Influence of floodwater irrigation on vegetation composition and vegetation regeneration in a Taklimakan desert oasis

Abstract

Naturally occurring floods in the summer months are the main source of surface water application in the foreland of Qira oasis, which is characterized by a hyperarid climate and is located at the southern fringe of the Taklimakan Desert. We investigated the impact of repeated artificial flood irrigation on seedling recruitment and growth of Alhagi sparsifolia and Karelinia caspica plant communities which are part of the dominant vegetation in Qira oasis. Flood irrigation was applied three times during the growing season and we studied the effect of irrigation on species recruitment, vegetation growth, species composition, and changes in soil water and nutrient concentrations in the soil prof..