喀斯特槽谷区坡面集中水流曼宁系数变化特征

[目的]探究喀斯特槽谷区不同岩石与坡面夹角影响下地表集中水流阻力变化特征,为该区土壤侵蚀模型构建提供科学依据。[方法]在3个坡度(10°,15°,20°),3个冲刷流量(5,7.5,10 L/min)和6个岩石与坡面夹角角度(30°,60°,90°,120°,150°,180°)组合条件下开展室内放水冲刷试验,研究喀斯特槽谷区不同岩石与坡面夹角下地表集中水流曼宁系数的变化规律及其影响因素。[结果](1)地表集中水流曼宁系数n随冲刷历时呈迅速增大再缓慢增长或趋于稳定的变化趋势。不同夹角的n值大小顺序为:n_(180°)n_(150°)n_(90°)n_(30°)n_(120°)n_(60°)。(2)当岩石与坡面夹角大于30°时,n与水深h显著相关,夹角为30°时,二者关系不显著;试验条件下,n与雷诺数Re关系不显著,与弗汝德数Fr呈显著幂函数负相关。(3)相对水深曼宁系数n/h随夹角增大呈先增后减的变化趋势。(4)岩石与坡面夹角大于30°时,n/h与Re均呈幂函数负相关,夹角为30°时,二者关系不显著;不同岩石与坡面夹角的n/h与Fr关系均不显著。[结论]喀斯特槽谷区坡面集中水流曼宁系数n受岩石与坡面夹角的显著影响,随夹角增大总体呈先减后增的趋势。     

喀斯特槽谷区不同岩石与坡面夹角下集中流侵蚀水动力学特征

喀斯特槽谷区地表出露岩石与坡面成不同夹角显著改变地表集中水流特性,进而影响地表侵蚀过程。目前,不同岩石与坡面夹角下的坡面集中流侵蚀水动力特征动态变化过程还不清楚。通过室内模拟放水冲刷试验,研究了6个岩石与坡面夹角角度（30°、60°、90°、120°、150°、180°）、3个坡度（10°、15°、20°）、3个流量（5、7.5、10 L·min-1）组合条件下喀斯特槽谷区坡面土壤侵蚀率与水动力学变化过程。结果表明：在各岩石与坡面夹角下,随冲刷历时的推延,土壤侵蚀率（E）先波动性减小后逐渐趋于稳定,水流功率（ω）呈波动变化但趋势不明显,单位水流功率（Up）逐渐减小,水流剪切力（τ）和过水断面单位能量（ε）波动性逐渐增大;夹角150°时平均土壤侵蚀率（0.078 kg·m-2·s-1）最大,随着夹角增大,τ、ω和ε均呈先减小后增大,Up整体呈减小的变化趋势,各夹角下水动力学指标间差异均显著（P<0.05）;E、τ、ω和Up随坡度和流量的增大而增大,ε随流量增大而增大,随坡度变化不明显;试验条件下,E与τ（R2=0.603）、ω（R2=0.600）和Up（R2=0.583）间的关系用幂函数方程描述较好,与ε间的关系则用线性方程描述较好（R2=0.294）;相比而言,水流剪切力可更好地描述喀斯特槽谷区不同岩石与坡面夹角坡面的土壤侵蚀率。研究结果为揭示喀斯特槽谷区不同岩石与坡面夹角下坡面集中水流侵蚀水动力学机制提供了理论依据。     

模拟降雨条件下坡面水流流速与径流输出特征研究

利用室内人工模拟降雨试验,研究不同坡度径流小区的水流流速与径流输出特征间的关系。研究结果表明:定坡长土槽坡度变化为5~20°时,水流流速随着坡面坡度的增加呈递增趋势;同时,同一坡度下坡面水流流速随时间的变化大体上是增加的过程;在模拟降雨条件下,30 min内坡面水流速度的变化趋势分为3个阶段:降雨径流产生初期,坡面微形态的形成阶段和侵蚀沟形成阶段。在25°坡面上,这3个阶段的界限不明显。另外,得出了径流量输出特征与水流速度有着密切的幂函数相关关系,且5°,10°,15°,20°坡面流速与径流量的相关系数在0.9左右,但25°坡面的相关系数较小。根据方差得出,5~25°坡面流速与径流量关系显著,坡度越大,流速对径流量的影响越显著,并分析出20~25°是坡地土壤侵蚀的临界坡度。     

土壤结皮坡面流水动力学特征

为了深入探讨土壤结皮对侵蚀的影响机制以及两者之间的关系,以10°坡为例,在变流量(1.0,1.4,2.0,2.4和2.8 L/min)条件下进行室内冲刷试验,研究土壤结皮坡面径流水动力学特征(平均流速、平均径流深度、雷诺数、水流剪切力、水流功率、阻力系数)并分析坡面流水动力学参数与土壤侵蚀量的关系。结果表明,土壤结皮对坡面流水动力学参数影响显著。土壤结皮坡面雷诺数始终小于500,坡面流流态为层流;土壤结皮坡面具有较大坡面流流速,较小径流深度、水流剪切力和水流功率。结皮坡面的土壤侵蚀量明显低于无结皮坡面的土壤侵蚀量。土壤侵蚀量与坡面水动力学参数相关关系显著(相关系数R0.90),土壤侵蚀量与雷诺数呈线性正相关,与水流剪切力、水流功率的对数呈线性正相关,与阻力系数呈线性负相关。因此,在本研究中,单纯从径流冲刷侵蚀的角度土壤结皮的存在有利于减小坡面土壤侵蚀量。由于降雨因素对土壤结皮的侵蚀效应影响较大,将雨滴打击与径流冲刷相结合才能更好地研究土壤结皮对侵蚀的影响机制。     

冻融坡面水蚀动力参数动态响应时空演化过程

为揭示冻融作用对坡面土壤水蚀的影响,探究春季解冻期坡面土壤的水蚀动力参数动态响应时空演化过程,采用2个坡度(10°,15°)、4个流量(4.5,6.5,8.5,10.5L/min)和4个起始解冻深度(2,5,10,15cm),进行野外径流冲刷试验,系统地分析冻融坡面水蚀动力参数雷诺数、弗劳德数、流速、水流剪切力、水流功率和单位水流功率在不同起始解冻深度、不同流量和不同坡度条件下的时空演化过程。结果表明:冻融坡面水蚀动力参数雷诺数、流速、水流剪切力和水流功率随流量的增加呈增加趋势;水流剪切力、水流功率与单位水流功率随坡度增加而增大;水流剪切力和水流功率随起始解冻深度的加深而增大;雷诺数、弗劳德数、流速和单位水流功率随起始解冻深度的变化趋势不明显,其起始解冻深度为5cm时,水蚀动力参数随时间变化最为剧烈;建立了冻融坡面水蚀动力参数雷诺数(R~2=0.728)、水流剪切力(R~2=0.644)、水流功率(R~2=0.721)、流速(R~2=0.533)和单位水流功率(R~2=0.553)的幂函数预测方程。     

坡面流水动力学特性研究

采用变坡水槽研究了坡面流水动力学参数 (流态、流速、水深及阻力系数 )随流量和坡度的变化规律。结果表明 ,坡面流流态与水深密切相关 ,当水流深度小于 0 .316 cm时 ,坡面流呈过渡流 ,水深大于 0 .316 cm时呈紊流流态 ;当坡度为 5～ 2 5°、单宽流量为 0 .6 2 5～ 12 .5× 10 - 3m3/(s· m)时 ,坡面流平均流速和平均水深主要受流量控制 ,坡度的影响并不显著 ,可用简单的线性函数来模拟平均流速、水深与流量和坡度间的关系 (r2分别为 0 .89,0 .78) ;当流量小于 0 .0 0 2 m3/s时 ,坡度对阻力系数的影响较为显著 ,当流量大于 0 .0 0 2 m3/s时 ,阻力系数基本受流量控制 ,随着流量增大 ,阻力系数呈幂函数形式下降。这说明坡面流的水动力学特性与明渠水流存在较大差异 ,在坡面水蚀机理分析、土壤侵蚀物理模型的构造过程中应予以充分考虑。     

黄河班多水电站工程区荒草地坡面径流型态试验研究

雷诺数是坡面水流水力学重要参数之一,阐明坡面水流雷诺数变化的特征将有助于从动力学角度认识坡面侵蚀过程的内在机制。采用野外人工放水试验方法,对黄河班多水电站工程区荒草地坡面径流型态进行了试验研究,结果表明:(1)荒草地坡面水流型态判别指标雷诺数随供水过程的变化,在不同供水流量及不同坡度下都随供水历时的增长而先增大后趋于稳定,变化过程皆可用对数方程描述;(2)荒草地坡面水流平均雷诺数随供水流量及坡度的增大而增大,可分别用幂函数方程和指数方程描述,随坡度及供水流量的变化可用二元幂函数方程描述;(3)不同供水流量及不同坡度下,荒草地坡面水流雷诺数均小于500。次产流过程的坡面水流平均雷诺数变化为86~339,试验条件下工程区荒草地坡面水流型态均处于层流。     

工程堆积体坡面径流水动力学参数及其相互关系

工程堆积体具有独特的土壤组成及复杂的下垫面条件,其土壤抗冲性极差,径流条件下堆积体陡坡坡面关键的水动力学参数及其相互关系亦表现出不同的特点,为探明工程堆积体坡面径流水动力学参数及其相互关系,该文采用30、40、50、60 L/min 4个流量,对24°、28°、32°共3个坡度的堆积体边坡(20 m×5 m标准监测小区)进行模拟放水冲刷试验,选取径流流速、水深、雷诺数、弗汝德数、径流阻力系数、水流剪切应力、径流功率等参数进行分析。结果表明:工程堆积体坡面侵蚀位置主要集中在坡面上部(0~10 m),侵蚀时段主要集中在产流后期(12~30 min);流速随坡度和流量的增大而增大,坡度对流速的影响大于流量;随着坡面流由层流向紊流、急流向缓流的过渡,坡面径流阻力系数随之增大;基于水流剪切应力和径流功率分别计算获得的工程堆积体坡面细沟侵蚀土壤可蚀性参数分别为2.63×10-2 s/m和0.1 s2/m2,对应的临界侵蚀径流功率为0.8 N/(m·s)。研究结果可为坡面措施的配置提供一定的理论支撑,也能为工程堆积体土壤侵蚀预报模型的建立提供部分基础参数。     

工程堆积体陡坡坡面径流水动力学特性

通过野外放水试验,对高速公路沿线典型堆积体陡坡(36°)在模拟径流冲刷条件下的坡面径流水动力学特性进行了研究,结果表明,平均流速与径流深均随流量的增加呈幂函数增加,不同坡面径流状态下(薄层水流和细沟流)流量的指数不同,且各自与室内研究结果有所差异;不同坡段的平均流速随坡长增加呈“S”形曲线变化.堆积体陡坡坡面径流属急流范畴,由过渡流向紊流转变的临界放水流量在20～25 L/min之间.Darcy-Weisbach阻力系数(f)与径流雷诺数(Re)之间存在幂函数正相关关系,与弗罗德数(Fr)之间存在幂函数负相关关系,不同坡段的平均阻力系数与坡长呈双曲线函数关系.     

坡面土壤剥蚀率及其与水流含沙量的关系研究

为研究天然降雨条件下坡面土壤剥蚀率及其与水流含沙量的关系,通过在野外15°径流小区分多层多区段同时布设不同稀土元素进行连续天然降雨试验.结果表明:距坡顶4 m坡段内的土壤剥蚀率在首次产流初期相对较大;随着坡面下部细沟的出现,距坡脚2 m的坡段内,水流剥蚀逐渐以细沟流剥蚀为主,土壤剥蚀率在整个坡面内最大;坡面各段土壤剥蚀率的变化过程同降雨强度的变化趋势基本一致;在次降雨过程及全年的降雨中坡面各段土壤剥蚀率随水流含沙量的增加呈幂函数递增.     

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.     

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.     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Increase in auxiliary photoprotective photosynthetic pigments in wheat seedlings induced by Azospirillum brasilense

Inoculation of wheat seedlings with the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Cd was immobilized in alginate microbeads and, without applying any stress, significantly increased the quantity of several photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and the auxiliary photoprotective pigments violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheroxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin, and β-carotene. This resulted in greener plants with no apparent visible stress. After monitoring the quantity of photosynthetic pigments for 4 weeks, we observed that inoculated plants had higher quantities of pigments in shoot and stem. The greatest difference in the quantity of all pigments between inoculated and noninoculated plants occurred in the first week of growth. Regardless of treatment, the quantity of pigments in stems was three to four times less than the quantity of these pigments in shoots. Application of Azospirillum, either as liquid inoculant or as alginate microbeads, did not alter the positive effect of the bacteria on pigment production or the positive response of the plants towards A. brasilense Cd inoculation.     

Responses of native legume desert trees used for reforestation in the Sonoran Desert to plant growth-promoting microorganisms in screen house

Three slow-growing legume trees used for desert reforestation and urban gardening in the Sonoran Desert of Northwestern Mexico and the Southwestern USA were evaluated whether their growth can be promoted by inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus pumilus), unidentified arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (mainly Glomus sp.), and supplementation with common compost under regular screenhouse cultivation common to these trees in nurseries. Mesquite amargo (Prosopis articulata) and yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla) had different positive responses to several of the parameters tested while blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida) did not respond. Survival of all tree species was over 80% and survival of mesquite was almost 100% after 10 months of cultivation. Inoculation with growth-promoting microorganisms induced significant effects on the leaf gas exchange of these trees, measured as transpiration and diffusive resistance, when these trees were cultivated without water restrictions.