干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

A field assay was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of several methods for the afforestation of a semi-arid area of southeast Spain with Pinus halepensis. The trial was designed as a two factor factorial with four soil preparation treatments as the first factor (mechanical terracing, manual terracing, manual terracing with the addition of urban solid refuse [USR] and mechanical terracing with USR) and the addition of fresh forest soil to the planting hole as the second factor. Twenty-one months after planting, the methods involving the addition of USR significantly enhanced P halepensis performance, mechanical terracing with USR being the most effective treatment in improving the survival and growth of the pines. The addition of forest soil significantly enhanced P halepensis growth in all the soil preparation treatments except in the manual terracing with USR. P halepensis growth was strongly correlated with soil moisture content (r = 0.83; P < 0.01) which was greatest in the mechanical terracing with USR treatment. Soil fertility levels, which were improved by organic amendment, were significantly correlated with seedling growth, particularly the phosphorus rates (r = 0.75; P < 0.05). The positive effect of added forest soil appears to be of a microbiological nature.