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The soil bulk density (ρ ) and pH across the 0-1.0 m depth soil profile under different treatments. Different uppercase letters show differences among the 16-and 40-year-old apricot treatments, the poplar treatment, abandoned treatment, and cultivated treatment at p ≤ 0.05. Bars indicate standard deviation of the means.
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Sustainable land management requires a clear understanding of the changes in soil quality. In exploring whether afforestation has the potential to improve the soil quality in China’s Loess Plateau, soil bulk density ( ρ s ) and pH were compared under five treatments: three forested treatments (16-and 40-year-old apricot stands, and 40-year-old popl...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... comparing the same soil layer for the two apricot treatments, pH in the 16-year-old treatment was significantly lower than that in the 40-year-old treatment, except for the 0-0.1 m soil layer. For the mean pH of the 0-1.0 m soil depth, the 40-year-old apricot treatment's pH (8.54) was significantly higher than that under other treatments (Figure 3). The abandoned treatment and the poplar treatment followed, with mean pH values of 8.51 and 8.52, respectively, with no significant difference. ...
Context 2
... mean soil pH was lowest under the cultivated treatment (8.46) and was 0.08 units lower than that under the 40-year-old apricot treatment. The mean soil pH of the 40-year-old apricot treatment was 0.02 units higher than that of the poplar treatment, and 0.05 units higher than that of the 16-year-old apricot treatment (8.49) (Figure 3). ...
Context 3
... comparing the same soil layer for the two apricot treatments, pH in the 16-year-old treatment was significantly lower than that in the 40-year-old treatment, except for the 0-0.1 m soil layer. For the mean pH of the 0-1.0 m soil depth, the 40-year-old apricot treatment's pH (8.54) was significantly higher than that under other treatments (Figure 3). The abandoned treatment and the poplar treatment followed, with mean pH values of 8.51 and 8.52, respectively, with no significant difference. ...
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... mean soil pH was lowest under the cultivated treatment (8.46) and was 0.08 units lower than that under the 40-year-old apricot treatment. The mean soil pH of the 40-year-old apricot treatment was 0.02 units higher than that of the poplar treatment, and 0.05 units higher than that of the 16-year-old apricot treatment (8.49) (Figure 3). ...
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... ρ s , as an important physical parameter tied to soil nutrient storage, water transportation, and gas penetration [20], was affected by several factors: AGB, compaction and the presence of roots [40,[51][52][53]. In this study, ρ s under the 40-year-old apricot treatment (1.22 Mg m −3 ) was significantly higher than under the poplar treatment of the same age (1.16 Mg m −3 ), as shown in Figure 3. This may be attributed to a difference in their root systems [5]. ...
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... comparing the ρ s of these two stand types with the cultivated and abandoned treatments, we found the ρ s of the latter to be significantly higher than those of the poplar treatment, but not significantly different from the 40-year-old apricot treatment (Figure 3). High ρ s under the cultivated treatment was attributed to the high-frequency of trampling occasioned by human activities [11,51]. ...
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... with the cultivated treatment and abandoned treatment, the 40-year-old apricot treatment and poplar treatment generated a higher pH (Figure 3). The lower soil pH under the cultivated treatment may be attributable to the use of fertilizer. ...
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... studies have generally shown a decrease in ρ s with an increase in stand age [24,59]. However, the current study found that the mean ρ s under the 16-year-old apricot treatment was significantly lower than that under the 40-year-old treatment (Figure 3). This was likely related to: (1) the reduction of AGB and SD with increasing apricot stand age (Table 2) [52,53]; (2) greater compaction under the 40-year-old treatment [54]; and (3) root growth under the 16-year-old apricot treatment loosening the soils, whereas, after 40 years, apricot root growth had slowed or stopped, reducing their loosening effect on the soil. ...
Context 9
... pH also varied significantly with stand age. Under the 40-year-old apricot treatment, mean pH was significantly higher than that of the 16-year-old apricot treatment (Figure 3). The authors suggest that this may be due to the 40-year-old apricot trees' greater water requirement, which is a result of: (1) trunk thickness-the trunk of a 40-year apricot tree is thicker than that of a 16-year apricot tree [15], and (2) more AGB under the 40-year-old apricot treatment (Table 2). ...
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Citations
... Typically, increase in litter quantity resulting from afforestation promotes soil organic matter accumulation, thereby increasing alkaline cations such as Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ in the soil Hong and Chen 2022;Strand et al. 2005;Wen et al. 2013). The acid materials released during the decomposition of a large amount of litter exceeds the neutralizing capacity of litter layer and exchangeable basic ions in the topsoil, leading to soil pH decrease (Hong and Chen 2022;Zhang et al. 2018). Plantation type generally influence soil pH by affecting litter input quantity and decomposition rate. ...
PurposeThe aim of the study is to assess how afforestation may affect soil pH at the global scale.Methods
Using 2642 paired observations from 451 peer-reviewed publications, we assessed the effects and driving factors of afforestation on soil pH.ResultsWe found that (1) afforestation significantly decreased soil pH by an average of 0.07 unit, but its effects varied with different afforestation patterns, with soil pH significantly decreased by 0.16 and 0.08 unit following shrub and tree afforestation, respectively, but increased by 0.37 unit following afforestation with trees, shrubs, and grass; (2) afforestation effects were significantly affected by plantation type, mycorrhizal association, and land use type, with higher negative effects following conifer (than broadleaved) afforestation, ectomycorrhiza (ECM) species (than arbuscular mycorrhiza [AM] species or species associated with both AM and ECM fungi) afforestation, and afforestation in non-mining (than mining) lands, respectively; (3) species richness and phosphorous effects size positively impacted afforestation effects, but stand age, initial soil pH, and the effect sizes of soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, and available phosphorous showed negative impacts; and (4) among the moderator variables showed significant impacts on afforestation effects, effect size of soil available nitrogen and mycorrhizal association were the most important.Conclusion
Our results showed that afforestation may lead to soil acidification, but its negative effects can be reversed into positive if the afforestation was carried out with the combinations of trees, shrubs, and grasses. These results will help us to better understand the interactions between plant and soil following afforestation.
... In Latvia, according to the latest National GHG Inventory, there were 149.3 kha of land converted to the forest land in 2021 [3]. Afforestation is also considered a viable approach for improving soil quality through mitigating erosion, enhancing structure and porosity, reducing compaction, and promoting nutrient cycling [4,5]. ...
... In a study carried out in larch (Larix gmelinii) plantations in China, a significant decrease in soil BD was found in the upper layer of soil (0-20 cm) 25 years after afforestation of farmland as well as in a chronosequence plot series, whereas no significant changes were observed in the deeper layers [37]. In another study carried out in China, the mean soil BD in the 0-1.0 m soil profile was lower in various forested treatments (16-40-year-old) than both the abandoned and most of the cultivated treatments [4]. In addition, a study carried out in the Czech Republic showed that afforestation of arable land, where tree species included pine, spruce, and birch, have reduced soil BD. ...
This study investigates the soil organic carbon (SOC) and whole tree biomass carbon (C), soil bulk density (BD) as well as changes in these parameters in afforested areas in Latvia. The study covered 24 research sites in afforested areas—juvenile forest stands dominated by Scots pine, Norway spruce and Silver birch. The initial measurements were conducted in 2012 and repeated in 2021. The results show that afforestation mostly leads to a general decrease in soil BD and SOC stock in 0–40 cm soil layer and an increase in C stock in tree biomass across afforested areas with various tree species, soil types, and former land uses. The physical and chemical properties of the soil could explain the differences in changes in soil BD and SOC caused by afforestation, as well as the impact of past land use may have persisted. When comparing the changes in SOC stock with the increase in C stock in tree biomass due to afforestation, taking into account the decrease in soil BD and the resulting elevation of soil surface level, the afforested areas at juvenile development stage can be considered a net C sink.
... The type and composition of vegetation-although secondary to climatic and substrate factors-is an important determinant of soil respiration rate, affecting soil respiration by influencing soil physical and chemical properties, such as microclimate and soil bulk density, the quality and quantity of dead organic matter (plant litter: detritus, which feeds soil organisms) supplied to the soil and the overall rate of root respiration [26,34,59,60]. Our results-which show significantly lower instantaneous soil CO 2 fluxes in plots dominated by deciduous trees or willow coppice compared to RCG plots-support conclusions affirming the importance of vegetation type on soil CO 2 fluxes, as well as conclusions asserting that soil respiration is consistently lower in tree-dominated ecosystems-including tree rows in AF systems-than in grassland or other agricultural practices under similar conditions [26,34]. ...
In this study, we estimated the magnitude of soil-to-atmosphere carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes in deciduous tree and willow coppice based agroforestry systems in hemiboreal Latvia. We studied systems combining hybrid alder, hybrid aspen, silver birch, black alder, and willow clones with perennial reed canary grass (RCG), which were established in the spring of 2011 in former cropland with mineral soil. Three different soil fertilisation practices were initially applied (control without fertilisation, fertilisation with wood ash, and sewage sludge). Measurements of fluxes of greenhouse gases were taken in both deciduous tree, willow coppice and RCG plots using a closed opaque manual chamber method, from June 2020 to October 2021. Soil CO2 fluxes (the sum of autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration) were increased in RCG plots compared to plots under willow and deciduous tree canopies, while the highest mean CH4 fluxes were found in willow coppice plots. No impact of dominant vegetation type on instantaneous soil N2O fluxes was found. Temperature was the key determinant of the magnitude of CO2 and N2O fluxes. The highest soil CO2 and N2O fluxes were detected during the summer and decreased in the following order: summer, autumn, spring, winter. There were no pronounced relationships between soil CH4 fluxes and temperature.
... Conversely, the eroding of topsoil fine particles due to water erosion could increase the bulk density in untreated farmland. The study finding is consistent with the results reported by Zougmoré et al. (2004), Dulo et al. (2017), Klik et al. (2018), Zhang et al. (2018), Hadaro et al. (2021), and Masha et al. (2021). Similarly, Guadie et al. (2020) result showed a significantly lower bulk density from treated farmland than untreated farmland in the northwest highlands of Ethiopia. ...
Soil erosion significantly affects agricultural production. Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) measures have been constructed to reduce soil loss. However, the impact of SWC measures on physicochemical soil properties has rarely been investigated in most parts of Ethiopia. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of SWC measures on selected soil physicochemical properties in the Jibgedel watershed, West Gojjam zone, Ethiopia. The study also assessed the farmers' perception of the benefits and impacts of SWC measures. Composite and core soil samples were taken at a depth of 0 to 20 cm from four farmlands with SWC measures (soil bund, stone bund, and soil bund with sesbania tree) and without SWC measures in three replications. Results have shown that employing SWC measures in the farmland significantly improved most of the physicochemical properties of the soil compared to farmland without SWC measures. Bulk density from soil bund with and without sesbania trees was significantly lower than stone bund and untreated farmland. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, electrical conductivity, and available phosphorus from soil bund with sesbania tree were significantly higher than other treatments. The result also revealed that most farmers perceived that the implemented SWC measures improved soil fertility and crop yield. SWC measures are easier to adopt for integrated watershed management when farmers are well-versed in them.
... Secondly, shrubs have larger and more deeply distributed root systems than herbaceous plants (Fig. 2a), increasing the porosity by efficiently penetrating the soil matrix under shrubs (Zhang et al., 2018). In addition, the poor palatability of leaves and twigs of shrubs was less attractive to grazing animals in shrubby patches than in grassy areas. ...
The distribution of shrubs is expanding in grasslands of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, but research is rare on the effects of this expansion on the storage of soil organic carbon (SOC). We explored the spatial heterogeneity of SOC by grid sampling in the upper 1.2 m soil profile in a grazed alpine shrubby meadow, in response to patchy distribution of shrub species (leguminous Caragana brevifolia and non-leguminous Potentilla fruticose, Spiraea alpina and Salix oritrepha). The SOC content in the top 0.4 m increased with the size (height and crown diameter) of shrubs, but the soil bulk density decreased with the size of the shrubs. As a result, the SOC stock in the top 0.4 m soil was generally similar among shrub and grass patches across the meadow. The increase in the SOC stock in the entire 1.2 m profile by 35 % under non-leguminous shrubs P. fruticosa, S. alpina and S. oritrepha (39.8–40.5 kg m⁻²) compared with grasses (29.7 kg m⁻²) was mainly due to the SOC accumulation at the lower 0.4–1.2 m. The leguminous shrub C. brevifolia did not affect the SOC stock in the 1.2 m soil (32.3 kg m⁻²) compared with the grasses. Consistent patterns of changes in the natural δ¹³C signature between plants and SOC across different types of vegetation patches provided robust evidence that the heterogeneity of SOC across the field was a result of the patchy distribution of vegetation. We emphasize the importance of soil sampling depth in assessing the impact of shrubification on SOC storage. The influence depth of shrubification on SOC storage is at least 1.2 m in the profile in grazed Qinghai–Tibetan grasslands.
... The lower bulk density (Fig. 5A) indicates the higher density of roots and the finer aggregate structure in the topsoil layers of forest soils compared to arable soils, as reported by Zhang et al. (2018) and Gorban et al. (2020) for afforested arable soils Gu et al. (2019) highlighted the importance of the transformation of the topsoil structure after afforestation for the higher soil capillarity and water retention that may provide better protection against water erosion. Kabala et al. (2019aKabala et al. ( , 2019bKabala et al. ( , 2019c and Labaz et al. (2019) reported that the criteria for the chernic horizon, which refer to the presence of granular or fine subangular structure, are not fulfilled in many intensely ploughed Chernozems, which typically have medium to coarse blocky, or even cloddy structure. ...
... In particular, the lower pH and base saturation (BS) in the topsoil layers of the forest soils under study (compared to adjacent arable soils) are consistent with the findings of Vysloužilová et al. (2014a), Chodorowski et al. (2019), and Kabala et al. (2019b). However, changes in pH are not evident during the first period after afforestation (Zhang et al., 2018;Gorban et al., 2020;Novák et al., 2020). Over a longer time scale, the lowering in soil pH, leaching of base cations and nutrients, followed or accompanied by leaching of humus and clay leads to the transformation of Haplic/Calcic Chernozems first to Luvic Chernozems/Phaeozems (Russian 'grey forest soils') and finally to Luvisol/Retisol (Miedema et al., 1999;Hejcman et al., 2013;Kabala et al., 2019aKabala et al., , 2019b. ...
Water erosion, accelerated in sloped landscapes by intense cultivation (ploughing), can rapidly degrade humus-rich topsoil horizons of chernozemic soils, leading to an irreversible loss of the most valuable soil resources, in particular in areas with relict Chernozems/Phaeozems. An afforestation can effectively control erosion rates, but dense canopy forests are commonly listed among factors that support the transformation of Chernozems into Luvisols/Retisols. A comparison of the morphology and physico-chemical properties of adjacent arable and forest soils was carried out in four catenas located in the patches of relict chernozemic soils in the loess belt of south-east Poland. An analysis has evidenced that mixed broadleaf forests have generated during the 200–300-year-long period (an approximate time since afforestation of the sites under study) topsoil acidification (by approximately 1–1.5 grade compared to adjacent arable soils), base cations leaching (below 10 cmol(+) kg⁻¹), decrease of soil organic carbon pools (by 15–35% in the soil column of 0–50 cm) and clay depletion (by ca. 4%). The subsurface Bt (argic) horizons have developed in all afforested and some of arable soil profiles. However, all studied forest soils preserved the mollic or chernic horizons and in most cases retained the same reference soil group as adjacent arable soils (Chernozem or Phaeozem). It means that even in temperate humid climate as in south-east Poland, mixed broadleaf forests, consisting of tree species known with little acidifying impact on soil, may not rapidly degrade Chernozems. The observed evidence of physicochemical and morphological transformation is apparently weaker than the reported soil destruction caused by water erosion and justifies the controlled afforestation of the relict Chernozems and Phaeozems as a means of their preservation against rapid loss.
... Series: Earth and Environmental Science 569 (2020) 012087 IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/569/1/012087 7 soil depth [28,29]. According to Liu et al [30], in alkaline soils as the study investigated soils, plants take up more cations than anions, releasing H + from their roots which reduces the rhizospheric pH and helps to maintain the charge balance [28]. ...
... 7 soil depth [28,29]. According to Liu et al [30], in alkaline soils as the study investigated soils, plants take up more cations than anions, releasing H + from their roots which reduces the rhizospheric pH and helps to maintain the charge balance [28]. ...
... However, research on the interaction effects between land use type and soil depth on SOC are largely absent from the literature. To the best of the authors' knowledge, only two studies, by Menyailo et al [46] and Zhang et al [28], were similar to the present study. In the study of Zhang et al [28], the interaction of land use type and soil depth strongly impact the ρ. ...
With the increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentrations in the current years, afforestation implemented on lands with poor fertility is considered to be an effective measure for mitigating CO 2 emissions. However, little studies have focused on the comparation of effects of different shrub lands on soil carbon storage. In this case, 16-year-old Caragana Korshinskii K. (CK) land and 16-year-old Hippophae rhamnoides L. (HR) land were investigated in Huining County, Gansu Province, to explore the differences in soil carbon storage between them. The results showed that the total soil carbon storage at the 1.0 m soil depth for the CK land and HR land was 46.55 Mg⋅ha ⁻¹ and 56.73 Mg⋅ha ⁻¹ , respectively, with a significant difference in total soil carbon storage between them. The soil organic carbon (SOC) decreased with the soil depth, and was significantly negatively correlated to soil bulk density, but positively correlated to STN. However, SOC showed no significant correlations with soil pH, STP and soil moisture content. The SOC arising was not significant affected by the interactions between land use type and soil depth, demonstrating that the SOC is generally affected by soil either depth or stand type, rather than both in this area. This study expects to advance new understanding of the relationships between soil carbon storage and shrub land in the Loess Plateau, and it could also have wider implications for other regions where land use and land cover change is being addressed by afforestation options.
... Sustainable forest management requires a clear understanding of the changes in soil quality owing to human activities. Zhang et al. [13] evaluated the effects of afforestation on soil bulk density (BD) and pH in the Loess Plateau, China. These authors explored whether afforestation had the potential to improve the soil quality by comparing five treatments: three forested treatments (16-and 40-year-old apricot stands, and 40-year-old poplar stands), with individual abandoned and cultivated treatments serving as the controls. ...
This special issue includes six articles that cover a variety of issues about the topic of soil and water conservation in agricultural systems, including the following: a bibliometric analysis of soil and water conservation in the Loess Region of China; regarding croplands, one study evaluated the influence of vegetation covers on topsoil moisture and the effect of physiographic conditions on sediment yield in Spanish vineyards; another study evaluated the influence of plant age on soil water depletion in alfalfa pastures in the Tibet Autonomous Region; in a Chinese forest plantation, the effect of plant age and species on soil bulk density and pH was evaluated, and the most suitable afforestation species and stand age recommended to harvest maximum benefits were determined; regarding water pollution, a study evaluated soil water dynamics during two fallow years and three barley crop seasons in Spain and estimated the effect of the applied fertilizer (slurries or minerals) on nitrate leaching; and finally, another study identified the key information, including heavy metals, for water conservation in the border areas of the Syr Darya River in Kazakhstan. The proper use of soil and water resources is necessary to ensure the future well-being of humans and of the environment.
... They concluded that climate warming was slowed in the regions with increased vegetation and was enhanced in the regions with decreased vegetation. Using the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) second generation regional climate model (RegCM2) [23,24], Liu, et al. [25] found that the afforestation projects in northern China increase precipitation by 15% and reduce the air temperature by nearly 0.5 K. Some other studies also investigate the effects of afforestation on soil quality and precipitation (e.g., Zhang, et al. [26] and Kuriqi [27]). In the present study, we focus on the surface temperature change and the related energy flux changes. ...
Afforestation activities in the Kubuqi Desert, Inner Mongolia, China, have substantially increased tree and shrub coverage in this region. In this study, the response of the surface temperature to afforestation is simulated with the Weather Research and Forecasting model. The surface temperature changes are decomposed into contributions from the intrinsic surface biophysical effect and atmospheric feedback, using the theory of intrinsic biophysical mechanism. The effect of afforestation on the surface temperature is 1.34 K, −0.48 K, 2.09 K and 0.22 K for the summer daytime, the summer nighttime, the winter daytime and the winter nighttime, respectively, for the grid cells that have experienced conversion from bare soil to shrub. The corresponding domain mean values are 0.15 K, −0.2 K, 0.67 K, and 0.06 K. The seasonal variation of surface temperature change is mainly caused by changes in roughness and Bowen ratio. In the daytime, the surface temperature changes are dominated by the biophysical effect, with albedo change being the main biophysical factor. In the nighttime, the biophysical effect (mainly associated with roughness change) and the atmospheric feedback (mainly associated with change in the background air temperature) contribute similar amounts to the surface temperature changes. We conclude that the atmospheric feedback can amplify the influence of the surface biophysical effect, especially in the nighttime.
... As biotic and abiotic interactions strongly impact ecological processes, many studies have explored the effects of these interactions on variables (e.g. 63,64 ). For example, Wu et al. 65 found that grassland community coverage and above-and below-ground biomass were related to the interaction of plant diversity and θ, and Merino et al. 66 found that soil carbon level was correlated with the interactions of plants, microorganisms, and mineralogy. ...
... m, and 0.4-0.6 m, using a cutting ring (volume, 1.0 × 10 −4 m 3 ), and divided into two parts. Compared with other methods, this approach provided researchers with a better comparison of soil properties at multiple depths 39,63,71,73 . One part of each soil sample was used to measure ρ, f and θ, while the other part was used to measure pH, SOC, TN, TP, AN, AP and AK in each layer of the soil profile. ...
At an ecosystem level, stand age has a significant influence on carbon storage (CS). Dragon spruce (Picea asperata Mast.) situated along the upper reaches of the Bailongjiang River in northwest China were categorized into three age classes (29–32 years, Y1; 34–39 years, Y2; 40–46 years, Y3), and age-related differences in total carbon storage (TCS) of the forest ecosystem were investigated for the first time. Results showed that TCS for the Y1, Y2, and the Y3 age groups were 323.64, 240.66 and 174.60 Mg ha−1, respectively. The average TCS of the three age groups was 255.65 Mg C ha−1, with above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass, litter, and soil in the top 0.6 m contributing 15.0%, 3.7%, 12.1%, and 69.2%, respectively. CS in soil and TCS of the Y1 age group both significantly exceeded those of the Y3 age group (P < 0.05). Contrary to other recent findings, the present study supports the hypothesis that TCS is likely to decrease as stand age increases. This indicates that natural resource managers should rejuvenate forests by routinely thinning older stands, thereby not only achieving vegetation restoration, but also allowing these stands to create a long-term carbon sink for this important eco-region.
