Being an important desert riparian forest in the lower reaches of the Heihe River Basin,Populus euphratica Oliv.forest functions as a natural barrier in maintaining and preserving the stability of local oases.Accordingly,accurately estimating the water use of P.euphratica is important for vegetation protection and water resource allocation.To date,little data are available for evaluating the hysteretic effects between sap flow and environmental variables,and for estimating the water use of desert riparian forest.In this study,we measured the sap flow velocity(V_s)of P.euphratica using the heat ratio method during the growing season of 2012.Based on the response of V_s to solar radiation(R_s)and vapor pressure deficit(VPD),we estimated the hourly Vsand daily V_s using the multivariable linear regression and a modified Jarvis-Stewart(JS)model,respectively.Hysteretic response of V_s to environmental variables was then evaluated using a sap flow model.We found the thresholds of V_s responses to R_s and VPD at both hourly and daily scales during the growing season,and successfully estimated the seasonal variations of hourly V_s and daily V_s using the JS model.At an hourly scale,the maximum V_s occurred earlier than the maximum VPD by approximately 0.5 h but later than the maximum R_s by approximate 1.0 h.At a daily scale,the maximum V_s lagged behind the maximum VPD by approximately 2.5 h while occurred earlier than the maximum R_s by approximately 2 h.However,hysteretic response of V_swas weakened when R_s and VPD were measured together using the JS model at both hourly and daily scales.Consequently,short-term and intensive field campaigns,where V_s and environmental variables can be measured,may be used to estimate short-run sap flow and stand transpiration using only two environmental variables.
Evidence exists of nighttime transpiration and its potential impact on plant/water relations for species in a diversity of ecosystems. However, relevant data related to typical desert riparian forest species remains limited Accordingly, we measured sap flow velocity of Populus euphratica using the heat ratio method between 2012 and2014. Nocturnal stem sap flow was separated into nighttime and stem refilling using the ‘‘forecasted refilling''method. Nighttime transpiration was observed for each phenophase. The highest value was during the full foliation period but lowest during leaf expansion and defoliation periods. The contribution of nighttime transpiration to daytime transpiration was an average of 15% but this was comparatively higher during the defoliation period. Relationships between nighttime transpiration, vapor pressure deficits, and air temperatures were more closely associated than with wind speed in all phenophases. Moreover, we found that nighttime transpiration linearly correlated to vapour pressure deficit during the first and the full foliation periods, but nighttime transpiration showed exponential correlations to air temperatures during the same phenophases. Additionally, environmental drivers of transpiration were significantly different between nighttime and daytime(P \ 0.05). Driving forces behind nighttime transpiration were characterized by many factors, and integrated impacts between these multiple environmental factors were complex. Future studies should focus on these integrated impacts on nighttime transpiration, and the physiological mechanisms of nighttime transpiration should be investigated, given that this could also influence its occurrence and magnitude during different phenophases.
Tamarix spp.(Saltcedar)is a facultative phreatophyte that can tolerate drought when groundwater is not accessed.In addition to deep water uptake,hydraulic redistribution(HR)is another factor contributing to the drought tolerance of Tamarix spp.In this study,data on soil volumetric moisture content(θ),lateral root sap flow,and relevant climate variables were used to investigate the patterns,magnitude,and controlling factors of HR of soil water by roots of Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.in an extremely arid land in Northwest China.Results showed evident diurnal fluctuations in θ at the depths of 30 and 50 cm,indicating "hydraulic lift"(HL).θ increased remarkably at 10 and 140 cm but decreased at 30 and 50 cm and slightly changed at 80 cm after rainfall,suggesting a possible "hydraulic descent"(HD).However,no direct evidence was observed in the negative flow of lateral roots,supporting HR(including HL and HD)of T.ramosissima.The HR pathway unlikely occurred via lateral roots;instead,HR possibly occurred through adventitious roots with a diameter of 2-5 mm and a length of 60-100 cm.HR at depths of 20-60 cm ranged from 0.01-1.77 mm/d with an average of 0.43 mm/d,which accounted for an average of 22% of the estimated seasonal total water depletion at 0-160 cm during the growing season.The climate factors,particularly vapor pressure deficit and soil water potential gradient,accounted for at least 33% and 45% of HR variations with depths and years,respectively.In summary,T.ramosissima can be added to the wide list of existing species involved in HR.High levels of HR may represent a considerable fraction of daily soil water depletion and substantially improve plant water status.HR could vary tremendously in terms of years and depths,and this variation could be attributed to climate factors and soil water potential gradient.
Seasonal and microhabitat variations of chemical constituents of foliar organic carbon(C),total nitrogen(N),total phosphorus(P),and total potassium(K),in Populus euphratica growing in desert riparian forests in northwestern China and their correlations were studied.Results show that ranges of C,N,P and K contents in the leaves of P.euphratica were 39.08% 46.16%,0.28% 2.81%,0.05% 0.18% and 0.35% 2.03%,with means of 43.51%,1.49%,0.102% and 1.17%,respectively.The ratio of C/N,C/P and N/P changed from 16.26 to 146.61,from 258.08 to 908.67 and from 2.89 to 26.67;the mean was 37.24,466.27 and 15.14,respectively.The mean N content was significantly lower than of deciduous trees in China,but the mean P content was nearly equivalent.The ratio of C/N was remarkably higher than of global land plants.The ratio of N/P indicated that growth of P.euphratica was jointly limited by N and P nutrient deficiency.During the growth season,total trends of leaf C,N,P and K contents decreased.The maximum appeared in May,and the minimum in September.Among microhabitats,C,N and K contents gradually increased from riparian lowland,flatland,sandpile,Gobi and dune,but C/N ratio was opposite,and P content was not apparent.Foliar C content was extremely,significantly and positively correlated with N and K contents,respectively.The relationships of N-K and P-K were both significantly positive.
