, slat and soil organic matter.     

Differences in preferential flow with antecedent moisture conditions and soil texture: Implications for subsurface P transport

Preferential flowpaths transport phosphorus (P) to agricultural tile drains. However, if and to what extent this may vary with soil texture, moisture conditions, and P placement is poorly understood. This study investigated (a) interactions between soil texture, antecedent moisture conditions, and the relative contributions of matrix and preferential flow and (b) associated P distributions through the soil profile when fertilizers were applied to the surface or subsurface. Brilliant blue dye was used to stain subsurface flowpaths in clay and silt loam plots during simulated rainfall events under wet and dry conditions. Fertilizer P was applied to the surface or via subsurface placement to plots of different soil texture and moisture condition. Photographs of dye stains were analysed to classify the flow patterns as matrix dominated or macropore dominated, and soils within plots were analysed for their water‐extractable P (WEP) content. Preferential flow occurred under all soil texture and moisture conditions. Dye penetrated deeper into clay soils via macropores and had lower interaction with the soil matrix, compared with silt loam soil. Moisture conditions influenced preferential flowpaths in clay, with dry clay having deeper infiltration (92 ± 7.6 cm) and less dye–matrix interaction than wet clay (77 ± 4.7 cm). Depth of staining did not differ between wet (56 ± 7.2 cm) and dry (50 ± 6.6 cm) silt loam, nor did dominant flowpaths. WEP distribution in the top 10 cm of the soil profile differed with fertilizer placement, but no differences in soil WEP were observed at depth. These results demonstrate that large rainfall events following drought conditions in clay soil may be prone to rapid P transport to tile drains due to increased preferential flow, whereas flow in silt loams is less affected by antecedent moisture. Subsurface placement of fertilizer may minimize the risk of subsurface P transport, particularily in clay.     

Effects of rainfall on soil moisture and water movement in a subalpine dark coniferous forest in southwestern China

Water content and movement in soil profile and hydrogen isotope composition (δD) of soil water, rainwater, and groundwater were examined in a subalpine dark coniferous forest in the Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan, China, following rainfall events in 2003–2004. Light rainfall increased water content in the litter and at soil depth of 0–80 cm, but the increased soil water was lost in several days. Heavy rainfall increased soil water content up to 85% at depths of 0–40 cm. Following the light rainfall in early spring, the δD of water from the litter, humus, illuvial, and material layers decreased first and then gradually reached the pre‐rainfall level. In summer, light rainfall reached the litter humus, and illuvial layer, but did not hit the material layer. Heavy rainfall affected δD of water in all layers. The δD of soil interflow slightly fluctuated with rainfall events. The δD of shallow groundwater did not differ significantly among all rainfall events. Light rainfall altered the shape of δD profile curve of water in the upper layer of soil, whereas heavy rainfall greatly affected the shape of δD profile curve of water in all soil layers. Following the heavy rainfall, preferential flow initially occurred through macropores, decayed plant roots, and rocks at different depths of soil profile. With continuing rainfall, the litter and surface soil were nearly saturated or fully saturated, and infiltration became homogeneous and plug‐like. Forest soil water, particularly in deeper soil profile, was slightly affected by rainfall and, thus, can be a source of water supply for regional needs, particularly during dry seasons. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Subsurface lateral flow generation in aspen and conifer‐dominated hillslopes of a first order catchment in northern Utah

Mountain headwater catchments in the semi‐arid Intermountain West are important sources of surface water because these high elevations receive more precipitation than neighboring lowlands. This study examined subsurface runoff in two hillslopes, one aspen dominated, the other conifer dominated, adjacent to a first order stream in snow‐driven northern Utah. Snow accumulation, soil moisture, trenchflow and streamflow were examined in hillslopes and their adjacent stream. Snow water equivalents (SWEs) were greater under aspen stands compared to conifer, the difference increasing with higher annual precipitation. Semi‐variograms of shallow spatial soil moisture patterns and transects of continuous soil moisture showed no increase in soil moisture downslope, suggesting the absence of subsurface flow in shallow (～12 cm) soil layers of either vegetation type. However, a clear threshold relationship between soil moisture and streamflow indicated hillslope–stream connectivity, deeper within the soil profile. Subsurface flow was detected at ～50 cm depth, which was sustained for longer in the conifer hillslope. Soil profiles under the two vegetation types varied, with deep aspen soils having greater water storage capacity than shallow rocky conifer soils. Though SWEs were less under the conifers, the soil profile had less water storage capacity and produced more subsurface lateral flow during the spring snowmelt. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.