Effects of nitrogen addition on the stoichiometric characteristics of plants and soil in the Stipa baicalensis grassland of Inner Mongolia, China

doi:10.11686/cyxb2017312

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of nitrogen addition on soil and plant carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and C∶N∶P ecological stoichiometric characteristics in the Stipa baicalensis grassland of Inner Mongolia, China. The plant study focused on six dominant species: S. baicalensis, Leymus chinensis, Achnatherum sibiricum, Filifolium sibiricum, Melissitus ruthenica and Serratula yamatsutanna. A randomized block design experiment was conducted, with six blocks of five treatments each: N₀ (0 kg N·ha^-1), N₃₀ (30 kg N·ha^-1), N₅₀ (50 kg N·ha^-1), N₁₀₀ (100 kg N·ha^-1) and N₁₅₀ (150 kg N·ha^-1). The results showed that there were significant differences in leaf C, N and P contents and in the stoichiometric characteristics of the six species under natural conditions. Pocockia ruthenica had the highest leaf C, N, and P contents and leaf N∶P, while S. baicalensis had the lowest leaf N and P contents and F. sibiricum had the lowest leaf C content. Leaf C contents did not respond to nitrogen addition in all the six plant species. Leaf N contents, leaf C∶P and leaf N∶P significantly increased but leaf P contents and leaf C∶N decreased with nitrogen addition in five of the species, other than M. ruthenica, which did not respond to nitrogen addition. Soil organic carbon and soil N∶P increased significantly, while soil total nitrogen and soil C∶N showed no significant responses to nitrogen addition. The individual leaf N contents of L. chinensis, A. sibiricum, F. sibiricum and S. yamatsutanna were positively correlated with soil organic carbon and soil N∶P. The leaf N∶P of S. baicalensis, L. chinensis, A. sibiricum and S. yamatsutanna were positively correlated with soil organic carbon and soil N∶P. In conclusion, soil organic carbon, soil N∶P and soil C∶P were the main factors that affected leaf C, N, P contents and the C∶N∶P ecological stoichiometric characteristics of the six plant species, but different species had different responses to nitrogen addition, meaning that long-term nitrogen addition may change the structure of the S. baicalensis grassland ecosystem.

Key words: Stipa baicalensis grassland, nitrogen addition, C,N,P, stoichiometry

LIU Hong-mei, LI Jie, WANG Li-li, ZHAO Jian-ning, WANG Hui, YANG Dian-lin. Effects of nitrogen addition on the stoichiometric characteristics of plants and soil in the Stipa baicalensis grassland of Inner Mongolia, China[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2018, 27(7): 25-35.

References

[1] Sterner R W, Elser J J.Ecological stoichiometry: The biology of elements from molecules to the biosphere. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2002.
[2] Hessen D O, Ågren G I, Anderson T R, et al.Carbon, sequestration in ecosystems: The role of stoichiometry. Ecology, 2004, 85(5): 1179-1192.
[3] Liu X J, Zhang Y, Han W X, et al.Enhanced nitrogen deposition over China. Nature, 2013, 494: 459-463.
[4] Liu X, Duan L, Mo J, et al.Nitrogen deposition and its ecological impact in China: An overview. Environmental Pollution, 2011, 159(10): 2251-2264.
[5] Zhang J, Kang R H, Zhao B, et al.Monitoring nitrogen deposition on temperate grassland in Inner Mongolia. Environmental Science, 2013, 34(9): 3552-3556.
张菊, 康荣华, 赵斌, 等. 内蒙古温带草原氮沉降的观测研究. 环境科学, 2013, 34(9): 3552-3556.
[6] Zhang N, Wan S, Li L, et al.Impacts of urea N addition on soil microbial community in a semi-arid temperate steppe in northern China. Plant & Soil, 2008, 311(1): 19-28.
[7] Gu D X, Chen S L, Huang Y Q.Effects of soil nitrogen and phosphonium on leaf nitrogen and phosphonium stoichiometric characteristics and chlorophyll content of Oligostachyum lubricum. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2011, 35(12): 1219-1225.
顾大形, 陈双林, 黄玉清. 土壤氮磷对四季竹叶片氮磷化学计量特征和叶绿素含量的影响. 植物生态学报, 2011, 35(12): 1219-1225.
[8] Bao S D.Soil and agricultural chemistry analysis. Third Edition .Beijing: China Agricultural Press, 2000.
鲍士旦. 土壤农化分析. 第三版. 北京: 中国农业出版社, 2000.
[9] Yang H M, Wang D M.Advances in the study on ecological stoichiometry in grass-environment system and its response to environmental factors. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2011, 20(2): 244-252.
杨惠敏, 王冬梅. 草-环境系统植物碳氮磷生态化学计量学及其对环境因子的响应研究进展. 草业学报, 2011, 20(2): 244-252.
[10] He J S, Fang J Y, Wang Z H, et al.Stoichiometry and large-scale patterns of leaf carbon and nitrogen in the grassland biomes of China. Oecologia, 2006, 149(1): 115-122.
[11] Elser J J, Fagan W F, Denno R F, et al.Nutritional constraints in terrestrial and freshwater food webs. Nature, 2000, 408: 578-580.
[12] Song Y T, Zhou D W, Li Q, et al.Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry in 80 herbaceous plant species of Songnen grassland in Northeast China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2012, 36(3): 222-230.
宋彦涛, 周道玮, 李强, 等. 松嫩草地80种草本植物叶片氮磷化学计量特征. 植物生态学报, 2012, 36(3): 222-230.
[13] Han W, Fang J, Guo D, et al.Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry across 753 terrestrial plant species in China. New Phytologist, 2005, 168(2): 377-385.
[14] An Z, Niu D C, Wen H Y, et al.Effects of N addition on nutrient resorption efficiency and C∶N∶P stoichiometric characteristics in Stipa bungeana of steppe grasslands in the Loess Plateau, China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2011, 35(8): 801-807.
安卓, 牛得草, 文海燕, 等. 氮素添加对黄土高原典型草原长芒草氮磷重吸收率及C∶N∶P化学计量特征的影响. 植物生态学报, 2011, 35(8): 801-807.
[15] Huang J Y, Yu H L, Wang L L, et al.Effects of different nitrogen: phosphorus levels on the growth and ecological stoichiometry of Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Acta Phytoecologica Sinica, 2017, 41(3): 325-336.
黄菊莹, 余海龙, 王丽丽, 等. 不同氮磷比处理对甘草生长与生态化学计量特征的影响. 植物生态学报, 2017, 41(3): 325-336.
[16] Bin Z J, Wang J J, Zhang W P, et al.Effects of N addition on ecological stoichiometric characteristics in six dominant plant species of alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2014, 38(3): 231-237.
宾振钧, 王静静, 张文鹏, 等. 氮肥添加对青藏高原高寒草甸6个群落优势种生态化学计量学特征的影响. 植物生态学报, 2014, 38(3): 231-237.
[17] Koerselman W, Meuleman A F M. The vegetation N∶P ratio: a new tool to detect the nature of nutrient limitation. Journal of Applied Ecology, 1996, 33(6): 1441-1450.
[18] Zhang L X, Bai Y F, Han X Q.Differential responses of N∶P stoichiometry of Leymus chinensis and Carex korshinskyi to N additions in a steppe ecosystem in Nei Mongol. Acta Botanica Sinica, 2004, 46(3): 259-270.
[19] Wardle D A, Gundale M J, Jaderlund A, et al.Decoupled long-term effects of nutrient enrichment on aboveground and belowground properties in subalpine tundra. Ecology, 2013, 94(4): 904-919.
[20] Han X, Sistla S A, Zhang Y, et al.Hierarchical responses of plant stoichiometry to nitrogen deposition and mowing in a temperate steppe. Plant and Soil, 2014, 382(1/2): 175-187.
[21] Xing X R, Han X G, Chen L Z.A review on research of plant nutrient use efficiency. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2000, 11(5): 785-790.
邢雪荣, 韩兴国, 陈灵芝. 植物养分利用效率研究综述. 应用生态学报, 2000, 11(5): 785-790.
[22] Lü X T, Cui Q, Wang Q B, et al.Nutrient resorption response to fire and nitrogen addition in a semi-arid grassland. Ecological Engineering, 2011, 37(3): 534-538.
[23] Tjoelker M G, Craine J M, Wedin D, et al.Linking leaf and root trait syndromes among 39 grassland and savannah species. New Phytologist, 2005, 167(2): 493-508.
[24] Tian Q Y, Liu N N, Bai W M, et al.A novel soil manganese mechanism drives plant species loss with increased nitrogen deposition in a temperate steppe. Ecology, 2016, 97(1): 65-74.
[25] Li W J, Liu H M, Zhao J N, et al.Effects of nitrogen and water addition on plant species diversity and biomass of common species in the Stipa baicalensis Steppe, Inner Mongolia, China. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2015, 35(19): 6460-6469.
李文娇, 刘红梅, 赵建宁, 等. 氮素和水分添加对贝加尔针茅草原植物多样性及生物量的影响, 生态学报, 2015, 35(19): 6460-6469.
[26] Daufresne T, Hedin L O.Plant coexistence depends on ecosystem nutrient cycles: Extension of the resource ratio theory. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2005, 102(26): 9212-9217.
[27] Hooper D U, Johnson L.Nitrogen limitation in dryland ecosystems: responses to geographical temporal variation in precipitation. Biogeochemistry, 1999, 46(1/3): 247-293.
[28] McDonnell T C, Belyazid S, Sullivan T J, et al. Modeled subalpine plant community response to climate change and atmospheric nitrogen deposition in Rocky Mountain National Park, USA. Environmental Pollution, 2014, 187: 55-64.
[29] Zhou J D, Shi R J, Zhao F, et al.Effects of the frequency and intensity of nitrogen addition on soil pH, the contents of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in temperate steppe in Inner Mongolia, China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2016, 27(8): 2467-2476.
周纪东, 史荣久, 赵峰, 等. 施氮频率和强度对内蒙古温带草原土壤pH及碳、氮、磷含量的影响. 应用生态学报, 2016, 27(8): 2467-2476.
[30] Zhang Y, Han X, He N, et al.Increase in ammonia volatilization from soil in response to N deposition in Inner Mongolia grasslands. Atmospheric Environment, 2014, 84(84): 156-162.
[31] Tian H, Chen G, Zhang C, et al.Pattern and variation of C∶N∶P ratios in China’s soils: a synthesis of observational data. Biogeochemistry, 2010, 98(1/3): 139-151.
[32] Zhou Z H, Wang C K, Zhang Q Z.The effect of land use change on soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents and their stoichiometry in temperate sapling stands in northeastern China. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2015, 35( 20): 6694-6702.
周正虎, 王传宽, 张全智. 土地利用变化对东北温带幼龄林土壤碳氮磷含量及其化学计量特征的影响. 生态学报, 2015, 35(20): 6694-6702.
[33] Cleveland C C, Liptzin D.C∶N∶P stoichiometry in soil: is there a “Redfield ratio” for the microbial biomass. Biogeochemistry, 2007, 85(3): 235-252.
[34] Yu Y F, Peng W X, Song T Q, et al.Stoichiometric characteristics of plant and soil C, N and P in different forest types in depressions between karst hills, southwest China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2014, 25(4): 947-954.
俞月凤, 彭晚霞, 宋同清, 等. 喀斯特峰丛洼地不同森林类型植物和土壤C、N、P 化学计量特征. 应用生态学报, 2014, 25(4): 947-954.
[35] Wang S Q, Yu G R.Ecological stoichiometry characteristics of ecosystem carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus elements. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2008, 28(8): 3937-3947.
王绍强, 于贵瑞. 生态系统碳氮磷元素的生态化学计量学特征. 生态学报, 2008, 28(8): 3937-3947.
[36] Liu H M, Zhang H F, Huangfu C H, et al.Effects of different long-term nitrogen addition on soil microbial diversity of Stipa baicalensis steppe in Inner Mongolia, China. Journal of Agro-Environment Science, 2017, 36(4): 709-717.
刘红梅, 张海芳, 皇甫超河, 等. 长期氮添加对贝加尔针茅草原土壤微生物群落多样性的影响. 农业环境科学学报, 2017, 36(4): 709-717.
[37] Huang J Y, Lai R S, Yu H L, et al.Responses of plant and soil C∶N∶P stoichiometry to N addition in a desert steppe of Ningxia, Northwest China. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2013, 32(11): 2850-2856.
黄菊莹, 赖荣生, 余海龙, 等. N 添加对宁夏荒漠草原植物和土壤C∶N∶P生态化学计量特征的影响. 生态学杂志, 2013, 32(11): 2850-2856.
[38] Vitousek P M, Porder S, Houlton B Z, et al.Terrestrial phosphorus limitation: mechanisms, implications, and nitrogen-phosphorus interactions. Ecological Application, 2010, 20(1): 5-15.
[39] Yu Q, Wu H H, He N P, et al.Testing the growth-rate hypothesis in vascular plants with above- and below-ground biomass. Plos One, 2012, 7(3): e32162.