Response of soil microarthropod communities to long-term water and nitrogen changes in desert steppes, China

doi:10.1016/j.jaridl.2026.06.009

Journal of Arid Land

2026, Vol. 18

Issue (6): 1076-1097 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaridl.2026.06.009

Research article

Response of soil microarthropod communities to long-term water and nitrogen changes in desert steppes, China

MA Shangfei¹, LI Jing², WU Zhendan¹, YE He¹, WEN Xin³, HONG Mei¹^,⁴^,⁵^,^*(

)

¹ College of Resources and Environment Sciences, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
² Inner Mongolia Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Technology Popularization Center, Hohhot 010018, China
³ Agricultural and Livestock Ecology and Resource Protection Center of Otog Front Banner, Erdos 016299, China
⁴ Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Soil Quality and Nutrient Resources, Hohhot 010018, China
⁵ Key Laboratory of Agricultural Ecological Security and Green Development at Universities of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hohhot 010018, China

Download:

HTML

PDF(2004KB)
Export: BibTeX | EndNote (RIS)

Abstract

Desert steppe ecosystems are highly sensitive to variations in water and nitrogen (N) levels. Soil microarthropods serve as crucial indicators of belowground ecological processes, yet their responses to long-term water-N interactions remain unclear. This study investigated the combined effects of long-term N deposition and rainfall variation on the microarthropod community in the desert steppe soil, as well as their potential driving mechanisms. Utilizing a field control experimental platform for global change in the desert steppe of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China, researchers had established a multigradient two-factor (water-N) experiment since 2015. The experiment employed a split-plot design with three water levels (natural rainfall (NR), 30.00% rainfall enhancement (RE), and 30.00% rainfall reduction (RR)) and four N addition levels (0 (N0), 30 (N30), 50 (N50), and 100 (N100) kg N/(hm²•a)), resulting in 12 treatment combinations. After the experimental treatments had been conducted for 5 a and treatment effects had reached a long-term steady state, we collected the soil samples to analyze the variations of soil microarthropod communities. The results revealed that at varying water conditions, N addition increased the abundance, number of taxa, and diversity of soil microarthropods. In the RE treatment, the total abundance and total number of taxa of soil microarthropods were significantly greater than those in the NR and RR treatments. Water-N interactions had a significant effect on soil microarthropod community structure, with the N30 treatment coupled with water variation having the strongest effect. Moreover, the influence of N addition on soil microarthropod communities depended on water changes; both the RR and RE treatments amplified the effect of N addition, with the RR treatment resulting in the greatest amplification. N deposition and changes in rainfall shape the soil microarthropod community by altering key environmental factors. N addition and water variation positively affect the abundance of soil microarthropods by increasing the ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) content, litter fall (LF), and soil moisture (SM) content. The interaction between water and N primarily promotes soil microarthropod abundance by reducing the NH₄⁺-N content and increasing the biomass of perennial grass. In summary, this study not only reveals the key pathways through which water and N drive changes in the soil microarthropod community in desert steppes but also provides a scientific basis for understanding soil biodiversity maintenance and ecosystem management in arid regions under global change.

Key words： nitrogen deposition rainfall variation soil microarthropod community structure desert steppe

Received: 20 November 2025 Published: 30 June 2026

Corresponding Authors: ^* HONG Mei (E-mail: nmczhm1970@126.com)

About author: First author contact:Author contributions

Conceptualization: MA Shangfei; Methodology: MA Shangfei, LI Jing, WU Zhendan, YE He, WEN Xin; Formal analysis: MA Shangfei, LI Jing, WU Zhendan; Writing - original draft preparation: MA Shangfei; Writing - review and editing: HONG Mei; Funding acquisition: HONG Mei. All authors approved the manuscript.

	Service
	E-mail this article
	Add to my bookshelf
	Add to citation manager
	E-mail Alert
	RSS
	Articles by authors
	MA Shangfei
	LI Jing
	WU Zhendan
	YE He
	WEN Xin
	HONG Mei

Cite this article:

MA Shangfei, LI Jing, WU Zhendan, YE He, WEN Xin, HONG Mei. Response of soil microarthropod communities to long-term water and nitrogen changes in desert steppes, China. Journal of Arid Land, 2026, 18(6): 1076-1097.

URL:

http://jal.xjegi.com/10.1016/j.jaridl.2026.06.009 OR http://jal.xjegi.com/Y2026/V18/I6/1076

Fig. 1 Study area in Siziwang Banner, Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China (a), and photos of the 30.00% rainfall enhancement (b) and 30.00% rainfall reduction (c) treatments. DEM, digital elevation model.

Table S1 Changes in soil microarthropod abundance and ovcupancy underdifferent water-ntrogen (N) interactions in Sipa breviflora Griseb.desert steppe

Fig. 2 Distribution of soil microarthropod communities under different nitrogen (N) addition treatments at each water level. RR (a), NR (b), and RE (c) represent 30.00% rainfall reduction, natural rainfall, and 30.00% rainfall enhancement, respectively. N0, N30, N50, and N100 denote N application rates of 0, 30, 50, and 100 kg N/(hm²•a), respectively. T1-T31 correspond to soil microarthropod taxa at the family level. The specific taxa corresponding to each code are listed in Table S1.

Table S2 Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of soil microarthropod community composition and diversity under different water levels and N addition treatments

Fig. 3 Changes in soil microarthropod community structure under different water levels and N addition treatments. (a), species abundance; (b), taxa number. Different lowercase letters within the same water level indicate significant differences among different N treatments at P<0.050 level. *, P<0.050 level among different water levels. Boxes indicate the IQR (interquartile range, 75^th to 25^th of the data). The median value is shown as a line within the box. The colored diamonds represent the data. Whiskers extend to the most extreme value within 1.5×IQR.

Fig. 4 Changes in soil microarthropod diversity in desert steppe under different water levels and N addition treatments. (a), Simpson index; (b), Shannon-Wiener index; (c), Margalef index; (d), Pielou index. Different lowercase letters within the same water level indicate significant differences among different N treatments at P<0.050 level. *, P<0.050 level among different water levels.

Fig. 5 Changes in the similarity coefficient (q-value) of soil microarthropod communities in desert steppes under water-N interactions. The indices q_NR-RE, q_NR-RR, and q_RE-RR compare the soil microarthropods levels between the NR and RE, NR and RR, and RE and RR levels, respectively. Different lowercase letters within the same pair of water levels indicate significant differences among different N treatments at P<0.050 level.

Fig. 6 Principal component analysis (PCA) result in soil microarthropod community structure at different water levels. (a), RR; (b), NR; (c), RE. PC, principal component.

Fig. 7 PCA result in soil microarthropod community structure under different N addition treatments. (a), N0; (b), N30; (c), N50; (d), N100.

Table S3 Two-way ANOVA of soil physical-chemical properties, and plant community structure and diversity under different water levels and N addition treatments

Table S4 Changes in soil physical-chemical properties under water-N interactions

Treatment	AGB (g/m²)	AB plants (g/m²)	P. weeds (g/m²)	P. grasses (g/m²)	LF (g/m²)	Richness index	Shannon- wiener index	Pielou index	Simpson index
RR-N0	104.51±4.35^ab	19.99±1.86^ab	31.66±4.88^a	39.17±8.16^a	34.46±1.95^c	6.92±0.46^b	1.20±0.17^b	0.58±0.05^c	0.54±0.07^b
RR-N30	111.26±11.70^ab	18.79±1.18^b	22.58±2.14^bc	43.92±4.26^a	41.39±0.89^b	7.83±0.17^a	1.46±0.01^a	0.72±0.02^ab	0.71±0.02^a
RR-N50	98.47±2.05^b	23.69±0.99^a	16.39±3.65^c	51.02±3.59^a	54.69±4.93^a	7.33±0.60^ab	1.31±0.07^b	0.67±0.03^b	0.68±0.05^a
RR-N100	117.75±4.24^a	21.09±2.72^ab	29.78±1.84^ab	51.16±2.89^a	45.75±2.71^b	7.50±0.10^ab	1.51±0.02^a	0.79±0.03^a	0.75±0.02^a
NR-N0	159.82±3.37^c	62.42±2.65^b	10.67±0.87^b	86.59±6.49^b	100.10±0.51^a	7.00±0.50^b	1.41±0.03^ab	0.68±0.02^b	0.65±0.03^a
NR-N30	191.97±3.71^a	62.57±4.42^b	14.50±4.47^b	128.31±15.86^a	97.25±13.27^a	8.50±0.29^a	1.61±0.06^a	0.76±0.04^a	0.67±0.08^a
NR-N50	192.34±3.43^a	78.84±3.02^a	32.64±3.87^a	88.35±6.52^b	98.21±8.30^a	8.33±1.01^a	1.55±0.03^ab	0.73±0.04^ab	0.69±0.03^a
NR-N100	183.09±1.98^b	56.70±4.50^b	23.96±5.56^a	117.59±5.52^a	96.03±6.88^a	8.50±0.29^a	1.44±0.17^b	0.69±0.02^ab	0.72±0.05^a
RE-N0	237.7±5.98^c	57.92±10.81^b	29.13±4.65^bc	105.84±14.92^b	109.46±2.39^b	7.83±0.93^a	1.46±0.01^b	0.68±0.02^b	0.56±0.09^a
RE-N30	291.57±4.62^ab	66.15±1.41^b	80.30±14.15^a	142.12±16.47^a	105.92±10.41^b	8.75±0.25^a	1.70±0.01^a	0.64±0.01^c	0.64±0.04^a
RE-N50	278.1±12.11^b	84.08±2.10^a	29.51±1.48^b	116.72±16.25^ab	96.57±2.96^b	8.75±0.52^a	1.68±0.06^a	0.58±0.10^d	0.57±0.02^a
RE-N100	312.89±20.51^a	65.78±3.09^b	80.36±15.98^a	104.52±10.37^b	127.68±7.30^a	8.00±0.29^a	1.52±0.05^b	0.64±0.02^a	0.67±0.05^a
RR	107.99±1.85^c	20.89±0.57^b	25.10±1.88^b	46.32±1.82^c	44.07±0.54^c	7.40±0.15^b	1.41±0.02^c	0.69±0.01^ab	0.67±0.01^a
NR	181.81±0.53^b	65.13±1.49^a	20.44±1.55^b	105.21±0.95^b	97.90±3.33^b	8.08±0.11^a	1.49±0.02^b	0.71±0.02^a	0.68±0.03^a
RE	280.07±5.82^a	68.48±1.36^a	54.83±5.60^a	117.30±6.39^a	109.91±2.76^a	8.33±0.28^a	1.59±0.01^a	0.66±0.01^b	0.61±0.03^a

Table S5 Effects of water-N interactions on vegetation biomass, litter fall (LF), and vegetation diversity

Fig. 8 Importance ranking of environmental factors affecting soil microarthropods under different water levels and N addition treatments. (a), RR; (b), NR; (c), RE; (d), N. LF, litter fall; AB plants, annual and biennial plants; AGB, aboveground biomass; AK, available potassium; P. weeds, perennial weeds; SOM, soil organic matter; AP, available phosphorus; TN, total nitrogen; SM, soil moisture; T, soil temperature; P. grasses, perennial grasses; MSE, mean square error. *, P<0.050 level; **, P<0.010 level.

Fig. 9 Main pathways affecting soil microarthropod abundance under different water levels and N addition treatments. The solid line indicates the direct effect and the dashed line indicates the indirect effect. ^*, P<0.050 level; ^**, P<0.010 level; ^***, P<0.001 level.


[1]	Bao S D. 2000. Soil and Agricultural Chemistry Analysis (3^rded.). Beijing: Agriculture Press, 20-97. (in Chinese)

[2]	Bian H X, Geng Q H, Xiao H R, et al. 2019. Fine root biomass mediates soil fauna community in response to nitrogen addition in poplar plantations (Populus deltoids) on the east coast of China. Forests, 10(2): 122, doi: 10.3390/f10020122.

[3]	Bobbink R, Hicks K, Galloway J, et al. 2010. Global assessment of nitrogen deposition effects on terrestrial plant diversity: A synthesis. Ecological Applications, 20(1): 30-59. pmid: 20349829

[4]	De L C J, Sardans J, Galindo M, et al. 2025. Stoichiometry of litter decomposition under the effects of climate change and nutrient enrichment: A meta-analysis. Plant and Soil, 506(1): 709-726. doi: 10.1007/s11104-024-06718-3

[5]	Doblas-Miranda E, Paquette A, Work T T. 2014. Intercropping trees' effect on soil oribatid diversity in agro-ecosystems. Agroforestry Systems, 88(4): 671-678. doi: 10.1007/s10457-014-9680-y

[6]	Du Z Y, Zhang X W, Liu S X, et al. 2024. Nitrogen and water addition alters species diversity and interspecific relationship in a desert grassland. Science of The Total Environment, 908: 168386, doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168386.

[7]	Duan D Y, Kent A D. 2024. Nitrogen acquisition and retention pathways in sustainable perennial bioenergy grass cropping systems. GCB Bioenergy, 16(6): 13143, doi: 10.1111/gcbb.13143.

[8]	Fujii S, Cornelissen J H C, van Logtestijn R S P, et al. 2023. Downed deadwood habitat heterogeneity drives trophic niche diversity of soil-dwelling animals. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 187: 109193, doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2023.109193.

[9]	Gallese F, Gismero-Rodriguez L, Govednik A, et al. 2025. Soil microarthropods as tools for monitoring soil quality: The QBS-ar index in three European agroecosystems. Agriculture, 15(1): 89, doi: 10.3390/agriculture15010089.

[10]	Galloway J N, Dentener F J, Capone D G, et al. 2004. Nitrogen cycles: Past, present, and future. Biogeochemistry, 70(2): 153-226. doi: 10.1007/s10533-004-0370-0

[11]	Gao H, Hu H N, Bindeliya, et al. 2025. Reseeding Caragana korshinskii recovers soil microbiome structure but not stability or complexity after eight years in degraded desert steppe. Journal of Plant Ecology, 18(3): rtaf055, doi: 10.1093/jpe/rtaf055.

[12]	Gonzalez G, Barberena-Arias M F, Huang W, et al. 2021. Measuring Arthropod Biodiversity. Switzerland: Springer, 495-522.

[13]	Guo X H, Endler A, Poll C, et al. 2021. Independent effects of warming and altered precipitation pattern on nematode community structure in an arable field. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 316(15): 107467, doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2021.107467.

[14]	Guo X X, Zuo X A, Yue P, et al. 2022. Direct and indirect effects of precipitation change and nutrients addition on desert steppe productivity in Inner Mongolia, northern China. Plant and Soil, 471(1/2): 527-540. doi: 10.1007/s11104-021-05206-2

[15]	Houghton R A. 2001. Counting terrestrial sources and sinks of carbon. Climatic Change, 48(4): 525-534. doi: 10.1023/A:1005658316062

[16]	Hu C C, Liu X Y, Driscoll A W, et al. 2024. Global distribution and drivers of relative contributions among soil nitrogen sources to terrestrial plants. Nature Communications, 15(1): 6407, doi: 10.1038/S41467-024-50674-6.

[17]	Hu J X, Zhou S X, Tie L H, et al. 2022. Effects of nitrogen addition on soil faunal abundance: A global meta-analysis. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 31(8): 1655-1666. doi: 10.1111/geb.v31.8

[18]	Li J H, Liu Q, Yin R, et al. 2025. Nitrogen addition and plant functional type mediate the mesofauna-driven litter element release of subtropical forest. Plant and Soil, 510(1): 907-921. doi: 10.1007/s11104-024-06969-0

[19]	Li W H, Hodzic J, Su J S, et al. 2020. A dataset of plant and microbial community structure after long-term grazing and mowing in a semiarid steppe. Scientific Data, 7(1): 403, doi: 10.1038/s41597-020-00738-1.

[20]	Lindberg N, Engtsson J B, Persson T. 2002. Effects of experimental irrigation and drought on the composition and diversity of soil fauna in a coniferous stand. Journal of Applied Ecology, 39(6): 924-936. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2664.2002.00769.x

[21]	Ma Q H, Li Y B, Zhu Y, et al. 2022. Precipitation variations, rather than N deposition, determine plant ecophysiological traits in a desert steppe in Northern China. Ecological Indicators, 141: 109144, doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109144.

[22]	Maraun M, Scheu S. 2000. The structure of oribatid mite communities (Acari, Oribatida): Patterns, mechanisms and implications for future research. Ecography, 23(3): 374-383. doi: 10.1111/eco.2000.23.issue-3

[23]	Meehan M L, Barreto C, Turnbull M S, et al. 2020. Response of soil fauna to simulated global change factors depends on ambient climate conditions. Pedobiologia, 83: 150672, doi: 10.1016/j.pedobi.2020.150672.

[24]	Muller J N, Loh S, Braggion L, et al. 2014. Diverse urban plantings managed with sufficient resource availability can increase plant productivity and arthropod diversity. Frontiers in Plant Science, 5: 517, doi: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00517. pmid: 25400642

[25]	Munjonji L, Behn K, Vincent M, et al. 2025. Drought, grazing, and nitrogen input influence nutrient supply and soil faunal activity in a semi-arid savannah grassland. Scientific Reports, 15(1): 34248, doi: 10.1038/S41598-025-16281-1.

[26]	Oleg C, Yakov K, Irina P, et al. 2022. Modelling the rhizosphere priming effect in combination with soil food webs to quantify interaction between living plant, soil biota and soil organic matter. Plants, 11(19): 2605, doi: 10.3390/plants11192605.

[27]	Pan W K, Zhou J J, Tang S, et al. 2023. Utilisation and transformation of organic and inorganic nitrogen by soil microorganisms and its regulation by excessive carbon and nitrogen availability. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 59(4): 379-389. doi: 10.1007/s00374-023-01712-w

[28]	Peguero G, Sol D, Arnedo M, et al. 2019. Fast attrition of springtail communities by experimental drought and richness-decomposition relationships across Europe. Global Change Biology, 25(8): 2727-2738. doi: 10.1111/gcb.14685 pmid: 31206913

[29]	Peguero G, Folch E, Liu L, et al. 2021. Divergent effects of drought and nitrogen deposition on microbial and arthropod soil communities in a Mediterranean forest. European Journal of Soil Biology, 103: 103275, doi: 10.1016/j.ejsobi.2020.103275.

[30]	Peng Y, Peñuelas J, Vesterdal L, et al. 2022. Responses of soil fauna communities to the individual and combined effects of multiple global change factors. Ecology Letters, 25(9): 1961-1973. doi: 10.1111/ele.14068 pmid: 35875902

[31]	Peng Y, Vesterdal L, Peñuelas J, et al. 2023. Soil fauna effects on litter decomposition are better predicted by fauna communities within litterbags than by ambient soil fauna communities. Plant and Soil, 487(1-2): 49-59. doi: 10.1007/s11104-023-05902-1

[32]	Phillips M L, Winkler D E, Reibold R H, et al. 2021. Muted responses to chronic experimental nitrogen deposition on the Colorado Plateau. Oecologia, 195(2): 513-524. doi: 10.1007/s00442-020-04841-3 pmid: 33415421

[33]	Qiu X, Hou J, Guo N, et al. 2022. Seasonal variations and influencing factors of gross nitrification rate in desert steppe soil. Sustainability, 14(8): 4787, doi: 10.3390/su14084787.

[34]	Reichmann L G, Sala O E, Peters D P C. 2013. Water controls on nitrogen transformations and stocks in an arid ecosystem. Ecosphere, 4(1): 1-17.

[35]	Santonja M, Fernandez C, Proffit M, et al. 2017. Plant litter mixture partly mitigates the negative effects of extended drought on soil biota and litter decomposition in a Mediterranean oak forest. Journal of Ecology, 105(3): 801-815. doi: 10.1111/jec.2017.105.issue-3

[36]	Wei X Y, Wu F Z, Heděnec P, et al. 2022. Changes in soil faunal density and microbial community under altered litter input in forests and grasslands. Fundamental Research, 2(6): 954-963. doi: 10.1016/j.fmre.2022.01.029 pmid: 38933376

[37]	Wu T J, Su F L, Han H Y, et al. 2014. Responses of soil microarthropods to warming and increased precipitation in a semiarid temperate steppe. Applied Soil Ecology, 84: 200-207. doi: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2014.07.003

[38]	Wu Q Q, Yue K, Wang X C, et al. 2020. Differential responses of litter decomposition to warming, elevated CO₂, and changed precipitation regime. Plant and Soil, 455(1-2): 155-169. doi: 10.1007/s11104-020-04675-1

[39]	Wu Z D, Ma S F, Lu J Y, et al. 2024. Vertical distribution and driving mechanisms of soil microarthropods in a Stipa baicalensis meadow steppe under long-term nitrogen addition. Ecological Indicators, 159: 111732, doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2024.111732.

[40]	Wu Z D, Ma S F, Wu R H, et al. 2025. Community variation characteristics and driving pathways of soil microarthropods in meadow steppe under different nitrogen application durations. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 393: 109818, doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2025.109818.

[41]	Yang A, Song B, Zhang W X, et al. 2024. Chronic enhanced nitrogen deposition and elevated precipitation jointly benefit soil microbial community in a temperate forest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 193: 109397, doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2024.109397.

[42]	Yang X, Shao M A, Li T C, et al. 2021. Community characteristics and distribution patterns of soil fauna after vegetation restoration in the northern Loess Plateau. Ecological Indicators, 122: 107236, doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.107236.

[43]	Yang X, Shao M A, Li T C. 2025. Climate change enhances soil fauna population and biomass in grasslands of the Loess Plateau. Communications Earth & Environment, 6(1): 550, doi: 10.1038/S43247-025-02542-4.

[44]	Yang X J, Huang Z Y, Dong M, et al. 2019. Responses of community structure and diversity to nitrogen deposition and rainfall addition in contrasting steppes are ecosystem-dependent and dwarfed by year-to-year community dynamics. Annals of Botany, 124(3): 461-469. doi: 10.1093/aob/mcz098 pmid: 31161191

[45]	Ye H, Zhao Y, He S L, et al. 2024. Metagenomics reveals the response of desert steppe microbial communities and carbon-nitrogen cycling functional genes to nitrogen deposition. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15: 1369196, doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1369196.

[46]	Yin W Y. 1998. Pictorial Keys to Soil Animals of China. Beijing: Science Press. (in Chinese)

[47]	Yu H Y, Ma Q H, Liu X D, et al. 2021. Resistance, recovery, and resilience of desert steppe to precipitation alterations with nitrogen deposition. Journal of Cleaner Production, 317: 128434, doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128434.

[48]	Yu Y, Peñuelas J, Sardans J, et al. 2024. Water addition but not reduction alters plant biomass-diversity relationship. Global Change Biology, 30(7): e17430, doi: 10.1111/gcb.17430.

[49]	Yue K, Peng Y, Fornara D A, et al. 2019. Responses of nitrogen concentrations and pools to multiple environmental change drivers: A meta-analysis across terrestrial ecosystems. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 28(5): 690-724. doi: 10.1111/geb.v28.5

[50]	Zhang Y Q, Luo Z Z, Li L L, et al. 2025. Nitrogen fertilization shapes soil microbial diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality by modulating soil nutrients. Microorganisms, 13(3): 540, doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13030540.

[51]	Zheng Y J, Zhang X, Du X X, et al. 2026. From nitrogen addition to productivity: Above-belowground mechanisms and nonlinear thresholds in grasslands. Frontiers in Plant Science, 16: 1719906, doi: 10.3389/fpls.2025.1719906.

[1]	ZHANG Dongmei, LUO Weicheng, KANG Jianjun, REN Heng, GAO Jinlong. *Changes and determinants of belowground bud banks of a rhizomatous clonal plant Sophora alopecuroides* L. in the desert steppe, northern China**[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2026, 18(1): 150-166.

[2]	LI Wei, WANG Yixuan, DUAN Limin, TONG Xin, WU Yingjie, ZHAO Shuixia. Non-stationary characteristics and causes of extreme precipitation in a desert steppe in Inner Mongolia, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2025, 17(5): 590-604.

[3]	ZHANG Xiaoxue, YUE Ping, SONG Zhaobin, ZUO Xiaoan, ZHANG Rui, WANG Zhengjiaoyi, QIAO Jingjuan. Impact of nitrogen addition and precipitation on net ecosystem exchange in the Urat desert steppe, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2025, 17(3): 337-349.

[4]	SONG Kechen, HU Haiying, ZHANG Hao, GUAN Siyu, DENG Wenhui, YONG Jiayi, ZHAO Xiaona, WANG Xing. Spatiotemporal niche separation mechanisms of water utilization strategies in the desert steppe plant communities, northern China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2025, 17(12): 1741-1760.

[5]	HAN Qifei, XU Wei, LI Chaofan. Effects of nitrogen deposition on the carbon budget and water stress in Central Asia under climate change[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2024, 16(8): 1118-1129.

[6]	ZHANG Jun, ZHANG Yuanming, ZHANG Qi. Host plant traits play a crucial role in shaping the composition of epiphytic microbiota in the arid desert, Northwest China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2024, 16(5): 699-724.

[7]	PAN Yaqing, KANG Peng, QU Xuan, RAN Yichao, LI Xinrong. Effects of long-term fencing on soil microbial community structure and function in the desert steppe, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2024, 16(3): 431-446.

[8]	YE He, HONG Mei, XU Xuehui, LIANG Zhiwei, JIANG Na, TU Nare, WU Zhendan. Responses of plant diversity and soil microorganism diversity to nitrogen addition in the desert steppe, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2024, 16(3): 447-459.

[9]	MIAO Jiamin, LI Shengyu, XU Xinwen, LIU Guojun, WANG Haifeng, FAN Jinglong, Khaulanbek AKHMADI. Benefits and ecological restoration implications of hanging grass fences in Mongolian desert steppe[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2024, 16(11): 1541-1561.

[10]	MA Jinpeng, PANG Danbo, HE Wenqiang, ZHANG Yaqi, WU Mengyao, LI Xuebin, CHEN Lin. Response of soil respiration to short-term changes in precipitation and nitrogen addition in a desert steppe[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(9): 1084-1106.

[11]	KOU Zhaoyang, LI Chunyue, CHANG Shun, MIAO Yu, ZHANG Wenting, LI Qianxue, DANG Tinghui, WANG Yi. Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus additions on soil microbial community structure and ecological processes in the farmland of Chinese Loess Plateau[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(8): 960-974.

[12]	MA Xinxin, ZHAO Yunge, YANG Kai, MING Jiao, QIAO Yu, XU Mingxiang, PAN Xinghui. Long-term light grazing does not change soil organic carbon stability and stock in biocrust layer in the hilly regions of drylands[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(8): 940-959.

[13]	LI Hongfang, WANG Jian, LIU Hu, MIAO Henglu, LIU Jianfeng. Responses of vegetation yield to precipitation and reference evapotranspiration in a desert steppe in Inner Mongolia, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(4): 477-490.

[14]	YANG Xinguo, WANG Entian, QU Wenjie, WANG Lei. Biocrust-induced partitioning of soil water between grass and shrub in a desert steppe of Northwest China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2023, 15(1): 63-76.

[15]	CHEN Juan, WANG Xing, SONG Naiping, WANG Qixue, WU Xudong. Water utilization of typical plant communities in desert steppe, China[J]. Journal of Arid Land, 2022, 14(9): 1038-1054.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed