Effects of repeated drought on soil microarthropod communities in the northern Chihuahuan Desert

 Soil microarthropods were sampled in plots centered on creosotebushes (Larrea tridentata) and in plots centered on mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) coppice dunes. Nine plots in each area were covered by rain-out shelters with greenhouse plastic roofs which excluded natural rainfall and nine plots received natural rainfall. There were differences in the abundance of several mite taxa in soils from the mesquite coppice dune plots. Some taxa (Stigmaeidae, Nanorchestidae, and Entomobryidae) occurred in significantly lower numbers in the soils of the drought plots. Other taxa (Tarsonemidae and Cunaxidae) were more abundant in the drought plots in the mesquite coppice dunes. There were no significant differences in the abundance of any of the dominant taxa of soil microarthropods in the drought and control plots centered on creosotebush. In the creosotebush habitat, there were significantly fewer Prostigmata in the plots exposed to drought. In an area with both creosotebush and mesquite, there were no significant differences in microarthropod population responses to drought and in recovery from drought. The differences in responses of soil microarthropods to drought in creosotebush and mesquite habitats are attributed to the differences in soil stability, litter accumulations, and microclimate associated with the shrubs. Received: 29 December 1997     

Characteristics and mineralogy of desert alluvial soils: Wadi Zegrir,Northern Sahara of Algeria

Few studies on the characteristics and mineralogical trends of the soils in the Sahara Desert have been reported in the literature. This work aims at studying the morphology, the classification, and the mineralogy of desert alluvial soils of the Mzab region in the Northern Sahara, Algeria. Morphological and analytical studies carried out on fourteen pedons of wadi Zegrir over a range of elevations (250–850?m) indicate that the soils are sandy to silty clay, nonsaline (electrical conductivity, EC?相似文献   

Contents of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in water-stable aggregates in abandoned agricultural lands in an arid ecosystem of Northwest China

Soil organic matter content in water-stable aggregates(WSA) in the arid ecosystems(abandoned agricultural lands especially) of China is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the WSA sizes and stability, and soil organic carbon(OC) and nitrogen(N) contents in agricultural lands with abandonment ages of 0, 3, 12, 20, 30 and 40 years, respectively, in the Minqin Oasis of Northwest China. The total soil OC and N contents at depths of 0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm in abandoned agricultural lands were compared to those in cultivated land(the control). Agricultural land abandonment significantly(P0.05) influenced the distribution of MWD(mean weight diameter), and OC and N contents. There were significant increases in MWD and the proportion of macroaggregates(sizes 0.25 mm) as the age of agricultural land abandonment increased. The effect of abandonment ages of agricultural lands on MWD was determined by the changes of OC and N accumulation in WSA sizes 2 mm. The total OC and N contents presented a stratification phenomenon across soil depths in this arid ecosystem. That is, both of them decreased significantly at depths of 0–20 and 40–60 cm while increased at the depth of 20–40 cm. The WSA sizes 0.053 mm had the highest soil OC and N contents(accounting for 51.41%–55.59% and 42.61%–48.94% of their total, respectively). Soil OC and N contents in microaggregates(sizes 0.053–0.25 mm) were the dominant factors that influenced the variations of total OC and N contents in abandoned agricultural lands. The results of this study suggested that agricultural land abandonment may result in the recovery of WSA stability and the shifting of soil organic matter from the silt+clay(0.053 mm) and microaggregate fractions to the macroaggregate fractions. However, agricultural land abandonment did not increase total soil OC and N contents in the short-term.     

黄河乌兰布和沙漠段沿岸沙丘形态及其运移特征

为更合理、精确地计算黄河乌兰布和沙漠段的入黄沙量,探明其对黄河沿岸植被造成的影响程度,以黄河乌兰布和沙漠段沿岸沙丘为研究对象,通过野外地貌调查、沙丘形态测量和遥感解译对其沙丘的形态特征及其运移特征进行了系统研究。结果表明:乌兰布和沙漠沿黄段沙丘以走向西南—东北的新月型沙丘和新月型沙丘链为主,沙丘剖面形态不对称,具有明显落沙坡;在发育过程中同时受到了西南风和西北风的显著影响,5年内以沙丘整体向河道推进为主,共移动19.45m,具有单向快速运移的特点,且沙丘不断向黄河侵袭,应采取措施予以遏制。     

5-氨基乙酰丙酸和叶面肥对荒漠区设施番茄和辣椒生长发育、产量和品质的影响

为外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)在荒漠地区设施园艺中的推广和应用,以番茄和辣椒为材料,设置清水、叶面肥和外源ALA(5-氨基乙酰丙酸)3个处理,研究外源ALA和叶面肥处理对荒漠区番茄和辣椒生长及产量品质的影响。结果表明,外源ALA和叶面肥均可促进荒漠区番茄和辣椒的生长,并显著改善果实相关品质。其中ALA处理的番茄株高、茎粗、叶片数和冠径与对照相比分别提高15.45%、8.33%、13.69%和8.58%,辣椒叶片数提高22.79%;番茄果实固酸比提高8.86%,辣椒可溶性固形物质量分数提高8.59%,并且还能够提高番茄和辣椒的产量。可见,ALA和叶面肥对荒漠区设施番茄和辣椒的生长都表现一定的促进作用,对品质有不同程度的改善,同时也提高了产量。     

安化云台山国家石漠公园建设条件的SWOT分析

研究以安化云台山国家石漠公园为研究对象,运用SWOT分析法系统地对其建设条件进行了优势(S)、劣势(W)、机遇(O)、威胁(T)剖析,再运用系统分析的思想将这些因素相互匹配,设计了SWOT战略分析矩阵,从中得出相应的结论,以之为依据,提出了喀斯特生态公园建设的战略对策和行动计划。研究表明,安化云台山具备建设国家石漠公园的基础条件与发展机遇,但亦面临一定的挑战。     

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

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

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地植物引种试验

塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地历经10a植物引种栽培试验表明,许多植物能通过引种驯化,在沙漠腹地正常生长、发育和繁殖,甚至能够自然更新或人工辅助更新。沙漠腹地引种植物应具有耐高温、耐干旱、耐盐碱、耐风蚀、耐沙埋和较强繁殖能力的特点。根据不同的地形、地貌和土壤条件选择具有不同生理生态特性的植物类型。宜以灌木、半灌木和多年生草本为主,少量引种乔木。流沙地防风固沙植物选择灌木和半灌木,不宜采用乔木。根据植物演替和更新的特点,植物的配置既要选择先锋种又要有替代种,形成多种植物的混交林,保证防风固沙林的持续和稳定性。同时,防风固沙植物应具有生长迅速、根幅大、寿命长,能够自然更新或人工辅助更新的特点。     

沙漠铁路周边生态环境恢复演化研究

十一五期间,国家将重点加强中西部铁路建设,到2010年,西部铁路网总规模即达35000km。选择位于腾格里沙漠东南缘的包兰铁路中卫至干螗段为研究对象,通过对该段铁路周边生态环境的回访调查与监测,研究分析沙漠铁路对周边生态环境的影响以及恢复演变过程。认为铁路工程建设在施工期对地表植被、沙结皮等原有覆盖层会造成不同程度的破坏,从而加剧风沙活动,但通过采取卵石覆盖、土工网垫、草方格沙障、植树造林等治理措施,能够得到有效控制。人工干预措施中,灌溉造林对沙漠铁路生态环境起到了良好的改善作用,但投资较大;旱生造林也有改善作用,但作用缓慢;沙化严重地区植被自然恢复能力较差,较人工干预条件下的恢复要慢得多。通过治理。铁路周边生态环境已由铁路修建前沙漠化严重的生态背景逐步演化为绿色防护体系格局。这为修建铁路过程中沙漠地区生态环境保护,尤其是沙漠化严重地区的生态恢复与重建提供了参考依据,并对西部大开发战略实施具有重要的实践意义。     

The formation age and evolution of Kumtagh Desert

The ancient aeolian sand has been regarded as an indicator for the formation and evolution of a desert in the past.Kumtagh Desert is located at the northern fringe of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The first integrated scientific investigation to the desert was carried out during the period of 2004-2006.Kumtagh Desert is an ideal natural model for studying the formation and evolution of the desert because the Quaternary strata containing ancient aeolian sands are widely distributed.The integrated field investigation and studies on sedimentary,chronology and palynology of typical profiles named Suosuo gully,Xiaoquan gully and gravel body with ancient aeolian sand layers showed that Kumtagh Desert was probably formed as early as 2,097.7±314.7 ka BP.During the period of 386.9±58.0 ka BP to 285.9±42.9 ka BP,the desert largely expanded and formed its modern distribution pattern.The desert was originally developed in the southwest,subsequently,expanded to the north and northeast.The sedimentary facies of Suosuo gully profile revealed that the desert experienced at least 19 cycles of advance and inverse processes of desertification with an average period of 110 ka in the Quaternary.The neotectonic movements played an important role in the formation,development and geomorphology of the desert.On one hand,the movements caused the formation of intermontane fault basin,which was further developed towards the closed drought basin,and caused the formation of natural environment.On the other hand,under the control of surrounding faults,the unique broom-shaped desert landscape was formed,and the gullies and sand ridges in this region experienced an abrupt directional change from north by west to north by east at the location of 39°45'-39°55'N.The unique landscape of gravel body that occurred widely in the northern desert was formed after 285.9±42.9 ka BP.The results in this paper provide the scientific basis for studying the formation age and evolutionary process under the dry climate and environment in the northwestern China,and the uplifting of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as well as its responses to the global climate changes.