Correlations of foliar Δ with K concentration and ash content in sand-fixing plants in the Tengger Desert of China: patterns and implications |
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| Authors: | Liangju Zhao Honglang Xiao Xiaohong Liu Ren Juan Lu Mingfeng Zhou Maoxian |
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| Institution: | (1) Division of Hydrology and Water-land Resources in Cold and Arid regions, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China;(2) Key Laboratory of Cryosphere and Environment, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China;(3) Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China |
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| Abstract: | In different-aged sand-fixing zones and shifting sand dunes, the seasonal variations of foliar carbon isotope discrimination
(Δ), potassium (K) concentration and ash content were investigated in three dominated deserted plants (Artemisia ordosica, Hedysarum scoparium and Caragana korshinskii) during growth season in Shapotou, which is in the southeast margin of the Tengger Desert. The correlations of foliar Δ with
foliar K concentration and ash content were examined to evaluate the foliar K and ash content as surrogates of Δ in those
deserted plants. Results showed that there were significant effects of plant species, micro-habitation and growth season on
foliar Δ, K concentration and ash content. Foliar Δ of C. korshinskii was significantly lower than those of A. ordosica and H. scoparium, and K concentrations in A. ordosica were 2.14 and 2.36 times those of C. korshinskii and H. scoparium. At the same time, micro-habitation and the conditions in growth seasons had significant effects on foliar Δ, K concentration
and ash content. Ash content and K concentration were positively correlated to Δ in A. ordosica and H. scoparium, while there was significantly negative relationship between foliar K concentration and Δ in C. korshinskii. Thus, those findings suggest that foliar ash content and K concentration can serve as surrogates of carbon isotope discrimination
(Δ) in A. ordosica and H. scoparium, while they do not in C. korshinskii. This result implied that the correlations of foliar Δ with ash content and K concentration were various due to the physiological
features of plant species, and species differences should be fully considered when evaluating the surrogates of carbon isotope
discrimination in plants. |
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| Keywords: | Carbon isotope discrimination Potassium concentration Ash content The Tengger Desert |
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