Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus of temperate desert plants in response to climate and soil nutrient availability.
In desert ecosystems, plant growth and nutrient uptake are restricted by availability of soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The effects of both climate and soil nutrient conditions on N and P concentrations among desert plant life forms (annual, perennial and shrub) remain unclear. We assessed leaf N and P levels of 54 desert plants and measured the corresponding soil N and P in shallow (0-10 cm), middle (10-40 cm) and deep soil layers (40-100 cm), at 52 sites in a temperate desert of northwest China. Leaf P and N:P ratios varied markedly among life forms. Leaf P was higher in annuals and perennials than in shrubs. Leaf N and P showed a negative relationship with mean annual temperature (MAT) and no relationship with mean annual precipitation (MAP), but a positive relationship with soil P. Leaf P of shrubs was positively related to soil P in the deep soil. Our study indicated that leaf N and P across the three life forms were influenced by soil P. Deep-rooted plants may enhance the availability of P in the surface soil facilitating growth of shallow-rooted life forms in this N and P limited system, but further research is warranted on this aspect.
Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou. 730000, China.
Mingzhu
M
He
Department of Environmental Sciences, Centre for Carbon, Water and Food, The University of Sydney, NSW. 2006, Australia.
Feike A
FA
Dijkstra
Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou. 730000, China.
Ke
K
Zhang
1] Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou. 730000, China [2] Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions of Gansu Province, Lanzhou. 730000, China.
Xinrong
X
Li
1] Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou. 730000, China [2] Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions of Gansu Province, Lanzhou. 730000, China.
Huijuan
H
Tan
Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou. 730000, China.
Yanhong
Y
Gao
Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou. 730000, China.
Gang
G
Li
D003889:Desert Climate; D017753:Ecosystem; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D063245:Plant Development; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature
D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen