C, N and P stoichiometry of two dominant seedlings and their responses to nitrogen additions in the montane moist evergreen broad-leaved forest in Ailao Mountains, Yunnan

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2015.0093

Abstract

Abstract: Aims

Montane moist evergreen broad-leaved forest is an important vegetation type in the high altitude areas of western China. In this study, total carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) contents and stoichiometry in roots, stems, and leaves of two dominant seedlings, Symplocos ramosissima and Machilus gamblei, and their responses to different levels of N addition were investigated in the montane moist evergreen broad-leaved forest in Ailao Mountains, Yunnan.

Methods

A simulation experiment with four N addition levels T₀ (0 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1), T₁ (3 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1), T₂ (6 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1) and T₃ (12 kg N·hm^-2·a^-1) was carried out in the montane moist evergreen broad-leaved forest in Ailao Mountains. Total C, N and P concentrations in different organs of the two dominant seedlings and soil inorganic N concentration in each treatment were measured after one year’s in situ experiment.

Important findings

The C, N and P concentrations of the two seedlings were significantly different (p < 0.05). Machilus gamblei had lower C concentration, but higher N and P concentrations compared with S. ramosissima. N addition had significant effects (p < 0.01) on C, N and P concentrations and their stoichiometry. Significant interactions were detected among N treatments, species and plant organs. N addition increased N concentrations in all organs of the two seedlings, leading to higher ratio of N:P. P concentration of S. ramosissima decreased significantly (p < 0.05) under N addition, while that of M. gamblei increased under medium (T₂) and high (T₃) N addition treatments. Within a certain range, there was a significant correlation between the N concentrations of seedlings and soil inorganic N concentrations (p < 0.01). Comparisons of homeostasis index among different organs indicated that the N stoichiometry in roots and stems was more stable than that in leaves under N addition.

Key words: ecological stoichiometry, nitrogen deposition, primary forest, homeostasis, seedlings

SHI Xian-Meng,QI Jin-Hua,SONG Liang,LIU Wen-Yao,HUANG Jun-Biao,LI Su,LU Hua-Zheng,CHEN Xi. C, N and P stoichiometry of two dominant seedlings and their responses to nitrogen additions in the montane moist evergreen broad-leaved forest in Ailao Mountains, Yunnan[J]. Chin J Plan Ecolo, 2015, 39(10): 962-970.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2015.0093

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2015/V39/I10/962

Figures/Tables 7

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物种 Species	器官 Organ	C (mg·g^-1)	N (mg·g^-1)	P (mg·g^-1)	C:N	N:P	C:P
黄心树	根 Root	469.00 ± 1.78^Aa	6.86 ± 0.30^Aa	0.55 ± 0.02^Aa	12.59 ± 0.36^Aa	68.81 ± 3.01^Aa	864.61 ± 32.76^Aa
Machilus gamblei	茎 Stem	469.50 ± 0.29^Aa	7.26 ± 0.24^Aa	0.58 ± 0.02^Aa	12.57 ± 0.22^Aa	64.90 ± 2.14^Ab	815.18 ± 24.79^Aa
	叶 Leaf	494.50 ± 0.96^Ba	14.70 ± 0.13^Ba	0.90 ± 0.01^Ba	16.30 ± 0.11^Ba	33.64 ± 0.33^Bb	548.29 ± 8.47^Ba
多花山矾	根 Root	418.00 ± 0.91^Ab	6.53 ± 0.48^Aa	0.91 ± 0.11^Ab	7.72 ± 1.60^Ab	65.03 ± 4.46^Aa	483.21 ± 63.89^Ab
Symplocos ramosissima	茎 Stem	411.75 ± 4.01^Ab	8.45 ± 0.41^Bb	0.95 ± 0.09^Ab	9.30 ± 1.40^Aa	49.06 ± 2.33^Bb	450.87 ± 56.89^Ab
	叶 Leaf	402.50 ± 1.26^Bb	18.93 ± 0.18^Cb	1.14 ± 0.03^Ab	16.61 ± 0.53^Ba	21.27 ± 0.16^Cb	353.23 ± 10.46^Ab

物种 Species	器官 Organ	C (mg·g^-1)	N (mg·g^-1)	P (mg·g^-1)	C:N	N:P	C:P
黄心树	根 Root	469.00 ± 1.78^Aa	6.86 ± 0.30^Aa	0.55 ± 0.02^Aa	12.59 ± 0.36^Aa	68.81 ± 3.01^Aa	864.61 ± 32.76^Aa
Machilus gamblei	茎 Stem	469.50 ± 0.29^Aa	7.26 ± 0.24^Aa	0.58 ± 0.02^Aa	12.57 ± 0.22^Aa	64.90 ± 2.14^Ab	815.18 ± 24.79^Aa
	叶 Leaf	494.50 ± 0.96^Ba	14.70 ± 0.13^Ba	0.90 ± 0.01^Ba	16.30 ± 0.11^Ba	33.64 ± 0.33^Bb	548.29 ± 8.47^Ba
多花山矾	根 Root	418.00 ± 0.91^Ab	6.53 ± 0.48^Aa	0.91 ± 0.11^Ab	7.72 ± 1.60^Ab	65.03 ± 4.46^Aa	483.21 ± 63.89^Ab
Symplocos ramosissima	茎 Stem	411.75 ± 4.01^Ab	8.45 ± 0.41^Bb	0.95 ± 0.09^Ab	9.30 ± 1.40^Aa	49.06 ± 2.33^Bb	450.87 ± 56.89^Ab
	叶 Leaf	402.50 ± 1.26^Bb	18.93 ± 0.18^Cb	1.14 ± 0.03^Ab	16.61 ± 0.53^Ba	21.27 ± 0.16^Cb	353.23 ± 10.46^Ab

变量 Variables	N处理 N treatments (T)	物种 Species (S)	器官 Organs (O)	T × S	T × O	S × O	T × S × O
C	14.780^***	3 557.641^***	13.556^***	17.935^***	1.358	168.786^***	1.602
N	26.605^***	99.505^***	2 263.338^***	1.382	3.723^**	115.645^***	4.176^**
P	27.124^***	12.711^**	286.908^***	41.785^***	2.683^*	2.667	3.192^**
C:N	7.628^***	52.952^***	549.602^***	5.664^**	0.945	13.603^***	1.396
N:P	46.896^***	17.641^***	160.241^***	21.991^***	1.719	12.343^***	0.879
C:P	19.440^***	30.180^***	230.617^***	38.165^***	4.137^**	3.636^*	5.831^***

变量 Variables	N处理 N treatments (T)	物种 Species (S)	器官 Organs (O)	T × S	T × O	S × O	T × S × O
C	14.780^***	3 557.641^***	13.556^***	17.935^***	1.358	168.786^***	1.602
N	26.605^***	99.505^***	2 263.338^***	1.382	3.723^**	115.645^***	4.176^**
P	27.124^***	12.711^**	286.908^***	41.785^***	2.683^*	2.667	3.192^**
C:N	7.628^***	52.952^***	549.602^***	5.664^**	0.945	13.603^***	1.396
N:P	46.896^***	17.641^***	160.241^***	21.991^***	1.719	12.343^***	0.879
C:P	19.440^***	30.180^***	230.617^***	38.165^***	4.137^**	3.636^*	5.831^***

土壤无机N Soil inorganic N	对照组 Control (T₀)	低N处理组 Low N treatment (T₁)	中N处理组 Medium N treatment (T₂)	高N处理组 High N treatment (T₃)
NH₄⁺-N (mg·kg^-1)	43.22 ± 6.77	60.62 ± 3.97	64.90 ± 4.82	67.91 ± 2.19
NO₃^–-N (mg·kg^-1)	4.11 ± 1.19	4.54 ± 2.04	2.96 ± 1.14	4.71 ± 1.28