The adhesion strength was studied for water-based nano-varnishes applied to densified and thermally post-treated beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) woods. Specimens were thermo-mechanically densified at different compression ratios (20% and 40%) and temperatures (110 °C and 150 °C), and subsequently thermally treated at 190, 200, and 210 °C. One-component (OWB) and two-component (TWB) nano-varnishes were applied, and adhesion strength was evaluated using the pull-off test. Results revealed that the modification processes greatly influenced adhesion, with distinct effects depending on wood species. For untreated beech, densification improved adhesion strength, whereas for pine, it either reduced or did not cause a pronounced change. A primary finding was that thermal treatment decreased adhesion strength for all specimens in a temperature-dependent manner; higher temperatures led to progressively lower adhesion. This decline was more pronounced in densified specimens (especially beech wood). The reason was attributed to the cohesive failure within the weakened wood substrate rather than adhesive failure at the varnish-wood interface. Across all treatment conditions, TWB varnish exhibited superior adhesion compared to OWB. The study concluded that densification may have a species-specific effect, while thermal treatment fundamentally reduces wood surface strength and, consequently, varnish adhesion.

Pinus sylvestris provenance climate differentiates roots, bacterial communities, and their relationships - Evidence from a common garden experiment.

Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi, as major carbon (C) sinks, are critical to plant-soil C cycling. Although C allocation between plants and ECM fungi has been studied extensively, C transport time, the key component of C cycling, remains limited understanding. To address this, we collected new needles (weekly), roots (monthly) and ECM fungi (sporocarps and hyphae) of three genera (Cortinarius, Lactarius, and Russula) in a boreal Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest in Finland. We analyzed the natural abundance C isotope composition (δ13C) of sugars or organic matter and observed a strong vapor pressure deficit (VPD) signal in needle sucrose δ13C. We coupled VPD with the δ13C of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC, δ13CWSC) in sporocarps to determine C transport times. We found Lactarius and Russula, with short hydrophilic mycelia that enable efficient solutes uptake, had transport times of 6-13 days, peaking at 8 days. In contrast, Cortinarius, with extensive hydrophobic mycelia that limit water and solute movement, showed slower transport times of around 18 days. The different transport time is likely attributable to a more extensive mycelial network and potentially higher C demand in Cortinarius compared to Lactarius and Russula. The three genera also showed a marginally significant effect on δ13CWSC in sporocarps (P = 0.06, ANCOVA). This study highlights that natural abundance δ13C analysis offers a practical alternative to pulse-labeling for estimating C transport time in complex plant-fungal interactions where the latter is difficult to implement. The longer transport time of Cortinarius compared to Lactarius and Russula is critical during periods of reduced photosynthesis, when limited C supply makes fast allocation essential for sustaining belowground metabolism. Slower transport may weaken its role and reduce forest productivity in boreal forests with short growing seasons. As global warming favors Cortinarius, its longer C transport time may impede soil C cycling and nutrient turnover.

Abstract Tree planting initiatives in the United Kingdom actively encourage the establishment of native, mixed forests. Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver birch (Betula pendula L.) are important components of the Caledonian pinewoods of Scotland, a focal habitat for native woodland restoration and conservation targets. Mixture proportions is an important variable in forest management as competition between species may impact productivity of either species. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of mixing Scots pine and silver birch on individual species productivity relative to each single-species, using data from a long-term silvicultural experiment in the North York Moors. Our results show how Scots pine continues to exhibit positive mixing effects at the expense of the silver birch component of the mixture. This effect was mostly evident with higher proportions of birch in a 1:1 as opposed to a 3:1 pine to birch ratio. Mean pine tree diameter was higher in mixture than in pure pine treatments, although gross stand basal area was always lower in mixtures. However, basal area of the component species in mixtures tended to be higher than in pure treatments. These findings highlight the importance of investigating the role that species mixture proportions play in individual species growth. Related information can be used to support forest management regimes which encourage the use of multiple species and to develop robust species mixtures. Further research is needed to fully understand the complex relationships and interactions underpinning these results.

Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) are among the most valuable tree species in the Lithuanian forests. Pure stands, which comprise approximately one-quarter of Lithuania’s forest area, provide an important framework for studying tree responses to thinning and susceptibility to species-specific diseases and damage. This study investigated stem health and quality in two experimental Scots pine stands (32 and 39 years old) and four experimental Norway spruce stands (36–43 years old) to assess the influence of the initial stand density and thinning intensity. Each stand consisted of five plots with different initial densities and was subjected to varying thinning regimes from stand establishment. Tree locations were mapped using the pseudolite-based positioning system TerraHärp, and local tree density was calculated. Stem health and damage were assessed using ICP-Forests methodology. Our results showed that across initial densities of 1000–4400 trees ha−1, tree dimensions (diameter and height) were similar, regardless of thinning intensity. The highest levels of stem damage and competition-induced mortality occurred in the densest, unthinned stands, with deer browsing and scraping from fallen trees being the most common damage agents. In contrast, thinned stands exhibited a higher incidence of stem rot (Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref.), particularly for Norway spruce. Finally, stand density alone did not consistently explain the patterns of tree mortality in either the pine or spruce stands. These findings suggest that cultivating Scots pine and Norway spruce at lower initial densities with minimal thinning may reduce the damage and losses caused by fungal infection. Finally, novel techniques, such as the pseudolite-based positioning system for geolocating trees and drone imaging for assessing tree health, have proven valuable in facilitating field surveys.

In this study we focus primarily on transient ecological responses of the treeline ecotone to a break (~1940s-1980s) admidst the general climate warming of the past 100 years. The study concerns the southern Swedish Scandes and draws on rephotography of individual trees and groups of trees, systematically distributed along permanent elevational transects. The present results comprise a period of general climate cooling and geoecological destabilization, reported from different parts of the northern hemisphere. This course of change culminated during the 1980s, when winter temperatures in northern Sweden were 3-4 °C lower than the mean of the 1930s. For example, permafrost expansion, slow-down of glacier retreat, harvest/reforestation failure and faunal contractions belong to the picture of widespread periglaciation. Characteristic arboreal features in the Scandes and adjacent regions included canopy dieback, defoliation, premature mortality of individual stems, reduced tree regeneration and local minor retreat of the alpine treeline (boreal tree species). These circumstances, following on the relatively warm first decades of the 20th century, sustain the importance of climate forcing for the life and dynamics of the treeline ecotone, which is here proven to respond swiftly (position, structure and species composition) to modest short-term climatic fluctuations. The crucial importance of individual phenotypic flexibility in that respect is clearly manifested by resumed growth of stressed biological systems back to states prevailing prior to and around the onset of the concerned temperature hiatus. Given that current climatic and treeline trends prevail, a major transformation of the subalpine/low alpine landscape may eventually take place, with Pinus sylvestris as the winning part.

ABSTRACT Forest fires have the potential to greatly impact both flora and fauna and are therefore one of the key regulators of ecosystem sustainability. The primary aim of this research was to assess the impact of forest fires on plant nutrients and weight in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forests in the Northeastern Türkiye. Plant samples were collected from designated burned and control plots in the research region in May and August season. The weight of the plants was measured both after drying in an oven and after air-drying. Subsequently, the plant samples were analyzed to determine the levels of Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, K, C, H, N, and S nutrients. The results revealed that the levels of all nutrients were greater in the burned area compared to the control plots. Furthermore, Ca, Fe, Mg, H, and N content exhibited statistically significant disparities when compared to the control plots. The N% content in the burned area during the month of May was 5.57, while in the control plot it was 4.97. This study also demonstrated that prescribed fire may effectively enhance plant nutrients contents and a tool for sustainable use of forest resources.

Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica is a naturally susceptible host for the pine wood nematodes (PWNs, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) and a dominant afforestation tree species in northeastern China. With the continuous northward expansion of PWNs, P. sylvestris var. mongolica may become a critical conduit for their further expansion. To prevent pine wilt disease (PWD) from spreading via P. sylvestris var. mongolica in northeastern China, it is essential to elucidate its defense mechanisms against PWN and enhance its resistance. Transcriptome analysis of P. sylvestris var. mongolica following inoculation with PWNs revealed the involvement of chalcone synthase (chs) genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, indicating their crucial role in the interaction between P. sylvestris var. mongolica and PWN. Treatment with elicitors known to induce chs gene expression-chitosan (CTS), chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), and sodium alginate (NaAlg)-delayed the progression of PWD, with NaAlg exhibiting the strongest protective effect. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) enriched in the pathways related to flavonoid biosynthesis were observed following treatment with 100 mg/L NaAlg, and upregulated expressions of chs genes. This treatment also increased the abundance of key flavonoid pathway metabolites, including phloretin, chrysoeriol, and L-tyrosine. However, inoculation with PWN following 100 mg/L NaAlg treatment downregulated expressions of chs genes and consumed phloretin, chrysoeriol, and L-tyrosine, while promoting the accumulation of p-coumaryl alcohol. The expression of chs genes plays a critical role in the defense of P. sylvestris var. mongolica against PWN infection. Spraying 100 mg/L NaAlg solution before PWN infection activates chs genes in P. sylvestris var. mongolica, regulating the levels of L-tyrosine, phloretin, chrysoeriol, and p-coumaryl alcohol to enhance self-resistance against PWN, thereby delaying the progression of PWD in P. sylvestris var. mongolica. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

Images of oak (Quercus petrea L.), chestnut (Castanea sativa M.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) tree species, which are widely used in Türkiye and around the world, were obtained in this study using mobile devices. The primary objective of this study is to automatically and reliably distinguish these wood species using image processing techniques and statistical classification methods, thereby enabling tree species identification at the genus level. In this context, colour and edge-based features such as HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value), LAB (Lightness, A (green–red), B (blue–yellow)), LBP (Local Binary Pattern) and Sobel (Sobel Edge Detection Operator) were extracted from the images. These features were evaluated using Random Forest, XGBoost, CatBoost, and Extra Trees algorithms to test classification performance. The experimental results show that colour-based features such as HSV and LAB achieved 97.5% accuracy with the Extra trees algorithm, while 100% accuracy was achieved with an optimisation-based bagging ensemble approach using all features together. Achieving such high accuracy on real-world data collected in the field using mobile devices demonstrates that the proposed method can be used as a reliable species identification tool in practical applications.

ABSTRACTHybridization is a widespread evolutionary process and a key source of evolutionary novelty. Despite intensive study, the extent to which hybridization is deterministic and repeatable, particularly in recurrent contact events involving the same species under varying ecological conditions, remains unclear. Here, we investigated three replicated contact zones between Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo) in Central Europe: two occurring in peatland habitats and one in a contrasting sandstone outcrop. Using genome‐wide SNP genotyping of over 1300 individuals, we analysed genomic structure, diversity, and ancestry patterns across these zones. All sites revealed pervasive hybridization, dominated by later‐generation hybrids and a notable scarcity of pure P. mugo. Across environments, hybrid populations exhibited strikingly consistent genomic compositions, with asymmetric introgression strongly biased toward P. mugo ancestry, suggesting that hybrid genome structure may follow predictable patterns under similar ecological conditions and could be shaped by cytonuclear incompatibilities. Nonetheless, we also detected site‐specific differences in hybrid diversity and phenotype, highlighting the influence of local environmental selection on shared hybrid genomic backgrounds. We provide genomic evidence that Pinus uliginosa, a morphologically distinct peat bog pine traditionally regarded as a relict and endangered species is instead a partially stabilised hybrid lineage. Its genome reflects incomplete hybridization and ecological filtering, yet it lacks sufficient genetic divergence to be recognised as a distinct species. Together, these results provide evidence for the repeatability of hybridization processes, which result in the formation of phenotypes reflecting a species continuum subjected to strong environmental pressures. The findings support the simplification of taxonomic nomenclature within the Pinus mugo complex, informing adaptive conservation strategies and the genetic management of hybrid lineages.

Aim of the study: To determine if the decline of a Pinus sylvestris L. stand is due to pine wilt disease. Area of study: This research was conducted in the Agricultural and Phytopathological Laboratory of Galicia, LAFIGA (AGACAL, Xunta de Galicia). Material and methods: Six decaying P. sylvestris trees were sampled for Bursaphelenchus xylophilus detection. Morphological and molecular tools were applied for nematode identification according to the EPPO protocols. Main results: The nematode B. xylophilus was detected for the first time in P. sylvestris trees under natural conditions in Spain. Research highlights: It is confirmed the serious threat posed by pine wilt disease to P. sylvestris stands.

This study evaluated the temporal variation and inter-population differences in needle moisture content of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings grown from five natural populations representing different altitudinal zones. The populations ranged from sea level to 2250 meters in elevation, and the seedlings were cultivated under uniform nursery conditions at the Faculty of Forestry, Karadeniz Technical University, for four years. Needle samples were collected monthly over a 23-month period from a total of 750 seedlings, and fresh and dry weights were recorded to calculate needle moisture content. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that both population and sampling time had statistically significant effects (p < 0.05), whereas their interaction was not significant. The lowest mean needle moisture content was observed in the Çamburnu population (0–450 m), while the highest was recorded in Zigana-3 (1800–2250 m), suggesting that high-elevation populations may have developed more effective water retention strategies. Seasonally, higher moisture levels were recorded in winter and early spring, while a decline was observed during summer months due to increased temperatures. The relationship between needle moisture and weight parameters varied among populations. These findings indicate that needle moisture content is a physiologically sensitive parameter influenced by both environmental conditions and elevation-driven genetic variation. The results highlight the importance of prioritizing high-elevation populations in future afforestation efforts aimed at enhancing drought tolerance and climate change adaptation.

The order Ophiostomatales includes many species important for forestry, causing plant diseases. They are common associates of bark- and wood-dwelling beetles. Two new ophiostomatalean fungi viz. Ophiostoma babimostense sp. nov. and Sporothrix europaea sp. nov. are proposed, based on morphological characters and multigene phylogenies. Ophiostoma babimostense belongs to the Ophiostoma ulmi species complex and was isolated from fallen shoots of Scots pine pruned by Tomicus species in Poland. The fungus is characterised by the production of a typical pesotum-like and sporothrix-like asexual morphs. Sporothrix europaea belongs to the Sporothrix gossypina complex and was isolated from hardwood-infested by ambrosia and bark beetles in Poland and Norway. It is characterised by the occurrence of both a sexual and asexual morphs, with long necked ascomata bearing ostiolar hyphae and a sporothrix-like asexual morph.

Abstract. Nutrient availability affects microbial respiration kinetics; their sensitivities to environmental conditions; and, thus, the soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. We examined long-term nitrogen (N) addition effects on soil heterotrophic respiration (Rh), methane (CH4) oxidation, and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in an N-limited boreal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forest in central Finland. Measurements included the following (in both control and N-fertilized plots): long-term tree biomass monitoring (1960–2020); soil organic carbon (SOC) monitoring in 2023; monthly aboveground litterfall monitoring (2021–2023); biweekly CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes during the 2021–2023 growing seasons; and quarter-hourly recordings of soil temperature (T) and soil water content (SWC). We assessed mean greenhouse gas (GHG) flux differences and Rh dependence on T and SWC using polynomial and nonlinear regression models. Tree biomass, litterfall, and SOC increased with long-term N fertilization. However, N fertilization also significantly increased mean Rh, reduced CH4 oxidation slightly, and modestly raised N2O emissions. SOC-normalized Rh (Rh/SOC) did not significantly differ between treatments, yet relationships between Rh/SOC and T and SWC diverged with fertilization. In control plots, Rh/SOC peaked at 15.8 °C, whereas it peaked at 16.8 °C in N-fertilized plots. Under N fertilization conditions, Rh/SOC was weakly SWC-dependent, contrasting with a distinct humped SWC response enhancing annual Rh/SOC in control plots. Annually, N-fertilized plots respired 10.3 % of SOC (±0.3 SE, standard error), compared to 12.2 % (±0.5 SE) in control plots, suggesting that N fertilization promoted SOC retention. Consequently, N fertilization reduced average annual net CO2 emissions by 345.4 (±73.6 SE) gCO2m-2yr-1, while the combined effects on CH4 and N2O fluxes and the production energy of N fertilizer contributed a minor CO2-equivalent increase of 17.7 (±0.5 SE) gCO2eq.m-2yr-1. In conclusion, long-term N fertilization in boreal forests could reduce the global warming potential of soil GHG emissions, mainly by slowing Rh/SOC and altering its responses to T and SWC, thereby enhancing SOC sequestration in addition to the increased tree biomass carbon sink.

Acoustic non-destructive testing has become widely used in assessing the technical quality and internal condition of wood in wooden structures and growing trees. Meanwhile, the type of wood, its moisture content and grain direction, the presence of defects, as well as the frequency of ultrasonic transducers can have a significant impact on measuring the ultrasonic velocity in wood. The development of the instrumentation base, as well as the inconsistency of the results of previous studies, have served as the basis for conducting a separate series of experiments to study the effect of the frequency of ultrasonic transducers on the accuracy of indirect determination of the density, deformability and strength of wood under static bending. The research has been carried out on 176 samples of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) wood using ultrasonic devices Pulsar 2.2 (LLC SPE “Interpribor”, Chelyabinsk, Russia) and Pundit PL-200 (Proceq SA, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland) using ultrasonic transducers with nominal frequencies of 24, 54, 60 and 150 kHz. It has been confirmed that the frequency of ultrasonic transducers significantly affects the signal velocity and the dynamic modulus of elasticity, and that the density of wood is not related to the ultrasonic signal velocity. It has been established that the accuracy of predicting the modulus of elasticity and the ultimate strength of wood under static bending, estimated by the coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.88–0.91) of linear models of the relationship between these parameters and the dynamic modulus of elasticity, does not depend on the frequency of the ultrasonic transducer. At the same time, the quality of models for predicting the physico-chemical properties of wood by the ultrasound velocity is significantly lower compared to the dynamic modulus of elasticity parameter. The obtained regression models can be used for non-destructive evaluation of the mechanical properties of wood in growing pine trees and in the elements of wooden structures by the acoustic transmission method, and further research will be aimed at studying the variability of acoustic parameters of pine wood in growing trees.

IntroductionParticulate matter (PM) is a significant air pollutant associated with severe health and environmental issues. Although urban trees help filter PM through their leaves and surfaces, PM pollution disrupts their structure and function at various levels, affecting photosynthesis, blocking stomata, and inducing oxidative damage.MethodsThis study evaluated the growth, biomass, and physiological responses of five tree species - silver birch (Betula pendula), small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata), Norway maple (Acer platanoides), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), and Norway spruce (Picea abies) - to artificial PM exposure. One- to two-year-old seedlings were divided into control and PM-treated groups.Results and DiscussionNorway maple and small-leaved lime were the most resilient, maintaining growth and activating stress defences. Silver birch showed moderate tolerance, with biochemical compensation despite growth suppression. Norway spruce experienced a moderate decline in physiological balance and growth. Scots pine was the most sensitive, displaying reduced growth and heightened oxidative stress. The study highlighted the importance of species selection for urban planting. Due to their PM tolerance, Norway maple and small-leaved lime appear to be best suited for polluted environments. Silver birch and Norway spruce may be suitable for moderately polluted areas, while Scots pine is less ideal for high-pollution urban settings. These findings support the concept of environmental hormesis, where low-dose stressors elicit adaptive responses in tolerant species. However, the observed species-specific responses and the broader applicability of the results may be constrained by several factors, including the use of relatively young seedlings, the limited duration of exposure, and the specific method of simulating PM pollution.

Forests play a crucial role in climate regulation through atmospheric CO2 sequestration. However, disturbances like wildfires can severely compromise this function. This study assesses the ecological and economic consequences of a 2018 wildfire in The Roaches Nature Reserve, UK, focusing on post-fire carbon dynamics. A mixed woodland dominated by Pinus sylvestris L. and Larix decidua Mill. was evaluated via satellite imagery (remote sensing indices), dendrochronological analysis (wood cores sampling), and soil properties analyses. Remote sensing revealed areas of high fire severity and progressive vegetation decline. Tree-ring data indicated near-total mortality of L. decidua, while P. sylvestris showed greater post-fire resilience. Soil properties (e.g., soil organic carbon, biomass and microbial indices, etc.) assessed at a depth of 0–5 cm showed no significant changes. The analysis of CO2 sequestration trends revealed a marked decline in burned areas, with post-fire sequestration reduced by approximately 70% in P. sylvestris and nearly 100% in L. decidua, in contrast to the stable patterns observed in the control stands during the same period. To estimate this important ecosystem service, we developed a novel CO2 Sequestration Loss (CSL) index, which quantified the reduction in forest carbon uptake and underscored the impaired sequestration capacity of burned area. The decrease in CO2 sequestration also resulted in a loss of regulating ecosystem service value, with burned areas showing a marked reduction compared to pre-fire conditions. Finally, a carbon loss of ~208 Mg ha−1 was estimated in the burnt area compared to the control, mainly due to tree mortality rather than shallow soil carbon stock. Overall, our findings demonstrate that wildfire can substantially compromise the climate mitigation potential of temperate forests, highlighting the urgency of proactive management and restoration strategies.

To increase and optimize the use of wood in structural elements, a deep understanding of its mechanical behavior is necessary. The transverse material properties of wood are particularly important for mass timber construction and for utilizing wood as a strengthening material in timber connections. This study experimentally determined the stiffness and strength of Scots pine wood under compression perpendicular to the grain and rolling shear loading, as well as their dependence on the annual ring structure. A previously established biaxial test configuration was employed for this purpose. The modulus of elasticity in the radial direction was found to be about twice that in the tangential direction (687 vs. 372 N/mm2), although the strength in the tangential direction (5.19 N/mm2) was comparatively higher than that in the radial direction (4.70 N/mm2). For rolling shear, especially for the rolling shear modulus, a large variation was found, and its relationship with annual ring structure was assessed. The obtained RS modulus ranged from 50 to 254 N/mm2, while RS strength was found to be between 2.14 and 4.61 N/mm2. The results aligned well with previous findings.

Abies plants within the Pinaceae family represent foundational species of coniferous forests in the Northern Hemisphere. To investigate the ecological adaptability and limitations of plantation forests in urban settings, this study conducted a comparative analysis of species composition and population characteristics between Abies holophylla and Abies nephrolepis in Changchun City, employing TWINSPAN classification, dynamic population indices, static life tables, time-series models, and survival functions. Key findings include: (1) A. holophylla and A. nephrolepis communities were dominated by Pinus sylvestris and Betula platyphylla, respectively; (2) A. holophylla exhibited a fusiform age structure dominated by mature individuals, while A. nephrolepis displayed an inverse-J-shaped structure with predominantly juvenile individuals; (3) Both populations showed positive values for the intrinsic dynamic index (Vpi) and disturbance-mediated dynamic index (V’pi), indicating current growth trends; (4) Survival curves aligned with the Deevey-II, with mortality primarily driven by stochastic external disturbances. The convergence of Pmax toward zero revealed low resilience to environmental perturbations. This study reveals functional degradation in urban plantation ecosystems, demonstrating that both Abies populations face recruitment failure risks and exhibit weakened resilience to environmental disturbances. To address these challenges, targeted interventions-including artificial replanting, microhabitat reconstruction, and thinning of competing tree species to promote regeneration-are critically required. These findings offer theoretical underpinnings for adaptive management strategies in urban forest conservation.

The water consumption processes of vegetation play an important role in water resource management in semiarid regions, while the difference in water consumption between native and exotic species is unclear. In this study, the exotic Pinus sylvestris L. var. mongholica Litv. (Pinus) and the native Salix psammophila (Salix) in Mu Us Sandy Land were selected as the research objects, and their water consumption characteristics were studied via in situ experiment and stable isotopes (δ2H and δ18O). Results revealed that vegetation water consumption caused spatial variation in soil moisture, allowing the soil profile to be divided into active, stable, capillary support and saturated zones. Pinus primarily used water from the active and stable zones, whereas Salix relied more on the capillary support and saturated zones. Water consumption patterns also varied seasonally, for example, at the beginning of growth (May–June), Salix and Pinus mainly use shallow soil water and begin to use deep soil water and groundwater with growth. During July–September, they absorb soil water mainly in the active zone and stable zone. Both Salix and Pinus can freely switch water sources between deep and shallow layers according to water demand. The seasonal fluctuations in precipitation and groundwater level were the main factors driving the seasonal changes in the water consumption of the two vegetation types. Pinus has better strategies to adapt to droughts than Salix, but its water consumption is higher than that of Salix. Therefore, proper management is needed to control the reasonable density of Pinus plantation to balance the water consumption of vegetation and groundwater recharge. The results can provide a scientific basis for the reasonable vegetation reconstruction in the Mu Us Sandy Land.