Leaf functional trait characteristics and plasticity of desert steppe plants under nitrogen and phosphorus addition

doi:10.11686/cyxb2023176

Abstract

Abstract:

Investigating the changes in the functional traits of desert grassland plants under nitrogen （N） and phosphorus （P） addition is crucial for uncovering the mechanisms by which vegetation respond to the environment. In this study， we analyzed the effects of N and P addition on the leaf morphological and chemical traits of the plant community in the desert grassland of Yanchi County， Ningxia. The results showed that the N∶P ratio of the leaf in the plant community was <14， indicating that plant growth in the study area was restricted by N. The addition of P had no significant effect on the leaf functional traits of the plant community. However， N+P addition significantly increased the C/P ratio of the leaf. The addition of N significantly increased the leaf area， specific leaf area， leaf tissue density， and leaf N concentration in the plant community， reflecting that plants adopted a faster nutrient-cycling strategy under changing environmental conditions. Based on plasticity index （PI） rankings， the leaf traits that were sensitive to N and P addition were leaf area， specific leaf area， leaf dry matter content， leaf tissue density， leaf carbon， and leaf nitrogen content （PI>0.5）， with leaf area， specific leaf area， and leaf tissue density showing larger variations. This indicates that the plant community mainly responds to environmental changes by altering its own morphology. The results of correlation analyses showed that there were significant correlations among leaf traits of the plant community， indicative of a synergistic response to changes in nutrient availability. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for predicting the responses of plants and ecosystems to global climate change， and are crucial for understanding the regional distribution of vegetation and for developing restoration strategies.

Key words: desert steppe, nutrient addition, leaf functional traits, community weighted mean

Ping-an BAO, Kai-yang QIU, Ye-yun HUANG, Si-yao WANG, Lu-yao CUI, Xin-yi LUO, Yun-tao YANG, Ying-zhong XIE. Leaf functional trait characteristics and plasticity of desert steppe plants under nitrogen and phosphorus addition[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2024, 33(3): 97-106.

Figures/Tables 4

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指标 Index	叶面积Leaf area	比叶面积Specific leaf area	叶组织密度Leaf tissue density	叶干物质含量 Leaf dry matter content	叶片碳含量 Leaf carbon content	叶片氮含量 Leaf nitrogen content	叶片磷含量 Leaf phosphorus content	碳氮比 C/N	碳磷比C/P
比叶面积Specific leaf area	0.769**
叶组织密度Leaf tissue density	0.657*	0.545
叶干物质含量Leaf dry matter content	0.678*	0.706*	0.587*
叶片碳含量Leaf carbon content	0.608*	0.692*	0.867**	0.699*
叶片氮含量Leaf nitrogen content	0.231	0.189	0.671*	0.580*	0.629*
叶片磷含量Leaf phosphorus content	0.629*	0.601*	0.832**	0.587*	0.944**	0.545
碳氮比C/N	0.469	0.289	-0.084	-0.140	-0.147	-0.517	0.035
碳磷比C/P	0.364	0.483	0.294	0.168	0.133	-0.133	0.021	0.210
氮磷比N/P	0.070	0.343	0.196	0.126	0.147	-0.105	0.091	-0.196	0.804**

指标 Index	叶面积Leaf area	比叶面积Specific leaf area	叶组织密度Leaf tissue density	叶干物质含量 Leaf dry matter content	叶片碳含量 Leaf carbon content	叶片氮含量 Leaf nitrogen content	叶片磷含量 Leaf phosphorus content	碳氮比 C/N	碳磷比C/P
比叶面积Specific leaf area	0.769**
叶组织密度Leaf tissue density	0.657*	0.545
叶干物质含量Leaf dry matter content	0.678*	0.706*	0.587*
叶片碳含量Leaf carbon content	0.608*	0.692*	0.867**	0.699*
叶片氮含量Leaf nitrogen content	0.231	0.189	0.671*	0.580*	0.629*
叶片磷含量Leaf phosphorus content	0.629*	0.601*	0.832**	0.587*	0.944**	0.545
碳氮比C/N	0.469	0.289	-0.084	-0.140	-0.147	-0.517	0.035
碳磷比C/P	0.364	0.483	0.294	0.168	0.133	-0.133	0.021	0.210
氮磷比N/P	0.070	0.343	0.196	0.126	0.147	-0.105	0.091	-0.196	0.804**

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