Role of shrubs on redistribution of mineral nutrients in soil in the Mojave Desert
Soil profiles underneath shrub clumps and bare desert pavement were examined at 62 study sites located in both open and closed drainage basins of the northern Mojave Desert. Highly significant differences occurred in the root zone underneath shrub clumps with higher concentrations of the following soil properties: electrical conductivity (EC25/sup 0/), Na, K/sup +/, Ca/sup + +/, Mg/sup + +/, Cl/sup -/, NO/sub 3//sup -/, and SO/sub 4//sup =/; exchangeable K/sup +/; cation exchange capacity; organic C and N; available P, and DTPA-extractable Fe and Mn. These differences reflect differential cycling caused by different plant species. The decomposition and mineralization of litter deposited underneath the perennial vegetation can account for these differences in soil properties which, collectively, increase the fertility of the soil underneath the vegetation canopy. Aboveground biomass of shrubs was measured and the nitrogen and mineral element composition of new photosynthetic tissue was determined. Estimates from a representative study site indicate that the reservoir of nitrogen and mineral nutrients in new leaf material of shrubs available for litter deposition could contribute 3.64 kg N, 0.31 kg P, 0.57 kg Na, 5.20 kg K, 4.95 kg Ca, 31.82 g Fe, and 4.30 g Mn per hectare. This source probably represents about one-third of the total amount of nutrients involved in annual turnover for the study area during a normal production year. The remaining contribution would be supplied from the standing dead wood in shrubs and as litter from annual plant species.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of California, Los Angeles
- OSTI ID:
- 6640636
- Journal Information:
- Great Basin Nat.; (United States), Vol. 4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Fugitive dust mitigation for PM{sub 10} attainment in the western Mojave Desert: Recommendations on revegetation
Synthesis of Post-fire Monitoring Activities in the Great Basin Desert, Mojave Desert, and Transition Zones
Related Subjects
SHRUBS
MINERAL CYCLING
SOILS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
BIOMASS
DESERTS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
NEVADA TEST SITE
NUTRIENTS
ARID LANDS
DATA
ENERGY SOURCES
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
510100* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (-1989)