EFFECTS OF ELEVATED CO2 AND N DEPOSITION ON PLANT BIOMASS ACCUMULATION AND ALLOCATION IN SUBTROPICAL FOREST ECOSYSTEMS: A MESOCOSM STUDY

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2009.03.016

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Interactive effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration [CO2] and nitrogen (N) deposition on terrestrial ecosystems play an important role in global carbon cycling. Ecosystems in subtropical and tropical areas occupy a large percent of the global biomass, but few studies have been done in these areas. Therefore, our objective was to conduct an experiment to improve our understand-ing of atmospheric [CO2] enrichment and N deposition effects on biomass accumulation and allocation in subtropical and tropical forests.

Methods A model forest ecosystem was constructed of five tree species native to South China: Schima superba, Castanopsis hystrix, Ormosia pinnata, Acmena acuminatissima and Syzygium hancei. The species were exposed to a factorial combination of elevated CO2 and high N deposition in open-top chambers beginning March 2005. There are four experimental treatments, including CN (elevated [CO2] of (700±20) μmol·mol-1 and high N of 100 kg N·hm-2·a-1), C+ (elevated [CO2] of (700±20) μmol·mol-1 and ambient N), N+ (ambient [CO2] and high N of 100 kg N·hm-2·a-1) and CK (ambient [CO2] and am-bient N). Each treatment was replicated two to three times.

Important findings The first 3 years of study indicated that responses of biomass accumulation to different treatments varied among species. Total biomass of S. superba, A. acuminatissima and S. hanceiexhibited significant positive responses to N+ treatment, while biomass of A. acuminatissima and O. pinnata were significantly enhanced under C+ treatment. Biomass accumulation of all species except C. hystrix differed significantly between CN and CK treatments. Furthermore, responses of biomass allocation to treatments differed among species. N+ treatment stimulated aboveground biomass accumulation, with decreasing root:shoot ratio. C+ treatment significantly increased biomass allocation to below-ground biomass in C. hystrix and S. hancei, but enhanced biomass allocation to aboveground biomass in S. superba and O. pinnata. However, CN treatment only resulted in significant belowground biomass accumulation in S. hancei. Responses of the whole community to treatments depended on changes of biomass accumulation and allocation among dominant species and how they performed in the community.

Key words: C-N interaction, elevated CO₂, N deposition, plant biomass, biomass allocation

DUAN Hong-Lang, LIU Ju-Xiu, DENG Qi, CHEN Xiao-Mei, ZHANG De-Qiang. EFFECTS OF ELEVATED CO₂ AND N DEPOSITION ON PLANT BIOMASS ACCUMULATION AND ALLOCATION IN SUBTROPICAL FOREST ECOSYSTEMS: A MESOCOSM STUDY[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2009, 33(3): 570-579.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2009.03.016

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Figures/Tables 5

Fig.1 Biomass accumulation under different treatments

Table 1 ANOVA Two-Way analysis results

Fig.2 Root:shoot ratio under different treatments Note see Fig.1

Fig.3 Community total biomass accumulation under dif-ferent treatments Note see Fig.1

Fig.4 Community belowground:aboveground ratio under different treatments Note see Fig.1

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EFFECTS OF ELEVATED CO₂ AND N DEPOSITION ON PLANT BIOMASS ACCUMULATION AND ALLOCATION IN SUBTROPICAL FOREST ECOSYSTEMS: A MESOCOSM STUDY

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