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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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Environmental Geology

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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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from the Fifteenth National Program for Tackling Key Problems (2005BA517A02), the National Science and Technique Program (2004BA901A15) and the National Natural Science foundation of China (Grand No. 40501076); and Import-Talents Program of Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  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

    Liangju Zhao, Honglang Xiao, Ren Juan, Lu Mingfeng & Zhou Maoxian

  2. Key Laboratory of Cryosphere and Environment, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Xiaohong Liu

  3. Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Liangju Zhao

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  1. Liangju Zhao
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  2. Honglang Xiao
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  3. Xiaohong Liu
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  4. Ren Juan
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Correspondence to Liangju Zhao.

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Zhao, L., Xiao, H., Liu, X. et al. Correlations of foliar Δ with K concentration and ash content in sand-fixing plants in the Tengger Desert of China: patterns and implications. Environ Geol 51, 1049–1056 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-006-0374-2

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