Comparisons of Water Potential among Populus euphratica,Haloxylon Ammodendron and Tamarix Ramosissima under Drought Condition in Southern Edge of Junggar Basin

【Objective】The three desert plants (Populus euphratica,Haloxylon ammodendron and Tamarix ramosissima)in the bumper forest of Regiment 150, are used as objects comparing the differences among their water potential variation regularities to explore the varlation character of plant water potential in drought areas.【Method】The water potential of the three plants were measured with a Dew Point Meter Water Potential,combined with the data of their water potential and the groundwater level in 2008 and 2009,the relationship between their water potentials and the groundwater levels was analyzed in order to find the response of plant water potential to the groundwater level.【Result】The results showed that leaf and stem water potentials of natural P.euphratica in 2009 were obviously higher than those in 2008;leaf and stem water potentials of artificial P.euphratica exhibited the similar diurnal change trend,which appeared as the linear type,and were essentially lower than those in 2008;diurnal changes of assimilative shoot water potential of H.ammodendron displayed almost the same variation trend both in 2008 and 2009,which showed the bimodal pattern;stem water potential of T.ramosissima in 2009 was a little higher than that in 2008,but both diurnal variation are similar.Monthly changes of groundwater depth at Regiment 150 Bumper Forest from 2008 to 2009 indicated that amplitude was not significant but revealed a down trend.【Conclusion】By comparison,the result of the comparison of the water potential of the three plants is that: Tamarix ramosissimaHaloxylon ammodendronnatural P.euphraticaartificial P.euphratica.This study has a certain reference meaning to the recovery and rebuilding of P.euphratica,H.ammodendron and T.ramosissima at bumper forest and their sustainable management .