Abstract:

Phenophase of plants is crucial to forecast a variety of seasonal weather events (such as dust storms, strong winds), and determine seasonal grazing and the building of sand-fixing vegetation in the desert region. Five Phenophases were divided based on observed phenology data of 36 plant species since 1974 in Minqin desert region with frequency statistical method of phenology. Sustained characteristics and combination characteristics of the phenophases were analyzed. The results showed that: Phenophase of plant active period was 212 days. The continuous green period was even longer, and the continuous flower color period was shortest. Flower color period, fruit bearing period and green period overlapped between the different plants. Salix matsudana had the longest active period, while Rhus typhina and Phragmites communis had the shortest active period. Populus euphratica and Rhus typhina had the shortest green period, and Phragmites communis had the shortest autumn color period. The plants in the desert exhibited huge differences in glorescence and fruit period. The plants started flowering early, and also stopped flowering early in terms of the phenophase on flower color period.

Key words: plant phenology, phenophase, sustained characteristics, combination characteristics, Minqin desert region