Transpiration of Sand Dune Plants and Water Economy in the Innermongolian Autonomous Region

Abstract

Leaf transpiration of twenty-four plant species were investigated by weight method at the Maosu Shamo desert in China. The transpiration rate relates to the native habitat of each species. The transpiration rates of sand dune species are lower than those of meadow species and of weed species. Sabina vulgaris in the climax vegetation shows lower transpiration rate. Among important plants for afforestation on sand dune, foreign species such as Populus and Salix psammophila show extremely low transpiration rates. On the contrary native species such as Artemisia ordosica and Hedysarum mongolicus show relatively high transpiration rates. Transpiration rate of Artemisia ordosica is 5.4 (water g·hour^-1·Leaf Dry weight g^-1) in daytime and 0.7 in night. The standing crop of A. ordosica community on the fixed sand dune is 362 (g·m^-2), which includes 61 (g·m^-2) of leaves. Estimated total transpiration of the A. ordosica community is 5 (mm·day^-1). It is considered to have a strong influence on the water economy in the area.