干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Nutrient elements from litter decomposition was viewed as the main source of essential elements for normal growing of the forest tree. In this study, selected litter leaves of several typical desert plants as study materials, and deferent element contents of the litter leaves were analyzed. The main results are as belows: (1) There were significant differences in the levels of C, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and K between litter leaves of different desert plants (p<0.01). (2) Significant differences were found in the nutrition re-utilization rate of the withered leaves of different plants, with P > K > N. Haloxylon ammodendron has the highest N utilization rate of 88.33%. Calligonum mongolicum has the lowest P utilization rate of 95.13%. Elaeagnus angustifolia has the highest K utilization rate of 77.49%.