Spatial variation in leaf nutrient traits of dominant desert riparian plant species in an arid inland river basin of China.

ABSTRACT: Understanding how patterns of leaf nutrient traits respond to groundwater depth is crucial for modeling the nutrient cycling of desert riparian ecosystems and forecasting the responses of ecosystems to global changes. In this study, we measured leaf nutrients along a transect across a groundwater depth gradient in the downstream Heihe River to explore the response of leaf nutrient traits to groundwater depth and soil properties. We found that leaf nutrient traits of dominant species showed different responses to groundwater depth gradient. Leaf C, leaf N, leaf P, and leaf K decreased significantly with groundwater depth, whereas patterns of leaf C/N and leaf N/P followed quadratic relationships with groundwater depth. Meanwhile, leaf C/P did not vary significantly along the groundwater dep

SUBMITTER: Zhang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6374681 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature