Soil seed flora, germination and regeneration pattern of woody species in an Acacia woodland of the Rift Valley in Ethiopia

The objectives of this study were to determine the composition, density and spatial distribution of the soil seed bank of woody species, as well as their regeneration pattern in two different land use systems, controlled (ranch) and open grazing, in an Acacia woodland of the Rift Valley in Ethiopia. We also compared the species composition of the soil seed bank and the above-ground vegetation to find out if differences exist in the soil seed bank and advance regeneration between the two land use systems. The germination requirements of seeds of the woody species were also investigated under laboratory conditions. Acacia senegal, Acacia seyal, Acacia tortilis, Dichrostacys cinerea and Balanites aegyptiaca were encountered in the above-ground vegetation in both systems. Seeds of only A. tortilis (90±32 seeds m⁻²) from the ranch, and A. senegal (5±3 seeds m⁻²) and A. tortilis (72±34 seeds m⁻²) from the open system were found in the soil seed bank along transects with patchy horizontal pattern. The two systems were not significantly different in density of soil seed banks of A. senegal andA. tortilis . Jaccard's similarity index showed that only a few woody species were common in the soil seed flora and above ground vegetation. However, all of the species accumulated seeds (58±43–331±130 seeds m⁻²) in/on the soil under the canopy. Very large numbers of seeds of A. tortilis (19382±9722 seeds m⁻²) and D. cinerea (1278±494 seeds m⁻²) were also found in barns. Most of the seeds recovered from the soil samples (60–80%) were found in the litter layer. Acid and mechanical scarification improved legume germination (36–99% and 60–99%, respectively) over boiling water (0–48%). Treatment means differed significantly for all the legumes (p<0·001) but not for Balanites. Height and diameter class distribution of regeneration of A. tortilis and D. cinerea in both systems and A. senegal in the open system had a negative exponential correlation (r_s=−0·5, −0·25 and −0·86, respectively). A. seyal and B. aegyptiaca showed poor regeneration. Horizontal distribution of advance regeneration of all the species was patchy. Advance regeneration of A. seyal, A. tortilis and B. aegyptiaca were not significantly different, while that of A. senegal and D. cinerea were significantly different between the two systems. Poor representation of species in the soil seed bank along transects and in the different height and diameter classes may be attributed to the low density of mature trees as well as the mode and strategy of seed dispersal. Ungulate and wind dispersed species (e.g. A. senegal, A. tortilis and D. cinerea) were highly favoured. Patchiness in the distribution of seeds and advance regeneration was also a result of endozoochory. Dispersal of non-ungulate dispersed seeds (A. senegal, A. seyal and B. aegyptiaca) was restricted to the canopy zone. Piles of seeds ofA. tortilis and D. cinerea that were found in barns were a result of consumption of their pods by cattle. High concentration of seeds in the litter layer may be due to low soil disturbance and larger size of seeds. The height and diameter class distribution of A. senegal (in the open system), A. tortilis and D. cinerea also indicated that the species have good regeneration. Results from the germination tests indicated that seeds of the legumes require pre-sowing treatments to give a rapid, uniform and improved germination. Intervention through artificial regeneration should be employed to improve the density and regeneration capacity of those species with hampered regeneration at both systems.     

Growth, ionic and osmotic relations of an Allenrolfea occidentalis population in an inland salt playa of the Great Basin Desert

Variation in growth, physiology and ionic relations patterns of Allenrolfea occidentalis, a perennial halophyte of dry habitats, was studied under field conditions from May 1996 to November 1997. An A. occidentalis community has a characteristic soil pH of 7·3–8·3. During the two years, the population was exposed to great variations in soil salinity, from 29 to 146 dS m⁻¹, and soil moisture, ranging from drought (9·2%) to wet (19%). The salt concentrations were significantly higher in the surface soil layers than in the subsurface layers. Seasonal changes in dry weight are directly related to soil salinity stress. Allenrolfea occidentalis had greater growth and biomass production under saline conditions. Na⁺and Cl⁻ions were accumulated in plant tissues in much greater amounts than K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺. Soil salinities were significantly reduced at the end of the growing season. Water potentials of the shoots decreased significantly with increasing salinity. The plant (F_v/F_mratio) was more affected by salinity and irradiation levels during the summer period.     

Distribution and Characteristics of Nitraria sphaerocarpa nebkhas in a Gobi habitat outside an oasis in Hexi Corridor region, China

Nitraria sphaerocarpa Maxim., a typical desert plant which often appears in nebkha form, is widely distributed along the periphery of oasis in arid regions of Northwest China, and plays an important role in desertification control around oases. In this paper, the characteristics and distribution patterns of N. sphaerocarpa nebkhas were investigated in a Gobi environment outside an oasis. Results shows that about 200 N. sphaerocarpa nebkhas per hectare was recorded and total sand sediments was 25 m³/ha. Nebkhas vary in size, and the mean height (H) and horizontal composition (L) were 15 cm and 80 cm, respectively. There exists a significant linear relationship between H and L, suggesting that the investigated nebkhas are mostly in the growth stage. The numbers, height and sand deposit of nebkhas decreased with increasing distance away from the oasis. Grain-size analysis indicates that the mean grain size of sediments at the crests of nebkhas increased with increasing nebkha height. Organic C and total N concentrations were related to the mean grain size. It was concluded that N. sphaerocarpa shrubs are efficient horizontal sand traps for wind-driven sediments. A better understanding of the development of nebkha can provide information for the design of biological sand control measures around oases in arid regions.     

Adaptation to living in an open arid environment: lessons from the burrow structure of the two southern African whistling rats, Parotomys brantsii and P. littledalei

This study examines interspecific differences in the architecture and field characteristics of the burrow systems of Brants' whistling rat, Parotomys brantsii, and Littledale's whistling rat, Parotomys littledalei. The two rodents are endemic to the arid west region of southern Africa. Both build complex burrow systems with numerous nest chambers and associated interconnecting tunnels, as well as a number of entrances. Burrow systems of P. littledalei are restricted to areas of good plant cover, whilst many P. brantsii burrows are situated in open locations with only limited plant cover. Further, the burrows of P. brantsii cover a much larger area than those of P. littledalei, with many more entrances. As P. brantsii feed predominantly within the boundaries of their burrows and not in the open veld, their burrow systems effectively serve as a predator refuge, into which this diurnal rodent can quickly run in the event of danger. Thus, by building large multi-holed burrow systems, P. brantsii have become independent of the protection offered by bush cover and can exist within relatively open areas within their distributional range. On the other hand, the reduced number of entrances to P. littledalei burrow systems may largely restrict this species to areas with adequate cover, including coastal and riverine bush, with which it is often associated.     

Study on characteristics and regeneration rules of Salix gordejevii in Hunshandak Sandland, China

Salix gordejevii, a species of dune-fixing pioneer shrub in the Hunshandak Sandland in China, plays a vital role in maintenance and improvement of the local ecological environment. Salix gordejevii has an r-type reproductive countermeasure, which means it produces large quantities of seeds that have a high germination rate but relatively low seedling viability. Our research on the seed regeneration and sprouting regeneration characteristics of Salix gordejevii shows that its sprouting regeneration process is more productive and efficient than its seed regeneration process. At the same time, growth of Salix gordejevii would decline when the drifting sand dune was fixed. To assess its sprouting regeneration process, we analyzed the number, length, and diameter of new shoots under different cutting treatments, and found significant differences based on various cutting heights and different cutting times (April vs. October). We conclude that cutting measures which take advantage of this species’ robust sprout tillering can increase the biomass of this shrub and also can improve its canopy density and its forage properties for livestock grazing, with the added benefits of improved sand-fixing and prevention of wind erosion.     

Influence of elemental sulfur, micronutrients, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and potassium on growth of Prosopis alba on high pH soils in Argentina

A field trial on 3-year-old Prosopis alba growing on pH 8.5 soils in Argentina was conducted to identify mineral nutrients that were most limiting growth and to determine correlations among these nutrients. As applications of nutrients such as Zn, Cu and P would be soon rendered unavailable due to the high pH, combinations of elemental S to decrease the pH were examined along with macro and micronutrient soil additions. Thirty trees were selected with stem diameters ranging from 2.8 to 4.5 cm and divided into five treatments in a completely randomized design with 1 tree per replicate. The treatments were: (1) control, (2) addition of elemental S to lower the pH, (3) addition of S and triple superphosphate (P), (4) addition of S, P and a complete blend of micronutrients and (5) addition of S, P, micronutrients and K and Mg. Biomass increases were estimated using regression equations on stem diameter increases. A small non-significant decrease in pH of about 0.3 pH was obtained in the treatments with S, except for treatment which contained micronutrients in the form of strong base oxides. There was a significant increase in electrical conductivity due to the oxidation of the S. The best treatment containing S, P and micronutrients had a 42% increase significant biomass increase over the control. Growth was positively correlated with leaf levels (decreasing order of significance) of K, S, P, and Zn and negatively correlated with leaf Na and Ca. The leaf K, which had the highest positive correlation with growth, was highly significantly positively correlated with leaf S, P, N, and Zn and highly significantly but negatively correlated with leaf Ca, Mg and Mn. Leaf N was very highly correlated with leaf Zn, S and P concentrations. Indian workers have found that 20 years after establishment Prosopis juliflora changed the soil pH from 10.4 to 8.0. Since trees on 10 m×10 m spacings are suggested to be ultimate climax density for these ecosystems, apparently it will only necessary to add inexpensive small quantities of elemental S, Zn and K directly around 100 small trees ha⁻¹ to effect a major soil reclamation over the entire ha.     

Influence of environmental, root, and stand parameters on soil surface CO2 efflux in a Populus euphratica of desert forest in extreme arid region

Spatial variation in soil surface CO2 efflux was measured in a stand of Populus euphratica in the Ejina Oasis of desert riparian forest in the extreme arid region in northwestern China from April 2007 through October 2007.Measurements were taken with a gas-exchange analyzer linked to a soil-respiration chamber.The mean soil CO2 efflux in the stand was 2.71 μmol/(m2·s) during the growing season and 1.38 μmol/(m2·s) in the nongrowing season.The seasonal maximum (end of May through early June) andminimum (October) CO2 efflux were 3.38 and 0.69 μmol/(m2·s),respectively.The diurnal fluctuation of CO2 efflux was relatively small (< 20 percent),with theminimum appearing around 05:00 and the maximum around 15:00.Linear regression analysis showed soil-surface CO2 efflux to be most highly correlated with soil temperature (R2=0.435) and soil moisture (R2=0.213).When all variables were considered simultaneously,only soil temperature (R2=0.378),soil moisture (R2=0.147),and root volume density (R2=0.021) explained a significant amount of variance in soil surface CO2 efflux.Stand volumes were not correlated with soil CO2 efflux on our sites.     

Effects of sawdust soil amendment on the soil, growth and yield of Solanum esculentum Linn. in waste engine oil-polluted soil

This study investigated the effects of sawdust as a soil amendment on certain growth parameters of Solanum esculentum Linn. grown in soil polluted with various concentrations of waste engine oil, and changes in the physicochemical properties of the soil. The purpose was to assess the soil remediation potentials of sawdust in waste engine oil-polluted soil. The experiment was divided into three regimes: control(air-dried soil without waste engine oil and with clean sawdust), polluted(waste engine oil-contaminated soil), and amended(oil-polluted soil amended with sawdust). Enough 3-kg soil samples were sieved and air-dried to prepare five treatment levels of waste engine oil-contaminated soil(30 m L, 1%; 60 m L, 2%; 90 m L, 3%; 120 m L, 4%; and 150 m L, 5%), as well as five additional treatment levels(the same amounts of oil contamination) in soil amended with sawdust. The treatment levels were replicated five times in a completely randomized design. A nursery bed was planted with a hybrid tomato variety(Roma V F) obtained from National Horticultural Research Institute(NIHORT) in Ibadan, Nigeria. During the maturation period, the growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, and number of branches per plant were determined and then the harvested plants were oven dried at 70 °C for 48 hours to determine their dry weights. The effects of the sawdust amendment on the soil were assessed by determining the soil p H(glass electrode p H meter), total nitrogen(Kjeldahl method), total phosphorus(Bray-1 solution), and potassium(on the leacheate by a flame photometer). Chromium, lead, and cadmium contents were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Analysis of variance and a Duncan multiple-range test were employed to test significant differences in the soil properties of the three regimes. The growth performance of Solanum esculentum Linn. in the amended regime(soil with sawdust) at the 150-m L waste engine oil-contamination level was significantly higher than in the polluted regime(soil without sawdust). After plant harvest, the p H of the soil was shown to be clearly affected by the addition of waste engine oil. The control soil(air-dried only, no sawdust, no oil) had the highest p H value, 6.60, which was significantly different from the p H values at other levels of waste engine oil contamination. However, when amended with sawdust, the control soil had a significantly lower p H value than the unamended control soil. This study further demonstrates that sawdust has the potential of amending waste engine oil-contaminated soil for increasing tomato growth performance because it is capable of increasing the soil nutrient content and reducing the soil total hydrocarbon content.     

Hydraulic and sedimentary controls on the availability and use of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) spawning habitat in the River Dee system, north-east Scotland

The hydraulic and sedimentary characteristics of the spawning habitat of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in tributary and mainstem locations in a river system in north-east Scotland are described. Salmon used spawning sites with a relatively wide range in sediment characteristics, although measures of central tendency were all in the gravel (2–64 mm) size-class. The dominant factor differentiating the sediment characteristics of study sites was the level of fine sediment, which accounted for significant differences between tributary and mainstem samples. The ranges of depth and velocity in areas used for spawning by salmonids were found to be similar in all tributary study sites. However, due to the interdependence of depth and velocity, major differences were observed between tributary and mainstem study sites in that spawning in larger streams tended to be associated with deeper, faster flowing water. Spawning locations were shown to have similar Froude number, despite different sized streams and species of salmonid. Due to its dimensionless nature and significance in characterising flow hydraulics, the Froude number is proposed as a potentially useful variable for describing the habitat of aquatic organisms.     

松嫩平原盐沼湿地冻融期水盐动态研究--吉林省长岭县十三泡地区湖滩地为例

以吉林省长岭县十三泡地区湖滩地为例 ,选取有代表性的月份进行定位观测、实验和对比分析 ,研究了冻融期盐沼湿地水盐运移的特殊规律性。研究表明 ,盐沼湿地冻结期 ,由于冻层的存在 ,土体内产生的温度梯度、水势梯度 ,是冬季水盐积累的驱动力。在冻结期 ,冻层水盐自底层向上迁移 ;融冻期 ,冻层自地表向下及自暖土层向上双向融化 ,在冻层形成上层滞水 ,在冻层之下水盐从下向冻层迁移冻结。冻融期间盐沼湿地水盐迁移的热力学机制是松嫩平原土壤盐化发生机制的重要组成部分。