Domestication effects on nitrogen allocation,internal recycling and nitrogen use efficiency in the perennial new crop Silphium integrifolium (Asteraceae)

Improvements in seed yield during domestication and breeding are frequently achieved moving plants from the conservative syndrome of the plant economic spectrum towards the more acquisitive side, changing how plants acquire, allocate, use and store C and nutrients in relation to their wild relatives. The aims were to evaluate if domestication changed the N allocation, the internal plant N recycling (N resorption efficiency and proficiency, and N storage) and N-use-efficiency, in the perennial new crop Silphium integrifolium. We compared in a field experiment repeated in two locations (Kansas and Patagonia), a Wild (W) and two improved accessions, with high- (HYI) and low-seed yield improved (LYI) accessions. HYI accessions produced more than twice the biomass and acquired twofold more N than LYI and Wild accessions. Changes in proportional N allocation were similar in both improved accessions (HYI and LYI) and locations: higher allocation to leaves and lower to the crown at pre-anthesis (growth-storage trade-off) and higher allocation to seeds and lower to the crown at maturity (reproduction-storage trade-off). HYI and LYI allocated 50% more N to seeds in average, reducing a 31% the N allocated to the crown in relation to the Wild. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and mean residence time (MRT) of N were reduced in both improved accessions. In HYI, the lower MRT was related to the lower storage of N in the crown and N removal through seed production, and in LYI was the result of the N lost through leaf senescence. HYI produced litter with lower N concentration (more proficient) that the wild accession. These could decrease the net N mineralization rate and soil N availability at long term. HYI plants should require higher external N inputs to the soil to sustain their N uptake requirements. LYI and Wild accessions, had lower resorption efficiency, but N recycled was allocated to the crown for future remobilization and uses (better internal cycling). The leaf litter type of these accessions with higher N content should sustain faster N-cycles rates and N release to the soil. If the focus is on the ecosystem services, HYI accessions could help achieve a reduction in nitrate leaching by maximizing N uptake, N resorption and N removal through seed (i.e. nitrate catch crop), and also produce crop residues that slow down biogeochemical cycling and soil nutrient retention.     

大气有机氮沉降研究进展

大气氮素沉降是全球氮素生物地球化学循环的一个重要部分,包括干?湿沉降两种,以无机态和有机态形式发生沉降。长期以来由于受研究方法的限制,国际上对大气氮素沉降的研究多集中在无机态氮的沉降上,忽视了对有机态氮形式发生的沉降,因而造成了人们对大气氮素沉降总量的低估。在全面总结国内外文献的基础上,综述了大气有机态氮沉降的研究进展,具体包括大气有机氮的来源、种类?雨水有机氮的测定方法?有机氮沉降对大气氮沉降总量(氮沉降总量=无机氮沉降 有机氮沉降)的贡献,以及有机氮沉降可能的生态效应等。最后,指出了今后我国大气有机氮沉降研究需要加强的主要方面。     

土壤氮磷对四季竹叶片氮磷化学计量特征和叶绿素含量的影响

植物器官化学计量特征可以把环境和器官功能性状联系起来, 从而为探索环境作用于植物器官功能的内在机制及器官功能的调控提供可能。通过土壤氮(N)、磷(P)添加设置土壤不同全N和全P浓度的盆栽实验, 分析了土壤和四季竹(Oligostachyum lubricum)叶片N、P化学计量特征及叶片叶绿素含量间的关系。实验设置的土壤不同全N和全P浓度包括对照(全N: 421.76 mg·kg^-1, 全P: 37.35 mg·kg^-1, 1N1P)、全N和全P浓度分别是对照相应浓度的2倍和2倍(2N2P)、2倍和3倍(2N3P)、2倍和4倍(2N4P)、3倍和2倍(3N2P)、3倍和3倍(3N3P)、3倍和4倍(3N4P)、4倍和2倍(4N2P)、4倍和3倍(4N3P)、4倍和4倍(4N4P)共10个处理。结果表明: 土壤N含量分别与叶片N含量和叶片N : P呈极显著正相关, 而土壤P含量与叶片P含量及叶片N : P均无显著性相关。叶片N : P随土壤N : P的增大而增大, 但其增加速率小于土壤N : P的增加速率。相同土壤N : P (11.29)条件下, 生长在2N2P处理和3N3P处理土壤中的立竹叶片N : P无显著差异, 但均显著高于对照(1N1P)并显著低于4N4P处理。土壤不同全N浓度对叶片N : P的影响与相应浓度N和P处理对叶片N : P的影响具有相同的规律。叶片N : P是影响叶片叶绿素含量的主要因素。分析发现: 土壤全N较土壤全P对四季竹叶片N、P化学计量特征具有更大的影响, 并且在土壤全N供应充足时四季竹叶片存在对N的奢侈吸收。N、P添加前土壤N是影响四季竹生长的主要限制元素。     

长期氮沉降对杉木人工林叶、枝氮磷养分再吸收的影响

为了解森林养分内循环对全球变化的响应, 基于长期模拟氮沉降试验, 研究了杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)人工林不同龄级(一年生、二年生和衰老)叶和枝的氮(N)、磷(P)养分分配及其再吸收特征, 并分析了不同模拟N沉降处理时间(7年和14年)杉木叶N、P养分再吸收差异。在12年生杉木中开展模拟N沉降试验, 以尿素(CO(NH₂)₂)为N源, 设N0、N1、N2和N3 4个处理水平, 施氮量分别为0、60、120和240 kg·hm ^-2·a ^-1, 每个处理重复3次。结果表明: (1)叶和枝在衰老过程中碳(C)、N和P含量逐渐降低, 且叶的C、N和P含量比枝高; N含量大小依次为一年生叶>二年生叶>衰老叶>一年生枝>二年生枝>衰老枝, 且N3 > N2 > N1 > N0, 而C:N则呈现相反的趋势; 衰老器官的C:N、C:P、N:P比新鲜器官高; N沉降增加了不同龄级叶和枝(除二年生叶外)的N、N:P和C:P, 但降低了P和C:N。(2)叶和枝的N、P养分再吸收率(RE_N、RE_P)随龄级的增加至衰老有规律地递减, 且RE_P > RE_N; 受长期N沉降的影响, RE_N叶(28.12%) <枝(30.00%), 而RE_P则为叶(45.82%) >枝(30.42%); 杉木叶和枝N:P与RE_N:RE_P之间存在极显著的线性相关关系。(3)随N沉降处理时间的增加, 叶RE_N呈降低态势, 各处理(N1、N2和N3)分别降低了9.85%、3.17%和11.71%; 而RE_P则明显上升, 分别增加了71.98%、42.25%和9.60%。研究结果表明: 不同器官、不同龄级的养分再吸收率随氮沉降处理的水平、处理时间而所有不同; RE_N:RE_P与N:P之间存在紧密关系。     

氮添加对红松人工林草本层植物多样性的影响

氮沉降是驱动生物多样性变化的重要因素之一。为了探索氮添加对红松（Pinus koraiensis）人工林草本层植物多样性的影响及其驱动机制,以黑龙江凉水国家级自然保护区红松人工林为研究对象,设置N0（对照处理,0 kg hm^-2 a^-1）、N20（低氮处理,20 kg hm^-2 a^-1）、N40（中氮处理,40 kg hm^-2 a^-1）和N80（高氮处理,80 kg hm^-2 a^-1）4个施氮水平,进行6年的氮添加实验。结果表明：（1）氮添加显著降低草本层3个功能群的密度和盖度,而对高度无显著影响;（2）6年氮添加使对照与施氮处理间群落相似度随施氮水平的增加而减小;（3）氮添加显著降低草本植物的丰富度和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数,而未对蕨类和木本植物的丰富度和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数产生显著影响,对草本层3个功能群的Pielou均匀度指数均无显著影响;（4）氮添加对草本植物的C、N、P含量、N：P、C：P产生显著影响,对木本植物的P含量、N：P、C：P产生显著影响,对蕨类植物的C：N：P生态化学计量均无显著影响;（5）草本植物多样性与土壤化学性质无显著的相关关系,草本植物丰富度、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数与植物盖度、密度呈显著的正相关关系,丰富度与植物N含量呈显著的负相关关系,Shannon-Wiener多样性指数与植物N：P呈显著的负相关关系。研究表明6年氮添加改变植物草本层中物种组成和群落结构,3个功能群密度和盖度显著降低,高度未产生显著变化,仅降低草本植物的丰富度和多样性。造成该现象的原因可能是,不同物种对于氮的利用特性和耐受程度存在差异,氮添加引起草本植物养分失衡,改变物种组成和群落结构,从而影响草本植物多样性。研究结果可为我国温带森林生态系统持续性管理提供数据和理论基础。     

中国主要湿地植被氮和磷生态化学计量学特征

研究湿地植物氮(N)和磷(P)的生态化学计量学特征对揭示植物与生境的耦合关系具有重要意义。通过收集中国52个采样区湿地植物不同器官和全株样本的N和P含量, 对其进行分类和统计分析, 探讨植物器官、生长期、植物类型、湿地类型和气候带对湿地植物N和P生态化学计量学特征的影响。结果表明: 1)湿地植物各器官N、P和N:P的几何平均值均表现为叶片(N, 16.07 mg·g^-1; P, 1.85 mg·g^-1; N:P, 8.67) >地上部分(N, 13.54 mg·g^-1; P, 1.72 mg·g^-1; N:P, 7.96) >茎(N, 7.86 mg·g^-1; P, 1.71 mg·g^-1; N:P, 4.58); 2)叶片N含量随时间变化呈现“三峰”型变化, 峰值分别出现在5月、7月和9月; 茎的N含量随时间变化表现为“双峰”型, 峰值出现在5月和9月; 成熟期之前, 植物叶片的N:P与N趋同波动, N:P主要受N含量控制; 衰老期N:P受P含量控制。3)湿地类型是影响植物叶片N和P生态化学计量特征的关键因素, N和P含量最高值出现在河流, 最低值出现在沼泽湿地, N:P的变化趋势大致与之相反。4)植物叶片N、P和N:P的几何平均值都表现为热带>温带>亚热带, 但总体差异不显著(p > 0.05)。5)中国大部分湿地植物叶片N:P < 14, 表现为N限制。     

Responses of nitrogen and phosphorus resorption from leaves and branches to long-term nitrogen deposition in a Chinese fir plantation

为了解森林养分内循环对全球变化的响应, 基于长期模拟氮沉降试验, 研究了杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)人工林不同龄级(一年生、二年生和衰老)叶和枝的氮(N)、磷(P)养分分配及其再吸收特征, 并分析了不同模拟N沉降处理时间(7年和14年)杉木叶N、P养分再吸收差异。在12年生杉木中开展模拟N沉降试验, 以尿素(CO(NH₂)₂)为N源, 设N0、N1、N2和N3 4个处理水平, 施氮量分别为0、60、120和240 kg·hm ^-2·a ^-1, 每个处理重复3次。结果表明: (1)叶和枝在衰老过程中碳(C)、N和P含量逐渐降低, 且叶的C、N和P含量比枝高; N含量大小依次为一年生叶>二年生叶>衰老叶>一年生枝>二年生枝>衰老枝, 且N3 > N2 > N1 > N0, 而C:N则呈现相反的趋势; 衰老器官的C:N、C:P、N:P比新鲜器官高; N沉降增加了不同龄级叶和枝(除二年生叶外)的N、N:P和C:P, 但降低了P和C:N。(2)叶和枝的N、P养分再吸收率(RE_N、RE_P)随龄级的增加至衰老有规律地递减, 且RE_P > RE_N; 受长期N沉降的影响, RE_N叶(28.12%) <枝(30.00%), 而RE_P则为叶(45.82%) >枝(30.42%); 杉木叶和枝N:P与RE_N:RE_P之间存在极显著的线性相关关系。(3)随N沉降处理时间的增加, 叶RE_N呈降低态势, 各处理(N1、N2和N3)分别降低了9.85%、3.17%和11.71%; 而RE_P则明显上升, 分别增加了71.98%、42.25%和9.60%。研究结果表明: 不同器官、不同龄级的养分再吸收率随氮沉降处理的水平、处理时间而所有不同; RE_N:RE_P与N:P之间存在紧密关系。     

Contrasting mechanisms of proteomic nitrogen thrift in Prochlorococcus

Organisms limited by carbon, nitrogen or sulphur can reduce protein production costs by transitions to less costly amino acids, or by reducing protein expression. These alternative mechanisms of nutrient thrift might respond differently to selection, but this possibility remains untested. We hypothesized that relatively invariant sequence composition responds to long-term variation in nutrient concentrations, whereas dynamic expression profiles vary with nutrient predictability. Prolonged nutrient scarcity favours proteome-wide nutrient reduction. Under stable, nonfluctuating nutrient availability, reduction of nutrient content typically occurs in proteins upregulated when nutrient availability is low, e.g. assimilation and catabolism. We suggest that fluctuating nutrient availability favours mechanisms involving short-term downregulation of nutrient-rich proteins. We analysed protein nitrogen content in six high-light, low-nutrient adapted (HL) vs. six low-light, high-nutrient adapted (LL) Prochlorococcus (marine cyanobacteria) strains, alongside expression data under experimental nitrogen and phosphorus limitation in two strains, MED4 (HL) vs. MIT9313 (LL). HL strains contained less nitrogen, but DNA GC content confounded this relationship. While anabolic and catabolic proteins had normal nitrogen content, most strains showed reduced nitrogen in typical nitrogen stress response proteins. In the experimental data set, though, proteins upregulated under nitrogen limitation were nitrogen-poor only in MIT9313, not MED4. MIT9313 responded similarly to nitrogen and phosphorus limitation, with slow, sustained downregulation of nitrogen-rich ribosomal proteins. In contrast, under nitrogen but not phosphorus limitation, MED4 rapidly downregulated ribosomal proteins. MED4's specific, rapid nitrogen response suggests adaptation to fluctuating conditions, supporting previous work. Thus, we identify contrasting proteomic nitrogen thrift mechanisms within Prochlorococcus consistent with different nutrient regimes.     

上海市不同区县中小河道氮磷污染特征

以上海11个区县,共19条河道、65个点位进行1a的氮磷污染情况调查。结果表明:(1)上海河道为不完全感潮型河网水系。潮汐、降雨对氮磷污染物的分布影响具有时间差异性。(2)上海河道区县之间氮磷污染差异大(P0.05)。氮磷浓度从中心城区河道依次向外呈现"圆环状"稀释扩散趋势。黄浦江以南河道水质好于黄浦江以北河道;近江苏的河道总体氮磷浓度水平高于近浙江的河道(上海东南部)(P0.05)。水体中污染物浓度、扩散、降解与人为扰动和城镇化程度密切相关。(3)聚类分析(Cluster Analysis,CA)结果显示上海市河道污染水平在点位之间区别不大,而多维尺度分析(Multidimensional Scaling,MDS)显示上海市河道污染水平在点位之间具有一定差异,并与水质评价结果一致。(4)经生态修复后的河道水质优于修复前(P0.05),说明上海市人工水生态修复措施和生态型驳岸建设对改善河道水质有潜在价值。     

Convergent responses of nitrogen and phosphorus resorption to nitrogen inputs in a semiarid grassland

Human activities have significantly altered nitrogen (N) availability in most terrestrial ecosystems, with consequences for community composition and ecosystem functioning. Although studies of how changes in N availability affect biodiversity and community composition are relatively common, much less remains known about the effects of N inputs on the coupled biogeochemical cycling of N and phosphorus (P), and still fewer data exist regarding how increased N inputs affect the internal cycling of these two elements in plants. Nutrient resorption is an important driver of plant nutrient economies and of the quality of litter plants produce. Accordingly, resorption patterns have marked ecological implications for plant population and community fitness, as well as for ecosystem nutrient cycling. In a semiarid grassland in northern China, we studied the effects of a wide range of N inputs on foliar nutrient resorption of two dominant grasses, Leymus chinensis and Stipa grandis. After 4 years of treatments, N and P availability in soil and N and P concentrations in green and senesced grass leaves increased with increasing rates of N addition. Foliar N and P resorption significantly decreased along the N addition gradient, implying a resorption‐mediated, positive plant–soil feedback induced by N inputs. Furthermore, N : P resorption ratios were negatively correlated with the rates of N addition, indicating the sensitivity of plant N and P stoichiometry to N inputs. Taken together, the results demonstrate that N additions accelerate ecosystem uptake and turnover of both N and P in the temperate steppe and that N and P cycles are coupled in dynamic ways. The convergence of N and P resorption in response to N inputs emphasizes the importance of nutrient resorption as a pathway by which plants and ecosystems adjust in the face of increasing N availability.     

Allocation strategies for nitrogen and phosphorus in forest plants

The allocation of limiting elements, such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), in plants is an important basis for structural stability and functional optimization in natural plant communities. However, because of the lack of systematic investigation data, the mechanisms of optimal nutrient allocation in plants in natural forests are still unclear. Using consistent measurements of N and P contents in 930 plant species, we explored the allocation strategies for N and P in different plant organs and plant functional groups (PFGs) in natural communities. The N and P contents and N:P ratio were the highest in the leaf (the most active organ) at the organ level. At the PFG level, the N and P contents were higher in herbs than in woody plants, but the trend was opposite for the N:P ratio. The elemental plasticity of root was higher than that of leaf. Furthermore, at the large scale, the allometric exponents of N and P were less than 1 and showed no difference, indicating strong conservatism of the scaling relationship in plants. In summary, higher element content in more active organs, higher element plasticity in underground organs, and conservative allometric allocation among different organs and among different PFGs jointly constitute the optimal strategies for the allocation of limiting elements.     

Forest floor vegetation response to nitrogen deposition in Europe

Chronic nitrogen (N) deposition is a threat to biodiversity that results from the eutrophication of ecosystems. We studied long‐term monitoring data from 28 forest sites with a total of 1,335 permanent forest floor vegetation plots from northern Fennoscandia to southern Italy to analyse temporal trends in vascular plant species cover and diversity. We found that the cover of plant species which prefer nutrient‐poor soils (oligotrophic species) decreased the more the measured N deposition exceeded the empirical critical load (CL) for eutrophication effects (P = 0.002). Although species preferring nutrient‐rich sites (eutrophic species) did not experience a significantly increase in cover (P = 0.440), in comparison to oligotrophic species they had a marginally higher proportion among new occurring species (P = 0.091). The observed gradual replacement of oligotrophic species by eutrophic species as a response to N deposition seems to be a general pattern, as it was consistent on the European scale. Contrary to species cover changes, neither the decrease in species richness nor of homogeneity correlated with nitrogen CL exceedance (ExCL_empN). We assume that the lack of diversity changes resulted from the restricted time period of our observations. Although existing habitat‐specific empirical CL still hold some uncertainty, we exemplify that they are useful indicators for the sensitivity of forest floor vegetation to N deposition.     

丛枝菌根真菌在土壤氮素循环中的作用

作为植物需求量最大的营养元素,氮素是陆地生态系统初级生产力的主要限制因子。丛枝菌根真菌能与地球上80%以上的陆生植物形成菌根共生体,帮助宿主植物吸收土壤中的P、N等矿质养分。目前,丛枝菌根真菌与氮素循环相关研究侧重于真菌对氮素的吸收形态以及共生体中氮的传输代谢机制,却忽略了丛枝菌根真菌在固氮过程、矿化与吸收过程、硝化过程、反硝化过程以及氮素淋洗过程等土壤氮素循环过程中所起到的潜在作用,并且越来越多的证据也表明丛枝菌根真菌是影响土壤氮素循环过程的重要因子。总结了丛枝菌根真菌可利用的氮素形态及真菌的氮代谢转运相关基因的研究现状;重点分析了丛枝菌根真菌在调控土壤氮素循环过程中的潜在作用以及在生态系统中的重要生态学意义,同时提出了丛枝菌根真菌在土壤氮素循环过程中一些需要深入研究的问题。     

阿拉善荒漠典型植物叶片碳、氮、磷化学计量特征

荒漠植物在水分限制、营养元素相对匮缺的条件下,经过长期的进化适应形成了自身独特的生理生态和生态化学计量特征。在阿拉善荒漠选择52个典型群落类型,分析和研究了54种荒漠植物叶片的碳、氮和磷的化学计量特征。结果表明:荒漠植物叶片的碳(C mg/g)、氮(N mg/g)和磷(P mg/g)含量变幅较大,分别为(379.01±55.42)mg/g、(10.65±7.91)mg/g和(1.04±0.81)mg/g,变异系数分别为0.15、0.74和0.78;C/N、C/P、和N/P分别为66.70±60.81、683.16±561.94、11.53±5.06。元素间相关性分析表明,叶片的C和N不相关(P0.05),C与P显著正相关(P0.05),N和P极显著正相关(P0.01)。从植物功能型的角度分析发现,灌木和1年生草本植物对C的存储能力较低;占整体67%的灌木叶片的N、P含量最低,导致总体N、P含量较低;多年生草本和1年生草本植物叶N含量与灌木植物叶片和整体N含量无差别,而P含量明显高于灌木植物叶片和整体P含量且N/P明显低于灌木植物叶片和总体N/P,导致总体N/P较低。该研究结果与全球和中国尺度的研究相比发现,荒漠植物叶片C、N、P含量和N/P明显偏低,N/P14说明阿拉善荒漠植物在受N、P共同作用的同时更易受N限制。     

Ecological impacts of nitrogen deposition on terrestrial ecosystems: research progresses and prospects

Due to huge consumption of fossil fuels and chemical fertilizers, substantial amount of anthropogenic reactive nitrogen (N) has been released into the environment. Therefore, N deposition has gradually increased worldwide and become one of the most important issues of global change. China has been a N deposition hotspot, and N deposition is projected to last long duration, which poses serious threats to ecosystem stability and functionality. In this synthesis paper, we summarized the impacts of N deposition on aboveground vegetation, soil microorganisms and biogeochemical cycling of major elements (carbon, N and phosphorus) in terrestrial ecosystems by outlining the progresses in the research field during the past 40 years. Results indicate that the accumulation of reactive N compounds induced by N deposition alters the soil environment, ecological stoichiometric balance and species co-occurrence patterns, thereby changing biodiversity and ecosystem functions. The rates, forms and duration of N deposition and the homeostasis of biosystem together with abiotic environments determine the direction and extent of the ecosystem response to N deposition. Through analysing local and foreign studies in this research area, we explore the weaknesses of relevant research that are being conducted in China. To advance the basic research on and risk management of N deposition, we propose the establishment of a N deposition monitoring and research network across the country with consideration of different ecosystems to promote regional and global risk assessments. Future research should highlight the combined multiple factors with N deposition and conduct direct and in-depth mechanism studies.     

农田氮素非点源污染控制的生态补偿标准——以江苏省宜兴市为例

农田氮素流失引起的非点源污染已成为国内外农田生态环境资源可持续利用及农业可持续发展的瓶颈,对其进行有效控制愈显迫切.对非点源污染的控制不能简单地照搬点源污染的方法,须针对非点源污染本身具有的强烈外部性及复杂、广泛、不易监测等特征,探究与非点源污染特征规律相对应的对策.生态补偿作为应对全球生态危机和环境污染的一种公共政策工具,对于内化外部效应具有良好的效果.以农户减少一定程度的氮肥施用量获得政府补偿为切入点,论证了农户减少氮肥用量到最佳生态经济施氮量是获得补偿的依据;以宜兴市为实证对象,运用意愿调查评估法和成本-收益法相结合的方式测算了农户参与农田氮素非点源污染控制的生态补偿标准.研究表明:(1)宜兴市主要粮食生产的最佳生态经济施氮量为375.6 kg/hm2,农户参与农田氮素非点源污染控制的补偿额度理论值为620.0-7098.0元/hm2;(2)68.3％的受访农户愿意接受补偿而减少氮肥用量,受偿意愿与种田经验、受教育程度等因素正相关;(3)愿意接受补偿的农民中50.7％选择氮肥量减少到最佳生态经济施氮量,农田氮素非点源污染控制的补偿标准为620.0元/hm2.     

Stoichiometric characteristics of carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus in Phyllostachys edulis forests of China

Aims Stoichiometric ratios of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are important characteristics of the ecological processes and functions. Studies on population ecological stoichiometry can refine the content of flora chemometrics, determine the limited nutrient, and provide data for process-based modeling over large scale. Phyllostachys edulis is an important forest type, whose area accounts for 74% of total bamboo forest area in Southern China. However, little is known about the ecological stoichiometric in P. edulis. This study aimed to reveal C:N, C:P and N:P stoichiometry characteristics of the “plant-soil-litter” continuum and to provide a better understanding nutrient cycling and stability mechanisms in P. edulis forest in China. Methods The data were collected from the published literature containing C、N、P content in leaf or surface soil (0-20 cm) or littefall in P. edulis forests. Important findings 1) The leaf C, N, P content were estimated at 478.30 mg·g^-1, 22.20 mg·g^-1, 1.90 mg·g^-1 in P. edulis, and the corresponding C: N, C: P and N: P were 26.80, 299.60 and 14.40, respectively. Soil C, N, and P content in 0-20 cm were 21.53 mg·g^-1, 1.66 mg·g^-1, 0.41 mg·g^-1, with ratios of 14.20 for C:N, 66.74 for C:P and 4.28 for N:P. The C, N and P contents were 438.49 mg·g^-1, 13.39 mg·g^-1, 0.86 mg·g^-1 for litterfall, with the litter C:N, C:P and N:P being 25.53, 665.67, 22.55, respectively. 2) In the plant-soil-litter system in P. edulis forest, leaf had higher C:N, litter had higher C:P and N:P, while soil were the lowest. The N, P resorption rate was 39.68% and 54.74%, indicating that P. edulis forest growth and development was constrained by P or by both of N and P in China. 3) N content and N:P in leaf showed a tendency to increase with latitude, while the C:N of leaf declined with latitude. N:P of leaf increased with longitude, but the P content and the C:N of leaf showed a opposite trend. C: N of soil increased with longitude, whereas the N content of soil declined longitude. The N content of litter declined with longitude. 4) The leaf N content was negatively correlated with mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation, but being more sensitive to temperature than precipitation. The positive correlations between N content and latitude support “Temperature-Plant Physiological” hypothesis, reflecting an adaptive strategy to environmental conditions.