›› 2012, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (6): 1046-1053.

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Study on Water Holding Capacity of Litters in Shelterbelt  along the Tarim Desert Highway

ZHANG Dong-dong1, 2, JIN Zheng-zhong1, XU Xin-wen1, LI Sheng-yu1, LEI Jia-qiang1,  WANG Yong-dong 1,WANG Ying-ju 1, 2   

  1. 1. Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China; 2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2011-12-08 Revised:2012-04-25 Online:2012-11-15 Published:2012-11-19

Abstract: In this study, the storage, water holding capacity and water absorption rate of litters in shelterbelts with different ages along the Tarim Desert Highway were studied using the methods of typical sampling and soaking extraction. The results showed that the litter storage in shelterbelts with four different ages was in an order of 13-year-old shelterbelt (42.3 t•hm-2)>6yearold one (39.6 t•hm-2)>10-year-old one (39.1 t•hm-2)>7-year-old one (16.2 t•hm-2).The water holding capacity of the undecomposed litters in shelterbelts along the desert highway was in an order of Haloxylon>Tamarix>Calligonum, and that of the semidecomposed litters was in an order of Tamarix>Haloxylon>Calligonum. The maximum water holding capacity of litters in the semidecomposed layer was higher than that in the undecomposed layer. There was a logarithmic relationship between water holding capacity of litters with different decomposition degrees and watering time, and the optimal fitting relation equation was W=b+a lg t, but a power function relationship between water absorption rate and watering time, and the formula was V=ktn. The water absorption rate was decreased sharply within the first one hour, and reduced stably after 4 hours. Water sorption of litters was decreased gradually.

Key words: desert highway, shelterbelt, litter, water holding capacity, water absorption, Tarim Basin