|
|
|
Resource availability through rainwater harvesting
influenced vegetation diversity and herbage yield in hillslope of
Aravalli in India |
| Genda SINGH,Abha RANI,N. BALA,S. SHUKLA,Sheraram BALOCH,N. K. LIMBA, |
| Division of Forest Ecology,
Arid Forest Research Institute, New Pali Road, Jodhpur-342005, India; |
|
|
|
|
Abstract Recent decline in biological diversity has stimulated the research on the effects of resource conservation on biodiversity and vice versa. We examined soil water and nutrients influenced by rainwater harvesting (RWH) in hillslope and its effects on herbage diversity and productivity at up (USP), middle (MSP) and lower position (LSP) in 75 plots, each of 700-m2 area laid in<10%, 10%–20% and>20% slopes, respectively. The five RWH treatments were Contour trench (CT), Gradonie (G), Box trench (BT), V-ditch (VD) and control. Soil water content (SWC), species number, population, diversity and herbage yield increased (P<0.05) downward suggesting positive relations between soil resource and diversity/productivity. The highest species number, population, richness and diversity in 10%–20% slope were associated with soil water usage and NO3-N and NH4-N concentrations. SWC was 5.0%–19.0% greater in RWH areas than in control influencing herbage species, population, growth and yields. The increase in diversity and yields was the highest (P<0.05) in V-ditch reinforced by soil fertility. The positive effect of diversity on yield increased with resources, and the effect was compositional rather than that of species richness. Conclusively, slope gradient and soil texture influenced herbage regeneration, diversity and productivity, which were positively affected by existing soil fertility and applied RWH and mobilizing soil water and nutrients. The effect of V-ditch was the highest on composition and yield. Thus, RWH enhanced herbaceous vegetation and restoration of degraded forest/rangelands. But long-term effects of diversity in restoring ecosystem productivity could be established through long-term data collections on optimum water/nutrient usage, diversity and productivity.
|
| Keywords
diversity-productivity relation
herbage diversity
herbage drymass
soil nutrients
soil water dynamics
|
|
Issue Date: 05 June 2010
|
|
|
Aude E, Tybirk K, Pederson M B(2003). Vegetationdiversity of conventional and organic hedgerows in Denmark. Agriculture, Ecosystem & Environment, 99: 1―3
doi: 10.1016/S0167-8809(03)00146-4
|
|
Baer S G, Blair J M, Collins S L, Knapp A K(2003). Soil resources regulate productivity and diversity innewly established tallgrass prairie. Ecology, 84: 724―735
doi: 10.1890/0012-9658(2003)084[0724:SRRPAD]2.0.CO;2
|
|
Baruah T C, Barthkumar H P(1999). A Text Book of Soil Analysis. New Delhi: Vikas Publishing HousePvt. Ltd.
|
|
Berendse F, Lammerts E J, Olff H(1998). Soilorganic matter accumulation and its implications for nitrogen mineralizationand plant species composition during succession in coastal dune slacks. Plant Ecology, 137: 71―78
doi: 10.1023/A:1008051931963
|
|
Bhandari M M(1990). Flora of the Indian Desert. Jodhpur: Printed by MPS Repros, 154
|
|
Boers T M, De G M, Feddes R A, Ben-Asher J(1986). A linear regression model combined with a soil waterbalance model to design micro-catchments for water harvesting in aridzones. Agriculture Water Management, 11: 187―206
doi: 10.1016/0378-3774(86)90038-7
|
|
Cataldo D A, Haroon M, Schrader L E, Youngs V L(1975). Rapid colorimetric determinationin plant tissue by nitration on salicylic acid. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 6: 71―80
doi: 10.1080/00103627509366547
|
|
Cater D C, Miller S(1991). Three years experience with on-farm water catchmentwater harvesting system in Botswana. AgricultureWater Management, 19: 191―203
doi: 10.1016/0378-3774(91)90041-G
|
|
Champion H G, Seth S K(1968). A Revised Survey of the Forest Types of India. New Delhi India: The Manager ofPublications
|
|
Cohen I S, Lopes V L, Slack D C, Yanez C H(1995). Assessing risks of water harvesting systems in aridenvironment. Journal Soil and Water Conservation, 50: 446―449
|
|
Danalatos N G, Kosmas C S, Moustakas N C, Yassoglou N(2007). Rock fragments IL. Their impact onsoil physical properties and biomass production under Mediterraneanconditions. Soil Use and Management, 11: 121―126
doi: 10.1111/j.1475-2743.1995.tb00509.x
|
|
English N B, Weltzin J F, Fravolini A, Thomas L, Williams D G(2005). The influence of soil texture and vegetation on soilmoisture under rainout shelters in a semi-desert grassland. Journal of Arid Environment, 63: 324―343
doi: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2005.03.013
|
|
Faroda A S, Joshi N L, Singh R, Saxena A(2007). Resource management for sustainable crop productionin arid zone-a review. Indian Journal Agronomy, 52: 181―193
|
|
Fornara D A, Tilman D(2009). Ecological mechanisms associated with the positive diversity–productivityrelationship in an N-limited grassland. Ecology, 90: 408―418
doi: 10.1890/08-0325.1
|
|
Gregory P J(1989). Water-use-efficiency of crops inthe semi-arid tropics. In Soil, Crop andWater Management in the Soudano-Sahelian Zone. ICRISAT: Hyderabad, India
|
|
Gupta G N(1995). Rainwater management for tree plantingin the desert. Journal Arid Environments, 31: 119―235
doi: 10.1006/jare.1995.0062
|
|
Jackson M L(1973). Soil Chemical Analysis. New Delhi, India: Prentice Hall of India Private Ltd.
|
|
Jia Y, Li F M, Wang X L, Yang S M(2006). Soil water and alfalfa yields as affected by alternatingridges and furrows in rainfall harvest in a semiarid environment. Field Crop Research, 97: 167―175
doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2005.09.009
|
|
Katyal J C, Ramana B V, Sharma S, Mishra P K(1993). Rainwater harvesting in India-assetsand liabilities. In: Narain P, ed. First Agriculture Science Congress 1992, ProceedingNational Academy of Agriculture Science, New Delhi, India: The NationalAcademy of Agriculture Science
|
|
Koerselman W, Bakker S A, Bloam M(1990). Nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium budgets for two small fens surrounded byheavily fertilized pastures. Journal ofEcology, 78: 428―442
|
|
Krueger W C, Sanderson M A, Cropper J B, Miller-Goodman M, Kelley C E, Pieper R D, Shaver P L, Trlica M J(2002). Environmental impacts of livestock on U.S. grazing lands. Council for Agricultural Science and Technologyissue paper No. 22. CAST, Ames, IA
|
|
Li X Y, Gong J D, Wei X H(2000). In-situ rainwaterharvesting and gravel mulch combination for corn production in thedry semi-arid region of China. Journalof Arid Environments, 46: 371―382
doi: 10.1006/jare.2000.0705
|
|
Liu S L, Fu B J, Ma K M, Liu G H, Guan W B, Kang Y X(2008). Effects of plant species on soilproperties in the ecosystem restoration―A case study in thedry valley of the upper Minjiang River. Second InternationalConference on Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering, 16―18 May, 2008, 4382―4387
|
|
López I F, Lambert M G, Mackay A D, Valentine I(2003). The influence of topography and pasturemanagement on soil characteristics and herbage accumulation in hillpasture in the North Island of New Zealand. Plant and Soil, 25: 421―434
doi: 10.1023/A:1026062502566
|
|
Ludwig J A, Wilcox B P, Breshears D D, Tongway D J, Imeson A C(2005). Vegetation patches and runoff-erosion as interactingecohydrological processes in semiarid landscapes. Ecology, 86: 288―297
doi: 10.1890/03-0569
|
|
Margalef R(1958). Information theory in ecology. Genetic and Systematic, 3: 36―71
|
|
Oweis T, Hachun A, Kinje J(1999). Waterharvesting and supplemental irrigation for improved water use efficiencyin dry areas. SWIM Paper No. 7, IWMI, Colombo,Sri Lanka
|
|
Oweis T, Taimeh A T(1996). Evaluation of small basin water harvesting system inarid region of Jordan. Water Resource Management, 10: 21―34
doi: 10.1007/BF00698809
|
|
Pielou E C(1966). The measurement of diversity in differenttypes of biological collections. JournalTheoretical Biology, 13: 131―144
doi: 10.1016/0022-5193(66)90013-0
|
|
Prinz D(2001). Water harvesting for afforestationin dry areas. Proceedings, 10th InternationalConference on Rainwater Catchment Systes, Mannheim, 10―14September2001, 195
|
|
Prinz D, Oweis T, Oberle A(1998). Rainwater harvestingfor dryland agriculture-developing a methodology based on remote sensingand GIS. Proceedings, XIII InternationalCongress Agricultural Engineering, 02―06―02, Rabat, Morocco
|
|
Rastetter E B, Kwiatkowski B L, le-Dizes S, Hobbie J E(2004). The role of down-slope water andnutrient fluxes in the response of Arctic hill slopes to climate change. Biogeochemistry, 69: 37―62
doi: 10.1023/B:BIOG.0000031035.52498.21
|
|
Shannon C E, Weiner W(1963). The Mathematical Theory of Communication. Urbana: University of IllinoisPress, 117
|
|
Shetty B V, Singh V(1993). Flora of the Rajasthan. Vol. I-III. Botanical Survey of India: Howrah
|
|
Simpson E H(1949). Measurement of diversity. Nature, 163: 683―688
|
|
Singh J S, Milchunas D G, Lauenroth W K(1998). Soilwater dynamics and vegetation patterns in a semiarid grassland. Plant Ecology, 134: 77―89
doi: 10.1023/A:1009769620488
|
|
Sokal R R, Rohlf F J(1981). Biometry. 2nd ed. NewYork: USA.WH Freeman
|
|
Suleman S, Wood M K, Shah B H, Murray L(1995). Rainwater harvesting for increasing livestock forageon arid rangeland in Pakistan. JournalRange Management, 48: 523―527
doi: 10.2307/4003064
|
|
Svoray T, Gancharski S B R, Henkin Z, Gutman M(2004). Assessment of herbaceous plant habitatsin water-constrained environments: predicting indirect effects withfuzzy logic. Ecological Modeling, 180: 537―556
doi: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2004.06.037
|
|
Tsui C C, Zueng-Sang Chen Z S, Hsieh C F(2004). Relationshipsbetween soil properties and slope position in a lowland rain forestof southern Taiwan. Geoderma, 123: 131―142
doi: 10.1016/j.geoderma.2004.01.031
|
|
UNEP (United NationsEnvironment Programm) (1983). Rain and Storm Water Harvesting in Rural Areas. Dublin: Tycooly InternationalPublishing
|
|
Vashistha R N, Pandita M L, Batra R R(1980). Waterharvesting studies under rainfed condition in relation to growth andyield of Okra. Haryana Journal of HorticultureScience, 314: 188―191
|
|
Ventura Y P, Montaña C, Oliva F G(2006). Relationshipbetween soil nutrient availability and plant species richness in atropical semi-arid environment. Journalof Vegetation Science, 17: 719―728
doi: 10.1111/j.1654-1103.2006.tb02495.x
|
|
Vohland K, Barry B(2009). A review of in situ rainwater harvesting (RWH) practices modifyinglandscape functions in African drylands. Agriculture, Ecosystem & Environment, 134: 119―127
doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2009.01.010
|
|
Waide R B, Willig M R, Steiner C F, Mittelbach G, Gough L, Dodson S I, Juday G P, Parmenter R(1999). The relationshipbetween productivity and species richness. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 30: 257―300
doi: 10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.30.1.257
|
|
Wani S P, Rego T J, Pathak P(2002). Improving managementof natural resources for sustainable rainfed agriculture. In: Proceedings of the training workshop on On-farmParticipatory Research Methodology. 26―31 July 2001, ICRISAT, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India, 68
|
|
Warren J, Topping C J, James P(2009). A unifyingevolutionary theory for the biomass-diversity-fertility relationship. Theoretical Ecology, 2: 119―126
doi: 10.1007/s12080-008-0035-z
|
|
Watkinson A R, Ormerod S J(2001). Grasslands, grazing and biodiversity: Editors’introduction. Journal Applied Ecology, 38: 233―237
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2664.2001.00621.x
|
|
Yong L, Wang C W, Hongliang T(2006). Research advancesin nutrient runoff on sloping land in watersheds. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 9: 27―32
doi: 10.1080/14634980600559379
|
|
Yu M, Gao Q, Epstein H E, Zhang X(2008). An ecohydrological analysis for optimal use of redistributedwater among vegetation patches. EcologicalApplications, 18: 1679―1688
doi: 10.1890/07-0640.1
|
|
Viewed |
|
|
|
Full text
|
|
|
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
|
Cited |
|
|
|
|
| |
Shared |
|
|
|
|
| |
Discussed |
|
|
|
|
