Water source of artificial plants in the northeastern margin of Tengger Desert based on hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes

Understanding water sources and utilization strategies is essential for the water use patterns of vegetation restoration species and achieving sustainable vegetation restoration. The water use strategies of Corethrodendron scoparium and Calligonum mongolicum were studied in the afforestation area on...

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Main Authors: Zhenyu Zhao, Guodong Tang, Jinrong Li, Meng Wu, Lei Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1523085/full
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author Zhenyu Zhao
Zhenyu Zhao
Guodong Tang
Guodong Tang
Jinrong Li
Jinrong Li
Meng Wu
Lei Zhang
author_facet Zhenyu Zhao
Zhenyu Zhao
Guodong Tang
Guodong Tang
Jinrong Li
Jinrong Li
Meng Wu
Lei Zhang
author_sort Zhenyu Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Understanding water sources and utilization strategies is essential for the water use patterns of vegetation restoration species and achieving sustainable vegetation restoration. The water use strategies of Corethrodendron scoparium and Calligonum mongolicum were studied in the afforestation area on the northeastern edge of the Tengger Desert, to provide scientific guidance for regional vegetation restoration and stand structure adjustment. We utilize hydrogen and oxygen isotope techniques and the MixSIAR model to calculate the contribution rates of these two plant species to various potential water sources from June to October. By calculating the PS index, we determined the competitive relationship of C. scoparium and C. mongolicum towards different water sources. The results showed that the soil moisture content in the 0-80 cm soil layer changed significantly due to rainfall and evaporation, but stabilized with increasing depth. Shallow soil water shows enriched stable isotope composition, while the isotope of groundwater is relatively stable, and the isotope of precipitation is more enriched than that of groundwater. The main water source of C. scoparium and C. mongolicum was soil moisture. The utilization rate of 0-40 cm soil layer was 27% (C.scoparium) and 33% (C.mongolicum), and the utilization rate of 40-80 cm soil layer was 32% (C.scoparium) and 25% (C.mongolicum). The average proportional similarity index (PS index) between the two species was 95.67%, indicating a competitive relationship with water resources. When the surface layer (0-40) soil moisture is high (July, August), both species preferentially absorb water from this layer, and the water competition is reduced. The average PS index is 89%. When the surface layer (0-40) was deficient in soil moisture (June, September and October), the water competition increased, and the PS index was 97.83%. This study emphasized the adaptation strategies of these shrubs to arid environments and found that it provided key insights for optimizing vegetation density and species composition in desert aerial seeding areas and ensuring sustainable ecological restoration in the study area.
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spelling doaj-art-73de2a374e404500b8fe615ce8a057472025-08-20T03:52:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-05-011610.3389/fpls.2025.15230851523085Water source of artificial plants in the northeastern margin of Tengger Desert based on hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopesZhenyu Zhao0Zhenyu Zhao1Guodong Tang2Guodong Tang3Jinrong Li4Jinrong Li5Meng Wu6Lei Zhang7Yinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area, Ministry of Water Resources, Hohhot, ChinaYinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area, Ministry of Water Resources, Hohhot, ChinaYinshanbeilu Grassland Eco-hydrology National Observation and Research Station, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Water Resources for Pastoral Area, Ministry of Water Resources, Hohhot, ChinaWuhai City Water Bureau, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Wuhai Soil and Water Conservation Workstation, Wuhai, Inner Mongolia, ChinaWuhai City Water Bureau, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Wuhai Soil and Water Conservation Workstation, Wuhai, Inner Mongolia, ChinaUnderstanding water sources and utilization strategies is essential for the water use patterns of vegetation restoration species and achieving sustainable vegetation restoration. The water use strategies of Corethrodendron scoparium and Calligonum mongolicum were studied in the afforestation area on the northeastern edge of the Tengger Desert, to provide scientific guidance for regional vegetation restoration and stand structure adjustment. We utilize hydrogen and oxygen isotope techniques and the MixSIAR model to calculate the contribution rates of these two plant species to various potential water sources from June to October. By calculating the PS index, we determined the competitive relationship of C. scoparium and C. mongolicum towards different water sources. The results showed that the soil moisture content in the 0-80 cm soil layer changed significantly due to rainfall and evaporation, but stabilized with increasing depth. Shallow soil water shows enriched stable isotope composition, while the isotope of groundwater is relatively stable, and the isotope of precipitation is more enriched than that of groundwater. The main water source of C. scoparium and C. mongolicum was soil moisture. The utilization rate of 0-40 cm soil layer was 27% (C.scoparium) and 33% (C.mongolicum), and the utilization rate of 40-80 cm soil layer was 32% (C.scoparium) and 25% (C.mongolicum). The average proportional similarity index (PS index) between the two species was 95.67%, indicating a competitive relationship with water resources. When the surface layer (0-40) soil moisture is high (July, August), both species preferentially absorb water from this layer, and the water competition is reduced. The average PS index is 89%. When the surface layer (0-40) was deficient in soil moisture (June, September and October), the water competition increased, and the PS index was 97.83%. This study emphasized the adaptation strategies of these shrubs to arid environments and found that it provided key insights for optimizing vegetation density and species composition in desert aerial seeding areas and ensuring sustainable ecological restoration in the study area.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1523085/fullTengger Desertaerial seedingdominant shrubshydrogen and oxygen isotopeswater source
spellingShingle Zhenyu Zhao
Zhenyu Zhao
Guodong Tang
Guodong Tang
Jinrong Li
Jinrong Li
Meng Wu
Lei Zhang
Water source of artificial plants in the northeastern margin of Tengger Desert based on hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes
Frontiers in Plant Science
Tengger Desert
aerial seeding
dominant shrubs
hydrogen and oxygen isotopes
water source
title Water source of artificial plants in the northeastern margin of Tengger Desert based on hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes
title_full Water source of artificial plants in the northeastern margin of Tengger Desert based on hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes
title_fullStr Water source of artificial plants in the northeastern margin of Tengger Desert based on hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes
title_full_unstemmed Water source of artificial plants in the northeastern margin of Tengger Desert based on hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes
title_short Water source of artificial plants in the northeastern margin of Tengger Desert based on hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes
title_sort water source of artificial plants in the northeastern margin of tengger desert based on hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes
topic Tengger Desert
aerial seeding
dominant shrubs
hydrogen and oxygen isotopes
water source
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1523085/full
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