Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026

A CO2 Concentration Gradient Facility for Testing CO2 Enrichment and Soil Effects on Grassland Ecosystem Function
Published on: November 21, 2015
[Soil properties under shrubs in arid area of oasis-desert transition belt]
Wenqiang Xu1, Geping Luo, Xi Chen
1Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China. wqxu@mails.gucas.ac.cn
Abstract:
In arid and semi-arid areas with sparse vegetation cover, the spatial pattern of surface soil had a definite effect on soil salinity and nutrient flow, which is of highly importance for understanding the processes of land cover change. In this paper, a total of 3 shrub types and 2 soil sampling depths (0-20 and 20-40 cm) in the arid area of oasis-desert transition belt were selected to assess the spatial heterogeneity of soil resources under shrubs. The results showed that different types of shrub had no significant effect on the particle size distribution of soil which was mainly composed of sand and silt, but significant cluster effect was observed under Tamarix ramosissima + bare land shrub. Soils under shrub canopy had significantly higher contents of organic matter, total N and available K, compared to those in open spaces, and presented obvious "fertile island" phenomenon. Shrub types had significant effects on soil salinity, and different cluster effect existed in soils under different shrubs. The heterogeneity of soil resources resulted from a large number of factors, including climate, soil environment, height and extent of shrub canopy, stemflow, existance of other ground cover plants, and so on, many of which were mutually interactive.
More Related Videos
08:09Measuring and Mapping Patterns of Soil Erosion and Deposition Related to Soil Carbonate Concentrations Under Agricultural Management
Published on: September 12, 2017
08:49Manufacturing Simple and Inexpensive Soil Surface Temperature and Gravimetric Water Content Sensors
Published on: December 21, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Tonicity in Plants
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
The Soil Ecosystem
Responses to Salt Stress
Tonicity in Plants
Tonicity
Tonicity describes the capacity of a cell to lose or gain water depending on the solute...
Soil Microbial Ecology