Spatial and Temporal Distributions of Soil Organic Matter in the Mixed Plantations of Alder and Cypress in the Hilly Areas of Central Sichuan Basin

The investigation was conducted on the spatial and temporal distributions of soil organic mater （SOM） in the mixed plantations of alder （Aluns crernastogyne） and cypress （Cupressus funebris ） （MPAC）, which distributed in the hilly areas of central Sichuan Basin （HACSB）. The results show that： （1） the spatial distribution of SOM among different sites at the same age are not significant before 15-year-old, but significant at 20-year-old, and not significant again after 25-year-old; （2） the SOM contents in 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm layers increase sharply from 10- to 15-year-old, and decline gradually from 15- to 30- year-old; the SOM contents of the 30-year-old PCP were 80. 38% and 78.42% higher than that of the 10-year-old, but 29.16% and 53.37% lower than that of 15-year-old in the 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm layers, respectively. The decrease of SOM contents would lead to the degradation of soil fertility and the decline of forest productivity.     

Soil Erosion Spatial Distribution Character of Sloping Field in the Sichuan Hilly Basin： Taking a Cultivated Slope in Neijiang as Example

0IntroductionNeijiang City locates in the south of The SichuanHilly Basin.The Sichuan Hilly Basin is underlainby horizontally bedded Mesozoic mudstones,siltstonesand sandstones.Purple soils developed on these rapidlyweathering rocks are widely distributed across the basin.According to second state soil erosion surveys based onremote sensing,the soil erosion rates in local area aretypicallyinthe range of3000-5000t·km-2·a-1[1,2].Inthe Sichuan Hilly Basin,one sloping field may is com-pose…     

Sediment source identification by using ^137Cs and ^210pb radionuclides in a small catchment of the Hilly Sichuan Basin, China

The Hilly Sichuan Basin is one of the most populous agricultural regions in the Upper Yangtze River Basin and has an area of about 105000 km2. Cropland ratios and population densities vary between 0.3 and 0.7 and be-tween 400 and 800 people/km2, respectively, in the Si-chuan basin. The basin is considered as one of the most severely eroded regions in the Upper Yangtze River Basin as well in China. Soil erosion rates were reported mostly to be greater than 5000 t·km-2·a-1 by the first st…     

A Study on Forest Species Diversity and Its Ecological Service Function in the Plateau Area of Western Sichuan

This paper presents a study on species diversity and its ecological service function in the plateau area in western Sichuan. The results show that species diversity in the plantations on the cutover land has a tendency to increase and that its ecological service function is to be improved with stand age growing. The species diversity in forest communities is also gradually increased on different succession stage till reaching a climax level. But the species diversity in the climax community is slightly decreased before it reaches a relatively constant status. Ecological service function of diversity is gradually strengthened with the progress of succession. In addition, species diversity in a stand in a similar site and at a same age differs among forest types. Species diversity index within a coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest is larger than that within a coniferous forest. Meanwhile, species diversity enriches as the tree density increases.     

The spatial distribution of forest carbon sinks and sources in China

Forest ecosystems play an important role in the global carbon cycle.The implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol has made the study of forest ecosystem carbon cycling a hot topic of scientific research globally.This paper utilized Chinese national forest inventory data sets(for the periods 1984-1988 and 1999-2003),the vegetation map of China(1:1000000),and the spatially explicit net primary productivity(NPP) data sets derived with the remote sensing-based light use efficiency model(CASA model).We quantitatively estimated the spatial distribution of carbon sinks and sources of forest vegetation(with a resolution of 1 km) using the spatial downscaling technique.During the period 1984 to 2003 the forest vegetation in China represented a carbon sink.The total storage of carbon increased by 0.77 PgC,with a mean of 51.0TgCa 1.The total carbon sink was 0.88PgC and carbon source was 0.11 PgC during the study period.The carbon sink and carbon source of forest vegetation in China showed a clear spatial distribution pattern.Carbon sinks were mainly located in subtropical and temperate regions,with the highest values in Hainan Province,Hengduan mountain ranges,Changbai mountain ranges in Jilin,and south and northwest of the Da Hinggan Mountains;carbon sources were mainly distributed from the northeast to southwestern areas in China,with the highest values mainly concentrated in southern Yunnan Province,central Sichuan Basin,and northern Da Hinggan Mountains.Increase in NPP was strongly correlated with carbon sink strength.The regression model showed that more than 80% of the variation in the modeled carbon sinks in Northeast,Northern,Northwest and Southern China were explained by the variation in NPP increase.There was a strong relationship between carbon sink strength and forest stand age.     

Age-Structure and Dynamic of Dominant Population of Castanopsis carlesii Community in Dujiangyan City, Sichuan, China

It analyses the Castanopsis carlesii, Camellia oleifera and Symplocos laurina populations‘ status and role in the Castanop.sis carlesii community basing on the study on the dominant population size structure, survival curve and dynamic. It reveals the Castanopsis carlesi population acts as a main role in the community which maintains the stabilization and renovation of the community. The populations of Camellia oleifera and Symplocos laurina act as a secondary position. The development and succession dynamics of dominant populations is also discussed. The management method is preliminary draw nout which offers a theoretical basis for the evergreen broad-leaved forest restoration and reconstruction in the lower hilly of the west edge of the Sichuan basin.     

Changes in soil microbial community and enzyme activity along an exotic plant Eupatorium adenophorum invasion in a Chinese secondary forest

The exotic plant,Eupatorium adenophorum,has invaded rapidly across southwest China,damaging native ecosystems and causing great economic losses.Soil microbes,as an important component of belowground community,can drive nutrient cycling and regulate plant competition in terrestrial ecosystems.Therefore,knowledge of the soil microbial community and function will enhance our understanding of the mechanism of exotic plant invasive process in natural ecosystems.In this study,we examined the soil microbial community,soil enzyme activity,soil property and plant community along an invasive gradient of E.adenophorum in a southwest Chinese secondary forest.The soil analysis demonstrated that heavy invasion significantly increased the total P and NO3–-N contents,whereas it significantly decreased the total N and soil organic matter contents.The available P content was significantly decreased by moderate invasion.The E.adenophorum invasion significantly decreased the biomass of total soil microbes,as well as Gram-negative bacteria,actinomycetes,arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)fungi and non-AM fungi.However,E.adenophorum invasion significantly increased the activities of soil urease,acid phosphatase,polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase.Non-metric multidimensional scaling showed that soil microbial composition and soil enzyme composition were significantly different in the three E.adenophorum invaded sites.Partial Mantel tests indicated that plant composition was the most important factor for structuring soil microbial and enzyme compositions.The results suggest that changes in soil microbial community structure and enzyme activity may play an important role in the process of E.adenophorum invasion in a Chinese secondary forest ecosystem.     

Vegetation Restoration Technique System and Its Ecological Functions of the Degraded Ecosystem in the Arid-Hot Valleys —— Taking the Example of Typical Mode in Small Watershed of Yuanmou

This paper concluded the vegetation restoration technique system in the arid-hot valleys and studied the anti-erosion function, environmental function and biological diversity effects of vegetation restoration on the ecosystem in the arid-hot valleys. The results showed that the soil erodibility decreased significantly after the vegetation restoration. The climate environment of the small watershed had a great improvement after the vegetation restoration, of which the temperature decreased, the humidity increased, the harsh environment of dry and hot in this region changed. The studies of the ecosystem biodiversity were mainly on the analysis of the relations between biodiversity and ecological function of the artificial ecological forest pattern and the natural enclosed treatment mode on the severely of degraded land. It could conclude that the natural enclosed treatment mode is helpful to the biodiversity of the ecosystem and the improvement and stability of the ecosystem, and Leucaena artificial forest restoration pattern reduced the species diversity but optimized the ecological function. Therefore, as to the severely and extremely severely degraded ecosystem in the arid-hot valleys, Leucaena pattern of gully control and natural enclosed treatment mode are the relatively optimal choices.     

Local-scale drivers of multi-stemmed tree formation in Acer,in a temperate forest of Northeast China

Acer is an important genus in temperate forests in Northeast China.Individual Acer trees can re-sprout from the root collar and can occur in clonal units,either as a single-stemmed or multi-stemmed tree.However,the factors that induce multiple-stems in Acer remain only partly understood.In this study,we determined the relative importance of abiotic and biotic variables in driving the production of multiple-stems in this genus,within a 25-hm~2experimental forest dynamics plot in Changbaishan(CBS)temperate forest.We used generalized linear mixed models to perform analyses at two levels(community-and specieslevel).We found seven Acer species in total within the plot,where they form a key part of the forest community.Our results show that abiotic factors play a more important role in producing multi-stemmed trees at the community level in CBS.At the species level,the relative importance of different factors varied among species.Shrub species tended to have a higher frequency of multi-stemmed trees under stressful conditions,whereas tree species tended to have more multi-stemmed trees in more suitable habitat.Our results indicate that the relative importance of different factors influencing the frequency of multi-stemmed individuals in Acer differs at the community and species level in the temperate forest.     

Spatial distribution of Cd and Cu in soils in Shenyang Zhangshi Irrigation Area （SZIA）, China

Heavy metal contamination of soils, derived from sewage irrigation, mining and inappropriate utilization of various agrochemicals and pesticides, and so on, has been of wide concern in the last several decades. The Shenyang Zhangshi Irrigation Area （SZIA） in China is a representative area of heavy metal contamination of soils resulting from sewage irrigation for about 30 years. This study investigated the spatial distribution and temporal variation of soil cadmium （Cd） and copper （Cu） contamination in the SZIA. The soil samples were collected from the SZIA in 1990 and 2004; Cd and Cu in soils was analyzed and then the spatial distribution and temporal variation of Cd and Cu in soils were modeled using Kriging methods. The results show that long-term sewage irrigation had caused serious Cd and Cu contamination in soils. The mean and the maximum of soil Cd are markedly higher than the levels in second grade standard soil （LSGSS） in China, and the maximum of soil Cu is close to the LSGSS in China in 2004 and is more than the LSGSS in China in 1990. The contamination magnitude of soil Cd and the soil extent of Cd con- tamination had evidently increased since sewage irrigation ceased in 1992. The contamination magnitude of soil Cu and the soil extent of Cu contamination had evidently increased in topsoil, but obviously decresed in subsoil. The soil contamination of Cd and Cu was mainly related to Cd and Cu reactivation of contaminated sediments in Shenyang Xi River and the import of Cd and Cu during irrigation. The eluviation of Cd and Cu in contaminated topsoil with rainfall and irrigation water was another factor of temporal-spatial variability of Cd and Cu contamination in soils.     

Vapor corridor phenomenon and response of vegetation NPP in Longitudinal Range-Gorge Region

To study the causation and ecological effect of ＂Corridor＂ phenomena in the Longitudinal Range-Gorge Region （LRGR） in South China and South-East Asian. Supported by the geographic information system （GIS）, vegetation, climate and topography database of the LRGR are founded, The northernmost limit of the tropical rain forest is 28ο-22, which has been promoted 3 or 4 latitude by Vapor ＂Corridor Phenomenon＂. Through ANN analysis, landform proves to be a very important factor affecting NPP distribution. Affected by longitudinal valley landform and monsoon, moisture and quantity of heat has a longitudinal belt distribution, and NPP distribution has seemly distribution. Take Lyonia ovalifolia, Myrica nana scrub as an example, high NPP valuescrub distributes on a wet-tongue area in the valleys. The minimum temperature sensitive value to NPP is 1.588, and altitude is 1.053, precipitation is 1.006, aspect is 1.003. Corridor phenomenon in the LRGR formed special moisture and heat patterns and brings about a series of ecological effects, such as influencing space distribution of vegetation form and NPP spatial patterns of both vegetations and plants.     

Analysis of Poverty Performance and Its Rooted Causes of the Aid-Poverty-Development Counties in Sichuan

There are 36 counties affirmed to be aid-poverty-development county in the early 21st century, which distribute around the circumferential mountain of Sichuan Basin,According to the topographic features and the distribution of nationality, these aid-poverty-development counties can be classified into 4 depressed-regions. Study shows that regional poverty performance of 4 depressed-regions not only has many commons in the field of regional economic structure and industry structure, which is far behind the average development performance of Sichuan in the field of economic sum per capita such as GDP, farmer net income per capita as well as retail scale consumer goods, it is also quite different related to infrastructure and social development within 4 depressed-regions. Regional Poverty is chronically resulted in interaction of the multi-factors. Natural condition constraint is the basic factor contributed to regional poverty, policy influences play key role, the poor culture is inherent factor to regional poverty and the marginal locations play important role.     

A new mechanism of invader success： Exotic plant inhibits natural vegetation restoration by changing soil microbe community

Since the 1950s of the last century, the exotic plant, Eupatorium adenophorum, has spread rapidly across southwest China, damaging native ecosystems and causing great economic losses. We examined the pH, N, P, K, and organic matter concentrations, and the bacterial community character (by Biolog EcoPlateTM) in soils from sites heavily and lightly invaded by this exotic species. Also, soil from the lightly invaded site was treated with a water extract of E.adenophorum roots to examine the effect of the plant on soil properties. We grew three plant species, one native and two exotic, in pot experiment using soil from heavily invaded site to examine the effects of the soil on these plants growth. The soil analysis demonstrated that the pH, organic matter, total N, total P and total K in soils from the heavily invaded site were only slightly different from those of the lightly invaded site, but concentrations of NH4^ , NO3^- and available P and K in the heavily invaded site were greater than those in the lightly invaded site. The catabolic activity of soil bacterial community in the heavily invaded site was different from that in the lightly invaded site. The catabolic activity of bacterial community in soils treated by the water extract of E.adenophorum roots changed and became similar to that in soils from the heavily invaded site. The pot experiment showed that the exotic plants growth in heavily invaded soil were not different from in lightly invaded soil; however, the native plant biomass decreased dramatically when grown in soil from the heavily invaded site as compared to soil from the lightly invaded site; and the same phenomenon was found when any potential allelopathic effects by E. adenophorum were eliminated by added activated carbon to those soils. Difference in soil nutrient availability and allelopathy could not explain this phenomenon of the native plant in the soils from the heavily and lightly invaded sites. Changes observed in the soil bacterial community were obviously related to native plant growth in those tow soils. Those results suggest that changing soil microbial community may be an important part of E. adenophorum invasion process. Since the soil microbial community serves as bridge in connection of exotic and natural plants, the exotic plant could inhibit the natural plant growth and reproduction by changing the soil microbial community in invaded site.     

Characteristics of carbon storage in Shanghai’s urban forest

Urban forest has undergone rapid development in China over the last three decades because of the acceleration of urbanization.Urban forest thus plays an increasingly important role in carbon sequestration at a regional and national scale.As one of the most urbanized cities in China,Shanghai showed an increase of forest coverage from 3% in the 1990s to 13% in 2009.Based on CITY-green model and the second soil survey of Shanghai,the forest biomass carbon(FBC) was estimated to be 0.48 Tg in the urban area and,forest soil organic carbon(SOC)(0-100 cm soil depth) is 2.48 Tg in the urban and suburban areas,respectively.These values are relatively within the median and lower level compared with other Chinese megacities,with the FBC of 0.02 Tg in Harbin to 47.29 Tg in Chongqing and the forest SOC of 1.74 Tg in Nanjing to 418.67 Tg in Chongqing.For the different land-use types in Shanghai,the SOC density ranges from 13.8(tidal field) to 38.6 t ha-1(agricultural land).On average,the forest SOC density(31.5 t ha-1) in Shanghai is lower than that in agricultural lands(38.6 t ha-1) and higher than that in lawns(26.5 t ha-1) and gardens(21.3 t ha-1).In Shanghai,the SOC density in newly established urban parks is generally lower than that in older parks.In the northern and southeastern suburban areas(e.g.,Baoshan,Yangpu,and Nanhui districts),greenspace SOC density is higher than that in the central commercial areas(Hongkou,Putuo,Changning,and Zhabei districts) and in newly developed district(Pudong District).Uncertainties still exist in the estimation of urban forest carbon in Shanghai,as well as in other Chinese cities.Thus,future research directions are also discussed in this paper.     

Paleosandstorm characteristics and lake evolution history deduced from investigation on lacustrine sediments——The case of Hongjiannao Lake, Shaanxi Province

Sediment cores from desert lakes serve as good records of the frequency and intensity of sandstorms in history. By multi-proxy analysis of grain-size, magnetic susceptibility, TOC and Rb/Sr ratio, the paleosandstorm characteristics and lake evolution history in Yulin Area for the past 80 years, are discussed in this article. It is revealed that Hongjiannao Lake formed in about 1928 A.D. and in its initial stage sandstorms were prevalent with three extremes taking place in 1936 A.D., 1939 A.D. and 1941 A.D.. During the expansion period of 1952-1960 A.D., inflow waters to the lake increased sharply and a lot more weathered materials were carried into the lake. The frequency and intensity of sandstorms have reduced a lot since 1960s and the ＂double peaks＂ feature of the grain-size frequency curve has changed into the ＂single peak＂ feature. Study on the catchment ecology of the lake shows that the occurrence of sandstorms has been effectively restrained by the forest plantation and water and soil conservation.     

Impoverishment of Soil Nutrients in Gully Erosion Areas in Yuanmou Basin

The impoverishment of soil nutrients of nine gully head areas in Yuanmou Basin is assessed through an integrated evaluation method established on the basis of Fuzzy mathematics and multivariate mathematical theory. Results show that soil erosion of gully erosion area in Yuanmou basin has resulted in severe impoverishment of soil nutrients. All gully head areas are at high leves of impoverishment except for one at middle. By probing into and analyzing the mechanism of impoverishment of soil nutrients, we find that soil erosion has led to impoverishment of soil nutrients in a way of compacting soil, heightening position of obstacle horizon, and reducing the content of organic matter, as well as the direct loss of nutrient elements. Finally, this paper points out that soil and water conservation arming at the prevention of soil erosion is the most effective way against impoverishment of soil nutrients in Yuanmou basin.     

Characteristic of Soil Hydro.Physical Properties and Water Dynamics under Different Vegetation Restoration Types

By combining the observation of the soil profile at field and the chemical and physical analysis in laboratory, a study on the hydro-physical properties of soil in six different vegetation types and the dynamics of water content after rain was conducted in Wanchanggou, Guangyuan City to find out the vegetation types with effective water-conservation functions in order to serve the ecological restoration in the low hill heavy rain area upper the Jialing River. Results showed that., the hydro-physical properties of soil in the mixed Alnus crernastogyne and Cupressua Leyland forest （AcCl） were best. But in the depth of 0-20 cm. The properties of soil in the abandoned cropland （Fm） was better than that in the AcCl. The soil bulk densities varied significantly between the layers of 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm in all the six vegetation types except that in the Robinia pseudoacacia shrub forest （RpII）, and the changes of the maximum and the capillary moisture capacity between layers were significant only in the Fm and in the AcCl. Of these stands, the AcCl had the shortest water-absorbing period and the strongest moisture changes in the upper layer （0-15 cm）. In the same stand, the deeper the soil layer, the slighter the soil moisture varied, and the longer the soil moisture accumulating process lasted.     

Discussion on marine source rocks thermal evolvement patterns in the Tarim Basin and Sichuan Basin, west China

Taking marine source rocks of lower Paleozoic in the Tarim Basin and Paleozoic ones in the Sichuan Basin as examples, their sedimentation process could be classified into four styles： continuous subsidence with deep sedimentation in early stage, continuous subsidence with deep sedimentation in later stage, that deeply buried-uplift-shallowly buried, and that shallowly buried-uplift-deeply buried. Unlike that in East China, the marine source rocks evolvement patterns did not accord with sedimentation styles one by one in superimposed basins in west China. Taking local geothermal field into account, four types of source rock evolvement patterns were built： that evolved fast in early stage, evolved fast in middle stage, evolved continuously and evolved in multistage. Among them, the 1st pattern contributed little to the present industrial oil pools directly, but paleo-oil reservoirs and gases cracked from crude oils were main exploration targets. Although some gases were found in the 2nd pattern, the scale was not big enough. For the 3rd and 4th patterns, the hydrocarbon potential depended on organic matters maturity in early stage. For relatively low mature rocks, it was possible to generate some oils in later stage; otherwise the main products were gases. Paleo-oil reservoirs remained fairly well in the Sichuan Basin, and most source rocks underwent kerogen-oil-gas processes, which was useful reference to gas exploration in the Tarim Basin.     

Discussion on marine source rocks thermal evolvement patterns in the Tarim Basin and Sichuan Basin,west China

Taking marine source rocks of lower Paleozoic in the Tarim Basin and Paleozoic ones in the Sichuan Basin as examples, their sedimentation process could be classified into four styles: continuous subsidence with deep sedimentation in early stage, continuous subsidence with deep sedimentation in later stage, that deeply buried-uplift-shallowly buried, and that shallowly buried-uplift-deeply buried. Unlike that in East China, the marine source rocks evolvement patterns did not accord with sedimentation styles one by one in superimposed basins in west China. Taking local geothermal field into account, four types of source rock evolvement patterns were built: that evolved fast in early stage, evolved fast in middle stage, evolved continuously and evolved in multistage. Among them, the 1st pattern contributed little to the present industrial oil pools directly, but paleo-oil reservoirs and gases cracked from crude oils were main exploration targets. Although some gases were found in the 2nd pattern, the scale was not big enough. For the 3rd and 4th patterns, the hydrocarbon potential depended on organic matters maturity in early stage. For relatively low mature rocks, it was possible to generate some oils in later stage; otherwise the main products were gases. Paleo-oil reservoirs remained fairly well in the Sichuan Basin, and most source rocks underwent kerogen-oil-gas processes, which was useful reference to gas exploration in the Tarim Basin.     

Evaluation of Sustainable Land Management and Diagnosis of Obstacle at County Scale in Sichuan Basin： Taking Lezhi County as Example

This paper established sustainable land resources evaluating indicators fit for hilly area in Sichuan Basin, Southwest of China, and evaluated the case of sustainable land management of Lezhi County from 1990 to 2001. The result showed that the land resource sustainable utilization ability in Lezhi County is belong to Second level （better sustainable）. Secondly, this paper diagnosed some years obstacles of sustainable land management of Lezhi County from base period to goal period and compared the obstacles factors in the indicators system. There were 16 indexes orderly become major affect factor to land sustainable utilization of Lezhi county in indicator system, of which there are 8 obstacles indexes exist both in 1990 and 2001. The value of obstacles degree of five indicators exceeded 5 in 1990, but in 2001, only two indicators＇ values were more than 5.