An estimation method of soil wind erosion in Inner Mongolia of China based on geographic information system and remote sensing

Studies of wind erosion based on Geographic Information System（GIS） and Remote Sensing（RS） have not attracted sufficient attention because they are limited by natural and scientific factors.Few studies have been conducted to estimate the intensity of large-scale wind erosion in Inner Mongolia,China.In the present study,a new model based on five factors including the number of snow cover days,soil erodibility,aridity,vegetation index and wind field intensity was developed to quantitatively estimate the amount of wind erosion.The results showed that wind erosion widely existed in Inner Mongolia.It covers an area of approximately 90×104 km2,accounting for 80% of the study region.During 1985–2011,wind erosion has aggravated over the entire region of Inner Mongolia,which was indicated by enlarged zones of erosion at severe,intensive and mild levels.In Inner Mongolia,a distinct spatial differentiation of wind erosion intensity was noted.The distribution of change intensity exhibited a downward trend that decreased from severe increase in the southwest to mild decrease in the northeast of the region.Zones occupied by barren land or sparse vegetation showed the most severe erosion,followed by land occupied by open shrubbery.Grasslands would have the most dramatic potential for changes in the future because these areas showed the largest fluctuation range of change intensity.In addition,a significantly negative relation was noted between change intensity and land slope.The relation between soil type and change intensity differed with the content of Ca CO3 and the surface composition of sandy,loamy and clayey soils with particle sizes of 0–1 cm.The results have certain significance for understanding the mechanism and change process of wind erosion that has occurred during the study period.Therefore,the present study can provide a scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of wind erosion in Inner Mongolia.

Effects of Long-term Located Fertilization on the Physico-chemical Property of Soil Humus

A systematic study concerning the effects of a long-term stationary fertilization on content and property of soil humus in fluvo-aquic soil sampled from Malan Farm, Xinji City, Hebei, and arid red soil and paddy red soil sampled from the Institute of Red Soil, Jinxian County, Jiangxi was conducted. The results showed that long-term fertilization had effects not only on the content and composition of soil humus, but also on the physico-chemical property of humus. With applying organic manure or combined application of organic manure and chemical fertilizer, E4 and E6 values of humic acid decreased in fluvo-aquic soil and arid red soil, but increased in paddy red soil. In paddy red soil, E4 and E6 values of humic acid increased also with a single application of chemical fertilizer, but E4 and E6 values had less change of humic acid in fluvo-aquic soil and arid red soil. The effects on the visible spectroscopic property of f ulvic acid were different from that of humic acid. Long-term application of organic manure or combined application of organic manure and chemical fertilizer could increase E4 and E6 values of f ulvic acid in three types of soil. Single application of chemical fertilizer had less effect on the E4 and E6. Long-term fertilization could also influence the ultraviolet spectroscopic property of humus. With a single application of organic manure or combined application of organic manure and chemical fertilizer, the ultraviolet absorbance of humic acid and f ulvic acid increased in the three types of soil. But this effect was obvious only in short wave length, and the effect could decrease if the wave length increased. With a single application of chemical fertilizer the ultraviolet absorbance of fulvic acid could increase, but it of humic acid increased only in fluvo-aquic soil. Long-term application of organic manure or combined application of organic manure and chemical fertilizer could increase the content of total acidic groups, carboxy groups and phenolic hydroxy groups of humic acid and fuvic acid in the three types of soil. Single application of chemical fertilizer had less effect on the content of total acidic groups, carboxy groups and phenolic hydroxy groups of humic acid and fuvic acid in the three types of soil.

Ways to Improve Low-Benefit Black Locust Forests in Loess Plateau

This paper presents a general standard for the low-benefit black locust （Robinia pseudoacacia L.） torests m Loess Plateau based on defining the concept of “tri-low forest”, and emphasizes the major factors which result in low-benefit black locust, such as, lack of soil moisture of forest and nutrient, breaching the principle of matching tree species to sites, and high density of forests. Based on different characteristics of low-benefit forests, following the principle of “adjusting measures to local conditions, giving priority to ecological benefits, assisting with economic benefits”, the authors put forward some technical ways to reform low-benefit black locust forests, for example, taking measurements of collecting runoff and storing water, lowering the forest density, introducing mixed forests and transforming species, directive breeding and so on.

The effects of biochar on soil nutrients status,microbial activity and carbon sequestration potential in two calcareous soils

Biochar as an organic amendment improves soil attributes,with a potentially significant effect on soil chemical fertility and quality.The main objective of this study was to quantify the effect of biochar addition on nutrients,carbon sequestra-tion and microbial activity and understand the mechanisms of controlling biochar effects in calcareous soils.Maize residue biochars produced at 200,400 and 600℃ were added at 5 and 10 g kg^(−1)rates to sandy loam and clayey texture calcareous soils.The soil properties measured were pH and electrical conductivity(EC),plant-available potassium(K)and available phosphorus(P),total nitrogen(TN),C sequestration;and the fluorescein diacetate(FDA)hydrolysis activity.Addition of raw material and biochars increased pH(0.15-0.46 units),EC(0.14-0.38 dS m^(−1)),TN(63-120%),K(12-41%)and FDA activity(27-280%),but tended to decrease plant-available P(23-86%).Increasing pyrolysis temperature increased soil C pool index(CPI),but decreased the FDA and the changes depended largely upon the application rate and soil texture.The positive effects of biochar addition and its pyrolysis temperature on soil C sequestration potential were more pronounced at high than low application rate and in sandy loam than clayey soils.Nevertheless,the effect of biochar addition and pyrolysis temperature on the FDA activity was higher at high than low application rates,but lower in sandy loam than clayey soils.Although biochar application may successfully improve soil processes and attributes and have a high potential for C seques-tration,its effects are controlled by soil texture,pyrolysis temperature and application rate.

Adsorption of Cadmium and Zinc onto Micaceous Minerals:Effect of Siderophore Desferrioxamine B

The mobility,bioavailability,and environmental fate of heavy metals in soil are controlled by their adsorption onto soil minerals and solid organic matter.The adsorption is strongly affected by the presence of various low-molecular-weight organic acids.In this study,effect of hydroxamate siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB) on cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) adsorption onto two micaceous clay minerals,muscovite and phlogopite,was evaluated in batch experiments.Results showed that the presence of DFOB diminished the adsorption of Cd and Zn onto both minerals,particularly under neutral to alkaline pH conditions.For instance,at pH 8.2,the presence of DFOB caused a decrease in the adsorption of Zn onto phlogopite by nearly 50%.The equilibrium adsorption of Cd and Zn was satisfactorily described using Freundlich isotherm.The adsorption isotherms showed that the affinity of Cd and Zn onto the minerals decreased in the presence of DFOB.For example,at pH 8.0,the presence of siderophore caused a decrease in the Freundlich adsorption isotherm coefficient KF for Zn adsorption onto muscovite and phlogopite from 4.60 to 0.07 L g^-1 and from 3.56 to 0.36 L g^-1,respectively.These findings confirm the potential influence of siderophore on the fate of Cd and Zn in arid soils containing substantial contributions of micaceous silicate minerals.