Abstract:

In order to investigate the impacts of sand burial on seedling survival and growth of the species, the author took sand from natural habitats and use of indoor artificial simulation test, studied the effects of different depth sand burial on the seedling growth of P. cornutum and P. dolabratum. Results showed when the sand burial depth was up to 1/3-1/2 of their height, all the seedlings from P. cornutum and P. dolabratum could survive, and their growth characteristics which included biomass, growth percent of leaf area, RGR and NAR were significantly higher than the unburied seedlings, had lower root-top ratio. When the burial depth increased to 2/3 of their heigh, 80% of P. cornutum seedlings and 60% of P. dolabratum seedlings could survive, their growth characteristics were significantly lower than the unburied seedlings, had higher root-top ratio. No seedlings could survive when they were wholly buried in sand. Therefore, the seedlings growth of P. cornutum and P. dolabratum had strong adaptability to sand burial. When buried by sand, the seedlings extended stem and allocated more biomass for the growth of their overground part, which might be two important adaptation strategies of P. cornutum and P. dolabratum sand burial.