Factors controlling deep-profile soil organic carbon and water storage following Robinia pseudoacacia afforestation of the Loess Plateau in China

Background:Afforestation is a common and effective approach used for the restoration of degraded ecosystems worldwide.In China,Robinia pseudoacacia(RP)is among the main non-native tree species and has been widely planted in revegetation of the Loess Plateau.However,owing to uncertainties regarding soil water consumption and carbon sequestration,it is necessary to assess the suitability and sustainability of R.pseudoacacia in restoration.In this study,we aimed to analyse the dynamic effects of R.pseudoacacia forest on soil carbon storage(SCS)and soil water storage(SWS).Specifically,we investigated the association between soil water content(SWC)and soil organic carbon(SOC)and underlying factors in the 0-500-cm profile of a 10-to 50-year-old chronosequence.Results:The results obtained indicated that the dynamics of SWS and SCS on this time scale could be divided into an initial reduction phase(the initial 20 years after afforestation)and subsequent recovery(20-50 years after afforestation).Compared with in the abandoned land(AL),the net accumulation of SCS in R.pseudoacacia forest was 2.51 Mg·ha^(-1)at 50 years after afforestation,whereas there was a 398.76-mm deficit in SWS.Additionally,the natural succession of R.pseudoacacia forest has contributed to the continuous change in stand structure(e.g.vegetation cover(VC),understory vegetation coverage(UVC),and litter biomass(LB)).Conclusions:These findings indicate that vegetation restoration increases carbon sequestration while causing soil water deficit.Furthermore,stand density(SD)was established to make a predominant contribution to the dynamics of SWS and SCS via its effects in altering vegetation,soil,and litter characteristics.Therefore,high-density plantation forests in the Loess Plateau area should be appropriately thinned to reduce the density of forest stands on the basis of soil erosion control and wind and sand fixation,so as to increase carbon sink with lower water consumption,thus realizing the synergistic development of soil carbon sequestration and water connotation.

Zokor activity promotes soil water infiltration in the Mu Us sandy land of northern Shaanxi,China

Zokors are common subterranean rodents that inhabit agricultural fields, shrublands, and grasslands in the arid and semi-arid regions of China. Zokor burrowing activities can alter soil structure and affect soil hydrological processes;however, there are few studies regarding their effects on soil preferential flow in the Mu Us sandy land. An evaluation of the effects of zokor disturbance on their habitat and soil water is important for understanding the ecological role of zokors in the soil ecosystem of the Mu Us sandy land. A field dye-tracing experiment was conducted in the Gechougou watershed on the southeastern edge of the Mu Us sandy land to investigate the effect of zokor burrowing activity on soil preferential flow characteristics. Our results showed that the density of zokor tunnels was the highest(0.40–0.46 m m^(-2)) under 30%–50% vegetation coverage and that the tunnels were approximately 3 cm from the surface.Both stained area ratio and stained path number were higher at sites with zokors than without zokors. Stained path widths were 10–80 and > 80 mm at zokor-harboring sites exhibiting homogeneous flow and heterogeneous finger flow, respectively. In the absence of zokors, homogeneous flow and highly interacted macropore flow were predominant. Soil water content below the zokor tunnels was higher than that above the tunnels. Moderate disturbance of soil structure by zokor activity facilitated soil water infiltration. These results enabled a better understanding of the effect of soil fauna on soil structure and hydrological processes and provided recommendations for ecological construction and renovation in arid and semi-arid regions.

Patterns and drivers of seasonal water sources for artificial sand-fixing plants in the northeastern Mu Us sandy land,Northwest China

Understanding plant water-use patterns is important for improving water-use efficiency and for sustainable vegetation restoration in arid and semi-arid regions. However, seasonal variations in water sources and their control by different sand-fixing plants in water-limited desert ecosystems remain poorly understood. In this study, stable isotopic ratios of hydrogen(δ^(2)H) and oxygen(δ^(18)O) in precipitation, soil water, groundwater, and xylem water were determined to document seasonal changes in water uptake by three representative plant species(Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv., Amygdalus pedunculata Pall., and Salix psammophila) in the northeastern Mu Us sandy land, Northwest China. Based on the depth distribution and temporal variation of measured gravimetric soil water content(SWC), the soil water profile of the three species stands was divided into active(0.01 g g^(-1)< SWC < 0.08 g g^(-1), 20%< coefficient of variation(CV) < 45%), stable(0.02 g g^(-1)< SWC < 0.05 g g^(-1), CV < 20%), and moist(0.08 g g^(-1)< SWC < 0.20 g g^(-1), CV >45%) layers. Annually, P. sylvestris, A. pedunculata, and S. psammophila obtained most water from deep(59.2%±9.7%, moist layer and groundwater),intermediate(57.4%±9.8%, stable and moist layers), and shallow(54.4%±10.5%, active and stable layers) sources, respectively. Seasonally, the three plant species absorbed more than 60% of their total water uptake from the moist layer and groundwater in the early(June) dry season;then, they switched to the active and stable layers in the rainy season(July–September) for water resources(50.1%–62.5%). In the late(October–November) dry season, P. sylvestris(54.5%–66.2%) and A. pedunculata(52.9%–63.6%) mainly used water from stable and moist layers, whereas S. psammophila(52.6%–70.7%) still extracted water predominantly from active and stable layers. Variations in the soil water profile induced by seasonal fluctuations in precipitation and groundwater levels and discrepancies in plant phenology, root distribution, and water demand are the main factors affecting the seasonal water-use patterns of artificial sand-fixing plants. Our study addresses the issue of plant water uptake with knowledge of proportional source-water use and reveals important implications for future vegetation restoration and water management in the Mu Us sandy land and similar desert regions around the world.

Understanding sustainability of soil and water resources in a critical zone perspective

Soil and water resources are fundamental for human beings.Understanding the status and the evolution of regional water and soil resources is the prerequisite for their sustainable management.China is severely constrained by water and soil resources which are subject to soil forming processes under different natural factors such as climate and relief,and also influenced by diversified landuse histories and intensities.Quality and security of water and soil resources are therefore influenced by both natural and anthropogenic processes.

What is the mass of loess in the Loess Plateau of China?

The Loess Plateau of China(LP) has the largest and thickest loess deposits in the world. Quantifying the amount of loess in the LP is crucial for investigating the accumulation and erosion of loess, and determining the regional soil and water resource capacity. We used loess thickness data, a pedotransfer function for bulk density(BD), and the clay content data observed in 242 sites across the LP to derive the BD of loess and then estimate the loess mass and its distribution across the LP. The results indicated that the average BD of loess between the surface and bedrock is 1.58 g cm^(-3), varying from 1.18 to 1.87 g cm^(-3).The total loess mass is approximately 5.45 ? 10^(13) t, and the average loess mass over an area of 1 m^2 is 169 t, ranging from 1.36 to 585 t. The greatest mass of loess is in the south-central of the LP while the lowest mass of loess is in the northwest and river valley areas. Our estimate of loess mass provides key data for calculating water, carbon, and nutrient storages in the LP, which improves our understanding of soil-water processes and ecohydrological systems in this landscape.

Policy development for sustainable soil water use on China’s Loess Plateau

As the birthplace of the Chinese civilization, China’s Loess Plateau(CLP) has an area of ~640,000 km2 and supports a population of more than 100 million people. It has a history of intensive agriculture more than 1000 years. The loess deposit of CLP is the largest and deepest in the world. The abundance of silt grains in the loess deposit makes it relatively homogeneous, porous and prone to soil erosion.