小兴安岭森林沼泽湿地土地利用变化对土壤活性碳组分的影响

[目的]以小兴安岭森林沼泽为研究对象,研究湿地经过人类活动开垦为农田,和排水造林,以及弃耕地的土壤活性碳组分,为深入了解土壤活性碳组分动态变化及其可能影响全球变暖的机制研究提供科学依据。[方法]选择小兴安岭森林沼泽湿地4种土地利用方式(天然沼泽、排水湿地、弃耕地、农田)为研究对象,在野外调查和室内分析的基础上,对比分析土壤有机碳(SOC)、溶解性有机碳(DOC)、微生物碳(MBC)、易氧化碳(EOC)、轻组有机碳(LFOC)、颗粒有机碳(POC)的含量变化和比例关系,并用相关分析法分析土壤有机碳各活性组分之间的关系。[结果]不同土地利用方式土壤有机碳含量随土层深度增加而降低,总体上,在土壤剖面上,天然沼泽的SOC含量大于其他土地利用方式,其他3种土地利用方式之间差异不显著(p0.05)。不同土地利用方式下土壤活性碳组分(DOC,MBC,EOC,POC,LFOC)含量在垂直分布上均呈现出随土壤深度的增加而降低的趋势,土壤活性碳组分含量顺序总体上呈:天然沼泽排水湿地弃耕地农田。4种土地利用类型土壤DOC占SOC的比例,在垂直剖面上,无明显规律变化。土壤SOC含量与DOC,MBC,EOC,POC,LFOC之间的相关性均达到显著水平(p0.05)。土壤DOC和MBC之间呈显著性正相关(p0.05),LFOC和POC之间呈极显著性正相关(p0.05),EOC与其他活性碳组分相关性均不显著(p0.05)。[结论]土地利用变化会对小兴安岭森林沼泽土壤活性碳组分产生影响,应该合理开发小兴安岭森林沼泽湿地。     

我国东北寒温带湿地土壤碳氮分布及相关性

以东北寒温带不同纬度典型湿地土壤碳氮分布关系为研究对象,遴选漠河湿地、洪河湿地及七星河湿地进行土壤样品的调查采集并进行土壤碳氮分布相关分析,通过构建不同纬度沼泽湿地土壤碳氮含量垂直分布结构,考察不同湿地不同植被类型土壤碳氮分布规律及土壤对植被生长状况的影响。结果表明:土壤氨氮及硝态氮在土壤垂直分布中有明显的表聚现象,含量随土壤深度的增加呈明显下降趋势;七星河湿地及洪河湿地土壤碳氮含量呈显著的线性相关关系,而漠河湿地土壤碳氮含量相关性不显著。本研究通过对东北寒温带不同纬度沼泽湿地土壤碳氮含量分布的研究,旨在对全球沼泽湿地氮循环的研究提供一定的参考作用。     

基于GIS技术的佳木斯地区农田开垦对表层土壤有机碳储量的影响

基于GIS技术,利用1980年和2010年佳木斯表层(0—30cm)土壤有机碳数据,研究不同农田开垦方式对表层土壤有机碳储量和空间分布的影响。结果表明:30年来佳木斯地区表层土壤有机碳储量呈现减少趋势,从1980年土壤有机碳库350.68Tg C减少到2010年的299.58Tg C,主要减少分布在东北地区和南部地区。30年来耕地面积增加了6 790.44km2,农田开垦(沼泽湿地、林地、草地)是影响土壤有机碳储量和时空变化的主要原因,而沼泽湿地的开垦导致储量变化最大,沼泽湿地开垦土壤有机碳年变化率为107.21tC/(km2·a)。农田开垦成旱田要比水田对土壤有机碳损失影响大,农田开垦是造成有机碳储量下降的原因。     

沼泽湿地开垦对土壤水热条件和性质的影响

湿地具有重要的生态和环境功能.三江平原沼泽湿地的大面积垦殖,已对区域生态平衡及气候环境产生了一定的影响.湿地开垦后,土壤水、热条件发生较大变化,土壤温度的增高及氧化-还原条件的改变,促进了土壤有机质的分解和土壤呼吸通量的增大.土壤有机碳、氮素含量随湿地开垦及开垦年限的增加而不断降低.沼泽湿地开垦初期5～7年,土壤有机碳及其它营养元素的含量变化幅度较大,持续耕作15～20年后,土壤有机碳损失曲线趋于平缓.湿地开垦后,土壤有机质输入量的减少及分解作用加强导致土壤容重和比重的增大,其变化趋势与土壤有机碳损失趋势相一致.     

三江平原不同土地利用方式下土壤有机碳的动态变化

以三江平原不同开垦年限的水田及旱地为研究对象,并以沼泽化草甸和天然林地为对照,分层采集土样,测定其土壤有机C含量、pH值及全N含量。在此基础上借助SPSS软件和统计分析技术,探讨了不同土地利用类型各层土壤中有机C含量的垂直分布特征及其与pH值、N素的相关关系。结果表明:土壤有机C的垂直分布随土壤深度和土地利用类型的变化而变化;与沼泽化草甸相比,开垦10年和25年的水田表层土壤有机C含量分别减少49.3%(P<0.01)和14.3%(P<0.05),开垦5年和18年的旱地表层土壤总有机C量比对照分别减少81.9%(P<0.01)和68.3%(P<0.01);林地及开垦18年的旱地土壤pH值均与土壤有机C含量呈显著负相关,相关系数分别为-0.578(P<0.05)和-0.965(P<0.01);农田开垦前后,土壤有机C含量与全N含量呈显著正相关,相关系数均在0.580(P<0.05)以上。     

华北土石山区油松和元宝枫人工林土壤有机碳特征

森林生态系统土壤有机碳的储量及时空变化是制定森林生态系统可持续经营管理措施的重要依据,对全球碳循环与碳平衡的研究具有十分重要的理论价值.以华北土石山区不同密度油松和元宝枫人工林为研究对象,对不同林地类型的土壤密度、pH值以及全氮、速效钾、有机碳的质量分数等参数进行测定,对比分析不同林地类型土壤有机碳的质量分数、土壤有机碳密度、储量及垂直分布特征,探讨土壤有机碳质量分数与土壤理化性状的相关关系.结果表明:元宝枫林的平均土壤有机碳质量分数和有机碳密度均大于油松林的;土壤有机碳质量分数和有机碳密度在土壤表层(0 ～ 10 cm)为最高值并随土壤深度的增加而降低;土壤有机碳质量分数表现为2种林分密度下的元宝枫林无显著差异,而有机碳密度则表现为高密度元宝枫林＞低密度元宝枫林;在油松林中土壤有机碳质量分数、有机碳密度均表现为中密度油松林＞高密度油松林和低密度油松林.油松林和元宝枫林土壤有机碳质量分数与土壤密度均呈显著负相关,而全氮、速效钾与其呈显著正相关,油松林土壤有机碳质量分数与pH值呈显著相关,而元宝枫林土壤有机碳质量分数与pH值不相关.综上所述,华北土石山区元宝枫林较油松林具有更大的固碳潜力,而且土壤的有机碳质量分数及有机碳密度受树种和林分密度影响较大.     

毛乌素退化湿地土壤生源要素垂直分布特征

以毛乌素退化湿地为研究对象,采集芦苇滩地、灌草地、沙地3个不同退化时期9个土壤剖面样本,研究土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷垂直分布,并进行有机碳-全磷、有机碳-全氮Pearson相关性分析和Spearman秩相关分析。结果表明:不同类型退化湿地土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷含量差异明显,随土层深度增加含量减少,并呈现分层特征。研究发现,在土壤剖面深度100cm左右且有黑色泥炭层存在情况下,有机碳、全氮、全磷含量增加。样地土壤有机碳与全氮呈显性线性相关(R=0.989),Spearman秩相关系数为0.944。样地土壤有机碳与全磷呈显性线性相关(R=0.938),Spearman秩相关系数为0.698。     

不同土地利用方式对三江平原湿地土壤酶分布特征及相关肥力因子的影响

以中国科学院三江平原湿地生态试验站为对象,研究了不同利用方式(湿地草甸、旱田系统、退耕成草、退耕成林)对土壤酶分布特征及相关肥力因子的影响.结果表明:土壤利用方式不同,土壤酶活性(转化酶、脲酶、磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶)、有机碳含量和土壤养分含量有较大差异.未开垦的湿地草甸,土壤酶活性、有机碳和土壤养分含量均为最高,开垦20年后,上述各种指标含量均有较大幅度降低;由耕地恢复为湿地后,土壤酶活性、有机碳和土壤养分含量有较大幅度的回升,而耕地恢复为林地后,上述各种成分也有不同程度地增加.因此,要保持三江平原湿地较高的土壤肥力和生物学特性,维持三江平原湿地土壤有机碳库稳定,对已开垦湿地进行部分退耕还湿势在必行.     

小兴安岭不同土地利用方式下的土壤DOC化学光谱特性

在小兴安岭地区选取天然沼泽(兴安落叶松沼泽)、排水造林40a的人工林湿地、由湿地开垦40a的农田、湿地垦殖后弃耕地(弃耕40a)4种样地,研究小兴安岭不同土地利用方式土壤溶解性有机碳(DOC)化学光谱特性。结果表明,在垂直剖面上,排水造林湿地、农田、弃耕地以及天然沼泽的土壤DOC含量均从表层向下逐渐减少,在土壤表层0—10cm,DOC含量关系为:天然沼泽排水造林湿地弃耕地农田(p0.05),在其他深度上,差异不显著(p0.05)。DOC化学光谱特性表现为DOC中芳香族类化合物(SUVA254)、DOC中腐殖质所占比列(C/C)、DOC中腐殖酸与富里酸比例(E4/E6),在垂直剖面上逐渐递增。总体上,DOC化学光谱特性大小关系为:天然沼泽弃耕地排水造林湿地农田。4种土地利用类型土壤SOC的含量均随着土壤深度的增加而出现逐渐递减的规律,在垂直剖面上,天然沼泽SOC的含量大于其他土地利用方式。4种类型土壤DOC占SOC的比例(DOC/SOC)在垂直剖面上无明显变化规律。天然沼泽湿地DOC/SOC只在土壤表层大于其他土地利用方式(p0.05)。     

土地利用对沼泽湿地土壤碳影响的研究

以三江平原分布最广泛的两种自然沼泽湿地(毛果苔草沼泽和小叶章草甸)以及不同利用类型土地为研究对象,探讨了土地利用变化对三江平原沼泽湿地土壤碳含量的影响.结果表明,沼泽湿地土壤中碳含量主要受地表积水环境的控制.表现为常年积水的毛果苔草沼泽高于季节性积水的小叶章草甸,毛果苔草沼泽土壤总碳(TC)、有机碳(SOC)、无机碳(SIC)及可溶性有机碳(DOC)含量分别为(258.4±81.9)g/kg.(203.7±62.4)g/kg,(54.7±19.4)g/kg和(4.8±0.85)g/kg.小叶章草甸土壤则分别为(99.4±24.2)g/kg,(81.4±24.5)g/kg,(17.9±9.8)g/kg和(2.4±0.27)g/kg.垦殖导致沼泽湿地土壤碳含量显著降低,土壤TC及SOC含量随开垦年限的增加而递减,并与垦殖年限呈极显著负相关关系.沼泽湿地退化后,土壤碳含量降低.小叶章草甸退化为小叶章一杂类草草甸后土壤TC,SOC,SIC及DOC分别减少了71%,72%,67%和76%,毛果苔草沼泽退化为灌丛-杂类草草甸后则分别减少了69%,65%,83%和60%."退耕还湿"能提高土壤中的碳含量,但增加速率较慢.土壤pH值是影响土壤碳含量的一个重要因素.     

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,     

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.     

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.     

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.