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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2022, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (11): 83-95.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.20221108

• Research papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Water-Holding Characteristics of the Litter Layer of Six Sparse Plantation Types in the Loess Ridge Hilly Region of Ningxia

Jinjun Cai1,2,3,Weiqian Li2,3,Gang Chen2,3,Yangyang Bai2,3,Xia Wu2,3,Tianning Wang2,Yan Wu2,Lang Sheng2,Xingchang Zhang1,*   

  1. 1. College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Yangling 712100
    2. Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences Yinchuan 750002
    3. Station of Observation and Experiment National Agricultural Environment in Yinchuan Yinchuan 750002
  • Received:2022-06-17 Online:2022-11-25 Published:2023-03-08
  • Contact: Xingchang Zhang

Abstract:

Objective: Water-holding capacity of litter layer is an important part for hydrological effect evaluation of forest land. Quantitative evaluation of hydrological characteristics of litter layer of typical sparse plantations in Loess ridge hilly region can provide a theoretical basis for ecological reconstruction and structure optimization of forest and grass vegetation in the study area. Method: Six kinds of artificial forests were selected, including pure forest of Armeniaca sibirica, Amygdalus davidiana, and Caragana intermedia, A.sibirica and Hippophae rhamnoides mixed forest, A. sibirica and C. intermedia mixed forest, and A. sibirica, A. davidiana and Medicago sativa mixed forest. A standard plot of 20 m×20 m was set up in each of artificial forests, and five subplots of 1 m×1 m were set up at the four corners and the center of the plot to collect litter samples. The field investigation and indoor soaking method were used to compare and analyze the stock volume, water-holding capacity and dynamic change pattern of all litter on the surface and mixed with soil in each of artificial forests. Result: The result showed that: 1) The total litter volume of the six artificial forests ranged from 1.05 t·hm-2 to 4.01 t·hm-2, with the highest in pure forest of A. sibirica and the lowest in pure forest of A. davidiana. The proportion of litter volume in soil to total litter volume varied from 11.43% to 25.00%. Except for pure forest of A. sibirica, the total volume of the mixed forest was all greater than that of the pure forest. 2) In terms of the water-holding capacity of the surface litter and the litter in the soil of the six kinds of artificial forests, the maximum water-holding capacity of A. sibirica pure forest was the highest (15.75 t·hm-2), and the maximum water-holding rate of A. sibirica and C.intermedia mixed forest was the highest (264.65%). 3) During the water absorption prosess, the dynamic changes in litter water-holding capacity and water absorption rate in the six kinds of artificial forests changed rapidly at the early immersion stage, reached saturation and tended to be stable at 24 hours. The variation of water-holding capacity and water absorption rate were in accordance with the natural logarithm equation and power fuction equation, respectively, and reached a very significant level (P < 0.01). 4) In terms of the effective water retention capacity and effective water retention rate of the six stands, the surface litter of A. sibirica pure forest had the strongest effective water retention capacity, and the soil litter of A. sibirica and C.intermedia mixed forest had the strongest effective water retention capacity. The total effective water retention capacity of litter in A. sibirica pure forest was the highest (11.08 t·hm-2), followed by A. sibirica and C.intermedia mixed forest (7.67 t·hm-2). Conclusion: In the Loess ridge hilly region of Ningxia, the comprehensive performance of litter water holding capacity of A. sibirica pure forest, and A. sibirica and C. intermedia mixed forest is better than that of the other stands. The result can provide a theoretical basis for the scientific evaluation of soil and water conservation benefits of litter and the optimization of forest and grass vegetation structure in local ecological restoration.

Key words: loess beam-shaped hilly area, sparse plantation, litter, water-holding characteristics

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