Modified topsoil islands within patchy Mediterranean vegetation in SE Spain

Bochet, E.; Rubio, J. L.; Poesen, Jean

doi:10.1016/s0341-8162(99)00056-9

Cited by 177 publications

(142 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…2(b)). The results were similar to those of Bochet et al (1999) and Dunkerley (2000), while contrary to the reports of Eldridge and Robson (1997) and Whitford et al (1997), whose research showed that soil under canopies generally contains more silt and clay, and correspondingly fewer sand particles compared to interspace soil. For different shrub species, the results may be reversed in the same area (Li et al 2007).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

The influence ofCaragana korshinskiishrub on soil and hydrological properties in a revegetation-stabilized desert ecosystem

Pan

Wang

et al. 2014

Hydrological Sciences Journal

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Shrub-induced spatial heterogeneity of soil and hydrological properties are common in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. To examine the influence of shrubs on spatial patterns of soil physical, chemical and hydrological properties, the typical sand-fixation species, Caragana korshinskii, was studied in the Shapotou area of the Tengger Desert, China. Miniature cylinder infiltrometers were used to quantify the spatial variations of infiltration rate in the soils, and were installed at 20-cm intervals around the shrubs. Meanwhile, soil samples were collected at 0-5 cm depth every 10 cm to analyse their physical and chemical properties and soil moisture content. The results indicate that the various measured parameters showed a gradational change from sub-canopy to open space. The establishment of shrubs formed obvious "fertile islands" where more soil nutrients collected. The total nitrogen (TN), soil organic matter (SOM), electrical conductivity (EC) and surface soil moisture content decreased gradually from around shrub stems to the interspace. The sand content around shrub stems was significantly higher (p < 0.05), and decreased gradually from the centre towards the outside microsites. The silt and clay contents showed opposite variability characteristics. The variation of soil bulk density was less within 140 cm distance from the stem, and no abrupt change was found at the shrub's drip line. No significant tendency was found for the soil pH values. The steady infiltration rates declined with increasing stem distance and then tended to be stable, and no abrupt change occurred at the position of the overhead canopy margin. The increase of infiltration rate was rapid nearer to the stem; the variability trend can be fitted by a loglog (power function) model. This study indicated the gradational change in soil and hydrological properties, which was not consistent with the binary division of shrubs into "canopy" and "interspace" zones.Key words shrubs; physical properties; chemical properties; hydrological properties; infiltration rate Influence de l'arbuste Caragana korshinskii sur les propriétés pédologiques et hydrologiques dans un écosystème désertique revégétalisé stabilisé Résumé L'hétérogénéité spatiale des propriétés pédologiques et hydrologiques induites par les arbustes est fréquente dans les écosystèmes arides et semi-arides. Afin d'examiner l'influence des arbustes sur la répartition spatiale des propriétés physiques, chimiques et hydrologiques des sols, Caragana korshinskii, une espèce caractéristique de fixation des sables, a été étudiée dans la zone de Shapotou du désert de Tengger, en Chine. Des infiltromètres cylindriques miniatures ont été utilisés pour quantifier les variations spatiales des taux d'infiltration dans les sols, et ont été installés à intervalles de 20 cm autour des arbustes. Parallèlement, des échantillons de sol ont été prélevés à 0-5 cm de profondeur tous les 10 cm pour analyser leurs propriétés physiques et chimiques et l'humidité du sol. Les résultats indiquent que les diffé...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

The influence ofCaragana korshinskiishrub on soil and hydrological properties in a revegetation-stabilized desert ecosystem

Pan

Wang

et al. 2014

Hydrological Sciences Journal

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“…For example, the accumulation of litter under plants contributes to increased surface roughness, higher infiltration rates, and decreased runoff generation thresholds (Boer and Puigdefá-bregas, 2005). Bochet et al (1999) also found that topsoil modification and erosion processes are mainly due to the differential influences of species morphology (i.e., aboveground structure) and components (i.e., litter cover and organic matter). Moreover, the impact of plant roots on soil resistance to erosion by water is also significant (Hou, 1990;Zou et al, 2000;Gyssels et al, 2005;Mao et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

The effect of land uses and rainfall regimes on runoff and soil erosion in the semi-arid loess hilly area, China

Wei

Chen

et al. 2007

Journal of Hydrology

396

167

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SummaryThe main purpose of this article is to analyze runoff and soil loss in relation to land use and rainfall regimes in a loess hilly area of China. Based on 14 years of field measurements and K-means clustering, 131 rainfall events were classified into three rainfall regimes. Rainfall Regime II is an aggregation of rainfall events with such features as high intensity, short duration and high frequency. Regime I is the aggregation of rainfall events of medium intensity, medium duration and less frequent occurrence. Regime III is the aggregation of events of low intensity and long duration and infrequent occurrence. The following results were found. (1) Mean runoff coefficient and erosion modulus among the five land use types are: cropland > pastureland > woodland > grassland > shrubland. (2) The sensitivity of runoff and erosion to the rainfall regimes differ. Rainfall Regime II causes the greatest proportion of runoff and soil loss, followed by Regime I and Regime III. (3) The processes of runoff and soil loss, however, are complicated and uncertain with the interaction of rainfall and land use. This is mainly due to the different stages of vegetation succession. Based on these results, it was suggested that more attention should be paid to Rainfall Regime II since it had the most erosive effect. Shrubland is the first choice to control soil erosion when land use conversion is implemented, whereas pastureland (alfalfa) is not. Large-scale plantation of alfalfa therefore, should be avoided. Grassland and woodland can be used as important supplements to shrubland. ª

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“…These water-limited landscapes frequently show a clear spatial pattern of vegetated patches interspersed within a bare soil matrix (Aguiar and Sala, 1999) which gives rise to a mosaic-like structure of sources and sinks of resources, the bare and vegetated patches, respectively, with very different soil properties and variable interconnection (e.g. Schlesinger et al, 1990;Ludwig and Tongway, 1995;Bochet et al, 1999Bochet et al, , 2000Puigdefábregas, 2005). Vegetated patches have often been com- Temporal evolution of the total number of papers on seed fate and dispersal in drylands published between 1974 and 2013, along with the evolution of the relative number of papers focusing on secondary seed dispersal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Schlesinger et al, 1990;Puigdefábregas and Sánchez, 1996;Cerdà, 1997;Bochet et al, 1998Bochet et al, , 1999Wilcox et al, 2003). Fertility islands may act as "nucleation" points facilitating the establishment of plant species that would otherwise be unable to establish (the process of "facilitation"; Callaway, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The fate of seeds in the soil: a review of the influence of overland flow on seed removal and its consequences for the vegetation of arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems

Bochet

2015

SOIL

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Abstract. Since seeds are the principle means by which plants move across the landscape, the final fate of seeds plays a fundamental role in the assemblage, functioning and dynamics of plant communities. Once seeds land on the soil surface after being dispersed from the parent plant, they can be moved horizontally by surface runoff. In arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems, where seeds are scattered into a very heterogeneous environment and intense rainfalls occur, the transport of seeds by runoff to new sites may be an opportunity for seeds to reach more favourable sites for seed germination and seedling survival. Although seed transport by runoff may be of vital importance for the recruitment of plants in these ecosystems, it has received little attention in the scientific literature, especially among soil scientists. The main goals of this review paper are (1) to offer an updated conceptual model of seed fate with a focus on seed destiny in and on the soil; (2) to review studies on seed fate in overland flow and the ecological implications seed transport by runoff has for the origin, spatial patterning and maintenance of patches in arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems; and finally (3) to point out directions for future research.This review shows that seed fate in overland flow may result either in the export of seeds from the system (seed loss) or in the spatial redistribution of seeds within the system through short-distance seed movements (seed displacement). Seed transport by runoff depends on rainfall, slope and soil characteristics. Susceptibility of seed removal varies highly between species and is mainly related to seed traits, including seed size, seed shape, presence of appendages, and ability of a seed to secrete mucilage. Although initially considered as a risk of seed loss, seed removal by runoff has recently been described as an ecological driver that shapes plant composition from the first phases of the plant life by favouring species with seeds able to resist erosion and by selecting for plant traits that prevent seed loss. Moreover, the interaction of seed transport by overland flow with the high seed trapping capacity of vegetated patches results in a "patch-to-patch" transport of seeds that plays a relevant role in vegetation establishment and patterning in arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems.Overall, this review shows how the knowledge about seed fate in overland flow can be used to explain a number of important characteristics of whole plant communities. It also underlines important gaps in knowledge that should be filled in. Future lines of research are proposed in order to broaden our understanding of the origin, maintenance and dynamics of patchiness in arid and semiarid ecosystems and to improve restoration success of intensively eroded ecosystems. Among the most exciting challenges, empirical studies are needed to understand the relevance of short-distance seed displacements in the origin and maintenance of patchiness, addressing the feedbacks between structure and function and abiotic a...

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Modified topsoil islands within patchy Mediterranean vegetation in SE Spain

Cited by 177 publications

References 27 publications

The influence ofCaragana korshinskiishrub on soil and hydrological properties in a revegetation-stabilized desert ecosystem

The influence ofCaragana korshinskiishrub on soil and hydrological properties in a revegetation-stabilized desert ecosystem

The effect of land uses and rainfall regimes on runoff and soil erosion in the semi-arid loess hilly area, China

The fate of seeds in the soil: a review of the influence of overland flow on seed removal and its consequences for the vegetation of arid and semiarid patchy ecosystems

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