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Climatic controls on sap flow dynamics and used water sources of Salix psammophila in a semi-arid environment in northwest China

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Abstract

Systematic field measurements were conducted to investigate the relationships between the sap flow of Salix bushes (Salix psammophila) and climatic variables and the sources of water use in the semi-arid Hailiutu River catchment in northwest China. The statistical analyses identified the controls of climatic factors on sap flow and the water use strategy of Salix bushes in periods characterized by different wetness conditions. Correlation analyses indicate strong positive correlations between diurnal sap flow, net radiation, air temperature and wind speed but a negative correlation with relative humidity. The peak values of sap flow occured at the same time as the peak values of net radiation but a few hours ahead of the peak values of temperature and the relative humidity minimum. Multiple regression equations between diurnal sap flow and climatic factors (i.e., net radiation, temperature, relative humidity and wind speed) can account for more than 80 % of the variations in sap flow. Correlation and multiple linear regression analyses between sap flow, soil water contents and groundwater level were used to quantify the water sources of S. psammophila. The results indicate that Salix bushes can use both soil water and groundwater for transpiration. In the dry periods, the cumulative transpiration of Salix caused a continuous decline of soil water contents and shallow groundwater levels. During rain events, sap flow was very low, but immediately after the rain, the peak value of sap flow increased significantly due to better soil water availability. The correlation and regression analysis identified a strong relationship between sap flow and groundwater levels that fluctuated at depths of 145.5–180.7 cm. Therefore, Salix bushes can be considered as groundwater-dependent plants in the Hailiutu River catchment.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Dutch government’s Asia Facility for China project “Partnership for research and education in water and ecosystem interactions,” the Honor Power Foundation, the project “Study on the transpiration dynamics of phreatophytic vegetation in response to groundwater fluctuation in the semiarid area (41102160)” by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the project “The construction of a scientific platform for the investigation of the relationship between water and vegetation in the Ordos Basin (201311076)” by the Ministry of Land and Resources of the People’s Republic of China and Shaanxi Science and Technology Research and Development Program (2011KJXX56). We would like to thank the three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments and suggestions that greatly improved the earlier version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Xi’an Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, No. 438, Youyidong Road, Xi’an, 710054, People’s Republic of China

    Jinting Huang, Lihe Yin, Jing Zhang & Guangcai Hou

  2. Department of Water Science and Engineering, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, P.O. Box 3015, 2601 DA, Delft, The Netherlands

    Yangxiao Zhou, J. Wenninger & S. Uhlenbrook

  3. Faculty of Civil Engineering and Applied Geosciences, Water Resources Section, Delft University of Technology, P.O. Box 5048, 2600 GA, Delft, The Netherlands

    J. Wenninger & S. Uhlenbrook

  4. China Geological Survey, No. 45, Fuwai Street, Beijing, 100037, People’s Republic of China

    Eryong Zhang

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  1. Jinting Huang
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Correspondence to Jinting Huang.

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Huang, J., Zhou, Y., Yin, L. et al. Climatic controls on sap flow dynamics and used water sources of Salix psammophila in a semi-arid environment in northwest China. Environ Earth Sci 73, 289–301 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3505-1

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