Plant root mechanisms and their effects on carbon and nutrient accumulation in desert ecosystems under changes in land use and climate

Abstract

SummaryDeserts represent key carbon reservoirs, yet as these systems are threatened this has implications for biodiversity and climate change. This review focuses on how these changes affect desert ecosystems, particularly plant root systems and their impact on carbon and mineral nutrient stocks. Desert plants have diverse root architectures shaped by water acquisition strategies, affecting plant biomass and overall carbon and nutrient stocks. Climate change can disrupt desert plant communities, with droughts impacting both shallow and deep‐rooted plants as groundwater levels fluctuate. Vegetation management practices, like grazing, significantly influence plant communities, soil composition, root microorganisms, biomass, and nutrient stocks. Shallow‐rooted plants are particularly susceptible to climate change and human interference. To safeguard desert ecosystems, understanding root architecture and deep soil layers is crucial. Implementing strategic management practices such as reducing grazing pressure, maintaining moderate harvesting levels, and adopting moderate fertilization can help preserve plant–soil systems. Employing socio‐ecological approaches for community restoration enhances carbon and nutrient retention, limits desert expansion, and reduces CO2 emissions. This review underscores the importance of investigating belowground plant processes and their role in shaping desert landscapes, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of desert ecosystems.

Impact of aridity rise and arid lands expansion on carbon‐storing capacity, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem services

“…plants, soil, water, and decomposers, all of which are sensitive to increased aridity and temperature (Zhang et al, 2023). Increasing aridity will likely impact the distribution and structure of plant communities, potentially diminishing C and nutrient stocks within plantsoil systems (Tariq et al, 2024). In arid regions, intense droughts can adversely impact shallow-rooted plants' root development, photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and survival rate Yin, Zheng, et al, 2021).…”

Soil quality and health under different tree species in an urban university campus: A multidimensional study

“…The requirement of these nutrients is mainly for primary production and but the excess availability of N, phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca 2+ ) can limit the net primary productivity (Townsend et al 2011). Nutrient de ciency also increases the root-to-shoot ratio, while increased nutrient content decreases the root-to-shoot ratio and increases C storage in a plant (Andrews et al 2001;Tariq et al 2024a).…”