Ecosystem photosynthesis depends on increased water availability to enhance carbon assimilation in semiarid desert steppe in northern China

Abstract

The amount and intensity of precipitation may have important effects on plant growth and ecosystem carbon exchange in semiarid desert steppes; further understanding of how the dryland carbon cycle responds to changes in precipitation and its underlying mechanisms is necessary for an accurate understanding of the global carbon cycle. A field experiment was conducted in a semiarid desert steppe in Ningxia, China, to clarify the response patterns of ecosystem carbon fluxes along five levels of precipitation gradients (Simulating the natural precipitation percentages of 33 % (−33 %, 84 mm), 66 % (−66 %, 167 mm), 100 % (CK, 253 mm), 133 % (+33 %, 336 mm) and 166 % (+66 %, 420 mm) by rain shelters and sprinklers; CK is natural precipitation). The result showed that the trends of net ecosystem CO 2 exchange (NEE) and gross ecosystem photosynthesis (GEP) were consistent and those of ecosystem respiration (ER) and Soil respiration (SR) and autotrophic (Ra) and heterotrophic (Rh) components of SR were also consistent. NEE, ER, GEP and SR all reached their highest values in August. Changes in precipitation significantly affected ecosystem carbon fluxes, with NEE, ER and SR decreasing with decreasing precipitation and NEE, ER and GEP increasing with increasing precipitation. Soil respiration was more sensitive to the decreased precipitation treatment. During the growing season, NEE, ER, GEP, and SR were significantly positively correlated with precipitation, soil moisture (SM) and aboveground biomass (AGB). With the increase of precipitation variability, the promotion effect of increasing precipitation on GEP will exceed the promotion effect on ER, causing changes in carbon exchange and carbon sinks. Photosynthesis and respiration appeared tightly coupled, indicating that photosynthetic products regulate above- and belowground carbon cycling in semiarid steppe. Our study highlights the importance of water availability in carbon exchange processes in semiarid desert steppe of northern China. Decreased precipitation can lead to significant changes in SM and AGB, with negative impacts on GEP and SR, resulting in uncertainty in regional carbon sequestration. These findings will help us understand the vulnerability of semiarid steppe ecosystems under the influence of future precipitation changes and aim to provide a scientific reference for ecological management and restoration of semiarid desert steppes. • Effect of precipitation changes on above- and below-ground carbon fluxes was studied. • Increased precipitation promotes GEP more than ER, leading to carbon sinks. • Soil respiration was more sensitive to the decreased precipitation treatment. • There is a strong coupling between photosynthesis and soil respiration.