Effects of combined drip irrigation and sub-surface pipe drainage on water and salt transport of saline-alkali soil in Xinjiang, China

Developing effective irrigation and drainage strategies to improve the quality of saline-alkali soil is vital for enhancing agricultural production and increasing economic returns. In this study, we explored how irrigation and drainage modes (flood irrigation, drip irrigation, and sub-surface pipe drainage under drip irrigation) improve the saline-alkali soil in Xinjiang, China. We aimed to study the transport characteristics of soil water and salt under different irrigation and drainage modes, and analyze the effects of the combination of irrigation and drainage on soil salt leaching, as well as its impacts on the growth of oil sunflower. Our results show that sub-surface pipe drainage under drip irrigation significantly reduced the soil salt content and soil water content at the 0–200 cm soil depth. Under sub-surface pipe drainage combined with drip irrigation, the mean soil salt content was reduced to below 10 g/kg after the second irrigation, and the soil salt content decreased as sub-surface pipe distance decreased. The mean soil salt content of flood irrigation exceeded 25 g/kg, and the mean soil desalination efficiency was 3.28%, which was lower than that of drip irrigation. The mean soil desalination rate under drip irrigation and sub-surface pipe drainage under drip irrigation was 19.30% and 58.12%, respectively. After sub-surface drainage regulation under drip irrigation, the germination percentage of oil sunflower seedlings was increased to more than 50%, which further confirmed that combined drip irrigation and sub-surface pipe drainage is very effective in improving the quality of saline-alkali soil and increasing the productivity of agricultural crops.

Present situation and tendency of saline-alkali soil in west Jilin Province

Taking west Jilin Province as an example, this paper put forward the assessment index of salinization, and based on it, the authors present the distribution characteristics of saline-alkali soil in the 1980s and the 1990s in west Jilin and analyze its physical and chemical properties in detail. The developing tendency of salinization was also inferred by comparing the saline-alkali soil of the 1980s with that of the 1990s. Finally, the natural and human factors leading to salinization are analyzed.

Microbial diversity in the saline-alkali soil of a coastal Tamarix chinensis woodland at Bohai Bay, China

Soil salinization or alkalization is a form of soil desertification. Coastal saline-alkali soil represents a type of desert and a key system in the network of ecosystems at the continent-ocean interface. Tamarix chinensis is a drought-tolerant plant that is widely distributed in the coastal saline-alkali soil of Bohai Bay, China. In this study, we used 454 pyrosequencing techniques to investigate the characteristics and distribution of the microbial diversity in coastal saline-alkali soil of the T. chinensis woodland at Bohai Bay. A total of 20,315 sequences were obtained, representing 19 known bacterial phyla and a large proportion of unclassified bacteria at the phylum level. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria were the predominant phyla. The coverage of T. chinensis affected the microbial composition. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of y-Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes decreased whereas Actinobacteria increased with the increasing coverage of T. chinensis. At the genus level, the proportions of Steroidobacter, Lechevalieria, Gp3 and Gp4 decreased with the increase of the vegetation coverage whereas the proportion of Nocardioides increased. A cluster analysis showed that the existing T. chinensis changed the niches for the microorganisms in the coastal saline-alkali soil, which caused changes in the microbial community. The analysis also distinguished the microbial community structure of the marginal area from those of the dense area and sparse area. Furthermore, the results also indicated that the distance to the seashore line could also affect certain groups of soil bacteria in this coastal saline-alkali soil, such as the family Cryomorphaceae and class Flavobacteria, whose population decreased as the distance increased. In addition, the seawater and temperature could be the driving factors that affected the changes.

A STUDY ON GROWTH OF PLANTATION ON SODA-SALINE-ALKALI SOIL

If some suitable treatments are used plantations can be grown and established on the soil of soda-saline-alkali with the soil condition of PH 8.5- 9.6, salinity 0.1-0.3% and normality ratio of saline base Na+ / ( Ca+++ Mg++)≥4. From the results of plot inventory and tree stem analysis, the increment of Poplus simonigra is highest. For 9 years, the volume can reach 100 m3/ha, the biomass (above ground) can reach 28.7 ton/ha. Poplus simonigra grows very well on the all kinds of soda-saline-alkali soils except for the alkali spot with the worst soil condition. So Poplus simonigra is a good tree species for planting on the soil of soda-saline-alkali.

Effects of Different Halophytes on Soil Microflora and Enzyme Acti-vities of Saline-alkali Soil

In the pot experiment,seven varieties of halophytes were grown in saline-alkali soil to investigate the responses of microflora and soil enzymes in the rhizosphere.The results showed that compared to the control,the population of bacterial colony(84.8%-95.6%),actinomycetes colony(12.0%-14.5%)and fungi colony(0.5%-1.1%)increased significantly(P<0.05).The population of ammonia bacteria,aerobic cellulose decomposition bacteria in the soil of Vicia sativa L.(201.99%and 395.49%),Medicago sativa(152.43%and 319.90%)and Sesbania cannabina(Retz.)Pori(193.14%and 396.08%)were higher significantly than that of Panicum virgatum L.(49%and 60%),Sorghum bicolor(L.)Moench(99%and 210%),Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.(75%and 36%)and Aneurotepidimu chinense(75%and 77%)(P<0.05).However,Sorghum bicolor(L.)Moench was evidently higher than Panicum virgatum L.,Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.and Aneurotepidimu chinense(P<0.05)in the soil.The population of ammonia bacteria and aerobic cellulose-decomposing bacteria was significantly correlated with the five enzymes(P<0.05),which could improve the microenvironment in saline-alkali soil to accelerate the element cycling and promote the sustainable development of agriculture through cultivating Medicago sativa,Vicia sativa L.,Sesbania cannabina(Retz.)Pori and Sorghum bicolor(L.)Moench.

Characteristics of land use conversion in soda saline-alkali soil region of central Northeast China

Since the 1970s,the soda saline-alkali soil region,which is located in the semiarid-arid region of the central Northeast China,has experienced drastic climate variability.Meanwhile,human activities and socio-economic development have led to an increase in water consumption.These factors have brought out considerable land use change and a lot of soil salinize-alkalization.The land use types were obtained from remote sensing images interpretation based on Landsat MSS in 1970s,TM,ETM in 1990s and 2010s.The characteristics of land use conversion and its response to climate change and influence of human activities were explored in the study area during 1970-2010.The results include:(1)The land use types had changed significantly,especially farmland and grassland,with annual growth rates of 0.31% and 0.35%,respectively.In terms of the saline-alkali land,the area increased greatly during 1970-1990,and its increase was mainly from grassland.There was a decrease from 1990 to 2010,and the loss of saline-alkali was replaced by farmland and grassland.(2)Climate change in the study area is obvious,showing a trend of decreasing precipitation and increasing temperature.The change of saline-alkali land area is closely related to the precipitation,with R2=0.78,passed a passing the 0.01 significance test.(3)The correlation of land use degree index and human activity index with saline-alkali land was not obvious,and the changes in these indices only reflected the land use patterns.Under sufficient rainfall,the saline-alkali land was developed into farmland by humans,which caused the decrease of the saline-alkali land.Therefore,climate change is the main driving force of land salinization in the study area.

The Effects of Biochar on Germination and Growth of Wheat in Different Saline-alkali Soil

Saline alkali soil can cause physiological drought on crops,so only some salinity tolerant crops can grow in saline alkali soil.Biochar can increase the utilize efficiency of nutrient and the water retention of the soil,and affect the growth of the plant.In this research,four different proportion of biochar was added in five different levels of saline-alkali soil for pot culture experiment.The pH of the soil increases as the proportion of biochar increase in same saline-alkali level soil,while the EC decrease as the proportion of biochar increase.The germination rate of wheat seeds varies as the different of soil's saline-alkali level.Notable among these results is the germination of wheat seeds in the serious saline-alkali soil without biochar added is 0,while in 45%biochar added in serious saline-alkali soil,the germination rate get to as high as 48.9%.Also,biochar improve the growth of wheat seedling,while for mild saline alkali soil and normal soil.Biochar had no obvious effect on the growth of wheat seedling.

Planting six tree species on soda-saline-alkali soil

Populus simonigra， Salix matsudana， Ulmus pumila， Populus nigra， Acer negundo， Fraxinus mandshurica。Tamarix chinensis， Hippophae rhammoldes， Syriga onlata 在 soda-saline-alkali 上被种。土壤有 pH 8.5 鈥 ?.6，咸度 0.1% 鈥 ?.3% ， sodiumionized 比率 16% 鈥 ?1% 并且盐的基础 Na+/(Ca+++Mg++) 的规度比率 > 4。除了在碱运动上， Populus simonigra 与最糟的土壤条件在各种 soda-saline-alkali 土壤上成长很好并且显示出一根高木头增长和生物资源。在 9 以后一，体积能到达 100 m3/hm2，并且未葬生物资源罐头重新拱 28.7 t/hm2。

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN SALINE-ALKALI SOIL AREA OF SONGNEN PLAIN,NORTHEAST CHINA

There is great potential for agriculture in saline-alkali soil area in Songnen Plain, Northeast China. But the sustainable crop production in this area has been restricted by a few of main factors, such as less precipitation, h igher evaporation and frequent drought, high salinity and alkalinity, high excha ngeable sodium content and poor infiltration of the soil, and insufficiency and low availability in nutrition. It is also considered that there are a few of fav orable conditions for agricultural development in this region, such as sufficien t light and heat resources, rich ground water resources, plenty of manure produc ed by livestock, and so on. At the same time, scientific management and measurem ents have been employed; rational irrigation and drainage system has been establ ished; reclamation, amendment and fertilization of soil, and suitable strategies of cropping practices have been made for the sustainable development of agricul ture. Great progress has been made during 1996-2000.

Variation Characteristics of Root Traits of Different Alfalfa Cultivars under Saline-Alkaline Stress and their Relationship with Soil Environmental Factors

Soil salinization is the main factor that threatens the growth and development of plants and limits the increase of yield.It is of great significance to study the key soil environmental factors affecting plant root traits to reveal the adaptation strategies of plants to saline-alkaline-stressed soil environments.In this study,the root biomass,root morphological parameters and root mineral nutrient content of two alfalfa cultivars with different sensitivities to alkaline stress were analyzed with black soil as the control group and the mixed saline-alkaline soil with a ratio of 7:3 between black soil and saline-alkaline soil as the saline-alkaline treatment group.At the same time,the correlation analysis of soil salinity indexes,soil nutrient indexes and the activities of key enzymes involved in soil carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus cycles was carried out.The results showed that compared with the control group,the pH,EC,and urease(URE)of the soil surrounding the roots of two alfalfa cultivars were significantly increased,while soil total nitrogen(TN),total phosphorus(TP),organic carbon(SOC),andα-glucosidase activity(AGC)were significantly decreased under saline-alkaline stress.There was no significant difference in root biomass and root morphological parameters of saline-alkaline tolerant cultivar GN under saline-alkaline stress.The number of root tips(RT),root surface area(RS)and root volume(RV)of AG were reduced by 61.16%,44.54%,and 45.31%,respectively,compared with control group.The ratios of K^(+)/Na^(+),Ca^(2+)/Na^(+)and Mg^(2+)/Na^(+)of GN were significantly higher than those of AG(p<0.05).The root fresh weight(RFW)and dry weight(RDW),root length(RL),RV and RT of alfalfa were positively regulated by soil SOC and TN,but negatively regulated by soil pH,EC,and URE(p<0.01).Root Ca^(2+)/Na+ratio was significantly positively correlated with soil TN,TP and SOC(p<0.01).The absorption of Mg and Ca ions in roots is significantly negatively regulated by soilβ-glucosidase activity(BGC)and acid phosphatase activity(APC)(p<0.05).This study improved knowledge of the relationship between root traits and soil environmental factors and offered a theoretical framework for elucidating how plant roots adapt to saline-alkaline stressed soil environments.

Effects of Biochar and Wood Vinegar on Labile Phosphorus Pool in Soda Saline-Alkaline Soil

A pot experiment was conducted to research the effect of biochar and wood vinegar on labile phosphorus fractions in saline-alkali soil.There were eight treatments,including CK(0 kg•hm-2 biochar+0 kg•hm-2 wood vinegar),C1(0.6 t•hm-2 biochar),C2(0.6 t•hm-2 wood vinegar),C3(1.2 t•hm-2 wood vinegar),C4(1.8 t•hm-2 wood vinegar),C5(0.6 t•hm-2 biochar+0.6 t•hm-2 wood vinegar),C6(0.6 t•hm-2 biochar+1.2 t•hm-2 wood vinegar),and C7(0.6 t•hm-2 biochar+1.8 t•hm-2 wood vinegar).The results showed that biochar without wood vinegar and the co-application of biochar and wood vinegar significantly increased soil total phosphorus content.Meanwhile,compared with CK,all of treatments increased resin phosphorus and sodium bicarbonate-extracted inorganic phosphorus(NaHCO3-Pi)contents in saline-alkali soil.Especially,the contents of resin phosphorus and NaHCO3-Pi under C5,C6,and C7 treatments were higher than those of C2,C3,and C4 treatments,respectively,indicating that the increases of labile phosphorus contents under the co-application of biochar and wood vinegar were better than those of the alone application of biochar and wood vinegar.Each treatment increased the proportion of labile phosphorus pool in saline-alkali soil and the proportion of labile phosphorus pool increased with the increase of the amount of wood vinegar.In addition,the application of biochar and wood vinegar increased the 100-grain weight of rice,and C6 treatment had the best effect,increasing the 100-grain weight by 134.35%.Therefore,the application of biochar and wood vinegar in saline-alkali soil could improve the soil phosphorus availability,increase the weight of rice grains,thereby realizing the resource utilization of agricultural waste and the sustainable development of agriculture.

Liquefaction susceptibility and deformation characteristics of saturated coral sandy soils subjected to cyclic loadings-a critical review

Coral sandy soils widely exist in coral island reefs and seashores in tropical and subtropical regions.Due to the unique marine depositional environment of coral sandy soils,the engineering characteristics and responses of these soils subjected to monotonic and cyclic loadings have been a subject of intense interest among the geotechnical and earthquake engineering communities.This paper critically reviews the progress of experimental investigations on the undrained behavior of coral sandy soils under monotonic and cyclic loadings over the last three decades.The focus of coverage includes the contractive-dilative behavior,the pattern of excess pore-water pressure(EPWP)generation and the liquefaction mechanism and liquefaction resistance,the small-strain shear modulus and strain-dependent shear modulus and damping,the cyclic softening feature,and the anisotropic characteristics of undrained responses of saturated coral sandy soils.In particular,the advances made in the past decades are reviewed from the following aspects:(1)the characterization of factors that impact the mechanism and patterns of EPWP build-up;(2)the identification of liquefaction triggering in terms of the apparent viscosity and the average flow coefficient;(3)the establishment of the invariable form of strain-based,stress-based,or energy-based EPWP ratio formulas and the unique relationship between the new proxy of liquefaction resistance and the number of cycles required to reach liquefaction;(4)the establishment of the invariable form of the predictive formulas of small strain modulus and strain-dependent shear modulus;and(5)the investigation on the effects of stress-induced anisotropy on liquefaction susceptibility and dynamic deformation characteristics.Insights gained through the critical review of these advances in the past decades offer a perspective for future research to further resolve the fundamental issues concerning the liquefaction mechanism and responses of coral sandy sites subjected to cyclic loadings associated with seismic events in marine environments.

Impact of Initial Soil Conditions on Soil Hydrothermal and Surface Energy Fluxes in the Permafrost Region of the Tibetan Plateau

Accurate initial soil conditions play a crucial role in simulating soil hydrothermal and surface energy fluxes in land surface process modeling.This study emphasized the influence of the initial soil temperature(ST)and soil moisture(SM)conditions on a land surface energy and water simulation in the permafrost region in the Tibetan Plateau(TP)using the Community Land Model version 5.0(CLM5.0).The results indicate that the default initial schemes for ST and SM in CLM5.0 were simplistic,and inaccurately represented the soil characteristics of permafrost in the TP which led to underestimating ST during the freezing period while overestimating ST and underestimating SLW during the thawing period at the XDT site.Applying the long-term spin-up method to obtain initial soil conditions has only led to limited improvement in simulating soil hydrothermal and surface energy fluxes.The modified initial soil schemes proposed in this study comprehensively incorporate the characteristics of permafrost,which coexists with soil liquid water(SLW),and soil ice(SI)when the ST is below freezing temperature,effectively enhancing the accuracy of the simulated soil hydrothermal and surface energy fluxes.Consequently,the modified initial soil schemes greatly improved upon the results achieved through the long-term spin-up method.Three modified initial soil schemes experiments resulted in a 64%,88%,and 77%reduction in the average mean bias error(MBE)of ST,and a 13%,21%,and 19%reduction in the average root-mean-square error(RMSE)of SLW compared to the default simulation results.Also,the average MBE of net radiation was reduced by 7%,22%,and 21%.

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

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

Effects of land-use patterns on soil microbial diversity and composition in the Loess Plateau,China

In the Loess Plateau of China,land-use pattern is a major factor in controlling underlying biological processes.Additionally,the process of land-use pattern was accompanied by abandoned lands,potentially impacting soil microbe.However,limited researches were conducted to study the impacts of land-use patterns on the diversity and community of soil microorganisms in this area.The study aimed to investigate soil microbial community diversity and composition using high-throughput deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA)sequencing under different land-use patterns(apricot tree land,apple tree land,peach tree land,corn land,and abandoned land).The results showed a substantial difference(P<0.050)in bacterial alpha-diversity and beta-diversity between abandoned land and other land-use patterns,with the exception of Shannon index.While fungal beta-diversity was not considerably impacted by land-use patterns,fungal alpha-diversity indices varied significantly.The relative abundance of Actinobacteriota(34.90%),Proteobacteria(20.65%),and Ascomycota(77.42%)varied in soils with different land-use patterns.Soil pH exerted a dominant impact on the soil bacterial communities'composition,whereas soil available phosphorus was the main factor shaping the soil fungal communities'composition.These findings suggest that variations in land-use pattern had resulted in changes to soil properties,subsequently impacting diversity and structure of microbial community in the Loess Plateau.Given the strong interdependence between soil and its microbiota,it is imperative to reclaim abandoned lands to maintain soil fertility and sustain its function,which will have significant ecological service implications,particularly with regards to soil conservation in ecologically vulnerable areas.

Temporal and environmental factors drive community structure and function of methanotrophs in volcanic forest soils

Methanotrophs,organisms that obtain oxygen by oxidizing methane,are recognized as the only known biological sink for atmospheric CH_4,and forest soil methanotrophs play crucial roles in mitigating global warming.The succession patterns of methanotrophic communities and functions in Wudalianchi volcano forest soils could provide a basis for the study of evolutionary mechanisms between soil microorganisms,the environment,and carbon cycling of temperate forest ecosystems under climate change.In this study,the characteristics and drivers of methanotrophic community structure and function of two volcanic soils at different stages of development are analyzed,including an old volcano and a new volcano,which most recently erupted 300 years and 17-19×10^(5)years ago,respectively,and a non-volcano hills as control,based on space for time substitution and Miseq sequencing and bioinformation technology.The results showed that CH_(4) fluxes were significantly higher in old-stage volcano forest soils than new-stage forest soils and non-volcano forest soils.There were significant differences in the community composition and diversity of soil methanotrophs from different volcano forest soils.Methylococcus was the dominant genus in all soil samples.Additionally,the relative abundance of Methylococcus,along with Clonothrix,Methyloglobulus,Methylomagum,Methylomonas and Methylosarcina,were the important genera responsible for the differences in methanotrophic community structure in different volcano forest soils.The relative abundance of methanotroph belonging toγ-proteobacteria was significantly higher than that belonging toα-proteobacteria(P<0.05).Chao1,Shannon and Simpson indices of soil methanotrophic community were significantly lower in new-stage volcanos and were significantly affected by bulk density,total porosity,p H,nitrate,dissolved organic carbon and dissolved organic nitrogen.There were significant differences in community structure between new-stage and old-stage volcanoes.Bulk density and p H are important soil properties contributing to the divergence of methanotrophs community structure,and changes in soil properties due to soil development time are important factors driving differences in methanotrophs communities in Wudalianchi volcanic soils.

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

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

The potential for an old-growth forest to store carbon in the topsoil:A case study at Sasso Fratino,Italy

There is considerable interest devoted to oldgrowth forests and their capacity to store carbon(C)in biomass and soil.Inventories of C stocks in old-growth forests are carried out worldwide,although there is a lack of information on their actual potential for C sequestration.To further understand this,soil organic carbon(SOC)was measured in one of Italy's best-preserved old-growth forests,the Sasso Fratino Integral Nature Reserve.This reserve is on the World Heritage List along with other ancient beech forests of Europe,and it is virtually untouched due to the steepness of the terrain,even before legal constraints were imposed.Although the sandstone-derived soils are often shallow,they are rich in organic matter.However,no quantification had been carried out.By systematically sampling the topsoil across the forest,we accurately determined the average amount of SOC(62.0±16.9 Mg ha^(–1))and nitrogen(4.0±1.2 Mg ha^(–1))in the top 20 cm.Using the CENTURY model,future dynamics of SOC stocks were predicted to 2050 according to two climate scenarios,A1F1 and B2,the first of high concern and the second more optimistic.The model projected an increase of 0.2 and 0.3 Mg ha^(–1)a^(–1)by 2030 under the A1F1 and B2 scenarios,respectively,suggesting that the topsoil in old-growth forests does not reach equilibrium but continues accumulating SOC.However,from 2030 to 2050,a decline in SOC accumulation is predicted,indicating SOC net loss at high altitudes under the worst-case scenario.This study confirms that soils in oldgrowth forests play a significant role in carbon sequestration.It also suggests that climate change may affect the potential of these forests to store SOC not only in the long term but also in the coming years.

A Review of Biochemical Processes and Techniques for Soil Stabilization and Resilience

Biochemical, chemical, and mechanical, techniques have been employed to enhance soil resilience for decades. While the use of mechanical techniques requires transporting huge amounts of soil materials, the cement used in chemical techniques may lead to increase atmospheric carbon dioxide. Numerous studies indicate that biochemical techniques may be less expensive, cost effective, and environmentally friendly. Biopolymers and enzymes derived from microorganisms have been suggested as biological enhancers in strengthening and fortifying soils used for earthen structures. Lime and other treatment techniques used as biobased materials have been shown to be less effective for stabilizing soils. Here, we review biochemical processes and techniques involved in the interactions of soil enzymes, microorganisms, microbial extracellular polymeric substances, and other biopolymers with soil particles, and the challenges and strategies of their use as biobased materials for stabilizing soils. This review provides their impacts on various soil properties and the growth potentials of agricultural crops. .

Impacts of Sulfur and Microalgae Co-fertilization on Saline-alkaline Soil of Sunflower Field in Hetao Irrigation District

[Objectives]To evaluate the impacts of the elemental sulfur(S 0)and micro-algae(MA)co-fertilization on saline-alkaline soil of sunflower field in the Hetao Irrigation District(HID).[Methods]The greenhouse pot experiment was conducted with four treatments:control(CK),single S 0 fertilization(S),single MA fertilization(A),and S 0 and MA co-fertilization(SA)for comparing the selected soil properties and sunflower plant heights and weights in different treatments.[Results]The results showed that the mean soil organic matter(SOM)under the SA(25.08 g/kg)was significantly higher than that for the CK(20.59 g/kg),S(22.47 g/kg),and A(22.95 g/kg).The mean pH under the SA(7.75)was significantly lower than that for the CK(8.14),S(7.82),and A(7.96).The mean soil exchangeable Na+concentration under the SA was significantly lower than that for the S.The mean soil electrical conductivity(EC)under the SA was 9.76%lower than that for the S.The means of Cl-(1.22 g/kg)and SO 2-4(1.90 g/kg)in soil under the SA were lower than that for the S(1.30,2.06 g/kg)and A(1.31,1.97 g/kg),respectively.For plant height 3 at the late stage of plant growth,the mean plant height 3 under the SA(89.00 cm)was higher than that of the CK(69.60 cm)and A(74.33 cm).The total weights of the fresh sunflower heads,fresh stems,and dry seeds under the SA were higher than that for the CK,S,and A.[Conclusions]In conclusion,the S 0 and MA co-fertilization had positive effects on improving saline-alkaline soils,the soil under the S 0 and MA co-fertilization could be better conditions for promoting sunflower growth than that for the S,Z,and CK,and thereby the S 0 and MA co-fertilization could be a new idea to improve saline-alkaline soil in the cold and arid regions.