Please wait a minute...
Journal of Arid Land  2017, Vol. 9 Issue (2): 176-187    DOI: 10.1007/s40333-017-0010-x     CSTR: 32276.14.s40333-017-0010-x
Research Article     
Spatial distribution of AgriophyllumsquarrosumMoq.(Chenopodiaceae) in the straw checkerboards at a revegetated land of the Tengger Desert, northern China
Lei HUANG1,2,*()
1Shapotou Desert Research and Experimental Station, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
2 Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions of Gansu Province, Lanzhou 730000, China
Download: HTML     PDF(654KB)
Export: BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)      

Abstract  

The present study focuses on straw checkerboards established in the Shapotou Desert Research and Experimental Station at the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert and their effects on the species richness and the abundance of AgriophyllumsquarrosuMoq. Specifically, detailed analyses on the spatial distribution of A. squarrosum and the related soil properties were carried out at a small scale in the straw checkerboards. A. squarrosumis an excellent pioneer plant for revegetation in desert areas. However, the distribution pattern of A. squarrosum and the influencing factors have not been sufficiently delineated. The results showed that the species richness and the abundance of A. squarrosum were decreased exponentially from the border to the center of the straw checkerboards. At the micro-geomorphological scale, the soil texture, soil organic matter (SOM), soil nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), and soil infiltration rate in the topsoil tended to increase from the center to the border within a straw checkerboard, while soil moisture presented an opposite tendency. The soil seed bank of A. squarrosum, soil bulk density, electrical conductivity, sand content, CaCO3 accumulation, and pH showed no significant difference (P>0.05) between the border and the center of the straw checkerboards. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that theabundance of A. squarrosum was mainly determined by the concentrations of SOM, nitrogen, and the infiltration rate,implying that nutrient acclimation was the optimal competitive strategy of A. squarrosum for surviving in a barren natural environment of an arid desert region.



Key wordsAgriophyllumsquarrosum      seed banks      soil moisture      soil infiltration rate      nutrient acclimation     
Received: 09 December 2015      Published: 20 April 2017
Corresponding Authors:
Cite this article:

Lei HUANG. Spatial distribution of AgriophyllumsquarrosumMoq.(Chenopodiaceae) in the straw checkerboards at a revegetated land of the Tengger Desert, northern China. Journal of Arid Land, 2017, 9(2): 176-187.

URL:

http://jal.xjegi.com/10.1007/s40333-017-0010-x     OR     http://jal.xjegi.com/Y2017/V9/I2/176

1 Bai W M, Bao X M, Li L H.2004. Effects of Agriophyllumsquarrosumseed banks on its colonization in a moving sand dune in Hunshandake Sand Land of China. Journal of Arid Environments, 59(1): 151-157.
2 Boeken B, Lipchin C, Gutterman Y, et al.1998. Annual plant community responses to density of small-scale soil disturbances in the Negev Desert of Israel. Oecologia, 114(1): 106-117.
3 Bolker B M, Pacala S W, Neuhauser C.2003. Spatial dynamics in model plant communities: what do we really know?. The American Naturalist, 162(2): 135-148.
4 Borgogno F, D’Odorico P, Laio F, et al.2009. Mathematical models of vegetation pattern formation in ecohydrology. Reviews of Geophysics, 47(1): RG1005.
5 Burke A.2001. Classification and ordination of plant communities of the Naukluft Mountains, Namibia. Journal of Vegetation Science, 12(1): 53-60.
6 Chen G X, Zhao J C, Zhao X, et al.2014. A psammophyteAgriophyllumsquarrosum (L.) Moq.: a potential food crop. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 61(3): 669-676.
7 Cross A F, Schlesinger W H.1999. Plant regulation of soil nutrient distribution in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Plant Ecology, 145(1): 11-25.
8 Davidson D W, Bowker M, George D, et al.2002. Treatment effects on performance of N-fixing lichens in disturbed soil crusts of the Colorado Plateau. Ecological Applications, 12(5): 1391-1045.
9 Eccles N S, Esler K J, Cowling R M.1999. Spatial pattern analysis in Namaqualand desert plant communities: evidence for general positive interactions. Plant Ecology, 142(1-2): 71-85.
10 Foti R, Ramírez J A.2013. A mechanistic description of the formation and evolution of vegetation patterns. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 17(1): 63-84.
11 Gordillo-Rivero A J, García-Moreno J, Jordán A, et al.2014. Fire severity and surface rock fragments cause patchy distribution of soil water repellency and infiltration rates after burning. Hydrological Processes, 28(24): 5832-5843.
12 HilleRisLambers R, Rietkerk M, van den Bosch F, et al.2001. Vegetation pattern formation in semi-arid grazing systems. Ecology, 82(1): 50-61.
13 Huang L, Zhang Z S, Li X R.2014. Carbon fixation and its influence factors of biological soil crusts in a revegetated area of the Tengger Desert, northern China. Journal of Arid Land, 6(6): 725-734.
14 Kéfi S, Rietkerk M, Alados C L, et al.2007. Spatial vegetation patterns and imminent desertification in Mediterranean arid ecosystems. Nature, 449(7159): 213-217.
15 Klausmeier C A.1999. Regular and irregular patterns in semiarid vegetation. Science, 284(5421): 1826-1828.
16 Li X R, Xiao H L, Zhang J G, et al.2004. Long-term ecosystem effects of sand-binding vegetation in the Tengger Desert, Northern China. Restoration Ecology, 12(3): 376-390.
17 Li X R, Xiao H L, He M Z, et al.2006. Sand barriers of straw checkerboards for habitat restoration in extremely arid desert regions. Ecological Engineering, 28(2): 149-157.
18 Li X R, Kong D S, Tan H J, et al.2007. Changes in soil and in vegetation following stabilisation of dune in southeastern fringe of the Tengger Desert, China. Plant and Soil, 300: 221-231.
19 Li X R, He M Z, Zerbe S, et al.2010. Micro-geomorphology determines community structure of biological soil crusts at small scales. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 35(8): 932-940.
20 Li X R.2012. Eco-hydrology of Biological Soil Crusts in Desert Regions of China. Beijing: Higher Education Press, 155-170. (in Chinese)
21 Li X R, Zhang Z S, Huang L, et al.2013. Review of the ecohydrological processes and feedback mechanisms controlling sand-binding vegetation systems in sandy desert regions of China. Chinese Science Bulletin, 58(13): 1483-1496.
22 Liu G S.1996. Soil Physical and Chemical Analysis and Description of Soil Profiles. Beijing: Standard Press, 121-265. (in Chinese)
23 Loveland P J, Whalley W R.2000. Particle size analysis. In: Smith K A, Mullins C. Soil and Environmental Analysis: Physical Methods (2nded.). New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc.
24 Ma J L, Liu Z M.2008. Spatiotemporal pattern of seed bank in the annual psammophyteAgriophyllumsquarrosumMoq. (Chenopodiaceae) on the active sand dunes of northeastern Inner Mongolia, China. Plant and Soil, 311(1): 97-107.
25 Miao C P, Li X H, Jiang D M.2013. Spatial variability of Agriophyllumsquarrosum across scales and along the slope on an active sand dune in semi-arid China. Arid Land Research and Management, 27(3): 231-244.
26 Monzeglio U, Stoll P.2005. Spatial patterns and species performances in experimental plant communities. Oecologia, 145(4): 619-628.
27 Nanjing Institute of Soil Research. 1978. Analysis of Soil Physicochemical Features. Shanghai: Shanghai Science and Technology Press, 66-208. (in Chinese)
28 Nelson D W, Sommers L E.1982. Total carbon, organic carbon, and organic matter. In: Page A L, Miller R H, Keeney D R. Methods of Soil Analysis Part 2: Chemical and Microbiological Properties. Madison, Wisconsin: American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, 539-579.
29 Nemoto M, Lu X Y.1992. Ecological characteristics of Agriophyllumsquarrosum, a pioneer annual on sand dunes in eastern Inner Mongolia, China. Ecological Research, 7(2): 183-186.
30 Noy-Meir I.1973. Desert ecosystems: environment and producers. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 4: 25-51.
31 Rietkerk M, Dekker S C, de Ruiter P C, et al.2004. Self-organized patchiness and catastrophic shifts in ecosystems. Science, 305(5692): 1926-1929.
32 Rietkerk M, van de Koppel J.2008. Regular pattern formation in real ecosystems. Trends in Ecology Evolution, 23(3): 169-175.
33 Rodriguez-Iturbe I, Porporato A, Laio F, et al.2001. Plants in water-controlled ecosystems: active role in hydrologic processes and response to water stress: I. Scope and general outline. Advances in Water Resources, 24(7): 695-705.
34 Rowe J S, Sheard J W.1981. Ecological land classification: a survey approach. Environmental Management, 5(5): 451-464.
35 Schlesinger W H, Raikes J A, Hartley A E, et al.1996. On the spatial pattern of soil nutrients in desert ecosystems. Ecology, 77(2): 364-374.
36 Schurr F M, Bossdorf O, Milton S J, et al.2004. Spatial pattern formation in semi-arid shrubland: a priori predicted versus observed pattern characteristics. Plant Ecology, 173(2): 271-282.
37 Schwinning S, Ehleringer J R.2001. Water use trade-offs and optimal adaptations to pulse-driven arid ecosystems. Journal of Ecology, 89(3): 464-480.
38 Sherratt J A.2013. History-dependent patterns of whole ecosystems. Ecological Complexity, 14: 8-20.
39 Tobe K, Zhang L P, Omasa K.2005. Seed germination and seedling emergence of three annuals growing on desert sand dunes in China. Annals of Botany, 95(4): 649-659.
40 Wang X P, Wang Z N, Cui Y, et al.2010. Variation in soil seed banks composition at the desert microhabitats of Caraganakorshinskii shrubs. Arid Land Research and Management, 24(3): 238-252.
41 Wang Z L, Wang G, Liu X M.1998. Germination strategy of the temperate sandy desert annual chenopod Agriophyllumsquarrosum. Journal of Arid Environments, 40(1): 69-76.
42 Woodward F I, McKee I F.1991. Vegetation and climate. Environment International, 17(6): 535-546.
43 Zhang Z S, Chen Y L, Xu B X, et al.2015. Topographic differentiations of biological soil crusts and hydraulic properties in fixed sand dunes, Tengger Desert. Journal of Arid Land, 7(2): 205-215.
44 Zhou X B, Zhang Y M, Niklas K J.2013. Sensitivity of growth and biomass allocation patterns to increasing nitrogen: a comparison between ephemerals and annuals in the Gurbantunggut Desert, north-western China. Annals of Botany, 113(3): 501-511.
[1] QIANG Yuquan, ZHANG Jinchun, XU Xianying, LIU Hujun, DUAN Xiaofeng. Stem sap flow of Haloxylon ammodendron at different ages and its response to physical factors in the Minqin oasis-desert transition zone, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(7): 842-857.
[2] ZHANG Hui, Giri R KATTEL, WANG Guojie, CHUAI Xiaowei, ZHANG Yuyang, MIAO Lijuan. Enhanced soil moisture improves vegetation growth in an arid grassland of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(7): 871-885.
[3] Khouloud ZAGOUB, Khouloud KRICHEN, Mohamed CHAIEB, Lobna F MNIF. Morphological and physiological responses to drought stress of carob trees in Mediterranean ecosystems[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(5): 562-577.
[4] WANG Yuxia, ZHANG Jing, YU Xiaojun. Effects of mulch and planting methods on Medicago ruthenica seed yield and soil physical-chemical properties[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2022, 14(8): 894-909.
[5] ZHANG Chaobo, LIU Yating, LIU Pengchong, JIANG Jing, YANG Qihong. Untangling the influence of soil moisture on root pullout property of alfafa plant[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2020, 12(4): 666-675.
[6] Hai ZHU, Shunjun HU, Jingsong YANG, KARAMAGE Fidele, Hao LI, Sihua FU. Spatio-temporal variation of soil moisture in a fixed dune at the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut Desert in Xinjiang, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2019, 11(5): 685-700.
[7] Qingyin ZHANG, Xiaoxu JIA, Chunlei ZHAO, Ming'an SHAO. Revegetation with artificial plants improves topsoil hydrological properties but intensifies deep-soil drying in northern Loess Plateau, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2018, 10(3): 335-346.
[8] Minhua YIN, Yuannong LI, Yuanbo XU, Changming ZHOU. Effects of mulches on water use in a winter wheat/summer maize rotation systemin Loess Plateau, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2018, 10(2): 277-291.
[9] Hui TIAN, IQBAL Mudassar. Utilizing a new soil effective temperature scheme and archived satellite microwave brightness temperature data to estimate surface soil moisture in the Nagqu region, Tibetan Plateau of China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2018, 10(1): 84-100.
[10] Yuchen WANG, Zhengfu BIAN, Shaogang LEI, Yu ZHANG. Investigating spatial and temporal variations of soil moisture content in an arid mining area using an improved thermal inertia model[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2017, 9(5): 712-726.
[11] Fengqin JIA, TIYIP Tashpolat, Nan WU, Changyan TIAN, Yuanming ZHANG. Characteristics of soil seed banks at different geomorphic positions within the longitudinal sand dunes of the Gurbantunggut Desert, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2017, 9(3): 355-367.
[12] GANTSETSEG Batdelger, ISHIZUKA Masahide, KUROSAKI Yasunori, MIKAMI Masao. Topographical and hydrological effects on meso-scale vegetation in desert steppe, Mongolia[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2017, 9(1): 132-142.
[13] SONG Xiaodong, ZHANG Ganlin, LIU Feng, LI Decheng, ZHAO Yuguo, YANG Jinling. Modeling spatio-temporal distribution of soil moisture by deep learning-based cellular automata model[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2016, 8(5): 734-748.
[14] Antonia LONGOBARDI, Elina KHAERTDINOVA. Relating soil moisture and air temperature to evapotranspiration fluxes during inter-storm periods at a Mediterranean experimental site[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2015, 7(1): 27-36.
[15] Ali Al-MAKTOUMI, Said Al-ISMAILY, Anvar KACIMOV, Hamed Al-BUSAIDI, Said Al-SAQRI, Mansour Al-HADABI. Soil substrate as a cascade of capillary barriers for conserving water in a desert environment: lessons learned from arid nature[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2014, 6(6): 690-703.