IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i2p807-d480950.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Intensified Interspecific Competition for Water after Afforestation with Robinia pseudoacacia into a Native Shrubland in the Taihang Mountains, Northern China

Author

Listed:
  • Wanrui Zhu

    (Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Wenhua Li

    (Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Peili Shi

    (Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China)

  • Jiansheng Cao

    (Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agricultural Water Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050022, China)

  • Ning Zong

    (Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy Sciences, Beijing 100101, China)

  • Shoubao Geng

    (Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China)

Abstract

Understanding how soil water source is used spatiotemporally by tree species and if native species can successfully coexist with introduced species is crucial for selecting species for afforestation. In the rocky mountainous areas of the Taihang Mountains, alien Robinia pseudoacacia L. has been widely afforested into the native shrublands dominated by Ziziphus jujuba Mill var. spinosa and Vitex negundo L. var. heterophylla to improve forest coverage and soil nutrients. However, little is known about the water relation among species, especially seasonal water use sources in different microsites. We selected the soil and plant xylem samples of two opposite microtopographic sites (ridge and valley) monthly in the growth season to analyze isotope composition. The proportions of water sources were quantified by the MixSIAR model and compared pairwise between species, microsites and seasons. We found that deep subsoil water at a depth of 40–50 cm contributed up to 50% of the total water uptake for R. pseudoacacia and Z . jujuba in the growing season, indicating that they stably used deeper soil water and had intense water competition. However, V. negundo had a more flexible water use strategy, which derived more than 50% of the total water uptake from the soil layer of 0–10 cm in the rainy season, but majorly captured soil water at a depth of 30–50 cm in the dry season. Therefore, high niche overlaps were shown in V. negundo with the other two species in the dry season, but niche segregation was seen in the rainy season. The microtopographic sites did not shift the seasonal dynamic of the water source use patterns of the three studied species, but the water use niche overlap was higher in the valley than in the ridge. Taken together, the introduced species R. pseudoacacia intensified water competition with the native semi-arbor species Z. jujuba , but it could commonly coexist with the native shrub species V. negundo . Therefore, our study on seasonal water use sources in different microsites provides insight into species interaction and site selection for R. pseudoacacia afforestation in the native shrub community in rocky mountainous areas. It is better to plant R. pseudoacacia in the shrubland in the valley so as to avoid intense water competition and control soil erosion.

Suggested Citation

  • Wanrui Zhu & Wenhua Li & Peili Shi & Jiansheng Cao & Ning Zong & Shoubao Geng, 2021. "Intensified Interspecific Competition for Water after Afforestation with Robinia pseudoacacia into a Native Shrubland in the Taihang Mountains, Northern China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:807-:d:480950
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/2/807/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/2/807/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andrew C Parnell & Richard Inger & Stuart Bearhop & Andrew L Jackson, 2010. "Source Partitioning Using Stable Isotopes: Coping with Too Much Variation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(3), pages 1-5, March.
    2. Jonathan M. Levine & Janneke HilleRisLambers, 2009. "The importance of niches for the maintenance of species diversity," Nature, Nature, vol. 461(7261), pages 254-257, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dandan Liu & Anmin Huang & Dewei Yang & Jianyi Lin & Jiahui Liu, 2021. "Niche-Driven Socio-Environmental Linkages and Regional Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Sergey Bartsev & Andrey Degermendzhi, 2023. "The Evolutionary Mechanism of Formation of Biosphere Closure," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-22, July.
    3. David García-Callejas & Ignasi Bartomeus & Oscar Godoy, 2021. "The spatial configuration of biotic interactions shapes coexistence-area relationships in an annual plant community," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    4. Wojciech Bierza & Joanna Czarnecka & Agnieszka Błońska & Agnieszka Kompała-Bąba & Agnieszka Hutniczak & Bartosz Jendrzejek & Jawdat Bakr & Andrzej M. Jagodziński & Dariusz Prostański & Gabriela Woźnia, 2023. "Plant Diversity and Species Composition in Relation to Soil Enzymatic Activity in the Novel Ecosystems of Urban–Industrial Landscapes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Inga Dirks & Juliane Streit & Catharina Meinen, 2021. "Above and Belowground Relative Yield Total of Clover–Ryegrass Mixtures Exceed One in Wet and Dry Years," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, March.
    6. Liu, Yingbo & Yuan, Yusen & Zhang, Liang & Du, Taisheng, 2024. "Exploring the differences of moisture traceability methods based on MixSIAR model under different nitrogen applications of wheat in the Arid Region of Northwest China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    7. Zhou, Yanqing & Gao, Xiaodong & Wang, Jiaxin & Robinson, Brett H. & Zhao, Xining, 2021. "Water-use patterns of Chinese wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.) on the Tibetan Plateau," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    8. Kou, Xinyue & Ding, Junjun & Li, Yuzhong & Li, Qiaozhen & Mao, Lili & Xu, Chunying & Zheng, Qian & Zhuang, Shan, 2021. "Tracing nitrate sources in the groundwater of an intensive agricultural region," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    9. Alex S J Wyatt & Anya M Waite & Stuart Humphries, 2010. "Variability in Isotope Discrimination Factors in Coral Reef Fishes: Implications for Diet and Food Web Reconstruction," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(10), pages 1-10, October.
    10. Xie, Zheyu & Zhang, Yujing & Zhang, Zhenyu & Huang, Jinliang, 2023. "Nitrate removal mechanism in riparian groundwater in an intensified agricultural catchment," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    11. T. M. Morganti & B. M. Slaby & A. Kluijver & K. Busch & U. Hentschel & J. J. Middelburg & H. Grotheer & G. Mollenhauer & J. Dannheim & H. T. Rapp & A. Purser & A. Boetius, 2022. "Giant sponge grounds of Central Arctic seamounts are associated with extinct seep life," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    12. Roberto Cazzolla Gatti & Roger Koppl & Brian D. Fath & Stuart Kauffman & Wim Hordijk & Robert E. Ulanowicz, 2020. "On the emergence of ecological and economic niches," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 99-127, July.
    13. Jian-Xiong Huang & Jian Zhang & Yong Shen & Ju-yu Lian & Hong-lin Cao & Wan-hui Ye & Lin-fang Wu & Yue Bin, 2014. "Different Relationships between Temporal Phylogenetic Turnover and Phylogenetic Similarity and in Two Forests Were Detected by a New Null Model," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(4), pages 1-7, April.
    14. Wang, Zhong-Jun & Yue, Fu-Jun & Wang, Yu-Chun & Qin, Cai-Qing & Ding, Hu & Xue, Li-Li & Li, Si-Liang, 2022. "The effect of heavy rainfall events on nitrogen patterns in agricultural surface and underground streams and the implications for karst water quality protection," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    15. Changming Cao & Na Li & Weifeng Yue & Lijun Wu & Xinyi Cao & Yuanzheng Zhai, 2022. "Analysis of the Interaction between Lake and Groundwater Based on Water–Salt Balance Method and Stable Isotopic Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-16, September.
    16. Shengman Lyu & Jake M. Alexander, 2022. "Competition contributes to both warm and cool range edges," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    17. Yingming Yang & Xikai Wang & Yunlan He & Kaiming Zhang & Fan Mo & Weilong Zhang & Gang Liu, 2022. "Using Isotopic Labeling to Investigate Artemisia ordosica Root Water Uptake Depth in the Eastern Margin of Mu Us Sandy Land," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-16, November.
    18. Hao, Zhuo & Shi, Yuanyuan & Zhan, Xiaoying & Yu, Bowei & Fan, Qing & Zhu, Jie & Liu, Lianhua & Zhang, Qingwen & Zhao, Guangxiang, 2024. "Quantifying and assessing nitrogen sources and transport in a megacity water supply watershed: Insights for effective non-point source pollution management with mixSIAR and SWAT models," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    19. Lan Zhang & Guowen Huang & Yongtao Li & Shitai Bao, 2021. "Quantitative Research Methods of Linguistic Niche and Cultural Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-12, August.
    20. Gao, Jingbo & Li, Zhiqin & Chen, Zhujun & Zhou, Yang & Liu, Weiguo & Wang, Lei & Zhou, Jianbin, 2021. "Deterioration of groundwater quality along an increasing intensive land use pattern in a small catchment," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:807-:d:480950. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.