Temporal changes of an alfalfa succession and related soil physical properties on the Loess Plateau, China

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira

Dong Li She²  Ming An Shao²  Luis Carlos Timm¹  Klaus Reichardt¹ 

[1] ,Northwest A & F University, Yangling Institute of Soil and Water Conservation Research Center of Soil and Water Conservation and Ecological Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Ministry of Education

关键词: Medicago sativa;    agropastoral transition zone;    community characteristics;    soil physical properties;    soil water restoration;    Medicago sativa;    zona de transição agropastoril;    comunidades características;    propriedades físicas do solo;    recuperação da água no solo;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0100-204X2009000200011

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

The objective of this work was to investigate the relationship between changes in the plant community and changes in soil physical properties and water availability, during a succession from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to natural vegetation on the Loess Plateau, China. Data from a succession sere spanning 32 years were collated, and vegetative indexes were compared to changes related to soil bulk density and soil water storage. The alfalfa yield increased for approximately 7 years, then it declined and the alfalfa was replaced by a natural community dominated by Stipa bungeana that began to thrive about 10 years after alfalfa seeding. Soil bulk density increased over time, but the deterioration of the alfalfa was mainly ascribed to a severe reduction in soil water storage, which was lowest around the time when degradation commenced. The results indicated that water consumption by alfalfa could be reduced by reducing plant density. The analysis of the data also suggested that soil water recharge could be facilitated by rotating the alfalfa with other crops, natural vegetation, or bare soil.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
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