[Spatial heterogeneity of Ulmus pumila open forest ecosystem in Otindag sandy land]

Ulmus pumila open forest ecosystem plays an important role in Otindag Sandy Land. Using biostatistics (U test and Pearson correlation analysis) and geostatistics (Semivariogram analysis and Kriging interpolation), the spatial heterogeneity of soil organic matter (SOM), soil total nitrogen (STN), soil pH (SpH), soil water content (SWC), and the correlations between them, as well as their relationships with herbaceous coverage (HC) and Ulmus pumila were studied. The results showed that spatial heterogeneity and spatial dependence were apparent in SOM, STN, SpH, SWC and HC. With Kriging interpolation in the sampling area, the contour maps for these properties were drawn. Using the contour maps, the relationship between Ulmus pumila and spatial heterogeneity of the studied properties was investigated. The possible reason for the formation of fertility island under the Ulmus pumila trees in the ecosystem was discussed.