Comments on Zhang et al., 2019: “Plant nitrogen acquisition from inorganic and organic sources via root and mycelia pathways in ectomycorrhizal alpine forests”, Soil Biology &amp; Biochemistry 136: 107517

Jones, Melanie D.; Packard, Erica E.; Meeds, Justin A.; Neumann, Sarah L.; Planz, Nikita R.; Sapriken, Nigel R.; Yamaoka, Naomi K.

doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2020.107940

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Readily available mulches such as straw, shredded bark, sawdust, and plant shoot debris have been used widely to improve water infiltration and soil moisture conservation (Pakdel et al 2011; Tuure et al 2021). These mulches can also suppress weeds (Mirabi et al 2011; Paušič et al 2021) and add organic matter to the soil (Jones et al 2020; Yang et al 2020). Mineral (inorganic) mulches such as sand (0.06–2 mm), gravel (2–4 mm), pebbles (4–64 mm), and cobbles (64–256 mm) may also reduce soil water evaporation (Xia et al 2006; Wang et al 2014), increase water infiltration and conserve soil moisture by reducing soil erosion and runoff, and mitigate the soil temperature fluctuations (Perez 1998; Zhang et al 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of soil mulches and conditioners on seedling emergence and survival of Astragalus nigricans Barneby in an arid steppe rangeland

Rahimi,

Farzam,

Dastorani

et al. 2023

Restoration Ecology

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Soil mulches and conditioners have been shown to improve soil moisture conservation, infiltration, and seed germination and survival, but their interactive effects with sporadic rainfall and the existing vegetation have rarely been considered. In an experimental field study, we assessed the effects of soil additives (sawdust and hydrogel) and mulches (river sand and plant debris) on seedling emergence and survival of Astragalus nigricans Barneby, in the rangelands of Mashhad, northeast Iran. We also assessed any effects on soil moisture and temperature several days after rain in July 2017 and May 2018 and weed composition, density, and diversity. The most successful treatment was hydrogel, associated with earlier seedling emergence for A. nigricans, greater seedling survival, and biomass production. Sawdust and sand treatments were useful for root proliferation and seedling emergence in the spring of the first season, but they led to high seedling mortality under drought. Debris of Artemisia khorasanica shoots was the most efficient and consistent treatment for soil moisture conservation and temperature stability in both years, but its possible allelopathic effects led to high seedling mortality and a long delay (41 days) on seedling emergence. Plant debris also negatively affected the density, richness, and diversity of nontarget plant species. Despite differences among different rainfall events, mulch treatments have an important role in regenerating degraded rangelands.

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