Abstract
We used stable isotope techniques to investigate water utilization of two native trees, Sabina vulgaris Ant. and Artemisia ordosica Krasch., and one introduced tree, Salix matsudana Koidz., in the semiarid Mu-Us desert, Inner Mongolia, China. The study site was in a region where there has been a decline in agricultural productivity, caused by severe desertification over the past several decades. S. matsudana is used extensively for reforestation to protect farms and cultivated lands from shifting sand dunes. We identified water sources for each tree species by comparing the stable isotopes δD and δ18O in water in stems, soil, and groundwater. We also measured δ13C levels in leaves to evaluate the intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE) of each plant. Comparison of isotopes showed that S. vulgaris and S. matsudana consume relatively deep soil water as well as groundwater, whereas A. ordosica uses only shallow soil water. The δ13C measurements indicated that S. vulgaris has exclusively high WUE, whereas that of the other species was typical of temperate-region C3 plants. The water source data plus WUE data suggest that planted S. matsudana uses groundwater freely, whereas native plants conserve water. Thus, reforestation with S. matsudana might cause irreversible groundwater shortages.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 337-351 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Ecological Applications |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2003 |
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Keywords
- δC
- δO
- δD
- Groundwater
- Inner Mongolia (China)
- Intrinsic water-use efficiency
- Natural and planted trees
- Reforestation
- Semiarid desert
- Soil water
- Stable isotopes
- Water source
- Water utilization
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology
Cite this
Water utilization of natural and planted trees in the semiarid desert of Inner Mongolia, China. / Ohte, Nobuhito; Koba, Keisuke; Yoshikawa, Ken; Sugimoto, Atsuko; Matsuo, Naoko; Kabeya, Naoki; Wang, Linhe.
In: Ecological Applications, Vol. 13, No. 2, 04.2003, p. 337-351.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Water utilization of natural and planted trees in the semiarid desert of Inner Mongolia, China
AU - Ohte, Nobuhito
AU - Koba, Keisuke
AU - Yoshikawa, Ken
AU - Sugimoto, Atsuko
AU - Matsuo, Naoko
AU - Kabeya, Naoki
AU - Wang, Linhe
PY - 2003/4
Y1 - 2003/4
N2 - We used stable isotope techniques to investigate water utilization of two native trees, Sabina vulgaris Ant. and Artemisia ordosica Krasch., and one introduced tree, Salix matsudana Koidz., in the semiarid Mu-Us desert, Inner Mongolia, China. The study site was in a region where there has been a decline in agricultural productivity, caused by severe desertification over the past several decades. S. matsudana is used extensively for reforestation to protect farms and cultivated lands from shifting sand dunes. We identified water sources for each tree species by comparing the stable isotopes δD and δ18O in water in stems, soil, and groundwater. We also measured δ13C levels in leaves to evaluate the intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE) of each plant. Comparison of isotopes showed that S. vulgaris and S. matsudana consume relatively deep soil water as well as groundwater, whereas A. ordosica uses only shallow soil water. The δ13C measurements indicated that S. vulgaris has exclusively high WUE, whereas that of the other species was typical of temperate-region C3 plants. The water source data plus WUE data suggest that planted S. matsudana uses groundwater freely, whereas native plants conserve water. Thus, reforestation with S. matsudana might cause irreversible groundwater shortages.
AB - We used stable isotope techniques to investigate water utilization of two native trees, Sabina vulgaris Ant. and Artemisia ordosica Krasch., and one introduced tree, Salix matsudana Koidz., in the semiarid Mu-Us desert, Inner Mongolia, China. The study site was in a region where there has been a decline in agricultural productivity, caused by severe desertification over the past several decades. S. matsudana is used extensively for reforestation to protect farms and cultivated lands from shifting sand dunes. We identified water sources for each tree species by comparing the stable isotopes δD and δ18O in water in stems, soil, and groundwater. We also measured δ13C levels in leaves to evaluate the intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE) of each plant. Comparison of isotopes showed that S. vulgaris and S. matsudana consume relatively deep soil water as well as groundwater, whereas A. ordosica uses only shallow soil water. The δ13C measurements indicated that S. vulgaris has exclusively high WUE, whereas that of the other species was typical of temperate-region C3 plants. The water source data plus WUE data suggest that planted S. matsudana uses groundwater freely, whereas native plants conserve water. Thus, reforestation with S. matsudana might cause irreversible groundwater shortages.
KW - δC
KW - δO
KW - δD
KW - Groundwater
KW - Inner Mongolia (China)
KW - Intrinsic water-use efficiency
KW - Natural and planted trees
KW - Reforestation
KW - Semiarid desert
KW - Soil water
KW - Stable isotopes
KW - Water source
KW - Water utilization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0038377919&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0038377919&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0038377919
VL - 13
SP - 337
EP - 351
JO - Ecological Appplications
JF - Ecological Appplications
SN - 1051-0761
IS - 2
ER -