Differences and similarities between water sources of Tamarix ramosissima, Nitraria sibirica and Reaumuria soongorica in the southeastern Junggar Basin

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2013.00069

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Water is the most important limiting factor for plant growth in desert ecosystems. Our objective was to investigate the water sources of three co-existing desert plants and illustrate seasonal variation characteristics in southeastern Junggar Desert in China.
Methods We investigated three kinds of desert plants (Tamarix ramosissima, Nitraria sibirica and Reaumuria soongorica) in the same habitat and measured hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope ratio (δD and δ¹⁸O) values of their xylem water and potential water sources (precipitation, soil moisture and ground water). The IsoSource model was then used to calculate probable contributions of potential water sources to total plant water uptake.
Important findings The water sources of the three desert plants had obvious seasonal characteristics. Reaumuria soongorica and N. tangutorum obtained a high proportion of water from shallow soil water (0-100 cm) in spring. However, during the summer and autumn, R. soongorica tended to use deeper soil water, and N. tangutorum tended to use ground water. Tamarix ramosissima obtained 90% of its water from deep soil water and ground water, and there were no seasonal variations. The three kinds of plants had different water sources closely related to their water use strategies. This shows desert shrubs, through self-regulation, could tend to their optimal phenotypes and maximize water uptake.

Key words: desert plant, IsoSource model, stable isotope, water source

ZHOU Hai,ZHENG Xin-Jun,TANG Li-Song,LI Yan. Differences and similarities between water sources of Tamarix ramosissima, Nitraria sibirica and Reaumuria soongorica in the southeastern Junggar Basin[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2013, 37(7): 665-673.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1258.2013.00069

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2013/V37/I7/665

Figures/Tables 5

Table 1 Morphological characteristics of Tamarix ramosissima, Nitraria sibirica and Reaumuria soongorica

	高度 Height (cm)	冠幅 Crown diameter (cm)	根深 Root depth (cm)	总吸收根表面积 Total surface area of absorbing roots (cm²)
多枝柽柳 Tamarix ramosissima	175.0 ± 13.4	155.0 ± 17.2	≥310	30 249.2 ± 34.3
白刺 Nitraria sibirica	78.3 ± 5.8	328.6 ±18.36	≥200	10 622.1 ± 26.4
红砂 Reaumuria soongorica	55.0 ± 8.2	35.0 ± 5.6	80.0 ± 25.7	361.8 ± 19.7

Fig. 1 Local meteoric water line and distribution characteristics of hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope ratio (δD and δ18O) values of stem water, soil water and groundwater (A), and precipitation distribution and the seasonal variations of δ18O value of precipitation (B) in southeast of the Junggar Desert. GMWL, global meteoric water line; LMWL, local meteoric water line.

Fig. 2 Variations of water content (A) and oxygen stable isotope ratio (δ18O) value in soil water (B) with different soil depth in southeast of the Junggar Desert (mean ± SE, n = 4).

Fig. 3 variations of oxygen stable isotope ratio (δ18O) value of stem water of three desert plants (Tamarix ramosissima, Nitraria sibirica, Reaumuria soongorica) (mean ± SE, n = 4).

Fig. 4 Proportion of potential water source for three desert plants (Tamarix ramosissima, Nitraria sibirica and Reaumuria soongorica) (mean ± SE, n = 4).

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