Live sand barrier planting method for branch cloning of mongolian caryopteris

Abstract

The invention provides a live sand barrier planting method for branch cloning of mongolian bluebeard, and belongs to the technical field of mongolian bluebeard cultivation. According to the method, the caryopteris mongolica is induced to rapidly form branches in the young forest stage through artificial measures, and the canopy branch density is increased; meanwhile, by utilizing the characteristic that the branches of the mongolian bluebeard are easy to grow adventitious roots, the branches with the adventitious roots are separated from stock plants and then cloned into independent individuals, so that the number of the individuals is increased on site, the branch quantity and the number of the individuals of the mongolian bluebeard are increased, the sand fixation capacity of the mongolian bluebeard is improved, and the efficient sand fixation period of the mongolian bluebeard sand barrier is shortened; meanwhile, the planting cost of the mongolian caryopteris sand barrier is obviously reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of Evodia rutaecarpa cultivation technology, and more particularly to a method for establishing a live sand barrier for Evodia rutaecarpa branch clones. Background Technology

[0002] The sand-fixing capacity of shrub species is significantly positively correlated with individual density and number of branches.

[0003] Caryopteris mongolica is a drought-tolerant deciduous shrub with strong sand-fixing capabilities. Mature individuals are highly branched (10-20 branches per clump). Suitable seedlings for planting are 1-2 year old seedlings. During the juvenile stage, growth is slow and branching is low; at 1-2 years old, branches are typically single, rarely more than two. Traditional methods for effective sand fixation require high-density planting (5-10 seedlings per hole), leading to root compression, intensified resource competition, and consequently reduced survival rate and growth. This inevitably results in numerous drawbacks, including a large number of seedlings required for sand barriers, slow growth, high planting costs, and a long effective sand-fixing period. The low branching rate in the juvenile stage becomes a major bottleneck for rapid and efficient sand fixation.

[0004] Limited propagation techniques are the primary factor hindering the widespread adoption of *Euphorbia humifusa* in sandy soil. Traditional seed propagation requires a nursery with good water and fertilizer conditions, taking 2-3 years from sowing to transplanting, and the survival rate of seedlings in unirrigated sandy soil is extremely low. While cutting propagation can shorten the cycle (spring cuttings can be transplanted the following year), it requires strict environmental control: a lightweight substrate is needed for the cutting bed, maintaining a temperature of 25-28℃ and humidity of 70-80%, along with rooting hormone treatment. This is difficult to implement in natural sandy soil environments, resulting in an unstable survival rate (usually between 30-40%).

[0005] High planting costs are another major bottleneck. Because young plants have few branches, the number of seedlings per unit area needs to be significantly increased to achieve the required canopy density for sand fixation. Studies show that traditional row-and-strip sand barriers require a plant spacing of 30-60cm and a row spacing of 4-10m, with 5-10 seedlings needed per hole to form effective protection. This not only significantly increases seedling costs but also restricts individual growth space after planting, affecting long-term sand fixation effectiveness. Furthermore, the limited time for sand barrier installation (optimal from mid-March to early May) further complicates construction organization.

[0006] The long growth cycle of *Euphorbia mongholicus* also limits its application value. It typically takes 4-5 years from planting to the formation of effective sand-fixing protection. In ecologically fragile sandy areas, this "protective vacuum period" easily leads to secondary wind erosion. Although *Euphorbia mongholicus* has the characteristic of being tolerant of sand burial (it can produce adventitious roots after being buried in sand), young plants have weak wind erosion resistance, and their protective effect is extremely limited before forming a shrub. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of this, the present invention provides a method for establishing sand barriers using *Euphorbia mongholicus* branching cloning. This method artificially induces *Euphorbia mongholicus* to rapidly form branches during the young forest stage, increasing the branching density of the canopy. Simultaneously, utilizing the characteristic of *Euphorbia mongholicus* branches readily producing adventitious roots, branches with adventitious roots are detached from the mother plant to form independent individuals, thereby increasing the number of individuals in situ. This increases the amount of branching and the number of individuals, enhancing the sand-fixing capacity of *Euphorbia mongholicus*, shortening the period during which the sand barrier achieves high efficiency in sand fixation, and significantly reducing the planting cost of *Euphorbia mongholicus* sand barriers.

[0008] The method for establishing a sand barrier using branched cloning of *Euphorbia mongholica* as described in this invention includes the following steps:

[0009] (1) Pruning lateral branches: Prune the lateral branches of the Mongolian euonymus to adjust the crown width and increase the number of branches. The branch density after pruning is 30-45 branches / clump;

[0010] Pruning lateral branches stimulates the buds at the base of the branches and the differentiation and sprouting of callus tissue at the cut, forming new branches. The stubble length of pruned lateral branches on the main stem should be 5-10cm, with varying lengths to avoid a single pruning length. After pruning, multiple new branches sprout from the pruned branch segments, rapidly increasing the canopy density of *Eucommia ulmoides* and enhancing its ability to reduce wind speed. After pruning, the canopy branches of *Eucommia ulmoides* extend towards the rows of the forest belt, thus improving the windbreak and sand-fixing function of *Eucommia ulmoides* shrub forests.

[0011] (2) Branch pressing: Press down the lateral branches of the Mongolian euonymus crown with a length of more than 30cm so that they can fully contact the sandy surface;

[0012] (3) Compaction: Compact the part of the pressed branch that is in contact with the sand surface with sand. The thickness of the sand should be 40-50cm to ensure that the pressed branch is in full contact with the sand for a longer period of time and to maintain the soil moisture content of the part of the pressed branch in contact with the sand at 4-5%.

[0013] (4) Branch cutting: After the bent branches have grown adventitious roots and the length of the adventitious roots is greater than 20cm, cut off the bent side branches so that they can be separated from the mother plant and cloned into independent plants, thus achieving propagation.

[0014] Preferably, the pressing in step (2) is carried out in July or August.

[0015] Preferably, the diameter of the lateral branch in step (2) is 0.5-2cm.

[0016] Preferably, in step (2), 50-60% of the branches of each clump of Eriocaulon mongholicus are selected for the pressing process.

[0017] Preferably, the time for the adventitious roots to grow in step (4) is ≤7 days.

[0018] Preferably, the plant spacing after division in step (4) is 0.2-0.8m.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] (1) High success rate: The method of burying branches is to press the branches on the mother plant into the soil to make them root. During the rooting process, the buried branches can obtain sufficient water and nutrients from the mother plant, so the rooting rate is high. Especially for Eriocaulon mongholicus, which is difficult to root by cutting in sandy soil, the success rate of burying, rooting, separation, and cloning of independent plants is even higher.

[0021] (2) Simple operation: No special equipment or planting (afforestation) techniques are required. The operation is simple and easy to master. Just bend the branches and press them with sand at the appropriate time, and separate them in time.

[0022] (3) Short cloning cycle: Compared with seed propagation and cutting propagation, layer cloning overcomes the difficulties of seed germination and cutting rooting due to drought, as well as the long growth process of seedlings, which requires replanting (afforestation). After rooting, the new plants can be separated from the mother plant and grow independently, which can form mature plants more quickly and shorten the cloning propagation cycle.

[0023] (4) Rapid improvement in sand fixation function: The burying of strips can form new plants in a short period of time, overcoming the disadvantage of low survival rate of traditional seedlings and increasing the shrub density of the Mongolian Eriocaulon mongholicus shrub belt. Due to the increase in shrub density, the windbreak and sand fixation effect is improved. For example, by burying strips, one plant can become three plants, and the sand fixation function is improved by 2-3 times. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 The growth effect of Evodia rutaecarpa before and after the implementation of Example 1 is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments.

[0026] Example 1

[0027] A method for establishing a living sand barrier using branched clones of *Cephalotaxus mongolica*, comprising the following steps:

[0028] (1) An experiment was conducted in the Mu Us Sandy Land (semi-arid area). The initial planting density of Eriocaulon mongholicus was 2m between plants and 3m between rows (strip layout). One year after planting, the lateral branches in the middle of the canopy were pruned every June, leaving a stubble of 5-10cm. 3-5 new branches could sprout from the pruned lateral branches.

[0029] (2) During the rainy season in July, select lateral branches of the lower layer of the crown of Eriocaulon mongholicus that are more than 30cm long and 0.5-2cm in diameter (select 55% of the branches in each clump of Eriocaulon mongholicus) and bend them down to make them fully contact the sandy surface; branches that are too thin have insufficient nutrient reserves, and branches that are too thick are not easy to bend and root.

[0030] (3) Press down the part of the branch that is in contact with the sand surface with sand. The thickness of the sand should be 40cm to prevent the branches from being broken or cut and damaged. Keep the soil moist by relying on the thickness of the buried soil and rainfall to ensure that the pressed branches are in full contact with the sand for a long time and maintain the soil moisture content at the part of the pressed branches at 4-5%.

[0031] (4) The bent branches will grow adventitious roots within a week. After 3 weeks, when the length of the adventitious roots is greater than 20cm, the branches will be cut off along the side closest to the mother plant, so that they can be separated from the mother plant and cloned into independent plants, thus achieving division. After division, the planting spacing will be changed from 2m to 0.5m in one growing season.

[0032] The growth effect of Eupatorium mongolicum before and after implementation is as follows: Figure 1 .

[0033] Untreated Eupatorium mongolicum under the same environment was used as control group 1. The sand-control effect of Eupatorium mongolicum was recorded, and the results are shown in Table 1.

[0034] Table 1

[0035] index Control group 1 Example 1 Branching density 15 branches / clump 35 branches / clump Wind speed decreased (50cm) 30% 62% Single cluster sediment accumulation <![CDATA[0.03m 3 ]]> <![CDATA[0.074m 3 ]]> Sand fixation cycle Effective in 5 years Effective in 2 years Forest belt coverage 30% 85%

[0036] Example 2

[0037] A method for establishing living sand barriers using branched cloning of *Euphorbia mongholicus* is disclosed. The steps are the same as in Example 1, except that Example 2 was conducted in the Kubuqi Desert (arid region), with an initial planting spacing of 1.5m and a single-row arrangement. During pruning of lateral branches, 30% of the branches at the top are retained to maintain their height (increasing the shelter area), while the middle is pruned to promote branching, expanding the crown to 1.2m. The branch density after pruning is 35 branches / clump. During the layering process, 50% of the branches are buried, and the planting spacing is reduced to 0.3m.

[0038] Untreated Eupatorium mongolicum under the same environment was used as control group 2. The sand-control effect of Eupatorium mongolicum was recorded, and the results are shown in Table 2.

[0039] Table 2

[0040] index Control group 2 Example 2 Surface roughness 2cm 7cm Sediment transport reduction rate 40% 82% Sand starting wind speed 4.8m / s 6.1m / s Retention rate 55% (conventional planting) 92% Functional cycle 4 years 1.5 years

[0041] Example 3

[0042] A method for establishing live sand barriers using branched cloning of *Euphorbia mongholicus* is disclosed. The steps are the same as in Example 1, except that Example 3 is conducted in the Hunshandake Sandy Land (a semi-arid sandy area). The initial planting spacing of *Euphorbia mongholicus* is 2.5m, arranged in a strip. After pruning the lateral branches, the branching density is 45 branches / clump. After layering, the planting spacing is reduced to 0.8m.

[0043] Untreated Eupatorium mongolicum under the same environment was used as control group 3. The sand-control effect of Eupatorium mongolicum was recorded, and the results are shown in Table 3.

[0044] Table 3

[0045] index Control group 3 Example 3 Wind speed reduction range 5 times the plant height 10 times the plant height Sand fixation volume <![CDATA[1.2t / (hm 2 ·a)]]> <![CDATA[3.5t / (hm 2 ·a)]]> vegetation cover 25% 75% Water resource utilization efficiency Requires irrigation twice a year Zero irrigation (relying on natural rainfall)

[0046] Following the method described in Example 1, experiments were conducted in the Mu Us Desert and the Kubuqi Desert to investigate the effect of branching density on sand fixation. Multiple tests were performed on experimental groups with different branching densities, and the minimum and maximum values ​​of wind speed reduction and sand accumulation per tree (clump) were recorded in both the Mu Us Desert and the Kubuqi Desert. The results are shown in Table 4.

[0047] Table 4

[0048]

[0049] Branch density is positively correlated with the amount of sand accumulated per shrub, with a correlation coefficient of 0.868. As shown in Table 4, shrubs with a large number of branches and dense canopies can more effectively disperse airflow, increase turbulent energy dissipation, thereby reducing wind speed, reducing wind erosion, and consolidating shifting sand. It can be seen that the number of branches is one of the key structural features affecting its windbreak effect. The number of branches is positively correlated with the wind speed attenuation efficiency, which in turn determines the amount of sand consolidation (sand accumulation) caused by the number of branches and the density of the shrub clusters.

[0050] An experiment was conducted in the Mu Us Desert according to the method in Example 1 to investigate the effect of plant spacing after division on sand fixation. During the experiment, each plant spacing was measured multiple times, and the minimum and maximum values ​​of wind speed reduction, sand transport reduction rate, surface roughness, and sand particle initiation wind speed (the sand particle initiation wind speed in the original desert was 4.5 m / s) were recorded. The results are shown in Table 5.

[0051] Table 5

[0052]

[0053] Comparative Example 1

[0054] A method for establishing a live sand barrier using branched clones of Eriocaulon mongholicus, with the steps described in Example 1, except that the layering in Comparative Example 1 was carried out in May.

[0055] Comparative Example 2

[0056] A method for establishing sand barriers using live branch clones of Eriocaulon mongholicus, with steps similar to Example 1, except that in step 1-1 of Comparative Example 2, 25% of the branches of each Eriocaulon mongholicus clump are selected for layering.

[0057] Comparative Example 3

[0058] The Mongolian Eupatorium is propagated by cuttings. The method is as follows: during the growing season in July, cut 1-2 year old branches of the Mongolian Eupatorium in shifting sand to make 30-40cm long cuttings. Dip the lower cut of the cutting in 100ppm ABT1 rooting powder for 30 minutes, and insert the cuttings into the shifting sand at a depth of 25-30cm. Use a micro-sprayer to keep the sand in the propagation bed moist until the base of the cutting has rooted to a length of 20cm.

[0059] Comparative Example 4

[0060] The conventional layering method is used to plant Eupatorium mongolicum. The specific steps are as follows: Choose a time before spring budding (March). Use 1-2 year old branches, 0.5-1.5 cm in diameter. First, dig a shallow trench (10-15 cm deep and 20 cm wide) below the base of the branch. Apply a small amount of well-rotted organic fertilizer (3-5 cm thick) to the bottom of the trench and cover it with soil (avoid direct contact between the branch and fertilizer). Bend the middle of the branch downwards. To facilitate the growth of adventitious roots, make incisions with a knife on the part buried in the trench. Cover with soil, compact it, water thoroughly, and then keep the soil moist.

[0061] The organic fertilizer described in Comparative Example 4 was prepared using cow dung as raw material and composted using conventional methods.

[0062] The growth status of *Euonymus mongolicus* in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-4 was recorded, and the results are shown in Table 6.

[0063] Table 6

[0064]

[0065] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a living sand barrier using branched clones of *Euonymus mongolica*, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: (1) Pruning lateral branches: Prune the lateral branches of the Mongolian euonymus to adjust the crown width and increase the number of branches. The branch density after pruning is 30-45 branches / clump; (2) Branch pressing: Press down the lateral branches of the Mongolian euonymus crown with a length of more than 30cm so that they can fully contact the sandy surface; (3) Compaction: Compact the part of the branch that is in contact with the sand surface with sand. The thickness of the sand should be 40-50cm, and the soil moisture content of the part of the branch in contact with the sand should be maintained at 4-5%. (4) Branch cutting: After the bent branches have grown adventitious roots and the length of the adventitious roots is greater than 20cm, cut off the bent side branches so that they can be separated from the mother plant and cloned into independent plants, thus achieving propagation.

2. The method for establishing a living sand barrier using branched cloning of *Euonymus mongolica* according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressing of branches in step (2) is carried out in July-August.

3. The method for establishing a living sand barrier using branched cloning of *Euonymus mongolica* according to claim 1, characterized in that, The diameter of the lateral branches in step (2) is 1-2 cm.

4. The method for establishing a living sand barrier using branched cloning of *Euonymus mongolica* according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step (2), 50-60% of the branches of each clump of Eriocaulon mongholicus are selected for the pruning process.

5. The method for establishing a living sand barrier using branched cloning of *Euonymus mongolica* according to claim 1, characterized in that, The time required for the adventitious roots to emerge in step (4) is ≤7 days.

6. The method for establishing a living sand barrier using branched cloning of *Euonymus mongolica* according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spacing between the plants after division in step (4) is 0.2-0.8 cm.

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