Effects of nitrogen fertilization on soil respiration in temperate grassland in Inner Mongolia,China

Nitrogen addition to soil can play a vital role in influencing the losses of soil carbon by respiration in N-deficient terrestrial ecosystems. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of different levels of nitrogen fertilization (HN, 200 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹; MN, 100 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹; LN, 50 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) on soil respiration compared with non-fertilization (CK, 0 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), from July 2007 to September 2008, in temperate grassland in Inner Mongolia, China. Results showed that N fertilization did not change the seasonal patterns of soil respiration, which were mainly controlled by soil heat-water conditions. However, N fertilization could change the relationships between soil respiration and soil temperature, and water regimes. Soil respiration dependence on soil moisture was increased by N fertilization, and the soil temperature sensitivity was similar in the treatments of HN, LN, and CK treatments (Q ₁₀ varied within 1.70–1.74) but was slightly reduced in MN treatment (Q ₁₀ = 1.63). N fertilization increased soil CO₂ emission in the order MN > HN > LN compared with the CK treatment. The positive effects reached a significant level for HN and MN (P < 0.05) and reached a marginally significant level for LN (P = 0.059 < 0.1) based on the cumulative soil respiration during the 2007 growing season after fertilization (July–September 2007). Furthermore, the differences between the three fertilization treatments and CK reached the very significant level of 0.01 on the basis of the data during the first entire year after fertilization (July 2007–June 2008). The annual total soil respiration was 53, 57, and 24% higher than in the CK plots (465 g m⁻² year⁻¹). However, the positive effects did not reach the significant level for any treatment in the 2008 growing season after the second year fertilization (July–September 2008, P > 0.05). The pairwise differences between the three N-level treatments were not significant in either year (P > 0.05).     

Experimental investigation on soil carbon, nitrogen, and their components under grazing and livestock exclusion in steppe and desert steppe grasslands, Northwestern China

Livestock grazing is one of the main causes for the change of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) in the arid and semi-arid parts in northern China. This paper examined the SOC, TN, and their components of the local steppe and desert steppe, considering continuous grazing and 4-year livestock exclusion, respectively. In steppe where livestock is excluded, both SOC and TN in the topsoil (0–0.20 m) are found to remain unchanged; however, significant growths are found in microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), particulate organic carbon (POC), and particulate organic nitrogen (PON). On the contrary, both POC and PON progressively decrease at the continuous grazing sites, attributed to the reduction of the mass proportions of soil particulate fraction in the top 0.10 m soil. In the desert steppe where grazing is excluded, the SOC, TN, and their components of the topsoil increase. However, at the continuous grazing sites, POC and PON in the 0.10 m topsoil are reduced, caused by the decrease of C and N content in soil particulate fraction. Besides, microbial quotients were lower in the continuous grazing sites in the two grasslands. It is also found that both MBC and POC are more sensitive to human-induced activities than SOC, and thus could serve as earlier indicators of the soil-fertility variation caused by short-period grazing management.     

Soil-hydrological properties response to grazing exclusion in a steppe grassland of the Loess Plateau

Soil–water characteristics are necessary for water quality monitoring, solute migration and plant growth. Soil–water characteristic curve (SWCC) is a relationship between suction and water content or degree of saturation. However, little information is available concerning the impacts of grazing exclusion management on soil–water characteristics. Here, the soil–water characteristics of grasslands, which were excluded grazing for 5 (GE5) and 15 years (GE15), were studied. The saturated hydraulic conductivity (K _s), SWCC, particle composition, field capacity and some other indexes were determined. Results showed that the clay content and K _s of grassland soil were higher for GE15 than GE5. For both treatments, in low suction condition (≤100 kPa), the water holding capacity of 0–10 cm soil was the best. Water holding capacity of topsoil decreased gradually with the increasing of suction, and it reached the strongest when the suction reached 600 kPa. In all soil water suction, the water holding capacity of subsoil was the weakest. The van Genuchten expression was applicable for most of the samples, except 20–30 cm of GE5 and 10–20 cm of GE15. Dual porosity equation was applicable for all the samples. The soil–water capability and soil structure of which was fenced for 15 years is superior to that of 5 years. This study suggests that the enclosure management improved the soil structure and soil–water capability.     

Impact of biochar,bentonite, and compost on physical and chemical characteristics of a sandy soil

In this study, bentonite (Ben), compost (Com), and biochar (Bio) were used as soil amendments to enhance sandy soil physical properties. A soil column experiment was conducted in a laboratory. Application rates were 3% (weight/weight) of Bio (T₁), Ben (T₂), and Com (T₃). Furthermore, mixtures 1.5% and 1.5% of Bio and Ben (T₄), Ben and Com (T₅), and Bio and Com (T₆), and a mixture 1%, 1%, and 1% of Bio, Ben, and Com (T₇) in addition to control treatment were adopted. The mixtures of amendments and sandy soil were concentrated at the top 10 cm of columns. Results revealed that the cumulative evaporation was reduced by 2.3% and 5.7% as a result of using T₃ and T₅, respectively. However, the remaining treatments enhanced the cumulative evaporation. The application of amendments increased the capacity of the soil to maintain water by 35.4%, 24.4%, 13.3%, and 10.2%, for soils treated with T₅, T₃, T₇, and T₄, respectively. The water content at field capacity had the highest increase in the top 10 cm when treatment T₃ was used. Although T₃ (compost) was the most efficient for enhancing soil physical properties, this study recommends T₅ and T₇ to improve hydraulic properties of sandy soils. This is due to the fact that biochar and bentonite remain in the soil for a longer period and resist biodegradation while compost overcomes the negative impact of soil chemical properties as a result of biochar and bentonite additions.     

Biological soil crust development and its topsoil properties in the process of dune stabilization, Inner Mongolia, China

This study was undertaken at Horqin Sand Land, Inner Mongolia, Northern China. Field samples of biological soil crusts (BSCs) and underlying topsoil (0–5 cm under BSC) were taken in areas of different dune stabilization stages, and their physicochemical properties were analyzed, including particle size distribution, bulk density, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and CaCO₃ content. The results revealed that semi-mobile dunes, semi-fixed dunes and fixed dunes had developed a physical crust, algae crust and moss crust, respectively. The thickness, hardness, water content, fine fraction and nutrient contents of BSCs were gradually increasing along the dune stabilization gradient. Meanwhile, BSC establishment and development enhanced the bulk density, silt and clay content, and nutrients of the topsoil under it, in an increasing tend from semi-mobile dune to fixed dune. Organic matter concentrations and other nutrients in the 0–5 cm topsoil layer under BSCs were significantly higher compared to unconsolidated soil (control). Moreover, there were strong significant positive correlations between topsoil and BSCs’ organic matter, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, CaCO₃, and <0.05 mm particle content, suggesting that BSCs have an influence on some of the properties of the underlying topsoil.     

Climate change and local adaptation strategies in the middle Inner Mongolia,northern China

According to records of 17 meteorological stations distributed in the study area, climate change of the middle Inner Mongolia in northern China was analyzed in this paper. Based on SPOT VGT data, combined with field investigation, local vegetation change was detected in the last 10 years. The results show that annual mean air temperature obviously rose, while precipitation slightly decreased in fluctuation in the study area during the last 50 years. Air temperature increasing rates are +0.318°C 10 year⁻¹ during 1960-2009 and +0.423°C 10 year⁻¹ during 1980–2009, while precipitation decreasing rates are −2.91 mm 10 year⁻¹ during 1960–2009. There were five different dry or wet periods from the 1960s to the 2000s in order, and the wetter 1990s and the drier 2000s changed dramatically in the study area. Local climate totally tend to warm–dry conditions during the last 50 years. According to coefficient of variation (Cv) of yearly growing-season cumulative NDVI value and yearly NDVI maximum in pixel scale, vegetation had experienced huge temporal and spatial variation during the last 10 years. Recently, frequent droughts and dust storms seriously affected local agriculture and grazing activities, and resulted in heavy economic loss, especially over the drought period of 1999–2001. Faced with those drought disasters accompanied with strong dust storms, the local authorities proposed the enclosing-transferring strategy and made great efforts to adapt overt climate change and improve environment, including making selective emigration, decreasing livestock numbers, fencing grasslands and building forage production bases with irrigation instruments and actively adjusting industry structure. However, some effects and potential problems of this adaptation strategy still need to be comprehensively assessed further in longer time scales and aimed at different sub-regions.     

Quantitative evaluation of the effect of prohibiting grazing policy on grassland desertification reversal in northern China

In northern China, the recent eco-environment protective policies played a very important role in the ecological environment protection and rehabilitation. To better understand the quantitative effect of the prohibiting grazing policy on grassland desertification reversal process, in this paper, Yanchi County was selected as a case study to conduct a quantitative research on the effect of prohibiting grazing policy. System dynamics research method was used in this study, also both natural factors and human factors which importantly related to desertification had been considered in the index system of the system dynamics method. According to the different grazing prohibition degree from 0 to 100 %, model was set up to simulate the grassland desertification degree. The results showed that grassland desertification degree decreased with the increase of the grazing prohibition degree. When the grazing prohibition degree was 30 %, grassland desertification began to reverse, and when the grazing prohibition degree was 40 %, the trend of grassland desertification reversal was steady, and the speed of desertification reversal was the same when the grazing prohibition degree changes from 40 to 100 %. Therefore, the full prohibiting grazing policy in Yanchi County currently is not necessary at all. These results could be very useful for the applying of prohibiting grazing policy in Yanchi County and other regions with the similar eco-environment protective policies.     

Recharge in northern clime calcareous sandy soils: soil water chemical and carbon-14 evolution

Chemical analyses were performed on soil water extracted from two cores taken from a sandy calcareous soil near Delhi, Ontario. Calcite saturation is attained within the unsaturated zone over short distances and short periods of time, whereas dolomite undersaturation persists to the groundwater table. The progressive dissolution of dolomite by soil water, within the unsaturated zone, after calcite saturation is reached results in calcite supersaturation.Deposition of iron and manganese oxyhydroxide phases occurs at the carbonate leached/unleached zone boundary. This is a result of soil water neutralization due to carbonate dissolution during infiltration but may also reflect the increased rate of oxidation of dissolved ferrous and manganous ions at higher pH's. The role of bacteria in this process has not been investigated.The depth of the carbonate leached/unleached zone boundary in a calcareous soil has important implications for ¹⁴C groundwater dating. The depth of this interface at the study site (?2 m) does not appear to limit ¹⁴C diffusion from the root zone to the depth at which carbonate dissolution occurs. Thus, soil water achieves open system isotopic equilibrium with the soil CO₂ gas phase. It is calculated that in soils with similar physical properties to the study soil but with depths of leaching of 5 m or more, complete ¹⁴C isotopic equilibration of soil water with soil gas would not occur. Soil water, under these conditions would recharge to the groundwater exhibiting some degree of closed system ¹⁴C isotopic evolution.     

Effects of vegetation restoration on soil physical properties of abandoned farmland on the Loess Plateau,China

To improve the ecological environment in China, the Chinese government implemented a country-wide ecological protection and reforestation project (namely the “Grain for Green Project”) in 1999 to return cultivated land with slopes of 25° or more to perennial vegetation. Vegetation restoration reduces soil erosion mainly by changing the soil physical properties. Different vegetation restoration methods might produce different impacts on soil physical properties. In this study, two vegetation restoration methods (i.e., natural restoration and artificial restoration) were compared on abandoned farmland in the typically hilly and gullied areas of the Loess Plateau of Northwest China. In the natural restoration method, the farmland was abandoned to natural vegetation succession without irrigation, fertilization or other artificial disturbances. In the artificial restoration method, the farmland was planted with black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) and watered and cultivated for the first two years. Three soil physical properties (i.e., soil moisture, bulk density and aggregation) were investigated under the two vegetation restoration methods. The results showed that the soil moisture and soil bulk density were higher under artificial restoration than under natural restoration within the first three years of vegetation restoration. By the fourth year, the soil moisture and soil bulk density were higher under natural restoration than under artificial restoration. For the stability of soil aggregates?>?0.25 mm, the soil aggregates in the 0-20 cm soil layer were more stable under artificial restoration than under natural restoration, while the results were the opposite for the 40-60 cm soil layer. Overall, the soil physical properties were continuously improved during the restoration of vegetation on abandoned farmland. In choosing between vegetation restoration methods, natural restoration is preferable to artificial restoration, but artificial intervention is needed during the first three years.     

内蒙古达茂旗北部奥陶纪花岗岩类特征及其构造意义

研究区奥陶纪花岗岩分布于乌兰布拉格 -哥舍深大断裂 (槽台断裂 )以北 ,岩石类型主要有闪长岩、石英闪长岩、斜长花岗岩和花岗闪长岩。岩石中 Si O2 质量分数为 5 6.76%～ 69.2 4 % ,Al2 O3较高 (多 >1 6% ) ,富 Na2 O贫 K2 O,A/ CNK均 <1 .1 ,为准铝质的钙碱性岩石系列。稀土总量普遍较低 ,为 (63 .4 1～ 1 4 0 .61 )× 1 0 - 6 ,轻重稀土分馏强烈 ,铕异常不明显 (δEu=0 .95～1 .2 2 6)。痕量元素特征与典型的火山弧花岗岩相似。结合区域地质背景 ,认为该套花岗岩类为与洋壳消减有关的岛弧型花岗岩 ,岩浆起源于加厚陆壳的底部。从花岗岩的分布及迁移规律推测 ,华北陆块与其北缘增生带之间的早古生代洋壳可能是由南西向北东的斜向消减     

内蒙古二连盆地深层地球物理特征和上古生界的地质结构

二连盆地上古生界经历海西、印支、燕山等多期构造改造,现今残存泥盆系、石炭系、二叠系等,其分布主要受区域深部大断裂的控制。针对上古生界重新处理地震资料,提高深层信噪比,增强深层反射能量,地震反射特征较为清晰;对重力资料联片处理,整体研究区域地质特征,采用小子域滤波和图像增强处理,准确确定深大断裂的位置。综合地球物理资料、地质调查资料,认为二连盆地发育近东西向、北东向5条深大断裂,发育规模大、活动时间长,对二连盆地不同时期大地构造演化、沉积建造、岩浆活动、变质作用等起明显的控制作用。地震资料显示,上古生界在二连盆地发育较普遍,经长期褶皱隆起剥蚀,总体表现为西部剥蚀较严重,东部残留厚度较大;泥盆系主要分布于贺根山断裂北部,南部缺失;石炭系、二叠系在盆地内分布广泛,东部和北部厚度大,其它地区局部残留,厚度差异较大,最大厚度近万米。     

漓江源头大溶江流域土壤理化性质

文章采用ArcGIS和SPSS22.0软件分析珠江三级支流漓江上游大溶江流域内土壤pH、电导率、粒度、土壤总氮(TN)、土壤有机碳(TOC)、土壤无机碳(TIC)及其在空间上的分布特征,结果显示:(1)研究区土壤pH平均值在土下20 cm处为4.04～6.23,土下50 cm处为4.02～6.53,体现出土壤的地带性特...     

Changes in soil physical and chemical properties during reversal of desertification in Yanchi County of Ningxia Hui autonomous region,China

Using field surveys and laboratory analysis, soil physical and chemical properties were studied at a site exhibiting the reversal of desertification in Yanchi County of China’s Ningxia Hui autonomous region. The dominant soil particle size changed from coarse-fine sand to a combination of very fine sand and silt + clay, and corresponding levels of each soil nutrient increased. The content of coarse-fine sand (2–0.1 mm) was significantly and negatively correlated with soil nutrient contents, whereas nutrient contents were significantly and positively correlated with the contents of very fine sand (0.1–0.05 mm) and silt + clay (<0.05 mm). The increasingly fine soil texture and the nutrient enrichment both facilitated rehabilitation of desertified land. The silt + clay content contributed the most to the increasing soil nutrient contents, and thus appears to be the key factor in reversal of desertification. Soil nutrient concentrations in the bulk soil increased with increasing content of soil nutrients with different particle fractions, and there were significant positive correlations between them. The nutrients in all particle size classes jointly decided the effect of soil nutrient contents on the reversal process. Principal-components analysis (PCA) revealed that the soil quality tended to increase during the reversal process, and that nutrient factors were more significant than particle size (i.e., were the dominant factor that influenced soil quality). Available nutrients and soil organic matter (SOM) were the most important nutrient factors. Silt + clay were the most important particle factors.     

内蒙古二连盆地深层地球物理特征和上古生界的地质结构

二连盆地上古生界经历海西、印支、燕山等多期构造改造,现今残存泥盆系、石炭系、二叠系等,其分布主要受区域深部大断裂的控制.针对上古生界重新处理地震资料,提高深层信噪比,增强深层反射能量,地震反射特征较为清晰;对重力资料联片处理,整体研究区域地质特征,采用小子域滤波和图像增强处理,准确确定深大断裂的位置.综合地球物理资料、地质调查资料,认为二连盆地发育近东西向、北东向5条深大断裂,发育规模大、活动时间长,对二连盆地不同时期大地构造演化、沉积建造、岩浆活动、变质作用等起明显的控制作用.地震资料显示,上古生界在二连盆地发育较普遍,经长期褶皱隆起剥蚀,总体表现为西部剥蚀较严重,东部残留厚度较大;泥盆系主要分布于贺根山断裂北部,南部缺失;石炭系、二叠系在盆地内分布广泛,东部和北部厚度大,其它地区局部残留,厚度差异较大,最大厚度近万米.     

土壤理化参数的反射光谱分析

土壤可见光和近红外波段(400~2 500 nm)反射光谱信息包含了大量土壤物理化学参数,土壤反射光谱测量简单、快速,无需破坏样品,而且还可以通过高光谱遥感方法制图。文中使用江苏国土生态地球化学调查中获取的大量土壤样品,研究了土壤阳离子交换量(CEC)、有机质含量、pH值、铁氧化物类型、铁铝硅等常量元素含量等重要土壤生态地球化学参数的光谱反应。结果显示,土壤CEC是进行光谱预测非常成功的参数,1 400、1 900和2 200 nm附近一阶导数光谱(FD)值或短波方向反射率值均可以很好地反映土壤CEC的大小;土壤有机质含量、铁氧化物类型、铁铝硅含量均可以在反射率光谱或其一阶导数(FD)值找到相关波段;土壤导数光谱存在的A、B、C和D峰使反射光谱方法不仅能够定量铁氧化物总量,还能鉴别铁氧化物矿物类型(针铁矿和赤铁矿)及其相对含量;江都土壤光谱的656 nm附近FD值与pH有很大相关性,但是江苏样品显示pH值光谱经验预测具有区域依赖性,可能与土壤类型有关,说明pH与光谱参数之间的关系并非一般的线性关系,而有更复杂的机制。     

内蒙古赤峰北部二叠纪基性—中性次火山岩系地球化学特征

赤峰北部早二叠世末至晚二叠世初基性—中性次火山岩锆石U Pb和谐线年龄为 (2 76 .3±4 .2 )Ma ,岩石组合为玄武岩、玄武安山岩及安山岩等。岩石化学上属亚碱性系列、钙碱性火山岩系、钠质类型 ;稀土总量中低 ,属轻稀土富集型 ,稀土分布模式为右倾平滑曲线或略有正、负铕异常 ;过渡族元素球粒陨石标准化曲线形态呈“W”型 ,锶初始值为 0 .70 5398,反映物质来源较深。该火山岩系形成于华力西中期强烈造山后均衡调整阶段的引张构造环境。     

Temporal variation of soil seed banks in two different dune systems in northeastern Inner Mongolia,China

To assess the potential contribution of soil seed banks to seedling recruitment, and to the vegetative processes of dune systems in semi-arid areas, a comparison of temporal variation in soil seed bank was made between active and stabilized dune systems in northeastern Inner Mongolia, China. The results showed that between-year difference in seed density for the stabilized system was smaller than that for the active one, but there were similar variations with season in seed bank for both dune systems. Furthermore, seed densities of the dominant species on the respective dune type (i.e., annuals on the stabilized dune and psammophytes on the active dune) varied more sharply with season, but more gently in annual variation than those of other phytogroups. These findings suggest that (1) seeds of annuals in the soil of the stabilized dune, or seeds of psammophytes in the soil of the active dune contributed much to seedling recruitment or plant species colonization, (2) the relationship between soil seed bank and seedling recruitment was complex in both dune systems.     

内蒙古中部金盆地区发现与冀北大店子组相当的地层

开展金盆地区1∶5万区域地质调查时,在内蒙古乌兰察布盟卓资县三道营乡黑山西坡老虎沟大青山组中首次发现了早白垩世化石:介形虫Cypridea ex gr.liaoningensis,Luanpingella sp.,Djungarica camarata,Clinocypris scolia,Rhinocypris echinta,Lycopterocypris infantilis,Darwinula contracta;叶肢介Neimongolestheria?sp.及瓣鳃类Ferganoconcha quadrata,F.jorekensis等。这套含化石的湖相地层的岩石特征、化石特征均与大青山组标准剖面不同,而与冀北大店子组的岩性组合、古生物特征均可对比。按照岩石地层单位的划分原则,这套含早白垩世化石的湖相地层不属于大青山组,应从大青山组中划分出来,代表阴山地区早白垩世早期的湖相沉积地层。金盆地区存在冀北滦平盆地的大店子组层位。     

Geochronology and geochemistry of late Carboniferous volcanic rocks from northern Inner Mongolia,North China: Petrogenesis and tectonic implications

Zircon U–Pb ages, geochemical and Sr–Nd isotopic data are presented for the late Carboniferous Baoligaomiao Formation (BG Fm.) and Delewula Formation (DW Fm.) volcanic rocks, widely distributed in northern Inner Mongolia, in the northern part of the Xing'an–Mongolia Orogenic Belt (XMOB). The BG Fm. rocks mainly consist of basaltic andesites and andesites while the DW Fm. rocks include dacites, trachytes, rhyolites, pyroclastic rocks and minor andesites. New LA-ICPMS zircon U–Pb analyses constrain their eruption to late Carboniferous (317–322 Ma and 300–310 Ma, respectively). The BG Fm. volcanic rocks are characterized by enriched large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and depleted high field strength elements (HFSE), with initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.70854–0.70869 and negative εNd(t) (− 2.1 to − 2.4) values. They have low La/Ba (0.03–0.05), high La/Nb (2.05–3.70) ratios and variable Ba/Th (59.5–211) ratios. Such features suggest that they are derived from melting of heterogeneous sources including a metasomatized mantle wedge and Precambrian crustal material. The DW Fm. volcanic rocks are more depleted in HFSE with significant Nb, Ta, P, Ti anomalies. They have high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.72037–0.72234) and strong negative εNd(t) (− 11 to − 11.6) values which indicate those igneous rocks were mainly derived from reworking of the Paleoproterozoic crust. The late Carboniferous volcanic rocks have geochemical characteristics similar to those of the continental arc rocks which indicate the northward subduction of the Paleo Asian Ocean may have continued to the late Carboniferous. The volcanic association of this study together with the early Permian post-collisional magmatic rocks suggests that a tectonic transition from subduction-related continental margin arc volcanism to post-collisional magmatism occurred in the northern XMOB between the late Carboniferous and the early Permian.