Temporal variation of microbial nutrient limitation in citrus plantations: Insights from soil enzyme stoichiometry.

Soil enzyme carbon (C): nitrogen (N): phosphorous (P) stoichiometry and their vector model has been widely used to elucidate the balance between microbial nutrient requirements and soil nutrient availability. However, limited knowledge is available on the dynamics of soil enzyme stoichiometry and microbial nutrient limitation following afforestation, especially in the economic forest. In this study, the effects of citrus plantation on C: N: P stoichiometry were assessed through a comparative study between cropland and citrus plantations with varying durations of afforestation (i.e., 3, 15, 25, and 35 years). It was found that the C, N, and P contents in the soil (SOC, STN, and STP), microbial biomass (MBC, MBN, and MBP), as well as the activities of C-, N-, and P-acquiring enzymes (BG, NAG, and AP), were 1.02-2.51 times higher than those in cropland. Additionally, C, N, and P contents in soil and microbial biomass increased consistently with increasing afforestation time. While the activities of C-, N-, and P-acquiring enzymes increased from 3 years to 25 years and then significantly decreased. In addition to NAG: AP, the stoichiometry of C, N, and P in soil (SOC: STN, SOC: STP, and STN: STP) and microbial biomass (MBC: MBN, MBC: MBP, and MBN: MBP), along with BG: NAG, exhibited a decline of 7.69-27.38% compared to cropland. Moreover, the majority of the C: N: P stoichiometry in soil, microbial biomass, and enzymes consistently decreased with increasing afforestation time, except for SOC: STN and NAG: AP, which exhibited an opposite trend. Furthermore, a significant decrease in microbial carbon limitation and an increase in microbial nitrogen limitation were observed with increasing afforestation time. Collectively, the dynamic of microbial nutrient limitation was primarily influenced by the interaction between soil nutrients and edaphic factors. The findings suggest that with the increasing duration of citrus plantation, it is crucial to focus on nitrogen (N) fertilization while maintaining a delicate balance between fertilization strategies and soil acidity levels.

Estimation of spatial distribution of soil moisture on steep hillslopes by state-space approach (SSA).

Soil moisture is a critical variable that quantifies precipitation, floods, droughts, irrigation, and other factors with regard to decision-making and risk evaluation. An accurate prediction of soil moisture dynamics is important for soil and environmental management. However, the complex topographic condition and land use in hilly and mountainous areas make it a challenge to monitor and predict soil moisture dynamics in these areas. In this study, the determinants of soil moisture variability were determined by structural equation modeling, and then an attempt was made to estimate the spatial distribution of soil moisture content on steep hillslope using the state-space method. Herein, soil moisture at different depths (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm) was monitored by portable time-domain reflectometer (TDR) along this hillslope (100 m × 180 m). It showed that the spatial variability of soil moisture decreased with increasing soil wetness, primarily in the topsoil (0-10 cm). Soil moisture was correlated with elevation (r = 0.28, 0.50, and 0.28), capillary porosity (r = 0.06, 0.37, and 0.28), soil texture (r for Clay: 0.20, 0.24, and 0.16; r for Sand: -0.25, -0.18, and -0.28), organic carbon (r = -0.31, -0.08, and 0.10) and land use (r = -0.01, 0.28, and 0.24) under different conditions (dry, moderate, and wet). Among these determinants, elevation made direct contributions to soil moisture variation, especially under moderate conditions, while land use made its impacts by altering soil texture. It is encouraging that the state-space approach yielded precise and cost-effective predictions of soil moisture dynamics along this steep hillslope since it gives the minimum root-mean-square error (RMSE) and Akaike information criterion (AIC). Moreover, soil organic carbon (AIC = -4.497, RMSE = 0.104, R2 = 0.899), rock fragment contents (AIC = -4.366, RMSE = 0.111, R2 = 0.878), and elevation (AIC = -3.693, RMSE = 0.156, R2 = 0.629) effectively anticipated the spatial distribution of soil moisture under dry, moderate, and wet conditions, respectively. This study confirms the efficacy of the state-space approach as a valuable tool for soil moisture prediction in areas characterized by complex and spatially heterogeneous conditions.

[Stoichiometric Characteristics of Purple Sloping Cropland Under Long-term Fertilization and Cultivation].

Clarification of the effects of long-term fertilization and cultivation on soil organic carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents and their stoichiometric ratios can contribute to existing research on the C and nutrient biogeochemical cycles and their interacting mechanisms. Such information is also of great significance to fertilization management and for the control of non-point pollution. Fifteen plots (8 m long, 4 m wide) were set up on a representative purple hillslope (15°). Five treatments (three replications) were used on the plots:i) no fertilizer with downslope cultivation (CK), ii) combined application of manure and fertilizer with downslope cultivation (T1), iii) chemical fertilizers with downslope cultivation (T2), iv) chemical fertilizer with increasing fertilization with downslope cultivation (T3), and v) chemical fertilizer with contour cultivation (T4). The C, N, P and K contents and their ratios in the five treatments corresponding to 0-10 cm and 10-20 cm soil depths were compared. The results showed that C, N and P contents for the different treatments were differed significant and could be ranked:T1 > T3 > T4 > T2 > CK (P<0.05). K content was not significantly different among the four fertilizations (P>0.05) but was significantly higher than the CK treatment (P<0.05), and could be ranked:T4 > T3 > T2 > T1 > CK. The C:N ratios in the five treatments were significantly different (P<0.05) at a soil depth of 10-20 cm (T4 > T3 > T1 > CK > T2). The C:P ratios in the five treatments were significantly different (P<0.05) at a soil depth of 0-10 cm (T1 > T3 > CK > T4 > T2). The C:K, N:P, N:K, and P:K ratios for the five treatments at both of the soil depths showed significant differences (P<0.05), and the C:K, N:K, and P:K were ranked as T1 > T3 > T4 > T2 > CK, whereas the N:P ratio was ranked as T1 > CK > T4 > T3 > T2. The C, N, P, and K contents and their stoichiometric ratios decreased with increasing soil depth. Soil C, N and P in the study site showed moderate variations based on their coefficient of variation (CV):37.50%, 38.91%, and 25.35%, respectively. Soil K on the other hand showed a weak variation (CV 5.03%). Soil C:N and C:P also showed a weak variation with a CV of 7.52% and 14.38%, respectively. Soil C:K, N:P, N:K, and P:K showed moderate variations, with a CV of 35.62%, 17.01%, 37.24% and 44.78%, respectively. There were significant positive interrelations among soil C, N, P, and K contents and their stoichiometric ratios (P<0.05). The average N:P ratio was 2.09, which was much lower than the average value for various soil types in China. Our results indicate that soil N is the key limiting nutrient in purple hillslope land, and that the combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers can effectively alleviate the N deficiency in the study area.