Soil quality degradation processes along a deforestation chronosequence in the Ziwuling area, China

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

AN, S.

State Key Lab. of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on Loess Plateau, Northwest Univ. Shaanxi, Yangling, Chine

Inst. of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Science and Ministry of Water Resources, Shaanxi, Yangling, Chine

ZHENG, F.

State Key Lab. of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on Loess Plateau, Northwest Univ. Shaanxi, Yangling, Chine

Inst. of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Science and Ministry of Water Resources, Shaanxi, Yangling, Chine

ZHANG, F.

State Key Lab. of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on Loess Plateau, Northwest Univ. Shaanxi, Yangling, Chine

Inst. of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Science and Ministry of Water Resources, Shaanxi, Yangling, Chine

VAN PELT, S.

USDA-ARS Cropping Systems Research Lab., Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research Unit, Texas, Big Spring, Etats-Unis

HAMER, U.

Inst. of Soil Science and Site Ecology, Univ. of Technology, Dresden, Allemagne

MAKESCHIN, F.

Inst. of Soil Science and Site Ecology, Univ. of Technology, Dresden, Allemagne

Description :
The AA. studied the physical, chemical, and microbiological processes of soil degradation along a chronosequence of deforestation in the Ziwuling area of northwestern Shaanxi province. The results indicated that soil wet aggregate stability and mean aggregate diameter decreased with years following deforestation. Accelerated erosion resulted in soil nutrient loss, and a decease in soil enzyme activities including notable losses of total soil N, organic C, alkaline phosphatase activity, and invertase activity. The differences in measured parameters between the topsoil and subsoil horizons decreased with time since deforestation, and the AA. concluded that soil erosion was the primary process responsible for the degradation of measured soil physical, chemical, and microbiological properties.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2008, vol. 75, n°. 3, p. 248-256, nombre de pages : 9, Références bibliographiques : 36 ref.

Date :
2008

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena

Langue :
Anglais