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Journal of Desert Research ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (3): 80-92.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00043

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A review on ecohydrological mechanisms of sand-fixing shrubs survival in the Tengger Desert

Lei Huang1(), Ying Zhao1, Jingliang Chen2, Bo Wang2   

  1. 1.School of Forestry and Grassland,Ningxia University,Yinchuan 750021,China
    2.Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station,Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Lanzhou 730000,China
  • Received:2025-03-24 Revised:2025-04-27 Online:2025-05-20 Published:2025-06-30

Abstract:

Plant water-use strategies and adaptation mechanisms under drought stress have long been central topics in arid zone ecohydrology. As a successful model of sand stabilization in China, the artificial vegetation area in the Tengger Desert demonstrates how sand-fixing shrubs maintain ecosystem stability in extreme arid environments through unique ecohydrological adaptations. This paper synthesizes key water acquisition and utilization processes, including root hydraulic redistribution, stemflow and foliar water uptake. It quantifies the allocation proportions of water balance components in typical sand-fixing species Caragana korshinskii and Artemisiaordosica, revealing the multi-path water-use strategies and stability-maintenance mechanisms of these shrubs. Furthermore, a conceptual model of precipitation thresholds is proposed that foliar water uptake dominates as the primary drought adaptation strategy within 0-1 mm rainfall events. Stemflow plays a major role in water utilization within 1-5 mm rainfall events, root-soil interface hydraulic redistribution becomes the key strategy when the rainfall greater than 5 mm. This study enhances our understanding of water use by different functional species in desert ecosystems and provides a theoretical basis for evaluating vegetation stability and trends in arid sandy regions.

Key words: revegetated desert areas, Caragana korshinskii, Artemisia ordosica, hydraulic redistribution, foliar water uptake

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