Role of plant species and soil phosphorus concentrations in determining phosphorus: nutrient stoichiometry in leaves and fine roots

Aims Terrestrial plants require relative stable stoichiometry of elements for their growth. The effects of plant species and soil phosphorus (P) concentration on P:nutrient stoichiometry in plant remains still unknown. Methods Soil and plant samples were collected from 88 sites in a P-rich area of a subtropical portion of China to examine the linkage of soil P concentration with the concentrations and stoichiometry of 12 nutrient elements (C, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Zn, Mn and Na) for different plant species. Results Soil rich in P increased the concentrations of S, P, K, Ca, Fe, Mg, Mn, Al, and Na in the plants, but induced a strong antagonism to Zn. Meanwhile, the concentrations of C and N in the leaf was restrained when the plants grew in soil under high P concentration. Clustering analysis showed that plant species were categorized according to soil P concentration into P > 2 mg g(-1) and P < 2 mg g(-1) groups. However, insignificant dissimilarity among plant species was noticed. Conclusions The stoichiometry of P:nutrient in the plant organs was strongly affected by soil P concentrations and this could reflect soil nutrient status over plant species. Therefore, the difference in soil P concentration is a major driver triggering the variation in elemental stoichiometry.