Effects of long-term nitrogen addition on photosynthetic characteristics and leaf traits of Stipa baicalensis in Inner Mongolia, China

doi:10.11686/cyxb2016110

Abstract

Abstract: Atmospheric nitrogen deposition is an important component phenomenon of global change, and induces a series of ecological problems. We conducted a field manipulation experiment to study the photosynthetic response and change in leaf functional traits after long-term nitrogen addition in an S.baicalensis grassland in Inner Mongolia. This study was conducted from 2010-2015. Five treatments including N₀ (0 kg N/ha), N₃₀ (30 kg N/ha), N₅₀ (50 kg N/ha), N₁₀₀ (100 kg N/ha) and N₁₅₀ (150 kg N/ha) were set up and forty-eight plots, sized 8 m×8 m, were established with 2 m strips between each plot. The objective was to determine how photosynthetic characteristics and leaf traits vary with nitrogen addition and what causes these differences. Photosynthetic traits and leaf traits differed among different nitrogen addition treatments. Net photosynthetic rate (P_n), stomatal conductance (G_s), transpiration rate (T_r), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), photosynthetic energy use efficiency (PEUE) under N₃₀, N₅₀, N₁₀₀, and N₁₅₀ treatments were lower or significantly lower than those under N₀. Specific leaf area (SLA), leaf N content (N_mass), leaf construction cost (CC_mass), leaf N∶P under N₃₀, N₅₀, N₁₀₀, N₁₅₀ treatments tended to be higher or were significantly higher than those under N₀. Correlation analysis showed that P_n was positively correlated with G_s, T_r, PNUE, PEUE, leaf P content (P_mass), N_mass and soil N, P while P_n was negatively correlated with SLA, N_mass, CC_mass, soil water content and soil pH; N_mass was positively correlated with SLA, CC_mass and soil N, P, and N_mass was negatively correlated with PNUE, PEUE, P_mass, soil water content and soil pH. In conclusion, long-term nitrogen addition induced decreases in P_n and nutrient use efficiency of S. baicalensis, and increases in leaf CC_mass and N∶P. Soil water content and pH decreased with nitrogen addition. This suggests that water content and soil pH are two important factors affecting photosynthetic characteristics and leaf traits of S.baicalensis under different nitrogen addition regimes.

LIU Hong-Mei, LI Jie, HUANGFU Chao-He, CHEN Xin-Wei, YANG Dian-Lin. Effects of long-term nitrogen addition on photosynthetic characteristics and leaf traits of Stipa baicalensis in Inner Mongolia, China[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2016, 25(11): 76-85.

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