GROWTH AND BIOMASS ALLOCATION DYNAMICS OF ARTEMISIA ORDOSICA IN SAND-FIXING VEGETATION OF THE TENGGER DESERT OF CHINA

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2009.06.013

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Resource allocation pattern is an important trait of plant ecological adaptive strategy. The composite sub-shrub Artemisia ordosica is widely distributed in the sandy land of northern China and is an important sand-stabilizing plant. However, its growth dynamics and resource allocation patterns are poorly known. Our objectives were to determine: 1) the growth dynamics of vegetative and reproductive organs and the biomass allocation pattern in different growth periods; 2) the relationship between reproductive and vegetative growth and 3) variations of biomass allocation pattern with age of sand-fixing vegetation.
Methods A field experiment was conducted on re-vegetated areas in Shapotou, located at southeastern fringe of Tengger Desert, from April to November 2007. Twenty-five A. ordosicawere sampled monthly in sand-fixing vegetation planted in 1956, 1964, 1981, 1987 and 1991 to measure the number, size and biomass of vegetative organs and reproductive organs such as leaves, vegetative shoots, flowering shoots, capitula and seeds.
Important findings In different growth periods, there were different growth rates and proportion of photosynthate allocation to organs. So the energy accumulation center and growth center vary with growth period. The vegetative growth, reproductive output and size of panicle in 2007 were significantly greater than those in the year when precipitation was less than half that in 2007, while no significant differences were found in reproductive allocation and size of capitula between these years. The individuals with greater vegetative biomass were also characterized by higher reproductive output, but the vegetative and reproductive growth were unsynchronized with different increment speed, which indicated that there was a trade-off between reproduction and vegetative growth. Annual biomass, reproductive output and reproductive allocation showed a trend of decrease with time extension of the sand-fixing project, but no statistically significant differences of the three indices were found among these five vegetation areas with different ages.

Key words: Tengger Desert, sand-fixing shrub, vegetative growth, reproductive growth, resource allocation pattern, trade-off

FENG Li, ZHANG Jing-Guang, ZHANG Zhi-Shan, GUO Qun, LI Xin-Rong. GROWTH AND BIOMASS ALLOCATION DYNAMICS OF ARTEMISIA ORDOSICA IN SAND-FIXING VEGETATION OF THE TENGGER DESERT OF CHINA[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2009, 33(6): 1132-1139.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2009.06.013

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2009/V33/I6/1132

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 Precipitation distribution in 2007 and of multi-year mean from 1956 to 2001 (mean±SE)

Fig. 2 Growth dynamics of leaf (A), shoot (B, C and D) and reproductive organs (E, F and G) in 2007 (mean ± SE)

Fig. 3 Dynamics of biomass allocation of Artemisia ordosica in 2007

Table 1 Biomass allocation of Artemisia ordosica at seed maturity in 2007 (mean ± SE)

器官 Organs		数量 Number (ind.)	生物量 Biomass (g)	占当年生物量比例 Proportion in current year biomass (%)
营养器官 Vegetative organs	叶 Leaves	–	10.90±2.31	31.07±1.95	73.16±4.76
营养器官 Vegetative organs	营养枝 Vegetative shoots	52±9	14.78±2.44	42.09±3.73	73.16±4.76
生殖器官 Reproductive organs	圆锥花序轴 Panicle stems	14±3	3.28±0.74	9.34±1.75	26.84±4.76
	种子 Seeds	4 035±1 179	0.77±0.24	2.22±0.45
	其他 Others	–	5.37±1.75	15.27±2.76

Fig. 4 Relationships between reproductive and vegetative growth of Artemisia ordosica in 2007 (mean ± SE)

Fig. 5 Biomass allocations, capitula and seeds size of Artemisia ordosica in sand-fixing vegetations established in different years (mean ± SE) (p>0.05)

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