Rainwater harvest influences habitat heterogeneity, nutrient build up and herbage biomass production in Aravalli hills of Rajasthan, India

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Singh, Genda Rathod, T. R. Komara, Siti Limba, N. K.
Copyright Year	2013
Abstract	The effect of rainwater harvesting (RWH) on microhabitat differentiation, herbage biomass and biomass allocation to roots was investigated in relation to rehabilitation of degraded hilly forest/rangelands. Seventy five plots, each 700 m 2 in size, with Contour trench (CT), Gradonie (G), Box trench (BT), V-ditch (VD) micro-catchments and a control, were sampled in 20 % slopes. Soil resources and herbage biomass were studied at up (USP), middle (MSP) and lower (LSP) positions of the plots during June to December 2006. Soil water content (SWC) and herbage biomass increased and soil organic carbon (SOC) decreased downward from USP to LSP. NH4-N, PO4-P and fresh root to herbage biomass (R/S) ratio were highest at MSP. But this trend did not exist at the slope level due to highest sand content, SOC and NH4-N and lowest SWC in 10 - 20 % slope. RWH enhanced SWC and herbage biomass. The effect was highest in > 20 % slope and in VD treatment. Nutrient availability facilitated herbage biomass production. V-ditches enhanced aboveground herbage biomass, whereas CT/BT induced biomass allocation to roots. Thus slope gradient, soil texture and RWH structure influenced soil water-nutrient gradient that affected herbage biomass production and biomass allocation to roots. Efficiency of RWH structures varied in inducing heterogeneity, nutrient status, herbage growth and biomass production. Resumen: Se investigo el efecto delacosecha de agua de lluvia (CAL) en la diferenciacion de microhabitats, la biomasa delfollajey la asignacion de biomasa a las raices relacionadacon la rehabilitacion de bosques y pastizales degradados en colinas. Se muestrearon 75 parcelas de 700 m2 enmicroareas de captacioncontrincheras de linea de nivel (TL), trincheras tipo Gradonie (G), trincherasde caja (CA), zanjasen V (ZV) y un control, en pendientes de 20 % y en el tratamiento ZV. La disponibilidad de nutrientes facilito la produccion de biomasadel follaje. Las ZV mejoraron la biomasa aerea del follaje, mientras que TL y CA indujeronla asignacion de biomasa a las raices. Asi, el gradiente de pendiente, la textura del suelo y la estructura para cosechar agua de lluviainfluenciaronlos gradientes de nutrientes y agua del sueloque afectaronla produccion de biomasa del follaje y la asignacion de biomasa a las raices. La eficacia de las estructuras para CAL vario en terminos de induccion de heterogeneidad, el estado nutricional, el crecimiento del follajey la produccion de biomasa.
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
Alternate Webpage(s)	http://www.tropecol.com/pdf/open/PDF_54_1/8-Singh%20et%20al.pdf
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article