Water sources were vital for exploring mechanisms inducing the Mongolian pine dieback.
Trees used soil water in spring and autumn, but soil water and groundwater in summer.
30% and 56% of water used came from groundwater when soil moisture were 6.6% and 3.5%.
Groundwater contribution to transpiration was 12.2% during the measurement period Pine dieback occurred when water table declined suddenly in extreme low rainfall year.
“Pine dieback occurred when water table declined suddenly in extreme low rainfall year” should be the fifth bullet point.