Retracted] Spatial‐Temporal Variation Characteristics of Soil Moisture and Nutrients Based on Nanomaterials in the Root Zone of Haloxylon ammodendron Seedlings

Abstract

Haloxylon ammodendron is the main constituent species in the desert area of Junggar Basin, which plays a key role in biodiversity protection and regional ecological balance. Replenishment and settling capacity of seedlings determine population regeneration and community stability, and soil moisture and nutrients are the main limiting factors of natural regeneration. In view of the serious degradation and low seedling survival rate of Haloxylon ammodendron forest in Junggar, typical degraded Haloxylon ammodendron population was selected in Gurbantunggut Desert. The effects of soil moisture on soil nutrients were explored, and the temporal and geographical fluctuations of soil moisture and nutrients in the root zone of Haloxylon ammodendron seedlings were clarified. The results showed that soil moisture and nutrient content in the root zone of seedlings had obvious temporal and spatial variation characteristics. With the advance of the growth period, it decreased at first and then increased, reaching the maximum in April and the minimum in August. In the soil horizontal space (0~40 cm), with the extension of the horizontal distance, the soil moisture content has an obvious “wet island” effect, and the soil moisture content at the 10 cm level is 1.99 times that at the 40 cm level in August, when the growth period is the driest. The nutrients available in the soil were clearly “poor on the inside and high on the outside.” The degrees of soil natural matter, soluble hydrolyzable nitrogen, accessible phosphorus, and accessible potassium in August were 57.97%, 44.37%, 75.46%, 19, and 55% higher at the 40 cm level of the sapling spine, 10 cm level each. The soil moisture content increased first, then declined, and the soil nutrient content gradually fell in the vertical (0.50 cm) space of soil as soil depth increased. The soil moisture content in the 20~30 cm layer is the highest, reaching 11.04%, 7.90%, 2.92%, and 4.29%, respectively, in each period. Soil water content in 0~30 cm was significantly affected by habitat rainfall (P < 0.05), and soil water had a higher effect on soil organic matter, alkali‐hydrolyzable nitrogen, and available potassium (P < 0.05).