Impact of nitrogen addition on stoichiometric characteristics of herbaceous species in desert steppe

doi:10.11686/cyxb2020245

Abstract

Abstract:

In order to study the nutrient utilization strategies and the changes in carbon （C） assimilation ability and distribution pattern of desert herbaceous plants after increased nitrogen （N） deposition， the changes of root and shoot stoichiometric ratio of different functional plant groups were analyzed under N addition in a typical desert steppe on the southeastern fringe of the Tengger Desert. It was found that the addition of N significantly increased the contents of soil total N， soil ammonium N， and plant N， and promoted the uptake of phosphorus （P） by perennials， especially forbs， but significantly decreased the content of P in roots of annuals. After N addition， the C content of annuals and perennial forbs decreased significantly， while the C content of perennial grasses showed an obvious shoot-root difference， in which the C content of shoot decreased significantly， while that of the roots increased significantly. The C∶N and C∶P ratios in plants of the different functional groups （except for the C∶P in roots of annuals） significantly decreased after the addition of N， and in both cases the tendency was for the root decrease to be greater than that of the shoot. In addition， the N∶P ratio in plants significantly increased after the addition of N. In particular， the changes for annuals with improved fertilization level were more significant. Therefore， in the N-limited desert steppe studied， the improvement of soil N availability resulting from exogenous N input will highlight the restrictive effect of P on plant growth， reduce the C assimilation per unit N of herbaceous plants and enhance the distribution of C to plant roots.

Key words: nitrogen deposition, desert steppe, plant functional groups, ecological stoichiometry, soil phosphorus

Ying MA, Zhi-hao XU, Qiao-hong ZENG, Jian-long MENG, Ya-hu HU, Jie-qiong SU. Impact of nitrogen addition on stoichiometric characteristics of herbaceous species in desert steppe[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2021, 30(6): 64-72.

Figures/Tables 4

References 44

1	Yue K， Fornara D A， Yang W， et al. Effects of three global change drivers on terrestrial C∶N∶P stoichiometry： A global synthesis. Global Change Biology， 2017， 23（6）： 2450-2463.
2	Tang K W， Dam H G. Limitation of zooplankton production： Beyond stoichiometry. Oikos， 1999， 84（3）： 537-542.
3	An H， Tang Z， Keesstra S， et al. Impact of desertification on soil and plant nutrient stoichiometry in a desert grassland. Scientific Reports， 2019， 9（1）： 9422.
4	Yan X， An H. Fractal features of soil particle size in the process of desertification in desert grassland of Ningxia， China. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology， 2017， 28（10）： 3243-3250.
	阎欣，安慧. 宁夏荒漠草原沙漠化过程中土壤粒径分形特征. 应用生态学报， 2017， 28（10）： 3243-3250.
5	Zhang K， He M Z， Li X R， et al. Foliar carbon， nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry of typical desert plants across the Alashan Desert. Acta Ecologica Sinica， 2014， 34（22）： 6538-6547.
	张珂，何明珠，李新荣，等. 阿拉善荒漠典型植物叶片碳、氮、磷化学计量特征. 生态学报， 2014， 34（22）： 6538-6547.
6	Guo H， Zhuang W W， Li J. Characteristics of biomass and stoichiometry of four desert herbaceous plants in the Gurbantunggut Desert. Bulletin of Botanical Research， 2019， 39（3）： 421-430.
	郭浩，庄伟伟，李进. 古尔班通古特沙漠中4种荒漠草本植物的生物量与化学计量特征. 植物研究， 2019， 39（3）： 421-430.
7	Lu Y， Wang B L， Shen Y. C， N， and P stoichiometric characteristics of plant communities and dominant plants from different vegetation restoration periods in typical Ningxia grasslands. Pratacultural Science， 2019， 36（5）： 1200-1206.
	陆颖，王保林，沈艳. 宁夏典型草原区不同退耕年限草地植物群落及优势植物C、N、P化学计量特征. 草业科学， 2019， 36（5）： 1200-1206.
8	Zhang B， Gao X， Li L， et al. Groundwater depth affects phosphorus but not carbon and nitrogen concentrations of a desert phreatophyte in Northwest China. Frontiers in Plant Science， 2018， 9： 338.
9	Li L， Liu B， Gao X， et al. Nitrogen and phosphorus addition differentially affect plant ecological stoichiometry in desert grassland. Scientific Reports， 2019， 9（1）： 18673.
10	Schimel D S. All life is chemical. Bioscience， 2003， 53（5）： 521-524.
11	Su J Q， Li X R， Yang H T. Effects of fertilization on population density and productivity of herbaceous plants in desert steppe. Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions， 2014， 6（3）： 219-225.
12	Chen J B， Dong C C， Yao X D， et al. Effects of nitrogen addition on plant biomass and tissue elemental content in different degradation stages of temperate steppe in Northern China. Journal of Plant Ecology， 2018， 11（5）： 730-739.
13	Wang P， Zhu W W， Niu Y B， et al. Effects of nitrogen addition on plant community composition and microbial biomass ecological stoichiometry in a desert steppe in China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology， 2019， 43（5）： 427-436.
	王攀，朱湾湾，牛玉斌，等. 氮添加对荒漠草原植物群落组成与微生物生物量生态化学计量特征的影响. 植物生态学报， 2019， 43（5）： 427-436.
14	Huang J， Wang P， Niu Y， et al. Changes in C∶N∶P stoichiometry modify N and P conservation strategies of a desert steppe species Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Scientific Reports， 2018， 8（1）： 12668.
15	Huang J， Yu H， Liu J， et al. Phosphorus addition changes belowground biomass and C∶N∶P stoichiometry of two desert steppe plants under simulated N deposition. Scientific Reports， 2018， 8（1）： 3400.
16	Gao Z B， Wang H Y， Lv X T， et al. Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus addition on C∶N∶P stoichiometry in roots and leaves of four dominant plant species in a meadow steppe of Hulunbuir. Chinese Journal of Ecology， 2017， 36（1）： 80-88.
	高宗宝，王洪义，吕晓涛，等. 氮磷添加对呼伦贝尔草甸草原4种优势植物根系和叶片C∶N∶P化学计量特征的影响. 生态学杂志， 2017， 36（1）： 80-88.
17	Zhang G D， Zhao C Y， Rong Z L， et al. Ecological stoichiometry of soils with different vegetation types in the middle part of the Qilian Mountains. Journal of Lanzhou University （Natural Sciences）， 2019， 55（4）： 533-540.
	张光德，赵传燕，戎战磊，等. 祁连山中部不同植被类型土壤生态化学计量特征研究. 兰州大学学报（自然科学版）， 2019， 55（4）： 533-540.
18	Yang D， Song L， Jin G. The soil C∶N∶P stoichiometry is more sensitive than the leaf C∶N∶P stoichiometry to nitrogen addition： A four-year nitrogen addition experiment in a Pinus koraiensis plantation. Plant and Soil， 2019， 442（1/2）： 183-198.
19	Peng Y， Chen Q B， Wang C Y. Determination of organic carbon in different organs of rubber trees by using oven-heating method. Chinese Journal of Tropical Agriculture， 2009， 29（10）： 13-16.
	彭懿，陈秋波，王春燕. 烘箱加热法测定橡胶树不同器官有机碳含量. 热带农业科学， 2009， 29（10）： 13-16.
20	Su J， Li X， Li X， et al. Effects of additional N on herbaceous species of desertified steppe in arid regions of China： A four-year field study. Ecological Research， 2013， 28（1）： 21-28.
21	Shareef M， Gui D W， Zeng F J， et al. Nitrogen leaching， recovery efficiency， and cotton productivity assessments on desert-sandy soil under various application methods. Agricultural Water Management， 2019， 223： 105716.
22	Chen L， Liu L， Qin S， et al. Regulation of priming effect by soil organic matter stability over a broad geographic scale. Nature Communications， 2019， 10（1）： 5112.
23	Stevens C J， David T Ι， Storkey J. Atmospheric nitrogen deposition in terrestrial ecosystems： Its impact on plant communities and consequences across trophic levels. Functional Ecology， 2018， 32（7）： 1757-1769.
24	Zhao H， He N， Xu L， et al. Variation in the nitrogen concentration of the leaf， branch， trunk， and root in vegetation in China. Ecological Indicators， 2019， 96： 496-504.
25	Han H G. Effecs of nitrogen deposition on nutrient use strategies and their responses to soil water availability. Lanzhou： Lanzhou University， 2015.
	韩会阁. 氮沉降背景下植物养分利用策略及其对水分的响应. 兰州：兰州大学， 2015.
26	Guo Y， Du Q， Li G， et al. Soil phosphorus fractions and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi diversity following long-term grazing exclusion on semi-arid steppes in Inner Mongolia. Geoderma， 2016， 269： 79-90.
27	Su J Q， Li X R， Bao J T. Effects of nitrogen addition on soil physico-chemical properties and enzyme activities in desertified steppe. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology， 2014， 25（3）： 664-670.
	苏洁琼，李新荣，鲍婧婷. 施氮对荒漠化草原土壤理化性质及酶活性的影响. 应用生态学报， 2014， 25（3）： 664-670.
28	Su J Q， Li X R， Feng L， et al. Response of herbaceous vegetation to phosphorus fertilizer in steppe desert. Acta Ecologica Sinica， 2012， 32（1）： 93-100.
	苏洁琼，李新荣，冯丽，等. 草原化荒漠草本植物对人工施加磷素的响应. 生态学报， 2012， 32（1）： 93-100.
29	Li L， Gao X， Gui D， et al. Stoichiometry in aboveground and fine roots of Seriphidium koroviniiin in desert grassland in response to artificial nitrogen addition. Journal of Plant Research， 2017， 130（4）： 689-697.
30	González-Paleo L， Pastor-Pastor A， Rajnoch G， et al. Mechanisms of nitrogen conservation at the leaf-level in annual and perennial desert forbs： Implications for perennial crops domestication. Flora， 2019， 252： 62-68.
31	Shi M， Fisher J B， Brzostek E R， et al. Carbon cost of plant nitrogen acquisition： Global carbon cycle impact from an improved plant nitrogen cycle in the Community Land Model. Global Change Biology， 2016， 22（3）： 1299-1314.
32	Guo M L， Yao B Q， Shi G X， et al. Phylogenetic relationships of leaf carbon content and plasticity in alpine meadow plants. Chinese Journal of Ecology， 2018， 37（6）： 1841-1848.
	郭美玲，姚步青，石国玺，等. 高寒草甸植物叶片碳含量及其可塑性与系统发育的关系. 生态学杂志， 2018， 37（6）： 1841-1848.
33	Dovrat G， Meron E， Shachak M， et al. Plant size is related to biomass partitioning and stress resistance in water-limited annual plant communities. Journal of Arid Environments， 2019， 165： 1-9.
34	Wang B， Gong J， Zhang Z， et al. Nitrogen addition alters photosynthetic carbon fixation， allocation of photoassimilates， and carbon partitioning of Leymus chinensis in a temperate grassland of Inner Mongolia. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology， 2019， 279： 107743.
35	Pastor-Pastor A， González-Paleo L， Vilela A， et al. Age-related changes in nitrogen resorption and use efficiency in the perennial new crop Physaria mendocina （Brassicaceae）. Industrial Crops and Products， 2015， 65： 227-232.
36	Pastor-Pastor A， Vilela A E， González-Paleo L. The root of the problem of perennials domestication： Is selection for yield changing key root system traits required for ecological sustainability？ Plant and Soil， 2019， 435（1/2）： 161-174.
37	Sistla S A， Appling A P， Lewandowska A M， et al. Stoichiometric flexibility in response to fertilization along gradients of environmental and organismal nutrient richness. Oikos， 2015， 124（7）： 949-959.
38	Koerselman W， Meuleman A F M. The vegetation N∶P ratio： A new tool to detect the nature of nutrient limitation. The Journal of Applied Ecology， 1996， 33（6）： 1441-1450.
39	Xu X Y， Cao J J， Yang L， et al. Effects of grazing and enclosure on foliar and soil stoichiometry of grassland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Chinese Journal of Ecology， 2018， 37（5）： 1349-1355.
	许雪贇，曹建军，杨淋，等. 放牧与围封对青藏高原草地土壤和植物叶片化学计量学特征的影响. 生态学杂志， 2018， 37（5）： 1349-1355.
40	Jin Y， Liang C Z， Cui L J. Effects of different nutrient additions on the stoichiometric characteristics of leaves of dominant plants in grassland communities. Journal of Northern Agriculture， 2019， 47（2）： 59-65.
	金月，梁存柱，崔利剑. 不同养分添加对草地群落优势植物叶片化学计量特征的影响. 北方农业学报， 2019， 47（2）： 59-65.
41	Menge D N L， Field C B. Simulated global changes alter phosphorus demand in annual grassland. Global Change Biology， 2007， 13（12）： 2582-2591.
42	Vitousek P M， Porder S， Houlton B Z， et al. Terrestrial phosphorus limitation： Mechanisms， implications and nitrogen-phosphorus interactions. Ecological Applications， 2010， 20（1）： 5-15.
43	Phoenix G K， Booth R E， Leake J R， et al. Effects of enhanced nitrogen deposition and phosphorus limitation on nitrogen budgets of semi-natural grasslands. Global Change Biology， 2003， 9（9）： 1309-1321.
44	Lv X T， Kong D L， Pan Q M， et al. Nitrogen and water availability interact to affect leaf stoichiometry in a semi-arid grassland. Oecologia， 2012， 168（2）： 301-310.

试验因素 Experimental factors	碳C		氮N		磷P
试验因素 Experimental factors	F	P	F	P	F	P
氮肥处理 Nitrogen treatment (N)	10.292	<0.001	367.064	<0.001	41.045	<0.001
植物类型 Plant type (PT)	320.504	<0.001	64.697	<0.001	282.462	<0.001
植物器官 Plant organ (PO)	4.091	<0.050	2505.708	<0.001	3126.423	<0.001
N×PT	24.538	<0.001	20.713	<0.001	78.397	<0.001
N×PO	51.786	<0.001	67.221	<0.001	19.794	<0.001
PT×PO	126.714	<0.001	171.746	<0.001	372.315	<0.001
N×PT×PO	29.831	<0.001	9.669	<0.001	27.573	<0.001

试验因素 Experimental factors	碳C		氮N		磷P
试验因素 Experimental factors	F	P	F	P	F	P
氮肥处理 Nitrogen treatment (N)	10.292	<0.001	367.064	<0.001	41.045	<0.001
植物类型 Plant type (PT)	320.504	<0.001	64.697	<0.001	282.462	<0.001
植物器官 Plant organ (PO)	4.091	<0.050	2505.708	<0.001	3126.423	<0.001
N×PT	24.538	<0.001	20.713	<0.001	78.397	<0.001
N×PO	51.786	<0.001	67.221	<0.001	19.794	<0.001
PT×PO	126.714	<0.001	171.746	<0.001	372.315	<0.001
N×PT×PO	29.831	<0.001	9.669	<0.001	27.573	<0.001

[1]	Zhong-ju MENG, Yan-jie CHEN, Si-qin BAO. Characteristics of community patches under three grazing modes in Sunite Desert-steppe [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2021, 30(4): 13-23.
[2]	Ji-xiong GU, Tian-dou GUO, Hong-mei WANG, Xue-ying LI, Dan-ni LIANG, Qing-lian YANG, Jin-yue GAO. Responses of soil microbes across an anthropogenic transition from desert steppe grassland to shrubland in eastern Ningxia [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2021, 30(4): 46-57.
[3]	Ju-hong WANG, Ze-xuan XU, Wen CHEN, Hui ZHU, Long-jun HUANG, Jia-wei LI. The stoichiometric characteristics of Alternanthera philoxeroides with different invasive degrees and their comparison with the coexisting species Gomphrena celosioides [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2021, 30(2): 115-123.
[4]	Mei XIONG, Ji-rong QIAO, Yang YANG, Feng ZHANG, Jia-hua ZHENG, Jian-xin WU, Meng-li ZHAO. Stocking rate effects on stoichiometric characteristics of the steppe grassland pioneer species Stipabreviflora and its underlying soil [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2021, 30(2): 212-219.
[5]	Jing-jing ZHANG, Zun-chi LIU, Chuang YAN, Yun-xia WANG, Kai LIU, Xin-rong SHI, Zhi-you YUAN. Effects of soil pH on soil carbon， nitrogen， and phosphorus ecological stoichiometry in three types of steppe [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2021, 30(2): 69-81.
[6]	LI Jing, HONG Mei, YAN Jin, ZHANG Yu-chen, LIANG Zhi-wei, YE He, GAO Hai-yan, ZHAO Bayinnamula. The response of vegetation community structure and biomass in Stipa breviflora desert steppe to water and nitrogen [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2020, 29(9): 38-48.
[7]	WAN Fang, MENG Zhong-ju, DANG Xiao-hong, WANG Rui-dong, ZHANG Hui-min. C, N and P ecological stoichiometry characteristics of a Stipa species plant-soil system subject to grazing exclusion in a desert steppe [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2020, 29(9): 49-55.
[8]	SUN Shi-xian, DING Yong, LI Xia-zi, WU Xin-hong, YAN Zhi-jian, YIN Qiang, LI Jin-zhuo. Effects of seasonal regulation of grazing intensity on soil erosion in desert steppe grassland [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2020, 29(7): 23-29.
[9]	YANG Nai-rui, HU Yu-fu, SHU Xiang-yang, ZENG Jian, ZHANG Xiang-lin, SHENTU Yu-cheng, HE Jia, CHENG Qi, LI Jie, LI Zhi, YU Ying. Meta-analysis of the response to nitrogen deposition of soil nitrogen fractions, grassland soil C∶N∶P stoichiometry and microbial respiration [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2020, 29(5): 1-12.
[10]	XU Ai-yun, XU Dong-mei, CAO Bing, LIU Jin-long, YU-Shuang, GUO Yan-ju, MA Xiao-jing. Spatial distribution patterns and interspecific relationships of Agropyron mongolicum populations in different desert steppe communities in Ningxia [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2020, 29(3): 171-178.
[11]	Zhan-jun WANG, Kun MA, Hui-zhen CUI, Guang-wen LI, Hong-qian YU, Qi JIANG. Correlations between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and distribution of main grassland types in Ningxia [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2020, 29(12): 150-160.
[12]	Hai-tao CHANG, Ren-tao LIU, Wei CHEN, An-ning ZHANG, Xiao-an ZUO. Distribution of ground-active arthropod community structure after introduction of Caragana korshinskii into Reaumuria soongorica shrubland on the Urat desert steppe， Inner Mongolia [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2020, 29(12): 188-197.
[13]	WANG Lei, SONG Nai-ping, CHEN Lin, YANG Xin-guo, WANG Xing. Increase in soil coarse sand content and decrease in soil nutrient levels accompany the transformation of perennial communities to annual communities in desert grassland [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2020, 29(11): 183-189.
[14]	WANG Xin, LUO Xue-ping, ZI Hong-biao, YANG Wen-gao, HU Lei, WANG Chang-ting. Ecological stoichiometry characteristics of forest litter and its influencing factors in Qinghai Province [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2019, 28(8): 1-14.
[15]	CHANG Hai-tao, ZHAO Juan, LIU Jia-nan, LIU Ren-tao, LUO Ya-xi, ZHANG Jing. Changes in soil physico-chemical properties and related fractal features during conversion of cropland into agroforestry and grassland: A case study of desertified steppe in Ningxia [J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2019, 28(7): 14-25.