JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2025, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (3): 172-180.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202302034

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Effects of air humidification and soil water addition on the microclimate of plant growth in semi-arid areas in Inner Mongolia

SANG Qingtian1(), WANG Yu1,*(), LI Yiding2, ZHANG Hao3, LIU Longchang1, PAN Qingmin4, LIU Wei4, YUAN Wenping5   

  1. 1. College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, China
    2. Pingxiang City Forestry Research Institute, Pingxiang 337000, China
    3. School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010021, China
    4. State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
    5. School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China
  • Received:2023-02-25 Accepted:2024-12-20 Online:2025-05-30 Published:2025-05-27
  • Contact: WANG Yu E-mail:572257322@qq.com;yuwang911@163.com

Abstract:

【Objective】This study aims to examine the microclimate changes induced by high-pressure spray air humidification devices in typical semi-arid regions, providing a basis for understanding the effects of humidity variations on plant growth.【Method】Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica was selected as the study species. High-pressure spraying and irrigation manipulations were applied in an open-top enclosure using a high-transmittance plastic film to establish a field humidification platform in Xilin Gol, Inner Mongolia. Continuous monitoring of air and soil temperature and humidity was conducted for each treatment. The effects of air and soil humidification on the plant growth microclimate were then analyzed.【Result】During the growing seasons of 2019 and 2020, air humidification significantly increased the average daily air humidity by 14.18% and 7.20%, respectively, and reduced the average daily vapor pressure deficit by 3.74 and 1.98. Additionally, it significantly raised the soil moisture content at a depth of 20 cm by 2.31% and 3.33%, respectively. However, air humidification did not significantly affect air temperature and soil temperature. The application of air humidification generally reduced the diurnal fluctuations of both air temperature and humidity. Soil water addition significantly increased the soil moisture content at a 20 cm depth during both growing seasons (2.31% in 2019 and 3.65% in 2020) and increased the average daily air moisture by 4.62% in the 2020 growing season. However, it did not significantly affect air temperature and soil temperature.【Conclusion】Air humidification notably increased the average daily air humidity and soil water content while reducing the vapor pressure deficit. However, it did not significantly influence the daily average air temperature and soil temperature. These findings confirm the practicality of using high-pressure spray air humidification in field experiments.

Key words: the Three-north shelterbelt, field manipulative experiment, air humidification, soil water addition, microclimate, Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica

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