Article
Forestry
Fujing Pan, Qian Qian, Yueming Liang, Kelin Wang, Wei Zhang
Summary: The study revealed that fine root production, biomass, and necromass were significantly influenced by slope position, while the fine root biomass/necromass ratio was significantly affected by vegetation type. The variations in these parameters were mainly explained by fine root nutrients and the interactive effects between fine root and soil nutrients. These findings suggest that fine roots responding to soil and root nutrient changes might serve as an adaptive mechanism to enhance plant nutrient acquisition in nutrient-poor karst ecosystems.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Youjin Yan, Quanhou Dai, Yuqiong Yang, Xue Lan
Summary: Shallow karst fissures serve as hydrological paths, underground loss channels, and habitat for vegetation in karst rocky desertification areas. This study evaluates the impact of revegetation on soil erosion reduction in a karst rocky desertification area. Results show that vegetation restoration can significantly enhance soil erosion resistance, reducing the risk of underground leakage. These findings deepen our understanding of the importance of vegetation restoration in preventing soil erosion in karst areas.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Jie He, Quanhou Dai, Xingsong Yi, Yong Wang, Xudong Peng, Youjin Yan
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the responses of soil nutrients and stoichiometry to different soil-rock microsites and evaluate their relationship with SOC stability. The results indicated that soil-rock microsites regulate SOC stability by affecting soil nutrient heterogeneity and water retention. Soil water retention also modulates the effects of soil nutrients and stoichiometry on SOC stability.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Linan Hu, Qiang Li, Jiahui Yan, Chun Liu, Juxin Zhong
Summary: Soil organic carbon (SOC) is an important component of soil ecosystems, and understanding its interaction with soil microbial community is crucial for predicting carbon fate in soils following vegetation restoration. In this study, high-throughput sequencing and spectroscopy analysis were used to characterize SOC compounds and elucidate associated microbial community. The results showed that SOC, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, microbial biomass, dissolved organic carbon, available potassium, calcium, and soil moisture increased significantly with vegetation restoration. The abundance of certain carbon compounds and the dominant phyla of microorganisms were strongly related to SOC. The composition and assembly mechanisms of bacterial and fungal communities varied along the vegetation restoration chronosequence. Certain keystone genera and functional groups were identified in the microbial community, which were associated with enhanced recalcitrant SOC storage. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into microbe response and the impact of microbes on SOC storage in vegetation restoration processes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Xu Yang, Ke Zhang, Hiba Shaghaleh, Zhiming Qi, Chao Gao, Tingting Chang, Jie Zhang, Muhammad Zia-ur-Rehman, Yousef Alhaj Hamoud
Summary: Continuous cropping reduces soil organic matter content, clay content, and pH, leading to soil degradation and decreased crop yield in the karst region of southwestern China. Soil water holding capacity is greater in the 40-60 cm layer compared to the 20-40 cm and 0-20 cm layers. Soil water characteristics deteriorate with the prolongation of cropping duration and are positively correlated with soil organic matter content, clay content, and pH. These findings can inform the development of more sustainable cropping systems in similar karst regions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Guo, Xianyuan Du, Hongkun Chen, Guodi Zheng, Xinyu Zhang, Qiubing Wang
Summary: Shale gas development has led to a decrease in core forests, with the main reductions caused by other human activities. Pipeline construction has been the primary factor leading to losses of core forests within shale gas activities. The impacts of shale gas development worsen as the development progresses.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wei Chen, Xuepeng Zhang, Yingshuang Huang
Summary: Ecological restoration projects have significant impacts on ecosystem service values in karst areas in southwestern China. The study revealed that the overall trend of ESVs in the study area first decreased and then increased, with changes in water areas being the main reason for the ESV increase. The results provide valuable reference data for ecological infrastructure construction and ecological-economic development in the region.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jian Peng, Hui Tang, Chong Su, Hong Jiang, Jianquan Dong, Dongmei Xu
Summary: The widespread degradation of natural ecosystems globally has led to various ecological problems. Ecological restoration is considered a global priority to address ecosystem degradation and enhance ecosystem services. However, few studies have focused on how to define the reference state for ecological restoration, especially in the context of a changing climate. This study assessed ecosystem services under homogeneous climate conditions in Guizhou Province, China, and defined the optimal ecosystem services as the reference state for restoration. Restoration suitability was evaluated using a comprehensive framework, and ecological restoration priority areas (ERPAs) were identified by integrating restoration suitability and conservation priority areas. The results showed minimal increases in water conservation and habitat maintenance services from 2001 to 2018. Identified ERPA covered a significant area, primarily located in the eastern part of Guizhou. The proposed approach for defining the reference state and the framework for identifying ERPAs can provide valuable scientific guidance for large-scale ecological restoration planning.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Chenpeng Hu, Ziqi Liu, Kangning Xiong, Xiaoxi Lyu, Yuan Li, Renkai Zhang
Summary: Rocky desertification is common in karst areas, and soil carbon and nitrogen storage is crucial for ecosystem formation and evolution. Soil leakage is an important indicator in assessing ecosystem stability, but few studies have focused on carbon and nitrogen leakage in karst critical zones. This study examined the variation characteristics of carbon and nitrogen content and karst spring outputs in three study areas in Guizhou, China, and evaluated their response to soil leakage.
Article
Environmental Studies
Shuangshuang Xiao, Xiajiao Liu, Wei Zhang, Yingying Ye, Wurong Chen, Kelin Wang
Summary: Tillage leads to rapid loss of soil nitrogen in karst areas, primarily through leaching. The factors affecting N leaching under tillage are not fully understood. This study found that tillage significantly increased the amount of leached nitrogen, especially at higher frequencies of tillage. The primary form of leached nitrogen was nitrate, followed by organic nitrogen, and ammonium had the lowest amount. Tillage had no significant effect on leached ammonium. Soil aggregates and organic nitrogen were the main factors explaining the variation in leached nitrogen.
Article
Forestry
Hui Yang, Yincai Xie, Tongbin Zhu, Mengxia Zhou
Summary: The study found that in karst regions, the evolvement of calcareous soil leads to synchronous reduction in different SOC fractions and microbial communities, with SOC stability largely dependent on the complex relationship between organic matter and mineral composition in soil.
Article
Forestry
Jiacheng Lan, Qixia Long, Mingzhi Huang, Yongxiang Jiang, Ning Hu
Summary: The study indicates that afforestation can lead to the accumulation of soil organic carbon, with a key factor being the increase in large macroaggregates. Within these aggregates, the stocks of new and old organic carbon are mainly concentrated, and tend to increase with aggregate size.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ayodele O. Adelana, EmilOlorun A. Aiyelari, Kayode S. Are, Gabriel A. Oluwatosin
Summary: Urban soils play a crucial role in supporting ecological functions in cities. Variations in soil properties across different cities result in variations in the potential for ecosystem services in different locations. Comparative studies between cities and within-city examinations are essential for understanding the importance of urban soils.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jiangbo Gao, Yuan Jiang, Yaakov Anker
Summary: Rocky desertification in Karst mountainous areas is a typical ecological and environmental problem that hinders sustainable development. By clarifying the spatial relationships of ecosystem services and identifying dominant factors, this study provides a scientific basis for containment of rocky desertification. Utilizing Geographically Weighted Regression and Geographical Detector, the study quantitatively analyzed the dominant factors affecting synergistic relationships between sediment yield, surface/slope runoff, and water yield, with precipitation being the driving force in middle elevation areas. Additionally, multi-factor interactions significantly increased the explanatory power of synergistic relationships, highlighting the importance of considering diverse factors for rocky desertification containment.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Guoyong Wu, Jianwei Cheng, Fan Yang, Noman Riaz
Summary: With the rapid economic and social development, the demand for domestic water in rural China and other developing countries has increased. As a result, the use of intermittent water supply systems has become common, but it poses hygiene risks that require attention.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
