Trade-off between shrub plantation and wind-breaking in the arid sandy lands of ningxia, China. | [Pakistan Journal of Botany • 2012]

Author(s):

1. Qiang Cui: Bejing Forestry University, College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing100083, China

2. Zeshen Feng: Bejing Forestry University, College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing100083, China

3. Michael Pfiz: University of Hohenheim, Institute of Botany, Stuttgart, Germany

4. Maik Veste: University of Hohenheim, Institute of Botany, Stuttgart, Germany; CEBra – Center for Energy Technology Brandenburg, Cottbus, Germany

5. Manfred Kuppers: University of Hohenheim, Institute of Botany, Stuttgart, Germany

6. Kangning He: Bejing Forestry University, College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing100083, China

7. Jiarong Gao: Bejing Forestry University, College of Soil and Water Conservation, Beijing100083, China

Abstract:

The effect and cost-benefit relationships of planted shelterbelts on reducing wind velocity and sand transportation rate (benefit) in relation to shrub height and density (cost) were studied in the Yanchi sandy land in NW China The species specific morphology of Salix psammophila C Wang & ChY Yang was more effective in wind-breaking than Caragana microphylla Lam while Tamarix cf chinensis was least effective Wind-breaking and reduction of sand transportation increased with shrub height, higher planting density, number of parallel rows in a shelterbelt but was always the greatest near ground It declined with increasing distance from the lee-side of the belt Shelterbelts composed of 15m tall C microphylla at 15m planting distance in 3 rows per belt exhibited best effects on wind-breaking and sand fixation In a modelling approach these effects could be generally expressed as manifolds of shrub height rather than absolute distances, and they were correlated to a cost (investment) factor given by shrub height and planting density The highest benefit-cost relationship is now yielded by planting smallest shrubs in 1 to 2 rows per belt at a larger (optimal) distance between rows and belts Obviously, the trade-off is more sensitive to costs than to benefits favouring many small shrubs with smaller individual effects rather than fewer larger shrubs with stronger effects This implies the potential for an appropriate, controlled wood harvesting from these shelterbelts as long as near-ground re-sprouting is not affected, and the use of grasses when planting these belts.

Page(s): 1639-1649

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: Pakistan Journal of Botany, Volume: 44, Issue: 5, Year: 2012

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