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

• Published in: The New phytologist Vol. 242; no. 3; pp. 916 - 934
• Main Authors: Tariq, Akash, Graciano, Corina, Sardans, Jordi, Zeng, Fanjiang, Hughes, Alice C., Ahmed, Zeeshan, Ullah, Abd, Ali, Sikandar, Gao, Yanju, Peñuelas, Josep
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2024
• Subjects: anthropogenic activities; arid ecosystems; Biodiversity; Biological fertilization; Biomass; Carbon; carbon cycling; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; climate; Climate change; Desert Climate; Desert plants; desert vegetation; desertification; Deserts; Drought; Ecosystem; Ecosystems; Fertilization; Grazing; Groundwater; Groundwater levels; Humans; Land use; Microorganisms; Mineral nutrients; nutrient cycling; Nutrient retention; phytomass; Plant biomass; Plant communities; Plant Roots; Plants; Restoration; Roots; Soil; soil composition; Soil layers; Soil microorganisms; Stocks; Strategic management; vegetation; xerophytes; carbon cycling; desertification; arid ecosystems; nutrient cycling; desert vegetation; climate change
• ISSN: 0028-646X; 1469-8137; 1469-8137
• DOI: 10.1111/nph.19676

Summary Deserts 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.