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Nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment synergistically alter carbon-water exchange in desert steppe ecosystems

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  • Hai, Xuying
  • Li, Jianping
  • Qu, Qing
  • Yang, Junwen
  • Shangguan, Zhouping
  • Deng, Lei

Abstract

Semi-arid grasslands are simultaneously limited by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), yet the effects of their additions on carbon–water coupling remain poorly understood. This knowledge gap hampers predictions of ecosystem responses to nutrient deposition under global climate change. We hypothesized that N and P inputs would alter ecosystem carbon sequestration and water-use efficiency (WUE), and that these effects would be strongly modulated by precipitation. To test this, we conducted a randomized block design experiment in 2020–2022 with N (10 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹) and P (8 g P m⁻² yr⁻¹) additions in a Stipa breviflora-dominated desert steppe in Yanchi County, China. Our results showed that precipitation emerged as a dominant regulator of nutrient effects. Under higher early-growing-season precipitation, NP addition enhanced intrinsic WUE (iWUE) while reducing impacts on evapotranspiration (ET) and ecosystem WUE (WG). Conversely, under drier conditions, NP addition weakened iWUE gains but amplified ET and WG responses. At the carbon flux level, net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE) was more strongly controlled by gross ecosystem production (GEP) than by ecosystem respiration (ER), indicating photosynthetic activity as the primary driver of net carbon sequestration. Single N addition increased the GEP, ER but reduced NEE. In contrast, the N effect under the condition of NP co-addition suppressed GEP, ER, and NEE. Single P addition increased GEP, ER, and NEE, whereas the P effect under the condition of NP co-addition promoted ER but inhibited both GEP and NEE. This study elucidates threshold effects in nutrient-driven carbon-water coupling, where stoichiometric interactions between N and P regulate carbon cycling and plant hydraulic strategies. The observed precipitation-dependent synergism/antagonism highlights the nonlinear responses of arid ecosystems to future nutrient deposition scenarios. The present study improves our understanding of the coupled mechanisms of future global C, N, P, and water dynamics, and provides insights for adaptive grassland and water resource management under climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Hai, Xuying & Li, Jianping & Qu, Qing & Yang, Junwen & Shangguan, Zhouping & Deng, Lei, 2025. "Nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment synergistically alter carbon-water exchange in desert steppe ecosystems," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:320:y:2025:i:c:s0378377425005724
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2025.109858
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nuno Carvalhais & Matthias Forkel & Myroslava Khomik & Jessica Bellarby & Martin Jung & Mirco Migliavacca & Mingquan Μu & Sassan Saatchi & Maurizio Santoro & Martin Thurner & Ulrich Weber & Bernhard A, 2014. "Global covariation of carbon turnover times with climate in terrestrial ecosystems," Nature, Nature, vol. 514(7521), pages 213-217, October.
    2. Josep Peñuelas & Benjamin Poulter & Jordi Sardans & Philippe Ciais & Marijn van der Velde & Laurent Bopp & Olivier Boucher & Yves Godderis & Philippe Hinsinger & Joan Llusia & Elise Nardin & Sara Vicc, 2013. "Human-induced nitrogen–phosphorus imbalances alter natural and managed ecosystems across the globe," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-10, December.
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