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Bulletin of Botanical Research ›› 2022, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (5): 896-909.doi: 10.7525/j.issn.1673-5102.2022.05.021

• Physiology and Ecology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Comparative Analysis of Nutrient Elements of Eight Herbaceous Plants in Desert Area

Weiwei ZHUANG, Mingming WANG   

  1. Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Special Species Conservation and Regulatory Biology,International Research Center for the Collaborative Containment of Cross Border Pests in Central Asia,Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Biology in Arid Land,College of Life Science Xinjiang Normal University,Urumqi 830054
  • Received:2021-04-20 Online:2022-09-20 Published:2022-09-15
  • Supported by:
    National Natural Science Foundation of China(42007092);Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(2021D01A123);Open Project of Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region(2021D04003)

Abstract:

In order to better understand the quantitative characteristics of nutrient elements in desert plants and the interaction among elements, the differences of plant element contents in different growing stages and dune areas were revealed. Eight dominant herbs(four kinds of annual plants, four kinds of ephemeral plant) in Gurbantunggut desert were used to collect plants from different growth period(vigorous period, wither period) and different sand dune areas(slopes, hinterland), and 10 kinds of nutrient elements(C, N, P, K, Na, Mg, Al, Mn, Cu and Zn) in whole plant were measured respectively. The results showed that: (1)There were significant differences in element contents of 8 species, which reflected the characteristics of selective absorption of elements due to different genetic characteristics. The contents were as follows: C(230.19-401.82 mg·g-1) and N(11.31-18.85 mg·g-1), P(0.95-2.08 mg·g-1), K(16.12-29.79 mg·g-1), Na(0.88-3.31 mg·g-1), Mg(3.38-5.31 mg·g-1), Al(0.33-1.99 mg·g-1), Mn(51.35-105.32 mg·kg-1), Cu(4.14-6.38 mg·kg-1), Zn (11.64-21.43 mg·kg-1). The distribution pattern of element contents of different species was similar, and the order of element contents was: C>N>K>Mg>Na>P>Al>Mn>Zn>Cu, typical characteristics were rich in K but poor in Cu and Zn, belonging to N restrictive plants, demonstrated consistent impact of environmental elements for all kinds of plants. (2)Element contents were significantly affected by species, growing period and dune location. The Na contents of four species of Chenopodiaceae were significantly higher than those of four ephemeral plants. Compared with the flourishing stage, the contents of C, N, P, Mg, Mn, Cu and Zn of the eight plants were generally decreased in the withered stage, while the contents of Na, K increased by different degrees, and the K content of Suaeda glauca and Agriophyllum sqarrosum significantly increased. The content of plant elements in the hinterland of sand dune was generally higher than that of the same species on the slope due to the influence of soil moisture and nutrient. (3)Correlation analysis showed that: C was positively correlated with P, N with Na, Mg, Cu, Zn, K with P, Al, Na with Mg, Mn with Na, Mg, Cu, Zn with Cu(P≤0.001) respectively, but K was negatively correlated with Mn, Cu and Zn(P≤0.001). In conclusion, the characteristics of element contents of desert plants reflected their adaptability to climate and soil in arid and semi-arid areas.

Key words: desert ecosystem, herbaceous plant, growth period, nutrient elements, correlation

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