Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-719
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-719
30 May 2023
 | 30 May 2023

Global meta-analysis of water cycling response to plant mixture

Huaqing Liu, Xiaodong Gao, Changjian Li, Yaohui Cai, Xiaolin Song, and Xining Zhao

Abstract. Plant mixtures maintain irreplaceable ecosystem services through biodiversity conservation, guarantee food security, and buffer climate change. However, the effects of plant mixing on the water cycle remain poorly understood despite the significance of the water cycle in maintaining life on Earth. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis using a global data set of 1,631 paired observations from 88 publications to explore how plant mixtures affect seven critical water cycle processes (soil water content, runoff, infiltration, soil evaporation, canopy transpiration, throughfall, and water use efficiency). We found that plant mixtures reduced mean soil water content (1.5 %), runoff (12.3 %), and soil evaporation (7.8 %), while improving soil infiltration (42.7 %), leaf transpiration (13.5 %), and water use efficiency (40.9 %). The effect size of plant mixtures greatly depended on ecosystem types; crop mixtures significantly reduced soil evaporation (10.7 %) and runoff (22.1 %), whereas mixed forest and agroforestry systems significantly enhanced soil infiltration rates. Moreover, the effect size of the plant mixture also varied with climate (mean annual precipitation), soil properties (organic matter content, bulk density, and total nitrogen content), and management practices (crop type, fertilization, and irrigation). In plant minutes, resource complementarity, abiotic facilitation and biotic feedback may be the underlying mechanisms that regulate water cycle. This work highlights the importance of plant mixtures in facilitating positive water cycles and provide insights into the establishment of sustainable artificial ecosystems.

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Huaqing Liu, Xiaodong Gao, Changjian Li, Yaohui Cai, Xiaolin Song, and Xining Zhao

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-719', Ning Chen, 17 Jul 2023
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-719', Yakun Tang, 22 Jul 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-719', Anonymous Referee #2, 22 Sep 2023

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-719', Ning Chen, 17 Jul 2023
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-719', Yakun Tang, 22 Jul 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-719', Anonymous Referee #2, 22 Sep 2023
Huaqing Liu, Xiaodong Gao, Changjian Li, Yaohui Cai, Xiaolin Song, and Xining Zhao
Huaqing Liu, Xiaodong Gao, Changjian Li, Yaohui Cai, Xiaolin Song, and Xining Zhao

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Short summary
We conducted a systematic and quantitative study of the effects of plant mixtures on the water cycle. Our results confirmed that plant mixtures help facilitate a positive water cycle through mitigating inefficient water consumption. The positive conclusions we reached, as well as the analyses of the influencing factors, mechanisms, and limitations, are helpful for promoting further in-depth research and encouraging the establishment of more plant mixture systems.