The Tarim Basin is located in an arid inland area; the ecological environment is fragile, and it is extremely sensitive to climate change. For the purpose of studying dynamic changes in the vegetation response of vegetation in the Tarim Basin to extreme climate, this study used the Vegetation Ecological Quality Index (EQI) as a vegetation indicator and calculated 12 extreme climate indices using Rclimdex. Pearson correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between EQI values and various extreme climate indices at both inter-annual and intra-annual scales. Additionally, geographic detector analysis was employed to examine the single and interactive effects of extreme climate on the EQI for different vegetation types. The following was found: (1) During 2000–2022, the EQI showed an upward trend in the Tarim Basin, and the increase in agricultural vegetation was the fastest. (2) Since 2000, the extreme warm temperature indices have risen, whereas the extreme cold temperature indices have declined. The warming rate of nighttime temperatures exceeds that of daytime, and the extreme precipitation rises intensively. Simultaneously, continuous dry days have also increased. (3) On an inter-annual scale, the EQI is primarily negatively correlated with the most extreme warm temperature indices, while it is positively correlated with extreme cold temperatures and extreme precipitation indices. On an intra-annual scale, there is an obvious regional concentration in the correlation between the EQI and extreme climate indices. The diurnal temperature range (DTR) and cold daytimes (TX10P) have inhibitory and promoting effects on areas with high and low EQI, respectively. The extremum indices, temperature warm indices, and precipitation intensity indices have a promoting effect on areas with a high EQI and an inhibiting effect on areas with a low EQI. The interaction between extreme climate indices has a greater impact on the EQI than the effect of a single extreme climate index, especially with a significant impact on forests and shrubs. This study provides a reference for the early warning of meteorological disasters, ecosystem protection, and sustainable management in the Tarim Basin.

Phreatophytes are deep-rooted plants that reach groundwater and are widely distributed in arid and semiarid areas around the world. Multiple environmental factors affect the growth of phreatophytes in desert ecosystems. However, the key factor determining the leaf nutrients of phreatophytes in arid regions remains elusive. This study aimed to reveal the key factors affecting the ecological stoichiometry of desert phreatophytes in the shallow groundwater of three oases at the southern rim of the Taklimakan Desert in Central Asia. Groundwater depth; groundwater pH and the degree of mineralization of groundwater; topsoil pH and salt concentration; topsoil and leaf carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations of phreatophytic Alhagi sparsifolia grown at groundwater depths of 1.3–2.2 m in the saturated aquifer zone in a desert–oasis ecotone in northwestern China were investigated. Groundwater depth was closely related to the mineralization degree of groundwater, topsoil C and P concentrations, and topsoil salt content and pH. The ecological stoichiometry of A. sparsifolia was influenced by depth, pH and the degree of mineralization of groundwater, soil nutrients and salt concentration. However, the effects of soil C and P concentrations on the leaf C and N concentrations of A. sparsifolia were higher than those of groundwater depth and pH and soil salt concentration. Moreover, A. sparsifolia absorbed more N in the soil than in the groundwater and atmosphere. This quantitative study provides new insights into the nutrient utilization of a desert phreatophyte grown at shallow groundwater depths in extremely arid desert ecosystems.

Cyperus esculentus, a drought-resistant Cyperaceae with ecological and economic value (stems/leaves as feed, tubers as oil source), stabilizes arid soils through its extensive root system. Understanding its biomass allocation strategies is crucial for comprehending carbon storage in arid environments. The results showed that allometric models best described leaf biomass, while Gompertz and logistic models provided superior accuracy (evaluated using R², p-value, AIC, RMSE, and RSS) for estimating root, tuber, and whole plant biomass. In our study, the equilibrium biomass showed that underground (74.29 g and 64.22 g) was superior to aboveground (63.63 g and 58.72 g); and the growth rate showed the same result, underground (0.112 and 0.055) surpassed aboveground (0.083 and 0.046). The initial inflection point (POI1 = 11) suggests that leaves are prioritized in acquiring limited resources to support growth. In conclusion, the tiller number is a reliable predictor for developing robust biomass models for C. esculentus. The Gompertz model is best for leaves, roots, and total biomass, while the logistic model is optimal for predicting tuber biomass in arid areas. The tiller number is a reliable predictor for developing robust biomass models for C. esculentus. The research findings have supplied useful insights into the growth modifications, production potential, and management experience gained from Cyperus esculentus plant agriculture.