A model for evaluating the influence of water and salt on vegetation in a semi-arid desert region, northern China

• Published in: Environmental earth sciences Vol. 64; no. 2; pp. 337 - 346
• Main Authors: Cheng, Dong Hui, Wang, Wen Ke, Chen, Xun Hong, Hou, Guang Cai, Yang, Hong Bin, Li, Ying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.09.2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Artemisia; Biogeosciences; Biological and medical sciences; Carex; Deserts; Dominant species; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Environmental Science and Engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geochemistry; Geology; Groundwater; Groundwater management; Hydrogeology; Hydrology. Hydrogeology; Hydrology/Water Resources; Lithology; Marine and continental quaternary; Mathematical models; Mineralization; Moisture content; Nature conservation; Original Article; Plant growth; Plant species; Salix; Salt; Surficial geology; Synecology; Terrestrial ecosystems; Terrestrial Pollution; Vadose water; Vegetation; Water; Water depth; Water table; Shaanxi China; Inner Mongolia China; Far East; Asia; China; Northern China; Mongolia, Mu Us; China, People's Rep; Comprehensive index; Vegetation–groundwater interaction; Vadose zone; Influence of water and salt on vegetation (IWSV) model; The Mu Us Desert; Vegetation―groundwater interaction; ground water; vegetation; Salix; aquifers; Dicotyledoneae; models; salinity; salt; soil moisture; Plantae; water table; chemically precipitated rocks; evaporites; Artemisia; unsaturated zone; sedimentary rocks; conservation; deserts; depth; angiosperms; management; prediction; Spermatophyta; semi-arid environment
• ISSN: 1866-6280; 1866-6299
• DOI: 10.1007/s12665-010-0854-2

A model, influence of water and salt on vegetation (IWSV), was developed to evaluate their influence on plant species. The main function of this model was to calculate a comprehensive index value for evaluating the suitability of plant growth. This model consists of five explanatory variables (vadose zone moisture content, vadose zone salinity, vadose zone lithology, depth to the water table, and groundwater mineralization) and two response variables (plant species and their cover). A set of independent data on three plant species, Artemisia ordosica , Salix psammophila, and Carex enervis , which are dominant species in the Mu Us Desert of northern China, were used to validate the model. Validation results show an overall correct prediction for the distribution of these three species. The results demonstrated that the IWSV model can be a useful tool for groundwater management and nature conservation in a semi-arid desert region, especially for predicting the vegetation distribution in areas with groundwater extraction.