滨海盐地碱蓬不同生长阶段叶片C、N、P化学计量特征

盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)是滨海湿地典型植被之一, 研究其化学计量特征变化对于了解滨海湿地植被健康状况具有重要意义。该文比较了盐地碱蓬生长期、成熟期和衰退期内叶片C、N、P营养元素的化学计量特征, 并做了相关性分析。结果表明, 叶片C含量在不同生长阶段差异性显著, 生长期最低, 衰退期最高; 叶片N含量在衰退期较生长期和成熟期显著降低; 叶片P含量较为稳定, 在不同生长阶段无显著性差异。C:N、C:P在植物整个生长发育期内呈现逐渐增大的趋势, 而N:P表现出逐渐减小的趋势。相关性分析显示, 在盐地碱蓬3个不同的生长阶段, C:N和C:P与相应的N、P含量呈显著负相关, 随着N、P的变化以对数方程的形式减小; N含量与P含量之间呈显著正相关, 体现了植物体内两营养元素含量需求变化的相对一致性。同时发现, N元素已经成为滨海湿地盐地碱蓬生长发育过程中的主要限制性因子。

C, N and P stoichiometric characteristics in leaves of Suaeda salsa during different growth phase in coastal wetlands of China

Aims Suaeda salsa is a typical species in coastal wetlands, and understanding change in its stoichiometric characteristics would help to assess its health status and target conservation efforts. We investigated which nutrient factor restricts its growth and proposed theories for protecting and managing coastal wetland by comparing the C, N and P stoichiometric characteristics of S. salsa in different growth periods.
Methods We collected S. salsa leaves in different growth phases from June to November 2010 in Yancheng coastal wetlands, Jiangsu Province. The C, N and P contents of the leaves were measured. Data were analyzed by correlation analysis between N content and C:N and P content and C:P. N content and P content were also analyzed.
Important findings Leaf C content of S. salsa had significant differences among three different growth phases, with the lowest in the growth phase and the highest in the decline phase. Leaf N content in the decline phase is significantly lower than in the mature and growth phases, and no significant difference of leaf P content was found. C:N and C:P were gradually increasing in the growth period while N:P showed a gradually decreasing trend. Correlation analysis indicated that C:N and C:P were negatively correlated with corresponding N, P content in three different phases. N content was positively linearly correlated with P content, indicating consistent demand of N and P by S. salsa. Furthermore, N is a restrictive factor for S. salsa in coastal wetlands during its growth and development.