Detecting soil salinity with MODIS time series VI data

Mapping of salinization using the satellite derived vegetation indices (VIs) remains difficult at broad regional scales due to the low classification accuracy. Satellite derived VIs from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) have more potential because the MODIS balances the requirements of spatial detail, spectral and temporal density and tends to reflect vegetation responses through time. However, the relationship between MODIS data and salinity may be underestimated in previous studies because the MODIS time series data were not investigated thoroughly, especially regarding vegetation phenology. This study assessed the applicability of MODIS time series VI data for monitoring soil salinization with a series of MODIS pixels selected in the Yellow River Delta, China. The hidden information in vegetation phenology was investigated by improving the quality of VIs time series data with the Savitzky–Golay filter, extracting the phenological markers and differentiating VIs time series data based on vegetation types. The results showed that the quality of the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) time series data were improved by the Savitzky–Golay filter, which could provide more accurate thresholds of phenological stages than the empirical definition. The seasonal integral of EVI (EVI-SI) extracted from the smoothed EVI time series profile was verified as the best indicator of the degree of soil salinity. Additionally, the correlation of EVI-SI and soil salinity was highly dependent on land cover heterogeneity, and the ranges of correlation coefficients were as high as 0.59–0.92. EVI-SI was linearly correlated with EC_e in cropland with a high model fit (R² = 0.85). The relationship of EVI-SI and EC_e fit best with a binomial line and EVI-SI was able to explain 70% of the variance of EC_e. Despite the poor fit of the linear regression model in mixed sites limited by spatial resolution (R² = 0.32), MODIS time series VI data, as well as the extracted seasonal parameters, still show great potential to assess large-scale soil salinization.     

Spectral response of the seagrass Zostera noltii with different sediment backgrounds

The efficiency of vegetation indices (VIs) to estimate the above-ground biomass of the seagrass species Zostera noltii Hornem. from remote sensing was tested experimentally on different substrata, since terrestrial vegetation studies have shown that VIs can be adversely influenced by the spectral properties of soils and background surfaces. Leaves placed on medium sand, fine sand and autoclaved fine sand were incrementally removed, and the spectral reflectance was measured in the 400–900 nm wavelength range. Several VIs were evaluated: ratios using visible and near infrared wavelengths, narrow-band indices, indices based on derivative analysis and continuum removal. Background spectral reflectance was clearly visible in the leaf reflectance spectra, showing marked brightness and spectral contrast variations for the same amount of vegetation. Paradoxically, indices used to minimize soil effects, such as the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) and the Modified second Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI₂) showed a high sensitivity to background effects. Similar results were found for the widely used Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and for Pigment Specific Simple Ratios (PSSRs). In fact, background effects were most reduced for VIs integrating a blue band correction, namely the modified specific ratio (mSR₍₇₀₅₎), the modified Normalized Difference (mND₍₇₀₅₎), and two modified NDVIs proposed in this study. However, these indices showed a faster saturation for high seagrass biomass. The background effects were also substantially reduced using Modified Gaussian Model indices at 620 and 675 nm. The blue band corrected VIs should now be tested for air-borne or satellite remote sensing applications, but some require sensors with a hyperspectral resolution. Nevertheless, this type of index can be applied to analyse broad band multispectral satellite images with a blue band.     

Improving effect of vegetation on the coastal salt marshes in Yancheng,Eastern China: A five-year observation (2013–2017)

Coastal wetlands reclamation is facing the problem of salinization. Along with the alternation of ecosystem status, studying the following effect on soil properties becomes emergency. Here we reported the pH, salinity and elemental content (mainly metals) variation affected by the vegetation situations, water sources and geographic positions. The results showed that vegetation could lead the pH and salinity of seawater zones closer to that of freshwater zones in both spatial and time scales. Spartina alterniflora (SA) was the most efficient species among the investigated plants, causing decreases of 0.15–0.69 in pH and 2.250–3.821 in salinity. This result might be caused by the absorption of Ca and K from salt marshes by SA and Suaeda salsa (SS), due to the fact that the component content of calcium (all reduced to approximate one-third) and potassium (reduced in some samples) both decreased. Meanwhile, vegetation could improve soil in seawater zones in Fe content with no extra negative influences in elemental analysis. Thus, ecological engineered vegetation indicated great potential in alternating coastal salt marshes to favorable wetlands or farmlands with almost primitive ecosystem. The results might be significant for ecological engineering and agricultural management in future.     

Is salinity the main ecologic factor that shapes the distribution of two endemic Mediterranean plant species of the genus Gypsophila?

Aims

Responses to salt stress of two Gypsophila species that share territory, but with different ecological optima and distribution ranges, were analysed. G. struthium is a regionally dominant Iberian endemic gypsophyte, whereas G. tomentosa is a narrow endemic reported as halophyte. The working hypothesis is that salt tolerance shapes the presence of these species in their specific habitats.

Methods

Taking a multidisciplinary approach, we assessed the soil characteristics and vegetation structure at the sampling site, seed germination and seedling development, growth and flowering, synthesis of proline and cation accumulation under artificial conditions of increasing salt stress and effect of PEG on germination and seedling development.

Results

Soil salinity was low at the all sampling points where the two species grow, but moisture was higher in the area of G. tomentosa. Differences were found in the species’ salt and drought tolerance. The different parameters tested did not show a clear pattern indicating the main role of salt tolerance in plant distribution.

Conclusions

G. tomentosa cannot be considered a true halophyte as previously reported because it is unable to complete its life cycle under salinity. The presence of G. tomentosa in habitats bordering salt marshes is a strategy to avoid plant competition and extreme water stress.     

Salt dynamics in Tamarix ramosissima in the lower Virgin River floodplain, Nevada

Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) is a halophyte with salt glands on its leaves and is an invasive riparian plant in the US. To increase our understanding of the effects of Tamarix on soil salinity, we conducted a year-long field investigation to evaluate the salt dynamics of a stand of Tamarix ramosissima along the lower Virgin River floodplain, NV, USA. We examined salt accumulation in the biomass and studied salt return to the soil by litter fall, throughfall and stemflow from September 2009 to September 2010. We also investigated soil salinity concentrations inside and outside of the stand where native shrub species was sparsely distributed. The average Na⁺ accumulated in the plant biomass was estimated at 23.4 g m^?2. The Na⁺ returned to the soil through litter fall, throughfall and stemflow during the investigation was similar with that accumulated in the plant biomass. More than 90 % of Na⁺ leached to the soil was from throughfall and stemflow. Soil salinity was significantly lower inside than outside of the stand. Salt secretion from Tamarix is generally expected to increase soil salinity in stands. However, our results suggest that surface soil salinity does not necessarily increase in the Tamarix stand along the lower Virgin River floodplain that is subjected to occasional flooding.     

基于Landsat系列数据的盐分指数和植被指数对土壤盐度变异性的响应分析——以新疆天山南北典型绿洲为例

基于不同地理区域,借助目前已有或者构建新的盐分和植被指数定量评估研究区的土壤盐度状况。但多数指数并未在盐渍化较为严重的中国新疆地区进行系统性对比分析。因此,以新疆阜北地区(采样数=37),玛纳斯河绿洲(采样数=68)和渭干河-库车河绿洲(采样数=38)为研究区,以灌区农田和盐渍地采样数据和Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI为数据源,利用线性模型和多个非线性模型(10个)测试上述指数(14个指数)和原始波段对于研究区土壤盐度的敏感性。结果显示,阜北地区基于遥感获取的扩展的增强型植被指数Extented Enhanced Vegetation Index(EEVI)在全样本和部分样本(盐渍化样本,土壤盐度0.3%)两种模式下(0—10cm),较其他指数和波段而言较为敏感。在全样本和部分样本(土壤饱和溶液电导率2ds/m)两种模式下,与玛纳斯流域各层土壤盐度最为敏感的为band 2,部分样本模式下土壤盐度变异性显著性探测最大下探深度为30cm。渭干河-库车河绿洲全样本模式下,最大土壤盐度变异性显著性探测深度为40cm,0—10cm和10—20cm深度表现最为敏感的是土壤盐分指数SI-T,20—40cm深度则为植被指数TGDVI。部分样本下(土壤饱和溶液电导率2ds/m),0—10cm深度最为敏感的为band5,10—20cm深度最为敏感的为TGDVI,20—40cm深度则为EEVI。其他指数因地理环境的差异性(气候,土壤盐分类型,土壤类型,采样时间),与土壤盐度之间并未达到显著性(sig=0.05或者0.01)的水平。以上结果只是初步结论,但也暗示其中的某些指数在本区具有一定土壤盐度的识别潜力。此外,由于土壤本身的复杂性,需要采集更多的样本以深入分析不同盐度等级下上述指数的具体表现。     

黄河三角洲滨海草甸与土壤因子的关系

黄河三角洲滨海草甸群落的分布和变化与土壤因子密切相关。于2010年6月对黄河三角洲的草甸植被进行了样方调查,并对土壤进行了取样分析。在所调查的67个草本样方中,共出现52种植物。利用典范对应分析(CCA)分析了9种土壤因子与草甸群落分布的关系,结果显示,前两轴总共解释了物种-环境关系方差的46.4%,土壤含水率和电导率对群落分布的影响最大。双向指示种分析(TWINSPAN)将67个样方分为7种群落类型,将其标示在CCA排序图上后,沿第一轴分成三大类群:盐地碱蓬群落→芦苇-盐地碱蓬群落→其他草甸群落,这反映了黄河三角洲滨海草甸群落在盐分梯度上的演替规律。相关分析显示,物种多样性指数与土壤电导率、速效钾和速效磷呈极显著负相关(P<0.01),与pH值呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。解释了黄河三角洲滨海草甸群落与土壤因子的关系和变化规律,对黄河三角洲植被保护和恢复有一定的指导意义。     

利用水稻冠层光谱特征诊断土壤氮素营养状况

系统测定了不同秸秆还田和氮肥处理下水稻(Oryza sativa)关键生育期的冠层反射光谱及土壤速效氮含量,并对两者之间的关系进行了详尽的分析。结果表明: 土壤速效氮含量在整个水稻生育期内均与可见光波段反射率呈负相关,与近红外波段反射率呈正相关。归一化及比值植被指数与土壤速效氮含量有更好的相关性,分蘖期要优于其它生育时期,以870、1 220 nm波段与560和710 nm波段的组合最佳,但两者的关系易受土壤等背景的干扰。而转换型土壤调节植被指数TSAVI能较好地消除分蘖期土壤背景的影响,两生态点可用统一的方程来拟合,用该研究中所筛选出的最佳波段组合计算出的TSAVI的表现更好,尤其是870 nm波段和710 nm波段的组合,决定系数(R²)由0.46提高到0.60。抽穗期和灌浆期由1 220和760 nm计算的比值指数R(1 220, 760)和新土壤调节植被指数SAVI(1 220,760)与土壤速效氮含量的关系则不受生态点的影响,可用统一回归方程来拟合。这说明水稻冠层反射光谱可以用来评价稻田土壤肥力状况,但仍需进一步研究。     

Soil salinity determines the relative abundance of C3/C4 species in Argentinean grasslands

Aim The C₄ and crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) pathways are adaptations to compensate for high rates of photorespiration and water and carbon deficiency. This is the first attempt to compare the relative abundance of C₃ vs. C₄ + CAM species in temperate and subtropical grasslands across a latitudinal gradient in central Argentina. We predict that under the same rainfall regime, C₄ + CAM plants will have larger soil coverage in highly saline soils than in neighbouring non‐saline ones. Location Data were taken from three phytogeographical provinces in the Santa Fe province of Argentina: Chaquenian, Pampean and Espinal. Methods The salinity of the soil was estimated through aqueous solution conductivity. The proportions of species belonging to C₃/C₄ + CAM photosynthetic pathways were compared among halophyte and non‐halophyte communities with a χ² homogeneity test. The sum of cover percentages corresponding to the C₃ and C₄ + CAM photosynthetic pathways were calculated and compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results The soil conductivity values were higher in the halophyte than in the non‐halophyte communities for the same phytogeographical area. The C₄ + CAM plants had much higher soil coverage values in halophyte than in non‐halophyte communities in the Pampean and Espinal phytogeographical provinces. The differences were not statistically significant in the Chaquenian province. Main conclusions Soil drought provoked by soil salinity results in a much higher soil cover by C₄ + CAM plants in regions with positive to neutral water balance (i.e. Pampean and Espinal). This differential abundance pattern in C₄ + CAM functional group is not observed in areas where a pronounced water deficit exists per se (Chaquenian region), and therefore C₄ + CAM plants predominate in all environments regardless of soil salinity. Our results suggest that one of the main environmental forces driving the upsurge of C₄ species in Argentinean grasslands might have been the strong local soil salinity gradient.