Soil attributes, including those in mine spoil heaps, critically affect plant growth during land rehabilitation. Their characterization through a limited number of samples requires quantification of spatial variability, which is then used at various stages throughout the rehabilitation process and assists risk analysis and rehabilitation decision making. Stochastic simulation is a tool used for...

7 Chapter Soil factors are an important consideration for successful wildland range development or improvement programs. Even though many soil improvement and amelioration practices are not realistic for wildlands, their evaluation is an important step in selection of adapted plant materials for revegetation. This chapter presents information for wildland managers on: the importance of soils ph...

The impact of soil mesofauna on the rehabilitation of soil surfaces sealed by rainfall was investigated in a long-term laboratory experiment. Fifteen undisturbed soil monoliths from the Ap horizon of a Gleyic Podzoluvisol/Haplic Luvisol derived from loess were obtained after conventional tillage and seedbed preparation. The soil of this site is known to be susceptible to surface sealing as a re...

In forests, termites serve as “soil engineers,” translocating mineral soil to the surface, constructing macropores to improve water infiltration, increase soil minerals and organic carbon, facilitate the growth of microbes and affect the growth of vegetation. The future productivity of a forest site therefore depends to some degree on termite activity. termites could reduce the probability of f...

A health ecosystem is the aim of building a nice Loess Plateau with green mountain and clear river. This paper, taking Zhifanggou small watershed as an example, by using the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) selecting the woodland and pasture cover, area of fundamental cropland, soil anti-scourability, soil organic matter, output/input, crop yield, net incomes of per capita and benefit of reduci...

Nutrient dynamics in the Bela watershed, Nepal were examined using a range of GIS budget modelling and field analysis techniques. The fertility status analysis showed that soil acidity, phosphorus availability, and lack of base cations were the key soil fertility issues. Nutrient budget calculations revealed significant annual phosphorus deficits for maize rota­ tions, but only minor deficits i...

Neary, Daniel G. ; Ryan, Kevin C. ; DeBano, Leonard F., eds. 2005. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on soi ls and water. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol.4. Ogden , UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 250 p. This state-of-knowledge review about the effects of fire on soils and water can assist land and fire managers with information on...