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Afforestation using micro-catchment water harvesting system with microphytic crust treatment on semi-arid Loess Plateau: A preliminary result

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Abstract

Water harvesting is one of main measures to solve water shortage resulting from less precipitation and erratically seasonal distribution in arid and semi-arid areas. Different types of anti-infiltration treatments including mechanical and chemical to micro-catchment and their runoff efficiencies had been reported. This paper, through 5 years experiment from 1992 to 1996, is aimed at studying the impacts of microcatchment water-harvesting system (MCWHS) with microphytic crust treatment on afforestation on semi-arid Loess Plateau. The results showed that after 3 years of crust inoculation, crust had covered majority of MCWHS and the function of water harvesting had also been demonstrated partially, there were significant difference in soil moisture of shallow soil layer in three typical spring stages between crust cover and control treatments (0.05 level), and about 0.9%–6.04% increase of monthly mean soil moisture within 1m soil layer in spring of late 3 years. The impact of severe spring drought can be alleviated effectively. In the meanwhile, as crust developed on the treated surface, there are significant differences (0.05 level) for tree height (H), diameter at breast height (DBH) and diameter at ground level (DGL) at the end of the study period (1996) with the increases by 22.38%, 17.34%, and 20.49% respectively compared with the control treatment. Microphytic crust, as one of biological infiltration-proof materials, may become the optimized option for revegetation in Chinese Great West Development Strategy due to its self-propagation, non-pollution to water qualities, long use duration and relatively cost effective. Further work should be focused on the selection of endemic crust species and their batch-culture in arid environment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Silvicultural Lab of State Forestry Administration, 100091, Beijing, P.R. China

    Yang Xiao-hui & Yu Chun-tang

  2. Southeast Forestry College, 650224, Kunming, P.R. China

    Wang Ke-qin

  3. College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, 100083, Beijing, P.R. China

    Wang Bin-rui

Authors
  1. Yang Xiao-hui
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  2. Wang Ke-qin
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  3. Wang Bin-rui
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  4. Yu Chun-tang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yang Xiao-hui.

Additional information

Foundation item: This paper was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.30171205)

Biography: YANG Xiao-hui (1968-), male, Ph.D. in Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry Beijing 100091, P. R. China.

Responsible editor: Song Funan

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Xiao-hui, Y., Ke-qin, W., Bin-rui, W. et al. Afforestation using micro-catchment water harvesting system with microphytic crust treatment on semi-arid Loess Plateau: A preliminary result. Journal of Forestry Research 16, 9–14 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02856845

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02856845

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