Arid Zone Research ›› 2025, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (8): 1426-1436.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2025.08.07

• Plant Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Transpiration and water consumption characteristics of Tamarix ramosissima in the Ulan Buh Desert and their relationship with environmental factors

YUAN Zixuan1,3(), XIN Zhiming1,2,3, CHENG Yiben1(), YU Tao1, LIU Yuxuan1   

  1. 1. College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
    2. Experimental Center of Desert Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Engineering Technology Research Center of Desertification Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Dengkou 015200, Inner Mongolia, China
    3. Inner Mongolia Dengkou Desert Ecosystem Observation Research Station, Dengkou 015200, Inner Mongolia, China
  • Received:2025-01-17 Revised:2025-06-10 Online:2025-08-15 Published:2025-11-24

Abstract:

To clarify the dynamic characteristics of transpiration and water consumption of Tamarix ramosissima under the condition of limited water resources in the Ulan Buh Desert area and their relationship with environmental factors, this study monitored the sap flow rate of T. ramosissima planted in the Ulan Buh Desert area and simultaneously monitored environmental factors such as meteorological factors and soil moisture. The following results were obtained: (1) During the growing season, the sap flow rate of T. ramosissima first increased and then decreased. The cumulative sap flow rate was 50.96 kg, and the average daily sap flow rate was 380.27 g, with noticeable seasonal variation characteristics. (2) Obvious differences were detected in the diurnal variation of T. ramosissima under different weather conditions. The sap flow rate was higher on sunny days than on cloudy days. On rainy days, the sap flow rate of T. ramosissima decreased significantly during the rainfall period. On consecutive typical sunny days, T. ramosissima exhibited obvious transpiration phenomenon at night, and the liquid flow rate during the day was approximately 8.60 times the liquid flow rate at night. (3) Overall, there is a statistically significant strong positive correlation between the sap flow rate of T. ramosissima and the soil water content at 100 cm depth, vapor pressure deficit, and photosynthetically active radiation; however, the correlation coefficient suggests that the actual association strength may be relatively low. This might be because T. ramosissima has adapted relatively well to the local arid environment and shows strong ecological adaptability. These results can provide data support for the efficient utilization of ecological water resource replenishment in arid sandy areas, the gradient configuration of sand-fixing vegetation and ecological sustainable management.

Key words: Tamarix ramosissima, sap flow, environmental factors, desertification control, Ulan Buh Desert