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Acta Prataculturae Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (8): 193-206.DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025319

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Response of the soil arthropod community to nitrogen and phosphorus inputs during the maturity-senescence period of Sophora alopecuroides

Lu-yao LIU1,2(), Dong CUI1,3(), Shu-qi LIU1,3, Zhi-cheng JIANG1,3, Yun-hao WU1,3, Ze-zheng LIU1,3, Jun-qi LIU1,3   

  1. 1.Institute of Resources and Ecology,Yili Normal University,Yining 835000,China
    2.College of Biology and Technology,Yili Normal University,Yining 835000,China
    3.College of Resources and Environment,Yili Normal University,Yining 835000,China
  • Received:2025-08-05 Revised:2025-09-20 Online:2026-08-20 Published:2026-06-22
  • Contact: Dong CUI

Abstract:

This study focused on the soil fauna in Sophora alopecuroides degraded grassland in Yili, Xinjiang. A controlled experiment was conducted in freely grazed grassland where S. alopecuroides was the dominant species, with treatments including nitrogen addition (N), phosphorus addition (P), nitrogen and phosphorus addition (NP), and a control (no nitrogen and phosphorus addition; CK). The overall aim was to study the responses of soil fauna communities and soil environmental factors and their key driving factors under nutrient addition during the maturity and senescence periods of S. alopecuroides. It was found that: 1) Nitrogen, phosphorus, and nitrogen+phosphorus additions reduced the density and number of groups of soil fauna. During the maturity period, nitrogen, phosphorus, and nitrogen+phosphorus additions decreased the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and the species richness index. During the senescence period, nitrogen, phosphorus, and nitrogen+phosphorus additions increased the Shannon-Wiener diversity index and the evenness index but decreased the dominance index. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and nitrogen+phosphorus additions significantly reduced the number of predatory fauna individuals (P<0.05). 2) Soil organic carbon, total phosphorus, ammonium nitrogen content, and soil moisture were higher during the maturity period than during the senescence period across all treatments (N, P, NP, and CK). 3) During the maturity period, soil moisture and organic carbon were the main environmental factors influencing the soil fauna community structure, while during the senescence period, pH was the main environmental factor. In short, nutrient addition, maturity/senescence period, and environmental factors collectively drive changes in soil fauna diversity and functional groups in S. alopecuroides degraded grassland. The findings of this study provide important insights for understanding and managing degraded grassland ecosystems in Yili.

Key words: soil arthropods, nutrient addition, diversity, Sophora alopecuroides, functional groups