Straw interlayer improves sunflower root growth:Evidence from moisture and salt migration and the microbial community in saline-alkali soil

A straw interlayer added to soil can effectively reduce soil salinity effects on plant growth,however,the effects of soil moisture,salt and microbial community composition on plant growth under a straw interlayer are unclear.A rhizobox study was conducted to investigate the role of straw interlayer thickness on soil moisture,salt migration,microbial community composition,as well as root growth in sunflower.The study included four treatments:Control(no straw interlayer);S3(straw interlayer of 3.0 cm);S5(straw interlayer of 5.0 cm);S7(straw interlayer of 7.0 cm).Straw interlayer treatments increased soil moisture by 8.2–11.0%after irrigation and decreased soil salt content after the bud stage in 0–40 cm soil.Total root length,total root surface area,average root diameter,total root volume and the number of root tips of sunflower plants were higher under straw interlayer treatments than in the control,and were the highest under the S5 treatment.This stimulated root growth was ascribed to the higher abundance of Chloroflexi and Verrucomicrobia bacteria in soil with a straw interlayer,which was increased by 55.7 and 54.7%,respectively,in the S5 treatment.Addition of a straw interlayer of 5 cm thickness is a practical and environmentally feasible approach for improving sunflower root growth in saline-alkali soil.

Complete stabilization of severely As-contaminated soil by a simple H2O2 pre-oxidation method combined with non-toxic TMT-15 and FeCl3·6H2O

The stabilization of severely As-polluted soil has been a challenge, especially for the extremely toxic As(Ⅲ) contaminants. In this study, soil with a high As concentration(26084 mg/kg) was availably stabilized by a H2O2 pre-oxidation assisted TMT-15(Na3S3C3N3 solution with a mass fraction of 15%) and FeCl3·6 H2O stabilization method. The results showed that the combination of the two stabilizers(i.e., TMT-15 and FeCl3·6 H2O) presented a better stabilization behavior than either stabilizer used individually. The use of the H2O2 pre-oxidation assisted TMT-15 and FeCl3·6 H2O stabilization approach not only converted the As(Ⅲ) to As(Ⅴ) but also reduced the toxic leaching concentration of As to 1.61 mg/L, which is a safe level, when the additions of TMT-15 and FeCl3·6 H2O were 2 mL and 0.20 g, respectively. Thus, using only a simple H2O2 pre-oxidation to combine clean stabilization with non-toxic stabilizers TMT-15 and FeCl3·6 H2O could render the severely As-contaminated soil safe for disposal in a landfill.

Effects of Microbial Fertilizers on Soil Improvement and Wheat Growth Characteristics in Saline-alkali Land

[Objectives]This study was conducted to further enrich the research on saline-alkali land improvement,and explore the effects of biological bacterial fertilizers containing Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus velezensis HM-3 in saline-alkali land improvement and crop growth promotion.[Methods]Wheat was planted in saline-alkali land in Huanghua City,Hebei Province,and a mixed application experiment was carried out using biological agents from Hemiao Biotechnology Co.,Ltd.[Results]Compared with the field of control check(CK),water-soluble salts and pH value in the experimental fields decreased,and living bacteria count in the soil increased.Meanwhile,the economic characters of wheat in the experimental fields showed excellent performance,with yields increasing by 39.09%and 27.49%compared with the CK.It could be seen that the application of biological bacterial fertilizers achieved obvious effects of improving saline-alkali soil and increasing wheat yield.[Conclusions]In this study,the effects of biological bacterial fertilizers on saline-alkali land and wheat growth characters were clarified,providing some technical support and theoretical guidance for wheat planting in Huanghua saline-alkali land.

Effect of Mirabilis jalapa (Linn.) Growth on Microbial Community in Bioremediation of Petroleum-contaminated Saline-alkali Soil

Microbial biomass and species in the rhizosphere soil of Mirabilis jalapa（Linn.）（the saline-alkali soil contaminated by total petroleum hydrocarbon（TPH））were studied with the technology of phospholipid fatty acids（PLFAs） analysis,to explore the effects of Mirabilis jalapa（Linn.） growth on the structure characteristics of microbial communities and degradation of TPH in the petroleum-contaminated salinealkali soil.The result showed that compared with the CK soil without Mirabilis jalapa（Linn.）,the kind change rates of PLFAs were 71.4%,69.2% and 33.3% in spring,summer and autumn,respectively,and the degradation of TPH increased by 47.6%,28.3%,and 18.9% in the rhizosphere soil in spring,summer and autumn,respectively.Correlation analysis was used to determine the correlation between the degradation of TPH and the soil microbial communities：77.8% of the microbial PLFAs showed positive correlation（the correlation coefficient r﹥0） with the degradation of TPH,and 55.6% of the PLFAs had high positive correlation with the degradation of TPH with a correlation coefficient r ≥0.8.In addition,the relative contents of SAT and MONO had high correlation with the degradation of TPH in the CK soil,and the correlation coefficients were 0.92 and 0.60,respectively;but in the rhizosphere soil,42.1% of the PLFAs had positive correlation with it,and only21.1% had high positive correlation with the degradation of TPH,the relative contents of TBSAT,MONO and CYCLO had moderate or low positive correlation with the degradation of TPH,and the correlation coefficients were 0.56,0.50 and 0.07 respectively.It was shown that the growth of mirabilis jalapa（Linn.） highly affected the microbial community structure and TPH degradation speed in the rhizosphere soil,providing a theoretical basis for the research on phytoremediation of petroleumcontaminated saline-alkali soil.

Effect of fire severity on physical and biochemical soil properties in Zagros oak(Quercus brantii Lindl.)forests in Iran

Fire affects the physical and chemical properties and soil biological activity of natural ecosystems. This study was conducted in the Miyan Tang region, Ilam Province in western Iran. The study site was 110 hectares, where we sampled soils in areas that were classified by fire severity： low （LS）, high （HS） and medium severity （MS）, and unburned （UB）, which served as the control. In each severity class, 25 transect points were randomly selected for measurement. Around each transect plot center, 3 soil samples were selected randomly and soils collected from the 0 to 20 cm depth were combined into a composite sample that was used in laboratory analysis to represent conditions at that point. Plots in the UB and LS fire classes had similar soil conditions and had higher values of factors such as saturated moisture, organic carbon, carbon dioxide, and silt and clay content. In contrast, plots in the HS and MS fire severity classes were clustered in the positive direction along the first axis that represented gradients in soil acidity, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, accessible phosphorus, accessible potassium, bulk density, and sand. Soil attributes were similar in areas of HS and MS fire severity classes, whereas soil conditions in the LS class and UB controls were most similar. Fire in the LS areas either did not significantly alter the physicalchemical soil properties and microbial basal respiration, or soils were able to recover quickly after being burned.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Effects of recovery time after fire and fire severity on stand structure and soil of larch forest in the Kanas National Nature Reserve, Northwest China

Forest recovery may be influenced by several factors, of which fire is the most critical.However, moderate-and long-term effects of fire on forest recovery are less researched in Northwest China.Thus, the effects of different forest recovery time after fire(1917(served as the control), 1974, 1983 and 1995) and fire severities(low, moderate and high) on larch(Larix sibirica Ledeb.) forest were investigated in the Kanas National Nature Reserve(KNNR), Northwest China in 2017.This paper analyzed post-fire changes in stand density, total basal area(TBA), litter mass, soil organic carbon(SOC) and soil nutrients(total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium) with one-way analyses of variance.Results indicate that litter mass, TBA, SOC and soil nutrients increased with increasing recovery time after fire and decreasing fire severity, while the stand density showed an opposite response.The effects of fire disturbance on SOC and soil nutrients decreased with increasing soil depth.Moreover, we found that the time of more than 43 a is needed to recover the litter mass, TBA, SOC and soil nutrients to the pre-fire level.In conclusion, high-severity fire caused the greatest variations in stand structure and soil of larch forest, and low-severity fire was more advantageous for post-fire forest stand structure and soil recovery in the KNNR.Therefore, low-severity fire can be an efficient management mean through reducing the accumulation of forest floor fuel of post-fire forests in the KNNR, Northwest China.

Short-term effects of different fire severities on soil properties and Pinus halepensis regeneration

Considering that diverse fire severities can affect soil properties differently,the aim of this study was to examine to what extent changes in soil properties caused by fire could condition seedling establishment.This new approach is for identifying a new fire cause-effect chain to qualify the impacts of fire on soils with the purpose of using fire as a tool in forest management to favour Pinus halepensis Mill.regeneration.The study area was a reforested P.halepensis area which had been crossed by fire for78.8 ha,causing various degrees of damage.The forest was subdivided into three large areas according to the gravity of crown scorch,[low(LS),medium(MS)and high(HS)severity],on the basis of needle yellowing which usually occurs after exposure to direct flames.Results showed significant differences in soil properties with respect to fire severity.In the HS area,total nitrogen and carbon were considerably reduced while ash and phosphorus contents significantly increased.The changes in soil properties,in particular to nutrient levels,affected P.halepensis regeneration,mainly the first year after the fire.Greater regeneration occurred in areas affected by moderate fire severity in which the temperatures reached increased the mineralization of soil organic matter with the consequent release of nutrients available for seedling growth.Additionally,moderate fire severity suppressed the regeneration of grasses,reducing the interspecific competition.Heights of seedlings were inversely proportional to the density of grasses.Where the number was abundant(LS),the height was modest;conversely,where the number was low(HS),the greater hypsometric differentiation of pine seedlings was observed.These results suggest that moderate fire severity represents an environmental stress(hormesis)altering microscale conditions to increase pine germination and establishment.The exposure of P.halpensis to a moderate environmental factor that is damaging at higher intensities,induces an adaptive beneficial effect on seedling regeneration.This data can re-evaluate the assertion that coniferous burned areas,if left unmanaged,would remain unproductive for an indefinite period.

Soil Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Concentrations and Stoichiometries Across a Chronosequence of Restored Inland Soda Saline-Alkali Wetlands, Western Songnen Plain, Northeast China

Soil carbon(C), nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) concentrations and stoichiometries can be used to evaluate the success indicators to the effects of wetland restoration and reflect ecosystem function. Restoration of inland soda saline-alkali wetlands is widespread, however, the soil nutrition changes that follow restoration are unclear. We quantified the recovery trajectories of soil physicochemical properties, including soil organic carbon(SOC), total nitrogen(TN), and total phosphorus(TP) pools, for a chronosequence of three restored wetlands(7 yr, 12 yr and 21 yr) and compared these properties to those of degraded and natural wetlands in the western Songnen Plain, Northeast China. Wetland degradation lead to the loss of soil nutrients. Relative to natural wetlands, the mean reductions of in SOC, TN, and TP concentrations were 89.6%, 65.5% and 52.5%, respectively. Nutrients recovered as years passed after restoration. The SOC, TN, and TP concentrations increased by 2.36 times, 1.15 times, and 0.83 times, respectively in degraded wetlands that had been restored for 21 yr, but remained 29.2%, 17.3%, and 12.8% lower, respectively, than those in natural wetlands. The soil C∶N(RC N), C∶P(R CP), and N∶P(R NP) ratios increased from 5.92 to 8.81, 45.36 to 79.19, and 7.67 to 8.71, respectively in the wetland that had been restored for 12 yr. These results were similar to those from the natural wetland and the wetland that had been restored for 21 yr(P > 0.05). Soil nutrients changes occurred mainly in the upper layers(≤ 30 cm), and no significant differences were found in deeper soils(> 30 cm). Based on this, we inferred that it would take at least 34 yr for SOC, TN, and TP concentrations and 12 yr for RC N, R CP, and RN P in the top soils of degraded wetlands to recover to levels of natural wetlands. Soil salinity negatively influenced SOC(r =-0.704, P < 0.01), TN(r =-0.722, P < 0.01), and TP(r =-0.882, P < 0.01) concentrations during wetland restoration, which indicates that reducing salinity is beneficial to SOC, TN, and TP recovery. Moreover, plants were an important source of soil nutrients and vegetation restoration was conducive to soil nutrient accumulation. In brief, wetland restoration increased the accumulation of soil biogenic elements, which indicated that positive ecosystem functions changes had occurred.

Significant changes in arbuscular mycorrhizal community and soil physicochemical properties during the saline-alkali grassland vegetation succession

Arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)fungi are widely distributed in various habitats,and the community composition varies in response to the changing environmental conditions.To explore the response of community composition to the succession of saline-alkali land,soil samples were collected from three succession stages of Songnen saline-alkali grassland.Subsequently,the soil characteristics were determined and the AM fungi in soil samples were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing.Then,the response relationship between community composition and soil characteristics was studied by Canonical correlation and Pearson analyses.The soil properties improved with the succession of saline-alkali grassland.There was no significant difference in alpha diversity between the first and second succession stage(Suaeda glauca and Puccinellia tenuiflora,respectively),and the microbial community had a dense association network at the third stage(Leymus chinensis);in addition,each succession stage had significantly enriched amplicon sequence variants(ASVs)and functional pathways.All the soil properties except cellulase activity had significant effects on community composition.Furthermore,the pH,organic carbon,organic matter,and sucrase activity significantly correlated with alpha diversity indices.These results provide a theoretical basis for realizing the significant changes in AM fungal community and soil properties during the saline-alkali grassland vegetation succession.

Impact of a Low Severity Fire on Soil Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Characteristics in Japanese Cedar Soil, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan

Slash and burn practices are widely used around the globe with different degrees of success which are mostly related to the impact of fire on soil properties. In Japan slash and burn practises, known as Yakihata, have a long history and are still used in Yamagata Prefecture today. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a low severity controlled fire underneath Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) on brown forest soil (Cambisol). Japanese Cedar is the dominant species among plantations in Japan. We measured organic carbon and nitrogen content as well as changes in carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope composition in a steep west facing slope under heavy precipitation (~2600 mm/a) and heavy snowfall (~3 to 4 m/a). The accumulation of Ctotal and Ntotal at the bottom of the slopes was remarkably higher at the slash and burned site than in the control forest site. After slash and burn δ15N isotopes in the slope in general became significantly lighter than in the control forest while the δ13C did not show any significant difference between the two sites except at the bottom of the slopes where δ13C was heavier in the forest. The results show that Ctotal and Ntotal values as well as the isotopes ratios of C and N change with decreasing elevation in the forest as well as in the burned site being consistent with leaching and erosion. The changes in soil nitrogen and carbon isotopes at the bottom of the slope appear to be related to the transport of material with different isotopic composition from the upper slope. The effect of the low severity fire (as part of the slash and burn practice) on soil organic carbon and nitrogen movement was enhanced by the steepness of the slopes and the high precipitation of Shonai region.

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.

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.

Effects of Soil Improver on Wheat in Saline-Alkali Lands in the Yellow River Delta

Field experiment carried out to test the effects of soil improver on wheat yield and soil physical-chemical properties. The results indicated that soil improver could optimize soil aggregates structure, decrease soil bulk density, soil pH and soil salt content, increase soil organic matter and 1 000-grain weight, thereby enhancing wheat yield. With the increase of soil improver application amount, soil physical-chemical properties became better and wheat yield increased. However, there was no significant difference in the treatments with the application amounts of 3%, 4% and 5%. In addition, the treatment of reducing nitrogen showed no superiority in soil physical-chemical properties and wheat yield, indicating that sufficient nitrogen was essential for the growth of wheat.

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.

Effects of Forest Types on Soil Available Nutrients and Carbon Contents in Coastal Areas,China

Clarifying the soil nutrient dynamics caused by forest type variations in the coastal region helps scientifically to apply fertilizer to forest plantations and enhance the carbon(C)sink capacity.Pure forests of Ligustrum and Metasequoia,as well as their mixed forests,in a coastal region of China were investigated by collecting 0-20 and 20-40 cm soil samples and analyzing their differences in bulk density,water content,pH,soil organic matter(SOM),ammonium(NH_(4)^(+)-N),nitrate(NO_(3)^(-)-N)and total nitrogen(TN),available phosphorus(AP)and potassium(AK),microbial biomass C(MBC)and N(MBN),and enzyme activity.The results demonstrated that different forest types had no significant(p≥0.05)effect on 0-20 cm soil bulk density,water content,pH,NH_(4)^(+)-N,and SOM.However,the surface soil NO_(3)^(-)-N,TN,AP,and AK contents as well as enzyme activity changed significantly(p<0.05),in which the soil AK content of the ligustrum×metasequoia mixed forest was 47.5%and 65.5%higher than that of the ligustrum and metasequoia pure forest,respectively.The mixed forest soil had the highest MBN content,which was significantly(p<0.05)25.1%higher than that in the pure metasequoia forest.Meanwhile,soil phosphatase activities in ligustrum and metasequoia pure forests were significantly(p<0.05)lower than those in the mixed forests by 17.4%and 43.1%,respectively.However,soil NO_(3)^(-)-N and AP contents in the metasequoia pure forest were significantly(p<0.05)higher than those in the ligustrum pure forest and mixed forests.Soil MBC content and reductase NO_(3)^(-)-N activity were significantly(p<0.05)higher in ligustrum pure forest than in metasequoia pure forest and mixed forests.In addition,the results of two-way ANOVA showed that there were no significant(p≥0.05)differences in nutrient contents(e.g.,NH_(4)^(+)-N,AP,AK,and SOM)in different soil layers(0-20 and 20-40 cm)within the same forest type,except for NO_(3)^(-)-N.However,forest types had a significant(p<0.05)impact on NO_(3)^(-)-N and AP contents in 20-40 cm soil layer.Combining the two factors of forest stand and soil layer,there was a significant(p<0.05)interaction effect for their soil NH_(4)^(+)-N,NO_(3)^(-)-N,AP,and AK contents.In conclusion,significant(p<0.05)differences were observed in nutrient contents in 0-20 cm soil layer from different forest types,with soil fertility indices inmixed forests generally higher than in pure forests.Therefore,establishing mixed forests in coastal saline region is recommended to retain soil fertility and to enhance the C sink capacity of forestry.

Bohai Granary:Harnessing the Saline-Alkali Lands

Agriculture forms the backbone of a nation,and food security is essential for social stability and sustainable economic growth.In China,ensuring adequate food production is not only critical for national well-being but also a strategic priority for maintaining self-sufficiency.To enhance food security,two key approaches are increasing yields from the existing agricultural lands and improving the productivity of low-and medium-yield farmland.One of China’s major underutilized resources is its extensive saline-alkali lands,which,despite historically low productivity due to poor soil conditions and scarce freshwater resources,hold immense potential for boosting grain output.Recognizing this,the Chinese Academy of Sciences,in collaboration with the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology(MOST),initiated the“Bohai Granary Scientific and Technological Demonstration Project”(Bohai Granary Project for short)in partnership with three provinces and one municipality-Hebei,Shandong,Liaoning,and Tianjin.This project represents a landmark effort to rehabilitate saline-alkali lands and transform them into highly productive grain-producing regions,thereby contributing significantly to China’s food security strategy.In this article,the author revisits the key milestones,technological breakthroughs,and outlook on the future potential of this project.