European Journal of Soil Science最新文献

Coastal wetland soils are frequently underlain by sulfidic materials. Sea level fluctuations can lead to oxidation of sulfidic materials in acid sulfate soils (ASS) and increased acidity which mobilises trace metals when water levels are low, and inundation of coastal wetland soils and reformation of sulfidic materials when water levels are high. We measured the effect of surface water level fluctuations in soils from coastal wetland sites under four different vegetation types: Apium gravedens (AG), Leptospermum lanigerum (LL), Phragmites australis (PA) and Paspalum distichum (PD) on an estuarine floodplain in southern Australia. We assessed effects of fluctuating water levels on reduced inorganic sulfur (RIS) in terms of acid volatile sulfide (AVS), chromium reducible sulfur (CRS) and trace metals (Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, Ni). Intact soil cores were incubated under dry, flooded and wet–dry cycle treatments of 14 days for a total of 56 days. The flooded treatment increased RIS concentrations in most depths in the AG, PA and PD sites. Lower CRS concentrations occurred in all sites in the dry treatment due to oxidation of sulfidic materials when the surface layer was exposed to lower water levels. CRS was positively correlated with SOC in all treatments. The highest net acidity occurred in the dry treatment and lowest occurred in the flooded treatment in most sites. Inundation with seawater caused SO₄²⁻ reduction and decreased soluble Fe in the PA and PD sites. General decreases in Al, Zn and Ni concentrations in flooded treatments may have been due to adsorption onto colloids or co-precipitation with slight increases in pH. SO₄²⁻ concentrations decreased in the LL, PA and PD sites in the flooded treatment due to reformation of pyrite. In general, accumulation of RIS in soils under different vegetation types following brackish water inundation varied according to vegetation type, which may be linked to differences in organic material input and particle size distribution. Geochemical characteristics reflected whether oxidation or reduction processes dominated at each site in the wet–dry cycle treatments, with oxidation dominating in the LL and PA sites and reduction dominating in the AG and PD sites. This is likely due to more readily decomposable organic matter forming sulfidic materials during short periods of inundation.

Biocrusts are a critical surface cover in global drylands, but knowledge about their influences on surface soil thermal properties are still lacking because it is quite challenging to make accurate thermal property measurements for biocrust layers, which are only millimetres thick. In this study, we repacked biocrust layers (moss- and cyanobacteria-dominated, respectively) that had the same material as the original intact biocrusts but was more homogeneous and thicker. The thermal conductivity (λ), heat capacity (C) and thermal diffusivity (k) of the repacked and intact biocrusts were measured by the heat pulse (HP) technique at different mass water contents (θ_m) and mass ratios (W_t), and the differences between repacked and intact biocrusts were analysed. Our results show that biocrusts substantially alter the thermal properties of the soil surface. The average λ of moss (0.37 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹) and cyanobacteria biocrusts (0.90 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹) were reduced by 63.0% and 10.3% compared with bare soil (1.00 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹), respectively. Edge effects including heat loss and water evaporation caused the λ and k of the biocrusts to be underestimated, but the C to be overestimated. The differences in thermal properties were significant (p <0.001), except for the differences in thermal conductivity between repacked and intact cyanobacteria biocrusts, which were not significant (p = 0.379). Specifically, in the volumetric water content (θ_v) range of 0 to 20%, the λ and k of the repacked moss biocrusts were underestimated by 59.1% and 61.8%, respectively, and the C was overestimated by 23.9% compared with the intact moss biocrusts. The λ and k of the repacked cyanobacteria biocrusts were underestimated by 15.8% and 79.2%, respectively, and the C was overestimated by 34.8% compared with the intact cyanobacteria biocrusts at the θ_v range of 0 to 30%. Typically, this difference increased as the θ_v rises between repacked and intact biocrusts. Our new measurements provide evidence that the thermal properties of biocrusts were previously misjudged due to the measurement limitations imposed by their limited thickness when measured in situ. Biocrusts are likely more significant in regulating soil heat and temperature in drylands than was previously assumed.

Agricultural management practices can profoundly influence soil phosphorus (P), with effects accumulating over time. To test the overarching hypothesis that soil P pools estimated by sequential fractionation would be altered by long-term agricultural practices, we used an experiment established in 1876 in the north-central US to quantify 145-year impacts of crop rotation (continuous maize [Zea mays L.], maize-soybean [Glycine max L. Merr.] and maize-oat [Avena sativa L.]-alfalfa [Medicago sativa L.]) and 117-year impacts of fertilization (unfertilized and fertilized) with rock phosphate, manure or synthetic fertilizer on soil P fractions at 15 cm intervals across 0–90 cm depth. Fertilization impacts on soil P were mostly limited to the surface (0–30 cm) depth, but extended to 90 cm depth under diverse rotations. Under fertilization, soil total P concentration increased by 51% at 0-30 cm while concomitantly decreasing by 30% at 60–90 cm compared to no fertilization, indicating that vertically stratified surface soil P accumulation and subsoil P depletion can co-occur even under positive P balances. Positive P balances (1222–1494 kg/ha) induced by fertilization enriched inorganic P (P_i) (+39% to 358%) and labile organic P (P_o) fractions (+11%) while depleting non-labile P_o fractions (−31%), with depletion increasing with the degree of crop diversification. Fertilization had minor impacts on P fractions beyond 30 cm depth, except for acid extractable P_i (HCl-P_i) depletion under continuous maize and maize-soybean rotations (−16% to −78%) and accumulation under maize-oat-alfalfa rotation (+41% to +84%) at 60–90 cm. In contrast, without fertilization, diversifying maize rotations with oat and alfalfa decreased HCl-P_i and residual P (−21% to −57%) but increased non-labile P_o fractions (+54%), suggesting potential mining of non-labile P_i pools by deep-rooted legumes under nutrient limitation. The 1–2 orders of magnitude greater changes in stocks of P fractions than stocks of total P emphasize the importance of distinguishing P pools even with operational fractionation to fully capture changes in P cycling beyond total P stocks. Our study revealed that a positive P balance under 117 years of fertilization (i) enriched P_i and labile P_o pools but (ii) depleted non-labile P_o pools, (iii) largely at 0–30 cm, and (iv) non-labile P_o depletion increased with crop diversification under 145-year rotation treatments.

In terrestrial ecosystems, resource availability and soil microbial biomass are substantially changed with ecological recovery. However, the shifts in resource stoichiometry and microbial biomass stoichiometry often do not align, leading to stoichiometric imbalance that constrains microbial growth and, consequently, affects plant community succession. The mechanisms by which soil microbes acclimate to these imbalances and how such adjustments influence plant community dynamics remain largely unexplored in alpine grasslands. To address these processes, we examined ecological stoichiometry during the secondary succession of zokor-disturbed grassland on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China, utilizing a space-for-time substitution approach. Carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents across plant–soil–microbe and soil ecoenzymatic activities involved in soil microbial nutrient acquisition were measured. The results indicated that C:P and N:P imbalances between microbes and their plant resources intensified with the recovery of zokor-disturbed grassland. This led to phosphorus limitation in microbial growth, as indicated by the mean vector angles exceeding 45° and decreased threshold element ratio of C:P. In response, soil microbes increased their production of P-acquiring enzymes to mitigate P limitation. Through structural equation modelling (SEM), we found that the C:N:P ratios within the plant–soil–microbe systems explained 74.5% of the total variance in plant aboveground biomass. We concluded that maintaining balanced C:N:P stoichiometric ratios in plant–soil–microbe systems, facilitated by soil ecoenzymatic activities, enhances plant diversity and net primary productivity during the recovery of zokor-disturbed grassland.

Dispersive soils, characterized by their poor resistance to water erosion and high sodium ion concentrations, pose a significant threat to both engineering and agricultural activities. Thus, the identification and improvement of dispersive soils are of paramount importance. There are several theories regarding the causes of soil dispersion, with the prevailing view attributing it to the expansion of the electrical double layer induced by sodium ions, which subsequently reduces the cohesion between soil particles. As a result, sodium indicators such as exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), percentage sodium (PS), and sodium adsorption rate (SAR) are commonly employed in the identification of dispersive soils. Currently, in efforts to improve dispersive soils for both engineering and agricultural purposes, chemical and biological agents are being added to enhance the soil's erosion resistance and regulate the concentration of sodium ions. Although numerous reviews have been conducted on the identification and improvement of dispersive soils, they tend to focus on the identification methods and the types of improvers, often overlooking the applicability of identification methods, the economic costs and environmental impacts of improvers. In practical improvement, the accuracy of soil identification must be ensured first and foremost. The selection of improvers should not only prioritise efficacy but also undergo thorough analysis and evaluation from multiple perspectives. This paper, therefore, reviews the advantages and disadvantages of various identification methods and assesses the differences among improvers from economic and environmental standpoints, providing a comprehensive theoretical basis for the improvement of dispersive soils.

Organic fertilization is considered an effective approach in promoting agricultural green development, dramatically affecting soil phosphorus (P) availability. Nonetheless, limited information is available on the comprehensive impact of full substitution of organic fertilizer for chemical fertilizer on P speciation, phytoavailability, and apparent balance throughout different rice-growth stages. To address this gap, a 5-year field experiment was conducted, implementing five organic P gradients ranging from 0 (P₀), 70 (P₇₀), 140 (P₁₄₀), 210 (P₂₁₀) to 280 (P₂₈₀) kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ of organic fertilizer. To assess P phytoavailability in the root zone with submillimetre spatial resolutions, this study employed techniques such as the one- and two-dimensional diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technique and the high-resolution soil solution sampling technology (HR-Peeper). The findings revealed that increasing P rates enhanced soil Olsen-P and biological-based P fractions across rice-growth stages, primarily driven by variation in mineral-associated P. Notably, the P₁₄₀ treatment demonstrated the highest P uptake efficiency among the different rice-growth stages, with a significant increase in soil DGT-P, particularly in the 0–60 mm soil layer (p <0.05), providing tangible evidence for enhanced P uptake. Moreover, compared with higher P treatments (P₂₁₀ and P₂₈₀), the P₁₄₀ treatment markedly increased P use efficiency by 31.7% and 99.0%, respectively (p <0.05). Further, with a high ratio of DGT-P to Peeper-P and a low apparent balance of P, organic fertilization at the rate of 140 kg P₂O₅ ha⁻¹ effectively struck a balance between ensuring adequate P supply for yield stability and mitigating potential P loss risks. These results underscore the significance of optimal organic fertilization in enhancing agronomic benefits while reducing environmental risks. They offer valuable insights to support field P management strategies and government decision-making processes.

Arid and semi-arid lands are exceptionally sensitive to climate change. However, the application of phytolith analysis to these environments is hindered by the potential for lateral migration of phytoliths during wind erosion, which may affect the reliability of phytolith-based paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Moreover, there is a lack of quantitative studies of the dispersion and deposition of phytoliths by wind erosion. Here we apply Sutton's equation and theoretical models from the field of blown sand physics and engineering to quantify the lateral migration of various phytolith morphotypes in the surface soil of sand dunes in the Horqin Sandy Land in China. Phytolith morphotypes and concentrations were determined in addition to sedimentary organic matter content and grain size. Combined with the analysis of plant communities, these measurements were used to quantify the lateral migration of phytolith morphotypes, and the results were compared with theoretical models. We found that phytolith concentrations decreased exponentially under an annual average wind speed with distance from the surface source; specifically, a large proportion of lateral phytolith migration occurred within the distance of ~3–5 m. There were significant linear correlations between the phytolith concentration and other environmental factors. A comprehensive form of Sutton's equation was used to estimate that a relatively large proportion (8.35%) of short-cell phytoliths may migrate laterally on dunes that are vulnerable to wind erosion. However, large phytoliths are deposited almost in situ, and relatively limited lateral migration of wind-transported phytoliths occurs in the Horqin Sandy Land overall. Our results provide a theoretical model and practice template for the application of phytolith analysis to soil and sediments, especially as a proxy of past vegetation and ecological change in the Horqin Sandy Land, and other areas affected by wind erosion. Additionally, short-cell phytoliths in palaeoenvironmental contexts satisfy the criteria necessary to investigate the extent with frequent aeolian activity.

The water potential in drying soils, comprising both matric potential and osmotic potential components, can be measured using the dew point method (DPM). By combining DPM data with retention curve data acquired from techniques such as the suction plate method or the simplified evaporation method (SEM), it becomes possible to determine the soil water retention curve across the entire moisture spectrum. However, as the latter methods only determine the matric potential, the osmotic potential component in DPM data must either be negligible or known so that osmotic and matric potential components can be separated. This study aims to critically analyse common approaches for calculating the osmotic potential. To achieve this, we measured the water retention properties of a silt loam, a sandy loam and a sand across the entire moisture range by combining SEM and DPM. By using almost salt-free soil material, we characterized reference water retention curves with negligible osmotic potential components. The impact of salt on water potential was analysed by conditioning soils with MgCl₂ solutions of different concentrations, drying them, and measuring the water potential at different water contents using the DPM. The resulting water potentials were compared to the reference potentials and differences were interpreted as the osmotic potential component. The DPM-measured water potentials in drying soils can be significantly affected by osmotic potential, especially at higher matric potentials (low suctions). Two models accounting for ideal and one model accounting for non-ideal electrolyte behaviour were used to compare osmotic potential predictions with measurements. At low to medium salt concentrations, all models performed fairly well. At high concentrations, only the model accounting for non-ideal behaviour predicted the osmotic potential satisfactorily, whereas at very high concentrations, all models underestimated the impact of osmotic potential on water potential. This suggests that the surface properties of the soil matrix, such as the specific surface area and surface charges, may lead to a decrease in osmotic potential beyond what is expected in pure solutions.

Mined rock phosphate is expected to become a scarce resource within the next few decades as global phosphorus (P) deposits are declining. As a result, mineral P fertilizer will be less available and more expensive. Therefore, improved knowledge is needed on other P resources, for example, apatite fertilizers derived from the by-products of iron mining. Forestry is a potential future consumer of apatite-rich products with the aim of obtaining more wood per hectare. The actual P availability in apatite to plants has so far been barely quantified. We therefore examined tree P uptake using ³³P apatite under chamber-grown and outdoor conditions. We examined the P uptake for the two main conifer species spruce (Picea abies) and pine (Pinus sylvestris) used in Fenno-Scandinavian forestry. We synthesized ³³P-enriched apatite and applied it to mesocosms with growing seedlings of spruce and pine. The P uptake from ³³P-labelled hydroxylapatite was subsequently traced by (bio)imaging of radioactivity in the plants and by liquid scintillation counting (LSC) upon destructive harvest in all plant fractions (leaves, stem and roots) and rhizosphere soil. Two climatic conditions were compared, one at natural outdoor conditions and one set as 5°C warmer than the climate record from the previous years. Plant P uptake from ³³P-labelled hydroxylapatite was enhanced in chamber-grown compared with outdoor seedlings for both tree species. This uptake was manifested in the clear radioactive images obtained over ca. 1 month after soil apatite application. Furthermore, all aboveground plant fractions of both spruce and pine seedlings showed a higher P uptake in warmer than colder daytime environments. The observed quantities and rates of P uptake from ³³P-labelled hydroxylapatite by spruce (18 Bq g⁻¹ hour⁻¹) and pine (83 Bq g⁻¹ hour⁻¹; averages in chamber condition) are as to our knowledge unique observations. Natural forest soils in Sweden are often P-poor. Our research suggests that apatite-based P fertilization of spruce and pine forests can increase wood production by overcoming any existing P limitation.