Patterns of soil and plant nitrogen isotope composition and their relationships with climate factors in Xilingol League, Inner Mongolia, China. (2nd November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, Yongchun; Li, Haibo; Cheng, Xilei; Xu, Xinyang; Zhang, Hongli; Zhang, Wenbo; Liu, Lin; Li, Yinghua; Song, Chengwu
• Is Part Of: Plant ecology & diversity. Volume 10:Number 5/6(2017)
• Page Start: 521
• Page End: 528
• Publication Date: 2017-11-02
• Subjects: mean annual precipitation -- mean annual temperature -- plant δ15N -- soil δ15N -- temperate grasslands; Plant ecology -- Periodicals; Plant diversity -- Periodicals; Plant ecology -- Scotland -- Periodicals; Plant diversity -- Scotland -- Periodicals; 581.705
• DOI: 10.1080/17550874.2017.1408152
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-0874

Abstract

Abstract : Background : Plant and soil nitrogen stable isotope (δ 15 N) can integrate several fundamental biogeochemical processes in ecosystem nitrogen dynamics, and reflect characteristics of ecosystem nitrogen cycling. Aims : We investigated how climate change influenced plant-soil nitrogen cycling by relating soil δ 15 N, plant δ 15 N and Δδ 15 N (difference between soil and plant δ 15 N) with climatic factors. Methods : Field investigation was conducted in temperate grasslands in Inner Mongolia during August 2015. Plant δ 15 N, soil δ 15 N and Δδ 15 N were determined, and their relationships with climatic factors were examined by simple regression analyses and general linear models. Results : Soil δ 15 N was significantly higher than plant δ 15 N, and there was a positive linear correlation between them. Soil and plant δ 15 N were negatively related with mean annual precipitation (MAP) and positively with mean annual temperature (MAT); conversely, Δδ 15 N was positively related with MAP and negatively with MAT. Conclusion : Soil δ 15 N was dominantly controlled by MAT, while it was MAP for plant δ 15 N. Climate factors influenced plant δ 15 N not only through their effects on soil nitrogen dynamics but also strategies of plant nitrogen acquisition. Thus, compared with plant δ 15 N, soil δ 15 N can more accurately reflect soil nitrogen dynamics, while plant δ 15 N may integrate soil nitrogen dynamics and plant nitrogen acquisition.