| Abstract: | Water relation characteristics of the desert legume Alhagisparsifolia were investigatedduring the vegetation period from April to September 1999 in the foreland of Qira oasis at thesouthern fringe of the Taklamakan Desert, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. The sea-sonal variation of predawn water potentials and of diurnal water potential indicated that Alhagiplants were well water supplied over the entire vegetation period. Decreasing values in the sum-mer months were probably attributed to increasing temperatures and irradiation and therefore ahigher evapotranspirative demand. Data from pressure-volume analysis confirmed that Alhagiplants were not drought stressed and xylem sap flow measurements indicated that Alhagiplantsused large amounts of water during the summer months. Flood irrigation had no influence on waterrelations in Alhagiprobably because Alhagiplants produced only few fine roots in the upper soillayers. The data indicate that Alhagisparsifolia is a drought-avoiding species that utilizes groundwater by a deep roots system, which is the key characteristic to adjust the hyper-arid environment.Because growth and survival of Alhagidepends on ground water supply, it is important that varia-tiohs of ground water depth are kept to a minimum. The study will provide a theoretical basis forthe restoration and management of natural vegetation around oasis in arid regions. |
