Stem radial changes of Picea crassifolia in response to environmental factors in the Qilian Mountains

doi:10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00314

Journal of Desert Research ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (1): 140-150.DOI: 10.7522/j.issn.1000-694X.2025.00314

Stem radial changes of Picea crassifolia in response to environmental factors in the Qilian Mountains

Shuxuan Zhao¹^,²(), Quanyan Tian¹, Pengfei Lin¹, Jun Du¹, Longfei Chen¹, Xi Zhu¹, Shengchun Xiao¹, Zhibin He¹()

^1.Gansu Linze National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of Farmland Ecosystem / State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands，Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources，Chinese Academy of Sciences，Lanzhou 730000，China
^2.University of Chinese Academy of Sciences，Beijing 100049，China

Received:2025-11-23 Revised:2025-12-16 Online:2026-01-20 Published:2026-03-09
Contact: Zhibin He

Abstract

Abstract:

Intensifying drought driven by global climate change threatens terrestrial ecosystems， yet the mechanisms underlying the responses of stem radial changes remain poorly understood. In this study， we continuously monitored the radial changes of Picea crassifolia in the Qilian Mountains to investigate their characteristics and driving mechanisms following drought across different altitudes. The results showed that the onset of radial growth at 2 700 m occurred approximately 10 days earlier than at 3 200 m， and the maximum growth rate appeared around the summer solstice. Daily radial fluctuations of Picea crassifolia were clearly divided into three stages： contraction， recovery， and growth. Trees at 3 200 m experienced more frequent recovery phases under drought conditions； however， their recovery rate was lower than that at 2 700 m. Model simulations further revealed that stem radial changes were highly sensitive to precipitation and soil water content during the recovery phase， whereas during the growth phase they were mainly regulated by mean air temperature， demonstrating distinct altitude-dependent environmental responses. Overall， this study enhances our understanding of drought responses in the stem radial changes of Picea crassifolia and provides a theoretical basis for developing climate change adaptation strategies in arid mountain forests.

Key words: Qilian Mountains, Picea crassifolia, stem radial changes, recovery and growth, environmental sensitivity

CLC Number:

Shuxuan Zhao, Quanyan Tian, Pengfei Lin, Jun Du, Longfei Chen, Xi Zhu, Shengchun Xiao, Zhibin He. Stem radial changes of Picea crassifolia in response to environmental factors in the Qilian Mountains[J]. Journal of Desert Research, 2026, 46(1): 140-150.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig.1 Map of the study area

Table 1 Information of sample trees

海拔/m	编号	高度/m	胸径/cm	树龄/a
2 700	1	11.0	18.6	95
	2	13.0	25.0	104
	3	19.0	44.0	133
	4	17.0	33.0	117
3 200	1	18.0	26.1	95
	2	15.0	22.9	86
	3	13.0	22.7	86
	4	15.0	29.0	104

Fig.2 Three stages of stem radial changes of Picea crassifolia

Fig.3 Characteristics of environmental factors in 2 700 m and 3 200 m sample plots

Fig.4 Stem radial changes of Picea crassifolia at 2 700 m and 3 200 m during the growing season from 2014 to 2020

Fig.5 T iming of the onset， cessation， and maximum growth rate of Picea crassifolia at 2 700 m and 3 200 m during the growing seasons from 2014 to 2020

Fig.6 Recovery and growth event characteristics of Picea crassifolia at 2 700 m and 3 200 m

Fig.7 The results of linear mixed-effect model

Fig.8 Sensitivity of radial change slope of 2 700 m and 3 200 m Picea crassifolia to environmental factors

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Stem radial changes of Picea crassifolia in response to environmental factors in the Qilian Mountains

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