Abstract:
Background Salix psammophila is one of the tree species with the largest artificial afforestation area in desert areas of China. For a long time, the water use of S. psammophila in arid and rainy seasons has formed its own unique water consumption strategy, which is an important basis for studying the rationalization of water use. Therefore, it is of great significance to study the variation characteristics and main influencing factors of nocturnal sap flow of S. psammophila in different orientations for understanding the orientation difference of nocturnal water use of S. psammophila and its adaptability to the environment.
Methods In this study, 3-year-old S. psammophila was used as the research object, and the heat balance wrap stem flow meter (EMS62) and small weather station (HOBO U30) were used to simultaneously monitor the sap flow rate of S. psammophila in different directions and the changes of meteorological factors such as solar radiation (R), temperature (Ta) and relative humidity (RH). Combined with Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression method. The characteristics and main influencing factors of the sap flow rate of S. psammophila in different directions were analyzed.
Results 1) The order of sap flow velocity of S. psammophila was north > east > south > west. 2)Before the rainy season, the sap flow rate of S. psammophila in all directions showed a "bimodal" curve, and the time for the northward sap flow rate to reach the second peak was delayed by about 2 h. The sap flow rate in all directions the rainy season and after the rainy season showed a "several" curve, and the start and end time of sap flow the rainy season were delayed by about 30 min. 3) The proportion of nocturnal flow in east, south, west, north to the whole day flow showed a U-shaped curve, and the fluctuation ranges were 20%-46%, 21%-41%, 25%-43% and 23%-43%. 4) During the observation period, the correlation coefficient between nocturnal sap flow and relative humidity and saturated vapor pressure difference was P < 0.01. Before the rainy season and the rainy season, the determination coefficient R2 between the nocturnal sap flow in each direction and the meteorological factors was greater than 0.46, but after the rainy season, the determination coefficient R2 between the nocturnal sap flow in different directions and the meteorological factors was less than 0.34.
Conclusions Rainfall and other environmental factors directly affect the nocturnal sap flow rate of S. psammophila, and the degree of influence is different in different directions of S. psammophila. This study reveals the water use law of branches in different directions of S. psammophila, which can provide scientific basis for studying nocturnal water use.