Effects of nutrient and water additions on plant community structure and species diversity in desert grasslands

doi:10.3724/SP.J.1258.2014.00015

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Better understanding the response of community structure and species diversity to nutrient and water enrichment is critical for desert grassland in arid areas. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the three elements necessary for plant production, and water promotes plant absorption of nutrients. Our objective was to analyze the effects of nutrient and water addition on community structure and species diversity in typical desert grassland in northwestern China.
Methods Field experiments were conducted in Gubantunggut Desert grassland from 2009 to 2012. Nutrient and water additions were done on May 15, 2009-2011, and vegetation investigation was conducted on May 25, 2009-2012. The responses of community structure and species diversity of plants to nutrient, rainfall and snow additions were studied.
Important findings After the nutrient and water additions, the number of species decreased by 35.3%, the number of species in Poaceae family increased and species in Cruciferae family decreased. In 2009 and 2010, none of the three treatments (nutrient addition, water addition and the coupling effect of nutrient and water) significantly influenced species richness, Simpson index, Shannon-Wiener index or Pielou evenness index. In 2012, nutrient addition had a significant effect on species richness (p < 0.05), while treatments of water addition and the coupling effect of nutrient and water did not. The coupling effect of nutrient and water had significant influence on the Simpson and Shannon-Wiener indexes, while treatments of nutrient addition and water addition did not. The Simpson, Shannon-Wiener, Pielou evenness indexes increased from 2009 to 2012.

Key words: community structure, desert grassland, nutrient addition, species diversity, water addition

ZHAO Xin-Feng, XU Hai-Liang, ZHANG Peng, TU Wen-Xia, ZHANG Qing-Qing. Effects of nutrient and water additions on plant community structure and species diversity in desert grasslands[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2014, 38(2): 167-177.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3724/SP.J.1258.2014.00015

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2014/V38/I2/167

Figures/Tables 12

References 32

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处理 Treatment	施肥量 Fertilization amount
CK	0 g
N	771.4 g CaNO₃
P	1 464.4 g Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O
K	802.4 g K₂SO₄ + 538.4 g CaCO₃+ 374.6 g MgCO₃ + 3 043.6 g FeSO₄·7H₂O + 247.5 g MnSO₄ + 158.3 g ZnSO₄·7H₂O + 141.5 g CuSO₄·5H₂O + 31.7 g Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O + 9.0 g Na₂MoO₄·2H₂O
NP	771.4 g CaNO₃+ 1 464.4 g Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O
NK	771.4 g CaNO₃+ 802.4 g K₂SO₄ + 538.4 g CaCO₃ + 374.6 g MgCO₃ + 3 043.6 g FeSO₄·7H₂O + 247.5 g MnSO₄ + 158.3 g ZnSO₄·7H₂O + 141.5 g CuSO₄·5H₂O + 31.7 g Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O + 9.0 g Na₂MoO₄·2H₂O
PK	1 464.4 g Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O + 802.4 g K₂SO₄ + 538.4 g CaCO₃ + 374.6 g MgCO₃ + 3 043.6 g FeSO₄·7H₂O + 247.5 g MnSO₄ + 158.3 g ZnSO₄·7H₂O + 141.5 g CuSO₄·5H₂O + 31.7 g Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O + 9.0 g Na₂MoO₄·2H₂O
NPK	771.4 g CaNO₃ + 1 464.4 g Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O + 802.4 g K₂SO₄ + 538.4 g CaCO₃ + 374.6 g MgCO₃ + 3 043.6 g FeSO₄·7H₂O + 247.5 g MnSO₄ + 158.3 g ZnSO₄·7H₂O + 141.5 g CuSO₄·5H₂O + 31.7 g Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O + 9.0 g Na₂MoO₄·2H₂O

处理 Treatment	施肥量 Fertilization amount
CK	0 g
N	771.4 g CaNO₃
P	1 464.4 g Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O
K	802.4 g K₂SO₄ + 538.4 g CaCO₃+ 374.6 g MgCO₃ + 3 043.6 g FeSO₄·7H₂O + 247.5 g MnSO₄ + 158.3 g ZnSO₄·7H₂O + 141.5 g CuSO₄·5H₂O + 31.7 g Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O + 9.0 g Na₂MoO₄·2H₂O
NP	771.4 g CaNO₃+ 1 464.4 g Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O
NK	771.4 g CaNO₃+ 802.4 g K₂SO₄ + 538.4 g CaCO₃ + 374.6 g MgCO₃ + 3 043.6 g FeSO₄·7H₂O + 247.5 g MnSO₄ + 158.3 g ZnSO₄·7H₂O + 141.5 g CuSO₄·5H₂O + 31.7 g Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O + 9.0 g Na₂MoO₄·2H₂O
PK	1 464.4 g Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O + 802.4 g K₂SO₄ + 538.4 g CaCO₃ + 374.6 g MgCO₃ + 3 043.6 g FeSO₄·7H₂O + 247.5 g MnSO₄ + 158.3 g ZnSO₄·7H₂O + 141.5 g CuSO₄·5H₂O + 31.7 g Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O + 9.0 g Na₂MoO₄·2H₂O
NPK	771.4 g CaNO₃ + 1 464.4 g Ca(H₂PO₄)₂·H₂O + 802.4 g K₂SO₄ + 538.4 g CaCO₃ + 374.6 g MgCO₃ + 3 043.6 g FeSO₄·7H₂O + 247.5 g MnSO₄ + 158.3 g ZnSO₄·7H₂O + 141.5 g CuSO₄·5H₂O + 31.7 g Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O + 9.0 g Na₂MoO₄·2H₂O

指标 Index	df	F	p
物种丰富度 Species richness	7	1.23	0.36
Simpson指数 Simpson index	7	0.20	0.98
Shannon-Wiener指数 Shannon-Wiener index	7	0.32	0.93
Pielou均匀度指数 Pielou evenness index	7	0.32	0.93

指标 Index	df	F	p
物种丰富度 Species richness	7	1.23	0.36
Simpson指数 Simpson index	7	0.20	0.98
Shannon-Wiener指数 Shannon-Wiener index	7	0.32	0.93
Pielou均匀度指数 Pielou evenness index	7	0.32	0.93

差异来源 Difference source	df	物种丰富度		Simpson指数		Shannon-Wiener指数		Pielou均匀度指数
		Species richness		Simpson index		Shannon-Wiener index		Pielou evenness index
		F	p	F	p	F	p	F	p
养分处理 Nutrient treatment (A)	7, 21	0.67	0.693	0.47	0.844	0.53	0.804	0.55	0.789
水分处理 Water treatment (B)	2, 48	2.86	0.067	0.24	0.784	0.60	0.553	0.05	0.949
A、B互作 Interaction of A and B	14, 48	0.78	0.689	0.47	0.983	0.55	0.892	0.43	0.959
区组 Block	3, 21	0.58	0.637	1.06	0.386	0.78	0.521	1.09	0.377