Interaction between hydrological process and plant ecological process is the main research content of Eco-hydrology. Based on the conceptions of green water (GW) and blue water (BW), the research of Eco-hydrology linked water cycle with ecological process closely, and moreover, protruded the effects of plant on water cycle. According to the theory of GW and BW, the water conservation function of vegetation can be regarded as a proportional division of natural rainfall between GW and BW by means of forest and grassland. In desert area, water-cycle model of rain-fed plant is "pure green", because the rain permeated into the soil would be consumed completely through evaporation and transpiration and (GW), the model of desert riparian plant is from blue to green, in that its moisture originates from ground water (BW), and it would be depleted by transpiration (GW).
On the basis of GW theory, research of eco-hydrological process in inland river basin should be considered as follows:①water conservation efficiency of forest vegetation. Through trace back to historical record (annual ring) of individual growth of main plant species, review the GW dynamics of forest community. To analyze how the distribution mode of GW and BW in mountain forest being affected by ecological process such as community succession and development of ecosystem, that is water conservation efficiency of forest. ②the duality of GW source of xeric shrub plant. To investigate the characteristics of GW origin of Reaumuria soongorica and Salsola passerina which belong to extreme xerophyte, and to discuss the impacts of global climate change and grazing on water cycle patterns of Reaumuria soongorica.③ the duality of water source of desert riparian (including terrace) plant. Study on water source duality (GW and BW ) of Phragmites communis, to carry out a tracing observation of water cycle of plant which initially uses groundwater as the source, and to confirm that if these plants will merely turn to natural rainfall to survive when groundwater lowers.
From the perspective of eco-hydrological research in inland river basin, the further research work should be:①to extend the conception of GW and BW for “white water” and “brown water” can be involved in. ②focus on the research of eco-hydrological process of desert rain-fed vegetation, and probe into the physiological and ecological process of desert plant which is coupling with hydrological process on individual and community level. ③analyse the depletion of GW resource which is caused by afforestation and vegetation recovery for increasing carbon pool, and evaluate the cost of bio-carbon sequestration GW for ecosystem.