Effects of different sand burial depths on growth of two shrub seedlings

摘要

Effects of sand burial depth on seedling growth of two dominant shrubs in Horqin Sandy Land were studied. Nine treatments of sand burial depth were designed, growth characteristics including survival rates and seedling height were measured. The results showed that sand burial decreased the survival rates of Artemisia halodendron seedlings, but had little effect on Caragana microphylla seedlings when the burial depth was shallow. The upper threshold limit of Caragana microphylla seedlings to resist sand burial stress is 100% of their height, Artemisia halodendron seedlings are more resistant to sand burial, can even survive when the burial depth reached to 8 cm higher than their height. The response of seedling height to sand burial stress between two species is different, contrary to Artemisia halodendron, seedling height of Caragana microphylla was stimulated in shallow depth.