Spatial Distribution and Eco-stoichiometric Characteristics of Soil Nutrient Elements Under Different Vegetation Types in the Yellow River Delta Wetland

Abstract

To clarify the distribution characteristics and the ecological stoichiometric characteristics of nutrient elements in soils under different vegetation types, four typical natural wetlands, i.e., Phragmites australis wetland, Tamarix chinensis wetland, Suaeda salsa wetland, and Tidal flat wetland, as well as Gossypium spp. fields that were reclaimed from natural wetlands, were selected as study sites in the Yellow River Delta, and comparisons between the agricultural reclamation land and natural wetlands were conducted. The results showed that the soil total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in the natural wetlands were as follows:P. australis wetland and T. chinensis wetland>S. salsa wetland>Tidal flat, and the contents of TOC and TN were significantly negatively related to electrical conductivity (EC) and pH values (P<0.05). The contents of TOC, TN, and total phosphorus (TP) in Gossypium spp. fields were significantly higher than those in natural wetlands (P<0.05), especially the contents of nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N) in Gossypium spp. fields, which were 9.4-11.4 times that of natural wetlands. However, no significant correlations between TOC, TN, and TP and EC and pH values (P>0.05) were observed in Gossypium spp. fields. The results of correlation analysis showed that the C/N of natural wetlands were mainly controlled by the contents of TN (P<0.05), and the C/N of the Gossypium spp. fields were significantly lower than those of natural wetlands (P<0.05). The soil C/P and N/P of natural wetlands and Gossypium spp. fields in the Yellow River Delta were low, and the variation trends were consistent with those of soil TOC and TN. Comparative analysis revealed, on the whole, that there were significantly different soil nutrient element contents, C/N, C/P, and N/P in Gossypium spp. fields compared to those of natural wetlands (P<0.05). The process of reclamation could significantly change the spatial distribution of nutrient elements in wetlands. Our results should be of importance in revealing the biogeochemical process of soil nutrient elements in coastal wetland and the influence of agricultural reclamation activities on the differentiation of soil nutrient elements.