Abstract
In order to ease soil desiccation and prevent ecological deterioration in the Loess Plateau, where jujube (Zizyphus jujube MIll) is widely cultivated as a drought tolerant plant, four pruning intensities (PI), from PI-1 (light) to PI-4 (heavy) were set up based on total length of secondary branches to study the effects of pruning on transpiration and soil moisture in jujube plantations. Furthermore, growth indexes were regularly monitored to estimate jujubes biomass. Sap flow, meteorological and soil moisture conditions were monitored using thermal dissipation probes (TDP), weather station (RR-9100) and the combination of time domain transmission (TDT) technology and neutron moisture gauges (CNC503B), respectively. The results showed that daily actual transpiration of jujube was positively correlated with leaf biomass. Compared with PI-1, jujube transpiration during growth period under PI-2, PI-3, and PI-4 dropped by 11.1%, 29.2%, and 47.9%, respectively. On the contrary, annual water storage under PI-2, PI-3, and PI-4 increased by 6.29 mm, 25.78 mm and 34.74 mm while water use efficiency increased by 5.1%, 15.7% and 24.2%, respectively. Overall, increase in pruning intensity could significantly reduce water consumption of jujube and improve soil moisture in jujube plantations.
Highlights
Drought and soil erosion are critical limitations for ecological restoration and agricultural development in the Loess Plateau of China [1]
Following different pruning intensity (PI), jujube sap flow was monitored under different meteorological conditions in September 2015 to determine the effect of pruning on sap flow
Sap flow in jujube trees increased in the morning with increasing VT, reached peak amount in the afternoon and dropped before stopping at about 20:00 hours local time
Summary
Drought and soil erosion are critical limitations for ecological restoration and agricultural development in the Loess Plateau of China [1]. Preventing the severe soil desiccation and the deterioration of ecological environment in the semiarid hilly region is a major ecological issue in the study area. As water consumption by jujube plant increases with increasing plant age [10], soil desiccation has worsened [4] and traditional water-saving technologies in the region have become ineffective. The study further noted that pruning maintains target yield of plantations under natural rainfall and soil moisture conditions, prevents soil desiccation and ecological degradation [16]. Jujube plantations in semiarid hilly region of the Loess Plateau were investigated as total length of secondary branches was used to establish pruning index. The study would provide a theoretical basis for soil desiccation prevention and cure, water-saving agriculture and perfect water-saving pruning method for jujube plantations in semiarid hilly regions
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