Groundwater depth alters soil nutrient concentrations in different environments in an arid desert

Soil nutrients are vital for plant growth and survival present a crucial role in terrestrial function productivity. However, little is known about the effect mechanism of groundwater table on soil an arid desert ecological system. This study investigated impacts depth concentrations organic carbon (C), available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) at shallow depths (0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.8, 2.2 m) field deep (2.5, 4.5, 11.0 desert-oasis ecotone Central Asia 2015 2016. nitrate-N, inorganic-N, P, K were significantly affected by groundwater. Groundwater did not alter ammonium-N concentration. C concentration was influenced depth. Structural equation model showed that directly nitrate-N indirectly altered P Moreover, C, inorganic-N Hence, should be considered one most critical environmental factors affecting nutrient variation desert. provides new insights into under declining hyper-arid ecosystem.