Effect of Fertilization on Soil Fertility and Wheat Yield of Dryland in the Loess Plateau

Long-term fertility experiments have become an important tool for investigating the sustainability of cropping systems. Therefore, a long-term (18-year) fertilization experiment was conducted in Changwu County, Shaanxi Province, China, to ascertain the effect of the long-term application of chemical fertilizers and manure on wheat yield and soil fertility in the Loess Plateau, so as to provide a scientific basis for sustainable land management. The experiment consisted of nine fertilizer treatments with thr…

Effect of Shading on Gas Exchange of Cotton Leaves Under Conditions of Different Soil Water Contents

Effect of different shading levels (no-shading, 80% shading, and 40% shading) on photosynthetic and stomatal responses in cotton leaves were investigated under conditions of different soil water contents in summer midday. All cotton leaves exhibited similar basic responses to shading, including decreased net photosynthetic rates, a tendency to decrease in transpiration rates, and increased stomatal conductance and intercellular CO2 concentration. The leaf conductance of 80% shaded and 40% shaded plants increased by 28% and 16.7% compared with no-shaded plants at high water, respectively, but the net photosynthetic rates of 80% shaded and 40% shaded plants declined by 50% and 14.73%, respectively. Results showed that combined effect of soil moisture and shading on photosynthetic and stomatal responses in cotton leaves was very remarkable.

Improvement of Wheat Water Use Efficiency in Semiarid Area of China

The greatest fear of global climate change is drought since in most areas where wheat is grown water is the most important factor influencing wheat yield. Average wheat yield throughout the world is only 30-60% of the attainable yield potential because water shortage is the major factor preventing the realization of maximum yield. Periods of drought alternating with short periods of available water are common conditions to influence wheat productivity. Such conditions include variable frequency of dry and wet periods, intensity of drought, rate of drought onset and patterns of soil water deficit and/or atmospheric water deficit. It is this deficit and variable water conditions in semiarid environments that influence wheat productivity variously. This paper reviewed the physiological adaptation and benefits associated with deficit and variable water conditions. In addition, it also highlights the compensative effect of limited irrigation and breeding of new varieties for high water use efficiency (WUE) that could improve wheat productivity under water-limited environments in the semiarid regions. Considerable potential for further improvement in wheat WUE and productivity in semiarid environments seems to depend on effective conservation of moisture and efficient use of this limited water such as soil fertility improvement, conservation tillage, residues and film mulch, rain water harvesting for limited irrigation, and breeding for water saving varieties. Different crop, soil and water management strategies should be adjusted according to the conditions that prevail in various semiarid areas. By combining soil and water conservation approaches and adjusting the cropping system by growing drought-tolerant and water-saving cultivars, increase in wheat WUE and productivity could be achieved.

An Analytical Solution for Advance of Solute Front in Soils

Based on the assumption that solute transport in a semi-infinite soil columnor in a field soil profile can be described by the boundary-layer method, an analytical solution ispresented for the advance of a solute front with time. The traditional convection-dispersionequation (CDE) subjected to two boundary conditions: 1) at the soil surface (or inlet boundary) and2) at the solute front, was solved using a Laplace transformation. A comparison of residentconcentrations using a boundary-layer method and an exact solution (in a semi-infinite-domain)showed that both were in good agreement within the range between the two boundaries. This led to anew method for estimating solute transport parameters in soils, requiring only observation ofadvance of the solute front with time. This may be corroborated visually using a tracer solutionwith marking-dye or measured utilizing time domain reflectometry (TDR). This method is applicable toboth laboratory soil columns and field soils. Thus, it could be a step forward for modeling solutetransport in field soils and for better understanding of the transport processes in soils.

Soil erosion and soil properties in reclaimed forestland of loess hilly region

Based on data observed from 1989 to 1998 in the Ziwuling survey station, changes of soil erosion and soil physico-mechanical properties were studied after forestland reclamation. When the man-induced factors changed the eco-environment by reclaiming forestlands, the intensity of man-made soil erosion in reclaimed lands was 1,000 times more than that of natural erosion in forestlands. From the analysis of soil physical and mechanical properties, the clay content and physical clay content decreased 2.74% and 3.01% respectively, and the >0.25 mm water stable aggregate content decreased 58.7%, the soil unit weight increased and the soil shear strength decreased, all of which were easier to cause soil erosion. The results of the correlation analysis showed that the >0.25 mm water stable aggregate content was the greatest influencing factor on soil erosion, the partial correlated coefficient was 0.9728, and then were soil coarse grain and soil shear strength, the partial correlated coefficients being 0.8879 and 0.6020 respectively. The relationships between the >0.25 mm water stable aggregate content, the soil sheer strength and the soil erosion intensity were analyzed, which showed that the first and seventh years were the turning years of the soil erosion intensity after the forestland reclamation. The degenerative eroded soil and eco-environment formed the peculiar erosion environment, which aggravated the soil erosion rapidly.

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Leaf Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Field-Grown Winter Wheat Under Rainfed Conditions

The effect of nitrogen fertilization on leaf chlorophyll fluorescence was studied in field-grown winter wheat during grain filling underrainfed conditions in Loess Plateau. Results showed that the actual photochemical efficiency of PSⅡ reaction center (F PSⅡ)decreased significantly as leaf water stress progressed, however, the F PS was increased by nitrogen fertilization. The F PSⅡ of 0, 90 and180 kg ha-1 nitrogen treatments at noon were 0.197, 0.279 and 0.283, respectively, which decreased by 57.7, 56.4 and 40.2% as comparedto those in the morning. In the afternoon, the F PSⅡ partialy or completely recovered to the levels in the morning. The values of F PS Ⅱin 0 and 90kgha-1 treatments recovered to 87.3 and 81.5% of those in the morning. In 180kgha-1 treatment, the F PSⅡ in the afternoonwas even higher than that in the morning. Application of nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased maximum photochemical efficiency(Fv/Fm), photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) and non-photochemical quenching coefficient (qNP). These results indicated thatapplication of nitrogen fertilizer could increase the light energy conversion efficiency, the potential activity of photosynthetic reactioncenter, and the non-photochemical dissipation of excess light energy, which can prevent leaf photosynthetic apparatus from damage ofenvironmental stress. However, there was no significant difference in the values of F PSⅡbetween 90 and 180kgha-1 nitrogentreatments, indicating that the excess nitrogen was unfavorable to photosynthesis.

ECO-ENVIRONMENT CHANGE AND SOIL EROSION PROCESS IN THE RECLAIMED FORESTLAND OF THE LOESS PLATEAU

Serious soil erosion has made the eco-environment fragile in the Loess Plateau. Based on the 10-year data observed from 1989 to 1998 in the Ziwuling Survey Station in loess hilly region, the eco-environment change and soil erosion process in reclaimed forestland were studied in this paper. The results showed that the intensity of man-made soil erosion caused by forestland reclamation was 1000 times more than that of the natural erosion. From the analysis of soil physical and mechanical properties, in the 10th year after forestland was reclaimed, the clay content and physical clay content decreased 2.74 percentage point and 3.01 percentage point respectively, the >0.25mm waterstable aggregate content decreased 31.59 percentage point, the soil bulk density increased and soil shear strength decreased, all of which were easier to cause soil erosion. The correlation analysis showed that >0.25mm waterstable aggregate content was the key factor affecting soil erosion, and the secondary factors were soil coarse grain and soil shear strength. The relation between the >0.25mm waterstable aggregate content, the soil sheer strength and the soil erosion intensity were analyzed, which showed that the first year and the seventh erosion year were the turn years of the soil erosion intensity after the forestland was reclaimed, revealed that the change of eco-environment was the main cause to accelerate soil erosion, and the worse environment caused soil erosion to be serious rapidly.

The Brief Introduction to the Sino-US Joint Centers for Soil and Water Conservation and Environmental Protection

Erosion and transport of soil has worldwide implications for agriculture, landscape stability, climate, natural hazards, and clean, renewable resources of water and air. Assured access to clean water and a healthy and safe environment requires an ethic of conservation and protection. The minimum scale in which these principles apply successfully is basin wide. These are the fundamental concerns of the Sino-US Centers for Soil and Water Conservation and Environmental Protection.

Research on the Development Model of Ecological Agriculture in Loess Hilly-Gully Region of Northern Shannxi, China

On the Loess Plateau of China, facing the vulnerable environment, local people have to try their best to guarantee the security of food, and at the same time, to control the most serious soil erosion in the world. The paper introduces two typical models of ecological agriculture: ecological agriculture with commodity and agri- culture with soil and water conservation. According to the local natural condition, the model of eco-agriculture with commodity could be characterized by the structure of “agriculture-byproduct”, “agriculture-fruit” or “agri- culture-forestry-husbandry”. The development of agriculture with soil and water conservation has decreased the soil erosion rate from 12,184 ton/km2 in 1980 to 458.4 ton/km2 in 1999, while the farmers’ income has increasingly risen. Analyses on the two models’ benefits both in terms of ecological and agricultural economy show that there is a great possibility to construct or restore good eco-environment with comprehensive control in the hilly-gully area of north Shannxi. Further more, the paper points out the potential problems of foodstuff production and stockbreeding development in forming ecological agriculture and eco-environmental restoration.

PREDICTION OF SEDIMENT REDUCING BENEFIT UNDER DIFFERENT RAINFALL COND ITIONS AND CONTROL DEGREES ON THE LOESS PLATEAU

Based on the distribution of hydrological stations and zoning of types ofsoil erosion, the Loess Plateau (3 10 x 10~3km^2) is divided into 292 erosion units. And taking theerosion modulus > 5000t/km^2 as a criterion, the emphasis control area (149 x 10~3km^2) of the LoessPlateau is demarked, and is divided into 10 control regions. The controllable area and the locationof control measures are conformed. Level terraces are mainly collocated on the 3° ―15° slopes,woodland and grassland are collocated on the > 15° slopes, and the proportion of woodland tograssland is 8: 2 in the forest belt, 5: 5 in the forest steppe belt, and 2: 8 in the steppe belt.The 9000 combinations of soil-water conservation measures in different rainfall conditions areobtained by the permutation and combination method, according to the 9 rainfall frequencies and thecontrollable areas of level terrace, woodland and grassland at 10% of control progress rate. Thequality standards of level terrace, woodland and grassland are ascertained. The evaluation indexesof soil-water conservation benefits of level terrace, woodland and grassland are establishedrespectively in the condition that rainfall index is higher than that of erosive index of slopingfield. Based on the results above, the sediment reducing benefit and soil erosion modulus in thedifferent rainfall conditions and control degrees are analyzed, which could provide adecision-making basis for soil-water loss control on the Loess Plateau.

Applicative limitations of sediment transport on predictive modeling in geomorphology

Sources of uncertainty or error that arise in attempting to scale up the results of laboratory-scale sediment transport studies for predictive modeling of geomorphic systems include: (i) model imperfection, (ii) omission of important processes, (iii) lack of knowledge of initial conditions, (iv) sensitivity to initial conditions, (v) unresolved heterogeneity, (vi) occurrence of external forcing, and (vii) inapplicability of the factor of safety concept. Sources of uncertainty that are unimportant or that can be controlled at small scales and over short time scales become important in large-scale applications and over long time scales. Control and repeatability, hallmarks of laboratory-scale experiments, are usually lacking at the large scales characteristic of geomorphology. Heterogeneity is an important concomitant of size, and tends to make large systems unique. Uniqueness implies that prediction cannot be based upon first-principles quantitative modeling alone, but must be a function of system history as well. Periodic data collection, feedback, and model updating are essential where site-specific prediction is required.

Mechanisms of Physiological Regulation for Improving Dryland Crop Water Use

This paper briefly reviews the physiological mechanisms for improving crop water use and water use efficiency in dryland farming regions of Loess Plateau on the basis of its environmental conditions and progress in crop water relations and the biological basis of water saving agriculture, especially in non uniform stomatal closure, ABA effects, communication between root and shoot, and water use efficiency. Root chemical signals about water shortage are feedforward effect which contributes to balanced water relations within the plant compartment of the soil plant atmosphere continuum. ABA production is increased in tissues during these stresses, and this causes a variety of physiological effects, including stomata closure in leaves. It is concluded that the root chemical signal ABA is very important to improve the crop water use efficiency in semi arid area of Loess Plateau.

Soil Anti-Scouribility Enhanced by Plant Roots

: The magnitude of soil anti-scouribility depends on the physical condition of the soil. Plant roots can greatly enhance soil stability and anti-erodibility. A scouring experiment of undisturbed soil was conducted to investigate the effects of roots on soil anti-scouribility and its distribution in the soil profile. At the end of each erosion test, plant roots were collected from soil samples and root surface area was calculated by means of a computer image analysis system (CIAS). Root surface area density (RSAD), the surface area of the roots per unit of soil volume, was related to soil anti-scouribility. More than 83% of root surface area was concentrated in the 0 - 30 cm soil layer. Soil anti-scouribility increased with an increase in RSAD and the value of intensified soil anti-scouribility (ΔAS) can be expressed by exponential equations, depending on the plant species. These equations were ΔAS =9.578 6 RSAD0.8321 (R2= 0.951) for afforested Pinus tabulaeformis Carr, ΔAS = 7.808 7 RSAD0.7894 (R2= 0.974) for afforested Robinia pseudoacacia L., and ΔAS= 9.256 6RSAD0.8707 (R2= 0.899) for Bothriochloa ischemum L.

Effects of Phosphorus Nutrient on the Hydraulic Conductivity of Sorghum （Sorghum vulgare Pers.） Seedling Roots Under Water Deficiency

Hydroponic experiments were conducted in a growth chamber and changes in the hydraulic conductivity of sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) roots (Lpr) at the three-leaf stage were measured using the pressure chamber method. Water deficiency was imposed with polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 and the phosphorus (P) levels were controlled by complete Hoagland solution with and without P nutrient. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of P nutrition on root Lpr under water deficiency. The results showed that the Lpr in P deficiency treatments decreased markedly, but the Lpr recovered to the same value as that of control when sufficient P was supplied for 4-24 h. Water deficiency decreased Lpr, but the hydraulic conductivity of the roots with sufficient P supply was still higher than that of plants without P supply. When resuming water supply, the Lpr of the water-deficient plants under P supply recovered faster than that of plants without P supply, which indicates that plants with sufficient P nutrient are more drought tolerant and have a greater ability to recover after drought. The treatment of HgCl2 indicated that P nutrient could regulate the Lpr by affecting the activity and the expression levels of aquaporins.