Study on ecological stoichiometry homeostasis characteristics of different halophytes in the Yellow River Delta

Ecological stoichiometric homeostasis represents the physiological and biochemical adaptations of organisms to variations in environmental conditions and plays a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem stability. However, existing literature predominantly concentrates on the changes in plant homeostasis under different external environments. There is a paucity of comparative analyses focusing on the stoichiometric homeostasis attributes among different types of halophytes, particularly using these halophytes as a primary investigative lens. In this study, by analyzing the differences in organ and soil ecological stoichiometry as well as salt accumulation characteristics of three halophytes (Phragmites communis, Suaeda salsa, and Tamarix chinensis) in the Yellow River Delta, we revealed the salt ion enrichment capacity and stoichiometric homeostasis characteristics of the three halophytes and clarified the adaptive capacity of the three halophytes in saline soil environments. Our results indicated that S. salsa accumulated more Na+ and Mg2+, while P. communis maintained a low salt content in its surrounding soil. The soil C:N ratios of P. communis and S. salsa negatively correlated with most ions, while T. chinensis displayed a positive correlation with ions. S. salsa demonstrated the highest ion enrichment but the least homeostasis, whereas T. chinensis showed superior homeostasis. We hypothesize that T. chinensis might have experienced a faster growth rate during the study period, and P. communis' topsoil appears to be more conducive for plant growth. The different salt tolerance strategies of these plants influenced homeostasis, with S. salsa demonstrating greater adaptability to soil modifications and higher potential in saline land management. These insights enhance our understanding of the physiological and ecological adaptations of halophytes and their contribution to improving the quality of saline soils in the Yellow River Delta.