Trade-Off Relationships of Leaf Functional Traits of Lycium ruthenicum in Response to Soil Properties in the Lower Reaches of Heihe River, Northwest China

Soil properties affect plant growth and cause variation in leaf functional traits. Lycium ruthenicum Murray is one of the desert dominant shrubs halophytes lower reaches Heihe River, Northwest China. We analyzed trade-off relationships 14 traits eight L. populations growing at varying distances from river discussed effects that soil have on The results showed that: Lower nitrogen (N) content indicated L.ruthenicum was located slow investment–return axis species resource utilization graph. Compared with non-saline very slightly saline habitats, habitats a higher carbon to ratio (C:N). Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed relatively strong relationship between properties, first RDA accounted for 70.99 71.09% 0–40 40–80 cm properties. Relative importance found layer, variations were mainly influenced by moisture (SWC), HCO3− CO32− ions content, while layer SO42−. has foliar acquisition method conservation flexible life history strategy drought salinity stress. In shallow layers, water affects greater than salt, both deep plays role This study provides insights into adversity adaptation strategies plants restoration arid-saline ecosystems.