不同磷水平配施生物炭对土壤磷有效性

生物炭在提高土壤磷素有效性及促进作物生长方面具有显著作用,但其效果因土壤类型不同存在较大差异。试验以赤红壤(pH 4.91)和褐土(pH 7.24)为供试土壤,设置3种磷肥水平(0、30、90 kg P·hm^-2,分别以不施磷、低磷、高磷表示)配施稻秆生物炭(0、4%)的大豆盆栽试验,研究了不同磷水平下配施生物炭对土壤磷有效性、磷酸单酯酶活性和植株磷吸收的影响。结果表明: 不同磷水平配施生物炭显著提高了两种土壤的速效磷和全磷含量,且低磷水平添加生物炭处理速效磷增幅最大,在赤红壤和褐土的增幅分别为192.6%和237.1%。与低磷相比,赤红壤中低磷配施生物炭处理的碱性磷酸单酯酶活性显著增加78.9%,活性有机磷含量降低39.3%,同时显著促进了植株生长与磷吸收;生物炭添加显著降低了褐土活性有机磷含量,但不同处理对土壤磷酸单酯酶活性和植株生长无显著影响。土壤活性有机磷含量与速效磷含量均呈显著负相关。综上,生物炭对土壤磷有效性的作用因土壤类型和磷肥水平差异而不同,其在赤红壤上对植株生长和磷吸收的促进效应强于褐土,且在低磷条件下效果更佳。本研究为生物炭在减施磷肥和促进大豆磷吸收,特别是在赤红壤上的应用提供了科学依据。     

施用生物炭基肥对喀斯特石灰土磷元素特性的影响

以贵州省喀斯特山地石灰土为研究对象,采用盆栽试验方法,研究施用生物炭(稻壳炭)、猪粪堆肥和NPK肥3种肥料制成的生物炭基肥,测定土壤中不同形态磷含量、碱性磷酸酶活性及刺槐幼苗生物量。试验共设10个处理,分别为CK、M、F、MF、RH1MF、RH2MF、RH4MF、RH8MF、RH4M、RH4F(其中CK代表对照,M代表堆肥,F代表化肥,RH代表稻壳炭,数字代表生物炭按炭土质量比计算在生物炭基肥中的配比)。结果表明,施用生物炭基肥可显著提高喀斯特石灰土中总磷、有效磷、有机磷、微生物量磷含量及刺槐幼苗生物量,生物炭高施用量下处理(RH8MF)的效果更好,且4种不同形态的磷含量相互之间呈极显著正相关(P0.01);生物炭中等用量配比下生物炭基肥处理(RH2MF、RH4MF)的土壤碱性磷酸酶活性最高,分别比CK提高82.7%、63.4%。综上所述,施用生物炭基肥,尤其在生物炭较高施用量下,可以显著改善喀斯特石灰土中磷素含量,可改善石灰土中磷素含量较低状况,提高喀斯特山地人工幼林地生态恢复的成效。     

生物炭对杉木人工林土壤养分、酶活性及细菌性质的影响

为了探究添加生物炭对南方红壤杉木人工林土壤养分含量、酶活性及细菌丰度和群落结构及多样性的影响,分析三者之间的作用机制,基于高通量测序技术,通过添加不同生物炭对人工杉木林土壤环境中细菌群落进行培养和测定,同时挑选与土壤C、N循环相关的4种酶,分析4种酶与土壤养分含量及土壤细菌相对丰度的关系。结果表明:添加生物炭总体使得土壤pH值,全磷、有效磷、速效钾等含量有所提高,同时促进土壤-α-葡萄糖苷酶、土壤-β-葡萄糖苷酶及脲酶的活性,对过氧化氢酶的影响不显著;由于生物炭制备原料不同,其自身性质和物质含量也存在差异,因此杉叶炭对土壤养分的提高量大于木屑炭,而木屑炭处理的土壤全碳含量高于杉叶炭;低添加量生物炭对参与碳循环的土壤葡萄糖苷酶活性提高程度大于高添加量生物炭,而与氮循环有关的土壤脲酶活性随着生物炭添加量的增加而提高,尤其3%BL600处理对土壤脲酶影响十分显著;向土壤添加杉叶炭能够提高土壤细菌丰度,而木屑炭降低了土壤细菌丰度,低温炭大于高温炭;添加生物炭对土壤pH值,全碳、全磷、有效磷、速效钾含量等具有直接影响,土壤组分和性质对不同细菌种群生活习性与功能产生不同的影响,土壤酶活性与土壤细菌存在密切的联系,细菌丰度的变化又会引起土壤酶活性的改变,因此土壤酶活性和细菌群落相对丰度对添加生物炭的响应存在一定的相关关系。     

不同磷浓度植株残体降解对紫色土磷素有效性的影响

植株残体降解可直接或间接地影响土壤磷素的有效性,为探讨不同磷浓度植株残体降解对紫色土磷分级体系的影响,结合31P核磁共振分析技术,选取了3种磷浓度不同的植物残体与两种紫色土进行室内模拟培养试验,得出了以下研究结论:(1)添加植株残体显著增强了紫色土呼吸强度,且紫色土分级体系中的活性磷含量均高于对照处理(2)31P-NMR分析结果得知,植株残体的正磷酸盐、磷酸单酯占浓缩液全磷比例的90%以上,高磷植株的正磷酸盐和磷酸单酯含量显著高于中磷和低磷植株,土壤磷素有效性的变化与植株残体的正磷酸盐和磷酸单酯含量有关;(3)紫色土分级体系中的活性磷在0 d含量最高,随着培养周期的延长,土壤磷素有效性会出现降低的趋势;酸性紫色土的累积呼吸强度、分级体系中活性磷(Resin-P、Na HCO3-Pt)所占比例均高于中性紫色土,与土壤钙含量有关。综上所述,植株残体的磷浓度越高,更有利于提高土壤磷素的有效性,本研究结果为农业生产中秸秆还田技术提供了理论参考。     

添加秸秆及其生物炭对茉莉植株与土壤碳氮磷生态化学计量特征的影响

研究植物不同器官碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及其生态化学计量特征对深入了解土壤养分元素在循环过程中的相互耦合关系具有重要指示意义。在福州茉莉(Jasminum sambac)种植基地,设置对照、秸秆、生物炭添加处理,测定茉莉植株的生长特性、茉莉不同器官和土壤C、N、P含量,分析其生态化学计量特征。结果表明:与对照处理相比,秸秆添加处理的茉莉叶生物量显著增加了73.33%,土壤盐度和土壤温度均显著降低了37.04%和1.41%;而生物炭添加处理的茉莉株高、叶面积及叶、茎生物量较对照处理分别显著增加了26.11%、29.42%、239.59%和96.04%,土壤密度和土壤温度显著降低了18.33%和1.79%。不同添加处理下,茉莉叶和茎的C含量及叶N含量均无显著差异,而根和土壤的C、N含量则表现为生物炭添加处理显著高于秸秆添加处理和对照处理;茉莉叶、茎和根P含量均表现为生物炭添加处理>对照处理>秸秆添加处理,且生物炭添加处理比对照处理分别显著提高了41.68%、43.73%和24.63%,而土壤P含量则表现为生物炭添加处理>秸秆添加处理>对照处理。其次,生物炭添...     

模拟增温对中亚热带杉木人工林土壤磷有效性的影响

气候变暖改变与土壤磷循环相关的生物地球化学过程,对陆地生态系统磷循环产生直接或间接影响。为研究亚热带地区杉木人工林土壤磷有效性对增温的响应,开展了模拟增温实验。实验设置对照组及增温组(5℃),经过1.5a的短期增温,对杉木人工林的土壤全磷、有机磷、微生物量磷、有效磷、酸性磷酸酶活性及相关土壤理化性质进行测定,结果表明:增温处理下,土壤酸性磷酸酶活性提高约1.5倍,土壤全磷、微生物量磷以及有机磷含量分别减少了6%、34%和12%,土壤有效磷含量增加25%。可见,短期增温通过提高土壤磷酸酶活性进而促进土壤有机磷矿化和降低土壤微生物固磷量,从而增加土壤磷有效性,但是增温导致潜在可利用的土壤微生物量磷大幅度的降低,将有可能加剧亚热带杉木人工林土壤磷限制。     

氮添加对樟子松人工林土壤细菌磷酸酶编码基因丰度的影响

为研究氮添加影响森林土壤有机磷矿化的微生物调控机制,分析了10年的野外氮添加(100 kg N ha^-2year^-1)对沙地樟子松人工林土壤微生物中编码酸性磷酸单酯酶、碱性磷酸单酯酶和植酸酶的功能基因(phoC、phoD和appA)丰度及相关酶活性和土壤理化性质的影响。结果表明,氮添加使樟子松人工林土壤中酸性和碱性磷酸单酯酶活性分别下降了18.09%和55.29%,植酸酶活性下降了41.88%。氮添加使土壤微生物中各基因拷贝数分别下降40.97%(16S-rRNA)、78.38%(phoD)、67.92%(phoC)、74.37%(appA)。各基因拷贝数占总细菌基因拷贝数的比例显著下降了61%(phoD)、44%(phoC)、55%(appA)。土壤微生物量碳、微生物量磷含量与酸性磷酸单脂酶、碱性磷酸单脂酶、植酸酶活性及16S rRNA、phoD、phoC、appA基因丰度显著正相关。土壤铵态氮含量与酸性磷酸单脂酶、碱性磷酸单脂酶活性及16S rRNA、phoC、appA基因丰度显著负相关。酸性磷酸单酯酶活性与其基因丰度显著正相关,其他两种...     

水肥耦合对紫花苜蓿土壤磷酸酶活性的影响

磷是植物生长的限制因子之一,土壤中占主导地位的有机磷只有在磷酸酶矿化水解作用后才能被作物吸收利用。因此,研究土壤磷酸酶活性特征可为活化土壤中作物较难利用的磷素提供一些途径或方法。本文以紫花苜蓿和栗钙土为研究对象,在盆栽试验条件下分析了不同梯度磷肥施用(P)和水分(W)下的土壤磷酸酶活性特征。结果表明,土壤碱性磷酸单酯酶活性(99.2~170.0 mg para-nitrophenol·kg~(-1) soil·h~(-1))高于酸性磷酸单酯酶活性(24.7~56.9 mg para-nitrophenol·kg~(-1) soil·h~(-1));水肥交互作用对土壤酸性磷酸单酯酶活性和磷酸二酯酶活性均产生显著影响;其中,在常规水分处理条件下,高施磷肥抑制土壤无机焦磷酸酶活性;重度干旱降低了紫花苜蓿土壤酸性磷酸单酯酶、磷酸二酯酶和无机焦磷酸酶活性,但在干旱条件下施磷肥量的增加可提高土壤酸性、碱性磷酸单酯酶活性。因此,通过控制土壤水分和磷肥施用量可达到抑制或激活土壤磷酸酶活性的目的。     

不同间伐强度下华北落叶松人工林土壤磷组分特征及其影响因素

间伐是人工林经营的重要措施,磷是森林生态系统的限制性养分元素之一,但间伐对土壤磷素的影响尚不明确.本研究采用Tissen改良的Hedley磷分级体系对土壤样品进行连续浸提,研究不同间伐强度[对照,未间伐;轻度间伐,15%;中度间伐,35%;重度间伐,50%]下山西太岳山好地方林场华北落叶松人工林表层土壤(0～10 cm)磷组分特征及其影响因素.结果表明: 与对照相比,中度间伐显著增强了土壤总无机磷含量;轻度和中度间伐显著增强了Resin-Pi、NaHCO₃-Pi、NaHCO₃-Po、NaOH-Pi、微生物生物量磷和土壤酸性磷酸酶活性,显著降低了NaOH-Po含量;间伐对土壤全磷、总有机磷、稳定态磷(HCl-Pi、浓HCl-Pi和浓HCl-Po)和闭蓄态磷(Residual-P)的影响不显著.土壤有机碳含量、含水率、土壤微生物和酸性磷酸酶活性是影响土壤磷素有效性的重要因子.中度间伐能提高华北落叶松人工林土壤磷素的有效性.     

生物炭及炭基硝酸铵对土壤微生物量碳、氮及酶活性的影响

以小麦-玉米轮作交替种植下的田间试验为平台,探讨施用生物炭及3种炭基硝酸铵氮肥对土壤主要化学肥力因子、土壤微生物量碳、氮和酶活性的影响。田间试验共设6个处理,依次为:对照(施磷、钾肥,CK);生物炭(BC);硝酸铵氮肥(AN);掺混型生物炭基氮肥(CH);固-液吸附型生物炭基氮肥(XF);化学反应型生物炭基氮肥(FY)。结果表明,生物炭及3种生物炭基氮肥均显著提高土壤有机碳含量,并有效降低了有效磷和速效钾的含量。与CK处理相比较,CH、BC处理的土壤微生物量碳含量分别增加了22.10%、17.45%,而AN、XF、FY 3个处理则分别减少了9.09%、10.86%、1.46%;不同施肥处理土壤微生物量氮较CK均有增加,且BC、XF处理差异达显著水平,BC处理的增幅最大,达66.53%,XF处理的增幅次之,达到了62.78%,AN处理的增幅最小,为24.86%。与CK处理比较而言,FY、XF、CH均增加土壤蔗糖酶、脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性,且增加效应均依次减弱,FY、XF处理均增加碱性磷酸酶活性,而CH处理降低了碱性磷酸酶活性。FY、XF、CH较CK处理均可显著增加小麦产量,增产率分别为36.61%、22.58%、20.72%,且增产效果依次减弱。     

Effects of microplastics and biochar on soil cadmium availability and wheat plant performance

Biochar is a promising amendment to promote cadmium (Cd) sorption and fixation in agricultural soil, where microplastics are emerging contaminants in soil. Herein, a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to elucidate the effects on Cd availability in a soil–plant system by biochar and fresh/aged microplastics application. The fresh microplastics led to an obvious increase in soil Cd availability and Cd uptake by wheat plant, while the aged microplastics increased the available Cd in soil but had no effect on Cd uptake by wheat plant, which was likely attributed to the blocking effect of the aged microplastics on Cd transportation from the soil to the wheat plant. Unexpectedly, biochar had increased Cd availability and Cd uptake. The increased soil soluble Cd was because of both decreased soil pH and elevated dissolved organic matter (DOM) content resulted by biochar addition. Also, the unchanged Cd adsorption of the soil was likely responsible for the increased tested soil Cd availability. In addition, the combined effects of a greater decrease in soil pH, an increase in soil DOM content, and a reduction in Cd adsorption after the addition of microplastics to biochar-amended soil resulted in a significant increase (ranging from 2.63% to 47.73%) in Cd availability compared to soil treated with biochar alone. Moreover, fresh microplastics inhibited wheat growth, and greater inhibition effect was observed for their aged ones. The biochar elevated the wheat biomass; however, the coexistence of microplastics and biochar decreased the wheat plant biomass compared with biochar alone, due to the negative influence of microplastics in plant growth.     

减氮配施稻秆生物炭对稻田土壤养分及植株氮素吸收的影响

通过2018年早稻和晚稻田间试验,研究化学氮肥减量及配施稻秆生物炭对稻田土壤养分特性及植株氮素吸收的影响。试验包括6个处理:不施氮(CK)、常规施氮(N₁₀₀)、减氮20%(N₈₀)、减氮20%配施生物炭(N₈₀+BC)、减氮40%(N₆₀)、减氮40%配施生物炭(N₆₀+BC)。结果表明: 与常规施氮相比,单纯减氮20%和40%或配施生物炭对早晚稻不同生育期土壤pH、有机质、全氮、铵态氮、全磷、有效磷、全钾、速效钾无显著影响;减氮20%配施生物炭显著增加晚稻分蘖期的土壤阳离子交换量(CEC),而减氮40%配施生物炭则显著增加晚稻抽穗期的电导率(EC)值。与单纯减氮相比,N₈₀+BC的土壤速效钾含量在早晚稻抽穗期均显著升高,土壤pH值、全氮在晚稻成熟期显著增加;N₆₀+BC的土壤全钾含量在早稻成熟期显著升高。不同处理早稻土壤硝态氮含量随生育进程逐渐降低,与分蘖期相比,抽穗期和成熟期的常规施氮土壤硝态氮含量分别降低50.0%和71.6%,而配施生物炭处理则降低6.3%～45.5%,减氮配施生物炭显著降低了硝态氮的流失。在晚稻抽穗期,减氮配施生物炭植株吸氮量显著高于常规施氮和单纯减氮,增加幅度为34.8%～52.4%。综上,适度的减氮或配施稻秆生物炭能有效保持土壤养分,促进水稻对氮素的吸收,提高氮素利用率。     

有机物料对喀斯特地区石灰土有效N、Fe、Zn含量的影响

为研究不同有机物料对喀斯特石灰土元素有效性的影响,采用40 d的室内培养实验,比较了单独添加不同比例（1%、3%、5%）的生物质炭、鸡粪肥、羊粪肥对喀斯特石灰土有效N、Fe、Zn含量的影响。结果表明：添加生物质炭提高了喀斯特石灰土的pH值,而添加鸡粪肥和羊粪肥降低了喀斯特石灰土的pH值;添加3种有机物料均增加了喀斯特石灰土的有机质含量,大小关系为：生物质炭 > 鸡粪肥 > 羊粪肥,但添加鸡粪肥和羊粪肥土壤有机质的化学活性和微生物活性更高。受pH、有机质活性、碳氮比等因素的影响,添加鸡粪肥和羊粪肥能增加土壤有效N含量,但两种有机肥对土壤有效N的提高效果相差不大,而添加生物质炭反而降低了土壤有效N的含量;3种有机物料均能提高土壤的有效Fe和有效Zn含量,其中鸡粪肥效果最佳,其次为羊粪肥和生物质炭。当3种有机物料的添加比例为5%时,生物质炭处理土壤的有效N、Fe、Zn含量分别是对照处理的0.92、1.13、1.21倍;鸡粪肥处理土壤的有效N、Fe、Zn含量分别是对照处理的1.22、1.63和3.39倍;羊粪肥处理土壤的有效N、Fe、Zn含量分别是对照处理的1.27、1.34和2.59倍。所以,相对于生物质炭,有机粪肥对喀斯特地区的石灰土有更好的改良效果。     

Mobilization of soil phosphorus during passage through the gut of larvae of Pachnoda ephippiata (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Soil macrofauna play important roles in the mobilization of soil nutrients. The influence of gut passage on soil phosphorus availability was investigated using the larvae of the scarabaeid beetle Pachnoda ephippiata. Gut passage significantly increased the levels of available P in the feces over that of the soil consumed. ³¹P-NMR recorded the changes in the nature of organic P in alkaline extracts from gut content. Alkaline phosphatase activity was high in the alkaline midgut, but low in the hindgut and soil. Ferric iron (Fe³⁺) in the soil was reduced to ferrous iron (Fe²⁺) in the gut. The amount of Ca²⁺ was lower in the gut than in the soil. Iron reduction and the decrease of Ca²⁺ concentration in the gut would reduce P sorption. We think that the following effects are responsible for increased availability of P during the gut passage: alkaline extraction of soil organic matter; hydrolysis of organic phosphate esters with alkaline phosphatase; digestion by the resident microorganisms; and changes in the concentration of metal ions during gut passage. This study suggests that the feeding activities of humivorous larvae would affect the amount of soil P available to plant growth.     

Effects of biochar application on root traits: a meta‐analysis

Roots are the interfaces between biochar particles and growing plants. Biochar application may alter root growth and traits and thereby affect plant performance. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of biochar on root traits is lacking. We conducted a meta‐analysis with 2108 paired observations from 136 articles to evaluate the responses of root traits associated with 13 variables under biochar application. Overall, biochar application increased root biomass (+32%), root volume (+29%) and surface area (39%). The biochar‐induced increases in root length (+52%) and number of root tips (+17%) were much larger than the increase in root diameter (+9.9%); this result suggests that biochar application benefits root morphological development to alleviate plant nutrient and water deficiency rather than to maximize biomass accumulation. Biochar application did not change root N concentration but significantly increased root P concentration (+22%), particularly when combined with N fertilization. Biochar application also affected root‐associated microbes and significantly increased the number of root nodules (+25%). The responses of root traits to biochar application were generally greater in annual plants than in perennial plants and were affected by soil texture and pH values. Moreover, it appears that biochar production process (pyrolysis temperature and time) plays a more important role in regulating root growth than does biochar source. Together, findings obtained from this meta‐analysis may have significant implications for the future sustainable development of biochar management to improve plant growth and functioning.     

Biochar amendment to soils with contrasting organic matter level: effects on N mineralization and biological soil properties

Four biochar types, produced by slow pyrolysis of poultry litter (PL) and pine chips (P) at 400 or 500 °C, were added to two adjacent soils with contrasting soil organic matter (SOM) content (8.9 vs. 16.1 g C kg^?1). The N mineralization rate was determined during 14‐week incubations and assessments were made of the microbial biomass C, dehydrogenase activity, and the microbial community structure (PLFA‐extraction). The addition of PL biochars increased the net N mineralization (i.e., compared to the control treatment) in both soils, while for treatments with P biochars net N immobilization was observed in both soils. Increasing the pyrolysis temperature of both feedstock types led to a decrease in net N mineralization. The ratio of Bacterial to Fungal PLFA biomarkers also increased with addition of biochars, and particularly in the case of the 500 °C biochars. Next to feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature, SOM content clearly affected the assessed soil biological parameters, viz. net N mineralization or immobilization, MBC and dehydrogenase activity were all greater in the H soil. This might be explained by an increased chance of physical contact between the microbial community activated by SOM mineralization upon incubation and discrete biochar particles. However, when considering the H soil's double C and N content, these responses were disproportionally small, which may be partly due to the L soil's, somewhat more labile SOM. Nonetheless, increasing SOM content and microbial biomass and activity generally appears to result in greater mineralization of biochar. Additionally, higher N mineralization after PL addition to the H soil with lower pH than the L soil can be due to the liming effect of the PL biochars.     

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.     

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.