次生植被下土壤活性有机碳组分季节动态研究

为了揭示不同类型植被下土壤有机碳及其活性组分季节动态变化及其特点，探讨不同的植被恢复模式对土壤有机碳组分的影响，分析影响土壤有机碳组分变化的因素，评估土壤有机活性有机碳组分参数在植被恢复过程中土壤质量监测的可靠性，为植被恢复及低效林改造技术提供理论依据。本研究选择岷江上游大沟流域的几种人工林（云杉林、油松林、华山松林、日本落叶松林）以及次生落叶阔叶灌丛下土壤，通过剖面机械分层取样，测定土壤总有机碳（TOC）和三种活性碳组分微生物碳（SMBC）、水溶性碳（WSOC）、易氧化碳（EOC）等来反映土壤变化特点。主要结果是： 1. 土壤有机碳含量平均在15.48~25.46 g kg-1之间在5月份时含量最低，随生长季的开始，有机碳含量逐渐增加，到9月份时含量达到最大值；由于新形成的凋落物不能被迅速分解利用补充土壤碳库，而原有碳库经历一个生长季的分解利用，因此，生长季末期即11月份的含量较小；土壤微生物碳含量平均在132.78~476.73mg kg-1之间，9月份和11月份含量都比较高；水溶性碳在生长季中逐步增大，含量在51.95~77.18 mg kg-1之间，到11月份时达到最大值；土壤易氧化碳平均含量在3.74~5.79g kg-1之间，含量最低值出现在5月份，但和其他碳组分不同的是其在7月份时含量较高。 2. 土壤有机碳及其活性碳组分大小关系为：TOC>EOC >SMBC>WSOC；比值约为300：70：5：1。 3. 土壤不同层次间比较，土壤碳指标都表现为随土壤深度增加而逐渐减小, 表层积聚作用明显。 4. 对土壤总有机碳量与活性碳组分以及活性碳之间进行了相关分析表明，土壤总有机碳含量与土壤微生物量碳、水溶性碳、易氧化碳之间的相关性均达到显著水平（P<0.05），有机碳总贮量很大程度上制约着土壤活性碳组分。土壤微生物量碳、水溶性碳、易氧化碳两两之间也都存在着显著相关关系（P<0.05），并随着不同植被类型或立地条件因子发生变化而变化。 5. 土壤有机碳及其活性组分与土壤养分状况之间的相关性分析发现，随着海拔、坡向或者植被类型的改变，其林下土壤有机碳及其活性组分与土壤养分的相关性也发生较大的变化。总体而言，岷江上游地区海拔、坡向、土壤自然含水量、植被盖度、凋落物厚度、土壤全N对次生林下土壤有机碳及其组分有重要影响。而AP、AK、C/N对土壤碳变化变化影响较小。 6. 通过不同海拔、坡向以及植被类型之间的综合比较分析发现，土壤微生物碳SMBC和水溶性碳WSOC比TOC和EOC更能敏感地反映出比较敏感的指示林下土壤质量的变化。 In order to reveal seasonal dynamics of soil labile organic carbon under different secondary vegetation, to analyze effect of different vegetation restoration pattern on soil organic carbon and its fractions, and to find the factors influencing changes in soil organic carbon and its fractions, further to estimate those parameters reliability for soil quality monitoring in the process of vegetation restoration. Soils were selected from several plantations, including Picea asperata Pinus tabulaeformis, Pinus armandii and Larix kaempferi and secondary shrub in Dagou Watershed of the upper reach of Minjiang River. The measurement of TOC, SMBC，WSOC and EOC were made, because these parameters can reflect change of soil characteristics. The major results are: 1. There were the lowest soil organic carbon and its labile fractions contents in May. At the time of growth initiation, they increased gradually and reached maximum in September. After that the soil organic carbon content decreased. Because current litter couldn’t be rapidly decomposed, and supplemented into carbon pool, while intrinsic carbon pool experienced decomposition and utilization of growth season, Which led a decrease in soil organic carbon content in November. Average value was 15.48~25.46 g kg-1; average SMBC content was 132.78~476.73mg kg-1.There were higher SMBC content in September and November as compared with other times; Water soluble organic carbon content increased from 51.95 mg kg-1 in May to 77.18 mg kg-1 in November; EOC content was lowest in May y. Average value was 3.74~5.79g kg-1. Differeing from other parameters of carbon fractions, EOC content was higher in July. 2. The content of soil organic carbon and its labile carbon fractions ranked as follows：TOC>EOC >SMBC>WSO，and ratio was about 300：70：5：1. 3. Consider as soil different layers，all of the parameters decreased gradually with increasing soil depth, thus displayed a significant accumulation in the surface layer soil. 4. Correlations coefficient analysis revealed that, TOC significantly correlated with SMBC, WSOC and EOC indicating total storage of organic carbon limited soil labile carbon fractions in great extent. On the other hand, there were significant correlations between SMBC，WSOC and EOC. But these relationships changed with vegetation types and/or environmental conditions. 5. The relationships between soil organic carbon and its labile fractions and soil nutrient traits changed with altitude，slope aspect and vegetations. Therefore our results suggested that altitude，slope aspect，soil natural water content，vegetation coverage, litter thickness and soil total nitrogen play a important role change in soil organic carbon and its fractions in upper reaches of Minjiang River. While AP、AK、C/N slightly influenced soil carbon. 6. Our results, on the other hand suggested that SMBC and WSOC are more sensitive to the change of altitudes, slope aspects, vegetation types than TOC and EOC, thus two parameters may be good index reflecting change of soil quality. These results provide insights into theoretical and technological evidences for the vegetation regeneration restoration and improvement of low-quality and benefit forest in the upper reaches of Minjiang River regions.

不同植被恢复模式对黄土丘陵区土壤碳库及其管理指数的影响

为了解侵蚀环境下植被恢复对土壤活性有机碳及碳库管理指数的影响,以典型侵蚀环境黄土丘陵区纸坊沟流域生态恢复30 a植被长期定位试验点为研究对象,选取坡耕地为参照,分析植被恢复过程中土壤碳库各组分和碳库管理指数的演变特征。结果表明,侵蚀环境下植被恢复后土壤碳库各组分含量都得到显著改善,有机碳、活性有机碳和非活性有机碳含量增幅分别为109%~238%,194%~212%和65%~149%,增加速度非活性有机碳>有机碳>活性有机碳。碳库指数和碳库管理指数较坡耕地明显增加,增幅分别为15%~659%和6.5%~414%,说明土壤经营和管理水平较坡耕地得到了显著改善,土壤系统向着良性方向转变。相关性分析表明有机碳、活性有机碳、非活性有机碳、碳库指数、碳库管理指数与土壤主要肥力因子相关性及其密切,可以作为反映生态恢复过程土壤质量演变的指标。不同植被恢复措施可以显著改善土壤碳库含量,增加土壤碳库管理水平,但改善作用不同,总体来说混交林的效果最好,其次为纯林,最后为荒草地,因此在该地区要通过人工促进生态恢复,应以营造混交林为主,纯林为辅的恢复模式。

根际沉积及其在植物-土壤碳循环中的作用

植物根际沉积是一种重要的植物与土壤交换的界面过程,在土壤碳周转方面具有重要的作用;根际碳的沉积也是联系植物、土壤及微生物的桥梁.本文就近年来关于根际沉积中碳平衡、碳循环等相关研究,阐述了根际碳沉积的机制,探讨了相关试验中存在的问题,以及不同植物品种、种类和生育期根际沉积的差异和根际沉积物与土壤呼吸的关系,指出了根际沉积在植物-土壤体系中碳循环的重要作用.在此基础上,提出了未来的研究领域及方向.

Validating MODIS-derived land surface evapotranspiration with in situ measurements at two AmeriFlux sites in a semiarid region

Reducing uncertainties in the estimation of land surface evapotranspiration (ET) from remote-sensing data is essential to better understand earth-atmosphere interactions. This paper demonstrates the applicability of temperature-vegetation index triangle (T-s-VI) method in estimating regional ET and evaporative fraction (EF, defined as the ratio of latent heat flux to surface available energy) from MODIS/Terra and MODIS/Aqua products in a semiarid region. We have compared the satellite-based estimates of ET and EF with eddy covariance measurements made over 4 years at two semiarid grassland sites: Audubon Ranch (AR) and Kendall Grassland (KG). The lack of closure in the eddy covariance measured surface energy components is shown to be more serious at MODIS/Aqua overpass time than that at MODIS/Terra overpass time for both AR and KG sites. The T-s-VI-derived EF could reproduce in situ EF reasonably well with BIAS and root-mean-square difference (RMSD) of less than 0.07 and 0.13, respectively. Surface net radiation has been shown to be systematically overestimated by as large as about 60 W/m(2). Satisfactory validation results of the T-s-VI-derived sensible and latent heat fluxes have been obtained with RMSD within 54 W/m(2). The simplicity and yet easy use of the T-s-VI triangle method show a great potential in estimating regional ET with highly acceptable accuracy that is of critical significance in better understanding water and energy budgets on the Earth. Nevertheless, more validation work should be carried out over various climatic regions and under other different land use/land cover conditions in the future.

Global negative vegetation feedback to climate warming responses of leaf litter decomposition rates in cold biomes

Whether climate change will turn cold biomes from large long-term carbon sinks into sources is hotly debated because of the great potential for ecosystem-mediated feedbacks to global climate. Critical are the direction, magnitude and generality of climate responses of plant litter decomposition. Here, we present the first quantitative analysis of the major climate-change-related drivers of litter decomposition rates in cold northern biomes worldwide. Leaf litters collected from the predominant species in 33 global change manipulation experiments in circum-arctic-alpine ecosystems were incubated simultaneously in two contrasting arctic life zones. We demonstrate that longer-term, large-scale changes to leaf litter decomposition will be driven primarily by both direct warming effects and concomitant shifts in plant growth form composition, with a much smaller role for changes in litter quality within species. Specifically, the ongoing warming-induced expansion of shrubs with recalcitrant leaf litter across cold biomes would constitute a negative feedback to global warming. Depending on the strength of other (previously reported) positive feedbacks of shrub expansion on soil carbon turnover, this may partly counteract direct warming enhancement of litter decomposition.

冰期间冰期转换过程中陆地碳库的演化规律研究

Terrestrial carbon pool mainly consists of three parts: the active carbon pool of the vegetation，soil carbon pools and the lithosphere carbon pool of less activity. Under natural conditions，vegetation carbon pools，soil carbon exchange with atmospheric carbon pool directly，the lithosphere participate in the global carbon cycle by weathering Our research have coverd the soil organic carbon density，plant biomass (carbon density)，plant net primary productivity of past 40 ka，and the magnetic susceptibility，grain size，weathering of silicate carbon consumption of past 140 ka. This study has achieved a number of conclusions as shown below. 1 Silicate weathering CO2 consumption in the long-term fluctuations with a similar deep-sea δ18O record，demonstate that it not only can be used as one of the instructions of terrestrial carbon pool，even can be used as indicators of global environmental change; silicate weathering CO2 consumption and susceptibility shown a clear relationship between lag or lead at different times，it maybe lies on how the climate change. 2 Soil carbon pools in line with the global climate on long-term，but the relationship between soil carbon density and climate change was not obvious in short-term change，generally lags behind the changes in other climatic proxies. 3 Carbon density of vegetation and other proxy indicators of climate have good consistency. In the study period，perform the cycle of glacial and interglacial completely，but because of the ancient vegetation of accurate information is difficult to obtain，it did not reflect rapid response to climate change. 4 Cooling events is conducive to soil organic carbon accumulation but not conducive to weathering and vegetation growth. High temperature environment is not conducive to the accumulation of soil organic carbon. 5 In the deglacial time from the last glacial maximum to the Holocene，weathering carbon consumption seems earlier than vegetation and soil organic carbon in the fluctuant increase.Does it imply that the effects of silicate weathering is an important factor to the global carbon cycle and global climate change? It is worth further research.

Program, abstracts and related documents.

The context: Soil biodiversity and sustainable agriculture; Abstracts - Theme 1: Monitoring and assessment: Bioindicators of soil health: assessment and monitoring for sustainable agriculture; Practical tools to measure soil health and their use by farmers; Biological soil quality from biomass to biodiversity - importance and resilience to management stress and disturbance; Integrated management of plant-parasitic nematodes in maize-bean cropping systems; Microbial quantitative and qualitative changes in soils under different crops and tillage management systems in Brazil; Diversity in the rhizobia associated with Phaseolus vulgaris L: in Ecuador and comparisons with Mexican bean rhizobia; Sistemas integrados ganadería-agricultura en Cuba; Soil macrofauna as bioindicator of soil quality; Biological functioning of cerrado soils; Hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate as a soil quality indicator in different pasture systems; Soil management and soil macrofauna communities at Embrapa Soybean, Londrina, Brazil; Soil macrofauna in a 24 - year old no-tillage system in Paraná, Brazil; Invertebrate macrofauna of soils inpastures under different forms of management in the cerrado (Brazil); Soil tillage modifies the invertebrate soil macrofauna community; Soil macrofauna in various tillage and land use systems on an oxisols near Londrina, Paraná, Brazil; Interference of agricultural systems on soil macrofauna; Scarab beetle-grub holes in various tillage and crop management systems at Embrapa Soybean, Londrina, Brazil; Biological management of agroecosystems; Soil biota and nutrient dynamics through litterfall in agroforestry system in Rondônia, Amazônia, Brazil; Soil-C stocks and earthworm diversity of native and introduced pastures in Veracruz, Mexico; Theme 2 : Adaptive management: Some thoughts on the effects and implications of the transition from weedy multi-crop to wead-free mono-crop systems in Africa; Towards sustainable agriculture with no-tillage and crop rotation systems in South Brazil; Effect of termites on crusted soil rehabilitation in the Sahel; Management of macrofauna in traditional and conventional agroforestry systems from India with special reference to termites and earthworms; Adaptive management for redeveloping traditional agroecosystems; Conservation and sustainable use of soil biodiversity: learning with master nature!; Convergence of sciences: inclusive technology innovation processes for better integrated crop/vegetation, soil and biodiversity management; Potential for increasing soil biodiversity in agroecosystems; Biological nitrogen fixation and sustainability in the tropics; Theme 3: Research and innovation: Plant flavonoids and cluster roots as modifiers of soil biodiversity; The significance of biological diversity in agricultural soil for disease suppressiveness and nutrient retention; Linking above - and belowground biodiversity: a comparison of agricultural systems; Insect-pests in biologically managed oil and crops: the experience at ICRISAT; Sistemas agricolas micorrizados en Cuba; The effect of velvetbean (Mucuna pruriens) on the tropical earthworm Balanteodrilus pearsei: a management option for maize crops in the Mexican humid tropics; The potential of earthworms and organic matter quality in the rehabilitation of tropical soils; Research and innovation in biological management of soil ecosystems; Application of biodynamic methods in the Egyptian cotton sector; Theme 4: Capacity building and mainstreaming: Soil ecology and biodiversity: a quick scan of its importance for government policy in The Netherlands; Agrotechnological transfer of legume inoculants in Eastern and Southern Africa; Agricultura urbana en Cuba; Soil carbon sequestration for sustaining agricultural production and improving the environment; Conservation and sustainable management of below-ground biodiversity: the TSBF-BGBD network project; The tropical soil biology and fertility institute of CIAT (TSBF); South-South initiative for training and capacity building for the management of soil biology/biodiversity; Strategies to facilititate development and adoption of integrated resource management for sustainable production and productivity improvement; The challenge program on biological nitrogen fixation (CPBNF); Living soil training for farmers: improving knowledge and skills in soil nutrition management; Do we need an inter-governmental panel on land and soil (IPLS)? Protection and sustainable use of biodiversity of soils; Cases Studies -- Plant parasitic nematodes associated with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and integrated management approaches; Agrotechnological transfer of legume inoculants in Eastern and Southern Africa; Restoring soil fertility and enhancing productivity in Indian tea plantations with earthworms and organic fertilizers; Managing termites and organic resources to improve soil productivity in the Sahel; Overview and case studies on biological nitrogen fixation: perspectives and limitations; Soil biodiversity and sustainable agriculture: an overview.

Efeito do reflorestamento com diferentes espécies sobre os atributos químicos em solo de cerrado.

RESUMO: O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do reflorestamento com eucalipto (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), carvoeiro (Sclerolobium paniculatum) , pinus (Pinus tecunumanii) e baru (Dipteryx alata) sobre os teores de nutrientes e de carbono orgânico do solo em comparação com uma área sob vegetação de Cerrado. Foram coletadas amostras de solo nas camadas 0 cm -5 cm, 5 cm - 10 cm, 10 cm - 20 cm, 20 cm - 30 cm, 30 cm - 40 cm e 40 cm - 60 cm, em um povoamento de baru plantado em 1987, um de carvoeiro plantado em 1985, um de pinus plantado em 1984, um de eucalipto plantado em 1983 e em uma área adjacente com vegetação nativa de Cerrado. Cada amostra foi composta por dez subamostras por parcela e por profundidade, coletadas entre as linhas. Os atributos químicos analisados foram: pH em água, alumínio trocável, H + Al (acidez potencial), fósforo e potássio disponíveis, cálcio e magnésio trocáveis e carbono orgânico. Os plantios de eucalipto e de carvoeiro aumentaram significativamente os teores de carbono orgânico do solo na camada de 0 cm a 5 cm. Os teores de fósforo foram muito baixos em todas as camadas avaliadas e não foram afetados pelo reflorestamento. O plantio de pinus acarretou queda significativa no teor de potássio, de cálcio e de magnésio até a camada de 30 cm a 40 cm. A partir de 20 cm de profundidade houve redução do pH do solo sob no plantio de pinus comparado com a área de Cerrado. ABSTRACT: The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of reforestation with eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), carvoeiro (Sclerolobium paniculatum) , pinus (Pinus tecunumanii) and baru (Dipteryx alata) on soil carbon and nutrients contents in comparison to virgin area of Cerrado. Samples of soil were collected down in 0 cm - 5 cm, 5 cm - 10 cm, 10 cm - 20 cm, 20 cm - 30 cm, 30 cm - 40 cm e 40 cm - 60 cm layers in a plantation of baru planted in 1987, one of carvoeiro planted in 1985, one of pinus planted in 1984, one of eucalyptus planted in 1983 and an adjacent area of Cerrado. Every sample was composed by ten sub-samples, by plot by depth, collected between the rows. Water pH, exchangeable aluminum, exchangeable H + Al (total acidity), suitable phosphorus, suitable potassium, exchangeable calcium, exchangeable magnesium and organic carbon contents were evaluated. Eucalyptus and carvoeiro planting increased significantly soil organic carbon contents in 5 cm - 10 cm layer. The levels of phosphorus were very low in all evaluated layers and were not affected by reforestation. Pinus planting decreased significantly potassium, calcium and magnesium contents until 30 cm - 40 cm layer. There was pH reduction after 20 cm of depth in pinus planting compared with cerrado area.

Arctic microorganisms respond more to elevated UV-B radiation than CO2

David Johnson, Colin D. Campbell, John A. Lee, Terry V. Callaghan and Dylan Gwynn-Jones (2002). Arctic microorganisms respond more to elevated UV-B radiation than CO2. Nature, 416 (6876) pp.82-83 Sponsorship: NERC / EU / Swedish Academy of Sciences RAE2008

Spatial statistics to estimate peat thickness using airborne radiometric data

Soil carbon stores are a major component of the annual returns required by EU governments to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Peat has a high proportion of soil carbon due to the relatively high carbon density of peat and organic-rich soils. For this reason it has become increasingly important to measure and model soil carbon stores and changes in peat stocks to facilitate the management of carbon changes over time. The approach investigated in this research evaluates the use of airborne geophysical (radiometric) data to estimate peat thickness using the attenuation of bedrock geology radioactivity by superficial peat cover. Remotely sensed radiometric data are validated with ground peat depth measurements combined with non-invasive geophysical surveys. Two field-based case studies exemplify and validate the results. Variography and kriging are used to predict peat thickness from point measurements of peat depth and airborne radiometric data and provide an estimate of uncertainty in the predictions. Cokriging, by assessing the degree of spatial correlation between recent remote sensed geophysical monitoring and previous peat depth models, is used to examine changes in peat stocks over time. The significance of the coregionalisation is that the spatial cross correlation between the remote and ground based data can be used to update the model of peat depth. The result is that by integrating remotely sensed data with ground geophysics, the need is reduced for extensive ground-based monitoring and invasive peat depth measurements. The overall goal is to provide robust estimates of peat thickness to improve estimates of carbon stocks. The implications from the research have a broader significance that promotes a reduction in the need for damaging onsite peat thickness measurement and an increase in the use of remote sensed data for carbon stock estimations.

Évaluation du potentiel de séquestration de carbone dans le sol de cultures intensives sur courtes rotations de saules dans le sud du Québec

Dans la dernière décennie, plusieurs hectares de terre agricole ont été convertis à la culture intensive sur courtes rotations (CICR) de saules dans le sud du Québec (Canada). Peu d’études ont été réalisées afin de déterminer comment se comporte la dynamique du carbone organique (Corg) dans le sol suivant cette conversion. Nous avons donc comparé la quantité du Corg et de deux pools labiles de carbone (carbone extractible à l’eau chaude et les sucres aminés) entre des CICR en phase initiale d’établissement (1-2 ans) et des parcelles appariées représentant le système de culture qui prévalait avant la transformation en culture de saules (culture fourragère) et d’autres cultures d’intérêt. La même chose a été faite pour une CICR en exploitation (depuis 9 ans) à un autre site. La quantité de Corg du sol n’était pas différente entre les CICR et les parcelles sous culture fourragère. Une plus haute concentration de sucres aminés dans le Corg total des CICR en établissement, par rapport aux autres parcelles sur le même site, permet de soupçonner que les perturbations liées à l’établissement ne mènent pas à une minéralisation accrue du Corg à court terme. La proportion de sucres aminés fongiques, qui diminue théoriquement lors de perturbations, était aussi plus élevée sous la plus jeune culture. Sous la CICR de neuf ans, le Corg était redistribué dans le profil vertical et les pools labiles étaient de plus petite taille (à une profondeur de 20-40 cm) comparativement à une parcelle témoin. La conversion d’une culture fourragère en plantation de saules en CICR n’a pas mené à la formation d’un puits de carbone. L’étude laisse entrevoir qu’un tel puits pourrait être créé si la conversion se faisait à partir d’un aménagement impliquant la culture en rotation de plantes annuelles et des labours.

Modelling of global crop production and resulting N2O emissions

Landwirtschaft spielt eine zentrale Rolle im Erdsystem. Sie trägt durch die Emission von CO2, CH4 und N2O zum Treibhauseffekt bei, kann Bodendegradation und Eutrophierung verursachen, regionale Wasserkreisläufe verändern und wird außerdem stark vom Klimawandel betroffen sein. Da all diese Prozesse durch die zugrunde liegenden Nährstoff- und Wasserflüsse eng miteinander verknüpft sind, sollten sie in einem konsistenten Modellansatz betrachtet werden. Dennoch haben Datenmangel und ungenügendes Prozessverständnis dies bis vor kurzem auf der globalen Skala verhindert. In dieser Arbeit wird die erste Version eines solchen konsistenten globalen Modellansatzes präsentiert, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf der Simulation landwirtschaftlicher Erträge und den resultierenden N2O-Emissionen liegt. Der Grund für diese Schwerpunktsetzung liegt darin, dass die korrekte Abbildung des Pflanzenwachstums eine essentielle Voraussetzung für die Simulation aller anderen Prozesse ist. Des weiteren sind aktuelle und potentielle landwirtschaftliche Erträge wichtige treibende Kräfte für Landnutzungsänderungen und werden stark vom Klimawandel betroffen sein. Den zweiten Schwerpunkt bildet die Abschätzung landwirtschaftlicher N2O-Emissionen, da bislang kein prozessbasiertes N2O-Modell auf der globalen Skala eingesetzt wurde. Als Grundlage für die globale Modellierung wurde das bestehende Agrarökosystemmodell Daycent gewählt. Neben der Schaffung der Simulationsumgebung wurden zunächst die benötigten globalen Datensätze für Bodenparameter, Klima und landwirtschaftliche Bewirtschaftung zusammengestellt. Da für Pflanzzeitpunkte bislang keine globale Datenbasis zur Verfügung steht, und diese sich mit dem Klimawandel ändern werden, wurde eine Routine zur Berechnung von Pflanzzeitpunkten entwickelt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine gute Übereinstimmung mit Anbaukalendern der FAO, die für einige Feldfrüchte und Länder verfügbar sind. Danach wurde das Daycent-Modell für die Ertragsberechnung von Weizen, Reis, Mais, Soja, Hirse, Hülsenfrüchten, Kartoffel, Cassava und Baumwolle parametrisiert und kalibriert. Die Simulationsergebnisse zeigen, dass Daycent die wichtigsten Klima-, Boden- und Bewirtschaftungseffekte auf die Ertragsbildung korrekt abbildet. Berechnete Länderdurchschnitte stimmen gut mit Daten der FAO überein (R2 = 0.66 für Weizen, Reis und Mais; R2 = 0.32 für Soja), und räumliche Ertragsmuster entsprechen weitgehend der beobachteten Verteilung von Feldfrüchten und subnationalen Statistiken. Vor der Modellierung landwirtschaftlicher N2O-Emissionen mit dem Daycent-Modell stand eine statistische Analyse von N2O-und NO-Emissionsmessungen aus natürlichen und landwirtschaftlichen Ökosystemen. Die als signifikant identifizierten Parameter für N2O (Düngemenge, Bodenkohlenstoffgehalt, Boden-pH, Textur, Feldfrucht, Düngersorte) und NO (Düngemenge, Bodenstickstoffgehalt, Klima) entsprechen weitgehend den Ergebnissen einer früheren Analyse. Für Emissionen aus Böden unter natürlicher Vegetation, für die es bislang keine solche statistische Untersuchung gab, haben Bodenkohlenstoffgehalt, Boden-pH, Lagerungsdichte, Drainierung und Vegetationstyp einen signifikanten Einfluss auf die N2O-Emissionen, während NO-Emissionen signifikant von Bodenkohlenstoffgehalt und Vegetationstyp abhängen. Basierend auf den daraus entwickelten statistischen Modellen betragen die globalen Emissionen aus Ackerböden 3.3 Tg N/y für N2O, und 1.4 Tg N/y für NO. Solche statistischen Modelle sind nützlich, um Abschätzungen und Unsicherheitsbereiche von N2O- und NO-Emissionen basierend auf einer Vielzahl von Messungen zu berechnen. Die Dynamik des Bodenstickstoffs, insbesondere beeinflusst durch Pflanzenwachstum, Klimawandel und Landnutzungsänderung, kann allerdings nur durch die Anwendung von prozessorientierten Modellen berücksichtigt werden. Zur Modellierung von N2O-Emissionen mit dem Daycent-Modell wurde zunächst dessen Spurengasmodul durch eine detailliertere Berechnung von Nitrifikation und Denitrifikation und die Berücksichtigung von Frost-Auftau-Emissionen weiterentwickelt. Diese überarbeitete Modellversion wurde dann an N2O-Emissionsmessungen unter verschiedenen Klimaten und Feldfrüchten getestet. Sowohl die Dynamik als auch die Gesamtsummen der N2O-Emissionen werden befriedigend abgebildet, wobei die Modelleffizienz für monatliche Mittelwerte zwischen 0.1 und 0.66 für die meisten Standorte liegt. Basierend auf der überarbeiteten Modellversion wurden die N2O-Emissionen für die zuvor parametrisierten Feldfrüchte berechnet. Emissionsraten und feldfruchtspezifische Unterschiede stimmen weitgehend mit Literaturangaben überein. Düngemittelinduzierte Emissionen, die momentan vom IPCC mit 1.25 +/- 1% der eingesetzten Düngemenge abgeschätzt werden, reichen von 0.77% (Reis) bis 2.76% (Mais). Die Summe der berechneten Emissionen aus landwirtschaftlichen Böden beträgt für die Mitte der 1990er Jahre 2.1 Tg N2O-N/y, was mit den Abschätzungen aus anderen Studien übereinstimmt.

Evaluating the century C model using long-term fertilizer trials in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, India

The GEFSOC Project developed a system for estimating soil carbon (C) stocks and changes at the national and sub-national scale. As part of the development of the system, the Century ecosystem model was evaluated for its ability to simulate soil organic C (SOC) changes in environmental conditions in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, India (IGP). Two long-term fertilizer trials (LTFT), with all necessary parameters needed to run Century, were used for this purpose: a jute (Corchorus capsularis L.), rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) trial at Barrackpore, West Bengal, and a rice-wheat trial at Ludhiana, Punjab. The trials represent two contrasting climates of the IGP, viz. semi-arid, dry with mean annual rainfall (MAR) of < 800 mm and humid with > 1600 turn. Both trials involved several different treatments with different organic and inorganic fertilizer inputs. In general, the model tended to overestimate treatment effects by approximately 15%. At the semi-arid site, modelled data simulated actual data reasonably well for all treatments, with the control and chemical N + farm yard manure showing the best agreement (RMSE = 7). At the humid site, Century performed less well. This could have been due to a range of factors including site history. During the study, Century was calibrated to simulate crop yields for the two sites considered using data from across the Indian IGP. However, further adjustments may improve model performance at these sites and others in the IGP. The availability of more longterm experimental data sets (especially those involving flooded lowland rice and triple cropping systems from the IGP) for testing and validation is critical to the application of the model's predictive capabilities for this area of the Indian sub-continent. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Earthworms produce granules of intricately zoned calcite

Earthworms of the family Lumbricidae, which includes many common species, produce and secrete up to millimeter-sized calcite granules, and the intricate fine-scale zoning of their constituent crystals is unique for a biomineral. Granule calcite is produced by crystallization of amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) that initially precipitates within the earthworm calciferous glands, then forms protogranules by accretion on quartz grain cores. Crystallization of ACC is mediated by migrating fluid films and is largely complete within 24 11 of ACC production and before granules leave the earthworm. Variations in the density of defects formed as a byproduct of trace element incorporation during calcite crystall growth have generated zoning that can be resolved by cathodoluminescence imaging at ultraviolet to blue wavelengths and using the novel technique of scanning electron microscope charge contrast imaging. Mapping of calcite crystal orientations by electron backscatter diffraction reveals an approximate radial fabric to the granules that reflects crystal growth from internal nucleation sites toward their margins. The survival within granules of ACC inclusions for months after they enter soils indicates that they crystallize only within the earthworm and in the presence of fluids containing biochemical catalysts. The earthworm probably promotes crystallization of ACC in order to prevent remobilization of the calcium carbonate by dissolution. Calcite granules vividly illustrate the role of transient precursors in biomineralization, but the underlying question of why earth-worms produce granules in volumes sufficient to have a measurable impact on soil carbon cycling remains to be answered.

Climate change and the British Uplands: evidence for decision-making

We summarise the work of an interdisciplinary network set up to explore the impacts of climate change in the British Uplands. In this CR Special, the contributors present the state of knowledge and this introduction synthesises this knowledge and derives implications for decision makers. The Uplands are valued semi-natural habitats, providing ecosystem services that have historically been taken for granted. For example, peat soils, which are mostly found in the Uplands, contain around 50% of the terrestrial carbon in the UK. Land management continues to be a driver of ecosystem service delivery. Degraded and managed peatlands are subject to erosion and carbon loss with negative impacts on biodiversity, carbon storage and water quality. Climate change is already being experienced in British Uplands and is likely to exacerbate these pressures. Climate envelope models suggest as much as 50% of British Uplands and peatlands will be exposed to climate stress by the end of the 21st century under low and high emissions scenarios. However, process-based models of the response of organic soils to this climate stress do not give a consistent indication of what this will mean for soil carbon: results range from a very slight increase in uptake, through a clear decline, to a net carbon loss. Preserving existing peat stocks is an important climate mitigation strategy, even if new peat stops forming. Preserving upland vegetation cover is a key win–win management strategy that will reduce erosion and loss of soil carbon, and protect a variety of services such as the continued delivery of a high quality water resource.