Short-term responses of flowering phenology and community structure to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

doi:10.11686/cyxb2014369

Abstract

Abstract: Fertilizers (N, P & K) were applied to a Kobresia humilis meadow at the Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station to determine the effects of fertilizer on plant flowering phenology and community structure. Fertilizer application increased the effective accumulated soil temperature at 5 and 10 cm depth: nitrogen>phosphorus>potassium>control treatment. The first floweing day and end flowering day was delayed in a number of plant species including Elymus nutans, Agrostis hugoniana, Poa crymophila, Kobresia humilis, Carex atrofusca, Scirpus distigmaticus and Saussurea superb (P<0.05), whereas in Potentilla anserine and Gentiana straminea flowering was advanced (P<0.05). Flowering duration in Gramineae was lower than in Cyperaceae and Forbs following fertilizer application. The application of nitrogen and phosphorus promoted the formation of a heterogeneous community. Heterogeneity, assessed using nonmetric multidimensional scaling, was lowest in control fertilizer treatments followed by potassium, phosphorus, and finally nitrogen application.It was concluded that E. nutans, K. humilis, G. straminea and S. superb were sensitive to the application of nitrogen and phosphorus in K. humilis meadow.

YANG Yue-Juan1, 2**, ZHANG Hao3**, ZHOU Hua-Kun1*, YE Xin2, 4, YAO Bu-Qing1, ZHANG Chun-Hui, MA Zhen, ZHAO Xin-Quan. Short-term responses of flowering phenology and community structure to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2015, 24(8): 35-43.

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