Arid and semi-arid areas comprise about 30% of the earth＇s surface. Changes in climate and climate variability will likely have a significant impact on these regions. The Loess Plateau over Northwest China is a speci...Arid and semi-arid areas comprise about 30% of the earth＇s surface. Changes in climate and climate variability will likely have a significant impact on these regions. The Loess Plateau over Northwest China is a special semi-arid land surface and part of a dust aerosol source. To improve understanding and capture the direct evidence of the impact of human activity on the semi-arid climate over the Loess Plateau, the Semi-Arid Climate and Environment Observatory of Lanzhou University （SACOL） was established in 2005. SACOL consists of a large set of instruments and focuses on： （1） monitoring of long term tendencies in semiarid climate changes; （2） monitoring of the aerosol effect on the water cycle; （3） studies of interaction between land surface and the atmosphere; （4） improving the land surface and climate models; and （5） validation of space-borne observations. This paper presents a description of SACOL objectives, measurements, and sampling strategies. Preliminary observation results are also reviewed in this paper.展开更多
Soil water is an important factor restricting afforestation on the semi-arid Loess Plateau.The microtopography of the loess slope has changed the distribution pattern of soil water on the slope.To improve water utiliz...Soil water is an important factor restricting afforestation on the semi-arid Loess Plateau.The microtopography of the loess slope has changed the distribution pattern of soil water on the slope.To improve water utilization efficiency and optimize afforestation configuration patterns,the relationship between soil water and precipitation at micro-topographic scale must be studied.We used time series analysis to study the temporal variation of soil water and its response to precipitation in four kinds of micro-topographies and undisturbed slope on loess slopes.Micro-topographies significantly influenced soil water distribution and dynamics on the slopes.Soil water stored in the platform,sinkhole,and ephemeral gully influenced subsequent soil water for 4 weeks,whereas soil water stored in the scarp and undisturbed slope could influence soil water for 2 weeks.It took 12 weeks,10 weeks,18 weeks,6 weeks,and 12 weeks for precipitation to reach the deeper soil layer in the platform,sinkhole,scarp,ephemeral gully,and undisturbed slope,respectively.These soil water characteristics in different micro-topographies are vital factors that should be taken into consideration when undertaking afforestation on the Loess Plateau.展开更多
Water harvesting is one of main measures to solve water shortage resulting from less precipitation and erratically seasonal dis- tribution in arid and semi-arid areas. Different types of anti-infiltration treatments i...Water harvesting is one of main measures to solve water shortage resulting from less precipitation and erratically seasonal dis- tribution in arid and semi-arid areas. Different types of anti-infiltration treatments including mechanical and chemical to micro-catchment and their runoff efficiencies had been reported. This paper, through 5 years experiment from 1992 to 1996, is aimed at studying the im- pacts of microcatchment water-harvesting system (MCWHS) with microphytic crust treatment on afforestation on semi-arid Loess Plateau. The results showed that after 3 years of crust inoculation, crust had covered majority of MCWHS and the function of water harvesting had also been demonstrated partially, there were significant difference in soil moisture of shallow soil layer in three typical spring stages be- tween crust cover and control treatments (0.05 level), and about 0.9%-6.04% increase of monthly mean soil moisture within 1m soil layer in spring of late 3 years. The impact of severe spring drought can be alleviated effectively. In the meanwhile, as crust developed on the treated surface, there are significant differences (0.05 level) for tree height (H), diameter at breast height (DBH) and diameter at ground level (DGL) at the end of the study period (1996) with the increases by 22.38%, 17.34%, and 20.49% respectively compared with the con- trol treatment. Microphytic crust, as one of biological infiltration-proof materials, may become the optimized option for revegetation in Chinese Great West Development Strategy due to its self-propagation, non-pollution to water qualities, long use duration and relatively cost effective. Further work should be focused on the selection of endemic crust species and their batch-culture in arid environment.展开更多
Changes in the distribution of soil aggregate sizes and concentrations of aggregate-associated organic carbon （OC） and nitrogen （N） in response to the fertilization of grasslands are not well understood. Understan...Changes in the distribution of soil aggregate sizes and concentrations of aggregate-associated organic carbon （OC） and nitrogen （N） in response to the fertilization of grasslands are not well understood. Understanding these changes is essential to the sustainable development of artificial grasslands. For understanding these changes, we collected soil samples at 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths from a semi-arid artificial alfalfa grassland after 27 years of applications of phosphorus （P） and nitrogen＋phosphorus＋manure （NPM） fertilizers on the Loess Pla- teau of China. The distribution of aggregate sizes and the concentrations and stocks of OC and N in total soils were determined. The results showed that NPM treatment significantly increased the proportions of 〉2.0 mm and 2.0-0.25 mm size fractions, the mean geometric diameter （MGD） and the mean weight diameter （MWD） in the 0-20 cm layer. Phosphorous fertilizer significantly increased the proportion of 〉2.0 mm size fractions, the MGD and the MWD in the 0-20 cm layer. Long-term application of fertilization （P and NPM） resulted in the accumulation of OC and N in soil aggregates. The largest changes in aggregate-associated OC and N in the 0-20 cm layer were found at the NPM treatment, whereas the largest changes in the 20-40 cm layer were found at the P treatment. The results suggest that long-term fertilization in the grassland leads to the accumulation of OC and N in the coarse size fractions and the redistribution of OC and N from fine size fractions to coarse size fractions.展开更多
Pollen records from the Chinese Loess Plateau revealed a detailed history of vegetation variation and associated climate changes during the last 13.0 ka BP. Before 12.1 ka BP, steppe or desert-steppe vegetation domina...Pollen records from the Chinese Loess Plateau revealed a detailed history of vegetation variation and associated climate changes during the last 13.0 ka BP. Before 12.1 ka BP, steppe or desert-steppe vegetation dominated landscape then was replaced by a coniferous forest under a generally wet climate （12.1-11.0 ka BP）. The vegetation was deteriorated into steppe landscape and further into a desert-steppe landscape between 11.0 and 9.8 ka BP. After a brief episode of a cool and wet climate （9.8-9.6 ka BP）, a relatively mild and dry condition prevailed during the early Holocene （9.6-7.6 ka BP）. The most favourable climate of warm and humid period occurred during mid-Holocene （7.6-4.0 ka BP） marked by forest-steppe landscape and vegetation alternatively changed between steppe and desert-steppe from -4.0 to -1.0 ka BP.展开更多
【目的】以黄土高原半干旱区有限降水持续高效利用为目标,研究不同覆膜方式下连作玉米(Zea May L.)的产量表现和水分利用特征,揭示其增产机理,明确不同覆膜方式下有利于土壤水分持续高效利用的连作年限,为试区高产、水分高效持续利用型...【目的】以黄土高原半干旱区有限降水持续高效利用为目标,研究不同覆膜方式下连作玉米(Zea May L.)的产量表现和水分利用特征,揭示其增产机理,明确不同覆膜方式下有利于土壤水分持续高效利用的连作年限,为试区高产、水分高效持续利用型玉米连作技术提供理论依据。【方法】以田间定位试验为基础,量化连作玉米农田土壤水分的年际平衡关系、产量稳定性;以持续高产和收获期不发生土壤干燥化为依据,确定适用于不同覆膜方式的玉米连作年限。【结果】3年试验结果表明,全膜双垄沟播具有良好的保墒、提高土壤水分有效性,利于协调关键生育时期土壤-作物的水分供需关系,提高产量和水分利用效率的作用。与半膜平作处理相比,全膜双垄沟播玉米的籽粒产量、水分利用效率分别提高了41.8%和33.4%,生物产量、单位耗水的干物质累积量、总产值、净产值、毫米水产值和产投比分别提高了21.8%、12.3%、31.2%、27.8%、21.1%和-3.2%;与露地栽培处理相比生物产量、单位耗水的干物质累积量、总产值、净产值、毫米水产值和产投比分别提高了24.9%、39.1%、225.5%、1 423.9%、212.4%和93.5%。地膜覆盖增大了玉米全生育时期的耗水量,全膜双垄沟播、全膜平作和半膜平作耗水量较露地栽培增幅分别为15.5%—29.2%、10.0%—20.8%和4.2%—12.6%。单季较高的耗水量导致3种覆盖处理在连作第二年收获期土壤贮水量较连作开始期分别降低了37.3%、33.5%和30.9%,第三年降低了29.6%、27.5%和23.9%,造成土壤水分亏缺;随着连作年限的延长,土壤水分亏缺累计,出现土壤干化现象,引起产量波动,不利于土壤水分的持续利用。【结论】黄土高原半干旱区,在同等降雨条件下,全膜双垄沟播具有明显的增产增效和提高水分利用效率的作用,是理想的玉米种植模式;当年降雨量在320 mm左右时,全膜双垄沟播玉米连作不宜超过2年,全膜平作、半膜平作玉米的连作时间不宜超过3年。展开更多
基金SACOL was sponsored by Lanzhou University through 985 Programthe National Basic Research Program of China under Grant No. 2006CB400501the National Natural Science Founda- tion of China under Grant Nos. 40633017 and 40725015
文摘Arid and semi-arid areas comprise about 30% of the earth＇s surface. Changes in climate and climate variability will likely have a significant impact on these regions. The Loess Plateau over Northwest China is a special semi-arid land surface and part of a dust aerosol source. To improve understanding and capture the direct evidence of the impact of human activity on the semi-arid climate over the Loess Plateau, the Semi-Arid Climate and Environment Observatory of Lanzhou University （SACOL） was established in 2005. SACOL consists of a large set of instruments and focuses on： （1） monitoring of long term tendencies in semiarid climate changes; （2） monitoring of the aerosol effect on the water cycle; （3） studies of interaction between land surface and the atmosphere; （4） improving the land surface and climate models; and （5） validation of space-borne observations. This paper presents a description of SACOL objectives, measurements, and sampling strategies. Preliminary observation results are also reviewed in this paper.
基金financially supported by Forestry Industry Research Special Funds for Public Welfare Projects(201104002-2)China National Scientific and Technical Innovation Research Project for 12th Five Year Plan(2015BAD07B0201)
文摘Soil water is an important factor restricting afforestation on the semi-arid Loess Plateau.The microtopography of the loess slope has changed the distribution pattern of soil water on the slope.To improve water utilization efficiency and optimize afforestation configuration patterns,the relationship between soil water and precipitation at micro-topographic scale must be studied.We used time series analysis to study the temporal variation of soil water and its response to precipitation in four kinds of micro-topographies and undisturbed slope on loess slopes.Micro-topographies significantly influenced soil water distribution and dynamics on the slopes.Soil water stored in the platform,sinkhole,and ephemeral gully influenced subsequent soil water for 4 weeks,whereas soil water stored in the scarp and undisturbed slope could influence soil water for 2 weeks.It took 12 weeks,10 weeks,18 weeks,6 weeks,and 12 weeks for precipitation to reach the deeper soil layer in the platform,sinkhole,scarp,ephemeral gully,and undisturbed slope,respectively.These soil water characteristics in different micro-topographies are vital factors that should be taken into consideration when undertaking afforestation on the Loess Plateau.
文摘Water harvesting is one of main measures to solve water shortage resulting from less precipitation and erratically seasonal dis- tribution in arid and semi-arid areas. Different types of anti-infiltration treatments including mechanical and chemical to micro-catchment and their runoff efficiencies had been reported. This paper, through 5 years experiment from 1992 to 1996, is aimed at studying the im- pacts of microcatchment water-harvesting system (MCWHS) with microphytic crust treatment on afforestation on semi-arid Loess Plateau. The results showed that after 3 years of crust inoculation, crust had covered majority of MCWHS and the function of water harvesting had also been demonstrated partially, there were significant difference in soil moisture of shallow soil layer in three typical spring stages be- tween crust cover and control treatments (0.05 level), and about 0.9%-6.04% increase of monthly mean soil moisture within 1m soil layer in spring of late 3 years. The impact of severe spring drought can be alleviated effectively. In the meanwhile, as crust developed on the treated surface, there are significant differences (0.05 level) for tree height (H), diameter at breast height (DBH) and diameter at ground level (DGL) at the end of the study period (1996) with the increases by 22.38%, 17.34%, and 20.49% respectively compared with the con- trol treatment. Microphytic crust, as one of biological infiltration-proof materials, may become the optimized option for revegetation in Chinese Great West Development Strategy due to its self-propagation, non-pollution to water qualities, long use duration and relatively cost effective. Further work should be focused on the selection of endemic crust species and their batch-culture in arid environment.
基金funded by the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-13-0487)the Program from Northwest A&F University (2014YQ007)+4 种基金the National Basic Research Program of China (2009CB118604)the National Science and Technology Support for Major Projects of China (2011BAD31B01)the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KZCX2-YW-JC408)Science and Technology Generalized Program for the Overall Development of Agriculture in Ningxia (NTKJ-2014-01)the Scientific Research Program from Education Department of Shaanxi Province (11JK0650).
文摘Changes in the distribution of soil aggregate sizes and concentrations of aggregate-associated organic carbon （OC） and nitrogen （N） in response to the fertilization of grasslands are not well understood. Understanding these changes is essential to the sustainable development of artificial grasslands. For understanding these changes, we collected soil samples at 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths from a semi-arid artificial alfalfa grassland after 27 years of applications of phosphorus （P） and nitrogen＋phosphorus＋manure （NPM） fertilizers on the Loess Pla- teau of China. The distribution of aggregate sizes and the concentrations and stocks of OC and N in total soils were determined. The results showed that NPM treatment significantly increased the proportions of 〉2.0 mm and 2.0-0.25 mm size fractions, the mean geometric diameter （MGD） and the mean weight diameter （MWD） in the 0-20 cm layer. Phosphorous fertilizer significantly increased the proportion of 〉2.0 mm size fractions, the MGD and the MWD in the 0-20 cm layer. Long-term application of fertilization （P and NPM） resulted in the accumulation of OC and N in soil aggregates. The largest changes in aggregate-associated OC and N in the 0-20 cm layer were found at the NPM treatment, whereas the largest changes in the 20-40 cm layer were found at the P treatment. The results suggest that long-term fertilization in the grassland leads to the accumulation of OC and N in the coarse size fractions and the redistribution of OC and N from fine size fractions to coarse size fractions.
基金National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 40025105 National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 40331012+3 种基金 NSF Project, No.EAR 0402509 No.BCS 00-78557 Doctoral Fund from Southwest University, No. 104220-20710904 CSTC, No.2009BB7112
文摘Pollen records from the Chinese Loess Plateau revealed a detailed history of vegetation variation and associated climate changes during the last 13.0 ka BP. Before 12.1 ka BP, steppe or desert-steppe vegetation dominated landscape then was replaced by a coniferous forest under a generally wet climate （12.1-11.0 ka BP）. The vegetation was deteriorated into steppe landscape and further into a desert-steppe landscape between 11.0 and 9.8 ka BP. After a brief episode of a cool and wet climate （9.8-9.6 ka BP）, a relatively mild and dry condition prevailed during the early Holocene （9.6-7.6 ka BP）. The most favourable climate of warm and humid period occurred during mid-Holocene （7.6-4.0 ka BP） marked by forest-steppe landscape and vegetation alternatively changed between steppe and desert-steppe from -4.0 to -1.0 ka BP.
文摘【目的】以黄土高原半干旱区有限降水持续高效利用为目标,研究不同覆膜方式下连作玉米(Zea May L.)的产量表现和水分利用特征,揭示其增产机理,明确不同覆膜方式下有利于土壤水分持续高效利用的连作年限,为试区高产、水分高效持续利用型玉米连作技术提供理论依据。【方法】以田间定位试验为基础,量化连作玉米农田土壤水分的年际平衡关系、产量稳定性;以持续高产和收获期不发生土壤干燥化为依据,确定适用于不同覆膜方式的玉米连作年限。【结果】3年试验结果表明,全膜双垄沟播具有良好的保墒、提高土壤水分有效性,利于协调关键生育时期土壤-作物的水分供需关系,提高产量和水分利用效率的作用。与半膜平作处理相比,全膜双垄沟播玉米的籽粒产量、水分利用效率分别提高了41.8%和33.4%,生物产量、单位耗水的干物质累积量、总产值、净产值、毫米水产值和产投比分别提高了21.8%、12.3%、31.2%、27.8%、21.1%和-3.2%;与露地栽培处理相比生物产量、单位耗水的干物质累积量、总产值、净产值、毫米水产值和产投比分别提高了24.9%、39.1%、225.5%、1 423.9%、212.4%和93.5%。地膜覆盖增大了玉米全生育时期的耗水量,全膜双垄沟播、全膜平作和半膜平作耗水量较露地栽培增幅分别为15.5%—29.2%、10.0%—20.8%和4.2%—12.6%。单季较高的耗水量导致3种覆盖处理在连作第二年收获期土壤贮水量较连作开始期分别降低了37.3%、33.5%和30.9%,第三年降低了29.6%、27.5%和23.9%,造成土壤水分亏缺;随着连作年限的延长,土壤水分亏缺累计,出现土壤干化现象,引起产量波动,不利于土壤水分的持续利用。【结论】黄土高原半干旱区,在同等降雨条件下,全膜双垄沟播具有明显的增产增效和提高水分利用效率的作用,是理想的玉米种植模式;当年降雨量在320 mm左右时,全膜双垄沟播玉米连作不宜超过2年,全膜平作、半膜平作玉米的连作时间不宜超过3年。
