Hierarchical responses of plant stoichiometry to phosphorus addition in an alpine meadow community

为了探明氮(N)限制的植物群落中物种水平和功能群水平的碳(C)、N、磷(P)含量以及C:N:P对P添加的响应是否一致,明确P添加对群落物种构成改变的内在机制。以青藏高原高寒草甸为研究对象, 通过P添加试验, 研究了功能群水平和物种水平生态化学计量比对P添加的响应, 以及P添加对物种水平的优势度和功能群水平生物量的影响。结果表明: 在青藏高原高寒草甸连续5年添加P显著改变了植物的C、N、P含量以及C:N:P, 且在物种水平和功能群水平(不含典型物种)的响应规律基本一致。在禾本科、莎草科和杂类草功能群(不含典型物种)和相应物种水平上P添加对C含量影响不显著。P添加显著增加了禾本科、莎草科、豆科和杂类草4个功能群(不含典型物种)和相应物种水平的植物P含量, 降低了C:P和N:P。禾本科和莎草科的N含量和C:N对P添加在物种水平和功能群水平上(不含典型物种)的响应规律一致, 表现为N含量显著降低, C:N显著增加; P添加使豆科物种水平上N含量显著增加而C:N显著降低, 但在功能群水平上(不含典型物种)无显著作用; 杂类草的N含量和C:N对P添加在物种水平和功能群水平上(不含典型物种)的响应规律均不一致。在N限制的生境中添加P, 禾本科物种在群落中逐渐占据优势跟其增高的N、P利用效率相关, 而杂类草由于逐渐降低的N和P利用效率使其生物量在群落中所占的比重逐渐下降。     

Effects of N addition on ecological stoichiometric characteristics in six dominant plant species of alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,China

以青藏高原高寒草甸为研究对象, 通过人工氮肥添加试验, 研究6个群落优势种在不同施氮(N)水平下叶片碳(C)、N、磷(P)元素含量的变化以及生态化学计量学特征。结果表明: 自然条件下, 6个物种叶片N、P质量浓度存在显著的差异, 表现为: 黄花棘豆(Oxytropis ochrocephala)最高, 为24.5和2.51 g·kg^-1, 其叶片N含量低于而P含量高于我国其他草地的豆科植物; 其余5个物种叶片N、P质量浓度分别为11.5-18.1和1.49-1.72 g·kg^-1, 嵩草(Kobresia myosuroides)叶片N含量最低, 垂穗披碱草(Elymus nutans)叶片P含量最低, 与我国其他区域的研究结果相比, 其叶片N和P含量均低于我国其他草地非豆科植物。随氮素添加量的增大, 6种群落优势种叶片的C和P含量保持不变; 其他5种植物叶片N含量显著增加, 黄花棘豆叶片N含量保持不变。未添加氮肥时, 6种植物叶片N:P为7.3-11.2, 说明该区植物生长更多地受N限制。随N添加量的增加, 除黄花棘豆外, 其他5种植物叶片N:P大于16, 表现为植物生长受P限制。综合研究表明, 青藏草原高寒草甸植物叶片N含量较低, 植物受N影响显著, 但不同物种对N的添加反应不同, 豆科植物黄花棘豆叶片对N添加不敏感, 其他5个物种叶片全N含量随着N添加量的升高而增加, 该研究结果可为高寒草甸科学施肥提供理论依据。     

Responses of ecosystem carbon exchange to multi-level water addition in an alpine meadow in Namtso of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,China

高寒草甸是青藏高原的主要草地类型, 对青藏高原生态系统碳收支具有重要的调节作用。目前, 有关高寒草甸生态系统碳交换对气候变化的响应所知甚少, 尤其是降水变化会如何影响高寒草甸碳交换过程的相关研究非常匮乏。该文作者于2013和2014年的生长季(5-9月)在青藏高原纳木错地区高寒草甸进行多梯度人工增水实验, 设置对照和5个水分添加梯度, 分别增加0%、20%、40%、60%、80%和100%的降水, 以研究高寒草甸生态系统在不同降水量条件下的碳交换变化。增水处理后, 各处理梯度之间的土壤温度没有显著差异, 而土壤含水量在不同增水处理后出现显著变化, 相对于对照, 增水幅度越大, 对应的土壤含水量越高。综合2013和2014年的观测结果, 高寒草甸生态系统整体表现为碳吸收, 在20%增水处理中, 净生态系统碳交换(NEE)达到最大值, 随着模拟的降水梯度进一步增加, NEE逐渐下降; 增水处理对生态系统呼吸(ER)无显著影响; 总生态系统生产力(GEP)的变化趋势与NEE一致, 即随着增水梯度增大, GEP先增加, 并在增水20%处理达到最大值, 随后GEP开始降低。研究表明, 在高寒草甸生态系统, 水分是影响GEP和NEE的重要因素, 对ER影响较弱; 未来适度的增水(20%-40%)能促进高寒草甸生态系统对碳的吸收。     

高寒草甸植物化学计量比对磷添加的分层响应

为了探明氮(N)限制的植物群落中物种水平和功能群水平的碳(C)、N、磷(P)含量以及C:N:P对P添加的响应是否一致,明确P添加对群落物种构成改变的内在机制。以青藏高原高寒草甸为研究对象, 通过P添加试验, 研究了功能群水平和物种水平生态化学计量比对P添加的响应, 以及P添加对物种水平的优势度和功能群水平生物量的影响。结果表明: 在青藏高原高寒草甸连续5年添加P显著改变了植物的C、N、P含量以及C:N:P, 且在物种水平和功能群水平(不含典型物种)的响应规律基本一致。在禾本科、莎草科和杂类草功能群(不含典型物种)和相应物种水平上P添加对C含量影响不显著。P添加显著增加了禾本科、莎草科、豆科和杂类草4个功能群(不含典型物种)和相应物种水平的植物P含量, 降低了C:P和N:P。禾本科和莎草科的N含量和C:N对P添加在物种水平和功能群水平上(不含典型物种)的响应规律一致, 表现为N含量显著降低, C:N显著增加; P添加使豆科物种水平上N含量显著增加而C:N显著降低, 但在功能群水平上(不含典型物种)无显著作用; 杂类草的N含量和C:N对P添加在物种水平和功能群水平上(不含典型物种)的响应规律均不一致。在N限制的生境中添加P, 禾本科物种在群落中逐渐占据优势跟其增高的N、P利用效率相关, 而杂类草由于逐渐降低的N和P利用效率使其生物量在群落中所占的比重逐渐下降。     

Effects of nitrogen addition on root dynamics in an alpine meadow,Northwestern Sichuan

该文以川西北高寒草甸为研究对象, 采用微根管法研究了不同施氮(N)水平下高寒草甸植物群落根系现存量、生产量、死亡量和周转率的变化及其与土壤理化性质的相互关系。结果表明: N添加显著增加了土壤速效氮(AN)含量, 降低了土壤pH值, 但是对土壤有机质(SOM)和全氮(TN)含量无显著影响。在0-10 cm土层, 平均根系现存量和累积根系生产量无显著变化, 累积根系死亡量在N10处理下显著降低了206.1 g·m ^-2, 根系周转率在N30处理下显著提高了17%; 在10-20 cm土层, N添加处理的平均根系现存量和累积根系生产量分别显著降低了195.3和142.3 g·m ^-2 (N10)、235.8和212.1 g·m ^-2 (N20)、198.0和204.4 g·m ^-2 (N30), 累积根系死亡量和周转率无显著变化。此外, 累积根系生产量、死亡量和周转率与AN含量相关性较大, 而平均根系现存量与SOM、AN和TN含量相关性较大。综上所述, N添加对高寒草甸的影响主要通过改变土壤可利用N含量, 进而影响根系的动态特征、空间分布格局和周转以及碳分配特征。     

The interactive effects of nitrogen addition and increased precipitation on gross ecosystem productivity in an alpine meadow

氮水添加对高寒草甸生态系统生产力的影响 降水变化和大气氮沉降增加对草原生态系统碳交换具有重要的影响,进而影响草地生产力、群落组成和生态系统功能。然而,氮水添加对高寒草甸生态系统碳交换的影响目前尚不清楚。因此,本研究在青藏高原高寒草甸布设氮水添加试验,设置4种不同处理：对照、 加氮、加水和同时添加氮水,对生态系统碳交换过程进行了连续4年的原位观测。研究结果发现,氮添加可以增加总生态系统生产力(GEP)、植物地上生物量、群落盖度和群落加权平均高度(CWMh),而水分添加没有显著影响。生态系统碳交换对氮水添加的响应在干湿年存在显著差异。水分添加仅在干旱年对净生态系统碳交换(NEE)具有显著影响,原因是GEP的增加量大于生态系统呼吸(ER)。相反,氮添加仅在湿润年显著提高了生态系统碳交换,其中GEP的增加归因于NEE的增加量大于ER。结构方程结果表明,氮添加主要通过增加优势种的盖度从而提高NEE。本研究强调了降水和优势物种在调节高寒草甸生态系统响应环境变化中的重要作用。     

Nonlinear responses of productivity and diversity of alpine meadow communities to degradation

为了阐释青藏高原高寒草甸退化的关键生态过程, 该研究依托藏北高原草地生态系统研究站(那曲站), 设置不同退化梯度实验, 即对照、轻度退化、中度退化、重度退化和极度退化5个梯度, 探究群落生产力和物种多样性对不同退化强度的响应机制。结果表明: 1)随着退化程度不断加剧, 地上生物量呈现线性或非线性增加趋势, 在重度退化处理下, 地上生物量显著高于对照32.3%, 其中高山嵩草(Kobresia pygmaea)地上生物量呈非线性下降趋势, 而矮火绒草(Leontopodium nanum)地上生物量呈非线性增加趋势; 2)与地上生物量的响应模式相反, 随着退化程度加剧, 地下生物量与总生物量均呈现非线性降低趋势; 3)高寒草甸退化过程中, 物种辛普森指数、丰富度指数、香农多样性指数和均匀度指数均呈现非线性上升趋势。结构等式方程结果表明, 土壤碳含量和体积含水量与地下生物量均呈现显著的正相关关系。土壤碳含量、体积含水量和砾石质量比对地上生物量无显著影响, 土壤碳、氮含量与物种多样性指数呈现显著的负相关关系。研究认为地上生产力的变化不能很好地指示草地的退化程度, 建议今后研究应以可食性牧草和毒杂草等植物功能群的变化来衡量草地退化。     

Extreme drought effects on nonstructural carbohydrates of dominant plant species in a meadow grassland

植物光合作用产生的非结构性碳水化合物(NSCs)水平可以反映植物和生态系统对环境变化的响应程度。近年来, 草原极端干旱事件的发生频率和持续时间增加趋势明显, 对生态系统结构和功能产生深远影响。该研究以内蒙古呼伦贝尔草甸草原为研究对象, 通过连续4年减少66%生长季降水量的控制实验来模拟极端干旱事件, 分析草原6种优势物种和植物功能群NSCs各组分对极端干旱的响应规律与机制。结果显示, 由于植物生物学、光合特性以及生理生态等特性的差异, 不同物种对干旱胁迫的响应具有明显差异。这表明草地植物NSCs组分及其利用策略对干旱胁迫的响应具有物种特异性, 从而导致其生物量的不同响应。将6种植物分为禾草和非禾草两类, 发现干旱显著增加了禾草的淀粉含量, 但对其可溶性糖含量无显著影响; 相反, 干旱显著增加了非禾草功能群的可溶性糖含量, 对其淀粉含量无显著影响, 表明不同功能群采取了不同的干旱应对策略。禾草选择将光合作用固定的能量进行储存以应对干旱胁迫, 其生物量对干旱响应不敏感; 而非禾草选择将能量以可溶性糖的形式直接供植物生长利用以及抵御干旱胁迫, 其生物量对干旱响应较为敏感。这一发现可为预测在全球气候变化背景下草甸草原生态系统结构与功能对极端干旱的响应提供科学参考。     

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

以青藏高原高寒草甸为研究对象, 通过人工氮肥添加试验, 研究6个群落优势种在不同施氮(N)水平下叶片碳(C)、N、磷(P)元素含量的变化以及生态化学计量学特征。结果表明: 自然条件下, 6个物种叶片N、P质量浓度存在显著的差异, 表现为: 黄花棘豆(Oxytropis ochrocephala)最高, 为24.5和2.51 g·kg^-1, 其叶片N含量低于而P含量高于我国其他草地的豆科植物; 其余5个物种叶片N、P质量浓度分别为11.5-18.1和1.49-1.72 g·kg^-1, 嵩草(Kobresia myosuroides)叶片N含量最低, 垂穗披碱草(Elymus nutans)叶片P含量最低, 与我国其他区域的研究结果相比, 其叶片N和P含量均低于我国其他草地非豆科植物。随氮素添加量的增大, 6种群落优势种叶片的C和P含量保持不变; 其他5种植物叶片N含量显著增加, 黄花棘豆叶片N含量保持不变。未添加氮肥时, 6种植物叶片N:P为7.3-11.2, 说明该区植物生长更多地受N限制。随N添加量的增加, 除黄花棘豆外, 其他5种植物叶片N:P大于16, 表现为植物生长受P限制。综合研究表明, 青藏草原高寒草甸植物叶片N含量较低, 植物受N影响显著, 但不同物种对N的添加反应不同, 豆科植物黄花棘豆叶片对N添加不敏感, 其他5个物种叶片全N含量随着N添加量的升高而增加, 该研究结果可为高寒草甸科学施肥提供理论依据。     

水稻生长及其体内C、N、P组成对开放式空气CO2浓度增高和N、P施肥的响应

采用FACE（Free Air Carbon-dioxide Enrichment)技术,研究了不同N、P施肥水平下,水稻分蘖期、拔节期、抽穗期和成熟期根、茎、穗生长,C/N比、N、P含量及N、P吸收对大气CO2浓度升高的响应,结果表明,高CO2促进水稻茎、穗和根的生长,增加分蘖期叶干重,对拔节期、抽穗期的成熟期叶干重没有显著增加,降低茎、叶N含量;增加抽穗期穗N含量;降低成熟期穗N含量;对分蘖期根N含量影响不显著,而降低拔节期,抽穗期和成熟期根N含量,增加拔节期、抽穗期和成熟期叶P含量,对茎、穗、根P含量影响不显著,水稻各组织C含量变化不显著,C/N比增加,显著增加水稻地上部分P吸收;增加N吸收,但没有统计显著性,N、P施用对水稻各组织生物量没有显著影响,高N（HN）比低N（LN）增加组织中N含量,而不同P肥水平间未表现出明显差异,高N条件下高CO2增加水稻成熟期地下部分/地上部分比,文中还讨论了高CO2对N、P含量及地下部分/地上部分比的影响机制。     

Nitrate uptake ability by maize roots during and after drought stress

The effects of different intensities and durations of soil drought and re-watering on the nitrate uptake ability of maize roots were studied. Plants were grown in split-root containers with one part of the root system subjected to different intensities and durations of soil drought and re-watering while the other part of the root system was continuously watered to 23% (w/w) soil water content (70% water capacity). Experiments were performed in split-root containers to maintain a high growth rate, thus ensuring high nutrient demand of the shoot irrespective of the soil water regime. To avoid limitation of nitrate uptake by transport processes in the dry soil, and to ensure a uniform ¹⁴N/¹⁵N ratio at the root surface, ¹⁵N was applied to the roots by placing them into an aerated nutrient solution with 0.5 mM Ca(¹⁵NO₃)₂. Shoot elongation and biomass were only slightly affected by drought in one root compartment when the soil in the other root compartment was kept wet. Therefore, the growth-related nutrient demand of the shoot remained at a high level. At moderate levels of soil drought (10% w/w water content) the ability of the roots for N-uptake was not affected even after 10 d of drought. N-uptake ability was reduced to about 20% of the well-watered control only when the soil water content was decreased to 5%. Total soluble sugar content of the roots increased with increasing soil drought, indicating that low N-uptake ability of roots subjected to severe soil drought was not caused by low assimilate supply from the shoot. Nitrate uptake ability of roots maintained in very dry soil (5% soil water content w/w) even for a prolonged period of 8 d, recovered within 3 d following re-watering. Root growth increased one day after re-watering. A short-term experiment with excised roots formerly subjected to severe soil drought showed that nitrate uptake ability recovered in old and young root segments after 2 d of re-watering. Obviously, the increase in N-uptake ability after re-watering was caused not only by new root growth but also by recovery of the uptake ability of formerly stressed roots.     

Nitrogen dynamics in alpine ecosystems of the northern Caucasus

Net N mineralization, nitrification, microbial biomass N and ¹⁵N natural abundance were studied in a toposequence of representative soils and plant communities in the alpine zone of the northern Caucasus. The toposequence was represented by (1) low-productive alpine lichen heath (ALH) of wind-exposed ridge and upper slope; (2) more productive Festuca varia grassland (FG) of middle slope; (3) most productive Geranium gymnocaulon/Hedusarum caucasicummeadow (GHM) of lower slope; (4) low-productive snowbed community (SBC) of the slope bottom. N availability, net N mineralization and nitrification were higher in soils of alpine grassland and meadow of the middle part of the toposequence compared with soils of lichen heath and snowbed community of extreme habitats in the alpine zone. There was no correlation between intensities of N transformation processes and favorable (low soil acidity, low C/N ratio, long vegetation period, relatively high temperature, absence of hydromorphic features) and unfavorable (opposite) factors, indicating that the intensity of N mineralization and nitrification in the alpine soils is controlled by a complex combination of these factors. Potential net N mineralization and nitrification in alpine soils determined in the short-term laboratory incubation were considerably higher than those determined in the long-term field incubation. The differences of potential nitrification between soils of various plant communities did not correspond to the field determined pattern indicating the importance of on-site climatic conditions for control of nitrification in high mountains. The result of comparison of N transformation potentials in incubated and native soils indicated that nitrification potential was significantly increased after long-term soil incubation. It means that net nitrification determined in the field was probably overestimated, especially in the meadow soils. A soil translocation experiment indicated that low temperature was an important factor limiting net N mineralization and nitrification in alpine soils: net N mineralization and especially nitrification increased when alpine soils were translocated into the subalpine zone and mean annual temperature increased by about 3°C. Additional N input increased N availability (NH₄ ⁺-N) and potential nitrification in soils of the lower part of the toposequense (GHM and SBC), and potential net N mineralization in two soils of extreme habitats (ALH and SBC). A positive correlation was found between soil ¹⁵N and net N mineralization and nitrification; the relative ¹⁵N enrichment was characteristic of grassland and meadow ecosystems. ¹⁵N of total soil N pool increased during the field mineralization experiment; there was a positive tendency between the change in ¹⁵N and net N mineralization and nitrification, however the relationship was not significant. Foliar ¹⁵N of dominant plant species varied widely within community, however, a tendency of higher foliar ¹⁵N for species growing on the soils with higher net N mineralization, nitrification and ¹⁵N was observed.     

Assessment of Root System Dynamics of Species Grown in Mixtures under Field Conditions using Herbicide Injection and 15N Natural Abundance Methods: A Case Study with Pea, Barley and Mustard

Two methods were developed and used to study the root system dynamics of two species grown together or separately under field conditions. The first method, based on herbicide injection at different soil depths, was used to determine the rooting depth penetration rate of each species in pea–barley and pea–mustard mixtures. The roots absorbed the herbicide when they reached the treated zone leading to visible symptoms on the leaves which could be readily monitored. The second method used differences in ¹⁵N natural abundance and N concentration between legume and non-legume species to quantify the contribution of each species to root biomass of a pea–barley mixture. Each contribution was calculated using ¹⁵N abundance and N concentration of root mixtures and of subsamples of roots of individual species within mixtures. Both methods can indeed be used to distinguish roots of species in mixtures and thus to study belowground competition between associated species. The use of these methods demonstrated species differences in root system dynamics between species but also significant effects of interactions between species in mixtures. The rooting depth penetration rate was mainly species specific whereas root biomass was dependant on plant growth, allocation of dry matter between shoot and root components and growth factors such as N fertilization. Root biomass of each species may vary therefore with the level of competition between species.     

The vertical distribution of N and K uptake in relation to root distribution and root uptake capacity in mature Quercus robur, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies stands

We have measured the uptake capacity of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) from different soil depths by injecting ¹⁵N and caesium (Cs; as an analogue to K) at 5 and 50 cm soil depth and analysing the recovery of these markers in foliage and buds. The study was performed in monocultures of 40-year-old pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) located at an experimental site in Palsgård, Denmark. The markers were injected as a solution through plastic tubes around 20 trees of each species at either 5 or 50 cm soil depth in June 2003. After 65 days foliage and buds were harvested and the concentrations of ¹⁵N and Cs analysed. The recovery of ¹⁵N in the foliage and buds tended to be higher from 5 than 50 cm soil depth in oak whereas they where similar in spruce and beech after compensation for differences in immobilization of ¹⁵N in the soil. In oak more Cs was recovered from 5 than from 50 cm soil depth whereas in beech and spruce no difference could be detected. Out of the three investigated tree species, oak was found to have the lowest capacity to take up Cs at 50 cm soil depth compared to 5 cm soil depth also after compensating for differences in discrimination against Cs by the roots. The uptake capacity from 50 cm soil depth compared with 5 cm was higher than expected from the root distribution except for K in oak, which can probably be explained by a considerable overlap of the uptake zones around the roots and mycorrhizal hyphae in the topsoil. The study also shows that fine roots at different soil depths with different physiological properties can influence the nutrient uptake of trees. Estimates of fine root distribution alone may thus not reflect the nutrient uptake capacity of trees with sufficient accuracy. Our study shows that deep-rooted trees such as oak may have lower nutrient uptake capacity at deeper soil layers than more shallow-rooted trees such as spruce, as we found no evidence that deep-rooted trees obtained proportionally more nutrients from deeper soil layers. This has implications for models of nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems that use the distribution of roots as the sole criterion for predicting uptake of nutrients from different soil depths.     

Nitrogen deposition and carbon sequestration in alpine meadows

Nitrogen deposition experiments were carried out in alpine meadow ecosystems in Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in China, in order to explore the contribution of nitrogen deposition to carbon sequestration in alpine meadows. Two methods were used in this respect. First, we used the allocation of ¹⁵N tracer to soil and plant pools. Second, we used increased root biomass observed in the nitrogen-amended plots. Calculating enhanced carbon storage, we considered the net soil CO₂ emissions exposed to nitrogen deposition in alpine meadows. Our results show that nitrogen deposition can enhance the net soil CO₂ emissions, and thus offset part of carbon uptake by vegetation and soils. It means that we have to be cautious to draw a conclusion when we estimate the contribution of nitrogen deposition to carbon sequestration based on the partitioning of ¹⁵N tracer in terrestrial ecosystems, in particular in N-limited ecosystems. Even if we assess the contribution of nitrogen deposition to carbon sequestration based on increased biomass exposed to nitrogen deposition in terrestrial ecosystems, likewise, we have to consider the effects of nitrogen deposition on the soil CO₂ emissions.     

Leaf vs. epiphyte nitrogen uptake in a nutrient enriched Mediterranean seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) meadow

In situ nitrogen uptake by leaves and epiphytes was studied in a Mediterranean seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) meadow impacted from a fish farm and a pristine meadow, using ¹⁵NH₄ and ¹⁵NO₃ as tracers. In the impacted meadow both leaves and epiphytes yielded higher N concentrations and showed higher specific N uptake, suggesting a linkage between N uptake and its accumulation. Epiphytes took up N faster than leaves in relation to their corresponding biomass, but when assessed per unit area, N uptake was higher in leaves. Leaf N uptake was negatively correlated with epiphyte N uptake. With increasing epiphyte load on leaves, N leaf uptake decreased while N epiphyte uptake increased, indicating that epiphyte overgrowth hinders N uptake by P. oceanica leaves. Epiphyte contribution to total N uptake increased, while that of leaves decreased at the impacted meadow. However, 2-3 times less N was transferred daily from the water column to the benthic compartment, through seagrass and epiphyte uptake on total, at the impacted meadow. Therefore, it is probably still the loss of the key species - the seagrass - which plays the most important role in N cycling in seagrass ecosystems.     

Absorption of molecular urea by rice under flooded and non-flooded soil conditions

A pot experiment was conducted with rice to study the relative absorption of urea in molecular form compared to the other forms of N produced in soil from the applied urea. A method involving application of ¹⁴C-labelled urea and ¹⁵N-labelled urea alternately in two splits was used to quantify the absorption of molecular urea and other forms of N formed from it. Biomass production and N uptake were greater in plants grown under flooded soil conditions than in plants grown under non-flooded (upland) conditions. Absorption of N by rice increased with increasing rate of urea application up to 250 mg pot⁻¹ and declined thereafter. The absorption of urea from the flooded soil constituted 9.4% of total N uptake from applied N compared to only 0.2% from the non-flooded. Under submerged conditions, absorption of urea from topdressing was about twice that from basal application at planting. High water solubility of the fertilizer and better developed rice root system might have enhanced the absorption of molecular urea by flooded rice, especially from topdressing. Thus, in the flooded rice system, the direct absorption of molecular urea from topdressing accounted for 6.3% of the total N uptake from added urea. Under upland condition, it was 0.12%. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Short-term effects of urea amended with the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide on perennial ryegrass

The current study investigated the short-term physiological implications of plant nitrogen uptake of urea amended with the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (nBTPT) under both greenhouse and field conditions. ¹⁵N labelled urea amended with 0.0, 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5% nBTPT (w/w) was surface applied at a rate equivalent to 100 kg N ha^–1 to perennial ryegrass in a greenhouse pot experiment. Root, shoot and soil fractions were destructively harvested 0.75, 1.75, 4, 7 and 10 days after fertilizer application. Urease activity was determined in each fraction together with ¹⁵N recovery and a range of chemical analyses. The effect of nBTPT amended urea on leaf tip scorch was evaluated together with the effect of the inhibitor applied on its own on plant urease activity.nBTPT-amended urea dramatically reduced shoot urease activity for the first few days after application compared to unamended urea. The higher the nBTPT concentration the longer the time required for shoot activity to return to that in the unamended treatment. At the highest inhibitor concentration of 0.5% shoot urease activity had returned to that of unamended urea by 10 days. Root urease activity was unaffected by nBTPT in the presence of urea but was affected by nBTPT in the absence of urea.Transient leaf tip scorch was observed approximately 7–15 days after nBTPT + urea application and was greatest with high concentrations of nBTPT and high urea-N application rates. New developing leaves showed no visual sign of tip necrosis.Urea hydrolysis of unamended urea was rapid with only 1.3% urea-N remaining in the soil after 1.75 days. N uptake and metabolism by ryegrass was rapid with ¹⁵N recovery from unamended urea, in the plant (shoot + root) being 33% after 1.75 days. Most of the ¹⁵N in the soil following the urea+0.5% nBTPT application was still as urea after 1.75 days, yet ¹⁵N plant recovery at this time was 25% (root+shoot). This together with other evidence, suggests that if urea hydrolysis in soil is delayed by nBTPT then urea can be taken up by ryegrass as the intact molecule, albeit at a significantly slower initial rate of uptake than NH₄ ⁺-N. Protein and water soluble carbohydrate content of the plant were not significantly affected by amending urea with nBTPT however, there was a significant effect on the composition of amino acids in the roots and shoots, suggesting a difference in metabolism.Although nBTPT-amended urea affected plant urease activity and caused some leaf-tip scorch the effects were transient and short-lived. The previously reported benefit of nBTPT in reducing NH₃ volatilization of urea would appear to far outweigh any of the observed short-term effects, as dry-matter production of ryegrass is increased.     

Significance of organic nitrogen acquisition for dominant plant species in an alpine meadow on the Tibet plateau, China

Though the potential of plants to take up organic N (e.g., amino acids) is well established, the true significance of organic N acquisition to plant N nutrition has not yet been quantified under field conditions. Here we demonstrate that organic N contributes significantly to the annual N uptake of three dominant plant species (Kobresia humilis, Saussurea superba and Stipa aliena) of alpine meadows on the Tibet Plateau, China. This was achieved by using double-labelled (¹⁴C and ¹⁵N) algae as a source for slow and continuous release of amino acids, and tracing both labels in the above- and below-ground plant biomass. Four months after addition of algae, between 0.5% and 2.6% of ¹⁴C and 5% and 14% of ¹⁵N from added algae were recovered in the plants, which translate into an uptake of organic N between 0.3 mg N m⁻² and 1.5 mg N m⁻². The calculated contribution of organic N to total N uptake was estimated to range between 21% and 35% for K. humilis, and between 13% and 21% for S. aliena and S. superba, respectively, implying that organic N uptake by grassland plants is quantitatively significant under field conditions in the studied alpine meadows. This finding has important ecological implications with regard to competition for organic N between microorganisms and plant roots.     

祁连山3种典型生态系统土壤微生物活性和生物量碳氮含量

 测定分析了祁连山高寒草甸、山地森林和干草原土壤中微生物活性、生物量碳氮含量。结果显示：就土壤微生物生物量碳含量,森林比干草原和高寒草甸中分别高60%和120%以上,干草原比高寒草甸中高40%以上(p<0.05)。就土壤微生物生物量氮含量,0～5 cm土层,森林比高寒草甸和干草原中分别高64%和111%以上,高寒草甸比干草原中高29%;5～15 cm土层,森林比干草原和高寒草甸中分别高7%和191%以上,干草原比高寒草甸中高171% 以上(p<0.05)。森林和干草原中土壤微生物生物量碳比例比高寒草甸中高32%以上,0～5和5～15 cm土层,森林和干草原中土壤微生物生物量氮比例比高寒草甸中高150%以上（p<0.05）。就土壤微生物活性,0～5和5～15 cm土层,森林和高寒草甸比干草原中高26%以上;15～35 cm土层,森林比干草原和高寒草甸中高28%以上 (p<0.05)。土壤微生物生物量碳氮含量与有机碳含量及微生物生物量氮含量和比例与微生物生物量碳含量和比例呈现正相关（r²>0.30,p<0.000 1）。土壤微生物生物量氮含量、微生物生物量碳氮含量比例、微生物活性与土壤pH值呈显著负相关,土壤微生物生物量碳氮含量及其比例、微生物活性与土壤湿度呈正相关。说明祁连山3种生态系统土壤中微生物生物量和活性受气候要素、植被、有机碳、pH值和湿度等因素 的共同影响。