Straw mulching alters the composition and loss of dissolved organic matter in farmland surface runoff by inhibiting the fragmentation of soil small macroaggregates

Straw mulching is a widespread practice for reducing the soil carbon loss caused by erosion.However,the effects of straw mulching on dissolved organic matter(DOM)runoff loss from black soil are not well studied.How straw mulching affects the composition and loss of runoff DOM by changing soil aggregates remains largely unclear.Here,a straw mulching treatment was compared to a no mulching treatment(as a control)on sloping farmland with black soil erosion in Northeast China.We divided the soil into large macroaggregates(>2 mm),small macroaggregates(0.25-2 mm),and microaggregates(<0.25 mm).After five rain events,the effects of straw mulching on the concentration(characterized by dissolved organic carbon(DoC)and composition(analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy)of runoff and soil aggregate DOM were studied.The results showed that straw mulching reduced the runoff amount by 54.7%.Therefore,although straw mulching increased the average DOc concentration in runoff,it reduced the total runoff DOM loss by 48.3%.The composition of runoff DOM is similar to that of soil,as both contain humic-like acid and protein-like components.With straw mulching treatment,the protein-like components in small macroaggregates accumulated and the protein-like components in runoff declined with rain events.Fluorescence spectroscopy technology may help in understanding the hydrological paths of rain events by capturing the dynamic changes of runoff and soil DOM characteristics.A variation partitioning analysis(VPA)indicated that the DOM concentration and composition of microaggregates explained 68.2%of the change in runoff DOM from no mulching plots,while the change in runoff DOM from straw mulching plots was dominated by small macroaggregates at a rate of 55.1%.Taken together,our results demonstrated that straw mulching reduces the fragmentation of small macroaggregates and the loss of microaggregates,thus effecting DOM compositions in soil and reducing the DOM loss in runoff.These results provide a theoretical basis for reducing carbon loss in sloping farmland.

Calcium carbonate promotes the formation and stability of soil macroaggregates in mining areas of China

We studied changes in the concentrations of aggregate-cementing agents after different reclamation times and with different fertilization regimes,as well as the formation mechanism of aggregates in reclaimed soil,to provide a theoretical basis for rapid reclamation of soil fertility in the subsidence area of coal mines in Shanxi Province,China.In this study,soil samples of 0–20 cm depth were collected from four fertilization treatments of a longterm experiment started in 2008:no fertilizer (CK),inorganic fertilizer (NPK),chicken manure compost (M),and50%inorganic fertilizer plus 50%chicken manure compost (MNPK).The concentrations of cementing agents and changes in soil aggregate size distribution and stability were analysed.The results showed that the formation of>2 mm aggregates,the aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD),and the proportion of>0.25 mm water-stable aggregates (WR_(0.25)) increased significantly after 6 and 11 years of reclamation.The concentration of organic cementing agents tended to increase with reclamation time,whereas free iron oxide (Fed) and free aluminium oxide(Ald) concentrations initially increased but then decreased.In general,the MNPK treatment signi?cantly increased the concentrations of organic cementing agents and CaCO_(3),and CaCO_(3) increased by 60.4%at 11 years after reclamation.Additionally,CaCO_(3) had the greatest effect on the stability of aggregates,promoting the formation of>0.25 mm aggregates and accounting for 54.4%of the variance in the proportion and stability of the aggregates.It was concluded that long-term reclamation is bene?cial for improving soil structure.The MNPK treatment was the most effective measure for increasing maize grain yield and concentration of organic cementing agents and CaCO_(3).

Straw return increases crop production by improving soil organic carbon sequestration and soil aggregation in a long-term wheat-cotton cropping system

Straw return is a promising strategy for managing soil organic carbon(SOC)and improving yield stability.However,the optimal straw return strategy for sustainable crop production in the wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)-cotton(Gossypium hirsutum L.)cropping system remains uncertain.The objective of this study was to quantify the long-term(10 years)impact of carbon(C)input on SOC sequestration,soil aggregation and crop yields in a wheat-cotton cropping system in the Yangtze River Valley,China.Five treatments were arranged with a single-factor randomized design as follows:no straw return(Control),return of wheat straw only(Wt),return of cotton straw only(Ct),return of 50%wheat and 50%cotton straw(Wh-Ch)and return of 100%wheat and 100%cotton straw(Wt-Ct).In comparison to the Control,the SOC content increased by 8.4 to 20.2%under straw return.A significant linear positive correlation between SOC sequestration and C input(1.42-7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1))(P<0.05)was detected.The percentages of aggregates of sizes>2 and 1-2 mm at the 0-20 cm soil depth were also significantly elevated under straw return,with the greatest increase of the aggregate stability in the Wt-Ct treatment(28.1%).The average wheat yields increased by 12.4-36.0%and cotton yields increased by 29.4-73.7%,and significantly linear positive correlations were also detected between C input and the yields of wheat and cotton.The average sustainable yield index(SYI)reached a maximum value of 0.69 when the C input was 7.08 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(−1),which was close to the maximum value(SYI of 0.69,C input of 7.19 Mg ha^(−1)yr^(-1))in the Wt-Ct treatment.Overall,the return of both wheat and cotton straw was the best strategy for improving SOC sequestration,soil aggregation,yields and their sustainability in the wheat-cotton rotation system.

Impact of wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions on the soil aggregate stability of yellow‒brown soil

Soil aggregate is the basic structural unit of soil,which is the foundation for supporting ecosystem functions,while its composition and stability is significantly affected by the external environment.This study was conducted to explore the effect of external environment(wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions)on the soil aggregate distribution and stability and identify the key soil physicochemical factors that affect the soil aggregate stability.The yellow‒brown soil from the Three Gorges Reservoir area(TGRA)was used,and 8 wetting-drying conditions(0,1,2,3,4,5,10 and 15 cycles)were simulated under 4 acidic conditions(pH=3,4,5 and 7).The particle size distribution and soil aggregate stability were determined by wet sieving method,the contribution of environmental factors(acid condition,wetting-drying cycle and their combined action)to the soil aggregate stability was clarified and the key soil physicochemical factors that affect the soil aggregate stability under wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions were determined by using the Pearson’s correlation analysis,Partial least squares path modeling(PLS‒PM)and multiple linear regression analysis.The results indicate that wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions have significant effects on the stability of soil aggregates,the soil aggregate stability gradually decreases with increasing number of wetting-drying cycles and it obviously decreases with the increase of acidity.Moreover,the combination of wetting-drying cycles and acidic conditions aggravate the reduction in the soil aggregate stability.The wetting-drying cycles,acidic conditions and their combined effect imposes significant impact on the soil aggregate stability,and the wetting-drying cycles exert the greatest influence.The soil aggregate stability is significantly correlated with the pH,Ca^(2+),Mg^(2+),maximum disintegration index(MDI)and soil bulk density(SBD).The PLS‒PM and multiple linear regression analysis further reveal that the soil aggregate stability is primarily influenced by SBD,Ca^(2+),and MDI.These results offer a scientific basis for understanding the soil aggregate breakdown mechanism and are helpful for clarifying the coupled effect of wetting-drying cycles and acid rain on terrestrial ecosystems in the TGRA.

The effects of co-utilizing green manure and rice straw on soil aggregates and soil carbon stability in a paddy soil in southern China

The co-utilization of green manure (GM) and rice straw (RS) in paddy fields has been widely applied as an effective practice in southern China.However,its effects on soil aggregate and soil organic carbon (SOC) stability remain unclear.In the present study,the effect of GM,RS,and co-utilization of GM and RS on particle size distribution of soil aggregates and SOC density fractions were measured in a field experiment.The experiment included six treatments,i.e.,winter fallow (WF) without RS return (Ctrl),WF with 50%RS return (1/2RS),WF with 100%RS return (RS),GM without RS return (GM),GM with 50%RS return (GM1/2RS) and GM with 100%RS return (GMRS).The results showed that the proportion of small macro-aggregates (0.25–2 mm) and the mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates in the GMRS treatment was greater (by 18.9 and 3.41%,respectively) than in the RS treatment,while the proportion of silt+clay particles (<0.053 mm) was lower (by 14.4%).The concentration of SOC in microaggregates (0.053–0.25 mm)and silt+clay particles was higher in the GMRS treatment than in GM and RS treatments individually.The concentration and proportion of free light organic carbon (fLOC) in aggregates of various particle sizes and bulk soil was greater in the GMRS treatment than the RS treatment,whereas the concentration and proportion of mineral-associated organic carbon in small macroaggregates,microaggregates,and bulk was lower in the GMRS treatment than in the RS treatment.The proportion of intra-aggregate particulate organic carbon (iPOC) was greater in the GMRS treatment than in GM treatment.The GMRS treatment had strong positive effects on iPOC in small macroaggregates,suggesting that SOC was transferred from fLOC to iPOC.In conclusion,co-utilizing green manure and rice straw cultivated the SOC pool by increasing the concentration of fLOC and improved soil carbon stability by promoting the sequestration of organic carbon in iPOC as a form of physical protection.

Fragmentation process of soil aggregates under concentrated water flow in red soil hilly region with different land use patterns

The hilly area of red soil in the central subtropical region of China has a long history of severe soil erosion due to its abundance of water,heat,and intense agricultural and forestry activities.The Sandshale red soil area is hot and rainy,the local land utilization rate and replanting index are high,and the soil easily weathers and erodes,resulting in infertile and sandy soils,extensive soil erosion and large erosion,with far-reaching impacts.In this study,the stability of soil aggregates was studied by the wet sieving method and Le Bissonais(LB)method in six land use patterns in the Sandshale red soil area,including natural forest(NF),Pinus massoniana(PM),Eucalyptus urophylla×E.grandis(EU),orchard(OR),wasteland(WL)and arable land(AL).The transport damage characteristics of the soil aggregates under concentrated water flow were analyzed by using the soil aggregates to simulate the soil surface roughness in the field using a steel scouring flume with a variable slope.The results showed that:(1)the total soil porosity of the natural forest was the highest,with 56.51%in A layer,which was 4.99%higher than the B layer,and the organic matter content ranged from 10.69 to 29.94 g.kg-1 and was highest in NF and lowest in AL;(2)the maximum mean weight diameter(MWD)obtained by the wet sieving method was 4.81 mm for natural forest,and the MWD was the lowest in OR and AL at 2.45-2.77mm.The MWD measured by the LB method was also highest in NF and lowest in AL.The contents of Fed and Ald have a strong correlation with the stability parameters of soil aggregates;(3)the Wr/Wi results for the six land use patterns were NF>PM>EU>WL>OR>AL;the NF had the strongest soil aggregate stability,followed by WL,PM and EU,and AL and OR had the weakest;the stability of soil aggregates gradually weakened as the soil depth increased.Comprehensive analysis shows that forest land has high soil stability and obvious advantages in soil erosion resistance.Strengthening the construction of artificial forests can be an important means to reduce soil erosion in red soil hilly region.

Preliminary Study on the Effect of Different Ecological Cultivation Modes on the Water Stability of Soil Aggregates in Rubber Based Agroforestry Systems

Rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg.) have been commercially cultivated for a century and a half in Asia, particularly in China, and they constitute a common element of plantation ecosystems in tropical regions. Soil health is fundamental to the sustainable development of rubber plantations. The objective of the study is to explore the influence of different complex ecological cultivation modes on the stability of soil aggregates in rubber based agroforestry systems. In this study, the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Alpinia oxyphylla plantation, the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantations, the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Homalium ceylanicum plantations and monoculture rubber plantations were selected, and the particle size distribution of soil aggregates and their water stability characteristics were analyzed. The soil depth of 0 - 20 cm and 20 - 40 cm was collected for four cultivation modes. Soil was divided into 6 particle levels > 20 cm. soil was divided into 6 particle levels > 5 mm, 2 - 5 mm, 1 - 2 mm, 0.5 - 1 mm, 0.25 - 0.5 mm, and 0.053 - 0.25 mm according to the wet sieve method. The particle size proportion and water stability of soil aggregates were determined by the wet sieve method. The particle size proportion and water stability of soil aggregates under different ecological cultivation modes were analyzed. The results showed that under different ecological cultivation modes in the shallow soil layer (0 - 20 cm), the rubber—Alpinia oxyphylla plantation and the rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantation promoted the development of dominant soil aggregates towards larger size classes, whereas the situation is the opposite for rubber—Homalium ceylanicum plantation. In soil layer (20 - 40 cm), the ecological cultivation mode of rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantation developed the dominant radial level of soil aggregates to the diameter level of large aggregates. Rubber—Alpinia oxyphylla plantation and rubber—Homalium ceylanicum plantation, three indicators, including the water-stable aggregate content R0.25 (>0.25 mm water-stable aggregates), mean weight diameter (MWD), and geometric mean diameter (GMD), were all lower than those in the rubber monoculture mode. However, in the rubber—Phrynium hainanense plantation, the water-stable aggregate content R0.25, mean weight diameter, and geometric mean diameter were higher than in the rubber monoculture mode, although these differences did not reach statistical significance.

Study on the Effects of Polyacrylamide on Phosphorus Adsorption and Desorption Characteristics of Soil Aggregates

[Objective]The research aimed to provide scientific reference for reasonable utilization of polyacrylamide(PAM).[Method]After PAM treatment,the soil aggregates were classified through dry sieve analysis and the adsorption capacity and desorption capacity of all soil aggregates to phosphorus at different phosphorus concentrations were analyzed.[Result] The phosphorus adsorption and desorption of soil sample treated by PAM declined. The amount of phosphorus adsorption increased with the increase of phosphorus concentration and this increase was fast in low phosphorus concentration area but slow in high phosphorus concentration area.At different phosphorus concentrations,adsorption showed a へ shape changing trend.The phosphorus adsorption was related to phosphorus concentration and the 2-3 mm aggregate had the highest desorption rate while 0.1-0.25 mm aggregate and 0.45-1 mm aggregate had lowest desorption rate.[Conclusion]The PAM treatment generated significant influence on phosphorus adsorption and analytic features of aggregate in all size fractions.

Effects of Fertilization Patterns on Chemical Forms of Nitrogen in Dark Brown Soil and Its Distribution in Different Aggregates

[Objective] This study was conducted to investigate the effects of tradition-al fertilization and formula fertilization by soil testing on the chemical forms of nitro-gen in dark brown soil and its distribution in different aggregates. [Method] A physi-co-chemistry method was adopted in a comparative study on the chemical forms of nitrogen and their distribution in different-sized aggregates of dark brown soil under traditional fertilization and formula fertilization by soil testing respectively. [Result] Compared with traditional fertilization in spring and autumn, the formula fertilization by soil testing averagely decreased, the total nitrogen in soil by 23.2% in spring and by 20% in autumn in the soil layer of 0-20 cm, by 48.8% in the layer of 20-40 cm. Ammonium nitrogen was so sensitive to the methods of fertilization that the content of ammonium nitrogen was reduced much more under formula fertitization by soil testing in autumn than under traditional fertilization. Nitrogen in soil under traditional fertilization pattern was mainly distributed in the aggregates of 0-0.25 and 0.5-1 mm, while in formula fertilization by soil testing it was mainly distributed in the aggregates of 0.25-0.5 and 0-0.25 mm. [Conclusion] The study proved that for-mula fertilization by soil testing helped to reduce the risk of nitrogen pol ution and had huge effects on the chemical forms and distribution of nitrogen in different ag-gregates in dark brown soil.

Effects of the combined application of organic and chemical nitrogen fertilizer on soil aggregate carbon and nitrogen:A 30-year study

To understand the long-term effects of combined organic and chemical nitrogen fertilization on soil organic C(SOC) and total N(TN), we conducted a 30-year field experiment with a wheat–maize rotation system on the Huang-HuaiHai Plain during 1990–2019. The experimental treatments consisted of five fertilizer regimes: no fertilizer(control), chemical fertilizer only(NPK), chemical fertilizer with straw(NPKS), chemical fertilizer with manure(NPKM), and 1.5 times the rate of NPKM(1.5NPKM). The NPK, NPKS, and NPKM treatments had equal N inputs. The crop yields were measured over the whole experimental duration. Soil samples were collected from the topsoil(0–10 and 10–20 cm) and subsoil(20–40 cm) layers for assessing soil aggregates and taking SOC and TN measurements. Compared with the NPK treatment, the SOC and TN contents increased significantly in both the topsoil(24.1–44.4% for SOC and 22.8–47.7% for TN) and subsoil layers(22.0–47.9% for SOC and 19.8–41.8% for TN) for the organically amended treatments(NPKS, NPKM and 1.5NPKM) after 30 years, while no significant differences were found for the average annual crop yields over the 30 years of the experiment. The 0–10 cm layer of the NPKS treatment and the 20–40 cm layer of the NPKM treatment had significantly higher macroaggregate fraction mass proportions(19.8 and 27.0%) than the NPK treatment. However, the 0–10 and 20–40 cm layers of the 1.5NPKM treatment had significantly lower macroaggregate fraction mass proportions(–19.2 and –29.1%) than the control. The analysis showed that the higher SOC and TN in the soil of organically amended treatments compared to the NPK treatment were related to the increases in SOC and TN protected in the stable fractions(i.e., free microaggregates and microaggregates within macroaggregates), in which the contributions of the stable fractions were 81.1–91.7% of the increase in SOC and 83.3–94.0% of the increase in TN, respectively. The relationships between average C inputs and both stable SOC and TN stocks were significantly positive with R2 values of 0.74 and 0.72(P<0.01) for the whole 40 cm soil profile, which indicates the importance of N for soil C storage. The results of our study provide key evidence that long-term combined organic and chemical nitrogen fertilization, while maintaining reasonable total N inputs, benefited soil C and N storage in both the topsoil and subsoil layers.

Comparison of carbon sequestration efficiency in soil aggregates between upland and paddy soils in a red soil region of China

There is limited information on carbon sequestration efficiency(CSE)of soil aggregates in upland and paddy soils under long-term fertilization regimes.In a red soil region of southern China,an upland soil experiment started in 1986 and a paddy soil experiment commenced in 1981.These experiments were conducted using different fertilization treatments.After 30 years,soil organic carbon(SOC)content and stock of different aggregate components were analyzed.The results showed that the SOC contents and stocks in upland soil were lower than in paddy soil.In both upland and paddy soils,the SOC contents and stocks of all aggregate components in NPKM(combined treatment with chemical nitrogen(N),phosphorus(P),potassium(K)fertilizers and manure)were the highest among all treatments.Compared with CK(no fertilizer),SOC content of all aggregate components in NPKM was increased by 13.21–63.11%and 19.13–73.33%in upland and paddy soils,respectively.Meanwhile,the change rates in SOC stock of all aggregate components in upland soil were lower than in paddy soil,although the change rate of SOC stock of all aggregate components in NPKM was higher than in other treatments.Furthermore,a linear equation could fit the relationships between carbon(C)input and change rate of SOC stock(P<0.05).Results indicated that the sum of CSE from all aggregate components in upland soil(16.02%)was higher than that of paddy soil(15.12%)in the same climatic condition and from the same parent material.However,the CSEs from all aggregates were higher than that of bulk soil,although the result from bulk soil also showed that the CSE of upland soil was higher than that of paddy soil.

Effects of Long-Term Winter Planted Green Manure on Distribution and Storage of Organic Carbon and Nitrogen in Water-Stable Aggregates of Reddish Paddy Soil Under a Double-Rice Cropping System

In agricultural systems, maintenance of soil organic matter has long been recognized as a strategy to reduce soil degradation. Manure amendments and green manures are management practices that can increase some nutrient contents and improve soil aggregation. We investigated the effects of 28 yr of winter planted green manure on soil aggregate-size distribution and aggregateassociated carbon（C） and nitrogen（N）. The study was a randomized completed block design with three replicates. The treatments included rice-rice-fallow, rice-rice-rape, rice-rice-Chinese milk vetch and rice-rice-ryegrass. The experiment was established in 1982 on a silty light clayey paddy soil derived from Quaternary red clay（classified as Fe-Accumuli-Stagnic Anthrosols） with continuous early and late rice. In 2009, soil samples were collected（0-15 cm depth） from the field treatment plots and separated into water-stable aggregates of different sizes（i.e., 〉5, 2-5, 1-2, 0.5-1, 0.25-0.5 and 〈0.25 mm） by wet sieving. The long-term winter planted green manure significantly increased total C and N, and the formation of the 2-5-mm water-stable aggregate fraction. Compared with rice-rice-rape, rice-rice-Chinese milk vetch and rice-rice-ryegrass, the rice-rice-fallow significantly reduced 2-5-mm water-stable aggregates, with a significant redistribution of aggregates into micro-aggregates. Long-term winter planted green manure obviously improved C/N ratio and macro-aggregate-associated C and N. The highest contribution to soil fertility was from macro-aggregates of 2-5 mm in most cases.

Influence of Conservation Tillage on Soil Aggregates Features in North China Plain

Tillage greatly influences the aggregation and stability of soil aggregates. This study investigated the effects of conservation tillage on soil aggregate characteristics. During a four-year study period （2001-2005）, soils were sampled from no-tillage （NT）, rotary tillage （RT）, and conventional tillage （moldboard tillage, CT） plots at the Luancheng Agriculture and Ecology Experimental Station in Hebei Province, China, and the amount, size distribution, and fractal dimension of the aggregates were examined by dry and wet sieving methods. The results indicated that NT significantly increased the topsoil （0-5 cm） bulk density （BD）, while RT maintained a lower BD as CT. Dry sieving results showed that NT had higher macro-aggregate content （R0.25）, and a larger mean weight diameter （MWD） and geometric mean diameter （GMD） than other treatments in the 0-10 cm layer, while RT showed no difference from CT. In wet sieving, results showed that most of the aggregates were unstable, and the MWD and GMD of water-table aggregates showed the trend of NT 〉 RT 〉 CT. At 0-5 cm layer, the fractal dimension （D） of water-stable aggregates under NT was lower than it was under RT and CT. At 5-10 cm, RT yielded the highest D, and showed stability. After four years, NT increased the aggregation and the stability of soil aggregates; while due to intense disturbance, the aggregation and stability of the upper layer （0-10 cm） under RT and CT decreased.

Effects of free iron oxyhydrates and soil organic matter on copper sorption-desorption behavior by size fractions of aggregates from two paddy soils

Effects of free iron oxyhydrates （Fed） and soil organic matter （SOM） on copper （Cu^2＋） sorption-desorption behavior by size fractions of aggregates from two typical paddy soils （Ferric-Accumulic Stagnic Anthrosol （Soil H） and Gleyic Stagnic Anthrosol （Soil W）） were investigated with and without treatments of dithionite-citrate-bicarbonate and of H2O2. The size fractions of aggregates were obtained from the undisturbed bulk topsoil using a low energy ultrasonic dispersion procedure. Experiments of equilibrium sorption and subsequent desorption were conducted at soil water ratio of 1：20, 25℃. For Soil H, Cu^2＋ sorption capacity of the DCB-treated size fractions was decreased by 5.9% for fine sand fraction, by 40.4% for coarse sand fraction, in comparison to 2.9% for the bnlk sample. However, Cu^2＋ sorption capacities of the H2O2-treated fractions were decreased by over 80% for the coarse sand fraction and by 15% for the clay-sized fraction in comparison to 88% for bulk soil. For Soil W, Cu^2＋ sorption capacity of the DCB-treated size fraction was decreased by 30% for the coarse sand fraction and by over 75% for silt sand fraction in comparison to 44.5% for the bulk sample. Cu^2＋ sorption capacities of the H2O2-treated fractions were decreased by only 2.0% for the coarse sand fraction and by 15% for the fine sand fraction in comparison to by 3.4% for bulk soil. However, Cu^2＋ desorption rates were increased much in H2O2-treated samples by over 80% except the clay-sized fraction （only 9.5%） for Soil H. While removal of SOM with H2O2 tendend to increase the desorption rate, DCB- and H2O2-treatments caused decrease in Cu^2＋ retention capacity of size fractions, Particularly, there hardly remained Cu^2＋ retention capacity by size fractions from Soil H after H2O2 treatment except for clay-sized fraction. These findings supported again the dominance of the coarse sand fraction in sorption of metals and the preference of absorbed metals bound to SOM in differently stabilized status among the size fractions. Thus, enrichment and turnover of SOM in paddy soils may have great effects on metal retention and chemical mobility in paddy soils.

Formation and Water Stability of Aggregates in Red Soils as Affected by Organic Matter

The water stability of aggregates in various size classes separated from 18 samples of red soils under different managements, and the mechanisms responsible for the formation of water-stable soil aggregates were studied. The results showed that the water stability of soil aggregates declined with increasing size, especially for the low organic matter soils. Organic matter plays a key role in the formation of water-stable soil aggregates. The larger the soil aggregate size, the greater the impact of organic matter on the water stability of soil aggregates. Removal of organic matter markedly disintegrated the large water-stable aggregates (> 2.0 mm) and increased the small ones (< 0.25-0.smm) to some extent, whereas removal of free iron(aluminium) oxides considerably destroyed aggregates of all sizes, especially the < 0.25-0.5 mm classes. The contents of organic matter in water-stable aggregates increased with aggregate sizes. It is concluded from this study that small water-stable aggregates (< 0.25-0.5 mm) were chiefly cemented by Fe and Al oxides whilst the large ones (> 2.0 mm) were mainly glued up by organic matter. Both free oxides and organic matter contribute to the formation and water stability of aggregates in red soils.

Natural vegetation restoration of Liaodong oak(Quercus liaotungensis Koidz.) forests rapidly increased the content and ratio of inert carbon in soil macroaggregates

The lack of clarity of how natural vegetation restoration influences soil organic carbon(SOC) content and SOC components in soil aggregate fractions limits the understanding of SOC sequestration and turnover in forest ecosystems.The aim of this study was to explore how natural vegetation restoration affects the SOC content and ratio of SOC components in soil macroaggregates(>250 μm), microaggregates(53–250 μm), and silt and clay(<53 μm) fractions in 30-, 60-, 90-and 120-year-old Liaodong oak(Quercus liaotungensis Koidz.) forests, Shaanxi, China in 2015.And the associated effects of biomasses of leaf litter and different sizes of roots(0–0.5, 0.5–1.0, 1.0–2.0 and >2.0 mm diameter) on SOC components were studied too.Results showed that the contents of high activated carbon(HAC), activated carbon(AC) and inert carbon(IC) in the macroaggregates, microaggregates and silt and clay fractions increased with restoration ages.Moreover, IC content in the microaggregates in topsoil(0–20 cm) rapidly increased;peaking in the 90-year-old restored forest, and was 5.74 times higher than AC content.In deep soil(20–80 cm), IC content was 3.58 times that of AC content.Biomasses of 0.5–1.0 mm diameter roots and leaf litter affected the content of aggregate fractions in topsoil, while the biomass of >2.0 mm diameter roots affected the content of aggregate fractions in deep soil.Across the soil profiles, macroaggregates had the highest capacity for HAC sequestration.The effects of restoration ages on soil aggregate fractions and SOC content were less in deep soil than in topsoil.In conclusion, natural vegetation restoration of Liaodong oak forests improved the contents of SOC, especially IC within topsoil and deep soil.The influence of IC on aggregate stability was greater than the other SOC components, and the aggregate stability was significantly affected by the biomasses of litter, 0.5–1.0 mm diameter roots in topsoil and >2.0 mm diameter roots in deep soil.Natural vegetation restoration of Liaodong oak forests promoted SOC sequestration by soil macroaggregates.

Effects of different tillage and straw retention practices on soil aggregates and carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils of the northwestern China

Soil tillage and straw retention in dryland areas may affect the soil aggregates and the distribution of total organic carbon. The aims of this study were to establish how different tillage and straw retention practices affect the soil aggregates and soil organic carbon(SOC) and total nitrogen(TN) contents in the aggregate fractions based on a long-term(approximately 15 years) field experiment in the semi-arid western Loess Plateau, northwestern China. The experiment included four soil treatments, i.e., conventional tillage with straw removed(T), conventional tillage with straw incorporated(TS), no tillage with straw removed(NT) and no tillage with straw retention(NTS), which were arranged in a complete randomized block design. The wet-sieving method was used to separate four size fractions of aggregates, namely, large macroaggregates(LA, >2000 μm), small macroaggregates(SA, 250–2000 μm), microaggregates(MA, 53–250 μm), and silt and clay(SC, <53 μm). Compared to the conventional tillage practices(including T and TS treatments), the percentages of the macroaggregate fractions(LA and SA) under the conservation tillage practices(including NT and NTS treatments) were increased by 41.2%–56.6%, with the NTS treatment having the greatest effect. For soil layers of 0–5, 5–10 and 10–30 cm, values of the mean weight diameter(MWD) under the TS and NTS treatments were 10.68%, 13.83% and 17.65%, respectively. They were 18.45%, 19.15% and 14.12% higher than those under the T treatment, respectively. The maximum contents of the aggregate-associated SOC and TN were detected in the SA fraction, with the greatest effect being observed for the NTS treatment. The SOC and TN contents were significantly higher under the NTS and TS treatments than under the T treatment. Also, the increases in SOC and TN levels were much higher in the straw-retention plots than in the straw-removed plots. The macroaggregates(including LA and SA fractions) were the major pools for SOC and TN, regardless of tillage practices, storing 3.25–6.81 g C/kg soil and 0.34–0.62 g N/kg soil. Based on the above results, we recommend the NTS treatment as the best option to boost soil aggregates and to reinforce carbon and nitrogen sequestration in soils in the semi-arid western Loess Plateau of northwestern China.

Relationship Between Water-Stable Aggregates and Nutrients in Black Soils After Reclamation

Water-stable aggregates, which are an index for the evaluation of the structural properties of the soil, are affected by many factors. Zhaoguang Farm, Longzhen Farm, and Jiusan Farm were chosen as the representative study sites in the region of black soils, a typical soil resource in Northeast China. The variation in the content of 〉 0.25 mm water-stable aggregates and its relationship with the nutrients in black soil were investigated after different years of reclamation. The results showed that the 〉 0.25 mm water-stable aggregates were more in the surface than in the subsurface soil and they changed in the following order： Longzhen Farm 〉 Zhaoguang Farm 〉 Jiusan Farm. The water-stable aggregates decreased sharply at the initial stage of reclamation and then became stable gradually with time. They were significantly correlated with the contents of organic C, total N, total P, and CEC in black soil, with the correlation coefficients r being 0.76, 0.68, 0.61, and 0.81 （P 〈 0.01）, respectively; however, their relationships with available P, available K, and total K were unclear. These showed that organic matter was the cementation of soil water-stable aggregates. Increasing decompositions and decreasing inputs of organic matter after reclamation were responsible for the amount of reduction of the water-stable aggregates. Thus, to maintain good soil aggregate structure, attention should be paid to improvement of soil nutrient status, especially the supply of organic C and N.

Distribution of soil aggregates and organic carbon in deep soil under long-term conservation tillage with residual retention in dryland

To ascertain the effects of long-term conservation tillage and residue retention on soil organic carbon(SOC) content and aggregate distribution in a deep soil(>20-cm depth) in a dryland environment,this paper analyzed the SOC and aggregate distribution in soil, and the aggregate-associated organic carbon(OC) and SOC physical fractions. Conservation tillage(reduced tillage with residue incorporated(RT) and no-tillage with residue mulch(NT)) significantly increased SOC sequestration and soil aggregation in deep soil compared with conventional tillage with residue removal(CT). Compared with CT, RT significantly increased the proportion of small macroaggregates by 23%–81% in the 10–80 cm layer, and the OC content in small macroaggregates by 1%–58% in the 0–80 cm layer. RT significantly increased(by 24%–90%) the OC content in mineral-SOC within small macroaggregates in the 0–60 cm layer, while there was a 23%–80% increase in the 0–40 cm layer with NT. These results indicated that:(1) conservation tillage treatments are beneficial for soil aggregation and SOC sequestration in a deep soil in a dryland environment; and(2)the SOC in mineral-associated OC plays important roles in soil aggregation and SOC sequestration. In conclusion, RT with NT is recommended as an agricultural management tool in dryland soils because of its role in improving soil aggregation and SOC sequestration.

Role of Organic Matter in Formation and Stability of Aggregates in Mulberry Plantation Soils

The role of organic matter in the formation and stability of soil aggregates in mulberry plantation in the Hang-Jia-Hu Plain, northern Zhejiang Province, was evaluated in this study. A positive correlation was found between water-stable aggregate contents and organic matter contents in the mulberry plantation soils, which supported the hypothesis that organic matter was the main cementing agent in formation of aggregates. A close correlation was also found between stability of aggregate and organic matter contents. Regression analysis showed that total nitrogen content was also an indicator of water-stable aggregate content and stability. The aggregate size distribution indicated that the water-stable aggregates 1--0.25 mm in diameter were the major component of the aggregates in the mulberry plantation soils. The organic matter contents of aggregates ranging from 5 to 0.25 mm in diameter increased with the decrease of aggregate sizes, and the aggregates 1-0.25 mm in diameter had the maximum organic matter content.