Changes in Soil Properties After Establishment of Artemisia halodendron and Caragana microphylla on Shifting Sand Dunes in Semiarid Horqin Sandy Land, Northern China

Abstract

In the semiarid Horqin sandy land of northern China, establishment of artificial sand-fixing shrubs on desertified sandy lands is an effective measure to control desertification and improve the regional environment. Caragana microphylla Lam. and Artemisia halodendron Turcz. ex Bess. are two of the dominant native shrub species, which are adapted well to windy and sandy environments, and thus, are widely used in revegetation programs to control desertification in Horqin region. To assess the effects of artificially planting these two shrub species on restoration of desertified sandy land, soil properties and plant colonization were measured 6 years after planting shrubs on shifting sand dunes. Soil samples were taken from two depths (0-5 cm and 5-20 cm) under the shrub canopy, in the mid-row location (alley) between shrub belts, and from nonvegetated shifting sand dune (as a control). Soil fine fractions, soil water holding capacity, soil organic C and total N have significantly increased, and pH and bulk density have declined at the 0-5-cm topsoil in both C. microphylla and A. halodendron. At the 5-20 cm subsurface soil, changes in soil properties are not significant, with exception of bulk density and organic C concentration under the canopy of A. halodendron and total N concentration under the canopy of C. microphylla. Soil amelioration processes are initiated under the shrub canopies, as higher C and N concentrations were found under the canopies compared with alleys. At the same time, the establishment of shrubs facilitates the colonization and development of herbaceous species. A. halodendron proved to have better effects in fixing the sand surface, improving soil properties, and restoring plant species in comparison to C. microphylla.

Changes in soil organic carbon and nitrogen capacities of <i>Salix cheilophila</i> Schneid along a revegetation chronosequence in semi-arid degraded sandy land of the Gonghe Basin, Tibet Plateau

“…Laclau (2003) and found that because of the biomass accumulations, soil organic matter increases with the extension of the revegetation time, in semi-arid areas. The present results are consistent with the findings of Su and Zhao (2003), who reported higher SOC in stands of C. microphylla shrub than in active sand dunes. Wei et al (2010) compared the distribution of SOC and N in soils under canopies and in outer tree canopies in semi-arid areas and found that dry-climate, low-C soils had a potential for C sequestration after grassland to woodland conversion.…”

“…Zhou et al (2011) investigated the dynamics of soil C and N accumulation over 26 years under controlled grazing in a desert shrubland. Su et al (2005) found that, after planting the shrubs Caragana microphylla Lam. and Artemisia halodendron Turcz.…”

Mesorhizobium shangrilense sp. nov., isolated from root nodules of Caragana species

“…Approximately 70 species have been recorded in China and most of them grow on hills and in gullies, thickets, plains and plateaux (Zhang, 2005). They are ecologically important because they serve as forage resources for wild animals and are preferred plants for use in reforestation against desertification and erosion (Fan et al, 2007;Su et al, 2005). Most of the rhizobia associated with Caragana belong to the genus Mesorhizobium (Chen et al, 1995; Guan et al, 2008;Lu et al, 2009;Yan et al, 2007) and two species, Mesorhizobium tianshanense and Mesorhizobium caraganae, have been described so far (Chen et al, 1995; Guan et al, 2008).…”

The influence ofCaragana korshinskiishrub on soil and hydrological properties in a revegetation-stabilized desert ecosystem

“…The vegetation restoration of sand dunes is a major challenge for ecologists (Schade and Hobbie 2005, Su et al 2005, Zhang et al 2006. In Shapotou area of Tengger desert, more than 50 years of succession of artificial sand-binding vegetation and the regional restoration of eco-environment are the theoretical verification and successful example for the desertification reversion (Li 2005).…”