Differential effects of the crustose Diploschistes diacapsis and the squamulose Fulgensia bracteata on the establishment of a Mediterranean grass species

The interest of the scientific community in biological soil crusts has grown exponentially over the last decades. One of the scientific research interests is the study of the effect of these crusts on plant establishment. Findings in this topic have been controversial, and some differences were attributed to crust types. Biological soil crusts dominated by lichens are common components of Stipa tenacissima steppes in arid and semi‐arid environments of the southern Mediterranean. In the current study, we conducted growth chamber experiments to investigate the differential effects of two lichen species with continuous crustose thalli (Diploschistes diacapsis) and with squamulose semicontinuous thalli (Fulgensia bracteata) on seed germination, root penetration, shoot emergence and seed viability of the tussock grass species S. tenacissima. Our results showed that under laboratory conditions, two distinct lichen species had significantly different effects on the establishment of S. tenacissima. Our findings clearly demonstrated that D. diacapsis significantly decreased germination, root penetration and shoot emergence of S. tenacissima compared to F. bracteata. This can be related to differences in morphological and physiological characteristics between crustose and squamulose lichens. Overall, we suggest that D. diacapsis and crustose lichens generally can act as natural barrier to the establishment of S. tenacissima.     

Leaf traits in Chilean matorral: sclerophylly within,among, and beyond matorral,and its environmental determinants

Studies of leaf traits often focus on tradeoffs between growth and resource conservation, but little is known about variation in the mechanical traits that influence resource conservation. This study investigates how leaf mechanical traits vary across matorral vegetation in central Chile, how they correlate with environmental factors, and how these trends compare at a broader geographic scale. Leaf toughness, strength, stiffness, and associated traits were measured in five matorral types in central Chile, and relationships with soil N and P and climate variables were assessed. Trends with soil and climate were then analyzed across shrubland and woodland in Chile, Western Australia, and New Caledonia. Chilean species varied in leaf mechanics and associated traits, both within and among matorral types, with more species in sclerophyll matorral having strong, tough, and stiff leaves than in arid and littoral matorral. Overall, leaves with high leaf dry mass per area were stiffer, tougher, stronger, thicker, denser, with more fiber, lignin, phenolics and fiber per unit protein and less protein: tannin activity and N and P per mass, forming a broad sclerophylly syndrome. Mechanical traits of matorral species were not correlated with soil N or P, or predictably with climate variables, except flexural stiffness (EI_W) which correlated positively with annual reference evapotranspiration (ET₀). However, soil P made strong independent contributions to variation in leaf mechanics across shrublands and woodlands of Chile, Western Australia, and New Caledonia, either separately (strength) or together with ET₀ (toughness) explaining 46–90% of variation. Hence ET₀ was predictive of EI_W in Chilean matorral, whereas soil P was highly predictive of variation in leaf strength, and combined with ET₀ was highly predictive of toughness, at a broader geographic scale. The biological basis of these relationships, however, may be complex.     

Elevated carbon dioxide increases soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability in a phosphorus‐limited Eucalyptus woodland

Free‐air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) experiments have demonstrated increased plant productivity in response to elevated (e)CO₂, with the magnitude of responses related to soil nutrient status. Whilst understanding nutrient constraints on productivity responses to eCO₂ is crucial for predicting carbon uptake and storage, very little is known about how eCO₂ affects nutrient cycling in phosphorus (P)‐limited ecosystems. Our study investigates eCO₂ effects on soil N and P dynamics at the EucFACE experiment in Western Sydney over an 18‐month period. Three ambient and three eCO₂ (+150 ppm) FACE rings were installed in a P‐limited, mature Cumberland Plain Eucalyptus woodland. Levels of plant accessible nutrients, evaluated using ion exchange resins, were increased under eCO₂, compared to ambient, for nitrate (+93%), ammonium (+12%) and phosphate (+54%). There was a strong seasonality to responses, particularly for phosphate, resulting in a relatively greater stimulation in available P, compared to N, under eCO₂ in spring and summer. eCO₂ was also associated with faster nutrient turnover rates in the first six months of the experiment, with higher N (+175%) and P (+211%) mineralization rates compared to ambient rings, although this difference did not persist. Seasonally dependant effects of eCO₂ were seen for concentrations of dissolved organic carbon in soil solution (+31%), and there was also a reduction in bulk soil pH (‐0.18 units) observed under eCO₂. These results demonstrate that CO₂ fertilization increases nutrient availability – particularly for phosphate – in P‐limited soils, likely via increased plant belowground investment in labile carbon and associated enhancement of microbial turnover of organic matter and mobilization of chemically bound P. Early evidence suggests that there is the potential for the observed increases in P availability to support increased ecosystem C‐accumulation under future predicted CO₂ concentrations.     

Effects of biological soil crusts on a Mediterranean perennial grass (Stipa tenacissima L.)

In the last decades, there has been a growing interest on evaluating the effects of biological soil crusts (hereafter, biocrusts) on vascular plants. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the influence of biocrusts on Stipa tenacissima, key species in arid and semi-arid environments of the Mediterranean Basin. In fact, we explored the impact of biocrusts removal underneath S. tenacissima on soil chemical properties and leaf mineral uptake. Indeed, we studied the effect of mixed biocrusts on the seed germination of S. tenacissima under laboratory conditions. The research showed a greater availability of soil resources correlated with enhanced leaf nutrient levels of bioessential elements in the presence of intact biocrusts compared to fragmented biocrusts underneath S. tenacissima tussocks. We suggest that this is related to the loss of soil moisture as a result of biocrusts removal. In addition, we found that mixed biocrusts favored seed germination and viability of S. tenacissima. By improving soil chemical properties and leaf nutrient uptake, biocrusts can provide enhanced growth conditions for Stipa tenacissima. These findings with the positive effect on seed germination suggest that biocrusts can be used in the restoration of S. tenacissima.     

Leaf functional traits vary with the adult height of plant species in forest communities

Aims Within-community variation accounts for a remarkable proportion of the variation in leaf functional traits. Plant height may be used to explain within-community variances of leaf traits because different microenvironments, especially light intensity, may occur at different heights. This study determines whether or not leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) contents as well as leaf mass per area (LMA) are interspecifically correlated with the adult height of forest woody species. We also discuss these relationships with respect to community structure and functions of the ecosystem.Methods A total of 136 dicotyledonous woody species from 6 natural forests (3 evergreen and 3 deciduous ones) in East China (18°44′–45°25′N, 108°50′–128°05′E) were investigated. For each of the 157 species–site combinations, 6 traits were measured: plant adult height relative to the forest canopy (H R), leaf N and P contents per unit area (N area and P area), N and P contents per unit dry mass (N mass and P mass) and LMA. The total variances of each leaf trait across sites were partitioned in a hierarchical manner. The relationships between leaf traits and H R within forest communities were then analyzed using both standardized major axis regression and Felsenstein's phylogenetic independent contrasts. Relationships between evergreen and deciduous forests were compared by linear mixed models.Important findings H R is a robust predictor of leaf N area, P area and LMA, explaining 36.7, 39.4 and 12.0% of their total variations across forests, respectively. Leaf N area, P area and LMA increased with H R in all of the studied forests, with slopes that were steeper in evergreen forests than in deciduous ones. Leaf N mass and P mass showed no significant relationship with H R generally. The increase in leaf N area, P area and LMA with H R across species is assumed to maximize community photosynthesis and may favor species with larger H R .     

Sustained effects of atmospheric [CO2] and nitrogen availability on forest soil CO2 efflux

Soil CO₂ efflux (F_soil) is the largest source of carbon from forests and reflects primary productivity as well as how carbon is allocated within forest ecosystems. Through early stages of stand development, both elevated [CO₂] and availability of soil nitrogen (N; sum of mineralization, deposition, and fixation) have been shown to increase gross primary productivity, but the long‐term effects of these factors on F_soil are less clear. Expanding on previous studies at the Duke Free‐Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) site, we quantified the effects of elevated [CO₂] and N fertilization on F_soil using daily measurements from automated chambers over 10 years. Consistent with previous results, compared to ambient unfertilized plots, annual F_soil increased under elevated [CO₂] (ca. 17%) and decreased with N (ca. 21%). N fertilization under elevated [CO₂] reduced F_soil to values similar to untreated plots. Over the study period, base respiration rates increased with leaf productivity, but declined after productivity saturated. Despite treatment‐induced differences in aboveground biomass, soil temperature and water content were similar among treatments. Interannually, low soil water content decreased annual F_soil from potential values – estimated based on temperature alone assuming nonlimiting soil water content – by ca. 0.7% per 1.0% reduction in relative extractable water. This effect was only slightly ameliorated by elevated [CO₂]. Variability in soil N availability among plots accounted for the spatial variability in F_soil, showing a decrease of ca. 114 g C m^?2 yr^?1 per 1 g m^?2 increase in soil N availability, with consistently higher F_soil in elevated [CO₂] plots ca. 127 g C per 100 ppm [CO₂] over the +200 ppm enrichment. Altogether, reflecting increased belowground carbon partitioning in response to greater plant nutritional needs, the effects of elevated [CO₂] and N fertilization on F_soil in this stand are sustained beyond the early stages of stand development and through stabilization of annual foliage production.     

Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry across 753 terrestrial plant species in China

Leaf nitrogen and phosphorus stoichiometry of Chinese terrestrial plants was studied based on a national data set including 753 species across the country. Geometric means were calculated for functional groups based on life form, phylogeny and photosynthetic pathway, as well as for all 753 species. The relationships between leaf N and P stoichiometric traits and latitude (and temperature) were analysed. The geometric means of leaf N, P, and N : P ratio for the 753 species were 18.6 and 1.21 mg g(-1) and 14.4, respectively. With increasing latitude (decreasing mean annual temperature, MAT), leaf N and P increased, but the N : P ratio did not show significant changes. Although patterns of leaf N, P and N : P ratios across the functional groups were generally consistent with those reported previously, the overall N : P ratio of China's flora was considerably higher than the global averages, probably caused by a greater shortage of soil P in China than elsewhere. The relationships between leaf N, P and N : P ratio and latitude (and MAT) also suggested the existence of broad biogeographical patterns of these leaf traits in Chinese flora.     

重庆石灰岩地区主要木本植物叶片性状及养分再吸收特征

以重庆石灰岩地区15种常绿木本植物和14种落叶木本植物为研究对象,对两种生活型植物叶片衰老前后叶干物质含量(LDMC)、比叶面积(SLA)和叶片厚度(LT)进行了比较,并采用不同的计算方法(单位质量叶片养分含量、单位面积叶片养分含量)分析了两类植物叶片衰老前后养分含量及再吸收特征,最后对养分再吸收效率与其他叶性状因子之间的关系进行了相关分析。结果表明:常绿植物成熟叶LDMC、LT及衰老叶LT显著低于落叶植物,落叶植物成熟叶和衰老叶SLA均显著高于常绿植物(P0.05);基于单位质量叶片计算的养分含量,常绿植物成熟和衰老叶N、P量均低于落叶植物,而基于单位面积叶片计算的N、P含量则表现出相反的趋势;基于不同方法计算的N、P再吸收效率差异不明显,其中常绿植物基于单位质量叶片养分含量计算的N、P平均再吸收效率为39.42%、43.79%,落叶植物的为24.08%、33.59%;常绿和落叶植物N、P再吸收效率与LDMC、SLA、LT和成熟叶N、P含量之间没有显著相关性,但与衰老叶养分含量存在显著负相关(P0.05)。研究发现,无论是常绿植物还是落叶植物,衰老叶N、P含量均较低,表明石灰岩地区植物具有较高的养分再吸收程度。     

Drought responses,phenotypic plasticity and survival of Mediterranean species in two different microclimatic sites

• Climate models predict a further drying of the Mediterranean summer. One way for plant species to persist during such climate changes is through acclimation. Here, we determine the extent to which trait plasticity in response to drought differs between species and between sites, and address the question whether there is a trade‐off between drought survival and phenotypic plasticity.
• Throughout the summer we measured physiological traits (photosynthesis – A_max, stomatal conductance – g_s, transpiration – E, leaf water potential – ψl) and structural traits (specific leaf area – SLA, leaf density – LD, leaf dry matter content – LDMC, leaf relative water content – LRWC) of leaves of eight woody species in two sites with slightly different microclimate (north‐ versus south‐facing slopes) in southern Spain. Plant recovery and survival was estimated after the summer drought period.
• We found high trait variability between species. In most variables, phenotypic plasticity was lower in the drier site. Phenotypic plasticity of SLA and LDMC correlated negatively with drought survival, which suggests a trade‐off between them. On the other hand, high phenotypic plasticity of SLA and LDMC was positively related to traits associated with rapid recovery and growth after the drought period.
• Although phenotypic plasticity is generally seen as favourable during stress conditions, here it seemed beneficial for favourable conditions. We propose that in environments with fluctuating drought periods there can be a trade‐off between drought survival and growth during favourable conditions. When climate become drier, species with high drought survival but low phenotypic plasticity might be selected for.

     

Productivity, carbon isotope discrimination and leaf traits of trees of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. in relation to water availability

The stand basal area, carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) in tree rings and leaves, leaf area index and leaf traits of trees were measured in 6‐ to 8‐year‐old stands of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. across a gradient of rainfall of 600–1400 mm year^?1 in south‐western Australia to better understand the importance of leaf traits and gas‐exchange as determinants of stand productivity. Δ ranged from 17‰ to 21‰. Δ and basal area were highly, positively correlated with each other and the ratio of mean annual rainfall to potential evaporation (P/PE). Leaf area index, soil water holding capacity and leaf nitrogen content were only weakly correlated with basal area. Δ and P/PE were negatively correlated with leaf nitrogen content. Δ was negatively correlated with leaf density but positively correlated with specific leaf area. This is consistent with the theory that larger leaf nitrogen content and smaller specific leaf area are associated with increased photosynthetic capacity and increased leaf‐scale water‐use‐efficiency, and that Δ is influenced by mesophyll conductance. It is concluded that canopy conductance is a more important determinant of growth in water‐limited conditions than either leaf area index or leaf traits in fertilized stands of E. globulus. Water availability was dictated more by rainfall than soil type.     

Effects of grass species and grass growth on atmospheric nitrogen deposition to a bog ecosystem surrounded by intensive agricultural land use

We applied a ¹⁵N dilution technique called “Integrated Total Nitrogen Input” (ITNI) to quantify annual atmospheric N input into a peatland surrounded by intensive agricultural practices over a 2-year period. Grass species and grass growth effects on atmospheric N deposition were investigated using Lolium multiflorum and Eriophorum vaginatum and different levels of added N resulting in increased biomass production. Plant biomass production was positively correlated with atmospheric N uptake (up to 102.7 mg N pot⁻¹) when using Lolium multiflorum. In contrast, atmospheric N deposition to Eriophorum vaginatum did not show a clear dependency to produced biomass and ranged from 81.9 to 138.2 mg N pot⁻¹. Both species revealed a relationship between atmospheric N input and total biomass N contents. Airborne N deposition varied from about 24 to 55 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Partitioning of airborne N within the monitor system differed such that most of the deposited N was found in roots of Eriophorum vaginatum while the highest share was allocated in aboveground biomass of Lolium multiflorum. Compared to other approaches determining atmospheric N deposition, ITNI showed highest airborne N input and an up to fivefold exceedance of the ecosystem-specific critical load of 5–10 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹.     

Endophyte species influence the biomass production of the native grass Achnatherum sibiricum (L.) Keng under high nitrogen availability

Research on the interaction of endophytes and native grasses normally takes infection status into account, but less often considers the species of endophyte involved in the interaction. Here, we examined the effect of endophyte infection, endophyte species, nitrogen availability, and plant maternal genotype on the performance of a wild grass, Achnatherum sibiricum. Six different Epichloë‐infected maternal lines of A. sibiricum were used in the study; three lines harbored Epichloë gansuensis (Eg), while three lines harbored Epichloë sibirica (Es). These endophytes are vertically transmitted, while Eg also occasionally produces stromata on host tillers. We experimentally removed the endophyte from some ramets of the six lines, with the infected (E+) and uninfected (E?) plants grown under varying levels of nitrogen availability. Eg hosts produced more aboveground biomass than Es hosts only under high nitrogen supply. Endophyte species did not show any influence on the maximum net photosynthetic rate (P_max), photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency, or total phenolics of A. sibiricum under all nitrogen conditions. However, the plant maternal genotype did influence the P_max and shoot biomass of A. sibiricum. Our results show that endophyte species influenced the shoot biomass of A. sibiricum, and this effect was dependent on nitrogen supply. As with most coevolutionary interactions, A. sibiricum that harbored Eg and Es may show pronounced geographic variation in natural habitats with increased nitrogen deposition. In addition, stroma‐bearing endophyte (Eg) provides positive effects (e.g., higher biomass production) to A. sibiricum plants during the vegetative growth stage.     

Mycorrhizas influence functional traits of two tallgrass prairie species

Over the past decade, functional traits that influence plant performance and thus, population, community, and ecosystem biology have garnered increasing attention. Generally lacking, however, has been consideration of how ubiquitous arbuscular mycorrhizas influence plant allometric and stoichiometric functional traits. We assessed how plant dependence on and responsiveness to mycorrhizas influence plant functional traits of a warm‐season, C4 grass, Andropogon gerardii Vitman, and the contrasting, cool‐season, C3 grass, Elymus canadensis L. We grew both host species with and without inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi, across a broad gradient of soil phosphorus availabilities. Both host species were facultatively mycotrophic, able to grow without mycorrhizas at high soil phosphorus availability. A. gerardii was most dependent upon mycorrhizas and E. canadensis was weakly dependent, but highly responsive to mycorrhizas. The high dependence of A. gerardii on mycorrhizas resulted in higher tissue P and N concentrations of inoculated than noninoculated plants. When not inoculated, E. canadensis was able to take up both P and N in similar amounts to inoculated plants because of its weak dependence on mycorrhizas for nutrient uptake and its pronounced ability to change root‐to‐shoot ratios. Unlike other highly dependent species, A. gerardii had a high root‐to‐shoot ratio and was able to suppress colonization by mycorrhizal fungi at high soil fertilities. E. canadensis, however, was unable to suppress colonization and had a lower root‐to shoot ratio than A. gerardii. The mycorrhiza‐related functional traits of both host species likely influence their performance in nature: both species attained the maximum responsiveness from mycorrhizas at soil phosphorus availabilities similar to those of tallgrass prairies. Dependence upon mycorrhizas affects performance in the absence of mycorrhizas. Responsiveness to mycorrhizal fungi is also a function of the environment and can be influenced by both mycorrhizal fungus species and soil fertility.     

Available soil nitrogen in relation to fractions of soil nitrogen and other soil properties

The available N of 27 soils from England and Wales was assessed from the amounts of N taken up over a 6-month period by perennial ryegrass grown in pots under uniform environmental conditions. Relationships between availability and the distribution of soil N amongst various fractions were then examined using multiple regression. The relationship: available soil N (mg kg^–1 dry soil)=(N_min×0.672)+(N_inc×0.840)+(N_mom×0.227)–5.12 was found to account for 91% of the variance in available soil N, where N_min=mineral N, N_inc=N mineralized on incubation and N_mom=N in macro-organic matter. The N mineralized on incubation appeared to be derived largely from sources other than the macro-organic matter because these two fractions were poorly correlated. When availability was expressed in terms of available organic N as % of soil organic N (N_ao) the closest relationship with other soil characteristics was: N_ao=[N_inc×(1.395–0.0347×CN_mom]+[N_mom×0.1416], where CN_mom=CN ratio of the macro-organic matter. This relationship accounted for 81% of the variance in the availability of the soil organic N.The conclusion that the macro-organic matter may contribute substantially to the available N was confirmed by a subsidiary experiment in which the macro-organic fraction was separated from about 20 kg of a grassland soil. The uptake of N by ryegrass was then assessed on two subsamples of this soil, one without the macro-organic matter and the other with this fraction returned: uptake was appreciably increased by the macro-organic matter.     

羊草的地上-地下功能性状对氮磷施肥梯度的响应及关联

羊草(Leymus chinensis)是我国北方典型草原群落的主要建群种和优势种, 由于长期的过度放牧, 羊草草原生态系统的结构和功能严重退化。养分添加作为恢复草地生态系统的一种管理措施, 其应用目前还处于实验性研究阶段。关于羊草的地上-地下功能性状对养分添加, 尤其是P添加的响应研究较少, 相关机制尚不十分清楚。为此, 该文以羊草为研究对象, 通过温室栽培进行N (50, 100, 250 mg N·kg^-1)和P (5, 10, 25 mg P·kg^-1)各3个水平的养分添加实验, 研究羊草的地上-地下功能性状对N、P添加的响应及适应机制。主要研究结果表明: 1)羊草的地上生物量和总生物量主要受N添加的影响, N添加显著提高了羊草的地上生物量, 而地下生物量主要受P添加的影响, 尤其在中N和高N水平, P添加显著降低了羊草的地下生物量。羊草的根冠比受N、P添加的共同影响, 随着N、P添加梯度加大, 根冠比显著降低, N、P添加促进了羊草生物量向地上部分的分配和N、P向叶片的分配。2)在低N和高N水平, 羊草对P添加的响应与适应机制不同。低N水平, 羊草主要通过增加光合速率和比根长(SRL), 提高光合能力和根系对N的获取能力促进地上部分的生长, 而根系对P的吸收有利于地下部分的生长; 在高N水平, P添加对羊草的个体生长无明显促进作用, 甚至地下生物量明显受到P素抑制, 羊草主要通过保持较高的比叶面积(SLA)和SRL, 提高对光资源的截获能力和根系对N的获取和吸收能力, 维持地上部分的生长。3)相对于地上性状, P添加对羊草的地下性状影响更大, 羊草的SLA与SRL呈较弱的正相关关系, 表明叶片与根系在资源获取和利用方面具有相对独立性。     

喀斯特高原峡谷优势种叶片功能性状分析

该研究对喀斯特石漠化高原峡谷地区优势种的叶片功能性状进行了分析,调查了17种植物的叶片厚度、叶面积、叶片鲜重、叶片干重、叶干物质含量、比叶面积、叶组织密度等能反映植物生存策略且易于测量的叶片功能性状,并采用逐步回归的方法探究了叶片功能性状与土壤养分之间的关系。结果表明:(1)不同优势种叶片功能性状差异明显,叶片的厚度为0.18～0.78 mm、鲜重为0.07～6.51 g、干重为0.04～3.19 g、叶面积为3.07～325.64 cm~2、叶干物质含量为318.61～573.22 mg·g~(-1)、比叶面积为60.98～236.90 cm~2·g~(-1)、叶组织密度为0.022 1～0.036 g·cm~(-3)。(2)植物通过较小的比叶面积与较大的叶干物质含量来减少水分散失、增加养分储存,以适应高温、缺水少土的环境。(3)叶片功能性状之间存在广泛的相关关系,且均达到极显著水平。叶片厚度对鲜重、干重均表现为促进效应,比叶面积与叶干物质含量及叶组织密度之间均存在极显著的抑制效应。(4)叶片功能性状随土壤养分的变化产生规律性变化。土壤全氮、全钾和有机碳对叶片功能性状产生显著影响,尤以土壤有机碳的影响更为显著。进一步分析发现,喀斯特高原峡谷地区植被恢复及重建的优势种或建群种为翅荚香槐、清香木、枇杷等;施用有机肥能够提高花椒、金银花等经济林树种的适应能力。     

Nutrient levels within leaves,stems, and roots of the xeric species Reaumuria soongorica in relation to geographical,climatic, and soil conditions

Besides water relations, nutrient allocation, and stoichiometric traits are fundamental feature of shrubs. Knowledge concerning the nutrient stoichiometry of xerophytes is essential to predicting the biogeochemical cycling in desert ecosystems as well as to understanding the homoeostasis and variability of nutrient traits in desert plants. Here, we focused on the temperate desert species Reaumuria soongorica and collected samples from plant organs and soil over 28 different locations that covered a wide distributional gradient of this species. Carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) concentrations and their stoichiometry were determined and subsequently compared with geographic, climatic, and edaphic factors. The mean leaf C, N, and P concentrations and C/N, C/P, and N/P ratios were 371.6 mg g⁻¹, 10.6 mg g⁻¹, 0.73 mg g⁻¹, and 59.7, 837.9, 15.7, respectively. Stem and root C concentrations were higher than leaf C, while leaf N was higher than stem and root N. Phosphorus concentration and N/P did not differ among plant organs. Significant differences were found between root C/N and leaf C/N as well as between root C/P and leaf C/P. Leaf nutrient traits respond to geographic and climatic factors, while nutrient concentrations of stems and roots are mostly affected by soil P and pH. We show that stoichiometric patterns in different plant organs had different responses to environmental variables. Studies of species-specific nutrient stoichiometry can help clarify plant–environment relationships and nutrient cycling patterns in desert ecosystems.     

不同土地利用类型下氮、磷在土壤剖面中的分布特征

在北京市东南郊大兴区采取了44处0～20cm,20～40cm,40～60cm,60～80cm,80～100cm5个不同深度的土壤剖面样品。按土地利用类型,采样点可分为农田、菜地、果园、林地、草地。土壤剖面中,由表层向深层,pH值升高,有机质、速效磷、全磷、硝态氮、全氮降低,且在20～40cm处有较大变化。表层土壤受土地利用影响,不同土地利用类型的土壤性质差别较大,尤以菜地土壤,pH为8.01低于其他类型土壤的平均值8.27,有机质、速效磷、全磷、硝态氮、全氮都高于其他类型的土壤,分别是其他类型土壤的110%～198%,355%～1629%,162%～224%,724%～1540%,130%～248%,速效磷和硝态氮远高于其他土壤。深层土壤性质差异不大,各项土壤性质差异随深度而变小,但菜地80～100cm处,硝态氮含量为18.8mgkg-1,是同深度其他类型土壤的175%～389%。土壤中硝态氮的积累情况,菜地>农田、果园、林地>草地。磷的积累与氮不同,速效磷在0～20cm大量积累,不同类型的土壤,速效磷积累差异显著,在40～60cm处,菜地速效磷含量是其他利用类型土壤的161%～602%;在80～100cm处,不同利用类型的土壤中速效磷无显著性差异。这一情况表明,菜地的过量施用氮、磷肥导致了土壤中的磷和氮大量积累,并以速效磷、硝态氮的形态向下淋溶并在深层土壤中积累。硝态氮在80～100cm的积累仍相当严重,有继续向下淋溶的可能,速效磷的淋溶在80～100cm处已较为微弱,其淋溶过程主要在0～60cm处。对速效磷和硝态氮的累积进行多元线性回归分析,发现速效磷与全磷含量有着良好的线性相关性,而与有机质和全氮含量关系不大。硝态氮则受土壤中pH、有机质和全氮3因素的共同影响。