Effect of Rainfall Erosion: Seedling Damage and Establishment Problems

Wang, N.; Jiao, Juying; Dong, Lei; Chen, Y.; Wang, D.-L.

doi:10.1002/ldr.2183

Cited by 36 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Cerdà & Garcıa‐Fayos () and Wang et al . () also found that small‐seed species suffered the highest rates of washing away when compared with large‐seed species. Furthermore, large seeds confer seedlings with a competitive advantage (Turnbull et al ., , ) particularly in systems that have become covered by grasses (41% of direct‐seeding cases, Figure ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Is Direct Seeding a Biologically Viable Strategy for Restoring Forest Ecosystems? Evidences from a Meta‐analysis

2015

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Ecological restoration has become an important technique for mitigating the human impacts on natural vegetation. Planting seedlings is the most common approach to regain lost forest cover. However, these activities require a large economic investment. Direct seeding is considered a cheaper and easier alternative technique, in which tree seeds are introduced directly on the site rather than transplanting seedlings from nurseries. To evaluate the effectiveness of direct seeding, we conducted a comprehensive search of the literature using 'restoration', 'direct seeding' and 'sowing' as keywords, and we performed a meta-analysis using 30 papers and 89 species. We used two different measures of restoration success: seed germination probability and success probability (the chance that a seed germinates and survives until the end of the experiment). In general, restoration attempts using direct-seeding techniques were relatively unsuccessful. On average, seed germination and success probability were 0·239 and 0·114, respectively, and were not affected by climate, species successional group or the application of pre-germinative treatments. Germination and success probability increased with seed size, and the use of physical protections resulted in a nearly twofold increase in germination probability, but this effect faded by the end of the experiments. Because of the low rate of seedling success, we suggest the use of direct seeding as a complementary technique to reduce restoration costs, particularly for species with large seeds and known high germination rates, but our results do not support direct seeding as a substitute for seedling planting.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Is Direct Seeding a Biologically Viable Strategy for Restoring Forest Ecosystems? Evidences from a Meta‐analysis

2015

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“…The role of erosion as an ecological driver that shapes the composition of plant communities had already been highlighted in previous studies in arid and semiarid environments (Guàrdia et al, 2000;GuerreroCampo andMontserrat-Martí, 2000, 2004;García-Fayos and Bochet, 2009;Bochet et al, 2009;Jiao et al, 2009). However, relatively little attention had been paid to the effect of erosion on seeds (mainly seed transport and germination) as compared to later stages of the plant life (seedlings and adult plants; de Luís et al, 2005;Tsuyuzaki and Haruki, 2008;Wang et al, 2014), even though seed stage is one of the most critical phases in vegetation development (García-Fayos and Cerdà, 1997).…”

Section: Seed Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The fate of seeds in the soil: a review of the influence of overland flow on seed removal and its consequences for the vegetation of arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems

Bochet

2015

SOIL

100

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Abstract. Since seeds are the principle means by which plants move across the landscape, the final fate of seeds plays a fundamental role in the assemblage, functioning and dynamics of plant communities. Once seeds land on the soil surface after being dispersed from the parent plant, they can be moved horizontally by surface runoff. In arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems, where seeds are scattered into a very heterogeneous environment and intense rainfalls occur, the transport of seeds by runoff to new sites may be an opportunity for seeds to reach more favourable sites for seed germination and seedling survival. Although seed transport by runoff may be of vital importance for the recruitment of plants in these ecosystems, it has received little attention in the scientific literature, especially among soil scientists. The main goals of this review paper are (1) to offer an updated conceptual model of seed fate with a focus on seed destiny in and on the soil; (2) to review studies on seed fate in overland flow and the ecological implications seed transport by runoff has for the origin, spatial patterning and maintenance of patches in arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems; and finally (3) to point out directions for future research.This review shows that seed fate in overland flow may result either in the export of seeds from the system (seed loss) or in the spatial redistribution of seeds within the system through short-distance seed movements (seed displacement). Seed transport by runoff depends on rainfall, slope and soil characteristics. Susceptibility of seed removal varies highly between species and is mainly related to seed traits, including seed size, seed shape, presence of appendages, and ability of a seed to secrete mucilage. Although initially considered as a risk of seed loss, seed removal by runoff has recently been described as an ecological driver that shapes plant composition from the first phases of the plant life by favouring species with seeds able to resist erosion and by selecting for plant traits that prevent seed loss. Moreover, the interaction of seed transport by overland flow with the high seed trapping capacity of vegetated patches results in a "patch-to-patch" transport of seeds that plays a relevant role in vegetation establishment and patterning in arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems.Overall, this review shows how the knowledge about seed fate in overland flow can be used to explain a number of important characteristics of whole plant communities. It also underlines important gaps in knowledge that should be filled in. Future lines of research are proposed in order to broaden our understanding of the origin, maintenance and dynamics of patchiness in arid and semiarid ecosystems and to improve restoration success of intensively eroded ecosystems. Among the most exciting challenges, empirical studies are needed to understand the relevance of short-distance seed displacements in the origin and maintenance of patchiness, addressing the feedbacks between structure and function and abiotic a...

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“…Today, the Loess Plateau plays a critical role on the food production and energy sources in Chinese national economic development, but severe soil erosion undermine the environmental sustainability of the Loess Plateau and degrade the livelihood of 104·2 million people who live there (Tang et al ., ; He et al ., ). Food cultivation on the Loess Plateau is exacerbating soil erosion, sedimentation of the Yellow River, and groundwater recession (Miao et al ., ; Gao et al ., ; König et al ., ; Wang & Shao, ; Wang et al ., ; Zhao et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Soil Erosion, Conservation, and Eco‐environment Changes in the Loess Plateau of China

et al. 2013

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As one of the best‐known areas in the world, the Loess Plateau, has long been suffering from serious soil erosion. The present paper reviewed the historical variation of climate, vegetation cover, and environment changes in order to understand the causes of severe soil erosion. Documentary evidence indicated that climate changes and vegetation cover were the dominant natural factors influencing the soil erosion rates during the Holocene. Intensive human activities consisting of warfare, population growth, deforestation, and soil and water conservation measures were responsible for the changes of soil erosion during the anthropogenic period. Spatial and temporal changes of specific sediment yields presented significant decrease within the last several decades, which resulted from decreasing rainfall, large scale soil and water conservation measures, agricultural irrigation, and reservoir construction. Different phase of soil conservation measures demonstrated the development of policies and techniques on soil erosion control. Effective strategies of soil and water conservation, consisting of terracing, afforestation, natural rehabilitation, and check‐dams construction, were carried out on the Loess Plateau during the past six decades. The progress of soil conservation measures confirmed that the check‐dams systems might be suitable for Loess hilly Plateau, and natural vegetation rehabilitation is the best way for soil erosion control and should be implemented in other regions with emphasis of improving the quality of conservation measures based on natural rehabilitation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Effect of Rainfall Erosion: Seedling Damage and Establishment Problems

Cited by 36 publications

References 48 publications

Is Direct Seeding a Biologically Viable Strategy for Restoring Forest Ecosystems? Evidences from a Meta‐analysis

Is Direct Seeding a Biologically Viable Strategy for Restoring Forest Ecosystems? Evidences from a Meta‐analysis

The fate of seeds in the soil: a review of the influence of overland flow on seed removal and its consequences for the vegetation of arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems

Soil Erosion, Conservation, and Eco‐environment Changes in the Loess Plateau of China

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