Abstract: Slope aspect has important effects on leaf ecological stoichiometric characteristics and functional traits. Uncovering ecological stoichiometric characteristics and leaf functional traits of plants under different slope aspects can enhance our understanding of the responses and adaptation strategies of plants to environmental change. We examined the changes in ecological stoichiometric characteristics and functional traits of leaves of Heteropappus hispidus from Lanzhou with slope aspect changing from sunny slope to shady slope. Leaf C content, leaf C∶P, and leaf N∶P were greater under the sunny slope (408.12 g·kg^-1, 348.61, 29.71, respectively) than that under the shady slope (400.75 g·kg^-1, 196.69, 16.60, respectively). Leaf N content and leaf C∶N were similar but leaf P content was significantly lower under the former (34.81 g·kg^-1, 11.72, and 1.67 g·kg^-1, respectively) than under the latter (34.07 g·kg^-1, 12.24, and 2.56 g·kg^-1, respectively). Specific leaf area and leaf water content had no difference between sunny slope (10.55 cm²·g^-1 and 59.06%, respectively) and shady slope (9.70 cm²·g^-1 and 60.65%, respectively), while leaf dry matter content and leaf area were significantly lower under the sunny slope (0.14 g·g^-1 and 0.31 cm², respectively) than under the shady slope (0.15 g·g^-1 and 0.41 cm², respectively). The growth of H. hispidus in this area was mainly restricted by phosphorus availability. On the sunny slope, specific leaf area, leaf water content, and leaf area were the dominant factors affecting leaf C content, leaf P content, and leaf C∶N, respectively. On the shady slope, leaf dry matter content was the dominant factor affecting both leaf C content and leaf P content, and all four indicators of leaf functional traits had an effect on leaf N content and leaf C∶N, with leaf area being the first important factor, followed by specific leaf area. Our results indicated that slope aspect influenced the ecological stoichiometric characteristics and functional traits of leaves of H. hispidus. Thus, studies combining ecological stoichiometric characteristics and plant functional traits will be conducive to our comprehensive understanding of plant adaptation strategies.

Key words: greenhouse vegetable, nematode, fertilization, community composition.