Spatio-temporal modelling of broad scale heterogeneity in soil moisture content: a basis for an ecologically meaningful classification of soil landscapes

We describe the classification of landscapes characterised bymineral soil using a model that calculates soil moisture availability on amonthly basis. Scotland is used as a case study area. The model uses potentialsoil moisture deficit, estimated using broad scale (40 × 40 km)climate patterns, in conjunction with meteorological station measurements toobtain finer scale values of climatic soil moisture deficit. Point estimates ofsoil available water are obtained for soil characteristics using appropriatepedotransfer functions, and geostatistical techniques are used to upscale theresults and interpolate to a 1-km grid. Known heterogeneityin soil physical characteristics is used to provide local corrections to thepotential soil moisture deficit, estimated using the climatic variables above.Temporal profiles of monthly water content are modelled for each1-km location and classified into six classes usingunsupervised cluster analysis. The spatial distribution of these classesreflects regional variations in the availability of moisture and energy, onwhich finer-grained topographic patterns are superimposed. In the case study,the broad scale spatial heterogeneity of heathlands and grasslands on mineralsoils in Scotland is shown to be strongly related to the soil moistureclassification. The results can be used in studies investigating the patternsofdistribution of communities at the landscape and regional scale.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A Gis-derived integrated moisture index to predict forest composition and productivity of Ohio forests (U.S.A.)

A geographic information system (GIS) approach was used in conjunction with forest-plot data to develop an integrated moisture index (IMI), which was then used to predict forest productivity (site index) and species composition for forests in Ohio. In this region, typical of eastern hardwoods across the Midwest and southern Appalachians, topographic aspect and position (rather than elevation) change drastically at the fine scale and strongly influence many ecological functions. Elevational contours, soil series mapping units, and plot locations were digitized for the Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest in southeastern Ohio and gridded to 7.5-m cells for GIS modeling. Several landscape features (a slope-aspect shading index, cumulative flow of water downslope, curvature of the landscape, and water-holding capacity of the soil) were used to create the IMI, which was then statistically analyzed with site-index values and composition data for plots. On the basis of IMI values for forest land harvested in the past 30 years, we estimated oak site index and the percentage composition of two major species groups in the region: oak (Quercus spp.), and yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) plus black cherry (Prunus serotina). The derived statistical relationships were then applied in the GIS to create maps of site index and composition, and verified with independent data. The maps show the oaks will dominate on dry, ridge top positions (i.e., low site index), while the yellow poplar and black cherry will predominate on mesic sites. Digital elevation models with coarser resolution (1:24K, 1:100K, 1:250K) also were tested in the same manner. We had generally good success for 1:24K, moderate success for 1:100K, but no success for 1:250K data. This simple and portable approach has the advantage of using readily available GIS information which is time-invariant and requires no fieldwork. The IMI can be used to better manage forest resources where moisture is limiting and to predict how the resource will change under various forms of ecosystem management.     

Multiscale control of vegetation patterns: the case of Doñana (SW Spain)

The early studies about the plant ecology of Doñana carried out at a small scale showed that the main process controlling vegetation composition of the stabilized dunes was soil water availability. However, the extrapolation of this model to larger spatial scales failed to explain observed vegetation patterns. In this work, the vegetation patterns and the processes causing them are studied at a larger scale. Data of topography, soil pH, electrical conductivity, and available iron allowed to distinguish three large geomorphologic zones on the stabilized dunes of the Doñana Biological Reserve which correspond to different dune building episodes. Different dune episodes showed differences in both water table depth and dynamics, which are due to groundwater flow systems of different scale. It is further manifested by differences in shrub composition. The results show that geomorphology controls the vegetation pattern at different scales mediated through water availability. Differences in water availability are due to the connection to groundwater flow systems of contrasted scale. On a small scale (10−10² m), along dune slopes, there is a gradient from dune ridges to slacks, from xerophyte to hygrophyte vegetation types. On a mesoscale (10²−10³ m), there are several dune episodes with variable topographic altitude, dominated by different types of xerophytes. On a regional scale (>10³ m), the discharges of the regional aquifer produce strong environmental and biotic stresses resulting in a mixed community.     

Climatic and topographic controls on patterns of fire in the southern and central Appalachian Mountains,USA

Climate and topography are two important controls on spatial patterns of fire disturbance in forests globally, via their influence on fuel moisture and fuel production. To assess the influences of climate and topography on fire disturbance patterns in a temperate forest region, we analyzed the mapped perimeters of fires that burned during 1930–2003 in two national parks in the eastern United States. These were Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) in the southern Appalachian Mountains and Shenandoah National Park (SNP) in the central Appalachian Mountains. We conducted GIS analyses to assess trends in area burned under differing climatic conditions and across topographic gradients (elevation, slope position, and aspect). We developed a Classification and Regression Tree model in order to further explore the interactions between topography, climate, and fire. The results demonstrate that climate is a strong driver of both spatial and temporal patterns of wildfire. Fire was most prevalent in the drier SNP than the wetter GSMNP, and during drought years in both parks. Topography also influenced fire occurrence, with relatively dry south-facing aspects, ridges, and lower elevations burning most frequently. However, the strength of topographic trends varied according to the climatic context. Weaker topographic trends emerged in the drier SNP than GSMNP, and during low-PDSI (dry) years than high-PDSI (wet) years in both parks. The apparent influence of climate on the spatial patterning of fire suggests a more general concept, that disturbance-prone landscapes exhibit weaker fine-scale spatial patterning of disturbance than do less disturbance-prone landscapes.     

Topography-mediated controls on local vegetation phenology estimated from MODIS vegetation index

Forest canopy phenology is an important constraint on annual water and carbon budgets, and responds to regional interannual climate variation. In steep terrain, there are complex spatial variations in phenology due to topographic influences on microclimate, community composition, and available soil moisture. In this study, we investigate spatial patterns of phenology in humid temperate forest as a function of topography. Moderate-resolution imaging spectro-radiometer (MODIS) vegetation indices are used to derive local patterns of topography-mediated vegetation phenology using a simple post-processing analysis and a non-linear model fitting. Elevation has the most explanatory power for all phenological variables with a strong linear relationship with mid-day of greenup period, following temperatures lapse rates. However, all other phenological variables show quadratic associations with elevation, reflecting an interaction between topoclimatic patterns of temperature and water availability. Radiation proxies also have significant explanatory power for all phenological variables. Though hillslope position cannot be adequately resolved at the MODIS spatial resolution (250 m) to discern impacts of local drainage conditions, extended periods of greenup/senescence are found to occur in wet years. These findings are strongly supported by previous field measurements at different topographic positions within the study area. The capability of detecting topography-mediated local phenology offers the potential to detect vegetation responses to climate change in mountainous terrain. In addition, the large, local variability of meteorological and edaphic conditions in steep terrain provides a unique opportunity to develop an understanding of canopy response to the interaction of climate and landscape conditions.     

Modeling Landscape Vegetation Pattern in Response to Historic Land-use: A Hypothesis-driven Approach for the North Carolina Piedmont,USA

Current methods of vegetation analysis often assume species response to environmental gradients is homogeneously monotonic and unimodal. Such an approach can lead to unsatisfactory results, particularly when vegetation pattern is governed by compensatory relationships that yield similar outcomes for various environmental settings. In this paper we investigate the advantages of using classification tree models (CART) to test specific hypotheses of environmental variables effecting dominant vegetation pattern in the Piedmont. This method is free of distributional assumptions and is useful for data structures that contain non-linear relationships and higher-order interactions. We also compare the predictive accuracy of CART models with a parametric generalized linear model (GLM) to determine the relative strength of each predictive approach. For each method, hardwood and pine vegetation is modeled using explanatory topographic and edaphic variables selected based on historic reconstructions of patterns of land use. These include soil quality, potential soil moisture, topographic position, and slope angle. Predictive accuracy was assessed on independent validation data sets. The CART models produced the more accurate predictions, while also emphasizing alternative environmental settings for each vegetation type. For example, relic hardwood stands were found on steep slopes, highly plastic soils, or hydric bottomlands – alternatives not well captured by the homogeneous GLM. Our results illustrate the potential utility of this flexible modeling approach in capturing the heterogeneous patterns typical of many ecological datasets.     

Forest gradient response in Sierran landscapes: the physical template

Vegetation pattern on landscapes is the manifestation of physical gradients, biotic response to these gradients, and disturbances. Here we focus on the physical template as it governs the distribution of mixed-conifer forests in California's Sierra Nevada. We extended a forest simulation model to examine montane environmental gradients, emphasizing factors affecting the water balance in these summer-dry landscapes. The model simulates the soil moisture regime in terms of the interaction of water supply and demand: supply depends on precipitation and water storage, while evapotranspirational demand varies with solar radiation and temperature. The forest cover itself can affect the water balance via canopy interception and evapotranspiration. We simulated Sierran forests as slope facets, defined as gridded stands of homogeneous topographic exposure, and verified simulated gradient response against sample quadrats distributed across Sequoia National Park. We then performed a modified sensitivity analysis of abiotic factors governing the physical gradient. Importantly, the model's sensitivity to temperature, precipitation, and soil depth varies considerably over the physical template, particularly relative to elevation. The physical drivers of the water balance have characteristic spatial scales that differ by orders of magnitude. Across large spatial extents, temperature and precipitation as defined by elevation primarily govern the location of the mixed conifer zone. If the analysis is constrained to elevations within the mixed-conifer zone, local topography comes into play as it influences drainage. Soil depth varies considerably at all measured scales, and is especially dominant at fine (within-stand) scales. Physical site variables can influence soil moisture deficit either by affecting water supply or water demand; these effects have qualitatively different implications for forest response. These results have clear implications about purely inferential approaches to gradient analysis, and bear strongly on our ability to use correlative approaches in assessing the potential responses of montane forests to anthropogenic climatic change.     

滇西北松口蘑菌塘的生态因子调查

以滇西北丽江市拉市乡松口蘑(Tricholoma matsutake)产地为例,进行了松口蘑菌塘生态因子的调查。结果发现:(1)松口蘑菌塘多集群分布于狭窄的山脊及西南坡,坡面坡度在30~60°之间,上层云南松荫蔽度0.4~0.6,下层高山栎、黄背栎等灌木丛荫蔽度达0.7~0.9,落叶层及腐质层1~6 cm;(2)出菇期间菌塘地表附近空气的平均温度14.1℃,平均相对湿度78.7%;(3)出菇期间菌塘的地下温度在15.0~20.5℃之间,西南坡的菌塘温度相对较高;(4)菌塘土壤的含水量比非菌塘土壤的含水量低,出菇期间平均低16.7%;(5)菌塘土pH约为5.5,比非菌塘土低7.9%;(6)菌塘土除全钾的含量比非菌塘土高之外,其余营养成分均比非菌塘的低。     

Water requirement,crop coefficient and water-use efficiency of ‘Robusta’ banana under different soil covers and soil moisture regimes

Provision and soil covers in a ‘Robusta’ banana plantation considerably reduced consumptive use of water and number of irrigations needed throughout the period of crop growth. Consumptive use ranged from 1024 mm under 800-gauge thick black polyethylene cover at 60% depletion of available soil moisture to 1560 mm under no cover treatment at 20% depletion. There was a perceptible increase in water-use efficiency under soil covers at low available soil moisture depletion levels. Soil covers reduced the periodic crop coefficient values compared with bare soil, indicating the reduced (23–33%) water requirement of banana plants under soil covers. High crop coefficient values recorded up to 5 months after planting indicated high consumptive use of water during that period. Using the crop coefficient values and corresponding period reference crop evapotranspiration, periodic water requirement of ‘Robusta’ banana for profitable production could be estimated.     

Quantifying the agricultural landscape and assessing spatio-temporal patterns of precipitation and groundwater use

Quantitative agricultural landscape indices are useful to describe functional relationships among climatic conditions, groundwater dynamics, soil properties and agricultural land use for mathematical models. We applied methods of regression statistics, variance component estimation and a Geographical Information System (GIS) to construct indices describing crops and soils and to establish functional relationships among these variables. This paper describes the development of indices and the partitioning of the spatial and temporal variation in groundwater models using the data from Tulare County, California, which was selected as the study area. Indices of ground surface elevation, total crop water demand, soil water infiltration rate, and soil production index explain 91% of the variation in average spring groundwater level. After relating spatial patterns of groundwater use to indices of crop and soil properties, we found that mean groundwater use is positively related to total crop water demand and soil water infiltration rate while the variation in groundwater use was negatively correlated with the crop water demand and soil water infiltration rate and positively related to soil water holding capacity. The spatial variation in groundwater use was largely influenced by crops and soil types while the temporal variation was not. We also found that groundwater use increased exponentially with decreasing annual precipitation for most townships. Based on these associations, groundwater use in each township can be forecast from relative precipitation under current methods of agricultural production. Although groundwater table depth is strongly affected by topography, the statistically significant indices observed in the model clearly show that agricultural land use influences groundwater table depth. These simple relationships can be used by agronomists to make water management decisions and to design alternative cropping systems to sustain agricultural production during periods of surface water shortages.     

High and dry: high elevations disproportionately exposed to regional climate change in Mediterranean-climate landscapes

Context

Predicting climate-driven species’ range shifts depends substantially on species’ exposure to climate change. Mountain landscapes contain a wide range of topoclimates and soil characteristics that are thought to mediate range shifts and buffer species’ exposure. Quantifying fine-scale patterns of exposure across mountainous terrain is a key step in understanding vulnerability of species to regional climate change.

Objectives

We demonstrated a transferable, flexible approach for mapping climate change exposure in a moisture-limited, mountainous California landscape across 4 climate change projections under phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) for mid-(2040–2069) and end-of-century (2070–2099).

Methods

We produced a 149-year dataset (1951–2099) of modeled climatic water deficit (CWD), which is strongly associated with plant distributions, at 30-m resolution to map climate change exposure in the Tehachapi Mountains, California, USA. We defined climate change exposure in terms of departure from the 1951–1980 mean and historical range of variability in CWD in individual years and 3-year moving windows.

Results

Climate change exposure was generally greatest at high elevations across all future projections, though we encountered moderate topographic buffering on poleward-facing slopes. Historically dry lowlands demonstrated the least exposure to climate change.

Conclusions

In moisture-limited, Mediterranean-climate landscapes, high elevations may experience the greatest exposure to climate change in the 21st century. High elevation species may thus be especially vulnerable to continued climate change as habitats shrink and historically energy-limited locations become increasingly moisture-limited in the future.

     

Soil and water conservation techniques in cashew grown along steep hill slopes

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.), the highest foreign exchange earning perennial horticultural crop in India is generally grown as a rainfed crop along steep slopes of hills or on neglected land unsuitable for any other crop. In India, cashew experiences severe moisture stress from January to May, adversely affects its flowering and fruit set. In order to harvest the rainwater and to make it available to the cashew plant during critical period, an in situ soil and water conservation experiment was conducted at Directorate of Cashew Research, Puttur, Karnataka, India during 2003–2010. This experiment was laid along contour with five treatments namely, modified crescent bunds, coconut husk burial, reverse terraces, catch pits and control plot without any soil and water conservation. Among the treatments, modified crescent bund and coconut husk burial were superior. These two treatments reduced the annual runoff (22.3 and 20.4% of the annual rainfall compared to 36.9% of the annual rainfall in control), soil loss (47 and 49% of control) and nutrient loss. Also it increased the mean soil moisture content, growth of plants, yield of cashew (6.45 and 6.60 t/ha respectively compared to 4.88 t/ha in control for the first 5 harvests) and net profit from cashew garden (40% more than control). In addition to this, the groundwater level in nearby wells and ponds increased. Hence, the barren land even in steep slopes with proper soil and water conservation measures can be effectively utilized for cashew cultivation.     

冀北坝上沙化土地沙棘人工林的生态效益

为明确沙棘人工林对冀北坝上沙化土地的改善效果,以坝上沙化土地的沙棘林为研究对象,通过设置样地,测定其风速并计算防风效能和地表粗糙度,研究沙棘林的防风固沙效应;通过设置样方,利用丰富度指数(R₀)、Simpson指数(D)、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H)、Pielou均匀度指数(E)分析沙棘林地和荒坡地植物物种丰富度和结构特点;通过做土壤剖面,测定沙棘林地和荒坡土壤的理化性质。结果表明,沙棘林地和荒坡的粗糙度均随着季节呈逐渐升高的趋势,且沙棘林地的粗糙度大于荒坡,防风效果显著;沙棘林地的草本植物种比荒坡多8种,物种更丰富,且群落结构更为稳定;沙棘林地各土层土壤的自然含水率、持水量、孔隙度和全氮、全磷、全钾、碱解氮、速效钾含量均显著高于荒坡,沙棘林地土壤pH值范围为6.24～7.08,土壤有机质含量在14.75～16.71 g/kg之间,均显著优于荒坡。由此可见,在冀北坝上沙化地区种植沙棘,可促进防风固沙,提高植物物种丰富度和改善土壤理化性质。     

西藏色季拉山铁线莲种质资源及其生境类型

色季拉山有铁线莲１３种,其中７种仅分布于东坡,１种仅分布于西坡。其生境类型可分类亚热带森林型,暖温带森林型、温型森林型和林缘广布型,以暖温型森林型和温带森林型的种类居多。观赏型可分为常绿型,薄膜型和厚萼型,以厚萼型居多。俞氏铁线莲处于濒危状态。     

蔗叶不同还田模式对土壤水分和甘蔗产量的影响

田间试验研究了蔗叶不同还田模式对旱地蔗园土壤水分和甘蔗产量的影响。结果表明,蔗叶不同还田模式的甘蔗产量差异不显著,蔗叶全覆盖还田与蔗叶隔行覆盖还田处理的总苗数较焚烧处理差异达极显著性水平（P〈0.01）,有效茎与焚烧处理差异达显著性水平（P〈0.05）。蔗叶全覆盖还田与蔗叶隔行覆盖还田对宿根蔗垄上前期与后期的土壤水分保持效果较好,不同蔗叶还田模式对甘蔗行间的土壤水分保持效果较好。     

Landscape-scale characteristics of forest tornado damage in mountainous terrain

Context

Landscape patterns created by natural disturbance such as windstorms can affect forest regeneration, carbon cycling, and other ecological processes.

Objectives

We develop a method for remotely measuring tornado damage severity and describe landscape-scale patterns of tornado damage. We examine the extent and distribution of damage severity and gaps created by tornadoes, and examine how topographic variation can influence tornado damage severity.

Methods

Focusing on two April 2011 tornadoes that struck the Chattahoochee National Forest (CNF) in Georgia and the Great Smoky Mountains (GSM) in Tennessee, we used supervised classification of aerial photographs to map damage severity. We report the extent and distribution of damage severity from each track and characterize patterns of damage using FragStats. Using topographic overlays, we test hypotheses regarding how physiographic features such as valleys and ridges affect tornado damage severity.

Results

Tornado damage severity estimates were significantly correlated with ground-truth measurements. The 64-km CNF track damaged 1712 ha (>25 % severity), while the 26-km GSM track damaged 1407 ha. Tornado damage severity was extremely variable and frequency of gap sizes drastically decreased with size, with many small gaps and few very large gaps, consistent with other types of wind damage. Damage severity declined as tornadoes ascended ridges and increased as they descended ridges. This effect was more consistent on shallow slopes relative to steeper slopes.

Conclusions

This study outlines an objective methodology for remotely characterizing tornado damage severity. The results from this study fill an important gap in ecological understanding of the spatial components of the forest tornado disturbance regime.

     

Some Experiments to Investigate the Control of Apple Sawfly,Hoplocampa Testudinea (Klug), by Concentrate Sprays

Eight-year-old trees of Laxton’s Superb apple on M.II rootstock growing on loamy fine sand of low moisture retention were used to study growth and crop responses to different soil moisture conditions from 1953 to i960 inclusive. Water was applied when soil moisture tensiometers set at 1 ft. depth indicated tensions of : A, 10 cm. Hg ; B, 20 cm. Hg ; C, 50 cm. Hg. Treatment D was unwatered.

Water was applied to an area 12 ft. in diameter around each tree, which was about one-third of the ground area available to each tree. The average amount of water required by each treatment during a season was equivalent to : A, 4-1 ; B, 3-5 ; C, 2-1 inches over its whole area.

Comparison of soil moisture deficits in the unwatered plots in the very dry season of 1959 with amounts of water applied to the other trees suggested that the rate of water loss throughout the experiment was not seriously affected by the treatments applied.

The water treatments stimulated trunk and shoot growth ; growth differences between differently treated trees could be adequately explained in terms of soil moisture tension and root-occupied soil volume. Evidence was found of serious leaching under the wettest treatment, and this may have caused a lower growth and crop response to treatment A than to B in the later years of the trial.

Crop increases were directly related to growth increases. Despite the marked effects of water treatments on shoot numbers and on crop increase the growth and crop relationship was virtually unchanged.

Treatments A, B and C increased total crops by 40%, 46% and 25% respectively, and marketable crops by 44%, 55% and 42% respectively. There was no marked effect of treatment on fruit size, though the increased proportion of fruit of a commercial size from the watered trees was of importance. Treatment B provided the largest total and marketable crops, but treatment C provided the greatest increase in marketable crop for each inch of water applied.     

库布齐沙漠北缘几种机械沙障对沙丘土壤水分的影响

以库布齐沙漠北缘七星湖景区所铺设6种沙障的沙丘土壤为研究对象,通过野外取样,测定6种沙障(平铺式沙柳沙障、芦苇沙障、玉米秆沙障、葵花秆沙障、低立式沙柳沙障、高立式尼龙网沙障)和裸沙丘不同坡位、不同深度的土壤含水率.结果表明:6种沙障和裸沙丘在垂直方向上土壤含水率的变化趋势一致;从铺设方式和沙障材料的角度分析沙障对土壤水分的保持效果,平铺式沙柳沙障较低立式效果好;平铺式芦苇沙障和葵花秆沙障较沙柳沙障、玉米秆沙障效果好.在迎风坡,平铺式芦苇沙障土壤含水率最大,其值为3.52％;在坡顶和背风坡处,平铺式葵花秆沙障的土壤含水率最大,其值分别为1.28％和2.31％00.综合分析认为,从保持沙丘水分这一角度出发,建议在沙丘的迎风坡铺设平铺式芦苇沙障,而在坡顶和背风坡,则应优先考虑铺设平铺式葵花秆沙障.     

Effects of deficit irrigation on biomass,yield, water productivity and fruit quality of processing tomato under semi-arid Mediterranean climate conditions

Processing tomato is a high water demanding crop, thus requiring irrigation throughout growing season in arid and semiarid areas. The application of deficit irrigation (DI) strategies to this crop may greatly contribute to save irrigation water. A two-year study was carried out in order to assess the effects of DI upon water productivity, final biomass, fruit yield and some quality traits of open-field processing tomato cv. Brigade in a typical semi-arid Mediterranean environment of South Italy. Four irrigation treatments were studied: no irrigation following plant establishment (V0); 100% (V100) or 50% (V50) evapotranspiration (ETc) restoration up to fruit maturity, 100% ETc restoration up to flowering, then 50% ETc restoration (V100-50). Total dry biomass accumulation was significantly depressed by early soil water deficit in V0; irrigation at a reduced rate (50% ETc) from initial stages (V50) or from flowering onwards (V100-50) did not induce any losses in final dry biomass. The marketable yield did not significantly differ among plots irrigated, but an averaged irrigation water saving of 30.4% in V100-50 and 46.2% in V50 was allowed as compared to V100. Marketable yield was negatively affected by the early water shortage in V0, due to the high fruit losses (>44%). The effects of DI on fruit quality were generally the converse of those on fruit yield. DI improved total soluble solids content, titratable acidity and vitamin C content. Water use efficiency was positively affected by DI, suggesting that the crop does not benefits from the water when this last is supplied to fulfil total crop requirements for the whole season. Yield response factor, which indicates the level of tolerance of a crop to water stress, was 0.49 for total dry biomass (Kss) and 0.76 for marketable yield (Ky), indicating that in both cases the reduction in crop productivity is proportionally less than the relative ET deficit. In conclusion, the adoption of DI strategies where a 50% reduction of ETc restored is applied for the whole growing season or part of it could be suggested in processing tomato, to save water improving its use efficiency, minimizing fruit losses and maintaining high fruit quality levels. This aspect is quite important in semi-arid environments, where water scarcity is an increasing concern and water costs are continuously rising.