Optimal Irrigation Regime for Woody Species Potentially Suitable for Effective and Sustainable Afforestation in the Desert Region of Mongolia

Ser-Oddamba Byambadorj, Byung Bae Park, Jonathan O. Hernandez, Narantugs Dulamsuren, Zoljargal Sainbuyan, Oyuntugs Altantugs, Khulan Sharavdorj, In Kyeong Seong and Nyam-Osor Batkhuu
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Ser-Oddamba Byambadorj: Department of Environment and Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
Byung Bae Park: Department of Environment and Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
Jonathan O. Hernandez: Department of Environment and Forest Resources, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
Narantugs Dulamsuren: Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Ecophysiology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14201, Mongolia
Zoljargal Sainbuyan: Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Ecophysiology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14201, Mongolia
Oyuntugs Altantugs: Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Ecophysiology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14201, Mongolia
Khulan Sharavdorj: Crop Ecology Laboratory, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
In Kyeong Seong: Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Ecophysiology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14201, Mongolia
Nyam-Osor Batkhuu: Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Ecophysiology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14201, Mongolia

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: Long-term studies on plant response mechanisms to different irrigation regimes will provide a better understanding of the survivability and establishment of plant communities in a desert environment. Thus, across 10 years, we regularly investigated the effects of the rainfall (control), rainfall + 4 L h −1 , rainfall + 8 L h −1 , and rainfall + 12 L h −1 irrigation regimes on the growth and leaf morpho-physiology of Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb., Ulmus pumila L., Elaeagnus moorcroftii Wall. ex Schltdl., and Hippophae rhamnoides L. to suggest an optimal irrigation regime for each woody species for effective and sustainable afforestation in Mongolia. We measured the root collar diameter (RCD), annual height growth, survivability, leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf biomass (LB), total chlorophyll concentration, and predawn (ψ p ) and midday (ψ m ) leaf water potentials across the treatments and species. Results showed that trees grown at 12 L h −1 grew taller per year and generally resulted in a higher SLA, but generally resulted in a lower survival rate compared with those in the other treatments in all species. Total chlorophyll content was higher in trees grown under 4 and/or 8 L h −1 , particularly for T. ramosissima and E. moorcroftii. Lastly, leaf water potentials were found more negative for trees subjected to 4 L h −1 , especially in T. ramosissima and U. pumila , but still resulted in a higher survival rate and LB compared with 12 L h −1 . H. rhamnoides showed higher survivability at 8 and/or 12 L h −1 than at 4 L h −1 . Therefore, we suggest 4 L h −1 to be the optimal irrigation regime for irrigating T. ramosissima , U. pumila and E. moorcroftii , and 8 and/or 12 L h −1 for H. rhamnoides. Our findings are relevant to ensuring the sustainability of afforestation programs in arid and semiarid landscapes in Mongolia.

Keywords: arid and semiarid; desertification; Elaeagnus moorcroftii; Green belt plantation; morpho-physiology; Tamarix ramosissima; Ulmus pumila (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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