[Soil Stoichiometry Characterization in the Oasis-desert Transition Zone of Linze, Zhangye]

To investigate the changes in C, N, P, and K contents and ecological stoichiometry of desert oasis soils and to elucidate their ecological responses to environmental factors, 10 sample plots were selected in the Zhangye Linze desert oasis in the middle part of the Hexi Corridor, and surface soil samples were collected to determine the C, N, P and K contents of soils and to reveal the distribution characteristics of soil nutrient contents and stoichiometric ratios in different habitats and the correlation with other environmental factors. The results showed that:① the distribution of soil carbon was uneven and heterogeneous across sites (R=0.761, P=0.06). The highest mean value was 12.85 g·kg^-1 in the oasis, followed by 8.65 g·kg^-1 in the transition zone and 4.1 g·kg^-1 in the desert. ② The content of total soil potassium did not vary significantly and was high among deserts, transition zones, and oases and low in saline areas. ③ The mean soil C:N value was 12.92, the mean C:P value was 11.69, and the mean N:P value was 0.9, all of which were lower than the global average soil content (13.33, 72.0, and 5.9) and the Chinese soil average (12, 52.7, and 3.9). ④ Soil water content was the most influential factor affecting C, N, P, K, and ecological stoichiometry characteristics of desert oasis soils, with a contribution of 86.9%, followed by soil pH and soil porosity, with contributions of 9.2% and 3.9%, respectively. The results of this study provide basic information for the restoration and conservation of desert and oasis ecosystems and establish a basis for future study of the biodiversity maintenance mechanism in the region and its correlation with the environment.