The optimized management of crop fertilization is very important for improving crop yield and reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizers.Critical nutrient values can be used for evaluating the nutritional status...The optimized management of crop fertilization is very important for improving crop yield and reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizers.Critical nutrient values can be used for evaluating the nutritional status of a crop,and they reflect the nutrient concentrations above which the plant is sufficiently supplied for achieving the maximum potential yield.Based on on-farm surveys of 504 farmers and 60 field experimental sites in the drylands of China,we proposed a recommended fertilization method to determine nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),and potassium(K)fertilizer input rates for wheat production,and then validated the method by a field experiment at 66 different sites in northern China.The results showed that wheat grain yield varied from 1.1 to 9.2 t ha^(-1),averaging 4.6 t ha^(-1),and it had a quadratic relationship with the topsoil(0-20 cm)nitrate N and soil available P contents at harvest.However,yield was not correlated with the inputs of N,P,and K fertilizers.Based on the relationship(exponential decay model)between 95–105%of the relative yield and topsoil nitrate N,available P,and available K contents at wheat harvest from 60 field experiments,the topsoil critical nutrient values were determined as 34.6,15.6,and 150 mg kg^(-1)for soil nitrate N,available P,and available K,respectively.Then,based on five groups of relative yield(>125%,115–125%,105–115%,95–105%,and<95%)and the model,the five groups of topsoil critical nutrient levels and fertilization coefficients(Fc)were determined.Finally,we proposed a new method for calculating the recommended fertilizer input rate as:Fr=Gy×Nr×Fc,where Fr is the recommended fertilizer(N/P/K)input rate;Gy is the potential grain yield;Nr is the N(N_(rN)),P(N_(rP)),and K(N_(rK))nutrient requirements for wheat to produce 1,000 kg of grain;and Fc is a coefficient for N(N_c)/P(P_c)/K(K_c)fertilizer.A 2-year validated experiment confirmed that the new method reduced N fertilizer input by 17.5%(38.5 kg N ha^(-1))and P fertilizer input by 43.5%(57.5 kg P_(2)O_(5) ha^(-1))in northern China and did not reduce the wheat yield.This outcome can significantly increase the farmers’benefits(by 7.58%,or 139 US$ha^(-1)).Therefore,this new recommended fertilization method can be used as a tool to guide N,P,and K fertilizer application rates for dryland wheat production.展开更多
Reliable prediction of soil organic carbon（SOC） density and carbon sequestration potential（CSP） plays an important role in the atmospheric carbon dioxide budget. This study evaluated temporal and spatial variation...Reliable prediction of soil organic carbon（SOC） density and carbon sequestration potential（CSP） plays an important role in the atmospheric carbon dioxide budget. This study evaluated temporal and spatial variation of topsoil SOC density and CSP of 21 soil groups across Hebei Province, China, using data collected during the second national soil survey in the 1980 s and during the recent soil inventory in 2010. The CSP can be estimated by the method that the saturated SOC content subtracts the actual SOC associated with clay and silt. Overall, the SOC density and CSP of most soil groups increased from the 1980 s to 2010 and varied between different soil groups. Among all soil groups, Haplic phaeozems had the highest SOC density and Endogleyic solonchaks had the largest CSP. Areas of soil groups with the highest SOC density（90 to 120 t C ha^（–1）） and carbon sequestration（120 to 160 t C ha^（–1）） also increased over time. With regard to spatial distribution, the north of the province had higher SOC density but lower CSP than the south. With respect to land-use type, cultivated soils had lower SOC density but higher CSP than uncultivated soils. In addition, SOC density and CSP were influenced by soil physicochemical properties, climate and terrain and were most strongly correlated with soil humic acid concentration. The results suggest that soil groups（uncultivated soils） of higher SOC density have greater risk of carbon dioxide emission and that management should be aimed at maximizing carbon sequestration in soil groups（cultivated soils） with greater CSP. Furthermore, soils should be managed according to their spatial distributions of SOC density and carbon sequestration potential under different soil groups.展开更多
The levels and distribution of mercury （Hg） species, including total mercury （THg） and methylmercury （MeHg） in the topsoil and dust collected from twenty sampling stations located in different land function area...The levels and distribution of mercury （Hg） species, including total mercury （THg） and methylmercury （MeHg） in the topsoil and dust collected from twenty sampling stations located in different land function areas of Xiamen, China, were investigated. The THg concentrations in topsoil ranged from 0.071 to 1.2 mg/kg, and in dust ranged from of 0.034 to 1.4 mg/kg. For stations where the THg of dust was less than 0.31 mg/kg, THg concentrations in the topsoil were significantly correlated to those in the corresponding dust （r = 0.597, n = 16, P = 0.014）. The MeHg concentrations in topsoil were varied between 0.14 and 5.7 μg/kg. The ratios of MeHg/THg in the topsoil ranged from 0.069% to 0.74%. The range of MeHg concentration in the dust were 0.092-2.3 μg/kg. The ratios of MeHg/THg in the dust were at the same level as those in the topsoil. The MeHg concentrations in both topsoil and dust were linked to corresponding THg concentrations and soil organic matter. Neither THg nor MeHg concentration in the topsoil and dust was obviously linked to the land function.展开更多
Rapid urbanization results in the conversion of natural soil to urban soil,and consequently,the storage and density of the soil carbon pools change.Taking Chongqing Municipality of China as a study case,this investiga...Rapid urbanization results in the conversion of natural soil to urban soil,and consequently,the storage and density of the soil carbon pools change.Taking Chongqing Municipality of China as a study case,this investigation attempts to better understand soil carbon pools in hilly cities.First,the vegetated areas in the study area were derived from QuickBird images.Then,topsoil data from 220 soil samples(0-20 cm) in the vegetated areas were collected and their soil organic carbon(SOC) densities were analyzed.Using the Kriging interpolation method,the spatial pattern of SOC was estimated.The results show that the SOC density exhibited high spatial variability in the urban topsoil of Chongqing.First,the SOC density in topsoil decreased according to slope in the order 2°-6° < 25°-90° < 0°-2° < 6°-15° < 15°-25°.Second,the newly developed areas during 2001-2010 had a lower SOC density than the areas built before 1988.Third,urban parks and gardens had a higher SOC density in topsoil,residential green land followed,and scattered street green land ranked last.For hilly cities,the variability of terrain affects the distribution of SOC.The Kriging results indicate that Kriging method combining slope with SOC density produced a high level of accuracy.The Kriging results show that the SOC density to the north of the Jialing River was higher than the south.The vegetated areas were estimated to amount to 73.5 km2 across the study area with an SOC storage of 0.192 Tg and an average density of 2.61 kg/m2.展开更多
Urban topsoil is the most frequent interface between human society and natural environment.The accumulation of heavy metals in the urban topsoil has a direct effect on residents'life and health.The geochemical bas...Urban topsoil is the most frequent interface between human society and natural environment.The accumulation of heavy metals in the urban topsoil has a direct effect on residents'life and health.The geochemical baseline of heavy metals is an objective description of the general level of heavy metals in the urban topsoil.Meanwhile,the determination of geochemical baseline is necessary for regional environmental management,especially in coal cities prone to heavy metal pollution.Heavy metal pollution has become an environmental problem in Fuxin City,China for a long time.To establish the geochemical baseline of heavy metals in the topsoil of Fuxin City and to evaluate the ecological risk of the topsoil,we collected 75 topsoil samples(0–20 cm)and analyzed the concentrations of Cu,Ni,Zn,Pb,Cr,Cd,Hg and As through X-ray fluorescence spectrometry,atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.We determined the geochemical baseline of heavy metals in the topsoil of Fuxin City by using iteration removal,box-whisker plot,cumulative frequency curve and reference metal normalization;evaluated the contamination risk and ecological risk of the topsoil by using the baseline factor index,Nemerow index and Hakanson potential ecological risk index;and identified the source category of heavy metals in the topsoil by using a pedigree clustering heatmap.Results showed that the geochemical baseline values were 42.86,89.34,92.23,60.55,145.21,0.09,0.08 and 4.17 mg/kg for Cu,Ni,Zn,Pb,Cr,Cd,Hg and As,respectively.The results of Nemerow index and Hakanson potential ecological risk index indicated that the urban topsoil in the study area was slightly contaminated and suffering low potential ecological risk.The main contaminated areas dominated in the middle part and northeast part of the study area,especially in the western Haizhou Strip Mine.The result of baseline factor index indicated that Hg and Cd were the major pollution elements.Using a pedigree clustering heatmap,we divided the sources of these heavy metals into three types:type I for Ni and Cr,largely represented the enrichment of heavy metals from natural sources;type II for Cu,Pb,Zn,Cd and As,mainly represented the enrichment of heavy metals from anthropogenic sources;and type III for Hg,represented the form of both natural and anthropogenic inputs.展开更多
Laboratory experiments about the dissipation, adsorption and translocation in four paddy topsoils were conducted in this paper. From the results it can be concluded as follows: the dissipation rate of clomazone differ...Laboratory experiments about the dissipation, adsorption and translocation in four paddy topsoils were conducted in this paper. From the results it can be concluded as follows: the dissipation rate of clomazone differed greatly in different paddy soil derived from different parent materials. The half-lives for clomazone degradation in paddy soils ranged from 5.7 to 22.0 d. The order of clomazone dissipation rate was reddish yellow paddy soil > alluvial sandy paddy soil > yellow clayey paddy soil > purple sandy paddy soil. Clomazone sorption quantity was significantly correlated with organic carbon(R2=0.62) and clay content(R2=0.67) in the tested paddy soils. Positive correlation was found between apparent K d value and cation exchange content(CEC). The consequences for the adsorption of different soils were purple sandy paddy soil>yellow clayey paddy soil>reddish yellow paddy soil>alluvial sandy paddy soil. Under the simulated rainfall of 200 mm through four different unsaturated soil lysimeters over 24 h, clomazone was readily to be leached into lower surface soil and there was about 2.6%—4.2% of applied clomazone leached out of 20 cm cultivated soil layer. Translocation experiments showed that the order of clomazone leaching ability was: alluvial sandy paddy soil > reddish yellow paddy soil > yellow clayey paddy soil > purple sandy paddy soil. Simple regression results manifested that factors like CEC, organic carbon, clay, and adsorption rate constant had been negatively correlated with the percentage of clomazone loss from soil lysimeters.展开更多
Biological invasions can alter soil properties within the range of their introduced,leading to impacts on ecosystem services,ecosystem functions,and biodiversity.To better understand the impacts of biological invasion...Biological invasions can alter soil properties within the range of their introduced,leading to impacts on ecosystem services,ecosystem functions,and biodiversity.To better understand the impacts of biological invasions on soil,we compared topsoil physiochemical properties at sites with invasive alien tree species(Prosopis juliflora),native tree species(Prosopis cineraria,Acacia tortilis,and Acacia ehrenbergiana),and mixed tree species in Hormozgan Province of Iran in May 2018.In this study,we collected 40 soil samples at a depth of 10 cm under single tree species,including P.juliflora,P.cineraria,A.tortilis,and A.ehrenbergiana,as well as under mixed tree species.The results showed that organic matter,moisture,potassium,calcium,nitrogen,and magnesium in topsoil at sites with A.tortilis and A.ehrenbergiana growing in combination with P.cineraria were higher than that at sites where P.juliflora was present(P<0.05).Sodium at sites with A.tortilis and A.ehrenbergiana growing in combination with P.cineraria and P.juliflora was lower as compared to that at sites with just A.tortilis and A.ehrenbergiana.Electrical conductivity was lower at sites with A.tortilis and A.ehrenbergiana growing in combination with P.cineraria,and it was higher at sites with mixed Acacia and P.juliflora trees.Based on the generally more positive effect of native Acacia and P.cineraria on topsoil physiochemical properties as compared to the P.julifora,afforestation with native tree species is preferable for soil restoration.In addition,due to the negative effects of P.julifora on soil properties,P.julifora spread should be better managed.展开更多
The geochemical baseline is the fundamental reference for environmental change and assessment.In this article we describe cluster and regression analyses with a normalization procedure.The elements Sc and Ag were chos...The geochemical baseline is the fundamental reference for environmental change and assessment.In this article we describe cluster and regression analyses with a normalization procedure.The elements Sc and Ag were chosen to calculate the environmental geochemical baseline.The geoaccumulation index was calculated and mapped to indicate the environmental quality of the soil.The results show that the urban areas are barely polluted with Ni and Cr but the rural areas in the southern part of the city, and the western part of the lake,are polluted with Ni,Cr,and Cu at the second level.On the other hand,the rural areas in the southern part of the city,and the western part of the lake,are polluted with As at a moderate level.The other area is polluted at the second level.An increase in As pollution occurs in a direction from northeast to southwest.The Cd pollution follows a trend similar to As,with an additional smaller contaminated area polluted at levelⅢ.The Hg pollution typical of urban areas occurs in the main and northern parts of the city.The geochemical accumulation index decreases from the city center to the periphery.The highest pollution level reaches levelⅣ,which indicates that the soil is seriously polluted with Hg.The southern part of the city and the rural areas to the west of the lake are not contaminated with Hg.Geological factors and the disturbance from human activities are both possible major factors:further research is needed to identify them.展开更多
During the 17th Century, Parral City in the Chihuahua State in Mexico was one of the most important miner zones in the whole world. After more than three centuries important amounts of residuals, known as tailings, wi...During the 17th Century, Parral City in the Chihuahua State in Mexico was one of the most important miner zones in the whole world. After more than three centuries important amounts of residuals, known as tailings, with high contents of heavy metals were generated. These residuals are a potential risk for the environment and human health. Given to that, it decided to carry out the analysis of the concentrations of cadmium, lead, chromium, zinc and arsenics, in topsoil samples susceptible of airborne transport and accumulation in risky zones （populated areas）. A 120 kin： area was selected, this include Parral City and its surroundings. From this area 30 samples were obtained. For this purpose, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy technique was used, expecting high concentrations of heavy metals, above the permit limits, since several studies carried out in the same region, as in San Francisco del Oro Chihuahua, show that the concentrations of all the elements sampled, in topsoil, were above the limits. The analysis in the space distribution of the heavy metal detected will allow us to set the points with the highest susceptibility to the accumulation of those pollutants and to propose mitigation measures and control.展开更多
The Changbai Mountains,located in the temperate monsoon climate zone of East Asia,is an ideal loca-tion for the research on timberline response to global changes.In this study,the topsoils were collected from differen...The Changbai Mountains,located in the temperate monsoon climate zone of East Asia,is an ideal loca-tion for the research on timberline response to global changes.In this study,the topsoils were collected from different vertical vegetation zones on the northern slope of the Changbai Mountains,Northeast China in August 2009,and phytoliths in the soil samples were extracted by using wet oxidation method and identified with Motic 2.0 microscope in laboratory.The results show that phytoliths are abundant in the topsoils of the study area.The herbal phytoliths are primarily composed of elongated,tooth-shaped,point-shaped and hat-shaped phytoliths,as well as a small amount of fan-shaped and square-shaped ones.The elongated,tooth-shaped,point-shaped and hat-shaped phytoliths are representative of cold climate,while fan-shaped and square-shaped ones are representative of warm and humid climate.In the conifer broadleaved mixed forest zone,coniferous forest zone and broadleaf forest zone,there are close correlations between vegetation and woody phytoliths in the topsoils,indicating that the woody plants of a region can be reconstructed from the woody phytolith assemblages in the topsoils.Meanwhile,the topsoil phytolith assemblages can also be used to reconstruct the understory herbs effectively.The phytolith assemblages in the topsoils of the forest community and herbal community differ significantly,which can help indicate the historical location of the timberline.展开更多
Perturbations caused by windstorms usually lead to the harvesting and clearcutting of fallen trees and wood debris,especially in the areas of managed forest ecosystems.Induced shifts in soils due to management practic...Perturbations caused by windstorms usually lead to the harvesting and clearcutting of fallen trees and wood debris,especially in the areas of managed forest ecosystems.Induced shifts in soils due to management practices play a crucial role in the restoration and maintaining of key ecosystem services.This paper focuses on topsoil chemical properties in relation to vegetation type(trees,shrubs and herbs)evolving at windstorm damaged(in 2004)areas with former Norway spruce(Picea abies)forests in the Tatra Mts.region(Slovakia).We assessed the content of topsoil organic matter fractions(extractives,holocellulose(HC)and lignin(Lig)),carbon in microbial biomass(Cmic),soil organic matter(SOM)and the content of elements N,C,H and S.The study plots represent different types of post-windthrow disturbance history/regime:wooden debris extraction(EXT),wooden debris not extracted(NEX),wooden debris extraction followed by wildfire(FIR),affected by the windstorm in 2014 with the subsequent wooden debris extraction(REX)and unaffected(REF).Our results revealed significant differences among sites in the content of dichloromethane extractives(EXT vs.REX and FIR),acetone extractives(NEX vs.EXT,FIR and REF),ethanol extractives(FIR vs.EXT,NEX and REF),water extractives(FIR vs.REX,NEX)and Cmic(EXT vs.NEX,FIR and REF).The topsoil of Vaccinium myrtillus and Picea abies showed a higher ratio of C/N,N/Lig,and Lig/HC compared to Rubus idaeus,Avenella flexuosa,Calamagrostis villosa,and Larix decidua.The content of N,C,H and S varied between topsoil with shrubs(Vaccinium myrtillus,Rubus idaeus)and grasses(Avenella flexuosa,Calamagrostis villosa).A positive correlation between soil organic matter(SOM)and polar extractives(r=0.81)and a negative correlation between SOM and HC(r=-0.83)was revealed.The carbon content in microbial biomass(Cmic)is positively correlated with acid soluble lignin(ASL)(r=0.85).We also identified a strong correlation between Klason lignin(KL)and the Lig/HC ratio(r=0.97).展开更多
This study aimed to provide a basis for the rational improvement of the microstructure of the soil that had been planted with crops for a long time. Conventional and micro-morphological methods were used to study the ...This study aimed to provide a basis for the rational improvement of the microstructure of the soil that had been planted with crops for a long time. Conventional and micro-morphological methods were used to study the effects of planting grain and cotton crops on soil properties in Gaotang County,Shandong Province. The results showed that long-term cultivation of grain and cotton crops has a significant impact on soil micro-structure. The top soil( 0-10 cm) of wheat-maize field has higher organic matter content,uniform aggregate size,high separation,and strong packing void connectivity,forming a type micro-structure that is conducive to agricultural production. The characteristics of soil matrix are mainly inherited from soil parent materials,and the impact of crop cultivation on soil matrix is very weak. The amount of formations in the soil is less,and only Fe nodules,Mn nodules and excrement are observed.展开更多
The available contents of microelements in the topsoil can influence the yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco. Xuancheng is the dominant tobacco-planting region in Anhui province since 2008. In this paper, the tops...The available contents of microelements in the topsoil can influence the yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco. Xuancheng is the dominant tobacco-planting region in Anhui province since 2008. In this paper, the topsoil available Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn contents of 4197 farmlands mainly under rice-rice rotation and wheat-rice rotation in 2008 and of 124 typical farmlands under tobacco-rice rotation in 2015 in Xuancheng city were analyzed in order to disclose the changes and spatial distributions of these microelements and to instruct the reasonable application of the microelement fertilizers. The results showed that the topsoil average available contents in the farmlands under rice-rice rotation or wheat-rice rotation in 2008 were 105.9 mg·kg-1 for Fe, 19.6 mg·kg-1 for Mn, 4.5 mg·kg-1 for Cu, and 3.0 mg·kg-1 for Zn, respectively, increased by 33.14%, 64.29%, 51.11% and 36.67%, respectively, compared with those in the 2nd Soil Survey in 1980s, and the historic, once intensive and overall application of microelement fertilizers was attributed to the great increases. The topsoil average available contents in the farmlands under tobacco-rice rotation in 2015 were 31.1 mg·kg-1 for Fe, 9.8 mg·kg-1 for Mn, 2.1 mg·kg-1 for Cu, and 0.3 mg·kg-1 for Zn, respectively, decreased by 70.63%, 50.00%, 53.33% and 90.00%, respectively, compared with those of the farmlands under rice-rice rotation or wheat-rice rotation in 2008, and the net deficiencies in the input and output of microelements were attributed to the significant decreases in the topsoil microelements. It is necessary to monitor the farmlands under tobacco-rice rotation dynamically and in time in order to decide whether applying microelement fertilizers or not.展开更多
Central Asia is one of the largest arid areas on earth,yet little is known about the concentration levels and risks of mercury(Hg)in the soils of this region.In this study,extensive sampling of topsoils(0-10 cm)from r...Central Asia is one of the largest arid areas on earth,yet little is known about the concentration levels and risks of mercury(Hg)in the soils of this region.In this study,extensive sampling of topsoils(0-10 cm)from representative landscapes was carried out over Central Asia(i.e.,Tajikistan,Uzbekistan,and Kyrgyzstan).The total mercury(THg)concentrations in topsoils varied widely from 1.6 to 908.0 ng/g,with high values observed in samples collected in the capital cities and urban areas.Topsoil THg concentrations among different landscapes showed a decreasing order of urban(79.8±184.0 ng/g)>woodland(27.3±28.9 ng/g)>grassland(20.6±15.9 ng/g)>farmland(18.3±9.5 ng/g)>desert(12.3±8.0 ng/g).High THg concentrations were found in the capital cities/urban clusters,followed by a gradual decrease towards the peripheries.THg concentrations were found to be negatively correlated with the distance from the sampling sites to their nearest cities,indicating that anthropogenic emissions significantly influenced the spatial distribution of topsoil Hg.A significant correlation between THg concentrations and topsoil total organic carbon(TOC)contents was also observed,suggesting that TOC played an essential role in the spatial distribution of topsoil Hg.The assessments of pollution and potential ecological risk suggested that topsoils in highly densely-populated areas were contaminated by Hg and had higher degrees of potential ecological risks.The health risk assessment results showed that the exposure risk of topsoil Hg to children was higher than that to adults.Fortunately,there was no unacceptable human health risk of topsoil Hg.This study clarified the spatial distribution and risks of Hg in the Central Asian topsoils,offering new insight into the risk prevention and control of soil Hg.展开更多
Background,aim,and scope Certain physicochemical indexes of topsoil are closely related to climatic factors including temperature,and precipitation.Understanding the relationship between modern topsoil properties and ...Background,aim,and scope Certain physicochemical indexes of topsoil are closely related to climatic factors including temperature,and precipitation.Understanding the relationship between modern topsoil properties and climatic factors is essential for quantitative paleoclimate reconstruction.Motuo located in the eastern Himalayas,exhibits a significant elevation gradient of over 7000 m from Nnamjagbarwa Peak(7782 m a.s.l.)to the Baxika(150 m a.s.l.).This region features a complete vertical zonation of vegetation,from alpine meadow to tropical forest,presenting an ideal place to investigate the relationships among vegetation,soil and climate conditions across altitudinal gradients.This study aims to explore the vertical variations in the physicochemical composition of topsoil and its relationship with temperature and precipitation.Materials and methods Twenty-seven topsoil samples were collected at 100 m intervals from 800 m to 3600 m a.s.l.along the southern slope of the Himalayas.Grain size,magnetic susceptibility and geochemical elements were measured to discuss the vertical variation characteristics of topsoil composition and their correlation with climatic factors.Results(1)The grain size of topsoil at different altitudes in Motuo is mainly composed of sand accounting for an averaged 53.2%,followed by silt and clay.(2)In the mixed forest zone,frequency dependent magnetic susceptibility(χfd%)shows a clear relationship with altitude,and clay is positively correlated with both altitude and climatic factors.(3)The oxides of topsoil in this area mainly consist of SiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3) and Fe_(2)O_(3),followed by MgO,CaO,Na_(2)O and K_(2)O,with slight variations in the primary components at different altitudes.The sensitivity of elements to climate varies across different altitudes and vegetation zone,likely due to the region’s complex topography and vegetation.(4)Physical and biological weathering dominates in the broad-leaved forest zone of Motuo,while chemical weathering is more prominent in the coniferous forest zone,with the mixed forest zone falling in between.Discussion The formation of topsoil across the three vegetation zones is influenced by various factors,including parent material,vegetation,and climate.In the broad-leaved forest zone,physical weathering(precipitation,root wedging etc.)and pedogenesis dominate,resulting in finer grain size.The χ_(fd)% increases with altitude likely due to the high temperature and abundant precipitation in this zone,which facilitate the transformation of strong magnetic miners into weaker ones,particularly when the soil is oversaturated.Zirconium(Zr),primarily found in zircon,is depleted at lower altitudes by strong current erosion.Barium(Ba)is similarly reduced at low altitudes in this zone.In mixed forest zone,clay content is the lowest,indicating weaker physical weathering conditions than broad-leaved forest zone.The coarser grain size may result from the combined effects of topography and vegetation coverage.Magnetic susceptibility and organic matter show a positive correlation with altitude.Zr concentration is higher than that in the broad-leaved forest zone,likely resulting from decreased precipitation.In the coniferous zone,the clay content shows considerable fluctuations,with grain size generally becoming finer as altitude increases.This trend may be explained by intensified soil disintegration from seasonal freeze-thaw cycles.The χ_(fd)% values lack a clear trend or pattern,possibly due to soil erosion causing the migration of magnetic minerals or insufficient iron precipitation,which reduces the concentration of magnetic minerals in the soil.Additionally,a positive correlation is observed between altitude and organic matter content,with higher altitudes associated with greater organic matter accumulation.This may be attributed to lower microbial activity in colder conditions,which slows the decomposition and transformation of organic matter.Conclusions The variations in grain size,magnetic susceptibility,and geochemical elements differ across altitudes and vegetation zones,closely connected to the complex interplay of terrain,vegetation,and climate in Motuo.In the mixed forest,altitude has a significant impact onχfd%,and the clay component is particularly sensitive to changes in altitude,mean annual temperature,and precipitation.Zr shows a strong correlation with altitude and climate factors,making it a valuable indicator for assessing changes in atmospheric precipitation within specific altitude ranges.Recommendations and perspectives This study enhances our understanding of the relationships between the physicochemical properties of topsoil and climate conditions,offering valuable insights for paleoclimate reconstruction in Motuo.展开更多
基金supported by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFD1900700 and 2018YFD0200401)the China Agricultural Research System(CARS-3)the Science and Technology Research Program of Shaanxi Province,China(2022PT-06)。
文摘The optimized management of crop fertilization is very important for improving crop yield and reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizers.Critical nutrient values can be used for evaluating the nutritional status of a crop,and they reflect the nutrient concentrations above which the plant is sufficiently supplied for achieving the maximum potential yield.Based on on-farm surveys of 504 farmers and 60 field experimental sites in the drylands of China,we proposed a recommended fertilization method to determine nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),and potassium(K)fertilizer input rates for wheat production,and then validated the method by a field experiment at 66 different sites in northern China.The results showed that wheat grain yield varied from 1.1 to 9.2 t ha^(-1),averaging 4.6 t ha^(-1),and it had a quadratic relationship with the topsoil(0-20 cm)nitrate N and soil available P contents at harvest.However,yield was not correlated with the inputs of N,P,and K fertilizers.Based on the relationship(exponential decay model)between 95–105%of the relative yield and topsoil nitrate N,available P,and available K contents at wheat harvest from 60 field experiments,the topsoil critical nutrient values were determined as 34.6,15.6,and 150 mg kg^(-1)for soil nitrate N,available P,and available K,respectively.Then,based on five groups of relative yield(>125%,115–125%,105–115%,95–105%,and<95%)and the model,the five groups of topsoil critical nutrient levels and fertilization coefficients(Fc)were determined.Finally,we proposed a new method for calculating the recommended fertilizer input rate as:Fr=Gy×Nr×Fc,where Fr is the recommended fertilizer(N/P/K)input rate;Gy is the potential grain yield;Nr is the N(N_(rN)),P(N_(rP)),and K(N_(rK))nutrient requirements for wheat to produce 1,000 kg of grain;and Fc is a coefficient for N(N_c)/P(P_c)/K(K_c)fertilizer.A 2-year validated experiment confirmed that the new method reduced N fertilizer input by 17.5%(38.5 kg N ha^(-1))and P fertilizer input by 43.5%(57.5 kg P_(2)O_(5) ha^(-1))in northern China and did not reduce the wheat yield.This outcome can significantly increase the farmers’benefits(by 7.58%,or 139 US$ha^(-1)).Therefore,this new recommended fertilization method can be used as a tool to guide N,P,and K fertilizer application rates for dryland wheat production.
基金the Basic Work of Science and Technology,Ministry of Science and Technology,China(2014FY110200A07)
文摘Reliable prediction of soil organic carbon（SOC） density and carbon sequestration potential（CSP） plays an important role in the atmospheric carbon dioxide budget. This study evaluated temporal and spatial variation of topsoil SOC density and CSP of 21 soil groups across Hebei Province, China, using data collected during the second national soil survey in the 1980 s and during the recent soil inventory in 2010. The CSP can be estimated by the method that the saturated SOC content subtracts the actual SOC associated with clay and silt. Overall, the SOC density and CSP of most soil groups increased from the 1980 s to 2010 and varied between different soil groups. Among all soil groups, Haplic phaeozems had the highest SOC density and Endogleyic solonchaks had the largest CSP. Areas of soil groups with the highest SOC density（90 to 120 t C ha^（–1）） and carbon sequestration（120 to 160 t C ha^（–1）） also increased over time. With regard to spatial distribution, the north of the province had higher SOC density but lower CSP than the south. With respect to land-use type, cultivated soils had lower SOC density but higher CSP than uncultivated soils. In addition, SOC density and CSP were influenced by soil physicochemical properties, climate and terrain and were most strongly correlated with soil humic acid concentration. The results suggest that soil groups（uncultivated soils） of higher SOC density have greater risk of carbon dioxide emission and that management should be aimed at maximizing carbon sequestration in soil groups（cultivated soils） with greater CSP. Furthermore, soils should be managed according to their spatial distributions of SOC density and carbon sequestration potential under different soil groups.
基金supported by the National Natural Sci-ence Foundation of China (No 20777063) China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No 20080440731)
文摘The levels and distribution of mercury （Hg） species, including total mercury （THg） and methylmercury （MeHg） in the topsoil and dust collected from twenty sampling stations located in different land function areas of Xiamen, China, were investigated. The THg concentrations in topsoil ranged from 0.071 to 1.2 mg/kg, and in dust ranged from of 0.034 to 1.4 mg/kg. For stations where the THg of dust was less than 0.31 mg/kg, THg concentrations in the topsoil were significantly correlated to those in the corresponding dust （r = 0.597, n = 16, P = 0.014）. The MeHg concentrations in topsoil were varied between 0.14 and 5.7 μg/kg. The ratios of MeHg/THg in the topsoil ranged from 0.069% to 0.74%. The range of MeHg concentration in the dust were 0.092-2.3 μg/kg. The ratios of MeHg/THg in the dust were at the same level as those in the topsoil. The MeHg concentrations in both topsoil and dust were linked to corresponding THg concentrations and soil organic matter. Neither THg nor MeHg concentration in the topsoil and dust was obviously linked to the land function.
基金Under the auspices of the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education (No. 20090182120024)National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41101568)+1 种基金Natural Science Foundation Project of Chongqing Science & Technology Commission (No. cstcjjA00008)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2012XZZX012)
文摘Rapid urbanization results in the conversion of natural soil to urban soil,and consequently,the storage and density of the soil carbon pools change.Taking Chongqing Municipality of China as a study case,this investigation attempts to better understand soil carbon pools in hilly cities.First,the vegetated areas in the study area were derived from QuickBird images.Then,topsoil data from 220 soil samples(0-20 cm) in the vegetated areas were collected and their soil organic carbon(SOC) densities were analyzed.Using the Kriging interpolation method,the spatial pattern of SOC was estimated.The results show that the SOC density exhibited high spatial variability in the urban topsoil of Chongqing.First,the SOC density in topsoil decreased according to slope in the order 2°-6° < 25°-90° < 0°-2° < 6°-15° < 15°-25°.Second,the newly developed areas during 2001-2010 had a lower SOC density than the areas built before 1988.Third,urban parks and gardens had a higher SOC density in topsoil,residential green land followed,and scattered street green land ranked last.For hilly cities,the variability of terrain affects the distribution of SOC.The Kriging results indicate that Kriging method combining slope with SOC density produced a high level of accuracy.The Kriging results show that the SOC density to the north of the Jialing River was higher than the south.The vegetated areas were estimated to amount to 73.5 km2 across the study area with an SOC storage of 0.192 Tg and an average density of 2.61 kg/m2.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41271064)the Foundation of Liaoning Educational Committee,China(L201783640)the PhD Research Startup Foundation of Liaoning University,China(BS2018L014)。
文摘Urban topsoil is the most frequent interface between human society and natural environment.The accumulation of heavy metals in the urban topsoil has a direct effect on residents'life and health.The geochemical baseline of heavy metals is an objective description of the general level of heavy metals in the urban topsoil.Meanwhile,the determination of geochemical baseline is necessary for regional environmental management,especially in coal cities prone to heavy metal pollution.Heavy metal pollution has become an environmental problem in Fuxin City,China for a long time.To establish the geochemical baseline of heavy metals in the topsoil of Fuxin City and to evaluate the ecological risk of the topsoil,we collected 75 topsoil samples(0–20 cm)and analyzed the concentrations of Cu,Ni,Zn,Pb,Cr,Cd,Hg and As through X-ray fluorescence spectrometry,atomic absorption spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.We determined the geochemical baseline of heavy metals in the topsoil of Fuxin City by using iteration removal,box-whisker plot,cumulative frequency curve and reference metal normalization;evaluated the contamination risk and ecological risk of the topsoil by using the baseline factor index,Nemerow index and Hakanson potential ecological risk index;and identified the source category of heavy metals in the topsoil by using a pedigree clustering heatmap.Results showed that the geochemical baseline values were 42.86,89.34,92.23,60.55,145.21,0.09,0.08 and 4.17 mg/kg for Cu,Ni,Zn,Pb,Cr,Cd,Hg and As,respectively.The results of Nemerow index and Hakanson potential ecological risk index indicated that the urban topsoil in the study area was slightly contaminated and suffering low potential ecological risk.The main contaminated areas dominated in the middle part and northeast part of the study area,especially in the western Haizhou Strip Mine.The result of baseline factor index indicated that Hg and Cd were the major pollution elements.Using a pedigree clustering heatmap,we divided the sources of these heavy metals into three types:type I for Ni and Cr,largely represented the enrichment of heavy metals from natural sources;type II for Cu,Pb,Zn,Cd and As,mainly represented the enrichment of heavy metals from anthropogenic sources;and type III for Hg,represented the form of both natural and anthropogenic inputs.
文摘Laboratory experiments about the dissipation, adsorption and translocation in four paddy topsoils were conducted in this paper. From the results it can be concluded as follows: the dissipation rate of clomazone differed greatly in different paddy soil derived from different parent materials. The half-lives for clomazone degradation in paddy soils ranged from 5.7 to 22.0 d. The order of clomazone dissipation rate was reddish yellow paddy soil > alluvial sandy paddy soil > yellow clayey paddy soil > purple sandy paddy soil. Clomazone sorption quantity was significantly correlated with organic carbon(R2=0.62) and clay content(R2=0.67) in the tested paddy soils. Positive correlation was found between apparent K d value and cation exchange content(CEC). The consequences for the adsorption of different soils were purple sandy paddy soil>yellow clayey paddy soil>reddish yellow paddy soil>alluvial sandy paddy soil. Under the simulated rainfall of 200 mm through four different unsaturated soil lysimeters over 24 h, clomazone was readily to be leached into lower surface soil and there was about 2.6%—4.2% of applied clomazone leached out of 20 cm cultivated soil layer. Translocation experiments showed that the order of clomazone leaching ability was: alluvial sandy paddy soil > reddish yellow paddy soil > yellow clayey paddy soil > purple sandy paddy soil. Simple regression results manifested that factors like CEC, organic carbon, clay, and adsorption rate constant had been negatively correlated with the percentage of clomazone loss from soil lysimeters.
文摘Biological invasions can alter soil properties within the range of their introduced,leading to impacts on ecosystem services,ecosystem functions,and biodiversity.To better understand the impacts of biological invasions on soil,we compared topsoil physiochemical properties at sites with invasive alien tree species(Prosopis juliflora),native tree species(Prosopis cineraria,Acacia tortilis,and Acacia ehrenbergiana),and mixed tree species in Hormozgan Province of Iran in May 2018.In this study,we collected 40 soil samples at a depth of 10 cm under single tree species,including P.juliflora,P.cineraria,A.tortilis,and A.ehrenbergiana,as well as under mixed tree species.The results showed that organic matter,moisture,potassium,calcium,nitrogen,and magnesium in topsoil at sites with A.tortilis and A.ehrenbergiana growing in combination with P.cineraria were higher than that at sites where P.juliflora was present(P<0.05).Sodium at sites with A.tortilis and A.ehrenbergiana growing in combination with P.cineraria and P.juliflora was lower as compared to that at sites with just A.tortilis and A.ehrenbergiana.Electrical conductivity was lower at sites with A.tortilis and A.ehrenbergiana growing in combination with P.cineraria,and it was higher at sites with mixed Acacia and P.juliflora trees.Based on the generally more positive effect of native Acacia and P.cineraria on topsoil physiochemical properties as compared to the P.julifora,afforestation with native tree species is preferable for soil restoration.In addition,due to the negative effects of P.julifora on soil properties,P.julifora spread should be better managed.
基金supported by the National Hi-tech Research and Development Program of China(No. 2009AA12Z147)the Postdoctorial Foundation of China(No.20090451339)+2 种基金the Postdoctorial Foundation of Shandong Province(No.200802013)Soft Science Project of Shandong Province(No.2007 RKA071)this research is also supported by Qingdao Economic & Technical Developing District Project (No.2008-2-26).
文摘The geochemical baseline is the fundamental reference for environmental change and assessment.In this article we describe cluster and regression analyses with a normalization procedure.The elements Sc and Ag were chosen to calculate the environmental geochemical baseline.The geoaccumulation index was calculated and mapped to indicate the environmental quality of the soil.The results show that the urban areas are barely polluted with Ni and Cr but the rural areas in the southern part of the city, and the western part of the lake,are polluted with Ni,Cr,and Cu at the second level.On the other hand,the rural areas in the southern part of the city,and the western part of the lake,are polluted with As at a moderate level.The other area is polluted at the second level.An increase in As pollution occurs in a direction from northeast to southwest.The Cd pollution follows a trend similar to As,with an additional smaller contaminated area polluted at levelⅢ.The Hg pollution typical of urban areas occurs in the main and northern parts of the city.The geochemical accumulation index decreases from the city center to the periphery.The highest pollution level reaches levelⅣ,which indicates that the soil is seriously polluted with Hg.The southern part of the city and the rural areas to the west of the lake are not contaminated with Hg.Geological factors and the disturbance from human activities are both possible major factors:further research is needed to identify them.
文摘During the 17th Century, Parral City in the Chihuahua State in Mexico was one of the most important miner zones in the whole world. After more than three centuries important amounts of residuals, known as tailings, with high contents of heavy metals were generated. These residuals are a potential risk for the environment and human health. Given to that, it decided to carry out the analysis of the concentrations of cadmium, lead, chromium, zinc and arsenics, in topsoil samples susceptible of airborne transport and accumulation in risky zones （populated areas）. A 120 kin： area was selected, this include Parral City and its surroundings. From this area 30 samples were obtained. For this purpose, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy technique was used, expecting high concentrations of heavy metals, above the permit limits, since several studies carried out in the same region, as in San Francisco del Oro Chihuahua, show that the concentrations of all the elements sampled, in topsoil, were above the limits. The analysis in the space distribution of the heavy metal detected will allow us to set the points with the highest susceptibility to the accumulation of those pollutants and to propose mitigation measures and control.
基金Under the auspices of National Natural Science Foundation of China (No 40971116)Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (No 2009CB426305)Technology Innovation Project of Northeast Normal University in Eleventh Five-Year Plan Period (No NENU-Stb07002)
文摘The Changbai Mountains,located in the temperate monsoon climate zone of East Asia,is an ideal loca-tion for the research on timberline response to global changes.In this study,the topsoils were collected from different vertical vegetation zones on the northern slope of the Changbai Mountains,Northeast China in August 2009,and phytoliths in the soil samples were extracted by using wet oxidation method and identified with Motic 2.0 microscope in laboratory.The results show that phytoliths are abundant in the topsoils of the study area.The herbal phytoliths are primarily composed of elongated,tooth-shaped,point-shaped and hat-shaped phytoliths,as well as a small amount of fan-shaped and square-shaped ones.The elongated,tooth-shaped,point-shaped and hat-shaped phytoliths are representative of cold climate,while fan-shaped and square-shaped ones are representative of warm and humid climate.In the conifer broadleaved mixed forest zone,coniferous forest zone and broadleaf forest zone,there are close correlations between vegetation and woody phytoliths in the topsoils,indicating that the woody plants of a region can be reconstructed from the woody phytolith assemblages in the topsoils.Meanwhile,the topsoil phytolith assemblages can also be used to reconstruct the understory herbs effectively.The phytolith assemblages in the topsoils of the forest community and herbal community differ significantly,which can help indicate the historical location of the timberline.
文摘Perturbations caused by windstorms usually lead to the harvesting and clearcutting of fallen trees and wood debris,especially in the areas of managed forest ecosystems.Induced shifts in soils due to management practices play a crucial role in the restoration and maintaining of key ecosystem services.This paper focuses on topsoil chemical properties in relation to vegetation type(trees,shrubs and herbs)evolving at windstorm damaged(in 2004)areas with former Norway spruce(Picea abies)forests in the Tatra Mts.region(Slovakia).We assessed the content of topsoil organic matter fractions(extractives,holocellulose(HC)and lignin(Lig)),carbon in microbial biomass(Cmic),soil organic matter(SOM)and the content of elements N,C,H and S.The study plots represent different types of post-windthrow disturbance history/regime:wooden debris extraction(EXT),wooden debris not extracted(NEX),wooden debris extraction followed by wildfire(FIR),affected by the windstorm in 2014 with the subsequent wooden debris extraction(REX)and unaffected(REF).Our results revealed significant differences among sites in the content of dichloromethane extractives(EXT vs.REX and FIR),acetone extractives(NEX vs.EXT,FIR and REF),ethanol extractives(FIR vs.EXT,NEX and REF),water extractives(FIR vs.REX,NEX)and Cmic(EXT vs.NEX,FIR and REF).The topsoil of Vaccinium myrtillus and Picea abies showed a higher ratio of C/N,N/Lig,and Lig/HC compared to Rubus idaeus,Avenella flexuosa,Calamagrostis villosa,and Larix decidua.The content of N,C,H and S varied between topsoil with shrubs(Vaccinium myrtillus,Rubus idaeus)and grasses(Avenella flexuosa,Calamagrostis villosa).A positive correlation between soil organic matter(SOM)and polar extractives(r=0.81)and a negative correlation between SOM and HC(r=-0.83)was revealed.The carbon content in microbial biomass(Cmic)is positively correlated with acid soluble lignin(ASL)(r=0.85).We also identified a strong correlation between Klason lignin(KL)and the Lig/HC ratio(r=0.97).
基金Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(ZR2016DM14)
文摘This study aimed to provide a basis for the rational improvement of the microstructure of the soil that had been planted with crops for a long time. Conventional and micro-morphological methods were used to study the effects of planting grain and cotton crops on soil properties in Gaotang County,Shandong Province. The results showed that long-term cultivation of grain and cotton crops has a significant impact on soil micro-structure. The top soil( 0-10 cm) of wheat-maize field has higher organic matter content,uniform aggregate size,high separation,and strong packing void connectivity,forming a type micro-structure that is conducive to agricultural production. The characteristics of soil matrix are mainly inherited from soil parent materials,and the impact of crop cultivation on soil matrix is very weak. The amount of formations in the soil is less,and only Fe nodules,Mn nodules and excrement are observed.
文摘The available contents of microelements in the topsoil can influence the yield and quality of flue-cured tobacco. Xuancheng is the dominant tobacco-planting region in Anhui province since 2008. In this paper, the topsoil available Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn contents of 4197 farmlands mainly under rice-rice rotation and wheat-rice rotation in 2008 and of 124 typical farmlands under tobacco-rice rotation in 2015 in Xuancheng city were analyzed in order to disclose the changes and spatial distributions of these microelements and to instruct the reasonable application of the microelement fertilizers. The results showed that the topsoil average available contents in the farmlands under rice-rice rotation or wheat-rice rotation in 2008 were 105.9 mg·kg-1 for Fe, 19.6 mg·kg-1 for Mn, 4.5 mg·kg-1 for Cu, and 3.0 mg·kg-1 for Zn, respectively, increased by 33.14%, 64.29%, 51.11% and 36.67%, respectively, compared with those in the 2nd Soil Survey in 1980s, and the historic, once intensive and overall application of microelement fertilizers was attributed to the great increases. The topsoil average available contents in the farmlands under tobacco-rice rotation in 2015 were 31.1 mg·kg-1 for Fe, 9.8 mg·kg-1 for Mn, 2.1 mg·kg-1 for Cu, and 0.3 mg·kg-1 for Zn, respectively, decreased by 70.63%, 50.00%, 53.33% and 90.00%, respectively, compared with those of the farmlands under rice-rice rotation or wheat-rice rotation in 2008, and the net deficiencies in the input and output of microelements were attributed to the significant decreases in the topsoil microelements. It is necessary to monitor the farmlands under tobacco-rice rotation dynamically and in time in order to decide whether applying microelement fertilizers or not.
基金This study was supported by Pan-Third Pole Environment Study for a Green Silk Road(Pan-TPE)(XDA20040501)State Key Labora-tory of Cryospheric Science,Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.SKLCS-ZZ-2022)+1 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2021M693375)the Startup Foundation for Introducing Talent of NUIST(2022r024).
文摘Central Asia is one of the largest arid areas on earth,yet little is known about the concentration levels and risks of mercury(Hg)in the soils of this region.In this study,extensive sampling of topsoils(0-10 cm)from representative landscapes was carried out over Central Asia(i.e.,Tajikistan,Uzbekistan,and Kyrgyzstan).The total mercury(THg)concentrations in topsoils varied widely from 1.6 to 908.0 ng/g,with high values observed in samples collected in the capital cities and urban areas.Topsoil THg concentrations among different landscapes showed a decreasing order of urban(79.8±184.0 ng/g)>woodland(27.3±28.9 ng/g)>grassland(20.6±15.9 ng/g)>farmland(18.3±9.5 ng/g)>desert(12.3±8.0 ng/g).High THg concentrations were found in the capital cities/urban clusters,followed by a gradual decrease towards the peripheries.THg concentrations were found to be negatively correlated with the distance from the sampling sites to their nearest cities,indicating that anthropogenic emissions significantly influenced the spatial distribution of topsoil Hg.A significant correlation between THg concentrations and topsoil total organic carbon(TOC)contents was also observed,suggesting that TOC played an essential role in the spatial distribution of topsoil Hg.The assessments of pollution and potential ecological risk suggested that topsoils in highly densely-populated areas were contaminated by Hg and had higher degrees of potential ecological risks.The health risk assessment results showed that the exposure risk of topsoil Hg to children was higher than that to adults.Fortunately,there was no unacceptable human health risk of topsoil Hg.This study clarified the spatial distribution and risks of Hg in the Central Asian topsoils,offering new insight into the risk prevention and control of soil Hg.
文摘Background,aim,and scope Certain physicochemical indexes of topsoil are closely related to climatic factors including temperature,and precipitation.Understanding the relationship between modern topsoil properties and climatic factors is essential for quantitative paleoclimate reconstruction.Motuo located in the eastern Himalayas,exhibits a significant elevation gradient of over 7000 m from Nnamjagbarwa Peak(7782 m a.s.l.)to the Baxika(150 m a.s.l.).This region features a complete vertical zonation of vegetation,from alpine meadow to tropical forest,presenting an ideal place to investigate the relationships among vegetation,soil and climate conditions across altitudinal gradients.This study aims to explore the vertical variations in the physicochemical composition of topsoil and its relationship with temperature and precipitation.Materials and methods Twenty-seven topsoil samples were collected at 100 m intervals from 800 m to 3600 m a.s.l.along the southern slope of the Himalayas.Grain size,magnetic susceptibility and geochemical elements were measured to discuss the vertical variation characteristics of topsoil composition and their correlation with climatic factors.Results(1)The grain size of topsoil at different altitudes in Motuo is mainly composed of sand accounting for an averaged 53.2%,followed by silt and clay.(2)In the mixed forest zone,frequency dependent magnetic susceptibility(χfd%)shows a clear relationship with altitude,and clay is positively correlated with both altitude and climatic factors.(3)The oxides of topsoil in this area mainly consist of SiO_(2),Al_(2)O_(3) and Fe_(2)O_(3),followed by MgO,CaO,Na_(2)O and K_(2)O,with slight variations in the primary components at different altitudes.The sensitivity of elements to climate varies across different altitudes and vegetation zone,likely due to the region’s complex topography and vegetation.(4)Physical and biological weathering dominates in the broad-leaved forest zone of Motuo,while chemical weathering is more prominent in the coniferous forest zone,with the mixed forest zone falling in between.Discussion The formation of topsoil across the three vegetation zones is influenced by various factors,including parent material,vegetation,and climate.In the broad-leaved forest zone,physical weathering(precipitation,root wedging etc.)and pedogenesis dominate,resulting in finer grain size.The χ_(fd)% increases with altitude likely due to the high temperature and abundant precipitation in this zone,which facilitate the transformation of strong magnetic miners into weaker ones,particularly when the soil is oversaturated.Zirconium(Zr),primarily found in zircon,is depleted at lower altitudes by strong current erosion.Barium(Ba)is similarly reduced at low altitudes in this zone.In mixed forest zone,clay content is the lowest,indicating weaker physical weathering conditions than broad-leaved forest zone.The coarser grain size may result from the combined effects of topography and vegetation coverage.Magnetic susceptibility and organic matter show a positive correlation with altitude.Zr concentration is higher than that in the broad-leaved forest zone,likely resulting from decreased precipitation.In the coniferous zone,the clay content shows considerable fluctuations,with grain size generally becoming finer as altitude increases.This trend may be explained by intensified soil disintegration from seasonal freeze-thaw cycles.The χ_(fd)% values lack a clear trend or pattern,possibly due to soil erosion causing the migration of magnetic minerals or insufficient iron precipitation,which reduces the concentration of magnetic minerals in the soil.Additionally,a positive correlation is observed between altitude and organic matter content,with higher altitudes associated with greater organic matter accumulation.This may be attributed to lower microbial activity in colder conditions,which slows the decomposition and transformation of organic matter.Conclusions The variations in grain size,magnetic susceptibility,and geochemical elements differ across altitudes and vegetation zones,closely connected to the complex interplay of terrain,vegetation,and climate in Motuo.In the mixed forest,altitude has a significant impact onχfd%,and the clay component is particularly sensitive to changes in altitude,mean annual temperature,and precipitation.Zr shows a strong correlation with altitude and climate factors,making it a valuable indicator for assessing changes in atmospheric precipitation within specific altitude ranges.Recommendations and perspectives This study enhances our understanding of the relationships between the physicochemical properties of topsoil and climate conditions,offering valuable insights for paleoclimate reconstruction in Motuo.
