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Journal of Desert Research ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (3): 346-356.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00056

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The influence of morphological characteristics of Caragana korshinskii on stemflow production

Weiqi Yao1,2(), Yafeng Zhang1(), Chuan Yuan3, Jingliang Chen1,2, Jianqiang Huo1, Yanxia Pan1, Miaomiao Wang4   

  1. 1.State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands / Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station,Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Lanzhou 730000,China
    2.University of Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100049,China
    3.School of Geographical Sciences / Chongqing Jinfo Moutain Karst Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station,Southwest University,Chongqing 400715,China
    4.State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems / College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology,Lanzhou University,Lanzhou 730020,China
  • Received:2025-04-01 Revised:2025-05-07 Online:2025-05-20 Published:2025-06-30
  • Contact: Yafeng Zhang

Abstract:

Stemflow refers to the portion of precipitation intercepted by plant canopies that flows down along stems and accumulates in root zone soil, serving as an important water and nutrient source for shrubs in arid regions. In this study, we conducted field observations of stemflow for Caragana korshinskii, a dominant sand-fixing shrub of Shapotou area, located at the southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert. We then quantified the effects of shrub morphological metrics on stemflow production. Our results indicated that:(1) stemflow accounted for 3.62% of the gross rainfall; (2) stemflow rate (stemflow volume per unit rainfall, mL·mm-1) had a significant positive correlation (P<0.05) with plant height, basal diameter, number of branches, canopy volume, and canopy projection area, respectively; and (3) Based on entropy weight method analysis, the morphological metrics influencing stemflow yield across shrub branches were prioritized as follows:basal diameter (0.50) > branch inclination angle (0.28) > branch length (0.22). Our study contributes valuable insights into vegetation-soil system water cycle processes in arid regions, providing both data support and methodological references for evaluating the effects of plant morphological parameters on stemflow production.

Key words: stemflow, sand-fixing shrubs, canopy structure, entropy weight method

CLC Number: