Soil properties and plant species in an age sequence of Caragana microphylla plantations in the Horqin Sandy Land, north China

Su, Yong Zhong; Zhao, Ha Lin

doi:10.1016/s0925-8574(03)00042-9

Cited by 174 publications

(129 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Previous studies have investigated the effects of C. microphylla plantations on the spatial variability of soil nutrients and microbiological properties [21] and on the diversity and composition of native soil bacterial communities [22]. However, we found only one published study of the accumulation of organic C and nitrogen (N) in soils following the establishment of an age sequence of C. microphylla plantations in desertified areas [23]. Our previous study [24] also investigated the effects of C. microphylla plantations in sandy land on C storage in the soil light-fraction (LF) organic matter, which is a plant-like and dynamic fraction of the soil organic matter that reflects short-term shifts in soil organic matter storage and turnover and that has been regarded as an early indicator of management-induced changes in soil quality [25,26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our previous study [24] also investigated the effects of C. microphylla plantations in sandy land on C storage in the soil light-fraction (LF) organic matter, which is a plant-like and dynamic fraction of the soil organic matter that reflects short-term shifts in soil organic matter storage and turnover and that has been regarded as an early indicator of management-induced changes in soil quality [25,26]. However, previous research only sampled soil to a depth of 20 cm [23] or 5 cm [24]. This limitation made it difficult to compare the results with those of other researchers, who have typically sampled to a depth of 100 cm, which is a common threshold used for meta-analyses [27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Improvements in Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Capacities after Shrub Planting to Stabilize Sand Dunes in China’s Horqin Sandy Land

Chen

Wang

et al. 2017

Sustainability

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Caragana microphylla, a native perennial leguminous shrub, is widely used for desertification control in China's Horqin Sandy Land. We investigated the effects of afforestation using C. microphylla in areas with fixed and active dunes on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage in the soil total and light-fraction (LF) organic matter. Compared to the values in the control areas, soil organic carbon (SOC) storage to a depth of 100 cm increased by 88%, 74%, and 145% at 9, 15, and 31 years after shrub planting, respectively; the corresponding values were 68%, 61%, and 195% for total nitrogen (TN) storage, 109%, 199%, and 202% for LF organic carbon storage, and 203%, 337%, and 342% for LF nitrogen storage. The soil light-fraction (LF) organic matter contributed significantly to total SOC and TN storage, despite the low proportion of total soil mass accounted for by the LF dry matter. Thus, afforestation using C. microphylla was an effective way to sequester C and to restore degraded soils, but the process was slow; it would take more than 100 years to fully restore SOC storage in active dunes through afforestation with C. microphylla in the Horqin Sandy Land.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improvements in Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Capacities after Shrub Planting to Stabilize Sand Dunes in China’s Horqin Sandy Land

Chen

Wang

et al. 2017

Sustainability

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“…Moreover, an improvement of the physical conditions due to high soil organic matter (Fig. 4) and the subsequent increase of water-holding Shrub-induced heterogeneity of soil and hydrological propertiescapacity (Boix-Fayos et al 2001, Su andZhao 2003) may also contribute to the high moisture content under shrub. Although there was some fluctuation, the trends of progressive compositional change from shrub stem to interspace showed that sand content declined with increasing radial distance, while silt and clay contents increased (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Pan

Wang

et al. 2014

Hydrological Sciences Journal

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Shrub-induced spatial heterogeneity of soil and hydrological properties are common in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. To examine the influence of shrubs on spatial patterns of soil physical, chemical and hydrological properties, the typical sand-fixation species, Caragana korshinskii, was studied in the Shapotou area of the Tengger Desert, China. Miniature cylinder infiltrometers were used to quantify the spatial variations of infiltration rate in the soils, and were installed at 20-cm intervals around the shrubs. Meanwhile, soil samples were collected at 0-5 cm depth every 10 cm to analyse their physical and chemical properties and soil moisture content. The results indicate that the various measured parameters showed a gradational change from sub-canopy to open space. The establishment of shrubs formed obvious "fertile islands" where more soil nutrients collected. The total nitrogen (TN), soil organic matter (SOM), electrical conductivity (EC) and surface soil moisture content decreased gradually from around shrub stems to the interspace. The sand content around shrub stems was significantly higher (p < 0.05), and decreased gradually from the centre towards the outside microsites. The silt and clay contents showed opposite variability characteristics. The variation of soil bulk density was less within 140 cm distance from the stem, and no abrupt change was found at the shrub's drip line. No significant tendency was found for the soil pH values. The steady infiltration rates declined with increasing stem distance and then tended to be stable, and no abrupt change occurred at the position of the overhead canopy margin. The increase of infiltration rate was rapid nearer to the stem; the variability trend can be fitted by a loglog (power function) model. This study indicated the gradational change in soil and hydrological properties, which was not consistent with the binary division of shrubs into "canopy" and "interspace" zones.Key words shrubs; physical properties; chemical properties; hydrological properties; infiltration rate Influence de l'arbuste Caragana korshinskii sur les propriétés pédologiques et hydrologiques dans un écosystème désertique revégétalisé stabilisé Résumé L'hétérogénéité spatiale des propriétés pédologiques et hydrologiques induites par les arbustes est fréquente dans les écosystèmes arides et semi-arides. Afin d'examiner l'influence des arbustes sur la répartition spatiale des propriétés physiques, chimiques et hydrologiques des sols, Caragana korshinskii, une espèce caractéristique de fixation des sables, a été étudiée dans la zone de Shapotou du désert de Tengger, en Chine. Des infiltromètres cylindriques miniatures ont été utilisés pour quantifier les variations spatiales des taux d'infiltration dans les sols, et ont été installés à intervalles de 20 cm autour des arbustes. Parallèlement, des échantillons de sol ont été prélevés à 0-5 cm de profondeur tous les 10 cm pour analyser leurs propriétés physiques et chimiques et l'humidité du sol. Les résultats indiquent que les diffé...

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“…Soil water content was measured using the oven dry method. The volumetric soil water content was obtained by converting gravimetric soil water content based on soil bulk density [16].…”

Section: Sampling and Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dune-interdunes (e.g., mobile, semi-mobile, semi-fixed, and fixed dunes-interdunes) are the main landscape types in this region [11], where ecosystems are sensitive and fragile to climate change and human activities [15]. Since the 1980s, large areas revegetation projects have been initiated to stabilize sand dunes in the Horqin Sandy Land [16][17][18][19], and rates of desertification has slowed down and even reversed in some areas [20][21][22]. However, water shortages have become more serious as the initially simple vegetation system developed into a complex ecosystem required to reverse desertification in these areas [14,23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative Investigations of Water Balances of a Dune-Interdune Landscape during the Growing Season in the Horqin Sandy Land, Northeastern China

Zhou

Guan

et al. 2017

Sustainability

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Dune-interdune is the main landscape pattern of desert areas, such as the Horqin sandy land of Northeastern China. Exploring the temporal and spatial variation of the water balance is crucial for efficient vegetation restoration at the micro-landform scale. The SWMS-2D model was used to estimate the seasonal variations of the water balance including evapotranspiration, soil water storage changes, lateral flow and drainage, and to examine the effects of micro-landforms (i.e., the top, upper, down, and bottom positions of the dune slope, and the interdune lowland area) on these components from May to October 2013 and 2015. Results showed that the soil water content was sensitive to rainfall pulses, particularly large precipitation events. Over 70% of the total evapotranspiration occurred from June to August, with a maximum daily value of 6.56 mm. At a monthly scale, evapotranspiration was not synchronous with precipitation. The ratio of evapotranspiration to precipitation was 1.84, 0.39, 2.49, 0.93, 2.26, and 1.14 in May, June, July, August, September, and October 2013 (a wet year), respectively; and 2.40, 1.11, 0.69, 2.14, 1.07, and 1.11 in 2015 (a dry year), respectively. The components of the water balance were significantly different among different micro-landforms. Evapotranspiration of a lowland area was greater than that in other micro-landforms, and the value in the wet year (2013) was significantly greater than that in the dry year (2015). However, water consumption in the lowland area was similar in both years. At the top, upper, down, and bottom positions of the dune slope, the ratio of evapotranspiration to precipitation in the wet year (2013) was 96%, 97%, 86%, and 96%, respectively; while in the dry year (2015), the ratio was 103%, 103%, 88%, and 104%. Therefore, in the dry year, evapotranspiration was generally larger than precipitation, indicating that almost all water from precipitation was evaporated. The lateral flow of the root zone from top to bottom accounted for only a small portion of water budget at the growing season scale. The results could be generalized to other similar region with corresponding model calibration, and would help to reveal seasonal variations of water balance components under the local topography, climate, soil, and vegetation conditions.

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Soil properties and plant species in an age sequence of Caragana microphylla plantations in the Horqin Sandy Land, north China

Cited by 174 publications

References 15 publications

Improvements in Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Capacities after Shrub Planting to Stabilize Sand Dunes in China’s Horqin Sandy Land

Improvements in Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Capacities after Shrub Planting to Stabilize Sand Dunes in China’s Horqin Sandy Land

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

Quantitative Investigations of Water Balances of a Dune-Interdune Landscape during the Growing Season in the Horqin Sandy Land, Northeastern China

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