Ecological stoichiometry of plant leaves, litter and soils in a secondary forest on China’s Loess Plateau

Wang, Zongfei; Zheng, Fenli

doi:10.7717/peerj.10084

Cited by 13 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…In the present research, the average litter C:N (43.3) was close to leaf C:N (48.8), whereas litter C:P (257.7) was obviously lower than leaf C:P (338.15). These results did not support Hypothesis (ii) and differed considerably from previous findings [6,17]. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, we calculated the total C content in litter was 44.36%, which was significantly lower than the leaf total C content (55.31%).…”

Section: Ecological Stoichiometry Of C N and P In Plant Leaf And Littercontrasting

confidence: 96%

“…Moreover, the effect of litter on enzymatic stoichiometry was primarily related to soil characteristics (Figure 6B). These results supported the findings of previous studies [17,18] and partially supported Hypothesis (iii) that litter acts as a medium for nutrient transmission from the leaf to soil pool.…”

Section: Relationships Among Ecological Stoichiometric Ratios In the ...supporting

confidence: 91%

“…Plants release substrates to soil primarily in the form of litter and root exudates, and litter breakdown in soil can improve soil fertility and mediate microbial nutrient limitation [15,16]. Some studies have shown that litter serves as a nexus for linking plant and soil [17,18]. However, the above studies only focused on nutrient flows from leaf to soil; nevertheless, the processes of plants exporting substrates to and absorbing nutrients from soil should be mutually coupled [19] (Figure 1).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stability of C:N:P Stoichiometry in the Plant–Soil Continuum along Age Classes in Natural Pinus tabuliformis Carr. Forests of the Eastern Loess Plateau, China

Chen

Xiang

Yao

et al. 2022

Forests

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Ecological stoichiometry is useful for revealing the biogeochemical characteristics of flows of nutrients and energy between plant and soil, as well as the important implications behind these ecological phenomena. However, the ecological stoichiometric linkages among leaf, litter, soil, and enzymes in the natural forests of the Loess Plateau remain largely unknown. Here, leaf, litter, and soil samples were collected from four age classes of natural Pinus tabuliformis Carr. (P. tabuliformis) to explore the deep linkages among these components. We measured the total carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), and total phosphorus (P) concentrations of leaf and litter, as well as the concentrations of soil organic C, total N, total P, nitrate N, ammonium N, available P, and the activities of β-1,4-glucosidase (a C-acquiring enzyme), β-1,4-N-acetylglucosidase (an N-acquiring enzyme), and alkaline phosphatase (a P-acquiring enzyme) in the topsoil (0–20 cm). The average leaf N:P was 6.9 indicated the growth of P. tabuliformis was constrained by N according to the relative resorption theory of nutrient limitation. The C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios in leaf, litter, and soil and the enzyme activity were not significantly different among age classes (p > 0.05). Litter C:N (43.3) was closer to the ratio of leaf C:N (48.8), whereas the litter C:P (257.7) was obviously lower than the ratio of leaf C:P (338.15). We calculated the stoichiometric homeostasis index (1/H) of leaf responses to soil elements and enzyme activities and found that the relationship between leaf C:P and soil C:P was homeostatic (p < 0.05), whereas the remaining indices showed the leaf stoichiometries were strictly homeostatic (p > 0.05). Correlation analysis showed both litter C:P and N:P were positively correlated with leaf and soil C:P, while the stoichiometric ratios of soil elements and enzymes were obviously irrelevant with leaf stoichiometries (p > 0.05). Partial least squares path modeling indicated that litter significantly changed soil element and enzyme characteristics through direct and indirect effects, respectively. However, soil elements and enzymes impacted leaf stoichiometries barely, which was further confirmed by an overall redundancy analysis. In summary, C:N:P stoichiometry within the plant–soil continuum revealed that natural P. tabuliformis is a relatively stable ecosystem in the Loess Plateau, where the element exchanges between plant and soil maintain dynamic balance with forest development. Further studies are needed to capture the critical factors that regulate leaf stoichiometry in the soil system.

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Section: Ecological Stoichiometry Of C N and P In Plant Leaf And Littercontrasting

confidence: 96%

Section: Relationships Among Ecological Stoichiometric Ratios In the ...supporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stability of C:N:P Stoichiometry in the Plant–Soil Continuum along Age Classes in Natural Pinus tabuliformis Carr. Forests of the Eastern Loess Plateau, China

Chen

Xiang

Yao

et al. 2022

Forests

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“…Ecological stoichiometry of C, N, and P is an important indicator of C, N, and P status of ecosystems that can be used to understand nutrient characteristics of organisms and to provide important information about N and P limitation [ 20 , 44 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Leaf ecological stoichiometry and anatomical structural adaptation mechanisms of Quercus sect. Heterobalanus in southeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Zhou,

Ge,

Chen

et al. 2024

BMC Plant Biol

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Background With the dramatic uplift of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) and the increase in altitude in the Pliocene, the environment became dry and cold, thermophilous plants that originally inhabited ancient subtropical forest essentially disappeared. However, Quercus sect. Heterobalanus (QSH) have gradually become dominant or constructive species distributed on harsh sites in the Hengduan Mountains range in southeastern QTP, Southwest China. Ecological stoichiometry reveals the survival strategies plants adopt to adapt to changing environment by quantifying the proportions and relationships of elements in plants. Simultaneously, as the most sensitive organs of plants to their environment, the structure of leaves reflects of the long-term adaptability of plants to their surrounding environments. Therefore, ecological adaptation mechanisms related to ecological stoichiometry and leaf anatomical structure of QSH were explored. In this study, stoichiometric characteristics were determined by measuring leaf carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents, and morphological adaptations were determined by examining leaf anatomical traits with microscopy. Results Different QSH life forms and species had different nutrient allocation strategies. Leaves of QSH plants had higher C and P and lower N contents and higher N and lower P utilization efficiencies. According to an N: P ratio threshold, the growth of QSH species was limited by N, except that of Q. aquifolioides and Q. longispica, which was limited by both N and P. Although stoichiometric homeostasis of C, N, and P and C: N, C: P, and N: P ratios differed slightly across life forms and species, the overall degree of homeostasis was strong, with strictly homeostatic, homeostatic, and weakly homeostatic regulation. In addition, QSH leaves had compound epidermis, thick cuticle, developed palisade tissue and spongy tissue. However, leaves were relatively thin overall, possibly due to leaf leathering and lignification, which is strategy to resist stress from UV radiation, drought, and frost. Furthermore, contents of C, N, and P and stoichiometric ratios were significantly correlated with leaf anatomical traits. Conclusions QSH adapt to the plateau environment by adjusting the content and utilization efficiencies of C, N, and P elements. Strong stoichiometric homeostasis of QSH was likely a strategy to mitigate nutrient limitation. The unique leaf structure of the compound epidermis, thick cuticle, well-developed palisade tissue and spongy tissue is another adaptive mechanism for QSH to survive in the plateau environment. The anatomical adaptations and nutrient utilization strategies of QSH may have coevolved during long-term succession over millions of years.

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“…kg -1 on a dry weight basis. Soil stoichiometric ratios were computed using the mass ratios of SC, SN, and SP, which were C/N, C/P, and N/P, respectively (Ma et al 2020;Wang and Zheng 2020).…”

Section: Soil Sample Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Variations in soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations and stoichiometry with stand age in Acacia hybrid plantations in Southern Vietnam

CHAU,

QUY,

et al. 2024

Biodiversitas

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Abstract. Chau M, Quy N, Xu X, Hung B, Cuong LV, Ngoan T, Nguyen T. 2024. Variations in soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations and stoichiometry with stand age in Acacia hybrid plantations in Southern Vietnam. Biodiversitas 25: 565-573. Soil Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), and Phosphorus (P) contents are the three most critical soil nutrient elements required for plant growth and development, and their ecological stoichiometric ratios are significant indicators for understanding soil nutrient balance and cycling. This study was conducted to probe variations in the soil organic C (SC), total N (SN), and total P (SP) contents and stoichiometry at five soil depths (0-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80, and 80-100 cm) in Acacia hybrid plantations of five different ages (2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-year-old plantations) in Langa-Dongnai Forestry Company, Southern Vietnam. The results showed that forest age and soil depth substantially impacted soil nutrient contents and their stoichiometric characteristics. The concentrations of SC, SN, and SP as well as C/N, C/P, and N/P ratios increased as the forest stand age increased. The contents of SC, SN, and SP reduced with soil depth, indicating an obvious soil “surface-aggregation” phenomenon. The nutrient restriction varied based on forest stand development, shifting from restricted nitrogen in the earlier growth periods of trees to restricted phosphorus in the later growth periods. The findings demonstrate that to resolve the issue of restricted availability of these nutrient indexes, additional nitrogen should be supplied during earlier growth periods and additional phosphorus during later growth periods. The results further emphasize the importance of understanding SC, SN, and SP interactions and nutritional limitations and provide relevant theoretical support for sustainable Acacia hybrid plantation management in the Southern region.

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Ecological stoichiometry of plant leaves, litter and soils in a secondary forest on China’s Loess Plateau

Cited by 13 publications

References 54 publications

Stability of C:N:P Stoichiometry in the Plant–Soil Continuum along Age Classes in Natural Pinus tabuliformis Carr. Forests of the Eastern Loess Plateau, China

Stability of C:N:P Stoichiometry in the Plant–Soil Continuum along Age Classes in Natural Pinus tabuliformis Carr. Forests of the Eastern Loess Plateau, China

Leaf ecological stoichiometry and anatomical structural adaptation mechanisms of Quercus sect. Heterobalanus in southeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Variations in soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations and stoichiometry with stand age in Acacia hybrid plantations in Southern Vietnam

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