基于子流域土地覆被变化的产流产沙效应模拟

应用分布式水文模型SWAT进行了晋江西溪流域1985和2001年两期土地覆被条件下的产流产沙模拟,分别从整个流域尺度和子流域尺度定量分析了不同土地覆被类型的水文效应。结果表明,土地覆被变化对于整个流域产流量影响不大,对产沙量影响显著。不同子流域的产流产沙变化分析结果表明,其他条件相同的情况下,林地相对于其他土地覆被类型具有明显的减水减沙作用,其次是园地,再者是耕地和草地。建设用地在各土地覆被类型中增水增沙作用最为显著。     

1980—2020年渭河中上游流域土地利用演变及其对径流的影响

[目的] 研究渭河中上游流域不同土地利用情景下径流的响应规律,为渭河中上游流域的发展规划及水资源管理提供科学支撑。[方法] 基于1980—2020年土地利用数据,分析流域40 a的土地利用变化特征,并结合SWAT模型,设置5种历史土地利用情景、两种综合土地利用情景和3种极端土地利用情景,探究径流在不同土地利用情境下的响应。[结果] ①流域40 a间耕地、水域及未利用土地面积逐渐减小,林地、草地和居民用地面积逐渐增加。②1980—2020年共5个时期模拟年均径流深分别为72.24,72.27,72.31,71.86,72.25 mm,退耕还林、退耕还草、耕地型、林地型及草地型模拟年均径流深分别为68.59,69.70,72.60,64.81,66.82 mm。[结论] 40 a间土地利用类型的变化对渭河中上游流域径流的影响小于10%;退耕还林、退耕还草对径流主要起抑制作用。在3个极端土地利用情境下径流大小为：耕地型＞草地型＞林地型,且耕地型与林地型、草地型情境下的差异明显。     

不同土地利用变化情景下的洪汝河流域水文响应

[目的]研究洪汝河流域土地利用变化对水文过程的影响,为当地水资源的合理规划和利用提供依据和参考。[方法]本研究以土壤水体评价模型(soil and water assessment tool,SWAT)为基础,通过设计多种土地利用情景模式模拟洪汝河流域水文情景,首先利用数字高程模型(digital elevation model,DEM),土地利用数据、土壤数据以及日气象数据建立模型;其次选用2006—2008年的水文观测数据进行模型率定,并进行敏感性和不确定性分析;最后,设置4种土地利用情景模式进行水文模拟。[结果]退耕还林情景下径流减少4.23%;而在耕地增加,城镇用地增加和以城镇用地、林地草地增加为主的复杂土地利用变化这3种情景下,径流分别增加3.01%,4.91%和1.50%。[结论]退耕还林增加了可涵养水源的森林,使得径流减少,而增加耕地开垦或城市建设用地则会增加地表径流。     

基于CA-Markov模型的宁夏沿黄生态经济带土地利用变化及模拟研究

[目的]研究宁夏沿黄生态经济带2009—2017年土地利用变化特点,并模拟2025年土地利用空间格局,为宁夏沿黄生态经济带土地开发、利用与保护提供引导,为国土空间规划编制提供参考。[方法]基于时间尺度和空间尺度,对宁夏沿黄生态经济带2009—2017年各类用地变化情况进行了分析,计算得出了各类用地转移概率矩阵,并基于CA-Markov模型,对自然发展情景、土地规划情景、耕地和生态保护情景下宁夏沿黄生态经济带2025年土地利用格局进行了模拟研究。[结果] 2009—2017年,宁夏沿黄生态经济带土地利用整体呈现出耕地、其他农用地及各类建设用地不断增加,园地、林地、草地、水域及自然保留地均有所减少的特点;除水域、其他建设用地外,其他各类用地转为城乡建设用地概率普遍较高,特别是耕地转为城乡建设用地概率最高,达到10.65%。[结论]在自然发展、土地规划、耕地和环境保护3种情景下,宁夏沿黄生态经济带2025年土地利用结构仍然以牧草地、耕地、自然保留地为主,但随着城镇化进程加快和基础设施持续完善,城乡建设用地和交通水利用地增加幅度较大。     

基于SWAT模型的丹江流域土地利用变化对径流影响研究

为定量分析土地利用类型变化对径流的影响,基于SWAT模型,通过分析丹江流域近20年来的土地利用变化,并设置3种不同土地利用情景模式,探究了土地利用类型对流域径流的影响作用。结果表明:SWAT模型率定期和验证期的决定性系数R²和纳什效率系数NS分别为0.8,0.73和0.86,0.78,适用于丹江流域径流模拟。2000—2020年,丹江流域土地利用变化引起的径流变化为-0.18%; 情景1中,把林地、草地全变为耕地的情况下,模拟的年均径流变化率为61.65%,情景2中,把耕地和草地全转换为林地的情况下,模拟的年均径流变化率为-12.69%,情景3中,把耕地和林地全转换为草地的情况下,模拟的年均径流变化率为24.24%。耕地对径流深度的影响系数为0.26 mm/hm²,林地对径流深度的影响系数为-13.35 mm/hm²,草地对径流深的影响系数为-0.01 mm/hm²。由此得出,耕地对产流起促进作用,草地和林地对产流起抑制作用。为维护丹江流域生态环境,增强丹江流域径流供给,应科学开发耕地资源。     

基于农业非点源污染模型的桃溪流域日径流泥沙模拟

[目的]以中国东南沿海桃溪流域为研究对象,构建该流域日尺度产流产沙的农业非点源污染模型(annualized agricultural non-point source pollution model,AnnAGNPS),以期为流域水土流失治理与水土资源合理配置分析支持。[方法]采用DSA(differential sensitivity analysis)方法,分析流域敏感性参数,并建立研究区日尺度的AnnAGNPS模型。[结果](1)CN值(curve number)、土壤有效含水量和沟道曼宁系数为径流敏感性参数,土壤可侵蚀因子K、地表残留物覆盖率、年根系生物量、耕作后地面残留物覆盖率、随机粗糙率、沟道曼宁系数和耕作扰动面积为输沙量的主要敏感性参数;(2)模型对日尺度径流模拟的R2,Ens系数均大于0.66,日尺度泥沙模拟的R2,Ens系数均大于0.62。[结论]AnnAGNPS模型能够较好地模拟桃溪流域日尺度产流产沙规律。     

地形和土壤/土地利用空间聚合对径流和输沙量影响的AnnAGNPS模拟

为进一步揭示分布式水文模型子流域划分对径流和输沙量模拟的影响,以东南沿海桃溪流域为研究区,构建日尺度产流产沙的AnnAGNPS模型,基于9种不同临界源面积(critical source area,CSA),分析了不同子流域划分对输入参数空间聚合的影响,并设置7种组合情景,分别从年和日尺度,定量区分了地形与土壤/土地利用参数的空间聚合对产流产沙过程的影响。结果表明:1)随着CSA取值的增加,地形、土壤和土地利用类型在空间上存在明显的聚合。2)土壤/土地利用参数空间聚合导致年平均径流量和输沙量减少,且对输沙量影响更显著;地形参数的空间聚合导致年输沙量减少,但对年平均径流量无显著影响。3)地形参数的空间聚合造成的洪峰流量增加、峰现时间提前,是影响日径流过程变化的主要因素。4)土壤/土地利用参数的空间聚合对多年平均最大1 d、连续最大5 d输沙量的影响随着聚合程度的增加而显著下降,而地形参数的空间聚合造成日输沙过程峰值的出现时间提前。     

气候和土地利用变化情景下闽江流域水沙变化模拟

[目的] 模拟未来土地利用和气候影响下的流域水沙变化有利于制定适合的流域管理计划。[方法] 基于土地利用和气象数据,结合CMIP6气候模式数据、PLUS模型和SWAT模型,定量模拟2030年土地利用及不同气候情景下径流和泥沙的时空变化。[结果] (1) SWAT模型在闽江流域月尺度模拟精度较好,其中径流模拟的R²范围为0.80~0.95,NSE范围为0.75~0.91;泥沙模拟的R²范围为0.75~0.98,NSE范围为0.64~0.94。(2)利用2020年土地利用数据对PLUS模型进行精度评估的Kappa系数为0.77,模拟2030年闽江流域建设用地和耕地将分别增加325.64,1 157.51 km²。(3) SSP2-4.5和SSP5-8.5情景下,2025—2035年平均降水量分别增加0.15%和2.18%,年平均气温分别增加0.23,0.62℃。(4)低碳情景和高碳情景下,仅土地利用变化导致年平均径流量相较于基准期分别增加0.08%和0.07%,年平均输沙量分别增加0.24%和减少0.05%;仅气候变化导致年平均径流量相较基准期分别减少4.76%和4.11%,年平均输沙量分别增加18.12%和0.13%;土地利用和气候综合影响导致年平均径流量相较于基准期分别减少4.57%和3.93%,年平均输沙量分别增加18.28%和0.33%。(5)未来气候和土地利用综合变化情景下,地表径流和产沙量较高且增幅较大的区域集中在以南平邵武市为中心的流域西北部和以三明将乐县为中心的流域西南部。[结论] 研究结果为未来闽江流域的合理开发建设提供一定参考依据。     

基于PLUS与InVEST模型的昆明市土地利用变化动态模拟与碳储量评估

[目的]评估不同情景下的土地利用变化与碳储量变化,为优化生态服务与可持续性发展提供科学依据。[方法]基于PLUS模型与InVEST模型,模拟和预测不同情景下的土地利用变化与碳储量。[结果](1)在自然发展与生态保护情景下,土地利用变化相似,耕地、草地、水域减少,建设用地急剧扩张,其中建设用地在自然发展情景下扩张更快,变化率达27.70%;在耕地保护情景下,土地利用变化与其他两种情景不同,这是由于林地面积的减少与建设用地的迅速扩张造成的;(2)昆明市2000,2010,2020年的碳储量分别为3.37×10⁸,3.34×10⁸,3.28×10⁸ t,呈现逐年下降的趋势。到2030年,耕地保护与生态保护相较于自然发展情景碳储量较高,说明采取保护措施,能有效控制碳储量的减少;(3)土地利用变化导致碳储量减少9.15×10⁶ t,土地利用变化与碳储量变化呈现高度一致性。[结论]落实耕地保护、生态保护政策,控制建设用地向耕地、林地的扩张,优化土地利用结构,有利于减缓区域碳储量损失。     

珠峰北麓朋曲流域土地覆被变化及未来情景模拟

[目的] 模拟未来短、中远期珠峰北麓朋曲流域土地利用变化，为该流域的土地利用规划提供科学参考。 [方法] 基于朋曲流域(珠峰北麓)2010-2020年的土地覆被数据，综合考虑人为和自然两大要素12项驱动因子，采用Markov-FLUS模型，对朋曲流域自由发展、耕地保护和生态保护3种未来情景下的土地覆被变化进行了模拟。 [结果] ①2020年朋曲流域土地覆被实际情况与Markov-FLUS模型模拟情况的总体精度(OA)为90%，kappa系数为0.82，精确度较高，模型可用于该区未来情景模拟； ②2010-2020年朋曲流域5种土地覆被类型发生变化，其中，林地和草地的面积变化最为明显，林地面积增加778.16 km²，草地面积减少726.89 km²； ③朋曲流域未来情景的模拟结果显示：在自由发展、耕地保护、生态保护3种不同情景下，短期内草地和其他用地类型面积变化较大，中远期除草地、其他用地类型面积变化较大以外，林地面积变化开始增大；无论是短期还是中远期来看，耕地保护情景下耕地面积均呈持续减少趋势。 [结论] 维持朋曲流域的可持续发展，必须强化落实耕地保护政策、注重耕地永续利用；生态保护情景下自然保护区内的植被类型相互转换受到限制，生物多样性得到有序协调发展。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

Electron donor and pH relationships for biologically enhanced dissolution of chlorinated solvent DNAPL in groundwater

Biologically enhanced dissolution offers a method to speed removal of chlorinated solvent dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) sources such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichoroethene (TCE) from aquifers. Bioremediation is accomplished by adding an electron donor to the source zone where fermentation to intermediates leading to acetic acid and hydrogen results. The hydrogen and possibly acetic acid are used by dehalogenating bacteria to convert PCE and TCE to ethene and hydrochloric acid. Reductive dehalogenation is thus an acid forming process, and sufficient alkalinity must be present to maintain a near neutral pH. The bicarbonate alkalinity required to maintain pH above 6.5 is a function of the electron donor: 800 mg/L of bicarbonate alkalinity is sufficient to achieve about 1.2 mM TCE dechlorination with glucose, 1.7 mM with lactate, and a much higher 3.3 mM with formate. Laboratory studies indicate that in mixed culture, formate can be used as an electron donor for complete conversion to ethene, contrary to pure cultures studies indicating it cannot. Various strategies can be used to add electron donor to an aquifer for DNAPL dehalogenation while minimizing pH problems and excessive electron donor usage, including use of injection-extraction wells, dual recirculation wells, and nested injection-extraction wells.     

Enhanced establishment and growth of giant cardon cactus in an eroded field in the Sonoran Desert using native legume trees as nurse plants aided by plant growth-promoting microorganisms and compost

To evaluate the feasibility of long-term desert reforestation technology of mixed vegetation, cardon cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) seedlings from indoor and outdoor nurseries were planted in the field adjacent to one seedling of potential legume nurse trees: mesquite amargo (Prosopis articulata), yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla), and blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida). Some of the planting holes were also supplemented with common dairy compost. Additionally, the combinations of legume tree–cactus were inoculated with either a consortium of desert arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB; the diazotroph Azospirillum brasilense Cd, and the phosphate solubilizer Paenibacillus sp.), or a mixture of all. The field experiments were evaluated periodically during 30 months for survival and growth. Cardons reared in an outdoor screen house survived better in the field than those reared in a controlled growth chamber and hardened later outdoors. Association with any legume nurse tree increased survival and enhanced growth of untreated cardons. For cardons growing alone, application of either compost, AM fungi, and all the treatments combined increased survival. For these plants, no treatment affected plant growth during the first 3 months after transplanting. Later, all treatments, except for AM fungi, enhanced plant growth. However, only 2 years after transplanting the enhanced growth effect of AM fungi was also significant. In the presence of the legume nurse trees, transient positive effects on cardon growth were recorded. General evaluation after 30 months of cultivation showed that the treatments positively affected cardon growth when growing alone or in combination only with mesquite amargo but not with the other two legume trees. This study proposes that young legume trees have the capacity to enhance survival and growth of cardon cactus, depending on the legume cactus combination. Additional treatments such as compost or PGPB can either amplify the effect or else attenuate it.