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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Aerial Application Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #347616
Title: Spatial heterogeneity of subsurface soil texture drives the landscape-scale pattern of woody patches in a subtropical savanna

Author
item ZHOU, YONG - Texas A&M University
item BOUTTON, THOMAS - Texas A&M University
item WU, BEN - Texas A&M University
item Yang, Chenghai

Submitted to: Landscape Ecology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2017
Publication Date: 12/30/2017
Citation: Zhou, Y., Boutton, T., Wu, B., Yang, C. 2017. Spatial heterogeneity of subsurface soil texture drives the landscape-scale pattern of woody patches in a subtropical savanna. Landscape Ecology. 32(4):915-929.

Interpretive Summary: In the Rio Grande Plains of southern Texas, large woody patches (groves) occur on non-argillic (sandy) inclusions, while small woody patches are dispersed among herbaceous vegetation where the argillic (clay-rich) horizon is present. This study tested whether spatial heterogeneity of subsurface soil texture drives the landscape-scale pattern of woody patches in this subtropical savanna. The locations of non-argillic inclusions were identified from soil texture maps. Visual comparison of soil texture maps with a high resolution aerial photograph of the study area revealed that groves were present exclusively where the non-argillic inclusions were present. The results of this study indicate that unoccupied non-argillic inclusions have the potential to develop grove vegetation and shape the future landscape evolution.

Technical Abstract: In the Rio Grande Plains of southern Texas, subtropical savanna vegetation is characterized by a two-phase pattern consisting of discrete woody patches embedded within a C4 grassland matrix. Prior trench transect studies have suggested that, on upland portions of the landscape, large woody patches (groves) occur on non-argillic inclusions, while small woody patches (clusters) are dispersed among herbaceous vegetation where the argillic horizon is present. To test whether spatial heterogeneity of subsurface soil texture drives the landscape-scale pattern of woody patches in this subtropical savanna. Landscape-scale spatial patterns of soil texture were quantified by taking spatially-specific soil samples to a depth of 1.2 m in a 160 m 9 100 m plot. Kriged maps of soil texture were developed, and the locations of non-argillic inclusions were mapped. Visual comparison of kriged maps of soil texture to a high resolution aerial photograph of the study area revealed that groves were present exclusively where the non-argillic inclusions were present. This clear visual relationship was further supported by positive correlations between soil sand concentration in the lower soil layers and total fine root biomass which mapped the locations of groves. Subsurface non-argillic inclusions may favor the establishment and persistence of groves by enabling root penetration deeper into the profile, providing greater access to water and nutrients that are less accessible on those portions of the landscape where the argillic horizon is present, thereby regulating the distribution of grove vegetation and structuring the evolution of this landscape.