Study on the Morphological Parameters and Evolution of Caragana microphylla Lam. Nebkhas in Inner Mongolia, China

Nebkhas are widely distributed in farming-pastoral zones, typical grassland and desert margins. In the southeast of the Inner Mongolia Plateau, it is mainly distributed at the leeward of cultivated land and alluvial fan, severe deterioration rangeland and around residential points. Through the field measurement and statistical analysis of Caragana microphylla Lam. Nebkhas morphological parameters (length, width and height of Nebkhas are included), the results show that there were close correlations between the Nebkhas morphological parameters. The ranges of height and width of Nebkhas changed dramatically and have reached up to 11.44 m and 7.97 m respectively, however, the change range of height was relatively smaller and just 1.09 m. The morphological parameters change of the same type Nebkhas in the same region was large ranging from 0.56 m in height, 3.56 m in width to 6.96 m in length, while the morphological characteristics of the same type Nebkhas in different regions were much similar. A correlation between length and width was significantly positive, but the correlations between height and length, and between height and width were much more complicated. It can be concluded that the Nebkhas in Zhengxiangbai Banner and Taipusi Banner were at the initially growing stage, while the Nebkhas in Huade County belonged to a transitional stage from the growing phase to the stabilizing phase. The changing regularity of distance between Nebkhas in along-wind direction was not consistent.