Variations of foliar carbon isotope discrimination and nutrient concentrations in Artemisia ordosica and Caragana korshinskii at the southeastern margin of China’s Tengger Desert

Abstract

Seasonal variations in foliar stable carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) of Artemisia ordosica and Caragana korshinskii and correlations of foliar Δ with N, P, and K concentrations were studied under different planting regimes at the southeastern margin of China’s Tengger Desert. Foliar Δ, N, P, and K concentrations and the correlations of Δ with N, P, and K differed between the species and planting regimes. Foliar Δ, P and K concentrations in A. ordosica were markedly higher than in C. korshinskii, while foliar N concentrations in C. korshinskii was significantly higher than in A. ordosica. There were no significant differences in N, P, and K concentrations in C. korshinskii between planting regimes, but foliar Δ was significantly increased after June in mixed-species planting. In A. ordosica foliar N concentrations in mixed-species planting and foliar Δ in single-species planting were significantly higher than those of corresponding planting regimes. According to water-use efficiency (WUE) calculated based on foliar Δ, and on N, P, and K concentrations, C. korshinskii’s survival may profit from its higher WUE, whereas A. ordosica can avoid drought damage by its higher P and K concentrations in leaves in arid or semi-arid environments. The complex correlations of foliar Δ with foliar N, P and K suggested that water in C. korshinskii and water and P nutrition in A. ordosica were the key factors limiting their growth.