Variation Characteristics of Water Content in Two Typical Eremophytes under Drought Stress in the Drift Desert Hinterland

To reveal relationship between water content of plant tissue and soil moisture in the hinterland of Taklimakan desert in China's southern Xinjiang, Haloxylon ammodendron and Nitraria sibirica were selected, and the water potential and content in the tissues of two plants under drought stress were determined. The results were shown that: (1) water potential in the morning and the water content in the tissues of Haloxylon ammodendron and Nitraria sibirica decreased with the decline of soil moisture content. (2) When the soil water stress appeared, the water potential values of Haloxylon ammodendron and Nitraria sibirica were -4.47 MPa and -5.88 MPa, respectively. (3) The lower limits of soil moisture contents that were suitable for the growth of Haloxylon ammodendron and Nitraria sibirica were 2.50% and 3.00%, respectively.