Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Resource-dependent water use strategy of two desert shrubs on interdune, Northwest China

Author(s):

Yajuan Zhu, Zhiqing Jia ^*, Xiaohui Yang

Recieved Date: 2011-05-30, Accepted Date: 2011-10-02

Abstract:

Nitraria tangutorum and Artemisia arenaria are two dominant C₃ shrub species widely distributed on interdune at Southeast edge of Badain Jaran Desert, Northwest China. Water is prime factor limiting their survival, growth and regeneration. In this study, the main sources at which two shrub species obtain water were tested by comparing hydrogen stable isotope ratio (δD) of their xylem water and potential water source, including different depths of soil water (0-30, 30-60, 60-90 and 90-120 cm), rain water and ground water (replaced by well water on farmland near shrubland), and their long-term water use efficiency was evaluated by leaf carbon stable isotope ratio (δ¹³C). Soil water contents of four depths were examined to indicate soil water availability, and leaf water content was used to evaluate plant water status. The results showed that N. tangutorum and A. arenaria competed for the same water source on interdune: shallower soil water in May (30-90 cm) and July (0-30 cm) which was recharged by small rain in spring and early summer, and deeper soil water (> 120 cm) in September which was recharged by rainstorm in late summer. The water use efficiencies indicated by leaf δ¹³C value of N. tangutorum and A. arenaria were similar and constant during the growing season. Leaf water content of N. tangutorum was not affected by low soil moisture in July. However, leaf water content of A. arenaria was significantly lower in July than that in May. It is suggested N. tangutorum and A. arenaria showed a resource-dependent water use strategy, using different depth of soil water according to their availability in different months of growing season and thus they could coexist on interdune at desert edge for a long time.

Keywords:

δD, δ¹³C, water source, water use efficiency, soil water content

---

Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2011
Volume: 9
Issue: 3&4
Category: Environment
Pages: 832-835

---

Full text for Subscribers

---

Information:

Note to users

The requested document is freely available only to subscribers/registered users with an online subscription to the Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment. If you have set up a personal subscription to this title please enter your user name and password. All abstracts are available for free.

Article purchasing

If you like to purchase this specific document such as article, review or this journal issue, contact us. Specify the title of the article or review, issue, number, volume and date of the publication. Software and compilation, Science & Technology, all rights reserved. Your use of this website details or service is governed by terms of use. Authors are invited to check from time to time news or information.

---

Purchase this Article:   20 Purchase PDF Order Reprints for 15

---

Share this article :