Dark Brown Soil Research Articles

Response of Soybean and Lentil to a Seed-Row Placed Starter Nitrogen-Phosphorus Fertilizer Blend in a Brown Chernozem in South-Central Saskatchewan

Soybean and lentil are important legume crops in southern Saskatchewan (SK) that can supply the majority of their nitrogen (N) requirement through biological N fixation (BNF). However, the onset of BNF can be slow in cold; dry prairie soils and a small amount of seed-row placed fertilizer containing both N and phosphorus (P) may benefit the crop. Nevertheless, high rates of fertilizer in close proximity to the seed can also cause injury. This study was conducted to determine the response of lentil and soybean to a starter N-P fertilizer blend applied in the seed-row. A farm field located at the boundary of the Brown and Dark Brown soil zones in south-central Saskatchewan was selected to evaluate the effect of seed-row placed N-P fertilizer blend: 50% Urea + 50% mono-ammonium phosphate (MAP) applied at 0, 10, 20 and 30 kg N and P2O5 ha-1 on emergence, yield, and nutrient uptake. The proportion of nitrogen derived from fixation (ndff) was determined in the soybean using N-15 dilution technique. The rate of 10 kg N and P2O5 ha-1 was found to be the rate that did not significantly reduce emergence, stand count or proportion of N derived from fixation, and was sufficient to maximize yield, N and P uptake for both soybean and lentil under field conditions. Rates higher than 10 kg N ha-1 in the seed row as starter 28-26-0 blend reduced emergence and decreased the proportion of ndff.

MIDDLE PALEOLITHIC SITE RUBAN’ IN TRANSCARPATHIA: STRATIGRAPHY, CHRONOLOGY, INDUSTRY

The Ruban’ Paleolithic site was discovered in 2005 by the Transcarpathian Paleolithic expedition of the Archaeological Museum of the IA NASU. The site is located on the territory of the former Zatysnansky chemical plant (Fig. 1b) at a distance of 800 m north of the eastern outskirts of the village of Gorbky, Vynohradiv district, in the Transcarpathian region, in the Ruban’ tract, and about 2 km to the southeast of the Korolevo site.
 At the time when the site Ruban’ was discovered, the upper part the quarry wall where the site is located, has been ruined by the quarrying that made it impossible to determine a stratigraphic position of the archaeological layer and to establish the age of the culture. In order to solve these problems, 15 geological profiles of the Quaternary deposits have been set along the less disturbed quarry wall in 2016—2017. The stratigraphic subdivision of the sections, according to the Quaternary stratigraphic framework of Ukraine, and their correlation with the profile of the archaeological site have been carried out that enables to determine the geological age of the cultural layer.
 The geological site Ruban’ is located along the paleoslope and, thus, there are erosional brakes in its sedimentary record. The lowermost stratigrpahical unit is represented by reddish-brown soil of Martonosha unit overlain by gleyed loam of Sula unit and strongly dissected by wedges of the Sula cryogenesis. The other Lower and Middle Pleistocene units have been truncated and now they are represented by pedosediments (with exception of the yellowish-brown soil of Upper Zavadivka unit).
 Kaydaky unit (the brown forest soil of a warm interglacial climate) is separated from Zavadivka soil by the level of wedges of the Dnieper cryogensis.
 Pryluky unit is represented by two soils (pl1 and pl3), separated by cryogenic fissures and, in places, by a thin loess layer (pl2). The dark-brown soil pl1 is characterized by both manganese concretions and thick managanese films in its upper part, whereas the brown forest soil pl3 is overlain by a thin layer of dense iron-manganese concretions (pl3c). This layer reflects unstable hydrothermal regime during the transition from the warm interstadial to the cold stadial climate of the Uday time. Uday unit is represented, in places, by a thin loess layer, which is overlain by brown forest soil of Vytachiv unit. The latter is dissected by cryogenic fissures, filled with the non-soil material of Bug unit. The Holocene unit is truncated in many places but the Holocene pedogenic processes (translocation) overprint the underlying units.
 The stratigraphic correlation of the studied sections with the archaeological site (excavation 1) demonstrates that the archaeological layer is located in the transitional bed of iron-manganese concretions (pl3c). According to the accepted comparison of the Ukrainian stratigraphy with marine isotopic-oxygen scale, the chronostratigraphic position of the archaeological layer corresponds to the transition from the end of the MIS 5 (5a) i. e. 74—64 ka BP.
 In the industry of Ruban’ site are prevailing the non-Levallois reduction methods of exploataion of Kombewa, centripetal, crossed and sub-crossed cores with a flat working surface. The parrallel reduction system is not typical and random. Blades are practically absent.
 In the collection of tool-kit dominated side scrapers, among which there is a series of natural backed side scrapers with a thick working edge, created by 2—3 rows of a stepped scaled retouch (Quina retouch type). Such samples can be attributed to a specific type of side scrapers, such as Quina or Semi-Quina (Fig. 7).
 In general, the main technological and typological features of the Ruban’ site industry are closely related to the cultural layer II of the Korolevo I site. These collections can be attributed to the local variant of the so-called Charantienne Techno-Complex.

Особенности латерального и радиального распределения металлов в почвах агроландшафтов Самарской области

Одним из факторов, изменяющим структуру и функции почв агроландшафтов, являются соединения металлов. В работе выявлены и оценены особенности латерального и радиального накопления тяжелых металлов (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Fe) в темно-каштановых, темно-серых лесных типах почвах, а также во всех основных подтипах черноземов (южном, обыкновенном, типичном, выщелоченном, оподзоленном) в условиях Самарской области. Почвенные образцы анализировали методом атомно-абсорбционной спектрометрии с пламенной и беспламенной атомизацией. Установлено, что содержание Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Fe в гумусовых горизонтах темно-каштановых, темно-серых лесных почв и в подтипах черноземов не выходит за пределы ПДК. Превышение над кларками земной коры выявлено для Pb в темно-серых лесных и темно-каштановых почвах, для Cd — в черноземах типичных и выщелоченных, для Mn и Pb — в темно-серых лесных почвах, черноземе южном, для Zn — в темно-серых лесных почвах. Коэффициенты накопления, показывающие превышение над фоновым значением, в почвах агроландшафтов представлены следующим убывающим рядом: Fe(1,9) > Zn(1,7) > Cu(1,5) > Mn(1,4) > Cr(1,4) > Pb(0,9) > Cd(0,2). По суммарному показателю загрязнения исследованные почвы образуют ряд (в порядке снижения концентрации): темно-серые лесные (16,15) > чернозем южный (9,81) > чернозем выщелоченный (8,72) > чернозем обыкновенный (8,64) > чернозем типичный (8,12) > темно-каштановые (7,83) > чернозем оподзоленный (4,79). Распределение металлов в почвенных горизонтах равномерно-аккумулятивное. Элементами выноса во всех изученных почвах являются Cr(0,42), Fe(0,43), Cu(0,66); Cd активно накапливается в выщелоченных (3,55) и типичных (2,17) черноземах, Mn — в темно-серых лесных почвах (2,04); Pb равномерно распределен в профиле почв и аккумулируется в профиле серых лесных (1,24) и темно-каштановых (0,94) почв; Cd, Zn, Cu, Cr накапливаются в верхнем пахотном горизонте; Fe и Mn мигрируют в нижележащие слои почвы.

Evaluation of Low Heat Unit Corn Hybrids Compared to Barley for Forage Yield and Quality on the Canadian Prairies

Corn (Zea mays L.) production is expanding in the prairie region of western Canada. The objectives of this study were to compare three new low heat unit corn hybrids to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) for forage yield, nutrient profile, and total nutrient production. The study was conducted at 4 sites (Evansburg and Fairview, Alberta; Melfort and Scott, Saskatchewan) with different soil characteristics (Gray Luvisolic, Grey Wooded, Dark Brown, and Black soil zones) over three consecutive years (2012-2014). At each site, annually, 16 plots (2.4×7.2 m) were randomly assigned to one of four forage crops (corn:Monsanto DKC26-25, Hyland 2D093, Pioneer P7443R; barley: cv. AC Ranger) in a replicated (n = 4) trial. Number of cobs per plant was not different (p = 0.23) between corn hybrids averaging 1.22 ± 0.32/plant (mean ± sd). Forage yield among the corn hybrids was negligible (p > 0.05), but the corn hybrids exhibited 40% higher yield (p < 0.05; avg. 11.3 ± 3.6 t/ha on DM basis) compared to barley (avg. 6.7 ± 1.7 t/ha). Corn hybrids were lower (p < 0.05) in CP content [7.6 ± 1.4% versus (vs.) 12.4 ± 0.1%] than barley. No difference was observed between the 4 forage crops in TDN content (68.2 ± 2.8% DM).Study results suggestthat new cool-season corn hybrids can produce high quality forage to meet the nutrient requirements of grazing beef cows in mid- and late-stage pregnancy.New corn hybrids may be suitable alternatives for winter grazing strategies since forage harvest costs would be eliminated.

Quantifying Optimal Rates of Litter Retention to Maximize Annual Net Primary Productivity on Mixed-Grass Prairie

Optimal rates of litter retention for maximizing annual aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) were investigated in native mixed-grass rangelands in Saskatchewan, Canada. The study was conducted on 18 independent study sites on brown and dark brown Chernozem (Mollisol) soils during the 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. Each site contained 30 treatment plots with two control plots and 28 treatment plots receiving between 1 and 2 290 g/m2 of added plant litter sourced from a reference site. Soil moisture values were recorded for each plot in May, June, and July, while forb, graminoid, and total ANPP were harvested at the end of the growing season. Soil moisture-litter relationships were driven by weather patterns with significant differences between years. Graminoid ANPP-litter relationships were nonlinear with peaks in productivity between 54 and 412 g/m2 of litter mass in the brown soil zone and between 27 and 157 g/m2 of litter mass in the dark brown soil zone. Forb ANPP was highest at the lowest litter masses and was not significantly influenced by study year or soil zone. The recommended litter retention rates in provincial range health assessment guidelines are accurate for the dark brown soil zone but are lower than the levels identified here for the more arid brown soil zone.

Will summer fallow re-emerge in the Dark Brown soil zone of the Canadian Prairie as a response to net return risk?

We assessed the extent to which summer fallow in the Dark Brown soil zone is likely to return as a response to net return (NR) risk. An economic model was used to identify, delineate, and quantify ...

Korobchyne-kurhan Palaeolithic Sitein the Landscape of the Velyka Vys River Basin

On the basis of paleopedological research at Korobchyne-kurhan site with a wide range of existing paleogeographic developments, in the article the main features of the ancient Velyka Vys basin landscape, where the site is located, are reconstructed. The landscape is considered as a system that includes the geological component, relief, hydrographic characteristics, climate, soil cover, flora and fauna. The natural conditions analysis of the time when the site existed provides important information to determination of regional patterns selection of individual physical and geographical environments of the past for human living. With the integration of archaeological and paleogeographic studies it is found out that the main assemblage of stone artifacts at Korobchyne-kurhan site is buried in the vytachiv soils suite, the formation of which occurred during the first two climatic optima of the Middle Pleniglacial. The similar to the modern wavy plain relief with a dense system of ravines and gullies was typical for the ancient landscape of the region where the site is situated. To the Velyka Vys wide valley were directed many of its tributaries and which composed a developed hydrographic basin system. In conditions of temperate climate, warm temperate climate with elements of aridization, there were brown and dark brown Vytachiv soils formed on which forest and forest-steppe flora was grown. A fragment of the northern part of the basin was covered mainly with pine forests with an admixture of spruce, oak, elm, linden and hazel. Forb meadows and Poaceae-Artemisia-Chenopodioideae flora were presented too. The rest part of the basin was dominated by forest-steppe vegetation. Woodlands have been formed mostly of pine with an admixture of birch and broad-leaved tree species. In the valleys, ravines and gullies there were grown broad-leaved coniferous forests with the participation of pine, spruce, oak, elm, linden and hazel. Steppe vegetation is represented by different associations of forb-Artemisia-Chenopodioideae flora. Among the large animals of the Vytachiv time in the basin there are discovered the remains of mammoth, bison, horse and cave lion. Asignificant number of smaller fauna of the region is similar to the modern species found in the forest-steppe. Thus, geomorphologic features of the Velyka Vys basin, partitioned diverse relief of terrain, developed hydrographic system of the river, a favorable climate and Vytachiv soil features contributed to the development of a rich forest and forest-steppe vegetation of the region, which was inhabited by a numerous and varied fauna. In consideration of such comfortable for the human existence natural environment and wealth of biological resources of the Velyka Vys basin in Vytachiv time becomes obvious the reasons for choosing that habitat by primitive societies. The attractiveness of the choice for the site was enhanced by the presence of available stone material resources, outcrops of which are located not far from the site.

Fluorescence Spectroscopic Characteristics and Cu2+-complexing Ability of Soil Dissolved Organic Matter

Extracted and dialyzed from four kinds of soil and chicken manure, DOM samples were analyzed to investigate their molecular weight distribution, chemical structure characteristics and the metal binding capacity. The results showed that the integral area of the molecular weight of chicken manure DOM was much higher than those of other samples, which indicated the high content of organic matter. And the peat soil followed it. The integral areas of dark brown soil, cinnamon soil and black soil were low, accounting for only 4.5%-5% of chicken manure integral area. The integral area of chicken manure DOM in middle molecular weight fraction accounted for about 34.1% of the total material, while those in low molecular weight and high molecular weight fractions accounted for about 41.7% and 24.2%, respectively. The protein-like fluorescence peaks (Ex/Em=240-270/300-350 nm) were present in all samples, and absent in middle and high molecular fractions (Mr>500) for dark brown soil. The visible fulvic acid-like florescence peaks (Ex/Em=325/420 nm) observed in peat soil, and the florescence peaks of black soil in the middle and high molecular fractions (Mr>500) both had a red shift phenomenon. The DOM of chicken manure had the UV-fulvic acid-like florescence peaks similar to black soil, and the visible fulvic acid-like florescence peaks similar to peat soil. Furthermore, it had a kind of protein-like fluorescence peak (Ex/Em=280/350 nm) that was absent in the middle molecular weight fraction (500< Mr< 12000). The Cu2+ complexation constant was 4.13 for peat soil, and smaller for other three kinds of soil (between 2.10 and 3.10). Chicken manure showed the greatest ability to bind Cu2+ with a resulting complexation constant of 6.66, indicating the importance of the unique peak, protein-like fluorescence peak, in the chicken manure of the low and high molecular weight fractions.

English

English

Unsaturated water flux at mid and lower slope positions within an inclined landscape of the Dark Brown soil zone in southern Alberta

Miller, J. J. and Chanasyk, A. S. 2015. Unsaturated water flux at mid and lower slope positions within an inclined landscape of the Dark Brown soil zone in southern Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 27–36. Little research has quantified vertical-unsaturated water flux below the root zone for mid and lower slope positions within inclined, low-relief, and longer-slope landscapes of the Dark Brown soil zone of the Canadian prairies. We measured soil moisture (0.23–1.22 m) in the field at mid and lower slope positions in southern Alberta from May to October in 1985 and 1986. Undisturbed soil cores were taken from soil horizons and saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil moisture retention were determined in the laboratory. Vertical-unsaturated water flux below the root zone was calculated between 1.07 and 1.22 m depths below ground surface using the hydraulic gradient method. Water fluxes for the 2 yr ranged from &lt;10−11 to 10−10 m s−1 at the mid slope position, and from &lt;10−11 m s−1 to 10−9 m s−1 at the lower slope position, and were consistent with some other studies. Cumulative water flux was dominantly downward (−2.2 to −3.4 mm) at the mid slope position and this flow direction was consistent with this Orthic Dark Brown Chernozemic soil that was located in a “recharge area”. Cumulative water flux was dominantly upward at the lower slope position in 1985 (1.4 mm) and dominantly downward but of very low magnitude in 1986 (−0.1 mm), and this flow direction was consistent with this saline Gleyed Regosol and “saline seep”. Cumulative water fluxes as a percentage of annual precipitation were 0.8 to 1.8% at the mid slope position and 0.3 to 0.5% at the lower slope position.

Litter accumulation drives grassland plant community composition and functional diversity via leaf traits

Direct physical interference from litter is an important mechanism driving changes in the diversity and composition of plant communities dominated by perennial species. While the consequences of litter for species diversity and composition are well known, the mechanisms shaping how litter acts as a filter on leaf and shoot functional traits to alter community structure and functional diversity remain unclear. These questions were examined using a large field experiment in native mixed-grass prairie grasslands in the brown and dark brown soil zones in central Saskatchewan, Canada. Litter additions ranging from 0 to 2,290 g m−2 were applied to plots in a response surface design, and responses including community structure, above-ground functional diversity, and community-weighted mean values for leaf functional traits were measured. Species richness, functional richness, and functional dispersion declined with increasing litter mass, but functional evenness increased. Community composition became more variable because increased litter acted as a filter on the perennial species previously present in the plots; the remaining species in a given plot were the most litter-tolerant subset of the original community in the plot. Increased litter mass affected graminoid and forb species differently. Increased litter mass selected for graminoid species characterized by greater height, leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), leaf thickness, and leaf tissue density. In contrast, increased litter selected for forb species characterized by larger, thicker leaves, lower SLA, and lower leaf tissue density. Forbs with cauline leaves were also selected for over acaulescent growth forms. Physical interference by litter likely reduces grassland diversity and alters species composition in diverse grassland communities by forcing convergence in community trait structure, but not convergence in species composition.

Incongruous variation of denitrifying bacterial communities as soil N level rises in Canadian canola fields

Soil N fertilization stimulates the activity of the soil bacterial species specialized in performing the different steps of the denitrification processes. Different responses of these bacterial denitrifiers to soil N management could alter the efficiency of reduction of the greenhouse gas N2O into N2 gas in cultivated fields. We used next generation sequencing to show how raising the soil N fertility of Canadian canola fields differentially modifies the diversity and composition of nitrite reductase (nirK and nirS) and nitrous oxide reductase (nosZ) gene-carrying denitrifying bacterial communities, based on a randomized complete blocks field experiment. Raising soil N levels increased up to 60% the ratio of the nirK to nirS genes, the two nitrite reductase coding genes, in the Brown soil and up to 300% in the Black soil, but this ratio was unaffected in the Dark Brown soil. Raising soil N levels also increased the diversity of the bacteria carrying the nitrite reductase gene nirK (Simpson index, P=0.0417 and Shannon index, 0.0181), and changed the proportions of the six dominant phyla hosting nirK, nirS, and nosZ gene-carrying bacteria. The level of soil copper (Cu) and the abundance of nirK gene, which codes for a Cu-dependent nitrite reductase, were positively related in the Brown (P=0.0060, R2=0.48) and Dark Brown (0.0199, R2=0.59) soils, but not in the Black soil. The level of total diversity of the denitrifying communities tended to remain constant as N fertilization induced shifts in the composition of these denitrifying communities. Together, our results indicate that higher N fertilizer rate increases the potential risk of nitrous oxide (N2O) emission from canola fields by promoting the proliferation of the mostly adaptive N2O-producing over the less adaptive N2O-reducing bacterial community.

Yield Formation and Consumption of Fertilizers by Cabbage in Long-Term and Systematic Use of Mineral Fertilizers

The article presents results of studies of late cabbage grown in the four-field intensive crop rotation secured in 1992 on a dark brown soil. The studies have shown that coefficients of fertilizer nutrients in nitrogen ranged 71-86%, in phosphorus 20-21% and in potassium 109-154%. At that a high coefficient in nitrogen (86%), phosphorus (21%) and potassium (154%) was detected in a sample with a double dose of complete fertilizer. With the increase of nutrient removal fertilizer coefficients increased.

Producing Capacity of Safflower on Dark Brown Soils of the Northern Kazakhstan

Producing Capacity of Safflower on Dark Brown Soils of the Northern Kazakhstan

The geology and chronology of the Acheulean deposits in the Mieso area (East-Central Ethiopia)

This paper presents the Quaternary sequence of the Mieso area of Central-East Ethiopia, located in the piedmont between the SE Ethiopian Escarpment and the Main Ethiopian Rift-Afar Rift transition sector. In this region, a piedmont alluvial plain is terraced at +25 m above the two main fluvial courses, the Mieso and Yabdo Rivers. The piedmont sedimentary sequence is divided into three stratigraphic units separated by unconformities. Mieso Units I and II contain late Acheulean assemblages and a weakly consolidated alluvial sequence, consisting mainly of fine sediments with buried soils and, to a lesser degree, conglomerates. Palaeo-wetland areas were common in the alluvial plain, represented by patches of tufas, stromatolites and clays. At present, the piedmont alluvial surface is preserved mainly on a dark brown soil formed at the top of Unit II. Unit III corresponds to a fluvial deposit overlying Unit II, and is defined by sands, silty clays and gravels, including several Later Stone Age (LSA) occurrences. Three fine-grained tephra levels are interbedded in Unit I (tuffs TBI and TA) and II (tuff CB), and are usually spatially-constrained and reworked. Argon/argon (40Ar/39Ar) dating from tuff TA, an ash deposit preserved in a palustrine environment, yielded an age of 0.212 ± 0.016 Ma (millions of years ago). This date places the top of Unit I in the late Middle Pleistocene, with Acheulean sites below and above tuff TA. Regional correlations tentatively place the base of Unit I around the Early-Middle Pleistocene boundary, Unit II in the late Middle Pleistocene and within the Late Pleistocene, and the LSA occurrences of Unit III in the Late Pleistocene–Holocene.

A method suitable for DNA extraction from humus-rich soil.

A rapid and convenient method for extracting DNA from soil is presented. Soil DNA is extracted by direct cell lysis in the presence of EDTA, SDS, phenol, chloroform and isoamyl alcohol (3-methyl-1-butanol) followed by precipitation with 2-propanol. The extracted DNA is purified by modified DNA purification kit and DNA gel extraction kit. With this method, DNA extracted from humus-rich dark brown forest soil was free from humic substances and, therefore, could be used for efficient PCR amplification and restriction digestion. In contrast, DNA sample extracted with the traditional CTAB-based method had lower yield and purity, and no DNA could be extracted from the same soil sample with a commonly-used commercial soil DNA isolation kit. In addition, this method is time-saving and convenient, providing an efficient choice especially for DNA extraction from humus-rich soils.

Amazonian Dark Earths in the context of pre-Columbian settlements

Important information about pre-Columbian Amazonian settlement and economy provide Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE), black or brown soils characterized by the presence of charcoal in high concentrations, with highly elevated nutrients and organic matter and higher pH level. Usually ADE are related to large concentrations of ceramics, stone artifacts and animal remains. The main factor for the initiation of ADE formation was the long-lasted, fully sedentary pre-Columbian settlement. Its size and a form can be correlated with traces of historical human habitation. Thus, these sites can reflect the social organization of a specific group. Therefore, ADE studies can bring much valuable information concerning pre-Columbian settlement in Amazonia. st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Standardowy; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Times New Roman; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

跨地带土壤置换的实验研究

When people did ecological restoration,it was very difficult to achieve the trans-regional soil replacement. Basalt platform is distributed around the Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve. The intrazonality soil( i. e. baijiang soil,peat soil and meadow soil) in the temperate humid climate zone is developed widely on basalt platform,howerer,the zonality soil such as dark brown earth is rare. The mountain brown coniferous forest soil,baijiang soil,peat soil and meadow soil are not in the same physical geographic zone,and there are significant differences in their physical and chemical properties,thus, it is not easy to complete soil replacement directly. In this zone,we could use the synthesis soil which is artificially synthesized with baijiang soil,peat soil and meadow soil to instead of the mountain brown coniferous forest soil. In this study,the baijiang soil,peat soil and meadow soil in the dark brown soil zone in the temperate broadleaved-coniferous mixed forest were used as raw materials,and the mountain brown coniferous forest soil in cold temperate zone in Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve was used as replacement object. Firstly,we completed soil synthesis taking the imitates the natural prototype principle,and then,conducted the experimental research on trans-regional soil replacement and plant growth. The results showed that the differences of soils were significant in the distribution of the content of every soil grain size group( %),humus layer thickness( 10—20 cm),pH( 5. 9—7. 5),and the available nitrogen( N) content( 57. 8—100. 7 g / kg) in the mountain brown coniferous forest soil zone. The limited factors of plant growth were humus layer thickness,pH,and available N content of mountain brown coniferous forest soil. Plant growth condition was better as the humus layer thickness was 40cm,pH was 7. 0 and available N content was 80 mg / kg which were the inflection point value of the mountain brown coniferous forest soil limited factors. Therefore,the inflection point value of the mountain brown coniferous forest soil limited factor was a key to synthesis soil,and it was the basis for physical and chemical indicators of synthesis soil. There were more gravel but less silt and clay on surface soil of the mountain brown coniferous forest soil,the soil texture is gravelly sandy loam. Soil texture of meadow soil was sandy loam soil. There were less gravel but more silt and clay on surface soil of soil texture of baijiang soil,and peat soil was loam. The mountain brown coniferous forest soil and the peat soil were more abundant in organic matter content,however,the baijiang soil and the meadow soil were low. The pH of the mountain brown coniferous forest soil was higher than that of baijiang soil,peat soil and meadow soil. Total N was more abundant in the mountain brown coniferous forest soil than that of other types of soils,but the available N was lower in surface soil of the mountain brown coniferous forest soil. The total and available potassium was the most abundant nutrient in the mountain brown coniferous forest soil. There was no significant different in the total and available phosphorus for the four types of soils. In Changbai Mountain,the mixed soil was made of a quarter of peat soil,a quarter of meadow soil and a half of baijiang soil and the its soil layer thickness was kept about 40 cm,then the pH of the mixed soil was adjusted to neutral by lime. It was the most reasonable solution for replacing the mountain brown coniferous forest soil since the vegetation restoration effect was best and the cost was the lowest to produce the mixed soil.

Assessment of soil organic carbon stock in the upper Yangtze River basin

Soil organic carbon is of great importance to terrestrial ecosystems. Studies on the amount and spatial distribution of soil organic carbon stock in various types of soil can help to better understand the role of soil in the global carbon cycle and provide a scientific basis for the assessment of the magnitude of carbon stored in a given area. Here we present estimates of soil organic carbon stock in soils in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River based on soil types as defined by Chinese Soil Taxonomy and recently compiled into a digital soil database. The results showed that the total soil organic carbon stock of the upper Yangtze River to a depth of 100 cm was 1.452x10(13) kg. The highest soil organic carbon stock was found in felty soils (2.419x10(12) kg), followed by dark brown soils (1.269x10(12) kg), and dark felty soils (1.139x10(12) kg). Chernozems and irrigation silting soils showed the lowest soil organic carbon stock, mainly due to the small total area of such soils. The soil organic carbon density of these major soil types ranged from 5.6 to 26.1 kg m(-2). The average soil organic carbon density of the upper reaches of the Yangtze River was 16.4 kg m(-2), which was higher than that of the national average. Soil organic carbon density indicated a distinct decreasing trend from west to east, which corresponds to the pattern of increasing temperature from cold to subtropical.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF DISTRIBUTION FOR ANIMAL AND HUMAN ANTHRAX

Background: Emerging vector-borne diseases are an important issue in Mongolia. In the recent years, the number of anthrax on human is increased and the border of the natural foci has been extended to the Gobi region, particularly in the Gobi-Altai, Dundgobi Aimags. Outbreak has been happening in Selenge aimag. Aim of study: To determine the current situation and trends of anthrax and geographical distribution, characteristics and risk factors for transmission. Methods: Officially the anthrax first case was registered in 1964 in Mongolia. Long term dynamics of anthrax which was registered between 1964 and 2012 were analyzed by regression analysis. Mean of monthly dynamics was analyzed by NCSS program and seasonal variations were determined and future trends for 2013-2018 was projected through Arima model. Since then till 2012, total of 291 cases were registered and it is shown in retrospective descriptive research design. Results: Mongolia covers 1 565 000 square kilometers area and is divided into 20 regions which turns into 330 provinces, 1561 bags. It has mostly carbonated and non carbonated dark brown soil. High mountainous area has forest steppe and steppe region black and brown soil. Southern part and Gobi region have arid steppe grey and brown is mainly dominated and salty and sandy soil is spread sparingly. Livestock anthrax is spread in 110 soums of 18 aimags which is 30.5 % of total land and human anthrax is spread in 100 soums of 18 aimags which covers 33.3 % of total land area. Anthrax agent is spread 86 soums of 17 aimags which counts 28.6 % of total land area. By quarterly index of anthrax, peak season starts in June and carried from July to October where we can conclude that livestock and human anthrax in Mongolia is seasonal. Conclusions:689,100 km2 which 44,5 % of the total land of Mongolia has anthrax natural foci. Anthrax human and livestock cases dynamic were indexed by the international standard and it can be concluded that anthrax in Mongolia is seasonal.