Nutrient limitation of alpine plants: Implications from leaf N : P stoichiometry and leaf δ15N. Issue 3 (19th February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Xingliang; Wanek, Wolfgang; Zhou, Caiping; Richter, Andreas; Song, Minghua; Cao, Guangmin; Ouyang, Hua; Kuzyakov, Yakov
• Is Part Of: Journal of plant nutrition and soil science. Volume 177:Issue 3(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 378
• Page End: 387
• Publication Date: 2014-02-19
• Subjects: Plants -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Soil science -- Periodicals; 630
• DOI: 10.1002/jpln.201200061
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1436-8730

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Nitrogen (N) deposition can affect grassland ecosystems by altering biomass production, plant species composition and abundance. Therefore, a better understanding of the response of dominant plant species to N input is a prerequisite for accurate prediction of future changes and interactions within plant communities. We evaluated the response of seven dominant plant species on the Tibetan Plateau to N input at two levels: individual species and plant functional group. This was achieved by assessing leaf N : P stoichiometry, leaf δ<sup>15</sup>N and biomass production for the plant functional groups. Seven dominant plant species—three legumes, two forbs, one grass, one sedge—were analyzed for N, P, and δ<sup>15</sup>N 2 years after fertilization with one of the three N forms: NO<tex-math notation="tex"><![CDATA[$ _3^- $]]></tex-math><inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pghgbbfpbq" mimetype="image" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" />, NH<tex-math notation="tex"><![CDATA[$ _4^+ $]]></tex-math><inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pghgbbfpdr" mimetype="image" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" />, or NH<sub>4</sub>NO<sub>3</sub> at four application rates (0, 7.5, 30, and 150 kg N ha<sup>–1</sup> y<sup>–1</sup>). On the basis of biomass production and leaf N : P ratios, we concluded that grasses were limited by available N or co‐limited by available P. Unlike for grasses, leaf N : P and biomass production were not suitable indicators of N limitation for legumes and forbs in alpine meadows. The poor performance of legumes under high N fertilization was mainly due to strong competition with grasses. The total above‐ground biomass was not increased by N fertilization. However, species composition shifted to more productive grasses. A significant negative correlation between leaf N : P and leaf δ<sup>15</sup>N indicated that the two forbs <italic>Gentiana straminea</italic> and <italic>Saussurea superba</italic> switched from N deficiency to P limitation (<italic>e.g.</italic>, N excess) due to N fertilization. These findings imply that alpine meadows will be more dominated by grasses under increased atmospheric N deposition.</p> </abstract>