Analysis of water-use efficiency of plants in the Mu-Us desert, Inner Mongolia, China using carbon isotope discrimination.

Abstract

To investigate the water use characteristics of four plants(Salix matsudana, Artemisia ordosica, Caragana korshinskii, Sabina vulgaris) lived in the Mu-Us desert, Inner Mongolia, China, intrinsic water-use efficiency was estimated using stable carbon isotope discrimination. The gas exchange rate was also measured, to estimate parameters of water loss and carbon gain. S.matsudana, Artemisia ordosica and Caragana korshinskii had similar intrinsic water-use efficiency. As S.matsudana had high water loss, high carbon gain when grounwater level was low, continued revegetation using S.matsudana should be accompanied with adequate estimate of the amount of available water and density control. S.vulgaris had high intrinsic water-use efficiency, low water loss.