Seasonal freezing-thawing process and hydrothermal characteristics of soil on the Loess Plateau, China

In seasonally frozen soil regions,freezing-thawing action and hydrothermal effect have strong influence on physical and mechanical behavior of shallow soil.A field experiment on the Loess Plateau in Northwest China was carried out to analyze the freezing-thawing process and hydrothermal characteristics of shallow soil considering the climate influence.The results show that the maximum seasonal freezing depth under bare ground surface in this area is from 20 cm to 50 cm.The ground temperature shows a similar changing trend with air temperature,but it has lagged behind the air temperature,and the ground temperature amplitude exponentially decreases with the increase of soil depth.The seasonally frozen soil has experienced four typical stages:unfrozen period,alternate freezing period,freezing period and alternate thawing period.The freezing-thawing process is characterized by unidirectional freezing and bidirectional thawing.The water content of shallow soil is significantly affected by air temperature,evaporation and precipitation,and the soil water content shows a"low-high-low"changing trend with the increase of depth.The soil temperature and water content interact with each other,and are often coupled.The variation trend of soil moisture with time is consistent with the change trend of the ground temperature with time in each soil layer,andthe degree of consistency is higher in the near surface soil than that in the lower layer.Also,the spatial-temporal characteristics of soil moisture and temperature is that the volumetric water content and ground temperatureof near surface soil have strong variability,and the range valueKa and coefficient of variation Cvof soil water content and ground temperaturein different seasons show a decreasing trend with the increase of depth.

Response Relationship between the Seasonal Freezing-Thawing Process of Soil and Spatial Factor Changes in the Dayekou Basin of the Qilian Mountains

Objective: In this study, the influence and response relationship between the seasonal freezing-thawing process of soil and the spatial factor changes in the management and utilization of water resource processes were explored. Methods: The monitoring equipment in this study was arranged at different altitudes, gradients, and slope directions, such as the typical forest sample area in the Dayekou Basin of the Qilian Mountains. The spatial variation characteristics of the seasonal freezing-thawing process of the soil were analyzed, and a regression model was established. Results: 1) The results of this study determined that the rate of the soil’s freezing increased with the altitude in a trend of volatility. However, the rate of the thawing of the frozen soil was found to have an opposite trend. The variation degree of the freezing-thawing process increased with the altitude in a trend of volatility. The end time of the approximate soil freezing with altitude increased in a volatility trend ahead of schedule. However, the opposite was observed in the thawing rate of the frozen soil;2) The rate of the soil’s freezing under the mosses of the spruce forest at an altitude of 3028 m was found to be the lowest. However, in the sub-alpine scrub forest at an altitude of 3300 m, a maximum in the spatial ordering was observed, with an average of 1.9 cm·d-1. The thawing rate of the frozen soil in scrub-spruce forest at an altitude of 3300 m was found to be minimal. However, in the sunny slope grassland at an altitude of 2946 m, a maximum in the spatial ordering was observed, with an average of 1.5 cm·d-1. In the spatial ordering of the variation degree of the process of freezing-thawing with an average of 1.2, the scrub-grassland at an altitude of 2518 m was found to be the lowest, and the scrub-spruce forest at an altitude of 3195 m was also low;3) The soil freezing began on approximately October 20th, and the rate of soil freezing gradually became reduced. The arrival time of the frozen soil of up to 150 cm in depth in sub-alpine scrub forest was first observed at an altitude of 3028 m. However, the scrub-spruce forest at an altitude of 3100 m did not become frozen until approximately January 12th on average. Then, the thawing rate of the frozen soil increased gradually. The end time of the thawing was earliest observed in the sunny slope grassland at an altitude of 2946 m. However, the scrub-spruce forest at an altitude of 3100 m was found to be the last to thaw, and averaged approximately July 27th. The average durations of the freezing and thawing of the soil were 77 and 121 days, respectively, and the average duration of the entire process of freezing-thawing was 199 days;4) This study’s established regression models of the duration time of frozen soil’s thaw, and the rate of frozen soil’s thaw, all passed the R test of goodness of fit, F test of variance, and t test. Conclusions: The characteristics of the seasonal freezing-thawing process of the soil with the spatial changes were seasonal. However, the characteristics under the different spatial factor influences were not the same.

Effects of freezing-thawing on the engineering performance of core wall soil materials of a dam in the process of construction

The construction of water conservancy projects in cold regions experiences freezing-thawing cycles,which can greatly change the engineering properties of soil and have a significant impact on the construction of projects.Lianghekou Hydropower Station(LHS),is a controlling station with the largest installed capacity among the 7 middle reach projects in the Yalong River,the secondary tributary of the Yangtze River.LHS is located in a seasonally frozen soil area.Based on the measured data of air and ground temperature in winter in the dam core wall,the freezing-thawing variation of gravelly soil and contact clay during the filling process of the core wall are compared and analyzed,then the main impact factors of the freezing-thawing variation of soils are discussed.The results show that under the influence of air temperature,soil freezes unidirectionally from ground surface downward and deepens gradually,and the thawing processes are different at the aspects of thawing direction and rate.Air temperature and physical properties of soil including soil type,moisture content and dry density affect the freezingthawing processes of soils.And the impact of engineering construction is more remarkable than natural factors.The engineering construction affects soil temperature and freezing-thawing process by controlling the initial temperature of soil,the speed and duration of the technological conversion of paving,compaction,and the length of placed duration at night.Due to the long placed duration of soil with the slow construction method,the initial temperature of soil gradually reduces,the heat transfer process inside soil is fast.Then the internal heat of soil releases,the decreasing rate of ground temperature of soil at different depths is fast and the frozen depth deepens.While due to the short placed duration of soil with the rapid construction process,the initial temperature of soil is high,high internal heat of soil is supplied every day,and the heat transfer process inside soil is slow.Then the decreasing rate of temperature of soil at different depths is slow,and the variation amplitude of frozen depth is small.This study provides useful guidance for the freezingthawing prevention during the construction process of core wall dams located at high altitude region in winter.

Effects of Nitrogen Application on N_2O Flux from Fluvo-Aquic Soil Subject to Freezing-Thawing Process

A lab-incubation experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different forms of nitrogen application （ammonium, NH4＋-N; nitrate, NO3--N; and amide-N, NH2-N） and different concentrations （40, 200 and 800 mg L-1） on N2O emission from the fluvo-aquic soil subjected to a freezing-thawing cycling. N2O emission sharply decreased at the start of soil freezing, and then showed a smooth line with soil freezing. In subject to soil thawing, N2O emission increased and reached a peak at the initial thawing stage. The average N2O emissions with addition of NH4＋-N, NO3 -N and NH2-N are 119.01, 611.61 and 148. 22 ug m-2 h-1, respectively, at the concentration of 40 mg L-1; 205.28, 1 084.40 and 106.13 ug m2 h-1 at the concentration of 200 mg L-1; and 693.95, 1 820.02 and 49.74 ug m-2 h4 at the concentration of 800 mg L-1. The control is only 100.35 ug m-2 h-1. N2O emissions with addition of NH4＋-N and NO3--N increased with increasing concentration, by ranging from 17.49 to 425.67% for NH4＋-N, and from 563.38 to 1458.6% for NO3--N compared with control. There was a timelag for N2O emission to reach a steady state with an increase of concentration. In contrast, by adding NH2-N to soil, N2O emission decreased with increasing concentration. In sum, NH4＋-N or NO3--N fertilizer incorporated in soil enhanced the cumulative N2O emission from the fluvo-aquic soil relative to amide-N. This study suggested that ammonium and nitrate concentration in overwintering water should be less than 200 and 40 mg L-1 in order to reduce N2O emissions from soil, regardless of amide-N.

Experimental research on the development of residual strain in seasonal frozen soil under freezing-thawing and impact type traffic loads

Vehicle load is among the main factors affecting the deformation of subgrade soil.In this research study,the concept of impact type traffic load is introduced to investigate the effects of vehicle load based on the dynamic stress and displacement time histories acquired from seasonal frozen subgrade soils.Using freezing-thawing and dynamic triaxial tests and considering the amplitude and loading sequence of impact type traffic load,the residual deformation characteristics of subgrade soil under impact type traffic loads and freezing-thawing cycles is studied.It was found that under impact type traffic load,the residual deformation of soils increased sharply as the amplitude of impact type traffic load increased.It was also found that the increase in the amplitude of impact type traffic load led to the increase of residual deformation in a scale of power and exponential function.The amplitudes of impact type traffic load affect the development stress-strain path of the residual strain.After the soil experienced the proper amount of pre-vibration of the light load,residual deformation decreased by 15%.After freezing-thawing,the residual strain of soil increased as the amplitude of the impact type traffic loads increased.Also,when the amplification effect of freezing-thawing on the residual strain was basically stable,the residual deformation increased by about 10%.The peak impact type traffic load had a large effect on soil deformation after the freezing-thawing process,leading to the observation that of the earlier the peaks,the stronger the effect of freezing-thawing.After the soil was subjected to preloading with a small load,the influence of the freezing-thawing cycles gradually stabilized.The results may be useful in preventing and controlling the risk of subgrade soil failure when construction takes place spring thaw periods.

Effect of Freezing-Thawing Process on Wetland Soil Iron

The iron concentrations of snows,semi-melting snows,snowmelts,and ditch waters were observed in four typical microhabitats,Carex lasiocarpa marsh(Ⅰ), Calamagrostis angustifolia wet meadow(Ⅱ),dry land (Ⅲ)and paddy field(Ⅳ),of Sanjiang Plain Wetland, Northeast China.Each sample was collected from three sites of one microhabitat,mixed together, filtrated with 0.45μm membrane,and tested using atomic absorption spectrometry(AAS)for iron measurement.The iron concentrations of soil solutions were investigated as well.Each soil solution was in-situ extracted by negative pressure,filtrated with 0.45μm membrane,and tested using AAS,too. The results showed that the wet precipitation of iron from snow were little to detect.The loss of iron was attributed to the interaction of water and soil surface. The iron concentrations of snowmelts were 7.4,15,

Change in Grain-Size Composition of Lignite under Cyclic Freezing-Thawing and Wetting-Drying

The paper presents the change in grain-size composition of lignite under cyclic freezing-thawing (FTC) and wetting-drying (WDC). The article shows that in the spring and autumn periods the lignites can be subjected to repeated freezing-thawing and wetting-drying, which determines the possibility of changing their grain-size composition and structure. Experimental studies in laboratory conditions on the influence of cyclic freezing-thawing (FTC) and wetting-drying (WDC) on the quality indicators of lignites have been carried out, their granulometric (fractional) composition has been studied. Freezing-thawing cycle conditions are as follows (FTC): minimum exposure temperature: -20°C;maximum: +5°C;relative humidity: 30%;number of processing cycles: 3. Wetting-drying cycles are as follows (WDC): drying temperatures are +20, +40, +60, +80°C, drying time 90 minutes, the coals are further subjected to rain (soaking) for a period of water saturation to humidity of 30% - 40% and dry again. The number of wetting-drying cycles is 3 times. The tests have revealed the destructive effects of FTC and WDC on the samples of lower metamorphic grade coal, and the cycles of wet-dry lead to the much higher yield of fine sizes (-6+0;-13+0 mm) than the cycles of freeze-thaw. Furthermore, it is found that the increase in the yield of fines depends on the heating temperature: coal disintegration proceeds more intensively at a higher temperature of drying.

Shear strength of frozen clay under freezing-thawing cycles using triaxial tests

Using a new low-temperature dynamic triaxial apparatus, the influence law of freezing-thawing cycles on clay shear strength is studied. In this research, the concept of correction coefficients of freezing-thawing cycles on clay static strength, cohesion and internal friction angles is proposed, and the change patterns, correction curves and regressive formulae of clay static strength, cohesion and internal friction angles under freezing-thawing cycles are given. The test results indicate that with increasing numbers of freezing-thawing cycles, the clay static strength and cohesion decrease exponentially but the internal friction angle increases exponentially. The performance of static strength, cohesion and internal friction angles are different with increasing numbers of freezing-thawing cycles, i.e., the static strength decreases constantly until about 30% of the initial static strength prior to the freezing-thawing cycling and then stays basically stable. After 5-7 freezing-thawing cycles, the cohesion decreases gradually to about 70% of the initial cohesion. The internal friction angle increases about 20% after the first freezing-thawing cycle, then increases gradually close to a stable value which is an increase of about 40% of the internal friction angle. The freezing-thawing process can increase the variation of the density of the soil samples; therefore, strict density discreteness standards of frozen soil sample preparation should be established to ensure the reliability of the test results.

Numerical Simulation on Climate Effects of Freezing-Thawing Processes Using CCM3

A parameterization of soil freezing-thawing physics for use in the land-surface model of the National Center for Atmospheric Research(NCAR) Community Climate Model(CCM3) is developed and evaluated.The new parameterization scheme has improved the representation of physical processes in the existing land surface model.Numerical simulations using CCM3 with improved land-surface processes and with the original land-surface processes are compared against the NCEP reanalysis.It is found that the CCM3 version using the improved land surface model shows significant improvements in simulating precipitation in China during the summer season,the general circulation over East Asia,and wind fields over the Tibet Plateau.For the summer season,the improved model was able to better simulate the Indian summer monsoon components,including the mean northerly wind in the upper troposphere and mean southerly wind in the lower troposphere.

Centrifugal and field studies on water infiltration characteristics below canals under wetting-drying-freezing-thawing cycles

Seepage is one of the main causes for the deformation and instability of canal slopes in Xinjiang,China.In this study,centrifugal model tests under wetting-drying(WD)and wetting-drying-freezing-thawing(WDFT)cycles were performed to investigate the water infiltration characteristics below a canal.The results show that the shallow soil of the canal models was fully saturated in the wetting process.Compared with the canal model under the WD cycles,the canal model under the WDFT cycles had larger saturated areas and a higher degree of saturation below the canal top after each cycle,indicating that the freezing-thawing(FT)process in the WDFT cycles promoted the water infiltration behavior below the canal slope.The cracks on the surface of the canal model under the cyclic action of WDFT developed further and had a higher connectivity,which provided the conditions for slope instability from a transverse tensile crack running through the canal top.On this basis,a field test was conducted to understand the water infiltration distribution below a typical canal in Xinjiang,China,which also verified the accuracy of the centrifugal results.This study provides a preliminary basis for the maintenance and seepage treatment of canals in Xinjiang,China.

Experimental study of coal fracture dynamics under the influence of cyclic freezing-thawing using shear elastic waves

Cyclic freezing-thawing can lead to fracture development in coal,affecting its mechanical and consumer properties.To study crack formations in coal,an ultrasonic sounding method using shear polarized waves was proposed.Samples of three coal types(anthracite,lignite and hard coal)were tested.The research results show that,in contrast to the shear wave velocity,the shear wave amplitude is extremely sensitive to the formation of new cracks at the early stages of cyclic freezing-thawing.Tests also show an inverse correlation between coal compressive strength and its tendency to form cracks under temperature impacts;shear wave attenuation increases more sharply in high-rank coals after the first freezing cycle.Spectral analysis of the received signals also confirmed significant crack formation in anthracite after the first freeze-thaw cycle.The initial anisotropy was determined,and its decrease with an increase in the number of freeze-thaw cycles was shown.The data obtained forms an experimental basis for the development of new approaches to preserve coal consumer properties during storage and transportation under severe natural and climatic conditions.

Mechanical performances and microstructural characteristics of reactive MgO-carbonated silt subjected to freezing-thawing cycles

The characteristics of reactive magnesia(MgO)-carbonated silt in respect to long-term stability have not been well understood in severely cold climate despite the usage of reactive MgO in enhancing the engineering performances.Under the binder content of 15%and initial water content of 25%,MgO-admixed silt specimens were carbonized for 3 h and 6 h and then subjected to different numbers of freezingthawing(F-T)cycles.After different F-T cycles,the physico-mechanical properties of MgO-carbonated silt were analyzed in comparison with Portland cement(PC)-stabilized silt through physical and unconfined compression tests.Besides,a series of micro tests on MgO-carbonated specimens was performed including X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and mercury intrusion porosimetry(MIP)tests.The results demonstrate that both mass change ratio and moisture content of carbonated/stabilized silt decrease,and these values of MgO-carbonated silt are significantly lower while the density is higher compared to PC-stabilized silt.The strengths and moduli of MgO-carbonated silt are still two times higher than those of PC-stabilized specimens and the strength change ratio of keeps above0.8 after F-T cycles.There is no visible transformation between nesquehonite and dypingite/hydromagnesite,although the XRD peaks of nesquehonite decrease and the bonding and filling effects weaken slightly.After 6 and 10 F-T cycles,the pore-size characteristics changed from a unimodal distribution to a three-peak and bimodal distribution,respectively.The total,macro and large pore volumes increase obviously while the medium and small pore volumes decrease except for intra-aggregate pore.The findings show better F-T durability of MgO-carbonated silt,which would be helpful for facilitating the application of MgO carbonation in the soil treatment.

Advances in studies on concrete durability and countermeasures against freezing-thawing effects

This paper is a meta-analysis of recent domestic and foreign research on freezing-thawing effects on concrete durability. The main theories on the mechanisms of freeze-thaw damage to concrete are introduced： the hydrostatic pressure theory, the osmotic pressure theory, the critical water saturation degree theory, the dual mechanism theory, and the micro-ice-crystal lens model theory. The influence laws of freezing-thawing on the mechanical properties of concrete are summarized, and countermeasures to improve concrete durability in freezing-thawing circumstances are presented. This work provides valuable references for future engineering constructions in cold regions.

The competition between Bidens pilosa and Setaria viridis alters soil microbial composition and soil ecological function

Bidens pilosa is recognized as one of the major invasive plants in China.Its invasion has been associated with significant losses in agriculture,forestry,husbandry,and biodiversity.Soil ecosystems play an important role in alien plant invasion.Microorganisms within the soil act as intermediaries between plants and soil ecological functions,playing a role in regulating soil enzyme activities and nutrient dynamics.Understanding the interactions between invasive plants,soil microorganisms,and soil ecological processes is vital for managing and mitigating the impacts of invasive species on the environment.In this study,we conducted a systematic analysis focusing on B.pilosa and Setaria viridis,a common native companion plant in the invaded area.To simulate the invasion process of B.pilosa,we constructed homogeneous plots consisting of B.pilosa and S.viridis grown separately as monocultures,as well as in mixtures.The rhizosphere and bulk soils were collected from the alien plant B.pilosa and the native plant S.viridis.In order to focus on the soil ecological functional mechanisms that contribute to the successful invasion of B.pilosa,we analyzed the effects of B.pilosa on the composition of soil microbial communities and soil ecological functions.The results showed that the biomass of B.pilosa increased by 27.51% and that of S.viridis was significantly reduced by 66.56%.The organic matter contents in the bulk and rhizosphere soils of B.pilosa were approximately 1.30 times those in the native plant soils.The TN and NO_(3)^(-)contents in the rhizosphere soil of B.pilosa were 1.30 to 2.71 times those in the native plant soils.The activities of acid phosphatase,alkaline phosphatase,and urease in the rhizosphere soil of B.pilosa were 1.98-2.25 times higher than in the native plant soils.Using high-throughput sequencing of the16S rRNA gene,we found that B.pilosa altered the composition of the soil microbial community.Specifically,many genera in Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were enriched in B.pilosa soils.Further correlation analyses verified that these genera had significantly positive relationships with soil nutrients and enzyme activities.Plant biomass,soil p H,and the contents of organic matter,TN,NO_(3)^(-),TP,AP,TK,and AK were the main factors affecting soil microbial communities.This study showed that the invasion of B.pilosa led to significant alterations in the composition of the soil microbial communities.These changes were closely linked to modifications in plant traits as well as soil physical and chemical properties.Some microbial species related to C,N and P cycling were enriched in the soil invaded by B.pilosa.These findings provide additional support for the hypothesis of soil-microbe feedback in the successful invasion of alien plants.They also offer insights into the ecological mechanism by which soil microbes contribute to the successful invasion of B.pilosa.Overall,our research contributes to a better understanding of the complex interactions between invasive plants,soil microbial communities,and ecosystem dynamics.

Biochar Decreases Soil Cadmium(Cd) Availability and Regulates Expression Levels of Cd Uptake/Transport-Related Genes to Reduce Cd Translocation in Rice

Biochar has been used as a soil amendment for heavy metal-contaminated soils, and it has the potential to mitigate Cd accumulation in plants. In this study, we used rice straw biochar(RSB) and kitchen waste biochar(KWB) to clarify the effect of biochar on Cd-contaminated neutral soil, the physiological responses to biochar application, and the gene regulatory networks in a rice genotype.

Subsoil tillage enhances wheat productivity,soil organic carbon and available nutrient status in dryland fields

Tillage practices during the fallow period benefit water storage and yield in dryland wheat crops.However,there is currently no clarity on the responses of soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN),and available nutrients to tillage practices within the growing season.This study evaluated the effects of three tillage practices(NT,no tillage;SS,subsoil tillage;DT,deep tillage)over five years on soil physicochemical properties.Soil samples at harvest stage from the fifth year were analyzed to determine the soil aggregate and aggregate-associated C and N fractions.The results indicated that SS and DT improved grain yield,straw biomass and straw carbon return of wheat compared with NT.In contrast to DT and NT,SS favored SOC and TN concentrations and stocks by increasing the soil organic carbon sequestration rate(SOCSR)and soil nitrogen sequestration rate(TNSR)in the 0-40 cm layer.Higher SOC levels under SS and NT were associated with greater aggregate-associated C fractions,while TN was positively associated with soluble organic nitrogen(SON).Compared with DT,the NT and SS treatments improved soil available nutrients in the 0-20 cm layer.These findings suggest that SS is an excellent practice for increasing soil carbon,nitrogen and nutrient availability in dryland wheat fields in North China.

A dynamic soil freezing characteristic curve model for frozen soil

The soil freezing characteristic curve(SFCC)plays a fundamental role in comprehending thermohydraulic behavior and numerical simulation of frozen soil.This study proposes a dynamic model to uniformly express SFCCs amidst varying total water contents throughout the freezing-thawing process.Firstly,a general model is proposed,wherein the unfrozen water content at arbitrary temperature is determined as the lesser of the current total water content and the reference value derived from saturated SFCC.The dynamic performance of this model is verified through test data.Subsequently,in accordance with electric double layer(EDL)theory,the theoretical residual and minimum temperatures in SFCC are calculated to be-14.5℃to-20℃for clay particles and-260℃,respectively.To ensure that the SFCC curve ends at minimum temperature,a correction function is introduced into the general model.Furthermore,a simplified dynamic model is proposed and investigated,necessitating only three parameters inherited from the general model.Additionally,both general and simplified models are evaluated based on a test database and proven to fit the test data exactly across the entire temperature range.Typical recommended parameter values for various types of soils are summarized.Overall,this study provides not only a theoretical basis for most empirical equations but also proposes a new and more general equation to describe the SFCC.

Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat-cotton cropping system

Straw return is a promising strategy for managing soil organic carbon(SOC)and improving yield stability.However,the optimal straw return strategy for sustainable crop production in the wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)-cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)cropping system remains uncertain.The objective of this study was to quantify the long-term(10 years)impact of carbon(C)input on SOC sequestration,soil aggregation and crop yields in a wheat-cotton cropping system in the Yangtze River Valley,China.Five treatments were arranged with a single-factor randomized design as follows:no straw return(Control),return of wheat straw only(Wt),return of cotton straw only(Ct),return of 50%wheat and 50%cotton straw(Wh-Ch)and return of 100%wheat and 100%cotton straw(Wt-Ct).In comparison to the Control,the SOC content increased by 8.4 to 20.2%under straw return.A significant linear positive correlation between SOC sequestration and C input(1.42-7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1))(P<0.05)was detected.The percentages of aggregates of sizes>2 and 1-2 mm at the 0-20 cm soil depth were also significantly elevated under straw return,with the greatest increase of the aggregate stability in the Wt-Ct treatment(28.1%).The average wheat yields increased by 12.4-36.0%and cotton yields increased by 29.4-73.7%,and significantly linear positive correlations were also detected between C input and the yields of wheat and cotton.The average sustainable yield index(SYI)reached a maximum value of 0.69 when the C input was 7.08 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1),which was close to the maximum value(SYI of 0.69,C input of 7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(-1))in the Wt-Ct treatment.Overall,the return of both wheat and cotton straw was the best strategy for improving SOC sequestration,soil aggregation,yields and their sustainability in the wheat-cotton rotation system.

Assessment of soil erosion in the Irga watershed on the eastern edge of the Chota Nagpur Plateau,India

Human activities to improve the quality of life have accelerated the natural rate of soil erosion.In turn,these natural disasters have taken a great impact on humans.Human activities,particularly the conversion of vegetated land into agricultural land and built-up area,stand out as primary contributors to soil erosion.The present study investigated the risk of soil erosion in the Irga watershed located on the eastern fringe of the Chota Nagpur Plateau in Jharkhand,India,which is dominated by sandy loam and sandy clay loam soil with low soil organic carbon(SOC)content.The study used the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation(RUSLE)and Geographical Information System(GIS)technique to determine the rate of soil erosion.The five parameters(rainfall-runoff erosivity(R)factor,soil erodibility(K)factor,slope length and steepness(LS)factor,cover-management(C)factor,and support practice(P)factor)of the RUSLE were applied to present a more accurate distribution characteristic of soil erosion in the Irga watershed.The result shows that the R factor is positively correlated with rainfall and follows the same distribution pattern as the rainfall.The K factor values in the northern part of the study area are relatively low,while they are relatively high in the southern part.The mean value of the LS factor is 2.74,which is low due to the flat terrain of the Irga watershed.There is a negative linear correlation between Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI)and the C factor,and the high values of the C factor are observed in places with low NDVI.The mean value of the P factor is 0.210,with a range from 0.000 to 1.000.After calculating all parameters,we obtained the average soil erosion rate of 1.43 t/(hm^(2)•a),with the highest rate reaching as high as 32.71 t/(hm^(2)•a).Therefore,the study area faces a low risk of soil erosion.However,preventative measures are essential to avoid future damage to productive and constructive activities caused by soil erosion.This study also identifies the spatial distribution of soil erosion rate,which will help policy-makers to implement targeted soil erosion control measures.

Manure substitution improves maize yield by promoting soil fertility and mediating the microbial community in lime concretion black soil

Synthetic nitrogen(N)fertilizer has made a great contribution to the improvement of soil fertility and productivity,but excessive application of synthetic N fertilizer may cause agroecosystem risks,such as soil acidification,groundwater contamination and biodiversity reduction.Meanwhile,organic substitution has received increasing attention for its ecologically and environmentally friendly and productivity benefits.However,the linkages between manure substitution,crop yield and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain uncertain.To bridge this gap,a three-year field experiment was conducted with five fertilization regimes:i)Control,non-fertilization;CF,conventional synthetic fertilizer application;CF_(1/2)M_(1/2),1/2 N input via synthetic fertilizer and 1/2 N input via manure;CF_(1/4)M_(3/4),1/4 N input synthetic fertilizer and 3/4 N input via manure;M,manure application.All fertilization treatments were designed to have equal N input.Our results showed that all manure substituted treatments achieved high soil fertility indexes(SFI)and productivities by increasing the soil organic carbon(SOC),total N(TN)and available phosphorus(AP)concentrations,and by altering the bacterial community diversity and composition compared with CF.SOC,AP,and the soil C:N ratio were mainly responsible for microbial community variations.The co-occurrence network revealed that SOC and AP had strong positive associations with Rhodospirillales and Burkholderiales,while TN and C:N ratio had positive and negative associations with Micromonosporaceae,respectively.These specific taxa are implicated in soil macroelement turnover.Random Forest analysis predicted that both biotic(bacterial composition and Micromonosporaceae)and abiotic(AP,SOC,SFI,and TN)factors had significant effects on crop yield.The present work strengthens our understanding of the effects of manure substitution on crop yield and provides theoretical support for optimizing fertilization strategies.