Effects of gravel mulch on aeolian transport:a field wind tunnel simulation

The shape,size and coverage of gravels have significant impacts on aeolian sand transport.This study provided an understanding of aeolian transport over the gravel mulching surfaces at different wind velocities by means of a mobile wind tunnel simulation.The tested gravel coverage increased from 5% to 80%,with a progressive increment of 5%.The gravels used in the experiments have three sizes in diameter.Wind velocities were measured using 10 sand-proof pitot-static probes,and mean velocity fields were obtained and discussed.The results showed that mean velocity fields obtained over different gravel mulches were similar.The analysis of wind speed patterns revealed an inherent link between gravel mulches and mean airflow characteristics on the gravel surfaces.The optimal gravel coverage is considered to be the critical level above or below which aeolian transport characteristics differ strongly.According to the present study,the optimal gravel coverage was found to be around 30% or 40%.Threshold velocity linearly increased with gravel coverage.Sand transport rate first increased with height above the wind tunnel floor（Hf）,reaching a peak at some midpoint,and then decreased.

Effects of Different Gravel Mulched Years on Soil Microbial Flora and Physical and Chemical Properties in Gravelsand Mulched Fields

Soil microbial flora and influencing factors of soil microbes in soil and gravel-sand mixed layer（ SGSML）,roots denseness layer（ RDL）,eluviate layer（ EL） and calcium accumulation layer（ CAL） in gravel-sand mulched fields（ GSMFs） with different gravel mulched years（ 1,6,12,19 and 25 years） were studied. The results showed that in the composition of soil microbes in the GSMFs,the quantity of bacteria was the largest,followed by actinomycetes,while the number of fungi was the smallest. The total quantity of soil microorganisms in the GSMFs dropped rapidly with the increase of soil depth,which was related to the sudden decrease in the quantity of bacteria. The number of microbes in the RDL was larger than that in the SGSML with few roots due to the effects of root distribution. The number of bacteria and actinomycete in the growing season was larger than that in the non-growing season,while the quantity of fungi in the growing season was smaller than that in the non-growing season. The quantity of bacteria and fungi was the largest in the GSMFs which had been mulched with gravel for 6-12 years. With the increase of mulching time,the GSMFs aged gradually,so their quantity reduced gradually. The quantity of actinomycetes was the smallest in the GSMFs which had been mulched with gravel for 6-12 years and increased with the increase of mulching time. The number of soil microbes in the GSMFs had a good correlation with soil moisture content,p H and mulching time. Soil total carbon content was an important factor restricting the quantity of soil microbes in the GSMFs.

Effects of Different Gravel Mulching on Soil Moisture Status and Regression Model Prediction in Arid Regions

Drought is one of the main factors limiting the agricultural planting and production;gravel mulching is an effective inhibiting evaporation and water-saving planting pattern in the arid regions. In this study, experiments were conducted to study soil moisture effect and regression model with different gravel mulching, the soil moisture content and evaporation were compared that gravel mulched with different particle sizes, different thickness layer and different mulched years. The results showed that: 1) The cumulative soil evaporation of gravel mulched was only 29.3% of that bare fields. Mulching gravel could significantly reduce soil moisture evaporation. 2) The effects of inhibiting soil moisture evaporation are the best when mulch gravel thickness is 10 - 15 cm. 3) The particle size of gravel mulched is smaller, the evaporation inhibition effect will be better. Considering the water holding capacity and material economy, it is the most suitable to mulch gravel with the particle size of 3 - 5 cm. 4) Mulching gravel on the soil surface for 1 - 3 years can improve the soil moisture content. However, the gravel was mulched for more than five years, the soil moisture content decreased significantly. 5) The quadratic polynomial regression fitting model can better simulate and predict the cumulative evaporation on different gravel mulched, and the regression fitting degree R2 is more than 0.98.

Long-term effects of gravel―sand mulch on soil organic carbon and nitrogen in the Loess Plateau of northwestern China

Gravel-sand mulch has been used for centuries to conserve water in the Loess Plateau of north- western China. In this study, we assessed the influence of long-term （1996-2012） gravel-sand mulching of cultiv- ated soils on total organic carbon （TOC）, light fraction organic carbon （LFOC）, microbial biomass carbon （MBC）, total organic nitrogen （TON）, particulate organic carbon （POC）, mineral-associated organic carbon （MOC）, perma- nganate-oxidizable carbon （KMnO4-C）, and non-KMnO4-C at 0-60 cm depths. Mulching durations were 7, 11 and 16 years, with a non-mulched control. Compared to the control, there was no significant and consistently positive effect of the mulch on TOC, POC, MOC, KMnO4-C and non-KMnO4-C before 11 years of mulching, and these organic C fractions generally decreased significantly by 16 years. LFOC, TON and MBC to at a 0-20 cm depth in- creased with increasing mulching duration until 11 years, and then these fractions decreased significantly between 11 and 16 years, reaching values comparable to or lower than those in the control. KMnO4-C was most strongly correlated with the labile soil C fractions. Our findings suggest that although gravel-sand mulch may conserve soil moisture, it may also lead to long-term decreases in labile soil organic C fractions and total organic N in the study area. The addition of manure or composted manure would be a good choice to reverse the soil deterioration that occurs after 11 years by increasing the inputs of organic matter.

Response of Watermelon to Gravel-Mulch and Supplementary Irrigation: Yield, Water Use Efficiency and Root Distribution

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementary irrigation on watermelon (Citullus lanatus) yield, water-use efficiency (WUE) and root distribution in gravel-mulched field in northwest Loess Plateau, China, during 2001 and 2002 growing seasons. The results showed that gravel mulch significantly improved seedling emergence, increased yield and WUE, and alleviated the influence of drought on plant growth. Regardless of gravel mulch application, supplementary irrigation increased watermelon yields, average fruit weight and number of fruit, especially yield increased as the amount of irrigation increased (P<0.05). Generally, WUE of irrigated treatments were higher than that of non-irrigation treatment in gravel-mulched field. The effect of water supply on root distribution was different in two years. In 2001, average root length density (RLD) and root weight density (RWD) whole the soil profile increased. In 2002, however, RLD and RWD decreased as water supply increased. The average RLD and RWD in 2001 were significantly higher than those in 2002. Maybe we can interpret the phenomenon with the theory that there is a need to optimize root distribution (in terms of water relations) and aboveground biomass for a given water supply.The yield may not depend as much on root growth as on the amount of water required at critical stages. A significant effect of soil depth on RLD and RWD were observed in both years, but did not rapidly decrease with depth.

Information Technology Research on Productivity Evaluation of Gravel-mulched Field in Ningxia

The evaluation process of traditional land productivity is relatively complex,and the evaluation indices and results cannot display visually.With the development of geographic information system science,there are more and more studies on the GIS-based land productivity evaluation.GIS system can combine the evaluation model with information system software,realizing the visual display of all the evaluation factors.In this paper,with the development process of GIS-based management information system as references,the management information system for GIS-based gravel-mulched field productivity evaluation was designed and developed by combining with the SI model for gravel-mulched field productivity evaluation.The system was developed under VB environment,integrated with MapInfo,and the evaluation results could be shown visually in the system windows.

Long-term effects of gravel-sand mulch thickness on soil microbes and enzyme activities in semi-arid Loess Plateau,Northwest China

In semi-arid areas of China,gravel and sand mulch is a farming technique with a long history.In this study,a sample survey was conducted on long term gravel sand mulch observational fields in the Northwest Loess Plateau to determine the effects of long term mulch on soil microbial and soil enzyme activities.We found that after long term gravel-sand mulch,compared with bare ground,soil organic matter,alkali nitrogen,conductivity decreased,while pH and soil moisture increased.Urease,saccharase and catalase decreased with increased mulch thickness,while alkaline phosphatase was reversed.The results of Illumina MiSeq sequencing shows that after gravel-sand mulch,the bacterial and fungal community structure was different from bare land,and the diversity was reduced.Compared with bare land,the bacteria Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria abundance increased with increased thickness,and Actinobacteria was opposite.Also,at the fungal genus level,Fusarium abundance was significantly reduced,and Remersonia was significantly increased,compared with bare land.Redundancy analysis(RDA)revealed that soil environmental factors were important drivers of bacterial community changes.Overall,this study revealed some of the reasons for soil degradation after long term gravel-sand mulch.Therefore,it is recommended that the addition of exogenous soil nutrients after long term gravel-sand can help improve soil quality.

Soil mulching can mitigate soil water defi ciency impacts on rainfed maize production in semiarid environments

Temporally irregular rainfall distribution and inefficient rainwater management create severe constraints on crop production in rainfed semiarid areas. Gravel and plastic film mulching are effective methods for improving agricultural productivity and water utilization. However, the effects of these mulching practices on soil water supply and plant water use associated with crop yield are not well understood. A 3-yr study was conducted to analyze the occurrence and distribution of dry spells in a semiarid region of Northwest China and to evaluate the effects of non-mulching （CK）, gravel mulching （GM） and plastic film mulching （FM） on the soil water supply, plant water use and maize （Zea mays L.） grain yield. Rainfall analysis showed that dry spells of ≥5 days occurred frequently in each of 3 yr, accounting for 59.9-69.2% of the maize growing periods. The 〉15-d dry spells during the jointing stage would expose maize plants to particularly severe water stress. Compared with the CK treatment, both the GM and FM treatments markedly increased soil water storage during the early growing season. In general, the total evapotranspiration （ET） was not significantly different among the three treatments, but the mulched treatments significantly increased the ratio of pre- to post-silking ET, which was closely associated with yield improvement. As a result, the grain yield significantly increased by 17.1, 70.3 and 16.7% for the GM treatment and by 28.3, 87.6 and 38.2% for the FM treatment in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, compared with the CK treatment. It＇s concluded that both GM and FM are effective strategies for mitigating the impacts of water deficit and improving maize production in semiarid areas. However. FM is more effective than GM.

砾石覆盖下的农田土壤环境效应:研究进展与展望

砾石覆盖是旱区特有的一种保护性耕作模式。长期的农业生产实践已经证明,地表覆砂能够很好地适应旱区严酷、恶劣的自然环境,并为当地农业发展和效益提升带来极大助力。然而,砾石覆盖农田退化所带来的一系列负面效应愈加凸显,成为当地农业发展的障碍因子。文章以砾石覆盖的土壤环境效应为脉络,归纳总结了砾石覆盖对土壤水热环境、土壤盐分、土壤有机质、土壤微生物和酶活性,以及水土保持等方面的影响效应和相关机制。同时,进一步指明旱区砂田当前所面临的问题与挑战,并提出该领域未来可持续深化和拓展的方向,主要包括:(1)砾石覆盖农田退化过程中土壤环境的综合演变机制;(2)“砾石-土壤-作物”系统间的协同作用机制;(3)应对砂田退化的农业修复模式及可持续发展路径;(4)砾石覆盖对局部区域气候的影响机制。

旱区连作砂田土壤质量和土地生产力演变与调控研究进展

砾石覆盖在改变旱区水文循环和物质转化方面有着至关重要的作用。然而,长期连作给砂田土壤质量及土地生产力带来危机和不确定性。以连作砂田为研究对象,归纳总结了连作年限对砂层质地结构、土壤物理结构、土壤水盐热效应、土壤养分状况、土壤酶活性、土壤微生物特性、作物生长发育以及产量品质的影响效应和可能机制,发现砂田土壤生态环境和土地生产力在人类活动及自然侵蚀的扰动和破坏下整体呈现退化态势,但对不同覆盖条件、施肥水平和种植结构等农田管理措施的响应过程表现出差异性。继而,基于土壤质量和土地生产力的协同和互作效应深入揭示了砂田性能逐年退化机理,并简述了生物、农业及工程调控措施在砂田退化阻控和修复方面的应用进展。在此基础上,提出了砂田退化进程中急需解决的关键科学问题和未来发展方向,主要包括土壤质量演变的基本过程及其发生机制、“砾石-土壤-微生物-植物”系统的叠加和互作效应及其分子机理、土壤改良与生物防治措施的定量化及其调控机制三个方面。在气候变化、植被演替和土地退化背景下,废弃风化砾石的劣化增肥机制及其环境效应将是今后研究的重点。

中国西北旱区砂田表层土壤养分效应对连作响应的整合分析

为明确砂田表层土壤养分对连作的响应规律,深入揭示砂田性能逐年退化机理,文章基于国内外已发表的16篇相关文献的586组有效数据,借助Meta-analysis方法进行整合定量研究,定量分析覆砂1—3年农田与其他连作年限砂田(4—6年、7—9年、10—12年、13—15年、16—20年)在表层土壤水分状况(SWC)、养分特性(有机质SOM、全氮TN、全磷TP、全钾TK、碱解氮AN、速效磷AP、速效钾AK、全盐TSS)和酸碱环境(pH)方面的差异效应,系统阐释砂田表层土壤养分特性逐年变异的发生路径及驱动因素,进而综合评估其肥力水平。结果表明:伴随种植年限的增加,砂田表层土壤水分储量和养分强度整体呈现下降态势(P<0.05),4—20年的土壤SWC、SOM、TN、TP、TK、AN、AP、AK含量分别较1—3年减少39.06%、14.21%、14.96%、10.06%、8.20%、15.87%、37.01%、18.60%(P<0.05)。表层土壤SOM、TN、TP、TK、AN、AP、AK主要于10—12年开始大幅流失(P<0.05),而4—6年土壤SOM、TP、TK、AK含量的相对变化则不显著(P>0.05)。砂田在耕作12年内具有显著压盐效果,12年以后的表层土壤TSS含量则开始呈现逐年增加的发展趋向(P<0.05),其土壤pH整体增加1.29%(P<0.05)。连作年限是砂田表层土壤TN、TP和AK变异的关键因子;SWC则为土壤SOM、AP和TSS演化的主导要素。总体而言,砂田在连作10年左右即可出现明显的养分亏缺状态。因此,亟需提出科学合理的农田管理措施,以有效提升退化砂田的土壤肥力水平。

砂石与秸秆覆盖对风沙土水分蒸发特性的影响

探究不同厚度的砂石和秸秆覆盖对辽西北风沙土土壤水分蒸发的影响机理,特别是在不同初始含水率下的影响,并探索抑制辽西北风沙地土壤水分蒸发的最佳模式,也为风沙区植被建设提供理论基础。首次以辽西北风沙土为研究对象,运用自行设计的蒸发桶进行为期20天的室内蒸发模拟试验,研究土壤蒸发量随蒸发时间的变化规律。结果表明,砂石与秸秆覆盖能够抑制土壤水分蒸发,随着初始含水率增大,砂石与秸秆覆盖厚度越厚,其保持土壤水分的效果就越强。

不同大果型西瓜品种砂田农艺性状及丰产性鉴定

为增强压砂西瓜产业活力,筛选出在砂田种植条件下具备发展潜力的大果型西瓜品种,在宁夏压砂西瓜核心产区对选取的8个大果型西瓜品种,从生长势、抗病性、果实性状和产量等方面综合分析了各品种的特征特性。结果表明,供试品种1912主蔓长、节间长优势较高,蔓粗最粗,枯萎病、霜霉病、白粉病和炭疽病发病率均为最低,抗病性表现最优,综合表现突出。该品种果实横径最大,为245.80 mm;果实纵径较大,为333.90 mm;果实中心糖度、边缘糖度均为最高,分别为12.80%、9.60%;单瓜质量最高,为9.04 kg,较对照品种金城红金五高0.53 kg;商品率较高,为91.33%;西瓜折合产量和商品瓜折合产量也最高,分别为31391.20、28669.58 kg/hm^(2),较对照品种金城红金五分别增产6.24%、5.47%。综合以上各项性状表现,认为1912种植优势突出,适宜在砂田种植模式进一步推广。

节水型农艺措施对旱砂西瓜产量及品质的影响研究进展

位于我国西北内陆的半干旱区和干旱区,干旱指数可达3.75~16.67,严重制约当地各项生产活动可持续发展。旱砂西瓜作为地区支柱型产业,具有耐旱、高产和高品质等特点,但在扩大旱砂田西瓜种植面积的同时,生产效率低、操作不规范、收益甚微、农田原始生物群落受到破坏、生态环境污染等副作用凸显。本文以旱砂西瓜种植过程中凸显的问题为出发点,通过对育种、覆膜、病虫害防治、集雨补灌等农艺措施对旱砂西瓜产量和品质的影响进行综述,阐明由于区位差异性强、试验年限代表性低和相同技术方法所得结果不统一等原因引起研究结果差异的不足与改进,进一步对旱砂西瓜产业研究进行分析,以达到研究与应用相切合的目标,从而实现旱砂西瓜高产高效种植。

甘肃砂田西瓜覆膜补灌效应研究

为证明集雨补灌对砂田西瓜是否有效,在甘肃省皋兰县进行了集雨补灌效应研究,结果表明:在西瓜全生育期,各处理的土壤水分呈波动性下降,0～120cm土层含水量下降幅度在2.59%～4.13%之间,补灌量愈大,土壤含水量的下降幅度愈小。砂田西瓜全生育期耗水较少,不同补灌量处理的耗水量在175.9～218.9mm之间,比小麦等大田作物低100mm以上。灌水量对结瓜期的耗水量影响很大,灌水量增加,结瓜期耗水量增大。不同补灌量处理的西瓜产量差异达显著水平,随灌水量的增加,产量、单瓜重和采收瓜数相应增加。补灌量对西瓜的含糖量也有影响,补灌量低于45mm,各处理之间含糖量的差异不大,补灌量为67.5mm,西瓜含糖量降低4.4%以上。适量补灌可以提高西瓜水分利用效率,其中滴灌67.5mm处理水分利用率最高,达到267.2kg·hm-2·mm-1,比不补灌处理提高17.0%。但随灌水量的增加,灌水效率降低,单方水产值减少。由于补灌对西瓜的产量、含糖量和水分利用率都有影响,只有适时适量补灌,才能即提高产量和水分利用率,又不降低品质。研究结果证明,砂田集雨补灌栽培西瓜是集雨水利用的一种较经济高效的方式,但最佳补灌量应控制在45mm左右为宜。

黄土高原西北部砂田西瓜集雨补灌效应研究

在黄土高原西北部地区对砂田西瓜的集雨补灌效应进行了研究。试验采用滴灌方式 ,设 0 mm (D0 )、2 2 .5mm(D1 )、45.0 mm(D2 )和 67.5mm(D3 ) 4个灌水量处理。区组内各处理随机排列 ,四次重复。试验结果表明 :在西瓜全生育期 ,每个处理 0～ 1 2 0 cm土层的土壤水分含量均呈下降趋势 ,下降的幅度随着补灌量的增加而减小。全生育期补灌 67.5mm的处理土壤含水量最高 ,比没有补灌的对照处理高 2 .2 %。土壤水分的变化在 0～ 40 cm土层比较活跃 ,其次是 40～ 80 cm土层 ,而 80～ 1 2 0 cm土层的含水量变化相对比较稳定。对砂田西瓜进行补灌可以提高产量和水分利用效率。补灌 45mm和 67.5mm的处理比对照分别增产36.3%和 45.7%。补灌 67.5mm处理的水分利用率最高 ,为 2 6.7kg/ m3 ,比对照增加 1 7.0 % ;该处理的净利润和每单位 (m3 )水的净利润也最高 ,分别达 43.677元 / hm2 和 1 8.48元 / m3 ,比不补灌的对照处理高2 9 .9%和 1 5.3%。补灌量对西瓜的含糖量也有影响 ,补灌量低于 45mm,各处理之间含糖量的差异不大 ,补灌量为 67.5mm,西瓜含糖量降低 0 .44%。补灌对西瓜的产量、含糖量和水分利用率均有影响 ,砂田西瓜只有补灌量控制在 45mm左右 ,才能既提高产量和水分利用率 。

砂石覆盖粒径对土壤蒸发的影响

为研究不同粒径砂石覆盖对土壤蒸发过程的影响,进行模拟试验。试验以砂石粒径大小为因子,设3个粒径水平:0.5,2.5,4.5cm,以裸土为对照。结果表明:地面砂石覆盖能够有效抑制土壤蒸发,在土壤含水率较高的阶段,抑制作用更加明显;砂石覆盖对蒸发的抑制作用与砂石粒径密切相关,在相同的覆盖厚度(5cm)和同一含水率条件下,砂石覆盖的粒径越大,对蒸发的抑制能力越低;砂石覆盖能明显改变土壤蒸发过程,覆盖条件下的土壤蒸发与裸土相比不仅降低而且更加平稳;在41d的连续蒸发过程中,覆盖条件下的累计土壤蒸发量与时间呈近似线性关系,而裸土为对数关系。

风沙危害防治的主要工程措施及其机理

对风沙危害防治的主要工程措施及其物理机理进行了深入研究,从理论上得出格状沙障内最大风蚀深度与方格边长之间的解析关系,利用流体力学理论计算了不同草头高度h0所对应的最大间距Lmax,得出格状沙障中心沙粒的起动风速随沙障规格和深宽比h/L的增加而减小,建立了栅栏下风侧风速为来流风速的百分率与栅栏下风向距离的关系,并对不同孔隙度尼纶网栅栏的风沙阻导效应、直立植物及戈壁砾石覆盖防沙措施的粗糙特征、化学工程固沙措施等进行了广泛研究。通过对已有研究成果的综合评述,剖析了风沙工程学面临的主要问题与任务,指出与生态环境治理、资源开发及可持续发展问题紧密结合,是风沙危害防治研究发展的方向,并亟待加强与生态环境恢复—资源高效开发一体化的风沙危害防治措施的理论研究与技术示范。

宁夏环香山地区压砂地土壤肥力特征分析

以宁夏环香山地区农田压砂地为研究对象,对压砂不同种植年限(CK,1a,3a,5a,15a,25a)下的土壤肥力及其相关因子进行了研究。结果表明:农田压砂后能显著提高土壤贮水量,压砂不同种植年限下的土壤贮水量分别比农田CK提高了68.5%,50.12%,40.42%,60.03%,44.39%。受季节降雨的影响,压砂不同种植年限土壤贮水量的季节变化趋势相一致。农田压砂种植初期(1～5a)显著降低了pH值,随着种植年限的增加PH值含量基本呈增加趋势。农田压砂后明显降低了土壤全氮、全磷、有机质、碱解氮、速磷、速钾的含量,且随着种植年限的增加呈逐年下降的趋势。随着种植年限的增加西瓜产量呈明显下降趋势,农田压砂种植5～8a,10a,15a,20a分别比压砂种植1～3a产量下降了33.33%,38.89%,55.56%,71.11%。

适宜施氮量提高温室砂田滴灌甜瓜产量品质及水氮利用率

为解决设施砂田甜瓜生产中的水肥瓶颈问题,该文通过大田试验,研究西北旱区设施砂田甜瓜传统水肥管理与滴灌施肥处理对不同生育时期甜瓜生长、产量、品质及水氮利用率的影响,从而确定甜瓜高效的灌溉方式及适宜的氮肥用量。试验设置了2个对照处理：大水漫灌不施氮肥（CK0）和大水漫灌传统施氮（CK）,并在灌水量减少40%的滴灌条件下设置了4个氮肥水平：不施氮（T1）、传统施氮量N 180 kg/hm2（T2）、减氮40%即N 108 kg/hm2（T3）、增氮40%即N 252 kg/hm2（T4）,共6个处理。结果表明：滴灌施肥处理较对照在甜瓜生长后期光合、植株干物质及氮素积累量等生理、生长指标均显著提高,甜瓜增产7.40%～14.35%,水、氮利用率分别提高28.81%～40.65%和22.78%～77.22%,果实品质中可溶性固形物及Vc含量也显著提高,硝酸盐含量显著降低,且滴灌可减少砂层含土量,从而延长砂田的使用年限。相同滴灌条件不同氮水平处理间,甜瓜植株干物质及氮素积累量随施氮量的增加而增加,而光合指标、产量、品质及水氮利用率则表现出先增加后降低的趋势,其中以T2和T3处理的甜瓜产量、品质和水氮利用率最高。综合分析表明,滴灌施肥是西北旱区设施砂田甜瓜栽培优质高产、高效和节水节肥的水肥管理模式,适宜的氮肥施用量为108～180 kg/hm2。