Effect of Mulching and/or Watering on Soil Moisture for Growth and Survival of the Transplanted Tree Seedlings in Dry Period

Drought and topographic position are the most important factors influencing tree growth and survival in semiarid sandy regions of Northeast China. However, little is known about how trees respond to drought in combination with topographic position by modifying the depth of soil water extraction. Therefore, we identified water sources for 33-year-old Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris L. var. mongolica Litv.) trees growing at the top and bottom of sand dunes by comparing stable isotopes δ2H and δ18O in twig xylem water, soil water at various depths and groundwater during dry and wet periods. Needle carbon isotope composition (δ13C) was simultaneously measured to assess water use efficiency. Results showed that when soil moisture was low during the dry period, trees at the top used 40–300 cm soil water while trees at the bottom utilized both 40–300 cm soil water and possibly groundwater. Nevertheless, when soil moisture at 0–100 cm depth was higher during the wet period, it was the dominant water sources for trees at both the top and bottom. Moreover, needle δ13C in the dry period were significantly higher than those in the wet period. These findings suggested that trees at both the top and bottom adjust water uptake towards deeper water sources and improve their water use efficiency under drought condition. Additionally, during the dry period, trees at the top used shallower water sources compared with trees at the bottom, in combination with significantly higher needle δ13C, indicating that trees at the bottom applied a relatively more prodigal use of water by taking up deeper water (possibly groundwater) during drought conditions. Therefore, Mongolian pine trees at the top were more susceptible to suffer dieback under extreme dry years because of shallower soil water uptake and increased water restrictions. Nevertheless, a sharp decline in the groundwater level under extreme dry years had a strong negative impact on the growth and survival of Mongolian pine trees at the bottom due to their utilization of deeper water sources (possibly groundwater).

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Stochastic soil moisture dynamic modelling: a case study in the Loess Plateau, China

Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh ◽

10.1017/s1755691018000658 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 109 (3-4) ◽

pp. 437-444

Author(s):

Cong WANG ◽

Shuai WANG ◽

Bojie FU ◽

Lu ZHANG ◽

Nan LU ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Water Balance ◽

Loess Plateau ◽

Hydrological Cycle ◽

Dynamic Modelling ◽

Vegetation Restoration ◽

Balance Model ◽

Rainfall Regime ◽

The Loess Plateau ◽

Dry Period

ABSTRACTSoil moisture is a key factor in the ecohydrological cycle in water-limited ecosystems, and it integrates the effects of climate, soil, and vegetation. The water balance and the hydrological cycle are significantly important for vegetation restoration in water-limited regions, and these dynamics are still poorly understood. In this study, the soil moisture and water balance were modelled with the stochastic soil water balance model in the Loess Plateau, China. This model was verified by monitoring soil moisture data of black locust plantations in the Yangjuangou catchment in the Loess Plateau. The influences of a rainfall regime change on soil moisture and water balance were also explored. Three meteorological stations were selected (Yulin, Yan'an, and Luochuan) along the precipitation gradient to detect the effects of rainfall spatial variability on the soil moisture and water balance. The results showed that soil moisture tended to be more frequent at low levels with decreasing precipitation, and the ratio of evapotranspiration under stress in response to rainfall also changed from 74.0% in Yulin to 52.3% in Luochuan. In addition, the effects of a temporal change in rainfall regime on soil moisture and water balance were explored at Yan'an. The soil moisture probability density function moved to high soil moisture in the wet period compared to the dry period of Yan'an, and the evapotranspiration under stress increased from 59.5% to 72% from the wet period to the dry period. The results of this study prove the applicability of the stochastic model in the Loess Plateau and reveal its potential for guiding the vegetation restoration in the next stage.

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Juvenile tree growth in relation to light availability in second-growth tropical rain forests

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467405002968 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 223-226 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Mary Beth Palomaki ◽

Robin L. Chazdon ◽

J. Pablo Arroyo ◽

Susan G. Letcher

Keyword(s):

Tropical Forests ◽

Light Availability ◽

Tree Seedlings ◽

Tropical Rain Forests ◽

Annual Increment ◽

Growth And Survival ◽

Second Growth ◽

Direct Measurements ◽

Crown Shape ◽

Made In

Light is a key environmental factor limiting growth and survival of trees in the subcanopy of wet tropical forests (Davies 2001, Thomas 1996). Light availability varies both vertically and horizontally and affects tree height, crown shape and tree architecture (Bongers & Sterck 1998, Sterck & Bongers 2001, Sterck et al. 1999) in addition to growth and survival (Clark & Clark 1992, 2001). Although many studies of tree seedlings and saplings have shown that growth varies significantly with light availability in tropical wet forests (Clark et al. 1993, Iriarte & Chazdon 2005, King 1991, Kohyama 1991, Montgomery & Chazdon 2002, Oberbauer et al. 1988, 1993; Poorter & Werger 1999, Sterck et al. 1999, Welden et al. 1991), few studies have examined these relationships in size classes above 5 cm dbh (Sterck 1999). King et al. (2005) found that annual increment growth of trees in the 8–20-cm dbh size class in two Asian forests was positively dependent on an index of crown light interception, but no direct measurements of light availability were taken in this study. Due to logistical challenges, few direct measurements of light environments above tree crowns have been made in tropical forests (Sterck & Bongers 2001). To our knowledge, no measurements have been made in second-growth forests.

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Water relations of Pinus radiata under plantation conditions

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt9640111 ◽

1964 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 111 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

RD Johnston

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Late Summer ◽

Soil Surface ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Mean Value ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Dry Period ◽

Autumn Leaf ◽

Leaf Water Deficit ◽

Old Trees

Two groups of four 9-year-old trees of P. radiata were isolated "droughted" by lining trenches, and covering the soil surface, with plastic film. Two similar groups served as controls. Soils in the control plots dried out to above pF 4.2 during a 6 weeks' drought in late summer, and again in a shorter dry period in autumn. Leaf water deficit (L.W.D.) was correlated with soil moisture tension (S.M.T.) while there was available soil moisture, and rose during the drought to a maximum of 22.8. Autumn rain which wet the upper part of the soil profile reduced the L.W.D. to a mean value of 12. In the droughted plots, S.M.T. rose to above pF 4.2 in the first six weeks and remained high for the rest of the experimental period. During normal weather with occasional light falls of rain, L.W.D. was maintained at about 17-significantly higher than the corresponding values for the control plots. With the onset of dry weather, L.W.D. in the droughted plots rose further, but not significantly higher than in the controls. L.W.D. decreased when rain occurred, although less than in the control plots. P. radiata is able to maintain moderate turgidity in its needles, even under very dry soil conditions, as long as there is frequent precipitation sufficient to wet the foliage.

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Influences of light intensity on weed-induced stresses of tree seedlings

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x90-066 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 20 (5) ◽

pp. 503-507 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

T. E. Kolb ◽

T. W. Bowersox ◽

L. H. McCormick

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Light Intensity ◽

Tree Species ◽

Red Oak ◽

Tree Seedlings ◽

Northern Red Oak ◽

White Pine ◽

White Ash ◽

Reduced Height ◽

Four Levels

Growth of northern red oak (Quercusrubra L.), white ash (Fraxinusamericana L.), and white pine (Pinusstrobus L.) seedlings was evaluated for 2 years after germination in 12 environments that consisted of four levels of herbaceous interference (fern, fern free, grass, grass free) crossed with three levels of light intensity (100, 45, and 20% full sun), at two clear-cuts in central Pennsylvania. Grass and fern interference reduced soil moisture content and reduced height or diameter growth of all species. Shading ameliorated soil moisture, reduced herbaceous growth, generally reduced growth of all tree species in interference-free environments, and had no effect on growth of any tree species in fern and grass environments. Reduction in growth due to herbaceous interference was lower for northern red oak and white pine than for white ash, while shading had similar effects on growth of all species. Results suggest that stresses induced by shading alone have little short-term effect on the establishment of these species under conditions of heavy herbaceous interference.

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THE INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT GROUND COVER TREATMENTS ON THE GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF TREE SEEDLINGS ON REMINED SITES IN EASTERN TENNESSEE

Journal American Society of Mining and Reclamation ◽

10.21000/jasmr07010663 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 2007 (1) ◽

pp. 663-677

Author(s):

John Rizza ◽

Jennifer Franklin ◽

David Buckley

Keyword(s):

Ground Cover ◽

Tree Seedlings ◽

Growth And Survival

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Selective feeding of pine voles on roots of tree seedlings

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z09-003 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 87 (2) ◽

pp. 183-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

L. A. Schreiber ◽

R. K. Swihart

Keyword(s):

Field Studies ◽

Tree Seedlings ◽

Quercus Alba ◽

White Oak ◽

Yellow Poplar ◽

Growth And Survival ◽

Field Evidence ◽

Microtus Pinetorum ◽

Belowground Herbivory ◽

Oak Seedlings

Previous studies have implicated numerous physical and biotic factors as contributing to the failure of oak to regenerate successfully throughout substantial portions of eastern North America. Recent field evidence in southern Indiana implicated belowground herbivory by pine voles ( Microtus pinetorum (LeConte, 1830)) as a potentially important but overlooked mortality agent for oak seedlings. We used cafeteria-style feeding trials to determine whether selection of hardwood seedlings by captive pine voles differed according to species or age. White oak ( Quercus alba L.) was selected more frequently and experienced a greater proportion of root removal by pine voles than same-age seedlings of the other four species tested. Yellow poplar ( Liriodendron tulipifera L.) was never eaten. White oak seedlings 3 and 6 weeks of age suffered proportionately greater root removal than conspecific seedlings 12 and 15 weeks of age; pine voles removed roughly constant levels of root biomass irrespective of seedling age. Our results confirm that pine voles selectively feed on oak seedlings. In areas where pine voles are abundant, belowground herbivory could limit regeneration of oak by reducing seedling growth and survival. The importance of pine voles as factors influencing the success of oak regeneration warrants closer scrutiny in future field studies.

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THE EFFECT OF SOIL MOISTURE ON FUSARIUM SPECIES

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b53-050 ◽

1953 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 693-697 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

R. H. Stover

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Moisture Content ◽

Soil Moisture Content ◽

Fusarium Species ◽

Optimum Growth ◽

Fusarium Spp ◽

Growth And Survival ◽

Genus Fusarium ◽

Saturated Condition ◽

Soil Saturation

Six species and forms of the genus Fusarium show optimum growth and survival in soil at 15% saturation. Optimum soil moisture content for actinomycete growth and survival is similar to that for the Fusarium species whereas that for bacteria is at 75% soil saturation. The present studies indicate that Fusarium spp. are strongly aerobic and that Fusarium populations can be greatly reduced by maintaining the soil in a saturated condition in the absence of hosts.

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Effects of antitranspirants on seed germination, growth, and survival of tree seedlings

Plant and Soil ◽

10.1007/bf00011426 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 225-229

Author(s):

William R. Chaney ◽

Theodore T. Kozlowski

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Tree Seedlings ◽

Growth And Survival

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Fine roots and ectomycorrhizal colonization in black spruce subjected to reductions in soil moisture

Botany ◽

10.1139/cjb-2015-0093 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 94 (1) ◽

pp. 23-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sergio Rossi ◽

Éliane Couture ◽

Xavier Plante ◽

Hubert Morin

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Tree Species ◽

Fine Roots ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Black Spruce ◽

Root Tips ◽

Transparent Plastic ◽

Growth And Survival ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Mature Stands

Growth and survival of boreal tree species depends on fungal symbionts, namely mycorrhizas. Owing to their rapid turnover, fine roots and their symbionts can be prompt and sensitive indicators of the effects of environmental changes on forest ecosystems. We investigated how a reduction in soil moisture influences the fine roots and ectomycorrhizas (ECM) of black spruce [Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP] after 3 years of rain exclusion in four mature stands of the boreal forest of Quebec, Canada. Rain was excluded with transparent plastic under-canopy covers installed during the growing seasons 2010–2012. Soil moisture was strongly affected by the treatment, with water content being reduced from 40% to 21% on average. As expected, the experimental trees showed a decrease in the proportion of vital root tips and ECM with respect to controls. The proportion of vital ECM was also globally reduced from 73.8% to 68.6%, but the effects of the treatment were only significant in two sites. The expected drier conditions due to current warming will likely influence the presence of mycorrhizas, with potential consequences on the root vitality of boreal tree species.

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