Arid Zone Research ›› 2025, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (2): 289-298.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2025.02.09

• Plant Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Biomass allocation in Salix psammophila and the response to different site conditions in the Mu Us Sandy Land

WANG Yue1,2,3(), LIU Zhonghua4, YU Minghan4, HE Yu5, HAO Lei2,3, LIU Xueyao2,3, AN Xiao4   

  1. 1. Anhui Tongyuan Environment Energy Saving Co., Ltd., Hefei 230000, Anhui, China
    2. School of Resources and Environmental Economics, Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics, Hohhot 010070, Inner Mongolia, China
    3. Resource Utilization and Environmental Protection Coordinated Development Academician Expert Workstation in the North of China, Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics, Hohhot 010070, Inner Mongolia, China
    4. Key Laboratory of State Forestry Administration on Soil and Water Conservation, School of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
    5. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Water Conservancy Development Center, Hohhot 010020, Inner Mongolia, China
  • Received:2024-06-23 Revised:2024-12-10 Online:2025-02-15 Published:2025-02-21

Abstract:

This study aimed to clarify the adaptability strategies of Salix psammophila to different environments from the perspective of resource allocation for the stable construction and sustainable management of S. psammophila plantations. S. psammophila plantations in four types of sites (windward slope, leeward slope, interdune land, and flat sand land) were surveyed in the Mu Us Sandy Land in Ningxia. The characteristics of the S. psammophila population, including morphological parameters like basal diameter, branch length, and stem and leaf biomass, were recorded. The effects of topography on the biomass accumulation and distribution between the S. psammophila organs were studied based on the allometric growth model. (1) With growth, S. psammophila tends to reduce the proportion of leaf resources and increase the proportion of stem resources. (2) The site factors significantly impact biomass and its distribution between the S. psammophila organs. The average biomass of branches in the dune (windward and leeward slopes) is significantly higher than that in the interdune land (P<0.05), and the allometric growth index of leaf-stem biomass is significantly higher in the dune than in the interdune and flat sand lands (P<0.05). (3) The main soil factor that affects biomass and its distribution between the S. psammophila organs is soil moisture. Soil moisture of the whole section (0-100 cm) determines the biomass, and soil moisture of the deep layer moisture content (60-100 cm) affects the biomass distribution trade-off between the stem and leaf. The biomass accumulation and allocation of S. psammophila displayed significant differences among different site types, and the effect of deep soil moisture on biomass allocation was more significant than that of full-profile soil moisture. In the future, artificial intervention can be adopted to satisfy the water requirement for S. psammophila growth and realize the stable development of the S. psammophila plantation population.

Key words: Mu Us Sandy Land, Salix psammophila, biomass allocation, site type, allometric growth