Litter decomposition is important for understanding the effects of habitat on nutrient cycling. In this study, we investigated the decomposition characteristics, decomposition variability, and regulatory factors restricting the decomposition rates of leaf litter in three different habitats: a flood disturbance habitat, an arid habitat, and a high-salinity habitat. The litter decomposition rates of the habitats decreased in the following order: flood disturbance habit > arid habitat > high-salinity habitat. The organic carbon, total nitrogen, and lignin residues of the litter during the decomposition period were highest in the high-salinity habitat. The litter quality was the main regulator of the release of phosphorus and cellulose residues, which exhibited different release processes and patterns in these three habitats. The litter decomposition coefficient was negatively correlated with litter carbon residue in the flood disturbance habitats, the lignocellulose index in the arid habitats, and soil urease in the high-salinity habitats. It was positively correlated with the lignocellulose index in flood disturbance habitats and litter carbon residue in high-salinity habitats. The litter quality in the flood disturbance area played a significant role in litter decomposition, while environmental quality and litter quality were the dominant factors under arid and high-salt conditions. Litter quality in the flood disturbance area played a significant role in litter decomposition, while both environmental quality and litter quality were the dominant factors under arid and salt conditions.

Introduction: The research on improving the salt tolerance of crops through plant nanobiotechnology has been extensively reported. However, the mechanism by which plant - derived nanomaterials enhance the germination rate of wheat under salt stress remains elusive. Unveiling the mechanism by which plant - derived nanomaterials boost the salt tolerance of wheat is conducive to safeguarding food security.Methods: Herein, we used mesoporous self-assembly licorice and wolfberry-derived complex nanomaterial (LW-CNs) to soak wheat (Triticum aestivum L) seeds.Results: The size and zeta potential of LW-CNs were 42.2±8.2 nm and ^-19.6±1.5 eV, respectively. After 4 days of salt stress, LW-CNs-soaked wheat seeds presented a higher germination rate (78.4±8.3 vs 54.4±8.5%) and protein content (44.0±0.1 vs 39.1±0.2 mg g^-1), but no significant effect was observed on fresh weight (2.6±0.4 vs 2.3±0.4 g). LW-CNs significantly increased the pigment content (chlorophyll a: 0.11±0.0 vs 0.03±0.0 mg g^-1, chlorophyll b: 0.05±0.0 vs 0.02±0.0 mg g^-1, and carotenoids: 10.3±0.0 vs 2.9±0.0 μg g^-1). LW-CNs alleviated salt-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated through increase superoxide dismutase (917.4±8.7 vs 767.5±1.6 U g^-1), peroxidase (2458.7±5.0 vs 2070.5±14.8 U g^-1), and catalase (158.3±3.9 vs 112.0±3.2 μmol min^-1 g^-1) activity. Soaking in LW-CNs maintained ROS homeostasis also through the ascorbic acid–glutathione cycle. Furthermore, LW-CNs elevated the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio within wheat seeds and augmented the activities of nitrogen metabolism enzymes.Conclusion: Overall, our study demonstrates that soaking seeds with plant - derived nanomaterials promotes the growth and nutrient absorption of wheat under salt stress by modulating the homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the K⁺/Na⁺ ratio/.

Drought stress profoundly affects plant growth and survival, but comparisons of integrated adaptive strategies across multiple tree species remain unclear. In this study, seedlings of Elaeagnus angustifolia (E. angustifolia), Populus euphratica (P. euphratica) and Xanthoceras sorbifolium (X. sorbifolium) were subjected to well-watered (CK), mild (T1), moderate (T2), and severe (T3) drought treatments. Leaf microanatomical traits, non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), stoichiometric elements, biomass allocation, and key stress indicators were measured. The results showed that P. euphratica seedlings thickened leaves and vascular tissues and accumulated soluble sugars (SSs) and starch (ST) under T1–T2, but under T3, they prioritized root investment (root biomass +26.0%); their antioxidant enzymes were activated only under mild-to-moderate stress and declined under severe stress. E. angustifolia seedlings exhibited moderate leaf structural thickening, sharply increased root biomass (+97.2% under T3) while maintaining stem biomass, continuously elevated activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) as well as osmoregulatory substances (soluble protein SP, proline Pro), and showed the lowest malondialdehyde (MDA) content; their leaf carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents decreased the least, and their stoichiometric ratios remained stable. In contrast, X. sorbifolium seedlings progressively reduced leaf thickness and vascular area, depleted NSC reserves, exhibited unstable antioxidant responses, showed a significant decrease in Pro under severe drought, accumulated the highest MDA, and had the lowest N/P ratio, indicating the strongest nitrogen limitation. These results demonstrate that E. angustifolia combines structural plasticity, efficient nutrient use, robust osmotic adjustment, and sustained antioxidant capacity, conferring the strongest drought tolerance; P. euphratica* shows moderate tolerance through transient structural and carbon investment but suffers under extreme drought; X. sorbifolium has the weakest drought tolerance.