Effects Of Encroachment Research Articles

Shrub encroachment leads to accumulation of C, N, and P in grassland soils and alters C:N:P stoichiometry: A meta-analysis

Soil stoichiometry of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are indicators for nutrient balance. Shrub encroachment into grasslands could change nutrient concentrations and stoichiometry in soils, but the general patterns remain unclear. With a meta-analysis of a global dataset covering 344 observations from 68 studies, we examined the responses of grassland soil C:N:P stoichiometry to shrub encroachment under various environmental conditions. Our results show that: 1) Shrub encroachment significantly increased the concentrations of soil C (+29 %), N (+25 %), P (+20 %), C:N (+5 %), C:P (+12 %), and N:P (+6 %). The magnitude of such effects varied with climate, soil texture, and soil layer. 2) Increases in SOC and TN concentrations mainly occurred in Mediterranean and very humid climate zones. Soil C:P and N:P decreased in semi-humid climate zone after shrub encroachment. 3) The increases in SOC and TN concentrations and in the C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios after shrub encroachment were greater in the topsoil than in deeper soil layers. 4) Both finest-textured soil (clay) and coarsest-textured soil (sand) are beneficial for increase of soil nutrient concentrations following shrub encroachment. 5) The magnitude of the change in soil C:N was negatively correlated with the duration of shrub encroachment, due to greater increases in soil TN than in SOC concentrations with longer durations of encroachment. Our results indicate that soil stoichiometric shifts in shrub-encroached grasslands are relatively sensitive to environmental factors, including soil texture, soil pH, and climate. These findings help us to better understand the effects of shrub encroachment on biogeochemical cycling, functioning, and services in grasslands across a broad range of spatio-temporal scales.

Sourcing Channel Decision in the Presence of Platform Encroachment with Quantity Competition

The decision of sourcing channels is a critical strategy for online retail platforms (ORs) when they encroach into the product market of the third-party retailers (3PRs). Whether the products of the OR are provided by the common supplier or the one different from that of the 3PR leads to different supply chain structures. This paper focuses on the sourcing channel decision of an encroaching OR given the sourcing channel of a 3PR. The OR may source either from the common supplier, i.e., the same supplier as that of the 3PR, or from a different supplier, i.e., one different from that of the 3PR. This paper develops two game-theoretical models to examine the sourcing channel decision of an OR in quantity competition with a 3PR on the platform. The results show that the OR’s preference for the sourcing channel is significantly affected by the production cost, product substitutability and commission rate. By comparing the performances of the OR under these two sourcing channels, we find that when the production cost of the different supplier is very low, or when the product substitutability of the different supplier is low, or when the commission rate is either very low or very high, the OR prefers to source from the different supplier. Otherwise, the OR tends to source from the common supplier. We also find that the OR’s encroachment into the sales market of a 3PR by sourcing from the common supplier will always hurt the 3PR, but the platform encroachment by sourcing from the different supplier will not necessarily hurt, especially when the supplier selected by the OR has a significant disadvantage in production cost compared to those of the 3PR. Furthermore, when the OR encroaches by sourcing from the common supplier, it becomes the largest retailer in the market; otherwise, the 3PR is the largest retailer in that market. Our results also indicate that platform encroachment by different sourcing can not only expand the sales market, but also weaken the negative effects of platform encroachment on the profit of the 3PR.

The influence of manufacturer encroachment on the supply chain: the conditional role of traditional retailer retail service investment

PurposeThis paper investigates the dual interactive effects of manufacturer encroachment on the supply chain and retailer provision of retail services.Design/methodology/approachConsider a supply chain dominated by manufacturers, retailers, and e-commerce platforms, with the manufacturers selling the same product online and offline. Utilizing Stackelberg’s game theory, examples of wholesale and retail prices and profits of participants in the supply chain under different channels are analyzed. An effective encroachment strategy for manufacturers facing different retail service investment strategies of traditional retailers is given.FindingsWhen traditional retailers do not invest in retail services, they will lose more profit due to competition with the manufacturer. At this time, the retailer does not want the manufacturer to encroach. The traditional retailer’s investment in retail services will enhance its and the manufacturer’s profits, incentivizing the manufacturer to pursue an aggressive expansion strategy.Originality/value(1) Considers a situation where the selling efficiency of the manufacturer is lower than that of the traditional retailer. (2) The interaction between traditional retailers’ retail service investment strategies and manufacturers’ encroachment strategies is investigated where the manufacturer is the dominant player. The three modes of online direct sales, resale, and third-party platform agency are compared to provide a basis for decision-making on different types of manufacturers’ encroachment. (3) Offline retail services not only directly increase sales in the offline market but also indirectly have a negative effect on the online market.

Spatial effects of shrub encroachment on wetland soil pH and salinity in the Yellow River Delta, China

Spatial effects of shrub encroachment on wetland soil pH and salinity in the Yellow River Delta, China

Woody encroachment: social-ecological impacts and sustainable management.

Woody plants are encroaching across terrestrial ecosystems globally, and this has dramatic effects on how these systems function and the livelihoods of producers who rely on the land to support livestock production. Consequently, the removal of woody plants is promoted widely in the belief that it will reinstate former grasslands or open savanna. Despite this popular management approach to encroachment, we still have a relatively poor understanding of the effects of removal on society, and of alternative management practices that could balance the competing needs of pastoral production, biodiversity conservation and cultural values. This information is essential for maintaining both ecological and societal benefits in encroached systems under predicted future climate changes. In this review, we provide a comprehensive synthesis of the social-ecological perspectives of woody encroachment based on recent studies and global meta-analyses by assessing the ecological impacts of encroachment and its effects on sustainable development goals (SDGs) when woody plants are retained and when they are removed. We propose a working definition of woody encroachment based on species- and community-level characteristics; such a definition is needed to evaluate accurately the effects of encroachment. We show that encroachment is a natural process of succession rather than a sign of degradation, with encroachment resulting in an overall 8% increase in ecosystem multifunctionality. Removing woody plants can increase herbaceous plant richness, biomass and cover, but at the expense of biocrust cover. The effectiveness of woody plant removal depends on plant identity, and where, when and how they are removed. Under current management practices, either removal or retention of woody plants can induce trade-offs among ecosystem services, with no management practice maximising all SDGs [e.g. SDG2 (end hunger), SDG13 (climate change), SDG 15 (combat desertification)]. Given that encroachment of woody plants is likely to increase under future predicted hotter and drier climates, alternative management options such as carbon farming and ecotourism could be effective land uses for areas affected by encroachment.

Caught in transition: changes in brachyuran diversity following mangrove encroachment into saltmarshes at a southern distribution limit

Mangroves are expanding polewards due to global change, often encroaching into adjacent temperate saltmarshes. In both vegetated ecosystems, brachyurans are responsible for ecological processes and functions such as nutrient cycling and sediment bioturbation. South African mangroves occur at a latitudinal limit and are establishing further south due to past planting events and global change, making these ideal study systems for the effects of mangrove expansion and encroachment. Here, we investigated the effect of mangrove encroachment on brachyuran community composition at two saltmarsh sites with planted mangrove stands of different ages. Transects were laid perpendicular to each estuary where three habitat types were demarcated (mangrove, ecotone, saltmarsh). Sediment samples were collected for analyses and quadrats were used to measure pneumatophore density, saltmarsh cover, and brachyuran abundance and diversity. We found that brachyuran community structure at each site has significantly changed over seven years, with two mangrove-associated fiddler crab species, Tubuca urvillei and Paraleptuca chlorophthalmus, now recorded at the younger planted site, indicating a new southern distributional limit. Community structure was also significantly different amongst habitat types (p < 0.05) with Parasesarma catenatum dominating saltmarshes while Danielella edwardsii was more prominent in mangroves. However, community composition did not differ significantly between the two (differently aged) sites (p > 0.05). Pneumatophore density had a proportional relationship with crab abundance, diversity and richness, while saltmarsh cover had an inversely proportional relationship with crab abundance, diversity and richness. It is likely that as mangroves continue to expand into saltmarshes, more mangrove-associated species will move into saltmarshes, potentially altering ecosystem processes in this unique habitat.

Ungulates Mitigate the Effects of Drought and Shrub Encroachment on the Fire Hazard of Mediterranean Oak Woodlands

Ungulates Mitigate the Effects of Drought and Shrub Encroachment on the Fire Hazard of Mediterranean Oak Woodlands

Ungulates mitigate the effects of drought and shrub encroachment on the fire hazard of Mediterranean oak woodlands.

Climate change is increasing the frequency of droughts and the risk of severe wildfires, which can interact with shrub encroachment and browsing by wild ungulates. Wild ungulate populations are expanding due, among other factors, to favorable habitat changes resulting from land abandonment or land-use changes. Understanding how ungulate browsing interacts with drought to affect woody plant mortality, plant flammability, and fire hazard is especially relevant in the context of climate change and increasing frequency of wildfires. The aim of this study is to explore the combined effects of cumulative drought, shrub encroachment, and ungulate browsing on the fire hazard of Mediterranean oak woodlands in Portugal. In a long-term (18 years) ungulate fencing exclusion experiment that simulated land abandonment and management neglect, we investigated the population dynamics of the native shrub Cistus ladanifer, which naturally dominates the understory of woodlands and is browsed by ungulates, comparing areas with (no fencing) and without (fencing) wild ungulate browsing. We also modeled fire behavior in browsed and unbrowsed plots considering drought and nondrought scenarios. Specifically, we estimated C. ladanifer population density, biomass, and fuel load characteristics, which were used to model fire behavior in drought and nondrought scenarios. Overall, drought increased the proportion of dead C. ladanifer shrub individuals, which was higher in the browsed plots. Drought decreased the ratio of live to dead shrub plant material, increased total fuel loading, shrub stand flammability, and the modeled fire parameters, that is, rate of surface fire spread, fireline intensity, and flame length. However, total fuel load and fire hazard were lower in browsed than unbrowsed plots, both in drought and nondrought scenarios. Browsing also decreased the population density of living shrubs, halting shrub encroachment. Our study provides long-term experimental evidence showing the role of wild ungulates in mitigating drought effects on fire hazard in shrub-encroached Mediterranean oak woodlands. Our results also emphasize that the long-term effects of land abandonment can interact with climate change drivers, affecting wildfire hazard. This is particularly relevant given the increasing incidence of land abandonment.

Soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus storage in juniper–oak savanna: role of vegetation and geology

Abstract. Woody-plant encroachment into grasslands and savannas has been globally widespread during the past century, likely driven by interactions between grazing, fire suppression, rising atmospheric CO2, and climate change. In the southernmost US Great Plains, Ashe juniper and live oak have increased in abundance. To evaluate potential interactions between this vegetation change and the underlying soil parent material on ecosystem biogeochemistry, we quantified soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and δ13C of SOC in soils obtained from trenches passing through grassland, juniper, and oak patches on soils lying atop the respective Edwards and Buda limestone formations in central Texas. Soils on the Edwards formation are more shallow and have more rock outcropping than those on Buda. The δ13C values of SOC under grasslands was −19 ‰, whereas those under woody patches were −21 ‰ to −24 ‰, indicating that wooded areas were relatively recent components of the landscape. Compared with grasslands, areas now dominated by juniper or oak had elevated SOC, TN, and TP storage in soils lying atop Edwards limestone. In Buda soils, only oak patches had increased SOC, TN, and TP storage compared with grasslands. Woody encroachment effects on soil nutrients were higher in soils on the Edwards formation, perhaps because root and litter inputs were more concentrated in the relatively shallow layer of soil atop the Edwards bedrock. Our findings suggest that geological factors should be considered when predicting nutrient store responses in savannas following vegetation change. Given that woody encroachment is occurring globally, our results have important implications for the management and conservation of these ecosystems. The potential interactive effects between vegetation change and soil parent material on C, N, and P storage warrant attention in future studies aimed at understanding and modeling the global consequences of woody encroachment.

Effects of birch encroachment, water table and vegetation on methane emissions from peatland microforms in a rewetted bog

This study investigated the influence of vegetation and microforms on methane (CH4) balances of a rewetted bog in north-west Germany. The two study sites are in close proximity on the same former peat extraction area, one dominated by Sphagnum-mosses and the other one by a dense Betula pubescens stand with a high Eriophorum vaginatum cover. The contribution of microforms (hummocks/hollows) to CH4 emissions and the effect of Betula encroachment has been studied. Transparent and opaque chambers were used to measure CH4 fluxes every 3–4 weeks during daytime for one year. For the estimation of annual balances, three methods were compared and the method using water level and soil temperature as explanatory variables was selected. Fluxes were scaled to the site level. The annual emissions per site are and 7.1 ± 1.5 g CH4-C m−2 year−1 at the treed site and 36.1 ± 3.5 g CH4-C m−2 year−1 at the open site, mainly controlled by higher water levels. Highest annual emissions originated from hollows at the open site, but in the vegetation period, hummock emissions tend to be higher. At the tree site, emission differences between the microforms were less pronounced. There were no differences between fluxes from transparent and opaque chambers.

The effects of shrub encroachment on arthropod communities depend on grazing history

Unsustainable grazing is a major driver of biodiversity loss worldwide. Conservation actions such as grazing exclusion are effective strategies for halting such decline. However, we still know little how the long-term impact of grazing exclusion depends on plant–animal interactions such as those between encroaching unpalatable shrubs and ground arthropods. Here, we assessed how encroaching, unpalatable shrub species (Sarcopoterium spinosum) mediates the effects of grazing exclusion on the recovery of arthropod communities. We used a large-scale, long-term (15–25 years) grazing exclusion experiment complemented with local-scale treatments that consider the presence or absence of shrubs. We found that halting overgrazing supported the recovery of biodiversity in the long-term. Notably, the impacts of shrubs on arthropod diversity vary with grazing history. Shrubs decreased arthropod abundance by three folds, affecting particularly flies, butterflies, hymenopteran, and beetles in protected areas. Yet, shrubs had positive effects on animal diversity, particularly centipedes and millipeds in grazed areas. On the one hand, shrubs may enhance biodiversity recovery in overgrazed systems; on the other hand, shrubs may be detrimental in protected areas, in the absence of grazing. Understanding how plant–animal interactions vary with historical land-use change is key for biodiversity conservation and recovery and for integrated management of agroecosystems.

On the effects of supplier encroachment under endogenous quantity leadership

On the effects of supplier encroachment under endogenous quantity leadership

Monitoring the Effect of Weed Encroachment on Cattle Behavior in Grazing Systems Using GPS Tracking Collars

Weed encroachment on grasslands can negatively affect herbage allowance and animal behavior, impacting livestock production. We used low-cost GPS collars fitted to twenty-four Angus crossbred steers to evaluate the effects of different levels of weed encroachment on animal activities and spatial distribution. The experiment was established with a randomized complete block design, with three treatments and four blocks. The treatments were paddocks free of weeds (weed-free), paddocks with weeds established in alternated strips (weed-strips), and paddocks with weeds spread throughout the entire area (weed-infested). Animals in weed-infested paddocks had reduced resting time and increased grazing time, distance traveled, and rate of travel (p < 0.05) compared to animals in weed-free paddocks. The spatial distribution of the animals was consistently greater in weed-free paddocks than in weed-strips or weed-infested areas. The effects of weed encroachment on animal activities were minimized after weed senescence at the end of the growing season. Pasture weed encroachment affected cattle behavior and their spatial distribution across the pasture, potentially impacting animal welfare. Further long-term studies are encouraged to evaluate the impacts of weed encroachment on animal performance and to quantify the effects of behavioral changes on animal energy balance.

Ecosocial compensation of nature-based social values in Turku, South-West Finland

Complementary building is one of the key objectives in current urban planning as cities attempt to mitigate climate change. However, this development often reduces the urban green space. This incremental encroachment can negatively affect both the well-being of residents and biodiversity. Compensation is a way to safeguard the urban green space under the pressure of complementary construction. In the spirit of creative democracy, in this study, we examined the preconditions for ecosocial compensation and the mitigation of the harmful effects of incremental encroachment, as well as the mitigation hierarchy, in the context of land-use planning. We organised three workshops for planners and civil society associations at which we examined the preconditions for ecosocial compensation and other mitigation options using co-creation methods. We also carried out a PPGIS survey for the residents of Turku and were able to insert one question into the voting advice application of the municipal election in 2021. Our results show that there is a need for a new kind of information regarding nature-based social values when considering mitigation options and compensation. A comprehensive planning approach instead of incremental planning practices is important for considering compensation. Residents’ initiative is essential in the ecosocial approach, and the compensation process may become a way for residents to step up and introduce concerns and new opportunities to the public discussion and actual decisions about urban green space.

Dominant species determine grazing effects on the stability of herbaceous community production at multiple scales in drylands

Abstract Sustainable provision of critical ecosystem services in drylands is reliant on their stability under anthropogenic disturbances. Livestock grazing and shrub encroachment are the primary drivers of disturbance that impact their biodiversity and production dynamics. However, the effects of grazing on the stability at multiple scales, particularly following the transition from grass‐dominated to shrub‐encroached drylands, is still largely unexplored. Here, we conducted comparable sheep‐grazing experiments in two types of drylands (grass‐dominated vs. shrub‐encroached grasslands) on the Mongolia Plateau to explore the effects of grazing and shrub encroachment on biodiversity and stability at multiple scales. We examined how grazing affected the temporal stability of aboveground biomass in herbaceous communities in both grass‐dominated and shrub‐encroached grasslands, through two potential mechanisms: insurance effects and changes in the population‐level stability of individual species. We found that an increase in sheep grazing intensity had significant and negative effects on insurance effects by decreasing both species asynchrony and spatial asynchrony but it had no effects on population stability, consequently leading to reductions in herbaceous community stability of the grasslands. However, grazing‐increased insurance effects cancelled out grazing‐decreased population stability, contributing to no changes in the community stability of shrub‐encroached grasslands. Likely, because grazing‐induced reductions in the relative abundance of the dominant species were more noticeable in shrub‐encroached grasslands than that of in grasslands. Moreover, the grazing‐decreased abundance of dominant species was directly correlated to increases in insurance effects in shrub‐encroached grasslands but not in grasslands, despite the positive relationships between population stability and the relative abundance of the dominant species in both grass‐dominated and shrub‐encroached drylands. Synthesis and applications. Our results indicate that grazing can decrease the stability of herbaceous production in drylands but this negative effect is attenuated with the transition from grasslands to shrub‐encroached grasslands, suggesting that grazing effects on herbaceous community stability can be altered by shrub encroachment in drylands. Furthermore, the stability of dominant grasses plays a crucial role in stabilizing herbaceous communities and should be considered in promoting sustainable ecosystem functioning and services in drylands.

Effects of Human Encroachment on Wetlands: A Case of Boreal Shield, Canada

Wetlands are some of the most productive ecosystems on the planet and provide a wide range of ecological, economic, and social benefits. Wetlands are threatened by human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, resource extraction, and infrastructure development, which can lead to their degradation and loss. Wetland loss can result in reduced water quality, increased erosion, and decreased biodiversity, which can impact the health of ecosystems and the species that depend on them. The study found that human encroachment on wetlands in Canada has resulted in significant wetland loss and degradation. Wetland loss and degradation can lead to the loss of plant and animal species that depend on these ecosystems. It was noted that wetland loss is a major contributor to the decline of many bird species, including waterfowl and shorebirds. Wetlands support important industries such as forestry, agriculture, and fisheries, and provide recreational opportunities for Canadians, such as fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching. The study concluded that human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, resource extraction, and infrastructure development have led to the degradation and loss of wetlands across the country. The loss of wetlands has had a significant impact on the environment. Wetlands act as natural water filters, helping to purify water by removing pollutants and sediments. The loss of wetlands has also had economic and social impacts. Wetlands provide a range of valuable resources, including timber, peat, fish, and wildlife, which support local economies and communities. The study recommended that the Canadian government should implement more stringent wetland protection policies and regulations. This could include increasing the amount of wetlands protected under legislation, improving enforcement measures, and establishing penalties for those who violate wetland protection regulations. Public education and outreach programs should be developed and implemented to raise awareness about the importance of wetlands and the negative impacts of human encroachment. Keywords: Human Encroachment, Wetlands, Canada

Authorization or encroachment: Effects of channel encroachment on decisions and performance in software service supply chains

At present, plenty of software developers not only sell their software to client firms through downstream service integrators, but also vend it to clients directly. However, little research has been investigated software developers' channel encroachment in the area of software service supply chain (SSSC) management. In this study, we examine a SSSC with a developer, an integrator, and client firms. Clients can either purchase software from the integrator at high prices and with accessorial pre-sale services, or procure it directly from the developer at low prices but with no pre-sale services. After purchasing software, clients can also purchase the extended warranty service (EWS) from the developer. We investigated the two cooperation modes, i.e., the “Authorization” (marked as mode A) and the “Authorization + direct sales” (marked as mode E), and analyzed effects of the developer's channel encroachment on equilibrium decisions of SSSC members and on SSSC performance. It is shown that both the sensitivity of clients to the EWS price and the EWS cost cannot affect the software pricing decision of the integrator in the mode A, but those can affect that in the mode E. Furthermore, when the EWS cost is high, although the developer can obtain the software authorization revenue, the software sales revenue, and the EWS sales revenue (in the mode E), its channel encroachment will unexpectedly cause its own profit to decline. We also find that if the developer participates in the competition with low intensity, its encroachment is detrimental to both parties; only when the developer participates in the competition with high intensity and has a low-cost advantage, its encroachment can increase its own profit, but it may reduce the profit of the integrator and lead to a decrease in the total SSSC profit. However, we are surprised to find that if the developer participates in the competition with high intensity and its EWS cost is high, its channel encroachment not only increases the integrator's profit but also the total SSSC performance.

Multi‐scale effects of land cover, weather, and fire on Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse

AbstractColumbian sharp‐tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) are endemic to grassland and shrub‐steppe ecosystems of western North America, yet their distribution has contracted to <10% of their historical range. Primary threats to Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse include loss of native habitat and conversion to agriculture, reductions in habitat once provided by the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), wildfire, and drought conditions, yet population‐level consequences of these threats and their spatio‐temporal scales of effect are poorly understood. We evaluated multi‐scale effects of land cover, weather, and fire histories on patterns of abundance and productivity for Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse populations during 1995–2020 in Idaho, USA, using mixed‐effects generalized regression and remotely sensed data. We demonstrated negative effects of fire, tree encroachment, and bare ground, positive effects of spring and summer precipitation and cover of shrubs and perennial forbs and grasses, and positive effects of CRP on grouse abundance that changed in magnitude with cover of perennials and shrubs near leks (i.e., strongest effects when average cover of shrubs and perennial forbs and grasses were less abundant). We also demonstrated per capita recruitment of Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse is positively associated with late‐summer greenness. Our results show that several suspected threats have measurable, population‐level impacts to Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse within Idaho. Moreover, our results suggest ongoing changes occurring within the core range of Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse, including loss of CRP cover to tilled agriculture and changes to wildfire and precipitation dynamics are likely to have negative effects on populations.

Spatial patterns and drivers of soil total nitrogen in anthropogenic shrub encroachment in desert steppe

Nitrogen is the most important driving factor in primary production and decomposition in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. The effects of shrub encroachment on nitrogen cycling have been investigated at the site scale but seldomly conducted at the landscape scale. Here, we selected 43 shrubland sites distributing across 3000 km2 area in temperate desert grassland in eastern Yanchi County of Ningxia Hui Autonomous. We investigated the spatial heterogeneity and driving factors of soil total nitrogen (STN) at the landscape scale by using geostatistical analysis and the geographical detector method. Our results showed that the average soil total nitrogen decreased in the order of 0–5 cm (0.21 g kg−1) > 5–15 cm (0.19 g kg−1) > 15–40 cm (0.18 g kg−1). Geostatistical analysis showed that soil total nitrogen exhibited the strong spatial autocorrelation in the 0–5 and 5–15 cm soil layers and the moderate spatial autocorrelation in the 15–40 cm soil layer. Furthermore, the geographic detector method indicated that soil physicochemical properties exhibited the stronger effects than these of topographic and vegetation biomass in determining the spatial distribution of soil total nitrogen. Specifically, soil water content in the 0–20 cm soil layer explained 35% of variation in soil total nitrogen spatial pattern in the 0–5 cm soil layer, while soil organic carbon content in the 15–40 cm soil layer explained 64% and 45% of variation in soil total nitrogen spatial patterns in the 5–15 cm and 15–40 cm soil layers, respectively. It was concluded that soil water content and organic carbon content primarily drove the formation of soil total nitrogen spatial heterogeneity in shrubland at the landscape scale, indicating that anthropogenic shrub encroachment evidently affected soil water content and redistribution in dryland.

Effects of shrub encroachment on plant and soil microbial in the forest-grassland ecotone

Effects of shrub encroachment on plant and soil microbial in the forest-grassland ecotone