Soil morphology and organic matter dynamics under cheatgrass and sagebrush-steppe plant communities
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- 作者：Norton ; Jay B. ; Monaco ; Thomas A. ; Norton ; Jeanette M. ; Johnson ; Douglas A. ; Jones ; Thomas A.
- 关键词：Cheatgrass ; Bromus tectorum L. ; Wyoming big sagebrush ; Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & A.W. Young ; Soil morphology ; Soil organic matter ; Invasive weeds ; Sagebrush-steppe plant community
- 刊名：Journal of Arid Environments
- 出版年：2004
- 出版时间：June, 2004
- 年：2004
- 卷：57
- 期：4
- 页码：445-466
- 全文大小：400 K
文摘
Widespread cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) invasion represents a major shift in species dominance that may alter ecosystem processes across much of the western US. To investigate differences following such conversion, soil morphology and organic matter under cheatgrass-dominated and native shrub-steppe vegetation were compared by standard soil analysis procedures at seven paired sites in Idaho and Utah. Results suggest that, following conversion to cheatgrass dominance, increased porosity and labile organic inputs enhance microbial decomposition in near-surface horizons beneath cheatgrass compared to adjacent soils under native vegetation. Enhanced decomposition could result in depletion of long-term SOM, leading to impoverished sites difficult to restore to native perennial vegetation.