Aspects of the loss-on-ignition (LOI) technique in the context of clay-rich, glaciolacustrine sediments

The loss‐on‐ignition (LOI) technique for organic matter determination is evaluated with reference to clay‐rich, glaciolacustrine sediments. Examples of the use of LOI in glaciolacustrine literature are inconsistent in their methodology, and standardisation is called for. Problems with application of the technique to glaciolacustrine sediments stem mainly from the effects of additional weight loss due to release of structurally bound water and exposure time to ignition temperatures. Exposure time should be increased from 1 hour to 2.5 hours in the light of significant additional weight loss occurring between 2 and 2.5 hours in clay‐rich samples. The reason for this sudden increase in LOI after 2 hours (up to 86% of total LOI in some cases) appears to be the build‐up of a distinct surface crust during heating that insulates the core of the sample from ignition temperatures. Some time between 2 and 2.5 hours, the crust breaks down and exposes the sample core to ignition temperatures, increasing weight loss significantly. Overestimation of LOI due to loss of structural water is thought to be insignificant. Replicates of LOI at 550 and 1000°C in non‐calcareous, clay‐rich (>40%) sediments, show differences of <0.25%, which, for the purpose of inferring broad changes in glacier extent in lake catchments, is an acceptable error.     

Loss on ignition vs. thermogravimetric analysis: a comparative study to determine organic matter and carbonate content in sediments

Journal of Paleolimnology - Mass loss at specified temperatures has been used widely to determine amounts of organic matter and carbonate in sediment samples. The loss on ignition (LOI) method is...     

Loss on ignition: a qualitative or quantitative method for organic matter and carbonate mineral content in sediments?

Since the publication of the paper of , loss on ignition (LOI) has been widely used as a method to estimate the amount of organic matter and carbonate mineral content (and indirectly of organic and inorganic carbon) in sediments. The relationships between LOI at 550 °C (LOI₅₅₀) and organic carbon (OC) content and between LOI at 950 °C (LOI₉₅₀) and inorganic carbon (IC) content are currently accepted as a standard. However, the comparison of 150 analyses of samples of diverse lithologies, collected from a single core, reveals that these relationships are affected by sediment composition (presence of clays, salts, and the variable content of organic carbon). This results in an incremental error on the estimation of carbon content from LOI values that invalidates the use of LOI values as a quantitative method for estimating carbon content. Conversely, the general trends of LOI₅₅₀ and LOI₉₅₀ show a good correlation with carbon content (both organic and inorganic) allowing use of LOI as a qualitative test for carbon content. Similarly, in our case, LOI at 105 °C (LOI₁₀₅) is a good qualitative proxy for the trends in gypsum content.     

The efficiency of kerosene flotation for extraction of chironomid head capsules from lake sediments samples

Kerosene, a grade mineral oil, is commonly used to extract beetles from sediment. Here, the use of kerosene to extract chironomid head capsules was tested on 10 samples from sediment of different lakes, with different organic matter content as measured by loss on ignition, and estimated ages. Our results revealed that this flotation tool is very effective in extracting either full or half chironomid head capsules. The mean extraction efficiency was 89.3 ± 8.0% with an estimated relative abundance error ranging from −1% to 1% for 46 of the 57 identified taxa. Larger chironomids (400–500 μm width), which are often full of sediment particles, have the highest relative abundance error, with a maximum of 4.3% for Corynocera oliveri-type. A canonical correspondence analysis showed that, despite this small bias, samples retrieved with the kerosene flotation do not differ from the whole sample assemblages. These results give us confidence in the use of this flotation technique for chironomid sample preparation.     

Loss on ignition as a method for estimating organic and carbonate content in sediments: reproducibility and comparability of results

Five test runs were performed to assess possible bias when performing the loss on ignition (LOI) method to estimate organic matter and carbonate content of lake sediments. An accurate and stable weight loss was achieved after 2 h of burning pure CaCO₃ at 950 °C, whereas LOI of pure graphite at 530 °C showed a direct relation to sample size and exposure time, with only 40-70% of the possible weight loss reached after 2 h of exposure and smaller samples losing weight faster than larger ones. Experiments with a standardised lake sediment revealed a strong initial weight loss at 550 °C, but samples continued to lose weight at a slow rate at exposure of up to 64 h, which was likely the effect of loss of volatile salts, structural water of clay minerals or metal oxides, or of inorganic carbon after the initial burning of organic matter. A further test-run revealed that at 550 °C samples in the centre of the furnace lost more weight than marginal samples. At 950 °C this pattern was still apparent but the differences became negligible. Again, LOI was dependent on sample size.An analytical LOI quality control experiment including ten different laboratories was carried out using each laboratory's own LOI procedure as well as a standardised LOI procedure to analyse three different sediments. The range of LOI values between laboratories measured at 550 °C was generally larger when each laboratory used its own method than when using the standard method. This was similar for 950 °C, although the range of values tended to be smaller. The within-laboratory range of LOI measurements for a given sediment was generally small. Comparisons of the results of the individual and the standardised method suggest that there is a laboratory-specific pattern in the results, probably due to differences in laboratory equipment and/or handling that could not be eliminated by standardising the LOI procedure.Factors such as sample size, exposure time, position of samples in the furnace and the laboratory measuring affected LOI results, with LOI at 550 °C being more susceptible to these factors than LOI at 950 °C. We, therefore, recommend analysts to be consistent in the LOI method used in relation to the ignition temperatures, exposure times, and the sample size and to include information on these three parameters when referring to the method.     

烧失量分析在湖泊沉积与环境变化研究中的应用

烧失量分析是一种便捷的测定湖泊沉积物有机碳与碳酸盐含量的方法。由于沉积物烧失量主要受区域气温、有效降水等气候环境条件的控制,因此烧失量反映湖泊气候环境特征,成为指示区域气候环境变化的重要指标,该项指标在环境变化研究中具有重要作用。     

汉江上游郧县段黄土古土壤序列风化成壤特征以及成壤环境演变

对汉江上游进行野外实地详细调查,在湖北省郧县尚家河台地前沿发现了典型的全新世黄土-古土壤沉积剖面,通过粒度、磁化率、吸湿水和烧失量分析表明,黏粒、细粉砂、磁化率、吸湿水和烧失量在古土壤层S₀出现高值,在L₁、L_t、L₀为低值;而粗粉砂、细砂粒和粗砂粒在S₀为低值,在L₁、L_t、L₀为高值。这些指标的变化说明了全新世以来的气候和成壤环境的变化特征,即在古土壤S₀形成时期,气候温暖湿润,成壤作用非常强烈;黄土堆积时期气候相对干旱,成壤作用较弱。     

泾河中游龙山文化晚期特大洪水水文学研究

通过对泾河流域广泛深人的考察,在泾河中游彬县至永寿基岩峡谷河段发现典型的全新世古洪水平流沉积剖面,进行了古洪水沉积学和水文学研究.对于采集的全新世地层剖面序列样品,进行粒度成分、磁化率、烧失量、CaCO3,含量等分析,从沉积学角度证明了研究剖面所夹洪水沉积物具有平流沉积特征,为典型的洪水平流沉积物.根据地层学对比和剖面自身龙山文化晚期陶片、烧土等文化遗物分析,确定泾河在4200-4000 a BP发生了特大洪水事件,并利用沉积学和水文学原理恢复其水位,计算出古洪水洪峰流量为19490～22040 m3/s.同时,通过恢复现代大洪水、洪峰流量与流域面积关系对这种方法和古洪水洪峰流量计算结果进行了验证.不仅延长泾河洪水水文数据序列到万年尺度,而且为沿泾河的水利水电和交通工程建设及沿岸地区城镇的防洪减灾提供了重要的基础数据,具有重要的科学意义和应用价值.     

风蚀作用下的土壤碳库变化及在中国的初步估算

土壤有机碳库储量巨大且在表层富集 ,而风力侵蚀具有巨大的卷挟起沙、搬移输运和空间再分配能力 ,对土壤有机碳库的演变具有重要影响。在风力侵蚀作用下 ,风蚀发生地、风蚀土壤输运途中以及风蚀土壤沉降地的土壤有机碳库有着不同的变化过程。基于质量平衡原理 ,可以建立土壤有机碳流失及各路径碳输移量估算的模型。依据第二次全国遥感侵蚀调查以及第二次全国土壤普查数据 ,在GIS支持下 ,分析了中国土壤有机碳库以及风力侵蚀的空间格局 ,并计算得到风力侵蚀作用下中国土壤有机碳库储量变化以及各路径碳输移量。研究表明 ,我国因风力侵蚀造成的土壤有机碳流失量约为 5 9 76× 10 6 tC/yr,风蚀所致CO2 排放约为 2 9 88× 10 6 tC/yr;风蚀所致的土壤有机碳流失主要发生在中国西北部的干旱半干旱的农区和牧区     

Is laser particle size determination possible for carbonate-rich lake sediments?

This paper examines the potential of a relatively new technique – laser diffraction particle size analysis – for use with carbonate-rich lake sediments, material traditionally difficult to analyse. Three experiments are considered. The first two use a carbonate standard to determine optimal instrument conditions – the choice of optical model, and a suitable transport fluid. The third experiment uses sample material from lake cores and compares four different pre-treatment methods: none, removal of carbon by loss on ignition, removal of carbon by digestion with hydrogen peroxide, and finally removal of carbonates with hydrochloric acid and then removal of organic material by digestion with hydrogen peroxide. Only this final method produces repeatable results. As such, whilst the laser diffraction instrument offers improvements in the speed, required sample volume and repeatability of analysis, it does not overcome the problems inherent in the analysis of carbonates. Any catchment disturbance signal preserved in the carbonate fraction will remain undetected.     

长江中下游地区湿地开垦及土壤有机碳含量变化

概述了历史时期至今,尤其是20世纪下半叶50 a来长江中下游地区湿地的开垦状况;总结了研究区湿地土壤及其开垦为农田后土壤有机碳含量的变化特征.长江中下游地区湿地分布广, 存在着湿地开垦强度大、土壤碳密度较低和土壤有机碳损失严重等土壤碳库变化问题.与原湿地土壤相比,湿地被开垦为农田后,土壤有机碳含量总体上在降低,而且随着湿地开发利用年限的增加,其土壤有机碳含量减少的幅度也在增加.     

川西北高寒沙化草地有机氮组分特征

通过野外调查,结合土样采集及室内分析（Bremner法）,研究了川西北不同程度沙化草地（未沙化、轻度沙化、中度沙化、重度沙化、极重度沙化）不同土层（0～20、20～40、40～60、60～80、80～100 cm）的有机氮组分特征。结果表明：随着草地沙化程度的提高,不同土层的土壤有机氮组分含量均呈下降趋势,其中0～20 cm土层变化最明显,土壤酸解全氮（TAHN）、非酸解氮（NAHN）、酸解氨态氮（AN）、氨基酸态氮（AAN）、氨基糖态氮（ASN）、未知态氮（HUN）含量降低幅度分别为90.58%、69.28%、91.44%、91.01%、87.77%、88.99%;与未沙化草地相比,极重度沙化草地有机氮组分含量显著降低,且下降幅度呈现出AAN> AN> HUN> ASN> NAHN特征,表明AN、AAN较ASN、HUN、NAHN对生态环境变化更为敏感;不同沙化阶段土壤有机氮组分含量降低幅度存在较大差异,但均呈现出沙化前期降幅相对较大,沙化后期降幅相对较小的变化特征,表明草地沙化前期土壤有机氮素流失更为严重.因此,及时对沙化草地的治理,对于防治沙化草地氮素流失具有重要意义。     

Mineral magnetic signatures in a long core from Lake Qarun, Middle Egypt

The analysis and interpretation of changes in mineral magnetic signatures from a long (ca. 8.2 m) sedimentary sequence recovered from Lake Qarun, Middle Egypt in 2003 spanning a timescale of approximately the last 2,000 years is reported. A suite of mass specific susceptibility and magnetic remanence measurements were made at irregular intervals downcore on 39 samples. These samples were selected on the basis of trends and abrupt changes in whole-core magnetic susceptibility measured using a Bartington^® MS2E sensor and were analysed for low and high temperature loss on ignition and their particle size distribution. Trends in all mineral magnetic concentration parameters are remarkably similar and were initially used to divide the core into three magnetically distinct zones. The upper and lower sections of the core (0–119 cm and 445–822 cm depth) are characterised by low values for all magnetic concentration parameters. Between 153 and 380 cm depth, concentration parameters are considerably higher, although somewhat variable. The S ratio and percentage loss of remanence after 24 h (IRM_loss) follow a different trend and are inversely related to each other. A low S ratio (<0.7) is associated with a loss of remanence of >4%. On the basis of these parameters, the core can be divided into four zones, and differences in magnetic mineralogy between these four zones were confirmed by measurement of IRM acquisition curves. The major difference between concentration parameters and ratios or percentage loss of IRM lies in the identification of an additional zone below 619 cm depth where the S ratio is high and IRM_loss is low. There is little evidence to suggest that the magnetic signatures are controlled by particle size or by trends in organic matter and/or carbonate content. The signatures appear to be predominantly detrital and show little evidence of post-depositional alteration through dissolution or authigenic addition of bacterial magnetite or greigite. Analysis of Saharan dust deposition rates in Northern Egypt suggests that atmospheric fallout is likely to make only a very minor contribution (<1%) to sedimentation rates in Lake Qarun. The downcore trends therefore appear to reflect major changes in fluvial sediment sources over the ca. 2,000 year time period spanned by this ～8 m core. Preliminary mineral magnetic characterisations of potential local sources suggest that these cannot account for the range of signatures recorded in the Qarun sediments and it is hypothesised that these sediments are derived from Nile river floods.     

三峡库区坡地生态工程控制土壤养分流失研究——以等高植物篱为例

三峡库区紫色土陡坡地径流小区大雨强模拟降雨实验表明,以等高植物篱为代表的坡地生态工程能相当有效地减少坡面侵蚀量、径流量和坡面氮、磷养分损失量。由于植物篱和带间覆盖稿秆对径流的阻滞作用使坡面径流与表土的混合、养分溶解交换过程更加充分,径流携带的养分流失成为有效养分流失的主要方式。通过施肥改善土壤渗透特性、抗蚀性及带间覆盖能明显提高控制坡面产沙、产流和养分流失。等高植物篱-农作系统各种处理中以施用有机肥和配施有、无机肥-带间麦秆覆盖两种处理效果最好。     

北洛河中游黄陵洛川段全新世古洪水研究

通过在北洛河中游黄陵洛川段河谷的考察, 选择典型的古洪水平流沉积剖面进行了古 洪水水文学研究。在野外考察测量的基础上, 采集平流沉积层样品, 进行粒度成分、磁化率、 烧失量、CaCO₃ 含量等分析, 证明研究地点具有典型的古洪水平流沉积层, 并且通过地层学对比分析, 确定其为中晚全新世特大洪水的沉积物。利用水文学原理计算出该组古洪水沉积层所记录的特大洪水的洪峰流量在12 350 m³/s~14 730 m³/s 之间。同时通过对该断面下游方 向20 km 处的东王河铁路桥1994 年9 月洪水洪痕的测量, 利用相同方法计算其洪峰流量, 证明古洪水水文学计算结果合理可靠, 从而为北洛河中游的工程建设及沿岸地区的防洪减灾提供重要的数据资料。     

珠三角核心区农田耕层土壤有机碳库储量时空变化特征及其影响因素识别

土壤有机碳库动态变化对区域乃至全球碳平衡具有显著影响,快速城市化地区社会经济迅速发展中土地利用/覆被变化剧烈,其农田耕层土壤有机碳库变化问题倍受关注。选择珠三角核心区为研究区域,基于1980与2015年农田耕层土壤有机碳含量数据,以乡镇为单元分析农田耕层土壤有机碳库储量的时空变化特征,并通过地理探测器定量识别其影响因素的主导因素。结果表明：1）珠三角核心区农田耕层土壤有机碳库储量1980―2015年间损失巨大,损失量达67.16%,同时其空间变化具有典型的城镇集群指向特征,即距离城镇集群越近,损失程度越大;2）珠三角核心区农田耕层土壤有机碳库储量的时空异质性变化受到气候变化、地形状况、水文环境、社会经济发展、土地利用变化和农田景观变化等多种因素的影响,且其影响力存在较大差异,各因素贡献力（q统计量）介于0.004~0.256之间;3）珠三角核心区农田耕层土壤有机碳库时空变化主导影响因素的贡献力表现为农田景观变化＞二三产增长胁迫＞水网密度＞土地结构变化。     

Dust source of the Holocene loess-soil and pedogenic environmental changes in the upper Huaihe River

Based on field surveys, soil samples were collected at the YPC site, Yuzhou City, Henan Province for analysis of contents of major and trace elements and their variations with XRF and comparison with the curves of magnetic susceptibility, pH value distribution, loss on ignition and particle-size distribution. It was concluded that the dust source of loess in the upper reaches of the Huaihe River Basin was different from that in the Loess Plateau. And the Holocene pedogenic environmental changes in the upper reaches of the Huaihe River Basin were revealed.     

我国水平地带性土壤中有机质的空间变化特征

主要根据全国第二次土壤普查的成果，对我国水平地带性土壤中有机质的含量和胡敏酸与富里酸比值的空间变化特征进行了概括，进而探讨了在不同自然和人因素影响下，土壤有机质的累积状况与稳定性特征。     

持久性有机污染物在森林生态系统中的环境行为研究

持久性有机污染物(POPs)具有环境持久性和半挥发性, 可以在区域及全球范围内传输和分布。森林植被和林下土壤富含有机质, 森林生态系统因此成为POPs主要的储存库之一。植被叶片可快速吸附大气POPs, 并通过叶片凋落、雨水冲刷和干沉降等过程加强或加速大气POPs 向地面的沉降, 并使森林土壤成为POPs 的“汇”, 从而形成所谓的“森林过滤效应”, 进而影响POPs 在全球的分布。进入森林的POPs 在森林生态系统中将经历一系列的环境过程。本文简要介绍了森林过滤效应的特征和影响因素, 综述了叶片对大气POPs 的吸附、叶片凋落和干湿沉降、POPs 在土壤中的迁移和损失等3 个主要环境过程的研究进展, 报道了松针、树皮和苔藓作为被动采样器反映的森林POPs空间分布趋势。最后, 提出了森林POPs研究中亟待解决的科学问题, 并指出未来中国森林POPs研究的可能方向。     

科尔沁沙地沙漠化过程中土壤有机碳含量变化特征及影响因素北大核心CSCD

科尔沁沙地是中国半干旱地区沙漠化发展的典型地区和沙漠化防治的重点区域。本研究以科尔沁沙地为研究区域,以沙漠化逆转不同阶段的沙地为研究对象,通过野外调查和室内分析,采用空间代替时间的方法,在区域尺度上探讨了土壤有机碳对沙漠化过程的响应规律,并结合气候、植被和地形因子阐释了该区域土壤有机碳空间变异的主导因素。结果表明:(1)土壤有机碳含量随沙漠化程度的加剧表现出疏林草地(未沙漠化)>固定沙地(轻度沙漠化)>半固定沙地(中度沙漠化)>半流动沙地(重度沙漠化)>流动沙地(极重度沙漠化)。(2)固定沙地、半固定沙地、半流动沙地和流动沙地土壤有机碳密度分别比疏林草地降低了29.1%、49.3%、62.9%和84.1%。(3)随着沙漠化的发展,土壤质地发生粗化现象,即中、细砂粒含量明显增加,而土壤细颗粒(极细砂和黏粉粒)含量明显下降。(4)科尔沁沙地沙漠化过程中,土壤黏粉粒的损失是土壤粗化、有机碳含量下降的主要原因,而pH的变化受沙漠化影响较小。(5)气候因子是导致SOC含量受经纬度影响的主要因素,而地形因子的影响次之。