Groundwater depth affects the daily course of gas exchange parameters of Populus euphratica in arid areas

In this case study, the diurnal courses of gas exchange in Populus euphratica at different groundwater depths in the lower reaches of Tarim River were investigated to understand the effects of soil hydrology on photosynthesis and water use efficiency (WUE) of vegetation in arid desert area. It was found that the photosynthetic rate (P _N) was not sensitive to the change of groundwater depth (GD) within the range of 4.2?C6.8?m. Compared to stomatal conductance (g _s) and transpiration rate (E) of P. euphratica grown at GD 4.2, 5.6 and 5.8?m, g _s and E at GD 6.8?m both markedly declined in June, suggesting that P. euphratica at deeper GD can avoid overall water loss by stomatal adjustment. The intrinsic water use efficiency of P. euphratica first decreases with the increasing GD, but when GD increased to 6.8?m, intrinsic WUE increased by 1.2?C2.2 fold, compared with the WUE of P. euphratica at GD 4.2?C5.8?m, indicating that intrinsic WUE of P. euphratica will increase when the plant suffers from moderate drought stress.     

Research on the water use efficiency and foliar nutrient status of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus euphratica</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamarix ramosissima</Emphasis> in the extreme arid region of China

Seasonal variations in foliar stable carbon composition (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentrations of Populus euphratica Olivier and Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb, as well as correlations between foliar δ¹³C values and N, P and K concentrations were studied in the Ejina oasis in the lower reaches of the Heihe River, northwestern China. Foliar δ¹³C values, and P and K concentrations significantly differed between species. Foliar δ¹³C signatures in T. ramosissima were significantly more enriched than those in P. euphratica, but P and K concentrations of P. euphratica were higher. The seasonal variations and patterns of these were similar. The total foliar δ¹³C values and N, P and K concentrations in both P. euphratica and T. ramosissima showed a descending trend. There were significantly positive correlations between foliar δ¹³C values and N and P concentration of both P. euphratica and T. ramosissima. For the relationship between foliar δ¹³C and K concentration, there appeared oppositely positive and negative correlations in P. euphratica and T. ramosissima, respectively, but they were not significant. The simple positive correlations of δ¹³C–P% and δ¹³C–N% suggested that N and P in P. euphratica and T. ramosissima behave in a similar manner. This study also showed that there were nutrient deficiencies; N and P nutriments were the co-limiting factors in P. euphratica, while it was P nutriment in T. ramosissima.     

Physiological acclimation strategies of riparian plants to environment change in the delta of the Tarim River,China

The occurrence and development of riparian forests, which were mainly dominated by mesophytes species related closely with surface water. Since there was no water discharged to the lower reaches of Tarim River in the past three decade years, the riparian forests degrade severely. The groundwater table, the saline content of the groundwater, as well as the content of free proline, soluble sugars, plant endogenous hormones (abscisic acid (ABA), and cytokinins (CTK)) of the leaves and relative rates of sap flow of the Populus euphratica Oliv. (arbor species), Tamarix ramosissima Ldb. (bush species), and Apocynum venetum L. (herb species) were monitored and analyzed at the lower reaches of the Tarim River in the study area where five positions on a transect were fixed at 100 m intervals along a sampling direction from riverbank to the sand dunes before and after water release. The physiological responses and acclimation strategies of three species to variations in water and salinity stress were discussed. It was found that A. venetum population recovered to groundwater table ranging from −1.73 to −3.56 m, and when exposed to saline content of the groundwater ranging from 36.59 to 93.48 m mol/L; P. euphratica appeared to be more sensitive to the elevation of groundwater table than the A. venetum and T. ramosissima at groundwater table ranging from −5.08 to −5.80 m, and when exposed to saline content of the groundwater ranging from 42.17 to 49.55 m mol/L. T. ramosissima tended to be the best candidate species for reclamation in this hyper-arid area because it responded to groundwater table ranging from −1.73 to −7.05 m, and when exposed to saline content of the groundwater ranging from 36.59 to 93.48 m mol/L. These results explained the distribution patterns of desert vegetation in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Understanding the relationships among ecological factors variables, physiological response and acclimation strategies of plant individuals could provide guidance to sustainable management, reclamation and development of this and similar regions.     

Analysis of an oasis microclimate in China’s hyperarid zone

The microclimate of a desert oasis in China’s hyperarid zone was monitored, analysed and compared to that of nearby forested lands. Factors associated with differences in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) between clear, cloudy and dust storm days are discussed. Desert oases were shown to fulfill ecological functions such as altering solar radiation, adjusting near-ground and land surface temperatures, reducing temperature differences, lowering wind velocity, and increasing soil and atmospheric humidity. Total solar radiation within the oasis was roughly half that above the forest canopy. During the growing season, air temperatures in Populus euphratica Olivier and Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb. woodlands were, on average, 1.62 and 0.83°C lower, respectively, than that in surrounding woodlands. The greater the forest cover, the greater was the difference in temperature. Air temperature was higher at the upper storey than that at the lower storey of the community, i.e., air temperature increased with increasing height above the soil surface. During the growing season, relative humidity was higher in woodlands than in surrounding areas: relative humidity in P. euphratica and T. ramosissima woodlands were, on average, 8.5 and 4.2% higher, respectively, than that in the surrounding area. Mean wind velocity in the P. euphratica forest land was 0.33 m/s, 2.31 m/s lower than that in the surrounding area. On dust storm days PAR and total radiation, Q, were significantly lower than that on cloudy or clear days. Their ratio, η _Q  = PAR/Q, was larger and much more variable on dust storm days than that on clear or cloudy days.     

Photosynthesis and water use efficiency of Populus euphratica in response to changing groundwater depth and CO2 concentration

Changes of stomatal conductance (g _s), net photosynthetic rates (P _N) and water use efficiency (WUE) were investigated in Populus euphratica grown on sites with different groundwater depths (GDs) under two CO₂ concentrations in the lower reaches of Tarim River, Xinjiang, northwestern China. P _N in P. euphratica only slightly decreased when the groundwater depth increased from 4.12 to 7.74 m below the ground surface. P _N values significantly increased in response to an elevated CO₂ concentration at all GDs except at GD of 4.12 m for its good availability of groundwater. WUE values decreased with an initial increase in the groundwater depth, but increased when the groundwater depth reached 7.74 m especially under the elevated CO₂ concentration. The g _s values measured at 4.12 and 4.74 m both decreased indistinctively by only 3% due to CO₂ enrichment; however, when GDs increased to 5.54 and 7.74 m, the g _s values decreased significantly by about 10%. It shows that the response of g _s in P. euphratica to elevated CO₂ is weaker under lower groundwater depth (mild drought stress) but stronger under deeper groundwater depth (moderate drought stress). Results from this study suggest that groundwater depth could determine the response of photosynthesis to future CO₂ enrichment in P. euphratica in arid desert areas.     

Using monitoring data of surface soil to predict whole crop-root zone soil water content with PSO-LSSVM,GRNN and WNN

Drought is a significant disaster in Beijing and it is important to find a method to assess the drought condition. First, this paper collected data of 85 soil monitoring stations in Beijing, such as soil dry bulk densities, saturated water contents, field capacities. Then, spatial variability characteristics of soil physics parameters were investigated by GIS and other three factors, 10 cm soil moisture content, organic matter and saturated water content which notably influenced soil moisture were extracted by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Furthermore, four different nonlinear methods were put forward to predict crop-root zone soil water. 15555 single daily data from 2011 were used in parameters determination, while 15470 double daily data were used to test. The result showed that the Least Square Support Vector Machine coupling Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm (PSO-LSSVM) (R ²?=?0. 875) did better than BP Neural Network (R ²?=?0. 840), Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN) (R ²?=?0. 850) and Wavelet Neural Network (WNN) (R ²?=?0. 853). As so the POS-LSSVM method was used to evaluate the drought conditions from October 2010 to March 2011 of Beijing, and the result showed that from October 2010 to January 2011, the drought conditions were getting increasingly worse while later relieved from January 2011 to March 2011.     

Frequency-domain electromagnetic sensing of leaching in a Californian substratum

Frequency-domain electromagnetic sensing can be an effective tool for ascertaining subsurface water dynamics. In California, the paucity of available irrigation water, recurrence of drought and presence of indigenous salts within the geological parent materials affect crop health. Subsurface leaching variability analyses were performed using dual dipolar induction surveys and stochastic computations to determine salinity conditions conducive to plant growth. Soils in the study area had randomly variable salinity with elevated salt levels within the substratum. The salinity values were mostly above 300 mS m^?1 and some areas exceeded the 1500 mS m^?1 level. The leaching conditions across the fields varied generally from 5 to 50%. Both variables showed slightly positive skewness with minutely asymmetrical tailing. The salinity distribution had less peakedness than the leaching distribution. Albeit with spatially dependent variability and skewness, the distribution patterns had low errors. There was a strong and significant correlation (r?=?0.939 at P?<?0.05) between the observed and predicted conductivity data. The leaching variables exhibited directional dependence along vertical and horizontal gradients. Spatial increase in salinity within the substratum conformed to salt leaching and water percolation processes. All observed salinity values within the substratum exceeded salt tolerance threshold limits for major crops and favorable leaching conditions were observed at low salinity levels. Sustainability of agriculture in California is heavily dependent on adequate water use planning and our approach of leaching variability analyses can facilitate water management and crop production by assessing removal of superfluous salts from the soil substratum.     

Growing season evapotranspiration from Tamarix ramosissima stands under extreme arid conditions in northwest China

Given the increasing threat of water shortages in the extremely arid regions (rainfall<50 mm year⁻¹) of northwestern China, growing season evapotranspiration (ET) associated with native species such as Tamarix ramosissima is of particular interest. Consequently, this study sought to evaluate the accuracy of daily ET estimates using Bowen ratio data, as well as measuring seasonal ET and development of an energy balance for a stand of T. ramosissima. Bowen ratio apparatus measurements of ET were carried out on a stand of T. ramosissima in a 2.04 km² field, which are all covered with T. ramosissima near Erdaoqiao, Ejina Province, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Soil moisture content and green area index were also monitored. Daily ET could be accurately estimated from Bowen ratio data on a continuous basis over the 153-day growing season. The mean daily T. ramosissima ET over this period was 1.62 mm day⁻¹, for a seasonal total of 248.20 mm. In this extremely arid locale, the great majority of available energy dissipated over the growing season was a result of sensible rather than latent heat fluxes. While the heat storage term was the main source of energy at night and a considerable sink of energy during the daytime, the magnitude of the daily mean soil heat flux was small. Such a determination of temporal and ecosystem-specific ET patterns allows an improved prediction of ET in the desert riparian zone.     

早涝碱咸综合治理与生态环境良性循环

华北平原东部淡水资源短缺，旱涝碱成灾害限制了农业生产的可持续发展。海河的治理，解决了排洪排涝排咸出路。春季开发利用地下水包括微咸水和半咸水抗旱灌溉。夏季利用伏雨洗盐排咸，增大降雨入渗，减少径流流失，防治渍涝灾害，把降雨转化为地下水资源。秋冬引蓄河水，回灌地下水补源。以土壤与潜水的地层空间作为调节大气降水、土壤水、地下水、地表水的地下水库，以调控地下水埋深在临界动态为指标，最大限度地把时空分布不均的天然降雨转化为可持续利用的水资源。地表水地下水联合运用，促使水资源采补平衡，降雨灌溉淋洗脱盐强于干旱蒸发积盐过程，地下水淡化强于矿化过程。实现旱涝碱咸综合治理，水土资源可持续利用，经济社会可持续发展，生态环境良性循环。     

环渤海平原土壤盐分不同聚型的水动力学特征

为了解环渤海低平原微咸水灌溉的土壤容盐能力问题,对大量野外监测和采样测试数据进行了研究。结果表明,该平原的土壤盐分剖面分布特征具有表聚型、中聚型和底聚型3种类型,其与蒸发、降水或灌溉入渗影响和潜水位埋深变化相关。不同聚型剖面形成的水动力特征各不相同：表聚型土壤盐分剖面的水势梯度指向地表,其绝对值远大于1.0 cmH₂O/cm;中聚型土壤盐分剖面上部的水势梯度指向地下水面,剖面下部的水势梯度指向地表;底聚型土壤盐分剖面的水势梯度指向地下水面,水势梯度大于1.0 cmH₂O/cm。表聚型土壤盐分剖面不利于微咸水灌溉农田和作物生长。     

Differential effects of salinity and soil saturation on native and exotic plants of a coastal salt marsh

In many southern California salt marshes, increased freshwater inflows have promoted the establishment of exotic plant species. A comparative study showed that a native, perennial, high marsh dominant,Salicornia subterminalis, and an invasive, exotic annual grass,Polypogon monspeliensis, responded differently to soil salinity and saturation.Salicornia subterminalis seeds and young plants were more salt tolerant, and the native grew best at high salinities (23 g 1^?1 and 34 g 1^?1) in greenhouse experiments. In contrast, the exotic had reduced growth at high salinities relative to nonsaline controls. The native,S. subterminalis, grew poorly as the duration of soil saturation increased from 2 wk to 32 wk, butP. monspeliensis grew equally well for all durations tested. The response ofS. subterminalis andP. monspeliensis to increased salinity indicated that salt applications might be used to protect native vegetation in salt marshes where salt-sensitive exotics are a problem. A field experiment verified that a salt application of 850 g m^?2 mo^?1 for 3 mo was sufficient to control the exotic, while not noticeably affecting the native. Thus, salt applications may be a practical method for controllingP. monspeliensis invasions in areas receiving urban runoff or other unwanted freshwater inflows.     

Freshwater requirements of a semi-arid supratidal and floodplain salt marsh

When rivers are impounded, the reduction in downstream flow can produce important and often adverse effects, especially in the estuarine environment. One or more dams have been proposed for the Olifants River system in the Western Cape, South Africa. This estuary has an extensive area of salt marsh that was examined to see whether it required occasional flooding with freshwater to wash out accumulated salts. The dominant salt marsh species,Sarcocornia pillansii, occurred in supratidal and floodplain areas where the water table was shallowest, the soil moisture highest, and the soil electrical conductivity lowest. Aerial photographs and simulated runoff data showed that no flood had covered the floodplain during the previous 80 years. The data indicate that salt marsh plants use saline groundwater during the dry months of the year in order to survive, but use the short season winter rainfall period with low salinity conditions to grow and reproduce. This study demonstrated that live roots ofS. pillansii reached the water table during the dry season. Tissue and soil water potentials, the relationship between vegetation cover, depth to the water table, and electrical conductivity of the groundwater support the conclusion that saline groundwater is the only source of water during the drier months of the year. Freshwater flooding of the river in winter may be important because it covers the supratidal area with less saline water and reduces the depth to the water table on the floodplain. This makes the groundwater more accessible to the halophytes growing on the floodplain.     

Sap flow characteristics of four typical species in desert shelter forest and their responses to environmental factors

Sap flows of four typical species, Populus. russkii Jabl., Populus euphratica Olive., Ulmus pumila L., and Elaeagnus angustifolia L., of artificial shelter forest in a desert area were monitored in all-weather conditions using SF300 Sap flow Meter based on the theory of thermal compensation. Meanwhile, air temperature (T _a), leaf temperature (T _l), soil temperature (T _s), relative humidity (RH), and wind velocity (V _w) were simultaneously recorded by an automatic weather station. The results indicate that (1) the diurnal processes of stem sap flows of P. russkii Jabl., P. euphratica Olive., and U. pumila L., but not E. angustifolia L., show an obvious circadian rhythm. Significant differences of stem sap flow rates were found among species, but not genus. The average sap flow rate of P. russkii Jabl. is 13.8-fold of that of E. angustifolia L. The order of sap flux density (SFD) from the largest to the smallest is P. russkii Jabl., P. euphratica Olive, U. pumila L. and E. angustifolia L.; (2) compared with 373?mm, 747?mm irrigation can induce microenvironmental changes that result in the suppression of photosynthesis and transpiration and the decline of stem sap flow rates of the above four species, indicating 373?mm irrigation meets the growth needs of the above species during experiment; (3) sap flow rates are different at different stem positions: the flow rates of P. russkii Jabl., U. pumila L. and E. angustifolia L., but not P. euphratica Olive, decline gradually from cambium to pith; (4) the correlation analysis indicates that stem sap flow is negatively correlated with RH and T _s and positively correlated with T _a, T _l and saturation vapor pressure deficit (VPD). The sap flow rate of P. russkii Jabl. is significantly affected by V _w due to its large size and height. In addition, a model was established by stepwise regression analysis to estimate the relationship between the environmental factors and stem sap flows of the above four typical species of shelter forest in the desert area.     

张掖市城市湿地土壤盐分、pH值和含水量的空间异质性分析

基于区域变量化理论,运用传统统计学和地质统计学方法,以张掖市城市湿地为研究区,定量分析湿地土壤盐分、pH值和含水量的空间异质性.结果表明:土壤盐分较高,呈一定的碱化趋势;盐分属于强变异程度,pH值属于弱变异程度,含水量属于中等变异程度;根据半方差函数理论模型分析,盐分受结构性因素较大影响表现为强空间相关性,pH值受随机...     

Eco-physiological response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus euphratica</Emphasis> Oliv. to water release of the lower reaches of the Tarim River,China

Eco-physiological and plant performance responses and acclimation of Populus euphratica Oliv. to water release of the lower reaches of Tarim River, China were investigated. Three representative areas and 15 transects were selected along the lower reaches of the Tarim River. The groundwater level and salt content as well as plant performance and the contents of proline, soluble sugar, and plant endogenous hormone (ABA, CTK) in leaves were monitored and analyzed before- and after-water release. The groundwater level was raised in different areas and transects by the water release program. The physiological stress to P. euphratica decreased after the water release. Our results suggested that the groundwater level in the studied region changed from −3.15 to −4.12 m, salt content of the groundwater from 67.15 to 72.65 mM, the proline content from 9.28 to 11.06 mM, the soluble sugar content from 224.71 to 252.16 mM, the ABA content from 3.59 to 5.01 ng/(g FW), and the CK content from 4.01 to 4.56 ng/(g FW)- for the optimum growth and recover of P. euphratica indicated by the plant performance parameters, and the efficiency of water release was the highest.     

The Influence of Salinity on the Uptake, Distribution, and Excretion of Metals by the Smooth Cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora (Loisel.), Grown in Sediment Contaminated by Multiple Metals

The effect of salinity on the concentration of metals in Spartina alterniflora tissues and excreted salts and the distribution of metals between these compartments was tested in a greenhouse experiment. S. alterniflora stems were planted in pots of dredge sediment that was amended with a suite of six metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn). The overlying water of individual pots was maintained at treatment salinities of 0, 15, or 30 practical salinity units. The proportion of total metal distributed to the tissues and excreted salt of S. alterniflora was not significantly influenced by salinity for any of the metals. The concentration of Pb in root and leaf tissues and in excreted salt was influenced by salinity, as was the concentration of Zn in root tissue and excreted salt. Contrary to expectations, the concentration of Pb and Zn in excreted salts decreased as salinity increased. Although the influence of salinity on the concentration of Pb and Zn in S. alterniflora tissue has not been previously reported, the influence of salinity on the tissue concentrations of Pb agrees with previous research on dicots.     

Inundation patterns and plant growth in constructed wetland characterized by dynamic water budget model

Inundation patterns and plant establishment were observed in a riparian wetland mitigation project following predictions made by a dynamic water budget model. The model combined field measurements of hydrologic variables, historical weather observations, and digital elevation data in a geographic information system. It identified one excavation among four candidates as most likely to thrive in a harsh environment with periodic drought and extreme water level fluctuations. Observed, pulsing inundation patterns are consistent with predictions made by the model. Numerous native species, many found on site, were planted in the excavation; more than half of them survived a year-long period of observation with months of no standing water. The most successful species were graminoids (especially Cyperus acuminatus), a forb (Eclipta prostrata), and herbs (especially Hibiscus laevis and Polygonum densiflorum) capable of extracting soil moisture during prolonged dry spells.     

Soil water-salt dynamics state and associated sensitivity factors in an irrigation district of the loess area: a case study in the Luohui Canal Irrigation District,China

Soil salinisation determines the distribution pattern of crop processes in irrigation districts. The research presented here was conducted in the Luohui Canal Irrigation District, which is located in the loess area of Shaanxi Province, China. A back-propagation artificial neural network (BPANN) for the soil water-salt state was established to predict soil salinity and alkalinity. The degree of influence of numerous factors on the dynamics was quantitatively determined using the default factor testing method and verified with grey relational analysis. The results show that the BPANN prediction accuracy is very high, and it can efficiently depict the comprehensive relationships between the influential factors and dynamic states. The influence of soil moisture, evaporation, groundwater salt and groundwater depth on the dynamics is significant in the region. The current irrigation method, used for many years, cannot meet the water necessities for the vegetation, causing the groundwater levels to decline and a lowering of the soil moisture zone, leading to the occurrence of serious soil salinisation. Under the action of evaporation, more salt accumulates in the upper part of the soil, resulting in extensive soil salinisation. The higher the groundwater salt content, the more salt is carried by rising capillary water, and the more the soil is salinised. If groundwater depth was to exceed the critical water table, then groundwater and salt would move to the soil surface by moisture evaporation, and salt would build up on the soil surface in this irrigation district. The interactions between each factor forms a complex coupling relationship state.     

The influence of 10 years of water conveyances on groundwater and juvenile Populus euphratica of the lower Tarim River

The changes in the depth of groundwater were studied from the period before water conveyance through 2010, and the TDS of groundwater was analyzed in the lower reaches of the Tarim River during the period 2001–2010. Besides, the numbers of juvenile P. euphratica were investigated in the lower reaches of the Tarim River during the period 2001–2010. The findings indicate that: (1) the hydrological environment of the lower reaches has slowly deteriorated again; and (2) few juvenile P. euphratica were observed along the channel. These results show that the positive influence of the ecological water conveyance project on the ecosystem of the lower Tarim River should be beneficial in the long term; however, the long-term stability of the ecosystem cannot be achieved by the current water diversion scheme.     

Response of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana to the 1997–2001 El Niño Southern Oscillation shifts

Lake Pontchartrain is a large, shallow, low salinity estuary north of New Orleans, Louisiana. It is a water quality impaired system with restoration efforts in progress. One restoration goal is the reestablishment of historic submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV;Vallisneria americana Michx. andRuppia maritima L.), which has been in a state of decline since first studied in 1953. Annual SAV surveys and monthly water quality monitoring were conducted at four to five sites from 1996 through 2003 to evaluate trends and determine the causes of SAV change. We found a rapid increase in the distribution and abundance ofR. maritima in 1999 that persisted through 2002. An El Niño Southern Oscillation shift occurred between 1997 and 2001, which produced a drought in southern Louisiana as an ancillary effect of La Niña. This study was conducted to investigate causal links between the El Niño to La Niña climate phase shift and SAV change. We found that salinity and water clarity increased during La Niña. Increased water clarity produced a rapid increase in the euryhaline speciesR. maritima in deeper water and at historic sites where SAV had not been found since 1953. As salinity increased, the freshwater speciesV. americana andMyriophyllum spicatum L. declined, andNajas guadalupensis (Spreng.) Magnus andPotamogeton perfoliatus L. disappeared. In 2003, after the La Niña phase, salinity and water clarity decreased,R. maritima decreased, and the freshwater species increased, butP. perfoliatus was still absent. We found that salinity controlled SAV species composition, and water clarity controlled SAV colonization depth (Z_col=2.3/K_d). Our study demonstrated that climatic shifts cause cyclic changes in Lake Pontchartrain SAV and that restoration could be accomplished by improving water clarity. Due to the sensitivity of SAV to environmental change, similar responses to short-term and long-term climate changes should occur in other estuarine systems.