Effects of grazing on the δ 15N values of foliage and soil in a typical steppe ecosystem in Inner Mongolia, China

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.02.007

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Stable N isotope signature (δ¹⁵N) in both plant and soil is potentially an important parameter to evaluate N cycling in grassland ecosystems. Grazing is a dominant land use in northern China grasslands and might have greatly changed N cycling. Our objective was to determine the¹⁵N signature of leaves and soils in grazed and fenced plots of a typical steppe to investigate how δ¹⁵N values in an ecosystem are affected by grazing.

Methods We collected foliar and soil samples in a nearly 20 years fenced plot and an adjacent freely grazed plot. The foliar samples came from eight dominant species, including three perennial legumes (Caragana microphylla, Astragalus galactites and Melilotoides ruthenica), two grasses (Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis), two forbs (Heteropappus altaicus and Potentilla acaulis) and a semi-shrub (Kochia prostrata). We also sampled 0-10 and 10-20 cm rhizosphere soils of C. microphylla and K. prostrata. Nitrogen isotope ratios were determined with a Thermal Finnigan MAT Delta^plus XP isotope-ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS).

Important findings Although the δ¹⁵N value of leaves of different plant species varied greatly, the observed pattern of variability is consistent in both grazed and fenced plots, i.e., semi-shrub > forbs and grasses > legumes. Long-term grazing reduced foliar δ¹⁵N values of forbs, semi-shrub and S. grandis significantly while changing little or even increasing that of potential biological N fixers (legumes and L. chinensis). As the only arbuscular mycorrhizae non-infected plant species, K. prostrata is enriched in¹⁵N (with δ¹⁵N values of 4.34‰ ± 0.35‰ and 2.04‰ ± 0.20‰ in fenced and grazed plots, respectively) compared with the depletion of other species. Mycorrhizal association may be considered to play an important role in plant nutrient transfer in those N-limited grassland ecosystems. In contrast to results of previous studies, soil δ¹⁵N values decreased significantly with grazing.

Key words: ¹⁵N signature, grassland ecosystems, grazing, N cycling

WU Tian-Xiang, HUANG Jian-Hui. Effects of grazing on the δ ¹⁵N values of foliage and soil in a typical steppe ecosystem in Inner Mongolia, China[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2010, 34(2): 160-169.

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Figures/Tables 5

Table 1 Soil physiochemical properties in fenced and grazed plots

土地利用 Land use	土层深度 Soil depth (cm)	土壤含水量 Soil moisture (%)	pH	有机质 Organic matter (g·kg^-1)	全氮 Total N (g·kg^-1)	全磷 Total P (g·kg^-1)	铵态氮 NH₄⁺-N (mg·kg^-1)	硝态氮 NO₃^--N (mg·kg^-1)
围封	0-10	2.02	6.78	16.01	0.92	0.21	2.15	0.57
Fenced	10-20	1.72	6.72	10.11	0.50	0.14	2.19	0.76
放牧	0-10	1.06	6.89	9.20	0.56	0.14	7.31	1.68
Grazed	10-20	1.48	6.62	9.28	0.55	0.14	7.22	1.91

Fig. 1 δ15N of rhizosphere soils of Caragana microphylla and Kochia prostrata in fenced and grazed plots (mean ± SE). a, b represent significant difference at p < 0.05.

Fig. 2 Foliar 15N natural abundance of plant species in fenced and grazed plots (mean ± SE). Asga., Astragalus galactites; Cami., Caragana microphylla; Heal., Heteropappus altaicus; Kopr., Kochia prostrata; Lech., Leymus chinensis; Meru., Melilotoides ruthenica; Poac., Potentilla acaulis; Stgr., Stipa grandis; *, p < 0.05, **, p < 0.01, ***, p < 0.001; ns denotes no significant difference

Fig. 3 Relationship between foliar δ15N and N concentration (%). A, legumes; B, all non-legumes; C, non-legumes except semi-shrub; Rf2, Rg2 represent R2 values under fenced and grazed conditions, respectively.

Table 2 Distribution of legumes in grazed and fenced plots

物种 Species	土地利用 Land use	密度 Density (plant·m^-2)	频度 Frequency (%)	高度 Height (cm)
扁蓿豆 Melilotoides ruthenica	围封 Fenced	0.05	5	5.00
扁蓿豆 Melilotoides ruthenica	放牧 Grazed	1.50	60	8.05
小叶锦鸡儿 Caragana microphylla	围封 Fenced	0.95	40	22.42
小叶锦鸡儿 Caragana microphylla	放牧 Grazed	1.15	35	15.76
乳白花黄芪 Astragalus galactites	放牧 Grazed	1.10	55	3.93

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Effects of grazing on the δ ¹⁵N values of foliage and soil in a typical steppe ecosystem in Inner Mongolia, China

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