C, N and P stoichiometry in different organs of Vitex rotundifolia in a Poyang Lake desertification hill

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2016.0231

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims The objectives were to clarify the responses of C, N and P stoichiometry of Vitex rotundifolia to desertification, and determine the C, N and P stoichiometric relationships among the organs.
Methods In this study, different organs (e.g. flowers, leaves, twigs, creeping stems, fine roots) of V. rotundifolia were sampled along a desertification gradient in a typical Poyang Lak sandy hill. Subsequently, C, N and P contents of various organs were measured.
Important findings The results showed nutrient contents in different organs ranged from 386.28 to 449.47 mg·g^-1for carbon, 11.40 to 25.37 mg·g^-1 for nitrogen and 0.89 to 1.54 mg·g^-1 for phosphorus, respectively. C, N and P contents differed significantly among the five organs. The maximum N and P content were found in flowers, whereas the minimums were observed in twigs and creping stems. Moreover, desertification intensity only significantly affected C, N and C:P. C:N and N:P ratios maintained relatively stable. Except N:P, the other nutrient elements and associated stoichiometry significantly differed among the organs. Hence, organs, rather than desertification intensity mainly controlled the C, N and P content and their stoichiometry variability. Although there was a positive correlation between mass-based N content (N_mass) and P content (P_mass) across the three desertification zones, the N_mass-P_mass relationship in V. rotundifolia did not shift. Irrespective desertification intensity and organs, N:P stoichiometry of V. rotundifolia was well constrained. In addition, significant correlations of C, N and P contents among organs were mainly found in the above-ground parts, especially between twigs and creeping stems.

Key words: Poyang Lake, desertification hill, plant organ, nutrient, stoichiometry

Hong-Yan ZHOU, Qin WU, Ming-Yue CHEN, Wei KUANG, Ling-Ling CHANG, Qi-Wu HU. C, N and P stoichiometry in different organs of Vitex rotundifolia in a Poyang Lake desertification hill[J]. Chin J Plan Ecolo, 2017, 41(4): 461-470.

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Figures/Tables 8

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采样区 Sampling site	土壤有机碳 SOC ( mg·g^-1)	土壤全氮 TN ( mg·g^-1)	土壤全磷 TP ( mg·g^-1)	植被类型 Vegetation type	盖度 Coverage	物种组成 Species composition
重度沙化区 HD zone	3.57 ± 1.14^a	0.14 ± 0.05^a	0.10 ± 0.07^a	灌木+草本 Shrub and herb	0.08 ± 0.02^a	单叶蔓荆 Vitex rotundifolia 狗牙根 Cynodon dactylon 马唐 Digitaria sanguinalis
中度沙化区 MD zone	5.74 ± 0.86^b	0.32 ± 0.06^b	0.11 ± 0.01^a	灌木+小乔木 Shrub and small trees	0.34 ± 0.11^b	单叶蔓荆 Vitex rotundifolia 算盘子 Glochidion puberum 糯米条 Abelia chinensis 湿地松 Pinus elliottii
轻度沙化区 LD zone	8.66 ± 2.23^c	0.61 ± 0.26^c	0.22 ± 0.04^b	灌木+小乔木 Shrub and small trees	0.57 ± 0.13^c	单叶蔓荆 Vitex rotundifolia 算盘子 Glochidion puberum 牡荆 Vitex negundo 山矾 Symplocos sumuntia 檵木 Loropetalum chinense 短柄枹 Quercus glandulifera 刺槐 Robinia pseudoacacia 湿地松 Pinus elliottii

采样区 Sampling site	土壤有机碳 SOC ( mg·g^-1)	土壤全氮 TN ( mg·g^-1)	土壤全磷 TP ( mg·g^-1)	植被类型 Vegetation type	盖度 Coverage	物种组成 Species composition
重度沙化区 HD zone	3.57 ± 1.14^a	0.14 ± 0.05^a	0.10 ± 0.07^a	灌木+草本 Shrub and herb	0.08 ± 0.02^a	单叶蔓荆 Vitex rotundifolia 狗牙根 Cynodon dactylon 马唐 Digitaria sanguinalis
中度沙化区 MD zone	5.74 ± 0.86^b	0.32 ± 0.06^b	0.11 ± 0.01^a	灌木+小乔木 Shrub and small trees	0.34 ± 0.11^b	单叶蔓荆 Vitex rotundifolia 算盘子 Glochidion puberum 糯米条 Abelia chinensis 湿地松 Pinus elliottii
轻度沙化区 LD zone	8.66 ± 2.23^c	0.61 ± 0.26^c	0.22 ± 0.04^b	灌木+小乔木 Shrub and small trees	0.57 ± 0.13^c	单叶蔓荆 Vitex rotundifolia 算盘子 Glochidion puberum 牡荆 Vitex negundo 山矾 Symplocos sumuntia 檵木 Loropetalum chinense 短柄枹 Quercus glandulifera 刺槐 Robinia pseudoacacia 湿地松 Pinus elliottii

		花 Flower	叶 Leaf	枝条 Twig	匍匐茎 Creeping stem
C	叶 Leaf	0.480^**
	枝条 Twig	-0.475^**	-0.652^**
	匍匐茎 Creeping stem	0.115	0.177	-0.391^*
N	枝条 Twig	0.672^**	0.058
N	匍匐茎 Creeping stem	-0.543^**	0.022	-0.681^**
P	匍匐茎 Creeping stem	-0.049	0.174	0.518^**
P	细根 Fine root	-0.001	-0.074	-0.438^*	-0.214
C:N	枝条 Twig	0.472^**	0.131
C:N	匍匐茎 Creeping stem	-0.437^*	-0.221	-0.411^*
C:P	匍匐茎 Creeping stem	-0.051	0.373^*	0.369^*
C:P	细根 Fine root	-0.035	-0.203	-0.400^*	-0.248

		花 Flower	叶 Leaf	枝条 Twig	匍匐茎 Creeping stem
C	叶 Leaf	0.480^**
	枝条 Twig	-0.475^**	-0.652^**
	匍匐茎 Creeping stem	0.115	0.177	-0.391^*
N	枝条 Twig	0.672^**	0.058
N	匍匐茎 Creeping stem	-0.543^**	0.022	-0.681^**
P	匍匐茎 Creeping stem	-0.049	0.174	0.518^**
P	细根 Fine root	-0.001	-0.074	-0.438^*	-0.214
C:N	枝条 Twig	0.472^**	0.131
C:N	匍匐茎 Creeping stem	-0.437^*	-0.221	-0.411^*
C:P	匍匐茎 Creeping stem	-0.051	0.373^*	0.369^*
C:P	细根 Fine root	-0.035	-0.203	-0.400^*	-0.248

N_mass-P_mass (n = 160)	重度沙化区 HD zone	中度沙化区 MD zone	轻度沙化区 LD zone	F	p
斜率 Slope	5.2	8.3	10.1	1.13	0.33
截距 Intercept	9.3	7.5	5.8	2.66	0.073