Analysis of water sources of plants in artificial sand-fixation vegetation area based on large rainfall events.

Abstract

Water is a major limiting factor for plant growth in arid and semi-arid regions. To find out the main sources of water for two artificial sand-fixation plants (Caragana korshinskii and Artemisia ordosica), we analyzed the characteristics of hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes in water molecules of rainfall, soil water and xylem water. To analyze water sources of these two plants, we used a direct comparison method and a multi-variate mixed linear model. The results showed that an equation of local meteoric water line in Shapotou was δD=7.83δ18O+5.64 (R2=0.91). The value for rainfall δ18O varied during plant-growing season, which was higher in the beginning and end of growing season, and lower in the peak of growing season. The value for soil water δ18O in the upper layers changed dramatically. The change range became smaller in the deeper soil layer. C. korshinskii had a greater efficiency (56.1%) in utilizing soil water in 40-80 cm soil layer. A. ordosica had a utilizing efficiency of 56.4% in 20-60 cm soil layer. A week after rain event, C. korshinskii and A. ordosica showed a higher efficiency in upper soil water. C. korshinskii showed an increase of 12.5% in utilizing soil water in 0-40 cm soil layer and A. ordosicas showed an increase of 10% in utilizing soil water in 0-20 cm layer. These results suggested that C. korshinskii and A. ordosica changed their water use strategy after large rainfall events, which might enable them to more easily adapt to arid environment.