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Arid Land Geography ›› 2024, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (12): 2017-2029.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2024.210

• Biology and Environment • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Water utilization sources of Populus euphratica under different groundwater depths in the lower Tarim River

JIANG Xiaoqing1,2(), HAO Shuai1,2(), YE Mao1,2, HE Dingxue1,2, ZHANG Zihan1,2, LI Guohua1,2   

  1. 1. College of Geographical Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China
    2. Xinjiang Laboratory of Lake Environment and Resources in Arid Zone, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China
  • Received:2024-04-01 Revised:2024-07-20 Online:2024-12-25 Published:2025-01-02
  • Contact: HAO Shuai E-mail:jiangxq916@163.com;haoshuai1869@163.com

Abstract:

Groundwater and soil water are critical determinants of desert vegetation growth in arid zones, and the water utilization patterns of desert vegetation are integral to the ecohydrological processes in these regions. To enhance the understanding of water utilization by desert vegetation, this study employed the hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope tracer technique, combined with MixSIAR, to investigate the water absorption sources of Populus euphratica across different forest ages and varying groundwater burial depths. The findings revealed the following: (1) Soil water δ18O and δD values decreased with increasing soil depth and increased with greater distance from the shore. Xylem water δ18O and δD values exhibited the highest variability in middle-aged trees, followed by old trees and young trees. Groundwater δ18O and δD values decreased with increasing distance from the shore. (2) The primary water source for Populus euphratica across different forest ages and groundwater burial depths was groundwater, followed by deep soil water. Populus euphratica located near the riverbank could directly utilize river water. When groundwater burial depths were 1.98-2.10 m, 1.95-2.21 m, 2.49-2.61 m, 3.51-3.73 m, and 4.66-4.73 m, the proportion of groundwater utilization was highest in old trees, accounting for 18.4%, 19.6%, 17.8%, 23.1%, and 21.9%, respectively. Middle-aged trees exhibited slightly lower utilization rates of 16.7%, 17.6%, 16.7%, 21.4%, and 21.6%, while young trees showed the lowest utilization rates of 16.0%, 16.6%, and 19.9% (no seedlings were observed in areas with groundwater burial depths of 2.49-2.61 m and 4.66-4.73 m). (3) Groundwater burial depth increased with distance from the riverbank, whereas soil water content and salinity decreased with distance from the riverbank and increased with soil depth. The proportion of water utilized by Populus euphratica increased with soil water content and salinity. Investigating the water utilization sources of Populus euphratica under varying groundwater burial depths provides theoretical support for the ecological restoration of desert riparian forests in the lower Tarim River, Xinjiang, China.

Key words: hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes, MixSIAR model, water source, groundwater burial depth, Populus euphratica, lower Tarim River