Water Source of Six Woody Plants in Different Habitats on Desertified Land of Ordos Plateau, Semi-Arid China

Yajuan Zhu

doi:10.5772/intechopen.99658

Abstract

Water and soil erosion and sandy desertification are two mainly land desertification types on eastern and southern Ordos Plateau, north China. Hippophae rhamnoides, Armeniaca sibirica and Pinus tabuliformis are three woody plants for soil and water conservation on loess slope. Sabina vulgaris, Artemisia ordosica and Salix psammophila are three shrubs for sand control on sand dune. Water source of six woody plants were investigated by stable isotope technology. The results showed that the δ18O of shallow soil water was similar to that of rainwater in July and September in two habitats. Both of six woody plants in two habitats mainly used shallow soil water in May. However, three shrubs on sand dune mainly used both of shallow and deep soil water in July and September. Three woody plants on loess slope mainly used rainwater or deep soil water in July and September. Therefore, six woody plants utilized different depths of soil water or rain water based on their availability in different seasons, which is an adaptive strategy to the semiarid climate on Ordos Plateau.

Highlights

The potential water sources for plant species are shallow soil water recharged by rainwater, deep soil water recharged by rainwater, snow water or groundwater in semiarid region [3–10]
On May 13, stable oxygen isotope ratio of S. vulgaris xylem water were closer to soil water in 10–25 cm, stable oxygen isotope ratio of A. ordosica and H. fruticosum var. laeve xylem water were closer to soil water in 10–150 cm, whereas stable oxygen isotope ratio of S. psammophila and H. fruticosum var. laeve xylem water was closer to soil water in 10 cm and 50–200 cm
Stable oxygen isotope ratio of S. vulgaris xylem water was closer to soil water in 25–200 cm, stable oxygen isotope ratio of A. ordosica and H. fruticosum var. laeve xylem water were closer to soil water in 10–150 cm, whereas stable oxygen isotope ratio of S. psammophila and H. fruticosum var. laeve xylem water were closer to soil water in 25–200 cm (Figure 4)

Summary

Introduction

In semi-arid region, water is the key factor for the survival and succession of plant community [1]. In eastern Ordos Plateau, the hilly gully area is one of the most severely soil and water erosion region in the middle reaches of Yellow River, which is sand stone covered by loess and contributed up to 25% of the total course sediment for the lower reaches [16]. Both of engineering measure and vegetation restoration was carried out to control soil and water erosion, such as plant trees and shrubs, including Hippophae rhamnoides, Pinus tabuliformis and Armeniaca sibirica. The results would give theoretical supports for ecological forestry engineering, including Natural Forest Protection, Grain for Green and Three Norths Shelterbelt Program

Three soil and water conservation woody species on loess slope

Precipitation of study site in the growing season of 2018

Stable oxygen isotope of xylem water of three woody species, soil water and rainwater on loess slope

Three sand binding shrubs in Mu Us

Precipitation in Ordos Ecological Station in the growing season of 2018

Stable oxygen isotope of xylem water of four shrubs, soil water and rainwater in sandy land

Contribution of different depth of soil water to the water source of four shrubs in sandy land

Findings

Conclusion