Desiccation of the Aral Sea has resulted in the emergence of vast saline and flat terrains, jeopardizing human health and agricultural activities because of sand and dust storms. Vegetation, mainly indigenous Haloxylon species, has been introduced to ameliorate the soil. As a critical indicator of rehabilitation, the physicochemical properties of soil after the introduction of vegetation remain poorly understood. This study examined (1) the changes in topsoil properties after vegetation establishment based on a 30-year chronosequence and employed (2) site comparisons of topsoil properties between two cases of natural versus introduced vegetation on a dried Aral Sea bed. Twelve paired areas that were naturally or artificially vegetated during 1990, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2013, and 2017 were selected for examination. Irrespective of vegetation type, increases in organic matter and nutrients (TOC >90%, TN >143%, and P₂O₅ >23%) were detected in the surface soil (0–10 cm) along the 30-year chronosequence. In addition, decreases in EC_e (92% and 69%), CEC (41% and 11%), Ca²⁺ (38% and 12%), and TIC (81% and 11%) were observed in both natural and introduced vegetation, respectively. The introduced vegetation was associated with a slightly greater accumulation of soil K⁺ and TN than the natural vegetation. Our results indicate vegetation-derived nutrient and organic matter accumulation as well as the possible removal of salts by root exudates in the surface soil. Overall, vegetation contributed to soil amelioration, with similar effects observed at naturally and artificially vegetated sites.

中文翻译：

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植被引入与自然恢复对干咸海床表土特性的影响


咸海的干燥导致出现大面积的盐碱地和平坦的地形，沙尘暴危害人类健康和农业活动。引入植被（主要是本土梭梭物种）来改善土壤。作为恢复的关键指标，引入植被后土壤的理化特性仍然知之甚少。本研究根据 30 年的时间顺序考察了 (1) 植被建立后表土特性的变化，并采用 (2) 对干燥咸海床上天然植被与引入植被的两种情况之间表土特性进行了现场比较。选择 1990 年、2000 年、2005 年、2008 年、2013 年和 2017 年期间自然或人工植被的 12 对区域进行检查。无论植被类型如何，在 30 年的时间序列中，表层土壤（0-10 cm）中检测到有机质和养分（TOC >90%、TN >143% 和 P ₂ O ₅ >23%）的增加。此外，EC _e （92% 和 69%）、CEC（41% 和 11%）、Ca ²⁺ （38% 和 12%）以及 TIC（81% 和 11%）在天然和分别引入植被。引入的植被与土壤 K ⁺和 TN 的积累比自然植被稍多有关。我们的结果表明植被来源的养分和有机质积累以及表层土壤中根系分泌物可能去除的盐分。总体而言，植被有助于土壤改良，在自然和人工植被地点观察到类似的效果。