Effects of precipitation on soil nutrient availability and plant growth in a semiarid grassland原文网址

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4203847/

Abstract:

Precipitation is a key factor influencing soil nutrient availability and plant growth in semiarid grasslands. In this study, we conducted a field experiment to investigate the effects of precipitation manipulation on soil nutrient availability and plant growth in a semiarid grassland in Inner Mongolia, China. Three precipitation treatments were applied: 30% reduction, ambient, and 30% increase. Soil nutrient availability and plant growth were measured after three growing seasons. Results showed that soil nutrient availability was significantly affected by precipitation manipulation. Reduced precipitation decreased soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK) concentrations, while increased precipitation had no significant effect on soil nutrient availability. Plant growth was also significantly affected by precipitation manipulation. Reduced precipitation decreased aboveground biomass, root biomass, leaf area index (LAI), and plant height, while increased precipitation had no significant effect on plant growth. Our results suggest that reduced precipitation may lead to decreased soil nutrient availability and plant growth in semiarid grasslands, which could have important implications for ecosystem productivity and stability in the face of future climate change