North Desert Village Experiment - a landscaping experiment in neighborhoods of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area: 2003-2014

The North Desert Village (NDV) landscape experiment at the Arizona State University Polytechnic campus was designed to give a platform for CAP LTER researchers to study human–landscape interactions. Four residential landscape design and water-delivery types established in blocks of six households each (mini-neighborhoods) mirrored the four prevailing residential yardscape types found across the greater Phoenix metropolitan area: (1) Mesic: a mixture of exotic high water-use vegetation and shade trees with turf grass, (2) Oasis: a mixture of drip-watered, high and low water-use plants on granite substrate, and sprinkler-irrigated turf grass, (3) Xeric: individually watered, low water-use exotic and native plants on granite substrate, and (4) Native: native Sonoran desert plants on granite substrate without supplemental water. Six additional households are monitored in a control treatment area that did not receive landscaping treatment or supplemental water. Major research questions include: How do landscape design and irrigation methods affect net primary productivity and under-canopy microclimate, and soil nutrient pools and fluxes. In addition, the mini-neighborhoods at NDV were incorporated into CAP LTER biodiversity monitoring programs, facilitating insights into insect abundance and diversity, and bird activity in these experimental treatment areas.

During summer 2005, the landscape and irrigation systems for each of the treatment areas were completed. During spring 2006, micrometeorological (micromet) stations were installed in the central common area of each treatment area. Data continually monitored included soil temperature, soil heat flux, and volumetric water content of soil at 30-cm depth. Air temperature at 2-m height and soil-surface temperature (recorded by an infrared thermometer at 2-m height) were also monitored regularly. Landscape irrigation water application volumes were recorded approximately monthly, and the electric meters of treatment-area dwellings were monitored for a period. These data allowed scientists working at NDV insight into research questions involving water conservation and urban heating, undercanopy layer microclimates, and water-use efficiency.

亚利桑那州立大学理工校区北沙漠村落（North Desert Village, NDV）景观实验项目，旨在为CAP LTER研究人员提供研究人类与景观相互作用的专业实验平台。该实验设置四类住宅景观设计与供水模式，每类模式由6户家庭组成小型社区（mini-neighborhoods），其设计方案复刻了大凤凰城都会区主流的四类住宅庭院景观类型：(1) 湿润型景观（Mesic）：配置外来高耗水植被、遮荫乔木与草坪草的混合景观；(2) 绿洲型景观（Oasis）：以花岗岩基质为基底，搭配滴灌的高低耗水植物与喷灌草坪草的混合景观；(3) 旱生型景观（Xeric）：以花岗岩基质为基底，采用独立灌溉的低耗水外来与本土植物的景观；(4) 本土型景观（Native）：以花岗岩基质为基底，种植本土索诺兰沙漠植物且无需额外补水的景观。另有6户家庭被纳入对照组监测范围，该区域未实施任何景观改造或额外补水措施。核心研究问题包括：景观设计与灌溉方式如何影响净初级生产力、冠层下方微气候，以及土壤养分库与养分通量？此外，NDV的小型社区被纳入CAP LTER生物多样性监测计划，助力科研人员深入了解各实验处理区域内的昆虫丰度、多样性以及鸟类活动情况。

2005年夏季，各实验处理区域的景观与灌溉系统全部完工。2006年春季，各实验处理区域的中心公共区域均安装了微气象（micrometeorological, 下称micromet）监测站。持续监测的指标包括土壤温度、土壤热通量，以及30cm深度土壤的体积含水量。研究人员还定期监测2米高度的空气温度，以及通过2米高度红外温度计记录的地表温度。景观灌溉用水量约每月记录一次，实验区域住宅的电表也被阶段性监测。上述监测数据可为NDV的科研人员提供研究支撑，助力其开展水资源保护、城市热岛效应、冠层下层微气候以及用水效率等相关课题研究。