The potential of groundwater-dependent ecosystems to enhance soil biological activity and soil fertility in drylands

Torres-García, M. Trinidad; Oyonarte, Cecilio; Cabello, Javier; Guirado, Emilio; Rodríguez‐Lozano, Borja; Salinas-Bonillo, María J.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154111

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…For arid and semi-arid regions, groundwater was the key source of water for plant growth, while large natural vegetation species in this area were lost due to excessively extracted groundwater, which led to groundwater levels persistently decreasing ( Su et al., 2021 ; Trinidad Torres-Garcia et al., 2022 ). Our findings showed that deep groundwater depth was one of the most critical environmental elements influencing soil and plants in Horqin Sandy Land, and soil moisture is an increasing limiting factor for plant growth ( Prieto et al., 2012 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of deeper groundwater depth on vegetation and soil in semi-arid region of eastern China

et al. 2023

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IntroductionUnderstanding the impact of deep groundwater depth on vegetation communities and soil in sand dunes with different underground water tables is essential for ecological restoration and the conservation of groundwater. Furthermore, this understanding is critical for determining the threshold value of groundwater depth that ensures the survival of vegetation.MethodThis paper was conducted in a semi-arid region in eastern China, and the effects of deep groundwater depth (6.25 m, 10.61 m, and 15.26 m) on vegetation communities and soil properties (0–200 cm) across three dune types (mobile, semi-fixed, and fixed dunes) were evaluated in a sand ecosystem in the Horqin Sandy Land.ResultsFor vegetation community, variations in the same species are more significant at different groundwater depths. For soil properties, groundwater depth negatively influences soil moisture, total carbon, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, available phosphorus concentrations, and soil pH. Besides, groundwater depth also significantly affected organic carbon and available potassium concentrations. In addition, herb species were mainly distributed in areas with lower groundwater depth, yet arbor and shrub species were sparsely distributed in places with deeper groundwater depth.DiscussionAs arbor and shrub species are key drivers of ecosystem sustainability, the adaptation of these dominant species to increasing groundwater depth may alleviate the negative effects of increasing groundwater depth; however, restrictions on this adaptation were exceeded at deeper groundwater depth.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of deeper groundwater depth on vegetation and soil in semi-arid region of eastern China

et al. 2023

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“…We found that soil moisture and multifunctionality changed by groundwater depth had different effects on soil microbial community ( Figure 7 ). Careful consideration of such changes was necessary because in most arid and semi-arid climates, groundwater depth exceeds 50 cm ( Chen et al, 2021 ; Trinidad Torres-Garcia et al, 2022 ). The results presented in our study suggest that deeper groundwater depth led to a depletion in soil moisture and soil properties, as well as a shift in microbial community structure and functionality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of altered groundwater depth on soil microbial diversity, network complexity and multifunctionality

Zhao,

et al. 2023

Front. Microbiol.

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Understanding the effects of groundwater depth on soil microbiota and multiple soil functions is essential for ecological restoration and the implementation of groundwater conservation. The current impact of increased groundwater levels induced by drought on soil microbiota and multifunctionality remains ambiguous, which impedes our understanding of the sustainability of water-scarce ecosystems that heavily rely on groundwater resources. This study investigated the impacts of altered groundwater depths on soil microbiota and multifunctionality in a semi-arid region. Three groundwater depth levels were studied, with different soil quality and soil moisture at each level. The deep groundwater treatment had negative impacts on diversity, network complexity of microbiota, and the relationships among microbial phylum unites. Increasing groundwater depth also changed composition of soil microbiota, reducing the relative abundance of dominant phyla including Proteobacteria and Ascomycota. Increasing groundwater depth led to changes in microbial community characteristics, which are strongly related to alterations in soil multifunctionality. Overall, our results suggest that groundwater depth had a strongly effect on soil microbiota and functionality.

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Plant-groundwater interactions in drylands: A review of current research and future perspectives

Wang,

Wu,

Wang

et al. 2023

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology

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The potential of groundwater-dependent ecosystems to enhance soil biological activity and soil fertility in drylands

Cited by 7 publications

References 72 publications

Impact of deeper groundwater depth on vegetation and soil in semi-arid region of eastern China

Impact of deeper groundwater depth on vegetation and soil in semi-arid region of eastern China

Impact of altered groundwater depth on soil microbial diversity, network complexity and multifunctionality

Plant-groundwater interactions in drylands: A review of current research and future perspectives

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