title: [Structural characteristics of Sophora moorcroftiana community on wind-sandy land in middle reaches of Yaluzangbu River].
abstract: Based on quadrat investigation and hierarchical cluster analysis, this paper studied the structural characteristics of Sophora moorcroftiana community at its different restoration succession stages on the wind-sandy land in middle reaches of Yaluzangbu River. The plant community on the wind-sandy land could be divided into 6 types, i.e., S. moorcroftiana community, Orinus thoroldii community, S. moorcroftiana < O. thoroldii community, S. moorcroftiana-O. thoroldii community, Artemisia weiibyii+S. moorcroftiana community, and S. moorcroftiana+A. weiibyii community. The restoration succession began with the sand-fixing S. moorcroftiana distributed on moving dune, followed by O. thoroldii invasion, and then, S. moorcroftiana-O. thoroldii community formed gradually. Another restoration succession approach began with O. thoroldii community, S. moorcroftiana occurred then, and finally, S. moorcroftiana-O, thoroldii community formed. On semi-fixed dune, A. weiibyi could invade the community, and S. moorcroftiana+A. weiibyi community formed. The climax community on the wind-sandy land was the shrub community dominated by S. moorcroftiana. With increasing slope grade, the coverage and height of S. moorcroftiana community tended to decrease. Biological crust had definite improvement effect on the soil physical and chemical properties. At the places with biological crust, surface soil water content was significantly higher, compared with that at the places with other restoration succession stages of S. moorcroftiana community. The crown diameter, plant height, and the sprouting branch number of S. moorcroftiana community were the highest on moving dune, followed by on fixed dune, and on semi-fixed dune. The dead branch number at different restoration succession stages indicated that S. moorcroftiana population had a declining trend after the sand was fixed.
authors.affiliation: Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Nanjing 210042, China. yangzp04@163.com
authors.forename: Zhao-Ping
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei-Shou
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hai-Dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D003889:Desert Climate; D017753:Ecosystem; D011157:Population Dynamics; D045483:Rivers; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D029909:Sophora / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012822:Silicon Dioxide