Effect of durative waterlogging for control of Spartina alterniflora on saltmarsh soils

To study the effects of continuous waterlogging on salt marsh soils, the changes in organic matter contents, chloride ion, bicarbonate ion, calcium ion, magnesium ion, sulfate ion and pH value of the saltmarsh soils at a demonstration site in the Chongming Dongtan Nature Reserve was investigated. In this study, the results showed that continuous waterlogging could reduce the content of organic matter in the saltmarsh soils, while increasing the pH, the content of chloride ion, bicarbonate ion, calcium ion, magnesium ion and sulfate ion of the saltmarsh soils. All the chemical parameters except chloride and bicarbonate ion, showed little difference between the 0~15 cm and 15~30 cm soil layers and showed the same trends over time. Continuous waterlogging would have some negative effects on saltmarsh soils due to the anaerobic conditions, and these impacts were enhanced with increasing duration of waterlogging. Therefore, to apply the technique of continuous waterlogging for controlling Spartina alterniflora, it is necessary to determine the duration of waterlogging that can facilitate the restoration of damaged wetlands after effectively controlling Spartina alterniflora.