Abstract:

Plant functional traits are quantifiable characteristics measurable from the cellular to the whole-plant level. They not only represent plant life processes but also reflect the outcome of habitat filtering, thereby closely linking environmental factors to the functions, structure, and processes of ecosystems. Plant roots regulate material cycling within the rhizosphere micro zone through the rhizosphere effect, yet the intensity of this effect varies with plant species and environmental factors. In-depth investigation of such variation is essential for revealing the interaction mechanisms of the soil-plant system. In this study, we examined the functional traits and rhizosphere effect of Potentilla anserina across four grassland types in the alpine meadows of the Qilian Mountains, aiming to explore the relationships among soil properties, the plant rhizosphere, and functional traits. The results showed that: (1) within each grassland type, the physicochemical properties of rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils of Potentilla anserina differed significantly (P<0.05). (2) The intensity of the rhizosphere effect of Potentilla anserina varied among grassland types, being highest in the floodplain meadow and lowest in the semi-artificially reseeded grassland. (3) The functional traits of Potentilla anserina exhibited a strong response to soil physicochemical properties, among which individual plant weight was significantly correlated with multiple soil indices (P<0.05). (4) Functional traits were closely associated with the rhizosphere effect; root length had significant positive correlations with the rhizosphere effects of several soil indices (P<0.05). These findings suggest that the rhizosphere effect of Potentilla anserina exerts a certain ameliorative influence on the soil, which is conducive to the restoration of alpine meadow ecosystems.

Key words: functional trait, rhizosphere effect, Potentilla anserina, alpine meadow, different habitats