Caragana microphylla (Shrub) Seedlings Exhibit Better Growth than Surrounding Herbs Under Drought Conditions

Zhengyu Wang, Chengyi Tu, Jingjing Fan, Chuchen Wu, Zhenglin Lv, Ruining Liu and Ying Fan ()
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Zhengyu Wang: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
Chengyi Tu: School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
Jingjing Fan: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
Chuchen Wu: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
Zhenglin Lv: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
Ruining Liu: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
Ying Fan: College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: Shrub encroachment is a global ecological issue. The changes in growth dynamics between shrub seedlings and herbs are pivotal in determining shrub encroachment, yet their response to varying rainfall regimes remains unclear. We conducted a precipitation manipulation experiment (three precipitation (P) amount treatments: P−25% (225 mm), P (300 mm), P+25% (375 mm); three drought interval treatments: DI4, DI6, DI8) on a mixture of Caragana microphylla (shrub) seedlings and four herbs ( Neotrinia splendens , Campeiostachys dahurica , Lolium multiflorum and Medicago sativa ), analyzing their ecophysiological and growth responses. The results showed the following: (1) Under P−25%, herb growth was inhibited, while shrub seedlings thrived. Compared to P, C. microphylla significantly increased by 138% in aboveground biomass (AGB), while herb AGB decreased by 10%. (2) Under P+25%, herbs exhibited superior growth to shrub seedlings. Compared to P, four herbs significantly increased by 53% in AGB, while C. microphylla growth did not significantly respond. (3) Under DI8, shrub seedlings exhibited superior growth compared to herbs. Compared to DI4, C. microphylla significantly increased by 90% in AGB, while herb growth did not significantly respond. Our results indicate that drier conditions suppressed herb growth while promoting shrubs. However, increased precipitation amounts stimulated herb growth but not shrubs. These results could explain the process of shrub encroachment and provide a theoretical basis for predicting the pattern of shrub expansion under future rainfall regimes.

Keywords: climatic change; growth response; rainfall pattern; shrub expansion; shrub-encroached grassland; shrub seedlings (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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