Dataset of leaf and stem nutrient traits and environmental drivers of Chenopodioideae plants along a desert transect in Central Asia

The data was collected through field surveys conducted between 2021 and 2022 across 68 desert sites in northwestern China, involving 39 species of Chenopodioideae plants from 21 genera. The dataset includes ecological characteristics such as vegetation cover, plant height, and density for each site, along with concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in both leaf and stem tissues, as well as corresponding soil properties.

The dataset also includes functional group classifications (e.g., C3 and C4 plants, trees, shrubs, and herbs) and nutrient ratios between different functional groups and organs (leaves and stems), aiming to provide detailed data to support the understanding of nutrient adaptation mechanisms and environmental controls on Chenopodioideae plants in desert ecosystems.