J Plant Res. 2021 Nov 11; doi: 10.1007/s10265-021-01355-8. Epub 2021 Nov 11.

Leaf-root-soil N:P stoichiometry of ephemeral plants in a temperate desert in Central Asia.

Journal of plant research

Ye Tao, Dong Qiu, Yan-Ming Gong, Hui-Liang Liu, Jing Zhang, Ben-Feng Yin, Hai-Ying Lu, Xiao-Bing B Zhou, Yuan-Ming Zhang

PMID: 34762207 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-021-01355-8

Abstract

Ephemeral plants are a crucial vegetation component in temperate deserts of Central Asia, and play an important role in biogeochemical cycle and biodiversity maintenance in desert ecosystems. However, the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) status and interrelations of leaf-root-soil of ephemeral plants remain unclear. A total of 194 leaf-root-soil samples of eight ephemeral species at 37 sites in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China were collected, and then the corresponding N and P concentrations, and the N:P ratio were measured. Results showed that soil parameters presented no significant difference among the eight species. The total soil N:P was only 0.116 (geomean), indicating limited soil N, while the available soil N:P (4.896, geomean) was significantly larger than the total N:P. The leaf N (averagely 30.995 mg g

© 2021. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Botanical Society of Japan.

Keywords: Gurbantunggut Desert; Herbaceous species; Homeostasis; Nutrient stoichiometry; Nutrient use strategy; Plant–soil relation

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Publication Types

• Journal Article

Grant support

• U2003214/National Natural Science Foundation of China
• 41977099/National Natural Science Foundation of China
• 42171070/National Natural Science Foundation of China