Artificial Plantation Responses to Periodic Submergence in Massive Dam and Reservoir Riparian Zones: Changes in Soil Properties and Bacterial Community Characteristics

Abstract

Plant and microbiome interactions are necessary for plant nutrient acquisition. However, relatively little is known about the responses of roots, bulk, and rhizosphere soil microbial communities in different artificial vegetation types (woody and herbaceous) in riparian areas of massive dams and reservoirs. Therefore, this study aims to assess such responses at elevations of 165–170 m a.s.l. in the riparian zones of the Three Gorges Dam Reservoir, China. The samples were collected containing the rhizosphere soil, bulk soil, and roots of herbaceous and woody vegetation at different emergence stages in 2018. Then, all the samples were analyzed to quantify the soil properties, bacterial community characteristics, and their interaction in the early and late emergence phases. In different periods, the weight of dominant soil bacteria, including Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Cyanobacteria, was higher, and their composition was different in the rhizosphere, bulk soil, and endophytes. Moreover, the soil co-occurrence networks indicated that the weight of soil physical properties was higher than chemical properties in the early emergence stage. In contrast, the weight of chemical properties was relatively higher in the late emergence stage. Furthermore, the richness and diversity of the bacterial community were mainly affected by soil organic matter. This study suggests that these herbaceous and woody vegetation are suitable for planting in reservoir areas affected by hydrology and human disturbance in light of soil nutrients and soil microbial communities, respectively. Additionally, these results provide valuable information to inoculate the soil with key microbiota members by applying fertilizers, potentially improving plant health and soil production.

The impact of stress factors on riparian and drawdown zones degradation around dams and reservoirs

“…This area was under broad‐leaved and mixed forests, with croplands and gardens also present in several sites. Soil maturity and stability were lower owing to rock weathering in the newly formed riparian areas, and soil made of calcareous purple sand shale was found in the area (Li et al, 2021; Zheng, Arif, Zhang, Yuan, Zhang, Li, & Changxiao, 2021). Consequently, erosion activities were more intense at rural sites, whereas more concrete structures were found in urban and rural–urban transitional locations.…”

Responses of Ecological Stoichiometric Characteristics of Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus to Periodic Submergence in Mega-Reservoir: Growth of Taxodium distichum and Taxodium ascendens

“…The Ruxi River is one of the largest tributaries of the TGR. The b terized by a subtropical southeast monsoonal climate [1,3,[62][63][64][65]. The averag perature is 18.2 °C [2,4,62], and the frost-free period is 341 days.…”

“…The averag perature is 18.2 °C [2,4,62], and the frost-free period is 341 days. The ann hours are 1327.5, with a sunshine rate of 29% [64,65]. The total solar radia 83.7 × 4.18 kJ/cm 2 .…”

The impact of stress factors from three land-use patterns on riparian zones degradation located within mega-reservoirs and around dams in China

“…This area was under broad-leaved and mixed forests, with croplands and gardens also present in several sites. Soil maturity and stability were lower owing to rock weathering in the newly formed riparian areas, and soil made of calcareous purple sand shale was found in the area (Li et al, 2021;Zheng et al, 2021a). Consequently, erosion activities were more intense at rural sites, whereas more concrete structures were found in urban and rural-urban transitional locations.…”