沙(sha)(sha)棗(zao)樹也叫作桂(gui)香(xiang)柳(liu),產于(yu)內蒙古西部沙(sha)(sha)漠(mo)里,是(shi)沙(sha)(sha)漠(mo)的(de)(de)守護者(zhe)。因開花香(xiang)味(wei)與(yu)江南桂(gui)花相(xiang)似,生(sheng)命力(li)又非常(chang)頑強,故(gu)有“飄香(xiang)沙(sha)(sha)漠(mo)的(de)(de)桂(gui)花”的(de)(de)美稱。沙(sha)(sha)棗(zao)葉片(pian)低矮,生(sheng)長(chang)速度快。晚夏,滿樹花朵芳香(xiang),還(huan)能為(wei)園林提供罕(han)見(jian)的(de)(de)銀白色景觀(guan),也可作為(wei)觀(guan)賞樹及背景樹。此外,沙(sha)(sha)棗(zao)樹也是(shi)很(hen)好的(de)(de)造林、綠化、薪(xin)炭、防風、固沙(sha)(sha)樹種,已成(cheng)為(wei)西北地(di)區主要造林樹種之一。
沙(sha)棗樹屬落(luo)(luo)葉喬木或(huo)(huo)(huo)喬木,高5~10米,樹干無(wu)刺,枝(zhi)條有刺,刺長(chang)3~4cm,呈(cheng)紅(hong)棕色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se)。幼枝(zhi)密被(bei)銀(yin)白(bai)(bai)色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se)鱗片(pian)(pian),老時脫落(luo)(luo),呈(cheng)栗褐(he)色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se)。單葉互生,具(ju)銀(yin)白(bai)(bai)色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se)纖細(xi)的柄(bing);葉片(pian)(pian)薄紙質(zhi),長(chang)圓(yuan)狀(zhuang)披(pi)針形(xing)(xing),長(chang)3~7cm,寬(kuan)1~1.3cm,基部(bu)(bu)楔(xie)形(xing)(xing),全緣,頂端(duan)鈍(dun)尖或(huo)(huo)(huo)鈍(dun)形(xing)(xing),上面(mian)幼時具(ju)銀(yin)白(bai)(bai)色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing)鱗片(pian)(pian),后部(bu)(bu)分脫落(luo)(luo),下(xia)面(mian)灰白(bai)(bai)色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se),密被(bei)銀(yin)白(bai)(bai)色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se)鱗片(pian)(pian),有光澤。1~3花(hua)(hua)簇生于(yu)(yu)小枝(zhi)下(xia)部(bu)(bu)的葉腋,花(hua)(hua)萼(e)銀(yin)白(bai)(bai)色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se),花(hua)(hua)瓣(ban)為金黃色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se)。密被(bei)銀(yin)白(bai)(bai)色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se)鱗片(pian)(pian),芳香;萼(e)筒鐘形(xing)(xing),上端(duan)4裂,裂片(pian)(pian)寬(kuan)卵形(xing)(xing)或(huo)(huo)(huo)卵狀(zhuang)長(chang)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing),內面(mian)被(bei)白(bai)(bai)色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se)星狀(zhuang)柔毛;雄蕊4株,幾(ji)無(wu)花(hua)(hua)絲;花(hua)(hua)柱上端(duan)彎曲,有圓(yuan)錐(zhui)形(xing)(xing)花(hua)(hua)盤包圍于(yu)(yu)花(hua)(hua)柱的基部(bu)(bu)。果(guo)橢(tuo)圓(yuan)形(xing)(xing),長(chang)2~3cm,直徑1~1.5cm,粉紅(hong)色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se)或(huo)(huo)(huo)深紅(hong)色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se),密被(bei)銀(yin)白(bai)(bai)色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se)鱗片(pian)(pian),果(guo)肉粉質(zhi),乳(ru)白(bai)(bai)或(huo)(huo)(huo)淡(dan)黃色(se)(se)(se)(se)(se)。花(hua)(hua)期在5~7月份,果(guo)期8~10月。生于(yu)(yu)山(shan)地、平原、沙(sha)灘、荒漠,栽培或(huo)(huo)(huo)野生。
天(tian)然沙(sha)棗只分布在降水(shui)量(liang)低(di)于150毫(hao)米的(de)(de)荒漠和半(ban)荒漠地(di)區(qu),與淺的(de)(de)地(di)下水(shui)位相(xiang)關(guan),地(di)下水(shui)位低(di)于4米,則生長(chang)不良。沙(sha)棗側根發(fa)達,根幅很(hen)大,在疏松的(de)(de)土(tu)壤中,能生出很(hen)多根瘤(liu),其中的(de)(de)固(gu)氮根瘤(liu)菌(jun)還能提高(gao)土(tu)壤肥力,改良土(tu)壤。側枝萌發(fa)力強,頂芽長(chang)勢弱。枝條茂密(mi),常形成(cheng)稠密(mi)株叢。枝條被沙(sha)埋后,易生長(chang)不定根,有防(fang)風、固(gu)沙(sha)作用。
沙棗(zao)(zao)樹生命力極強,具有(you)抗旱、防風沙、耐鹽(yan)堿、耐貧瘠等特點。天然沙棗(zao)(zao)樹只分(fen)布在降水量低(di)于150毫米的(de)荒漠和半荒漠地區。
作為一(yi)種喬木,沙(sha)(sha)棗(zao)樹(shu)并不怎么高大(da),大(da)多數只(zhi)有三四米高,但(dan)卻是上好的固沙(sha)(sha)植物(wu),據說沙(sha)(sha)棗(zao)樹(shu)的根(gen)系特(te)別發達,能充(chong)分吸收沙(sha)(sha)土深層(ceng)的點(dian)點(dian)濕潤。因此,它不僅能在干旱貧瘠(ji)的沙(sha)(sha)地里生根(gen)發芽(ya),茁壯(zhuang)成(cheng)長(chang),還能綻(zhan)放(fang)生命(ming)的花朵,結出可愛的果子。
沙(sha)棗樹果(guo)(guo)(guo)實(shi)(沙(sha)棗)于10月中(zhong)下旬成熱。果(guo)(guo)(guo)實(shi)成熟后并(bing)不(bu)立即脫(tuo)落,可用(yong)手摘取或以竿擊落,布幕收集。采(cai)種(zhong)(zhong)要選擇生長健壯,無病(bing)蟲害、樹干較通(tong)(tong)直、果(guo)(guo)(guo)實(shi)品(pin)質好(hao)的母樹。果(guo)(guo)(guo)實(shi)采(cai)回后及時攤曬,防(fang)止發(fa)霉(mei),干后用(yong)石(shi)碾碾壓,脫(tuo)除果(guo)(guo)(guo)面。100斤(jin)果(guo)(guo)(guo)實(shi),約可出種(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)50斤(jin),沙(sha)棗面50斤(jin)。種(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)在(zai)(zai)干燥通(tong)(tong)風處貯藏,堆層厚度不(bu)宜超(chao)過1米(mi)。新鮮飽滿的種(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)發(fa)芽(ya)(ya)率(lv)多在(zai)(zai)90%以上,貯存良好(hao)的種(zhong)(zhong)子(zi),5~6年后,發(fa)芽(ya)(ya)率(lv)仍達60~70%。種(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)的重(zhong)量因品(pin)種(zhong)(zhong)而不(bu)同,種(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)千粒重(zhong)為(wei)250~380克,每斤(jin)有種(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)1300~2000粒。
播種育苗
播(bo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)育苗(miao)多(duo)在(zai)春季(ji)。春季(ji)育苗(miao)的(de)要在(zai)頭(tou)年(nian)冬季(ji)12月進行種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)處理(li)。方法是把(ba)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)淘(tao)洗干凈(jing),摻(chan)等量細沙(sha)(sha)混和(he)均勻,放(fang)入事先挖好(hao)的(de)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)處理(li)坑(深80厘(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),寬100厘(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),長隨種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)多(duo)少而定(ding))內,或按40~60厘(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)厚堆放(fang)地(di)面,周圍用(yong)沙(sha)(sha)壅(yong)埋成埂,灌足水(種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)上面積(ji)水10~20厘(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)),待水滲(shen)下(xia)或結冰(bing)后(hou)(hou),覆(fu)沙(sha)(sha)20厘(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi)越冬。未經冬藏的(de)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi),播(bo)前可用(yong)50~60℃溫水浸泡2~3天,撈(lao)出后(hou)(hou)與馬糞混和(he)放(fang)在(zai)向陽處保(bao)濕催(cui)(cui)芽,待30~40%種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)裂嘴后(hou)(hou)即可播(bo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)。秋播(bo)的(de)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)子(zi)(zi)不必催(cui)(cui)芽處理(li)。沙(sha)(sha)棗樹育苗(miao)可用(yong)大田式條播(bo),行距(ju)25厘(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),播(bo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)深度3~5厘(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),每米(mi)(mi)(mi)常播(bo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)溝(gou)播(bo)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)100粒(li)左右,每畝下(xia)種(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)40斤左右,播(bo)后(hou)(hou)覆(fu)土(tu),6月上旬(xun)間苗(miao),苗(miao)距(ju)7厘(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),每畝保(bao)苗(miao)3~4萬株。當(dang)年(nian)生苗(miao)高50~60厘(li)(li)(li)(li)米(mi)(mi)(mi),可出圃造(zao)林(lin)。
扦插育苗
沙棗樹(shu)扦插(cha)育苗能保持母株的優良品質:插(cha)條剪取、扦插(cha)方法、時間等都與(yu)楊樹(shu)扦插(cha)相(xiang)同,詳見(jian)二白楊扦插(cha)育苗。
沙棗樹可用植苗或插干造林
插干造林
在土壤濕潤、水分條件好(hao)(hao)的(de)(de)地(di)方,可用插干造林。選擇2厘(li)米(mi)粗,1.5米(mi)長的(de)(de)枝條,剪(jian)去側(ce)枝后(hou)作為(wei)側(ce)穗,直接插于整(zheng)好(hao)(hao)地(di)的(de)(de)造林地(di)上,扦插深(shen)度一(yi)般應達(da)40厘(li)米(mi)。以春季扦插為(wei)好(hao)(hao)。插后(hou)要(yao)保(bao)持土壤濕潤。
植苗造林
植(zhi)(zhi)苗造(zao)(zao)林(lin)可在春,秋(qiu)兩季進行,春季為(wei)“清(qing)明”至(zhi)“谷雨”,秋(qiu)季為(wei)“霜降”至(zhi)“立冬”,但以春季造(zao)(zao)林(lin)為(wei)好。在地(di)(di)(di)(di)下水位不(bu)(bu)(bu)超過2~3米的沙(sha)荒灘地(di)(di)(di)(di)或(huo)丘(qiu)間低(di)地(di)(di)(di)(di)上造(zao)(zao)林(lin),不(bu)(bu)(bu)灌水也能成活、生長。若地(di)(di)(di)(di)下水位過深時,需有灌溉(gai)條件方(fang)可造(zao)(zao)林(lin)。土(tu)(tu)壤粘(zhan)重的,要在頭年耕翻(fan)整(zheng)地(di)(di)(di)(di),來(lai)年造(zao)(zao)林(lin),沙(sha)壤土(tu)(tu)、壤質沙(sha)土(tu)(tu)地(di)(di)(di)(di)、厚覆沙(sha)地(di)(di)(di)(di)以及地(di)(di)(di)(di)表鹽(yan)(yan)結皮較厚的鹽(yan)(yan)漬土(tu)(tu),都(dou)可邊挖穴邊栽植(zhi)(zhi),不(bu)(bu)(bu)必事先(xian)整(zheng)地(di)(di)(di)(di)。每畝栽植(zhi)(zhi)200株(zhu)左(zuo)右(you)。