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Relationship between Vegetation and Environment in an Arid-Hot Valley in Southwestern China

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  • Jun Pei

    (State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Wei Yang

    (State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Yangpeng Cai

    (State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Yujun Yi

    (State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Xiaoxiao Li

    (State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

Abstract

The sparse and fragile vegetation in the arid-hot valley is an important indicator of ecosystem health. Understanding the correlation between this vegetation and its environment is vital to the plant restoration. We investigated the differences of soil moisture and fertility in typical vegetation ( Dodonaea viscosa and Pinus yunnanensis ) under a range of elevations, slopes, and aspects in an arid-hot valley of China’s Jinsha River through field monitoring and multivariate statistical analysis. The soil moisture differed significantly between the dry and rainy seasons, and it was higher at high elevation (>1640 m) and on shade slopes at the end of the dry season. Soil fertility showed little or no variation among the elevations, but was highest at 1380 m. Dodonaea viscosa biomass increased, then decreased, with increasing elevation on the shade slopes, but decreased with increasing elevation on the sunny slopes. On the shade slopes, Pinus yunnanensis biomass was higher at low elevations (1640 m) than it was on sunny slopes, but lower at high elevation (1940 m) on the sunny slopes. We found both elevation and soil moisture were significantly positively correlated with P. yunnanensis biomass and negatively correlated with D. viscosa biomass. Thus, changes in soil moisture as a function of elevation control vegetation restoration in the arid-hot valley. Both species are adaptable indigenous plants with good social and ecological benefits, so these results will allow managers to restore the vegetation more effectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Jun Pei & Wei Yang & Yangpeng Cai & Yujun Yi & Xiaoxiao Li, 2018. "Relationship between Vegetation and Environment in an Arid-Hot Valley in Southwestern China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:12:p:4774-:d:190534
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cui Li & Bo Xiao & Qinghai Wang & Ruilun Zheng & Juying Wu, 2017. "Responses of Soil Seed Bank and Vegetation to the Increasing Intensity of Human Disturbance in a Semi-Arid Region of Northern China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-13, October.
    2. Hyeongsik Kang & Myoung-Jin Um & Daeryong Park, 2016. "Assessing the Habitat Suitability of Dam Reservoirs: A Quantitative Model and Case Study of the Hantan River Dam, South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Liguang Jiang & Zhijun Yao & Zhaofei Liu & Shanshan Wu & Rui Wang & Lei Wang, 2015. "Estimation of soil erosion in some sections of Lower Jinsha River based on RUSLE," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 76(3), pages 1831-1847, April.
    4. Weijie Yu & Juying Jiao, 2018. "Sustainability of Abandoned Slopes in the Hill and Gully Loess Plateau Region Considering Deep Soil Water," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-14, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Theophilus Atio Abalori & Wenxia Cao & Conrad Atogi-Akwoa Weobong & Wen Li & Shilin Wang & Xiuxia Deng, 2022. "Spatial Vegetation Patch Patterns and Their Relation to Environmental Factors in the Alpine Grasslands of the Qilian Mountains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Lijun Liu & Guanglin Gou & Jinxia Liu & Xuebin Zhang & Qilin Zhu & Jinxia Mou & Ruoyan Yang & Yunxing Wan & Lei Meng & Shuirong Tang & Yanzheng Wu & Qiuxiang He, 2022. "Effects of Dodonaea viscosa Afforestation on Soil Nutrients and Aggregate Stability in Karst Graben Basin," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-12, July.

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