Impact of wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions on the soil aggregate stability of yellow‒brown soil

Soil aggregate is the basic structural unit of soil,which is the foundation for supporting ecosystem functions,while its composition and stability is significantly affected by the external environment.This study was conducted to explore the effect of external environment(wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions)on the soil aggregate distribution and stability and identify the key soil physicochemical factors that affect the soil aggregate stability.The yellow‒brown soil from the Three Gorges Reservoir area(TGRA)was used,and 8 wetting-drying conditions(0,1,2,3,4,5,10 and 15 cycles)were simulated under 4 acidic conditions(pH=3,4,5 and 7).The particle size distribution and soil aggregate stability were determined by wet sieving method,the contribution of environmental factors(acid condition,wetting-drying cycle and their combined action)to the soil aggregate stability was clarified and the key soil physicochemical factors that affect the soil aggregate stability under wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions were determined by using the Pearson’s correlation analysis,Partial least squares path modeling(PLS‒PM)and multiple linear regression analysis.The results indicate that wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions have significant effects on the stability of soil aggregates,the soil aggregate stability gradually decreases with increasing number of wetting-drying cycles and it obviously decreases with the increase of acidity.Moreover,the combination of wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions aggravate the reduction in the soil aggregate stability.The wetting-drying cycles,acidic conditions and their combined effect imposes significant impact on the soil aggregate stability,and the wetting-drying cycles exert the greatest influence.The soil aggregate stability is significantly correlated with the pH,Ca^(2+),Mg^(2+),maximum disintegration index(MDI)and soil bulk density(SBD).The PLS‒PM and multiple linear regression analysis further reveal that the soil aggregate stability is primarily influenced by SBD,Ca^(2+),and MDI.These results offer a scientific basis for understanding the soil aggregate breakdown mechanism and are helpful for clarifying the coupled effect of wetting-drying cycles and acid rain on terrestrial ecosystems in the TGRA.

Preliminary Study on the Effect of Different Ecological Cultivation Modes on the Water Stability of Soil Aggregates in Rubber Based Agroforestry Systems

Rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.) have been commercially cultivated for a century and a half in Asia, particularly in China, and they constitute a common element of plantation ecosystems in tropical regions. Soil health is fundamental to the sustainable development of rubber plantations. The objective of the study is to explore the influence of different complex ecological cultivation modes on the stability of soil aggregates in rubber based agroforestry systems. In this study, the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Alpinia oxyphylla plantation, the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantations, the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Homalium ceylanicum plantations and monoculture rubber plantations were selected, and the particle size distribution of soil aggregates and their water stability characteristics were analyzed. The soil depth of 0 - 20 cm and 20 - 40 cm was collected for four cultivation modes. Soil was divided into 6 particle levels > 20 cm. soil was divided into 6 particle levels > 5 mm, 2 - 5 mm, 1 - 2 mm, 0.5 - 1 mm, 0.25 - 0.5 mm, and 0.053 - 0.25 mm according to the wet sieve method. The particle size proportion and water stability of soil aggregates were determined by the wet sieve method. The particle size proportion and water stability of soil aggregates under different ecological cultivation modes were analyzed. The results showed that under different ecological cultivation modes in the shallow soil layer (0 - 20 cm), the rubber—Alpinia oxyphylla plantation and the rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantation promoted the development of dominant soil aggregates towards larger size classes, whereas the situation is the opposite for rubber—Homalium ceylanicum plantation. In soil layer (20 - 40 cm), the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantation developed the dominant radial level of soil aggregates to the diameter level of large aggregates. Rubber—Alpinia oxyphylla plantation and rubber—Homalium ceylanicum plantation, three indicators, including the water-stable aggregate content R0.25 (>0.25 mm water-stable aggregates), mean weight diameter (MWD), and geometric mean diameter (GMD), were all lower than those in the rubber monoculture mode. However, in the rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantation, the water-stable aggregate content R0.25, mean weight diameter, and geometric mean diameter were higher than in the rubber monoculture mode, although these differences did not reach statistical significance.

Effects of the combined application of organic and chemical nitrogen fertilizer on soil aggregate carbon and nitrogen:A 30-year study

To understand the long-term effects of combined organic and chemical nitrogen fertilization on soil organic C(SOC) and total N(TN), we conducted a 30-year field experiment with a wheat–maize rotation system on the Huang-HuaiHai Plain during 1990–2019. The experimental treatments consisted of five fertilizer regimes: no fertilizer(control), chemical fertilizer only(NPK), chemical fertilizer with straw(NPKS), chemical fertilizer with manure(NPKM), and 1.5 times the rate of NPKM(1.5NPKM). The NPK, NPKS, and NPKM treatments had equal N inputs. The crop yields were measured over the whole experimental duration. Soil samples were collected from the topsoil(0–10 and 10–20 cm) and subsoil(20–40 cm) layers for assessing soil aggregates and taking SOC and TN measurements. Compared with the NPK treatment, the SOC and TN contents increased significantly in both the topsoil(24.1–44.4% for SOC and 22.8–47.7% for TN) and subsoil layers(22.0–47.9% for SOC and 19.8–41.8% for TN) for the organically amended treatments(NPKS, NPKM and 1.5NPKM) after 30 years, while no significant differences were found for the average annual crop yields over the 30 years of the experiment. The 0–10 cm layer of the NPKS treatment and the 20–40 cm layer of the NPKM treatment had significantly higher macroaggregate fraction mass proportions(19.8 and 27.0%) than the NPK treatment. However, the 0–10 and 20–40 cm layers of the 1.5NPKM treatment had significantly lower macroaggregate fraction mass proportions(–19.2 and –29.1%) than the control. The analysis showed that the higher SOC and TN in the soil of organically amended treatments compared to the NPK treatment were related to the increases in SOC and TN protected in the stable fractions(i.e., free microaggregates and microaggregates within macroaggregates), in which the contributions of the stable fractions were 81.1–91.7% of the increase in SOC and 83.3–94.0% of the increase in TN, respectively. The relationships between average C inputs and both stable SOC and TN stocks were significantly positive with R2 values of 0.74 and 0.72(P<0.01) for the whole 40 cm soil profile, which indicates the importance of N for soil C storage. The results of our study provide key evidence that long-term combined organic and chemical nitrogen fertilization, while maintaining reasonable total N inputs, benefited soil C and N storage in both the topsoil and subsoil layers.

Fragmentation process of soil aggregates under concentrated water flow in red soil hilly region with different land use patterns

The hilly area of red soil in the central subtropical region of China has a long history of severe soil erosion due to its abundance of water,heat,and intense agricultural and forestry activities.The Sandshale red soil area is hot and rainy,the local land utilization rate and replanting index are high,and the soil easily weathers and erodes,resulting in infertile and sandy soils,extensive soil erosion and large erosion,with far-reaching impacts.In this study,the stability of soil aggregates was studied by the wet sieving method and Le Bissonais(LB)method in six land use patterns in the Sandshale red soil area,including natural forest(NF),Pinus massoniana(PM),Eucalyptus urophylla×E.grandis(EU),orchard(OR),wasteland(WL)and arable land(AL).The transport damage characteristics of the soil aggregates under concentrated water flow were analyzed by using the soil aggregates to simulate the soil surface roughness in the field using a steel scouring flume with a variable slope.The results showed that:(1)the total soil porosity of the natural forest was the highest,with 56.51%in A layer,which was 4.99%higher than the B layer,and the organic matter content ranged from 10.69 to 29.94 g.kg-1 and was highest in NF and lowest in AL;(2)the maximum mean weight diameter(MWD)obtained by the wet sieving method was 4.81 mm for natural forest,and the MWD was the lowest in OR and AL at 2.45-2.77mm.The MWD measured by the LB method was also highest in NF and lowest in AL.The contents of Fed and Ald have a strong correlation with the stability parameters of soil aggregates;(3)the Wr/Wi results for the six land use patterns were NF>PM>EU>WL>OR>AL;the NF had the strongest soil aggregate stability,followed by WL,PM and EU,and AL and OR had the weakest;the stability of soil aggregates gradually weakened as the soil depth increased.Comprehensive analysis shows that forest land has high soil stability and obvious advantages in soil erosion resistance.Strengthening the construction of artificial forests can be an important means to reduce soil erosion in red soil hilly region.

Influence of Conservation Tillage on Soil Aggregates Features in North China Plain

Tillage greatly influences the aggregation and stability of soil aggregates. This study investigated the effects of conservation tillage on soil aggregate characteristics. During a four-year study period （2001-2005）, soils were sampled from no-tillage （NT）, rotary tillage （RT）, and conventional tillage （moldboard tillage, CT） plots at the Luancheng Agriculture and Ecology Experimental Station in Hebei Province, China, and the amount, size distribution, and fractal dimension of the aggregates were examined by dry and wet sieving methods. The results indicated that NT significantly increased the topsoil （0-5 cm） bulk density （BD）, while RT maintained a lower BD as CT. Dry sieving results showed that NT had higher macro-aggregate content （R0.25）, and a larger mean weight diameter （MWD） and geometric mean diameter （GMD） than other treatments in the 0-10 cm layer, while RT showed no difference from CT. In wet sieving, results showed that most of the aggregates were unstable, and the MWD and GMD of water-table aggregates showed the trend of NT 〉 RT 〉 CT. At 0-5 cm layer, the fractal dimension （D） of water-stable aggregates under NT was lower than it was under RT and CT. At 5-10 cm, RT yielded the highest D, and showed stability. After four years, NT increased the aggregation and the stability of soil aggregates; while due to intense disturbance, the aggregation and stability of the upper layer （0-10 cm） under RT and CT decreased.

Soil Properties and Characteristics of Soil Aggregate in Marginal Farmlands of Oasis in the Middle of Hexi Corridor Region, Northwest China

The composition and stability of soil aggregate are closely related to soil quality, soil erosion, and agricultural sustainability. In this study, 49 soil samples at the 0-10 cm surface layer were collected from four soil types （i.e., Ari-Sandic Primosols, Calci-Orthic Aridosols, Siltigi-Otrthic Anthrosols, and Ustic Cambosols） in the marginal farmland in the oasis of the middle Hexi Corridor region and was used to determine the characteristics of soil aggregates. The composition of dry- and wet- sieved aggregates and the physical and chemical properties （including soil particle distribution, soil organic carbon （SOC）, calcium carbonate （CaCO3）, and oxides of Fe^3＋ and Al^3＋） of the selected soils were analyzed. The results show that soil particle size distribution is dominated by fine sand fraction in most of soils except Ustic Cambosols. Soil organic carbon concentration is 5.88 ± 2.52 g kg^-1 on average, ranging from 4.75 g kg^-1 in Ari-Sandic Primosols to 10.51 g kg^-1 in Ustic Cambosols. The soils have high calcium carbonate （CaCO3） concentration, ranging from 84.7 to 164.8 g kg^-1, which is increased with soil fine particle and organic carbon content. The percentage of 〉0.25 mm dry aggregates ranges from 65.2% in Ari-Sandic Primosols to 94.6% in Ustic Cambosols, and large dry blocky aggregates （〉5 mm） is dominant in all soils. The mean weight diameter of dry aggregates （DMWD） ranges from 3.2 mm to 5.5 mm. The percentage of 〉0.25 mm water-stable aggregate is from 23.8% to 45.4%. The percentage of aggregate destruction （PAD） is from 52.4% to 66.8%, which shows a weak aggregate stability. Ari-Sandic Primosols has the highest PAD. The distribution and characteristics of soil aggregates are in favor of controlling soil wind erosion. However, the stability of aggregate of all soils is weak and soils are prone to disperse and harden after irrigation. The mass of macro-aggregates and DMWD are positively significantly correlated with the contents of soil clay and silt, soil organic carbon （SOC）, CaCO3, and oxides of Fe^3＋ and Al^3＋. Soil fine silt and clay, SOC and CaCO3 are important agents of aggregation in this region, and the effect of SOC and CaCO3 on aggregate stability is more significant than that of soil silt and clay. Converting cropland to alfalfa forage land can increase SOC concentration, and in turn, enhance the formation of aggregates and stability. For the marginal farmlands in this fragile ecological area, converting cropland to alfalfa grassland or performing crop-grass rotation is an effective and basic strategy to improve soil structure and quality, to mitigate soil wind erosion, and to enhance oasis agricultural sustainability.

Conversion of pure Chinese fir plantation to multi-layered mixed plantation enhances the soil aggregate stability by regulating microbial communities in subtropical China

Background:Soil aggregates are the basic units of soil structure,and their stability is a key indicator of soil quality and capacity to support ecosystem functions.The impacts of various environmental factors on soil aggregates have been widely studied.However,there remains elusive knowledge on the synergistic effects of changing forest stand structure on soil aggregate stability(SAS),particularly in subtropical China where soil erosion remains a critical issue.Methods:We investigated variations in the components of soil humus(HS),including humic acids(HAs),fulvic acids(FAs),and humins(HMs),under pure Chinese fir(Cunninghamia lanceolata)plantation(PP)and multilayered mixed plantation(MP)comprising C.lanceolata,Castanopsis hystrix,and Michelia hedyosperma.The state of soil aggregate stability,was determined by three separate methods,i.e.,dry-sieving,wet-sieving,and the Le Bissonnais.High-throughput sequencing was used to determine the diversity and composition of microbial communities under PP and MP.We then built partial least squares path models(PLS-PM)for assessing the responses of SAS to the variations in soil microorganisms and HS components.Results:The MP stands had significantly greater SAS(P<0.05),higher content of HAs and more rapid organic matter humification within aggregates,than the PP stands.High-throughput sequencing confirmed that the Pielou andα-diversity index values(Chao1 and Shannon)for fungi were all significantly higher under MP than under PP,while no marked difference was found in bacterialα-diversity between the two plantation types.Moreover,there were markedly greater abundance of three bacterial phyla(Verrucomicrobia,Chloroflexi,and Gemmatimonadetes)and three fungal phyla(Ascomycota,Kickxellomycota,and Glomeromycota),and significantly less abundance of two bacterial phyla(Planctomycetes and Firmicutes)and four fungal phyla(Basidiomycota,Mortierellomycota,Mucoromycota,and Rozellomycota)under MP than under PP.The Chloroflexi and Ascomycota phyla appeared to be the primary drivers of soil aggregate distribution.Our findings revealed that the promotion of SAS under MP was mainly driven by increased soil organic matter(SOM)content,which altered bacterial communities and enhanced fungal diversity,thereby increasing HAs content and the rate of organic matter humification.Conclusions:Considering the combined effects of enhanced soil quality,productivity,and relevant economic costs,introducing broadleaved tree species into Chinese fir plantations can be an effective strategy for stabilizing soil structure against erosion in subtropical China.Our study elucidated the controls on variations of SAS in Chinese fir-dominated plantations and demonstrated the benefit of converting pure Chinese fir plantation to multi-layered mixed plantations in increasing soil structural stability and improving site quality.

Aggregate binding agents improve soil aggregate stability in Robinia pseudoacacia forests along a climatic gradient on the Loess Plateau,China

The distribution of binding agents(i.e.,soil organic carbon(SOC)and glomalin-related soil protein(GRSP))in soil aggregates was influenced by many factors,such as plant characteristics and soil properties.However,how these factors affect binding agents and soil aggregate stability along a climatic gradient remained unclear.We selected the Robinia pseudoacacia L.forests from semi-arid to semi-humid of the Loess Plateau,China to analyze the plant biomass,soil physical-chemical properties,SOC and GRSP distribution in different sized soil aggregates.We found that from semi-arid to semi-humid forests:(1)the proportion of macro-aggregates(>0.250 mm)significantly increased(P<0.05),whereas those of micro-aggregates(0.250–0.053 mm)and fine materials(<0.053 mm)decreased and soil aggregate stability was increased;(2)the contents of SOC and GRSP in macro-aggregates and micro-aggregates significantly increased,and those in fine materials decreased;(3)the contribution of SOC to soil aggregate stability was greater than those of total GRSP and easily extractable GRSP;(4)soil properties had greater influence on binding agents than plant biomass;and(5)soil aggregate stability was enhanced by increasing the contents of SOC and GRSP in macro-aggregates and soil property was the important part during this process.Climate change from semi-arid to semi-humid forests is important factor for soil structure formation because of its positive effect on soil aggregates.

Slope structures and formation of rock–soil aggregate landslides in deeply incised valleys

Rock–soil aggregate landslides(RSALs) are a common geological hazard in deeply incised valleys in southwestern China. Large-scale RSALs are widely distributed in the upper reaches of the Dadu River, Danba County, Sichuan Province, and are influenced by slope structure, which can be divided into open, lock, strip, and dumbbell types, as well as soil type and meso-structure, which can be classified as layered rock–soil aggregate, block-soil, and grainsoil. In this study, the evolution of four types of structures, such as layered-dumbbell, block-soil lock, banded block-soil, and block-soil open types, were analyzed by field surveys, surface and deep displacement monitoring, and Flac3 D. It was found that the Danba reach of the Dadu River showed incised valley through the evolution from wide to slow valley affected by internal and external geological processes since the Quaternary Glaciation. In the layered-dumbbell rock–soil aggregate, the main sliding pattern is multi-stage sliding at different depths. Circular sliding in the trailing edge and plane sliding along the bedrock in the front edge body occurin the block-soil-lock type aggregate. Large-scale multi-level and circular sliding over long distances occur in the banded block-soil aggregate. The blocksoil open type is stable, with only circular sliding occurring in local and shallow surfaces of the body. The monitoring and numerical simulation results further show that slope structure and regularity have diversified with RSALs. The results provide a basis for analyzing the stability mechanism of RSALs and preventing RSALs in deeply incised valleys.

Application of fractal theory in assessing soil aggregates in Indian tropical ecosystems

Soil aggregation varies according to climatic and manage- ment factors, and is difficult to measure because of irregular shapes and sizes of soil aggregates. We applied fractal theory to assess soil aggrega- tion as affected by （1） land use change from forest to savanna, （2） nutri- ent additions in forest, ecotone, and savanna ecosystems, and （3） tillage practice and residue treatments in an agro-ecosystem. We used fractal dimensions nonlinear （D,o,-lin） and linear （Dlin） based on number of ag- gregates （N） and mass of aggregates （M） （the range of values were 2.6-2.89 and 2.694.41, respectively） to capture the variations in the sizes of soil aggregates due to land use and treatments/management in these ecosystems. The variation in the values of non-linear fractal dimension based on mass （DMnon-lin） was smaller in forest and savanna ecosystems with and without nutrient additions, while the variation was wider in agro-ecosystems with different management practices. Linear fractal dimensions based on number （Dr^i,） and mass （DMlin） of aggregates var- ied marginally in these ecosystems and did not capture the variations in soil aggregates well. The variations in non-linear fractal dimension indi- cate that continued nitrogen loading in forest accelerates the formation of macro-aggregates, whereas in savanna the situation was reversed. The values of non-linear fractal dimensions did not show significant change after 6 years of nutrient additions in the ecotone; reflecting a buffering mechanism of this system in soil aggregate formation. On the basis of non-linear fractal dimension values, we conclude that residue retention and minimum tillage are appropriate for proper maintenance of soil ag- gregate stability for sustained crop production in the Indian dry land agro-ecosystems

Effects of organic mulching on soil aggregate stability and aggregate binding agents in an urban forest in Beijing, China

Urban forest soil is often disturbed by rapid urbanization. Organic mulching is effective for improving soil quality and aggregate stability. This study evaluated how soil binding agents changed aggregate stability through organic mulching in urban forest soils. Three treatments were applied in Jiufeng National Forest Park, Beijing: (1) no organic mulch (control);(2) wood chips alone (5 cm thickness);and, (3) wood chips + wood compost (This mulch was divided into two layers, the upper layer of wood chips (2.5 cm), the lower layer wood compost (2.5 cm)). Soil samples were collected from the surface 10- cm soil layer and fraction into four aggregates. Glomalin-related soil protein and soil organic carbon were measured in bulk soil and the four aggregates. The results show that wood chips + wood compost increased the proportion of large and small macroaggregates, mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter. The total and easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein were higher in the wood chips + wood compost. However, soil organic carbon was lower in the wood chips alone application compared to the controls and wood chips + wood compost. Easily extractable / total glomalin-related soil protein and glomalin-related soil protein / soil organic carbon ratios of wood chips alone and wood chips + wood compost had increased trend compared to the controls but did not reach significant levels (p > 0.05). Mean weight diameter and geometric mean diameter correlated positively with total and easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein but were not positively correlated with soil organic carbon, the ratios of easily extractable and total glomalin-related soil protein, and the ratios of glomalin-related soil protein and soil organic carbon. Redundancy analysis revealed that total glomalin-related soil protein was the most important driver for soil aggregate stability, especially the total glomalin-related soil protein of small macroaggregates. The results suggest that wood chips + wood compost enhanced soil aggregate stability through the increase of glomalin-related soil protein. Wood chips alone cannot enhance soil aggregate stability in urban forests in the short term.

Effects of organic matter on the distribution of rare earth elements in red soil aggregates during ecological restoration

Rare earth elements(REEs)are widely applied in high-tech fields.However,their increasing presence in the food chain poses significant risks to human health.At present,little is known about the effects of organic matter on the distribution of ion-adsorbed REEs in soil aggregates during ecological restoration.Red soil derived from coarse-grained granite in Southern China is both prone to ecosystem degradation from soil erosion and rich in REEs.Understanding the distribution of REEs in soil aggregates undergoing ecological restoration is helpful to formulate effective measures for controlling the environmental migration of REEs.Four sites that had undergone different durations/degrees of ecological restoration were selected in the areas to analyze.REEs concentration of six different aggregates sizes(<0.25,0.25-0.5,0.5-1,1-2,2-5,and>5 mm)were analyzed and the enrichment coefficients were calculated in 4 sample sites of severe-degraded ecosystem in Changting County,Fujian Province,Southern China.The results showed that the total rare earth elements(TREEs)concentration in the aggregates increased from 213 mg kg^(-1) to 528 mg kg^(-1) with the extension of the ecological restoration time.At the initial stages of ecological restoration,there was no significant difference in the TREEs concentration among the six aggregates sizes.However,in the middle and late stages of restoration,the concentration of TREEs increased significantly with the decrease of aggregate size.The concentration of individual REEs showed three changing trends with sizes of aggregates during ecological restoration,respectively:1)no obvious regular change(S1),2)a V-shaped change trend(S2),and 3)increasing concentration with the decrease of aggregate size(S3 and S4).Ce and Eu showed a positive and negative anomaly in the soil aggregates,respectively.Moreover,the light rare earth elements(LREEs)were enriched,while the heavy rare earth elements(HREEs)were depleted during the initial stages,and the HREEs were enriched during the middle and late stages of restoration.The correlation coefficient between organic matter and REEs in aggregates was generally low;however,LREEs showed a stronger correlation with organic matter than that of HREEs during the initial stages of ecological restoration.The correlation between organic matter and HREEs gradually increased and even exceeded that of LREEs with on-going ecological restoration.The distribution of REEs concentration in degraded soil aggregates in Southern China showed obvious variability with the ecological restoration time.

Changes in organic C stability within soil aggregates under different fertilization patterns in a greenhouse vegetable field

Knowledge of the stability of soil organic C(SOC)is vital for assessing SOC dynamics and cycling in agroecosystems.Studies have documented the regulatory effect of fertilization on SOC stability in bulk soils.However,how fertilization alters organic C stability at the aggregate scale in agroecosystems remains largely unclear.This study aimed to appraise the changes of organic C stability within soil aggregates after eight years of fertilization(chemical vs.organic fertilization)in a greenhouse vegetable field in Tianjin,China.Changes in the stability of organic C in soil aggregates were evaluated by four methods,i.e.,the modified Walkley-Black method(chemical method),13C NMR spectroscopy(spectroscopic method),extracellular enzyme assay(biological method),and thermogravimetric analysis(thermogravimetric method).The aggregates were isolated and separated by a wet-sieving method into four fractions:large macroaggregates(>2 mm),small macroaggregates(0.25–2 mm),microaggregates(0.053–0.25 mm),and silt/clay fractions(<0.053 mm).The results showed that organic amendments increased the organic C content and reduced the chemical,spectroscopic,thermogravimetric,and biological stability of organic C within soil aggregates relative to chemical fertilization alone.Within soil aggregates,the content of organic C was the highest in microaggregates and decreased in the order microaggregates>macroaggregates>silt/clay fractions.Meanwhile,organic C spectroscopic,thermogravimetric,and biological stability were the highest in silt/clay fractions,followed by macroaggregates and microaggregates.Moreover,the modified Walkley-Black method was not suitable for interpreting organic C stability at the aggregate scale due to the weak correlation between organic C chemical properties and other stability characteristics within the soil aggregates.These findings provide scientific insights at the aggregate scale into the changes of organic C properties under fertilization in greenhouse vegetable fields in China.

The Influence of Different Land Use Manners on Soil Aggregate Characteristics of Consolidation and Returning to Field in Hollow Village of Hilly Area

The research aimed to explore the influence of different land use manners on soil aggregate,and provide scientific basis for improving soil stability and production performance of consolidation and returning to field in hollow village of hilly area. After consolidation and returning to field in hollow village of hilly area of Chengcheng County,Shaanxi,5 kinds of land use manners were set for 1-year plantation test,and they were corn( C treatment),wheat( W treatment),vegetable( V treatment),medicinal material( M treatment) and control( no plantation: CK treatment). Soil aggregate distribution,mean mass diameter( WMD),geometric mean diameter( GMD),aggregate failure rate( PAD),unstable aggregate number( ELT) and fractal dimension( D) at 0-40 cm of soil layer were measured and analyzed by dry and wet sieving methods. The results showed that( i) soil aggregate number and size at 0-40 cm of soil layer by each treatment were all significantly better than CK treatment,and > 0. 25 mm of aggregate content by dry sieving method( DR0. 25) and >0. 25 mm of aggregate content by wet sieving method( WR0. 25) at 0-40 cm of soil layer in each treatment showed declining trend with soil layer depth increased;( ii) MWD and GMD sequences of each treatment at 0-40 cm of soil layer by dry and wet sieving methods were both W treatment > C treatment > M treatment > V treatment > CK treatment,and C treatment was conducive to increasing large aggregate content of surface soil,while W treatment was conducive to increasing large aggregate content of lower soil;( iii) the analysis by wet sieving method showed that PAD and ELT at 0-40 cm of soil layer in each treatment both showed similar " Z" shape trend,and each treatment was significantly lower than CK;( iv) D sequence at 0-40 cm of soil layer in each treatment was C treatment < W treatment < M treatment < V treatment < CK treatment. D showed good linear relationship with> 0. 25 mm of aggregate content at 0-40 cm of soil layer by dry and wet sieving methods,and they were respectively R2= 0. 74 and R2= 0. 67. Corn and wheat plantation after consolidation and returning to field in hollow village was conducive to improving large aggregate content at 0-40 cm of soil layer,increasing the stability of soil layer and improving soil structure.

Carbon Sequestration in Soil Aggregates under Different Cropping Patterns of Bangladesh

Land use change and cropping patterns are important factors for controlling carbon sequestration in soils and they may also change the relative importance of different mechanisms of soil organic matter stabilization. The study was conducted to investigate the state of carbon sequestration in soil aggregates under different cropping patterns of Khulna, Jessore and Chapainawabganj districts in Bangladesh. Thirty-six soil samples were collected from (0 - 100 cm depth) above mentioned regions of three physiographic regions: Ganges Meander Floodplain, Ganges Tidal Floodplain and High Barind Tract. The texture of the samples varied within three soil texture groups, Silt Loam, Silty Clay Loam and Silty Clay. The highest NSI value (0.89) was found under Wheat-Fallow-T. Aman cropping pattern in Silty Clay soils (sample No 15) and lowest value (0.59) was found Vegetables/Mustard-Fallow-T. Aman cropping pattern in Silt Loam soils (sample No 17). The highest value (735.20 mg•kg−1) of active C was observed under Chickpea/mustard-T. Aman (Sample No 31) and the lowest value (619.23 mg•kg−1) was found in case of Wheat-Fallow-T. Aman cropping pattern (Sample No 30). The highest SOC stock (1.62 Kg C m−2) was found in Silty Clay Loam soil under Mungbean/Ash gourd-T. Aman cropping pattern (Sample no 4) and the lowest SOC stock (0.35 Kg C m−2) was found in Silt Loam soil under Cauliflower/Pumkin/Spinach-T. Aman Cropping pattern (Sample No 2). Soil organic carbon associated with different size aggregates was the highest (3.14%) under Mungbean/Ash gourd-T. Aman (Sample No 20) and was the lowest (0.36%) under Cauliflower/Pumkin/Spinach-T. Aman cropping pattern (Sample No 2). Organic carbon content in aggregate size ranges > 2000 μm (SOC1), 2000 - 250 μm (SOC2), 250-53 μm (SOC3), and <53 μm (SOC4) varied from 0.36% - 1.90%, 0.52% - 2.10%, 0.50% - 2.60% and 0.50% - 1.62%, respectively. The percentages of SOC associated with <53 μm aggregates were higher than those of >2000 μm, 2000 - 250 μm and 250 - 53 μm, aggregates. Significant positive correlations were found between SOC stock and SOC1, SOC stock and SOC2, SOC stock and SOC3, SOC stock and SOC4.

Visualized Analysis of Research Progress on Soil Aggregates

[Objectives]This study was conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of the research status of fields related to soil aggregates.[Methods]The academic papers published from 2001 to 2020 in the field of soil aggregates were searched in the CNKI database serving as the statistical source using the subject terms"soil"and"aggregate"under advanced search,and visually analyzed by bibliometric statistical methods,from the perspectives of the annual number of published papers,the number of papers published by authors,and highly cited papers.[Results]The trend of the number of published papers in the past 20 years was mainly divided into three stages:2001-2007,2008-2016,and 2017-2020.There were 192 first authors in the literature related to soil aggregates.The authors with the top 3 published papers were Wang Erli,Zhang Zhengxiong,Li Yangbing,and Yang Yonghui(tied for third).Three highly cited papers were published in journals related to"ecology",and the top 10 most cited papers focused on the"formation and stability"of soil aggregates and the relationship between aggregates and soil organic matter and biochar.[Conclusions]This study can provide reference for further research on soil aggregates.

Cover Crop Effects on Near-Surface Soil Aggregate Stability in the Southern Mississippi Valley Loess (MLRA 134)

The use of cover crops (CC) during the agricultural fallow period has been shown to help alleviate soil compaction and provide stabilizing effects against soil erosion. These benefits are particularly important as many of the silty, loess-derived soils of the major land resource area (MLRA) 134, the Southern Mississippi Valley Loess, have large erosion potentials. This study evaluated the effects of CC and no-cover crop (NCC) treatments on a selection of silt-loam soils in MLRA 134. Treatments were implemented during Fall 2018 and Fall 2019 and consisted of a range of CC species. Soil samples from the top 10 cm were collected to evaluate a suite of soil properties. Soil texture, pH, soil organic matter, and Mehlich-3 extractable Mg, Na, and Ca were unaffected (P > 0.05) by CC treatment. Total water-stable aggregate concentration was unaffected (P > 0.05) by CC treatment and soil depth (i.e., 0 - 5 and 5 - 10 cm). Soil bulk density was greater (P •cm−3) than under CC treatment (1.24 g•cm−3). Water-stable aggregate concentration was unaffected (P > 0.05) by CC treatment and soil depth, but was 21.5 times greater (P •g−1) than in the > 4-mm (0.05 g•g−1) size class. Study results indicate that, even among sites with large variability, CC can have consistent, short-term, positive effects on soil properties, but a long-term commitment to continuous, annual cover crops is necessary for the full realization of potential benefits.

How freezing and thawing processes affect black-soil aggregate stability in northeastern China

Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of freezing and thawing processes on wet aggregate stability （WAS） of black soil. Wet aggregate stability was determined by different aggregate size groups, different water contents, various freeze-thaw cycles, and various freezing temperatures. The results showed that, when at suitable water content, aggregate stability was enhanced, aggregate sta-bility will be disrupted when moisture content is too high or too low, especially higher water content. Temperature also had a significant ef-fect, but moisture content determined the suitable freezing temperatures for a given soil. Water-stable aggregate （WSA〉0.5）, the total aggre-gate content, and mean weight diameter decreasing with the freeze-thaw cycles increase, reached to 5 percent significance level. The reason for crumbing aggregates is the water and air conflict, thus raising the hypothesis that water content affects the aggregate stability in the process of freezing and thawing.

Calcium carbonate promotes the formation and stability of soil macroaggregates in mining areas of China

We studied changes in the concentrations of aggregate-cementing agents after different reclamation times and with different fertilization regimes,as well as the formation mechanism of aggregates in reclaimed soil,to provide a theoretical basis for rapid reclamation of soil fertility in the subsidence area of coal mines in Shanxi Province,China.In this study,soil samples of 0–20 cm depth were collected from four fertilization treatments of a longterm experiment started in 2008:no fertilizer (CK),inorganic fertilizer (NPK),chicken manure compost (M),and50%inorganic fertilizer plus 50%chicken manure compost (MNPK).The concentrations of cementing agents and changes in soil aggregate size distribution and stability were analysed.The results showed that the formation of>2 mm aggregates,the aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD),and the proportion of>0.25 mm water-stable aggregates (WR_(0.25)) increased significantly after 6 and 11 years of reclamation.The concentration of organic cementing agents tended to increase with reclamation time,whereas free iron oxide (Fed) and free aluminium oxide(Ald) concentrations initially increased but then decreased.In general,the MNPK treatment signi?cantly increased the concentrations of organic cementing agents and CaCO_(3),and CaCO_(3) increased by 60.4%at 11 years after reclamation.Additionally,CaCO_(3) had the greatest effect on the stability of aggregates,promoting the formation of>0.25 mm aggregates and accounting for 54.4%of the variance in the proportion and stability of the aggregates.It was concluded that long-term reclamation is bene?cial for improving soil structure.The MNPK treatment was the most effective measure for increasing maize grain yield and concentration of organic cementing agents and CaCO_(3).

Influence of organic matter input and temperature change on soil aggregate-associated respiration and microbial carbon use efficiency in alpine agricultural soils

Understanding the dynamics of soil respiration,microbial carbon use efficiency(CUE),and temperature sensitivity(Q_(10))in response to exogenous organic matter(EOM)input,soil aggregate size,and incubation temperature is crucial for predicting soil carbon cycling responses to environmental changes.In this study,these interactions were investigated by 180-day incubation of soil aggregates supplemented with EOM at various temperatures(5°C,15°C and 25°C).The results reveal an‘L-shaped’trend in soil respiration on the time scale across all treatments,characterized by initial rapid declines followed by stability.EOM input and higher temperatures significantly enhance respiration rates.Notably,the respiratory rates of soil aggregates of different sizes exhibit distinct patterns based on the presence or absence of EOM.Under conditions without the addition of EOM,larger aggregates show relatively lower respiration rates.Conversely,in the presence of EOM,larger aggregates exhibit higher respiratory rates.Furthermore,Q_(10)decreases with increasing aggregate size.The relationship between Q_(10)and the substrate quality index(SQI)supports the carbon quality temperature(CQT)hypothesis,highlighting SQI’s influence on Q_(10)values,particularly during later incubation stages.Microbial CUE decreases with EOM input and rising temperatures.Meanwhile,aggregate size plays a role in microbial CUE,with smaller aggregates exhibiting higher CUE due to enhanced nutrient availability.In conclusion,the intricate interplay of EOM input,aggregate size,and temperature significantly shapes soil respiration,microbial CUE,and Q_(10).These findings underscore the complexity of these interactions and their importance in modeling soil carbon dynamics under changing environmental conditions.