1990—2020年阿拉尔垦区生态环境质量动态监测与评价

[目的]借助遥感生态指数(RSEI)对阿拉尔垦区生态环境质量进行动态监测与评价,分析1990—2020年研究区生态环境变化及驱动因素,为阿拉尔垦区发展和生态保护提供科学参考。[方法]选取1990,2000,2011和2020年4期Landsat TM/ETM~+/OLI影像数据,耦合绿度指标(NDVI)、湿度指标(WET)、干度指标(NDSI)、热度指标(LST)构建RSEI,结合研究区气候、人口、经济等驱动因素探究阿拉尔垦区生态环境质量动态变化。[结果] 1990—2020年阿拉尔垦区RSEI均值从0.344上升至0.468,生态环境质量总体好转;1990—2020年阿拉尔垦区生态环境质量变好区域主要位于垦区北部和南部地区,改善面积达1 756.36 km~2,占总面积45.92%;生态环境质量受自然因素和社会经济因素影响,社会经济因素对阿拉尔垦区生态环境质量变化起主导作用。[结论]近30 a来阿拉尔垦区生态环境得到有效改善。遥感生态指数(RSEI)在一定程度上可以快速、有效地反映1990—2020年阿拉尔垦区生态环境质量变化。     

白龙江流域生态环境质量动态监测与评价

[目的] 分析1990—2020年白龙江流域生态环境变化及驱动因素,为流域可持续发展提供科学依据和决策支持。[方法] 逐年筛选植被生长季6—9月的Landsat TM/OLI影像数据,计算绿度(NDVI)、湿度(WET)、热度(LST)、干度(NDSI)4个生态指标,采用主成分分析法(PCA)构建遥感生态指数(RSEI),对白龙江流域生态环境进行评价。[结果] 1990—2020年白龙江流域RSEI均值从0.531上升至0.675,生态环境质量总体好转;生态环境质量改善区域主要位于舟曲—武都段的白龙江两岸、宕昌县西北及岷江东岸,改善面积达8 393.97 km²,占总面积45.55%;各生态指标对于生态环境质量影响程度在1990年干度＞湿度＞热度＞绿度;2006年干度＞绿度＞湿度＞热度;2020年绿度＞湿度＞干度＞热度。[结论] 利用GEE平台实现RSEI模型扩展了在大范围尺度、长时间序列下对区域生态环境质量监测与评价,近年来白龙江流域生态环境质量整体呈改善态势,对于流域的保护治理工作仍需继续。     

基于遥感生态指数的黄山世界遗产地生态环境评价

[目的]定量评价黄山世界遗产地的生态环境质量,为有关部门制定规划和管理决策提供科学依据。[方法]以黄山世界遗产地核心区和缓冲区共同作为研究区,基于Landsat卫星影像提取绿度、湿度、干度、热度指标分量,并利用主成分分析方法构建遥感生态指数(RSEI)。结合地理信息系统空间分析和统计方法对研究区内生态环境质量进行定量评价。[结果] 1992—2017年研究区内RSEI指标数值由0.573上升为0.638,生态环境质量呈明显上升趋势。在3期数据中,RSEI等级为中和良的比例均达到了65%以上,占主导地位,保护区内整体生态环境质量较好。RSEI等级为差和较差的土地中,有近63.6%的土地转变为RSEI等级更高的土地,保护区内生态环境质量明显改善。[结论]黄山世界遗产地生态环境质量稳步提升,有关部门的保护措施初见成效,需进一步协调发展与保护的关系,实现黄山世界遗产地的可持续发展。     

基于GEE云计算的南宁市生态环境质量时空分异监测

[目的]利用遥感技术及时、动态、客观地监测和评估城市生态环境质量变化,为城市生态环境规划与管理提供参考。[方法]以南宁市为案例,利用Google Earth Engine(GEE)平台对2000—2020年Landsat系列遥感影像进行像元级融合、消除色彩、去云等预处理,计算绿度、湿度、干度和热度这4个遥感指标,并采用主成分分析法构建遥感生态指数,定量评价南宁市生态环境质量动态变化及空间分异特征。[结果]南宁市RSEI多年平均值为0.615,总体呈现“下降—上升—稳定”的波动上升趋好的态势。生态环境质量较好的区域主要是自然保护区、山林地、草地和水域,生态环境质量较差的区域则集中于人类活动频繁,土地利用强度较大的城镇及城乡交错区、农耕区。生态环境质量与植被绿度和湿度指标呈正相关,与干度和热度指标呈负相关,且干度指标因子对RSEI影响程度最大。[结论]南宁市2000—2020年生态环境质量总体处于良好水平且呈上升态势。结合GEE和RSEI指数能够较好地反映城市生态环境质量,为城市生态环境质量长时间序列监测提供计算平台。     

长江流域生态环境质量的时空演变特征及其驱动因素

[目的]探究2001—2021年长江不同子流域生态环境质量动态变化及其主导驱动因素,以期为长江流域生态环境保护与经济发展战略的协调发展提供理论依据。[方法]基于MODIS数据提取了2001—2021年5—11月长江流域遥感生态指数(remote sensing ecological index, RSEI),并基于RSEI分析了长江流域近21 a来生态环境质量动态及其驱动因素。[结果](1)长江流域中下游生态质量高于上游,南部高于北部。除2006年外,生态质量在中等级以上的面积占80%以上,整体生态水平较好。(2)生态环境质量变化整体以稳定变化为主,呈上升趋势的区域有乌江、太湖水系、宜宾至宜昌、宜宾至湖口、金沙江流域。(3)RSEI变化的主要驱动因素为湿度指标,其次为温度指数。(4)生态环境质量受到风速的正影响较大。气温升高会导致长江流域生态环境质量变差,但在金沙江流域、鄱阳湖流域、嘉陵江流域和湖口及以下干流地区气温升高有利于生态环境质量改善。(5)降水增多有利于大部分地区生态环境质量改善。[结论] 2001—2021年流域生态环境质量整体以不变趋势为主,但嘉陵江流域生态呈现退化现象需...     

基于遥感生态指数的神东矿区1995-2020年生态环境质量的时空变化特征分析

[目的] 分析神东矿区1995—2020年生态环境质量时变化特征,为改善该区域生态环境提供科学依据。[方法] 基于1995—2020年6期Landsat 5 TM及Landsat 8 OLI数据,利用主成分分析法,选用干度指标（NDSI）、绿度指标（NDVI）、热度指标（LST）、湿度指标（WET）构建遥感生态指数（RSEI）。运用重分类将RSEI分为5级,按照重心迁移方法分析RSEIⅠ—Ⅴ等级的重心迁移情况,并分析RSEI的空间变化规律,实现利用RSEI对神东矿区的生态环境质量的动态监测和评价。[结果] ①神东矿区在1995—2020年生态环境状况明显提升,其中呈上升趋势的面积占矿区总面积的42.22%,绿度、干度指标对矿区生态环境质量影响较大。②矿区生态环境质量各级土地利用类型以草地、耕地为主,且生态环境质量变化受耕地、草地面积变化影响较大。③矿区生态环境质量主要以Ⅱ,Ⅲ级为主,Ⅰ级、Ⅱ级和Ⅴ级迁移幅度较大且重心整体向矿区西南、西北方向迁移。[结论] 1995—2020年神东矿区生态环境质量呈现总体上升态势,受植被生长情况和人类活动因素影响较大。     

闽江流域生态环境质量动态变化及其驱动力

[目的]探究闽江流域生态环境质量动态变化的驱动因子及相互作用,为该流域生态环境质量改善和实现人与自然和谐发展提供理论支持。[方法]选用2001—2020年的MODIS系列遥感数据,基于Google Earth Engine(GEE)平台计算闽江流域的遥感生态指数(RSEI),结合趋势分析研究闽江流域生态环境质量的时空变化,最后通过地理探测器探测RSEI的驱动因子。[结果](1)RSEI计算结果中4个生态指标的第一主成分平均贡献率达到69.01%,说明RSEI能够充分反映闽江流域生态环境质量状况。(2)闽江流域生态环境质量良好且向好发展。2001—2020年闽江流域的RSEI均值由0.618上升到0.701,生态环境质量等级优良的面积比例增加了19.16%,流域90.28%的地区生态环境质量有所改善。[结论]闽江流域生态环境质量受多个因子共同影响,其中海拔和夜间灯光对闽江流域生态环境质量解释度较高,是主要的影响因素和驱动力,因子间的相互作用均会加大对生态环境质量的影响。     

基于RSEI模型的砒砂岩区生态环境质量演变研究

[目的]探究砒砂岩区生态环境质量状况，为当地生态环境治理工作提供科学依据。[方法]基于GIS和RS技术，利用遥感生态指数RSEI模型，分析砒砂岩区2001—2020年生态环境质量时空演变。[结果](1)基于砒砂岩区4期影像数据提取的遥感生态指数RSEI呈现先下降后上升的趋势，表明生态环境质量在缓慢改善；(2)绿度生态指标与湿度生态指标对砒砂岩区生态环境质量起正向作用，干度生态指标与热度生态指标会起到负面作用，并且绿度生态指标对生态环境质量改善的贡献率更高；(3)在2001—2020年间，生态环境质量改善区域占到研究区总面积的36.79%;生态环境质量恶化区域占15.68%,多为轻度退化。[结论]砒砂岩区2001—2020年间生态环境质量总体呈现出上升趋势，且生态环境质量对人为活动高度敏感，因此在改善生态环境的同时还需融入生态保护理念，做到人与自然和谐共生。     

2000-2020年滇中城市群生态环境质量动态监测及空间格局演变

[目的] 分析生态环境质量时空变化规律及其异质性,为政府及相关部门制定生态环境保护政策提供科学依据。[方法] 采用GEE(google earth engine)平台选取滇中地区2000—2020年Landsat影像,逐年提取遥感生态指数RSEI(remote sensing ecological index),运用冷热点分析、标准差椭圆、生态环境重心转移等空间分析方法探索生态环境质量的时空演变规律。[结果] ①滇中城市群整体生态环境质量总体呈不断下降趋势,RSEI均值从2000年的0.51下降到2020年的0.46。②从空间分布上看,除个别年份外总体上滇中东部地区生态环境质量明显好于西部地区,生态环境质量较好的区域大多森林覆盖率较高。③近20 a来滇中城市群生态环境空间分布呈南—北方向,同时城市群生态环境质量整体呈现出一定的聚集性。[结论] 滇中城市群生态环境变差与城市群建成区高速扩展,气候异常,植被破坏,水土流失加剧等有着密切的关系,为此应加强生态建设,提升滇中城市群生态环境质量。     

基于遥感生态指数的新疆干旱区博乐市生态变化分析

[目的]结合遥感方法分析新疆维吾尔自治区博乐市生态变化,为该区生态保护提供理论依据。[方法]以博乐市1997年、2007年和2016年3期Landsat系列影像为数据源,提取绿度、湿度、干度和热度4个指数,通过主成分分析耦合出遥感生态指数(RSEI),对博乐市生态环境质量进行了监测和评价。[结果]研究区属于MODS(山地—绿洲—荒漠)系统,总体RSEI指数较低,由差和较差主导;1997—2016年博乐市的生态环境质量呈明显改善趋势,遥感生态指数RSEI从0.250提高到0.422,等级为优和良的比例从11.24%上升到26.20%;改善的区域面积明显大于变差的面积,改善的区域主要分布在北部山地、中部绿洲和南部天山西部北麓荒漠区域。生态环境恶化的区域主要集中在中部绿洲的耕地和城镇建设用地区域。[结论]荒漠生态建设和扩大绿洲面积对生态环境的改善有积极影响,同时也要合理配置资源和土地利用。     

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.