Soil Organic Carbon,Carbon Fractions and Nutrients as Affected by Land Use in Semi-Arid Region of Loess Plateau of China

Cropland (CP),native grassland (NG) and two shrub land treatments which were converted from cropland in 1985:seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) (ST),and branchytamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima) (BT) were investigated to evaluate effects of land use conversion on soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil nutrients in the semi-arid region of the Loess Plateau of China.Total organic carbon (TOC),light fraction organic carbon (LFOC),heavy fraction organic carbon (HFOC),total N (TN),nitrate nitrogen (NO 3-N) and nitrite nitrogen (NO 2-N),ammonium nitrogen (NH + 4-N),total P,and available P (AP) were measured.The results showed that SOC in NG,ST and BT were 12.7%,27.7% and 34.8% higher than that of the cropland,respectively.LFOC,light fraction (LF) dry matter,ratio of TOC to TN (C/N) and the ratio of TOC to AP (C/P) were higher in the shrub land or native grassland than in the cropland.Cropland had the highest TN,the sum of NO 3-N and NO 2-N,TP and AP due to the use of chemical fertilizers.TOC significantly correlated with LFOC,HFOC and C/N.LFOC significantly correlated with dry matter of the LF and C/N.TN,the sum of NO 3-N and NO 2-N and AP were significantly negatively correlated with TOC and LFOC.Therefore,land use conversion from cropland to shrub land,or maybe grassland,contributed to SOC sequestration and improved soil nutrients stabilization.

Review of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) Based Research on China Loess Plateau

The Loess Plateau is one of the hot research areas for its specific geographical features. In resent years, with the establishment of national multi-scale DEMs and the perfection of DEM based digital terrain analysis methods, new thoughts and methodologies have been constructed for the Loess Plateau research. This paper introduces the characteristics of DEM data, analyses the development stages of DEM applied in the Loess Plateau research, and discusses its further possible research direction. More discussions are focused on slope spectrum and its concept, as well as the significance in the Loess Plateau research.

Impacts of precipitation variation and soil and water conservation measures on runoff and sediment yield in the Loess Plateau Gully Region, China

The Loess Plateau of China has experienced a lengthy drought and severe soil erosion.Changes in precipitation and land use largely determine the dynamics of runoff and sediment yield in this region. Trend and mutation analyses were performed on hydrological data(1981–2012) from the Yanwachuan watershed in the Loess Plateau Gully Region to study the evolution characteristics of runoff and sediment yield. A time-series contrasting method also was used to evaluate the effects of precipitation and soil and water conservation(SWC) on runoff and sediment yield. Annual sediment yield declined markedly from 1981 to 2012 although there was no significant change in annual precipitation and annual runoff. Change points of annual runoff and annual sediment yield occurred in 1996 and 1997,respectively. Compared with that in the baseline period(1981–1996), annual runoff and annual sediment yield in the change period(1997–2012)decreased by 17.0% and 76.0%, respectively, but annual precipitation increased by 6.3%. Runoff decreased in the flood season and normal season, but increased in the dry season, while sediment yield significantly declined in the whole study period. The SWC measures contributed significantly to the reduction of annual runoff(137.9%) and annual sediment yield(135%) and were more important than precipitation. Biological measures(forestland and grassland) accounted for 61.04% of total runoff reduction, while engineering measures(terraces and dams) accounted for 102.84% of total sediment yield reduction. Furthermore, SWC measures had positive ecological effects. This study provides a scientific basis for soil erosion control on the Loess Plateau.

Red Clay Sediment in the Central Chinese Loess Plateau and Its Implication for the Uplift of the Tibetan Plateau

The widely distributed red clay sediment underlying the Chinese Loess Plateau truly records the Neogene environmental evolution, and its genesis and development are intrinsically related to the uplift processes of the Tibetan Plateau and the evolution of East Asia monsoon system. In this paper, a detailed magnetostratigraphy of a loess-red clay section （107°13′E, 35°02′N） from the central Loess Plateau is reported. The loess-red clay sequence is composed of 175 m Quaternary loess-paleosol sequence and 128 m Neogene red clay sediments. Based on the correlation with the standard geomagnetic polarity time scale, the paleomagnetic results indicate that the age of Chaona red clay sequence extends to 08.1 Ma, which is the older red clay deposition in the central Chinese Loess Plateau. The commencement of red clay at -8.1 Ma may imply that the Ordos planation surface was broken by the movement of the Haiyuan-Liupanshan Faults, which was related to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau induced by the collision of India Plate and Eurasian Plate. And the western part adjacent to the Tibetan Plateau was uplifted to form the embryo of the Liupan Shan （Mts.） and the eastern part was down-faulted to receive red clay deposition. We link this faulting to an initial uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. The undulating nature of the broken Ordos planation surface may explain the chronological differences and depth discrepancies among various cross-sections of red clay.

Extraction and Analysis of Gully Head of Loess Plateau in China Based on Digital Elevation Model

In China′s Loess Plateau area, gully head is the most active zone of a drainage system in gully areas. The differentiation of loess gully head follows geospatial patterns and reflects the process of the loess landform development and evolution of its drainage system to some extent. In this study, the geomorphic meaning, basic characteristics, morphological structure and the basic types of loess gully heads were systematically analysed. Then, the loess gully head′s conceptual model was established, and an extraction method based on Digital Elevation Model(DEM) for loess gully head features and elements was proposed. Through analysing the achieved statistics of loess gully head features, loess gully heads have apparently similar and different characteristics depending on the different loess landforms where they are found. The loess head characteristics reflect their growth period and evolution tendency to a certain degree, and they indirectly represent evolutionary mechanisms. In addition, the loess gully developmental stages and the evolutionary processes can be deduced by using loess gully head characteristics. This study is of great significance for development and improvement of the theoretical system for describing loess gully landforms.

Tracing the provenance of aeolian loess in the Yangtze River Delta through zircon U–Pb age and geochemical investigations

Given the conflicts over the proposed formation mechanisms of Xiashu loess, the question of the provenance of sediments comprising the Xiashu loess in the Yangtze River Delta has not been satisfactorily resolved. In this study, the provenance of aeolian sediments of the Yangtze River Delta, China was examined by applying the detrial zircon U–Pb dating technique, Sr–Nd isotopic and trace element compositional analysis. U-Pb dating analysis was conducted on the Xiashu loess at three locations over the Yangtze River Delta, including Huangnishan(HNS) hill, Shengshan(SS) island and the Xuancheng(XC) area. The Xiashu loess and the sediments of the Yangtze River Valley share considerable similarity in their zircon U-Pb age spectra with the same main age peak and comparable age distribution. By contrast, significant differences in the age spectra, existbetween the Xiashu loess and loess deposits of Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP). Coarse grains of the Yangtze River Delta loess may have a proximal material source identical to the sediments from the Yangtze River valley. Sr–Nd isotopic values of the Xiashu loess match those from the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Rare earth element ratios independent of grain size illustrate that the values from loess of the Yangtze River Delta mostly overlap with those of CLP loess. This feature implies that loess from the Yangtze River Delta has a dominant source of distant material similar as the CLP loess. As such, we conclude that multi-proxy analysis of sediments can shed new light on tracing the provenance of aeolian loess in the Yangtze River Delta.

Mesozoic Reservoir Predictionin the Longdong Loess Plateau

This paper summarizes a set of interpretation technologies for Mesozoic sandstone reservoir prediction in the Longdong loess plateau, such as seismic sequence processing and interpretation based on generalized S transform, the eroded paleo-geomorphology interpretation of the top of the Triassic and a variety of lateral reservoir predictions. The effects of employing these technologies are compared and analyzed, as well. The research results show that seismic sequence processing interpretation technology based on generalized S transform can distinguish 3ms (about the thickness of 6 m)sequence interface. Consequently the technology can ascertain the distribution of a sand body of the formation Ch 8 and expand the exploration area of the Xifeng oil field in the Longdong area.

De-farming and Ecological Restoration in the Loess Hilly-gully Region in Northern China

De-farming has been a powerful measure taken by the central and local governments of China for ecological restoration in the loess hilly-gully region since 2000. In years past, aid-based de-farming pattern was far and wide popularized in the region and terrace-based de-farming pattern demonstrated in a few small watersheds was also rather effective for ecological restoration. After summing up the features of three patterns (aid-based de-farming slope farmland more than 25°(AD25), aid-based de-farming slope farmland more than 15° (AD15) and terrace-based de-farming (TD)), this paper analyzed the regional difference of these patterns in de-farming area, ecological restoration, investment demand and so on. The results show that there are two crucial areas in the loess hilly-gully region for ecological restoration at the moment, the policies adaptation to the different areas should be constituted as soon as possible and the limited fund should be devoted to the two crucial areas.

Relationships between Landslide Types and Topographic Attributes in a Loess Catchment,China

Topographic attributes have been identified as the most important factor in controlling the initiation and distribution of shallow landslides triggered by rainfall.As a result,these landslides influence the evolution of local surface topography.In this research,an area of 2.6 km 2 loess catchment in the Huachi County was selected as the study area locating in the Chinese Loess Plateau.The landslides inventory and landslide types were mapped using global position system(GPS) and field mapping.The landslide inventory shows that these shallow landslides involve different movement types including slide,creep and fall.Meanwhile,main topographic attributes were generated based on a high resolution digital terrain model(5 m × 5 m),including aspect,slope shape,elevation,slope angle and contributing area.These maps were overlaid with the spatial distributions of total landslides and each type of landslides in a geographic information system(GIS),respectively,to assess their spatial frequency distributions and relative failure potentials related to these selected topographic attributes.The spatial analysis results revealed that there is a close relation between the topographic attributes of the postlandsliding local surface and the types of landslide movement.Meanwhile,the types of landslide movement have some obvious differences in local topographic attributes,which can influence the relative failure potential of different types of landslides.These results have practical significance to mitigate natural hazard and understandgeomorphologic process in thick loess area.

A GIS-based Modeling Approach for Fast Assessment of Soil Erosion by Water at Regional Scale, Loess Plateau of China

The objective of this study is to develop a unique modeling approach for fast assessment of massive soil erosion by water at a regional scale in the Loess Plateau, China. This approach relies on an understanding of both regional patterns of soil loss and its impact factors in the plateau area. Based on the regional characteristics of precipitation, vegetation and land form, and with the use of Landsat TM and ground investigation data, the entire Loess Plateau was first divided into 3 380 Fundamental Assessment Units （FAUs） to adapt to this regional modeling and fast assessment. A set of easily available parameters reflecting relevant water erosion factors at a regional scale was then developed, in which dynamic and static factors were discriminated. Arclnfo GIS was used to integrate all essential data into a central database. A resulting mathematical model was established to link the sediment yields and the selected variables on the basis of FAUs through overlay in GIS and multiple regression analyses. The sensitivity analyses and validation results show that this approach works effectively in assessing large area soil erosion, and also helps to understand the regional associations of erosion and its impact factors, and thus might significantly contribute to planning and policymaking for a large area erosion control in the Loess Plateau.

Multi-time scale analysis of precipitation variation in Guyuan, China:1957-2005

Morlet wavelet transformation is used in this paper to analyze the multi time scale characteristics of pre cipitation data series from 1957 to 2005 in Guyuan region.The results showed that(1) the annual precipitation evo lution process had obvious multi time scale variation characteristics of 15 25 years,7 12 years and 3 6 years,and different time scales had different oscillation energy densities;(2) the periods at smaller time scales changed more frequently,which often nested in a biggish quasi periodic oscillations,so the concrete time domain should be ana lyzed if necessary;(3) the precipitation had three main periods(22 year,9 year and 4 year) and the 22 year period was especially outstanding,and the analysis of this main period reveals that the precipitation would be in a relative high water period until about 2012.

Assessing Adaptability of Planted Trees Using Leaf Traits: A Case Study with Robinia pseudoacacia L. in the Loess Plateau, China

Leaf trait patterns and their variations with climate are interpreted as an adaptive adjustment to environment.This study assessed the adaptability of planted black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) based on the analysis of leaf traits and the comparison of its leaf traits with inter-specific ones existing in the same area.We measured some water and N use related leaf traits: leaf dry mass per unit area (LMA) and N,P and K concentrations based on both leaf area (Narea,Parea and Karea) and leaf mass (Nmass,Pmass and Kmass) of R.pseudoacacia at 31 sites along a water stress gradient in North Shaanxi Province,China.The results show that leaves of R.pseudoacacia have high Nmass and low LMA in the study area.High Nmass and low LMA are usually representative of luxurious resource use,and will advance plant resource competitiveness in high-resource conditions.As a whole,LMA-nutrient relationships of R.pseudoacacia display patterns that are fairly similar to the inter-specific relationships in both direction and intensity.The tendency for LMA and Narea to increase with decreasing water availability and the positive correlation between LMA and Narea reflect the trend for R.pseudoacacia to enhance water use efficiency (WUE) at the expense of down-regulated photosynthetic N use efficiency (PNUE) and high construction cost in dry conditions.However,the positive relationship between LMA and Narea in high mean annual precipitation (MAP) area is either unremarkable or reversed with decreasing water availability.This implies a lower photosynthetic capacity and a higher construction cost for high-LMA leaves.The inter-specific relationship between LMA and Narea is positive and does not change with water availability.This difference between inter-species and intra-species may be due to more diversified anatomies and more specialised structures for inter-species than intra-species.The failure of R.pseudoacacia adaption to dry conditions reflected by LMA-Narea relationship may be partially responsible for the emergence of rampike and dwarf forms found frequently in dry conditions.Incorporating intrinsic characteristics of planted trees into vegetation restoration project will be instructive and meaningful for species selection.

Analysis of Comprehensive Benefits of Transforming Slope Farmland to Terraces on the Loess Plateau:A Case Study of the Yangou Watershed in Northern Shaanxi Province,China

De-farming slope farmland has been an effective measure in recent years to improve environment and prevent soil and water loss on the Loess Plateau.There are different views about the defarming method,and also various de-farming patterns have been put into practice.This paper takes the Yangou Watershed in Shaanxi Province of China as a case for studying the comprehensive benefits of transforming slope farmland to terraces.Based on the day-by-day meteorological data of the Yan'an station in 2005 and the data of terrain features,soil and land use data of the Yangou Watershed,the impact of transforming slope farmland on terraces were simulated and analyzed in aspects of yield increase and water-soil conservation under different topographic conditions with the aid of software WIN-YIELD.Furthermore,an empirical analysis was applied to study the effects of transforming slope farmland to terraces in the Yangou Watershed.The results show that:(1) The bigger the topographic gradient is,the more remarkable benefits it has in yield increase and water-soil conservation.(2) Farmland with slope below 5° could be retained,but farmland with slope above 15° should be converted to forest or grassland as soon as possible.(3) Transforming slope farmland to terraces has the same remarkable effects as the current policy of "Relieving and de-farming" in improving agricultural production conditions,safeguarding food security,raising permanent vegetation coverage rate,and preventing soil and water loss.Besides,it is more cost-effective than the policy of "Relieving and de-farming".It's strongly suggested that the policy of transforming slope farmland to terraces be carried out on the Loess Plateau without delay.

Uncertainty of Slope Length Derived from Digital Elevation Models of the Loess Plateau, China

Although many studies have investigated slope gradient uncertainty derived from Digital Elevation Models(DEMs), the research concerning slope length uncertainty is far from mature. This discrepancy affects the availability and accuracy of soil erosion as well as hydrological modeling. This study investigates the formation and distribution of existing errors and uncertainties in slope length derivation based on 5-m resolution DEMs of the Loess Plateau in the middle of China. The slope length accuracy in three different landform areas is examined to analyse algorithm effects. The experiments indicate that the accuracy of the flat test area is lower than that of the rougher areas. The value from the specific contributing area(SCA) method is greater than the cumulative slope length(CSL), and the differences between these two methods arise from the shape of the upslope area. The variation of mean slope length derived from various DEM resolutions and landforms. The slope length accuracy decreases with increasing grid size and terrain complexity at the six test sites. A regression model is built to express the relationship of mean slope length with DEM resolution less than 85 m and terrain complexity represented by gully density. The results support the understanding of the slope length accuracy, thereby aiding in the effective evaluation of the modeling effect of surface process.

Dated deposition couplets link catchment erosion flux with storm discharge on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Tracing erosion flux within a single catchment is one of the major targets for the Earth's Critical Zone science. The sedimentary succession in landslide-dammed reservoirs within the Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP) serves as a valuable archive of past erosion history. Deposition couplets and annual freeze–thaw layers were firstly identified for the sedimentary succession of the Jingbian reservoir on the northern CLP with high-resolution XRF core scanning. The deposition couplets in the reservoir since 1963 A.D. were further dated with ^(137) Cs activity. We found consistent one-to-one correspondence between couplet specific sediment yield and storm intensity. The reconstructed soil erosion history highlights the control of storm intensity and frequency on loess erosion on the northern CLP in the past hundreds of years.

Sediment Delivery across Multiple Spatio-temporal Scales in an Agriculture Watershed of the Chinese Loess Plateau

There is a consensus that sediment delivery ratio in the Chinese Loess Plateau is close to 1at the inter-annual timescale. However, little information is available about the sediment delivery at finer timescales. We evaluated the sediment delivery from plots to watersheds at the event or intra-annual, annual, and inter-annual timescales within the Wudinghe river basin, a 30,261 km2 basin in the Loess Plateau. We calculated the ratio of sediment output to sediment input and presented the temporal change of the channel morphology to determine whether sediment deposition occurs.Although a single flood event frequently has a sediment yield exceeding 10,000 t km-2, sediment deposition rarely occurs except during some small runoff events(sediment yield < 5000 t km-2) or dry years(sediment yield < 10,000 t km-2) when moving from slopes up to the main channels of the Wudinghe River. This observation suggests a sediment delivery ratio close to 1 even at the event or intra-annual and the annual timescales, but not necessarily at the interannual timescale. Such a high sediment delivery ratio can be related to hyper-concentrated flows, which have very strong sediment transport capacity even at low flow strength. Because hyper-concentrated flows are well-developed in the whole Loess Plateau, a sediment delivery ratio close to 1 below the interannual timescale possibly remains true for other rivers in the Loess Plateau.

Soil Carbon Stock and Flux in Plantation Forest and Grassland Ecosystems in Loess Plateau, China

Carbon sequestration occurs when cultivated soils are re-vegetated. In the hilly area of the Loess Plateau, China, black locust （Robinia pseudoacacia） plantation forest and grassland were the two main vegetation types used to mitigate soil and water loss after cultivation abandonment. The purpose of this study was to compare the soil carbon stock and flux of these two types of vegetation which restored for 25 years. The experiment was conducted in Yangjuangou catchment in Yah＇an City, Shaanxi Province, China. Two adjacent slopes were chosen for this study. Six sample sites were spaced every 35-45 m from summit to toe slope along the hill slope, and each sample site contained three sampling plots. Soil organic carbon and related physicochemical properties in the surface soil layer （0-10 cm and 10-20 cm） were measured based on soil sampling and laboratory analysis, and the soil carbon dioxide （CO2） emissions and environmental factors were measured in the same sample sites simultaneously. Results indicated that in general, a higher soil carbon stock was found in the black locust plantation forest than that in grassland throughout the hill slope. Meanwhile, significant differences in the soil carbon stock were observed between these two vegetation types in the upper slope at soil depth 0-10 cm and lower slope at soil depth 10-20 cm. The average daily values of the soil CO2 emissions were 1.27 μmol/（m2·s） and 1.39 μmol/（m2·s） for forest and grassland, respectively. The soil carbon flux in forest covered areas was higher in spring and less variation was detected between different seasons, while the highest carbon flux was found in grassland in summer, which was about three times higher than that in autumn and spring. From the carbon sequestration point of view, black locust plantation forest on hill slopes might be better than grassland because of a higher soil carbon stock and lower carbon flux.

郑州邙山黄土碳酸盐和白云石含量记录的80 ka以来季风降水变化及驱动机制

揭示东亚季风气候精细变化过程和区域差异,是第四纪古气候学研究的重要内容。本文以季风影响显著的中原郑州黄土堆积上部31 m为研究对象,基于高密度光释光独立定年和619份样品的碳酸盐、白云石含量、磁化率测试,重建了约80 ka以来东亚季风降水/季风强度变化过程。黄土碳酸盐、白云石含量时间序列显示,末次间冰期末期以来,中原地区发生过数次季风降水增强事件,每次降水增强期持续时间短于岁差、偏心率等轨道周期,表明存在亚轨道时间尺度季风快速变化现象。中原黄土碳酸盐/白云石含量主要受土壤呼吸CO2的影响,土壤呼吸CO2含量由季风降水和土壤温度控制,因此,碳酸盐/白云石含量是东亚夏季风强度的良好替代指标。中原地区千年时间尺度的季风湿润和干旱事件与其他地区黄土、石笋记录具有同步性,证实在东亚季风降水核心区、中心区和边缘区千年时间尺度干湿变化的同步性,支持季风环流大空间同步增强的模式。这一季风降水型式与现代观测到的"南涝北旱"的"+-+"三极型季风降水分布不同,可能表明不同时间尺度季风降水型式有明显区别。进一步分析表明,季风降水增强/减少事件存在约22 ka和约1.6 ka的周期,表明低纬太阳辐射、大洋环流和高纬度冷事件对东亚季风的联合驱动作用。

China's Sloping Land Conversion Program at the Beginning of 21st Century and Its Habitat Suitability in Typical Region of Loess Plateau

自1999年我国开始试行以"退耕还林"工程为主的生态退耕以来,到目前已历时十年。特别是进入21世纪,工程实施强度较大,因此从国家尺度上进行宏观生态退耕格局的分析对于评估生态退耕政策和确定未来政策导向具有重要意义。本研究以TM遥感监测的土地利用变化数据库为基础分析2000-2005年生态退耕的时空格局。在此基础上,以黄土高原典型地区陕西中北部为研究区,采用生态位适宜度评价模型探讨了生态退耕工程实施的合理性。研究结果表明:(1)2000-2005年间,生态退耕主要集中在中国中部地区,尤其是在黄河和长江的中上游地区,生态退耕面积与建设占用面积基本持平。在各生态类型区中,黄土高原土壤侵蚀区生态退耕面积最大,达到了1162.50km^2,主要用于还林;(2)整体看来,研究区内生态退耕的空间格局是合理的,即适宜性越差的耕地退耕比例越大。从退耕区域的适宜性水平来看,有77.35%的地区属于勉强适宜区,其中退为林地的面积为603.32km^2,退为草地的面积为528.94km^2。整个研究区内前者大于后者。然而,退耕地中仍有19.38%属于中度适宜区,原因可能来自于退耕指标分配等管理因素,另外,当地农民外出务工从而将中等适宜度的耕地退耕。结果表明,当前仍有大面积不适宜和勉强适宜的耕地存在,在未来工程实施过程区应该首先考虑该类地区。

Characteristics of Dried Soil Layers Under Apple Orchards of Different Ages and Their Applications in Soil Water Managements on the Loess Plateau of China

Negative soil water balance （i.e., water input 〈 water output） can lead to soil desiccation and subsequently the occurrence of a dried soil layer （DSL）. The DSLs are generally studied at a specific sampling depth （e.g., 500 cm）, and the actual extent of DSLs remains unknown due to the challenge of collecting deep soil samples. To investigate the characteristics of actual DSLs under different ages of apple orchards and ascertain the optimal age of apple orchards for avoiding/controlling the formation of DSLs, soil samples were collected to a depth of 1800 cm under apple orchards of different ages in Changwu on the Loess Plateau of China. As the ages increased, soil water content （SWC） and mean SWC in DSLs showed an overall decreasing trend, whereas while DSL thickness and the quantity of water deficit （QWD） in DSLs demonstrated an increasing trend. The DSL was the thickest （1 600 cm） under the 17-yeax-old orchard, the forming velocity of DSL thickness was the highest at the apple tree growth stage of 9-17 years （168 cm year-l）, and the highest increasing velocity of QWD （-181 mm year-1） was also observed at this stage. The thickness of DSL was significantly correlated with growth age and root depth of apple trees （r 〉 0.88）, whereas the QWD and mean SWC in DSLs were found to have no correlation with them. The optimal age of apple orchards for avoiding/controlling the formation of DSLs was about 9 years. This information provided pertinent references for the management of deep water resources by controlling the growth age of plants. Key Words： deep soil, growth age, plant roots, soil desiccation, soil water content, soil-plant water relation.