Structure and functional heterogeneity of soil microbial communities in different farmland types on the Loess Plateau

Background,aim,and scope Soil microbes are important drivers of nutrient transformation and energy f low.Reclaiming forest land for agricultural use may have profound effects on soil properties and microbial communities.However,the response of soil microbial communities to soil reclamation in the dryland agroecosystem is less understood.Therefore,it is necessary to investigate the changes of soil microbial communities driven by land use conversion to promote nutrient cycling in reclaimed farmland.Materials and methods Based on the metagenomic technique,we evaluated the microbial composition and function of the newly created farmland(NF)after reclamation with two types of traditional farmland(slope farmland(SF),checkdam farmland(CF))on the Loess Plateau,and explored the response of nutrient cycling function to dominant genera and soil properties.Results The results showed that Proteobacteria,Actinobacteria,and Acidobacteria were prevalent in the three types of farmlands.Compared with SF and CF,NF increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Nocardioides,as well as genes related to amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism.The relative abundance of functional genes related to carbon and nitrogen cycling in the NF was higher than that in the traditional farmland(SF and CF).The relative abundance of nutrient cycling functional genes was positively correlated with dominant genera in the three types of farmlands.Except for pH,soil physicochemical factors were negatively correlated with genes related to amino acid metabolism and carbon cycle.Discussion Previous studies have shown that the nutrient conditions of the soil may intensify the competition between the eutrophic and oligotrophic microbial populations.After long-term cultivation and fertilization,the soil properties of traditional farmland were significantly different from those of NF,leading to the differentiation of dominant microbial groups.Microbes usually have functional redundancy to cope with changing environments.Soil microbes in traditional farmland may contain more genes related to replication and repair,cell growth and death,and environmental adaptation in response to disturbances caused by agricultural practices.On the contrary,the NF was less disturbed by agricultural activities,and the soil properties were more similar to forest land,so the carbon and nitrogen cycle function genes were more abundant.The nutrient cycling function was affected by the abundance of microbial dominant groups and soil properties,which may be related to the availability of soil nutrients and agricultural disturbance in different farmlands.Aspects of soil microbial-driven nutrient cycling in agriculture could be regulated in sustainable method.Conclusions The change from forest land to farmland kept more carbon and nitrogen cycling function in the newly created farmland,while long-term agricultural activities have drastically changed the functional structure of traditional farmland,resulting in the nutrient cycling function more concentrated to meet the needs of crop growth.Recommendations and perspectives Hence,it is necessary to apply sustainable agricultural method to regulate microbial-driven nutrient cycling.The insights are meaningful for sustainable agricultural development and land management in arid areas.

Chemical weathering intensity and element migration features of the Xiashu loess profile in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province

The chemical weathering intensity and element migration features of the Xiashu loess profile in Zhenjiang are studied in this paper.（1）The Xiashu loess profile underwent moderate chemical weathering.It seems that the precipitation is a more important factor than the temperature in controlling the process of the chemical weathering.（2）The major elements such as Si,K,Na,Ca,Mg,Mn and P were migrated and leached,while the elements Fe and Ti were slightly enriched.The migration features of the major elements reveal that the Xiashu loess finished the primary process of chemical weathering characterized by leaching of Ca and Na,and almost reached the secondary process characterized by leaching of K.Except the elements Sr and Ga,other trace elements such as Th,Ba,Cu,Zn,Co,Ni,Cr and V were enriched.It might be caused by both the biogeochemical process and the adsorption of trace elements by clay mineral and organic materials.（3）The difference of element migration down the Xiashu loess profile reveals that the climate was warm and wet at the early-middle stage of the middle Pleistocene.At the end of the middle Pleistocene,it became dry and cool.At the early stage of the Late Pleistocene,the paleoclimate became warm and wet again.As a whole,the paleoclimate generally became drier and cooler in this region from the beginning of the middle Pleistocene.

Dried earth layers of artificial forestland in the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi Province

By determining the earth moisture content of artificial forestland between 0 and 6 m deep in the Loess Plateau of Shaanxi province, the vertical change of moisture content, distribution and formation causes of a dried earth layer are researched. The results show that the average moisture content is 9.3%-9.5% between 2 and 4 m under artificial forest of over 10 year＇s growth in Guanzhong Plain, and chronic weak dried earth layers are developed which show that the dried earth layers are distributed extensively on the Loess Plateau. The southern boundary of the dried earth layer has reached the northern foot of the Qinling Mountains. When precipitation reaches 600 mm, there are weak dried earth layers between 2 and 4 m under artificial forest of more than 10 years old. When the precipitation is between 400 and 500 mm, there are moderate dried earth layers. When precipitation is above 800 mm, there are no dried earth layers. There are no dried earth layers under meadow land, corn land and less than 5 years old of artificial forestland in central and southern parts of the Loess Plateau. The development of dried earth layers under cypress forest is weaker than broad-leaved forest. Under the same climatic conditions, the development of dried earth layers under the loess tableland is nearly at the same level as the 2nd and 3rd river terrace. Dried earth layers developed in membrane water zone, and the buried depth is small and motion velocity is slow in the Loess Plateau, which is the direct water factor of the formation of the dried earth layer, while differences of tree age and tree species are the plant factors that consumed much moisture. From the depth of the gravity water and the membrane water in Guanzhong Plain, it is clear that the formation cause of dried earth layers is mainly due to natural factors. The dried layers generally develop in middle-aged artificial forestland that consumed too much moisture, which is the general character of earth moisture in subhumid and semiarid zones. The appearance of dried layers doesn＇t show that the forest doesn＇t develop in this area; this is depended on their development intensity. Artificial forest of Chinese poplar, locust tree and Chinese scholartree consuming less water can be planted in the areas where dried earth layer developed weakly, but can not be planted in the areas where dried earth layer developed intensely.

Rb and Sr Geochemical Characterization of the Chinese Loess Stratigraphy and Its Implications for Palaeomonsoon Climate

Concentrations and distributions of Rb and Sr in loess and palaeosol samples from the Luochuan profile have been studied, in grain-size fractions and chemical forms. Results show that Rb is quite rich in the fraction of less than 2 μm, and exits only in the residual phase, while Sr is distributed in sand and silt fractions, occurring in the residual and carbonate phases. Therefore, variations of the concentrations of Rb and Sr in loess and palaeosols are closely related not only to dustfall compositions depending on winter monsoon wind strength but also to summer monsoon-induced pedogenic intensity. This indicates that variations of Rb/Sr ratio in Chinese loess sequences represent cyclic alternations of East Asian summer and winter monsoon climates on the orbital time-scale. Variations in Sr concentrations along the sequence bear a high similarity to the oxygen isotope record of the deep sea sediments over the past 2.5 Ma, whereas variations in Rb concentrations are in good agreement with the record of magnetic susceptibility determined with the duplicated samples from the same profile. This suggests that (1) the high-latitude ice volume is responsible for East Asian monsoon variations and (2) the signal of magnetic susceptibility depends dominantly on pedogenesis in Chinese loess sequences.

The source of lithium in Lakkor Co Salt Lake on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China:evidence from hydrochemical characteristics and boron isotope

The availability of lithium resources is of great significance for the development of modern technologies,as well as for civil and military industries.The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a region known for its abundance of lithium-rich salt lakes.However,the specific origin of lithium in these lakes is still unknown,which hinders the advancement of the lithium resource business in this region.To research this issue,this study involved the collection of 20 samples from Lakkor Co Salt Lake on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,encompassing samples of surface brine,cold springs,fresh lakes,and recharge rivers.The composition of anions and cations in these samples was determined.Furthermore,the analysis extensivelyutilizedthePiperthree-linediagram,Gibbs model,and ion proportion coefficient.The findings of this study indicate that as the moves from the recharge water system to salt lake,there is a transition in water type from strong carbonate to moderate carbonate and weak carbonate,as well as Na sulfate.This research based on a similar source of both lithium and boron,utilized ion correlation analysis and boron isotope study in the Lakkor Co area,and analyzed the source and transporting process of lithium.The main origin of lithium in Lakkor Co is the dissolution of lithiumrich rocks,recharge water systems,and deep hydrothermal fluids.These findings are highly significant in enhancing the foundational data of lithium-rich brine resources in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and are beneficial for assessing the future development of such deposits.

Research and development on mechanism of removal of indoor volatile organic compounds by plants

Background,aim,and scope Owing to the rapid development of modernisation and urbanisation,living standards have gradually improved.However,the widespread use of high-energy-consuming indoor appliances and furniture has made indoor environments a primary environmental problem affecting human health.Sick building syndrome(SBS)and building-related illness(BRI)have occurred,and indoor air conditions have been extensively studied.Common indoor pollutants include CO,CO_(2),volatile organic compounds(VOCs)(such as the formaldehyde and benzene series),NOx(NO and NO_(2)),and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs).VOCs have replaced SO_(2)as the“The Fourteenth Five-Year Plan”urban air quality assessment new indicators.Indoor VOCs can cause diseases such as cataract,asthma,and lung cancer.To protect human health,researchers have proposed several indoor air purification technologies,including adsorption,filtration,electrostatic dust removal,ozonation,and plant purification.However,each technology has drawbacks,such as high operating costs,high energy consumption,and the generation of secondary waste or toxic substances.Plant degradation of VOCs as a bioremediation technology has the characteristics of low cost,high efficiency,and sustainability,thereby becoming a potential green solution for improving indoor air quality.This study introduces the research status and mechanism of plant removal of indoor VOCs and provides an experimental basis and scientific guidance for analysing the mechanism of plant degradation of pollutants.Materials and methods This study reviews studies on the harm caused by indoor pollutants to human health and related sources,mainly investigating the degradation of indoor formaldehyde,BTEX(benzene,toluene,ethylbenzene,and xylene)plant mechanisms,and research results.Results Plants can remove VOCs via stomatal and non-stomatal adsorption,interfoliar microbial,rhizosphere microbial,and growth media.Benzene,toluene,and xylene(BTX)are adsorbed by pores,hydroxylated into fumaric acid,and then removed into CO_(2) and H_(2)O by TCA.Formaldehyde enters plant leaves through the stomata and epidermal waxy substances and is adsorbed.After the two steps of enzymatic oxidation,formic acid and CO_(2) are generated.Finally,it enters the Calvin cycle and removes glucose and other nontoxic compounds.Discussion The non-stomatal degradation of VOCs can be divided into adsorption by cuticular wax and active adsorption by plant surface microorganisms.The leaf epidermal waxy matter content and the lipid composition of the epidermal membrane covering the plant surface play important roles in the non-stomatal adsorption of indoor air pollutants.The leaf margin of a plant is an ecological environment containing various microbial communities.The endophytic and inoculated microbiota in plant buds and leaves can remove VOCs(formaldehyde and BTEX).Formaldehyde can be directly absorbed by plant leaves and converted into organic acids,sugars,CO_(2) and H_(2)O by microbes.Bioremediation of indoor VOCs is usually inefficient,leading to plant toxicity or residual chemical substance volatilisation through leaves,followed by secondary pollution.Therefore,plants must be inoculated with microorganisms to improve the efficiency of plant degradation of VOCs.However,the effectiveness of interfoliar microbial removal remains largely unknown and several microorganisms are not culturable.Therefore,methods for collecting,identifying,and culturing microorganisms must be developed.As the leaf space is a relatively unstable environment,the degradation of VOCs by rhizosphere microorganisms is equally important,and formaldehyde is absorbed more by rhizosphere microorganisms at night.The inoculation of bacteria into the rhizosphere improves the efficiency of plants in degrading VOCs.However,most of these studies were conducted in simulation chambers.To ensure the authenticity of these conclusions,the ability of plants to remove indoor air pollutants must be further verified in real situations.Conclusions Plant purification is an economical,environment-friendly,and sustainable remediation technology.This review summarises the mechanisms of VOC plant degradation and presents its limitations.Simultaneously,it briefly puts forward a plant selection scheme according to different temperatures,light,and specific VOCs that can be absorbed to choose the appropriate plant species.However,some studies have denied the purification effect of plants and proposed that numerous plants are required to achieve indoor ventilation effects.Therefore,determining the ability of plants to remove indoor VOCs requires a combination of realistic and simulated scenarios.Recommendations and perspectives Plants and related microorganisms play an important role in improving indoor air quality,therefore,the effect of plants and the related microorganisms on improving indoor air quality must be studied further and the effect of plants on indoor VOCs will be the focus of future research.

Characteristics and fate behavior of environmentally persistent free radicals in atmospheric particulate matter

Background,aim,and scope Environmentally persistent free radicals(EPFRs)have received significant attention due to their longer lifetime and stable existence in various environments.The strong environmental migration ability of particulate matter allows EPFRs to migrate over long-distance transport,thereby impacting the quality of the local atmospheric environment.Additionally,EPFRs can also adhere to atmospheric particles and interact with typical gaseous pollutants to affect atmospheric chemical reactions.EPFRs can produce some reactive organic species,promoting oxidative stress in the human body,damaging biological macromolecules and ultimately affecting the organism health.EPFRs are considered as a novel type of pollutant that affects human health.Despite their significance,there are few literatures available on the characteristics and fate behaviors of EPFRs up to date.Therefore,supplemental reviews are crucial for providing comprehensive understanding of EPFRs.Materials and methods This review summarizes the characteristics of EPFRs in particulate matter,outlines the generation mechanism and influencing factors of EPFRs,and the impacts of EPFRs on environmental quality and organism health.Results The content of EPFRs in particulate matter ranges from 1017 to 1020 spins∙g−1.Due to the strong mobility of atmospheric particulate matter,the long-term exposure to high levels of EPFRs may aggravate the impact of particulate matter on human health.The interaction between EPFRs and typical gaseous pollutants can alter their fate and influence atmospheric chemical reactions.EPFRs are mainly produced by transition metal elements and substituted aromatic hydrocarbons through electron transfer.Additionally,the chemical bond rupture of organic substances through heat treatment or ultraviolet radiation can also produce EPFRs,and heterogeneous reactions are capable producing them as well.The production of EPFRs is not only influenced by transition metal elements and precursors,but also by various environmental factors such as oxygen,temperature,light radiation,and relative humidity.Discussion EPFRs in atmospheric particulates matters are usually rich in fine particulates with obvious seasonal and regional variations.They can easily enter the human respiratory tract and lungs with inhalable particulates,thereby increasing the risk of exposure.Additionally,EPFRs in atmospheric particulates can interact with some typical gaseous pollutants,impacting the life and fate of EPFRs in the atmosphere,and alter atmospheric chemical reactions.Traditionally,EPFRs are generated by transition metal elements and substituted aromatic hydrocarbons undergoing electron transfer in the post-flame and cool-zone regions of combustion systems and other thermal processes to remove HCl,H_(2)O or CO groups,ultimately produce semiquinones,phenoxyls,and cyclopentadienyls.Recent studies have indicated that EPFRs can also be generated under the conditions of without transition metal elemental.Organics can also produce EPFRs through chemical bond rupture during heat treatment or light radiation conditions,as well as through some heterogeneous reactions and photochemical secondary generation of EPFRs.The presence or absence of oxygen has different effects on the type and yield of EPFRs.The concentration,type,and crystal type of transition metal elements will affect the type,content,and atmospheric lifetime of EPFRs.It is generally believed that the impact of transition metal element types on EPFRs is related to the oxidation-reduction potential.The combustion temperature or heat treatment process significantly affects the type and amount of EPFRs.Factors such as precursor loading content,pH conditions,light radiation and relative humidity also influence the generation of EPFRs.EPFRs can interact with pollutants in the environment during their migration and transformation process in environmental medium.This process accelerates the degradation of pollutants and plays a crucial role in the migration and transformation of organic pollutants in environmental media.The reaction process of EPFRs may lead to the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS)such as∙OH,which can induce oxidative stress,inflammation and immune response to biological lung cells and tissues,leading to chronic respiratory and cardiopulmonary dysfunction,cardiovascular damage and neurotoxic effects,ultimately impacting the health of organisms.Conclusions The interaction mechanism between EPFRs in particulate matter and gaseous pollutants remains unclear.Furthermore,research on the generation mechanism of EPFRs without the participation of transition metals is not comprehensive,and the detection of EPFRs is limited to simple qualitative categories and lack accurate qualitative analysis.Recommendations and perspectives Further research should be conducted on the generation mechanism,measurement techniques,migration pathways,and transformation process of EPFRs.It is also important to explore the interaction between EPFRs in atmospheric particulate matter and typical gaseous pollutants.

Red Clay Sediment in the Central Chinese Loess Plateau and Its Implication for the Uplift of the Tibetan Plateau

The widely distributed red clay sediment underlying the Chinese Loess Plateau truly records the Neogene environmental evolution, and its genesis and development are intrinsically related to the uplift processes of the Tibetan Plateau and the evolution of East Asia monsoon system. In this paper, a detailed magnetostratigraphy of a loess-red clay section （107°13′E, 35°02′N） from the central Loess Plateau is reported. The loess-red clay sequence is composed of 175 m Quaternary loess-paleosol sequence and 128 m Neogene red clay sediments. Based on the correlation with the standard geomagnetic polarity time scale, the paleomagnetic results indicate that the age of Chaona red clay sequence extends to 08.1 Ma, which is the older red clay deposition in the central Chinese Loess Plateau. The commencement of red clay at -8.1 Ma may imply that the Ordos planation surface was broken by the movement of the Haiyuan-Liupanshan Faults, which was related to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau induced by the collision of India Plate and Eurasian Plate. And the western part adjacent to the Tibetan Plateau was uplifted to form the embryo of the Liupan Shan （Mts.） and the eastern part was down-faulted to receive red clay deposition. We link this faulting to an initial uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. The undulating nature of the broken Ordos planation surface may explain the chronological differences and depth discrepancies among various cross-sections of red clay.

Diurnal and seasonal dynamics of soil respiration in a Platycladus orientalis forest stand on the semiarid Loess Plateau, China

Forest ecosystems on China's Loess Plateau are receiving increasing attention because of their special importance in carbon fixation and conservation of soil and water in the region.Soil respiration was investigated in Platycladus orientalis forest stands of the region at diurnal and seasonal scales.The daily and seasonal average values of soil respiration were 2.53μmol·m^(-2)·s^(-1)and 3.78μmol·m^(-2)·s^(-1),respectively.On a diurnal and seasonal scale,the variations of soil respiration in the P.orientalis forest show a one-peak pattern.The diurnal dynamics of soil respiration were mainly driven by soil temperature.However,the relationship between soil respiration and soil temperature was not significant,mainly because of the hysteresis effect of soil respiration on soil temperature.Soil moisture plays another dominant role in the ecosystem carbon balance,but was not affected by soil temperature in P.orientalis forest on the semiarid Loess Plateau.

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on soil microbial community structure and ecological processes in the farmland of Chinese Loess Plateau

Microorganisms regulate the responses of terrestrial ecosystems to anthropogenic nutrient inputs.The escalation of anthropogenic activities has resulted in a rise in the primary terrestrial constraining elements,namely nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P).Nevertheless,the specific mechanisms governing the influence of soil microbial community structure and ecological processes in ecologically vulnerable and delicate semi-arid loess agroecosystems remain inadequately understood.Therefore,we explored the effects of different N and P additions on soil microbial community structure and its associated ecological processes in the farmland of Chinese Loess Plateau based on a 36-a long-term experiment.Nine fertilization treatments with complete interactions of high,medium,and low N and P gradients were set up.Soil physical and chemical properties,along with the microbial community structure were measured in this study.Additionally,relevant ecological processes such as microbial biomass,respiration,N mineralization,and enzyme activity were quantified.To elucidate the relationships between these variables,we examined correlation-mediated processes using statistical techniques,including redundancy analysis(RDA)and structural equation modeling(SEM).The results showed that the addition of N alone had a detrimental effect on soil microbial biomass,mineralized N accumulation,andβ-1,4-glucosidase activity.Conversely,the addition of P exhibited an opposing effect,leading to positive influences on these soil parameters.The interactive addition of N and P significantly changed the microbial community structure,increasing microbial activity(microbial biomass and soil respiration),but decreasing the accumulation of mineralized N.Among them,N24P12 treatment showed the greatest increase in the soil nutrient content and respiration.N12P12 treatment increased the overall enzyme activity and total phospholipid fatty acid(PLFA)content by 70.93%.N and P nutrient contents of the soil dominate the microbial community structure and the corresponding changes in hydrolytic enzymes.Soil microbial biomass,respiration,and overall enzyme activity are driven by mineralized N.Our study provides a theoretical basis for exploring energy conversion processes of soil microbial community and environmental sustainability under long-term N and P additions in semi-arid loess areas.

Zircon U-Pb Ages of Quaternary Loess-Paleosol Sequences from the Luochuan Section:Implication for Sediment Provenance

Objective The sediment provenances of the thick Quaternary Loess-Paleosol sequences of the Chinese Loess Plateau can provide clues to the evolution of the paleoclimate and paleoenvironment in East Asia.Furthermore,based on the proposed sediment sources and transport routes,the evolution of the East Asian monsoon can be evaluated.

Soil quality assessment in different dammed-valley farmlands in the hilly-gully mountain areas of the northern Loess Plateau,China

There are numerous valley farmlands on the Chinese Loess Plateau(CLP),where suffers from low soil quality and high risk of soil salinization due to the shallow groundwater table and poor drainage system.Currently,research on the evolution processes and mechanisms of soil quality and salinization in these dammed-valley farmlands on the CLP is still inadequately understood.In this study,three kinds of dammed-valley farmlands in the hilly-gully areas of the northern CLP were selected,and the status of soil quality and the impact factors of soil salinization were examined.The dammed-valley farmlands include the new farmland created by the project of Gully Land Consolidation,the 60-a farmland created by sedimentation from check dam,and the 400-a farmland created by sedimentation from an ancient landslide-dammed lake.Results showed that(1)the newly created farmland had the lowest soil quality in terms of soil bulk density,porosity,soil organic carbon and total nitrogen among the three kinds of dammed-valley farmlands;(2)soil salinization occurred in the middle and upper reaches of the new and 60-a valley farmlands,whereas no soil salinization was found in the 400-a valley farmland;and(3)soil salinization and low soil nutrient were determined to be the two important factors that impacted the soil quality of the valley farmlands in the hilly-gully mountain areas of the CLP.We conclude that the dammed-valley farmlands on the CLP have a high risk of soil salinization due to the shallow groundwater table,alkalinity of the loessial soil and local landform feature,thus resulting in the low soil quality of the valley farmlands.Therefore,strengthening drainage and decreasing groundwater table are extremely important to improve the soil quality of the valley farmlands and guarantee the sustainable development of the valley agriculture on the CLP.

Leachate Lithium Characteristics of Loess-paleosol Sequences on the Chinese Loess Plateau and their Paleoclimatic Significance

The geochemical components of the leachate from loess-paleosol deposits can provide information about climaterelated post-depositional processes.For example,leachate lithium([Li]_(leachate))is a potential paleoclimate proxy because lithium is a typical lithophile element that is readily adsorbed by clay minerals during weathering and pedogenesis,and thus stratigraphic variations in[Li]leachatecan reflect these processes.We investigated the[Li]leachatevalues of two loess-paleosols profiles(the Luochuan and Weinan sections),on a north-south climatic gradient on the Chinese Loess Plateau.Independent paleoclimate information was provided by measurements of magnetic susceptibility,grain size,Rb/Sr ratios,and clay mineral content.During the last glacial-interglacial period,[Li]leachateincreased from 0.39 to 1.97μg/g at Luochuan and from 0.67 to 2.45μg/g at Weinan,mainly due to increasing pedogenesis.Based on these results we developed a conceptual model to explain the variations in[Li]leachate,Li^(+)within loess layers is mainly derived from dust input and the decomposition of primary minerals,influenced by the East Asian winter monsoon,while in paleosol layers Li is mainly derived from clay mineral adsorption during pedogenic processes,influenced by the East Asian summer monsoon.

The age measures and its layer sequence tratigraphy of Late Quaternary sediment in Lushan Dajiaochang of China

Through the scientific investigation on Lushan for a long time, detailed studies have been carried out on the geologic stratum section of Late Quaternary in Dajiaochang. The series age data of complete stratigraphic section and full time formation since 400 kaBP were based on the results of the analyses using the dating methods with various instruments such as the ancient geomagnetism, electronics spin resonance （ESR）, 36C1 and lumines- cence dating, etc. Corresponding to these data, it identified the paleomagnetic polarity events including Biwa- III event （320 kaBP）, Biwa- 1I event （260 kaBP）, Biwa- I event （180 kaBP, scarcity due to the disturbance of the iron dish）, Blake event （100 kaBP） and Laschamp event （20 kaBP, didn＇t grow due to the activities of the surface）, etc. Combined with the sequence stratigraphy, layer type characteristics and its sediment environment, the strati- graphic can be divided into 4 stages of development respectively ： Stage [ is the climate period of glacial epoch （200-400 kaBP）; stage 11 is the climate period of interglacial epoch （100-200 kaBP）; stage llI is the climate peri- od of periglacial epoch （10-100 kaBP）; stage IV is the climate period ofpostglacial epoch （0-10 kaBP）.

Phases of Environmental Evolution Indicated by Primary Chemical Elements and Paleontological Records in the Upper Pleistocene-Holocene Series for the Salawusu River Valley,China

Studies of lithology, sedimentary facies and the distribution regularity of SiO2 and Al2O3 contents and Al2O3/SiO2 ratio allow us to divide the Upper Pleistocene-Holocene Series represented by the MUanggouwan section in China＇s Salawnsu River valley into six segments： MGS1, MGS2, MGS3, MGS4, MGS5 and MGS6. The boundary ages for MGS1 （the Dishaogouwan and Dagouwan Formations）, MGS2 （the upper Chengchuan Formation）, MGS3 （the middle Chengchuan Formation）, MGS4 （the lower Chengchuan Formation）, MGS5 （most strata of the Salawusu Formation） and MGS6 （the bottom of the Salawusu Formation and the top of the Lishi Formation） correspond to those of MIS1, MIS2, MIS3, MIS4, MISS and MIS6, respectively, from deep sea sediments or continental glaciers. MGS5 can be subdivided into five subsegments （MGS5a, MGS5b, MGS5c, MGS5d and MGS5e） and the boundary ages of these subsegments correspond to those of MISSa, MISSb, MIS5c, MIS5d and MIS5e, respectively. Based on the paleoenvironment and paleoecology indicated by the primary chemical elements, fossil vertebrates, mollusks and pollen grains, we hypothesize that MGS1, MGS2, MGS3, MGS4, MGS5 and MGS6 and the subsegments of MGS5 match the corresponding stages for oxygen isotopes in the deep sea sediments and continental glaciers, and the substages of MIS5 in terms of climatic characters, further explaining the phenomena that determined the formation of the late Quaternary strata and the paleontology of the Salawusu River valley. These phenomena relate to fluctuations in the global climate （and particularly in the East Asian monsoon） during the glacial and interglacial periods.

Geochronology of a surface core in the northern basin of Lake Qinghai: Evidence from ^(210)Pb and ^(137)Cs radionuclides

The radioactivities of 210Pb and 137Cs have been measured to estimate the dates of the sediments of a surface core （QH0407-C-2） in the northern basin of Lake Qinghai. The sedimentation rate derived from 210Pb radioactivity correlates well with that inferred from （137）Cs radioactivity. The dates calculated from depth sedimentation rate （cm/a） are similar to those derived from mass accumulation rate （g·cm-2·a-1） between 0-5 cm, but are significantly different below 5 cm, which has been ascribed to the compaction of surface sediments during early diagenesis. The dates derived from mass accumulation rate are consistent with those calculated from the AMS 14C dating model. The precipitation-controlled indices based on the chronology data derived from mass accumulation rate are similar in trends to the precipitation reconstructed from tree rings in adjacent region, which further verifies the reliability of the geochronology data.

Cenozoic evolution of tectono-fluid and metallogenic process in Lanping Basin, western Yunnan Province, Southwest China: Constraints from apatite fission track data

Since the Mesozoic, abundant metal and salt deposits have been formed in the Lanping Basin, western Yunnan Province, Southwest China, constituting a well-known hydrothermal ore belt in China. Most of the deposits are meso-epithermal hydrothermal deposits. This paper preliminarily deals with the mineralization ages of hydrothermal deposits in the Lanping Basin by using the apatite fission track method, and integrates the spatial distribution of the deposits and their regional geological backgrounds, to give the preliminary viewpoints as follows: (1) the apatite fission track ages acquired range from 19.9 Ma to 52.8 Ma, much younger than those of their host strata, so they may be considered to be mineralization ages, which represent the late mineralization period; (2) the apatite fission track ages tend to become younger from the west to the middle of the basin, indicating that the latest evolution of tectono-fluid and/or metallogenic processes of the middle basin ended later than that in the west; (3) in the Paleogene, most of the Cu deposits were formed in the western part of the basin; (4) the major metallogenic processes occur between the Paleogene and the Neogene, because the eastern and western edges of the basin were subducted into and collided with its bilateral continental blocks, respectively, and the central fault was strongly activated, which led to the processes of large-scale ore-forming fluids, and their differentiation and transport because of the variation of their physical and chemical properties. Having been squeezed and uplifted, the Lanping Basin became an intermontane basin that contains many kinds of fluid traps resulting in the formation of different types of ore deposits (for example, Pb-Zn, Cu, Ag) of different scales in the middle of the basin. Simultaneously, the fluids with volatile elements such as Hg, Sb and As were transported upwards along the central fault system and diffused into its subordinate fractures, thus leading to the metallogenic processes of Hg, Sb and As in the eastern composite anticline of the Lanping Basin; (5) and later, these ore deposits experienced reformation and oxidization. To summarize,deep giant faults were active in the basin, and metallogenic processes were constrained by the evolution of tectono-fluids in the Lanping Basin. Simultaneously, the occurrence of the metallogenic processes made the nature of fluid and the structural environment change, which led to returning and recycling of the fluids. Multi-stage and zonational metallogenic processes are the characteristics of the ore deposits in the Lanping Basin.

Mass Concentration and Mineralogical Characteristics of Aerosol Particles Collected at Dunhuang During ACE-Asia

Measurements were performed in spring 2001 and 2002 to determine the characteristics of soil dust in the Chinese desert region of Dunhuang, one of the ground sites of the Asia-Pacific Regional Aerosol Characterization Experiment （ACE-Asia）. The mean mass concentrations of total suspended particle matter during the spring of 2001 and 2002 were 317μg m^-3 and 307μg m^-3, respectively. Eleven dust storm events were observed with a mean aerosol concentration of 1095μg m^-3, while the non-dusty days with calm or weak wind speed had a background aerosol loading of 196μg m^-3 on average in the springtime. The main minerals detected in the aerosol samples by X-ray diffraction were illite, kaolinite, chlorite, quartz, feldspar, calcite and dolomite. Gypsum, halite and amphibole were also detected in a few samples. The mineralogical data also show that Asian dust is characterized by a kaolinite to chlorite （K/C） ratio lower than 1 whereas Saharan dust exhibits a K/C ratio larger than 2. Air mass back-trajectory analysis show that three families of pathways are associated with the aerosol particle transport to Dunhuang, but these have similar K/C ratios, which further demonstrates that the mineralogical characteristics of Asian dust are different from African dust.

Precipitation Pulses and Soil CO_2 Emission in Desert Shrubland of Artemisia ordosica on the Ordos Plateau of Inner Mongolia,China

Precipitation is the major driver of ecosystem functions and processes in semiarid and arid regions. In such waterlimited ecosystems, pulsed water inputs directly control the belowground processes through a series of soil drying and rewetting cycles. To investigate the effects of sporadic addition of water on soil CO2 effux, an artificial precipitation event （3 mm） was applied to a desert shrub ecosystem in the Mu Us Sand Land of the Ordos Plateau in China. Soil respiration rate increased 2.8 4.1 times immediately after adding water in the field, and then it returned to background level within 48 h. During the experiment, soil CO2 production was between 2 047.0 and 7 383.0 mg m^-2. In the shrubland, soil respiration responses showed spatial variations, having stronger pulse effects beneath the shrubs than in the interplant spaces. The spatial variation of the soil respiration responses was closely related with the heterogeneity of soil substrate availability. Apart from precipitation, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen pool were also identified as determinants of soil CO2 loss in desert ecosystems.

Dynamics of ecosystem carbon stocks during vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau of China

In the last few decades, the Loess Plateau had experienced an extensive vegetation restoration to reduce soil erosion and to improve the degraded ecosystems. However, the dynamics of ecosystem carbon stocks with vegetation restoration in this region are poorly understood. This study examined the changes of carbon stocks in mineral soil （0-100 cm）, plant biomass and the ecosystem （plant and soil） following vegetation restoration with different models and ages. Our results indicated that cultivated land returned to native vegetation （natural restoration） or artificial forest increased ecosystem carbon sequestration. Tree plantation sequestered more carbon than natural vegetation succession over decades scale due to the rapid increase in biomass carbon pool. Restoration ages had different effects on the dynamics of biomass and soil carbon stocks. Biomass carbon stocks increased with vegetation restoration age, while the dynamics of soil carbon stocks were affected by sampling depth. Ecosystem carbon stocks consistently increased after tree plantation regardless of the soil depth; but an initial decrease and then increase trend was observed in natural restoration chronosequences with the soil sampling depth of 0-100 cm. Moreover, there was a time lag of about 15-30 years between biomass production and soil carbon sequestration in 0-100 cm, which indicated a long-term effect of vegetation restoration on deeper soil carbon sequestration.