Abstract
We discuss a simplifed, conceptual model for the dynamics of the
soil-vegetation system in drylands. The model considers the different
dynamical processes taking place in vegetated and non-vegetated soil and
it distinguishes between the upper soil layer, where rapid evaporation
dominates, and the deeper root layer where only plant transpiration
takes place. We explore the role of rainfall intermittency and of
different plant colonization strategies, and discuss in detail the
effect of two different vegetation feedbacks: reduced evaporation due to
plant shading and increased infiltration in vegetated areas. The results
of the analysis indicate that both temporal rainfall intermittency and
the shading/infiltration feedbacks have a beneficial effect on
vegetation. However, it turns out that in this model rainfall
intermittency and vegetation feedbacks have almost a mutually exclusive
role: whenever one of these two components is present, the addition of
the other does not further affect vegetation dynamics in a significant
way.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 679-689 |
| Journal | Hydrology and Earth System Sciences |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Apr 2008 |