Distribution of available soil water capacity in China

The available soil water capacity (ASWC) is important for studying crop production, agro-ecological zoning, irrigation planning, and land cover changes. Laboratory determined data of ASWC are often not available for most of soil profiles and the nationwide ASWC largely remains lacking in relevant soil data in China. This work was to estimate ASWC based on physical and chemical properties and analyze the spatial distribution of ASWC in China. The pedo-transfer functions (PTFs), derived from 220 survey data of ASWC, and the empirical data of ASWC based on soil texture were applied to quantify the ASWC. GIS technology was used to develop a spatial file of ASWC in China and the spatial distribution of ASWC was also analyzed. The results showed the value of ASWC ranges from 15 × 10-2 cm3·cm-3 to 22 × 10-2 cm3·cm-3 for most soil types, and few soil types are lower than 15 × 10-2 cm3·cm-3 or higher than 22 × 10-2 cm3·cm-3. The ASWC is different according to the complex soil types and their distribution. It is higher in the east than that in the west, and the values reduce from south to north except the northeastern part of China. The "high" values of ASWC appear in southeast, northeastern mountain regions and Northeast China Plain. The relatively "high" values of ASWC appear in Sichuan basin, Huang-Huai-Hai plain and the east of Inner Mongolia. The relatively "low" values are distributed in the west and the Loess Plateau of China. The "very low" value regions are the northern Tibetan Plateau and the desertified areas in northern China. In some regions, the ASWC changes according to the complex topography and different types of soils. Though there remains precision limitation, the spatial data of ASWC derived from this study are improved on current data files of soil water retention properties for Chinese soils. This study presents basic data and analysis methods for estimation and evaluation of ASWC in China.

Effects of Soluble Organic N on Evaluating Soil N-Supplying Capacity

It is important to study the soluble organic N （SON） extracted during water-logged incubation for evaluating soil Nsupplying capacity. Soil initial SON and mineral N （Nmin）, cumulative soluble organic N and NH4＋-N in leachates during water-logged incubation, mineralization potentials of both easily decomposable N （ND） and resistant N （NR）, and their relationships with N uptake by crop in pot experiment were investigated by using 10 kinds of farmland soils with widely different physical and chemical properties on the Loess Plateau, China, and the effects of SON on evaluating soil Nsupplying capacity were studied. The results showed that the average content of initial SON （23.9 mg kg^-1） of 10 soils was 28.8% of initial total soluble N and 2.4% of soil total N. The percentage of cumulative SON in leaching total soluble N （118.1 mg kg^-1 was 46.4%, higher than the percentage of initial SON （28.8%）, and almost close to the percentage of cumulative NH4^＋-N in the leachates. ND had close correlation with total N, and the correlation coefficients were 0.92 （P 〈 0.01, excluding SON in estimating ND） and 0.88 （P 〈 0.01, including SON in estimating ND）, respectively. N mineralization potential and mineralization rate constant were different with the soil types. ND of Los-Orthic Entisols and Ust-Sandiic Entisols were lower than that of Eum-Orthrosols. Mineralization rate constant for the fast decomposable N-fraction （kD） decreased and the mineralization rate constant of resistant materials （kR） increased when SON was taken into account. Cumulative NH4^＋-N was a better evaluation index of soil N-supplying capacity, and it is not only suitable for the first season crops but also for two successive season crops. Cumulative SON alone was not a satisfactory index for the potential of mineralizable N. But it would be more accurate for ND in revealing the potential mineralizable N when SON was taken into account. Cumulative TSN, to some extent, could also be taken as an index for the potential mineralizable N. Cumulative NH4＋-N, total soluble N, and ND were good indexes for estimating soil potential mineralizable N, especially for soils of two successive season crops. And cumulative total soluble N and ND in evaluating the permanence of soil N-supply is of greater significance when SON was included.

Cokriging of Soil Cation Exchange Capacity Using the First Principal Component Derived from Soil Physico-Chemical Properties

As soil cation exchange capacity （CEC） is a vital indicator of soil quality and pollutant sequestration capacity,a study was conducted to evaluate cokriging of CEC with the principal components derived from soil physico-chemical properties.In Qingdao,China,107 soil samples were collected.Soil CEC was estimated by using 86 soil samples for prediction and 21 soil samples for test.The first two principal components （PC1 and PC2） together explained 60.2% of the total variance of soil physico-chemical properties.The PC1 was highly correlated with CEC （r=0.76,P0.01）,whereas there was no significant correlation between CEC and PC2 （r=0.03）.The PC1 was then used as an auxiliary variable for the prediction of soil CEC.Mean error （ME） and root mean square error （RMSE） of kriging for the test dataset were-1.76 and 3.67 cmolc kg-1,and ME and RMSE of cokriging for the test dataset were-1.47 and 2.95 cmolc kg-1,respectively.The cross-validation R2 for the prediction dataset was 0.24 for kriging and 0.39 for cokriging.The results show that cokriging with PC1 is more reliable than kriging for spatial interpolation.In addition,principal components have the highest potential for cokriging predictions when the principal components have good correlations with the primary variables.

Variability of Soil Moisture and Its Relationship with Surface Albedo and Soil Thermal Parameters over the Loess Plateau

Data from July 2006 to June 2008 observed at SACOL （Semi-Arid Climate and Environment Observatory of Lanzhou University, 35.946°N, 104.137°E, elev. 1961 m）, a semi-arid site in Northwest China, are used to study seasonal variability of soil moisture, along with surface albedo and other soil thermal parameters, such as heat capacity, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity, and their relationships to soil moisture content. The results indicate that surface albedo decreases with increases in soil moisture content, showing a typical exponential relation between the surface albedo and the soil moisture. The heat capacity, the soil thermal diffusivity, and soil thermal conductivity show large variations between Julian day 90-212 and 450-578. The soil thermal conductivity is found to increase as a power function of soil moisture. Soil heat capacity and soil thermal diffusivity increase with increases in soil moisture. The SACOL observed soil moisture are also used to validate the AMSR-E/AQUA retrieved soil moisture and there is good agreement between them. The analysis of the relationship between satellite retrieved soil moisture and precipitation suggests that the variability of soil moisture depends on the variation of precipitation over the Loess Plateau.

Relationships Between Surface Albedo,Soil Thermal Parameters and Soil Moisture in the Semi-arid Area of Tongyu,Northeastern China

Continuous observation data collected over the whole year of 2004 on a cropland surtace m Tongyu, a senti-arid area of northeastern China （44°25＇N, 122°52＇E）, have been used to investigate the variations of surface albedo and soil thermal parameters, including heat capacity, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity, and their relationships to soil moisture. The diurnal variation of surface albedo appears as a U shape curve on sunny days. Surface albedo decreases with the increase of solar elevation angle, and it tends to be a constant when solar elevation angle is larger than 40°. So the daily average surface albedo was computed using the data when solar elevation angle is larger than 40° Mean daily surface albedo is found to decrease with the increase of soil moisture, showing an exponential dependence on soil moisture. The variations of soil heat capacity are small during Julian days 90 300. Compared with the heat capacity, soil thermal conductivity has very gentle variations during this period, but the soil thermal diffusivity has wide variations during the same period. The soil thermal conductivity is found to increase as a power function of soil moisture. The soil thermal diffusivity increases firstly and then decreases with the increase of soil moisture.

Soil Organic Nitrogen and Its Contribution to Crop Production

Plant growth and crop production depend to a large extent on soil N supplying capacity （SNSC）： The higher the SNSC, the higher the dependence of crops on soil and the lower the N fertilizer recovery. Of the SNSC, soil organic N （ON） played a key role in supplying N nutrient to crop production and still does in many subsistence and low-input farming systems. In this paper, soil ON contents, types, chemical components and its contribution to plant production are reviewed up to date in details, the characteristics of ON in dryland soils discussed together with its chemical components, and the mineralization and availability to plants of some important chemical components are emphasized at the last part for practical considerations.

Sheep manure application increases soil exchangeable base cations in a semi-arid steppe of Inner Mongolia

The long-term productivity of a soil is greatly influenced by cation exchange capacity（CEC）.Moreover,interactions between dominant base cations and other nutrients are important for the health and stability of grassland ecosystems.Soil exchangeable base cations and cation ratios were examined in a 11-year experiment with sheep manure application rates 0–1,500 g/（m2？a） in a semi-arid steppe in Inner Mongolia of China,aiming to clarify the relationships of base cations with soil p H,buffer capacity and fertility.Results showed that CEC and contents of exchangeable calcium（Ca2＋）,magnesium（Mg2＋）,potassium（K＋） and sodium（Na＋） were significantly increased,and Ca2＋ saturation tended to decrease,while K＋ saturation tended to increase with the increases of sheep manure application rates.The Ca2＋/Mg2＋ and Ca2＋/K＋ ratios decreased,while Mg2＋,K＋ and Na＋ saturations increased with increasing manure application rates.Both base cations and CEC were significantly and positively correlated with soil organic carbon（SOC） and soil p H.The increases of SOC and soil p H would be the dominant factors that contribute to the increase of cations in soil.On a comparison with the initial soil p H before the experiment,we deduced that sheep manure application could partly buffer soil p H decrease potentially induced by atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur.Our results indicate that sheep manure application is beneficial to the maintenance of base cations and the buffering of soil acidification,and therefore can improve soil fertility in the semi-arid steppes of northeastern China.

Sensitivity of soils to acid rain in South China

This paper deals with the sensitivity of soils to acid rain in 5 provinces, South China. Based on field work and literature, and taking soil pH, CEC, and the types of residua into account, the authors classified the sensitivity into 4 categories: highly sensitive, sensitive, slightly sensitive, and non-sensitive. By overlapping the maps of soil pH, CEC, and types of residua, the map of soil sensitivity in South China has finally resulted.The authors try to summarize the regularity of soil sensitivity to acid rain in this area. The sensitivity of different soil types in the studied area has also discussed.The seriousness and its prospects of acid rain in this area have been pointed out in order to draw the attention of relevant authorities.

Mitigation strategies for soil acidification based on optimal nitrogen management

Soil acidification is a serious constraint to food production worldwide.This review explores its primary causes,with a focus on the role of nitrogen fertilizer,and suggests mitigation strategies based on optimal N management.Natural acidification is determined by the leaching of weak acid mainly caused by climate and soil conditions,whereas the use of ammonium-based fertilizers,nitrate leaching and removal of base cations(BCs)by crop harvesting mostly accounts for anthropogenic acidification.In addition,low soil acid buffering capacity,mainly determined by soil parent materials and soil organic matter content,also accelerates acidification.This study proposes targeted mitigation strategies for different stages of soil acidification,which include monitoring soil carbonate content and p H of soils with p H>6.5(e.g.,calcareous soil),use of alkaline amendments for strongly acidic soils(p H<5.5)with aluminum toxicity risk to p H between 5.5 and 6.5,and decreasing acidification rates and supplementing BCs to maintain this optimal p H range,especially for soils with low acid buffering capacity.Effective mitigation involves optimizing the rate and form of N fertilizers used,regulating N transformation processes,and establishing an integrated soil–crop management system that balances acid production and soil buffering capacity.

Use of Fe/Al drinking water treatment residuals as amendments for enhancing the retention capacity of glyphosate in agricultural soils

Fe/Al drinking water treatment residuals（WTRs）, ubiquitous and non-hazardous by-products of drinking water purification, are cost-effective adsorbents for glyphosate. Given that repeated glyphosate applications could significantly decrease glyphosate retention by soils and that the adsorbed glyphosate is potentially mobile, high sorption capacity and stability of glyphosate in agricultural soils are needed to prevent pollution of water by glyphosate.Therefore, we investigated the feasibility of reusing Fe/Al WTR as a soil amendment to enhance the retention capacity of glyphosate in two agricultural soils. The results of batch experiments showed that the Fe/Al WTR amendment significantly enhanced the glyphosate sorption capacity of both soils（p 〈 0.001）. Up to 30% of the previously adsorbed glyphosate desorbed from the non-amended soils, and the Fe/Al WTR amendment effectively decreased the proportion of glyphosate desorbed. Fractionation analyses further demonstrated that glyphosate adsorbed to non-amended soils was primarily retained in the readily labile fraction（Na HCO3-glyphosate）. The WTR amendment significantly increased the relative proportion of the moderately labile fraction（HCl-glyphosate） and concomitantly reduced that of the Na HCO3-glyphosate, hence reducing the potential for the release of soil-adsorbed glyphosate into the aqueous phase. Furthermore, Fe/Al WTR amendment minimized the inhibitory effect of increasing solution p H on glyphosate sorption by soils and mitigated the effects of increasing solution ionic strength. The present results indicate that Fe/Al WTR is suitable for use as a soil amendment to prevent glyphosate pollution of aquatic ecosystems by enhancing the glyphosate retention capacity in soils.

Comparing phreatic evaporation at zero water table depth with water surface evaporation

Salt-affected soils are mostly found in irrigated areas within arid and semi-arid regions where the groundwater table is shallow.Soils of this type have become an increasingly severe problem because they threaten both the environment and the sustainable development of irrigated agriculture.A tool to estimate phreatic evaporation is therefore urgently required to minimize the salinization potential of salt-affected areas.In this context,phreatic evaporation at zero water table depth(E0)is a key parameter for establishing a model for calculating phreatic evaporation.The aim of this study was to explore the law of phreatic evaporation and to develop structurally rational empirical models for calculating phreatic evaporation,based on E0data of six types of soil(i.e.,gravel,fine sand,sandy loam,light loam,medium loam,and heavy loam)observed using the non-weighing lysimeter and water surface evaporation(E601)data observed using a E601 evaporator of same evaporation area with a lysimeter-tube at the groundwater balance station of the Weigan River Management Office in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China,during the non-freezing period(April to October)between 1990 and 1994.The relationship between E0and E601was analyzed,the relationship between the ratio of E0to E601and the mechanical compositions of different soils was presented,and the factors influencing E0were discussed.The results of this study reveal that E0is not equal to E601.In fact,only values of the former for fine sand are close to those of the latter.Data also show that E0values are related to soil texture as well as to potential atmospheric evaporation,the ratio of E0to E601and the silt-clay particle content(grain diameter less than 0.02 mm)is negatively exponentially correlated,and that soil thermal capacity plays a key role in phreatic evaporation at E0.The results of this analysis therefore imply that the treatment of zero phreatic depth is an essential requirement when constructing groundwater balance stations to study the law of phreatic evaporation.

Spatiotemporal distribution of soil moisture in gully facies

Gully erosion is one of the most important forms of land degradation in many regions of the world.Understanding the process of gully erosion therefore is important for better management of the wa-tersheds prone to gully erosion.However,many different aspects of gully erosion,like hydrological behavior,are still not fully understood.The present study investigates the spatial distribution of soil moisture content(SMC),as one of the hydrological factors,at different depths and points across the cross section in the vicinity of the headcut of three gullies located in the Kalat County,Khorasan Razavi Province,Iran.SMCs were measured at depths of 10,20,30,50,70 and 100 cm at each seven points across the study cross sections one to three days after occurrence of three rain events.Two sampling points were symmetrically located at a distance of 50 cm outside the gully banks,two at the vertex of the sidewalls,two in the middle of the sidewalls and one at the center of gully cross section.SMCs were measured using a weighted method.Results of the study revealed a broad range of changes in SMCs at various depths and points.The minimum and maximum SMCs were found to be about 2%and 38%,respectively,for the study period and gullies under consideration.The coefficient of variation(CV)had drastic changes for various gullies and storm events from 2 to 107%.Results further indicated that SMC moved from the sidewalls towards the floor of the cross section.Accordingly,the maximum SMC for storm events was associated with the point located in the center of gullies,which indicated the role of gully system in draining soil moisture.The findings of this study will help watershed managers un-derstand the important role of gully facies in changing water content of the soil that affects other eco-hydrological processes.

Effect of biochar aging in agricultural soil on its wetting properties and surface structure

Biochar wettability and ability to accumulate moisture inside the porous space are crucial for improving soil fertility,regulating soil water balance,and regulating nutrients.However,a long-term interaction of biochar with agricultural soils may drastically alter the wetting properties and,eventually,influence water holding capacity and the structure of soils.In this work,the structure and wetting properties of biochar samples after 6-year long exposure to a sandy loam Spodosol with a crop rotation and mineral fertilizers application were studied.It was found that the elemental composition of the aged biochars was richer and more"soil-like",which is explained by the presence of the mineral crust on the biochar surface.The temporal evolution of biochar in the soil without any mineral fertilizer application resulted in significant improvement of its surface wettability due to the effects of various environmental factors.The lateral surface of biochar after 6-year interaction with the soil changes into a loose porous layer in a form of grooved base filled with adherent mineral soil and clay particles.Contrary,the application of the mineral fertilizer to the soil resulted in decreased wettability of the biochar lateral surfaces due to a decrease in the polar component of surface energy and the crusting of the surface with fine material,which blocks the pore space of the biochar.As a result,water capacity of the biochar from the treatment with the fertilizer decreased compared to the biochar samples collected from the soil without the fertilizer application.The radial biochar surfaces of both types of samples collected from the soil were open vessels filled with soil particles that slow down complete wetting and water absorption.The treatment of the biochar samples with surfactants drastically increased wettability of lateral surface and water absorption capacity of control samples as compared to the samples collected from the soil.The obtained results support the idea that the hydrophilisation of biochar caused by the adhesion of soil particles and treatment of its pore surface with surfactants,can improve the water-holding capacity of the sandy loam Spodosol in the plant-available range of soil water.

A Reexamination of Methods of Hierarchic Composition in the AHP

This paper demonstrates that we should use two different hierarchic composition methods for the two different types of levels in the AHP. The first method is using the weighted geometric mean to synthesize the judgments of alternative-type-level elements, which is the only hierarchic composition method for the alternative-type level in an AHP hierarchy, and the rank is preserved automatically. The second one is using the weighted arithmetic mean to synthesize the priorities of the criteria-type-level elements, which is the only hierarchic composition method for all the criteria-type levels, and rank reversals are allowed.

Establishment of a Hybrid Rainfall-Runoff Model for Use in the Noah LSM

There is an increasing trend to incorporate the basin hydrological model into the traditional land surface model （LSM） to improve the description of hydrological processes in them. For incorporating with the Noah LSM, a new rainfall-runoff model named XXT （the first X stands for Xinanjiang, the second X stands for hybrid, and T stands for TOPMODEL） was developed and presented in this study, based on the soil moisture storage capacity distribution curve （SMSCC）, some essential modules of the Xinanjiang model, together with the simple model framework of the TOPMODEL （a topography based hydrological model）. The innovation of XXT is that the water table is incorporated into SMSCC and it connects the surface runoff production with base flow production. This improves the description of the dynamically varying saturated areas that produce runoff and also captures the physical underground water level. XXT was tested in a small-scale watershed Youshuijie （946 km2） and a large-scale watershed Yinglouxia （10009 km2） in China. The results show that XXT has better performance against the TOPMODEL and the Xinanjiang model for the two watersheds in both the calibration period and the validation period in terms of the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency. Moreover, XXT captures the largest peak flow well for both the small： and large-scale watersheds during the validation period, while the TOPMODEL produces significant overestimates or underestimates, so does the Xinanjiang model.