Effects of cutting and burning on regeneration of Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. on the southern fringe of the Taklamakan Desert, North-west China
Haifeng Li A B C , Fanjiang Zeng A C D , Dongwei Gui A C , Ligang Zhang A B C , Cong Song A B C , Weicheng Luo A B C and Shoulan Peng A B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China.
B University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
C Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystem in Xinjiang, Cele 848300, Xinjiang, China.
D Corresponding author. Email: zengfj@ms.xjb.ac.cn
The Rangeland Journal 34(4) 389-397 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ12020
Submitted: 13 April 2012 Accepted: 30 October 2012 Published: 17 December 2012
Abstract
Indigenous vegetation such as Alhagi sparsifolia Shap. (Fabaceae) has been severely damaged in recent years because of the growing population and increasing land use on the southern margin of the Taklamakan Desert. Alhagi sparsifolia plays an important role in supporting the fragile ecosystem in the oasis foreland as it has multiple ecological and economic functions. Cele Oasis, located on the southern rim of the Taklamakan Desert, was used to investigate the impact of human disturbance on regeneration of A. sparsifolia in the oasis–desert ecotone. Observations of A. sparsifolia in response to cutting and burning were conducted in 2010 and 2011. The results showed that burning in spring significantly decreased height and biomass in comparison to cutting in the fall. Moreover, biomass was decreased by spring burning more than by spring cutting. Burning in spring is no advantage for the growth and survival of A. sparsifolia. Cutting in fall appears to be a useful treatment for increasing the production from and survival of A. sparsifolia that could facilitate the sustainable development of the Cele Oasis.
Additional keywords: aboveground biomass, Cele Oasis, growth characteristics.
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