Wetland soils are characterized by alternating redox process due to the fluctuation of waterlogged conditions. Iron is an important redox substance, and its transfer and transformation in the wetland ecosystem could be an effective indicator for the environment changes. In this paper, we selected the Naoli River catchment in the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China as the study area to analyze the dynamics of transfer and transformation of soil iron, and the relationship between iron content change and environmental factors. The results show that the total and crystalline iron contents reach the peak in the depth of 60 cm in soil profile, while the amorphous iron content is higher in the topsoil. In the upper reaches, from the low to high landscape positions, the total and crystalline iron contents decrease from 62.98 g/kg to 41.61 g/kg, 22.82 g/kg to 10.53 g/kg respectively, while the amorphous iron content increases from 2.42 g/kg to 8.88 g/kg. Amorphous iron content has positive correlation with organic matter and soil water contents, while negative correlation with pH. Moreover, both the crystalline and amorphous iron contents present no correlation with total iron content, indicating that environmental factors play a more important role in the transfer and transformation of iron other than the content of the total iron. Different redoximorphic features were found along the soil profile due to the transfer and transformation of iron. E and B horizons of wetland soil in the study area have a matrix Chroma 2 or less, and all the soil types can meet the criteria of American hydric soil indicators except albic soil.
Ten clonal units of Carex pseudocuraica growing in four different microhabitats (perennial flooded ditch water,perennial flooded ditch sediment,seasonal flooded ditch sediment and perennial flooded soil) of the Sanjiang Plain,Northeast China,were collected randomly for phenotypic plasticity analysis.Iron content,chemical and physical properties of substrates and the total Fe of nine plant modules were measured as well.The results show that the performance of the C.pseudocuraica is affected by the microhabitat,with the greatest performance score in perennial flooded ditch water,and the lowest in perennial flooded soil.The biomass allocation indexes indicate that much more mass is allocated to stems and roots to expand colonization area.The distribution of the total Fe in plant modules appears as pyramids from the tip to the root,while marked differences are observed in the distribution proportion of stems,tillering nodes and roots that are allometrically growing.Iron transfer from substrates to the plant is mainly controlled by the substrate type.The differences of iron distribution and transfer in the plant in different microhabitats are attributed to the iron contents of the substrates as well as the phenotypic plasticity of the plant.
