Open AccessRelative Drought Resistance Among Selected Southwestern Landscape Plants
Author(s) -
Jimmy L. Tipton
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
arboriculture and urban forestry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 2155-0778
pISSN - 1935-5297
DOI - 10.48044/jauf.1994.028
Subject(s) - willow , deserts and xeric shrublands , arid , drought resistance , desert (philosophy) , drought tolerance , resistance (ecology) , irrigation , salicaceae , desert climate , agronomy , biology , botany , woody plant , ecology , habitat , philosophy , epistemology
A method of determining drought resistance appears to have promise in identifying superior plants for minimal irrigation landscapes. Under conditions of this test, desert willow had greater resistance to drought than either fruitless mulberry or yellow bells. This can be attributed to a greater tolerance rather than a greater avoidance. Drought tolerance of both desert willow and yellow bells was over 1.5 times that of fruitless mulberry. Fruitless mulberry had as great or greater drought avoidance than the xeric species under dry conditions. Based on these results, desert willow and yellow bells are tolerant water spenders that can convert to water savers. Fruitless mulberry is a relatively intolerant water spender that may not convert to a water saver. If this is confirmed in further studies, then the success of mulberry in the arid Southwest may be attributed to an ability to increase water uptake in times of drought.