Long-term nitrogen addition alters peatland plant community structure and nutrient resorption efficiency

As an elemental carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pool in the world, peatlands are very sensitive to environmental changes. Under global warming, the increase in available N affects the dynamic changes of plant community structure and nutrients in a permafrost peatland. This study was based on a long-term in situ N addition experiment that had been conducted for 9 years. It utilized the peatland in the permafrost area of Great Hing'an Mountain as the research object to analyze the effects of N addition on the growth characteristics, community structure, and nutrient dynamics of peatland plants. The N inputs were N1: 6 g Nm(-2).year(-1), N2: 12 g Nm(-2).year(-1) and N3: 24 g Nm(-2).year(-1), respectively. Our results showed that the addingN can affect the plant community structure of peatland by affecting the plant growth characteristics. The diversity and richness of plant species in the peatland decreased as the concentration of added N increased. The long-termN addition can reduce the N limitation of plants to some extent. Still, it could further aggravate their phosphorus (P) limitation, resulting in the joint limitation of N and P or the complete limitation by P. The N resorption efficiency decreased with the increase of N addition level. The P resorption efficiency of different plants had varied responses to the changes in the N nutrient environment. Our study clarified the impact of longterm N addition on the plant community structure and nutrient dynamics of peatland in a permafrost area and provided an important theoretical basis to accurately evaluate the carbon and nitrogen balance of peatland in a permafrost area owing to future climate change.

Automated summary

Peatlands, as a carbon and nitrogen pool in the world, are highly sensitive to environmental changes. This study examined the effects of nitrogen addition on the growth characteristics, community structure, and nutrient dynamics of peatland plants in a permafrost area. The results showed that nitrogen addition could affect the plant community structure by influencing plant growth characteristics. Furthermore, long-term nitrogen addition could alleviate nitrogen limitation to some extent but exacerbate phosphorus limitation.