Diurnal pattern of leaf water potential of <i>H</i>. <i>ammodendron</i> (a, b) and <i>C</i>. <i>mongolicunl</i> (c, d) before and after irrigation for the five irrigation intervals.

<p>The data points for the 2-week interval fell between those of the 1 and 4 weeks; those of the 8-week interval fell between those of 4 and 12 weeks. Error bars represent the standard deviation of the mean.</p

Residual N and P (as percentage of initial content) of fine and coarse roots from <i>E</i>. <i>oxyrrhynchum</i> and <i>S</i>. <i>santolinum</i> during the decomposition process under control (C), water (W), nitrogen (N), and water plus nitrogen addition (WN) treatments (experiment II).

<p>(A, E) fine and (B, F) coarse roots of <i>E</i>. <i>oxyrrhynchum</i>; (C, G) fine and (D, H) coarse roots of <i>S</i>. <i>santolinum</i>. Vertical bars represent standard errors (n <i>=</i> 3).</p

Seasonal changes in soil water content at the depth of 10 cm for control (C), water (W), nitrogen (N), and water plus nitrogen addition (WN) treatments (mean±SE).

<p>Seasonal changes in soil water content at the depth of 10 cm for control (C), water (W), nitrogen (N), and water plus nitrogen addition (WN) treatments (mean±SE).</p

Soil physical properties of shifting sand and shelterbelt soil after shelterbelt has been set up for 7 years.

<p>Soil physical properties of shifting sand and shelterbelt soil after shelterbelt has been set up for 7 years.</p

Soil water content and biomass allocation of two species for 2-week irrigation interval at the TDBG and the TDSH where some <i>C</i>. <i>mongolicunl</i> have been dead.

<p>Soil water content and biomass allocation of two species for 2-week irrigation interval at the TDBG and the TDSH where some <i>C</i>. <i>mongolicunl</i> have been dead.</p

Comparison of mean physiological and growth parameters of <i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i> and <i>Calligonum mongolicunl</i> before and after irrigation with intervals of 1, 4 and 12 weeks.

<p>Comparison of mean physiological and growth parameters of <i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i> and <i>Calligonum mongolicunl</i> before and after irrigation with intervals of 1, 4 and 12 weeks.</p

Growth status of <i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i> and <i>Calligonum mongolicunl</i> in parts of the Taklimakan Desert Highway Shelterbelt.

<p>Growth status of <i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i> and <i>Calligonum mongolicunl</i> in parts of the Taklimakan Desert Highway Shelterbelt.</p

Diurnal photosynthesis patterns of <i>Haloxylon ammodendron</i> (a, b) and <i>Calligonum mongolicunl</i> (c, d) before and after irrigation for the five irrigation intervals.

<p>The data points for the 2-week interval fell between those of the 1 and 4 weeks; those of the 8-week interval fell between those of 4 and 12 weeks. Error bars represent the standard deviation of the mean. Different lower-case letters indicate significant differences among treatments (<i>P</i> = 0.05).</p

Diurnal pattern of transpiration for <i>H</i>. <i>ammodendron</i> (a, b) and <i>C</i>. <i>mongolicunl</i> (c, d) before and after irrigation for the five irrigation intervals.

<p>The data points for the 2-week interval fell between those of the 1 and 4 weeks; those of the 8-week interval fell between those of 4 and 12 weeks. Error bars represent the standard deviation of the mean.</p

Initial N (A) and lignin (B) concentration of fine and coarse roots from <i>E</i>. <i>oxyrrhynchum</i> and <i>S</i>. <i>santolinum</i> in the second experiment (experiment II).

<p>* indicates significant differences between fine and coarse roots within each species (<i>P</i><0.05). Vertical bars represent standard errors (n = 3).</p