Using ^(137)Cs Tracer Technique to Evaluate Erosion and Deposition of Black Soil in Northeast China

Soil and water losses through erosion have been serious in the black soil region of Northeast China. Therefore, a sloping cultivated land in Songnen Plain was selected as a case study to: 1) determine the 137Cs reference inventory in the study area; 2) calculate erosion and deposition rates of black soil on different slope locations; 3) conduct a sensitivity analysis of some model parameters; and 4) compare overall outputs using four different models. Three transects were set in the field with five slope locations for each transect, including summit, shoulder-slope, back-slope, foot-slope, and toe-slope. Field measurements and model simulation were used to estimate a bomb-derived 137Cs reference inventory in the study area. Soil erosion and deposition rates were estimated using four 137Cs models and percentage of 137Cs loss/gain. The 137Cs reference value in the study area was 2 232.8 Bq m-2 with 137Cs showing a clear topographic pattern, decreasing from the summit to shoulder-slope, then increasing again at the foot-slope and reaching a maximum at the toe-slope. Predicted soil redistribution rates for different slope locations varied. Among models, the Yang Model (YANG-M) overestimated erosion loss but underestimated deposition. However, the standard mass balance model (MBM1) gave predictions similar to a mass balance model incorporating soil movement by tillage (MBM2). Sensitivity analysis of the proportion factor 7 and distribution pattern of 137Cs in the surface layer demonstrated the impact of 137Cs enrichment on calculation of the soil erosion rate. Factors influencing the redistribution of fallout 137Cs in landscape should be fully considered as calculating soil redistribution rate using 137Cs technique.

Short-term Effects of Tillage Practices on Organic Carbon in Clay Loam Soil of Northeast China

一个耕种实验，由犁板组成犁( MP )，山脉耕种( RT )，和没有耕种( NT )，与四在一个使随机化的完全的块图案被执行复制在东北中国在粘壤土土壤的表面层( 30 厘米)在 SOC 内容和它的分发上学习3年的耕种管理的效果。NT 没与 MP 和 RT 相比在表层土(0 5 厘米) 导致 SOC 的重要增加；然而，在 NT 土壤的 SOC 内容显著地在 5 20 厘米的深度被减少。因此，短期(3 年) NT 管理趋于成层 SOC 集中，然而并非必然增加它在为土壤的犁层的存储。

Short-Term Impacts of No Tillage on Aggregate-Associated C in Black Soil of Northeast China

In order to get a good indicator to evaluate the impacts of no tillage （NT） on soil structure and soil quality, we studied the dynamics of total soil organic carbon （SOC） and aggregate-associated SOC, and their relationships in the plow layer （30 cm） in black soil of Northeast China under NT practice. The tillage experiment was established in Dehui County, Jilin Province, China, in 2001. The total SOC and aggregate-associated SOC under 5-yr tillage treatments were measured. NT practices did not lead to the increase of average SOC content at 0-30 cm depth, but it did significantly increase SOC at the top soil （0-5 cm）. In NT plots, the change of SOC in 〉 1 000 μm aggregate was the same with that of total SOC, but the effect of NT on SOC in 〉 1 000 lain aggregate was greater than the effect on total SOC, suggesting that 〉 1 000 μm aggregate had more sensitive response to the impact of tillage practices. Also, significant positive correlation occurred between total SOC and SOC in 〉 1 000 μm aggregate in black soil. Consequently, in the short term soil macroaggregate 〉 1 000 μm could be used as an indicator to evaluate the impacts of tillage practices on soil structure in black soil of Northeast China.

Simulation of critical transitions and vulnerability assessment of Tibetan Plateau key ecosystems

Critical transitions in ecosystems may imply risks of unexpected collapse under climate changes,especially vegetation often responds sensitively to climate change.The type of vegetation ecosystem states could present alternative stable states,and its type could signal the critical transitions at tipping points because of changed climate or other drivers.This study analyzed the distribution of four key vegetation ecosystem types:desert,grassland,forest-steppe ecotone and forest,in Tibetan Plateau in China,using the latent class analysis method based on remote sensing data and climate data.This study analyzed the impacts of three key climate factors,precipitation,temperature,and sunshine duration,on the vegetation states,and calculated the critical transition tipping point of potential changes in vegetation type in Tibetan Plateau with the logistic regression model.The studied results showed that climatic factors greatly affect the vegetation states and vulnerability of the Tibetan Plateau.In comparison with temperature and sunshine duration,precipitation shows more obvious impact on differentiations of the vegetations status probability.The precipitation tipping point for desert and grassland transition is averagely 48.0 mm/month,70.7 mm/month for grassland and forest-steppe ecotone,and 115.0 mm/month for forest-steppe ecotone and forest.Both temperature and sunshine duration only show different probability change between vegetation and non-vegetation type,but produce opposite impacts.In Tibetan Plateau,the transition tipping points of vegetation and nonvegetation are about 12.1°C/month and 173.6 h/month for the temperature and sunshine duration,respectively.Further,vulnerability maps calculated with the logistic regression results presented the distribution of vulnerability of Tibetan Plateau key ecosystems.The vulnerability of the typical ecosystems in the Tibetan Plateau is low in the southeast and is high in the northwest.The meteorological factors affect tree cover as well as the transition probability that occurs in different vegetation states.This study can provide reference for local government agencies to formulate regional development strategies and environmental protection laws and regulations.