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Arid Land Geography ›› 2021, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (3): 830-837.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000–6060.2021.03.25

• Biology and Pedology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of soil crust development on seed germination and population characteristics of Limonium aureum under Haloxylon ammodendron plantations

LI Changlong1,2,3(),WU Hao3,JIANG Shengxiu2,3,LI Delu2,3,WANG Duoze1,3,ZHANG Liheng3   

  1. 1. Gansu Minqin National Field Observation and Research Station on Ecosystem of Desertification Rangeland, Minqin 733300, Gansu, China
    2. State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Desertification and Aeolian Sand Disaster Combating, Wuwei 733000, Gansu, China
    3. Gansu Desert Control and Research Institute, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
  • Received:2020-07-27 Revised:2021-04-02 Online:2021-05-25 Published:2021-06-01

Abstract:

This study provides a theoretical basis for population establishment and desert control models combining shrubs and herbs by studying the effects of soil crust development and simulated precipitation on soil seed germination, seedling mortality, and plant population characteristics and interactions at Minqin County, Gansu Province, China. The plant populations analyzed included Limonium aureum and Haloxylon ammodendron, and the soil crust types evaluated included sandy soil without a soil crust (NSC), sandy soil with a physical crust (PSC), and sandy soil with a biological crust (BSC). The following results were obtained. (1) Soil crust development promoted the soil seed germination of L. aureum among the different soil crust types in the order of BSC>PSC>NSC. Differences among groups were extremely significant (P<0.01). When the population density was limited, the difference in soil seed germination between soils covered by NSC and PSC and that covered by BSC was extremely significant (P<0.01). The average height and crown width of the L. aureum population gradually increased but the difference between groups was not significant (P>0.05). (2) Under the condition of 15 mm of simulated precipitation, soil crust development revealed extremely significant effects on population density and soil seed germination in the order of PSC>BSC>NSC (P<0.01). However, no significant effect on the average height and crown width was observed (P>0.05). The mortality rate of seedlings showed the order NSC>BSC>PSC, and differences among the three soils were extremely significant (P<0.01). (3) Increases in simulated precipitation gradually increased the germination rate of soil seeds and gradually decreased the mortality rate of seedlings. The soil seed germination rate showed the order BSC>PSC>NSC, while the seedling mortality rate showed the order NSC>PSC>BSC. Taking the results together, the development of the soil crust under H. ammodendron plantations could not only enhance the stability of the water and soil environment on the soil surface but also increase the amount of soil seeds of L. aureum, which is beneficial to soil seed germination and population regeneration and development. In addition, simulated precipitation could effectively improve soil moisture conditions, especially in the soil crust layer, to provide the necessary material basis and environmental conditions for the soil seed germination and population regeneration of L. aureum.

Key words: soil crusts, seeds germination, population characteristics, Limonium aurenu, Haloxylon ammodendron plantations