Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Response of Mongolian pine radial growth to climate in Hulunbuir Sand Land, Inner Mongolia, China

Author(s):

Zhongjie Shi ^{1, 2}, Jixi Gao ³*, Xiaohui Yang ^{1, 2}, Zhiqing Jia ¹, Jianxun Shang ⁴, Chaoyang Feng ⁵, Shihai Lü ⁵

Recieved Date: 2012-02-18, Accepted Date: 2012-04-26

Abstract:

Tree radial growth is sensitive to climate change. A tree-ring width chronology of Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica) in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China, was developed in this paper. There was consistent variance in the ring-width of different samples and they were suitable for studying dendroclimatology. The relationships between ring width and climatic factors were evaluated using correlation and response function analyses. Radial growth of Mongolian pine in sandy lands was negatively related to the average monthly temperature and monthly maximum temperature, with significant negative correlations in April and the growing season (June–September) (p<0.05). Tree-ring width significantly positively correlated with monthly precipitation during May–August, and with the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) from the previous October to the current September, most obviously during May. The response function analysis showed that the chronology was significantly correlated with the average temperature during June–July, the amount of precipitation during May–July and the previous October, and is positively related to the PDSI during May–July. The growth of Mongolian pine in Hulunbuir Sand Land is limited by both temperature and precipitation, but the influence of temperature on tree-ring growth is less than that of precipitation. The relationship between radial growth and climate factors can be described as precipitation sensitive. We also found that a 50% increase in annual precipitation would lead to a 45.9% increase in radial growth, and an increase of 1.0°C in June–July mean temperature would lead to a 13.21% decrease in tree radial growth. 

Keywords:

Hulunbuir, Mongolian pine, tree ring, radial growth, climate change, response, Palmer Drought Severity Index, precipitation, temperature

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2012
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
Category: Environment
Pages: 884-890

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