Variation of C, N and P stoichiometry in dominant understory plants during stand development in Salix cupularis plantations in alpine grassland in Northwestern Sichuan, China

doi:10.11686/cyxb2017220

Abstract

Abstract: In order to understand the stoichiometric relationships of C, N and P in tissues of understory plants of Salix cupularis at different stand ages, we collected three species of dominant understory plants (Artemisia wellbyi, Heracleum millefolium and Oxytropis falcata) from under 6, 18 and 24 year old S. cupularis stands in Northwestern Sichuan, China. Then the carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, as well as their ratios in plant organs (leaf and root) were analyzed. The C concentration of the understory plants and the N concentrations of their roots decreased with increase in plantation age, while conversely, the N concentration of leaves increased with plantation age. No significant variation in P concentration was found. The C∶N ranged from 1.92 to 12.86 and the C∶P ranged from 29.18 to 196.88. There were significant differences in N∶P of the understory plants at different plantation ages, but the results suggested that understory plants were mainly limited by P nutrient status. The finding that growth of plantations in this region is mainly limited by P nutrient supply indicates that attention to the adequate addition of P nutrients is needed.

Key words: plantation age, Salix cupularis, understory plants, ecological stoichiometry

SHE Shu-feng, HU Yu-fu, SHU Xiang-yang, YAN Xing, LI Zhi, WANG Qin, HE Jia, JIA An-du. Variation of C, N and P stoichiometry in dominant understory plants during stand development in Salix cupularis plantations in alpine grassland in Northwestern Sichuan, China[J]. Acta Prataculturae Sinica, 2018, 27(4): 123-130.

References

[1] Chrzanowski T H, Kyle M, Elser J J, et al. Element ratios and growth dynamics of bacteria in an oligotrophic Canadian shield lake. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 1996, 11(2): 119-125.
[2] Qi D H, Wen Z M, Wang H X, et al. Stoichiometry traits of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in plants of different functional groups and their responses to micro-topographical variations in the hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau, China. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2016, 36(20): 6420-6430.
戚德辉, 温仲明, 王红霞, 等. 黄土丘陵区不同功能群植物碳氮磷生态化学计量特征及其对微地形的响应. 生态学报, 2016, 36(20): 6420-6430.
[3] Niklas K J, Cobb E D.N, P, and C stoichoimetry of Eranthishyemalis (Ranunculaceae) and the allometry of plant growth. American Journal of Botany, 2005, 92(8): 1256-1263.
[4] Li C J, Lei J Q, Xu X W, et al. The stoichiometric characteristics of C, N, P for artificial plants and soil in the hinterland of Taklimakan Desert. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2013, 33(18): 5760-5767.
李从娟, 雷加强, 徐新文, 等. 塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地人工植被及土壤CNP的化学计量特征. 生态学报, 2013, 33(18): 5760-5767.
[5] Hu W F, Zhang W L, Zhang L H, et al. Stoichiometric characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus in major wetland vegetation of China. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2014, 38(10): 1041-1052.
胡伟芳, 章文龙, 张林海, 等. 中国主要湿地植被氮和磷生态化学计量学特征. 植物生态学报, 2014, 38(10): 1041-1052.
[6] Vander Schaaf C L. Estimating understory vegetation response to multi-nutrient fertilization in Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine stands. Journal of Forest Research, 2008, 13(1): 43-51.
[7] Nilsson M C, Wardle D A.Understory vegetation as a forest ecosystem driver: evidence from the northern Swedish boreal forest. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2005, 3(8): 421-428.
[8] He Q, Cui B, Bertness M D, et al. Testing the importance of plant strategies on facilitation using congeners in a coastal community. Ecology, 2012, 93(9): 2023-2029.
[9] Cavieres L A, Badano E I, Sierra-Almeida A, et al. Positive interactions between alpine plant species and the nurse cushion plant Laretia acaulis do not increase with elevation in the Andes of central Chile. New Phytologist, 2006, 169(1): 59-69.
[10] Armas C, Pugnaire F I.Ontogenetic shifts in interactions of two dominant shrub species in a semi-arid coastal sand dune system. Journal of Vegetation Science, 2009, 20(3): 535-546.
[11] Zhou G X, Wang G J, Li L, et al. C, N, P stoichiometry characteristic of Chinese fir root, branch and leaf. Hunan Forestry Science and Technology, 2015, 42(1): 15-18.
周国新, 王光军, 李栎, 等. 杉木根, 枝和叶的C, N, P 生态化学计量特征. 湖南林业科技, 2015, 42(1): 15-18.
[12] Barbier S, Gosselin F, Balandier P.Influence of tree species on understory vegetation diversity and mechanisms involved-a critical review for temperate and boreal forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 2008, 254(1): 1-15.
[13] Zhang G, Zhao L, Yang Q, et al. Effect of desert shrubs on fine-scale spatial patterns of understory vegetation in a dry-land. Plant Ecology, 2016, 217(9): 1141-1155.
[14] Wang W Q, Xu L L, Zeng C S, et al. Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus ecological stoichiometric ratios among live plant-litter-soil systems in estuarine wetland. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2011, 31(23): 7119-7124.
王维奇, 徐玲琳, 曾从盛, 等. 河口湿地植物活体-枯落物-土壤的碳氮磷生态化学计量特征. 生态学报, 2011, 31(23): 7119-7124.
[15] 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.
[16] Fan H, Wu J, Liu W, et al. Linkages of plant and soil C∶N∶P stoichiometry and their relationships to forest growth in subtropical plantations. Plant and Soil, 2015, 392(1/2): 127-138.
[17] Hu Y F, Peng J J, Deng L J, et al. Influences of fencing and planting branchy tamarisk on soil particles composition and mineral nutrients in desertization land in northwestern Sichuan Province. Chinese Journal of Soil Science, 2015, (1): 54-61.
胡玉福, 彭佳佳, 邓良基, 等. 围栏种植红柳对川西北高寒沙地土壤颗粒组成和矿质养分的影响. 土壤通报, 2015, (1): 54-61.
[18] Feng H L, Hu Y F, Shu X Y, et al. Influences of adding needle mushroom edible fungi residues on vegetation and soil enzyme activity of sandy soil in northwest Sichuan. Journal of Soil, 2016, (5): 161-165.
冯慧翎, 胡玉福, 舒向阳, 等. 金针菇菌渣对川西北高寒沙地植被及土壤酶活性的影响. 水土保持学报, 2016, (5): 161-165.
[19] He J S, Han X G.Ecological stoichiometry: Searching for unifying principles from individuals to ecosystems. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology, 2010, 34(1): 2-6.
贺金生, 韩兴国. 生态化学计量学: 探索从个体到生态系统的统一化理论. 植物生态学报, 2010, 34(1): 2-6.
[20] Liu W D, Su J R, Li S F, et al. Stoichiometry study of C, N and P in plant and soil at different successional stages of monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest in Pu’er, Yunnan Province. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2010, (23): 6581-6590.
刘万德, 苏建荣, 李帅锋, 等. 云南普洱季风常绿阔叶林演替系列植物和土壤 C, N, P 化学计量特征. 生态学报, 2010, (23): 6581-6590.
[21] Sterner R W, Elser J J.Ecological stoichiometry: the biology of elements from molecules to the biosphere. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2002.
[22] Cui N J, Liu X B, Zhang D J, et al. The distribution pattern of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus and the stoichiometry characteristics of Pinus massoniana plantation in different age. Ecology and Environmental Science, 2014, 23(2): 188-195.
崔宁洁, 刘小兵, 张丹桔, 等. 不同林龄马尾松(Pinus massoniana)人工林碳氮磷分配格局及化学计量特征. 生态环境学报, 2014, 23(2): 188-195.
[23] Bowman W D.Accumulation and use of nitrogen and phosphorus following fertilization in two alpine tundra communities. Oikos, 1994, 70(2): 261-270.
[24] Aerts R, Chapin F S.The mineral nutrition of wild plants revisited: a re-evaluation of processes and patterns. Advances in Ecological Research, 1999, 30(8): 1-67.
[25] Drenovsky R E, Richards J H.Critical N∶P values: predicting deficiencies in desert shrublands. Plant and Soil, 2004, 259(1): 59-69.
[26] Dong W Y, Nie L S, Li J Y, et al. Effects of nitrogen forms on the absorption and distribution of nitrogen in Populus tomentosa seedlings using the technique of ¹⁵N tracing. Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 2009, (4): 97-101.
董雯怡, 聂立水, 李吉跃, 等. 应用¹⁵N示踪研究毛白杨苗木对不同形态氮素的吸收及分配. 北京林业大学学报, 2009, (4): 97-101.
[27] Zhang C H, Wang Z M, Ju W M, et al. Spatial and temporal variability of soil C/N ratio in Songnen Plain Maize Belt. Environmental Science, 2011, 32(5): 1407-1414.
张春华, 王宗明, 居为民, 等. 松嫩平原玉米带土壤碳氮比的时空变异特征. 环境科学, 2011, 32(5): 1407-1414.