Abstract
Plant pH is a valuable but not fully studied plant functional attribute, which is of great significance for predicting plant nutrient cycling characteristics and processes. The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of foliar and root pH of desert herbs and their influencing mechanisms to provide basic data and study the functional traits of desert plants, as well as a theoretical basis for vegetation protection of desert ecosystems in Xinjiang. In this study, three typical desert herbs, Kali collinum, Launaea polydichotoma, and Karelinia caspia, were selected as research objects. Foliar and root pH, plant and soil nutrients, and climatic factors of the three plants were measured. The differences in the pH values of foliar and roots of the three plants and their relationships with influencing factors were investigated. Foliar pH was significantly higher in K. collinum (6.17). Root pH was significantly lower in K. caspia roots (5.92). The foliar and root pH values of the three herbs were significantly correlated with plant nutrients, soil, and climatic factors. Among these factors, soil nutrients and EC have a significant influence on foliar and root pH values. Our findings suggest that plant nutrients, soil, and climatic factors have inconsistent responses to foliar and root pH in the three desert herbs in Xinjiang; soil factors have a more significant impact on the pH changes of desert herbs compared to plant and climate factors.
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Funding
This study was supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2022M722667), Xinjiang University Autonomous Region Level College Students Innovation Training Program Project (No. S202210755088), Third Xinjiang Scientific Expedition Program (No. 2021xjkk0903), and Department of Education of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dr. Tianchi Program Project (No. TCBS202123).
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W.L. carried out the fieldwork and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Y.L. carried out the fieldwork and assisted with revising the draft manuscript. K.D., R.M., and Y.A. wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
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Li, W., Luo, Y., Du, K. et al. Foliar and Root pH of Three Typical Desert Herbs and Their Relationship with Influencing Factors in Xinjiang. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 23, 5632–5641 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01427-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-023-01427-9