Patterns and affecting factors of nitrogen use efficiency of plant leaves and roots in Nei Mongol and Qinghai-Xizang Plateau grasslands

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2019.0044

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is a key functional trait in plants, which closely relates to ecosystem functions. However, it is still unclear about the regional patterns and affecting factors of plant NUE.
Methods This study quantified leaf and root NUE in 139 grassland plant species and explored their relationships with environmental factors and plant functional groups across 82 sampling sites in Nei Mongol and Qinghai-‌Xizang Plateau.
Important findings 1) We found that leaf NUE (53 g·g ^-1) in meadow steppe was significantly greater than those in alpine meadow (46 g·g ^-1), desert steppe (41 g·g ^-1) and typical steppe (39 g·g ^-1). Root NUE (108 g·g ^-1) in alpine meadow was higher than those in other ecosystems. 2) Leaf NUE was more sensitive to temperature than root NUE, but with increasing drought index they all showed a significant decrease. 3) Leaf and root NUE in forbs were significantly lower than sedges and grasses. In addition, leaf and root NUE of legume were 48% and 60% lower than those of non-legume, respectively. 4) Plant NUE did not show any significant relationship with soil nitrogen content. Overall, there was significant difference between leaf and root NUE in their spatial patterns in the Nei Mongol and Qinghai-Xizang Plateau grasslands. The main impacting factors were plant functional group and drought index. The findings are helpful for better understanding the mechanisms underlying the variation of grassland productivity in China, and also provide more scientific basis for grassland management.

http://jtp.cnki.net/bilingual/detail/html/ZWSB201907002

Key words: nitrogen use efficiency, plant functional group, functional traits, drought index, grassland ecosystem

FU Yi-Wen, TIAN Da-Shuan, WANG Jin-Song, NIU Shu-Li, ZHAO Ken-Tian. Patterns and affecting factors of nitrogen use efficiency of plant leaves and roots in Nei Mongol and Qinghai-Xizang Plateau grasslands[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2019, 43(7): 566-575.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2019.0044

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2019/V43/I7/566

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1 Differences of leaf and root nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) among different grassland ecosystems along a precipitation gradient. Different lowercase letters indicate a significant difference (p < 0.05), and n represents the sample size of observations.

Fig. 2 Relationships of leaf or root nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) with mean annual air temperature and mean annual precipitation. n represents the sample size of observations.

Fig. 3 Relationships between drought index and leaf or root nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in grassland plants. Different lowercase letters indicate a significant difference (p < 0.05), and n represents the sample size of observations.

Fig. 4 Leaf and root nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) among different grassland plant functional groups. Different lowercase letters indicate a significant difference (p < 0.05), and n represents the sample size of observations.

Fig. 5 Relationships of grassland plant leaf or root nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) with soil total nitrogen or available nitrogen content. n represents the sample size of observations.

Fig. 6 Direct and indirect impacts of biotic (plant functional group (PFG)) and abiotic (mean annual air temperature (MAT), mean annual precipition (MAP) and drought index (r)) factors on leaf or root nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in grassland plants. Line thickness indicates relative effect size. Solid lines denote a significant influence (p < 0.05), whereas dashed lines indicate no significant impact (p > 0.05). Green color represents a negative effect, while red color denotes a positive impact. R2 indicates how much variation can be explained.

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