Wind-blown litter transports more carbon and nutrients than wind-blown dust in semi-arid steppes

Abstract

Background and aims

Wind-driven litter and dust transportation are ubiquitous worldwide, exerting significant ecological influences across diverse landscapes. However, the litter and dust fluxes and the carbon and nutrients they carry remain unclear.

Methods

We conducted six years of synchronous observations of litter and dust fluxes at three sites in a semi-arid steppe in Inner Mongolia, northern China.

Results

Our findings revealed that the horizontal flux of litter exceeded that of dust, with higher levels occurring during the non-growing season than during the growing season. Vertically, both litter and dust fluxes decreased exponentially as the height from the ground increased. Tumble plant biomass and wind emerged as primary litter transport drivers, while an increase in blowing dust days and wind velocity enhanced dust flux significantly. However, vegetation factors, including coverage, height, and aboveground biomass, exhibited negative correlations with dust flux. We discovered that wind-driven litter carries significantly more carbon and nutrients than dust.

Conclusion

These findings emphasize that wind-blown litter and dust play crucial roles in redistributing organic carbon and nutrients, thereby enhancing the spatial heterogeneity of these resources in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.