Effects of shrub species and microhabitats on dew formation in a revegetation-stabilized desert ecosystem in Shapotou,northern China

Dew is an important supplement water source in arid and semi-arid areas. In order to determine the dew formation on different kinds of soils associated with various shrub species and microhabitats, we performed measurement of accumulated dew formation amount and duration in October 2009 in a revegetation-stabilized arid desert ecosystem in Shapotou area, northern China. The results indicated that the accumulated dew formation amount was four times larger at open spaces as compared to under the canopy, and it was nearly twice as much under living Artemisia ordosica plants（L.A.） as compared to under living Caragana korshinskii plants（L.C.）. The opposite characteristics were found for dew duration between different microhabitats. Dew amounts at different vertical heights around the shrub stands were in the order of 50 cm above the canopy〉the canopy edge〉under the canopy. Dew amount continued to increase after dawn, and the proportion of average accumulated dew amount after dawn accounting for the average maximum amount increased from above the canopy to under the canopy. Dew formation duration after sunrise accounted for more than 50% of the total formation duration during the day time. Contrary to the distribution characteristics of dew amount, dew duration after dawn and total dew formation duration during the day time were both highest under the canopy, followed by at the canopy edge and then at 50 cm above the canopy. The portion of dew duration after dawn accounting for the total dew duration during the day time increased from above the canopy to under the canopy. From these results, we may conclude that dew availability as a supplemental water resource for improving the microhabitats in water-limited arid ecosystems is position dependent especially for the plant microhabitats at different stands layers.     

Lesion development factors following inoculation ofSclerotinia sclerotiorum mycelium to eggplant,tomato and French bean

The inoculation of different isolates ofSclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de at various host sites showed that infection severity differed between sites on the same host, but not between isolates. We suggest that these differences are due to variations in relative humidity between the ambient conditions within the plant canopy rather than to different susceptibilities to infection of the plant organs.     

Spatial variability of leaf wetness under different soil water conditions in rainfed jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) in the loess hilly region,China

Leaf wetness provides a wide range of benefits not only to leaves,but also to ecosystems and communities.It regulates canopy eco-hydrological processes and drives spatial differences in hydrological flux.In spite of these functions,little remains known about the spatial distribution of leaf wetness under different soil water conditions.Leaf wetness measurements at the top(180 cm),middle(135 cm),and bottom(85 cm)of the canopy positions of rainfed jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.)in the Chinese loess hilly region were obtained along with meteorological and soil water conditions during the growing seasons in 2019 and 2020.Under soil water non-deficit condition,the frequency of occurrence of leaf wetness was 5.45%higher at the top than at the middle and bottom of the canopy positions.The frequency of occurrence of leaf wetness at the top,middle and bottom of the canopy positions was over 80%at 17:00?18:00(LST).However,the occurrence of leaf wetness at the top was earlier than those at the middle and bottom of the canopy positions.Correspondingly,leaf drying at the top was also latter than those at the middle and bottom of the canopy positions.Leaf wetness duration at the middle was similar to that at the bottom of the canopy position,but about 1.46-3.01 h less than that at the top.Under soil water deficit condition,the frequency of occurrence of leaf wetness(4.92%-45.45%)followed the order of top>middle>bottom of the canopy position.As the onset of leaf wetness was delayed,the onset of wet leaf drying was advanced and the leaf wetness duration was shortened.Leaf wetness duration at the top was linearly related(R²>0.70)to those at the middle and bottom of the canopy positions under different soil water conditions.In conclusion,the hydrological processes at canopy surfaces of rainfed jujube depended on the position of leaves,thus adjusting canopy structure to redistribute hydrological process is a way to meet the water need of jujube.     

The survival and saprophytic competitive ability of the Botrytis spp. antagonist Ulocladium atrum in lily canopies

In 1995, conidia of Ulocladium atrum were applied to a canopy of green lily (Lillium spp.) leaves in order to investigate its survival, colonisation of artificially induced necrotic leaf tissues and competitive ability against Botrytis spp. and naturally occurring saprophytes. U. atrum conidia density cm^-2 at the top and middle canopy levels was not significantly different following application of the antagonist with a propane powered backpack sprayer. In repeat experiments, conidia density on leaves at the lower canopy level was 18% to 20% of that deposited onto leaves at the top of the lily canopy. There was a significant (P < 0.001) linear decline of U. atrum conidia over time and after 21 days conidia density had declined by up to 73%. Germination of U. atrum on green leaves in the field reached a maximum of 81%, seven days after antagonist application. Conidial viability, measured as germination potential, declined slightly (100% to 88%) after seven days exposure to field conditions but there were no further changes in the germination potential even after 21 days of field exposure. The germination potential was not affected by canopy level. The ability of surviving U. atrum conidia to colonise necrotic tissues, artificially induced with paraquat, was measured. U. atrum colonisation was consistently highest on necrotic leaves at the top level of the canopy and consistently lower on leaves from the bottom canopy level. Necrotic leaf colonisation by U. atrum decreased over time from 51% (necrosis induced immediately after antagonist application) to 21% when necrosis was induced 21 days after antagonist application. A significant (P < 0.001) linear relationship (R² = 0.713) between colonisation of necrotic tissues and conidia density prior to induction of necrosis was detected. When necrosis was induced immediately after antagonist application, U. atrum outcompeted commonly occurring saprophytic Alternaria spp. and Cladosporium spp. The ability of U. atrum to significantly reduce colonisation by Alternaria spp. was maintained for up to 21 days. Botrytis spp. did not occur in these field experiments. It was concluded that U. atrum had the ability to survive and persist in the phyllosphere for up to 21 days in the field and provided further evidence that U. atrum has the necessary survival characteristics to be a successful biological control agent of Botrytis spp.     

Effect of pest management systems on foliage- and grass-dwelling spider communities in an apple orchard in Hungary

Spider communities (Araneae) inhabiting the canopy, the herbaceous layer and the borders, as well as the populations overwintering on the tree trunks of different aged IPM and conventional apple orchards were investigated in Hungary. Abundance and species richness of entire spider communities in IPM plots were significantly higher than in conventional plots, probably owing to the lower toxicity of pesticides used and higher prey densities. In the case of abundance, similar tendencies were observed in web-building and hunting spider guilds. Age of plantations can significantly influence spider density in the canopy, acting through the prey density. In young plantations, where size of the canopy was smaller and density of the pear lace bug (Stephanitis pyri L.) higher, significantly higher numbers of hunting spider communities were present than in old plantations which had been similarly treated. This relationship was not observed for web-building spiders. Diversity of canopy-inhabiting spider communities was higher in old plots, regardless of the treatments. The effect of the border of the orchard on spider communities was investigated and it was found that when selective insecticides were used, migration of spiders into orchards was increased significantly. When broad-spectrum insecticides were applied, spider densities in the canopy did not differ between outer and inner rows of the orchards. The effect of the treatments and orchard age, both on abundance and species richness of overwintering spider communities on the trunk, showed the same result as for canopy spiders, namely significantly larger spider communities were found in IPM plots and in the young plantation than in conventionally-treated plots and in the old plantation. Broad-spectrum insecticides reduced abundance and species richness of spider communities in the herbaceous layer of the conventionally-treated plot. At the same time, the spider communities of the herbaceous layer of the IPM plot did not differ significantly from adjacent herbaceous plants. A significant overlap exists between spider communities of the canopy and herbaceous layer. Despite chemical treatments, migration from the herbaceous layer into the canopy occurs. The effects of chemical treatments on the dominant species are discussed. There were no significant differences between the differently treated plots in abundance of one of the dominant species Oxyopes heterophthalmus Latreille. However, the other dominant species, Cheiracanthium mildei L. Koch, was more abundant in the IPM plots.     

Effect of weed position on yield loss in soyabean and a comparison between relative weed cover and other regression models

The importance of the position of weeds with respect to crop rows in the determination of crop yield-weed density relationships and the usefulness of relative cover (RC) of the weeds as an explanatory variable were studied in soyabean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] competing with two summer weeds with contrasting canopy structure (Xanthium strumarium L. ssp. italicum and Echinochloa crus-galli L.). The position of the weeds was of little importance in the relationship between yield loss and weed density. This information is important because published experiments have used different types of weed distribution (e.g. evenly distributed or sown in rows). For both weed species it was possible to obtain a single relationship between yield loss and RC for measurements made from 30 days after crop emergence to soyabean canopy closure. The competitive effect of the weeds appeared to be strictly related to RC, indicating that for weeds growing taller than the crop the main competitive factor may be the shading caused by the leaves of the weeds situated above the crop canopy.     

Spinosad bait sprays against the olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae (Rossi)): effect on the canopy non-target arthropod fauna

Abundance and diversity of arthropods were compared in olive trees treated against the olive fruit fly with spinosad bait sprays and an untreated control, paying special attention to predators and parasitoids. Spinosad bait sprays did not reduce the abundance and diversity of arthropods as a whole in the canopy. However, principal response curve analysis revealed a significant deleterious effect of the treatments on natural enemies in the last of the three years of study. The most affected taxa were Anthocoridae (especially Orius spp.) and Aphelinidae.     

Changes in Pteridium aquilinum growth and phototoxicity following treatments with lime, sulphuric acid, wood ash, glyphosate and ammonium nitrate

The comparative effects of lime, sulphuric acid, wood ash, glyphosate and ammonium nitrate on Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn growth and development were evaluated in a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) clear-cut stand in south-east Sweden over a 4-year period. P. aquilinum growth was effectively controlled following the application of glyphosate, but the other treatments generally had little effect on growth in terms of shoot density and length. Shoot length was positively related to the number of shoots on plots treated with ammonium nitrate but negatively correlated with the number of P. aquilinum shoots found on wood ash-treated and control plots. In a bioassay aspen (Populus tremula L.) seedling emergence and pH were significantly lower in humus treated with sulphuric acid, glyphosate, ammonium nitrate and in untreated humus as compared with the humus treated with lime and wood ash. The negative effect of humus on emergence of aspen seedlings may be caused by phytotoxic compounds at a lower pH level. Forest regeneration might be performed with shade-tolerant species such as Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) planted beneath a thin canopy of trees to prevent the rapid increase of P. aquilinum.     

抗苹绵蚜的苹果砧木免疫系——山荆子JIN67

苹绵蚜为害苹果属值物地上部及根部,根部被害程度重于枝梢,但目前对其防治方法较少。采用枝梢罩微型笼和根部罩木箱的接种法测试苹果属8个种30个品种或品系,选出了山荆子 Jin67免疫系,用它作砧木可使根部免受苹绵蚜为害,并兼有矮化性、抗干腐病、白粉病和抗寒力强等优良特性,适合作苹果抗苹绵蚜及矮化的砧木。如在 Jin 67砧木上高位芽接栽培品种,主干主枝换成抗性植物后,能更好地发挥砧木抗苹绵蚜作用。     

Snow resisting capacity of Caragana microphylla and Achnatherum splendens in a typical steppe region of Inner Mongolia,China

Snow resisting capacity of vegetation is important for secondary distribution of water resources in seasonal snow areas of grassland because it affects the regeneration,growth and nutrient circulation of vegetation in grassland.This study investigated vegetation characteristics(canopy height,canopy length and crown width)of Caragana microphylla Lam.(shrub)and Achnatherum splendens(Trin.)Nevski.(herb),and snow morphologies(snow depth,snow width and snow braid length)in a typical steppe region of Inner Mongolia,China in 2017.And the influence of vegetation characteristic on snow resisting capacity(the indices of bottom area of snow and snow volume reflect snow resisting capacity)was analyzed.The results showed that snow morphology depends on vegetation characteristics of shrub and herb.The canopy height was found to have the greatest influence on snow depth and the crown width had the greatest influence on snow width.The canopy length was found to have little influence on morphological parameters of snow.When the windward areas of C.microphylla and A.splendens were within the ranges of 0.0-0.5 m2 and 0.0-8.0 m2,respectively,the variation of snow cover was large;however,beyond these areas,the variation of snow cover became gradually stable.The potential area of snow retardation for a single plant was 1.5-2.5 m2 and the amount of snow resistance was 0.15-0.20 m3.The bottom area of snow and snow volume(i.e.,snow resisting capacity)of clumped C.microphylla and A.splendens was found to be 4 and 25 times that of individual plant,respectively.The results could provide a theoretical basis both for the estimation of snow cover and the establishment of a plant-based technical system for the control of windblown snow in the typical steppe region of Inner Mongolia.     

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) response to weed and disease management in northern Ghana

Weeds and diseases can reduce peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) yield or increase cost of production to maintain acceptable yield. While herbicides and fungicides have limited availability in many areas of Ghana and currently are too expensive for resource-poor farmers, control by these pesticides can have a major positive impact on peanut yield. Field experiments were conducted during the rainy seasons of 2009 and 2010 in northern Ghana to determine the effects of herbicide and hand weeding in combination with fungicides on pest management and peanut yield. Peanut pod yield was often more highly correlated with disease severity and canopy defoliation resulting from early leaf spot (caused by Cercospora arachidicola Hori) and late leaf spot (caused by Cercosporidium personatum (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Deighton) than weed biomass. In some instances, less disease and canopy defoliation were observed when weeds were not controlled effectively compared with increased weed management through hand weeding or herbicide. Two hand weedings or applying pendimethalin preemergence with one hand weeding in combination with 4 applications of triadimefon and chlorothalonil resulted in the lowest weed density and canopy defoliation and often resulted in the highest peanut yield.     

冬小麦冠层截留及其消散过程

采用擦拭法测定冬小麦不同生育时期的冠层截留。研究发现冬小麦最大冠层截留量为1mm,发生在抽穗开花期,也是叶面积指数最大值时期。在冬小麦生长前期,冠层截留随着叶面积指数的增大而增大,后期冠层截留随着叶面积指数的减少而减少。冠层截留消散过程主要受空气温度和湿度等气象要素的影响,温度越高、相对湿度越低,冠层截留消散的越快;温度越低、相对湿度越高,冠层截留消散的越慢。冠层截留消散过程还受小麦水量的影响,在喷灌刚结束时,小麦植株上的水分多,冠层截留消散的较快,随着水分的蒸发,冠层截留消散的速度减慢。     

Effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid applied as a herbicide on fruit shedding and coffee yield

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) applied as a herbicide at two timings after coffee blossoming, on fruit shedding from lower or upper plagiotropic branches on the canopy, as well as on crop yield. 2,4-D was sprayed between the rows on a 0.75 m-wide strip of land, starting on the border of canopy projection. Toxicity to the plants, final crop yield per plant and fruit shedding (FS) were assessed. The identical FS was observed for both application timings. Control plots showed an FS 13% lower than those where the highest 2,4-D dose was employed. FS was greater on the lower branches (46.8%) than on the upper ones (39.4%). This was probably due to injury to the lower plant canopy caused by the 2,4-D drift. Ripe or dried cherries and coffee bean yield per plant were not affected. It was concluded that despite the increased FS in the lower plant canopy, final coffee production was not significantly affected in response to 2,4-D application.     

Canopy cover or remotely sensed vegetation index,explanatory variables of above-ground biomass in an arid rangeland,Iran

Estimation of above-ground biomass is vital for understanding ecological processes. Since direct measurement of above-ground biomass is destructive, time consuming and labor intensive, canopy cover can be considered as a predictor if a significant correlation between the two variables exists. In this study, relationship between canopy cover and above-ground biomass was investigated by a general linear regression model. To do so, canopy cover and above-ground biomass were measured at 5 sub-life forms(defined as life forms grouped in the same height classes) using 380 quadrats, which is systematic-randomly laid out along a 10-km transect, during four sampling periods(May, June, August, and September) in an arid rangeland of Marjan, Iran. To reveal whether obtained canopy cover and above-ground biomass of different sampling periods can be lumped together or not, we applied a general linear model(GLM). In this model, above-ground biomass was considered as a dependent or response variable, canopy cover as an independent covariate or predictor factor and sub-life forms as well as sampling periods as fixed factors. Moreover, we compared the estimated above-ground biomass derived from remotely sensed images of Landsat-8 using NDVI(normalized difference vegetation index), after finding the best regression line between predictor(measured canopy cover in the field) and response variable(above-ground biomass) to test the robustness of the induced model. Results show that above-ground biomass(response variable) of all vegetative forms and periods can be accurately predicted by canopy cover(predictor), although sub-life forms and sampling periods significantly affect the results. The best regression fit was found for short forbs in September and shrubs in May, June and August with R~2 values of 0.96, 0.93 and 0.91, respectively, whilst the least significant was found for short grasses in June, tall grasses in August and tall forbs in June with R~2 values of 0.71, 0.73 and 0.75, respectively. Even though the estimated above-ground biomass by NDVI is also convincing(R~2=0.57), the canopy cover is a more reliable predictor of above-ground biomass due to the higher R~2 values(from 0.75 to 0.96). We conclude that canopy cover can be regarded as a reliable predictor of above-ground biomass if sub-life forms and sampling periods(during growing season) are taken into account. Since,(1) plant canopy cover is not distinguishable by remotely sensed images at the sub-life form level, especially in sparse vegetation of arid and semi-arid regions, and(2) remotely sensed-based prediction of above-ground biomass shows a less significant relationship(R~2=0.57) than that of canopy cover(R~2 ranging from 0.75 to 0.96), which suggests estimating of plant biomass by canopy cover instead of cut and weighting method is highly recommended. Furthermore, this fast, nondestructive and robust method that does not endanger rare species, gives a trustworthy prediction of above-ground biomass in arid rangelands.     

Quantifying and Modelling the Mobilisation of Inoculum from Diseased Leaves and Infected Defoliated Tissues in Epidemics of Angular Leaf Spot of Bean

Daily multiplication factor (number of daughter lesions per mother lesion per day) values were experimentally measured in four replications of a monocyclic experiment on angular leaf spot (ALS) of bean, where sources of inoculum were artificially established within a bean canopy, on the ground (defoliated infected leaves), or both. Daily multiplication factor of lesions in the canopy (DMFRc) was higher than that of infectious, defoliated tissues (DMFRd) in all replications. Both DMFRc and DMFRd were strongly reduced under dry compared to rainy conditions. Under rainy conditions for spore dispersal DMFRd was about two to three times smaller than DMFRc. Defoliated leaves may nevertheless represent a significant source of infection, depending on the amount of infectious tissues. Mother lesions within the canopy generated more daughter lesions in the medium (or lower) layers of the canopy than at its upper level (DMFRc higher at the medium and lower layers of a canopy), whereas DMFRd values seemed to decrease with height in the canopy. A mechanistic simulation model that combines host growth and disease-induced defoliation was designed to simulate the respective contributions of the two components of the dual inoculum source of a diseased canopy (infected foliage and defoliated infectious tissues), and varying infectious periods in both sources. Simulations suggest that higher DMFRc values have a large polycyclic effect on epidemics whereas that of DMFRd is small, and that large effects of the infectious period of lesions in the canopy are found when DMFRc is high. Simulations using experimentally measured DMFRc and DMFRd values indicated much stronger epidemics in rainy compared to dry conditions for spore dispersal, but disease persistence in the latter. The implications of considering a dual source of inoculum in the course of a polycyclic process are discussed with respect to epidemic thresholds.     

不同水分处理下冬小麦冠层温度、叶片水势和水分利用效率的变化及相关关系

小区栽培冬小麦,设计5种程度的干旱胁迫,利用防雨棚分别控制土壤重量含水量为田间持水量的45%、55%、65%、70%、80%,观测不同水分处理下冬小麦冠层温度、叶片水势和水分利用效率的变化及相关关系。结果显示,随着含水量的增加,各处理的平均和最高冠层温度整体呈下降趋势,叶水势和蒸腾速率呈上升趋势,在小麦抽穗期干旱胁迫最严重处理表现出最大水分利用效率,开花期的水分利用效率较抽穗期整体下降了50.70%;相关分析表明,抽穗期小麦的冠层温度与空气饱和差极显著正相关(P<0.01),开花期的冠层温度和叶水势呈显著负相关(P<0.05),冠层温度和空气饱和差存在着极显著正相关,空气饱和差和蒸腾速率极显著负相关,冠层温度和水分利用效率有着显著的正相关性。综上所述,冠层温度在小麦抽穗和开花期完全可以作为作物水分状况的有效监测指标之一。     

Effects of vegetation near-soil-surface factors on runoff and sediment reduction in typical grasslands on the Loess Plateau,China

Vegetation near-soil-surface factors can protect topsoil from erosion, however, their contributions to the reduction of soil erosion, especially under natural rainfall events, have not been systematically recognized. This study was performed to quantify the effects of near-soil-surface factors on runoff and sediment under natural rainfall events on grasslands dominated by Bothriochloa ischaemum(Linn.)Keng(BI grassland) and Artemisia gmelinii Thunb.(AG grassland) in two typical watersheds on the ...     

Effect of pea canopy architecture on microclimate and consequences on ascochyta blight infection under field conditions

In order to investigate the impact of pea canopy architecture and development on microclimate and infection by Mycosphaerella pinodes, two field experiments were conducted in 2009 and 2010 at Le Rheu (France) to obtain canopies contrasted in height, closure dynamic, leaf area index (LAI) and leaf area density (LAD). Three pea cultivars (Athos, Antares, Gregor) were sown at two (80 and 40 seeds/m² in 2009) and three densities (80, 40 and 30 seeds/m² in 2010) and microclimatic sensors were located inside the canopy (at the bottom and in the middle) and outside. Two main sources of wetness were identified: rainfall and dew. During rainfall periods, average daily leaf wetness duration (LWD) was about 15 h, and 3 to 10 h longer inside than outside the canopies. LWD was positively correlated with LAI until canopy closure during these periods. During dry periods when dew was the only source of leaf wetness, average daily LWD was short, decreasing as the canopy developed. Shorter LWDs were observed at the base than at the mid-level of the canopies and longer LWDs were observed outside the canopy and inside the less dense canopies irrespective of the cultivar. LWD was negatively correlated with canopy height and LAI during these periods. Slow wind speeds were recorded inside the canopies (less than 0.5 km/h) and no significant canopy effect was observed on air temperature. An infection model was developed and showed that only rainfall periods which induced long LWDs inside the canopy, were favourable to M. pinodes infection under our climatic conditions and suggested a more favourable microclimate inside dense canopies.     

Influence of canopy structure on sheath blight epidemics in rice

Sheath blight (caused by Rhizoctonia solani) is one of the most important constraints in achieving high grain yield in intensive rice production systems. Canopy structure can influence the development of sheath blight epidemics. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of canopy structure parameters such as shoot number, leaf area index, biomass production, contact frequency, light transmittance and plant height on the development of sheath blight epidemics in commercial fields. Field experiments were conducted in both early and late seasons of 2009 and 2010 in Wuxue, Hubei province, China. The effects of nitrogen (N) rate and hill density on structure and production parameters and sheath blight severity were investigated. Sheath blight severity was recorded as a sheath blight index or relative lesion height on inoculated and uninoculated plants in each crop. Lesion length was measured on inoculated plants in 2010. The results showed that the sheath blight index increased with an increase of N rate and hill density in uninoculated plots in each trial. Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that contact frequency was consistently related to sheath blight. Lesion length on inoculated plants was not correlated with canopy structure. These results indicate that canopy structure influences sheath blight epidemics. A ‘healthy’ canopy resulting from appropriate crop management practices can be used to suppress sheath blight epidemics in rice.     

Spatiotemporal variation and correlation of soil enzyme activities and soil physicochemical properties in canopy gaps of the Tianshan Mountains,Northwest China

The study of the heterogeneity of soil enzyme activities at different sampling locations in canopy gaps will help understand the influence mechanism of canopy gaps on soil ecological processes. In this paper, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variation of soil enzyme activities and soil physicochemical properties at different sampling locations (closed canopy, expanded edge, canopy edge, gap center) in different sampling time (December, February, April, June, August, and October) on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, Northwest China. The results showed that soil catalase, cellulase, sucrase, and acid phosphatase activities were relatively high from June to October and low from December to April, and most of soil enzyme activities were higher at closed canopy than at gap center. Soil urease activity was high during December-February. The soil temperature reached the highest value during June-August and was relatively high at gap center in October, December, and February. Soil water content was significantly higher in December and April than in other months. Soil bulk density was higher at gap center than at closed canopy in December. Soil pH and soil electrical conductivity in most months were higher at closed canopy than at gap center. Soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen, and soil total phosphorus were generally higher at gap center than at closed canopy. Furthermore, sampling time played a leading role in the dynamic change of soil enzyme activity. The key factors affecting soil enzyme activity were soil temperature and soil water content, which were governed by canopy gaps. These results provide important support for further understanding the influence mechanism of forest ecosystem management and conservation on the Tianshan Mountains.