The dynamics variation of soil moisture of shelterbelts along the Tarim Desert Highway

We studied the variation of soil moisture as well as its regularity over the irrigation cycle at shelterbelts along the Tarim Desert Highway at different site types and different planting years. The results show that: (1) There is an obvious temporal variation of soil moisture within a typical irrigation period in shelterbelts along the Tarim Desert Highway, and the soil water storage varied linearly with the number of days after irrigation. Along the direction perpendicular to the soil top, the soil profile can be divided into four layers and each shows different dynamics of soil moisture variation, including the quickly changing layer (0—20 cm), the active layer (20—60 cm), the weakly layer (60—100 cm), and the regulated layer (under 100 cm). (2) Both the soil moisture and soil water content decreased gradually with the number of planting year, while the soil water deficit increased. It indicates that shelterbelts along the Tarim Desert Highway can retain the water accumulated from previous years. (3) The soil water storage of harden sand is the maximum among all types of sites. Specifically, it is about 1.58 times higher than that of longitudinal dune, 1.15 times higher than clay, and 1.43 times higher than flat sand. Its soil water deficit was over 900 mm.

Damage by wind-blown sand and its control measures along the Taklimakan Desert Highway in China

Desertification is one of the most serious environmental problems in the world,especially in the arid desert regions.Combating desertification,therefore,is an urgent task on a regional or even global scale.The Taklimakan Desert in China is the second largest mobile desert in the world and has been called the''Dead Sea''due to few organisms can exist in such a harsh environment.The Taklimakan Desert Highway,the longest desert highway(a total length of 446 km)across the mobile desert in the world,was built in the 1990s within the Taklimakan Desert.It has an important strategic significance regarding oil and gas resources exploration and plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of southern Xinjiang,China.However,wind-blow sand seriously damages the smoothness of the desert highway and,in this case,mechanical sand control system(including sand barrier fences and straw checkerboards)was used early in the life of the desert highway to protect the road.Unfortunately,more than 70%of the sand barrier fences and straw checkerboards have lost their functions,and the desert highway has often been buried and frequently blocked since 1999.To solve this problem,a long artificial shelterbelt with the length of 437 km was built along the desert highway since 2000.However,some potential problems still exist for the sustainable development of the desert highway,such as water shortage,strong sandstorms,extreme environmental characteristics and large maintenance costs.The study aims to provide an overview of the damages caused by wind-blown sand and the effects of sand control measures along the Taklimakan Desert Highway.Ultimately,we provide some suggestions for the biological sand control system to ensure the sustainable development of the Taklimakan Desert Highway,such as screening drought-resistant species to reduce the irrigation requirement and ensure the sound development of groundwater,screening halophytes to restore vegetation in the case of soil salinization,and planting cash crops,such as Cistanche,Wolfberry,Apocynum and other cash crops to decrease the high cost of maintenance on highways and shelterbelts.

Plants water status of the shelterbelt along the Tarim Desert Highway

The plant water consumption and irrigation management are the core issue of the sustainable growing of the Tarim Desert Highway shelterbelt in the hyperaride Taklimakan Desert. The stem sap flow, water status and water consumption of shelterbelt plants were studied, then, the issue of the water save in the process of shelterbelt irrigation management was discussed by measuring the sap flow of shelterbelt plants with a stem sap flow gauge. The stem sap flow exhibited a distinct diurnal course with maximum values between 10:00 and 15:00, and minimum values between 00:00 and 03:00. Generally, sap flow was lower at night than during the day. The daily average stem sap flow of Calligonum arborescens, Tamarix ramosissima and Haloxylon ammodendron (diameter 1.9―2.0 cm) was 67.2 g·h-1, 77.05 g·h-1 and 61.54 g·h-1 respectively. The sap flow was influenced by environmental factors, and the solar radiation, wind velocity, temperature and relative humidity were significantly correlative with plant stem sap flow. The annual water consumption of 8-a Calligonum arborescens, Tamarix ramosissima and Haloxylon ammodendron was 1937.80 kg, 1253.39 kg and 1026.96 kg, while daily average water consumption was 9.69 kg, 6.27 kg and 5.13 kg respectively. Under drip irrigation, soil moisture content of the shelterbelt in different months indicated no obvious fluctuation, and soil moisture was adequate. The predawn and midday plant water potential reflected that the plant water status was in good conditions. There is still some water-saving space if optimizing the present water management, integrating water resources conservation and protection performance.

Evaluation of soil fertility of the shelter-forest land along the Tarim Desert Highway

To study the changes of soil fertility of the shelter-forest land along the Tarim Desert Highway, soils from the forest land were collected at the layers of 0―10 cm, 10―20 cm, 20―30 cm. Different soil fertility parameters were measured, and quantitative evaluation of soil fertility was performed by the soil integrated fertility index (IFI). The main results show that the construction of the shelter forest along the Tarim Desert Highway improved the soil physical structure, increased soil porosity and enhanced wa- ter-holding capacity. With the increase of plantation time of the shelter forest, soil microbial biomass C, N, P and the activities of six types of enzyme were enhanced, which promoted the accumulation and transformation of soil nutrients of the forest land. Consequently, the soil nutrients in 12-year-old forest land were much higher than in the newer ones and drifting sand. However, soil salt content of the older forest land was higher owing to the drip-irrigation with salt water. Through the comprehensive evalua- tion, we found that soil fertility index in the forest land was enhanced with the forest age, and it had close correlations with the growth indices of the forest trees. In summary, construction of the shelterforest along the Tarim Desert Highway accelerated the improvement of aeolian soil in the forest land, and the soil fertility improved year by year. We conclude that the forest trees grow normally under the stress of the present drip-irrigation with salt water.

Classification and regionalization of the forming environment of windblown sand disasters along the Tarim Desert Highway

Through the systematic field survey and observations, the factor quantification as well as setting the criteria, the sand disaster-forming environment along the Tarim Desert Highway can be divided into four grades by the classification and regionalization based on fuzzy mathematics. The length of the regions with significant sand disaster accounted for 37.1% of the total highway length. Particularly, the area along the Tarim Desert Highway, based on the sand disaster-forming environment classification as well as the difference in the five basic landform units along the highway, combined with the difference of wind regime, can be divided into five regions, in which the length of the regions suffering severe sand damage occupied 64.3% of the total highway length. In addition, the index of disaster formation grade along the highway decreased from north to south, showing a repeated spatial pattern in small length scales.

Topographical changes of ground surface affected by the shelterbelt along the Tarim Desert Highway

To study the effects of sand protection project on modern aeolian landform, the types, distribution, and intensity of topographical changes of the ground surface affected by the shelterbelt along the Tarim Desert Highway were determined by measuring the deflation and deposition of sand surface in the Tazhong area located in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert. The results showed that (1) the newly-formed landform in sand protection systems is dominated by aeolian deposition including the small-scale Nabkha Dunes, the medium-scale sheet-like sand deposition and the large-scale ridge-like sand deposition. To some degree, aeolian deflation landform can also be formed in the open space in the shelterbelt. Furthermore, it is difficult for aeolian deflation landform to develop in a large scale in the interdunes. However, aeolian deflation landform can be developed in a large-scale on the windward slope of secondary dunes in longitudinal complex sand ridges; (2) on the windward side of the sand protection systems, both the morphology and strike of dwarf mobile dunes in the interdunes are changed by the sand-obstructing forest belts and the ridge-like sand deposition around it. The wind- ward slope of the ridge-like deposition around the sand-obstructing forest belt forms a stable ground surface. After being damaged by forward-moving dunes in a short period, the ground surface is re- covered gradually; (3) on the leeward side of the sand protection systems, aeolian deflations are formed widely. Particularly, the deflation depression is formed in the interdunes. In addition, the dunes in the region with highly topographic relief are cut flat by aeolian deflations; thereafter its relief of to- pography is reduced. The above analysis indicates that shelterbelts have obvious effects on the windward wind-sand flux in terms of dissipating energy and intercepting sand. With the recovery of wind velocity on the leeward side of the sand protection systems, the wind-sand flux gradually tends to be unsaturated; therefore the sand surface deflation is formed.

Site type classification for the shelter-forest ecological project along the Tarim Desert Highway

Site types of the afforestation region of the shelter-forest ecological project along the Tarim Desert Highway were classified based on the natural conditions and windblown sand damages. The extremely severe environment, the irrigation with saline water, and large-scale linear project makes this classification of site types most unique and significant. It adopted a three-level classification system integrating the dominant factors and restrictive factors in regard to their impacts on plant survival and growth as well as on the protective property. Six site type districts were classified based on the medium-scale geomorphic unit, the windblown sand damages, and the major production facilities; 21 site type groups were obtained according to the small-scale geomorphic type, terrain, and wind regime; 36 site types were further classified based on the salt contents of the underground water and soil types. Especially, in this study, spatial distribution of the six site type districts along the desert highway is continuous, which is unique and different from that of most other classifications. In addition, the salt-stress tolerance threshold of the main afforestation plant species to underground water have been set to 8 g/L and 15 g/L according to selective breeding tests and the salinity spatial distribution of the underground water. Thus, the underground water with salinity lower than 8 g/L is defined as light saline water in this area.

The temporal and spatial fluctuation of the groundwater level along the Tarim Desert Highway

In this work, a groundwater monitor section along the Tarim Desert Highway was set up, and the groundwater level data were recorded. The temporal and spatial fluctuations of the groundwater level were analyzed based on the groundwater level measurements, hydrologic data, the groundwater/surface water interconversion theory and the groundwater dynamics. The spatial distribution of groundwater is mostly affected by sand dune height and landform variation. The four primary temporal influence factors of groundwater level can be ordered in decreasing significance as: shelterbelt pumping > vertical leakage > river flow change > runoff replenishment. The runoff replenishment has the biggest influence range, and the shelterbelt pumping has the smallest influence range. The groundwater level fluctuates annually in a natural pattern.

细菌群落主导沙漠公路防护林营造后的土壤功能变化

防护林作为沙漠公路的安全保护屏障,其生长和应对胁迫所需的养分供给依赖于土壤微生物。以塔里木沙漠公路防护林和自然沙漠为研究系统,探究土壤细菌和真菌群落、两种生境共有和特有微生物物种变化对土壤物质循环功能的驱动作用。结果显示,土壤细菌和真菌物种丰富度(P<0.01,P<0.01)及群落组成(P<0.05,P<0.01)均受防护林营造的显著影响,细菌物种丰富度的响应增幅为77.5%,高于真菌22.1%。细菌群落是导致土壤酶活性升高的显著驱动因素,而非真菌群落或环境因子;细菌物种丰富度(rho=0.46,P<0.01)和群落组成(rho=0.68,P<0.01)与土壤酶之间呈显著偏Mantel相关。共有细菌相对丰度(rho=0.47,P<0.01)和特有细菌物种丰富度(rho=0.36,P<0.01)是驱动土壤酶活性改善的关键因素,与土壤酶之间呈显著偏Mantel相关。研究表明,沙漠公路防护林土壤细菌而非真菌主导微生物群落的响应,细菌群落通过改变本地物种丰度和新物种数量来调控土壤功能。

The vertical distribution of the root system of the desert highway shelterbelt in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert

In this work, the vertical distribution of the root system in the Tarim Desert Highway shelterbelt under high salinity water drip irrigation was investigated. The effect of site condition and shelterbelt age was studied. The root sample was collected by plant side soil column excavation. The root distribution was found to be dependent on soil texture, aspect, and plant age. In harden sand, the roots were mostly in the 0–40 cm soil. The root distribution is deep in flat sandy ground and ridge sand. In unit soil volume, the root weight of flat sandy ground was the highest. Compared with the shady slope, the sunny slope had much high total root weight, deeper root distribution, but less hair root. The root weight increased rapidly with the increase of the shelterbelt ages, and the most substantial increase was observed in the early years after forest implantation.

Ecological stability of Tarim Desert Highway shelterbelt

The Tarim Desert Highway shelterbelt, located in hinterland of Taklimakan Desert, is irrigated by underground saline water, with three to thirty gram per litter mineral degrees. The sustain-ability and stability are affected by multifarious stress. The structural and functional characteristics of shelterbelt are studied to probe into correlation between environment and shelterbelt. On basis, decision analysis is applied to study ecological stability of the Tarim Desert Highway shelterbelt, to screen out limited factors, to establish general index system, and to evaluate the stability of the shelterbelt nowadays. Finally, the concept of ecological stability is utilized to manage the artificial ecosystem. The results show that the artificial ecosystem is relatively flimsy, whose stability can be increased by adjusting stand structure and improving the nutrient cycle.

灌溉对三种荒漠植物蒸腾耗水特性的影响

利用热平衡式茎流计和压力室对塔里木沙漠公路防护林不同灌溉量条件下3种荒漠植物多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)、梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)和乔木状沙拐枣(Calligonum arborescens)的液流变化、水势进行了测定。研究结果表明:(1)茎干液流速率因灌溉量和物种的不同而异,同一灌溉量条件下不同物种间表现为多枝柽柳>乔木状沙拐枣>梭梭,不同灌溉量条件下3种荒漠植物的茎干液流速率均随灌溉量的减少而显著降低。3种荒漠植物的夜间蒸腾占有一定比例,表现为梭梭(18.68%)>乔木状沙拐枣(17.48%)>多枝柽柳(12.82%),表明3种灌木均可通过夜间液流以补充植物体白天的水分消耗,表现出较强的抗旱性,但梭梭形成的叶片-冠-根的水势差相对较大,夜间补偿流较多,表现出更强的抗旱性。多枝柽柳和乔木状沙拐枣茎干液流日变化趋势基本相同,在灌溉量为35 kg·株-1.次-1和28 kg·株-1.次-1时均呈单峰曲线,液流速率较高且变化幅度较大,而灌溉量为17.5 kg·株-1.次-1时呈双峰曲线,液流速率较低;梭梭在不同灌溉量条件下其变化均呈单峰曲线,即当灌溉量降低到17.5 kg·株-1.次-1时多枝柽柳和乔木状沙拐枣可能出现了水分亏缺,通过调节气孔张开度或部分关闭降低蒸腾来适应其胁迫条件,但该灌溉条件下梭梭并没有出现水分亏缺,表明出较强的抗旱性。(2)相同时间不同灌溉量条件下,3种荒漠植物的清晨水势和午后水势均随着灌溉量的减少而降低;整个生长季相同时间同一灌溉量条件下,3种防护林植物的清晨、午后水势表现为乔木状沙拐枣>多枝柽柳>梭梭,表明3种荒漠植物在相同的灌溉条件下梭梭因保持较低的水势表现出较强的抗旱性。(3)相同时间不同灌溉量条件下,3种荒漠植物单株日耗水量均随着灌溉量的减少而减少,整个生长季各处理日平均耗水量的动态变化趋势均为单峰型,7月份耗水量最大,表明在塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地最炎热的7月份,3种防护林植物可以通过增加其蒸腾耗水量来适应干旱的环境条件。

塔里木沙漠公路防护林地表凋落物分解对施肥的响应

为探讨沙漠公路防护林地表凋落物的分解速率和养分释放动态对施肥的响应,采用凋落物分解袋法,对塔里木沙漠公路防护林地乔木状沙拐枣(Calligonum arborescens)同化枝、梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)同化枝和多枝柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)枝凋落物在施肥处理下的分解及养分释放特征进行研究。结果表明:经过420d的分解,3种凋落物质量残留率在对照(不施肥)、施用氮肥、施用磷钾复合肥处理间存在显著性差异(P<0.05)。乔木状沙拐枣同化枝、梭梭同化枝和多枝柽柳枝在对照处理下的质量残留率分别为56.95%、31.32%和50.24%。施肥处理下3种凋落物均呈现出梭梭同化枝分解速率最快,多枝柽柳枝次之,乔木状沙拐枣同化枝分解最慢。施用磷钾复合肥极显著提高了3种凋落物的分解速率(P<0.01);施用氮肥则促进多枝柽柳枝的分解,抑制乔木状沙拐枣和梭梭同化枝的分解。凋落物分解过程中,对照组3种植物凋落物的C、N、P和K元素均呈现净释放状态;施肥后凋落物的N、P和K元素呈现出富集-释放的模式。凋落物初始P含量和C/N、C/P比值是分解初期的主导因素,初始K、木质素、纤维素含量和C/N、木质素/N比值是分解后期的主要控制因素。研究表明,施肥显著影响沙漠公路防护林地表凋落物的分解,增加防护林地表凋落物的养分归还量,延后养分释放的时间,改善塔里木沙漠公路防护林地的土壤肥力。凋落物初始C/N比值是预测塔里木沙漠凋落物分解的重要因素,且不同分解时期影响凋落物分解的初始化学组成有所差异。

咸水滴灌下沙漠公路防护林土壤理化性质的变化

对塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地防护林地下咸水滴灌下0-30 cm各层风沙土的理化性质进行了测定。结果表明, 咸水滴灌下, 土壤结皮层枯枝落叶量随防护林定植年限的增加而增加；土壤结皮层、0-5 cm、5-15 cm和15-30 cm土层土壤紧实度随防护林定植年限的增加而不断减小, 土壤有机质含量均随防护林定植年限增加而增加且自表层向下层逐渐减少, 土壤全盐量随防护林定植年限增加而逐渐降低且由表层向下层逐渐减少；结皮层各离子含量均随防护林定植年限增加而逐渐降低, 而0-5 cm、5-15 cm和15-30 cm土层各离子含量均随防护林定植年限增加而逐渐增加；结皮层、5-15 cm和15-30 cm土层土壤pH均随防护林定植年限增加而逐渐降低, 而0-5 cm土层pH随防护林定植年限增加而升高。

不同因素影响下突发性强降雨对沙拐枣的危害——以塔里木沙漠公路防护林生态工程为例

塔里木沙漠公路防护林生态工程全长436 km,造林树种以抗逆性较强的沙拐枣(CalligonumL.)、柽柳(Tamarix L.)、梭梭(Haloxylon Bunge)等优良防风固沙灌木为主,采用高矿化度地下水滴灌。2005年5月,公路沿线出现了罕见的突发性强降雨,由此引起的表层土壤盐分淋溶造成了沙拐枣大量死亡。本研究采用线路调查和随机抽样方法,在突发性强降雨后对塔里木沙漠公路防护林带内沙拐枣死亡率进行了调查,并对调查结果及其原因进行了分析,结果表明:沙拐枣死亡率(1)随林龄的增加而减小;(2)随矿化度的升高而增大;(3)垄间平沙地>过渡区>高大沙垄垄体;(4)林带中央>公路旁>林带外围。

咸水灌溉下塔里木沙漠公路防护林水分平衡研究

应用水平衡原理对塔里木沙漠公路防护林土壤水分运动规律进行研究,估算了塔里木沙漠公路防护林体系的耗水特征,为今后的灌溉方案设计提供依据。研究结果表明:沙漠公路防护林水平衡区在1 a的水平衡期内,2 m土体水分储量和植物生长周期密切相关,早春至初夏及秋季2m土体储水量均增加,但盛夏土体储水量下降明显。2 m以下土层储水量在整个水平衡期均增加,土体中的水分在向土壤下层运移。水平衡各项中灌溉量836.5 mm;蒸散量372.6 mm;渗漏到2 m土层以下的水量为304.5 mm;净渗漏量7.8 mm。即:流出灌溉区的水量为684.9 mm,占总灌溉量的81.9%。因此,塔里木沙漠公路防护林节水灌溉仍具有较大节水空间,能够采用合理的灌溉制度减少水资源浪费,保障塔里木沙漠公路永续利用。

塔里木沙漠公路防护林土壤水分特征曲线模型分析与比较

应用压力膜仪对塔里木沙漠公路防护林地0-150 cm范围的土层进行土壤水分特征曲线的脱水试验,并选取Gardner模型和VG模型对实测数据进行了拟合分析与比较。结果表明：（1）实测的土壤水分特征曲线可准确地反映土壤结构的差异性,各土层的曲线特征与其基本物理性质一一对应,即容重较小、粉粘粒含量较多的土层其持水性较强,饱和含水率和凋萎含水率也较高;物理性差异小的土层间,其土壤水力性质接近。（2）由VG模型得到的土壤饱和含水率均值为0.429 cm3·cm-3,凋萎含水率均值为0.040 cm3·cm-3。由Gardner模型得到的各土层由于各层的物理性状差异造成持水性由强到弱,依次为0-5 cm,40-60 cm,100-150 cm,60-100 cm,5-40 cm;土壤易效水与难效水的平均临界点水势值为1.5×105Pa,均值凋萎含水率对应的水势值为15.0×105Pa。以上结果均较符合砂质土地的实际情况。（3）两种模型均可用于拟合防护林沙质土的土壤水分特征曲线,但VG模型在低吸力段的拟合精度较高,Gardner模型在中吸力段的拟合精度稍高,整体上,VG模型的模拟效果优于Gardner模型。旨在揭示高矿化度咸水滴灌条件下塔里木沙漠公路防护林不同土层的土壤水分曲线特征及其最优拟合模型,为之后开展区域水盐运移数值模拟等研究提供理论依据。

咸水滴灌条件下塔里木沙漠公路防护林土壤水分物理性质

应用压力膜仪测定了塔里木沙漠公路防护林地0-150cm土层范围内的土壤水分特征曲线,并用RETC软件中的van Genuchten模型对其进行拟合分析,研究了防护林地不同土层的土壤水分物理特性。结果表明:(1)van Genuchten模型拟合的含水量模拟值与实测值间的RMSE≤0.01。(2)各土层持水性强弱依次为0-5cm>40-60cm>100-150cm>60-100cm>5-40cm;供水性表现为5-40cm>60-100cm>0-5cm>40-60cm>100-150cm,且整体在低于1.5×105 Pa吸力值时表现较强;各土层有效水含量自上而下递减,均值为17.286%。(3)饱和持水量、毛管持水量和田间持水量也随土层自上而下呈同步下降趋势,并与容重呈显著的一元线性负相关。(4)有效水范围内,防护林地土壤有效水上限对应0.3×105 Pa的吸力值,易效水与难效水的临界点吸力值以1.5×105 Pa为宜;各土层的易效水均多于难效水,总体上,前者均值为13.127%,是后者的3倍;5-40cm和60-100cm土层的易效水多,0-5cm和40-60cm土层的难效水多,二者比例均为同类最高;同层内易效水比例与土壤持水性之间负对应。

塔里木沙漠公路防护林生态工程对地下水位的影响分析

为了解塔里木沙漠公路防护林生态工程对地下水位的影响,在该工程第69#灌溉水源井处设置观测场,通过多个观测井的非稳定流抽水试验,观测井中地下水位的变化情况,确定了研究区域的含水层渗透系数K=13.317m/d、抽水影响半径R=332.04 m。分析了地下水位降落"漏斗"和水位下降、上升随时间和空间的变化规律:在2个抽水应力期内,水位急速下降和上升过程均可在抽水试验开始后的11 min内完成,随着时间的累积,变化趋势逐渐缓慢;抽水结束后,水位可恢复到初始水平。因此,研究认为塔里木沙漠公路防护林生态工程灌溉期抽水不会引起天然地下水位的持续下降,这将为沙漠公路沿线地下水资源的可持续利用和防护林生态工程整体的稳定性及长久运行提供一定的理论依据。

Effects of deficit irrigation on daily and seasonal variations of trunk sap flow and its growth in Calligonum arborescens

Water deficit in arid and semiarid regions affects whole-plant sap flow and leaf-level water relations. The objectives of this study were to clarify how sap flow of Calligonum arborescens responds to different drought stress conditions and to understand its acclimation mechanism to drought environments. A field experiment was conducted for C. arborescens during the growing season to evaluate the effects of deficit irrigation on the daily and seasonal variations of trunk sap flow in the shelterbelt along the Tarim Desert Highway, Xinjiang, China. Three dif- ferent water regimes （2,380, 1,960 and 1,225 m3/hm2） were applied at different stages of plant growth. From 1 May to 30 October 2007, a heat-balance stem flow gauge was used to monitor the sap flow dynamics of C. arborescens under different water regimes. Atmospheric evaporation demand and soil moisture conditions for differentially irri- gated C. arborescens were also monitored. The result showed that sap flow exhibited a clear diurnal pattern re- gardless of treatments; the diurnal patterns of sap flow and vapour pressure deficit were very similar under different water regimes and growing seasons, while the slope of the linear regression of this correlation confirmed an in- creasing water regime. The sap flow decreased under reduced water regimes and there was nocturnal sap flow regardless of water regimes, which was mainly contributed to nocturnal transpiration and water recharge. The sap flow peaked before midnight and dropped afterwards with obviously higher values in summer than in other seasons. It is speculated that the water consumption of C. arborescens during the day can be supplemented through the sap flow at night, which increased with increasing irrigation amount. Net radiation was the most significant correlated factor that influenced sap flow velocity and transpiration under different water regimes （R2〉0.719）. Compared with the commonly practiced water regime, the growth of C. arborescens was significantly slower in the stress deficit irrigation, but not significantly different from that in the moderate deficit irrigation. The moderate deficit irrigation would not affect the stability of the shelterbelt and was a more efficient use of water resources compared with the current watering amount.