亚热带红壤丘陵区坡地土壤性质空间变异特征

土壤性质是影响坡地降雨入渗、产流及土壤水再分布的重要因素。研究坡地土壤性质的空间变异特征,有助于进一步研究坡地降雨入渗产流规律。通过对20m×24m径流小区土壤性质的空间变异特征分析,结果表明:(1)沿坡面,从坡上向坡下砂粒含量逐渐减少,土壤质地总体变细;有机质含量变化不大;土壤容重和饱和导水率均呈弱变异性。(2)在剖面内,从表层(0~10cm)向深层(120~130cm),土壤质地逐渐变粗,为弱变异性;有机质含量变化趋势明显,从地表向深层依次减小,坡上和坡下表层有机质含量分别高出深层约8.6和7.6倍,为中等变异性;土壤容重呈波状增大的变化,变化范围为1.08~1.63g/cm3,整体为弱变异性;土壤饱和导水率最大值出现在表层,向深层有呈波状减小的变化趋势,且波动强度依次减小,变异强度大,属强变异性,其大小属“高级”水平。     

黄土高原坡地表层土壤饱和导水率和水分含量空间变异特征

表层土壤水分含量和饱和导水率对深层土壤水分的动态的变化具有重要的决定作用。在黄土高原坡地（50m×360 m）范围内进行网格（10 m×10 m）取样,用地统计学方法研究表层（0～30 cm）土壤饱和导水率和水分含量的空间变异特征。结果表明：1）坡地表层土壤密度变化规律为坡下位大于坡上位,土壤饱和导水率变异系数为0.37,属于中等变异强度;2）饱和导水率和自然对数化的饱和导水率在360 m尺度内均不具备空间结构特征,是纯随机变量,线性有基台模型适用于描述表层土壤水分的分布特征,水分分布存在明显的块金效应,并且随滞后距离的增加半方差变大;3）饱和导水率和水分含量从坡上位到坡下位均呈现波浪式变化,饱和导水率大的采样点土壤水分含量低,反之则高。     

六盘山华北落叶松坡面土壤饱和导水率空间异质性及其影响因素

为深入理解森林坡面土壤饱和导水率的空间变异,利用经典统计学和地统计学的方法研究六盘山华北落叶松人工林坡面不同土层土壤饱和导水率的空间异质性,并基于相关性分析揭示其空间变异的主要因素。结果表明:(1)随土层的加深,土壤饱和导水率逐渐增加,不同土层土壤饱和导水率的空间变异程度存在差异,表现为40—60 cm土层土壤饱和导水率为强变异,其他土层均为中等变异。(2)不同土层土壤饱和导水率的空间结构也存在差异,20—40,40—60,60—80 cm土层土壤饱和导水率表现为强烈的空间自相关性,0—20,80—100 cm土层土壤饱和导水率表现为中等空间自相关性。(3)坡面土壤饱和导水率与石砾含量、非毛管孔隙度、毛管持水量、田间持水量和毛管孔隙度显著相关。综上,研究坡面土壤饱和导水率具有较强的空间变异,石砾含量和土壤物理性质是影响研究坡面土壤饱和导水率空间分布的主要因素。     

应用土壤质地预测干旱区葡萄园土壤饱和导水率空间分布

田间表层土壤饱和导水率的空间变异性是影响灌溉水分入渗和土壤水分再分布的主要因素之一,研究土壤饱和导水率的空间变化规律,有助于定量估计土壤水分的空间分布和设计农田的精准灌溉管理制度。为了探究应用其他土壤性质如质地、容重、有机质预测土壤饱和导水率空间分布的可行性,试验在7.6 hm2的葡萄园内,采用均匀网格25 m×25 m与随机取样相结合的方式,测定了表层(0～10 cm)土壤饱和导水率、粘粒、粉粒、砂粒、容重和有机质含量,借助经典统计学和地统计学,分析了表层土壤饱和导水率的空间分布规律、与土壤属性的空间相关性,并对普通克里格法、回归法和回归克里格法预测土壤饱和导水率空间分布的结果进行了对比。结果表明:1)土壤饱和导水率具有较强的变异性,平均值为1.64 cm/d,变异系数为1.17;2)表层土壤饱和导水率60%的空间变化是由随机性或小于取样尺度的空间变异造成;3)土壤饱和导水率与粘粒、粉粒、砂粒和有机质含量具有一定空间相关性,而与土壤容重几乎没有空间相关性;4)在中值区以土壤属性辅助的回归克里格法对土壤饱和导水率的预测精度较好,在低值和高值区其与普通克里格法表现类似。研究结果将为更好地描述土壤饱和导水率空间变异结构及更准确地预测其空间分布提供参考。     

黄土区小流域土壤容重和饱和导水率的时空动态特征

土壤水力性质是评估降水入渗、径流发生以及土体可蚀性的重要参数。研究小流域尺度土壤水力性质的时空动态特征,对于以小流域为基本单元的黄土高原综合治理具有直接意义,有助于加深对相关生态水文过程的理解。以陕西省神木县六道沟老叶满渠小流域为对象,进行50 m×50 m网格布点(共73个样点),2014年8-10月期间每月测定1次表层土壤容重和饱和导水率,结合经典统计学与地质统计学的方法研究容重和饱和导水率的时空变化规律。结果表明:1)小流域尺度容重的月际变化趋势较为一致,整体呈正态分布规律,饱和导水率的月际变化强烈,呈偏态分布;容重较饱和导水率变化范围较小,变异程度较低;2)小流域尺度容重和饱和导水率在8-10月的半方差可用指数模型进行最优拟合,两者均表现出中等程度的空间依赖性;Kriging插值图表明小流域容重总体差异性较小,而饱和导水率差异显著;8-10月,西坡局部区域、坡顶的容重呈逐月增大趋势,而饱和导水率呈减小趋势;3)Pearson相关性分析表明,8-10月单次测定的容重和饱和导水率之间的相关性不明显;在同一土壤类型下(干润砂质新成土)表现出极显著的负相关关系(P0.01)。     

藏东南典型小流域土壤饱和导水率和土壤容重空间分布

选取藏东南地区的典型小流域,通过网格法在流域的阴坡和阳坡分别采集表层(0-10cm)和底层(20-30cm)环刀土样,研究土壤饱和导水率和土壤容重在流域内的空间分布。结果表明:不同土层相比,表层土壤的饱和导水率以及土壤容重均低于底层值;阴坡和阳坡相比,阳坡的平均土壤饱和导水率和土壤容重高于阴坡,且其变异程度更大;沿坡长方向,土壤饱和导水率从坡顶到坡底呈增大趋势而土壤容重呈减小趋势;土壤饱和导水率与土壤容重之间呈显著负相关(P0.05)。     

不同坡长条件扰动地表下土壤入渗与贮水特征

通过径流小区试验,研究了不同坡长条件下人为扰动地表后不同坡位的土壤贮水与入渗特征。结果表明,同一坡位扰动地表条件下,土壤最大吸持贮水量、饱和贮水量随坡长的增加而增加,不同坡长的最大滞留贮水量在上坡位和中坡位的规律是40m20m60m坡长条件。不同坡长及坡位下土壤最大吸持贮水量、饱和贮水量及最大滞留贮水量差异性显著(P0.05)。同一坡长条件下,20m和40m坡长扰动地表后的初始入渗率、稳定入渗率和平均入渗率均大于自然状态下的坡面,60m坡长扰动地表后的土壤入渗特征小于自然状态下的坡面,可以说明60m坡长扰动地表后土壤的入渗性能下降。在自然状态下的较长坡长下,坡位偏低的土壤入渗性能较好。通用经验公式模型对径流小区土壤入渗拟合精度较高,考斯加柯夫(Kostiakov)模型和霍顿(Horton)模型拟合的效果次之,菲利浦(Philip)模型拟合效果较差。通过相关性分析,土壤容重与土壤入渗性能呈极显著相关,说明土壤容重是影响土壤入渗的主要因子。     

露天煤矿排土场边坡表层土壤水分物理性质空间变异特征

为加快海州露天煤矿排土场边坡的水土流失治理进程,同时为同类矿山排土场边坡的有效治理提供理论依据与技术支持,基于GIS原理,采用地统计学与经典统计学相结合的方法开展对排土场边坡表层土壤水分物理性质的空间变异性及其分布特征的研究。结果表明:排土场边坡表层土壤容重表现为弱变异性,饱和导水率表现为强变异性,毛管孔隙度与砾石含量表现为中等变异;毛管孔隙度的相关距离大于容重、砾石含量和饱和导水率,其在坡面分布上的均一性高于其他土壤水分物理性质;土壤水分物理性质具有强烈的空间相关性,其Co/(Co+C)值介于4.88%~15.95%;在排土场边坡不同研究尺度下,同一土壤水分物理性质相关距离范围变化规律较为一致;容重和砾石含量沿坡长方向从上到下表现为先增大后减小的趋势,毛管孔隙度和饱和导水率则为先减小后增大的趋势,土壤水分物理性质在各个坡位的变异程度不一且差异显著。     

晋西黄土区不同土地利用类型坡面土壤饱和导水率研究

饱和导水率是表征土壤入渗能力的重要参数之一,对模拟土壤入渗过程、建立流域水文模型具有重要意义.通过在山西吉县森林生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站蔡家川流域的实验,采取对比分析方法,对不同土地利用类型坡面土壤入渗特征进行研究.结果表明:土壤饱和导水率与土壤非毛管孔隙度、土壤总孔隙度均呈正相关,与土壤容重呈负相关.相同坡向条件下,土壤饱和导水率坡下部＞坡中部＞坡上部;相同坡位条件下,土壤饱和导水率阴坡＞阳坡;各地类土壤饱和导水率呈现以下变化规律:灌草坡＞天然次生林＞河漫滩＞刺槐林＞油松林＞紫穗槐林＞侧柏林＞坡耕地＞土质路面.     

坡面尺度土壤特性的空间变异性

通过对20m长坡面土壤特性空间变异性的经典统计学分析,结果表明:(1)在同一土壤剖面内,各级粒径含量呈弱变异性,而有机质含量随土层深度的增大而逐渐降低,呈中等变异性;(2)土壤干容重的空间变异性较小,呈弱变异性,但土壤饱和导水率的空间变异性较大,呈中等变异性;(3)水分特征曲线具有一定的空间变异性,比水容量空间变异性较大,呈中等变异性。坡面土壤饱和导水率和干容重的等值线图表明,土壤饱和导水率的变化趋势并不仅仅取决于土壤干容重的相对大小,可能与有机质含量、黏粒含量以及根系分布情况等也有一定的关系。     

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.