Original article

Effects of N addition on nutrient resorption efficiency and C:N:P stoichiometric characteristics in Stipa bungeana of steppe grasslands in the Loess Plateau, China

Expand
  • Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem Ministry of Agriculture, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Received date: 2011-03-24

  Accepted date: 2011-06-03

  Online published: 2011-07-28

Abstract

Aims Our purpose was to study the effects of deposition of nitrogen (N) on plant carbon (C), N, phosphorus (P), N and P nutrient resorption efficiencies, C : N : P stoichiometry and their internal relations on Stipa bungeanaof Loess Plateau natural grassland.

Methods Deposition of N was simulated by N fertilization at four levels. Changes of C, N and P contents were detected, and C : N : P and the N and P nutrient resorption efficiencies were estimated for S. bungeana.

Important findings The C and N contents of leaves and N and P contents of standing litter increased significantly with N addition. However, the P content of leaves and C content of standing litter did not response to N addition. The N and P resorption efficiencies of S.bungeana decreased significantly with N addition. When there was no N addition, N and P resorption efficiencies were highest (60.35% and 71.75%, respectively). Meanwhile, the P resorption efficiency was greater than that of N in same treatment. The C : N ofS. bungeana decreased gradually with N addition, but the N : P and C : P increased with N addition. Values of the N : P were 18.25-29.01. The results showed the Loess Plateau natural grassland was mainly limited by P, and the strength of P limitation was enhanced with N deposition. Higher N and P resorption efficiencies were an important strategy for S. bungeana to survive soil infertility.

Cite this article

AN Zhuo, NIU De-Cao, WEN Hai-Yan, YANG Yi, ZHANG Hong-Rong, FU Hua . Effects of N addition on nutrient resorption efficiency and C:N:P stoichiometric characteristics in Stipa bungeana of steppe grasslands in the Loess Plateau, China[J]. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2011 , 35(8) : 801 -807 . DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1258.2011.00801

References

[1] Aerts R (1996). Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves of perennials: Are there general patterns? Journal of Ecology, 84,597-608.
[2] Cai Y (蔡艳), Zhang Y (张毅), Liu H (刘辉), Zhang XZ (张锡洲) (2009). Study on C, N, P content in leaf of evergreen and deciduous trees in evergreen broad-leaved forest at E’mei Mountain. Journal of Zhejiang Forestry Science and Technology (浙江林业科技), 29(3),9-13. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[3] Chen FS (陈伏生), Hu XF (胡小飞), Ge G (葛刚) (2007). Leaf N : P stoichiometry and nutrient resorption efficiency of Ophiopogon japonicus in Nanchang City . Acta Prataculturae Sinica (草业学报), 16(4),47-54. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[4] Dong M (董鸣) (1997). Terrestrial Biomes Observation and Analysis of Survey (陆地生物群落调查观测与分析). Standards Press of China, Beijing.152-153. (in Chinese)
[5] Freschet GT, Cornelissen JHC, van Logtestijn RSP, Aerts R (2010). Substantial nutrient resorption from leaves, stems and roots in a subarctic flora: What is the link with other resource economics traits? New Phytologist, 186,879-889.
[6] Geng Q (庚强) (2005). The Study on the Homeostasis and Growth Rate of a Higher Plant and Their Mechanism (高等植物内稳性和生长率机理的研究). PhD dissertation, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou.2-10. (in Chinese)
[7] Hall SR, Smith VH, Lytle DA, Leibold MA (2005). Constraints on primary producer N : P stoichiometry along N : P supply ratio gradients. Ecology, 86,1894-1904.
[8] Han WX (韩文轩), Wu Y (吴漪), Tang LY (汤璐瑛), Chen YH (陈雅涵), Li LP (李利平), He JS (贺金生), Fang JY (方精云) (2009). Leaf carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry across plant species in Beijing and its periphery. Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis (北京大学学报(自然科学版)), 45,855-860. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[9] Holland EA, Dentene FJR, Braswell BH (1999). Contemporary and pre-industrial global reactive nitrogen budgets. Biogeochemistry, 46,7-43.
[10] Huang GQ (黄国勤), Wang XX (王兴祥), Qian HY (钱海燕), Zhang TL (张桃林), Zhao QG (赵其国) (2004). Negative impact of inorganic fertilizes application on agricultural environment and its countermeasures. Ecology and Environment (生态环境), 13,656-660. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[11] Huang JY (黄菊莹), Yu HL (余海龙), Zhang SX (张硕新), Li LH (李凌浩) (2010). Study on nutrient resorption trait of perennial species and its parameters. Journal of Northwest Forestry University (西北林学院学报), 25,62-66. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[12] Huang JY (黄菊莹), Yuan ZY (袁志友), Li LH (李凌浩) (2009). Changes in [N], [P] and specific leaf area of green leaves of Leymus chinensis along nitrogen, phosphorus and water gradients. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology (植物生态学报), 33,442-448. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[13] Huang JY, Zhu XG, Yuan ZY, Song SH, Li X, Li LH (2008). Changes in nitrogen resorption traits of six temperate grassland species along a multi-level N addition gradient. Plant and Soil, 306,149-158.
[14] Killingbeck KT (1996). Nutrients in senesced leaves: keys to the search for potential resorption and resorption proficiency. Ecology, 77,1716-1727.
[15] Koerselman W, Meuleman AFM (1996). The vegetation N : P ratio: a new tool to detect the nature of nutrient limitation. Journal of Applied Ecology, 33,1441-1450.
[16] Kozovits AR, Bustamante MMC, Garofalo CR, Bucci S, Franco AC, Goldstein G, Meinzer FC (2007). Nutrient resorption and patterns of litter production and decomposition in a Neotropical Savanna. Functional Ecology, 21,1034-1043.
[17] Li LJ (李禄军), Zeng DH (曾德慧), Yu ZY (于占源), Ai GY (艾桂艳), Yang D (杨丹), Mao R (毛瑢) (2009). Effects of nitrogen addition on grassland species diversity and productivity in Keerqin Sandy Land. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 20,1838-1844. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[18] Li RH (李荣华), Wang SL (汪思龙), Wang QK (王清奎) (2008). Nutrient contents and resorption characteristics in needles of different age Pinus massoniana (Lamb.) before and after withering . Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 19,1443-1447.. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[19] Li XD, Fu H, Li XD, Guo D, Dong XY, Wan CG (2008). Effects of land-use regimes on carbon sequestration in the Loess Plateau, northern China. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 51,45-52.
[20] Li XF, Zheng XB, Han SJ, Zheng JQ, Li TH (2010). Effects of nitrogen additions on nitrogen resorption and use efficiencies and foliar litterfall of six tree species in a mixed birch and poplar forest, northeastern China. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 40,2256-2261.
[21] Lü XT, Cui Q, Wang QB, Han XG (2011). Nutrient resorption response to fire and nitrogen addition in a semi-arid grassland. Ecological Engineering, 37,534-538.
[22] Lü XT, Han XG (2010). Nutrient resorption responses to water and nitrogen amendment in semi-arid grassland of Inner Mongolia, China. Plant and Soil, 327,481-491.
[23] Qi ZM (齐泽民), Wang KY (王开运) (2007). Effects of Fargesia denudata density on its litterfall production, nutrient return, and nutrient use efficiency . Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 18,2025-2029. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[24] Sch?ppi B, K?rner CH (1997). In situ effects of elevated CO 2 on the carbon and nitrogen status of alpine plants . Functional Ecology, 11,290-299.
[25] Smeets N (1980). Mineralstoffverh?iltnisse in einem Krummseggenrasen (Caricetum curvulae) im Glocknergebiet . Flora, 170,51-67.
[26] Sterner RW, Elser JJ (2002). Ecological Stoichiometry: the Biology of Elements from Molecules to the Biosphere. Princeton University Press, Princeton.
[27] van Heerwaarden LM, Toet S, Aerts R (2003). Nitrogen and phosphorus resorption efficiency and proficiency in six sub-arctic bog species after 4 years of nitrogen fertilization. Journal of Ecology, 91,1060-1070.
[28] Wang SQ (王绍强), Yu GR (于贵瑞) (2008). Ecological stoichiometry characteristics of ecosystem carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus elements. Acta Ecologica Sinica (生态学报), 28,3937-3947. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[29] Weng ES (翁恩生), Zhou GS (周广胜) (2005). Defining plant functional types in China for global change studies. Acta Phytoecologica Sinica (植物生态学报), 29,81-97. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[30] Xing XR (邢雪荣), Han XG (韩兴国), Chen LZ (陈灵芝) (2000). A review on research of plant nutrient use efficiency. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 11,785-790. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[31] Yan ER (阎恩荣), Wang XH (王希华), Guo M (郭明), Zhong Q (仲强), Zhou W (周武) (2010). C : N : P stoichiometry across evergreen broad-leaved forests, evergreen coniferous forests and deciduous broad-leaved forests in the Tiantong region, Zhejiang Province, eastern China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology (植物生态学报), 34,48-57. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[32] Yin XR (银晓瑞), Liang CZ (梁存柱), Wang LX (王立新), Wang W (王炜), Liu ZL (刘钟龄), Liu XP (刘小平) (2010). Ecological stoichiometry of plant nutrients at different restoration succession stages in typical steppe of Inner Mongolia, China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology (植物生态学报), 34,39-47. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[33] Yuan ZY, Li LH, Han XG, Huang JH, Jiang GM, Wan SQ (2005a). Soil characteristics and nitrogen resorption in Stipa krylovii native to northern China . Plant and Soil, 273,257-268.
[34] Yuan ZY, Li LH, Han XG, Huang JH, Wan SQ (2005b). Foliar nitrogen dynamics and nitrogen resorption of a sandy shrub Salix gordejevii in northern China . Plant and Soil, 278,183-193.
[35] Zeng DH (曾德慧), Chen GS (陈广生) (2005). Ecological stoichiometry: a science to explore the complexity of living systems. Acta Phytoecologica Sinica (植物生态学报), 29,1007-1019. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[36] Zhang LX, Bai YF, Han XG (2004). Differential responses of N : P stoichiometry of Leymus chinensis and Carex korshinskyi to N additions in a steppe ecosystem in Nei Mongol . Acta Botanica Sinica, 46,259-270.
[37] Zhao Q (赵琼), Liu XY (刘兴宇), Hu YL (胡亚林), Zeng DH (曾德慧) (2010). Effects of nitrogen addition on nutrient allocation and nutrient resorption efficiency in Larix gmelinii. Scientia Silvae Sinicae (林业科学), 46(5),14-19. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[38] Zhao Q (赵琼), Zeng DH (曾德慧) (2009). Diagnosis methods of N and P limitation to tree growth: a review. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology (应用生态学报), 28,122-128. (in Chinese with English abstract)
Outlines

/