植物水分来源稳定氢氧同位素偏移研究进展

稳定氢氧同位素技术能有效计算植物根系水分吸收量,确定植物水分来源贡献,评估植物水分利用策略,是生态水文学探究大气-植被-土壤系统水分传输过程机制的有效工具。然而土壤与木质部水稳定氢氧同位素比值(δ²H和δ¹⁸O)偏移造成植物水分来源贡献率计算偏差,引起氢氧同位素结果差异的原因尚不明晰。该文首先简要介绍氢氧稳定同位素比值偏移现象,其次沿水分在土壤-植物-大气连续体中的传输路径构建梳理框架,系统阐述了3个界面(植物-大气界面、土壤-大气界面和根系-土壤界面)与2个空间(植物体和土壤层)中引起δ²H与δ¹⁸O偏移的自然效应,同时概述了土壤与木质部样品提取与测定技术中引起δ²H与δ¹⁸O偏差的人为效应。最后,根据现有研究进展提出主要问题,从获取同位素时空数据,微尺度同位素偏移原因,提取与测定技术的优化三方面指出未来的发展方向。     

寒温带兴安落叶松和白桦生长季水分利用特征

植物水分利用在生态系统水文循环及其生产力中起着重要作用。气候变化下寒温带森林水分胁迫逐渐加剧，对其典型树种水分利用特征的研究有助于理解寒温带森林生态系统的稳定性及可持续性。以大兴安岭北部典型树种兴安落叶松(Larix gmelinii)(L)和白桦(Betula platyphylla)(B)为研究对象，利用稳定同位素技术测定降雨、木质部水和土壤水中氢氧稳定同位素值(δD和δ¹⁸O),揭示不同水源δD和δ¹⁸O值的分布特征，并利用多源线性混合模型及树干边材液流通量，分析不同水源对2树种的利用率和利用量，揭示生长季兴安落叶松和白桦生长季水分利用特征变化。结果表明：(1)研究区的大气降雨和土壤水同位素均受蒸发的影响发生了一定程度的分馏，且土壤水同位素分馏程度存在树种间的差异，兴安落叶松分馏程度大于白桦。(2)降雨和蒸发对2个林分土壤含水率和土壤水稳定同位素值在上层土壤(0—10cm)影响强烈，而对中下层影响较小，且各层土壤水稳定同位素值表现出显著差异(P<0.05)。(3)在5月和9月兴安落叶松和白桦主要利用上层土壤水分，对上层土壤水分的利...     

基于δD和δ18O的青海湖流域芨芨草水分利用来源变化研究

水分条件是限制干旱半干旱地区植物生长重要的生态因子,为了揭示青海湖流域典型生态系统下芨芨草植物的水分利用来源及其如何响应水分条件的变化,选择了自然和干旱控制条件下芨芨草植物,通过测定芨芨草植物茎水和各潜在水源(土壤水、地下水及降水)中δD、δ~(18)O组成,并利用直接比较分析法和多源混合模型计算芨芨草植物对土壤水的利用比例。研究结果表明:表层土壤水分和土壤水中δD、δ~(18)O值表征出较大波动范围,其直接受降水和蒸发作用影响,土壤蒸发线的斜率和截距明显小于大气水线斜率和截距,表明土壤水中同位素组成经历了强烈的蒸发分馏过程,而芨芨草茎水中δD、δ~(18)O值都集中分布土壤水蒸发线附近,说明芨芨草根系主要利用不同深度的土壤水。自然条件下芨芨草在生长季初期(6月)利用表层土壤水(0—10cm,45.1%),8—9月份大降水事件影响土壤含水量和同位素组成,降水入渗深度较深且芨芨草根系对土壤水分吸收的比例相差不大,表明根系在土壤含水量较高时均能吸水不同深度土壤水。在干旱控制条件下芨芨草在7月初主要利用表层土壤水(0-30cm),随着表层土壤水分的减少,根系吸收深度转向较深土壤层,而灌溉后表层土壤水分明显增加,其吸收深度又转向表层,表明芨芨草根系吸收深度能敏感地响应土壤水分的变化。另外还发现芨芨草在生长季内并未直接利用地下水。     

基于稳定同位素的干旱半干旱区SPAC水分运移过程研究进展

土壤-植物-大气连续体(SPAC)是生态水文学的重点研究对象,其水分运移过程对于干旱半干旱区生态植被建设和水资源综合管理具有重要意义。氢氧稳定同位素较高的灵敏性和准确度有助于揭示这一过程。介绍了氢氧稳定同位素在土壤-大气界面、土壤-地下水界面、土壤-植物界面和植物-大气界面水分补给传输过程中的应用,包括土壤水分来源和蒸发;水分补给入渗机制和滞留时间;植物水分来源和水力再分配;蒸散发分割和叶片吸水的相关研究,同时明确了氢氧稳定同位素技术在应用过程中存在的一些不确定性以及未来亟需加强的方面,以期为利用稳定同位素技术对生态水文过程的研究提供参考依据。     

北京土石山区水分在土壤-植物-大气连续体(SPAC)中的稳定同位素特征

氢氧稳定同位素是广泛存在于自然界水体中的环境同位素,其在不同水体中组成特征的差异可以指示水分循环过程及植物用水机制.本研究在北京山区选取了两种主要的绿化树种——常绿针叶林侧柏和落叶阔叶林栓皮栎为研究对象,通过对降水、土壤水、泉水、植物茎干水和叶片水同位素的变化特征进行分析,讨论了水分在大气-土壤-植物连续体中的运动过程.结果表明: 研究区大气降水线方程为δD=7.17δ¹⁸O+1.45(R²=0.93), 土壤蒸发线方程为δD=3.85δ¹⁸O-38.02(R²=0.76), 降水入渗补给土壤水的过程中存在一定程度的蒸发分馏.在不同季节,降水、土壤水和泉水δD和δ¹⁸O值变化规律不同;雨季,δD和δ¹⁸O平均值大小为降水>地下水>土壤水,降水和土壤水共同补充地下水;旱季,δD和δ¹⁸O值大小排序为降水> 土壤水>地下水,降水和地下水都对土壤水有贡献.侧柏和栓皮栎年内茎干水分δD和δ¹⁸O的拟合线性方程分别为δD=5.03δ¹⁸O-30.78 和δD=3.0δ¹⁸O-48.92,栓皮栎利用的土壤水分相对于侧柏更加富集,其水分来源深度更浅.栓皮栎叶片水分同位素变化特征相对于侧柏对大气微环境的反应更加敏感,且其叶片水分蒸发和同位素动力分馏程度更强,但是它们对环境条件的变化反应一致.     

浑善达克沙地南缘人工固沙植被水分利用特征

探讨浑善达克沙地典型乔木青杨和灌木黄柳不同季节的水分利用特征,可为沙地人工防护林生态系统的结构优化提供理论依据。采集研究区大气降水、土壤水、地下水和典型人工固沙植被的茎干水,利用氢氧稳定同位素技术,揭示不同水源δD-δ¹⁸O值的分布特征,运用多源线性混合模型计算出各潜在水源对2种植被水的贡献率。结果表明: 研究区大气降水方程线为δD=7.84δ¹⁸O+9.12,旱季土壤水分线和雨季土壤水分线分别为δD=3.56δ¹⁸O-41.28和δD=4.30δ18O-42.02,旱季、雨季土壤水和2种植物茎干水δD-δ¹⁸O值均在大气降水δD-δ¹⁸O值下方,表明土壤水和茎干水受到二次蒸发的影响较强烈。2种植物浅层土壤含水量受降雨和蒸发的影响强烈,变化幅度较大,随着土壤深度的增加,土壤含水量趋于稳定,且各层土壤水氢氧同位素值表现出显著差异。在旱季,青杨主要吸收利用0～40 cm和120～200 cm土层的土壤水,贡献率分别为50.2%和31.5%;黄柳主要吸收利用20～40 cm和60～100 cm土层的土壤水,贡献率分别为53.2%和22.9%;在雨季,对青杨贡献最大的土壤水主要集中在0～40 cm土层,为72.8％,黄柳除了利用大量0～20 cm土壤水分外,还利用了深层土壤水和地下水。该地区由于乔木青杨和灌木黄柳的根系埋深和分布不同,导致两者在不同季节的水分利用策略存在差异。这有利于浑善达克沙地地区防护林群落稳定和各树种的共存。建议在浑善达克沙地人工防护林种植中,应考虑选择根系埋深和分布不同的植被混种,以合理利用当地水资源,维持沙地生态系统的稳定性。     

桂西北喀斯特小流域降雨稳定氢氧同位素组成及影响因素

气候变化背景下,降雨稳定氢氧同位素的变化对以快速的地表-地下水文过程为主要特征的喀斯特生态水文研究有重要意义。以桂西北典型喀斯特峰丛洼地小流域为研究对象,测定2013年至2018年日尺度及2019年至2020年8场大雨或特大暴雨的雨水稳定氢氧同位素组成,分析降雨稳定氢氧同位素变化特征及其影响因素。结果表明,研究区夏半年以海洋性水汽为主,冬半年以干燥的大陆性气团为主,导致夏半年降水δD、δ¹⁸O和氘盈余值显著(P<0.05)低于冬半年。降水的稳定氢氧同位素存在显著的反温度效应和雨量效应,即δ¹⁸O值与温度呈显著(P<0.001)负相关,与降雨量呈显著(P<0.001)正相关。次降雨过程中,持续时间较长(>9.5 h)的降雨存在显著的(P<0.05)雨量效应,特大暴雨则不存在雨量效应,与大气或地理因素有关。研究区水汽来源及降水强度存在明显的时间差异,因此在开展喀斯特小流域生态水文过程研究时,需要关注降水稳定氢氧同位素组成在不同时间尺度上的变化特征。     

典型林区水分氢氧稳定同位素在土壤-植物-大气连续体中的分布特征

土壤-植物-大气连续体(SPAC)中水循环是水文学和生态学研究的重要内容,氢氧稳定同位素在不同水体中组成特征的差异可以指示水分循环过程。本研究通过分析成都平原区亚热带常绿阔叶林中降水、土壤水、植物水的同位素组成,探讨SPAC系统中水分的氢氧稳定同位素演化特征,揭示区域水循环不同界面过程。结果表明: 研究区雨季大气降水线方程为: δD=7.13δ¹⁸O+2.35(R²=0.99),土壤蒸发线方程为: δD=6.98δ¹⁸O-0.32(R²=0.92)。在降水→土壤水→植物水的界面水输送过程中,氢氧同位素逐渐富集。浅层土壤(0～35 cm)水δ¹⁸O受降水的直接影响,响应关系明显,中深层土壤(35～100 cm)水则相对稳定。观测期间,植物木质部水同位素比土壤水略微富集,说明水分在植物体内输送过程中可能通过韧皮部或树皮发生轻微蒸发或蒸腾。采用直接相关法初步估计植物对不同土层土壤水的利用情况,樟树主要利用中层土壤水,构树主要利用浅层土壤水,金星蕨因根系分布浅更倾向于利用浅层土壤水和植物截留的降水。与金星蕨相比,樟树和构树的叶片水分蒸发和同位素动力分馏程度更强。     

基于同位素技术的蒸散组分区分采样方案优化研究

采集2021年生长季和非生长季新安江源区常绿针叶林土壤-植物-大气多源水样进行氢氧稳定同位素测试，分析不同来源水分同位素组成(δ¹⁸O和δ²H)的差异及变化特征，评估不同季节多水源采样方案(植物不同部位、土壤不同深度)对蒸散发组分区分的影响程度，进而优化我国南方湿润区森林生态系统蒸散组分区分的氢氧稳定同位素采样方案。结果显示：多源水δ¹⁸O和δ²H在土壤-植物的水分传输过程中逐渐富集，非生长季较生长季更为富集。植物各部位水分的动力学分馏强度随着同位素不断富集而逐渐增大。河道水与山泉水同位素组成分布较为接近，大气水汽相较于其他水源明显最为贫化。土壤水同位素组成垂向分布主要呈现三种不同的规律：随深度增加而减小、先增大后减小或先减小后增大。浅层土壤水同位素组成变化范围大于深层土壤水，拐点位于50—90 cm。由植物各部位与土壤的水同位素组成分布特征及其差异可知符合同位素稳态假设的杉木最佳取样部位为韧皮部。比较基于不同深度土壤蒸发水汽同位素组成δ_E计算得出的T/ET(蒸腾与蒸散发比率)...     

华北石质山区核桃-绿豆复合系统氘同位素变化及其水分利用

通过对比核桃枝条和绿豆茎内δD值差异来分析核桃和绿豆水分来源和利用。结果表明,核桃-绿豆农林复合系统的根系在表层土壤(0—30cm)中交叉存在,生态位重叠。旱季中表层土壤含水量与δD值之间存在显著的负相关关系(R2=0.77,P=0.02),雨季相关关系不显著(R2=0.03,P=0.73)。δD值分析表明,旱季中核桃利用深层土壤(30—80cm)水分占总水分来源的51%以上,雨季中则主要利用浅层土壤水分,间作绿豆和单作绿豆主要利用表层土壤水分。雨季中表层土壤水分能同时满足核桃和绿豆生长需要,但复合系统中光能竞争导致间作绿豆光合速率显著地低于单作绿豆。旱季间作绿豆0—20cm土壤水分含量、凌晨叶片水势和光合速率明显高于单作绿豆,显示间作绿豆体内水分状况好于单作绿豆。线性模型分析结果显示间作绿豆体内约有1.58%—5.39%的水分来核桃夜晚水力提升,表明复合系统在旱季一定程度上缓冲季节性水分胁迫对农作物生长的影响。     

Extraction of water from Eucalyptus trees for analysis of deuterium and oxygen-18: laboratory and field techniques

This study investigated a methodology for sampling and extracting water from Eucalyptus spp. for analysis of stable isotopes of water. Firstly, water of known isotopic composition was extracted from stems of seedlings of Eucalyptus spp. by azeotropic distillation using three solvents (hexane, toluene and kerosene) in laboratory and glasshouse experiments. Kerosene and toluene gave the most accurate extractions, with a small negative bias (～-2‰ for δ²H and ～-0.4‰ for δ¹⁸O) due to incomplete extraction. This bias was not evident in further experiments, using kerosene, where water was extracted from stems and roots that had been pre-treated in a manner that more closely reflected field conditions. Secondly, variation in δ²H in trees was investigated in the field to determine an accurate and convenient place for sampling. There was no significant difference in δ²H between water extracted from trunk sapwood and whole twigs, even twigs close to leaves, in samples taken from four Eucalyptus spp. at two field sites. The results mean that the most convenient part of the tree can be sampled. Also, there was little difference in δ²H between sapwood and heart-wood samples, although small increases (～ 2‰) in δ²H were observed in bark of trunks and twigs. Tree roots (15–25 mm diameter) had similar δ²H values to the surrounding soil in many cases, especially surface (<0.2 m depth) roots, rather than having δ²H values similar to twigs of the trees. These roots were absorbing water from surrounding soil, but not contributing significant quantities of water to the tree canopy. Thus, the δ²H of root water is not a good indicator of the isotopic composition of water in the upper parts of Eucalyptus trees.     

提取方法对土壤水同位素和植物水源分割的影响

选取理化性质不同的两种土壤(壤土与砂土),通过烘干后加入已知同位素值的矿泉水作为参考水进行标记,组成不同质量含水量(壤土: 0.15、0.20、0.30 g·g^-1;砂土:0.10 g·g^-1)的土-水混合物,随后设置不同的平衡时间(壤土: 3、6、12、24、48、72、96 h;砂土:96 h),确保干燥的土壤颗粒与加入的水分达到很好的混合;采用机械离心和真空冷凝抽提法对平衡后的土壤进行水分提取,并分析其同位素组成.结果表明: 同一含水量、不同平衡时间,机械离心法提取的土壤水同位素组成没有显著差异,但均比参考水的同位素值富集,氢、氧同位素最大差异分别可达7.38‰和1.24‰;然而,真空冷凝抽提的土壤水同位素比参考水偏贫化,氢、氧同位素最大差异分别可达6.27‰和1.03‰,且在低含水量下,其同位素组成随平衡时间(24 h以内)的增加贫化程度不断增大,24 h以后趋于稳定.随土壤含水量增大,两种提取方式对土壤水同位素的影响程度减弱;黏粒含量高的壤土水同位素值比黏粒含量低的砂土更容易受提取方式的影响.通过举例分析发现,提取方式引起的同位素组成差异并不显著影响植物水源分割.     

Oxygen isotope ratios between soil water and stem water of trees in pot experiments

Since the oxygen isotopic ratio of water extracted from stems reflects that of water taken up by roots, the stem water isotope ratio can be used to analyze the source of water for plant growth. However, it is known that the fractionation of isotopes during evaporation from the surface soil increases the isotope ratio in soil water drastically. In this study, it was experimentally confirmed that the stem water of Elaeocarpus sylvestris vs. ellipticus Hara seedlings is not isotopically similar to the water source in the case where evaporation from the soil occurs actively. However, since water in these plant bodies was replaced in about 2 days in the pot experiments, the 2-day-averaged values of the soil water isotope ratio approached the stem water isotope ratio. Thus, time-course samplings of the soil and stems, and measurements of the replacement time of water in the plant body (water volume in plant/transpiration rate) are recommended for correct interpretation of the isotopic signature of soil water and stem water.     

哈尼梯田区优势景观类型对泉水氢氧同位素效应的影响

氢氧稳定同位素是示踪流域水循环过程的有效手段,流域景观类型及其格局对泉水同位素效应的影响是景观生态学与同位素水文学的全新交叉领域.本文以哈尼梯田文化景观遗产核心区的全福庄河小流域为研究对象,在2015年3月—2016年3月间,逐月在海拔1500 m的梯田、1700 m的梯田和1900 m的森林景观类型下分别采集78个泉水样和39个大气降水样进行氢氧稳定同位素分析.结果表明:小流域的优势景观类型是森林和梯田,两者面积分别占总面积的66.6％和22.1％,并具有森林在上、梯田在下的垂直格局.相关分析表明,泉水除受降水补给外,还受到景观内其他同位素值偏正的水源补给,景观位置较高的森林区泉水主要由降水补给,位于森林之下的梯田泉水受大气降水、河水、梯田水、地下水等多种水源补给,其同位素混合作用强烈;泉水δ¹⁸O和δD值整体海拔效应明显,其海拔梯度分别为-0.125‰·(100 m)^-1和-0.688‰·(100 m)^-1;研究区氘盈余值随海拔升高而增大与景观格局和同位素循环过程有关.总之,优势景观类型对泉水氢氧同位素效应具有显著影响,泉水氢氧同位素可作为景观水文过程对景观格局的响应指标.     

Soil water uptake by trees using water stable isotopes (δ2H and δ18O)−a method test regarding soil moisture,texture and carbonate

Aims

Stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen are often used to determine plant water uptake depths. We investigated whether and to what extend soil moisture, clay content, and soil calcium carbonate influences the water isotopic composition.

Methods

In the laboratory, dried soil samples varying in clay content were rewetted with different amounts of water of known isotopic composition. Further, we removed soil carbonate from a subset of samples prior to rewetting. Water was extracted from samples via cryogenic vacuum extraction and analysed by mass spectrometry.

Results

The isotopic composition of extracted soil water was similarly depleted in both ¹⁸O and ²H with decreasing soil moisture and increasing clay and carbonate content. Soil carbonate changed the δ¹⁸O composition while δ²H was not affected.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that soil carbonate can cause artifacts for ¹⁸O isotopic composition of soil water. At low soil moisture and high carbonate content this could lead to conflicting results for δ¹⁸O and δ²H in plant water uptake studies.     

Root water uptake of field-growing plants indicated by measurements of natural-abundance deuterium

Measurements of stable-isotope ratios of water extracted from stems and, in some studies, soils are increasingly being used to study the integrated root function of field-growing plants. This study explored if additional measurements on water extracted from roots could indicate the activity of roots in different areas of the soil profile and their influence on canopy water sources, so providing advantages over more common sampling strategies. Studies were conducted on trees and shrubs located in diverse habitats: a saline, semi-arid floodplain, a subhumid mountain-range front and a cold desert. At each site, roots, soil immediately surrounding the roots, and plant stems were sampled. Roots were taken from different depths in the soil, to approximately 2 m at one site. Overall, 80% of roots sampled had H isotope ratios different from the surrounding soil. The differences up to 37, were significant (p<0.05) at two of the sites. Thus water in most of the roots sampled did not come entirely, if at all, from the surrounding soil, illustrating movement and possible mixing of water within the root system. This condition was not simply related to the availability of water surrounding the soil, which was also measured. There were also differences in root and stem H isotope ratios (up to 17) in 67% of samples, although the difference was only significant in shallow samples from the floodplain. The general similarity in stem and root ²H values indicates that most roots sampled were involved in the main supply of water to the canopy. Patterns of root function varied between the individual sites. Trees were primarily using groundwater at the floodplain and mountain front sites, as the surface soils had mean matric potentials of-1800 kPa. At the mountain front site, the surface roots were transporting groundwater to the canopy in isolation form the surrounding soil. In contrast, surface roots at the floodplain were taking up water from the surrounding soil, although this water was not a significant source in the trees' overall water supply. This activity of surface roots would not have been evident from the ²H data without the root samples. At the cold desert the roots in moist surface soil provided the main source of water for the shrubs. There too the root data indicated different water uptake patterns than otherwise would have been assumed. The root data showed that groundwater could not have been a water source, a conclusion which had been reached in a previous study. Thus measurements of stable isotope ratios in root water may be a valuable tool in assessing water uptake patterns and root function.     

植物叶片水分利用效率研究综述

植物能否适应当地的极限环境条件,最主要的看它们能否很好地协调碳同化和水分耗散之间的关系,即植物水分利用效率(WUE)是其生存的关键因子.就近来研究最多的叶片水平上的WUE,从叶片WUE的定义,方法,进展等方面对其进行总结概括,并就今后植物叶片水分利用效率的研究提出了几点看法:方法上,叶片碳同位素方法是目前植物叶片长期水分利用效率研究的最佳方法,而δ13C的替代指标将继续是方法研究中的一个方向,前景乐观;研究内容上,要加强极端干旱区河岸林木的δ13C和WUE的研究;结合植物生理生态学,生物学和稳定同位素技术,探究植物叶片长期水分利用效率的机理,特别是要加强运用双重同位素模型加深和理解植物叶片长期水分利用效率变化规律和内在机制的研究;要结合多种方法,加强多时空尺度植物叶片WUE及其之间的转换研究.     

降水与土壤水混合过程的生态水文分离现象及其研究进展

以往通常假设降水与土壤水完全混合后形成径流,而基于δD-δ¹⁸O关系研究表明,降水与土壤水混合存在生态水文分离现象,即土壤水可分为由土壤无效水和可供植物吸收的有效水构成的束缚水及自由移动形成径流的自由水,且两个水库间存在着部分混合即连接性.本研究系统阐述了“生态水文分离”的概念及其内涵,描述了降水与土壤水的混合过程以及两个水库δD和δ¹⁸O的特征与关系,总结了土壤水、束缚水及自由水δD和δ¹⁸O直接观测及替代观测方法的优缺点,并阐明了径流小区及流域尺度上基于直接及替代观测方法的土壤束缚水与自由水完全分离及连接性的定性研究进展,同时阐明了基于模型和控制试验的土壤束缚水与自由水完全分离及连接性的定量研究进展,并指出应加强生态水文分离过程的定性及定量方法以及对传统生态水文模型的影响和改进研究.     

Leaf wax n-alkane δD values are determined early in the ontogeny of Populus trichocarpa leaves when grown under controlled environmental conditions

The stable hydrogen isotope ratios (δD) of leaf wax n-alkanes record valuable information on plant and ecosystem water relations. It remains, however, unknown if leaf wax n-alkane δD values record only environmental variation during the brief period of time of leaf growth or if leaf wax n-alkane δD values are affected by environmental variability throughout the entire lifespan of a leaf. To resolve these uncertainties, we irrigated Populus trichocarpa trees with a pulse of deuterium-enriched water and used compound-specific stable hydrogen isotope analyses to test if the applied tracer could be recovered from leaf wax n-alkanes of leaves that were at different stages of their development during the tracer application. Our experiment revealed that only leaf wax n-alkanes from leaves that had developed during the time of the tracer application were affected, while leaves that were already fully matured at the time of the tracer application were not. We conclude from our study that under controlled environmental conditions, leaf wax n-alkanes are synthesized only early in the ontogeny of a leaf. Our experiment has implications for the interpretation of leaf wax n-alkane δD values in an environmental context, as it suggests that these compounds record only a brief period of the environmental variability that a leaf experiences throughout its life.     

放牧对内蒙古典型草原生态系统植物及土壤δ15N的影响

植物和土壤中的¹⁵N自然丰度值(δ¹⁵N)是评价生态系统N循环的一个重要指标, 而放牧是草原生态系统的主要土地利用方式, 对草原生态系统的N循环过程的改变起着重要作用。该研究测定了内蒙古锡林河流域放牧和围封条件下草原群落主要优势植物和土壤的δ¹⁵N值, 探讨放牧对草原N循环的影响。研究中所测定的8种植物叶片δ¹⁵N变化很大(-4.04‰-4.34‰), 但与植物功能型有一定的相关性。放牧显著降低了大针茅(Stipa grandis)、杂类草和小半灌木木地肤(Kochia prostrata)的δ¹⁵N值。具有潜在共生固氮能力的豆科植物δ¹⁵N偏低负值(-4.04‰ - -1.90‰), 但在放牧和围封条件下无显著差异; 而被认为具有联合固氮能力的羊草(Leymus chinensis), 放牧后δ¹⁵N显著增加, 一定程度上表明了豆科植物和羊草生物固氮能力的存在。所有植物中, 除无菌根侵染的木地肤外, 其他有丛枝菌根真菌侵染记录的物种δ¹⁵N值较低, 通常接近0或为负值, 说明在N限制的内蒙古草原, 菌根转运N可能也是一种重要的N源途径。放牧显著降低了0-20 cm土壤δ¹⁵N值, 这也与过去的研究结果不同。δ¹⁵N的测定为生态系统提供了一个整合时空N循环过程的综合指标, 反映出放牧改变了草原生态系统的N循环。