基于系统GMM面板模型的土地利用碳排放效应研究——以中国省际面板数据为例

依据2003～2015年中国省际面板数据,运用STIRPAT模型及系统GMM动态面板计量模型,分析我国不同土地利用类型下的碳排放效应,并探究我国经济发展是否与碳排放之间存在环境库兹涅茨曲线的"倒U"型关系。研究结果显示:(1)人均GDP与土地利用碳排放存在"倒U"型曲线的特征,进一步验证了我国存在土地利用碳排放的环境库兹涅茨曲线假说;(2)土地利用碳排放效应具有显著的滞后效应,基于系统GMM的动态面板计量模型的估计结果优于静态面板估计结果;(3)系统GMM估计结果显示,经济因素、能源强度、城镇化水平是碳排放最主要的影响因素。其中,人均GDP和能源消耗强度对土地利用碳排放效应存在显著正效应,城镇化率、第三产业增加值占比、农地非农化率和土地市场化水平对土地利用碳排放效应存在显著负效应。     

深圳市碳收支与土地利用变化的协整分析

人类活动对碳排放的影响很大程度上是通过改变土地利用方式实现的,探究土地利用变化与碳收支之间的定量关系,可以了解区域土地利用变化与碳收支的相互作用机制。该文首先分析了深圳市1995—2010年土地利用变化情况,指出变化的总体趋势是农用地减少,建设用地增加。在收集社会经济数据和能源数据的基础上,构建模型定量计算深圳市1995—2010年碳吸收量、碳排放量和碳收支。最后,运用协整理论检验深圳市建设用地与碳排放量,农用地与碳吸收量之间是否存在长期稳定关系。研究结果表明,深圳市建设用地总面积和碳排放量之间、农用地和碳吸收量之间不存在协整关系,即深圳市不能直接通过建设用地总面积、农用地面积直接预测未来碳排放量、碳吸收量和碳收支。协整性分析结果客观地反映了区域土地利用与碳收支的关系,对于低碳经济下土地利用调控具有重要意义。     

乌鲁木齐市土地利用结构与碳排放的关联测度研究

[目的]对乌鲁木齐市的土地利用结构与碳排放量的关系进行测度,分析一定时间范围内二者的关联度及其变化特征,从而探索土地利用碳减排途径,为乌鲁木齐市合理利用土地与生态、经济、社会效应的同步提升提供参考。[方法]基于乌鲁木齐市2001—2015年的土地利用变更数据和能源消耗数据,分别计算出碳排放总量、碳排放强度和人均碳排放量,并构建灰色关联度模型,测算乌鲁木齐市土地利用结构与碳排放总量、碳排放强度、人均碳排放量的关联系数和关联度。[结果]2001—2015年乌鲁木齐市碳排放量由8.31×10~6 t增加到2.10×10~7 t,增加了近2.6倍;土地利用结构与碳排放总量、碳排放强度和人均碳排放量三者关联度最高的分别是交通运输用地(0.730 8)、牧草地(0.765 1)和园地(0.821 5);建设用地与碳排放量关联度大。[结论]土地利用结构与碳排放的关系密切,通过科学合理地利用土地利用结构变化对碳收支的影响作用对土地利用结构进行调整,从而实现控制碳排放量是可行的。     

烟台市土地利用结构与能源消费碳排放关联测度

[目的]分析山东省烟台市各区县土地利用结构与能源消耗碳排放的关联测度及其变化规律,为合理利用土地资源与低碳城市的建设提供科学建议。[方法]基于烟台市1986—2012年各区县的土地利用结构和能源消耗数据,采用碳排放量计算模型,测算出其能源消耗碳排放总量、碳排放强度和人均碳排放量,并运用灰色关联分析法,测度烟台市各区县土地利用结构与能源消耗碳排放的关联度。[结果]1 1986—2012年烟台市能源消费碳排放总量由3.05×106 t上升到1.494×107 t,增加了3.9倍;2 2012年烟台市各区县土地利用结构与能源消耗碳排放量、碳排放强度之间关联度最高的土地利用类型为园地,与人均碳排放量关联度最高的用地为交通运输用地;3烟台市各区县土地利用结构与能源消耗关联度较高的分别是园地(0.812 8)、城镇村及工矿用地(0.812 0)、水域及水利设施用地(0.805 9);4 1986—2012年烟台市各区县土地利用结构与能源消耗碳排放关联度较大的地区依次是长岛县(0.980 4)、芝罘区(0.962 4)和莱山区(0.948 0)。[结论]烟台市土地利用结构与能源消耗碳排放存在着密切的关联性,土地利用结构与能源消耗碳排放的关联度在空间上存在着差异性。     

基于脱钩理论的烟台市碳排放效应分析

[目的]通过分析烟台市2000—2011年碳排放与经济发展之间的关系,为烟台市碳减排及发展低碳经济提供参考。[方法]基于土地利用碳源/碳汇研究的理论框架和计算模型,首先对烟台市土地利用、能源消费等数据进行分析,计算了不同土地利用类型的碳源/汇。然后利用Tapio脱钩模型分析该区碳排放与经济发展之间的脱钩弹性关系。[结果](1)建设用地是主要碳源,其面积与净碳排放量成倒U型库兹涅茨曲线关系。(2)林地为主要碳汇,其他用地影响较小且主要表现为碳汇。(3)烟台市净碳排放量在2001—2011年持续增长,年均增长率不断降低。[结论]烟台市碳减排工作已取得一定的成效,但减排形势依然严峻。其经济发展3个阶段(连接阶段、脱钩阶段Ⅰ和脱钩阶段Ⅱ)分别对应于其碳排放的高速增长、较快增长、稳定阶段这3阶段。     

平原区土地整理项目的碳排放效应研究——以河北省巨鹿县土地整理项目为例

为了研究土地整理的碳排放效应,以河北省巨鹿县土地整理项目为研究区域,基于能源消费和土地利用变化的视角,运用IPCC清单法,分析了土地整理的土地平整、灌溉与排水、道路工程和农田防护与生态环境保持四大工程碳排放及区域土地利用变化导致的碳排放,明确了土地整理的碳源/汇作用及其测算方法,并提出了降低土地整理碳排放的相关建议,以期为土地整理的碳排放研究和低碳化土地整理提供科学参考。研究结果表明:巨鹿县土地整理项目能源消费导致的碳排放总量为303.87t,其中土地平整工程是主要的碳排放源,占工程施工碳排放总量的64.53%,其次为道路工程和灌溉与排水工程,分别占30.24%,5.23%;土地平整工程单位投资额碳排放量和单位投资比例的碳排放比率两项指标值最大,分别为677.87kg/万元和10.02,表明了该项工程投资少、碳排放量大的特点,灌溉与排水工程的两项指标值最小,分别为6.38kg/万元和0.09,具有投资多、碳排放量小的特点;巨鹿县土地整理导致的土地利用变化使得区域土壤和植被碳储量减少4 160.3t,表现出碳源效应,其中园地碳储量变化量最大;根据环境经济损益分析方法,巨鹿县土地整理后项目区相当于排放了4 464.17t,单位面积碳排放量为1 966.52kg/hm2,单位投资额碳排放量为994.19kg/万元。     

陕西省土地利用碳排放影响因素及脱钩效应分析

通过测算陕西省2001—2014年土地利用碳排放量,采用LMDI分解法探讨了土地利用碳排放变化的影响因素,并基于因素分解的结果构建脱钩弹性分解量化模型对经济增长和土地利用碳排放的脱钩效应进行分析。主要结论如下:（1）2001—2014年,陕西省土地利用碳排放量呈逐年递增趋势,13年间上升163%。（2）能源强度是唯一抑制土地利用碳排放增加的负效应因素,正效应因素对陕西省土地利用碳排放增加的贡献值由大到小依次为经济规模效应 > 能源碳排放强度效应 > 人口规模效应 > 土地规模效应;（3）各影响因素对土地利用碳排放与经济增长脱钩的贡献由大到小依次为经济规模效应 > 能源强度效应 > 能源碳排放强度效应 > 人口规模效应 > 土地规模效应,且能源强度效应对经济增长与土地利用碳排放脱钩状态的改善具有积极作用。研究结论有利于清晰了解土地利用碳排放影响因素及其影响经济增长和土地利用碳排放脱钩的内在作用机理,从而得出相应的碳减排政策启示。     

基于区域土地利用变化的能源碳足迹改进算法及应用

为了充分反映区域生产性土地的碳吸收服务功能,准确表征能源消费碳排放对区域环境造成的压力,该文以江苏省为案例,根据区域实际土地利用变化和各类土地的净初级生产力对能源碳足迹核算方法进行了改进,并对改进后的能源碳足迹与经济发展之间的关系予以分析。结果表明:1999-2009年期间,采用Wackernagel算法,江苏省人均能源足迹由0.5184hm2增加到1.4626hm2;而采用改进算法,人均能源足迹由0.1771hm2增加到0.4194hm2,较原算法年均降低68.5%。人均能源足迹与人均GDP之间存在显著的抛物线关系和环境库兹涅茨现象;二者之间的脱钩指数持续小于1,并呈现逐渐明显的相对脱钩态势,表明当前江苏省经济增长对能源消费的依赖减弱,能源利用效率逐步提高。     

湖北省土地利用碳排放总量及其效率

[目的]分析区域碳排放总量及效率的变化特征,为全面把握研究区域经济发展质量,进一步提升资源利用效率提供理论依据。[方法]基于IPCC碳排放清单,运用DEA和Malmquist指数模型对湖北省2001—2011年土地利用碳排放效率进行分析。[结果](1)湖北省土地利用碳排放在研究时序内年均增长9.3%,增速低于GDP增速(14.13%),建设用地是土地利用碳排放的主要来源;(2)土地利用碳排放效率均值为0.803 6年,2006年前后效率呈现下降和上升的特征,效率变化与农业政策优惠、金融危机等外部因素互动特征显著;(3)研究时序内土地利用碳排放全要素效率年均提高24.64%,效率提升主要来自于技术进步,综合技术效率变化对效率提升主要起负面作用。[结论]湖北省土地利用碳排放总量持续增加,土地利用碳排放效率不足,土地利用碳排放全要素效率指数稳中有升。湖北省应着眼于调结构,控产能,在依托技术进步提升效率的同时,更加注重经济系统运行效率的提升。     

长江中下游典型区域土地利用碳排放风险——以江西省九江市为例

[目的]定量测算江西省九江市土地利用碳排放,揭示其时空演变特征,并估算土地利用碳排放风险,为九江市构建绿色低碳土地利用方式提供科学参考。[方法]采用土地利用碳排放系数法测度2000—2020年九江市土地利用碳排放和时空变化规律,并从网格化的视角,利用碳排放风险指数识别各县区碳排放风险,基于对数平均迪式指数(LMDI)模型,分析土地利用碳排放的影响因素。[结果] 2000—2020年九江市土地利用净碳排放量呈递增趋势,年均增幅为13.75%,建设用地是主要碳源,占碳排放量的90%以上,林地是主要碳汇。九江市净碳排放量呈现“东北高,西南低”的空间分布特征,森林覆盖率好的武宁县、修水县一直处于碳汇功能,濂溪区、浔阳区、湖口县、瑞昌市的碳排放量占九江市净碳排放量的95%以上。九江市土地利用碳排放风险整体偏低,并呈现“东北高,西南低”的分布特征,长江沿岸县区濂溪区、浔阳区和柴桑区处于高度碳排放风险区。经济发展水平是碳排放增加的主要因素,能源消费强度则是抑制碳排放的关键因素。[结论] 2000—2020年九江市土地利用碳排放大幅增加,应控制新增碳源用地,优化土地利用结构,并积极探索低碳绿色能源利用...     

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.