Coordinated Patterns in the Allocation, Composition, and Variability of Multiple Elements Among Organs of Two Desert Shrubs Under Nitrogen Addition and Drought

Nutrient allocation closely correlates plant functional traits and development to ecosystem supply services. Desert shrubs maintain the stability of desert ecosystems, whereas knowledge how they coordinate nutrients among organs is still limited when responding differing nitrogen (N) water regimes. Here we investigated allocation, composition, variability nine elements within Alhagi sparsifolia Calligonum caput-medusae seedlings under various N addition (0, 3, 6, 9 gN m−2 year−1) regimes (drought versus well-watered). Results showed that species identity, organ type, treatments significantly affected concentrations independently interactively (P < 0.05). improved elemental roots drought-stressed A. seedlings, 9.0 year−1 exerted adverse influence on C. caput-medusae. Photosynthetic contained more macronutrients, such as potassium (K), trace metals accumulated in roots, iron (Fe) manganese (Mn). Soil were weakly correlated with those plants. Macroelements all show less (coefficient variation). Coarse root Fe stem K contents constituted hub element networks (PENs) respectively, may play a key role adaptation environments. The looser PEN implied its stronger adaptability than can multiple response changes environment.