Skip to main content

Persistence of four dominant psammophyte species in central Inner Mongolia of China under continual drought

Journal of Arid Land volume 5, pages 331–339 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Clarifying the persistence time of seedlings of dominant species under continual drought will help us understand responses of ecosystems to global climate change and improve revegetation efforts. Drought tolerance of four dominant psammophytic shrub species occurring in different environments was studied in the semi-arid areas of Inner Mongolian grasslands. Seedlings of Hedysarum laeve, Caragana korshinskii, Artemisia sphaerocephala and Artemisia ordosica were grown under four air temperature regimes (night/day: 12.5/22.5°C, 15/25°C, 17.5/27.5°C and 20/30°C) within climate (air temperature and humidity) controlled, naturally lit glasshouses with a night/day relative humidity of 70%/50%. Pots were watered to field capacity for each temperature treatment. Soil water condition was monitored by weighting each pot every day using an electronic balance. Date of seedling death for each treatment was recorded and the dead plants were harvested. Plant dry weights were determined after oven drying at 80°C for 3 days. Two Artemisia species had higher growth rates than H. laeve and C. korshinskii, and the growth of all four species increased with increasing temperatures. The two Artemisia species had the highest leaf biomass increment, followed by C. korshinskii, and then H. laeve. Shoot biomass increment was higher for A. ordosica and C. korshinskii, intermediate for A. sphaerocephala and lowest for H. laeve. C. korshinskii had the highest root biomass increment. The final soil water content at death for all four species varied from 1% to 2%. C. korshinskii, A. sphaerocephala, H. laeve and A. ordosica survived for 25–43, 24–41, 26–41, and 24–37 days without watering, respectively. C. korshinskii, A. sphaerocephala, H. Laeve, and A. ordosica seedlings survived longer at the lowest temperatures (12.5/22.5°C) than at the highest temperatures (20/30°C) by 18, 17, 15 and 13 days, respectively. Increased climatic temperatures induce the death of seedlings in years with long intervals between rainfall events. The adaptation of seedlings to droughts should be emphasized in revegetation efforts in the Ordos Plateau, Inner Mongolia.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Blum A, Ramaiah S, Kanemasu E T, et al. 1990. The physiology of heterosis in sorghum with respect to environmental stress. Annals of Botany, 65: 149–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Callaway R M, Delucia E H, Schlesinger W H. 1994. Biomass allocation of montane and desert ponderosa pine: an analog for response to climate change. Ecology, 75: 1474–1481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carey E V, Callaway R M, DeLucia E H. 1998. Increased photosynthesis offsets cost of allocation to sapwood in an arid environment. Ecology, 79: 2281–2291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapin F S III, Bloom A J, Field C B, et al. 1987. Plant responses to multiple environmental factors. Bioscience, 37: 49–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen H, Maun M A. 1999. Effects of sand burial depth on seed germination and seedling emergence of Cirsium pitcheri. Plant Ecology, 140: 53–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • China National Committee for the Implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. 1992. China National Action Program to Combat Desertification. Beijing: Ministry of Forestry.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clifton-Brown J C, Lewandowski I. 2000. Water use efficiency and biomass portioning of three different Miscanthus genotypes with limited and unlimited water supply. Annals of Botany, 86: 191–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fenner M, Kitajima K. 1999. Seed and seedling ecology. In: Pugnaire F I, Valladares F. Handbook of Functional Pant Ecology. New York: Marcel Dekker Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallardo M, Turner N C, Ludig C. 1994. Water relations, gas exchange and abscisic acid content of Lupinus cosentinii leaves in response to drying different proportions of the root system. Journal of Experimental Botany, 45: 909–918.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geraldine L D, Lisa A D. 1999. Water potential and ionic effects on germination and seedling growth of two cold desert shrubs. American Journal of Botany, 86: 1146–1153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gill J S, Sivasithamparam K, Smettem K R J. 2001. Effect of soil moisture at different temperatures on Rhizoctonia root rot of wheat seedlings. Plant and Soil, 231: 91–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gower S T, Isebrands J G, Sheriff D W. 1995. Carbon allocation and accumulation in conifers. In: Smith W K, Hinckley T M. Resource Physiology of Conifers: Acquisition, Allocation, and Utilization. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heilmeier H, Wartinger A, Erhard M, et al. 2002. Soil drought increases leaf and whole-plant water use of Prunus dulcis grown in the Negev Desert. Oecologia, 130: 329–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hood R C. 2001. The effect of soil temperature and moisture on organic matter decomposition and plant growth. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, 37: 25–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt R. 1990. Basic Growth Analysis. London: Unwin Hyman Limited.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Johnsen Ø, Dæhlen O G, Østreng G, et al. 2005. Daylength and temperature during seed production interactively affect adaptive performance of Picea abies progenies. New Phytologist, 168(3): 589–596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones H G. 1993. Drought tolerance and water-use efficiency. In: Smith J A C, Griffiths J. Water Deficits: Plant Responses from Cell to Community. Oxford: BIOS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirkham M B. 1980. Movement of cadmium and water in split-root wheat plants. Soil Science, 129: 339–344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer P J. 1980. Drought stress and origin adaptation. In: Turner N C, Kramer P J. Adaptation of Plants to Water and High Temperature Stress. New York: John Wiley and Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumer R, Gagri P R, Prihard S S. 1985. Water use by wheat as affected by soil moisture, rooting, canopy and evaporation. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 55: 570–573.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence D M, Slingo J M. 2004. An annual cycle of vegetation in a GCM. Part II: global impacts on climate and hydrology. Climate Dynamics, 22: 107–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lo Gullo M A, Salleo S, Rosso R, et al. 2003. Drought resistance of 2-year-old saplings of Mediterranean forest trees in the field: relations between water relations, hydraulics and productivity. Plant and Soil, 250: 259–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luo G P, Han Q F, Cheng X, et al. 2012. Moderate grazing can promote aboveground primary production of grassland under water stress. Ecological Complexity, 11: 126–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Machado S, Paulsen G M. 2001. Combined effects of drought and high temperature on water relations of wheat and sorghum. Plant and Soil, 233: 179–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manivannan P, Abdul J C, Sankar B, et al. 2007. Growth, biochemical modifications and proline metabolism in Helianthus annuus L. as induced by drought stress. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 59: 141–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maun M A. 1998. Adaptations of plants to burial in coastal sand dunes. Canadian Journal of Botany, 76: 713–738.

    Google Scholar 

  • Middleton N, Thomas D. 1997. World Atlas of Desertification. London: Arnold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell J F B. 1989. The “greenhouse” effect and climate change. Reviews of Geophysics, 27: 115–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moles A T, Westoby M. 2004. What do seedlings die from and what are the implications for evolution of seed size? Oikos, 106: 193–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padilla F M, Pugnaire F I. 2007. Rooting depth and soil moisture control Mediterranean woody seedling survival during drought. Functional Ecology, 21: 489–495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qaderi M M, Kurepin L V, Reid D M. 2006. Growth and physiological responses of canola (Brassica napus) to three components of global climate change: temperature, carbon dioxide and drought. Physiologia Plantarum, 128: 710–721.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qi J. 1998. Aerial Sowing for Sand Control in China. Beijing: Science Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Repellin A, Laffray D, Daniel C, et al. 1997. Water relations and gas exchange in young coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.) as influenced by water deficit. Canadian Journal of Botany, 75: 18–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salleo S, Lo Gullo M A. 1993. Drought resistance strategies and vulnerability to cavitation of some Mediterranean sclerophyllous trees. In: Borghetti M, Grace J, Raschi A. Water Transport in Plants under Climatic Stress. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saralabai V C, Vivekandan M, Sureshbabu R. 1997. Plant responses to high CO2 concentration in the atmosphere. Photosynthetica, 33: 7–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swemmer A M, Knapp A K, Smith M D. 2006. Growth responses of two dominant C4 grass species to altered water availability. International Journal of Plant Sciences, 167: 1001–1010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J C, Shi X, Zhang D Y, et al. 2011. Phenotypic plasticity in response to soil moisture availability in the clonal plant Eremosparton songoricum (Litv.) Vass. Journal of Arid Land, 3(1): 34–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waring R H, Schlesinger W H. 1985. Forest Ecosystems Concepts and Management. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson J B. 1988. A review of evidence on the control of shoot:root ratio in relation to models. Annals of Botany, 61: 433–449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiong F S, Mueller E C, Day T A. 2000. Photosynthetic and respiratory acclimation and growth response of Antarctic vascular plants to contrasting temperature regimes. American Journal of Botany, 87: 700–710.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zha Y, Gao J. 1997. Characteristics of desertification and its rehabilitation in China. Journal of Arid Environments, 37: 419–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Li C F, Chen X, et al. 2013. A spatial-explicit dynamic vegetation model that couples carbon, water, and nitrogen processes for arid and semiarid ecosystems. Journal of Arid Land, 5(1): 102–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zheng Y R, Xie Z X, Gao Y, et al. 2003. Ecological restoration in northern China: germination characteristics of 9 key species in relation to air seeding. Belgian Journal of Botany, 136: 129–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou X B, Zhang Y M, Ji X H, et al. 2011. Combined effects of nitrogen deposition and water stress on growth and physiological responses of two annual desert plants in northwestern China. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 74: 1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ziche D, Overdieck D. 2004. CO2 and temperature effects on growth, biomass production, and stem wood anatomy of juvenile Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality, 78: 120–132.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Resource Plants, Beijing Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China

    YuanRun Zheng

  2. State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China

    LianHe Jiang

  3. Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China

    Yong Gao

  4. Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China

    Xi Chen, GePing Luo & XianWei Feng

  5. Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    YunJiang Yu

  6. Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan

    Ping An

  7. National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan

    Yi Yu & Hideyuki Shimizu

Authors
  1. YuanRun Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. LianHe Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yong Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xi Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. GePing Luo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. XianWei Feng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. YunJiang Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Ping An
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Yi Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Hideyuki Shimizu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to YuanRun Zheng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zheng, Y., Jiang, L., Gao, Y. et al. Persistence of four dominant psammophyte species in central Inner Mongolia of China under continual drought. J. Arid Land 5, 331–339 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-013-0168-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-013-0168-9

Keywords

  • biomass allocation
  • drought
  • temperature
  • persistence time
  • semi-arid area