Impact of artificially simulated precipitation patterns change on the growth and morphology of <i>Reaumuria soongarica</i> seedlings in Hexi Corridor of China

• Main Authors: Yanfei Xie, Yi Li, Tingting Xie, Ruiling Meng, Zhiqiang Zhao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-03-01
• Series: Sustainability
• Subjects: climate change; desert ecosystems; precipitation patterns; growth and morphology; <i>reaumuria soongarica</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/6/2439

Climate change has altered the existing pattern of precipitation and has an important impact on the resistance and adaptability of desert plants. However, the interactive impact and the main characteristics of changes in precipitation amount and precipitation frequency on desert plants are unclear. <i>Reaumuria soongarica</i> seedlings were treated by artificially simulating changes in precipitation (30% reduction and 30% increase) and its frequency (50% reduction). We first introduced three morphological indicators (i.e., main root length/plant height ratio (<i>RHR</i>), above-ground radial density (<i>ARD</i>), and below&#8722;ground radial density (<i>BRD</i>)) and drew an abstract figure of seedling growth. This experiment confirmed the following: (1) The increase in precipitation noticeably increased the plant height, above-ground biomass, and total biomass of seedlings. (2) The plant height and the biomass of seedlings were more affected by precipitation amount than by precipitation frequency. No interaction was found between precipitation amount and precipitation frequency on the growth of seedlings. (3) The response of <i>RHR</i> to precipitation changes was extremely significant, increasing with decreasing precipitation and vice versa. (4) The <i>ARD</i> first increased then remained constant as precipitation increased, while <i>ARD</i> first decreased and then increased with decreasing precipitation. When precipitation increases, the <i>BRD</i> increases and the root system becomes relatively thicker and shorter, and vice versa. In this regard, <i>R. soongarica</i> seedlings mainly adapt to their resource supply by adjusting plant height, root length, thickness and biomass.