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[1]Lan Huiqin,Liu Jiankang,Wang Yitao,et al.Effects of soil nutrient heterogeneity on plant community characteristics in micro-patches of desert steppe[J].Research of Soil and Water Conservation,2025,32(06):141-150.[doi:10.13869/j.cnki.rswc.2025.06.019]

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Effects of soil nutrient heterogeneity on plant community characteristics in micro-patches of desert steppe

Research of Soil and Water Conservation[ISSN 1005-3409/CN 61-1272/P] Volume: 32 Number of periods: 2025 06 Page number: 141-150 Column: Public date: 2025-10-20

Title:: Effects of soil nutrient heterogeneity on plant community characteristics in micro-patches of desert steppe

Author(s):: Lan Huiqin^1,2,Liu Jiankang^1,2,Wang Yitao^1,2,Huang Xiangxiang³,Zhang Jie^1,2,Zhang Chenghui³,Bai Cunlin⁴,Niu Xiangwen⁴; (1.College of Ecology and Environment,Ningxia University,Yinchuan 750000,China;2.Key Laboratory forRestoration and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystems in Northwestern China of Ministry of Education,Yinchuan 750000,China;3.College of Forestry and Grassland Science,Ningxia University,Yinchuan 750000,China;4.AdministrationBureau of Habahu National Nature Reserve of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region,Wuzhong,Ningxia 751100,China)

Keywords:: soil nutrient heterogeneity; plant diversity; soil patches; plant-soil interaction; soil physicochemical properties

CLC:: S812

DOI:: 10.13869/j.cnki.rswc.2025.06.019

Abstract:: [Objective] Soil resource heterogeneity can affect plant growth by increasing available ecological niche space and enhancing the complexity of habitat resource structure. This study aims to explore the effects of soil nutrient heterogeneity on plant community characteristics, providing a theoretical basis and scientific guidance for ecosystem management in desert steppe. [Methods] Leveraging natural variations in native soil nutrients, this study artificially constructed soil patches with different nutrient conditions but uniform distribution patterns. It investigated the effects of these nutrient differences on community structure, functional group composition, diversity, and soil physicochemical properties in desert steppe. [Results] In the first experimental year, soil nutrients significantly affected plant height, coverage, and density(p<0.05). By the third year, plant height was significantly increased(p<0.05). Both the year and soil patch nutrient characteristics significantly affected plant community composition. During the experimental years, dominant species shifted from annuals to perennials, with importance values decreasing by 0~57.78%(p<0.05). All α -diversity indices showed a trend of initial increase followed by decrease with rising soil patch nutrient levels. By the third year, the Richness index increased by 45.0%, 96.4%, 157.1%, and 165.1%, respectively, compared to the first year. Soil bulk density, electrical conductivity, and pH showed significant negative correlations with only some α-diversity indices(p<0.05), while total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and soil moisture were negatively correlated with all α -diversity indices. Partial least squares path modeling revealed that soil nutrient heterogeneity could directly reduce diversity by significantly lowering total nitrogen and phosphorus contents(p<0.05), and indirectly suppress diversity through plant density. [Conclusion] The ecological memory effect of soil heterogeneity may continuously play a dominant role in the pathways for community assembly. This occurs mainly through direct suppression of total nutrients, and a cascade path of “heterogeneity-nutrient-density” interactions, leading to a significant reduction in plant diversity. Community succession exhibited a pattern of “convergence-divergence-reorganization”, with dominant species transitioning from annual and biennial plants to perennial rhizomatous grasses. This study suggests regulating spatial distribution of soil nutrients to enhance diversity conservation.

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Last Update: 2025-12-10