The Effects of Slope Position on Soil Biological Properties in an Eroded Toposequence

摘要

The distribution pattern of soil biological properties in eroded toposequences is not well understood. Seventy five composite soil samples were collected equally from 0-15Â cm depth of the five distinct slope positions including summit, shoulder, backslope, footslope, and toeslope. The greatest values of organic C, total N, inorganic N, potentially mineralizable N, microbial biomass N, soil basal respiration, and L-glutaminase activity were consistently observed in the toeslope. In conclusion, biological and biochemical properties of soils on the semi-arid toposequence were not uniformly distributed. It can also be concluded that lower slope positions generally provide greater microbial biomass and activity.