不同林龄杉木人工林植物-凋落叶-土壤C、N、P化学计量特征及互作关系

以贵州8年、16年、28年生杉木人工林为研究对象,分析植物-凋落叶-土壤的C、N、P化学计量特征及其内在联系,探讨林龄对杉木人工林生态化学计量的影响,为杉木人工林可持续经营提供参考。结果表明:(1)杉木人工林植物-凋落叶-土壤均呈高C低N、P元素格局,两两组分间差异显著(P0.05);成熟叶C/N(38.58)、C/P(376.67)偏低,其养分利用效率较低;与成熟叶相比,凋落叶N、P偏低,C/N、C/P偏高;土壤C/P、N/P偏低,C/N较高,说明土壤P素分解较快而N保存较好,反映了凋落叶分解不利。(2)成熟叶C、P以及根、凋落叶、土壤的C、N、P、C/N、C/P、N/P均受林龄的显著影响;从8年到28年,C、N、P含量在植物体呈先增后减趋势,而在土壤中相反,呈先减后增趋势,但在凋落物中C、P显著减小,且C/P,N/P显著增加,反映杉木林早期对养分需求旺盛,随年龄增大需求减小,凋落物分解受制于P素,加剧中幼期杉木生态系统养分供需矛盾。(3)成熟叶与凋落叶N、C/N、N/P之间显著正相关,凋落叶养分源自成熟叶;成熟叶重吸收率P(0.518—0.645)N(0.292—0.488),即对P的利用效率高于N。凋落叶与土壤C、C/N之间显著负相关,表明土壤C、N来源于凋落叶分解,但凋落叶分解缓慢,导致大量元素滞留于凋落叶,土壤损耗元素得不到补给,两者间养分循环缓慢。土壤与根C、P、C/N、C/P、N/P之间均显著正相关,土壤与成熟叶的C、N、P均不相关,表明土壤养分是杉木生长养分的主要来源,但土壤C、N、P含量对成熟叶C、N、P含量影响不大。     

秦岭南坡锐齿栎林的生态环境及其营养积累

秦岭锐齿栎林 (含 0～ 6 0cm土层 )营养元素总储量达 182 .6 4 5～ 394 .70 1t·hm-2 ,植被占 0 .5 9%～2 .13% ;林分生物量为 131.713～ 5 0 3.82 2t·hm-2 ,乔木层占 92 .1%～ 99.2 % ;凋落物层现存量和营养元素积累量分别为 2 .897～ 33.999t·hm-2 和 10 4 .339～ 1136 .5 36kg·hm-2 .在一定范围内 ,林分生物量和营养元素积累量随密度的增加而增大 ;立地、林分条件相似的林分 ,生物量和营养元素积累量与林龄呈正相关 .林分针叶树占的比例越大 ,营养元素积累量越小 ,而且对生物量的影响远小于对营养元素积累量的影响 .在同一地区 ,立地、林分状况相似 ,林型不同 ,生物量及营养元素积累量差别不大 ,树种组成和林型不同林分的生物量和营养元素积累量均不同 .不同地区 ,生态和林分条件相似的林分的生物量和营养元素积累量也有差异 ;林型、结构相似林分生物量和营养元素积累量南坡 >北坡 ,中段 东段≈西段 .林分对营养元素利用率与海拔呈负相关 ,且南坡 >北坡 ,中段 >东西段 ,中段 >西段 >东段 .     

Accumulation of nutrients by eucalyptus seedlings from acidic and calcareous soils of the cerrado region of Central Brazil

Summary The accumulation of nutrients by seedlings ofEucalyptus grandis andE. saligna from a latosol and two other fertile soils was compared. Both species performed well in a calcareous soil and an acidic but fertile gallery forest soil but not in the dystrophic latosol.E. grandis accumulated more nutrients from the calcareous soil thanE. saligna. In the other two soils these two species showed similar growth and nutrient accumulation. In spite of the high acidity, manganese toxicity did not seem to be a limiting factor in the latosol or the gallerty forest soil. Correlations among the shoot concentrations were not always the same as those among the total contents of the nutrients in the aerial biomass.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus economy of the riparian shrub <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salix gracilistyla</Emphasis> in western Japan

Salix gracilistyla is one of the dominant plants in the riparian vegetation of the upper-middle reaches of rivers in western Japan. This species colonizes mainly sandy habitats, where soil nutrient levels are low, but shows high potential for production. We hypothesized that S.␣gracilistyla uses nutrients conservatively within stands, showing a high resorption efficiency during leaf senescence. To test this hypothesis, we examined seasonal changes in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in aboveground organs of S. gracilistyla stands on a fluvial bar in the Ohtagawa River, western Japan. The concentrations in leaves decreased from April to May as leaves expanded. Thereafter, the concentrations showed little fluctuation until September. They declined considerably in autumn, possibly owing to nutrient resorption. We converted the nutrient concentrations in each organ to nutrient amounts per stand area on the basis of the biomass of each organ. The resorption efficiency of N and P in leaves during senescence were estimated to be 44 and 46%, respectively. Annual net increments of N and P in aboveground organs, calculated by adding the amounts in inflorescences and leaf litter to the annual increments in perennial organs, were estimated to be 9.9 g and 0.83 g m⁻² year⁻¹, respectively. The amounts released in leaf litter were 6.7 g N and 0.44 g P m⁻². These values are comparable to or larger than those of other deciduous trees. We conclude that S. gracilistyla stands acquire large amounts of nutrients and release a large proportion in leaf litter.     

模拟N沉降下不同林龄马尾松林凋落叶分解-土壤C、N化学计量特征

模拟N沉降对森林生态系统的影响是当今全球变化生态学研究的一个热点问题,土壤碳库对N沉降比较敏感,N沉降增加了凋落叶分解过程中外源N含量,间接影响凋落叶分解的化学过程并改变凋落叶分解速率,因此,研究模拟N沉降下凋落叶分解-土壤C-N关系对预测森林C吸存有重要意义。利用原位分解袋法研究了模拟N沉降下三峡库区不同林龄马尾松林(Pinus massoniana)凋落叶分解过程中凋落叶-土壤C、N化学计量响应及其关系;N沉降水平分对照(CK,0 g m~(-2)a~(-1))、低氮(LN,5 g m~(-2)a~(-1))、中氮(MN,10 g m~(-2)a~(-1))和高氮(HN,15 g m~(-2)a~(-1))。结果表明:分解540 d后,N沉降促进20年生和30年生马尾松林凋落叶分解,46年生马尾松林中仅低氮处理促进凋落叶分解,4种处理均是30年生分解最快,说明同一树种起始N含量低的凋落叶对N沉降呈正响应,N沉降处理促进起始N含量低的凋落叶分解,起始N含量高的凋落叶分解过程中易达到"N饱和"。N沉降抑制20年生和46年生凋落叶C释放(低于对照0.62%—6.69%),促进30年生C释放(高于对照0.28%—5.55%);30年生和46年生林分N固持量均高于对照(高于对照0.15%—21.34%),20年生则低于对照(5.70%—13.87%),说明模拟N沉降处理促进起始C含量低的凋落叶C释放和起始N含量低的凋落叶N固持。N沉降处理下仅30年生马尾松林土壤有机碳较对照增加,且土壤有机质与凋落叶C、N和分解速率呈正相关,与凋落叶C/N比呈显著负相关;土壤总氮与凋落叶分解速率、凋落叶N含量呈正相关,土壤有机碳/总氮比与凋落叶C、N含量呈正相关;对照处理中凋落叶分解指标对土壤养分影响顺序是分解速率凋落物C含量凋落物C/N比凋落物N含量,低、中、高氮处理中则是凋落物C含量分解速率凋落物N含量凋落物C/N比。研究表明低土壤养分含量马尾松林对N沉降呈正响应,N沉降促进低土壤养分马尾松林凋落叶分解并提高土壤肥力;凋落叶质量和土壤养分含量低的生态系统土壤C对N沉降响应更显著。     

Impacts of Falcataria moluccana Invasion on Decomposition in Hawaiian Lowland Wet Forests: The Importance of Stand-level Controls

Invasive species have the capacity to substantially alter soil processes, including rates of litter decomposition. Currently, the few remaining native-dominated lowland wet forests in Hawai’i are being invaded by Falcataria moluccana, a large, fast-growing, N₂-fixing tree. In this study, we sought to determine the extent to which Falcataria invasion alters decomposition in these lowland wet forests, and whether changes resulted from differences in litter substrate type, lava flow age and type, forest stand type and associated soil biota, or some combination of these factors. We measured decomposition rates and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) dynamics of Metrosideros polymorpha and Falcataria leaf litter in native-dominated and Falcataria-invaded stands on 48- and 300-year-old a’a lava flows and a 213-year-old pāhoehoe flow in the Puna district of eastern Hawai’i. Despite significant differences in the initial quality of Metrosideros and Falcataria litter, in nearly all cases mass remaining of the two litter types did not differ within a given forest stand, whether native-dominated or invaded. Instead, stand type accounted for large differences in the decomposition of both litter types, and litter decomposed two to 10 times faster in Falcataria-invaded stands than it did in their native-dominated counterparts on each lava flow. Dynamics of N (that is, immobilization or release) during decomposition were affected by stand, litter, and lava flow type; P dynamics were affected by stand and flow type, but not litter type. Although not definitive proof of causality, the decay rates of both species were positively correlated to previously measured inputs of N mass and P mass via litterfall as well as availability of soil N and P, characteristics that all increased substantially with Falcataria invasion. Given the degree of change to a host of ecosystem processes, including decomposition, after invasion by Falcataria, these transformed forest ecosystems may best be viewed as fundamentally new and different, in both structure and function, from the native ecosystems they have replaced.     

Effect of legume understorey on decomposition and nutrient content of eucalypt forest litter

Summary In Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Donn ex Sm.) forest of south-western Australia dense germination and regeneration of the native legumeAcacia Pulchella R. Br. can occur following moderate to high intensity fire. The effect of this legume understorey on rate of decomposition and change in nutrient content ofE. marginata litter was investigated using the mesh bag techniques and by examining four components of forest floor litter representing increasing stages of decomposition. E. marginata leaf litter confined in mesh bags lost 37% of its initial dry weight in the first 8 months on the forest floor and 44% of its initial dry weight after 20 months. During this period weight loss was similar for leaf litter located in forest without legume understorey and for leaf litter placed under dense stands ofA. pulchella. MixingA. pulchella litter withE. marginata litter had no significant effect on rate ofE. marginata litter breakdown. The presence of understorey vegetation had a marked effect on chemical composition of decomposingE. marginata leaves. After 8 and 20 months exposure on the forest floor, leaf litter in mesh bags placed underA. pulchella understorey had significantly (P<0.001) higher concentration and contained significantly (P<0.001) greater amounts of N, P, K, S, Ca and Mg than leaf litter placed in areas without legume understorey. This effect was particularly marked for N and P. In forest without legume understorey the amounts of these two nutrients inE. marginata leaf litter changed little during the first 20 months of decomposition, but forE. marginata leaf litter in mesh bags underA. pulchella there were absolute gains of up to 68% in the amount of N and 109% in the amount of P during this period. This represents accumulation of N and P from sources outside the litter bags. The concentration of N, P, S, Ca and Mg were higher at each of the four stages of decomposition in eucalypt leaf litter collected from the forest floor beneathA. pulchella compared to eucalypt leaf litter collected in forest without understorey. Concentrations of N, P and S increased with stage of decomposition. Levels of these three nutrients in eucalypt litter from under the legume were 1.5 to 2.9 fold higher than in the same component of litter from forest without understorey. The effect of legume understorey on nutrient concentrations in the forest floor and on Cielement ratios in decomposing litter is discussed in relation to long term rates of litter breakdown and net mineralisation of litter nutrients.     

秦岭中幼林龄华北落叶松针叶与土壤的碳氮磷生态化学计量特征

为探究华北落叶松人工林物质循环规律与养分元素的分配格局,将华北落叶松针叶和土壤结合起来,以秦岭地区7年(7a)、12年(12a)、22年(22a)生华北落叶松人工林为研究对象,综合探究中幼林龄华北落叶松针叶和土壤的C、N、P含量及C∶N∶P化学计量特征。结果表明,不同林龄间土壤C和P含量的差异显著,7a和12a的C和P含量显著高于22a的,N含量差异不显著,随土层深度的增加,土壤C、N、P均呈下降趋势;22a土壤的C∶P和N∶P显著高于7a和12a,说明随着林龄增加,P限制了人工林正常的生长发育,C∶N在林龄之间的差异不显著;不同林龄针叶C差异不显著,N和P差异显著,N和P含量在中龄林中最高;22a针叶的C∶N和C∶P均表现为显著下降,3种林龄华北落叶松针叶的N∶P在6.8—9.3之间,说明幼、中林龄华北落叶松主要受N的限制;华北落叶松针叶和土壤的C、C∶N之间呈显著的正相关,P、C∶P之间呈显著的负相关,N、N∶P之间相关性不显著。中林龄华北落叶松人工林土壤P元素含量低,主要是通过养分的再吸收来满足植株的生长需求,而非通过吸收土壤养分。     

Influence of Aspen on Forest Floor Properties in Black Spruce-dominated Stands

In the absence of fire in black spruce-feathermoss stands, a thick forest floor layer dominated by bryophytes and sphagnum accumulates. This layer is associated with wet, cool and nutrient-poor soil conditions conducive to the paludification process and pushing the ecosystem towards an unproductive open black spruce forest. The presence of Populus tremuloides in theses stands may halt this process because this species has a high nutrient cycling rate and a litter that represses moss cover. The main hypothesis of this study is that, despite similar abiotic conditions (slope and drainage), the presence of Populus tremuloides in a stand dominated by Picea mariana affects surface soil nutrient availability, total N, pH as well as the decomposition process. The abundance of Populus tremuloides trees was associated with higher exchangeable cations, cationic exchangeable capacity and pH of the forest floor layer on all sites. A decrease in organic matter thickness with increasing aspen presence was also found on all sites, suggesting that this species affects the decomposition process by the quality of its litter as well as by a general improvement of soil physical and chemical properties. The decomposition rate of a standard substrate as well as in vitro potential net nitrogen mineralization were positively related to Populus tremuloides on only one of the three sites, and non-significant on the other sites. Strong immobilization of added nitrogen during incubation was observed on all sites and was not related to aspen, which suggested that in these stands, the soil microbial community is uniformly and strongly nitrogen limited. The zone of influence of Populus tremuloides was evaluated in areas around the soil sampling plot ranging from 3 to 7 m. The results revealed that this zone varies with soil properties. The results suggest that the presence of Populus tremuloides accelerate nutrient cycling, which could affect stand productivity to some extent.     

Influence of stand age on nutrient and energy release through decomposition in alder-cardamom agroforestry systems of the eastern Himalayas

The influence of stand age (5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 years) on the decomposition of litter fractions, nutrient and energy release of mixtures of N₂-fixing alder (Alnus nepalensis) and non-N₂-fixing large cardamom (Amomum subulatum) systems was compared. Seasonal decomposition rates were distinct with the highest rate in the first 6 months followed by subsequent seasons. The decomposition rate was substantially high in younger stands (10- to 15-years) and declined in the older stands. Heat sink from the stand floor litter increased from 171 × 10⁶ kJ year⁻¹ in 5 years to 299 × 10⁶ kJ year⁻¹ at 15 years and then considerably decreased with advancing age. However, energy and nutrient releases were slow at a high initial lignin-to-initial N ratio and C-to-N ratio, and there was an inverse relationship between the k-value of ash-free-mass and N expressed as a function of the C-to-N ratio. Quantities of nutrient release and energy loss per unit area in 24 months of decomposition were highest in 15 years and subsequently they lowered with advancing age. Nutrient loss indicated approximately uniform absolute and relative rates. Absolute energy consistently decreased by 81–88% in 24 months. Ash-free mass of decomposing litter remaining at different retrieval dates was associated with a narrowing of the C-to-N ratio. The relative loss rate of ash-free mass, nutrients and energy content was strongly related to the C-to-N ratio, litter temperature and litter moisture. The influence of Alnus in the younger stands on nutrient and energy releases were rapid, indicating accelerated nutrient cycling and energy dynamics. The intensity of the processes was highly phenomenal and considerably high in younger stands up to 20 years. Thus, an appropriate management cycle of the Alnus-cardamom system for sustainability is 15–20 years.     

Nutrition ofPinus caribaea in its native savanna habitat

Summary Fertility levels in soils beneathPinus caribaea trees were examined in the Mountain Pine Ridge savannas, Belize, where fire control has precipitated the development of pine woodland. Slight surface soil enrichment was recorded beneath pine canopies, but to levels well below those found beneath associated hardwoods. Estimates of total nutrient pools beneath trees showed modest cation accumulation beneath a 73 year old tree but some defecits in Ca and Mg beneath a 24 year old tree. A tap root cutting experiment on trees of the same species revealed no significant declines in foliar nutrient levels after 19 months. It is concluded that no pronounced long-term deterioration in soil fertility levels is developing beneath stands ofP. caribaea in the savanna, although some temporary nutrient declines may exist beneath young pine stands. Atmospheric inputs are the most likely source of nutrient accretion and it is suggested that the establishment of hardwood associates with pine may enhance the rates of nutrient capture from this source.     

Functional Group Identity Does not Predict Invader Impacts: Differential Effects of Nitrogen-fixing Exotic Plants on Ecosystem Function

The introduction of exotic plants can have large impacts on ecosystem functions such as soil nutrient cycling. Since these impacts result from differences in traits between the exotic and resident species, novel physiological traits such as N cycling may cause large alterations in ecosystem function. It is unclear, however, whether all members of a given functional group will have the same ecosystem effects. Here we look at a within functional group comparison to test whether an annual (Lupinus luteus) and a perennial (Acacia saligna) N-fixing exotic species cause the same effects on soil N cycling in the fynbos vegetation of South Africa. We measured litterfall quantity and quality, and soil total nitrogen and organic matter for each vegetation type as well. Available nitrogen was quantified using ion exchange resin bags monthly for 1 year. We used microcosms to evaluate litter decomposition. Although both exotic species increased the available nitrogen in the soil, only Acacia increased the total soil N and organic matter. This could be explained by the slow decomposition of Acacia litter in the microcosm study, despite the fact that Acacia and Lupinus litter contained equivalent N concentrations. Presumably, low carbon quality of Acacia litter slows its decomposition in soil, resulting in retention of organic nitrogen in Acacia stands after clearing for restoration purposes. The differences in long term impacts of these annual and perennial species highlight the fact that not all N-fixing exotic species exert equivalent impacts. Ecologists should consider multiple traits rather than broadly defined functional groups alone when predicting invader impacts.     

马尾松人工纯林凋落松针数量及基质质量动态

凋落物是森林生态系统的重要组成部分,其产量与基质质量是影响植物-土壤间养分循环的重要因素。以3种密度马尾松人工纯林为研究对象,分析松针凋落模式及基质质量变化规律,比较不同林分密度间松针凋落特性差异,探讨松针基质质量、产量及气候因素间的关系。结果表明:松针凋落数量动态变化属双峰型,在2月呈现一个小高峰,在10/11月达最高峰。3种密度林分中各月凋落松针的N、P浓度均差异显著(P0.05),全年最高值出现在4—6月,8—12月的松针N、P浓度显著低于其他时段;不同月份凋落松针木质素浓度也差异显著(P0.05),在2月木质素含量达峰值,7、8月含量较低;3种密度林分中各月凋落松针的C/N、C/P、L/N和L/P比存在显著差异(P0.05),4—6月呈现最低值,9/11/12月则出现最高值,相差达2—3倍,且均高于养分释放临界值,不利于松针N素和P素的释放。林分密度对松针凋落数量和N浓度影响显著(P0.05),中等密度林分松针凋落数量高于低、高密度林分,中、高密度林分凋落松针N浓度显著高于低密度林分。凋落松针基质质量与自身凋落数量密切相关,并且受气温和降水量的影响。凋落松针N、P浓度与凋落数量呈显著负相关(P0.05),C/N、C/P、L/N、L/P比与凋落数量呈显著正相关(P0.05),说明更多凋落物产量将伴随着更低的基质质量,将有更慢的分解速度。     

Responses of litter decomposition to temperature along a chronosequence of tropical montane rainforest in a microcosm experiment

We conducted a microcosm experiment for studying the decomposition of Altingia obovata leaf litter by the decomposer community at 20 and 30°C from three forest stands (namely a 35-year-old secondary forest, a 47-year-old secondary forest, and a primary forest) of a tropical montane rainforest. Our results showed that rank-order of the litter decomposition among the three forest stands was not parallel to the stand age. At 20°C, the mass loss of A. obovata leaf litter from the primary forest was higher than those from the two secondary forests, of which the younger stand showed higher mass loss than did the older one. However, there were no differences in mass loss among these three stands at 30°C. The mass loss for the two secondary forest stands, but not for the primary forest stand, increased significantly from 20 to 30°C. The level of lignin decomposition among the three stands at 20°C corresponded to their forest stand age, i.e., the primary forest > the 47-year-old secondary forest > the 35-year-old secondary forest. A rise of 10°C in temperature significantly increased lignin decomposition for the two secondary forests, while the reverse was true for the primary forest. Carbohydrate decomposition was positively related to the temperature but not to the stand age. The different responses of litter decomposition to the forest stand age and temperature might be due to the differences in the microbial activities among the three forest stands.     

Nutrient cycling in Pinus sylvestris stands in eastern Finland

Nutrient cycling within three Pinus sylvestris stands was studied in eastern Finland. The aim of the study was to determine annual fluxes and distribution of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, B, and Al in the research stands. Special emphasis was put on determining the importance of different fluxes, especially the internal cycle within the trees in satisfying the tree nutrient requirements for biomass production. The following nutrient fluxes were included, input; free precipitation and throughfall, output; percolation through soil profile, biological cycle; nutrient uptake from soil, retranslocation within trees, return to soil in litterfall, release by litter decomposition. The distribution of nutrients was determined in above- and belowground tree compartments, in ground and field vegetation, and in soil.The nitrogen use efficiencies were 181, 211 and 191 g of tree aboveground dry matter produced per g of N supplied by uptake and retranslocation in the sapling, pole stage and mature stands, respectively. Field vegetation was more efficient in nitrogen use than trees. Stand belowground/aboveground and fine root/coarse root biomass ratios decreased with tree age. With only slightly higher fine root biomass, almost three times more nitrogen had to be taken-up from soil for biomass production in the mature stand than in the sapling stand.The annual input-output balances of most nutrients were positive; throughfall contained more nutrients than was lost in mineral soil leachate. The sulphate flux contributed to the leaching of cations, especially magnesium, from soil in the mature stand.Retranslocation supplied 17–42% of the annual N, P and K requirements for tree aboveground biomass production. Precipitation and throughfall were important in transferring K and Mg, and also N in the sapling stand. Litterfall was an important pathway for N, Ca, Mg and micro nutrients, especially in the oldest stands.     

Litterfall and nutrient returns in red alder stands in western Washington

Summary Litterfall was collected over 1 year from eight natural stands of red alder growing on different sites in western Washington. The stands occurred at various elevations and on different soils, and differed in age, basal area, and site index. Most litterfall was leaf litter (average 86 percent). Amounts of litterfall and leaf litter varied significantly (P<0.05) among the sites. Average weights of litterfall and leaf litter in kg ha^–1 yr^–1, were 5150 and 4440, respectively. Weight of leaf litter was not significantly (P<0.05) related to site index, stand age, or basal area. The sites varied significantly (P<0.05) in concentrations of all elements determined in the leaf litter, except Zn. Average chemical concentrations were: N, 1.98 percent; P, 0.09 percent; K, 0.44 percent; Ca, 1.01 percent; Mg, 0.21 percent; S, 0.17 percent; SO₄–S, nil; Fe, 324 ppm; Mn, 311 ppm; Zn, 53 ppm; Cu, 13 ppm; and Al, 281 ppm. There were significant correlations between some stand characteristics and concentrations of some elements, and among the different chemical components of the leaf litter. Important correlations were found between stand age and P concentration (r=–0.84,P<0.01); weight of leaf litter and P concentration (r=0.74,P<0.05); weight of leaf litter and K concentration (r=0.71,P<0.05); concentrations of N and S (r=0.81,P<0.05); and concentrations of Fe and Al (r=0.98,P<0.01). Returns of the different elements to the soil by leaf litter varied among the different sites. Average nutrient and Al returns, in kg ha^–1 yr^–1, were: N, 82; Ca, 41; K, 19; Mg, 8; S, 7; P, 4; Fe, 1; Mn, 1; Al, 1; Zn, 0.2, and Cu, <0.1.     

沙化程度和林龄对湿地松叶片及林下土壤C、N、P化学计量特征影响

为阐明沙化程度和林龄对湿地松(Pinus elliottii)叶片及林下土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量特征影响,探讨C、N、P化学计量比对沙山植被恢复的指示意义,在鄱阳湖多宝沙山沿沙化梯度测定了不同林龄湿地松叶片及林下土壤C、N、P含量。结果表明:1)在叶片C、N、P及其化学计量比中叶N与C∶N对沙化程度和林龄变化反应最为敏感。对于轻度与中度沙化区的5年生与10年生湿地松林,林龄、林龄与沙化程度的交互作用均对叶N及C∶N产生显著影响;对于中度与重度沙化区的2年生和10年生湿地松林,林龄和沙化程度均显著影响叶N与C∶N。2)叶片与土壤二者C、N、P及化学计量比对沙化程度与林龄变化的响应不完全一致。林龄、林龄与沙化程度的交互作用对轻度与中度沙化区5年生和10年生湿地松林土壤全N有显著影响;对于中度与重度沙化区2年生和10年生湿地松林,仅沙化程度对土壤全磷以及林龄对土壤有机碳影响显著。3)10年生湿地松叶片N∶P平均值为20.63,10年生以下湿地松叶片N∶P平均值为15.61,随着林龄的增加,湿地松生长由N、P共同限制逐渐转向更受P的限制。     

Drought and warming induced changes in P and K concentration and accumulation in plant biomass and soil in a Mediterranean shrubland

A field experiment involving drought and warming manipulation was conducted over a 6-year period in a Mediterranean shrubland to simulate the climate conditions projected by IPCC models for the coming decades (20% decreased soil moisture and 1°C warming). We investigated P and K concentration and accumulation in the leaves and stems of the dominant species, and in soil. Drought decreased P concentration in Globularia alypum leaves (21%) and in Erica multiflora stems (30%) and decreased K concentration in the leaves of both species (20% and 29%, respectively). The general decrease of P and K concentration in drought plots was due to the reduction of soil water content, soil and root phosphatase activity and photosynthetic capacity that decreased plant uptake capacity. Warming increased P concentration in Erica multiflora leaves (42%), but decreased it in the stems and leaf litter of Erica multiflora and the leaf litter (33%) of Globularia alypum, thereby demonstrating that warming improved the P retranslocation and allocation from stem to leaves. These results correlate with the increase in photosynthetic capacity and growth of these two dominant shrub species in warming plots. Drought and warming had no significant effects on biomass P accumulation in the period 1999–2005, but drought increased K accumulation in aboveground biomass (10 kg ha⁻¹) in Globularia alypum due to the increase in K concentration in stems. The stoichiometric changes produced by the different responses of the nutrients led to changes in the P/K concentration ratio in Erica multiflora leaves, stems and litter, and in Globularia alypum stems and litter. This may have implications for the nutritional value of these plant species and plant–herbivore relationships. The effects of climate change on P and K concentrations and contents in Mediterranean ecosystems will differ depending on whether the main component of change is drought or warming.     

Tree-microbial biomass competition for nutrients in a temperate deciduous forest,central Germany

Aims

Our goals were (1) to determine whether tree species diversity affects nutrient (N, P and K) cycling, and (2) to assess whether there is competition for these nutrients between microbial biomass and trees.

Methods

We measured nutrient resorption efficiency by trees, nutrient contents in leaf litterfall, decomposition rates of leaf litter, nutrient turnover in decomposing leaf litter, and plant-available nutrients in the soil in mono-species stands of beech, oak, hornbeam and lime and in mixed-species stands, each consisting of three of these species.

Results

Cycling of nutrients through leaf litter input and decomposition were influenced by the types of tree species and not simply by tree species diversity. Trees and microbial biomass were competing strongly for P, less for K and only marginally for N. Such competition was most pronounced in mono-species stands of beech and oak, which had low nutrient turnover in their slow decomposing leaf litter, and less in mono-species stands of hornbeam and lime, which had high nutrient turnover in their fast decomposing leaf litter.

Conclusions

The low soil P and K availability in beech stands, which limit the growth of beech at Hainich, Germany, were alleviated by mixing beech with hornbeam and lime. These species-specific effects on nutrient cycling and soil nutrient availability can aid forest management in improving productivity and soil fertility.

     

Leaf litter decomposition and nutrient dynamics in a subtropical forest after typhoon disturbance

Decomposition of typhoon-generated and normal leaf litter and their release patterns for eight nutrient elements were investigated over 3 yr using the litterbag technique in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest on Okinawa Island, Japan. Two common tree species, Castanopsis sieboldii and Schima wallichii, representative of the vegetation and differing in their foliar traits, were selected. The elements analyzed were N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Al, Fe and Mn. Dry mass loss at the end of study varied in the order: typhoon green leaves > typhoon yellow leaves > normal leaves falling for both species. For the same litter type, Schima decomposed faster than Castanopsis. Dry mass remaining after 2 yr of decomposition was positively correlated with initial C:N and C:P ratios. There was a wide range in patterns of nutrient concentration, from a net accumulation to a rapid loss in decomposition. Leaf litter generated by typhoons decomposed more rapidly than did the normal litter, with rapid losses for N and P. Analysis of initial quality for the different litter types showed that the C:P ratios were extremely high (range 896 – 2467) but the P:N ratios were < 0.05 (range 0.02 – 0.04), indicating a likely P-limitation for this forest. On average 32% less N and 60% less P was retranslocated from the typhoon-generated green leaves than from the normal litter for the two species, Castanopsis and Schima. An estimated 2.13 g m^–2 yr^–1 more N and 0.07 g m^–2 yr^–1 more P was transferred to the soil as result of typhoon disturbances, which were as high as 52% of N and 74% of P inputted from leaf litter annually in a normal year. Typhoon-driven maintenance of rapid P cycling appears to be an important mechanism by which growth of this Okinawan subtropical forest is maintained.