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。     

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。     

芨芨草叶片养分特征对氮磷不同添加水平的响应

植物叶片氮(N)、磷(P)养分特征受土壤可利用性N、P含量和N、P相对比例(N:P)的共同影响, 研究其作用机制有助于解释和评估土壤养分变化对植物养分利用策略的影响。该研究通过盆栽实验, 探讨芨芨草(Achnatherum splendens)养分化学计量学特征和叶片养分回收特征对不同剂量的养分添加(低、中、高3个N添加水平: 1.5、4.5、13.5 g·m^-2·a^-1)及不同土壤N:P (5、15、25)的响应。结果表明: 养分添加水平的提高显著增加了成熟叶片P含量和衰老叶片N、P含量, 显著降低了叶片N、P养分回收效率(NRE, PRE)。土壤N:P的升高显著降低了衰老叶片P含量和叶片NRE, 但增加了成熟和衰老叶片N:P和叶片PRE。相同养分添加水平条件下, 土壤N:P与叶片PRE显著正相关, 但与叶片NRE无显著相关性; 相同N:P条件下, 养分添加水平与NRE负相关, 但与PRE无显著相关性。植物NRE:PRE可以有效地反映环境变化所导致的植物对N、P需求的改变。土壤养分添加水平和N:P共同影响着芨芨草的叶片养分生态化学计量学特征和养分回收。     

氮磷硅添加对青藏高原高寒草甸垂穗披碱草叶片碳氮磷的影响

以甘南高寒草甸常见牧草垂穗披碱草(Elymus nutans)为研究对象,比较不同氮磷硅添加下,垂穗披碱草叶片对元素添加的反应。研究发现:氮添加显著提高土壤中硝态氮和铵态氮的含量;磷添加提高了土壤中全磷和速效磷的含量;高浓度的硅单独、硅与氮或磷混合可提高土壤中硝态氮的含量或全磷和速效磷的含量;氮和磷单独添加分别能提高垂穗披碱草叶片全氮和全磷含量,高浓度的硅单独、硅与氮或磷混合添加都能提高垂穗披碱草叶片全氮和全磷的含量。就硅元素而言,高浓度的硅添加,硅与氮或磷混合添加能提高土壤硝态氮、全磷和速效磷的含量,促进垂穗披碱草对土壤中氮磷的吸收,从而使植物叶片中氮磷的含量增加。     

早春和夏季氮磷添加对内蒙古典型草原退化群落碳交换的影响

过度放牧导致的养分“入不敷出”是我国天然草地大面积退化的主要原因之一, 而草地退化又显著影响了草原生态系统的固碳功能。能否通过补充土壤养分来恢复退化草地的固碳功能, 迄今相关研究较少。净生态系统碳交换(NEE)、生态系统呼吸(ER)和生态系统总初级生产力(GEP)是表征生态系统碳循环的重要指标。氮(N)和磷(P)是中国典型草原的主要限制性养分元素, 而草地退化进一步加剧了养分的限制。在退化草地上添加氮磷对碳循环的上述过程(NEE、ER和GEP)有何影响, 以及两种养分之间是否存在互作, 目前尚不清楚。为此, 该研究以内蒙古典型草原的退化草地为研究对象, 选择早春融雪期(4月)和夏季生长期(7月)两个时间节点, 设置不施肥(CK)、N添加(10.5 g·m^-2·a^-1, NH₄NO₃)、P添加(7 g·m^-2·a^-1, KH₂PO₄)和N、P共同添加((10.5 g N + 7 g P)·m^-2·a^-1) 4个养分处理, 探究早春和夏季氮磷添加对内蒙古典型草原退化群落碳交换的影响及其互作机制。结果表明: 1)在早春和夏季两个时期, 单独添加N或P对生态系统碳交换过程的影响均未达到显著水平, 而氮磷共同添加可显著提高NEE和GEP。2)早春(4月份)氮磷共同添加对NEE、ER和GEP的互作机制表现为正协同效应, 而夏季(7月份)氮磷共同添加对NEE、ER和GEP的互作机制表现为加性效应。为了恢复退化的典型草原的固碳功能, 氮磷共同添加比单一元素添加效果好, 且早春添加优于夏季添加。该研究对指导退化草地的恢复具有参考价值。     

养分添加对退化草地豆科植物草木犀功能性状的影响

养分亏缺是造成草地生态系统退化的重要因素, 养分添加被认为是促进退化草地恢复的重要手段。豆科植物作为草地生态系统的重要功能种群, 其对养分添加的响应尚不清楚。该研究选取典型豆科植物草木犀(Melilotus officinalis)为研究对象, 在浑善达克沙地开展了鸡粪添加(L0-L6分别为0、500、1 000、1 500、2 000、2 500和3 000 kg·hm_-2·a^-1)控制实验, 探究了养分添加对豆科植物功能性状的影响。鸡粪添加对草木犀的叶片氮(N)含量、磷(P)含量、钾(K)含量、最大净光合速率(P_nmax)、水分利用效率(WUE)、株高(H)和比叶面积(SLA)均有显著影响。随鸡粪添加量的升高, 草木犀叶片N、P、K含量均线性升高, 当添加量达到3 000 kg·hm_-2·a^-1 (L6)时, N、P、K含量升高幅度分别达到15%、67%和25%; 草木犀的H、SLA、P_nmax和WUE先上升后下降, 转折点出现在鸡粪添加量为1 500 kg·hm^-2·a^-1 (L3)时, 以8月份为例, L3较L0的升高幅度分别达到51%、18%、12%和38%, 而L6与L0则无显著差异。因此, 适量的鸡粪添加能显著提高豆科植物的光合能力和水分利用能力, 改善其生长状况, 有利于豆科植物种群的维持。     

氮添加对武夷山亚热带常绿阔叶林植物叶片氮磷化学计量特征的影响

该文以福建武夷山亚热带常绿阔叶林为研究对象, 通过设置3个氮(N)添加梯度的野外实验, 研究了群落内乔木植物、灌木植物、草本植物、蕨类植物和苔藓植物叶片N、磷(P)化学计量特征对N沉降的响应, 以及不同功能群和物种化学计量特征对N沉降响应的差异。在已开展5年人工N添加的样地内, 3年的监测结果表明: N添加整体上提高了植物叶片N含量, 草本层植物叶片N含量对N添加的响应比乔木层和灌木层植物更加敏感, 优势种米槠(Castanopsis carlesii)、草本植物砂仁(Amomum villosum)、蕨类植物狗脊(Woodwardia japonica)的叶片N含量显著增加。N添加整体上增加了植物叶片P含量, 乔木层植物和灌木层植物叶片P含量没有显著变化, 草本层植物叶片P含量显著增加, 而苔藓植物叶片P含量显著减少。N添加促使武夷山亚热带常绿阔叶林植物叶片N:P由18.67上升至19.72, 加剧了植物生长的P限制; 乔木物种N:P的变化较灌木和草本物种更加稳定。N添加条件下, 植物叶片N:P的变化主要受到叶片P含量而非N含量变化的影响, N添加对生态系统P循环的影响显著。     

氮磷添加对草甸草原土壤氮磷转化功能基因丰度的影响

氮添加是提高退化草地生产力的主要养分管理措施,而过量的氮输入会导致土壤酸化、增加硝酸盐淋溶损失和温室气体排放。旨在明确草原割草利用下土壤氮、磷转化功能基因丰度对氮磷添加的响应规律,为定向调控打草场土壤氮、磷转化过程,提高养分利用效率,减少温室气体N₂O排放提供科学依据。2018—2020年在呼伦贝尔草甸草原打草场设置了5个施氮水平(0、1.55、4.65、13.95、27.9 g N m^-2 a^-1)和3个磷水平(0、5.24、10.48 g P m^-2 a^-1),裂区试验设计,在植物不同生长时期测定土壤氨氧化(amoA-AOA和amoA-AOB)、反硝化(narG、nirK、nirS和nosZ)和磷转化(phoD)基因丰度。结果表明,土壤氮转化基因丰度受到氮、磷添加的调控,而氮、磷添加对土壤磷转化功能基因丰度无显著影响(P>0.05)。氮添加可提高amoA-AOB基因丰度,增加氨氧化细菌调控土壤总硝化速率的相对重要性,因此能增加硝酸盐淋溶损失潜势。高氮处理下添加磷可降低...     

科尔沁沙地优势固沙灌木叶片氮磷化学计量内稳性

为科学认识科尔沁沙地优势固沙灌木的生态适应性和固沙植被演变规律, 该研究对科尔沁沙地流动沙丘、半固定沙丘、固定沙丘和丘间低地的优势固沙灌木小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)和盐蒿(Artemisia halodendron)进行野外调查, 研究了这两种固沙灌木的叶片氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量特征、灌丛土壤养分状况以及内稳性特征。结果表明: 1)与盐蒿相比, 灌木小叶锦鸡儿具有较高的叶片N含量及N:P, 而P含量仅为盐蒿的1/2; 2)两种优势固沙灌木灌丛下土壤的全N、全P含量及速效N、速效P含量高于该地区土壤的平均水平, 小叶锦鸡儿灌丛下土壤养分含量显著高于盐蒿灌丛下土壤; 3)盐蒿叶片N、P化学计量内稳性指数(H)表现为H_P > H_N:P > H_N, 说明盐蒿更易受土壤N的限制; 小叶锦鸡儿叶片N、P化学计量内稳性指数表现为H_N:P > H_N > H_P, 意味着小叶锦鸡儿更易受土壤P的限制。在N含量较低的沙化草地, H_N较高的固沙灌木小叶锦鸡儿比盐蒿更具生长优势, 对于该地区生态恢复及保护具有不可替代的作用。然而, 小叶锦鸡儿额外吸收的N, 使其生长过程可能易受P的限制, 因此在沙地恢复过程中应注意土壤P的供应。     

松嫩草地80种草本植物叶片氮磷化学计量特征

以松嫩草地常见草本植物为研究对象, 分析了各生活型和功能群叶片氮磷化学计量特征。结果显示: 松嫩草地80种草本植物的叶片氮、磷质量浓度分别为(24.2 ± 0.96) mg·g ^-1和(2.0 ± 0.10) mg·g ^-1, 面积浓度分别为(13.0 ± 0.54) mg·cm ^-2和(1.0 ± 0.05) mg·cm ^-2, 氮磷比为13.0 ± 0.39, 氮磷比与叶片磷质量浓度、叶片氮、磷面积浓度有显著相关关系; 松嫩草地植物生长受到氮限制。一年生植物叶片氮、磷质量浓度和变异系数高于其他生活型, 各生活型之间氮面积浓度和氮磷比差异不显著。豆科植物叶片氮的质量浓度、面积浓度和氮磷比高于其他功能群。在不同生活型或功能群之间, 植物叶片磷的面积浓度差异不显著, 都在1.0 mg·cm ^-2左右; 适当地增加群落中豆科植物的比例, 可能有助于提高松嫩草地产量和质量。     

Functional groups' performances as influenced by nitrogen,phosphorus and nodule inhibition of legumes

Aims Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) constitute essential elements for plant growth and their availability influence species diversity in herbaceous plant communities. Legumes exhibit relatively high abundance in N-limited soils. Moreover, the legumes' N:P ratios are much higher than those of the other plant species grown in the same site, probably because they are able to fix atmospheric N 2. The objective of this study was to determine how the relative proportion in N and P availability and the restriction of legumes to fix atmospheric N 2 affect: (i) the primary productivity of plant species, (ii) species composition and (iii) N and P concentrations of species.Methods In an outdoor experiment, mixtures containing grasses, legumes and non-legume forbs were established in 32 containers under four soil treatments (control, N addition, P addition and disinfected soil), in a completely randomized design with eight replicates. Plant growth was examined when N and P were limited in the control soil:sand mixture, in a pot experiment sown with Plantago lanceolata .Important findings The pot experiment indicated that both N and P were limiting for the growth of P. lanceolata. Soil treatments affected primary productivity and species composition. Legumes had a relatively high abundance in the control and their growth was favoured, especially that of Medicago sativa, by P addition. Grasses' growth was increased by the addition of N. Inhibition of rhizobia resulted in poor growth of legumes and concomitant higher growth of grasses, in comparison to the control. The N:P ratios of non-legume species differed between treatments and were always higher in the legume species, even in the disinfected soil. The latter provides evidence that the high N concentrations found in legumes are a physiological characteristic of this specific group of plants.     

松嫩平原草甸三种植物叶片N、P化学计量特征及其与土壤N、P浓度的关系

测定了松嫩平原草甸3种主要植物羊草(Leymus chinensis)、芦苇(Phragmites communis)和尖叶胡枝子(Lespedeza hedysaroides)叶片全氮、全磷浓度,并分析了它们与土壤全氮、全磷浓度的关系.结果表明:3种植物叶片全氮浓度种间差异显著(P＜0.05),而全磷浓度种间差异不显...     

Linkages of plant stoichiometry to ecosystem production and carbon fluxes with increasing nitrogen inputs in an alpine steppe

Unprecedented levels of nitrogen (N) have entered terrestrial ecosystems over the past century, which substantially influences the carbon (C) exchange between the atmosphere and biosphere. Temperature and moisture are generally regarded as the major controllers over the N effects on ecosystem C uptake and release. N‐phosphorous (P) stoichiometry regulates the growth and metabolisms of plants and soil organisms, thereby affecting many ecosystem C processes. However, it remains unclear how the N‐induced shift in the plant N:P ratio affects ecosystem production and C fluxes and its relative importance. We conducted a field manipulative experiment with eight N addition levels in a Tibetan alpine steppe and assessed the influences of N on aboveground net primary production (ANPP), gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), ecosystem respiration (ER), and net ecosystem exchange (NEE); we used linear mixed‐effects models to further determine the relative contributions of various factors to the N‐induced changes in these parameters. Our results showed that the ANPP, GEP, ER, and NEE all exhibited nonlinear responses to increasing N additions. Further analysis demonstrated that the plant N:P ratio played a dominate role in shaping these C exchange processes. There was a positive relationship between the N‐induced changes in ANPP (ΔANPP) and the plant N:P ratio (ΔN:P), whereas the ΔGEP, ΔER, and ΔNEE exhibited quadratic correlations with the ΔN:P. In contrast, soil temperature and moisture were only secondary predictors for the changes in ecosystem production and C fluxes along the N addition gradient. These findings highlight the importance of plant N:P ratio in regulating ecosystem C exchange, which is crucial for improving our understanding of C cycles under the scenarios of global N enrichment.     

青藏高原区域不同功能群植物氮磷生态化学计量学特征

生态化学计量学为揭示植物养分利用状况及植物对环境的适应策略提供了重要手段,研究不同功能群植物在区域尺度生态化学计量学特征中所产生的贡献,有助于揭示区域尺度植物元素特征的形成机制。已有研究多是从不同功能群植物元素生态化学计量学特征的比较上进行分析,未能对每种功能群植物元素含量随地理因子和气候因子的变化规律展开探讨。基于生态化学计量学理论,对青藏高原区域不同功能群植物(豆科、禾本科、莎草科、杂类草)叶片水平N、P元素含量随纬度、海拔、年降水量、年均温度的变化规律展开研究,探讨不同植物功能群在区域尺度植物生态化学计量学特征中所产生的贡献,尝试从植物功能群角度揭示青藏高原高寒区域N、P元素含量特征的形成机制。结果显示,1)不同功能群植物叶片元素含量差异显著,豆科植物N、P元素含量最高,禾本科植物N、P含量最低,N/P比值在不同功能群间差异不显著;2)随纬度变化,莎草科植物P元素及杂类草N元素含量变化显著;随海拔变化,豆科、禾本科植物及杂类草叶片N元素含量变化较为显著;随年降水量和年均温度的变化,杂类草和莎草科植物叶片N、P含量变化显著;3)莎草科植物N、P含量对纬度和降水的响应趋势与区域内所有植物叶片N、P含量对纬度和降水的响应趋势一致,豆科、禾本科及杂类草植物叶片元素含量对海拔和温度的响应趋势与区域内所有植物叶片元素平均含量对海拔和温度的响应趋势一致。研究表明,不同功能群植物元素特征对环境因子的响应不同,植物功能群组成对区域尺度植物生态化学计量学特征有重要作用,但在较大的植物结构层次上(如植物群落、生态系统、区域或全球尺度等),不同功能群植物之间的相互组合会抵消或掩盖掉某一类群的特性,从而对区域尺度植物元素特征的变化规律产生影响。     

Responses of growth of four desert species to different N addition levels

Aims The increase in atmospheric N deposition has accelerated N cycling of ecosystems, thus altering the structure and function of ecosystems, especially in those limited by N availability. Studies on the response of plant growth to artificial N addition could provide basic data for a better understanding of how the structure of grasslands in northern China responds to increasing N deposition. Methods We investigated the seasonal dynamics of plant growth of four species after 2-year multi-level N addition in a field experiment conducted in a desert steppe of Ningxia in 2011. Plant biomass and the relative growth rate (RGR) of the studied species were measured and their relationships with C:N:P ratios of plants (community and leaf levels) and soils were analyzed. Important findings Results in 2012 showed that 2-year N addition promoted the growth of the four species and the effects were different among growth forms and were species-specific. In general, the plant biomass of the studied species was significantly correlated with leaf N concentration, leaf N:P ratio, community N pool, soil total N content and soil N:P ratio, while only weak relationships were observed between plant biomass and C:N and C:P ratios of plants and soils. In contrast, there was a significant linear relationship between RGR and N:P ratios both of plants and soils.Our results suggest that short-term N addition promoted the accumulation of plant biomass, and the species-specific responses to stimulated N addition can directly affect the structure of the desert steppe ecosystem. Plant N:P ratio and soil N:P ratio could indicate nutrient limitation of plant growth to a certain extent: N addition increased soil N content and N:P ratio, and thus relieved N limitation gradually. Once more N is available to plants, the growth of plants and the accumulation of community N was stimulated in turn.     

四种荒漠草原植物的生长对不同氮添加水平的响应

大气氮(N)沉降增加加速了生态系统N循环, 从而会对生态系统的结构和功能产生巨大的影响, 尤其是一些受N限制的生态系统.研究N添加对荒漠草原植物生长的影响, 可为深入理解N沉降增加对我国北方草原群落结构的影响提供基础数据.该文基于2011年在宁夏荒漠草原设置的N沉降增加的野外模拟试验, 研究了两年N添加下4个常见物种(牛枝子(Lespedeza potaninii),老瓜头(Cynanchum komarovii),针茅(Stipa capillata)和冰草(Agropyron cristatum))不同时期种群生物量和6-8月份相对生长速率的变化特征.并通过分析物种生长与植物(群落和叶片水平)和土壤碳(C),N,磷(P)生态化学计量学特征的关系, 探讨C:N:P化学计量比对植物生长养分限制的指示作用.结果显示N添加促进了4个物种的生长, 但具有明显的种间差异性, 且这种差异也存在于相同生活型的不同物种间.总体而言, 4个物种种群生物量与叶片N浓度,叶片N:P,群落N库,土壤全N含量和土壤N:P存在明显的线性关系, 与植物和土壤C:N和C:P的相关关系相对较弱.几个物种相对生长速率与植物和土壤N:P也呈现一定程度的正相关关系, 但与其他指标相关性较弱.以上结果表明, 短期N沉降增加提高了植物的相对生长速率, 促进了植物生长, 且更有利于针茅和老瓜头的生物量积累, 从而可能会逐渐改变荒漠草原群落结构.植物N:P和土壤N:P对荒漠草原物种生长具有较强的指示作用: 随着土壤N受限性逐渐缓解, 土壤N含量和N:P相继升高, 可供植物摄取的N增多, 因而有利于植物生长和群落N库积累.     

增温对苔原土壤和典型植物叶片碳、氮、磷化学计量学特征的影响

为探讨苔原植被对气候变暖的响应模式, 采用开顶箱增温法, 研究了3个生长季增温对长白山苔原3种代表植物——牛皮杜鹃(Rhododendron aureum)、笃斯越桔(Vaccinium uliginosum)和东亚仙女木(Dryas octopetala var. asiatica)的叶片及土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及其比值的影响。结果表明: 增温使土壤N和P的含量分别增加5.88%和4.83%, C含量降低13.19%; 增温和对照(不增温)条件下, 植物叶片的C、N、P含量及其比值在生长季有明显的变化。增温使笃斯越桔和东亚仙女木叶片的P含量分别增加10.34%和12.87%, 牛皮杜鹃则降低了16.26%, 增温并没有明显改变3种植物叶片的C、N含量, 但牛皮杜鹃和东亚仙女木叶片的C:N值在增温条件下呈现增加趋势。增温使土壤可利用的N、P含量增加。增温对3种植物的C:N值, 牛皮杜鹃、笃斯越桔的P含量, 以及东亚仙女木的C:P值都产生了显著的影响。结果表明增温增加了长白山苔原P元素对植物生长的限制, 且3种植物叶片的C、N、P化学计量学特性对增温的响应模式和尺度没有表现出一致性。     

Aggravated phosphorus limitation on biomass production under increasing nitrogen loading: a meta‐analysis

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), either individually or in combination, have been demonstrated to limit biomass production in terrestrial ecosystems. Field studies have been extensively synthesized to assess global patterns of N impacts on terrestrial ecosystem processes. However, to our knowledge, no synthesis has been done so far to reveal global patterns of P impacts on terrestrial ecosystems, especially under different nitrogen (N) levels. Here, we conducted a meta‐analysis of impacts of P addition, either alone or with N addition, on aboveground (AGB) and belowground biomass production (BGB), plant and soil P concentrations, and N : P ratio in terrestrial ecosystems. Overall, our meta‐analysis quantitatively confirmed existing notions: (i) colimitation of N and P on biomass production and (ii) more P limitation in tropical forest than other ecosystems. More importantly, our analysis revealed new findings: (i) P limitation on biomass production was aggravated by N enrichment and (ii) plant P concentration was a better indicator of P limitation than soil P availability. Specifically, P addition increased AGB and BGB by 34% and 13%, respectively. The effect size of P addition on biomass production was larger in tropical forest than grassland, wetland, and tundra and varied with P fertilizer forms, P addition rates, or experimental durations. The P‐induced increase in biomass production and plant P concentration was larger under elevated than ambient N. Our findings suggest that the global limitation of P on biomass production will become severer under increasing N fertilizer and deposition in the future.     

Nitrogen dynamics in grain crop and legume pasture systems under elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration: A meta‐analysis

Understanding nitrogen (N) removal and replenishment is crucial to crop sustainability under rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]). While a significant portion of N is removed in grains, the soil N taken from agroecosystems can be replenished by fertilizer application and N₂ fixation by legumes. The effects of elevated [CO₂] on N dynamics in grain crop and legume pasture systems were evaluated using meta‐analytic techniques (366 observations from 127 studies). The information analysed for non‐legume crops included grain N removal, residue C : N ratio, fertilizer N recovery and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission. In addition to these parameters, nodule number and mass, nitrogenase activity, the percentage and amount of N fixed from the atmosphere were also assessed in legumes. Elevated [CO₂] increased grain N removal of C₃ non‐legumes (11%), legumes (36%) and C₄ crops (14%). The C : N ratio of residues from C₃ non‐legumes and legumes increased under elevated [CO₂] by 16% and 8%, respectively, but the increase for C₄ crops (9%) was not statistically significant. Under elevated [CO₂], there was a 38% increase in the amount of N fixed from the atmosphere by legumes, which was accompanied by greater whole plant nodule number (33%), nodule mass (39%), nitrogenase activity (37%) and %N derived from the atmosphere (10%; non‐significant). Elevated [CO₂] increased the plant uptake of fertilizer N by 17%, and N₂O emission by 27%. These results suggest that N demand and removal in grain cropping systems will increase under future CO₂‐enriched environments, and that current N management practices (fertilizer application and legume incorporation) will need to be revised.