Ameliorative effects of nurse shrubs on soil chemical characteristics are driven by plant size in the Monte desert

In deserts, shrubs determine landscape structure and influence plant productivity by creating nutrient-enriched environments. Attributes vary among shrub species, thus their contribution to soil characteristics is expected to vary as well, and nutrient input under shrub cover will depend on species attributes. We propose that plant size determines the contribution to soil chemical characteristics. Therefore, the contribution of larger species will be higher than smaller ones. Also, each species will contribute differentially for each chemical parameter. To corroborate these premises, we measured six soil chemical characteristics in areas covered by shrubs and in bare soil, as well as among five nurse species, in four sites of the Monte desert (La Rioja, Argentina). A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) indicated significant variation between cover conditions and locations. Supporting previous studies, the presence of shrubs improved soil properties. Chemical concentration between soils under shrubs and bare soils, respectively, showed as mean and (SD) were: carbon(%): 0.82 (0,47), 0.52 (0.22); nitrates (ppm): 33,33 (67,36), 2.63 (0.56); phosphorous(ppm): 16.76 (25.02), 6.56 (1.92); electrical conductivity (dS m^?1): 0.24 (0,43), 0.03 (0,02); pH: 6.93 (0.56), 7.62 (0.53); and water content (%): 3,17 (8.94), 2.47 (9.15). Chemical characteristics also varied according to the nurse species. Larger nurse species affected the ensemble of chemical characteristics, after controlling for cover condition and site. Larger plant species (Bulnesia retama, Prosopis torquata, and Zuccagnia punctata) were significantly associated with higher carbon and higher nitrates concentration. These results suggest that soil properties are enhanced by the size of nurse plant species.     

Vegetation of semi-stable rangeland dunes of the Navajo Nation,Southwestern USA

Dune destabilization and increased mobility is a worldwide issue causing ecological, economic, and health problems for the inhabitants of areas with extensive dune fields. Dunes cover nearly a third of the Navajo Nation within the Colorado Plateau of southwestern USA. There, higher temperatures and prolonged drought beginning in 1996 have produced significant increases in dune mobility. Vegetation plays an important role in dune stabilization, but there are few studies of the plants of the aeolian surfaces of this region. We examined plant species and their attributes within a moderately vegetated dune field of the Navajo Nation to understand the types and characteristics of plants that stabilize rangeland dunes. These dunes supported a low cover of mixed grass-scrubland with fifty-two perennial and annual species including extensive occurrence of non-native annual Salsola spp. Perennial grass richness and shrub cover were positively associated with increased soil sand composition. Taprooted shrubs were more common on sandier substrates. Most dominant grasses had C4 photosynthesis, suggestive of higher water-use efficiencies and growth advantage in warm arid environments. Plant cover was commonly below the threshold of dune stabilization. Increasing sand movement with continued aridity will select for plants adapted to burial, deflation, and abrasion. The study indicates plants tolerant of increased sand mobility and burial but more investigation is needed to identify the plants adapted to establish and regenerate under these conditions. In addition, the role of Salsola spp. in promoting decline of perennial grasses and shrubs needs clarification.     

乌拉特荒漠草原群落物种多样性和生物量关系对放牧强度的响应

以内蒙古乌拉特荒漠草原灌丛和草本植物群落为对象,研究这2种植物群落的物种组成、物种多样性及其与地上生物量关系对不同放牧处理(对照、中牧、重牧)的响应。结果表明:①随着放牧强度的增加,灌丛群落中红砂(Reaumuria songarica)和碱韭(Allium polyrhizum)的优势度增大,沙生针茅(Stipa glareosa)的优势度减小;重牧降低草本群落中沙生针茅的优势度,增加了蒙古韭(Allium mongolicum)和碱韭的优势度。②不同放牧处理显著降低了灌丛和草本群落的盖度、高度以及灌丛群落的密度,消除了灌丛和草本群落之间盖度的差异(P> 0. 05)。中牧降低灌丛群落的Pielou均匀度指数,重牧降低灌丛群落的物种丰富度,灌丛和草本群落的其他多样性指数在放牧处理之间无显著差异(P> 0. 05)。除物种丰富度外,其他多样性指数在灌丛和草本群落之间差异显著(P <0. 05)。③不同放牧处理降低了灌丛和草本群落的地上生物量和凋落物量,导致灌丛和草本群落之间地上生物量的显著差异(P <0. 05)。④地上生物量与Simpson优势度指数负相关,与Shannon-Wienner多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数正相关;放牧处理下地上生物量与密度、物种丰富度正相关。放牧处理改变了荒漠草原植物群落组成、结构和功能,进而改变了群落结构和功能的重要关系。     

Biocrust-induced partitioning of soil water between grass and shrub in a desert steppe of Northwest China

Maintaining the stability of exotic sand-binding shrub has become a large challenge in arid and semi-arid grassland ecosystems in northern China. We investigated two kinds of shrublands with different BSCs (biological soil crusts) cover in desert steppe in Northwest China to characterize the water sources of shrub (Caragana intermedia Kuang et H. C. Fu) and grass (Artemisia scoparia Waldst. et Kit.) by stable ¹⁸O isotopic. Our results showed that both shrublands were subject to persistent soil water deficiency from 2012 to 2017, the minimum soil depth with CV (coefficient of variation) <15% and SWC (soil water content) <6% was 1.4 m in shrubland with open areas lacking obvious BSC cover, and 0.8 m in shrubland covered by mature BSCs. For C. intermedia, a considerable proportion of water sources pointed to the surface soil. Water from BSCs contributed to averages 22.9% and 17.6% of the total for C. intermedia and A. scoparia, respectively. C. intermedia might use more water from BSCs in rainy season than dry season, in contrast to A. scoparia. The relationship between shrub (or grass) and soil water by δ¹⁸O shown significant differences in months, which partly verified the potential trends and relations covered by the high variability of the water source at seasonal scale. More fine roots at 0-5 cm soil layer could be found in the surface soil layer covered by BSCs (8000 cm/m³) than without BSCs (3200 cm/m³), which ensured the possibility of using the surface soil water by C. intermedia. The result implies that even under serious soil water deficiency, C. intermedia can use the surface soil water, leading to the coexistence between C. intermedia and A. scoparia. Different with the result from BSCs in desert areas, the natural withdrawal of artificial C. intermedia from desert steppe will be a long-term process, and the highly competitive relationship between shrubs and grasses also determines that its habitat will be maintained in serious drought state for a long time.     

Productivity and persistence of perennial grass mixtures under competition from annual weeds in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

In the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau four indigenous perennial grass species Bromus inermis (BI), Elymus sibiricus (ES), Elymus nutans (EN) and Agropyron cristatum (AC) were cultivated as three mixtures with different compositions and seeding rates, BI + EN, BI + ES + AC and BI + ES + EN + AC. From 1998 to 2001 there were three different weeding treatments: never weeded (CK); weeded on three occasions in the first year (1-y) and weeded on three occasions in both the first and second year (2-y) and their effect of grass combination and interactions on sward productivity and persistence was measured. Intense competitive interference by weedy annuals reduced dry matter (DM) yield of the swards. Grass combination significantly affected sward DM yields, leaf area index (LAI) and foliar canopy cover and also species composition DM and LAI, and species plant cover. Interaction between weeding treatments and grass combination was significant for sward DM yield, LAI and canopy cover, but not on species composition for DM, LAI or species plant cover. Grass mixture BI + ES + EN + AC gave the highest sward DM yield and LAI for both weeding and non-weeding treatments. Species ES and EN were competitively superior to the others. Annual weedy forbs must be controlled to obtain productive and stable mixtures of perennial grasses, and germination/emergence is the most important time for removal. Weeding three times (late May, late June and mid-July) in the establishment year is enough to maintain the production and persistence of perennial grass mixtures in the following growing seasons. Extra weeding three times in the second growing year makes only a slight improvement in productivity.     

Seed rain and soil seed bank compensatory roles on Nassella tenuis (Phil.) Barkworth seedling recruitment in ungrazed and grazed sites

In semi-arid lands, vegetation is distributed in shrub patches immersed in a less vegetated interpatch matrix. Grazing affects perennial grass seed bank through a decrease in seed rain and an increase in seed predation and soil compaction. Nevertheless, some species with anchorage mechanisms in their seeds might overcome this, such as Nassella tenuis (Phil.) Barkworth. This is an important species in grazing paddocks because it has an intermediate palatability and its relatively tolerant to grazing. These characteristics allow N. tenuis to increase its abundance in grazed sites. Our objective was to assess how grazing affects the key palatable species from seeds to seedlings: i.e., seed rain, soil seed bank, and seedling recruitment in different microsites along a windward-leeward transect across shrub canopy. We hypothesized that: (1) the negative effects of grazing on N. tenuis fructification are reflected in its seed rain, soil seed bank, and seedling recruitment, especially in interpatches; (2) Nassella tenuis seed rain reduction, soil compaction by cattle in grazed sites, and removal of seeds by wind decrease its soil seed bank, especially in microsites exposed to the predominant wind; and (3) the decrease in N. tenuis soil seed bank and cover increase in annual species in grazed sites have negative effects on its seedling recruitment, especially in microsites exposed to predominant wind. We placed seed traps, collected soil samples, and monitored seedling recruitment in different locations around shrub canopy to address our hypotheses. Also, we established a manipulative experiment in which we sow N. tenuis seeds and followed its recruitment in different microsites. We compared the seed rain, soil seed bank, natural seedling recruitment, and sown seeds recruitment of N. tenuis between grazed and ungrazed sites. We analyzed differences between microsites along a windward-leeward transect across shrubs patches. Seed rain and soil seed bank had the same density in patches and interpatches both in ungrazed and grazed sites. But seed rain was higher, and soil seed bank was lower in ungrazed sites than in grazed sites. Almost all under-canopy microsites showed greater soil seed bank abundance and natural seedling recruitment in ungrazed sites. Sown seeds recruitment was the same between grazed and ungrazed sites, but it showed protective effects of shrubs in leeward microsites under grazed sites. As a conclusion, seed rain and soil seed bank are complementary under grazed sites.     

Characteristics of Caragana korshinskii and Hippophae rhamnoides stemflow and their significance in soil moisture enhancement in Loess Plateau, China

Stemflow of xerophytic shrubs represents a significant component of water replenishment to the soil-root system and influences water utilization of plant roots at the stand scale,especially in water-scarce semi-arid ecosystems.The stemflow of two semi-arid shrubs(Caragana korshinskii and Hippophae rhamnoides)and its effect on soil moisture enhancement were evaluated during the growing season of 2011 in the semi-arid loess region of China.The results indicated that stemflow averaged 12.3%and 8.4%of the bulk precipitation for C.korshinskii and H.rhamnoides,respectively.Individual stemflow increased in a linear function with increasing rainfall depth.The relationship between funneling ratios and rainfall suggested that there existed a rainfall depth threshold of 11 mm for both C.korshinskii and H.rhamnoides.Averaged funneling ratios were 156.6±57.1 and49.5±30.8 for C.korshinskii and H.rhamnoides,respectively,indicating that the canopy architecture of the two shrubs was an effective funnel to channel stemflow to the root area,and C.korshinskii showed a greater potential to use stemflow water in the semi-arid conditions.For individual rainfall events,the wetting front depths were approximately 2 times deeper in the rooting zone around the stems than in the bare area outside canopy for both C.korshinskii and H.rhamnoides.Correspondingly,soil water content was also significantly higher in the root area around the shrub stem than in the area outside the shrub canopy.This confirms that shrub stemflow conserved in the deep soil layers may be an available moisture source for plant growth under semi-arid conditions.     

荒漠草原地区不同载畜率对功能群特征及其多样性的影响

采用随机区组试验研究了内蒙古高原荒漠草原亚带短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)草原群落不同载畜率对草原功能群特征及其多样性的影响,结果表明:不同载畜率水平下,功能群组成结构没有改变,功能群内物种组成及其群落学特征随着载畜率的增加发生了相应的变化。灌木类和多年生禾草特性比较稳定,多年生杂类草随着载畜率的增加物种组成下降幅度较大,使得群落结构和组成随载畜率的增加趋于简单化。丰富度指数和多样性指数重牧区最低,均匀度变化有所不同,因为中度放牧提高草地群落的植物多样性,更主要地是通过改变群落物种均匀性来实现的。     

巴丹吉林沙漠植被群落特征与土壤水分关系研究

通过对巴丹吉林沙漠周边及腹地进行野外调查采样,归纳出该区植被的生活型和群落类型,分析其植被多样性、优势度及均匀度指数,进而探讨该地区植被群落特征对土壤水分的响应.结果表明:(1)本次调查共记录到20科52属56种植物,分属于乔木、小乔木、灌木、小灌木、半灌木、草质藤本、多年生草本、一年生草本8类生活型,群落多以灌木和多...     

Effects of exotic and endogenous shrubs on understory vegetation and soil nutrients in the south of Tunisia

This study was conducted in southern Tunisia in the growing seasons of 2013 and 2014, and aimed to compare the effects of exotic and endogenous shrub species(Haloxylon persicum and Retama raetam, respectively) on understory vegetation and soil nutrients. For each shrub species, the canopied sub-habitat(under the shrub crown) and un-canopied sub-habitat(in open grassland area) were distinguished. The concentrations of soil nutrients(organic matter, total nitrogen and extractable phosphorus) were found to be significantly higher(P<0.05) under R. raetam canopy than under H. persicum canopy and in open area. The result also showed that the presence of shrubs improved all the values of understory vegetation parameters(floristic composition, density, total plant cover and dry matter) and all these values were significantly higher under endogenous species canopy than under exotic species canopy. These results highlighted the positive effect of endogenous shrubs on understory vegetation and soil nutrients compared to the exotic ones in the Saharan areas of Tunisia.     

Grazing and heat stress protection of native grass by a sand-fixing shrub in the arid lands of northern China

Shrub species are used in restoration projects on dryland for their facilitation effects, which include environmental improvements and protection from herbivore feeding. Facilitation effects on forage grasses are potentially important in improving grazing capacity on rangelands. However, the morphology-dependent performance of benefactor plants in facilitating forage species growth and supplementation under moderate grazing intensity remains unclear. Here, our main purpose was to measure facilitation performance in terms of the survival of a native forage grass, Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. (Gramineae)., in accordance with the growth conditions of a sand-fixing benefactor shrub, Caragana microphylla Lam., in the Hulun Buir Grassland, northern China. Six study sites with patches of A. cristatum and C. microphylla were established at the foot of fixed sand dunes. At each site, five quadrats were set in places where C. microphylla coverage was 100% and A. cristatum grew among the shrubs (shrub quadrats), and another five were set where A. cristatum grew alone without C. microphylla (grass quadrats). We measured the morphological traits of C. microphylla and A. cristatum in all 60 quadrats, along with the soil water content and soil temperature. The data were compared between the shrub and grass quadrats by generalized linear mixed-effect models to assess the shrub's facilitation effects. We also used such models to elucidate the relationship between the average height of C. microphylla and the morphological traits of A. cristatum in the shrub quadrats. The maximum height, average grazed height, and the number of seed heads of A. cristatum were greater in the shrub quadrats than in the grass quadrats. The soil surface temperature was lower in the shrub quadrats. The maximum height and seed head number of A. cristatum were positively associated with the average height of C. microphylla. These results suggest that the grazing impact and heat stress were smaller in shrub quadrats than in grass quadrats, and that the degree of this protective effect depended on the shrub height. The shrub canopy seemed to reduce the increase in soil temperature and keep the grass vigorous. Livestock likely avoided grazing grasses in the C. microphylla patches because of the shrub's spiny leaves; only the upper parts of the grass stems (including the seed heads) protruding from the shrub canopy were grazed. The sand-fixing shrub thus moderates the grazing impact and soil temperature, and contributes to vegetation restoration and grazing system sustainability.     

短脚锦鸡儿灌丛对植物群落和土壤微生物群落的促进效应研究

以内蒙古荒漠区短脚锦鸡儿灌木为研究对象,采用野外调查法分析灌丛对植物群落的影响,采用传统培养法,结合分子鉴定法分析灌丛对土壤微生物群落的影响。结果表明:(1)灌丛内植物群落多度和总生物量显著大于灌丛外,但是物种丰度和Shannon-Wiener指数灌丛内外无显著差异;(2)随土壤深度的增加,表层土与深层土的土壤可培养细菌丰度和真菌多度差异不显著,其余土壤微生物群落多样性特征均表现为:表层土显著大于深层土;(3)灌丛对土壤微生物群落具有正效应,且表层土正效应最大;(4)灌丛对植物群落的促进作用大于对土壤微生物群落的作用。     

Impact of nitrogen addition on plant community in a semi-arid temperate steppe in China

Increased nitrogen (N) deposition will often lead to a decline in species richness in grassland ecosystems but the shifts in functional groups and plant traits are still poorly understood in China.A field experiment was conducted at Duolun,Inner Mongolia,China,to investigate the effects of N addition on a temperate steppe ecosystem.Six N levels (0,3,6,12,24,and 48 g N/(m 2 a)) were added as three applications per year from 2005 to 2010.Enhanced N deposition,even as little as 3 g N/(m 2 a) above ambient N deposition (1.2 g N/(m 2 a)),led to a decline in species richness of the whole community.Increasing N addition can significantly stimulate aboveground biomass of perennial bunchgrasses (PB) but decrease perennial forbs (PF),and induce a slight change in the biomass of shrubs and semi-shrubs (SS).The biomass of annuals (AS) and perennial rhizome grasses (PR) accounts for only a small part of the total biomass.Species richness of PF decreased significantly with increasing N addition rate but there was a little change in the other functional groups.PB,as the dominant functional group,has a relatively higher height than others.Differences in the response of each functional group to N addition have site-specific and species-specific characteristics.We initially infer that N enrichment stimulated the growth of PB,which further suppressed the growth of other functional groups.     

沙冬青属[Ammopiptanthus (Maxim.) Chen f.]植物群落特征分析

通过对珍稀濒危的沙冬青属2种沙冬青群落的区系组成、生活型、生态型组成、群落中物种恒有度、群落结构、多度、盖度特征的对比研究,发现其群落组成均以藜科、菊科、豆科占优势,以温带分布和泛地中海分布为主,且旱生的多年生草本、半灌木等比重较大,均表现出草原化荒漠的特点,群落结构中灌木层和草本层明显,具较强的相似性;二者共有科、属虽较多,但共有种数少,群落中常见种不同,蒙古沙冬青群落物种组成和区系组成比新疆沙冬青丰富,结构也较复杂,群落类型较多,多度和盖度也大,但均一性较差;新疆沙冬青群落旱化程度较高.从整体上看,2种沙冬青群落结构简单,物种多样性较低,多度、盖度不高,很容易受到破坏,新疆沙冬青群落比蒙古沙冬青群落更容易被破坏.     

荒漠植物群落特征及其与气候因子的对应分析

2002-2008年,采用样方法对内蒙古典型荒漠区禁牧样地的植物群落进行了调查。以7年的调查结果和数据分析了荒漠植物群落的季节和年度特征,并利用除趋势对应分析(DCA)和典范对应分析(CCA)对植物群落特征与气候因子的相关性进行了排序分析。结果表明:灌木和草本植物的高度、盖度、密度和生物量的季节特征均为夏季和秋季间差异均不显著(P>0.05),而秋季显著高于春季(P<0.05)。灌木植物与草本植物群落特征的年动态具有差异,草本植物群落特征的年间波动大于灌木植物。DCA排序表明荒漠植物群落结构的季节性和年度间差异不明显。CCA排序表明草本植物特征因子与气候因子的相关性大于灌木植物。草本密度与年降水量的相关性较大,草本高度与年均温度的相关性较大,草本生物量与年降水量、年均温度的相关性均较大。     

Species-specific traits determine shrub-annual interactions during a growing season

Stress gradient hypothesis predicted that facilitative interactions usually increase in intensity and are importance with abiotic stress.By contrast,facilitation may be lost in time,when it involves the growth of benefactors or beneficiaries.Less is known about which response pattern is more common in arid desert.We present an empirical study to explore shrub-annual interactions at the community and individual level along the course of a single growing season in a desert steppe in northwest China.Here the severity of drought stress may increase in time due to uneven precipitation during plant growing season.We assessed growth responses of annuals in understory where two dominant shrubs were removed.Annuals responses showed a switch from weakly positive to more strongly positive beneath Calligonum mongolicum,whereas from positive to negative beneath Nitraria sphaerocarpa during the growing season.Additionally,annual species with contrasting functional traits showed distinct growth responses to canopies removal.There was evidence of an increase in soil moisture below the canopy of shrubs,but a decrease in potential evaporation rate and photosynthetically active radiation,which can partly explain these species-specific responses.We conclude that the balance between competitive and facilitative effects in shrub-annual interactions is not only governed by the severity of stress but also determined by plant traits,such as canopy structure of shrubs and functional traits of their understory annuals.     

Water utilization of typical plant communities in desert steppe,China

Water is a limiting factor in the restoration and construction of desert steppe. Exploring plant water sources is necessary to understand soil-plant interactions and species coexistence; however, water sources of major plant communities within the desert steppe of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the water uptake of plants in four typical communities: Agropyron mongolicum Keng.; Sophora alopecuroids Linn.; Stipa breviflora Griseb., and Achnatherum splendens (Trin.) Nevski communities. Stable isotopes δD and δ¹⁸O in the xylem of plant and soil water at different soil depths were analyzed. An IsoSource model was used to determine the soil depths from which plants obtained water. Results showed that A. mongolicum community obtained water predominantly from 0-20 and 40-80 cm depth, S. alopecuroids community from 0-20 cm depth, S. breviflora community from 0-40 cm depth, and A. splendens community from 0-20 and 80-140 cm depths. S. alopecuroides had a wider range of soil depths for water extraction, i.e., utilizing different water sources depending on habitat, and the plasticity of its water uptake pattern determined its role in different communities. Water source of plants relayed heavily on the distribution of their roots. Competition for soil water exists between different plant life forms in the sierozem habitat (A. mongolicum, S. alopecuroids, and S. breviflora communities), and in the sandy soil habitat (A. splendens community). The use of soil water by A. splendens community is more spatially differentiated, and shrubs and herbs can coexist stably. Under the pattern of extended drought period in the future, sierozem habitat may be more favorable for the formation of a dominant monoculture community type of perennial fibrous plants. In aeolian sandy soil habitat, A. splendens had a strong competitive advantage, and the growth of shallow-rooted plants was easily suppressed.     

黄土丘陵沟壑区退耕还林工程植被恢复效益初步研究

本文在对吴旗县及对比县乔木林、灌木林和草原群落野外调查的基础上,对吴旗县植被恢复效益通过植被覆盖度、重要值、物种多样性等方面进行了定量分析。结果表明,在吴旗县这样的自然地理条件下,通过退耕还林、封山禁牧,植被完全可以得到恢复,完全可以达到控制水土流失的目的。在自然恢复初期,植物群落将以草原地带性植被为主,并可以恢复到稳定阶段。三种植被群落在植物多样性方面差异并不大,草原群落的物种多样性和群落均匀度要略小于乔木林和灌木林群落。通过计算吴旗县和对比县的相似性系数表明,退耕封禁地与未退耕封禁地在相似性方面有较大的差异。     

禾草内生真菌与丛枝菌根互作对多年生黑麦草生长及叶斑病的影响

为明确禾草内生真菌和丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi,AMF)互作对多年生黑麦草Lolium perenne生长发育及叶斑病的影响,设置禾草内生真菌处理(由带有和不带禾草内生真菌种子建立)、AMF(幼套球囊霉Claroideoglomus etunicatum和根内球囊霉Rhizophagus intraradices)单独接种和混合接种处理及不接菌处理(对照),并在植物生长6周后接种或不接种多年生黑麦草叶斑病病原菌根腐离蠕孢Bipolaris sorokiniana,测定各处理多年生黑麦草的发病率、叶绿素含量、净光合速率、水分利用效率、AMF侵染率、P含量和生物量。结果表明:接种病原菌2周后,多年生黑麦草叶斑病的发病率为25.00%～38.75%,禾草内生真菌和幼套球囊霉均在一定程度上降低了多年生黑麦草的发病率,二者共同作用时发病率显著降低了35.48%。禾草内生真菌与AMF互作能在一定程度上提高植物叶绿素含量,促进光合作用,并促进P吸收和植物生长,二者的互作效应因禾草内生真菌与AMF组合而异,但均优于二者单独使用时的效应,其中禾草内生真菌与幼套球囊霉互作对多年生黑麦草生长及叶斑病防治的效果最好。     

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.