Search

Background: Pulmonary function is very important for the healthy development of children and adolescents. However, fewer studies have been conducted on pulmonary function trends in children and adolescents in remote areas. The aim of this study was to estimate the forced vital capacity (FVC) trend and its relationship with body mass index (BMI) among young people in Xinjiang during 1985–2014 using data from seven successive national surveys. Methods: A total of 19,449 Xinjiang children and adolescents aged 7–18 years were extracted from the Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health. Height, weight, and FVC were measured repeatedly in each survey. FVC comparisons between adjacent surveys by age and sex were conducted by nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis after Kolmogorov-Smirnov of normality. One-way ANOVA and least significant difference(LSD) method was used to compare differences in FVC levels of Xinjiang children and adolescents with different BMI. The relationship between BMI and FVC was investigated using a nonlinear regression model. Results: The FVC levels of Xinjiang children and adolescents peaked in 2000, with overall FVC levels being 8.7% higher in 2000 than in 1985. Since then, a substantial decline occurred, contrasting to 2000, with FVC levels decreasing by 27% in 2014, which was still lower than that in 1985 by 20.73%. The proportion of overnutrition boys increased from 0.2% in 1985 to 22.1% in 2014, and girls from 0.5% in 1985 to 14.5% in 2014. An inverted U-shape association between FVC and BMI values was obtained for Xinjiang children and adolescents. Conclusions: Targeted measures should be carried out in schools to control BMI levels to ensure good lung function in children and adolescents in Xinjiang. Future studies should pay more attention to other factors affecting FVC, such as dietary behaviour, physical activity, and racial differences among children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidium spp. are diarrheagenic intestinal parasites with multiple hosts worldwide. A total of 1252 fresh fecal samples of sheep were collected from 10 large-scale farms in southern Xinjiang. Based on the small subunit ribosomal (SSU rRNA) gene of Cryptosporidium, 100 Cryptosporidium-positive samples (8.0%, 100/1252) were detected by PCR. Nine out of 10 farms were positive for Cryptosporidium, with the highest infection rate being 18.4% (23/125) on farm 9 in Qira. The infection rates of Cryptosporidium in pre-weaned lambs, weaned lambs, fattening sheep, and adult sheep were 20.3% (61/301), 10.3% (34/329), 0.9% (3/327), and 0.7% (2/295), respectively. Three Cryptosporidium species were identified, namely, C. xiaoi (n = 61), C. parvum (n = 22), and C. ubiquitum (n = 17). Of them, C. xiaoi was detected on all positive farms and in different age groups of sheep. The subtypes of C. parvum and C. ubiquitum were identified by PCR at the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene. Two C. parvum subtypes were identified: IIdA19G1 (n = 21) and IIdA15G1 (n = 1). One C. ubiquitum subtype was identified with XIIa (n = 17). These results indicated the common transmission and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium in sheep in southern Xinjiang, and further investigations are needed on the zoonotic potential of C. parvum and C. ubiquitum in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piroplasmosis is a disease that negatively affects equine health worldwide. Hence, 324 blood samples were collected from grazing horses in ten sites in Xinjiang and testing them for the presence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi by PCR of the EMA-1 gene and BC48 gene, respectively. Of the 324 blood samples, 161 (49.7%) were positive for equine piroplasms. The prevalence of T. equi was 38.9% (126/324), while that of B. caballi was 30.2% (98/324). The T. equi and B. caballi co-infection rate was 19.4% (63/324). From the 126 EMA-1 gene sequences and 98 BC48 gene sequences we obtained, 21 and 27 genotypes were identified, respectively. The EMA-1 sequences together with the GenBank reference sequences grouped into four clusters, with those from the present study forming two distinct clusters. In contrast, the BC48 sequences formed eight clusters with the GenBank reference sequences, while those obtained in the present study formed five distinct clusters. Our results highlight the widespread distribution and abundant gene polymorphism of T. equi and B. caballi in grazing horses from Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Xinjiang is an economically underdeveloped area in China, but the obesity rate of children and adolescents is increasing year by year. Physical fitness and body mass index (BMI) are very important factors for healthy development, whereas few studies focus on the relationship between them in this region. This study aimed to explore the relationship between physical fitness and BMI of children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 in Xinjiang.Method: A total of 17,356 children and adolescents aged 7-18 years were involved. BMI was divided into five levels by percentiles, from very low to very high. Physical fitness was evaluated by five indicators: grip strength, standing long jump, sit-and-reach, 50 m dash, and endurance running. Single-factor analysis of variance was used to compare the Z-scores of the five physical fitness indicators among different BMI levels for the four age groups by gender. A nonlinear quadratic regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between BMI and each indicator in the four age groups.Result: There is a significant correlation between the five health-related indicators (grip strength, standing long jump, sit and reach, 50 m dash, endurance run) at two age groups (13-15 yrs., 16-18 yrs) of children and adolescents in Xinjiang, China. The range of the Pearson coefficient is 0.048 ~ 0.744. For the other two age groups (7-9 yrs., 10-12 yrs.,) significant correlations are found only in some indicators, and the Pearson coefficient ranges from 0.002 to 0.589. The relationship between BMI and physical fitness presents an U-shaped or inverted U-shaped curve in most age groups(R2 ranges from - 0.001 to 0.182. Children and adolescents with normal BMI score higher on physical fitness tests, and boys (R2 ranges from - 0.001 to 0.182) are more pronounced than girls (R2 ranges from 0.001 to 0.031).Conclusion: Children and adolescents with a BMI above or below the normal ranges have lower physical fitness than those with normal BMI. BMI and physical fitness have an U-shaped or inverted U-shaped curve relationship, and the impact is more evident in boys than girls. Targeted actions such as improving the quality of physical education classes, advocating students to keep a balanced diet and physical exercise should be taken designedly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the geochemical characteristics and the main factors controlling high-arsenic (As) groundwater in the Kuitun River Basin, factor analysis (FA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were applied for quantitative investigation of the relationship among the chemical properties of 50 groundwater samples from the Kuitun River Basin. The results showed that As was positively correlated with redox potential (Eh), pH, and phosphate (PO43-) concentration, and FA results showed that As enrichment in groundwater was controlled by factors such as geology, reducibility, and competitive ion adsorption. Samples were classified via HCA into four clusters that corresponded to the source, reducing environment, groundwater runoff, and weak alkaline conditions. The combination of FA and HCA showed that different factors dominated under different conditions. The presence of Fe--Mn minerals and geological influences provided sources for As in groundwater. In contrast, reducing conditions were considered to be the main factor that influenced the study area, and high pH conditions caused environmental As to desorb and dissolve into the groundwater. The competitive adsorption of HCO3 -- with arsenate and arsenite also prompted the release of As into the aquifer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical signs, symptoms, and the etiology of sensitive skin (SS) in general populations have been extensively studied over the last decades, but the characteristics of SS in Xinjiang, particularly the age‐related characteristics, still remain unknown. Objective: This study aimed to characterize the SS facial skin in normal adolescents of Xinjiang. Methods: A questionnaire was developed based on SS and given to each participant. The clinical signs, symptoms, associated trigger factors, and DQLI of facial SS were compared in normal young Chinese males versus females. Results: A total of 3584 freshmen were investigated, wherein 83 were diagnoses as self‐reported facial SS (2.3%). The prevalence of SS was found to be significantly higher in females than in males. Spicy food, mood change, and skin care products are the major contributors to facial SS (p < 0.01). Moreover, family history and sun exposure are closely related to the onset of SS (p < 0.05). More SS patients were sensitive to emotional factors and had a greater difficulty with shopping or housework, dressing, socializing, or other leisure activities. The main manifestations of SS are flushing, erythema, and dry skin on buccal, frontal, and temporal sputum. The symptoms mainly include skin burning and dry itching, and two or more symptoms at the same time. The absolute value of red area and pores of SS were higher than that of normal skin (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence, symptoms, clinical characteristics, and triggering factors of facial SS in normal young of Xinjiang, especially freshmen in the 17–21 age group, were not similar with SS, which might be due to racial and regional differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high moisture content of seeds during harvesting results in a large amount of grain that breaks during mechanical harvesting, which becomes a key problem that hampers the promotion of mechanical grain harvesting technology. Maize in southern Xinjiang physiologically matures from early September to early October. In this study, 52 varieties of maize at different maturity stages were studied in 2019-2020 and were categorized in the order of physiological maturity time: early September (PD1), mid-September (PD2), late September (PD3), and early October (PD4). The goal of this study was to analyze the differences in content of kernel moisture at physiological maturity and the rate of dehydration after physiological maturity of varieties at different stages of maturity, so as to determine the suitable period for mechanical grain harvesting of maize at different stages of maturity. The results showed that the content of seed moisture at different maturity stages varied in a two-stage linear model, with periods of fast and slow dehydration. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the content of seed moisture at different stages of physiological maturity did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to identify impacts of photovoltaic (PV) power plant on surface radiation, this paper conducted a comparative study on the surface radiation and surface albedo characteristics between the PV site and reference site in the Gobi area in Xinjiang, China in the summer of 2020. The results show that, the upward long-wave radiation at the PV site was significantly lower than that at the reference site in the night, while the two were basically the same during the daytime. The average surface albedo at the PV site (0.14) was 39.1% lower than that at the reference site (0.23). Net radiation was higher at the PV site than that at the reference site throughout the whole day. The average net radiation of the underlying surface at the PV site was 30.7% more than that at the reference site, 75% of which was contributed by lower upward shortwave radiation and 25% was due to nocturnal lower upward longwave radiation at the PV site. • Average surface albedo at photovoltaic power site decreases 39.1%. • Upward long-wave radiation at photovoltaic power site decreases significantly. • Average net radiation at photovoltaic power site increases 30.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reveal the distribution characteristics and formation mechanism of groundwater salinization in the plain area of the Kashgar River Basin in Xinjiang of China, 398 groups of groundwater samples were collected in 2017. Hydrogeochemical methods coupling with stable isotope technology were used for sample analysis. Results showed that groundwater was weakly alkaline in general (pH ranged between 6.68 and 8.52), with total dissolved solids (TDS) ranging from 246.5 to 44,130.4 mg/L. The main groundwater hydrochemical types included SO4·Cl, SO4 and HCO3·SO4. Along groundwater flow direction, increased TDS and obvious salinization were observed with hydrochemical type change from HCO3·SO4 to SO4 and to SO4·Cl, respectively. Groundwater was mainly recharged by river infiltration in the piedmont. Groundwater salinization was affected by lixiviation, evaporation concentration and cation exchange. Continuous weathering and dissolution of evaporative rock minerals, such as gypsum and halite, were the main factors leading to the continuous salinization of groundwater. Regional deuterium surplus calculation results showed that lixiviation was the main cause of groundwater salinization in recharge areas in the piedmont, and controlled the whole runoff process. Meanwhile, the strongest evaporation concentration mainly occurred in discharge areas of the groundwater flow system. It was concluded that groundwater salinization mainly depended on lixiviation degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 63 groundwater samples were collected in the Kashgar Delta Area in Xinjiang in 2016, and then, the samples were tested and the test results were analyzed. Multivariate statistical techniques were used to determine the sources of pollution, and the USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) model was used to assess the long-term health risk of groundwater to adults and children in the study area. The concentrations of groundwater chemical Na+, Cl−, SO42−, NH4+-N, TDS, F−, I−, As, Fe, Mn, Pb, Hg, pH, TH, and CODMn, which exceed the permissible level in the study based on groundwater quality index and possibly pose a potential threat to the health of the residents in the area, which are mainly influenced by geological conditions. The source of the pollutants is the dissolution of minerals in the aquifer medium, which is greatly affected by the high-salinity groundwater environment, pH conditions, redox conditions, and evaporation and concentration effect. The values of the noncarcinogenic health risk index HQn follow the descending order of Cl− > F− > As > Fe > Mn > Pb > Hg > NH4+-N; There are eight nonarcinogens and one carcinogen in groundwater of which Cl− is the dominant noncarcinogenic factor, while As is the main carcinogenic pollutant in the study area. The health risk ratio results show that Cl− and As are the main pollutants that pose the greatest threat to both adults' and children's health, and they should be considered as the primary indicators for health risk management and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deteriorating groundwater quality due to natural genesis and anthropogenic activities has prevented the sustainable use of groundwater. The characteristics and factors affecting groundwater quality for drinking in shallow aquifers (depth ≤ 100 m) in the plain area of Yarkant River Basin in Xinjiang were analyzed using water quality index (WQI), geostatistics, and geochemical methods. Results showed that the groundwater was weak-alkaline with neutral pH, with dominant water types being SO4•HCO3-Ca•Mg, SO4•Cl•HCO3-Na•Ca, SO4•HCO3•Cl-Ca•Na, Cl•SO4-Na•Ca, and HCO3•SO4-Mg•Ca. WQI ranged between 31.79 and 549.37, and about 14.43%, 31.96%, 18.56%, 22.68%, and 12.37% of the all samples were excellent, good, medium, poor, and extremely poor quality, respectively. The proportion of excellent quality was the highest in single structure phreatic aquifer (SSPA, 50.00%) and good quality were the highest in multilayered structure phreatic aquifer (MSPA, 34.21%) and multilayered structure confined aquifer (MSCA, 28.89%). With the extension of the river, the groundwater quality gradually degenerated from south to north in phreatic aquifer (PA, including SSPA and MSPA). The further away from the Yarkant river, the worse the groundwater quality of PA. Furthermore, the WQI showed excellent, good, and an alternation of medium and poor quality (including extremely poor quality) from south to north in the MSCA. The groundwater quality deterioration might have been affected by the dissolution of evaporite minerals, such as halite, gypsum, and anhydrite and ion exchange process. In addition, local effects of anthropogenic activities and land usage patterns on the groundwater quality should be reckoned as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 266 shallow groundwater samples were collected, and pH, TH, TDS, concentrations of main cations (K+, Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+), main anions (Cl−, SO42− and HCO3−), NO2-N, NO3-N, NH4-N, F−, As, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Hg, Cr6+, Pb and Cd were analyzed to assess the quality and health risk of shallow groundwater in the southern margin of the Tarim Basin. Results showed that groundwater in the study area was weak alkaline with hydrochemistry type by SO4•Cl-Ca•Mg and SO4•Cl-Na primarily. Groundwater chemical characteristics were mainly affected by rock weathering and evaporation concentration. Groundwater in this area is unsafe for drinking due to poor water quality, which mainly affected by natural environment as well as industrial and agricultural activities. Total carcinogenic risk and total non-carcinogenic risk of shallow groundwater in the study area were high, which exceed acceptable health risk level. The order of non-carcinogenic health risks from high to low were Cr6+, Cd, F−, As, Cu, Fe, Pb, Hg, NO3-N, Mn, NO2-N, NH4-N, and Zn, and the order of carcinogenic health risks were Cr6+, Cd and As, among which Cr6+, Cd, F− and As were the main indicators of healthy risk management controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in the surface area of lakes can indicate climate change and human activity, and there are few reports on the characteristics of such changes in North Xinjiang, China. The normalized difference water index (NDWI) was modified by using the middle infrared band (MIR) instead of the near infrared band (NIR). The modified NDWI (MNDWI) can effectively extract the lake boundary. Changes in the number and area of lakes (surface area > 1 km2) were examined using topographic maps (1:100,000) and Land Remote-Sensing Satellite (System, Landsat) series images (multispectral scanner, thematic mapper, enhanced thematic mapper plus, and operational land imager) for the period from 1960 to 2018. The results showed that more than 85.00% of the lakes were identified in the Erqis River Basin (ErRB), Ulungur River Basin (URB), and Central North Tianshan (CNT) between 1960 and 1980, few lakes were observed in the Ebinur Lake Basin (ELB), Jimunai River Basin (JRB), Emin River Basin (EmRB), Guerbantonggute Desert Area (GDA), and Ili River Basin (IRB), and no lakes were observed in the Eastern North Tianshan (ENT). The surface area and numbers of lakes in North Xinjiang were increased by 795.99 km2 (35.54%) and 39 (195.00%), respectively, between 1960 and 2018. Multiple factors influenced the changes observed for different types of lakes. The number and surface area of mountain lakes fluctuated and increased mainly in response to precipitation and temperature. The number of oasis lakes remained unchanged until 1990, but then increased in response to precipitation and temperature. The fluctuations in the surface area of oasis lakes, which were affected by climate and groundwater development, were relatively small between 1960 and 1990, but then became larger. However, the number and surface area of plain lakes increased between 1960 and 2018 and were mainly influenced by climate change and human activity, such as water diversion for irrigation, ecological restoration projects, and the implementation of the river chief system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out in the Gurbantünggüt Desert, Uygur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, Northwest China in August, 2009. To quantify the storage, contribution and vertical distribution patterns of plant biomass carbon (PBC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) in the study area, we investigated the carbon concentrations and its vertical distribution in three different desert shrubland communities dominated by Reaumuria soongorica, Haloxylon ammodendron + R. soongorica and Tamarix ramosissima + R. soongorica, respectively. We analyzed vertical distribution of root biomass carbon and soil carbon contents by excavating soil profiles for each dominated community. The results show that SOC is considerably the larger carbon pool in the soil layers of 1.0-3.0 m (the mean value of three shrubland communities is 38.46%) and 3.0-5.0 m (the mean value is 40.24%). In contrast, 70.74% of belowground biomass carbon storage in 0-1.0 m layer, and its content decrease with increasing soil depth. The Haloxylon ammodendron + R. soongorica shrubland community has the highest belowground biomass carbon among three selected communities. This study highlights the importance of SOC stored in deep soil layers (lower than 3.0 m from the surface) in arid shrubland communities in the global carbon balance. In addition, it provides the data support for revealing deep soil solid carbon potential, and offers scientific basis for the further research in the carbon cycle of terrestrial ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical composition of rutile has been used as an indicator in magmatic and metamorphic-related diagenetic systems, but rarely in porphyry-style ore systems. The Tuwu deposit (557 Mt at 0.58% Cu) is a large porphyry-style Cu mineralization in Eastern Tianshan, Xinjiang, with typical disseminated, stockwork mineralized veins hosted in tonalite and diorite porphyry, and to a lesser extent in volcanic rocks of the Qi'eshan Group. We first present determination of rutile minerals coupled with chlorite identified in mineralized porphyries from Tuwu to reveal their geochemical features, thus providing new insights into the ore-forming processes and metal exploration. Petrographic and BSE observations show that the rutile generally occurs as large crystals (30 to 80 µm), in association with hydrothermal quartz, chlorite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite. The rutile grains display V, Fe, and Sn enrichment and flat LREE-MREE patterns, indicating a hydrothermal origin. Titanium in rutile (TiO2) is suggested to be sourced from the breakdown and re-equilibration of primary magmatic biotite and Ti-magnetite, and substituted by Sn4+, high field strength elements (HFSE; e.g., Zr4+ and Hf4+), and minor Mo4+ under hydrothermal conditions. The extremely low Mo values (average 30 ppm) in rutile may be due to rutile formation postdating that of Mo sulfides (MoS2) formation in hydrothermal fluids. Chlorite analyses imply that the ore-forming fluids of the main stage were weakly oxidized (logfO2 = −28.5 to −22.1) and of intermediate temperatures (308 to 372 °C), consistent with previous fluid inclusion studies. In addition, Zr-in-rutile geothermometer yields overestimated temperatures (>430 °C) as excess Zr is incorporated into rutile, which is likely caused by fast crystal growth or post crystallization modification by F-Cl-bearing fluid. Thus, application of this geothermometer to magmatic-hydrothermal ore systems is questionable. Based on the comparison of rutile characteristics of porphyry Cu with other types of ore deposits and barren rocks, we suggest that porphyry Cu-related rutile typically has larger grain size, is enriched in V (average 3408 ppm, compared to <1500 ppm of barren rocks) and to a lesser extent in W and Sn (average 121 and 196 ppm, respectively), and has elevated Cr + V/Nb + Ta ratios. These distinctive signatures can be used as critical indicators of porphyry-style Cu mineralization and may serve as a valuable tool in mineral exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface water (SW) and groundwater (GW) are crucial water supply sources in the southern margin of Junggar Basin in Xinjiang. The sources of toxic components in SW and GW and their negative effects on human health are of great concern. A total of 40 SW and 596 GW samples were collected at the oasis belt to analyze distribution, sources and potential health risks of inorganic pollutants in SW and GW. Results revealed that SW quality was severely affected by Hg, 30.0% of which had Hg concentration greater than the national drinking water standard. High Hg SW was mainly distributed near Manas County and Urumqi City. GW quality was mostly affected by SO 4 2−, 24.7% of which had SO 4 2− concentration greater than the national drinking water standard. High SO 4 2− GW primarily occurred in the northwest and middle of the study area. Source apportionment of inorganic pollutants identified geological background, municipal wastewater disposal, water-rock interaction, geological environment, geological structure and industrial emission were the prominent potential sources of inorganic pollution in SW, with contribution rates of 1.2%, 10.0%, 43.6%, 35.1%, 6.3% and 3.8%, respectively. Five potential pollution sources in GW (including geological background, municipal wastewater disposal, water-rock interaction, geological environment and aquifer burial depth) were identified, with contribution rates of 0.7%, 9.6%, 77.6%, 11.1% and 1.0%, respectively. Probabilistic health risk assessment showed that Cl− and As in SW and GW were the main inorganic pollutants threatening human health. Non-carcinogenic risks for adults and children were negligible, while carcinogenic risks cannot be negligible. Furthermore, the contribution of potential pollution sources to health risks was quantified using positive matrix factorization coupling with health risk assessment model. Based on which, we offered the suggestion that water quality improvement in contaminated areas should be implemented in combination with pollution monitoring systems. • The main inorganic pollutants were Hg in surface water and SO 4 2− in groundwater. • Sources of toxic components in surface water and groundwater were identified. • PMF and HRA models were used to quantify health risk contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The effects of storage temperature on Diaogan apricot were investigated. • Ice-temperature storage helped retain fruit firmness and pectin/cellulose content. • Ice-temperature storage enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes. • Ice-temperature storage ameliorated weight loss and respiration. • Ice-temperature is effective for maintaining apricot quality during storage. Ice-temperature storage is a new refrigeration method with temperatures ranging from sub-zero to the freezing point of the product being stored. However, few reports have evaluated the effects of ice-temperature (IT) storage on the cell wall metabolism and reactive oxygen metabolism of Xinjiang-grown Diaogan apricots. In this study, to determine the effects of ice-temperature storage on cell wall metabolism and reactive oxygen metabolism in Diaogan apricots, apricots were stored at −1.5 °C to−2.0 °C (ice temperature, IT), 0 °C–1 °C (low temperature), and 10 °C (control) for 70 d with sampling and evaluation every 10 d. Compared to storage at low temperature and 10 °C, IT storage (1) better maintained the firmness, ascorbic acid content, pectin content, and cellulose content of the fruit; (2) suppressed the activities of polygalacturonase and cellulase; (3) inhibited the rate of weight loss, respiration rate, ethylene production, plasma membrane permeability, and malondialdehyde accumulation; and (4) improved the activities of peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and ascorbate peroxidase, thereby inhibiting the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion during storage. Overall, the results show that IT storage is an effective way to improve the storage quality and antioxidant capacity of Diaogan apricots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Desert plants had higher N and P concentration in leaves than in stems and roots. • The N and P of desert plants were more greatly controlled by soil than by climates. • Most soil factors had direct influences on leaf and stem N and P stoichiometry. • Climate had indirect effects on N and P stoichiometry across organs. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) play essential roles in plant growth and deserve more attention in desert ecosystems. Nutrients stoichiometry patterns across various plant organs can reflect the plants' trade-offs to obtain resources and their growth strategy. However, it is still unclear how these nutrients are allocated among desert plant organs and how they are related to the arid climate conditions. This study aimed to examine how plant N and P stoichiometry varies among the organs of desert plants, and how they respond to climate and soil factors. Therefore, we analyzed N and P stoichiometry of leaves, stems, and roots collected from 29 desert sites in Xinjiang, China, to achieve this goal. Our studies indicated that the mean N and P concentrations in the stems (17.5 ± 0.2 and 1.0 ± 0.02 mg g−1, respectively) and roots (10.3 ± 0.2 and 0.7 ± 0.01 mg g−1, respectively) were significantly lower than those in leaves (21.4 ± 0.3 and 1.2 ± 0.02 mg g−1, respectively); the N:P ratio in stems (19.1 ± 0.3) was significantly higher than those in roots (17.6 ± 0.4), but N:P in leaves (18.2 ± 0.3) was not significantly different from those in stems and roots. Across plant life forms, N and N:P of both leaves and roots were respectively higher in shrubs than those in trees and herbs, P in three organs were significantly lower in trees than those in shrubs and herbs. Moreover, our results demonstrated that most soil factors had direct influences on N and P stoichiometry among different organs, and climate factors had indirect effect on N and P stoichiometry by affecting soil factors. This study provided the N and P stoichiometric characteristics of desert plant organs and explored their relationships with environmental variables, which can help understand nutrient stoichiometry patterns and utilization strategy of N and P and their potential responses to global climate changes in the desert ecosystems of central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]