Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2011, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (8): 808-815.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.00808

• Original article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of nitrogen, phosphorus and water supply on litter decomposition quality of senescing leaves of Leymus chinensis

HUANG Ju-Ying1,2, YU Hai-Long3, YUAN Zhi-You2, LI Ling-Hao2,*()   

  1. 1Development Center of New Technique Application and Research, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
    2State Key Laboratory of Vegetation and Environmental Change, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
    3School of Recources and Environment, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China
  • Received:2010-12-28 Accepted:2011-05-27 Online:2011-12-28 Published:2011-07-28
  • Contact: LI Ling-Hao

Abstract:

Aims Changes in atmospheric nitrogen (N) and precipitation are two important aspects of global climate change. They have altered biogeochemical cycling in ecosystems and are expected to affect plant nutrient use strategy and litter decomposition.

Methods We used three pot experiments, i.e., N addition (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, 16.0, 32.0, 64.0 and 128.0 g N∙m-2), phosphorus (P) addition (same levels) and water addition (3 600, 3 900, 4 500, 5 100, 6 000, 7 200, 9 000, 12 000, 18 000 and 36 000 mL∙pot-1), to study N and P concentrations and C : N and C : P in senescing leaves of Leymus chinensis.

Important findingsN addition increased N concentration and decreased C : N, but did not significantly affect P concentration and C : P. P addition increased N and P concentrations and decreased C : N and C : P. Water addition decreased N and P concentrations and increased C : N and C : P. Therefore, changes in N, P and water availabilities affect litter decomposition quality and have effects on nutrient cycling in the plant-soil ecosystem.

Key words: Leymus chinensis, litter decomposition quality, nitrogen supply, phosphorus supply, water supply