Abstract
The authors studied the effects using three different levels of irrigation on the growth and biomass allocation in H. ammodendron and T. ramosissima seedlings in the shelterbelt along the Tarim Desert Highway. The three irrigation amounts were 35 (CK), 24.5 (treatment 1), and 14 (treatment 2) kg·ind. plant−1·once−1, respectively. The results show that (1) the vertical depth of the two seedlings’ root increased with lower levels of irrigation showing that the two species adapted to decreased irrigation by root elongation in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert, and the vertical root depth of H. ammodendron under treatment 2 was notably higher than CK. (2) Compared with CK, the belowground biomass of treatment 1 and 2 both showed a significant increase as follows: H. ammodendron seedlings increased by 14.51% and 37.03% under treatment 1 and 2, respectively, while T. ramosissima seedlings increased by 68.19% and 25.78% under treatment 1 and 2, respectively. This means that H. ammodendron seedlings were more adapted to the conditions in treatment 2 while T. ramosissima seedlings were better adapted to treatment 1 conditions. (3) When compared with CK, the fine root bomass of these two species all exhibited some increase under both treatments, and ANOVA analysis showed that the biomass of deep layer root of the two species under treatment 2 was notably higher than CK and treatment 1. This should help seedlings to more effectively absorb soil water from deep layers during dry conditions. (4) The root-shoot ratio was different for these two species. For H. ammodendron seedlings, the root-shoot ratio was less than 1, while for T. ramosissim seedlings it was larger than 1. The root-shoot ratio of H. ammodendron seedlings increased with decreasing levels of irrigation, and that of T. ramosissim seedlings also increased under treatment 2. (5) With decreasing levels of irrigation, due to the difference of species, the growth variation of aboveground indexes was also different, while compared with CK, it was not significant.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Liu S G, Piao S J, An M Z, et al. Distribution dynamics of Artemisla Halodendron absorbent roots in different kinds of sandy land (in Chinese). Acta Phytoecol Sin, 2003, 5: 684–689
Zheng D, Rademacher J, Chen J, et al. Estimating aboveground biomass using Landsat 7 ETM+ data across a managed landscape in northern Wisconsin, USA. Remote Sens Environ, 2004, 93: 402–411
Brown S L, Schroeder P, Kern J S. Spatial distribution of biomass in forests of eastern USA. Forest Ecol Manage, 1999, 123: 81–90
Xiao D M, Wang M, Ji L Z. Influence of water stress on growth and biomass allocation of dominant tree species in mixed forest of broad leaved and Korean pine at Changbai Mountains (in Chinese). Chin J Ecol, 2004, 23(5): 93–97
Yu Q S, Zhao M, Li C L, et al. Growth and biomass allocation of Chilopsis linearis under different soil water stresses (in Chinese). Chin J Ecol, 2006, 25(l): 7–12
Wei H, Lin K, Li F M, et al. Effects of limited irrigation on the root development of spring wheat in a semiarid region (in Chinese). Acta Phytoecol Sin, 2000, 24(1): 106–110
Zhu W Q, Wu L H, Tao Q N. Advances in the studies on crop root against drought stress (in Chinese). Soil Environ Sci, 2002, 11(4): 430–433
Shan L S, Zhang X M, Wei J, et al. Distribution characteristics of effective roots density of two shrubs in hinterland of Taklimakan Desert (in Chinese). Arid Land Geogr, 2007, 30(3): 400–405
He W M. Distribution characteristics of Sabina vulgaris under different habitats (in Chinese). Sci Silv Sin, 2000, 36(5): 17–21
Wu Y C, Zhou S L, Wang Z L, et al. Residual subsoil nitrogen utilization under water-saving cultivation in winter wheat (in Chinese). Acta Ecol Sin, 2005, 25(8): 1869–1873
Shan L S, Zhang X M, Hua Y H, et al. Response of root distribution of Haloxylon ammodendron seedlings to irrigation amounts in the Taklimakan Desert, China (in Chinese). Acta Phytoecol Sin, 2007, 35(5): 769–776
Zhao A F, Zhao X Y, Chang X L. Research on vegetative root characteristics of dunes in Naiman County (in Chinese). J Desert Res, 1997, 17(Suppl 1): 41–45
Huston M A, Smith T M. Plant succession: Life history and competition. Am Nat, 1987, 130(2): 168–198
Tilman D. Plant Strategies and the Structure and Dynamics of Plant Communities. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1988. 52–97
Wang M, Dai L M, Ji L Z. A preliminary study on ecological response of dominant tree species in Korean pine broadleaf forest at Changbai Mountains to soil water stress and their biomass allocation (in Chinese). Chin J Appl Ecol, 2001, 12(4): 496–500
Yi L P, Ma J, Li Y. Effects of salt stress on root characteristics and activity of Three Dersert Halophytes seedlings (in Chinese). Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci, 2006, 26(SuppII): 86–94
Wilson J B. Shoot competition and root competition. J Appl Ecol, 1988, 25: 279–296
Zhang C Y, Yu F H, Chen Y F, et al. Phenotypic plasticity in response to the heterogeneous water supply in the Rhizomatous Grass Species, Calamagrostis epigejosin the Mu Us Sandy Land of China (in Chinese). Acta Bot Sin, 2003, 45(10): 1210–1217
Liu C L, Wang W Q, Cui J R, et al. Effects of drought stress on photosynthesis characteristics and biomass allocation of Glycyrrhiza uralensis (in Chinese). J Desert Res, 2006, 26(1): 152–145
Li Y, Qi M·Y N S, Zhu Y. Effects of water stress on photosynthetic characteristics and biomass allocation of Elaeagnus angustifolia L(in Chinese). Acta Bot Boreal Occident Sin, 2006, 26(12): 2493–2499
Fitter A H. Functional significance of root morphology and root system architecture. In: Fitter A H, Atkinson D, eds. Ecological Interaction Soil: Plants, Microbes and Animals. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Press, 1985. 87–106
Grime J P, Campbell B D, Mackey J M L, et al. Root plasticity, nitrogen capture and competitive. In: Atkinson A, ed. Plant Root Growth: An Ecological Perspective. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Press, 1991. 381–397
Sun S C, Chen L Z. A preliminary study on the ecological responses of seedlings to drought and simulated defoliation in Quercus liaotungensis (in Chinese). Acta Ecol Sin, 2000, 20(5): 893–897
Gale M R, Grigal D E. Vertical root distribution of northern tree species in relation to success ional status. Can J Forest Res, 1987, 17: 829–834
Jackson R B, Canadell J, Mooney H A. A global analysis of root distribution for terrestrial biomes. Oecologia, 1996, 108: 389–411
Laclau J P, Arnaud M, Bouillet J P, et al. Spatial distribution of Eucalyptus roots in a deep sandy soil in Congo: relationships with the ability of the stand to take up water and nutrients. Tree Physio, 2001, 21: 129–136
Persson H, Fircks Y V, Majdi H, et al. Root distribution in a Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) Stank subjected to drought and ammonium-sulphate application. Plant Soil, 1995, 168/169: 161–165
He X D, Gao Y B, Discussion on ecological role of hydraulic lift in arid region (in Chinese). Acta Ecol Sin, 2003, 23(5): 996–1002
Li Y Z, Wang F X, Liu L F. Use and management of soil water and nitrogen resources. I. Soil water and nitrogen conditions and root development (in Chinese). Plant Nutr Fert Sci, 1999, 5: 206–213
Jing M, Cao F L, Wang G B, et al. The effects of soil water stress on growth and biomass allocation of Ginkgo biloba (in Chinese). J Nanjing Forest Univ, 2005, 29(3): 4–8
Wei L L, Zhang X Q, Hou Z H, et al. Effects of water stress on photosynthesis and carbon allocation in Cunninghamia lanceolata seedlings (in Chinese). Acta Phytoecol Sin, 2005, 29(3): 394–402
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by Major Orientation Foundation of the CAS Innovation Program (Grant No. KZCX3-SW-342), Research Developing Planning Program of National High and New Technology of China (Grant No. 2004BA901A21-1)
About this article
Cite this article
Shan, L., Zhang, X., Wang, Y. et al. Influence of moisture on the growth and biomass allocation in Haloxylon ammodendron and Tamarix ramosissima seedlings in the shelterbelt along the Tarim Desert Highway, Xinjiang, China. Chin. Sci. Bull. 53 (Suppl 2), 93–101 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-6010-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-6010-7