Changes of Plant Growth and Soil Physicochemical Properties by Cultivating Different Economic Plant Species in Saline-Alkali Soil of Hetao Oasis, Inner Mongolia
Due to prolonged irrigation from the Yellow River, a large area of farmland in the Hetao Oasis has undergone different degrees of salinization and alkalization, leading to reduced crop yields and incapable soil for plant growth. To enhance the productivity of the farmland with saline-alkali soils, i...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Rong Ma Fengmei Du Yongli Qin Jianping Lv Guanying Xing Youjie Xu Na Fu Jun Qiao Guangyu Hong Shaokun Wang |
| author_facet | Rong Ma Fengmei Du Yongli Qin Jianping Lv Guanying Xing Youjie Xu Na Fu Jun Qiao Guangyu Hong Shaokun Wang |
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| description | Due to prolonged irrigation from the Yellow River, a large area of farmland in the Hetao Oasis has undergone different degrees of salinization and alkalization, leading to reduced crop yields and incapable soil for plant growth. To enhance the productivity of the farmland with saline-alkali soils, it is important to select salt-tolerant economic plant species that are capable of growing under the local climate and soil conditions in the Hetao Oasis. We conducted the experiment by planting <i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> var. <i>spinose</i>, <i>Elaeagnus angustifolia</i>, <i>Hippophae rhamnoides</i> and <i>Lycium chinense</i> in the Bayan Taohai Farm of the Hetao Oasis. Changes of plant growth (the survival rate, plant height, canopy, basal diameter and new branch length) and soil physicochemical properties (soil organic carbon, total carbon, total nitrogen, pH, electrical conductivity and particle size distribution) were continuously monitored during two growing seasons. Results indicated that, by the end of the first growing season, the survival rate of the <i>Z. jujuba</i> was less than 10%, making it unsuitable for plantation in the saline-alkali soils of the Hetao Oasis. In terms of plant growth, the <i>E. angustifolia</i> exhibited the highest survival rate (94.71%) and the fastest growth rate, indicating that <i>E. angustifolia</i> is adapted in the saline-alkali soils of the Hetao Oasis. The survival rates for <i>L. chinense</i> and <i>H. rhamnoides</i> were 86.46% and 65.64%, respectively, indicating that these species could grow in the saline-alkali soils, but at a slower rate. From the perspective of soil improvement, <i>E. angustifolia</i>, <i>H. rhamnoides</i> and <i>L. chinense</i> could reduce the soil pH, and <i>E. angustifolia</i> could significantly increase soil nutrients. In conclusion, it is not recommended to plant <i>Z. jujuba</i>, while the <i>E. angustifolia</i> is recommended as a proper economic species to be widely planted in the saline-alkali soils of the Hetao Oasis. <i>H. rhamnoides</i> could be selectively planted in areas with better soil conditions, and the <i>L. chinense</i> could be planted following soil improvement measurements. The research enhanced the effective utilization of the saline-alkali farmland and provided proper economic plant species for sustainable agriculture management in the Hetao Oasis of Inner Mongolia. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-99e4953409c04b06a5fdc0199e12f3a82025-08-20T03:17:52ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722025-06-011513142110.3390/agriculture15131421Changes of Plant Growth and Soil Physicochemical Properties by Cultivating Different Economic Plant Species in Saline-Alkali Soil of Hetao Oasis, Inner MongoliaRong Ma0Fengmei Du1Yongli Qin2Jianping Lv3Guanying Xing4Youjie Xu5Na Fu6Jun Qiao7Guangyu Hong8Shaokun Wang9State Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaDesert Control Center of Bayannur City, Bayannur 015000, ChinaDesert Control Center of Bayannur City, Bayannur 015000, ChinaDesert Control Center of Bayannur City, Bayannur 015000, ChinaInner Mongolia Academy of Forestry Sciences, Hohhot 010010, ChinaUrat Rear Banner Management Station of National Nature Reserve of <i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i> and <i>Equus hemionus</i>, Bayannur 015543, ChinaUrat Rear Banner Management Station of National Nature Reserve of <i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i> and <i>Equus hemionus</i>, Bayannur 015543, ChinaUrat Rear Banner Management Station of National Nature Reserve of <i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i> and <i>Equus hemionus</i>, Bayannur 015543, ChinaInner Mongolia Academy of Forestry Sciences, Hohhot 010010, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaDue to prolonged irrigation from the Yellow River, a large area of farmland in the Hetao Oasis has undergone different degrees of salinization and alkalization, leading to reduced crop yields and incapable soil for plant growth. To enhance the productivity of the farmland with saline-alkali soils, it is important to select salt-tolerant economic plant species that are capable of growing under the local climate and soil conditions in the Hetao Oasis. We conducted the experiment by planting <i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> var. <i>spinose</i>, <i>Elaeagnus angustifolia</i>, <i>Hippophae rhamnoides</i> and <i>Lycium chinense</i> in the Bayan Taohai Farm of the Hetao Oasis. Changes of plant growth (the survival rate, plant height, canopy, basal diameter and new branch length) and soil physicochemical properties (soil organic carbon, total carbon, total nitrogen, pH, electrical conductivity and particle size distribution) were continuously monitored during two growing seasons. Results indicated that, by the end of the first growing season, the survival rate of the <i>Z. jujuba</i> was less than 10%, making it unsuitable for plantation in the saline-alkali soils of the Hetao Oasis. In terms of plant growth, the <i>E. angustifolia</i> exhibited the highest survival rate (94.71%) and the fastest growth rate, indicating that <i>E. angustifolia</i> is adapted in the saline-alkali soils of the Hetao Oasis. The survival rates for <i>L. chinense</i> and <i>H. rhamnoides</i> were 86.46% and 65.64%, respectively, indicating that these species could grow in the saline-alkali soils, but at a slower rate. From the perspective of soil improvement, <i>E. angustifolia</i>, <i>H. rhamnoides</i> and <i>L. chinense</i> could reduce the soil pH, and <i>E. angustifolia</i> could significantly increase soil nutrients. In conclusion, it is not recommended to plant <i>Z. jujuba</i>, while the <i>E. angustifolia</i> is recommended as a proper economic species to be widely planted in the saline-alkali soils of the Hetao Oasis. <i>H. rhamnoides</i> could be selectively planted in areas with better soil conditions, and the <i>L. chinense</i> could be planted following soil improvement measurements. The research enhanced the effective utilization of the saline-alkali farmland and provided proper economic plant species for sustainable agriculture management in the Hetao Oasis of Inner Mongolia.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/13/1421Hetao Oasissaline-alkali soileconomic tree speciessoil improvement |
| spellingShingle | Rong Ma Fengmei Du Yongli Qin Jianping Lv Guanying Xing Youjie Xu Na Fu Jun Qiao Guangyu Hong Shaokun Wang Changes of Plant Growth and Soil Physicochemical Properties by Cultivating Different Economic Plant Species in Saline-Alkali Soil of Hetao Oasis, Inner Mongolia Agriculture Hetao Oasis saline-alkali soil economic tree species soil improvement |
| title | Changes of Plant Growth and Soil Physicochemical Properties by Cultivating Different Economic Plant Species in Saline-Alkali Soil of Hetao Oasis, Inner Mongolia |
| title_full | Changes of Plant Growth and Soil Physicochemical Properties by Cultivating Different Economic Plant Species in Saline-Alkali Soil of Hetao Oasis, Inner Mongolia |
| title_fullStr | Changes of Plant Growth and Soil Physicochemical Properties by Cultivating Different Economic Plant Species in Saline-Alkali Soil of Hetao Oasis, Inner Mongolia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes of Plant Growth and Soil Physicochemical Properties by Cultivating Different Economic Plant Species in Saline-Alkali Soil of Hetao Oasis, Inner Mongolia |
| title_short | Changes of Plant Growth and Soil Physicochemical Properties by Cultivating Different Economic Plant Species in Saline-Alkali Soil of Hetao Oasis, Inner Mongolia |
| title_sort | changes of plant growth and soil physicochemical properties by cultivating different economic plant species in saline alkali soil of hetao oasis inner mongolia |
| topic | Hetao Oasis saline-alkali soil economic tree species soil improvement |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/13/1421 |
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