Flood regime and leaf fall determine soil inorganic nitrogen dynamics in semiarid riparian forests

Flow regulation has reduced the exchange of water, energy, and materials between rivers and floodplains, caused declines in native plant populations, and advanced the spread of nonnative plants. Naturalized flow regimes are regarded as a means to restore degraded riparian areas. We examined the effects of flood regime (short [SIFI] vs. long [LIFI] inter-flood interval) on plant community and soil inorganic nitrogen (N) dynamics in riparian forests dominated by native Populus deltoides var. wislizenii Eckenwalder (Rio Grande cottonwood) and nonnative Tamarix chinensis Lour. (salt cedar) along the regulated middle Rio Grande of New Mexico. The frequency of inundation (every 2–3 years) at SIFI sites better reflected...

Categories: Publication; Types: Citation, Journal Citation; Tags: Ecological Applications, Ecological Society of America, New Mexico (USA), Populus deltoides, Rio Grande cottonwood, All tags... Tamarix chinensis, flood pulse, groundwater, leaf production, litterfall, natural flow regime, salt cedar, soil nitrogen, Fewer tags