Journal
PLANT AND SOIL
Volume 399, Issue 1-2, Pages 221-232Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s11104-015-2649-4
Keywords
Desert steppe; Nitrogen enrichment; Nutrient limitation; Nutrient resorption; Plant and soil C:N:P ratios
Categories
Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [31360111, 31000215, 31370455]
- 100 Talents Program of The Chinese Academy of Sciences [K318021405]
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The increasing deposition of atmospheric nitrogen (N) due to anthropogenic activities has significantly enhanced N inputs to ecosystems, resulting in an imbalance in the N: phosphorus (P) ratios in plants and soils. This study aimed to determine whether, and to what extent, P addition alleviates N-induced P limitation in a desert steppe ecosystem. We conducted a multi-level N:P supply experiment (i.e., constant N with varied P-addition levels) for a grass species, Pennisetum centrasiaticum, and a N-fixing species, Glycyrrhiza uralensis. With increasing amounts of P addition (thereby decreasing the N:P ratio), green-leaf P concentrations of the two species studied tended to increase, while P-resorption proficiency and efficiency tended to decrease. There were no consistent trends in green-leaf N concentrations in response to P addition. However, both species exhibited high N-resorption proficiency, especially in G. uralensis, with high P addition. Generally, the carbon (C):P and N:P ratios both in soils and in green leaves had positive relationships with green-leaf N concentration and P-resorption proficiency of P. centrasiaticum as well as P-resorption traits of G. uralensis, but negative relationships with green-leaf P concentrations in both species. Our study indicates that P addition can alter P-conservation strategy and thereby releasing plant species from the N-induced imbalance of N:P ratios. However, large amounts of P addition could overcompensate and pose a risk of N limitation in desert steppe ecosystems.
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