[Responses of stem hydraulic traits in Salix psammophila and Caragana korshinskii to manipulated precipitation variation.].

With a precipitation manipulation experiment (Control, +45% and -50%), the responses of stem hydraulic traits in two dominant shrubs (Salix psammophila and Caragana korshinskii) of water-wind erosion crisscross region of the Loess Plateau to projected precipitation variation were examined to elucidate their adaptability to future precipitation changes. Results showed that the specific hydraulic conductivity (K), leaf specific conductivity (K) and Huber value in S. psammophila increased significantly by irrigation but showed no responses to drought. The predawn and midday leaf water potential and water transport efficiency (K and K) in C. korshinskii decreased significantly by drought, and showed no responses to irrigation. The embolism resistance across different treatments did not differ in the two shrubs. The midday native embolisms across treatments in S. psammophila were almost the same. Drought increased midday native embolism in C. korshinskii. Irrigation increased conduit diameter and conduit area per stem sap area while drought increased the vessel density and decreased the hydraulic diameter in S. psammophila. Irrigation had no effect on xylem anatomy, whereas drought increased the vessel density and wood density in C. korshinskii. These results indicated that irrigation promoted stem hydraulic function in S. psammophila, and drought decreased stem hydraulic function in C. korshinskii. C. korshinskii may be less resistant to future dry climate than S. psammophila.