天山高寒草原植物叶片氮磷化学计量特征对氮沉降的响应

人类活动和气候变化导致的大气氮沉降急剧升高,将会影响高寒草原植物养分循环。为了研究氮沉降对高寒草原植物养分含量及生态化学计量学特征的影响。依托2009年在新疆天山巴音布鲁克高寒草原设置的长期氮沉降研究平台,于2017年7月和10月采集溚草（Koeleria cristata）、二裂委陵菜（Potentilla bifurca）和天山赖草（Leymus tianschanicus）3种植物的成熟叶和老叶,分析3种植物叶片N、P元素生态化学计量对不同施氮水平的响应规律。结果表明：① 3种植物养分浓度及其化学计量比在成熟叶和老叶之间存在较大差异,成熟叶和老叶的N、P含量分别为12.78 mg·g^-1、0.88 mg·g^-1和6.88 mg·g^-1、0.46 mg·g-1mg·g^-1。3种植物成熟叶和老叶的N元素含量均为：二裂委陵菜>天山赖草>溚草,P元素含量同N元素含量趋势一致;② 氮添加增加了成熟叶和老叶N浓度,分别达12%和48%;成熟叶与老叶P浓度对氮添加的响应规律不一致,成熟叶P浓度对氮添加的响应与物种有关,而老叶P浓度呈一致的下降趋势;氮添加对成熟叶和老叶N∶P的比值影响亦不同,其中相对于成熟叶,老叶的N∶P呈显著增加趋势。③ 植物叶片的N元素、P元素和N∶P比三者之间的相关分析表明:N元素和N∶P之间呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05),在生长旺盛期和枯黄期,溚草和天山赖草的N与P元素之间没有发现显著相关性(P>0.05),而二裂委陵菜呈现一定的差异性,在生长旺盛期二裂委陵菜叶片N与P元素呈显著的正相关、枯黄期呈显著的负相关(P<0.05)。表明长期氮的添加显著影响了3种植物叶片的养分含量和生态化学计量,不同物种间存在一定差异,未来氮沉降升高将会影响天山山地草原的植物养分循环。     

N and P resorption in a pioneer shrub （Artemisia halodendron） inhabiting severely desertified lands of Northern China

Nutrient resorption is an important conservation mechanism for plants to overcome nutrient limitation in the less fertile area of desertified land.In the semi-arid Horqin Sandy Land of Northern China,the shrub Artemisia halodendron usually colonizes into the bare ground of severely desertified land as a pioneer species.It is,therefore,expected that A.halodendron will be less dependent on current nutrient uptake through efficient and proficient resorption of nutrients.In this study,we found that averaged nitrogen(N)and phosphorus(P)concentrations in senesced leaves significantly varied from 12.3 and 1.2 mg/g in the shifting sand dune to 15.9 and 1.9 mg/g in the fixed sand dune,respectively,suggesting that foliar N and P resorption of A.halodendron were more proficient in the shifting sand dune.In particular,positive relationships between nutrient concentrations in senesced leaves and soil nutrient availability indicate that A.halodendron in infertile habitats is more likely to manage with a low level of nutrients in senesced leaves,giving this species an advantage in infertile soil.Moreover,foliar N-and P-resorption efficiencies and proficiencies showed limited inter-annual variability although annual precipitation varied greatly among 2007–2009.However,N and P resorption of A.halodendron were not more efficient and proficient than those previously reported for other shrubs,indicating that the pioneer shrub in sand dune environments does not rely more heavily than other plants on the process of resorption to conserve nutrients.Incomplete resorption of nutrients in A.halodendron suggests that senesced-leaf fall would return litter with high quality to the soil,and thereby would indirectly improve soil nutrient availability.The restoration of desertified land,therefore,may be accelerated after A.halodendron pioneers into shifting sand dunes.     

Leaf stoichiometry of Leontopodium lentopodioides at high altitudes on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,China

Altitude affects leaf stoichiometry by regulating temperature and precipitation, and influencing soil properties in mountain ecosystems. Leaf carbon concentration (C), leaf nitrogen concentration (N), leaf phosphorous concentration (P), and their stoichiometric ratios of Leontopodium lentopodioides (Willd.) Beauv., a widespread species in degraded grasslands, were investigated to explore its response and adaptation strategy to environmental changes along four altitude gradients (2500, 3000, 3500, and 3800 m a.s.l.) on the northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), China. The leaf C significantly varied but without any clear trend with increasing altitude. Leaf N showed an increasing trend, and leaf P showed a little change with increasing altitude, with a lower value of leaf P at 3500 m than those at other altitudes. Similarity, leaf C:P and N:P exhibited a little change with increasing altitude, which both had greater values at 3500 m than those at other altitudes. However, leaf C:N exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing altitude. Soil NH+ 4-N, soil pH, soil total phosphorus (STP), mean annual temperature (MAT), and mean annual precipitation (MAP) were identified as the main factors driving the variations in leaf stoichiometry of L. lentopodioides across all altitudes, with NH+ 4-N alone accounting for 50.8% of its total variation. Specifically, leaf C and N were mainly controlled by MAT, soil pH, and NH+ 4-N, while leaf P by MAP and STP. In the study area, it seems that the growth of L. lentopodioides may be mainly limited by STP. The results could help to strengthen our understanding of the plasticity of plant growth to environmental changes and provide new information on global grassland management and restoration.     

水分和养分添加对内蒙古荒漠草原沙生针茅生长与生理特性及其敏感性的影响

为了探究荒漠草原优势植物对水分和养分输入的响应特征和适应规律,通过设置2个水分水平(自然降雨、水分添加)和3个养分水平(无养分添加、N添加、NPK添加),共6个处理,研究水分与养分添加对荒漠草原优势植物沙生针茅(Stipa glareosa)生长、生理及其敏感性的影响。双因素方差分析结果表明:水分主效应、养分主效应及水分和养分的交互作用对沙生针茅的生长生理特性具有显著影响(P<0.05)。水分添加显著增加了沙生针茅的叶片鲜重、干重、株高和相对电导率,降低了SOD酶活性;养分添加增加沙生针茅的叶面积,N添加增加了丙二醛含量,NPK添加降低了叶绿素a/b(Ca/Cb)和SOD酶活性;水分和养分的交互作用对叶面积、叶片厚度、叶绿素a(Ca)、脯氨酸、蛋白质含量和SOD酶活性具有显著影响。敏感性分析表明,叶面积和Ca含量对同时添加水分和NPK处理较为敏感,而Ca/Cb对水分添加处理更为敏感。综上所述,沙生针茅可以通过改变特定的生长生理特性适应水分和养分的变化,这对于揭示荒漠草原植物对全球变化的响应机制具有重要意义。     

Ecological stoichiometry and biomass response of Agropyron michnoi Roshev. under simulated N deposition in a sandy grassland,China

Sandy grassland in northern China is a fragile ecosystem with poor soil fertility. Exploring how plant species regulate growth and nutrient absorption under the background of nitrogen (N) deposition is crucial for the management of the sandy grassland ecosystem. We carried out a field experiment with six N levels in the Hulunbuir Sandy Land of China from 2014 to 2016 and explored the Agropyron michnoi Roshev. responses of both aboveground and belowground biomasses and carbon (C), N and phosphorus (P) concentrations in the plant tissues and soil. With increasing N addition, both aboveground and belowground biomasses and C, N and P concentrations in the plant tissues increased and exhibited a single-peak curve. C:N and C:P ratios of the plant tissues first decreased but then increased, while the trend for N:P ratio was opposite. The peak values of aboveground biomass, belowground biomass and C concentration in the plant tissues occurred at the level of 20 g N/(m²·a), while those of N and P concentrations in the plant tissues occurred at the level of 15 g N/(m²·a). The maximum growth percentages of aboveground and belowground biomasses were 324.2% and 75.9%, respectively, and the root to shoot ratio (RSR) decreased with the addition of N. N and P concentrations in the plant tissues were ranked in the order of leaves>roots>stems, while C concentration was ranked as roots>leaves>stems. The increase in N concentration in the plant tissues was the largest (from 34% to 162%), followed by the increase in P (from 10% to 33%) and C (from 8% to 24%) concentrations. The aboveground biomass was positively and linearly correlated with leaf C, N and P, and soil C and N concentrations, while the belowground biomass was positively and linearly correlated with leaf N and soil C concentrations. These results showed that the accumulation of N and P in the leaves caused the increase in the aboveground biomass, while the accumulation of leaf N resulted in the increase in the belowground biomass. N deposition can alter the allocation of C, N and P stoichiometry in the plant tissues and has a high potential for increasing plant biomass, which is conducive to the restoration of sandy grassland.     

Dependency of litter decomposition on litter quality,climate change,and grassland type in the alpine grassland of Tianshan Mountains,Northwest China

Litter decomposition is an important component of the nutrient recycling process and is highly sensitive to climate change. However, the impacts of warming and increased precipitation on litter decomposition have not been well studied, especially in the alpine grassland of Tianshan Mountains. We conducted a manipulative warming and increased precipitation experiment combined with different grassland types to examine the impact of litter quality and climate change on the litter decomposition rate based on three dominant species (Astragalus mongholicus, Potentilla anserina, and Festuca ovina) in Tianshan Mountains from 2019 to 2021. The results of this study indicated there were significant differences in litter quality, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content. In addition, litter quality exerted significant effects on litter decomposition, and the litter decomposition rate varied in different grassland types. Increased precipitation significantly accelerated the litter decomposition of P. anserina; however, it had no significant effect on the litter decomposition of A. mongholicus and F. ovina. However, warming consistently decreased the litter decomposition rate, with the strongest impact on the litter decomposition of F. ovina. There was a significant interaction between increased precipitation and litter type, but there was no significant interaction between warming and litter type. These results indicated that warming and increased precipitation significantly influenced litter decomposition; however, the strength was dependent on litter quality. In addition, soil water content played a crucial role in regulating litter decomposition in different grassland types. Moreover, we found that the litter decomposition rate exhibited a hump-shaped or linear response to the increase of soil water content. Our study emphasizes that ongoing climate change significantly altered litter decomposition in the alpine grassland, which is of great significance for understanding the nutrient supply and turnover of litter.     

阜新市主要园林树种叶片生态化学计量特征

以阜新市主要园林树种为研究对象,分析各树种叶片C、N、P化学计量特征。结果表明：园林树种叶片C、N和P含量分别为496~664 mg•g^-1、7.5~26.6 mg•g^-1和1.0~2.2 mg•g^-1,C/N、C/P和N/P分别为22.4~74.3、262~522和5.4~13.8,且叶片N含量与C/N和N/P之间显著相关（P＜0.001）。常绿针叶树种叶片N、P含量和N/P显著低于阔叶落叶树种（P＜0.05）,而C/N和C/P显著高于阔叶落叶树种（P＜0.05）;乔木树种叶片N含量和N/P显著高于灌木树种（P＜0.05）,而叶片P含量及C/N和C/P二者之间差异不显著（P＞0.05）,表明园林树种具有较高的储C能力及养分利用效率。根据叶片N/P发现,阜新市园林树种生长主要受N限制。     

水蚀风蚀区六道沟流域不同土地利用方式下养分特征

利用经典统计与地统计学相结合的方法,以六道沟流域农用地、林地和草地三种土地类型为研究对象,测定各不同利用方式下土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾、速效氮、速效磷、速效钾、C/N值八种养分指标。结果表明,土壤有机质、全氮含量表现为农用地>林地>草地,全磷含量表现为农用地>草地>林地,土壤全钾含量表现为草地>林地>农用地,速效氮含量表现为农用地>草地>林地,速效磷表现为农用地>林地>草地,速效钾表现为林地>农用地>草地;土壤C/N值表现为林地>草地>农用地;有机质含量与全氮含量呈线性关系,且均达极显著水平(P<0.01)。结果说明不同土地利用方式对土壤养分含量有重要影响。     

氮添加对天山高寒草原土壤酶活性和酶化学计量特征的影响

为探究氮添加对高寒草原生态系统土壤酶活性的影响,于2018年在中国科学院巴音布鲁克草原生态系统研究站,选择4个氮添加水平(对照,N0,0 kg·hm^-2·a^-1;低氮,N1,10 kg·hm^-2·a^-1;中氮,N3,30 kg·hm^-2·a^-1;高氮,N9,90 kg·hm^-2·a^-1),开展土壤酶活性对氮添加响应的研究,分析土壤酶活性对氮添加的响应特点,土壤酶化学计量比以及土壤酶活性与土壤环境因子的关系。结果表明:与对照相比,氮添加在N3水平显著增加β-1,4葡萄糖苷酶(βG)、β-D-纤维二糖水解酶(CBH)和β-1,4木糖苷酶(βX)酶活性(P<0.05),N1和N3水平显著增加碱性磷酸酶(AKP)活性(P<0.05),N3水平显著降低多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性(P<0.05),氮添加对亮氨酸氨基肽酶(LAP)活性影响不显著,N3水平下显著增加N-乙酰-β-D氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)活性(P<0.05)。相关分析表明,8种土壤酶活性均与土壤有机碳(SOC、NAG除外)和总磷(TP)显著相关,与土壤总氮(TN)不相关。研究区土壤酶活性C∶N∶P化学计量比为1∶1∶1.2,与全球生态系统的土壤酶活性C∶N∶P的比值1∶1∶1相偏离,表明该研究区土壤微生物生长受磷素限制。冗余分析(RDA)进一步揭示出土壤有机碳和土壤全磷含量是影响土壤酶活性的主要因子。     

短期N、P添加对荒漠草原土壤非保护性有机碳的影响

以干旱、半干旱地区荒漠草原土壤为研究对象,研究N、P养分添加对荒漠草原0～30 cm土层土壤颗粒有机碳和轻组有机碳含量、分配比例、敏感指数的影响,探讨荒漠草原土壤非保护性有机碳分配比例及其向保护性有机碳的转化速率对N、P添加的响应.研究结果表明:短期N、P添加能促进荒漠草原表层土壤(0～10 cm)土壤颗粒有机碳和轻组...     

转寄主对蝇蛹俑小蜂发育和营养物质含量的影响

本文以家蝇作为繁育寄主,再以橘小实蝇作为转换寄主,分别研究以家蝇和橘小实蝇为寄主的蝇蛹俑小蜂的发育和体内主要营养物质含量。结果表明,2种寄主饲养的蝇蛹俑小蜂在形态、发育和营养物质含量上均有不同的分化。2种寄主饲养的寄生蜂从卵发育至成虫均为17~21 d,其中卵期和预蛹期均为1 d,但橘小实蝇为寄主饲养的寄生蜂幼虫期（8.3 d）比家蝇长（6.6 d）,而蛹期和成虫寿命则是家蝇为寄主饲养的寄生蜂时间较长,分别为9.8和12.5 d,以橘小实蝇为寄主的雌、雄蜂头壳宽度（1.0和1.4 mm）均显著小于以家蝇为寄主的雌（1.6 mm）、雄蜂（1.7 mm）。2种寄主饲养的寄生蜂的脂肪含量无显著差异,但以橘小实蝇为寄主的寄生蜂体内可溶性蛋白、总糖的含量均高于以家蝇为寄主饲养的寄生蜂,分别为138.81 μg/g、1.15%,差异显著。因此可明确蝇蛹俑小蜂在寄生橘小实蝇的过程中,会作出相适应的改变以提高生存能力和寄生率。     

Contrasting effects of nitrogen addition on litter decomposition in forests and grasslands in China

Nitrogen (N) addition has profound impacts on litter-mediated nutrient cycling. Numerous studies have reported different effects of N addition on litter decomposition, exhibiting positive, negative, or neutral effects. Previous meta-analysis of litter decomposition under N addition was mainly based on a small number of samples to allow comparisons among ecosystem types. This study presents the results of a meta-analysis incorporating data from 53 published studies (including 617 observations) across forests, grasslands, wetlands, and croplands in China, to investigate how environmental and experimental factors impact the effects of N addition on litter decomposition. Averaged across all of the studies, N addition significantly slows litter decomposition by 7.02%. Considering ecosystem types, N addition significantly accelerates litter decomposition by 3.70% and 11.22% in grasslands and wetlands, respectively, clearly inhibits litter decomposition by 14.53% in forests, and has no significant effects on litter decomposition in croplands. Regarding the accelerated litter decomposition rate in grasslands due to N addition, litter decomposition rate increases slightly with increasing rates of N addition. However, N addition slows litter decomposition in forests, but litter decomposition is at a significantly increasing rate with increasing amounts of N addition. The responses of litter decomposition to N addition are also influenced by the forms of N addition, experiential duration of N addition, humidity index, litter quality, and soil pH. In summary, N addition alters litter decomposition rate, but the direction and magnitude of the response are affected by the forms of N addition, the rate of N addition, ambient N deposition, experimental duration, and climate factors. Our study highlights the contrasting effects of N addition on litter decomposition in forests and grasslands. This finding could be used in biogeochemical models to better evaluate ecosystem carbon cycling under increasing N deposition due to the differential responses of litter decomposition to N addition rates and ecosystem types.     

向日葵菌核病拮抗木霉菌筛选及防病效果

采用平板对峙、离体叶片检测、盆栽和田间试验,筛选出3株对向日葵菌核病有较强拮抗能力的木霉菌,分别为深绿木霉Trichoderma atroviride N862、长枝木霉T. longibrachiatum N246和哈茨木霉 T. harzianum X102。3株木霉对向日葵菌核病菌的生长抑制率均超85%,离体叶片试验显示,N862、N246和X102对病斑扩展的抑制率分别为90.6%、96.5%和63.8%,表现出良好的防病效果。分别采用木霉孢子拌土、灌根、拌土+灌根3种处理方式对向日葵菌核病进行盆栽防治试验,结果显示拌土+灌根处理防病效果最佳,3株木霉的防效均超过73%。采用拌土+灌根处理进行防治向日葵菌核病田间试验,N862、N246和X102对病害的田间防效分别为67.54%、49.96%和49.23%,其中以N862的防效最高,3株木霉对向日葵菌核病均表现出良好的防病效果,有重要的开发应用潜力。     

伊犁绢蒿(Seriphidium transiliense)个体功能性状对短期禁牧的可塑性响应

为了探讨禁牧对植物个体功能性状的影响,在新疆呼图壁县、玛纳斯县及昌吉市阿什里乡对短期禁牧下蒿类荒漠草地建群种伊犁绢蒿(Seriphidium transiliense)的个体表型特征、构件生物量及其分配比进行了测定。结果表明:伊犁绢蒿个体功能性状对短期禁牧的响应因禁牧地点的差异而有所不同,呼图壁和玛纳斯样地的大多性状如株高、地上生物量、叶片数、叶生物量均呈显著增加(P 0. 05),而昌吉样地多数功能性状虽为增加,但均不显著。总体分析可知,短期禁牧后伊犁绢蒿的株高、地上生物量、叶片数、茎生物量、叶生物量依次显著增加21. 32%、48. 97%、104. 50%、50. 18%、100. 00%(P 0. 05),根颈直径、一级及三级分枝数出现显著下降,而二级分枝数、生殖生物量、各构件生物量分配比变化不显著。伊犁绢蒿个体表型性状与其构件生物量及分配比间均具有显著的联动效应,且短期禁牧可引起其部分个体功能性状间的相关关系发生显著改变。研究表明,短期禁牧促进伊犁绢蒿个体功能性状的恢复,利于退化蒿类荒漠草地的恢复。     

山东省生姜细菌性黄叶斑病病原鉴定

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is an important economic crop in China. Bacterial leaf spot disease is the major limiting factor for the ginger crop production in Shandong. In recent years, a bacterial leaf spot disease was observed on ginger in Laiwu and Anqiu, that became a major limiting factor in ginger production. Yellowish bacterial colonies that were obtained after incubation at 28°C for 2 days from infected leaves were purified by streaking on nutrient agar. The purified isolates were initially identified as Pantoea ananatis by the phenotypic and biochemical characterization. Further molecular identification based on the 16S rDNA sequence analysis and multilocus sequence analysis with the gyrB, rpoB, and atpD sequences confirmed that the isolates were P. ananatis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of bacterial leaf spot of ginger caused by P. ananatis in Shandong. Our study will provide basic references for disease management of this pathogen.     

五味子叶枯病病原菌鉴定

 The pathogen causing leaf blight on Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. was isolated from diseased leaf. Based on morphological characteristics and pathogenicity test, the pathogen was identified as Alternaria tenuissima (Fr.) Wiltshire. This is the first report of this fungus infecting S. chinensis.     

玛曲高寒草地沙化对土壤理化特性的影响

以玛曲高寒草地处于不同沙化发展阶段的潜在沙化地、轻度沙化地、中度沙化地和重度沙化地为研究对象,阶地作为对照,对0～60 cm土壤剖面的机械组成和土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷以及速效钾含量进行了测定,分析结果表明:1)随草地沙化程度的加剧,不同类型沙化草地的黏粒和粉粒含量迅速下降,细砂粒含量逐渐下降而粗砂粒含量逐渐上升。2)随草地沙化程度的加剧,不同程度沙化草地的有机碳和全N含量呈逐渐下降趋势。3)从不同程度沙化草地各层土壤的养分含量来看,阶地和潜在沙化地各土层有机碳和全N含量随土层深度加深逐渐下降,中度沙化地、重度沙化地各土层有机碳和全N含量呈现基本稳定的状态。     

海南红麻曲叶病的病原检测与鉴定

 红麻曲叶病是2012年在海南省海口市发现的一种新病害,病株表现为叶片向上卷曲、叶脉肿大、叶脉变深绿色等症状。PCR检测结果显示,该病样中均存在菜豆金色花叶病毒属病毒。基因克隆及序列分析结果表明,该病毒分离物(HN08)基因组仅含A组分(DNA-A),其全长为2 738 nt,与木尔坦棉花曲叶病毒(CLCuMuV)各分离物的相似性均大于89.0 %,其中与中国各分离物的相似性均大于99.0 %。该病毒分离物也伴随有β卫星分子,其全长为1 346 nt,与CLCuMuV各分离物伴随的β卫星分子(CLCuMuB)序列相似性大于83.0 %,其中与分离物Fz1的序列相似性最高,为99.7 %。构建了HN08 DNA-A及其β卫星分子侵染性克隆,通过农杆菌注射接种红麻,接种后30 d,HN08 DNA-A及其β卫星分子混合接种的红麻植株新出叶片开始产生曲叶症状;接种后60 d,二者混合接种的植株大部分叶片表现为严重的曲叶症状,且与田间自然病株症状相同,而二者各自单独接种的红麻植株没有产生明显的症状。PCR及Southern blot检测进一步证实这些症状是由HN08 DNA-A及其β卫星分子的共同侵染引起的。因此,海南红麻曲叶病是由CLCuMuV及其伴随的β卫星分子(CLCuMuB)共同侵染引起的。本文首次报道了红麻是CLCuMuV自然新寄主。     

Comparative performance of the highly invasive Mimosa invisa and its less invasive subspecies under different nutrient and light conditions

Invasive plants may be more plastic than non‐invasive plants and maintain high fitness under various environmental conditions. Previous studies mainly focused on the comparisons between invasive and native plants, and comparisons between highly invasive and less invasive exotic species are still relatively rare, especially for comparisons at the subspecies level. This study examined the effects of nutrient addition and shading on the performance of the highly invasive Mimosa invisa and its less invasive subspecies M. invisa var. inermis under either isolated or competitive conditions. Nutrient addition increased biomass and plant height and decreased root‐to‐shoot ratio (R/S). Shading decreased biomass and R/S and increased plant height. Under isolated conditions, the two invaders did not differ in R/S, plant height and plasticity of these traits in response to nutrient addition or shading, and the two invaders also did not differ in biomass production under each of the nutrient and light treatments. When the two invaders competed with each other, M. invisa outcompeted M. invisa var. inermis under high soil nutrient conditions, and the two invaders did not differ in performance under other growth conditions. Thus, only considering competition may we find out the difference between highly invasive species and their closely related, less invasive subspecies. Management of M. invisa should focus on habitats with high soil nutrient availability, in which M. invisa is more likely to dominate.     

Seasonal changes in the water-use strategies of three herbaceous species in a native desert steppe of Ningxia,China

Frequent periods of drought conditions are known to limit plant performance,primary production,and ecosystem stability in arid and semi-arid desert steppe environments.Plants often avoid competition by shifting their water use seasonally,which affects the water-use patterns of dominant species as well as the composition and structure of plant communities.However,the water-use strategies of dominant herbaceous species,which grow under natural field conditions in the desert steppe region of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,China,are poorly known.Here,we explored the possible sources of water uptake and water-use efficiency(WUE)of three dominant herbaceous plant species(Stipa breviflora,Agropyron mongolicum,and Glycyrrhiza uralensis)in a native desert steppe in the semi-arid area of Ningxia through an analysis of multiple parameters,including(1)the stable isotopic oxygen and hydrogen(δ18O andδ2H)compositions of precipitation,soil water,and stem water,(2)the carbon isotope(13C)composition of leaves,and(3)the soil water contents,based on field sampling across varying water conditions from June to September,2017.Frequent small precipitation events replenished shallow soil water,whereas large events only percolated down to the deep soil layers.Changes in soil water availability affected the water-use patterns of plants.Generally,during light precipitation periods,the deep root system of G.uralensis accessed deeper(>80 cm)soil water,whereas S.breviflora and A.mongolicum,which only have shallow roots,primarily absorbed water from the shallow and middle soil layers.As precipitation increased,all three plant species primarily obtained water from the shallow soil layers.Variation in soil water uptake between the dry and wet seasons enabled plants to make better use of existing satoil water.In addition,theδ13C values of G.uralensis and S.breviflora were higher than those of A.mongolicum.Theδ13C values of the three plant species were significantly negatively correlated with soil water content.Therefore,G.uralensis and S.breviflora maintained a higher WUE through their conservative and water-saving strategies across the entire growing season.In contrast,A.mongolicum,with a relatively low WUE in the wet season but a high WUE in the dry season,exhibited a more flexible water-use strategy.The different water-use strategies of these dominant plant species demonstrated the mechanisms by which plant communities can respond to drought.